cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract 1336: Novel immunotherapeutic activity of JAK and PI3Kδ inhibitors in a model of pancreatic cancer

Immunotherapeutic agents are emerging as key components of efficacious multi-agent regimens in cancer. The majority of immunotherapeutic agents developed thus far either attempt to stimulate a more productive anti-tumoral immune response or to inhibit key proteins in the immunosuppressive tumoral milieu. In contrast, agents targeting signal transduction molecules have been largely developed for their ability to impact the proliferative potential of tumor cells directly. Notably, the JAK/STAT and PI3Kδ signaling pathways have been shown to contribute not only to tumor cell proliferation and survival but also to play a crucial role in regulating stromal cells, including immune cells, which are recruited to the tumor microenvironment. Activation of these pathways has been shown to result in the recruitment and expansion of predominantly negative regulatory cells such as myeloid derived suppressor cells and regulatory T cells, suggesting that inhibition of JAK/STAT and PI3Kδ signaling may promote antitumor immunity. Therefore, we have examined the immunotherapeutic potential of selective inhibitors of either JAK or PI3Kδ. We demonstrate that inhibitors of either JAK or PI3Kδ block tumor growth as single agents in the immuno-competent syngeneic PAN02 pancreatic model, which is not driven by oncogenic JAK or PI3K signaling. Tumor growth inhibition is not observed in immunocompromised mice, demonstrating that the anti-tumor effects of these agents require an intact immune system. These agents were tested pairwise with each other and in combination with other immune checkpoint modulators, including an anti-PD-L1 antibody and the IDO1 inhibitor INCB24360. The combinations of JAK inhibition with IDO1 inhibition, PI3Kδ inhibition or PD-1/PD-L1 blockade resulted in enhanced efficacy. Mechanistic studies revealed that the combination of JAK and IDO1 inhibition did not alter the number of infiltrating T cells within the tumor, but instead resulted in a more activated phenotype of the infiltrating T cells, leading to higher levels of IFNγ production. In contrast, combination treatment with regimens that included an inhibitor to PI3Kδ led to a marked increase in the numbers of T cell infiltrates, although the cells were not maximally activated. Further studies to understand the complex cellular responses elicited by these inhibitors may provide the mechanistic rationale to explore JAK or PI3Kδ inhibitor-based immunotherapy combinations in the clinic. Citation Format: Holly K. Koblish, Michael Hansbury, Liang-Chuan S. Wang, Gengjie Yang, Taisheng Huang, Chu-Biao Xue, Yun-Long Li, Eddy Yue, Andrew Combs, Wenqing Yao, Reid Huber, Peggy Scherle. Novel immunotherapeutic activity of JAK and PI3Kδ inhibitors in a model of pancreatic cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 1336. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-1336
Analysis of the RENAL and mRENAL Scores and the Relative Importance of Their Components in the Prediction of Complications and Local Progression after Percutaneous Renal Cryoablation.

Abstract Purpose To determine if modified RENAL (mRENAL) score and its individual components have superior predictive value relative to the RENAL nephrometry score in prediction of complications and recurrence after percutaneous renal cryoablation. Materials and Methods Primary masses treated with CT–guided percutaneous renal cryoablation between June 2007 and May 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. RENAL and mRENAL scores were used to stratify masses into low, medium, and high complexity tertiles. Complications were characterized by SIR criteria. Predictors of complications and local progression were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression and Kaplan-Meier analysis. Results There were 95 renal cryoablation procedures in 86 patients. Of ablations, 89 had at least 1 follow-up imaging study, with median follow-up of 29 months. There were 11 (12.4%) complications, including 5 (6.5%) major complications. Mass complexity, as measured by mRENAL complexity tertile, was associated with increased risk of complications on multivariate analysis ( P = .045). Endophytic location was the only individual ordinal component of the RENAL and mRENAL scores associated with complications ( P = .021). Local progression occurred in 7 (8.3%) masses. Complexity as measured by either scoring system was not associated with local progression. Only diameter > 3 cm was associated with increased risk of local progression (hazard ratio=9.9, 95% confidence interval=2.1–45, P = .003). Conclusions mRENAL score was predictive of complications and tumor size was predictive of recurrence. Use of mRENAL score for complications and tumor size for recurrence should allow for simpler risk stratification and more accurate patient counseling.
Mental Workload of Voice Interactions with 6 Real-World Driver Interfaces

Hands-free voice interaction is an increasingly common option in new vehicles. Recent research suggests that hands-free interactions with speech-to-text systems may require significantly more cognitive effort than previously anticipated. This high level of mental workload may both keep drivers from using the technology and potentially create additional safety concerns for the driver. However, little prior research has measured the cognitive demands of simple voice based tasks using real-world systems. The current study evaluated the mental demands of a small set of auditory-vocal vehicle commands using five 2013 and one 2012 model year OEM infotainment systems. Results indicate that well executed voice systems impose little additional cognitive demand while poorly executed systems may significantly elevate workload.
Assessment of the coding accuracy of warfarin-related bleeding events.

