cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ambient Levels of Ultraviolet-B Radiation Cause Mortality in Juvenile Western Toads, Bufo boreas

Numerous anthropogenic and natural factors affect living organisms in nature. Anthropogenic factors include a wide array of contaminants and processes that alter the habitat on both local and global scales. For example, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and other industrial gases contribute to the depletion of the earth's protective ozone layer, resulting in increased amounts of cell damaging ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation reaching the surface of the earth. Recent experiments provide evidence that increasing ambient levels of UV-B radiation harm many amphibian species. UV-B radiation can kill amphibians and can cause sublethal damage to them. However, most studies that have examined the effects of UV-B radiation on amphibians have focused on developing embryos. There is little information on how UV-B radiation affects amphibians at later stages of development. In experimental laboratory tests, we exposed one group of juvenile western toads (Bufo boreas) to full spectrum lighting with ambient levels of UV-B radiation and control toads to full spectrum lighting excluding most UV-B. Juvenile toads exposed to ambient levels of UV-B radiation showed significantly greater mortality rates compared with controls. These results add to a growing body of literature demonstrating that UV-B is harmful to amphibians. Furthermore, our results suggest that investigators should look at the effects of UV-B radiation on different life stages before making conclusions about the overall impact of UV-B on amphibians.
Intervertebral disc internal deformation measured by displacements under applied loading with MRI at 3T

Purpose Noninvasive assessment of tissue mechanical behavior could enable insights into tissue function in healthy and diseased conditions and permit the development of effective tissue repair treatments. Measurement of displacements under applied loading with MRI (dualMRI) has the potential for such biomechanical characterization on a clinical MRI system. Methods dualMRI was translated from high-field research systems to a 3T clinical system. Precision was calculated using repeated tests of a silicone phantom. dualMRI was demonstrated by visualizing displacements and strains in an intervertebral disc and compared to T2 measured during cyclic loading. Results The displacement and strain precisions were 24 µm and 0.3% strain, respectively, under the imaging parameters used in this study. Displacements and strains were measured within the intervertebral disc, but no correlations were found with the T2 values. Conclusion The translation of dualMRI to a 3T system unveils the potential for in vivo studies in a myriad of tissue and organ systems. Because of the importance of mechanical behavior to the function of a variety of tissues, it's expected that dualMRI implemented on a clinical system will be a powerful tool in assessing the interlinked roles of structure, mechanics, and function in both healthy and diseased tissues. Magn Reson Med 71:1231–1237, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Comparing Critical Capitalist Commodity Chains in the Early Twenty-first Century: Opportunities For and Constraints on Labor and Political Movements

There have been a number of critical historical opportunities for labor to exert power by interrupting long distance flows of commodities at the extraction, processing, and transport stages. This vulnerability has been used by workers in these industries to gain higher wages and better working conditions and to achieve political goals in national and international arenas. In this paper, we compare two commodity chains that are critical components of the global economy. The first, which we describe as transport, is a broad category involving a range of manufactured goods, whose delivery to customers around the world was fundamentally changed in the past fifty years via "containerization" and "the logistics revolution." The second is oil and gas, which also has experienced recently dramatic changes in both extraction (via "tar sands" and "[racking") and transportation. In each case, we discuss possibilities and challenges for labor and political organizing to disrupt capital in these key commodity chains. We identify the "stakes" in each commodity chain by demonstrating the vulnerabilities on which labor and political organizations/movements could capitalize, which usually stem from the capital intensity and global integration of each critical commodity chain. These vulnerabilities are the factors which form the most basic opportunities for organizing in these sectors. Our analysis further suggests that while transport and raw materials remain vulnerable nodes in capitalist commodity chains, there are also constraints and challenges to be faced by labor and social movement organizations (SMOs) that might attempt to leverage power over these circuits of the world-economy.
Resistance, susceptibility, and immunity to cecal coccidiosis: effects of B complex and alloantigen system L

Abstract This study examined alloantigen system L effects on resistance to initial infection and acquired immunity to Eimeria tenella infection in three B complex genotypes. Experimental progeny segregating for B and L genotypes were produced from pedigree matings of B2B5 L1L2 sires and dams. Chicks were weighed and inoculated with 30,000 E. tenella oocysts at 6 wk of age to evaluate resistance in four trials (n = 262). Immunity was studied in four additional trials (n = 244) by immunizing progeny with 500 E. tenella oocysts per day for 5 d beginning at 5 wk of age. Two weeks after the last immunization dose, the birds were weighed and challenged with 30,000 E. tenella oocysts. All birds were weighed again and scored for cecal lesion 6 d after the 30,000 oocyst dose challenge. Weight gain and cecal lesion scores were evaluated by ANOVA. Major histocompatibility (B) complex genotypes B2B2 and B5B5 did not affect resistance to initial challenge with E. tenella based on lesion score and weight gain. However, after immunization, the B5B5 and B2B5 genotypes had significantly lower cecal scores than the B2B2 genotype when the birds were rechallenged. Weight gain was not affected among immunized birds. No significant L system effects with or without immunization were detected. These results are consistent with previous research demonstrating B complex effects on immunity to cecal coccidiosis.
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE OPEN BLADDER NECK ASSOCIATED WITH PELVIC FRACTURE URETHRAL DISTRACTION DEFECTS

