cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Analysis of Experiments in Helium Microbeam Mixing

We have continued to investigate ion-beam mixing in bilay-er targets irradiated by 2-MeV He+ microbeams at room temperature. Although we have previously reported a linear dependence of interface width on dose for Cu/Al targets 1, more extensive results have not supported this conclusion, within statistical uncertainty, it appears that the interface width in Cu/Al (1) is proportional to the square root of dose, at constant dose rate, (2) is larger in Al than in Cu, for the same dose, (3) is proportional to the 1/4 power of dose rate, and (4) is absent at liquid nitrogen temperature. Calculations of the expected interface growth rate from a radiation-enhanced diffusion model have provided order-of-magnitude agreement with observed rates. Additionally, intermixing of Cu and Al outside the damaged area may indicate significant transverse diffusion of vacancies.
Will You Still Want Me Tomorrow? The Dynamics of Families' Long-Term Care Arrangements

We estimate dynamic models of elder-care arrangements using data from the Assets and Health Dynamics Among the Oldest Old Survey. We model the use of institutional care, formal home health care, care provided by a child, and care provided by a spouse in the selection of each care arrangement, the primary arrangement, and hours in each arrangement. Our results indicate that both observed heterogeneity and true state dependence play roles in the persistence of care arrangements. We find that positive state dependence (i.e., inertia) dominates caregiver burnout, and that formal care decisions depend on the cost and quality of care.
Inflammatory cytokine response to Vibrio vulnificus elicited by peripheral blood mononuclear cells from chronic alcohol users is associated with biomarkers of cellular oxidative stress.

Vibrio vulnificus is the leading cause of death in the United States associated with the consumption of raw seafood, particularly oysters. In epidemiological studies, primary septicemia and inflammation-mediated septic shock caused by V. vulnificus is strongly associated with liver disease, often in the context of chronic alcohol abuse. The present study was undertaken to determine whether clinical biomarkers of liver function or cellular oxidative stress are associated with peripheral blood mononuclear cell inflammatory cytokine responses to V. vulnificus. Levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor alpha elicited in response to V. vulnificus and measured in cell supernatants were not associated with the liver biomarkers aspartate aminotransferase (AST) or alanine aminotransferase (ALT) or the AST/ALT ratio. In contrast, reduced glutathione (GSH) levels were associated with the release of all four cytokines (IL-1β [R2 = 0.382; P = 0.006], IL-6 [R2 = 0.393; P = 0.005], IL-8 [R2 = 0.487; P = 0.001], and TNF-α [R2 = 0.292; P = 0.021]). Those individuals with below-normal GSH levels produced significantly less proinflammatory cytokines in response to V. vulnificus. We hypothesize that persons with markers for cellular oxidative stress have increased susceptibility to V. vulnificus septicemia.
Bone marrow core biopsy specimens in AL (primary) amyloidosis. A morphologic and immunohistochemical study of 100 cases.

We retrospectively reviewed 100 bone marrow core biopsy specimens from patients with AL (primary) amyloidosis. The morphologic and immunohistochemical features were assessed by standard histochemical stains (HE κ, 18) of cases. Amyloid deposits were observed in 60% of the bone marrow core biopsy specimens and, when present, were detected most often in blood vessel walls only (39/60). However, if present, interstitial amyloid deposition was significantly more associated with patients with a monoclonal κ light chain gammopathy (P = .04). Through the careful analysis of standard histochemical and immunohistochemical stains, bone marrow core biopsy provides essential diagnostic information in cases of AL amyloidosis. AL (primary) amyloidosis is the most common form of systemic amyloidosis seen in the United States and is due to an underlying plasma cell dyscrasia that produces an amyloidogenic light chain, which deposits as amyloid fibrils within tissues. 1 The prognosis of AL amyloidosis is poor, with a median survival of 1 to 2 years but, recently, improved survival has been seen with more aggressive therapy using high-dose melphalan and autologous stem cell transplantation. 2 Once the initial histologic diagnosis of amyloid deposition is made, subsequent typing for AL amyloidosis is dependent on the identification of monoclonal light chains by serum and/or urine immunofixation electrophoresis (IFE). Bone marrow core biopsy is performed to identify the underlying plasma cell dyscrasia present and to exclude plasma cell myeloma. Morphologic features of the bone marrow core biopsy specimen in patients with AL amyloidosis are subtle, and often the diagnosis may be missed when examining routine histochemical stains. The identification of a monoclonal population of plasma cells by using immunohistochemical techniques on bone marrow core biopsy specimens sometimes is difficult because of the low number of plasma cells present. The aim of this study was to assess the morphologic and immunohistochemical bone marrow features in a large group of cases of AL amyloidosis. In addition, we describe how bone marrow core biopsy supplements other diagnostic tests that are used in the initial evaluation of patients for AL amyloidosis.
Wellness as welfare.

