cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Use of Biologically Active Barriers for in situ Treatment of Contaminated Groundwater

Aerobic biodegradation has been shown to be effective for many fuel spills. However, success is often limited by the inability to provide sufficient oxygen to the contaminated intervals due to the low solubility of oxygen. Nitrate can serve as an electron acceptor in place of oxygen and results in anaerobic biodegradation of organics via denitrification. Since nitrate is less expensive and more soluble than oxygen, it may be more economical to restore fuel-contaminated aquifers using nitrate rather than oxygen. The aim of this study is to design a two layer trench system to offer an alternative of treating groundwater contaminated with low levels of organics which will be less expensive than the biological and physical processes currently in use. The proposed barrier includes a cement-nutrient(nitrate and phosphate)-briquet layer and a peat layer. Denitrifiers growing on the briquets in the first layer will use the nutrients released from cement-nutrient briquets and degrade BTEX transported into the surface of an attached biofilm. The peat layer will be used to adsorb the residual organics and remove excess nitrate. Laboratory studies are being conducted to evaluate BTEX biotransformation and assess the potential to remediate contaminated aquifers using a nutrient briquet-peat barrier system. Batch equilibrium experiments were conducted to estimate the nutrient release rate and parameters for transport models. Simulated transport results were then compared with results from a one dimensional column test. Microcosm experiments were performed to evaluate BTEX degradation rate under aerobic, anaerobic, and denitrifying conditions. The microbial transformation of BTEX was also studied in a series of columns: a cement-nutrient briquet column, followed by a peat column and a soil column. This system was used to simulate biodegradation in a saturated-flow barrier. A feed solution containing anoxic synthetic groundwater amended with BTEX was pumped through the column. The column influent and effluent were monitored for dissolved oxygen, BTEX, nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, phosphate, pH, and other relevant parameters.
Minimizing cost uncertainty with a new methodology for use in policy making: China's electricity pathways

Planning the long-term expansion of a power sector requires anticipating future technologies, fuel costs, and new carbon policies. Many state-of-the-art models rely on exogenous data for cost and performance projections where the inherent uncertainty is either ignored or addressed only with sensitivity analysis and scenarios. For the few models accounting for uncertainty, the transition from the research field to policy making has not occurred because of important practical barriers in the latter field: higher reliance on time-tested models, impossibility to constantly adopt new models, run-time issues. To streamline this process, we present a new modular two-step methodology, based on mean-variance optimization, to help policy makers adjust for risks on costs their findings from current cost-minimizing tools, while sparing them the hurdles of adopting a new model. To illustrate this, we refine the SWITCH-China least-cost power expansion pathway by minimizing its cost uncertainty.
Symbiotic Cognitive Computing

IBM Research is engaged in a research program in symbiotic cognitive computing to investigate how to embed cognitive computing in physical spaces. This article proposes 5 key principles of symbiotic cognitive computing. We describe how these principles are applied in a particular symbiotic cognitive computing environment and in an illustrative application.
The RALGEF Pathway Contributes to the Pathogenesis of Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia by BCR/ABL

Selected inhibitors of the BCR/ABL tyrosine kinase have shown a remarkable clinical activity in patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). However, these drugs do not completely eradicate leukemic cells and drug resistance emerges. Identification of additional contributors to the pathogenesis of CML remains to be important for developing strategies for overcoming resistance to BCR/ABL kinase inhibitors and for eradicating leukemic cells. We and others have previously shown that expression of BCR/ABL in mouse bone marrow cells by retroviral transduction and transplantation (BMT) efficiently induces a CML-like myeloproliferative disorder (MPD). Using this BMT model for CML, we have found that the Grb2 SH2 binding site Y177 of BCR/ABL, which is critical for BCR/ABL to activate the RAS pathway, is required for the induction of CML-like disease by BCR/ABL. We have further shown that oncogenic NRAS (NRASG12D) can rescue the defect of the Y177F mutant BCR/ABL in the induction of CML-like disease. To further elucidate the pathways downstream of NRAS responsible for this “rescue” effect, we utilized three well-characterized NRAS effector mutants, G12D/T35S (activating RAF but is impaired in binding PI3K and RALGEF), G12D/E37G (activating RALGEF but not RAF or PI3K), and G12D/Y40C (activating PI3K but not RAF or RALGEF). None of the three NRAS effector mutants could induce hematological malignancies by themselves, but all were capable of “rescuing” the CML defect of BCR/ABL Y177F to some extent. Interestingly, the NRAS G12D/E37G effector mutant was the most efficient. We further examined the role of RALGEF pathway by introducing an activated RALGDSCAAX into our BCR/ABL Y177F mouse model. RALGDS-CAAX was able to cooperate with BCR/ABL Y177F to induce a CML-like MPD in nearly half of mice whereas RALGDSCAAX alone did not induce diseases in any mice. As a complement to this study, we also introduced dominant negative RAL A or RAL B in the background of BCR/ABL. This resulted in a significant delay in disease onset. Taken together, this data sheds light on the importance of the RALGEF pathway in BCR/ABL-mediated CML induction and supports the notion of inhibition of this pathway as a potential therapeutic strategy.
Anthropogenic and climatic influences on the diatom flora within the Fallen Leaf Lake watershed, Lake Tahoe Basin, California over the last millennium

