cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Critical Cultural Wealth Model of First-Generation and Economically Marginalized College Students' Academic and Career Development.

First-generation and economically marginalized (FGEM) college students are attending higher education institutions with increasing regularity. The unique experiences of these students call for care...
Teacher Quality and Mean Student Outcomes: A Multi-model Approach

IEA’s Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) can potentially be used to address important questions about the role of teachers in influencing student outcomes. To establish the potential relationships between student achievement and different types of teacher quality and instructional metrics and how stable these relationships may be across time, a variety of different statistical approaches were implemented and compared. The results from a single-level (unclustered) model, a multilevel model, and a classroom-mean regression model were compared, as was the stability of within-country estimates across time. The potential utility of country-level fixed-effects analysis was also explored. The complex sampling design of TIMSS enables robust standard errors to be generated. The analyses suggested only a weak relationship between teacher quality measures and student outcomes across countries and grade levels, and considerable instability in within-country estimates across time, especially at grade eight.
Draft Genome Sequence of Massilia sp. Strain MC02, Isolated from a Sandy Loam Maize Soil.

ABSTRACT From farmed corn soil in California, we isolated and sequenced a new member of the genus Massilia, Massilia sp. strain MC02. Massilia sp. MC02 has an assembled draft genome of 5,023,356 bp with a total of 4,790 protein-encoding genes and 3,028 predicted proteins, 47 tRNA genes, and 2 rRNA operons.
Fair Use, Innovation and New Markets

Economic analyses of fair use have omitted an important variable: the incentive to innovate new technologies that change the way people use copyrighted works (e.g. the VCR and Google Print). My paper extends the current economic models of fair use to correct this omission; it then evaluates possible doctrinal rules that may better promote social welfare.
Distal Metaphyseal Osteotomy Allows for Greater Ulnar Shortening Compared to Diaphyseal Osteotomy for Ulnar Impaction Syndrome: A Biomechanical Study.

Purpose To compare the biomechanical characteristics between diaphyseal and metaphyseal ulnar-shortening osteotomy with respect to (1) maximal shortening achieved at each osteotomy site and (2) force required to achieve shortening at each site. Methods Nine fresh frozen cadaveric upper extremities were affixed through the proximal ulna to a wooden surgical board. A metaphyseal 20-mm bone wedge was resected from the distal ulna and sequential shortening was performed. A load cell was attached to a distal post that was clamped to the surgical board and used to measure the force required for each sequential 5-mm of shortening until maximal shortening was achieved. The resected bone was reinserted, and plate fixation was used to restore normal anatomy. A 20-mm diaphyseal osteotomy was performed, and force measurements were recorded in the same manner with (1) interosseous membrane intact, (2) central band released, and (3) extensive interosseous membrane and muscular attachments released. Results Metaphyseal osteotomy allowed greater maximal shortening than diaphyseal osteotomy with the interosseous membrane intact and with central band release but similar shortening when extensive interosseous membrane and muscle release was performed. Force at maximal shortening was similar between metaphyseal and diaphyseal osteotomy. Sequential soft tissue release at the diaphysis allowed for increased shortening with slightly decreased shortening force with sequential release. Conclusion Metaphyseal ulnar osteotomy allows greater maximal shortening but requires similar force compared with diaphyseal osteotomy. Sequential release of the interosseous membrane permits increased shortening at the diaphysis but requires extensive soft tissue release. Clinical Relevance Both sites of osteotomy can achieve sufficient shortening to decompress the ulnocarpal joint for most cases of ulnar impaction syndrome. The greater shortening from metaphyseal ulnar osteotomy may be reserved for severe cases of shortening, especially after distal radius malunion or in the setting of distal radius growth arrest in the pediatric population. Level of Evidence This is a Level V, basic science study.
Marijuana screening and trauma outcomes

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine if positive marijuana toxicology screen is associated with worse outcomes following trauma. Methods: A 3-year retrospective study was conducted on adult trauma patients using a Level II trauma registry. Patients were included if they had marijuana toxicology results available and were excluded if they tested positive for polysubstance. Endpoints of interest were mortality, injury severity score, length of stay (LOS), Glasgow coma Scale, and blood requirements. Results: Three hundred and eighty-one patients met the criteria. There was no difference between the two groups with regard to mortality (1.63% vs. 3.05%, odds ratio [OR]: 0.52 [0.13–2.14]) or LOS (1 day vs. 1 day, P = 0.125), and P > 0.05 for all other metrics besides age (31.53 years vs. 50.20 years, P = 0). OR for suffering major trauma in patients
EGFR-A763_Y764insFQEA Is a Unique Exon 20 Insertion Mutation That Displays Sensitivity to Approved and In-Development Lung Cancer EGFR Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors.

