cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Antimicrobial resistance-conferring plasmids with similarity to virulence plasmids from avian pathogenic Escherichia coli strains in Salmonella enterica serovar Kentucky isolates from poultry.

ABSTRACT Salmonella enterica, a leading cause of food-borne gastroenteritis worldwide, may be found in any raw food of animal, vegetable, or fruit origin. Salmonella serovars differ in distribution, virulence, and host specificity. Salmonella enterica serovar Kentucky, though often found in the food supply, is less commonly isolated from ill humans. The multidrug-resistant isolate S. Kentucky CVM29188, isolated from a chicken breast sample in 2003, contains three plasmids (146,811 bp, 101,461 bp, and 46,121 bp), two of which carry resistance determinants (pCVM29188_146 [strAB and tetRA] and pCVM29188_101 [blaCMY-2 and sugE]). Both resistance plasmids were transferable by conjugation, alone or in combination, to S. Kentucky, Salmonella enterica serovar Newport, and Escherichia coli recipients. pCVM29188_146 shares a highly conserved plasmid backbone of 106 kb (>90% nucleotide identity) with two virulence plasmids from avian pathogenic Escherichia coli strains (pAPEC-O1-ColBM and pAPEC-O2-ColV). Shared avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC) virulence factors include iutA iucABCD, sitABCD, etsABC, iss, and iroBCDEN. PCR analyses of recent (1997 to 2005) S. Kentucky isolates from food animal, retail meat, and human sources revealed that 172 (60%) contained similar APEC-like plasmid backbones. Notably, though rare in human- and cattle-derived isolates, this plasmid backbone was found at a high frequency (50 to 100%) among S. Kentucky isolates from chickens within the same time span. Ninety-four percent of the APEC-positive isolates showed resistance to tetracycline and streptomycin. Together, our findings of a resistance-conferring APEC virulence plasmid in a poultry-derived S. Kentucky isolate and of similar resistance/virulence plasmids in most recent S. Kentucky isolates from chickens and, to lesser degree, from humans and cattle highlight the need for additional research in order to examine the prevalence and spread of combined virulence and resistance plasmids in bacteria in agricultural, environmental, and clinical settings.
The effect of (−)-Δ9-trans-tetrahydrocannabinol on myocardial contractility and venous return in anesthetized dogs

Abstract Administration of (−)-Δ 9 -trans-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ 9 -THC, 2.5 mg/kg i.v.) to pentobarbital-anesthetized dogs in which heart rate was maintained constant by electrical pacing, decreased aortic blood pressure, cardiac output, left ventricular peak pressure and left ventricular end diastolic pressure and dP/dt. However, the contractility index (max. dP/dt)/I.P. was not altered by the compound. Furthermore, it was shown that the decrease in cardiac output due to Δ 9 -THC could be restored to original levels by an infusion of saline-dextran in quantities sufficient to elevate the left ventricular end diastolic pressure to pre-Δ 9 -THC level. In dogs in which cardiac output was maintained constant by a right heart bypass procedure Δ 9 -THC decreased blood pressure and total peripheral resistance and augmented intravascular blood volume. This increase in intravascular blood volume was significantly less (74%) in animals in which the splanchnic (superior, inferior and celiac) arteries were ligated prior to the administration of Δ 9 -THC. On the other hand, in spinal dogs Δ 9 -THC was devoid of any measurable cardiovascular effects. These observations clearly support the hypothesis that the diminution of cardiac output induced by Δ 9 -THC in animals with constant cardiac rate is primarily due to diminished venous return to the heart and not to an impaired ability of the myocardium.
Expression of Von Willebrand factor, an endothelial cell marker, is up-regulated by angiogenesis factors: a potential method for objective assessment of tumor angiogenesis.

von Willebrand factor (vWF), a glycoprotein produced uniquely by endothelial cells and megakaryocytes, is routinely used to identify vessels in tissue sections. Vessel density in tumor specimens, as determined by immuno-histochemical staining for vWF or other endothelial cell markers, is a negative prognostic factor for many solid tumors. vWF is heterogeneously distributed throughout the vasculature, transcriptional control in response to the tissue microenvironment being responsible for local variations in endothelial cell levels of vWF. Here, we report that fibroblast growth factor-2 and vascular endothelial growth factor, potent angiogenesis inducers expressed in a variety of tumors, up-regulate expression of vWF mRNA and protein in cultured endothelial cells with a synergistic effect. Our data support the measurement of vWF mRNA in tumors to detect activated endothelium or angiogenesis. For this purpose, we developed a semi-quantitative RT-PCR for vWF mRNA. Preliminary results obtained with specimens from colon carcinoma and the corresponding normal colonic mucosa showed higher vWF mRNA levels in most tumors than in their normal counterparts. The differences in vWF mRNA levels were much larger than the differences in vessel counts between a tumor and the corresponding normal mucosa, indicating that high vWF mRNA levels in tumors may indeed be an early sign of activation of the endothelium. The rapidity, objectivity, sensitivity and specificity of this technique make it suitable for routine clinical application to identify aggressive, highly angiogenic tumors.
Excretion of Radioactivity by Human Subjects after Ingestion of Liver from Cattle Treated with Labeled Polydiethylstilbestrol Phosphate

