cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nationwide trends of severe sepsis in the 21st century (2000-2007).

Background Severe sepsis is common and often fatal. The expanding armamentarium of evidence-based therapies has improved the outcomes of persons with this disease. However, the existing national estimates of the frequency and outcomes of severe sepsis were made before many of the recent therapeutic advances. Therefore, it is important to study the outcomes of this disease in an aging US population with rising comorbidities. Methods We used the Healthcare Costs and Utilization Project's Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) to estimate the frequency and outcomes of severe sepsis hospitalizations between 2000 and 2007. We identified hospitalizations for severe sepsis using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification codes indicating the presence of sepsis and organ system failure. Using weights from NIS, we estimated the number of hospitalizations for severe sepsis in each year. We combined these with census data to determine the number of severe sepsis hospitalizations per 100,000 persons. We used discharge status to identify in-hospital mortality and compared mortality rates in 2000 with those in 2007 after adjusting for demographics, number of organ systems failing, and presence of comorbid conditions. Results The number of severe sepsis hospitalizations per 100,000 persons increased from 143 in 2000 to 343 in 2007. The mean number of organ system failures during admission increased from 1.6 to 1.9 (P Conclusions An increasing number of admissions for severe sepsis combined with declining mortality rates contribute to more individuals surviving to hospital discharge. Importantly, this leads to more survivors being discharged to skilled nursing facilities and home with in-home care. Increased attention to this phenomenon is warranted.
Student Athletes Environment

While enrolled as students in secondary schools, some male and female athletes play on various sports teams. If they compete and indeed successfully perform at a competitive level during their junior and/or senior years, one or more colleges and/or universities (schools or institutions) in the United States (U.S.) will recruit them upon graduation. After signing a national letter of intent and then meeting eligibility requirements for admission, high school athletes may decide to attend a specific school in higher education based on different factors. These, in part, include their academic profile and athletic skills, amount of financial aid offered to participate in a particular sport, location and reputation of the school, and personal reasons. After accepting a scholarship and then enrolling in College X or University Y, they become student athletes (SAs).
A conical scan free space optical tracking system for fading channels

Free space optical communication systems require robust pointing and tracking to establish and maintain lineof- sight (LOS). Atmospheric scintillation can present a challenge to the LOS tracking systems located at each end of the link. This paper describes a pointing, acquisition, and tracking (PAT) approach for single-mode fiber coupling, which was successfully demonstrated over a 5.4 km lasercom link that was subject to severe turbulence conditions. One of the primary advantages of the scheme described is its compensation for thermo-mechanical drift, which simplifies optomechanical design and allows use of simple COTS hardware. An overview of the PAT system and performance data are presented.
Community Health Workers Versus Nurses as Counselors or Case Managers in a Self-Help Diabetes Management Program.

Objectives. To confirm the effectiveness of community health workers’ involvement as counselors or case managers in a self-help diabetes management program in 2009 to 2014.Methods. Our open-label, randomized controlled trial determined the effectiveness of a self-help intervention among Korean Americans aged 35 to 80 years in the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes. We measured and analyzed physiological and psychobehavioral health outcomes of the community health worker–counseled (n = 54) and registered nurse (RN)–counseled (n = 51) intervention groups in comparison with the control group (n = 104).Results. The community health workers’ performance was comparable to that of the RNs for both psychobehavioral outcomes (e.g., self-efficacy, quality of life) and physiological outcomes. The community health worker–counseled group showed hemoglobin A1C reductions from baseline (–1.2%, −1.5%, −1.3%, and −1.6%, at months 3, 6, 9, and 12, respectively), all of which were great...
Identification and discrimination functions for pure tone auditory frequencies

Subjects were instructed to identify auditory pure tone stimuli ranging in 4-Hz increments from B(480) to C(512) on the tempered musical scale with the labels “B” or “C.” Discrimination data were then obtained for adjacent stimuli on the test continuum by the ABX method. In line with earlier studies it was found that identification probabilities were distributed in a step-like fashion across the continuum. Similarly, discrimination scores covaried systematically with identification probabilities. The fact that these data were obtained on a simple physical stimulus continuum is taken as support for the argument, put forth by Lane, that the identification-discrimination relationship does not require a model involving mediating vocal reproduction responses for its explication.
An internist joins the surgery service - Does comanagement make a difference?