While conservation and education are the main pillars of successful zoos, a growing emphasis on science and animal welfare is the next frontier of excellence. Nested in animal welfare, veterinary medicine, and behavioral science, the philosophy and practice of wellness is a new concept for zoos preparing for national leadership in the domain of animal welfare. The construct of wellness is understood as “a balance of mind, body, and spirit that results in an overall feeling of well-being.” This definition finds expression in the constant, conscious human pursuit of living life to its fullest potential. In nature, animals keep fit to survive. In the zoo they have to be trained, and opportunities for an active life have to be scheduled daily by attentive zoo keepers. Wellness begins with a deep understanding of the preferences and the needs of each and every species in the zoo. Zoo veterinarians routinely conduct wellness exams to determine an animal’s total condition. Using operant conditioning techniques, many animals have learned to cooperate for blood pressure readings, and venipuncture without anesthesia. Wellness can be achieved through the application of immediate management techniques and training, and implemented long-term by designing wellness-oriented facilities where animals are activated and stimulated by species-appropriate environmental and social conditions. Wellness is a condition we share with animals, and our growing awareness of what it takes to be well is helping us to extend this outcome to every animal at the zoo.
Using Track-plate Footprints in Fisher Mark Recapture Population Estimation

Abstract Obtaining accurate estimates of fisher (Martes pennanti) population abundance is challenging to resource management agencies given the large home ranges and low densities at which fisher occur. Current methods for estimating population abundance are expensive in terms of equipment required and hours worked indicating a need for a less labor and equipment intensive method. Track-plate footprinting is a method of individually identifying fisher by the papillae patterns found on the metacarpal pad. We evaluated the technique of track-plate footprinting as a mark-recapture method to estimate population abundance of fisher in the Ottawa National Forest of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. We placed covered track-plates using copy toner and a medium of contact paper as a method of obtaining footprints of fisher for individual identification. Over 1548 trap-nights we identified 24 prints from nine different fisher with four individuals being recaptured. Program Mark produced a population estimate of 13 animal...
A fuzzy logic-based adaptive power system stabilizer for multi-machine systems

This paper presents an approach for designing fuzzy logic based adaptive power system stabilizers for multi-machine power systems. The approach is based on the traditional frequency domain method. In addition, a fuzzy signal synthesizer is introduced to achieve adaptiveness. In this approach, two linear stabilizers are designed to accommodate two extreme loading cases. A fuzzy logic mechanism is used to generate one single control signal by properly combining the outputs of the linear stabilizers. The fuzzy controller is optimized using a least squares error criterion. Simulation studies of a one-machine infinite-bus and a multi-machine system show that the proposed stabilizer provides satisfactory damping against low frequency oscillations under different operating conditions.
Effects of a juvenile diversion program on rearrests: a reply to Mrad

This article replies to the suggestion that the experimental effect reported in an earlier paper was due to a greater post-program exposure time for the control group or to a selection by history interaction. Both alternative explanations for the finding were rejected on the basis of both the original and additional analyses.
Targeting of white matter tracts with transcranial magnetic stimulation.

Background: TMS activations of white matter depend not only on the distance from the coil, but also on the orientation of the axons relative to the TMS-induced electric field, and especially on axonal bends that create strong local field gradient maxima. Therefore, tractography contains potentially useful information for TMS targeting. Objective/methods: Here, we utilized 1-mm resolution diffusion and structural T1-weighted MRI to construct large-scale tractography models, and localized TMS white matter activations in motor cortex using electromagnetic forward modeling in a boundary element model (BEM). Results: As expected, in sulcal walls, pyramidal cell axonal bends created preferred sites of activation that were not found in gyral crowns. The model agreed with the well-known coil orientation sensitivity of motor cortex, and also suggested unexpected activation distributions emerging from the E-field and tract configurations. We further propose a novel method for computing the optimal coil location and orientation to maximally stimulate a pre-determined axonal bundle. Conclusions: Diffusion MRI tractography with electromagnetic modeling may improve spatial specificity and efficacy of TMS.
Axon Myelination: Myelination without myelin-associated glycoprotein

Abstract Mice lacking myelin-associated glycoprotein surprisingly myelinate almost normally but their oligodendrocytes have lost their periaxonal cytoplasmic ‘collars' and accidentally myelinate already-myelinated axons.
Antagonistic effect of CCAAT enhancer-binding protein-α and Pax5 in myeloid or lymphoid lineage choice in common lymphoid progenitors

Lymphoid lineage-committed progenitors, such as common lymphoid progenitors (CLPs), maintain a latent myeloid differentiation potential, which can be initiated by stimulation through exogenously expressed cytokine receptors, including IL-2 receptors. Here we show that the transcription factor CCAAT enhancer-binding protein-α (C/EBPα) is promptly up-regulated in CLPs upon ectopic IL-2 stimulation. Enforced C/EBPα expression is sufficient to initiate myeloid differentiation from CLPs, as well as from proT and proB cells, even though proB cells do not give rise to myeloid cells after ectopic IL-2 stimulation. Expression of Pax5, a B lymphoid-affiliated transcription factor, is completely suppressed by enforced C/EBPα but not by ectopic IL-2 stimulation in proB cells. Introduction of Pax5 blocks ectopic IL-2 receptor-mediated myeloid lineage conversion in CLPs. These data suggest that C/EBPα is a proximal target of cytokine-induced lineage conversion in lymphoid progenitors. Furthermore, complete loss of Pax5 expression triggered by up-regulation of C/EBPα is a critical event for lineage conversion from lymphoid to myeloid lineage in CLPs and proB cells.
Comparing fire spread algorithms using equivalence testing and neutral landscape models

