cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Reputation-Based Coalition Game to Prevent Smart Insider Jamming Attacks in MANETs

Mobile Adhoc Networks (MANET) are susceptible to jamming attacks which can inhibit data transmissions. There has been considerable work done in the detection of external jamming attacks. However, detection of insider jamming attack in MANET has not received enough attention. The presence of an insider node that has constantly monitored the network and is privy to the network secrets can acquire sufficient information to cause irreparable damage. In this paper we propose a framework for a novel reputation-based coalition game between multiple players in a MANET to prevent internal attacks caused by an erstwhile legitimate node. A grand coalition is formed which will make a strategic security defense decision by depending on the stored transmission rate and reputation for each individual node in the coalition. Our results show that the simulation of the reputation-based coalition game would help improve the network’s defense strategy while also reducing false positives that results from the incorrect classification of unfortunate legitimate nodes as insider jammers.
Mechanically Interlaced and Interlocked Donor-Acceptor Foldamers

The emergence of a class of organic oligomers and polymers that lie at the intersection of the fields of mechanically interlocked molecules (MIMs) and synthetic foldamers is described in this review. These macromolecules are based on 4,4′-bipyridinium (BIPY2+) and 1,5-dioxynaphthalene (DNP) recognition units incorporated into linear oligo- or polymeric chains (threads) and macrocycles (rings), where the threads fold their way through a series of rings in a serpentine-like fashion. The well-defined geometries of these polyelectrolytes are rendered by the [C–H ⋯ O] hydrogen bonding interactions that transpire between the polyether chains appended to DNP and the acidic protons of BIPY2+, as well as the π–π and donor–acceptor (D–A) charge transfer interactions that cause DNP and BIPY2+ units to pack into extended mixed stacks. The unique folding motif of these pseudorotaxanes and rotaxanes makes them attractive candidates for novel multiferroic and mechanically tunable materials.
Sudden Unexplained Death in Treated Epilepsy

The overall incidence of sudden unexplained death in persons with epilepsy (SUDEP) was measured, and subgroups with a high risk of SUDEP were identified among a cohort of 6,044 persons aged 15-49 years listed in the Saskatchewan Health prescription drug file.
Diagnostic Imaging for Pharmacists

Description: This book provides pharmacists with a basic summary of diagnostic imaging procedures and the medications related to them. Purpose: It is intended to give pharmacists a baseline understanding of diagnostic imaging, particularly as it relates to medication use associated with particular
Son-biased sex ratios in 2010 US Census and 2011–2013 US natality data

Abstract If gender bias is receding, demographic manifestations of son preference should also tend to decrease. The sex composition of US children provides a key barometer of gender preference. In the 2010 US Population Census, Chinese and Asian-Indian families are more likely to have a son after a daughter, consistent with previous research. Korean-American families, by contrast, do not show this same pattern, paralleling recent declines in sex selection observed for South Korea. Non-Hispanic White families have sex ratios within the range of the biologically norm regardless of the sex composition of previous children. We corroborate the 2010 Census data with 2011–2013 birth certificate microdata, which likewise show elevated sex ratios for Chinese and Asian Indians at higher birth orders.
Convergent and criterion validity of the CogState computerized brief battery cognitive assessment in women with and without breast cancer.

Abstract Objective: Computerized tests have increasingly garnered interest for assessing cognitive functioning due to their potential logistical and financial advantages over traditional ‘pencil and-paper’ neuropsychological tests. However, psychometric information is necessary to guide decisions about their clinical and research utility with varied populations. We explored the convergent construct validity and criterion validity of the CogState computerized tests in breast cancer survivors, a group known to present with mostly mild, subtle cognitive dysfunction. Method: Fifty-three post-menopausal women (26 breast cancer survivors, 27 healthy controls) completed the CogState Brief Battery tests with passed performance checks, conceptually matched traditional neuropsychological tests, and a self-report measure of daily functioning, the Functional Activities Questionnaire. Results: Significant positive correlations were found between the CogState Brief Battery tests and traditional neuropsychological tests...
Demonstration of a Direct Immunomodulatory Role for Vitamin D in Human T Cells Using Flow Cytometry

Abstract Clinical and epidemiological studies have demonstrated an increasingly stronger link between Vitamin D deficiency and a broad array of illnesses characterized by inflammation, including autoimmune diseases, coronary artery disease, and cancers. Vitamin D is a steroid hormone that exerts the majority of its biologic effects via the binding of the intracellular Vitamin D receptor (VDR). While upregulation of VDR has been demonstrated in activated bulk T cells using traditional approaches (e.g., western blotting), such assays cannot precisely define VDR distribution and kinetics. To overcome these limitations, we developed what we believe to be the first flow cytometric assay to quantify VDR expression at a single-cell level. We used a primary antibody against VDR (mouse monoclonal IgG2a to human VDR) in permeabilized T cells followed by a labeled secondary antibody. We detected a positive cell population using flow cytometry that was sharply increased following activation, consistent with upregulation of VDR confirmed by immunoblotting of sorted cells. We then applied this validated assay to define the kinetics of VDR upregulation in activated T cells. We stimulated PBMC with PMA:Ionomycin (P:I) for varying intervals and assessed intracellular VDR using flow cytometry. VDR is significantly upregulated by 15 min after stimulation, reaches a plateau after 6 hr, and may remain elevated for up to 7 d. We compared VDR to classical early and late T cell activation markers (CD69 and CD25, respectively), and we found that VDR was upregulated as consistently as (but even earlier than) CD69, and that VDR and CD25 were both consistently upregulated at later intervals (p
Name Fluency on Venture Investment Decisions

