cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Establishing the Ground State of the Disjoint Diradical Tetramethyleneethane with Quantum Monte Carlo

The nature of the electronic ground state of the tetramethyleneethane (TME) diradical has proven to be a challenge for both experiment and theory. Through the use of quantum Monte Carlo (QMC) methods and multireference perturbation theory, we demonstrate that the lowest singlet state of TME is energetically lower than the lowest triplet state at all values of the torsional angle between the allyl subunits. Moreover, we find that the maximum in the potential energy curve for the singlet state occurs at a torsional angle near 45°, in contrast to previous calculations that placed the planar structure of the singlet state as the highest in energy. We also show that the CASPT2 method when used with a sufficiently large reference space and a sufficiently flexible basis set gives potential energy curves very close to those from the QMC calculations. Our calculations have converged the singlet–triplet gap of TME as a function of methodology and basis set. These results provide insight into the level of theory req...
Prospects for point-of-care pathogen diagnostics using surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) has enabled the detection of pathogens and disease markers at extremely low levels. This review examines the potential impact of SERS in addressing unmet needs in pathogen diagnostics both in a traditional clinical setting and in the point of care (POC) arena. It begins by describing the strengths and weaknesses of today's diagnostics technologies in order to set a contextual stage for an overview which highlights a few of the many recent developments using SERS in biodefense, human and animal health, and monitoring food and water safety. These sections are followed by discussions of the challenges for the translation of these developments to POC settings, including the performance attributes and metrics for quantification of analytical and clinical figures of merit (e.g., limit of detection and clinical accuracy), and the pathways for large-scale test validation and the build-out of instrumentation and tests kits for POC deployment.
Enhanced Ultraviolet Photon Capture in Ligand-Sensitized Nanocrystals

The small absorption cross sections (e < 10 M–1 cm–1) characteristic of Laporte-forbidden transitions in the f-elements have limited the practical implementation of lanthanide nanoparticles in solar capture devices. While various strategies designed to circumvent the problems of low f–f oscillator strengths have been investigated, comparatively little work has explored the utility of organic ligands with high absorption coefficients (e ≈ 103–105 M–1 cm–1) in sensitizing excited states in lanthanide nanocrystals. Here, we detail the photophysics of NaGd1–xEuxF4 nanoparticles featuring surface display of the ligand 3,4,3-LI(1,2-HOPO), an aromatic antenna functioning as the terminal light absorber in this system. The result is a ligand–nanocrystal hybrid that converts UV (250–360 nm) light into red Eu(III) luminescence with an external quantum yield of 3.3%. We analyze this sensitization process, responsible for a 104-fold increase in luminescence relative to metal-centered excitation, through a quantitative...
Measuring the Volume-Outcome Relation for Complex Hospital Surgery

Background Prominent studies continue to measure the hospital volume-outcome relation using simple logistic or random-effects models. These regression models may not appropriately account for unobserved differences across hospitals (such as differences in organizational effectiveness) which could be mistaken for a volume outcome relation.
Multilevel Response-to-Intervention Prevention Systems: Mathematics Intervention at Tier 2

In this chapter, the focus is on mathematics intervention at Tier 2 of multilevel response-to-intervention prevention systems. The authors begin by providing an overview of the principles involved in effective Tier 2 intervention and illustrating their application in a validated tutoring program for addressing students’ difficulty with word problems. Then, the authors discuss more recent innovations in Tier 2 intervention by focusing on early arithmetic skill at first grade and on conceptual understanding and procedural skill with fractions at fourth grade are discussed. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the limitations of Tier 2 intervention research in mathematics and identifies areas for future research.
Story·Life·Historical consciousness——Probe into Wang Anyi's life experience and historical consciousness from the novel of Chang Henge

The novel describes ups and downs of a woman in a meticulous and natural style and unfolds the trifling and common living scenes of the city she lives in.These compose two layers narrative of the novel:the surface layer narrative and the profound narrative.The views of the author about the conventional life permanent the whole narrative and shows the writer's special historical consciousness while she is feeling and comprehending the conventional life and daily life
Drug Resistance Assays for Mycobacterium tuberculosis

The introduction of antimicrobial therapy of tuberculosis during the second half of the last century was a turning point in the millennium-old history of this disease. However, the problem of drug resistance emerged, and with it, two levels of concern. First, such resistance not only poses a public health threat to successful control of TB epidemics, but it also complicates the approach to treatment of individual patients. In previous reviews we have addressed the history of research and evolution of views based on these studies
Design of PEF Processing Equipment

