cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
IS-052 Genetic Theory Of Infectious Diseases

The hypothesis that inborn errors of immunity underlie infectious diseases is gaining experimental support. However, the apparent modes of inheritance of predisposition or resistance differ considerably between diseases and between studies. A coherent genetic architecture of infectious diseases is lacking. We suggest here that life-threatening infectious diseases in childhood, occurring in the course of primary infection, result mostly from individually rare but collectively diverse single-gene variations of variable clinical penetrance, whereas the genetic component of predisposition to secondary or reactivation infections in adults is more complex. This model is consistent with (i) the high incidence of most infectious diseases in early childhood, followed by a steady decline, (ii) theoretical modelling of the impact of monogenic or polygenic predisposition on the incidence distribution of infectious diseases before reproductive age, (iii) available molecular evidence from both monogenic and complex genetics of infectious diseases in children and adults, (iv) current knowledge of immunity to primary and secondary or latent infections, (v) the state of the art in the clinical genetics of non-infectious paediatric and adult diseases, and (vi) evolutionary data for the genes underlying single-gene and complex disease risk. With the recent advent of new-generation deep resequencing, this model of single-gene variations underlying severe paediatric infectious diseases is experimentally testable.
Is Alzheimer's Disease Infectious? Relative to the CJD Bacterial Infection Model of Neurodegeneration

Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been recently considered as a possible brain infection related to the Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) transmissible dementia model. As with CJD, there is controversy whether the infectious agent is an amyloid protein (prion theory) or a bacterium. In this review, we show that the prion theory lacks credibility because spiroplasma, a tiny wall-less bacterium, is clearly involved in the pathogenesis of CJD and the prion amyloid can be separated from infectivity. In addition to prion amyloid deposits, the transmissible agent of CJD is associated with amyloids (A-β, Tau, and α-synuclein) characteristic of other neurodegenerative diseases including AD and Parkinsonism. Reports of spiroplasma inducing formation of α-synuclein in tissue culture and Borrelia spirochetes inducing formation of A-β and Tau in tissue culture suggests that bacteria may have a role in the pathogenesis of the neurodegenerative diseases.
Taking the heat off transactions: Dynamic selection of pessimistic concurrency control

In this paper we investigate feedback-directed dynamic selection between different implementations of atomic blocks. We initially execute atomic blocks using STM with optimistic concurrency control. At runtime, we identify “hot” variables that cause large numbers of transactions to abort. For these variables we selectively switch to using pessimistic concurrency control, in the hope of deferring transactions until they will be able to run to completion. This trades off a reduction in single-threaded speed (since pessimistic concurrency control is not as streamlined as our optimistic implementation), against a reduced amount of wasted work in aborted transactions. We describe our implementation in the Haskell programming language, and examine its performance with a range of micro-benchmarks and larger programs. We show that our technique is effective at reducing the amount of wasted work, but that for current workloads there is often not enough wasted work for an overall improvement to be possible. As we demonstrate, our technique is not appropriate for some workloads: the extra work introduced by lock-induced deadlock is greater than the wasted work saved from aborted transactions. For other workloads, we show that using mutual exclusion locks for “hot” variables could be preferable to multi-reader locks because mutual exclusion avoids deadlocks caused by concurrent attempts to upgrade to write access.
Quantifying Cross-Weave Impact on Capacity Reduction for Freeway Facilities with Managed Lanes

With the increasing concerns about environmental effects and the sustainability of roadway capacity expansion, transportation agencies are seeking alternative solutions to mitigate congestion. Managed lanes (MLs) promote person throughput on freeways and manage congestion through improving efficiency. The ML concept therefore has been gaining popularity in past decades. However, the lack of guidance on evaluating the performance of the ML facility poses challenges for agencies wanting to design and implement the strategy effectively. Many MLs are designed to be left-lane concurrent; vehicles entering the freeway from general purpose (GP) lane on-ramps need to cross weave over multiple GP lanes to access the ML. These weaving vehicles will have a negative effect on the operating performance of the parallel GP lanes. This paper investigates this cross-weaving effect as a function of different roadway geometric configurations as well as traffic conditions. A microscopic simulation model was built and calibra...
Controlling the spectroscopic properties of quantum dots via energy transfer and charge transfer interactions: Concepts and applications

Summary Luminescent quantum dots (QDs) exhibit size- and composition-tunable photophysical properties that are not shared by their bulk parent materials or at the molecular scale. They have attracted considerable interest further motivated by several potential applications. A particular interest has centered on exploiting the ability of QDs to engage in both fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) and charge transfer (CT) interactions with proximal fluorophores and redox active molecules/complexes, respectively. In this review, we highlight how the QD's optical and spectroscopic properties can be controlled via FRET and/or CT interactions. We first show that QDs provide a unique platform for controlling both modes of interactions. We then provide representative examples in biology which include developing sensing assemblies that report on properties such as pH changes, enzymatic activity and ligand–receptor binding. Implications in electronic devices focus on light emitting devices and photovoltaic cells, where we discuss device architecture, control over carrier injection, carrier mobility, and exciton recombination.
Transactive Peer Tutoring: Distributing Cognition and Metacognition

