cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of antimicrobial agents on survival of Mycobacterium avium complex inside alveolar macrophages obtained from patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection.

Measurements of the activities of antimicrobial agents against the Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) usually do not take into consideration the intracellular location of the organism. A recent study using mouse macrophage continuous cell line J774 (D. M. Yajko, P.S. Nassos, C. A. Sanders, and W. K. Hadley, Am. Rev. Respir. Dis. 140: 1198-1203, 1989) showed that certain combinations of antimicrobial agents are able to kill MAC inside macrophages and suggested that the J774 cell line could be used as a model for screening of drugs for intracellular activity against MAC. As a test of the validity of this model, alveolar macrophages were isolated from the bronchoalveolar lavages of 36 patients who had AIDS or an AIDS-related condition or were considered to be at risk for AIDS. The macrophages were infected with MAC and then treated with a drug or drug combination for 48 to 72 h. Survival of MAC was measured over time in drug-treated macrophages and untreated control macrophages. No single drug or two-drug combination that was tested was able to cause a decrease in the survival of every one of the MAC strains used in the study. However, several three-drug combinations that had been shown to cause a decrease in survival of all MAC strains inside J774 cells also caused a decrease in survival of all MAC strains inside alveolar macrophages from patients. The good agreement between these results and those obtained previously with J774 cells gives further evidence of the usefulness of the simpler J774 model for screening of drugs for intracellular activity against MAC.
MOCVD Grown III–V Nanowires: In-Plane, self-aligned and transfer-printable

We report here the controlled growth and characterization of self-aligned and in-plane GaAs nanowires grown on GaAs (100) substrates with metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) and Au metal catalysts.
Intraoperative frozen section analysis of urethral margin biopsies during radical prostatectomy.

Objectives To evaluate the accuracy and potential clinical value of intraoperative frozen section analysis (FSA) on urethral margin (UM) tissue during radical prostatectomy. Positive surgical margins increase the risk of post-operative cancer recurrence. Positive surgical margins are frequently found at the apex. The utility of intraoperative FSA of the margins is controversial. Methods We reviewed a consecutive series of radical prostatectomy cases (n = 1669) performed at our institution, in which UMs were routinely evaluated by intraoperative FSA. Results The submitted UM tissue contained cancer glands in 111 cases (6.7%). On FSA, the pathologists detected cancer in 55 cases (3.3%), missed cancer in 38 (2.3%), and reported atypical glands in 18 (1.1%). FSA of the UMs had a sensitivity of 59.1%, specificity of 99.8%, and positive and negative predictive value of 94.8% and 97.6%, respectively. The low sensitivity resulted from a substantial false-negative rate (n = 38), which was largely attributed to limited sampling on FSA (n = 31). Of the 55 patients (3.3%) whose positive UMs were detected by FSA, 20 (1.2%) had cancer-free margins after tissue re-excision. A positive final UM was associated with greater biochemical recurrence (P = .0073). However, the few patients limited the statistical analysis of the benefit of margin conversion through tissue re-excision (P = .35). Conclusions Although experienced pathologists can evaluate the UMs on FSA with good accuracy, FSA has a relatively low sensitivity. Our data have indicated a low yield and a questionable value of routine FSA during radical prostatectomy.
Resource management and fault tolerance principles for supporting distributed real-time and embedded systems in the cloud

Cloud computing provides an attractive solution to host enterprise applications due to its cost effectiveness, and its ability to seamlessly adjust to changing application work-loads while providing the desired performance assurances using elastic and dynamic resource management. These benefits, however, do not yet readily carry over to distributed, real-time and embedded (DRE) systems, which are a class of systems that require stringent assurances on quality of service (QoS) properties including timeliness, reliability and security all at once. This doctoral research is investigating the sources of these limitations that make it hard to host DRE systems in the cloud, and developing solutions to overcome them. This paper makes three contributions in this regard. First, it outlines the key challenges that must be resolved in supporting DRE systems in the cloud and surveys related literature. Second, it presents ongoing work that addresses one key challenge stemming from the need for real-time and scalable resource monitoring in the cloud. Third, it outlines our proposed ideas on resolving the remainder of the challenges.
In Memoriam: Larry Hsu

He was a member of the American Geophysical Union. Larry received a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from National Taiwan University in 1969, an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Duke University in 1971, and a Ph.D. in Marine Studies from the University of Delaware in 1981. For his dissertation, he investigated turbulent heat transfers in the atmospheric surface layer. Larry began his career in the Navy with the Mapping, Charting, and Geodesy Branch in the Marine Geosciences Division of the Naval Ocean Research and Development Activity NORDA at the Stennis Space Center, MS in 1987. He worked at the Magnetic Observatory for several years investigating ocean processes using laser technology. He developed the Tidal Atlas Software TAS , a PC-based application that allowed users to retrieve and display global tidal characteristics for any region or location. Graphical outputs included tidal data, cotidal and tidal height plots. The application was transitioned to the Naval Oceanographic Office in 1993. Larry served as an active member of the
Compact Planar Microwave Blocking Filter

