cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
HSP70-Inducible hNIS-IRES-eGFP Reporter Imaging: Response to Heat Shock

A retroviral vector pQHSP70/hNIS-IRES-eGFP (pQHNIG70) was constructed containing the hNIS-IRES-eGFP dual-reporter genes under the control of an inducible human heat shock protein (HSP)70 promoter and RG2-pQHSP70/hNIS-IRES-eGFP (RG2-pQHNIG70) transduced cells were generated. Heat-induced expression of both reporter genes in RG2-pQHNIG70 cells was validated by enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) fluorescence-activated cell sorter, in vitro radiotracer assays, and immunoblot and immunocytochemistry. A 2.2- to 6.1-fold ( 131 I 2 ), a 6.1- to 14.4-fold ( 99m TcO4 2 ), and a 5.1- to 39-fold (fluorescence) increase above baseline was observed in response to graded hyperthermia (39–43uC). Increases in eGFP fluorescence and radiotracer uptake were first noted at 6 hours, reached a maximum at 24 hours, and fell toward baseline at 72 hours. A stable ratio of radiotracer uptake to eGFP fluorescence and to heat shock protein (HSP)70 protein was demonstrated over a wide range of expression levels, induced by different levels of heating. We also demonstrate that the local application of heat on RG2-pQHNIG70 xenografts can effectively induce hNIS and eGFP gene expression in vivo and that this expression can be efficiently visualized by fluorescence, scintigraphic, and micro–positron emission tomography imaging. Endogenous HSP70 protein and reporter expression was confirmed by postmortem tissue evaluations (immunoblot and immunohistochemistry). The pQHNIG70 reporter system can be used to study stress and drug responses in transduced cells and tissues.
Wideband feeds and low noise amplifiers for large arrays

The state of the art for feeds and LNAs with frequency ranges approaching one decade will be presented. These components reduce the cost of receivers required to cover a given frequency range and enable observations requiring large bandwidth such as spectral index measurements, search for spectral lines with unknown red shift, and detection of transient events. An example of a 2 to 12 GHz feed will be given and compared in efficiency with an octave band feed. Low noise amplifiers for the 0.5 to 12 GHz range utilizing HEMT and SiGe bipolar transistor will be described.
Estimating effective specific yield in inundated conditions: a comment on a recent application

Daniel L. McLaughlin,* Martha L. Carlson Mazur, David A. Kaplan and Matthew J. Cohen 1 School of Forest Resources and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA 2 Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA 3 School of Environmental Studies, Bellarmine University, Louisville, KY, 40205, USA 4 Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
Approximated mixed sensitivity reduction for SISO feedback systems

This paper proposes a controller synthesis method for single-input single-output (SISO) discrete-time systems by approximately minimizing an H/sup 2/-normed mixed sensitivity criterion. Operating in the discrete Fourier transform (DFT) domain, we construct an l/sup 2/-space vector minimization problem to approximate the original H/sup 2/ control problem. The dimension of the newly constructed problem equals to the number of the DFT points (N) chosen. The approximation in such a setting is sufficient for a reasonably small N due to the stability and short-duration characteristics of the elements involved in the problem formulation. The analytic solution of the I/sup 2/ problem is given, and the controller is constructed via the N Markov parameters associated with the analytic solution. Two examples are given to explain the proposed method.
Thermolysis of various energetic substances by exposure to adiabatically compressed gas

A transient thermal stimulus of 0.1 to 5.0 ms duration is delivered to the surface of a solid or liquid test substance by adiabatic compression and reexpansion of an inert gas. Pressures in the low...
Observed Ward Behavior Strongly Associated with Independent Living Skills: An Analysis of Convergent and Criterion-Related Validity of the NOSIE and the ILSI

Ratings of ward behavior and skill acquisition are important criteria for monitoring an individual’s recovery trajectory during inpatient psychiatric rehabilitation. This study compared data from the Nurses’ Observational Scale for Inpatient Evaluation (NOSIE) and the Independent Living Skills Inventory (ILSI) to identify relationships between ward behaviors and independent living skills and to support the convergent validity of these instruments. The criterion-related validity of the instruments in their relationships with time in program (TIP) and number of previous hospitalizations (#HOSP) was also investigated. NOSIE “positive” subscales were more strongly related to living skills than NOSIE “negative” subscales. The NOSIE and the ILSI predicted TIP and postdicted #HOSP equally well. Implications for assessment and recommendations for future research are discussed.
On the stability of self-consistent large-amplitude waves in a cold plasma. Part 2. Longitudinal waves in the absence of large-scale magnetic field

We demonstrate that self-consistent large-amplitude longitudinal waves in a cold plasma are unstable to at least transverse perturbations, with an instability growth rate which is roughly of the order of the plasma frequency of the system. The instability statements derived here are conservative, since modes not discussed may be more unstable.
Hadron production in hadron-nucleus and nucleus-nucleus collisions in the dual Monte Carlo multichain fragmentation model.

