cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Deformation and failure analyses of cross-ply laminates using a nonlocal discrete model

Abstract A novel nonlocal discrete model is proposed in this paper to study the deformation and failure behaviors of cross-ply laminated composite plate under static or quasi-static mechanical loadings. Different from existing numerical approaches, the proposed model accounts for the material anisotropy at both constitutive and structural level. To achieve this purpose, the proposed model rotates the underlying topological structure, rather than transforming the material’s tangent stiffness matrix as in the continuum-based simulations. Thus, different failure behaviors can be modeled as the natural outcome of the breakage of connecting springs. The proposed model is verified and validated by comparing the simulation results with analytical solution and experimental observations from open literature.
Radical Trap-Assisted Atom Transfer Radical Coupling of Diblock Copolymers as a Method of Forming Triblock Copolymers

The formation of ABA-type triblock copolymers is studied as a function of chain end structure of the second block (benzylic alkyl bromides compared to α-bromo esters) and the inclusion of the radical trap 2-methyl-2-nitrosopropane (MNP) in the coupling reaction. In the case of coupling poly(methyl methacrylate)-block-polystyrene (PMMA-b-PSBr), both traditional atom transfer radical coupling (ATRC) reactions and analogous radical trap-assisted ATRC (RTA-ATRC) reactions lead to ABA-type triblock copolymers. Contrastively, coupling of polystyrene-block-poly(methyl acrylate) precursors is unsuccessful in ATRC reactions lacking the nitroso radical trap, yet forming high amounts of triblock in analogous RTA-ATRC reactions, consistent with lower KATRP values of the chain end α-bromo ester. Synthesis of the triblocks is also attempted using coupling reactions of dibrominated PS and monobrominated poly(methyl acrylate), relying on selective coupling to be successful. In the presence of the radical trap MNP, substantial coupling is observed with gel permeation chromatography data indicating the formation of the triblock. Traditional ATRC reactions performed in an analogous manner do not produce the triblock to an appreciable extent, with lowered extents of coupling overall.
Assessment of Disease‐Associated Sequence Variants and Considerations for Functional Validation using Mouse Models

Whole-exome and whole-genome sequencing approaches are rapidly becoming mainstream tools accessible to both basic researchers and clinical teams. Likewise, technological advances in genome editing, such as the CRISPR/Cas system, are poised to revolutionise model system research, making it more feasible to create animal models that truly recapitulate the human condition. However, procedures for identifying disease-associated sequence variants are still far from robust and there are many biological variables that need to be considered when attempting to functionally validate disease-associated variants. In this article, we highlight the many limitations and issues that should be considered at different stages throughout this process – from the filtering of sequencing data to the selection of variants, and from the selection of the model organism to the appropriate means of phenotyping. Key Concepts Researchers must appreciate the limitations of exome sequencing when considering candidate gene variants. Researchers using sequencing services should ensure they receive the original BAM files of their sequencing data. Common bioinformatic algorithms used to process sequencing data are predictive tools only. Bioinformatic tools should not be used in isolation or their outputs taken as proof of disease causation of a variant. Gene expression in a tissue consistent with that affected in patients can be used to help prioritise candidate genes but is not evidence for causation. Demonstration of a functional impact of a given variant in an in vitro assay is useful but does not necessarily mean it is responsible for the disease of interest. Genetic background of the mouse strain(s) can significantly influence the phenotypic presentation. Researchers using animal models should consider the composition of animal chow when modelling a disease with considerable phenotypic variability. Keywords: mouse model; CRISPR; exome sequencing; SNP; genetic background
Processing Single-Cell Single-Molecule Genomic Information: New Methods for New Data

Many of the ongoing developments in genomic data processing have been fueled by the remarkable advancements in high-throughput experimental techniques. These, however, have broadly utilized bulk measurements in multi-cellular substrate, yielding largely population-averaged information about biological systems. Yet, from disease to development, it is deviations from the average behaviors that play key physiological roles in many biologically- and biomedically-relevant processes. Understanding mechanisms behind these ";deviant"; dynamics then requires new single-cell single-molecule data, which correspondingly demands new data processing methods able to account for the discrete and stochastic properties that biological processes can display at these scales [1]. Here, we present a brief introduction to and highlight some of the general considerations as well as our work in the field of single-cell single-molecule genomic data processing.
Evaluation of an Early Three Phase Approach to Electric Circuit Instruction

This paper presents a novel approach to the study of electric circuits: utilizing three phase electric power systems to introduce students to the techniques of circuit analysis beyond Kirchhoff’s and Ohm’s Laws. The efficacy of the pedagogy is evaluated by comparison of student performance on DC circuits assessment quiz pre and post intervention and by comparison to circuit analysis methods used by experts. Also discusses is how the curriculum effects students qualitative and quantitative conceptions of the behavior of voltage and current in DC resistive circuits.
The literature of Northern Ireland: spectral borderlands

A playwright, a poet and a novelist walk into a Belfast bar and whisper quietly; the resulting critical work about those elusive writers by Maureen Ruprecht Fadem presents a well-researched and tho...
Effort issues in post-acute outpatient acquired brain injury rehabilitation seekers

