cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Synthesis and properties of polymerized, diaspirin cross-linked hemoglobins.

During the course of our studies it became clear that there were therapeutic applications for which a polymene hemoglobin having an extended half-life in circulation would be appropriate. Therefore, a process for the glutaraldehyde-polymerizalion of diaspirin cross-linked hemoglobin (DCLHb) was developed and used to prepare glularaldehyde-polymerized DCLHb (GP-DCLHb) in lactated Ringer's solution in sufficient quantities for biological testing.Both isovolemic exchange-transfusion and “lop-load” studies (rats; primates and swine, respectively) were completed in which a broad spectrum of physiologic, hislopathologic and analytical parameters were monitored and assessed. In general, GP-DCLHb in laclated Ringer's solution was well-tolerated physiologically. When compared to DCLHb, GP-DCLHb offers the advantages of reduced renal clearance of hemoglobin and an extended half-life in circulation. GP-DCLHb has the disadvantages that (1) glutaraldehyde is an ineffective virucidal agent under the conditions of the p...
Big business: scale of operation, organizational size, and the level of integration into the legal economy as key parameters for understanding the development of illegal enterprises

This study examines variations in the scale of operation, size of organization and the degree to which illegal enterprises are integrated into the legal economy. Data were obtained from two sources, pertaining to the illegal cigarette trade in the area of Berlin, Germany, during the 1990s: case statistics of the German Customs Service on cigarette related investigations (n=47,632), and criminal files (n=69) on illegal enterprises involved in the smuggling and wholesale distribution of cigarettes. Most operations in the cigarette black market in the Berlin area during the 1990s were small scale and involved for the most part individual offenders or partnerships of two co-offenders. Some illegal enterprises, however, operated at a large scale. The larger the scale of operation the more co-offenders tended to be involved and the greater the likelihood that illegal entrepreneurs drew on outside logistical support via transactions with legitimate third parties. There appear to have been threshold levels in the scale of operation, defined by the number of cigarettes handled at a given point in time, beyond which illegal entrepreneurs felt the need to adapt their way of doing business. Beyond a volume of about 250,000 cigarettes illegal entrepreneurs tended to obtain logistical support from outside their social networks, namely by renting transport vehicles and storage space, and beyond a threshold of about one million cigarettes, smugglers in particular felt the need to integrate their businesses into the legal economy through the use of front companies in the import-export sector.
Mechanisms of tumor necrosis factor-granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor-induced dendritic cell development

In a previous report, we described that tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) synergistically enhanced the development of dendritic cell (DC) progeny from early stem cells and that there is a common monocyte-DC progenitor cell. Low levels of DC were obtained with GM-CSF alone, and TNF by itself failed to induce stem cell development. Here, we investigate mechanisms by which TNF and GM-CSF institute increases in DC, and how these same molecules support later stages of DC differentiation. We show that TNF is required as the first signal, that there is upregulation of GM-CSF receptors (GM-CSFRs), and that TNF inhibits the differentiation of colony-forming units-granulocyte. High levels of GM-CSFR were always associated with conditions yielding a large number of DC, and a kinetic analysis showed a close ontogenic relationship between DC and GM-CSFR levels. The addition of anti-GM-CSF or anti-TNF antibodies blocked synergistic responses related to DC development, including high levels of GM-CSFRs. Anti-GM-CSF was the most potent inhibitor of proliferation (80%) and macrophage, DC, and polymorphonuclear (PMN) cell development. With polyclonal anti-TNF, inhibition was less (35%), and there was a shift from myelomonocytic and DC to PMN progeny. Our results support the concept that receptor upregulation is an important mechanism for growth factor synergy. Our data also indicate that the opposing effects of TNF on hematopoiesis contribute to the selection of the DC pathway and emphasize the importance of GM-CSFRs not only in initiated DC development, but also in controlling DC viability and function.
From the city lens toward urbanisation as a way of seeing: Country/city binaries on an urbanising planet

In recent years, three superficially distinct urban subfields have made parallel efforts to incorporate the city’s traditional ‘outsides’ into urban research. Urban political ecology, American urban sociology and postcolonial urban studies have made, respectively, ‘nature’, the ‘rural’ and the ‘not-yet’ city the objects of self-consciously urban analyses. I argue that these interventions are analogous efforts to hybridise city/nature, city/country or society/nature binaries, and that they have a common cause. Each is a response to a persistent ‘city lens’ that remains pervasive in urban practice, and whose assumptions are an increasingly poor fit for contemporary urban environments. This lens, ground in the context of the 19th century metropolis, interprets the world through a series of binary associations hung on the basic assumption that the city can be defined against a non-urban outside. I develop John Berger’s (2008 [1972]) idea of ‘ways of seeing’ as a heuristic for understanding this situation and,...
Direct Dynamic Kinetic Analysis and Computer Simulation of Growth of Clostridium perfringens in Cooked Turkey during Cooling.