Objective: To determine the effect of internist comanagement of cardiothoracic surgical patients on patient outcome and resource utilization.
Optimization of bundle infiltration in the forced chemical vapor infiltration (FCVI) process

A two-step forced-flow, thermal-gradient, chemical vapor infiltration process (FCVI) was proposed to reduced processing time while maintaining uniformly high densities. GTCVI, a finite-volume computer code developed specifically for the FCVI process was used to model thermal gradient effects on processing time and density. An optimum thermal gradient was determined and used to process material with uniformly infiltrated bundles.
Our Country Current System Ethics Construction

System ethics refers to the social basic structure and guaranteed that the structure standard rationalization basic system's ethics considers and realizes ethics morals a series of institution arrangement dialectical unification process or the condition.The system ethics construction is the various countries one kind of common phenomenon,is also a various countries moral reconstruction steps to success,it can urge the members of different social classes "to do good deeds,if the nature however",causes certain moral claim "Tibet Yu Guan is a law,Shi Yuguo becomes the custom",causes the national to foster to the country,to the society,to humanity's high sense of responsibility,but this is also precisely the goal which our country society transition period system ethics construction must achieve.
289 USE OF EMBRONIC STEM CELL VACCINATION FOR PREVENTION OF TUMOR GROWTH

Given the inefficiency of current therapies for cancer, we have been exploring the approach of prophylactic immunization for the prevention of most or all types of cancer. Neoplastic cells express new antigens, many of which represent early embryonic antigens which may be expressed only in very early stages of normal gestation. Because the mammalian immune system learns to discriminate “self” from “non-self” very late in gestation, early embryonic gene products are potentially immunogenic. Therefore, we reasoned that immunization against embryonic stem cells (ESC), alone or in combination with murine fibroblasts (STO) expressing GM-CSF (STO-GM; combination immunization ESC/STO-GM) might prevent the growth of implantable tumors. This was tested in C57Bl/6 mice (initial body wt. ˜ 20 g) which were vaccinated 2× (10 days apart) with 2 × 105 ESC or ESC + 2 × 105 STO-GM. Ten days after the boost, the mice were challenged with 5 × 104 Lewis lung carcinoma s.c. Thirty days following challenge, 100% of control mice had developed tumors and had been sacrificed. In contrast, only 30% of ESC-vaccinated and 10% of ESC/STO-GM vaccinated animals developed tumors. The surviving animals were tumor free for ˜ 9 months (two independent experiments, 10 animals/group; p
Analysis of Surface Charge Decay Process on Insulators in SF_6 and Air

The surface of insulators is prone to generate charges under a DC high-voltage for a long time,which has a great impact on insulation performance of the insulators.Surface charges decay by three mechanisms,by volume and surface resistivity of the insulator as well as by neutralization from the gas.To study surface charge decay process on insulators,a set of surface charge measurement device was designed,which could measure the surface charge distribution on insulators in different gases and different air pressures.The insulator which was used during experiments was made of epoxy resin,and the capacitance probe method was used for measurement.The surface charge decay processes were experimentally measured in air at 0.1 MPa and in SF6 at 0.5 MPa.The experimental results reveal that,the decay process of the surface charge is similar to exponential decay process,and the time constant of the decay rate is 104 s.The rates and mechanisms of charge decay in different environments are discussed in particular.The surface charges mainly decay by volume and surface resistivity of the insulator.
E-cadherin re-expression shows in vivo evidence for mesenchymal to epithelial transition in clonal metastatic breast tumor cells.

// Katie Palen 1 , James Weber 1 , Michael B. Dwinell 2 , Bryon D. Johnson 1 , Ramani Ramchandran 1, 3 , Jill A. Gershan 1 1 Department of Pediatrics at the Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53226, USA 2 Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics at the Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53226, USA 3 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53226, USA Correspondence to: Jill A. Gershan, email: jgershan@mcw.edu Keywords: breast cancer, EMT, MET, metastasis, E-cadherin Received: April 07, 2016 Accepted: May 10, 2016 Published: May 30, 2016 ABSTRACT Substantial experimental evidence has shown that dedifferentiation from an epithelial state to a mesenchymal-like state (EMT) drives tumor cell metastasis. This transition facilitates tumor cells to acquire motility and invasive features. Intriguingly, tumor cells at the metastatic site are primarily epithelial, and it is believed that they differentiate back to an epithelial state by a process called mesenchymal to epithelial transition (MET). However, there is little in vivo evidence to support the MET process. To investigate EMT and MET in vivo , we generated two epithelial (E) and two mesenchymal (M) primary clonal cell lines from a spontaneous mouse mammary tumor (Tg MMTV/neu). These cells were labeled with reporters (GFP and luciferase), and tracked in vivo during primary tumor growth and subsequent secondary metastasis. Once E cells were implanted into the mammary fat pad, E-cadherin expression progressively decreased and continued to decrease as the primary tumor enlarged over time. A greater percentage of E tumor cells expressed E-cadherin at the secondary metastatic site as compared to the corresponding primary tumor site. Collectively, these data provide direct in vivo evidence that epithelial tumor cells have metastatic potential, undergo EMT at the primary tumor site, and MET at the metastatic site.
Transarterial Chemoembolization in the Coming Era of Decreased Reimbursement for Readmissions.

