cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis: Staining for Surfactant Apoprotein in Alveolar Proteinosis and in Conditions Simulating It

Formalin fixed paraffin-embedded lung tissues (n = 13) or lavage material (n = 4) from 17 patients in whom alveolar proteinosis was the primary disease and ten patients with other primary diagnoses but lung morphology similar to alveolar proteinosis were examined. The tissues were stained by the periodic acid-Schiff method and by the immunoperoxidase method for surfactant specific apoprotein. The intra-alveolar material in patients with primary alveolar proteinosis stained uniformly for surfactant specific apoprotein, whereas the staining was focal in patients with other primary diseases associated with intra-alveolar accumulation of proteinacious material. In both situations, the number of inflammatory cells, especially macrophages, was small. These observations extend an earlier impression about the presence of surfactant specific apoprotein in alveolar spaces in patients with primary alveolar proteinosis and provide a distinction between primary alveolar proteinosis and morphologically similar appearance due to other causes, ie, secondary alveolar proteinosis. The lack of macrophages in the affected tissue appears to be the major pathogenetic factor in alveolar proteinosis.
Robust latch mapping for combinational equivalence checking

Existing literature on combinational equivalence checking concentrates on comparing combinational blocks and assumes that a latch mapping (register mapping) has already been constructed. We describe an algorithm for automatically constructing a latch mapping. It is based on the functionality of the circuits being compared rather than on heuristics. As a result, if two circuits are combinationally equivalent, then our algorithm is guaranteed to find a latch mapping. Our empirical results show that the method is practical on large circuits.
PTEN gives neutrophils direction.

Neutrophils can respond to many chemotactic signals, but how these cells 'prioritize' such signals to react to invading pathogens has remained unclear. The phosphatase PTEN seems to be critical in directing the migration of neutrophils toward their end target in a complex milieu of competing signals.
Altered hematopoiesis in glypican-3-deficient mice results in decreased osteoclast differentiation and a delay in endochondral ossification

Loss of function mutations in the gene encoding the heparan sulfate proteoglycan Glypican-3 (GPC3) causes an X-linked disorder in humans known as Simpson–Golabi–Behmel Syndrome (SGBS). This disorder includes both pre- and postnatal overgrowth, a predisposition to certain childhood cancers, and a complex assortment of congenital defects including skeletal abnormalities. In this study, we have identified a previously unrecognized delay in endochondral ossification associated with the loss of Gpc3 function. Gpc3 knockout animals show a marked reduction in calcified trabecular bone, and an abnormal persistence of hypertrophic chondrocytes at embryonic day 16.5 (E16.5). These hypertrophic chondrocytes down-regulate Type X collagen mRNA expression and undergo apoptosis, suggesting a normal progression of hypertrophic chondrocyte cell fate. However, replacement of these cells by mineralized bone is delayed in association with a marked delay in the appearance of osteoclasts in the bone in vivo. This delay in vivo correlates with a significant reduction in the capacity to form osteoclasts from bone marrow macrophage precursors in vitro in response to M-CSF and RANKL, and with a reduction in the numbers of bone-marrow-derived cells expressing the markers CD11b and Gr-1. Together, these results indicate selective impairment in the development of the common hematopoietic lineage from which monocyte/macrophages and PMNs are derived. This is the first report of a requirement for heparan sulfate, and specifically Gpc3, in the lineage-specific differentiation of these cell types in vivo.
SUPPLEMENTATION OF A WHEAT BREAD DIET WITH LYSINE AND THREONINE: EFFECTS UPON INTRAUTERINE GROWTH AND BRAIN BIOCHEMISTRY

— During pregnancy, rats were fed either a standard chow diet, a wheat bread diet or a wheat bread diet supplemented with lysine and threonine. At birth, the offspring of the dams fed the supplemented diet differed from the chow fed animals only in having a smaller amount of protein in the combined cerebellum and brain stem area while the pups whose dams were fed the bread diet showed lower brain weights, deficits in protein in all brain parts and deficits in DNA in the cerebrum.
Genetic effects on physical health: Lower at higher income levels.

Given the robust finding that people in higher income groups tend to experience better physical health, there is interest in identifying mechanisms underlying this gradient. Using a nationwide sample of 719 twin pairs from the National Survey of Midlife Development in the United States, we investigated the possibility that gene-environment interaction underlies the income-health gradient. We observed that genetic variance associated with 2 measures of physical health, number of chronic illnesses and body mass index, each declined significantly with increasing income. This interaction effect could not be removed by adjusting income for the presence of health insurance coverage and education, suggesting that the interaction is not simply a result of differences in levels of those characteristics with income.
Electrokinetic control of single molecules in fused silica fluidic nanochannels

We discuss single-molecule detection of fluorescently-labeled proteins in solution within a nanochannel fabricated in fused silica. Confocal fluorescence microscopy and fluorescence correlation spectroscopy are employed to monitor the motion of single molecules under electrokinetic control.
Discovering and Characterizing Hidden Variables in Streaming Multivariate Time Series