This research applied a new 1-step methodology to directly construct a tertiary model that describes the growth of Clostridium perfringens in cooked turkey meat under dynamically cooling conditions. The kinetic parameters of the growth models were determined by numerical analysis and optimization using multiple dynamic growth curves. The models and kinetic parameters were validated using independent growth curves obtained under various cooling conditions. The results showed that the residual errors (e) of the predictions followed a Laplace distribution that is symmetric with respect to e = 0. For residual errors, 90.6% are within ±0.5 Log CFU/g and 73.4% are ±0.25 Log CFU/g for all growth curves used for validation. For relative growth 1.0 and 2.0 Log CFU/g relative growth of C. perfringens in the final products at the end of cooling. This probabilistic process analysis approach provides a new alternative for estimating and managing the risk of a product and can help the food industry and regulatory agencies assess the safety of cooked meat in the event of cooling deviation.
ID: 17: GRAVES DISEASE INDUCED DILATED CARDIOMYOPATHY

Introduction Graves9 thyrotoxicosis has many cardiovascular complications; however, the most cardiac complication is atrial fibrillation but rarely causes heart failure. Less than 1% develops dilated cardiomyopathy with impaired left ventricular systolic function. In this case report we describe a case of Graves9 hyperthyroidism-induced reversible cardiomyopathy. Case presentation 45 year old female with a history of previously treated Graves9 disease who presented to hospital for altered mental status and severe hypoglycemia. The hospital course complicated by Atrial fibrillation with RVR. Patient states that recently started feeling fatigue, orthopnea, decrease exercise intolerance, lower extremities edema and distended abdomen. In emergency department, patient found to have hypotension and tachycardic. She was given IV fluids but her blood pressure didn9t respond. Patient was started on Levophed for hypotension. Physical examination demonstrated impressive proptosis, positive jugular venous distension, irregular irregularity of her plus and +2 lower extremities edema . Patient found to have Graves storm (TSH: 0.07 uIU/ml, Free T4: 1.89 ng/dL, T3: 36.6 ng/dL, cortisol level: 59.36 Ug/dL). She was started on methimazole, steroids and lugols iodine drops. Hypoglycemia that she had most likely was related to lack of glycogen stores and increased metabolic demand with graces. After the patient stabilized, echocardiogram obtained which showed severe left ventricular dysfunction (LVEF 30%), bi-atrial dilatation, LV dilated, moderate MR and TR. So, patient was transferred to CCU for acute dilated cardiomyopathy secondary to graves storm. She was started on Lasix 40 mg IV then switched to 20 mg PO twice a day, Metoprolol 25 mg twice a day and Digoxin 0.125 mg daily and Apixaban 5 mg twice daily. Ophthalmology consulted for proptosis who recommended artificial tears, ocular lubricant and decompression.
Germ cell tumors: review of selected studies from 2002

Testicular cancer remains a major success story in the realm of solid tumors. There are still many remaining challenges in diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of long-term toxicity. Surgery and platinum-based chemotherapy, however, still encompass the main treatment modalities. Attempts to limit toxicity from both surgery and chemotherapy remain at the forefront of research. New chemotherapeutic options are available for patients with platinum-resistant disease, and stem cell transplant remains an area of active study.
Electrospin Fiber Affect on the Strength of Metal–Cement Interfaces

The research objectives were to (1) determine electrospun polymer fiber adhesion on Titanium (Ti) using qualitative wear tests; (2) determine the effect of fiber material viscosity on the surface coating of Ti; and (3) determine bonding strength between Ti/ Poly-Methyl-Methacrylate (PMMA) under static load. Polycaprolactone (PCL)-Acetone and PCL-PMMA-Acetone fibers were produced on Ti using electrospinning process. Fiber coated Ti surfaces were scratched using sharp edge needle to evaluate the fiber stickiness to the Ti surface. PCL and PMMA were each mixed with acetone using a sonicator, and then stirred together. Rheometer was used to determine viscosity of PCL-PMMA-Acetone mixtures. Qualitative adhesion tests showed that PCL-PMMA-Acetone solution had greater stickiness compared to PCL-Acetone. Low viscosity of 0.158 ± 0.048 Pa s was achieved for producing PCL-PMMA-Acetone fiber which had averaged size of 1.79 ± 0.4 μm. This study found pull out interface fracture shear strength of PCL-Acetone (1.06 ± 0.23 MPa, n = 3) and PCL-PMMA-Acetone (0.57 ± 0.18 MPa, n = 4) fiber coated implant-PMMA cement interfaces were significantly higher compare to uncoated Ti-PMMA interfaces (0.34 ± 0.04 MPa, n = 3).
Corporate governance convergence through cross-border mergers: the case of Aventis

Publisher Summary This chapter illustrates the role of cross-border mergers in the process of corporate governance convergence. The corporate governance provisions in Rhone-Poulenc, a French company, and Hoechst, a German firm, and the resulting structure after the two firms merged in 1999 to create Aventis, legally a French corporation. Despite the nationality of the firm, the corporate governance structure of Aventis is a combination of the corporate governance systems of Hoechst and Rhone-Poulenc, where the newly merged firm adopted the most protective provisions of the two merging firms. In some cases, this resulted in Aventis borrowing from the corporate governance structure of Hoechst, while, in others, Aventis replicated Rhone-Poulenc's structure. Most interesting is the situation where Aventis introduced improved provisions over both systems. The resulting corporate governance system in Aventis is significantly more protective than the default French legal system of investor protection.
Outdoor Science Education