Abstract Introduction Using International Classification of Diseases, 9th edition (ICD-9) diagnosis codes to identify potential warfarin-related bleeding events from administrative datasets is highly efficient but may be prone to identifying non-events. The objective of this study was to evaluate the ability of bleeding-related ICD-9 codes to identify true bleeding events in patients who were receiving warfarin therapy at the time of hospitalization. Methods This was a cross-sectional study conducted in an integrated healthcare delivery system. Anticoagulated patients aged ≥ 18 years and hospitalized between January 1, 2014 and March 31, 2014 were identified using administrative data queries. All hospitalizations were manually chart reviewed by a trained abstractor blinded to hospitalization diagnoses to assess for true bleeding events. Identification of the presence or lack of bleeding-related ICD-9 diagnosis code(s) for each hospitalization was then performed. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) were calculated for each ICD-9 code present. Results There were 486 hospitalizations in 468 anticoagulated patients with 57 true bleeding events identified. Patients had a mean age of 73.4 years and 50% were female. For codes in the principal position, sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV were 7.0%, 99.8%, 80.0%, and 89.0%, respectively. For codes in any position, sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV were 94.7%, 90.9%, 58.1%, and 99.2%, respectively. For major bleeding, sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV were 100%, 83.1%, 14.0%, and 100%, respectively. Conclusions While the absence of a bleeding ICD-9 code reliably ruled-out hospitalization for warfarin-related bleeding, bleeding ICD-9 codes in the principal position were rarely used and undesirable false positive rates were identified when ICD-9 codes when recorded in any position and for major bleeding. Manual chart review is recommended to validate bleeding events from administrative data.
Thinking about CNS Metastasis in Cutaneous Lymphoma: Analysis of Existing Data

To determine some of the key clinical features that help prompt clinicians to pursue additional work-up for evaluation of CNS involvement of MF, we conducted a systematic review to better define characteristics, treatments, outcomes, and mortality in these patients. Our analyses indicated that neurologic surveillance after the diagnosis of MF is crucial. Review of systems should include change in mentation, vestibular, and ocular symptoms. Progression to CNS involvement does not always occur in tandem with cutaneous disease burden. Single-agent therapies can delay disease progression and improve prognosis. Multi-agent treatment does not improve survival.
Ethnography at the Threshold: A Confessional on Theory and Method

This chapter presents a “confessional” on field methods used in this book to investigate the evolving relationship between high-tech e-commerce fashion players and luxury fashion companies. The narrative familiarizes the reader further with the intricacies of pursuing ethnography in the two fields at a very chaotic point in fashion industry’s response to e-commerce adaptation. The Chapter describes the development of ethnography at the threshold at the explosion of legitimacy of key players in the field of digital fashion, providing advice for future researchers on how to approach through organizational ethnography new fields, where the population of organizations is emergent and small in numbers; yet, practices develop remarkably fast. (108 words)
Correlation of Serum Ethosuximide Levels with Clinical Effect

Correlation of clinical control with the serum concentration of phenobarbitone and phenytoin was reported for a group of patients by Buchthal and Svensmark (1959/ 1960) but wide use of serum concentrations did not begin until 1969 when Pippenger and Gillen reported the simultaneous, multiple determination of anti-epileptic drugs by gas-liquid chromatography. Subsequent to their report, the empirical improvement of seizure control by determining serum concentrations of anti-epileptic drugs has been widely used (Solow and Green, 1972; Green et al., 1973; Sherwin, Robb and Lechter, 1973). Nevertheless, skepticism remains among some physicians concerning the relationship of serum concentration to clinical effect because seizure frequency does not decrease in certain patients with high serum concentrations, even in the toxic range. Such patients are said to be refractory to the drug.
Sand Bodies and Environment

A sand body can be defined as “a single interconnected mappable body of sand,” the term mappable serving to distinguish a small sand body from most single beds.
Learning to Change Campus Climate: Insights from an Action Research Study

The authors engaged in a semester-long action research project focused on campus climate in partnership with staff from a campus institutional diversity office at a large, land-grant, research university, in the rural south. Using 2016 institutional results from the Diverse Learning Environments survey as a point of departure, the research team worked to develop a strategy to translate data into action. Over the course of this project, three key outcomes emerged: expansion of the office’s capacity to consume and act on climate data, an enhanced perspective of students’ experiences through supplementary qualitative exploration, and a long-term assessment agenda focused on pertinent aspects of students’ experiences. Based on the results of this study, the authors offer insight into the ways that diversity offices use data to guide campus climate efforts.
Increasing incidence of IV-drug use associated endocarditis in southern West Virginia and potential economic impact.

