cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pancreas Embryology, Anatomy, and Physiology

This chapter provides an overview of the basic anatomical, physiological, and embryological development of the pancreas, along with the known transcription factors and signaling pathways that leads to the formation of all of the non-mesenchymal cells of the pancreas, including endocrine cells, acinar and ductal cells from a progenitor cell. The pancreas has two major functions, the production of digestive enzymes by the exocrine tissue, and the production of metabolically active hormones by the endocrine tissue. These two tissues exist together within the pancreas despite their disparate morphology and function. The endocrine pancreas, which compromises only 2% of the adult pancreatic mass, is organized into islets of Langerhans consisting of five cell subtypes, α, β, δ, ɛ, and PP cells secreting glucagon, insulin, somatostatin, ghrelin, and pancreatic polypeptide hormones, respectively. The exocrine tissue on the other hand, which forms nearly 98% of the adult pancreatic mass, is composed of acinar and ductal epithelial cells. We will be reviewing in this chapter the basic anatomical and embryological development of the pancreas.
Microfluidics: A new tool for microbial single cell analyses in human microbiome studies

Microbial cells behave differently in colonies and when singled out. The standard methods of microbiome studies present the average characteristics and behaviors of heterogeneous populations and lack the resolution to analyze microbes on a single cell level. Besides, the microbiome does not exist in pure colonies in human bodies, but naturally in complex communities. Therefore, it would be ideal to observe the microbes on a single cell level while maintaining their natural settings. Conventional dilution-to-extinction methods are capable of reducing the complexity of the communities to a minimal ecologically functional unit; however, new tools are needed to perform these studies. Recently, microfluidics as a new technology is gaining attention for various single cell applications because it offers the unique ability of handling nanoscale volume in microstructures, providing an attractive alternative to look at single microbial cells. Here, we compare different microfluidic technologies for microbial singl...
Dynamics of Coupled Microresonator-Based Degenerate Optical Parametric Oscillators

We theoretically study a network of microresonator-based degenerate optical parametric oscillators (DOPO's). We investigate the influence of coupling on the global oscillation condition and show that the system can emulate the Ising model.
Electron - Molecule Collision Cross Sections for Etching Gases

The purpose of this article is twofold. Firstly, we will review the current status of electron - molecule collision cross sections for those etching gases that are most commonly used as the reactive constituents of processing plasmas. This includes a discussion of (1) what are the molecules for which cross section data are needed most urgently and (2) what are the particular cross sections that are needed for the various target molecules. Secondly, we will discuss some specific aspects of dissociative electron collisions with the reactive constituents of processing plasmas, since the dissociation of the feedstock molecules in a discharge mixture induced by electron impact plays a key role in any effort to understand and to model the complex processes in the plasma.
Teaching about reference and value objects in .NET

The programming languages in Microsoft's .NET framework share a common set of constructs for building new variable types. Two of them are Class and Structure. They are nearly identical in capability and syntax, except that one creates a reference type object and the other a value type object. Confusion over the difference between them is a fruitful source of programming errors. This paper clearly presents the advantages and the disadvantages of both, for the benefit of improved teaching.
Elite multilingualism, affect and neoliberalism

We live in volatile times. As I write this commentary during the summer of 2018, three seismic geopolitical events have taken place: the historic Trump-Kim summit in Singapore, a failed G7 meeting ...
A multiscale model of mechanotransduction by the ankyrin chains of the NOMPC channel.

Our senses of touch and hearing are dependent on the conversion of external mechanical forces into electrical impulses by the opening of mechanosensitive channels in sensory cells. This remarkable feat involves the conversion of a macroscopic mechanical displacement into a subnanoscopic conformational change within the ion channel. The mechanosensitive channel NOMPC, responsible for hearing and touch in flies, is a homotetramer composed of four pore-forming transmembrane domains and four helical chains of 29 ankyrin repeats that extend 150 A into the cytoplasm. Previous work has shown that the ankyrin chains behave as biological springs under extension and that tethering them to microtubules could be involved in the transmission of external forces to the NOMPC gate. Here we combine normal mode analysis (NMA), full-atom molecular dynamics simulations, and continuum mechanics to characterize the material properties of the chains under extreme compression and extension. NMA reveals that the lowest-frequency modes of motion correspond to fourfold symmetric compression/extension along the channel, and the lowest-frequency symmetric mode for the isolated channel domain involves rotations of the TRP domain, a putative gating element. Finite element modeling reveals that the ankyrin chains behave as a soft spring with a linear, effective spring constantof 22 pN/nm for deflections ≤15 A. Force-balance analysis shows that the entire channel undergoes rigid body rotation during compression, and more importantly, each chain exerts a positive twisting moment on its respective linker helices and TRP domain. This torque is a model-independent consequence of the bundle geometry and would cause a clockwise rotation of the TRP domain when viewed from the cytoplasm. Force transmission to the channel for compressions >15 A depends on the nature of helix-helix contact. Our work reveals that compression of the ankyrin chains imparts a rotational torque on the TRP domain, which potentially results in channel opening.
Self-Report Methods

