cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Climate Modes in Southern High Latitudes and Their Impacts on Antarctic Sea Ice

[1] This study investigates the influence of high-latitude climate variability on the Antarctic sea ice distribution. The climate variability examined here includes distinct climate modes, such as the Southern Annular Mode (SAM), quasi-stationary wave-3 pattern, Pacific South American pattern (PSA) and Semi-Annual Oscillation (SAO). The results reveal that the largest impact comes from PSA in the Antarctic Dipole (ADP) region of the western hemisphere at the interannual timescale, which is related to the teleconnection of El Nino- Southern Oscillation (ENSO). The wave-3 pattern also has a strong and similar influence on sea ice in the ADP regions as PSA does, suggesting a positive interaction between PSA and wave-3 in the region. Measured by correlation coefficients and their significance, SAM has a relatively less significant influence on sea ice than other climate patterns in general, though this global assessment may not apply to particular regions. Sea ice usually responds to large-scale atmospheric anomalies with a 2-month delay. The singular value decomposition (SVD) analysis reveals that the coupled relationships between sea ice and atmospheric pressure, temperature, and wind fields are represented by these known climate modes. The leading coupled modes between sea ice and sea level pressure are accountable for 50% to 60% of total squared covariance for all seasons. The leading modes between sea ice and surface air temperature in winter and summer are also accountable for the same amount of total squared covariance. It indicates that these well-established climate modes/patterns are the dominant factors leading to a strong interaction between the atmosphere and sea ice field in the Antarctic.
9‐(p‐Methyl­phenyl)­fluorene

The title compound, C20H16, displays no unusual structural characteristics. The aryl and fluorenyl ring planes form an angle of 78.26 (14)°. Neither intermolecular hydrogen bonding nor aryl–H⋯π(arene) interactions are exhibited, which conforms with the rapid recrystallization of the melted crystals on cooling.
Pharmacotherapy for acute heart failure syndromes.

Purpose Drug therapies for patients with acute heart failure syndromes (AHFS) are reviewed, including clinical practice guideline recommendations for the treatment of hospitalized patients with heart failure (HF). Summary AHFS may be defined as new-onset, gradual, or rapidly worsening HF signs and symptoms that require urgent therapy. Clinical practice guidelines from the American College of Cardiology Foundation–American Heart Association, Heart Failure Society of America, and European Society of Cardiology offer recommendations for the management of AHFS, addressing the role of diuretics, vasodilators, and inotropes. The guidelines emphasize the utility of vasodilators for patients with signs and symptoms of pulmonary congestion, including pulmonary edema or severe hypertension or both, who have not responded to diuretics. The early initiation of vasoactive medications, including diuretics and vasodilators, has been linked to improved outcomes in some reports. Conversely, the use of inotropes is deemphasized, particularly as part of the routine management of these patients. Newer agents, including vasopressin antagonists, have also been approved recently but are not addressed by the clinical practice guidelines. The guidelines address the importance of initiating and optimizing evidence-based oral medications for long-term use, including angiotensin-converting-enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin-receptor blockers, β-blockers, and aldosterone antagonists, during the patient’s hospital stay in an effort to address long-term outcomes. Conclusion Drug therapy of AHFS may include diuretics, vasodilators, morphine, ACE inhibitors, digoxin, inotropes, and vasopressin antagonists. Clinical practice guidelines for patients with AHFS provide a useful mechanism to incorporate available evidence and standards of practice into patient care.
REPRODUCTIVE MEASUREMENTS IN SINCLAIR AND NIH MINIATURE PIGS : A RETROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS

The data presented here represent a retrospective analysis of information gathered while collecting data for other studies on miniature pigs. Two different breeds of miniature pigs, NIH and Sinclair, were used in this study. The NIH females were gilts, while Sinclair females included both gilts and sows. The pigs were checked twice a day for estrus and were mated at 12 and 24 h after the onset of estrus. One- and 2-cell stage embryos were collected on Day 2; while 4-cell, 8-cell, compact morula and blastocyst stage embryos were collected on Days 2.7, 3.5, 4.3 and 6.0, respectively. The percentage of recovery of these embryos was dependent upon the surgeon (P = 0.002) and the stage of development (P = 0.018). The number of ovulations was higher (P < 0.04) in the Sinclair sows (10.4 +/- 0.60) than in the Sinclair gilts (8.9 +/- 0.67) and in the NIH gilts (8.3 +/- 0.67). When the NIH gilts were divided into swine leukocyte antigen (SLA) haplotypes, it was found that SLA(dd) gilts (8.5 +/- 0.43) had more ovulations (P = 0.02) than SLA(ad) gilts (6.8 +/- 0.57). Some animals were treated with Regumate to synchronize estrus. The Sinclair gilts (7.8 +/- 0.28) and NIH gilts (7.7 +/- 0.27) took more days (P < 0.07) to show estrus than the Sinclair sows (6.3 +/- 0.58) after the removal of Regumate. Four of the animals had reproductive tract abnormalities; more specifically, a blind uterine horn or oviduct that was not patent with the other horn. All 4 were NIH gilts with the SLA(dd) haplotype.
A Portable Database Driven Control System for SPEAR

