cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Chromosomes and causation of human cancer and leukemia XVI. Banding studies of chronic myelocytic leukemia, including five unusual Ph1 translocations

Forty-two Ph1-positive cases of chronic myelocytic leukemia (CML) were examined with chromosomal banding techniques. Thirty-seven of these cases had the "standard" type of Ph1 translocation between chromosomes No. 9 and No. 22 [t(9;22)(q34;q11)] in the Ph1-positive marrow cells; 5 cases had unusual types of Ph1 translocation. Of the 37 cases, 21 had additional numerical and/or structural chromosomal changes, 2 had a missing Y chromosome, and 1 had an extra Ph1 in the Ph1-positive cells. In the 5 cases with unusual types of Ph1 translocation, chromosomes No. 2, No. 9 No. 10, and No. 13 were involved. The clinical picture in these 5 patients did not differ materially from that of the other Ph1-positive patients with CML, probably indicating that the recipient chromosome, with which the translocation from No. 22 takes place, does not play a crucial role in the course of the CML. In the 21 cases with abnormal karyotypes, nonrandom chromosomal changes were observed. Most of the changes were related to events occurring at the centromeric region. The prognosis of cases with only an extra No. 8 or Ph1 appears to be better than that for cases with an iso-17q [I(17a)] chromosome or other extra chromosomes. The presence of the Ph1 (delected No. 22) in every case points to the essentiality of this karyotypic findings in the diagnosis of CML and possibly in the genesis of the disease.
P‐53: A MisAddressing‐Free Triangular Color‐pixel Arrangement Structure for High Efficacy ACPDPs

We observed the phosphor emissions and the mis-addressing discharge in a Triangular Color-pixel Arrangement structure that occurs more frequently in higher Xe contents. By analyzing the observed emissions and mis-addressing phenomenon, we developed a misaddressing-free 50-inch XGA TCA Triangular Color-pixel Arrangement structure which also showed the higher efficacy characteristics.
Adenylyl Cyclase Type 6 Deletion Decreases Left Ventricular Function via Impaired Calcium Handling

Background— Adenylyl cyclases (ACs) are a family of effector molecules for G-protein–coupled receptors. The 2 ACs most abundantly expressed in cardiac myocytes are types 5 (AC5) and 6 (AC6), which ...
Dissolution of uranyl and plutonyl borates: Influences of crystalline structures and aqueous ligands

Abstract Novel crystalline actinide materials can be used to immobilize uranium and transuranium elements at radioactive waste disposal sites. However, the stability and dissolution of such phases are still poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the dissolution kinetics of two uranyl borates and one plutonyl borate, UO 2 B 2 O 4 (UBO), Na[(UO 2 )B 6 O 10 (OH)]·2H 2 O (NaUBO), and PuO 2 [B 8 O 11 (OH) 4 ] (PuBO), with three different ligands, i.e., bicarbonate, phosphate, and natural humic acid (HA). These actinide borates were chosen because they possess different topologies that may influence dissolution. In the presence of bicarbonate, the apparent steady-state concentration of dissolved U(VI) and surface area-normalized dissolution rates were much higher for UBO compared to NaUBO. Uranyl phosphate, most likely in the form of (UO 2 ) 3 (PO 4 ) 2 (H 2 O) 4 , was precipitated on the surface of residual particles of UBO and NaUBO with phosphate. The dissolution rate of PuBO in NaNO 3 solution was much higher than UBO or NaUBO. This study revealed that actinide borate crystal dissolution was substantially influenced by crystalline structures of actinide borates and aqueous ligands.
Natural selection on the Drosophila antimicrobial immune system

The evolutionary dynamics of immune defenses have long attracted interest because of the special role the immune system plays in mediating the antagonistic interaction between hosts and pathogens. The antimicrobial immune system of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster is genetically well characterized and serves as a valuable model for studying insect and human innate immune defenses. I review here evolutionary and comparative genomic analyses of insect antimicrobial immune genes, with an emphasis on Drosophila. Core signal transduction pathways in the immune system are orthologously conserved across long evolutionary distances, but genes in these pathways evolve rapidly and adaptively at the amino acid sequence level. By contrast, families of genes encoding antimicrobial peptides are remarkably dynamic in genomic duplication and deletion, yet individual genes show little indication of adaptive sequence evolution. Pattern recognition receptors that trigger humoral immunity are evolutionarily rather static, but receptors required for phagocytosis show considerable genomic rearrangement and adaptive sequence divergence. The distinct evolutionary patterns exhibited by these various classes of immune system genes can be logically connected to the functions of the proteins they encode.
Analytical Charge Analysis for Two- and Three-Craft Coulomb Formations

determined for two- and three-craft formations. These static formations are relative equilibriums of the charged relative orbits. Applying the necessary conditions regarding the formation center-of-mass and principal inertias, closed-form charge solutions are developed for linear two-craft formations, as well as linear and equilateral triangle three-craft geometries. The orientations for which the required spacecraft charges are real and constant are investigated. Finally, a general method is outlined to compute required products of spacecraft charges for a formation of N craft.
A lane departure warning system based on the integration of the optical flow and hough transform methods

