cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Security Through Development

Development and security have been the purported goals of every third world state since the onset of the era of independence following World War II, as we have already argued. True, there have been other underlying goals, some perhaps more pervasive (for example, the search for power on the part of elites or ethnic factions), others less so, usually classifiable, however, as subsets of our twin study (for example, education). And these two subjects have dominated the literature in their separate incarnations. Recently, the relationship and possible interdependence of these two variables have come under scrutiny, and in this chapter we see how some of this bears on Philippine politics. Most of what has been done is cross-national, and valuable. Here we have a single case study with the detail such affords, a country where the issue of security and development is central to survival in the present period.
La naturaleza como modo de existencia del capital: organización territorial y disolución del campesinado en el superciclo de materias primas de América Latina

This article addresses the processes of technological modernization that have taken place in Latin America’s mining industry, especially in the context of a new geography of late industrialization whose gravitational center has shifted towards East Asian economies. Through the Marxist critique of ecology, the paper explains the ways in which both human and nonhuman natures have been emptied of their concrete specificity in order to be transformed into the alienatedpowers of capital. The intensification in land use that has followed the robotization and computerization of large-scale mining has not only reconfigured the biogeophysical environment into a constitutive moment of the forces of production, but also entailed the systematic transformation of peasantries into dispossessed multitudes that act as mere appendages of technical systems of extraction, or as surplus populations. The reorganization of the mining industry into global supply chains requires rethinking extraction beyond primary commodity production, and interrogating its organic unity with the modern mode of production generally considered.
A Novel Approach to Managing Trans-Subclavian Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement With Regional Anesthesia.

Abstract Transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has evolved, through increased operator experience and technical advancements, from a procedure done routinely under general anesthesia (GA) to one that can be safely performed under conscious sedation. Although local anesthesia and conscious sedation is widely applied to transfemoral procedures, TAVR using alternative vascular access routes requiring surgical cutdown is still performed under GA. We describe the use of regional anesthesia and moderate sedation in an 82-year-old woman undergoing trans-subclavian TAVR. A pectoral (PECS-1) nerve block provided adequate anesthesia throughout the procedure and excellent post-operative analgesia with no complications.
Dynamic expiratory CT: An effective non-invasive diagnostic exam for fragile children with suspected tracheo-bronchomalacia.

BACKGROUND Tracheobronchomalacia, defined as variable collapse of the airways, has been recognized as an important cause of respiratory morbidity but still widely underdiagnosed. Bronchoscopy is still considered as the gold standard, but numerous limitations are known, especially for fragile sick children. Moreover, information on parenchymal lung disease cannot be described. There is a real need for a reliable, non-invasive test to help detection of airway and parenchymal malformations in children, specifically when bronchoscopy cannot be performed. METHODS AND RESULTS 34 paediatric patients underwent cine multidector CT for ongoing respiratory symptoms and were included. All CT images were of good quality and sedation was never needed. Airway disease such as trachea-broncomalacia with/without stenosis was described in 53% with the first being more frequent. Bronchomalacia alone was described in 10 patients and in 4 patients was associated with tracheomalacia. Moreover, CT allowed identification of parenchymal disease in 10 patients. Airways stenosis alone was detected in seven patients. The majority of patients (85%) underwent also bronchoscopy for clinical decision. The agreement between CT and bronchoscopy was explored. The two examinations did not agree only in two cases. CT dynamic showed an excellent sensitivity of 100% (81.47-100 %), a great specificity of 82% (48.22-97.72 %), NPV 100%, and PPV 90% (72-96.9 %). CONCLUSION Dynamic CT results an effective and highly sensitive diagnostic exam for children with tracheo-bronchomalacia. CT is especially indicated for those small and fragile patients that cannot undergo an invasive investigation. Moreover, CT allows a detailed evaluation both of the airways and the lungs which is useful for the clinical management.
Old Lessons for a New World: Applying Adoption Research and Experience to Art

This article suggests that knowledge derived from adoption-related research and experience can be used to improve law, policy and practice in the world of assisted reproductive technologies (ART), particularly with respect to sperm, egg and embryo "donations." While there are numerous and significant differences between adoption and ART, the article identifies several areas in which adoption's lessons could be useful. These include secrecy and the withholding of information; a focus on the best interests of children; the creation of "nontraditional" families, particularly as more single, gay and lesbian adults use ART; the impact of market forces; and legal and regulatory frameworks to inform standards and procedures.
Polyheteroarylmethines, Syntheses and Physical Properties

Selfcondensation of 2-pyrrolealdehyde with phosphoroxichloride gives a product with a polypyrrylmethine like structure. Structure and reactivity of the methinegroup are investigated by 15N-CPMAS and 13C-CPMAS technique.
Investigating Complex Surface Phenomena Using Density Functional Theory