Background The opioid crisis has disproportionally affected Appalachia. One of the potentially lethal and costly complications associated with IV drug use is infective endocarditis (IE). The goal of this study was to assess the trend and costs of substance abuse associated IE admissions in Southern West Virginia. Methods This is a retrospective analysis of cost, incidence, and geographic patterns of all patients admitted over the last decade with concomitant drug abuse (cocaine, amphetamine, sedative, and other/mixed drug abuse) and IE in the largest tertiary care center for Southern West Virginia. A time series model was used to investigate the effect of drug use on the incidence of IE. Results A total of 462 patients were hospitalized with IE and concomitant illicit drug use. IE cases increased from 26 admissions in 2008 to 66 in 2015. Patterns of increases in mixed drug use (DRG most often associated with IV drug use in our center) mirrored increases in IE (P = 0.001). From 2008 to 2015, the total hospital charges were $17 306 464 on 462 cases of illicit drug associated IE. Only a fraction of the billed fees (22%) was collected ($3 829 701). Conclusions The number of patients hospitalized with IE has dramatically increased over the last decade in a pattern that mirrors the increase in mixed drug use. The majority of payers were from underfunded state programs or private pay and thus, only 22% of the hospital charges were paid, leaving a hospital deficit of over $13 476 763 during the study period.
Internal Versus External Pressures: Effect of Housing Systems on the Zebrafish Microbiome

Zebrafish (Danio rerio) are an attractive model organism for scientific studies, including host-microbe interactions. The organism is particularly useful for studying aquatic microbes that can colonize vertebrate hosts, including Vibrio cholerae. Previous studies have established the presence of a core zebrafish intestinal microbiome, and tracked the development of the zebrafish intestinal microbiome from the larval stage to adulthood. An unexplored matter in this host-microbe relationship is the effect of the housing system on the zebrafish intestinal and tank water microbiomes. In this study, we used 16S rRNA gene sequencing to investigate the response of zebrafish intestinal and tank water microbiomes to a change in housing conditions. Zebrafish in the separated fish tanks showed no initial differences in the structures of their intestinal microbial profiles; the same prominent bacteria were present and abundant across tanks. Immediately after the housing switch, the zebrafish intestinal microbial profiles changed in composition and structure. Within 5 days of the housing switch, the intestinal microbiome had stabilized, and changed significantly from the prehousing switch profile. This study demonstrates that although external factors can significantly perturb and alter the zebrafish intestinal microbiome, the microbiome displays a large level of selective resilience whose primary members (namely Vibrio) persist.
Prevalence of iron deficiency in first trimester, nonanemic pregnant women

Despite a high frequency of iron deficiency in pregnancy, the United States Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) stated: “there is inconclusive evidence routine supplementation for iron defici...
XAFS Spectroscopy Studies of Critical Elements in Coal and Coal Derivatives

X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy, usually referred to as XAFS spectroscopy, provides detailed information on the molecular structure of an element by analysis of the fine structure associated with an X-ray absorption edge of that element. By utilizing the very intense X-ray beams available at a synchroton radiation source, detailed structural information can be obtained on dilute (ca 100 ppm to several percent) elements in complex systems such as coal and their conversion and combustion products. In the current article, we review some of the XAFS studies that have been conducted to determine the structure of various elements in coal and their reactions during pyrolysis, combustion, liquefaction, and gasification.
The relations between children's comprehension monitoring and their reading comprehension and vocabulary knowledge: an eye-movement study

Poor reading comprehension may be due to having ineffective comprehension monitoring, the metacognitive process of evaluating and regulating comprehension. When comprehension breaks down due to an inconsistency either at the word-level (e.g., due to an unfamiliar word) or at the sentence-level (e.g., due to contradictory information), readers may identify the misunderstanding and take steps to regulate their comprehension. In the current study, we utilized two eye-movement tasks (one newly developed) to examine comprehension monitoring in third through fifth grade students (n = 123), when confronted with word- and sentence-level inconsistencies, by measuring the amount of time they read (gaze duration) and reread the target inconsistent words. We investigated how this skill may be associated with individual differences in age, reading comprehension ability, and vocabulary knowledge. The results showed that generally, all students detected the word-level inconsistencies, indicated by longer gaze durations, and attempted to regulate their comprehension after detecting both word- and sentence-level inconsistencies, as indicated by more time spent rereading. Students with stronger reading comprehension (when controlling for their vocabulary), and stronger vocabulary knowledge (when controlling for their reading comprehension) were more likely to attempt regulating their comprehension. In general, the difference between the control words and the inconsistent words was smaller for third graders and larger for fourth and fifth graders, which we argue indicates greater levels of comprehension monitoring - specifically employing repair strategies. With eye-tracking technology becoming more accessible, these tasks may be useful in assessing children's reading processes to better understand at which level of comprehension monitoring they may be struggling, which in return will allow us to develop more individualized instruction for all readers.
Moving beyond perceived riskiness: Marijuana-related beliefs and marijuana use in adolescents.

Background: Perceived riskiness of marijuana in adolescents has been trending downward in the context of increasing legality and availability. Low perceived riskiness has been associated with marij...
MEASUREMENT, CHARACTERIZATION, AND MODELING OF ICE AND BOTTOM BACKSCATTERING AND REVERBERATION IN THE ARCTIC OCEAN

Acoustic reverberation data from SUS explosions collected during the CEAREX 89 Arctic experiment are analyzed to estimate both under-ice and bottom backscattering strengths at very low frequencies (below 50 Hz). Short range direct-path returns are analyzed to measure the backward scattering strengths of the under-ice surface for scattering angles between 2.5° and 40° grazing and frequencies between 24 Hz and 105 Hz. Medium range (5–20 km) ice and bottom reverberation returns received on a 1200-m vertical array are separated using the time-arrival angle relationship to measure ice and bottom backscattering strengths at 23 Hz for grazing angles of 15°–60°. Long range reverberation is modeled by combining a normal-mode based scattering description with grazing angle dependent scattering functions based on small-ka (low frequency) approximations. Reverberation data at 23 Hz are successfully modeled for four cases of different bottom bathymetry and source depth.
Towards Student-Ready Mathematics Departments: Creating a Mathematics Placement Experience Within an Asset Framed Approach