This chapter reviews the key elements for designing a pulsed electric field (PEF) system and describes the main components that are involved in the production of high-voltage pulses. It addresses the importance of high-voltage repetitive pulser, switches, treatment chamber(s), cooling system(s), voltage and current measuring devices, control units, data acquisition system, and packaging system. A pulsed power supply is used to obtain high voltage from low-utility level voltage, and the former is used to charge a capacitor bank and switch to discharge energy from the capacitor across the food in the treatment chamber. For larger scale operations, continuous chambers are more efficient as compared to static ones. This chapter describes the designs of various continuous chambers such as those with ion-conductive membranes separating the electrodes and food, those with baffles, continuous cofield flow PEF chambers, and the modified coaxial treatment chambers. The food temperature is maintained by circulating constant temperature water through the cooling jackets built into the electrodes. Electrical parameters such as voltage and current pulse waveforms applied during PEF treatments are recorded via a digital acquisition system. After PEF treatment, food is aseptically packaged using a range of materials and stored. The effectiveness of aseptic packaging has been demonstrated by the extended shelf-life of several PEF products.
Making Places for Vivekananda in Gwalior: Local Leadership, National Concerns, and Global Vision

Three institutions invoking the legacy of the turn-of-the-twentieth-century Hindu reformer Swami Vivekananda coexist in greater Gwalior, an urban area of over one million residents in Central India. All three have ties to broader India-wide organizations: Gwalior’s Ramakrishna Ashram to the Belur-based Ramakrishna Math, which was started by Vivekananda; the Vivekananda Kendra, a local branch of a national organization of the same name based in Kanyakumari; and the Vivekananda Needam, once the local branch of the Kendra but now embarked on an independent existence. All three centers have their own charismatic leaders.
Metabolic engineering: Biosensors get the green light.

A novel approach recruits the largest prokaryotic family of ligand-induced transcriptional regulators to develop a new class of biosensors in yeast based on transcriptional activation, vastly expanding the repertoire of biosensors that could function in eukaryotic hosts.
Nicotinamide nucleotide transhydrogenase activity impacts mitochondrial redox balance and the development of hypertension in mice

Oxidant stress contributes to the initiation and progression of hypertension (HTN) by enhancing endothelial dysfunction and/or causing perturbations in nitric oxide homeostasis. Differences in mitochondrial function may augment this process and provide insight into why age of onset and clinical outcomes differ among individuals from distinct ethnic groups. We have previously demonstrated that variation in normal mitochondrial function and oxidant production exists in endothelial cells from individuals of Caucasian and African-American ethnicity and that this variation contributes to endothelial dysfunction. To model these distinct mitochondrial redox phenotypes, we used C57Bl/6N (6N) and C57Bl/6J (6J) mice that also display unique mitochondrial functional properties due to the differential expression nicotinamide nucleotide transhydrogenase (NNT). We demonstrate that the absence of NNT in 6J cells led to distinct mitochondrial bioenergetic profiles and a pro-oxidative mitochondrial phenotype characterized by increased superoxide production and reduced glutathione peroxidase activity. Interestingly, we found that 6J animals have significantly higher systolic blood pressure compared to 6N animals, and this difference is exacerbated by angiotensin II treatment. The changes in pressure were accompanied by both mitochondrial and vascular dysfunction revealed by impaired respiratory control ratios and endothelial-dependent vessel dilation. All end points could be significantly ameliorated by treatment with the mitochondria-targeted superoxide dismutase mimetic MitoTEMPO demonstrating a critical role for the production of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species in the development of HTN in these animals. Taken together, these data indicate that the absence of NNT leads to variation in mitochondrial function and contributes to a unique mitochondrial redox phenotype that influences susceptibility to HTN by contributing to endothelial and vascular dysfunction.
Same program, distinctive development: Exploring the biliteracy trajectories of two dual language schools

ABSTRACTUsing a mixed methods comparative case study, the researcher explored the dual language contexts at each school before examining the second- through fifth-grade Spanish and English reading biliteracy trajectories. While both campuses’ students experienced positive trajectories toward biliteracy by the end of fifth grade, each campus was characterized by different rates of biliteracy development, correlations between Spanish and English reading levels, and percentage of students in the biliteracy zone at each grade. The split plot MANOVA revealed that only school of attendance and initial English oral language levels explained the variance in biliteracy trajectories for students at these campuses. Taken together, these results provide needed nuance on contemporary biliteracy theory, especially as it relates to differing emergent bilingual subgroups within dual language programs.
Fluorescent labeling of endocytic compartments.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the fluorescent labeling of endocytic compartments. Endocytosis is that cellular process in which plasma membrane invaginates to form a closed vesicle within the cytoplasm. Extracellular solutes and surface-bound molecules enclosed by endocytic vesicles may encounter a variety of fates, depending upon both the engulfed molecule and the engulfing cell. The usual target of endocytosed solutes is the lysosome, an acidic compartment of degradative hydrolysis, and the repository for many nondigestible and membrane-impermeant molecules. Lucifer Yellow CH is a low molecular weight, water soluble, and membrane-impermeant marker for fluid phase pinocytosis. Macromolecules labeled with rhodamine often adsorb to cell surfaces. The efficient internalization of many physiologically important macromolecules is mediated by receptors in the plasma membrane. The best method at present for labeling lysosomes is to incubate cells for a long period in culture medium containing a nondigestible fluorescent probe, followed by a1-to 2-hour chase in unlabeled medium. The long chase should deplete probe from compartments such as pinosomes and endosomes, leaving only lysosomes fluorescent.
Estrogen receptor quantitative measures and breast cancer survival.