Development of various techniques such as lane departure warning (LDW) systems can improve traffic safety significantly. A lane departure warning system should be able to detect when the driver is in danger of departing the road and then trigger an alarm to warn the driver early enough to take corrective action. This paper presents the development of a prototype LDW system. It is mainly an image-based approach to find the vehicle's lateral characteristics and then uses that information to establish an operation algorithm to determine whether a warning signal should be issued based on the status of the vehicle deviating from its heading lane. The system developed takes a mixed approach by integrating the Lucas-Kanade (L-K) optical flow and the Hough transform-based lane detection methods in its implementation. The L-K point tracking is used when the lane boundaries cannot be detected, while the lane detection technique is used when they become available. Even though both techniques are used in the system, only one method is activated at any given time because each technique has its own advantages and also disadvantages. The developed LDW system was road tested on I-35, US-53, and several rural highways. Overall, the system operates correctly as expected with a false alarm occurred only roughly about 1.18% of the operation time. This paper presents the system implementation together with findings.
FileWall: A Firewall for Network File Systems

Access control in network file systems relies on primitive mechanisms like access control lists and permission bits, which are not enough when operating in a hostile network environment. Network middleboxes, e.g., firewalls, completely ignore file system semantics when defining policies. Therefore, implementing simple context-aware access policies requires modifications to file servers and/or clients, which is impractical. We present FileWall, a network middlebox that allows administrators to define context-aware access policies for file systems using both the network context and the file system context. FileWall interposes on the client-server network path and implements administrator defined policies through message transformation without modifying either clients or servers. In this paper, we present the design and implementation of FileWall for the NFS protocol. Our evaluation demonstrates that FileWall imposes minimal overheads for common file system operations, even under heavy loads.
Evaluating reliability improvements of fault tolerant VLSI processor arrays

An important and meaningful criterion for evaluating a VLSI processor array incorporating an ABFT (algorithm-based fault tolerance) technique is identified. A reliability model which can be used to accurately compute the reliability improvement of a fault-tolerant processor array is established. Examples showing that, when an ABFT technique is incorporated, the reliability improvement depends on the size of the processor array, the nature of the failure, and the failure rate are presented. Therefore, by using the reliability model and methods discussed here, a system designer will be able to determine whether it is beneficial to incorporate an ABFT technique a priori. Moreover, if the reliability of an ABFT processor array cannot meet the specified requirement, the proposed method can also be used as a guide to partition it into smaller ones so that this ABFT technique is still effective and a minimal amount of overhead is introduced. >
Magnetization transfer effects in MR-detected multiple sclerosis lesions: Comparison with gadolinium-enhanced spin-echo images and nonenhanced T1- weighted images

PURPOSE To define the relationship between magnetization transfer and blood-brain-barrier breakdown in multiple sclerosis lesions using gadolinium enhancement as an index of the latter. METHODS Two hundred twenty lesions (high-signal abnormalities on T2-weighted images) in 35 multiple sclerosis patients were studied with gadolinium-enhanced spin-echo imaging and magnetization transfer. Lesions were divided into groups having nodular or uniform enhancement, ring enhancement, or no enhancement after gadolinium administration. For 133 lesions, T1-weighted images without contrast enhancement were also analyzed. These lesions were categorized as isointense or hypointense based on their appearance on the unenhanced T1-weighted images. RESULTS There was no difference between the magnetization transfer ratio (MTR) of lesions as a function of enhancement. MTR of hypointense lesions on unenhanced T1-weighted images was, however, lower than the MTR of isointense lesions. CONCLUSION We speculate that diminished MTR may reflect diminished myelin content and that hypointensity on T1-weighted images corresponds to demyelination. Central regions of ring-enhancing lesions had a lower MTR than the periphery, suggesting that demyelination in multiple sclerosis lesions occurs centrifugally. In addition, the short-repetition-time pulse sequence seems useful in the evaluation of myelin loss in patients with multiple sclerosis.
Cell lineage patterns in maize embryogenesis: a clonal analysis

The embryonic cell lineage of the shoot meristem in maize (Zea mays L.) has been characterized using clonal analysis. Although there is considerable variability in the size and distribution of somatic sectors induced at a given time in embryogenesis, the fate of meristematic initials is not entirely random. During embryogenesis the number of cells in the presumptive shoot meristem increases and their fate becomes progressively more restricted. Cells toward the periphery of the presumptive meristem give rise to the lower nodes of the plant, while central cells form more distal nodes. Cell lineages become restricted to single nodes starting at the base of the plant, indicating that restriction of cell fate progresses from the periphery towards the center of the meristem. The number of twin shoots produced by X irradiation declines dramatically between 8 and 10 days after pollination, and is preceded by an acropetal progression in the level at which twinning occurs. This phenomenon suggests that the shoot meristem becomes determined gradually and that this process is completed between 8 and 10 days after pollination; i.e., just prior to or during the transition stage of development. At this stage the shoot primordium consists of 100–200 cells encompassing two or more cell layers of the embryo. The orientation of sectors that saddle the shoot (extend from one side of the shoot to the other) demonstrates that the shoot meristem arises from a region of the embryo containing longitudinally oriented cell files and that this cell pattern is at least partially preserved during shoot initation.
Low Overexpression of HER-2/Neu in Advanced Colorectal Cancer Limits the Usefulness of Trastuzumab (Herceptin®) and Irinotecan as Therapy. A Phase II Trial

