cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Epidemic Clone I-Specific Genetic Markers in Strains of Listeria monocytogenes Serotype 4b from Foods

Listeria monocytogenes contamination of ready-to-eat foods has been implicated in numerous outbreaks of food-borne listeriosis. However, the health hazards posed by L. monocytogenes detected in foods may vary, and speculations exist that strains actually implicated in illness may constitute only a fraction of those that contaminate foods. In this study, examination of 34 serogroup 4 (putative or confirmed serotype 4b) isolates of L. monocytogenes obtained from various foods and food-processing environments, without known implication in illness, revealed that many of these strains had methylation of cytosines at GATC sites in the genome, rendering their DNA resistant to digestion by the restriction endonuclease Sau3AI. These strains also harbored a gene cassette with putative restriction-modification system genes as well as other, genomically unlinked genetic markers characteristic of the major epidemic-associated lineage of L. monocytogenes (epidemic clone I), implicated in numerous outbreaks in Europe and North America. This may reflect a relatively high fitness of strains with these genetic markers in foods and food-related environments relative to other serotype 4b strains and may partially account for the repeated involvement of such strains in human food-borne listeriosis. Food contamination by Listeria monocytogenes has been implicated in numerous outbreaks and sporadic cases of human illness. Most commonly implicated in listeriosis are highly processed, ready-to-eat (RTE) foods that are kept refrigerated for various periods of time. At risk for listeriosis are people in the extremes of age, pregnant women and their fetuses, cancer patients, and others experiencing immunosuppression (13, 24, 35, 38). Listeriosis can have severe symptoms (septicemia, meningitis, and stillbirths) and a high mortality rate (20 to 30%). Hence, regulations exist in numerous nations concerning the density (e.g., 1 CFU/25 g) of cells of the etiologic agent permissible in RTE foods. Such regulations are based on the hypothesis that any L. monocytogenes strain that can be detected in RTE foods has the potential to pose serious hazards to human health. The potential hazard posed by listerial contamination of RTE foods can be influenced by the number of cells at the point of consumption, which would depend on conditions of storage, type of food matrix and its impact on growth, presence of competing microflora and antimicrobial agents, etc. In addition, the strain type of L. monocytogenes involved may be of importance. It is likely, based on studies with other bacterial pathogens, that some strains and strain clusters (clonal groups) within the species might be more pathogenic than others. Speculations have been formulated that only a fraction of the strains of L. monocytogenes found in foods may be capable of causing human illness (20). There is indeed evidence that the repertoire of strains ca
Comparison of the incidence and visual significance of posterior capsule opacification between multifocal spherical, monofocal spherical, and monofocal aspheric intraocular lenses.

Purpose To determine and compare the incidence of posterior capsule opacification (PCO) and neodymium:YAG (Nd:YAG) laser capsulotomy after implantation of 3 intraocular lens types (IOLs). Setting Storm Eye Institute, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA. Methods This retrospective chart review comprised eyes having uneventful phacoemulsification and implantation of 1 of 3 AcrySof IOLs: ReSTOR SN60D3 (multifocal spherical group), Natural SN60AT (monofocal spherical group), or IQ SN60WF (monofocal aspheric group). Eyes were matched by age, sex, and follow-up. The PCO rate, Nd:YAG capsulotomy rate, time from surgery to PCO diagnosis, and time from surgery to Nd:YAG capsulotomy were assessed. Results Charts of 225 eyes (75 in each group) with a mean follow-up of 15.9 months ± 6.5 (SD) were evaluated. The PCO rate was 42.7% in the multifocal spherical group, 28.0% in the monofocal spherical group, and 14.7% in the monofocal aspheric group. The Nd:YAG capsulotomy rate was 25.3%, 17.3%, and 4.0%, respectively. The difference in the Nd:YAG rate was statistically significantly higher in the multifocal and monofocal spherical groups than in the monofocal aspheric group ( P P P = .232). The time from surgery to PCO documentation was not significantly different between the 3 groups. Conclusions Intraocular lens configuration may have contributed to the difference in the PCO rate between the 2 spherical IOLs and the aspheric IOL. Based on the Nd:YAG rate as an indicator for visual significance, PCO may be less visually significant in eyes with the aspheric IOL than in eyes with 1 of the spherical IOLs.
Isolation and partial characterization of beef heart proteolipid

Abstract A rapid procedure for the preparation of beef heart proteolipid by solvent fractionation of the total lipid extract of the tissue is described. The product is composed of two-thirds protein and one-third lipid, nearly all of which is phospholipid. Cardiolipin accounts for over half of the lipid moiety and both this lipid and phosphatidylinositol are enriched several-fold in the proteolipid, as compared to the phophsholipids of whole beef heart. The protein moiety may be freed of more than 90% of associated phospholipid by treatment of the proteolipid with Dowex 1 (formate) followed by precipitation of the apoprotein with diethyl ether. The apoprotein is soluble in acidified chloroform-methanol and contains 14–15% N and 0.2% P. N-terminal amino acid determinations and polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis indicate that the apoprotein is heterogeneous. The principal N-terminal amino acid is aspartic acid, but nine other N-terminal amino acids can also be detected. The amino acid composition of the proteolipid apoprotein is indistinguishable from that of the intact proteolipid, but differs significantly from both brain white matter proteolipid and mitochondrial structural protein.
Episiotomy and vaginal trauma