Time series data naturally arises in many domains, such as industrial process control, robotics, finance, medicine, climatology, and numerous others. In many cases variables known to be causally relevant cannot be measured directly or the existence of such variables is unknown. This paper presents an extension of the neural network architecture, called the LO-net [1], for inferring both the existence and values of hidden variables in streaming multivariate time series, leading to deeper understanding of the domain and more accurate prediction. The core idea is to initially make predictions with one network (the observable or O net) based on a time delay embedding, following this with a gradual reduction in the temporal scope of the embedding that forces a second network (the latent or L net) to learn to approximate the value of a single hidden variable, which is then input to the O net based on the original time delay embedding. Experiments show that the architecture efficiently and accurately identifies the number of hidden variables and their values over time.
Localization in Epilepsy

Pharmacologic therapy represents the first line of treatment of epilepsy and is effective in most patients. However, about 20% to 30% of cases develop intractable seizures that cannot be controlled by medication alone. In such cases, surgical intervention is considered for therapeutic, often curative purposes. Dynamic spatiotemporal variability in the epileptic focus renders seizure localization a challenge to the clinician. Many diagnostic modalities have been developed to identify different aspects of the epileptic focus. Older techniques are being increasingly supplemented by a variety of anatomic and functional imaging modalities that can help clarify discrepancies. Invasive electroencephalography remains the gold standard for identifying epileptic foci and guiding the surgeon to successful resections.
Treadmill aerobic training improves glucose tolerance and indices of insulin sensitivity in disabled stroke survivors: a preliminary report.

Background and Purpose— Insulin resistance and glucose intolerance are highly prevalent after stroke, contributing to worsening cardiovascular disease risk and a predisposition to recurrent stroke. Treadmill exercise training (T-AEX) increases aerobic capacity (Vo2 peak) in chronic stroke patients, suggesting intensity levels that may be adequate to improve glucose metabolism. We compared the effects of a progressive T-AEX intervention to an attention-matched stretching intervention (CONTROL) on glucose tolerance and indices of insulin sensitivity in stroke survivors. Methods— Participants had hemiparetic gait after remote (>6 months) ischemic stroke. They were randomized to 6-month T-AEX or a duration matched reference CONTROL program of supervised stretching exercises. Main outcome measures were glucose and insulin responses during a 3-hour oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Results— Forty-six subjects (T-AEX=26, CONTROL=20) completed OGTT testing before and after the interventions. T-AEX increased Vo2...
Ischemic Brain Injury After Intracerebral Hemorrhage A Critical Review

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is the second most common cause of stroke and accounts for 8% to 15% of strokes in Western societies with an estimated incidence of 10 to 25 per 100 000 persons.1–3 Despite advances in the field of stroke and neurocritical care,4 the 30-day mortality has not changed significantly over the past 20 years.3 Indeed, ICH has the highest rates of dependence or death among stroke types and proven treatments are lacking. Clinical trials aimed at limiting hemorrhage growth, procoagulant agents for hemostasis,5 and surgical evacuation6 have not translated into improved clinical outcomes. Antihypertensive therapy for the purpose of reducing hematoma growth has been a mainstay of acute management. Guidelines recommend maintaining mean arterial pressure <130 mm Hg during the acute phase7; however, controversies exist given the lack of randomized clinical trial data and uncertainties about the rapidity and target level of blood pressure (BP)-lowering. Recent Phase 2 clinical trials evaluating acute BP control have shown promise in reducing hematoma expansion with an adequate safety profile and Phase 3 trials are underway.8,9 Besides hematoma growth, other pathophysiological processes occur in the setting of ICH and may serve as potential therapeutic targets. In the acute period after ICH, a rapid rise in intracranial pressure (ICP) from an expanding hematoma may reduce cerebral perfusion pressure. In this setting, interventions aimed at BP-lowering and hemostasis may theoretically induce thrombosis or exacerbate brain ischemia, particularly in patients with pre-existing cerebrovascular disease. A recent publication suggests that aggressive BP-lowering may actually cause acute brain ischemia and worsen outcomes after ICH.10 In this review, we outline the data on secondary acute ischemic injury after ICH, review the prevalence of remote ischemic lesions and risk factors associated with their occurrence, explore potential …
X-chromosome inactivation: the molecular basis of silencing

X-chromosome inactivation occurs randomly for one of the two X chromosomes in female cells during development. Inactivation occurs when RNA transcribed from the Xist gene on the X chromosome from which it is expressed spreads to coat the whole X chromosome. In the first issue of Epigenetics and Chromatin, Nesterova and colleagues investigate the role of the RNA interference pathway enzyme Dicer in DNA methylation of the Xist promoter.
Economic impact on physicians and hospitals of proposed changes in Medicare reimbursement for coronary interventions

