cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Oceanic Phytoplankton Need Less Iron

Growth studies were undertaken with two diatoms, the oceanic diatom Thalassiosira oceanica and the estuarine species Thalassiosira pseudonana, using radiolabelled 55Fe in Gulf Stream seawater having an EDTA-trace metal buffer. Intracellular Fe in exponentially growing cells was determined following treatment with titanium(III) EDTA-citrate reducing solution to dissolve adsorbed and noncellular iron. The two species showed different growth responses. T. oceanica grows at its maximum rate over a wide range of Fe concentration. Growth rate is reduced slightly (less than 20%) at the lowest Fe levels. Such low levels result in the growth rate of T. pseudonana dropping to almost zero. T. pseudonana shows a graded response to increased Fe, and a maximum growth rate that is 50% greater than that of T. oceanica. Fast growth by T. oceanica at lowest Fe levels is explained almost entirely by a much lower cell Fe requirement, or quota, rather than by more effective transport at low Fe conditions. T. oceanica cells at near-maximum specific growth rate of 1 day−1 have a cellular iron:carbon ratio of about 2 × 10−6. T. pseudonana at the same growth rate requires several times this amount, and even more at its highest growth rate. Cellular Fe required for rapid growth of the oceanic diatom is substantially lower than values for coastal or estuarine species in this and other studies. Computations concerning the phytoplankton carbon that can result from use of a particular amount of Fe give different results; therefore, the Fe: Cratio for a genetically adapted low-iron oceanic phytoplankton species is used, rather than values for coastal species as were applied in the past.
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

Livestock constitute one of the major groups of terrestrial repositories for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). From a nutrition toxicity standpoint, much emphasis had been placed on the safety of edible products derived from these animals until recently. Studies in goats, cows, and pigs have shown that PAHs undergo extensive biotransformation, and the transfer of PAH metabolites to the young depends on the lipophilicity of these compounds. The consequences of pre- and postnatal exposure to PAHs on the health of developing farm animals have not been investigated. The literature is replete with PAH toxicity in rodent models, but similar information is scarce for farm animals. Although rodents and livestock differ in their ability to process these toxicants and the manifestation of toxicity notwithstanding, the reproductive health of livestock is a major concern because PAHs are endocrine disruptors. In this chapter, an attempt has been made to critically assess the available data and put the findings into perspective without making sweeping generalizations. This chapter will contribute to increasing awareness among farm animal handlers about the harmful effects of PAHs and also aid regulatory agencies in developing appropriate risk management strategies.
Then there were eight

The decision last August to strip Pluto of its status as a planet came as close as physics gets to a major international incident. The General Assembly of the International Astronomical Union (IAU) in Prague opened with a proposal that would have expanded the number of planets in our solar system to 12, but ended by adopting a definition that left Pluto as a lowly "dwarf planet" – asteroid number 134340. Something about Pluto's plight captured the imagination of a public that grew up with nine planets, catapulting the story into the mainstream media.
A model of learning by incremental analogical reasoning and debugging

This paper presents a model of analogical reasoning for learning. The model is based on two main ideas. First, that reasoning from an analogy presented by a teacher while explaining an unfamiliar concept is often determined by the causal abstractions known by the student to apply in the familiar domain referred to. Secondly, that such analogies, once introduced, are extended incrementally, in attempts to account for new situations by recalling additional situations from the same base domain. Protocols suggest that this latter process is quite useful but extremely error-prone. CARL, a computer program that learns semantic representations for assignment statements of the BASIC programming language is described as an illustration this kind of analogical reasoning. The model maps and debugs inferences drawn from several commonly used analogies to assignment, in response to presented examples.
Potassium Sorbate Inhibition of Microorganisms Isolated from Seafood1

Microorganisms isolated from seafood showed various degrees of sensitivity toward potassium sorbate (PS). At pH 7.0, PS concentration of 0.53% completely inhibited growth of Moraxella sp., while 2.73% was needed to inhibit Arthrobacter sp. Pseudomonas I sp., which was relatively resistant to PS (inhibitory concentration = 1.62%), was not affected by 0.3% PS after freeze-thaw treatment (-78°C for 8 min and 20°C for 20 min), but showed a delay in onset of logarithmic growth for up to 20 h after heating at 50°C for 5 min. The inhibitory effect of PS on sub-lethally injured Pseudomonas I was greater in basal medium (Minimum Broth, Davis) than in a rich medium (tryptone-peptone-extract, TPE). Alteromonas putrefaciens , which was sensitive to PS (inhibitory concentration = 0.74%), was also sensitive to freeze-thaw and mild heat. The lag period for quick-frozen cells was extended by 14 h in the presence of 0.05% PS. Heating at 45°C for 10 sec was sufficient to cause complete inhibition of growth by 0.05% PS in MBD, and 8 h delay in the onset of logarithmic growth in TPE. Selective and inhibitory effects of PS, therefore, could be further enhanced in frozen or heat-treated seafood.
Cadmium evokes inositol polyphosphate formation and calcium mobilization. Evidence for a cell surface receptor that cadmium stimulates and zinc antagonizes.

