cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Electric currents through ion tracks in silicon devices

A modified form of Ohm's law, describing electric currents through ion tracks, is presented as a tool for future theoretical modeling efforts related to charge collection from ion tracks in silicon devices. The equation is rigorously derived from the drift/diffusion equations and accounts for all currents (electron and hole, drift, and diffusion). While only one quantitative result is given, a fairly complete description of charge collection from ion tracks in silicon diodes is qualitatively discussed.
An Unusual Chrysopid Larva: Identification, Description, and Taxonomic Implications

ABSTRACT Berchmansus is a small Neotropical genus in the green lacewing tribe Leucochrysini; its larvae and biology are unknown. Adults of Berchmansus adumbratus Navas were found in samples from the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History Upper Amazonian forest canopy project; these samples came from palms at each of two widely separated Peruvian localities. The same samples also yielded specimens of an unusual leucochrysine larva. For a variety of reasons, we conclude that the larvae are likely conspecific with the adults. If our reasoning proves correct, they would represent the first reported larvae from the genus Berchmansus. Their anatomical features are consistent with either specialized trash-carrying or a naked lifestyle. Here we describe the larvae, and because they have many attributes not previously reported from leucochrysines, we reevaluate the suite of larval features that characterize the tribe. Our analysis illustrates that in both larval morphology and perhaps trash-carrying habits...
Adjustment of serum markers in first trimester screening

First trimester combined screening can be performed using maternal serum pregnancy-associated plasma protein A, total human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and ultrasound measurement of nuchal translucency at 11-13 weeks of pregnancy. Our objective was to explore the effects of covariates on total hCG in the first trimester. First trimester total hCG levels were significantly increased in twins (median = 1.87 MoM), mildly increased in pregnancies achieved by in vitro fertilization (1.04 MoM) and decreased in smokers (0.80 MoM).
The Pinch Rhytidectomy: A Safe, Effective, "Low SMAS" Variation on the Theme.

Background: The competitive efficacy of the superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS) rhytidectomy (SMASectomy) facelift has been well established. However, the outcomes after an associated open necklift have not been as reliable; the persistent incidence of recurrent bands and iatrogenic deformities has prompted a change in technique. Objectives: The author conducted a long-term retrospective review to evaluate a variation on the SMASectomy facelift technique. A solely lateral, “low SMAS” approach was substituted for direct necklift in all patients. Methods: Patients who were candidates for a facelift underwent this laterally based, SMASectomy technique. Those who underwent concomitant full-face CO2 laser resurfacing were excluded from the review. A total of 198 patients treated consecutively during a 7-year period (2006-2012) were included in the study. Results: Postoperative follow-up ranged from 1 to 7 years. All patients’ neck deformities were fully corrected by the solely lateral SMASectomy technique. In addition, the patients recovered more rapidly than with traditional direct necklift, with no nerve injuries, skin compromise, or hypertrophic scarring. Conclusions: Results indicate that midline open necklift can be replaced by the low SMASectomy. Level of Evidence: 4 ![Graphic][1] [1]: /embed/inline-graphic-1.gif
RETRAN analysis of the Peach Bottom turbine trip tests

The RETRAN system thermal-hydraulics analysis code has been used to model a series of three turbine trip tests. These three tests were performed at the Peach Bottom Unit 2 (PB2) boiling water reactor (BWR) during April 1977. A detailed description of this analysis including sensitivity studies using RETRAN-01 has been issued by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI). Additional analysis using RETRAN-02 is described. 8 refs.
Wave propagation in the two temperature theory of thermoelasticity

Within the framework of a linear two-temperature theory two separate wave propagation problems are investigated. Interest is directed to wave speeds, travelling discontinuities in the two temperatures and the strain, and long and short time approximations.
A correlation of experimental and theoretical results in low velocity beam impact theory

A comparison of experimental results and theoretical predictions for the non-penetrating impact of cylindrical impactors on finite beams is presented. Analytical results are obtained through the solution of appropriate mixed boundary value problems using integral transform techniques. The analytical model is shown to correctly predict the non-penetrating impact response of finite beams. An in-depth investigation of low velocity impact response of various beams is performed to study the relationships between impact velocity, beam and projecti,le material and geometric properties. It is found that impactor curvature has little effect on central beam displacement and total contact force histories but strongly influences contact pressure distribution and contact area size. Impact velocity is found to strongly affect force and displacement histories as well as contact pressures. New results concerning projectile rebound are also presented and discussed.
Arthropod succession patterns in exposed carrion on the island of O'ahu, Hawaiian Islands, USA.

