cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Frailty, Kidney Function, and Polypharmacy: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study.

Background Frail individuals are at increased risk for poor outcomes, including adverse drug events. Kidney function is often compromised in frailty and is a key consideration in medication choice and dosing; however, creatinine-based measures of kidney function may be biased in frail individuals. Study Design Observational study. Setting & Participants 4,987 community-dwelling older men and women with complete data who participated in visit 5 of the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study (2011-2013). Predictors Kidney measures included glomerular filtration rate (GFR) estimated using serum creatinine (eGFR cr ) and serum cystatin C level (eGFR cys ) and urine albumin-creatinine ratio. Outcome Frailty, defined using established criteria of 3 or more frailty characteristics (weight loss, slowness, exhaustion, weakness, and low physical activity). Results 341 (7%) participants were classified as frail, 1,475 (30%) had eGFR cr 2 , 2,480 (50%) had eGFR cys 2 , and 1,006 (20%) had albuminuria with albumin excretion ≥ 30mg/g. Among frail participants, prevalences of eGFR cr and eGFR cys 2 were 45% and 77%, respectively. Adjusted for covariates, frailty showed a moderate association with eGFR cr and a strong association with eGFR cys and albumin-creatinine ratio. Frail individuals with eGFR cr of 60 to 2 were frequently reclassified to lower eGFR categories using eGFR cys (49% to 45- 2 ). Hyperpolypharmacy (taking ≥10 classes of medications) was more common in frail individuals (54% vs 38% of nonfrail), including classes requiring kidney clearance (eg, digoxin) and associated with falls and subsequent complications (eg, hypnotic/sedatives and anticoagulants). Limitations Cross-sectional study design. Conclusions Frail individuals had a high prevalence of reduced kidney function, with large discrepancies when reduced kidney function was classified by eGFR cys versus eGFR cr . Given the substantial medication burden and uncertainty in chronic kidney disease classification, confirmation of kidney function with alternative biomarkers may be warranted to ensure careful prescribing practices in this vulnerable population.
Treatment of Systemic Primary Cutaneous Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma with High-Dose Methotrexate and Leucovorin Rescue.

A 59 year-old Caucasian male with a history of hepatitis C infection, presented in October 2003 with a painless skin lesion on his back. Physical examination revealed a 3 cm lesion on the back that resembled a sebaceous cyst, with similar lesions on the anterior aspects of both legs. A right inguinal lymph node was palpated as well, measuring approximately 2 cm. A wide surgical resection was performed on the back lesion due to its extensive nature at the time of surgery. Pathologic evaluation revealed a primary cutaneous anaplastic large cell lymphoma, measuring 12 cm x 5 cm in size. Immunohistochemical staining showed reactivity for CD30, CD3, UCHL-1, CD43 and CD45. Despite being asymptomatic, the patient had widespread disease on CT/PET scans, including diffuse lymphadenopathy, bony disease, and lung lesions. The patient was treated with weekly high-dose methotrexate at 2 grams/m 2 followed by leucovorin rescue for cycle 1 and dose-reduced for cycles 2 through 5 to 1 gram/m2 secondary to myelosuppression. For cycles 6 through 10, the patient was able to tolerate the original dose of 2 grams/m 2 . After eight cycles, the patient had complete resolution of all disease by clinical examination and by CT/PET scans, and has remained in complete remission since February 2004. The patient tolerated the chemotherapy well with myelosuppression being the most significant toxicity. He also had a transient increase in his liver enzymes after cycle 1 that resolved spontaneously. He is currently being treated for reactivation of hepatitis C with pegylated interferon and ribavirin. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of primary cutaneous anaplastic large cell lymphoma with systemic involvement being treated successfully with weekly high-dose methotrexate and leucovorin rescue with prolonged complete remission. Weekly high-dose methotrexate with leucovorin rescue is an active and well-tolerated regimen with limited side effects.
Rate theory on water exchange in aqueous uranyl ion

Abstract We report a classical rate theory approach to predict the exchange mechanism that occurs between water and aqueous uranyl ion. Using our water and ion-water polarizable force field and molecular dynamics techniques, we computed the potentials of mean force for the uranyl ion-water pair as a function of different pressures at ambient temperature. These potentials of mean force were used to calculate rate constants using transition rate theory; the transmission coefficients also were examined using the reactive flux method and Grote-Hynes approach. The computed activation volumes are positive; thus, the mechanism of this particular water-exchange is a dissociative process.
Experimental arrangement for measuring the high-strain-rate response of polymers under pressures

