cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Magnetization calculation of fine particles

The switching mechanism of a distribution of fine particles is not understood quantitatively. A computational model that calculates the switching field of a magnetic fine particle of arbitrary shape, accurately accounting for particle interaction, has yet to be developed. This paper discusses some of the problems in constructing numerical models that address this problem from first principles.
Chronic exposure to low levels of aluminum alters cerebral cell signaling in response to acute MPTP administration.

>> Two-month-old male B/6C3F1 mice were treated for 10 weeks with 100 μM aluminum lactate (Al) in drinking water. This dose of Al did not alter body weight, and there was no evidence of systemic toxicity. The degree of phosphorylation of several kinases which lead to transcription factor activation (reflecting the extent of their activation) was studied. The proportion of extracellular signalregulated kinase (ERK) that was activated was depressed in cortex but not in the hippocampus following treatment but c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), p38, IκB phosphorylation was unaltered in either tissue. Treatment of mice with 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6 tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) alone produced no significant changes in the degree of activation of any transcription factor studied. When MPTP dosing had been preceded by extended exposure to low levels of Al in drinking water, ERK activation was profoundly depressed in cortex and hippocampus, whereas JNK in hippocampus and IκB in cortex were greatly elevated. These changes consequent to exposure to both Al and MPTP were accompanied by an increase in NF-κB in both regions, whereas AP-1 was elevated in the hippocampus alone. Neither agent alone modulated AP-1 or NF-κB. Thus a synergistic interaction occurred between the toxicants. This interaction tended to promote the functioning of a kinase largely associated with inflammation and to depress that of ERK, which is associated with maintenance of cell survival. It is concluded that exposure to levels of Al with no evident toxicity can worsen the response to an acute challenge with MPTP. Al treatment alone was able to increase striatal 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid levels, suggesting an elevation of the rate of dopamine turnover in the striatum. However, no interaction in alteration of monoamine levels was found between Al and MPTP. Toxicology and Industrial Health 2007; 22: 515–524.
Bananas, are they the quintessential health food ? A global/local perspective

Banana cultivation serves to demonstrate that we as consumers must expand our conceptualization of "healthy food" to include the production practices of growers and the political and economic milieu in which production and distribution are sustained, as well as their impact on human health and the physical environment. Political ecology is used to examine the agro-food sector to understand more clearly the relationship that food producers, local governments, transnational corporations, international policy-makers, regional and extra-regional markets have with each other vis-a-vis the linkages they maintain in the banana industry. This article examines banana production in the Caribbean and its connections with the European Union. Specific attention is given to Windward Island banana production, and especially to St. Vincent. This article illustrates that the increased acreage under banana cultivation and its associated loss of vegetative cover is creating a downward spiral of environmental degradation. Th...
Intraocular Use of Hydrogel Tissue Adhesive in Rabbit Eyes

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of newly developed hydrogel glue to treat rhegmatogenous retinal detachments in in vitro and in vivo studies. In the in vitro study, the solid hydrogel glue was soaked in a balanced salt solution (BSS). The pH was measured periodically, and the dissolution time was recorded. In the in vivo study in six albino rabbits, 0.1 ml of hydrogel glue was injected into the right vitreous cavity, and 0.1 ml BSS was injected into the left vitreous, as the control. Clinical, electroretinography (ERG) and histological examinations were performed. Retinal detachment with a retinal hole was created in 12 albino rabbits after vitrectomy. After fluid–air exchange, the hydrogel glue was applied to the hole in nine rabbits; three other rabbits were used as controls. Clinical and histological examinations were performed. The pH ranged from 6.65 to 8.14. The glue remained solid in BSS for 7 weeks. The glue injection did not induce inflammation. There was no significant difference between the study and control eyes in the ERG amplitude or the implicit times of the a and b waves. No significant histological abnormality was detected. The retina was reattached with glue in three of nine eyes. The histological examination showed glue under the retina. Hydrogel glue, which seemed to be minimally toxic to the eye, can be used to patch retinal breaks. However, methods to mix a small amount of each solution completely and a more effective intraocular delivery system for the glue are needed. Jpn J Ophthalmol 2007;51:89–95 © Japanese Ophthalmological Society 2007
A single surface tryptophan in the chitin-binding domain from Bacillus circulans chitinase A1 plays a pivotal role in binding chitin and can be modified to create an elutable affinity tag.