Before classrooms, textbooks, and professional educators, students acquired knowledge from direct personal experiences (Hammerman, 1978) including those in the out of doors. According to Broda (2007), outdoor education is a type of experiential learning (see also) that uses authentic (real-world) experiences blended with “learning by doing” (see discovery learning).
Hybrid modulation and new technologies for high-frequency high-power multiphase power system

Recent R& D advances on megawatt power, high-frequency nanocrystalline transformer [1] and high-voltage, high-frequency SiC based semiconductor devices [2] present possibility of a shift in the design of high-power inverters from a one based on complicated structure with line-frequency switching to the one based on simple topology and operates at 10 - 20 kHz frequency. In line with these ongoing advancements, in this paper, a summary of performance for a multiphase high-frequency-link (HFL) high-power inverter using a new innovation (here after referred to as ldquohybrid modulationrdquo [3] - [5]) have been outlined in the presence of hard-switched and soft-switched front-end. Unlike conventional constant-dc-link inverters, the hybrid-modulation-based inverter applies a high-frequency pulsating dc link voltage to the output ac/ac stage, whose structure is identical to a three-phase voltage source inverter (VSI). The former has comparable bus voltage utilization and total harmonic distortion (THD) performance as the conventional constant dc-link VSI but possesses other additional advantages such as: 1) elimination of dc filter; 2) reduced switching and conduction losses of high-voltage switches; and 3) reduced RMS current and di/dt stress of high-voltage devices. Finally, straightforward topological scalability using the hybrid modulation based converters is also demonstrated.
Involvement of glycogen debranching enzyme in bladder cancer (Review)

Bladder cancer is the most common malignancy of the urinary system, however the molecular pathways underlying this disease are incompletely understood. To understand new regulators of bladder cancer progression, the authors carried out a functional genomic screen which identified glycogen debranching enzyme (AGL) as a novel regulator of bladder cancer growth. Glycogen debranching enzyme is involved in glycogen breakdown and germline loss of function mutation of this gene leads to glycogen storage disease type III. To the best of the authors' knowledge, the present study is the first to demonstrate that loss of AGL leads to aggressive bladder tumor growth. AGL mRNA and protein expression in bladder tumors serve as a prognostic marker for patients. Interestingly, AGL's participation in regulating tumor growth is independent of its enzymatic function and involvement with glycogen metabolism in general. Detailed metabolomics and transcriptomic analysis indicated that increases in glucose metabolism, glycine synthesis driven by serine hydroxymethyltransferase 2 and increases in hyaluronic acid synthase 2-driven HA synthesis are major contributors of aggressive bladder tumor growth with loss of AGL. However, the detailed mechanism of how AGL regulates the above mentioned metabolic and genetic pathways is unknown and is being investigated. The present review focuses on AGL's involvement in bladder cancer.
Fast poisson solvers for thermal analysis

Accurate and efficient thermal analysis for a VLSI chip is crucial, both for sign-off reliability verification and for design-time circuit optimization. To determine an accurate temperature profile, it is important to simulate a die together with its thermal mounts: this requires solving Poisson's equation on a nonrectangular 3D domain. This article presents a class of eigendecomposition-based Fast Poisson Solvers (FPS) for chip-level thermal analysis. We start with a solver that solves a rectangular 3D domain with mixed boundary conditions in O(N⋅ logN) time, where N is the dimension of the finite difference matrix. Then we reveal, for the first time in the literature, a strong relation between fast Poisson solvers and Green-function-based methods. Finally, we propose an FPS method that leverages the preconditioned conjugate gradient method to solve nonrectangular 3D domains efficiently. We demonstrate this approach on thermal analysis of an industrial microprocessor, showing accurate results verified by a commercial tool, and that it solves a system of dimension 4.54e6 in only 13 conjugate gradient iterations, with a runtime of 65 seconds, a 15X speedup over the popular ICCG solver.
Metabolic Syndrome Impairs Erectile Function

Metabolic syndrome is not simply “overweight,” and it entails a cardiovascular and sexual impairment risk equal to diabetes and coronary heart disease (CHD). Some blame it on diet, some on energy acquisition and storage hormones. Others point to insulin resistance (IR), and there is also a connection to hypogonadism. Metabolic syndrome shows a progressive, age-related epidemiology. Bottom line: it severely impairs endothelium function.
Impact of environmental microbiota on human microbiota of workers in academic mouse research facilities: An observational study