Abstract Introduction The EGFR-A763_Y764insFQEA is a unique exon 20 insertion mutation (∼5% to 6% of exon 20 insertions), which, at the structural and enzyme kinetic level, more closely resembles EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI)–sensitizing mutants, such as EGFR exon 19 indels and L858R. A limited number of preclinical models and clinical reports have studied the response of this mutant to EGFR TKIs. Methods We used models of EGFR-A763_Y764insFQEA and more typical EGFR exon 20 insertion mutations to probe representative first- (gefitinib, erlotinib), second- (afatinib), third-generation (osimertinib), and in-development EGFR exon 20–specific (poziotinib, mobocertinib [TAK-788]) TKIs. We also compiled outcomes of EGFR-A763_Y764insFQEA-mutated lung cancers treated with EGFR TKIs. Results Cells driven by EGFR-A763_Y764insFQEA were consistently sensitive to EGFR TKIs (as opposed to those driven by typical EGFR exon 20 insertions [A767_V769dupASV, D770_N771insSVD and H773_V774insH]), which were only inhibited by in-development EGFR TKIs at doses below those affecting wild-type EGFR. Most case instances (62.5% [95% confidence interval: 39%–86%], n = 16) with lung cancers harboring EGFR-A763_Y764insFQEA responded to clinically available EGFR TKIs (including osimertinib) and to in-development EGFR exon 20-specific TKIs (including mobocertinib) with prolonged periods of progression-free survival in some cases. Median overall survival for EGFR TKI–treated cases was 22 months (95% confidence interval: 16–25). Mechanisms of acquired TKI resistance of this mutant remain underreported, but do seem to align with those of common mutations. Conclusions To our knowledge, this is the largest report to confirm that the EGFR-A763_Y764insFQEA mutation is sensitive to clinically available first-, second-, third-generation, and in-development EGFR TKIs.
Design of a Single Layer Metamaterial for Pressure Offloading of Transtibial Amputees

While using a prosthesis, transtibial amputees can experience pain and discomfort brought on by large pressure gradients at the interface between the residual limb and the prosthetic socket. Current prosthetic interface solutions attempt to alleviate these pressure gradients using soft homogenous liners to reduce and distribute pressures. This research investigates an additively manufactured metamaterial inlay with a tailored mechanical response to reduce peak pressure gradients around the limb. The inlay uses a hyperelastic behaving metamaterial (US10244818) comprised of triangular pattern unit cells, 3D printed with walls of various thicknesses controlled by draft angles. The hyperelastic material properties are modeled using a Yeoh third-order model. The third-order coefficients can be adjusted and optimized, which corresponds to a change in the unit cell wall thickness to create an inlay that can meet the unique offloading needs of an amputee. Finite element analysis simulations evaluated the pressure gradient reduction from (1) a standard homogenous silicone liner, (2) a prosthetist's inlay prescription that utilizes three variations of the metamaterial, and (3) a metamaterial solution with optimized Yeoh third-order coefficients. Compared to a traditional homogenous silicone liner for two unique limb loading scenarios, the prosthetist prescribed inlay and the optimized material inlay can achieve equal or greater pressure gradient reduction capabilities. These preliminary results show the potential feasibility of implementing this metamaterial as a method of personalized medicine for transtibial amputees by creating a customizable interface solution to meet the unique performance needs of an individual patient.
Pharmacist-directed care to optimize medication use: a healthcare imperative in the United States

The medical, payer-perspective, direct cost of non-optimized prescription medication use in the United States was recently measured in excess of 528 USD billion. This value incorporated the downstr...
Successive Convexification for Real-Time Six-Degree-of-Freedom Powered Descent Guidance with State-Triggered Constraints

This paper presents a real-time implementable successive convexification algorithm for a generalized free-final-time six-degree-of-freedom powered descent guidance problem. Building on our previous...
Warum wir eine Theorie des Bewusstseins brauchen

Das vorige Kapitel hatte mit Leichtigkeit ein ganzes Lehrbuch fullen konnen, denn wir wissen heute viel uber die neuronalen Fusabdrucke des Bewusstseins. Einige Teile des Nervensystems, wie Ruckenmark, Kleinhirn und der groste Teil, ja vielleicht der gesamte prafrontale Cortex scheiden aus, wahrend andere, wie die hintere heise Zone, vielversprechende Anwarter sind. In der Biologie dreht sich alles um faszinierende molekulare Maschinerien und Instrumente, und das ist beim Bewusstsein nicht anders.
Effects of habitat on prey delivery rate and prey species composition of breeding barn owls in winegrape vineyards

Abstract The provision of habitat for natural enemies of agricultural pests is common in integrated pest management approaches but has rarely been examined for vertebrate predators controlling vertebrate pests. To mitigate the economic and environmental costs of removing rodent pests in vineyards in Napa Valley, California, winegrape producers have installed nest boxes to attract American barn owls (Tyto furcata) to their properties. A rigorous estimate of how many rodents barn owls remove from the landscape is a necessary first step to understanding the overall impact of barn owls on rodent pest populations, and this study provides an estimate of rodent removal and prey composition by using remote nest box cameras. In addition, we tested hypotheses for how habitat may influence prey delivery rates and composition. Videography indicated that each barn owl chick received on average of 191 ± 10.01 prey items before fledging the nest box and that the amount of grassland habitat near the nest box and the proportion of deliveries of smaller prey were positive predictors of prey delivery rate. Prey composition was dominated by voles, gophers, and mice, and their relative proportions were associated with the composition of habitats near a nest box. Specifically, oak savannah was positively associated with the proportion of gophers and negatively associated with voles, and grassland was positively associated with voles. Further research on prey delivery should focus on the possible roles of rodent abundance, adult owl quality, and additional metrics of habitat structure.
Norepinephrine inhibits migration and invasion of human glioblastoma cell cultures possibly via MMP-11 inhibition.