Abstract Purpose CMS has identified readmission of patients within 30 days of discharge as a targeted quality metric and has instituted financial penalties to encourage hospitals to reduce readmissions. The aims of this study were to examine the rate of 30-day admissions after transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) at a single institution and to identify potential factors associated with readmission. Methods A total of 275 patients were identified who underwent a total of 457 TACE procedures over a 21-year period. Their electronic medical records were reviewed to evaluate the 30-day readmission rate in all patients undergoing TACE, and multiple logistic regression analysis was used to ascertain any clinical or demographic factors affecting the risk for readmission. Results Nineteen patients (4.2%) required readmission to the hospital within 30 days; 11 of these readmissions were directly attributable to TACE, with inpatient stays upon readmission ranging from 2 to 27 days. Fourteen patients (3.1%) returned to the emergency department (ED) within 30 days of TACE. Medicare patients were more likely to be readmitted to the hospital or require emergency department treatment within 30 days than patients with private health insurance ( P = .006). Patients with worse performance status (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group) were also more likely to require emergency department care within 30 days ( P = .04). Conclusions TACE patients are at risk for readmission, often related to underlying medical comorbidities. Although extensively studied in other specialties, the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program has received little attention in the radiology literature, and radiologists should familiarize themselves with this continually expanding initiative.
Abstract 5411: Repositioning HIV-based small molecule inhibitors of the stress survival oncoprotein LEDGF/p75 to overcome taxane resistance in prostate cancer

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in men and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in elderly males. Although early stage PCa is treatable, many patients eventually develop castration-resistant disease (mCRPC), characterized by metastasis and resistance to therapy. Furthermore, PCa also presents a major health disparity problem as evidenced by its disproportionately high incidence and mortality in African American men compared to other racial/ethnic groups. Reducing or eliminating these disparities in PCa mortality will require innovative therapeutic approaches to circumvent chemoresistance and increase patient survival. We have previously demonstrated that lens epithelium-derived growth factor of 75 kD (LEDGF/p75) is a stress survival protein that is overexpressed in PCa cells and clinical tumors, and promotes resistance to Docetaxel (DTX), the gold standard for mCRPC chemotherapy. LEDGF/p75 has also been extensively studied as a target to inhibit HIV-1 integration into host chromatin because of its role as a key cellular cofactor of HIV integrase (IN). A series of novel and potent small molecule inhibitors (SMI) of LEDGF/p75 were previously evaluated for their potential to disrupt its interaction with HIV-IN. We hypothesized that repositioning these SMI to target LEDGF/p75 in the context of PCa could be a promising strategy for overcoming taxane resistance. We observed that PC3 and DU145 mCRPC cells selected for DTX resistance expressed high levels of LEDGF/p75, and were also resistant to the taxanes Cabazitaxel (CTX) and Paclitaxel (PTX). This chemoresistance was selective since LEDGF/p75 did not protect cells against the classical apoptotic inducer TRAIL, which triggers caspase-mediated cleavage and inactivation of LEDGF/p75. RNAi-mediated knockdown of LEDGF/p75 in these cell lines sensitized them to taxane therapy. We then evaluated 130 LEDGF/p75 SMI for their cytotoxicity in DTX-resistant and sensitive PC3 and DU145 cells, in the presence and absence of DTX. These experiments yielded a number of inhibitors that induced cell death directly or re-sensitized resistant cells to taxanes only when combined with these drugs. Our results suggest that LEDGF/p75 is a druggable oncoprotein that could be targeted with repositioned HIV-based SMI to overcome PCa chemoresistance. Citation Format: Leslimar Rios Colon, Catherine Elix, Ivana Alicea, Anamika Basu, Christina Du Ross, Tino Sanchez, Nouri Neamati, Carlos Casiano. Repositioning HIV-based small molecule inhibitors of the stress survival oncoprotein LEDGF/p75 to overcome taxane resistance in prostate cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 5411. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-5411
Enhancing Student Learning through Scaffolded Client Projects.

This article reports on the current status of client projects (CPs) in business communication courses, provides a scaffolded model for implementing CP, and assesses student learning in CPs. Using a longitudinal mixed method research design, survey data and qualitative materials from six semesters are presented. The instructor survey indicated need for a model for CPs, assistance identifying community partners, and advice on tailoring CPs to course objectives, all of which are provided here. Results from assessing the model’s application indicate that students expressed higher levels of confidence as communicators and felt better prepared to engage in workplace communication.
Race-related differences in tissue dielectric constant measured noninvasively at 300 MHz in male and female skin at multiple sites and depths