Recent findings suggest that compromised patient effort occurs in nonlitigious settings, but the nature and base rate of suboptimal effort in these settings remains poorly understood. In the treatment-seeking, acquired brain injury, outpatient rehabilitation sample included in this investigation, 21.8% of the patients scored below recommended cutting scores for suboptimal effort on the Test of Memory Malingering (TOMM). Disability status was the only variable explored in this study to be associated with suboptimal effort. It should be noted, however, that the proportion of patients on disability was large in both the optimal and suboptimal effort groups, suggesting that failure on the TOMM may not be a specific predictor of disability status in this sample. Importantly, performance on the TOMM was unrelated to age, education, time from injury to evaluation, and injury severity. Depression and anxiety were also shown to be unrelated to TOMM performance in this rehabilitation sample. As expected, performance on neurocognitive testing was significantly lower in the suboptimal effort group. This study suggests that reduced effort occurs outside forensic settings, is related to neuropsychometric performance, and urges further research into effort across various settings.
STIMULATORY EFFECT OF ACETONE ON THE ACTIVITY OF MICROSOMAL ANILINE PARA-HYDROXYLASE

Acetone has been found to markedly enhance the microsomal hydroxylation of aniline when added to incubation mixtures in concentrations of 0.45 to 1.8 M. The effect occurs in microsomal fractions of rat, mouse, rabbit and dog livers. In addition to enhancing the hydroxylation of aniline, acetone also stimulated the hydroxylation of acetanilide and N-butylaniline but not the N-dealkylation of ethylmorphine, N-methylaniline or N,N-dimethylaniline nor the O-dealkylation of p-nitroanisole. Furthermore, acetone altered the kinetics of aniline hydroxylation and the enhancement was dependent on the pH of the medium. Ethyl isocyanide, a compound known to stimulate aniline hydroxylation by rabbit liver microsomes, has been shown to produce its effects by a mechanism different from that of acetone.
The Impact of Demographic Characteristics on Nonresponse in an Ambulatory Patient Satisfaction Survey

Article-at-a-Glance Background Despite the increasing use of patient satisfaction data for compensation and comparison of performance, low response rate and potential bias of the respondents pose a significant threat to validity of the data. The demographic profiles of respondents and nonrespondents to a patient satisfaction survey in the ambulatory care setting were compared to explore the impact of nonresponse bias. Methods Patient satisfaction survey data were collected from October through December 2010 for outpatient facilities at a large academic medical center. The association between respondent characteristics and satisfaction ratings on three dimensions of the clinical care process—(1) interpersonal communication (clarity of language), (2) service delivery (overall care during visit), and (3) likelihood of recommending practice to others—were assessed with bivariate and multivariate linear regression. Weighted analyses were performed to examine the impact of nonresponse. Results Surveys were mailed to 15,549 patients, of which 4,952 (32%) were returned. Respondents had greater proportions of elderly, female, and English speakers. Bivariate analyses showed significant difference in satisfaction ratings by age, language, and insurance type. Multivariate regression analysis showed significant confounding across variables. On the basis of the calculated weighted means, mean satisfaction ratings were discrepant for language and age; however, the overall satisfaction ratings for each dimension were minimally affected. Conclusion Nonresponse rates and satisfaction ratings differed by age, language, and insurance type. However, if it is assumed that nonrespondents within these demographic groups have similar satisfaction ratings as respondents, then nonresponse levels appear to have minimal effects on overall satisfaction ratings.
Development of an Economic Miniantibody Production Process for the Purification of Protein C (Anti-Coagulant/Anti-Thrombotic)

Protein C (PC) is a vital anticoagulant and antithrombotic in the blood coagulation cascade. Because PC is activated only when it is needed, it does not cause internal bleeding complications as does heparin or coumadin. PC deficiency can lead to blood clot formation in blood vessels, which can eventually lead to heart attack, stroke, skin necrosis, or even death. About 1,400 people worldwide currently die each day of septic shock and recently, PC has also been proven highly effective for septic shock treatment. Therefore, an inexpensive supply of PC is important for PC deficient patients, sepsis patients, and those undergoing major surgeries.
The Organization of DNA Replication in a Mammalian Cell Line

The first evidence that DNA replication proceeds in an organized, nonrandom manner at the level of the chromosome was obtained by Taylor (1960) using autoradiographic techniques to examine labeled metaphase chromosomes. His work, and that of Hsu (1964), demonstrated that DNA replication is initiated at multiple sites along the chromosome and that each chromosome shows a reproducible, characteristic pattern of replication in different stages of S phase. It has also been shown that hetero-chromatin tends to be late replicating (see Lima-de-Faria and Jaworska, 1968). Even better resolution is now possible with the fluoresence labeling technique developed by Latt (1973). Both Latt (1975) and Stubblefield (1975) have suggested that chromosome bands which have been visualized as structural units by classical staining procedures are actually units of replication as observed by fluoresence labeling.
Developing Comprehensive Strategies to Evaluate Medical School Curricula

