cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Identifying technology horizons for strategic investment decisions

Technology investment models usually assume that a known number of technologies will appear in the future, though their appearance, cost, and revenue parameters may be uncertain. In practice, however, it is not always clear how many future technologies or periods need to be considered. We introduce the concept of a technology horizon, which we define as the minimum number of future technologies and future periods that need to be considered to guarantee that the optimal decision would not change even if additional technologies or periods worth of data were to be considered. We also allow the costs and revenue of existing technologies in our model to vary depending on the latest technology introduced. Further, we allow for implementation costs, which enables us to model situations where it may cost more to leapfrog technologies than if one were to buy intervening technologies. We then provide a fast algorithm to identify such technology horizons.
Facilitated Communication Denies People With Disabilities Their Voice

Facilitated Communication (FC) has been rebranded as “supported typing” and repackaged as rapid prompting method, but remains a disproven intervention for people with disabilities. Despite the absence of supportive evidence and abundant evidence that facilitators always author the messages, FC has experienced resurgence in popularity among families, professionals, and advocacy groups. Strategic marketing, confirmation bias, pseudoscience, anti-science, and fallacy explain this troubling renewal. We briefly discuss each of these and contrast the method with authentic augmentative and alternative communication to illustrate differences in values and practices. Our intention is to persuade readers to resist or abandon FC in favor of validated methods and to encourage advocacy organizations to advance agendas that emphasize genuine self-expression by people with disabilities.
Throughput and Fairness Analysis of 802.11-Based Vehicle-to-Infrastructure Data Transfers

The performance of vehicular Internet access using roadside 802.11-based APs has been extensively studied in the literature. However, much less attention has been dedicated to analysing the maximum achievable throughput when multiple vehicles simultaneously share the bandwidth of the same roadside AP in a given mobility scenario. To fill such a gap, in this paper we develop an analytical framework to quantify the total amount of data transferred by a vehicle that drives through the coverage area of a roadside 802.11-based AP. The distinctive aspects of our analysis are the following: $(i)$ it considers heterogeneous vehicular environments where vehicles may have different mobility characteristics; and $(ii)$ it accurately takes into account critical traffic parameters, such as road capacity and vehicle density, when modelling MAC-layer capacity. Our model is able to accurately characterize the unfairness that may arise due to differences in the relative speed of vehicles. In addition, our analysis and the supporting simulation results are useful to explain the complex relationship that exists between the upload capacity per vehicle, the macroscopic characteristics of the traffic stream, the vehicular mobility model, and the 802.11 channel access rules.
Adjoint field methods for non-linear tomographic medical imaging problems

We show results for full three-dimensional non-linear inversion of the parameters of a diffusive partial differential equation, specifically for an optical tomography application. We compute functional derivatives of the parameters with respect to the mean-squared error using the adjoint field method, and implement two forms of regularization. In the first, a penalty term is introduced into the error functional, and in the second, the solution to the inverse problem is assumed to belong to a parametrized class of functions. In the case where this assumption is correct, our results demonstrate that the parameters can recovered with high accuracy, yielding a better inversion result than the traditional Tikhonov-type approach.
Working Memory Training May Increase Working Memory Capacity but Not Fluid Intelligence

Working memory is a critical element of complex cognition, particularly under conditions of distraction and interference. Measures of working memory capacity correlate positively with many measures of real-world cognition, including fluid intelligence. There have been numerous attempts to use training procedures to increase working memory capacity and thereby performance on the real-world tasks that rely on working memory capacity. In the study reported here, we demonstrated that training on complex working memory span tasks leads to improvement on similar tasks with different materials but that such training does not generalize to measures of fluid intelligence.
Packaging Method for Increased Isolation Using a Microstrip to Waveguide Transition

A new technique to decrease crosstalk within high frequency packages, which is based on a microstrip to waveguide transition, is presented. The waveguide based packaged circuit demonstrates well over 40% bandwidth and the insertion loss throughout the designed frequency band is comparable to that of the conventional packaging approaches. In contrast to the conventional implementations, this new packaging method achieves approximately 20-dB isolation improvement for a test circuit as presented here. In addition, to suppress low frequency interference, a dc and low frequency filter is implemented as part of the waveguide transition
A brief survey of current work on network attached peripherals (extended abstract)

Work on network-attached peripherals (NAPs) can be divided into essentially three areas --- device interfaces and protocols, multimedia use and mass storage use. This paper is an extended abstract reviewing some of the current work and provides references and WWW pointers to many of the projects. The impact of this technological advance on operating systems is discussed. The primary purpose of this paper is to broaden understanding of the advantages and pitfalls of NAPs and encourage further research in the design and use of network-attached peripherals and NAP-capable systems. An expanded form of this document is available on the web or from the author.
Engagement of Arginine Finger to ATP Triggers Large Conformational Changes in NtrC1 AAA+ ATPase for Remodeling Bacterial RNA Polymerase