SummaryPolydiethylstilbestrol phosphate (PSP), an effective growth promoting agent in beef cattle, tends to accumulate in the animal's liver as indicated by studies in which radioactive PSP was used. Upon ingestion of such liver (cooked) by human beings, 93–101% of the radioactivity was found in the feces. No radioactivity could be detected in either blood or urine. It is concluded that neither PSP nor its metabolites ingested under such circumstances are absorbed in detectable amounts during passage through the human intestinal tract.
Low Cost Secure Computation for the General Client-Server Computation Model

Due to the large number of attacks on open networks, information theft becomes a more and more severe problem. Secure computation can offer highly assured confidentiality protection to critical information and data against external and insider attacks. However, existing secure computation methods are not widely used in practice due to their excessive performance overheads and limited applicability. In this paper, we consider secure computation under a general client-server model which fits the computation of most modern application systems. A novel secure computation protocol has been developed to support highly efficient arithmetic operations. Since the algorithms are based on matrix computations, they are highly efficient. Due to its efficiency and applicability, our secure computation approach can benefit many application systems, including medical databases, secure financial systems, defense information systems, E-commerce systems, agent-based computing, etc.
Democracy and Victory: Why Regime Type Hardly Matters

are more or less likely to win wars has long been a contentious issue. The Greek general Thucydides’ chronicle of the defeat of democratic Athens in its twenty-four-year struggle with authoritarian Sparta in The Peloponnesian War, particularly his account of the Sicilian debacle, remains the classic indictment of the inability of democracies to prepare for and ght wars.1 Indeed, for most of Western history, pessimism dominated thinking about democracy and war. “Democratic defeatists,” from the French aristocrat Alexis de Tocqueville to mid-twentieth-century realists such as E.H. Carr, George Kennan, and Walter Lippmann, believed that democracy was a decided liability in preparing for and ghting wars. Particularly during the Cold War, the pessimistic perspective on the ghting power of democracies was dominant.2 Even leaders of the free world, such as John F. Kennedy, believed that when democracy “competes with a system of government . . . built primarily for war, it is at a disadvantage.” Despite the end of the Cold War, a few Cassandras remain concerned that democracies are unprepared to meet the next major military threat from authoritarian states such as China or international terrorist organizations such as al-Qaeda.4 Democracy and Victory
The NARTE EMC credentials certification examination

The development and current status of questions for the NARTE EMC (electromagnetic compatibility) credentials Certification Exam are reviewed. The current question classification scheme which the author developed and how it has been used to prepare NARTE EMC exam No. 2 (summer and fall 1991) are discussed. The current status and future plans for EMC exam questions submitted by NARTE EMC engineers and technicians certified via the grandfather clause are also discussed. >
Feasibility of Using Full Synthetic Low Viscosity Engine Oil at High Ambient Temperatures in Military Vehicles

Abstract : Advancements in lubricant technology over the last two decades, in particular, the availability of high quality synthetic base oils, has set the stage for the development of a new fuel efficient, multifunctional powertrain lubricant with extended drain capabilities. Given its large fleet size, diversity of equipment, and range of environments in which it must operate, the U.S. Army is perhaps uniquely positioned to benefit from these advancements. This report summarizes the initial work that the U.S. Armys Fuel and Lubricants Technology Team has been doing to establish the technical feasibility of developing a new multifunctional, fuel efficient powertrain lubricant for the Armys fleet of combat and tactical vehicles and equipment referred to as the Single Common Powertrain Lubricant (SCPL) project. The feasibility of using a low viscosity diesel engine oil in Army engines was determined. At desert like operating conditions, a prototype SCPL provided similar overall performance as an SAE15W.40 oil in 3 Army engines.
QUANTITATIVE THREE-DIMENSIONAL IMAGING AND THE STRUCTURE OF PASSIVE SCALAR FIELDS IN FULLY TURBULENT FLOWS

The three-dimensional turbulent field of a passive scalar has been mapped quantitatively by obtaining, effectively instantaneously, several closely spaced parallel two-dimensional images; the two-dimensional images themselves have been obtained by laser-induced fluorescence. Turbulent jets and wakes at moderate Reynolds numbers are used as examples. The working fluid is water. The spatial resolution of the measurements is about four Kolmogorov scales. The first contribution of this work concerns the three-dimensional nature of the boundary of the scalar-marked regions (the ‘scalar interface’). It is concluded that interface regions detached from the main body are exceptional occurrences (if at all), and that in spite of the large structure, the randomness associated with small-scale convolutions of the interface are strong enough that any two intersections of it by parallel planes are essentially uncorrelated even if the separation distances are no more than a few Kolmogorov scales. The fractal dimension of the interface is determined directly by box-counting in three dimensions, and the value of 2.35 ± 0.04 is shown to be in good agreement with that previously inferred from two-dimensional sections. This justifies the use of the method of intersections. The second contribution involves the joint statistics of the scalar field and the quantity χ* (or its components), χ* being the appropriate approximation to the scalar ‘dissipation’ field in the inertial–convective range of scales. The third aspect relates to the multifractal scaling properties of the spatial intermittency of χ*; since all three components of χ* have been obtained effectively simultaneously, inferences concerning the scaling properties of the individual components and their sum have been possible. The usefulness of the multifractal approach for describing highly intermittent distributions of χ* and its components is explored by measuring the so-called singularity spectrum (or the f(α)-curve) which quantifies the spatial distribution of various strengths of χ*. Also obtained is a time sequence of two-dimensional images with the temporal resolution on the order of a few Batchelor timescales; this enables us to infer features of temporal intermittency in turbulent flows, and qualitatively the propagation speeds of the scalar interface. Finally, a few issues relating to the resolution effects have been addressed briefly by making point measurements with the spatial and temporal resolutions comparable with the Batchelor lengthscale and the corresponding timescale.
On the Depletion of the Outer Asteroid Belt

