cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A goals-oriented mechanics curriculum featuring applications

All instructors visualize goals and, to use recent vernacular, learning objectives for their courses. In this presentation, the authors formalize both, distinguish between them, consider a unified thread informing a mechanics curriculum and illustrate it through applications. Taken piecewise, the elements employed here are not new, but taken together, as an integrated, systematic process, the curriculum differs markedly from traditional mechanics curricula. Students learn theory and apply it to do mechanical design and learn about project engineering, manufacturing and more. Because applications must be current, the curriculum remains vibrant and practicable. This is a work in progress.
Fluorescence-Based Methods for Evaluating the RNA Affinity and Specificity of HIV-1 Rev-RRE Inhibitors

RNA plays a pivotal role in the replication of all organisms, including viral and bacterial pathogens. The development of small molecules that selectively interfere with undesired RNA activity is a promising new direction for drug design. Currently, there are no anti-HIV treatments that target nucleic acids. This article presents the HIV-1 Rev response element (RRE) as an important focus for the development of antiviral agents that target RNA. The Rev binding site on the RRE is highly conserved, even between different groups of HIV-1 isolates. Compounds that inhibit HIV replication by binding to the RRE and displacing Rev are therefore expected to retain activity across groups of genetically diverse HIV infections. Systematic evaluations of both the RRE affinity and specificity of numerous small molecule inhibitors are essential for deciphering the parameters that govern effective RRE recognition. This article discusses fluorescence-based techniques that are useful for probing a small molecule's RRE affinity and its ability to inhibit Rev-RRE binding. Rev displacement experiments can be conducted by observing the fluorescence anisotropy of a fluorescein-labeled Rev peptide, or by quantifying its displacement from a solid-phase immobilized RRE. Experiments conducted in the presence of competing nucleic acids are useful for evaluating the RRE specificity of Rev-RRE inhibitors. The discovery and characterization of new RRE ligands are described. Eilatin is a polycyclic aromatic heterocycle that has at least one binding site on the RRE (apparent Kd is approximately 0.13 microM), but it does not displace Rev upon binding the RRE (IC50 > 3 microM). In contrast, ethidium bromide and two eilatin-containing metal complexes show better consistency between their RRE affinity and their ability to displace a fluorescent Rev peptide from the RRE. These results highlight the importance of conducting orthogonal binding assays that establish both the RNA affinity of a small molecule and its ability to inhibit the function of the RNA target. Some Rev-RRE inhibitors, including ethidium bromide, Lambda-[Ru(bpy)(2)eilatin]2+, and Delta-[Ru(bpy)(2)eilatin]2+ also inhibit HIV-1 gene expression in cell cultures (IC50 = 0.2-3 microM). These (and similar) results should facilitate the future discovery and implementation of anti-HIV drugs that are targeted to viral RNA sites. In addition, a deeper general understanding of RNA-small molecule recognition will assist in the effective targeting of other therapeutically important RNA sites.
Primary Care Physicians In Ten Countries Report Challenges Caring For Patients With Complex Health Needs

Industrialized countries face a daunting challenge in providing high-quality care for aging patients with increasingly complex health care needs who will need ongoing chronic care management, community, and social services in addition to episodic acute care. Our international survey of primary care doctors in the United States and nine other countries reveals their concern about how well prepared their practices are to manage the care of patients with complex needs and about their variable experiences in coordinating care and communicating with specialists, hospitals, home care, and social service providers. While electronic information exchange remains a challenge in most countries, a positive finding was the significant increase in the adoption of electronic health records by primary care doctors in the United States and Canada since 2012. Finally, feedback on job-related stress, perceptions of declining quality of care, and administrative burden signal the need to monitor front-line perspectives as health reforms are conceived and implemented.
Investigating the Possibility of Locating Microseismic Sources using Distributed Sensor Networks

Distributed sensor networks are designed to provide computation in-situ and in real-time. The conventional time-reversal imaging approach for microseismic event location may not be optimal for such an environment. To address this challenge, we develop a methodology of locating multiple microseismic events with unknown start times based on the cross-correlation imaging condition borrowed from active-source seismic imaging. The imaging principle states that a true microseismic source must correspond to the location where all the backwardpropagated events coincide in both space and time. Instead of simply stacking the backward-propagated seismic wavefields, as suggested by time-reversal imaging, we perform multiplication reduction to compute a high-resolution microseismicity map. The map has an extra dimension of time, indicating the start times of different events. Combined with a distributed sensor network, our method is designed for monitoring microseismic activities and mapping fracture development during hydraulic fracturing in-situ and in real-time. We use numerical examples to test the ability of the proposed technique to produce high-resolution images of microseismic locations.
CONCEPTUALIZING, MEASURING, AND MANAGING CUSTOMER-BASED BRAND EQUITY

The author presents a conceptual model of brand equity from the perspective of the individual consumer. Customer-based brand equity is defined as the differential effect of brand knowledge on consu...
A Simplified Dusting Station to Control Face Flies and Horn Flies on Cattle