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE We hypothesized that reported race-related differences in skin properties cause skin and skin-to-fat water differences among races that are measureable by skin tissue dielectric constant (TDC) values that depend strongly on water content. Our first aim was to test this hypothesis. Also, since inter-side TDC ratios are used to assess edema and lymphedema, the second aim was to test if TDC ratios are race-dependent. The third aim was to determine the extent to which TDC depends on total body water (TBW) and fat (TBF). METHODS Tissue dielectric constant was measured to 1.5 or 5.0 mm depths bilaterally on chest, forearm and ankle in 100 young (19-39 years) adults with 10 male and 10 female per self-expressed race. Races were African-American, Asian, Asian-Indian, Caucasian and Hispanic groups. TBW and TBF were measured using bioimpedance. RESULTS Tissue dielectric constant values decreased from chest to forearm to ankle (P<.001) independent of race with most values greater for males but with inter-arm TDC ratios independent of gender, site, depth, or race. For females, forearm TDC values differed among races (P<.01) with Asian and Asian-Indian values tending to be least. For males, chest TDC values differed among races (P<.01) mainly due to large African-American TDC values. For the composite group, TDC was strongly (P<.001) positively correlated with TBW and negatively correlated with TBF. CONCLUSIONS Tissue dielectric constant dependence on race of the type herein uncovered should be considered in assessing skin hydration comparisons that include different race or ethnic subjects. Further, the demonstrated relationship between TDC and body composition should be considered as an important covariate. However, despite these variations, the inter-arm TDC ratio remains robust as a potential indicator of unilateral tissue water changes.
Fluid Force Analysis and Accelerating Sphere Tests

An adequate expression for the fluid force on an accelerating body depends on whether the history of motion is repetitive. The conventional form for periodic motion consists of the sum of a velocit...
AFM-Nanomechanical Test: An Interdisciplinary Tool That Links the Understanding of Cartilage and Meniscus Biomechanics, Osteoarthritis Degeneration, and Tissue Engineering

Our objective is to provide an in-depth review of the recent technical advances of atomic force microscopy (AFM)-based nanomechanical tests and their contribution to a better understanding and diagnosis of osteoarthritis (OA), as well as the repair of tissues undergoing degeneration during OA progression. We first summarize a range of technical approaches for AFM-based nanoindentation, including considerations in both experimental design and data analysis. We then provide a more detailed description of two recently developed modes of AFM-nanoindentation, a high-bandwidth nanorheometer system for studying poroviscoelasticity and an immunofluorescence-guided nanomechanical mapping technique for delineating the pericellular matrix (PCM) and territorial/interterritorial matrix (T/IT-ECM) of surrounding cells in connective tissues. Next, we summarize recent applications of these approaches to three aspects of joint-related healthcare and disease: cartilage aging and OA, developmental biology and OA pathogenesi...
Variability in blue whale acoustic behavior off southern California

To evaluate the acoustic behavior of blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus) located inshore and offshore of southern California, singular A and B calls, D calls, and AB phrases were analyzed from 12 mo of passive acoustic data collected at four locations within the Southern California Bight. The relative proportions of singular calls and phrases were used to evaluate spatial and temporal patterns in sound and song type usage, and singular call and phrase production rates were calculated to investigate spatial and temporal variability in call abundance. Blue whale sounds were recorded from spring through early winter, with the majority of all detections occurring between September and December. The proportions and production rates of singular calls and phrases varied between the inshore and offshore sites. In addition, the percentage of A units within repetitive song phrases was greater inshore than offshore, resulting from a higher proportion of AB song type inshore, in which A and B phrase units were alternating. The ABB song type, in which a single A unit was followed by multiple B units, was more common offshore. The observed differences in calling and singing behaviors may identify distinct and variable acoustic behavioral settings for blue whales off southern California.
Cellular Confinement Systems to Prevent Resuspension in Sediment Basins

AbstractSediment basins provide quiescent conditions that enable settling of fine particles present in runoff, mitigating environmental effects created by excessive sediment discharges. Yet, settle...
Patterns of cover crop use, adoption, and impacts among Indiana farmers

ABSTRACTCover crops have recently been generating a lot of interest in agriculture for their agronomic benefits, including erosion control, nutrient restoration, and increased cash crop yield. However, the value of these benefits is not well established and likely highly variable. The factors that influence a farmer’s decision to adopt or not adopt cover crops are also a point of interest to conservationists and policy makers. As part of a long-term study estimating the benefits and costs of cover crops, this study analyzed five years of historic information collected from Indiana farmers, who either grew or did not grow cover crops. No significant impact was found from cover crops on cash crop yields, but several interesting correlations in cover crop use were found. Cover crop use was higher on steeper fields. There was also a high correlation between the use of cover crops and no-till.
Training in Goal-Oriented Attention Self-Regulation Improves Executive Functioning in Veterans with Chronic Traumatic Brain Injury

Abstract Deficits in executive control functions are some of the most common and disabling consequences of both military and civilian brain injury. However, effective interventions are scant. The g...
Genome-wide association studies and expression-based quantitative trait loci analyses reveal roles of HCT2 in caffeoylquinic acid biosynthesis and its regulation by defense-responsive transcription factors in Populus.