Background: To determine the response rate of trastuzumab and irinotecan in HER-2/neu overexpressing advanced colorectal cancer (CRC), determine the frequency of HER-2/neu expression in CRC, and evaluate the pharmacokinetics of trastuzumab in a phase II study. Patients and Methods: Patients were screened for HER-2/neu by immunohistochemistry (DAKO HercepTest™). Prior chemotherapy was limited to one regimen. Trastuzumab was administered weekly (loading dose of 4 mg/kg IV and 2 mg/kg thereafter). Irinotecan 125 mg/m2, IV was administered weekly for 4 weeks with a 2-week rest period. Results: HER-2/neu overexpression was detected in 11 of 138 (8.0%) of screened tumors (2 + in 5 and 3 + in 6 patients). Nine patients were entered in the study; 6 had received prior chemotherapy. Partial responses were seen in 5 of 7 evaluable patients. Grade 3–4 toxicities in 31 cycles of therapy included diarrhea (19%), nausea (10%), and vomiting (6%). Leukopenia occurred in 6%, and congestive heart failure and acute renal fai...
Does social support impact depression in caregivers of adults ageing with spinal cord injuries

Objective:The objective of this study was to examine the role of social support in predicting depression in caregivers of adults aging with spinal cord injuries.Design:Cross-sectional secondary data analyses were conducted for this study.Setting:Participants were recruited from multiple community locations in Pittsburgh, PA and Miami, FL.Subjects:Community-dwelling caregivers of aging adults with spinal cord injuries (N = 173) were interviewed as part of a multisite randomized controlled trial.Main measures:The Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale measured caregiver depression symptom levels. A hierarchical multiple regression analysis examined the effect of social support (social integration, received social support, and negative social interactions) on depressive symptom levels for the caregivers of adults aging with spinal cord injuries, controlling for demographic characteristics, and caregiving characteristics.Results:Caregivers were, on average, 53 years old (SD = 15) and care-recipie...
INFECTIVITY OF INFLUENZA VIRUS AEROSOLS.

The PR8 strain of influenza virus can remain viable in ageing aerosols for considerable periods (Harper, 1961). However, viability of micro-organisms determined by their growth in vitro may not indicate their ability to infect animals via the respiratory route (Schlamm, 1960; Hood, 1961). If influenza is normally transmitted via this route it is epidemiologically important to establish whether any correlation exists between viability as measured by in vitro or in ovo methods and respiratory infectivity for a susceptible animal host. Previous reports on respiratory infectivity of aged influenza virus aerosols by Edward, Elford & Laidlaw (1943), Loosli, Lemon, Robertson & Appel (1943a) and Loosli, Robertson & Puck (1943b) lack such a comparison.
Wavelet-Transform-Based Power Management of Hybrid Vehicles with Multiple On-board Energy Sources Including Fuel Cell, Battery and Ultracapacitor

A wavelet-transform-based strategy is proposed for the power management of hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) with multiple on-board energy sources and energy storage systems including a battery, a fuel cell, and an ultra-capacitor. The proposed wavelet-transform algorithm is capable of identifying the high-frequency transient and real time power demand of the HEV, and allocating power components with different frequency contents to corresponding sources to achieve an optimal power management control algorithm. By using the wavelet decomposition algorithm, a proper combination can be achieved with a properly sized ultra-capacitor dealing with the chaotic high-frequency components of the total power demand, while the fuel cell and battery deal with the low and medium frequency power demand. Thus the system efficiency and life expectancy can be greatly extended. Simulation and experimental results validated the effectiveness of wavelet-transform-based power management algorithm.
Control of Rectification and Gating of Cloned KATP Channels by the Kir6.2 Subunit

KATP channels are a functional complex of sulphonylurea receptor (SUR1, SUR2) and inward rectifier K+ (Kir6.1, Kir6.2) channel subunits. We have studied the role of the putative pore forming subunit (Kir6.2) in regulation of rectification and gating of KATP channels generated by transfection of SUR1 and Kir6.2 cDNAs in COSm6 cells. In the absence of internal polyvalent cations, the current-voltage relationship is sigmoidal. Mg2+ or spermine4+ (spm) each induces a mild inward rectification. Mutation of the asparagine at position 160 in Kir6.2 to aspartate (N160D) or glutamate (N160E) increases the degree of rectification induced by Mg2+ or spermine4+, whereas wild-type rectification is still observed after mutation to other neutral residues (alanine–N160A, glutamine–N160Q). These results are consistent with this residue lining the pore of the channel and contributing to the binding of these cations, as demonstrated for the equivalent site in homomeric ROMK1 (Kir1.1) channels. Since Kir6.2 contains no consensus ATP binding site, whereas SUR1 does, inhibition by ATP has been assumed to depend on interactions with SUR1. However, we found that the [ATP] causing half-maximal inhibition of current (Ki) was affected by mutation of N160. Channels formed from N160D or N160Q mutant subunits had lower apparent sensitivity to ATP (Ki,N160D = 46.1 μM; Ki,N160Q = 62.9 μM) than wild-type, N160E, or N160A channels (Ki = 10.4, 17.7, 6.4 μM, respectively). This might suggest that ATP binding to the channel complex was altered, although examination of channel open probabilities indicates instead that the residue at position 160 alters the ATP-independent open probability, i.e., it controls the free energy of the open state, thereby affecting the “coupling” of ATP binding to channel inhibition. The results can be interpreted in terms of a kinetic scheme whereby the residue at Kir6.2 position 160 controls the rate constants governing transitions to and from the open state, without directly affecting ATP binding or unbinding transitions.
Penetration of industrial country markets by agricultural products from developing countries

