cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Lingual cyst with respiratory epithelium: report of 2 cases and review of the literature.

The lingual cyst with respiratory epithelium, a congenital cyst of the tongue or floor of the mouth, is lined predominately by respiratory-type epithelium. The terminology for this lesion was first proposed in 1999 by Manor et al., who stated that a descriptive term is best for this cyst of debatable pathogenesis. Although it is a cyst of foregut origin, the lingual cyst with respiratory epithelium is distinguished from the traditional enteric (foregut) duplication cyst in that the latter contains gastric and/or intestinal-type mucosa and has smooth muscle within the cyst wall. This article presents 2 new cases of this entity, as well as reviews the 19 cases that have been reported in the literature and were found to fulfill the histologic criteria of an lingual cyst with respiratory epithelium.
The motivation of European Union mediation in civil conflicts

Since the EU has expanded its common security focus in the 1990s, this important regional organisation has become the most frequent mediator in low-level civil conflicts worldwide. Under what condi...
Abstract WP3: Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis: Clinical Outcomes in Medical Management and Mechanical Thrombectomy

Introduction: Anticoagulation (AC) is the mainstay treatment for cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST). However, not all patients respond to AC alone. Patients may benefit from mechanical thrombectomy (MT), however, there is limited data. We assessed the clinical outcomes of CVST patients who underwent MT compared to those treated with AC alone. Methods: Retrospective analysis of the electronic medical record was performed from January 2012 to July 2017. Those with CVST secondary to infection, trauma, and those without follow-up were excluded. Primary analysis was modified Rankin Score (mRS) within one year. Recanalization was assessed as a secondary outcome. Results: Chart review identified 169 acute CVST patients; 81 were included in the analysis. All were treated with AC. Of these, six underwent MT. Adjusting for age, initial NIH stroke score (NIHSS) was higher in the MT group (11 vs 2.5, p = 0.0006). Intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) was seen at presentation in 67% of the MT patients, and 28% of the AC ...
Guiding Exploration of Antimicrobial Peptide Space with a Deep Neural Network

Antibiotic resistance has become a serious concern, and many health organizations are sounding the alarm and the need for new drug templates. Naturally-occurring antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have long promised to serve as such templates, as they have shown lower likelihood for bacteria to form resistance. This has motivated wet and dry laboratories to seek novel AMPs. The sequence diversity of these peptides renders systematic screening studies either infeasible or too narrow in scope. Dry-laboratory approaches, most notably under the umbrella of machine learning, have contributed discriminative models of increasing accuracy. In this paper we investigate the capability of a state-of-the-art discriminative model based on deep learning to guide the exploration of peptide space in search of novel AMPs. The model is encapsulated within randomized heuristic search. Results show that such a generative framework is promising at providing wet laboratories with diverse options for toxicity and further biophysical screening, constituting a first step in dry and wet-laboratory integration studies.
Using CNN for Ellipse Estimation in An Infant Length Measurement Application

It is desirable to be able to measure an infant's length from a photo. This would make the measurement of the infant's length easy which is important for infant growth velocity monitoring. To make this possible, we developed a technique in which round stickers are put on the body joints of the infant before taking photos. The round stickers will be projected onto the image plane into ellipses with different parameters depending on the direction and distance from the camera. By estimating the parameters of the ellipses in the picture, we can calculate the 3D positions of the sticker centers and the length of the infant. A major difficulty with this technique is that the infant moves during the picture taking, which could cause severe motion blur. In this paper, we use a CNN (Convolutional Neural Network) to restore the ellipses for ellipse parameter estimation. To generate realistic training data which is needed for the CNN to accurately restore the ellipses for length measurements, we propose to simulate the whole ellipse formation pipeline. The whole training process includes generating ellipses of random sizes, motion blurs, and illumination changes, and adding noise, demosaicing, and gamma and inverse gamma corrections. Simulation results show that better accuracy of measurements can be achieved with the proposed training methods.
Dietary Carotenoids and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease among US Adults, NHANES 2003–2014

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is highly prevalent worldwide. Oxidative stress is thought to be a major mechanism, and previous epidemiological studies found higher serum levels of antioxidant carotenoids were associated with reduced risk for development and progression of NAFLD. The objective of this analysis is to examine cross-sectional associations between dietary and serum levels of carotenoids in relation to NAFLD among a nationally representative sample of US adults. We used data from the 2003–2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Dietary carotenoid intake was estimated from a 24-hour recall, while serum carotenoids were measured from 2003 to 2006. The NAFLD status was determined based upon US Fatty Liver Index (FLI) value ≥30. Regression models were used to estimate associations between carotenoids and NAFLD by controlling for covariates and adjusting for survey design variables. Overall, 33% of participants were classified as having NAFLD. Intake of all carotenoids, with the exception of lycopene, was lower among those with NAFLD. This association was significant for the highest quartiles of intake of α-carotene, β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, and lutein/zeaxanthin. For serum measures, the highest level of all carotenoids was associated with significantly reduced odds of NAFLD. In conclusion, higher intake and serum levels of most carotenoids were associated with lower odds of having NAFLD. Identification of such modifiable lifestyle factors provide an opportunity to limit or prevent the disease and its progression.
Toxin-mediated ribosome stalling reprograms the Mycobacterium tuberculosis proteome