Abstract Background The federal government is implementing changes in reimbursement for angioplasty and coronary stenting. These include reductions in physician reimbursement and a redesignation of intracoronary stents to a different diagnosis-related group than other methods of intracoronary intervention. Objective The aim of this study was to examine the financial impact on physicians and hospitals of proposed federal reimbursement policies for percutaneous coronary revascularization procedures. Methods We modeled the financial effects of 3 different stenting strategies: strategy I is the most conservative, with stents reserved for addressing lab complications; strategy II stents are used for suboptimal results after attempts at conventional percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA); strategy III is the most aggressive, with initial stenting of all accessible lesions. We used economic data on PTCA and stent costs from a 1996 dataset and made assumptions about PTCA and stent success rates and restenosis rates based on published data. Results Under current reimbursement policies, physician revenues and profits are approximately equal under all 3 stenting strategies. After the proposed changes, there is a slight financial incentive for physicians to pursue the more aggressive strategy III, but the major financial effect is a substantial overall decline in revenues with any of the 3 strategies. For hospitals, the present situation strongly favors the more conservative strategies, but after the proposed changes the more aggressive stenting strategies will be more profitable, thus realigning physician and hospital incentives. Health care delivery organizations that combine physician and hospital income streams achieve the greatest financial stability. Conclusions Current reimbursement policies for angioplasty and stenting have created misaligned incentives between physicians and hospitals. Proposed changes do not present physicians with large economic incentives to pursue aggressive versus conservative stent strategies but substantially address the current disparity in hospital financial incentives. (Am Heart J 1999;137:258-63.)
Structural Considerations in Defining Executable Process Models

This paper examines the question of how to structure the representation of a process in order to assure that the representation is effective in supporting such diverse activities as process understanding, communication among process participants, and process execution. The paper uses the example of a negotiation process to demonstrate that one process structure (which we refer to as the narrative form) seems to be quite effective in supporting understanding and communication, but then indicates that this structure seems problematic in supporting process execution. The paper indicates that a different structure (which we refer to as the role-oriented form) seems much more appropriate and effective in supporting execution, but may be lacking at supporting communication. In addition to serving different purposes, the two structures seem to represent different underlying models---a static process model, and a similar, but more complex, execution model. The properties of these two complementary structures are then analyzed and evaluated. The paper then uses these observations to raise questions about the underlying needs for effective process representation, suggesting in particular that a single process representation may not be a suitable basis for supporting the range of needs that process representations are expected to address.
Nanocrystalline Piezoresistive Polysilicon Film by Aluminum-Induced Crystallization for Pressure-Sensing Applications

Nanocrystalline piezoresistive polysilicon films were obtained at low temperatures by aluminum-induced crystallization (AIC). The films exhibited granular structure with good polycrystalline properties. A piezoresistive pressure sensor was fabricated on a polyimide substrate, in a Wheatstone bridge configuration comprising two passive resistors and two active piezoresistors made of polysilicon films obtained by AIC. The resistors showed linear I-V characteristics with typical resistance values between 15 and 30 kΩ . Atomic force microscopy was used in contact mode to study the response of the pressure sensor with applied pressure in the 2-19 kPa range. For the higher range of 450 kPa-2 MPa, a load-cell with a nanopositioner was utilized. The pressure-sensor sensitivity was measured to be 41.12 and 5.02 mV/MPa, respectively, for these ranges, when the Wheatstone bridge was bias at 1 V.
Is There a Preferred Combination Chemotherapy Regimen for Metastastic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer?

Since over 70% of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have advanced (locally advanced or metastatic) disease, the majority of NSCLC patients might benefit from chemotherapy. During the past decade, a number of new agents (paclitaxel, docetaxel, gemcitabine, vinorelbine, irinotecan, and topotecan) have been found to be effective against lung cancer. These agents have been combined with cisplatin, carboplatin, and nonplatinum drugs to treat NSCLC. They, in general, produce median survival times of 8-10 months and 1- and 2-year survival rates of 35%-40% and 10%15%, respectively. Based on this review, there is not a preferred combination chemotherapy regimen to treat advanced NSCLC patients. However, there are a number of different regimens from which to choose. The Oncologist 2002;7:226-233
Hyperphosphorylation of Na-Pump Contributes to Defective Renal Dopamine Response in Old Rats

Abstract . Dopamine D 1 -like receptor activation causes phosphorylation and inhibition of Na,K-ATPase (Na-pump) activity in the proximal tubules, which is associated with an increase in sodium excretion. It has been shown that dopamine and SKF 38393, a D 1 -like receptor agonist, caused inhibition of Na,K-ATPase activity in the proximal tubules of adult (6 mo) but not of old (24 mo) Fischer 344 rats. The present study demonstrated that SKF 38393 and PDBu, a phorbol ester and protein kinase C (PKC) activator, increased phosphorylation of the α 1 -subunit of Na,K-ATPase in adult but not in old rats. In adult rats, SKF 38393-mediated phosphorylation was antagonized by SCH 23390, a D 1 -like receptor antagonist. Similarly, Na,K-ATPase activity was inhibited by SKF 38393 and PDBu in adult but not in old rats. The basal activity of Na,K-ATPase was decreased and the basal phosphorylation state of the enzyme was increased in old compared with adult rats. Basal activity of PKC was higher in old compared with adult rats, and SKF 38393 and PDBu stimulated PKC activity in adult but not in old rats. The conclusion is that the failure of D 1 -like receptor agonist and phorbol ester to stimulate PKC and inhibit Na,K-ATPase activity in old rats is due, at least in part, to the higher basal PKC activity and Na,K-ATPase phosphorylation in old compared with adult rats.
Methods for Evaluating the Temperature Structure-Function Parameter Using Unmanned Aerial Systems and Large-Eddy Simulation

