cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract 3830: Novel bromodomains and extra-terminal motif (BET) inhibitors developed against estrogen receptor positive, fulvestrant- and CDK4/6-resistant breast cancer models

Approximately 70% of breast cancer patients have estrogen receptor positive (ER+) tumors. Fulvestrant (FUL), a selective estrogen receptor degrader (SERD) able to ablate ER, was first introduced to clinical practice in 2002 as the second and third line treatment for ER+ metastatic breast cancer. In August 2017, FUL was added to first-line therapy in postmenopausal women by demonstrating superiority compared to first-line AI therapy, anastrozole, with improved progression-free-survival (PFS) and a 20% reduction in the risk of disease progression or death. However, acquisition of FUL-resistance in both first-line setting or as combination therapy with CDK4/6 inhibitor has been observed clinically, leaving patients and oncologists with chemotherapy as the only backup therapy. Little is known about resistance mechanisms to FUL alone or in combination with CDK4/6 inhibitors. Here, we showed that targeting epigenetic vulnerabilities in breast cancer using novel bromodomain and extra-terminal (BET) inhibitors can effectively inhibit growth of tamoxifen-, FUL- and CDK4/6- resistant breast cancer cells. We designed and developed a novel series of pyridinone-based BET inhibitors, optimized by growth inhibition in tamoxifen- and FUL- resistant breast cancer cell lines (MCF7:CFR) in both 2D and 3D cultures. Optimized compounds showed superior in vitro activity to BET inhibitors in clinical trials. Selected compounds were further evaluated for pharmacokinetics and shown efficacy in endocrine-resistant xenograft models. Citation Format: Rui Xiong, Yangfeng Li, Jiong Zhao, Debra Tonetti, Gregory Thatcher. Novel bromodomains and extra-terminal motif (BET) inhibitors developed against estrogen receptor positive, fulvestrant- and CDK4/6-resistant breast cancer models [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 3830.
Variable impacts of contemporary versus legacy agricultural phosphorus on US river water quality

Phosphorus (P) fertilizer has contributed to the eutrophication of freshwater ecosystems. Watershed-based conservation programs aiming to reduce external P loading to surface waters have not resulted in significant water-quality improvements. One factor that can help explain the lack of water-quality response is remobilization of accumulated legacy (historical) P within the terrestrial-aquatic continuum, which can obscure the beneficial impacts of current conservation efforts. We examined how contemporary river P trends (between 1992 and 2012) responded to estimated changes in contemporary agricultural P balances [(fertilizer + manure inputs)-crop uptake and harvest removal] for 143 watersheds in the conterminous United States, while also developing a proxy estimate of legacy P contribution, which refers to anthropogenic P inputs before 1992. We concluded that legacy sources contributed to river export in 49 watersheds because mean contemporary river P export exceeded mean contemporary agricultural P balances. For the other 94 watersheds, agricultural P balances exceeded river P export, and our proxy estimate of legacy P was inconclusive. If legacy contributions occurred in these locations, they were likely small and dwarfed by contemporary P sources. Our continental-scale P mass balance results indicated that improved incentives and strategies are needed to promote the adoption of nutrient-conserving practices and reduce widespread contemporary P surpluses. However, a P surplus reduction is only 1 component of an effective nutrient plan as we found agricultural balances decreased in 91 watersheds with no consistent water-quality improvements, and balances increased in 52 watersheds with no consistent water-quality degradation.
AGEPC: a potent calcium-dependent chemical mediator in the liver.

AGEPC (i.e. 1-0-alkyl-2-acetyl- sn -glycero-3-phosphocholine) or platelet activating factor is a unique phosphoglyceride first described as a fluid phase mediator of platelet aggregation during immunoglobulin E-induced anaphylaxis in the rabbit (1,2). AGEPC is produced in response to various stimuli in a variety of cells including neutrophils, basophils, monocytes and mast cells (3-7), and is among the most potent mediators formed and released by biological tissues. AGEPC induces aggregation and degranulation of platelets and neutrophils at subnanomolar concentrations (8,9) and is thought to act by interaction with specific receptors (10–13). In platelets, AGEPC-induced aggregation is associated with the turnover of inositol phospholipids, production of phosphatidic acid and protein phosphorylation (12–15). Additional studies have indicated that AGEPC possesses diverse biological actions including contraction of smooth muscles (16–18), negative inotropic cardiac effects (19,20), vasoconstriction (21,22), and exocrine gland stimulation (23). We have recently found that AGEPC possesses a powerful regulatory effect on hepatic metabolism which is the subject of this report.
SMOOTH-GAN: Towards Sharp and Smooth Synthetic EHR Data Generation