Cd2+ and other divalent metals mobilized cell Ca2+ in human skin fibroblasts. The divalent metals produced a large spike in cytosolic free Ca2+ and strikingly increased net Ca2+ efflux similarly to bradykinin. One-tenth microM Cd2+ half-maximally increased 45Ca2+ efflux. The potency order of the Ca2+ mobilizing metals was: Cd2+ greater than Co2+ greater than Ni2+ greater than Fe2+ greater than Mn2+. Cd2+ probably acts at an extracellular site because loading the cells with a heavy metal chelator only slightly inhibited Cd2+-evoked 45Ca2+ efflux. Cd2+ increased [3H]inositol polyphosphates; [3H]inositol trisphosphate increased 4-fold in 15 s. Zn2+ reversibly blocked 45Ca2+ efflux evoked by Cd2+ but not that produced by bradykinin. Zn2+ competitively (Ki = approximately 0.4 microM) inhibited net Ca2+ efflux produced by Cd2+. Cd2+ also evoked Ca2+ mobilization in umbilical artery muscle, endothelial, and neuroblastoma cells, and the divalent cation agonist and antagonist specificities were similar to those in the fibroblasts. The divalent metals appear to trigger Ca2+ mobilization via a reversible interaction with an external site on the cell surface, which may be considered a "Cd2+ receptor."
Quality and Value of Subspecialty Reinterpretation of Thoracic CT Scans of Patients Referred to a Tertiary Cancer Center.

Abstract Introduction Patients referred to tertiary cancer centers often present with imaging studies performed and interpreted at other health care institutions. Although reinterpretation of imaging performed at another health care institution can reduce repeat imaging, unnecessary radiation dose, and cost, the benefit is uncertain. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the quality of initial imaging studies of patients seeking a second opinion at a tertiary cancer center, to compare the accuracy of initial interpretations to reinterpretations performed by subspecialty trained radiologists at a tertiary oncologic center, and to determine the potential impact on patient management. Methods An institutional review board-approved retrospective, single-institution database review was performed in 120 new patients presenting to the thoracic surgery clinics at our institution from 2010 through 2013, with initial chest CTs performed at another institution. Two thoracic radiologists blinded to the interpretation independently assessed the quality and performed a reinterpretation of 52 CTs. Fisher’s exact tests were used to compare the frequency with which clinically important staging parameters appeared in the reinterpretations and initial reports. Discrepancies between the reinterpretations and initial interpretations were adjudicated independently by two thoracic radiologists at different tertiary cancer institutions to determine which interpretations were more accurate. The impact of discrepancies on clinical management was evaluated based on National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines. Results Of the 52 CTs, 32 (62%) were of inadequate image quality for staging. In 17 of 52 (33%), discrepancies were identified between reinterpretations and initial interpretations. For discrepancies, the reinterpretation was judged to be more accurate for staging than the initial interpretation. In nine of these patients, staging parameters were omitted in the initial interpretations that precluded adequate staging. In the remaining eight patients, six were upstaged, one was downstaged, and one was unchanged by the reinterpretation. Conclusions Imaging studies from outside institutions are of variable image quality and often not adequate for appropriate staging of thoracic malignancies. Reinterpretation can decrease repeat imaging and associated technical costs. Additionally, the accuracy of staging is improved by reinterpretation of CTs by subspecialty trained radiologists and can significantly impact clinical management.
A call to end the epidemic of adolescent E-cigarette use.

E-cigarette nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), also known as electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) were introduced to the global market around 2007 (Pauly et al., 2007). The popularity of these products has soared rapidly, generating $900 million in revenue in 2014. Market analysts predict that the e-cigarette industry could be worth $10 billion by 2018 (Herzog, 2015). With the growing popularity of e-cigarettes, the overall impact of e-cigarettes on public health has been heavily debated among health professionals and policy makers. The main controversy is how to balance the risks and benefits of the potential use of these products. Proponents of the products state that e-cigarettes can be an effective harm reduction or cessation option for cigarette smokers given that they have lower levels of toxicants commonly present in cigarettes, and that therefore they should not be regulated and should be freely available to reduce the scourge of smoking combustible products. These claims are disputed by opponents who state that there is limited evidence of the safety of these products or their efficacy for harm reduction or cessation of combustible tobacco products, and that these devices may enable smokers to bypass smoke-free laws and maintain their addiction, and importantly, perpetuate nicotine addiction by introducing nicotine to non-users, especially adolescents. There is also concern that the wide availability of these devices could renormalize combustible tobacco use behaviors. This article provides a brief overview of e-cigarette devices and e-liquids, as well as the existing literature on general safety concerns of e-cigarette use, the potential use of e-cigarettes as aides for combustible tobacco harm reduction or cessation, and then largely focuses on e-cigarette use among adolescents. We will discuss epidemiological evidence documenting adolescent e-cigarette use rates, associations between e-cigarettes and other tobacco/substance use, existing evidence on the use of e-cigarettes for adolescent smoking cessation, and reasons for e-cigarette popularity among adolescents. We will also discuss regulatory and prevention efforts that are urgently needed to curb the e-cigarette epidemic among youth.
An example of how false conclusions could be made with personalized health tracking and suggestions for avoiding similar situations.

