cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Development of a disease-modifying treatment for Alzheimer's disease: Alzhemed.

e n Alzheimer’s disease (AD) treatments currently available n the United States are neurotransmitter-based intervenions, targeting cholinergic or glutamatergic synaptic activty. They are generally assumed to provide symptomatic enefits without altering the underlying pathophysiology of he disease. Recently, there have been growing efforts to evelop treatments directed not at neurotransmitter systems, ut rather at the amyloid and tau cascades that are believed o represent the key pathophysiology of AD. Several such nterventions are now in Phase II and III clinical testing [1]. ecause, in general, such interventions do not provide hort-term symptomatic benefits, trial design must be based n demonstration of a slowed rate of cognitive and clinical ecline; this has significant implications for the number of ubjects, duration of treatment, and selection of outcome easures. For example, a trial duration of 12 to 26 weeks, enerally sufficient to demonstrate the impact of a cholineserase inhibitor or N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) antagoist that improves cognition, is not likely to be sufficient to emonstrate a reduced rate of cognitive decline as a result of n anti-amyloid intervention. Thus, most trials of anti-amyoid and anti-tau agents last at least 12 months and often 18 o 24 months. Demonstration of clinical efficacy in a Phase I study of limited duration may not be feasible; use of urrogate markers of efficacy in Phase II studies may be ecessary. If treatment with a putative disease-modifying gent shows a beneficial effect on cognition and function or lobal clinical status in a long term trial, can the sponsor laim that the treatment modifies the course of AD? Prior uidance from the US Food and Drug Administration FDA) has indicated that trials should be designed to show n impact on the disease process; that is, a second randomzation should be used to show that placebo-treated subjects ater given active treatment do not “catch up” to those
Dentin bonding—Variables related to the clinical situation and the substrate treatment

The wetness of dentin surfaces, the presence of pulpal pressure, and the thickness of dentin are extremely important variables during bonding procedures, especially when testing bond strength of adhesive materials in vitro with the intention of simulating in vivo conditions. The ultimate goal of a bonded restoration is to attain an intimate adaptation of the restorative material with the dental substrate. This task is difficult to achieve as the bonding process is different for enamel and for dentin—dentin is more humid and more organic than enamel. While enamel is predominantly mineral, dentin contains a significant amount of water and organic material, mainly type I collagen. This humid and organic nature of dentin makes this hard tissue very challenging to bond to. Several other substrate-related variables may affect the clinical outcome of bonded restorations. Bonding to caries-affected dentin is hampered by its lower hardness and presence of mineral deposits in the tubules. Non-carious cervical areas contain hypermineralized dentin and denatured collagen, which is not the ideal combination for a bonding substrate. Physiological transparent root dentin forms without trauma or caries lesion as a natural part of aging. Similar to the transparent dentin observed underneath caries lesions, the tubule lumina become filled with mineral from passive chemical precipitation, making resin hybridization difficult. An increase in number of tubules with depth and, consequently, increase in dentin wetness, make bonding to deeper dentin more difficult than to superficial dentin. While the application of acidic agents open the pathway for the diffusion of monomers into the collagen network, it also facilitates the outward seepage of tubular fluid from the pulp to the dentin surface, deteriorating the bonding for some of the current adhesives. Some dentin desensitizers have shown some promise as they can block dentinal tubules to treat and prevent sensitivity and simultaneously blocking the tubular fluid from flowing to the surface. A new approach to stop the degradation of dentin–resin interfaces is the use of MMP inhibitors. Although still in an early phase of in vitro and clinical research, this method is promising.
Multiple Family Group Counseling.

This article describes the innovative, short-term approach of multiple-family group counseling in which the counselor applies the principles and dynamics found in family and group counseling to the treatment of the student—in this case, the “identified client” and his family. In an attempt to provide an effective and economical therapeutic experience of practical value to the school system, several family units meet together to discuss some of the personal-social problems that adversely affect the adolescent and result in the acquisition of maladaptive behaviors within the school setting.
Corrigendum to “Oxytocin administration enhances controlled social cognition in patients with schizophrenia” [Psychoneuroendocrinology 47 (2014) 116–125]

Psychoneuroendocrinology (2015) 52, 13 Available online at www.sciencedirect.com ScienceDirect j ourna l h om epa ge : www.elsevier.com/locate/psyneuen CORRIGENDUM Corrigendum to ‘‘Oxytocin administration enhances controlled social cognition in patients with schizophrenia’’ [Psychoneuroendocrinology 47 (2014) J.D. Woolley a,b,∗ , B. Chuang a , O. Lam a , W. Lai a , A. O’Donovan a,b , K.P. Rankin c,d , D.H. Mathalon a,b , S. Vinogradov a,b a Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA San Francisco Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Francisco, CA, USA c UCSF Memory and Aging Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA d Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA b We acknowledge that this work was supported by Career Development Award # CX000758 from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, Ofﬁce of Research and Development, Clinical Science Research and Development program. DOI of original article:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2014.04.024. Corresponding author at: 4150 Clement Street, 116C-1, San Francisco, CA 94121, USA. Tel.: +1 415 221 4810x4117. E-mail address: Josh.Woolley@ucsf.edu (J.D. Woolley). http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2014.11.001 0306-4530/Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Hypochondriacal Beliefs and Attitudes in Family Practice and Psychiatric Patients

