cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Three-dimensional UAS Trajectory Optimization for Remote Sensing in an Irregular Terrain Environment

This paper presents a novel algorithm for three-dimensional UAS trajectory optimization for a remote sensing mission in an irregular terrain environment. The algorithm consists of three steps: terrain modeling, the selection of scanning waypoints, and trajectory optimization. The terrain modeling process obtains a functional model using a Gaussian process from terrain information with a point cloud. The next step defines scanning waypoints based on the terrain model information, sensor specifications, and the required image resolution. For the selection of the waypoints, this paper introduces two different approaches depending on the direction of the viewing angle: a normal offset method and a vertical offset method. In the trajectory optimization, the proposed algorithm solves a distance-constraint vehicle routing problem to identify the optimum scanning route based on the waypoints and UAS constraints. Numerical simulations are conducted with two different UAS trajectory scanning methods in a realistic scenario, Point Loma in San Diego.
Attack Scenario-based Validation of the Idaho CPS Smart Grid Cybersecurity Testbed (ISAAC)

The use of smart and distributed devices is increasing in Cyber Physical Systems (CPS). The smart and distributed devices are capable of extensive inter- and intra- networking. Consequently, cyber attack attempts against CPS have been increasing in recent years. The potential for widespread loss of resources for utilities is high if a cyber-attack is executed successfully on a CPS. Realistic and comprehensive cyber-physical testbeds are becoming increasingly necessary to analyze and secure CPS organizations. One such comprehensive and realistic testbed, ISAAC - the Idaho CPS Smart Grid Cybersecurity Testbed, was previously presented. Validating testbeds with realistic experiments is of paramount importance in increasing the usability of a testbed. We present a mapping of ISAAC to the Purdue reference model. We also validate ISAAC by performing a realistic attack-scenario on the testbed. Our results indicate that ISAAC can simulate realistic scenarios.
A novel mutation in Slc2a4 as a mouse model of fatigue

Chronic fatigue is a debilitating disorder with widespread consequences, but effective treatment strategies are lacking. Novel genetic mouse models of fatigue may prove invaluable for studying its underlying physiological mechanisms and for testing treatments and interventions. In a screen of voluntary wheel-running behavior in N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea mutagenized C57BL/6J mice, we discovered two lines with low body weights and aberrant wheel-running patterns suggestive of a fatigue phenotype. Affected progeny from these lines had lower daily activity levels and exhibited low amplitude circadian rhythm alterations. Their aberrant behavior was characterized by frequent interruptions and periods of inactivity throughout the dark phase of the light-dark cycle and increased levels of activity during the rest or light phase. Expression of the behavioral phenotypes in offspring of strategic crosses was consistent with a recessive inheritance pattern. Mapping of phenotypic abnormalities showed linkage with a single locus on chromosome 1, and whole exome sequencing identified a single point mutation in the Slc2a4 gene encoding the GLUT4 insulin-responsive glucose transporter. The single nucleotide change (A-T, which we named "twiggy") was in the distal end of exon 10 and resulted in a premature stop (Y440*). Additional metabolic phenotyping confirmed that these mice recapitulate phenotypes found in GLUT4 knockout mice. However, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first time a mutation in this gene has been shown to result in extensive changes in general behavioral patterns. These findings suggest that GLUT4 may be involved in circadian behavioral abnormalities and could provide insights into fatigue in humans.
Frequency of occurrence of various nuclear reactions when fast neutrons (≲50 MeV) pass through tissue‐equivalent material

Calculated results are presented for the frequency with which various partial nuclear reaction cross sections are utilized when fast neutrons (≲50 MeV) are transported through a tissue‐equivalent phantom to obtain an indication of which cross sections are of most importance for radiotherapy applications and are therefore in need of experimental verification.
Crystallographic prediction from diffraction and chemistry data for higher throughput classification using machine learning

Abstract Simultaneously capturing material structure and chemistry in the form of accessible data is often advantageous for drawing correlations and enhancing our understanding of measurable materials behavior and properties. Unfortunately, in many cases, accessing data at the scale required, is highly multidimensional and sparse by the historical and evolving nature of materials science. To mitigate difficulties, we develop and employ methods of data analytics in conjunction with open accessible chemistry and structure datasets, to classify and reduce the amount of data needed for extracting useful descriptors from multidimensional techniques. The construction and systematic ablation of our model highlights the potential for dimensional reduction in data sampling, improved classification, and identification of correlations among material crystallography and chemistry.
Mature results of a phase II study of intraperitoneal topotecan as consolidation therapy in ovarian cancer

5570 Background: Previous studies with intraperitoneal (IP) topotecan have shown 20 mg/m2 to be well tolerated. This study evaluated the feasibility, safety, and effectiveness of IP topotecan as co...
Inguinal Extrusion of a Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt

Background Complications of ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunts include migration into various anatomic compartments and even extrusion through tissue layers. Case Description A 31-year-old female patient with a VP shunt presented with distal shunt tubing extruding through the skin at the level of the inguinal ligament. Shunt hardware was removed, and cultures grew Dermacoccus. The patient was treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics and underwent placement of a lumboperitoneal shunt. Conclusions Dermacoccus is a gram-positive skin organism with rare human pathogenicity and not previously known to cause shunt infections.
Tetra-hyperbolic and tri-hyperbolic optical phases in anisotropic metamaterials without magnetoelectric coupling due to hybridization of plasmonic and magnetic Bloch high-k polaritons

Abstract In this paper we reveal the physics behind the formation of tri- and tetra-hyperbolic phases in anisotropic metamaterials without magnetoelectric coupling and describe the anti-crossing splitting phenomenon in the hyperbolic dispersion which arises due to the hybridization of the plasmonic and magnetic Bloch high-k polaritons. In hyperbolic metamaterials used for sensing, imaging, and other applications the high-k modes are purely magnetic or electric, which results in purely electric (magnetic) near-fields in response to electric (magnetic) sources. The hybridization predicted in this paper leads to the formation of high-k modes which feature both electric and magnetic fields. This can be used to induce magnetic near fields in response to electric dipole in realistic structures which opens novel avenues in the optical magnetism research. Our work considerably deepens the understanding of the high-k polaritons and the topology of the optical iso-frequency surfaces in k-space and will find applications in optical nano-resolution imaging, emission rate, directivity, and near-field control. To accomplish this, we develop a range of new techniques of theoretical optics for bianisotropic materials, including the quadratic index of refraction operator method, suitable to study the high-k polaritons with finite indices of refraction and the explicit expression for the characteristic matrix in generic bianisotropic media. We introduce the spatial stratification approach for the electric and magnetic responses of anisotropic homogeneous media to analyze the underlying Bloch waves. We believe that the formalisms developed here can be useful for the researchers in the field of theoretical optics of anisotropic and bianisotropic media in the future.
Killing with Discrimination

This chapter explores two possible moral justifications for the legal prohibition on the use of indiscriminate weapons. The prohibition could be justified instrumentally, as an indirect strategy of implementing more fundamental prohibitions on inflicting intentional, unnecessary, and disproportionate harm on civilians. However, the chapter argues that it is intrinsically morally wrong to use weapons that, either by their nature or by their use in a particular situation, are more likely to strike civilians or civilian objects than to strike combatants or military objectives. The chapter concludes that the use of such weapons should be considered unlawfully indiscriminate.
For Whom Online Marketplace Should Flourish: Implications from Policy Perspectives

The online marketplace continues to emerge as a mainstream sales channel for product sellers. The marketplace (e.g., Amazon) is a leading e-commerce platform, known as an efficient form of a new channel, increasing sellers’ sales opportunities, improving channel performance, and enhancing consumer surplus. However, sellers have seethed and regulators expressed great concerns about the marketplace's excessive clout. In this paper, we investigate how the retail behemoth allegedly uses its marketplace to exploit sellers and drive down consumer surplus, from a policy maker’s perspective. We find that the idea of the marketplace, as an efficient platform to help sellers or consumers or both, is delusional. The marketplace takes full advantage of its leverage, redistributing the surplus of the participants favorably for its own profit. For comparison, we consider other two distinct retail formats: a reseller (e.g., Amazon Retail) and an enabler (e.g., Buy on Google). The marketplace is the worst for the sellers without exception; moreover, an enabler does not always help benefit them while it does so for consumers. In contrast to common beliefs, the reselling model performs the best in favor of sellers as they face a race to underprice, in which the marketplace is as bad as the reseller in terms of consumer surplus and its societal benefit is also negligible. We propose a modified model wherein the marketplace's decision is intervened to guarantee the sellers' profit. We show that it can Pareto dominate for all stakeholders, protecting sellers, improving consumer and social welfare, and resolving channel inefficiency.
Interstitial 20p13 microdeletion including PRNP and adjacent genes in a fetus with congenital abnormalities-First case report.

We present a prenatal case with congenital anomalies that revealed a 759 kb microdeletion at 20p13 possibly implicating PRNP and adjacent genes.
Prv 2 chain: Storage of Tree-structured Provenance Records in Blockchain with Linkage Privacy

Storing provenance records on blockchain has the benefit of guaranteed integrity, however keeping the records private against the peers maintaining the blockchain is challenging especially when the records have linkages among them. This paper studies the problem of storing tree-structured provenance records with linkages in blockchain while keeping the linkages private. We present Prv2 chain, a framework that allows users to privately store their linked provenance records while protecting the records and their linkages. Users are also allowed to perform on-chain tree traversal efficiently. These are enabled by our novel record ID generation algorithms. Our experiments indicate the extra overhead incurred by Prv2 chain is little enough for practical deployment.
High-dv/dt-Immune Parameter-Adaptive Synchronous Rectifier (SR) Driving Scheme in High-Frequency High-Power-Density Applications