Surfaces of some materials exhibit vastly different structure than the bulk-truncated atomic structure due to the reduced surface atomic coordination that leads to surface dangling bonds and/or surface stress. In order to relieve the stress, partial dislocation networks are formed on some surfaces, changing the surface periodicity to tens or hundreds of nanometers. By using Pt(111) and Ag/Ag/Pt(111) surface reconstructions as examples, we demonstrate how such large length scale pattern formation can be investigated using “classical” models parameterized within density functional theory. We then present an example of determining the magnetic state of ultrathin films on semimetallic substrates. It is possible that such magnetic films also get reconstructed due to the mismatch in lattice spacing between the film and the substrate. Although the pattern formation on magnetic films can be studied using similar type of models, determining the magnetic state of such superstructures requires further modeling efforts.
Control Theory Tutorial: Basic Concepts Illustrated by Software Examples

This open access Brief introduces the basic principles of control theory in a concise self-study guide. It complements the classic texts by emphasizing the simple conceptual unity of the subject. A novice can quickly see how and why the different parts fit together. The concepts build slowly and naturally one after another, until the reader soon has a view of the whole. Each concept is illustrated by detailed examples and graphics. The full software code for each example is available, providing the basis for experimenting with various assumptions, learning how to write programs for control analysis, and setting the stage for future research projects. The topics focus on robustness, design trade-offs, and optimality. Most of the book develops classical linear theory. The last part of the book considers robustness with respect to nonlinearity and explicitly nonlinear extensions, as well as advanced topics such as adaptive control and model predictive control. New students, as well as scientists from other backgrounds who want a concise and easy-to-grasp coverage of control theory, will benefit from the emphasis on concepts and broad understanding of the various approaches.
Quality Improvement and Telemedicine Intensive Care Unit: A Perfect Match

The health care delivery system is complex. New technologies offer new treatment options. The process of quality improvement includes system re-engineering. Telemedicine intensive care is an evolving area of delivery. Its core characteristic is the need for a merger of human and machine activity. Optimal use of quality improvement tools can lead to improved patient-centered outcomes. This article outlines how quality improvement tools can be used to facilitate the patient-centered collaboration with a focus on defining evidence-practice gaps, developing actionable metrics, analyzing the impact of proposed interventions, quantifying resources, prioritizing improvement plans, evaluating results, and diffusing best practices.
Anchimerically assisted redox reactions

Abstract The rate law for the aqueous I 2 oxidation of 5-amino-1-thiacyclooctane has been determined and compared with 5-hydroxy-l-thiacyclooctane. The crystal structures of the 9-aza- and 9-oxa-l-thioniabicyclo[3.3.1]nonanes formed on oxidative cyclization are compared.
The Tulane Criminal Law Clinic: An Evolution into a Combined Individual Client and Advocacy Clinic

This article describes the evolution of the Tulane Criminal Law Clinic from a clinic focused on the more traditional “one client, one case” model of clinical education to its current form which combines individual client representation with systemic advocacy. This evolution began after the clinic found it hard to ignore the community impact of our success in challenging the constitutionality of a statute dealing with defendants who were found permanently incompetent to stand trial. The evolution was accelerated after the Tulane Criminal Law Clinic, along with the Loyola Criminal Law Clinic, was appointed to represent all of the inmates of Orleans Parish Prison after Hurricane Katrina wiped out the public defender system and left thousands of incarcerated defendants unrepresented. The courthouse had been flooded and closed, the evidence room had been flooded and closed; there were no court records available, the police department was in chaos, there was no functioning mechanism to serve subpoenas, witnesses had scattered. Individual case litigation was not an option. We had to develop non-litigation approaches in order to advocate for our clients. Our post-Katrina experience underscored the need for clinical pedagogy to include a broad range of strategies in addition to litigation in order to be effective. As the criminal justice institutions began to function again, the clinic used some of these newly developed non-litigation advocacy skills – legislative advocacy, collaboration with other lawyers, community education, and more to improve the treatment of defendants who had been found incompetent to stand trial. We learned that expanding our clinical practice beyond individual client litigation provides our students with the opportunity to broaden their problem solving skills and to develop a full range of advocacy tools. Those skills help not only to effectively achieve the goals of our clients but to achieve systemic changes. Those systemic changes help our clients as they interface with the same system in the future and relieve similarly situated members of the community. Thus, Katrina brought into focus challenges we were only beginning to uncover prior to her impact and taught us the value, indeed the necessity, of broadly interpreting the advocacy and skills lawyers must develop.
Gene expression analysis to detect disseminated tumor cells in the bone marrow of triple-negative breast cancer patients predicts metastatic relapse