Approximately 55 percent of food and 60 percent of non-food agricultural exports of the developing countries are sold in industrial country markets. Market access is therefore important. While the developing countries have been able to increase the market penetration of their manufactured exports in industrial countries at a remarkable rate of approximately 8 percent in the 1970s, market penetration in agricultural commodities has generally been less successful. From 1970 to 1980 the developing countries were able to increase their market penetration in processed agricultural commodities from 3.5 to 3.7 percent, which amounts to an average annual increase of only 0.6 percent. In basic agricultural products like sugar, maize, tomatoes and beef, they even incurred losses in their market share that corresponded to an increase in the degree of self-sufficiency of the industrial countries, in particular the European Community.
The effects of hormone replacement therapy on hypothalamic neuropeptide gene expression in a primate model of menopause

Menopause is associated with increased neurokinin B (NKB) gene expression and decreased proopiomelanocortin (POMC) gene expression in the human hypothalamus. In the present study, young, ovariectomized cynomolgus monkeys were used in a model of menopause to examine the effects of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on hypothalamic neuropeptide gene expression. A secondary goal was to determine whether HRT produces signs of estrogen toxicity in the primate hypothalamus by examining POMC neurons and microglial cells. In situ hybridization was performed using synthetic, radiolabeled, 48-base oligonucleotide probes. Alpha-napthyl butyrate esterase histochemistry was used to visualize microglial cells. Both estrogen and estrogen plus progesterone treatments produced a marked suppression of the number of infundibular neurons expressing NKB gene transcripts. In contrast, HRT had no effect on the POMC system of neurons or the number of microglial cells in the infundibular nucleus. These results provide strong support for the hypothesis that the increased NKB gene expression in the hypothalamus of postmenopausal women is secondary to estrogen withdrawal. Conversely, these data suggest that the dramatic decline in the numbers of neurons expressing POMC gene transcripts in older women is caused by factors other than ovarian failure. Finally, we found no evidence that HRT, in doses designed to mimic currently prescribed regimens, produces signs of estrogen toxicity in the primate infundibular nucleus.
Fractional Programming with Homogeneous Functions

This paper extends the well known results for linear fractional programming to the class of programming problems involving the ratio of nonlinear functionals subject to nonlinear constraints, where the constraints are homogeneous of degree one and the functionals are homogeneous of degree one to within a constant. Two rather general auxiliary problems are developed, and the relations between the solutions of the auxiliary problems and the solutions of the original problem are codified. Applications of the results for specific problems are also presented.
Model Calibration and Issues Related to Validation, Sensitivity Analysis, Post-audit, Uncertainty Evaluation and Assessment of Prediction Data Needs

When simulating natural and engineered groundwater flow and transport systems, one objective is to produce a model that accurately represents important aspects of the true system. However, using direct measurements of system characteristics, such as hydraulic conductivity, to construct a model often produces simulated values that poorly match observations of the system state, such as hydraulic heads, flows and concentrations (for example, Barth et al., 2001). This occurs because of inaccuracies in the direct measurements and because the measurements commonly characterize system properties at different scales from that of the model aspect to which they are applied. In these circumstances, the conservation of mass equations represented by flow and transport models can be used to test the applicability of the direct measurements, such as by comparing model simulated values to the system state observations. This comparison leads to calibrating the model, by adjusting the model construction and the system properties as represented by model parameter values, so that the model produces simulated values that reasonably match the observations.
An evaluation of myelography in the diagnosis of intervertebral-disc lesions in the low back.

1. Myelograms have been performed in 253 cases of low-back pain with or without sciatica; 206 patients operated upon and the spinal canal was explored. 2. One hundred and thirty-seven positive and twelve negative myelograms were confirmed at operation. 3. Minor discrepancies were noted in seventeen cases or 8.3 per cent., and major discrepancies in forty cases or 19.4 per cent. 4. In 230 cases, 3.3 cubic centimeters of pantopaque was used with ten reactions. In twenty-three cases, larger amounts (6.6 to 17 cubic centimeters) were used with six reactions or 26 per cent. Use of more than 3.3 cubic centimeters was found to be of doubtful value and, even though most of the medium can be removed, the technique is not to be recommended because of the higher incidence of reactions. 5. The presence of an intervertebral-disc lesion and its probable location should be determined from the history and physical examination. If operative treatment is decided upon, the patient may or may not be subjected to a preoperative myelogram. 6. Such a myelogram is a valuable aid in diagnosis and may be a decisive factor in borderline cases. In cases in which operation is clearly indicated, a negative myelogram should be ignored.
The influence of pk/pd on the structure of optimal controls in cancer chemotherapy models.

