cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Prolonged Complete Response With Combined Dabrafenib and Trametinib After BRAF Inhibitor Failure in BRAF-Mutant Glioblastoma

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common malignant primary brain tumor.1 Despite aggressive multimodality treatment, median overall survival (OS) is 14 to 18 months.2 One potential novel therapeutic target is V-raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B1 (BRAF), which is mutated in 1% to 2% of GBM,3-6 as well as other primary brain tumors including pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma (PXA) and ganglioglioma. BRAF is among the most commonly mutated kinases in human cancer, particularly in melanoma.7 Typically regulated by extracellular factors, mutant BRAF results in uncontrolled cellular growth via the MEK-ERK extracellular signal-regulated kinase pathway.6 Although oral inhibitors of the oncogenic BRAFv600 kinase have demonstrated some efficacy in gliomas, several mechanisms mediating resistance to BRAF inhibitors (BRAFis) are described. Moreover, this therapy is associated with an increased risk of hyperproliferative skin lesions such as squamous cell carcinoma.8 Combining BRAF with MEK inhibitors mitigates these effects and improves progression-free survival and OS compared with BRAFi monotherapy in metastatic melanoma.9-12 Furthermore, studies demonstrate that the use of BRAFi in combination with MEK inhibitors prevents the development of resistance because of the reactivation of the MAPK pathway while simultaneously decreasing hyperproliferative skin lesions.8 Although there is strong evidence for the use of BRAF and MEK inhibitors in other malignancies, there are few cases in the literature of primary brain tumors treated with this combination, mainly in pediatric glioma.13-15 We present a case of a patient with a recurrent BRAF-mutant GBM, who had a clinical and radiographic response when treated with BRAFi dabrafenib in combination with MEK inhibitor trametinib (D+T), after failing treatment with BRAFi monotherapy.
Abstract WP291: Stochastic Methods Can Resolve the Dilemma of Emergency Stroke Transport

Introduction: Drip and Ship (DNS) and Mothership (MS) are well-known emergency transport strategies in acute stroke care, but the criteria for choosing between the two is widely debated. Existing m...
Assessing the Relationship between Supervisors and Employees

Relationship-based leadership is characterized by trust, respect, and mutual obligation that generates influence between parties. Within UF/IFAS Extension especially, many relationships between supervisors and employees are dynamic and multidimensional, characterized as both supervisory and collegial. Leader-Member Exchange Theory (LMX) is a relationship-based approach that explains leadership as an interaction between both leader and follower. In this new 4-page publication of the UF/IFAS Department of Agricultural Education and Communication, Matthew Benge presents the LMX-7, an assessment instrument to gauge the quality of relationship between supervisors and their employees. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/wc332
141 Moderating Perspectives of Long Acting Injectable Use of Antipsychotics: A Literature Review

Long acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotics are indicated for individuals suffering from schizophrenia, delusional disorder, schizoaffective disorder and bipolar disorder. Even though LAIs have traditionally been used for a subgroup of patients who were not compliant with oral treatments or who were a high risk to others, current trends are changing with increased options and availability of these treatments. A number of factors are implicated in the reversal of this trend including perspectives of patients and perspectives of providers. There is not abundant literature available regarding robust studies to examine these perspectives, but this presentation provides a current summary of available literature.Some factors that influence perspectives of both patients and providers include knowledge about LAIs, cost of LAIs and the traditional views of these agents as being used under coercive circumstances. Altering perspectives has been a primary barrier to increase the use of these agents. Evidence clearly supports the use of early intervention for individuals with first episode psychosis, and poor medication compliance results in poorer treatment outcomes. With the potential improvement in quality of life and potentially decreasing the cost burden of this illness in society, this avenue for treatment must be a strong consideration for all involved in the treatment of the aforementioned disorders.
Interstate transport of carbon monoxide and black carbon over India

Abstract The contribution of interstate pollution transport to surface carbon monoxide (CO) and black carbon (BC) levels in different Indian states and regions is studied by implementing a computationally efficient tagged tracer technique in the Weather Research and Forecasting model coupled with chemistry. Anthropogenic and fire emissions of CO and BC are tracked from each Indian state and the simulated CO and BC concentrations are used to estimate state-wise pairs of source and receptor states in 2014, the most recent year for which anthropogenic emissions are available. We observe strong relationship between direct emissions and concentrations of CO and BC with local emissions contributing 56–68% to the annual averaged CO and BC levels in Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, and West Bengal located in the Indo-Gangetic Plain. Interstate transport contributes 53 ± 23% and 52 ± 25% to annual averaged CO and BC, respectively, in different Indian states. Interstate transport contribution exceeds 60% in one third of the Indian states. Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Maharashtra, and Bihar are among the top five contributors to CO and BC levels in most of the Indian states. Seasonal changes in monsoonal circulation also led to a reversal of source-receptor relationship at the state level between winter and summer monsoon seasons. Our findings imply a need to extend India's air quality management framework to address interstate exchange of pollution.
Combining Variables to Improve Subadult Age Estimation