AbstractPurpose: As a result of pelvic fracture urethral distraction defects, urinary continence relies predominantly on intact bladder neck function. Hence, when cystoscopy and/or cystography reveals an open bladder neck before urethroplasty, the probability of postoperative urinary incontinence may be significant. Unresolved issues are the necessity, the timing and the type of bladder neck repair. We report the outcome of various therapeutic options in patients with pelvic fracture urethral distraction defects and open bladder neck. We also attempt to identify prognostic factors of incontinence before urethroplasty.Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 15 patients with a mean age of 30 years in whom an open bladder neck was identified before posterior urethroplasty between January 1981 and October 1997.Results: Of the 15 patients 6 were continent and 8 were incontinent postoperatively. One patient underwent artificial urethral sphincter implantation simultaneously with pelvic...
Sequential Thin-Layer Chromatography of Phosfolan, Mephosfolan and Related Compounds

A sequential thin-layer chromatographic method (STLC) has been developed to analyze the two organophosphorus insecticides phosfolan (O,O-diethyl 1,3-dithiolan-2-ylidenephosphoramidate) and mephospholan (O,O-diethyl 4-methyl-1,3-dithiolan-2-ylidenephosphoramidate) and some of their possible degradation products. Gelman type SA, Instant Thin Layer Chromatography (ITLC) silicic acid-impregnated glass fiber sheets were first developed up to 6 cm with the primary solvent 2-butanone-1-butanol-water (9:3:1), then after drying, to 16 cm with the secondary solvent acetonitrile-n-hexane-benzene-acetic acid (80:40:40:1). This two-solvent sequential system separated each insecticide from its corresponding metabolites. The R1 values were: phosfolan, 0.69; ethylene dithioimido-carbonate hydrochloride, 0.08; ethylene dithiocarbonate, 0.90; potassium thiocyanate, 0.40; mephosfolan, 0.76; O,O-diethyl 4-hydroxymethyl-1,3-dithiolan-2-amidate, 0.83; propylene dithioimidocarbonate hydrochloride; 0.15 and propylene dithiocarbonate, 0.87.
Propagation and Dissemination of Infection after Vaginal Transmission of Simian Immunodeficiency Virus

In the current global AIDS pandemic, more than half of new human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infections are acquired by women through intravaginal HIV exposure. For this study, we explored pathogenesis issues relevant to the development of effective vaccines to prevent infection by this route, using an animal model in which female rhesus macaques were exposed intravaginally to a high dose of simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV). We examined in detail the events that transpire from hours to a few days after intravaginal SIV exposure through week 4 to provide a framework for understanding the propagation, dissemination, and establishment of infection in lymphatic tissues (LTs) during the acute stage of infection. We show that the mucosal barrier greatly limits the infection of cervicovaginal tissues, and thus the initial founder populations of infected cells are small. While there was evidence of rapid dissemination to distal sites, we also show that continuous seeding from an expanding source of production at the portal of entry is likely critical for the later establishment of a productive infection throughout the systemic LTs. The initially small founder populations and dependence on continuous seeding to establish a productive infection in systemic LTs define a small window of maximum vulnerability for the virus in which there is an opportunity for the host, vaccines, or other interventions to prevent or control infection.
High-Performance Air-Stable Solution Processed Organic Transistors

Solution-processed organic field-effect transistors (SPOFETs) have attracted wide interest in the past decade as they hold great promise for roll-to-roll production of ubiquitous flexible electronic circuits, displays, etc. by low-cost unconventional means, such as screen and inkjet printing. Despite the tremendous progress, it remains a challenge to fabricate consistently high-mobility air-stable SPOFETs at low-temperature for practical applications. Here we present high performance (mobility up to 0.2-0.4 cm2/Vs, Ion/Ioff>106), air-stable (monitored over 200 days without noticeable degradation) SPOFETs based on a developed solution process using asymmetric soluble small molecule semiconductor, 4T-TMS. The systematic experimental study on the process control for these SPOFETs was also be reported.
A new mixed basis Navier-Stokes formulation for incompressible flows over complex geometries

Numerical modeling of complex geometries necessitates the use of curvilinear body fitted coordinates. This article proposes a novel mixed basis formulation of the governing conservation equations for general curvilinear non-orthogonal grids with the physical covariant velocity as the primary solution variable. This results in an algorithm which has many advantages of orthogonal equations. The conservation equations written in this form retains the diagonal dominance of the pressure equation. The newly formed conservation equations are solved on a structured grid using the SIMPLER algorithm and are shown to converge well for non-orthogonal grids. Standard K -? model is used for the turbulence closure.
Major Traits/Qualities of Leadership