In the last few years, reasonable success has been achieved in explaining the gaps in semimajor axis distribution of the asteroids. Wisdom (1982, 1983) introduced a mapping technique to study the behavior of bodies at the 3:1 mean motion resonance, which others modified and applied to other gaps (Murray, 1986). They and other researchers (Henrard et al, 1987, 1989; Lemaitre and Henrard, 1987) have also reached the conclusion that the formation of the gaps can be explained by removal of chaotic objects.
The use and performance of LT codes for multicast with relaying

Rateless codes are ideal for wireless communication to mobile nodes because such codes are well suited to time-varying channels. In this paper we examine the use of Luby Transform (LT) codes in a broadcast system. The goal of such a system is to deliver messages reliably from a single source node to multiple mobile destination nodes. In some instances, however, the source-destination links have high latency, which limits the efficacy of feedback from destination nodes to the source. Three approaches using LT codes to limit feedback are considered. We find that by using a combination of systematic LT and ‘shifted’ LT codes, we are able to offload a significant amount of data transmission from the source-destination links to the destination-destination links, improving reliability while utilizing less bandwidth.
Extending Iterative Protein Redesign and Optimization (IPRO) in Protein Library Design for Ligand Specificity

In this article we extend the Iterative Protein Redesign and Optimization (IPRO) framework for the design of protein libraries with targeted ligand specificity. Mutations that minimize the binding energy with the desired ligand are identified. At the same time explicit constraints are introduced that maintain the binding energy for all decoy ligands above a threshold necessary for successful binding. The proposed framework is demonstrated by computationally altering the effector binding specificity of the bacterial transcriptional regulatory protein AraC, belonging to the AraC/XylS family of transcriptional regulators for different unnatural ligands. The obtained results demonstrate the importance of systematically suppressing the binding energy for competing ligands. Pinpointing a small set of mutations within the binding pocket greatly improves the difference in binding energies between targeted and decoy ligands, even when they are very similar.
Racial discrimination stress, coping, and depressive symptoms among Asian Americans: A moderation analysis.

The purpose of our study was to explore: (a) the association between racial discrimination stress and depressive symptoms, and (b) how coping (e.g., individualistic/collectivistic and dispositional/situation-specific coping) attenuated or strengthened this association specifically among Asian Americans. Data were collected from 201 Asian Americans in a large Midwestern state university through an online survey. Results from a hierarchical regression indicated that racial discrimination stress significantly predicted depressive symptoms over and beyond perceived general stress and perceived racial discrimination. For the moderation effect, the simple effect analyses indicated that low utilization of reactive coping strategies and a high helpfulness rating of family support reduced the strength of association between racial discrimination stress and depressive symptoms. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)
ASHP therapeutic position statement on antithrombotic therapy in chronic atrial fibrillation

The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) supports the routine use of antithrombotic therapy (warfarin or aspirin) for stroke prevention in patients with chronic atrial fibrillation (AF). Antithrombotic therapy given to patients with AF for primary prevention (before the first stroke
Evolution of spider silk proteins: insight from phylogenetic analyses.

Spider silks have astounding mechanical properties. In fact, dragline silk has greater tensile strength than commonly used synthetic materials such as nylon filament and capture spiral silk is among the most elastic proteins known. The recent cloning of spider silk genes has revealed that silk proteins are composed of tandem arrayed ensembles of a small number of amino-acid sequence motifs. These repetitive motifs form the structural modules within silk fibers, and are critical for determining the mechanical attributes of the silk. In this chapter, I examine the evolution of these motifs in the 11 published spider silk gene sequences. Extensive rearrangements of the motifs have occurred among the orthologous and paralogous proteins. Phylogenetic analyses suggest that numerous length mutations and recombination events have taken place in orthologous genes from closely related species and even within sets of alleles from the same species. Such genetic events appear to be critical for the homogenization of amino acid repeats within the silk proteins. The characterization of additional silk genes will clarify the relationships among novel amino acid motifs, the homogenization of motifs within a protein, and the function of silk fibers.
A numerical and experimental study of woven fabric material under ballistic impacts