Anthropologists have reported that the combination of multiple variables and indicators generally increases precision and reduces bias in age estimates. However, endeavors specific to subadult age estimation have primarily focused on estimating age of the living and therefore on variables and indicators that are active later in ontogeny and easy to image. The current study aimed to determine if multivariable, single-indicator age-estimation models outperform single-variable age-estimation models throughout ontogeny using the three most common subadult age indicators: diaphyseal dimensions, epiphyseal fusion, and dental development. Data were collected from individuals from South Africa between birth and 12 years (N = 601) using Lodox Statscan radiographic images and from the United States between the ages of birth and 20 years (N = 1,277) using computed tomography images. Multivariate adaptive regression splines were used to build the multivariable, single-indicator, and single-variable models. Each subset used for model development had a unique training sample to build the model and testing sample to ensure that the results were generalizable. The multivariable models presented with increased precision and accuracy, reduced bias, and greater consistency across ontogeny compared to the single-variable models for both samples. Eighty percent of the independent test models (20/24) had ≥ 93% coverage, and 75% (18/24) of the independent tests models had ≥ 95% coverage. Besides providing more information to the resulting age estimate, multivariable models remove any a priori beliefs regarding variable importance and eliminate the requirement to contrive a final age estimate from multiple single-variable age-estimation models.
The biological underpinnings of radiation therapy for vestibular schwannomas: Review of the literature.

Objective Radiation therapy is a mainstay in the treatment of numerous neoplasms. Numerous publications have reported good clinical outcomes for primary radiation therapy for Vestibular Schwannomas (VS). However, there are relatively few pathologic specimens of VSs available to evaluate post-radiation, which has led to a relative dearth in research on the cellular mechanisms underlying the effects of radiation therapy on VSs. Methods Here we review the latest literature on the complex biological effects of radiation therapy on these benign tumors-including resistance to oxidative stress, mechanisms of DNA damage repair, alterations in normal growth factor pathways, changes in surrounding vasculature, and alterations in immune responses following radiation. Results Although VSs are highly radioresistant, radiotherapy is often successful in arresting their growth. Conclusion By better understanding the mechanisms underlying these effects, we could potentially harness such mechanisms in the future to potentiate the clinical effects of radiotherapy on VSs. Level of evidence N/A.
Groundwater Inflows to the Columbia River Along the Hanford Reach and Associated Nitrate Concentrations

Healthy river ecosystems require the interaction of many physical and biological processes to maintain their status. One physical process supporting biogeochemical cycling is hydrologic exchange (i.e., hydrologic exchange flows, HEFs) between relatively fast-flowing channel waters and slower-flowing surface and subsurface waters (lateral and vertical). Land uses adjacent to rivers have the potential to alter the water quality of off-channel surface and subsurface waters, and HEFs therefore have the potential to deliver these solutes to rivers. HEFs are nonpoint sources of pollution, making the ultimate pollution source difficult to identify, especially in large rivers. Here we seek to identify HEFs in the Columbia River near Richland, WA by looking for anomalies in temperature and electrical conductivity (EC) along the bed of the river in February, June, July, August, and November 2018. These are ultimately the ‘ends’ of HEFs as they are locations of subsurface inflow to the river. We found these anomalies to be a combination of warmer or colder and higher (but not lower) EC than river water. We identified a majority of warm anomalies in February and July 2018, and majority cold anomalies in June, August, and November 2018. High-EC anomalies were found mostly in February, August, and November. Combined, we observe a shift from warm, high EC anomalies dominating in February to equivalent EC, warm anomalies in June, to equivalent EC, cool anomalies dominating July. In July and August, we measured dissolved nitrate (NO3-) in-situ to determine whether anomalies were associated with increased NO3- loading to the river, especially along the eastern shoreline, which is dominated by agricultural land use. Inflows along the eastern shoreline have greater concentrations of nitrate than river water (up to 40 mg N-NO3-/L), levels that may be toxic to newly-hatched salmon. If these high-NO3- inflows from irrigation-influenced groundwater are at their peak during salmon spawning season, when salmon lay eggs in shallow water, this could negatively impact salmon spawning success.
The vascular flora of the John J. Pescatello Torchwood Hammock Preserve, Little Torch Key, Florida

The John J. Pescatello Torchwood Hammock Preserve, comprising 97 ha, is located on Little Torch Key, 24 39” N Latitude, 81 23” Longitude. The preserve was surveyed for vascular plant species in February, 2012, and again in July, 2013. The vascular flora of the preserve consists of 126 species within 86 genera and 45 families. The largest families in the flora were the Poaceae (18), Fabaceae (10), Asteraceae (7), and Rubiaceae (6). The largest genera were Borrichia, Solanum, and Tillandsia, each with three species. Six endangered species and seven threatened species compose 10% of the flora. Five non-native species were identified within the preserve. With little anthropogenic disturbance except at the roadside right-of-way border, the flora here was stable, though hurricane damage might provide fertile habitat for invasive Schinus terebinthefolius and Casurina spp. in the future. The present floristic study of the Pescatello Preserve provides a vascular plant inventory that can be compared with future floristic studies at this site.
Prognostic factors in RET dependent cancers treateded with RET inhibitors in early phase clinical trials.