Mycobacterium tuberculosis readily adapts to survive a wide range of assaults by modifying its physiology and establishing a latent tuberculosis (TB) infection. Here we report a sophisticated mode of regulation by a tRNA-cleaving toxin that enlists highly selective ribosome stalling to recalibrate the transcriptome and remodel the proteome. This toxin, MazF-mt9, exclusively inactivates one isoacceptor tRNA, tRNALys43-UUU, through cleavage at a single site within its anticodon (UU↓U). Because wobble rules preclude compensation for loss of tRNALys43-UUU by the second M. tuberculosis lysine tRNA, tRNALys19-CUU, ribosome stalling occurs at in-frame cognate AAA Lys codons. Consequently, the transcripts harboring these stalled ribosomes are selectively cleaved by specific RNases, leading to their preferential deletion. This surgically altered transcriptome generates concomitant changes to the proteome, skewing synthesis of newly synthesized proteins away from those rich in AAA Lys codons toward those harboring few or no AAA codons. This toxin-mediated proteome reprogramming may work in tandem with other pathways to facilitate M. tuberculosis stress survival. MazF endoribonucleases are thought to arrest growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis by global translation inhibition. Here, Barth et al. show that MazF-mt9 cleaves a specific tRNA, leading to ribosome stalling at AAA codons and thus selective mRNA degradation and changes in transcriptome and proteome.
Non-isothermal mixing characteristics in the extreme near-field of a turbulent jet in hot crossflow

The nonreacting and reacting jet in crossflow (JICF) is an important flow configuration for effective mixing and combustion in practical applications. Many studies in the literature exist that examine the overall mixing characteristics of an isothermal, unconfined, nonreacting JICF. This experimental study examines the mixing characteristics in the very near field (s/d ≤ 3) of a nonreacting jet in a hot crossflow of combustion products (1500 K), a configuration relevant to gas turbine combustion. A range of jet-to-crossflow momentum flux ratios (5.2 ≤ J ≤ 24.2) and jet-to-crossflow density ratios (3.2 ≤ ρj/ρcf ≤ 7.8) was studied for a round jet with fully developed turbulent pipe flow and 4% mean turbulence intensity at the jet exit. Temperature measurements were made using planar laser Rayleigh scattering. Jet trajectory, jet centerline concentration decay based on adiabatic mixing assumption, Favre-averaged scalar dissipation, and scalar mixing time scales were determined as a function of the above-mentioned jet parameters. The observed center-plane mixing metrics indicated that better near field mixing was exhibited for lower values of the momentum flux ratio and larger values of density ratio in the extreme near field of the jet. As the momentum flux ratio was increased, windward and leeward mixing around the elongated potential core decreased, as indicated by the relative temperatures in these regions. The magnitude of scalar dissipation in the windward region decreased as the jet momentum flux increased, while the leeward dissipation region increased in size and magnitude as the momentum flux ratio increased. When the density ratio was decreased toward unity, both the windward and leeward dissipation regions reduced in size and magnitude.
Using the Preparation Phase of the Multiphase Optimization Strategy to Develop a Messaging Component for Weight Loss: Formative and Pilot Research.

Background: Mobile messaging is often used in behavioral weight loss interventions, yet little is known as to the extent to which they contribute to weight loss when part of a multicomponent treatment package. The multiphase optimization strategy (MOST) is a framework that researchers can use to systematically investigate interventions that achieve desirable outcomes given specified constraints. Objective: This study describes the use of MOST to develop a messaging intervention as a component to test as part of a weight loss treatment package in a subsequent optimization trial. Methods: On the basis of our conceptual model, a text message intervention was created to support self-regulation of weight-related behaviors. We tested the messages in the ENLIGHTEN feasibility pilot study. Adults with overweight and obesity were recruited to participate in an 8-week weight loss program. Participants received a commercially available self-monitoring smartphone app, coaching calls, and text messages. The number and frequency of text messages sent were determined by individual preferences, and weight was assessed at 8 weeks. Results: Participants (n=9) in the feasibility pilot study lost 3.2% of their initial body weight over the 8-week intervention and preferred to receive 1.8 texts per day for 4.3 days per week. Researcher burden in manually sending messages was high, and the cost of receiving text messages was a concern. Therefore, a fully automated push notification system was developed to facilitate sending tailored daily messages to participants to support weight loss. Conclusions: Following the completion of specifying the conceptual model and the feasibility pilot study, the message intervention went through a final iteration. Theory and feasibility pilot study results during the preparation phase informed critical decisions about automation, frequency, triggers, and content before inclusion as a treatment component in a factorial optimization trial. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01814072; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01814072
Genome Sequence of Serratia fonticola Strain S14, Isolated from the Mosquito Aedes triseriatus.