The era of routine episiotomy is gradually ending. Previously perceived benefits gradually have been disproved as evidence-based scientific clinical studies have shown the detrimental effects of episiotomy; however, circumstances always will exist in which prudent clinical judgment may dictate the necessity for an episiotomy. In most of these situations, however, an episiotomy often can be avoided. Perhaps more hospital perinatal review committees should evaluate episiotomy rates and strive to convince their staff to reduce their rates. We can learn to be more patient and allow the natural forces of labor to gradually stretch the perineum. In reviewing the extensive volume of published literature on episiotomy and perineal-vaginal trauma, the best advice lies in the dictum "Don't just do something, sit there!"
EFFECTS OF PROCESSING AND STORAGE ON THE PANTOTHENIC ACID CONTENT OF SPINACH AND BROCCOLI

Free and total pantothenic acid (FPA and TPA) in spinach and broccoli were determined at various processing stages. Steam-blanching resulted in greater TPA retention thatn water-blanching. Spinach retained 36% TPA activity after water-blanching compared with 87% retention after steam-blanching. Similar trends were noted for TPA loss during blanching of broccoli. Canning of water-blanched spinach resulter in a further significant loss (α= 0.05) of TPA. TPA was stable in canned spinach and frozen spinach. Frozen storage of broccoli for 60 days at – 32.2°C resulted in loss of TPA. No further loss was observed between 60 and 160 days of frozen storage. FPA was lost to a greater extent than TPA during water-blanching of both vegetables.
Dynamic voltage scaling for systemwide energy minimization in real-time embedded systems

Traditionally, dynamic voltage scaling (DVS) techniques have focused on minimizing the processor energy consumption as opposed to the entire system energy consumption. The slowdown resulting from DVS can increase the energy consumption of components like memory and network interfaces. Furthermore, the leakage power consumption is increasing with the scaling device technology and must also be taken into account. In this work, we consider energy efficient slowdown in a real-time task system. We present an algorithm to compute task slowdown factors based on the contribution of the processor leakage and standby energy consumption of the resources in the system. Our simulation experiments using randomly generated task sets show on an average 10% energy gains over traditional dynamic voltage scaling. We further combine slowdown with procrastination scheduling which increases the average energy savings to 15%. We show that our scheduling approach minimizes the total static and dynamic energy consumption of the systemwide resources.
Least absolute deviations estimation for the censored regression model

This paper proposes an alternative to maximum likelihood estimation of the parameters of the censored regression (or censored ‘Tobit’) model. The proposed estimator is a generalization of least absolute deviations estimation for the standard linear model, and, unlike estimation methods based on the assumption of normally distributed error terms, the estimator is consistent and asymptotically normal for a wide class of error distributions, and is also robust to heteroscedasticity. The paper gives the regularity conditions and proofs of these large-sample results, and proposes classes of consistent estimators of the asymptotic covariance matrix for both homoscedastic and heteroscedastic disturbances.
Lithium Di‐(E)‐1‐propenylcuprate

[33462-38-3] C6H10CuLi (MW 152.65) InChI = 1S/2C3H5.Cu.Li/c2*1-3-2;;/h2*1,3H,2H3;; InChIKey = NWXANJCJLHDMKM-UHFFFAOYSA-N (propenylating reagent; undergoes conjugate addition reactions,2-4 1,2-addition reactions to aldehydes,5, 6 substitution reactions with alkyl7 and vinyl substrates,8 and oxidative dimerization9) Physical Data: colorless solution in Et2O with CuI;7 ink-blue color with CuI·P(OMe)3.4 Solubility: sol Et2O, THF. Preparative Methods: prepared in situ from CuI salts (Copper(I) Iodide)7 or complexes (Copper(I) Iodide–Tributylphosphine5, 9 and Copper(I) Iodide–Trimethyl Phosphite4) in Et2O or THF at −78 °C under argon1c by the addition of trans-1-propenyllithium.7 See Lithium Dimethylcuprate for purification of CuI salts. Handling, Storage, and Precautions: air- and moisture-sensitive; use in a fume hood.
The Federal Constitutional Court: Guardian of German Democracy

Germany's Federal Constitutional Court rivals the Supreme Court of the United States in protecting political democracy. Its jurisprudence of democracy has shaped the course and character of German politics while upholding the rule of law and defending the constitutionally prescribed “free democratic basic order.” In furtherance of these objectives, the Constitutional Court has invalidated regulations limiting the rights of minor parties and constitutionalizing measures designed to stabilize Germany's system of parliamentary government. These purposes have been served by constitutional decisions on voting rights, public funding of election campaigns, dissolution of Parliament, and proportional representation, including the limiting 5 percent clause. These decisions, along with a discussion of the Hessian Election Review Case—a reminder of Bush v. Gore—are calculated to make political representation both responsive and responsible and to anchor the political system firmly in the democratic values at the hea...
Designing marine reserves for interacting species: Insights from theory

