cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
INFLAMMATORY CYTOKINE INTERLEUKIN-6 HAS A LARGER IMPACT ON CALCIUM-MEDIATED ARRHYTHMIA SUBSTRATES COMPARED TO INTERLEUKIN-1β

Despite strong clinical associations between inflammation in heart disease and arrhythmias, anti-inflammatory therapies have largely proven ineffective. Recently, experimental and clinical trials (e.g. CANTOS) have shown promise targeting specific cytokines. Furthermore, even though inflammatory
Oxygen Consumption and Acoustic Activity of Adult Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Bruchinae) during Hermetic Storage.

Acoustic monitoring was applied to consider hermetic exposure durations and oxygen levels required to stop adult Callosobruchus maculatus activity and economic damage on cowpea. A 15-d study was conducted with six treatments of 25, 50, and 100 C. maculatus adults in 500 and 1000 mL jars using acoustic probes inserted through stoppers sealing the jars. Acoustic activity as a result of locomotion, mating, and egg-laying was measured by identifying sound impulses with frequency spectra representative of known insect sounds, and counting trains (bursts) of impulses separated by intervals of <200 ms, that typically are produced only by insects. By the end of the first week of storage in all treatments, oxygen levels declined to levels below 4%, which has been demonstrated to cause mortality in previous studies. Concomitantly, insect sound burst rates dropped below an acoustic detection threshold of 0.02 bursts s−1, indicating that the insects had ceased feeding. Statistically significant relationships were obtained between two different measures of the acoustic activity and the residual oxygen level. Based on the experimental results, a simple equation can be used to estimate the time needed for oxygen to decline to levels that limit insect feeding damage and thus grain losses in hermetic storage containers of different insect population levels and various volumes.
Incidence and Treatment Trends of Symptomatic Discoid Lateral Menisci: An 18-Year Population-Based Study:

Background:A symptomatic discoid lateral meniscus is an uncommon orthopaedic abnormality, and the majority of information in the literature is limited to small case series.Purpose/Hypothesis:The pu...
Mismatch in Children's Weight Assessment, Ideal Body Image, and Rapidly Increased Obesity Prevalence in China: A 10-Year, Nationwide, Longitudinal Study.

OBJECTIVE This study examined secular trends in children's weight-status assessment, measured weight status, and ideal body image and their associations with subsequent changes in BMI, and it explored the differences between sociodemographic groups in China. METHODS Longitudinal data from the China Health and Nutrition Survey of 4,605 children aged 6 to 17 collected between 2000 and 2011 were used and fitted to mixed models. RESULTS From 2000 to 2011, overweight/obesity prevalence increased from 6.5% to 16.8%, but the percentage of children with self-perceived weight status as "fat" remained around 2.0%; 49.0% of children underestimated their weight status at baseline. Self-perceived body image of most participants was tracked during follow-up. Children who perceived themselves as being fat at baseline had a higher BMI increase over time during follow-up than those with an average body image (β [SE] = 0.99 [0.14] kg/m2 per year, P < 0.001). Boys, young children, recent cohorts, and rural children had higher BMI increases than their counterparts. Over time, the thin-body silhouette became more desirable (8.4 percentage points higher, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Chinese children experience a large incongruence between their weight-status assessment, ideal body image, and actual weight status. Health promotion programs should examine their role in assisting children in developing a healthy body image and gaining greater self-motivation toward promoting a healthy lifestyle.
Understanding Patients' Perspectives and Information Needs Following a Positive Home Human Papillomavirus Self-Sampling Kit Result

Abstract Objective: We explored patient perspectives after a positive human papillomavirus (HPV) self-sampling result to describe experiences and information needs for this home-based screening mod...
A Virus’ Effect on Growth: HIV’s Effect on African GDP Growth Rates

The sexually transmitted disease, HIV, is a vicious virus with no cure whose prevalence spans the entire globe, with daily diagnoses in every country. Those most affected with the terrors of the sickness lie in its birthplace of Africa, where one in ten carry the strain; and in some African countries more than a quarter of the population is HIV positive (Hacker, 2002). Compared to other world regions, Africa has a severe health crisis spawned from this relentless and incurable sickness. However, while the severity of the virus is widely known, its economic implications are not as apparent. It has been wondered, and seems intuitively correct, that a virus this deadly and prominent would have major implications on the level of output amongst highly infected countries (Dixon and McDonald, 2002). After all, a virus of this size would seem to affect numerous economic stimulating activities, such as the savings rate, labor force participation and worker determination. The expectation is to find HIV prevalence as having a negative and significant correlation to long run, per capita GDP growth rates in Africa; however, given the data, a statistical conclusion cannot be made to prove this occurrence. Instead, through the use of linear regression, economic data infers HIV prevalence has little to no effect on Africa’s sluggish GDP growth.
Machine Learning Techniques for Variable Annuity Valuation