This study aims to investigate the high-strain-rate shear response of viscoelastic elastomeric coatings at large strains and under elevated levels of hydrostatic pressure. Results of this study shed light on the combined effects of deformation rate and pressure which might promote a transition from viscoelastic to glassy behavior. This work utilizes a Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar (SHPB) apparatus in conjunction with a customized version of the recently proposed Shear Compression Specimen (SCS) which consists of a polymer gage section with two metal ends that remain essentially rigid during deformation. Detailed finite element simulations were used to customize the adopted specimen, to determine its proper dimensions and promote its functionality. The customized specimen permits subjecting the tested specimen to a state of uniform pressure and shear stress, while allowing for measuring pressure, shear stress and shear strain directly. Results obtained using the customized specimen, which are included in this paper, illustrate its usefulness in measuring the effect of high-strain-rate, large strain and hydrostatic pressure on the shear stress-strain response of viscoelastic elastomers.
Eyelid: Lateral Canthopexy

Lateral canthal tendon disinsertion is an anatomical defect that can alter the dynamics of blinking and lacrimal pump function. The clinical features of lateral canthal tendon disinsertion include lateral canthal angle dystopia, incomplete apposition of the eyelid margins on closure, temporal eyelid imbrication on attempted lid closure, and/or pseudo upper eyelid retraction.
Treatment of Gabapentin Toxicity With Peritoneal Dialysis: Assessment of Gabapentin Clearance

Gabapentin is almost exclusively cleared by the kidney and thus presents challenges in patients with kidney failure. Gabapentin is known to be effectively cleared by hemodialysis, but the efficiency of clearance by peritoneal dialysis (PD) has not been previously described. We report a case of gabapentin toxicity in a patient on long-term PD who was treated with continuous automated cycling PD. We find that continuous PD provides significant clearance of gabapentin. With 2-L exchanges every 2 hours, we document an apparent elimination half-life of 41.33 hours, which is substantially shorter than the reported elimination half-life of 132 hours in the absence of kidney function. Further, our patient's symptoms of gabapentin toxicity gradually improved and had fully resolved after about 36 hours of dialysis. Gabapentin clearance by PD was estimated at 94% of urea clearance. We conclude that intensive PD provides gabapentin clearance that approximates that of urea and is an effective but slow method to treat gabapentin overdose and toxicity.
Dietary histidine requirement and physiological effects of dietary histidine deficiency in juvenile red drum Sciaenop ocellatus

Abstract In order to develop nutritious and cost-effective diets, the amino acid requirements of cultured fish species must be quantified. Several indispensable amino acid requirements of red drum Sciaenops ocellatus have already been reported; however, its requirement for histidine (His) has yet to be quantified. The aims of the present studies were to determine the minimum dietary His requirement of juvenile red drum and the physiological effects of His deficiency. A basal diet was prepared using lyophilized red drum muscle as an intact protein (10.5% of dietary protein) supplemented with crystalline amino acids (excluding His) to provide a total of 35% crude protein (CP) in the diet. Five isonitrogenous and isoenergetic experimental diets were prepared by supplementing the basal diet (0.3 g His/100 g dry diet) with increasing amounts of His (0.5, 0.7, 0.9, 1.1, 1.3 g/100 g dry diet). These diets were fed to triplicate tanks of juvenile red drum (initial average weight of 0.98 ± 0.08 g/fish) for 6 weeks in feeding trial 1 to quantify the minimum dietary His requirement. His level had significant effects on relative weight gain, feed efficiency ratio, protein efficiency ratio, and plasma free His. According to quadratic broken-line regression on relative weight gain percentage, the dietary His requirement was 0.59 (± 0.15) g/100 g dry diet (1.6% of CP). Feeding trial 2 was performed to further examine His deficiency in red drum. In that trial, the basal diet and a His-supplemented diet (~ 1.2 g/100 g dry diet) were fed to juvenile red drum (initial average weight of 1.53 ± 0.08 g/fish) in triplicate tanks for 8 weeks. Cataracts were found in 16.7% of eyes from fish fed the basal diet while no fish in the supplemented group developed cataracts. His-supplemented fish were found to have higher erythrocyte fragility than those fed the basal diet. Based on these results, the His requirement of red drum was defined and His deficiency was observed to affect blood parameters and increase the possibility of cataract development.
Applying a Cognitive Neuroscience Perspective to Disruptive Behavior Disorders: Implications for Schools.

A cognitive neuroscience perspective seeks to understand behavior, in this case disruptive behavior disorders (DBD), in terms of dysfunction in cognitive processes underpinned by neural processes. ...
Isolation of Highly Purified Yeast Nuclei for Nuclease Mapping of Chromatin Structure

Probing chromatin structure with nucleases is a well-established method for determining the accessibility of DNA to gene regulatory proteins and measuring competency for transcription. A hallmark of many silent genes is the presence of translationally positioned nucleosomes over their promoter regions, which can be inferred by the sensitivity of the underlying DNA to nucleases, particularly micrococcal nuclease. The quality of this data is highly dependent upon the nuclear preparation, especially if the digestion products are analyzed by high-resolution detection methods such as reiterative primer extension. Here we describe a method to isolate highly purified nuclei from the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and the use of micrococcal nuclease to map the positions of nucleosomes at the RNR3 gene. Nuclei isolated by this procedure are competent for many of the commonly used chromatin mapping and detection procedures.
In Vitro Reconstitution and Affinity Purification of Catalytically Active Archaeal Box C/D sRNP Complexes