Beliefs and attitudes which can be responsible for hypochondriacal behavior were explored by administering the Illness Attitude Scales and two distress scales to patients attending a family practice clinic, nonpsychotic psychiatric outpatients and a random group of employees. Family practice patients were more distressed, had more hypochondriacal concerns and had more bodily preoccupations than employees and took more precautions about their health. Psychiatric patients were more distressed and had more fears about illness and death than family practice patients, yet took fewer precautions about their health. The findings appear to have implications for treatment.
Magscrew Total Artificial Heart In Vivo Performance Above 200 Beats Per Minute

Abstract Purpose Downsizing pulsatile devices requires an increase of beat rate if flow capacity is to be maintained. We applied this concept to the preclinical MagScrew total artificial heart (TAH). Description The device fills passively with a stroke volume of 45 ml and beat rates up to 250 beats per minute (bpm). Evaluation Stable hemodynamics were observed during a 30-day bovine implant with a flow of 8.7 ± 1.2 L/min at beat rates of 204 ± 18 bpm. Device filling was exceptional up to 250 bpm generating flow of greater than 12 L/min. Beat rate adapted to preload in a way similar to a Frank-Starling response. Left and right atrial pressures were balanced. The aortic pulse pressure was 49–70 mm Hg, which translates to a pulsatility index of 0.49–0.77. Organ functions were preserved and blood damage did not occur. Conclusions Increasing the beat rate while downsizing the MagScrew TAH was successful with strong flow generation by passive filling. Pulsatility was maintained at high beat rates. This innovative approach may be used to develop small pulsatile pumps.
CALCIUM MOVEMENT, GRAVIRESPONSIVENESS, AND THE STRUCTURE OF COLUMELLA CELLS IN PRIMARY ROOTS OF AMYLOMAIZE MUTANTS OF ZEA MAYS

Primary roots of Zea mays cv. Amylomaize were less graviresponsive than primary roots of the wild-type Calumet cultivar. There were no significant differences in: 1) the partitioning of volume to organelles in columella cells, 2) the size or density of amyloplasts, or 3) rates and overall pattems of organelle redistribution in horizontally-oriented roots of the two cultivars. Amyloplasts and nuclei were the only organelles whose movement correlated positively with the onset of root gravicurvature. However, the onset of gravicurvature was not directly proportional to the average sedimentation rate of amyloplasts, since amyloplasts sedimented at equal rates in columella cells of both cultivars despite their differences in root gravicurvature. The more graviresponsive roots of Calumet seedlings were characterized by a more strongly polar movement of 45Ca2+ from the upper to lower sides of their root tips than the less graviresponsive roots of Amylomaize seedlings. These results suggest that the decreased graviresponsiveness of horizontally-oriented roots of Amylomaize seedlings may be due to a delay in or decreased ability for polar transport ofcalcium rather than to smaller, more slowly sedimenting amyloplasts as has been suggested for their less graviresponsive coleoptiles.
West of Indianola, Iowa:

The author rewrites his family history through memories of his mother. These memories are captured in three photographic images which record the slow disintegration of his family over two decades.
Interface blunting of matrix cracks in fiber-reinforced ceramics

A crack impinging upon an interface that can debond and then offer frictional resistance is studied theoretically. The central question at issue is the level of the remote load at which the crack penetrates the interface, whether or not some debonding of the interface occurs first. To answer this question, we compute the stress enhancement experienced by the impinged material—averaged over a microstructural length such as the fiber diameter—as a function of interface parameters. The solution to this elasticity problem is arrived at by means of distributed dislocations to represent relative motion at the interface. Special care needs to be taken to account properly for the contact problem at the interface. Not unexpectedly, it is found that higher debond energies and greater frictional resistances lead to higher stress concentrations and, hence, to lower remote failure loads.
Autoantigen-specific B cell activation in Fas-deficient rheumatoid factor immunoglobulin transgenic mice.

In systemic autoimmune disease, self-tolerance fails, leading to autoantibody production. A central issue in immunology is to understand the origins of activated self-reactive B cells. We have used immunoglobulin (Ig) transgenic mice to investigate the regulation of autoreactive B cells with specificity for self-IgG2a (the rheumatoid factor [RF] specificity) to understand how normal mice regulate RF autoantibodies and how this fails in autoimmune mice. We previously showed that normal mice do not tolerize the AM14 RF clone, nor do they appear to activate it. Here we show that in Fas-deficient autoimmune mice, the picture is quite different. RF B cells are activated to divide and secrete, but only when the autoantigen is present. Thus, B cells that are ignored rather than anergized in normal mice can be stimulated to produce autoantibody in Fas-deficient mice. This demonstrates a novel developmental step at which intact Fas–Fas ligand signaling is required to regulate B cells in order to prevent autoimmunity. These data also establish the relevance of ignorant self-specific B cells to autoantibody production in disease and prove that in the case of the RF specificity, the nominal autoantigen IgG2a is the driving autoantigen in vivo.
Are childhood psychiatric histories of bipolar adolescents associated with family history, psychosis, and response to lithium treatment?