This paper proposes a technique to design a compact planar broadband microwave blocking filter. The filter is constructed from multiple sections of bandstop filters with means to control radiation loss. As a result, the filter has small physical size and provides multi-decade of suppression frequency bandwidth. The total length is less than half-wavelength long at the 3-dB corner frequency of 1.45 GHz. The experimental results show that the microstrip microwave blocking filter can provide an attenuation of more than 70 dB from 7 GHz to 39.5 GHz with the total DC capacitance of less than 23 pF.
On contraction analysis for non-linear systems

This paper derives new results in non-linear system analysis using methods inspired from fluid mechanics and differential geometry. Based on a differential analysis of convergence, these results may be viewed as generalizing the classical Krasovskii theorem, and, more loosely, linear eigenvalue analysis. A central feature is that convergence and limit behavior are in a sense treated separately, leading to significant conceptual simplifications. The approach is illustrated by controller and observer designs for simple physical examples.
Routine bladder biopsy after bacille Calmette-Guérin treatment: is it necessary?

Abstract Objectives. To evaluate the need for routine biopsy at first follow-up after intravesical bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) therapy for superficial transitional cell cancer of the bladder (TCCB). We examined the potential role of voided urine cytology and cystoscopy as screening tools to determine which patients should undergo biopsy. Methods. The records of 71 patients with TCCB who received a total of 95 courses of BCG were reviewed. The pathology findings before BCG and the cystoscopic, voided cytologic, and biopsy results after BCG were recorded. Results. In 54 cases, the cystoscopic and/or cytologic findings were abnormal. In 19 (35%) of these 54 cases, TCCB was found on biopsy after BCG. In 41 cases, both cystoscopy and cytology were normal. In 1 of these 41 cases, a small superficial low-grade TCCB was found on biopsy. An abnormality on voided cytology or cystoscopy was more likely to occur after treatment for carcinoma in situ. Conclusions. Patients with papillary TCCB who have negative cystoscopic and negative urine cytologic results can safely be spared routine transurethral bladder biopsy with its associated cost and morbidity. However, patients with carcinoma in situ are very likely to have persistent abnormal cytologic or abnormal cystoscopic findings warranting investigation with biopsy and may benefit from routine scheduled biopsy.
Molecular mechanism of inhibition of estrogen-induced cathepsin D gene expression by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) in MCF-7 cells.

17b-Estradiol (E2) induces cathepsin D mRNA levels and intracellular levels of immunoreactive protein in MCF-7humanbreastcancercells.2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin(TCDD)alonedoesnotaffectcathepsin D gene expression in this cell line; however, in cells cotreated with TCDD and E2, TCDD inhibited E2-induced cathepsin D mRNA levels, the rate of gene transcription, and levels of immunoreactive protein. The inhibitory responses were observed within 30 to 120 min after the cells were treated with TCDD. TCDD also inhibited E2-induced secreted alkaline phosphatase activity in aryl hydrocarbon (Ah)-responsive MCF-7 and wild-type mouseHepa1c1c7cellscotransfectedwiththehumanestrogenreceptor(hER)andthepBC12/S1/pacplasmid, which contains the 5* promoter region (2296/157) of the cathepsin D gene and an alkaline phosphatase reporter gene. The E2-responsive ER/Sp1 sequence (2199 to 2165) in the cathepsin D 5*region contains an imperfect GTGCGTG (2175/2181) xenobiotic responsive element (XRE); the role of this sequence in Ah responsiveness was investigated in gel electrophoretic mobility shift assays and with plasmid constructs containing a wild-type ER/Sp1 oligonucleotide or a mutant ER/Sp1-‘‘XRE’’ oligonucleotide containing two C3A mutations in the XRE sequence (antisense strand). In plasmid constructs which contained a chloramphenicol acetyltransferase reporter gene and the wild-type ER/Sp1 promoter sequence, E2-induced chloramphenicol acetyltransferase activity and mRNA levels were inhibited by TCDD whereas no inhibition was observed with the mutant ER/Sp1-‘‘XRE’’ plasmids. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays showed that the nuclear or transformed cytosolic Ah receptor complex blocked formation of the ER-Sp1 complex with the wild-type but not the ER/Sp1 mutant oligonucleotide. Moreover, incubation of the wild-type bromodeoxyuridine-substituted ER/Sp1 oligonucleotide with the nuclear Ah receptor complex gave a specifically bound cross-linked 200-kDa band. These data demonstrate that Ah receptor-mediated inhibition of E2-induced cathepsin D gene expression is due to disruption of the ER-Sp1 complex by targeted interaction with an overlapping XRE.
Failure of random materials: a large deviation and computational study

We study the problem of estimating small failure probabilities for elastic random material described by a one dimensional stochastic elliptic differential equation with certain external forcing and boundary conditions. Gaussian random functions are used to model the spatial variation of the material parameters. The failure event of the bulk material is simply characterized by the exceeding of certain thresholds for the maximum strain in the material. Using large deviation heuristics, we provide an intuitive description of the most probable realization of the random material parameters leading to critical situations of material failure. An efficient Monte Carlo method to compute such probabilities is presented.
Efficient Specific DNA Binding by p53 Requires both Its Central and C-Terminal Domains as Revealed by Studies with High-Mobility Group 1 Protein