“ASK to THINK—TEL WHY®©” is an inquiry-based model of mutual peer tutoring in which tutoring partners mediate each others' learning in a transactive manner. This tutorial model is designed as a “person-plus” cognitive partnership that supports the distribution of cognition and metacognition in order to promote complex, higher-level learning. This article focuses on what is being distributed during “ASK to THINK—TEL WHY®©” (i.e., the cognitive tasks of questioning, explaining, thinking, problem solving, as well as monitoring and regulation of learning) and how these cognitions are distributed across the tutoring pair and various aspects of their learning environment. Results of research on the effectiveness of using this model in classroom contexts has shown that the model promotes students' construction of new knowledge.
Adaptive and intelligent wireless sensor networks through neural networks: an illustration for infrastructure adaptation through Hopfield network

This paper proposes embedding an artificial neural network into a wireless sensor network in fully parallel and distributed computation mode. The goal is to equip the wireless sensor network with computational intelligence and adaptation capability for enhanced autonomous operation. The applicability and utility of the proposed concept is demonstrated through a case study whereby a Hopfield neural network configured as a static optimizer for the weakly-connected dominating set problem is embedded into a wireless sensor network to enable it to adapt its network infrastructure to potential changes on-the-fly and following deployment in the field. Minimum weakly-connected dominating set defined for the graph model of the wireless sensor network topology is employed to represent the network infrastructure and can be recomputed each time the sensor network topology changes. A simulation study using the TOSSIM emulator for TinyOS-Mica sensor network platform was performed for mote counts of up to 1000. Time complexity, message complexity and solution quality measures were assessed and evaluated for the case study. Simulation results indicated that the wireless sensor network embedded with Hopfield neural network as a static optimizer performed competitively with other local or distributed algorithms for the weakly connected dominating set problem to establish its feasibility.
Characterization of a CubeSat compatible magnetically levitated thrust balance for electrospray propulsion systems

Thrust estimates from an ion Electrospray Propulsion System [1] can be inferred by measuring the electrical current consumed by the device. However, it is very challenging to directly measure the microNewton thrust these thrusters generate. A thrust balance was designed, constructed, and characterized to tackle this difficult problem and measure thrust directly. A complete electrospray power processing unit used for the thrust stand will also be described.
Dye-sensitized Photooxidation Reactions in the Boll Weevil, Anthonomous grandis

Adult boll weevils, Anthonomous grandis , fed for 4 days from emergence on a dyeimpregnated artificial diet before illumination at 3800 μW/cm2 fluorescent light for 4 h yielded a dietary LD50 value of 9.9×10−4 moles/liter and a tissue LD50 value of 2.4×−7 moles/g wet weight for rose bengal. The dye-sensitized photooxidation reaction was treated mathematically and 2nd order rate constants of 4.50 liters/mole·min for dietary rose bengal and 2.25×104 g/mole·min for tissue rose bengal were calculated.
Ventricular dyssynchrony and mechanisms of resynchronization therapy

Patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) that is further complicated by intra-ventricular conduction delay with discoordinate wall motion have increased mortality risk as compared with the general DCM population. Dyssynchrony reduces cardiac systolic function while increasing oxygen consumption, and may be a source of arrhythmia. The recent development of endocardial lead systems to activate the left ventricle prematurely has yielded the novel therapeutic option of resynchronization therapy to correct cardiac dyssynchrony. Using either biventricular or left ventricular pre-excitation, systolic function and energetic efficiency can be substantially enhanced in heart failure patients who have underlying discoordinate contraction. The present review addresses the pathophysiology of cardiac dyssynchrony and the mechanisms that underlie resynchronization treatment.
Determination of NaFeEDTA in Iron Fortified Soy Sauce by Oscilloscopic Polarograhy

Objective To determine NaFeEDTA in iron fortified soy sauce by oscilloscopic polarograhy.Method In a mixed medium of 0.01 mol/L potassium sodium tartrate-ethylenediamine, the polarographic behavior of NaFeEDTA on drop mercury electrode producted the sensitive second order polarographic reduction wave at the point of -1.67 V (vsSCE).The height of the reduction wave(ip/μA)was in direct proportion to the content of NaFeEDTA.Results The detection limit was 0.1 mg/L ,and the linear range of NaFeEDTA content was from 0.1 mg/L to 5.0 mg/L . The recovery of NaFeEDTA in soy sauce samples was 88.8%～112.0%, and the relative standard deviation(RSD) was 1.5%～4.0%. Compared with standard method, the improved method showed no significant difference(P0.05). Conclusion The improved method could be simple, rapid, sensitive and accurate. It will take only 3～5 min per sample for analysis. The background color in soy sauce samples and the coexistence substances had no effect on the drop mercury electrode reaction. The method could be applied to the rapid determination of NaFeEDTA in iron fortified soy sauce.
The financial status of departments of family medicine at US medical schools.