Hadron production in hadron-nucleus and nucleus-nucleus collisions is studied by a Monte Carlo version of the dual multichain fragmentation model. The model takes into account leading-order corrections due to the secondary interactions of low-energy secondaries inside the target nucleus. An empirical formation time parameter is introduced and used to decide which secondaries interact again inside the target. Data for the multiparticle production in proton-nucleus and oxygen-nucleus interactions at 200 GeV/nucleon from different experiments are well described by the model and consistent with a formation-time parameter of \ensuremath{\tau}c=2\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1 fm.
Exercises, projects, and solutions for a microprocessor-electronic interfacing laboratory course sequence

Twenty-eight laboratory exercises, four projects, and a solutions manual were developed to support the two semester laboratory course sequence. The practica use IBM style PCs with an ISA (Industry Standard Architecture) bus. Borland International's TASM (Turbo Assembler) 2.0 and Turbo C/C++ 3.0 are used to assemble and/or compile software used for the lessons.
CD4 memory T cells: What are they and what can they do?

Immunological memory provides the basis for successful vaccines. It is important to understand the properties of memory cells. There is much known about the phenotype and functions of memory CD8 T cells, less about memory B cells, while CD4 memory T cells have proved difficult to study. Differences in the types of memory CD4 cells studied and the difficulties of tracking the small number of cells have led to conflicting and unclear results. Here we discuss the different systems used to study CD4 memory cells and ask whether, and in what circumstances, memory CD4 cells could provide protection against infections.
Tracheal tube-tip displacement in children during head-neck movement—a radiological assessment

Background Aims of this study were to assess the maximum displacement of tracheal tube tip during head-neck movement in children, and to evaluate the appropriateness of the intubation depth marks on the Microcuff Paediatric Endotracheal Tube regarding the risk of inadvertent extubation and endobronchial intubation. Methods We studied children, aged from birth to adolescence, undergoing cardiac catheterization. The patients' tracheas were orally intubated and the tracheal tubes positioned with the intubation depth mark at the level of the vocal cords. The tracheal tube tip-to-carina distances were fluoroscopically assessed with the patient supine and the head-neck in 30° flexion, 0° neutral position and 30° extension. Results One hundred children aged between 0.02 and 16.4 yr (median 5.1 yr) were studied. Maximum tracheal tube-tip displacement after head-neck 30° extension and 30° flexion demonstrated a linear relationship to age [maximal upward tube movement (mm)=0 0.71×age (yr)+9.9 (R2=0.893); maximal downward tube movement (mm)=0.83×age (yr)+9.3 (R2=0.949)]. Maximal tracheal tube-tip downward displacement because of head-neck flexion was more pronounced than upward displacement because of head-neck extension. Conclusions The intubation depth marks were appropriate to avoid inadvertent tracheal extubation and endobronchial intubation during head-neck movement in all patients. However, during head-neck extension the tracheal tube cuff may become positioned in the subglottic region and should be re-adjusted when the patient remains in this position for a longer time.
Fetal Dandy-Walker malformation complicated by late third-trimester unilateral intraventricular hemorrhage.

Dandy-Walker malformation accounts for approximately 5% to 10% of congenital hydrocephalus cases and consists of 3 major abnormalities: cystic dilatation of the fourth ventricle, complete or partial agenesis of the cerebellarvermis, and hydrocephalus. 1,2 It appears that the development of this condition is primarily a delay or total failure of the foramen of Magendie to open, allowing a buildup of cerebrospinal fluid with development of the cystic dilatation of the fourth ventricle. Dandy-Walker malformation has been reported in a wide variety of syndromes, including various mendelian disorders, chromosome abnormalities (trisomies 9, 13, 18, and 21, triploidy, and others), and antenatal exposure to teratogens (rubella, cytomegalovirus, toxoplasmosis, warfarin sodium, alcohol, isotretinoin, and maternal diabetes).2 Associated structural anomalies, which may occur in between 69% and 75% of cases, include intracranial abnormalities (agenesis of the corpus callosum and defects of neuronal migration), congenital cardiac disease (atrial and ventricular septal defects, atrioventricular canal defect, and pulmonary stenosis), renal anomalies, facial clefts, and syndactyly. 3,4 We present an unusual case in which Dandy-Walker malformation was diagnosed ultrasonographically in a fetus at 34 weeks' gestation, who subsequently had a large unilateral intraventricular hemorrhage and marked neonatal thrombocytopenia after cesarean delivery. The association of an antepartum intraventricular hemorrhage in a fetus with Dandy-Walker malformation is unusual and may be worthy of further investigation.
Telecommunications: a boost for fibre optics.