Objectives To characterize the microbial environment of workers in academic mouse research facilities using endotoxin, 16S qPCR, and 16S amplicon sequencing. To determine whether the work microbiome contributes to the human microbiome of workers. Methods We performed area air sampling from the animal rooms, dirty, middle, and setup cage wash locations in four academic mouse research facilities. 10 workers in the dirty cage wash area underwent personal air sampling as well as repeated collection of nasal, oral, and skin samples before and after the work shift. Environmental samples underwent measurement of endotoxin, mouse allergen, bacteria copy number via 16S qPCR, and microbial identification via 16S rDNA sequencing. 16S rDNA sequencing was also performed on human samples before and after the work shift. SourceTracker was used to identify the contribution of the work microbiome to the human microbiome. Results Median endotoxin levels ranged from undetectable to 1.0 EU/m3. Significant differences in mouse allergen levels, bacterial copy number, microbial richness, and microbial community structure were identified between animal, dirty, middle, and setup cage wash locations. Endotoxin levels had only a moderate correlation with microbial composition. Location within a facility was a stronger predictor of microbial community composition (R2 = 0.41, p = 0.002) than facility. The contribution of the work microbiome to the pre-shift human microbiome of workers was estimated to be 0.1 ± 0.1% for the oral microbiome; 3.1 ± 1.9% for the nasal microbiome; and 3.0 ± 1.5% for the skin microbiome. Conclusions The microbial environment of academic animal care facilities varies significantly by location rather than facility. Endotoxin is not a proxy for assessment of environmental microbial exposures using 16S qPCR or 16S rDNA sequencing. The work microbiome contributes to the composition of the nasal and skin microbiome of workers; the clinical implications of this observation should be further studied.
Chapter 8 - Toxoplasmosis

Toxoplasma gondii, an Apicomplexan, is a pathogic protozoan that can infect the central nervous system. Infection during pregnancy can result in a congenial infection with severe neurological sequelae. In immunocompromisedindividuals reactivation of latent neurological foci can result in encephalitis. Immunocompetent individuals infected with T. gondii are typically asymptomatic and maintain this infection for life. However, recent studies suggest that these asymptomatic infections may have effects on behavior and other physiological processes. Toxoplasma gondii infects approximately one-third of the world population, making it one of the most successful parasitic organisms. Cats and other felidae serve as the definite host producing oocysts, an environmentally resistant life cycle stage found in cat feces, which can transmit the infection when ingested orally. A wide variety of warm-blooded animals, including humans, can serve as the intermediate host in which tissue cysts (containing bradyzoites) develop. Transmission also occurs due to ingestion of the tissue cysts. There are three predominant clonal lineages, termed Types I, II and III, and an association with higher pathogenicity with the Type I strains in humans has emerged. This chapter presents a review of the biology of this infection including the life cycle, transmission, epidemiology, parasite strains, and the host immune response. The major clinical outcomes of congenital infection, chorioretinitis and encephalitis, and the possible association of infection of toxoplasmosis with neuropsychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, are reviewed.
The role of workplace accommodations in the employment of people with disabilities

We explore the role of workplace accommodations in reducing employment barriers and improving the employment of people with disabilities. We do so using data from the 2015 Survey of Disability and Employment on people with disabilities who applied for vocational rehabilitation services in three states. The results show that at least one third of nonworking people with disabilities reported employment barriers that could be addressed by workplace accommodations, such as lack of transportation and an inaccessible workplace. We also find that receiving certain types of workplace accommodations, such as help with transportation, flexible work schedules, or a personal care attendant, is positively correlated with being employed at the time of the survey. Finally, people who are in poor health or have physical disabilities were more likely to perceive workplace inaccessibility as a barrier but less likely to have received accommodations in their current or most recent job. This suggests that people with these characteristics may be good candidates to target for greater access to workplace accommodations.
The Interplay Between Hydrogen Bonding and Coulombic Forces in Determining the Structure of Sulfuric Acid-Amine Clusters

Acid–base cluster chemistry drives atmospheric new particle formation (NPF), but the details of the growth mechanisms are difficult to experimentally probe. Clusters of ammonia, alkylamines, and sulfuric acid, species fundamental to NPF, are probed by infrared spectroscopy. These spectra show that substitution of amines for ammonia, which is linked to accelerated growth, induces profound structural rearrangement in clusters with initial compositions (NH4+)n+1(HSO4–)n (1 ≤ n ≤ 3). This rearrangement is driven by the loss of N–H hydrogen bond donors, yielding direct bisulfate-bisulfate hydrogen bonds, and its onset with respect to cluster composition indicates that more substituted amines induce rearrangement at smaller sizes. A simple model counting hydrogen bond donors and acceptors explains these observations. The presence of direct hydrogen bonds between formal anions shows that hydrogen bonding can compete with Coulombic forces in determining cluster structure. These results suggest that NPF mechanisms...
Pyrene synthesis in circumstellar envelopes and its role in the formation of 2D nanostructures

