cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Epstein - Barr virus Infection in a Patient with Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder and Sjögren's Syndrome: A Case Report and Review of Literature.

Background The association of Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorders (NMOSD) with autoimmune disorders including Sjogren's syndrome (SS), is well recognized. Epstein Barr virus (EBV) has been associated to various neurological entities. We describe a case where EBV infection likely preceded NMOSD in a patient with unrecognized SS. The clinical features, work up and management are described. Case presentation A 40-year woman with history of stroke and Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) two years prior, presented with progressive lower extremity weakness and pain. Brain MRI revealed hyperintensities in the cerebellar and parietal lobes consistent with old infarcts, high intensity signal in the white matter and enhancing intramedullary lesion at the level of T2 and the conus medullaris. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) revealed no oligoclonal bands. Next day, the patient developed right ankle weakness and urinary incontinence. NMOSD was suspected and pulse steroids initiated. Patient's weakness resolved. Antinuclear antibodies (ANA), anti-SSA/SSB and Aquaporin 4 antibodies (AQP4Ab) were positive. CSF was positive for EBV. Parotid gland ultrasound revealed non-homogeneous tissue.Ganciclovir and plasmapheresis were started. The patient's sensation and motor deficits improved and one month after, she had regained motor power and sphincter control. The patient was discharged on oral prednisone and plans for rituximab infusions.On follow-up imaging, Spinal MRI showed areas of myelomalacia and complete resolution at the level of T2 and conus medularis lesions respectively. The patient had no additional flares, but did complain of chronic neuropathic pain. Conclusion NMOSD commonly coexist with other autoimmune diseases. The association of SS and NMOSD is well recognized. EBV infections can present with neurological manifestations however, EBV has also been linked to the development of autoimmunity. In our case, EBV was detected in CSF and antiviral therapy was initiated in addition to the treatment modalities for NMOSD which led to a full recovery in our patient.
Conversation modeling: how the 3D aspect can influence collaborative interpretation

Collaboration is a complex process that involves human and non-human factors. Although technology has improved and facilitated collaborative projects, interpretation, as the process of discovering and creating meaning, is often perceived as an individual act. This research aims to facilitate collaboration by better understanding how groups of people can make and maintain multiple interpretations. After a series of more than two dozen prototypes and 40 workshops for co-design and usability testing, the video records of the workshops have been categorized using protocol analysis and the foundations of discourse analysis. We hypothesize that the physical 3D aspect of these prototypes helps users not only in sharing their interpretations but also in co-creating them. Moreover, this is an essential finding for the next steps of this research, which will try to replicate the results of the physical models by attaching them as an interface to an online environment.
Impact of UV Light Intensity on Photodegradation of PV Backsheets

Polymeric accelerated weathering tests are often performed by increasing the intensity of the ultraviolet (UV) radiation to shorten the testing time. One critical question is whether the results from high UV intensity tests can be extrapolated to in-service exposure levels. We have investigated the influence of UV intensity on the photodegradation and validity of the reciprocity law for a commercial polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and ethylene-eo-vinyl acetate (EVA) based backsheet, called PPE. The free-standing films of PPE were exposed to different UV intensity levels ranging from 60 W/m2to 180 W/m2(300 nm - 400 nm), at 85 °C/0 % RH and 45 °C/0% RH, respectively. Chemical degradation, yellowing and surface morphological changes were measured as a function of time and UV dose. A mathematical model was developed to describe the degradation kinetics under different UV intensity levels. The results have indicated that the reciprocity law was obeyed for samples aged at 85 °C/0 % RH, but not 45 °C/ 0 % RH.
KTP-laser-assisted endoscopic management of glomus tympanicum tumors: A case series.

Endoscopic technology is widely used in rhinology and anterior skull base surgery, but it has been less quickly incorporated into otologic practice. The design of the instrumentation forces surgeon...
Dual-Energy CT: Lower Limits of Iodine Detection and Quantification

Background Assessments of the quantitative limitations among the six commercially available dual-energy (DE) CT acquisition schemes used by major CT manufacturers could aid researchers looking to use iodine quantification as an imaging biomarker. Purpose To determine the limits of detection and quantification of DE CT in phantoms by comparing rapid peak kilovoltage switching, dual-source, split-filter, and dual-layer detector systems in six different scanners. Materials and Methods Seven 50-mL iohexol solutions were used, with concentrations of 0.03-2.0 mg iodine per milliliter. The solutions and water sample were scanned five times each in two phantoms (small, 20-cm diameter; large, 30 × 40-cm diameter) with six DE CT systems and a total of 10 peak kilovoltage settings or combinations. Iodine maps were created, and the mean iodine signal in each sample was recorded. The limit of blank (LOB) was defined as the upper limit of the 95% confidence interval of the water sample. The limit of detection (LOD) was defined as the concentration with a 95% chance of having a signal above the LOB. The limit of quantification (LOQ) was defined as the lowest concentration where the coefficient of variation was less than 20%. Results The LOD range was 0.021-0.26 mg/mL in the small phantom and 0.026-0.55 mg/mL in the large phantom. The LOQ range was 0.07-0.50 mg/mL in the small phantom and 0.20-1.0 mg/mL in the large phantom. The dual-source and rapid peak kilovoltage switching systems had the lowest LODs, and the dual-layer detector systems had the highest LODs. Conclusion The iodine limit of detection using dual-energy CT systems varied with scanner and phantom size, but all systems depicted iodine in the small and large phantoms at or below 0.3 and 0.5 mg/mL, respectively, and enabled quantification at concentrations of 0.5 and 1.0 mg/mL, respectively. © RSNA, 2019 Online supplemental material is available for this article. See also the editorial by Hindman in this issue.
Learning Motion Trajectories from Phase Space Analysis of the Demonstration

