cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Neurofibromatosis Type 1 Tumor Suppressor Controls Cell Growth by Regulating Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription-3 Activity In vitro and In vivo

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a common cancer predisposition syndrome in which affected individuals develop benign and malignant nerve tumors. The NF1 gene product neurofibromin negatively regulates Ras and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling, prompting clinical trials to evaluate the ability of Ras and mTOR pathway inhibitors to arrest NF1-associated tumor growth. To discover other downstream targets of neurofibromin, we performed an unbiased cell-based high-throughput chemical library screen using NF1-deficient malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST) cells. We identified the natural product, cucurbitacin-I (JSI-124), which inhibited NF1-deficient cell growth by inducing apoptosis. We further showed that signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (STAT3), the target of cucurbitacin-I inhibition, was hyperactivated in NF1-deficient primary astrocytes and neural stem cells, mouse glioma cells, and human MPNST cells through Ser(727) phosphorylation, leading to increased cyclin D1 expression. STAT3 was regulated in NF1-deficient cells of murine and human origin in a TORC1- and Rac1-dependent manner. Finally, cucurbitacin-I inhibited the growth of NF1-deficient MPNST cells in vivo. In summary, we used a chemical genetics approach to reveal STAT3 as a novel neurofibromin/mTOR pathway signaling molecule, define its action and regulation, and establish STAT3 as a tractable target for future NF1-associated cancer therapy studies.
Localized gene action controlling intestinal neoplasia in mice

Mice heterozygous for the ApcMin (Min) mutation develop adenomas throughout the intestinal tract. Apc is believed to be involved in cell migration, adhesion, and polarity. Adenoma multiplicity and growth rate are modulated by an unlinked modifier locus, Mom1. The secretory phospholipase Pla2g2a is a candidate for Mom1. Here, we investigate the range of action of Apc and Mom1. Analysis of chimeric Min mice indicates that the actions of both Apc and Mom1 are localized within the cell lineage that gives rise to intestinal tumors.
Case fatality among infants with congenital malformations by lethality

OBJECTIVE Infant mortality rates continue to show that congenital anomalies are the leading cause of infant death in the United States. However, studies of factors contributing to increased mortality across different types of congenital anomalies have been limited. The objective of this study was to assess whether the likelihood of infant mortality varied by maternal race and ethnic group while considering the severity of the birth defect. METHODS A retrospective cohort analysis was conducted using data from Colorado's statewide, population-based birth defects surveillance system (CRCSN). The cohort included infants, born between 1995 and 2000 to Colorado resident mothers, who were diagnosed with major congenital malformations stratified by degree of lethality. Multiple logistic regression was performed for each level of lethality, and included the following potential explanatory variables: maternal race/ethnicity, clinical gestation, birth weight, maternal education level, maternal age, and sex of child. RESULTS Within the low/very low lethality cohort, maternal race/ethnicity of Black/non-Hispanic was associated with increased risk of infant mortality, OR 2.81 (1.41–5.19), as were low and very low birth weight, OR 2.21 (1.12–4.04) and 19.31 (11.84–31.01), respectively. Maternal race/ethnicity was not a significant risk factor in either high or very high lethality groups; however, the interaction between birth weight and gestational age significantly increased the risk of mortality. CONCLUSIONS Through the use of statewide, population-based birth defects surveillance data, a disparity in infant mortality has been identified in a specific subset of the population that could be investigated further and targeted for prevention activities. Birth Defects Research (Part A) 70:580–585, 2004. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Impaired Dendritic Cell Function in a Spontaneous Autoimmune Polyneuropathy

Spontaneous autoimmune polyneuropathy (SAP) in B7-2 knockout NOD mice mimics the progressive form of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy, and is mediated by myelin protein zero (P0)-reactive Th1 cells. In this study, we focused on the effect of B7-2 deletion on the function of dendritic cells (DCs) within the context of SAP. We found that development of SAP was associated with a preponderance or increase of CD11b(+) DCs in peripheral lymph nodes and sciatic nerves. B7-2 deletion led to altered immunophenotypic properties that differ between CD11b(+) DCs and CD8α(+) DCs. Both DC subsets from B7-2 knockout NOD mice exhibited impaired capacity to capture fluorophore-labeled myelin P0, but diminished Ag-presenting function was observed only in CD11b(+) DCs. Clinical assessment, electrophysiologic studies, and splenocyte proliferation studies revealed that absence of B7-2 on DCs was sufficient to cause impaired ability to induce tolerance to P0, which could be overcome by preconditioning with IL-10. Tolerance induction by Ag-pulsed wild-type NOD DCs was dependent on IL-10 and was associated with increased CD4(+) regulatory T cells, whereas tolerance induction by IL-10-conditioned B7-2-deficient DCs was associated with increased percentages of both regulatory T cells and B10 cells in the spleen. We conclude that B7-2 deletion has an impact on the distribution of DC subsets in lymphoid organs and alters the expression of costimulatory molecules, but functional consequences are not uniform across DC subsets. Defective tolerance induction in the absence of B7-2 can be restored by preconditioning of DCs with IL-10.
In Vivo Leukocyte Labeling: The Quest Continues

