cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract 1671: Deregulation of mTOR signaling contributes to chemoradiation resistance in lung squamous cell carcinoma

Non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) represents ~ 85% of lung cancer, and ~1/3 of these patients present with locally-advanced, unresectable/medically-inoperable disease. Patients who present with locally-advanced NSCLC are commonly treated with definitive chemoradiation. Even though an initial response to concurrent chemoradiation is commonly observed, disease relapse in the radiation fields occurs in 1/3 of cases, likely driven by therapy-resistant tumor cells. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms of chemoradiation resistance of NSCLC remains largely unknown. We herein report that upregulation of mTOR signaling plays an important role in the chemoradiation resistance of NSCLC. Patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models of lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) were established in the flanks of NOD-SCID gamma (NSG) mice. Chemoradiation resistant tumor models were developed by treating the tumors with a regimen of 2-4 weeks of chemoradiation (20, 30 or 40 Gy at 2 Gy per day, concurrent with cisplatin). Recurrent tumor models were collected and subjected to functional proteomics using reverse phase protein analysis (RPPA). Several LUSC tumors recurred in the 20 Gy+cisplatin, and 40 Gy+cisplatin groups. RPPA analysis of the recurrent and parental (untreated) PDX tumors showed that there were enhanced mTOR signaling in the chemoradiation resistant 20 Gy+cisplatin and 40 Gy+cisplatin tumors compared to that in the control tumors. Of note, phospho-AKT-S473, phospho-AKT-S308, phospho-S6-S235/6 and phospho-GSK3β-S9/21 were the highest upregulated signaling and were validated by immunoblotting. Consistently, pharmacological inhibition of mTOR kinase by Torin2 significantly sensitized LUSC cell lines to ionizing radiation. Our results demonstrate that utilization of PDX models is a useful method to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of chemoradiation resistance of NSCLC and deregulation of mTOR signaling contributes to the chemoradiation resistance of NSCLC. Our findings suggest that clonal selection of subpopulations with high mTOR signaling in heterogeneous NSCLC tumors might contribute to the relapse of NSCLC after chemoradiation and that mTOR kinase inhibitors are promising agents for the upfront treatment of NSCLC patients in combination with chemoradiation. Citation Format: Changxian Shen, Duan-Liang Shyu, Min Xu, Linlin Yang, Wenrui Duan, Terence M. Williams. Deregulation of mTOR signaling contributes to chemoradiation resistance in lung squamous cell carcinoma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr 1671.
Magnetic tweezers meets AFM: ultra-stable protein dynamics across the force spectrum

Proteins that operate under force—cell adhesion, mechanosensing—exhibit a wide range of mechanostabilities. Single-molecule magnetic tweezers has enabled the exploration of the dynamics under force of these proteins with subpiconewton resolution and unbeatable stability in the 0.1-120 pN range. However, proteins featuring a high mechanostability (>120 pN) have remained elusive with this technique and have been addressed with Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), which can reach higher forces but displays less stability and resolution. Herein, we develop a magnetic tweezers approach that can apply AFM-like mechanical loads while maintaining its hallmark resolution and stability in a range of forces that spans from 1 to 500 pN. We demonstrate our approach by exploring the folding and unfolding dynamics of the highly mechanostable adhesive protein FimA from the Gram-positive pathogen Actinomyces oris. FimA unfolds at loads >300 pN, while its folding occurs at forces
Intersectionality in quality feminist television: rethinking women’s solidarity in The Handmaid’s Tale and Big Little Lies

The first seasons of two female-centric television series—The Handmaid’s Tale (Hulu, 2017) and Big Little Lies (HBO, 2017)—mutually tackled the masculinization of quality TV discourse, winning majo...
Mapping of Transdiagnostic Neuropsychiatric Phenotypes Across Patients in Two General Hospitals.

Background Multidimensional transdiagnostic phenotyping systems are increasingly important to neuropsychiatric phenotyping, particularly in translational research settings. The relationship the National Institute of Mental Health's Research Domain Criteria multidimensional approach to psychopathology and nonpsychiatric diagnoses has not been studied at scale but is relevant to those caring for neuropsychiatric illness in medical and surgical settings. Methods We applied the CQH Dimensional Phenotyper natural language processing tool to estimate National Institute of Mental Health's Research Domain Criteria domain–associated symptoms of individuals admitted to nonpsychiatric wards at each of 2 large academic general hospitals over an 8-year period. We compared patterns in individual domain symptom burden, as well as a new pooled unidimensional measure, by primary medical and surgical diagnosis. Results Analysis included 227,243 patients from hospital 1 of whom 68,793 (30.3%) had a prior psychiatric history and 220,213 patients from hospital 2 of whom 50,818 (23.1%) had a prior psychiatric history. The distribution of Research Domain Criteria symptom burdens over primary diagnosis was similar across hospital sites and differed significantly across primary medical or surgical diagnosis. The effect of primary medical or surgical diagnosis was larger than that of prior psychiatric history on Research Domain Criteria symptom burden. Conclusion Research Domain Criteria–based neuropsychiatric symptom burden estimated from general hospital patients' clinical documentation is more strongly associated with the primary hospital medical or surgical diagnosis than it is with the presence of a previous psychiatric history. The bidirectional role of psychiatric and somatic illness warrants further study through the lens of transdiagnostic phenotyping.
The impact of economic sanctions on audit pricing