A major goal of learning from demonstration is task generalization via observation of a teacher. In this paper, we propose a novel framework for learning motion from a single demonstration. Our approach reconstructs the demonstrated trajectory’s phase space curve via a linear piece-wise regression method. We approximate dynamics of trajectory segments with linear time invariant equations, each yielding closed form solutions. We show convergence to desired phase space states via an energy-based analysis. The robustness of the model is evaluated on a robot for a sequential trajectory task. Additionally, we show the advantages that the phase space model has over the dynamic motion primitive for a kinematic based task.
Therapeutic Relowering of Plasma Sodium after Overly Rapid Correction of Hyponatremia: What Is the Evidence?

Overly rapid correction of hyponatremia is defined as a plasma sodium correction rate exceeding the recommended limits, but controversy still exists about what those limits are. Two common limits used are ( 1 ) >10–12 mEq/L in the first 24 hours and >18 mEq/L in the first 48 hours; and ( 2 ) >8
Abstract NT-112: APTAMER CONJUGATED NANOPARTICLES FOR TARGETED DRUG DELIVERY

Targeted Delivery of therapeutic drugs and imaging agents, using nanoparticles, shows great promise in diverse fields, including the diagnostics and treatment of cancer. Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that have been traditionally used for detecting specific proteins can also be used as targeting moieties. However, due to their intrinsic characteristics such as immunogenicity, batch-to-batch variation and instability, antibodies have several limitations for in vivo applications. Nucleic acid based aptamers are emerging as attractive alternatives for mAbs. We have developed single-stranded DNA aptamers, which can specifically recognize and bind to ovarian cancer endothelial cells. Using mass-spectroscopy based proteomics, we have identified Annexin A2 as the protein target for the selected aptamers. These aptamers can act as homing devices to deliver therapeutic drugs and/or imaging agents specifically to ovarian cancer cells. Using a highly stable, three-way junction (3WJ) motif from the phi29 packaging RNA as a scaffold, we made a multi-functional RNA nanoparticle that can harbor therapeutic drugs, imaging agent, siRNA and the targeting ligand. The aptamer-containing multi-functional RNA nanoparticle is used to deliver Doxorubicin to Annexin A2 positive ovarian cancer cells, while the control nanoparticles failed to deliver. After systemic injection in mice, the DNA/RNA hybrid nanoparticles remained intact and strongly bound to tumors with little accumulation in healthy organs 6 hour post-injection. The aptamer-3WJ-Sph1/Dox intercalates selectively enhanced toxicity to Annexin A2 positive ovarian cancer cells in vitro, demonstrating the potential of the constructed DNA/RNA hybrid nanoparticles to enhance the therapeutic efficiency of Doxorubicin at low doses for ovarian cancer treatment. The use of the aptamer-3WJ RNA nanoparticle will benefit ovarian cancer patients by reducing the side effects of cancer chemo-therapeutics and increasing its local concentration in the tumor microenvironment after systemic administration. Our ultimate goal is the development of patient-optimized aptamer-nanoparticle delivery systems for chemotherapy and molecular diagnostics imaging. Citation Format: Varatharasa Thiviyanathan, Fengmei Pi, Hui Zhang, Hui Li , Hongyu Wang, Peixuan Guo, Anil Sood. APTAMER CONJUGATED NANOPARTICLES FOR TARGETED DRUG DELIVERY [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 12th Biennial Ovarian Cancer Research Symposium; Sep 13-15, 2018; Seattle, WA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2019;25(22 Suppl):Abstract nr NT-112.
177-OR: Estimating the Costs of Diabetes Complications in People <65 Years in the U.S. Using Panel Data

Reliable, accurate, updated cost estimates of treating diabetes complications are needed to assess the financial gain of efforts to prevent and delay diabetes complications and for parameterizing diabetes cost-effectiveness simulation models. Using large longitudinal and geographically diverse claims data from Optum de-identified Normative Health Information dataset between 2007 and 2016, we estimated the annual per-person cost associated with all the main complications in people with diabetes aged Disclosure W. Yang: None. I. Cintina: None. T.J. Hoerger: Research Support; Self; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. S. Neuwahl: None. H. Shao: None. M. Laxy: None. P. Zhang: None. Funding Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (200-2016-92270)
Opinion: A better approach for dealing with reproducibility and replicability in science.