The development of in vitro methods to radiolabel and image leukocytes that migrate to sites of infection was a significant milestone in the history of nuclear medicine ( [1][1] ). Even today, in vitro labeled leukocyte imaging remains the radionuclide gold standard for the imaging of most
The Effect of Dissolved Oils and Alcohols on the CMC of Synthetic and Petroleum Sulfonates

The CMC of sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate was determined using surface tension, light scattering and electrical conductivity measurements. It is shown that the presence of alcohol or oil decreases the CMC. The decrease in CMC depends on the chain length of dissolved alcohol or oil. For oils of different chain length, it was observed that the higher the chain length of oil, the greater is the decrease in CMC.
Nectaried and nectariless cotton cultivars as nectar sources for the adult soybean looper

Moths of the soybean looper (SBL), Pseudoplusia includens (Walker), were released into 1.8 × 3.7 m field cages (10 male:female moth pairs/cage) containing nectaried (floral and extrafloral nectarie...
Desperately Seeking the Information in Information Systems Research

Throughout its history, the information systems (IS) discipline has studied a wide range of phenomena. Many IS researchers support the notion that our interest in the IT artifact - defined as "bundles of material and cultural properties packaged in some socially recognizable form such as hardware and/or software" (Orlikowski & Iacono, 2001, p. 122) - unites the IS discipline. In "Desperately Seeking the 'IT' in IT Research-A Call to Theorizing the IT Artifact," Orlikowski and Iacono (2001) argued that the IS field is "premised on the centrality of information technology in everyday socio-economic life...[yet] the field has not deeply engaged with its core subject matter-the information technology (IT) artifact" (p. 121). In their review of articles that had been published to date in Information Systems Research, nearly 25 percent did not discuss technology and most had simplistic views of technology: The outcome is that much IS research draws on commonplace and received notions of technology, resulting in conceptualizations of IT artifacts as relatively stable, discrete, independent, and fixed. As a consequence, IT artifacts in IS research tend to be taken for granted or assumed to be unproblematic. (Orlikowski & Iacono, 2001, pp. 121-122) Orlikowski and Iacono's (2001) article drew attention to our need to focus on the core of who we are as a discipline. It also created an important turning point. As an unintended consequence of the article, the IS discipline began abandoning its consideration and discussion of information. As a result, IS researchers focused more heavily on technology and the IT artifact, and information became implicit in our research. In this editorial, we expand upon Orlikowski and Iacono (2001) and draw the IS discipline's attention to its abandonment of that other central component in information systems research - information.
Etude expérimentale du pouvoir d'arrêt des ions dans la matière tiède et dense: mesure de la distribution des états de charges d'un faisceau d'ions émergeant de la matière tiède et dense

La determination du ralentissement des ions (ou pouvoir d'arret) dans la matiere tiede et dense est un enjeu fondamental notamment dans le cadre de la fusion par confinement inertiel. Au cours de mon travail de these, nous nous sommes interesses a la modification de l'etat de charge d'un faisceau d'ions apres sa traversee dans la matiere tiede et dense, cette quantite jouant un role important dans le calcul du pouvoir d'arret. Nous avons tire partie des proprietes bien connues des faisceaux d'ions generes par laser intense a impulsion courte pour etudier au cours de deux experiences realisee sur les installations ELFIE et TITAN l'evolution de l'etat de charge d'un faisceau d'ions carbones et helium apres traversee d'une cible d'aluminium chauffee de maniere isochore par un faisceau de protons energetique. Les deux premiers chapitres presentent les enjeux du sujet a la fois d'un point de vu theorique et experimental - y sont presentes les differents outils de simulations utilises au cours de l'etude. Le troisieme chapitre est consacre a l'etude des proprietes des faisceaux d'ions generes par lasers dans l'optique de nos experiences pour etudier le pouvoir d'arret. Nous avons notamment etudies au cours de deux experiences les faisceaux d'ions produits en utilisant des cibles a densite inferieur a celle du solide. Dans le dernier chapitre sont presentees les montages et resultats des deux experiences sur l'etat de charge d'un faisceau d'ions apres sa traversee dans la matiere tiede et dense. Les donnees dans la matiere froide obtenues au cours de nos experiences sont confrontees avec succes aux resultats anterieurs recueillis sur des accelerateurs conventionnels.
Impact of sensorimotor rhythm neurofeedback on quality of life in patients with medically-refractory seizures

Introduction: Published studies suggest that augmentation of the sensorimotor rhythm (SMR), a commonly used neurofeedback protocol for patients with epilepsy, changes thalamocortical regulatory systems and increases cortical excitation thresholds. Recent meta-analyses showed that at least 50% of patients with medically refractory epilepsy had a post-therapy reduction in seizure frequency after neurofeedback training. However, data on neurofeedback outcomes outside of seizure frequency are limited. Methods: The records for all consecutive patients trained using SMR neurofeedback in the University of Colorado Neurofeedback Clinic prior to March 2015 (n = 9) were retrospectively reviewed, abstracted, and analyzed. Patients completed the Quality of Life in Epilepsy-31 (QOLIE-31) survey as a part of their clinic intake interview and at intervals throughout their training. Results: 214 total training sessions were reviewed. The average total QOLIE-31 baseline score in our patients was 49.3 ± 8.8. Seven patients completed follow-up QOLIE-31 surveys with an average score of 54.9 ± 6.5. Seventy-eight percent of the patients had improvement in their QOLIE-31 scores with training. The largest absolute improvements were in the seizure worry and cognitive subscores of the QOLIE-31. Conclusion: In this small case series, SMR neurofeedback training modestly improved short-term follow-up QOLIE-31 scores in patients with epilepsy.
Stresses and Deformations in Umbrella Shells

