cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Incidence of Acute Rheumatic Fever A Suburban Community Hospital Experience During the 1970s

The incidence of acute rheumatic fever has declined remarkably in the past three decades, but the disease has not been eradicated, as some physicians believe. This study documents the diagnosis of the disease in 23 middle-class children from Fairfax County, Virginia, during the 11-year- period from 1970 through 1980. This county has one of the highest median family incomes in the United States. The annual age-adjusted incidence rate of initial attacks of acute rheumatic fever per 100,000 Fairfax County children declined from 3.0 in 1970 to 0.5 in 1980.In six of the 23 children, carditis accompanied by monarticular arthritis or arthralgia was present. Another seven children had carditis plus polyarthritis. Two patients had Sydenham's chorea. None of the children had erythema marginatum or rheumatoid nodules. In two children, symptoms of acute rheumatic fever developed two weeks after they finished a 10-day course of penicillin for Group A streptococcal pharyngitis. The remaining 21 children had not been co...
Patterns in Electronic Journal Usage: Challenging the Composition of Geographic Consortia

Annual electronic journal usage data for the NorthEast Research Library (NERL) consortium was analyzed for 2000 and 2001 for the Academic Press IDEAL aggregate package. Patterns indicated a high degree of skew in use of the journal collection: a small number of journals formed the majority of total use. Each institution illustrated a unique usage pattern, with some institutions using (proportionally) more or less of the collection. No institution used every title, and some titles were used very infrequently by the consortium as a whole. Title ranking showed high congruence between 2000 and 2001. Titles not subscribed in print received about ten times less use than locally subscribed titles. Cluster analysis revealed three distinct groups of institutions based on use of the journal package: large research institutions, medical institutions, and smaller liberal arts colleges and polytechnic institutes. Student enrollment is a good predictor of total usage, with medical institutions being an exception. It is recommended that institutions consider their consortial membership and organize themselves into groups of homogenous institutions with similar missions.
On the Promotion of Ag-ZSM-5 by Cerium for the SCR of NO by Methane

The promotion of Ag-ZSM-5 by cerium for the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NO with methane in the presence of an excess of oxygen was studied in this work. Ce-Ag-ZSM-5 catalyzes the CH{sub 4}-SCR of NO{sub x} over the temperature range of 450--600 C. Rate measurements of NO reduction to N{sub 2} under SCR conditions and of the competing CH{sub 4} oxidation by O{sub 2} (CH{sub 4} combustion) show that incorporation of a small amount (1--1.5 wt%) of cerium into Ag-ZSM-5 enhances the activity and selectivity of the latter for the SCR reaction. Catalysts with low Ag exchange levels (<50%) were found to be more selective than those with high Ag loading, the latter being more active for CH{sub 4} combustion. To examine the role of silver and cerium in the Ce-Ag-ZSM-5 system, the kinetics of the SCR reaction were complemented by studies of NO oxidation to NO{sub 2}, SCR of NO{sub 2} by CH{sub 4}, and CH{sub 4} combustion as well as catalyst characterization by STEM/EDS, HRTEM/EDS, XPS, and UV-VIS DRS techniques. Silver existed mainly as dispersed Ag{sup +} ions in low Ag-content (Ag/Al < 0.5--0.6) Ce-Ag-ZSM-5 samples, while nanoparticles of silver of {approximately}10 nm size were also foundmore » on the surface of high Ag-content samples. The dispersed Ag{sup +} state was more active for the SCR reaction, while silver particles more effectively catalyzed the methane combustion reaction. Cerium was present in both the 3+ and 4+ oxidation states. The major functions of cerium suggested by the data presented in this paper are to catalyze the oxidation of NO to NO{sub 2}, suppress the CH{sub 4} combustion, and stabilize silver in dispersed Ag{sup +} state.« less
Geology of Mount Gran Area, Antarctica: ABSTRACT

The Mount Gran area, encompassing Mount Gran and the ice-free Gran Valley (unofficial name) adjoining on the north, is located 77°S and 161°E in the rugged, glaciated mountains of South Victoria Land, Antarctica. Most of the area is underlain by sedimentary rocks, intruded by, and sandwiched between, thick diabase sills. However, a basement complex of metamorphic and igneous rocks crops out in a small, isolated exposure at the northwest corner of Gran Valley. This complex consists of granitic rocks and gneisses which are cut by acid and basic dikes. The gneisses show foliation striking northwest with a nearly vertical dip. The age of the gneisses may be Precambrian or possibly Early Paleozoic. The sedimentary rocks, all referred to the Beacon Sandstone Group, which ranges from Silurian to Jurassic in age, crop out on the southeast face of Mount Gran and in a thick belt rimming most of the 8-mile long, northeasterly trending Gran Valley. Dips are 3°-8° northwestward. In Gran Valley, the dominant lithologic type consists of light gray to white, well sorted, fine- to medium-grained, cross-bedded, quartzose sandstone between 1,000 and 1,300 feet in thickness. The lower half of this section includes ferruginous concretions as much as one foot in diameter. A few thin beds of green silicified siltstone occur in the upper half of the section. At Mount Gran 130 feet of the quartzose sandstone is overlain by 470 feet of a nearly cyclic sequence of carbonaceous shale, coal, conglomerate, arkosic sandstone with interbedded shaly siltstone, and sandstone. Correlation between the quartzose sandstone at Mount Gran and Gran Valley is not clear because of lack of diagnostic fossils and discontinuity of exposures, but it is believed that the coal-bearing section stratigraphically overlies the Gran Valley section. The youngest formation, the Ferrar Dolerite, probably of Jurassic or Cretaceous age, occupies the largest part of the Mount Gran area. Two large sills are present in Gran Valley. One, which probably overlies the basement complex and generally underlies the Beacon Group, forms the floor of the valley. The second overlies the Beacon Group in Gran Valley, forming the escarpment and skyline of the Mount Gran area. To the south, at Mount Gran, the two sills join, leaving only a remnant of Beacon sandstone which is dissected by diabase sills and dikes. End_of_Article - Last_Page 352------------
Grandmothers Raising Grandchildren: Ethnic and Racial Differences in Well-Being Among Custodial and Coparenting Families

