cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
In vitro Inhibition of Soft-Rotting Bacteria by EDTA and Nisin and in vivo Response on Inoculated Fresh Cut Carrots.

EDTA and the antibiotic nisin, in combination with heat, were tested for inhibition of growth of six pectolytic, soft-rotting bacteria in 80% trypticase soy broth (TSB). Fifty percent reduction of growth by EDTA at 25°C in TSB occurred at 3.24 mM for Erwinia chrysanthemi, 2.57 mM for Pseudomonas fluorescens, 0.96 mM for E. carotovora (subsp. carotovora), 0.48 mM for P. viridiflava, 0.17 mM for Xanthomonas campestris (pv. campestris), and 0.16 mM for Cytophaga johnsonae. Nisin at 50 ug/ml was effective against X. campestris and C. johnsonae (over 90% inhibition of growth) but not against the other four bacteria (less than 20% inhibition), which are the more economically important soft-rotters. Combinations of EDTA and nisin were synergistic. A combination of 0.3 mM EDTA + nisin at 50 μg/ml inhibited growth of E. carotovora, E. chrysanthemi, and P. viridiflava by over 70%, and growth of P. fluorescens by 37%. Hot water treatments for 0.3 min at 37 or 49°C reduced survival of bacteria in the presence of EDTA + nisin, but not of EDTA, nisin, or water alone. EDTA + nisin at 37°C reduced CFU/ml of E. carotovora, E. chrysanthemi, P. fluorescens, and P. viridiflava by 2 log units, and at 49°C by 3 log units, compared with the 25°C treatment. Decay of carrot disks inoculated at two inoculum levels (103 and 104 CFU per disk) with E. carotovora, P. fluorescens, or P. viridiflava was reduced by a 1.5-min immersion in 45°C water, with or without EDTA and nisin additives. Immersion in 0.3 mM EDTA + nisin at 15 to 50 μg/ml at 45°C reduced decay due to E. carotovora and to P. fluorescens at the lower inoculum level by an average of about 50% compared with water alone at 45°C, but differences were statistically significant only at the 90% level of confidence and no different than a standard chlorine dip, current commercial practice for cut carrot slices.
The evolving construct of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): DSM-5 criteria changes and legal implications

In the DSM-5, the diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has undergone multiple, albeit minor, changes. These changes include shifting PTSD placement from within the anxiety disorders into a new category of traumatic and stressor-related disorders, alterations in the definition of a traumatic event, shifting of the symptom cluster structure from three to four clusters, the addition of new symptoms including persistent negative beliefs and expectations about oneself or the world, persistent distorted blame of self or others, persistent negative trauma-related emotions, and risky or reckless behaviors, and the addition of a dissociative specifier. The evidence or lack thereof behind each of these changes is briefly reviewed. These changes, although not likely to change overall prevalence, have the potential to increase the heterogeneity of individuals receiving a PTSD diagnosis both by altering what qualifies as a traumatic event and by adding symptoms commonly occurring in other disorders such as depression, borderline personality disorder, and dissociative disorders. Legal implications of these changes include continued confusion regarding what constitutes a traumatic stressor, difficulties with differential diagnosis, increased ease in malingering, and improper linking of symptoms to causes of behavior. These PTSD changes are discussed within the broader context of DSM reliability and validity concerns.
Foliations with good geometry

The goal of this article is to show that there is a large class of closed hyperbolic 3-manifolds admitting codimension one foliations with good large scale geometric properties. We obtain results in two directions. First there is an internal result: A possibly singular foliation in a manifold is quasi-isometric if, when lifted to the universal cover, distance along leaves is efficienit up to a bounded multiplicative distortion in measuring distance in the universal cover. This means that leaves reflect very well the geometry in the large of the universal cover and are geometrically tight this is the best geometric behavior. We previously proved that nonsingular codimension one foliations in closed hyperbolic 3-manifolds can never be quasi-isometric. In this article we produce a large class of singular quasi-isometric, codimension one foliations in closed hyperbolic 3-manifolds. The foliations are stable and unstable foliations of pseudo-Anosov flows. Our second result is an external result, relating (nonsingular) foliations in hyperbolic 3-manifolds with their limit sets in the universal cover, that is, showing that leaves in the universal cover have good asymptotic behavior. Let g be a Reebless, finite depth foliation in a closed hyperbolic 3-manifold. Then g is not quasi-isometric, but suppose that g is transverse to a quasigeodesic pseudo-Anosov flow with quasi-isometric stable and unstable foliations which are given by the internal result. We then show that the lifts of leaves of g to the universal cover extend continuously to the sphere at infinity and we also produce infinitely many examples satisfying the hypothesis. The main tools used to prove these results are first a link between geometric properties of stable/unstable foliations of pseudo-Anosov flows and the topology of these foliations in the tuniversal cover, and second a topological theory of the joint structure of the pseudo-Anosov foliations in the universal cover. Reebless codimension one foliations are extremely useful for understanding the topology of 3-manifolds. For instance they imply that the manifold is irreducible [Ro], its universal cover is homeomorphic to R3 [Pa], leaves are 7rl-injective [No] and transversals are never null homotopic [No]. Hence they reflect topological properties of the manifold. As for which manifolds have Reebless foliations, Gabai [Gal, Ga2, Ga3] proved that any compact, oriented, irreducible 3-manifold with nonzero first Betti number has many Reebless finite depth foliations. Roughly, a
Descent of the Sonderweg: Hans Rosenberg's History of Old-Regime Prussia