The synchronous rectifier (SR) is usually utilized to reduce the conduction loss and reverse recovery loss compared with the conventional diode bridge rectifier. However, the precise detection of the SR current zero-crossing is very challenging in high-frequency and high-power-density applications. The commercial SR drivers suffer from poor zero-crossing detection accuracy due to the device package inductance. Meanwhile, the conventional diode/FET blocking approach has over-voltage and oscillation issues during the high dv/dt transients. In this paper, a novel self-driven drain-to-source voltage sensing circuit is proposed. The circuit provides a paralleled low-impedance path to bypass the displacement current during the high dv/dt transients, which addresses the over-voltage and oscillation issues. Moreover, the adaptive SR on-time tuning algorithm is implemented, which eliminates the zero-crossing detection errors caused by the package and loop stray inductance. A 3.3 kW, 500 kHz CLLC resonant converter prototype is built to validate the proposed SR driving scheme. The prototype demonstrates the peak efficiency of 97.6% and the power density of 130 W/inch3.
The Vitamin D Metabolite Ratio Is Associated With Changes in Bone Density and Fracture Risk in Older Adults.

Recent studies have suggested that 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) may be a poor biomarker of bone health, in part because measured levels incorporate both protein-bound and free vitamin D. The ratio of its catabolic product (24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D [24,25(OH)2 D]) to 25(OH)D (the vitamin D metabolite ratio [VMR]) may provide more information on sufficient vitamin D stores and is not influenced by vitamin D-binding protein concentrations. We evaluated whether the VMR or 25(OH)D are more strongly associated with bone loss and fracture risk in older adults. We performed a retrospective cohort study of 786 community-dwelling adults aged 70 to 79 years who participated in the Health Aging and Body Composition study. Our primary outcomes were annual changes in bone density and incident fracture. The mean age of these participants was 75 ± 3 years, 49% were female, 42% were Black, and 23% had an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <60 mL/mL/1.73m2 . In fully adjusted models, a 50% lower VMR was associated with 0.3% (0.2%, 0.6%) more rapid decline in total hip bone mineral density (BMD). We found similar relationships with thoracic and lumbar spine BMD. In contrast, 25(OH)D3 concentrations were not associated with longitudinal change in BMD. There were 178 fractures during a mean follow-up of 10 years. Each 50% lower VMR was associated with a 49% (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.06, 2.08) greater fracture risk, whereas lower 25(OH)D3 concentrations were not significantly associated with fracture risk (hazard ratio [HR] per 50% lower 1.07 [0.80, 1.43]). In conclusion, among a diverse cohort of community-dwelling older adults, a lower VMR was more strongly associated with both loss of BMD and fracture risk compared with 25(OH)D3 . Trials are needed to evaluate the VMR as a therapeutic target in persons at risk for worsening BMD and fracture. © 2021 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).
The incidence of pulmonary embolism and associated FDG-PET findings on IV contrast enhanced PET/CT

1624 Objectives The majority of FDG PET/CT studies are performed on cancer patients. These patients are at increased risk of pulmonary embolism (PE, Ref 1 & 2). In this retrospective review, we determined the rate of pulmonary embolism, and the prevalence of associated FDG PET findings on IV contract enhanced PET/CT. Methods We identified all PET/CT studies performed at our institution with a reported finding of PE between January 2005 and October 2012. The medical record was reviewed for symptoms which were identified following the diagnosis of PE, and whether the patients received treatment. The prevalence of associated FDG PET findings was determined. Results 65 total cases of pulmonary embolism (of 18272 total PET/CT examinations) were identified of which 59 were previously unknown. This gives an incidental pulmonary embolism rate of 0.32%. Of the patients where sufficient clinical information was available, 34/36 (94%) were treated, either with therapeutic anticoagulation or IVC filter, and 30/36 (83%) were asymptomatic in retrospect. Of the patients with incidental PE, we found 9 (15.2%) with associated focal pulmonary artery hypermetabolism, three (5.1%) with hypermetabolic pulmonary infarction, and one with increased isolated right ventricular FDG uptake (1.7%). One case of chronic pulmonary embolism demonstrated a focal hypometabolic filling defect in a pulmonary artery on PET. Conclusions We found incidental pulmonary embolism in 0.32% of PET/CT scans. Focal pulmonary artery hypermetabolism or hypometabolism, and hypermetabolic pulmonary artery infarction with the “rim sign” were uncommonly associated with PE (Ref 3 & 4). These findings could raise the possibility of incidental PE in non IV-contrast enhanced PET/CT studies.
Being a "Good Parent" in Parent-Teacher Conferences

This research advances our understanding of what constitutes a “good parent” in the course of actual social interaction. Examining video-recorded naturally occurring parent–teacher conferences, this article shows that, while teachers deliver student-praising utterances, parents may display that they are gaining knowledge; but when teachers' actions adumbrate student-criticizing utterances, parents systematically display prior knowledge. This article elucidates the details of how teachers and parents tacitly collaborate to enable parents to express student-troubles first, demonstrating that parents display competence—appropriate involvement with children's schooling—by asserting their prior knowledge of, and/or claiming/describing their efforts to remedy, student-troubles. People (have to) display competence generically in interaction. By explicating how parents display competence, this article offers insights for several areas of communication research.
Randomized Online Algorithms for the Buyback Problem