The nonhistone chromosomal protein high-mobility group 1 protein (HMG-1/HMGB1) can serve as an activator of p53 sequence-specific DNA binding (L. Jayaraman, N. C. Moorthy, K. G. Murthy, J. L. Manley, M. Bustin, and C. Prives, Genes Dev. 12:462-472, 1998). HMGB1 is capable of interacting with DNA in a non-sequence-specific manner and causes a significant bend in the DNA helix. Since p53 requires a significant bend in the target site, we examined whether DNA bending by HMGB1 may be involved in its enhancement of p53 sequence-specific binding. Accordingly, a 66-bp oligonucleonucleotide containing a p53 binding site was locked in a bent conformation by ligating its ends to form a microcircle. Indeed, p53 had a dramatically greater affinity for the microcircle than for the linear 66-bp DNA. Moreover, HMGB1 augmented binding to the linear DNA but not to the microcircle, suggesting that HMGB1 works by providing prebent DNA to p53. p53 contains a central core sequence-specific DNA binding region and a C-terminal region that recognizes various forms of DNA non-sequence specifically. The p53 C terminus has also been shown to serve as an autoinhibitor of core-DNA interactions. Remarkably, although the p53 C terminus inhibited p53 binding to the linear DNA, it was required for the increased affinity of p53 for the microcircle. Thus, depending on the DNA structure, the p53 C terminus can serve as a negative or a positive regulator of p53 binding to the same sequence and length of DNA. We propose that both DNA binding domains of p53 cooperate to recognize sequence and structure in genomic DNA and that HMGB1 can help to provide the optimal DNA structure for p53.
Effect of geometry on void formation in commercial electroplating of thin strips to copper

Abstract Three plating trials comprised of six samples were performed to evaluate the ability to attach thin strips of varying cross section to a copper substrate via commercial nickel electroplating in a nickel sulfamate bath. Nickel plated to the top, bottom, and sides of the nickel strips, as well as to the substrate. A significant void formed beneath rectangular nickel strips for all geometries studied, including strip widths of 500 µm to 5000 µm and gap thicknesses from 100 µm to 1500 µm. This is due to the starvation of ions when two regions of growing grains impinge and entrap a volume of electrolyte, surrounding it completely by deposited nickel. Impingement often occurs just past the edge of the strip which causes the void width to be greater than the strip width and form seams at the edge of the void. The rate of plating is greatest in areas where sharp corners exist, due to higher current density. More plating reaches under the strip as the width decreases and/or gap thickness increases. Thus, the void size decreases with decreasing aspect ratio, defined as the strip width over gap thickness. The use of a cylindrical strip produces sound plating with no voids. This is because the lack of corners allows impingement to occur first beneath the center of the circular cross section, so liquid is never surrounded. The results of this study demonstrate how to minimize or avoid void formation in commercial electroplating of suspended strips which is of great importance in the installation of sensor strips in the coating layer of continuous casting molds.
Measurement of Internal Stress in Glass Articles

We have developed a method for measurement of internal stress in glass articles. The method uses Rayleigh-scattered light from a properly polarized laser beam propagating through glass at an oblique angle. This light is imaged with an electronic focal plane array camera. The method is similar to earlier published methods except for the inclusion of an externally controlled phase retarder. The phase retarder allows for the success of the method. The method is suitable for use on flat or curved glass and is applicable over a broad range of residual stresses. Experimental results are provided showing the in-plane stress throughout the thickness of a television glass sample.
Complement factor D̄‐like activity of Porphyromonas gingivalis W83

Porphyromonas gingivalis is a proteolytic gram-negative anaerobic bacterium that is frequently isolated from lesions of human periodontal disease. Previous studies have shown that P. gingivalis strain W83 inactivates C3 in pooled normal human serum (NHS) by a mechanism that is inhibitable by EDTA, yet it degrades purified complement proteins by a mechanism that is not EDTA-inhibitable. Furthermore, during complement activation, only a small number of C3 molecules accumulate on the surface of this organism unless the bacteria are treated with the protease inhibitor TLCK prior to complement activation. The hypothesis was tested that P. gingivalis W83 contains protease activity mimicking that of complement factor D, thus enabling it to activate C3 in serum without significant C3 accumulation on the cell surface. It was first noted that incubation of P. gingivalis W83 in absorbed human serum that was depleted of factor D resulted in C3 consumption that was reversed in the presence of the protease inhibitor TLCK. To directly demonstrate that factor B-dependent C3 consumption occurs in the absence of factor D, P. gingivalis W83 was incubated with purified C3 or a mixture of C3 and B. Although some proteolysis of C3 was noted, increased C3 consumption was noted in mixtures containing both C3 and B. This increment in C3 consumption was inhibited by both EDTA and TLCK. Furthermore, the addition of purified factor H to this mixture inhibited the increment in C3 consumption, indicating that a C3 convertase was probably formed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Electrocatalysis and measurements of hydrazine compounds at glassy carbon electrodes coated with electropolymerized 3,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde films