While the estrogen receptor (ER) is the single most widely used biomarker to evaluate breast cancer outcomes, aspects of ER marker biology remain poorly understood. We sought to determine whether quantitative measures of ER, such as protein expression and intensity, were associated with survival, or with survival disparities experienced by Hispanic women. A case-cohort study included a 15% random sample of invasive breast cancer cases diagnosed from 1997 to 2009 in six New Mexico counties and all deaths due to breast cancer-related causes. Pathology reports and tissue microarrays served as sources of ER information. Analyses were restricted to women with ≥1% ER immunohistochemical staining. Hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for breast cancer death were estimated using Cox proportional hazards models. Included women represented 4336 ER+ breast cancer cases and 448 deaths. Median follow-up was 93 months. ER percent expression was not associated with breast cancer survival after adjustment for standard prognostic factors (p trend = 0.76). ER intensity remained a strong and independent risk factor for breast cancer survival in multivariate analyses: Women whose tumors expressed ER at intensity = 2 (HR 0.6; 95% CI 0.4–1.0) or 3 (HR 0.5; 95% CI 0.2–0.9) had a reduced risk of breast cancer mortality, compared to ER intensity = 1 (p trend = 0.02). Neither ER protein expression nor intensity influenced Hispanic survival disparities. Estrogen receptor percent positive staining is not independently related to breast cancer survival after adjustment for other survival-related factors. ER intensity, in contrast, demonstrates promise for prognostic utility.
Mönckeberg medial calcinosis of the infraorbital arteries: a first case report.

Monckeberg medial calcinosis describes calcifications affecting only the tunica media of medium-sized arteries. The entity is strongly associated with chronic kidney disease and diabetes mellitus. Radiographically, medial calcinosis presents as areas of linear calcifications in soft tissue; the linear calcifications are referred to as “tram tracks,” “pipe stem,” “rail tracking,” or “tram line” when the affected vessel is viewed longitudinally. In oral and maxillofacial radiology, it is generally an incidental finding of the facial artery. In this article, we review the literature of Monckeberg medial calcinosis and its clinical significance related to systemic diseases; we also present a case of Monckeberg medial calcinosis of the head and neck that affects the facial arteries, internal carotid arteries, and infraorbital arteries. We believe this is the first presentation in the literature of Monckeberg medial calcinosis visualized in the infraorbital arteries.
Blood-Brain Barrier Carrier-Mediated Transport and Brain Metabolism of Amino Acids

The transport of neutral amino acids through the brain capillary endothelial wall, which makes up the blood-brain barrier (BBB) in vivo, is an important control point for the overall regulation of cerebral metabolism, including protein synthesis and neurotransmitter production. The Michaelis-Menten kinetics of BBB amino acid transport have been investigated in vivo with the brain uptake index (BUI) technique, and in vitro with the isolated human brain capillary preparation. The only amino acid that is albumin-bound is tryptophan, and the majority of albumin-bound tryptophan in the plasma is available for transport through the BBB via an enhanced dissociation mechanism that operates at the surface of the brain capillary endothelium. The availability in brain of amino acids is predicted from the BBB Km values to be sharply influenced by supra-physiological concentrations of phenyalanine in the 200-500 microM range. Moreover, the measurement of cerebral protein synthesis with an internal carotid artery perfusion technique and HPLC-based measurements of aminoacyl-transfer RNA specific activities shows an inverse relationship between cerebral protein synthesis and plasma phenyalanine concentrations in the 200-500 microM range. These findings indicate the neurotoxicity of hyperphenylalninemia is not restricted to the phenylketonuria range of approximately 2000 microM, but is exerted in the supra-physiological range of 200-500 microM.
Infrastructure Issues in the Financial Services Industry: A Case for a Central Counterparty for Data Management

Collaboration and risk sharing through industry sponsored centralized facilities, i.e. clearing houses, central securities depositories, payment and netting systems, and central counterparties, has been used extensively in the financial services industry. However, it has only been applied to the variable value portion of transactions (principally quantities, transaction prices and monetary values). This paper proposes the same techniques be applied, separately and earlier in a financial transaction's life cycle, to the matching and settling of the non-valued (referential) data components of these transactions. These data components comprise upwards of 70% of a financial transaction's assembled parts. Faults in properly identifying this data, as well as mismatches that occur in separately sourced and assembled financial transactions that counterparties attempt to match prior to payment, are a large source of matching errors. The result is significant imbedded industry-wide operational costs, individual firm monetary loss and counterparty risk, and global systemic risk. The paper advises that a new facility, the Central Counterparty for Data Management (CCDM) be established to access and match multiple incoming sources of referential data at the pre-trade financial transaction assembly point, "clear" this data through best-of-breed computer analysis, and "settle" (distribute) industry accepted, CCDM assured data sets to participants, making it available to be attached to the variable value portion of the transaction at transaction assembly time. By doing so at the immediate front-end of a financial transaction's life cycle significant improvements can be made in lowering operational costs, reducing transaction failure rates, and reducing operational losses resulting from data failures in the post trade matching, clearing, settlement and reporting environment.
Strengthening Intergenerational/Intercultural Ties in Immigrant Families (SITIF): A Parenting Intervention to Bridge the Chinese American Intergenerational Acculturation Gap

