cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
PD-L1 expression and the immune microenvironment in primary invasive lobular carcinomas of the breast

Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and immune checkpoint proteins such as PD-L1 are potential prognostic factors and therapeutic targets in breast cancer. Most studies characterizing the breast tumor immune microenvironment have focused on ductal carcinomas. Here we investigate the tumor microenvironment of primary invasive lobular carcinomas. Previously constructed tissue microarrays of 47 lobular carcinomas were labeled by immunohistochemistry for PD-L1, CD8, CD20, and FoxP3. The stromal immune infiltrate density was qualitatively scored as a percentage of tumor area: 1+ ( 50%). The average immune cell subtype per high-power field was quantitatively scored. The percentage PD-L1 labeling on tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes was scored as none, focal (<5%), moderate (10-24%), or diffuse (50-100%). The percentage of membranous carcinoma cell PD-L1 labeling was also recorded, with <5% considered negative. All lobular carcinomas contained PD-L1+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes with the majority showing 1+ immune infiltrates with focal-moderate PD-L1 labeling. PD-L1 was expressed by tumor cells in 17% of lobular carcinomas. In contrast to ductal carcinomas, there was no correlation between the immune infiltrate density, the PD-L1 expression by lobular carcinoma cells, tumor grade, or the expression of estrogen receptor or human epidermal growth factor receptor-2. However, both the tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte density and the average CD8+ T-cell counts correlated with immune cell PD-L1 status (P=0.004 and 0.03, respectively). Similar to breast ductal carcinomas, PD-L1+ lobular breast carcinomas had higher numbers of PD-L1+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (63%) than PD-L1- lobular carcinomas (23%; P=0.04). These data show that a subset of primary breast lobular carcinomas both express PD-L1 on tumor cells and contain PD-L1+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, suggesting the possibility of both constitutive and adaptive PD-L1 expression. Together, these results support immunotherapy as a potential treatment for a subset of patients with primary invasive lobular breast carcinomas.
Ileostomy Prolapse in Children with Intestinal Dysmotility

Background. A relationship between intestinal motility and ileostomy prolapse has been suggested but not demonstrated objectively. Aims. This study evaluated the association between ileostomy prolapse and intestinal dysmotility in children. Methods. IRB-approved retrospective review of 163 patients with ileostomies (1998–2014) at a single institution. Patients were categorized as having clinical dysmotility as a primary diagnosis (), clinically suspected dysmotility based on underlying diagnosis (), or intestinal dysmotility unlikely () at the time of ileostomy present. Intestinal manometry was categorized as normal () or abnormal (). Primary outcome was pathologic stoma prolapse. Multivariate analysis using a logistic regression model and log-rank test to compare stoma prolapse rates over time between motility groups were used. Results. Clinical diagnosis of dysmotility () and manometric findings of dysmotility () were independently associated with stoma prolapse. Clinical dysmotility correlated with manometric findings (). Prolapse occurred in 42% of patients with dysmotility, 34% of patients with suspected dysmotility, and 24% of patients with normal motility. One-year prolapse-free stoma “survival” was 45% for dysmotility, 72% for suspected dysmotility, and 85% for intestinal dysmotility unlikely groups (). Conclusions. Children with intestinal dysmotility are at great risk for stoma prolapse. Intestinal manometry could help identify these patients preoperatively.
Abstract 1481: Angiogenesis, But Not Vasculogenesis, Plays Major Role In Placental Growth Factor (PlGF) Mediated Improvement Of Cardiac Function After Myocardial Infarction

Background: PlGF, a member of VEGF family, beneficially stimulates wound healing process after ischemic tissue injury. We previously reported that PlGF is rapidly produced within infarct myocardium, and the plasma level of PlGF in patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI) is positively correlated with number of monocytes and CD34-positive cells as well as improvement of cardiac function. However, it remains unclear how PlGF promotes healing process after MI. Methods and Results: Using C57BL/6 mice, recombinant human PlGF (rhPlGF) (10 μg) was infused into the peritoneal cavity for 48 hours after MI. 28-day survival rate was significantly improved (rhPlGF 70.0%, PBS 33.3% p 2 , PBS 459.0+73.89/ mm 2 p 2 , PBS 23.5+7.41/mm 2 p + Sca-1 + cells) were mobilized by rhPlGF in peripheral circulation (PBS 1.79+0.68%, rhPlGF 3.1+2.1% p Conclusion: rhPlGF-treatment improved survival and cardiac function of ischemic heart through the recruitment of BMCs to peripheral circulation and injured myocardium. Recruited BMCs stimulated new blood vessels formation by mainly producing local angiogenic factors, but not by self-transdifferentiation into blood vessels.
Design and testing of an active polarization imager at SWIR wavelengths for imaging in highly scattering environments (Conference Presentation)