The new computer control system software for SPEAR is presented as a transfer from the PEP system. Features of the target ring (SPEAR) such as symmetries, magnet groupings, etc., are all contained in a design file which is read by both people and computer. People use it as documentation; a program reads it to generate the database structure, which becomes the center of communication for all the software. Geometric information, such as element positions and lengths, and CAMAC I/O routing information is entered into the database as it is developed. Since application processes refer only to the database and since they do so only in generic terms, almost all of this software (representing more then fifteen man years) is transferred with few changes. Operator console menus (touchpanels) are also transferred with only superficial changes for the same reasons. The system is modular: the CAMAC I/O software is all in one process; the menu control software is a process; the ring optics model and the orbit model are separate processes, each of which runs concurrently with about 15 others in the multiprogramming environment of the VAX/VMS operating system.
An investigation of grain size and nitrogen-doping effects on the mechanical properties of ultrananocrystalline diamond films

Due to the lack of thorough understanding of the ultrananocrystalline diamond (UNCD) growth mechanism, a simple procedure is proposed to form a polycrystalline UNCD block with an artificial grain boundary (GB). The mechanical responses of the resulting UNCD films with various grain sizes are investigated by applying displacement-controlled tensile loading in the molecular dynamics simulations. By randomly adding different numbers of nitrogen (N) atoms into the GBs of these polycrystalline UNCD films, the effects of N atom number density and GB width on the mechanical properties of UNCD are also studied. It appears that the initial elastic moduli of pure and N-doped UNCD films are size-insensitive, although their tensile strengths decrease with the specimen size. The initial elastic modulus of N-doped UNCD is insensitive to the GB width, while the tensile strength decreases with both the N atom number density and the GB width.
Cardiovascular Responses to Agmatine, a Clonidine-displacing Substance, in Anesthetized Rat

We investigated the cardiovascular responses in anesthetized ventilated rats to agmatine (decarboxylated arginine), an amine which is an endogenous clonidine-displacing substance (CDS) synthesized in brain. Intracisternal agmatine dose-dependently increased sympathetic nerve activity and arterial pressure (at 400 nmol by 8.7±2.1 μV and 28.6±2.7 mmHg, respectively) and blocked arterial baroreflex reflexes. Microinjection of agmatine into the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVL) had no effect on arterial pressure or sympathetic nerve activity while iontophoresis of agmatine onto defined vasomotor neurons of RVL was also without effect. Agmatine (i.v.) decreased sympathetic nerve activity and arterial pressure probably by blocking the transmission through sympathetic ganglia and by direct dilation of vascular smooth muscles. Despite binding like clonidine to α2-adrenergic receptors and imidazoline (I)-receptors of both classes, agmatine does not replicate the central or peripheral actions of clonidine. The re...
SUCCESSFUL SPERM RETRIEVAL BY PERCUTANEOUS EPIDIDYMAL AND TESTICULAR SPERM ASPIRATION

AbstractPurpose: We evaluated the safety and efficacy of percutaneous sperm aspiration from the epididymis or testicle as a diagnostic technique to confirm sperm production and as a therapeutic technique to harvest sperm for use in intracytoplasmic sperm injection.Materials and Methods: We present our experience with 69 sperm aspiration procedures in men considered to have nonreconstructible obstructive azoospermia. This short outpatient procedure was performed using a butterfly needle with the patient under intravenous sedation and local anesthesia.Results: Of the 32 diagnostic aspirations 20 demonstrated mature and motile sperm, 9 maturation arrest and 3 germ cell aplasia. In 35 of 37 therapeutic sperm aspirations (95%) adequate samples of sperm after processing (mean of 5.4 million) were obtained. Of 24 epididymal aspirations 13 (54%) had sufficient residual sperm for cryopreservation of 1 to 5 vials (mean 2.5) containing an average of 170,000 sperm per vial. In the 32 intracytoplasmic sperm injection ...
Gene expression profiles and differential cytoglobin expression in atrophy and adenocarcinoma of the prostate

BACKGROUND Proliferative inflammatory atrophy (PIA) has been proposed as a potential precursor for prostate cancer. The precise molecular abnormalities in prostatic atrophy compared to high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (HGPIN) and carcinoma have not been fully defined. METHODS We utilized laser capture microdissection and microarray analysis to characterize cells of PIA, HGPIN, invasive prostatic carcinoma, and non-atrophic benign prostatic epithelium (NABE). Cytoglobin was selected for immunohistochemistry (IHC) validation. IHC stains were evaluated for proportion of positive glands, and intensity of cytoglobin staining. An immunoreactive score (IR score) was determined as the product of the percentage of positive staining and intensity. RESULTS Microarray analysis revealed probe sets that separated the microdissected cell types. Several genes showed overlapping expression patterns between PIA and PIN, and HGPIN and invasive carcinoma. Cytoglobin protein expression was detected in 57/93 (61%) of NABE and BPH cases, 92/93 atrophy (99%), 3/34 (9%) of PIN, and 23/61 carcinoma (37%) samples. The highest IHC scores were calculated for atrophy foci. A subset (33%) of atrophy cases showed the same low-cytoglobin expression level as PIN and carcinoma. CONCLUSIONS Prostatic epithelium can be stratified into normal, atrophic, PIN, and invasive carcinoma categories based on differential genetic signatures. Cytoglobin, a protein that can be induced in response to oxidative stress, was elevated in most atrophy foci, suggesting hypoxic, and/or oxidative damage. The lower level of cytoglobin seen in neoplastic cells and 33% of atrophy foci may indicate a shared susceptibility to oxidative damage for this subset of atrophy cases and prostatic neoplasia. Prostate 72:931–937, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A living donor with low intelligence: Can we obtain informed consent?