Chemically modified electrodes exhibiting electrocatalytic response towards hydrazine compounds were prepared by electroxidation of 3,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde (3,4-DHB) on glassy carbon electrodes. The surface-confined quinone moiety accelerates the slow oxidation of hydrazine or its methylated analogs, and allows their convenient quantitation at very low potentials. Cyclic voltammetry offers useful insights into the catalytic behavior. The electrocatalytic response is evaluated with regard to pH, scan rate, applied potential, hydrazine concentration, flow rate and other variables. When used as flow-injection detector, the 3,4-DHB modified electrode yields an extremely low detection limit of 5 × 10 −8M (32 pg) hydrazine. Applicability to thick-film sensor strips is also illustrated.
Tips For Maximizing The Value Of Your Retirement Investment Portfolio

Recent studies suggest that many retired and near-retirement age individuals do not understand basic investment strategy. One study concludes that “Boomers are in a state of financial paralysis” (Guardian Life, 2004). This article provides tips about which types of securities to include in various retirement accounts to maximize the value of the retirement portfolio. The article also considers social security and its possible effect on retirement investment strategy.
Buoyant Jets with Three-Dimensional Trajectories

A new integral method is devised to predict the hydrothermal behavior of buoyant jets discharged to infinite, flowing, stratified ambients through single submerged diffusers. The method, based on an integration of the basic partial differential equations written in a natural coordinate system, is more general than previous methods. In addition, a new generalized entrainment function is defined which includes the effects of internal turbulence, buoyancy, jet orientation, and cross flow. Only one of the four entrainment coefficients is obtained by fitting predictions to data. Theoretical predictions are compared with 29 different flows. Agreement between theory and data is good; this is particularly significant as the range in experimental flow variables is considerable and the four entrainment coefficients are maintained constant for all predictions.
Book Review: Dei, G.J.S. & Adjei, P.B. (Eds.). (2014). Emerging Perspectives on 'African Development': Speaking Differently. New York, NY: Peter Lang, 209 pp., ISBN: 978-1-4331-2096-1.

BOOK REVIEW: Dei, G.J.S. & Adjei, P.B. (Eds.). (2014). Emerging perspectives on 'African development': Speaking differently. New York, NY: Peter Lang, 209 pp., ISBN: 978-1-4331-2096-1.
Temperature Insurance—An Alternative to Frost Insurance in Citrus

PRIOR to the creation of the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation through Title 5 of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938, there were a number of attempts at all-risk crop insurance by private companies. Without exception, these ventures into general crop insurance by private companies have been short lived. Writers in the field have attributed failure primarily to (1) lack of adequate actuarial data, (2) adverse selection of individual risks in any given year, (3) adverse selection over time due to late-season sales of insurance, (4) insurance of price as well as physical yield, and (5) inadequate geographic diversification.1 These reasons for failure, of course, do not apply with equal force to all insurance plans which have been offered by private companies. However, whatever the cause, it is clear that private companies have not met with success in offering all-risk crop insurance to farmers. The federal crop insurance experiment is now (1951) in its 12th active year. The combined operations over twelve years show an unfavorable loss ratio, although periodic revision of insurance plans based on accumulated experience has contributed to a more favorable premium indemnity balance for recent years. The features of the federal crop insurance plan which have contributed to the unfavorable loss ratio over the years have been suggested by several writers in the field.2 At least one of the important factors contributing to the failure of several private companies in the general crop insurance field must be excluded since, from the beginning, federal crop insurance has carefully avoided insuring against
PS-060 Modulation Of L-arginine Changes Neonatal T-cell Polarisation And Regulation

Background and aims A growing number of diseases (trauma, certain cancer, and certain infection) in humans appear to be associated with L-arginine deficiency. In condition of L-arginine depletion, T-cell proliferation is impaired. In mice model, certain Th2 conditions were shown to activate arginase and lead to L-arginine depletion. However, the modulation effects of L-arginine towards T-cells immune polarisation and regulation are not understood. Methods To investigate the different modulation effects of L-arginine on neonatal and adult lymphocyte polarisation, the cytokines produced by cord blood mononuclear cells (CBMC) and adult peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) at indicated L-arginine were determined. Results CBMC produced less Th1 but higher Th2 cytokines than PBMC. Both adult and neonate T cells cannot produce IFN-γ efficiently in the absence of L-arginine. But high IL-4 and low IL-13 were produced by CBMC in L-arginine free condition. About the Th3 cytokines, CBMC produced lower TGF-β but higher IL-10 than PBMC. L-arginine levels had no influence on the TGF-β production (PBMC and CBMC). L-arginine enhanced the IL-10 production of CBMC. CBMC showed higher proportion of CD4+CD25 + cells and higher Foxp-3 expressions with L-arginine rich condition. Conclusions These results suggested that L-arginine modulate neonatal T-cells polarisation may partially through the IL-10 producing Tr1 cells mechanism. Understanding the biological role played by L-arginine deficiency in neonate will lead to the development of dietary strategy aimed at enhancing L-arginine plasma concentrations.
On the Basic Thoughts of Improving the College Students' Quality Education