Heavy fogs and other highly scattering environments pose a challenge for many commercial and national security sensing systems. Current autonomous systems rely on a range of optical sensors for guidance and remote sensing that can be degraded by highly scattering environments. In our previous and on-going simulation work, we have shown polarized light can increase signal or range through a scattering environment such as fog. Specifically, we have shown circularly polarized light maintains its polarized signal through a larger number of scattering events and thus range, better than linearly polarized light. In this work we present an active polarization imager in the short-wave infrared. We explore multiple polarimetric configurations for the imager, focusing on linear and circular polarization states. We also describe initial testing of the imager in the Sandia Fog Facility. The Sandia Fog Facility is a 180 ft. by 10 ft. chamber that can create fog-like conditions for optical testing. This facility offers a repeatable fog scattering environment ideally suited to test the imager’s performance in fog conditions.
The International Investor: Islamic Finance and the Equate Project

SUBJECT AREAS: project finance, emerging markets, valuation analysis, petrochemicals, Middle East, Islamic Finance, religion and business CASE SETTING: December 1995, Kuwait, petrochemicals, $2.0 billion investment, $700 million revenue, 900 employees Equate Petrochemical Company (Equate) is a joint venture between Union Carbide Corporation and Petrochemical Industries Company (PIC) for the construction of a $2 billion petrochemical plant in Kuwait. The sponsors began construction in August 1994 using a bridge loan and are in search of permanent, non-recourse finance. As part of the permanent financing, the sponsors want to use a tranche of Islamic finance-funds that are invested in accordance with Islamic religious principles known as Sharia. According to Sharia, financing cannot be interest-based (i.e. debt), it must be profit-based where the lender accepts the risks and rewards of asset ownership. The sponsors hired Kuwait Finance House (KFH is a Kuwaiti Islamic bank) which, in turn, approached The International Investor (TII is a Kuwaiti investment bank) to assist in structuring and underwriting the Islamic tranche. The case is set in early December 1995, as members of The Institutional Investor's Structured Finance Group are deciding which Islamic structure to use, how to resolve various conflicts between the Islamic and conventional tranches, and how large a commitment to make on behalf of their investors. This case provides an introduction to Islamic finance in general and Islamic project finance in particular. It describes the primary instruments used by Islamic investors and challenges students to develop a financing plan that is consistent with Sharia's prohibition against the payment of interest (riba) while at the same time appropriate for a large, long-term greenfield project. The case also explores the complications of integrating Islamic and conventional Western financial instruments in a single transaction as well as some of the possible solutions. With more than a billion Muslims living primarily in regions with enormous infrastructure needs (the Middle East, Asia, and Africa), there is a growing need to understand Islamic culture, traditions, and financial systems. There is also a note on Islamic Finance (An Introduction to Islamic Finance) that provides some background information on Islamic religious principles as they relate to banking and finance; a section on Islamic financial instruments and institutions; and an overview of recent developments in the Islamic capital markets.
Limits to Nanofabrication

Devices can be made with decreasing linear dimensions until one of two limitations is reached, namely Limitations imposed by the physical principles by which the device operates Limitations imposed by our ability to fabricate the device to the required dimensions and tolerances
Radical Deoxychlorination of Cesium Oxalates for the Synthesis of Alkyl Chlorides

A radical deoxychlorination of cesium oxalates has been developed for the preparation of hindered secondary and tertiary alkyl chlorides. The reaction tolerates a number of functional groups, including ketones, alcohols, and amides, and provides complementary reactivity to standard deoxychlorination reactions proceeding by heterolytic mechanisms. Preliminary studies demonstrate that the developed conditions can also be applied to deoxybromination and deoxyfluorination reactions.
Computers in Abstraction/Representation Theory

Recently, Horsman et al. (Proc R Soc Lond A 470:20140182, 2014) have proposed a new framework, Abstraction/Representation (AR) theory, for understanding and evaluating claims about unconventional or non-standard computation. Among its attractive features, the theory in particular implies a novel account of what is means to be a computer. After expounding on this account, I compare it with other accounts of concrete computation, finding that it does not quite fit in the standard categorization: while it is most similar to some semantic accounts, it is not itself a semantic account. Then I evaluate it according to the six desiderata for accounts of concrete computation proposed by Piccinini (Physical computation: a mechanistic account, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2015). Finding that it does not clearly satisfy some of them, I propose a modification, which I call Agential AR theory, that does, yielding an account that could be a serious competitor to other leading account of concrete computation.
Breast cancer risk perception and adherence to u.s. cancer prevention guidelines.

1554Background: In the United States, nearly 300,000 cancer diagnoses each year are attributed to poor diet and physical inactivity. We sought to determine whether perceived personal breast cancer ...
Comparing resource use between paediatric emergency department visits by triage level.