3117Background: Activation of the RET proto-oncogene has been identified in multiple cancer types, for example, gene rearrangements in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and papillary thyroid cance...
Optimization of the Transwell® System for Assessing the Dissolution Behavior of Orally Inhaled Drug Products through In Vitro and In Silico Approaches

The aim of this study was to further evaluate and optimize the Transwell® system for assessing the dissolution behavior of orally inhaled drug products (OIDPs), using fluticasone propionate as a model drug. Sample preparation involved the collection of a relevant inhalable dose fraction through an anatomical mouth/throat model, resulting in a more uniform presentation of drug particles during the subsequent dissolution test. The method differed from previously published procedures by (1) using a 0.4 µm polycarbonate (PC) membrane, (2) stirring the receptor compartment, and (3) placing the drug-containing side of the filter paper face downwards, towards the PC membrane. A model developed in silico, paired with the results of in vitro studies, suggested that a dissolution medium providing a solubility of about 5 µg/mL would be a good starting point for the method’s development, resulting in mean transfer times that were about 10 times longer than those of a solution. Furthermore, the model suggested that larger donor/receptor and sampling volumes (3, 3.3 and 2 mL, respectively) will significantly reduce the so-called “mass effect”. The outcomes of this study shed further light on the impact of experimental conditions on the complex interplay of dissolution and diffusion within a volume-limited system, under non-sink conditions.
Genotoxic stress and viral infection induce transient expression of APOBEC3A and pro-inflammatory genes through two distinct pathways.

APOBEC3A is a cytidine deaminase driving mutagenesis in tumors. While APOBEC3A-induced mutations are common, APOBEC3A expression is rarely detected in cancer cells. This discrepancy suggests a tightly controlled process to regulate episodic APOBEC3A expression in tumors. In this study, we find that both viral infection and genotoxic stress transiently up-regulate APOBEC3A and pro-inflammatory genes using two distinct mechanisms. First, we demonstrate that STAT2 promotes APOBEC3A expression in response to foreign nucleic acid via a RIG-I, MAVS, IRF3, and IFN-mediated signaling pathway. Second, we show that DNA damage and DNA replication stress trigger a NF-κB (p65/IkBα)-dependent response to induce expression of APOBEC3A and other innate immune genes, independently of DNA or RNA sensing pattern recognition receptors and the IFN-signaling response. These results not only reveal the mechanisms by which tumors could episodically up-regulate APOBEC3A but also highlight an alternative route to stimulate the immune response after DNA damage independently of cGAS/STING or RIG-I/MAVS.
A mi-chemin: le zombi antillais

The Zombie (zombi), or living-dead (mort-vivant), is a major literary and mythic figure in the Haitian imaginary that has begun to appear in the literature of other Antillean countries. I explore t...
How to model DNA replication in stochastic models of synthetic genetic circuits (and why)

Biocircuit modeling sometimes requires explicit tracking of a self-replicating DNA species. The most obvious, straightforward way to model a replicating DNA is structurally unstable and leads to pathological model behavior. We describe a simple, stable replication mechanism with good model behavior and show how to derive it from a mechanistic model of ColE1 replication.
Mass determination of the lightest supersymmetric partner (C-boson and C-fermion) and cold dark matter

%auto-ignore This paper has been withdrawn by the author(s) because somebody do not agree with my idea.
The relationship between sexual abuse and sexual risk among high school students: findings from the 1997 Massachusetts Youth Risk Behavior Survey.

Objective: To assess whether adolescents with a history of sexual abuse were more likely than those with no such history to engage in sexual risk behaviors. Methods: Data for this study were obtained through the 1997 Massachusetts Youth Risk Behavior Survey, a self-report questionnaire administered to a representative sample of 9th through 12th graders (N = 4014) to assess a variety of adolescent risk behaviors. Only sexually experienced adolescents (n = 1610; female = 779, male = 831) were included in the present study. Logistic regression models were constructed to examine the relationship of sexual abuse history to sexual risk behaviors. Adolescents were considered as having a history of sexual abuse if they reported ever having had sexual contact against their will. Results: Almost one- third of sexually experienced adolescent girls (30.2%) and one-tenth (9.3%) of adolescent boys reported a history of sexual abuse. After controlling for related demographics and risk behaviors, sexually abused female students were significantly more likely than those without such a history to have had earlier first coitus (OR = 2.2, 95%CI = 1.46–3.47), to have had three or more sex partners ever (OR = 2.5, 95%CI = 1.71–3.68), and to have been pregnant (OR = 1.9, 95%CI = 1.21–2.92). Sexually abused male students were significantly more likely than those without such a history to have ever had multiple partners (OR = 3.2, 95%CI = 1.56–6.57), to have had multiple sex partners in the past 3 months (OR = 2.9, 95%CI = 1.71–3.68), and to have engaged in sex resulting in pregnancy (OR = 3.4,95%CI = 1.53–7.34). Conclusion: Both adolescent girls and boys with a history of sexual abuse report greater sexual risk-taking than those without such a history. However, although sexual abuse is more prevalent among girls than boys, the impact of sexual abuse on sexual risk appears to be even greater for boys. Programs addressing both sexual abuse and sexual risk must be made available to all adolescents.
Rechenzentrumsbetrieb unter VM370