Abstract The objective of this research was to use finite element modeling and simulations to evaluate the ballistic resistance of woven fabrics and soft body armor. In the work of this paper, nonlinear finite element (FE) simulations were performed to evaluate the response of single- and multi-layer woven fabrics under ballistic impacts. A shell-element based fabric material model was first validated using perforation tests performed on a single-layer fabric under high-velocity impact by a spherical steel projectile. The validated model was then used to replicate high- and low-velocity impacts by a blunt aluminum projectile on eight-layer Kevlar targets. Results from the multi-layer simulations were shown to have good agreement with experimental data. Finally, the validated fabric model was used to simulate a full-scale ballistic test on a groin protector panel of the interceptor body armor system. The simulation results of both the single- and multi-layer impacts were shown to match well with experimental data in terms of the projectile's residual velocities. This research confirms the effectiveness of the fabric model and can be extended to a wide range of applications involving soft body armors.
A Monomer of Pif1 Unwinds Double-Stranded DNA and It Is Regulated by the Nature of the Non-Translocating Strand at the 3'-End.

Using a DNA polymerase coupled assay and FRET (Forster resonance energy transfer)-based helicase assays, in this work, we show that a monomer of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Pif1 can unwind dsDNA (double-stranded DNA). The helicase activity of a Pif1 monomer is modulated by the nature of the 3'-ssDNA (single-stranded DNA) tail of the substrate and its effect on a Pif1-dependent re-winding activity that is coupled to the opening of dsDNA. We propose that, in addition to the ssDNA site on the protein that interacts with the translocating strand, Pif1 has a second site that binds the 3'-ssDNA of the substrate. Interaction of DNA with this site modulates the degree to which re-winding counteracts unwinding. Depending on the nature of the 3'-tail and the length of the duplex DNA to be unwound, this activity is sufficiently strong to mask the helicase activity of a monomer. In excess Pif1 over the DNA, the Pif1-dependent re-winding of the opened DNA strongly limits unwinding, independent of the 3'-tail. We propose that, in this case, binding of DNA to the second site is precluded and modulation of the Pif1-dependent re-winding activity is largely lost.
Fast averaging

We are interested in the following question: given n numbers x 1 , …, x n , what sorts of approximation of average x ave = 1overn (x 1 + … + x n ) can be achieved by knowing only r of these n numbers. Indeed the answer depends on the variation in these n numbers. As the main result, we show that if the vector of these n numbers satisfies certain regularity properties captured in the form of finiteness of their empirical moments (third or higher), then it is possible to compute approximation of x ave that is within 1 ±e multiplicative factor with probability at least 1 − δ by choosing, on an average, r = r(e, δ, σ) of the n numbers at random with r is dependent only on e, δ and the amount of variation σ in the vector and is independent of n. The task of computing average has a variety of applications such as distributed estimation and optimization, a model for reaching consensus and computing symmetric functions. We discuss implications of the result in the context of two applications: load-balancing in a computational facility running MapReduce, and fast distributed averaging.
Ocular Surface Squamous Neoplasia in a Living-Related Conjunctival Limbal Allograft.

PURPOSE To report a single case of ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN) that occurred in a living-related conjunctival limbal allograft (lr-CLAL). METHODS Case report and literature review. RESULTS A 70-year-old white man developed OSSN in a histocompatible identical lr-CLAL over 3 years after the surgical procedure. Incisional biopsy was performed, and topical interferon alpha-2b was initiated. Pathology results confirmed carcinoma in situ. After modest results with topical interferon alpha-2b, the patient was treated with excisional biopsy with mitomycin-C (0.04 mg/mL) and cryotherapy. Simultaneously, the lr-CLAL was replaced with a keratolimbal allograft of a deceased donor. The patient maintained 20/25 best-corrected visual acuity at last follow-up. CONCLUSIONS We present an unusual case of primary OSSN in a recipient of an lr-CLAL that was clinically confined to the borders of the graft.
A case of neurinoma of the nasal septum

鼻中隔神経鞘腫の1例を報告した.デンケル法に準じて腫瘍を摘出した.シュワン細胞様の腫瘍細胞の密な増殖を認めAntoni A型の組織像を示し,S-100蛋白が陽106-517 日耳鼻 坂本 他=鼻中隔神経鞘腫の1例性に反応したことから神経鞘腫と診断した.我々が検索し得た範囲では国内,国外を通じて19例目の症例であった.
An Introduction to Cognitive Aging and Dementia: A Clinical Neuropsychologist's Perspective

There is a new urgency to measure subtle age-related cognitive dysfunction with discoveries that amyloid pathology afflicts the brain 20 years before Alzheimer's dementia and more recently that drug infusions can reduce amyloid. Measuring mental processes in controlled laboratory environments has yielded rich insights; however, there is a growing awareness of the importance of complimenting this work with study in real life contexts to understand everyday functioning. In fact the diagnosis of dementia is critically dependent on the measure of functional decline and clinicians have long struggled to define this effectively. This course will be an introduction to the current state of clinical diagnosis of age-related cognitive declines and dementia with the goal of facilitating effective collaboration between computer scientists and clinicians to help older adults. The following topics will be covered. How do we define dysfunctional cognition and dementia clinically? How does a clinician approach diagnosis and what are the major types of dementia and age-related cognitive disorders defined? What is a clinical measure and how do we develop them? How are clinical measures used? What are the major research directions ongoing to treat and prevent age-related declines (e.g. brain stimulation, exercise, medications, diet)? What are some key ethical issues that clinicians consider in working the novel technologies?
The Effect of Oxyphenonium Bromide and Oxybutynin Hydrochloride on Detrusor Contractility and Reflux in Children with Vesicoureteral Reflux and Detrusor Instability