We live in a world with a population of more than 7.1 Billion, have we ever imagine how many Leaders do we have? Yes, most of us are followers; we live in a world where we follow what have been commanded. The intension of this paper is to equip everyone with some knowledge to know how we can identify who leaders are, are you one of them, and how can we help our-selves and other develop leadership qualities. The Model highlights various traits which are very necessary for leadership.This paper have been investigate and put together after probing almost 30 other research papers. The Principal result we arrived on was that the major/ essential traits which are identified in a Leader are Honesty, Integrity, Drive (Achievement, Motivation, Ambition, Energy, Tenacity and Initiative), Self Confidence, Vision and Cognitive Ability. The Key finding also says that the people with such qualities are not necessary to be in politics, but they are from various walks of life such as major organization, different culture, background, education and ethnicities. Also we found out that just possessing of such traits alone does not guarantee one leadership success as evidence shows that effective leaders are different in nature from most of the other people in certain key respects. So, let us go through the paper to enhance out our mental abilities to search for the Leaders out there.
TFT backplane technologies for advanced array applications

Thin film transistor backplanes are the key enabler of flat panel displays and digital x-ray detectors. As the technology continues to mature, new applications and improved performance require technology developments, including flexible substrates, high performance pixel electronics and reduced manufacturing cost. Recent progress is described in three alternative technologies to meet the new requirements.
Prognostic and Predictive Value of Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes in Breast Cancer

Recent attention has focused on the antitumor immune response in breast cancer, in particular, the role of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs). In certain breast cancer subtypes, the presence of TILs has prognostic value and is associated with clinical outcome and improved survival. The potential predictive value of TILs has also been investigated in regard to cytotoxic and antihuman epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2) therapies, but could also serve as a selection marker for novel immunotherapies. In this article, we review the current literature on TILs in breast cancer and discuss how TILs are emerging as a promising biomarker in mediating antitumor immunity.
Microbial Transformation of Triadimefon to Triadimenol in Soils: Selective Production Rates of Triadimenol Stereoisomers Affect Exposure and Risk

The microbial transformation of triadimefon, an agricultural fungicide of the 1,2,4-triazole class, was followed at a nominal concentration of 50 μg/mL over 4 months under aerobic conditions in three different soil types. Rates and products of transformation were measured, as well as enantiomer fractions of parent and products. The transformation was biotic and enantioselective, and in each soil the S-(+)-enantiomer reacted faster than the R-(-) one. Rates of the first-order reactions were 0.047, 0.057, and 0.107 d(-1) for the three soils. The transformation involves reduction of the prochiral ketone moiety of triadimefon to an alcohol, resulting in triadimenol, which has two chiral centers and four stereoisomers. The abundances of the four product stereoisomers were different from each other, but abundance ratios were similar for all three soil types. Triadimenol is also a fungicide; the commercial product is composed of two diastereomers of unequal amounts (ratio of about 4.3:1), each having two enantiomers of equal amounts. However, the triadimenol formed by soil transformation of triadimefon exhibited no such stereoisomer profile. Instead, different production rates were observed for each of the four triadimenol stereoisomers, resulting in all stereoisomer concentrations being different from each other and very different from concentration/abundance patterns of the commercial standard. This result is important in risk assessment if the toxicity of the environmental transformation product were to be compared to that of the commercial triadimenol. Because triadimenol stereoisomers differ in their toxicities, at least to fungi and rats, the biological activity of the triadimenol formed by microbes or other biota in soils depends on the relative abundances of its four stereoisomers. This is an exposure and risk assessment issue that, in principle, applies to any chiral pesticide and its metabolites.
Survivability of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in mechanically tenderized beef steaks subjected to lactic acid application and cooking under simulated industry conditions.

Mechanical tenderization improves the palatability of beef; however, it increases the risk of translocating pathogenic bacteria to the interior of beef cuts. This study investigated the efficacies of lactic acid spray (LA; 5 % ), storage, and cooking on the survivability of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in mechanically tenderized beef steaks managed under simulated industry conditions. Beef subprimals inoculated with either high (10(5) CFU/ml) or low (10(3) CFU/ml) levels of E. coli O157:H7 were treated (LA or control) and stored for 21 days prior to mechanical tenderization, steak portioning (2.54 cm), and additional storage for 7 days. Steaks were then cooked to an internal temperature of 55, 60, 65, 70, or 75°C. Samples were enumerated and analyzed using DNA-based methods. Treatment with LA immediately reduced E. coli O157:H7 on the lean and fat surfaces of high- and low-inoculum-treated subprimals by more than 1.0 log CFU/cm(2) (P 0.05). E. coli O157:H7 was detected in core samples from high-inoculum-treated steaks cooked to 55, 60, or 70°C. Conversely, E. coli O157:H7 was not detected in core samples from low-inoculum-treated steaks, regardless of the internal cooking temperature. These data suggest that LA- and storage-mediated reduction of pathogens on subprimals exposed to typical industry contamination levels (10(1) CFU/cm(2)) reduces the risk of pathogen translocation and subsequent survival after cooking.
A Case of 3,4-Dimethoxyamphetamine (3,4-DMA) and 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) Toxicity with Possible Metabolic Interaction