Abstract Purpose Growing evidence has shown that the stress hormones affect tumor progression. Patients with surgery to remove tumor often have increased norepinephrine during the perioperative period. However, the effect of norepinephrine on the progression of glioblastoma has not yet studied. Therefore, the present study aimed at investigating the effects of norepinephrine on the migration and invasion of the human glioblastoma U87 and U251 cell lines and the mechanism for the effects. Methods The U87 and U251 cells were treated with 0, 0.1, 1, 5, 10 or 50 μM norepinephrine. A scratch wound healing assay and a transwell invasion assay were used to investigate cell migration and invasion, respectively. The Human Tumor Metastasis RT2 Profiler PCR Array was used to detect the expression of 84 genes known to be involved in metastasis. Results Following norepinephrine treatment, the ability of the U87 and U251 cells to migrate and invade was significantly decreased. Human Tumor Metastasis RT2 Profiler PCR Array assay showed that matrix metallopeptidase-11 (MMP-11) was decreased following norepinephrine treatment. The β-adrenergic receptor blocker (AR) propranolol blunted the suppressive effect of norepinephrine on the migration and invasion of U251 cells but did not have such an effect on the invasion of U87 cells. MMP-11 silencing inhibited the migration and invasion of U87 and U251 cells. The Cancer Genome Atlas data showed that patients with higher expression of MMP-11 in the glioblastoma tissues had poorer prognosis. Conclusion Our results indicate that norepinephrine inhibits the migration and invasion of human glioblastoma cells. This effect may be mediated by the decrease of MMP-11. β-AR may be a regulatory factor for this effect in U251 cells.
Daisy Chain Navigation and Communication in Underground Environments

Lava tubes on Moon and Mars are of significant interest as potential sites for human habitats and for finding traces of life in the sheltered environments they provide. Robotic operations in underground environments such as cave systems, tunnel systems, and mines are also of great interest for military operations, search and rescue, and resource prospecting. Navigation in such underground environments is challenging, as the unstructured walls, floors and ceilings make simultaneous location and mapping (SLAM) algorithms perform poorly, and as odometry is complicated by wheel slippage on sandy and slippery floors. At the same time, non-uniform material densities, wave absorption, and irregularly shaped tunnels challenge radio communication. Expanding on the concept of daisy chaining communication breadcrumbs to relay radio signals into and out of an underground environment, the paper explores the concept of using visual navigation beacons to enable a robot of tracking its position and orientation without other references. The navigation beacons feature LEDs arranged in five-point tracking targets commonly used in spacecraft rendezvous and docking sensor systems. Using multi-colored targets, an array of cameras, and the QUEST navigation algorithm, the robot is able to determine its position and orientation relative to the closest beacon. Deploying beacons near obstacles or at bends or forks in the cave, the robot can then daisy chain its location and orientation relative to the mouth of the cave through a simple multiplication of homogenous transformation matrices. The paper details the system design, the beacon design, and the computation algorithms. It also provides the results of verification experiments and discusses lessons learned in the design, implementation and test of the concept.
The Impact of Grain Size on the Hydromechanical Behavior of Mudstones

Porosity and compression index systematically decrease and permeability systematically increases with decreasing clay fraction over vertical effective stresses ranging from 0 – 21 MPa in reconstitu...
Extended Trochanteric Osteotomy Closure Performed Before or After Canal Preparation and Stem Impaction Does Not Affect Axial Stability.

Abstract Background An extended trochanteric osteotomy (ETO) safely addresses femoral component removal during challenging revision total hip arthroplasty. However, no prior study has evaluated whether a difference in axial stability exists between ETO closure performed before (reconstitution) or after (scaffolding) canal preparation and stem impaction. We hypothesized that given the absence of clinical reports of outcome differences despite the wide use of both practices, no significant difference in the initial axial stability would exist between the 2 fixation techniques. Methods ETOs were performed and repaired using the reconstitution technique for the 6 right-sided femora and the scaffolding technique for the six left-sided femora. The 195-mm long, 3.5°-tapered splined titanium monobloc stems were impacted into 6 matched pairs of human fresh cadaveric femora. Three beaded cables were placed in a standardized fashion on each specimen, 1 for prophylaxis against osteotomy propagation during reaming/impaction and 2 to close the ETO. Stepwise axial loading was performed to 2600 N or until failure, which was defined as subsidence >5 mm or femoral/cable fracture. Results All specimens successfully resisted axial testing, with no stem in either ETO repair group subsiding >2 mm. The mean subsidence for the reconstitution group was 0.9 ± 0.4 mm, compared to 1.2 ± 0.5 mm for the scaffolding group (P = .2). Conclusion In this cadaveric model with satisfactory proximal bone stock, no difference existed between the reconstitution and scaffolding ETO repair techniques, and both provide sufficient immediate axial stability in a simulated revision total hip arthroplasty setting under physiologic loads.
Understanding Habitat Use and Activity Patterns of Ornate Box Turtle (Terrapene ornata) in Eastern New Mexico