Human communication is unique among behavioral phenomena. No other type of behavior so readily serves both as a focus of study and as a measurement tool in the study of other behavior. Put simply, when we study human behavior, we have the luxury of asking our subjects what they know about it, and in many areas of psychology, this has been regarded as an offer too good to refuse. Unlike most areas of psychology, however, the experimental analysis of behavior matured primarily in the animal laboratory (Iversen & Lattal, 1991a,b; Skinner, 1996). This historical context may help to explain the trepidation with which operant researchers have faced the fact that humans regularly talk, write, and otherwise exchange information. Verbal capabilities have not been a central focus in the extension of the experimental analysis of behavior to human behavior (e.g., Oah & Dickinson, 1989), and consistent with this pattern, researchers have shown relatively little interest in data generated through verbal self-reports. In a recent 5-year survey of the Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, for example, self-report data provided a dependent measure in only about one-third of the studies conducted with human subjects.1 In about 70% of these cases, self-reports served as a collateral measure rather than the primary dependent variable.
Operation TELIC VIII to XI: Difficulties of twenty-first-century command

This paper analyzes the complexity of coalition warfare in the twenty-first century through the prism of the British Army’s experiences in Multi-National Division South East (MND SE) and Basra in t...
Emergency Manual Implementation: Can Brief Simulation-Based OR Staff Trainings Increase Familiarity and Planned Clinical Use?

Article-at-a-Glance Background Emergency manuals (EMs)—context-relevant sets of cognitive aids such as crisis checklists—are useful tools to enhance perioperative patient care. Studies in high-hazard industries demonstrate that humans, regardless of expertise, do not optimally retrieve or deploy key knowledge under stress. EM use has been shown in both health care simulation studies and other industries to help expert teams effectively manage critical events. However, clinical adoption and use are still nascent in health care. Recognizing that training with, access to, and cultural acceptance of EMs can be vital elements for successful implementation, this study assessed the impact of a brief in situ operating room (OR) staff training program on familiarity with EMs and intention to use them during critical events. Methods Nine 50-minute training sessions were held with OR staff as part of a broader perioperative EM implementation. Participants primarily included OR nurses and surgical technologists. The simulation-based in situ trainings included why and how to use EMs, familiarization with format, simulated scenarios of critical events, and debriefings. A retrospective pre-post survey was conducted to determine participants' levels of EM familiarity and intentions to use EMs clinically. Results The 126 trained OR staff self-reported increases in awareness of the EM ( p p p p Conclusions Implementing institutions should not only provide EMs in accessible places in ORs but also incorporate training mechanisms to increase clinicians' familiarity, cultural acceptance, and planned clinical use.
Adjuvant and Formulation Considerations for a Subunit Blood-Stage Malaria Vaccine

Protection against malaria from a vaccine requires modulation of the immune response to malaria antigens. This modulation by pathogen-derived molecules is explored in this study. Human immune cells synergistically express signaling proteins when stimulated by certain combinations of pathogen-derived molecules. Some of these expression profiles indicate a Th1-mediated immune response, which may be the immune response needed for the next-generation malaria of vaccines, in terms of effectiveness.
Single center trends in acute coronary syndrome volume and outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has greatly affected healthcare delivery across the world. In this report, we aim to further characterize the changes in cardiac catheterization at our institution, specifically in the setting of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of patients undergoing cardiac catheterization between December 23, 2019 and April 12, 2020 at our institution. All patients with cardiac catheterizations for ACS, ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) activation, and out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) were analyzed. Cardiac catheterization volume, as well as clinical and procedural characteristics of patients undergoing cardiac catheterization, was compared before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results: Patients presenting with ACS and OHCA were similar in terms of demographics and comorbidities during both time periods. The mean monthly volume for ACS cases dropped by 26% during the pandemic, which was consistent among both unstable angina/non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (UA/NSTEMI) and STEMI cases. OHCA volume decreased significantly as well (five cases per month before to zero cases during the pandemic, P = 0.01). Among patients with STEMI, initial markers of cardiac injury, door-to-balloon time, and all-cause mortality were similar in both time periods. Conclusions: With the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a reduction in cardiac catheterization volume across the spectrum of ACS at our institution, which was consistent with reports from other centers across the globe. Patients with STEMI during the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic did not seem to have delays in presentation or significant differences in all-cause mortality at our institution. Cardiol Res. 2020;11(4):256-259 doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/cr1096
Sinus Development and Pneumatization in a Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia Cohort.