BACKGROUND This report examined the financial health of departments of family medicine in US allopathic medical schools. METHODS We conducted a survey of departments of family medicine at US medical schools, using academic year 1997-1998 as the index year. A total of 52 (46%) of medical schools that have a department of family medicine responded to the survey. The survey examined sources of revenue and categories of expenditures. Analysis assessed the overall financial status of departments at that period of time. RESULTS Responding departments of family medicine received 32% of their funding from state or university sources and an additional 32% of funding from clinical services. Grants and hospital support comprised another 17% each. Departments in public institutions received higher levels of support from hospitals (22% of revenue versus 8% for private schools). The overall balance sheets for departments of family medicine showed that 56% of departments have financial reserves, while 19% had no reserves but no debt. Twenty-five percent of all departments were in debt, including 2% with debt exceeding $1 million. CONCLUSIONS The majority of departments of family medicine remain fiscally healthy, but these departments are dependent on funds from state and medical school sources. A substantial proportion of departments are in debt. Lower levels of grant support and the difficulty in increasing clinical revenue may create future funding problems for primary care faculty as medical schools increase dependence on these sources of income.
The Prospect of Abundant Energy

It has been shown that electrochemical processes can perform a wide variety of functions and can substitute for other ways of accomplishing man’s tasks, frequently in a cleaner and more efficient fashion. This substitution of electric energy for other inputs is of more general significance than is indicated by the examples given. In principle, energy may be looked upon as the only key input, since everything else can be collected and recycled. From the environmental standpoint, then, the degree to which man can minimize his consumption of scarce materials through recycle will determine how well he can preserve the pleasant face of the earth. The cost of energy is a determining factor in such considerations. If energy can be made sufficiently cheap, many more substitutions of electric intensive industrial processes can occur. Figure 1 shows some examples.
CLONING OF E. COLI DNA REPAIR GENES

ABSTRACT Plasmids carrying the uvrA, uvr B and uvr C genes of E. coli have been obtained. The plasmid pBR322 was used for the cloning of the uvr A and uvr B genes using standard methods for producing recombinant molecules. These plasmids replicate under relaxed control to form many copies per cell. The plasmid carrying uvr C is an F′ that is present in cells at a frequency of about 1 per chromosome.
Hätten Sie an die Schilddrüse gedacht

Hatte man die manifeste Hypothyreose fruhzeitig erkannt, ware zumindest die korperliche Entwicklung der nur 1,50 m grosen Patientin anders verlaufen. So war es ein Zufall, der die Diagnose ans Licht brachte: Wegen eines Infekts mit Schwindelsymptomatik hatte sich die junge Frau zum Hausarzt begeben. Dieser vermutete aufgrund einer Niedervoltage im EKG einen Perikarderguss und schickte die Patientin in die Klinik, wo sich die Zusammenhange klarten.
Albiglutide-induced pancreatitis.

Albiglutide is an injectable glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2014 for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) [Prasad-Reddy and Isaacs, 2015]. Administered initially as a 30 mg subcutaneous (SC) once-weekly injection and subsequently as 50 mg SC to achieve glycemic targets, it provides effective glycemic control through an increase in glucose-dependent insulin secretion and a decrease in glucagon levels [Prasad-Reddy and Isaacs, 2015; Gallwitz, 2016; Madsbad, 2015]. In addition to reducing blood glucose, it also promotes weight loss by increasing satiety and delaying gastric emptying [Prasad-Reddy and Isaacs, 2015; Madsbad, 2015]. Owing to its long half-life of about 5 days, it allows the ease of once-a-week administration and improved adherence. [Madsbad, 2015]. Adverse effects reported from its use include upper respiratory tract infections, nausea, and diarrhea [Madsbad, 2015; Trujillo and Nuffer, 2014]. From the pooled data across the eight phase III HARMONY trials, pancreatitis was likely attributed to the use of albiglutide compared with placebo or comparative drugs. There is also an issued warning on the package insert against use in patients with a history of pancreatitis. To our knowledge no case of albiglutide-induced pancreatitis has been reported following FDA approval. We report the first case of a 59-year-old man who was diagnosed with albiglutide-induced pancreatitis and managed successfully at our medical center.
Genetically heterogeneous mice show age-related vision deficits not related to increased rod cell L-type calcium channel function in vivo.