The ornate box turtle (Terrapene ornata) is a terrestrial Emydid, listed as near threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature Redlist due to habitat destruction, degradation, habitat fragmentation, commercial harvest, and road mortality. Terrapene ornata is secretive, which can pose a challenge to conducting systematic surveys and assessing species status. Studies on the species' biology have relied on opportunistic encounters on the road and the use of radiotelemetry. The objective of this study was to assess the feasibility of using transect line surveys in single season occupancy surveys for T. ornata in Roosevelt County, New Mexico. We further used radiotelemetry to link turtle activity patterns with environmental conditions to aid in understanding detectability of the species. Our occupancy model showed the detection probability to be influenced by individual observers and the time of day. We found T. ornata to most likely occupy habitats with less dense ground cover and avoid highly altered habitats (i.e., cultivated fields). Radiotelemetry further revealed the effect humidity, time of day, and temperature on turtle activity patterns. The lowest activity occurred between 1200–1700 h, whereas peak activity occurred in early morning hours (0600–0900 h). The peak activity occurred between ∼10–25 C and was promoted by higher humidity. Our study represents the first attempt at using transect line surveys for occupancy modeling framework for the ornate box turtles. We suggest that future studies on box turtle occupancy focus on finer scale habitat assessment that would also include vegetation, invertebrate, and small mammal surveys.
Preliminary Plastic Design of Tall Steel Frames

An automated procedure for the preliminary plastic design of tall steel buildings is presented. The procedure is based on linear programming to minimize the beam weights, followed by selection of column sizes to provide a strong column-weak beam design. The procedure is computer oriented, but in one of its variations can be applied quite easily by hand. Several parameters may be selected by the designer, permitting him to exercise substantial control over the design procedure and to produce a variety of different designs for any given structure. Constraints to limit the lateral drift under working load may be included if desired. The assumptions and limitations of the procedure are listed, and the equations on which it is based are presented. A series of seven different designs for a typical frame are reviewed and compared with designs obtained for the same frame by other workers.
Chapter 6 – Springwater geochemistry

Publisher Summary Springs result from a concentration of groundwater flow paths, so that water issues from a single location instead of diffuse flow into surface streams. As such, the chemistry of springwaters reflects the interaction of groundwater with the aquifer host rock as well as any chemical constituents that may be introduced from surface sources. Springwater chemistry is, therefore, not intrinsically different from groundwater chemistry and the same principles apply. Aqueous chemistry in general, and springwater chemistry in particular, can be approached from two points of view. One can begin with the minerals that make up the host rock and their thermodynamic properties and calculate mineral solubilities and interactions. From this, in principle, the water chemistry can be predicted. The common cations in springwaters are Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, and K+; while the most common anions are HCO3–, SO42–, and Cl–. Together, these form the basis for the classification of springwater. The three main groups are bicarbonate waters, where Ca and Mg tend to be the dominant cations; sulfate waters, where Mg may be greater than Ca and alkali ions are also present; and chloride waters, where alkali ions tend to be dominant. The dominant chemistry usually depends on the host rock of the aquifer from which the spring emerges.
A IDENTIDADE LINGÜÍSTICA DA COMUNIDADE DE FALA: PARALELISMO INTERDIALETAL NOS PADRÕES DE VARIAÇÃO LINGÜÍSTICA

The basic sociolinguistic model for relationships between idiolects anddialects is the speech community, defined by shared linguistic features andattitudes and relatively high internal density of communication. Since thesedefinitions are relative, speech communities can nest and overlap, so that localsubdialects, sociolects, ethnic lects, and personal networks can form smallerspeech communities that share local traits and are locally high in communicationdensity, while still belonging to a broader speech community which shares widertraits, and whose internal communication density is high, relative to, say, othergeographic regions. In variation studies, it has long been assumed that some of theshared linguistic traits that define a community are certain constraints on variableprocesses. The conceptual problem that arises with this model is, how far areconstraints shared, and how much can they differ? If some constraint was due, forexample, to a universal process, then it would be expected to be shared by allspeakers of all speech communities, while at the other extreme, the existence ofidiosyncratic differences in language usage raises the possibility that at least someconstraints may differ for each individual. This paper takes a cross-dialectalcomparative approach. Two variable processes are studied in four communitiesdrawn from the VARSUL corpus, each with distinctive ethnic and sociolinguisticcharacteristics. A socially diversified sample of 8-12 speakers is investigated ineach community. The variables investigated include one syntactic process (nounphrase Agreement, NPA) and one phonological process (final -s deletion, SDEL).The constraints on NPA are mainly morphosyntactic in nature while theconstraints on SDEL are straightforwardly phonological. In each case, theconstraint effects are broadly similar across communities and speakers. Betweenspeakerdifferences within communities are mainly the result of either statisticalnoise (smaller sample sizes lead to larger differences), or of predictable socialdifferentiation (e.g. speakers with less formal education use more of the nonstandard variants.) And, strikingly, the main constraint effects are highlyconsistent across the different communities. The results generally lend support tothe model of Cedergren & Sankoff (1974), that "performance is a statisticalreflection of competence", and competence, here dealing with the knowledge ofwhat varies where, is powerfully shared across a language community.
Percutaneous lymph node aspiration in patients with gynecologic tumors