This paper presents the design of a self-applicating dusting station for polled or dehorned cattle. Stations built to the specifications presented in this paper have been used for 2 seasons in South Carolina to control the face fly, Musca autumnalis De Geer, and the horn fly, Haematobia irritans (L.). Basically the unit consisted of a flat 6-ft-square galvanized metal roof attached to a wooden frame mounted on top of two 8-ft posts which were imbedded 2 ft in the ground. A board containing six 3 5/8-or 4¼-inch porch swing hooks supported 2 dust bags which were hung 4 inches apart. The board was positioned so that the bottoms of the bags were 18-24 inches above the ground. A dust bag consisted of two 10-oz 40-cut X 42-inch burlap sacks one inside the other. Two no. 4 grommets were installed in the upper corners of each bag, and 2 grommets were installed in the center of each side of the open end so that the inner sack could be opened for refilling, The bags were suspended from the hooks by the grommets. Reinforcement to prevent tearing of the bag at the grommets was not necessary when double sacks were used. If 1 sack was used, 2 inches of the top was folded down over a strip of canvas reinforcement before installing the 4 grommets. Not more than 10 lb of dust was maintained in each bag. The total cost of materials excluding insecticide was approximately $13.00 per unit.
Convergent and Modular Synthesis of Candidate Precolibactins. Structural Revision of Precolibactin A

The colibactins are hybrid polyketide–nonribosomal peptide natural products produced by certain strains of commensal and extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli. The metabolites are encoded by the clb gene cluster as prodrugs termed precolibactins. clb+ E. coli induce DNA double-strand breaks in mammalian cells in vitro and in vivo and are found in 55–67% of colorectal cancer patients, suggesting that mature colibactins could initiate tumorigenesis. However, elucidation of their structures has been an arduous task as the metabolites are obtained in vanishingly small quantities (μg/L) from bacterial cultures and are believed to be unstable. Herein we describe a flexible and convergent synthetic route to prepare advanced precolibactins and derivatives. The synthesis proceeds by late-stage union of two complex precursors (e.g., 28 + 17 → 29a, 90%) followed by a base-induced double dehydrative cascade reaction to form two rings of the targets (e.g., 29a → 30a, 79%). The sequence has provided quantities of...
Study on Delamination of HDI Multilayer PCB in Lead-free Reflow Process

The delamination of HDI Multilayer PCB in the Lead-free reflow soldering is a serious quality accident which not only affects the quality of productions,but also leads to the interruption of production.The delamination phenomenon in the Lead-free reflow soldering process is analyzed firstly.Then the mechanism of the phenomenon is discussed.And the methods which avoid the delamination are studied.
Cognitive Effects of Olanzapine Treatment in Schizophrenia

Improvement in some but not all domains of cognition during treatment with the atypical antipsychotic drugs clozapine, quetiapine, olanzapine, and risperidone has been reported in some but not all studies. It has been recently suggested that these reports are an artifact, related to lessening of the impairment due to typical neuroleptic drugs and anticholinergic agents. The purpose of this study was to further test the hypothesis that olanzapine, an atypical antipsychotic drug reported to have anticholinergic properties, improves cognition in patients with schizophrenia, including domains of cognition related closely to work and social function (ie, verbal learning and memory) and that this improvement is independent of improvement in psychopathology. Thirty-four patients with schizophrenia who were partial responders to typical antipsychotic drug treatment were evaluated with a comprehensive neurocognitive battery, including measures of executive functioning; verbal and visual learning and memory; working memory; immediate, selective, and sustained attention; perceptual/motor processing; and motor skills prior to and following treatment with olanzapine for 6 weeks. The Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) was used to assess psychopathology in patients treated with typical antipsychotic drugs. Subjects were switched to olanzapine (average dose 13.4 mg, range 5-20 mg) and reassessed following 6 weeks and 6 months of treatment. Significant improvement was noted in 9 of 19 cognitive tests, including measures of selective attention, verbal learning and memory, and verbal fluency. No cognitive test was worsened by olanzapine treatment. Improvements in the BPRS Total and Positive Symptom Subscale scores were noted. Improvements in verbal learning and memory, sustained attention, and psychomotor tracking were independent of improvement in psychopathology. These data suggest that olanzapine improved some but not all cognitive deficits in schizophrenia, including verbal memory, a cognitive domain impaired by anticholinergic drugs. The basis for the improvement in cognitive scores, which should lead to improvement in role functioning if real, is discussed.
Multi-Targeted Antithrombotic Therapy for Total Artificial Heart Device Patients