Before Hans Rosenberg reached his thirtieth year, the National Socialist seizure of power, abetted and applauded by disproportionate numbers of his contemporaries, drove him into exile. Many years later he wrote of the “curiosity and anxiety” he felt toward the catastrophe of German fascism, which had “disfigured and besmirched the wrinkled historic face of my native land beyond recognition,” giving it “the most sordid and brutal expression in its entire past.”
Near-infrared light penetration profile in the rodent brain

Near-infrared (NIR) lasers find applications in neuro-medicine both for diagnostic and treatment pur- poses. Penetration depth and profile into neural tissue are critical parameters to be considered in these applications. Published data on the optical properties of rodent neural tissue are rare, despite the frequent use of rats as an animal model. The aim of this study was to measure the light intensity profile inside the rat brain using a direct method, while the medium is being illuminated by an NIR laser beam, and compare the results with in vitro measurements of transmittance in the rat brain slices. The intensity profile along the vertical axis had an exponential decline with multiple regions that could be approximated with different coefficients. The Monte Carlo method that was used to simulate light-tissue interactions and predict the scattering coefficient of brain tissue from the measurements sug- gested that more scattering occurred in deeper layers of the cortex. A single scattering coefficient of 125 cm −1 was estimated for cortical layers from 300 to 1500 μm and a gradually increasing value from 125 to 370 cm −1 for depths of 1500 to 3000 μm. The deviations of in vivo results from the in vitro transmittance measurements, as well as the postmortem in vivo results from the alive measurements were significant. © The Authors. Published by SPIE under a Creative
Predicting the extent of photosystem II photoinactivation using chlorophyll a fluorescence parameters measured during illumination.

;The temperature dependence of the relationship between the decline in activity of photosystem II (PSII) and a chlorophyll a fluorescence parameter combining the excitation pressure (1–qP) and efficiency of excitation energy capture by open PSII reaction centers in the light-acclimated state (Fv/Fm) was investigated in cotton leaves. A formula for the prediction of PSII inactivation is proposed on the basis of the results obtained. By comparison of the predicted and actual levels of PSII photoinactivation, the rate of PSII recovery was estimated from chlorophyll a fluorescence parameters measured during the day for attached cotton leaves exposed to suboptimal morning temperatures in a greenhouse.
The dynamic behavior of multi-dimensional recursive difference equations in floating point arithmetic

First hyper-quadrant, recursive difference equations, which are implemented in floating point format, are analyzed. The problems of zero-convergence and limit cycles are investigated, and bounds for various types of unstable responses are obtained. The introduced analysis is independent of order, dimensionality and the type of floating point format used, and can be applied to any floating point implementation of an m-D linear system. It is proved that any linearly stable m-D difference equation can be implemented in floating point format with an arbitrarily small error bound if the mantissa and exponent length are sufficiently large. >
The use of purified veratrum viride alkaloids in the treatment of essential hypertension.

Abstract Twenty-five patients were treated with Anatensol, a purified extract containing two alkaloids of veratrum viride. In only five patients was a significant, sustained hypotensive response noted. In all of the others the appearance of distressing nausea and vomiting in spite of meticulous attention to dosage prevented adequate trial. Until it has been shown that the relatively noxious alkaloids of veratrum viride effectively alter the long-term course of hypertensive vascular disease and do not merely lower the blood pressure temporarily in an occasional patient, we decry the widespread recommendation and use of these products.
Constraints on unroofing rates in the High Himalaya, eastern Nepal

Thermobarometric data for samples across the Main Central thrust zone in eastern Nepal show an inversion in temperature but not in pressure. These data have been interpreted to represent a portion of the paleogeotherm at the time of Main Central thrust deformation. A 40Ar/39Ar age on hornblende (closure temperature (Tc)=500±50°C) constrains the timing of this deformation to be ∼21±0.2 Ma. The 40Ar/39Ar ages of other minerals (muscovite, Tc=350°C, age (t)=12.0±0.2 Ma; K-feldspar, Tc=220°C, t=8.0±0.2 Ma) from the same location further constrain the cooling history of this region. Together the geochronologic and thermobarometric data yield an average unroofing rate of 1.2±0.6 mm/yr for the High Himalaya of eastern Nepal. Simple thermal models show that these geochronologic and thermobarometric data are consistent with a wide range of different initial geotherms, applied boundary conditions and magnitude of radiogenic heat production. The variation through time of the unroofing rates can only be poorly constrained, however. The unroofing histories were found to be largely insensitive to the details of the assumed initial geotherm, fairly sensitive to the magnitude of radiogenic heat production, and extremely sensitive to the nature of the boundary conditions applied below the fault zone. This study underscores the difficulty in constraining uplift histories on the basis of cooling rates even when thermobarometric data are available to supplement geochronologic constraints on the cooling history of the region.
Prompt nuclear EMP and Synchrotron radiation: a resolution of two approaches