The primary goals of marine reserves include protecting biodiversity and ecosystem structure. Therefore, a multispecies approach to designing and monitoring reserve networks is necessary. To gain insight into how the interactions between species in marine communities may affect reserve design, we synthesize marine reserve community models and community models with habitat destruction and fragmentation, and we develop new extensions of existing models. This synthesis highlights the potential for species interactions to alter reserve design criteria; in particular, accounting for species interactions often leads to an increase in reserve size necessary to protect populations. Accounting for species interactions also indicates the need to base reserve design and monitoring on a variety of species, especially long-distance dispersers, inferior colonizers, and specialists. Finally, the new model extensions highlight how, given dispersal, source populations outside reserves as well as increases in fished populations after reserve establishment may negatively affect reserve populations of competitors or prey. Therefore, multispecies harvest dynamics outside reserves and before reserve establishment are critical to determining the appropriate reserve size, spacing, and expectations after establishment. These models highlight the importance of species interactions to reserve design and provide guidelines for how this complexity can begin to be incorporated into conservation planning.
Fabrication and Characterization of Barium Strontium Titanate and Non-Ferroelectric Oxide Composites

Abstract : Various composites of BSTO combined with other nonelectrically active oxide ceramics have been formulated. In general, the composites have adjustable electronic properties which can be tailored for use in various electronic devices. Two applications which are of interest in regard to the composites being discussed here, are phased array antennas and capacitor-varistor monolithic devices. For the phased array antennas, these properties include reduced dielectric constants, epsilon', where epsilon equals epsilon' - i(epsilon)', and loss tangents, tan delta. The reduction of the dielectric constant and lowering of the loss tangents reduce the overall impedance mismatch and the insertion loss of the device. In addition, the overall tunability, change in the dielectric constant with applied voltage, is maintained at a sufficiently high level for all dielectric constants of interest. Another application (for one of the composite materials) is a combined capacitor-varistor device. In general, this would be used to protect against spurious voltage surges and voltage transients in electronic micro-circuits. The microstructures including grain size and phase analysis have been examined using SEM and X-ray diffraction. (jg)
A Secure Routing Protocol Against Byzantine Attacks for MANETs in Adversarial Environments

To secure a mobile ad hoc network (MANET) in adversarial environments, a particularly challenging problem is how to feasibly detect and defend possible attacks on routing protocols, particularly internal attacks, such as a Byzantine attack. In this paper, we propose a novel algorithm that detects internal attacks by using both message and route redundancy during route discovery. The route-discovery messages are protected by pairwise secret keys between a source and destination and some intermediate nodes along a route established by using public key cryptographic mechanisms. We also propose an optimal routing algorithm with routing metric combining both requirements on a node's trustworthiness and performance. A node builds up the trustworthiness on its neighboring nodes based on its observations on the behaviors of the neighbor nodes. Both of the proposed algorithms can be integrated into existing routing protocols for MANETs, such as ad hoc on-demand distance vector routing (AODV) and dynamic source routing (DSR). As an example, we present such an integrated protocol called secure routing against collusion (SRAC), in which a node makes a routing decision based on its trust of its neighboring nodes and the performance provided by them. The simulation results have demonstrated the significant advantages of the proposed attack detection and routing algorithm over some known protocols.
NEAT – non-exercise activity thermogenesis – egocentric & geocentric environmental factors vs. biological regulation

Non-exercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT) is the energy expenditure of all physical activities other than volitional sporting-like exercise. NEAT includes all those activities that render us vibrant, unique and independent beings such as going to work, playing guitar, toe-tapping and dancing. The factors that account for the 2000 kcal day(-1) variability of NEAT can be categorized as environmental or biological. The environmental determinants of NEAT can be view using one of two models. In the egocentric model we consider a single person as the focus, e.g. 'my job'. In the geocentric model we consider the 'environment' as the focus, e.g. well-lit and safe walk ways. These models provide us with a theoretical framework to understand NEAT and how best to intervene to promote NEAT. As well as environmental effectors of NEAT, there are also biological regulatory mechanisms that enable us to account for three-quarters of the biological variance in susceptibility and resistance to fat gain with human over-feeding. NEAT is likely to be regulated through a central mechanism that integrates NEAT with energy intake and energy stores so that NEAT is activated with over-feeding and suppressed with under-feeding. In conclusion, NEAT is likely to serve as a crucial thermoregulatory switch between energy storage and dissipation that is biologically regulated and influenced, and perhaps over-ridden, by environment. Deciphering the role of NEAT may lead to a better understanding of the pathogenesis, prevention and treatment of obesity.
Remote sensing of Spartina anglica biomass in five French salt marshes