Intergenerational and intercultural conflict is a significant stressor in immigrant families that occurs because of differential acculturation between migrant parents and their children. In spite of its negative mental health consequences, few empirically tested interventions address this problem. Strengthening Intergenerational/Intercultural Ties in Immigrant Families (SITIF) is a culturally sensitive, community-based intervention that aims to strengthen the intergenerational relationship. It promotes immigrant parents’ emotional awareness and empathy for their children’s experiences, cognitive knowledge and understanding of differences between their native and American cultures, and teaches behavioral parenting skills with the objective of enhancing intergenerational intimacy. SITIF was tested with a group of 16 middle class and 14 working class immigrant Chinese parents. Using objective and subjective assessment tools, the findings provide empirical support for SITIF’s effectiveness in enhancing parenting skills and strengthening the intergenerational relationship in immigrant Chinese American families.
Transurethral Ureteroscopy in Men Using Juvenile Cystoscopy Equipment

AbstractThe inadequacies of current procedures to yield exact diagnostic information on the last portion of the ureter in men and the urologists’ frequent frustration when manipulations are attempted in the lower ureter have prompted exploration of a direct endoscopic approach to diagnosis and treatment in the terminal ureter. In the last 3 years we have become accustomed to accomplishing ureteroscopy in women on a routine basis to discover and to treat with amazing ease ureteral tumors, calculi, obstructions and so forth.1 Ureteroscopy in men now has been practiced sufficiently to convince us that it also should join the urologists’ armamentarium of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Herein is described the equipment and the technique to endoscope the lower ureter.
Understanding the Party Brand: Experimental Evidence on the Role of Valence

The valence component of a party’s reputation, or brand, has been less scrutinized than other components of party-based theories of legislatures. This lack of scrutiny results from the difficulty of isolating the valence component from policy-related components and the difficulty of studying legislators’ motives. We overcome these challenges by conducting survey experiments on both voters and state legislators that show (1) that scholars have underestimated the impact of the party valence brand’s potential role in elections, (2) that legislative party leaders pressure members more on votes when the outcome affects the party valence brand, and (3) that the value of the party brand can sometimes directly affect legislators’ votes. Our results provide a rationale for why legislative leaders put so much effort into media spin battles and suggest that parties’ reputations affect legislative leaders’ ability to pass their agenda.
Effect of Prostaglandins upon Enzyme Release from Lysosomes and Experimental Arthritis

Cells engaged in the uptake of particles become the center of acute inflammatory reactions (Metchnikoff, 1905). This phenomenon has been attributed, in part, to the release from phagocytic cells of enzymes previously sequestered within lysosomes (Weissmann, 1967). Exposure of joints to lysosomal extracts results in inflammation and cartilage degradation (Weissmann et al, 1969). Therefore, inhibition of enzyme release from cells which participate in the inflammatory response may modify the inflammation and subsequent tissue injury.
Experiments and simulations on short chain fatty acid production in a colonic bacterial community

Abstract Understanding how production of specific metabolites by gut microbes is modulated by interactions with surrounding species and by environmental nutrient availability is an important open challenge in microbiome research. As part of this endeavor, this work explores interactions between F. prausnitzii, a major butyrate producer, and B. thetaiotaomicron, an acetate producer, under three different in vitro media conditions in monoculture and coculture. In silico Genome-scale dynamic flux balance analysis (dFBA) models of metabolism in the system using COMETS (Computation of Microbial Ecosystems in Time and Space) are also tested for explanatory, predictive and inferential power. Experimental findings indicate enhancement of butyrate production in coculture relative to F. prausnitzii monoculture but defy a simple model of monotonic increases in butyrate production as a function of acetate availability in the medium. Simulations recapitulate biomass production curves for monocultures and accurately predict the growth curve of coculture total biomass, using parameters learned from monocultures, suggesting that the model captures some aspects of how the two bacteria interact. However, a comparison of data and simulations for environmental acetate and butyrate changes suggest that the organisms adopt one of many possible metabolic strategies equivalent in terms of growth efficiency. Furthermore, the model seems not to capture subsequent shifts in metabolic activities observed experimentally under low-nutrient regimes. Some discrepancies can be explained by the multiplicity of possible fermentative states for F. prausnitzii. In general, these results provide valuable guidelines for design of future experiments aimed at better determining the mechanisms leading to enhanced butyrate in this ecosystem. Importance Studies associating butyrate levels with human colonic health have inspired research on therapeutic microbiota consortia that would optimize butyrate production if implanted in the human colon. Faecalibacterium prausnitzii is commonly observed in human fecal samples and produces butyrate as a product of fermentation. Previous studies indicate that Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, also commonly found in human fecal samples, may enhance butyrate production in F. prausnitzi when the two species are co-localized. This possibility is investigated here under different environmental conditions using experimental methods paired with computer simulations of the whole metabolism of bacterial cells. Initial findings indicate that interactions between these two species result in enhanced butyrate production. However, results also paint a nuanced picture, suggesting the existence of a multiplicity of equivalently efficient metabolic strategies and complex interactions between acetate and butyrate production in these species that appear highly dependent on specific environmental conditions.
Anatomy of the Ulnar Nerve and Cubital Tunnel