Archaeal box C/D RNAs guide the site‐specific 2′‐O‐methylation of target nucleotides in ribosomal RNAs and tRNAs. In vitro reconstitution of catalytically active box C/D RNPs by use of in vitro transcribed box C/D RNAs and recombinant core proteins provides model complexes for the study of box C/D RNP assembly, structure, and function. Described here are protocols for assembly of the archaeal box C/D RNP and assessment of its nucleotide modification activity. Also presented is a novel affinity purification scheme that uses differentially tagged core proteins and a sequential three‐step affinity selection protocol that yields fully assembled and catalytically active box C/D RNPs. This affinity selection protocol can provide highly purified complex in sufficient quantities not only for biochemical analyses but also for biophysical approaches such as cryoelectron microscopy and X‐ray crystallography.
The Phenomenology of Agency and Deterministic Agent Causation

On one widespread conception, in any situation in which I am deliberating about what to do, I will have a number of distinct options for action or refraining from acting, and these options are genuinely available to me in a sense that requires the absence of causal determination by factors beyond my control. This libertarian conception reflects a core sense of freedom of the will. Some have argued that this ability is reflected in the phenomenology of many of our actions, and thus that the phenomenology of agency might be taken to support the view that we have free will in a libertarian sense. Others have suggested in addition that the phenomenology of agency at least prima facie conflicts with the influential state- or event-causal theory of action, championed by Donald Davidson (J Philos 60:685–700, 1963), among others. The phenomenology appears to reveal that in paradigm cases, actions are caused not solely by events or states, but are rather actively caused by agents themselves. The conclusion one might draw is that the phenomenology supports agent-causal libertarianism. I will argue that the phenomenology does not strongly support a libertarian conception of agency, but that together with further theoretical considerations it does substantiate agent-causation by contrast with state-causation or non-causation of action in paradigm cases of action. In accord with these claims, I explore the sort of compatibilist or determinist agent-causal theory defended by Ned Markosian (Pacific Philos Q 80:257–277, 1999, Philos Stud 157:383–398, 2010) and Dana Nelkin (Making sense of freedom and responsibility. Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2011).
Discrete Reconstruction Alphabets in Discrete Memoryless Source Rate-Distortion Problems

We show two discrete memoryless source (DMS) rate-distortion (R-D) problems with continuous alphabets where the optimal reconstruction distributions are discrete. The first problem is a Gaussian distributed source with square error distortion but a peak-limited reconstruction alphabet. The second is a source distribution related to the generalized inverse Gaussian (GIG) distribution with a certain distortion measure.
Modulation of E-cadherin and N-cadherin expression levels in human prostate cancer cells based on tumor microenvironment

2790 Background: Metastasis is a multi-step processes wherein tumor cells must be able to move from the primary tumor, disseminate throughout the body, and survive to grow in the ectopic locale. During the initial invasion stage, prostate carcinoma cells undergo epithelial mesenchymal-like transition with gain of mesencyhmal marker N-cadherin, and loss of epithelial marker E-cadherin. This switch in cell adhesion expression is thought to enable invasion and dissemination. Recently, several reports have shown that E-cadherin is reexpressed in met static tumors in various cancers including human prostate cancer. This suggests that EMT is not a linear progression, but transient transition conferring survival advantage to the metastasizing cancer cell. Therefore we sought to examine the role of N-cadherin expression in relation to E-cadherin reexpression within bone marrow stromal microenvironment. Methods: We utilized a human prostate EMT model containing lineage derived ARCaP E cells (express epithelial markers) and ARCaP M cells (express mesencyhmal markers) to delineate EMT associated events during metastasis. ARCaP E & M cells were cocultured with HS-27a human bone marrow cells for various time periods. Results: Immunocytochemistry of coculture revealed that ARCaP E & M and HS-27a cells express N-cadherin, without E-cadherin expression at day 1 and 2. However, as cocultures persist to day 4 and 6, N-cadherin expression remains in HS-27a cells; however is loss in both ARCaP E & M cells. This changes in cell adhesion expression were not seen in single cultures both cell types. Cell adhesion assay (CAFCA) demonstrated that N-cadherin siRNA pretreatment abrogated attachment of both ARCaP E & M cells to HS-27a cells. Conclusion: Both ARCaP E & M utilize N-cadherin to adhere to bone marrow stromal cells. However, this expression is transient with E-cadherin predominantly expressed at later time periods. Therefore, we conclude that ARCaP E & M cells exhibit phenotypic variability throughout tumor progression which is modulated by the tumor microenvironment
Impact of Checkpoint Inhibitor Pneumonitis on Survival in NSCLC Patients Receiving Immune Checkpoint Immunotherapy