As higher education institutions focus on increasing math success, it is important to consider the needs of a diverse college student population. Creating an asset framed math placement process is ...
Hydrophilic Conductive Sponge Sensors for Fast Setup, Low Impedance Bio-potential Measurements

Low electrode-skin impedance can be achieved if the interface has an electrolytic medium that allows the movement of ions across the interface. Maintaining good physical contact of the sensor with the skin is imperative. We propose a novel hydrophilic conductive sponge interface that encapsulates both of these fundamental concepts into an effective physical realization. Our implementation uses a hydrophilic polyurethane prepolymer doped with conductive carbon nanofibers and cured to form a flexible sponge material that conforms to uneven surfaces, for instance, on parts of the scalp with hair. Our results show that our sponges are able to stay in a hydrated state with a low electrode-skin impedance of around 5kΩ for more than 20 hours. The novelty in our conductive sponges also lies in their versatility: the carbon nanofibers make the electrode effective even when the electrode dries up. The sensors remain conductive with a skin impedance on the order of 20kΩ when dry, which is substantially lower than typical impedance of dry electrodes, and are able to extract alpha wave EEG activity in both wet and dry conditions.
Point-of-care cardiac ultrasound during cardiac arrest: a reliable tool for termination of resuscitation?

Purpose of review Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is commonly used during cardiac arrest to screen for potential causes and to inform termination of resuscitation. However, unique biases and limitations in diagnostic and prognostic test accuracy studies lead to potential for misinterpretation. The present review highlights recent evidence regarding POCUS in cardiac arrest, guides the incorporation of POCUS into clinical management, and outlines how to improve the certainty of evidence. Recent findings Multiple frameworks organize and direct POCUS during cardiac arrest. Although many are proofs of concept, several have been prospectively evaluated. Indirect evidence from undifferentiated shock suggests that POCUS offers better specificity than sensitivity as a diagnostic aid. The prognostic accuracy of POCUS during cardiac arrest to predict subsequent clinical outcomes is better characterized, but subject to unique biases and confounding. Low certainty direct evidence suggests that POCUS offers better specificity than sensitivity as a prognostic aid. Summary POCUS findings might indicate a particular diagnosis or encourage the continuation of resuscitation, but absence of the same is not sufficient in isolation to exclude a particular diagnosis or cease resuscitation. Until the evidence to support POCUS during cardiac arrest is more certain, it is best characterized as a diagnostic and prognostic adjunct.
Deoxyribose oxidation in DNA by reactive nitrogen species: Aldehydic lesions as targets for further oxidation and carbon dioxide modulation of DNA damage chemistry

1881 Deoxyribose oxidation plays a critical role in the genetic toxicology of oxidative stress, including involvement in complex DNA lesions, cross-linking with DNA repair proteins and the formation of endogenous DNA adducts. The latter is illustrated by our discovery that 3′-phosphoglycolaldehyde (PGA), arising from 3′-oxidation of deoxyribose in DNA, reacts to form glyoxal and the mutagenic glyoxal adduct of dG. Given the lack of sensitive methods to quantify deoxyribose oxidation products, we have used PGA as a model to develop a sensitive GC/MS method to identify and quantify deoxyribose oxidation products containing aldehydes and ketones. In previous studies, we demonstrated that gamma-radiation produces 1.5 PGA residues/10e6 nt/Gy in isolated DNA, with PGA representing 1% of deoxyribose oxidation events. Here, we focus on peroxynitrite (ONOO-), a chemical mediator of inflammation that arises from the reaction of superoxide and NO produced by macrophages. Under biological conditions, ONOO- reacts with carbon dioxide to form nitrosoperoxycarbonate (ONOOCOO-), a reaction that shifts the oxidative DNA damage chemistry from predominantly deoxyribose with ONOO- to guanine with ONOOCOO-. To further investigate this issue, we quantified the yield of PGA in isolated DNA in 50 mM phosphate buffer, pH 7.4, with bicarbonate concentrations ranging from 0 to 100 mM and ONOO- concentrations from 0 to 1000 μM. At biologically relevant concentration of 25 mM bicarbonate (∼1 mM carbon dioxide), the production of PGA was below the detection limit of 2 PGA/10e6 nt. The yield of PGA with ONOO- was inversely proportional to the bicarbonate concentration over the range of 0 to 10 mM. This leads us to conclude that ONOOCOO- is either not capable of oxidizing deoxyribose to produce PGA, perhaps due to the low oxidation potential of the carbonate radical anion active intermediate in ONOOCOO-induced oxidations, or that the 3′-oxidation chemistry follows a different path with this oxidant than with ONOO-. Another factor affecting the yield of PGA is the reaction of ONOO- with PGA to form a 3′-phosphoglycolate residue, a less genotoxic DNA oxidation product. To address this question we exposed synthetic PGA and an oligonucleotide containing a 3′-PGA residue to ONOO- in the presence of 1 mM calf thymus DNA in 50 mM phosphate buffer in the presence or absence of 25 mM bicarbonate. While 50% of isolated PGA was oxidized by 1 mM ONOO-, PGA bound to the oligonucleotide was unreactive toward ONOO-. We propose that negative charge repulsion with the sugar-phosphate backbone accounts for the protective effects of the oligonucleotide. These observations suggest that carboin dioxide tension may play a role in defining the spectrum of oxidative DNA lesions in cells and that the reactions by negatively charged oxidants in DNA are limited by charge repulsion.
Fucoidan-coated nanoparticles target radiation-induced P-selectin to enhance chemoradiotherapy in murine colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of cancer-related death for both men and women, highlighting the need for new treatment strategies. Advanced disease is often treated with a combination of radiation and cytotoxic agents, such as DNA damage repair inhibitors and DNA damaging agents. To optimize the therapeutic window of these multimodal therapies, advanced nanomaterials have been investigated to deliver sensitizing agents or enhance local radiation dose deposition. In this study, we demonstrate the feasibility of employing an inflammation targeting nanoscale metal-organic framework (nMOF) platform to enhance CRC treatment. This novel formulation incorporates a fucoidan surface coating to preferentially target P-selectin, which is over-expressed or translocated in irradiated tumors. Using this radiation stimulated delivery strategy, a combination PARP inhibitor (talazoparib) and chemotherapeutic (temozolomide) drug-loaded hafnium and 1,4-dicarboxybenzene (Hf-BDC) nMOF was evaluated both in vitro and in vivo. Significantly, these drug-loaded P-selectin targeted nMOFs (TT@Hf-BDC-Fuco) show improved tumoral accumulation over multiple controls and subsequently enhanced therapeutic effects. The integrated radiation and nanoformulation treatment demonstrated improved tumor control (reduced volume, density, and growth rate) and increased survival in a syngeneic CRC mouse model. Overall, the data from this study support the continued investigation of radiation-priming for targeted drug delivery and further consideration of nanomedicine strategies in the clinical management of advanced CRC.
Changes in membrane elasticity caused by the hydrophobic surfactant proteins correlate poorly with adsorption of lipid vesicles.

