cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cardiac ultrastructural changes induced by daunorubicin therapy

To elucidate the mechanisms of the cardiotoxicity induced by daunorubicin (DNR), histologic and ultrastructural studies were made of the hearts of six patients with acute leukemias. Three of these patients had received relatively high total doses (455, 460, and 500 mg/m2) of DNR; one patient had received a relatively low total dose (120 mg/m2) of DNR; two patients who had not been treated with this drug served as controls. Histologic changes observed only in the hearts of the three patients who had received relatively high doses of DNR consisted of scattered foci of damaged, degenerating, and atrophic muscle cells. These changes were more widespread in the patient who had received the highest dose of DNR and developed clinical signs of cardiotoxicity. Alterations of chromatin were observed in 10% of nuclei of cardiac muscle cells in the three patients treated with relatively high doses of DNR. These changes consisted of transformation of variable amounts of chromatin into thick fibers, 160-200 A in diameter, intermediate-sized fibers, 70-100 A in diameter, and thin filaments, 30-40 A in diameter. These alterations were interpreted as representing various stages of uncoiling and unraveling of chromatin and were considered to be related to the phenomenon of intercalation of DNR into DNA. DNR cardiotoxicity may be related to the inability of non-dividing cardiac muscle cells to repair DNR-induced alterations in DNA.
Coactivation of the RpoS-dependent proP P2 promoter by fis and cyclic AMP receptor protein.

The Escherichia coli proP P2 promoter, which directs the expression of an integral membrane transporter of proline, glycine betaine, and other osmoprotecting compounds, is induced upon entry into stationary phase to protect cells from osmotic shock. Transcription from the P2 promoter is completely dependent on RpoS (ς38) and Fis. Fis activates transcription by binding to a site centered at −41, which overlaps the promoter, where it makes a specific contact with the C-terminal domain of the α subunit of RNA polymerase (α-CTD). We show here that Fis and cyclic AMP (cAMP) receptor protein (CRP)-cAMP collaborate to activate transcription synergistically in vitro. Coactivation both in vivo and in vitro is dependent on CRP binding to a site centered at −121.5, but CRP without Fis provides little activation. The contribution by CRP requires the correct helical phasing of the CRP site and a functional activation region 1 on CRP. We provide evidence that coactivation is achieved by Fis and CRP independently contacting each of the two α-CTDs. Efficient transcription in vitro requires that both activators must be preincubated with the DNA prior to addition of RNA polymerase.
On the Properties of Polarization Elements as Used in Optical Instruments. I. Fundamental Considerations

This paper discusses some of the general considerations relating to the use in optical instruments of polarization elements, with particular emphasis being given to partial polarizers of the dichroic type. A functional classification is provided for optical instruments which employ polarized light. Also provided is a functional classification for polarization elements, which classification involves four categories: polarizers, phase shifters, polarizing beam splitters, and depolarizers. The various methods of modulating light are discussed. A qualitative description of partial dichroic polarizers is included, and this is followed by the derivation of some of the basic mathematical relations which hold among the parameters which can be used to describe quantitatively the properties of partial dichroic polarizers.
Decision Making in Adolescents With Behavior Disorders and Adults With Substance Abuse

OBJECTIVE: The study assessed the validity of the Gambling Task as a test of decision-making ability in adolescents and examined whether adolescents with behavior disorders, who are at risk for substance abuse, have deficits in decision making similar to those exhibited by adults with substance abuse. METHOD: Performance on the Gambling Task in two testing sessions separated by 1 week was assessed in 64 12–14-year-old adolescents (31 healthy, 33 with externalizing behavior disorders) and 52 adults (22 healthy, 30 with substance abuse). RESULTS: The healthy adolescents and the healthy adults had similar performance on the Gambling Task. Adolescents with behavior disorders performed more poorly than healthy adolescents, but only in the second testing session. In adults, overall Gambling Task performance did not differ between the healthy and substance abuse groups at either testing session, indicating no difference in learning of decision-making strategies between groups. However, adults with substance abus...
A Framework for the RFID Information Security and Privacy Protection

RFID in the Information Security and Privacy is hidden in a crisis. RFID Information Security and Privacy Protection using hardware ways to achieve the target is the best way, however, it is subject to the problem of Tag costs and capacity and is currently still unresolved issues. This study focus on the Information Security and Privacy Protection and put forth a EPC specifications to use the model of XOR logic operation with the method of CRC examining the computing, and simulating the shopping mall system which provides a Information Security and Privacy Protection system. We got the data after simulations to show that XOR computing to actual test of 8 bytes, the required time is 17.29 Ticks in average, the spend time is rather short. Follow-up our simulations to the test data of DES encryption methods, an average time of 8,039.41 Ticks is required, the two time required considerable differences. It was informed that this study through practical shows that we could provide a match hardware encryption methods of the specific solutions to achieve their personal privacy protection, confidentiality, confirmed, and the fulfillment of the Information Security and Privacy Protection.
Bloodless medicine: clinical care without allogeneic blood transfusion