Disseminated tumor cells (DTCs) in the BM of breast cancer patients predict early disease relapse, but the molecular heterogeneity of these cells is less well characterized. Expression of a 46-gene panel was used to detect DTCs and classify patient BM samples to determine whether a composite set of biomarkers could better predict metastatic relapse. Using a high-throughput qRT-PCR assay platform, BM specimens collected from 70 breast cancer patients prior to neoadjuvant therapy were analyzed for the expression of 46 gene transcripts. Gene expression was scored positive (detectable) relative to a reference pool of 16 healthy female control BM specimens. To validate findings from a subset of 28 triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients in the initial 70 patient cohort, an independent set of pre-therapeutic BM specimens from 16 TNBC patients was analyzed. Expression of each of the 46 gene transcripts was highly variable between patients. Individual gene expression was detected in 0–84% of BM specimens analyzed and all but two patient BM specimens expressed at least one transcript. Among a subset of 28 patients with TNBC, positivity of one or more of eight transcripts correlated with time to distant relapse (p = 0.03). In an independent set of 16 triple-negative patient BM samples, detection of five of these same eight gene transcripts also correlated with time to distant relapse (p = 0.03) with a positive predictive value of 89%. We identified a set of gene transcripts whose detection in the BM of TNBC patients, prior to any treatment intervention, predicts time to first distant relapse, thus identifying a TNBC patient population which requires additional treatment intervention. Because these genes are presumably expressed in populations of DTCs and many encode proteins that are known therapeutic targets (e.g., ERBB2), these results also suggest a potential approach for targeted DTC therapy to mitigate distant metastases in TNBC.
DELAYED VERSUS EARLY CARDIOVERSION FOR PATIENTS WITH UNCOMPLICATED ATRIAL FIBRILLATION META-ANALYSIS

Prior studies have conflicting results about whether urgent restoration of sinus rhythm (RSR) is favorable in atrial fibrillation (AF) outcomes. Hence, we did a meta-analysis to assess the outcomes of early cardioversion (EC) versus spontaneous and delayed cardioversion (SDC) in patients with
Pulmonary Blastomycosis: A case series and review of unique radiological findings

Blastomycosis is a systemic fungal infection which primarily involves the lungs but can disseminate to involve extrapulmonary sites. Current testing that exists includes sputum, urine, serum, and pathological tissue analysis. Radiological testing is often non-specific and highly variable. Here we present five cases of pulmonary blastomycosis with challenging radiographic presentations.
Learning as the Organizing of Social Futures.

In this chapter, we argue for a perspective on learning as the organizing of access to valued social futures. Why think of learning in terms of organizing? Such a perspective, we believe, follows from a particular view of the human sciences, one that sees people as always engaged in organizing, collectively, the conditions for and meaning of their actions. This is an inherently value-laden process that requires reflexive monitoring of the ongoing flow of action and ongoing adjustments to fit successive contributions to the emerging and jointly negotiated understanding of the occasion. This organizing work is not exclusively locally produced, but draws on various structuring resources, such as material and symbolic artifacts, that are brought into local action from elsewhere and that can become consequential at other places and at other times. This general perspective, we believe, captures the commitments of many researchers who work with a view of human action, and of learning, as socially, culturally, and historically located. There are still other reasons to understand learning in terms of organizing. Certainly, other ways of conceiving of learning have been proposed and have yielded crucial insights into learning; we suggest that a focus on organizing can sharpen these insights. One major way in which learning has been understood within a human science perspective, over at least the past 20 years, is in terms of apprenticeship (Brown, Collins, & Duguid, 1989; Lave & Wenger, 1991; Sfard, 1998). Focusing on learning as apprenticeship has foregrounded how, when conditions are ideal,
Effectiveness of the post-donation instruction sheet in conveying information to repeat blood donors.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Written materials are commonly used for blood donor education. While pre-donation materials are largely standardized across US blood collectors, the post-donation instruction sheet (PDIS) is variable and few have been evaluated to assess their effectiveness in conveying information as reflected by donors' attention, understanding and recall. METHODS An online survey was sent to two independent randomly selected samples of repeat donors, before and after implementation of the enhanced PDIS. RESULTS A total of 12 935 blood donors responded (33·4% response rate). Most donors did not read the entire PDIS - 34·3% less than half and 18·1% none. Of the 10 593 donors who reported reading any of the PDIS, 97·8% recalled instructions about immediate post-donation care (e.g. extra fluids/no exercise) and 88·0% to call with questions/problems. However, only 50·1% remembered reading about what to do if you felt dizzy/faint and 32·4% about care for bruises. Recall rates in every area were similar before and after revision; except after revision, more donors remembered seeing information about maintaining iron and fewer that you should call the centre back with additional health information (P < 0·0001). DISCUSSION Blood collectors rely heavily on written materials to convey instructions to donors. Most repeat donors do not read the entire PDIS, and many do not recall important information. More donors recalled seeing how to maintain iron with the enhanced PDIS, but recall deficits remained on how to care for adverse reactions. Written materials alone appear to be insufficient to educate some donors about new or updated topics.
Observable but Not Isolable: The RhAu 24 (PET) 18 1+ Nanocluster