In the matroid buyback problem, an algorithm observes a sequence of bids and must decide whether to accept each bid at the moment it arrives, subject to a matroid constraint on the set of accepted bids. Decisions to reject bids are irrevocable, whereas decisions to accept bids may be canceled at a cost which is a fixed fraction of the bid value. We present a new randomized algorithm for this problem, and we prove matching upper and lower bounds to establish that the competitive ratio of this algorithm, against an oblivious adversary, is the best possible. We also observe that when the adversary is adaptive, no randomized algorithm can improve the competitive ratio of the optimal deterministic algorithm. Thus, our work completely resolves the question of what competitive ratios can be achieved by randomized algorithms for the matroid buyback problem.
Abstract 79: Mitochondrial Mechanisms of Structural and Electrical Remodeling in Atrial Fibrillation

Background: The mechanisms responsible for atrial electro-anatomic remodeling during the development of atrial fibrillation (AF) are not known. Mitochondria determine atrial myocyte cell survival and function by regulating cellular oxidative and metabolic stress. We therefore postulated that mitochondria play a central role in the remodeling of atrial myocardium and the pathogenesis of AF. Methods: Our hypothesis was tested in a novel murine model (cardiac specific LKB1 knockout (KO)) where there is a high rate of sinus rhythm progressing to AF (95% of mice). Structural and electrophysiological properties of atria were studied in sinus rhythm and AF. Multiple parameters including the ECG, cardiac MRI, echocardiography, histopathology and immunoblotting in KO mice were compared with age- and gender-matched wild type controls. Results: LKB1 KO mice developed biatrial enlargement while in sinus rhythm that progressively increased as persistent AF developed. Apoptotic and necrotic myocyte death produced a sub...
Creating Self-Generating Knowledge Sharing Spirals: Improving Motivation in a Knowledge Economy

Many new research advancements have been gained in fields other than the basic social sciences. Some of these advancements come from multidisciplinary studies that merge social sciences with theories from other fields of study. This article takes a multidisciplinary approach, juxtaposing some of the more recent findings from other disciplines to develop a general model for improving performance. The proposed model utilizes social theory from sociology and community studies, knowledge spirals from the knowledge management discipline, motivation theories derived in part from evolutionary biology, and research on engagement from different fields of study within the social sciences. By incorporating a multidisciplinary theory for performance improvement, the authors are adhering to recommendations from researchers calling for alternative paradigms to be utilized, providing a more holistic understanding of the phenomena being studied (Storberg-Walker, 2007; Torraco, 2004).
Impact of depth and extent of lymphovascular space invasion on lymph node metastasis and recurrence patterns in endometrial cancer.

Background and Objectives To determine the significance of depth and extent of lymphovascular space invasion (LVSI) on lymph node metastasis and recurrence in endometrial cancer. Methods A case-control study was conducted to examine LVSI-positive (n = 70) and LVSI-negative (n = 641) stage I–III endometrial cancer cases that underwent hysterectomy-based surgical staging. The risk of lymph node metastasis and distant recurrence was estimated based on LVSI patterns. Results In multivariate analysis, deep (>50% invasion), and extensive (≥7 foci/slide) LVSI patterns had a significantly increased risk of lymph node metastasis (incidence 57.6% and 72.7%, odds ratio 33.8 and 49.9, respectively, P 50% myometrial tumor invasion, cervical stromal invasion, and adnexal involvement: incidence range 30.4–37.9%, odds ratio range 3.80–7.03). Deep and extensive of LVSI patterns were both significantly correlated to distant recurrence (P < 0.001). Among women who received postoperative chemotherapy, deep and extensive LVSI patterns did not have increased risks for distant recurrence compared to no LVSI (P = 0.47 and 0.32, respectively). Among women who received postoperative radiotherapy, the depth of LVSI was significantly associated with recurrence outside the radiated field (P = 0.02). Conclusions Depth and extent of LVSI are important predictors for lymph node metastasis and distant recurrence in endometrial cancer. J. Surg. Oncol. 2015;112:669–676. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A new system for recording unstable aerodynamic phenomena in NAVSWC Hypervelocity Wind Tunnel Hash 9

Hypervelocity Wind Tunnel Hash 9, located at the US Naval Surface Warfare Center in Silver Spring, MD, is a blowdown wind tunnel which operates at Mach numbers 8, 10, and 14. The desire to better quantify transient events has led to the procurement of a 20,000,000-sample/s data acquisition system. The new system, high-speed data acquisition and recording equipment (HSDARE), has been operational since June, 1990, and is available for Tunnel 9 tests requiring high temporal resolution. The HSDARE was purchased to provide transient signal acquisition while maintaining the capability to sample high quantities of standard speed sensors. The HSDARE samples signals one million times per second and resolves signals was bandwidths up to 100 kHz. The HSDARE provides the transient data acquisition function of the Tunnel 9 data acquisition facility. The architectures of HSDARE and earlier DARE versions are described. The earlier DARE versions are used for acquiring steady-state signals. >
Trends in plasma transfusion at a veterinary teaching hospital: 308 patients (1996-1998 and 2006-2008)