Bloodless medicine refers to emerging clinical strategies for medical care without allogeneic blood transfusion and is a well-defined area in blood management. The circular of information distributed with blood and blood components recommends that all physicians be familiar with the alternatives that are a part of bloodless medicine. The circular states on p. 11 that “red cell-containing components should not be used to treat anemias that can be corrected with specific medications .... ” 1 The purpose of this article is to present an overview of these alternatives and to discuss how their appropriate use can achieve a goal of bloodless medicine. Bloodless medicine has traditionally been considered in a number of clinical settings: when patients object to transfusion for religious reasons (e.g., Jehovah’s Witnesses), when blood may be in short supply or not available, or when safe (i.e., screened and tested) blood is not available. Trauma, military field casualties, and massive transfusion settings are examples of the need for bloodless medicine when blood may be in short supply or not available. Additionally, an estimated 13 million units of donated blood worldwide are not tested for the HIV or hepatitis viruses, settings in which safe blood is not available. 2 Finally, compatible blood transfusion may be unobtainable for patients with multiple antibodies or may be undesirable for patients with autoimmune hemolytic anemia, particularly in the setting of autoerythrocyte sensitization. 3
Relationship of cynical hostility and PTSD among Vietnam veterans

The personality construct of cynical hostility, as measured by the Cook-Medley scale (an MMPI subscale), has been implicated as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. A literature review suggests that Vietnam veterans exhibit many cynical hostility-like characteristics. We examined the association between Cook-Medley scores and PTSD among Vietnam and other-era veterans. Study 1 involved analyses of data from 1293 MMPIs administered at Department of Veterans Affairs in Honolulu between 1986–1991. Cook-Medley scores were highly correlated with MMPI PTSD scores, and Vietnam Era veterans obtained higher scores than veterans from other eras. In Study 2, twenty nine Vietnam veterans with PTSD disability ratings obtained very high Cook-Medley scores which were higher than Vietnam Era veterans without rated PTSD. Findings indicate that the cynical hostility literature has considerable relevance for study of PTSD and suggest that PTSD veterans may have heightened risk for developing cardiovascular disease. Several directions for future research are suggested.
Spacecraft hazard avoidance utilizing structured light

At JPL, a <5 kg free-flying micro-inspector spacecraft is being designed for host-vehicle inspection. The spacecraft includes a hazard avoidance sensor to navigate relative to the vehicle being inspected. Structured light was selected for hazard avoidance because of its low mass and cost. Structured light is a method of remote sensing 3-dimensional structure of the proximity utilizing a laser, a grating, and a single regular APS camera. The laser beam is split into 400 different beams by a grating to form a regular spaced grid of laser beams that are projected into the field of view of an APS camera. The laser source and the APS camera are separated forming the base of a triangle. The distance to all beam intersections of the host are calculated based on triangulation.
Entomopathogenic nematodes induce systemic resistance in tomato against Spodoptera exigua, Bemisia tabaci and Pseudomonas syringae

Abstract Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) Steinernema and Heterorhabditis are important biocontrol agents for soil-inhabiting insect pests in many high-value cropping systems. EPNs have also been shown to be antagonistic to plant-parasitic nematodes but the mechanisms are poorly understood. It has been recently discovered that soil application of EPNs can induce components of systemic resistance in hosta and Arabidopsis plants. Here, we hypothesized that EPN-induced systemic resistance is of broad spectrum with activity against chewing insects, sucking insects, and bacterial pathogens. We tested this hypothesis by comparing the development of beet armyworm Spodoptera exigua, sweetpotato whitefly Bemisia tabaci, and bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas syringae on EPN-treated and control tomato plants. Steinernema carpocapsae-infected waxworm cadavers were applied to the soil around tomato plants in pots whereas the control plants received freeze-killed waxworms. EPN-induced defense responses were evaluated at 3, 7 and 15 days after treatment (DAT). We observed that the EPN-treatment had significant negative impact on all three organisms on tomato leaves 3 or 7 DAT, but not 15 DAT. Treatment with EPNs delayed immature beet armyworms from reaching the next developmental stage, impaired whitefly egg hatch, and reduced lesion formation of the bacterial pathogen on the leaves. These results confirm the hypothesis that soil application of EPNs can result in a broad-spectrum systemic induced resistance in tomato plants. While the evolutionary significance of this phenomenon is not yet understood, the findings suggest that soil applications of EPNs can provide benefits beyond the target insect control by boosting general plant immunity.
New Social Movements: A Critical Review

Discussions of New Social Movements have sought to explain the apparent shift in the forms of contemporary social movements in Western nations by linking it to the rise of a postmodern world. However, the central propositions of the NSM paradigm have not been critically analyzed in terms of its concepts or the evidence. This review provides a critical analysis of the NSM thesis, finding that the central propositions are not defensible as a theory or a paradigm.
Optical remote sensing of terrestrial ecosystem primary productivity