The synthesis and characterization of RhAu24 (PET)18 (PET = 2-phenylethanethiol) is described. The cluster is cosynthesized with Au25 (PET)18 and rhodium thiolates in a coreduction of RhCl3 , HAuCl4 , and PET. Rapid decomposition of RhAu24 (PET)18 occurs when purified from the other reaction products, precluding the study of isolated cluster. Mixtures containing RhAu24 (PET)18 , Au25 (PET)18 , and rhodium thiolates are therefore characterized. Mass spectrometry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and chromatography methods suggest a combination of charge-charge and metallophilic interactions among Au25 (PET)18 1- , rhodium thiolates and RhAu24 (PET)18 resulting in stabilization of RhAu24 (PET)18 . The charge of RhAu24 (PET)18 is assigned as 1+ on the basis of its stoichiometric 1:1 presence with anionic Au25 (PET)18 , and its stability is contextualized within the superatom electron counting rules. This analysis concludes that the Rh atom absorbs one superatomic electron to close its d-shell, giving RhAu24 (PET)18 1+ a superatomic electron configuration of 1S2 1P4 . Overall, an updated framework for rationalizing open d-shell heterometal dopant electronics in thiolated gold nanoclusters emerges.
Diagnostic Accuracy of Imaging Techniques for Rotator Cuff Pathology: An Evidence-to-Practice Review

When comparing imaging techniques for rotator cuff pathologies, clinicians tend to consider musculoskeletal ultrasonography (MSK US), magnetic renaissance imaging (MRI), and magnetic renaissance imaging with arthrogram (MRA) as diagnostic imaging techniques. Since the most recent systematic review on imaging conducted in 2003, imaging technology has improved, indicating the need for a meta-analysis to evaluate the accuracy of new diagnostic techniques (MSK US) for evaluating rotator cuff pathologies. The accuracy of MSK US readings between radiologists and non-radiologists was also analyzed. Data were extracted from three different databases and included articles exploring diagnostic imaging and the accuracy of technique at the shoulder joint. All research findings were then rated for any risk of bias using the revised version of the quality assessment of diagnostic accuracy studies (QUADAS-2). Statistically, the authors used hierarchical summary receiver-operating characteristics to compare accuracy of diagnostic imaging techniques across the literature. The results from the guiding manuscript indicated that MSK US, MRI, and MRA were considered highly sensitive diagnostic imaging techniques for full-thickness rotator cuff tears (Sn: US: 0.86-0.94, MRI: 0.85-0.95, MRA: 0.83-0.95). For partial-thickness rotator cuff tears, likelihood ratios indicated an increased accuracy in MRA diagnostic ability (Sn: MRA: 0.83), though MSK US and MRI were still considered highly sensitive for diagnosing partial-thickness rotator cuff tears (Sn: MSK US: 0.68, MRI: 0.67). When comparing radiologists and non-radiologists use of MSK US, there was no significant difference in diagnostic accuracy based on the reading provider. As the diagnosis based on imaging determines the need for surgical intervention, the guiding review indicated that all three diagnostic tools (MSK US, MRI and MRA) were considered highly sensitive for rotator cuff pathologies (average SN of all diagnostic tools: 0.90-0.91). Determining which imaging technique to use should be based on patient-centered factors, such as possibility of the presence of other shoulder pathology, invasiveness of the procedure, and financial implications. Diagnostic MSK US optimizes these factors, in addition to being highly sensitive.
A coal rib monitoring study in a room-and-pillar retreat mine

Abstract The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) conducted a comprehensive monitoring program in a room-and-pillar mine located in Southern Virginia. The deformation and the stress change in an instrumented pillar were monitored during the progress of pillar retreat mining at two sites of different geological conditions and depths of cover. The main objectives of the monitoring program were to better understand the stress transfer and load shedding on coal pillars and to quantify the rib deformation due to pillar retreat mining; and to examine the effect of rib geology and overburden depth on coal rib performance. The instrumentation at both sites included pull-out tests to measure the anchorage capacity of rib bolts, load cells mounted on rib bolts to monitor the induced loads in the bolts, borehole pressure cells (BPCs) installed at various depths in the study pillar to measure the change in vertical pressure within the pillar, and roof and rib extensometers installed to quantify the vertical displacement of the roof and the horizontal displacement of the rib that would occur during the retreat mining process. The outcome from the monitoring program provides insight into coal pillar rib support optimization at various depths and geological conditions. Also, this study contributes to the NIOSH rib support database in U.S coal mines and provides essential data for rib support design.
Submission No. 7 to Senate Committee on Finance -- Chairman's Staff Request for Comments on Certain Technical and Policy Issues Raised in the Staff Discussion Draft -- Responses

The Senate Committee on Finance international tax reform staff discussion draft issued November 19, 2013 sets out certain proposals for international tax reform. In a document also issued on November 19, 2013, titled “Chairman’s Staff Request for Comments on Certain Technical and Policy Issues Raised in the Staff Discussion Draft”, certain issues were listed and comments were requested. This letter responds to certain of those issues. Comments are provided for the following issues: Issues Applicable to Options Y and Z 1. Deduction for dividends received by domestic corporations from certain foreign corporations. 2. Application of dividends received deduction to certain sales and exchanges of stock. 3. Inclusion of United States related income in subpart F income. 4. Low-taxed income treated as subpart F income. 6. Reform of foreign tax credit limitation. Issues Applicable to Common Provisions within Discussion Draft 1. Treatment of previously deferred foreign income. This is Submission 7 of 7 Comment Letters Provided to the Committee.
Insect-to-insect horizontal transmission of a phytoreovirus in the absence of an infected plant host.