Arthropod succession patterns in exposed carrion were observed at 2 sites on the island of O‘ahu, Hawaiian Islands, USA. Five stages of decomposition were recognized: fresh, bloated, decay, dry, and remains. Differences in species composition at each of the 2 sites (Diamond Head Crater and Mānoa Valley) and in microhabitats resulted in differences in the duration of stages of decomposition between sites.
A Note on Plane Kinematics

(1914). A Note on Plane Kinematics. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 21, No. 4, pp. 105-113.
The rate of chemical reaction at the surface of a non-porous catalytic sphere in concentration and temperature gradients—I: Steady state solutions

Abstract Exact solutions are obtained to the system of a single non-porous catalytic sphere immersed in a reactant field having strong concentration and temperature gradients when the particle reacts chemically with its surroundings. When these solutions are compared with the exact solutions to the corresponding system in the absence of gradients, it is found that the magnitude of the gradients must be very large to appreciably influence the overall rate of the surface reaction.
Uniformly Lipschitzian semigroups in Hilbert space

Let K be a closed, bounded, convex, nonempty subset of a Hilbert Space . It is shown that if is a left reversible, uniformly k-lipschitzian semigroup of mappings of K into itself, with k < √2, then has a common fixed point in K.
Leuconostoc bacteremia after liver transplantation : another cause of vancomycin resistant gram-positive infection

Leuconostoc sp. are gram-positive bacteria intrinsically resistant to vancomycin, which can be confused with streptococci based on routine microbiological-characteristics. Infections secondary to Leuconostoc are uncommon, and usually affect patients with underlying diseases, prior use of vancomycin and those with central lines. The most common clinical presentation is fever secondary to a central line infection. We report the first case of Leuconostoc infection in a solid organ transplant recipient. The patient developed Leuconostoc bacteremia secondary to peritonitis, 60 d after undergoing liver transplantation. He was treated with clindamycin, gentamicin and underwent surgical debridement, but succumbed to other complications.
Studies on Insecticidal Durg Resistance of Blattella germanica in Changsha

Objective To investigate the insecticidal drug resistance changes of Blattella germanica in Changsha after a 20-year continuous use since 1985.Method Dropping method was used in evaluation.Result The rates of LD_(50) be- tween 2005 and 1985 of five kinds of pesticides were Fenvalerate 35.65,Cypermethrin 22.31,Permethrin 13.74,DDVP 11.16,and Deltamethrin 9.71 respectively.Conclusion In Changsha,the resistance of Blattelta germanica to five pesti- cides was significantly increased as compared with the resistance in 1985.
Agonist-induced phosphorylation of the angiotensin AT1a receptor is localized to a serine/threonine-rich region of its cytoplasmic tail.

The agonist-induced phosphorylation sites of the rat AT1aangiotensin receptor were analyzed using epitope-tagged mutant receptors expressed in Cos-7 cells. Angiotensin II-stimulated receptor phosphorylation was unaffected by truncation of the cytoplasmic tail of the receptor at Ser342 (Δ342) but was abolished by truncation at Ser325 (Δ325). Truncation at Ser335 (Δ335), or double-point mutations of Ser335 and Thr336 to alanine (ST-AA), reduced receptor phosphorylation by ∼50%, indicating that in addition to Ser335 and/or Thr336, amino acids within the Ser326-Thr332 segment are also phosphorylated. Agonist-induced phosphorylation of the ST-AA and Δ335 receptors was partially inhibited by staurosporine, suggesting that the single protein kinase C consensus site in the Ser326-Thr332 segment (Ser331) is phosphorylated. The impairment of receptor phosphorylation was broadly correlated with the attenuation of agonist-induced internalization rates (Δ325 Δ335 > ST-AA = Δ342 > wild-type). These results demonstrate that agonist-induced phosphorylation of the AT1a receptor is confined to an 11-amino-acid serine/threonine-rich segment of its carboxyl-terminal cytoplasmic tail and implicate this region in the mechanisms of receptor internalization and desensitization.
Genetic influences in the development of emphysema in persons with normal serum proteins

This review has failed to uncover convincing evidence to support the existence of familial emphysema in patients with normal serum proteins. Although a large number of studies have documented that non-A1PI hereditary factors are important in the development of nonspecific chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, it is far less certain that emphysema accounts for this familial occurrence. To the contrary, most existing evidence fails to support this possibility. Nevertheless, the issue remains unsettled and incompletely studied. Further investigations should include a major effort to identify young persons, 20 to 45 years of age, with emphysema alone but without A1PI deficiency. Based on prior reports, 76 it is likely that such persons will be found. As emphasized by Kazazian, "this is the group that should be studied for the presence of a single mutant gene in the homozygous state." 42 It is possible that several or many rare single-gene causes of emphysema await discovery. Careful family studies of young emphysematous subjects are indicated as well to determine whether emphysema-producing genes also constitute a risk factor in heterozygous persons. If such patients and families are discovered, further hypotheses will have to be drawn-up and carefully investigated to attempt a better understanding of the etiology and pathogenesis of emphysema.
Measurement of inverse muon decay ν μ +e→ μ − + ν e at Fermilab Tevatron energies 15 – 600 GeV

