cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Principles of hemostasis in children: models and maturation

Hemostasis is an active process regulating the formation and dissolution of fibrin clot to preserve vascular integrity. The different phases of hemostasis are coordinated so that effective clotting occurs only at the site of vascular injury while maintaining blood flow in other parts of the circulation. Procoagulant processes culminate in thrombin generation and fibrin clot formation to protect the vasculature against uncontrolled bleeding after injury. Conversely, anticoagulant processes limit clot extension to unaffected portions of the vasculature. Lastly, fibrinolysis is responsible for clot dissolution once tissue repair and regeneration permit the return of normal blood flow. A precise and delicate interplay exists among these processes to ensure normal hemostasis. The hemostatic system is incompletely developed at birth and matures throughout infancy. Both full-term and preterm neonates are born with low levels of most procoagulant proteins including all the contact activation factors and vitamin K-dependent factors. Similarly, levels of the major anticoagulant proteins are low at birth. Although often characterized as 'immature', the neonatal hemostatic system is nevertheless functionally balanced with no tendency toward coagulopathy or thrombosis. In this article, we will review the current models of hemostasis and the maturation of the hemostatic system. Our goal is to help clinicians gain a better understanding of the actions of procoagulant agents and of the disruptive effects of serious systemic illnesses on the precarious hemostatic balance of infants.
Determination of Local Slope on the Greenland Ice Sheet Using a Multibeam Photon-Counting Lidar in Preparation for the ICESat-2 Mission

The greatest changes in elevation in Greenland and Antarctica are happening along the margins of the ice sheets where the surface frequently has significant slopes. For this reason, the upcoming Ice, Cloud, and land Elevation Satellite-2 (ICESat-2) mission utilizes pairs of laser altimeter beams that are perpendicular to the flight direction in order to extract slope information in addition to elevation. The Multiple Altimeter Beam Experimental Lidar (MABEL) is a high-altitude airborne laser altimeter designed as a simulator for ICESat-2. The MABEL design uses multiple beams at fixed angles and allows for local slope determination. Here, we present local slopes as determined by MABEL and compare them to those determined by the Airborne Topographic Mapper (ATM) over the same flight lines in Greenland. We make these comparisons with consideration for the planned ICESat-2 beam geometry. Results indicate that the mean slope residuals between MABEL and ATM remain small ( 0.05 °) through a wide range of localized slopes using ICESat-2 beam geometry. Furthermore, when MABEL data are subsampled by a factor of 4 to mimic the planned ICESat-2 transmit-energy configuration, the results are indistinguishable from the full-data-rate analysis. Results from MABEL suggest that ICESat-2 beam geometry and transmit-energy configuration are appropriate for the determination of slope on ~ 90-m spatial scales, a measurement that will be fundamental to deconvolving the effects of surface slope from the ice-sheet surface change derived from ICESat-2.
Potential applications and pitfalls of reproductive ultrasonography in bovine practice.

The impact of real-time ultrasound on the study of reproduction has been dramatic, and portable ultrasound machines have given clinicians an added tool for diagnostic reproductive management. Ultrasound is commonly used to monitor uterine anatomy, involution, and pathology, and has been used to detect pregnancy, study embryonic mortality, monitor fetal development, and determine fetal sex. The applications of ultrasound include the ability to monitor follicular characteristics, ovarian function, and aid in follicular aspirations and oocyte retrieval. As technology improves, technicians will use the internet or video conferencing for ultrasound image analyses. Although the technology of reproductive ultrasonography holds much promise for improving reproductive efficiency in beef and dairy cattle, new research on the practical implementation of early pregnancy diagnosis into a systematic synchronization and resynchronization system in lactating dairy cows has identified some pitfalls and limitations of early pregnancy diagnosis using transrectal ultrasonography.
Prevention of symptomatic pulmonary embolism in patients undergoing total hip and knee arthroplasty: clinical guideline of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

A work group of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, with the assistance of the Center for Clinical Evidence Synthesis at Tufts-New England Medical Center, has proposed a guideline for the prevention of symptomatic (and fatal) pulmonary embolism in patients undergoing total hip and knee arthroplasty. This guideline includes recommendations from both a consensus process and an analysis of 42 publications since 1996. The end points included symptomatic and fatal pulmonary embolism rates, total death rates, and major bleeding complications. The guideline recommends preoperative evaluation of all patients for “standard” and “high” risks of both pulmonary embolism and major bleeding complications. The use of regional anesthesia, mechanical prophylaxis, rapid mobilization, and patient education were consensus recommendations. The choice of a specific medication postoperatively should be based on an individual riskbenefit analysis of pulmonary embolism and major bleeding complications. Instr Course Lect 2009;58:795-804. 74
Cytotoxic Effects of Topotecan Combined With Various Anticancer Agents in Human Cancer Cell Lines