ABSTRACT The bacterium Serratia fonticola strain S14, isolated from the midgut of a female Aedes triseriatus mosquito, has a genome size of 6,176,978 bp. The genome includes genes responsible for acyl-homoserine lactone-mediated quorum sensing, enterobactin, and aerobactin.
A Binomial Tail Inequality for Successes

I provide a monotonicity result on binomial tail probabilities in terms of the number of successes. Consider two binomial processes with n trials. For any k from 1 to n-1, as long as the expected number of successes in the first process is at least n(k-1)/(n-1) and the expected number of successes in the second process is at least k/(k-1) times larger than that of the first, then the probability of k-1 or fewer successes in the first process is strictly larger than the probability of k or fewer successes in the second.
Syntheses of “Phosphine-Free” MolybdenumOxo Alkylidene Complexes through Addition of Water to Alkylidyne Complexes

Addition of 1 equiv of water to Mo­(CArp)­(ORF9)3 (Arp = p-methoxyphenyl; ORF9 = OC­(CF3)3) in the presence of 5% NEt3 (vs Mo) in THF led to the formation of Mo­(O)­(CHArp)­(ORF9)2(THF)2 in good yield. Mo­(O)­(CHArp)­(ORF9)2(THF)2 reacts with 2 equiv of LiOHMT (OHMT = O-2,6-mesityl2C6H3) at room temperature to yield Mo­(O)­(CHArp)­(OHMT)2 and with 2 equiv of NaOTPP (OTPP = 2,3,5,6-tetraphenylphenoxide) to yield Mo­(O)­(CHArp)­(OTPP)2. In the presence of TMEDA (2.5 equiv), Mo­(CR)­(ORF9)3 (R = Arp, mesityl, or t-Bu) reacts with 1 equiv of water to yield Mo­(O)­(CHR)­(ORF9)2(TMEDA) complexes, from which (when R = t-Bu) TMEDA is readily displaced by 2,2′-bipyridyl to give Mo­(O)­(CH-t-Bu)­(ORF9)2(bipy). Mo­(O)­(CH-t-Bu)­(ORF9)2(bipy) was converted into Mo­(O)­(CH-t-Bu)­Cl2(bipy) readily, from which Mo­(O)­(CH-t-Bu)­Cl­(OHMT)­(3-Brpy) (3-Brpy = 3-bromopyridine) and Mo­(O)­(CH-t-Bu)­Cl­(OHIPT)­(3-Brpy) (OHIPT = O-2,6-(2,4,6-i-Pr3C6H2)2C6H3) were prepared. X-ray studies were carried out on Mo­(O)­(CHArp)­(ORF9)2(THF)2, Mo­(O)­(CH-t-Bu)­(ORF9)2(TMEDA), Mo­(O)­(CHArp)­(OTPP)2, Mo­(O)­(CH-t-Bu)­Cl­(OHMT)­(3-Brpy), and Mo­(O)­(CH-t-Bu)­Cl­(OHIPT)­(3-Brpy).
Coordination of tumor suppressor p53 and PI3K/PTEN-Akt-mTOR signaling pathways in glioblastoma multiforme pathogenesis

2201 Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), the most common primary brain tumor in humans, comprises 12-15% of all intracranial neoplasm and 50-60% of astrocytic tumors. GBM has been characterized further as primary or secondary, with primary GBM denoting no antecedent neoplasm, and secondary GBM referring to that subset in which a less aggressive astrocytoma temporally precedes GBM. GBM results in mortality within one year of diagnosis despite aggressive treatment with current modalities. Mutation of the p53 tumor suppressor gene is the most frequent genetic alteration encountered in both subsets of GBM. Also, studies have linked increased angiogenic activity, most especially noted with increased transcription of the mitogen vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), to loss of wild-type p53. While elucidating altered signaling pathways in GBM, such as K-Ras and PI3K/PTEN-Akt-mTOR, has been of particular interest for the development of novel therapeutic interventions, the role of mutant p53 in signaling pathways associated with GBM pathogenesis remains elusive. The expression of p53 in primary and secondary GBM was assessed by immunohistochemistry. The GBM cell line LN-18, with intact PTEN and mutant p53 at codon 238, was used to investigate the involvement of PI3K/PTEN-Akt-mTOR and MAPK pathways in GBM progression. Quiescent cells were treated with Rapamycin, a specific inhibitor of protein kinase mTOR, or LY 294002 (LY), a PI3K signaling inhibitor. Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF-BB) or extracellular matrix protein fibronectin (FN) was given to cells with or without pre-treatment with either Rapamycin or LY. Immunoblotting analysis was performed for levels of activated p70S6k, Akt, Stat3, and ERK1/2. The results of our study demonstrated that the expression of mutant p53 in primary GBM was confined to the cytoplasm of cells localized around the vasculature of the tumors. In contrast, samples of secondary GBM revealed nuclear mutant p53 expression with a diffuse pattern within tumors. In a separate study, we observed that aggressive tumors with the loss of wild-type p53 exhibited higher levels of VEGF. In accordance with the cooperation of p53 and PI3K/PTEN-Akt-mTOR, treatment with Rapamycin or LY significantly suppressed PDGF-BB or FN-induced phosphorylation of p70S6k at Thr389, a downstream substrate of mTOR. Furthermore, LY pre-treatment abolished PDGF-BB or FN-induced activation of Akt. Rapamycin and LY blocked the PDGF-BB or FN-induced phosphorylation of Stat3 at Ser727, an mTOR sensitive site, without influencing activation of ERK1/2. However, pre-treatment with LY inhibited PDGF-BB or FN-induced phosphorylation of ERK1/2. The results of this study shows that p53-associated cell survival pathways of GBM may contribute to drug resistance, and provides a mechanistic basis for enhancing mTOR-targeted GBM therapy by possibly combining mTOR and Ras/MAPK inhibitors.
Morphometric relationships and non-parametric, length–frequency-based growth parameters and natural mortality for common marine forage fish in Florida waters (USA)