The NtrC-like AAA+ ATPases control virulence and other important bacterial activities through delivering mechanical work to σ54-RNA polymerase to activate transcription from σ54-dependent genes. We report the first crystal structure for such an ATPase, NtrC1 of Aquifex aeolicus, in which the catalytic arginine engages the γ-phosphate of ATP. Comparing the new structure with those previously known for apo and ADP-bound states supports a rigid-body displacement model that is consistent with large-scale conformational changes observed by low-resolution methods. First, the arginine finger induces rigid-body roll, extending surface loops above the plane of the ATPase ring to bind σ54. Second, ATP hydrolysis permits Pi release and retraction of the arginine with a reversed roll, remodeling σ54-RNAP. This model provides a fresh perspective on how ATPase subunits interact within the ring-ensemble to promote transcription, directing attention to structural changes on the arginine-finger side of an ATP-bound interface.
WHY DO DEMONSTRATIONS

Growing out of the development of demonstration projects and the implementation of programs is the need to identify what, if anything, is different and what is changed as the result of installing such an innovation. How can such projects be evaluated, and what can we learn from such evaluation that can be applied to future implementation? What are the crucial elements to success, and how can these be identified?
Reliability Analyses of Combined Voting and Standby Redundancies

There is a trend towards more elaborate architecture of redundancy for ultrareliable systems. When used with discretion, mathematical analyses do provide some useful yardsticks for the system engineer at the conceptual stage of a design. This paper provides a statement of conventional mathematical assumptions and the consequent limitations of the formulae which result from them. More importantly, the paper provides simple formulae for reliability prediction which assist rapid manual appraisals of a large number of possible configurations of majority voters and voter-switches (voter-switches combine voting with standby redundancy). In short order, the decision maker can appraise the potential benefit on system reliability of sophisticated redundancy.
Granulosa cell tumors of the ovary associated with pregnancy

Abstract Granulosa cell tumor which complicates term pregnancy is presented in a case history and a review of literature.
Generation of human natural killer cells from immature progenitors does not require marrow stromal cells

Human natural killer (NK) cells comprise 10% to 15% of peripheral blood mononuclear cells and have an important role in immune responses against tumors, viral infections, and graft rejection. NK cells originate in bone marrow (BM), but their progenitors and lineage development have not been completely characterized. We studied the generation of NK cells from purified CD34+HLADR- and CD34+HLADR+ BM progenitors and the influence of various cytokines on their production. We show that CD3-CD56+ cytotoxic NK cells can develop from both progenitors populations when interleukin-2 (IL-2) is present in an in vitro suspension culture system containing IL-1 alpha and stem cell factor. Up to 83.8% and 98.6% CD3-CD56+ cells were detected in CD34+HLADR- and CD34+DR+ cultures, respectively, after 5 weeks of culture; significant numbers of NK cells were first detected after 2 weeks. Cytotoxic activity paralleled NK cell numbers; up to 70% specific lysis at an effector:target ratio of 10:1 was observed at 5 weeks. IL-7 also triggered development of CD3-CD56+ cells from these immature progenitors (up to 24% and 55% appeared in CD34+HLADR- and CD34+HLADR+ cultures, respectively). Our data suggest that BM stromas are not necessary for NK cell development and that IL-2 remains essential for this lineage development and differentiation.
Time warp to 1945 -- Resurrection of the reprisal and anticipatory self-defense doctrines in international law

Widespread adoption of the U.N. Charter in 1945 outlawed warfare and pre-empted prior customary laws of war allowing such. Two of these dormant customs, reprisal and anticipatory self-defense, sporadically attempted to sputter back to life during the Charter period, but failed to regain international approval. However, after September 11, 2001, the American government effectively brought these doctrines back into play. The U.S. military action against Afghanistan embodied a classic reprisal response, and the U.S. invasion of Iraq was a pre-emptive strike in anticipatory self-defense. To the extent these resurrected laws of war become custom once again, the Charter would be seriously undermined and the world would find itself playing by rules of warfare dating from the pre-nuclear age; except this time with increasingly available weapons of mass destruction.
Extraction of Vub from inclusive B decays and the resummation of end point logarithms.

In this paper we discuss the theoretical difficulties in extracting Vub using the data from inclusive B decays. Specifically, we address the issue of the end point singularities. We perform the resummation of both the leading and next to leading end point logs and include the leading corrections to the hard scattering amplitude. We find that the resummation is a 20% −50% effect in the end point region where the resummation is valid. Furthermore, the resummed sub-leading logs dominate the resummed double logs. The consequences of this result for a model independent extraction of the mixing angle Vub are explored.
Perioperative monitoring during carotid surgery — role of the local anaesthesia

Stroke is a problem of enormous magnitude and remains a major cause of disability and death. According to the NIH stroke survey, about 407000 patients were admitted with new strokes each year in the 1970s in the U.S.A.
Protonation of picolinic acid: Determination of pK°, ΔH°, and ΔS°