To establish how the hydrophobic surfactant proteins, SP-B and SP-C, promote adsorption of lipids to an air/water interface, we used X-ray diffuse scattering (XDS) to determine an order parameter of the lipid chains (Sxray) and the bending modulus of the lipid bilayers (KC). Samples contained different amounts of the proteins with two sets of lipids. Dioleoylphosphatidylcholine (DOPC) provided a simple, well characterized model system. The nonpolar and phospholipids (N&PL) from extracted calf surfactant provided the biological mix of lipids. For both systems, the proteins produced changes in Sxray that correlated well with KC. The dose–response to the proteins, however, differed. Small amounts of protein generated large decreases in Sxray and KC for DOPC that progressed monotonically. The changes for the surfactant lipids were erratic. Our studies then tested whether the proteins produced correlated effects on adsorption. Experiments measured the initial fall in surface tension during adsorption to a constant surface area, and then expansion of the interface during adsorption at a constant surface tension of 40 mN m−1. The proteins produced a sigmoidal increase in the rate of adsorption at 40 mN m−1 for both lipids. The results correlated poorly with the changes in Sxray and KC in both cases. Disordering of the lipid chains produced by the proteins, and the softening of the bilayers, fail to explain how the proteins promote adsorption of lipid vesicles.
Chapter 5.4a Marie Byrd Land and Ellsworth Land: volcanology

Abstract Nineteen large (2348–4285 m above sea level) central polygenetic alkaline shield-like composite volcanoes and numerous smaller volcanoes in Marie Byrd Land (MBL) and western Ellsworth Land rise above the West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) and comprise the MBL Volcanic Group (MBLVG). Earliest MBLVG volcanism dates to the latest Eocene (36.6 Ma). Polygenetic volcanism began by the middle Miocene (13.4 Ma) and has continued into the Holocene without major interruptions, producing the central volcanoes with 24 large (2–10 km-diameter) summit calderas and abundant evidence for explosive eruptions in caldera-rim deposits. Rock lithofacies are dominated by basanite and trachyte/phonolite lava and breccia, deposited in both subaerial and ice-contact environments. The chronology of MBLVG volcanism is well constrained by 330 age analyses, including 52 new 40Ar/39Ar ages. A volcanic lithofacies record of glaciation provides evidence of local ice-cap glaciation at 29–27 Ma and of widespread WAIS glaciation by 9 Ma. Late Quaternary glaciovolcanic records document WAIS expansions that correlate to eustatic sea-level lowstands (MIS 16, 4 and 2): the WAIS was +500 m at 609 ka at coastal Mount Murphy, and +400 m at 64.7 ka, +400 m at 21.2 ka and +575 m at 17.5 ka at inland Mount Takahe.
Cross-Mixing Hybrid Beamformer for Wideband Apertures