Abstract Life-history parameters are necessary in population and ecosystem analyses. But they are not always available, especially for species that, justifiably or not, are of low priority, such as the forage fish of Florida, USA. When these parameters are unavailable for analyses, they are often borrowed from species of other areas. To keep the borrowing of life-history parameters to a minimum for Florida forage fish, this study is devoted to developing the morphometric relationships, growth parameters, and natural mortality rates for forage fish species for which size data had been collected in inshore surveys that have been conducted during 1996–2017 by the Fishery Independent Monitoring program of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Fish and Wildlife Research Institute. The parameters developed can be used in single-species stock assessments and in marine ecosystem modeling.
On bicycles: a 200-year history of cycling in New York City: by Evan Friss, New York, Columbia University Press, 2019, 256 pp., US$30 (cloth), ISBN: 978-0-231-18256-0

From the curious velocipedes that first appeared in 1819, to the wildly popular “safety” bicycles of the 1890s, to the ubiquitous Citi Bike docks and bike lanes of the Bloomberg era, New Yorkers ha...
The Prime Directive

Putting his words into action, he signed a compensation contract that tied his own wealth to the value of the company. As he had done in the past, his relentless focus on cutting costs brought millions to both Scott Paper’s shareholders and himself. In his 20 months at Scott Paper, the share price more than tripled. Flushed with success, he published a book that touted his efforts at Scott Paper and at other companies.
Loop displacement: an approach for transforming and scheduling loops for parallel execution

The author describes loop displacement, a mapping that can be used to transform loops and schedule loops for parallel execution. Loop displacement can be applied to hybrid multiply nested loops to transform sequential loops into parallel loops, transform and schedule loops to reduce synchronization overhead, generate schedules that distribute the load evenly among the processors, generate schedules that reduce idling of processors, and integrate loop transformations and loop scheduling. Loop displacement can form the basis of intelligent loop transformation and scheduling strategies. The use of loop displacement is illustrated through application of loop transformation and loop scheduling in an integrated manner that simultaneously achieves better load distribution and low synchronization overhead.
Vitamin A and Vitamin E: Will the Real Antioxidant Please Stand Up?

Vitamin A, acting through its metabolite, all-trans-retinoic acid, is a potent transcriptional regulator affecting expression levels of hundreds of genes through retinoic acid response elements pre...
Bronchiolitis obliterans

Bronchiolitis obliterans (BO) is a disease of small airways that results in progressive dyspnea and airflow limitation. It is a common sequela of bone marrow, lung, and heart-lung transplantation, but can also occur as a complication of certain pulmonary infections, adverse drug reaction, toxic inhalation, and autoimmune disorders. Non-transplant-related BO is rare and can mimic asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In transplant-related BO, the diagnosis can be suggested by obstructive changes in serial pulmonary function testings, while open lung biopsy is usually required in non-transplant cases. High-resolution computerized tomography (HRCT) is also a helpful tool to diagnose and assess the severity of BO. The treatment of BO, regarding of the cause, is usually disappointing. Systemic corticosteroid immunosuppression and retransplantation have been described with variable success.
Risk Management in the IT Department

The proposed paper summarizes the information on risk management based on the perusal of scientific literatures. The study focuses on the critical areas of a typical Information Technology that has narrowed down for cyberattacks to four key assets that are presently vulnerable to threats. The four identified assets include the SQL Database, the company's website, Data Centers, and Servers. The study also focuses on the business continuity plan, along with the disaster recovery plan. The study highlights the structured and active management of risk in the IT department and significantly provides the standardized process and its manageable strategies.
Determinants of intracranial aneurysm retreatment following embolization with a single flow-diverting stent.