A possible solution to the need to expand fibre-optic capacities presents itself in the form of a new way of amplifying the information-carrying light transmissions. But turning principle into practice will require more work.
Bipolarity and War: The Role of Capability Concentration and Alliance Patterns among Major Powers, 1816-1965:

This paper examines the relationship of war to power concentration and alliance configuration among the major powers. It does so by developing a theoretical argument from the literature on bipolari...
The July 2003 Dakota Hailswaths: Creation, Characteristics, and Possible Impacts

The authors investigate the meteorology associated with two elongated swaths of crop damage produced by severe hailstorms that crossed North Dakota and South Dakota on 4 July and 20 July 2003. These hailswaths, which were observed in a Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) image time series, each persisted for more than a month and were associated with local temperature increases, presumably owing to the enhanced Bowen ratio over dry, crop-free ground. This paper documents the creation and evolution of the convective storms that produced the hailswaths, and then presents evidence that devegetated hailswaths may impact future convective weather. Idealized numerical simulations including hailswath-like surface anomalies, as well as analogies to the extant literature, suggest that hailswaths may play a part in initiating new convective clouds, especially when the low-level winds are parallel to their long axes. Analyses of conventional operational observations also show that the 4 July hailswath may have played a part in the initiation and intensification of a convective storm on 17 July and in the temporarily deviant motion of a convective storm that crossed it on 20 July. Because devegetated hailswaths are common to the central and northern plains during the summer months, and because they have heretofore received little study, a deeper understanding of hailswaths’ impacts upon moist convection may lead to improved short-term weather prediction.
Emulsion polymerization of styrene: Nucleation studies with nonionic emulsifier

The nucleation mechanism of styrene emulsion polymerization in the presence of the nonionic surfactant Emulphogene BC-840 was investigated. It was found that the conversion-time curves of this system show two rate regions. The change in rate occurs at ca. 40% conversion. Second-stage nucleation leads to a faster rate and consequently to a bimodally dispersed latex. The particle size distribution is relatively narrow before 40% conversion. The bimodally dispersed latex shows a bimodal molecular weight distribution in gel permeation chromatography and the results from fractional “creaming” of the latex indicate that the small-size particles contain the higher-molecular-weight polymer.
Geographic variation in epidural steroid injection use in medicare patients.

Background: The rates of epidural steroid injections have increased dramatically over time, with conflicting evidence regarding the efficacy of epidural steroid injections for the treatment of various low-back pain disorders. Given the uncertainty about their role, we sought to evaluate the geographic variation in the use of epidural steroid injections for low back pain within the United States. We also sought to determine whether greater rates of epidural steroid injections are associated with lower rates of lumbar surgery. Methods: We used the 2001 Medicare Physician Part-B claims to examine the geographic variation in the use of epidural steroid injections. Current Procedural Technology codes were used to identify the number of procedures performed as well as the percentage of injections that were fluoroscopically guided. Procedure rates were analyzed with use of several geographic indicators, including state, United States Census Bureau regions (Northeast, South, Midwest, and West), and health referral regions as defined by the Dartmouth Atlas of Health Care. Results: In 2001, there was a 7.7-fold difference between the state with the lowest rate (Hawaii at 5.2 per 1000) and the state with the highest rate (Alabama at 39.9 per 1000). The variation among health referral regions, which are smaller in size, was even greater, with an 18.4-fold difference from 5.6 per 1000 in Honolulu, Hawaii, to 103.6 per 1000 in Palm Springs, California. Higher statewide rates of epidural steroid injections were associated with significantly higher rates of lumbar surgery (p = 0.001). In areas with high injection rates, a significantly higher percentage of patients who sought care for low back pain received injections (p < 0.001). In addition, in areas with high injection rates, a significantly higher percentage of patients who presented with low back pain received both injections and lumbar surgery within the same year (p < 0.001). Conclusions: There is substantial geographic variation in the rates of epidural steroid injections within the United States. Southern states tend to have the highest procedure rates, whereas northeastern states have the lowest. Injection rates are positively correlated with lumbar surgery rates; therefore, epidural steroid injections do not appear to be substituting for lumbar surgeries or reducing overall rates of lumbar surgery.
Children's and adults' judgments of equitable resource distributions

This study explored the criteria that children and adults use when evaluating the niceness of a character who is distributing resources. Four- and five-year-olds played the ‘Giving Game’, in which two puppets with different amounts of chips each gave some portion of these chips to the children. Adults played an analogous task that mimicked the situations presented to children in the Giving Game. For all groups of participants, we manipulated the absolute amount and proportion of chips given away. We found that children and adults used different cues to establish which puppet was nicer: 4-year-olds focused exclusively on absolute amount, 5-year-olds showed some sensitivity to proportion, and adults focused exclusively on proportion. These results are discussed in light of their implications for equity theory and for theories of the development of social evaluation.
Depression and cardiovascular disease in women

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in men and women in the United States. Despite this statistic, many women believe they are more likely to die of breast cancer than heart disease. Moreover, epidemiologic studies have identified sex-based differences in the risk factors, evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of patients with cardiovascular disease. Depression and symptoms of depression are common in patients with coronary heart disease. The association between depression and cardiovascular disease in women has been the focus of research in recent years. This article addresses sex differences in cardiovascular disease and the impact of depression.
Cross sections for alpha particles colliding with oxygen ions: Loss of alpha heating in Tokamak plasmas