To prevent thrombotic or bleeding events in patients receiving a total artificial heart (TAH), agents have been used to avoid adverse events. The purpose of this article is to outline the adoption and results of a multi-targeted antithrombotic clinical procedure guideline (CPG) for TAH patients. Based on literature review of TAH anticoagulation and multiple case series, a CPG was designed to prescribe the use of multiple pharmacological agents. Total blood loss, Thromboelastograph(®) (TEG), and platelet light-transmission aggregometry (LTA) measurements were conducted on 13 TAH patients during the first 2 weeks of support in our institution. Target values and actual medians for postimplant days 1, 3, 7, and 14 were calculated for kaolinheparinase TEG, kaolin TEG, LTA, and estimated blood loss. Protocol guidelines were followed and anticoagulation management reduced bleeding and prevented thrombus formation as well as thromboembolic events in TAH patients postimplantation. The patients in this study were susceptible to a variety of possible complications such as mechanical device issues, thrombotic events, infection, and bleeding. Among them all it was clear that patients were at most risk for bleeding, particularly on postoperative days 1 through 3. However, bleeding was reduced into postoperative days 3 and 7, indicating that acceptable hemostasis was achieved with the anticoagulation protocol. The multidisciplinary, multi-targeted anticoagulation clinical procedure guideline was successful to maintain adequate antithrombotic therapy for TAH patients.
When Scientific Evidence is not Welcome

This chapter concerns interactions in the 1980s between the technical community and the Reagan administration. Reports to the US Congress from the executive branch of government had stated that the Soviet Union was “in likely violation” of the bilateral Threshold Test Ban Treaty (TTBT), which had been negotiated between the USA and the USSR in 1974 and which imposed a limit of 150 kilotons for the explosive yield of any underground nuclear weapons test conducted by these two countries after March 1976.
Dynamics Changes in CCL3 and CCL4 Plasma Chemokine Levels in Patients with Chronic Lymhocytic Leukemia (CLL) Managed with Observation

Abstract Background: CCL3 and CCL4, previously called macrophage inflammatory protein-1 alpha (MIP-1α) and MIP-1β, are chemokines of the CC subfamily, which are secreted by CLL cells in response to B cell receptor (BCR) stimulation and by co-culture with nurse-like cells (NLC), presumably to attract T lymphocytes and monocytes that can deliver pro-survival signals. We previously reported, that CLL patients have elevated plasma levels of CCL3 and CCL4, which rapidly normalize after treatment with kinase inhibitors that target BCR signaling, such as the BTK inhibitor ibrutinib and the PI3K inhibitor idelalisib (Blood 119:1182-9, 2012)(Blood 118:3603-12, 2011). Moreover, in untreated CLL patients, high CCL3 levels are an independent prognostic marker for short time to disease progression (Blood 117:1662-9, 2011), emphasizing the clinical relevance of these chemokines in CLL. Aim: To better understand the dynamic changes, we analyzed plasma levels of CCL3 and CCL4 in a large cohort of serial samples from untreated CLL patients. Additionally, we analyzed separately from the entire cohort, CCL3 and CCL4 changes overtime in patients who subsequently received therapy and patients who were still on observation at time of analysis. Methods: CCL3 and CCL4 plasma levels were measured by ELISA in serial samples collected over time in untreated CLL patients. A total of 193 individual patients with 603 plasma samples were included in the analysis (entire cohort), of the 193 patients, 81 of them required treatment at a later time, although all the samples analyzed were collected prior any treatment, 112 patients did not need any intervention over the period of sample collection and were managed with observation. The duration between first and subsequent samples ranged between 5 months to 12 years. The duration between the date of the last sample and the date of the initiation of treatment ranged between less than a month to 88 months with a median of 6 months. Mixed linear models with repeated measure were used to determine whether there was a difference in mean levels of CCL3 and CCL4 over time. Results: The median and range of CCL3 and CCL4 levels for the initial sample over all 193 patients were 11.8 pg/mL (2.5 – 1977.1 pg/mL) and 88.8 pg/mL (6.9 – 2601.3 pg/mL) respectively. There were significant associations of time between first and subsequent serial samples (p Conclusions: These studies demonstrated that there is a slight but statistically significant increase in the levels of the chemokines CCL3 and CCL4 over time in CLL patients, regardless of whether the patients required therapy at a later time. We conclude that CCL3 and CCL4 plasma levels presumably reflect the dynamic changes of CLL pathogenesis over time, strengthening the relevance of CCL3 and CCL4 chemokine production in CLL. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Immunoprofiling the cancer-specific humoral immune response in sera from node positive and node negative breast cancer patients