For the past decades, the hydrogen-abstraction/acetylene-addition (HACA) mechanism has been instrumental in attempting to untangle the origin of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) as identified in carbonaceous meteorites such as Allende and Murchison. However, the fundamental reaction mechanisms leading to the synthesis of PAHs beyond phenanthrene (C14H10) are still unknown. By exploring the reaction of the 4-phenanthrenyl radical (C14H9 • ) with acetylene (C2H2) under conditions prevalent in carbon-rich circumstellar environments, we show evidence of a facile, isomer-selective formation of pyrene (C16H10). Along with the hydrogen-abstraction/vinylacetylene-addition (HAVA) mechanism, molecular mass growth processes from pyrene may lead through systematic ring expansions not only to more complex PAHs, but ultimately to 2D graphene-type structures. These fundamental reaction mechanisms are crucial to facilitate an understanding of the origin and evolution of the molecular universe and, in particular, of carbon in our Galaxy.
Imaging technologies and strategies for detection of extant extraterrestrial microorganisms

There is no reductionist definition of life, so the way organisms look, behave, and move is the most definitive way to identify extraterrestrial life. Life elsewhere in the Solar System is likely t...
The landscape of things

As found in the Nordic tradition of the Ting and the proto-parliamentary German Ding, Things once pertained to landscape-based community assemblies for discussing matters of importance. Over time, ...
Laparoscopic and Robotic Access

Access may often be overlooked or minimized as an integral part of any laparoscopic case. However, difficulty or error in obtaining proper access can prove disastrous in its consequences for both the surgeon and the patient. This chapter details safe and reliable techniques used to gain laparoscopic access into the abdominal cavity, including both open and closed access. Each method is reviewed, along with the advantages and disadvantages of each. Tips for confirmation of successful entry into the peritoneal cavity are included. In addition, the complications associated with laparoscopic access, both immediate and delayed, are examined. More importantly, the recognition and management of these complications are outlined. The various types to trocars are discussed, along with the characteristics of each that may influence surgeon preference. Finally, the process of exiting the abdomen is explained, as well as when and how to close laparoscopic port sites.
EGS: a transformational approach to automatic example generation

THIS paper describes a constraint transformation approach to automatic example generation and its implementation. In this approach examples are generated as the result of successive transformations of the constraint formulas Such transformations are carried out based on various forms of knowledge Systematic global simplification, largely based on declarative knowledge, mitigates the impact of applying problem-specific and efficient procedural knowledge, with a uniform problem representation scheme. The approach suggests a general framework for example generation in which a language for describing examples can be defined. It also combines a general formal reasoning capacity and problem-specific procedural knowledge, to achieve both generality and efficiency. The implemented system has proven to be expressively powerful and efficient for a variety of applications.
Intravesicular Onabotulinumtoxin A Hemorrhage on Rivaroxaban

Overactive bladder (OAB) is urgency, with or without urgency incontinence. For OAB, an injection of onabotulinumtoxin A (BOTOX®) can be a low-risk outpatient procedure. We present a patient on a novel anticoagulant that experienced excessive bleeding after this procedure. This 80-year-old G2P2002 Caucasian female had a history of urge urinary incontinence. She presented for intravesicular onabotulinumtoxin A injection (150 units) after recent initiation of rivaroxaban (Xarelto®) for her atrial fibrillation. Several hours after an uncomplicated procedure, she presented with anuria and pain after gross hematuria earlier in the day. Her pain was immediately alleviated with bladder irrigation. She was discharged home and remained asymptomatic. With the popularity of the novel anticoagulants, new guidance on management of these medications during procedures is limited. When managing a patient on a novel anticoagulant before any procedure, even a low risk procedure, several factors should be considered to determine if the medication should be held, bridged, or continued. In sum, each patient on anticoagulation undergoing any procedure should be assessed individually for thrombotic risk, bleeding risk, and the procedural risk to best avoid postprocedural hemorrhage.
Clinical Quality Improvement and Quality Improvement Research

Purpose This article is intended to serve as a tutorial for speech-language pathology and audiology clinicians and researchers interested in pursuing quality improvement (QI) practice and research....
Long-term growth rates of two caulescent rosette species, Coespeletia timotensis (Cuatrec.) Cuatrec., and Espeletia schultzii Wedd., in an Andean páramo

Abstract Growth rates of two caulescent rosette species, Coespeletia timotensis and Espeletia schultzii, were estimated in Piedras Blancas, an Andean paramo, on 4 sites at 4270–4525 m, near their upper elevation limits. Stem and crown height were measured at the start and end of the study periods, and differences in plant stature divided by number of years to obtain annual growth rates. An isolated C. timotensis on a granite outcrop at 4525 m grew 1.08 cm/yr average for 19.5 yrs, but its elongation rate dropped gradually with time. 60 C. timotensis on a dense valley-floor stand at ≤4285 m showed an average rate of 1.34 ± 0.59 cm/yr for >10 yrs; growth varied between −0.2 and 3.16 cm/yr and was not associated with initial plant height. 31 E. schultzii rosettes on a basal slope stand at ≤4300 m grew 1.15 ± 0.51 cm/yr during >10 yrs; growth ranged from 0.44 to 2.37 cm/yr and appeared to be inversely correlated with plant stature. Each stand exhibited fairly uniform aspect, gradient, slope position, and groundcover, but microsite differences, including soil nutrient and moisture content, proximity to rocks, and competitive plant interactions, may have affected rosette development. Mortality was similar for both species (18.4–18.9%) but was higher for C. timotensis seedlings and taller plants, which tilted and toppled, presumably due to ground frost disturbance. Mortality was also concentrated on larger E. schultzii plants, but these remained standing and did not topple. Due to extreme growth variation, use of average rates to calculate ages of individual rosettes is not recommended.
Hypermetaphase fluorescence in situ hybridization for quantitative monitoring of Philadelphia chromosome-positive cells in patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia during treatment