Evaluation of medical school curriculum is important to document outcomes, effectiveness of learning, engagement in quality improvement, and to meet accreditation compliance. This monograph provides a roadmap and resource for medical schools to meaningfully evaluate their curriculum based on specific metrics. The method of evaluation includes an examination of Kirkpatrick’s levels of outcomes including reactions, learning, behavior, and impact. It is important that student outcomes are mapped in relation to curricular objectives. There are specific outcomes that may be utilized to determine if the curriculum has met the institution’s goals. The first is comparison to national metrics (United States Medical Licensing Examinations and American Association of Medical Colleges Graduation Questionnaire). Second, medical schools collect internal program metrics, which include specific student performance metrics, such as number of students graduating, attrition, and matching to specialty. Further, schools may examine student performance and surveys in the preclerkship and clinical phases (e.g., grades, failing courses, survey responses about the curriculum), including qualitative responses on surveys or focus groups. As the learning environment is critical to learning, a deep dive to understand the environment and mistreatment may be important for program evaluation. This may be performed by specifically examining the Graduation Questionnaire, internal surveys, and mistreatment reporting. Finally, there are numerous attitudinal instruments that may help medical schools understand their students’ development at one point or over time. These include measurements of stress, wellness, burnout, lifelong learning, and attitudes toward patient safety. Together, examining the composite of outcomes helps to understand and improve the medical school curriculum.
Midodrine treatment in a patient with treprostinil-induced hypotension receiving hemodialysis

Purpose Use of the vasodilator midodrine for the treatment of treprostinil-induced hypotension is reported. Summary Intradialytic hypotension is a common complication of dialysis that increases patient mortality due to suboptimal ultrafiltration and interruption of hemodialysis. Midodrine is an α1 vasoconstrictor commonly used for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and intradialytic hypotension. The safety of midodrine dosing at greater than 30 mg daily has not been established to date. A 49-year-old African-American man with a history of PAH and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) was receiving hemodialysis (HD) 3 times weekly. Subcutaneous treprostinil infusions were initiated for PAH, subsequently causing hypotension, with predialysis blood pressure values as low as 60/50 mm Hg. During a 6-month follow-up period, 38 of 62 dialysis sessions were interrupted or discontinued due to severe intradialytic hypotension. Counteraction of treprostinil effects was achieved by increasing the total daily midodrine dose from 30 mg to 90 mg over 6 months, with no remarkable adverse effects. In previously reported cases, maximum midodrine daily doses of 30 mg in nondialysis patients and 25 mg in patients with ESRD receiving hemodialysis were reported. The patient described here received a total daily dose of 90 mg, including 60 mg administered in divided doses for daily maintenance and 30-mg intradialytic doses; this was the highest daily midodrine dose reported to date. Conclusion A 49-year-old patient tolerated 60-mg daily doses of midodrine along with 30-mg intradialytic doses for the management of treprostinil-induced hypotension and prevention of HD interruption, without adverse effects.
Surgical Management: Roux-en-Y Reconstruction

Peptic ulcer disease was once the most common indication for gastric surgery until the development and use of antisecretory medications. Reconstruction of the stomach is necessary following partial gastrectomy for ulcerative disease to re-establish gastrointestinal continuity. The choice of reconstruction largely depends on the remnant anatomy and surgeon preference. Historically, Billroth I and Billroth II reconstructions have been used, and since the late 19th century, the Roux-en-Y operation has become increasingly more common with well-defined applications and effectiveness and proven success in preventing reflux and feasibility in laparoscopy. Limitations including leaks, internal hernias, and Roux stasis syndrome have been reported, often with severe implications. The operation remains a staple in the armamentarium of surgeons around the world and commonplace due its application in bariatric surgery.
Obtaining Knowledge in Pathology Reports Through a Natural Language Processing Approach With Classification, Named-Entity Recognition, and Relation-Extraction Heuristics.

PURPOSERobust institutional tumor banks depend on continuous sample curation or else subsequent biopsy or resection specimens are overlooked after initial enrollment. Curation automation is hindere...
Completion of LINE integration involves an open '4-way' branched DNA intermediate.

Long Interspersed Elements (LINEs), also known as non-LTR retrotransposons, encode a multifunctional protein that reverse transcribes its mRNA into DNA at the site of insertion by target primed reverse transcription. The second half of the integration reaction remains very poorly understood. Second-strand DNA cleavage and second-strand DNA synthesis were investigated in vitro using purified components from a site-specific restriction-like endonuclease (RLE) bearing LINE. DNA structure was shown to be a critical component of second-strand DNA cleavage. A hitherto unknown and unexplored integration intermediate, an open '4-way' DNA junction, was recognized by the element protein and cleaved in a Holliday junction resolvase-like reaction. Cleavage of the 4-way junction resulted in a natural primer-template pairing used for second-strand DNA synthesis. A new model for RLE LINE integration is presented.
The Role of Radiation in Accelerating Tropical Cyclogenesis in Idealized Simulations

AbstractRecent numerical modeling studies indicate the importance of radiation in the transformation from a tropical disturbance to a tropical depression, a process known as tropical cyclogenesis. ...
Post Contrast Acute Kidney Injury

Post contrast acute kidney injury (PC-AKI) remains a troubling concern for cardiologists. While much is known about the pathogenesis of the kidney injury and the risk factors associated with the kidney injury, prevention has continued to be an unrealized goal. In the chapter that follows, the importance of PC-AKI is highlighted and strategies to prevent PC-AKI are discussed with specific recommendations.
Anxiety and Depression Correlates at Age 10 in Children Born Extremely Preterm.