The geomagnetic component of nuclear EMP generated by the prompt (t/sub max//spl sim/2 /spl mu/s) /spl gamma/-ray, neutron, and X-ray radiation from a nuclear explosion has been the subject of intense scrutiny for over 40 years. Recent work by certain members of the scientific community has suggested that a discrepancy exists in the calculations/derivation of nuclear EMP between treatments based on Maxwell's equations and the high-frequency approximation and those derived from a summation over particles emitting synchrotron radiation. In principle, the two approaches should be identical simply because the well-known Lie/spl acute/nard-Wiechert potentials for accelerating particles are derived from Maxwell's equations. In this paper, we start from the Lie/spl acute/nard-Wiechert potentials and derive an expression for nuclear EMP that is identical to previous work based on a solution of Maxwell's equations. Thus, the putative discrepancy between the two approaches is resolved and Maxwell's equations in this regard are again vindicated.
Electrical and thermal analysis of polymer insulator under contaminated surface conditions

Electrical and thermal analysis of a 15 kV silicone rubber distribution insulator was made under contaminated surface conditions. The electric field on the insulator surface and in the surrounding area was determined by using the finite element method technique, while the temperature distribution along the insulator surface was calculated by solving the heat transfer differential equation numerically. A special mathematical treatment was used to reduce the heat transfer equation into a 1-dimensional problem. The effects of initial surface contamination upon the features of electric field was studied. The dependence of the change in insulator surface temperature as a result of leakage current flowing over the contaminated surface on the physical parameters involved in the heat conduction process was studied and is presented in detail.
Knowledge-based navigation of complex information spaces

While the explosion of on-line information has brought new opportunities for finding and using electronic data, it has also brought to the forefront the problem of isolating useful information and making sense of large multidimension information spaces. We have built several developed an approach to building data "tour guides," called FINDME systems. These programs know enough about an information space to be able to help a user navigate through it. The user not only comes away with items of useful information but also insights into the structure of the information space itself. In these systems, we have combined ideas of instance-based browsing, structuring retrieval around the critiquing of previously-retrieved examples, and retrieval strategies, knowledge-based heuristics for finding relevant information. We illustrate these techniques with several examples, concentrating especially on the RENTME system, a FINDME system for helping users find suitable rental apartments in the Chicago metropolitan area.
The effect of high-velocity oxygen fuel, thermally sprayed WC-Co coatings on the high-cycle fatigue of aluminium alloy and steel

Thermally sprayed WC–Co coatings are currently used in numerous contact wear applications in the aircraft, automotive and paper industries. High-cycle fatigue tests were performed at room temperature and 370 °C on SAE 12L14 low-carbon steel and aluminium alloy 2024-T4 thermally sprayed with WC–17 wt% Co using the high-velocity oxygen fuel process. The fatigue life distributions of specimens in the polished, grit-blasted, peened and coated conditions are presented as a function of the probability of failure. Composite beam theory was applied to the coated beam to evaluate the stresses and elastic modulus.The stress–strain curves for the coated and uncoated specimens were used to evaluate the stiffness factor for the aluminium alloy and steel. It is concluded that (i) the coated specimens exhibited significantly high fatigue lives compared with the uncoated specimens, (ii) the mechanisms of deformation for the coated and uncoated aluminium alloy specimens are quite different and (iii) the elastic modulus of the coating plays a significant role in determining the fatigue strength of the coated component. © 1998 Kluwer Academic Publishers
Flexible register management using reference counting

Conventional out-of-order processors that use a unified physical register file allocate and reclaim registers explicitly using a free list that operates as a circular queue. We describe and evaluate a more flexible register management scheme — reference counting. We implement reference counting using a bit-matrix with a column for every physical register and a row for every entity that can hold a physical register, e.g., an in-flight instruction. Columns are NOR'ed together to create a bitvector free list from which registers are allocated using priority encoders. We describe reference counting designs that support micro-architectural techniques including register file power gating, dynamic register move elimination, register file checkpointing, and latency tolerant execution. Performance and circuit simulation show that the energy cost of reference counting is low and is easily recouped by the savings of the techniques it enables.
Sport training using body sensor networks: a statistical approach to measure wrist rotation for golf swing