Personalizing interventions and treatments is a necessity for optimal medical care. Recent advances in computing, such as personal electronic devices, have made it easier than ever to collect and utilize vast amounts of personal data on individuals. This data could support personalized medicine; however, there are pitfalls that must be avoided. We discuss an example, longitudinal medical tracking, in which traditional methods of evaluating machine learning algorithms fail and present the opportunity for false conclusions. We then pose three suggestions for avoiding such opportunities for misleading results in medical applications, where reliability is essential.
When does passive learning improve the effectiveness of active learning

Much of what we learn comes from a mix of information that we select (active learning) and information that we receive (passive learning). But what type of learning is best for different kinds of learning problems? In the current work, we explore this question by comparing different sequences of active/passive training in an abstract concept learning task. First, we replicate the active learning advantage from Markant & Gureckis (2014) (Experiments 1a and 1b). Then, we provide a direct test of whether experiencing active learning first or passive learning first improves concept learning (Experiment 2). Across both experiments, active training led to better learning of the target concept, but “passive-first” learners performed better than “active-first” learners. These findings broaden our understanding of when different sequences of active/passive learning are most effective, showing that for certain learning problems active exploration can be enhanced by prior passive learning.
In the Zone: An Investigation Into Physical Activity During Recess on Traditional Versus Zoned Playgrounds

Introduction: The prevalence of childhood obesity in the United States has reached epidemic status with some states with rates as high as 20%. The most effective interventions for combating inactivity target children before inactivity develops in their adolescent years. If effective, school-aged physical activity (PA) interventions would decrease sedentary behavior and help combat childhood obesity. The main purpose of this study was to compare changes in PA of youth during recess following zoning of a traditional playground. A secondary purpose was to investigate which zones elicit the greatest levels of activity for boys and girls. A tertiary purpose is to compare observational measures of PA (SOPLAY instrument) to PA measured via pedometry. Method: PA for 364 boys and girls from two institutions were observed and recorded at recess with the System for Observing Play and Leisure Activity in Youth (SOPLAY) and pedometers. Baseline data were collected for 1 week on traditional playgrounds. After 1 week, the playgrounds were zoned for specific activity, and PA was again observed and recorded. Results: The average percentage of boys and girls considered to be very active increased by 10% following zoning, according to SOPLAY data. Average number of steps during recess also increased by a mean of 175 steps on zoned playgrounds versus traditional. Conclusion: Interventions, both within and outside of school, aimed at improving activity levels and changing behavior will help to quell the obesity epidemic. A zoned playground can be used as a simple and effective strategy that reduces sedentary behavior and increases activity during recess. Subscribe to TPE
The development of facility standards for common outpatient procedures and implications for the context of abortion

In recent years, an increasing number of states have enacted laws that impose specific requirements for facilities in which abortions are performed. In this study, we sought to understand the processes used to develop facility standards in the context of other, less politically charged areas of health care and consider implications for the context of abortion. We conducted key informant interviews with 20 clinicians and accreditation professionals involved in facility standards development for common outpatient procedures (endoscopy, gynecology, oral surgery, plastic surgery). We examined the motivations for and processes used in facility standards development, use of scientific evidence in standards development, and decision-making in the absence of evidence. Interview data were thematically coded and analyzed using an iterative approach. In contrast to U.S. state laws that target abortion facilities, standards for other outpatient procedures are commonly set by committees of clinicians organized by professional associations or accreditation organizations. These committees seek to establish standards that ensure patient safety without placing unnecessary burden on clinicians in practice. They aim to create evidence-based standards but can be hampered by lack of relevant research. In the absence of research evidence, committees rely on their clinical expertise and sense of best practices in decision-making. According to respondents, considerations of potential harm (e.g., deeper levels of sedation, invasiveness), rather than the specific procedure, should prompt additional requirements. If facility standards in the context of abortion were developed through processes similar to other outpatient procedures, 1) professionals who perform the procedure would be involved in standards development and 2) in the absence of clear research evidence, the expertise of clinicians, and the guidelines and standards of other organizations, are used to describe a best practice standard of care.
TAXONOMIC HIERARCHIES, CONTINUOUS VARIABLES, AND UNCERTAIN PROBABILITIES