Objective Anxiety and depression rates are known to be elevated in prematurely-born children and adolescents. This prospective study examines demographic, academic, and physical health correlates of anxiety and depression symptoms in a sample of 10-year-old children who were born extremely preterm. Methods Participants were 889 (51.2% male; 62.3% White) children who were born <28 weeks gestation. Child and family demographic data were collected at birth. When the children were 10, parents (n = 871) and teachers (n = 640) rated the level of anxiety and depression in children through the Child Symptom Inventory-4. Child academic functioning was assessed via the Wechsler Individual Achievement Test-III. Parents completed questionnaires about child academic functioning and physical health issues. Data analyses were conducted with multivariate linear modeling. Results Level of prematurity was significantly related to both parent and teacher reports of anxiety. Public health insurance and individualized education program (IEP) status were associated with both parent and teacher reports of depression. Hispanic ethnicity, public insurance, IEP status, and asthma were significantly associated with both parent-reported anxiety and depression. Gross motor impairment was associated with parent-reported anxiety and teacher-reported depression. Child obesity was associated with teacher reports of anxiety, while male sex was significantly related to teacher reports of depression. Conclusion This pattern of findings may suggest hypotheses for future research on models of the development and persistence of anxiety and depression within this particularly vulnerable group of children.
Broadband Conformal Antenna Array for Microwave Applications

This paper presents an efficient methodology of modeling broadband antenna arrays for applications on curved surfaces. In addition to precise anechoic measurement and accurate generalized theory applied to the newly developed open-waveguide radiator model, improvements on array-feed beamforming network (BFN) is also utilized to obtain broad-banding effects. Performances of various conformal arrays of different radii and numbers of radiators are investigated in terms of radiation patterns and gain flatness at k-band over a wide bandwidth. A newly developed array pattern formulation which involves the use of scattering matrix of BFN is also presented. Prior to the obtained results are some fundamentals about the theoretical generalized radiator models and BFN are also given.
An S-STEM Scholarship and Student Success Program for CS, Physics and Math Majors

This poster describes an NSF S-STEM project that provides scholarships and student support S3 for computer science, physics, and math (CSPM) majors at a private comprehensive liberal arts college with an undergraduate enrollment of approximately 1800 students. In five years, the S3 program supported 19 computer science, 6 physics, and 7 math undergraduates. The S3 program featured a highly-interactive, first-year seminar that used mini-projects in CSPM to engage students. Students explored CSPM career opportunities with frequent guest speakers and discussions about internships and summer research opportunities. The program likely contributed to an increased percentage of CS degrees earned by female students, which grew from 17% to 25%.
Covid-19 Social Distancing Interventions by Statutory Mandate and Their Observational Correlation to Mortality in the United States and Europe

Purpose Evaluate the correlation between statutory social distancing interventions and Covid-19 mortality independently in both the United States and Europe. The study is presented as a potential methodology to evaluate the effectiveness of statutory social distancing policy. Patients and methods Twenty-seven states in the United States and, separately, 12 European countries were selected which had clearly defined and dated establishment of statewide or national mandates for social distancing measures from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) data. Mandated social distancing measures considered in this study include: School closures, Prohibition on mass gatherings, business closures, stay at home orders, severe travel restrictions, and closure of non-essential businesses. The state/country Covid-19 peak mortality rate (PMR) was defined as the initial averaged normalized maximum during which social distancing mandates were in effect. Mandate-days were defined as the total days legislative mandates were in place to the PMR. Results The normalized peak mortality rate in the US and in Europe did not demonstrate a statistically significant correlation to the total mandate days (R-squared=0.053, p=0.246, R-squared=2.4E-06, p=0.996). A significant correlation was found between normalized mortality rate and state/country population density (R-squared=0.524, p=0.00002,R-squared=0.397, p=0.0281). Discussion The analysis appears to suggest no mandate effective reduction in Covid-19 mortality rate to its defined initial peak when interpreting their mean-effect. A strong correlation to population density suggests human interaction frequency does affect the peak mortality rate.
Abnormal findings on abdominopelvic cross-sectional imaging in patients with microscopic colitis: a retrospective, multicenter study.