This study addresses the effects of climate, land-use, and atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition on the Fallen Leaf Lake watershed, Lake Tahoe Basin, through diatom and geochemical analyses of sediment cores. Four diatom zones are recognized from a core taken at Fallen Leaf Lake (FLL), a site moderately impacted by human activities: (1) Pre-Little Ice Age Zone (840–1385), (2) Little Ice Age Zone (1385–1810) characterized by Stephanodiscus alpinus and Aulacoseira subarctica, (3) Transitional Zone (1810–1950) of warming and anthropogenic influence with increased Lindavia rossii-ocellata group and Discostella stelligera and decreased Pseudostaurosira brevistriata, and (4) Anthropogenic Zone (1950–2010) characterized by a rapid increase of mesotrophic diatoms of the Fragilaria tenera-nanana group, Tabellaria flocculosa strain IIIP, and Nitzschia gracilis. The Transitional Zone increases in elemental Co, Zn, and Sn that may be attributed to an increase in coal burning and smelting activities in California and Nevada. Beginning around 1910 and accelerating in the 1940s, increased building, land-use, and recreation around FLL caused an increase in terrestrial sedimentary input. Down core proxies for atmospheric N deposition in the FLL watershed are, at best, weakly expressed and appear to be overshadowed by stronger signals. Lack of support for N deposition includes the asynchrony in the appearance of the N-sensitive diatom Asterionella formosa in FLL and a lower impact site at Gilmore Lake, and an uninformative δ15N record. Asterionella formosa is a dominant component in the FLL water column today, but has been present in similar abundances for at least the last 1200 years. Asterionella formosa is present in the water column at Gilmore Lake and absent from the sediment, indicating a very recent appearance. The data collected show that the FLL record is sensitive to climatic cooling during the Little Ice Age and to anthropogenic activities commencing in the 1800s that increased throughout the latter half of the twentieth century; however the effects of anthropogenic N deposition in these lakes could not be substantiated.
An Emergency Department Observation Unit Is a Feasible Setting for Multidisciplinary Geriatric Assessments in Compliance With the Geriatric Emergency Department Guidelines.

Background The Geriatric Emergency Department (ED) Guidelines recommend providing multidisciplinary geriatric assessment in the ED, but these assessments can be difficult to coordinate and may prolong length of stay. Patients who need longer than a typical ED stay can be placed in an ED observation unit (Obs Unit). We investigated the effects of offering multidisciplinary assessments for ED patients in an Obs Unit. Methods Evaluation by a geriatric hospital consultation team, physical therapist, case manager, and/or pharmacist was made available to all Obs Unit patients. Use of any or all of these ancillary consult services could be requested by the Obs Unit physician. A retrospective chart review of random older adult Obs Unit patients was done to assess rates of consult use and interventions by these consulting teams. All patients ≥ 65 years old in our institutional review board-approved, monthly Obs Unit quality database from October 2015 through March 2017 were included. Results Our quality database included 221 older patients over 18 months. The mean (±SD) age was 73.3 (±6.8) years (range = 65-96 years) and 55.2% were women. The mean (±SD) observation length of stay was 14.7 (±6.5) hours. The majority (74.3%) were discharged from the Obs Unit and 72-hour ED recidivism was 3.6%. Overall, at least one of the multidisciplinary consultant services were requested in 40.3% of patients (n = 89). Additional interventions or services were recommended in 80.0% of patients evaluated by physical therapy (32 of 40 patients), 100% of those evaluated by a pharmacist (five of five patients), 38% of those evaluated by case management (27 of 71 patients), and 100% of those evaluated by a geriatrician (eight of eight patients). Only 5.4% (n = 12) of patients were placed in observation specifically for multidisciplinary assessment; these patients had a mean (±SD) length of stay of 12.2 (±5) hours and an admission rate of 41.7%. Conclusions Incorporating elements of multidisciplinary geriatric assessment for older patients is feasible within an observation time frame and resulted in targeted interventions. An Obs Unit is a reasonable setting to offer services in compliance with the Geriatric ED Guidelines.
Prevalence and Attitudes Regarding Marijuana Use Among Adolescents Over the Past Decade