Machine learning refers to a broad class of computational methods that use experience to improve performance or to make accurate predictions. There are two broad categories of machine learning tasks: supervised learning and unsupervised learning. Supervised learning tasks involve labeled data, which consist of inputs and their desired outputs. Unsupervised learning tasks involve unlabeled data, which consist of only inputs. In this paper, we give a brief overview of some machine learning techniques and demonstrate their applications in insurance. In particular, we apply data clustering and tree-based models to address a computational problem arising from the valuation of variable annuity products. Our numerical results show that tree-based models are able to produce accurate predictions and reduce the computational time significantly.
Solving Security Challenges in Nigeria through Intelligence Gathering and Surveillance

Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country with a population of over 158 million. With such a large number of people, security challenges are inevitable. Also expected is a proper response from law enforcement to ensure the security of lives and properties. This is a statutorily imposed duty on law enforcement agents, and a right guaranteed to the citizens of Nigeria. Surveillance and intelligence gathering are some of the sophisticated methods that law enforcement authorities use to tackle security challenges. These help them gather information sufficient to prevent a crime that is yet to be committed, intervene in one that is being committed or investigate a crime that has been committed. This paper is divided into two major halves. One half is devoted to examining the various categories of security challenges in Nigeria. The other half is further broken into two: the institutional framework for intelligence gathering and crime prevention and the methods of intelligence gathering in Nigeria.In Part 1 of the paper, I examine 3 major categories of security challenges that the nation faces and which must be curtailed. In the second part, I evaluate the major national agencies that are responsible for intelligence gathering and surveillance that serve the purpose of curbing security challenges the nation faces. The third part examines some methods these agencies use in achieving this aim while the concluding part considers the implications of these methods for privacy.Throughout the paper, and as it may become necessary, I compare the system in Nigeria with what obtains in the United States.
Influenza Surveillance Among Hospitalized Children in Shenzhen Children’s Hospital, 2012-2016

Influenza is an acute respiratory tract infection caused by an influenza virus. Highly contagious, it spreads rapidly and widely and exhibits seasonal changes in infection rates.
THEORY OF ENERGY AND MOMENTUM EXCHANGE BETWEEN NEUTRAL GAS ATOMS AND METAL SURFACES

In recent years molecular beam techniques have been developed to the point where it is now almost routine to obtain reproducible data on the scattering of thermal beams of inert gas atoms by solid surfaces. This improvement in experimental technique has motivated several theoretical treatments of gas-surface scattering. However, there is as yet no theory that is completely adequate. Recent work at Battelle has led to a new quantum-mechanical theory which can serve as a logical starting point for a useful theory of gas-surface scattering. This theory, which is a quantum-mechanical generalization of Landau’s theory of thermal accommodation, uses first-order, time-dependent, perturbation theory in which all of the higher order terms in the Born series are included. A simple closed-form expression for P(Δω), the probability of energy loss of a neutral particle scattering from a surface was derived. Numerical evaluations of this expression for helium incident on tungsten indicate that a single-phonon theory is not sufficient to obtain quantitative agreement with a multiphonon theory.
FORCED MOTIONS OF TIMOSHENKO BEAMS

Abstract : In attempting a complete solution for the general forced vibration problem, the homogeneous differential equations of motion (with homogeneous boundary conditions) were set up for the free vibrations of beams. These equations were satisfied for an infinite set of discrete frequencies each of which corresponds to a mode shape. Rayleigh's method (Theory of Sound, p. 262, Dover Publications, N. Y., 2nd ed., 1945) was then used to formulate the orthogonality property for the principal modes of free vibration. By using these results and the procedures of Mindlin and Goodman (Am. Soc. Mech. Eng. Paper 49-A-19, 1949) for time-dependent boundary conditions, the general problem of forced motion was reduced to a free vibration problem and a quadrature.
The Unrealistic Optimism That Threatens Retirement Security

The US is facing a retirement crisis. Almost half of all American families have no retirement savings. A disturbingly large number of investors think they are on a path toward a comfortable retirement, but they are unlikely to reach their destination due to their unrealistically optimistic growth forecasts for their retirement savings. This article examines the sources of this unwarranted optimism. First, some investors forecast savings growth rates that assume they will reinvest dividends, but they do not. Second, investors earn lower rates of returns than the mutual funds they invest in. Third, they fail to properly account for the costs associated with investing—inflation, expense ratios, and taxes. Investment professionals are very familiar with how these factors work against accumulating savings. Much less attention, however, has been directed at how overly optimistic forecasts of these factors threaten retirement security. This article examines these issues. In addition, the article shows how properly incorporating the factors into retirement plans enables retirement savers and financial advisors to make the timely changes needed to prevent a retirement nightmare. TOPICS:Wealth management, retirement, pension funds, portfolio theory Key Findings • A majority of polled workers express optimism about their ability to finance a comfortable retirement, but those who forecast an overly optimistic savings growth rates are unlikely to reach their retirement goal. • The principal sources of overly optimistic savings growth rate forecasts include bullish market return forecasts, failure to reinvest dividends, underperforming the equity funds that the investors invest in, and a failure to properly account for inflation, expense ratios, and taxes. • Prospects for achieving retirement savings targets improve with a combination of better forecasts of the factors affecting the savings growth rate, avoiding poor market timing, and lowering expense ratios with low-cost index funds.
Long-term Audiometric Outcomes After Atresiaplasty for Congenital Aural Atresia.