Generative adversarial networks (GANs) have been highly successful for generating realistic synthetic data. In healthcare, synthetic data generation can be helpful for producing annotated data and improving data-driven research without worries on data privacy. However, electronic health records (EHRs) are noisy, incomplete and complex, and existing work on EHR data is mainly devoted to generating discrete elements such as diagnosis codes and medications or frequent laboratory values. In this work, we propose SMOOTH-GAN, a novel approach for generating reliable EHR data such as laboratory values and medications given diagnosis codes. SMOOTH-GAN takes advantage of a conditional GAN architecture with WGAN-GP loss, and is able to learn transitions between disease stages with high flexibility over data customization. Our experiments demonstrate the model’s effectiveness in terms of both statistical similarity and accuracy on machine learning based prediction. To further demonstrate the usage of our model, we apply counterfactual reasoning and generate data with occurrence of multiple diseases, which can provide unique datasets for artificial intelligence driven healthcare research.
Orbital Decay of the PSR J0045–7319 Binary System: Age of Radio Pulsar and Initial Spin of Neutron Star

Recent timing observations of PSR J0045-7319 reveal that the neutron star/B star binary orbit is decaying on a timescale of |Porb/orb| = 0.5 Myr, shorter than the characteristic age (τc = 3 Myr) of the pulsar. We study mechanisms for the orbital decay. The standard weak-friction theory based on static tide requires far too short a viscous time to explain the observed orb. We show that dynamical tidal excitation of g-modes in the B star can be responsible for the orbital decay. However, to explain the observed short decay timescale, the B star must have some significant retrograde rotation with respect to the orbit—the retrograde rotation brings lower order g-modes, which couple much more strongly to the tidal potential, into closer "resonances" with the orbital motion, thus significantly enhancing the dynamical tide. A much less likely possibility is that the g-mode damping time is much shorter than the ordinary radiative damping time. The observed orbital decay timescale combined with a generic orbital evolution model based on dynamical tide can be used as a "timer," yielding an upper limit of 1.4 Myr on the age of the binary system since the neutron star's formation. Thus the characteristic age of the pulsar is not a good age indicator. Assuming standard magnetic dipole braking for the pulsar and no significant magnetic field decay on a timescale 1 Myr, the upper limit for the age implies that the initial spin of the neutron star at birth was close to its current value.
Promoting Higher Quality Teacher-Child Relationships: The INSIGHTS Intervention in Rural Schools.

Children's relationships with teachers in kindergarten are crucial for academic and social success. Research shows that teacher-child relationships are predicated, in part, on children's temperament. The "INSIGHTS into Children's Temperament" intervention was intended to improve children's and teachers' understanding of their and others' temperament, and has been shown to improve children's social skills and self-regulation in urban, under-resourced schools. The current study is part of a replication of the effects of INSIGHTS with a sample in rural schools. The purpose was to test the effectiveness of INSIGHTS for promoting positive relationships between teachers and children in kindergarten. Two cohorts of kindergarten students (N = 127) and teachers (N = 30) were randomized into INSIGHTS or control conditions by school. Teachers reported on the quality of the teacher-child relationship before and after the INSIGHTS intervention (Time 1 and 2) using the Student-Teacher Relationship Scale: Short Form and provided a rating of children's temperament with the Teacher School-Age Temperament Inventory at Time 1. Data were analyzed with hierarchical linear modeling. Two significant findings emerged. First, INSIGHTS promoted more closeness between teachers and children, regardless of temperament. Second, the INSIGHTS intervention was protective against the development of conflictual teacher-child relationships for children with negative reactivity.
Critical Mass, Efficiency, and Yield

This chapter forms the heart of this book. Every gram of enriched uranium or synthesized plutonium produced in the Manhattan Project was obtained at great cost and with great difficulty, so estimating the amount of fissile material needed to make a workable nuclear weapon—the so-called critical mass—was a crucial issue for the developers of Little Boy and Fat Man.
Roles and Regulations of TET Enzymes in Solid Tumors

The mechanisms governing the methylome profile of tumor suppressors and oncogenes have expanded with the discovery of oxidized states of 5-methylcytosine (5mC). Ten-eleven translocation (TET) enzymes are a family of dioxygenases that iteratively catalyze 5mC oxidation and promote cytosine demethylation, thereby creating a dynamic global and local methylation landscape. While the catalytic function of TET enzymes during stem cell differentiation and development have been well studied, less is known about the multifaceted roles of TET enzymes during carcinogenesis. This review outlines several tiers of TET regulation and overviews how TET deregulation promotes a cancer phenotype. Defining the tissue-specific and context-dependent roles of TET enzymes will deepen our understanding of the epigenetic perturbations that promote or inhibit carcinogenesis.
A Systematic Approach to Improving Diversity in the Pediatrics Residency Program

Enhancing diversity and inclusion in the physician workforce is of the utmost importance to ensure that providers reflect the diverse patient population in their communities. The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) requires that medical training institutions engage in practices that focus on mission-driven, ongoing, systematic recruitment and retention of a diverse and inclusive workforce of trainees. In accordance with these requirements, the Pediatrics Department’s Diversity Committee at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) created a Five-Year Diversity Plan in 2018. The committee’s mission is to foster a …
Machine learning-assisted calibration of Hg2+ sensors based on carbon nanotube field-effect transistors.