Small-scale turbulent fluctuations of temperature are known to affect the propagation of both electromagnetic and acoustic waves. Within the inertial-subrange scale, where the turbulence is locally homogeneous and isotropic, these temperature perturbations can be described, in a statistical sense, using the structure-function parameter for temperature, \(C_{T}^2\). Here we investigate different methods of evaluating \(C_{T}^2\), using data from a numerical large-eddy simulation together with atmospheric observations collected by an unmanned aerial system and a sodar. An example case using data from a late afternoon unmanned aerial system flight on April 24 2013 and corresponding large-eddy simulation data is presented and discussed.
Distinguishing bias from sensitivity effects in multialternative detection tasks

Studies investigating the neural bases of cognitive phenomena increasingly employ multialternative detection tasks that seek to measure the ability to detect a target stimulus or changes in some target feature (e.g., orientation or direction of motion) that could occur at one of many locations. In such tasks, it is essential to distinguish the behavioral and neural correlates of enhanced perceptual sensitivity from those of increased bias for a particular location or choice (choice bias). However, making such a distinction is not possible with established approaches. We present a new signal detection model that decouples the behavioral effects of choice bias from those of perceptual sensitivity in multialternative (change) detection tasks. By formulating the perceptual decision in a multidimensional decision space, our model quantifies the respective contributions of bias and sensitivity to multialternative behavioral choices. With a combination of analytical and numerical approaches, we demonstrate an optimal, one-to-one mapping between model parameters and choice probabilities even for tasks involving arbitrarily large numbers of alternatives. We validated the model with published data from two ternary choice experiments: a target-detection experiment and a length-discrimination experiment. The results of this validation provided novel insights into perceptual processes (sensory noise and competitive interactions) that can accurately and parsimoniously account for observers' behavior in each task. The model will find important application in identifying and interpreting the effects of behavioral manipulations (e.g., cueing attention) or neural perturbations (e.g., stimulation or inactivation) in a variety of multialternative tasks of perception, attention, and decision-making.
Emergence of Overwintered Boll Weevils (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in Relation to Microclimatic Factors

The boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis Boheman, enters a diapause state to survive winters in temperate regions and subsequently emerges from overwintering habitats to infest squaring cotton in the spring. Previous research has found that boll weevil overwintering emergence is closely associated with climatic patterns of temperature and precipitation. The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of temperature, humidity, and other meteorological factors on the temporal pattern of boll weevil emergence, and to compare the physiological and morphological conditions of emerged and trapped weevils. Emergence cages were infested with diapausing weevils in the fall. Daily emergence and microclimatic conditions of the leaf litter and air were monitored until the subsequent summer. Air temperature and relative humidity, incident solar radiation, and precipitation were significantly greater on emergence dates than on dates with no emergence. Emerged and trapped weevils were dissected to assess their morphology. Emerged weevils tended to exhibit greater fat body development, a higher frequency of testicular atrophy, and less ovary development than trapped weevils. None of the emerged weevils were rated extra lean and no trapped weevils were rated fat. These results are consistent with previously-reported effects of climatic factors on weevil emergence in other areas of the Cotton Belt, and add new information about the physiological and morphological characteristics of emerged weevils. This information on the dynamics and mechanisms of overwintering provides insight that should be helpful in formulating improved predictive models, risk assessments, and management strategies for the boll weevil.
Why HL Theory Cannot Qualify as a General Theory of Chemical Bonding

In a previous section, we argued that stereoselection, as exemplified by the relative energetics of a Huckel versus a Mobius system, can be treated in a “qualitative” sense via HL theory. The hallmark of problems of this type is that both systems under comparison can be described by one and the same set of HL CW’s which are identically “connected”, the expressions of the energy and overlap matrix elements have identical form in the two systems under comparison in a one to one sense, and the final energy difference is due to a difference in the signs of the AO overlap integrals. As a result, the final answer does not depend on the precise numerical value attained by the critical variable, namely, the AO overlap integral, but, rather, it depends on whether this critical variable is positive, or negative. To put it crudely, in problems of this type, it is parity, i.e., the sign rather than magnitude of sij,which holds the key to the understanding of the problem. As a result, HL theory is “qualitatively” adequate.
Memes in Digital Culture, edited by Limor Shifman. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 2014. x + 200 pp. $15.95 paper. ISBN 9780262525435 paper.