Athletes in any sports can greatly benefit from feedback systems for improving the quality of their training. In this paper, we present a golf swing training system which incorporates wearable motion sensors to obtain inertial information and provide feedback on the quality of movements. The sensors are placed on a golf club and athlete's body at positions which capture the unique movements of a golf swing. We introduce a quantitative model which takes into consideration signal processing techniques on the collected data and quantifies the correctness of the performed actions. We evaluate the effectiveness of our framework on data obtained from four subjects and discuss ongoing research.
Marangoni Convection in a Photo-Chemically Reacting Liquid

Marangoni convection caused by a photochemical reaction of the type A h" › B in a deep liquid layer is studied. Linear stability analysis is performed and the conditions for Marangoni convection to occur are obtained. It is shown that increasing the rate of the direct reaction, for example, by increasing the light intensity, destabilizes the steady state and causes convective motion of the ∞uid, whereas increasing the rate of the inverse reaction stabilizes the steady state. A weakly nonlinear analysis of the problem is performed that gives conditions for hexagonal convective patters to occur. It is shown that, in the case of small light absorption length, the hexagonal cells correspond to \down"-hexagons.
Pion interferometry of quark-gluon plasma.

Pion interferometry is discussed as a tool for viewing ultrarelativistic heavy-ion collisions. Several dynamical scenarios are considered for the phase transition into quark-gluon plasma. Experimental signatures for a first-order phase transition are predicted for collisions where the produced matter has no initial collective motion. Recommendations for future experiments are made.
Molecular Mechanisms That Differentiate Apoptosis from Programmed Necrosis

Programmed cell death is physiological when disposing of senescent, dysfunctional, or redundant cells, but pathological if these cells cannot be replaced. Mitochondria help determine cell fate as "gatekeepers" of apoptosis and effectors of cell necrosis. Apoptosis was first described 40 years ago this year. Cell suicide (or the less emotionally charged "programmed cell death") impacts organism development, normal organ homeostasis, and degenerative (too much cell death) or metaplastic (too little cell death) diseases. The components of apoptosis signaling through mitochondrial targeted Bcl-2 family proteins and activation of the caspase cascade and its downstream proteases and nucleases are well described. More recently, we have realized that there is a parallel cell death pathway, programmed necrosis, in which calcium cross-talk between endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria causes mitochondrial depolarization, reversal of electron flow through the electron transport chain, and ATP depletion. Since apoptosis and programmed necrosis signaling can occur concurrently in a suicidal cell and are difficult to distinguish using conventional techniques, their relative roles in disease are still being researched and debated. Here, the different molecular mechanisms, effects, and pathophysiological implications of apoptosis and programmed necrosis are reviewed as they relate to heart failure and diabetes mediated by the Bcl-2 family protein, Nix.
A simplified hydrocarbon reaction mechanism for combustion applications

A simplified chemical kinetic reaction mechanism for the combustion of a hydrocarbon fuel is presented and discussed. The observed kinetic behavior of propane combustion as determined in shock tube studies and the calculated kinetic behavior of propane/air mixtures as derived from a detailed propane combustion mechanism were used as a data base for constructing and refining the mechanism. The mechanism contains 13 chemical species and 26 chemical reactions. Numerical studies revealed that the simplified mechanism can reproduce the observed kinetic behavior of propane/air mixtures, including laminar flame speeds, over a wide range of temperatures and pressures. It is anticipated that the mechanism can be used in various combustion applications and provide a more realistic description of the combustion process than can be achieved using global reaction mechanisms.
Overview of mathematical morphology in power systems — A tutorial approach

Use of mathematical morphology (MM) in power system has been reported recently in open literature. However, MM has not been adequately discussed as a filtering tool for power system signals. This paper takes a tutorial-approach and explains the concept of MM, its derivative processes, basic MM based filters and their applications through simple reproducible examples. Characteristics of MM based filters and their associated delays are explained. The paper also shows the effect of varying different filter and signal parameters on the performance of MM based filters. The process of event detection using MM based filters is described as a typical application. Finally, a comprehensive list of the published applications of MM is provided.
Combined treatment for limited small cell lung cancer

Radiation therapy is an important component for the management of limited small cell lung cancer (SCLC) in addition to systemic treatment. The role of surgery is limited for SCLC because of the nature of the disease, which often spreads to regional lymph nodes or spreads distantly. There have been major advances in the treatment of limited-stage SCLC during the past decade because of early application of thoracic radiation therapy (TRT) with concurrent chemotherapy, accelerated TRT, the application of prophylactic cranial irradiation for patients who achieved complete response to concurrent chemotherapy and TRT, and the improvement in supportive care such as discontinuation of tobacco smoking after the diagnosis of SCLC, nutritional support, pain control, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, erythropoietin, and adequate antibiotics. It is important to select patients with limited SCLC who are able to tolerate concurrent chemotherapy and accelerated TRT.
Comparison of Integrated Multisatellite Retrievals for GPM (IMERG) and TRMM Multisatellite Precipitation Analysis (TMPA) Monthly Precipitation Products: Initial Results