Objective The majority of paediatric ED visits result in discharge but little is known about what ED resources are deployed for these visits. The goal of this study was to understand the utilisation of diagnostic testing, procedures and hospital admission for paediatric ED visits triaged as ‘non-urgent’. Study design We examined US ED visits for children aged 0–17 years from 1 January 2009 to 31 December 2011 in the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey. Visits triaged on arrival as ‘non-urgent’ (level 5) were compared with urgent visits (triage levels 1–4) for resource use and disposition. Sensitivity and specificity of triage for predicting resource use and disposition were assessed. Results Among 21 052 observations, representing 86 620 988 visits, 11.1% were triaged as ‘non-urgent’. Diagnostic services were provided during 37.6% (95% CI 33.9% to 41.4%) of non-urgent and 55.2% (95% CI 53.3% to 57.2%) of urgent visits. Procedures were performed in 23.9% (95% CI 20.4% to 27.3%) of non-urgent and 33.9% (95% CI 31.2% to 35.9%) of urgent visits. 1.7% (95% CI 0.09% to 2.6%) of the non-urgent visits resulted in admission, with 0.08% (95% CI 0% to 0.2%) to critical care units, compared with 4.4% (95% CI 3.6% to 5.2%) of the urgent visits, with 0.3% (95% CI 0.2% to 0.4%) to critical care. Despite some substantial differences in the rates of resource use, triage score had poor sensitivity for identifying patients who did not receive ED tests, procedures or admission. Conclusion A significant percentage of ED patients with non-urgent ED triage scores received ED testing and procedures. More work is needed to improve methods of prospectively identifying patients with low acuity complaints who do not need significant ED resources.
Efficacy of chest computed tomography prediction of the pathological TNM stage of thymic epithelial tumours.

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of chest computed tomography (CT) to predict the pathological stage of thymic epithelial tumours (TET) using the recently introduced tumour, node and metastasis (TNM) staging with comparison to the modified Masaoka staging. METHODS Preoperative chest CT examinations in cases of resected TET with sampled lymph nodes (2006-2016) were retrospectively reviewed by 2 thoracic radiologists and radiologically (r) staged using both staging systems. A thoracic pathologist reviewed all cases for the pathological (p) stage. Concordance between r-staging and p-staging was assessed by % agreement and unweighted kappa statistics. Associations between r-stage and p-stage with outcomes were assessed using the Cox proportional hazards regression. RESULTS Sixty patients with TET were included (47 thymomas, 12 thymic carcinomas and 1 atypical carcinoid tumour). Sixteen patients (26.7%) had received neoadjuvant therapy. Fifty-four patients (90.0%) had complete resection. The overall agreement between the r-stage and p-stage was 66.7% (κ = 0.46) for TNM staging and 46.7% (κ = 0.30) for modified Masaoka staging. Agreement between r-assessment and p-assessment of the T, N and M components of the TNM stage was 61.7% (κ = 0.28), 86.7% (κ = 0.48) and 98.3% (κ = 0.88), respectively. CT overstaged 12 patients (20.0%) for TNM staging and 12 patients (20.0%) for modified Masaoka staging and understaged 8 (13.3%) and 20 (33.3%) patients for TNM staging modified Masaoka staging, respectively. The r-TNM staging accuracy was lower for patients with neoadjuvant therapy (50.0% with vs 72.7% without). During a median follow-up of 2.6 years (range 0.1-10.5 years), 12 patients had metastases and/or recurrence; 11 patients died (4 of disease). The r-TNM stage and modified Masaoka stage were associated with overall survival and progression-free survival (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Preoperative chest CT is able to accurately predict p-TNM stage in two-thirds of surgically resected TET, with an agreement between radiological staging and pathological staging superior to the modified Masaoka staging.
Drier spring over the US Southwest as an important precursor of summer droughts over the US Great Plains

Abstract. This study addresses the role of atmospheric moisture budget in determining the onset and development of the summer droughts over the North American Great Plains (GP) using two state-of-the-art reanalysis datasets. We identified zonal moisture advection as the major cause of the severe tropospheric drying during the extreme droughts of southern GP 2011 and northern GP 2012. For both events, an eastward advection of anomalously dry and warm air in the free troposphere in spring sets the stage for the summer drought, leading to a sharp drop of relative humidity above the boundary layer, enhancing dry entrainment, and suppressing deep convection. Further breakdown of the zonal advection into the dynamic (caused by circulation anomalies) versus thermodynamic (caused by moisture anomalies) contributions revealed dominance of the thermodynamic advection in the tropospheric drying observed during the onset of both 2011 and 2012 droughts. The dependence of thermodynamic advection on moisture gradient links the spring precipitation in the Rockies and southwestern US, the source region of the anomalous dry advection, to the GP summer precipitation (with correlations > 0.4 using gauged-based data). The results of this study improve our predictive understanding of summer drought onset mechanisms over the GP.
Abstract 663: Diagnostic screen for lung cancer using high throughput metabolomics screen