With increasing use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) for advanced NSCLC, there is increasing recognition of immune-related adverse events associated with ICI use. We recently reported increased incidence of checkpoint inhibitor pneumonitis (CIP) in ICI-treated NSCLC patients. Since development of immune-related adverse events in other organ systems has been associated with either no change or even improvement in tumor response/cancer outcomes, we sought to better understand the impact of CIP development on overall survival in ICI-treated NSCLC patients. Using baseline and follow-up data collected on a cohort of 205 ICI-treated NSCLC patients, we used a multi-state modeling approach to understand the effect of developing CIP on the risk of death. We observed time-dependent changes in risk of developing and recovery from CIP, with an increased risk of both developing and recovering from CIP in the first year after initiating ICI. We found that developing CIP independently increased the risk of transitioning to death in both adjusted and unadjusted models. In the multivariate model, we found that the increase in mortality associated with CIP was only seen in patients with adenocarcinoma tumor histology. Collectively, these findings suggest that in NSCLC, development of CIP worsens survival in patients receiving immunotherapy.
Prognostic Significance of Mesenchymal Cell Colony Forming Units in Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid for Restrictive Chronic Lung Allograft Dysfunction

Purpose Restrictive chronic lung allograft dysfunction (rCLAD) is associated with decreased survival but individual prognosis remains variable. Increased numbers of colony-forming units (CFU) of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC)—the effector cells in fibroproliferation—derived from bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid have been associated with developing bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS). However, the prognostic significance of MSC in rCLAD is unknown. Methods We analyzed 82 BAL samples collected at CLAD onset and 82 paired CLAD free samples, matched on the basis of time-post transplant. MSC were quantified as CFU count per 2 × 106 cells in BAL and analyzed as were classified as BOS. CFU counts were compared using pair-wise Wicoxon rank-sum tests . Survival analyses were performed using a restricted means model and presented as Kaplan Meier curves . Results Average mesenchymal CFU counts were higher in samples from CLAD onset vs. CLAD free controls (10.99 vs. 4.37, p Conclusion rCLAD is associated with increased BAL MSC numbers, and higher mesenchymal CFU counts at time of CLAD onset are associated with progressive lung function decline and mortality. Mesenchymal CFU represent a biomarker for active fibroproliferation, which has implications for RAS pathogenesis and progression.
Dyadic Interventions for Cancer Survivors and Caregivers: State of the Science and New Directions

Objectives To describe caregiving and relationship challenges in cancer and the state of the science of dyadic interventions that target survivors and caregivers. Data Sources Narrative review. Conclusion Viewing the survivor-caregiver dyad as the unit of care may improve multiple aspects of survivor and caregiver quality of life. However, several questions remain regarding how, why, and for whom dyadic interventions are effective. Implications for Nursing Practice Nurses should consider survivor, caregiver, and relationship needs when formulating supportive care protocols. Screening for survivor distress and extending distress screening to caregivers is an important first step in providing comprehensive psychosocial care.
RCA-U-Net: Residual Channel Attention U-Net for Fast Tissue Quantification in Magnetic Resonance Fingerprinting

Magnetic resonance fingerprinting (MRF) is a relatively new imaging framework which allows rapid and simultaneous quantification of multiple tissue properties, such as T1 and T2 relaxation times, in one acquisition. To accelerate the data sampling in MRF, a variety of methods have been proposed to extract tissue properties from highly accelerated MRF signals. While these methods have demonstrated promising results, further improvement in the accuracy, especially for T2 quantification, is needed. In this paper, we present a novel deep learning approach, namely residual channel attention U-Net (RCA-U-Net), to perform the tissue quantification task in MRF. The RCA-U-Net combines the U-Net structure with residual channel attention blocks, to make the network focus on more informative features and produce better quantification results. In addition, we improved the preprocessing of MRF data by masking out the noisy signals in the background for improved quantification at tissue boundaries. Our experimental results on two in vivo brain datasets with different spatial resolutions demonstrate that the proposed method improves the accuracy of T2 quantification with MRF under high acceleration rates (i.e., 8 and 16) as compared to the state-of-the-art methods.
Anankastic conditionals are still a mystery

‘If you want to go to Harlem, you have to take the A train’ doesn’t look special. Yet a compositional account of its meaning, and the meaning of anankastic conditionals more generally, has proven an enigma. Semanticists have responded by assigning anankastics a unique status, distinguishing them from ordinary indicative conditionals. Condoravdi & Lauer (2016) maintain instead that “anankastic conditionals are just conditionals.” I argue that Condoravdi and Lauer don’t give a general solution to a well-known problem: the problem of conflicting goals. They rely on a special, “effective preference” interpretation for want on which an agent cannot want two things that conflict with her beliefs. A general solution, though, requires that the goals cannot conflict with the facts. Condoravdi and Lauer’s view fails. Yet they show, I believe, that previous accounts fail too. Anankastic conditionals are still a mystery. EARLY ACCESS
In situ electrosynthesis of anthraquinone electrolytes in aqueous flow batteries