This study compares the well-being of African American, Latina, and White grandmothers raising or helping to raise grandchildren in custodial and coparenting families. Grandmother caregivers (N = 1,051) were recruited through schools and media for 1-hr interviews. Latina grandmothers had higher life satisfaction than African American or White grandmothers when they coparented with a parent in the household. Among African American grandmothers, higher life satisfaction was evident in custodial compared to coparenting arrangements. White grandmothers had higher negative mood and assumed care more frequently in response to serious parental substance-related reasons and less frequently because of the parent’s financial need. In contrast, levels of depression were the same regardless of ethnicity. Results suggest that expectations regarding caregiving roles and socioeconomic resources may shape the grandmother’s mood and sense of satisfaction with life in response to family circumstances but not affect her dep...
Simulation of a distributed processing system: A case study

Many modern computer systems require a continual monitoring of their projected performance from the design phase until the system becomes operational. This means forecasting system performance with very little data available during the early design phase and continually updating the forecast as the design matures. While designing computer systems with time-critical performance constraints, the timing requirements are hard to meet if crucial decisions are not made at the design stage. Experience with the Over The Horizon— Backscatter radar data processing project is used as an example to illustrate how these decisions are made using a variety of techniques such as benchmark testing, paper-pencil analysis, and simulation.
Binding and uptake studies with [3H]CP-93,129, a radiolabeled selective 5-HT1B receptor ligand

3-(1,2,5,6-Tetrahydro-4-pyridyl)-5-pyrrolo[3,2-b]pyridone, CP-93, 129, is a selective agonist ligand for 5-HT1B receptors. High affinity binding sites of [3H]CP-93, 129 were found in rat whole brain membranes, which showed KD and Bmax values similar to those for 5-HT1B sites labeled by [3H]5-HT. Uptake of [3H]CP-93, 129 in crude rat synaptosomes was also observed, which was potently inhibited by 5-HT uptake blockers and 5-HT but not by desipramine (NE uptake blocker) or tametraline (NE and DA uptake blocker). Because of this sensitivity to 5-HT uptake inhibitors and the structural similarity of CP-93, 129 to serotonin, [3H]CP-93, 129 uptake probably occurred in 5-HT neurons.
Evaluating Teaching Effectiveness in a Quantity Food Laboratory Setting

Abstract To ensure a high standard of teaching effectiveness in the delivery of instruction, universities employ various methods. The student evaluation tool (SET) has become the most commonly used measure of teaching effectiveness in a classroom environment. However, the majority of foods laboratory instructors insist that these same criteria are not appropriate or applicable to measuring teaching effectiveness in a Quantity Foods laboratory setting. The purpose of this project was to develop a SET for evaluating teaching effectiveness in a Quantity Foods laboratory setting at senior-level institutions. Given the exploratory nature of the research, the authors convened a Delphi panel of leading academicians to identify the most desirable competencies and to develop the criteria for measuring each competency. The SET developed by the Delphi panel can be found in the appendix. Subsequent research studies to measure content and construct validity have been conducted; findings will be reported in future manu...
SHOULD THE IPCC ASSESSMENT REPORTS BE AN INTEGRATED ASSESSMENT

The IPCC Report on Climate Change 2014 contains an enormous treasure trove of facts about natural science, mitigation, and potential impacts. However, the components of the report are sufficiently disconnected from each other, that it is not possible to reach policy insights into the merits of alternative mitigation or adaptation actions, where they should occur, when they should begin, and what policy tools are critical. Each Working Group has charged ahead with independent assumptions that obscure any possibility of an integrated assessment. The Report provides an authoritative collection of climate related materials but is organized so poorly that it provides very little insight into how to solve the climate problem. The Working Groups are not coordinated on a common mission to understand policy alternatives. The Reports consequently miss a great opportunity to organize science to inform policy makers of the way forward.
ITS, The End of the World as We Know It: Transitioning AIED into a Service-Oriented Ecosystem