Visual performance declines over time in humans and 2-18 months outbred Long-Evans (LE) rats; vision is maintained in inbred 2-18 months C57BL/6 (B6) mice. Increased rod L-type calcium channel (LTCC) function predicts visual decline in LE rats but does not occur in B6 mice. Genetic diversity may contribute to rod LTCC function escalation time. To test this hypothesis, 4 and 18 months genetically heterogeneous UM-HET3 mice were studied. Rod LTCC function (manganese-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]) and ocular anatomy (MRI, optical coherence tomography) were measured in vivo. Light-evoked subretinal space and choroid thickness changes were measured (diffusion-weighted MRI). Visual performance declined over time in the absence of (1) increased rod LTCC function; (2) changes in light-dependent expansion of the subretinal space and choroidal thickness; and (3) retinal thinning. Aging changed anterior and vitreous chambers' axial length and decreased light-stimulated choroidal expansion. Species differences appear to contribute to the LTCC function differences. Aging-related declines in vision in the UM-HET3 mice deserve more attention than they have received so far.
When Maggie Chose Ronnie—and When She Didn’t: An Exploration of “Thatcherite” and “Reaganite” Foreign Policies

It is well known that Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan enjoyed an unusual comity. Thatcher’s support for Reagan and the intimacy of their friendship are so familiar to us that it is often assumed there were no tensions in their relationship. This is not true. This chapter looks at the bases for that comity, including their shared sense of values, pragmatism and anti-Communism, but further explores their divergences. I argue that those differences were a function of their divergent views of their own proper roles upon the world stage. Britain, in Thatcher’s view, could no longer lead the world. Reagan, on the other hand, viewed himself not only as the leader of America but of the world, a view that derived from his belief the United States was the world’s natural leader. It was from this distinction, not from any deep disagreement in political philosophy, that their conflicts emerged.
Condition assessment of porcelain and toughened glass insulators from residual strength tests

Transmission and distribution networks of most utilities worldwide have a substantial quantity of porcelain and toughened glass insulators that have been in service for over 30 years; a number that has been traditionally considered as useful life for planning purposes. Many utilities are implementing programs to replace older or defective insulators for improving reliability and also for upgrading their lines. In order to help prioritize line maintenance it is important to identify the condition of insulators and replace those insulators whose performance has reduced significantly from their new condition, hence threatening reliability. In this project, porcelain and toughened glass insulators that were in service for periods ranging from 10-30 years were removed from several locations. Electrical (puncture strength, flashover voltage) and mechanical (tensile strength) tests were performed to assess any reduction in performance. Diagnostic tests such as analysis of bonding agents, identification of internal failure paths were performed to understand failure causes. A sufficiently large number of samples were evaluated and this permitted condition assessment with statistically significant confidence limits.
Propagation characteristics of Lg across the Tibetan Plateau

Abstract We present the results of a study on the propagation of Lg within the Tibetan Plateau. We analyze over 1200 seismograms for Lg propagation from 185 local and regional earthquakes recorded at distances from 150 to 2000 km, 52 of which are located within the Tibetan Plateau. Although the propagation of Lg has been observed across most of Asia, Lg has not been observed for paths crossing the Tibetan Plateau. We analyze paths that cross the plateau boundaries and paths contained entirely within the Tibetan Plateau. Lg is generated within the Tibetan Plateau and can propagate to epicentral distances of at least 600 km. For events located outside of the Tibetan Plateau, Lg is either absent or severely diminished for paths that cross both the Himalayan and Kunlun ranges, confirming that the margins of the plateau weaken Lg transmission. Based on the observations from our qualitative analysis, we invert Lg amplitudes for event/station paths that are confined to the Tibetan Plateau to estimate the quality factor, Q . The inversion yields a frequency-dependent Q function: Q ( f ) = ( 366 ± 37 ) f ( 0.45 ± 0.06 ) ( 0.5 ≦ f ≦ 16 H z ) . Similar observations in other areas indicate that frequency-dependent apparent Q within the Tibetan Plateau is well below that expected for a typical continental interior. Instead, it has a frequency dependence that is characteristic of a tectonically active region.
Equipment, Recording Techniques, and Data Analysis and Stimulation

In the early days of intraoperative monitoring, either custom-made equipment or equipment taken from the clinical testing laboratory of the neurophysiological animal laboratories was used in the operating room. Now, there is specialized equipment commercially available for nearly all needs of intraoperative monitoring. This means that the persons who perform monitoring and intraoperative neurophysiology do not need to know as much about recording and stimulating equipment as they once did. However, knowledge about the basic function of the equipment that is used for intraoperative monitoring enables optimal use of the equipment and is important for troubleshooting. The equipment now commonly utilized for intraoperative neurophysiology is capable of appropriate signal processing, has several ways of filtering the recorded responses, and has many options for displaying the potentials recorded. The user must have sufficient knowledge, however, about the basis for filtering and signal averaging to use these methods in optimal ways.
Silicon-on-lithium-niobate photonics for quantum electro-optic converters (Conference Presentation)