Using pH potentiometric measurements, concentration quotient and thermodynamic acid dissociation constants were determined for the dissociation of 2-pyridinium carboxylic acid. The determinations were carried out in aqueous media at five temperatures ranging from 20 °C to 55 °C and at two ionic strengths (I = 0.10 mol dm-3 and I = 0.25 mol dm-3). Standard enthalpies and entropies of the dissociation reaction were also obtained. At 25 °C, the thermodynamic values of these properties are pK° = 0.840 ± 0.006, ΔH° = (−0.68 ± 0.23) kJ mol-1, and ΔS° = (−18.4 ± 0.8) J mol-1 K-1.
Comparison of ACL strain estimated via a data-driven model with in vitro measurements

AbstractComputer modeling and simulation techniques have been increasingly used to investigate anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) loading during dynamic activities in an attempt to improve our understanding of injury mechanisms and development of injury prevention programs. However, the accuracy of many of these models remains unknown and thus the purpose of this study was to compare estimates of ACL strain from a previously developed three-dimensional, data-driven model with those obtained via in vitro measurements. ACL strain was measured as the knee was cycled from approximately 10° to 120° of flexion at 20 deg s−1 with static loads of 100, 50, and 50 N applied to the quadriceps, biceps femoris and medial hamstrings (semimembranosus and semitendinosus) tendons, respectively. A two segment, five-degree-of-freedom musculoskeletal knee model was then scaled to match the cadaver’s anthropometry and in silico ACL strains were then determined based on the knee joint kinematics and moments of force. Maximum and...
Constriction of Thoracic Inferior Vena Cava in Rabbits Following Two-Stage Portal Ligation.∗:

Conclusions1. Constriction of the thoracic vena cava in rabbits produces ascites. 2. 2-stage portal ligation in rabbits does not cause demonstrable ascites. 3. In rabbits, the ascitic fluid formed by caval constriction in the chest is not affected by previous 2-stage portal ligation.
[Bi12Ni7(CO)4](4-): Aggregation of Intermetalloid Clusters by Their Thermal Deligation and Oxidation.

Reported are the synthesis and structure of the anionic intermetalloid cluster [Bi12Ni7(CO)4]4–. It was synthesized from the known smaller clusters Bi3Ni4(CO)63–, Bi3Ni6(CO)93–, and Ni@Bi6Ni6(CO)84– by their aggregation as a result of thermal deligation and oxidation. The new cluster is structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction in the compound (K[crypt])4[Bi12Ni7(CO)4] (1), and its presence in solution is confirmed by electrospray mass spectrometry. It can be viewed as composed of a Ni-centered icosahedral core of Bi6Ni6(CO)4 where two diametrically opposed Ni atoms are capped by Bi3 triangles. However, its electron count is rationalized based on a structure made of fused tetrahedra.
Coil embolization of an acutely ruptured saccular aneurysm.

Acutely ruptured intracerebral berry aneurysms are usually treated by surgical clipping . In some instances, however, an endovascular approach to aneurysm obliteration may be con­ sidered. Since the pioneering work of Serbinenko [1] and Shcheglov (paper presented at the annual meeting of the ASNR, March 1989), there has been encouraging progress in the endovascular treatment of intracranial berry aneurysms by detachable balloon occlusion. Indications include aneu­ rysms that cannot be surgically clipped, those with high surgical risk, those in inaccessible sites (e.g. , cavernous ca­ rotid artery), and patients who are poor surgical candidates because of underlying medical conditions [2]. Detachable balloon occlusion is suitable for selected aneurysms but may be ineffective in the acute stages of rupture. There have been few reports of endovascular treatment of acutely ruptured aneurysms and none in which the aneurysm was actively leaking . We have successfully treated a patient with an acutely ruptured berry aneurysm by placing platinum micro­ coils within the aneurysm after balloon occlusion failed. Long­ term follow-up angiography has shown continued complete obliteration of the aneurysm. These preliminary results sug­ gest that platinum microcoil occlusion may be an appropriate therapy for certain acutely ruptured intracranial berry aneurysms.
Released into Language: Errors, Expectations, and the Legacy of Mina Shaughnessy

When Adrienne Rich reprinted her essay “Teaching Language in Open Admissions” in 1979,1 she added in a headnote that the “profound” experiment of open admissions was, perhaps, “naively optimistic,” citing a history of broken promises, disappointments, and betrayals. Basic writing teachers found themselves overworked, underpaid, and often excluded from the protection of tenure-track positions. Working-class and minority students were left to compete for resources which, she said, should have been open to all. And, in a final image, Rich added that “on the corner of Broadway near where I live, I see young people whose like I knew ten years ago as college students ‘ hanging out,’ brown-bagging, standing in short skirts and high-heeled boots in doorways waiting for a trick, or being dragged into the car of a plumed and sequined pimp.”
‘Dear, Tender-Hearted, Uncomprehending America’: Dorothy Canfield Fisher’s and Edith Wharton’s Fictional Responses to the First World War

In her sketch ‘A Honeymoon... Vive L’Amerique’, first published in August of 1918, Dorothy Canfield Fisher describes the generosity of a middle-aged American couple who, prior to America’s entry into the Great War, spend their honeymoon helping war-torn France: Then I knew of what they had reminded me. They had reminded me of America, they were America incarnate, one side of her, the dear, tender-hearted, uncomprehending America which did not need to understand the dark old secrets of hate and misery in order to stretch out her generous hand and ease her too happy heart by the making of many gifts.
Field Research Delusions: From Confusion to Insight on the Green Tortoise