Abstract This study extends the literature on the association between business risk and audit pricing by exploring the economic sanctions of 2014 imposed by the Western community on Russia. The sanctions targeted predominantly Russian companies with state ownership, potentially leading to increased business risk for these companies. I find support for the notion that, post-2014, audit fees increased in the case of Russian state-owned companies. This evidence suggests that auditors passed on costs, arising from sanctions-driven increase in audit risk, to their clients. Further, the Russian government responded to sanctions by encouraging state-owned companies to terminate their audits conducted by auditing firms with foreign capital and/or foreign partnerships—Big 4 firms—meaning these firms were likely to lose their lion’s share of the Russian audit and consulting revenues. Nevertheless, I do not find evidence that Big 4 firms started to offer services at a discount to retain lucrative contracts with leading Russian companies. In contrast, the results indicate that Big 4 firms charged companies with state ownership higher fees for their audits, following the imposition of sanctions.
Ministry Involvement of Church Staff and Volunteers: The Role of Organizational Commitment and Work Engagement

One of the main functions of church leadership in the New Testament is to help people participate in ministry by serving others. However, church leaders may find it difficult to motivate lay volunteers, and even church staff, to do so. What are the factors that motivate ministry involvement? This paper examines the possible role of affective organizational commitment (the degree of emotional attachment to an organization) and work engagement (the degree to which one is immersed in and energized by one’s work) as motivating factors. A study of church members involved in ministry (N =336), including both lay volunteers and paid staff, was conducted to test whether both affective organizational commitment and work engagement predict ministry involvement. The results indicate that both organizational commitment and work engagement contribute to predicting ministry involvement of church staff and lay members. This relationship is true regardless of gender, tenure in the church, or church size. Work engagement is especially important for paid staff compared to lay volunteers. These results indicate that church leaders need to not only encourage commitment, but also to make sure that ministry is engaging and energizing for those who are serving.
Effect of growth selection of broilers on breast muscle satellite cell function: Response of satellite cells to NOV, COMP, MYBP-C1, and CSRP3.

Abstract The wooden breast (WB) myopathy is characterized by the palpation of a hard pectoralis major muscle that results in the necrosis and fibrosis of muscle fibers in fast-growing heavy weight meat-type broiler chickens. Necrosis of existing muscle fibers requires the repair and replacement of these myofibers. Satellite cells are responsible for the repair and regeneration of myofibers. To address how WB affects satellite cell function, top differentially expressed genes in unaffected and WB-affected pectoralis major muscle determined by RNA-Sequencing were studied by knocking down their expression by small interfering RNA in proliferating and differentiating commercial Ross 708 and Randombred (RBch) satellite cells. RBch satellite cells are from commercial 1995 broilers before WB appeared in broilers. Genes studied were: Nephroblastoma Overexpressed (NOV); Myosin Binding Protein-C (MYBP-C1); Cysteine-Rich Protein 3 (CSRP3); and Cartilage Oligomeric Matrix Protein (COMP). Ross 708 satellite cells had greatly reduced proliferation and differentiation compared to RBch satellite cells. MYBP-C1, CSRP3, and COMP reduced late proliferation and NOV did not affect proliferation in both lines. The timing of the knockdown differentially affected differentiation. If the expression was reduced at the beginning of proliferation, the effect on differentiation was greater than if the knockdown was at the beginning of differentiation. These data suggest, appropriate gene expression levels during proliferation greatly impact multinucleated myotube formation during differentiation. The effect of slow myofiber genes MYBP-C1 and CSRP3 on proliferation and differentiation suggests the presence of aerobic Type I satellite cells in the pectoralis major muscle which contains anaerobic Type IIb cells.
Dynamic Decision-Making in Anesthesiology: Cognitive Models and Training Approaches

Surgery involves risks that are due in part to anesthesia. In many cases the dominant risk comes from the patient’s underlying diseases, which cannot always be fully controlled before surgery. In some cases the surgery itself is extremely risky. Yet, over the last 15 years, the anesthesia profession has come to realize that a substantial portion of the risk of surgery that can be attributed to anesthesia sterns from inadequate performance by the anesthesiologist (Cooper et al. 1978, 1984; Gaba 1989; Gaba et al. 1987). Anesthesiologists have been at the forefront of coming to grips with the effects of the physician’s human limitations on patient safety. Clearly, similar considerations also pertain to other dynamic medical fields such as intensive care medicine, emergency medicine, invasive cardiology, and surgery itself.
GLUCOSAMINE-6-PHOSPHATE DEGRADATION BY PROTEUS VULGARIS AND ISOLATION OF PHOSPHOGLUCOSAMINISOMERASE

Abstract Aron, H. (University of California, Santa Barbara), H. H. Yonenaka, and H. I. Nakada. Glucosamine-6-phosphate degradation by Proteus vulgaris and isolation of phosphoglucosaminisomerase. J. Bacteriol. 87:1123–1128. 1964.—The presence of the enzyme, phosphoglucosaminisomerase, was demonstrated in a strain of Proteus vulgaris. Fructose-6-phosphate and ammonia were shown to be the primary reaction products. The optimal pH was 7.2 with a broad peak. This differs from previously reported bacterial phosphoglucosaminisomerases which had a pH optimum of about 5.8. Other properties of the enzyme are presented.
Arachnoid cysts: spontaneous resolution distinct from traumatic rupture. Case report.