1541 Introduction: The correlation between a beneficial clinical outcome and a strong humoral immune response is being investigated in many cancers. However, very little is known about the cancer-specific humoral immune response in node negative (NN) versus node positive (NP) breast cancer patients. We screened lysates from three breast cancer cell lines by western blot using sera from NN and NP breast cancer patients and healthy controls in order to determine if the immunoreactive profile was different between these three groups. Methods: Sera from 37 individuals were investigated in this study. Of these, 17 sera samples were from healthy individuals (serving as control sera) and 20 samples were from breast cancer patients (which consisted of 11 NN samples and 9 NP samples). All sera samples were screened for antibodies to total cell lysates from three breast cancer cell lines (MCF7, AU565 and BT474) by SDS-PAGE followed by western blot analysis. Quantitative analysis of the western blots was performed with the ChemiGenius2 Bio Imager and image analysis software GeneTools. Results: A quantitative difference was seen in the number of immunoreactive bands between sera from NN and NP patients when screened against total cell lysate from AU565 and MCF7. The average number of immunoreactive bands for AU565 was 7.6 +/− 4.7 in NN and 1.3 +/− 1 in NP ( p =0.001), and for MCF7 it was 9.4 +/−6 and 0.8+/−1, respectively ( p =0.001). No such difference was observed when screening against BT474 cell lysate, which showed about an equal number of immunoreactive bands with both NN and NP sera, thereby dispelling the possibility of there being an overall lack of antibody content in the NP samples. A statistically significant difference was seen in the average number of bands between healthy controls and NN patients when screened against MCF7 (controls= 3.9 +/− 3.8 and NN= 9.4 +/− 6 bands; p =0.009), and controls and NP when screened against AU565 (controls= 5.5 +/− 4.6 and NP= 1.3 +/− 1 bands). Conclusion: Sera immunoreactivity against MCF7 and AU565 cell lysates, but not BT474, was found to be able to distinguish, by western blot analysis, sera from NN and NP breast cancer patients. This approach of serum immunoprofiling may serve as a basis for a new non-invasive technique to determine the nodal status of breast cancer patients at time of diagnosis/follow up.
Association Between Eyelid Laxity and Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Importance While much has been reported on the relationship between floppy eyelid syndrome and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), the diagnostic criteria of floppy eyelid syndrome are often subjective and vague. Objective To evaluate the association between OSA and quantitative markers of eyelid laxity or secondary ocular surface disease in a sleep clinic population. Design, Setting, and Participants This investigation was a cross-sectional observational study at the Center for Sleep Medicine at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Participants were individuals referred for overnight polysomnography from March 1 to August 30, 2015. Main Outcomes and Measures Eyelid laxity and ocular surface disease were assessed on bedside ophthalmologic examination. The presence and severity of OSA were determined from polysomnography results. Initial correlation between OSA and ocular surface and eyelid markers was calculated through bivariate linear regression analysis, and the association between ocular symptoms was obtained through bivariate ordered logistic regression. Analysis was repeated adjusting for known associations between OSA and sex, age, body mass index, and medical comorbidities through multivariable analysis. Results In total, 201 individuals (402 eyes) were enrolled in the study. Their mean (SD) age was 53.2 (13.5) years, 43.3% (n = 87) were female, 56.7% (n = 114) were of white race/ethnicity, 26.9% (n = 54) were black/African American, 4.0% (n = 8) were Asian, 8.0% (n = 16) were multiracial or other, and 4.5% (n = 9) were of unknown race/ethnicity, with 21.9% (n = 44) of all individuals self-identifying as Hispanic and 75.1% (n = 151) self-identifying as non-Hispanic. After adjustment, no association was observed between OSA severity and an eyelid laxity score (regression coefficient, 0.85; 95% CI, −0.33 to 0.62;P = .40) or an ocular surface score (regression coefficient, 1.09; 95% CI, −0.32 to 0.29;P = .93). Through subset analysis, male sex was associated with a higher ocular surface score, while older age and diabetes were associated with a higher eyelid laxity score. Only one patient (0.5%) exhibited findings of floppy eyelid syndrome. Conclusions and Relevance Among individuals referred for overnight polysomnography, quantitative markers of eyelid laxity were not associated with the presence or severity of OSA. Subset analysis suggests that prior studies may have been limited by confounding variables or the technique of identifying eyelid laxity.
Long-term analysis of conventional coronary balloon angioplasty and an initial “stent-like” result ☆: The NHLBI PTCA registry

Abstract Objectives. We examined the influence of an initial “stent-like” result on long-term outcome in patients in the 1985–86 NHLBI PTCA Registry. Background. Stent use in selected patients is associated with improved angiographic and short-term clinical outcome; however, due to potential for in-stent restenosis and high costs of stents, there is interest in a strategy of more optimal dilatation to achieve a “stent-like” result without a stent. The long-term outcome of patients with a “stent-like” percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) remains unknown. Methods. Ten-year outcome was compared between 225 successfully treated patients with and 1,764 successfully treated patients without an initial “stent-like” result (≥1 lesion dilated to ≤10% stenosis). The sample had 75% and 80% power, respectively, to detect an absolute difference of 8% in the 10-year rate of death and myocardial infarction (MI) between the two groups. Results. Ten-year rates of death and MI were similar between the stent-like and non–stent-like groups (22.3% vs. 22.2%, 17.6% vs. 17.9%), however, there was less target lesion revascularization in the stent-like group (30.2% vs. 36.8%). In subgroup analysis of patients with multivessel disease, those with a stent-like result had less follow-up bypass surgery (25.2% vs. 32.7%), yet more repeat PTCA (53.8% vs. 42.7%). These findings were unaffected by adjustment for differences in baseline characteristics between the two patient groups. Conclusions. Achievement of an initial stent-like result via balloon angioplasty alone may not appreciably reduce the long-term risk of death or MI, nor confer equivalent clinical benefit as achieving a stent-like result with a stent.
Genome‐wide and Phenome‐wide Approaches to Understand Variable Drug Actions in Electronic Health Records