OBJECTIVE Describe long-term trends and stability of hearing outcomes for patients undergoing primary congenital aural atresia (CAA) repair. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective chart review. SETTING Single academic, tertiary referral center. PATIENTS Children and adults who underwent primary CAA repair between 1980 and 2017. INTERVENTION CAA repair. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Long-term (> 1 yr) postoperative three-tone (500, 1000, 2000 Hz) air conduction pure-tone average (AC PTA) compared with the immediate (within 90 d of surgery) postoperative audiogram. RESULTS The mean preoperative AC PTA was 59.6 dB HL. CAA repair improved hearing an average of 30.5 dB, but hearing declined by 8.2 dB over the long-term follow-up period (mean 4.4 yr; range 1-15.7 yr), leaving a final mean improvement of 22.2 dB (final mean AC PTA 37.3 dB HL). Two-thirds (92 of 138 ears) had an AC PTA ≤ 30 dB HL recorded in the first year after surgery. At the last follow-up test, 64% had "stable" hearing defined as no more than a 10 dB decline in AC PTA compared with the immediate postoperative audiogram; 21% had a 10 to 20 dB decline, 8% a 20 to 30 dB decline, and 7% declined > 30 dB. CONCLUSIONS All patients enjoyed improvement in AC PTA after surgery (preoperative minus the best postoperative PTA, mean = 34 dB, range = 3.3-52 dB). Hearing declined by an average 8.2 dB over the long-term leaving a final average AC PTA of 37.4 dB HL. Sixty-four percent of patients exhibited stable (< 10 dB loss) hearing over time; 36% lost 10 dB or more over the long-term follow-up period. Hearing results typically stabilize over time with most of the change occurring in the first 3 years after CAA repair. Bone conduction thresholds remained stable over the study period.
Controversies in Skin Testing for Allergic Rhinitis

This article will review different methods of skin testing available for allergic rhinitis, emphasizing controversies and challenges associated with these techniques. The utility of quantitative skin testing has been debated in current literature, as has the accuracy of skin versus in vitro testing. Single- and pauci-allergen immunotherapy (AIT) have also shown good outcomes, thus questioning the use of large testing panels. Recent studies further support the use of standardized and recombinant antigens. Skin testing remains a safe and dependable tool in the diagnosis and management of allergic rhinitis. Newer techniques such as component-resolved diagnostics (CRD), recombinant antigens, and enhanced skin evaluation are being studied, but are still expensive and not widely available. Areas that require more research include designing standardized and recombinant allergens, the real utility of quantitative skin testing, the number of aeroallergens to test and treat, skin testing for molds as well as when to repeat skin testing.
Patient vs Clinician Perspectives on Communication About Results of Lung Cancer Screening: A Qualitative Study

Background In the incidental pulmonary nodule and breast cancer screening settings, high-quality patient-centered communication can improve adherence to evaluation and mitigate patient distress. Although guidelines emphasize shared decision-making before lung cancer screening, little is known about patient-clinician communication after lung cancer screening. Research Question How do patients and clinicians perceive communication and results notification after lung cancer screening, and are there approaches that may mitigate or exacerbate distress? Study Design and Methods We conducted interviews and focus groups with 49 patients who underwent lung cancer screening in the prior year and 36 clinicians who communicate screening results (primary care providers, pulmonologists, nurses), recruited from lung cancer screening programs at 4 hospitals. We analyzed transcripts using conventional content analysis. Results Clinicians and patients diverged in their impressions of the quality of communication after lung cancer screening. Clinicians recognized the potential for patient distress and tailored their approach to disclosure based on how clinically concerning they perceived results to be. Disclosure of normal or low-risk findings usually occurred by letter; clinicians believed this process was efficient and well received by patients. Yet many patients were dissatisfied: several could not recall receiving results at all, and others reported that receiving results by letter left them confused and concerned, with little opportunity to ask questions. By contrast, patients with larger nodules typically received results during an immediate phone call or clinic visit, and both patients and clinicians agreed that these conversations represented high-quality communication that met patient needs. Regardless of their cancer risk, patients who learned their results in a conversation appreciated the opportunity to discuss both the meaning of the nodule and the evaluation plan, and to have their concerns addressed, preempting distress. Interpretation Tension exists between clinicians’ interest in efficiency of results notification by letter in low-risk cases and patients’ need to understand and be reassured about screening results, their implications, and the plan for subsequent screening or nodule evaluation—even when clinicians did not perceive results as concerning. Brief conversations to discuss lung cancer screening results may improve patient understanding and satisfaction while reducing distress.
Water pathways: An open source stochastic simulation system for integrated water supply portfolio management and infrastructure investment planning