The utilization of regression models to estimate Spartina anglica biomass in marshes is studied. Radiance data for five S. anglica plots located along the coast of Brittany, France at 48 deg 40 min N between 1 deg 30 min W- 4 deg 30 min W was collected with a hand-held radiometer. Biomass data is derived from the radiance data, and the radiance and biomass data are employed in the formulation of simple regression models. The models are applied to the radiance data from the other four marshes. It is observed that the models predicted the biomass for all four marshes, and for three of the four marshes the estimated leaf and live biomass are within 1-13 percent of the harvest values. The effects of slit and dead tissues on the radiance from the S. anglica canopies are analyzed. It is noted that simple regression models which correlate radiance data to S. Anglica biomass in one marsh can be applied to the accurate prediction of leaf and live S. anglica biomass in other marshes.
The Origins, Founding, and Early Development of the Journal Veterinary Pathology

The story of Veterinary Pathology begins with an extraordinary veterinarian, Leon Z. Saunders. Intelligent, widely read, and incredibly inquisitive, Saunders was to lead efforts to found the journal. Viewing conversation and criticism as art forms, he was a model for many of us in the give and take of scientific discussion. Born Leon Zlotnick in Winnipeg in 1919, he passed through St. John’s Technical High School and Wesley College to graduate from the Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) in 1943. The story of Veterinary Pathology, however, is more complex because it involves convergence of several events, institutions, and people—the emergence of stellar pathologists in the early 1900s, the postwar economic boom after 1945, growth of veterinary pathology in the 1950s, and a grant from the US government to support the journal in 1964. Thus it is that I preface this story with the status of institutions and people who were to influence the origins of Veterinary Pathology and the forces that transformed aspiring veterinary pathologists.
Modifiable risk factors for cancer

Over 6 million people around the world die from cancer each year. Modifiable risk factors have been linked to a wide range of malignancies, including cancers of the oropharynx, oesophagus, larynx, lung, kidney, bladder, pancreas, skin, stomach, ovary, breast, cervix, uterus, prostate, and colon. Research indicates that over half of all cancers in developed countries could be prevented if we implemented population-wide measures to promote the following behaviours: reduce tobacco use, increase physical activity, control weight, improve diet, limit alcohol, utilise safer sex practices, get routine cancer screening tests, and avoid excess sun exposure.
Lenvatinib in Advanced, Radioactive Iodine–Refractory, Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma

Management options are limited for patients with radioactive iodine refractory, locally advanced, or metastatic differentiated thyroid carcinoma. Prior to 2015, sorafenib, a multitargeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor, was the only approved treatment and was associated with a median progression-free survival (PFS) of 11 months and overall response rate (ORR) of 12% in a phase III trial. Lenvatinib, a multikinase inhibitor with high potency against VEGFR and FGFR demonstrated encouraging results in phase II trials. Recently, the pivotal SELECT trial provided the basis for the FDA approval of lenvatinib as a second targeted therapy for these patients. Median PFS of 18.3 months in the lenvatinib group was significantly improved from 3.6 months in the placebo group, with an HR of 0.21 (95% confidence interval, 0.4-0.31; P < 0.0001). ORR was also significantly increased in the lenvatinib arm (64.7%) compared with placebo (1.5%). In this article, we will review the molecular mechanisms of lenvatinib, the data from preclinical studies to the recent phase III clinical trial, and the biomarkers being studied to further guide patient selection and predict treatment response.
Immunoglobulin E (IgE)

Publisher Summary This chapter provides an overview of immunoglobulin E (IgE). IgE is the least component of the immunoglobulin family in humans and experimental animals. The concentration of the immunoglobulin in normal human serum is in the order of 100 to 200 ng/ml. However, IgE antibodies have unique biologic activities. The antibodies sensitize mast cells and basophils of homologous species, and the reactions of antigen to cell-bound IgE antibodies induce the release of a variety of mediators, which cause allergic symptoms. Purification of monoclonal IgE is further described. Many investigators tried to purify polyclonal IgE from the serum of atopic patients, serum of rats infected with the nematode, Nippostrongylus brasiliensis and ascitic fluids of mice immunized with an appropriate antigen. Although they succeeded to enrich IgE and to identify the protein, polyclonal IgE has never been purified. So far, only monoclonal IgE is purified from the serum of E myeloma patients, ascites of rats bearing IgE-producing immunocytoma and ascites of mice bearing IgE producing hybridomas. The chapter further explains purification of mouse monoclonal IgE by antigen-coated affinity column.
Rheological Properties of Rubber-Carbon Black and Carbon Black-Oil Compounds Including Measurements at Very Low Shear Stresses

Abstract The rheological properties of binary rubber-carbon black compounds at compositions 5, 20, 30, 40 and 50 volume percent carbon black have been investigated as well as ternary compounds with rubber/carbon black/oil compositions of 70/20/10, 60/20/20 and 50/20/30, respectively. The compounds were investigated using (1) a constant stress creep instrument at very low rates of deformation, (2) a rotational rheometer at intermediate shear rates and (3) a capillary extrusion instrument at higher shear rates. In experiment (1), it was found that below a critical yield stress, the strain becomes saturated and finite. Above this stress the strain becomes unbounded and the compound maintained a steady shear flow. This observation was made for all compounds investigated. The values of the yield stresses obtained using the creep instrument were found to be significantly lower than those obtained from common extrapolations from rotational and capillary rheometers. In the ternary compounds it was also observed t...
The 2H(3He, γ)5Li reaction from 2–26 MeV