3-O-caffeoylquinic acid, also known as chlorogenic acid (CGA), functions as an intermediate in lignin biosynthesis in the phenylpropanoid pathway. It is widely distributed among numerous plant species and acts as an antioxidant in both plants and animals. Using GC-MS, we discovered consistent and extreme variation in CGA content across a population of 739 4-yr-old Populus trichocarpa accessions. We performed genome-wide association studies (GWAS) from 917 P. trichocarpa accessions and expression-based quantitative trait loci (eQTL) analyses to identify key regulators. The GWAS and eQTL analyses resolved an overlapped interval encompassing a hydroxycinnamoyl-CoA:shikimate hydroxycinnamoyl transferase 2 (PtHCT2) that was significantly associated with CGA and partially characterized metabolite abundances. PtHCT2 leaf expression was significantly correlated with CGA abundance and it was regulated by cis-eQTLs containing W-box for WRKY binding. Among all nine PtHCT homologs, PtHCT2 is the only one that responds to infection by the fungal pathogen Sphaerulina musiva (a Populus pathogen). Validation using protoplast-based transient expression system suggests that PtHCT2 is regulated by the defense-responsive WRKY. These results are consistent with reports of CGA functioning as an antioxidant in response to biotic stress. This study provides insights into data-driven and omics-based inference of gene function in woody species.
THE CO.TR.I.S SYSTEM: TOWARDS A SMARTER COASTAL TRANSPORT NETWORK FOR SMART ISLANDS

Abstract. The Coastal Transport Information System (Co.Tr.I.S) is a multifunction information system that is developed for the effective design of coastal transportation lines. The system incorporates several subsystems which include the models, tools, and techniques that support the design of improved coastal networks. Co.Tr.I.S main aim is to support any decision making process of the involved players (Ministry, Maritime companies, Local Authorities, Travel Agencies, Passengers, etc) regarding the improvement & the optimal use of a coastal transport network. Co.Tr.I.S data retrieval, analysis, visualization, network design & decision support can accelerate the very slow (currently annual in Aegean) rate of coastal transport network update/upgrade procedures, and, create smarter network implementations that may adapt online on the various demand or requirement changes or updates. Connections, transportation, mobility, as well as port automation are some of the key factors for the “smartification” of entire islands especially in an archipelago like the Aegean Sea. In this work, we present the network design optimization functionality of Co.Tr.I.S, the various optimization stages, the Genetic Algorithm (GA) implementations and its potential to propose a better network design based on each user preferences. A sample case study is given to show its smartness & adaptability to each user needs and, finally, a discussion follows on how it could be complemented by emerging smart technologies for smarter islands.
Bayesian Attitude Estimation with Approximate Matrix Fisher Distributions on SO(3)

A matrix Fisher distribution on the special orthogonal group is a compact, global form of attitude uncertainty distribution that has been successfully utilized for Bayesian attitude estimations in an intrinsic fashion. This paper addresses two computational issues in implementing matrix Fisher distributions, namely numerical stability and computational efficiency. More precisely, an exponentially scaled normalizing constant of the matrix Fisher distribution and its mathematical properties are introduced for robust numerical implementations. Next, two approximate matrix Fisher distributions are formulated for a highly concentrated case and an almost uniformly distributed case respectively. These approximate forms yield an explicit form of attitude estimation schemes for the considered cases, and it also illustrate the similarity between the Gaussian distribution and the matrix Fisher distribution in the highly concentrated cases.
Bound States and the Szego Condition for Jacobi Matrices and Schrodinger Operators

For Jacobi matrices with a_n = 1+(-1)^n alpha n^{-gamma}, b_n = (-1)^n beta n^{-gamma}, we study bound states and the SzegHo condition. We provide a new proof of Nevai's result that if gamma > 1/2, the Szego condition holds, which works also if one replaces (-1)^n by cos(mu n). We show that if alpha = 0, beta not equal to 0, and gamma < 1/2, the Szego condition fails. We also show that if gamma = 1, alpha and beta are small enough (beta^2 + 8 alpha^2 < 1/24 will do), then the Jacobi matrix has finitely many bound states (for alpha = 0, beta large, it has infinitely many).
Replication of the Enzymatic Temperature Dependency of the Primary Hydride Kinetic Isotope Effects in Solution: Caused by the Protein-Controlled Rigidity of the Donor-Acceptor Centers?

The change from the temperature independence of the primary (1°) H/D kinetic isotope effects (KIEs) in wild-type enzyme-catalyzed H-transfer reactions (ΔEa = EaD – EaH ∼ 0) to a strong temperature ...
Screening of adulterants in powdered foods and ingredients using line-scan Raman chemical imaging

A newly developed line-scan Raman imaging system using a 785 nm line laser was used to authenticate powdered foods and ingredients. The system was used to collect hyperspectral Raman images in a wavenumber range of 102–2865 cm –1 from three representative food powders mixed with selected adulterants with a concentration of 0.5%, including milk and melamine, flour and benzoyl peroxide, and starch and maleic anhydride. An acoustic mixer was used to create food adulterant mixtures. All the mixed samples were placed in sample holders with a surface area of 50 mm×50 mm. Spectral and image processing algorithms were developed based on single-band images at unique Raman peaks of the individual adulterants. Chemical images were created to show identification, spatial distribution, and morphological features of the adulterant particles mixed in the food powders. The potential of estimating mass concentrations of the adulterants using the percentages of the adulterant pixels in the chemical images was also demonstrated.
Utility of Mid-Upper Arm Circumference in Diagnosing Malnutrition in Children With Cystic Fibrosis