Abstract Financial risk, access to capital, regulatory processes, and regional competition for limited water sources represent dominant concerns in the United States as well as the broader global water supply sector. This work introduces the WaterPaths simulation software: a generalizable, cloud-compatible, open-source exploratory modeling system designed to inform long-term regional investments in water infrastructure while simultaneously aiding regions to improve their short-term weekly management decisions, often made in response to droughts. Uniquely, WaterPaths has the capability to identify coordinated planning and management for groups of water utilities sharing water resources. WaterPaths’ exploits dynamic and adaptive risk-of-failure (ROF) rules to trigger management and planning actions in temporally consistent pathways. The compact and efficient ROF-based representation of decision pathways allows WaterPaths to scale efficiently with the number of regional actors and their candidate actions. Lastly, as a platform for supporting decision making under deep uncertainty, WaterPaths accounts for a broad range of uncertainties including hydrological or climate extremes, permitting time, demand growth, effectiveness of water-use restrictions, construction costs, and financing uncertainties. To demonstrate the capabilities of WaterPaths, we introduce a new hypothetical water resources test case, the Sedento Valley. The Sedento Valley test case contains three resource-sharing water utilities that seek to regionally coordinate their policies for drought mitigation and infrastructure investment. The three utilities are challenged by a diverse set of deep uncertainties that encompass natural and human systems stressors. The Sedento Valley test case contributes a new opportunity for benchmarking decision-support tools and water-resources systems simulation software.
Modeling Transient Abnormal Myelopoiesis Using Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells and CRISPR/Cas9 Technology.

Approximately 1%–2% of children with Down syndrome (DS) develop acute myeloid leukemia (AML) prior to age 5 years. AML in DS children (ML-DS) is characterized by the pathognomonic mutation in the gene encoding the essential hematopoietic transcription factor GATA1, resulting in N-terminally truncated short form of GATA1 (GATA1s). Trisomy 21 and GATA1s together are sufficient to induce transient abnormal myelopoiesis (TAM) exhibiting pre-leukemic characteristics. Approximately 30% of these cases progress into ML-DS by acquisition of additional somatic mutations. We employed disease modeling in vitro by the use of customizable induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to generate a TAM model. Isogenic iPSC lines derived from the fibroblasts of DS individuals with trisomy 21 and with disomy 21 were used. The CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats)/Cas9 system was used to introduce GATA1 mutation in disomic and trisomic iPSC lines. The hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) derived from GATA1 mutant iPSC lines expressed GATA1s. The expression of GATA1s concomitant with loss of full-length GATA1 reduced the erythroid population, whereas it augmented megakaryoid and myeloid populations, characteristic of TAM. In conclusion, we have developed a model system representing TAM, which can be used for modeling ML-DS by stepwise introduction of additional mutations.
2030: How Today’s Biggest Trends Will Collide and Reshape the Future of Everything

For time and the world do not stand still. Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or the present are certain to miss the future.John F. KennedyThe year 2030 is just a decade...
Long-term impact of a school-based nutrition intervention on home nutrition environment and family fruit and vegetable intake: A two-year follow-up study

Abstract Long-term data on maintenance of intervention effects of health promotion programs targeting fruit and vegetable (F&V) intake in children is lacking. We conducted a two-year follow-up of Brighter Bites, a school-based nutrition education and food co-op intervention found to be effective in increasing child intake of F&V. A one-group, pre-post evaluation design was used to assess the two-year post intervention impact of the program on child and parent dietary intake and home nutrition environment. In 2016–2017 school year, we conducted a follow up of 262 parent-child dyads who had previously participated in Brighter Bites in a 2013–2015 evaluation study in six low-income Texas elementary schools. Child dietary intake was measured using a parent-reported food frequency questionnaire, and surveys measured parent F&V intake, and home nutrition environment. Results of a multi-level regression analysis showed that, two years post-intervention, as compared to baseline, there was a significant increase in child intake of fruit, vegetable, and fiber, and significant decreases in total fat intake and percent daily calories from sugary beverages (p
Ipsilateral Iliac Branch Repair Using a Looped Wire, Precannulated Gate Technique.

PurposeTo describe a novel, entirely ipsilateral femoral technique for distal endograft extension using the Gore Iliac Branch Endoprosthesis.TechniqueFemoral arterial access is obtained on the side...
Ability and willingness to utilize telemedicine among rheumatology patients-a cross-sectional survey.

This study aims to assess the patients’ ability and willingness to utilize telemedicine (TM) along with identifying some of the barriers to a more widespread adoption of TM in rheumatology. An observational, cross-sectional study of patients visiting a rheumatology clinic was conducted in 2018. We used a survey to assess patients’ attitude on the perceived effectiveness when comparing TM versus in-person visits, as well as patients’ access to technology, distance traveled by the patient to attend the clinic visit, and demographic parameters. A total of 214 patients were included. Negative correlations were found between the increase in age and access to technologies (front-facing camera (mean age difference − 12.8), telephone (mean age difference − 14.4), and stable internet connection (mean age difference − 15.1)), as well as believing that their needs could be met through TM (r − .224, p < 0.001) and thinking that TM could be an appropriate alternative method of healthcare (r − .298, p < 0.001). Younger patients reported more conflict between appointments and work hours (mean age difference − 11.73). Follow-up patients were more likely to feel that their visit could have been possible over the phone (mean difference − 1.13) or video conferencing (mean difference − 1.13) compared to new patients. Older patients were less likely to think that the purpose of their rheumatology visits could be achieved over the phone (r − .207, p = 0.003) or video conferencing (r − .331, p = 0.001). The further the distance traveled, the more the patients were willing to utilize TM compared to in-person visits (r 0.167, p = 0.019). Out of necessity due to the COVID-19 pandemic, rheumatology clinics are increasingly turning to TM. The results of this study suggest that access and familiarity with technology may still be limited in certain demographics, particularly the elderly. Furthermore, this study helps to understand some of the additional barriers to more widespread adoption and patients’ perceived limitations of TM.
Disparities in amputation in patients with peripheral arterial disease