Sixty-one patients with gynecologic malignancies had percutaneous transperitoneal lymph node aspiration performed by a flexible 8-inch needle guided to the nodes under monoplanar fluoroscopy. Of the patients who had malignant cells aspirated from pelvic and periaortic lymph nodes, 64% died or are alive with disease. Only 30% who had negative cytologic testing died or are alive with disease. Of the patients who had malignant cells aspirated from periaortic nodes, 69% died or are alive with disease whereas only 8% with negative cytologic testing died or are alive with disease. We believe that therapy such as extended field irradiation can be given on the basis of these results.
Early Sport Specialization: A Psychological Perspective

(2010). Early Sport Specialization. Journal of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance: Vol. 81, No. 8, pp. 33-37.
Distinct sensitivity of the corneal P. aeruginosa clinical isolates to neutrophil extracellular trap-mediated immunity (INM8P.449)

Ocular bacterial keratitis is a frequent sight-threatening condition usually associated with P. aeruginosa infection. In this study we analyzed the contribution of the neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) in mediating protection during ocular keratitis. Both, invasive and cytotoxic, P. aeruginosa clinical isolates induced NET release by neutrophils. NETs shared a common protein signature regardless of the inducing stimuli and were decorated with histones, elastase, lysozyme, myeloperoxidase, and metabolic enzymes. While the cytotoxic P. aeruginosa strains 6077 and 6206 strains (serogroup O11) and PA14 (serogroup 010) were resistant to NET capture, the invasive P. aeruginosa strains PAO1 (serogroup O5), 6294 (serogroup O6) were trapped by NETs. The mechanism of escape of the cytotoxic strains from adhesion to NETs depended on shedding of outer membrane vesicles (OMV) that competed with P. aeruginosa for NET binding. Unlike cytotoxic strains, NETs adherent invasive strains were weakly sensitive to NET-mediated killing. When ocular infection was caused by invasive strain, NETs were released at the ocular surface to capture bacteria, limiting it’s spread. Treatment with DNase I facilitated the clearance of NET-captured bacteria, decreasing ocular bacterial burden and disease pathology. Cumulatively, these data suggest that current therapeutic strategies might utilize DNAse I to promote recovery from acute keratitis.
Clustering with Interactive Feedback

In this paper, we initiate a theoretical study of the problem of clustering data under interactive feedback. We introduce a query-based model in which users can provide feedback to a clustering algorithm in a natural way via split and merge requests. We then analyze the "clusterability" of different concept classes in this framework -- the ability to cluster correctly with a bounded number of requests under only the assumption that each cluster can be described by a concept in the class -- and provide efficient algorithms as well as information-theoretic upper and lower bounds.
HST/NICMOS observations of M82

The irregular galaxy M82 is known as the archetypal starburst galaxy. Its proximity (3.5 Mpc) makes this galaxy an ideal laboratory for studying the properties of its starburst. The detailed morphology of the [FeII] 1.644 μm and emission Paα (at 1.87 μm) is revealed by the NICMOS images. The peak of the 2.2 μm continuum brightness(evolved population) lies very close to the dynamical centre. Most of the Paα emission (which traces the young population) is distributed in a ring of star formation (with a `hole' lacking line emission at the centre of the galaxy). These observations support the scenario in which the starburst in M82 is propagating outwards. It has long been suggested that the [FeII] emission in starburst galaxies can be used as a measure of supernova (SN) activity. M82 shows a large number of radio supernova remnants (SNRs), approximately 50, lying in the plane of the galaxy. The comparison of the positions of the bright compact [FeII] emitting regions with the location of the radio SNRs shows that there is no one-to-one spatial correspondence between the two emissions, suggesting that the radio and [FeII] emissions trace two populations of SNRs with different ages. Young (a few hundred years) SNRs are best traced by their radio emission, whereas the [FeII] stage lasts for at least a few 104 yr. The compact [FeII] sources contribute only some 20 % of the total [FeII] emission observed in M82. However, much of the remaining unresolved [FeII] emission in the plane of the galaxy may arise from SNRs that expanded and merged into a general interstellar medium within a few 104 yr. Presumably, as much as 70% of the total extinction-corrected [FeII]1.644 μm in M82 is associated with SNRs. The extended and diffuse [FeII] component in M82 seems to be related with the superwind above and below the disc of the galaxy.
ABO blood group incompatibility as an adverse risk factor for outcomes in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes and acute myeloid leukemia undergoing HLA-matched peripheral blood hematopoietic cell transplantation after reduced-intensity conditioning