We explore how linguistic fluency (ease of acquaintance of a word in the English language) and phonetic fluency (ease of pronouncing phonological segments and sequences) in venture names affect the...
Intérêt du planning préopératoire pour la précision de positionnement de l’implant glénoïdien d’une prothèse d’épaule inversée

Resume Introduction Le positionnement du composant glenoidien lors de l’implantation d’une prothese d’epaule inversee reste techniquement difficile pour le chirurgien. L’instrumentation « guide specifique patient » (GSP) a ete preconisee pour en ameliorer la precision. Son utilisation repose elle-meme sur une planification preoperatoire precise. Le but de cette etude est de determiner et de comparer la precision de planification du placement glenoidien entre une situation ou seule la surface glenoidienne est visible, et une situation ou la totalite de la scapula est visible sur un modele tridimensionnel (3D). Materiel et methode Les tomodensitometries (TDM) de 30 epaules arthrosiques ont ete reconstruites en 3D. Deux chirurgiens ont virtuellement positionne le composant glenoidien en situation ou seule la surface glenoidienne 3D etait visible, simulant ainsi l’exposition classique intraoperatoire (chirurgie « 3D-aveugle »). Un seul des 2 chirurgiens a ensuite place le composant en situation de visualisation de la scapula 3D entiere (chirurgie « 3D-visible »). La precision de ces deux positionnements a alors ete evaluee et comparee sur les criteres de correction de la version et de l’inclinaison glenoidienne, ainsi que d’evitement de la perforation du cone glenoidien. Resultats Les versions et inclinaisons moyennes apres chirurgie « 3D-aveugle » etaient respectivement de +1,4° (SD 8,8°) et +7,6° (SD 6°). La perforation glenoidienne etait survenue pour 17 cas. Les versions et inclinaisons moyennes apres chirurgie « 3D-visible » etaient respectivement de +0,3° (SD 0,8°) et +0,1° (SD 0,5°), avec perforation glenoidienne survenue a 6 reprises. La chirurgie « 3D-visible » etait significativement plus precise que la chirurgie « 3D-aveugle » ( p Conclusion Lorsque la totalite de la scapula a ete utilisee comme reference, la precision de positionnement glenoidien et l’evitement de la perforation glenoidienne etaient ameliores. Ce type d’information est notamment disponible lors de l’etape du planning preoperatoire, prerequis necessaire a l’utilisation des GSP. Niveau de preuve Basic science study . Level III.
A Chromosome-Scale Assembly of the Bactrocera cucurbitae Genome Provides Insight to the Genetic Basis of white pupae

Genetic sexing strains (GSS) used in sterile insect technique (SIT) programs are textbook examples of how classical Mendelian genetics can be directly implemented in the management of agricultural insect pests. Although the foundation of traditionally developed GSS are single locus, autosomal recessive traits, their genetic basis are largely unknown. With the advent of modern genomic techniques, the genetic basis of sexing traits in GSS can now be further investigated. This study is the first of its kind to integrate traditional genetic techniques with emerging genomics to characterize a GSS using the tephritid fruit fly pest Bactrocera cucurbitae as a model. These techniques include whole-genome sequencing, the development of a mapping population and linkage map, and quantitative trait analysis. The experiment designed to map the genetic sexing trait in B. cucurbitae, white pupae (wp), also enabled the generation of a chromosome-scale genome assembly by integrating the linkage map with the assembly. Quantitative trait loci analysis revealed SNP loci near position 42 MB on chromosome 3 to be tightly linked to wp. Gene annotation and synteny analysis show a near perfect relationship between chromosomes in B. cucurbitae and Muller elements A–E in Drosophila melanogaster. This chromosome-scale genome assembly is complete, has high contiguity, was generated using a minimal input DNA, and will be used to further characterize the genetic mechanisms underlying wp. Knowledge of the genetic basis of genetic sexing traits can be used to improve SIT in this species and expand it to other economically important Diptera.
Ocular toxicities associated with targeted anticancer agents: an analysis of clinical data with management suggestions.