Abstract Vertical transmission of Homalodisca vitripennis reovirus (HoVRV) from glassy-winged sharpshooter (GWSS, Homalodisca vitripennis (Germar)) females to progeny occurred in laboratory assays at frequencies too low (2.6%–15.4%) to account for HoVRV incidence (90–100%) in field populations resident in citrus. Because citrus is immune to HoVRV and no plant host is known, horizontal transmission of HoVRV from insect-to-insect was evaluated. Exposure of colony-reared, virus-free test nymphs to HoVRV-infected source adults held in the same cage for 10 days on virus-immune cowpea resulted in HoVRV transmission (13.3%–30.7%) to test nymphs. HoVRV was not transmitted when exposure was indirect and required passive movement of virions through the xylem of immune citrus seedlings. Collectively, these results demonstrate direct insect-to-insect horizontal transmission of HoVRV, providing a plausible explanation for high incidence of HoVRV in GWSS field populations in the absence of efficient vertical transmission or a plant host.
Association of Pre-ESKD Hyponatremia with Post-ESKD Outcomes among Incident ESKD Patients.

BACKGROUND Hyponatremia is one of the most common electrolyte disturbances in advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) patients and has been shown to be associated with higher mortality risk. However, the relationship between hyponatremia during late-stage CKD and the risk of poor outcomes after ESKD transition is unknown. METHODS We conducted a retrospective cohort study including 32,257 US veterans transitioning to ESKD from October 1, 2007 to March 30, 2015. We evaluated adjusted associations between the 3-month averaged pre-transition to ESKD serum sodium and all-cause mortality. Secondary outcomes included cardiovascular (CV) mortality, infection-related mortalities, and hospitalization rate. RESULTS Cohort mean±SD serum sodium was 139 ± 3 mEq/L, mean age was 67 ± 11 years, 98% were male, and 32% were African American. Over a median follow-up of 702 days (296, 1301) there were 17,162 deaths. Compared to the reference of 135-<144 mEq/L, the lowest serum sodium group (<130 mEq/L) had a 54% higher all-cause mortality risk (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.54, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.34, 1.76) in the fully adjusted model. Associations were similar for CV and infection-related mortality, and hospitalization outcomes. CONCLUSIONS Hyponatremia prior to ESKD transition is associated with higher risk of all-cause, CV, and infection-related mortalities and hospitalization rates after ESKD transition. Future studies evaluating management of pre-ESKD hyponatremia may be indicated to improve patient outcomes for those transitioning to ESKD.
Experimental Stock Markets with Controlled Risk Preferences

In this paper the empirical validity of the binary lottery preference inducing technique is tested in a real world market institution. In each market the potential gains to exchange arise from induced risk preferences, and the predicted competitive equilibrium is equivalent to the Pareto optimal risk sharing allocation. Price convergence to (and near) the competitive equilibrium price was rapid in each market, and most trades were individually rational with respect to induced certainty equivalents. This evidence implies that preferences can be induced in an oral double auction institution, using this technique.
Effect of diagnosis (refractory anemia with excess blasts, refractory anemia with excess blasts in transformation, or acute myeloid leukemia [AML]) on outcome of AML-type chemotherapy

In current medical practice, patients with refractory anemia with excess blasts in transformation (RAEB-t), and especially patients with RAEB, receive chemotherapy regimens (AML Rx) administered to patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) less often than do patients with AML. These entities are distinguished primarily by marrow blast percentage (5% to 19% RAEB, 20% to 29% RAEB-t, and ≥30% AML). The poor prognosis of many RAEB or RAEB-t patients, if untreated, led us to give them AML Rx using the same plan as for AML. The purpose of this analysis was to see if diagnosis (RAEB, RAEB-t, or AML) affected outcome. We treated 372 patients with AML (acute promyelocytic leukemia [APL] excluded), 106 with RAEB-t, and 52 with RAEB. AML Rx produced a 62% complete remission (CR) rate in RAEB, essentially identical to the rates in RAEB-t and AML, but event-free survival (EFS) from CR and from start of treatment (start of Rx), as well as overall survival, were poorer in RAEB than in AML or RAEB-t, with AML and RAEB-t being identical. However, patients with RAEB or RAEB-t were more likely to have poor prognostic characteristics, in particular complex abnormalities involving chromosomes 5 and/or 7. Multivariate analyses indicated that, when considered together with cytogenetics and other patient characteristics, a diagnosis of RAEB rather than AML or RAEB-t had no effect on EFS from start of Rx, EFS from CR, survival, or achievement of CR. These analyses suggested a trend for patients with RAEB-t to have better EFS from start of Rx than patients with AML or RAEB ( P = .08; relative risk, 0.80; 95% confidence interval, 0.62 to 1.03), but there were no differences with respect to the other outcomes. Our data suggest that the propriety of administering AML Rx to patients with RAEB or RAEB-t who have poor prognosis without treatment is identical to the propriety of treating AML in this fashion. Deterrents to standard AML Rx in these patients could justifiably include cytogenetics, age, etc, but not a diagnosis of RAEB or RAEB-t per se.
Scaffolding On-Line Discussions with Past Discussions: An Analysis and Pilot Study of PedaBot