We demonstrate a method to evaluate the degree to which a meta-model approximates spatial disturbance processes represented by a more detailed model across a range of landscape conditions, using neutral landscapes and equivalence testing. We illustrate this approach by comparing burn patterns produced by a relatively simple fire spread algorithm with those generated by a more detailed fire behavior model from which the simpler algorithm was derived. Equivalence testing allows objective comparisons of the output of simple and complex models, to determine if the results are significantly similar. Neutral landscape models represent a range of landscape conditions that the model may encounter, allowing evaluation of the sensitivity and behavior of the model to different landscape compositions and configurations. We first tested the model for universal applicability, then narrowed the testing to assess the practical domain of applicability. As a whole, the calibrated simple model passed the test for significant equivalence using the 25% threshold. When applied to a range of landscape conditions different from the calibration scenarios, the model failed the tests for equivalence. Although our particular model failed the tests, the neutral landscape models were helpful in determining an appropriate domain of applicability and in assessing the model sensitivity to landscape changes. Equivalence testing provides an effective method for model comparison, and coupled with neutral landscapes, our approach provides an objective way to assess the domain of applicability of a spatial model.
Integration of Systemic Chemotherapy in the Management of Primary Breast Cancer

Breast cancer cells can metastasize early in the development of primary tumors. Adjuvant chemotherapy improves disease-free survival and overall survival (OS) in patients with early-stage breast cancer, both in premenopausal and postmenopausal women. Tamoxifen improves OS in patients whose tumors are estrogen-receptor-positive, regardless of age. Although the relative risk reduction with these interventions is the same for all patients, the absolute benefit is more prominent in patients at the highest risk of relapse. All patients with involved lymph nodes should receive adjuvant chemotherapy if no contraindications occur. In patients with negative lymph nodes, adjuvant chemotherapy is recommended if the invasive tumor is moderately or poorly differentiated, the tumor size is larger than 1 or 2 cm, or hormone receptors are negative. Other prognostic and predictive indicators of response to chemotherapy and hormonal therapy remain investigational. Models that combine several factors to determine a patient’s risk of relapse and death are presented. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy in conjunction with radiation therapy and surgery is the treatment of choice for patients with locally advanced breast cancer. Recently, this approach has been extended to patients with small, operable tumors. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy can downstage tumors effectively, leading to improved cosmetic results and possibly to a reduction in local recurrence rate. Another advantage of neoadjuvant therapy is the in vivo assessment of tumor sensitivity to chemotherapy, which allows optimization of available therapeutic agents. One disadvantage of neoadjuvant chemotherapy is that preoperative treatment causes an alteration of information regarding lymph node status prior to systemic treatment. Although the optimal chemotherapy regimen has not been established, doxorubicin-containing regimens are considered superior to non-doxorubicin-containing regimens. The role of high-dose chemotherapy is not well defined in the adjuvant setting and remains investigational. The taxanes paclitaxel and docetaxel are moving rapidly from the metastatic setting to the adjuvant setting. A better understanding of the biology of breast cancer is providing molecular tools to study novel treatment approaches. Oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes are emerging as important indicators of response to chemotherapy. These molecules, in turn, become targets for therapy. Novel agents under development are presented. The Oncologist 1998;3:300-313
Functional Assessment in Migraine (FAIM) Questionnaire: Development of an Instrument Based Upon the WHO's International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health

Abstract Objective The goal of this project was to develop a migraine functional measurement instrument, derived from the World Health Organization International Classification of Impairments, Disabilities, and Handicaps version 2 classification system, which focuses on functional outcomes, and is both reliable and valid. Methods The Functional Assessment in Migraine (FAIM) questionnaire was developed using a multistep approach to ensure the brevity, relevance, reliability, and validity of items. A test set of 71 Mental Functioning and 50 Activity and Participation items was generated and administered to migraineurs in the United States and Germany. A subset of 22 Mental Functioning and 28 Activity and Participation items that rated highly on frequency-weighted importance and showed strong psychometric properties was piloted to determine a final item set and to test reliability and validity. Results The final version of the FAIM included nine Mental Functioning items measuring the dimensions of Attention/Thought (5 items) and Perception (4 items), and a list of 28 Activity and Participation items from which respondents chose the five items most relevant to their lifestyle. Construct validity analysis of FAIM dimensions found significant positive correlations with self-reported symptom severity, moderately significant positive correlations with dimensions of the Migraine-Specific Quality of Life questionnaire and no significant correlation with Short Form Health Survey (SF-12) component scores. Conclusion The FAIM offers physicians a brief and valid method of measuring the impact of migraine on mental functioning and activity and participation as defined by the WHO International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health. Additional testing is underway to assess its responsiveness to change.
The Traveling Indian Gallery, Part One

A critical reading of George Catlin’s 19th century portraits of Native Americans is offered. Catlin’s Traveling Indian Gallery distorted the culture voices and customs of his subjects. My reading is a form of memory-making, but in a sense it is no more authentic than Catlin’s. I attempt a form of self-critique which acknowledges and disturbs this fact.
Evidence for antagonism of BMP-4 signals by MAP kinase during Xenopus axis determination and neural specification.