Background Standardized diagnostic indicators for malnutrition using growth percentile z-scores (weight for length or body mass index [BMI]) and mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) z-scores are being used in clinical practice; however, their application to the pediatric cystic fibrosis (CF) population is not well described. In this study, we aim to compare growth percentile z-scores and MUAC z-scores in diagnosing and classifying malnutrition in children with CF and assess the relationship between their degree of malnourishment and corresponding pulmonary function tests (PFTs). Methods In this retrospective observational outpatient study of 49 pediatric CF patients, data were collected on baseline characteristics, anthropometrics, and PFTs over 12 months. Agreement in malnutrition diagnoses was quantified by Cohen κ statistics. Pearson test assessed the correlation between MUAC and BMI z-scores as well as PFTs and anthropometrics. Serial anthropometrics and PFTs were obtained and compared for a subset of patients (n = 28). Results Growth percentile and MUAC z-scores were positively correlated in diagnosing malnutrition (Pearson correlation r = 0.87), but MUAC z-scores identified more patients as malnourished compared with growth percentile z-scores (49% vs 12%, Cohen κ of 0.22 [95% CI, 0.04-0.40]). There was no significant relationship between anthropometrics and PFTs. MUAC z-scores increased significantly over time, but BMI z-scores did not show this trend. Conclusions Our small-scale data suggest a promising role for MUAC z-scores in classifying malnutrition and in measuring changes in nutrition status over time in pediatric CF.
Photoacoustic tomography of fingerprint and underlying vasculature for improved biometric identification.

Capitalizing on the photoacoustic effect, we developed a new fingerprint sensing system that can reveal both fingerprints and underlying vascular structures at a high spatial resolution. Our system is built on a 15 MHz linear transducer array, a research ultrasound system, and a 532-nm pulsed laser. A 3D image was obtained by scanning the linear array over the fingertip. The acquired fingerprint images strongly agreed with the images acquired from ultrasound. Additional experiments were also conducted to investigate the effect of acoustic coupling. We discovered that high-quality fingerprint and vessel images can be acquired from both wet and dry fingers using our photoacoustic system. The reduced subdermal features in dry coupling can be enhanced through post-processing. Compared to existing fingerprint scanners, the photoacoustic approach provides a higher quality 3D image of the fingerprint, as well as unique subdermal vasculature structures, making the system almost impossible to counterfeit.
Watching readers reading

The reason why media affected culture so radically, Marshall McLuhan contended, was that the advent of a medium like print or television had the power to rebalance human ‘sense-ratios.’ This paper ...
Qualitative and quantitative top-down proteomics of human colorectal cancer cell lines identified 23000 proteoforms and revealed drastic proteoform-level differences between metastatic and non-metastatic cancer cells

Understanding cancer metastasis at the proteoform level is crucial for discovering new protein biomarkers for cancer diagnosis and drug development. Proteins are the primary effectors of function in biology and proteoforms from the same gene can have drastically different biological functions. Here, we present the first qualitative and quantitative top-down proteomics (TDP) study of a pair of isogenic human metastatic and non-metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) cell lines (SW480 and SW620). This study pursues a global view of human CRC proteome before and after metastasis in a proteoform-specific manner. We identified 23,319 proteoforms of 2,297 genes from the CRC cell lines using capillary zone electrophoresis-tandem mass spectrometry (CZE-MS/MS), representing nearly one order of magnitude improvement in the number of proteoform identifications from human cell lines compared to literature data. We identified 111 proteoforms containing single amino acid variants (SAAVs) using a proteogenomic approach and revealed drastic differences between the metastatic and non-metastatic cell lines regarding SAAVs profiles. Quantitative TDP analysis unveiled statistically significant differences in proteoform abundance between the SW480 and SW620 cell lines on a proteome scale for the first time. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) disclosed that many differentially expressed genes at the proteoform level had diversified functions and were closely related to cancer. Our study represents a milestone in TDP towards the definition of human proteome in a proteoform-specific manner, which will transform basic and translational biomedical research.
High Resolution NMR Spectroscopy in Liquids and Solids

High resolution nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy has been widely used to examine molecular structures, probe intricate conformational details and study dynamic chemical processes in solution. For samples constrained to be examined in the solid state, either for solubility reasons or because sample properties are modified in solution, conventional liquid state NMR techniques have not been very useful. The recent development of rare spin doubleresonance techniques together with magic angle sample spinning has permitted high resolution spectra to be obtained for solid samples. Of course, the advances in solid state NMR techniques are based largely on the remarkable progress in liquid state Fourier transform NMR that preceded it. Today NMR is among the more rapidly expanding branches of chemical science because it is one of relatively few techniques applicable to the study of molecules in both liquid and solid phases. In the area of biological chemistry, comparisons of spectral properties in the two states can provide significant new insights into local electronic structures in important molecules such as amino acids and proteins as well as complement crystallographic data in the interpretation of experimental results.
Secular changes in the thermosphere and ionosphere between two quiet Sun periods