We report on a measurement of inverse muon decay /nu//sub /mu//+e/r arrow//mu//sup /minus//+/nu//sub e/ at the Fermilab Tevatron. A sample of 1151 inverse-/mu/-decay events, produced by neutrinos with laboratory energy in the range 15/le//ital E//sub /nu///le/600 GeV, is extracted. We measure the rate of this reaction with respect to the /nu//sub /mu//-/ital N/ charged-current interaction to be (0.125/plus minus/0.009(stat)/plus minus/0.003(syst))/times/10/sup /minus/2/. The measurement supports /ital V/---/ital A/ structure of the weak current, left-handed two-component neutrinos, and a cross section rising linearly with respect to the center-of-mass energy.
Heparin plus alteplase reduced morbidity more than heparin alone in submassive pulmonary embolism.

Source Citation Konstantinides S, Geibel A, Heusel G, Heinrich F, Kasper W. Heparin plus alteplase compared with heparin alone in patients with submassive pulmonary embolism. N Engl J Med. 2002;347...
Upper respiratory infection during pregnancy and neurodevelopmental outcomes among offspring.

Abstract Objective Maternal infection during pregnancy is associated with psychiatric disorders among offspring. The aim of this study was to investigate associations between upper respiratory infection (URI) in pregnancy and measures of cognitive and behavioral outcomes in child offspring. Materials and methods A longitudinal study of 534 mother-child pairs with information regarding prenatal exposures collected through an interview conducted on average one year after delivery and subsequent participation in a childhood cognitive and psychosocial assessment between the ages 5–12 years. Childhood cognition was measured using the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test (PPVT-III) and the Beery-Buktenica Test of Visual Motor Integration-Fifth Edition (VMI-5) and behavioral function measured using the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and teacher-report using the Teacher Report Form (TRF). Adjusted mean differences (adjMD) in outcome measures were calculated between mothers reporting the presence or absence of a URI during pregnancy. Results URI during pregnancy was not associated with the two measures of cognition given to offspring, but was associated with modest increases in total behavioral problems reported by mothers (adjMD: 3.72; CI: 1.91–5.54) and teachers (adjMD: 2.74; CI: 0.97–4.50). We observed differences in CBCL and TRF scores based on timing of URI: infections in mid-pregnancy (lunar months 4–5) were associated with poorer scores than were infections in early pregnancy (lunar months 2–3). Conclusions In general, URI in pregnancy was not associated with decrements in childhood cognition, but may be associated with behavior problems.
Periodic Flows in Time-delay Systems

In this chapter, from Luo (2014), periodic flows and chaos in nonlinear, time-delay dynamical systems will be presented.
Investigation of wellbore microannulus permeability under stress via experimental wellbore mock-up and finite element modeling

Abstract This research aims to describe the microannulus region of the cement sheath-steel casing interface in terms of its compressibility and permeability. A wellbore system mock-up was used for lab-scale testing, and was subjected to confining and casing pressures in a pressure vessel while measuring gas flow along the specimen’s axis. The flow was interpreted as the hydraulic aperture of the microannuli. Numerical joint models were used to calculate stress and displacement conditions of the microannulus region, where the mechanical stiffness and hydraulic aperture were altered in response to the imposed stress state and displacement across the joint interface.
Photonic crystals: Emerging biosensors and their promise for point-of-care applications

Biosensors are extensively employed for diagnosing a broad array of diseases and disorders in clinical settings worldwide. The implementation of biosensors at the point-of-care (POC), such as at primary clinics or the bedside, faces impediments because they may require highly trained personnel, have long assay times, large sizes, and high instrumental cost. Thus, there exists a need to develop inexpensive, reliable, user-friendly, and compact biosensing systems at the POC. Biosensors incorporated with photonic crystal (PC) structures hold promise to address many of the aforementioned challenges facing the development of new POC diagnostics. Currently, PC-based biosensors have been employed for detecting a variety of biotargets, such as cells, pathogens, proteins, antibodies, and nucleic acids, with high efficiency and selectivity. In this review, we provide a broad overview of PCs by explaining their structures, fabrication techniques, and sensing principles. Furthermore, we discuss recent applications of PC-based biosensors incorporated with emerging technologies, including telemedicine, flexible and wearable sensing, smart materials and metamaterials. Finally, we discuss current challenges associated with existing biosensors, and provide an outlook for PC-based biosensors and their promise at the POC.
Can cost make a difference dosimetrically? Volumetric modulated arc therapy study for multileaf collimators of various widths for head and neck and prostate cancers.