Advanced learning technologies are reaching a new phase of their evolution where they are finally entering mainstream educational contexts, with persistent user bases. However, as AIED scales, it will need to follow recent trends in service-oriented and ubiquitous computing: breaking AIED platforms into distinct services that can be composed for different platforms (web, mobile, etc.) and distributed across multiple systems. This will represent a move from learning platforms to an ecosystem of interacting learning tools. Such tools will enable new opportunities for both user-adaptation and experimentation. Traditional macro-adaptation (problem selection) and step-based adaptation (hints and feedback) will be extended by meta-adaptation (adaptive system selection) and micro-adaptation (event-level optimization). The existence of persistent and widely-used systems will also support new paradigms for experimentation in education, allowing researchers to understand interactions and boundary conditions for learning principles. New central research questions for the field will also need to be answered due to these changes in the AIED landscape.
Choosing creativity: the role of individual risk and ambiguity aversion on creative concept selection in engineering design

While creativity is often seen as an indispensable quality of engineering design, individuals often select conventional or previously successful options during the concept selection process due to the inherent risk associated with creative concepts and their inadvertent bias against creativity. However, little is actually known about what factors attribute to the promotion or filtering of these creative concepts during concept selection. To address this knowledge gap, an exploratory study was conducted with 38 undergraduate engineering students. This study was aimed at investigating the impact of individual risk aversion, ambiguity aversion, and student educational level on the selection and filtering of creative ideas during the concept selection process. The results from this study indicate that individuals’ ability to generate creative ideas is not significantly related to their preference for creative ideas during concept selection, but individual risk aversion and ambiguity aversion are significantly related to both creative concept selection and creative idea generation. Our results also revealed that first- and third-year students’ creative ability is affected differently by varying levels of tolerance for ambiguity. These results highlight the need for a more directed focus on creativity in engineering education in both concept creation and concept selection. These results also add to our understanding of creativity during concept selection and provide guidelines for enhancing the design process.
Jewish Argument Style among Russian Revolutionaries

Jewish speech was heard in Russian revolutionary contexts as characterized by emphatic tones, rhetorical questions, an argumentative stance, and sarcasm, all performative elements of Jewish English ( JE ) as well. I examine depictions of Jewish Russian ( JR ) in the world of the non-Jewish Socialist Revolutionary ( SR ) leader Victor Chernov. This article first introduces Chernov, then analyzes his depictions of JR , and finally looks at transcripts of speeches by SR leaders for evidence of Jewish speech style. I use speech length, bold-face, exclamation points, and question marks as proxies for the heightened emotion and argumentative stance associated with JR . My analysis indicates no significant difference between the speech of Jewish and non-Jewish SR leaders as a whole, but shows that Chernov’s own speech contains a significantly higher than average use of these elements. This result complicates the notion of ethnolect and suggests that individuals’ evaluations of other people’s language should be examined in light of their biographies.
An object-oriented design for rapid modification of filters

Using object-oriented languages, developers can package data and functions into classes and relate them by the services’they provide. Classes that provide the same service but use different implementations are placed in inheritance relationships. The base class declares the interface for the service, and the derived classes define the implementation. Thus, client code can be written to the unified interface, but the system behavior depends on the actual class that is constructed. This feature is called abstraction [ 11. Abstraction removes decisions about system configuration from the code that models operation to the code that handles construction. The operational code is easier to read and maintain. The operational code is also more efficient because it does not redundantly evaluate configuration logic every frame. Control system development and research can benefit from the application of abstraction. In simulations used for control system research and development, transfer function definitions frequently change. The change can occur in the coefficients, the order of the transfer function, or the digital algorithm. The simulation may retain several transfer function configurations for comparative analysis or to accommodate multiple research projects. Applying abstraction to the design of transfer functions keeps the logic that manages different configurations out of the operational code. * Senior Member, AIAA Copyright
Exploring the viability of probabilistic under-specification to streamline life cycle assessment.

Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a technique used to assess the environmental impact of products, processes, or materials. Recently, its importance as a decision-making tool to help evaluate current inventories and innovation of environmentally responsible products has grown; however, the amount of information needed to completely assess even the simplest product’s environmental impact may require significant time and resources. Myriad quantitative and qualitative effort-reducing strategies have been considered to accelerate the pace and reduce the cost of LCA. Although these streamlining methodologies reduce the time and effort of conducting LCA, they introduce variability and uncertainty into the results, creating a challenge for stakeholders who may need to make decisions based on the information. This Article explores the impact of streamlining on the credibility of LCA results given the uncertainty in the context of several case studies related to materials production in common consumer products. A tec...
Abstract 1474: Semaphorin 3A potentiates metastatic disease by binding to endothelial Neuropilin-1 and disrupting vascular barrier function