Science impacts our daily lives and guides national and international policies (1). Thus, results of scientific studies are of paramount importance; yet, there are concerns that many studies are not reproducible or replicable (2). To address these concerns, the National Research Council conducted a Consensus Study [NASEM 2019 (3)] that provides definitions of key concepts, discussions of problems, and recommendations for dealing with these problems. These recommendations are useful and well considered, but they do not go far enough in our opinion. The NASEM recommendations treat reproducibility and replicability as single-study issues, despite clear acknowledgement of the limitations of isolated studies and the need for research synthesis (3). We advocate a strategic approach to research, focusing on the accumulation of evidence via designed sequences of studies, as a means of dealing more effectively with reproducibility, replicability, and related problems. These sequences are designed to provide iterative tests based on comparison of data from empirical studies with predictions from competing hypotheses. Evidence is then formally accumulated based on the relative predictive abilities of the different hypotheses as the sequential studies proceed. To deal more effectively with reproducibility, replicability, and related problems, scientists should pursue a strategic approach to research, focusing on the accumulation of evidence via designed sequences of studies. Image credit: Dave Cutler (artist). In many disciplines, single studies are seldom adequate to substantially increase knowledge by themselves. Examples of Platt’s (4) “crucial experiments,” which are capable of definitively discriminating among competing hypotheses, can be found but are rare. Thus, we view individual study results as building blocks and the accumulation of evidence as requiring multiple studies of the same phenomena (5⇓–7). This view can be incorporated strategically into research planning by developing sequences of studies to investigate focal hypotheses. Here we emphasize the comparison of study … [↵][1]1To whom correspondence may be addressed. Email: jamesdnichols2{at}gmail.com. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1
Association Between Added Sugars from Infant Formulas and Rapid Weight Gain in US Infants and Toddlers

BACKGROUND Formulas often contain high amounts of added sugars, though little research has studied their connection to obesity. OBJECTIVES This study assessed the contribution of added sugars from formulas during complementary feeding on total added sugar intakes, and the association between these sugars and upward weight-for-age percentile (WFA%) crossing (i.e., participants crossing a higher threshold percentile were considered to have an upward crossing). METHODS Data from three 24-hour dietary recalls for infants (n = 97; 9-12 months) and toddlers (n = 44; 13-15 months) were obtained in this cross-sectional analysis. Foods and beverages with added sugars were divided into 17 categories. Pearson's correlations were used to test relations between added sugar intake and upward WFA% crossing, followed by multivariable regressions when significant. ANOVA compared intakes of all, milk-based, and table foods between primarily formula-fed compared with breastfed participants. Multivariable regressions were used to test effects of added sugars and protein from all foods compared with added sugars and protein from milk-based sources on upward WFA% crossing. RESULTS Added sugars from formulas comprised 66% and 7% of added sugars consumed daily by infants and toddlers, respectively. A significant association was observed between upward WFA% crossing and added sugars from milk-based sources after controlling for gestational age, sex, age, introduction to solid foods, mean energy intakes, and maternal pre-pregnancy BMI and education (β = 0.003; 95% CI, 0.000-0.007; P = 0.046). Primarily formula-fed participants consumed nearly twice the energy from added sugars (P = 0.003) and gained weight faster (upward WFA% crossing = 1.1 ± 1.2 compared with 0.3 ± 0.6, respectively; P < 0.001) than their breastfed counterparts. CONCLUSIONS Added sugars in formulas predict rapid weight gain in infants and toddlers. Educating mothers on lower-sugar options may enhance childhood obesity prevention.
The Lasting Legacy of Rudine Sims Bishop: Mirrors, Windows, Sliding Glass Doors, and More:

This essay profiles Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop, the 2020 Distinguished Scholar Lifetime Achievement Award recipient. It begins with biographical information about Bishop and her career trajectory in ed...
Mature T- and NK-Cell Neoplasms

With a few exceptions, mature T- and NK-cell leukemias/lymphomas are aggressive neoplasms. They tend to be challenging to diagnose due to their uncommon occurrences, the overlapping features among various entities, and perhaps the imperfect sensitivity and specificity of T-cell receptor gene rearrangement as a reliable indicator of T-cell malignancy. The rapid advancements in molecular diagnostic techniques in recent years, such as whole genome/exome sequencing, array comparative genomic hybridization, microRNA, and microarray gene expression profiling, have shed light on the molecular pathogenesis of many of the lymphoma entities. In some situations, a better understanding of the molecular profile of a lymphoma has led to its reclassification. One example relates to reclassification of the previously recognized nodal peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) with T follicular helper features now under the same diagnostic category as angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma that is known to share T follicular helper features. Certain molecular events can profoundly influence the prognosis of patients given the same diagnostic entity, as in the case of ALK-negative anaplastic large cell lymphoma harboring DUSP22 or TP63 gene rearrangements. Contemporary molecular genetic techniques have also contributed to our understanding of JAK-STAT activation in cytotoxic T-cell neoplasms, such as T-cell large granular lymphocyte leukemia. In fact, gain-of-function STAT3 mutations along the JAK-STAT cascade may represent a common pathogenic link among various natural killer cell (NK-cell) neoplasms. The knowledge derived from molecular genetic advancements in T-/NK-cell neoplasms holds promise in paving the way for the development of novel therapeutic targets that can eventually lead to better clinical outcomes.
The Future of the Rural Economy in the United States