Lung cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world. It is a leading cause of cancer death in men and women in the United States, cigarette smoking being leading cause of lung cancer. There are two main types of lung cancer small cell and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The most common type being NSCLC which accounts for 80-85% of all reported cases. The ability to rapidly detect / diagnose lung cancer at an early stage is critical to successful treatment selection and patient survival. The use of metabolic profiling in biomedical applications metabolic profiling is being deployed as a method for finding novel, mechanistic, biomarkers of disease with obvious potential for improving diagnosis, and patient stratification. Here we present a rapid, simple and reliable high throughput targeted LC/MS single platform, for the quantification/monitoring of small molecule metabolites, lipids and peptides. The methodology employs a single set of LC/MS conditions which facilitate TCA cycle, bile acids, biogenic amine, free fatty acids, acyl carnitines, lipids and 100 protein panel without need for user intervention. Plasma from pilot cohort of lung cancer a health control samples were evaluated using this new methodology. The methodology showed excellent reproducibility and accuracy. The peptide analysis showed that 10 peptides were shown to be markers of lung cancer, these are listed in Table 1. Acylcarnitines were quantified over a range of 5 - 625ng/mL data showed that the C14:2 tetradecadienoyl carnitine and C16:1 palmitoleoyl carnitine were elevated in lung cancer samples whereas the C8:1 octenoyl carnitine level was reduced in the lung cancer samples . Although deoxycholic acid and chendeoxycholic acid appeared to be reduced in the lung cancer samples this was determined to be not statistically relevant. A total of 29 amino acids were measured during the analysis. Using t-test with p-value FDR cutoff adjusted to 0.01 the data clearly showed that sarcosine was highly over-expressed in lung cancer samples. Note: This abstract was not presented at the meeting. Citation Format: Robert S. Plumb, Lee Gethings, Andrew Peck. Diagnostic screen for lung cancer using high throughput metabolomics screen [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 663.
Opioid Use Disorders and Related Emergencies

Opioid-related overdose (OD) deaths have reached epidemic levels within the last decade. Efforts to prevent, identify, and treat opioid use disorders (OUDs) have focused primarily on the outpatient setting. Despite frequent presentations, less is known about the management of patients with OUDs in the emergency department (ED) setting. The ED can be an entry point into care for individuals battling an OUD; but, unfortunately, no standardized management approaches currently exist. This chapter will review the clinical presentation and assessment of patients with OUDs, management of opioid overdoses and withdrawal, OUD treatment initiation in the ED setting, and overdose education and naloxone prescribing. The challenges and barriers of treating this population in the ED setting will be discussed.
Multiphase Flow-Related Defects in Continuous Casting of Steel Slabs

Multiphase flow phenomena greatly affect the quality of continuous cast steel. Air aspiration through a nozzle, due to negative pressure distribution, can cause reoxidation and non-metallic inclusions, which may build up on the refractory walls as nozzle clogging. Asymmetric jet flow from a clogged nozzle causes excessive surface velocities and vortexing at the top surface in the mold, resulting in entrainment of the mold slag into the steel pool. In addition, instability at the interface between the molten steel and surface slag, caused by jet wobbling, results in sudden level drops and slag entrapment into the solidifying shell at the meniscus region. This surface defect formation becomes more severe with meniscus freezing and the accompanying formation of subsurface hooks. Furthermore, particles such as argon gas bubbles, alumina inclusions, and entrained slag droplets can be transported deep into the strand and captured into the steel shell, especially on the inside radius wall during curved strand casting. This causes internal defects. To quantify the above defect formation mechanisms relevant to multiphase flow phenomena, high-resolution multiphase flow models validated with plant measurements and/or laboratory-scale model experiments are required. Finally, these multiphase flow-related defects can be lessened with appropriate choice of nozzle geometry and all of the casting conditions which control the flow. The specific effects of nozzle port angle, nozzle submergence depth, casting speed, gas injection, and electromagnetic forces are discussed.
The effect of California's paid family leave policy on parent health: A quasi-experimental study

Abstract The U.S. is the only high-income country without a national paid family leave (PFL) policy. While a handful of U.S. states have implemented PFL policies in recent years, there are few studies that examine the effects of these policies on health. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that California's PFL policy—implemented in 2004—improved parent health outcomes. Data were drawn from the 1993–2017 waves of the Panel Study of Income Dynamics, a large diverse national cohort study of U.S. families (N = 6,690). We used detailed longitudinal sociodemographic information about study participants and a quasi-experimental difference-in-differences analytic technique to examine the effects of California's PFL policy on families who were likely eligible for the paid leave, while accounting for underlying trends in these outcomes among states that did not implement PFL policies in this period. Outcomes included self-rated health, psychological distress, overweight and obesity, and alcohol use. We found improvements in self-rated health and psychological distress, as well as decreased likelihood of being overweight and reduced alcohol consumption. Improvements in health status and psychological distress were greater for mothers, and reductions in alcohol use were greater for fathers. Results were robust to alternative specifications. These findings suggest that California's PFL policy had positive impacts on several health outcomes, providing timely evidence to inform ongoing policy discussions at the federal and state levels. Future studies should examine the effects of more recently implemented state and local PFL policies to determine whether variation in policy implementation and generosity affects outcomes.
Entering the Workforce or Going to Graduate School: Themes in Psychology Alumni Decision Making:

The goal of the current study was to explore how psychology majors decide whether to enter the workforce or attend graduate school. Thirty-two psychology alumni, including 22 women and 10 men (Mage...
Crisis in history or crisis historiography

History in Financial Times sheds light on the historiography of contemporary finance. But there is a tension in the book that is inescapable: between the production of crisis historiography, on the one hand, and the practice of the concept of crisis, on the other. There is, in other words, a barely articulated distinction between crisis as a “metahistorical force” and crisis as a “peculiar, naturalist” category.
Determinants of auditee adoption of audit recommendations: Local government auditors’ perspectives

This research determines the impact of local government’s internal audit process on the audit client management’s adoption of audit recommendations. Publicity of financial and operational problems in government in recent years has led to concerns about the quality of government audits, the extent of public managers’ adoption of audit recommendations, as well as citizen demand for accountability in government. In spite of this, the importance of the government audit process in ensuring accountability has gained little attention in public management research. A survey of local government audit executives was conducted to determine various aspects of the local government internal audit process and their relationships with audit client management’s adoption of audit recommendations. Results show that client management’s adoption of audit recommendation is a function of auditor professional designation, due diligence, client relations, documentation and tracking of audit recommendations, as well as of follow-up audits to verify implementation of agreed-upon action plans.
Measuring Semantic Preservation in Machine Translation with HCOMET: Human Cognitive Metric for Evaluating Translation

Human ranking of machine translation output is a commonly used method for comparing different innovations in machine translation research. Theoretically simple, the comparison of multiple translations is, in effect, cognitively complex, requiring judges to balance the weight of different types of translation errors in the context of the whole sentence. This cognitive complexity is made evident through low intra- and inter- annotator agreements, which call into question the reliability of such ranking metrics. HMEANT (Lo and Wu, 2011) attempted to decrease the complexity of ranking by dividing sentences into smaller semantic units whose translation alignments were more objective, rendering the task cognitively simpler. However, HMEANT does not discern how these semantic units are related and relies heavily on language-dependent verb frames – a significant problem for a translation metric. This project defines a new set of human metrics focusing on HCOMET (Human COgnitive Metric for Evaluating Translation). HCOMET, attempting to overcome the limitations of HMEANT, employed a new cognitively-informed annotation scheme and new scoring guidelines. While the inter-annotator agreement did not surpass that of HMEANT, the conceptual framework of HCOMET allows for a much more detailed analysis of semantic adequacy in machine translation.
Association between social media use and self-reported symptoms of depression in US adults

ImportanceSome studies suggest that social media use is associated with risk for depression, particularly among children and young adults. ObjectiveTo characterize the association between self-reported use of individual social media platforms, and worsening of depressive symptoms, among adults. DesignWe included data from 13 waves of a non-probability internet survey conducted between May 2020 and May 2021 among individuals age 18 and older in the United States. We applied logistic regression with 5 or more point increase in PHQ-9 as outcome, and sociodemographic features, baseline PHQ-9, and use of each social media platform as independent variables, without reweighting. ParticipantsSurvey respondents 18 and older. Main Outcome and MeasurePHQ-9 worsening by 5 points or more. ResultsA total of 5395/8045 (67.1%) individuals with a PHQ-9<5 on initial survey completed a second PHQ-9. These respondents had mean age 55.82 years (SD 15.17); 3546 (65.7%) reported female gender, the remainder male; 329 (6.1%) were Asian, 570 (10.6%) Black, 256 (4.7%) Hispanic, 4118 (76.3%) White, and 122 (2.3%) Native American or Alaska Native, Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian, or Other. Among them, 482 (8.9%) reported 5 point or greater worsening at second survey. In fully-adjusted models for increase in symptoms, largest odds ratio associated with social media use was observed for Snapchat (aOR 1.53, 95% CI 1.19-1.96), Facebook (aOR 1.42, 1.10-1.81), and TikTok (aOR 1.39, 95% CI 1.03-1.87). Conclusions and RelevanceAmong survey respondents who did not report depressive symptoms initially, social media use was associated with greater likelihood of subsequent increase in depressive symptoms after adjustment for sociodemographic features and news sources. These data cannot elucidate the nature of this relationship, but suggest the need for further study to understand the impact of social media use. Trial RegistrationNA
Needles in haystacks: reevaluating old paradigms for the discovery of bacterial secondary metabolites

Covering: up to 2021 Natural products research is in the midst of a renaissance ushered in by a modern understanding of microbiology and the technological explosions of genomics and metabolomics. As the exploration of uncharted chemical space expands into high-throughput discovery campaigns, it has become increasingly clear how design elements influence success: (bio)geography, habitat, community dynamics, culturing/induction methods, screening methods, dereplication, and more. We explore critical considerations and assumptions in natural products discovery. We revisit previous estimates of chemical rediscovery and discuss their relatedness to study design and producer taxonomy. Through frequency analyses of biosynthetic gene clusters in publicly available genomic data, we highlight phylogenetic biases that influence rediscovery rates. Through selected examples of how study design at each level determines discovery outcomes, we discuss the challenges and opportunities for the future of high-throughput natural product discovery.
Wigner Distributions as Representations of the Density Matrix