BackgroundPrimary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a genetically diverse disease which causes impaired mucociliary clearance, and results in pulmonary, otologic, and rhinologic disease in affected patie...
Consistent and conservative scheme for incompressible two-phase flows using the conservative Allen-Cahn model

Abstract In the present work, we consider the conservative Allen-Cahn model and applied it to two-phase flows in a consistent and conservative manner. The consistent formulation is proposed, where the conservative Allen-Cahn equation is reformulated in a conservative form using an auxiliary variable. As a result, the consistency analysis is performed and the resulting two-phase model honors the consistency of reduction, the consistency of mass conservation and the consistency of mass and momentum transport, which are important to reproduce the physical momentum and kinetic energy transport, to achieve mass and momentum conservation, and to satisfy the energy law of the two-phase system. A consistent and conservative scheme is developed, and its properties are carefully analyzed and validated. In order to honor the maximum principle of the conservative Allen-Cahn model, we proposed a boundedness mapping algorithm, which preserves the properties of consistency and conservation of the scheme. The applications of the consistent formulation and the proposed scheme to realistic two-phase flows show that they are accurate, robust and effective for complicated two-phase problems. The applicability of the consistent formulation and consistency analysis to multiphase flows and to the improved Cahn-Hilliard model is discussed.
Ultrafast Energy Transfer in Fully Conjugated Thiophene-Benzothiadiazole Capped Poly(Phenylene Ethynylene) Molecular Wires

Energy transfer was explored in a series of poly(phenylene ethynylene) (PPE) polymers with increasing lengths that were end-capped with thiophene-benzothiadiazole (TBT) groups to form fully conjuga...
Estimation of Camera Locations in Highly Corrupted Scenarios: All About that Base, No Shape Trouble

We propose a strategy for improving camera location estimation in structure from motion. Our setting assumes highly corrupted pairwise directions (i.e., normalized relative location vectors), so there is a clear room for improving current state-of-the-art solutions for this problem. Our strategy identifies severely corrupted pairwise directions by using a geometric consistency condition. It then selects a cleaner set of pairwise directions as a preprocessing step for common solvers. We theoretically guarantee the successful performance of a basic version of our strategy under a synthetic corruption model. Numerical results on artificial and real data demonstrate the significant improvement obtained by our strategy.
Top of the morning: best time to teach adults who are cognitively impaired about home sleep apnea testing.

Citation:Grigg-Damberger MM, Foldvary-Schaefer N. Top of the morning: best time to teach adults who are cognitively impaired about home sleep apnea testing. J Clin Sleep Med. 2021;17(3):365–366.
Pruning Deep Neural Networks with $\ell_{0}$ -constrained Optimization

Deep neural networks (DNNs) give state-of-the-art accuracy in many tasks, but they can require large amounts of memory storage, energy consumption, and long inference times. Modern DNNs can have hundreds of million parameters, which make it difficult for DNNs to be deployed in some applications with low-resource environments. Pruning redundant connections without sacrificing accuracy is one of popular approaches to overcome these limitations. We propose two $\ell_{0}$ -constrained optimization models for pruning deep neural networks layer-by-layer. The first model is devoted to a general activation function, while the second one is specifically for a ReLU. We introduce an efficient cutting plane algorithm to solve the latter to optimality. Our experiments show that the proposed approach achieves competitive compression rates over several state-of-the-art baseline methods.
Improving Interpretability for Cyber Vulnerability Assessment Using Focus and Context Visualizations

Risk scoring provides a simple and quantifiable metric for decision support in cyber security operations, including prioritizing how to address discovered software vulnerabilities. However, scoring systems are often opaque to operators, which makes scores difficult to interpret in the context of their own networks, each other, or in a broader threat landscape. This interpretability challenge is exacerbated by recent applications of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) for vulnerability assessment, where opaque machine reasoning can hinder domain experts’ trust in the decision-support toolkit or the actionability of its outputs. In this paper, we address this challenge through a combination of visualizations and analytics that complement existing techniques for vulnerability assessment. We present a study toward designing more interpretable visual encodings for decision support for vulnerability assessment. In particular, we consider the problem of making datasets of known vulnerabilities more interpretable at multiple scales, inspired by focus and context principles from the information visualization design community. The first scale considers individually scored vulnerabilities by using an explainable AI (XAI) toolkit for an ML risk-scoring model and by developing new visualizations of CVSS score features. The second scale uses an embedding for vulnerability descriptions to cluster potentially similar vulnerabilities. We outline use cases for these tools and discuss opportunities for applying XAI concepts to cyber risk and vulnerability management.
Plant derived flavonoids induced proteolytic activities of calpain and caspase-3 for apoptosis in human malignant glioblastoma U87MG cells