Based on the connotation and feature of the quality education , this paper analyses the quality which the students in the 21st century should have.Concerning with the present situation,it puts forward the basic thoughts of improving the quality education for college students.
Mediated Vocabulary in Native Speaker–Learner Interactions During an Oral Portfolio Activity

This project investigated vocabulary learning from a sociocultural perspective—in particular, the way in which lexical knowledge was mediated in Spanish second language (L2) learners' and native speakers' (NSs') interactions. Nine students who were enrolled in an advanced conversation course completed an oral portfolio assignment consisting of five conversations with an NS. In addition to recording their conversations, learners transcribed and analyzed their interactions. At the end of the semester, each learner was assessed using a tailor-made posttest targeting the lexical language-related episodes from his or her individual portfolio. Findings indicated that NSs provided lexical mediation and that mediated terms were later recalled by learners, thus demonstrating that vocabulary learning had taken place. However, learners' and NSs' behavior varied from dyad to dyad regarding their level of engagement and the quantity and quality of mediation they provided and received, which had an impact on final learning outcomes. Pedagogical implications include the application of the oral portfolio activity for vocabulary learning in L2 classrooms.
A data-based lane-keeping steering control for autonomous vehicles: A Human-in-the-loop approach

In this paper, we study the design of a lane-keeping control assistance system, by taking the interaction between the driver and the vehicle into account. A Human-in-the-loop controller design approach is proposed to assist the driver to maintain in the central position of a lane. A sampled-data adaptive dynamic programming (ADP) method is introduced to develop online adaptive optimal controllers to achieve zero steady-state lane-keeping error while the road curvature condition and the vehicle dynamics are unknown. The effectiveness of this steering control assistance system is supported by rigorous analysis and validated by simulation results. Furthermore, as opposed to previous Human-in-the-loop controllers, the proposed controller is capable of adapting to different road curvature conditions.
Caregivers Like Me: An Education Intervention for Family Caregivers of Latino Elders at End-of-Life.

Abstract Introduction End-of-life (EOL) care delivery to Latinos is a well-documented challenge. The majority of caregivers for Latino patients are family relatives, but because Latino caregivers m...
Phonons and elasticity of cementite through the Curie temperature

Phonon partial densities of states (pDOS) of ^(57)Fe_3 C were measured from cryogenic temperatures through the Curie transition at 460 K using nuclear resonant inelastic x-ray scattering. The cementite pDOS reveal that low-energy acoustic phonons shift to higher energies (stiffen) with temperature before the magnetic transition. This unexpected stiffening suggests strongly nonharmonic vibrational behavior that impacts the thermodynamics and elastic properties of cementite. Density functional theory calculations reproduced the anomalous stiffening observed experimentally in cementite by accounting for phonon-phonon interactions at finite temperatures. The calculations show that the low-energy acoustic phonon branches with polarizations along the [010] direction are largely responsible for the anomalous thermal stiffening. The effect was further localized to the motions of the Fe_(II) site within the orthorhombic structure, which participates disproportionately in the anomalous phonon stiffening.
Functional characterization of a novel disaccharide transporter in lobster hepatopancreas

In animals, the accepted model of carbohydrate digestion and absorption involves reduction of disaccharides into the monosaccharides glucose, fructose, and galactose followed by their individual transmembrane transport into cells. In 2011, a gene for a distinct disaccharide sucrose transporter (SCRT) was found in Drosophila melanogaster and characterized in a yeast expression system. The purpose of the present investigation was to functionally identify and characterize a putative disaccharide transporter analog in the hepatopancreas of the American lobster, Homarus americanus. Purified hepatopancreatic brush-border membrane vesicles (BBMV) were used in transport experiments using 14C-sucrose and a Millipore filter isolation technique. In the absence of sodium, an external pH of 4 significantly stimulated the uptake of 14C-sucrose compared to that occurring at pH 5, 6, or 7. At pH 7, increasing external concentrations of sodium increased 14C-sucrose uptake by BBMV in a hyperbolic fashion and this stimulation was significantly reduced when the pH was changed to 4, suggesting that both protons and sodium ions were each capable of driving the uptake of the sugar. In experiments with a variety of monosaccharides, disaccharides, and trisaccharides, used as potential inhibitors of 14C-sucrose uptake, only maltose and trehalose inhibited carrier-mediated 14C-sucrose transport. An additional experiment showed that 20 mM maltose was a competitive inhibitor of 14C-sucrose uptake. The use of a putative lobster SCRT by both maltose and trehalose is nutritionally appropriate for lobsters as they commonly digest glycogen and chitin, polymers of maltose and trehalose, respectively. These findings suggest there is a brush-border proton- or sodium-dependent, hepatopancreatic carrier process, shared by sucrose, maltose, and trehalose, that may function to absorb disaccharides that are produced from digestion of naturally occurring dietary constituents.
Role of PET scan in predicting response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy and long-term outcomes for stage II lung cancer.