BACKGROUND: Adolescent marijuana prevalence has not increased since 2005 despite a substantial decrease in the percentage of adolescents who believe marijuana use leads to great risk of harm. This finding calls into question the long-standing, inverse connection between marijuana prevalence and perceived risk of use, a connection central to many arguments opposing marijuana legalization. We tested 2 hypotheses for why marijuana prevalence did not increase after 2005: (1) decreases in adolescent use of cigarettes and alcohol reduced risk for marijuana use and counteracted the expected risk in marijuana prevalence, and/or (2) perceived risk of harm now plays a smaller role in marijuana use. METHODS: Data came from the annual, nationally-representative Monitoring the Future study from 1991 to 2016, in which 1 100 000 US students in eighth, 10th, and 12th grade were surveyed. RESULTS: The entire sample was stratified into 3 mutually exclusive and exhaustive groups on the basis of cigarette and alcohol use. Within each of the 3 groups, marijuana prevalence increased from 2005 to 2016. Paradoxically, when the 3 groups were combined into 1 analysis pool, overall marijuana prevalence did not increase. The seeming paradox results from a decline in the percentage of adolescents who used cigarettes; as this group grew smaller, so too did its disproportionately large contribution to overall marijuana prevalence. Perceived risk of harm from marijuana remained a strong indicator of use throughout 2005 to 2016. CONCLUSIONS: Perceived risk of marijuana remains tightly associated with use, and adolescent marijuana prevalence today would be at or near record highs if cigarette use had not declined since 2005, according to study projections.
Integration of multi-discipline attributes for decision making in design of a future marine integrated power system

Advances in technology and the need to meet many interdependent competing requirements have led to complex information intensive systems that can be best managed by integrating multi-discipline, multi-attribute models for better informed decision-making. Attempts to bridge the gap between systems engineering and project management have been sought through project management methods and through imposing practices from one discipline onto another. It is proposed that a more rigorous approach to bridging this gap be investigated to better enable the optimization of objectives, collaboration, and cooperation amongst multiple disciplines. The disciplines of interest in this study are plant modeling, systems engineering, and program management. In bridging the gap, both leveraging models from the different disciplines and adopting six sigma tools and visualization techniques are investigated. Common variables and outcome-based attributes provide a mechanism to integrate multi-discipline models. Options to bring together models from each discipline include multi-disciplinary system design optimization (MSDO). To demonstrate the feasibility of integrating multi-discipline attributes on a common platform, a case study on design of a notional future marine Integrated Power System (IPS) is investigated using a modified Multi-Attribute Tradespace Exploration (MATE) — Capability model. This case study highlights the need to integrate other multi-discipline models to help validate specific system attributes of interest.
Cellular, Molecular, and Pharmacologic Mechanisms Underlying Drug-Induced Cardiac Arrhythmogenesis

Pharmacologic agents can contribute to cardiac arrhythmogenesis by altering conduction, repolarization, or automaticity, and by inducing triggered activity in the form of early or delayed afterdepolarizations. Modulation of ion channel activity by drugs contributes to the development of both passive and active cardiac arrhythmias. The mechanisms responsible for active cardiac arrhythmias are generally divided into two major categories: (1) enhanced or abnormal impulse formation, and (2) re-entry (Fig. 1). Re-entry occurs when a propagating impulse fails to die out after normal activation of the heart and persists to re-excite the heart after expiration of the refractory period. Evidence implicating re-entry as a mechanism of cardiac arrhythmias stems back to the turn of the twentieth century (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16). The mechanisms responsible for abnormal impulse formation include enhanced automaticity and triggered activity. Automaticity can be further subdivided into normal and abnormal and triggered activity, consisting of early afterdepolarizations (EADs) and delayed afterdepolarizations (DADs).
Regulation of Fetal Growth by Hormones and Growth Factors

The complexity of the environment in which the human fetus lives makes it difficult to evaluate the factors that regulate growth in utero. Studies directed at understanding growth-control mechanisms in the fetus must take into account multiple influences of fetal origin, as well as the interaction of the fetus with factors derived from the placenta and the mother. Postnatally, growth hormone (GH), thyroxine, Cortisol, androgens, and estrogens have well-defined effects on growth (for reviews, see Underwood and Van Wyk, 1981; Daughaday, 1981). In the fetus, however, their growth-promoting actions are obscure because: (1) Fetal blood and tissues are not readily available for measurement; (2) It is often not possible to separate the effects of similar hormones derived from the fetus, placenta, and mother; and (3) Mammalian species that can be used as models differ with regard to placentation, duration of gestation, maturity of the fetus at delivery, and the kinetics of hormone secretion.
Classical mechanics via general relativity and Maxwell’s theory: a bit of magic

In the 1950’s Herman Bondi observed that a very effective way to study gravitational radiation was to use null surfaces as part of the coordinate system for analyzing the Einstein (Einstein–Maxwell) equations. A particular class of such surfaces, (referred to as Bondi null surfaces) with their associated null tetrad, has now been the main tool for this analysis for many years; their use—until recently—has been almost ubiquitous. Several years ago we realized that there was an attractive alternative to the use of Bondi coordinates, namely to use coordinates (in the asymptotic null future space–time region) that were as close to ordinary flat-space light-cones as possible—very different from Bondi surfaces. There were initially serious impediments to this program: these new null surfaces (referred to as asymptotically shear-free surfaces, ASF) were determined by solving a non-linear differential equation (the “good-cut” equation) whose solutions were most often complex. Eventually these problems were overcome and the program was implemented. In a series of papers, using the ASF null surfaces to study the asymptotically flat Einstein (or Einstein–Maxwell) equations, a variety of surprising (strange) results were obtained. Using only the Einstein and Maxwell equations, we found a large number of the basic relations of classical mechanics. They included very detailed conservation laws, well know kinematic relations and dynamic equations and even the Abraham–Lorentz–Dirac radiation reaction force and the rocket force. As interesting as these were, they came with a serious enigma. These relations from classical mechanics had no relationship with the physical space–time. The space for the action of these relations was the parameter space of solutions of the good-cut equation—a complex space, known as H-space. The enigma—what possible relationship did these standard appearing classical relations have with physical space–time? It is the purpose of this work to establish such a relationship—objects in H-space are related to structures in physical space–time. For example, a complex world-line in H-space becomes in physical space–time an asymptotically shear-free null geodesic congruence where its twist describes its intrinsic spin and if charged, its magnetic dipole.
The CPA Examination as Outcome Assessment: The Case for Stronger Business Law in the College Curriculum.