ABSTRACTWe present a case of “ecstasy” ingestion revealing 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and 3,4-dimethoxyamphetamine (3,4-DMA) and absence of cytochrome P450 (CYP)-2D6 MDMA metabolites. Case report: A 19-year-old presented following a seizure. Initial vital signs were normal. Laboratories were normal with the exception of sodium 127 mEq/L and urine drugs of abuse screen positive for amphetamines. Twelve hours later, serum sodium was 114 mEq/L and a second seizure occurred. After receiving hypertonic saline (3%), the patient had improvement in mental status and admitted to taking “ecstasy” at a rave prior to her initial presentation. Liquid chromatography-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-TOF/MS) of serum and urine revealed MDMA, 3,4-DMA, and the CYP-2B6 MDMA metabolites 3,4-methylendioxyamphetamine (MDA) and 4-hydroxy-3-methoxyamphetamine (HMA). The CYP2D6 metabolites of MDMA, 3,4-dihydromethamphetamine (HHMA) and 4-hydroxy-3-methoxymethamphetamine (HMMA), were detected at very low levels. ...
Sage Russet: a New High Yielding Russet Potato Variety with Cold-Sweetening Resistance, High Vitamin C and Protein Contents and Excellent Fresh Pack and Processing Potential

Sage Russet was released in 2009 by Oregon State University, in cooperation with the USDA-ARS and the Agricultural Experiment Stations of Idaho and Washington. It is a product of the Northwest Potato Variety (Tri-State) Development Program. Sage Russet has a medium-early maturity and produces long, somewhat flattened tubers with medium russeting of the skin. Total yields of Sage Russet are similar to those of Russet Burbank and Ranger Russet, but are significantly higher than those of Russet Norkotah. Sage Russet has significantly higher U.S. No.1 yields than Russet Burbank, Russet Norkotah, and Ranger Russet. It can be grown as an early or late crop with high U.S. No.1 yields and minimal internal defects. It achieved very high merit scores in processing and fresh market in Western Regional trials and can be considered for both markets. Sage Russet has a medium to high fertility requirements with high nitrogen use efficiency and medium storage capability. Sage Russet has moderate specific gravity and produces lighter fry color than the industry standard varieties. The color of fried strips following tuber storage at 4.4 °C and 7.2 °C is significantly lighter for Sage Russet than the control varieties, indicating good cold sweetening resistance. Chemical analyses have shown that Sage Russet has higher protein and vitamin C content than control varieties. Sage Russet is moderately resistant to early dying, early blight, and common scab, is resistant to tuber late blight, but susceptible to Fusarium wilt and is prone to shatter bruise.
Globally weaker and topologically different: resting-state connectivity in youth with autism.

There is a lack of agreement about functional connectivity differences in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Studies using absolute strength have found reduced connectivity, while those using relative strength––a measure of system topology––reveal mostly enhanced connectivity. We hypothesized that mixed findings may be driven by the metric of functional connectivity. Resting-state echo planar 3 T functional magnetic resonance imaging scans were acquired on a Siemens Verio Scanner from 6 to 17-year-old youth with ASD (n = 81) and a matched typically developing control group (n = 82). All functional time series data were preprocessed using a confound regression procedure that has been previously validated in large-scale developmental datasets. It has also been shown to be highly effective at reducing the influence of motion artifact on connectivity data. We extracted time series data from a 333-node parcellation scheme, which was previously mapped to 13 functional systems. A Pearson’s correlation was calculated and transformed to Fisher’s z between every pair of nodes to create a weighted 333 × 333 adjacency matrix. Mean absolute functional connectivity strength was the mean Fisher’s z of the matrix. Relative functional connectivity was corrected for individual differences in mean absolute functional connectivity (i.e., each connection in the matrix was divided by their mean z), and functional connectivity was evaluated within and across each of the functional networks in the parcellation scheme. Absolute functional connectivity strength was lower in ASD, and lower functional connectivity was correlated with greater ASD symptom severity. Relative functional connectivity was higher for the ASD group in the ventral attention and retrosplenial-temporal systems, with lower cross-system functional connectivity between the ventral attention and somatomotor-mouth systems. Functional connectivity within the ventral attention and retro-splenial systems correlated significantly with ASD symptom severity. Within a context of globally weaker functional connectivity, youth with ASD have an atypical topology of brain systems that support social perception and communication. This study clarifies the mixed results reported previously and demonstrates that the functional connectivity metric influences the observed direction of functional connectivity differences for individuals with ASD.
A new wave front shape-based approach for acoustic source localization in an anisotropic plate without knowing its material properties