OBJECTIVES Patients with microscopic colitis may have subtle macroscopic findings on colonoscopy such as erythema, edema, or altered vascular pattern; however, radiographic abnormalities on cross-sectional imaging have not been investigated. We aimed at identifying the abdominopelvic radiographic abnormalities in patients with microscopic colitis, as well as possible correlation with endoscopic findings and the need for extended duration of treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS This was a retrospective study of patients with biopsy-proven microscopic colitis at two tertiary centers between 1 January 2010 and 30 April 2020. Patients underwent computed tomography scan or magnetic resonance imaging within 30 days of a diagnostic flexible sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy. Patients with colon ischemia and other causes of colitis were excluded. Radiographic abnormalities from imaging reports included bowel wall thickening, mucosal hyperenhancement and mesenteric fat stranding. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression models were used to identify predictors of radiographic abnormalities. RESULTS 498 patients with microscopic colitis underwent abdominopelvic cross-sectional imaging within 30 days of flexible sigmoidoscopy/colonoscopy. Lymphocytic colitis was diagnosed in 54.6% of patients, and collagenous colitis in 45.4%. Endoscopic and radiographic abnormalities were identified in 16.1% and 12.4% of patients, respectively. Radiographic abnormalities were associated with the need for budesonide therapy (p = .029) and budesonide therapy long-term (p = .0028). Budesonide therapy long-term (p = .047) was associated with radiographic abnormalities in multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS Radiographic abnormalities may be present on abdominopelvic cross-sectional imaging in a minority of patients with biopsy-proven microscopic colitis, suggesting cross-sectional imaging has low clinical value in the evaluation and treatment of this disease.
A Trip to the Zoo

This chapter contains a collection of more or less specific Kleinian groups with diverse properties. The organization is strictly utilitarian; the examples are grouped according to the techniques used in their construction, rather than by related properties. Some of the examples are included for practical instruction in the use of combination theorems, or of Poincare’s polyhedron theorem; others are included for theoretical purposes, and will be used in subsequent chapters; yet others are included for the usual aesthetic reasons; the author finds them important, interesting, or amusing (however, there is no guide as to the reason or reasons any particular exhibit is in the collection).
Static and dynamic analysis of arbitrary quadrilateral flexural plates by B3-spline functions

Abstract This paper presents static and free vibration analysis of arbitrary quadrilateral flexural plates by B3-spline functions. An actual arbitrary quadrilateral thin flat plate is mapped onto a square basic plate and a superelement is constructed for the whole plate. The present numerical analysis is based on a spline net with finite spline points on the square basic plate. Combination of B3-spline functions gives an easy way to satisfy various boundary conditions. The displacement function constructed by B3-spline functions in two directions has been formed to possess more flexibility to model the deflection shape efficiently. The main features of the present method are: minimal input preparation, easier programming and higher accuracy achieved by a system with fewer degrees of freedom. Compared with analytical solutions and other numerical methods, the method proposed yields excellent results for the test cases considered.
Influence of Geology on Lake Acidification in the ILWAS Watersheds

Three lake-watersheds in the Adirondack Mountains of New York State, underlain by similar granitic bedrock and receiving similar levels of acidic deposition, were found to have very different surface water alkalinities. The chemical differences appear to be due to differences in the unconsolidated surficial materials in the basins. Woods Lake watershed (mean lake outlet pH of 4.7) is covered by thin till with many interspersed bedrock outcrops. The thinness of these surficial deposits (average depth 2 m) limits the amount of deep percolation of water and thus contact with alkalinity-producing inorganic horizons. In contrast, Panther Lake watershed (mean lake outlet pH of 6.2) is covered by thick glacial till (average depth 24 m). Here more of the precipitation comes in contact with the alkalinity-producing materials. Sagamore Lake watershed is much larger and has areas of both thick and thin deposits and lake outlet pH values intermediate to those of Woods and Panther lakes.
X-ray Surveys as Tools to Investigate the Cosmological Evolution of Quasars, BL LAC Objects and Clusters of Galaxies

We present a progress report on a major extension of the Einstein Observatory Medium Sensitivity Survey (MSS). The basic properties of the extragalactic sources identified with Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) and clusters of galaxies are discussed. Results from previous work are briefly summarized
Taking Stock of Developmental Trajectories of Criminal Activity over the Life Course

Worldwide, criminologists have long been interested in the longitudinal patterning of criminal activity. Recently, methodological and statistical advances have “caught up” with longitudinal data and have provided criminologists with a unique window within which to study, document, and understand developmental trajectories of criminal activity. One such technique, the trajectory procedure, allows researchers to study howcriminal activity changes over time in a group-based framework. This methodology is well suited for studying crime over the life course because there may be different groups of offenders, their offending trajectories may exhibit different shapes at different ages, and they may be differentially affected by distinct factors. This paper presents an overview of the trajectory methodology, outlines its strengths and weaknesses, and summarizes key conclusions of the well over 80 studies that have used this technique. It concludes by pointing to several future research directions.
Survival and Neurodevelopmental Outcome of Young Children With Medulloblastoma at St Jude Children's Research Hospital

PURPOSE: Young children treated for medulloblastoma are at especially high risk for morbidity and mortality from their disease and therapy. This study sought to assess the relationship, if any, between patient outcome and M stage. Neuropsychologic and endocrine outcomes were also assessed. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-nine consecutively diagnosed infants and young children were treated for medulloblastoma at St Jude Children's Research Hospital between November 1984 and December 1995. All patients were treated with the intent of using postoperative chemotherapy to delay planned irradiation. RESULTS: The median age at diagnosis was 2.6 years. Six patients completed planned chemotherapy without progressive disease and underwent irradiation at completion of chemotherapy. Twenty-three children experienced disease progression during chemotherapy and underwent irradiation at the time of progression. The 5-year overall survival rate for the entire cohort was 51% ± 10%. The 5-year progression-free survival rate w...
Information transformations in molecular evolution.