Abstract Background To describe peripheral arterial disease-related amputation as a marker for health disparities.
Plutonium, americium, and neptunium speciation in selected groundwaters

As part of a continuing study, plutonium, americium, and neptunium speciation was determined at 25 and 90/sup 0/C in four groundwaters from diverse sources: the Sparta aquifer in Louisiana, near the Vacherie salt dome; Mansfield No. 2 well in the Palo Duro Basin, Texas; the Stripa mine in Sweden; and the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in New Mexico. Plutonium generally was soluble in Sparta and Stripa waters, regardless of temperature or initial oxidation state. Solubility in Mansfield water was high, except in 90/sup 0/C experiments using low-oxidation-state plutonium. The WIPP water had the least ability to maintain plutonium in solution; solubility after 30 days exceeded 50% only in experiments at 25/sup 0/C using Pu(V) and Pu(VI) (Neptunium generally was soluble in all waters and was present exclusively as Np(V) and Np(VI), regardless of initial oxidation state.) The solubility of americium was consistently high in Sparta groundwater at both temperatures and in Mansfield and WIPP waters at 25/sup 0/C, but was < 50% after 30 days in Stripa water at both temperatures and in Mansfield and WIPP waters at 90/sup 0/C. (The results indicated that plutonium and neptunium solubilities were determined by the oxidation-reduction properties of the waters, i.e., their abilitiesmore » to convert these elements to soluble oxidation states. This was not the case for americium, however; Am(IV) was not detected, and the solubility of this element was determined entirely by the chemical properties of Am(III).« less
The Constitutional Origins of the American Revolution

Using the British Empire as a case study, this succinct study argues that the establishment of overseas settlements in America created a problem of constitutional organization. The failure to resolve the resulting tensions led to the thirteen continental colonies seceding from the empire in 1776. Challenging those historians who have assumed that the British had the law on their side during the debates that led to the American Revolution, this volume argues that the empire had long exhibited a high degree of constitutional multiplicity, with each colony having its own discrete constitution. Contending that these constitutions cannot be conflated with the metropolitan British constitution, it argues that British refusal to accept the legitimacy of colonial understandings of the sanctity of the many colonial constitutions and the imperial constitution was the critical element leading to the American Revolution.
Chemical significance of Mössbauer spectral parameters: Sn119m isomer shift and percentage ionic character of tin bonds

Abstract The linear relationship between Mossbauer isomer shifts and ligand electronegativity or percentage ionic character suggested by Goldanskii for the tin tetrahalides, extended by Cordey-Hayes to other quadravalent tin compounds and extended by Herber to organotin compounds with mixed ligands is examined critically with reference to homologous series of stannous and stannic tin compounds. Spectra of stannous chlorofluoride and the hydrates of stannous bromide and oxide are reported with new data on other stannous compounds.
Obstacles to Determining Punitive Damages in Class Actions

Courts and commentators have often embraced the class action device as an ideal means of assessing punitive damages fairly in mass tort cases. In this Article, Professor Hines sounds a cautionary note by identifying a number of procedural and substantive obstacles that may thwart effective class treatment of punitive damages. For example, punitive damages claims often will not raise questions common to the class because of differing state standards for awarding and assessing the amount of punitive damages. In addition, state punitive damages claims often will not raise questions common to the class because of differing state standards for awarding and assessing the amount of punitive damages laws recent Supreme Court due process jurisprudence preclude imposition of class punitive damages prior to some assessment of harm to the class as a whole. In light of these concerns, this Article urges courts to proceed cautiously before certifying class claims for punitive damages with careful regard for the dictates of Rule 23, state punitive damages laws, and the due process clause.
Indoor Wireless Propagation

This chapter contains sections titled: General Considerations Path Loss Models Temporal Characteristics Angle of Arrival Reverberation Chamber Simulation Problems
Hankel transform via double Hecke algebra

1 L-operator 2 Hankel transform 3 Dunkl operator 4 Nonsymmetric eigenfunctions 5 Master formula 6 Double H double prime 7 Algebraization 8 Inverse transform and Plancherel formula 9 Finite-dimensional case 10 Truncated Bessel functions References
Lithium (3,3‐Diethoxy‐1‐propen‐2‐yl)(3,3‐dimethyl‐1‐butynyl)cuprate