Abstract Nanomaterial-based electronic sensors have demonstrated ultra-low detection limits, down to parts-per-billion (ppb) or parts-per-trillion (ppt) concentrations. However, these extreme sensitivities also make them susceptible to signal saturation at higher concentrations and restrict their usage primarily to low concentrations. Here, we report machine learning techniques to create a calibration method for carbon nanotube-based field-effect transistor (FET) devices. We started with linear regression, followed by regression splines to capture the non-linearity in the data. Further improvements in model performance were obtained with regression trees. Finally we lowered the model variance and further boosted the model performance by introducing random forest. The resulting performance as measured by R2 was estimated to be 0.8260 using out-of-bag error. The methodology avoids saturation and extends the dynamic range of the nanosensors up to 12 orders of magnitude in analyte concentrations. Further investigations of the sensing mechanism include analysis of feature importance in each of the model we tested. Functionalized nanosensors demonstrate selective detection of Hg2+ ions with detection limits 10−14.36±0.78 M, and maintain calibration to concentrations as high as 1 mM. Application of machine learning techniques to investigate which features in the FET signal maximally correlate with concentration changes provide valuable insight into the carbon nanotube sensing mechanism and assist in the rational design of future nanosensors.
Epidemiology of Infections in Adult Heart and Lung Transplant Recipients: A Single Center Experience

Purpose Infectious complications are a common cause of morbidity and mortality among solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients. Understanding their epidemiology and outcomes is vital when planning preventative strategies. Methods We conducted a retrospective study of selected infections diagnosed in patients receiving heart (HT) or lung transplantation (LT) from January 2013 to June 2018. We examined the incidence of infections and outcomes one-year post-transplant. Results We reviewed 217 patients that underwent heart or lung transplantation (109 HT, 108 LT) at our center over a five-year period. Median follow-up was 2.5 years, median age was 51, 68% were males, and 75%-white. Indication for transplant in HT recipients was predominantly idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (22%) and ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (11%). Indications for lung transplants included idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (19%), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (9%), and cystic fibrosis (7%). Within the first year post-transplant, 46% of transplant recipients had defined infections (56% LT, 35% HT)(Table). In the HT group, CMV (14%) respiratory viruses (9%), aspergillosis (6%), and Clostridioides difficile infection (6%) were most common. In the LT group, respiratory viruses (39%), aspergillosis (21%), Clostridioides difficile (14%), and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase producing bacteria (9%) were most common. All-cause mortality at one year was 5% and 10% in the HT and LT recipients, respectively. There was no infection-related mortality at one year in both groups. Conclusion Despite standard infection prevention strategies, nearly half of all HT and LT recipients had identified infections at the end of one year. The most frequent infectious process was respiratory viral infections, particularly in the LT group. Further studies identifying associated risk factors and additional preventative measures may be needed to reduce these infections.
A systematic review of substance use treatments for sexual minority women

Sexual minority women (SMW) engage in higher rates of substance use treatment than their heterosexual counterparts, yet little is known about how treatment can target the unique needs of SMW. This ...
Evaluation of orthogonal strain components in friction extrusion

Abstract Friction extrusion is a thermomechanical process that combines conventional extrusion with the action of a rotating die. The plastic deformation of the material being sheared and extruded is the primary source of process heat and it produces strain distributions unlike those resulting from conventional extrusion. This paper proposes an improved strain analysis that evaluates three main strain components in a series of rate-controlled friction extrusions in which the steady state was achieved. Cylindrical AA1100 extrusion billets with two embedded markers were extruded to wire with a 10:1 diametral reduction. The shape change of the embedded markers was determined via serial, transverse sectioning and quantitative metallography of the extruded wires. Three mutually orthogonal strain components (longitudinal, circumferential, and radial) were calculated at different positions along each extruded wire from the marker's shape change. The development of strain from the initial transient to the steady state is discussed. The variation of the steady-state strain with different process parameters is correlated with the die advance per revolution.
Unintended Consequences of Eliminating Tax Havens

Eliminating firms' access to tax havens can have unintended consequences for their domestic economic activity. We study a policy that limited profit shifting by US multinationals and show it raised the tax cost of domestic investment. Firms affected by the policy responded by reducing investment and domestic employment. Firm-level responses were amplified to local labor markets through the establishment networks of profit-shifting firms. More exposed local labor markets experienced declines in employment, income, and home values and saw increases in government transfers. Policy proposals that limit profit shifting should therefore consider effects on economic activity in addition to tax revenue.
Comparative study of antibody immobilization mediated by lipid and polymer fibers

Antibody immobilization and function retention are important to a variety of applications, including proteomics, drug discovery, diagnostics, and biosensors. The present study investigates antibody immobilization mediated by cholesteryl succinyl silane (CSS) fibers, in comparison to hydrophobic polycaprolactone (PCL) fibers and hydrophilic plasma-treated PCL fibers. When incubated with a model protein, the formation of protein aggregates is observed on hydrophobic PCL fibers but not on the more hydrophobic CSS fibers, indicating that CSS fibers immobilize proteins through mechanisms other than hydrophobic interaction. When exposed to a limited amount of antibody, CSS fibers immobilize more antibodies than plasma-treated PCL fibers and no fewer antibodies than PCL fibers. The function retention of antibodies immobilized on the fibers is analyzed using a cell-capture assay, which shows that the antibody-functionalized CSS fibrous matrices capture 6- or 7-fold more cells than the antibody-functionalized PCL or plasma-treated PCL fibrous matrices, respectively. Data collected from the study show that the lipid fiber-mediated immobilization of antibody not only maintains the advantages of physical immobilization such as easiness and rapidness of operation but also improves function retention.
The flavonoid constituents of Barley (Hordeum vulgare). III. Lutonarin and its 3'-methyl ether.