Abstract The prebiotic evolution of chemical systems is characterized by their development of increasingly complex levels of molecular organization. This development is dependent upon the capacity of these systems to acquire and transform chemical information. The informational content of a chemical system can be divided into configurational, energetic, and thermal contributions. The thermal information is specifically related to the number of molecules in the system, and is therefore a function of molecular size or complexity. The molecular complexity of a chemical system can be increased through reactions in which reductions in configurational or energetic information are coupled to increases in thermal information, as limited by the second law of thermodynamics.
Silencing α1,3-fucosyltransferases in human leukocytes reveals a role for FUT9 enzyme during E-selectin-mediated cell adhesion.

Leukocyte adhesion during inflammation is initiated by the binding of sialofucosylated carbohydrates expressed on leukocytes to endothelial E/P-selectin. Although the glycosyltransferases (glycoTs) constructing selectin-ligands have largely been identified using knock-out mice, important differences may exist between humans and mice. To address this, we developed a systematic lentivirus-based shRNA delivery workflow to create human leukocytic HL-60 cell lines that lack up to three glycoTs. Using this, the contributions of all three myeloid α1,3-fucosyltransferases (FUT4, FUT7, and FUT9) to selectin-ligand biosynthesis were evaluated. The cell adhesion properties of these modified cells to L-, E-, and P-selectin under hydrodynamic shear were compared with bone marrow-derived neutrophils from Fut4−/−Fut7−/− dual knock-out mice. Results demonstrate that predominantly FUT7, and to a lesser extent FUT4, forms the selectin-ligand at the N terminus of leukocyte P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1) in humans and mice. Here, 85% reduction in leukocyte interaction was observed in human FUT4−7− dual knockdowns on P/L-selectin substrates. Unlike Fut4−/−Fut7−/− mouse neutrophils, however, human knockdowns lacking FUT4 and FUT7 only exhibited partial reduction in rolling interaction on E-selectin. In this case, the third α1,3-fucosyltransferase FUT9 played an important role because leukocyte adhesion was reduced by 50–60% in FUT9-HL-60, 70–80% in dual knockdown FUT7−9− cells, and ∼85% in FUT4−7−9− triple knockdowns. Gene silencing results are in agreement with gain-of-function experiments where all three fucosyltransferases conferred E-selectin-mediated rolling in HEK293T cells. This study advances new tools to study human glycoT function. It suggests a species-specific role for FUT9 during the biosynthesis of human E-selectin ligands. Background: During inflammation, the selectins engage glycosylated macromolecules expressed on blood leukocytes under fluid shear conditions. Results: Although all three myeloid α1,3-fucosyltransferases FUT9, FUT7, and FUT4 regulate human E-selectin ligand biosynthesis, FUT7 and FUT4 are sufficient to form L/P-selectin ligands. Conclusion: FUT9 plays a significant role during human, but not mouse, leukocyte-endothelial interactions. Significance: This study identifies potential α(1,3)FUTs regulating inflammation in humans.
Use of antibodies to sera of hypophysectomized animals in pituitary hormone analysis and the application of Landsteiner's inhibition test in agar gel immunoassays.

The following modifications of immunologic techniques proved useful in analysis of pituitary hormones when pure hormones were not available: 1. Use of homologous antiserum against sera of hypophysectomized animals (aHS) to identify serum contaminants and to eliminate them from material used for immunization. 2. Application of Landsteiner's inhibition reaction in agar-immunoprecipitation analyses. 3. Use of organ cultures in obtaining hormones for immunization. The usefulness and limitations of acrylic gel disc electrophoresis, compared with immunoprecipitation, were explored in analyses of highly purified growth hormone and prolactin and of hormones secreted by our monomorphous mammosomatotropic tumors. Further improvements of each technique are suggested. {Endocrinology 80: 435, 1967)
A new chemotherapeutic investigation: Piracetam effects on dyslexia.