✓Although many arachnoid cysts are discovered incidentally and require no intervention, a small subset has been known to rupture. Note that rupture can occur either spontaneously or in association with trauma. Based on a review of the literature on ruptured arachnoid cysts, it appears that patients with middle fossa cysts are more likely to experience symptomatic traumatic rupture than those with cysts in other locations. Middle fossa cysts are more commonly associated with hemispheric subdural collections and hematomas than are any other cysts. The authors report on two representative cases illustrating the distinct presentation, imaging characteristics, and management of these cysts.
Comparison of the Effects of Smart Board Technology and Flash Card Instruction on Sight Word Recognition and Observational Learning

This study compared the effectiveness of SMART Board, interactive whiteboard technology and traditional flash cards in teaching reading in a small-group instructional arrangement. Three students wi...
Modifying the mechanical property and shear threshold of L-selectin adhesion independently of equilibrium properties

Interactions between adhesion molecules on two different cells differ from interactions between receptors and soluble ligands in that the adhesion molecule interaction (bond) is often subjected to force. It is widely assumed by cell biologists that the 'strength' of a bond is a simple function of the affinity of one adhesion molecule for the other, whereas biophysicists suggest that bonds have 'mechanical properties' that affect their strength. Mechanical properties are a function of the shape of the energy landscape related to bond formation and dissociation, whereas affinity is related only to the net energy change. Mechanical properties determine the amount by which the kinetics and affinity of bonds are altered by applied force. To date there has been no experimental manipulation of an adhesion molecule that has been shown to affect mechanical properties. L-selectin is an adhesion molecule that mediates lymphocyte binding to, and rolling on, high endothelial venules; these are prerequisites for the emigration of lymphocytes from the bloodstream into lymph nodes. Here we report a selective and reversible chemical modification of a mucin-like ligand that alters the mechanical properties of its bond with L-selectin. The effect of force on the rate of bond dissociation, that is, on a mechanical property, is altered, whereas there is little or no effect of the modification on the rate of bond dissociation in the absence of force. Moreover, the puzzling requirement for hydrodynamic shear flow above a threshold level for L-selectin interactions is dramatically altered.
The Divorce Adjustment Inventory-Revised

Abstract The newly revised Divorce Adjustment Inventory (DAI-R) is validated across two samples of divorced families. The DAI-R is a parent report instrument that assesses child adjustment and family functioning after separation. This inventory is a 42-item, empirically derived instrument that was found to be predictive of different criterion measures of child adjustment and family functioning. Five patterns of divorce were identified in a factor analysis. The five factors did not correlate with each other. Scales were developed based on each factor and found to have internal consistency, with Cronbach alphas ranging from .65 to .84. The construct validity of the inventory was established with separate measures of family functioning and child adjustment in each sample: the McMaster Family Assessment Device (FAD), the Bloom Family Assessment Scale (FAS), the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and the Parent Evaluation Form (PEF). Significant correlations were found between DAI-R factors and the above measures...
Historical Articles in the Neurology® Journal as a Tool to Raise Awareness about the Importance of Bedside Medicine (P1.287)

Background:Bedside medicine(BM)has played an important role in establishing strong physician-patient relationship. With over reliance on technology,there has been waning interest among faculty to teach the art and science of BM to medical students.Objective of this pilot study is to assess the perception of BM among third year medical students,to assess if discussing history during core rotation would be feasible and use the historical articles in Neurology® as a tool to raise awareness about the importance of BM. Methods:This is a prospective,non-randomized,single-blinded,self administered,paper based close ended and scaled questionnaire study of consecutive third year medical students. A 6 item-3 factor Likert scale questionnaire was administered at beginning of the rotation.One or two articles were chosen by study authors and students were given week’s time to review.Article was then reviewed in small group discussion format in context of each of the patients they were following.At the end of rotation,3 item-3 factor Likert scale questionnaire was given. Results:34 questionnaires were given out of which 30 responded.There were 14 males and 16 females,average age 26.2 years.30% were undecided about their future sub specialty.73.3% were ‘very interested’ in learning about BM. 76.6%responded BM was very relevant to their future practice.At the end of rotation 53.3%responded that they would very much enjoy learning about historical aspects of neurology as compared to 23.3% at the beginning of rotation (p < 0.01).20% felt that it was a very good idea to include the historical aspects of neurology as part of their curriculum which increased to 63.3% at the end of rotation (p < 0.01)which also showed greatest change. Conclusion:There is a strong interest among third year medical students in learning about bedside medicine and even greater awareness about the impact of bedside medicine and their future career.Teaching history of neurology as part of their curriculum would be feasible and Neurology® journal is a valuable tool to implement this. Study supported by a liberal grant from Arnold P.Gold Foundation. Disclosure: Dr. Govindarajan has nothing to disclose. Dr. Morren has nothing to disclose. Dr. Salgado has received personal compensation in an editorial capacity from Belvoir Media Group.
Molecular analysis of nuc-1+, a gene controlling phosphorus acquisition in Neurospora crassa.