Background Topotecan (TPT) is a topoisomerase I poison that exhibits antineoplastic activity. Analysis of the cytotoxic effects of combinations of TPT and other anticancer agents has been limited. Purpose We assessed the cytotoxic effects produced by combinations of TPT and other antineoplastic agents in experiments involving multiple human cancer cell lines of diverse histologic origins. Methods The cytotoxic effects of various antimetabolites (fluorouracil, methotrexate, or cytarabine), antimicrotubule agents (vincristine or paclitaxel [Taxol]), DNA alkylating agents (melphalan, bis[chloroethyl]nitrosourea [BCNU], or 4-hydroperoxycyclophosphamide [4HC]), and a DNA-platinating agent (cisplatin), alone and in combination with TPT, were measured in clonogenic (i.e., colony-forming) assays. HCT8 ileocecal adenocarcinoma, A549 non-small-cell lung carcinoma, NCI-H82ras(H) lung cancer, T98G glioblastoma, and MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines were used in these assays. The data were analyzed by the median effect method, primarily under the assumption that drug mechanisms of action were mutually nonexclusive (i.e., completely independent of one another). For each level of cytotoxicity (ranging from 5% to 95%), a drug combination index (CI) was calculated. A CI less than 1 indicated synergy (i.e., the effect of the combination was greater than that expected from the additive effects of the component agents), a CI equal to 1 indicated additivity, and a CI greater than 1 indicated antagonism (the effect of the combination was less than that expected from the additive effects of the component agents). Results When the mechanisms of drug action were assumed to be mutually nonexclusive, virtually all CIs for combinations of TPT and either antimetabolites or antimicrotubule agents revealed cytotoxic effects that were less than additive. The CIs calculated at low-to-intermediate levels of cytotoxicity for combinations of TPT and the DNA alkylating agents melphalan, BCNU, and 4HC also showed drug effects that were less than additive; in most cases, however, nearly additive or even synergistic effects were observed with these same drug combinations at high levels of cytotoxicity (i.e., at > or = 90% inhibition of colony formation). Results obtained with combinations of TPT and cisplatin varied according to the cell line examined. With A549 cells, less than additive effects were seen at low-to-intermediate levels of cytotoxicity, and more than additive effects were seen at high levels of cytotoxicity. With NCI-H82ras(H) cells, synergy was observed over most of the cytotoxicity range. Conclusions and implications TPT cytotoxicity appears to be enhanced more by combination with certain DNA-damaging agents than by combination with antimetabolites or antimicrotubule agents. Interactions between TPT and other drugs can vary depending on the cell type examined. Further investigation is required to determine the basis of the observed effects and to determine whether these in vitro findings are predictive of results obtained in vivo.
Geomicrobiological linkages between short-chain alkane consumption and sulfate reduction rates in seep sediments

Marine hydrocarbon seeps are ecosystems that are rich in methane, and, in some cases, short-chain (C2-C5) and longer alkanes. C2-C4 alkanes such as ethane, propane, and butane can be significant components of seeping fluids. Some sulfate-reducing microbes oxidize short-chain alkanes anaerobically, and may play an important role in both the competition for sulfate and the local carbon budget. To better understand the anaerobic oxidation of short-chain n-alkanes coupled with sulfate-reduction, hydrocarbon-rich sediments from the Gulf of Mexico (GoM) were amended with artificial, sulfate-replete seawater and one of four n-alkanes (C1-C4) then incubated under strict anaerobic conditions. Measured rates of alkane oxidation and sulfate reduction closely follow stoichiometric predictions that assume the complete oxidation of alkanes to CO2 (though other sinks for alkane carbon likely exist). Changes in the δ(13)C of all the alkanes in the reactors show enrichment over the course of the incubation, with the C3 and C4 incubations showing the greatest enrichment (4.4 and 4.5‰, respectively). The concurrent depletion in the δ(13)C of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) implies a transfer of carbon from the alkane to the DIC pool (-3.5 and -6.7‰ for C3 and C4 incubations, respectively). Microbial community analyses reveal that certain members of the class Deltaproteobacteria are selectively enriched as the incubations degrade C1-C4 alkanes. Phylogenetic analyses indicate that distinct phylotypes are enriched in the ethane reactors, while phylotypes in the propane and butane reactors align with previously identified C3-C4 alkane-oxidizing sulfate-reducers. These data further constrain the potential influence of alkane oxidation on sulfate reduction rates (SRRs) in cold hydrocarbon-rich sediments, provide insight into their contribution to local carbon cycling, and illustrate the extent to which short-chain alkanes can serve as electron donors and govern microbial community composition and density.
A Racetrack Microtron RF System

The rf system for the National Bureau of Standards (NBS)/Los Alamos cw racetrack microtron is described. The low-power portion consists of five 75-W amplifiers that drive two input ports in each of two chopper deflection cavities and one port in the prebuncher cavity. A single 500-kW klystron drives four separate 2380-MHz cavity sections: the two main accelerator sections, a capture section, and a preaccelerator section. The phases and amplitudes in all cavities are controlled by electronic or electromechanical controls. The 1-MW klystron power supply and crowbar system were purchased as a unit; several modifications are described that improve power-supply performance. The entire rf system has been tested and shipped to the NBS, and the chopper-buncher system has been operated with beam at the NBS.
A comparison of vocal parameters in adult bilingual Hebrew-English speakers