Existing beamforming arrays suffer from the size and cost of the RF front-end and digital back-end components. In this paper, a novel hybrid beamforming configuration for wideband receivers is introduced. The design replaces phase shifters and local oscillators (LO) with cross mixing antenna elements to maximize diversity gain. In this paper, an analytical model of the cross mixing beamformer (CMB) is first presented. Simulations are carried out showing that a maximum diversity gain can be achieved with the CMB approach. Two prototypes were implemented using $2\times 1$ and $4\times 2$ element arrays and tested at 2.31 GHz. Measured results show that CMB achieves coherent signal combining and can preserve the phase delay information needed for hybrid beamforming setups.
Real-time diagnosis and Gleason grading of prostate core needle biopsies using nonlinear microscopy

Rapid histologic assessment of fresh prostate biopsies may reduce patient anxiety, aid in biopsy sampling, and enable specimen triaging for molecular/genomic analyses and research that could benefit from fresh tissue analysis. Nonlinear microscopy (NLM) is a fluorescence microscopy technique that can produce high-resolution images of freshly excised tissue resembling formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) H&E. NLM enables evaluation of tissue up to ~100 µm below the surface, analogous to serial sectioning, but without requiring microtome sectioning. One hundred and seventy biopsies were collected from 63 patients who underwent in-bore MRI or MRI/ultrasound fusion biopsy procedures. Biopsies were stained in acridine orange and sulforhodamine 101, a nuclear and cytoplasmic/stromal fluorescent dye, for 45 s. Genitourinary pathologists evaluated the biopsies using NLM by translating the biopsies in real time to areas of interest and NLM images were recorded. After NLM evaluation, the biopsies were processed for standard FFPE H&E and similarities and differences between NLM and FFPE H&E were investigated. Accuracies of NLM diagnoses and Gleason scores were calculated using FFPE histology as the gold standard. Pathologists achieved a 92.4% sensitivity (85.0–96.9%, 95% confidence intervals) and 100.0% specificity (94.3–100.0%) for detecting carcinoma compared to FFPE histology. The agreement between the Grade Group determined by NLM versus FFPE histology had an unweighted Cohen’s Kappa of 0.588. The average NLM evaluation time was 2.10 min per biopsy (3.08 min for the first 20 patients, decreasing to 1.54 min in subsequent patients). Further studies with larger patient populations, larger number of pathologists, and multiple institutions are warranted. NLM is a promising method for future rapid evaluation of prostate needle core biopsies.
Provision of Abortion Services in the United States

According to abortion statistics collected by the Centers for Disease Control, between 1.3 and 1.6 million legal abortions were performed in the United States in 1981. The number of abortions performed each year appears to have plateaued. This brief paper summarizes recent trends in the provision of abortion services and describes the demographic characteristics of women who undergo legal abortions in the United States. Women who obtain abortions tend to be young, white, unmarried, and early in their reproductive careers. Most abortions are performed by suction curettage in the first trimester of pregnancy. The majority of women who obtain abortions do so in their state of residence, and non-hospital facilities have emerged as the principal providers of abortion services in the United States.
The stochastic frontier production function and average efficiency: An empirical analysis☆

Abstract This paper provides an empirical estimation of a stochastic frontier Cobb-Douglas production function using micro data from a cross-section of Brazilian manufacturing firms. Following a procedure developed by Aigner, Lovell and Schmidt incorporating both stochastic and efficiency disturbance terms in the estimating model, maximum likelihood techniques are used for the estimation of the stochastic frontier. A measure of mean technical efficiency is also developed and employed with the Brazilian data. Unlike the previous empirical exercises carried out with aggregated data, the efficiency disturbance with the Brazilian micro data estimates is not swamped by the stochastic disturbance.
Murine aortic vascular cells produce IL-17C and support inflammation in atherosclerosis. (CCR6P.271)

The progression of atherosclerotic lesions involves regular communication between arterial hematopoetic cells and vascular cells through cytokine and chemokine networks. While recent evidence has demonstrated the presence of Interleukin-17A (IL-17A)-producing T cells within atherosclerotic Apolipoprotein E-deficient (Apoe-/-) aortas, the roles of the other IL-17 family members have not been explored. As several recent studies have demonstrated a pro-inflammatory role for epithelial and keratinocyte-derived IL-17C, we sought to examine aortic Il17c expression within atherosclerotic western diet-fed Apoe-/- and Il17a-/-Apoe-/- mice. Il17c mRNA was detected within the aortas of both Apoe-/- and Il17a-/-Apoe-/- mice and several major sources of aortic IL-17C were identified by flow cytometry; including smooth muscle cells (SMCs, 5±0.8%) and CD45-αSMA- cells (5.8±0.8%). Interestingly, elevated aortic IL-17C production was detected within Il17a-/-Apoe-/- mice in comparison to Apoe-/- littermates (6.16±0.24% vs 3.6±0.1%), suggesting an inverse relationship between T cell derived-IL-17A and vascular-IL-17C. To examine the effects of IL-17C and TNFα on aortic chemokine and cytokine production, we explanted whole aortas with IL-17C or IL-17C and TNFα. In this system, IL-17C broadly supported the expression of Ccl2, Ccl7, Cxcl1, Cxcl2, Cxcl5 , and Il6 . Together, these data suggest that SMC-derived IL-17C supports atherogenic inflammation via cytokine and chemokine production.
Power Electronics for More Electric Aircraft