Terrestrial ecosystem primary productivity is a key indicator of ecosystem functions, including, but not limited to, carbon storage, provision of food and fiber, and sustaining biodiversity. However, measuring terrestrial ecosystem primary productivity in the field is extremely laborious and expensive. Optical remote sensing has revolutionized our ability to map terrestrial ecosystem primary productivity over large areas ranging from regions to the entire globe in a repeated, cost-efficient manner. This progress report reviews the theory and practice of mapping terrestrial primary productivity using optical remotely sensed data. Terrestrial ecosystem primary productivity is generally estimated with optical remote sensing via one of the following approaches: (1) empirical estimation from spectral vegetation indices; (2) models that are based on light-use-efficiency (LUE) theory; (3) models that are not based on LUE theory, but the biophysical processes of plant photosynthesis. Among these three, models bas...
PREPARATION AND HANDLING OF DITHIONITE-REDUCED SMECTITE SUSPENSIONS

Using Garfield, Washington, nontronite as the model mineral system, methods and apparatus were developed to prepare reduced suspensions in citrate-bicarbonate-dithionite (CBD) solution. These techniques were effective in removing excess, undesired solutes from reduced suspensions while main- taining a high Fe 2§ content. They also enabled the preparation of dried, reduced films preferentially oriented with respect to the crystallographic c-axis. Supernatant solutions were collected and analyzed for Fe, A1, and Si, from which the extent of dissolution of the clay as a result of CBD treatment was assessed. Results indicated that very little Fe and Si were released to solution, but as much as about 8% of the total A1 was solubilized. The highest levels of A1 in solution Were observed in CB treatments without dithionite.
The Utility of Daily Therapeutic Thoracentesis for the Treatment of Early Empyema

Study objectives: To determine if therapeutic thoracentesis is as effective as early chest tube placement or no drainage procedure in the treatment of early empyema in rabbits. Design and interventions: An empyema, as evidenced by gross pleural pus and a decreased pleural fluid pH and glucose level, was induced in 49 rabbits. The rabbits were divided into three groups: 16 underwent daily therapeutic thoracentesis starting at 48 h, 14 underwent chest tube placement at 48 h, and 19 served as controls. Results: The mortality rate in the therapeutic thoracentesis group (0/16) did not differ significantly from that in the chest tube group (3/14) or that in the control group (6/19). At autopsy at 10 days, the gross empyema score in the therapeutic thoracentesis group (2.1 6 0.3) was significantly lower (p < 0.05) than that in the chest tube group (2.8 6 0.3) or the control group (3.5 6 0.2). The mean pleural peel score of 5.8 6 1.1 in the therapeutic thoracentesis group was significantly less (p < 0.05) than the score for the nonintervention control group (13.4 6 1.6). Conclusions: From this study, we conclude that therapeutic thoracentesis is at least as effective as early chest tube placement for the treatment of early empyema using our rabbit model of empyema. (CHEST 1999; 116:1703‐1708)
Radial intercalation of ciliated cells during Xenopus skin development

Cells with motile cilia cover the skin of Xenopus tadpoles in a characteristic spacing pattern. This pattern arises during early development when cells within the inner layer of ectoderm are selected out by Notch to form ciliated cell precursors (CCPs) that then radially intercalate into the outer epithelial cell layer to form ciliated cells. When Notch is inhibited and CCPs are overproduced, radial intercalation becomes limiting and the spacing of ciliated cells is maintained. To determine why this is the case, we used confocal microscopy to image intercalating cells labeled using transplantation and a transgenic approach that labels CCPs with green fluorescent protein (GFP). Our results indicate that inner cells intercalate by first wedging between the basal surface of the outer epithelium but only insert apically at the vertices where multiple outer cells make contact. When overproduced, more CCPs are able to wedge basally, but apical insertion becomes limiting. We propose that limitations imposed by the outer layer, along with restrictions on the apical insertion of CCPs, determine their pattern of radial intercalation.
ABCG1 Regulates Mouse Adipose Tissue Macrophage Cholesterol Levels and Ratio of M1 to M2 Cells in Obesity and Caloric Restriction

In addition to triacylglycerols, adipocytes contain a large reserve of unesterified cholesterol. During adipocyte lipolysis and cell death seen during severe obesity and weight loss, free fatty acids and cholesterol become available for uptake and processing by adipose tissue macrophages (ATMs). We hypothesize that ATMs become cholesterol enriched and participate in cholesterol clearance from adipose tissue. We previously showed that ABCG1 is robustly upregulated in ATMs taken from obese mice and further enhanced by caloric restriction. Here, we found that ATMs taken from obese and calorie-restricted mice derived from transplantation of WT or Abcg1-deficient bone marrow are cholesterol enriched. ABCG1 levels regulate the ratio of classically activated (M1) to alternatively activated (M2) ATMs and their cellular cholesterol content. Using WT and Abcg1(-/-) cultured macrophages, we found that Abcg1 is most highly expressed by M2 macrophages and that ABCG1 deficiency is sufficient to retard macrophage chemotaxis. However, changes in myeloid expression of Abcg1 did not protect mice from obesity or impaired glucose homeostasis. Overall, ABCG1 modulates ATM cholesterol content in obesity and weight loss regimes leading to an alteration in M1 to M2 ratio that we suggest is due to the extent of macrophage egress from adipose tissue.
Some Climatological Aspects of West African Disturbance Lines During GATE