7574 Background: While the role of neo-adjuvant chemotherapy (NAT) in stage IIIA non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is well established, its efficacy in stage II is unclear. We evaluated the role o...
Current management and clinical outcomes for catheter ablation of atrioventricular nodal re-entrant tachycardia.

Aims Historical studies of ablation of atrioventricular nodal re-entrant tachycardia (AVNRT) have shown high long-term success rates and low complication rates. The potential impact of several recent practice trends has not been described. This study aims to characterize recent clinical practice trends in AVNRT ablation and their associated success rates and complications. Methods and results Patients undergoing initial ablation of AVNRT between 1 July 2005 and 30 June 2015 were included in this study. Patient demographics and procedural data were abstracted from procedure reports. Follow-up data, including AVNRT recurrence and complications, was evaluated through electronic medical record review. In total, 877 patients underwent catheter ablation for AVNRT. By the last recorded year, three-dimension (3D) electroanatomical mapping (EAM) was used in 36.2%, 43.2% included anaesthesia, and 23.1% utilized irrigated catheters. Long-term procedural success was 95.5%. The use of anaesthesia, 3D EAM, and irrigated ablation catheters were not associated with differences in success. The presence of an atrial 'echo' or 'AH' jump at the end of an acutely successful procedure was not associated with long-term recurrence (P = 0.18, P = 0.15, respectively). Complications, including AV block requiring a pacemaker (0.4%), were uncommon. Conclusion In a large, contemporary cohort, catheter ablation for AVNRT remains highly successful with low complications rates. The increased use of anaesthesia as well as modern mapping and ablation tools were not associated with changes in clinical outcomes. Further prospective evaluation of such contemporary practices is warranted given the lack of evidence to support their escalating use.
Machine/Human Compatibility in Manufacturing Systems Design

Abstract Computer-based production technology offers opportunity for improved manufacturing capabilities; however, in many instances companies have been disappointed in the outcomes of large investments in these technologies. A major premise behind this research is that technollogical changes cannot be treated simply as technical problems. Successfully putting these advanced systems to work in industry requires equal consideration of the machine/human interactions involved. A second premise is that consideration of these interfaces early in the design of the technology can significantly increase the effectiveness of the resulting system. In the Spring of 1987 the National Science Foundation funded a two-and-a-half-year research project which combines the resources of Boston University and The Ohio State University with cooperating manufacturing finns in the discrete metal products sector of American industry to study these issues. The research objectives were to: (1) Measure the extent to which industrial firms consider machine/human compatibility when they are designing or selecting new process technology. (2) Determine the nature and extent of benefits or penalties that can result from taking the worker into account prior to technology design and selection. (3) Develop criteria and measures to evaluate these benefits and penalties. (4) Identify those principles pertaining to machine/human compatibility in process technology which might be used to guide future system design or selection. Data-collection involved in-depth telephone interviews with 63 senior manufacturing executives and on-sight case studies of major production system modernization projects. This paper is the fourth in a series, each member of which updates the infonnation contained in preceding papers. The results contained in this paper are based on those analyses completed at the time it was written, i.e., just before the deadline for the acceptance of the paper. Additional information will be available by the time it is presented.
And Then There Were More: Secure Communication for More Than Two Parties

Internet communication today typically involves intermediary middleboxes like caches, compression proxies, or virus scanners. Unfortunately, as encryption becomes more widespread, these middleboxes become blind and we lose their security, functionality, and performance benefits. Despite initial efforts in both industry and academia, we remain unsure how to integrate middleboxes into secure sessions---it is not even clear how to define "secure" in this multi-entity context. In this paper, we first describe a design space for secure multi-entity communication protocols, highlighting tradeoffs between mutually incompatible properties. We then target real-world requirements unmet by existing protocols, like outsourcing middleboxes to untrusted infrastructure and supporting legacy clients. We propose a security definition and present Middlebox TLS (mbTLS), a protocol that provides it (in part by using Intel SGX to protect middleboxes from untrusted hardware). We show that mbTLS is deployable today and introduces little overhead, and we describe our experience building a simple mbTLS HTTP proxy.
Levels of Expression and Systems Approach to Therapy

Imagery, symbols, and visual expression all are multidimensional and multileveled. The outstanding components of imagery, symbols, and visual expression, as discussed in detail in previous chapters, are the kinesthetic/sensory, perceptual or structural, affective, and cognitive. In addition, images, symbols, and visual expression can have a metaphorical or symbolic meaning. The relationship between these different components on a developmental basis was conceptualized by Bruner (1964), who proposed three modes of representation: the enactive, the iconic, and the symbolic. The enactive mode reflects events through an appropriate motor response; the iconic mode selectively organizes individual perceptions and images; and the symbolic mode designates and transforms experience into abstract and complex methods of representation.
Room temperature lasing from monolithically integrated gaas microdisks on Si

Additional functionalities on semiconductor microchips are progressively important in order to keep up with the ever increasing demand for more powerful computational systems. Recently, III-V integration on Si attracted significant research interest [1] due to the promise to merge mature Si CMOS processing technology with III-V semiconductors possessing superior material properties e.g. in terms of carrier mobility or band structure (direct band gap). In particular, Si photonics would strongly benefit from an integration scheme for active III-V optoelectronic devices in order to enable low-cost and power-efficient electronic-photonic integrated-circuits. In this regard, tremendous progress was achieved using various integration routes for laser sources including wafer bonding [2], buffer layers [3] or dislocation trapping [4].
Collective and Independent-Particle Motion in Simple Atoms and Molecules: a Unification?