Governing equations in the form of two, coupled, fourth-order partial differential equations are obtained from shallow shell theory. The equations are specialized for the hyperbolic paraboloid shell known as the umbrella and solved by the method of finite differences. Results are presented in chart form and compare deformations, bending moments, and normal forces in three umbrella shells, with respective functions in an equivalent flat plate. They indicate that (1) the umbrella shell deflects seven to eight times less than an equivalent flat plate, (2) small magnitude bending moments are present, and (3) middle surface forces are approximately 20% higher than the predictions of the membrane theory.
Considerations for image reconstruction with small source, Detector Separations

Imaging at length scales comparable to the scattering mean free path can potentially provide images not attainable with either diffuse or microscopic imaging methods. However,consideration must be given to the description of the forward problem in order to obtain the best images.
Selection and risk assessment of resistance to pyriproxyfen in Culex pipiens pallens

[Objective] To assess the resistance risk of Culex pipiens pallens to pyriproxyfen in Culexpipiens pallens,to predict the rate of resistance development and to provide the reference for scientific and rational application of insecticides. [Methods] The resistance strain was developed by group selection,and the realized heritability( h2) of Culex pipiens pallens resistance to deltamethrin was estimated by Tabashnik's method. [Results] The resistance of Culex pipiens pallens to pyriproxyfen had increased by 5. 69- fold after 12 generations of indoor breeding,and the h2 of Culex pipiens pallens to pyriproxyfen was 0. 02,indicating that a relatively risk of resistance development. [Conclusion] The results indicate that Culex pipiens pallens has resistance risk to pyriproxyfen,so the application of the insecticide must be scientific and rational.
Evaluation of Uncertainty in Determination of Arsenic Content in MSG by Silver Salt Method

[Objective]To identify the main source of uncertainty in determination of arsenic in MSG by silver salt method,so as to improve the method accuracy.[Methods]The evaluation of uncertainty was based on thee national standards of GB/T 5009.11-2003.[Results]The main uncertainty parts of arsenic were type A uncertainty,uncertainty caused by standard solution and uncertainty caused by standard curve verification.[Conclusion]The control enforcement of above 3 parts of uncertainty can improve the accuracy of determination.
A case report: salpingoureteral fistula.

Abstract A case of an acquired salpingoureteral fistula occurring in a 63 year-old woman with recurrent urinary tract infection and recurrent urinary lithiasis is presented.
Presence of Thermophilic Naegleria Isolates in the Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks

During a study of the extremely thermophilic bacteria of Yellowstone, we became aware of the published report (Scaglia et al., 1983) of the isolation of a thermophilic amoeba (Naegleria australiensis) from the bathing pools of a commercial Italian hot spring spa and their observation that some of these newly isolated amoebae strains were as virulent for mice as Naegleria fowleri, the etiological agent of primary amoebic meningoencephalitis in humans (John, 1982; Marciano-Cabral, 1988). Because of the possibility that similar types of thermophilic pathogenic amoebae might be present in the Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park thermal areas and possible exposure to park visitors and employees, we conducted a survey for Naegleria isolates, concentrated on those pools or outflows where it was known that visitors and employees used these pools for unauthorized bathing and soaking (Whittley, 1995).
Computer-Assisted Microscopy

Publisher Summary The modern microscopy imaging system is composed of five basic components: the microscope, a lighting source, a specimen stage control, an image acquisition device, and a postacquisition image analysis system. The basic components of a computerized microscopy system can be broken down into three fundamental areas. These are automation of the microscope's X-, Y- and Z-axes, control of fluorescence excitation or brightfield illumination, and control of the image sensing device. The core of any computer-assisted microscopy system is the microscope, which creates an image of the specimen. An image sensor, such as a CCD camera or a photomultiplier tube (PMT), converts the magnified image to an analog voltage signal. This chapter presents an overview of what constitutes a microscope imaging system, with special emphasis on automation of image acquisition and analysis, and imaging techniques used in the context of biological applications—specifically clinical cytogenetics. Instrumentation is discussed, including motorized stages and filters, cameras and digitizer boards, software algorithms including image enhancement, autofocusing, object detection and relocation, and features for operator review and data analysis for computerized microscopy.
Confirming the Environmental Concerns of Community Members Utilizing Participatory-Based Research in the Houston Neighborhood of Manchester

