cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A comparative evaluation of gray and non-gray radiation modeling strategies in oxy-coal combustion simulations

Abstract Computational fluid dynamic simulations of oxy-coal combustion are demonstrated in a lab-scale furnace and full-scale boiler employing gray and non-gray formulations of recently proposed radiative property models for the gas-phase. The investigated scenarios included: air-firing, oxy-firing with dry and wet flue-gas recycle (FGR). The study confirms that the temperature and wall radiative flux profiles encountered during air firing can be replicated in both dry and wet FGR scenarios through an appropriate selection of (CO 2 + H 2 O)/O 2 molar ratios in the oxidizer stream. The computed temperature profiles were in reasonable agreement with the experimental measurements. In the lab-scale furnace, lower flame temperatures and smaller path lengths minimized the differences between the gray and non-gray model predictions. Within the full-scale boiler, large volume pockets were present where the radiation was dominated by the gas-phase. This combined with higher peak flame temperatures and longer path lengths resulted in: a 10% variation between the gray and non-gray radiative fluxes and a 50 K difference in the predicted average outlet gas temperatures.
Outcomes and predictors in burn rehabilitation

Advances in burn care in recent decades have resulted in a growing population of burn survivors and an increased need for inpatient rehabilitation. Burn survivors who require inpatient rehabilitation typically experience severe and complicated injuries. The purpose of this study is to examine burn rehabilitation outcomes and their predictor variables. Data are obtained from the Uniform Data System for Medical Rehabilitation from 2002 to 2007. Inclusion criterion is primary diagnosis of burn injury. Predictor variables include demographic, medical, and facility data. Outcome measures are length of stay efficiency, FIM® gain, community discharge, and FIM® discharge of at least 78. Linear and logistic regression analyses are used to determine significant predictors of outcomes. There are 2920 patients who meet inclusion criteria. The mean age of the population is 51 years, 33% of the population is female, 73% is Caucasian, and 40% are married. The median TBSA decile is 20 to 29%. The population exhibits a mean FIM® gain of 28 and length of stay efficiency of 2.1. A majority of the population is discharged to the community (76%) and has a FIM® discharge of at least 78 (81%). Significant predictors of outcomes in burn rehabilitation include age, FIM® admission, onset days, employment status, and marital status. Inpatient rehabilitation is critical to community reintegration of burn survivors. Survivors who are young, married, employed, and higher functioning at the time of admission to rehabilitation demonstrate the best outcomes. This research will help assess the rehabilitation potential of burn survivors and inform resource allocation.
Comparison of Matrix Pencil and Prony methods for power system modal analysis of noisy signals

Modal information extracted from the dynamic response of power systems can be applied to detect low frequency oscillations and assess stability margins for monitoring and preventive control. This paper examines two techniques for modal identification based on their ability to accurately identify system modes in the presence of noisy signals. The methods investigated include Prony analysis, which has commonly been used in power system studies, and the Matrix Pencil method, which is more common in electromagnetic analysis. Prony analysis has been shown to have difficulties extracting the modes of noisy signals, so the examples presented explore these shortcomings and compare them to the capabilities of the Matrix Pencil method.
Functional brain imaging and the bladder: Current insights into cerebral control over micturition

Mechanisms for cerebral control over the micturition process remain poorly elucidated. The knowledge is based largely on human pathophysiology and data derived from electrophysiologic testing in animals. Recent advances in dynamic functional brain imaging technologies including positron emission tomography, single photon emission computed tomography, and functional magnetic resonance imaging have allowed new insights into how the human brain regulates this process. This article discusses animal studies, which provided the foundation for our understanding of cerebral control over micturition, and recent human studies, implementing functional brain imaging to enhance our knowledge of this complex phenomenon.
Inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase from porcine (Sus scrofa domestica) thymus: Purification and properties

Abstract 1. 1. IMP dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.205) from porcine thymus glands has been purified to homogeneity. 2. 2. The enzyme has a subunit MW of 57 kDa and an amino acid composition similar to those obtained from other normal and cancerous mammalian cells. 3. 3. The apparent K m values at pH 8.0 for IMP and NAD + are 7 and 16 μM, respectively. 4. 4. GMP, XMP and AMP are competitive inhibitors towards IMP with K i values of 50, 85 and 282 μM, respectively. 5. 5. The effectiveness of nucleotides to protect inactivation by CI-IMP is IMP > GMP > XMP > AMP.
Berkeley's Theory of Meaning