The CPA Examination serves as a model assessment for outcome measurement of accounting and business skills and knowledge. The National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) maintains candidate scores. This paper highlights recent trends in teaching and learning business law concepts along with measures of CPA exam performance results evidenced on the Regulation section. This study found general uniformity across geographic areas and school size with exceptions for accountancy accreditation and large university flagship status. The research also found practical variation in one southeastern state for performance results obtained from those institutions requiring the sophomore legal environment course rather than the junior business course.
Phase transitions in biology: from bird flocks to population dynamics.

Phase transitions are an important and extensively studied concept in physics. The insights derived from understanding phase transitions in physics have recently and successfully been applied to a ...
The Role of Institutions of Private Property Rights and Money in Entrepreneurial Discovery

This paper examines the influence of private property rights and monies on entrepreneurial discovery. A framework is presented and tested, which views these two institutions as key determinants of entrepreneurial discovery. Using several measures as proxies for their influence, two variables, minimum wage legislation and percentage government employment, support the idea that private property rights and monies are associated with entrepreneurial discovery as indicated by business starts, failures, patents and bankruptcy.
Children in Difficult Circumstances

Children in difficult circumstances represent a large and diverse group. Some form of social disruption is common to all their lives. All of these children have special needs, especially the need for psychosocial support. Their other individual needs vary greatly as the children’s specific circumstances are different and ever changing. The public health and medical management of children in difficult circumstances requires intersectoral coordination and a holistic approach to prevention and treatment. This chapter presents a review of definitional and methodological difficulties associated with identifying and enumerating children in difficult circumstances. It examines trends in the evolution of the problem and its public health impact and analyzes the status of policies and strategies to protect and promote the health of children in difficult circumstances. Since the 1980 s, the public health community has increasingly recognized the needs of children and youth who face particularly difficult circumstances. These children are sometimes referred to as ‘‘Children in Especially Difficult Circumstances’’ (CEDC). These children work in exploitive situations, do not live with their biological or adopted families, and/or are involved in or affected by armed conflict. Categories of children include ‘‘street children,’’ Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC), and children who are sexually exploited, trafficked, or forced to work at the cost of their education and health (UNICEF/UNAIDS/USAID 2004). While enumeration of children suffering the effects of difficult circumstances is fraught with definitional and methodological problems (Skinner et al. 2006), the global magnitude of children in difficult circumstances is large and is growing because of HIV/ AIDS, armed conflict, urbanization, and other developments. For example, the estimated number of orphaned children in 2004 was 85.5 million in Asia and 43.4 million children in Latin America. As a result of HIV/AIDS, this number is expected to grow at least through the next decade (UNICEF 2006). Although the incidence of violent conflict has been slowing recently, conflict continues to displace children from their families. Conflict may involve the use of child soldiers, increase a child’s likelihood of orphanhood andmigration as an unaccompanied minor, and/or increase the chance that he/she will be injured and disabled by land mines and other war-associated trauma (see Chapter 7 for discussion of conflict and maternal and child health). No statistical data documenting these affects are sufficiently reliable to report. However, millions of N. Mock (*) International Health and International Development, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
The Influence of Bariatric Surgery on Serum Bile Acids in Humans and Potential Metabolic and Hormonal Implications: a Systematic Review

Recent research suggests a mechanistic role for bile acids (BA) in the metabolic improvement following bariatric surgery. It is believed that the hormonal and metabolic effects associated with changes in systemic BAs may be related to the farnesoid X receptor (FXR) and a G-protein coupled receptor (TGR5). This systematic review examines changes in systemic BAs following bariatric procedures. Studies were included if they reported the measurement of systemic BAs in humans at at least one time point after bariatric surgery. Eleven papers were identified that met the inclusion criteria. Seven studies reported the effect of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) on fasting BAs. The majority (6/7) reported that fasting BAs increased after RYGB. Data regarding fasting BAs after vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG) and laparoscopic gastric banding (LAGB) are inconsistent. Data regarding post-prandial BA changes after RYGB, VSG, and LAGB are also inconsistent. More research is needed to investigate the connection between BAs and the metabolic improvement seen after bariatric surgery.
Recent Developments in Chemical Modification and Sequential Degradation of Proteins