Publisher Summary The primary building blocks of the networks are causal relationships. In many applications, a variable might contain so many propositions that additional structure must be imposed on that space before it can be managed efficiently. There is a vast difference in the way humans and machines process continuous quantities. Humans manage to do it with minimal arithmetic, very little short-term memory storage, and local and autonomous computation, and still produce estimates that are acceptable, defensible, and meaningful. Human performance is far better than that produced by any known machine subject to similar architectural constraints. One way to search for the rules of approximation that guide human reasoning is to reason backward and ask what idealized models of reality lend themselves to exact solutions, given the computational constraints we wish to satisfy? If one finds such a model, he can examine the rules by which quantities combine and posit them as the basic building blocks of approximate reasoning. The advantages of following the philosophy are that the rules extracted are guaranteed to be consistent, that they are known to produce exact results on at least a subset of problem domains, and that it is possible to determine in advance when the environment lies outside their range of applicability.
Large-scale scene image categorisation with deep learning-based model

Increasing depth of convolutional neural networks (CNNs) is a highly promising method of increasing the accuracy of the (CNNs). Increased CNN depth will also result in increased layer count (parameters), leading to a slow backpropagation convergence prone to overfitting. We trained our model (residual-CNDS) to classify very large-scale scene datasets. The outcome result from the two datasets proved our proposed model effectively handled the slow convergence, overfitting, and degradation. Our approach overcomes degradation in the very deep network. We have built two models (residual-CNDS 8), and (residual-CNDS 10). Moreover, we tested our models on two large-scale datasets, and we compared our results with other recently introduced cutting-edge networks in the domain of top-1 and top-5 classification accuracy. As a result, both of models have shown good improvement, which supports the assertion that the addition of residual connections enhances network CNDS accuracy without adding any computation complexity.
Temperature instability in infants with trisomy 21 in the neonatal intensive care unit.

Temperature instability has been observed in infants with trisomy 21 (T21) in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) but has not been described in the literature. All infants with T21 in the NICU 2011–2017 with at least 2 days of temperatures when ≥36 weeks PMA and not receiving external thermoregulation, and 2:1 matched controls were included. Prevalence and number of temperatures 38 °C and infection workups were compared. Hypothermia and hyperthermia were more common among T21 infants (n = 61) vs. controls: hypothermia 30% vs. 11% (p < 0.01); hyperthermia 16% vs. 8% (p = 0.13). Infants with T21 were more likely to have infection workups at the time of temperature instability (16% vs. 6%) but only one of ten workups was diagnostic of infection. Temperature instability without infection is common among infants with T21 in the NICU.
Multilevel mixed methods research and educational psychology

We discuss possible uses of multilevel mixed methods (M3) research in educational psychology. To begin, we describe M3 research and how such research can enable researchers to investigate potential...
Restoring two tumor suppressor pathways with one PAWI.

In this issue of Cell Chemical Biology, Cheng et al. (2021) identify a class of drugs that activate a mitotic stress-dependent signaling cascade, which culminates in p53 activation and Wnt pathway inhibition (PAWI). PAWI compounds may therefore be effective in cancers associated with loss of p53 and activation of Wnt signaling.
Functional Evaluation of Proteolytic Activation for the SARS-CoV-2 Variant B.1.1.7: Role of the P681H Mutation

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the agent causing the COVID-19 pandemic. SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7, a variant of concern (VOC) identified in the UK in 2020, contains several mutations including P681H in the spike S1/S2 cleavage site, which is predicted to increase cleavage by furin, potentially impacting the viral cell entry. Here, we studied the role of the P681H mutation in B.1.1.7 cell entry. We performed assays using fluorogenic peptides mimicking the Wuhan-Hu-1 and B.1.1.7 S1/S2 sequence and observed no significant difference in furin cleavage. Functional assays using pseudoparticles harboring SARS-CoV-2 spikes and cell-to-cell fusion assays demonstrated no differences between Wuhan-Hu-1, B.1.1.7 or a P681H point mutant. Likewise, we observed no differences in viral growth between USA-WA1/2020 and a B.1.1.7 isolate in cell culture. Our findings suggest that while the B.1.1.7 P681H mutation may slightly increase S1/S2 cleavage this does not significantly impact viral entry or cell-cell spread. Trial Registration Details: Funding Information: This work was funded by the National Institute of Health research grant R01AI35270. TT is supported by the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program under Grant No. DGE-1650441 and the Samuel C. Fleming Family Graduate Fellowship. Declaration of Interests: The authors manifest no conflict of interest.
Bacterial genotype and clinical outcomes in solid organ transplant recipients with Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia.