Compression neuropathy of the fascicles comprising the ulnar nerve can occur at several locations along its course from the central nervous system to the peripheral end organ. This chapter describes the anatomy of the ulnar nerve while focusing on potential sites of compression. Additionally, this description will detail the internal anatomy of the nerve as it relates to management of acute injury and/or reconstruction of function through nerve transfers.
Bimetallic metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) synthesized using the spray method for tunable CO2 adsorption

Abstract A microdroplet-based spray process was applied for the fast and facile synthesis of a range of bimetallic metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), including Cu-TMA(Fe), Cu-TMA(Co), Cu-TMA(Mg), Cu-TMA(Al), and Cu-TPA(Fe) (TMA: trimesic acid; TPA: terephthalic acid). By forming M-O (M: metal, O: oxygen) bonds with the ligands, the secondary metal sites were incorporated into the framework partially substituting the original Cu sites in the parent MOF (i.e., Cu-TMA), which induced changes in surface areas, pore structures, and gas sorption properties. In particular, the bimetallic MOFs exhibited slightly higher surface areas than the parent MOF, which was attributable to the expansion of the unit cells, specifically because of the elongated M-O bonds. Meanwhile, the pore volumes of the MOFs showed a positive correlation with the atomic radii of the metal sites, suggesting that the metal substitution is an effective method to adjust the pore structures of the MOFs. Additionally, diverse gas sorption performances were observed among the bimetallic MOFs and the parent MOF, which was mainly associated with the different electrostatic interaction between the gas molecules and the frameworks induced by the incorporation of various secondary metal sites. Specifically, metal sites with larger electronegativity have a higher impact on the properties of the adsorbed CO2, such as C O bond length and O C O bond angle, leading to more asymmetric geometry and polarization of the adsorbed CO2 molecules. As a result, the gas sorption capacity, selectivity, and isosteric heat of adsorption vary with various secondary metal sites inside the framework. The results from this work offer an alternative method for the rapid synthesis of bimetallic MOFs and add new aspects to the fundamental understanding of gas sorption using bimetallic MOFs.
Perceptions of digital storytelling in the classroom

Abstract Digital storytelling is used as an educational tool that enhances learning in many disciplines, although little is known about how prelicensure nursing students perceive the use of digital stories in the classroom. Digital stories were featured in the class sessions followed by a group care planning activity with objectives based on The Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN) Initiative Patient-Centered Care Competency. Focus group discussions and classroom evaluations by prelicensure students indicated positive results.
Antimicrobial Resistance Traits of Escherichia coli Isolated from Dairy Manure and Freshwater Ecosystems Are Similar to One Another but Differ from Associated Clinical Isolates.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a prevalent global health problem across human and veterinary medicine. The One Health approach to AMR is necessary to mitigate transmission between sources of resistance and decrease the spread of resistant bacteria among humans, animals, and the environment. Our primary goal was to identify associations in resistance traits between Escherichia coli isolated from clinical (n = 103), dairy manure (n = 65), and freshwater ecosystem (n = 64) environments within the same geographic location and timeframe. Clinical E. coli isolates showed the most phenotypic resistance (47.5%), followed by environmental isolates (15.6%) and manure isolates (7.7%), with the most common resistances to ampicillin, ampicillin-sulbactam, and cefotaxime antibiotics. An isolate subset was screened for extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) production resulting in the identification of 35 ESBL producers. The most common ESBL gene identified was blaTEM-1. Additionally, we found nine different plasmid replicon types including IncFIA-FIB, which were frequently associated with ESBL producer isolates. Molecular phylotyping revealed a significant portion of clinical E. coli were associated with phylotype B2, whereas manure and environmental isolates were more diverse. Manure and environmental isolates were significantly different from clinical isolates based on analyzed traits, suggesting more transmission occurs between these two sources in the sampled environment.
Value of detection of Heinz bodies and C6PD in screening of thalassemia