Abstract The 2H(3He, γ)5Li cross section has been measured at 90° for 3He energies of 2–26 MeV, corresponding to excitation energies in 5Li of 17–26 MeV. Gamma-ray angular distributions were measured at several energies in this range. Transition intensities to the ground state (γ0) and first excited state (γ1) of 5Li were extracted, and the γ0 results were compared to theoretical predictions. The γ0 and γ1 results were found to be consistent with a 1 2 + state near 18 MeV and a 5 2 + state near 21 MeV in 5Li. Evidence was also found for higher-lying states, some of which might have negative parity.
Comprehensive Approach to Deformation Dynamics

Deformation of solids is described as wave dynamics. Dynamics in all stages of deformation from the elastic sage through fracture are formulated comprehensively based on a fundamental physical principle known as local symmetry. The field equations derived from the present formalism lead to longitudinal, compression wave solutions in the elastic regime, decaying transverse wave solutions in the plastic regime, and solitary wave solutions in the transitional stage from the elastic to plastic regime. The decay characteristic in the plastic wave reflects the irreversibility of plastic deformation. The solitary wave can be interpreted as representing the dynamic shear band known as the Luders band or the type A Portevin–Le Chatelier band.
MATLAB Hydrological Index Tool (MHIT): A high performance library to calculate 171 ecologically relevant hydrological indices

Abstract Ecologically relevant hydrologic indices are being used for developing environmental flow baselines. EflowStats is an R-package developed by the US Geological Survey that calculates 171 ecologically relevant hydrologic indices. Although EflowStats provides a set of easy to use functions, once it is applied to a large area with thousands of streams, it requires a long processing time. This particularly limits its application in problems that are dealing with optimizations, requiring evaluation of thousands of scenarios. As a result, a new package called MATLAB Hydrological Index Tool (MHIT) was developed, incorporating different technologies, such as vectorization, memoization, and parallelism to considerably reduce the processing time. Both EflowStats and MHIT were tested against a long-term (20 years) daily streamflow data set from the Saginaw River Watershed in Michigan. In summary, MHIT reduces the processing time by 227 times for the study area. Therefore, MHIT is much more suitable for dealing with Big Data.
Microbiological Aspects of High-Pressure Processing of Food: Inactivation of Microbial Vegetative Cells and Spores

High-pressure processing (HPP) of food utilizes elevated pressures with or without combination of heat to inactivate harmful pathogens and spoilage microorganisms in their vegetative or spore state. Since the treatment reduces thermal impact, pressure-treated products have better organoleptic attributes. The importance of identifying a relevant surrogate organism for high-pressure pasteurization and sterilization studies is highlighted. Process- and product-related factors influencing the antimicrobial efficacy of pressure treatment are reviewed.
Structure of 1-Alkyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium Bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amide Ionic Liquids with Linear, Branched, and Cyclic Alkyl Groups

X-ray scattering and molecular dynamics simulations have been carried out to investigate structural differences and similarities in the condensed phase between pyrrolidinium-based ionic liquids paired with the bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amide (NTf2–) anion where the cationic tail is linear, branched, or cyclic. This is important in light of the charge and polarity type alternations that have recently been shown to be present in the case of liquids with cations of moderately long linear tails. For this study, we have chosen to use the 1-alkyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium, Pyrr1,n+ with n = 5 or 7, as systems with linear tails, 1-(2-ethylhexyl)-1-methylpyrrolidinium, Pyrr1,EtHx+, as a system with a branched tail, and 1-(cyclohexylmethyl)-1-methylpyrrolidinium, Pyrr1,ChxMe+, as a system with a cyclic tail. We put these results into context by comparing these data with recently published results for the Pyrr1,n+/NTf2– ionic liquids with n = 4, 6, 8, and 10.1,2 General methods for interpreting the structure function...
High resolution molecular spectroscopy using dual comblike structures of fabry-perot quantum cascade lasers

Multiple heterodyne down-conversion of two mid-IR Fabry-Perot quantum cascade lasers is demonstrated. Absorption spectroscopy of ammonia is performed in radio frequency domain with resolution of ~30 MHz.
What Does Geography Have To Do With It?: A Descriptive Analysis of Troublesome Youth in Bosnia–Herzegovina, Germany, and the Netherlands

In the first decade of the 21st century, the Eurogang Program of Research (hereafter referred to as the Eurogang Network), a group of U.S. and European criminologists, began a systematic effort to ...
Noise measurement on thermal systems with narrow band

Thermal systems with a narrow spectral bandpass and mid-wave thermal imagers are useful for a variety of imaging applications. Additionally, the sensitivity for these classes of systems is increasing along with an increase in performance requirements when evaluated in a lab. Unfortunately, the uncertainty in the blackbody temperature along with the temporal instability of the blackbody could lead to uncontrolled laboratory environmental effects which could increase the measured noise. If the temporal uncertainty and accuracy of a particular blackbody is known, then confidence intervals could be adjusted for source accuracy and instability. Additionally, because thermal currents may be a large source of temporal noise in narrow band systems, a means to mitigate them is presented and results are discussed.
Study of purification effect and sterilization factors for a new type of air disinfector