We demonstrate the electrochemical oxidation of an anthracene derivative to a redox-active anthraquinone at room temperature in a flow cell without the use of hazardous oxidants or noble metal catalysts. The anthraquinone, generated in situ, was used as the active species in a flow battery electrolyte without further modification or purification. This potentially scalable, safe, green, and economical electrosynthetic method is also applied to another anthracene-based derivative and may be extended to other redox-active aromatics.
Passive Exotendon Spring Elements can replace Muscle Torque during Gait

Nowadays, exoskeletons are widely used as assistive tools during gait rehabilitation, implementing strategies such as gravity compensation and metabolic cost reduction. However, these devices often require the use of motors and controllers. Our research is driven by the need for a simple, inexpensive and customizable device, a passive exotendon able to provide a desired torque profile to multiple joints. In a simulation model study, we asked whether it was possible to use diagonal tension elements, which act mathematically as basis functions, in order to reproduce the torque field generated by a healthy person during walking. This would allow us to create a wearable exotendon system made of passive elastic elements able to deliver this torque field to the lower extremity of the patient during gait rehabilitation. Our results showed that it is indeed possible to create a passive torque field from elastic elements that approximates the muscular torque demand for the walking cycle. This represents a starting point for the design of a passive exotendon capable of providing assistive torques to patients with motor deficits, thus reducing the metabolic cost of walking.
Factorization of Locus Polynomials Using DGS

By investigation of locus equations we sometimes encounter problems with factorization of resulting polynomials. Commands on factorization of polynomials over the field of rational numbers are implemented in most mathematical software usually by the command factor. We can also use commands on factorization of polynomials over some extension of the field of rational numbers, for instance command AFactor in Maple. Factorization over real or complex numbers is much more difficult. In two examples we will show how to make factorization using dynamic geometry systems in such cases when related commands fail.
Bayesian analysis of output gap in Barbados

Abstract This article contributes to understanding the performance of various unobserved components (UC) models in fitting Barbados’ real GDP. Relying on recent UC models techniques, it finds support for the UC model that captures correlated disturbances, but not for the model that does not. The best model is the correlated UC model with two breaks: 1981 and 2008. Estimates show that the trend and cycle innovations are positively correlated. There is evidence suggesting that trend output growth has slowdown in the past decade. The Bayes factor result indicates that the GDP trend is better modeled as a stochastic process rather than a deterministic one.
A Quality Improvement Project to Reduce Events of Visitor Escalation in the Intensive Care Nursery.

Background Escalating and aggressive visitor behaviors have become increasingly common in healthcare settings nationally, negatively impacting staff and patients alike. Most healthcare providers do not innately possess the specific skills to manage such behaviors. Management of escalating and aggressive behaviors presents a particularly bedeviling challenge when staff safety must be balanced with the needs of parent-neonate bonding. Purpose In the Intensive Care Nursery (ICN), the frequency of aggressive and hostile incidents from visitors increased such that the staff felt frustrated by and uneasy about their work environment. Methods The ICN convened an interprofessional team to strategize interventions aimed at consistently managing aggressive behavior and supporting the staff after aggressive and/or hostile visitor encounters. Findings Following staff education and training, the unit launched a de-escalation management algorithm in July 2018 that assisted in identifying high-risk families at admission and drove consistent action and management of all visitor behaviors. In the 12 months following the intervention, the frequency of behavioral escalation decreased by 75% and staff perception of safety increased by 25%. Implications for practice Collaborating with staff to design consistent strategies to manage aggressive and escalating visitor behavior can improve safety and improve employee satisfaction in the ICN. Implications for research Additional research on the effectiveness of the algorithm in other ICNs and alternative areas of practice is needed. Furthermore, validation of a staff perception survey measuring the impact of escalating visitor behaviors on employees would be an important next step in this research.Video abstract available athttps://journals.lww.com/advancesinneonatalcare/Pages/videogallery.aspx?autoPlay=false&videoId=43.
Classifying bridges for the risk of fire hazard via competitive machine learning

This study presents a machine learning (ML) approach to identify vulnerability of bridges to fire hazard. For developing this ML approach, data on a series of bridge fires was first collected and then analyzed through three algorithms; Random forest (RF), Support vector machine (SVM) and Generalize additive model (GAM), competing to yield the highest accuracy. As part of this analysis, 80 steel bridges and 38 concrete bridges were assessed. The outcome of this analysis shows that the ML based proposed approach can be effectively applied to arrive at the risk based classification of bridges from a fire hazard point of view. In addition, the developed ML algorithms are also capable of identifying the most critical features that govern bridges vulnerability to fire hazard. In parallel, this study showcases the potential of integrating ML into structural engineering applications as a supporting tool for analysis (i.e. in lieu of experimental tests, advanced simulations, and analytical approaches). This work emphasizes the need to compile data on bridge fires from around the world into a centralized and open source database to accelerate the integration of ML in to fire hazard evaluation.
Effects of forage presentation and addition of molasses-based liquid feed on dairy calf dietary selection and feed sorting of mixed diets.