PedaBot is a new discussion scaffolding application designed to aid student knowledge acquisition, promote reflection about course topics and encourage student participation in discussions. It dynamically processes student discussions and presents related discussions from a knowledge base of past discussions. This paper describes the system and presents a comparative analysis of the information retrieval techniques used to respond to free-form student discussions, a combination of topic profiling, term frequency-inverse document frequency, and latent semantic analysis. Responses are presented as annotated links that students can follow and rate. We report a pilot study of PedaBot based on student viewings, student ratings, and a small survey. Initial results indicate that there is a high level of student interest in the feature and that its responses are moderately relevant to student discussions.
Combination Therapy with Anti–CTLA-4 and Anti–PD-1 Leads to Distinct Immunologic Changes In Vivo

Combination therapy concurrently targeting PD-1 and CTLA-4 immune checkpoints leads to remarkable antitumor effects. Although both PD-1 and CTLA-4 dampen the T cell activation, the in vivo effects of these drugs in humans remain to be clearly defined. To better understand biologic effects of therapy, we analyzed blood/tumor tissue from 45 patients undergoing single or combination immune checkpoint blockade. We show that blockade of CTLA-4, PD-1, or combination of the two leads to distinct genomic and functional signatures in vivo in purified human T cells and monocytes. Therapy-induced changes are more prominent in T cells than in monocytes and involve largely nonoverlapping changes in coding genes, including alternatively spliced transcripts and noncoding RNAs. Pathway analysis revealed that CTLA-4 blockade induces a proliferative signature predominantly in a subset of transitional memory T cells, whereas PD-1 blockade instead leads to changes in genes implicated in cytolysis and NK cell function. Combination blockade leads to nonoverlapping changes in gene expression, including proliferation-associated and chemokine genes. These therapies also have differential effects on plasma levels of CXCL10, soluble IL-2R, and IL-1α. Importantly, PD-1 receptor occupancy following anti-PD-1 therapy may be incomplete in the tumor T cells even in the setting of complete receptor occupancy in circulating T cells. These data demonstrate that, despite shared property of checkpoint blockade, Abs against PD-1, CTLA-4 alone, or in combination have distinct immunologic effects in vivo. Improved understanding of pharmacodynamic effects of these agents in patients will support rational development of immune-based combinations against cancer.
Effect of felbamate on carbamazepine and its major metabolites

Felbamate is a novel antiepileptic drug that is now available in the United States. During a previous double-blind, crossover, placebo-controlled safety and efficacy study, concomitant phenytoin concentrations increased, whereas carbamazepine concentrations decreased. We evaluated the effect of felbamate on the concentrations of carbamazepine and of its major metabolites, carbamazepine- 10,11-epoxide (epoxide) and carbamazepine-trans-10,11-diol (diol) in 26 patients. After the addition of felbamate, mean epoxide concentrations increased from 1.8 µg/ml during placebo or baseline periods to 2.4 µg/ml during felbamate treatment (p < 0.05); there was no significant change in diol concentrations. Mean carbamazepine concentrations decreased from 7.5 µg/ml during placebo treatment to 6.1 µg/ml during felbamate treatment (p < 0.05). Mechanisms that could account for the increase in steady-state epoxide concentrations are induction of carbamazepine metabolism to epoxide, inhibition of the conversion of epoxide to diol, or both. Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (1993) 53, 536–543; doi:10.1038/clpt.1993.67
Enhancement of antigen-specific immunity via the TLR4 ligands MPL adjuvant and Ribi.529

MPL™(Corixa) adjuvant is a chemically modified derivative of lipopolysaccharide that displays greatly reduced toxicity while maintaining most of the immunostimulatory activity of lipopolysaccharide. MPL adjuvant has been used extensively in clinical trials as a component in prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines targeting infectious disease, cancer and allergies. With over 33,000 doses administered to date, MPL adjuvant has emerged as a safe and effective vaccine adjuvant. Recently, scientists at Corixa Corporation have developed a library of synthetic lipid A mimetics (aminoalkyl glucosaminide 4-phosphates) with demonstrated immunostimulatory properties. Similar to MPL adjuvant, these synthetic compounds signal through Toll-like receptor 4 to stimulate the innate immune system. One of these compounds, Ribi.529 (RC529), has emerged as a leading adjuvant with a similar efficacy and safety profile to MPL adjuvant in both preclinical and clinical studies.
A quantitative radioimmunological screening method for specific gene products