Objective To assess the value of combined detection of Heinz bodies and G6PD in screening of thalassemia. Methods Detection of Heinz bodies and G6PD were performed in addition to hemoglobin(Hb)electrophoresis and tests for mean corpuscular volume(MCV)and red cell osmotic fragility(RCOF). Results The accuracy of detecting α - thalassemia differed significantly between the combined test of Hb electrophoresis, MCV, and RCOF and the combined method of Hb electrophoresis, MCV, RCOF, Heinz bodies, and G6PD(90.5% vs. 96.8%). Conclusions Of Hb electrophoresis combined with tests for MCV, RCOF, Heinz bodies, and G6PD is a better method in screening of thalassemia. Key words: Heinz bodies; G6PD; Hemoglobin electrophoresis; Thalassemia
Decitabine induction with myeloablative conditioning and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in high-risk patients with myeloid malignancies is associated with a high rate of infectious complications

Patients with high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome or acute myeloid leukemia have an increased risk of death following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). Decitabine has minimal non-hematologic toxicity and proven efficacy in myeloid diseases, and post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy) has reduced rates of graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD). We hypothesized that decitabine induction with allo-HSCT and PTCy would improve outcomes in a high-risk myeloid disease population. We performed a phase-II trial of decitabine at 20 mg/m2 for 10 days followed by allo-HSCT using a myeloablative regimen of fludarabine, IV busulfan and 4 Gy total body irradiation with PTCy for GVHD prophylaxis. Twenty patients underwent decitabine induction and 17 patients proceeded to transplant per protocol. Median overall survival from decitabine induction was 210 days (95 % CI 122-not reached). All patients developed grade 4 neutropenia after decitabine, eleven patients (55 %) developed grade 3-4 infections, and 5 cases were fatal. There were 5/20 (25 %) long-term survivors with a median follow-up of 3.6 years. Decitabine induction followed by myeloablative allo-HSCT in a high-risk population was associated with a high risk of infection and mortality related to enhanced immunosuppression. Further exploration of decitabine conditioning on reduced intensity platforms and improved infectious prophylaxis and screening may better mitigate toxicity (ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT01707004)).
Using Network Analysis and Machine Learning to Identify Virus Spread Trends in COVID-19

Abstract The outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has infected and killed millions of people globally, resulting in a pandemic with enormous global impact. This disease affects the respiratory system, and the viral agent that causes it, SARS-CoV-2, spreads through droplets of saliva, as well as through coughing and sneezing. As an extremely transmissible viral infection, COVID-19 is causing significant damage to the economies of both developed and lower- and middle-income countries because of its direct impact on the health of citizens and the containment measures taken to curtail the virus. Methods to reduce or control the spread of the virus and protect the global population are needed to avoid further deaths, long-term health issues, and prolonged economic impact. The most effective approach to reduce viral spread and avoid a substantial collapse of the health system, in the absence of vaccines, is nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPI) such as enforcing social containment restrictions, monitoring overall population mobility, implementing widespread viral testing, and increasing hygiene measures. Our approach consists of combining network analytics with machine learning models by using a combination of anonymized health and telecommunications data to better understand the correlation between population movements and virus spread. This approach, called location network analysis (LNA), allows for accurate prediction of possible new outbreaks. It gives governments and health authorities a crucial tool that can help define more accurate public health metrics and can be used either to intensify social containment policies to avoid further spread or to ease them to reopen the economy. LNA can also help to retrospectively evaluate the effectiveness of policy responses to COVID-19.
WOLD DECOMPOSITION OF THE HARDY SPACE AND BLASCHKE PRODUCTS SIMILAR TO A CONTRACTION

The classical Wold decomposition theorem applied to the multiplication byaninnerfunctionleadstoaspecialdecompositionoftheHardyspace. Inthispaperwe obtainnormestimatesforcomponentwiseprojectionsassociatedwiththisdecomposition. Anapplication tooperators similar to a contraction is given.
Biochemistry of methanol poisoning—III: The enzymic pathway for the conversion of methanol to formaldehyde

Abstract An enzyme system capable of oxidizing both methanol and ethanol in the presence of DPN was purified almost ninety-fold from the liver of the rhesus monkey. Data for the k m values for the two alcohols and DPN and for the K i values in the presence of some inhibitors are presented. The enzyme appears to be identical to liver alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH). Ethanol competitively inhibited the oxidation of methanol by this enzyme. The purified enzyme had appreciable activity when, in place of DPN, TPN was used as the hydrogen-acceptor. Contrary to the observations of earlier authors, crystalline ADH, purified from horse liver, had an appreciable activity with methanol as substrate. The data on the elimination of methanol in the blood of monkeys administered methanol by stomach tube agrees with the rates of its oxidation, as observed in vitro . It is concluded that the dehydrogenase mechanism, and not the catalase-peroxide system, is responsible for the physiological oxidation of methanol.
Recognition of secretory proteins in Escherichia coli requires signals in addition to the signal sequence and slow folding.