AbstractLaunched on 27 February 2014, the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission comprises an international constellation of satellites to provide the next generation of global observations of precipitation. Built upon the success of the widely used TRMM Multisatellite Precipitation Analysis (TMPA) products, the Integrated Multisatellite Retrievals for GPM (IMERG) products continue to make improvements in areas such as spatial and temporal resolutions and snowfall estimates, etc., which will be valuable for research and applications. During the transition from TMPA to IMERG, characterizing the differences between these two product suites is important in order for users to make adjustments in research and applications accordingly. In this study, the newly released IMERG Final Run monthly product is compared with the TMPA monthly product (3B43) in the boreal summer of 2014 and the boreal winter of 2014/15 on a global scale. The results show the IMERG monthly product can capture major heavy precipita...
Tabu Search Principles

This chapter describes concepts and issues that are important for an effective application of the TS methodology and that merit fuller investigation. We begin by re-examining the notion of influence, followed by considering the generation of compound moves. We also expand the description of the proximate optimality principle and introduce a series of additional principles that are relevant for designing better solution procedures
Ablation of Chop Transiently Enhances Photoreceptor Survival but Does Not Prevent Retinal Degeneration in Transgenic Mice Expressing Human P23H Rhodopsin

RHO (Rod opsin) encodes a G-protein coupled receptor that is expressed exclusively by rod photoreceptors of the retina and forms the essential photopigment, rhodopsin, when coupled with 11-cis-retinal. Many rod opsin disease -mutations cause rod opsin protein misfolding and trigger endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, leading to activation of the Unfolded Protein Response (UPR) signal transduction network. Chop is a transcriptional activator that is induced by ER stress and promotes cell death in response to chronic ER stress. Here, we examined the role of Chop in transgenic mice expressing human P23H rhodopsin (hP23H Rho Tg) that undergo retinal degeneration. With the exception of one time point, we found no significant induction of Chop in these animals and no significant change in retinal degeneration by histology and electrophysiology when hP23H Rho Tg animals were bred into a Chop (-/-) background. Our results indicate that Chop does not play a significant causal role during retinal degeneration in these animals. We suggest that other modules of the ER stress-induced UPR signaling network may be involved photoreceptor disease induced by P23H rhodopsin.
Sound velocities in highly oriented pyrolytic graphite shocked to 18 GPa: Orientational order dependence and elastic instability

Previous reports of rapid phase transformation above 18 GPa [Erskine and Nellis, Nature 349, 317 (1991)] and large elastic waves below 18 GPa [Lucas et al., J. Appl. Phys. 114, 093515 (2013)] for shock-compressed ZYB-grade highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG), but not for less oriented ZYH-grade HOPG, indicated a link between the orientational order dependence of the HOPG response above and below the phase transformation stress. To gain insight into this link and into the mechanical response of HOPG shocked to peak stresses approaching the phase transformation onset, the compressibility of ZYB- and ZYH-grade HOPG in the shocked state was examined using front surface impact experiments. Particle velocity histories and sound velocities were measured for peak stresses reaching 18 GPa. Although the locus of the measured peak stress-particle velocity states is indistinguishable for the two grades of HOPG, the measured sound velocities in the peak state reveal significant differences between the two grades. Specifically (1) the measured sound velocities are somewhat higher for ZYH-grade HOPG compared with ZYB-grade HOPG; (2) the measured sound velocities for ZYH-grade HOPG increase smoothly with compression, whereas those for ZYB-grade HOPG exhibit a significant reduction in the compression dependence from 12 GPa to 17 GPa and an abrupt increase from 17 GPa to 18 GPa; and (3) the longitudinal moduli, determined from the measured sound velocities, are smaller than the calculated bulk moduli for ZYB-grade HOPG shocked to peak stresses above 15 GPa, indicating the onset of an elastic instability. The present findings demonstrate that the softening of the longitudinal modulus (or elastic instability) presented here is linked to the large elastic waves and the rapid phase transformation reported previously—all observed only for shocked ZYB-grade HOPG. The elastic instability in shocked ZYB-grade HOPG is likely a precursor to the rapid phase transformation observed above 18 GPa for this HOPG grade.
Incubation of extinction responding and cue-induced reinstatement, but not context- or drug priming-induced reinstatement, after withdrawal from methamphetamine.

In rats trained to self-administer methamphetamine, extinction responding in the presence of drug-associated contextual and discrete cues progressively increases after withdrawal (incubation of methamphetamine craving). The conditioning factors underlying this incubation are unknown. Here, we studied incubation of methamphetamine craving under different experimental conditions to identify factors contributing to this incubation. We also determined whether the rats' response to methamphetamine priming incubates after withdrawal. We trained rats to self-administer methamphetamine in a distinct context (context A) for 14 days (6 hours/day). Lever presses were paired with a discrete light cue. We then tested groups of rats in context A or a different non-drug context (context B) after 1 day, 1 week or 1 month for extinction responding with or without the discrete cue. Subsequently, we tested the rats for reinstatement of drug seeking induced by exposure to contextual, discrete cue, or drug priming (0, 0.25 and 0.5 mg/kg). Operant responding in the extinction sessions in contexts A or B was higher after 1 week and 1 month of withdrawal than after 1 day; this effect was context-independent. Independent of the withdrawal period, operant responding in the extinction sessions was higher when responding led to contingent delivery of the discrete cue. After extinction, discrete cue-induced reinstatement, but not context- or drug priming-induced reinstatement, progressively increased after withdrawal. Together, incubation of methamphetamine craving, as assessed in extinction tests, is primarily mediated by time-dependent increases in non-reinforced operant responding, and this effect is potentiated by exposure to discrete, but not contextual, cues.
Validation of GATE optical transportation with experimental single scintillator dual-end readout data