Objective: To examine if childhood psychiatric diagnoses are associated with family history, psychosis, age, and lithium response. Method: Associations among variables, and their contributions to explaining lithium response were examined in 48 bipolar adolescents enrolled in a study of lithium. Results: Presence of a childhood diagnosis was not associated with family psychiatric history or lithium response. Subjects with psychotic features, however, were less likely to have a childhood psychiatric diagnosis, were older, and had a poorer response rate to lithium than subjects without psychosis. Discussion: Heterogeneity within bipolar adolescents may be based on clinical features such as psychosis rather than childhood or family history alone.
STREAM NUTRIENT UPTAKE, FOREST SUCCESSION, AND BIOGEOCHEMICAL THEORY

Theories of forest succession predict a close relationship between net biomass increment and catchment nutrient retention. Retention, therefore, is expected to be greatest during aggrading phases of forest succession. In general, studies of this type have compared watershed retention efficiency by monitoring stream nutrient export at the base of the catchment. As such, streams are viewed only as transport systems. Contrary to this view, the nutrient spiraling concept emphasizes transformation and retention of nutrients within stream ecosystems. In this paper, we address how biogeochemical theory developed for forests may apply to lotic ecosystems in the context of catchment-level succession. Using measures of nutrient spiraling to document uptake, we focus on later seral stages by com- paring streams draining second-growth (i.e., 75-100-yr stands) and old-growth (i.e., >400 yr) forests of the southern Appalachian Mountains, USA. Standing stocks of large woody debris (LWD) in old-growth streams were orders of magnitude greater than in second- growth streams where logging practices removed LWD from stream channels. Debris dams were also more frequent in old-growth streams. Solute injections were used to quantify retention of dissolved inorganic phosphate (P04-P), the limiting nutrient in Appalachian streams. Uptake velocities in old-growth streams were significantly greater than in second- growth streams and were closely related to debris dam frequency, LWD volume, and the proportion of fine-grained (<2 mm) sediments present in the stream bed. These data suggest that streams of old-growth forests have greater demand for P04-P compared to streams draining aggrading second-growth catchments. Finally, we present a schematic model of forest succession, aquatic-terrestrial interaction, and biogeochemical functioning in stream ecosystems emphasizing that the successional time course of retention in lotic ecosystems may be very different than that predicted for forests.
Infectious laryngotracheitis vaccine virus detection in water lines and effectiveness of sanitizers for inactivating the virus

SUMMARY A commercial infectious laryngotracheitis virus (ILTV) chicken embryo-derived (CEO) vaccine was isolated in chicken embryos after the vaccine had attached to the biofilm from drinking water systems. The CEO vaccine was transmitted to chickens from 14 to 21 d after the vaccine was added to the water systems. Real-time quantitative PCR was used to detect ILTV DNA in water systems containing the biofilm and in the trachea of birds that drank from the water systems. Two commonly used inexpensive water sanitizers, citric acid and sodium hypochlorite, did not remove the biofilm and inactivate the live ILTV CEO vaccine in the water lines. When the water systems were treated with 2 other commercial sanitizers (sodium bisulfate and hydrogen peroxide), the ILTV vaccine was not reisolated from the water lines or tracheal samples. However, some water and tracheal swabs were positive for ILTV DNA by real-time quantitative PCR. Water lines in chicken houses that have received an ILTV CEO vaccine may be an important source for reinfection of newly placed flocks. Therefore, these water systems need to be treated with an appropriate biofilm-reducing sanitizer to prevent the reinfection of subsequent chicken flocks with vaccine-derived viruses.
The Role of Decision Support in Alleviating the Familiarity Bias

Decision support systems (DSS) have been designed in part to help circumvent human cognitive biases that hinder effective decision making. One bias that has been overlooked in the area of DSS is the familiarity bias. It has been researched primarily for making probability comparisons in the field of social psychology and for making investment decisions in finance, and it has been shown to impair quality decisions. This study explores the role of the familiarity bias in decision making under comparatively ignorant conditions and how decisional information support can be used to offset it. Results showed that the bias does exist and that information does help toward decision accuracy, but there may also be a limited amount of information that will be heeded by decision makers.
Biodefluorination and biotransformation of fluorotelomer alcohols by two alkane‐degrading Pseudomonas strains