In the following story, I catalogue a variety of difficulties that I encountered while conducting field research on the Green Tortoise. Oddly enough, the greatest impediments to the early success of this project were my poorly examined orienting assumptions. Nevertheless, the distortions imposed by my flawed assumptions were effectively sundered by an uncomfortable, but invaluable “corrective” crisis.
Rogue-pair and dark-bright-rogue waves of the coupled nonlinear Schrödinger equations from inhomogeneous femtosecond optical fibers

The coupled inhomogeneous Schrodinger equations with a wide range of applications describing a field of pluses with the right and the left polarizations that take into account cross-phase modulations, stimulated Ramani scattering, and absorption effects are investigated. A combination of several different approaches is used in a novel way to obtain the explicit expressions for the rogue-pair and dark-bright-rogue waves. We study the dynamics of these structurally stable rogues and analyze the effects of a parameter that controls the region of stability that intrinsically connects the cross-phase modulation and other Kerr nonlinearity factors. The effects of the right and left polarizations on the shape of the rogue-pair and other solitary rogue waves are graphically analyzed. These rogue-pair waves are studied on periodic and non-periodic settings. We observe that rogue-pair wave from the right and left polarizations has a similar structure while the dark-bright-rogue waves have quite different intensity profiles.
Altruism and the Beneficent Virtues

Both Maimonides and Gersonides describe the universe as originating from God for no self-interested benefit, but derive different human lessons from God’s altruism. For Maimonides, the overflow to others is an outcome of one’s own perfection causing humans to feel the impulse to imitate God’s loving kindness and spread the “overflow” of their private contemplation through forms of political leadership. In contrast, Gersonides’ altruism is not merely a passive outcome of one’s own perfection, but is an active duty. Furthermore, it takes the form of a nonpolitical universal and altruistic ethics whereby humans are obliged to cultivate the virtues of loving kindness (ḥesed), grace (ḥanina) and beneficence (haṭava) in knowledge and action.
Esophageal liposarcoma: Well-differentiated rhabdomyomatous type

Rhabdomyomatous well-differentiated esophageal liposarcomas are extremely rare. As of August 2016, only one other such case has been reported in the English-language medical literature. Liposarcomas in general are one of the most common soft tissue neoplasms in adults, but the incidence of primary esophageal liposarcomas is exceptionally low. There have been only 42 reported cases of primary liposarcoma of the esophagus worldwide thus far. These malignancies are harbored within giant fibrovascular polyps, which slowly grow within the esophageal lumen causing obstructing symptoms. We hereby present the case of a 68-year-old male patient who came in with a 2-mo history of worsening intermittent dysphagia, persistent cough, and postprandial retrosternal pain. After an esophagogastroduodenoscopy, a computed tomographic scan, and a diagnostic endoscopy, complete endoscopic resection was performed of the 13 cm × 6 cm × 2.6 cm fibrovascular polyp. A literature review was done and results are presented herein.
The Relationship Between Ethnicity and Fatigue in a Community-Based Sample

Estimates of fatigue severity vary according to whether participants are recruited from hospital-based tertiary care clinics, primary medical care, or community-based samples. Sampling methodology is a central issue in epidemiological research because differences in utilization and differential access to health care among participants of varying sociodemographic backgrounds have biased earlier prevalence and severity estimates of fatigue. Most existing studies do not employ randomly selected representative samples and do not examine ethnic and other sociodemographic differences. Findings presented herein derive from a community-based study of fatigue severity and prevalence in an ethnically and socioeconomically diverse sample of 28,673 households in Chicago. The study examined sociodemographic differences in fatigue across African American, White, Latino, and Asian American samples according to age, gender, socioeconomic status, marital status, and parental status. Latinos who were female, Latinos who were older, and Latinos of higher socioeconomic status reported the highest relative severity of fatigue. The implications of these findings are discussed.
CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP) and colorectal cancer

CN12-04 The methylation of CpG islands near promoter regions of genes and subsequent transcriptional silencing of these genes, has lead to the definition of a new molecular pathway for colon carcinogenesis. Using data from a large population-based study of colon cancer, the association of CIMP with other tumors mutations such as BRAF, microsatellite instability (MSI), Ki-ras, and p53 are presented. Several diet and lifestyle factors have been proposed as being associated with CIMP including dietary factors such as folate that may influence DNA methylation. Cigarette smoking appears to be most consistently associated with CIMP. Associations with dietary factors such as dietary folate as less consistently associated with CIMP in colon cancer. Diet and lifestyle factors associated with CIMP are reviewed to assess possible contributors to the CIMP pathway. Additionally, associations with germline polymorphisms in genes that may be involved in the CIMP pathway are presented.
Viral and serological kinetics in Zika virus-infected patients in South Korea