GATE is open source software for emission tomography Monte Carlo simulation. Since the version 3.0, GATE simulates not only the high energy physics process inside phantoms and detectors, but also the generating and tracking of optical photons as well, which provides a potential useful tool for the block detector design for PET/SPECT. However, while GATE is using standard libraries and constants for high energy interactions provided by Geant4, it lacks of standard models and constants for common materials in the optical photon range, which makes the optical simulation difficult due to the sensitiveness of the output dependence on the optical properties of the materials, such as the refraction index, attenuation length, surface roughness, etc. Users must provide correct optical parameters in order to get meaningful and trustable results. In this study, with the model of a single scintillator coupled to two SiPMs at both ends, we simulate the dual-end DOI decoding using GATE optical transportation function. Different optical parameters are tested and the results are evaluated by published experimental data. The LSO scintillator of 20, 30 and 40 mm length with saw-cut surface roughness are simulated. The results of the DOI decoding ratio, the DOI resolution, the energy resolution and the energy peak shifting are used to evaluate the accuracy of the simulation modeling. Critical parameters for the optical model are found. The Lambertian component is the critical and dominant factor in the surface finish. We also find that additional noises are needed to match the simulations to the real data in terms of DOI and energy resolution. The whole sets of optical parameters that match the simulations to the experiments are obtained. The parameters and the finding in this study will be the important references for future block design using GATE optical transportation simulations.
Nanocasting of Carbon Films with Interdigitated Bimodal Three-Dimensionally Ordered Mesopores by Template-Replica Coassembly

Carbon films with interdigitated bimodal three-dimensionally ordered mesoporosity (ib3DOm) are realized by a scalable nanoreplication process that removes the common need plaguing hard-templating strategies for multistep prefabrication of porous sacrificial templates. Specifically, evaporation-induced convective codeposition of size-tunable (ca. 20–50 nm) silica nanoparticles with a surrogate molecular carbon precursor (glucose), followed by carbonization and template etching, leads to remarkably ordered, crack-free mesoporous carbon films of tunable thickness (ca. 100–1000 nm) and pore size. Association of the molecular carbon precursor with the assembling pore forming particles is found to transition the system among three distinct film morphologies (collapsed, ib3DOm C, disordered), thereby establishing a pseudophase behavior controlled by silica solids content and incipient glucose concentration. Namely, a parametric window wherein ib3DOm C films can be realized is identified, with a diffuse lower pha...
Inflation-Fixation Method for Lipidomic Mapping of Lung Biopsies by Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization-Mass Spectrometry Imaging.

Chronic respiratory diseases are among the leading causes of deaths worldwide and major contributors of morbidity and global disease burden. To appropriately investigate lung disease, the respiratory airways must be fixed in their physiological orientation and should be inflated prior to investigations. We present an inflation-fixation method that enables lipidomic investigations of whole lung samples and resected biopsy specimens by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI-MSI). Formalin-inflation enables sample preparation to parallel standard clinical and surgical procedures, in addition to greatly reducing the complexity of analysis, by decreasing the number of analytes in the MALDI plume and reducing adduct formation in the resulting mass spectra. The reduced complexity increased sensitivity and enabled high-resolution imaging acquisitions without any loss in analyte detection at 10 and 20 μm scans. We present a detailed study of over 100 lipid ions detected in pos...
Abstract 2081: Mechanisms of the acquisition of anoikis resistance in breast cancer: Lessons from small molecule inhibitors

Proceedings: AACR 103rd Annual Meeting 2012‐‐ Mar 31‐Apr 4, 2012; Chicago, IL The Cox-2 inhibitor Celecoxib has been reported to possess chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic properties, specifically in hormonally-regulated tumors. OSU-03012 is a novel celecoxib derivative, with no COX-2 inhibitory activity, but an order of magnitude greater cell killing ability. We here show that this novel compound has a greater cytotoxicity against a model of anoikis-resistant (AnR) breast cancer. In parallel, anoikis resistance reduces AnR cell sensitivity to the ErbB1/2 dual inhibitor Lapatinib (GW572016, Tykerb, GSK). The two compounds synergize in parental breast cancer cells. Cell killing is achieved partially via induction of ER stress, as measured by eIF2-alpha phosphorylation. We have found that lapatinib resistance may be induced by the aberrant splicing of BCL-X, and that the sensitivity to OSU-03012 is likely due to PTEN dysregulation. In conclusion, these data identify a molecule that may be more efficacious against metastatic tumors, and partially defined its mechanism of action. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2081. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-2081
Use of Nitrogen-15-Enriched Escherichia coli as a Bacterial Tracer in Karst Aquifers.