The solar minimum period between solar cycles 23 and 24 was the longest since the beginning of space-based measurements, and many manifestations of solar activity were unusually low. Thermospheric neutral density was about 30% lower than during the previous solar minimum, but changes in the ionosphere between the two solar minima are more controversial. Solar radiation, geomagnetic activity, and anthropogenic increases in greenhouse gases can all play a role in these changes. In this paper, we address the latter of these potential contributions the degree to which secular change driven by greenhouse gases, primarily CO2, could be responsible for the observed changes. New 3-D model simulations find a global mean density decrease at 400 km of 5.8% between the two recent solar minima, which is larger than earlier 1-D model results and in better agreement with observations. From these model simulations and from other observational work, we estimate that the contribution of secular change to global mean neutral density decrease between the two recent solar minima is less than ~6%. The contribution of secular change to the global average decrease of F region ionosphere peak density (NmF2) and altitude (hmF2), near midday, is estimated to be 1.5% and 1.5 km, respectively. However, secular changes in the ionosphere exhibit large variations with local time, geographic location, and season. The midday change of NmF2 seen in the model simulations ranged between +6% and −9% and the change of hmF2 ranged between +11 km and −11 km, depending on geographic location.
From interaction to participation: configuring space through embodied interaction

When computation moves off the desktop, how will it transform the new spaces that it comes to occupy? How will people encounter and understand these spaces, and how will they interact with each other through the augmented capabilities of such spaces? We have been exploring these questions through a prototype system in which augmented objects are used to control a complex audio 'soundscape.' The system involves a range of objects distributed through a space, supporting simultaneous use by many participants. We have deployed this system at a number of settings in which groups of people have explored it collaboratively. Our initial explorations of the use of this system reveal a number of important considerations for how we design for the interrelationships between people, objects, and spaces.
Abstract T MP9: Analysis of MR RESCUE Dataset Employing DEFUSE 2 Target Mismatch Criteria for Defining Penumbra

Background: The MR RESCUE trial failed to show a benefit of endovascular therapy over standard medical care for first generation thrombectomy devices within 8 hours of onset of acute ischemic stroke. We now report a subset analysis of patients enrolled with MRI, employing DEFUSE 2 criteria to define favorable penumbral pattern (target mismatch) which differed from MR RESCUE penumbral prediction criteria. Methods: Patients with large vessel, anterior circulation strokes were randomized to mechanical embolectomy (Merci Retriever or Penumbra System) or standard care. Patients were categorized as having a favorable penumbral or non-penumbral pattern employing the DEFUSE 2 criteria for target mismatch ([Tmax > 6s / thresholded ADC 1.8, thresholded ADC 10 s < 100 cc). Results: Among 118 total patients, 94 qualified for this analysis. Mean age was 65.8, mean time to enrollment 5.6 hours, median NIHSS 17, and 47% had target mismatch. Predicted core volume using DEFUSE 2 criteria (thresholded ADC volume < 600 х 10−6 mm2/s) was 18.8 cc (target mismatch) and 64.3 cc (non-target mismatch; p<0.001). Revascularization in the embolectomy group was achieved in 62% (TICI 2a-3), and 21% (TICI 2b-3). Among all patients, mean 90-day mRS scores did not differ between embolectomy and standard care (3.8 vs 3.8; p=0.92). In patients with target mismatch, embolectomy was not superior to standard care (mean mRS 3.5 vs 3.3, p=0.78). Similarly, in patients without target mismatch, embolectomy was not superior (4.1 vs 4.3, p=0.67). Furthermore, there was no interaction between pretreatment penumbral imaging pattern employing DEFUSE 2 target mismatch criteria and treatment assignment in these 90-day mRS scores (p=0.11). Conclusions: In this analysis MR RESCUE patients enrolled with pretreatment MRI, use of the DEFUSE 2 criteria for target mismatch as a definition of penumbral pattern failed to identify a subset of patients with improved outcomes when treated with embolectomy. Further randomized, controlled studies employing new generation thrombectomy devices are needed to validate target mismatch as a selection criterion for acute stroke treatments.
The entrepreneurial control imperative

Abstract Steria, a leading French information systems and services company, was created with the vision that it would be owned by employees of all ranks . Founded in 1969 with US$80,000 initial capital and eight employees, Steria achieved its initial public offering (IPO) in 1999, and in May 2000 had sales of US$400 million, 3000 employees, and a market value of US$800 million, with a price/earnings ratio of 55. Steria's strategy was driven by the entrepreneurial control imperative . While the founder entrepreneur gradually relinquished control in favor of new employees, Steria was wary, almost paranoid, in ensuring its independence from takeovers by other companies. We discuss the four stages of growth of Steria, separated by three internal crises. Two of these crises were caused by the revolt of dissatisfied employees, the “barons,” and were resolved through the statesmanship of the founder entrepreneur. We analyze the key factors that contributed to the success of Steria, and we discuss whether the strategy of maintaining entrepreneurial control was beneficial to Steria and whether this strategy is still valid for the post-IPO “New Steria.”
Chapter 4 Molecular Biology in Dictyostelium: Tools and Applications