We have previously shown that mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase activity is required for neural specification in Xenopus. In mammalian cells, the BMP-4 effector Smad1 is inhibited by phosphorylation at MAP kinase sites (Kretzschmar et al., 1997). To test the hypothesis that MAP kinase inhibits the BMP-4/Smad1 pathway during early Xenopus development, we have generated a Smad1 mutant lacking the MAP kinase phosphorylation sites (M4A-Smad1) and compared the effects of wild-type (WT)- and M4A-Smad1 on axial pattern and neural specification in Xenopus embryos. Although overexpression of either WT- or M4A-Smad1 produced ventralized embryos, at each mRNA concentration, M4A-Smad1 had a greater ventralizing effect than WT-Smad1. Interestingly, overexpression of either form of Smad1 in ventral blastomeres disrupted posterior pattern and morphogenesis; again, more severe defects were produced by expression of M4A-Smad1 than by equal amounts of WT-Smad1. Ectodermal expression of M4A-Smad1 disrupted expression of the anterior neural gene otx2 in vivo and inhibited neural specification in response to endogenous signals in mesoderm–ectoderm recombinates. In contrast, overexpression of WT-Smad1 at identical levels had little effect on either neural specification or otx2 expression. Comparisons of protein levels following overexpression of either WT- or M4A-Smad1 indicate that WT-Smad1 may be slightly more stable than M4A-Smad1; thus, differences in stability cannot account for the increased effectiveness of M4A-Smad1. Our results demonstrate that mutations disrupting the MAPK phosphorylation sites act collectively as a gain-of-function mutation in Smad1 and that inhibitory phosphorylation of Smad1 may be a significant mechanism for the regulation of BMP-4/Smad1 signals during Xenopus development.
Virtual Victorians: Networks, Connections, Technologies

Introduction Andrew Stauffer PART I: NAVIGATING NETWORKS 1. How We Search Now: New and Old Ways of Digging Up Wolfe's "Sir John Moore" Catherine Robson 2. Viral Textuality in Nineteenth-Century US Newspaper Exchanges Ryan Cordell 3. Networking Feminist Literary History: Recovering Eliza Meteyard's Web Susan Brown 4. Frances Trollope in a Victorian Network of Women's Biographies Alison Booth 5. Representing Leigh Hunt's Autobiography Michael E. Sinatra 6. Visualizing the Cultural Field of Victorian Poetry Natalie M. Houston PART II: VIRTUAL IMAGININGS 7. Virtual Victorian Poetry Alison Chapman 8. Artificial Environments, Virtual Realities, and the Cultivation of Propensity in the London Colosseum Peter Otto 9. The Imperial Avatar in the Imagined Landscape: the Virtual Dynamics of the Prince of Wales's Tour of India in 1875-6 Ruth Brimacombe 10. Steampunk Technologies of Gender: Deryn Sharp's Non-Binary Gender Identity in Scott Westerfeld's Leviathan Series Lisa Hager 11. Strange Fascination: Kipling, Benjamin, and Early Cinema Christopher Keep
Atomic Layer Deposition of Ga2O3 Films Using Trimethylgallium and Ozone

In this manuscript, we demonstrate a new process for the atomic layer deposition (ALD) of gallium oxide (Ga2O3) thin films using trimethylgallium (TMGa) and ozone. We evaluated a variety of oxygen sources for Ga2O3 ALD using TMGa but found that only ozone was effective. We explored the mechanism for Ga2O3 ALD using in situ quartz crystal microbalance, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and quadrupole mass spectrometry studies. We found that TMGa dissociatively adsorbs onto the Ga2O3 surface to form Ga(CH3)2 surface species and liberate ∼20% of the methyl ligands as CH4. Next, the ozone reacts with these methyl species to form hydroxyl and formate surface groups and liberate CH2O. We prepared ALD Ga2O3 films on Si(100) and fused SiO2 substrates and analyzed the films using a variety of techniques. We found the Ga2O3 growth to be self-limiting with a growth rate of ∼0.52 A/cycle between 200 and 375 °C. Moreover, the Ga2O3 films were stoichiometric, free of residual carbon, and exhibited properties sim...
Ethyl 7-oxo-7H-benzo[de]imidazo[5,1-a]iso-quinoline-11-carboxyl-ate-tri-fluoro-acetic acid (1/1).