Abstract The disturbance lines which occurred during the three phases of GATE over the eastern Atlantic Ocean and West Africa have been identified utilizing the excellent data from the SMS-1 geostationary satellite. The majority of these disturbance lines generated and decayed over land. Genesis occurred predominantly in the afternoon over land and in the early morning over water. They develop to the north of the cloud systems associated with the southwest monsoon, where the moist layer is shallow and the overriding dry air favors the production of downdrafts by the evaporation of precipitation and genesis is to a large extent dependent on insolation and low-level convergence associated with traveling waves.
Formal models in animal-metacognition research: the problem of interpreting animals’ behavior

Ongoing research explores whether animals have precursors to metacognition-that is, the capacity to monitor mental states or cognitive processes. Comparative psychologists have tested apes, monkeys, rats, pigeons, and a dolphin using perceptual, memory, foraging, and information-seeking paradigms. The consensus is that some species have a functional analog to human metacognition. Recently, though, associative modelers have used formal-mathematical models hoping to describe animals' "metacognitive" performances in associative-behaviorist ways. We evaluate these attempts to reify formal models as proof of particular explanations of animal cognition. These attempts misunderstand the content and proper application of models. They embody mistakes of scientific reasoning. They blur fundamental distinctions in understanding animal cognition. They impede theoretical development. In contrast, an energetic empirical enterprise is achieving strong success in describing the psychology underlying animals' metacognitive performances. We argue that this careful empirical work is the clear path to useful theoretical development. The issues raised here about formal modeling-in the domain of animal metacognition-potentially extend to biobehavioral research more broadly.
Abstract 069: Mitochondrial Mechanisms Of Reverse Remodeling In Heart Failure

Enhancement of myocardial mitochondrial (mt) function resulting in efficient energy production by means of Left ventricular assist device (LVAD) has been suggested in heart failure (HF) which could have important clinical implications and may represent a novel therapeutic target. However, the basis for this improvement remains unknown. To characterize mt biogenesis, mt genomic integrity and mitophagy in reversing pathological remodeling, we investigated LV tissue from post-LVAD human hearts and after reversal of transaortic constriction (TAC) in mice. In Post-LVAD human hearts there was increased expression of mt fusion and biogenesis, mtDNA levels were normalized and deletion mutation rates were significantly reduced with reverse remodeling and these changes were associated with enhancement of mt ETC complex I and II activities and improved cardiac-myocyte morphology. To better understand the mechanisms underlying mt repair/remodeling with LVAD support, we developed a model of aortic banding (AB) and debanding (DB) in mice. C57BL/6 mice were subjected to 2 weeks of AB and subsequent DB for period of 1 to 20 days and cardiac function and hypertrophy were evaluated by echocardiography and real-time PCR, respectively. Compared with control animals, mice that had undergone banding had a robust hypertrophic response with decline in cardiac function. These parameters were reversed following removal of pressure overload by DB. Even 1 day of unloading led to significant increase in the expression of mt fusion and biogenesis genes. Hearts from AB (2 weeks) mice showed a 3.7-fold (P
Abstract T P188: Equivalency in Intravenous Thrombolytic Treatment Rates Between Primary Stroke Centers and Non-Primary Stroke Centers Through the Use of Telestroke

Background: Research has shown that subjects evaluated at (Primary Stroke Centers) PSCs are more likely to receive rt–PA than those evaluated at non–PSCs. It is unknown if telestroke evaluation affects rt-PA rates at non-PSCs. We hypothesized that with a robust telestroke system rt-TPA rates among PSCs and non-PSCs are not significantly different. Methods and Results: Data were obtained from the Providence Stroke Registry from January 2010 to December 2012. We identified ischemic stroke patients (n=3307) who received care in Oregon and Southwest Washington, which include 2 PSCs and 14 non-PSCs. Intravenous rt–PA was administered to 7.3% (n=242) of ischemic patients overall, 8.4% (n=79) at non–PSCs and 6.9% (n=163) at PSCs (p=.135). Stroke neurologists evaluated 5.2 % (n=172) of all ischemic stroke patients (n=3307) were evaluated via telestroke robot. Our analysis included AIS (Acute Ischemic Stroke) patients, those presenting within 4.5 hours of symptom onset. We identified 1070 AIS discharges from 16 hospitals of which 77.9 % (n=833) were at PSCs and 22.1 % (n=237) non-PSCs. For acute ischemic stroke patients (AIS) patients, those presenting within 4.5 hours of symptom onset, 22.1% (n=237) received rt-PA; 21.5% (n=74) presented at non–PSCs and 23.7% (n=163) presented at PSCs. Among AIS, bivariate analysis showed significant differences in treatment rates by race, age, NIHSS at admit, previous stroke or TIA, PVD, use of robot, smoking and time from patient arrival to CT completed. Using multiple logistic regression adjusting for these variables, treatment was significantly related to admit NIHSS (AOR=1.67, p<.001), history of stroke (AOR=.323, p<.001), TIA (AOR=.303, p=.01) and PVD (AOR=.176, p=.02), time to CT (.971, p<.001), and use of robot (7.76, p<.001). PSC designation was not significantly related to treatment (p=.06). Conclusions: Through the use of a robust telestroke system, there are no significant differences in the TPA treatment rates between non-PSC and PSC facilities. Telestroke systems can ensure stroke patients access to acute stroke care at non-PSC hospitals.
Differentiation of closely related isomers: application of data mining techniques in conjunction with variable wavelength infrared multiple photon dissociation mass spectrometry for identification of glucose-containing disaccharide ions.