Memes in Digital Culture fits in your pocket. Part of the MIT Press Essential Knowledge Series, Limor Shifman's book is both “accessible” and “concise” on a topic of “current interest” (vii)—just a...
Sources and changes in groundwater quality with increasing urbanization, Northeastern Illinois

During the last decade of the twentieth century, McHenry County had the fastest-growing population in Illinois. Just north of the Chicago metropolitan area, land use in the eastern half of the county changed from row-crop agriculture to urban sprawl. Water supplies are from shallow sand and gravel aquifers and are highly vulnerable. We evaluated the change of groundwater quality in McHenry County during most of the twentieth century and identified the degree and extent of contamination, and sources, using available historic water-quality data. To evaluate historic data, we calculated background concentrations of selected ions using cumulative probability plots to identify the presence of anthropogenic contamination. Timing of groundwater contamination coincides with that of population growth and the onset of utilization of artificial N-fertilizer and road salt. Groundwater from urban areas showed greater Na + and Cl − contents than rural areas, which reflect more extensive applications of road salt beginning in the early 1960s. Groundwater was collected for chemical and isotope analyses from selected shallow wells with historically elevated NO 3 − concentration as well as from farms with livestock. The isotope data suggest N-fertilizer and soil nitrogen are the predominant sources for NO 3 − in shallow groundwater. Animal waste was also a source for NO 3 − near farms with livestock. Spatial analysis suggested that the source of NO 3 − in the groundwater was from surface-borne contaminants. The permeable soils and near-surface sand and gravel aquifer found in most of McHenry County provide pathways for surface contaminants to migrate into shallow groundwater.
Electrically Addressable Biomolecular Functionalization of Conductive Nanocrystalline Diamond Thin Films

Electrically addressable biomolecular functionalization of diamond thin films is achieved by growing a conductive diamond thin film on molybdenum electrodes, functionalizing to produce surface nitro groups, and electrochemically reducing the nitro groups on specific diamond-coated electrodes to primary amines. The amines are then used to covalently link DNA to the surface.
Recent Progress of Hot Jet Aeroacoustics Using 3-D Large-Eddy Simulation

Improvements in computing speed over the past decade have made Large Eddy Simulation (LES) an attractive tool to study jet noise. In addition, the study of turbulent hot jets for noise prediction is desirable compared to cold/isothermal jets since all jet engines fltted on aircraft operate at hot exhaust conditions. In this regard, we present results for two heated jets with temperature ratios of Tj=T1 = 1:76 and Tj=T1 = 2:70, respectively. A computational grid with approximately 4.8 million grid points is used the simulation. Spatial flltering is used as an implicit subgrid scale SGS model in place of the classical Smagorinsky and Dynamic Smagorinsky models. To study the far-fleld noise, the porous Ffowcs Williams-Hawkings (FWH) surface integral acoustic formulation is employed. The jet development results obtained using our LES methodology are consistent with other LES data and experimental results. The predicted OASPL values for our heated jets follow the trend measured by experiments though our results over-predict by approximately 3dB. Overall, our LES methodology coupled with the Ffowcs Williams-Hawkings aeroacoustics methodology provide satisfactory results.
ON CONSTRUCTIVE-ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY OF COMPARATIVE PHILOSOPHY: A JOURNAL THEME INTRODUCTION

In this journal theme introduction, first, I explain how comparative philosophy as explored in the journal Comparative Philosophy is understood and how it is intrinsically related to the constructive engagement strategy. Second, to characterize more clearly and accurately some related methodological points of the constructive-engagement strategy, and also to explain how constructive engagement is possible, I introduce some needed conceptual and explanatory resources and a meta-methodological framework and endeavor to identify adequacy conditions for methodological guiding principles in comparative studies. Third, as a case analysis, I show how the constructive-engagement reflective practice bears on recent studies of Chinese and comparative Chinese-Western philosophy, especially in the past decade, for two purposes: to illustrate the foregoing theoretic characterization of the constructive engagement strategy, and to identify and explain some constructive morals that might have general significance for comparative studies.
The Epidemiology of Varicella and Its Correlation with Environmental Factors in Xiaogan City during 2009-2012

Objective: To explore the incidence and the epidemiological characteristics of varicella in Xiaogan city.Methods: During 2009 to 2012,the epidemic investigational parameter was designed,the temporary viewpoint in the peripheral locality around Xiaogan area was set up,and the clinical observation and the investigation of sporadic cases by dermatologist were carried out.The local epidemic prevention statistics data in the last few years was analyzed,and the SPSS 18 software was used for statistical processing.Results: A total of 6324 cases of varicella,without one single casualty,were reported in Xiaogan during 2009-2012.The average annual incidence was 32.838 /100,000 population.Varicella cases occurred in every month during the three years.The peak of the incidence occurred in summer(from May to June,25.90%) and winter(from November to December,27.02%).It has no correlation with temperature(r =-0.15,P 0.05) 、 relative humidity(r =-0.29,P 0.05) and rain capacity(r = 0.16,P 0.05).Conclusion: We should pay more attention to the possible influence by the environmental factors.Measures should be taken to improve the inoculation rate of varicella vaccine and reduce the incidence of varicella.
Abstract IA24: Immune checkpoint therapy: Immune monitoring on presurgical and tissue-based clinical trials