We previously showed that Semaphorin 3A (Sema3A), a known inhibitor of axonal sprouting, inhibits VEGF-induced angiogenesis yet induces vascular permeability. In patient samples, immunohistochemical analysis of Sema3A showed that its expression increased with disease progression and metastasis. Similarly, Sema3A expression was higher in cell lines with enhanced metastatic potential. We considered whether Sema3A expression in a variety of highly malignant tumor cells might contribute to their metastatic properties based on Sema3A9s capacity to disrupt vascular barrier function. To evaluate this, we stably knocked down Sema3A expression in CT26 (colon) and B16-BL6 (skin) cells and examined their growth and invasive properties both in vitro and in vivo. Loss of Sema3A significantly decreased the incidence of pulmonary lung metastasis. Importantly, Sema3A knockdown did not impair tumor cell adhesion, migration, proliferation, or anchorage-independent growth in vitro; and it had no effect on primary tumor growth and angiogenesis in vivo, suggesting a role for Sema3A in tumor cell extravasation. Furthermore, tamoxifen-inducible conditional knockout of the Sema3A receptor Neuropilin-1 (Nrp1) within the adult endothelium inhibited lung colonization and metastasis but had no effect on primary tumor growth. Similarly, a function blocking antibody against Nrp1 known to inhibit Sema3A-mediated permeability prevented lung colonization. Because Nrp1 is also a co-receptor for VEGF, we reintroduced a mutant of Nrp1 that lacks Sema3A but not VEGF binding capability into our tamoxifen-inducible endothelial-specific Nrp1 knockout mouse. Expression of mutant Nrp1 inhibited experimental metastasis, but not primary tumor growth confirming a specific role for Sema3A-Nrp1 interaction in extravasation. Together these findings define a pathological role for tumor cell secreted Sema3A as a potentiator of tumor cell metastasis and vascular barrier disruption. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1474. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-1474
Effects of Different Prescriptions on Activities of IL-2 in Spleen Cells of Mice Infected with Toxoplasmagondii

To find the best Chinese medicine formuale with effect to cure toxoplasmosis,the effect of them on the spleen IL-2content in mice infected with Toxoplasma gondii was observed.Kunming strain mice were randomly divided into Chinese medicine formuale groups(A,B,C group),compound SMZ group(D group),model group(E group)and control group(F group).The mice were infected with Toxoplasma gondii intraperitoneally with tachyzoites of the RH strain,and irrigating medicine into stomach after 2h.Every mouse in A,B,C groups received 0.5mL self-designed Chinese herb formula everyday,0.5mL compound SMZ suspension liquid every day(300mg/kg)in D groups,the period was 15 days.The effects of medicine on spleen IL-2contents were detected by ELISA,and the differences among different prescriptions were analyzed by F-test and q test.The result showed that the level of IL-2activity in group A,B,C and group D were increased with time.There were significant differences between groups A,C,D and F group,the content of IL-2in B group kept higher level,and had a very significant difference with that of E group.Three Chinese medicine formuale could improve the contents of spleen IL-2in mice infected with Toxoplasma gondii,enhance the immune function in mice,the most significant enhancement was the second compound group,had the most influence on IL-2.
Ferrokinetics in pregnancy. I. Fetus and newborn.

Abstract Ferrokinetic studies of the goat fetus in utero are presented and are compared to studies in the newborn goat at 24 and 48 hours of age. The hematocrit, serum iron, and plasma iron disappearance half-time have been determined. Based on the observation of a markedly elevated serum iron concentration and shortened radio iron disappearance in the fetus, the major finding is that of a greatly increased plasma iron turnover of the fetus in utero as compared to that of the newborn goat.
LUNG AND THORACIC COMPLIANCES IN ANKYLOSING SPONDYLITIS.

Abstract Lung volumes and lung, thoracic, and total respiratory compliances were measured in 21 male patients with ankylosing spondylitis and compared to similar measurements made in 8 normal men. Thoracic and total respiratory compliances were decreased in 16 of the 21 subjects, with values as low as one-fourth normal being found in severely restricted patients. Low or borderline lung compliances were present in 6 patients. The residual volumes and functional residual capacities were increased in 13 of our 21 spondylitic patients, a finding in accord with other published reports. This may be explained by the tendency of the stiffened thorax to resist displacement both above and below its intrinsic neutral position or midposition, which is 400 to 600 ml. above the neutral or midposition of the lungs and thorax combined. Thoracic and total respiratory compliances correlated well with vital capacity, moderately well with chest expansion, and poorly with the degree of kyphosis and the severity of thoracolumbar spine x-ray changes. There was no correlation between compliances and the duration of symptomatic disease.
Menstrual Concerns in an Adolescents with Disabilities.

Clinicians who care for female adolescents with cognitive and physical disabilities are often consulted on the management of menstrual bleeding for purposes of hygiene, dysmenorrhea, and treatment of premenstrual symptoms. Contraception is also commonly discussed to mitigate pregnancy risk from consensual intercourse and situations of abuse. During these visits, discussions regarding menstrual suppression are common. Effective interventions may improve patient quality of life and caregiver fatigue.
A Technique for Measuring Feeding Responses of Honeybees in Their Hive

SummaryThe feeding responses of worker honeybees in their hive may be determined by inducing bees of appropriate physiological age to move to a feeding site above the combs where they are separated from the colony but able to return to it without hindrance. By this method it is shown that bees from combs of unsealed brood preferred pollen of Prunus amygdalus to that of Echium lycopsis. The bees were attracted to the solvent extract of pollen of Melilotus alba but showed very little response to the residue left after extraction.
GCSF Alone or in Combination with Cyclophosphamide (C) or GM-CSF for Hematopoietic Stem Cell Mobilization (HSCM) for Autologous Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplant (AHPCT): A Retrospective Review of a Single Center Experience