Data mining algorithms have been used to analyze the infrared multiple photon dissociation (IRMPD) patterns of gas-phase lithiated disaccharide isomers irradiated with either a line-tunable CO2 laser or a free electron laser (FEL). The IR fragmentation patterns over the wavelength range of 9.2–10.6 μm have been shown in earlier work to correlate uniquely with the asymmetry at the anomeric carbon in each disaccharide. Application of data mining approaches for data analysis allowed unambiguous determination of the anomeric carbon configurations for each disaccharide isomer pair using fragmentation data at a single wavelength. In addition, the linkage positions were easily assigned. This combination of wavelength-selective IRMPD and data mining offers a powerful and convenient tool for differentiation of structurally closely related isomers, including those of gas-phase carbohydrate complexes.
P17.07FENOFIBRATE AS A NOVEL THERAPEUTIC ADJUVANT FOR TARGETING GLIOMA STEM CELLS.

Glioma stem cells (GSC) are being increasingly recognized as the culprits behind the resistance of glioblastoma to standard therapy, including surgery, temozolomide and radiation therapy. Intensive research is currently underway to uncover novel and effective GSC targeting strategies Fenofibrate is an FDA-approved hypolipidemic agent in widespread clinical use. Recent evidence has supported a possible role for fenofibrate as an nti-cancer agent in various cancer pathologies, including glioblastoma. Our own previous work has demonstrated that fenofibrate reduces proliferation and induces apoptosis in human high-grade glioma cells. Here, we present our results on the effects of fenofibrate on GSC in the in vitro setting. We chose to examine invasion because this property is known as a hallmark obstacle in the successful treatment of glioblastoma and recent data has implicated GSC. We found that fenofibrate treatment at a dose of 25 microM significantly decreased GSC invasion in a standard Matrigel invasion assay. We then examined the effect of fenofibrate on stem-cell marker expression and chose CD133 and Oct4. CD133 remains one of the most commonly used GSC markers to date, while Oct4 is an embryonic stem cell marker linked to glioma grade. Results demonstrated that fenofibrate treatment at 25 microM significantly diminished expression of both CD133 and Oct4 as measured by flow cytometry and/or immunofluorescence staining. Finally, we investigated possible mechanisms and identified NF-kappaB and CyclinD1 as candidates. Inhibition of NF-kappaB reportedly decreases invasion in GSC and is a well-established property of fenofibrate in the inflammatory setting. Downregulation of Cyclin D1 has been found to correlate with attenuated invasion in human glioblastoma cells and may be observed with fenofibrate treatment of lymphoma cells. Using a panel of established human glioma cell lines, we found that fenofibrate treatment robustly diminished the expression of both NF-kappaB and Cyclin D1 in a dose-dependent and p53-independent manner. In conclusion, our data show that fenofibrate significantly attenuates both GSC invasion and expression of the CD133 and Oct4 stem-cell markers, in association with diminished NF-kappaB and Cyclin D1 signaling in glioma cells. Based on these results, we propose that fenofibrate should be considered a novel and direct GSC targeting agent. Its relatively low cost, minimal toxicity and availability make it an attractive agent for rapid translation to the clinical setting as an adjuvant treatment for glioblastoma.
Examining the Effects of School-Provided E-Readers on Middle School Students’ Reading Ability

Nationwide, the increasing popularity of e-books is undeniable; sales of e-books increased an astounding 4,456% over a 5-year period. Researchers, Miranda, Johnson, and Rossi-Williams, determined t...
Respiratory Therapists' Involvement in End-of-Life Discussions: Stepping Up to the Plate.

Many respiratory therapists (RTs) currently work in the ICU or have worked in the ICU at some point in their careers. RTs care for a great number of patients at various stages of their lives with varying outcomes. In the United States, approximately one in 5 people die in the ICU.[1][1] It is
Practical Matters III: Commercial and Legal Implications, Project Management, and Risk Mitigation

This chapter introduces you to some more of the “other aspects” of design. While not necessarily technical aspects, they are essential for good design, and knowing about them will help you be a better designer. More importantly, it will help you and your coworkers produce a design that is successful. This information will also help you decide whether you eventually want to go into engineering management and therefore help you make some long-term career decisions.
Environment-Level Strategies to Support Independent Control of Finances: A Response to the SSA Review of Financial Capability Determination Review

The Social Security Administration (SSA) recently completed an evaluation of the process by which representative payees are assigned. The SSA report is welcome, particularly for its focus on developing more accurate, real-world assessments of a person's financial capability and its recognition of the need for more flexible options for people with disabilities. Crucially, the report discusses the impact of the broader environment-specifically, conditions related to living in poverty. However, it provides no guidance about environmental interventions that could enable more beneficiaries to manage their funds without a payee. Innovative financial products could be offered to beneficiaries, and the retail industry could develop processes to support responsible financial management by people with mental illness. Changes to SSA benefits systems, including raising benefits levels and asset limits, could enable more beneficiaries to manage their funds independently.
The ethics of people smuggling