Mathematical models for cancer chemotherapy as optimal control problems are considered. Results on scheduling optimal therapies when the controls represent the effectiveness of chemotherapeutic agents, or, equivalently, when the simplifying assumption is made that drugs act instantaneously, are compared with more realistic models that include pharmacokinetic (PK) equations modelling the drug's plasma concentration and various pharmacodynamic (PD) models for the effect the concentrations have on cells.
Roughness -Induced Transition, Experiment and Modeling

Surface roughness can have a profound effect on boundary layer transition and there is a vast empirical literature on this topic. However, the mechanisms responsible for transition with three-dimensional distributed roughness have been elusive. Various T-S based mechanisms have been investigated in the past but have been shown not to be applicable. More recently, the applicability of transient growth theory to roughness induced transition has been studied and a model developed that makes use of computational results based on the spatial transient growth theory. The resulting transition relations account for the separate roles of roughness height, Mach number and surface temperature level on the transition behavior. These results and also roughness receptivity issues are here reviewed.
Predictors of success on the American Board for Certification's prosthetics certification examination.

Background:Many factors can potentially impact pass or fail performance of a certification examination. While studies regarding predictors of success have been conducted in other professions, no su...
251 ENDOGENOUS EXPRESSION OF INTERLEUKIN-1 RECEPTOR ANTAGONIST ISOFORMS BY MURINE MESENCHYMAL STEM CELLS.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are pluripotent cells derived from the bone marrow possessing a very high potential to regulate the cellular microenvironment due to expression of a vast array of cytokines, chemokines, and adhesion factors. The objective of this study was to characterize the expression and biological activity of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1rn) in immunodepleted murine mesenchymal stem cells (IDmMSCs). We hypothesized that expression of IL-1rn by IDmMSCs may explain, in part, their immunomodulatory activity and ability to ameliorate various injuries/disease states. IL-1rn production of the IDmMSCs was compared with a multipotent murine MSC line, CRL-12424. Screening of an IDmMSC cDNA library by PCR confirmed expression of transcripts corresponding to IL-1rn. To directly evaluate protein expression, IDmMSCs were isolated from bone marrow collected from the long bones of FVB/n mice via immunodepletion. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) quantitatively demonstrated that IDmMSCs produced high levels of the secreted isoform of IL-1rn (sIL-1rn). Production of sIL-1rn in IDmMSCs was fivefold higher than the CRL-12424 cells, with the average secretion of the IDmMSCs totaling 1 ng/mL/cell. Immunofluorescence staining further revealed that intracellular IL-1rn (icIL-1rn) expression was restricted to specific subpopulations of IDmMSCs, and FACS analysis confirmed that 24% of IDmMSCs expressed the protein. Interestingly, FACS analysis of the depleted cell populations demonstrated no expression of icIL-1rn, indicating that expression is specific and limited to the IDmMSCs subpopulation. An in vitro T-cell proliferation assay was employed to demonstrate that conditioned medium from IDmMSCs, containing IL-1rn, inhibited the ability of IL-1α to induce proliferation of the T cells. The results of the assay showed that sIL-1rn in the conditioned media of IDmMSCs completely inhibited T-cell proliferation. Collectively, these results demonstrate that subpopulations of IDmMSCs express high levels of IL-1rn and that this protein can inhibit T-cell proliferation. By counteracting the effects of IL-1 in vivo, IL-1rn may regulate T-cell proliferation and bone metabolism. Additionally, these findings implicate that IL-1rn expression contributes to the immunomodulatory effects of MSCs, as demonstrated in the amelioration of various injuries such as bleomycin-induced lung injury, perhaps via immunomodulation of the cellular microenvironment.
The Hemocompatibility Tests for the Single Blood Cell Separator

The single blood cell separator is the medical devices used in collecting and separating human blood components.To ensure the products clinical use safety and effectiveness,the hemocompatibility tests were conducted.Three major components: the flexible pipeline,pump line and collecting bag were chosen for the samples,and the same type imports products for the negative reference material.According to the GB/T 16886.4-2003 and the GB/T14233.2-2005,the hemolysis test,the partial thrombo plastin time test and the blood platelet aggregation assay were conducted.The results showed that the hemolysis ratios of the samples were below than 5 percent.There were no significant differences in the partial thrombo plastin time and the platelet maximum aggregation rate between the samples and the negative reference materials(P0.05).The results indicated that there were little harmful effects of the single blood cell separator on the red blood cells,the coagulation system and the platelet function.The product had good hemocompatibility.
Out and healthy: Being more "out" about a concealable stigmatized identity may boost the health benefits of social support.