Abstract Column chromatography on nylon (polyamide) powder has been developed as an efficient method of isolating solid samples of the glycosidic glycoflavonoid pigments saponarin and lutonarin from barley leaves. A third glycoside, always present but in much smaller amounts, has been shown to be the 3′-methyl ether of lutonarin.
Understanding intention to use electronic information resources: A theoretical extension of the technology acceptance model (TAM).

This study extended the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) by examining the roles of two aspects of e-resource characteristics, namely, information quality and system quality, in predicting public health students’ intention to use e-resources for completing research paper assignments. Both focus groups and a questionnaire were used to collect data. Descriptive analysis, data screening, and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) techniques were used for data analysis. The study found that perceived usefulness played a major role in determining students’ intention to use e-resources. Perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use fully mediated the impact that information quality and system quality had on behavior intention. The research model enriches the existing technology acceptance literature by extending TAM. Representing two aspects of e-resource characteristics provides greater explanatory information for diagnosing problems of system design, development, and implementation.
Interaction of fluoroethane chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) substitutes with microsomal cytochrome P450: Stimulation of P450 activity and chlorodifluoroethene metabolism

The abilities of halothane and the fluoroethane chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) substitutes, FC-123, FC-133a, FC-124, FC-134a and FC-125, to stimulate cytochrome P450 activities and 2-chloro-1,1-difluoroethene (CDE) defluorination in hepatic microsomes from phenobarbital-treated rabbits were compared. At 1% (v/v) each, halothane and FC-123 similarly increased the consumption of NADPH and O2 by 300 and 100%, respectively, over that in microsomes without substrate. FC-133a and FC-124 were less effective, increasing NADPH and O2 consumption by 150-200 and 70%. FC-134a and FC-125 were the least effective, increasing NADPH and O2 consumption by only 70 and 50%, respectively. No metabolism of any fluoroethane could be detected under the incubation conditions used. Halothane and FC-123 were most effective in stimulating CDE metabolism with increases of CDE defluorination ranging from 1.5- to 2-fold. FC-133a and FC-124 enhanced CDE oxidation 89 and 74%, respectively, and FC-134a and FC-125 had no effect. While CDE metabolism was enhanced in the presence of the fluoroethanes, no additional NADPH or O2 was consumed when halothane or FC-124 was incubated with CDE compared with incubations containing only halothane or FC-124. Log-log plots of NADPH consumption and CDE metabolism with the olive oil/gas partition coefficients of each fluoroethane showed linear relationships. These data demonstrate that the activity of the fluoroethanes in stimulating P450 activity and CDE metabolism is a function of their lipid solubility, and fluoroethane-enhanced CDE metabolism is related to the ability of these compounds to increase uncoupled P450 activity.
Wideband, wide scanning conformal arrays with practical integrated feeds

A key challenge in designing wideband dipole arrays is developing a wideband balun that is sufficiently compact to fit within a single unit cell. A new technique has recently been developed which uses the the reactance of a compact balun as an impedance matching network to improve the bandwidth of a Tightly Coupled Dipole Array (TCDA). In this paper, we apply this technique to two TCDA designs, with and without resistive loading. The first design uses a compact balun and low-loss materials to achieve 7.2:1 bandwidth, with VSWR 70% efficiency across most of the band.
Pleural mesothelial cells modulate polymorphonuclear leukocyte apoptosis in empyema.