Abstract The mechanisms of HSCM are not completely understood and involve the action of multiple cytokines and adhesion molecules. Historically, HSCM for AHSCT has been done using high dose chemotherapy, usually C, with growth factor (G-CSF or GM-CSF). However, the need for the chemotherapy in this instance has not been defined. We, retrospectively compared three HSCM approaches; C and GSCF, G-CSF and GM-CSF, and G-CSF alone in our institution from 2005–2007. Results: C (2.5gm/m2) with G-CSF (10mcg/kg) was used in 25 patients (pts) (n=18 multiple myeloma [MM], n=5 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma [NHL], n=1 Hodgkin's disease [HD] and n=1 systemic sclerosis). G-CSF 5mcg/kg with GM-CSF 5mcg/kg was used for HSCM in 10 pts (n=8 NHL and n=2 MM). G-CSF alone (10mcg/kg for at least 4 days) was used in 49 pts (n=28 MM, n=13 NHL, n=2 HD and n=6 other diagnosis). The age range was 35–72 in the C and G-CSF group, 30–69 in the G-CSF and GM-CSF, and 25–72 in the GCSF alone group. The median CD34+cells/kg collected was 6.4×106 (range 0.97–131), 12×106 (range 0.23–6.7), and 4.59×106 (range 0.66–7.38) in the C and GCSF, G-CSF and GM-CSF, and the G-CSF groups respectively. The collection sessions ranged from a median of 2.0 days (1 day in 44% pts, 2 days in 28%, 3 days in 16% and 4 days in 12% of pts) in the C and G-CSF group; to 2.5 days (1 day in 20% of pts, 2 days in 30%, 3 days in 30% and 4 days in 20% of pts) in the G-CSF and GM-CSF group; and 2 days (1 day in 22% of pts, 2 days in 37%, 3 days in 30% and 4 days in 10% of pts) in the G-CSF alone group. 3 pts (12%) failed HSCM with C plus GCSF, 1 subsequently collected with G-CSF alone. 5 pts (50%) failed HSCM with G-CSF +GMCSF, 2 of these had previously failed G-CSF alone, and 2 were re-mobilized with AMD 3100 protocol and 1 with C and GCSF. 6 pts (12%) failed HSCM with G-CSF alone, 3 subsequently underwent HSCM with higher dose of G-CSF and 2 were enrolled on AMD-3100 study. 2 pts (8%) with C and G-CSF HSCM developed neutropenic fever and needed hospitalization. All pts who had adequate HSCM (at least 2×10e6/kg) and subsequently underwent AHPCT had white blood and platelet engraftment. There was no difference in the day to engraftment based on the HSCM strategy. These data show that HSCM with G-CSF alone results in similar stem cell yield and stem cell collection sessions to C and G-CSF. Although the latter strategy achieved a higher median number of HSC (4.9 vs. 6.4 xe6/kg), this was not statistically significant (p= 0.08) in this group of pts. A higher percentage of pts achieved target stem cell collection in one day with C plus G-CSF (44%), than G-CSF alone (22%). On the other hand, the combination of C plus G-CSF carries risks related to high dose chemotherapy and necessitates hospitalization for its administration and management of neutropenic fever. The G-CSF+GM-CSF combination was the least effective in adequate HSCM. Analysis of DFS in the three mobilization strategies is pending.
Giving Up the White Coat

By David ElkinsWashington, DC: American Psychological Association, 2016, 155 pp., $49.Despite an abundance of research demonstrating equivalent treatment outcomes, questions persist about the under...
“I’m not homeless, I’m houseless”: identifying as homeless and associations with service utilization among Los Angeles homeless young people

Little is known about homeless young people’s identification of being homeless and how that identity may or may not be associated with service utilization. This study of 444 homeless young people a...
Factors affecting antigen uptake by human intestinal epithelial cell lines.

We assessed the role of size, solubility, and prophagocytic cytokines interferon-γ (IFN-γ), and granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulatory factor (GM-CSF) in antigen uptake and kinetics by intestinal epithelial cells using keyhole limpet hemocyanin and ovalbumin. Both fluoresceinated keyhole limpet hemocyanin (3000–7500 kDa) and fluoresceinated ovalbumin (45 kDa) were internalized by human colonic epithelial cell lines, with kinetics similar to those of fluoresceinated tetanus toxoid, and there was decreased uptake of insoluble immune complexes and no enhancement in the uptake of soluble immune complexes. In addition, neither IFN-γ nor GM-CSF altered the kinetics of uptake nor enhanced antigen internalization by the intestinal epithelial cell lines. These data suggest that regardless of the size of the soluble antigen, the presence of prophagocytic cytokines, or the formation of soluble immune complexes, fluid phase endocytosis of antigen by intestinal epithelial cells appears to be a relatively stable process.
Critical incidents of student satisfaction at German universities