Recent scholars disagree over whether Berkeley's theory of meaning constitutes a radical departure from Locke in the direction of current philosophy of language or offers no real alternative to the semantics of Locke's Essay concerning Human Understanding. Berkeley agrees with Locke that linguistic meaning consists in the transmission of ideas from speaker to hearer by means of words, but he does not accept the Lockean account of this transmission. Specifically he departs from Locke at two fundamental points: he insists that ideas themselves have meanings and stand in need of interpretation, and he holds that the meanings of ideas may vary with the contexts in which they occur. To accommodate Berkeley's principle of contextual meaning the account of communication must relate not individual ideas to individual words but strings of ideas to strings of words. Words and ideas, moreover, are not isomorphic as Locke implies they are: Berkeley indicates in particular the cases of general terms and names for spiritual substances, for neither of which corresponding ideas can be discovered. To accommodate such cases within the general theory that meaning depends upon corresponding ideas an encoding process must be introduced into the account of the verbal transmission of ideas, a process whereby verbal structures including such terms as universals and names for spirits can be related to different ideational structures in which no such terms appear. The conclusion is that Berkeley accepts from Locke the fundamental principle that meaning depends upon corresponding ideas in the mind but that he holds this relation of correspondence to be much more complex than Locke allowed: in particular Berkeley introduces structural considerations by abandoning the traditional view that words and ideas correspond on a one-to-one basis, and he requires the mind to perform certain interpretative encoding procedures in translating between verbal and ideational structures.
The Africanization Controversy in the Gold Coast, 1926-1946

Few would dispute that the Africanization of the civil service was one of the more emotional and divisive issues in the Gold Coast during the inter-war years. While it is true that the attainment of equal status with the Europeans might not have been a subject of mass concern and popular regret, nevertheless it did animate the vocal and articulate elite who resented the unfair distinctions perpetuated by the colonial authorities. Thus repeatedly in debates of the Legislative Council, in sessions of the Provincial Councils, in newspaper editorials, and in petitions carried to Whitehall, protests were lodged against the pattern of discrimination in high-level government appointments. The extent to which this matter influenced the political dialogue of the colony and in time became an “important nationalist grievance,” has been noted by a number of scholars (Kimble, 1963; Crowder, 1968; Wight, 1947). My intention therefore is not to detail every disagreement nor to summarize every report but rather to view individual cases which shed light on the debate and to focus upon the prejudices and perspectives of the participants in the dialogue. Following a period of time during which Africans had largely been excluded from the senior, or European, appointments in the civil service, Governor Frederick Gordon Guggisberg (1921-1927) charted a new course in February 22, 1926. He remarked that the policy of employing Africans in responsible positions commended itself to the Government for two reasons:
Health Risks from Computed Tomographic Screening

Results of the recent National Lung Cancer Screening Trial show a significant survival benefit for annual screening with a low-dose computed tomographic (CT) scan in high-risk individuals. This result has led the US Preventive Services Task Force to recommend annual low-dose CT scans for this at-risk population. Less well characterized are the risks from screening. The primary risks from screening are radiation exposure, false-positive results and unnecessary diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, overdiagnosis and overtreatment, and increased psychological distress. This article reviews these risks, which must be considered and weighed against the benefits when discussing enrollment with patients.
A trace-based Java JIT compiler retrofitted from a method-based compiler

This paper describes our trace-based JIT compiler (trace-JIT) for Java developed from a production-quality method-based JIT compiler (method-JIT). We first describe the design and implementation of our trace-JIT with emphasis on how we retrofitted a method-JIT as a trace-based compiler. Then we show that the trace-JIT often produces better quality code than the method-JIT by extending the compilation scope. Forming longer traces that span multiple methods turns out to be more powerful than method inlining in extending the compilation scope. It reduces method-invocation overhead and also offers more compiler optimization opportunities. However, the trace-JIT incurs additional runtime overhead compared to the method-JIT that may be offset by gains from the improved code quality. Overall, our trace-JIT achieved performance roughly comparable to the baseline method-JIT. We also discuss the issues in trace-based compilation from the viewpoint of compiler optimizations. Our results show the potentials of trace-based compilation as an alternative or complementary approach to compiling languages with mature method-based compilers.
Comparison of the Coulombian and Amperian Current Models for Calculating the Magnetic Field Produced by Radially Magnetized Arc-Shaped Permanent Magnets

This paper presents some improved analytical expressions of the magnetic fleld produced by arc-shaped permanent magnets whose polarization is radial with the amperian current model. First, we show that the radial component of the magnetic fleld produced by a ring permanent magnet whose polarization is radial can be expressed in terms of elliptic integrals. Such an expression is useful for optimization purposes. We also present a semi-analytical expression of the axial component produced by the same conflguration. For this component, we discuss the terms that are di-cult to integrate analytically and compare our expression with the one established by Furlani (1). In the second part of this paper, we use the amperian current model for calculating the magnetic fleld produced by a tile permanent magnet radially magnetized. This method was in fact still employed by Furlani for calculating the magnetic fleld produced by radially polarized cylinders. We show that it is possible to obtain a fully analytical expression of the radial component based on elliptic integrals. In addition, we show that the amperian current model allows us to obtain a fully analytical expression of the azimuthal component. All the expressions determined in this paper are compared with the ones established by Furlani (1) or in previous works carried out by the authors.
A plant distribution shift: temperature, drought or past disturbance?