Karst aquifers are susceptible to contamination by microorganisms, but relatively few studies have used bacteria as tracers. We demonstrate the utility of Escherichia coli enriched in the stable isotope nitrogen-15 (15 N) as a novel bacterial tracer. Nonpathogenic E. coli from two springs in central Kentucky were grown on 15 N-enriched media. Survival of E. coli and persistence of the isotopic signal were assessed in two sets of laboratory experiments conducted with sterilized spring water in dark microcosms at 14 °C. First, isotopically labeled bacteria survived for 130 d at concentrations within one log unit of the average initial value, and there was no significant difference in δ15 N values from Day 1 to Day 130. Second, water samples with E. coli were inoculated with either of two different species of protozoa (Tetrahymena pyriformis or Colpoda steinii). During 7 d, δ15 N values increased in T. pyriformis while bacterial populations decreased. In a field test, following a 2.1-cm rainfall, 15 N-labeled E. coli, solutes (rhodamine WT dye and bromide), and latex microspheres were injected into a sinkhole approximately 530 m upgradient of a spring. Breakthrough of all tracers coincided, but microspheres were remobilized by subsequent storms, unlike other tracers. Enriched E. coli exhibited more tailing than solute tracers during the initial storm-flow recession. These results indicate that 15 N-enriched E. coli is a viable tracer of bacterial transport in karst aquifers, although predation may attenuate the isotopic signal in systems that are not rapidly flushed.
Performance Comparison Between a Magnesium- and Xenon-Fueled 2 Kilowatt Hall Thruster

The performance metrics of a 2-kW-class thruster operated using magnesium propellant were measured and compared to the performance of the same thruster operated using xenon propellant. When operated with magnesium at a 7 A discharge current, the thruster had thrust ranging from 34±0.8 mN at 200 V using 1.8 mg/s of propellant to 39±1.5 mN at 300 V using 1.8 mg/s of propellant. The thrust-to-power ratio ranged from 24±0.5 mN/kW at 200 V to 18±0.7 mN/kW at 300 V. At a 200 V discharge voltage, the specific impulse was 1930±49 s at 23±5.0% efficiency (at 7 A using 1.8 mg/s). At a 300 V discharge voltage, the specific impulse was 2420±130 s at 21±6.4% efficiency (at 5 A using 1.1 mg/s). The performance of the thruster using magnesium propellant was compared to xenon performance at matched molar propellant flow rates: 5 mg/s for xenon and 1.1 mg/s for magnesium. The xenon-fueled thruster produced 76±1.5 mN of thrust, with a specific impulse of 1550±70 s, at an efficiency of 40±2.0% compared to the ...
Polycystic ovaries treated by laparoscopic laser vaporization

Eighty-five anovulatory women with polycystic ovaries were treated laparoscopically by argon, carbon dioxide (CO2) or potassium-titanyl-phosphate (KTP) laser vaporization. Ovulation occurred spontaneously postoperatively in 71%. Twenty of 38 (53%) women resistant to standard clomiphene citrate (CC) therapy ovulated spontaneously after laparoscopic laser vaporization of the ovaries. Seventeen of the remaining 18 patients responded to CC postoperatively. Of 47 patients ovulating preoperatively with CC, 40 (85%) ovulated spontaneously postoperatively. Postoperatively, 56% conceived within six months of laparoscopy. This included 58% of postoperative spontaneous ovulators and 52% of postoperative CC stimulated patients. The results suggest that selected patients with polycystic ovaries can be induced to ovulate and subsequently conceive by laparoscopically partially vaporizing their ovaries with laser energy.
Abstract B49: Using small molecule activators of PP2A to negatively regulate c-myc in small cell lung cancer