In a prospective study the effects of the anticholinergic drugs oxyphenonium bromide and oxybutynin hydrochloride on detrusor contractility and reflux were studied. Although anticholinergic properties are claimed of both drugs, only oxybutynin hydrochloride proved to decrease detrusor contractility and the degree of reflux, probably due to a direct spasmolytic effect on the detrusor. Therefore, in cases of reflux and detrusor instability treatment with oxybutynin hydrochloride is recommended.
Introduction: Extreme Weather, Health and Communities: Why Consider the Connections?

This chapter introduces the importance of thinking about interdisciplinary approaches to examining extreme weather, health and communities. Weather extremes are a challenge. In sudden storms, long periods of drought, heat waves or cold spells, people either cope or suffer the consequences. World populations today are facing extreme weather in many forms, including excessive heat, mega-storms, tornados, floods and drought. This is weather that threatens the health, safety and wellbeing of rich and poor alike. Special challenges emerge for those who lack the wealth and social power to prepare for or move away from extreme weather threats. This chapter presents the rationale for the chapters that follow, and the detailed case studies of radical weather and the problems left behind: the people harmed, the physical environments altered and the lasting health issues. It explores the connections among them, the best practices in community response to them, and the successes of interdisciplinary tactics in dealing with them across various geographies, customs and cultures.
Faith-based intervention to increase fruit and vegetable intake among Koreans in the USA: a feasibility pilot

Objective In the USA, adults of Korean descent tend to eat fewer vegetables than adults in South Korea. The present pilot study examined the feasibility of developing and implementing a faith-based intervention to improve knowledge, attitudes and intake of fruit and vegetables (F&V) for Koreans in the USA. Design Feasibility pilot using a cluster-randomized intervention trial design. The multicomponent intervention included motivational interviewing sessions by telephone and church-based group activities. Setting Eleven of the largest Korean churches in Southern California. Subjects Adults (n 71) from the eleven Korean churches. Results Feasibility was demonstrated for the study procedures, including recruitment of churches and individual participants. Allocating time throughout the study for church collaboration and having a study church coordinator to coordinate multiple churches were crucial. Participants' attendance at church activities (89 %) and participation by pastors and fellow churchgoers exceeded expectations. Participants' use of intervention materials was high (94 % or above) and satisfaction with coaching sessions was also high (75 % or above). Having a centralized coach trained in motivational interviewing, instead of one at each church, proved practical. Pilot results are promising for F&V knowledge, attitudes and behaviours. The intervention group improved knowledge and intake of the recommended amounts of F&V, above that of the control group. Conclusions This pilot suggests that Koreans in the USA can be reached through their church and that a faith-based intervention study can be implemented to increase F&V intake. Preliminary results for the intervention appear promising but further research is needed to properly evaluate its efficacy.
The social costs of nitrogen

Despite growing recognition of the negative externalities associated with reactive nitrogen (N), the damage costs of N to air, water, and climate remain largely unquantified. We propose a comprehensive approach for estimating the social cost of nitrogen (SCN), defined as the present value of the monetary damages caused by an incremental increase in N. This framework advances N accounting by considering how each form of N causes damages at specific locations as it cascades through the environment. We apply the approach to an empirical example that estimates the SCN for N applied as fertilizer. We track impacts of N through its transformation into atmospheric and aquatic pools and estimate the distribution of associated costs to affected populations. Our results confirm that there is no uniform SCN. Instead, changes in N management will result in different N-related costs depending on where N moves and the location, vulnerability, and preferences of populations affected by N. For example, we found that the SCN per kilogram of N fertilizer applied in Minnesota ranges over several orders of magnitude, from less than $0.001/kg N to greater than $10/kg N, illustrating the importance of considering the site, the form of N, and end points of interest rather than assuming a uniform cost for damages. Our approach for estimating the SCN demonstrates the potential of integrated biophysical and economic models to illuminate the costs and benefits of N and inform more strategic and efficient N management.
VEGF-TRAP Exhibits Potent In Vivo Anti-Tumor Activity in Acute Myeloid Leukemia Xenograft Models.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is known to play a pivotal role in solid tumor angiogenesis, but its role in hematological cancers is less well established. Recent data have shown that subsets of acute leukemias express aberrant VEGF receptors (VEGFR) and rely on both autocrine and paracrine VEGF-VEGFR mechanisms for proliferation, migration, and extramedullary disease. We evaluated the efficacy of a soluble decoy receptor for VEGF-A (VEGF-TRAP, provided through collaboration with CTEP and Sanofi-Aventis/Regeneron Pharmaceuticals) in xenografts of human acute myeloid leukemia (AML) established in SCID mice. All three AML cell lines (ML-2, HEL, HL60/tVCR) used in these studies expressed VEGF isoforms and VEGFR by RT-PCR. The HL60/tVCR line has previously been shown to express Pgp glycoprotein conferring resistance to multiple chemotherapy agents. Mice bearing subcutaneous leukemia xenografts were treated with PBS (vehicle control) or VEGF-TRAP (5 or 25 mg/kg) twice a week for three weeks (for a total of six doses). We found that VEGF-TRAP therapy consistently reduced leukemia tumor volumes by an average of 76–93% versus controls in all three xenograft models. VEGF-TRAP treated tumors were visibly less vascular than control tumors and demonstrated large necrotic areas with only small islands of viable cells by immunohistochemistry. In vivo administration of VEGF-TRAP, which binds VEGF secreted both by tumor (human) and host (murine) cells, was significantly more effective in reducing leukemia tumor volumes (87%) than anti-human VEGF antibody (bevacizumab (Avastin)) treatment (5 mg/kg three times per week) (68% tumor reduction, p CONCLUSIONS: These preclinical data demonstrate the potent in vivo tumor activity of VEGF-TRAP, a novel VEGF inhibitor, in AML. Our results support further clinical development of this agent in acute myeloid leukemia, particularly in combination with anthracycline chemotherapy.
Technetium pyrophosphate planar imaging to diagnose transthyretin-related cardiac amyloidosis is highly reproducible.