PURPOSE Flow diverting stents have revolutionized the treatment of intracranial aneurysms through endoluminal reconstruction of the parent vessel. Despite this, certain aneurysms require retreatment. The purpose of this study was to identify clinical and radiologic determinants of aneurysm retreatment following flow diversion. METHODS A multicenter flow diversion database was evaluated to identify patients presenting with an unruptured, previously untreated aneurysm with a minimum of 12 months' clinical and angiographic follow-up. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression modeling was performed to identify determinants of retreatment. RESULTS We identified 189 aneurysms treated in 189 patients with a single flow-diverting stent. Mean age was 54 years, and 89% were female. Complete occlusion was achieved in 70.3% and 83.6% of patients at six and 12 months, respectively. Aneurysm retreatment with additional flow-diverting stents occurred in 5.8% of cases. Univariate analysis revealed that dome diameter ≥10 mm (p = 0.012), pre-clinoid internal carotid artery location (p = 0.012), distal > proximal parent vessel diameter (p = 0.042), and later dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) discontinuation (p 12 months (p = 0.003) as a strong determinant of retreatment with dome diameter ≥10 mm trending toward statistical significance (p = 0.064). Large aneurysm neck diameter, presence of aneurysm branch vessels, patient age, smoking history, and hypertension were not determinant of retreatment on multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS Prolonged DAPT is the most important determinant of aneurysm retreatment following single-device flow diversion. Abbreviating DAPT duration to only six months should be a consideration in this population, especially for patients with a large aneurysm dome diameter.
Position Control Systems In Bio Applications

Many of the Bio Engineering applica- tions depend upon the position control. Such applications range from simple movement of bio tools like gloves and bottles to complex multi dimensional movements of surgical equipment. All these position control movements can be accomplished with the help of stepper motors. These stepper motors can be controlled by microprocessors for flexibility and accuracy. In this article, we will present the operational and design details of an Electro mechanical position control system using the stepper motors. We will also present the control of such stepper motors with the help of a microprocessor such as 68000.
Francophone Courses in United States Colleges and Universities

In undergraduate programs in the U.S, Francophone literature and culture courses are generating more and more interest among students courses are offered in more institutions than in the past but when these courses are offered, they are often optional and rarely mandatory. In order to examine how many Francophone literature and culture courses are offered and required for students, we reviewed 63 French department course catalogs from 63 different sized universities—both public and private—from a variety of geographic regions. The discussion of the results is preceded by a brief synopsis of Francophone history, from the birth of the concept to the present. In the analysis of the results, the importanc of Francophone literature and culture courses for both students and universities is stressed.
The Transboundary Setting of California’s Water and Hydropower Systems

Climate fluctuations are an environmental stress that must be factored into our designs for water resources, power, and other societal and environmental concerns. Under California’s Mediterranean setting, winter and summer climate fluctuations both have important consequences. Winter climatic conditions determine the rates of water delivery to the state, and summer conditions determine most demands for water and energy. Both are dictated by spatially and temporally structured climate patterns over the Pacific and North America. Winter climatic conditions have particularly strong impacts on hydropower production and on San Francisco Bay/Delta water quality.
Side Effects of Space Debris on Astronomical Observation

Astronomical research continues to use ground-based facilities as a principal means of gathering data. The optical light buckets which are trained each night on celestial sources have historically had to just contend with natural interference. Sunlight, moonlight, clouds, debris created by volcanic eruptions, atmospheric seeing, and aurora are examples of factors which modify the interception and analysis of energy radiated in the optical spectrum and received at the collector end. In the last 5 years the “unnatural” encounters with artificial earth satellites are making themselves more pronounced and have become the subject of this limited study.
A weighted sparse coding framework for saliency detection

There is an emerging interest on using high-dimensional datasets beyond 2D images in saliency detection. Examples include 3D data based on stereo matching and Kinect sensors and more recently 4D light field data. However, these techniques adopt very different solution frameworks, in both type of features and procedures on using them. In this paper, we present a unified saliency detection framework for handling heterogenous types of input data. Our approach builds dictionaries using data-specific features. Specifically, we first select a group of potential foreground superpixels to build a primitive saliency dictionary. We then prune the outliers in the dictionary and test on the remaining superpixels to iteratively refine the dictionary. Comprehensive experiments show that our approach universally outperforms the state-of-the-art solution on all 2D, 3D and 4D data.
Transient variations in responding to Pavlovian conditioned stimuli have implications for the mechanisms of "priming".

Conditioned responding to a well-trained conditioned stimulus (CS) was assessed in an eyelid conditioning situation under three conditions of prior stimulation: when preceded by recent presentation of the same CS, when preceded by recent presentation of a different CS, and when preceded by no recent stimulation. As compared to the latter condition, prior presentation of the same CS depressed responding, while prior presentation of a different CS augmented responding. Both effects diminished as the interval separating the test stimulus from the preceding CS was lengthened over the range of 2.5 to 10 sec. The results were discussed in terms of the interaction of short-term memory representations with subsequent stimulation, and a specific theory concerning the effects of “priming.”
Lung Cancer: A Classic Example of Tumor Escape and Progression While Providing Opportunities for Immunological Intervention