Purpose: There has been growing research on the effects of language on voice characteristics; however, few studies have examined the impact of language on vocal features within bilinguals. This study aimed to compare vocal parameters among bilingual Hebrew/English speaking individuals when speaking in Hebrew versus English. Methods: Forty bilingual participants (17 males and 23 females) between the ages of 23-60 years were asked to spontaneously speak about a neutral topic. Voice samples were digitalized into a tablet for perceptual and acoustic analyses of selected parameters. Results: Results show that there are changes in resonance, glottal attack, fundamental frequency variation and speech rate when adult bilingual speakers talk in Hebrew as compared to English. Conclusion: These findings provide evidence that language plays a role in affecting vocal characteristics of bilingual individuals when they speak different languages.
Mutational Landscapes of Sequential Prostate Metastases and Matched Patient Derived Xenografts during Enzalutamide Therapy

Developing patient derived models from individual tumors that capture the biological heterogeneity and mutation landscape in advanced prostate cancer is challenging, but essential for understanding tumor progression and delivery of personalized therapy in metastatic castrate resistant prostate cancer stage. To demonstrate the feasibility of developing patient derived xenograft models in this stage, we present a case study wherein xenografts were derived from cancer metastases in a patient progressing on androgen deprivation therapy and prior to initiating pre-chemotherapy enzalutamide treatment. Tissue biopsies from a metastatic rib lesion were obtained for sequencing before and after initiating enzalutamide treatment over a twelve-week period and also implanted subcutaneously as well as under the renal capsule in immuno-deficient mice. The genome and transcriptome landscapes of xenografts and the original patient tumor tissues were compared by performing whole exome and transcriptome sequencing of the metastatic tumor tissues and the xenografts at both time points. After comparing the somatic mutations, copy number variations, gene fusions and gene expression we found that the patient’s genomic and transcriptomic alterations were preserved in the patient derived xenografts with high fidelity. These xenograft models provide an opportunity for predicting efficacy of existing and potentially novel drugs that is based on individual metastatic tumor expression signature and molecular pharmacology for delivery of precision medicine.
Edge roughness characterization of advanced patterning processes using power spectral density analysis (PSD)

Self-Aligned Quadruple Patterning (SAQP) is targeted to support the sub 10nm technology nodes. It is consisted of several process steps starting with lithography and Etch to define the pattern backbone. Followed by additional set of processes based on thin-films deposition and etch that quadruple the number of patterns, shrinking pattern and pitch sizes. Pattern roughness is derived from the physical and chemical characteristics of these process steps. It is changing with each of the SAQP process steps, based on material stack and the etch process characteristics. Relative to a sub 10 nm pattern sizes pattern, edge roughness can significantly impact pattern physical dimensions. Unless controlled it can increase the variability of device electrical performance, and reduce yield. In this paper we present the SAQP process steps and roughness characterization, performed with Power Spectral Density (PSD) methodology. Experimental results demonstrates the ability of PSD analysis to sensitively reflect detailed characterization of process roughness, guiding process development improvements, and enabling roughness monitoring for production.
Are We Done Monkeying Around With TRIM5α

In 2004, the TRIM5α protein from rhesus macaques was first identified as the restriction factor preventing HIV-1 infection in these monkeys.1 Since then, the antiretroviral activity of a large number of primate TRIM5α orthologs has been examined. Collectively, these studies indicate that human TRIM5α is at the back of the pack when it comes to inhibiting HIV-1 infection. This has established the dogma that retroviruses have evolved to evade the TRIM5α ortholog present in species to which they are endemic. Following this thinking, because HIV-1 has learned to evade human TRIM5α, leveraging TRIM5α as an antiviral therapy will require expression of TRIM5α variants or orthologs not present in the human genome. This dogma is being challenged in the publication by Richardson and co-workers in this issue of Molecular Therapy.2 The authors report that stabilization of human TRIM5α enables it to restrict HIV-1 infection in primary human T cells challenged with HIV-1 in a NOD/SCID mouse model. The findings suggest that a better understanding of the mechanisms of TRIM5α degradation may provide opportunities to reduce its turnover in a more targeted way that could be exploited for therapeutic purposes.
Observations on the Early Larval Activities of Nymphula Maculalis Clemens (Lepidoptera).