The structure of the title tri­fluoro­acetic acid adduct, C17H12N2O3·C2HF3O2, contains a tri­fluoro­acetic acid mol­ecule hydrogen bonded to the imine N atom of the imidazole ring of a nearly planar four-fused-ring system (r.m.s. deviatiation = 0.013 A). The carb­oxy­lic acid group of the triflouro­acetic acid mol­ecule is twisted with respect to the mean plane of the four-fused-ring sytem by 75.9 (2)°. A short intra­molecular C—H⋯O hydrogen bond occurs. In the crystal, the adduct mol­ecules are arranged into stacks along the b axis via π–π inter­actions between imidazole rings and between imidazole and one of the benzene rings [centroid–centroid distances 3.352 (2) and 3.485 (2) A, respectively]. Molecules are linked via C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds, forming an alternating polymeric head-to-head/tail-to-tail stepped chain approximately along the a-axis direction and tilted on an axis bisecting the b and c axes.
Symmetrically Configured AC Light-Emitting (Scale) Devices: Generalizations and Variations

Most conjugated polymer-based light-emitting devices have been shown to be tunnel diodes which can only operate under forward DC driving field. Recently we have reported the fabrication of symmetrically configured AC light-emitting (SCALE) devices based on heterocyclic aromatic conjugated polymers. By adding an “insulating” layer (e.g. emeraldine base (EB) form of polyaniline) on both sides of the emitting layer, the SCALE devices emit light under both forward and reverse DC bias as well as AC driving voltage. The SCALE device structure ITO/I/emitter/I/M, has been shown to be quite general, and can be applied to a variety of electroluminescent polymers (emitter), insulating polymers (I) and electrode materials (M). Here we summarize and compare the performance of SCALE devices fabricated with different emitter, insulator, and electrode materials. The role of the insulating layer in the SCALE device operation is examined and a model that emphasizing the interface states is proposed to account for the device operation.
Designing a Two-Rate Property Tax Plan to Reduce Regressive Effects and Increase Voter Support

The author devises a plan aimed at promoting acceptance of a split-rate property tax. He suggests accompanying the change with a uniform tax credit on every property tax bill to counter a possible regressive effect. Otherwise, taxing land values more heavily and improvement values more lightly would raise the tax bills of many homeowners and all owners of vacant land, the author says.
A population profile of measles susceptibility in Tianjin, China.

Abstract Background Measles is a highly infectious illness requiring herd immunity of 95% to interrupt transmission. Measles is targeted for elimination in China, which has not reached elimination goals despite high vaccination coverage. We developed a population profile of measles immunity among residents aged 0–49 years in Tianjin, China. Methods Participants were either from community population registers or community immunization records. Measles IgG antibody status was assessed using dried blood spots. We examined the association between measles IgG antibody status and independent variables including urbanicity, sex, vaccination, measles history, and age. Results 2818 people were enrolled. The proportion measles IgG negative increased from 50.7% for infants aged 1 month to 98.3% for those aged 7 months. After 8 months, the age of vaccination eligibility, the proportion of infants and children measles IgG negative decreased. Overall, 7.8% of participants 9 months of age or older lacked measles immunity including over 10% of those 20–39 years. Age and vaccination status were significantly associated with measles IgG status in the multivariable model. The odds of positive IgG status were 0.337 times as high for unvaccinated compared to vaccinated (95% CI: 0.217, 0.524). Conclusions The proportion of persons in Tianjin, China immune to measles was lower than herd immunity threshold with less than 90% of people aged 20–39 years demonstrating protection. Immunization programs in Tianjin have been successful in vaccinating younger age groups although high immunization coverage in infants and children alone would not provide protective herd immunity, given the large proportion of non-immune adults.
Impact of Increased Early Statin Administration on Ischemic Stroke Outcomes: A Multicenter Electronic Medical Record Intervention

Background Statin administration early in ischemic stroke may influence outcomes. Our aim was to determine the clinical impact of increasing statin administration early in ischemic stroke hospitalization. Methods and Results This is a retrospective analysis of a multicenter electronic medical record (EMR) intervention to increase early statin administration in ischemic stroke across all 20 hospitals of an integrated healthcare delivery system. A stroke EMR order set was modified from an “opt‐in” to “opt‐out” mode of statin ordering. Outcomes were mortality by 90 days, discharge disposition, and increase in stroke severity. We examined the relationship between intervention and outcome using autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) time‐series modeling. The EMR intervention increased both overall in‐hospital statin administration (from 87.2% to 90.7%, P P P diff ]=0.02, P =0.016) and discharge to home or rehabilitation facility ( P diff =0.04, P =0.034) associated with the intervention. The increase in statin administration P diff =0.17, P =0.033) and rate of discharge to home or rehabilitation ( P diff =0.29, P =0.011), as well as a decreased rate of neurological deterioration in‐hospital ( P diff =−0.14, P =0.026). Conclusions A simple EMR change increased early statin administration in ischemic stroke and was associated with improved clinical outcomes. This is, to our knowledge, the first EMR intervention study to show that a modification of an electronic order set resulted in improved clinical outcomes.
Photo Quiz: Isolation of an Unusual Gram-Positive Coccus from a Positive Blood Culture in a Patient with Pneumonia

A 47-year-old male presented with signs and symptoms of left lower lobe pneumonia. At that time, sputum culture revealed only normal respiratory flora. The patient received intravenous ceftriaxone and azithromycin during his hospitalization, and after his discharge, he completed a 7-day course of
Abstract 285: Disulfiram, a dual MGMT and aldehyde dehydrogenase inhibitor, sensitizes ER-positive breast cancer cells to temozolomide and cyclophosphamide