Lithium niobate (LN) is a well-understood and heavily used optical material with a variety of useful properties such as its linear electro-optic effect, chi(2) nonlinearity, and piezoelectric effect. However, LN is a difficult material to etch and patterning high quality optical devices is challenging. Here we present results on the design and fabrication of a photonic crystal cavity made in a hybrid silicon-on-lithium-niobate material system. This material system takes advantage of the useful properties of LN, while simultaneously leveraging expertise in silicon etching and removing the need to pattern LN. These devices use the index contrast between silicon and LN to guide and confine optical resonances in a thin film of silicon bonded on top of LN. The photonic crystals have optical wavelength scale mode volumes and simulated quality factors greater than 10^6, with measured quality factors above 10^5. Due to the electro-optic effect in LN, these devices exhibit coupling between the optical resonance frequency and the electric field of adjacent electrodes. We show that such a system can yield a simulated electro-optic coupling rate of 0.6 GHz/V (4 pm/V). We expect resonators of this type to have a wide range of applications, including achieving large coupling to isolated rare-earth ions (such as Er3+) at telecom frequencies, efficient three-wave mixing in resonant silicon devices, and sensitive acousto- and electro-optic modulation.
To Estimate the Expenditure Elasticity of Demand for Food in Rural and Urban Areas of Latur District

Multistage sampling design was adopted for selection of district, tehsils, villages and households. In first stage, Latur district was selected purposively from Marathwada region of Maharashtra state. In the second stage, Latur, Ausa and Renapur tehsil from Latur district was selected purposively. In third stage, three tehsils headquarters purposively were selected and one village from each tehsil was selected randomly. In fourth stage ten households from headquarters and ten households from villages were selected randomly. Thus, a total of 30 households from urban area and 30 households from rural area were selected. The expenditure elasticities for different food items were derived from the derivatives of the estimates of expenditure functions. The elasticities were estimated as b1-b2/X.
Sourcing and Screening High-Tech Workers

Using a unique database reflecting the details of technical job interviews, we study how high-tech employers source and evaluate candidates in tight labor markets. We show that for jobs involving new technologies, employers rely more heavily on recruiters and referrals to access a pool of employed workers who may have already acquired these skills on-the-job at competitor firms. Second, by text-mining interview questions, we show that employers trying to fill such positions are more likely to ask interview questions that indicate how quickly prospective IT hires can learn on the job, rather than asking about prior experience. Employers ask such questions 39% more frequently for these jobs than for jobs involving mature technologies. These effects are robust to including employer, job title, and labor market fixed effects. Our findings are consistent with the argument that employers design technical HR strategies to complement their technology choices.
Beyond Basic Needs: Social Support and Structure for Successful Offender Reentry

Barriers to successful reentry have long been identified as impeding an offender’s ability to successfully reenter society upon release from incarceration. As a result, research has long examined what shared obstacles the majority of offenders often face upon reentering society. Much of the research identifies factors such as poor education, obtaining/maintaining employment, stable housing, and transportation as common barriers to successful reentry. By using in-depth interviews with ex-offenders deemed as successful that were conducted by two respective non-profit agencies, the present study explores what significant requirements, if any, successful offenders perceive to need and/or have experienced as lacking while attempting to successfully reenter society. Findings from this study highlight that many of the research-identified needs are not major barriers because they are often provided for by various non-profit agencies. Furthermore, successful ex-offenders overwhelmingly identify poor social support as a major barrier that oftentimes remains neglected in government and non-profit organizational programming.
The Chern Connection

The Chern connection that we construct is a linear connection that acts on a distinguished vector bundle π*TM, sitting over the manifold TM \0 or SM. It is not a connection on the bundle TM over M. Nevertheless, it serves Finsler geometry in a manner that parallels what the Levi-Civita (Christoffel) connection does for Riemannian geometry. This connection is on equal footing with, but is different from, those due to Cartan, Berwald, and Hashiguchi (to name just a few).
Booking It: Using Children's Literature to Get Students Moving

Physical activity should be naturally occurring and not necessarily labeled as “exercise.” Rather, it should set the stage for lifestyle habits that include movement for physical and mental health....
Regulation of Vitamin D Metabolism in the Kidney

With the discovery that the kidney is the sole site of biosynthesis of what is believed to be the metabolically active form of vitamin D, namely 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25-(OH)2D3), came the idea that this substance can be regarded as a hormone with its targets as intestine and bone (1–3). This led to the initial idea by Boyle et al. in 1971 (3, 4) that the biosynthesis of this active form of vitamin D might be feed-back regulated by the need for calcium and phosphorus. Because it was not possible, and is still not possible, to measure directly the hydroxylases in mammalian renal tissue (5), Boyle et al. (3) chose the approach of injecting the precursor 3H-25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25-OH-D3) into rats and determining the in vivo conversion of the 25-OH-D3 to the more polar metabolites as a method of measuring the ability of the animals to hydroxylate and accumulate the active form of vitamin D. Using this approach, these investigators were able to show that regardless of the dietary level of calcium and phosphorus, vitamin D-deficient rats accumulate large amounts of a single polar metabolite which was identified as 1,25-(OH)2D3.
Critical Point Theory and Applications to Differential Equations: A Survey