In bacterial empyema, the recruited polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) represent important phagocytic cells involved in antibacterial defense. In this study we demonstrate that pleural fluids (PF) obtained from patients with empyema (EMP) contains significantly higher levels of granulocyte colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and PMN incubated in empyema (EMP) pleural fluid (PF) showed significantly less apoptosis than congestive heart failure (CHF) PF. Staphylococcus aureus-stimulated PMC released significantly (P < 0.001) higher levels of GM-CSF than resting PMC. Staphylococcus aureus-stimulated PMC (SPMC)-CM significantly (P < 0.001) inhibited PMN apoptosis. In SPMC-CM-incubated PMN the antiapoptotic gene Bcl-x L mRNA and protein expression was up-regulated; Bak mRNA and protein expression was down-regulated compared to control PMN. The active caspases activity significantly decreased. When SPMC-CM and EMP PF were immunodepleted with GM-CSF antibody, PMN apoptosis was significantly higher. The delay in apoptosis of PMN is in part attributable to the release of cytokine GM-CSF by activated PMC. These findings suggest that S. aureus-activated PMC extend PMN life span by modulating Bcl-x L and Bak gene expression and active caspases activity during acute inflammation and empyema.
Mutations that affect chromosomal proteins in yeast.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the genetic approaches for studying chromosomal proteins, with an emphasis on the model organism Saccharomyces cerevisiae (S. cerevisiae). The yeasts S. cerevisiae and Schizosaccharomyces pombe are particularly well suited for the studies of chromosomal proteins because of their small genome sizes, the excellent molecular genetic tools that have been developed over the past decade, and the ability to combine these molecular approaches with classical techniques of genetics, cell biology, and biochemistry. Many of the known chromosomal proteins—such as histones and the high-mobility group proteins—are evolutionarily conserved between the yeast and higher eukaryotic cells. Chromosomal proteins have been identified in yeast that function pleiotropically in such diverse activities as nucleosome positioning, transcriptional activation, gene silencing, and telomere formation. The chapter discusses strategies for the mutagenesis of chromosomal protein genes and genetic tools for manipulating recessive mutations in essential genes in yeast to facilitate their study. It also summarizes a few fundamental assays of relevance for chromosomal protein mutations and considers strategies for further genetic manipulations.
Diffusion and light-dependent compartmentalization of transducin.

Abstract Diffusion and light-dependent compartmentalization of transducin are essential for phototransduction and light adaptation of rod photoreceptors. Here, transgenic Xenopus laevis models were designed to probe the roles of transducin/rhodopsin interactions and lipid modifications in transducin compartmentalization, membrane mobility, and light-induced translocation. Localization and diffusion of EGFP-fused rod transducin-α subunit (Gα t1 ), mutant Gα t1 that is predicted to be N -acylated and S -palmitoylated (Gα t1 A3C), and mutant Gα t1 uncoupled from light-activated rhodopsin (Gα t1 -Ctα s ), were examined by EGFP-fluorescence imaging and fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP). Similar to Gα t1 , Gα t1 A3C and Gα t1 -Ctα s were correctly targeted to the rod outer segments in the dark, however the light-dependent translocation of both mutants was markedly impaired. Our analysis revealed a moderate acceleration of the lateral diffusion for the activated Gα t1 consistent with the diffusion of the separated Gα t1 GTP and Gβ 1 γ 1 on the membrane surface. Unexpectedly, the kinetics of longitudinal diffusion were comparable for Gα t1 GTP with a single lipid anchor and heterotrimeric Gα t1 β 1 γ 1 or Gα t1 -Ctα s β 1 γ 1 with two lipid modifications. This contrasted the lack of the longitudinal diffusion of the Gα t1 A3C mutant apparently caused by its stable two lipid attachment to the membrane and suggests the existence of a mechanism that facilitates axial diffusion of Gα t1 β 1 γ 1 .
The role of periodic orbits in coupled, open, ballistic quantum dots

Abstract We have performed numerical simulations of the quantum mechanical transport and corresponding wave functions of coupled open quantum dots, with contacts supporting a number of propagating modes. In cases where two dots are connected together in series, we have found that, as has been seen previously in single dots, the wave functions in each dot can be scarred by underlying classical periodic orbits. However, we find that the coupling between dots also allows for a new possibility, whereby resonant wave functions have scars that appear to extend between dots, providing a new variation on the idea that coupled quantum dots can act as artificial molecules. We also consider finite chains of quantum dots, and find behavior analogous to that previously noted for one dimensional superlattices and corrugated structures coexisting with these scarring effects.
Build-a-Brain

A major barrier in understanding nervous system development is modeling the cellular interactions that form the human brain. Recently, in the journal Nature, Lancaster et al. (2013) established a protocol for culturing pluripotent stem cell (PSC)-derived "cerebral organoids" that mimics the developing human brain's cellular organization, segregates into distinct brain regions, and models microcephaly.
Corrigendum to “A tutorial explaining a machine vision model that emulates human performance when it recovers natural 3D scenes from 2D images” [J. Math. Psychol. 56 (2012) 217–231]

Corrigendum Corrigendum to ‘‘A tutorial explaining a machine vision model that emulates human performance when it recovers natural 3D scenes from 2D images’’ [J. Math. Psychol. 56 (2012) 217–231] Yunfeng Li a,∗, Tadamasa Sawada b, Longin Jan Latecki b, Robert M. Steinman a, Zygmunt Pizlo a a Department of Psychological Sciences, Purdue University, United States b Department of Computer and Information Sciences, Temple University, United States
Sheriden: A Clovis cave site in eastern North America

Sheriden Cave is a deeply buried, stratified, and radiocarbon dated (ca. 11,500 B.P.) late Pleistocene habitation site located in northwestern Wyandot County, Ohio, United States. Artifacts recovered from the cave include a side scraper manufactured from a bifacial thinning flake, a bifacial preform, chert debitage, a carved, incised, and beveled-based osseous point, and burned bone. Most of the toolstones are nonlocal cherts that outcrop between 140 and 400 km from the site. The artifact assemblage is distinctive of the Early Paleoindian, Clovis Cultural Complex of North America. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Preliminary Results of Bedside Inferior Vena Cava Filter Placement: Safe and Cost-Effective