Publisher Summary This chapter tabulates the reagents of current interest for the chemical modification of proteins according to the functional group modified, so that a biochemist who suspects that residue X is involved in the mechanism of action of his enzyme can quickly survey the major reactions of X. The principal reason for modifying an enzyme chemically is to identify those amino acid residues that function intimately in catalysis. If the effect of such a modification is to be interpreted unambiguously, the reaction should be specific and limited. As a general rule, the more unreactive a reagent is, the more specific it is likely to be because the transition states for slow reactions often resemble the products more than the reactants, and therefore the rates are influenced more by the properties of the products. In contrast, highly reactive reagents tend to be unspecific because the transition states resemble the reactants more than the products—that is, activation energies for many different kinds of reactions are likely to be low.
Kinetic Modeling of Continuous Flow Peritoneal Dialysis

Kinetic models have been derived for analysis of the effects on peritoneal urea clearance (Kp) of continuous single-pass flow of fresh peritoneal dialysate and continuous flow of peritoneal dialysate recirculating through an external dialyzer. Generalized solution of the models shows that both predict Kp to be a well-defined function of the peritoneal mass transfer coefficient (MTC) and the dialysance (D) of the external dialyzer, while the MTC is a function of the rate and distribution of dialysate flow. Thus the models should be useful to guide studies to optimize CFPD. Analysis of reported in vivo data indicate that with dialysate flow rate and D both in the range of 200 ml/min, MTC levels of 60-70 ml/min and Kp levels of 50 ml/min can be achieved. If the model predictions are verified in vivo, 8-hour overnight CFPD 6 nights/week could provide the average-size anephric patient a weekly stdKt/V of 3.2 which is competitive with daily hemodialysis. Kinetic modeling of ultrafiltration indicated ultrafiltration rates 0.2-0.3 L/hr should be achieved with 1.0-1.25% dextrose dialysate. The model shows average rates of glucose absorption can theoretically be reduced by 33% compared to CAPD with the same amount of fluid removal.
A concise representation of association rules using minimal predictive rules

Association rule mining is an important branch of data mining research that aims to extract important relations from data. In this paper, we develop a new framework for mining association rules based on minimal predictive rules (MPR). Our objective is to minimize the number of rules in order to reduce the information overhead, while preserving and concisely describing the important underlying patterns. We develop an algorithm to efficiently mine these MPRs. Our experiments on several synthetic and UCI datasets demonstrate the advantage of our framework by returning smaller and more concise rule sets than the other existing association rule mining methods.
A mechanically verified AIG-to-BDD conversion algorithm

We present the mechanical verification of an algorithm for building a BDD from an AND/INVERTER graph (AIG). The algorithm uses two methods to simplify an input AIG using BDDs of limited size; it repeatedly applies these methods while varying the BDD size limit. One method is similar to dynamic weakening in that it replaces oversized BDDs by a conservative approximation; the other method introduces fresh variables to represent oversized BDDs. This algorithm is written in the executable logic of the ACL2 theorem prover. The primary contribution is the verification of our conversion algorithm. We state its correctness theorem and outline the major steps needed to prove it.
High-throughput, cell-based screens to identify small-molecule inhibitors of ricin toxin and related category b ribosome inactivating proteins (RIPs).

Ricin is a member of the ubiquitous ribosome-inactivating protein (RIP) family of toxins. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) classify ricin and related toxins as Category B biothreat agents. There are currently no antidotes or therapeutics to counteract RIPs in humans. The discovery of effective small-molecule inhibitors of RIPs is increasingly possible, however, due to the availability and accessibility of diverse small-molecule chemical libraries coupled with robust robotics and automated screening methodologies. In this article, we describe a cell-based, high-throughput screening strategy and secondary assays that we have successfully used to identify compounds that target ricin toxin's enzymatic activity and intracellular trafficking, as well as stress-activated signaling pathways associated with cell death. The methods described in the protocol are amenable to the other RIPs. Curr. Protoc. Toxicol. 55:2.23.1-2.23.14. © 2013 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Keywords: drug discovery; small-molecules; high-throughput; toxins; biodefense
Investigations of manufacture artifacts on nano-scale FSS performance

The effects of several critical manufacturing artifacts on the performance of nano-scale frequency selective surfaces are investigated. The study is performed via a frequency-dependent FDTD modeling tool that includes surface plasmon effects. Simulation results are verified via experimental data. Our investigations show that manufacturing artifacts can lead to significant variations in infrared filter performance.
Effect of Blueberry Extract From Blueberry Pomace on the Microencapsulated Fish Oil