Lung cancers remain one of the most common and deadly cancers in the world today (12.5% of newly diagnosed cancers) despite current advances in chemo- and radiation therapies. Often, by the time these tumors are diagnosed, they have already metastasized. These tumors demonstrate the classic hallmarks of cancer in that they have advanced defensive strategies allowing them to escape various standard oncological treatments. Immunotherapy is making inroads towards effectively treating other fatal cancers, such as melanoma, glioblastoma multiforme, and castrate-resistant prostate cancers. This paper will cover the escape mechanisms of bronchogenic lung cancer that must be overcome before they can be successfully treated. We also review the history of immunotherapy directed towards lung cancers.
An accelerometer for recording strong Earth‐motions

Before describing the instrument which I propose for the recording of strong earth-motions, I shall, for the benefit of those who have not followed the argument for a short-period instrument, point out its advantage over the other types. These advantages are stability of the instrumental characteristics, ability to measure large ground-displacements, and the greater ease with which a complete interpretation of the record may be obtained. The instrumental characteristics of the short-period instrument are less affected by the acceleration to which they are most certainly subjected during an earthquake. This may readily be seen by substituting the new component of acceleration in the following formula for the period of a horizontal pendulum where L = equivalent length of pendulum, i = the Bine of the angle of inclination of the axis of rotation, T = the period of pendulum, g = the acceleration due to gravity. and a = the component of the Earth's acceleration in a direction perpendicular to the motion of the inertia-mass and in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation.
Design and impact of an intraoperative pathway: a new operating room model for team-based practice.

Background The concept of a team-based model for delivery of care has been critical at our institution for improving efficiency and safety. Despite these measures, difficulties continue to occur during lengthy operating room procedures. Using a novel team-based practice model, a multidisciplinary team was organized to improve efficiency in microsurgical breast reconstruction. We describe development of an intraoperative pathway for deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap breast reconstruction and its impact on various outcomes. Study Design We evaluated 150 patients who underwent DIEP flap breast reconstruction at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center from 2005 to 2008. Patient groups were subdivided into 50 unilateral and 50 bilateral procedures before the intraoperative pathway and 25 unilateral and 25 bilateral procedures after. Outcomes measured included operative time, complications, operating room and hospital costs, proper administration of prophylactic antibiotics and heparin, and staff satisfaction surveys. Results Mean operative times decreased after pathway implementation in both unilateral (8.2 hours to 6.9 hours; p Conclusions Implementation of an intraoperative pathway led to improvements in operative time, cost, quality measures, and staff satisfaction. Refinement of the pathway with team resolution of variances might continue to improve outcomes. Complex, multi-team procedures can derive benefits from standardization and intraoperative pathway development.
Determination of metmyoglobin reductase activity in bovine skeletal muscles

A novel technique was used to obtain an isolate of skeletal muscle containing MetMb reductase. The isolate was then used as the enzyme source in an assay procedure to measure specific MetMb reductase activity. Enzyme activity was highest at pH 6.4 as compared to 5.8 or 7.0 and at 30°C compared to 4°C. Significant differences in enzyme activity were found among beef muscles from the same animal. The order of muscles, when enzyme activity was expressed on the basis of muscle myoglobin content, was: tensor faciae latae > longissimus dorsi > gluteus medius > diaphragma medialis > semimembranosus = psoas major (p = 0.01).
Rescuing Robert Brown—The Origins of Angio-Ovuly in Seed Cones of Conifers

Robert Brown (1827) recognized the distinction between the two major classes of seed plants on the basis, respectively, of exposed ovules, which receive pollen directly, and enclosed ovules, which do not, at the time of pollination. The two groups, unfortunately, became known as “Gymnosperms” and “Angiosperms”, a distinction not made by Brown. The names are, at best, useful only as identifying labels. As is established here, gymno-ovuly and angio-ovuly would have been better words and should serve as the most consistent distinguishing character among groups of seed plants. Although conifers can hardly be claimed to be members of any lineage that led to the Angiosperms, the gymno-ovulate method of reproduction must have occurred in the direct ancestors of flowering plants. Interpolating development and functional evidence serves to resurrect Robert Brown’s important but neglected observation and correct misstatements implied in generally accepted systematic terminology. The result of this approach is to discover that the conifers in their reproductive diversity show some trends indicative of those characters that define the flowering plants. Although non-homologous these character manifestations provide useful models which can lead to a better understanding of the origin of “Angiosperms” from “Gymnosperms.” In the complex and extended process of reproductive development in both major groups regular transpositions occur, depending on whether “gymno-”and “angio-”are applied to ovules or seeds. Gymno-ovuly and angio-spermy are the most common conditions in conifers but result in intrinsically opposed processes of pollen reception and subsequent seed protection, which are resolved by successive changes in seed-cone structure. The modern conifers illustrate considerable diversity of ovulate and seed cone structure in relation to several biological functions, including traits that anticipate the angio-ovulate condition, in cone inception, ovule enclosure, pollen and embryo development and seed dispersal. From the paleobotanical record we do have a good grasp of the structural changes in the progressive modification of the coniferous seed cone in conifers, starting with the antecedent Carboniferous Cordaitales. These changes have involved the progressive condensation of a lax, branched strobilus and end with the highly condensed uniovulate “cone” as in many Podocarpus species in which the equivalent of a bitegmic ovule exists. The progressive changes can be perceived typologically among existing conifers but need to be understood as the result of biological processes that suggest increased reproductive efficiency, and can be added to our present quite robust understanding of conifer phylogeny.
Utility of preoperative [(18)]f fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography scanning in high-risk melanoma patients.