The use of inferior vena cava filters (IVCFs) is increasing in patients at high risk for venous thromboembolism; however, there is considerable controversy related to their cost. We inserted eight percutaneous IVCFs at the bedside. The hospital charges for bedside IVCF insertion were substantially lower compared with those for IVCF insertion performed in the Radiology Department or operating room. There was one death (unrelated to the procedure) and one asymptomatic caval occlusion believed to be caused by thrombus trapping. Bedside IVCF insertion is safe and cost-effective in selected patients. This practice averts the potential complications associated with transporting critically ill patients.
Molecular-thermodynamic theory of micellization of multicomponent surfactant mixtures: 2. pH-sensitive surfactants.

In article 1 of this series, we developed a molecular-thermodynamic (MT) theory to model the micellization of mixtures containing an arbitrary number of conventional (pH-insensitive) surfactants. In this article, we extend the MT theory to model mixtures containing a pH-sensitive surfactant. The MT theory was validated by examining mixtures containing both a pH-sensitive surfactant and a conventional surfactant, which effectively behave like ternary surfactant mixtures. We first compared the predicted micellar titration data to experimental micellar titration data that we obtained for varying compositions of mixed micelles containing the pH-sensitive surfactant dodecyldimethylamine oxide (C12DAO) mixed with either a cationic surfactant (dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide, C12TAB), a nonionic surfactant (dodecyl octa(ethylene oxide), C12E8), or an anionic surfactant (sodium dodecyl sulfate, SDS) surfactant. The MT theory accurately modeled the titration behavior of C12DAO mixed with C12E8. However, C12DAO wa...
Exhaled aerosol pattern discloses lung structural abnormality: a sensitivity study using computational modeling and fractal analysis.

Background Exhaled aerosol patterns, also called aerosol fingerprints, provide clues to the health of the lung and can be used to detect disease-modified airway structures. The key is how to decode the exhaled aerosol fingerprints and retrieve the lung structural information for a non-invasive identification of respiratory diseases. Objective and methods In this study, a CFD-fractal analysis method was developed to quantify exhaled aerosol fingerprints and applied it to one benign and three malign conditions: a tracheal carina tumor, a bronchial tumor, and asthma. Respirations of tracer aerosols of 1 µm at a flow rate of 30 L/min were simulated, with exhaled distributions recorded at the mouth. Large eddy simulations and a Lagrangian tracking approach were used to simulate respiratory airflows and aerosol dynamics. Aerosol morphometric measures such as concentration disparity, spatial distributions, and fractal analysis were applied to distinguish various exhaled aerosol patterns. Findings Utilizing physiology-based modeling, we demonstrated substantial differences in exhaled aerosol distributions among normal and pathological airways, which were suggestive of the disease location and extent. With fractal analysis, we also demonstrated that exhaled aerosol patterns exhibited fractal behavior in both the entire image and selected regions of interest. Each exhaled aerosol fingerprint exhibited distinct pattern parameters such as spatial probability, fractal dimension, lacunarity, and multifractal spectrum. Furthermore, a correlation of the diseased location and exhaled aerosol spatial distribution was established for asthma. Conclusion Aerosol-fingerprint-based breath tests disclose clues about the site and severity of lung diseases and appear to be sensitive enough to be a practical tool for diagnosis and prognosis of respiratory diseases with structural abnormalities.
A Study of the Khapra Beetle, Trogoderma granarium, in Commercial Grain Storages in Southern Arizona

An ecological study of the khapra beetle was conducted in Phoenix, Arizona, from September 1955 to January 1956 in a commercial warehouse containing about 2500 tons of barley and in an adjacent storage holding about 1300 tons of barley and woo tons of sorghum. Local climatological data, together with grain temperature, moisture content, dockage, the presence of other pests, parasites, and predators were all evaluated with respect to the occurrence and development of the khapra beetle in the 2 types of grain The high summer temperatures prevailing in this region produce seasonal grain temperatures within the optimum range for this insect (30–40° C). Populations thus rapidly reach densities which are able to maintain optimum temperatures in large masses of grain, practically independent of ambient temperatures, throughout the year. Supra-optimum temperatures, between 40 and 43.3° C, prevailed in I large volume of barley and were apparently responsible for higher population densities found in the superficial layers of the grain. The effectiveness of early attempts to control the khapra beetle also is described.
Comparison of the effects of transfusions of cryopreserved and liquid-preserved platelets on hemostasis and blood loss after cardiopulmonary bypass