Abstract A rapid, sensitive, and quantitative radioimmunoassay for specific translation products was developed using Escherichia coli cells grown in 96-well microtiter plates. A simple and inexpensive apparatus that facilitates the simultaneous transfer of all 96 detergent-lysed cultures to nitrocellulose within 30 s is described. Following this quantitative transfer, selected proteins are screened using specific antisera and 125I-Protein A. The technique works with either cytoplasmic or membrane proteins. As little as a two- to threefold increase of a gene product over normal levels can easily be detected.
Presidential debates as focal points for campaign arguments

Abstract This critical analysis of the 1988 Bush‐Dukakis presidential campaign is based on the premise that political debates can provide a framework for examining the arguments and issues within a political campaign that help shape potential voters’ perceptions about each candidate's character and fitness for office. The arguments presented within the debates are examined to determine the dominant themes each candidate developed as a way of describing himself and his opponent. Analysis of news reports of subsequent campaign speeches and polling information suggests which themes were accepted by the majority of voters.
A Design for Auditory Display

Auditory messages in home, office, and medical environments consist of little more than beeps, bells, and buzzers. Warning signals are particularly inappropriate for these environments because they startle, annoy, but do not inform listeners as to the source of the difficulty. As home automation becomes prevalent, unpleasant sounds will not be tolerated. Earcons are musical sounds that are easy to learn; yet designed to inform listeners of the status of automated systems. We discuss problems such as simultaneous sounds and levels of urgency below.
Aerosols and their sources at Summit Greenland – First results of continuous size- and time-resolved sampling

Abstract An ongoing program to continuously collect time- and size-resolved aerosol samples from ambient air at Summit Station, Greenland (72.6 N, 38.5 W) is building a long-term data base to both record individual transport events and provide long-term temporal context for past and future intensive studies at the site. As a “first look” at this data set, analysis of samples collected from summer 2005 to spring 2006 demonstrates the utility of continuous sampling to characterize air masses over the ice pack, document individual aerosol transport events, and develop a long-term record. Seven source-related aerosol types were identified in this analysis: Asian dust, Saharan dust, industrial combustion, marine with combustion tracers, fresh coarse volcanic tephra, and aged volcanic plume with fine tephra and sulfate, and the well-mixed background “Arctic haze”. The Saharan dust is a new discovery; the other types are consistent with those reported from previous work using snow pits and intermittent ambient air sampling during intensive study campaigns. Continuous sampling complements the fundamental characterization of Greenland aerosols developed in intensive field programs by providing a year-round record of aerosol size and composition at all temporal scales relevant to ice core analysis, ranging from individual deposition events and seasonal cycles, to a record of inter-annual variability of aerosols from both natural and anthropogenic sources.
Regulation of tumor necrosis factor expression in a macrophage-like cell line by lipopolysaccharide and cyclic AMP.

Abstract Bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 1 μg/ml) induced the rapid production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) mRNA in the RAW264 macrophage-like cell line. TNF-α mRNA peaked within 45 min of LPS treatment and remained high for greater than 3 hr. Transcription of TNF-α mRNA was increased within 15 min of LPS treatment. The quantity of TNF-α mRNA in LPS-stimulated cells was reduced to basal levels by treatment with cAMP, cAMP analogs, or agents which raise intracellular cAMP. This was not a general effect on all mRNA levels as the expression of a second gene, ornithine decarboxylase, was enhanced by cAMP treatment. cAMP did not have an effect on the stability of TNF-α mRNA. This is in contrast to the protein synthesis inhibitor, cycloheximide, which leads to a stabilization of TNF-α mRNA. Our results suggest that the primary regulation of tumor necrosis factor by cAMP and LPS occurs at the transcriptional level.
Line-scanning detection instrument for photonic crystal enhanced fluorescence.

A laser line-scanning instrument was developed to optimize the near-field enhancement capability of a one-dimensional photonic crystal (PC) for excitation of surface-bound fluorophores. The excitation laser beam is shaped into an 8 μm×1 mm line that is focused along the direction of the PC grating, while remaining collimated perpendicular to the grating. Such a beam configuration offers high excitation power density while simultaneously providing high resonant coupling efficiency from the laser to the PC surface. Using a panel of 21 immunofluorescence assays on the PC surface in a microarray format, the approach achieves an enhancement factor as high as 90-fold between on-resonance and off-resonance illumination. The instrument provides a capability for sensitive and inexpensive analysis of cancer biomarkers in clinical applications.
The overlooked role of deficit or non-productive behaviors in traditional assessment of long-term care residents