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to examine the effects of including a molasses-based liquid feed on sorting of a mixed diet of starter and hay, and to compare the nutrient composition of the ration consumed by calves offered hay and starter according to different feed presentations. Holstein bull and heifer calves were exposed for the first 8 wk of life to 1 of 3 feed presentation treatments: (1) starter and hay provided in separate buckets (n = 15), (2) a mixed diet of 80% starter and 20% hay (n = 16), or (3) a mixed diet containing the same ratio of starter and hay, with inclusion of 10% (as-is basis) liquid molasses (n = 14). Calves received 8 L/d of pasteurized waste milk and were weaned over a 10-d period beginning at 42 d of age. Intake was recorded daily and calves were weighed weekly. Fresh and refused feed were sampled on 3 consecutive days during wk 4 and 6 of the preweaning period and wk 8 immediately postweaning. Sorting was assessed through nutrient analysis of the feed samples, with additional sorting indices reflective of sorting for starter and hay components calculated based on weighted averages of individual nutrient intakes as a percent of predicated intakes. Dry matter intake and average daily gain did not differ among treatments. During the preweaning period, addition of molasses to the mixed diet did not affect the extent of feed sorting, with calves provided both mixed diets sorting, on average, in favor of starter and against hay. Postweaning, addition of molasses tended to reduce the extent of feed sorting, although calves on both treatments persisted in sorting for starter and against hay. Across treatments, there was an association between the pre- and postweaning extent of feed sorting, suggesting a degree of individual consistency in sorting behavior. Calves provided starter and hay separately consumed a diet consisting of approximately 18 to 19% hay preweaning and 14% hay postweaning, and generally had greater fiber intake and lower intake of nonfiber carbohydrates compared with calves provided a mixed diet. These results indicate that addition of molasses slightly reduced sorting during the postweaning period only. On average, calves provided both mixed diets sorted their feed in favor of starter and against hay, which mirrored dietary selection exhibited by calves offered hay and starter separately.
Exotic scattering features in plasmonic nanostructures

In this talk, I discuss our recent research activity in tailoring the scattering of nanostructures and metamaterials, with an emphasis on plasmonic phenomena. I will discuss unusual nano-optical responses associated with topological features, including embedded eigenstates, knots in the band diagram of arrays of plasmonic particles, and exotic scattering responses and absorption phenomena enabled by temporal variations. While our results in this context are mostly theoretical in nature, during the talk, I will also discuss the influence of loss and a path towards experimental verification of these concepts.
A chemoproteomics approach to profile phospholipase D-derived phosphatidyl alcohol interactions

Alcohol consumption leads to formation of phosphatidylethanol (PEth) via the transphosphatidylation activity of phospholipase D (PLD) enzymes. Though this non-natural phospholipid routinely serves as a biomarker of chronic alcoholism, its pathophysiological roles remain unknown. We use a minimalist diazirene alkyne alcohol as an ethanol surrogate to generate clickable, photoaffinity lipid reporters of PEth localization and lipid–protein interactions via PLD-mediated transphosphatidylation. We use these tools to visualize phosphatidyl alcohols in a manner compatible with standard permeabilization and immunofluorescence methods. We also use click chemistry tagging, enrichment, and proteomics analysis to define the phosphatidyl alcohol interactome. Our analysis reveals an enrichment of putative interactors at various membrane locations, and we validate one such interaction with the single-pass transmembrane protein basigin/CD147. This study provides a comprehensive view of the molecular interactions of phosphatidyl alcohols with the cellular proteome and points to future work to connect such interactions to potential pathophysiological roles of PEth.
The Inversion Kernel in Group Travel Time Tomography

Perturbative inversion of modal group travel time data has been investigated by a number of researchers for acoustic monitoring of large scale trends in the ocean’s thermal structure. In regions where adiabatic mode theory is applicable, the inverse problem for each vertical eigenmode consists of an integral equation whose kernel contains the eigenfunction and its frequency derivative. The frequency derivative of the eigenfunction is obtained from a singular two point boundary value problem. We illustrate kernel structure for the lowest 8 modes of three types of SSP’s, and also give the kernel correlation matrix, which connects the mode slowness perturbations with inverted sound slowness perturbation profiles.
SU-E-T-36: A GPU-Accelerated Monte-Carlo Dose Calculation Platform and Its Application Toward Validating a ViewRay Beam Model