Rural economies in the United States are facing a downward spiral with job losses and failure to acquire skills required in this age of automation. A multitude of factors have prevented rural communities to keep up with the mainstream American economy leading to outmigration and rising debt levels.
Your View: Top funding needed for legal assistance corporation

Lawyers -- we love to hate them until we need one. The good news that, in certain critical situations, lawyers are available. They are a constitutional entitlement for the criminally accused. They can be retained on a contingency fee basis in certain kinds of cases. Legal services may be available through a work-based pre-paid plan. And, if you have lots of money, legal services are, of course, readily procurable. That's the stuff of legal "dream teams."
The palace of memory: virtual tourism and tours of duty in Tactical Iraqi and Virtual Iraq

This paper discusses two projects developed at the University of Southern California with funding from the U.S. military: Tactical Iraqi, a videogame that is designed to accelerate a learner's acquisition of spoken Arabic to assist in the rapid deployment of soldiers into volatile tactical situations, and Virtual Iraq, a virtual reality simulation intended to lessen the effects of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder among combat veterans. Both programs specifically address issues of memory related to inhabiting these VR worlds and connect spatial experiences to acts of practices of recognition, recollection, and remembering: Tactical Iraqi is designed to prompt soldiers to remember specific Arabic words and phrases; Virtual Iraq is intended to trigger memories and appropriate coping mechanisms in combat veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. This paper analyzes how the traditional "method of loci" or "art of memory" from classical rhetoric, which has been updated by Wong and Storkerson as a tool for hypertext theory, can also be applied to 3D graphical worlds with immersive multi-sensory environments. As Certeau argues, however, in his work on the "rhetoric of walking," the architectures of these virtual worlds should properly offer possibilities for tactical resistance in order to be fully inhabited by their users.
A solar powered ocean observatory using acoustic and Iridium links

A moderate bandwidth observatory platform has been developed that integrates acoustic and satellite links to provide connectivity between sensors on the seafloor and investigators on shore. The system incorporates high-rate (5300 bps) acoustic modems, solar power generation, a low-power single board computer running Linux, and Iridium satellite modems to provide a lower cost, relocatable alternative to higher bandwidth systems. The prototype system, which supports an ocean bottom seismometer (OBS) and fluid-flow, temperature, and resistivity sensors, has been deployed near the Nootka Fault in 2326 m of water off the coast of Vancouver Island since May 2004. Since deployment, the system has transmitted more than 150 MB of data from the seafloor instruments
Maximizing the Utility of the Serum Repository With Current Technologies and Recommendations to Meet Future Needs: Report of the Technical Panel

ABSTRACT The Department of Defense Serum Repository (DoDSR) of the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Center (AFHSC), Silver Spring, Maryland, has over 55 million specimens. Over 80% of these specimens are linked to individual health data. In response to Congressional and Department of Defense (DoD) concern about toxic exposures of deployed Service members and rapidly developing laboratory capabilities that may identify those exposed, the AFHSC hosted two panels in 2013. The first, the Needs Panel, focused on assessing the needs of the DoD that may be met using the current DoDSR and an enhanced repository. The second panel, the Technical Panel, focused on identifying the emerging laboratory technologies that are or will be available to DoD public health workers and researchers. This report summarizes the recommendations of the Technical Panel, to include identified gaps in the ability of the current DoDSR to address questions of interest to the DoD, the availability of laboratory technology to address these...
Investor Sentiment and Asset Valuation

The link between asset valuations and investor sentiment is the subject of considerable debate in the profession. We address this question by examining how survey data on investor sentiment relates to i) long-horizon returns, and ii) asset valuations. If excessive optimism drives prices above intrinsic values, periods of high sentiment should be followed by low returns as market prices revert to fundamental values. We find this to be the case for the overall stock market at horizons of two to three years. The relation is strongest for large-capitalization, low book-to-market (growth) portfolios. We also examine the relation between sentiment levels and deviations from intrinsic value. Using errors from an independent pricing model, we find sentiment is positively related to valuation errors using a variety of tests. All of our results are robust to the inclusion of other factors that have been shown to forecast stock returns, including past returns.
Natural history : Hobby or science ?