People smugglers help transport migrants across international borders without authorization and in return for compensation. Many people object to people smuggling and believe that the smuggling of ...
Diseño y manufactura para el 2030 : compitiendo en la globalización 3.0

El dinamico escenario en el campo de la manufactura esta siendo inducido no solo por directos avances en tecnologia de fabricacion, sino que tambien por el desarrollo y maduracion de plataformas colaborativas globales como las redes sociales y el e-business. El presente articulo indaga en esas plataformas con el objetivo de aventurar un set de competencias basicas para enfrentar los posibles desafios de diseno y fabricacion para el ano 2030. El estudio ha sido enfocado en tres factores de desarrollo: tecnologias de la informacion, politicas publicas que favorecen el mundo productivo y las comunidades productivas o «makers». Posteriormente, los factores estudiados son racionalizados en una lista de competencias, las cuales son elucidadas y orientadas hacia nuevos desafios en la seccion final de este escrito.
Overall survival (OS) benefit with sipuleucel-T by baseline PSA: An exploratory analysis from the phase III IMPACT trial.

4648 Background: Sipuleucel-T is an autologous cellular immunotherapy approved for asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer. In the IMPACT trial, sipuleucel-T showed a 22.5% reduction in risk of death vs the control group (hazard ratio [HR]=0.775 [95% CI 0.614, 0.979]; P=0.032). A pre-specified subgroup analysis for baseline prognostic variables showed homogeneous treatment effects consistently favoring sipuleucel-T. In patients (pts) with baseline PSA below vs above the median, there was a trend toward greater treatment effect (HR=0.685 vs. 0.865). In this exploratory analysis, we further sub-divide baseline PSA into quartiles to evaluate potential treatment effect patterns. Methods: The analysis included all randomized pts from IMPACT (n=512). Pts were categorized by baseline PSA quartile (Table), ECOG PS and by median for other baseline prognostic variables (i.e., LDH, PAP, ALP in bone-only disease, and Hgb). Median OS and HR were estimated using Kaplan-Meier ...
Vietnamese Catholic Humanitarian Organizations Across US–Cambodia Borders

This chapter analyzes how Vietnamese American Catholic humanitarian organizations have facilitated transnational ties between ethnic Vietnamese Catholics in Cambodia and their counterparts in the U.S. Ethnic Vietnamese Catholics in Cambodia have been structurally, politically, and socially marginalized from Vietnamese co-religionists in the U.S. due to the precarious legal status of their ethnic and religious identities. Since 2004, they have been able to engage in cross-border ties through the initiation and efforts of Vietnamese American Catholic humanitarian organizations. While collaborating closely with Catholic intermediaries in Vietnam, these U.S.-based groups have been working almost completely independent of the church hierarchy in Cambodia, which has perceived their presence as a threat to the church’s policies of “purifying” the church of its overtly Vietnamese elements.
AbMiner: A relational database of validated antibodies and corresponding gene identifiers

4802 We have developed AbMiner, a publicly available relational database of information on commercially available antibodies and their corresponding genomic annotations. The development of AbMiner was motivated by our own group’s need to compile and search such information on hundreds of antibodies used for quantitation of proteins in a proteomic profiling study. We subsequently realized that the compendium would be very useful to the wider biomedical research community for applications in proteomics, immunology, and many other fields. Hence, AbMiner was further developed as a user-friendly program package for wide distribution. One type of information it contains comes from Western blots done for quality control in the context of proteomic profiling of the 60 human cancer cell lines (the NCI-60) used by the NCI’s Developmental therapeutics Program to screen for potential anticancer agents. Included are melanoma and leukemias as well as cancer cell types of ovarian, renal, breast, prostate, lung, colon, and central nervous system origin. Building on the work of Paweletz et al. (Oncogene, 20: 1981, 2001), we developed a higher density version of ‘reverse-phase’ protein lysate microarrays (lysate arrays) and then used them to profile the NCI-60 (Nishizuka, et al., Cancer Res., 63: 5243, 2003 and Nishizuka et al., PNAS, in press). To decide which antibodies would be useful on for detection on those arrays, we created a protein lysate pool consisting of equal amounts of all 60 cell lines and used it for Western blots. Antibodies that gave only a single predominant band at the expected molecular weight were accepted for use on the arrays. AbMiner includes the results of this testing process as well as the array results for a subset of the antibodies. Out of 441 completed antibody screenings, 70% showed a single predominant band. Using MatchMiner (Bussey, et al., Genome Biol., 4: R27, 2003), a web-based program we developed for batch translation of gene and protein identifiers, we matched each antibody’s name with its antigen’s gene symbol. The corresponding gene name, UniGene cluster ID, LocusLink ID, and RefSeq identifiers were then obtained using MatchMiner and other tools (HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee, LocusLink). Users can browse and search antibodies in AbMiner by screening results or other pertinent information on the antibodies or by gene identifier. AbMiner is available via the web at http://discover.nci.nih.gov/. As an illustration of its utility, we present here the correlations between protein expression levels for 52 proteins from lysate arrays and the corresponding transcript levels as measured using four different microarray platforms.
Estimation of Concrete Strength of the Colorado Street bridge Using the Impact-Echo Technique