ordance with ACCME regulations, the American College of ns, as the accredited provider of this journal CME, must ensure that anyone in a position to control the content of the educational activity has disclosed all relevant financial relationships with any commercial interest. The editor and author(s) of this article were required to complete disclosures and any reported conflicts have been managed to our satisfaction. However, if you perceive a bias within the article, please advise us of the circumstances on the evaluation form. The requirement for disclosure is not intended to imply any impropriety of such relationships, but simply to identify such relationships through full disclosure, and to allow readers to form their own judgments regarding the material.
A 6-Gb/s CMOS imaging diversity receiver front-end employing select-best method

This paper presents an imaging diversity receiver front-end employing select-best method for free-space optical (FSO) communication. The imaging receiver consists of a seven channel transimpedance amplifier (TIA) array and a select-best circuit implemented in a 180 nm CMOS technology. This imaging receiver is designed for flip-chip bonding to a custom InGaAs MSM (metal-semiconductor-metal) photodetector array. Each single-channel front-end TIA provides a transimpedance gain of 60.2 dBOmega and a -3 dB bandwidth of 4.4 GHz for 250 fF photodiode capacitance. The select-best circuit employs a novel winner-take-all peak detector structure and demonstrates high-speed, high-precision reception. The resolution of the imaging receiver with select-best is about 2 muA near 20 muA input current and 4 muA near 400 muA input current at 6 Gb/s. The power dissipation for a single channel TIA is 8.2 mW, and for the select-best circuit is 26.6 mW from a single 1.8 V supply.
Phytic acid (IP6), novel broad spectrum anti-neoplastic agent: a systematic review

Abstract Introduction: Phytic acid or IP6 has been extensively studied in animals and is being promoted as an anti-cancer agent in health food stores. It is naturally found in legumes, wheat bran, and soy foods. It is believed to be the active ingredient that gives these substances their cancer fighting abilities. Proposed mechanisms of action include gene alteration, enhanced immunity, and anti-oxidant properties. Methods: A Medline search from 1966 to May 2002 using the keywords phytic acid and cancer, and limiting the search to the subheadings of therapeutic uses, prevention, and adverse effects revealed 28 studies. These studies were included in the review. Results: A great majority of the studies were done in animals and showed that phytic acid had anti-neoplastic properties in breast, colon, liver, leukemia, prostate, sarcomas, and skin cancer. There were no human studies. Side effects included chelation of multivalent cations, and an increase in bladder and renal papillomas. This increase in papilloma formation only occurred with the sodium salt of phytic acid. It did not occur with either the potassium or magnesium salts. Conclusions: There is a large body of animal evidence to show that phytic acid may have a role in both the prevention and treatment of many forms of cancer. There is clearly enough evidence to justify the initiation of Phase I and Phase II clinical trials in humans.
Patients Report Positive Nutrition Counseling Outcomes

Abstract Objective Assess outcomes of patient nutrition counseling. Design A descriptive study based on the results of a telephone interview performed 2 to 8 weeks after counseling. Subjects/setting Subjects were 400 adult patients referred for nutrition counseling at 2 academic health centers. Of these, 274 patients received nutrition counseling during hospitalization and 126 as outpatients. Statistical analysis Descriptive statistics were used to summarize data and the Mann-Whitney U statistic and logistic regressions were used to test significant differences ( P Results Most patients (83%) gave a partial or full description of their diet modifications and 79% had a moderate or good understanding of their diet. Most patients reported that the dietitian's advice was suited to their special needs (88%) and that they knew what to eat (83%). A majority (62%) had made dietary changes, but 17% said they had had trouble changing their diets as suggested. After talking with a dietitian, 57% felt better emotionally, 37% felt better physically, 64% felt in control of their condition, and 43% noticed improved health indicators. Initial analysis indicated that outpatients reported better outcomes than inpatients; further analysis showed that these differences could be attributed to younger ages among the outpatient sample. Applications/conclusions Patient nutrition counseling has positive outcomes. Therefore, key counseling points should be introduced or reinforced in inpatient settings, in conjunction with multiple-session protocols during the pre- and/or posthospitalization continuum of care. Dietitians, managers, administrators, and credentialing agencies should work together to secure and promote the necessary physical, personnel, and financial resources to make this happen. J Am Diet Assoc. 1998;98:977-982 .
Update of guidelines for the use of growth hormone in children: the Lawson Wilkins Pediatric Endocrinology Society Drug and Therapeutics Committee.