The effect of the addition of blueberry extract (BE) obtained from blueberry pomace on lipid oxidation of pollock liver oil (PO) during microencapsulation was evaluated. An emulsion containing PO and BE (EBE) was prepared and spray dried in a pilot scale spray dryer. Thiobarbituric acids (TBARS) of EBE were lower (0.41 mmol/kg oil) than that of control without BE (ENBE) (0.47 mmol/kg oil). Also, TBARS value of 0.49 mmol/kg oil for microencapsulated PO with BE (MBE) after spray drying was lower than that of microencapsulated PO without BE (MNBE) (0.57 mmol/kg oil). MBE also had a lower TBARS value than that of MNBE after 17 days of storage at 4C and room temperature. This study indicated that BE reduced lipid oxidation of PO during emulsification. It also demonstrated that BE can be successfully used to delay the lipid oxidation during spray drying and storage of PO. Practical Applications Marine fish oils are good sources of eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid. Blueberry (Vaccinium spp) extract obtained from blueberry pomace contains numerous bioactive compounds such as anthocyanin and soluble dietary fiber, which makes it a potential additive for functional foods. Because of its antioxidant properties, BE may reduce the oxidation of marine fish oils during microencapsulation processes.
Use of a Global Test for Multiple Outcomes in Stroke Trials With Application to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke t-PA Stroke Trial

Background The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) held a workshop on statistical approaches to analysis of acute stroke trials that have multiple prespecified outcomes. An objective was to plan for statistical analysis of the NINDS t-PA Stroke Trial, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) for patients with acute ischemic stroke. Treatment success was defined as a “consistent and persuasive difference” in the proportion of patients achieving favorable outcomes on the Barthel Index, Modified Rankin Scale, Glasgow Outcome Scale, and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale. The Data and Safety Monitoring Committee for the trial recommended this outcome because the committee did not believe that a positive result for a single outcome would provide sufficient evidence of efficacy. Summary of Comment Workshop participants accepted the global test as a viable approach to testing the primary trial hypothesis. Clinicia...
Design and evaluation of low latency interconnection networks for real-time many-core embedded systems

On-chip interconnection networks (OCINs) in many-core embedded systems consume large portions of the chip's area, cost, delay and power. In addition to competing in area, cost, and power, OCINs must feature low diameters to meet real time deadlines. To achieve these goals, designing low-latency networks and sharing network resources are essential. We explore 13 OCINs - some are new such as the Enhanced Kite and the Spidergon-Donut networks - in 64-core systems with various topologies and properties. We also derive and compare their worst case delays, longest and average distances, critical link lengths, bisection bandwidths, total link and router costs, and total arbiter powers. Results indicate that the Enhanced Kite, Kite, Spidergon-Donut and Spidergon-Donut4 stand out in best worst-case delays with the Spidergon-Donut4 additionally featuring lower link and router costs, total arbiter power, and better 2D implementation and scalability.
SU‐E‐T‐487: Spatial Assessment of Dose Distributions for Patients with Lung Cancer Treated with Stereotactic Ablative Radiotherapy (SABR)

Purpose: We hypothesize that PTV margin dose is an important factor for local tumorcontrol. We evaluated dose distributions for patients originally treated with pencil‐beam (PB)‐based plans and retrospectively calculated with Monte Carlo(MC) method, with emphasis on the spatial region between the ITV and PTV (PTV‐margin), where the largest dose differences were expected. Methods: Forty‐six stage I–IIlungcancer patients with 51 lesions treated with SABR were retrospectively analyzed (23 central and 28 peripheral tumors). All patients received 4DCT imaging, and an ITV was generated from the maximum intensity projection and subsequent review of four 4DCT phases. An isotropic 3mm ITV‐to‐PTV margin was used. The iPlan TPS was used to generate the original treatment plans using PB‐based heterogeneity correction. MCdoses were recalculated using the same MUs as in the PB plan. Dose distributions for the ITV, PTV‐margin, and PTV were analyzed using generalized equivalent uniform dose (gEUD) with a = − 20. Student's paired t‐test elucidated differences between PB and MC‐based gEUD and the two different tumor locations. Results: Mean ITV and PTV volumes were 24.2 cc (range: 2.2 to 99.3 cc) and 50.4 cc (range: 6.4 to 229.7 cc), respectively. The mean gEUDs of ITV, PTV‐margin and PTV, normalized to PB‐based 100% isodose were 1.02+/−0.04, 1.01+/−0.04 and 1.01+/−0.04 for PB‐based plans, compared to 0.94+/−0.06, 0.88+/−0.08 and 0.90+/−0.08 (all p<0.05) for MC‐based plans. The maximum overestimations with the PB algorithm in the PTV‐margin average dose were 10.4% and 19.6% (p < 0.05) for peripheral tumor cases and central tumor cases, respectively. Conclusions: PB‐based dose distributions showed the highest dose overestimation (relative to MC) in the PTV‐margin spatial region. Analysis of spatialdose differences is an important precursor toward assessment of patterns‐of‐local failure, to be investigated in future work to explore possible association between dose and regions of failure. Acknowledgement: supported in part by grants from NIH R01 CA106770 and from Varian Medical Systems.
Inconsistencies in the Evaluation of Selected Alcohol Education Materials

Two panels of experts were asked to evaluate ten alcohol education pamphlets against five criteria. Variability of the ratings within and between the two panels suggests that such a method of evaluating educational materials is seriously wanting in validity. Suggestions are made as to how the ratings of the expert panels could be made more relevant to the task of selecting appropriate alcohol and drug education materials.
Thermal properties of the tent of early instar colonies of the eastern tent caterpillar, Malacosoma americanum (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae)

Abstract The extent to which the small tents of the early instars of Malacosoma americanum warmed when irradiated by sunlight was investigated by continuous electronic monitoring of field colonies for 137 colony-days. Tent temperatures exceeded the threshold for larval growth of 15 °C on 88–96% of the study days, exceeding in degree-minutes the ambient excess-over-threshold by a factor of approximately five. In still air, tents constructed by third instar caterpillars achieved greater temperature excesses over ambient than did a model of a tightly sealed glass house, but smaller tents and tents exposed to simulated wind did not perform as well. Tents of M. americanum warmed more rapidly and to a high temperature than silk nests of markedly different design constructed by other species.
The biomechanical effects of simulated osseous surgery.