In the last few decades, there has been an increase in community-based participatory research being conducted within the United States. Recent research has demonstrated that working with local community organizations, interest groups, and individuals can assist in the creation of, and sustainability in, health initiatives, adoption of emergency protocols, and potentially improve health outcomes for at-risk populations. However little research has assessed if communal concerns over environmental contaminants would be confirmed through environmental research. This cross-sectional study collected survey data and performed surface water analysis for heavy metals in a small neighborhood in Houston, TX, which is characterized by industrial sites, unimproved infrastructure, nuisance flooding, and poor air quality. Surveys were completed with 109 residents of the Manchester neighborhood. Water samples were taken from thirty zones within the neighborhood and assessed for arsenic (As), barium (Ba), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), lead (Pb), selenium (Se), silver (Ag), and mercury (Hg). Survey results showed that the vast majority of all respondents were concerned over proximity to industry and waste facilities, as well as exposure to standing surface water. Barium was discovered in every sample and many of the zones showed alarming levels of certain metals. For example, one zone, two blocks from a public park, showed levels of arsenic at 180 (μg/L), barium at 3296 (μg/L), chromium at 363 (μg/L), lead at 1448 (μg/L), and mercury at 10 (μg/L). These findings support the hypothesis that neighborhood members are aware of the issues affecting their community and can offer researchers valuable assistance in every stage of study design and execution.
Serology Enhances Molecular Diagnosis of Respiratory Virus Infections Other than Influenza in Children and Adults Hospitalized with Community-Acquired Pneumonia

Both molecular and serological assays have been used previously to determine the etiology of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). However, the extent to which these methods are correlated and the added diagnostic value of serology for respiratory viruses other than influenza virus have not been fully evaluated. Using data from patients enrolled in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Etiology of Pneumonia in the Community (EPIC) study, we compared real-time reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) and serology for the diagnosis of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), human metapneumovirus (HMPV), parainfluenza virus 1 to 3 (PIV1, PIV2, and PIV3), and adenovirus (AdV) infections. Of 5,126 patients enrolled, RT-PCR and serology test results were available for 2,023, including 1,087 children below the age of 18 years and 936 adults. For RSV, 287 (14.2%) patients were positive by RT-PCR and 234 (11.6%) were positive by serology; for HMPV, 172 (8.5%) tested positive by RT-PCR and 147 (7.3%) by serology; for the PIVs, 94 (4.6%) tested positive by RT-PCR and 92 (4.6%) by serology; and for AdV, 111 (5.5%) tested positive by RT-PCR and 62 (3.1%) by serology. RT-PCR provided the highest number of positive detections overall, but serology increased diagnostic yield for RSV (by 11.8%), HMPV (by 25.0%), AdV (by 32.4%), and PIV (by 48.9%). The method concordance estimated by Cohen's kappa coefficient (κ) ranged from good (for RSV; κ = 0.73) to fair (for AdV; κ = 0.27). Heterotypic seroresponses observed between PIVs and persistent low-level AdV shedding may account for the higher method discordance observed with each of these viruses. Serology can be a helpful adjunct to RT-PCR for research-based assessment of the etiologic contribution of respiratory viruses other than influenza virus to CAP.
Transforming SKO Models

In this chapter we explore techniques for partitioning SKO models. These are subsequently used to developmethods for aggregating sub-graphs to transform SKO models into new ones. In Chap. 15, sub-graph aggregation forms the basis of con- strained embedding techniques to develop SKO models for closed-chain multibody systems.
Normal and abnormal B cell regulation

In its first part the workshop was concerned with the role of T cells in controlling the expression of idiotypically defined B cell responses. Several systems were discussed. Firstly, experiments were presented which address the role of suppressor T cells in controlling the expression of the NPb idiotype in strain B6 mice. After neonatal injection of anti-NPb monoclonal anti-idiotypic antibody, the expression of this idiotype is prevented for prolonged periods. In cell transfer experiments it could be shown that the suppressed population contains T cells by which idiotype-specific suppression can be transferred. It was concluded that suppressive T cells play a role in the negative control of idiotype expression. In a second system, the question of a role for idiotype-specific helper T cells was addressed in the arsonate system. In adoptive transfer experiments using carrier- primed T cells and in attempts to deplete idiotype-specific cells on idiotype-coated plates, no evidence could be obtained that idiotype-specific helper cells play a role for the expression of the arsonate idiotype. A discussion followed in which a number of other systems were mentioned in which idiotype-specific help and suppression has been demonstrated in the past. Moreover, the discussion extended to isotype-specific help and suppression. Taken together, it was agreed that experimental examples exist that argue both for and against the control of idiotype expression by T cells with apparent idiotypic specificity.
Perioperative beta blockers and statins for noncardiac surgery patients with coronary stents.

Abstract Importance Recent publications report that perioperative initiation of statin therapy is associated with improved outcomes particularly among patients with increased cardiac risk. However, findings on associations with beta blocker (BB) initiation are mixed. Objective This study examines associations between perioperative statin and BB use in a national sample of patients with cardiac stents. Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting VA Medical Centers nationwide. Participants We identified Veterans Affairs (VA) patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery in the within two years after stent placement between October 2002 and September 2011 with BB and/or statin prescriptions within one year prior to surgery. Using VA inpatient data we identified major adverse cardiac or cerebrovascular events (MACCE) within 30 days of surgery. General usage patterns and percent of days covered by medication were calculated as additional markers of medication use. Adjusted logistic regression was used to examine associations between medication use and 30-day postoperative outcomes. Results 23,537 patients underwent surgery within 2 years following stent placement, of whom 20,566 (88.6%) had prescriptions for beta blockers and statins within 365 days prior to surgery. Of those, 13,501 (65.6%) used both BB and statins prior to surgery, while 2626 (12.8%) used only BB, 2346 (11.4%) used only statins, and 2093 (10.2%) used neither. In fully adjusted models, the only significant association was between perioperative statin use and decreased mortality (OR 0.65, 95% CI 0.48–0.87). Conclusions Our results suggest that maintaining statin therapy perioperatively is associated with reduced 30 day mortality in stented patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery who have previously been prescribed both beta blockers and statins.
The early miocene critical zone at karungu, western Kenya: An equatorial, open habitat with few primate remains