Abstract The classical-trajectory Monte-Carlo method has been used to calculate the electron capture and impact ionization cross sections for alpha particles (He ++ ) colliding with O + q ( q = 3,4,5) in the energy range 0.25 to 1.0 MeV amu .
A time-of-flight spectrometer for neutrons from 1 to 500 MeV

Abstract A self-contained time-of-flight spectrometer has been developed for neutrons from 1 to about 500 MeV. The spectrometer consists basically of two scintillation counters. The principle of the spectrometer requires an incident neutron to scatter elastically from a proton in the first scintillator, travel over a known flight-path, and interact in the second scintillator. The time interval between the scintillation pulses in the two detectors is the time-of-flight of the scattered neutron. Kinematically, the kinetic energy of the incident neutron is specified in terms of the scattering angle, the flight-path, and the flight-time of the scattered neutron. The intrinsic time dispersion of the system is 2.2 ns (fwhm) with a 2 1 2 ″ diam. by 2 1 2 ″ high first scintillator and a 9″ diam. by 8″ thick second scintillator. For a mean flight-path of 4 m between these two scintillators, the energy resolution of the spectrometer varies from about 7 to 20% and the spectrometer efficiency varies from about 2×10−5 to 8×10−7 over the range of energies from 10 to 500 MeV. The background from interactions of neutrons above about 15 MeV with carbon nuclei in the first scintillator is subtracted by measuring the spectrum twice with first scintillators differing significantly in their relative hydrogen-carbon composition. Measurements with monoenergetic neutrons at 14 MeV confirm the resolution and efficiency of the spectrometer at low energies. Measurements with monoenergetic neutrons at 220 MeV verify the resolution of the spectrometer at this energy and demonstrate the technique for subtracting the carbon background. Recently, we have measured neutron spectra from 740 MeV proton bombardment of a 30 cm thick uranium target over the energy range from 1 to 500 MeV. In each of these measurements, the count rate of real events was typically a count/s, and the chance coincidence count rate was of the same order of magnitude.
Multimode Reconfigurable Digital $\Sigma\Delta$ Modulator Architecture for Fractional- $N$ PLLs

This brief presents the analysis, design, and implementation of a multimode reconfigurable digital Sigma-Delta (ΣΔ) modulator for use in fractional-N phase-locked loops. Analysis of second-, third-, and fourth-order modulators with respect to PLL phase noise contribution in the presence of loop nonlinearities is performed. Optimal architectures in each order are found and a single reconfigurable modulator is designed and implemented on FPGA. The proposed architecture is able to cover seven different modes of operation and spans three orders, thus offering a great degree of noise-shaping flexibility suitable for multistandard wireless applications. A case study for LTE/WiMAX is further presented for demonstration.
Soybean Trypsin Inhibitor Attenuates Ischemic Injury to the Feline Small Intestine

Abstract Recent evidence suggests that oxygen free radicals are largely responsible for the increased vascular permeability and early mucosal lesions associated with partial intestinal ischemia. It is postulated that oxygen radicals are produced by the reaction of the enzyme xanthine oxidase with hypoxanthine and molecular oxygen. In normal healthy cells, xanthine oxidase exists as a nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide-reducing dehydrogenase and not the oxygen radical-producing oxidase. In the intestine, dehydrogenase-to-oxidase conversion is nearly complete with
Simulation for higher education sustainability

We consider the paradigm of sustainability in higher education as a computational problem to analyze the numerical values of institutional goal dynamics and the possibility to reach their rational balance. We suggest using a simulation approach to tie up the institutional goals, a set of traditional institutional internal subsystems (faculty, students, educational technology, administrative structure) and a set of external requests. We propose using a united approach for formalization of sustainability components/systems and their relationships that will be independent from the specificity of a particular system. This approach can be represented as a hierarchy of the system models and includes several levels with various details of granularity/complexity. We created several simulation models to demonstrate how the simulation approach can be applied for educational studies of sustainability at an actual fast-growing US higher education institution.
A Microbial Arsenic Cycle in Sediments of an Acidic Mine Impoundment: Herman Pit, Clear Lake, California

ABSTRACTThe involvement of prokaryotes in the redox reactions of arsenic occurring between its +5 [arsenate; As(V)] and +3 [arsenite; As(III)] oxidation states has been well established. Most research to date has focused upon circum-neutral pH environments (e.g., freshwater or estuarine sediments) or arsenic-rich “extreme” environments like hot springs and soda lakes. In contrast, relatively little work has been conducted in acidic environments. With this in mind we conducted experiments with sediments taken from the Herman Pit, an acid mine drainage impoundment of a former mercury (cinnabar) mine. Due to the large adsorptive capacity of the abundant Fe(III)-rich minerals, we were unable to initially detect in solution either As(V) or As(III) added to the aqueous phase of live sediment slurries or autoclaved controls, although the former consumed added electron donors (i.e., lactate, acetate, hydrogen), while the latter did not. This prompted us to conduct further experiments with diluted slurries using t...
The Coast Guard Advances its Arctic Readiness in 2015, But Challenges Remain