// Chen Fu 1 , Dan S. Gombos 5 , Jared Lee 2 , Goldy C. George 3 , Kenneth Hess 4 , Andrew Whyte 5 and David S. Hong 3 1 Department of Internal Medicine, New York University Langone Medical Center, NY 10016, USA 2 Department of Internal Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, TX 77030, USA 3 Department of Phase I Clinical Trials, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, TX 77030, USA 4 Department of Biostatistics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, TX 77030, USA 5 Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Division of Ophthalmology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, TX 77030, USA Correspondence to: David S. Hong, email: dshong@mdanderson.org Keywords: targeted, cancer, ocular, toxicity, management Received: September 20, 2016 Accepted: March 16, 2017 Published: May 05, 2017 ABSTRACT Ocular toxicities are among the most common adverse events resulting from targeted anticancer agents and are becoming increasingly relevant in the management of patients on these agents. The purpose of this study is to provide a framework for management of these challenging toxicities based on objective data from FDA labels and from analysis of the literature. All oncologic drugs approved by the FDA up to March 14, 2015, were screened for inclusion. A total of 16 drugs (12 small-molecule drugs and 4 monoclonal antibodies) were analyzed for ocular toxicity profiles based on evidence of ocular toxicity. Trials cited by FDA labels were retrieved, and a combination search in Medline, Google Scholar, the Cochrane database, and the NIH Clinical Trials Database was conducted. The majority of ocular toxicities reported were low severity, and the most common were conjunctivitis and “visual disturbances.” However, severe events including incidents of blindness, retinal vascular occlusion, and corneal ulceration occurred. The frequency and severity at which ocular toxicities occur merits a more multidisciplinary approach to managing patients with agents that are known to cause ocular issues. We suggest a standardized methodology for referral and surveillance of patients who are potentially at risk of severe ocular toxicity.
In Vivo Functional Analysis of Drosophila Robo1 Fibronectin Type-III Repeats

The repellant ligand Slit and its Roundabout (Robo) family receptors regulate midline crossing of axons during development of the embryonic central nervous system (CNS). Slit proteins are produced at the midline and signal through Robo receptors to repel axons from the midline. Disruption of Slit-Robo signaling causes ectopic midline-crossing phenotypes in the CNS of a broad range of animals, including insects and vertebrates. While previous studies have investigated the roles of Drosophila melanogaster Robo1’s five Immunoglobulin-like (Ig) domains, little is known about the importance of the three evolutionarily conserved Fibronectin (Fn) type-III repeats. We have individually deleted each of Drosophila Robo1’s three Fn repeats, and then tested these Robo1 variants in vitro to determine their ability to bind Slit in cultured Drosophila cells and in vivo to investigate the requirement for each domain in regulating Robo1’s embryonic expression pattern, axonal localization, midline repulsive function, and sensitivity to Commissureless (Comm) downregulation. We demonstrate that the Fn repeats are not required for Robo1 to bind Slit or for proper expression of Robo1 in Drosophila embryonic neurons. When expressed in a robo1 mutant background, these variants are able to restore midline repulsion to an extent equivalent to full-length Robo1. We identify a novel requirement for Fn3 in the exclusion of Robo1 from commissures and downregulation of Robo1 by Comm. Our results indicate that each of the Drosophila Robo1 Fn repeats are individually dispensable for the protein’s role in midline repulsion, despite the evolutionarily conserved “5 + 3” protein structure.
Diatoms: Glass Ornaments of the Earth’s Waters

The Earth’s waters contain hundreds of thousands of different species of beautiful, microscopic glass crystals called diatoms. Among every single one of its many species, diatoms exhibit exquisite architecture of their shells, and their applications in engineering are growing ever more known in the scientific community. Diatoms are one of the most common microaquatic single celled algae. They are eukaryotic and photosynthetic and have an estimated 200,000 species and 250 living genera (Gordon et al., Trends Biotechnol 27(2):116–127, 2008). Diatoms exist in any body of water that has enough nutrients—oceans, lakes, rivers, ponds, and even in household aquariums. They exist in various forms: planktonic or free-floating, colonial or solitary, or attached to objects such as sea ice, rocks, or other algae (Leventer, Diatoms. In: Gornitz V (ed) Encyclopedia of paleoclimatology and ancient environments. Springer, Netherlands, pp 279–280, 2009). To the naked eye, diatoms take on the appearance of scum at the top of the ocean, lake, or even the back of a whale. The slimy brown patches present on rocks in rivers are actually layers of diatoms. While they look like muck, the cells are actually surrounded by beautiful glass silica shells called frustules, and these frustules have a hierarchical structure (Dimas and Buehler, Hierarchical mechanics of diatom algae: from atoms to organism and weakness to strength, http://imechanica.org/node/11366, 2011). In addition to the astonishing beauty of diatom shells that has captivated artists, scientists, and researchers, diatoms have a wide variety of current uses including DNA purification, liquid absorbents, and matting agents. Researchers are also looking at using diatoms in the development of nano-scale biosensors (Marshall et al., PLoS One 7(3):e33771, 2012), drug delivery vehicles (Gordon et al., Trends Biotechnol 27(2):116–127, 2008), and solar panels with optimal absorption of solar energy (Norwegian University of Science and Technology, A bright future—with algae: diatoms as templates for tomorrow’s solar cells, http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/07/120717100117.htm, 2012).
Estimating material properties under extreme conditions by using Bayesian model calibration with functional outputs