Early Miocene outcrops near Karungu, Western Kenya, preserve a range of fluvio-lacustrine, lowland landscapes that contain abundant fossils of terrestrial and aquatic vertebrates. Primates are notably rare among these remains, although nearby early Miocene strata on Rusinga Island contain a rich assemblage of fossilized catarrhines and strepsirrhines. To explore possible environmental controls on the occurrence of early Miocene primates, we performed a deep-time Critical Zone (DTCZ) reconstruction focused on floodplain paleosols at the Ngira locality in Karungu. We specifically focused on a single stratigraphic unit (NG15), which preserves moderately developed paleosols that contain a microvertebrate fossil assemblage. Although similarities between deposits at Karungu and Rusinga Island are commonly assumed, physical sedimentary processes, vegetative cover, soil hydrology, and some aspects of climate state are notably different between the two areas. Estimates of paleoclimate parameters using paleosol B horizon elemental chemistry and morphologic properties are consistent with seasonal, dry subhumid conditions, occasional waterlogging, and herbaceous vegetation. The reconstructed small mammal community indicates periodic waterlogging and open-canopy conditions. Based on the presence of herbaceous root traces, abundant microcharcoal, and pedogenic carbonates with high stable carbon isotope ratios, we interpret NG15 to have formed under a warm, seasonally dry, open riparian woodland to wooded grassland, in which at least a subset of the vegetation was likely C4 biomass. Our results, coupled with previous paleoenvironmental interpretations for deposits on Rusinga Island, demonstrate that there was considerable environmental heterogeneity ranging from open to closed habitats in the early Miocene. We hypothesize that the relative paucity of primates at Karungu was driven by their environmental preference for locally abundant closed canopy vegetation, which was likely absent at Karungu, at least during the NG15 interval if not also earlier and later intervals that have not yet been studied in as much detail.
Through the Looking Glass Darkly: The Convergence of Past and Present in Connie Willis’s Time-Travel Novels

Connie Willis’s time-travel fiction imagines that in the not-too-distant future, Oxford University students will perform historical ethnography by literally traveling bodily to the past. Whether depicting the Black Death or the London Blitz, Willis proves an enthusiastic consumer of dark tourism, incorporating museum sites into her plots and historical interpretations. Using detailed descriptions, counterfactuals, and the genres of fairy stories and farce, Willis immerses her readers in catastrophic moments in the British past. She borrows Barbara Tuchman’s notion that the past is a “distant mirror” for those in the present and future. For people trapped in time, commemoration and deep empathy offer salvation—both for those whose time has passed and those whose time has yet to come.
Automatic Committed Belief Tagging

We go beyond simple propositional meaning extraction and present experiments in determining which propositions in text the author believes. We show that deep syntactic parsing helps for this task. Our best feature combination achieves an F-measure of 64%, a relative reduction in F-measure error of 21% over not using syntactic features.
Institutional Capacity Building in Developing Countries through Regional Climate Outlook Forums (RCOFs) Process

Climate affects the lives of all living beings on earth. Every system is vulnerable to climate, and the impact of climate extremes can cause devastating damage to people and their economies and environment. This vulnerability, however, varies from region to region, and is a function of many factors, such as the geographic location, resiliency, capacities (economic, technical and financial), social capital, political environment, and livelihood security.
Evolutionary Mechanisms and Human Behavior

The major question to be addressed in this and the next chapter is, how the basic biological mechanisms described in Chapter 3 influence the development and functioning of the complex types of behavior that characterize human beings and form the foundation for human social behavior.
Aqueous humor messengers in the transient decrease of intraocular pressure after ganglionectomy.

Intraocular pressure (IOP) decreases in rabbits 1 day after superior cervical ganglionectomy. It was hypothesized that this IOP decrease was caused by an accumulation of norepinephrine (NE) released from the iris-ciliary body into the aqueous humor during nerve degeneration. Direct measurement of aqueous humor NE concentration, however, was not successful because of the technical difficulty. In the current study, aqueous humor NE after superior cervical ganglionectomy was extracted and quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography-electrochemical detection. Twelve New Zealand albino rabbits were maintained in a daily 12-hr light-12-hr dark environment. Unilateral ganglionectomy was done on these rabbits during the light phase under halothane anesthesia. Twenty-two hours after the procedure, a significant IOP decrease occurred. The IOP was 16.1 ± 0.6 mmHg (mean ± the standard error of the mean) in the operated eye and 20.9 ± 0.6 mmHg in the contralateral eye (P < 0.01). Aqueous humor NE concentration in the operated eye (475 ± 81 pg/ml) was not different from that in the contralateral eye (469 ± 58 pg/ml). However, the concentration of aqueous humor cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) in the operated eye (29.8 ± 6.8 pmol/ml) was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than that in the contralateral eye (11.7 ± 0.8 pmol/ml). These data indicate that aqueous humor NE per se does not cause the transient IOP decrease after superior cervical ganglionectomy and cAMP-mediated ocular activities may be involved in this change in IOP. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 33:3181-3185,1992
Cooperative Jamming: The Tale of Friendly Interference for Secrecy