BACKGROUND ABO incompatibility is not a contraindication to hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT), but it has been associated with additional risks including delayed engraftment, pure red cell aplasia (PRCA), and higher transfusion needs. Data on these events and on patient survival after reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) HCT are limited. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS A total of 127 consecutive patients, 86 with acute myeloid leukemia and 41 with myelodysplastic syndromes, who underwent HLA-matched peripheral blood RIC allogenic HCT between 2005 and 2014 were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS Eighty ABO-compatible, 26 major/bidirectional, and 21 minor-ABO-mismatch HCT were identified. Compared to the ABO-compatible group, major/bidirectional mismatches had increased red blood cell (RBC) transfusion requirement during the first 100 days (p = 0.009), delayed RBC and PLT engraftment (p = 0.0011 and p = 0.005, respectively), and higher incidence of grade II to IV acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD; p = 0.037). In multivariable analysis, major/bidirectional mismatches had significantly higher non-relapse mortality (NRM) and inferior disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) compared with ABO-compatible patients (p = 0.01, p = 0.04, and p = 0.035, respectively). Minor ABO mismatch had no impact on survival (p = 0.99). Four (15%) of 26 major/bidirectional mismatches developed PRCA. There was a significant association between fludarabine plus busulfan conditioning and PRCA (p = 0.0046). CONCLUSION Major/bidirectional ABO mismatch is associated with higher NRM and shortened DFS and OS in the setting of RIC HCT. Increased transfusion need, delayed RBC and platelet engraftment, PRCA, and increased severity of aGVHD are additional complications contributing to the morbidity.
Intracellular fluorescent staining with carboxyfluorescein: a rapid and reliable method for quantifying dye-coupling in mammalian central nervous system

Previous studies investigating electrotonic coupling in mammalian central nervous system have used the fluorescent marker Lucifer Yellow as an indicator of the presence of intercellular junctions between neurons. The fluorescent dye 5,6-carboxyfluorescein is known to have approximately 5 times the fluorescent yield of Lucifer Yellow. We have investigated the use of this dye as a potential alternative fluorescent marker on two types of neurons in the rat hippocampus in vitro. Unfixed hippocampal slices were mounted in a mixture of n-propyl gallate in glycerol and viewed with epifluorescence optics. Injections of small, brief hyperpolarizing currents through carboxyfluorescein-filled glass pipettes reliably produced neuronal fills of good quality. Both dendritic spines and axonal arborizations (including the thin mossy fibers of the dentate gyrus) were frequently observable. In addition to single cell fills, clusters consisting of 2–6 neurons were observed. No correlation was found between the number of cells per cluster and the ejection time. In addition, even cells exhibiting poor electrophysiological characteristics, or cells impaled only briefly, frequently exhibited good quality dye filling. This method will be particularly useful when large sample sizes are necessary to compare regional variations in the extent of electrotonic coupling in the mammalian brain.
The tapetum lucidum in the eye of the big‐eye Priacanthus arenatus Cuvier

The big-eye Priacanthus arenatus Cuvier contains a tapetum lucidum or reflector which lies in the inner region of the choroid. It extends over the entire surface of the fundus, and it consists of several layers of reflecting cells. The cells contain many layers of thin guanine crystals, and there is about 0.5 mg of guanine in a square cm of tapetum. The retina is duplex, and rods are small and very numerous. The tapetum of the big-eye is compared with those of selachians and sturgeons, which it much resembles.
Suppression of caspase-3-dependent proteolytic activation of protein kinase Cδ by small interfering RNA prevents MPP+-induced dopaminergic degeneration

Abstract The cellular mechanisms underlying the neurodegenerative process in Parkinson's disease are not well understood. Using RNA interference (RNAi), we demonstrate that caspase-3-dependent proteolytic activation of protein kinase Cδ (PKCδ) contributes to the degenerative process in dopaminergic neurons. The Parkinsonian toxin MPP + activated caspase-3 and proteolytically cleaved PKCδ into catalytic and regulatory subunits, resulting in persistent kinase activation in mesencephalic dopaminergic neuronal cells. The caspase-3 inhibitor Z-DEVD-FMK and the caspase-9 inhibitor Z-LEHD-FMK effectively blocked MPP + -induced PKCδ proteolytic activation. To characterize the functional role of PKCδ activation in MPP + -induced dopaminergic cell death, RNAi-mediated gene knockdown was performed. Among four siRNAs designed against PKCδ, two specifically suppressed PKCδ expression. The application of siRNA abolished the MPP + -induced PKCδ activation, DNA fragmentation, and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-positive neuronal loss. Together, these results suggest that proteolytic activation of PKCδ may be a critical downstream event in the degenerative process of Parkinson's disease.
Flash: An adaptive mesh hydrodynamics code for modeling astrophysical thermonuclear flashes

We report on the completion of the first version of a new-generation simulation code, FLASH. The FLASH code solves the fully compressible, reactive hydrodynamic equations and allows for the use of adaptive mesh refinement. It also contains state-of-the-art modules for the equations of state and thermonuclear reaction networks. The FLASH code was developed to study the problems of nuclear flashes on the surfaces of neutron stars and white dwarfs, as well as in the interior of white dwarfs. We expect, however, that the FLASH code will be useful for solving a wide variety of other problems. This first version of the code has been subjected to a large variety of test cases and is currently being used for production simulations of X-ray bursts, Rayleigh-Taylor and Richtmyer-Meshkov instabilities, and thermonuclear flame fronts. The FLASH code is portable and already runs on a wide variety of massively parallel machines, including some of the largest machines now extant.
Comprehensive review: antitumor necrosis factor agents in inflammatory bowel disease and factors implicated in treatment response