The impact-echo technique involves introducing mechanical energy, in the form of a short pulse, into a structure. A transducer mounted on the surface of the structure receives the reflected waves, or echoes, from discontinuities in the material and measures motions created by the impact in the time domain. The predominant frequency is read by an FFT Analyzer, and the propagation velocity, which is a function of the frequency and the travel distance through the specimen, is calculated. After the particular relationship between propagation velocity and compressive concrete strength is established from the testing of concrete cores, the mean strength of the concrete throughout the section can be estimated.
Invasive Neurological and Multimodality Monitoring in the NeuroICU

Patients admitted to the neurocritical care unit (NCCU) are at risk for secondary brain injury that frequently can exacerbate outcome. Consequently, current NCCU management strategies focus on the identification, prevention, and management of secondary brain injury, since there are few pharmacological agents that demonstrate efficacy in these patients. In the last decade, techniques to monitor brain function have evolved and, in the modern NCCU, play an important role in patient care and in particular in a patient-specific targeted approach. Monitors include radiologic techniques that provide information about a specific point in time or bedside monitors that provide continuous or noncontinuous physiologic information. In turn, these bedside techniques may be subdivided into invasive or noninvasive monitors. In this review we will discuss invasive intracranial monitors including (1) intracranial pressure; (2) monitors of cerebral oxygenation (direct measurement of brain oxygen [PbtO2] and jugular venous catheters); (3) metabolic monitors, i.e., cerebral microdialysis; and (4) cerebral blood flow monitors such as thermal diffusion flowmetry and laser Doppler flowmetry.
Space syntax investigation of Lubbock, a grid-like American city and some insights into isotropic layouts

AbstractThis paper describes an in-depth study of a grid-like American city using traditional and recent space syntax analytical methods. The case study is Lubbock, located in west Texas, and is ch...
A randomized, controlled pilot study of warm handoff versus fax referral for hospital-initiated smoking cessation among people living with HIV/AIDS.

Abstract Introduction The prevalence of smoking among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) remains higher than the general population. Life expectancy among PLWHA has increased over the past decade, however, PLWHA who smoke will die younger than their non-smoking peers. The primary aim of this pilot study was to examine the effects of warm handoff versus fax referral to the quitline for smoking cessation among hospitalized smokers living with HIV/AIDS. Methods 25 smokers with a diagnosis of HIV/AIDS hospitalized at a Midwestern academic medical center in 2012–2013 (19 male; mean age = 47.7; 48% African-American) were identified, approached, and randomized to one of two treatment arms. At the bedside for patients in warm handoff, staff telephoned the quitline for on-the-spot enrollment and counseling. Participants randomized to fax were fax-referred to the quitline on the day of discharge. The quitline provided continued outpatient counseling to participants in both conditions. The main outcome was verified tobacco abstinence at 6-months post randomization. Results Enrollment and participation in quitline counseling was high among both warm handoff (100%) and fax-referred (71.4%) PLWHA participants. Nearly all completed follow up for outcome data collection at 6 months. Verified abstinent rates were 45.5% in warm handoff versus 14.3% in fax referral at 6 months (not significant). Conclusions Hospitalized smokers living with HIV/AIDS were highly engaged in quitline services. Warm handoff seems a promising intervention for hospitalized PLWHA that requires further exploration. Clinical Trials Registration NCT01305928 .
FMRI processing with AFNI: Some comments and corrections on “Exploring the Impact of Analysis Software on Task fMRI Results”

A recent study posted on bioRxiv by Bowring, Maumet and Nichols aimed to compare results of FMRI data that had been processed with three commonly used software packages (AFNI, FSL and SPM). Their stated purpose was to use "default" settings of each software9s pipeline for task based FMRI, and then to quantify overlaps in final clustering results and to measure similarity/dissimilarity in the final outcomes of packages. While in theory the setup sounds simple (implement each package9s defaults and compare results), practical realities make this difficult. For example, different softwares would recommend different spatial resolutions of the final data, but for the sake of comparisons, the same value must be used across all. Moreover, we would say that AFNI does not have an explicit default pipeline available: a wide diversity of datasets and study designs are acquired across the neuroimaging community, often requiring bespoke tailoring of basic processing rather than a "one-size-fits-all" pipeline. However, we do have strong recommendations for certain steps, and we are also aware that the choice of a given step might place requirements on other processing steps. Given the very clear reporting of the AFNI pipeline used in Bowring et al. paper, we take this opportunity to comment on some of these aspects of processing with AFNI here, clarifying a few mistakes therein and also offering recommendations. We provide point-by-point considerations of using AFNI9s processing pipeline design tool at the individual level, afni_proc.py, along with supplementary programs; while specifically discussed in the context of the present usage, many of these choices may serve as useful starting points for broader processing. It is our intention/hope that the user should examine data quality at every step, and we demonstrate how this is facilitated in AFNI, as well.
Contribution of printing parameters to the interfacial strength of polylactic acid (PLA) in material extrusion additive manufacturing