This research examined whether the relationship between perceived social support and health would be moderated by level of outness for people living with different concealable stigmatized identitie...
Information Theoretic Question Asking to Improve Spatial Semantic Representations

In this paper, we propose an algorithm that enables robots to improve their spatial-semantic representation of the environment by engaging users in dialog. The algorithm aims to reduce the entropy in maps formulated based upon user-provided natural language descriptions (e.g., "The kitchen is down the hallway"). The robot's available information-gathering actions take the form of targeted questions intended to reduce the entropy over the grounding of the user's descriptions. These questions include those that query the robot's local surround (e.g., "Are we in the kitchen?") as well as areas distant from the robot (e.g., "Is the lab near the kitchen?"). Our algorithm treats dialog as an optimization problem that seeks to balance the information-theoretic value of candidate questions with a measure of cost associated with dialog. In this manner, the method determines the best questions to ask based upon expected entropy reduction while accounting for the burden on the user. We evaluate the entropy reduction based upon a joint distribution over a hybrid metric, topological, and semantic representation of the environment learned from user-provided descriptions and the robot's sensor data. We demonstrate that, by asking deliberate questions of the user, the method results in significant improvements in the accuracy of the resulting map.
A prognostic model for resectable soft tissue and cutaneous angiosarcoma.

BACKGROUND Angiosarcoma is an aggressive tumor rising in incidence from use of therapeutic radiation. Because of its relative rarity, prognostic factors have not been clearly delineated. METHODS Patients who underwent resection of localized angiosarcoma from 2002 to 2012 were identified using the National Cancer Data Base. Factors associated with poor overall survival (OS) were identified using Cox proportional hazards modeling and internally validated with bootstrap resampling. These were used to construct a risk model to identify low-, intermediate-, or high-risk groups. RESULTS Median OS among 821 patients undergoing resection was 3.4 years. On multivariable analysis of factors known preoperatively, those associated with worse OS included: age >70 years (HR 2.02, P 7 cm (HR 2.37, P < 0.0001). After including postoperative variables, positive resection margins were associated with worse OS (microscopic, HR 1.59, P = 0.002; macroscopic, HR 3.38, P = 0.008). Stratification by risk group was superior to AJCC stage in discriminating OS. CONCLUSIONS In the largest study to date of patients with angiosarcoma, risk factors for poor OS were identified to create a clinically useful risk model that can prognosticate patients with localized disease following surgical resection. J. Surg. Oncol. 2016;114:557-563. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The Khuri representation and its use in studying low-energy π-N scattering in theJ=3/2,I=3/2 statescattering in theJ=3/2,I=3/2 state

Given the experimental data for low-energy π-N scattering in the (3/2, 3/2) state the threshold behaviour of the residue function (β) is deduced for the Regge trajectory (α) on which the (3/2, 3/2) resonance lies. In order to avoid a threshold infinity in the residue function a restriction must be placed on Reα evaluated at threshold. With the threshold behavior deduced for (β) a new effective-range formula is deduced for low-energy π-N scattering in the (3/2, 3/2) state. The analysis is based on the Khuri-Udgaonkar method for studying low-energy scattering of strongly interacting particles and can be extended to any resonant state where competing inelastic channels can be neglected.
Drought response transcriptomes are altered in poplar with reduced tonoplast sucrose transporter expression

Transgenic Populus tremula x alba (717-1B4) plants with reduced expression of a tonoplast sucrose efflux transporter, PtaSUT4, exhibit reduced shoot growth compared to wild type (WT) under sustained mild drought. The present study was undertaken to determine whether SUT4-RNAi directly or indirectly altered poplar predisposition and/or response to changes in soil water availability. While sucrose and hexose levels were constitutively elevated in shoot organs, expression responses to drought were most altered in the root tips of SUT4-RNAi plants. Prior to any drought treatment, constitutively elevated transcript levels of abscisic acid biosynthetic genes and bark/vegetative storage proteins suggested altered metabolism in root tips of RNAi plants. Stronger drought-stimulation of stress-inducible genes encoding late-embryogenesis-abundant proteins in transgenic roots was consistent with increased vulnerability to soil drying. Transcript evidence suggested an RNAi effect on intercellular water trafficking by aquaporins in stem xylem during soil drying and recovery. Co-expression network analysis predicted altered integration of abscisic acid sensing/signaling with ethylene and jasmonate sensing/signaling in RNAi compared to WT roots. The overall conclusion is that steepened shoot-root sugar gradient in RNAi plants increased sensitivity of root tips to decreasing soil water availability.
Venous Thromboembolic Prophylaxis in Foot and Ankle Surgery: A Review of Current Literature and Practice.

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a well-known and feared complication following foot and ankle surgery, as it is a source of morbidity and mortality in the perioperative phase. The most recent CHEST...
Abstract 213: Deletion of 12/15 Lipoxygenase and Fatty Acids Interaction Alters Leukocyte Kinetics Leading to Improved Healing Following Myocardial Infarction