Zika virus is a mosquito-borne flavivirus that causes clinical symptoms similar to those observed in dengue and chikungunya virus infections. The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention initiated laboratory testing using a real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction in January 2016. More than 1,000 suspected cases of infection were tested and nine were confirmed as imported cases of Zika virus infection from January to July 2016. The travel destinations of the infected individuals were Brazil, Philippines, Viet Nam, Guatemala, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic. Phylogenetic analysis based on the partial envelope gene indicated that the viruses belonged to the Asian genotype circulating in South America. We further investigated the duration for which the viral RNA and virus-specific antibodies were detectable after the symptom onset. After the day of symptom onset, Zika virus was detectable until 6 days in serum, 14 days in urine and saliva, and 58 days in semen. Immunoglobulin M against Zika virus was detected as early as 2 days after the symptom onset and was maintained at these levels until 41 days, whereas Immunoglobulin G was detectable from 8 days after the symptom onset and was maintained until 52 days. These findings would help diagnostic laboratories improve their testing programs for Zika virus infection.
A multi-resolution experimental methodology for fatigue mechanism verification of physics-based prognostics

An experimental methodology is proposed in this paper for mechanism verification of physics-based prognosis of mechanical damage, such as fatigue. The proposed experimental methodology includes multi-resolution in-situ mechanical testing, advanced imaging analysis, and mechanism analysis based on digital measurements. A case study is presented for fatigue crack growth mechanism investigation. In-situ fatigue testing at lower resolutions, i.e., optical microscopy, and digital image correlation is used to analyze the plastic deformation behavior and strain distribution near crack tips. In-situ fatigue testing under higher resolutions, i.e., scanning electron microscopy, and automatic image tracking is used to obtain detailed crack tip deformation and crack growth kinetics at the nanometer scales. Following this, the proposed experimental methodology is applied to two different metallic materials, aluminum alloys and steels. Very different experimental observations are observed and the underlying mechanisms are discussed in detail. The impact on the prognosis algorithm development is also discussed. Finally, the potential application of the proposed experimental methodology to other materials systems and to other types of mechanical damage is discussed.
Time and Effort Required for Tissue Acquisition and Submission in Lung Cancer Clinical Trials.

Abstract Background Increasingly, analysis of tumor tissue samples for predictive and pharmacodynamic biomarkers is incorporated into lung cancer clinical trials. We determined the time and effort required for tissue acquisition and submission. Patients and Methods We analyzed data from patients enrolled from 2009 to 2016 at UT Southwestern onto lung cancer trials with mandatory or optional submission of tumor tissue. We collected dates of treatment-related events and staff communications; nature of tissue requirement and biomarker analysis; and location of archival tissue. Associations between case characteristics, clinical intervals, and number of staff communications were analyzed by Fisher's exact test, Wilcoxon 2-sample test, and Kruskal-Wallis test. Results We identified 129 patients enrolled onto 19 clinical trials, of whom 108 (84%) ultimately received study therapy. For cases in which tissue submission was required if available or optional, 16% and 0%, respectively, had tissue sent. The median interval between consent and treatment was 28 (interquartile range, 11-43) days if tissue was requested and 7 (interquartile range, 6-13) days if tissue was not requested ( P P Conclusion Lung cancer clinical trial requirements for tissue acquisition and submission affect the time to treatment initiation and require increasing staff effort. Improved systems to expedite these processes, as well as use of blood- or imaging-based biomarkers, may help address these issues.
Improvement in open circuit voltage of n‐ZnO/p‐Si solar cell by using amorphous‐ZnO at the interface

Several research groups are currently working on n-ZnO/p-Si heterojunction solar cell, and recently, Pietruszka et al [Sol. Energ. Mat. Sol. Cells 147 (2016) 164-170] has reported the highest efficiency of 7.1% for this structure. The main challenge is to enhance the open circuit voltage up to theoretically predicted value of >0.6 V. This paper reports >20% improvement in open circuit voltage of n-ZnO/p-Si solar cell by depositing amorphous-ZnO at the interface at room temperature that possibly improves the passivation and/or avoids oxide formation at the interface during ZnO deposition. Two other materials, aluminum nitride and amorphous-Si, have also been used as buffer layers to evaluate their effect on suppression of interface states. Furthermore, additional advantage of ZnO as an antireflector has been experimentally verified for different thicknesses of ZnO film.
Radiation Segmentectomy versus Selective Chemoembolization in the Treatment of Early-Stage Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Abstract Purpose To compare outcomes of radiation segmentectomy (RS) and segmental transarterial chemoembolization in treatment of unresectable, solitary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) ≤ 3 cm. Materials and Methods From January 2012 to January 2016, 534 and 877 patients were treated with radioembolization and transarterial chemoembolization, respectively. A cohort of 112 (radiation segmentectomy [RS], 55; chemoembolization, 57) locoregional therapy–naive patients with solitary HCC ≤ 3 cm without vascular invasion or metastasis was retrospectively identified and stratified according to baseline patient demographics, tumor characteristics, and laboratory values. Propensity score matching (PSM) was conducted using a nearest neighbor algorithm (1:1). Outcomes analyzed included laboratory toxicities, imaging response, time to secondary therapy (TTST), and overall survival. Results Before PSM, complete response (CR) rate was 81.2% for RS and 49.1% for chemoembolization (odds ratio 2.2; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.4–3.3; P P = .009). Overall survival before PSM was not significantly different between the 2 groups ( P = .29). Overall CR rate after PSM was 92.1% in RS group and 52.6% in chemoembolization group ( P = .005). Median (95% CI) TTST after matching was 161 days (76–350 d) in chemoembolization group and 812 days (363–812 d) in RS group ( P = .001). Overall survival after matching was not significantly different between the 2 groups ( P = .71). Conclusions RS results in improved imaging response and longer TTST compared with transarterial chemoembolization in treatment of early-stage HCC.
Molecular studies on bromovirus capsid protein. VII. Selective packaging on BMV RNA4 by specific N-terminal arginine residuals.