Using Philadelphia chromosome-positive (Ph+) chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) as a model, our aim has been to develop a molecular cytogenetic method of high resolution analysis for monitoring the frequency of cells with nonrandom chromosome rearrangements in the bone marrow of patients receiving treatment for hematologic malignancies. Long-term exposure (24 hours) of bone marrow cultures to colcemid (0.1 microgram/mL) maximized a high frequency of metaphase collection. Such preparations were subjected to fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) using a 5 Mb probe that overlapped the region of the translocation at chromosome 9q34. This detected the Ph translocation in the resultant large number of overly contracted chromosome spreads. The procedure was validated and verified by studying 70 double-blind marrow samples from patients in different stages of Ph+ CML and from patients with Ph- hematologic malignancies (controls). This hypermetaphase FISH (HMF) method clearly identified Ph+ metaphases and allowed the analysis of 500 hypermetaphases per sample in less than 1 hour after FISH. HMF (1) identified statistically significant differences between the frequencies of Ph+ cells in samples that differed by less than 4%; (2) resolved such differences among patient samples that were all judged 100% Ph+ by standard G-band cytogenetics (CG); (3) resulted in the reclassification of response status in 23% of the patients initially classified by CG; (4) recognized Ph+ cells in 16% of patients characterized as having a complete cytogenetic response and in one patient with an original diagnosis of Ph- CML; and in one patient with an original diagnosis of Ph- CML; and (5) was informative where insufficient metaphases were obtainable for analysis by CG. HMF appears to be uniquely suitable for monitoring the status of patients with CML receiving treatment. It should also be applicable for patients with any hematologic diseases where chromosomal alterations are known and appropriate FISH probes are available.
Effect of surgical radiation personal protective equipment on EMG-based measures of back and shoulder muscle fatigue: A laboratory study of novices.

Abstract Interventional radiologists are at increased risk for musculoskeletal discomfort/disorders and this has been linked to the use of radiation personal protective equipment (rPPE). This study examined the effects of rPPE on the development of fatigue of the erector spinae and trapezius muscles. Surface electromyography (EMG) was used to capture muscle activity, and both time domain (average rectified value) and frequency domain (median frequency) measures were considered in the assessment of localized muscle fatigue. Sixteen participants performed a simulated surgical procedure requiring intermittent 30° flexed static trunk posture with and without rPPE on separate days. The results showed that the rPPE condition demonstrated significantly greater (p
A Revolution Ignored

Celebrating The Antitrust Revolution, the author points to the diverse range of methodologies that the research volume consistently brings together. Courts and advocates need to pay more attention ...
Effects of surface functional groups on the formation of nanoparticle-protein corona

Herein, we examined the dependence of protein adsorption on the nanoparticle surface in the presence of functional groups. Our UV-visible spectrophotometry, transmission electron microscopy, infrared spectroscopy, and dynamic light scattering measurements evidently suggested that the functional groups play an important role in the formation of nanoparticle-protein corona. We found that uncoated and surfactant-free silver nanoparticles derived from a laser ablation process promoted a maximum protein (bovine serum albumin) coating due to increased changes in entropy. On the other hand, bovine serum albumin displayed a relatively lower affinity for electrostatically stabilized nanoparticles due to the constrained entropy changes.
Synovitis, acne, pustulosis, hyperostosis, and osteitis (SAPHO) syndrome presenting with a cervical vertebral fracture: A case report

Abstract Background context Synovitis, acne, pustulosis, hyperostosis, and osteitis (SAPHO) syndrome is a rare condition that can be difficult to diagnose. There are no guidelines for the treatment of SAPHO syndrome, but newer modalities of medications show promising results. We present the case of a patient who presented with a pathologic fracture of her cervical spine who ended up being diagnosed with SAPHO syndrome. Case A 51-year-old female presented with severe neck pain and a rash on her hands and feet. Imaging showed a C5 vertebral compression fracture and multiple sites of bony involvement concerning for malignancy or widespread infection. The patient underwent corpectomy and fusion to address the instability and cervical stenosis and was started on immunomodulating therapy. Based on the biopsy findings showing left shifted bone marrow versus mild acute inflammation, and in conjunction with the cutaneous findings, the patent was diagnosed with SAPHO syndrome. Outcome At two year follow up, although posterior stabilization was required, her overall condition was improved. Nonetheless, she continued to have fatigue, malaise, and total body pain involving: the cervical spine, the mid thoracic spine, the left costal margin, bilateral sternoclavicular joints, and bilateral hips and knees. Conclusion SAPHO syndrome can mimic infection and neoplasia. It should be suspected in patients presenting with multifocal osteitis and associated rash. Accurate and timely diagnosis is paramount as the treatment of this condition may require immunomodulating agents.
Evaluation of a Minimally Synchronous Algorithm for 2:1 Octree Balance