In 2015, as the United States assumed its two-year chairmanship of the Arctic Council, the U.S. Coast Guard planned and executed a number of initiatives to advance maritime safety, security, and stewardship mission readiness in the Arctic. Yet the failure of Congress to provide the level of support necessary for the Coast Guard to adequately recapitalize its small and aging polar icebreaker fleet casts doubt on the service’s ability to fully meet its mandate to provide year-round, assured access and self-rescue in the polar regions. Hopefully, that trend will be reversed in the coming years.
Adequacy of Cow Milk as a Source of Magnesium for Rats

Duncan, Huffman and Robinson1 reported that calves restricted to whole milk diets alone, or supplemented with iron, copper and manganese, eventually manifest tetany which is indistinguishable from tetany in rats on a magnesium-low diet.2 The tetany was prevented and serum magnesium was restored to normal by the administration of magnesium carbonate or magnesium oxide.3 Since the content of magnesium in milk appears to be rather low, in relation to the calcium and phosphorus, it is possible that prolonged restriction to milk diets of young of other species might eventuate in magnesium deficiency, as suggested by Schmidt and Greenberg.4 According to data cited by Cox and Mueller,5 milk of cows and humans may contain about 0.013 and 0.005% magnesium respectively. Analyses of rat milk gave 0.031% magnesium.5But in several investigations rats have been reared to adulthood on cow milk supplemented with iron and copper and in no instance have symptoms been reported which indicate the occurrence of magnesium defi...
Greg Scholes Takes over as Deputy Editor of JPC Letters

A noted in an Editorial last month, Prashant Kamat has now left JPC Letters to become the Editor-in-Chief of a new ACS journal, ACS Energy Letters. Prashant did a terrific job for JPC, first as Senior Editor and then taking over as Deputy Editor when JPCL was founded in 2010. We wish him well in his new position. I am delighted to announce that Greg Scholes has taken over as Deputy Editor in his place. Greg is currently the William S. Tod Professor of Chemistry at Princeton University, and he has been Senior Editor of JPC since 2009 and of JPCL since 2011. Dr. Scholes is a distinguished researcher who has contributed important research in several areas that relate to JPC, including both theory and experiment as related to photoprocesses in biological systems and materials. He has contributed important results concerning processes in solar energy conversion, in photopolymers, and in semiconductor nanocrystals. Among his accomplishments are key insights concerning the importance of coherence in the light-harvesting mechanism in photosynthesis and seminal contributions concerning multidimensional electronic spectroscopy. These accomplishments demonstrate the breadth and depth that Greg brings to this position, and it indicates the leadership that we can expect from Greg in his new role. Please join me in welcoming Greg to this important position. George Schatz The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters grew and flourished under the leadership of Prashant Kamat. He was incredibly successful at building a high impact factor and, at the same time, expediting publication. This has been made possible in part by optimizations and the enthusiasm introduced by Prashant in collaboration with the ACS publications team and particularly by the support from superb authors, referees, and editors. Editors are engaged in the science of our authors and work as a team to ensure consistent high quality and articles sent for review. There are many nuancesas well as positives and negativesto this entire process, which is a broad challenge for the journal. Nevertheless, the net result is important because it rewards authors and inspires readers. Overall, JPCL has become a journal of choice for reporting the leading edge of physical chemistry research, and it is thereby well-positioned to help authors shape the future of our field. With that in mind, an opportunity is to work out new ways to highlight exceptional papers in each issue in order to promote that research and its consequences to a wider readership. I am delighted to have the chance to help the journal, and I look forward to working with a terrific JPCL team, authors, and referees to promote and enhance the field of physical chemistry. Greg Scholes George C. Schatz Northwestern University, Evanston Illinois 60201, United States Greg Scholes Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, United States ■ AUTHOR INFORMATION Notes Views expressed in this editorial are those of the author and not necessarily the views of the ACS.
Miniaturization - Looking back to look ahead