Using dried human mandibles, to which miniaturised strain gauges were attached, the strain in the buccal alveolar plate, under horizontal and vertical loading conditions was measured. Recordings were repeated after simulated infra-bony defects had been created and again after simulated osteoplasty and osteoectomy had been carried out to eliminate the osseous defects. The results indicate that in the dried mandibles, osseous surgery procedures resulted in measurable increases in strain in the bone overlying those teeth involved with the lesion and subsequent osseous surgery. In addition, there was a greater concentration of strain in the region of these teeth when they were loaded after simulated osseous surgery. Although the quantitative effects of “osteoectomy” were greater than those of “osteoplasty”, the latter procedure, currently defined as the removal of “nonsupporting” bone, did in fact result in sizeable changes in the strain dissipation of the system.
Effect of inhaled nitric oxide on pulmonary function in cystic fibrosis.

Concentrations of nitric oxide (NO) have been found to be reduced in both the upper and lower airway of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). As NO modulates bronchomuscular tone, low NO levels may contribute to the obstructive lung disease in these patients. To assess whether increasing inspiratory NO concentrations has any impact on lung function, we have studied 13 CF patients aged 14–38 years in a clinically stable condition and nine healthy controls. NO was applied via a mixing chamber for 5 min with NO concentrations of 100 parts per billion, 1 and 40 parts per million. Spirometry was performed at baseline and after inhalation on each occasion. There were no clinical side-effects at any NO concentration and no changes in oxygen saturation were observed. Lung function remained unchanged in all subjects throughout the study period. Sputum nitrate and nitrite concentrations before and after inhalation of high NO concentrations (40 ppm) in eight CF patients did not show any significant changes, even though a tendency to higher nitrate levels was observed (399 ± 231 vs. 556 ± 474 μmoll−1). Therefore, inhaled NO at either the physiological levels present in the upper airway of normal individuals or those used therapeutically to treat pulmonary hypertension has no immediate effect on bronchomuscular tone in patients with cystic fibrosis.
Osmoregulation in the brook trout, Salvelinus fontinalis—I. Diel, photoperiod and growth related physiological changes in freshwater

Abstract 1. 1. Brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) raised from eggs under two photoperiod and two feeding regimes were tested for physiological changes preparatory for transition from freshwater to seawater. Size, age, growth rate, photoperiod, and diel rhythms were examined for possible influences on plasma osmolarity, [Na+], [Cl−], [K+], [Mg2+], thyroxine concentration, hematocrit, and gill Na+, K+-ATPase activity of brook trout in freshwater. 2. 2. Significant diel cycles were found in plasma osmolarity, [Na+] and thyroxine concentration. 3. 3. Significant size and/or age related changes occurred for plasma osmolarity, Na+], [K+] and hematocrit, but could explain little of their total variation (0.02 4. 4. A sexually dimorphic response to photoperiod was observed in hematocrit for both mature and immature fish, with hematocrit of mature females declining in autumn and hematocrit of immature males increasing in autumn. 5. 5. Gill Na+, K+-ATPase activity did not respond to photoperiod or feeding treatment and showed no change with size or age. 6. 6. Plasma thyroxine levels responded to feeding and photoperiod treatment. There was a significant correlation between the percent mean difference in plasma thyroxine and the mean difference in growth rate between high and low feed fish (r2 =0.51), suggesting a relationship between thyroxine and growth.
Contribution of the cerebellum to neuropsychological functioning: evidence from a case of cerebellar degenerative disorder.

Abstract A detailed neuropsychological evaluation was performed on a patient with an idiopathic cerebellar degenerative disorder. Significant deficits were found in verbal and nonverbal intellegence, verbal associative learning, and visuospatial skills. These deficits were not readily explained by motor control difficulties. In contrast to the patient's moderately impaired language abilities, he was severely impaired on a test of verbal fluency and demonstrated mild naming deficits. Severe cerebellar parenchymal volume loss was demonstrated by magnetic resonance examination. Supratentorial structures showed only minimal posterior parietal and occipital sulcal prominence. On neurological examination, this patient had signs of severe involvement of the cerebellar systems and mild-to- moderate dysfunction of the corticospinal tract. As is characteristic of patients with cerebellar degeneration, there was neurophysiological evidence of subclinical involvement of auditory and somatosensory pathways at the level of the brain stem. Since relatively little cerebral cortical atrophy was noted in this patient, these findings suggest that an intact cerebellum is important for normal cognitive functions.
On process-aware 1-D standard cell design