Abstract An arginine-rich RNA-binding motif (ARM) found at the N-proximal region of Brome mosaic virus (BMV) coat protein (CP) adopts α-helical conformation and shares homology with CPs of plant and insect RNA viruses, HIV-Rev and Tat proteins, bacterial antiterminators, and ribosomal splicing factors. The ARM of BMV CP, consisting of amino acids 9 through 21 with six arginine residues, is essential for RNA binding and subsequent packaging. In this study analysis of the α-helical contents of wild-type and mutant peptides by circular dichroism spectra identified protein determinants required for such conformation. Electrophoretic mobility-shift assays between viral RNA and BMV CP peptides with either proline or alanine substitutions revealed that the interaction is nonspecific. Expression in vivo of mature full-length BMV CP subunits, having the same substitutions for each arginine within the ARM, derived from biologically active clones was found to be competent to assemble into infectious virions and cause visible symptom phenotypes in whole plants. However, analysis of virion progeny RNA profiles of CP variants and subsequent in vitro reassembly assays between mutant CP and four BMV RNAs unveiled the ability of arginine residues at positions 10, 13, or 14 of the ARM to confer selective packaging of BMV RNA4. Thus, BMV CP contains determinants that specifically interact with RNA4 to ensure selective packaging.
Surface Chemistry Studies of Quantum Dots (QDs) Modified with Surfactants

Since luminescent CdSe quantum dots (QDs) have shown great potential in biological labeling, the surface chemistry behavior of QDs at interfaces is of great research interest. In the present study, CdSe QDs with green luminescence were modified with hydrophobic chains of varying lengths [from C6 to C18]. These modified QDs can be utilized to form stable monolayers at the air/water interface. Surface pressure-area isotherms of modified QDs have been measured and limiting molecular areas have also been extrapolated in order to analyze the size of the QDs. UV absorption spectra of modified QDs at various surface pressures were also determined. Surface chemistry, as well as the topographic properties, of modified QDs in Langmuir and L-B films was discussed.
Hospital Acquired Infections and Their Prevention

This chapter will review Central Line Associated Blood Stream Infection (CLABSI), Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections (CAUTI), Ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP), Clostridia difficile enterocolitis and Nosocomial Rhinosinusitis (NS) as well as measures to prevent these infections.
Acoustic Imaging in Marine Sediment: A Multiple Microprocessor Array Processor Using the Trace Function

Penetration of marine sediment requires as low a frequency as possible to reduce attenuation, whereas good resolution requires as short a pulse and as large an aperture as possible. In order to achieve a reasonable balance between these conflicting requirements, an aperture is called for with dimensions comparable to the distance to the object. Operation in such a near-field regime with extreme wavefront curvature necessitates a re-examination of the concept of beamforming. Reflected energy scattered over a wide angle is intercepted by the aperture (overcoming to some extent the usual domination of the image by specular facets). However, there remains the problem of deriving from the hydrophone signals an amplitude or intensity for each display pixel corresponding uniquely to each resolvable scattering center. One solution to this problem is to digitize the echo signal at each hydro-phone, store all the data in the form of a time series for each hydrophone over a complete echo cycle and then sift through the memory contents looking for the characteristic patterns which result from every possible scattering center. An algorithm to accomplish this sifting is presented below based on the “Time Delay Trace Function” [1,2]. In order to achieve sufficiently rapid execution of the algorithm to provide near real-time image generation, it was necessary to use multiple microprocessors working together as a system [3].
Metabolic and Renal Complications and Immunologic Implications of Laparoscopic Urologic Surgery

Laparoscopic surgery has had a revolutionary impact on the field of urology. The benefits of decreased postoperative pain, reduced hospital stay, and faster return to work have all been well documented. The number of laparoscopic procedures performed in the United States has increased rapidly over the past few decades with increasingly more complex procedures performed in older patients with more preexisting comorbid conditions [1]. The laparoscopic surgeon must be aware of the complex physiologic consequences of laparoscopic surgery as well as the potential metabolic risks of renal surgery. A thorough understanding of the impact of laparoscopic surgery on the various body systems is necessary to effectively assess risk that a prospective laparoscopic patient may face. In this chapter our aim is to review the main metabolic and immunologic effects of laparoscopy and pneumoperitoneum.
Isolation and Characterization of the cDNA for Mouse Neutrophil Collagenase: Demonstration of Shared Negative Regulatory Pathways for Neutrophil Secondary Granule Protein Gene Expression