[58419-23-1] C13H22CuLiO2 (MW 280.84) InChI = 1S/C7H13O2.C6H9.Cu.Li/c1-4-7(8-5-2)9-6-3;1-5-6(2,3)4;;/h7H,1,5-6H2,2-3H3;2-4H3;;/q;;-1;+1 InChIKey = NFEFOMOZTYOHCT-UHFFFAOYSA-N (mixed organocuprate; acrolein and acrylate equivalent) Preparative Methods: prepared in situ from 3,3-Dimethyl-1-butynylcopper(I) and 2-Lithio-3,3-diethoxy-1-propene at −78 °C; ether or a mixture of ether/THF can be used as solvent. Handling, Storage, and Precautions: air- and moisture-sensitive; use in a fume hood.
Radium-223 for the treatment of castration- resistant prostate cancer

The vast majority of patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) develop bone metastases. Bone metastases are a source of significant morbidity and affect quality of life in these patients. Several bone-targeting agents are approved for the treatment of bone metastases in prostate cancer, including bisphosphonates, denosumab, and radiopharmaceuticals. Radium-223 is a novel first-in-class alpha-emitting radiopharmaceutical that has been approved for treatment of patients with mCRPC with bone metastases. Radium-223 delivers cytotoxic radiation to the sites of bone metastases and offers the advantage of minimal myelosuppression. The landmark Phase III ALSYMPCA trial demonstrated that, in addition to providing bone-related palliation, radium-223 can also prolong overall survival in patients with mCRPC with bone metastases in the absence of visceral metastases and in the absence of lymphadenopathy greater than 3 cm. Ongoing trials will further elucidate its use in sequence or combination with other available therapies for mCRPC.
Comparison of the Effects of Long-Term Thermal Aging and HFIR Irradiation on the Microstructural Evolution of 9Cr-1MoVNb Steel

Both thermal aging at 482--704{degree}C for up to 25,000h and HFIR irradiation at 300--600{degree}C for up to 39 dpa produce substantial changes in the as-tempered microstructure of 9Cr-1MoVNb martensitic/ferritic steel. However, the changes in the dislocation/subgrain boundary and the precipitate structures caused by thermal aging or neutron irradiation are quite different in nature. During thermal aging, the as-tempered lath/subgrain boundary and carbide precipitate structures remain stable below 650{degree}C, but coarsen and recover somewhat at 650--704{degree}C. The formation of abundant intergranular Laves phase, intra-lath dislocation networks, and fine dispersions of VC needles are thermal aging effects that are superimposed upon the as-tempered microstructure at 482--593{degree}C. HFIR irradiation produces dense dispersions of very small black-dot'' dislocations loops at 300{degree}C and produces helium bubbles and voids at 400{degree}C At 300--500{degree}C, there is considerable recovery of the as-tempered lath/subgrain boundary structure and microstructural/microcompositional instability of the as-tempered carbide precipitates during irradiation. By contrast, the as-tempered microstructure remains essentially unchanged during irradiation at 600{degree}C. Comparison of thermally aged with irradiation material suggests that the instabilities of the as-tempered lath/subgrain boundary and precipitate structures at lower irradiation temperatures are radiation-induced effects, whereas the absence of both Laves phase and fine VC needles during irradiation is a more » radiation-retarded thermal effect. « less
Reading the World in the Word: The Possibilities for Literacy Instruction Framed Within Human Rights Education

The purpose of this critical ethnography (Madison, 2005; Noblit, Flores & Murrillo, 2004) was to investigate the experiences of teachers and students when literacy instruction was framed within human rights education. Informed by theories of cosmopolitan education (Beck, 2002; Beck & Szneider, 2010; Goldstein, 2007; Harper & Bean, 2009; Hull, 2010), critical socio-cultural theory (Moje & Lewis, 2007) and incorporating Freirean concepts of critical literacy and praxis, this study details the experiences of two servant leader interns (teachers) and sixteen scholars (students) participating in human rights education within the context of a Children’s Defense Fund Freedom School.
Fulminating meningococcemia treated with cortisone; use of blood eosinophil count as a guide to prognosis and treatment.

The total blood eosinophil count has been studied as an indicator of the adequacy of the adrenocortical response to the stress of acute infection. Marked eosinopenia was found in seven children on the first or second day of acute meningococcal infection of mild or moderate severity and in 18 other patients with rubeola, pneumonia or diphtheria. During convalescence the number of eosinophils in the blood became normal. An eighth patient, who was admitted during the recovery stage of mild meningococcal infection, exhibited a normal count which decreased sharply after the administration of ACTH. In three patients admitted with fulminating meningococcal infection, an initial eosinophil count of 75/cmm. was found in one and 130/cmm. in the other two. The eosinophil count response to the administration of ACTH did not return to normal until the third week in Case 2. These findings lend support to the belief that adrenal cortical function may be impaired in patients with overwhelming meningococcal infection. Cortisone was employed in addition to usual forms of therapy in the treatment of three children with fulminating meningococcemia. One patient died shortly after admission and the other two patients survived. It is believed that cortisone was of value in these latter two cases and that one of these patients would have certainly succumbed without its use. Cortisone may prove to be of value in the treatment of fulminating meningococcal infection because it is much more potent in overcoming stress than previously employed adrenal extracts. It is suggested that the circulating eosinophil count may be of value as a guide in the prognosis and treatment of meningococcal infections.
Steroid hormone transformations by endocrine organs from pregnant mammals. IV. Biosynthesis and metabolism of estrogens and progesterone by primate placental preparations in vitro.