Simple models of plant response to warming climates predict vegetation moving to cooler and/or wetter locations: in mountainous regions shifting upslope. However, species-specific responses to climate change are likely to be much more complex. We re-examined a recently reported vegetation shift in the Santa Rosa Mountains, California, to better understand the mechanisms behind the reported shift of a plant distribution upslope. We focused on five elevational zones near the center of the gradient that captured many of the reported shifts and which are dominated by fire-prone chaparral. Using growth rings, we determined that a major assumption of the previous work was wrong: past fire histories differed among elevations. To examine the potential effect that this difference might have on the reported upward shift, we focused on one species, Ceanothus greggii: a shrub that only recruits post-fire from a soil stored seedbank. For five elevations used in the prior study, we calculated time series of past per-capita mortality rates by counting growth rings on live and dead individuals. We tested three alternative hypotheses explaining the past patterns of mortality: 1) mortality increased over time consistent with climate warming, 2) mortality was correlated with drought indices, and 3) mortality peaked 40–50 years post fire at each site, consistent with self-thinning. We found that the sites were different ages since the last fire, and that the reported increase in the mean elevation of C. greggii was due to higher recent mortality at the lower elevations, which were younger sites. The time-series pattern of mortality was best explained by the self-thinning hypothesis and poorly explained by gradual warming or drought. At least for this species, the reported distribution shift appears to be an artifact of disturbance history and is not evidence of a climate warming effect.
Flexible graphene field-effect transistors for microwave electronics

The high-frequency characteristics of graphene field-effect transistors (GFETs) has received significant interest due the very high carrier velocities in graphene. In addition to excellent electronic performance, graphene possesses exceptional mechanical properties such as high flexibility and strength. Here, we demonstrate the potential of flexible-GFETs and show that the combination of electrical and mechanical advantages of graphene result in gigahertz-frequency operation at strain values up to 2%. These devices represent the only reported technology to achieve gigahertz-frequency power gain at strain levels above 0.5%.
Sula the Trickster

(1995). Sula the Trickster. Lit: Literature Interpretation Theory: Vol. 6, Toni Morrison, pp. 21-34.
A thermodynamic model of The Hg0.8 Cd0.2 Te‐Iodine Transport System. I. Te‐saturated source material

Based on the formation of an ideal solid solution between CdTe and HgTe, the thermodynamic analysis of the complex Hg1−xCdxTe-iodine chemical vapor transport system could be somewhat simplified because the source material composition was at the Te-rich boundary of the homogeneity range of Hg0·8Cd0·2Te. This led to the development of a first order approximation model for the prediction of diffusion limited mass transport rates. The agreement between computed and experimental (vertical, stabilizing conditions) mass transport rates is quite satisfactory. Ein thermodynamisches Modell des Hg0,8 Cd0,2 Te-Iod Transportsystems. I. Te-gesattigtes Ausgangsmaterial Auf der Grundlage einer idealen Mischkristallbildung von CdTe und HgTe konnte die thermodynamische Analyse des komplizierten chemischen Transportsystems Hg1−xCdxTeIod weiter dadurch vereinfacht werden, das die Zusammensetzung des Ausgangsmaterials der Verbindung an der Te-reichen Homogenitatsgrenze von Hg0,8Cd0,2Te entsprach. Dies fuhrte zur Entwicklung eines Naherungsmodells zur Berechnung von Diffusions-Transportraten. Die Ubereinstimmung von berechneten und experimentellen Transportraten (senkrechte Ampullenstellung, hohere Temperatur oben) ist sehr zufriedenstellend.
Adaptive detection for unknown noise power spectral densities

The detection of a known broadband signal in colored noise of unknown power spectral density is addressed. Motivated by the consistency of the integrated periodogram, a new detector is proposed. Its asymptotic performance is proven to be only slightly poorer than the optimal but unrealizable Neyman-Pearson detector. It also possesses the CFAR property asymptotically and should therefore be quite valuable in practice. For finite data records, it is shown by computer simulation to significantly outperform the conventional matched filter (without prewhitening) under realistic conditions encountered in practice.
18F-2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography scanning affects surgical management in selected patients with high-risk, operable breast carcinoma.

Background The role of positron emission tomography (PET) scanning in determining the extent of disease in patients with breast cancer has not been defined. We investigated the utility of 18F-2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG)-PET scanning compared with conventional imaging with computed tomographic scanning and bone scanning in determining the extent of disease in patients with high-risk, operable breast cancer.
Single-shot spatiotemporal measurements of ultrashort THz waveforms using temporal electric-field cross correlation

A new single-shot technique based on linear spectral interferometry between a temporally short reader pulse and a temporally long probe pulse is demonstrated for measuring the spatiotemporal phase and amplitude of an optical probe for use as an ultrafast diagnostic. The probe spatiotemporal field information is recovered, with a resolution set by the duration of the reader pulse, by applying a single Fourier transform operation to the interferogram image, without need of any reference data. The technique was used in conjunction with electro-optic sampling to measure waveforms of coherent, ultrashort THz pulses emitted by electron bunches from a laser-plasma accelerator with sub-50fs resolution. The presence of strong spatiotemporal coupling in the THz waveforms and of complex temporal electron-bunch structure was determined.
Chemical and Physical Processing of Presolar Materials in the Solar Nebula and the Implications for Preservation of Presolar Materials in Comets