The evidence is reviewed that implies electrons in doubly-excited states of helium behave like the atoms of a linear triatomic molecule. The relation between molecule-like collective motion and independent- particle, solar-system-like motion is explored via the model problem of two interacting particles on concentric spheres. The state of understanding of independent-particle motion for atoms in small polyatomic molecules is surveyed briefly and the proposal is explored that some small molecules, such as dihydrides, might exhibit independent-particle rotational motion in sufficiently highly excited local mode states.
Investigating the detectability performance of a positron emission mammography system: A phantom study

469 Objectives To investigate the detectability performance of a Positron Emission Mammography (PEM) device (PEM Flex Solo II) in a phantom study. Performance was evaluated in terms of; activity to background ratio (ACR), lesion diameter, phantom thickness and noise level using 7 observers (5 breast radiologists and 2 nuclear medicine physicians). Methods A novel, customizable gelatin phantom was designed to provide a uniform activity distribution and the ability to suspend objects at various locations/depths. Small contrast disks were created with varying diameter (3-14.5 mm) and ACR (2.7-58). Phantoms were scanned on the PEM device with different thicknesses (2 and 4 cm), and imaging times (0, 90 and 150 minutes). For analysis, the contrast objects were segmented from each PEM image and placed randomly in a corresponding noise image. These images were blindly presented to observers, and scored in a binary fashion. In addition, phantoms were imaged on a whole-body PET/CT Scanner (GE Discovery RX PET/CT) for comparison. Results The mean detection sensitivity across the study was 0.77, with a specificity of 0.97 and diagnostic accuracy of 0.81. Detectability of the smallest object varied as a function of ACR, ranging from 0.53 for the smallest (3 mm) to 0.93 for the largest (14.5 mm). Performance improvements at reduced phantom thicknesses and increased total number of counts were small, though statistically significant. The difference in performance between observer type was not statistically significant. In the evaluation of PEM vs. PET, PEM demonstrated improved performance at low ACR (16% better at ACR = 2.8), and small size (21% better at 3 mm diameter). Conclusions A customizable phantom was created to evaluate the detectability performance of the PEM Flex Solo II. Using detection sensitivity as the figure of merit, this work has formulated detailed relationships between imaging performance and important clinical variables, including lesion ACR, size and total activity and phantom thickness
Overview of Technology Assessment

When television came into our living room, few people could predict that it would become a popular nanny. Similarly, not many people foresaw that the automobile would become a major contributor to air pollution and one of the principal causes of premature death.1 Technology has grown into a major force shaping our society.
Secreted Alpha Granule Proteins

Alpha granules are the specific, protein-containing granules of platelets. Contents of alpha granules are released during platelet activation and blood coagulation. Of the released proteins, some bind to the surface of activated platelets, some participate in fibrin formation, and some prepare and activate traumatized or inflamed tissue for subsequent repair. In the present chapter, we describe these processes. We pay particular attention to the concentration of certain proteins within alpha granules, which may be up to a millionfold greater than concentrations in plasma and a thousandfold greater than concentrations in serum. We emphasize our recent studies of surface-activated platelets using correlative scanning and high-voltage electron microscopy. Finally, we consider the high surface concentration of glycoprotein (GP) IIb-IIIa complexes on unactivated platelets and hypothesize that loosening of the tight packing of the complexes during platelet activation may explain why proteins such as fibrinogen bind to activated but not unactivated platelets.
Anthropologies of Hope and Despair: Disability and the Assisted-Suicide Debate

AbstractThe physical criteria that determine who is and who is not eligible for assisted suicide imply that some lives—such as lives with disability—are less “objectively” worthwhile than others. B...
Effects of weak planetary rotation on the stability and dynamics of internal stratified jets