Der Vortrag soll den Betriebsablauf im Rechenzentrum bei MBB Augsburg als Beispiel einer 100 %-igen VM 370-Anwendung darstellen. Dabei bilden die organisatorischen und wirtschaftlichen Aspekte den Schwerpunkt des Vortrages.
Constitutional Adjudication in Japan: Context, Structures, and Values

Judicial decision making in Japan has become a topic of considerable interest for at least the cadre of comparative lawyers whose primary concern is constitutional law. Such interest is to be applauded. Comparisons with Japan are always beneficial, in that they require a departure from the prevailing focus on the United States and Western Europe. Broadening the scope of comparison to include Japan, the premier non-Western industrial democracy for over a century, avoids at least some of the significant pitfalls of Eurocentric analyses that too often tend to mislead as much as to edify. The inclusion of Japan in comparative legal analyses forces explicit recognition of assumptions and premises related to legal systems that are frequently left unstated and merely, mistakenly, assumed as universally valid. Japan’s inclusion thus leads to a more complete and arguably more accurate appraisal of factors and issues that should be included but might otherwise be ignored. Many, if not most, accounts of decision making by courts in Japan— especially in cases involving constitutional questions—describe the outcomes as “conservative” and so label the judiciary. The most frequently noted support for such conclusions is the relative dearth of cases in which the Japanese courts have held legislative and other state actions to be unconstitutional. Rarely if ever do critics engage in any indepth comparative analysis of constitutional cases and their context in other industrial democracies. The relative paucity of decisions invalidating legislation and other state actions as unconstitutional has been the principa,l if not exclusive, point of departure in attempts to explain the now apparent “conservatism” or, indeed, the proclivity of judges, particularly the fifteen Justices who occupy the bench of the Supreme
Studies of vascular and other lesions in KK mice

Glomerulosclerosis was found in 47% of 64 nonobese genetically “diabetic” KK mice. The changes consisted of a progressive increase in mesangial matrix and cells forming diffuse lesions. Nodular-type lesions, made up of mesangial matrix and cells were also noted, and there were many so-called exudative lesions. The incidence of these lesions increased significantly with age. Lesions of blood vessels, interstitial tissue and tubules were not significant. — Gangrene of the extremities was found thus far in 4 KK mice. — Tolerance to oral glucose was impaired in a very high percentage of animals. Glycosuria was found mostly during the OGTT. In a significant percentage of animals serum fasting triglyceride values were high. Pancreatic immunoreactive insulin was about double and serum IRI three times higher in the KK mice. Elevated BUN levels and significant proteinuria were found in some of the KK mice.
A Lexical Analysis of Nouns and Adjectives from Online Game Reviews

The objective of this study is to develop playability heuristics by a lexical analysis of nouns and adjectives used in online game reviews. A revised lexical approach is adopted to analyze nouns and adjectives from 821,122 online reviews. Ninety seven (97) factors are extracted from the analysis. Based on the nouns and adjectives highly loaded on these factors, a new heuristic development process is introduced and 116 playability heuristics are developed. This study significantly expands the pool of playability heuristics that can be used by game developers for computer game design. The lexical method in this study demonstrates its effectiveness in developing interface design guidelines when a large number of online reviews are available on a system or product. It can be extended to other fields as well.
Synthesis and Purification of Oligonucleotides

This unit provides strategies on the maximization of synthetic yield, the generation of sequences containing site-specific modifications, and the isolation of synthetic oligonucleotides. Protocols describe monitoring the progress of synthesis via the trityl assay and methods for deprotection of DNA and RNA oligonucleotides.
A prospective, randomized study of cardiopulmonary bypass temperature and blood transfusion.

Abstract Background . We hypothesized that normothermic cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) would be associated with decreased blood loss and allogeneic transfusion requirements relative to hypothermic CPB. Methods . After obtaining institutional review board approval and informed patient consent, we conducted a prospective, randomized study of 79 patients undergoing CPB for a primary cardiac operation at normothermic (37°C) (n = 44) or hypothermic temperature (25°C) (n = 35). Blood loss and transfusion requirements in the operating room and for the first 24 hours in the intensive care unit were determined. A paired t test and rank sum tests were used. A p value of less than 0.05 was considered significant. Results . The normothermic and hypothermic CPB groups did not differ in demographic variables, CPB or cross-clamp duration, heparin sodium or protamine sulfate dose, prothrombin time, or thromboelastogram results. There were no differences between the two CPB groups in blood loss or transfusion requirements. Conclusions . We found that when there was no difference in duration of CPB, normothermic and hypothermic CPB groups demonstrated similar blood loss and transfusion requirements even though other studies have shown hypothermia induces platelet dysfunction and alters the activity of the coagulation cascade.
Diagnostic testing strategies for coronary artery disease: special issues related to gender.