The 12/15 lipoxygenase (LOX) enzyme catalyzes oxygenation of fatty acids to form lipid mediators leading to non-resolving inflammation. However, how 12/15LOX interacts with PUFA (polyunsaturated fatty acids) in post-myocardial infarction (MI) cardiac healing is unclear. Here we assessed the role of 12/15LOX in post-MI cardiac remodeling in a PUFA (10% w/w, 22 Kcal) enriched environment. C57BL/6J wild-type (WT) and 12/15LOX null (12/15LOX –/– ) male mice of 8-12-weeks age were fed PUFA-enriched diet for 1 month and subjected to permanent coronary artery ligation. Post-MI mice were monitored for day (d)1 or d5 along with standard diet (SD)-fed MI controls. No-MI surgery mice served as d0 controls. 12/15LOX and PUFA+12/15LOX -/- mice reduced infarcted wall thinning with decreased lung edema index at d5 post-MI (all p -/- mice showed improved ejection fraction with reduced left ventricle (LV) hypertrophy index than SD+WT at d5 post-MI (p -/- mice at d1 post-MI (P -/- alone and PUFA+12/15LOX -/- mice, with increases in expression of formyl peptide receptor 2 at d5 post-MI. The macrophage density was decreased in PUFA+WT and 12/15LOX -/- mice compared with their respective SD+WT control at d5 post-MI. PUFA+12/15LOX -/- mice displayed an increased expression of ccl2 (all p -/- mice with increased levels of 9-and 13-hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid indicating improved resolution of inflammation at d5 post-MI. The PUFA+12/15LOX -/- mice displayed higher expression of proresolving macrophages ym-1, mrc-1 and arg-1 compared with SD+12/15LOX -/- mice at d5 post-MI (all p -/- mice with or without PUFA showed reduced collagen deposition at d5 post-MI compared to SD+WT. In conclusion, deletion of 12/15LOX and short-term PUFA exposure attenuated cardiac remodeling via shortening the pro-inflammatory window, thus leading to an improved resolution of inflammation and LV function post-MI.
Severity of ineffective esophageal motility is associated with utilization of skeletal muscle relaxant medications.

Background Ineffective esophageal motility (IEM) is the most common finding on high-resolution esophageal manometry (HREM). The underlying mechanisms for IEM remain to be fully elucidated. The aim of this study was to determine if utilization of skeletal muscle relaxants is associated with IEM, and with more severe subtypes of the disorder. Methods Patients with diagnosis of IEM were gender and age matched to patients with normal HREM. Demographic information, symptoms, endoscopic findings, medication usage and medical comorbidities were recorded. Patients with a diagnosis of IEM were divided into subgroups based on mean distal contractile integral (DCI) and percentage of ineffective swallows, and assessed for clinically significant differences among patients with varying severity of underlying IEM. Key Results A total of 118 patients were included in each group. There were no significant clinical differences between the group of patients with IEM and the group of patients with normal manometry. Within the group of IEM patients, those with mean DCI < 250 mm Hg/s/cm were more likely to be prescribed skeletal muscle relaxants (27.8% vs 11.0%, P = .044), and those using skeletal muscle relaxants had a larger mean percentage of ineffective swallows (81.1% vs 71.5%, P = .029). There were no significant differences across mean DCI subgroups in usage of any other medication, or in any of the demographic variables or disease comorbidities examined in this study. Conclusions & Inferences Use of skeletal muscle relaxants is associated with more severe IEM, which may suggest a causal association between this class of medications and weaker esophageal peristalsis.
Interpreting Stress Sensitivity in the Multiple Stress Creep and Recovery Test

AbstractThe original intent of the Jnrdiff limit applied to multiple stress creep and recovery test results was to ensure that an asphalt binder does not fail if, under real-world application, it e...
Separation and characterization of cellulose nanocrystals by multi-detector asymmetrical-flow field-flow fractionation

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) are renewable, naturally derived polymeric nanomaterials receiving substantial attention for a wide range of potential applications. The recent availability of high quality reference materials will facilitate the development and validation of measurement methods needed to advance the scientific and commercial use of CNCs. In the present study, we demonstrate an optimized method to fractionate CNCs with narrow size dispersion based on asymmetrical-flow field-flow fractionation (AF4) coupled with on-line multi-angle light scattering (MALS), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and differential refractometry (dRI). A stable suspension of CNC (Certified Reference Material CNCD-1, National Research Council-Canada) in deionized water was prepared using a dispersion method provided by NRC and adopted from a protocol originally developed at the National Institute of Standards and Technology. The as-prepared material was initially characterized in batch mode to validate the NRC dispersion method. AF4 was then optimized for channel and cross flow, mobile phase composition, and injection volume, among other parameters. Additionally, suspensions containing (1.25-10) mg mL-1 CNC were injected directly into the dRI detector (off-line), yielding a dn/dc value of 0.148 ± 0.003 mL g-1. dRI was then used as an on-line mass sensitive detector to quantify recovery. Results show that maximum recovery (≈ 99%) was achieved under optimized conditions. The weight-averaged molar mass (Mw) was estimated at roughly 107 Da from a partial Zimm analysis. The optical radius of gyration, Rg, and the hydrodynamic radius, Rh, were measured during elution. The shape factor (Rg/Rh) ranged from 1.5 to 1.9 for the fractionated material, supporting an elongated or rod-like structure. To our knowledge, this is the first time that both the morphology and molar mass of CNCs have been directly measured for the full distribution of species. Finally, we developed and demonstrated a semi-preparatory fractionation method to separate CNCs at the milligram scale for off-line research and analysis.
Omics of Blood Pressure and Hypertension