The phase space formulation of quantum mechanics, based on quasi probability distributions in position - momentum space, is briefly reviewed with emphasis on associating the quasi probability distributions with density matrices. The relation between reduced phase space distributions and reduced density matrices is derived. The time independent Schrodinger equation is used to write the eigenvalue equation for the quasi probability distributions and hierarchy equations are derived for reduced distributions. The relation between the variational principle, the eigenvalue equation, and the representabilty of the N body distribution is discussed.
Magnetoencephalography—Update and Future Hopes

(1983). Magnetoencephalography—Update and Future Hopes. American Journal of EEG Technology: Vol. 23, No. 4, pp. 179-189.
Infinitely Divisible Laws

Row sums \( \mathop \sum \nolimits_{i = 1}^{{k_n}} {X_{ni}} \) S of arrays of random variables {Xni1 ≤ i≤kn >→ ∞n ≥ 1} that are rowwise independent have been considered briefly with respect to the Marcinkiewicz–Zygmund type strong laws of large numbers (Example 10.4.1). In this same context, non-Iterated Logarithm laws and generalizations thereof have been dealt with by H. Cramer and C. Esseen (see references at the end of this chapter). Here, limit distributions of row sums of the variables in such an array will be treated.
Advertising Message Appeals

Advertising appeals are the connection between the emotion or the cognition and the consumer's response to the ad. This article briefly discusses the difference between rational and emotional advertising, and when an advertiser might choose one appeal over another. Keywords: emotional appeals; rational appeals; product types; congruency
Child care needs of nursing personnel: the challenge for the future.

The American family increasingly is one in which all adults are employed outside of the home. Provision of quality child care while parents work is a major challenge for many of these families. The problem may be especially acute for nurses whose schedules require that they work at times when traditional child care facilities are not open. This article includes a historical overview of child care in America and findings from a preliminary study of child care for nurses whose schedules regularly included evening and night hours. 0 1988 bv Grune & Stratton. Inc.
A study of denoising methods for in-line single distance phase image

Phase contrast x-ray image is increasingly popular in biomedical image study. One of the most potential phase contrast imaging methods for medical image application is in-line single distance phase contrast imaging method. However, so far in the studies of applications utilizing phase images, the original phase contrast X-ray images are considered noise-free what is too perfect for real world imaging application. In this study, we focused on the x-ray image of low contrast composite taken in low milliampere-seconds (mAs). Three types, coefficients based, denoising by regularization, and non-local means denoising methods were considered. We find that: Denoise-first approach improves the computed phase image quality; however the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) value of denoised image in the region corresponding to high contrast region is larger than the CNR value of phase image computed from denoised result in that region.
Purification and Characterization of β-Glucosidase of Alcaligenes faecalis

A cellobiose-utilizing bacterium isolated from sugar cane bagasse and identified as a strain of Alcaligenes faecalis (ATCC 21400) produced an inducible β-glucoside-splitting enzyme. The enzyme was purified by a series of streptomycin and ammonium sulfate fractionations and by Sephadex and diethylaminoethyl column chromatography. The final preparation was purified 130-fold, with a recovery of about 10% of the initial enzyme activity. The enzyme had a wide pH range, with optimal activity at pH 6.0 to 7.0. The enzyme was stable in solution at pH 6.5 to 7.8 when kept at 30 C for 2 hr, but it was destroyed by temperatures above 55 C. At 58 and 60 C, the time required to inactivate 90% of the initial activity was 16 and 6.5 min, respectively. An activation energy of 9,500 cal/mole and a Km of 1.25 × 10−4m were obtained by using p-nitrophenyl β-glucoside as a substrate. The Ki value and hydrolysis of cellobiose by the enzyme indicated a high affinity of the enzyme for the cellobiose. The enzyme had its specificity on β-glucosidic linkage and the rate of hydrolisis of glucosides depended upon the nature of the aglycon moiety. The inactivation studies showed the presence of sulfhydryl groups in the enzyme. The activity of the enzyme was easily destroyed by the Cu++ and Hg++ ions. The Michaelis-Menton relationship and the rate of heat inactivation indicated the presence of one type of noninteracting active site in the bacterial β-glucosidase. Molecular weight of the enzyme was estimated by gel filtration (Sephadex G-200) and sucrose density gradient, and a value of 120,000 to 160,000 was obtained.
Chapter 8 Calcium-Activated Potassium Channels in Muscle and Brain