In a previous paper dealing with the biology of certain aquatic Lepidoptera, the writer pointed out (1916, pp. 173-174) that while it was possible to force a few first instar larvae of Nymphula maculalis Clemens to feed upon the tissue of the floating, green leaf of the yellow water-lily in small aquaria, the normal field habits of the younger instars were not determined and that in rearing such larvae in aquaria difficulty was experienced in securing the second larval instar and in preventing a very high mortality among those which hatched from egg-masses. It was also pointed out in the same connection that certain circumstantial evidence suggested that possibly the larvae, on hatching, “settle to the bottom and after one or two ecdyses, approach the surface of the water on the petioles of the water-lily.” Field observations and breeding work in aquaria subsequent to that on which the above mentioned paper was based repeatedly confirmed the following points from which the inference concerning some form of bottom life for early instars was derived: (1) Recently hatched larvae tend to drop to the bottom of aquaria and wander restlessly about, manifesting no interest in fresh tissue from floating leaves of the normal food plant (2) The first and second instars are not found, in the field, on the floating leaves of the yellow water-lily, although such leaves are the bearers of the egg-masses; (3) Only well advanced larvae occur on the floating leaves, but somewhat younger larvae are to be found on the submerged, green leaves which have not yet reached the surface; and (4) Pupae are absent on submerged leaves. It therefore became reasonably certain that a study of the bottom of the lily beds was necessary in order to understand the early larval development of this species. Forbes (1910, p. 225) had also reported that in his work on Nymphula gyralis Hulst the larvae, just hatched from the eggs, “all died without eating, though provided with leaves of Nymphaea and Limnanthemum (laid on the latter), but they gathered on the Nymphaea leaf in numbers. Possibly in the first stage they may feed on the submerged stems.” Apparently circumstances attending the early larval history of Nymphula gyralis resemble somewhat those of NymPhula maculalis , and it may be that results described herein will yield some clue as to their nature.
Vibrafuge: Re-Entry and Launch Test Simulation in a Combined Linear Acceleration and Vibration Environment

Sandia National Laboratories has developed a new technique for testing in a combined linear acceleration and vibration environment. Amplified piezo-electric actuator assemblies are used in combination with Sandia’s 29-ft centrifuge facility to surpass the load capabilities of previous attempts using traditional mechanical shaker systems. The piezoelectric actuators are lightweight, modular and overcome several limitations presented by a mechanical shaker. They are ‘scalable’, that is, adding more piezo-electric units in parallel or in series can support larger-weight test articles or wider range of displacement/frequency regimes. In addition, the units could be mounted on the centrifuge arm in various configurations to provide a variety of input directions. The design along with test results will be presented to demonstrate the capabilities of the new piezo-electric Vibrafuge.
Cancer Workup after Unprovoked Clot — Less Is More

Consider this not unfamiliar scenario: a 56-year-old educator presents with sudden onset of swelling and pain in the right thigh. She has no coexisting conditions except for well-controlled hypertension and has no family history of thrombophilia. She is admitted to the hospital after compression ultrasonography reveals the presence of a femoral-vein thrombosis. There are no provoking factors such as recent surgery or hospitalization. The phrase “possible cancer” is brought up on rounds, despite the patient’s recent normal results on colonoscopy and mammography. The patient is anxious about undiagnosed cancer and asks whether extensive imaging to rule out cancer is needed. . . .
The Marketing Position of Industrial Distributors

ISTRIBUTORS of machinery, equipment, and supplies were the target for some of the criticism directed, during World War II, at "superfluous middlemen in the channel of distribution, increasing the cost of marketing." The War Production Board delayed distributor priorities for several months following Pearl Harbor, supposedly influenced by the thinking then current in Washington that the old methods of distribution
Treatment of Solitary and Bilateral Renal Carcinomas

AbstractRecent experience with 7 patients, as well as a review of the literature, indicates that partial nephrectomy provides satisfactory treatment of solitary and bilateral renal adenocarcinomas. Patient survival seems to be dependent on the adequacy of tumor resection and not on the fate of the contralateral kidney. Total nephrectomy, dialysis and subsequent transplantation are viable alternatives when it is technically not possible to preserve adequate renal parenchyma.
Estimation of true phosphorus digestibility and endogenous phosphorus loss in growing pigs fed conventional and low-phytate soybean meals.

This study reevaluated the method of regressing of total P output against dietary P intake to simultaneously estimate true P digestibility and endogenous P loss in growing pigs fed either conventional or low-phytate soybean meal (SBM). Four isocaloric diets were formulated to contain increasing concentrations of each type of SBM (8 diets total), and therefore contained increasing concentrations of dietary P. Dietary P and Ca concentrations were deficient because they were supplied solely by SBM, and Ca:total P ratios were less than 1:1. Sixteen barrows (initial BW 17.7 +/- 1.8 kg) were surgically fitted with a simple T-cannula at the distal ileum, randomly assigned to metabolism crates, and fed the experimental diets in a replicated 8 x 8 Latin square design. Feed was provided at 90 g/kg of BW(0.75) and fed in 2 equally sized meals at 0800 and 2000, with diets containing Cr sesquioxide (3 g/kg) as an indigestible marker. As the P concentration increased from 0.9 to 3.9 g/kg of DM, the apparent prececal P digestibility increased for conventional SBM (P 0.10), but was greater (P < 0.01) for low-phytate SBM (62.6%) compared with conventional SBM (44.5%). Endogenous P estimates were not different between the SBM varieties and averaged 4.83 mg/(kg of BW(0.75).d). However, endogenous P estimates were highly variable between individual animals and, therefore, were not significantly different from zero. In this study, estimates of endogenous P loss from pigs were relatively low compared with previously reported values, and evidence of nonlinearity in P output was observed. These results suggest that the difference in true P digestibility between conventional SBM and low-phytate SBM is influenced by dietary phytate content when growing pigs are fed P-deficient diets.
Chapter 3 Fatty acid and phospholipid metabolism in prokaryotes