Purpose: To build a fast, accurate and easily-deployable research platform for Monte-Carlo dose calculations. We port the dose calculation engine PENELOPE to C++, and accelerate calculations using GPU acceleration. Simulations of a Co-60 beam model provided by ViewRay demonstrate the capabilities of the platform. Methods: We built software that incorporates a beam model interface, CT-phantom model, GPU-accelerated PENELOPE engine, and GUI front-end. We rewrote the PENELOPE kernel in C++ (from Fortran) and accelerated the code on a GPU. We seamlessly integrated a Co-60 beam model (obtained from ViewRay) into our platform. Simulations of various field sizes and SSDs using a homogeneous water phantom generated PDDs, dose profiles, and output factors that were compared to experiment data. Results: With GPU acceleration using a dated graphics card (Nvidia Tesla C2050), a highly accurate simulation – including 100*100*100 grid, 3×3×3 mm3 voxels, <1% uncertainty, and 4.2×4.2 cm2 field size – runs 24 times faster (20 minutes versus 8 hours) than when parallelizing on 8 threads across a new CPU (Intel i7-4770). Simulated PDDs, profiles and output ratios for the commercial system agree well with experiment data measured using radiographic film or ionization chamber. Based on our analysis, this beam model is precise enough for general applications. Conclusions: Using a beam model for a Co-60 system provided by ViewRay, we evaluate a dose calculation platform that we developed. Comparison to measurements demonstrates the promise of our software for use as a research platform for dose calculations, with applications including quality assurance and treatment plan verification.
Human mesenchymal stem cells/multipotent stromal cells consume accumulated autophagosomes early in differentiation

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells/multipotent stromal cells (MSCs) are recruited to sites of injury and subsequently support regeneration through differentiation or paracrine activity. During periods of stress such as wound site implant or differentiation, MSCs are subjected to a variety of stressors that might activate pathways to improve cell survival and generate energy. In this study, we monitored MSC autophagy in response to the process of differentiation. MSC autophagosome structures were observed by using transmission electron microscopy and a tandem green fluorescent protein-red fluorescent protein autophagic flux reporter to monitor the mammalian microtubule-associated protein-1 light chain 3 (LC3) turnover in real time. MSCs were differentiated by using standard osteogenic and adipogenic media, and autophagy was examined during short-term and long-term differentiation via immunoblots for LC3I and II. Autophagy was modulated during differentiation by using rapamycin and bafilomycin treatments to disrupt the autophagosome balance during the early stages of the differentiation process, and differentiation was monitored in the long term by using Von Kossa and Oil Red O staining as well as quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis of typical differentiation markers. We found that undifferentiated MSCs showed an accumulation of a large number of undegraded autophagic vacuoles, with little autophagic turnover. Stimulation of autophagy with rapamycin led to rapid degradation of these autophagosomes and greatly increased rough endoplasmic reticulum size. Upon induction of osteogenic differentiation, MSC expression of LC3II, a common autophagosome marker, was lost within 12 hours, consistent with increased turnover. However, during adipogenic differentiation, drug treatment to alter the autophagosome balance during early differentiation led to changes in differentiation efficiency, with inhibited adipocyte formation following rapamycin treatment and accelerated fat accumulation following autophagosome blockade by bafilomycin. Our findings suggest that MSCs exist in a state of arrested autophagy with high autophagosome accumulation and are poised to rapidly undergo autophagic degradation. This phenotype is highly sensitive, and a balance of autophagy appears to be key in efficient MSC differentiation and function, as evidenced by our results implicating autophagic flux in early osteogenesis and adipogenesis.
Substructural Verification and Computational Feasibility

We refer to the intrinsic theories of [14, 17], a generic framework for uncoded reasoning about equational programs. In particular, a natural notion of provable functions corresponds to the provably recursive functions of Peano Arithmetic and similar systems. A natural-deduction formulation of these systems map directly, via a Curry-Howard morphism, to terms of the simply typed lambda calculus with recurrence, with a termination proof for a function f mapping to a representation of f.
Sobre el estado de excepción como cotidianidad: cultura y violencia en Colombia

Este articulo plantea una reflexion sobre el papel que juega el arte y la cultura en la reestructuracion intersubjetiva de procesos sociales, atravesados por dinamicas de violencia que se viven y se superponen en la vida cotidiana como estados de excepcion permanentes, construidos a partir del miedo, las sospecha y el terror.
Atomic Force Microscopy Measurements of Protein-Ligand Interactions on Living Cells

Cell adhesion receptors are expressed on the surface of cells and can mediate binding to other cells and to the extracellular matrix. Here, we describe in detail the use of atomic force microscopy (AFM)-based force spectroscopy for studying cell detachment forces on living leukocytes. With this technique it is now possible to measure force with resolution down to the level of individual molecules. AFM force spectroscopy is particularly well suited for research in cell adhesion, which has relevance in both the medical and life sciences including immunology, cancer and stem cell research, and human pharmacology. Along with its limitations, we herein, describe how the rupture force of a single complex formed between the integrin receptor leukocyte function-associated antigen (LFA)-1, expressed on the surface of a living leukocyte, and immobilized intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) was measured. With only minor modifications this protocol can be used to study other adhesion receptors on almost any mammalian cell or bacterial system. This protocol is also suitable for studying single-molecule de-adhesion events in cell-free systems as well as between two living cells.
A follow-up study of women with cancer: their psychosocial well-being and close relationships.