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to advance a classification of satisfactory and unsatisfactory critical incidents of student-university relationships at German universities. Design/methodology/approach Using the Critical Incident Technique (CIT), this paper reports the results of an exploratory study of 15 tertiary education students at three German universities. Findings Participants perceive satisfaction and dissatisfaction stemming primarily from their courses of study, their interactions with faculty, and their perceptions of administrative and student services. Research limitations/implications The sample was small, dominated by female participants, and the recollection of past events is assumed to be accurate. Practical implications University administrators should consider creating institutional environments that ensure the responsiveness and engagement of faculty, the assessment of student perceptions of their university experience, and the improvement of administrative and student services to aid the satisfaction of students. Originality/value The CIT method allows participants to express what matters most to them in their university experience rather than following researcher-generated questions, which tends to be the norm in traditional studies on the university student experience. Given that this study was conducted in Germany with German students, it highlights a different understanding of satisfaction that counters the dominant western-focused research on this topic.
Energetic ion radiation effects on a silicon carbide (SiC) multimode resonating diaphragm

We report on measuring radiation effects of energetic oxygen ions on silicon carbide (SiC) diaphragm resonators. Micromachined SiC diaphragms (1 mm × 1 mm × 2μm) vibrating at ∼200–800 kHz on multimode resonances are exposed to 14.3 MeV oxygen ions to sensitively probe the radiation effects of high-energy ions. We have observed frequency redshifts as large as ∼2.6%, as well as quality (Q) factor degradation in the multimode resonances of the SiC diaphragm. Non-ionizing energy loss (NIEL) damages appear to play a dominant role for such changes, with an equivalent NIEL dose of ∼7.3×1010/cm2, a value simulated from the stopping and range of ions in matter (SRIM).
Abstract 87: Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors and Risk of Intracerebral Hemorrhage

Background: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) are widely used in the treatment of psychiatric disorders such as post-stroke depression. Some studies have reported an association between SSRI use and increased bleeding risk, including intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). We evaluated this association in two large ICH case control studies. We also tested to see whether SSRI use potentiates the bleeding risk associated with warfarin use and prior ischemic stroke. Methods: ICH cases and controls from the Genetic and Environmental Risk Factors for Hemorrhagic Stroke (GERFHS) and Ethnic Racial Variations in ICH (ERICH) studies were combined in an unmatched case-control analysis. SSRI use and variables previously associated with ICH risk were tested in univariate and multivariate analyses. Interaction terms for SSRI use plus warfarin use and SSRI use plus prior ischemic stroke were included. Results: There were 4134 ICH cases with 303 pre-stroke SSRI users (7.3%) and 4945 controls with 419 SSRI users (8.5%). Results of the multivariate analysis are presented in the table. In univariate analysis, SSRI use was protective (OR 0.85, CI 0.73-1.00, p = .05), however in multivariate analysis this became non-significant. Although the combination of an SSRI and warfarin produced a higher point estimate for ICH risk than warfarin alone, the interaction term did not reach significance (p = .09). There was no interaction found for SSRI use plus history of ischemic stroke. Conclusions: In this large case control analysis, SSRI use was not associated with increased risk of ICH. We also failed to confirm an interaction between SSRI use, warfarin use, and ICH risk, although a modest effect cannot be excluded. While a history of ischemic stroke is a risk factor for ICH, SSRI use did not increase that risk.
NLRP3 mutation and cochlear autoinflammation cause syndromic and nonsyndromic hearing loss DFNA34 responsive to anakinra therapy.

The NLRP3 inflammasome is an intracellular innate immune sensor that is expressed in immune cells, including monocytes and macrophages. Activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome leads to IL-1β secretion. Gain-of-function mutations of NLRP3 result in abnormal activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome, and cause the autosomal dominant systemic autoinflammatory disease spectrum, termed cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes (CAPS). Here, we show that a missense mutation, p.Arg918Gln (c.2753G > A), of NLRP3 causes autosomal-dominant sensorineural hearing loss in two unrelated families. In family LMG446, hearing loss is accompanied by autoinflammatory signs and symptoms without serologic evidence of inflammation as part of an atypical CAPS phenotype and was reversed or improved by IL-1β blockade therapy. In family LMG113, hearing loss segregates without any other target-organ manifestations of CAPS. This observation led us to explore the possibility that resident macrophage/monocyte-like cells in the cochlea can mediate local autoinflammation via activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome. The NLRP3 inflammasome can indeed be activated in resident macrophage/monocyte-like cells in the mouse cochlea, resulting in secretion of IL-1β. This pathway could underlie treatable sensorineural hearing loss in DFNA34, CAPS, and possibly in a wide variety of hearing-loss disorders, such as sudden sensorineural hearing loss and Meniere’s disease that are elicited by pathogens and processes that stimulate innate immune responses within the cochlea.
Incentive or Teamwork? Impact of CEO and TMT Pay Structures on Geographic Diversification

Research shows that CEO aggregate pay is associated with geographic diversification; however, it is unclear whether specific types of CEO pay have any impact on decisions to expand geographically. ...
Chlorpyrifos degradation via photoreactive TiO2 nanoparticles: Assessing the impact of a multi-component degradation scenario.