Background: O6 methylguanine DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) is overexpressed in a majority of cancers, including breast cancer. MGMT is a DNA repair protein leading to chemo resistance. MGMT expression directly correlates with ER expression and tamoxifen resistance. Aldehyde Dehydrogenase (ALDH) activity, as a progenitor/stem cell marker, while it has been reported to inversely correlate with MGMT expression in other cancers, has also been linked to chemotherapy and radiation resistance. Methods: We have tested the effect of Antabuse (disulfiram, DSF), as a dual MGMT and ALDH inhibitor, at nontoxic doses, in combination with Temozolomide (TMZ) or/and Cyclophosphamide (CP) on ER+ breast cancer cells. Results: DSF at very low doses (achievable in human serum with standard DSF clinical dosing) decreases ER+ breast cancer cell growth (MCF7, T47D and ZR75) in a dose-dependent manner. DSF further sensitizes breast cancer cells to TMZ or/and CP and significantly inhibits breast cancer growth without causing unwanted side effects on the normal breast epithelial cells. Dose effect and isobologram studies confirm synergistic activity of DSF + CP and moderate synergism for DSF + TMZ. DSF, alone or in combination with TMZ (DSF ± TMZ) and/or CP (DSF ± CP), significantly inhibits expression of MGMT, aldehyde dehydrogenase, ERα, E2F and BIRC5 gene (survivin) - all involved in breast cancer tumorigenesis. DSF, alone or in combination with TMZ (DSF ± TMZ) and/or CP (DSF ± CP) caused significant apoptosis in breast cancer cells. In a dose dependent manner, DSF inhibited colony formation, effect which was further enhanced by addition of TMZ/CP (DSF ± TMZ/CP). Similarly, DSF alone or in combination with TMZ (DSF ± TMZ) and/or CP (DSF ± CP) decreased the metastatic potential of breast cancer cells. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that DSF as dual inhibitor of MGMT and ALDH significantly enhances the antitumor effect of alkylators as CP and TMZ in ER+ breast cancer Citation Format: George C. Bobustuc, Deborah Donohoe, Alisher Holmuhamedov, Srivenugopal Kalkunte, Santhi D. Konduri. Disulfiram, a dual MGMT and aldehyde dehydrogenase inhibitor, sensitizes ER-positive breast cancer cells to temozolomide and cyclophosphamide. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 285.
Diagnostic Approach to Müllerian Anomalies

The diagnosis of Mullerian duct anomalies can be challenging. Appropriate and timely diagnosis may have profound effects on long-term quality of life, future fertility, and obstetrical outcomes. While most congenital obstructive malformations are detected during adolescence as a result of amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, or pelvic pain, diagnosis of nonobstructive uterine anomalies may be delayed until fertility is compromised or obstetrical complications occur. A detailed history provides important data regarding syndromes associated with aberrant Mullerian duct formation, the chronicity of pubertal milestones, sexual functioning, and reproductive outcomes, while the physical examination allows for anatomical identification of lower genital tract abnormalities. In girls with Mullerian defects, imaging studies augment the physical findings and allow for a clearer understanding of the internal reproductive organs. Additionally, pelvic imaging is specifically valuable in distinguishing idiopathic dysmenorrhea from functional or structural causes of pelvic pain. Furthermore, precise imaging can help guide accurate surgical intervention. Genetic testing may be useful as an adjunct to understanding structural defects associated with disorders of sex development and other genetic syndromes. This chapter will provide a comprehensive approach to diagnosis of obstructive and nonobstructive congenital anomalies of the Mullerian ducts and other related congenital anomalies of the reproductive tract.
Development of an ultra-high density Power Chip on Bus (PCoB) module

A traditional power module uses metal clad ceramic (e.g. DBC or DBA) bonded to a baseplate that creates a highly thermally resistive path, and wire bond interconnect that introduces substantial inductance and limits thermal management to single-sided cooling. This paper introduces a Power Chip on Bus (PCoB) power module approach that reduces parasitic inductance through an integrated power interconnect structure. The PCoB maximizes thermal performance by direct attaching power chips to the busbar, integrating the heatsink and busbar as one, and uses a dielectric fluid, such as air, for electrical isolation. This new power module topology features all planar interconnects and double-sided air cooling. Performance evaluations are carried out through comprehensive electrical and multi-physics simulation and thermal testing for a 1200V, 100A rated single-switch PCoB design. Fabrication and assembly processes are included. For the developed double-sided air-cooled module, 0.5°C/w thermal resistance and 8nH power loop parasitic inductance are achieved.
A Linear Matrix Inequality Solution to the Input Covariance Constraint Control Problem

In this paper, the input covariance constraint (ICC) control problem is solved by a convex optimization with linear matrix inequality (LMI) constraints. The ICC control problem is an optimal control problem that is concerned with finding the best output performance possible subject to multiple constraints on the input covariance matrices. The contribution of this paper is the characterization of the control synthesis LMIs used to solve the ICC control problem. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach a numerical example is solved with the control synthesis LMIs. Both discrete and continuous-time problems are considered.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Speed Mutation Evolutionary Ship Trajectory Planning in Navigation Traffic Areas