Antitumor necrosis factor α (anti-TNF) agents have dramatically influenced management of refractory inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, not all patients respond to treatment and some lose response or become intolerant over time. Immunogenicity, a well established phenomenon with anti-TNF agents, may have important clinical implications in patients with IBD. A comprehensive review of available evidence demonstrating how drug concentrations, immunogenicity, and other factors influence outcomes with anti-TNF agents was performed. PubMed, EMBASE, Biosis, Dialog, and Conference Papers Index were searched from 1 January 1995 to 7 April 2012 to identify clinical trials in adult and pediatric patients with IBD treated with anti-TNF agents for Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. Data on serum drug levels and immunogenicity and their relationship with clinical efficacy and safety outcomes were extracted and examined. Serum infliximab concentrations correlated with clinical efficacy and treatment outcomes in patients with IBD; this relationship is less well characterized with adalimumab and certolizumab pegol concentrations. In multiple studies, the presence and level of antibodies to infliximab correlated with loss of clinical efficacy and increased risk of infusion reactions. The incidence and clinical impact of antibody formation with adalimumab or certolizumab in IBD is becoming evident as more data become available. Current, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay based anti-TNF antibody assays are suboptimal in that results are often inconclusive and comparisons between agents cannot be made. Measurement of anti-TNF agent drug concentrations and assessment of immunogenicity has the potential to positively impact clinical decision making during anti-TNF therapy for IBD. As assays are optimized, it is expected that the clinical impact of these determinations will be better characterized.
Dynamic Supernodes in Sparse Cholesky Update/Downdate and Triangular Solves

The supernodal method for sparse Cholesky factorization represents the factor L as a set of supernodes, each consisting of a contiguous set of columns of L with identical nonzero pattern. A conventional supernode is stored as a dense submatrix. While this is suitable for sparse Cholesky factorization where the nonzero pattern of L does not change, it is not suitable for methods that modify a sparse Cholesky factorization after a low-rank change to A (an update/downdate, A = A ± WWT). Supernodes merge and split apart during an update/downdate. Dynamic supernodes are introduced which allow a sparse Cholesky update/downdate to obtain performance competitive with conventional supernodal methods. A dynamic supernodal solver is shown to exceed the performance of the conventional (BLAS-based) supernodal method for solving triangular systems. These methods are incorporated into CHOLMOD, a sparse Cholesky factorization and update/downdate package which forms the basis of x = A\b MATLAB when A is sparse and symmetric positive definite.
A dynamic edge covering and scheduling problem: complexity results and approximation algorithms

We consider a new dynamic edge covering and scheduling problem that focuses on assigning resources to nodes in a network to minimize the amount of time required to process all edges in it. Resources need to be co-located at the endpoints of an edge for it to be processed and, therefore, this problem contains both edge covering and scheduling decisions. These new problems have motivating applications in traffic systems and military intelligence operations. We provide complexity results for the dynamic edge covering and scheduling problem over different types of networks. We then show that existing approximation algorithms for parallel machine scheduling problems can be leveraged to provide approximation algorithms for this new class of problems over certain types of networks.
Surface Chemistry of Mixed-Metal Systems

Interest in bimetallic catalysts has risen steadily over the years because of the commercial success of these systems [1]. This success results from an enhanced ability to control the catalytic activity and selectivity by tailoring the catalyst composition [2,3]. A long-standing question regarding such bimetallic systems is the nature of the properties of the mixed metal system which give rise to its enhanced catalytic performance relative to either of its individual metal components. These enhanced properties (improved stability, selectivity and/or activity) can be accounted for by one or more of several possibilities.
Weighted Markov-Bernstein inequalities for entire functions of exponential type

We prove weighted Markov-Bernstein inequalities of the form ∫∞−∞ |f′(x)|pw(x) dx ≤ C(σ + 1)p ∫∞−∞ |f(x)|pw(x) dx Here w satisfies certain doubling type properties, f is an entire function of exponential type ≤ σ, p > 0, and C is independent of f and σ. For example, w(x) = (1 + x2)α satisfies the conditions for any α  R. Classical doubling inequalities of Mastroianni and Totik inspired this result.
Culex tarsalis vitellogenin gene promoters investigated in silico and in vivo using transgenic Drosophila melanogaster.