Early reports of the prevalence, diagnosis, and outcomes of coronary artery disease (CAD) in women have led to the acceptance of several myths concerning noninvasive diagnostic studies in women. Many of the myths can be explained by age-related differences in prevalence, methodological errors that exclude women from enrollment, worse clinical baseline risk profiles, comorbid diseases at the time of interventions, and smaller coronary vessels. Awareness of these age-related prevalence factors in women and the potential for delaying the onset of CAD by estrogen treatment in postmenopausal women must be considered in assessing the accuracy of diagnostic studies. The critical role of noninvasive testing in women is to diagnose CAD accurately in a population with a lower prevalence of disease prior to the development of more severe clinical manifestations when therapeutic interventions have a higher risk and a poor outcome. Exercise radionuclide ventriculography has lower specificity in women, which may be due to gender differences in the response to excercise. Radionuclide perfusion imaging for the detection of CAD is accurate, there is extensive published literature, and it is used widely. High-dose dipyridamole in combination with echocardiography is not widespread in the United States; most pharmacologic echocardiographic studies are performed using dobutamine, and there are no reports on gender differences using dobutamine echocardiography. At this time, however, there is a paucity of published data on accuracy and no information on the prognostic value of this method. Both perfusion imaging and echocardiography have a better diagnostic accuracy than electrocardiographic stress testing. Myocardial perfusion imaging with thallium-201 or Tc-99m sestamibi identifies not just the presence or absence of CAD, it also prognostically identifies those patients with more severe disease who may benefit from invasive diagnostic testing and possible therapeutic interventions. Technetium-99m perfusion agents offer several advantages over thallium-201 : less attenuation, the ability to measure first-pass ejection fraction, and gated image acquisition. All 3 of these characteristics are expected to improve both sensitivity and specificity in women.
Experimental determination of the linear biphasic constitutive coefficients of human fetal proximal femoral chondroepiphysis.

Abstract The mechanical properties of the cartilaginous regions of the proximal femoral epiphysis are an important factor in load transmission through the hip joint of young children. Cylindrical test specimens excised from the chondroepiphysis of human stillborn femoral heads were subjected to uniaxial loading in peripherally-unconfined compression, using a ramp/plateau input strain history. The corresponding load vs time curves were analyzed in terms of a recent analytical solution for a linear biphasic material (the well-known KLM model), allowing calculation of that model's three fundamental constitutive coefficients (permeability, equilibrium modulus and solid-phase Poisson ratio) for this material. The numerical algorithm developed to evaluate the biphasic solution yielded very precise replication of previously published KLM parametric plots. When fitted to experimental load histories, however, the model provided only a rather loose approximation of specimen behavior, due apparently to a substantial underestimation of the transient response component associated with interstitial fluid transport. Averaged over the series, the best-fit values for permeability (2.51 × 10 −15 m 4 N s −1 ) and equilibrium modulus (0.699 M Pa) were in the range of values accepted for human adult articular cartilage. A consequence of the coarseness of the analytical curve fits was that a solid-phase Poisson ratio of 0.0 was inferred for all specimens. The permeability vs equilibrium modulus exhibited a nearly linear ( r = 0.74) inverse relationship similar to that reported for adult articular cartilage.
Localization and comparative nucleotide sequence analysis of the transforming domain in herpes simplex virus DNA containing repetitive genetic elements

Abstract The 7.5-kilobase BamHI E fragment (BamHI-E) of herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) DNA (map position 0.533-0.583) encodes the 144-kDa subunit of ribonucleotide reductase and induces the neoplastic transformation of immortalized cell lines. To define the minimal transforming region of BamHI-E, a series of subclones were constructed that spanned the entire fragment. These subclones were assayed for focus formation in Rat-2 cells. Removal of the promoter region from the viral 144-kDa-protein gene left the transforming activity of DNA clones intact. A 481-bp Pst I-Sal I subclone of BamHI-E was capable of inducing focus formation and tumorigenic conversion. The nucleotide sequence of this fragment and the colinear nontransforming region of HSV-1 DNA was determined and compared. Striking differences were detected in the structure and organization of repeated sequence elements. Specifically, transforming HSV-2 DNA contains multiple regions of alternating purines and pyrimidines, G + C-rich sequences that are potential binding sites for transcription factor Sp1, and insertion-like sequence elements that are interrupted by base substitutions in nontransforming HSV-1 DNA. These results define a distinct transforming domain in HSV-2 DNA composed of repetitive elements implicated in gene rearrangement and activation.
Aspect-ratio effects in the driven, flux-core spheromak

Resistive magnetohydrodynamic simulations are used to evaluate the effects of the aspect ratio A (length to radius ratio) in a spheromak driven by coaxial helicity injection. The simulations are benchmarked against the Sustained Spheromak Physics Experiment (SSPX) [R. D. Wood et al., Nucl. Fusion 45, 1582 (2005)]. Amplification of the bias (“gun”) poloidal flux is fitted well by a linear dependence (insensitive to A) on the ratio of gun current and bias flux above a threshold dependent on A. For low flux amplifications in the simulations, the n=1 mode is coherent and the mean-field geometry looks like a tilted spheromak. Because the mode has relatively large amplitude the field lines are open everywhere, allowing helicity penetration. Strongly driven helicity injection at A≤1.4 in simulations generates reconnection events which generate cathode-voltage spikes, relaxation of the symmetry-breaking modes, and open, stochastic magnetic field lines; this state is characteristic of SSPX. The time sequences of t...
Emerging Early Intervention Systems: An Agency-Specific Pre-Post Comparison of Formal Citizen Complaints of Use of Force