For the last several years, there has been an upsurge of interest in miniaturizing spacecraft for all types of applications. The high cost of launch, breakthroughs in miniature technology, and ever-increasing budget constraints have combined to produce an unprecedented concentration on the “faster-better-cheaper” philosophy. Since a major part of this approach is to shrink spacecraft and their components as much as possible, it’s important to realize that spacecraft miniaturization is not a new concept. The same challenge was addressed and solved in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Over thirty years ago, the U.S. flew electronic intelligence spacecraft weighing under 20 kilograms (kg); science satellites as small as 1 kg: and small satellites for weather, navigation, radiation detection, and the monitoring of nuclear tests. All this was done with technology now considered more Stone Age than Space Age. The reason for looking back at this “primitive” era is that the challenges involved were the same as today’s. Constrained by boosters of very limited capacity, satellite designers had no choice but to pare missions down to, their essential functions, devise ingenious technical shortcuts, and push miniaturization technology as far as it could go. This paper traces the heritage of miniature spacecraft technology from those distant beginnings to the present day. While there were and are some limits to miniaturization, understanding how far we’ve come enables us to see just what we can do with small spacecraft and how much more could be done applying the same philosophy but using the technology of the 21”’ century.
Glutamate oxidation by trophoblasts in vitro

Catabolism of uniformly and 1-14C-labeled glutamate was investigated in human placental cytotrophoblasts and syncytiotrophoblasts cultured on uncoated plastic or a fibrin matrix. Product-labeling experiments resulted in 14C incorporation into carbon dioxide and tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates. 14C incorporation above background was not detected for the putative products, glutamine, amino acids, glutathione, and protein. Inhibitors of specific metabolic pathways were used to elucidate the routes of glutamate oxidation. Incorporation of 14C into carbon dioxide from [1-14C]glutamate was inhibited by the glutamate dehydrogenase inhibitor pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid and aminotransferase inhibitor aminooxyacetic acid. Production of 14CO2 was higher for syncytiotrophoblast compared with cytotrophoblast and for cells on uncoated plastic compared with a fibrin matrix. Oxidation of glutamate was unaffected by added glutamine as high as 2 mM. The primary route of glutamate metabolism by placental trophoblast in vitro is oxidation to carbon dioxide utilizing both the transferase and deamination pathways.
An Ecological Approach to Racial Environments and Their Relationship to Mental Health

Although research has demonstrated that aspects of racial environments such as racial experiences and racial diversity can relate to psychological health and well-being, few studies have examined what specifically happens when individuals move from one racial environment to another. The present study asked 179 African Americans transitioning to a predominantly white institution (freshmen or junior transfers) about racial diversity (percentage of African Americans) at their prior institution, racial experiences at their prior institution, and racial experiences at the current institution and examined how these characteristics related to self-reported depression. Overall, we found that more negative previous racial experiences predicted greater depressive symptoms in college. Results also revealed a significant three-way interaction such that more positive current racial experiences predicted less depressive symptoms, but only for those students coming from predominantly negative racial environments—low racial diversity and more negative racial experiences. Our findings highlight the complex role of past and present racial environmental factors in influencing psychological health. Implications for African American college students’ success and well-being are discussed.
Finding Diagnostic Errors in Children Admitted to the PICU.

Objectives: To determine whether the Safer Dx Instrument, a structured tool for finding diagnostic errors in primary care, can be used to reliably detect diagnostic errors in patients admitted to a PICU. Design and Setting: The Safer Dx Instrument consists of 11 questions to evaluate the diagnostic process and a final question to determine if diagnostic error occurred. We used the instrument to analyze four “high-risk” patient cohorts admitted to the PICU between June 2013 and December 2013. Patients: High-risk cohorts were defined as cohort 1: patients who were autopsied; cohort 2: patients seen as outpatients within 2 weeks prior to PICU admission; cohort 3: patients transferred to PICU unexpectedly from an acute care floor after a rapid response and requiring vasoactive medications and/or endotracheal intubation due to decompensation within 24 hours; and cohort 4: patients transferred to PICU unexpectedly from an acute care floor after a rapid response without subsequent decompensation in 24 hours. Interventions: Two clinicians used the instrument to independently review records in each cohort for diagnostic errors, defined as missed opportunities to make a correct or timely diagnosis. Errors were confirmed by senior expert clinicians. Measurements and Main Results: Diagnostic errors were present in 26 of 214 high-risk patient records (12.1%; 95% CI, 8.2–17.5%) with the following frequency distribution: cohort 1: two of 16 (12.5%); cohort 2: one of 41 (2.4%); cohort 3: 13 of 44 (29.5%); and cohort 4: 10 of 113 (8.8%). Overall initial reviewer agreement was 93.6% (κ, 0.72). Infections and neurologic conditions were the most commonly missed diagnoses across all high-risk cohorts (16/26). Conclusions: The Safer Dx Instrument has high reliability and validity for diagnostic error detection when used in high-risk pediatric care settings. With further validation in additional clinical settings, it could be useful to enhance learning and feedback about diagnostic safety in children.
The impact of agricultural cooperatives membership on the wellbeing of smallholder farmers: empirical evidence from eastern Ethiopia

This study evaluated the impact of agricultural cooperative membership on the wellbeing of smallholder farmers using cross-sectional data collected from the eastern part of Ethiopia. Using consumption per adult equivalent as a wellbeing indicator, we measured the impact of agricultural cooperative membership by implementing propensity score matching and endogenous switching regression estimation techniques. Both estimation methods indicate that joining agricultural cooperatives has a positive impact on the wellbeing of smallholder farmers. Furthermore, the analysis also indicates that agricultural cooperative membership has a heterogeneous impact on wellbeing among its members.
UVO-tunable superhydrophobic to superhydrophilic wetting transition on biomimetic nanostructured surfaces.