INTRODUCTION Outcomes from Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB) in solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients are poorly understood. METHODS This is a prospective cohort study comparing the bacterial genotype and clinical outcomes of SAB among SOT and non-transplant (non-SOT) recipients from 2005 to 2019. Each subject's initial S. aureus bloodstream isolate was genotyped using spa typing and assigned to a clonal complex. RESULTS A total of 103 SOT and 1783 non-SOT recipients with SAB were included. Bacterial genotype did not differ significantly between SOT and non-SOT recipients (P=0.4673), including the proportion of SAB caused by USA300 (13.2% vs 16.0%, p=0.2680). Transplant status was not significantly associated with 90-day mortality (18.4% vs 29.5%, aOR 0.74, 95% CI: 0.44, 1.25), but was associated with increased risk for septic shock (50.0% vs 21.8%, aOR 2.31, 95% CI: 1.48, 3.61) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (21.4% vs 13.7%, aOR 2.03, 95%CI: 1.22, 3.37), and a significantly lower risk of metastatic complications (33.0% vs 45.5%, aOR 0.49, 95% CI: 0.32, 0.76). No association was found between bacterial genotype and 90-day mortality (P=0.6222) or septic shock (P=0.5080) in SOT recipients with SAB. CONCLUSIONS SOT recipients with SAB do not experience greater mortality than non-SOT recipients. The genotype of S. aureus bloodstream isolates in SOT recipients is similar to that of non-SOT recipients, and does not appear to be an important determinant of outcome in SOT recipients with SAB. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
NTCP-Driven Comparison of Proton Versus VMAT Approaches for Reducing Hematologic and Gastrointestinal Toxicities in Anal Cancer Patients Receiving Definitive Chemoradiation.

Purpose/objective(s) Significant hematologic (heme) and/or gastrointestinal (GI) toxicities are routinely experienced by anal cancer (AC) patients undergoing definitive chemoradiation (CRT). Such toxicities affect not only quality of life, but can also lead to treatment interruptions that may compromise long-term treatment efficacy. Grade 3+ heme (HT3+) and GI toxicities (GIT3+) that are associated with both high and low doses to bone marrow (BM) and small bowel (SB) may be reduced using proton beam therapy. We applied normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) modeling to determine the optimal proton beam configuration that reduces the probability of HT3+ and GIT3+ in AC patients treated with intensity modulated proton therapy (IMPT) compared to volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT). Materials/methods A total of 40 treatment plans were created for 10 AC patients using VMAT (2-3 arcs) and three proton configurations consisting of: 1) AP/PA fields; 2) AP+2 posterior-oblique proton fields (AP+POs) and 3) 2-lateral proton fields. Plans were optimized for a 30-fraction simultaneous integrated boost regimen that prescribed 54 Gy to gross disease and 45 Gy to elective regions. Robustness of each configuration was examined using routine quality assurance CT scans (QACTs) performed 1-4 times over the course of patient treatment. Total pelvic bone marrow (TPBM) was subdivided into lumbosacral spine (LSS), ilium (IL), and lower pelvic (LP). Acute HT3+ and GIT3+ risks were modeled using the LKB approach and studied for each configuration. Results Target coverage was robust for all three IMPT configurations and with less than 4% variation in CTV D95% calculated on QACTs. In comparison to VMAT and lateral proton configurations, AP/PA and AP+POs IMPT achieved 22% and 15% reductions in TPBM V5 Gy (P Conclusion PBT achieves considerably smaller volumes of pelvic OARs receiving low and moderate dose compared to VMAT, with AP/PA plans achieving the best overall sparing and lowest probability of HT3+. Clinical outcomes of PBT for AC remain poorly understand with little published data, and prospective evaluation of this novel treatment approach is needed.
Calorimetric and spectroscopic investigations of the binding of metallated porphyrins to G-quadruplex DNA.

ABSTRACT Background The human telomere contains tandem repeat of (TTAGG) capable of forming a higher order DNA structure known as G-quadruplex. Porphyrin molecules such as TMPyP4 bind and stabilize G-quadruplex structure. Methods Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), circular dichroism (CD), and mass spectroscopy (ESI/MS), were used to investigate the interactions between TMPyP4 and the Co(III), Ni(II), Cu(II), and Zn(II) complexes of TMPyP4 (e.g. Co(III)-TMPyP4) and a model human telomere G-quadruplex (hTel22) at or near physiologic ionic strength ([Na+] or [K+] ≈ 0.15 M). Results The apo-TMPyP4, Ni(II)-TMPyP4, and Cu(II)-TMPyP4 all formed complexes having a saturation stoichiometry of 4:1, moles of ligand per mole of DNA. Binding of apo-TMPyP4, Ni(II)-TMPyP4, and Cu(II)-TMPyP4 is described by a “four-independent-sites model”. The two highest-affinity sites exhibit a K in the range of 108 to 1010 M− 1 with the two lower-affinity sites exhibiting a K in the range of 104 to 105 M− 1. Binding of Co(III)-TMPyP4, and Zn(II)-TMPyP4, is best described by a “two-independent-sites model” in which only the end-stacking binding mode is observed with a K in the range of 104 to 105 M− 1. Conclusions In the case of apo-TMPyP4, Ni(II)-TMPyP4, and Cu(II)-TMPyP4, the thermodynamic signatures for the two binding modes are consistent with an “end stacking” mechanism for the higher affinity binding mode and an “intercalation” mechanism for the lower affinity binding mode. In the case of Co(III)-TMPyP4 and Zn(II)-TMPyP4, both the lower affinity for the “end-stacking” mode and the loss of the intercalative mode for forming the 2:1 complexes with hTel22 are attributed to the preferred metal coordination geometry and the presence of axial ligands. General significance The preferred coordination geometry around the metal center strongly influences the energetics of the interactions between the metallated-TMPyP4 and the model human telomeric G-quadruplex. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Microcalorimetry in the BioSciences — Principles and Applications, edited by Fadi Bou-Abdallah.
Netilmicin Sulfate: A Comparative Evaluation of Antimicrobial Activity, Pharmacokinetics, Adverse Reactions and Clinical Efficacy