Dynamic material properties experiments provide access to the most extreme temperatures and pressures attainable in a laboratory setting; the data from these experiments are often used to improve our understanding of material models at these extreme conditions. We apply Bayesian model calibration to dynamic material property applications where the experimental output is a function: velocity over time. This framework can accommodate more uncertainties and facilitate analysis of new types of experiments relative to techniques traditionally used to analyse dynamic material experiments. However, implementation of Bayesian model calibration requires more sophisticated statistical techniques, because of the functional nature of the output as well as parameter and model discrepancy identifiability. We propose a novel Bayesian model calibration process to simplify and improve the estimation of the material property calibration parameters. Specifically, we propose scaling the likelihood function by an effective sample size rather than modelling the auto‐correlation function to accommodate the functional output. Additionally, we propose sensitivity analyses by using the notion of 'modularization' to assess the effect of experiment‐specific nuisance input parameters on estimates of the physical parameters. The Bayesian model calibration framework proposed is applied to dynamic compression of tantalum to extreme pressures, and we conclude that the procedure results in simple, fast and valid inferences on the material properties for tantalum.
A distributed optical fiber sensing system for data center thermal monitoring

Temperature monitoring and regulation is a critical aspect of data center administration. Currently, conventional discrete transistor-based thermal sensing systems are widely used for this purpose, which requires a discrete device for each temperature measurement in the special domain. This leads to an increase in both complexity and cost as the data center grows in scale. This manuscript describes a real-time multiplexed optical fiber thermal sensing system for data center applications which simultaneously measures thousands of discrete points along the length of the fiber under test. This system allows for real-time thermal monitoring of several hundred servers with a spatial resolution of 1 cm, a temperature resolution of <1 °C, and a system update rate of 1 Hz. Temperature inside of individual servers and the ambient room temperature outside the racks can be simultaneously monitored in real time using a single optical fiber probe. To investigate this concept, a pilot experiment is presented which monitored the dynamic server temperature distribution using the proposed fiber sensing system. Temperature data recorded using built-in thermal sensors within the CPU of the server under test were simultaneously recorded and compared to measurements made. In order to induce a temperature change within the server, a computationally intensive task was undertaken during temperature testing. Both methods of temperature measurement demonstrated similar trends, indicating that the proposed multiplexed optical fiber-based system has substantial potential as a scalable method of distributed data center temperature monitoring.
The Effect of Zinc Deprivation on the Brain

More than a century ago, zinc was shown to be an essential trace element for Aspergillus niger by Raulin (1869). It was not, however, until 1934 that zinc was shown to be essential in a mammalian species when Todd, Elvehjem and Hart (1934) produced zinc deficiency in rats. The manifestations of zinc deficiency have been reviewed by Underwood (1971); they include growth retardation, anorexia, parakeratosis of the skin and esophagus, abnormal bone maturation, and unsteady gait. In severe deficiency, sterility occurs, while in less severe deficiency, the young produced are small and may exhibit deformities of many tissues.
Comparison of the Mössbauer Effect to Time-Differential Perturbed Angular Correlations: The Case of Fe57 in a Nickel Host

Time-differential perturbed angular correlations (TDPAC) is a technique which, when applied to hyperfine interactions in solids, has yielded information similar to the Mossbauer effect. Until our recent experiment on the Fe57/Ni impurity-host system, no one had studied any system by TDPAC that had also been studied in detail by the Mossbauer effect. Our TDPAC experiment on Fe57/Ni was made possible through improvements in delayed coincidence time resolution. We use our results on Fe57/Ni, and Mossbauer results on the same system, to illustrate a general comparison between the Mossbauer and the TDPAC techniques. Our conclusion is that, although both methods share certain common aspects such as source preparation, there are important differences in the two methods which give one or the other a distinct advantage in various applications.
Optimal Memory Order of Memory-Based LT Encoders for Finite Block-Length Codes Over Binary Erasure Channels

Memory-based LT encoders (MBLTEs) have been shown to have better performance than the regular LT encoder in terms of bit error rate (BER) and decoding convergence speed. In this paper, we explore the entire family of MBLTEs for finite block-length codes over the binary erasure channel (BEC). We propose an algorithm to extend the first and second order MBLTE approach to an arbitrary $i$ -th order MBLTE. We analyze the performance of such encoders mathematically by characterizing the expected accumulated number of recovered variable nodes at each decoding round. We define the threshold of the memory-based encoding method (MBEM) and show that the performance of MBLTEs increases as the memory order increases up to the point where this threshold is achieved. Beyond this point, we show that the performance of MBLTEs saturates if the channel erasure probability is zero and degrades otherwise. We formulate an optimization problem to solve for the optimal memory order based on whether or not the MBEM threshold is achieved. We present an extensive set of numerical results. These show agreement between our analysis and computer simulations. They also show that our optimization problem is efficient in determining the optimal memory order of MBLTEs in terms of decoding convergence speed, BER/frame-error-rate, and error floor.
Bromocriptine Use in Peripartum Cardiomyopathy: Review of Cases.