[(18)]F Fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (PET) scanning provides functional imaging based on glucose uptake by tumors. Melanoma is a glucose-avid malignancy, and preoperative PET scanning in melanoma patients has the potential to guide appropriate treatment. We performed a prospective trial to evaluate the clinical utility of whole-body fluorine 18–labeled deoxyglucose-PET scanning used in addition to standard imaging (contrast-enhanced computed tomographic [CT] imaging of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis) in preoperative stage IIC (T4N0M0), III (any T, N1 to N3, M0), and IV (any T, any N, M1) melanoma patients. Pathologic or clinical follow-up within 4 to 6 months of the imaging studies was used to determine the accuracy of preoperative PET and CT scan findings. Preoperative imaging findings led to a change in clinical management in 36 (35%) of 103 patients. In 32 (89%) of these patients, the information was accurate. Findings on PET scan alone (14 of 36; 39%) or in combination with CT (20 of 36; 56%) resulted in a treatment change in most patients (34 of 36; 94%). The most common decision was to cancel the operation (19 of 36; 53%). PET scanning was more sensitive than CT scanning in detecting occult disease (68% vs. 48%; P = .05), but both tests were highly specific (92% vs. 95%; P = .7, PET vs. CT). PET scanning facilitates the appropriate management of high-risk melanoma patients being considered for operative intervention. PET imaging in addition to CT scanning should be strongly considered before operation in patients at high risk for occult metastatic disease.
Exterior Path Relinking for Zero-One Optimization

Path relinking (PR) maintains a reference set of elite and diverse solutions, and generates new solutions between and beyond initiating and guiding solutions selected from this set as a foundation for an evolutionary solution process. However, in spite of the widespread application of path relinking in combinatorial optimization, almost all PR implementations only consider the between-form of PR. This note discusses the beyond-form of path relinking, which is called Exterior Path Relinking, and focuses on its relevance for diversification strategies in binary optimization. Finally, this work also observes how to combine the Exterior (beyond) and Interior (between) forms of path relinking.
Price policy and agricultural export performance in Jamaica

Abstract Jamaica experienced one of the longest uninterrupted periods of negative growth among LDCs in the 1970s. Agricultural exports led this decline with an unusually poor growth performance, exacerbating foreign exchange shortages. Commodity board pricing policies played a strong role in penalizing these exports. Further, board policies appear to be inefficient in either maximizing profits or foreign exchange. Implicit and unstated objectives of board policies are discussed. Supply functions show that farmers do react positively to price changes, contrary to board assumptions. Beneficiaries of this penalizing price policy are identified and an important implication for foreign aid policy is underscored.
Transparent Clay−Polymer Nano Brick Wall Assemblies with Tailorable Oxygen Barrier

Thin films of sodium montmorillonite clay and branched polyethylenimine (PEI) are deposited on various substrates using layer-by-layer assembly. Films with 40 polymer−clay layers contain more than 84 wt% clay, have hardness as high as 1 GPa, and are completely transparent. Oxygen transmission rates (OTR) through these films decrease as the pH of PEI increases. These pH-tailorable properties are the result of changing PEI charge density, which causes the polymer to deposit more thickly at high pH because of low charge density. After 70 PEI (at pH 10)−clay layers are deposited onto 179 μm poly(ethylene terephthalate) film, the resulting 231 nm assembly has an OTR below the detection limit of commercial instrumentation (<0.005 cc/(m2 day atm)). When multiplied by thickness, the resulting oxygen permeability is found to be less than 0.002 × 10−6 cc/(m day atm)), which is lower than values typically reported for SiOx. This is the lowest permeability ever reported for a polymer−clay composite and is believed to...
Vortex-in-nanodot potentials in thin circular magnetic dots

Vortex states in thin circular magnetic nanodots are studied using auxiliary constraining fields as a way to map out the potential energy space of a vortex, while avoiding a rigid vortex approximation. In the model, isotropic Heisenberg exchange competes with the demagnetization field caused by both surface and volume magnetization charge densities. The system energy is minimized while applying a constraint on the vortex core position, using Lagrange's method of undetermined multipliers. The undetermined multiplier is seen to be the external field needed to hold the vortex core in place at a desired radial distance r from the dot center. This auxiliary field is applied only in the core region of the vortex. For a uniform nanodot, the potential energy is found to be very close to parabolic with r, as in the rigid vortex approximation, while the constraining field increases linearly with r. Effects of nonmagnetic impurities and holes in the medium can also be estimated. An impurity or hole in the dot can lead to bistable operation between the two minima that result under the application of a transverse applied magnetic field.
Improvement of Damping at the Micromechanical Level in Polymer Composite Materials Under Transverse Normal Loading by the Use of Special Fiber Coatings