The biosynthesis and metabolism of progesterone and the biosynthesis of estrogens have been studied in placental tissue from 4 species of primates (rhesus monkey, Macaque cynomolgus, squirrel monkey and baboon) in vitro. Estrone and estradiol-17β were isolated in a radiochemically homogenous form following incubation of each of the placental preparations with Δ4-androstenedione-4-14C. Using dehydro-epiandrosterone-(7α-3H or 4-14C) as substrate, rhesus monkey and baboon placental tissue yielded the same metabolites, although the extent of radioactive conversion of the substrate ot estrogens was diminished. Differences in the distribution of radioactivity between estrone and estradiol-17β and hence in the estrone/estradiol-17β ratio from the various incubations were also apparent. The formation of radioactive progesterone and 5α-pregnan-3β-ol-20-one was demonstrated in each of the placental extracts following incubation with pregnenolone-7α-3H. 20α-Dihydroprogesterone, 5α-pregnane-3β,20α-diol and 6β-hydroxy...
Neural-expert hybrid approach for intelligent manufacturing: a survey

Abstract The development of computer-aided manufacturing systems is evolving towards that of intelligent manufacturing systems (IMS). In an intelligent manufacturing system, unprecedented and unforeseen situations are expected to be solved within certain limits, even on the basis of incomplete and imprecise information. Therefore, a tremendous amount of manufacturing knowledge is needed. Artificial intelligence (AI) based techniques are designed for capturing, representing, organizing, and utilizing knowledge by computers, and hence will play an important role in intelligent manufacturing. As an AI technique, knowledge-based expert systems have been used in manufacturing for nearly two decades. Recently, another AI technique, namely, neural networks, is gaining more and more visibility and has been successfully applied in manufacturing practice. Expert systems and neural networks are individually useful but not sufficient on their own in dealing with manufacturing problems. In fact, expert systems and neural networks are complementary. The weaknesses of expert systems are offset by the strengths of neural networks, and vice versa. Quite a few researchers are interested in merging the structures and functions of expert systems with those of neural networks. Some evidence has shown that the neural-expert hybrid technique is a promising tool for intelligent manufacturing. This paper reviews the current research on the neural-expert hybrid approach and its applications in manufacturing, which will provide some guidelines and references for the research and implementation.
The Effect of Knowing a Rape Victim on Reactions to Other Victims

Undergraduates who indicated that they knew a rape victim reported experiencing more empathy with a female patient presented on videotape than did individuals who did not know a rape victim. However, this heightened empathic response was not limited to another rape victim, as was found in a prior study contrasting the responses of rape victim subjects and control subjects, but was generalized to a victim of traumatic events unrelated to the experience of rape. Female subjects rated the patients on the videotapes as more likable, and they reported a more empathic response to the patients than did the male subjects. In addition, the undergraduates rated the rape victim patient as less emotionally stable and reported a less empathic response to her than to the videotaped patient whose personal problems were unrelated to rape.
Silver nanoparticle coverage dependence of surface-enhanced Raman scattering

We report surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) from 4-mercaptopyridine adsorbed on nanotextured silver surfaces as the coverage of silver is varied. The degree of surface enhancement is strongly dependent on silver coverage and correlated to the extinction of the surface at the Raman excitation wavelength, that extinction being determined by multiparticle surface plasmon resonances. The coverage dependence of the Raman intensity is consistent with signals being dominated by molecules at junctions inside nanoparticle aggregates where electromagnetic energy is localized into “hot spots” by interactions of the incident and scattered fields with the surface plasmons. The Raman intensity drops precipitously near the conductivity percolation threshold because these hot spots are destroyed when conducting paths allow plasmons to propagate. Our approach to substrate preparation provides clean surfaces with average enhancements ≥107, an order of magnitude larger than typical for SERS.
Randomized Trial ACTH vs Dexamethasone In Mechanically Ventilated VLBW Infants 1707

Background: BPD is a chronic lung disease often occuring in ventilator treated VLBW infants. Several studies demonstrate the role of pro-inflammatory cytokines and their reduction after corticosteroid treatment. Because of adverse effects of dexamethasone, we tried a new therapeutic approach using ACTH, that seems to imply less severe side effects.Aim: To compare the antiinflammatory action and side effects of ACTH and dexamethasone in VLBW infants by measuring IL6 and a-MSH, known as an endogenous anti-inflammatory agent. Population: We enrolled 14 VLBW infants, mean GA 29.2 wks (range 26-32 wks) and mean BW 1135 g (range 570-1810), mechanically ventilated for RDS. At 6th day of life neonates were randomized into 2 groups: group A (n=7) received dexamethasone (0.5mg/kg per day for 3 days) and group B (n=7) received ACTH (Synacthen 150 mcg/m2 per day for 3 days). The 2 groups had similar clinical characteristics before treatment (GA, BW, OI, AaDO2) (p=NS). Blood levels of IL6 and a-MSH were evaluated in 1st, 3rd, 6th, 10th and 15th day of life. Results: IL6 maximum levels were observed on the 1st day of life in group A (67.68±71.6 pg/ml) and on the 3rd day of life in group B (53.17±82 pg/ml). On the 10th day of life IL-6 reached minimum levels in both groups(A:10.82±18.1 pg/ml; B:5.94±5.9 pg/ml), while a-MSH reached maximum levels (A: 26.38±10.8 pg/ml; B:22.71±5.4 pg/ml). Both groups showed a significant (p<0.05) but transient rise of blood pressure; hyperglycemia and myocardial hypertrophy were not observed. BPD occurred in 3 infants in both groups.
PARE: a tool for comparing protein abundance and mRNA expression data.