High concentrations of pesticides enter surface waters following agricultural application, raising environmental and human health concerns. The use of photoreactive nanoparticles has shown promise for contaminant degradation and surface water remediation. However, it remains uncertain how the complexity of natural waters will impact the photodegradation process. Here, we investigate the photoreactivity of titanium dioxide nanoparticles, the capability to degrade the pesticide chlorpyrifos, and the effect of and impact on bacteria during the photodegradation process. Loss of chlorpyrifos in solution resulted solely from photocatalytic oxidation, with 80% degradation observed after 24 h in our reactor, either in the presence or absence of bacteria. Degradation of chlorpyrifos to chlorpyrifos oxon and 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol was observed via LC/MS-MS and effectively modeled for the given reactor conditions. Bacterial inactivation occurred over 60 min and was not impacted by the presence of chlorpyrifos. The relative affinity of bacteria and chlorpyrifos for the nanoparticle surface decreased the amount of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) detected in the bulk by up to 94%, suggesting that ROS measurements in simplified systems may overestimate the reactivity of photoreactive nanoparticles in complex environments.
Nuclear epidemiologic studies and the estimation of DREF

PURPOSE Estimating cancer risks for continuous radiation exposures based upon data from acute exposures has been an important public health problem. A dose and dose rate effectiveness factor (DDREF) is typically used to estimate cancer risks for chronic exposures based upon risk estimates from acute exposures. A value of 2 for a DDREF has most often been used as proposed by the ICRP in ICRP60; however, an influential analysis of several cohorts concluded that there is no risk difference between acute and chronic exposures. It is the purpose of this article to analyze the recent nuclear worker studies and estimate the dose rate effectiveness factor, DREF, for solid cancers. MATERIALS AND METHODS Twelve mortality studies were identified each with at least 100 cancer deaths and a meta-analysis was then carried out using their individual ratio of low dose rate cancer effect (LDR) to the corresponding high dose rate effect from the A-bomb cohort (LSS). The ratio is denoted by Q and its reciprocal is then an estimate of the DREF. RESULTS The result was Q= 0.36 (95% CI = 0.11, 0.60) and DREF = 2.63 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.61, 7.14). Clearly, this estimate is more consistent with a DREF of 2 than with a DREF of 1. The difficulty with the estimate Q = 0.36 is that it is driven by only two large and dissimilar worker studies, the INWORKS study (q1 = 1.14) and the Mayak worker cohort (q3 = 0.30). The higher exposures for these nuclear workers were often in the early years (e.g. before 1960) with exposures from neutrons and internal emitters that are not included in the risk analyses resulting in likely overestimation of cancer effects per dose which would increase the estimate of the DREF. The Mayak study did, however, adjust for plutonium exposures. Finally, consideration is given to other cohort studies where DREF values may possibly be determined, such as the environmental exposures to the Techa River area residents and the Chernobyl cleanup workers as well as medical X-ray workers. Although dissimilar an overall meta-analysis yielded a Q = 0.45 (95% CI = 0.24, 0.66). CONCLUSIONS It is concluded that the best estimate of a DREF is still about 2. However, because of the various problems with the epidemiology studies, especially their dosimetry, it is concluded that a DREF of about 2 should be accepted with considerable caution since it is driven solely by the Mayak study.
Biophysical Properties and Heating-Induced Aggregation of Lysine-Conjugated Antibody-Drug Conjugates

The commercially available antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) product, Kadcyla® is synthesized using a 2-step reaction, wherein the linker is conjugated to native lysines on the mAb in step 1, followed by drug conjugation to the linker-modified antibody in step 2. In our study, we synthesized a lysine-conjugated ADC (Syn-ADC) on the same trastuzumab scaffold as Kadcyla® using a 1-step reaction. Mass spectrometry of both products revealed a subpopulation of Kadcyla® containing free linkers conjugated to the mAb, but not conjugated to the drug, which were absent in the 1-step reaction ADC product. Differential scanning calorimetry thermograms showed that the drug and linker conjugation significantly reduced the thermal stability and energies of activation for the denaturation of the CH2 domain of the ADCs. The heating induced aggregation events started as early as ∼57°C and ∼45°C for Kadcyla® and Syn-ADC, respectively, compared with 71°C for Herceptin®. The colloidal stability measurements clearly showed that the hydrophobic drug payload on ADCs significantly reduced the repulsive interprotein interactions when compared to the unconjugated antibody under formulation buffer conditions (pH 6.0). Attaching hydrophobic drug and linker moieties onto the antibody lowered the thermal and colloidal stabilities and increased the aggregation propensity of the ADCs.
Electroimmunoassay of PGE2: An Antibody-Sensitive Electrode Based Competitive Protein-Binding Assay

Radioimmunoassay revolutionized the capability of endocrinologists and clinical chemists to quickly and inexpensively analyze biological chemicals that occur naturally in small quantities. Only a few problems exist with RIAs: i) RIAs require the use of radioisotopes. These compounds are expensive and their use requires special training and handling, ii) The turn-around time for RIAs can range from several hours to several days. RIA is not very practical for monitoring biological compounds or changes in concentration as a function of time, because of the slow turn-around time of these assays. A technique that would allow on-line measurements would be extremely useful.
Origins of Glass: Myth and Known History