Netilmicin, the 1-N-ethyl derivative of sisomicin, is a new aminoglycoside antibiotic that was recently marketed in the United States. Its role in therapeutics is not yet established. The pharmacokinetic profile of netilmicin is very similar to that of gentamicin. Its antimicrobial spectrum and clinical efficacy is similar to that of gentamicin, tobramycin and amikacin. It is less active in vitro against Pseudomonas aeruginosa that gentamicin and tobramycin, but in clinical trials the efficacy of netilmicin against the organism has been similar to other aminoglycosides. Netilmicin is active against some gentamicin and tobramycin-resistant strains of gram-negative bacilli, particularly those harboring adenylating and phosphorylation enzymes. Most of these strains are sensitive to amikacin as well, and amikacin is also active against most netilmicin-resistant strains of these bacteria. Therefore, amikacin remains the aminoglycoside of choice against gentamicin tobramycin and netilmicin-resistant gram-negative bacilli. In comparison to other currently available aminoglycosides, a lower frequency of nephrotoxicity and ototoxicity has been observed in laboratory animals given netilmicin. This has not been unequivocally demonstrated in humans. The frequency of nephrotoxicity in humans has been similar to that of other aminoglycosides. The frequency of ototoxicity associated with netilmicin in humans has been low but not significantly less than in other aminoglycosides, except in one trial. If further studies document a significantly lower frequency of ototoxicity with netilmicin, it may become the aminoglycoside of choice for patients with significant risk factors for ototoxicity, such as advanced age, renal impairment, concomitant ototoxic drug therapy and prolonged aminoglycoside administration.
XML-to-SQL query mapping in the presence of multi-valued schema mappings and recursive XML schemas

Several query mapping algorithms have been proposed to translate XML queries into SQL queries for a schema-based relational XML storage. However, existing query mapping algorithms only support single-valued mapping schemes, in which each XML element type is mapped to exactly one relation, and do not support multivalued mapping schemes, in which each XML element type can be mapped to multiple relations. In this paper, we propose a generic query mapping algorithm, ID-XMLToSQL, for a schema-based relational XML storage. To the best of our knowledge, our algorithm provides the first generic solution to the XML-to-Relational query mapping problem that is applicable to both single-valued and multi-valued mapping schemes. Moreover, our algorithm also provides an elegant solution to the query mapping problem in the presence of recursive XML schemas and recursive queries. While existing algorithms need special recursion operators, our algorithm only requires the traditional relational operators and thus, can work with all relational databases.
Nicotine metabolizing genes GSTT1 and CYP1A1 in sudden infant death syndrome

Exposure to tobacco, both to the developing fetus as well as in the postnatal period, has been identified as a key risk factor in the etiology of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Polymorphisms in both the GSTT1 and CYP1A1 genes have been reported to impact the metabolic detoxification process for cigarette smoke and have been associated with low birth weight. Thus, expression of polymorphisms in these genes may account for the varying susceptibility to the adverse health consequences of tobacco exposure, including SIDS. We hypothesized that functional polymorphisms in GSTT1 (gene deletion) and CYP1A1 (m1, m2, and m3) might be associated with SIDS risk. DNA was prepared from 106 SIDS cases and 106 ethnicity- and gender-matched controls using standard methods. Regions of interest were amplified using PCR, subjected to enzyme digestion, and analyzed on agarose gel. No association was observed between the GSTT1 gene deletion or the CYP1A1 m1, m2, and m3 polymorphisms with SIDS risk when considered independently or in combination. These results indicate that the GSTT1 gene deletion and polymorphisms of CYP1A1 are not responsible for increased SIDS risk in our dataset. However, because SIDS cases with confirmed history of nicotine exposure were limited (7/106 cases), a relationship that might be apparent in a cohort with a large subset of SIDS cases with known history of nicotine exposure cannot be ruled out. A prospective study of SIDS cases with nicotine exposure history is necessary to resolve the relationship between nicotine metabolizing genes and SIDS. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Evaluation of refractive index artifacts in liquid chromatographic absorbance detection : Extension to non-ideal injection and gradient elution