Objectives – To describe changes in fresh frozen plasma (FFP) utilization over a 10-year period at a veterinary teaching hospital. To evaluate the effect of FFP administration on specific laboratory parameters. Design – Retrospective observational study. Setting – University teaching hospital. Animals– Two hundred and eighty-three dogs and 25 cats. Interventions – A hospital database search was performed for all animals receiving FFP during the study periods. Measurements and Main Results – Medical records of patients receiving plasma transfusions from 2006 to 2008 and from 1996 to 1998 were reviewed. Data collected included indications for transfusion, transfused volume, concurrent therapies, clinicopathologic data pre- and post-transfusion, transfusion reactions, days of hospitalization, and outcome. FFP was administered to 112 dogs and 23 cats from 2006 to 2008 and to 171 dogs and 2 cats from 1996 to 1998. Significantly fewer patients received FFP for the treatment of hypoalbuminemia (2006–2008: 15% versus 1996–1998: 53%; P<0.001) or pancreatitis (2006–2008: 2% versus 1996–1998: 13%; P=0.001) and significantly more patients received FFP for coagulopathy (2006–2008: 80% versus 1996–1998: 31%; P<0.001) in the 2006–2008 group compared with the 1996–1998 group. For all patients receiving FFP, there was no difference in mean serum albumin concentration pre- and post-transfusion. Median prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time were significantly decreased post FFP administration. No association was found between the volume of plasma administered and outcome. Conclusions – FFP utilization has changed significantly over a 10-year period. FFP was used most commonly in 2006–2008 for the correction of coagulopathy. FFP administration was associated with significant reduction in prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time but did not significantly alter albumin concentration when administered at median doses of 15–18 mL/kg.
Planning and implementing effective service guarantee programs

Abstract This article highlights different types of service guarantees, explains the benefits of service guarantees to consumers and service providers, examines why service guarantees are so rarely used, and describes the characteristics of effective service guarantee programs. We seek to motivate additional service providers into offering service guarantees (when appropriate), to improve the effectiveness of service guarantee programs, and to spur additional research that can reduce the gap between academic research and industry practices relating to service guarantees. Properly planned, implemented, and controlled service guarantees can benefit service providers by serving as a signal of quality to customers, focusing on consumer expectations, developing specific performance standards, providing reliable data on service failures, determining weak points in the service-delivery process, and regaining customers who would otherwise be lost. Despite these benefits, service guarantees are not commonly used by service providers for a variety of reasons. We study and evaluate these impediments as well as describe characteristics of effective service guarantee programs from both the consumer's and service provider's perspectives.
The Capsule-Encoding viaB Locus Reduces Intestinal Inflammation by a Salmonella Pathogenicity Island 1-Independent Mechanism

Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium elicits acute neutrophil influx in the human intestinal mucosa within 1 or 2 days after infection, resulting in inflammatory diarrhea. In contrast, no overt symptoms are observed within the first 1 or 2 weeks after infection with S. enterica serotype Typhi. Here we show that introduction of the capsule-encoding viaB locus of serotype Typhi reduced the ability of serotype Typhimurium to elicit acute intestinal inflammation in a streptomycin-pretreated mouse model. Serotype Typhimurium requires a functional invasion-associated type III secretion system (type III secretion system 1 [T3SS-1]) to elicit cecal inflammation within 48 h after infection of streptomycin-pretreated mice, and the presence of the viaB locus reduced its invasiveness for human intestinal epithelial cells in vitro. However, a reduced activity of T3SS-1 could not account for the ability of the viaB locus to attenuate cecal inflammation, because introduction of the viaB locus into an invasion-deficient serotype Typhimurium strain (invA mutant) resulted in a significant reduction of pathology and inflammatory cytokine expression in the cecum 5 days after infection of mice. We conclude that a T3SS-1-independent mechanism contributes to the ability of the viaB locus to reduce intestinal inflammation.
The preceding item as cue for a response in serial learning

This experiment was a further test of the hypothesis that in serial learning an item serves as an effective stimulus for the next item. All Ss studied the same four lists, each of eight words. Half then learned a list of four pairs of words, the pairs selected from different original lists but each consisting of previously adjacent words. The other Ss also learned a list of eight words selected from the original items, but all previously nonadjacent. For both groups each word had the same serial position in both its original and derived list. The findings are interpreted as consistent with the hypothesis tested.
Building a layered framework for the table abstraction