In wireless communications, interference is generally regarded as an undesired phenomenon. In multiuser systems, interference management and avoidance are essential for acceptable system performance [1, 2]. In systems including cognitive radios with secondary spectrum privileges, a system objective is detecting the channel occupancy in an intelligent way to limit interference to primary users [3].
Stresses Due to Thermal Trapping in Semi-Absorbing Materials Subjected to Intense Radiation

Analytical results are presented for the thermal stresses resulting from “thermal trapping” in semi-absorbing materials subjected to symmetric and assymmetric radiation heating and convective cooling with finite heat transfer coefficient, h. The transient stresses during heat-up in both cases were found to be an inverse function of the heat transfer coefficient, h, and increase monotonically with the optical thickness, μa. In contrast, the steady state stresses were independent of h and exhibited a maximum at μa ≃ 1.3 for symmetric heating and at μa = 2 for assymmetric heating with zero stresses at μa = 0 and ∞. For the symmetrically heated plate, the transition from the transient to the steady-state condition involved a reversal in the sign of thermal stress at any position. For the assymmetrically heated plate the steady state maximum tensile thermal stresses occur at the position of the highest temperature, ie. the front surface.
Enzymatic synthesis of glutathione.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the enzymatic synthesis of glutathione (GSH). Enzyme systems which catalyze the synthesis of GSH from glutamic acid, cysteine, and glycine have been found in the livers of pigeons and of various mammals. The presence of the GSH-synthesizing system has also been demonstrated in extracts of E. coli. The formation of GSH in pigeon liver proceeds in at least two consecutive steps and involves the formation of GlutCyst as an intermediate. The formation of GlutCyst as well as the subsequent condensation of the dipeptide with glycine requires ATP. Of the two steps which are concerned with the total synthesis of GSH, only that which results in the formation of the tripeptide from GlutCyst has been extensively studied. The name glutathione synthetase is proposed for the enzyme which catalyzes the condensation of GlutCyst and glycine to form GSH. The synthesis of GSH can be determined by means of the glyoxalase assay, or more conveniently by measuring the incorporation of radio-active glycine or glutamic acid into the tripeptide. GSH formation is strongly inhibited by ADP, which is not only a product of the synthetic reaction but is liberated by the action of ATP-ase present in crude liver extracts. Therefore, for optimal rates of GSH synthesis ATP is continuously regenerated by adding 3-PGA.
Minimal residual disease testing in acute lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma

Although many clinical and laboratory features have prognostic significance in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), the most important one is response to treatment as measured by the presence or absence of minimal residual disease (MRD) after therapy. In this chapter, we review current methods of MRD detection, including flow cytometry, PCR-based molecular methods, and the emergence of next-generation sequencing (NGS), discuss advantages and disadvantages of each, and review results of clinical trials that assess MRD. We also discuss how changes in therapy affect patients with MRD and address the challeges associated with using MRD as a surrogate for evaluating new drugs.
Radiation and Immunotherapy for Sarcoma

Almost half of all cancer patients receive radiation therapy [1]. Radiotherapy is used for localized cancers to achieve local control and for metastatic tumors to palliate symptoms, and is estimated to contribute to approximately 40% of cancer cures [2]. For patients with large and/or high-grade soft tissue sarcomas, radiation therapy is frequently used in the neoadjuvant or adjuvant setting to improve local control [3–5], but small randomized studies suggest that radiation therapy does not alter the rate of metastasis compared to surgery alone [6, 7]. However, the addition of immunotherapy to neoadjuvant radiation therapy has the potential to activate a systemic antitumor response and eliminate micrometastases, which could improve survival for patients with sarcoma. This hypothesis will be tested in two clinical trials that are currently ongoing–the NEXIS trial (NCT03116529) and SU2C-SARC032 (NCT03092323). This chapter provides the rationale for this treatment strategy, as well as a summary of ongoing clinical trials testing the combination of radiation therapy and immune checkpoint blockade.
2014-2015 Clinical Laboratory Science Faculty Salary Survey