Chemical and physical processes in the outer solar nebula are reviewed. It is argued that the outer nebula was a chemically active environment with UV photochemistry and ion-molecule chemistry in its low density regions and grain-catalyzed chemistry in Jovian protoplanetary sub- nebulae. Presolar material was altered to greater or lesser extent by these spatially and temporally variable processes, which mimic many features of interstellar chemistry. Experiments, models, and observations are recommended to address the questions of presolar versus nebular dominance in the outer solar nebula and of how to distinguish interstellar and nebular sources of cometary volatiles.
A new hybrid method for finding an eigenpairs of a symmetric quadratic eigenvalue problem in an interval

The symmetric quadratic eigenvalue problem (λ2M + λC + K)u = 0, where M, C, and K are given n × n matrices and (λ, u) is an eigenpair, arises in a wide variety of practical applications, including vibration, acoustic, and noise control analysis [5]. In the most practical application, the problem is often of a very large dimension. Unfortunately because of the nonlinearity, the problem is extremely hard to solve numerically, and the state-of-art computational techniques, such as the Jacobi-Davidson method, are capable of computing only a few extremal eigenvalues and eigenvectors [2, 3]. Fortunately, there are engineering applications that require only some of the eigenvalues lying within an interval. In this paper, a new hybrid method combining a Parametrized Newton-type method described in [1] with the Jacobi-Davidson method [2] is proposed to compute an eigenpair of quadratic pencil within an interval. The experimental results show that this method is much faster than the Jacobi-Davidson method. The results of this paper generalize those of an earlier work on parameterized Newton's Algorithm for finding an eigenpair of a symmetric matrix [1].
Austerity and niche parties: The electoral consequences of fiscal reforms

Austerity policies — policies of sharp reductions of a government's budget deficint involving spending cuts and tax increases — are claimed to boost support for radical political parties. We argue, counter to popular claims, that austerity measures actually reduce support for radical and niche parties. Austerity policies force traditional left-right politics to the forefront of political debate with the traditional mainstream parties having a stronger ownership over those issues. We systematically explore the impact of austerity measures on the electoral fortunes of niche parties in 16 developed countries over a 35-year period, while controlling for a number of socio-economic variables. We find that austerity policies that rely on tax increases affect radical parties on the left and the right in different ways than fiscal adjustments based on spending cuts.
Examining Farmers Markets' Usage of Social Media: An Investigation of a Farmers Market Facebook Page

Social media are transforming communication between organizations and their audiences, and even changing the organizations themselves. Social media's low cost and low requirements for technical skills needed to both use and maintain an online presence allow small businesses with limited marketing budgets to use the same marketing strategies as bigger businesses with large marketing budgets. In addition, social media provides businesses direct and interactive ways to reach out and retain customers. This case study analyzes Cedar Park Farmers Market (CPFM)'s use of its Facebook page. Using Facebook Graph API Explorer, we extracted data regarding posts and fans of CPFM's Facebook page since the page was created. We then examined the data to explore the social networks, including farmers market organizers, vendors, and customers, within CPFM's Facebook page and how the market used its Facebook page, by looking at the Facebook page layout, composition of fans, post intensity, post ownership, media type, and degree of engagement. We found that (1) the market organizers, customers, vendors, and local communities were all engaged with the CPFM Facebook page; (2) the CPFM used Facebook as a marketing platform to publish timely information (e.g., available products or upcoming events) and to reach and retain customers and vendors; and (3) the CPFM's Facebook page functioned as a cyber–social hub to connect and engage the local community.
Abstract 3357: Partial mesenchymal to epithelial reverting transition in breast and prostate cancer metastases

Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) is an oft-studied mechanism for the initiation of metastasis. We have recently shown that once cancer cells disseminate to a secondary organ, a mesenchymal to epithelial reverting transition (MErT) can occur, which we postulate is to enable metastatic colonization. Despite a wealth of in vitro and in vivo studies, evidence of MErT in human specimens is rare and difficult to document because clinically detectable metastases are typically past the micrometastatic stage at which this transition is most likely evident. We obtained specimens of primary and metastatic tumors from breast and prostate cancer patients and evaluated expression of various epithelial and mesenchymal markers by immunohistochemistry. Breast cancer metastases exhibited increased expression of membranous E-cadherin and β-catenin compared to primary tumors, consistent with EMT at the primary site and MErT at the metastatic site. Expression of epithelial markers connexins 26 and 43 was also increased, particularly in brain metastases. Despite the upregulation of epithelial markers in metastases, expression of mesenchymal markers vimentin and FSP1 was mostly unchanged or only slightly decreased. Furthermore, the switch in expression of E-cadherin to N-cadherin that is sometimes detected in EMT, was not found by our immunostaining. N-cadherin detection did not reveal a consistent pattern of expression in primary or metastastic tumors. We observed similar results in prostate cancer metastases; not only was E-cadherin expression increased but also expression inversely correlated with size of the metastasis, suggesting that a second EMT may occur in the ectopic site for tumor growth or to seed further metastases. In summary, we have observed an increased expression of epithelial markers and persistence of mesenchymal markers consistent with a partial MErT that may enable a second EMT at the metastatic site. Our results suggest that cancer cells continue to display phenotypic plasticity beyond the EMT that initiates metastasis. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3357. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-3357
Meta-Analysis of Single-Case Research Design Studies on Instructional Pacing:

More than four decades of research on instructional pacing has yielded varying and, in some cases, conflicting findings. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to synthesize single-case research design (SCRD) studies on instructional pacing to determine the relative benefits of brisker or slower pacing. Participants were children and youth with and without disabilities in educational settings, excluding higher education. Tau-U, a non-parametric statistic for analyzing data in SCRD studies, was used to determine effect size estimates. The article extraction yielded 13 instructional pacing studies meeting contemporary standards for high quality SCRD research. Eleven of the 13 studies reported small to large magnitude effects when two or more pacing parameters were compared, suggesting that instructional pacing is a robust instructional variable. Brisker instructional pacing with brief inter-trial interval (ITI) produced small increases in correct responding and medium to large reductions in challenging behavior compared with extended ITI. Slower instructional pacing with extended wait-time produced small increases in correct responding, but also produced small increases in challenging behavior compared with brief wait-time. Neither brief ITI nor extended wait-time meets recently established thresholds for evidence-based practice, highlighting the need for further instructional pacing research.
Thermal evaluation of sucrose-maltodextrin-sodium citrate bioglass: Glass transition temperature

Sucrose-maltodextrin-sodium citrate (SC-MD-NaCit) bioglass model systems were studied using modulated differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) to test the hypothesis that addition of salt to a complex amorphous carbohydrate system at low level of moisture content will significantly affect its glass transition properties. Samples were formulated with different SC/MD ratios (7:3, 5:5 and 3:7, by mass) and NaCit/SC ratios (0, 0.1 and 0.2, by mole) and two levels of residual moisture content, low (0.27–0.35%wb) and high (2.83–4.40%wb). The glass transition characteristics of these systems were strongly dependent on the moisture content and other constituents. On average, glass transition temperature (Tg) of the 7:3, 5:5 and 3:7 SC/MD systems were approximately 77, 84 and 101 °C, respectively. The Tg values tended to increase when NaCit was added, with a noticeable increase occurring in the 7:3 SC/MD system at low moisture content. The increase in moisture content from low to high level had a significant plasticization effect on the bioglass as elucidated based on the decrease in the Tg from approximately 106 to 67 °C. The DSC thermograms suggested that water molecules may interfere with intermolecular interactions between the glass-forming molecules causing changes in the molecular mobility of the bioglass matrix. The findings reveal that addition of NaCit can enhance the stability of low-moisture bioglass by primarily interacting with SC and forming large, less-mobile clusters, which helps to improve the Tg and restrict matrix mobility.
Clinical implications of the forgotten Skene's glands: A review of current literature

Abstract Introduction The clinical and pathological aspects of the Skene's glands have not been addressed in the current scientific literature. Aim To review the current literature to focus on the clinical and pathological aspects of the Skene's glands. The historical perspective including embryology, anatomy, histology, and current role of prostatic specific antigen (PSA) as a tumor marker of lesions which develop from the Skene's glands, ‘female prostate.’ Material and methods Medline searches were performed to review the current literature regarding Skene's glands pathology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, role of PSA, and its treatment options. Discussion Anatomical pathology including inflammatory, cystic, solid, benign, and malignant tumors of Skene's glands is emphasized. The unique role of PSA in these lesions is reviewed. Cognizance of periurethral, perimeatal and urethral masses is essential for anatomical pathologists, radiologists, urologists and gynecologists who encounter complex female urethral masses in their clinical practice. Imaging techniques of Skene's glands to diagnose urethral, perimeatal and periurethral masses in female are reviewed. Conclusions The literature of the interesting scientific concepts related to the Skene's glands are reviewed. The role of PSA in these lesions is expanded for diagnoses and treatment options of pathology of the Skene's glands. Methods of imaging are necessary for radiologist, pathologists, and clinicians alike, for the proper treatment of Skene's gland lesions.
Abstract 95: Somatic mutations and copy number variations in cancer-associated genes in 695 ovarian cancer patients