1497 Objectives A new technique using (99m)Tc-PYP with planar imaging has shown a 98.2% specificity and a 92.3% sensitivity to diagnose transthyretin-related cardiac amyloidosis (ATTR). Compared to the gold standard, endomyocardial biopsy, this modality presents a non-invasive, readily available, and relatively inexpensive diagnostic tool. As of yet the reproducibility of the technique is unknown. Methods We read the (99m)Tc-PYP planar imaging scans of 21 subjects, 15M, with mean age 64.8 ± 11.3, all of whom had biopsy proven ATTR or immunoglobulin light-chain (AL) cardiac amyloidosis. Four nuclear cardiologist assessed the scans using a semi-quantitative visual scoring method (range, 0; no uptake to 3, diffuse uptake). Of the original four, the most experienced cardiologist read the scan twice, 7 days apart. Inter- and intraobserver agreement was assessed for scans acquired at 1hour and greater than 2 hours with both 750K and 2000K counts. For statistical analysis visual scores were evaluated as a binary variable (0, no uptake [0]/uptake less than bone [1], to 1, uptake equal to [2]/greater than bone [3]), since on average 8.5% of a cumulative 200 reads were scores in the range of 0 to 3. Results Agreement between readers was 100% for scans acquired with 750K, at both 1 hour and greater than 2 hours. At 2000K, interobserver agreement was 100% for scans acquired at 1 hour, and 95.2%, Kappa statistic 0.89(0.68-1), for scans acquired at greater than 2 hours. Intraobserver agreement was 100% for scans acquired at 2 hours, with 750K and 2000K counts. Intraobserver was 95.2%, Kapppa statistic 0.89(0.68-1), for scans acquired at 1 hour with 750K and 2000K. Conclusions Favorable inter- and intraobserver agreement validate the reproducibility of (99m)Tc-PYP planar imaging with a semi-quantitative visual scoring method to diagnose ATTR cardiac amyloidosis. High reproducibility of this method establishes its potential value and strengthens the case for its use. Research Support N/A
Precipitation Kinetics Analysis of the Cooling Process Following the Solid Solution Treatment of 7B50 Aluminum Alloy

Based on the TTP curves of 7050 alloy, and the continuous cooling curves of 7B50 alloy at different positions of Φ70 mm improved Jominy specimen, the hardness distribution along the thickness direction of 7B50 alloy thick plates was analyzed and predicted by means of the isothermal precipitation kinetics and the quench factor analysis method. The results show that when 7050 alloy is isothermal treated at 200°C~400°C, the exponent n in its Johnson-Mehl-Avrami equation is close to 1, which indicates that the nucleation process of new precipitates is stable. In this equation the coefficient k is 7.420E-03 at 350°C, which indicates that the nucleation and growth rates of new precipitates are very fast. The hardness distribution along the axial direction of the improved Jominy specimen of 7B50 alloy is predicted by the quench factor analysis method. When the distance is no more than 65 mm from the spraying surface of the improved Jominy specimen, the deviation between the predicted and measured hardness of 7B50 alloy in T6 temper is less than 5%. The quench factor analysis method is feasible to predict the hardness distribution along the thickness direction of 7B50 alloy thick plates after quenching and aging. When the quench factor analysis method is extended to predict the actual water spray quenching process of 7B50 alloy thick plates, the average cooling rate is 21.6°C/s in the quench sensitive temperature range of this alloy, at 15 mm from the spraying surface of the plate. At the same position, the corresponding quench factor is equal to 6 and the predicted hardness is 187.4 HV which is equivalent 98.5% of the Hmax (the maximum hardness) of 7B50 alloy in T6 temper.
Aspects of Cooling Tower Biocides and Protozoa