A novel strategy for a tunable sigmoidal wetting transition from superhydrophobicity to superhydrophilicity on a continuous nanostructured hybrid film via gradient UV-ozone (UVO) exposure is presented. Along a single wetting gradient surface (40 mm), we could visualize the superhydrophobic (θH2O > 165° and low contact angle hysteresis) transition (165 ° > θH2O > 10 °) and superhydrophilic (θH2O < 10° within 1 s) regions simply through the optical images of water droplets on the surface. The film is prepared through layer-by-layer assembly of negatively charged silica nanoparticles (11 nm) and positively charged poly(allylamine hydrochloride) with an initial deposition in a fractal manner. The extraordinary wetting transition on chemically modified nanoparticle layered surfaces with submicrometer- to micrometer-scale pores represents a competition between the chemical wettability and hierarchical roughness of surfaces as often occurs in nature (e.g., lotus leaves, insect wings, etc).
Pre-employment costs associated with H-2A agricultural workers and the effects of the ‘60-minute rule’

Agricultural employers increasingly are turning to the foreign guest worker program, known as H-2A, as a means to secure a legal workforce. This paper outlines the procedural aspects and costs of recruiting and hiring H-2A workers. Cost data is from a 2014 survey of citrus harvesters and defines pre-employment costs as filing fees, advertising, surety bonds, travel, and housing. The pre-employment costs associated with guest workers are estimated to be nearly $ 2,000 per worker. The survey was motivated by the ‘60-minute rule’ imposed by the U.S. Department of Labor prior to the 2012-13 citrus harvesting season. Cost data were collected across two crop season, 2012-13 and 2013-14, to analyze the cost implications of the rule. We found that the 60-minute rule significantly increased filing fees. These fees, however, represent a very small share of total costs and overall pre-employment costs associated with the H-2A program did not significantly change.
Genetic Algorithm Based Beta-Barrel Detection for Medium Resolution Cryo-EM Density Maps

Cryo-electron microscopy (Cryo-EM) is a technique that produces three-dimensional density maps of large protein complexes and enables the study of the interactions and structures of those molecules. Identifying the secondary structures (α-helices and β-sheets) located in proteins using density maps is vital in identifying and matching the backbone of the protein with the cryo-EM density map. The β-barrel is a unique β-sheet structure commonly found in proteins, such as membranes and lipocalins. We present a new approach utilizing a genetic algorithm and ray tracing to automatically identify and extract β-barrels from cryo-EM density maps. This approach was tested using ten simulated density maps at 9 A resolution and six experimental density maps at various resolutions. The results suggest that our approach is capable of performing automatic detection and extraction of the β-barrels from medium resolution cryo-EM density maps.
Near-surface turbulence and buoyancy induced by heavy rainfall

We present results from experiments designed to measure near-surface turbulence generated by rainfall. Laboratory experiments were performed using artificial rain falling at near-terminal velocity in a wind–wave channel filled with synthetic seawater. In this first series of experiments, no wind was generated and the receiving seawater was initially at rest. Rainfall rates from 40 to were investigated. Subsurface turbulent velocities of the order of are generated near the interface below the depth of the cavities generated by the rain drop impacts. The turbulence appears independent of rainfall rates. At depth larger than the size of the cavities, the turbulent velocity fluctuations decay as . Turbulent length scales also appear to scale with the size of the impact cavities. In these seawater experiments, a freshwater lens is established at the water surface due to the rain. At the highest rain rate studied, the resulting buoyancy flux appears to lead to a shallower subsurface mixed layer and a slight decrease of the turbulent kinetic energy dissipation. Finally, direct measurements and inertial estimates of the turbulent kinetic energy dissipation show that approximately 0.1–0.3 % of the kinetic energy flux from the rain is dissipated in the form of turbulence. This is consistent with existing freshwater measurements and suggests that high levels of dissipation occur at depths and scales smaller than those resolved here and/or that other phenomena dissipate a considerable amount of the total kinetic energy flux provided by rainfall.
Impact of a data-derivative fidelity on truncation-data reconstruction in CBCT