Abstract In response to phosphorus starvation, Neurospora crassa makes several enzymes that are undetectable or barely detectable in phosphate-sufficient cultures. The nuc-1+ gene, whose product regulates the synthesis of these enzymes, was cloned and sequenced. The nuc-1+ gene encodes a protein of 824 amino acids with a predicted molecular weight of 87,429. The amino acid sequence shows homology with two yeast proteins whose functions are analogous to that of the NUC-1 protein. Two nuc-1+ transcripts of 3.2 and 3.0 kilobases were detected; they were present in similar amounts during growth at low or high phosphate concentrations. The nuc-2+ gene encodes a product normally required for NUC-1 function, and yet a nuc-2 mutation can be complemented by overexpression of the nuc-1+ gene. This implies physical interactions between NUC-1 protein and the negative regulatory factor(s) PREG and/or PGOV. Analysis of nuc-2 and nuc-1; nuc-2 strains transformed by the nuc-1+ gene suggests that phosphate directly affects the level or activity of the negative regulatory factor(s) controlling phosphorus acquisition.
Longitudinal Control of a Platoon of Vehicles

This paper presents a systematic analysis of a longitudinal control law for a platoon of non-identical vehicles using a non-linear model to represent the vehicle dynamics of each vehicle within the platoon. The basic idea is to take full advantage of recent advances in communication and measurement and using these advances in longitudinal control of a platoon of vehicles: in particular, we assume that for i = 1,2,... vehicle i knows at all times v l and al (the velocity and acceleration of the lead vehicle) in addition to the distance between vehicle i and the preceding vehicle, i - 1.
Thermal, Raman and surface area studies of microcoiled carbon fiber synthesized by CVD microwave system

Abstract An attempt was made to synthesize coiled carbon fibers over nickel catalyst using acetylene as a carbon source at 700 °C by microwave technique. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and temperature-programmed oxidation (TPO) studies showed presence of disordered carbon in these materials. Highly coiled carbon fibers were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). From a transmission electron microscopy (TEM) study, the average diameter of the fiber was measured ≈200 nm. A Raman spectra of microcoiled carbon fiber was also recorded at room temperature under a nitrogen atmosphere. It has been observed that the surface area of the microwave derived microcoiled carbon was 62 m 2 g −1 . This value of surface area of microcoiled carbon was found to decrease with increasing temperature.
Immune cell quantitation in normal breast tissue lobules with and without lobulitis

While the immune microenvironment has been investigated in breast cancers, little is known about its role in non-malignant breast tissues. Here we quantify and localize cellular immune components in normal breast tissue lobules, with and without visible immune infiltrates (lobulitis). Up to ten representative lobules each in eleven normal breast tissue samples were assessed for B cells (CD20), cytotoxic T cells (CD8), helper T cells (CD4), dendritic cells (CD11c), leukocytes (CD45), and monocytes/macrophages (CD68). Using digital image analysis, immune cell densities were measured and compared between lobules with/without lobulitis. 109 lobules in 11 normal breast tissue samples were evaluated; 31 with lobulitis and 78 without. Immune cells showed consistent patterns in all normal samples, predominantly localized to lobules rather than stroma. Regardless of lobulitis status, most lobules demonstrated CD8+, CD11c+, CD45+, and CD68+ cells, with lower densities of CD4+ and CD20+ cells. Both CD11c+ and CD8+ cells were consistently and intimately associated with the basal aspect of lobule epithelium. Significantly higher densities of CD4+, CD8+, CD20+, and CD45+ cells were observed in lobules with lobulitis. In contrast, densities of monocytes/macrophages and dendritic cells did not vary with lobulitis. In normal breast tissue, myeloid and lymphoid cells are present and localized to lobules, with cytotoxic T and dendritic cells directly integrated with epithelium. Lobules with lobulitis have significantly more adaptive immune (B and T) cells, but no increase in dendritic cells or monocytes/macrophages. These findings indicate an active and dynamic mucosal immune system in normal breast tissue.
Design and verification of the Rollback Chip using HOP: a case study of formal methods applied to hardware design

The use of formal methods in hardware design improves the quality of designs in many ways: it promotes better understanding of the design; it permits systematic design refinement through the discovery of invariants; and it allows design verification (informal or formal). In this paper we illustrate the use of formal methods in the design of a custom hardware system called the “Rollback Chip” (RBC), conducted using a simple hardware design description language called “HOP”. An informal specification of the requirements of the RBC is first given, followed by a behavioral description of the RBC stating its desired behavior. The behavioral description is refined into progressively more efficient designs, terminating in a structural description. Key refinement steps are based on system invariants that are discovered during the design, and proved correct during design verification. The first step in design verification is to apply a program called PARCOMP to derive a behavioral description from the structural description of the RBC. The derived behavior is then compared against the desired behavior using equational verification techniques. This work demonstrates that formal methods can be fruitfully applied to a nontrivial hardware design. It also illustrates the particular advantages of our approach based on HOP and PARCOMP. Last, but not the least, it formally verifies the RBC mechanism itself.
Rate Constants for the Gas-Phase Reactions of the Hydroxyl Radical with Isoprene, α- and β-Pinene, and Limonene as a Function of Temperature