Abstract An anomalous response is often observed in high-sensitivity absorbance detection upon a rapid change in solvent composition. This detector artifact appears to be related to refractive index gradients arising when the injection solvent differs from the mobile phase or during solvent programming. Because this anomalous response is often of the same magnitude as the true solute absorbance, misinterpretation of the acquired chromatogram may result. Characterization of this refractive index artifact has been accomplished by modelling the Z-pattern flow cell as a dynamic lens, with constantly changing refractive index profiles both radial and axial to the direction of flow. A ray-tracing algorithm is utilized to predict the final image diameter and the apparent absorbance caused by the changing refractive index conditions. Initial predictions for an ideal, delta function injection show excellent correlation with the experimentally observed response for a commercially available absorbance detector. Simulations are extended to include the more complex axial profiles commonly encountered in liquid chromatography, including those arising from non-ideal injection conditions as well as solvent programming. Predictions based on this model show good agreement with the shape, direction and magnitude of the observed detector response. In addition to aiding in the characterization of solute peaks, this ray-tracing model has direct implications for the accurate interpretation of system peaks in liquid chromatography. Although investigations described here are limited to the Z-pattern cell, this dynamic lens model may be adapted to the evaluation or improved design of any flow cell of interest.
An Algorithm for Efficient Maximum Likelihood Estimation and Confidence Interval Determination in Nonlinear Estimation Problems

An algorithm for maximum likelihood (ML) estimation is developed with an efficient method for approximating the sensitivities. The algorithm was developed for airplane parameter estimation problems but is well suited for most nonlinear, multivariable, dynamic systems. The ML algorithm relies on a new optimization method referred to as a modified Newton-Raphson with estimated sensitivities (MNRES). MNRES determines sensitivities by using slope information from local surface approximations of each output variable in parameter space. The fitted surface allows sensitivity information to be updated at each iteration with a significant reduction in computational effort. MNRES determines the sensitivities with less computational effort than using either a finite-difference method or integrating the analytically determined sensitivity equations. MNRES eliminates the need to derive sensitivity equations for each new model, thus eliminating algorithm reformulation with each new model and providing flexibility to use model equations in any format that is convenient. A random search technique for determining the confidence limits of ML parameter estimates is applied to nonlinear estimation problems for airplanes. The confidence intervals obtained by the search are compared with Cramer-Rao (CR) bounds at the same confidence level. It is observed that the degree of nonlinearity in the estimation problem is an important factor in the relationship between CR bounds and the error bounds determined by the search technique. The CR bounds were found to be close to the bounds determined by the search when the degree of nonlinearity was small. Beale's measure of nonlinearity is developed in this study for airplane identification problems; it is used to empirically correct confidence levels for the parameter confidence limits. The primary utility of the measure, however, was found to be in predicting the degree of agreement between Cramer-Rao bounds and search estimates.
Outcome of patients with negative and unsatisfactory cytologic specimens obtained by endobronchial ultrasound‐guided transbronchial fine‐needle aspiration of mediastinal lymph nodes

BACKGROUND Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial fine-needle aspiration (EBUS-FNA) has gained acceptance as the diagnostic procedure of choice with which to sample hilar and mediastinal lymph nodes (LNs) for diagnosing and staging patients with lung cancer. Studies have shown that EBUS has a high positive predictive value; however, its negative predictive value (NPV) varies significantly. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the clinical outcome surrounding negative and nondiagnostic EBUS-FNA of mediastinal LNs. METHODS A retrospective chart review of cases of EBUS-FNA performed between 2008 and the middle of 2011 was conducted. Mediastinal LNs with cytologic diagnoses of negative for malignant cells and unsatisfactory were selected for the study. Each LN was followed for up to 1 year with imaging or biopsy/surgical resection. A true-negative result was defined as a LN that did not enlarge on repeat imaging or was negative for malignancy on repeat biopsy or surgery during the follow-up period. RESULTS Among 1418 LNs sampled, 479 from 228 patients met the search criteria, including 394 LN (82.3%) with the cytologic diagnosis of negative for malignant cells and 85 (17.8%) with a diagnosis of unsatisfactory. A total of 104 patients (45.6%) were followed with imaging, and 124 patients (54.3%) underwent repeat biopsy/surgery. A total of 445 LNs met the definition of a true-negative finding, resulting in an overall NPV of 92.9% (95% confidence interval [95% CI], 90.6%-95.2%). The NPVs of a negative and unsatisfactory diagnosis were 93.9% (95% CI, 91.6%-96.3%) and 88.2% (95% CI, 81.4%-95.1%), respectively. CONCLUSIONS The vast majority of LNs with a cytologic diagnosis of negative and unsatisfactory were likely to be true-negative findings. In these patients, a more conservative approach to follow-up may be appropriate. Cancer (Cancer Cytopathol) 2015;123:92–97. © 2014 American Cancer Society.
An adaptive and integrated multimodal sensing and processing framework for long range moving object detection and classification