Objective To study the disinfection purification effect and sterilization factors of a new type of air disinfector.Methods Air disinfection effect was evaluated by simulated field test and field test.Special instruments were used to test dust particle number,ultraviolet irradiation intensity,plasma and UV and 0zone leakage after disinfection.Results Treatment by the air disinfector for 45min resulted in killing rate of99.9% in 20m3 room sprayed with artificial staphylococcus albus.90min treatment resulted in killing rate of90%for natural bacteria.Purification effect for the dust particle was observed in certain areas.Medium density corona discharged plasma could be produced by the air disinfector.The irradiation intensity of the ultraviolet lamp in the disinfector was 48.4μm/cm2.No UV or ozone leakage was detected.Conclusion The air disinfector relies on synergy of UV and plasma.The disinfector can produce good disinfection effect and is suitable for application with the presence of people.
Investigation and Analysis of Missing Reports on Deaths in Huairou District of Beijing during 2007-2009

[Objective]To understand the missing reports of death registration of residents in Huairou District of Beijing City.[Methods]Using a multi-stage proportional cluster sampling,the stratified principle was determined,the stratified random sampling was applied to collect 22 villages/residents committees from 6 towns/blocks as the investigation points.The data from retrospective survey of death causes in Huairou district during 2007-2009 were regarded as the actual mortality data,and were matched with data of routine reports.The mismatching data were recorded as the missing report.The missing report rate was calculated,and was analyzed for its distribution in population.The reasons for missing report were studied.[Results]From 2007 to 2009,the actual number of death in investigation points of Huairou district was 574,there were 66 missing reports,and the total missing report rate was 11.50%.The missing report rate of Labagoumen town was the highest(26.73%),and that of Huaibei town was the lowest(2.20%).The missing report rate of death caused by accident was the highest(32.61%).The missing report rate in 2007 was the highest(18.48%).[Conclusion]The status of missing reports on deaths was serious in Huairou district.It is necessary to carry out the appropriate measures to improve the quality of report of cause of death.
Analysis of 453 Adverse Events Following Immunization cases

Objective:To explore the causes of AEFI so as to find ways to reduce the AEFI incidence.Methods:Statistical analysis was conducted for the 453 cases who had adverse events following immunization from 2008 to 2011 in Jilin city.Results:378 cases were commom,abnormal reaction were 53 cases,To DPT AEFI report the first number.Among them,targets aged≤1 year accounted for 82%;Aged from 2 to 6 account for 15.9%;136 AEFIs were cured and 312 were getting better.Conclusion:The surveillance of AEFI information management system has good sensitivity in Jilin city,the AEFI monitoring sensitivity and timeliness is better.The causes for the adverse events are various.The quality of vaccines should be improved,training for inoculators must be strengthened,in order to reduce the incidence of the adv erse events.
Experience with Village PV Systems in Pakistan

Eighteen villages in rural areas of Pakistan have been supplied over the last ten years with a total of 434 kWP of PV, to furnish community and domestic lighting and water supply. Because of popular resistance to dc systems most have been converted to ac. The villages have encountered a number of problems, especially with inverters for a.c. Moreover costs have been high. In consequence, the centralized (minigrid) approach cannot be said to have been successful, at least in this case, and a decentralized approach with independent PV sub-systems and lighting kits is recommended in future.
Oh, the places you'll go! My many colored serotonin (apologies to Dr. Seuss)

Serotonin [5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)] has a truly fascinating history in the cardiovascular world. Discovered in the blood, 5-HT has long been appropriately regarded as a vasoconstrictor. A multitude of in vitro studies of isolated vessels support that addition of 5-HT causes vascular contraction. In only a few cases was 5-HT a vasodilator. Moreover, the potency and threshold of 5-HT causing contraction is increased in arteries from hypertensive vs. normotensive subjects, both animal and human. As such, we and others have hypothesized that 5-HT would contribute to hypertension by elevating arterial tone. In stark contrast to these decades of findings, we observed that a chronic infusion of 5-HT into conscious rats caused a reduction in blood pressure and nearly normalized blood pressure of experimentally hypertensive rats. Going back to the early work of Irvine Page, one of the scientists who discovered 5-HT, reveals an early recognized but never understood ability of 5-HT to reduce systemic blood pressure. Our laboratory, in collaboration with colleagues around the world, has dedicated itself to understanding the mechanisms of 5-HT-induced reduction in blood pressure. This manuscript takes you through a brief history of the discovery of 5-HT, in vitro serotonergic pharmacology of blood vessels, in vivo work with 5-HT and our studies that suggests the venous vasculature, potentially in combination with small arterioles, may be important to the actions of 5-HT in reducing blood pressure. 5-HT has certainly ended up in a place I never expected it to go.
Die-stacking Architecture