Abstract In heavy navigation traffic areas, as well as within coastal zones, correct selection of ship’s speed, when accompanied by necessary trajectory changes, is a crucial element od safe navigation. The paper presents a modernised version of the evolutionary ship trajectory planning system, in which a new parameter was introduced, namely the changes of ship’s speed along particular sections of the trajectory. Generally, a safe trajectory is estimated using specialised genetic operators for modifying the trajectory. Here, an additional operator was added to the system that mutates the ship’s speed. Sample results present the safe trajectory for a ferry meeting other moving ships and navigational constrains on its way.
Preliminary Report on Evaluation of Synthetic Speech for Reading Machines

Because the synthetic-speech reading machines being developed to provide blind individuals access to printed material are sophisticated in design, construction and application, final development an...
The Challenge of Making Whiteness Visible: Reactions to Four Whiteness Articles:

In a series of four articles, the authors described the experiences of White researchers, teachers, and practitioners in addressing multicultural issues, which sometimes included racism. Yet, the authors focused very little attention on the benefits of their internalized Whiteness as impediments to fulfilling their scholarly and professional goals. Moreover, the authors did not use any theoretical formulation to guide their examination of White multicultural experts who seek to intervene in contentious topic areas. In this reaction, I suggest that the authors use White racial identity theory to examine some of the racial dynamics that they encounter and to deconstruct Whiteness as it occurs in the types of situations that they described. Examples illustrate the implicitness of White identity theory in virtually all of the articles. In addition, while acknowledging that White people are the ultimate authorities on Whiteness, the author proposes some initial ideas for how White allies might begin to deconst...
A concave log-like transformation allowing non-positive values

Abstract A hybrid of the hyperbolic sine and its inverse is proposed for applications that require a concave log-like transformation of non-positive data, such as in measuring income and wealth inequality.
DOA using uniform/nonuniform linear and uniform circular antenna arrays with Bayesian compressive sensing

Directions of Arrival (DOA) estimation of coherent or incoherent signals impinging on uniformly or non-uniformly spaced linear or uniformly spaced circular antenna arrays are investigated in this paper. DOA is accomplished by using Bayesian compressive sensing reconstruction method. This approach eliminates the need for spatial smoothing and/or array interpolation that are often used when dealing with correlated arrivals and when using non-uniformly spaced antenna arrays or circular arrays. Simulations show that reliable DOA estimates are attainable at signal-to-noise ratios above 5 dB.
Automatic Induction of N-Gram Language Models from a Natural Language Grammar 1

This paper details our work in developing a technique which can automatically generate class n-gram language models from natural language (NL) grammars in dialogue systems. The procedure eliminates the need for double maintenance of the recognizer language model and NL grammar. The resulting language model adopts the standard class n-gram framework for computational efficiency. Moreover, both the n-gram classes and training sentences are enhanced with semantic/syntactic tags defined in the NL grammar, such that the trained language model preserves the distinctive statistics associated with different word senses. We have applied this approach in several different domains and languages, and have evaluated it on our most mature dialogue systems to assess its competitiveness with preexisting n-gram language models. The speech recognition performances with the new language model are in fact the best we have achieved in both the JUPITER weather domain and the MERCURYflight reservation domain.
Prostacyclin and Thromboxane Production by Irradiated Rat Lung

The production of prostacyclin (PGI2) and thromboxane (TXA2) by irradiated rat lung and the concentration of these prostanoids in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid were measured in rats sacrificed at 2 or 6 months after a single dose of 10-30 Gy of cobalt-60 gamma rays to the right hemithorax. Lung PGI2 and TXA2 production increased linearly with increasing radiation dose at rates of 3.1% and 4.3% per Gy, respectively, at 2 months and 21.7% and 6.1% per Gy, respectively, at 6 months. At both times, PGI2 and TXA2 production tended to plateau at doses of 25 Gy or higher. This plateau usually disappeared in the presence of exogenous arachidonic acid, suggesting that the Vmax for PGI2 production at 2 and 6 months and for TXA2 at 6 months was substrate-limited rather than enzyme-limited. At 2 months after irradiation, the modifying agents D-penicillamine (an inhibitor of collagen cross-linking) and Captopril (an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor) exhibited significant dose-reduction factors of 1.3-1.8 for PGI2 production and 1.3-1.4 for TXA2 production. In the shielded left lung, PGI2 production increased slightly but significantly with increasing contralateral dose at 2 months postirradiation. The concentration of TXA2 in the BAL fluid increased linearly with increasing radiation dose at 2 months after exposure, whereas PGI2 concentration was independent of dose. At 6 months, the reverse was true. These data demonstrate that hemithorax irradiation produces a dose-dependent increase in pulmonary PGI2 and TXA2 production for at least 6 months, and suggest that BAL data may serve as an index of radiation-induced pulmonary damage.
An overview of antigen presentation and its central role in the immune response.