3072 Recently, considerable research attention has been focused on identification of naturally occurring chemopreventive substances capable of inhibiting, retarding, or reversing the multi-stage carcinogenesis. A wide array of plant derived polyphenolic compounds has been reported to own substantial anti-mutagenic and anti-carcinogenic activities. The majority of these naturally occurring polyphenolic compounds have potent anti-inflammatory properties, which appear to contribute to their chemopreventive or chemotherapeutic actions. Human malignant glioblastoma is a deadly brain cancer that continues to defy all current therapeutic strategies. So, innovative therapeutic strategies need to be explored for treating this deadly disease. We induced apoptosis in human malignant glioblastoma U87MG cells following exposure to apigenin (APG, a flavonoid present in fruits), (−)-epigallocatechin (EGC, a polyphenol from green tea), (−)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG, another polyphenol from green tea), and genistein (GST, an isoflavonoid found in soyabin). Dose-response studies indicated a decrease in cell viability with an increasing dose of APG, EGC, EGCG, or GST. Wright staining and light microscopy for morphology detected predominantly apoptotic features in U87MG cells following exposure to 100 μM APG, 50 μM EGC, 50 μM EGCG, or 100 μM GST for 24 h. Determination of intracellular free Ca2+ levels by fura-2 assay suggested an association of flavonoid induced increase in intracellular free Ca2+ level with apoptosis in U87MG cells. Levels of transcriptional expression (mRNA) of the inhibitor-of-apoptosis proteins (IAPs), also currently designated as the baculovirus IAP repeat containing (BIRC) proteins, were determined by the reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). In addition to the RT-PCR experiments, Western blot analyses were performed to determine the protein level expression of the selective BIRC proteins. Western blot analyses also showed alterations in expression of pro-apoptotic Bax and anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 proteins resulting in an increase in Bax:Bcl-2 ratio, and overexpression of calpain and caspase-3 that were also activated to cleave 270 kD α-spectrin at the specific tsites for generation of 145 kD spectrin break down product (SBDP) and 120 kD SBDP, repectively, in course of flavonoid induced apoptosis in U87MG cells. A colorimetric assay using synthetic peptide substrate specific for caspase-3 activity further confirmed the activation of caspase-3 in apoptotic cells. Taken together, all the results from this investigation strongly suggest that the selective plant derived flavonoids are potential therapeutic agents for the induction of apoptotic death in human glioblastoma cells. This investigation was supported in part by the R01 grants from the NCI and NINDS (Bethesda, MD), and also a grant from the State of SC.
Effectiveness of Interdisciplinary Leadership Training for Early Career Professionals in the Field of Developmental Disabilities

The purpose of this paper is to describe the curriculum and self-reported outcomes on measures of interdisciplinary leadership skills for work within the field of developmental disabilities from trainees in one interprofessional training program. The paper highlights one program’s curriculum and strategy for capturing self-report survey measures from trainees in cohorts from 2014–2018 (n = 86) on two surveys (Interdisciplinary Attitudes and Skills and Leadership Self-Evaluation Form) and three time points across the training year: before training (T1), mid-year (T2), and after training (T3). Data from 86 trainees are reported including demographics (nearly 80% white, 92% female), non-descriptive statistics due to non-normative samples, and tertiles demonstrating changes between time points. Significant differences between medians are reported between T1-T3 specifically related to utilizing interdisciplinary skills and gains in leadership competencies. Specific utilization of skills was reported to be ‘Greatly’ attributable to the LEND program related to sharing ideas and asking for help across disciplines. Trainees’ self-report from before training to after training indicates an increase in competence and utilization of interdisciplinary skills to be expected from participation in the curriculum. Self-report measures are
Chronic critical illness after hypothermia in trauma patients.

Objectives Chronic critical illness (CCI) is a phenotype that occurs frequently in patients with severe injury. Previous work has suggested that inflammatory changes leading to CCI occur early following injury. However, the modifiable factors associated with CCI are unknown. We hypothesized that hypothermia, an early modifiable factor, is associated with CCI. Methods To determine the association of hypothermia and CCI, a secondary analysis of the Inflammation and Host Response to Injury database was performed, and subsequently validated on a similar cohort of patients from a single level 1 trauma center from January 2015 to December 2019. Hypothermia was defined as initial body temperature ≤34.5°C. CCI was defined as death or sustained multiorgan failure ≥14 days after injury. Data were analyzed using univariable analyses with Student's t-test and Pearson's χ2 test, and logistic regression. An arrayed genomic analysis of the transcriptome of circulating immune cells was performed in these patients. Results Of the initial 1675 patients, 254 had hypothermia and 1421 did not. On univariable analysis, 120/254 (47.2%) of patients with hypothermia had CCI, compared with 520/1421 (36.6%) without hypothermia who had CCI, p<0.001. On multivariable logistic regression, hypothermia was independently associated with CCI, OR 1.61 (95% CI 1.17 to 2.21) but not mortality. Subsequent validation in 1264 patients of which 172 (13.6%) were hypothermic, verified that hypothermia was independently associated with CCI on multivariable logistic regression, OR 1.84 (95% CI 1.21 to 2.41). Transcriptomic analysis in hypothermic and non-hypothermic patients revealed unique cellular-specific genomic changes to only circulating monocytes, without any distinct effect on neutrophils or lymphocytes. Conclusions Hypothermia is associated with the development of CCI in severely injured patients. There are transcriptomic changes which indicate that the changes induced by hypothermia may be associated with persistent CCI. Thus, early reversal of hypothermia following injury may prevent the CCI. Level of evidence III.
Mixing and Re-making: The Identity of Second-Generation Bangladeshis in the United States

The identity articulations of second-generation Bangladeshi-Americans are complex and layered as they must negotiate mainstream U.S. popular culture, their parents’ desire to hold on to their original home culture, and gender, class, and generational divides within the familiy and the community. Second-generation youths of Bangladeshi descent strongly associate with a generic south Asian identity, desi, which originates from cultural traditions and family relations germane to South Asian nations, especially Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan. The young Bangladeshis embrace this identity not only because it provides them with a broader and distinct identity framework, but also it is welcomed in their homes and within their ethnic communities. An increasing volume of popular cultural materials produced within the United States and streaming from different locations help sustain desi identity.
Neural control of growth and size in the axolotl limb regenerate.