Objective This study is to review published cases of peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) treated with bromocriptine and outline pros and cons of the treatment strategy. Data Sources Data were collected from PubMed/MedLine, ClinicalTrials.gov; the years 2007 to 2018 were searched for English-language articles. Search terms: “bromocriptine and peripartum cardiomyopathy”, “bromocriptine and cardiomyopathy.” Methods of Study Selection This search strategy yielded 171 articles. After excluding duplicates, 86 studies were reviewed. Sixty-one articles involving the treatment of PPCMP were included, and of these, 17 were case reports of patients with PPCMP treated with bromocriptine; these studies were included in this review. Tabulation, Integration, and Results Seventeen of these articles were case reports of patients with peripartum cardiomyopathy treated with bromocriptine that were included. Conclusion Bromocriptine seems to be a promising treatment, there is currently insufficient evidence for universal utilization of bromocriptine for all patients with PPCMP. Addition of bromocriptine to the standard heart failure therapy should be individualized.
Extrapleural pneumonectomy for advanced pleuropulmonary blastoma

Abstract Purpose Use of extrapleural pneumonectomy for malignancy in children is rarely performed with few descriptions in the literature. In this article, we describe a 19-month-old girl who underwent an extrapleural pneumonectomy with enbloc resection of the diaphragm and pericardium for advanced pleuropulmonary blastoma. We achieved an R0 resection and survival without local disease recurrence at 23 months. Conclusion Extrapleural pneumonectomy is feasible in some circumstances to achieve oncologic control in cases of advanced PPB. This should be kept as part of the surgeons' armamentarium.
Compressive Kriging Using Multi-Dimensional Generalized Nested Sampling

This paper considers the problem of Kriging in statistical geophysics where the goal is to interpolate the value of a physical quantity of interest at an unsampled spatial location by exploiting the correlation between measurements collected from a (possibly limited) number of suitably spaced sensors. We introduce the idea of two-dimensional nested array in Kriging to reduce the number of sensors deployed in the field and enable efficient interpolation. Using spatial stationarity (which is a standard assumption in Kriging), we leverage the so-called “difference set” of nested arrays to enable robust spatial compression. Additionally, we can also make predictions beyond the field of view by constructing a virtual covariance matrix of larger dimension from the covariance matrix of the physical measurements. We present robustness analysis based on total least squares and concentration bounds of sample covariance.
High frame rate cardiac cine MRI for the evaluation of diastolic function and its direct correlation with echocardiography.

Background Breath-hold cine MR is the method of choice for evaluating left ventricular (LV) systolic function; however, the evaluation of diastolic function remains in the domain of high frame rate echocardiography. Thus, a cine MR technique for simultaneously evaluating LV systolic and diastolic function would be clinically valuable. Purpose To test the feasibility of extracting indices that characterize LV diastolic function from high frame rate cine MR. Study type Single center, prospective. Population Asymptomatic volunteers (N = 24; age 45.8 ± 12.3 years). Field strength/sequence High frame rate (70 fps) cine MR and phase-contrast MR during free breathing were acquired at 1.5T. Assessment The following MR-based LV filling metrics were extracted from LV volume changes during the cardiac cycle: 1) the volume-rate ratio, REFP /RLFP (ratio of the peak LV filling rate during the early filling period [EFP] to that during the late filling period [LFP]); and 2) the volume ratio, VEFP /VLFP (the ratio of cumulative LV volume change between the EFP and LFP). These metrics were then compared with traditional transmitral blood flow-based MR and echocardiographic indices. The effect of temporal resolution on these metrics was also evaluated. Statistical tests Bland-Altman and linear regression analyses were used to evaluate the performance of the proposed metrics against traditional indices of diastolic function. Results The REFP /RLFP and VEFP /VLFP correlated well with E/AQ-flow (r 2 = 0.66 and 0.54, respectively) and E/Aecho (r 2 = 0.58 and 0.49, respectively). Systolic indices remained robust ( 8% error) for frame rates below 35 fps. Data conclusion In asymptomatic volunteers, cardiac cine MR images acquired at frame rates >35 fps can be used to extract LV diastolic function indices from the temporal changes in LV volume. Level of evidence 1 Technical Efficacy Stage: 1 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2019;50:1571-1582.
A Semi-Supervised Learning Approach for Network Anomaly Detection in Fog Computing

Machine learning plays a vital role in the detection of network anomalies. In this paper, we first briefly examine the different categories of machine learning models, regarding to the acquisition of data label. With the support of fog computing, we then propose data-driven network intelligence for anomaly detection. The proposed framework includes fog enabled infrastructure and fog assisted artificial intelligence (AI) engine. Fog enabled infrastructure provides efficient computing resources for the selection of optimal learning model and sampling ratio. Fog assisted AI engine trains effective and robust semi-supervised learning models for detecting anomalies. We demonstrate that the optimal learning model achieves high detection accuracy and effective computational performance, with the close cooperation between infrastructure and AI engine in a fog computing environment.
A photonic pH sensor based on photothermal spectroscopy

Although the determination of pH is a standard laboratory measurement, new techniques capable of measuring pH are being developed to facilitate modern technological advances. Bio-industrial processing, tissue engineering, and intracellular environments impose unique measurement requirements on probes of pH. We describe a fiber optic-based platform, which measures the heat released by chromophores upon absorption of light. The optical fibers feature fiber Bragg gratings (FBG) whose Bragg peak redshifts with increasing temperature. Using anthocyanins (pH-sensitive chromophores found in many plants), we are able to correlate visible light absorption by a solution of anthocyanins to heat released and changes in FBG signal over a pH range of 2.5 to 10. We tested the ability of this platform to act as a sensor coating the fiber within a layer of crosslinked polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEG-DA). Incorporating the anthocyanins into the PEG, we find that the signal magnitude increases over the observed signal at the same pH in solution. Our results indicate that this platform is viable for assessing pH in biological samples and point at ways to optimize performance.
Repair of an Anastomotic Pseudoaneurysm with a Novel Hybrid Technique.