Llanos (perhaps because I am trying to become a naturalist), I am late for this discussion in which I think a point was not well attended. I was surprised to read how supporters of natural history acknowledged it as something "good," yet they did not give it the value of a science or stress the importance of it for conservation in places where biodiversity is unknown. The disappearance of naturalists is especially troubling when we think about the lack of people studying natural history in places such as the tropics, where many animals and plants are known only by name, if at all. Noss (1996b) calls us to load our backpacks with field guides and keys and go out to learn about nature. This may be possible in North America and a few sites in the tropics where field guides and keys exist, but in most tropical places the lack of basic information makes field research harder to do. In conservation biology, knowledge of natural history is critical in that we need some basic information about the species we want to pre-
Animal Models for Small for Gestational Age and Fetal Programing of Adult Disease

Fetal growth retardation is a fetal adaptation in response to inadequate supply of oxygen and/or nutrients. Animal models of intrauterine growth retardation are an invaluable tool to question the gene
Dna synthesis in inflammatory cells of immunized and non-immunized mice.

SummaryInflammatory cells aspirated from the peritoneal cavity of mice injected with Diphtheria toxoid were studied by autoradiography for in vitro incorporation of tritiated thymidine. The proportion of labeled cells was low prior to and for the first 2 days following initiation of inflammation. Beginning on the 3rd day the proportion of labeled cells gradually increased reaching a maximum on or about the 7th day in the non-sensitized mice. In animals previously sensitized to the Diphtheria toxoid, the increase in labeled cells occurred more rapidly, reaching a maximum on or about 5th day of inflammation. However, number of cells capable of DNA synthesis in both groups appeared to be identical. The origin of inflammatory mononuclear cells was discussed. Only a small proportion of the cells originate by division of cells suspended in the inflammatory exudate. The majority of cells, both granulocytes and mononuclear cells, migrate into the inflammatory area from the blood vessels and possibly from adjoinin...
Reflective electron-beam lithography performance for the 10nm logic node

Maskless electron beam lithography has the potential to extend semiconductor manufacturing to the sub-10 nm technology node. KLA-Tencor is currently developing Reflective Electron Beam Lithography (REBL) for high-volume 10 nm logic (16 nm HP). This paper reviews progress in the development of the REBL system towards its goal of 100 wph throughput for High Volume Lithography (HVL) at the 2X and 1X nm nodes. In this paper we introduce the Digital Pattern Generator (DPG) with integrated CMOS and MEMs lenslets that was manufactured at TSMC and IMEC. For REBL, the DPG is integrated to KLA-Tencor pattern generating software that can be programmed to produce complex, gray-scaled lithography patterns. Additionally, we show printing results for a range of interesting lithography patterns using Time Domain Imaging (TDI). Previously, KLA-Tencor reported on the development of a Reflective Electron Beam Lithography (REBL) tool for maskless lithography at and below the 22 nm technology node1. Since that time, the REBL team and its partners (TSMC, IMEC) have made good progress towards developing the REBL system and Digital Pattern Generator (DPG) for direct write lithography. Traditionally, e-beam direct write lithography has been too slow for most lithography applications. Ebeam direct write lithography has been used for mask writing rather than wafer processing since the maximum blur requirements limit column beam current - which drives e-beam throughput. To print small features and a fine pitch with an e-beam tool requires a sacrifice in processing time unless one significantly increases the total number of beams on a single writing tool. Because of the continued uncertainty with regards to the optical lithography roadmap beyond the 22 nm technology node, the semiconductor equipment industry is in the process of designing and testing e-beam lithography tools with the potential for HVL.
Tracking Perpetual Access: A Survey of Librarian Practices

As librarians continue to grapple with licensed rather than purchased content, many have turned to perpetual access agreements to retain some of the norms of the print world. However, a license agreement only represents the beginning of a library's relationship with a vendor, and perpetual access is not fully assured when the license is signed. In order to maintain perpetual access, librarians must continually track their perpetual access entitlements and adjust their holdings information when changes occur. The present study seeks to determine whether librarians are actively tracking their perpetual access, as well as the methods and systems used to accomplish this. A survey of librarians working with electronic resources found that many librarians were not tracking perpetual access, and they expressed uncertainty regarding their plans for ensuring this access.
von Willebrand disease type B: a missense mutation selectively abolishes ristocetin-induced von Willebrand factor binding to platelet glycoprotein Ib.

Abstract von Willebrand factor (vWF) is a multimeric glycoprotein that mediates the adhesion of platelets to the subendothelium by binding to platelet glycoprotein Ib. For human vWF, this interaction can be induced in vitro by the antibiotic ristocetin or the snake venom protein botrocetin. A missense mutation, Gly-561-->Ser, was identified within the proposed glycoprotein Ib binding domain of vWF in the proband with von Willebrand disease type B, a unique variant characterized by no ristocetin-induced, but normal botrocetin-induced, binding to glycoprotein Ib. The corresponding mutant recombinant protein, rvWF(G561S), formed normal multimers and exhibited the same functional defect as the patient's plasma vWF, confirming that this mutation causes von Willebrand disease type B. These data show that botrocetin and ristocetin cofactor activities of vWF can be dissociated by a point mutation and confirm that these mediators promote vWF binding to platelets by different mechanisms. The normal botrocetin-induced binding and the defective ristocetin-induced binding of rvWF(G561S) suggest that the primary defect in von Willebrand disease type B may be a failure of normal allosteric regulation of the glycoprotein Ib binding function of vWF.
The distribution of peanut fungi in the southeastern United States.