Genome‐wide association studies (GWAS) and phenome‐wide association studies (PheWAS) have provided powerful methods for investigating the impact of genetic variation on individual drug response and have added extensive knowledge to the understanding of drug targets and effects. We highlight here recent advances in drug development, repurposing, and personalization accelerated by applying GWAS and PheWAS to longitudinal health data information, along with limitations of these methods.
Three- and four-part proximal humerus fractures in the elderly: Eminence versus evidence

Abstract The majority of proximal humerus fractures are minimally displaced and good outcomes can be achieved with nonoperative treatment strategies. However, controversy exists regarding the best management of highly comminuted and displaced proximal humerus fractures that occur in elderly patients with poor bone quality. Although surgical options including open reduction and internal fixation or hemiarthroplasty can restore excellent function, the rate of catastrophic failure remains high measuring between 20% and 40%. Reverse total shoulder arthroplasty has recently been introduced as a means for treatment of these fractures with intermediate results demonstrating improved range of motion, functional outcomes, and lower rates of revision.
The diffusion of TIF districts among local governments

A substantial body of research finds local governments use financial incentives to promote economic development despite mixed evidence of the incentives’ effectiveness. Using Missouri county data f...
Simulated Transcatheter Aortic Valve Flow: Implications of Elliptical Deployment and Under‐Expansion at the Aortic Annulus

Clinical use of transcatheter aortic valves (TAVs) has been associated with abnormal deployment, including oval deployment and under-expansion when placed into calcified aortic annuli. In this study, we performed an integrated computational and experimental investigation to quantify the impact of abnormal deployment at the aortic annulus on TAV hemodynamics. A size 23 mm generic TAV computational model, developed and published previously, was subjected to elliptical deployment at the annulus with eccentricity levels up to 0.68 and to under-expansion of the TAV at the annulus by up to 25%. The hemodynamic performance was quantified for each TAV deployment configuration. TAV opening geometries were fabricated using stereolithography and then subjected to steady forward flow testing in accordance with ISO-5840. Centerline pressure profiles were compared to validate the computational model. Our findings show that slight ellipticity of the TAV may not lead to degeneration of hydrodynamic performance. However, under large ellipticity, increases in transvalvular pressure gradients were observed. Under-expanded deployment has a much greater negative effect on the TAV hemodynamics compared with elliptical deployment. The maximum turbulent viscous shear stress (TVSS) values were found to be significantly larger in under-expanded TAVs. Although the maximum value of TVSS was not large enough to cause hemolysis in all cases, it may cause platelets activation, especially for under-expanded deployments.
Letter--Incorporating Real-World Evidence and Patient Value Criteria into Value-Based Frameworks for Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma.

DISCLOSURES: Orlowski has received research funding from Amgen, BioTheryX, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celgene Corporation, and Takeda Pharmaceuticals; honoraria from Amgen, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celgene Corporation, Janssen, Millennium Pharmaceuticals, and Onyx Pharmaceuticals; and is a member of advisory boards for Amgen, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celgene Corporation, Incyte, Kite, Legend Biotech, Sanofi-Aventis, and Takeda Pharmaceuticals.
A distributed adverse drug reaction detection system using intelligent agents with a fuzzy recognition-primed decision model: Research Articles

Discovering unknown adverse drug reactions (ADRs) in postmarketing surveillance as early as possible is highly desirable. Nevertheless, current postmarketing surveillance methods largely rely on spontaneous reports that suffer from serious underreporting, latency, and inconsistent reporting. Thus these methods are not ideal for rapidly identifying rare ADRs. The multiagent systems paradigm is an emerging and effective approach to tackling distributed problems, especially when data sources and knowledge are geographically located in different places and coordination and collaboration are necessary for decision making. In this article, we propose an active, multiagent framework for early detection of ADRs by utilizing electronic patient data distributed across many different sources and locations. In this framework, intelligent agents assist a team of experts based on the well-known human decision-making model called Recognition-Primed Decision (RPD). We generalize the RPD model to a fuzzy RPD model and utilize fuzzy logic technology to not only represent, interpret, and compute imprecise and subjective cues that are commonly encountered in the ADR problem but also to retrieve prior experiences by evaluating the extent of matching between the current situation and a past experience. We describe our preliminary multiagent system design and illustrate its potential benefits for assisting expert teams in early detection of previously unknown ADRs. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Int Syst 22: 827–845, 2007.
PULMONARY PHARMACOLOGY OF THE SRS-A LEUKOTRIENES