Abstract Introduction Anastomotic false aneurysms are a late complication of aortic grafting. Treatment usually consists of debridement of the degenerated tissue and placement of a short interposition graft. In infectious situations, graft excision is required. Patient History 80-year-old frail male with numerous comorbidities presented to clinic with an anastomotic pseudoaneurysm (PSA) between the left limb of an aortobifemoral Dacron graft and the common femoral artery. Technical Details The superficial femoral artery (SFA) and deep femoral artery (PFA) were exposed and controlled from an anterior thigh approach. Sheaths were inserted in each artery. An Amplatzer II vascular plug (Abbott, Abbott Park, IL) was deployed in the PFA. A Viabahn (Gore, Flagstaff, AZ) was first deployed in the left limb of the Dacron graft and into the proximal SFA. A Viabahn VBX stent (Gore, Flagstaff, AZ) was then deployed from inside the Viabahn and going proximally further into the limb of the bifurcated Dacron graft. The proximal end of the Viabahn VBX was flared with a larger balloon. The arteriotomies in the SFA and PFA were then used to create a side-to-side anastomosis. There were no immediate complications. On six months follow up, the PSA sac was noted to have decreased in size, and the stents to be patent with no endoleak. Discussion Elective surgical repair of anastomotic PSAs is preferred since emergent repair has significantly higher morbidity and mortality. Still, open elective repair has its own mortality and limb loss risks in addition to postoperative wound infection, seroma, hematoma, recurrence, along with myocardial infarction and stroke. The novel procedure we performed eliminated the risk factors of redo groin incision and added easier control of vessels in a clean field. With this procedure being performed more often in the future, these changes will hopefully prove to reduce complications while preserving flow in both the SFA and the PFA.
Maintaining low-mode symmetry control with extended pulse shapes for lower-adiabat Bigfoot implosions on the National Ignition Facility

The Bigfoot approach to indirect-drive inertial confinement fusion has been developed as a compromise trading high convergence and areal densities for high implosion velocities, large adiabats, and hydrodynamic stability. Shape control and predictability are maintained by using relatively short laser pulses and merging the shocks within the deuterium-tritium-ice layer. These design choices ultimately limit the theoretically achievable performance, and one strategy to increase the 1D performance is to reduce the shell adiabat by extending the pulse shape. However, this can result in the loss of low-mode symmetry control, as the hohlraum “bubble,” the high-Z material launched by the outer-cone beams during the early part of the laser pulse, has more time to expand and will eventually intercept inner-cone beams preventing them from reaching the hohlraum waist, thus losing an equatorial capsule drive. Experiments were performed to study the shape control and predictability with extended pulse shapes in Bigfoot implosions, reducing the adiabat from nominally α ∼ 4 to α ∼ 3 and otherwise very similar experimental parameters. The implosion shape was measured both in-flight and at stagnation, with near-round implosions and low levels of P2 asymmetry throughout, indicating a maintained symmetry control with extended pulse shapes.
Relative risk of hematological toxicities in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma treated with upfront immune checkpoint inhibitors.

675Background: Sunitinib was the standard first-line treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma (aRCC) for the past decade, but it has been associated with significant hematological toxicities. Imm...
Towards Untethered Soft Pneumatic Exosuits Using Low-Volume Inflatable Actuator Composites and a Portable Pneumatic Source

The application of pneumatic soft robots is limited by factors such as operational pressure and air flow rates. Pneumatic soft robots are typically tethered in nature due to the high energy costs for actuation as well as the lack of portable pneumatic sources capable of providing high pressures and air flow rates. This work presents a low-volume inflatable actuator composite (IAC) designed to reduce energy costs of actuation and a portable pneumatic source to overcome the aforementioned issues towards untethered applications. The pressure-deflection characteristics of the fabricated IAC are compared with those of a completely fabric-based beam using experimental results and finite element analysis. FEM models of IACs with varying volumes are generated and actuation speeds are measured using a pressure step response test. The force output and hysteresis of the actuator are studied. The developed portable pneumatic source is capable of generating a pressure and flow rates of 0.131 MPa and 21.45 standard litres per minute (SLPM), respectively. The IACs and portable pneumatic source are integrated with a soft exosuit to assist knee extension, and the integrated system is evaluated with three healthy participants for incline walking. A reduction of muscle activities in the Vastus Lateralis muscle group is observed for all the three participants when the exosuit is active.
Land ownership impacts post-wildfire forest regeneration in Sierra Nevada mixed-conifer forests