This paper describes the design of a small application framework for building implementations of the Table Abstract Data Type (ADT). The framework is built upon a group of Java interfaces that collaborate to define the structure and high-level interactions among components of the Table implementations. The key concept in the design is the separation of the Table’s key-based record access mechanisms from the physical storage mechanisms. The design is sufficiently flexible to support a wide range of client-defined records and keys, indexing structures, and storage media. The design also takes advantage of several well-known software design patterns and of formal design contracts to increase reliability, understandability, and consistency.
The subunit structure of beef heart cytochrome oxidase

Abstract Beef heart cytochrome oxidase was studied by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. It was found to consist of one polypeptide of 37,000 Daltons, one of 19,000, two of 14,000, and four of 10,000. Various steps were taken to demonstrate that none of the bands were due to lipid, and that proteolysis did not occur during SDS incubation.
Predation, death, and survival in a biofilm: Bdellovibrio investigated by atomic force microscopy

Biofilms are complex microbial communities that are resistant to attack by bacteriophages and to removal by drugs and chemicals. Here we use atomic force microscopy (AFM) to image the attack on Escherichia coli biofilms by Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus 109J. Bdellovibrio is a small, predatory bacterium that invades and devours other Gram-negative bacteria. We demonstrate that under dilute nutrient conditions, bdellovibrios can prevent the formation of simple bacterial biofilms and destroy established biofilms; under richer conditions the prey bacteria persist and are not eradicated, but may be shifted toward solution populations. Using AFM we explore these bacterial interactions with more detail and accuracy than available by more traditional staining assays or optical microscopy. AFM also allows us to investigate the nanoscale morphological changes of the predator, especially those related to motility. This demonstration of Bdellovibrio's successful predation in a biofilm inspires us to consider ways that it might be used productively for industrial, medical, agricultural, and biodefensive purposes.
Extended abstract: The value of multimodal assessments in 21 st century learning

In today's world we are accustomed to communicating through a variety of modes that extend beyond print. Educational institutions, however, still tend to focus on assessing the student through the mode of language. This abstract focuses on the value of a multimodal form of assessment in secondary and college settings where students are deeply engaged and able to express themselves more richly when they are assessed using more than language.
Preferential cell attachment to nitrogen-doped diamond-like carbon (DLC:N) for the measurement of quantal exocytosis

Electrochemical measurement of transmitter or hormone release from individual cells on microchips has applications both in basic science and drug screening. High-resolution measurement of quantal exocytosis requires the working electrode to be small (cell-sized) and located in immediate proximity to the cell. We examined the ability of candidate electrode materials to promote the attachment of two hormone-secreting cell types as a mechanism for targeting cells for to recording electrodes with high precision. We found that nitrogen-doped diamond-like carbon (DLC:N) promoted cell attachment relative to other materials tested in the rank order of DLC:N>In(2)O(3)/SnO(2) (ITO), Pt>Au. In addition, we found that treating candidate electrode materials with polylysine did not increase attachment of chromaffin cells to DLC:N, but promoted cell attachment to the other tested materials. We found that hormone-secreting cells did not attach readily to Teflon AF as a potential insulating material, and demonstrated that patterning of Teflon AF leads to selective cell targeting to DLC:N "docking sites". These results will guide the design of the next generation of biochips for automated and high-throughput measurement of quantal exocytosis.
An Appetite for Yield: The Anatomy of the Subprime Mortgage Crisis

Whereas policy makers and industry advocates have hailed the growth of the subprime mortgage market in the US as evidence that financial innovation can more efficiently price and absorb credit risk, the 2007 mortgage crisis provides an opportunity to revisit the nature of financial risk. This paper employs a forensic analysis of the development of the subprime market from the 1980s through 2007 to argue that, in a competitive environment marked by the greater integration between housing finance and capital/equity markets, financial innovations provide new opportunities to hedge risk even as they collapse the barriers to rivalries between firms. This has changed the terrain for risk assessment, promoting new modes of financial competition that have intensified systemic risk and extended it to a widening set of firms, households, and communities.
Positive Extended-Spectrum-β-Lactamase (ESBL) Screening Results May Be Due to AmpC β-Lactamases More Often than to ESBLs

AmpC β-lactamases can interfere with extended-spectrum-β-lactamase (ESBL) confirmatory tests. Resulting failures to detect ESBLs can endanger patients because false susceptibility to cephalosporins may be reported ([5][1]). This problem occurs with CLSI and some other ESBL confirmatory tests, but
Vandetanib plus sirolimus in adults with recurrent glioblastoma: results of a phase I and dose expansion cohort study