During a four-year survey in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Texas and Virginia of the fungi associated with peanut shells and seeds 70 genera and 146 species of fungi were identified. Twenty-seven genera and 60 species were isolated from peanut fruits for the first time. Nine genera are Phycomycetes, 17 are Ascomycetes, and 44 are Deuteromycetes. A total of 110 genera and about 200 species of fungi have now been reported from peanuts. A key to the genera reported in this study is included, along with the distribution by state for each species.
Pointers and data abstractions in high level languages-II: Correctness proofs

Recognizing the problems that the use of pointers pose to the construction of reliable software, this two-part paper proposes a scheme by which pointers may be used in a controlled manner to build data abstractions without being used as abstractions in their own right. Part I, published in Computer Languages2, 135-148, presents the language constructs facilitating the proposal. Part II, in this Issue, attempts to show, by use of a fairly complex example, that proving the correctness of an implementation of an abstraction built in this manner from pointers need not be more difficult than other implementation correctness proofs.
Desert pavements and associated rock varnish in the Mojave Desert: How old can they be?

Desert pavements are common features of arid landscapes and have been widely used as a relative age indicator of the geomorphic surfaces upon which they are developed. In this study I examined the patterns of pavement development as a function of elevation in the Mojave Desert as well as the causes for the gradual disappearance of pavement at high elevations. Pavement density, as measured by percentage of pebble coverage, decreases systematically with elevation gain by ;3% per 100 m, from 95% coverage below 500 m to less than 60% at 1700 m. Plants appear to be the main agent of pavement disruption; plant density decreases as pavement density increases. Burrowing by rodents and crusting by cryptobiota also disrupt pavement development at higher elevation. During the last glacial maximum, plant communities were displaced 1000‐1400 m downward in the Mojave Desert. Pavements today generally do not survive above the blackbush (Coleogyne ramossisma)-sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) zone. Evidence from packrat middens shows that these and other plants typical of high elevations today grew as low as 300‐400 m during the last glacial maximum. I suggest that during the last glacial maximum, desert pavements were confined to the lowest alluvial fans of Death Valley and adjoining low valleys. No alluvial desert pavements above ;400 m in the region are older than the latest Pleistocene. By the same reasoning, desert varnish on desert pavements above 400 m may all be Holocene in age, except where developed on stable boulders.
Does Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy Enhance Healing of Osteochondritis Dissecans of the Rabbit Knee?: A Pilot Study

Background Severe osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) in children and adolescents often necessitates surgical interventions (ie, drilling, excision, or debridement). Since extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) enhances healing of long-bone nonunion fractures, we speculated ESWT would reactivate the healing process in OCD lesions.
Conjugate Heat Transfer High-Heat-Flux Amplification Simulation

High-heat-flux (HHF) removal (HHFR) limits can be formidable technological barriers that prevent or limit the normal implementation or optimization of new and novel devices or processes. A conjugat...
An NGO in Search of a Business Model (Innovations Case Discussion: Sulabh International)

dollars invested in the world’s water supply failed to produce the anticipated reduction in the burden of disease that the international water sector began to pay serious attention to the “lack-of-toilet” crisis. The projected failure to attain the Millennium Development Goals’ sanitation target in much of sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia by 2015 finally brought the challenges of promoting hand-washing and the use of safe toilets much-needed attention—it even led the United Nations to declare 2008 the International Year of Sanitation. Of the nearly 1.2 billion people who practice open defecation worldwide, about 668 million live in India. Almost 74 percent of India’s rural population and 18 percent of its urban population still practice open defecation. This number is particularly shocking when one considers that the government of India has been actively trying to combat the practice for at least three decades. In development lingo, the scale-up has not been successful. According to one estimate, between 1986 and 1999, India’s Central Rural Sanitation Program installed 9.45 million latrines and gave about 85 million people new access to latrines. Over the same period, the population grew by 144 million, making the gains in improved sanitation imperceptible. Moreover, as the government and others in the sector found, increased access to latrines did not translate into their consistent and increased use, let alone tremendous health gains. While sanitation is a challenge in many parts of the world, in India it is a behemoth in a way that is particularly Indian. It is complicated by religion, tradition, caste, and social hierarchies that underpin generational poverty, gender inequality, rural-urban divides, political structures, and even economic incentives. Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak’s genius lies not in his solution to the problem of open defecation—which clearly remains an overwhelming issue for India—but in his direct assault on the social hierarchies that perpetuate the problem.
Lanthanide ion catalysis of the trans-cis isomerization of trans-bis(oxalato)-diaquochromate(III) and trans-bis(malonato)diaquochromate(III) [1]