Abstract Estimating the location of an acoustic source in a structure is an important step towards passive structural health monitoring. Techniques for localizing an acoustic source in isotropic structures are well developed in the literature. Development of similar techniques for anisotropic structures, however, has gained attention only in the recent years and has a scope of further improvement. Most of the existing techniques for anisotropic structures either assume a straight line wave propagation path between the source and an ultrasonic sensor or require the material properties to be known. This study considers different shapes of the wave front generated during an acoustic event and develops a methodology to localize the acoustic source in an anisotropic plate from those wave front shapes. An elliptical wave front shape-based technique was developed first, followed by the development of a parametric curve-based technique for non-elliptical wave front shapes. The source coordinates are obtained by minimizing an objective function. The proposed methodology does not assume a straight line wave propagation path and can predict the source location without any knowledge of the elastic properties of the material. A numerical study presented here illustrates how the proposed methodology can accurately estimate the source coordinates.
Multimodal Clinical Pathway With Adductor Canal Block Decreases Hospital Length of Stay, Improves Pain Control, and Reduces Opioid Consumption in Total Knee Arthroplasty Patients: A Retrospective Review

Abstract Background Total knee arthroplasty volume is increasing significantly in the United States. Reducing hospital length of stay may represent the best method for accommodating expanding volume and reducing costs. We hypothesized that tailoring a clinical pathway to facilitate early ambulation would decrease costs and resource utilization. Methods We conducted a sequential before-and-after study of total knee arthroplasty patients after a phased implementation of a clinical pathway that includes multimodal oral analgesic protocols, adductor canal nerve block, and standardized day of surgery ambulation protocols. Primary outcomes measured were hospital length of stay, total opioid consumption, total antiemetic use, and perioperative pain scores. Results Two hundred ninety-five patients were divided into 3 sequential cohorts. Cohort 1 received spinal anesthesia, femoral nerve block, and was not placed into postop day 0 ambulation therapy. Cohort 2 received spinal anesthesia, adductor canal block, and postop day 0 ambulation therapy. Cohort 3 received spinal anesthesia, adductor canal block, postop day 0 ambulation therapy, and standardized oral multimodal analgesic protocol. Cohort 3 had significantly reduced hospital length of stay. Cohorts 2 and 3 had significantly less opioid consumption. Cohort 3 had significantly less total ondansetron consumption compared with cohort 1. Cohort 3 had significantly reduced average pain scores compared with cohort 1. Conclusion The data demonstrate that tailored clinical pathways designed to facilitate early ambulation can reduce hospital length of stay, reduce opioid consumption, reduce antiemetic use, and improve pain control. The results establish that refined clinical pathways can assist in improving care while increasing value to patients, providers, and systems.
Volatile anesthetics and second messengers in cardiac tissue.

The depression of myocardial contractility induced by volatile anesthetics is well documented by in vivo and in vitro studies. These agents’ direct myocardial depressant effect has been attributed to a decreased availability of free intracellular calcium to the contractile proteins and to a decreased sensitivity of the contractile proteins to activation by calcium. The volatile anesthetics have been shown to depress slow inward calcium currents in the sarcolemma, as well as inhibit calcium uptake and release by the sarcoplasmic reticulum.1 All these processes are modulated by hormones, neurotransmitters and other endogenous factors which regulate calcium movements either directly or indirectly via a second messenger system. Therefore, the effect of volatile anesthetics on calcium homeostasis and myocardial contractility may be due either to a direct interaction of the anesthetic with proteins regulating calcium movements or may be secondary to an action of the anesthetic on metabolic pathways modulating myocardial contractility.
Two- and Three-Dimensional Neutronics Calculations for the Tokamak Fusion Test Reactor Neutral Beam Injectors

Two-and three-dimensional radiation transport methods have been employed to estimate the nuclear performance of the neutral beam injectors being designed for the Tokamak Fusion Test Reactor. The nuclear heating rates and neutron and gamma-ray energy spectra have been calculated at various locations in a detailed calculational model of the injector using Monte Carlo methods. Calculations have also been carried out using discrete-ordinates methods to obtain estimates of these data in a two-dimensional model of the injector. The two-dimensional calculational procedure was developed as an analytic tool for more cost-efficient scoping and parametric studies of the effects of design changes on the injector performance due to the streaming of 14-MeV neutrons. The nuclear responses and spectra obtained using the two-dimensional calculational model agree with the more definitive data obtained using the three-dimensional model within a factor of approx. 5.
Long-range mapping of the Philadelphia chromosome by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis

The Philadelphia chromosome (Ph1) of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) contains sequences from chromosome 9, including the ABL protooncogene, that have been translocated to the breakpoint cluster region (bcr) of chromosome 22, giving rise to a bcr-ABL fusion gene, whose product has been implicated in the genesis of CML. Although chromosome 22 translocation breakpoints in CML virtually always occur within the 5.8-kilobase (kb) bcr, chromosome 9 breakpoints have been identified within the known limits of ABL in only a few instances. For a better understanding of the variability of the breakpoints on chromosome 9, we studied the CML cell line BV173. Using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), large-scale maps of the t(9;22) junctions were constructed. The chromosome 9 breakpoint was shown to have occurred within an ABL intron, 160 kb upstream of the v-abl homologous sequences, but still 35 kb downstream of the 5'-most ABL exon. bcr-ABL and ABL-bcr fusion genes were demonstrated on the Ph1 and the 9q+ chromosomes, respectively; both of these genes are expressed. These results suggest that the 9;22 translocation breakpoints in CML consistently occur within the limits of the large ABL gene. RNA splicing, sometimes of very large regions, appears to compensate for the variability in breakpoint location. These studies show that PFGE is a powerful new tool for the analysis of chromosomal translocations in human malignancies.
Antibody-Independent Mechanisms in the Development of Acquired Immunity to Malaria

The plasmodia are hemoprotozoan parasites which cause malaria in a variety of animal species, including man. Infection with these parasites stimulates acquired immune responses which are directed primarily against blood stages and, when successful, bring about a reduction in the number of circulating plasmodia and/or protect the host against reinfection with homologous parasites (1,2). While the actual mechanisms of resistance are ill-defined, it appears that immunity to malaria requires the participation of both T and B lymphocyte systems.
Measuring the effectiveness of nursing care

Identification and measurement of the outcomes of nursing care have received great attention in the past decade. With advances in information technology, large clinical data bases are being developed for use in outcomes evaluation. It is important that nurses be thoughtful in designing the data elements that will be included in these data bases. Key data elements include nursing diagnoses, interventions, and nursing sensitive outcomes. Multiple variables influence the outcome of health care. It is important in evaluation that system, patient, and provider characteristics be considered, especially when developing benchmarks for comparison of outcome achievement. Data related to the process of care are needed beyond provider encounter, and nurses must be cautious that the care they give is not credited to other providers. Longitudinal clinical data bases that contain key variables related to the delivery of nursing care can yield valuable knowledge on the best methods to measure and interpret the contribution of nursing care to the health of the nation.
The Influence of Load Handling Height on Shoulder Biomechanics during Sudden Loading

Shoulder disorders have been reported as the most severe musculoskeletal disorders among all body parts. Multiple occupational risk factors such as manual material handling, repetitive motion, over...
Opinion and Special Articles: Self-management in epilepsy: Web-based seizure tracking applications

What is the best way to engage patients with epilepsy? Patients and practitioners may have different answers to this question, but both would agree that having accurate information is of utmost importance. Benefits of electronic seizure diary systems include more efficient, time-stamped data entry and the ability to generate graphical summaries. Limitations include the need for some degree of digital sophistication on the part of the patient or caregiver, the cost of the underlying electronic platform, the requirement for ongoing patient/caregiver engagement, and the potential for privacy issues with data entry.1,2
Trajectory Planning for Manipulators Operating in Confined Workspaces

This paper presents a new trajectory planning algorithm based on context-dependent search strategy switching for manipulators working in confined workspaces. This problem has an inherently complex and large search space. Finding good solutions to this problem requires developing an efficient search strategy using appropriately-designed motion primitives and heuristic functions to guide the search. The algorithm presented in this paper monitors the search progress and uses different search strategies in different parts of the search space. This allows it to solve manipulator trajectory planning problems for highly-confined workspaces. It is also able to seek input from the human user when search heuristics are unable to provide guidance to the search process. We present results on challenging example parts and compare them with the previously reported approaches.
Cross-Sectional Associations of Plasma Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances with Lipid Profile among Pre-Diabetic Adults-Report from the Diabetes Prevention Program

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) may interfere with lipid regulation but most previous studies examined occupational cohorts or general populations but not those with high metabolic risk...
The effects of survey version on patient experience scores and plan rankings.