OBJECTIVES: The objective was to report faculty salary and benefit information for professionals in clinical laboratory science. METHODS: Salary data from the 2014-2015 academic year were collected using an electronic survey through Baseline (Campus Labs), a survey tool used with a web interface at Austin Peay State University. Survey respondents were recruited via e-mail and included members of the American Society of Clinical Laboratory Science, subscribers to the Clinical Laboratory Science Educator9s listserv, and members of the programs accredited by the National Accreditation Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences. Salary data were sorted by certification, highest degree earned, position title or academic rank, and employer type. Statistical analysis was performed and data reported as mean, standard error of the mean, 95% confidence intervals, and relative error of the mean. RESULTS: The average salary of certified medical laboratory scientist (MLS)/medical technologist (MT) faculty increased from $61,823.44 for those with bachelor9s degrees to $99,321.35 for those with doctoral degrees. Those with molecular biology certification had average salaries of $87,200.00 for respondents with master9s degrees and $96,495.83 for respondents with doctoral degrees. The average total annual salary for MLS/MT faculty was $64,239.96 for full-time instructors/adjuncts/ lecturers and $104,620.00 for full professors. Salaries at university hospitals were substantially larger than those at community colleges. CONCLUSIONS: This study, the first to examine the faculty salaries of clinical laboratory scientists, provides new, publically available information about faculty salaries in clinical laboratory science. This information can be used by policy makers and clinical professionals to gauge fair and competitive market salaries and set promotional structures. Previously, such data have been available only by subscription and at prices that only larger institutions can afford. ABBREVIATIONS:MLT - medical laboratory technician, MLS - medical laboratory scientist, CIP - Classification of Instructional Programs, ASCLS - American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science, NAACLS - National Accreditation Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences, MLS(ASCP)CM - MLS credentialed by the American Society for Clinical Pathology, MT(ASCP) - medical technologist credentialed by the American Society for Clinical Pathology prior to October 22, 2009, MT(AMT) - medical technologist credentialed by American Medical Technologists, USD - U.S. dollars, SD - standard deviation, SEM - standard error of the mean, REM - relative error of the mean, SBB - Specialist in Blood Banking, SH - Specialist in Hematology, SM - Specialist in Microbiology , SC - Specialist in Chemistry , DLM - Diplomate in Laboratory Management .
Maintenance Therapy for Nonsquamous Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSQNSCLC): Patient-Reported Symptoms, Performance Status (PS) and Efficacy

ABSTRACT Purpose Ciuleanu et al. (2009) showed that pemetrexed (Pem) maintenance therapy is well-tolerated and offers significantly superior overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) versus (vs) placebo (pbo) in patients (pts) with advanced nsqNSCLC. This retrospective analysis assessed the effect of maintenance therapy on OS and PFS by baseline patient-reported symptom burden and PS. Methods Data from 481 nonsquamous pts were analyzed. Symptom burden of 464 pts was captured with baseline values of the Lung Cancer Symptom Scale (LCSS), which includes 6 disease-specific symptom items (anorexia, fatigue, cough, dyspnea, pain, hemoptysis), each ranging from 0 (no symptoms) to 100 (worst symptoms). Average symptom burden index (ASBI) is the mean of the 6 items. Symptom subgroups were defined by ASBI: low symptom burden (LSB; ASBI Results Controlling for PS and other DC factors, pts with LSB (n = 333) and HSB (n = 131) who received maintenance therapy had improved PFS vs pbo: 5.1 vs 2.4 months [mos] (hazard ratio [HR] 0.49, p Conclusion NsqNSCLC pts with LSB and HSB at the end of induction therapy experienced significant improvements in PFS with Pem maintenance therapy. This translated into improved OS for LSB pts. These data suggest that maintenance therapy, rather than a break in treatment or “chemo holiday,” is an appropriate treatment strategy for nsqNSCLC pts at successful completion of induction therapy. Disclosure C. Obasaju: Employed by and own stock in Eli Lilly and Company. L. Bowman: Employed by and own stock in Eli Lilly and Company. P. Wang: Employed by and own stock in Eli Lilly and Comany. W. Shen: Employed by and own stock in Eli Lilly and Company. K.B. Winfree: Employed by and own stock in Eli Lilly and Company. E.N. Smyth: Employed by and own stock in Eli Lilly and Company. M. Boye: Employed by and own stock in Eli Lilly and Company. W. John: Employed by and own stock in Eli Lilly and Company. C.P. Belani: Served on advisory board for Eli Lilly and Company
High Volume Electrical Characterization of Semiconductor Qubits

Perhaps the greatest challenge facing quantum computing hardware development is the lack of a high throughput electrical characterization infrastructure at the cryogenic temperatures required for qubit measurements. In this article, we discuss our efforts to develop such a line to guide 300mm spin qubit process development. This includes (i) working with our supply chain to create the required cryogenic high volume testing ecosystem, (ii) driving full wafer cryogenic testing for both transistor and quantum dot statistics, and (iii) utilizing this line to develop a quantum dot process resulting in key electrical data comparable to that from leading devices in literature, but with unprecedented yield and reproducibility.
Molecular epidemiological analysis on coxsackievirus B5 in certain areas of China

Objective To study the molecular epidemiology and genetic variation of coxsackievirus B5 (CV-B5) in certain areas in China. Methods MEGA 6.0 software was used to analyze the complete VP1 region of CV-B5 isolated strains from certain areas of China by retrieving the GenBank nucleotide database. Besides, the phylogenetic tree was constructed, the homology of nucleotide and amino acids were calculated and the rate of evolution was estimated. Results A total of 189 Chinese CV-B5 isolated strains were included in this study. Most of Chinese CV-B5 isolated strains belonged to genotype C, accounted for 90.5%. Compared with the genotype A, the homology of nucleotide sequences and amino acid sequences of complete VP1 region of 189 Chinese isolated strains were 79.8%-82.8% and 92.6%-97.9%, respectively; moreover, the nucleotide and the amino acid homology of 189 Chinese CV-B5 isolated strains among themselves ranged from 80.3% to 100.0% and ranged from 91.5% to 100.0%, respectively. The estimated rate of evolution of the CV-B5 was 4×10-3 substitutions/site/year. Conclusions The majority of CV-B5 isolated strains belonged to genotype C, and subgenotype C1 and C2 were co-circulating together in certain areas of China. Key words: Coxsackievirus B5; VP1 region; Molecular epidemiology
A catalog of validity indices for step counting wearable technologies during treadmill walking: the CADENCE-Kids study.