Background: Recent genomic studies have improved molecular understanding of ovarian cancer but have had limited impact on therapeutic improvements. We sought to review somatic mutations and copy-number variations (CNVs) in cancer-associated genes in the tumors of 695 patients with ovarian, peritoneal, or fallopian tube cancer (ovarian cancer) at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, with associated pathologic and clinical data. Methods: Testing was performed on formalin-fixed tumor tissue without germline analysis, with IRB approval and patient consent. 310 patients underwent genotyping for 471 mutations in 41 cancer-related genes (OncoMap test). 388 patients underwent next-generation sequencing (NGS) of 300 cancer-associated genes (OncoPanel test). Most samples were primary tumors, with a small subset recurrent. The majority of tumors were adenocarcinoma/carcinoma histology. Results: Of 310 patients tested by OncoMap, 102 had at least one variant. Among tumors with adenocarcinoma/carcinoma histology, mutations were most frequent in TP53, KRAS, PIK3CA, JAK3, MET, and CTNNB1. Gene alterations varied by subtype and supported previously reported associations including BRAF in borderline, KRAS in mucinous, PIK3CA in clear cell, and PIK3CA/CTNNB1/AKT1 in endometrioid tumors. From 388 patients tested by OncoPanel, 3903 single nucleotide variants were detected. Variants were classified by clinical pathologists according to evidence-based potential clinical relevance. 27 variants were “Tier 1” (evidence confirming clinical utility in ovarian cancer) and 127 variants were “Tier 2” (possible clinical utility in specific contexts). Tier 1 variants were most frequent in BRCA1 and BRCA2. Common Tier 2 variants included alterations in TP53, PIK3CA, KRAS, PTEN, BRCA1, BRCA2, ARID1A, and BRAF. Several alterations may be considered “actionable” in terms of eligibility for clinical trials. Finally, 227 patients tested by OncoPanel had CNV data for the panel of cancer-associated genes. CNVs were numerous with 12368 CNVs reported. CNVs were classified as 1-copy deletion (n = 6033), 2-copy deletion (n = 108), high amplification (n = 114), and low amplification (n = 6103). Among adenocarcinoma/carcinoma tumors, 2-copy deletions were frequent in RB1, PTEN, CDKN2A, and MAP2K4, and common highly amplified genes were CCNE1, KRAS, AKT2, ERBB2, and MECOM. Conclusions: Genotyping and/or NGS of cancer-associated genes in formalin-fixed tissue from ovarian tumors is feasible and can identify potentially clinically actionable alterations. Preliminary correlations with survival and treatment response are being explored. Citation Format: Elizabeth H. Stover, Brooke Howitt, Neal I. Lindeman, Levi A. Garraway, Ursula A. Matulonis. Somatic mutations and copy number variations in cancer-associated genes in 695 ovarian cancer patients. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 95.
Iron and Pyritization in Wetland Soils of the Florida Coastal Everglades

We explored environmental factors influencing soil pyrite formation within different wetland regions of Everglades National Park. Within the Shark River Slough (SRS) region, soils had higher organic matter (62.65 ± 1.88 %) and lower bulk density (0.19 ± 0.01 g cm−3) than soils within Taylor Slough (TS; 14.35 ± 0.82 % and 0.45 ± 0.01 g cm−3, respectively), Panhandle (Ph; 15.82 ± 1.37 % and 0.34 ± 0.009 g cm−3, respectively), and Florida Bay (FB; 5.63 ± 0.19 % and 0.73 ± 0.02 g cm−3, respectively) regions. Total reactive sulfide and extractable iron (Fe) generally were greatest in soils from the SRS region, and the degree of pyritization (DOP) was higher in soils from both SRS (0.62 ± 0.02) and FB (0.52 ± 0.03) regions relative to TS and Ph regions (0.30 ± 0.02 and 0.31 ± 0.02, respectively). Each region, however, had different potential limits to pyrite formation, with SRS being Fe and sulfide limited and FB being Fe and organic matter limited. Due to the calcium-rich soils of TS and Ph regions, DOP was relatively suppressed. Annual water flow volume was positively correlated with soil DOP. Soil DOP also varied in relation to distance from water management features and soil percent organic matter. We demonstrate the potential use of soil DOP as a proxy for soil oxidation state, thereby facilitating comparisons of wetland soils under different flooding regimes, e.g., spatially or between wet years versus dry years. Despite its low total abundance, Fe plays an important role in sulfur dynamics and other biogeochemical cycles that characterize wetland soils of the Florida coastal Everglades.
The challenges of on-chip protection for system level cable discharge events (CDE)

The CDE stress for on-chip protection is evaluated with the design of a TI internal CDE tester. Comparison with a long-pulse TLP indicated non-correlation for the failure current but better tracking with the failure voltage. However, both the on-board magnetics and board design can also influence the failure threshold level.
Coincident aboveground and belowground autonomous monitoring to quantify covariability in permafrost, soil, and vegetation properties in Arctic tundra