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the bacterial lipid metabolism, membrane systems of bacteria, bacterial fatty acid biosynthesis, fatty acyl chain transfer to the membrane, phospholipid biosynthesis, lipid A biosynthesis, phospholipid flippase, degradation of fatty acids and phospholipids, phospholipid turnover, regulation of lipid metabolism, and lipid metabolism in other bacteria. The pathway in most bacteria is catalyzed by a series of discrete proteins: the enzymes of fatty acid synthesis are cytosolic while those of membrane lipid synthesis are mainly integral inner membrane proteins. The differences between the bacterial and mammalian enzymes offer attractive targets for novel antimicrobial drugs, and this has been a driving force behind much of the recent research. Many of the details of the regulation of fatty acid biosynthesis are still to be worked out, including the probable discovery of new transcription factors and new effector molecules. A rapid evolution of techniques for studying the structure and function of membrane proteins will be applied to resolve outstanding issues in bacterial lipid biogenesis.
A motive for killing: effector functions of regulated lytic cell death

Immunological responses activated by pathogen recognition come in many guises. The proliferation, differentiation and recruitment of immune cells, and the production of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines are central to lifelong immunity. Cell death serves as a key function in the resolution of innate and adaptive immune responses. It also coordinates cell-intrinsic effector functions to restrict infection. Necrosis was formally considered a passive form of cell death or a consequence of pathogen virulence factor expression, and necrotic tissue is frequently associated with infection. However, there is now emerging evidence that points to a role for regulated forms of necrosis, such as pyroptosis and necroptosis, driving inflammation and shaping the immune response.
Abstract 2094: GSK-3 is a novel target of CREB and GSK-3-CREB signaling participates in cell survival in lung cancer

The transcription factor cyclic AMP-response element-binding protein (CREB) regulates diverse cellular processes, including cell differentiation, proliferation, survival, glucose metabolism, immune regulation, and synaptic plasticity associated with memory. Previously, we showed that CREB is critical on the regulation of mucous differentiation of normal human tracheobronchial epithelial (NHTBE) cells. In addition, the overexpression of CREB is associated with negative prognosis of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Further studies showed that the knockdown of CREB suppresses the growth of lung cancer cells. It has been demonstrated that genes regulated by CREB have been reported to be involved in the suppression of apoptosis, induce cell proliferation, inflammation and tumor metastasis. However, the critical target genes of CREB in lung cancer have not been well understood. In this study, we identified GSK-3 as one of the CREB target genes critical for the growth and survival of lung cancer cells. The CREB knockdown significantly reduced the expression of GSK-3 and the direct binding of CREB on the promoter of GSK-3 was identified. Kaplan-Meier analysis with a public database showed a prognostic significance of aberrant GSK-3 expression in lung cancer. Inhibition of GSK-3 suppressed cell proliferation, colony formation and tumor growth. Although GSK-3 has been studied as a tumor suppressor in certain types of cancer, there is increasing evidence that GSK-3 plays an oncogenic role in various human cancers. Here, for the first time, we demonstrated that GSK-3 is regulated by CREB in lung cancer and is required for the survival of lung cancer cells. These findings implicate CREB-GSK-3 axis as a novel therapeutic target for lung cancer treatment. Citation Format: Sin-Aye Park, Jong Woo Lee, Roy S. Herbst, Jaseok Peter Koo. GSK-3 is a novel target of CREB and GSK-3-CREB signaling participates in cell survival in lung cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 2094. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-2094
The Fine Structure of the Membranes which Cover the Egg of the Grasshopper, Melanoplus Differentialis, with Special Reference to the Hydropyle

Electron-microscope studies have shown that the epicuticle of the hydropyle consists of 2 layers. The inner is complexly folded and the outer consists of a meshwork of fine fibrils which fills the spaces between the folds. The endocuticle is laminated, penetrated by pore canals, and contains many wax-canal filaments. The filaments are especially abundant immediately before diapause. During diapause a dense, homogeneous layer is present at the outer surface of the hydropyle. It is absent before diapause and discontinuous or absent in eggs which are developing without diapause, or after diapause has been prevented or broken. The results confirm the conclusions, based on earlier studies, that the hydropyle is waterproofed by a waxy coating during diapause and that this material is absent or discontinuous in eggs which are developing. The vitelline membrane is an excessively thin, dense layer which lies below the chorion and lines the micropyles. It is less resistant at the posterior end of the egg than elsewhere. During development it is incorporated into the cuticle, which is secreted by the serosa. It is now believed that the ‘resistant endochorion’ described earlier for this species is identical with the vitelline membrane which Salt described in 1952 for the eggs of Melanoplus bivittatus.
Small Clinical Trials