Author(s): Beckett, Megan K; Elliott, Marc N; Burkhart, Q; Cleary, Paul D; Orr, Nate; Brown, Julie A; Gaillot, Sarah; Liu, Karin; Hays, Ron D | Abstract: ObjectiveTo assess the effect of changing survey questions on plan-level patient experience measures and ratings.Data source2015 Medicare Advantage CAHPS Survey respondents.Study designNinety three randomly selected beneficiaries in each of 40 MA plans received a revised (5.0) CAHPS survey; 38 832 beneficiaries received version 4.0. Linear mixed-effect regression predicted CAHPS measures from fixed effects for survey version and beneficiary characteristics and random effects for plan and plan-by-version random slope.Principal findingsResponse rates were 42 percent for both versions. Removal of "try to" from screeners increased the percentage of respondents eligible for follow-up questions. Version 5.0 caused a small increase (1-3 points on a 0-100 scale, P l 0.05) in the mean of three altered measures and a moderate increase (g3 points) in one. There was a small statistically significant increase in two unaltered measures. These changes were uniform across plans, so there would be no expected change compared to results using the legacy survey in the score distributions other than uniform mean shifts, and no expected effect on summary measures.ConclusionsThese analyses illustrate how to assess the impact of seemingly minor survey modifications for other national surveys considering changes and highlight the importance of screeners in instrument design.
Camp NERF: Caregiver Outcomes from a Theory-Based Nutrition Education Recreation and Fitness Program Aimed at Preventing Unhealthy Weight Gain in Underserved Children during Summer Months

BackgroundData indicate that school-age children, particularly underserved children, experience unhealthy gains in BMI more than twice as fast during the summer months. Few efforts have been direct...
Antitumor activity of Aplidin® in combination with Velcade® (bortezomib) in human multiple myeloma.

4762 Aplidin ® (plitidepsin) is a novel anticancer drug, isolated from the marine tunicate Aplidium albicans, showing potent antitumour activity in preclinical models against a wide variety of human tumours. Plitidepsin is currently in phase II clinical trials in a variety of solid tumors and hematological malignancies. In clinical trials of multiple myeloma (MM), activity was observed with plitidepsin. These results prompted us to evaluate the activity of plitidepsin in combination with the chemotherapeutic agent bortezomib. Methods: RPMI 8226 myeloma cell line was originally established from a patient with MM. RPMI 8226 cells were seeded at two densities in 96 well microtiter plates at 15,000 cells per well. Plates were incubated for 24 hours at 37C prior to treatment for 72 hours with plitidepsin at a concentration range from 2 E-06 to 2 E-13 in combination with bortezomib at a concentration range from 8.5 E-09 to 1 E-09. Cytotoxicity was determined by MTS assay (Tetrazolium), which is based on metabolic reduction of MTS to formazan product that is soluble in the tissue culture medium. The quantity of formazan is measured by the amount of 490 nm absorbance and it is proportional to the number of living cells. The interaction between plitidepsin and bortezomib was analyzed using the CalcuSyn software program (Biosoft). Data from MTS assay was expressed as the fraction of cells affected by the dose (Fa) in drug treated cells as compared to single agent treated cells (control). This program is based upon the Chou-Talalay method according to the following equation CI = (D)1/(Dx)1+(D)1(D)2/(Dx)1(Dx)2 where (D)1 and (D)2 are the doses of drug 1 and 2 that have the same x effect when used alone. CI values less than 1.0 indicate synergism; CI values near 1.0 indicate an additive effect, whereas values more than 1 correspond to antagonistic effects. In vitro results: This combination showed antagonism at low concentrations and synergy at the high end of the concentration range tested. This in-vitro activity was followed up in a xenograft model. Six-weeks-old male, SCID mice were purchased from Frederick Cancer Research Development Center (Frederick, MD) and acclimated in the laboratory for one week prior to implantation. Each mouse was inoculated s.c. near the right flank with RPMI 8226 human myeloma cells from an in vitro cell culture using a 23-gauge needle. Each mouse received 2 x 107 cells resuspended in 0.2 mL of Matrigel ®. Tumors were allowed to grow in situ until they reach a size of approximately 75-188 mm3 at which time animals were randomized into either treatment or control groups. Plitidepsin was administered intraperitoneally for two cycles of treatments at 60 ug/kg/inj on a qdx9 schedule, bortezomib was administered i.v. at a dose of 0.35 mg/kg/inj for four weeks on a q3d x 2 schedule. The combination therapy groups received both agents concurrently. A detailed analysis of preclinical PK and efficacy data will be presented.
Building matrices with prescribed size and number of invertible submatrices

Abstract Given an ordered triple of positive integers ( n , r , b ) , where 1 ≤ b ≤ n r , does there exist a matrix of size r × n with exactly b invertible submatrices of size r × r ? Such a matrix is called an ( n , r , b ) -matrix. This question is a stronger version of an open problem in matroid theory raised by Dominic Welsh. In this paper, we prove that an ( n , r , b ) -matrix exists when the corank satisfies n − r ≤ 3 , unless ( n , r , b ) = ( 6 , 3 , 11 ) . Furthermore, we show that an ( n , r , b ) -matrix exists when the rank r is large relative to the corank n − r .
Dynamic fast flavor oscillation waves in dense neutrino gases