The mechanisms that regulate growth and size of the regenerating limb in tetrapods such as the Mexican axolotl are unknown. Upon the completion of the developmental stages of regeneration, when the regenerative organ known as the blastema completes patterning and differentiation, the limb regenerate is proportionally small in size. It then undergoes a phase of regeneration that we have called the 'tiny-limb' stage, that is defined by rapid growth until the regenerate reaches the proportionally appropriate size. In the current study we have characterized this growth and have found that signaling from the limb nerves is required for its maintenance. Using the regenerative assay known as the Accessory Limb Model, we have found that growth and size of the limb positively correlates with nerve abundance. We have additionally developed a new regenerative assay called the Neural Modified-ALM (NM-ALM), which decouples the source of the nerves from the regenerating host environment. Using the NM-ALM we discovered that non-neural extrinsic factors from differently sized host animals do not play a prominent role in determining the size of the regenerating limb. We have also discovered that the regulation of limb size is not autonomously regulated by the limb nerves. Together, these observations show that the limb nerves provide essential cues to regulate ontogenetic allometric growth and the final size of the regenerating limb.
Partitioning between N-dealkylation and N-oxygenation in the oxidation of N,N-dialkylarylamines catalyzed by cytochrome P450 2B1

Aminium radicals have been proposed as intermediates in amine N-dealkylations and N-oxygenations catalyzed by cytochrome P450 (P450) and some other enzymes. P450s can form some N-oxides and hydroxylamines but these are not favored whenever N-dealkylation is possible. However, if a paradigm involving 1-electron oxidation is valid, then some finite level of partitioning of aminium radicals between N-oxygenation and N-dealkylation might be expected in all cases. Methods were developed for the selective and sensitive measurement of N,N-dialkylaniline N-oxides using high performance liquid chromatography, radiochromatography, and TiCl3 reduction. These N-oxides were relatively stable in the presence of P450 2B1. In the presence of NADPH and NADPH-P450 reductase some reduction to N,N-dialkylamines occurred, along with N-dealkylation (to monoalkylanilines); there was also slow N-dealkylation in the absence of NADPH, which is interpreted in terms of homolytic scission of the N-O bond; N,N-dialkylanilines were not formed nor did the N-oxides support other oxygenation reactions. P450 2B1 (with its reductase and NADPH) formed N-oxides at low rates from several N,N-dialkylaniline derivatives, including N,N-dimethylaniline, N,N-diethylaniline, N-ethyl-N-methylaniline, 4-methyl-N,N-dimethylaniline, 4-cyano-N,N-dimethylaniline, N-phenylpyrrolidine, and N,N-dimethyl-2-aminofluorene. The ratio of N-dealkylation:N-oxygenation varied from 1020 to 6 in this series. These results are consistent with the view that aminium radicals are a branch point in N-oxygenation and N-dealkylation reactions catalyzed by metalloproteins, although some alternate explanations cannot be ruled out. While N-dealkylation is the dominant process in all of the P450-catalyzed amine oxidations, there should be a finite partition ratio between these reactions depending upon the particular enzyme and substrate. The N-oxygenation reaction is probably more complex than a direct radical recombination event and is postulated to involve one or more intermediates.
In Vitro and in Vivo Enhancement of Ganciclovir-Mediated Bystander Cytotoxicity with Gemcitabine

Abstract To improve bystander cell killing with HSV-TK/GCV, we have utilized dFdCyd to reduce endogenous dGTP, which competes with GCVTP for incorporation into DNA. In this study we demonstrate the ability of dFdCyd to enhance GCV-mediated bystander cytotoxicity in cultured SW620 human colon carcinoma cells as well as in a murine xenograft model. In vitro , dFdCyd reduced cellular dGTP levels and produced a fourfold increase in the GCVTP:dGTP ratio. This elevated GCVTP:dGTP ratio resulted in a twofold increase in GCVMP incorporation into DNA in bystander cells cocultured with HSV-TK-expressing cells. The combination of GCV and dFdCyd was determined to be synergistic by isobologram analysis of bystander cytotoxicity. Tumors in mice treated with GCV and dFdCyd exhibited a significant growth delay requiring 40 days to obtain ∼10 times their initial size compared to tumors in PBS- or single-drug-treated animals, which grew rapidly, increasing to a similar size in just 19 to 24 days. In addition, complete tumor regression was observed only in animals treated with both drugs. Furthermore, dFdCyd alone or in combination with GCV produced no evidence of toxicity or significant weight loss. These data suggest that dFdCyd may improve the clinical efficacy of HSV-TK/GCV gene therapies.
James Davis, The Music History Classroom