Previous work has shown that certain cooling tower amoebae and ciliated protozoa are resistant to several cooling tower biocides, even at the manufacturer`s recommended dosages. For the present study, an Acunthumoeba species was isolated from a cooling tower in Australia. Suspensions of the trophozoites (feeding stages) were exposed to isothiazolones. Cysts were tested separately. The minimum lethal concentration (MLC) for trophozoites was between 31-62 ppm of the biocide product, which is slightly less than the MLC for an amoebae species from the United States; and cyst forms were twofold more resistant than those of the US species, with a MLC of 62,500 ppm. A ciliate and an amoeba species were also exposed to bromochlorodimethylhydantoin. The MLC for the ciliate species was 1 ppm of the biocide product, and the MLC was 30--40 ppm for the amoeba trophozoites. Since amoebae can expel vesicles containing live Legionella, experiments were conducted to determine whether exposure of Acunthamoebu polyphugu to biocides influenced release of such potentially infectious particles. Vesicle release was not inhibited by any of the three biocides: quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs), isothiazolones, and a thiocarbamate compound. These results suggest that amoebae from various sources are resistant to recommended levels of biocides, andmore » the amoebae may continue to release potentially infectious vesicles in the presence of biocides.« less
High-kinetic inductance additive manufactured superconducting microwave cavity

Investigations into the microwave surface impedance of superconducting resonators have led to the development of single photon counters that rely on kinetic inductance for their operation, while concurrent progress in additive manufacturing, “3D printing,” opens up a previously inaccessible design space for waveguide resonators. In this manuscript, we present results from the synthesis of these two technologies in a titanium, aluminum, vanadium (Ti-6Al-4V) superconducting radio frequency resonator which exploits a design unattainable through conventional fabrication means. We find that Ti-6Al-4V has two distinct superconducting transition temperatures observable in heat capacity measurements. The higher transition temperature is in agreement with DC resistance measurements, while the lower transition temperature, not previously known in the literature, is consistent with the observed temperature dependence of the superconducting microwave surface impedance. From the surface reactance, we extract a London ...
Value-Based Software Engineering: Overview and Agenda

Much of current software engineering practice and research is done in a value-neutral setting, in which every requirement, use case, object, test case, and defect is equally important. However, most studies of the critical success factors distinguishing successful from failed software projects find that the primary critical success factors lie in the value domain. The value-based software engineering (VBSE) agenda discussed in this chapter and exemplified in the other chapters involves integrating value considerations into the full range of existing and emerging software engineering principles and practices. The chapter then summarizes the primary components of the agenda: value-based requirements engineering, architecting, design and development, verification and validation, planning and control, risk management, quality management, people management, and an underlying theory of VBSE. It concludes with a global road map for realizing the benefits of VBSE.
Children, Adolescents and Trauma

This paper presents an overview of the psychological effects of trauma on children and adolescents with specific attention to the epidemiology of traumatic experiences, risk factors, developmental effects, the types of traumatic experiences albeit a single event trauma or a chronic process trauma, the spectrum of clinical presentations, psychiatric and psychological comorbidities as well as assessment and therapeutic principles. In addition to the child's psychological response to the traumatic stressor communities are often devastated by natural or man made disasters. The interactions between the child's response with the family and community response as well as community interventions are discussed.
Blood and Bone Marrow

Blood is a liquid tissue that is pumped by the heart through the circulatory system. About 45% of the volume of blood is composed of cells; the remaining 55% is liquid plasma in which these cells are suspended. The percentage of blood volume occupied by packed cells, which is determined by centrifugation in a standardized tube, is the hematocrit. This volume varies widely in different diseases (Table 9.1, page 170).
Toward a Model of Organizational Mourning: The Case of Former Lehman Brothers Bankers

Focusing on the post-bankruptcy reactions of former Lehman Brothers’ bankers, we build a model of organizational mourning that depicts the thoughts, feelings, and actions of individual members deal...
Phase I Drilling and Initial Attempts to Establish Hydraulic Communication

The world’s first demonstration of the hot dry rock (HDR) geothermal energy concept took place at Fenton Hill, New Mexico, in the mid to late 1970s. The objective was to create a large, man-made HDR reservoir in rock at an appropriate temperature (~200°C) and accessed by two deep boreholes, completing the pressurized earth circulation loop.
Hormones and Behavior

Hormones serve as chemical communicators of internal states. In concert with their role in modulating physiological processes such as metabolism, digestion, growth, and gamete production, they act to change the central and peripheral nervous systems, particularly how environmental stimuli are processed so as to integrate physiology with behavior. Gonadal sex steroids convey information about reproductive status and enable the expression of adaptive sexual behaviors, including aggression, mating, and parental behavior. Hormones related to ingestion and digestion of food enable optimal feeding behavior. Hormonal systems are highly plastic, changing with the development of the individual and the external environment.
Made by hand: gestural practices for the building of complex concepts in face-to-face, one-on-one learning arrangements