Immune checkpoint therapies, including anti-CTLA-4, anti-PD-1 and anti-PD-L1, have led to significant clinical responses in cancer patients. To investigate immunologic changes and mechanistic pathways that are elicited by these therapies, we conducted pre-surgical clinical trials, which permit access to sufficient tumor tissues for laboratory studies. The first pre-surgical trial was conducted with anti-CTLA-4 (ipilimumab) in a cohort of patients with localized bladder cancer. This trial provided access to sufficient tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes to conduct phenotypic and functional studies on these cells, which indicated the ICOS/ICOSL pathway as relevant for anti-tumor immune responses in the setting of anti-CTLA-4 therapy. In addition, since standard agents that enable tumor cell death may allow for priming of a T cell immune response that can be augmented by combination with CTLA-4 blockade, we conducted a pre-surgical clinical trial with androgen deprivation (hormonal) therapy ADT+ anti-CTLA-4 (ipilimumab), in the setting of patients with regional, high-risk prostate cancer. These pre-surgical clinical trials, and other tissue-based clinical trials, led to the identification of biomarkers and additional targets. These data, which are being used to design future immunotherapy trials, will be discussed in greater details. Citation Format: Padmanee Sharma. Immune checkpoint therapy: Immune monitoring on presurgical and tissue-based clinical trials. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the CRI-CIMT-EATI-AACR Inaugural International Cancer Immunotherapy Conference: Translating Science into Survival; September 16-19, 2015; New York, NY. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Immunol Res 2016;4(1 Suppl):Abstract nr IA24.
Elucidating GPCR Functional Dependence on Plasma Membrane Composition using Giant Unilamellar Protein-Vesicles

Using an agarose hydration technique for protein incorporation into vesicular bilayers, we elucidate the effects of membrane composition and ordering on G Protein Coupled Receptors (GPRCs). We successfully incorporate GPCRs into model membranes in the form of giant unilamellar protein-vesicles (GUPs). Using this completely in vitro platform we observe that the functional rate of the human serotonin receptor, GPCR 5-HT1A, and the A2a Adenosine GPCR is dependent on membrane composition and ordering. We use BODIPY-GTPγS as our fluorescent marker to track the irreversible exchange between GDP and GTP on G proteins over time in GUPs composed of 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC), brain sphingomyelin (BSM), and cholesterol (Chol) as well as synthetic lamellar phase diblock copolymer. Furthermore, using this approach we demonstrate that the incorporated receptors display a biased orientation with the N-terminus located on the exterior (extracellular) and the C-terminus on the interior (cytosolic).
Histoplasma Capsulatum Epididymitis

We report 2 cases of epididymal histoplasmosis. In 1 patient an epididymal abscess was the sole manifestation of histoplasmosis and in the other an epididymal abscess occurred with paratracheal lymphadenopathy. Although uncommon histoplasmosis can cause symptomatic genitourinary tract disease and must be differentiated from tuberculosis, tumors and other fungal and bacterial infections.
Hydraulic hemostasis in transurethral resection of the prostate using the Iglesias continuous suction resectoscope.

AbstractAn intravesicoprostatic hydrostatic pressure less than 10 mm. Hg maintains normal anatomy and physiology of the muscular and vascular prostatic structures. An increase in hydrostatic intravesicoprostatic pressure to more than 10 mm. Hg produces a distortion in the musculature of the prostate, especially at the true capsule, opening the cut vessels and making possible the absorption of the irrigant free of electrolytes (transurethral resection syndrome). A low hydrostatic intravesicoprostatic pressure permits the compression of cut vessels by the inflow hydraulic pressure of 90 cm. water, achieving hydraulic hemostasis during transurethral resection of the prostate. Less electrocoagulation is necessary, resulting in more rapid patient recovery.
Vermeidung persönlicher Stolpersteine – Risikofaktoren in internationalen Geschäftsbeziehungen

Konfliktbewaltigung in fremden Landern konnte fur viele Menschen durchaus eine grose Herausforderung sein, insbesondere wenn sie noch gar nicht in Sicht oder im Bewusstsein sind. Seien Sie wachsam und lernfahig, aber trauen Sie doch Ihr eigenes Urteilsvermogen. Je mehr Sie an sich selber arbeiten, desto leichter wird es fur Sie, mit der Andersartigkeit zu konfrontieren. Umso mehr konnen Sie Ihre Methoden optimieren.
Klebsiella oxytoca Endocarditis With Complete Heart Block

Gram-negative bacterial endocarditis causes 5% of all bacterial endocarditis. Among gram-negative bacteria, Klebsiella species are rare causes of native valve endocarditis. Klebsiella oxytoca is an extremely rare subspecies that can infrequently cause endocarditis and is associated with poor outcome. We report a case of Klebsiella oxytoca endocarditis in an elderly man who initially presented with stroke but later developed sepsis and heart block secondary to endocarditis.
Evaluation of capillary rise methods for determining wettability of powders