Targeting specific molecular alterations in glioblastoma (GBM) might more effectively kill tumor cells and increase survival. Vandetanib inhibits epidermal growth factor receptor and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2. Sirolimus inhibits mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), a member the phosphoinositide 3-Kinase signaling pathway. We sought to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) of vandetanib combined with sirolimus. Twenty-two patients (14 men; 8 women) with recurrent GBM enrolled. Median age and KPS were 52.5 years and 90 %, respectively. Patients were naive to anti-VEGF and anti-EGF therapy and mTOR inhibitors, and not on CYP3A4-inducing drugs. Vandetanib and sirolimus were orally administered on a continuous daily dosing schedule in escalating dose cohorts. Ten patients enrolled in the dose escalation phase. Twelve more enrolled at the MTD to explore progression-free survival at 6 months (PFS6) in a single arm, single stage phase II-type design. In total, 19 patients received at least one dose at the MTD, and 15 completed at least 1 cycle at MTD. MTD was 200 mg vandetanib plus 2 mg sirolimus. The DLT was elevated AST/SGOT. The most common toxicities were lymphopenia, fatigue, rash, and hypophosphatemia. For 19 patients who received at least one dose at the MTD, including seven from the phase I group, two had a partial response [10.5 %; 95 % CI (1, 33 %)] and PFS6 was 15.8 % [95 % CI (3.9, 34.9 %)]. Vandetanib and sirolimus can be safely co-administered on a continuous, daily dosing schedule.
Ligand-induced conformational changes in the (Mg2+ + Ca2+)-dependent ATPase of red cell membranes

1. 1. In the presence of Ca2+, Mg2+ or Mg-ATP, the (Mg2+ + Ca2+)-dependent ATPase from human red cell membranes undergoes conformational changes. These changes result in an enhanced susceptibility of the enzyme to thermal inactivation, tryptic digestion or inhibition by the sulfhydryl reagent N-ethylmaleimide. Any one of these effects was taken as evidence of a conformational change. 2. 2. Monovalent cations, in contrast to the other ligands, protected against tryptic digestion. They did not affect either the thermal stability of the enzyme or its reactivity toward N-ethylmaleimide. 3. 3. Of the ligands tested, Ca2+ had the most pronounced effect as judged by all three criteria. With N-ethylmaleimide or trypsin as inactivating agents, Ca2+ specifically increased the rate of inactivation of (Mg2+ + Ca2+)-dependent ATPase and did not alter the stability of either Mg2+- or (Mg2+ + Na+ + K+)-dependent ATPase. With heat as the inactivating treatment, Ca2+ increased the rate of inactivation of both Mg2+- and (Mg2+ + Ca2+)-dependent ATPase. However, the effect on Mg2+-dependent ATPase was less pronounced (60% inactivation in 40 min at 47°C) than that on (Mg2+ + Ca2+)-dependent ATPase (95% inactivation in 40 min at 47°C). 4. 4. Ca2+ stimulated ATP hydrolysis and increased reactivity of the enzyme toward N-ethylmaleimide over a similar range of Ca2+ concentrations. All these observations, taken together, suggest that Ca2+ acted by binding at the active center of (Mg2+ + Ca2+)-dependent ATPase. 5. 5. Mg2+ increased the susceptibility of the enzyme to tryptic digestion and to inhibition by N-ethylmaleimide, but in both cases produced a smaller effect than Ca2+. This was true even when the Mg2+ concentration was 10–15 times higher than the Ca2+ concentration. Mg2+ had no effect on the thermal stability of the enzyme. 6. 6. Mg-ATP increased the reactivity of the enzyme toward N-ethylmaleimide. Other criteria were not tested with respect to this ligand. Mg-ATP caused about the same increase in sulfhydryl reactivity as did Mg2+ alone. 7. 7. When Mg-ATP and Ca2+ were present together, the sulfhydryl reactivity of the enzyme was intermediate between that with either ligand alone. Since the enzyme is active in the presence of these two ligands, and since a conformational change can be detected in their presence, it is suggested that conformational changes accompany activity in this enzyme, and that these conformational changes might be associated with the movement of Ca2+ during transport.
Renal α-adrenergic receptors and genetic hypertension

The hypothesis has been proposed that an increase in the number of renal α-adrenergic receptors may contribute to the pathogenesis of genetic hypertension. Herein we review recent findings regarding expression of renal α1 (α1 a,α1 b)- and α2 (α2 a,α2 b)-adregenergic subtypes and we provide an updated revision of the above-stated hypothesis. Enhancement in receptor number or in post-receptor components responsible for α1- and α2-adregenergic mediated sodium reabsorption in proximal tubule may contribute to sodium retention and an elevation in blood pressure. Perhaps such changes contribute to the increase in blood pressure in genetically determined hypertension in humans, although direct tests of this notion have not yet been performed.
Cigarette smoke promotes dendritic cell accumulation in COPD; a Lung Tissue Research Consortium study