In practical CBCT imaging such as that in interventional procedures, data collected are truncated due to the limited detector size that cannot cover the imaged subject and especially the involved interventional devices. We study optimization-based image reconstruction directly from truncated data, with an aim to reduce truncation artifacts observed in practical or clinical reconstructions. In the study, the reconstruction problem is formulated as a constrained optimization program in which a data-derivative fidelity term was introduced for effective suppression of the truncation artifacts. In this work, we carry specifically out a quantitative investigation of impact of the data-derivative term on the artifact reduction. In the investigation, the contribution of the data-derivative term is characterized by a weighting parameter, and the investigation is enabled subsequently by tailoring the Chambolle-Pock (CP) algorithm to solve the optimization program containing the data-derivative fidelity term. The results of the study suggest that an appropriately designed data-derivative fidelity can be exploited for yielding image reconstruction with reduced artifacts directly from truncated data.
Molecular Biomarkers of Primary and Acquired Resistance to T‐Cell‐Mediated Immunotherapy in Cancer: Landscape, Clinical Implications, and Future Directions

The emergence of immunotherapy has revolutionized cancer treatment in recent years. Inhibitors of immune checkpoints, including antibodies against cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4, programmed cell death protein 1, and programmed death ligand 1, have demonstrated notable efficacy in certain advanced cancers. Unfortunately, many patients do not benefit from these therapies and either exhibit primary resistance to treatment or develop acquired mechanisms of resistance after initially responding to therapy. Here, we review the genomic and immune traits that may promote resistance to T-cell-mediated immunotherapy, with a focus on identifying potential biomarkers that could eventually be used in the clinical setting to guide treatment selection. We summarize the clinical evidence for these markers and discuss how current understanding of resistance mechanisms can inform future studies and aid clinical decision-making in order to derive maximum benefit from immunotherapy. Implications for practice Immunotherapy has rapidly progressed as a treatment modality for multiple cancers, but it is still unclear which patients are likely to benefit from these therapies. Studies of resistance mechanisms have only recently started to identify biomarkers that can help predict patient outcomes. This review summarizes the available clinical data in regard to immunotherapy resistance, with a focus on molecular biomarkers that may be useful in guiding clinical decision-making. It discusses possible applications of these biomarkers and highlights opportunities for further clinical discovery.
Country of Origin and Brand Positioning for High-Involvement Health-Care Services: An Abstract

Country of origin and brand positioning are important factors to consider for high-involvement services such as health-care organizations competing for international patients. These factors become more important in high-involvement service industries because consumers do not have the information needed to evaluate service quality, and the cost to the patient of poor quality is high. Therefore, consumers may rely on country of origin and brand positioning signals more heavily relative to goods or hedonic services. This paper explores the relationship between country of origin and brand positioning in the context of the high-involvement service of health care. An analysis of brand positioning of health-care institutions using promotional materials from a large international health-care conference is presented using a sample of 170 health-care organizations located in 14 countries. The findings indicate that European and Middle Eastern health-care organizations most frequently employ foreign consumer culture positioning, while American institutions tend to use global consumer culture positioning. However, American organizations may be missing an opportunity to capitalize on the appeal of their country and cities and may not be appropriately considering their global competition in their market positioning. The findings are important for hospitals competing globally for patients seeking care abroad.
Active acoustic intensity errors due to contaminating noise

Bias errors for both one and two-dimensional intensity probes have been previously calculated for both the traditional cross-spectral and the Phase and Amplitude Gradient Estimator (PAGE) methods [E. B. Whiting et al., J. Acoust. Soc. Am.142, 2208–2218 (2017); E. B. Whiting, M. S. Thesis (2016)]. Here, these calculations are expanded to include errors due to the source angle relative to the probe and due to contaminating noise. The noise can either be uncorrelated at each microphone or self-correlated, which is modeled as a plane wave with a varying angle of incidence. The errors in both intensity magnitude and direction are dependent on the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), frequency, source properties, incidence angles, probe configuration, and processing method. The PAGE method is generally found to give more accurate results, though uncorrelated noise with a low SNR can yield large errors. For broadband signals, the PAGE method can be used beyond the spatial Nyquist frequency. [Work supported by NSF.]
Test-retest reliability of brain mitochondrial cytochrome-c-oxidase assessed by functional near-infrared spectroscopy.

Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) is a noninvasive method for measuring in vivo both hemodynamic and mitochondrial metabolic activities in brain cortical structures. Although the test–retest reliability of the hemodynamic measures, such as reflected by oxygenated (HbO2), deoxygenated (HHb) hemoglobin, and the tissue oxygenation index (TOI), has been previously reported to be good to excellent, the reliability of the metabolic signal indexed by oxidized cytochrome-c-oxidase (oxCCO) has not been reported. The present test–retest study compared the reliability of the metabolic and hemodynamic signals in 10 healthy participants undergoing hypo- and hypercapnia challenges. The primary reliability measure was the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Results of both hypo- and hypercapnia showed that the oxCCO signal (ICC = 0.876 / 0.757) had robust reliability comparable with that of the HbO2 (ICC = 0.841 / 0.801), HHb (ICC = 0.804 / 0.571), and TOI (ICC = 0.574 / 0.614) signals. These findings show that the oxCCO signal can be assessed by fNIRS with comparable reliability to the hemodynamic measures. We discuss the results in light of current interest in a mitochondrial metabolic marker derived from fNIRS.