The psychological and social consequences of having a diagnosis of cancer can continue beyond the initial year of diagnosis. However, very few empirical studies examine the long-term adjustment of cancer survivors and the factors that promote survivors' well-being. This paper presents an 18 month follow-up study of 26 women who were treated for various types of cancer at a major medical center in the United States. They completed questionnaires during the initial treatment phase of the illness and 18 months later. The questionnaire consisted of standardized scales measuring relationship factors (i.e., mutuality, silencing-the-self schemas, and relationship-focused coping) and psychosocial well-being (i.e., quality of life, depression, self-care agency). The results of the follow-up study revealed that the women's psychosocial well-being changed for the better between Time 1 and Time 2, while their relationship factors remained constant. Only one relational factor, silencing-the-self beliefs, at Time 1, was significantly correlated with a well-being variable at Time 2. However, relationship factors at Time 2 were significantly correlated with psychosocial well-being at Time 2, indicating that relational factors continue to play a significant role in the sample's psychosocial adjustment.
On robust quickest detection procedures

Quickest detection procedures when underlying noise models are partially unknown are considered. We investigate robust quickest detectors of the maximin type, where the quantity to be optimized is an asymptotic performance measure relating the mean time between false alarms to the expected delay in detection. It is shown that the maximin asymptotic measure is equal to the Kullback-Leibler divergence. Consequently, the robust detector is obtained by maximizing the K-L divergence for the least favorable distribution in the allowable class. For the weak signal case, we show an equivalence between the performance measure, the classical efficacy, and Fisher's information. The weak signal robust detector is obtained by finding the least favorable distribution for Fisher's information. Performance curves are given to show the gains available when robustness is built into the detection procedure. >
Rayleigh-normalized Gaussian noise in blind signal fusion

This paper builds upon a previously defined fusion process that exploits multichannel receiver diversity to enhance received SNR. This particular diversity combiner aims to enhance SNR under the challenging constraints that channel gains are unknown, there is no direct knowledge of the transmitted signal, and no opportunity to precode the signal into a known waveform. Thus, fusion is blind in the sense that indirect techniques are invoked to intelligently weight each sample during fusion, and to measure the outcome. Having already established a critical threshold that determines whether fusion does or does not enhance SNR, this paper takes the next step by pursuing rigorous analytical development of a statistical noise model for the effects of the combiner. We provide the probability distributions of this noise, termed Rayleigh-normalized Gaussian. With the probability distributions in hand, we apply them to sample sets of various sizes to understand how the combiner behaves with each incremental sample. This allows us to investigate the likelihood that the critical threshold for SNR gain is met, relative to additional samples, as well as the likelihood of meeting arbitrary target SNR gains. We also develop an expression for the average power of the Rayleigh-normalized Gaussian noise variable.
One Hundred Years of Solitude : The Finale

The almost universal popularity of Gabriel Garcia Mârquez's One Hundred Years of Solitude may be explained in part by the fact that it is, among many other things, "one of the funniest books ever written." While critics have analyzed a number of the strategies that contribute to Solitude's often "dark" comedy—arguing that much of the humor is at the expense of the reader whose expectations concerning the plot, the tone, and the limits of reality are repeatedly undermined—no one, to my knowledge, has adequately explored how Garda Mârquez's rhetorical strategy of reducing metaphors to their literal meanings contributes to the absurd humor of the novel's "breath-taking" finale.
Protein crystallizations. The functional dependence of the nucleation rate on the protein concentration and the solubility

Abstract Crystallization of proteins is normally carried out in a four-component system of water, a buffer, protein and precipitant, either salt or alcohol. With four components, at fixed pH, temperature and pressure, it is possible to vary the protein concentration and its solubility independently, because the solubility is determined by the precipitant concentration. This degree of freedom is useful in crystallizing rabbit muscle aldolase and lysozyme because the nucleation rate is a function only of the total protein concentration and not of the protein solubility. Large crystals are obtained when both the protein concentration and the protein solubility are small. The small protein concentration suppresses the rate of nucleation, and the small solubility provides sufficient protein to grow large crystals on the few nuclei. Sometimes it is desirable to grow crystals from seeds, especially if a special crystal form is required. In this case also, homogeneous nucleation of an unfavorable form may be avoided for aldolase through the use of low protein concentration.
Balloon-Borne Infrared Measurements

The previous speakers have discussed the general aspects of atmospheric IR measurements. In this discussion I will emphasize atmospheric IR measurements made using a balloon platform. Currently available balloons will carry 500 kg instrumentation packages to 40 km almost routinely. This weight capability is of considerable advantage for IR measurements, and the balloon is a very good vehicle for making measurements up to these altitudes.
SOLAR COSMIC RAY EVENT OF SEPTEMBER 3, 1960

Solar cosmic ray event of september 1960 - delay propagation of ray through interplanetary space