In order to more fully appreciate the roles of the antigen presentation pathways, it is important to understand how they interact with other facets of the host immune response and how they relate to and have evolved along with the microbial universe in which we bathe. Therefore, this overview chapter is intended less as a summary of antigen presentation, and more as a frame of biological relevance through which antigen presentation can be viewed.
Second Tumors Complicating Cancer Chemotherapy

Cancer chemotherapy has achieved many great successes. Cytotoxic drug therapy can alone cure a significant number of patients with childhood leukemia, Hodgkins disease, diffuse histiocytic lymphoma, Burkitts tumor, choriocarcinoma in females and testicular carcinoma. Combined with surgery and/or radiation it has significantly improved the cure rates in pediatric tumors such as Wilms tumors, embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma, Ewing's sarcoma, retinoblastoma and osteogenic sarcoma. Currently one of the major investigative thrusts in clinical research is the use of drugs as adjuvant to surgery and/or radiation in adult solid tumors such as breast cancer, colo-rectal cancer, head and neck cancer and ovarian cancer.
Comment on “The Diagnosis and Management of Thyroid Nodules: A Review”

The authors in this excellent review article have described the current state of evaluation and management of thyroid nodules. They have undertaken an extensive review of the published literature and summarized their evidence-based conclusion in Journal of American Medical Association ( JAMA ) (1).
Fibrinolysis Shutdown Is Associated With Thrombotic and Hemorrhagic Complications and Poorer Outcomes After Liver Transplantation

Detrimental consequences of hypofibrinolysis, also known as fibrinolysis shutdown (FS), have recently arisen, and its significance in liver transplantation (LT) remains unknown. To fill this gap, this retrospective study included 166 adults who received transplants between 2016 and 2018 for whom baseline thromboelastography was available. On the basis of percent of clot lysis 30 minutes after maximal amplitude, patients were stratified into 3 fibrinolysis phenotypes: FS, physiologic fibrinolysis, and hyperfibrinolysis. FS occurred in 71.7% of recipients, followed by physiologic fibrinolysis in 19.9% and hyperfibrinolysis in 8.4%. Intraoperative and postoperative venous thrombosis events occurred exclusively in recipients with the FS phenotype. Intraoperative thrombosis occurred with an overall incidence of 4.8% and was associated with 25.0% in-hospital mortality. Incidence of postoperative venous thrombosis within the first month was deep venous thrombosis/pulmonary embolism (PE; 4.8%) and portal vein thrombosis/hepatic vein thrombosis (1.8%). Massive transfusion of ≥20 units packed red blood cells was required in 11.8% of recipients with FS compared with none in the other 2 phenotype groups (P = 0.01). Multivariate analysis identified 2 pretransplant risk factors for FS: platelet count and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis/cryptogenic cirrhosis. Recursive partitioning identified a critical platelet cutoff value of 50 × 109 /L to be associated with FS phenotype. The hyperfibrinolysis phenotype was associated with the lowest 1-year survival (85.7%), followed by FS (95.0%) and physiologic fibrinolysis (97.0%). Infection/multisystem organ failure was the predominant cause of death; in the FS group, 1 patient died of exsanguination, and 1 patient died of massive intraoperative PE. In conclusion, there is a strong association between FS and thrombohemorrhagic complications and poorer outcomes after LT.
Crystal structure and intermolecular coordination behavior of a porphyrin bearing a hydroquinone receptor, meso-mono(hydroquinonyl) triphenylporphyrinatozinc

The structure of a porphyrin bearing a hydroquinone receptor unit, meso-mono(hydroquinonyl)triphenylporphyrinatozinc (1), is reported. The compound crystallizes from benzene in the monoclinic space group P21/c(#14) with a = 10.896(2) A, b = 15.674(4) A, c = 12.564(3) A, β = 102.04(2)° and dcalc= 1.368 g/cm3 for Z = 2. The unit cell has two porphyrins and four benzene solvates. The structural study reveals no self-assembled aggregates due to intermolecular coordination of the hydroxy groups of the hydroquinone to the zinc ion in the porphyrin cavity, an observation that agrees with the results of 1H NMR studies performed in benzene-d6 solutions. On the contrary, the 1H NMR results in CDCl3 indicate the existence of self-assembled aggregates.
Design rules for glass formation from model molecules designed by a neural-network-biased genetic algorithm.

The glass transition – an apparent amorphous solidification process – is a central feature of the physical properties of soft materials such as polymers and colloids. A key element of this phenomenon is the observation of a broad spectrum of deviations from an Arrhenius temperature of dynamics in glass-forming liquids, with the extent of deviation quantified by the “fragility” of glass formation. The underlying origin of “fragile” glass formation and its dependence on molecular structure remain major open questions in condensed matter physics and soft materials science. Here we employ molecular dynamics simulations, together with a neural-network-biased genetic algorithm, to design and study model rigid molecules spanning a broad range of fragilities of glass formation. Results indicate that fragility of glass formation can be controlled by tuning molecular asphericity, with extended molecules tending to exhibit low fragilities and compact molecules tending toward higher fragilities. The glass transition temperature itself, on the other hand, correlates well with high-temperature activation behavior and with density. These results point the way towards rational design of glass-forming liquids spanning a range of dynamical behavior, both via these physical insights and via future extensions of this evolutionary design strategy to real chemistries. Finally, we show that results compare well with predictions of the nonlinear Langevin theory of liquid dynamics, which is a precursor of the more recently developed elastically collective nonlinear Langevin equation theory of Mirigian and Schweizer, identifying this framework as a promising basis for molecular design of the glass transition.