The emerging three-dimensional (3D) chip architectures, with their intrinsic capability of reducing the wire length, promise attractive solutions to reduce the delay of interconnects in future microprocessors. 3D memory stacking enables much higher memory bandwidth for future chip-multiprocessor design, mitigating the "memory wall" problem. In addition, heterogenous integration enabled by 3D technology can also result in innovative designs for future microprocessors. This book first provides a brief introduction to this emerging technology, and then presents a variety of approaches to designing future 3D microprocessor systems, by leveraging the benefits of low latency, high bandwidth, and heterogeneous integration capability which are offered by 3D technology.
Abstract B021: Single domain antibodies targeting CTLA-4 demonstrate a critical role for Fc in the antitumor response

Monoclonal antibodies targeting CTLA-4 are now a central part of the standard of care for metastatic melanoma, and have shown efficacy against diverse tumor types. However, the extent to which direct blockade of CTLA-4 contributes to the efficacy of these antibodies remains incompletely understood. Mice lacking FcγRIV fail to respond to αCTLA-4 therapy, and maintain robust tumor infiltrating Treg populations. These findings suggest that anti-CTLA-4 antibody therapy enhances antitumor responses through Treg depletion, though a requirement for FcγR in other aspects of the antitumor response has not been excluded, and the importance of CTLA-4 blockade alone has not be directly assessed. We have developed an alpaca-derived single domain antibody (H11) that binds CTLA-4 with high affinity, occluding the B7 binding motif as determined by x-ray crystallography. We are able to use this single domain antibody in 18F immuno-PET to produce a comprehensive image of CTLA-4 expression in a tumor-bearing live mouse, confirming penetration of H11 into the tumor microenvironment. Therapeutically, we find that H11 potently blocks CTLA-4 co-inhibition in vitro, but fails to elicit protective immunity in vivo. Therapeutic activity is restored when H11 is attached to the Fc region of murine IgG2a, but not when half-life alone is increased through H11 dimerization or conjugation to PEG, confirming a central role for Fc-dependent function in αCTLA-4 responses, as well as the minimal efficacy of CTLA-4 blockade alone. We further find that the efficacy of αCTLA-4 therapy can be enhanced through blockade of CD47, consistent with an important role for Treg depletion by myeloid cells in the activity of this therapy. These findings have implications for the development of combinations immune therapies. Citation Format: Michael Dougan, Jessica Ingram, Olga Blomberg, Mohammad Rashidian, Edmund Keliher, Ralph Weissleder, Steven Almo, Hidde Ploegh. Single domain antibodies targeting CTLA-4 demonstrate a critical role for Fc in the antitumor response [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Second CRI-CIMT-EATI-AACR International Cancer Immunotherapy Conference: Translating Science into Survival; 2016 Sept 25-28; New York, NY. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Immunol Res 2016;4(11 Suppl):Abstract nr B021.
Pediatric 8p11 eosinophilic myeloproliferative syndrome (EMS): A case report and review of the literature

The 8p11 eosinophilic myeloproliferative syndrome (EMS) is an aggressive neoplasm driven by translocation of the fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 and often transforms to leukemias and lymphomas that are refractory to treatment. The first case was identified in 1983, and to date over 70 cases have been reported in the literature. Despite those reports, no consensus exists on management of this condition, and inconsistency in treatment regimens is even more pronounced in the pediatric literature. We report a case of a male infant with the 8p11 EMS, review the published pediatric experience with EMS, and discuss treatment strategies for this enigmatic hematological disorder.
Colorado Medical Students’ Attitudes and Beliefs About Marijuana

Background Over the past two decades, state and local governments across the U.S. have been increasingly reforming marijuana laws. Despite growing support for marijuana as a medical treatment, little is known about medical students’ perceptions of marijuana use.
Improved Complete Active Space Configuration Interaction Energies with a Simple Correction from Density Functional Theory

Recent algorithmic advances have extended the applicability of complete active space configuration interaction (CASCI) methods to molecular systems with hundreds of atoms. While this enables simulation of photochemical dynamics in the condensed phase, the underlying CASCI method has some well-known problems resulting from a severe neglect of dynamic electron correlation. Vertical excitation energies, vibrational frequencies, and reaction barriers are systematically overestimated; these errors limit the applicability of CASCI. We develop a correction for the CASCI energy using density functional theory (DFT). The DFT correction incorporates the effect of dynamic electron correlation among the core electrons into the CASCI Hamiltonian. We show that the resulting DFT-corrected CASCI approach is applicable in situations where the usual single-reference DFT methods fail, such as the description of systems with biradicaloid electronic structure and conical intersections between ground and excited electronic sta...
A feasibility study for enrichment of highly aggressive cancer subpopulations by their biophysical properties via dielectrophoresis enhanced with synergistic fluid flow.