Abstract Cancer is a global health issue that disproportionately kills based on stage of disease, cellular pathology, and genetics, to name a few. Another variable to consider in this ongoing fight is treatment machine complexity that leads to elevated development and purchasing cost, leading to a reduced use. Reducing the complexity (in hopes of lowering costs) would benefit underdeveloped, low- and middle-income countries by introducing newer treatment technology, as their currently accepted standards do not meet standards of more advanced, developed countries. In this study, unilateral head and neck (H&N), and prostate cases using volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) were tested with multiple segment widths of 5, 10, 15, and 20 mm to create treatable plans. Pinnacle 9.10v was used for planning purposes. A total of 12 cases were planned with varying multileaf collimator (MLC) widths. Treatment plans were evaluated retrospectively. Results show that altering the MLC widths from 5 through 20 mm produces both comparable and treatable plans up to 99% and 98% target coverage for H&N and prostate, respectively, albeit clinically significant hot spots were shown to increase with increasing segment width. Furthermore, the results show that increasing widths can produce comparable treatment plans as measured against our current Food and Drug Administration (FDA)–approved treatment devices—leading to an increase in treatment efficacy in economically underdeveloped countries.
Internuclear Ophthalmoplegia Secondary to Cocaine Abuse.

Purpose. To report a case of internuclear ophthalmoplegia (INO) caused by cocaine. Method. We report a case of a 54-year-old female who presented with a left INO three days after snorting cocaine, and we review the literature. Results. MRI of the brain demonstrated several small abnormal foci in the pons on FLAIR and diffusion weighted imaging consistent with ischemic infarction. The patient’s symptoms remained stable throughout her hospitalization. She was sent to a rehabilitation facility and was lost to follow-up. Conclusion. In cases of extraocular movement abnormalities, it is important to inquire about recreational drug use.
A correlation-based subspace analysis for data confidentiality and classification as utility in CPS

The concept of pairing confidential-relevant variables (connected variables) using ridge regression and bootstrap sampling has recently been proposed for developing perturbation models to data privacy in cyber-physical systems. In this approach, a single set of perturbation parameters for all the pairs of connected variables has been used to achieve trade-off between data confidentiality and classification as data utility. It has led to weaker confidentiality protection for some pairs of connected variables than the others. In this paper, we have determined that this discrepancy occurs due to varying correlation characteristics between the variables. The correlation between a connected variable and other confidential variables influences the correctness of the perturbation parameters of the ridge regression model studied for data privacy. In this paper, we have divided the feature space into correlated subspaces and studied the ridge regression-based perturbation model with bootstrap sampling in individual subspaces separately. Our experimental analysis with IRIS and NSL-KDD datasets has provided an interesting finding, indicating that the absolute Pearson correlation coefficient greater than 0.1, between the connected and confidential variables, can lead to strong confidentiality, as measured by signal-interference-ratio less than 20dB.
Top 5: Democratic Authority in the Rulemaking Process

This research focuses on two primary guiding questions adopted from previous studies that test democratic authority in the federal administrative agency rulemaking process. The initial question examines who are active participants in the rulemaking process. Next, it explores the degree to which public comments influence the Department of Education’s final rule concerning Parent Plus Loans. This one in three part series of research will focus on the top 5 influences in the “Rulemaking Process” concerning policy initiatives (DOE Parent Plus Loan Criteria, EEOC Criteria/Affirmative Action, DOE Accreditation Org. Requirements) that influence African American retention at HBCUs. This article examines the rulemaking process at the Department of Education. The results suggest that administrative agencies are heavily influenced by iron triangle constructs that are offered in numerous top-down and bottom up investigations of policy influence. Administrative agencies answer to many entities, all having the ability to pressure administrative agencies to prioritize their particular agenda issue. The study ultimately suggests that administrative agencies are not able to completely and adequately determine stakeholder policy preferences due to derisory participation among affected populations. However, administrative agencies are still tasked with ensuring that democratic authority exists within the rulemaking process, and that the element of pluralism is a factor in all final rules.
Using Outcomes Assessment to Change Classroom Instruction.

How can student outcomes assessment (SOA) be incorporated into one's courses and teaching? The purposes of this article are to explore a process enacted in the Department of Agronomy at Iowa State University using SOA to: (i) develop a clearer understanding of what students should learn in a course, (ii) determine how a course or courses fit within the curriculum, and (iii) improve teaching practices and ultimately students' learning. An assignment from a required course in the agronomy curriculum provides an illustration of how an instructor can use a course assignment related to a program outcome(s) to assess how well students are achieving the program outcome and identify and implement course or teaching method improvements based on the assessment results.
Connections matter: Updraft merging in organized tropical deep convection