Wearable technologies play an important role in measuring physical activity (PA) and promoting health. Standardized validation indices (i.e., accuracy, bias, and precision) compare performance of step counting wearable technologies in young people. To produce a catalog of validity indices for step counting wearable technologies assessed during different treadmill speeds (slow [0.8–3.2 km/h], normal [4.0–6.4 km/h], fast [7.2–8.0 km/h]), wear locations (waist, wrist/arm, thigh, and ankle), and age groups (children, 6–12 years; adolescents, 13–17 years; young adults, 18–20 years). One hundred seventeen individuals (13.1 ± 4.2 years, 50.4% female) participated in this cross-sectional study and completed 5-min treadmill bouts (0.8 km/h to 8.0 km/h) while wearing eight devices (Waist: Actical, ActiGraph GT3X+, NL-1000, SW-200; Wrist: ActiGraph GT3X+; Arm: SenseWear; Thigh: activPAL; Ankle: StepWatch). Directly observed steps served as the criterion measure. Accuracy (mean absolute percentage error, MAPE), bias (mean percentage error, MPE), and precision (correlation coefficient, r; standard deviation, SD; coefficient of variation, CoV) were computed. Five of the eight tested wearable technologies (i.e., Actical, waist-worn ActiGraph GT3X+, activPAL, StepWatch, and SW-200) performed at 0.05). Age did not have any effect (P > 0.05). Standardized validation indices focused on accuracy, bias, and precision were cataloged by speed, wear location, and age group to serve as important reference points when selecting and/or evaluating device performance in young people moving forward. Reduced performance can be expected at very slow walking speeds (0.8 to 3.2 km/h) for all devices. Ankle-worn and thigh-worn devices demonstrated the highest accuracy. Speed and wear location had a significant effect on accuracy and bias, but not precision. Clinicaltrials.gov NCT01989104 . Registered November 14, 2013.
Using a vapor-fed anode and saline catholyte to manage ion transport in a proton exchange membrane electrolyzer

Saline water represents an inexhaustible source of water for hydrogen production from electrolysis. However, direct saltwater splitting faces challenges due to chlorine evolution at the anode and the development of Nernst overpotential due to sodium ion transport competition with protons across the membrane. A new approach to minimize chlorine evolution and improve performance is proposed here by using a humidified gas stream (no liquid electrolyte) for the anode and a liquid saltwater catholyte. Charge repulsion of chloride ions by the proton exchange membrane (PEM) resulted in low chlorine generation, with anodic faradaic efficiencies for oxygen evolution of 100 ± 1% with a synthetic brackish water (50 mM NaCl, 3 g L−1) and 96 ± 2% with synthetic seawater (0.5 M NaCl, 30 g L−1). The enhanced proton transport by the electric field enabled more efficient pH control across the cell, minimizing sodium ion transport in the absence of a liquid anolyte. The vapor-fed anode configuration showed similar performance to a conventional PEM electrolyzer up to 1 A cm−2 when both anode and cathode were fed with deionized water. Much lower overpotentials could be achieved using the vapor-fed anode compared to a liquid-anolyte due to the reduced sodium ion transport through the membranes, as shown by adding NaClO4 to the electrolytes. This vapor-fed anode configuration allows for direct use of saltwater in conventional electrolyzers without additional water purification at high faradaic efficiencies.
P.Mich.inv. 3272: Receipt for Embole from Aphrodito

Edition of P.Mich. inv. 3272, a nearly complete sixth-century receipt for embo/e from Aphrodito. Aphrodito H x W = 14 x 7.7 cm Aphrodito, VI AD The APIS entry by NL (= Nikos Litinas) aptly describes this piece as a tallered, dark-brown papyrus. Its top (1.2 cm), left (I cm), and right (0.2 cm) margins are preserved in full, but the bottom has been lost. There is an apparent sheet join running vertically near the left edge. The papyrus itself is full of holes, which, fortunately, do not much impede the reading of its formulaic text. The hand is a medium-sized cursive recording the payment of three and 11/12 artabas of wheat for the embole of an eleventh indiction; further on the date, see the notes to lines 1-2 and 12. Although the place-name is absent, document type, nomenclature, and possible prosopographicallinksfor the last of which see again the notes to lines 1-2 and 12 assure the Aphrodito provenance. The papyrus was purchased from Maurice Nahman in 1925; it came to Michigan in October 1926 as a gift of Oscar and Richard H. Webber of Detroit. I am grateful to R. James Cook for arranging permission to publish this piece, to Nikos Litinas for identifying it as worthy of attention, to Todd Hickey for precise comments on the penultimate version of the text, and to the BASP readers for further helpful comments. Residual or new blemishes are mine. The image has been digitally reproduced by permission of the Papyrology Collection of the Graduate Library of the University of Michigan. The receipt is written with the fibers on the recto; the verso is blank. flitliwKt:V '1'1μavw~t:T Kuplou cS(1ci) twv KAf1p(ov6μwv) ti .6yov tμ~oAJi<; 4 KQVOVO<; EV0tKCtT(f1<;) Mi(nctlovo<;) criTOU apTa~a<; tpi<; f\μ1au TpiTov cSw_ cStKaTOV, yi(vovtai) o[(TOU) (apTa~at) y J y' !<?