Background The Sec-dependent protein export apparatus of Escherichia coli is very efficient at correctly identifying proteins to be exported from the cytoplasm. Even bacterial strains that carry prl mutations, which allow export of signal sequence-defective precursors, accurately differentiate between cytoplasmic and mutant secretory proteins. It was proposed previously that the basis for this precise discrimination is the slow folding rate of secretory proteins, resulting in binding by the secretory chaperone, SecB, and subsequent targeting to translocase. Based on this proposal, we hypothesized that a cytoplasmic protein containing a mutation that slows its rate of folding would be recognized by SecB and therefore targeted to the Sec pathway. In a Prl suppressor strain the mutant protein would be exported to the periplasm due to loss of ability to reject non-secretory proteins from the pathway.
Analysis of nucleotide pools in animal cells.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the analysis of nucleotide pools in animal cells. Nucleotides act as carriers and reservoirs of chemical energy, they participate as cofactors, activators, inhibitors, and substrates in myriad enzymatic reactions, and they are the precursors for polymerization of nucleic acids. Most of these processes exhibit some type of dependence of rate on the concentration of participating nucleotides, and in some cases the rate may even be controlled by nucleotide concentration. To establish the existence of such control in vivo , it is necessary to measure intracellular nucleotide concentrations, or pools. The chapter presents a model for nucleotide pools. There are four basic pathways by which components may enter or leave the pool—hence the name “four-factor model”, viz., two processes (anabolism and salvage) supply the pool, and two others (catabolism and utilization) drain it. These processes would apply to the thymine nucleotide pool. The turnover rate of a pool is proportional to the fraction of the pool per unit time which is drained by catabolism and utilization. Conditions which change the draining reactions will affect the turnover rate.
Model-Driven performance analysis of UML design models based on stochastic process algebra

The popular model-driven development (MDD) methodology strongly promotes a model-based approach to modular system development, which often implies as an integral part automatic transformation of UML design components into executable forms. When using MDD for verifying performance-related system specifications, UML designs annotated with these specifications in some profile language need to be transformed to stochastic (Markovian) models or timed simulation models. However, most of the previous efforts have focused on transformations of (variants of) UML state machine models and/or transformations to stochastic Petri net models, which lead to two problems: Relying (solely) on state machine models often restricts design flexibility (designers instead prefer choosing diagrams on a case-by-case basis), and graph-oriented Petri net models complicate the modular transformations of UML models. To resolve these problems, we propose stochastic performance analysis of a UML design defined in different sorts of diagrams, including not only state machines but also activity diagrams with temporal annotation in UML-SPT, which are transformed into stochastic process algebraic forms. To our knowledge, this is the first attempt to define stochastic process algebraic semantics for the UML AD with UML-SPT annotations. Unlike the related efforts, ours will facilitate verification in early development stages, in which consultants and architects can benefit from modeling in a natural manner and modular component-based development, thanks to the inherent compositionality of process algebra. Further, to guarantee the validity of the transformation, we have proved the equivalence of our semantics with the stochastic Petri net semantics of UML AD. We have developed a prototype implementation of this performance analysis mechanism, and shown that realistic design examples, defined in different sorts of UML diagrams, can successfully be transformed into those that provide various performance metrics.
Parenteral Nutrition in Cystic Fibrosis

Patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) often present with malnutrition and pulmonary dysfunction. Pancreatic insufficiency with critical impairment of digestive function can be demonstrated in varying degrees, together with excess energy consumption due to the increased work of breathing and inadequate oral intake. Although pulmonary function has the greatest prognostic significance, Kraemer et al.1
Cytologic features of the normal pineal gland on squash preparations

As primary pineal lesions are extremely rare, many surgical pathologists are unfamiliar with normal pineal cytologic features. We describe cytologic features of the normal pineal gland in patients of varying ages and identify common diagnostic pitfalls. We performed a retrospective review of pineal gland biopsies performed at our institution, where approximately 30,000 surgical specimens are accessioned yearly, for the last 23 years. Only two pineal gland biopsies were found. Although both cases were initially diagnosed as low-grade gliomas on frozen section, the final diagnosis was benign pineal tissue based on light microscopy and immunohistochemistry results. Additionally, we performed squash preparations of five normal pineal gland autopsy specimens with Papanicolaou and Diff-Quik® (Dade Behring, Newark, DE) stains. Infant preparations were highly cellular smears composed of numerous, uniform, single cells with indistinct cytoplasm, small round-to-oval nuclei, fine chromatin, and absent nucleoli and calcifications. The vague microfollicular pattern mimicked a pineocytoma and the fine fibrillary background mimicked a glial neoplasm. Young adult smears were similar; however, microcalcifications were present with fewer background single cells. Older patients had much less cellular smears composed of small clusters of cells with fusiform-to-spindle nuclei, a fine chromatin pattern, and indistinct cytoplasmic borders. There were fewer background single cells and more microcalcifications. The cytologic features of the native pineal gland vary with age. Normal pineal tissue can be confused with a pineocytoma or low-grade glioma. Familiarity with normal pineal gland cytological features will help to avoid a potential misdiagnosis.
Framework of an Expert System for Dust Explosion Risk Management Based on ASP.Net and Prolog