Treatment for small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is based on combination chemotherapy with a five-year survival of just 10-13% for patients with limited disease. A common molecular alteration in SCLC is the overexpression of MYC family oncogenes, occurring in 18-31% of SCLCs, and more commonly in chemo-refractory disease. Several FDA approved tricyclic antidepressants were recently shown to have efficacy in SCLC cell lines based on G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) mediated effects, and a phase IIa trial is testing one of these compounds. A reverse chemical engineering approach was employed to remove GPCR pharmacology from the tricyclic family of compounds, generating a novel class known as SMAPs, small molecule activators of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A). PP2A is a tumor suppressor with an established negative regulatory action on c-myc. Thus, it was hypothesized that SMAPs could represent a novel treatment approach in SCLC via activation of PP2A with downstream effects on targets including c-myc. A genetic signature score for SMAP efficacy predicted broad activity of these compounds in SCLC and identified myc family pathways as strongly correlated to IC50 in a panel of tumor cell lines. Incubation with the SMAP TRC-794 was shown to induce apoptosis in the SCLC cell lines H82 and H69 as seen by induction of annexin V as well as parp and caspace-3 cleavage. Loss of c-myc in the c-myc amplified cell line H82 was observed in a dose dependent manner at 24hrs. Loss of c-myc was observed by 6 hours of drug treatment in H82 and H2081 cells. Supporting a PP2A dependent mechanism, molecular effects on c-myc in H82 were partially reversed with the phosphatase inhibitor okadaic acid. IC50s for these cell lines were similar to those for a lung adenocarcinoma line with established in vivo sensitivity to TRC-794. TRC-1154, a more potent SMAP, was shown to produce statistically significant tumor growth inhibition compared to vehicle control in a xenograft model when orally dosed at 100mg/kg daily. In summary, SMAPs may represent a viable treatment approach in SCLC, possibly via a PP2A mediated negative regulation of c-myc. Citation Format: Benjamin Jonathan Wolpaw, Goutham Narla, Shashank Cheemalavagu. Using small molecule activators of PP2A to negatively regulate c-myc in small cell lung cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Myc: From Biology to Therapy; Jan 7-10, 2015; La Jolla, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Res 2015;13(10 Suppl):Abstract nr B49.
Catalyst: Design Challenges for the Future of Plastics Recycling

Dr. Jeannette Garcia is a chemist at IBM Research–Almaden. Her research focuses on the rational design of new polymers and materials through sustainable methods and targeting recyclable materials with previously inaccessible properties. Garcia received her PhD in chemistry at Boston College in 2012 under the guidance of Dr. Amir H. Hoveyda and worked with Dr. Jim Hedrick as a postdoctoral researcher until 2013. Garcia is one of MIT Tech Review's 35 Innovators Under 35 for 2015, Business Insider's 17 IBM Research Rock Stars, and the recipient of the World Technology Individual Award in Materials.
Influence of teacher collaboration on job satisfaction and student achievement

Abstract Teacher collaboration consists of many types of activities and interactions. This quantitative study examines how the effects of collaboration differ according to both the type and frequency of collaborative activity. TIMSS data was analyzed to determine whether five indicators of collaboration predicted student achievement, teacher job satisfaction, and teacher confidence in Japan and the United States. Collaboration during lesson planning was a significant predictor of student achievement in the United States. Time spent visiting other classrooms corresponded to higher job satisfaction ratings in the United States. The results provide insight into the effectiveness of different collaborative activities in each nation.
Exploratory analysis of the association of depth of response and survival in patients with metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer treated with a targeted therapy or immunotherapy.

Abstract Background Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) permits rapid evaluation of new therapeutic strategies in cancer. However, RECIST does not capture the heterogeneity of response in highly active therapies. Depth of tumor response may provide a more granular view of response. We explored the association between, depth of response (DepOR), with overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) for patients with NSCLC being treated with an ALK inhibitor (ALKi) or an anti-PD-1 antibody (Ab). Methods Experimental arms from two randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of an ALKi and two RCTs of an anti-PD-1 Ab were separately pooled. Patient responses were grouped into DepOR ‘quartiles’ by percentage of maximal tumor shrinkage (Q1 = 1%–25%, Q2 = 26%–50%, Q3 = 51%–75%, and Q4 = 76%–100%), Q0 had no shrinkage. We carried out a retrospective exploratory responder analysis to evaluate the association between DepOR and OS or PFS using hazard ratios (HR) generated by the Cox proportional hazards model. Results In the pooled ALK analysis there were 12, 39, 70, 144, and 40 patients in quartiles 0–4, respectively. The DepOR versus PFS/OS analyses HR were: 0.19/0.94 for Q1 0.11/0.56 for Q2, 0.05/0.28 for Q3, and 0.03/0.05 for Q4. In the PD-1 trials within quartiles 0–4 there were 168, 70, 44, 45, and 28 patients, respectively. The DepOR versus PFS/OS analyses HR were 0.3/0.52 for Q1, 0.22/0.47 for Q2, 0.09/0.07 for Q3, and 0.07/0.14 for Q4. Conclusions Our analysis suggests a greater DepOR is associated with longer PFS and OS for patients receiving ALKi or anti-PD1 Ab. Overall, this suggests that DepOR may provide an additional outcome measure for clinical trials, and may allow better comparisons of treatment activity.
Crystal Habit, Structure and Incidence in the Urine of a Hospital Population

The number and size of urinary crystals have been proposed to be a factor in the propensity of urine to form renal calculi (1), and yet aside from the publications of Cifuentes (2) little factual data regarding the structure of calcium oxalate crystals in urine is available in the literature. In this paper, we report a study of the crystal habit, structure, size, relative incidence and overall incidence in the urine of patients seen in a large hospital. The methods employed consisted of light microscopy, polarized light microscopy, x-ray diffraction, electron microprobe and Auger spectroscopic analysis.