Abstract The flavor transformation in a dense neutrino gas can have a significant impact on the physical and chemical evolution of its surroundings. In this work we demonstrate that a dynamic, fast flavor oscillation wave can develop spontaneously in a one-dimensional (1D) neutrino gas when the angular distributions of the electron neutrino and antineutrino cross each other. Unlike the 2D stationary models which are plagued with small-scale flavor structures, the fast flavor oscillation waves remain coherent in the dynamic 1D model in both the position and momentum spaces of the neutrino. The electron lepton number is redistributed and transported in space as the flavor oscillation wave propagates, although the total lepton number remains constant. This result may have interesting implications in the neutrino emission in and the evolution of the compact objects such as core-collapse supernovae.
A model-driven approach for the development of native mobile applications focusing on the data layer

Abstract The data layer access design is a critical task for mobile applications which need constant access to remote data, making them available offline in case of network connectivity problems. Moreover, the variety of mobile operating systems and platforms (fragmentation phenomenon) that handles data storage differently affects the portability of mobile applications. This issue suggests the use of Model-Driven Development (MDD) approach that may ease the smartphone application development for different platforms. Therefore, we propose an extension of the Model-Oriented Web Approach (MoWebA) for the development of native mobile applications focusing on the data layer. MoWebA Mobile (as we name the proposal) covers data persistence concepts to achieve offline applications in case of network connectivity problems. It defines meta-models and the Architecture-Specific Model (ASM) for data persistence and data provider to design the data sources of mobile applications. As well, we propose transformation rules for the generation of Android and Windows Phone applications. The MoWebA Mobile process was illustrated by means of modeling, design, and development of a typical mobile application. Despite the learning curve of the approach, the first evaluation suggests that MoWebA Mobile has the potential for supporting the mobile design applications considering the persistence of data.
Formal verification of braking while swerving in automobiles

Many vehicle accidents result from collision with foreign objects. Automatic and provably safe collision avoidance systems are thus of prime importance to the automobile industry. Previous work on formally verifying car collision avoidance maneuvers typically only focuses on braking-only or swerving-only maneuvers. In this work, we study combined braking and swerving maneuvers and establish formally verified conditions under which safety from collision is ensured. One major constrain in performing such joint maneuvers is that a vehicle's tires have limited traction which can be used either for braking or swerving. So in essence, a combined maneuver can trade off braking ability for turning when it is advantageous to do so and vice-versa. In this work, we study the full continuous range of combined maneuvers, from maximal turning with little braking to maximal braking with little turning. We use a unicycle model with Ackermann's steering for the car's motion, and the circle of traction forces to model the trade-off between braking and swerving. Resulting vehicle kinematics are formulated as a hybrid program in differential dynamic logic dL. We use the automated theorem prover KeYmaera X to formally verify the correctness of the collision avoidance property. This verification provides a mathematical guarantee that a given maneuver can prevent the car from collision with obstacles under certain conditions. The employed method is generic with a purely symbolic model and, thus, can be applied to verify other types of collision avoidance systems exhibiting richer behaviour.
Brown Carbon Formation Potential of the Biacetyl–Ammonium Sulfate Reaction System

The contribution of organic aerosol from biomass burning is poorly constrained, and the lack of consensus regarding its overall contribution to global radiative forcing leads to significant uncerta...
Effets de Présence: quels procédés pour le film-théâtre?

Resume: Cet essai evalue les diverses methodes qu’adoptent les createurs de captations et de films realises a partir de spectacles sceniques afin de produire un effet de presence. La mise en scene, l’ontologie de l’image filmique, la pluralite d’interpretations des manifestations de presence, les connexions entre publics de la salle de theâtre et ceux de l’ecran, font partie des elements examines. L’analyse conclut avec un plaidoyer pour le film-theâtre.
Coal Mining and Reclamation in Appalachia

Coal is produced in Appalachia via both surface and underground mining. Mining methods have changed and advanced over nearly two centuries, improving worker safety and environmental performance. Reclamation was not practiced in the early days of mining, but laws to regulate mining were enacted and performance standards have been developed since the 1960s. Today, mining operations are heavily regulated and the mining and reclamation processes are fully integrated. Mine planning and design, as well as reclamation procedures to establish a suitable post-mining land use, are now required. Reclamation includes landscape reconstruction, mine-site revegetation, and associated activities intended to avoid or mitigate environmental impacts. Today’s coal miners manage mine spoils to limit water contamination by acid mine drainage or other dissolved constituents. Reclamation of coal surface mines is intended to prepare the land for post-mining land use, usually hayland-pasture, forest, or wildlife habitat. Coal mining in Appalachia has had extensive impacts on the landscape and those impacts continue today despite federal and state reclamation regulatory requirements, but at far-reduced levels relative to early mining.
Ramanujan, His Lost Notebook, Its Importance

In the spring of 1976, George Andrews discovered Ramanujan’s lost notebook in the library of Trinity College, Cambridge. The present paper provides an account of Andrews’ discovery of the lost notebook and its history. A general description of its contents as well as discussions of some of the most important topics therein are given. The paper is intended for a very general audience.