When VLSI technology scales down to sub-40nm process node, systematic variation introduced by the lithography is a persistent challenge to the manufacturability. The limitation of the resolution enhancement technologies (RETs) forces people to adopt a regular cell design methodology. In this paper, targeted on 1--D cell design, we use simulation data to analyze the relationship between the line-end gap distribution and printability. Based on the gap distribution preferences, an optimal algorithm is provided to efficiently extend the line ends and insert dummies, which will significantly improve the gap distribution and help printability. Experimental results on 45nm and 32nm processes show that significant improvement can be obtained on edge placement error (EPE).
Stochastic theory of compartments

The stochastic model of a compartment developed by Thakur, Rescigno and Schafer is discussed without using generating functions. The behavior of the mean and variance of the number of particles present as a function of time is also discussed. We also allow both the input and output to be time dependent.
Impact of ABO-identical vs ABO-compatible nonidentical plasma transfusion in trauma patients

Hypothesis Exposure to ABO-compatible nonidentical plasma will result in worse outcomes than transfusion with ABO-identical plasma only. Design Retrospective study. Setting Level I trauma center. Patients All patients requiring plasma (from 2000-2008) were identified. Propensity scores were used to match patients exposed to ABO-compatible plasma with those receiving exclusively ABO-identical plasma. Main Outcome Measures Mortality and complications (acute respiratory distress syndrome [ARDS]), sepsis, renal failure, and liver failure). Results A total of 284 patients who received ABO-compatible nonidentical plasma were matched 1:1 with patients who received ABO-identical plasma only (230 group O, 39 A, and 15 B). ABO-compatible plasma did not affect mortality (35.2% vs 33.5%, P = .66). However, the overall complication rate was significantly higher for patients receiving ABO-compatible plasma (53.5% vs 40.5%, P = .002). The ARDS and sepsis rates were also significantly increased (19.4% vs 9.2%, P = .001, and 38.0% vs 28.9%, P = .02, respectively). As the volume of ABO-compatible plasma infused increased, a stepwise increase in complications was seen, reaching 70.0% for patients receiving more than 6 U. Patients receiving more than 6 U also had a 4-fold increase in ARDS. All recipient blood groups had an increase in overall complications, ARDS, and sepsis with exposure. This was significant for group O recipients with a higher risk of overall complications and ARDS (50.9% vs 40.0%, P = .03, and 17.4% vs 7.8%, P Conclusions Exposure to ABO-compatible plasma results in an increase in overall complications, in particular ARDS and sepsis. There is a stepwise increase in the complication rate as exposure increases. Further prospective evaluation of the impact of limiting factor replacement to ABO-identical plasma only is warranted.
Preparation and Spectrochemical Analysis of Lung Tissue for Beryllium

The usual means of preparing organic tissue for trace-element studies involves either a wet- or dry-ashing procedure. Unfortunately, neither method is entirely satisfactory since contamination may be difficult to control in wet ashing and it yields voluminous products, while dry ashing may allow the escape of volatile compounds.
Studies on the equilibration of radioisotopic cholesterol with human serum lipoprotein cholesterol in vitro.

Abstract 1. 1. The process of equilibration of radioisotopic cholesterol with human serum lipoprotein cholesterol in vitro has been examined. The initial step is the formation in serum of dispersions of large (> 0.45 μ) or small (0.1–0.45 μ) particles by addition of an ethanolic solution of cholesterol. The smaller particles exhibit the electrophoretic mobility of β-lipoprotein and are largely precipitable by anti-β-lipoprotein serum. The larger particles are also precipitable by antiserum and contain unesterified cholesterol as their only detectable lipid. These results, along with previously reported ultracentrifuge flotation data, favor a structure for both particles consisting of a cholesterol or cholesterol-protein core surrounded by a monolayer of β-lipoprotein. 2. 2. A lipoprotein precipitation procedure, capable of precipitating particles at high specific activity, has been used to test for completeness of equilibration. Radioactivity in large-particle form fails to equilibrate after incubation at 37° for 20 h, while about 83% of the unesterified labeled cholesterol in small particle form does so as judged by specific activity determinations. Large particle cholesterol equilibrates at a single exponential rate of only 2.0%/h and small particle at 11.3%/h. 3. 3. Unequilibrated small-particle [3H] cholesterol transfers to human erythrocytes in vitro at a rate similar to that reported for the exchange of lipoprotein cholesterol with erythrocyte cholesterol. Large-particle 3H is rapidly adsorbed by the cells. 4. 4. Labeled cholesteryl esters, formed during incubation of small or large particles, equilibrate among serum lipoproteins. A recently reported process of net transfer of cholesteryl esters and other lipids in human serum during incubation in vitro could explain this result. The same mechanism might account for equilibration of unesterified cholesterol, through transfer of a cholesterol-cholesteryl ester core. Evidence for molecular exchange in vitro with lipoprotein cholesterol is not conclusive.