In applications such as surveillance, inspection and traffic monitoring, long-range detection and classification of targets (vehicles, humans, etc) is a highly desired feature for a sensing system. A single modality will no longer provide the required performance due to the challenges in detection and classification with low resolutions, noisy sensor signals, and various environmental factors due to large sensing distances. Multimodal sensing and processing, on the other hand, can provide complementary information from heterogeneous sensor modalities, such as audio, visual and range sensors. However, there is a lack of effective sensing mechanisms and systematic approaches for sensing and processing using multimodalities. In this thesis, we described a systematical framework for Adaptive and Integrated Multimodal Sensing and Processing (thereafter, the AIM-SP framework) that integrates novel multimodal long-range sensors, adaptive feature selection and learning-based object detection and classification for achieving the goal of adaptive and integrated multimodal sensing and processing. Based on the AIM-SP framework, we have made three unique contributions. First, we have designed a novel multimodal sensor system called Vision-Aided Automated Vibrometry (VAAV), which is capable of automatically obtaining visual, range and acoustic signatures for moving object detection at a large distance. Second, multimodal data, acquired from multiple sensing sources, are integrated and represented in a Multimodal Temporal Panorama (MTP) for easy alignment and fast labeling. Accuracy of target detection can be improved using multimodalities. Further, a visual reconstruction method is developed to remove occlusions, motion blurs and perspective distortions of moving vehicles. With various types of features extracted on aligned multimodal samples, we made our third contribution on feature modality selection using two approaches. The first approach uses multi-branch sequential-based feature searching (MBSF) and the second one uses boosting-based feature learning (BBFL).
Sensory and Cooking Properties of Beef Steaks and Roasts Cooked with and without External Fat

The effects of removal of external fat prior to cooking on fat and moisture content and sensory properties of cooked beef lean were investigated. Twelve pairs of beef strip loin steaks, eye of round roasts, top round roasts, briskets and arm pot roasts fabricated from USDA Choice carcasses were used. True fat retention was also determined for 36 strip loin steaks trimmed to either 0, 0.6 or 1.3 cm external fat. Cooking yield and sensory traits were adversely affected, by the fat removal, only in those cuts (briskets and arm pot roasts) which were cooked by braising. Fat content of the cooked lean was numerically higher in all cuts cooked with an external fat layer. Retention of intramuscular fat was also higher in strip steaks cooked with an external fat layer.
Prediction of an orthorhombic phase of germanium

Abstract Based on ab initio total energy calculations, a body-centered orthorhombic structure (denoted Imma after its space group) is predicted to be a stable high-pressure phase of Ge for pressures between the transition pressures of the β-Sn and the simple hexagonal (sh) phases. This structure was recently observed in Si for pressures between the same two transitions. The energy of the Imma phase of Ge is found to be lower than or equal to the energy of the other two phases for all unit cell volumes. The structure of the Imma phase is shown to vary continuously with cell volume from a β-Sn-like structure at large volumes to the sh structure at small volumes, when all three structures are described in terms of the Imma unit cell.
Improving dynamic performance of the Geneva mechanism using non-linear spring elements

Abstract Among various mechanisms producing intermittent rotary motion, the Geneva mechanism is the simplest and most widely used for its accuracy and self-locking function. The main disadvantage in terms of dynamic property is the discontinuity in the acceleration at the start and the end of motion. This paper studies the possibility of using a linear or non-linear spring element between the slot and the driving pin to improve its dynamic performance. The improvements shown by computer simulation are positive and promising.
Urogenital nonunion—a rare anomaly associated with the undescended testis

Complete urogenital nonunion presenting as complete separation of the epididymis and testicle is a rare condition. The anomaly has an embryologic basis and frequently is associated with an undescended testis. We present a case of complete separation of the testis and epididymis found incidentally during an exploration of an undescended testicle palpable in the inguinal canal. We also provide a review of this topic and management strategies.
Constraining the gravitational binding energy of PSR J0737-3039B using terrestrial nuclear data

We show that the gravitational binding energy of a neutron star of a given mass is correlated with the slope of the nuclear symmetry energy at 1\char21{}2 times nuclear saturation density for equations of state without significant softening (i.e., those that predict maximum masses ${M}_{\mathrm{max}}g1.44{M}_{\ensuremath{\bigodot}}$ in line with the largest accurately measured neutron star mass). Applying recent laboratory constraints on the slope of the symmetry energy to this correlation we extract a constraint on the baryon mass of the lower mass member of the double pulsar binary system, PSR J0737-3039B. We compare with independent constraints derived from modeling the progenitor star of J0737-3039B up to and through its collapse under the assumption that it formed in an electron capture supernova. The two sets of constraints are consistent only if $L\ensuremath{\lesssim}$ 70 MeV.
Electric System Impacts of Storage Heating and Storage Water Heating - Part I of Two Parts (Background Information and Demonstration Description)

Customer energy storage offers a utility company a means to change electric energy use patterns, however, the costs and benefits to the utility and consumer are uncertain. As part of a national demonstration Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G) installed storage heating and storage water heating appliances in residential homes. These homes were monitored and compared to a group of similar homes using conventional appliances. The purpose of this two-part paper is to explore the possible design impacts on primary and secondary electrical distribution systems for two types of central ceramic residential storage heating systems. To explain the costs and benefits of storage heating and storage water heating, background information and a description of the demonstration are discussed in this part of the paper.