Fluorotelomer alcohols [FTOHs, F(CF2)nCH2CH2OH, n = 4, 6, and 8] are emerging environmental contaminants. Biotransformation of FTOHs by mixed bacterial cultures has been reported; however, little is known about the microorganisms responsible for the biotransformation. Here we reported biotransformation of FTOHs by two well-studied Pseudomonas strains: Pseudomonas butanovora (butane oxidizer) and Pseudomonas oleovorans (octane oxidizer). Both strains could defluorinate 4:2, 6:2, and 8:2 FTOHs, with a higher degree of defluorination for 4:2 FTOH. According to the identified metabolites, P. oleovorans transformed FTOHs via two pathways I and II. The pathway I led to the production of x:2 ketone [dominant metabolite, F(CF2)xC(O)CH3; x = n − 1, n = 6 or 8], x:2 sFTOH [F(CF2)xCH(OH)CH3], and perfluorinated carboxylic acids (PFCAs, perfluorohexanoic, or perfluorooctanoic acid). The pathway II resulted in the formation of x:3 polyfluorinated acid [F(CF2)xCH2CH2COOH] and relatively minor shorter-chain PFCAs (perfluorobutyric or perfluorohexanoic acid). Conversely, P. butanovora transformed FTOHs by using the pathway I, leading to the production of x:2 ketone, x:2 sFTOH, and PFCAs. This is the first study to show that individual bacterium can bio-transform FTOHs via different or preferred transformation pathways to remove multiple CF2 groups from FTOHs to form shorter-chain PFCAs. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2012; 109: 3041–3048. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Detection of neoplastic lymphocytes in peripheral blood of dogs with lymphoma by polymerase chain reaction for antigen receptor gene rearrangement

Background: Uniquely rearranged immunoglobulin and T-cell receptor gene sequences can be amplified and electrophoretically separated by size to detect a clonal population of lymphocytes. Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine whether the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detects neoplastic (clonal) lymphocytes more frequently than do microscopic methods. Methods: We identified neoplastic lymphocytes in peripheral blood by both routine and standardized microscopic examination of blood smears and by PCR amplification of blood-derived DNA and compared the 3 methods for frequency of detection of leukemic involvement. For standardized microscopic examination (200 leukocytes counted on Wright-Giemsa-stained blood smears), samples were categorized as negative (≤1% prolymphocytes), equivocal (>1% prolymphocytes, no lymphoblasts), or positive (≥1 lymphoblast). A PCR-amplified sample was positive if 1 or 2 discrete bands were seen on the gel, or negative if no bands, a smear, or a faint ladder was seen. Results: Using PCR, neoplastic lymphocytes were detected in peripheral blood 2.5 times more frequently than with routine or standardized microscopic evaluation. Eighty-three percent of samples negative by microscopy were positive by PCR. Conclusion: PCR is more sensitive than microscopy for the detection of clonal lymphocytes in peripheral blood. The results of this study also suggest that neoplastic lymphocytes circulate in peripheral blood at a higher frequency than previously reported. PCR may be useful for detecting or phenotyping lymphoma, monitoring response to therapy, identifying recurrence, and screening breeds at risk.
The Impact of Hospital Characteristics on the Availability of Radiology Services at Critical Access Hospitals

Abstract Purpose Although all critical access hospitals (CAHs) provide basic medical and radiographic imaging services, it remains unclear how CAHs provide additional imaging services given relatively low patient volumes and high resource costs. The aim of this study was to examine whether CAHs with more resources or access to resources through affiliation with larger systems are more likely to offer other imaging services in their communities. Methods Linking data from the American Hospital Association's annual hospital surveys and the American Hospital Directory's annual surveys from 2009 to 2011, multivariate logistic regressions were performed to estimate the likelihood of individual CAHs with greater financial resources or network affiliations providing specific imaging services (MRI, CT, ultrasound, mammography, and PET/CT), while adjusting for the number of beds, personnel, inpatient revenue share, case mix, rural status, year, and geographic location. Results Hospital total expenditures were positively associated with the provision of MRI (odds ratio [OR], 1.13; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.07-1.19), mammography (OR, 1.11; 95% CI, 1.01-1.16), and PET/CT (OR, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.01-1.06). Network affiliation was positively associated with the availability of MRI (OR, 1.75; 95% CI, 1.27-2.39), CT (OR, 2.17; 95% CI, 1.15-4.09), ultrasound (OR, 2.03; 95% CI, 1.17-3.52), and mammography (OR, 2.00; 95% CI, 1.47-2.71). Rural location was negatively associated with the availability of PET/CT (OR, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.49-0.88). Conclusions Total hospital expenditures and network participation are important determinants of whether CAHs provide certain imaging services. Encouraging CAHs' participation in larger systems or networks may facilitate access to highly specialized services in rural and underserved areas.
Modelling of Shear Viscosity Behavior and Extrusion through Dies for Rubber Compounds

Abstract This paper marks a first effort to develop a fundamental basis for die flow analysis and design for rubber compounds. We have accomplished a modelling of the shear viscosity function and its application to one- and two-dimensional shearing in die cross sections. There are major limitations in what we have done, much of which is apparent even in the early work of Mooney. In particular, we have not considered (i) slip phenomena on die walls, (ii) die entrance and exit pressure losses associated with converging and diverging dies, nor (iii) extrudate swell. We have an active research in our laboratories investigating these problems. In the future, we are seeking to generalize the procedures described in this paper to more complex die designs. Inclusion of entrance and exit effects and rigorous analysis of coathanger dies requires the handling of elongational flow contributions, a still unsolved problem.
Comparative Responses to Leukotriene D4 in the Sheep and Cat