Abnormal immune responses are believed to be highly relevant in the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Dendritic cells provide a critical checkpoint for immunity by their capacity to both induce and suppress immunity. Although evident that cigarette smoke, the primary cause of COPD, significantly influences dendritic cell functions, little is known about the roles of dendritic cells in the pathogenesis of COPD. The extent of dendritic cell infiltration in COPD tissue specimens was determined using immunohistochemical localization of CD83+ cells (marker of matured myeloid dendritic cells), and CD1a+ cells (Langerhans cells). The extent of tissue infiltration with Langerhans cells was also determined by the relative expression of the CD207 gene in COPD versus control tissues. To determine mechanisms by which dendritic cells accumulate in COPD, complimentary studies were conducted using monocyte-derived human dendritic cells exposed to cigarette smoke extract (CSE), and dendritic cells extracted from mice chronically exposed to cigarette smoke. In human COPD lung tissue, we detected a significant increase in the total number of CD83+ cells, and significantly higher amounts of CD207 mRNA when compared with control tissue. Human monocyte-derived dendritic cells exposed to CSE (0.1-2%) exhibited enhanced survival in vitro when compared with control dendritic cells. Murine dendritic cells extracted from mice exposed to cigarette smoke for 4 weeks, also demonstrated enhanced survival compared to dendritic cells extracted from control mice. Acute exposure of human dendritic cells to CSE induced the cellular pro-survival proteins heme-oxygenase-1 (HO-1), and B cell lymphoma leukemia-x(L) (Bcl-xL), predominantly through oxidative stress. Although activated human dendritic cells conditioned with CSE expressed diminished migratory CCR7 expression, their migration towards the CCR7 ligand CCL21 was not impaired. These data indicate that COPD is associated with increased numbers of cells bearing markers associated with Langerhans cells and mature dendritic cells, and that cigarette smoke promotes survival signals and augments survival of dendritic cells. Although CSE suppressed dendritic cell CCR7 expression, migration towards a CCR7 ligand was not diminished, suggesting that reduced CCR7-dependent migration is unlikely to be an important mechanism for dendritic cell retention in the lungs of smokers with COPD.
Use of the state immunization information system to assess rotavirus vaccine effectiveness in Connecticut, 2006-2008.

Abstract Immunization information systems (IIS) contain individual vaccination records and have potential use for evaluating post-licensure vaccine effectiveness (VE). A matched case–control study was performed by using the Connecticut state IIS to calculate rotavirus VE against hospitalization; results were compared with pre-licensure efficacy and with estimates previously obtained by traditional case–control methods using matched controls from medical sources and medical chart abstracted data. Case–patients ( n = 54) were vaccine-eligible children with IIS entry and hospitalized for rotavirus gastroenteritis during July 2006–December 2008; each was matched to five control subjects ( n = 270) who were randomly selected from IIS based on case-patient's birth date and town of residence. VE of at least one dose was 90.6%, comparable to the pre-licensure efficacy of 96% and to the unadjusted 83.5–90.7% estimates by using traditional case–control methods. IIS can be a convenient and potentially accurate tool for calculating VE.
Vibrational spectra of structural units in glass

Abstract This paper contains a discussion of structural models that are used to analyze the infrared and Raman spectra of glasses. Good examples are given for each model. An example is given in which the structure of a glass composition (SiP2O7) is completely different from the structure of all related crystalline phases with the same stoichiometry. Finally, an example of B2O3GeO2 glass is presented where large changes in the concentrations of structural units occur with changes in temperature.
Quantifying the energetic returns for pronghorn: a food utility index of meat and marrow

Abstract This paper presents a FUI for pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) to provide an analytical tool for zooarchaeologists working on the Great Plains to the Great Basin. We collected and butchered three pronghorn between October 2012 and February 2013. The butchered anatomical units were weighed to determine mass and butchering process was timed to yield processing times. The mass was then converted to energy (kcal) and with the addition of the processing times, we provide the energetic return rates (kcal/h). Based on these results, we are able to rank the economic value of each anatomical unit. We then compared these economic values to three pronghorn communal kill sites. The results of this study indicate a preferential bias toward appendicular elements for marrow processing. This study contributes to the investigation of human subsistence on pronghorn and to the growing literature detailing the importance of this species to North American human prehistory.
Invasive Aspergillosis after Pandemic (H1N1) 2009

We report 2 patients with invasive aspergillosis after infection with pandemic (H1N1) 2009. Influenza viruses are known to cause immunologic defects and impair ciliary clearance. These defects, combined with high-dose corticosteroids prescribed during influenza-associated adult respiratory distress syndrome, may be novel risk factors predisposing otherwise immunocompetent patients to invasive aspergillosis.
Petrography, mineral chemistry and origin of Type I enstatite chondrites

The petrography and mineralogy of four Type I enstatite chondrites were examined by optical and cathololuminescent and electron microprobe means to discern particular chemical and mechanical processes present during solar system condensation. The specimens examined included sections of the Indarch, Abee, Kota-Kota, and Adhi-Kot chondrites. Textural interpretations were performed, as well as chemical analyses of the degree of similarity of the clinoenstatite, olivine, accessory silicates, metal, schreibersite, troilite, oldhamite, and niningerite grains in each sample. Simple models of progressive condensation either at equilibrium or with mechanical removal of early condensates were ruled out due to the occurrence of both blue and red enstatite crystals in metal clasts. A need for sequential processes of mixing, melting, crystallization, condensation, fracturing, and mechanical aggregation are suggested as necessary to model the formation mechanisms of the mineral aggregates.