The purpose of this paper is to survey developments in the field of critical point theory and its applications to differential equations that have occurred during the past 20–25 years. This is too broad a theme for a single survey and we will focus on three particular areas. First we will examine contributions to the minimax approach to critical point theory. In particular the Mountain Pass Theorem, the Saddle Point Theorem, and variants thereupon will be discussed in Part 1. Then in Part 2, applications of critical point theory to the existence of periodic solutions of Hamiltonian systems of differential equations will be surveyed. Many of the different questions that have been studied will be described and a variety of results will be presented. Lastly, Part 3 deals with connecting orbits of Hamiltonian systems, mainly homoclinic and heteroclinic orbits. This last set of material represents the least developed subject matter treated here and therefore it can be described more completely than the earlier topics.
Fluid Film Lubrication: Molecularly Thin Films

Although the lubrication approximation has been derived for thin films, there is, nevertheless, a thin film limit to its validity. When the characteristic dimensions of the fluid-containing device approach the mean free path (for gases) or the dimension of the molecules (for liquids) the continuum assumption, one of the basic assumptions of the approximation, breaks down. In such cases the Reynolds equation must be amended or replaced by other mathematical systems. We have two distinct models at our disposal for representing fluids, continuum and particle. While the latter is valid under the whole range of conditions, though its use is limited by practical considerations, the continuum model applies only with restrictions. The equations that are available for fluid characterization, and how they relate to the two models, are shown in Table 12.1 (Gad-el-Hak, 1999).
Characteristics of digestion of linted and lint-free cottonseed in diets for feedlot cattle.

Eight Holstein steers (439 kg) with "T" cannulas in the rumen and proximal duodenum were used to evaluate the characteristics of digestion of Pima cottonseed. Treatments consisted of a basal growing-finishing diet containing (DM basis) 1) 15% tapioca, 2) 15% whole linted cottonseed (Delta Pine 61, DP); 3) 15% whole lint-free cottonseed (Pima, PW), and 4) 15% ground Pima cottonseed (PG). Substitution of tapioca with cottonseed decreased (P .10) across cottonseed treatments, averaging 76.9%. The comparative DE value of DP, PW, and PG were 4.13, 3.20, and 3.80 Mcal/kg, respectively. It is concluded that the energy value of lint-free Pima cottonseed is similar to that of linted varieties provided that it is ground before feeding. However, grinding will increase ruminal N degradability 20%. Furthermore, depending on the level of incorporation in the diet, grinding Pima cottonseed may decrease ruminal microbial growth and net ruminal protein efficiency.
Nuclear Reactor Materials and Fuels

The first nuclear reactor was the famous “Chicago Pile” (CP-1) which was built under the west stands of Stagg Field at the University of Chicago on a squash court and went critical on December 2, 1942. The first nuclear materials were uranium in both a metal and an oxide form as the fuel, carbon in a graphite form as the moderator, atmospheric air as the coolant (since the reactor power was essentially zero), cadmium as the control material, and wood as the structural material. Nuclear power plant designs have come a long way since then, particularly with regard to cooling. However, the fuel form remains basically the same.
Human Cloning: Stereotypes, Public Policy, and the Law

Human cloning will not generate human copies or prematurely aged babies. Rather, it will help infertile, gay, and lesbian couples have ordinary babies who are genetically related to them. In the face of the drive to reproduce, laws that ban human cloning will be ineffective. Parents will simply travel to states or nations with more tolerant laws and come home pregnant or with babies. If they are prosecuted and imprisoned for the crime of cloning, their children will suffer. Moreover, cloning bans will stigmatize cloned children as decrepit copies who are unworthy to exist. Education is a preferable solution. Once the public realizes that children born through cloning are as unique and human as everyone else, pressure to ban human cloning should subside.
Pazopanib maintenance therapy after tandem high-dose chemotherapy for disseminated Ewing sarcoma

The dismal prognosis of patients with disseminated Ewing sarcoma necessitates the development of novel treatment strategies. Pazopanib is an oral multi-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor that is active against advanced soft tissue sarcoma. However, the clinical activity and feasibility of pazopanib for treating Ewing sarcoma remain poorly understood. Moreover, clinical information on the use of tandem high-dose chemotherapy for Ewing sarcoma is limited. A 14-year-old boy with Ewing sarcoma was transferred to our hospital for treatment. Magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography scans, and bone scintigraphy revealed multiple lesions in the pubis, ilium, ischium, femur, rib, cranial bone, thoracic vertebrae, sacrum, obturator muscle, adductor magnus muscle, testicular cord, and lungs. Bone scintigraphy after intensive chemotherapies confirmed that multiple abnormal accumulations were still present in the cranial bone and pubis. Subsequently, the patient received tandem high-dose chemotherapy including topotecan, and radiotherapy. Abnormal accumulations have disappeared in bone scintigraphy. Subsequently, pazopanib maintenance therapy was initiated. Despite the presence of innumerable lesions at diagnosis, the patient has been in near-complete remission for the past 1 year with pazopanib administration. This confirms that adding pazopanib maintenance therapy after tandem high-dose chemotherapy is a therapeutic option for cases with disseminated Ewing sarcoma.
Abstract MP48: Control of Cardiovascular Risk Factors Among Older Adults With Incident Diabetes: The Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) Study