Coincident monitoring of the spatiotemporal distribution of and interactions between land, soil, and permafrost properties is important for advancing our understanding of ecosystem dynamics. In this study, a novel monitoring strategy was developed to quantify complex Arctic ecosystem responses to the seasonal freeze-thaw-growing season conditions. The strategy exploited autonomous measurements obtained through electrical resistivity tomography to monitor soil properties, pole-mounted optical cameras to monitor vegetation dynamics, point probes to measure soil temperature, and periodic manual measurements of thaw layer thickness, snow thickness, and soil dielectric permittivity. The spatially and temporally dense monitoring data sets revealed several insights about tundra system behavior at a site located near Barrow, AK. In the active layer, the soil electrical conductivity (a proxy for soil water content) indicated an increasing positive correlation with the green chromatic coordinate (a proxy for vegetation vigor) over the growing season, with the strongest correlation (R = 0.89) near the typical peak of the growing season. Soil conductivity and green chromatic coordinate also showed significant positive correlations with thaw depth, which is influenced by soil and surface properties. In the permafrost, soil electrical conductivity revealed annual variations in solute concentration and unfrozen water content, even at temperatures well below 0°C in saline permafrost. These conditions may contribute to an acceleration of long-term thaw in Coastal permafrost regions. Demonstration of this first aboveground and belowground geophysical monitoring approach within an Arctic ecosystem illustrates its significant potential to remotely “visualize” permafrost, soil, and vegetation ecosystem codynamics in high resolution over field relevant scales.
Visible-Light-Mediated [4+2] Annulation of N-Cyclobutylanilines with Alkynes Catalyzed by Self-Doped Ti3+@TiO2

We herein report a visible light mediated heterogeneous [4+2] annulation of N-cyclobutylanilines with alkynes catalyzed by self doped Ti3+@TiO2. The self doped Ti3+@TiO2 is stable under photooxidation conditions, easy to recycle, and can be used multiple times without appreciable loss of activity. Extensive mechanistic studies suggest that the annulation reaction is mediated by singlet oxygen that is generated via photosensitization of oxygen in the air by the self doped Ti3+@TiO2. In contrast, the homogeneous variant catalyzed by a far more expensive iridium complex proceeds under an inert atmosphere, which indicates a different mechanism. The substrate scopes of the two processes are comparable.
La recreación literaria del una variedad lingüística: Cuentos de barro de Salarrué

El analisis de un texto literario se puede enriquecer con la identificacion de los elementos fonologicos, morfologicos, sintacticos y lexicos utilizados por el autor para recrear la impresion de una variedad linguistica particular con sus caracteristicas regionales y/o sociales. Al mismo tiempo, el identificar esos elementos nos permite dilucidar la forma en que el autor consigue proyectar una impresion de oralidad en su obra y evaluar su habilidad al hacerlo. Por tanto, el presente articulo se enfoca en el analisis de las estrategias linguisticas mas sobresalientes que el autor salvadoreno Salvador Salazar Arrue (Salarrue) emplea en su obra Cuentos de Barro con el proposito de recrear la variedad linguistica del espanol salvadoreno, la cual continua siendo relativamente poco estudiada hasta ahora, y como esas estrategias son desplegadas habilmente por el autor para darle un efecto de oralidad a su prosa.
GENERALIZATION STUDY WITH SOME NARCOTIC AND NONNARCOTIC PSYCHOACTIVE DRUGS IN RATS TRAINED TO DISCRIMINATE BETWEEN CYCLAZOCINE AND SALINE

Summary In an operant behavior procedure of lever pressing on an FRIO schedule of food reinforcement, male rats were trained to reliably respond on a lever on one side of the food cup following a cyclazocine (1.25 mg/kg) injection and to respond on a lever on the alternate side following a saline injection. The trained rats selected the cyclazocine lever in a dose dependent manner based entirely upon the interoceptive stimuli produced by cyclazocine. The stimuli generalized completely to ethylketocyclazocine, morphine and nalorphine, only partially to pentazocine and none to aceperone, amphetamine, amitriptyline, apomorphine, benperidol, butaclamol, chlorpromazine, clonidine, clozapine, desipramine, dexclamol, haloperidol, oxiperomide and pipamperone.
Audiomotor Perceptual Training Enhances Speech Intelligibility in Background Noise

Summary Sensory and motor skills can be improved with training, but learning is often restricted to practice stimuli. As an exception, training on closed-loop (CL) sensorimotor interfaces, such as action video games and musical instruments, can impart a broad spectrum of perceptual benefits. Here we ask whether computerized CL auditory training can enhance speech understanding in levels of background noise that approximate a crowded restaurant. Elderly hearing-impaired subjects trained for 8 weeks on a CL game that, like a musical instrument, challenged them to monitor subtle deviations between predicted and actual auditory feedback as they moved their fingertip through a virtual soundscape. We performed our study as a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial by training other subjects in an auditory working-memory (WM) task. Subjects in both groups improved at their respective auditory tasks and reported comparable expectations for improved speech processing, thereby controlling for placebo effects. Whereas speech intelligibility was unchanged after WM training, subjects in the CL training group could correctly identify 25% more words in spoken sentences or digit sequences presented in high levels of background noise. Numerically, CL audiomotor training provided more than three times the benefit of our subjects' hearing aids for speech processing in noisy listening conditions. Gains in speech intelligibility could be predicted from gameplay accuracy and baseline inhibitory control. However, benefits did not persist in the absence of continuing practice. These studies employ stringent clinical standards to demonstrate that perceptual learning on a computerized audio game can transfer to "real-world" communication challenges.
Knockdown of Anillin Actin Binding Protein Blocks Cytokinesis in Hepatocytes and Reduces Liver Tumor Development in Mice Without Affecting Regeneration