Pulmonary vascular responses to leukotriene (LT) D4 were compared in the sheep and cat under conditions of controlled lobar blood flow. Intralobar injections of LTD4 in the sheep caused dose-dependent increases in lobar arterial and small vein pressures without influencing left atrial or systemic arterial pressure. Leukotriene D4 was very potent in increasing pulmonary vascular resistance in the sheep, with activity similar to U-46619, a thromboxane (Tx) A2 mimic. Pulmonary vascular responses to LTD4 in the sheep were similar when the lung was ventilated and when lobar ventilation was arrested and when the lobe was perfused with blood or with dextran. Pulmonary vasoconstrictor responses to LTD4 but not to U-46619 in the sheep were reduced by inhibitors of cyclooxygenase and thromboxane synthesis. In contrast, LTD4 had modest pressor activity in the pulmonary vascular bed of the cat, whereas U-46619 had marked activity in this species. Responses to LTD4 in the cat were not altered by cyclooxygenase inhibitors.
Was There a “Crime of 1873”?: The Case of the Demonetized Dollar

AMERICAN historians should find little that is surprising in the current popularity of spy melodrama, when they consider the many plots and conspiracies which run through the national forklore. Students of political history have highlighted the "corrupt bargains" which decided presidential elections in 1800, 1824, and 1876; and alert sentries have detected the presence of a silent but malign phenomenon, the "Money Power." The most dramatic version of the "Money Power" myth concerned the demonetization of silver. According to bimetallists, the Coinage Act of 1873, which discontinued the silver dollar as a monetary standard, passed Congress through the corrupt influence of a cabal of powerful government bondholders who conspired with treasury officials and influential congressmen. By establishing a single gold unit of account, the cabal presumably hoped to raise the market value of its public securities.' The silverites labeled this version of demonetization the "Crime of 1873.' '2
The gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist stimulation test—a sensitive predictor of performance in the flare-up in vitro fertilization cycle

Objective To evaluate the initial versus early pattern of estradiol (E 2 ) change after administration of a gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRH-a), i.e., the GnRH-a stimulation test versus E 2 pattern, respectively, as predictors of ovarian response and pregnancy in in vitro fertilization (IVF) patients stimulated with a flare-up protocol. Design Prospective study in a consecutive group of patients. Setting Tertiary care, institutional setting. Patients Two hundred twenty-eight patients entered and completed the study. The only patients excluded from study were those anticipated to have polycystic ovarian disease, those with a single ovary, or those with an ovarian cyst(s). Interventions Patients were stimulated with a GnRH-a flare-up protocol beginning on menstrual day 2. Main Outcome Evaluation of the GnRH-a stimulation test and the E 2 pattern as predictors of the number of mature oocytes retrieved and pregnancy. Results The GnRH-a stimulation test but not the E 2 pattern was predictive of the number of mature oocytes retrieved ( r = 0.53, P P = 0.04). The E 2 pattern was predictive of the duration and number of ampules of gonadotropin required for stimulation. Conclusion The GnRH-a stimulation test is a sensitive predictor of performance in the flare-up IVF cycle.
Voltage-dependent and voltage-independent blockade of acetylcholine receptors by local anesthetics in Electrophorus electroplaques.

This study employs voltage-clamp techniques to survey the action of several local anesthetics on the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor of Electrophorus electroplaques. These drugs partially block the steady-state activation of receptors during bath application of agonist. Certain anesthetics alter the kinetics of voltage-jump relaxations during such application and alter the waveform of neurally-evoked postsynaptic currents. Procaine, tetracaine, and QX-222 act similarly at concentrations of 25-50 µM. When the agonist is carbamylcholine, acetylcholine, or suberyldicholine, the steady-state blockade depends on voltage, with a greater fractional inhibition of agonist-induced currents at more negative membrane potential. Alterations of voltage-jump relaxations are most noticeable with suberyldicholine. Under some conditions, at least two exponential relaxation components are seen; one component is much faster and another much slower than the single component seen in the absence of procaine. In contrast, the percentage blockade by dibucaine and chlorpromazine is about the same at all membrane potentials, and these compounds have little influence on suberyldicholine relaxation kinetics. The uncharged local anesthetic, benzocaine, at a concentration ten times that of the other local anesthetics employed (250 µM), only slightly decreases suberyldicholine-induced currents and has little effect on the relaxation rates. Thus, voltage affects the relative potencies of local anesthetics in blocking agonist-induced currents. At low negative membrane potentials, the potency of the anesthetics parallels their lipid solubiity. At high negative membrane potentials this correlation disappears. The results suggest a dual mode of action for the local anesthetics: an indirect interaction with the lipids surrounding the receptor, and a direct, voltage-dependent interaction with the receptor-channel complex.
Diagnostic electron microscopy and the influence of Dr. Juan Rosai

Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was introduced by Ruska and Knoll as a laboratory technique in 1933. Thereafter, several decades passed before the methods required for its optimal implementation were fully developed. Early uses of TEM were in Botany, rather than in Medicine; however, isolated publications did catalog the ultrastructural characteristics of several individual human tumor types. Finally, in 1968, Rosai and Rodriguez authored an important article, introducing the concept that TEM could be used for the differential diagnosis of histologically similar neoplasms. This publication heralded the steadily increasing application of TEM in anatomic pathology over the following decade, including continuing contributions by Dr. Juan Rosai. This brief review summarizes his influence on clinical electron microscopy, and lists some of the lesions for which that procedure is still a useful means of analysis.
OBD_SecureAlert: An Anomaly Detection System for Vehicles

Vehicles can be considered as a specialized form of Cyber Physical Systems with sensors, ECU''s and actuators working together to produce a coherent behavior. With the advent of external connectivity, a larger attack surface has opened up which not only affects the passengers inside vehicles, but also people around them. One of the main causes of this increased attack surface is because of the advanced systems built on top of old and less secure common bus frameworks which lacks basic authentication mechanisms. To make such systems more secure, we approach this issue as a data analytic problem that can detect anomalous states. To accomplish that we collected data flowing between different components from real vehicles and using a Hidden Markov Model, we detect malicious behaviors and issue alerts, while a vehicle is in operation. Our evaluations using single parameter and two parameters together provide enough evidence that such techniques could be successfully used to detect anomalies in vehicles. Moreover our method could be used in new vehicles as well as older ones.
Anchoring fibrils form a complex network in human and rabbit cornea

Anchoring fibril distribution, depth of penetration into the stroma, and pattern of histochemical localization of type VII collagen (the anchoring fibril collagen) were studied in normal human and rabbit corneas. Electron micrographs of cross sections and sections taken parallel to the basement membrane demonstrate that anchoring fibrils insert into the basal lamina and then splay out laterally. They are more readily seen in sections taken parallel to the basal lamina, where they are observed to form a complex branching and anastomosing network below the basal lamina. Distal to the basal lamina, anchoring fibrils appear to insert into patches of dense extracellular matrix termed "anchoring plaques." Average depth of penetration of anchoring fibrils into stroma is 0.60 and 0.54 microns for human and rabbit, respectively. Monoclonal antibodies to type VII collagen localize only to the basement membrane-anchoring fibril zone of both human and rabbit corneas. No obvious differences in anchoring fibril structure or distribution were observed between human corneas, which have a Bowman's layer, and rabbit corneas, which do not.
Dissipativity of hybrid systems: Feedback interconnections and networks

This paper focuses on the notions of QSR dissipativity and passivity in hybrid systems. The work presented in this paper can mainly be divided into two parts- (i) feedback and parallel interconnections and, (ii) networks. First, it is shown that the negative feedback interconnection of two QSR dissipative hybrid systems is QSR dissipative. Also, passivity is preserved when passive hybrid systems are connected in parallel. It is also shown that QSR dissipativity and hence passivity are closely related to the stability of hybrid systems. In the second part of this work, passivity of networked hybrid input-output automata, in presence of network delays is studied. The issues of both the constant and time varying delays is addressed using a wave variable transform based approach.
Technical Note: Unified imaging and robotic couch quality assurance.

Purpose: To introduce a simplified quality assurance (QA) procedure that integrates tests for the linac's imaging components and the robotic couch. Current QA procedures for evaluating the alignment of the imaging system and linac require careful positioning of a phantom at isocenter before image acquisition and analysis. A complementary procedure for the robotic couch requires an initial displacement of the phantom and then evaluates the accuracy of repositioning the phantom at isocenter. We propose a two-in-one procedure that introduces a custom software module and incorporates both checks into one motion for increased efficiency. Methods: The phantom was manually set with random translational and rotational shifts, imaged with the in-room imaging system, and then registered to the isocenter using a custom software module. The software measured positioning accuracy by comparing the location of the repositioned phantom with a CAD model of the phantom at isocenter, which is physically verified using the MV port graticule. Repeatability of the custom software was tested by an assessment of internal marker location extraction on a series of scans taken over differing kV and CBCT acquisition parameters. Results: The proposed method was able to correctly position the phantom at isocenter within acceptable 1 mm and 1° SRS tolerances, verified by both physical inspection and the custom software. Residual errors for mechanical accuracy were 0.26 mm vertically, 0.21 mm longitudinally, 0.55 mm laterally, 0.21° in pitch, 0.1° in roll, and 0.67° in yaw. The software module was shown to be robust across various scan acquisition parameters, detecting markers within 0.15 mm translationally in kV acquisitions and within 0.5 mm translationally and 0.3° rotationally across CBCT acquisitions with significant variations in voxel size. Agreement with vendor registration methods was well within 0.5 mm; differences were not statistically significant. Conclusions: As compared to the current two-step approach, the proposed QA procedure streamlines the workflow, accounts for rotational errors in imaging alignment, and simulates a broad range of variations in setup errors seen in clinical practice.
Systematic Review of Educational Interventions for Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Objective In this study, we systematically reviewed the effectiveness of educational interventions falling within the scope of occupational therapy practice for people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). These interventions included disease education, joint protection and energy conservation, psychosocial techniques, pain management, and a combination category. Method Two databases, MEDLINE and CINAHL, and select journals were searched for randomized controlled trials published between January 2002 and June 2015. Qualitative synthesis was used for between-study comparisons. Results Twenty-two studies, with approximately 2,600 participants, were included. The interventions were found to have strong evidence for constructs that dealt with increasing coping with pain and fatigue as well as maintaining positive affect. There was limited or no evidence supporting the effectiveness of these interventions on most other measured constructs. Conclusion Interventions in which a combination of educational techniques is used may complement pharmacological therapies in the care of people with RA. Future research is needed to identify specific mechanisms of change.
Evaluation of macro aggregated albumin solution for 99mTc MAA