Rate constants for the gas-phase reactions of the hydroxyl radical with the biogenic hydrocarbons isoprene, α- and β-pinene, and limonene were measured using the relative rate technique over the temperature range 295−364 K and at 760 Torr total pressure. OH was produced by the photolysis of H2O2, and helium was the diluent gas. The reactants were detected by on-line mass spectrometry, which resulted in high time resolution allowing for large amounts of data to be collected and used in the determination of the Arrhenius parameters. Many experiments were performed over the temperature range of interest leading to more accurate parameters than previous investigations, which have relied on rate constants measured at three or fewer temperatures. The following Arrhenius expressions have been determined for these reactions (in units of cm3 molecule-1 s-1): isoprene, × 10-11 exp[(408 ± 42)/T]; α-pinene, × 10-11 exp[(436 ± 53)/T]; β-pinene, × 10-11 exp[(467 ± 50)/T]; limonene, × 10-11 exp[(401 ± 43)/T]. The Arrhe...
A Review of the Role of Anticoagulation in the Treatment of Peripheral Arterial Disease

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a major medical/surgical problem associated with high risk for coronary heart disease (CHD). Anticoagulation plays a significant role in the management of the PAD patient. However, evidence-based medicine supports only select anticoagulants, mainly antiplatelet agents. The available anticoagulant classes, their individual medications, and the mechanisms of action are described. Dextran 40, platelet glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa receptor antagonists, direct thrombin (factor IIa, FIIa) inhibitors, and factor Xa (FXa) inhibitors do not, at this juncture, appear to have a significant role to play in the PAD patient. Aspirin has been used in PAD patients for a few decades, as has warfarin, but the role of warfarin is very limited. An attempt has been made to place each medication and its function in context all the way to the present with oral direct thrombin (FIIa) and FXa inhibitors described. These inhibitors may ultimately play an, as yet, undefined role in PAD. Specific use of anticoagulants in PAD patients is described and aspirin still stands out as a fundamental therapy. The thienopyridines, especially clopidogrel, have their established place and there is some evidence for benefit from the use of clopidogrel in dual therapy with aspirin. Dipyridamole, especially with aspirin as dual therapy, and cilostazol also have their evidence-based niches. The main role played by warfarin is for the patient with a vein graft in the arterial circulation. Heparin retains significant procedural importance. For now, Class I, Level of Evidence A center around aspirin for the PAD patient with clopidogrel, an alternative agent.
An autonomous self-adapting conformal array for cylindrical surfaces with a changing radius

Conformal antennas are being used more often in modern wireless communication systems. Because of this increased usage, novel self-adapting arrays have been developed for improving the performance of wireless communication systems that use conformal antennas on changing surfaces. Among the changing surfaces of interest is a cylinder with a varying radius and in this work, the properties of an autonomous self-adapting 4 × 4 conformal array for changing cylindrical surfaces is presented. A sensor circuit is used to measure the radius-of-curvature of the cylindrical surface and this information is used to control phased-shifters in the 4 × 4 conformal array for phase-compensation of the radiation pattern. This array has been denoted as the SELF-adapting FLEXible (SELFLEX) array. Finally, the self-adapting characteristics of the array are validated with measurements and simulations.
Analysis of thallium-201 single-photon emission computed tomography after intravenous dipyridamole using different quantitative measures of coronary stenosis severity and receiver operator characteristic curves.

Abstract The presence of significant coronary artery disease in individual vessels was assessed using thallium-201 single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) after intravenous dipyridamole. Coronary angiograms were analyzed using quantitative computer-assisted techniques in 81 men patients. Eleven men with a 50% luminal diameter narrowing; (2) an absolute cross-sectional area ≤2.0 mm 2 ; or (3) a ≥70% cross-sectional area obstruction. Myocardial perfusion after dipyridamole was analyzed using the quantitative (polar map) method in 213 regions from the group with known coronary anatomy and using 33 regions from the group with a low likelihood of disease. Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to define the best cut-off point for the discrimination between normal and abnormal perfusion. When related to each of the three quantitative angiographic criteria, the optimum balance between sensitivity and specificity occurred at a defect size of ≥8% for the left anterior descending artery, ≥4% for the circumflex artery, and >0% for the right coronary artery. Using a luminal diameter narrowing of >50% to define the presence of significant coronary artery disease, these corresponded to respective sensitivities and specificities of 0.82 and 0.76 for the left anterior descending artery, 0.71 and 0.71 for the circumflex artery, and 0.76 and 0.82 for the right coronary artery. Thus analysis of receiver operator characteristic curves provides a means to define abnormalities for the SPECT polar map program after dipyridamole stress. Different definitions of coronary stenosis significance as determined by quantitative angiography did not substantially alter the results of the thallium imaging data and thus suggest that these definitions are functionally similar.
Ion storage tests with the high performance antiproton trap (HiPAT)