A characteristic of normal neutrophil maturation is the induction of secondary granule protein (SGP) mRNA expression. Several leukemic human cell lines mimic normal morphologic neutrophil differentiation but fail to express SGPs, such as lactoferrin (LF) and neutrophil gelatinase (NG). In contrast, two murine cell lines (32D C13 and MPRO) are able to differentiate into neutrophils and induce expression of LF and NG. Therefore, to study the normal regulation and function of these genes, the corresponding murine homologs must be isolated. Using cDNA representational difference analysis (RDA) to compare a committed myeloid progenitor cell line (EPRO) with the multipotent stem cell line from which it was derived (EML), we isolated a fragment bearing homology to human neutrophil collagenase (hNC). Here, we describe the cloning and characterization of a full-length ( approximately 2 kb) clone that exhibits nearly 65% nucleotide and 73% amino acid identity to hNC. Ribonuclease protection analysis (RPA) of the tissues and cell lines shows that mouse NC (mNC) is expressed only in cell lines exhibiting neutrophilic characteristics, further confirming its identity as the mouse homolog of hNC. Furthermore, we have demonstrated a shared negative regulatory pathway for this and other SGP genes. We have previously shown that CCAAT displacement protein (CDP/cut) binds to a specific region of the LF promoter, and overexpression of CDP blocks G-CSF-induced upregulation of LF gene expression in 32D C13 cells. We show here that in these cells, upregulation of both NC and NG is also blocked. CDP is thus the first identified transcription factor that is a candidate for mediating the shared regulation of neutrophil SGP protein genes.
Optimization of fast algorithms for global Quadrature by Expansion using target-specific expansions

Abstract We develop an algorithm for the asymptotically fast evaluation of layer potentials close to and on the source geometry, combining Geometric Global Accelerated QBX (‘GIGAQBX’) and target-specific expansions. GIGAQBX is a fast high-order scheme for evaluation of layer potentials based on Quadrature by Expansion (‘QBX’) using local expansions formed via the Fast Multipole Method (FMM). Target-specific expansions serve to lower the cost of the formation and evaluation of QBX local expansions, reducing the associated computational effort from O ( ( p + 1 ) 2 ) to O ( p + 1 ) in three dimensions, without any accuracy loss compared with conventional expansions, but with the loss of source/target separation in the expansion coefficients. GIGAQBX is a ‘global’ QBX scheme, meaning that the potential is mediated entirely through expansions for points close to or on the boundary. In our scheme, this single global expansion is decomposed into two parts that are evaluated separately: one part incorporating near-field contributions using target-specific expansions, and one part using conventional spherical harmonic expansions of far-field contributions, noting that convergence guarantees only exist for the sum of the two sub-expansions. By contrast, target-specific expansions were originally introduced as an acceleration mechanism for ‘local’ QBX schemes, in which the far-field does not contribute to the QBX expansion. Compared with the unmodified GIGAQBX algorithm, we show through a reproducible, time-calibrated cost model that the combined scheme yields a considerable cost reduction for the near-field evaluation part of the computation. We support the effectiveness of our scheme through numerical results demonstrating performance improvements for Laplace and Helmholtz kernels.
A preliminary evaluation of veterinary antibiotics, estrogens, in vitro estrogenic activity and microbial communities in airborne particulate matter collected near dairy production facilities

Particulate matter (PM) emitted from beef cattle feedyards transports manure-affiliated compounds including antibiotics and steroids from feedyards into the surrounding environment. Similarly, commercial dairy operations have the potential to release PM, comprised largely of aerosolized manure, into the surrounding environment along with associated veterinary antibiotics and steroids. The goal of this study was to quantify and compare total suspended particulates, antibiotics and estrogens collected upwind and downwind of dairies in the Southern High Plains, and to characterize microbial community structure and in vitro estrogenic activity of collected PM. PM collected downwind of dairies had greater microbial diversity (as measured by number of operational taxonomic units) and had greater frequencies of detection for antibiotics and estrogens than associated upwind PM. Dominant bacterial phyla and overall microbial community composition were similar among upwind and downwind PM, and extracts of upwind and downwind PM produced no in vitro estrogenic activity. Although this study surveyed a limited number of dairies in the region, these results suggest that dairy operations in the Southern High Plains, in contrast to feedyards, appear to be minor contributors of total aerial PM and associated antibiotics and steroids to the terrestrial environment.
Photolytic Labeling To Quantify Peptide-Water Interactions in Lyophilized Solids.