INTRODUCTION Genetic modification, or transgenesis, is a powerful technique to investigate the molecular interactions between vector-borne pathogens and their arthropod hosts, as well as a potential novel approach for vector-borne disease control. Transgenesis requires the use of specific regulatory regions, or promoters, to drive expression of genes of interest in desired target tissues. In mosquitoes, the vast majority of described promoters are from Anopheles and Aedes mosquitoes. RESULTS Culex tarsalis is one of the most important vectors of arboviruses (including West Nile virus) in North America, yet it has not been the subject of molecular genetic study. In order to facilitate molecular genetic work in this important vector species, we isolated four fat body-specific promoter sequences located upstream of the Cx. tarsalis vitellogenin genes (Vg1a, Vg1b, Vg2a and Vg2b). Sequences were analyzed in silico to identify requisite cis-acting elements. The ability for promoter sequences to drive expression of green fluorescent protein (GFP) in vivo was investigated using transgenic Drosophila melanogaster. All four promoters were able to drive GFP expression but there was dramatic variation between promoters and between individual Drosophila lines, indicating significant position effects. The highest expression was observed in line Vg2bL3, which was >300-fold higher than the lowest line Vg1aL2. CONCLUSIONS These new promoters will be useful for driving expression of genes of interest in transgenic Cx. tarsalis and perhaps other insects.
Water intake of the rat with food present following different durations of water deprivation.

burk, & Rollins, 1966), the intake function might be different when food is present during the drinking period. The experiment reported here explored this possibility. The procedure followed that of the previous study, with the exception that food was present during the drinking period. Briefly, 60 naive male albino rats were matched into 10 water-deprivation conditions on the basis of mean daily water intake during an ad Libitum base period. The deprivation conditions were: 0, 12, 24, 36, 48, 72, 96, 120, 144, and 168 hr. A 2-hr. drinking period for all Ss was set from 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM on the last day of an %day deprivation period. Water was removed from the 6 Ss in each group at the appropriate number of hours before the common drinking period. All Ss had access to food during deprivation; food also was available during the drinking period. The water-intake function obtained was similar in shape to the function reported earlier (Dufort & Abrahamson, 1966); intake increased up co 48 hr. deprivation and was stable thereafter with only minor upward fluctuations at 96 hr. and 168 hr. Analysis of variance yielded an effect of length of deprivation (P < .001). Duncan's test showed that intake did not vary significantly for groups deprived for 48 hr. or longer, but significant differences (P < .05) were found among groups deprived for 0, 12, 24, and 36 hr. and those deprived for 48 hr. or longer. The results also showed an approximately 20% greater intake than was found earlier. Thus, while the asymptote of the intake function was reached at 26 to 27 ml. in the earlier srudy, the asymptotic intake was in the 30 to 31 ml. range in this study. These resulcs support other evidence showing greater water intake in the presence of food; the shape of the intake-deprivation function is not affected by presence or absence of food.
The Growth Depressing and Toxic Effects of Tannins to Chicks

Abstract LOW digestibility and nutritive value of carobs has been reported for ruminants and chicks by Bondi and Meyer (1944). Growth of chicks was reduced significantly when they were fed a ration containing as little as 5% ground carobs (Kratzer and Williams, 1951). At higher levels of addition, growth depression increased and mortality occurred (Kratzer and Williams, 1951; Bornstein et al., 1963; Bornstein and Lipstein, 1959; Uri et al., 1954). The feed consumption as well as the efficiency of feed utilization was also reduced. The nature of the appetite-depressing factor(s) present in ground carobs still is not known although the low caloric value of carobs was reported to be a possible cause of growth depression in chicks (Alumot et al., 1964; Vohra and Kratzer, 1964; Bornstein et al., 1965). Of the constituents present in carob pods (Binder et al., 1959; Winton and Winton, 1942), the most likely to be involved in …
Substoichiometry in neutron activation analysis

A review is presented on the work done in development and applications of the substoichiometric techniques in neutron activation analysis.
Prenatal Smoking among Adolescents and Risk of Fetal Demise before and during Labor

Abstract Study Objective To investigate the relationship between smoking during pregnancy and the occurrence of stillbirth phenotypes among adolescent mothers. Design Retrospective cohort Setting Singleton births in Missouri from 1978 through 1997. Participants Two groups of “younger” ( Main Outcome Measures Cox Proportional Hazards Regression models generated adjusted risk estimates of the association between intrauterine nicotine exposure and the risk of total, antepartum, and intrapartum stillbirth in each age group. Results Approximately 32% (N = 205,887) of the total 633,849 singleton births analyzed were among adolescent mothers. The overall prevalence of smoking was 31.2%, with the lowest prevalence (14.1%) among the youngest mothers while older adolescents had the highest (31.7%). The risk for intrapartum stillbirth among smoking adolescents Conclusions In utero tobacco exposure has maternal age-related differential and lethal effects on the fetus. Young maternal age tends to potentiate these effects. There is a public health need to develop appropriate smoking cessation messages targeted specifically to this high risk group.
Variational principles and canonical theory for many‐component plasmas with self‐consistent field

The Lagrangian L=FFFL(qs,∂qs/∂t,∇⋅qs)d3 r and Hamiltonian H=FFFH(ps,qs,∇⋅qs)d3r for many‐component plasmas with self‐consistent field interactions are derived. The canonical fields ps(r,t) and qs(r,t) are defined by ps=msvs and ∂qs/∂t=nsvs, respectively, where ns(r,t) is the density and vs(r,t) is the velocity of the component s, s=1,2,...,N. Based on the action principle, the Lagrange and Hamilton equations of motion for the components (s) are presented as functional derivatives of L and H with respect to the canonical momenta ps and qs. It is shown that the new formulations of many‐component plasma dynamics have mathematical advantages compared with the conventional variational principles and hydrodynamic equations.