Abstract Understanding forest regeneration in the wake of large-scale wildfire events is critically important because these disturbances are expected to occur more frequently given future climate projections. While the impacts of individual management prescriptions on prevention, mitigation, and response to severe fire events have been studied, the influence of property ownership on their implementation and success has received less attention. The objective of this study was to compare how the management practices of two common US forestland owners- public (U.S. Forest Service) and a private forest resource company- influenced forest regeneration following a 26,000 ha wildfire in the northern Sierra Nevada. Spectral unmixing was used to track revegetation for 11 years following a 2007 wildfire. Classified vegetation maps were field validated and generated using remotely sensed imagery for the 2007 (pre-fire) and 2018 timepoints to track landcover transitions. Public ownership within the fire perimeter was the majority at 18,760 ha, while private ownership accounted for 7617 ha. Significant differences in forest regeneration were found with vegetation establishment on publicly owned lands occurring at twice the rate of their privately owned counterpart. However, by 2018 over half (10,062 ha) of publicly owned lands converted from forest (pre-fire) to a shrub-dominated land-cover type while only 2.2% (122 ha) of privately owned lands did so. Additionally, only 1% (249 ha) of publicly owned lands were characterized by young regenerating conifer forests, whereas approximately 70% (3875 ha) of privately owned lands were characterized as such. These results demonstrate a strong contrast in post-fire vegetation regeneration that will likely persist for many decades into the future. The implications of this contrast significantly impact the ecosystem services these forests provide, as well as future disturbance potential.
Modulation of N-nitrosomethylbenzylamine metabolism by black raspberries in F344 rats

2484 Previosly our laboratory has demonstrated that dietary freeze-dried black raspberries (BRB) inhibit N-nitrosomethylbenzylamine (NMBA)-induced tumorigenesis in the F344 rat esophagus. The present study was undertaken to determine the mechanistic basis of the anti-initiating effects of BRB, and to identify the active inhibitory component(s). Rats were administered AIN-76A diet containing either 5% or 5μmole phenylethylisothiocyanate (PEITC), a known inhibitor of cytochrome P450s (CYP450s) for three weeks. During the third week of dietary treatments, rats were administered three s.c. doses of NMBA (0.5 mg/kg b.w.) or the vehicle and sacrificed 24 h after the last dose. The livers were snap frozen in liquid nitrogen and the esophagus aseptically removed and explant cultures prepared for metabolic studies. Our preliminary results showed that addition of 5%BRB or PEITC to the diet inhibited NMBA metabolism in the esophageal explant by 25% and 80% respectively compared to the control rats. To identify the active inhibitory component(s) of BRB that influence NMBA metabolism, the explant cultures from control rats were further treated in vitro with either an ethanol extract of BRB or with individual components of BRB; ellagic acid and anthocyanidins (cyanidin glycoside and cyanidin rutinoside) known to be present in BRB. Results show that [3H]-NMBA metabolism compared to untreated explants was inhibited maximally in explants treated with cyanidin rutinoside (42%) followed by ellagic acid (25%), cyanidin glycoside (21%) and ethanol extract of BRB (11%). Gene expression analysis was also performed using Agilent oligonucleotide microarrays to examine the effects of BRB treatment on Phase I and II genes in the rat esophagus. Preliminary data was obtained using a single sample and respective microarray from each of: untreated, NMBA, 5% BRB, and 5% BRB+NMBA treatments. Using a minimum 2-fold change cut off, many genes were identified as differentially expressed between the treatments, including several phase I and phase II metabolizing enzymes. Currently, we are using DNA microarray. Currently similar studies are being conducted in liver cytosol and microsomes to examine the effects of BRB treatment, both in vivo and in vitro on Phase I and II enzyme activities in the rat liver. Supported by the NIH grant CA 745152.
Dynamics of long-term protein aggregation on low-fouling surfaces.

Abstract Understanding the mechanisms of protein interactions with solid surfaces is critical to predict how proteins affect the performance of materials in biological environments. Low-fouling and ultra-low fouling surfaces are often evaluated in short-term protein adsorption experiments, where ‘short-term’ is defined as the time required to reach an initial apparent or pseudo-equilibrium, which is usually less than 600 s. However, it has long been recognized that these short-term observations fail to predict protein adsorption behavior in the long-term, characterized by irreversible accumulation of protein on the surface. This important long-term behavior is frequently ignored or attributed to slow changes in surface chemistry over time—such as oxidation—often with little or no experimental evidence. Here, we report experiments measuring protein adsorption on “low-fouling” and “ultralow-fouling” surfaces using single-molecule localization microscopy to directly probe protein adsorption and desorption. The experiments detect protein adsorption for thousands of seconds, enabling direct observation of both short-term (reversible adsorption) and long-term (irreversible adsorption leading to accumulation) protein-surface interactions. By bridging the gap between these two time scales in a single experiment, this work enables us to develop a single mathematical model that predicts behavior in both temporal regimes. The experimental data in combination with the resulting model provide several important insights: (1) short-term measurements of protein adsorption using ensemble-averaging methods may not be sufficient for designing antifouling materials; (2) all investigated surfaces eventually foul when in long-term contact with protein solutions; (3) fouling can occur through surface-induced oligomerization of proteins which may be a distinct step from irreversible adsorption; and (4) surfaces can be designed to reduce oligomerization or the adsorption of oligomers, to prevent or delay fouling.
Characterization of the structural requirements and cell type specificity of IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta secretion