Where and when glass production began is uncertain. It is thought by some that the first glass was probably developed in the Mitannian or Hurrian region of Mesopotamia, possibly as an extension of the production of glazes (~5000 BCE). Around this same time, a new material called faience was developed, which was produced by utilizing a variety of techniques to create a glaze layer over a silica core. It may have been invented in either Sumeria or Egypt, but its full development was accomplished in Egypt, and it is therefore commonly referred to as Egyptian faience. Although this material was used to craft beads during the third and fourth millennia BCE, it involved sintering (fusion below the melting point), rather than the complete melting of the silica mixture. As such, faience can be thought of as an intermediate material between a glaze and glass. Glass as an independent material is not thought to predate 3000 BCE, with the first glass objects including beads, plaques, inlays and eventually small vessels. Glass objects dated back to 2500 BCE have been found in Syria, and by 2450 BCE, glass beads were plentiful in Mesopotamia. Glass came later in Egypt, with its manufacture appearing as a major industry around 1500 BCE. The oldest glass of undisputed date found in Egypt dates from ~2200 BCE.
Skin-friction topology on tail plate for tractor—trailer truck drag reduction

A simple base device called tail plate (TP) is described, which is installed behind a generic tractor—trailer truck model to reduce the pressure drag. The effect of the backward-facing step height between the top surface of the trailer and the TP on the drag reduction is studied. The drag reduction is achieved for all the tested TP configurations in a range of the Reynolds numbers. Emphasis is placed on elucidating the physical mechanism behind the drag reduction by the TP based on global luminescent oil-film (GLOF) skin-friction diagnostics. The topological structures on the TP reveal that the drag reduction results from the highly three-dimensional flow reattachment on the TP.
Recombinase polymerase amplification assay for rapid detection of the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne enterolobii

Rapid diagnosis tools for detection of root-knot nematodes play an important role in the disease control and eradication programme. Recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) assays were developed targeting the IGS rRNA gene of the pacara earpod tree root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne enterolobii . The RPA assays using TwistAmp ® Basic and TwistAmp ® exo kits allowed detection of M. enterolobii from gall tissues and crude nematode extracts of all stages of target species without a DNA extraction step. The results of real-time RPA assays using a real-time fluorescent detection of a series of crude nematode extracts showed reliable detection with sensitivity of 1/10 of a second-stage juvenile in a RPA reaction tube after 15-20 min. The RPA assay provides affordable, simple, fast and sensitive detection of M. enterolobii .
Walking to the gallery: Sondra Perry’s “It’s in the game” in San Diego in five fragments

For two weeks in October 2017, the San Diego gallery Helmuth Projects displayed Sondra Perry’s installation IT’S IN THE GAME ’17 Or Mirror Trick for Vitrine and Projection. In the installation, Per...
Unexpected Toxicities When Nivolumab Was Given as Maintenance Therapy following Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation.

ABSTRACT Treatment options are limited for patients with hematologic malignancies who relapse after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT). We conducted a pilot study to assess the tolerability and efficacy of low-dose nivolumab, a PD-1 inhibitor, as maintenance therapy after allo-SCT. Of the 4 patients enrolled in the study, all rapidly developed immune-related adverse events (irAEs); 2 patients experienced serious adverse events, including grade 4 neutropenia and grade 3 autoimmune encephalopathy. As a result of these unexpected severe toxicities, the study was closed to further enrollment. Even at low doses, nivolumab maintenance in the post allo-SCT setting can cause serious irAEs beyond graft-versus-host disease, and further studies of dosage and timing after allo-SCT are needed.
Gemtuzumab ozogamicin for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia in adults.

Treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has changed dramatically in the past ten years with the approval of targeted agents, the first of which was the anti-CD33 antibody-drug conjugate gemtuzuma...
First results from Spacelab 2

Preliminary results of physical experiments carried out during the Spacelab 2 Shuttle mission are summarized. Attention is given to experiments in the fields of plasma dynamics; solar physics; high-energy astrophysics; and astronomy. Plasma experiments included an ejectable plasma diagnosics package and measurements of the passive charging of the Shuttle vehicle in the surrounding space plasma. The solar physics instrument package consisted of a solar spectral irradiance monitor; a solar optical universal polarimeter (SOUP); and a solar helium abundance high-resolution telescope and spectrograph (HRTS). Astronomical observations were performed using a scanning infrared telescope (IRT) which consisted of a highly baffled herschelian telescope and 10 detectors covering wavelengths from 2 to 120 microns. Cosmic-ray nuclei were detected and analyzed using gas Cerenkov counters and a transition radiation detector. Addition experiments included a thin film fluid dynamics payload and analysis of blood samples taken from the mission specialists. Complete data records from the experiments have now been distributed for an analysis period which will take at least a year. A table listing the Spacelab 2 experiments and their principal investigators is provided.