A gravimetric method for measuring rates of capillary rise in powders was explored. Methods to improve reproducibility and consistency of the results were investigated. In particular, the effects of particle size and packing uniformity were addressed. Studies of the wetting behavior of both spherical glass beads and irregularly shaped synthetic graphite particles by various organic liquids were carried out. Standardized procedures for bed preparation will be described. The applicability of the Washburn equation for surface energy evaluation in such systems will be discussed.
Examining the Generality of τ0/TKE for Gravel and Cobble Beds with Sand Fill

AbstractTurbulence measurements over rough beds are used for a variety of purposes, including studies of habitat diversity for aquatic organisms, stream restoration efforts, and assessment of drag induced by vegetation. Turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) has been used to estimate bed shear stress by use of a proportionality constant of 0.19–0.21. The TKE method of bed shear stress estimation is less sensitive to flow misalignment relative to Reynolds stress or mean velocity measurements, but it has not been tested across a broad range of hydraulic conditions. In the work reported here, TKE was compared to bed shear stresses for gravel (D50=35 mm) and cobble (D50=156 mm) beds with varying discharges and levels of sand fill (D50=0.3 mm). The ratio of bed shear stress (τ0) with TKE was not strongly affected by mean velocity for either the gravel or cobble beds, but it was affected by bed roughness. The mean of the median values of τ0/TKE across three mean velocities was 0.24 for gravel with no sand in the bed...
Acadiana and the Cajun Cultural Space: Adaptation, Accommodation, and Authenticity

This chapter evaluates the French culture of the Acadiana area of Southwest Louisiana, which comprises 22 of the state’s 64 parishes and 30 percent of the state’s population of some 4 million. It is called Acadiana, after the original Canadian land from which the population came, what was called Acadie (comprising what is now Nova Scotia with parts of New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island). The word Cajun is most likely a corruption of Acadian although, as will be seen time and again herein, very little about folkloric tradition can be stated with certainty. The original French Canadians of Acadie were intentionally expelled by the British form the North American territory ceded to Great Britain by the Treaty of Urecht in 1715. This is referred to as Le Grand Derangement and is immortalized in Longfellow’s poem “Evangeline.”
A Qualitative Examination of Youth Voice in the Decision-Making Process within the 4-H Youth Development Program: Promoting Promising Practices in Overcoming Barriers

This paper discusses a national study designed to identify and describe obstacles to youth voice in the decision-making process in the 4-H youth development program from the perception of three distinct populations - State 4-H Program Leaders, 4-H State Youth Development Specialists, and 4-H Youth Agents/Educators. When examining these professionals’ views on the barriers affecting youth voice in the decision-making process, time and scheduling seem to consistently present the largest barrier to youth voice. Involvement in the decision-making process provides a wide range of hurdles including the opportunity structures, involvement procedures, representation and dynamics within the process. Adult power and control provides a significant hurdle to authentic engagement of youth voice in the decision-making progress. Respect barriers were described by concepts such as preconceived notions, trust and valuing input. Additional barriers were identified including organizational culture, lack of transportation, lack of knowledge/experience, lack of preparation, lack of training, fear, misguided leadership, unclear expectations, participation, staffing and lack of resources.
Reducing Inter-Process Communication Overhead in Parallel Sparse Matrix-Matrix Multiplication

Parallel sparse matrix-matrix multiplication algorithms PSpGEMM spend most of their running time on inter-process communication. In the case of distributed matrix-matrix multiplications, much of th...
Reconstitution of Staphylococcus aureus Lipoteichoic Acid Synthase Activity Identifies Congo Red as a Selective Inhibitor.

Lipoteichoic acid (LTA) is an anionic surface polymer that is essential for normal growth of Staphylococcus aureus, making the LTA polymerase, LTA synthase (LtaS), a proposed drug target for combating Staphylococcal infections. LtaS is a polytopic membrane protein with five membrane-spanning helices and an extracellular domain, and it uses phosphatidylglycerol to assemble a glycerol phosphate chain on a glycosylated diacylglycerol membrane anchor. We report here the first reconstitution of LtaS polymerization activity and show that the azo dye Congo red inhibits this enzyme both in vitro and in cells. Related azo dyes and the previously reported LtaS inhibitor 1771 have weak or no in vitro inhibitory activity. Synthetic lethality with mutant strains known to be nonviable in the absence of LTA confirms selective inhibition by Congo red. As the only validated LtaS inhibitor, Congo red can serve as a probe to understand how inhibiting lipoteichoic acid biosynthesis affects cell physiology and may also guide ...
Hitting a Wall? The Trump Administration Meets Immigration Federalism