The More Electric Aircraft (MEA) technology is continually evolving and is being widely recognized as the future technology for the aerospace industry. The main objectives are to obtain high power and volume density, high efficiency, reliability, and ability to withstand harsh environments. The pneumatic and hydraulic systems are being replaced by electrical systems. Power Electronics is an enabling technology for the advancement of more electric aircraft systems. This chapter provides a brief description of the electrical power generation, conversion, and distribution in conventional aircrafts and in more electric aircrafts such as Airbus 380 and Boeing 787. More electric architectures, power distribution strategies, more electric engine concepts, and the effect of high voltage operation at high altitudes are also discussed. The More Electric Aircraft concept is being widely recognized as the future technology for the aerospace industry
Sensitivity of achievable rates for half-duplex relay channel

This paper investigates the sensitivity of achievable rates for the half-duplex AWGN relay channel to the choice of modulation, receiving time fraction, and source-relay correlation. Our study is motivated by practical considerations that limit the choice of parameters in a real relay network. We show that BPSK modulation suffices to achieve much of the relaying throughput in the SNR range where relaying is most advantageous. We also show that smartly choosing either completely correlated or uncorrelated signals incurs negligible loss in rate compared to optimally correlated signals. Furthermore, the achievable rate is not diminished significantly if we use equal time slots for relay transmission and reception, instead of using the optimum time ratio. Finally, we demonstrate that even when time and correlation are both restricted, relaying with appropriate power control still carries substantial gains over direct and two-hop channels.
“Swipe and Scan”: Integration of sampling and analysis of gunshot metal residues at screen-printed electrodes

Abstract Increasing security needs require field-deployable, on-the-spot detection tools for the rapid and reliable identification of gunshot residue (GSR), and thus the collection of GSR samples is a crucial step in forensic analysis. In this work we demonstrate a novel protocol integrating GSR sampling and electroanalysis using microfabricated carbon sensor-strips. The new integrated sampling/detection methodology relies on abrasive stripping voltammetry (AbrSV) involving an initial mechanical transfer of trace amounts of surface-confined GSR from the hand of a suspect directly onto the electrode contingent of the sensor strip, which is immediately ready for electrochemical analysis. The integrated sampling/detection method holds much promise as a portable, rapid and inexpensive system to promptly identify a subject who has discharged a firearm in various forensic scenarios.
Actuator Disk Theory for Incompressible Highly Rotating Flows

A solution has been obtained for a stator-rotor pair operating in an annulus with constant hub and tip radii. The stator and rotor are represented as actuator discs, and perfect fluid flow is assumed. The solutions are exact within these limitations, no linearization being required. The forms of blade loadings considered allow the introduction of large vorticity by either the rotor or stator. As a result, the rotor may be a ?nonconstant-work' row. The solutions obtained are of summational form, but many of the summations are obtained in closed form, the resultant formulas allowing rapid calculation of desired examples. An example numerical result is included.
The arterial anatomy of the talus

The extraosseous and intraosseous vascularity of the talus was studied in 26 fresh cadaver limbs. The specimens were injected with latex or Batson's compound, debrided by a nondissection technique, and cleared by a modified Spalteholz method. The extraosseous vascularity was through the branches of the three major regional arteries which entered the five nonarticulating surfaces of the bone. The major blood supply to the body was provided by the artery of the tarsal canal. The deltoid and sinus tarsi vessels provided significant minor sources of vascularity. The superior neck and posterior tubercle vessels supplied small areas of the body, but did have anastomoses with the other arteries in some specimens. These vascular patterns correlated well with the reported incidence of avascular necrosis of the body of the talus following injury.
Studies on Cigarette Smoke Irritation. II. The Role of Nicotine

ConclusionsNeither nicotine nor its products of combustion contribute significantly per se to the edema-producing properties of cigarette smoke, although it may definitely increase the subjective sensations of irritation.
Newly synthesized norepinephrine accumulation in the readily releasable pool of a purified adrenergic vesicle fraction.

A highly purified fraction of large dense core adrenergic vesicles was studied after isolation from bovine splenic nerve chilled within 10 to 12 minutes post mortem. In a standard medium containing 5 mM each of Mg++ and ATP and 6 μM norepinephrine (NE), this vehicle fraction contained NE in a readily releasable and a more stable pool. When vesicle dopamine β-hydroxylase was activated with 1.33 mM ascorbic acid using 6 μM 14C-dopamine as substrate at 30°C, 14C-NE was synthesized at a linear rate during the 45 minute incubation. Net accumulation of NE (p < 0.01) and a proportional net retention of newly synthesized 14C-NE occurred only when the readily releasable pool could still be demonstrated. The halftime for the fast release pool was doubled from 3 to 6 minutes (p < 0.01) with no effect on the slower released, ATP-facilitated uptake pool. Thus, both during axoplasmic transport and induced NE synthesis in vitro, there is evidence that newly synthesized NE preferentially accumulates in the readily releasable pool, a property also characteristic of the physiologically active pool in vivo.
Introduction to the Special Section on Electrostatic Discharge: From Transistor Technology to Chip Level to System Level

The three papers in this special section were originally presented at the 2010 EOS/ESD Symposium at Reno, Nevada.
Cytological studies of dinitroaniline-resistant Eleusine