When tropical cumulus convection is organized, the spacing between updrafts is reduced, and deep convective cloud tops are higher. The relative importance of various processes through which organization increases cloud top heights is not well understood. It is likely that decreased spacing between updrafts in organized convection increases the frequency of convective updraft merging. What is the relative importance of merging in determining an updraft parcel's detrainment height? We investigated updraft parcel merging in organized deep convection using results from a large eddy simulation. We used Lagrangian parcel trajectories (LPTs) to locate merging events. LPTs that merge reach detrainment heights 1.5 km higher on average than LPTs which do not merge. Merged LPTs are more buoyant than nonmerged LPTs, implying less dilution due to entrainment. Using mutual information analysis, we found that merging, cloud base vertical velocity, and cloud base area are about equally important in determining parcel detrainment height.
Transforming from Radiologist Peer Review Audits to Peer Learning and Improvement Approaches

All radiologists actively practicing in the United States are required to undergo some manner of periodic performance evaluation. This should provide an unbiased, fair, and balanced evaluation of radiologist performance to identify opportunities for additional education, error reduction, and self-improvement. By far the most common method of peer review audit system currently used in radiology is RADPEER, developed almost 15 years ago by the American College of Radiology (ACR), in which originally interpreted images are randomly selected and reviewed by a peer radiologist. However, studies have shown that this time-consuming process has inherent sampling bias, has limited value as an educational tool, and is primarily performed to meet accreditation and hospital credentialing requirements. Moreover, it evaluates the performance of a radiologist in terms of a diagnostic discrepancy score, excluding the myriad of other functions and roles that radiologists play, including teaching, consulting, and communicating abnormal results. Consequently, an increasing number of radiology practices are embracing simple scoring systems that either agree with the prior read or score the interpretation as an “apparent learning case.”
Stratigraphic architecture of the Cenozoic succession in the McMurdo Sound region, Antarctica: An archive of polar palaeoenvironmental change in a failed rift setting

The Victoria Land Basin forms part of the failed West Antarctic Rift, and preserves a Cenozoic succession up to 4 km thick that records the onset of Cenozoic glaciation, and the history of Antarctic glaciation over the past 34 Myr. This succession is relevant both to investigations of modern climate change and to studies of long-term palaeoclimate change in general. This study provides a sedimentological and stratigraphic review of the Victoria Land Basin succession, based on analysis of several continuous drillcores acquired since the 1970s, and supported by seismic stratigraphic analysis of a large array of seismic reflection data. An array of fifteen lithofacies is recognized within the Victoria Land Basin Cenozoic succession, including fossiliferous and diversely bioturbated mudrocks and diatomites, texturally mature sandstones and conglomerates, mixed mudstones and sandstones with dispersed gravel with restricted bioturbation, and diamictites and associated lithologies. These facies record a variety of marine, glaciomarine, proglacial and subglacial environments. Locally, volcanic and volcaniclastic deposits are interbedded in the succession. Lithofacies are arranged in repetitive vertical stacking patterns (depositional sequences) that record glacial advance–retreat cycles with attendant relative sea-level changes. Seven varieties of depositional sequences (stratigraphic motifs) are recognized within the succession as a whole, and interpreted to record a range of depositional settings from rifts unaffected by glacial ice (Motif 7), through varying degrees of glacial influence with abundant meltwater contributions (Motifs 6 to 3), to cold, polar glaciated environments such as that of today (Motifs 2 and 1). Overall, there is a gradual trend upward through the succession from Motif 7 at the base towards Motif 1 at the top, but the trend is not monotonic. A significant conclusion of this work is that a record of dynamic climate and glacial conditions is preserved through the entire 34 Myr period of the Cenozoic icehouse, at least in the Victoria Land Basin. Intervals characterized by consistent stratigraphic style (motifs) are recognized throughout the Victoria Land Basin succession. These intervals are of 1 to 6 Myr duration, each containing numerous depositional sequences; they are one to two orders of magnitude longer than glacial–interglacial cycles, and record periods during which environmental conditions varied in an internally consistent manner. These intervals are considered to reflect convolutions of orbital parameters that remained stable for periods of 106 a, and then switched to alternative configurations. Such intervals are directly analogous to 1 to 8 Myr intervals characterized by glaciogenic strata that are preserved within the late Palaeozoic of eastern Australia among other areas, and may be a recurring stratigraphic response to icehouse climate regimes through geological time.
Remote Linkages to Anomalous Winter Atmospheric Ridging over the Northeastern Pacific

Severe drought in California between 2013 and 2016 has been linked to the multi-year persistence of anomalously high atmospheric pressure over the Northeastern Pacific Ocean, which deflected the Pacific storm track northward and suppressed regional precipitation during California's winter “rainy season.” Multiple hypotheses have emerged regarding why this high pressure ridge near the west coast of North America was so resilient—including unusual sea surface temperature patterns in the Pacific Ocean, reductions in Arctic sea ice, random atmospheric variability, or some combination thereof. Here we explore relationships between previously documented atmospheric conditions over the North Pacific and several potential remote oceanic and cryospheric influences using both observational data and a large ensemble of climate model simulations. Our results suggest that persistent wintertime atmospheric ridging similar to that implicated in California's 2013-2016 drought can at least partially be linked to unusual Pacific sea surface temperatures, and that Pacific Ocean conditions may offer some degree of cool-season foresight in this region despite the presence of substantial internal variability.
Selective increase in CO2 electroreduction activity at grain-boundary surface terminations