Publisher Summary Clinical trials appear to be a very dull process. Although new basic research methodologies were emerging every month, the methods of clinical trials seemed to be centuries old. This chapter describes some opportunities and tools for improving clinical trial methods. It also describes several ideas useful in designing trials, including the difference between explanatory and pragmatic orientation in clinical trial design, approaches to study groups of patients with heterogeneous disease mechanisms, the importance of placebo responses, and the concept of “assay sensitivity” in clinical trials. The investigator who learns to increase the power of therapeutic trials to illuminate responses in mechanistically defined subsets of patients will not only improve clinical treatment, but also help ensure that human phenomena and concerns will steer the extraordinary engine of basic biomedical research.
Customization of treatment for patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) who achieve clinical complete response (cCR) after chemoradiation using initial standardized uptake value (iSUV) of 18f-fluorodeoxyglucose PET.

4069 Background: Patients with localized esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) receive preoperative chemoradiation followed by surgery (trimodality [TM] therapy) or definitive chemoradiotherapy (bimodali...
GeneComp, a New Reference-Based Compressor for SAM Files

The affordability of DNA sequencing has led to unprecedented volumes of genomic data. These data must be stored, processed, and analyzed. The most popular format for genomic data is the SAM format, which contains information such as alignment, quality values, etc. These files are large (on the order of terabytes), which necessitates compression. In this work we propose a new reference-based compressor for SAM files, which can accommodate different levels of compression, based on the specific needs of the user. In particular, the proposed compressor GeneComp allows the user to perform lossy compression of the quality scores, which have been proven to occupy more than half of the compressed file (when losslessly compressed). We show that the proposed compressor GeneComp overall achieves better compression ratios than previously proposed algorithms when working on lossless mode.
Policies to promote employment and preserve cultural heritage in the handicraft sector

AbstractFor many countries around the world, the handicraft sector has served as a means of maintaining and promoting cultural and artistic traditions. It has also been an important source of employment and income. However, the contributions of this sector to total employment and income are not well understood. In this paper, we present data on employment in the handicraft sector in a number of countries in the developing world. We find evidence that this sector employs over 10% of the labor force in many countries, and that further documentation of this employment is needed in order to design policies to maximize opportunities in this sector. We also identify policies that governments can undertake to preserve the cultural heritage embodied in handicrafts and to promote the export of these products. The importance of these policy recommendations is highlighted with the case of Peru, which has faced considerable import competition in the handicraft sector in recent years.
Parasitoids of the consperse stink bug (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) in north central Washington and attractiveness of a host-produced pheromone component.

The parasitoid complex of the consperse stink bug, Euschistus conspersus Uhler, was investigated in a series of field experiments conducted in native vegetation surrounding commercial apple orchards in the state of Washington. Rearing of parasitoids from adult E. conspersus confirmed the presence of two tachinid species, Gymnosoma filiola Loew and Gymnoclytia occidentalis Townsend. Three species of scelionids were reared from fresh egg masses placed on mullein plants (Verbascum thapsus L.) with Trissolcus utahensis (Ashmead) being the most common species. Though some parasitism was recorded in all study sites by both tachinids and scelionids, overall levels of parasitism were low (<10%). Predation comprised the major source of egg mortality in the field. Bucket traps baited with the male-produced aggregation pheromone component, methyl (2E,4Z)-decadienoate, captured significantly more G. occidentalis than unbaited controls, suggesting that it may use this compound as a host-finding kairomone. A test compa...
The mechanics of dynamic twinning in single crystal magnesium

Abstract In-situ ultra high speed optical imaging with 200 ns temporal resolution is used to gain insight into the evolution of twinning in single crystal magnesium under dynamic loading. Under compression along the a-axis, nucleation of twins is observed to occur on two conjugate { 10 1 ¯ 2 } twin planes. Twin nucleation appears to be stress-driven with the first twins nucleating at resolved stresses of 5–7 MPa. These first twins propagate across the specimen at very high speeds of the order 1 km/s. After the first twins stop growing, twin boundary growth is observed to be very small and relatively slow. The nucleation of additional twins from the boundaries of pre-existing twins is found to be preferred over twin boundary growth at these rates of loading. As a result, twin nucleation is found to have a dominant contribution to twin volume fraction evolution at later times. Lastly, twinning is found to have a dominant contribution to the net plastic strain at these strain rates.
The Interpretation of Phytolith Assemblages: Method and Theory