The NASA/Marshall Space Flight Centers (NASA/MSFC) Propulsion Research Center (PRC) is evaluating an antiproton storage system, referred to as the High Performance Antiproton Trap (HiPAT). This interest stems from the sheer energy represented by matter/antimatter annihilation process with has an energy density approximately 10 order of magnitude above that of chemical propellants. In other terms, one gram of antiprotons contains the equivalent energy of approximately 23 space shuttle external tanks or ET's (each ET contains roughly 740,000 kgs of fuel and oxidizer). This incredible source of stored energy, if harnessed, would be an enabling technology for deep space mission where both spacecraft weight and propulsion performance are key to satisfying aggressive mission requirements. The HiPAT hardware consists of a 4 Tesla superconductor system, an ultra high vacuum test section (vacuum approaching 10(exp -12) torr), and a high voltage confinement electrode system (up to 20 kvolts operation). The current laboratory layout is illustrated. The HiPAT designed objectives included storage of up to 1 trillion antiprotons with corresponding lifetimes approaching 18 days. To date, testing has centered on the storage of positive hydrogen ions produced in situ by a stream of high-energy electrons that passes through the trapping region. However, due to space charge issues and electron beam compression as it passes through the HiPAT central field, current ion production is limited to less then 50,000 ions. Ion lifetime was determined by counting particle populations at the end of various storage time intervals. Particle detection was accomplished by destructively expelling the ions against a micro-channel plate located just outside the traps magnetic field. The effect of radio frequency (RF) stabilization on the lifetime of trapped particles was also examined. This technique, referred to as a rotating wall, made use of a segmented electrode located near the center of the trap on which various phases of a particular frequency were applied. Various experiments were performed illustrating the ability of an RF drive to both prolong and reduced the lifetimes of various ion species depending on the selected frequency. HiPAT is now being reconfigured for testing with an ion source that will provide both positive and negative hydrogen ions from an external source. This ion system shall provide higher fill capacity (order of million of ions per shot), stacking of multiple shots, and injection schemes typical of a realistic antiproton delivery system.
Creep Behavior of Lead Free Solder Interconnects in Microelectronic Packages: Impression Creep Testing and Constitutive Modeling

The creep behavior of ball grid array (BGA) or flip-chip (FC) solder joints during thermo-mechanical cycling associated with service often limits the reliability of microelectronic packages. In addition, the fine intermetallic precipitates (Ag3 Sn and/or Cu6 Sn5 ) in the microstructures of the new lead-free solders (Sn-Ag and Sn-Ag-Cu) can undergo significant in situ strain-enhanced coarsening during TMC, resulting in in-service evolution of the creep behavior of the joints. Since there are significant microstructural/ compositional differences between bulk solder samples and tiny microelectronic solder joints, it is critical to develop accurate creep testing methodologies on tiny life-sized solder joints and microstructurally adaptive constitutive creep models for the emerging Pb-free solder alloys. In this paper, we present creep data obtained from tests conducted on individual Sn4Ag0.5Cu ball grid array (BGA) solder balls attached to a packaging substrate, using a newly developed miniaturized impression creep apparatus, which affords high test throughput with minimal sample preparation. Coarsening of intermetallic particles is demonstrated to influence creep behavior in two ways. At low stresses, the creep rate increases proportionately with precipitate size. At high stresses, precipitate coarsening influences creep response by altering the threshold stress for particle-limited creep. Based on the experimental observations, a microstructurally adaptive creep model, which accounts for the effects of coarsening on the creep response of solder joints, and is capable of adjusting itself as solder joint microstructures evolve during service, is presented, along with experimental determination of the relevant coarsening kinetics parameters.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Introduction to Geomagnetic Fields

With a profusion of excellent books on geomagnetism published or revised during the last few years (one, in fact, by the same publisher as Introduction to Geomagnetic Fields), we might ask why we need yet another on the same subject. I believe the answer is clear. This book fills a gap between the highly mathematical and technical coverage of G. Backus, R. Parker, and C. Constable's Foundations of Geomagnetism (1996) and the solid-Earth focus provided by R. T. Merrill, M. W. McElhinny, and P. L. McFadden's The Magnetic Field of the Earthsemi; Paleomagnetism, the Core, and the Deep Mantle (1996). Perhaps Introduction to Geomagnetic Fields is best described by its first sentence: “This book is designed for those who want a condensed and less technical coverage of geomagnetic topics than is afforded by existing textbooks.” The foreword describes the book as a beginning textbook, containing minimal technical jargon without complex mathematical formulas. The author makes a valiant reach for this goal (becoming too elementary in some casessemi; we are provided, for example, with the definition of an arc tangent, a description of scientific notation, and a reminder that sin 90°=1) but is nly partially successful. By page 17, the book has already introduced Maxwell's and Laplace's equations in s pherical coordinates, complete with Legendre polynomials. This is certainly understandable (what could be more instructive than the single equation Δ 2V=0?), and the book does provide plenty of text to illustrate the physical meanings behind important formulations. The book has only five chapters covering the broad range of geomagnetic topics. The first chapter describes the Earth's main magnetic field, emphasizing its dipole and nondipole characteristics via spherical harmonic analysis. Geomagnetic components and charts are described, and there is a brief discussion of paleomagnetism and the fluid-core source of the internal field.
Archival research and the lost worlds of accounting