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses that the Dictyostelium transformation system provides a tool to study gene regulation in Dictyostelium at the molecular level. The major factors influencing molecular biological techniques in Dictyostelium are its genome organization and DNA composition. Gene fusions carrying the promoter regions of developmentally regulated Dictyostelium genes are expressed and regulated in a manner similar to their genomic counterparts. Up to now, this has been shown for an actin gene, two discoidin genes, the Dictyostelium ras gene, and pst-cath , a prestalk-specific gene. The first major application of the transformation system is the mapping of promoters and sequences essential for regulated gene expression. Trans-acting factors are investigated using cotransformation. It is possible that extrachromosomal vectors containing the promoter of a differentially regulated gene can be isolated at time points during development while maintaining their chromatin structure. The investigation of the protein organization in the promoter region on such a DNA gives insight into the DNA protein interactions during gene regulation. The antisense transformation provides means to study the phenotype of cells deficient in a known gene product, thus mimicking a loss of function mutant.
Enterocyte Microvillus-Derived Vesicles Detoxify Bacterial Products and Regulate Epithelial-Microbial Interactions

Summary The continuous monolayer of intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) lining the gut lumen functions as the site of nutrient absorption and as a physical barrier to prevent the translocation of microbes and associated toxic compounds into the peripheral vasculature [1]. IECs also express host defense proteins such as intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP), which detoxify bacterial products and prevent intestinal inflammation [2–5]. Our laboratory recently showed that IAP is enriched on vesicles that are released from the tips of IEC microvilli and accumulate in the intestinal lumen [6, 7]. Here, we show that these native "lumenal vesicles" (LVs) (1) contain catalytically active IAP that can dephosphorylate lipopolysaccharide (LPS), (2) cluster on the surface of native lumenal bacteria, (3) prevent the adherence of enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) to epithelial monolayers, and (4) limit bacterial population growth. We also find that IECs upregulate LV production in response to EPEC and other Gram-negative pathogens. Together, these results suggest that microvillar vesicle shedding represents a novel mechanism for distributing host defense machinery into the intestinal lumen and that microvillus-derived LVs modulate epithelial-microbial interactions.
Alteration of renal blood flow during epidural anesthesia in normal subjects.

The cardiovascular consequences of epidural anesthesia secondary to sympathetic blockade are well documented; however, their repercussions on renal hemodynamics in humans have not been reported. We investigated the effect of epidural anesthesia on renal blood flow (RBF) in 13 healthy volunteers 18-45 yr of age. RBF was measured using paraaminohippurate clearance before and after bilateral T6 epidural sensory block (to ensure adequate sympathetic renal nerve blockade). Epidural anesthesia was established using 22 +/- 3 mL of 2% plain lidocaine (without epinephrine) via L1-L2 epidural catheter; urine output was measured using a three-way Foley catheter. Mean arterial pressure remained > or = 70 mm Hg in all subjects without any pharmacologic intervention. Mean RBF before epidural anesthesia was 16.1 +/- 6.8 mL.kg-1.min-1 and 14.3 +/- 2.9 mL.kg-1.min-1 after bilateral T6 epidural blockade. We conclude that the institution of epidural anesthesia in healthy subjects does not result in a significant change in RBF (P > 0.25).
An update on ovarian cancer screening.

EDITORIAL COMMENT: The overall perspective for screening for cancer in women seems to be that the need for screening for cervical cancer is well-established and is relatively efficient although increasing emphasis is required to enrol the over 50's less than 50% of whom are currently regularly examined in VictoriaA. The cytological screening examination for cervical cancer also detects approximately 40% of cases of endometrial cancer; the examiner also has the opportunity to inspect the vagina and vulva for clinical evidence of pathology. The screening for breast cancer by mammography is a major initiative in Australia supported by the various State governments and holds high prospects for improvement in the early detection of this most important of female cancers. There is no doubt that women with an identified family risk of ovarian cancer warrant regular screening, or in some cases prophylactic oophorectomy, but it seems to the Editorial Subcommittee that the case is not proven by the data so far available that sophisticated screening of the general population for ovarian cancer is cost-effective. It would be interesting to compare whether colonoscopy every 3 to 5 years in the over 40 age group has higher priority than annual transvaginal ultrasound and colour Doppler examination combined with CA 125 screening for ovarian cancer as suggested in this paper. Governments will, when funds are available, respond to the case made for the detection of the most common identifiable curable cancers. Carcinoma of the ovary remains, in spite of its importance, the Cinderella in terms of prospects for early detection of invasive lesions. (A) 57% screened in the last 3 years for the 50–59 year age group and 33% for the 60–69 year age group (Heather Mitchell, Medical Director, Victorian Cervical Cytology Registry, statement to the Editor).