The Lawson Wilkins Pediatric Endocrinology Society Drug and Therapeutics Committee guidelines for the use of growth hormone were first published in 1983, near the end of the era of human pituitary-derived growth hormone (GH), and again in 1995, a decade after the introduction of recombinant human (rh)GH. The LawsonWilkins Pediatric Endocrine Society also endorsed an international consensus document led by the Growth Hormone Research Society published in 2000. This report serves to update those guidelines with an emphasis on new recommendations. The recommendations included here are limited primarily to the use of GH in infants, children and adolescents.
Effects of Seed Coat and Environmental Temperature on the Germination of Hevea brasiliensis Seeds

Under the artificial climate incubator,the effects of seed coat and temperature on the germination of Hevea brasiliensis seeds were studied. The results showed that seed coat had significant mechanical inhibition on the water absorption and the germination of H. brasiliensis seeds. The seed germination sped up and germination index increased when removed seed coat,but germination rate significantly decreased from 83.8% to 47.85%,and vigor index from 332.3 to 187.9,respectively. The seed germination delayed obviously and the germination rate reduced under below 15℃. The germination rate,germination index and vigor index of kernel all increased with the elevation of temperature,while those of seeds were up to peak at 20℃(94.7%),30℃(1.86),and 25℃(374.4),respectively. The coefficient of germination rate increased first,and then decreased. In the rubber cultivation and the construction of rubber plantation,the restrict effect of seed coat on water lose of kernel and non-sensitivity to lower temperature could be utilized to prolong seed storage period,increase germination rate and improve seedling quality.
Spinal cord infarct as a presentation of cholangiocarcinoma with metastases.

It is well-known that malignancies, particularly pancreatic and brain cancers, often present as venous thromboembolism. However, stroke and angina attributable to arterial occlusion are relatively common presentations as well. We are reporting a patient, with treatment-naive hepatitis C and multiple liver nodules, was admitted for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE). Subsequently, she developed an ascending paralysis due to spinal cord infarct (SCI) despite adequate anticoagulation. She also had an enlargement of left supraclavicular lymph node, which was confirmed histologically metastatic cholangiocarcinoma. To our best knowledge, this is the first literature report showing the association linking SCI to metastatic cholangiocarcinoma as a consequence of hypercoagulable state of malignancy.
Suppression of pro-metastasis phenotypes expression in malignant pleural mesothelioma by the PI3K inhibitor LY294002 or the MEK inhibitor UO126.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of selective abrogation of either the MEK/ERK1/2 (UO126 or PD98059) or the PI3K/AKT (LY294002) signaling cascade on cell proliferation, motility and invasion and production of VEGF (collectively termed pro-metastasis phenotypes) in cultured malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) cells. Materials and Methods: Treatment-induced cytotoxicity was evaluated by MTT or Annexin V assays. Cell motility was assessed by wound healing and Matrigel invasion assays. VEGF in conditioned media of cancer cells was measured by ELISA. Results: LY294002 and UO126 significantly inhibited cell proliferation and clonogenicity of MPM cells in vitro. A substantial reduction of cell motility, Matrigel invasion as well as inhibition of basal or EGF-induced VEGF production were observed in drug-treated cells. Conclusion: The selective MEK or PI3K kinase inhibitors are equally effective in down-regulating the expression of pro-metastasis phenotypes, suggesting that MEK or PI3K are appropriate targets for the development of molecular therapeutics for malignant pleural mesothelioma.
Anxiously Awaiting the Future of Restorative Justice in the United States

AbstractThe problems of mass incarceration and other criminal justice system failures in the United States—such as racial disparities, wrongful convictions, and high recidivism rates—have reached a tipping point. For the first time in decades, coalitions of politicians on the left and right are seeking criminal justice reform. What is the place of restorative justice in these efforts? What is the depth and breadth of restorative justice implementation? How familiar is the American public with restorative justice? How successful is the restorative justice movement? In this article, we seek answers to these questions as we try to assess the future of restorative justice in the United States.
Mashelkar Report Version Il: Wrong Again

The government’s acceptance of the second version of the Technical Expert Group Report (hereafter ‘TEG Report’) headed by RA Mashelkar has been followed by a shrill sustained campaign that seeks to assert the truth of the Report’s claims by merely proclaiming it from every available forum. Any criticism of the Report is met with a strong chorus of denunciation usually ascribing poor intellectual abilities, bad motives, Orwellian sophistry or all of these. This campaign has assumed Goebbelsian proportions and poses a grave risk to rational and empirically grounded public policy formulation. I have commented elsewhere on the dangerous implications for public policy making that the process adopted by the first Technical Expert Group Report represents. In this essay, I respond to the TEG’s Second Report and argue: first, that its recommendations are not warranted by the TRIPs agreement; secondly, that it is not supported by the weight of academic opinion; and thirdly, that these conclusions do not rest on any reasonable assessment of the national interest in pharmaceutical policy.
Binding of cationic peptides (KX)4K to DPPG bilayers. Increasing the hydrophobicity of the uncharged amino acid X drives formation of membrane bound β-sheets: A DSC and FT-IR study