This paper describes preliminary results from a systematic analytical study of the improvement of damping in polymer composites at the micromechanical level under transverse normal loading by the use of special fiber coatings. Since shear deformations are important in damping of viscoelastic polymers, and large shear strains are generated in the region of the fiber/matrix interface, one idea for improving damping is to put afiber coating made from a highly dissipative material in this region. A finite element model based on a unrepresentative volume element or repeating element of a continuously reinforced coated fiber composite is used to study damping under transverse normal loading. The micromechanical composite model investigated is a unidirectional graphite/epoxy with an acrylic polymer as the fiber coating material. Both two and three dimensional finite element models are analyzed in order to compare the influence of plane stress and plane strain conditions on the damping and stiffness properties of the composite micromechanical model. Parametric studies are conducted by using a two dimensional plane strain finite element model in order to illustrate how the coating applied to the fiber influences dynamic properties of the composite structure. The parametric studies are done with particular emphasis on the effects of frequency, temperature, and fiber coating thickness on the damping of the composite structure.
Development of high resolution, multiplexed electrode arrays: Opportunities and challenges

More than one third of the world's 60 million people with epilepsy have seizures that cannot be controlled by medication. Some of these individuals may be candidates for surgical removal of brain regions that generate seizures, but the chance of being seizure free after epilepsy surgery is as low as 35% in many patients[1]. Even when surgery is successful, patients risk neurological deficits like memory loss and speech difficulties. The need for new treatments is clear. A central barrier to better treatments for epilepsy is technological: we do not have devices capable of interfacing with the brain with small enough electrodes over large enough regions to map epileptic networks in sufficient detail to enable treatment. Our collaborative group has developed new implantable brain devices to address this challenge[2]. Our devices, made from flexible silicon nanoribbons, can record from these very small brain regions, with electrodes ½ millimeter apart or less, and can be scaled up to clinically useful sizes, on the order of 64 cm2. They consist of thousands of individually controllable microelectrodes.
Toxic shock syndrome: An update

Since late 1979 to early 1980, when toxic shock syndrome achieved notoriety, a substantial body of data has demonstrated that vaginal Staphylococcus aureus infections, particularly those occurring during menstruation, account for most cases of toxic shock syndrome in women of reproductive age. Among those patients with onset during menstruation, tampon use has been identified as the most important risk factor. Although menstrually associated cases have been observed among users of all brands and styles of tampons, the use of selected "super absorbent" brands and styles has been associated with an increased risk of toxic shock syndrome. Although the tampon characteristics responsible for the associated risk of toxic shock syndrome remain poorly understood, both absorbency and chemical composition appear to be important variables in this relationship. In response to studies demonstrating this relationship and legal pressures, tampon manufacturers have removed chemical constituents previously used to enhance absorbency, such as polyester foam, carboxymethylcellulose, and polyacrylate rayon, and have markedly reduced tampon absorbency. Coinciding with these changes, the reported number of menstrually related cases of toxic shock syndrome has dropped substantially, although they continue to account for 50% to 70% of all cases of toxic shock syndrome in women of reproductive age.
7-ketocholesterol-induced inflammation: involvement of multiple kinase signaling pathways via NFκB but independently of reactive oxygen species formation.

Purpose. 7-Ketocholesterol (7KCh) accumulates in oxidized lipoprotein deposits and is known to be involved in macrophage foam cell formation and atherosclerosis. 7-KCh is present in the primate retina and is associated with oxidized lipoprotein deposits located in the choriocapillaris, Bruch's membrane, and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). 7-KCh can also be formed in the retina as a consequence of light-induced iron release. The purpose of this study was to examine the signaling pathways involved in the 7KCh-mediated inflammatory response focusing on three cytokines, VEGF, IL-6, and IL-8
Weight management by phone conference call: A comparison with a traditional face-to-face clinic. Rationale and design for a randomized equivalence trial

State-of-the-art treatment for weight management consists of a behavioral intervention to facilitate decreased energy intake and increased physical activity. These interventions are typically delivered face-to-face (FTF) by a health educator to a small group of participants. There are numerous barriers to participation in FTF clinics including availability, scheduling, the expense and time required to travel to the clinic site, and possible need for dependent care. Weight management clinics delivered by conference call have the potential to diminish or eliminate these barriers. The conference call approach may also reduce burden on providers, who could conduct clinic groups from almost any location without the expenses associated with maintaining FTF clinic space. A randomized trial will be conducted in 395 overweight/obese adults (BMI 25–39.9 kg/m2) to determine if weight loss (6 months) and weight maintenance (12 months) are equivalent between weight management interventions utilizing behavioral strategies and pre-packaged meals delivered by either a conference call or the traditional FTF approach. The primary outcome, body weight, will be assessed at baseline, 6, 12 and 18 months. Secondary outcomes including waist circumference, energy and macronutrient intake, and physical activity and will be assessed on the same schedule. In addition, a cost analysis and extensive process evaluation will be completed.