The p4est library implements octree-based adaptive mesh refinement (AMR) and has demonstrated parallel scalability beyond 100,000 MPI processes in previous weak scaling studies. This work focuses on the strong scalability of mesh adaptivity in p4est, where the communication pattern of the existing 2:1-balance is a latency bottleneck. The sorting-based algorithm of Malhotra and Biros has balanced communication, but synchronizes all processes. We propose an algorithm that combines sorting and neighbor-to-neighbor exchange to minimize the number of processes each process synchronizes with.We measure the performance of these algorithms on several test problems on Stampede2 at TACC. Both the parallel-sorting and minimally-synchronous algorithms significantly outperform the existing algorithm and have nearly identical performance out to 1,024 Xeon Phi KNL nodes, meaning the asymptotic advantage of the minimally-synchronous algorithm does not translate to improved performance at this scale. We conclude by showing that global metadata communication will limit future strong scaling.
Modelling treatment-response rates.

The time course of tumour responses to immunotherapies can be mathematically predicted on the basis of tumour-growth rates, the rates of immune activation and of tumour–immune-cell interactions, and the efficacy of immune-mediated tumour killing.
Optomechanical dark matter detection

Recently it has been proposed to search for dark matter using mechanical sensors, exploiting the fact that all dark matter candidates couple to the size or position of atoms. While focus has been directed towards analyzing signal from gravitational wave detectors and equivalence principle tests, a unique opportunity has emerged to develop compact detectors based on cavity optomechanical systems, which have recently achieved force measurements at the quantum limit. I'll discuss this concept from an experimentalist's perspective, highlighting systems based on levitated dielectrics, silicon nitride membranes, and bulk acoustic wave resonators which are beginning to play an early role. In this context, our lab is developing a new generation of ultra-sensitive optomechanical accelerometers based on centimeter-scale silicon nitride membranes. References: [1] Manley et. al., PRL 126(6), 061301(2021) [2] Carney et. al., QST 6(2), 024002 (2021) [3] Manley et. al., PRL 124(15), 151301 (2020)
A simple hydrologic model for rapid prediction of runoff from ungauged coastal catchments

We developed a lumped conceptual rainfall–runoff model for rapid prediction of runoff generated in the unique hydrological setting with flat terrain, sandy soils, high groundwater table, and a dense drainage canal network in south Florida. The model is conceptualized as rainfall and evapotranspiration filling and emptying the root zone and excess rainfall recharging three storage zones. Outflows from these storage zones, routed with parallel arrangement of three linear reservoirs, represent different flow components of catchment runoff, i.e., slow drainage (shallow subsurface flow), medium drainage (interflow and saturation excess overland flow), and fast drainage (direct runoff from impervious urban areas or from water table management in agricultural land). The model is parsimonious with eight model parameters along with two optional water management parameters. A regionalization study was conducted through model parameterization to achieve target hydrological behavior of typical land uses, which are the most significant basin descriptor affecting catchment hydrology in south Florida. Cross validation with 16 gauged basins dominated by urban, agricultural, and natural lands, respectively, indicated that the model provides an effective tool for rapid prediction of runoff in ungauged basins using the regionalized model parameters. A case study is presented, involving application of the model to support real-time adaptive management to hydrological operations for protection of estuarine ecosystems.
A Boundary Integral Equation Method for Calculating the Eddy-Current Distribution in a Long Cylindrical Bar with a Crack