The murine macrophage cell line, P388D1, was transfected with expression plasmids containing a cDNA for the precursor or mature form of human interleukin (IL)-1 alpha or -1 beta, and the extent of IL-1 protein secretion was analyzed. The secretion of IL-1 beta from cells transfected with a cDNA encoding the mature IL-1 beta was approximately 15-fold greater than from cells transfected with a precursor IL-1 beta cDNA. Although P388D1 cells transfected with precursor and mature IL-1 alpha cDNAs exhibited similar levels of secretion, the precursor IL-1 alpha cDNA-transfected cells secreted only the mature form of IL-1 alpha. Relatively high levels of IL-1 secretion were also observed in cultures of HeLa cells and the murine EL 4 and human Jurkat T cell lines that were transfected with a mature IL-1 alpha or -beta expression plasmid. Secretion was not observed when these cell lines were transfected with precursor IL-1 alpha or -beta expression plasmids. Secretion was also minimal when P388D1 cells were transfected with cDNAs encoding mature IL-1 beta proteins lacking the NH2- or COOH-terminal 20 amino acids. These results indicate that the mature forms of IL-1 proteins are the preferred substrates for secretion and that the maintenance of a specific conformation of these proteins may be required for optimal secretion.
Spin-Peierls, valence-bond solid, and Néel ground states of low-dimensional quantum antiferromagnets

We examine large-N limits of the nearest-neighbor SU(N) quantum antiferromagnets on bipartite lattices in d=1,2. In d=2 the model displays a transition from a N\'eel to a disordered phase. The properties of the disordered phase close to the phase boundary are crucially dependent upon the nature of ``hedgehog''-like instanton tunneling events. We calculate the Berry phases of the instantons and show that, at scales larger than the spin-correlation length, the system can be described by a Coulomb plasma of instantons with complex fugacities. The properties of the Coulomb plasma vary periodically with the ``spin'' ${\mathit{n}}_{\mathit{c}}$ of the states at each site, with periodicity given by the coordination number Z of the lattice [${\mathit{n}}_{\mathit{c}}$=2S for SU(2)]. For ${\mathit{n}}_{\mathit{c}}$\ensuremath{\ne}0 (mod Z) the disordered phase has a broken lattice symmetry with spin-Peierls order, while for ${\mathit{n}}_{\mathit{c}}$=0 (mod Z), the ground state is a valence-bond solid state with no broken symmetry. Related topological effects for the d=1 chain lead to spin-Peierls order for odd ${\mathit{n}}_{\mathit{c}}$. These results are for a class of models which have, at sites of the A sublattice, representations of SU(N) described by a Young tableau with a single row, and the conjugate on the B sublattice. Similar results are also obtained for representations with m rows, using U(m) gauge theory.
Coplanar waveguide feed linear tapered slot antenna

The authors present the design and performance of a linear tapered slot antenna with a coplanar waveguide feed. The measured radiation patterns of the antenna are linear with cross polarization levels 12 dB down in both E and H-plane. The return loss is below -20 dB over a bandwidth of 1.55 GHz. The measured gain of the antenna is 7 dBi at 9.2 GHz. >
Potential cure of acute myeloid leukemia : analysis of 1069 consecutive patients in first complete remission

BACKGROUND. Potential cure of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is now a widely accepted idea, but it is uncertain whether there is heterogeneity in the failure rate in patients once they have been in complete remission (CR) for various periods of time. METHODS. The long-term outcomes were analyzed in 1069 consecutive AML patients in first CR who were diagnosed and treated at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center between 1991 and 2003. RESULTS. The failure rates as yearly risk of treatment failure were 69.1 in the first year, 37.7 in the second year, 17.0 in the third year, 7.6 in the fourth year, and 6.6 in the fifth year, suggesting that 3 years from the CR date is a convenient time to consider patients potentially cured. The effect of cytogenetics on relapse-free survival (RFS) remained constant throughout the first 3 years, whereas the effect of age increased with time. The probability of RFS for patients alive without disease recurrence at 3 years was 84.0% at 6 years. When the interaction between age and cytogenetics was examined for these patients, the outcomes of those with favorable cytogenetics were found to be excellent regardless of age. However, in the intermediate cytogenetic group, although patients aged <60 years had excellent outcomes, those aged ≥60 years were found to be at a substantial risk of disease recurrence even after 3 years of CR, with a 6-year RFS rate of 56.5%. There were only 6 patients with adverse cytogenetics in this cohort. CONCLUSIONS. The results of the current study demonstrate that the risk of treatment failure differs over time according to a combination of cytogenetics and age. Cancer 2007. Published 2007 by the American Cancer Society.
Case Study: Transport Carrier Replacement Analysis

Four replacement scenarios were analyzed for a vehicle fleet designed to haul sensitive packages at two different customer locations. In addition to completing an economic replacement analysis study, each option was analyzed according to availability requirements and other intangible attributes. Finally, a thorough sensitivity analysis was performed to examine the impact of reliability assumptions on both life cycle costs and the expected economic life of each option. Once all factors were analyzed, each critical input was graded and scored, leading to the final recommendation to replace the current equipment with a new technology.