Abstract The lanthanide ion catalyzed trans-cis isomerizations of trans-bis(oxalato)diaquochromate(II) and trans-bis(malonato)diaquochromate(III) have been studied. A linear free energy relationship was found correlating the catalytic rate constants for the oxalate reaction with the corresponding formation constants of complexes formed between simple monocarboxylic acids and the light (LaGd) members of the lanthanide series. The results indicates that for this portion of the series, the reaction mechanism is related to the formation of monocarboxylate complex intermediates. When the ionic radius of the lanthanide ion decreases below a particular value (as in the latter half of the series), the metal ion remains coordinated to both carboxylates of the oxalate ion rather than simply binding to only one carboxylate. In either situation, isomerization to the cis product eventually occurs, and the lanthanide ion is released. The reaction rates associated with the trans-bis(malonato)diaquochromate(III) reaction were found to be significantly slower than those of the corresponding oxalate system. However, in the malonate system, no linear free energy relationship was found relating the catalytic rate constants with the corresponding formation constants of monocarboxylic acids. One does find a linear relationship between the catalytic rate constants for the malonate reaction and the log K1 values for the corresponding lanthanide/malonate complexes. During the course of the trans-cis isomerization, the lanthanide ion chelates the dissociated malonate group of a pentavalent Cr(III) intermediate. In the mechanism the lanthanide ion does not aid in ring opening, and neither does it singly bond to the intermediate
Building the Capacity to Act Regionally Formation of the Regional Transportation Authority in South Florida

As interest in informal methods of regional coordination has grown, it is increasingly important to understand how alternative forms of regional governance emerge. This article addresses this question through analysis of recent attempts at regional transportation coordination in South Florida. Through a detailed case study of the creation of the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority, we demonstrate how informal ties among transportation stakeholders were strengthened over time in ways that eventually made possible the creation of a more formal coordinating mechanism for regional transportation policy. A formal network analysis of transportation stakeholders in South Florida further illustrates the way the strength of ties among those involved in transportation policy in the region facilitated increased regional coordination and positioned business organizations to act as policy entrepreneurs.
David T. Yue: In Memoriam

David Tuckchow Yue, a renowned biophysicist who dedicated his life to the study of voltage-gated calcium (CaV) channels, passed away suddenly on December 23, 2014 from cardiac arrest. David was a passionate, dedicated, and brilliant scientist who pursued fundamental mechanistic understanding of CaV channel regulation with quantitative rigor, child-like wonder, and remarkable creativity. To those who knew him (both scientists and non-scientists alike), David's tremendous enthusiasm for science and the passion he brought to seeking truth was both infectious and inspirational.
Incorrect ICBM-DTI-81 atlas orientation and white matter labels.

The ICBM-DTI-81 atlas (Mori et al., 2008; Oishi et al., 2008)1 provides perhaps the most widely used reference coordinate system for group analyses of diffusion tensor MR images. The atlas comprises, among other data, structural images (e.g., T2-weighted), scalar maps of diffusion (e.g., fractional anisotropy), and a map of manually labeled major white matter fiber tracts. Unfortunately, in our work using this atlas, we have encountered several substantial problems in terms of (a) correctness of spatial orientation and (b) correctness of white matter tract labels. These issues raise questions about the validity of published studies using the ICBM-DTI-81 atlas. We also detected substantial changes applied to the atlas files with no documentation or user notification. Because the changed files are distributed under the same name and the earlier versions are no longer available, it is virtually impossible to reproduce published research using the atlas. We have contacted the atlas maintainers with our concerns and have been in active communication with them since to discuss possible fixes. As correcting the atlas turned out to take considerable time, however, and because it is not feasible to notify all users of the atlas directly, we feel that communicating our findings to the neuroimaging community at large is warranted. The atlas maintainers were apprised of our intent to write and publish this article and did not raise any objections. Thus, researchers using the ICBM-DTI-81 atlas can verify the validity of their analyses. To this end, we provide a discussion of the significance and potential impact of each problem identified, as well as detailed recommendations for confirming whether or not a particular study was affected.
A Tale of Two Ichnologies: The Different Goals and Potentials of Invertebrate and Vertebrate (Tetrapod) Ichnotaxonomy and How They Relate to Ichnofacies Analysis

Invertebrate and vertebrate (tetrapod) ichnology have evolved as separate disciplines, largely due to differences in the morphology and behavior of the tracemakers and the practical impossibility of treating them as uniform subjects of analysis. Thus, invertebrate ichnotaxa reflect behavior to a much greater degree than they reflect tracemaker morphology. The situation is essentially reversed in the case of vertebrates, where morphology, especially of the foot, plays an important primary role in ichnotaxonomy (and a secondary role in trackmaker identification), whereas behavior is of much lesser importance and in many cases can compromise consistent and effective ichnotaxonomy. Inherent differences in morphological and behavioral complexity also have significant implications for our concept of the different potentials of vertebrate and invertebrate ichnotaxonomy and ichnofacies analysis—as shown in distinctions made between biotaxonichnofacies and ethoichnofacies, respectively. Vertebrate tracks not only ...
Phase II trial of oral cyclophosphamide, prednisone, and diethylstilbestrol for androgen-independent prostate carcinoma.