Dust explosions always claim lives and cause huge financial loses. Dust explosion risk can be prevented by inherently safer design or mitigated by engineering protective system. Design of explosion prevention and protection need comprehensive knowledge and data on the process, workshop, equipment, and particulate combustible materials. The knowledge includes standards, expertise of experts, and practical experience. The databases include accidents, dust explosion characteristics, inherently safer design methods, and protective design methods. Integration of such a comprehensive knowledge system is very helpful. The developed system has the following functions: risk assessment, accident analysis, recommendation of prevention and protection solution, and computer aided design of explosion protection. The expert system is based on Browser/Server architecture. The software was developed using mixed programming of ASP.Net and Prolog. The developed expert system can be an assistant to explosion design engineers and safety engineers of combustible dust handling plant.
Radiation damage studies of amorphous-silicon photodiode sensors for applications in radiotherapy X-ray imaging

Abstract The high radiation tolerance of hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) is one reason it has become a candidate for high-energy physics applications and for radiotherapy and diagnostic imaging. The performance of 1 μm and 5 μm a-Si:H n-i-p photodiode sensors used in conjunction with Lanex (Gd 2 O 2 S:Tb) intensifying screens has been measured as a function of high-energy photon dose. Over the course of irradiation with a 60 Co source to a total dose of ∼10 4 Gy the output signal due to the sensor-screen combinations experienced maximum variations of −1.3% and +2.7% for the 1 μm and 5 μm sensors, respectively. Transient effects associated with the sensors and screens are also reported.
Supply Chain Management: Implementation Issues and Research Opportunities

In 1998, the Council of Logistics Management modified its definition of logistics to indicate that logistics is a subset of supply chain management and that the two terms are not synonymous. Now that this difference has been recognized by the premier logistics professional organization, the challenge is to determine how to successfully implement supply chain management. This paper concentrates on operationalizing the supply chain management framework suggested in a 1997 article. Case studies conducted at several companies and involving multiple members of supply chains are used to illustrate the concepts described.
The use of serologic assaysin avian medicine

Serologic assays exist for viral, bacterial, and fungalinfections of cage and aviary birds. This report begins with a review of the mechanics of the most commonly used serologic assays. The remainder describes the serologic assays that are currently available for infectious diseases of cage and aviary birds. The strengths, limitations, and interpretation of these assays are discussed.
Cardiovascular symptoms in coronary-artery disease patients are strongly correlated with emotional distress.

Background The relationship of cardiovascular events and cardiovascular symptoms is unclear, and physical symptoms, including most cardiovascular symptoms, are known to be influenced by emotional distress. Objective Authors examined the relative strength of association of multiple measures of emotional distress and accepted cardiac risk factors with five common cardiac symptoms (chest pain, fatigue, palpitations, presyncope, and dyspnea). Method The authors tested the association of multiple cardiovascular symptoms with various measures of emotional distress (i.e., the scales of the Symptom Checklist-90–Revised) and the putative risk factors for disease status in 109 patients with documented coronary artery disease. Results Measures of emotional distress were stronger correlates of patient-rated distress due to the symptoms than were traditional risk factors. Conclusion Treatment of emotional distress may be a viable strategy for symptom-control in cardiovascular disease.
Routledge Companion to Museum Ethics

Routledge companion to museum ethics: redefining ethics for the twenty-first century museum, edited by Janet Marstine, New York, Routledge, 2011, 498 pp., US$46.95, ISBN-10: 0415566126, ISBN-13: 97...
Fresh and Hardened Properties of Concrete Incorporating Recycled Glass as 100% Sand Replacement

AbstractThis paper investigates the use of glass cullet as a 100% sand replacement in Portland cement concrete (glasscrete) systems. Specifically, this paper evaluates the fresh and hardened properties of these systems in comparison with conventional natural sand concretes on the basis of similar 28-day design compressive strength, or the same w/cm. The results show that glasscrete mixtures need a lower w/cm to match the 28-day compressive strength of conventional concrete. In addition, glasscrete mixtures have greater elastic modulus, less drying shrinkage, less water sorptivity, and greater resistance against chloride ion penetration. Empirical curves are developed to provide material engineers and suppliers with necessary design specifications on the proper w/cm to implement when proportioning glasscrete mixtures. This study concludes that glasscrete mixtures are producible with adequate consistency and mechanical and durability performance, as long as the alkali-silicate reaction is properly controlle...