Our study investigates how the hands and body can serve as communicative, cognitive and interactional resources when they are employed in the teaching and learning of complex science and math concepts. We consider how speakers and hearers produce, take up, and re-use gestures to support explanation and conceptual formation in expert-to-non-expert conversation. The study suggests that in face-to-face, one-on-one interaction gesturing plays an important role in facilitating the joint achievement of new conceptual understanding for novice learners. We believe that the gestural practices used to explain complex concepts in informal interactions can be profitably extended to the teaching and learning of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subjects in other learning arrangements such as the classroom.
HEALTH RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE AND SELF-EFFICACY AMONG AFRICAN AMERICAN DEMENTIA CAREGIVERS

AbstractCaregiver quality of life is a predictor of physical/psychological caregiving abilities. The purpose of this study was to determine older adult and caregiver health-related quality of life and caregiver self-efficacy for surrogate decision-making. Mixed methods analyses were used for data collected from African American caregivers of African American older adults with dementia (N=65). Caregivers rated their own health-related quality of life and self-efficacy for surrogate decision-making. They also rated their older adult’s health-related quality of life. A subsample (n=18) were interviewed. Caregivers rated their own health-related quality of life as high. They rated their older adults’ health-related quality of life as well as their own self-efficacy for surrogate decision-making as high. Caregivers described challenges and triumphs related to quality of life and decision-making. Older adults’ health-related quality of life that is comparable to caregivers’ perceptions of their role as a capable caregiver/decision-maker creates complex interplay whereby decisions are made.
Erratum: Marion Werner. Global Displacements: The Making of Uneven Development in the Caribbean

Volume 25(1) of the Journal of World-Systems Research initially included a review by Jeb Sprague of Marion Werner’s Global Displacements: The Making of Uneven Development in the Caribbean, DOI 10.5195/JWSR.2019.920. Because the book review editor decided it would be better suited for inclusion in a proposed review symposium, she removed the review from the website, with the idea that it would run in a future issue. This was done in error, since by the time the decision was made to reschedule the review, it had already been published in the first issue of volume 25. Accordingly, a slightly revised version of the review has been restored to its original publication site. The book review editor regrets the mistake and apologizes for the confusion.
Antoni Bordoy, Enseñar filosofía en los albores de la Universidad (1200–1240): estudio histórico acompañado del acceso de los filósofos a las siete artes liberales, Sindéresis, Madrid 2018

Review of: Antoni Bordoy, Ensenar filosofia en los albores de la Universidad (1200–1240): estudio historico acompanado del acceso de los filosofos a las siete artes liberales, Sinderesis, Madrid 2018, 348 pp., ISBN 9788416262533 (PBK)
Miniaturized, Field-Deployable, Continuous Soil Water Potential Sensor

Soil water potential is a significant factor in determining the dynamics of water in the soil. However, few soil water potential sensors are available to conduct long-term, continuous measurements with full automation, due to cavitation formation inside the sensors while interacting with the soil. This paper presents a miniature, field-deployable soil water potential sensor capable of real-time measurement with a wide dynamic range from 0 to −800 kPa, a minimum detectable change of water potential of ~40 Pa, and a high sensitivity of $\sim 0.248~\mu \text{A}$ /kPa. The sensor consists of a shallow water reservoir sandwiched between a nanoporous ceramic plate and a thin silicon diaphragm with thermal oxide. The nanoscale pores of the ceramic plate allow for the increase of air entry tension, while the smooth and hydrophilic interior surfaces of the water reservoir help to minimize the trapping of air bubbles in the reservoir. When the sensor is embedded in unsaturated soils, the pre-filled water in the reservoir tends to leave the reservoir through the nanopores of the ceramic plate, until an equilibrium in water potential is achieved between the reservoir and the soil. The loss of water leads to bending of the silicon-based diaphragm toward the reservoir. The displacement of the diaphragm is quantified by a miniature optical displacement detector assembled with the sensor, which corresponds to the soil water potential. The presented soil sensor has been validated through both greenhouse and field experiments to monitor dynamic changes in soil water potential in real-time over multiple days.
Stability of Compressible Boundary Layers Induced by a Moving Wave

Summary The problem of determining the stability of compressible vis­ cous flows with nonzero surface velocities is formulated and is shown to be identical to that for conventional boundary layers, with only a redefinition of the Mach and Reynolds numbers re­ quired. Specific consideration is given to the wall boundary layer behind a moving shock wave, and the minimum critical Reynolds numbers are obtained for various shock velocities. The entire stability map is determined for the limiting case of a weak wave, which is analogous to the Rayleigh problem. The minimum critical Reynolds number is found to increase monotonically with shock velocity—i.e., with increasing surface cooling and stream Mach number combined. For the ratio of wall to stream velocity of 2.92 with y = 1.4 (shock Mach number of 2.18) the flow is found to be infinitely stable to two-dimension al disturbances. Experimental transition data do not follow the trends predicted by the theory. In fact, the transition Reynolds numbers are orders of magnitude below the computed minimum critical Reynolds numbers. The lack of correlation between theory and experiment is attributed to disturbances which are external to the boundary layer.