490 Objectives Only one commercial kit for the preparation of 99mTc macro aggregated albumin (MAA) is available in the US. The current method of preparing a particle dependent dosage uses the reconstituted MAA solution to be labeled with 99mTc. Information on the stability of this solution is lacking. Our objective was to evaluate the stability of MAA solution using radiochemical purity (RCP) and particle size of 99mTc MAA. Methods Over 12 months, commercially available MAA reaction vials were reconstituted with normal saline and the solution repackaged into vials containing 500,000 particles per 1 mL in a commercial nuclear pharmacy setting in accordance with USP 797. Vials were stored at 2°C to 8°C for 3 to 14 days before labeling with 99mTc. Contents were drawn into 3 mL BD syringes and stored at 20°C to 25°C for up to 24 hours. RCP and particle size were evaluated initially and at 24 hours using a method previously described. Correlations between 99mTc mole fractions and storage times to RCP were calculated. Results 36 samples were analyzed. Four different lots of MAA were used; n=3, 15, 3, and 12 respectively. The solution was stored for an average of 8 days (SD ± 4 days). The average activity was 34.2 mCi (SD ± 3.8 mCi). The average 99mTc mole fraction was 0.41 (range 0.17 to 0.59). Storage temperature was 5°C ± 2°C. The mean RCP of the 99mTc-MAA was 97.7% (range 85.5% to 100%) initially and 96.2% (range 38% to 99.9%) at 24 hours. The size of the particles ranged from 10 to 150 micrometers with 90% being 10 to 50 micrometers. There was a correlation between storage time and RCP (r = -0.25) and 99mTc mole fraction (r = 0.2). Conclusions Taking into consideration elution quality and storage conditions, repackaging MAA does not appear to affect the stability of the MAA solution to form stable 99mTc-MAA. While 34 of our samples met USP RCP parameters of 蠅 90%, two did not. In addition there may be procedures that require higher RCP limits than USP.
The current performance and upgrade plans for the PHENIX data acquisition

PHENIX [1] is one of two large experiments at Brookhaven National Laboratory’s Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC). Previously, the PHENIX experiment had completed very successful Runs that featured different beam species in RHIC. Over the last few years, we have improved the performance of the data acquisition system by introducing several key technologies, such as distributed compression and multi-event buffering, that had increased the event rate to 5KHz for the smaller collision systems that we measured since, Cu+Cu, and p+p. We were able to reach this goal also for the largest and most demanding collision system, Au+Au at 200AGeV.
Eddy currents in human tissues and whole body nuclear magnetic resonance imaging

The use of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) as a new method for developing diagnostic information on human patients is attracting great attention and gaining rapid acceptance at the present time [1],[2]. In this paper we will review the basic principles of this technique and describe how they can be used — in a noninvasive fashion — to extract information from the interior of the human body.
Spectral properties of Martian and other planetary glasses and their detection in remotely sensed data

Thirty silicate glasses were synthesized as realistic analogs to those expected to exist on Mars, the Moon, and Mercury. Samples were measured using visible/near-infrared and Mossbauer spectroscopy to determine the effects of varying bulk chemistry, oxygen fugacity, and temperature on spectral properties. For Martian glasses, the fO2 during fusion strongly affects absorption band intensities in the spectra, while bulk chemistry has noticeable secondary effects on absorption band positions. Titanium and iron content drive spectral changes in lunar glasses, where Fe3+ is effectively absent. Iron-free Mercury analog glasses have much higher albedos than all other samples, and their spectral shape is a close match to some pyroclastic deposits on Mercury. Synthetic glass spectra were used as inputs into a spectral unmixing model applied to remote orbital datasets to test for the presence of glass. The model is validated against physical laboratory mixture spectra, as well as previous detections of glass-rich pyroclastic deposits on the Moon. Remote data were then used from suspected impact deposits and possible pyroclastic deposits on Mars as a new application of the model: the results reveal spatially coherent glass-rich material, and the strong spectral match of the synthetic glasses to these remotely sensed data gives new insights into the presence and character of glasses on the Martian surface. The large library of glass spectra generated here, acquired from consistently synthesized and measured samples, can serve as a resource for further studies of volcanic and impact processes on planetary bodies.
Rescuing the Gospel From the Cowboys: A Native American Expression of the Jesus Way