Immigration policy over the last decade has been characterized by sustained congressional inaction, unilateral executive action, and an intensification of policy activity at the state and local level. The combination of immigration federalism and congressional fecklessness means that, in spite of radical differences in policy intent, Donald Trump’s nativist agenda faces constraints similar to those that undermined Barack Obama’s integrationist agenda. The failure to chart a consistent legislative course for national immigration policy has propelled centrifugal forces at the state and local level, with three consequences. First, state and local governments have grown increasingly assertive in pressing their claims to policy authority via legislation, resolutions, executive actions, and court challenges. Second, wide policy differences have emerged across states, as have policy contradictions and conflicts within some states. Finally, while the federal government retains plenary power over immigration policy, the breadth of state and local laws governing immigrant lives increasingly constitutes a de facto encroachment into that authority.
Walking Gait Before and After Chiropractic Care Following Fifth Metatarsal Fractures: A Single Case Kinetic and Kinematic Study

Abstract Objectives The purpose of this report is to describe the kinetic and kinematic analysis of walking gait following healed left proximal fifth metatarsal fractures. Clinical Features A 62-year-old female presented at a chiropractic clinic with concerns that recent metatarsal fractures had not fully resolved and reported abnormal gait due to pain and several weeks use of a “walking boot.” The patient’s walking gait was evaluated with a force-sensor treadmill and an inertial measurement unit motion capture system. Recordings were made before, at midpoint, and post-chiropractic care (11 visits total). Data were analyzed for spatio-temporal gait parameters, vertical ground reaction forces, and ranges of motion of the hip, knee, and ankle. Intervention and Outcome Pre-care, the patient’s self-rated disability in walking was 50 out of 80 on a Lower Extremity Functional Scale, which improved to 80 out of 80, post-care. Her self-selected preferred walking speed increased, as did step length, cadence, and single support time. Increased symmetry was seen in timing of peak ground reaction forces, stance phase percentages of loading and pre-swing, and ranges of motion for hip and knee flexion and extension. Conclusions The patient recovered completely, and the post-injury kinematic and kinetic data allowed for quantification of gait patterns and changes in the clinical environment.
Multiple Internal Resonance in Suspended Cables under Random In-Plane Loading

The random excitation of a suspended cable with simultaneous internal resonances is considered. The internal resonances can take place among the first in-plane and the first two out-of-plane modes. The external loading is represented by a wide-band random process. The response statistics are estimated using the Fokker-Planck-Kolmogorov (FPK) equation, together with Gaussian and non-Gaussian closures. Monte Carlo simulation is also used for numerical verification. The unimodal in-plane motion exists in regions away from the internal resonance condition. The mixed mode interaction is manifested within a limited range of internal detuning parameters, depending on the excitation power spectrum density and damping ratios. The Gaussian closure scheme failed to predict bounded solutions of mixed mode interaction. The non-Gaussian closure results are in good agreement with the Monte Carlo simulation. The on-off intermittency of the autoparametrically excited modes is observed in the Monte Carlo simulation over a small range of excitation levels. The influence of the cable parameters, such as damping ratios, sag-to-span ratio, internal detuning parameters, and excitation level on the autoparametric interaction, is studied. It is found that the internal detuning and excitation level are the two main parameters which affect the autoparametric interaction among the three modes. Due to the system's nonlinearity, the response of the three modes is strongly non-Gaussian and the coupled modes experience irregular modulation.
Bibliographical Backgrounds: Generation of Radicals by Visible Light Photoredox Catalysis

Visible light has the potential to serve as a sustainable, clean, economical and abundant source of energy. Visible light-induced electron transfer reactions are thus widely used in nature. Photosynthetic organisms absorb visible light by antenna proteins containing chromophores. Subsequent photon-induced electron transfers generate charge-separated states which are used to prepare various high-energy molecules required to fuel organisms. The progressive elucidation of the molecular mechanisms of photosynthesis has raised tremendous hopes that efficient means would be found for artificial conversion of solar energy. Thus, one century ago, Professor Ciamician (University of Bologna), one of the pioneer in photochemistry forecasted: “The photochemical processes, that hitherto have been guarded secret of the plants, will have been mastered by human industry which will know how to make them bear even more abundant fruit than nature, for nature is not in a hurry but mankind is”.
Hardy Spaces on the Disk

In this chapter the classical theory of the Hardy spaces on the open unit disk will be explored. The structure of the functions belonging to the spaces H p will be determined, and this will be applied to characterize the invariant subspaces of multiplication by the independent variable on a Hardy space.
High Intraocular Pressure Detection from Frontal Eye Images: A Machine Learning Based Approach

This paper presents a novel framework to detect the status of intraocular pressure (normal/high) using solely frontal eye image analysis. The framework is based on machine learning approaches to extract six features from frontal eye images. These features include Pupil/Iris ratio, red area percentage, mean redness level of the sclera, and three novel features from the sclera contour (angle, area and distance). Four hundred frontal eye images were used as the image database. The images were taken and annotated by ophthalmologists at Princess Basma Hospital. The proposed framework is fully automated and once the six features were extracted, two classifiers (decision tree and support vector machine) were applied to obtain the status of the eye in terms of eye pressure. The overall accuracy of the proposed framework is 95.5% using the decision tree classifier.