Piracetam, a new drug which is thought to enhance learning and memory consolidation, was given in a 3300 mg daily dose to half of a group of fifty-five (55) dyslexic boys aged eight to thirteen years in a twelve week, double-blind, placebo controlled study. All subjects met stringent criteria, including: normal intelligence, normal educational opportunities, no severe emotional problems, no neurological handicaps, good physical health, not taking other psychotropic medication, and scoring at least 1 1/2 years below their mental age equivalent on the Gilmore Oral Reading Test. The children’s perceptual, language, and memory skills were examined and their reading, spelling, and writing abilities were measured using standardized instruments. Compared to the placebo control group, individuals treated with Piracetam showed statistically significant improvements above their baseline scores on measures of effective reading accuracy and comprehension, reading speed, and writing accuracy. The medication was extremely well tolerated, and all medical examinations showed no untoward effects. These results encourage further study of Piracetam’s potential as an adjunct for the clinical remediation of dyslexia.
Genome-wide nucleosome mapping of Plasmodium falciparum reveals histone-rich coding and histone-poor intergenic regions and chromatin remodeling of core and subtelomeric genes

Epigenetic modifications of histones and regulation of chromatin structure have been implicated in regulation of virulence gene families in P. falciparum. To better understand chromatin-mediated gene regulation, we used a high-density oligonucleotide microarray to map the position and enrichment of nucleosomes across the entire genome of P. falciparum at three time points of the intra-erythrocytic developmental cycle (IDC) in vitro. We used an unmodified histone H4 antibody for chromatin immunoprecipitation of nucleosome-bound DNA. We observed generally low nucleosomal occupancy of intergenic regions and higher occupancy of protein coding regions. In contract to the overall small fluctuation of nucleosomal occupancy in most coding regions throughout the IDC, subtelomeric genes encoding surface proteins such as var and rif, as well as some core chromosomal genes such as transcription factors, showed large changes in chromatin structure. Telomeres harbored a region with the highest nucleosomal occupancy of the genome and also exhibited large changes with higher nucleosomal occupancy at schizont stages. While many of these subtelomeric genes were previously shown to be modified by H3K9 trimethylation, we also identified some housekeeping genes in core chromosome regions that showed extensive changes in chromatin structure but do not contain this modification. tRNA and basal transcription factor genes showed low nucleosomal occupancy at all times, suggesting of an open chromatin structure that might be permissive for constitutively high levels of expression. Generally, nucleosomal occupancy was not correlated with the steady-state mRNA levels. Several var genes were exceptions: the var gene with the highest expression level showed the lowest nucleosomal occupancy, and selection of parasites for var2CSA expression resulted in lower nucleosomal occupancy at the var2CSA locus. We identified nucleosome-free regions in intergenic regions that may serve as transcription start sites or transcription factor binding sites. Using the nucleosomal occupancy data as the baseline, we further mapped the genome-wide enrichment of H3K9 acetylation and detected general enrichment of this mark in intergenic regions. These data on nucleosome enrichment changes add to our understanding of the influence of chromatin structure on the regulation of gene expression. Histones are generally enriched in coding regions, and relatively poor in intergenic regions. Histone enrichment patterns allow for identification of new putative gene-coding regions. Most genes do not show correlation between chromatin structure and steady-state mRNA levels, indicating the dominant roles of other regulatory mechanisms. We present a genome-wide nucleosomal occupancy map, which can be used as a reference for future experiments of histone modification mapping.
Framing the conversation: the role of facebook conversations in shopping for eyeglasses

Individuals often leverage their social network to receive feedback from their peers about various decisions. Capitalizing on this trend, fashion retailers, such as the eyeglass frame retailer Warby Parker, have created 'home try-on' programs and encourage customers to solicit feedback from their friends before making a purchasing decision. In this paper, we investigate Warby Parker's Facebook page and explore the ways customers formulate questions and conversations as they shop for new eyeglass frames. Our research presents insights derived from a dataset of over 10,000 Facebook posts, consisting of photos, comments, and 'likes'. Using statistical analyses and qualitative coding techniques, we examine trends and patterns of conversation on the Warby Parker Facebook page. We find that contributors produce a broad range of content, and use the Warby Parker Facebook page as a platform for creative self-expression, and socially driven decision-making.
A New Class of Zirconocene Catalysts for the Syndiospecific Polymerization of Propylene and Its Modification for Varying Polypropylene from Isotactic to Syndiotactic

Our interest in preparing single-component, syndiospecific group 3 metallocene catalysts led us to the ligand system of the C{sub 3} symmetric zirconocene 2, seemingly closely related to that of 1. A likely explanation for the behavior of these catalysts is that site epimerization by `chain swinging` may complete with insertion of propylene at lower propylene concentrations and higher temperatures, thus lowering syndiospecificity (Scheme 1). For catalyst 5b, insertions from the same enantioface of propylene occur mostly from only one side of the zirconocene wedge under conditions where site epimerization is faster than chain propagation. Hence, isotactic polypropylene is produced. 8 refs., 1 tab.
Hyperfine Structure of I 8 , 7 5 Atomic States of Dy 1 6 1 , 1 6 3 and the Ground-State Nuclear Moments