Abstract The use of Early Intervention (EI) systems among law enforcement agencies has rapidly increased in recentyears. Despite being highly regarded throughout the ﬁeld, there have been few evaluations of such systems. In the smallnumber of cases where EI systems have been examined, studies have been limited to individual agencies looking atchanges in behaviour at the ofﬁcer level. Consequently, there has yet to be a large-scale evaluation of the effectivenessof EI systems across departments. Using data collected from the 2003 and 2007 Law Enforcement Management andAdministrative Statistics (LEMAS) surveys, the current study investigates patterns in rates of citizen complaints of useof force among 94 departments that implemented an EI system in the intervening years. Results show that theeffectiveness of EI systems may have been overstated. Practical implications, speciﬁcally implementation issues ofEI systems, and directions for future research are discussed. Introduction In response to the greater use of Federal investiga-tions and lawsuits targeting entire departments,police leaders have been forced to accept responsi-bility for managing the risks and increasing the ac-countability of their ofﬁcers (Walker and Archbold,2013). One prominent and increasingly popularstrategy for doing so is through the use of EarlyIntervention/Early Warning systems (henceforth,EI systems). An EI system is a non-punitive, data-driven management tool intended to spot ofﬁcerswho exhibit performance problems such as fre-quent use of force incidents and high numbers ofcitizen complaints. These ofﬁcers, once identiﬁed,are then provided with counselling or training tocorrect the problem behaviour early on before itescalates. Despite their relatively novel status,EI systems are already highly regarded and haveproliferated across police agencies throughout theUSA. A national evaluation from well over a decadeago found that, even in 1998, approximately 25% ofmunicipal police departments serving populationsof 50,000 or more had implemented an EI systemwith an additional 12% of agencies in the planningstages of such systems (Walker et al., 2001). EI sys-tems have even been esteemed as a ‘best practice’ for
Effect of Radiation on Distribution of S35-Labeled Sulfonamide.

Male and female Wistar rats and CAF1Jax mice were found to show a reduction in weight of thymus and spleen 48 hours following whole-body irradiation of 150 r. Unlike the presence of a tumor tn an animal body, this irradiation dose did not affect uptake of fluorene-2,7-di(suifonamido-2- naphthalene)-S by liver and spleen. Significantly different localization of the S35-labeled compound was found in blood cells and thymus of irradiated as compared to nonirradiated male mice.
Reliability of AlGaN/GaN HEMTs; An overview of the results generatedunder the ONR DRIFT program

Under the ONR DRIFT program a large amount of coordinated work from some of the best groups in the US and Europe has resulted in an unprecedented level of understanding of the degradation mechanisms in AlGaN/GaN HEMTs. The scope of the program is vast and so in this paper only some of the methodologies employed and outcomes of the research will be summarized.
3D quantum scattering calculations of the reaction He + H+2 → HeH+ + H for total angular momentum J = 0

Abstract An improved version of the S-matrix Kohn variational method has been applied to calculating 3D quantum reaction probabilities of the ion-molecular reaction He + H + 2 ( v → HeH + + H. The calculation is carried out for total angular momentum J = 0 and employs the DIM potential surface of Kuntz. Our results show that vibrational excitation of H + 2 enhances the reaction probabilities and are in qualitative agreement with early experimental results. The calculated reaction probabilities are found to be highly oscillatory as a function of scattering energy and are associated with resonance of the system.
Evaluation of soybean resistance to Phialophora gregata culture filtrate in tissue culture

Resistance to the fungal pathogen, Phialophora gregata (Allington and Chamberlain) W. Gams, the cause of brown stem rot (BSR) in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.], is an important trait for cultivars grown in the northern USA. A novel tissue culture method was developed where ten soybean cultivars were differentiated on the ability of their excised cotyledons to remain green and initiate callus in a tissue culture medium containing P. gregata culture filtrate. Cultivar BSR classifications by the cotyledon method corresponded to greenhouse root-dip assay classifications in 80%, 100%, and 90% of the three P. gregata isolate treatments. Another method, employing pieces of somatic callus exposed to the culture filtrate, had a 70% average correspondence to the greenhouse results. Physiologic specialization was demonstrated in parallel in vivo/in vitro assays for the first time. These data suggest that the cotyledon method would accurately identify soybean lines resistant to certain aberrant or wild-type P. gregata isolates.
Sources of biogenic methane to form marine gas hydrates: In situ production or upward migration?