Altering a material’s catalytic properties requires identifying structural features that give rise to active surfaces. Grain boundaries create strained regions in polycrystalline materials by stabilizing dislocations and may provide a way to create high-energy surfaces for catalysis that are kinetically trapped. Although grain-boundary density has previously been correlated with catalytic activity for some reactions, direct evidence that grain boundaries create surfaces with enhanced activity is lacking. We used a combination of bulk electrochemical measurements and scanning electrochemical cell microscopy with submicrometer resolution to show that grain-boundary surface terminations in gold electrodes are more active than grain surfaces for electrochemical carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) reduction to carbon monoxide (CO) but not for the competing hydrogen (H 2 ) evolution reaction. The catalytic footprint of the grain boundary is commensurate with its dislocation-induced strain field, providing a strategy for broader exploitation of grain-boundary effects in heterogeneous catalysis.
Naive B cells participate in secondary antibody response via immune complex mediated activation (84.6)

The adaptive immune system confers survival advantage to the host by its inherent ability to respond to a plethora of pathogens and its ability to never forget an antigenic insult. In the case of humoral immune responses, repeat antigenic exposure leads to a secondary antibody response that is 2-3 orders of magnitude greater than the primary. This increased efficacy is due to the production of amplified levels of antigen-specific antibody, as well as the accelerated kinetics of their production. Current dogma holds that this response results from activation of memory B cells, which are formed following primary exposure and can rapidly produce large quantities of specific antibody upon secondary exposure. Our research, however, suggest that memory B cells may not be the chief source of antibody during the secondary response. Using a hapten model system we have shown that the phenomena associated with secondary responses - increased antibody levels and accelerated kinetics of antibody production - can be recapitulated by primary immunization with immune complexes. This suggests that immune complexes are able to activate antigen-inexperienced naive B cells in such a manner that their response mirrors a secondary response. Additionally we have found that blocking the Fc receptor binding activity of immune complexes inhibits the secondary antibody response. We propose that immune complexes are formed upon secondary antigen exposure, and that these complexes enhance the secondary antibody response through naive B cell activation.
Abstract P194: Association of First Birth with Long-term Trajectories of Cardiovascular Health: The Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) Study

Background: Pregnancy is the first major physiologic stress women will experience that may exacerbate cardiovascular risk factors. Little is known about how pregnancy impacts cardiovascular health (CVH), as defined by the AHA. We examined the effects of a first birth on trajectories of CVH in a community-based sample of biracial women. Methods: CARDIA is a longitudinal study of 5,115 black and white adults aged 18-30 years at enrollment (1985-86). CVH was defined as poor, intermediate and ideal levels of 6 of 7 available AHA factors (BMI, physical activity, smoking, blood pressure, glucose, and cholesterol) assigned scores of 0, 1, and 2, respectively. A modified CVH score (CVHS) was calculated as the sum of scores from individual health factors (range 0-14; higher score=greater CVH). We employed latent-class modeling to identify distinct trajectories in CVHS over 25 years of follow up after first birth. Results: Among 1,775 baseline nulliparas (59.1% white), 888 first live births occurred. In women with ≥1 birth (Figure 1a) and with no births (Figure 1b) there were 6 distinct CVHS trajectories and most tracked over time. Trajectory patterns were similar between women with and without a birth, and select groups experienced a rapid decline in CVHS (Figure 1a: groups 1,2,5; 1b: groups 1,2,3). There is no statistically significant difference in likelihood of group membership based on number of births or exam year of first birth (1a). Conclusion: Contrary to expectation, CVHS trajectories through adulthood do not differ markedly between women with and without live births. Future analyses among subgroups at risk for longer adverse effects are being evaluated.
Cuban Epidemic Optic Neuropathy (1991-1993) and José Saramago's Novel Blindness (1995).

Purpose This article reviews the history of Cuban epidemic optic neuropathy (1991-1993), which caused visual loss, peripheral neuralgias, and other neurologic symptoms in over 50,000 persons, an incidence of almost 0.5% of the entire population. The clinical findings, etiology, and treatment are described. We then relate the Cuban epidemic to the fictional epidemic of contagious blindness depicted by Nobel Laureate Jose Saramago in his 1995 novel Blindness. This novel describes an unnamed modern city in which all inhabitants, except the ophthalmologist's wife, are affected with a white, not black, blindness. Design Historical review and literary essay. Methods The sources for the Cuban epidemic were an extensive review of the published literature and personal communications with physicians who treated these patients. Both authors have analyzed the novel and the critical literature about Saramago's writings. Results Though Saramago uses the epidemic of blindness as an allegory to comment on human weakness and immorality, he may also have known of the actual Cuban epidemic. Saramago was a lifelong member of the Communist party, as well as a friend of Fidel Castro and admirer of the Cuban government. We have no proof that Blindness was influenced by the Cuban epidemic, but we find it plausible. Conclusion It is valuable to examine the real and fictional epidemics side by side, not least because Saramago's novel depicts the actions of an ophthalmologist during an epidemic of blindness. Ophthalmologists may be interested in a novel that uses the language of eyes, vision, sight, and blindness extensively.
Low genomic divergence and high gene flow between locally adapted populations of the swamp sparrow