Background: Control of risk factors is important for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease among adults with diabetes. The objective of this study was to determine whether management of ...
THU0513 WHOLE BLOOD CELLS FROM PATIENTS WITH SYSTEMIC JUVENILE IDIOPATHIC ARTHRITIS (SJIA) IN CLINICAL INACTIVE DISEASE DISPLAY A DYSREGULATED RESPONSE TO TLR-4 STIMULATION

Background: Systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (sJIA) is a polygenic autoinflammatory disease. Innate immune mechanisms appear to play a central role in the pathogenesis of the disease. Nevertheless, a better understanding of the pathophysiology of sJIA is still needed to identify patients responsive to IL-1 or IL-6 targeted therapies. Objectives: In this study, we evaluated the production of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α by fresh whole blood cells isolated from sJIA patients in disease remission, after stimulation with the TLR-4 ligand lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and we investigated whether sJIA patients that respond or not-respond to treatment with the IL-1 receptor antagonist anakinra show a different response. Methods: We collected fresh whole blood samples from sJIA patients during clinical inactive disease (inactive sJIA, n=19) and sJIA patients during active disease (active sJIA n=4). Active and inactive disease was defined at time of sampling. As controls, fresh whole blood samples from healthy subjects (HS, n=10) were used. Whole blood cells were left unstimulated or stimulated with 10ug/mL of LPS for 24 hours. Cytokine levels (IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α) released in the supernatants were measured by ELISA. Response to anakinra was defined as achievement of clinical inactive disease off glucocorticoids at 6 months after initiation of anakinra treatment. Results: We found that LPS-stimulated cells from inactive sJIA patients released significantly higher amounts of all the inflammatory cytokines tested, compared to HS (p Conclusion: Our preliminary results show a dysregulated production of inflammatory cytokines by whole blood cells from sJIA patients in remission disease, when stimulated with a TLR-4 agonist. Disclosure of Interests: : Antonia Pascarella: None declared, Manuela Pardeo: None declared, Ivan Caiello: None declared, Claudia Bracaglia: None declared, Marianna Rossi: None declared, Giulia Marucci: None declared, Emanuela Sacco: None declared, Fabrizio De Benedetti Grant/research support from: Abbvie, SOBI, Novimmune, Roche, Novartis, Sanofi, Pfizer, Giusi Prencipe: None declared
Utilization of a Neonatal Early-Onset Sepsis Calculator to Guide Initial Newborn Management.

Within our hospital system, all infants born to mothers with chorioamnionitis were directly admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for evaluation and treatment of presumed sepsis for a minimum of 48 hours, regardless of clinical appearance. Implementation of a risk-stratification system for thesWe high-risk infants based on the early onset sepsis (EOS) calculator may decrease NICU admissions and antibiotics exposure in well-appearing neonates. Methods We used The Model for Improvement as a framework for designing this initiative. Participants were inborn infants 35 weeks and older born to mothers with chorioamnionitis and/or fever. Plan Do Study Act (PDSA) cycles were utilized to educate staff, monitor for sepsis, and follow adherence to the calculator in the newborn nursery. Results From June 2015 to June 2016, there were 312 at-risk infants identified and evaluated on the EOS calculator. Of these 312 infants, 228 did not require admission to the NICU based on their risk assessment using the online calculator. Implementation of the Kaiser EOS calculator protocol for at-risk infants decreased NICU admission rates, decreased practitioner practice variability, decreased the number of painful procedures, promoted family bonding, resulted in higher breastfeeding rates at hospital discharge, diminished financial burden, and promoted antibiotic stewardship. Conclusion This study demonstrates that the implementation of the sepsis risk calculator at an academic medical center can decrease the number of asymptomatic infants transferred to the NICU for empiric antibiotic treatment.
Dislodged Nephrostomy Catheter: An Unusual Case of Idiopathic Transposition of Nephrostomy Catheter From Transplanted Kidney to Adjacent Small Bowel Loop: A Case Report