In paleoecology, the unit of analysis and interpretation and the basis for intra- and interregional comparisons of the phytolith record is the phytolith assemblage. This chapter discusses method and theory regarding the interpretation of phytolith assemblages. It is the tabulation and quantification in percentages, absolute numbers, or ratios of all morphological variants observed in a sample. A number of steps are involved in its construction, the first of which involves phytolith identification. After the phytolith morphologs in a sample are identified and quantified, data are usually presented in the form of a phytolith diagram, composed of the assemblage from each level or stratum plotted against their stratigraphical depth or age. The relationship between plants composing the existing vegetation and plants utilized by site residents on the one hand and plants represented by phytoliths recovered in sediments on the other is governed by variation between species in the following four factors: (1) the magnitude of phytolith production, (2) the taxonomic significance of phytoliths, (3) the mode of dispersal of phytoliths to the site under investigation, and (4) the resistance of phytoliths to destruction. The interactions of these factors and the way in which they relate to reconstructions of past plant usage, vegetation, and climate are extremely complex. The chapter discusses each of their possible impacts on interpretations of fossil phytolith sequences and highlights their final collective effects.
Convergent Journalism: An Introduction : Writing and Producing Across Media

Learn how to deliver news in any and all media. This one volume teaches you how to master all of the skills needed to be a converged journalist. Don't think only broadcast or print. Think online, air waves, magazines, PDAs, cell phones and electronic paper. Convergent Journalism an Introduction explains what makes a news story effective today and how to recognize the best medium for a particular story. That medium may be the web, broadcast, radio, or a newspaper or magazine - or, more likely, all of the above. This text will explain how a single story can fulfil its potential through any media channel. Convergent Journalism an Introduction shows you, the news writer, editor, reporter, and producer how to tailor a story to meet the needs of various media, so your local news story can be written in a form appropriate for the web, print, PDA screen and broadcast.
Spatially resolved abundances of antibiotic resistance genes and intI1 in wastewater treatment biofilms

Attached growth bioprocesses that use biofilms to remove organic matter or nutrients from wastewater are known to harbor antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Biofilms in these processes are spatially heterogeneous, but little is known about depth stratification of ARGs in complex, mixed culture biofilms. To address this knowledge gap, we used an experimental approach combining cryosectioning and quantitative polymerase chain reaction to quantify the spatial distribution of three ARGs (sul1, ermB, and qnrS) and the class 1 integron-integrase gene intI1 in biofilms from a lab-scale rotating annular reactor fed with synthetic wastewater. We also used high throughput 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequencing to characterize community structure with depth in biofilms. The ARG sul1 and the integron-integrase gene intI1 were found in higher abundances in upper layers of biofilm near the fluid-biofilm interface than in lower layers and exhibited significant correlations between the distance from substratum and gene abundances. The genes ermB and qnrS were present in comparatively low relative abundances. Microbial community structure varied significantly by date of sampling and distance from the substratum. These findings highlight the genetic and taxonomic heterogeneity with distance from substratum in wastewater treatment biofilms and show that sul1 and intI1 are particularly abundant near fluid-biofilm interfaces where cells are most likely to detach and flow into downstream portions of treatment systems and can ultimately be released into the environment through effluent.
Do Bumble Bees Produce Brood Pheromones

Reproductive division of labor, a defining feature of social insects, is often regulated by a combination of behavioral and chemical means. It is hypothesized that behavioral interactions play a more important role in regulating reproduction of primitive eusocial species, while pheromones are typically used by large sized, advanced eusocial species. Here we examined if worker reproduction in the primitively eusocial species Bombus impatiens is regulated by brood pheromones. We recently demonstrated that worker egg laying in this species is inhibited by young larvae and triggered by pupae. However, the mechanism by which the brood communicates its presence and whether brood or hunger pheromones are involved remain unknown. We found that workers were behaviorally attracted to pupae over larvae or control in a choice experiment, in line with their reproductive interests. However, odors from larvae or pupae were insufficient to inhibit worker reproduction. We further show that the youngest larvae are particularly vulnerable to starvation, however, despite a slight attraction and fewer eggs laid by workers in the presence of starved compared with fed larvae, these effects were insignificant. Our study demonstrates that workers can differentiate between larvae and pupae, but not between starved and fed larvae based on olfactory information. However, these signals alone do not explain the reduction in worker egg laying previously found. Bumble bee workers may use information from multiple sources or rely solely on behavioral interactions with brood and other females to make decisions about reproduction, in line with their small colony size and simple social organization.
The Question of Space: Interrogating the Spatial Turn between Disciplines

Marijin Nieuwenhuis and David Crouch, eds. Lanham, MD: Rowman and Littlefield, 2017. xxvii and 201 pp., index. $120.00 cloth (ISBN 978-1-7866-0194-0); $39.95 paper (ISBN 978-1-78660-195-7); $37.97 ...
Gastrointestinal symptoms in relation to quality of life after metabolic surgery in adolescents.