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the characterization of the two subfamilies that can account for the variety of Ca 2+- sensitive K + channels: large conductance (BK) and small conductance (SK) channels. BK channels are characterized by their high single-channel conductance, their dual response to voltage and Ca 2+ , and their blockade by nanomolar concentrations of iberiotoxin and micromolar concentrations of TEA. Heterologously expressed α-subunit cDNA clones mirror these features. Structurally, they are characterized by unique N- and C-terminal sequences, implicated in β-subunit and Ca 2+ regulation, appended to a six-transmembrane structure typical of voltage-gated ion channels. SK channels are characterized by their small conductance, their voltage independence, and their Ca 2+ -dependent activation. A family of this class of K + channels has been recently cloned. BK and different types of SK channels are often coexpressed within the same native cell and seem to be coupled to specific Ca 2+ sources. Specific Ca 2+ channel blockers can abolish certain types of calcium-activated K channels without affecting others.
Interpreting Judicial Interpretations of the Criminal Statutes of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act: Ten Years Later

The article focuses on judicial interpretations of the U.S. Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) statutes including elements of prostitution, forced labor and peonage. Prior to TVPA, prostitution cases were decided under the Mann Act that makes the transport of a person in interstate or foreign commerce for any sexual activity a criminal offense. The 11th Circuit Court discussed in the United States v. Warren case the climate of fear that coercion may create in trafficking cases. Keywords: Human trafficking
Approaches to the Analysis of Fidelity of DNA Repair in Mammalian Cells

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses approaches to the analysis of fidelity of DNA repair in mammalian cells. The different types of DNA repair includes: (1) photoreactivation, (2) excision and DNA repair synthesis, (3) repair of single-strand breaks, depurinated Sites, and small base adducts, (4) post replication repair and recombination, and (5) host cell reactivation. There are two major approaches to the analysis of fidelity in mammalian cells. The first involves structural (chemical) analysis of restored areas, while the other involves biological evaluation (survival, host cell reactivation, genetic analysis) of cells damaged with various agents. Physical and chemical studies of repair synthesis following excision of damage indicate that in mammalian cells restoration of the damaged region is an orderly accurate process which appears to use the undamaged, complementary strand as a template for nucleotide insertion. An important aspect of repair processes in relation to carcinogenesis is the degree to which these processes themselves may introduce errors that may be carcinogenic. Several studies in bacteria emphasized error-prone and error-free repair processes.
Foreign Exchange Intervention in Developing and Transition Economies: Results of a Survey

Based on evidence obtained from the IMF`s 2001 Survey on Foreign Exchange Market Organization, the author argues that, for several reasons, some central banks in developing and transition economies may be able to conduct foreign exchange intervention more effectively than the central banks of developed countries issuing the major international currencies. First, these central banks do not always fully sterilize their foreign exchange interventions. In addition, they issue regulations and conduct their foreign exchange operations in a way that increases the central bank`s information advantage and the size of their foreign exchange intervention relative to foreign exchange market turnover. Some of the central banks also use moral suasion to support their foreign exchange interventions.
Preoperative distinction of parotid lymphomas.

Abstract Background Surgical parotidectomies place parotid lymphoma patients at increased risk of morbidity because of the diffuse infiltrative nature of the disease. These tumors usually respond to radiotherapy or chemotherapy, but are difficult to distinguish from other benign parotid gland tumors preoperatively. We sought to identify clinical and radiologic features that could aid in the preoperative distinction of parotid lymphomas. Study design We performed a retrospective chart review of 248 superficial parotidectomy patients. Results Of 248 parotid lesions, 22 (8.8%) were lymphomas (21 non-Hodgkin's, 1 Hodgkin's). The lymphoma cases included four patients with a history of autoimmune disease, and four with a previous diagnosis of lymphoma. Palpable painless masses were present in all cases (14 right, 7 left, 1 bilateral). Two patients had multiple palpable parotid nodules and five had palpable cervical adenopathy. Of 17 patients receiving preoperative CT scans, 4 more patients were revealed to have bilateral disease, 7 more patients had cervical adenopathy, and 5 more patients had multiple parotid nodules. Tumors were poorly circumscribed in 7 of 17 (41%), and diffuse parotid changes were noted in 2. Preoperative fine needle aspiration biopsy was performed in 10 of the 22 lymphomas, revealing 3 reactive nodes, 3 suspicious for lymphoma and 3 nondiagnostic. Conclusions Although parotid lymphomas are uncommon, a history of autoimmune disease or previous lymphoma; clinical or radiologic evidence of bilateral, multiple, or poorly circumscribed parotid lesions; and cervical lymphadenopathy should suggest this diagnosis. This may alter the proposed surgery and decrease the potential morbidity associated with superficial parotidectomy in cases of parotid lymphoma.
Pregnancy after bone marrow transplantation.