The strength of polymer parts made by material extrusion additive manufacturing is weaker than injection-molded parts attributed to the existence of interfaces among the strands in the matrix structure. Interfacial strength is an indicator of the mechanical properties of 3D-printed polymers. In this study, a commercial polylactic acid (PLA) filament for material extrusion processing was used to print samples for interfacial strength tests. Two printing parameters were studied: plate temperature (30 and 160 °C) and air gap size (0 and − 0.04 mm). Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) indicated that higher plate temperature imparted components with higher crystallinity. Mechanical tests showed that higher plate temperature resulted in weaker interfacial strength of the PLA parts. More shrinkage induced by higher crystallinity of the PLA pre-stressed the interfaces resulting in lower interfacial strength. A negative air gap size was able to ameliorate the shrinkage caused by processing at the higher plate temperature. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that a negative air gap size generated smaller voids inside the PLA parts made by material extrusion, however, the reduction in air gap size created rougher surfaces.
End-to-End Policy Learning for Active Visual Categorization

Visual recognition systems mounted on autonomous moving agents face the challenge of unconstrained data, but simultaneously have the opportunity to improve their performance by moving to acquire new views at test time. In this work, we first show how a recurrent neural network-based system may be trained to perform end-to-end learning of motion policies suited for this “active recognition” setting. Further, we hypothesize that active vision requires an agent to have the capacity to reason about the effects of its motions on its view of the world. To verify this hypothesis, we attempt to induce this capacity in our active recognition pipeline, by simultaneously learning to forecast the effects of the agent's motions on its internal representation of the environment conditional on all past views. Results across three challenging datasets confirm both that our end-to-end system successfully learns meaningful policies for active category recognition, and that “learning to look ahead” further boosts recognition performance.
Hewlett-Packard: Planet-Wide Patterns in the Company’s Technology Tapestry

“The character of our company is basically set by the character of its R&D work.” (Bill Hewlett). William Hewlett and David Packard founded HP in 1939 while working out of a one-car garage behind 367 Addison Avenue — today a California State Historical landmark and a Silicon Valley cornerstone. The company’s first product, an electronic test instrument known as an audio oscillator, was built in a Palo Alto garage. The oscillator improved upon existing audio oscillators in size, price and performance. One of HP’s first customers, Walt Disney Studios, purchased eight oscillators to develop and test an innovative sound system for the classic movie „Fantasia.“ HP incorporated in 1947 and ten years later made its first public stock offering. HP shares have been traded on the New York and Pacific stock exchanges since 1961. Today, about 92,000 shareholders hold slightly more than one billion shares of stock.
Modeling energy efficiency alternatives for distribution system power delivery

This paper describes the techniques being employed in a large research project called Green Circuits to evaluate energy efficiency alternatives for reducing power delivery losses on specific MV and LV distribution systems.
Re: Evaluation of an Ongoing Diabetes Group Medical Visit in a Family Medicine Practice.

To the Editor: We want to share our experience with a similar patient demographic using diabetes shared medical appointments (SMAs). The report, by Cunningham et al.[1][1], describes a series of four 2-hour sessions. One hour is dedicated to a traditional one-on-one medical appointment with
A comparison of levetiracetam and phenobarbital for the treatment of neonatal seizures associated with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy.

Abstract Purpose Seizures are common in term infants with hypoxic–ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) undergoing therapeutic hypothermia. Although phenobarbital (PHB) is generally considered first-line therapy, some centers have embraced third-generation antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) such as levetiracetam (LEV) given the impression of comparable efficacy and superior tolerability. We set out to compare the efficacy of PHB and LEV in a large single-center cohort. Methods We retrospectively identified consecutive newborns with HIE who were monitored with continuous video-electroencephalogram (VEEG) for the duration of therapeutic hypothermia. After identification of seizures, infants were treated with PHB or LEV at the discretion of treating physicians. We assessed time to seizure freedom as a function of AED choice, with adjustment for HIE severity and initial seizure frequency using the Kaplan–Meier procedure and multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression. Results We identified 78 infants with HIE. Among 44 (56%) patients who had VEEG-confirmed seizures, 34 became seizure-free during monitoring, and the remaining 10 died. Initial treatment with LEV, in comparison with PHB, predicted a shorter interval to seizure freedom in a univariate analysis (Hazard ratio (HR) = 2.58, P = 0.007), even after adjustment for initial seizure frequency and an unbiased ad hoc measure of HIE severity (adjusted HR = 2.57, P = 0.010). This effect was recapitulated in an analysis in which patients with treatment crossover were excluded. As expected, severity of HIE was an independent predictor of longer duration to seizure freedom (HR = 0.16, P Conclusion Despite a relatively small sample size and retrospective design, this study suggests that LEV is a viable alternative to PHB in the treatment of neonatal seizures associated with HIE. A large-scale randomized controlled trial is needed to confirm these findings.