The binding of cationic peptides of the sequence (KX)4K to lipid vesicles of negatively charged dipalmitoyl-phosphatidylglycerol (DPPG) was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and temperature dependent Fourier-transformed infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The hydrophobicity of the uncharged amino acid X was changed from G (glycine) over A (alanine), Abu (α-aminobutyric acid), V (valine) to L (leucine). The binding of the peptides caused an increase of the phase transition temperature (Tm) of DPPG by up to 20°C. The shift depended on the charge ratio and on the hydrophobicity of the amino acid X. Unexpectedly, the upward shift of Tm increased with increasing hydrophobicity of X. FT-IR spectroscopy showed a shift of the CH2 stretching vibrations of DPPG to lower frequency, particularly for bilayers in the liquid-crystalline phase, indicating an ordering of the hydrocarbon chains when the peptides were bound. Changes in the lipid C=O vibrational band indicated a dehydration of the lipid headgroup region after peptide binding. (KG)4K was bound in an unordered structure at all temperatures. All other peptides formed intermolecular antiparallel β-sheets, when bound to gel phase DPPG. However, for (KA)4K and (KAbu)4K, the β-sheets converted into an unordered structure above Tm. In contrast, the β-sheet structures of (KV)4K and (KL)4K remained stable even at 80°C when bound to the liquid-crystalline phase of DPPG. Strong aggregation of DPPG vesicles occurred after peptide binding. For the aggregates, we suggest a structure, where aggregated single β-sheets are sandwiched between opposing DPPG bilayers with a dehydrated interfacial region.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa Activates PKC-Alpha to Invade Middle Ear Epithelial Cells

Otitis media (OM) is a group of complex inflammatory disorders affecting the middle ear which can be acute or chronic. Chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) is a form of chronic OM characterized by tympanic membrane perforation and discharge. Despite the significant impact of CSOM on human population, it is still an understudied and unexplored research area. CSOM is a leading cause of hearing loss and life-threatening central nervous system complications. Bacterial exposure especially Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the most common cause of CSOM. Our previous studies have demonstrated that P. aeruginosa invades human middle ear epithelial cells (HMEECs). However, molecular mechanisms leading to bacterial invasion of HMEECs are not known. The aim of this study is to characterize the role of PKC pathway in the ability of P. aeruginosa to colonize HMEECs. We observed that otopathogenic P. aeruginosa activates the PKC pathway, specifically phosphorylation of PKC-alpha (PKC-α) in HMEECs. The ability of otopathogenic P. aeruginosa to phosphorylate PKC-α depends on bacterial OprF expression. The activation of PKC-α was associated with actin condensation. Blocking the PKC pathway attenuated the ability of bacteria to invade HMEECs and subsequent actin condensation. This study, for the first time, demonstrates that the host PKC-α pathway is involved in invasion of HMEECs by P. aeruginosa and subsequently to cause OM. Characterizing the role of the host signaling pathway in the pathogenesis of CSOM will provide novel avenues to design effective treatment modalities against the disease.
Blessings, Curses, and Oil Flows: The Politics of Ghana's Petroleum Revenues

This paper examines how revenues from recent oil and gas discoveries off the coast of Ghana are affecting the countrys political development. Will Ghana be able to avoid the corrosive consequences of the well-known resource curse that has negatively affected other African oil exporters? Ghanas offshore oil reserves are expected to generate on an annual basis approximately $1 billion in government revenue for the next twenty years. Based on fieldwork conducted in Accra during February 2013 and an analysis of data from the Ghana Round 5 Afrobarometer Survey of March 2012, I argue that although the issue of oil has been politicized since its discovery in 2007, Ghanas democratic institutions have so far proven up to the challenge of creating a legal and regulatory framework that accords well with the wishes of most Ghanaians. An imbalance between the countrys excessively strong executive and relatively weak Parliament remains a concern for the future enforcement of this framework, however. The paper concludes with a set of comparative observations based on the political management of revenues from recent oil discoveries in Chad and Uganda.
Adenovirus susceptibility to interferon: sensitivity of types 2,7, and 12 to human interferon.

SummaryThe sensitivity of adenovirus Types 2, 7, and 12 to moderate amounts of human tissue culture interferon was demonstrated in plaque-reduction assays using primary and secondary HEK cell cultures. The findings for Ad. Type-2 were extended to another species using rabbit serum interferon in yield-inhibition assays done in an established rabbit heart fibroblast cell line. These results indicate that at least some members of the adenovirus group are indeed susceptible to interferon, although to a clearly lesser extent than are many other viruses. The implications of these findings for the possible use of interferon in examining in vitro the mechanisms of viral oncogenesis are considered.
Connecting signaling and cell cycle progression in growth factor-stimulated cells.