PURPOSETo evaluate the occurrence of pregnancy after bone marrow transplantation (BMT).DESIGNMedline literature review of reported pregnancies in the BMT population published in the English language.RESULTSMultiple case reports and a few series studies showed more than 250 offspring from BMT recipients.CONCLUSIONBMT patients receive high-dose chemotherapy and often radiation, as well. These agents are associated with gonadal dysfunction and the fertility of patients after BMT is of concern because BMT patients are often young people who wish to resume a normal quality of life, which for many patients involves the desire to have children. Our experience with the successful pregnancy of one of our BMT patients led to the investigation of reported cases that showed numerous other births. The issue of counseling BMT patients about fertility, pregnancy complications, and potential birth defects is becoming increasingly complex and warrants further investigation.
The Hierarchy of the 3D Genome

Mammalian genomes encode genetic information in their linear sequence, but appropriate expression of their genes requires chromosomes to fold into complex three-dimensional structures. Transcriptional control involves the establishment of physical connections among genes and regulatory elements, both along and between chromosomes. Recent technological innovations in probing the folding of chromosomes are providing new insights into the spatial organization of genomes and its role in gene regulation. It is emerging that folding of large complex chromosomes involves a hierarchy of structures, from chromatin loops that connect genes and enhancers to larger chromosomal domains and nuclear compartments. The larger these structures are along this hierarchy, the more stable they are within cells, while becoming more stochastic between cells. Here, we review the experimental and theoretical data on this hierarchy of structures and propose a key role for the recently discovered topologically associating domains.
What’s in a Drop? Correlating Observations and Outcomes to Guide Macromolecular Crystallization Experiments

Observations of crystallization experiments are classified as specific outcomes and integrated through a phase diagram to visualize solubility and thereby direct subsequent experiments. Specific examples are taken from our high-throughput crystallization laboratory which provided a broad scope of data from 20 million crystallization experiments on 12 500 different biological macromolecules. The methods and rationale are broadly and generally applicable in any crystallization laboratory. Through a combination of incomplete factorial sampling of crystallization cocktails, standard outcome classifications, visualization of outcomes as they relate chemically, and application of a simple phase diagram approach, we demonstrate how to logically design subsequent crystallization experiments.
Isotope studies on the mechanism of action of adrenal tyrosine hydroxylase.

Abstract The position of 18 O in the dopa formed from either tyrosine-4- 18 O and 16 O 2 or from nonisotopie tyrosine and 18 O 2 by tyrosine hydroxylase has been determined. The methodology included the enzymatic conversion of dopa to 3-methoxytyramine and the periodate oxidation of this material to the quinone and methanol. The 18 O content of the methanol was determined by mass spectrometry. Based on this assay, the dopa formed from tyrosine-4- 18 O contained only small amounts (~10%) of 18 O in the 3-position while dopa formed from nonisotopic tyrosine and 18 O 2 contained approximately 90% of the label in the 3-position. Hydroxylation of phenylalanine-4- 3 H with tyrosine hydroxylase resulted in migration of the tritium from the para -position since the final product, dopa, contained 42% of the original radioactivity. The mechanistic significance of these findings is discussed.
TH‐F‐217A‐01: Informatics DrivenÂ Quality Initiatives ‐ Using the Tools of Six Sigma

An informatics technique that can be used for improving image quality, dose prescription and delivery and other imaging services is Six Sigma. Six Sigma is a quality improvement process that strives for near perfection (99.99966%) in the organizations ‘product’. This may be the appropriate dose prescription for every patient or the absence of repeated scans or artifact free examinations or the number of finalized reports completed by the end of the business day. In Six Sigma a DMAIC (Define, Measure,Analyze, Improve, Control) process is applied to systematically inspect and review quantified data (chosen by the Six Sigma team) to improve the delivered services. Patients may ‘feel’ unacceptable variations (a repeated exam due to noise, motion, etc) and quantified data can be used to identify instances of high dose prescriptions permitting an opportunity for improvements. Informatics enables collection of requisite data using modality, RIS (HL7) and PACS (DICOM) data to add knowledge that is actionable for improving the outcome of the delivered service. These systems provide information that are strongly interconnected in the users understanding of what is the ideal dose prescription. Understanding critical quality components and reducing variation in these actions are keys for improvements. For example, small patient size can easily result a patient not being accurately centered in a CT scanner which is (interconnected) to the dose modulation prescription. A Six Sigma approach uses statistical thinking and statistical tools. It: Defines and identifies the improvement opportunity (e.g., lower dose, improve Imaging Quality (IQ), shorten exam time, patient positioning etc.)Measures critical information that relates to performance goal (dose index or metric, added or extra scans, reduced IQ, etc). We suggest an Informatics environment for this. Analyze data to identify variation and its causes. Formulate solutions and validate root cause hypothesis prior to introducing change. Improve performance by introducing change. Verify improvements as measured by the metric — iterate improvements and gain group approval for current final solution. (technique charts, education modules, purchase technology that adds robustness to the prescription of radiation or another imaging service etc)Control and monitor variability in the chosen metric. As it relates to the skills and ability of physicists, accept the challenge of having a mistake proof process. This lecture will provide an introductory overview of Six Sigma concepts and review some practical examples from mammography, CT, and interventional fluoroscopy. Learning Objectives: 1. Understand the origin and evolution of Six Sigma and DMAIC processes. 2. Provide examples of measurement data from Informatic sources and tools Present issues and opportunities related to improving patient care using Six Sigma.