Although airway constriction is a prominent feature of many allergic syndromes, the exact cause of this constriction is still unclear. For many years, histamine was thought to play a major role as a mediator of this constriction, but the demonstration by Brocklehurst [1] that classic (H1) antihistamines did not prevent antigen-induced airway constriction in guinea pig lungs suggested the availability, in hypersensitivity responses, of other substances with bronchoconstrictor potential. Specifically, Brocklehurst identified a slow-reacting substance (that is a compound with a slow onset and prolonged duration of action in isolated contractile tissue assays)[2] produced during anaphylaxis which had potent contractile activity on isolated human bronchial tissues. He referred to this material as slow-reacting substance of anaphylaxis or SRS-A to distinguish it from other slow-reacting substances. Brocklehurst not only demonstrated that SRS-A had a unique profile of contractile activity on various tissue assays, he also developed what still is the standard bioassay for SRS-A, a characteristic slow-onset and prolonged response of the atropine and antihistamine treated guinea pig ileum. Brocklehurst defined one unit of SRS-A as the amount of material which would mediate a contractile response in this assay system equal in magnitude to that produced by 5 ng of histamine
The Sequence of Body Plans and Locomotory Systems During the Precambrian-Cambrian Transition

Molecular data suggest that the body plans of the major phyla for which the data exist originated independently of one another, although a well-defined branching sequence of living phyla is indicated by 18S rRNA phylogenetic trees. It is plausible, then, that the branching occurred much earlier in the history of the metazoa than has been suspected, virtually among acoelomate-grade forms during the Late Precambrian. If so, the locomotory adaptations associated with the rise of the body plans of living phyla must each be traced as an independent evolutionary invention, chiefly in the Early Cambrian.
Charge exchange, scattering, and transfer reactions for Be 9 + 6 Li and analysis of C 14 ( 6 Li , 6 He)

Angular distributions for the /sup 9/Be(/sup 6/Li,/sup 6/He) charge exchange reaction, /sup 9/Be(/sup 6/Li,/sup 6/Li) elastic and inelastic scattering, and the /sup 9/Be(/sup 6/Li,/sup 7/Li) transfer reaction have been measured at E = 32 MeV. Limited measurements at 36 MeV showed no change in the cross sections at this energy compared with those at 32 MeV. Coupled channels calculations are necessary to describe the inelastic scattering data to the /sup 9/Be, 2.43 MeV, (5/2)/sup -/ state. The deformation length obtained is in good agreement with the electron scattering value. A microscopic analysis of the charge exchange reaction shows that the M3Y interaction gives a good description of the /sup 9/Be ground state to /sup 9/B ground state transition, but underpredicts the cross section to the /sup 9/B, 2.36 MeV, (5/2)/sup -/ state by a factor of 3. The same calculations carried out for previously reported /sup 14/C(/sup 6/Li,/sup 6/He) data reproduce the magnitude of the data provided that Visscher-Ferrell densities are used for the /sup 14/C to /sup 14/N transition. The results of finite range distorted-wave Born approximation calculations for /sup 9/Be(/sup 6/Li,/sup 7/Li/sub 0,1/) /sup 8/Be/sub 0/ show the neutron pickup spectroscopic factors to be in good agreement withmore » the Cohen-Kurath calculations.« less
In-situ synchrotron X-ray study of microstructural evolution during creep deformation in Grade 91 steel

Abstract Creep deformation mechanism of Grade 91 steel at 650 °C was investigated in-situ via wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS). WAXS peak broadening and a modified Williamson-Hall analysis provided information on evolution of dislocation densities in the primary α − Fe phase, while WAXS peak shifts provided lattice strains in the α − Fe matrix, M23C6 and MX precipitates. Load transfer was not evident during in-situ creep deformation, suggesting that precipitates did not significantly strengthen the matrix during creep deformation. Peak broadening results illustrated an increase in average dislocation density during primary stage creep. After onset of secondary creep, there was a decrease in dislocation density, attributed to annihilation and re-ordering of dislocations in the subgrain structure, followed by a relatively constant average dislocation density with increasing strain.
KRAS in non-small cell lung cancer: Single institution experience—What factors are involved?

11624Background: Disease heterogeneity with variable molecular mutations is one of the main contributory factors in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The goal of this study was to better understa...
Assessing Job Growth and Sustainability in the US PV Industry

The US Photovoltaics industry has emerged as a remarkable job-creation engine during the past 5 years. At the same time, the price of PV systems has declined dramatically. While the number of jobs per megawatt installed has steadily declined alongside system price, the number of jobs per dollar of revenue from system sales is found to have remained largely stable. The potential implications of future system price declines and the differing behaviors of the residential, commercial and utility-scale market segments are explored and discussed.
Canal neuromasts enhance foraging in zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Aquatic animals commonly sense flow using superficial neuromasts (SNs), which are receptors that extend from the body's surface. The lateral line of fishes is unique among these systems because it additionally possesses receptors, the canal neuromasts (CNs), that are recessed within a channel. The lateral line has inspired the development of engineered sensors and concepts in the analysis of flow fields for submersible navigation. The biophysics of CNs are known to be different from the SNs and thereby offer a distinct submodality. However, it is generally unclear whether CNs play a distinct role in behavior. We therefore tested whether CNs enhance foraging in the dark by zebrafish (Danio rerio), a behavior that we elicited with a vibrating rod. We found that juvenile fish, which have only SNs, bite at this rod at about one-third the rate and from as little as one-third the distance of adults for a high-frequency stimulus (50 < f < 100 Hz). We used novel techniques for manipulating the lateral line in adults to find that CNs offered only a modest benefit at a lower frequency (20 Hz) and that foraging was mediated entirely by cranial neuromasts. Consistent with our behavioral results, biophysical models predicted CNs to be more than an order of magnitude more sensitive than SNs at high frequencies. This enhancement helps to overcome the rapid spatial decay in high-frequency components in the flow around the stimulus. These findings contrast what has been previously established for fishes that are at least ten-times the length of zebrafish, which use trunk CNs to localize prey. Therefore, CNs generally enhance foraging, but in a manner that varies with the size of the fish and its prey. These results have the potential to improve our understanding of flow sensing in aquatic animals and engineered systems.
Panchromatic sharpening enabling low-intensity imaging of cultural heritage documents