A widely used model system to investigate cell proliferation is stimulation of serum-arrested cells with growth factors. Recent data suggest that there are two waves of growth factor-dependent signaling events required for a proliferative response. One is an acute burst of signaling, which occurs immediately after growth factor stimulation and lasts for 30–60 min. The other occurs in a different time frame (8–12 h post stimulation), and involves activation of cyclin dependent kinases (Cdks). In addition to a general overview of growth factor-dependent signaling, we present our ‘two wave’ hypothesis for how signaling and cell cycle progression are linked.
Advances in Actuation Systems to Improve Vehicle Performance and Safety

Actuation and modeling for drive-by-wire applications are discussed. Previous work in advanced actuation for two automotive systems, active suspension and camless engines, is surveyed, outlining the major advancements throughout the previous decade. More recent research in these areas is discussed and focuses on recent improvements to system modeling and design. Specifically, a four-corner suspension model and a piezoelectric piloted hydraulic actuator for engine valve actuation are introduced. The four-corner suspension model addresses the three-dimensional parameters associated with active suspension design and improves upon the accepted quarter-car model. The piezoelectric based camless engine actuator is introduced as the next generation of camless engine actuation systems and addresses control issues through the relationship between input voltage and piezoelectric displacement.© 2003 ASME
Development of AMOEBA force field for 1,3-dimethylimidazolium based ionic liquids

The development of AMOEBA (a multipolar polarizable force field) for imidazolium based ionic liquids is presented. Our parametrization method follows the AMOEBA procedure and introduces the use of QM intermolecular total interactions as well as QM energy decomposition analysis (EDA) to fit individual interaction energy components. The distributed multipoles for the cation and anions have been derived using both the Gaussian distributed multipole analysis (GDMA) and Gaussian electrostatic model-distributed multipole (GEM-DM) methods.1 The intermolecular interactions of a 1,3-dimethylimidazolium [dmim+] cation with various anions, including fluoride [F–], chloride [Cl–], nitrate [NO3–], and tetraflorouborate [BF4–], were studied using quantum chemistry calculations at the MP2/6-311G(d,p) level of theory. Energy decomposition analysis was performed for each pair using the restricted variational space decomposition approach (RVS) at the HF/6-311G(d,p) level. The new force field was validated by running a seri...
Choroid plexus papilloma—A case highlighting the challenges of extrapolating pediatric chemotherapy regimens to adult populations

The treatment of adults who present with rare pediatric tumors is not characterized well in the literature. We report an instance of a 40-year-old African American woman with a diagnosis of choroid plexus carcinoma admitted to the intensive care unit for severe sepsis seven days after receiving chemotherapy consisting of carboplatin (350 mg/m(2) on Days 1 and 2 plus etoposide 100 mg/m(2) on Days 1-5). Her laboratory results were significant for an absolute neutrophil count of 0/µL and blood cultures positive for Capnocytophagia species. She was supported with broad spectrum antibiotics and myeloid growth factors. She eventually recovered and was discharged in stable condition. The management of adults with malignancies most commonly seen in pediatric populations presents substantial challenges. There are multiple age-specific differences in renal and hepatic function that explain the need for higher dosing in pediatric patients without increasing the risk of toxicity. Furthermore, differences in pharmacokinetic parameters such as absorption, distribution, and clearance are present but are less likely to affect patients. It is expected that the pediatric population will have more bone marrow reserve and, therefore, less susceptible to myelosuppression. The extrapolation of pediatric dosing to an adult presents a problematic situation in treating adults with malignancies that primarily effect pediatric patients. We recommend extrapolating from adult treatment regimens with similar agents rather than extrapolating from pediatric treatment regimens to reduce the risk of toxicity. We also recommend the consideration of adding myeloid growth factors. If the treatment is tolerated without significant toxicity, dose escalation can be considered.
Non-neurotic neurotics.

A non-neurotic neurotic is a patient with organic disease misdiagnosed as an emotional illness. Among conditions discussed here that cause non-neurotic neuroses are Addison's disease, hypoglycemia, hyperthyroidism, myxedema, Cushing's disease, porphyria, pernicious anemia, pancreatic carcinoma, and brain tumors. Supposed psychiatric disease, then, can be organic disease with a nervous mask.
Exhaustion of Frank-Starling mechanism in conscious dogs with heart failure