The atomic-beam magnetic-resonance technique has been used to measure the hyperfine structure of the $4{f}^{10}6{s}^{2}^{5}I_{8,7}$ atomic states of ${\mathrm{Dy}}^{161,163}$. Values of the hyperfine-interaction constants $A$, $B$, and $C$, corrected for hyperfine interactions with other states, are given for both atomic states of each isotope. It is found that for the nuclear ground states of ${\mathrm{Dy}}^{161,163}$, $\frac{{\ensuremath{\mu}}^{163}}{{\ensuremath{\mu}}^{161}}=\ensuremath{-}1.400(3)$, and, less accurately, ${\ensuremath{\mu}}^{163}=+0.65(6){\ensuremath{\mu}}_{N}$, ${Q}^{163}=+2.51(30) \mathrm{b}$, ${\ensuremath{\mu}}^{161}=\ensuremath{-}0.46(5){\ensuremath{\mu}}_{N}$, ${Q}^{161}=+2.37(28) \mathrm{b}$. The electron $g$ factor ${g}_{J}$ is measured for the atomic states $4{f}^{10}6{s}^{2}^{5}I_{8,7,6}$ and also for the lowest $J=8$ level of $4{f}^{9}5d6{s}^{2}$ at 7565 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$. The lifetime of this level cannot be appreciably less than 2 msec, the transit time for the atom in the apparatus.
Secure network-coded wireless multicast for delay-sensitive data

Wireless multicast for delay-sensitive data is challenging because different receivers may experience different packet losses. Network coding offers significant advantages over the traditional Automatic Repeat-reQuest (ARQ) protocols in that it mitigates the need for retransmission and has the potential to approach the min-cut capacity. Network-coded multicast would be, however, vulnerable to false packet injection attacks, in which the adversary injects bogus packets to prevent receivers from correctly decoding the original data. Without a right defense in place, even a single bogus packet can completely change the decoding outcome. Existing solutions either incur high computation cost or cannot withstand high packet loss. In this paper, we propose a novel scheme to defend against false packet injection attacks on network-coded multicast for delay-sensitive data. Specifically, we propose an efficient authentication mechanism based on null space properties of coded packets, aiming to enable receivers to detect any bogus packets with high probability. We further design an adaptive scheduling algorithm based on Markov Decision Processes (MDP) to maximize the number of authenticated packets that can be received within a given time constraint. Both analytical and simulation results have been provided to demonstrate the efficacy and efficiency of our proposed scheme.
SU-FF-T-230: Evaluation of the Performance of An Optical CT Scanner

Purpose: Optical CT technology has received much attention recently in the areas of 3D geldosimetry and biological imaging, owing to its uniqueness in offering high contrast 3D images for optically transparent objects. In this work we evaluate the performance of a commercial optical CTscanner OCTOPUS™ to ensure its imaging qualities. Method and Materials: The output stability of the He‐Ne laser in the scanner was measured for 10 hours. The ratio of the output over a reference measurement of the laser beam was monitored as well. The linearity response of the detector (photodiode) was evaluated by measuring the transmission light through the films that have known transmittances of 85.1%, 42.7%, 30.2%, 20.9%, and 3.9%. A thin wire of diameter 0.2mm was used for imaging to estimate imaging resolution. Multiple of such wires embedded in a gel at different locations were scanned to evaluate the geometric accuracy of imaging. A uniform gel slice was used to analyze imaging uniformity. The imaging linearity of the scanner was evaluated by scanning a gel slice containing a few optical contrast inserts. Results: The output of the laser shows a 4% variation in the 10 hours measurements but the effect of such variation was greatly reduced to 1% by normalizing the output measurement to the reference measurement of the laser signal. The photodiode shows a linear response within 1%. The imaging resolution of 1mm, uniformity of 1%, geometric accuracy within 1mm, and linearity of 1% can be achieved by the optical CTscanner.Conclusion: The evaluation demonstrates that the optical CTscanner has the capability of imaging 3D optical objects with high resolution and accuracy. The application of high quality optical CT in geldosimetry and tumor tissue imaging would provide better understanding of 3D dose distributions and 3D biological structures and functions.
Behavioral thermoregulation in the salamander Necturus maculosus after heat shock

Abstract 1. 1. Adult salamanders were acclimatized to 15 ± 1°C and an LD 12:12 photoperiod and divided into three groups: (A) heated to the critical thermal maximum (CTM, onset of muscular spasms; 33.74 ± 0.13°C); (B) heated to 2.75 ± 0.07°C below the CTM; (C) controls, not heated. 2. 2. All three groups were placed in linear thermal gradients (5–30°C) and deep body temperatures recorded with thermocouples every 30 min for a 3-day period. 3. 3. Both CTM and sub-CTM groups had significantly higher initial selected temperatures than controls, followed by a gradual decline. The initial selected temperatures of the sub-CTM group were higher than the group exposed to the CTM. 4. 4. Normal diel cycles in body temperatures displayed by control animals were eliminated in the two experimental groups.
Intrinsic Quantum Computation

We introduce ways to measure information storage in quantum systems, using a recently introduced computation-theoretic model that accounts for measurement effects. The first, the quantum excess entropy, quantifies the shared information between a quantum process's past and its future. The second, the quantum transient information, determines the difficulty with which an observer comes to know the internal state of a quantum process through measurements. We contrast these with von Neumann entropy and quantum entropy rate and provide a closed-form expression for the latter for the class of deterministic quantum processes.