This study explores the stability characteristics and nonlinear evolution of internal jets in rotating stratified fluids using a combination of direct numerical simulations and linear instability analyses. Our ultimate goal is the assessment of the potential impact of the Earth’s rotation on relatively small-scale structures, exemplified by turbulent wakes generated by propagating bluff objects in the ocean. We question the popular notion that ascribes a secondary role to the Coriolis effects in large Rossby number (Ro) systems. It is shown that the Earth’s rotation can substantially influence circulation patterns with Rossby numbers as high as Ro ∼ 103. Therefore, such effects must be taken into account in the numerical and theoretical models of finescale (∼10–100 m) processes in the ocean. We present a series of examples in which planetary rotation controls flows with large but finite values of Ro through centrifugal destabilization. These calculations reveal that centrifugal instabilities can affect fluid motion either directly, by modifying the basic state, or indirectly, by preferentially eliminating anticyclonic coherent vortices that form in the course of dynamic destabilization of jets. The results of this study have potentially significant geophysical implications in terms of elucidating mechanisms of energy cascade to progressively smaller scales. In the naval context, we anticipate that our investigation could influence the development of algorithms for detection and analysis of late wakes, generated by propagating submersibles in the ocean.This study explores the stability characteristics and nonlinear evolution of internal jets in rotating stratified fluids using a combination of direct numerical simulations and linear instability analyses. Our ultimate goal is the assessment of the potential impact of the Earth’s rotation on relatively small-scale structures, exemplified by turbulent wakes generated by propagating bluff objects in the ocean. We question the popular notion that ascribes a secondary role to the Coriolis effects in large Rossby number (Ro) systems. It is shown that the Earth’s rotation can substantially influence circulation patterns with Rossby numbers as high as Ro ∼ 103. Therefore, such effects must be taken into account in the numerical and theoretical models of finescale (∼10–100 m) processes in ...
Effects of Insecticides Used in Organic Agriculture on Anastatus reduvii (Hymenoptera: Eupelmidae) and Telenomus podisi (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae), Egg Parasitoids of Pestivorous Stink Bugs.

Lethal and sublethal effects of insecticides used in organic agriculture were tested against Anastatus reduvii and Telenomus podisi, native North American hymenopteran egg parasitoids of the native Euschistus servus Say (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) and the invasive Halyomorpha halys Stal. Entrust (spinosad), PyGanic (pyrethrin), Neemix (azadirachtin), and Azera (pyrethrin + azadirachtin) were tested at equivalent field rates of 1×, 0.5×, and 0.1×. Bioassays included insecticide exposure to parasitoids through residue on substrate, parasitized host eggs, and their food source. When exposed to dried residues, Entrust caused 100% mortality at the 0.5× rate to both species; PyGanic, Neemix, and Azera exhibited low toxicity. Exposure of parasitized host eggs to Entrust 1× during the egg stage of parasitoid development reduced parasitoid emergence compared to all other treatments in both species. Anastatus reduvii emergence was also reduced by PyGanic at 0.5× and 1×. Parasitoid emergence from host eggs exposed during the pupal stage was more variable than egg stage exposure; emergence of both species was reduced in 0.5× and 1× rates of PyGanic, and A. reduvii was reduced in the 0.5× rate of Entrust compared to controls. Longevity of emerged parasitoids surviving exposure within host eggs showed that Entrust was more deleterious than Neemix or PyGanic. When A. reduvii was fed insecticide-laced honey, all treatments except Neemix at 0.1× reduced adult longevity compared to the control. These studies demonstrated that insecticides commonly used in organic agriculture can negatively affect two common parasitoids of stink bugs; specifically, negative effects were most pronounced with Entrust, and variable with Neemix and Pyganic.
Grand theories of European integration in the twenty-first century

This paper sets the scene for a JEPP special issue entitled ‘Re-engaging Grand Theory: European Integration in the Twenty-first Century.’ The special issue engages three theories – neofunctionalism...
The Polar Solutions

As detailed in previous chapters, the description of antibody diversity moved rapidly in the wake of sophisticated experiments designed to probe the extent of the repertoire. Data obtained by serologists, biochemists, and geneticists all revealed the complexity of immunoglobulin populations and indicated that the capability to produce a large number of antibody molecules was present in a single organism. Whether one arrived at this large number by counting antibody-binding sites, idiotypes, or amino acid sequences of heavy and light chain V regions, the data strongly supported the two-gene hypothesis and underscored the bifunctional nature of the antibody molecule. However, this body of serologic and structural data failed to answer an overriding question, one that dominated the area of immunoglobulin genetics during this time: What was the precise number and nature of V-region genes?
Empowerment of front-line leaders in an online learning, certificate programme.

AIM To evaluate the effectiveness of an online learning, certificate programme for front-line nurse leaders' sense of empowerment. BACKGROUND Front-line leaders play a crucial role in health care. Current training is often inadequate. The Institute of Medicine report on The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health (2010) recommends nurses at all levels receive training for their role. METHODS A pre- to post-study design was used; instruments included Conditions for Work Effectiveness Questionnaire, Psychological Empowerment Scale, intent to stay, and self-reported knowledge and effectiveness of intervention questions. This study evaluated the effects of online learning for 29 acute care front-line leaders in the USA and Australia. RESULTS Structural empowerment significantly improved, pre-assessment (M = 18.50, SD = 1.6940) to post-assessment (M = 19.47, SD = 1.6940). There was no significant difference in intent to stay or overall psychological empowerment. Participants agreed (24/29, 83%) the intervention contributed to their 'sense of empowerment in their role' and 'ability to create an empowering work environment'. CONCLUSION Online learning was effective and could be integrated into orientation and/or continuing education plans to develop empowering work environments. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT Online learning may be a means of educating and empowering front-line leaders for their role.