Richard Twiss (Taoyate Obnajin, “He Stands with His People,” 1954–2013) spent twenty-four years on a spiritual, community-building, and educational journey “to live a meaningful life as a Lakota fo...
MLAT.is: MLAT treaty cartel internet and network overlay for Digital Traffic analytics

The global nature of Internet communications has expanded the challenge of defining both legal jurisdiction and trust. Internet traffic may pass through numerous countries on its path between network source and destination. This can create trust and legal challenges for privacy and surveillance for users of the Internet. Establishing and capturing trust in network elements can mitigate attacks by adversaries. In this paper, we introduce such a trust network, Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties, or MLATs. We further introduce www.MLAT.is, a novel web-based service, database and digital analytics tool focusing on MLATs and global Internet routing, while providing multiple levels of capabilities.
Baroceptor Process in the Carotid Sinus

Abstract Understanding the mechanism of reflex regulation of blood pressure is ultimately linked to an understanding of the manner in which “pressure information” is transduced by the baroceptors, such as those in the carotid sinus. Understanding this transduction mechanism, under normal and pathological conditions, ultimately depends on determining the functional characteristics of the components involved in tne baroceptor process. To provide a logical frameworĸ for the experimental results described below, we begin with a description of a model depicting our present understanding of the spatial arrangement of the receptors within the carotid sinus wall and their roles in the baroceptor process.
Effects of Chronic Antihypertensives on Vasopressor Dosing in Septic Shock.

Background: In septic shock, chronic antihypertensive medications are held acutely. Vasopressors are often required to maintain blood pressure. The effect of chronic exposure to antihypertensive th...
Theoretically proposed optimal frequency for ultrasound induced cartilage restoration.

Matching the frequency of the driving force to that of the system’s natural frequency of vibration results in greater amplitude response. Thus we hypothesize that applying ultrasound at the chondrocyte’s resonant frequency will result in greater deformation than applying similar ultrasound power at a frequency outside of the resonant bandwidth. Based on this resonant hypothesis, our group previously confirmed theoretically and experimentally that ultrasound stimulation of suspended chondrocytes at resonance (5 MHz) maximized gene expression of load inducible genes. However, this study was based on suspended chondrocytes. The resonant frequency of a chondrocyte does not only depend on the cell mass and intracellular stiffness, but also on the mechanical properties of the surrounding medium. An in vivo chondrocyte’s environment differs whether it be a blood clot (following microfracture), a hydrogel or the pericellular and extracellular matrices of the natural cartilage. All have distinct structures and compositions leading to different resonant frequencies. In this study, we present two theoretical models, the first model to understand the effects of the resonant frequency on the cellular deformation and the second to identify the optimal frequency range for clinical applications of ultrasound to enhance cartilage restoration. We showed that applying low-intensity ultrasound at the resonant frequency induced deformation equivalent to that experimentally calculated in previous studies at higher intensities and a 1 MHz frequency. Additionally, the resonant frequency of an in vivo chondrocyte in healthy conditions, osteoarthritic conditions, embedded in a blood clot and embedded in fibrin ranges from 3.5 − 4.8 MHz. The main finding of this study is the theoretically proposed optimal frequency for clinical applications of therapeutic ultrasound induced cartilage restoration is 3.5 − 4.8 MHz (the resonant frequencies of in vivo chondrocytes). Application of ultrasound in this frequency range will maximize desired bioeffects.
Reporting order of financial statements in SEC filings: Evidence from 10-K filings of S&P 500 entities

Abstract The current accounting regulations are silent about the order of financial statements reported in SEC filings, although some SEC regulations deal with reporting requirements for the SEC filings of public entities (i.e., S-K), and formats and content of financial reports (i.e., S-X). We investigate the order of financial statements reported in 10-K filings and identify factors associated with such order based on a manually collected sample of S&P 500 entities. We find that more than half of entities report an income statement in the beginning, while a large number of entities still report a balance sheet as the first financial statement. We also document that larger entities and entities with more investment in tangible assets and R&D are more likely to list an income statement first. On the other hand, entities with larger shareholders’ equity (relative to total assets) tend to report a balance sheet in the beginning. However, profitability does not appear to be related to the order of financial statements. Findings of this study should be of interest to academia, financial statement users and policy makers.
Inborn Errors of Metabolism: Rare Diseases or Indicators to Pathogenic Mechanisms?

Inborn errors of pterin metabolism, leading to impaired synthesis of serotonin and the catecholamines, were first described in the mid-seventies. This review briefly describes the history of the de...