Populations that have recently diverged across sharp environmental gradients provide an opportunity to study the mechanisms by which natural selection drives adaptive divergence. Inland and coastal populations of the North American swamp sparrow have become an emerging model system for studies of natural selection because they are morphologically and behaviourally distinct despite a very recent divergence time (<15,000 years), yet common garden experiments have demonstrated a genetic basis for their phenotypic differences. We characterized genomic patterns of variation within and between inland and coastal swamp sparrows via reduced representation sequencing in order to reconstruct the contributions of demography, gene flow and selection to this case of recent adaptive divergence. Compared to inland swamp sparrows, coastal swamp sparrows exhibited fewer polymorphic sites and reduced nucleotide diversity at those sites, indicating that a bottleneck and/or recent selective sweeps occurred in that population during coastal colonization and local adaptation. Estimates of genome-wide differentiation (FST=0.02) and sequence divergence (ΦST=0.05) between inland and coastal populations were very low, consistent with postglacial divergence. A small number of SNPs were strongly differentiated (max FST=0.8) suggesting selection at linked sites. Swamp sparrows sampled from breeding sites at the habitat transition between freshwater and brackish marshes exhibited high levels of genetic admixture. Such evidence of active contemporary gene flow makes the evolution and maintenance of local adaptation in these two populations even more notable. We summarize several features of the swamp sparrow system that may facilitate the maintenance of adaptive diversity despite gene flow, including the presence of a magic trait.
Distribution of Plasmodesmata in Leaves. A Comparison of Cananga Odorata with Other Species Using Different Measures of Plasmodesmatal Frequency

The functioning of plasmodesmata, the cytoplasmic channels connecting adjacent plant cells, may be considered at two levels of organization: the individual and the collective. Of course the first level involves studies of plasmodesmata as single units, and is treated elsewhere in this volume. The second involves plasmodesmatal frequency, or the numbers of plasmodesmata in relation to some physical parameter of the interconnected cells or surrounding cells and tissues. It is this collective level of organization which will be discussed here.
Human—machine load sharing in rehabilitation robotics

A force-assist mechanism has been developed to mount on the Chameleon - a wheelchair mounted rehabilitation robot. The device will amplify the forces applied by the user, making it possible to lift a large weight with a small force. This paper describes the test-bed development; instrumentation of the Chameleon with power assistance; and preliminary results on system efficacy.
Nonlinear Crossover between Critical and Tricritical Behavior

Recently approximate solutions to renormalization-group equations were used to calculate the double-power ''tricritical'' scaling equation of state. It is shown that this equation can be simply calculated using exact renormalization-group trajectories. The equation of state is expressed explicitly in terms of nonlinear scaling fields.
Challenges for the Dynamic Functional Model of Jealousy

This comment on Chung and Harris presses for a clearer account of the motivational role of jealousy within the dynamic functional model of jealousy. It also calls into question the inclusion of “el...
Hemodynamic responses to an exercise stress test in Parkinson's disease patients without orthostatic hypotension.

The presence of postganglionic sympathetic denervation is well established in Parkinson’s disease (PD). Denervation at cardiac and blood vessel sites may lead to abnormal cardiovascular and hemodyn...
Nonderivatization method for determination of glyphosate, glufosinate, bialaphos, and their main metabolites in environmental waters based on magnetic metal‐organic framework pretreatment

A novel magnetic metal-organic framework composite was prepared by a self-assembly approach. The material properties were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, vibrating sample magnetometry, thermogravimetry and differential thermogravimetric analysis, and X-photoelectron spectroscopy. Then, the as-prepared material was used as an adsorbent and indicated great enrichment ability toward glyphosate, glufosinate, bialaphos, and their main metabolites aminomethylphosphonic acid and 3-methylphosphinicopropionic acid. Based on this, an efficient magnetic solid-phase extraction method combined with ultra high performance liquid chromatography with high-resolution mass spectrometry for the pretreatment and determination of five target compounds in environmental waters was established. Parameters that could impact on the adsorption performance had been studied in detail. The proposed method was successfully applied for the simultaneous determination of glyphosate, glufosinate, bialaphos, and their main metabolites aminomethylphosphonic acid and 3-methylphosphinicopropionic acid in environmental water with recoveries in range of 86.2-104.6% with relative standard deviations less than 10%. Desired linearity was achieved varying from 1 to 100 μg/L for five target analytes, respectively. The limits of detection were between 0.01 and 0.03 μg/L.
A Dose of Realism: The Contestation and Politics of Cyber Norms