Abstract Objective: The aim of the study was to compare the clinical effects and hemostatic efficiency of transfusions of platelets preserved in the frozen state for as long as 2 years with transfusions of platelets preserved in the conventional manner for as long as 5 days in patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass. Methods: Seventy-three patients were prospectively randomly assigned to receive transfusions of cryopreserved or liquid-preserved platelets. Nonsurgical blood loss was measured during and after the operation. Bleeding time, hematologic variables, and the bleeding time site shed blood were assayed before cardiopulmonary bypass and at 30 minutes and 2, 4, and 24 hours after transfusion. In vitro platelet function tests were conducted on platelets obtained from healthy volunteers. Results: No adverse sequelae of the transfusions were observed. Blood loss and the need for postoperative blood product transfusions were lower in the group receiving cryopreserved platelets. Lower posttransfusion platelet increments and a tendency toward decreased platelet survival were observed in patients receiving cryopreserved platelets. Hematocrit and plasma fibrinogen were significantly higher in this group, and the duration of intubation was shorter. In vitro, cryopreserved platelets demonstrated less aggregation, lower pH, and decreased response to hypotonic stress but generated more procoagulant activity and thromboxane. Conclusions: (1) Cryopreserved platelet transfusions are superior to liquid-preserved platelets in reducing blood loss and the need for blood product transfusions after cardiopulmonary bypass. (2) The reduction in blood loss in the patients receiving cryopreserved platelet transfusions after cardiopulmonary bypass probably reflects improved in vivo hemostatic function of cryopreserved platelets. (3) Some in vitro measures of platelet quality (aggregation, pH, hypotonic stress) may not reflect in vivo quality of platelet transfusions after cardiopulmonary bypass, whereas other in vitro measures (platelet procoagulant activity and thromboxane) do. (J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1999;117:172-84)
Extension of continuum mechanics to the nanoscale

Abstract This is an extension of continuum mechanics to the nanoscale (not the molecular scale). In the context of continuum mechanics, nanoscale problems always involve the immediate neighborhood of a phase interface or the immediate neighborhood of a three-phase line of contact or common line. While the presentation is new, it is based upon a long history of important developments beginning with that of Hamaker (Physica 4 (1937) 1058). We test this theory by using it to predict both the surface tensions of the n -alkanes and the static contact angles for the n -alkanes on PTFE and for several liquids on polydimethylsiloxane. In the case of surface tension and like the best previous theory, one adjustable parameter is required. For the contact angle predictions, no adjustable parameters are used. In both cases, the results are compared with previously published experimental data. The results for the contact angle analysis also provide a successful test of a previously derived form of Young's equation for the true, rather than apparent, common line.
Estimating ‘hedonic’ distributions using polynomials

Abstract There are many instances in both private and public insurance when changes in the underlying claimant ‘demography’ will have far reaching impacts on prospective insurance costs. Changes in the age distribution of policy holders in life insurance may significantly affect the total fixed costs of administering such policies (holding the total number of policies constant). Similarly, a change in the distribution of firm sizes will affect costs in unemployment insurance if costs per payroll vary by firm size (say due to experience rating). Changing the severity of automobile claims may have a measurably smooth impact on legal fees. In all of these cases total costs are observed, but the distribution of those costs across claim types (the ‘hedonic’ distribution) is not. We present a general technique for inferring the ‘hedonic’ distribution in these cases using a variant of the Almon distributed-lag technique. To illustrate its usefulness, we employ it to infer the distribution of premiums across different risk classes of firms. In our example, there appears to be a uniform distribution of dividends across risk groups though firms with lower losses receive relatively more dividends.
Calculating the anharmonic free energy from first principles

We developed a method to calculate the anharmonic free energy without requiring any adjustable parameter. The requisite computations are first-principles quasiharmonic calculations plus an additional Canonical (NVT) ensemble first-principles molecular-dynamics simulation and, therefore, are affordable. The thermodynamic properties of diamond and MgO at high temperature improve substantially after including the anharmonic free energy.
Respiratory failure due to altered central drive during inspiratory loading in rabbits

Mechanisms of respiratory muscle dysfunction leading to respiratory failure during incremental inspiratory threshold loading were studied in unbound spontaneously breathing rabbits during light and deeper anesthesia. Low or high frequency contractile fatigue was not found at the point of respiratory failure in any of the animals. On the other hand, alterations in central drive to the diaphragm played a dominant role in the observed respiratory failure. In animals receiving light anesthesia the intensity of central drive increased with loading, but then fell as respiratory failure approached. In all animals the intensity of central drive at peak activation and at the point of respiratory failure was submaximal, in spite of the diaphragm's ability to generate additional forces. In addition, the time tension index of the diaphragm rose in response to increasing loads to a level reported to produce contractile fatigue, at which time the index peaked and then fell in spite of increasing load demands. The fall in the time tension index as respiratory failure approached was due primarily to a fall in inspiratory time and duty cycle. Ultimately, there was an abrupt cessation in central drive resulting in apnea. These findings suggest that alterations in central drive play a major role in respiratory muscle dysfunction and respiratory failure associated with inspiratory loading in unbound spontaneously breathing rabbits.
Parasitism of the Larch Sawfly by Bessa harveyi (Diptera: Tachinidae)