Abstract Most instruments that examine long-term care residents' problem behavior assess only productive behaviors that require immediate behavioral management (e.g., kicking, wandering, screaming). However, it was hypothesized that the deficit or non-productive problem behaviors of older adults in long-term care (e.g., social withdrawal, excessive sleeping, and not eating) may be as problematic as their more salient counterparts. A factor analysis of 561 staff members' ratings of residents on the Nursing Home Problem Behavior Scale, along with three additionally constructed items, suggests that deficit behaviors can be assessed reliably and that they account for a unique, underlying dimension in problem behavior. After controlling for level of burnout, caregivers associated more unfavorable attitudes with residents' deficit, than with certain productive (e.g., irrational and annoying), behaviors. Recommendations are made to include deficit behaviors in traditional measures of problem behavior and to help...
A new kinetic model for the steady-state reactions of the quinoprotein methanol dehydrogenase from Paracoccus denitrificans

The reactions of methanol dehydrogenase from Paracoccus denitrificans with artificial electron acceptors, ammonia, cyanide, and substrates have been characterized by steady-state kinetic analysis. Phenazine ethosulfate, a commonly used electron acceptor for this enzyme, was shown to exhibit pronounced substrate inhibition with a K(i) value approximately 20-fold lower than its Km. Wurster's Blue exhibited only relatively mild substrate inhibition and was deemed a more appropriate electron acceptor. Ammonia was an obligatory activator of the enzyme at low concentrations and inhibited a high concentrations. The K(i) value for this inhibition correlated closely with the Kd calculated from a titration of perturbations of the absorption spectrum of methanol dehydrogenase which were caused by the addition of ammonia. Cyanide, which suppressed the peculiar endogenous reaction of methanol dehydrogenase, was also both an activator of substrate-dependent activity and a competitive inhibitor with respect to methanol. Kinetic analysis indicated that the latter two activities corresponded to two distinct binding sites for cyanide. The Ka for cyanide activation correlated closely with the concentration required to inhibit 50% of the endogenous reaction, suggesting that a single binding event is responsible for both of these effects. A model is presented to describe the effects of ammonia and cyanide in the reaction cycle of methanol dehydrogenase, and the physiological relevance of the activation and inhibition by these compounds in vitro is discussed.
Endoscopy in eosinophilic esophagitis: "feline" esophagus and perforation risk.

Abstract Background & Aims: Idiopathic eosinophilic esophagitis is an underdiagnosed disease with typical endoscopic findings, which have not been well described. Methods: Charts and pathology reports at two tertiary care centers from June 1993 to April 2002 were reviewed to describe the endoscopic findings of this disease and to correlate them with clinical characteristics. Eight patients were identified as having eosinophilic esophagitis based on clinical symptoms and pathology reports. Results: Soft and subtle ring(s) in the esophagus were found in 7 of 8 patients. In 3 of 8 patients, the esophagus appeared rigid. Mucosal rents occurred with simple passage of the endoscope in 5 of 8 patients. One patient developed a perforation after simple passage of the endoscope. Endoscopic findings can be normal or very subtle in these patients, and the findings can easily be missed during endoscopy. Tearing of the esophagus can occur with simple passage of the endoscope or biopsy even in the absence of overt rings. A minimum of 8 weeks of medical therapy (proton pump inhibitor, histamine antagonists, immunosuppressants) should be undertaken before considering dilation because of the high risk involved with the procedure and the good response to medical therapy. Conclusions: We recommend considering dilation only in patients with eosinophilic esophagitis who do not respond to medical therapy and have rings that appear to be obstructing the lumen.
Technical challenges in modernizing distribution electric power systems with large number of distributed generators

In this paper we consider possible technical challenges which may arise while attempting to modernize today's electric power systems by connecting many distributed generators (DG) of diverse technologies closer to the end-users within the distribution networks. We report that connecting larger (~1 MW) DGs at the network locations, which result in minimal delivery losses, may lead to frequency instabilities not currently experienced in distribution grids supplied from single power generators. The paper further points out that there is a tradeoff between efficiency and the robustness of future energy systems. For example, adding storage can help, but this adds cost. The paper closes with a discussion of designing advanced enhancing robustness methods to ensure both safety and efficiency.
Response mode and choice consistency: A test of unfolding theory

Abstract Coombs, Donnell, and Kirk (1978 . Journal of Experimental Psychology, 4, 497–512), in a study of risk preferences, collected data using both pick 1 3 and reject 1 3 response modes. Although the preference orders derived from the two response modes were identical, the pick data contained a greater number of inconsistencies than the reject data. In the present study, predictions were derived from unfolding theory (Coombs, 1964 . A theory of data. New York: Wiley) regarding the relative consistency of pick and reject response modes. An experiment performed as a test of these predictions supported the unfolding model suggesting that differences in inconsistency between response modes could be attributed to the fineness of the grid of working midpoints imposed upon the choice process by the response mode.
PROCEDURES FOR MULTIPLE INTEGRATION

Abstract This paper presents a brief description of a numerical procedure for evaluating multiple integrals over the unit cube in N-dimensional space, for N = 2,…,8. A familiar smoothing process enhances the speed and accuracy. Examples are given.