BACKGROUND The authors evaluated the combination of oral cyclophosphamide, oral prednisone, and diethylstilbestrol (DES) in patients with androgen-independent prostate carcinoma (AIPC). METHODS Thirty-seven patients with prostate carcinoma refractory to androgen ablation who had undergone antiandrogen withdrawal (if previously treated with an antiandrogen) were enrolled in the current study. They were treated with oral cyclophosphamide 100 mg per day on Days 1–20, prednisone 10 mg per day continuously, and DES 1 mg continuously, on a 30-day cycle. Warfarin 1 mg per day was given as prophylaxis for thrombosis. Patient levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) were monitored on a monthly basis, with imaging studies every 3 months. Patients continued to receive therapy until disease progression or the occurrence of significant toxicity. The effect of therapy on the patient's quality of life was assessed using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy–Prostate. RESULTS Thirty-six patients were evaluable for response. Of the 36 patients, 15 (42%) had a 50% or greater decline in PSA levels from pretreatment levels and 1 patient (6%) with measurable disease had a partial response to therapy. The median duration of response was 4.5 months (range, 4–18 months). The overall median survival period was 16.4 months. The treatment was well tolerated, with only three patients removed from the study for toxicities associated with treatment. One patient, who had been treated for more than 24 months, developed acute leukemia. Quality of life evaluation in 17 patients showed a significant improvement in responders, whereas nonresponders had no deterioration while receiving therapy. CONCLUSIONS Cyclophosphamide, prednisone, and DES represent a well tolerated, low-cost combination therapy with significant activity in the treatment of patients with AIPC. Cancer 2003. © 2003 American Cancer Society. DOI 10.1002/cncr.11686
High molecular weight poly-L-proline: Synthesis and physical-chemical studies

Poly-L-proline in the molecular weight range 50,000–90,000 has been synthesized from L-proline-N-carboxyanhydride. The molecular weight obtained is dependent on the initiator concentration. The rate constants for the polymerization have been determined by measuring the CO2 evolution. By observation of rotation during the polymerization, it is possible to deduce the conformation of the polymer in the polymerization solution. It is concluded that the immediate product of the polymerization is neither pure form I nor pure form II. The differences between form I and form II of poly-L-proline have been further characterized by measurements of their ultraviolet rotatory dispersion and their ultraviolet spectra.
Evidence for a Major Histocompatibility Complex in the Leopard Frog

Using the technique of gynogenetic diploidy, which is uniquely suited to amphibians, populations of frog siblings can be obtained in which the allelic diversity at any given gene locus, including histocompatibility loci, is greatly reduced. Analyses of the survival times of skin allografts exchanged among pairs of gynogenetic diploid larvae indicate that allograft rejection is mediated principally by a major histocompatibility complex that codes for strong H-antigens rather than by the cumulative effects of weak antigens controlled by numerous, independently assorting, loci.
Electron Precipitation in the Auroral Zone

The present experimental knowledge of electron precipitation in the auroral zone is summarized, using observations primarily from riometer, balloon, rocket and satellite studies. This includes the association of electron precipitation events with aurora, magnetic disturbances as well as temporal and spatial aspects of the particle bombardment.
Multiple scales analysis of the Fokker–Planck equation for simple shear flow

Abstract We extend the multiple time scales formalism originally introduced for the Fokker–Planck equation by Wycoff and Balazs (Physica A 146 (1987) 175) to the case of simple shear flow. The analysis is carried out for small values of the Stokes number, St , a dimensionless measure of the inertia of a Brownian particle. The probability density is expanded in terms of Hermite functions of the fluctuation velocity, the difference between the actual particle velocity and the unperturbed flow velocity at its location, and consequently, the structure of the multiple scales hierarchy differs from the analogous equilibrium problem with a conservative forcing. The multiple scales solutions are compared to a small St expansion of the exact solutions for two canonical initial conditions. We also obtain the form of the Smoluchowski equation correct to O ( St ) for the effects of particle inertia. Modifications to the scheme for hydrodynamically interacting particles are discussed.
Trichinella spiralis: growth of the intracellular (muscle) larva.

Abstract Newborn larvae of Trichinella spiralis were infective when injected directly into the thigh muscle of mice and rats. Infections initiated in this manner resulted in synchronously growing populations of muscle larvae, thereby permitting a detailed study of larval growth to be carried out. In mice, the mean larval growth, as measured by increase in larval volume, occurred in three phases; an initial growth phase (Day 0–1), a lag phase (Days 1–3), and an exponential growth phase (Days 3–19). Larvae grew an average of 39% per day during the exponential phase. No further increase in larval volume was noted after Day 19. There was no statistically significant difference found in the rate of larval growth among individual mice for any given day. The larval growth rate was the same in rats as in mice.
Brain Ia antigens have a bone marrow origin

Our results, using radiation-induced bone marrow chimeras, demonstrate that the Ia antigen found in the brains of such animals is produced by cells having precursors in the bone marrow. These cells are not immediately blood borne since no IgM is detected in these brains. This rules out the obvious possibility of B-lymphocyte contamination as the source of Ia in the brain cell preparations. It thus appears that the central nervous system, like many other nonlymphoid organs, has a source of Ia-positive cells that are derived from bone marrow precursors.