Interactions of a lyophilized peptide with water and excipients in a solid matrix were explored using photolytic labeling. A model peptide “KLQ” (Ac–QELHKLQ–NHCH3) was covalently labeled with NHS–diazirine (succinimidyl 4,4′-azipentanoate), and the labeled peptide (KLQ–SDA) was formulated and exposed to UV light in both solution and lyophilized solids. Solid samples contained the following excipients at a 1:400 molar ratio: sucrose, trehalose, mannitol, histidine, or arginine. Prior to UV exposure, the lyophilized solids were exposed to various relative humidity (RH) environments (8, 13, 33, 45, and 78%), and the resulting solid moisture content (Karl Fischer titration) and glass transition temperature (Tg; differential scanning calorimetry, DSC) were measured. To initiate photolytic labeling, solution and solid samples were exposed to UV light at 365 nm for 30 min. Photolytic-labeling products were quantified using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (rp-HPLC) and mass spectrometry (MS)...
Sustainability via Active Garden Education: Translating Policy to Practice in Early Care and Education.

Background We describe the development of sustainability via active garden education (SAGE), an early care and education (ECE) garden-based curriculum developed from a 5-year community partnership to link national health policy guidelines with ECE accreditation standards. Methods National health guidelines and ECE accreditation standards were reviewed, and community advisory board members, ECE staff, and parents provided feedback and support throughout the development of the curriculum. The SAGE curriculum components were guided by the Ecologic Model of Physical Activity and Social Cognitive Theory. Strengths-weaknesses-opportunities-threat analyses were used to refine and revise the curriculum to overcome challenges to implementation. Results Twelve 1-hour, developmentally appropriate, modularized lessons were created using the garden as a metaphor for human development. Lessons featured songs, simple games, pretend play, modeling, and garden activities. Parents were engaged via weekly newsletters with information about activities in the classroom, strategies to improve health habits at home, and free community resources. Conclusion SAGE partnered scientific theory and rigor with community ingenuity and innovation to create a clear translation of policy guidelines to easily implementable practice in a fun and engaging manner.
Differential effects of androgens, estrogens and socio-sexual context on sexual behaviors in the castrated male goat

Abstract The behavioral and endocrine activation of sexual behaviors exhibited by male goats, especially self-enurination (SE), is poorly understood. In the first experiment, to assess the influence of socio-sexual context on SE in bucks, the effects of distance from does, the presence of estrous versus non-estrous does and the presence of another buck on SE and courtship frequencies of intact male goats (bucks; n = 12) were tested using a unique behavior test apparatus. For experiments 2 and 3, to test the relative contributions of sex steroid hormones and socio-sexual context on SE, castrated male goats (wethers; n = 20) were randomly divided into five groups and injected for seven weeks with one of the following: 25 mg testosterone propionate (T), 25 mg dihydrotestosterone propionate (DHT), 100 μg estradiol benzoate (E), 100 μg E and 25 mg DHT (E + DHT), or oil (CON). The effects of these treatments on frequency of SE and courtship were assessed using the behavior test apparatus (social scenarios) adapted from the findings in experiment 1. In one scenario, a wether could observe (from 4.6 m) a buck and estrous female (doe) together in a wire mesh holding pen. In a different scenario, the wether could observe (from the same distance) a buck that could only court the estrous doe through a wire mesh barrier. Finally, to observe the effects of steroid treatment on mounting and ejaculation frequencies, in addition to SE and courtship, each wether was placed in a pen with an estrous doe for 10 min. After a five-week, treatment-washout period, wethers were randomly assigned to different treatment groups and retested. In experiment 1, bucks that were distanced from females displayed more SEs than those with fence-line contact, while those with fence-line contact displayed more bouts of courtship (P
The 1997 Southern California Seismic Network Bulletin

INTRODUCTION The Pasadena Office of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), together with the Caltech Seismology Laboratory, operates a network of more than 350 remote seismometers in southern California called the Southern California Seismic Network (SCSN). The SCSN is part of TriNet, a cooperative project between the USGS, Caltech, and the California Division of Mines and Geology (CDMG). TriNet will upgrade the existing network to digital recording, add new stations, and develop real-time and early-warning capabilities. Signals from the SCSN sites are telemetered to a central processing location at the Caltech Seismology Lab in Pasadena. These signals are continuously monitored by computers that detect and record thousands of earthquakes each year. Phase arrival times for these events are picked by analysts and archived along with digital seismograms. Data acquisition, processing, and archiving are achieved using the Caltech/USGS Seismic Processing (CUSP) system (Dollar, 1989). These data have been compiled into the SCSN...
MARKERS OF KIDNEY FUNCTION AND THE RISK FOR ADVERSE EVENTS IN PATIENTS WITH HEART FAILURE WITH PRESERVED EJECTION FRACTION

Recent evidence suggests that volume overload in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is partially related to chronic kidney disease (CKD). Therefore, we examined the influence of CKD on outcomes in patients with HFpEF. We examined the relationship between markers of
Microscale Electromagnetic Heating in Heterogeneous Energetic Materials Based on X-ray Computed Tomography

Detecting explosives without setting them off is, obviously, a prime goal in security applications. Avoiding detonation requires deep understanding of the complex, spatiotemporal interplay of chemistry and heat transport in heterogeneous solids. The authors combine three-dimensional structural data, dielectric data, and simulations to study hot-spot formation and thermal gradients in energetic mesostructures under electromagnetic radiation. They find that enhanced light absorption at hot spots, below the initiation threshold---``tickling the dragon''---could provide alternative signatures for stand-off detection.