Developments in History Proper have by-passed accounting history. While sometimes open to occasional alarm calls such as this, mainstream history has carried-on regardless behind a defunct methodol...
Digital filters with a Fibonacci-based impulse response

The impulse response h(n 1 , n 2 ) of the all-pole two-dimensional recursive digital filter whose transfer function is H(z, z) = 1/ 1 - a 10 z 1 -1-a 01 z 2 -1-a 20 z 1 -1is shown to be determined everywhere by the response h(n 1 , 0) along the z 1 -axis. When a 10 = 1 = a 20 , h(n 1 , 0) is the n 1 th number in the Fibonacci sequence 1, 1, 2, 3, ..., f k = f k-1 + f k-2 ,.... This particular example suggests a class of all-pole digital filters which similarly have a Fibonacci-based impulse response characteristic.
A multi-century tree-ring record of spring flooding on the Mississippi River

Summary Widespread destructive flooding is a common phenomenon along the Lower Mississippi River, and river managers have long sought to understand the temporal variability and relevant climatic factors of the system. One of the important drawbacks to better understanding the flood regime of this and similar large river systems is the relatively short instrumental record of flooding. In this study, we present a novel, annually-resolved tree-ring record of spring flooding based on anatomically anomalous “flood rings” preserved in trees growing about 60 km downstream of the Mississippi and Ohio River confluence. Our chronology records 39 flood-ring years between 1770 and 2009 including nearly all of the observed significant floods of the 20th century as well as severe floods documented in prior centuries. Comparison of the flood ring record with stream gage observations suggests that large-magnitude floods lasting for more than 10 days, during the spring flood season, are most likely to cause a flood ring in sampled trees. Instrumental and paleo-proxy records of atmospheric circulation features relevant to spring flooding on the Lower Mississippi were also examined. Results of this research suggest that similar flood-ring records could provide important insight into flood history elsewhere in the Mississippi River system and perhaps climate variability over North America.
Using atomic force microscopy to evaluate the development of mesoscopic shear planes in materials processed by severe plastic deformation

Abstract Samples of pure Al and a Zn-22% Al alloy were processed by equal-channel angular pressing (ECAP) to give grain sizes of ∼1.3 μm in both materials. Following ECAP, tensile specimens were cut from the as-pressed billets and tested at room temperature using an initial strain rate of 1×10 −4 s −1 . The surface morphology of these two materials was examined using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and it was found that long mesoscopic shear planes are formed in pure Al over a large fraction of the surface area but no mesoscopic shear planes are formed in the Zn-22% Al alloy. The results are examined with reference to earlier reports of the occurrence of mesoscopic shear planes in pure Cu and pure Ni after processing by ECAP. It is concluded that mesoscopic shear planes do not form in two-phase alloys because of the difficulties of achieving local re-arrangements of the grain boundaries and in other materials the extent of the mesoscopic shear planes depends upon the homologous testing temperature and the grain size of the material.
Paleodoris lattini gen. n., sp. n., a fossil palm bug (Hemiptera: Thaumastocoridae, Xylastodorinae) in Dominican amber, with habits discernible by comparative functional morphology

A new genus and species, Paleodoris lattini gen. n., sp. n. of palm bugs (Hemiptera: Thaumastocoridae, Xylastodorinae) in Dominican amber represents the first description of a fossil thaumastocorid. The new taxon is near Xylastodoris, an extant genus native to Cuba, but differs from it in the size and shape of the clypeus, mandibular plates and pronotum. The fossil shows a similar morphology (flattened body and legs, porrect head, smooth body surface) to X. luteolus, which inhabits the confined spaces between the closed leaves of the Royal Palm (Roystonea regia). By comparative functional morphology, we presume that the fossil species lived in a similar habitat, possibly between the pinnae of palms that grew in the Dominican Republic some 20-40 million years ago.
The role of complement in antibody-mediated rejection in kidney transplantation

Much progress has been made in understanding the processes underlying antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) of transplanted organs. In this Review, the authors discuss the role of the complement system in acute and chronic AMR, with specific emphasis on renal transplantation, and describe studies demonstrating that blockade of terminal complement activation can prevent AMR in sensitized renal transplant recipients. Over the past decade, several studies have suggested that the complement system has an active role in both acute and chronic allograft rejection. These studies have been facilitated by improved techniques to detect antibody-mediated organ rejection, including immunohistological staining for C4d deposition in the allograft and solid-phase assays that identify donor-specific alloantibodies (DSAs) in the serum of transplant recipients. Studies with eculizumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody directed against complement component C5, have shown that activation of the terminal complement pathway is necessary for the development of acute antibody-mediated rejection in recipients of living-donor kidney allografts who have high levels of DSAs. The extent to which complement activation drives chronic antibody-mediated injury leading to organ rejection is less clear. In chronic antibody-mediated injury, early complement activation might facilitate chemotaxis of inflammatory cells into the allograft in a process that later becomes somewhat independent of DSA levels and complement factors. In this Review, we discuss the different roles that the complement system might have in antibody-mediated allograft rejection, with specific emphasis on renal transplantation.
Heavily doped n-type PbSe and PbS nanocrystals using ground-state charge transfer from cobaltocene

Heavily doped n- type PbSe and PbS nanocrystals using ground-state charge transfer from cobaltocene
The involvement of photosystem II-generated H2O2 in photoinhibition.