The spatial-spectral compromise inherent in hyperspectral imaging (HSI) refers to one dimension of an HSI detector being devoted to spectral information instead of a second spatial dimension. By dividing light into contiguous bands of energy, HSI systems decrease recorded photon count per pixel from a scene often by a factor of 100 compared to typical RGB or panchromatic imaging systems, and by one to two orders of magnitude for their multispectral imaging (MSI) counterparts. This proves particularly problematic when imaging cultural heritage objects which may be sensitive to damage from intense illumination. A method to counter the signal loss is to sacrifice spatial resolution, increasing a pixel's projected footprint on a target, thus increasing the number of photons striking the pixel per time interval. Panchromatic sharpening is then applied in this research to visually recover the decreased spatial resolution. The increase in ground sample distance (GSD) can be accomplished physically, by increasing the imaging distance. Though this method does not increase the signal itself, as the projected area of the detector does not change, it does allow for quicker scan times over a given area. This allows the user to increase integration time, resulting in a higher integrated signal recorded over similar total scan times than at higher resolutions or lower imaging heights. In this research, a 14th century manuscript was imaged with an HSI detector under museum lighting levels of 50 lux. Here we show that as the spatial resolution was digitally downsampled by factors of approximately two and four, from 333 pixels per inch (ppi) to 161 and 80 ppi, the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) was effectively increased by a factor of 2.00 and 2.79. Even after being spatially downsampled, the sharpened images were up to 1.5 times spatially sharper than the reference HSI image. Relatively high spectral accuracy was also maintained, with spectral angle mapper (SAM) measurements of 0.0527-0.0963.
Herzkrankheiten und Schwangerschaft

Heute werden erworbene Klappenschaden und kongenitale Vitien meist schon vor dem gebarfahigen Alter erkannt und behandelt. Herzkrankheiten spielen somit bei Schwangerschaften eine geringere Rolle als fruher. Der rheumatische Klappenschaden, insbesondere die Mitralstenose, macht 90% der bei Schwangeren diagnostizierten Herzfehler aus. Die meisten Klappenfehler sind jedoch leichterer Natur, da schwere Klappenfehler in der Regel bereits vor Eintritt der Schwangerschaft operiert wurden. Auch ist das akute rheumatische Fieber, der Vorlaufer eines rheumatischen Herzklappenfehlers, heute viel seltener als vor 20-30 Jahren, teils wegen der jetzt ublichen Antibiotikaprophylaxe, teils wegen der effektiven antibiotischen Therapie manifester Streptokokkeninfekte. Die Haufigkeit rheumatischer Klappenfehler in Entwicklungslandern ist nur schwer festzustellen. In jedem Falle werden in diesen Landern kaum herzchirurgische Eingriffe vorgenommen, so das hier immer noch Schwangere mit schweren Mitralstenosen betreut werden mussen.
Progress in diagnosis and treatment of pseudomembranous colitis

Pseudomembranous colitis occurred is closely related to the use of antibiotics and the pathogenic bacteria approximately 100% is clostridium difficile.Diagnosis is mainly based on clinical manifestations, stool culture, toxin detection, colonoscopy and/or histological examination.Once the diagnosis has been confirmed or highly suspected, the initial antibiotic therapy should be discontinued, add with metronidazole and/or vancomycin, supplement by probiotic and nutritional support.The recent years, new treatment options have been proposed.This article presents an review of the related situation of pseudomembranous colitis to improve the comprehension for clinical doctors. Key words: Pseudomembranous colitis; Clostridium difficile; Diagnosis; Treatment
Single leg aerobic capacity and strength in individuals with surgically repaired anterior cruciate ligaments.

Abstract Objectives Compare single-leg aerobic capacity and strength differences between the surgically repaired ACL leg (injured) and the uninjured leg. Design Cross-sectional study. Setting Laboratory. Participants Eight participants (5 female, 3 male, age = 23 ± 3.5 y, mass = 72.3 ± 17.3 kg, height = 169.7 ± 9.4 cm) that returned to play from ACL surgery between six and 18 months. Main outcome measures Participants performed an aerobically-based, single-leg cycling protocol to determine maximum oxygen consumption, ventilatory threshold, heart rate, rating of perceived exertion, and maximal watts cycled. Participants also performed isokinetic knee flexion and extension on a dynamometer to assess peak torque, total work, work fatigue, and power. Results There were no statistical differences in single-leg aerobic capacity or strength outcomes between the injured and uninjured legs. Conclusions Individuals who have had an ACL surgically repaired six to 18 months after return to play do not appear to have aerobic capacity or strength deficits between the injured leg and uninjured leg.
End-to-End Distance Probability Distributions of Dilute Poly(ethylene oxide) in Aqueous Solution.