This review considers Davis’s edited collection in the context of other available single monographs dealing with music history pedagogy.
Abstract 4168: Dissect the clinical utility of TCGA genomic data across tumor types

Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA A central question for the cancer research community is how to use genomic and proteomic data to guide cancer care. We investigated two potential clinical applications of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data: predicting patient prognosis and identifying clinically actionable alterations. For four TCGA cohorts, we systematically evaluated the power of molecular data with or without clinical variables in predicting patient survival; and to facilitate further community efforts, we established an open-access model evaluation platform. We demonstrate that incorporating molecular data with clinical variables can improve predictive power. Interestingly, one model derived from ovarian cancer can predict outcomes in kidney cancer, suggesting the potential utility of cross-tumor analysis. Across 12 cancer types, we identified 10,281 somatic alterations in clinically relevant genes in 2,928 out of 3,277 patients (89.4%), revealing recurrent and potentially targetable alterations not revealed in single-tumor datasets. Our study represents the first systematic and comprehensive analysis evaluating the prognostic power of different types of molecular data across multiple cancer types. In addition, the clinically actionable alterations we identified may inform novel clinical trial design and treatment choice. Citation Format: Han Liang, TCGA Pan-Cancer Clinical/Predictor Group. Dissect the clinical utility of TCGA genomic data across tumor types. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 4168. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-4168
Exergy destruction during the combustion process as functions of operating and design parameters for a spark‐ignition engine

SUMMARY The second law of thermodynamics provides different perspectives compared with the first law, and provides the property exergy. Exergy is a measure of the work potential of energy from a given thermodynamic state. Unlike energy, exergy may be destroyed, and for reciprocating engines, the major source of this destruction is during the combustion process. This paper provides an overview of the quantitative levels of exergy destruction during the combustion process as function of engine operating and design parameters, and for eight fuels. The results of this study are based on a spark-ignition, automotive engine. The amount of exergy destroyed during the combustion process has been determined as functions of speed, load, equivalence ratio, start of combustion, combustion duration, combustion rate parameters, exhaust gas recirculation (EGR), inlet oxygen concentration, and compression ratio. In addition, design parameters that were examined included expansion ratio and the use of turbocharging. The fuels examined included isooctane (base), methane, propane, hexane, methanol, ethanol, hydrogen and carbon monoxide. For the part load base case (1400 rpm and a bmep of 325 kPa) using isooctane, the destruction of exergy was 20.8% of the fuel exergy. For many of the engine operating and design parameter changes, this destruction was relatively constant (between about 20 and 23%). The parameters that resulted in the greatest change of the exergy destruction were (1) equivalence ratio, (2) EGR, and (3) inlet oxygen concentration. For the base case conditions, the exergy destruction during the combustion process was different for the different fuels. The lowest destruction (8.1%) was for carbon monoxide and the highest destruction (20.8%) was for isooctane. The differences between the various fuels appear to relate to the complexity of the fuel molecule and the presence (or absence) of an oxygen atom. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Psychological Complications of Pediatric Obesity

Psychological complications associated with pediatric obesity include low self-esteem, depression, body dissatisfaction, loss-of-control eating, unhealthy and extreme weight control behaviors, impaired social relationships, obesity stigma, and decreased health-related quality of life. Bioecological models offer a framework for understanding the interaction between pediatric obesity and psychological complications and illustrate system-level approaches for prevention and intervention. As the medical setting is often the first point of contact for families, pediatricians are instrumental in the identification and referral of children with psychological complications. Motivational interviewing, patient talking points, brief screening measures, and referral resources are important tools in this process.
A review of Savant Syndrome and its possible relationship to epilepsy

The goal of this article is to review Savant Syndrome, characterized by outstanding islands of mental ability in otherwise handicapped individuals. Two forms exist: the congenital form and the acquired form. Among the many examples of the congenital form are the calendar calculators, who can quickly provide the day of the week for any date in the past; the musical savants, who have perfect pitch; and the hyperlexics, who (in one case) can read a page in 8s and recall the text later at a 99% level. Other types of talents and artistic skills involving three-dimensional drawing, map memory, poetry, painting, and sculpturing are also observed. One savant could recite without error the value of Pi to 22,514 places. Persons with the acquired form develop outstanding skills after brain injury or disease, usually involving the left frontotemporal area. This type of injury seems to inhibit the "tyranny of the left hemisphere," allowing the right hemisphere to develop the savant skills. Another way to inhibit the left frontotemporal area is to use transcranial magnetic stimulation in normal subjects; nearly one-half of these subjects can then perform new skills during the stimulation that they could not perform before. This type of finding indicates the potential in all of us for the development of savant skills in special circumstances. Explanations of congenital Savant Syndrome include enhanced local connectivity as a compensation for underconnectivity of long-range fibers, but also weak central coherence, replaced by great attention to detail, enhanced perceptual functioning, and obsessive preoccupation with specific interests.
Specular Reflectors for Prescribed Disturbed Radiant Heating from a Point Energy Source