Background & Aims Cytokinesis can fail during normal postnatal liver development, leading to polyploid hepatocytes. We investigated whether inhibiting cytokinesis in the liver slows tumor growth without compromising the health of normal hepatocytes. We inhibited cytokinesis in cancer cells by knocking down ANLN, a cytoskeletal scaffolding protein that regulates cytokinesis and might promote tumorigenesis, in mice with liver disease. Methods We analyzed clinical and gene expression data from The Cancer Genome Atlas, Oncomine, PrognoScan, and a hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissue microarray. We knocked down ANLN with small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) in H2.35 liver cells and performed image analyses of cells undergoing cytokinesis. siRNAs were delivered to LAP-MYC mice, which develop hepatoblastoma, using lipid nanoparticles. H2.35 cells with knockdown of ANLN or control cells were injected into FRG mice, which develop chronic liver damage, and tumor growth was monitored. We also developed mice with inducible expression of transgenes encoding small hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) against Anln messenger RNA and studied liver tumorigenesis after administration of diethylnitrosamine and carbon tetrachloride. siRNAs against Anln messenger RNA were conjugated to N-acetylgalactosamine to reduce toxicity and increase hepatocyte tropism; their effects were studied in mouse models of liver cancer and regeneration. Results Levels of ANLN messenger RNA were increased in human HCC tissues compared to non-tumor liver tissues. siRNA knockdown of ANLN blocked cytokinesis in H2.35 liver cells. Administration of siRNA against ANLN increased survival times of LAP-MYC mice, compared to mice given a control siRNA. H2.35 liver cells with shRNA knockdown of ANLN formed tumors more slowly in FRG mice than control H2.35 cells. Mice with inducible expression of shRNAs against Anln mRNA developed fewer liver tumors after administration of diethylnitrosamine and carbon tetrachloride than control mice. Knockdown of ANLN did not affect liver regeneration after acute and chronic liver injuries. Conclusions Knockdown of ANLN in liver cells blocks cytokinesis and inhibits development of liver tumors in mice. Agents that inhibit ANLN in the liver might be effective for prevention or treatment of HCC.
Abstract 16527: Transcript Profiling Indicates That Tissue Resident C-kit(+) Cells Express Cardiac Genes in Response to B-Catenin Inhibition in vivo

The mammalian heart lacks the capacity to repair itself following injury. Following injury, cardiomyocytes die but are not replaced. The inability to replace lost cardiomyocytes leads to a progress...
Evaluation of Bedside Diagnostic Accuracy, Learning Curve, and Challenges for a Novice Reflectance Confocal Microscopy Reader for Skin Cancer Detection In Vivo.

This study evaluates the learning curve, diagnostic accuracy, and challenges for a novice reader of reflectance confocal microscopy for determining a diagnosis of skin cancer.
The Benefits of Private Equity

Private equity is a widely encompassing term for any equity-type investment in a company that generally is not listed on a stock exchange. Private equity investment strategies represent an increasingly significant component of institutional portfolios. According to the Russell Survey on Alternative Investing (2005) of 327 large organizations responsible for managing tax-exempt assets, strategic allocations to private equity are forecast to grow across all regions (North America, Europe, Australia, and Japan). In North America, allocations to private equity are expected to grow to more than 7.5 percent of total traditional and alternative asset allocations. While generally regarded as strategies that provide higher return opportunities relative to traditional asset classes, primarily through their ability to participate in the vast marketplace of privately held companies, the sector has undergone dramatic transformations in recent years. In February 2007, Fortress Investment Group, a leading global alternative asset manager with significant assets in private equity, went public on the New York Stock Exchange, and Blackstone Group, L.P., went public in June 2007. The increased interest in this sector is largely driven by its superior long-term returns compared with the performance of public equities. The primary sources of these superior returns are twofold: Private equity is able to access the vast and growing marketplace of privately held companies that are not available in traditional investment products. In addition, private equity can create value by proactively influencing invested companies’ management and operations, thereby generating excess returns over conventional stock and bond investments. This paper reviews the risk-and-return characteristics of various forms of private equity investments as well as the risk-and-return implications of adding private equity to traditional stock and bond portfolios. The results suggest that traditional private equity indexes may provide diversification and return benefits when added to an existing stock and bond portfolio or to an existing mixed traditional (stock and bond) and alternative (hedge funds, commodity trading advisors, real estate, and commodity) portfolio. In addition, we discuss the impact of the use of alternative private equity indexes on our empirical results.