Techniques for measuring protein abundance are rapidly advancing and we are now in a situation where we anticipate many protein abundance data sets will be available in the near future. Since proteins are translated from mRNAs, their expression is expected to be related to their abundance, to some degree.
Sites for Gα Binding on the G Protein β Subunit Overlap with Sites for Regulation of Phospholipase Cβ and Adenylyl Cyclase

Heterotrimeric G proteins, composed of α and βγ subunits, forward signals from transmembrane receptors to intracellular effector enzymes and ion channels. Free βγ activates downstream targets, but its action is terminated by association with GDP-liganded α subunits. Because α can inhibit activation of many effectors by βγ, it is likely that the α subunit binding surfaces on βγ overlap the surfaces necessary for effector activation. To test this hypothesis, we mutated residues on β shown to contact α in the recently published crystal structures of the αβγ heterotrimer (Wall, M. A., Coleman, D. E., Lee, E., Iniguez-Lluhi, J. A., Posner, B. A., Gilman, A. G., and Sprang, S. R. (1995) Cell83, 1047–1058; Lambright, D. G., Sondek, J., Bohm, A., Skiba, N. P., Hamm, H. E., and Sigler, P. B. (1996) Nature379, 311–319.). The α subunit binds to the flat, top surface of the toroidal β subunit and also extends a helix along the side of the β subunit at blade 1. We mutated four residues on the top surface of β (Hβ1[L117A], Hβ1[D228R], Hβ1[D246S], and Hβ1[W332A]) and two residues on the side of β that contacts α (Hβ1[N88A/K89A]). Each of the mutant proteins was able to form βγ dimers, but they differed in their ability to bind α and to activate phospholipase C β2 (PLCβ2), PLCβ3, and adenylyl cyclase II. Mutation of residues along the side of the torus at blade 1 diminish affinity for α but do not prevent activation of any of the effectors. Mutations on the α binding surface differentially affected PLCβ2, PLCβ3, and adenylyl cyclase II. Residues that affect PLCβ and adenylyl cyclase II activity are found on opposite sides of the central tunnel, suggesting that PLC and adenylyl cyclase, like the α subunit, make many contacts on the top surface. None of the mutations affected the ability of βγ to inhibit adenylyl cyclase I. We conclude that α, PLCβ2, PLCβ3, and adenylyl cyclase II share an interaction on the top surface of β. The importance of individual residues is different for α binding and for effector activation and differs even between closely related isoforms of the same effector.
ECOLOGICAL AND MORPHOLOGICAL NOTES ON HYDROPHYLITA AQUIVALANS (MATH. AND CROSBY)

Hydrophylita aquivalans was reared from the eggs of the damselfly, Ischnura verticalis; 92% of the eggs were parasitized. The behavior of the parasite is described within the host egg and during and after emergence.
Locked versus nonlocked plate fixation for first metatarsophalangeal arthrodesis: a biomechanical investigation.

Background: First metatarsophalangeal (MTP) arthrodesis using dorsal plate fixation is a common procedure for painful conditions of the great toe. Locked plates have become increasingly common for ...
Extent of the Nevadan orogeny, central Sierra Nevada, California

The Late Jurassic Nevadan orogeny has long been considered responsible for much of the deformation that occurred in the central Sierra Nevada. On the basis of our recent work and that of other workers, we suggest that the intensity of Nevadan deformation in the central Sierra Nevada decreases eastward within the foothills belt, is restricted to domainal deformation in rocks between the Melones fault zone and the batholith, and is virtually absent in the continental volcanic arc along the east side of the range. These data and interpretations suggest that in the central Sierra Nevada, Nevadan deformation does not represent as intense and widespread an orogeny as originally supposed.
Influence of trichloracetic acid-phosphotungstic acid on the thin layer chromatographic mobility of gangliosides

Trichloroacetic acid (TCA)-phosphotungstic acid (PTA) precipitation has been used as a faster procedure than dialysis for the isolation of gangliosides, but the TCA-PTA treatment causes striking abnormalities in the thin layer chromatographic mobilities of the gangliosides. However, a normal chromatographic pattern can be restored by treating the precipitated gangliosides with the tetrasodium salt of ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid followed by dialysis. Hence, TCA-PTA treatment does not appear to cause artifacts or hydrolysis of the gangliosides.