This paper presents a mathematical model for designing a reflector shape which will produce a prescribed rotationally symmetric energy distribution on a plane workpiece using a single point energy source. The model considers spectral, directional, and polarizing effects. The necessary equations are developed and their solutions described. A reflector is designed to uniformly heat a 6-in-dia circle using a 200-w compact mercury-arc lamp. The validity of the model is demonstrated by constructing the designed reflector and experimentally confirming that the desired heat-flux distribution is achieved. It is quantitatively shown that the minor differences between the desired flux distribution and the actual distribution are due primarily to the finite source size and that a more precise distribution could be obtained by modeling the source as four point sources.
Media Attention and Public Perceptions of Cancer and Eastern Equine Encephalitis

Previous research has found that members of the public have a skewed sense of health risk. The purpose of this research was to investigate how mass media use influences perceptions of threat from cancer and eastern equine encephalitis (EEE). Investigators performed a media content analysis of 253 health-related articles from 11 Massachusetts newspapers, then used logistic regression to analyze responses to a health communication survey of 613 Massachusetts adults. A greater proportion of cancer articles compared to those about EEE mentioned progress in combating the disease (61.0% vs. 16.2%, P < 0.0001), while a greater proportion of EEE articles mentioned new incidents of illness (35.4%, vs. 4.6% P < 0.0001). Over half of all respondents perceived EEE as an equal or greater threat than cancer. Paying a lot of attention to health media was related to higher odds of perceiving EEE as a threat (OR 2.14; 95% CI 1.03-4.45), and of perceiving EEE as a threat compared to cancer (OR 2.18; 95% CI 1.24-3.84). Media treatment of health stories that emphasize the novelty and unpredictability of EEE compared to cancer may lead to distorted perceptions of threat among news consumers.
Self-mixing by on-chip preparation of aqueous two phase systems and its influence on extraction kinetics

This paper introduces an advantageous self-mixing phenomenon created during the formation of aqueous two-phase systems in a digital microfluidic device, for the first time. The influence of such self-mixing on enhancement of on-chip extraction kinetics is quantified and reported, highlighting a significant mixing capability in the absence of forced mixing. Results suggest potential applications of the self-mixing concept in portable microfluidics, where implementing complicated mixing sequences or device geometries are problematic.
Vibrational structure of GDP and GTP bound to RAS: an isotope-edited FTIR study.

A complete vibrational description of the bonding of a ligand to a protein requires the assignment of both symmetric and antisymmetric vibrational modes. The symmetric modes of isotopically enriched enzyme-bound ligands can be obtained by Raman difference spectroscopy, but until now, the antisymmetric modes, which require IR difference spectroscopy, have not been generally accessible. We have developed the methodology needed to perform IR difference spectroscopy, assign the antisymmetric modes, and accurately describe bonding. The method is used to assess the bonding changes that occur as Mg.GDP and Mg.GTP move from solution into the active site of RAS. Binding to RAS opens the nonbridging, O--P--O angle of the gamma-phosphate of GTP by 2.7 degrees, yet the angular freedom (dispersion of the O--P--O angle) of the gamma-phosphate is comparable to that in solution. In contrast, the motion of the beta-phosphate of GDP is highly restricted, suggesting that it positions the gamma-phosphate for nucleophilic attack. The beta,gamma-bridging O-P bond of bound GTP is slightly weakened, being lengthened by 0.005 A in the active site, corresponding to a bond order decrease of 0.012 valence unit (vu). The observed binding changes are consistent with a RAS-mediated hydrolysis mechanism that parallels that for solution hydrolysis.
Localization of limit sets of solutions of nonautonomous delay equations by nonmonotone functionals

We present new generalizations of the Barbashin-Krasovskii theorem which also apply to delay equations with unbounded right-hand side. These generalizations are based on information on the localization of the limit sets of solutions, which is obtained with the use of two classes of not necessarily monotone Lyapunov functionals. The classes of functionals to be used contain sign-definite Lyapunov-Krasovskii functionals as well as Lyapunov-Razumikhin functions.
Inducing coherent oscillations in the electron transfer dynamics of a strongly dissipative system with pulsed monochromatic light

Calculations are presented that suggest coherent oscillations in the electronic state populations of an electron transfer reaction in a polar solvent can be induced by subjecting the system to a sequence of monochromatic laser pulses on the picosecond time scale. These oscillations are produced by pumping the system between different steady state distributions attained in the presence and absence of a strong continuous-wave electric field. The amplitude and rise time of these time-dependent oscillations may be altered by changing the pulse duration and the electric field strength. The experimental realization of the proposed scheme will require strong electric fields (\ensuremath{\approx}${10}^{7}$ V/cm), and the effect will be most pronounced for activationless reactions.
Effects of administration of intravenous naloxone on gas exchange in brain-dead lung donors.