We introduce a powerful, widely applicable approach to characterizing polymer conformational distributions, specifically the end-to-end distance distributions, P(Ree), accessed through double electron-electron resonance (DEER) spectroscopy in conjunction with molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The technique is demonstrated on one of the most widely used synthetic, disordered, water-soluble polymers: poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO). Despite its widespread importance, no systematic experimental characterization of PEO's Ree conformational landscape exists. The evaluation of P(Ree) is particularly important for short polymers or (bio)polymers with sequence complexities that deviate from simple polymer physics scaling laws valid for long chains. In this study, we characterize the Ree landscape by measuring P(Ree) for low molecular weight (MW: 0.22-2.6 kDa) dilute PEO chains. We use DEER with end-conjugated spin probes to resolve Ree populations from ∼2-9 nm and compare them with full distributions from MD. The P( Ree)'s from DEER and MD show remarkably good agreement, particularly at longer chain lengths where populations in the DEER-unresolvable range ( 10 kDa) PEO and the P(Ree)'s crossover to the theoretical distribution for an excluded volume chain.
Neuropsychological Assessment in Brain Tumor Patients

Advances in cancer treatment have improved survival rates, and the number of studies on survivors has thus increased. These studies have been focusing more on aspects such as cognitive decline and quality of life.
Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing in Athletes: Expect the Unexpected

Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) is a tool designed to assess the integrated function of the cardiac, pulmonary, vascular, and musculoskeletal systems to produce an exercise effort. CPET may be performed for performance purposes as part of optimizing a training program or for clinical purposes in athletes with established cardiovascular disease or in those with symptoms suggestive of cardiopulmonary pathology. Most normative values used for CPET parameters have been derived in the general population, in whom there will be expected differences in exercise physiology as compared to a trained athlete. In this review, our goal is to examine current available data on expected findings on CPET in athletes, highlight how these differ from the general population-derived normative values, and identify areas in need of further research to optimize the application of CPET in athletes. Athletes demonstrate differences in exercise hemodynamic and gas exchange profiles as compared to non-athletes including higher cardiac output, faster heart rate recovery, higher peak VO2, higher prevalence of exercise-induced arterial hypoxemia, and lower breathing reserve. CPET is an important tool to optimize performance and assess for underlying pathology in an athletic population. The impact of routine, vigorous physical activity on exercise physiology should be integrated into determination of what constitutes a normal CPET result in an athletic individual.
Distinct threat and valence signals in rat nucleus accumbens core

Appropriate responding to threat and reward is essential to survival. The nucleus accumbens core (NAcc) is known to support and organize reward behavior. More recently our laboratory has shown the NAcc is necessary to discriminate cues for threat and safety. To directly reveal NAcc threat responding, we recorded single-unit activity from 7 female rats undergoing Pavlovian fear discrimination. Rats fully discriminated cues for danger, uncertainty, and safety. Demonstrating direct threat responding, most NAcc neurons showed greatest firing changes to danger and uncertainty. Heterogeneity in cue and reward firing led to the detection of multiple, functional populations. One NAcc population specifically decreased firing to threat (danger and uncertainty). A separate population bi-directionally signaled valence through firing decreases to negative valence events (danger and uncertainty) and opposing firing increases to positive valence events (reward and safety onset). The findings point to the NAcc as a neural source of threat information and a more general valence hub.
Newborn Screening for Severe Combined Immunodeficiency: Do Preterm Infants Require Special Consideration?

The Wisconsin Newborn Screening (NBS) Program began screening for severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) in 2008, using real-time PCR to quantitate T-cell receptor excision circles (TRECs) in DNA isolated from dried blood NBS specimens. Prompted by the observation that there were disproportionately more screening-positive cases in premature infants, we performed a study to assess whether there is a difference in TRECs between full-term and preterm newborns. Based on de-identified SCID data from 1 January to 30 June 2008, we evaluated the TRECs from 2510 preterm newborns (gestational age, 23–36 weeks) whose specimens were collected ≤72 h after birth. The TRECs from 5020 full-term newborns were included as controls. The relationship between TRECs and gestational age in weeks was estimated using linear regression analysis. The estimated increase in TRECs for every additional week of gestation is 9.60%. The 95% confidence interval is 8.95% to 10.25% (p ≤ 0.0001). Our data suggest that TRECs increase at a steady rate as gestational age increases. These results provide rationale for Wisconsin’s existing premature infant screening procedure of recommending repeat NBS following an SCID screening positive in a premature infant instead of the flow cytometry confirmatory testing for SCID screening positives in full-term infants.