Essential hypertension is a common, complex disorder affecting ≤1 billion adults globally. Blood pressure is a highly heritable trait, with ≤50% of the variation between individuals accounted for by familial relationships. Despite this strong heritability, determining the genetic architecture of hypertension in humans has proved challenging. Recent technological and methodological developments have given rise to what is now known as omics-a domain of study that includes genomics, as well as epigenomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics. For complex traits like hypertension, which involve multiple pathways and organs, omic approaches offer the advantage of allowing identification of novel hypertensive mechanisms to help further dissect and characterize the disorder's pathophysiology. This review provides a primer on the genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics of blood pressure and hypertension. We provide an introduction to each approach with examples chosen to illustrate its potential. We conclude with a brief assessment of current methods aimed at integrating multiomic data. A review of the literature found genomic, epigenomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic methods have been applied to dissect the pathophysiology of blood pressure and hypertension. Omic methods and integration of multiomic data represent a potentially fruitful approach to illuminating the complex pathophysiology of hypertension and, ultimately, may point to novel diagnostics and treatments.
Using P-Box and PiFE to Express Uncertainty in Model Updating

This paper proposes the use of probability bounds with the Pseudo-inverse Finite Element (PiFE) method for structural model updating. The technique estimates the probability bound of structural parameters based on dynamic or static features such as modal parameters or static displacements. Two methods are explored for the calculation of the probability bounds: (i) Naive method and (ii) all possible combinations. The capabilities of the technique are explored using a two degree of freedom structural system where the stiffness is considered uncertain. Results indicate that both the Naive and all possible combination techniques are applicable with PiFE and produce bounds that include the cumulative distribution function of the structural parameters. The probability bounds found with the all possible combinations method was narrower for this particular example.
Place-Based Imagery and Voter Evaluations: Experimental Evidence on the Politics of Place:

Prior research has shown that social identities defined by an attachment to place (i.e., “place-based” identities) are influential in shaping how citizens understand and think about political topic...
Lumbosacral Plexus Stretch Injury Following the Use of the Modified Lithotomy Position

AbstractThe modified lithotomy position is used to provide simultaneous operative exposure to the abdomen and perineum. We report 3 lumbosacral plexus complications following use of this position. A mechanism involving stretch secondary to hyperabduction seems most likely. Electromyography is helpful in the diagnosis and the prognosis seems to be good.
The S-ROM stem: versatility of stem/sleeve combinations and head options.

The S-ROM stem (DePuy Orthopaedics Inc., Warsaw, Ind) is a modular cementless hip implant that has a modular proximal sleeve that mates with a fluted stem. Various sleeves, stem lengths, diameters, proximal body types, and heads can be configured into 10,398 combinations. Independence of the sleeve and stem version permits correction of excessive anteversion found in types of dysplasia and the retroversion deformities found in revision total hip arthroplasty (THA). The fluted distal segment provides stability if a corrective osteotomy is required. The stem is a versatile tool in primary or conversion hip arthroplasty with unusual deformity and in revision THA.
Measurements of Boeing 747, Lockheed C5A and Other Aircraft Vortex Wake Characteristics by Tower Fly-by Technique

Flight tests have been conducted by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) at both the Environmental Science Services Administration/Atomic Energy Commission (ESSA/AEC) facility, Idaho Falls, Idaho, and the National Aviation Facilities Experimental Center (NAFEC), Atlantic City, New Jersey, during the period 18’February 1970 through 3 August 1970 to gather quantitative data on aircraft vortex wake characteristics using the tower fly-by tech­nique. Aircraft tested included the Boeing 747, 707–300 and 727–100, the Douglas DC-8-63F, DC-8-33 and DC-9-10, the Lockheed C5A, the Convair 880, and the Learjet 24. A 200-foot and a 100-foot tower was used at the ESSA and NAFEC test sites, respectively. Vortex flow visualization for vortex characteristics and movement was pro­vided by colored smoke grenades mounted on the towers and by injecting CORVUS-type smoke oil into the outboard jet engine exhausts of certain aircraft with wing mounted engines.
Endoscopic banding without resection (BWR) technique for treatment of diminutive neuroendocrine tumors in the duodenum.

Endoscopic treatment of diminutive (less than 10 mm) duodenal neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) is recommended because of the risk of metastatic potential. Endoscopic mucosal resection and endoscopic submucosal dissection are alternatives to surgical management but have significant adverse event rates. We evaluated the effectiveness, feasibility, and safety of the ‘banding without resection’ (BWR) technique and assessed outcomes for the treatment of diminutive duodenal NETs. Our study included eight patients referred for endoscopic treatment of incidentally discovered, biopsy proven, diminutive duodenal bulb NETs. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) in all patients showed duodenal bulb NETs located in the deep mucosa and submucosal layers without any nodal metastasis. The BWR technique was successfully performed in all patients with technical feasibility, with the assistance of submucosal saline lift in three patients when the lesion was smaller than 5 mm in size, without any immediate or delayed adverse events. Complete resection with no residual lesion was confirmed at short-term (median 2.3 months) and long-term (median 4.2 years) follow-up intervals by repeat endoscopy, biopsy, and EUS exam. The BWR technique appears to be a safe, feasible, and effective therapy for endoscopic treatment of diminutive duodenal bulb NETs in the absence of local and distant metastasis.