A common problem with cancer treatment is the development of treatment resistance and tumor recurrence that result from treatments that kill most tumor cells yet leave behind aggressive cells to repopulate. Presented here is a microfluidic device that can be used to isolate tumor subpopulations to optimize treatment selection. Dielectrophoresis (DEP) is a phenomenon where particles are polarized by an electric field and move along the electric field gradient. Different cell subpopulations have different DEP responses depending on their bioelectrical phenotype, which, we hypothesize, correlate with aggressiveness. We have designed a microfluidic device in which a region containing posts locally distorts channel of the electric field created by an AC voltage across a microfluidic channel and which forces cells toward the posts through DEP. This force is balanced with a simultaneous drag force from fluid motion that pulls cells away from the posts. We have shown that by adjusting the drag force, cells with aggressive phenotypes are influenced more by the DEP force and trap on posts while others flow through the chip unaffected. Utilizing single-cell trapping on cell-sized posts by a drag-DEP force balance, we show that separation of very similar cell subpopulations may be achieved, a result that was previously impossible with DEP alone. Separated subpopulations maintain high viability downstream, and remain in a native state, without fluorescent labeling. These cells can then be cultured to help select a therapy that kills aggressive subpopulations equally or better than the bulk of the tumor, mitigating resistance and recurrence. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved
Immediate Postoperative Pain Scores Predict Neck Pain Profile up to 1 Year Following Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion

Study Design:Retrospective cohort review.Objective:To assess whether immediate postoperative neck pain scores accurately predict 12-month visual analog scale–neck pain (VAS-NP) outcomes following A...
Remembering MUDPILES: A Case of Unexplained Metabolic Acidosis

A 7-year-old medically complex girl was admitted for unexplained metabolic acidosis. Her history was significant for cerebral palsy, failure to thrive, developmental delay, feeding difficulties, and microcephaly. She was adopted from Bulgaria with no known past medical or family histories. Admission laboratory studies were significant for increased anion gap metabolic acidosis with an elevated lactate and urine pH of 5.0. The patient was initially managed on maintenance intravenous fluids with 10% dextrose with 0.22% normal saline and 40 mEq/L of sodium bicarbonate. Oral food and fluids were withheld while additional laboratory testing was conducted. Through genetic testing, the patient was diagnosed with pyruvate dehydrogenase deficiency. She was started on a ketogenic diet and clinically improved. Since discharge, she has continued to follow up with a geneticist and metabolic dietitian. This case highlights the proper evaluation of a patient who presents with metabolic acidosis. A 7-year-old girl with history of cerebral palsy, failure to thrive, developmental delay, feeding difficulties, and microcephaly was transferred to our tertiary care pediatric unit from an outside emergency department (ED) with unexplained metabolic acidosis. She presented to the ED after her father witnessed her become acutely limp with apparent right-sided neck contraction, leg twitching, increased sleepiness, and rapid breathing. Of note, teachers mentioned increasing lethargy and a decline in mental status over the day before presentation. The patient was adopted from Bulgaria 9 months earlier without any available past medical or family history. At that time she was nonambulatory, nonverbal, underweight, …
Heparin-induced haemorrhagic bullous dermatosis.

Background Heparin-induced haemorrhagic bullous dermatosis (HBD) is a rare but probably underdiagnosed reaction to heparin, with 26 cases reported in the English literature. Currently, there is no consensus regarding the treatment. Aim To assess our new cases of HBD and review the previously reported cases, in order to draw conclusions about this adverse skin reaction to heparin. Methods A PubMed search was performed for articles containing the terms '(heparin-induced AND (blister OR bulla OR bullae)) OR (hemorrhagic bullous dermatosis AND heparin) OR heparin bullous dermatosis'. Descriptive statistical data analysis was performed using Microsoft Excel. Results We assessed five new cases of HBD. In addition, our literature search revealed 26 previously reported patients. Combining these, we found that the mean ± SD age of patients with HBD was 71.4 ± 14 years. HBD affects men more commonly than women (men 22/31; P = 0.02). Patients develop tense bullae most frequently on the extremities, approximately 8 days (mean ± SD 7.5 ± 6.4 days) after starting treatment with a heparin product, usually enoxaparin. Conclusions The typical clinical course is spontaneous resolution within days to weeks irrespective of continuation of heparin therapy. Because of its self-limiting nature, interruption of heparin therapy may not be required.
Stereoselective Enzymatic Synthesis of Heteroatom-Substituted Cyclopropanes

The repurposing of hemoproteins for non-natural carbene transfer activities has generated enzymes for functions previously accessible only to chemical catalysts. With activities constrained to specific substrate classes, however, the synthetic utility of these new biocatalysts has been limited. To expand the capabilities of non-natural carbene transfer biocatalysis, we engineered variants of Cytochrome P450BM3 that catalyze the cyclopropanation of heteroatom-bearing alkenes, providing valuable nitrogen-, oxygen-, and sulfur-substituted cyclopropanes. Four or five active-site mutations converted a single parent enzyme into selective catalysts for the synthesis of both cis and trans heteroatom-substituted cyclopropanes, with high diastereoselectivities and enantioselectivities and up to 40 000 total turnovers. This work highlights the ease of tuning hemoproteins by directed evolution for efficient cyclopropanation of new substrate classes and expands the catalytic functions of iron heme proteins.
THE ROLE OF BETA BLOCKER THERAPY FOR ISCHEMIC HEART DISEASE PREVENTION IN UNDIAGNOSED OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA AND HYPERTENSION

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with coronary artery disease (CAD) and heart failure. During apneic spells, sympathetic nerve activity increases which is thought to contribute to this association. Beta-blocker (BB) medications block this sympathetic nerve activity. We studied the role of