Objective—To observe the effect of naloxone on the lung function of potential lung transplant donors with neurogenic pulmonary edema.Design and Interventions—Donors aged 16 to 55 years without any factors to contraindicate lung donation (pneumonia, pulmonary contusion, etc) were included. Ventilator settings were standardized to a tidal volume of 10 to 12 mL/kg, an Fio2 of 0.40, and a respiratory rate that kept Pco2 between 35 and 45 mm Hg. Chest physiotherapy, nebulizer treatments, and frequent suctioning were undertaken. Baseline arterial blood gas analysis and an oxygen challenge were performed. The patients were then given 8 to 10 mg of naloxone. Oxygen challenges and arterial blood gas analyses were repeated every 4 to 6 hours. The data were analyzed by using a paired t test, and each patient served as his or her own control.Setting—These interventions were performed on the 19 LifeQuest donors who met the set criteria from July 2002 to July 2004.Results—The Pao2 on the oxygen challenge immediately af...
A macroscopic approach to heavy ion collisions and fission

Abstract A TDHF-based classical model is applied to heavy-ion reactions at energies above the Coulomb barrier and fission. The model is in very good agreement with TDHF calculations and with experimental results for a large variety of cases.
Prevalence of renovascular disease in the elderly: a population-based study

Abstract Purpose: The purpose of this investigation was to estimate the population-based prevalence of renovascular disease (RVD), defined as ≥60% diameter-reducing renal artery stenosis or occlusion, and to define its associations with age, gender, race, and other potential risk factors among participants in the Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS). Methods: The CHS is a multicenter, longitudinal cohort study of cardiovascular disease risk factors, morbidity, and mortality among free-living adults of more than 65 years of age. As part of an ancillary investigation, participants in the Forsyth County cohort of the CHS were invited to undergo renal duplex sonography (RDS) to define the presence or absence of RVD. RVD was defined as stenosis with a focal renal artery peak systolic velocity exceeding 1.8 m/s in the main renal artery and defined as occlusion when an imaged renal artery lacked a Doppler signal. Demographic and atherosclerotic risk factor data were gathered as part of the baseline CHS examination. Univariable tests of association were performed with χ 2 and Student t tests and logistic regression analysis. Multivariate associations were examined with logistic regression analysis. Results: Eight hundred seventy CHS participants underwent RDS. Of these examinations, 834 (96%) were technically adequate to define the presence or absence of RVD. The RDS study cohort had a mean age of 77.2 ± 4.9 years and consisted of 63% women and 37% men. Participant race was 76% white and 23% African American. The overall prevalence rate of RVD was 6.8%. Among the 57 patients with RVD, 50 (88%) had unilateral disease and seven (12%) had bilateral disease. Seven cases were seen of renal artery occlusion, including one case with contralateral renal artery stenosis. The mean ages of patients with and without RVD were 78.7 ± 5.7 years and 77.1 ± 4.9 years ( P = .018). RVD was present in 5.5% of women and 9.1% of men ( P = .053). RVD was present in 6.9% of white participants and 6.7% of African American participants ( P = .933). Multivariate analysis revealed increasing participant age ( P = .028; odds ratio, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.03, 1.73), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels of less than 40 mg/dL ( P = .003; odds ratio, 2.63; 95% CI, 1.40, 4.93), and increasing systolic blood pressure ( P = .007; odds ratio, 1.44; 95% CI, 1.10, 1.87) to be significantly and independently associated with the presence of RVD. Conclusion: This investigation provides the first population-based estimate of the prevalence of RVD among free-living, elderly black and white Americans. RVD was present in 6.8% of the study cohort. RVD showed no association with ethnicity. However, its presence was significantly and independently associated with increasing age, low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, and increasing systolic blood pressure. (J Vasc Surg 2002;36:443-51.)
Electrophoresis and immunodiffusion of proteins from the hemolymph of the large milkweed bug, Oncopeltus fasciatus (Dallas) (Hemiptera, Lygaeidae).

Abstract 1. 1. Starch gel electrophoresis of hemolymph from fifth instar nymph and adult milkweed bugs may give four anodic and eight cathodic protein fractions. The anodic band closest to the origin is the predominant fraction in hemolymph from insects of both stadia and either sex. The two cathodic bands closest to the origin stained for protein with an intensity slightly less than that of the predominant anodic band. 2. 2. All the protein fractions of hemolymph from fifth instar nymphs and adults of either sex contained antigens which reacted with antiserum to fifth instar nymph hemolymph. Protein fractions taken from corresponding portions of the starch gel block gave reactions of identity. One antigen was common to all fractions. At least four different antigens were detected. 3. 3. The presence of the major nymphal proteins in the adult hemolymph is discussed with regard to the feeding behavior and life cycle of the insect. 4. 4. Some of the hemolymph proteins bound Evans Blue, but dye bound to hemolymph protein did not have the mobility observed when it was bound to human serum albumin.