Norms for cyberspace remain highly contested internationally among governments and fragmented domestically within governments. Despite diplomatic activities at the United Nations over the past two decades, intersubjective agreement on norms governing coercive cyber power is still nascent. Agreed upon, explicitly stated norms are considered voluntary, defined vaguely, and internalized weakly. Implicit state practice is slowly emerging, yet poorly understood, and cloaked in secrecy. This raises the question: how do norms emerge for cyberspace? What has been the contribution of the UN process to the international community’s understanding of norms for cyberspace? Why did the process collapse in 2017, the very same year that two of the biggest cyber attacks to date—WannaCry and NotPetya—caused indiscriminate economic harm worldwide each with an estimated cost of several billion U.S. dollars? And why did member states, in an unprecedented move in the UN’s history, create two separate processes dedicated to the same issue in 2018? To answer these questions, this article analyses the various factors feeding into the dynamic process of norm contestation including an in-depth discussion of the process at the United Nations, the role of international law, and the main points of critiques.
Cryptocurrencies & The Financial Services Landscape

Prior to examining the implications and applications of blockchain technology on the financial services landscape and practitioners employed therein, it does appear appropriate to, at least at first, acknowledge the importance of cryptocurrencies on the broader conversation. Beginning during 2017, and accelerated during the fourth quarter mirroring the rise in price of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, the amount of interest and investment in the broader cryptocurrency area attracted the attention of both individuals and institutions. While the cryptocurrency applications and use cases are only a part of the wider blockchain conversation and analysis, it may very well be the most high profile example of how blockchain entered the market lexicon. Drilling down and taking into account just what cryptocurrencies are, what they are not, and what they may mean for the financial services landscape appears to be an appropriate first step toward understanding how emerging technology forces are driving the profession forward.
Fabrication and Testing of 10-Pole Short-Period Nb 3 Sn Superconducting Undulator Magnets

NbTi superconducting undulators (SCUs) are currently reliably operating at the Advanced Photon Source (APS) at Argonne National Laboratory (ANL). These devices have significantly enhanced x-ray flux and brightness at the high energy spectrum. As NbTi SCU technology is close to its full potential, further performance enhancement requires using different superconducting materials. Nb3Sn is a promising candidate to achieve that goal. Recently the APS has started developing a Nb3Sn superconducting undulator compatible with the APS storage ring. The completed device is planned to be installed in the APS storage ring. To develop the Nb3Sn SCU technology, a series of short SCU models has been previously fabricated and successfully tested. In this study, the design has been further optimized to address previously unresolved problems. Several 10-pole, 4.5-period models were fabricated and tested. All of the fabricated models have reached the maximum operating current; however, one of the model, MM4, has failed right after reaching the maximum design current. The details of quench and training performances are presented.
Clinical outcomes for larynx patients with cancer treated with refinement of high-dose radiation treatment volumes.

Background To evaluate disease control, toxicities, and dose to dysphagia/aspiration risk structures (DARS) using a direct gross tumor volume (GTV70Gy ) to planning target volume expansion (dPTV70Gy ) for patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx (LSCC). Methods A retrospective review was performed on patients with LSCC treated between 2003 and 2018. Clinical outcomes, toxicities, and dosimetric data were analyzed. Results Seventy-three patients were identified. Overall survival at 5-years was 57.8%. Five-year local and regional control was 79.8% and 88.2%, respectively. Distant metastatic-only failure was 2.7%. Eighty percent of failures were 95% contained within the dPTV70Gy . Mean dose and the volume of DARS receiving 70 Gy was significantly lower for dPTV70Gy compared to a consensus-defined PTV70Gy . Discussion Judicious reduction in high-dose target volumes can preserve high tumor control rates while reducing dose to normal surrounding structures underscoring the potential benefit of this approach in enabling local therapy intensification to improve locoregional control.
Neurodevelopmental Outcome of Extremely Low Birth Weight Infants Fed an Exclusive Human Milk Diet Is Not Affected by Growth Velocity

Background: An exclusive human milk (EHM) diet in extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants (birth weight ≤1,000 g) is linked to an increased likelihood of extrauterine growth restriction (EUGR, we...
Duchenne muscular dystrophy and skeletal muscle fibrosis

Skeletal muscle fibrosis is one of the main pathological changes of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD),which can affect the regeneration of muscle fiber and promote development of the disease.Its occurrence and development correlate closely with inflammatory cells,fibroblasts,myofibroblasts and cytokines.This article reviews the progress of skeletal muscle fibrosis of DMD Key words: Duchenne muscular dystrophy; Fibrosis; Extracellular matrix