A 72-year-old man with a past medical history notable for deceased renal transplant presented to the interventional radiology department for routine right lower quadrant renal transplant nephroureteral catheter exchange. The nephroureteral catheter was placed in 2016 because of the presence of a hematoma causing partial page kidney and hydronephrosis. An antegrade nephrostogram was notable for opacification of the small bowel instead of the renal collecting system. The patient then subsequently developed urinary retention and intractable abdominal pain. Because of the combination of events, it was deemed necessary for laparotomy and surgical repair of the small bowel. Intraoperative findings were notable for small bowel adhesion to the abdominal wall but otherwise no evidence of acute inflammatory changes. In this case report, we describe the first case of an idiopathically dislodged nephrostomy catheter to the small bowel from a transplanted kidney and its successful management.
Inhibitor design for area selective atomic layer deposition (Conference Presentation)

Area selective deposition (ASD) strategies are broadly enabling, where their application is anticipated to impact semiconductor scaling, in the short term, and broadly impact the design of non-traditional hardware such as phase change memory for specialized artificial intelligence (AI) hardware. In order to extend scaling, ASD may be required for the formation of self-aligned structures on patterned substrates that enable schemes, such as fully aligned via. The design of inhibiting materials including small molecule, polymer brushes and area selective surface polymerizations can be tailored to enable the selective deposition of a variety of metal oxide films (e.g., Al2O3, TiO2 or ZnO). The inhibiting materials examined systematically varied inhibitor spacing, composition and surface cleans prior to inhibitor deposition. The examination of a range of materials provides insight into the fundamental mechanisms of inhibition between precursor chemistries and their interaction with surfaces. Furthermore, while the materials generally exploited for inhibition are relegated to small molecules and may require multiple cycles of etch-back processes followed by renewal of the surface inhibitor polymeric materials may offer the potential to access ASD of films with devices that have significant surface topography where they act as effective inhibitors over small molecules. This was achieved with the area selective growth of polymers where the area selective control of a polymerization on a 100nm tall copper line space feature enabled the selective deposition on a silicon dielectric. In addition, while the ASD of some film compositions could not be achieved with polymer inhibitors the ALD on polymer regions of a patterned film increased the porosity of the metal oxide changing the film’s etch resistance, this could be exploited to achieve the area selective etch of metal features.
Small molecules as potent biphasic modulators of protein liquid-liquid phase separation.

Liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) of proteins that leads to formation of membrane-less organelles is critical to many biochemical processes in the cell. However, dysregulated LLPS can also facilitate aberrant phase transitions and lead to protein aggregation and disease. Accordingly, there is great interest in identifying small molecules that modulate LLPS. Here, we demonstrate that 4,4’-dianilino-1,1’-binaphthyl-5,5’-disulfonic acid (bis-ANS) and similar compounds are potent biphasic modulators of protein LLPS. Depending on context, bis-ANS can both induce LLPS de novo as well as prevent formation of homotypic liquid droplets. Our study also reveals the mechanisms by which bis-ANS and related compounds modulate LLPS and identify key chemical features of small molecules required for this activity. These findings may provide a foundation for the rational design of small molecule modulators of LLPS with therapeutic value. Dysregulated liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) of proteins can facilitate aberrant phase transitions and lead to protein aggregation and disease. Here, authors demonstrate that 4,4’-dianilino-1,1’-binaphthyl-5,5’-disulfonic acid (bis-ANS) and similar compounds are potent biphasic modulators of protein LLPS.
The C99 domain of the amyloid precursor protein resides in the disordered membrane phase

Processing of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) via the amyloidogenic pathway is associated with the etiology of Alzheimer’s disease. The cleavage of APP by β-secretase to generate the transmembrane 99-residue C-terminal fragment (C99) and subsequent processing of C99 by γ-secretase to yield amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides are essential steps in this pathway. Biochemical evidence suggests that amyloidogenic processing of C99 occurs in cholesterol- and sphingolipid-enriched liquid-ordered phase membrane rafts. However, direct evidence that C99 preferentially associates with these rafts has remained elusive. Here, we tested this by quantifying the affinity of C99-GFP for raft domains in cell-derived giant plasma membrane vesicles (GPMVs). We found that C99 was essentially excluded from ordered domains in vesicles from HeLa cells, undifferentiated SH-SY5Y cells, or SH-SY5Y-derived neurons; instead, ∼90% of C99 partitioned into disordered domains. The strong association of C99 with disordered domains occurred independently of its cholesterol-binding activity or homodimerization, or of the presence of the familial Alzheimer disease Arctic mutation (APP E693G). Finally, through biochemical studies we confirmed previous results, which showed that C99 is processed in the plasma membrane by α-secretase, in addition to the well-known γ-secretase. These findings suggest that C99 itself lacks an intrinsic affinity for raft domains, implying that either i) amyloidogenic processing of the protein occurs in disordered regions of the membrane, ii) processing involves a marginal subpopulation of C99 found in rafts, or iii) as-yet-unidentified protein–protein interactions with C99 in living cells drive this protein into membrane rafts to promote its cleavage therein.