The involvement of H2O2 generated by photosystem II (PSII) in the process of photoinhibition of thylakoids with a functional oxygen-evolving complex (OEC) was investigated. The rate of photoinhibition was decreased to the rate of loss of activity in the dark when bovine Fe-catalase was present during the photoinhibitory illumination. Photoinhibition was accelerated for both Cl−-depleted and Cl−-sufficient thylakoids when KCN was present to inhibit the thylakoid-bound Fe-catalase. We propose that these preparations become photoinhibed by reactions with H2O2 produced via oxidation of water by the Cl−-depleted OEC and by reduction of O2 at the QB site when PSII is illuminated without an electron acceptor.
Loss Measurements in Silicon Hollow-Core Waveguides with Metastructure High-Contrast Grating

We report propagation loss measurements in our novel silicon-based metastructure hollow-core waveguides which show <-2dB/cm low-loss region near 1550 nm. Polarization dependent loss was also measured.
Anharmonic Vibrational Spectroscopy of Hydrogen-Bonded Systems Directly Computed from ab Initio Potential Surfaces: (H2O)n, n = 2, 3; Cl-(H2O)n, n = 1, 2; H+(H2O)n, n = 1, 2; H2O−CH3OH

Vibrational energy levels and infrared absorption intensities of several neutral and ionic hydrogen-bonded clusters are computed directly from ab initio potential energy surfaces, and the results are compared with experiment. The electronic structure method used to compute the potential surfaces is MP2, with Dunning’s triple-œ + polarization basis set. The calculation of the vibrational states from the potential surface points is carried out using the correlation corrected vibrational self-consistent field (CC-VSCF) method. This method includes anharmonicity and the coupling between different vibrational modes. The combined electronic structure/vibrational algorithm thus provides first-principles calculations of vibrational spectroscopy at a fairly accurate anharmonic level and can be useful for testing the accuracy of electronic structure methods by comparing with experimental vibrational spectroscopy. Systems treated here are (H2O)n, n ) 2, 3; Cl - (H2O)n, n ) 1, 2; H + (H2O)n, n ) 1, 2; and H2O-CH3OH. In the cases of (H2O)3 and H2O-CH3OH, over 13 000 potential surface points are computed. For each system treated, all the fundamental transitions are computed, but the experimental data for comparison is mostly available for the OH stretches or other stiff modes only. The results show very good agreement between the calculated and experimental frequencies for all systems. The typical deviation for OH stretching modes is on the order of 50 cm -1 , indicating that the ab initio potential surfaces are of good accuracy. This is very encouraging for further pursuing MP2 calculations of potential energy surfaces of hydrogen-bonded systems.
Pulmonary capillary hemangiomatosis arising in hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia

Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT), also known as Osler-Weber-Rendu syndrome, is an autosomal dominant inherited disease characterized by epistaxis, telangiectases, and visceral arteriovenous malformations that can lead to hemorrhage and other complications. We report the case of a 56-year-old female patient with HHT and pulmonary hypertension who died with intractable pulmonary and gastrointestinal bleeding. Autopsy revealed vascular malformations in the lungs, gastrointestinal tract, liver, spleen, and brain. Capillary proliferations in the pulmonary alveolar walls, characteristic of pulmonary capillary hemangiomatosis, were identified, as was evidence of pulmonary hypertensive arteriopathy. To our knowledge, this is the first report of pulmonary capillary hemangiomatosis arising in HHT. The histopathologic findings of HHT and pulmonary capillary hemangiomatosis are reviewed, and a possible role for diminished capillary expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase is discussed.
Response to Glenn

Arons responds to what he considers to be Glenn's misrepresentations of the tone and content of Short Route To Chaos. He writes that Glenn "appears to be attempting to construct the book's message into just one more salvo fired in the endless school wars. It is anything but....Reading Glenn's review, one is left with the impression that the book is a Christian-bashing, left-leaning, work of communitarian fuzziness in which a legal scholar unaccountably refuses to confine himself to ... technical explication of existing constitutional doctrine." In his response, Arons affirmatively sets out some of the book's main themes of political /cultural conflict over standardized schooling, corrects some of what he sees as Glenn's misunderstandings, and notes that the book itself invites readers to eschew partisanship and recognize that there are deep structural problems in American public education. In closing, Arons uses an example of Glenn's partisan misunderstanding that leads Arons to recommend to the reader that it would be better to read Short Route to Chaos for oneself.