The goal of this study was to elucidate the ability of the left ventricle to accommodate an increase in preload (Frank-Starling mechanism) in the presence of congestive heart failure (CHF) but in the absence of the complicating effects of hypertrophy and fibrosis. To accomplish this, the effects of volume loading were examined in eight conscious dogs during the control state and after 3 wk of right ventricular pacing (240 beats/min). CHF increased heart rate (by 16 +/- 5 from 92 +/- 5 beats/min), left ventricular (LV) end-diastolic pressure (by 17 +/- 2 from 10 +/- 1 mmHg), and LV end-diastolic volume (EDV; by 23 +/- 4 from 57 +/- 3 ml). Despite reduced LV ejection fraction (from 54 +/- 3 to 31 +/- 3%), there was no significant change in cardiac output (2.5 +/- 0.3 l/min) compared with control (2.7 +/- 0.2 l/min). Stroke volume was preserved (control 19 +/- 2 ml; CHF 18 +/- 2 ml) at a constant heart rate by a shift to the right in the relationship between LV stroke volume and EDV, indicating the importance of chronic ventricular dilatation in maintaining pump performance. In the control state, acute volume load increased LV EDV (by 17 +/- 2 ml) and stroke volume (by 11 +/- 2 ml), whereas in CHF it did not increase LV EDV or stroke volume. Scanning electron microscopy revealed areas of reduced collagen weave pattern surrounding myofibers. Myocyte cross-sectional area by transmission electron microscopy was significantly reduced, and there were multiple electron-dense expansions of the Z lines with disruption of the normal lateral sarcomere alignment. These morphological findings suggest that chronic ventricular dilatation utilized in CHF results from myocyte stretch and morphological intracellular rearrangement. Furthermore, the failing heart cannot further augment stroke volume by acutely increasing EDV in CHF, suggesting that the Frank-Starling reserve is essentially exhausted.
SAND TRANSFER, BEACH CONTROL, AND INLET IMPROVEMENTS, FIRE ISLAND INLET TO JONES BEACH, NEW YORK.

Long Island, New York (Figure 1) extends for about 120 miles in a general east-west direction off the southern portions of the States of New York and Connecticut, from which it is separated by Long Island Sound. The western end of the island contains the Counties of Brooklyn and Queens which are part of New York City. To the east are the Counties of Nassau and Suffolk. The surface geology of Long Island is mostly of glacial origin. That portion of the south shore of Long Island with which this paper is concerned (Figure 2) consists of outwash plains of sand and gravel fringed by barrier beaches from 600 feet to 3,500 feet in width. They rise to about 15 feet above mean sea level, and in their natural condition are more or less protected by sand dunes which may reach an elevation of from 25 feet to 30 feet. The sand along the foreshore is predominantly quartz, averaging about 0.4 mm. at mid-tide level, and becoming somewhat finer offshore. The foreshore slope of the beaches averages about 1 on 10 above the mean low water line and about 1 on 30 immediately offshore. Several hundred feet offshore the slope flattens to about 1 on 250.
Abstract CN07-04: Dissecting the multicellular ecosystem of metastatic melanoma by single-cell RNA-seq

A single tumor is composed of malignant cells in diverse genetic and epigenetic states, and this diversity presents a significant barrier for targeted therapies. Furthermore, diverse non-malignant cells, such as immune, fibroblasts and endothelial cells shape the tumor microenvironment and are emerging as important drug targets. However, the diversity of cellular states among malignant and non-malignant cells within any tumor remains poorly understood. To begin to address these challenges we applied single-cell RNA-seq to profile >3,000 single cells isolated from 16 fresh human melanomas, and characterized distinct cell types and cell states. We found that malignant cells within the same tumor display transcriptional heterogeneity associated with multiple biological processes. In particular, subpopulations of cells in treatment-naive tumors expressed a transcriptional program associated with resistance to RAF/MEK inhibition, and these were enriched in post-relapsed samples. Among several non-malignant cell types that were identified we focused on tumor-infiltrating T-cells and identified multiple profiles of exhaustion which differed among patients and could be linked to prior immunotherapies. Finally, we used our single cell–derived profiles of cell types within melanoma to deconvolve publicly available bulk tumor profiles and infer interactions between cells in the tumor microenvironment. This work demonstrates the capacity of single cell transcriptomics to offer new insights with implications for both targeted and immune therapies and will be broadly applicable to other tumor types. Citation Format: Itay Tirosh, Benjamin Izar, Sanjay M. Prakadan, Marc H. Wadsworth II, Daniel Treacy, John J. Trombetta, Diana Lu, Asaf Rotem, Christine Lian, George Murphy, Ofir Cohen, Eli van Allen, Monica Bertagnolli, Alex Genshaft, Travis K. Hughes, Carly G. K. Ziegler, Samuel W. Kazer, Aleth Gaillard, Kellie E. Kolb, Judit Valbuena1, Charles Yoon, Orit Rozenblatt-Rosen, Alex K. Shalek, Aviv Regev and Levi Garraway. Dissecting the multicellular ecosystem of metastatic melanoma by single-cell RNA-seq. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference: Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2015 Nov 5-9; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2015;14(12 Suppl 2):Abstract nr CN07-04.
Cosmonational Digital Public Sphere

This chapter investigates the role of information technology in the making and functioning of the cosmonation through interrogating the experiences of groups such as Italian Americans, Croatian Americans, and Armenian Americans and by focusing on various digital outlets, including print media, online television, radio, telephone, and the Internet, in order to show various ways information technology (IT) has contributed to the process. The discussion is framed within the context of the debate on the public sphere and the literature on diaspora and IT, the so-called digital diaspora. The digitalization of crossborder practices provides a way to explain the use of specific digital outlets. This chapter also shows how certain factors such as literacy, access to the Internet, and ownership of cell phones can facilitate or hamper linkages among sites, the frequency of connections, and the operability of the cosmonation as a crossborder network of sites.
Text, Role, and Context: Students as researchers: Investigating texts, processes, and contexts