We report calculations of the impedance of a long solenoid which surrounds a cylinder of conducting material containing a crack. The calculation is approached by expressing the eddy-current problem as an integral equationfor the normal derivative of the magnetic field on the boundary of the conductor. This method is generally applicable to any cylindrical problem, regardless of the cross-sectional shape of the conductor. The boundary integral equation is solved in the case of the crack problem by discretizing and converting to a system of linear algebraic equations for the normal derivative of the field. The complex impedance is thereby obtained for a wide range of values of the ratio of crack depth to radius to skin depth. The results are displayed in graphical form, which gives the fractional changes of the real and imaginary parts of the impedance caused by the presence of the crack.
Abstract B116: Modeling of early to invasive stages of pancreatic cancer progression with an iPSC-like line from human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has one of the worst prognoses of any human malignancy. When human PDAC cells are injected into immunodeficient animals, they create tumors of the late stage from which they were derived. We hypothesized that if human PDAC cells were converted to pluripotency and then allowed to differentiate back into pancreatic tissue, they might undergo early stages of cancer. Although most induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines that we generated from PDAC were not of the expected cancer genotype, one PDAC iPS-like line, 10–22 cells, conferred the highly disrupted cancer genome of the starting tumor epithelial population. When 10-22 iPS-like cells are injected into immunodeficient mice, they generate pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN) precursors that progress to the invasive stage PDAC. Using this unique system, we established serum-free cultures of human PanIN lesions from immunodeficient mice injected with 10-22 cells and analyzed the proteome of secreted and released proteins. The live human PanIN explants secrete or release proteins from many genes that are known to be expressed in human pancreatic cancer progression and that predicted an HNF4a network achieved in intermediate-stage lesions from new clinical samples. Recent studies show that the PanIN cells progress to metastases at longer time. The 10-22 cell line is being engineered with near-infrared fluorescent protein under the control of the ductal K19 promoter so that populations can be retrieved by FACS for transcriptome analysis as well as tumor progression and regression in response to drugs can be monitored in vivo. We are now assessing the secreted or released proteins from early lesions grown in mice as diagnostic markers for human PDAC prognosis. Thus, rare events allow iPSC technology to provide a live human cell model of early pancreatic cancer and insights into disease progression. Citation Format: Jungsun Kim, Kenneth S. Zaret. Modeling of early to invasive stages of pancreatic cancer progression with an iPSC-like line from human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Pancreatic Cancer: Innovations in Research and Treatment; May 18-21, 2014; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(13 Suppl):Abstract nr B116.
Communication in Marketing Channels

Abstract In terms of the political economy framework, Mohr, Fisher, and Nevin (1996) have shed light on the issue of how the internal economic structure and processes respectively moderate the effects of channel communication. However, the question of whether and how the internal sociopolitical structure and processes respectively moderate the effects of channel communication has not been empirically investigated. To complement Mohr, Fisher, and Nevin's (1996) work and address the above research question, this study examines how power structure (symmetrical or asymmetrical) and relationalism (relational versus discrete) respectively affect the marginaleffects of communication on trust and perceived performance in channels of distribution. It was found that power symmetry enhances the positive effects of communication, while relationalism undermines them. Theoretical and managerial implications were drawn from these findings.
Lightweight and Generative Components 2: Binary-Level Components

Most software component technologies fail to account for lightweight components (those for which a function call is too inefficient or semantically inappropriate) or generative components (those in which the component embodies a method of constructing code rather than actual code). Macro-based systems such as the C++ Standard Template Library are exceptions. They, however, have the disadvantage that components must be delivered largely in source form. In this paper, we present a component technology in which lightweight and generative components can be delivered in binary form. The technology is conceptually simple and is easily implemented with existing programming languages. Our basic idea was explained in part I of this paper: By giving a compositional semantics for a source language in a domain of meanings Code, components can be written in the form of macros, but communicated in terms of meanings. In the companion paper, we showed how higher-order values over Code can be used to write lightweight, generative components. There, we took Code to be string, so our components amounted to higher-order macros. In this paper, we define Code more abstractly, allowing components to be delivered in a form that does not resemble syntax, yet allows for them to be loaded dynamically and execute efficiently.
Parallel algorithms for space-time adaptive processing

We examine the signal processing problem of space-time adaptive processing (STAP) from a computational point of view. Specifically, we implement an STAP algorithm on the IBM PowerParallel SP1 computer. The two main challenges are solving multiple least squares problems simultaneously and finding an efficient way of implementing multiple computational steps that demand different optimal data distributions in parallel. The effectiveness of our implementation is demonstrated with experimental results. >
Abstract 55: Opposing Roles Of Distinct Macrophage Lineages In Heart Failure And Cardiac Recovery

Why inflammation is simultaneously deleterious following injury and essential for tissue repair continues to be fundamentally important and debated question. Recently, a new paradigm has emerged in the macrophage field: that organs are replete with resident macrophages of embryonic origin, distinct from monocyte-derived macrophages. This added complexity raises the question of whether distinct immune cells drive inflammatory and reparative activities following injury. Previous work has demonstrated that the neonatal heart has a remarkable capacity for tissue repair compared to the adult, offering an ideal context to examine these concepts. We hypothesized that unrecognized differences in macrophage composition in the neonatal and adult heart represents a key determinant of cardiac recovery. To test this hypothesis, we generated a novel cardiomyocyte ablation model and demonstrated that following injury neonatal mice expand a population of resident cardiac macrophages derived from embryonic lineages, which generate minimal inflammation and are necessary and sufficient for cardiac recovery through promotion of cardiomyocyte proliferation and angiogenesis. During homeostasis the adult heart also contained embryonic-derived macrophages with similar properties. However, following injury these cells disappeared, and instead, the adult heart recruited pro-inflammatory monocytes and monocyte-derived macrophages that lacked reparative activities. Inhibition of monocyte recruitment into the injured adult heart preserved embryonic-derived macrophage subsets, reduced inflammatory cytokine and chemokine production, and enhanced tissue repair. Together, these findings indicate that embryonic-derived macrophages, rather than monocyte-derived macrophages, are key mediators of cardiac recovery. Therapeutics targeting distinct macrophage and monocyte lineages may serve as novel treatments for heart failure.