Abstract Background Adolescent obesity is associated with significant co-morbidities, including decreased quality of life (QOL). QOL improves after metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS), but recent studies have demonstrated that certain gastrointestinal symptoms (GIS) worsen after surgery, including reflux symptoms, nausea, bloating, and diarrhea. Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate QOL and the effect of these symptoms on QOL after bariatric surgery. Setting Five academic centers that perform adolescent MBS in the United States. Methods We prospectively studied 228 adolescents undergoing MBS using the Teen-Longitudinal Assessment of Bariatric Surgery cohort. GIS and QOL scores were assessed before surgery, at 6 months, and yearly to 5 years after surgery. Analysis involved linear models examining QOL and the association between GIS and QOL adjusting for a priori determined covariates. Results Adjusting for body mass index change over time, the physical component score (PCS) of the Short Form-36 (SF-36) increased after surgery from 44.2 at baseline to 54.4 at 5 years (P Conclusion QOL, specifically the SF-36 PCS, increases after MBS. Reflux symptoms, nausea, and diarrhea reduce the degree of improvement in QOL in adolescents after MBS. Patients should be monitored and treated for these symptoms to address this decreased QOL.
Spontaneous Spinal Epidural Hematoma: An Atypical Clinical Presentation and Discussion of Management

ABSTRACT Introduction: Spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma (SSEH) is a rare but potentially devastating condition if not appropriately identified and managed. A few case series exist regarding SSEH and certain risk factors have been described; however, much continues to be unknown regarding the pathophysiology and optimal management. Case Presentation: We present the case of SSEH in a healthy 33-year-old African American woman with no identifiable risk factors who initially presented with significant neurologic compromise. This case reports discusses pertinent clinical presentation, imaging findings, and surgical management. The patient demonstrated near-complete neurologic recovery, highlighting the need for prompt identification and intervention. Conclusions: We believe this case adds to the limited literature surrounding the topic, particularly in regard to diagnosis and surgical management. It is essential for clinicians to be cognizant of SSEH for timely diagnosis and treatment, even in patients without obvious risk factors.
Sulfate Optimization for CCIL Blended Systems

Limestone cements (IL) are becoming commonly available for structural applications. Calcined clays have great effect on performance enhancement of IL systems. Blending of those systems typically occurs in cement plants; however, for markets where blending occurs in concrete ready-mixed facilities, optimization of sulfate content is critical for the successful use of this new ternary blend. Optimum sulfate content for calcined-clay-limestone-cement systems was assessed using isothermal calorimetry, with hemihydrate as a sulfate source. The optimums are determined at 1, 2 and 3 days of hydration using both IL and ordinary portland cement (OPC) with two clay sources. Maximum heat of hydration was found to vary with age as well as the blended material sources. Less sulfate is required to optimize the limestone blended cement system. The replacement level of clay and the sulfate demand in the blended system are also examined. At the same replacement level, the optimum SO3/Al2O3 ratio is similar, irrespective of cement type or clay type.
An In-Situ Study of the UV Photochemistry of Adsorbed TiCl4, by FTIR Spectroscopy

There exists considerable interest in the use of UV radiation for the deposition of titanium and titanium oxide films for microelectronic and optoelectronic applications.1–3 UV-induced deposition from the precursor titanium tetrachloride (TiCl4) allows for the formation of films at room temperature. Patterning of films is possible by selective exposure of the substrate areas to a UV laser. In addition, TiCl4 in the presence of trimethylaluminum (TMA) and UV radiation has been shown to form a Ziegler-Natta type catalyst which promotes polymerization of hydrocarbons.4–5 insight into the interactions of TiCl4 as they relate to the more complex chemistry involved during the deposition of these catalysts would be of definite value.
Environmental Health Consults in Children Hospitalized with Respiratory Infections.

Indoor air pollutants contribute to respiratory infections and asthma exacerbations in children. Rural Alaska Native children experience some of the highest U.S. rates of respiratory hospitalizations, which are associated with lack of in-home running water, household crowding, and woodstove use. In our previous study, in-home education and modifications reduced respiratory symptoms, and medical visits. In this study, we evaluated the feasibility of providing in-hospital environmental health consults for parents/guardians of children < 5 years old hospitalized at the Alaska Native Medical Center with respiratory infections or asthma. Environmental health specialists conducted 92 in-hospital consults and mailed Healthy Homes Toolkits to households. Local housing authorities completed low-cost home modifications in 47 eligible households. Participants reported changes in household behaviors that were specifically addressed in the consult or included in the Toolkit (e.g. allergen-impermeable pillow covers). Reported respiratory symptoms were decreased at the 6-month follow-up. Over a 2 year period the median overall medical costs for respiratory illness in study children were $70,500. Children with in-home piped water had half the daily overall medical costs than children without in-home piped water ($74 compared to $144). In this study, we demonstrate that it is feasible to provide environmental consults, mail Toolkits, and arrange home modifications to the homes of children hospitalized with respiratory illness. These findings, along with the high costs of medical care for these children, suggest in-hospital environmental health consults are a cost-effective intervention.
Acute Diverticulitis: Identifying Patients Unlikely to Have Complications.

Can a clinical prediction rule accurately identify patients at low risk of complicated acute diverticulitis, defined as diverticulitis accompanied by abscess or peritonitis?