To analyze school or university writing in the light of the recent reconception of genre is a demystifying move, in that it, for instance, affords explanations of conventional forms that previously appeared arcane or arbitrary. The effect, however, is to make both the texts and the pedagogical issues look more complex than before (Freedman & Medway, 1994b, p. 12). We need to bring students to the point of cultural self-consciousness in which they neither accommodate nor merely oppose the social order – both positions being still circumscribed by the structure – but can actively position themselves within it (Herndl, 1993, p. 215). The most important factor in the success of any pedagogy is the student. Unless we can motivate our students, providing them with tools and experiences that are relevant to their current and future lives outside of our literacy classrooms, we are not doing our jobs. Though we cannot hope to predict all of their possible literacy experiences, we can help students to ask questions of texts, of contexts, of experts – and of themselves. By opening our literacy classroom doors to a variety of possibilities within text worlds and text processing, we can collaborate with students as they acquire an enriched understanding of the challenges, possibilities, and problems for their literate academic and professional lives. This chapter is devoted to student research. I use the term, “research” broadly, as I did in the previous chapter, to refer to the investigation of a problem or question of interest. Some of what is discussed here could be referred to as “critical thinking” or effective group work; undoubtedly, one of the many benefits of encouraging students to become researchers is that they have much to talk, read, and write about within their literacy classes. However, the activities suggested in this chapter are more focused: They are designed specifically to encourage ongoing student inquiry into texts and genres, their own literate lives, and the literacy practices of others, so that they may be better prepared to position themselves within academic and other social contexts.
Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Dislocations in TlBr Crystals under an Electrical Field

TlBr crystals have superior radiation detection properties; however, their properties degrade in the range of hours to weeks when an operating electrical field is applied. To account for this rapid degradation using the widely-accepted vacancy migration mechanism, the vacancy concentration must be orders of magnitude higher than any conventional estimates. The present work has incorporated a new analytical variable charge model in molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to examine the structural changes of materials under electrical fields. Our simulations indicate that dislocations in TlBr move under electrical fields. This discovery can lead to new understanding of TlBr aging mechanisms under external fields.
Frequency-dependent selection for rare genotypes promotes genetic diversity of a tropical palm

Negative frequency-dependent selection among species is a key driver of community diversity in natural systems, but the degree to which negative frequency-dependent selection shapes patterns of survival and genetic diversity within species is poorly understood. In a 5-year field experiment, we show that seedlings of a tropical palm with rare genotypes had a pronounced survival advantage over seedlings with common genotypes, with effect sizes comparable to that of light availability. This ‘rare genotype advantage’ led to an increase in population-wide genetic diversity among seedlings compared to null expectations, as predicted by negative frequency-dependent selection, and increased reproductive success in adult trees with rare genotypes. These results suggest that within-species negative frequency-dependent selection of genotypes can shape genetic variation on ecologically relevant timescales in natural systems and may be a key, overlooked source of non-random mortality for tropical plants.
Ceftriaxone Pulse Dosing Fails to Eradicate Biofilm-Like Microcolony B. burgdorferi Persisters Which Are Sterilized by Daptomycin/ Doxycycline/Cefuroxime without Pulse Dosing

Although the majority of Lyme disease patients can be cured, at least 10-20% of the patients continue to suffer from persisting symptoms such as fatigue, muscular and joint pain, and neurologic impairment after standard 2-4 week antibiotic treatment. While the causes for this post-treatment Lyme disease symptoms are unclear, one possibility is due to B. burgdorferi persisters that are not effectively killed by current antibiotics such as doxycycline or amoxicillin used to treat Lyme disease. A previous study showed that four rounds of ceftriaxone pulse dosing treatment eradicated B. burgdorferi persisters in vitro using a relatively young late log phase culture (5 day old). In this study, we investigated if ceftriaxone pulse dosing could also eradicate B. burgdorferi persisters in older stationary phase cultures (10 day old) enriched with more resistant microcolony form of persisters. We found that ceftriaxone pulse dosing could only eradicate planktonic log phase B. burgdorferi spirochetal forms and round body forms but not more resistant aggregated biofilm-like microcolony persisters enriched in stationary phase cultures. Moreover, we found that not all drugs are suitable for pulse dosing, with bactericidal drugs ceftriaxone and cefuroxime being more appropriate for pulse dosing than bacteriostatic drug doxycycline and persister drug daptomycin. We also showed that drug combination pulse dosing treatment was more effective than single drug pulse dosing. Importantly, we demonstrate that pulse dosing treatment impaired the activity of the persister drug daptomycin and its drug combination against B. burgdorferi persisters and that the most effective way to kill the more resistant biofilm-like microcolonies is the daptomycin/doxycycline/ceftriaxone triple drug combination without pulse dosing. Our findings indicate pulse dosing may not always work as a general principle but rather depends on the specific drugs used, with cidal drugs being more appropriate for pulse dosing than static or persister drugs, and that drug combination approach with persister drugs is more effective at killing the more resistant microcolony form of persisters than pulse dosing. These observations may have implications for more effective treatment of Lyme disease. Future studies are required to validate these findings in animal models of B. burgdorferi persistence.