Abstract Ultrastructural studies of primary roots (goosegrass) from dinitroaniline-resistant (R) and susceptible (S) biotypes of Eleusine indica (L). Gaertnr. establish a possible cytological basis for trifluralin resistance. Although the S biotype has a normal ultrastructure when grown in water, exposure to trifluralin solutions (between 10 −8 and 10 −5 M ) for 24 h results in a swelling of the root tip, typical of herbicides that affect microtubule production. The loss of spindle microtubules in the S biotype results in a mitosis arrested at prometaphase and the loss of cortical microtubules results in the formation of isodiametric cells in the zone of elongation. Nuclear membranes reform around the chromosomes in arrested prometaphase, producing abnormal, polymorphic nuclei. The mitotic index is increased in the S biotype after trifluralin treatment because many of the cells are arrested in prometaphase. The root tips of R biotypes are not swollen by even 10 −5 M trifluralin treatment. Trifluralin does not markedly affect cell division in the R biotype nor are the mitotic irregularities noted in the S biotype after treatment. However, even when the R biotype is not exposed to trifluralin, the microtubules are less abundant than in the S biotype and frequently cell walls are oriented abnormally or are incompletely formed. The level of resistance exhibited by the R biotype, the apparent difference in microtubule number and function between the two biotypes, and the lack of effect on the microtubules at high trifluralin concentrations indicate a site-of-action mutation.
Implication of chromium speciation on disposal of discarded CCA-treated wood.

Abstract The wood preservative chromated copper arsenate (CCA) contains hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] and the conversion of Cr(VI) to trivalent chromium [Cr(III)] drives fixation of the treatment chemicals to the wood fibers. Since the toxicity of Cr depends on its valence state, an assessment of the Cr species occurring in CCA-treated wood, as well as leachates and ashes from CCA-treated wood, is helpful when assessing implications for disposal. In this study, both new and weathered wood samples of CCA-treated wood and their ashes were evaluated for total Cr and Cr(VI) within the solid matrices and within leachates. Results show that for both new and weathered CCA-treated wood, Cr(VI) occurred in the range of 0.7–4% of the total Cr. Greater Cr leaching occurred at the pH extremes, with Cr(VI) only measured under alkaline pH values (pH > 9.0). Total chromium concentrations from synthetic precipitation leaching procedure (SPLP) leachates from CCA-treated wood were consistently less than 3 mg/L with Cr(VI) below detection limits. The results suggest that leaching of Cr(VI) from discarded CCA-treated wood should not be a concern in most landfill environments. One exception would be disposal in landfills with alkaline leachate; Cr(VI) was observed to leach from CCA-treated wood in the presence of alkaline leachate from crushed concrete. When CCA-treated wood is combusted, chromium becomes concentrated in the ash. Cr(VI) in ash from the combustion of CCA-treated wood was found between 4 and 7% of the total chromium. In ash from the combustion of wood recovered from construction and demolition (C&D) debris (which contained some CCA-treated wood), Cr(VI) accounted for as much as 43% of the total Cr. Nearly, all of the Cr in SPLP leachates produced from the ash was in the Cr(VI) form. The degree of Cr(VI) leaching from the ash was highly dependent upon the alkalinity of the ash, with higher ash leachate pH resulting in greater concentrations of Cr(VI).
Behavioral Ethics: A Critique and a Proposal

In behavioral ethics today, there is debate as to which theory of moral development is the best for understanding ethical decision making, thereby facilitating ethical behavior. This debate between behavioral ethicists has been profoundly influenced by the field of moral psychology. Unfortunately, in the course of this marriage between moral psychology and business ethics and subsequent internal debate, a simple but critical understanding of human being in the field of management has been obscured; i.e., that morality is not a secondary phenomenon arising out of something else. Therefore, in this paper, we will argue that there is a need in behavioral ethics to shift our understanding away from the influence of contemporary moral psychology and back to management theorist Ghoshal’s (Acad Manag Learn Educ 4(1):75–91, 2005) view of what it means to be human in which the moral is fundamental. To assist in this labor, we will build on the philosophical work of Emmanuel Levinas who sees ethics, regardless of the setting, as a metaphysical concern. What this means is that Levinas sees the essential moral character of human life and the reality of human agency as ontologically fundamental, or constitutive of human nature itself. In other words, the ethical is the “first cause” in regard to understanding the nature and action of the individual, including within organizations. Thus, morality in any sphere of human endeavor, including in business, is not merely epiphenomenal to some more fundamental reality.
A stochastic model for chemotherapy: Two-organ systems

Abstract The description of a stochastic model for chemotherapy is presented for a two-organ biological system. The model consists of a semistochastic integral equation in the form u L (t; ω) = [−(cV∗)] ∫ 0 t [u L (s; ω) − u R (s; ω)] d s, where t ≥ 0 represents time, u L (t; ω) is the drug concentration leaving the heart at time, t, u R (t; ω) is the concentration of drug entering the heart at time, t, ω is an element of a sample space Ω, c is the volume flow rate of blood, and V ∗ is the constant volume of the heart. A stochastic process is given which describes the action of a drug in a capillary bed or organ of the biological system, and a computer simulation of the system is presented. This paper is an extension of the earlier work of the authors which appeared in Mathematical Biosciences , 9 (1971a), (1971b).