Parasitism of the larch sawfly, Pristiphora erichsonii (Hartig) (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae) by Bessa harveyi (Townsend) (Diptera: Tachinidae) was measured in 1973 and 1974 in Minnesota. Most overwintering live maggots were covered with a brown encapsulation sheath from which they escaped in spring. Averages of 26–52% of the maggots died from undetermined causes. Dead maggots were covered with a black encapsulation sheath. Undetermined mortality probably is an important factor influencing population dynamics. Superparasitism (ca. 23%) was not as important as speculated from field observations. Hosts “unsuccessfully” parasitized by B. harveyi showed reduced survival. The high incidence of dead maggots and encapsulated eggs of Mesoleius tenthredinis Morley (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) (ca. 33%) considerably reduced opportunities for interspecific competition.
Anomaly detection using range profile and intensity signatures

Anomaly detection methods applied to LAser Detection And Ranging (LADAR) data have traditionally utilized intensity and range as indicators. The proposed method for anomaly detection presented in this paper uses information about the range profile of the target to determine if the target is anomalous. The range profile is related to the range depth of the target surface relative to the illuminating wave of the LADAR system. If the target surface is slanted for instance, the range to the target will vary as a function of position within the instantaneous field of view of the LADAR receiver optics. This variation of range can be indicative of the presence of an anomaly within the scene viewed by the system. The ability to detect range variation from a returned LADAR pulse is a feature of the Normalized VAriable Shape (NOVAS) correlator. The algorithm computes both the range to the target and the shape of the pulse adaptively using an assumed mathematical form for the shape of the pulse. In the cases examined in this paper a Gaussian pulse shape is assumed for the pulse returning from the target. The NOVAS algorithm estimates the standard deviation of the Gaussian as well as the range associated with the shift in its position in time. The NOVAS algorithm achieves its ability to discern both the range to the target and the shape of the returning pulse through the use of the Pearson's product coefficient. This normalized correlation operation searches over both range and pulse shape parameter to achieve the highest correlation value between the pulse model and the reflected pulse measurement. The range depth of the target can be inferred from the returning pulse width as the pulse shape reflected from the target is the result of a convolution between the pulse fired at the target and the range profile.
Writing the Implosion: Teaching the World One Thing at a Time

This article puts a reading of Gilles Deleuze’s Cinema 2 in dialogue with Donna Haraway’s works and methods. Working through the former helps me unpack the process of Haraway’s inquisitive “implosion” method and some of its aims better. I describe this as exploring how the world is interconnected one process and thing at a time, how these connections are vitally and politically important, and how this work is inexhaustible. Following this exegesis, I offer a series of exercises for putting this method into practice, one that I use myself and teach to graduate students and undergrads.
Growth via pulsed laser deposition and characterization of thin films of the electron-doped superconductor Sm2−xCexCuO4−y

Abstract We report on the growth of thin films of the electron-doped superconductor Sm 2− x Ce x CuO 4− y (SCCO) by pulsed laser deposition (PLD). Electrical resistivity ρ ( H , T ) measurements on the thin films were made at temperatures T between 20 mK and 300 K in magnetic fields H up to 18 T. The superconducting transition temperature is as high as T c = 17.8 K, with a transition width Δ T c = 0.93 K, for an optimally doped film. The ρ ( H , T ) measurements on this thin film are compared to similar measurements made on single crystals. A vortex-glass scaling analysis was applied to the ρ ( H , T ) data, yielding values of the vortex-glass melting temperature T g and critical exponent ν ( z − 1). In addition, ρ ( H , T ) data are presented for an underdoped sample with x = 0.125, also grown via PLD.
Electronic excitation and desorption processes in solids under charged particle bombardment

Abstract A review is given of several aspects of charged particle energy losses in condensed matter. Emphasis is placed on the spatial distribution of energy deposition near the surface. The influence of collective bulk and surface modes on absorption processes is sketched. Comparison of coherent energy deposition in the infratrack and delta-ray energy deposition in the ultratrack is made. Theories of surface desorption of atoms and small molecules by ionizing radiation and the use of multi-hit and multi-target theory in the analysis of large biomolecule desorption are discussed.
The Role of Culture in FDI in the PRC: Implications for HR Practitioners, and Managers

This paper examines the role that culture plays in Foreign Direct Investment FDI in the People's Republic of China PRC. Using examples of inward FDI from mostly western Multinational Corporations MNCs, the implication of Chinese culture, Transaction Cost Theory, and modes of entry are discussed. The authors suggest that the increase in, and the rate of direct FDI in the PRC prior to the current worldwide economic crisis raises important issues with respect to employment and talent management issues and organizations would be wise to consider the mode of entry and management practices if they are to be successful in China.
Bone formation at a ceramic implant interface.

A nonporous ceramic implant in rat femora was evaluated as to its ability to bond to bone. A number of morphologic techniques were utilized to examine the interfacial relationship of the implant to new bone. Transmission electron microscopy and fluorescence microscopy after tetracycline labelling were the most successful techniques. An intimate relationship between mineralized bone and the ceramic was demonstrated by transmission electron microscopy. The appearance of tetracycline labelling at the ceramic interface indicates that the implant may have capacity to enhance bone formation.