Potential sources of biogenic methane in the Carolina Continental Rise -- Blake Ridge sediments have been examined. Two models were used to estimate the potential for biogenic methane production: (1) construction of sedimentary organic carbon budgets, and (2) depth extrapolation of modern microbial production rates. While closed-system estimates predict some gas hydrate formation, it is unlikely that >3% of the sediment volume could be filled by hydrate from methane produced in situ. Formation of greater amounts requires migration of methane from the underlying continental rise sediment prism. Methane may be recycled from below the base of the gas hydrate stability zone by gas hydrate decomposition, upward migration of the methane gas, and recrystallization of gas hydrate within the overlying stability zone. Methane bubbles may also form in the sediment column below the depth of gas hydrate stability because the methane saturation concentration of the pore fluids decreases with increasing depth. Upward migration of methane bubbles from these deeper sediments can add methane to the hydrate stability zone. From these models it appears that recycling and upward migration of methane is essential in forming significant gas hydrate concentrations. In addition, the depth distribution profiles of methane hydrate will differ if the more » majority of the methane has migrated upward rather than having been produced in situ. « less
The thermal degradation characteristics of selected organoplatinum antitumor agents

The thermal decomposition characteristics of representatives of three classes of organoplatinum compounds have been examined by thermogravimetry. Substituted salicylato(1,2-diaminocyclohexane)platinum(II) compounds undergo thermal decomposition by sequential loss of first the salicylato ligand and then the amine ligand to afford a residue corresponding to the platinum content of the compound. The thermal decomposition of N-arylsalicylaldimino(1,2-diaminocyclohexane)platinum(II) nitrate is more complex, but is also characterized by two major weight losses. Thermal decomposition ofbis-(2-thiophenecarboxylato)platinum(II) is characterized by ligand fragmentation to generate a residual mass corresponding to the platinum content of the compound.
Calorimetry study of Ni50Ti50 ball milled powders

Abstract The variation of crystallization temperature T x and activation energy E x with ball milling time in mechanical alloying were investigated for Ni 50 Ti 50 mixture powders. It was found that T x and E x for a milling time of 20 h are higher than the documented values and decrease rapidly with increasing milling time.
Geochemical constraints on the Laurentide Ice Sheet contribution to Meltwater Pulse 1A

Planktonic and benthic d 18 O records adjacent to the runoff outlets of the Laurentide Ice Sheet (LIS) indicate that the LIS contributed to the abrupt w20 m rise in sea level w14.6 ka, Meltwater Pulse 1A (MWP-1A). However, the magnitude of the LIS contribution still remains unresolved. Here, I use a freshwater runoff–ocean mixing model to calculate the LIS meltwater required to explain the decreases in planktonic and benthic d 18 O observed during MWP-1A at the southern, eastern and northern runoff
Non-isocentric applications of biplane digital subtraction angiography

Biplane DSA, particularly with the option of non-isocentric positioning of the two imaging chains, further decreases the risk of angiography by obtaining multiple views of the same area or views of two different anatomic areas during a single injection of contrast material. For example, an aortorenal angiogram can be recorded at the same time as an arch aortogram using a single injection of contrast. Similarly an intracranial view can be recorded with the same contrast injection as an arch aortogram or cervical carotid arteriogram.
Crystal structure and chemistry of four new RBa4Cu3O8.5+δ (R=Ho, Er, Tm and Yb) compounds

Abstract Four new RBa 4 Cu 3 O 8.5+ δ (R143) compounds, where R=Ho, Er, Tm, and Yb, were synthesized from precursors Ho 2 O 3 , Er 2 O 3 , Tm 2 O 3 , Yb 2 O 3 , BaO 2 , and CuO at 1000°C in an oxygen atmosphere. The oxygen stoichiometric value δ was found to be 0.50 for Ho143, 0.53 for Er143, 0.79 for Tm 143 and 1.01 for Yb143 by iodometric titration. Rietveld refinement of X-ray powder diffraction data showed that all the compounds belong to the space group Pm3. The compounds have a cubic unit cell with lattice parameters of 8.09485±0.00007 A for Ho143, 8.08236±0.00005 A for Er143, 8.07670±0.00008 A for Tm143, and 8.06198±0.00005 A for Yb143. SQUID measurements indicated that none of the compounds was superconducting above 5 K.
Tree species and soil nutrient profiles in old-growth forests of the Oregon Coast Range

Old-growth forests of the Pacific Northwest provide a unique opportunity to examine tree species – soil relationships in ecosystems that have developed without significant human disturbance. We characterized foliage, forest floor, and mineral soil nutrients associated with four canopy tree species (Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirbel) Franco), western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.), western redcedar (Thuja plicata Donn ex D. Don), and bigleaf maple (Acer macrophyllum Pursh)) in eight old-growth forests of the Oregon Coast Range. The greatest forest floor accumulations of C, N, P, Ca, Mg, and K occurred under Douglas-fir, primarily due to greater forest floor mass. In mineral soil, western hemlock exhibited significantly lower Ca concentration and sum of cations (Ca + Mg + K) than bigleaf maple, with intermediate values for Douglas-fir and western redcedar. Bigleaf maple explained most species-based differences in foliar nutrients, displaying high concentrations of N, P, Ca, Mg, and K. Fo...
Electroplated nickel mold insert for LIGA

The LIGA process is being developed at Louisiana State University (LSU) to mass produce high aspect ratio microstructures. One component of the LIGA process is the manufacture of mold inserts. The progress associated with manufacturing an electroplated nickel mold insert is described in this paper. Unique features of our nickel electrodeposition procedures are discussed.
Oxygen pulse kinetics in Fontan patients during treadmill ramp protocol cardiopulmonary exercise testing

After single-ventricle palliation, patients have variable long-term functional outcomes. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) is an assessment tool used to quantify functional outcome. Oxygen pulse kinetics during CPET, which can be an important indicator of dynamic changes in stroke volume reserve, has not been systematically studied in this population. This study aimed to analyze oxygen pulse kinetics during a treadmill ramp protocol among patients with Fontan physiology compared with that of normal subjects and to explore the ability of oxygen pulse kinetics to define functional status further. Peak oxygen pulse and change in oxygen pulse during ramp treadmill CPET were retrospectively collected and compared between 44 Fontan patients and 85 age- and sex-matched control subjects. The peak oxygen pulse was significantly lower in the Fontan group (9.80 ± 4.11 ml/beat) than in the control group (13.62 ± 4.7 ml/beat) (p ≤ 0.001). The resting oxygen pulse did not differ between the two groups (3.13 ± 1.23 vs. 3.09 ± 1.33 ml/beat; p = 0.88). The oxygen pulse was higher in the patients with chronotropic insufficiency, but the difference was not statistically significant (11.11 ± 4.97 vs. 9.25 ± 3.63 ml/beat; p = 0.17). Regression analysis showed a significant difference in the slope of the oxygen pulse-to-workload relationship. The Fontan group showed no relation between degree of reduction in the oxygen pulse from peak to end of exercise and the underlying defect, peak heart rate, peak oxygen consumption, ventilatory anaerobic threshold (VAT), expired volume (VE)/carbon dioxide output (VCO2) at the VAT, maximum heart rate, or minimum oxygen saturation. Analysis of oxygen pulse kinetics in Fontan patients suggests that there is an early and progressive limitation in stroke volume compared with control subjects. This limitation may be partially masked by increased oxygen extraction. In patients with chronotropic insufficiency, absolute or body surface area-indexed oxygen pulse may be higher than in those with a normal heart rate response. A composite assessment of the oxygen pulse and oxygen pulse kinetics, including the oxygen pulse slope and the percentage of reduction in oxygen pulse from peak to end of exercise, may allow a more comprehensive assessment of the degree of cardiac limitation in this group of patients.
Rediscovering bile acid sequestrants.

Aim: In the recently published The Justification for the Use of statins in Primary prevention: an Intervention Trial Evaluating Rosuvastatin (JUPITER) mega-trial, rosuvastatin significantly reduced cardiovascular events at the expense of a small but significant increase in the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The increased risk of new-onset diabetes was in keeping with a recent meta-analysis which suggested that statins, with the possible exception of pravastatin, marginally increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Methods: Although the net effect of rosuvastatin was obviously very positive, we hypothesized that the addition of a bile aid sequestrant to a statin would not only further decrease lipid levels and potentially further decrease cardiovascular events but also protect against the development of diabetes. This is particularly relevant because the bile acid sequestrant, colesevelam, has recently been approved for therapy of diabetes. Results: Colesevelam like other bile acid sequestrants lowers low-density lipoprotein levels by 16% and C-reactive protein by 22% beyond the reductions that occur with statin therapy alone. Bile acid sequestrants confer lipid-lowering, glucose-lowering, and anti-inflammatory benefits, and have been shown to reduce risk of cardiovascular events. Conclusions: Therefore, colesevelam should be the most effective and logical agent to add to a statin in the diabetic and insulin-resistant patient, because in addition to lowering cardiac risk it may prevent the development of diabetes, as well as improving glycaemic control in the established diabetic patient.
Contagion of Cooperation in Static and Fluid Social Networks

Cooperation is essential for successful human societies. Thus, understanding how cooperative and selfish behaviors spread from person to person is a topic of theoretical and practical importance. Previous laboratory experiments provide clear evidence of social contagion in the domain of cooperation, both in fixed networks and in randomly shuffled networks, but leave open the possibility of asymmetries in the spread of cooperative and selfish behaviors. Additionally, many real human interaction structures are dynamic: we often have control over whom we interact with. Dynamic networks may differ importantly in the goals and strategic considerations they promote, and thus the question of how cooperative and selfish behaviors spread in dynamic networks remains open. Here, we address these questions with data from a social dilemma laboratory experiment. We measure the contagion of both cooperative and selfish behavior over time across three different network structures that vary in the extent to which they afford individuals control over their network ties. We find that in relatively fixed networks, both cooperative and selfish behaviors are contagious. In contrast, in more dynamic networks, selfish behavior is contagious, but cooperative behavior is not: subjects are fairly likely to switch to cooperation regardless of the behavior of their neighbors. We hypothesize that this insensitivity to the behavior of neighbors in dynamic networks is the result of subjects’ desire to attract new cooperative partners: even if many of one’s current neighbors are defectors, it may still make sense to switch to cooperation. We further hypothesize that selfishness remains contagious in dynamic networks because of the well-documented willingness of cooperators to retaliate against selfishness, even when doing so is costly. These results shed light on the contagion of cooperative behavior in fixed and fluid networks, and have implications for influence-based interventions aiming at increasing cooperative behavior.