Abstract Site-directed mutagenesis was carried out to investigate the roles of a number of highly conserved residues of the chitin-binding domain (ChBD) of Bacillus circulans chitinase A1 (ChiA1) in the binding of chitin. Analysis of single alanine replacement mutants showed that mutation of an exposed tryptophan residue (Trp 687 ) impaired the binding to chitin, while mutation of other highly conserved residues, most carrying aromatic or hydrophobic side chains, did not significantly affect the binding activity. Interestingly, replacement of Trp 687 with phenylalanine significantly reduced chitin-binding activity at lower salt concentrations (0–1 M NaCl) but allowed strong binding to chitin at 2 M NaCl. Since Trp 687 is conserved among the ChBDs belonging to the bacterial ChiA1 subfamily, the data presented suggest a general mechanism in which this exposed tryptophan, which is located in the cleft formed between two β-sheets as revealed by the solution structure [J. Biol. Chem. 275 (2000) 13654], makes a major contribution to ligand binding presumably through hydrophobic interactions. Furthermore, modulation of the chitin-binding activity by the conserved amino acid replacement (W687F) and a shift in the ionic strength of buffer has led to the development of an elutable affinity tag for single column purification of recombinant proteins.
Experimental Helicobacter pylori Infection Induces Antral Gastritis and Gastric Mucosa-Associated Lymphoid Tissue in Guinea Pigs

Humans infected with Helicobacter pylori have abnormally low levels of the antioxidant vitamin C, which protects against the formation of carcinogenic nitrosamines, in gastric juice. Guinea pigs, like humans and nonhuman primates, have a dietary requirement for vitamin C. As such, these species have gastrointestinal vitamin C transport systems not found in other animals. We have developed and characterized a guinea pig model of chronic gastric H. pylori infection with the rodent-adapted Sydney strain of H. pylori. At 4 weeks postinfection, five of six animals of the infected group and zero of two animals of the control group were positive for H. pylori as determined by culture or PCR. At 15 weeks, six of six animals of the infected group and zero of two animals of the control group were positive. H. pylori-specific seroconversion was observed among infected animals. There were no histologic abnormalities in the gastric antra or fundi of control guinea pigs. In contrast, there was multifocal, mild to moderate lymphohistiocytic antral gastritis and formation of antral lymphoid follicles in H. pylori-infected animals. The lesion distribution in the gastric antra paralleled that observed in H. pylori-infected humans. The H. pylori-infected guinea pig should prove useful in modeling the interaction of helicobacter and vitamin C in gastric carcinogenesis.
Separating Logistics Flows in the Chicago Public School System

The central Chicago Public School warehouse was responsible for the distribution of supplies to 600 schools, including over $10 million annually of engineering and educational supplies. The system was fraught with problems-deliveries were not made according to schedule, schools were hoarding inventories, and some schools were paying a premium for reliable service from third party suppliers. This paper reports how we improved this logistics system. We built a mathematical model of the system, validated our model using historical data, and used the model to evaluate the impact of potential changes to the system. Our recommended changes were implemented throughout the system. We report the impact on system performance. The redesigned system shows a dramatic reduction in lead times, a reduction in capacity requirements, and an overall reduction in system costs.
Deep ultraviolet light-emitting diodes using quaternary AlInGaN multiple quantum wells

We report on the growth, fabrication, and characterization of deep ultraviolet (UV) light-emitting diodes (LEDs) with quaternary AlInGaN-AlInGaN multiple quantum wells (MQWs) in the active region. These high quality quaternary MQWs were deposited over sapphire and n-SiC substrates using a novel pulsed atomic layer epitaxy (PALE) technique. LEDs with peak emission wavelengths from 305-340 nm were fabricated and characterized. Using square geometry devices over sapphire and n-SiC substrates we studied the role of current crowding. Numerical simulation results are also provided to explain the observed current-voltage and light-emission characteristics.
Vessels as 4D Curves: Global Minimal 4D Paths to Extract 3D Tubular Surfaces

In this paper, we propose an innovative approach to the segmentation of tubular or vessel-like structures which combines all the benefits of minimal path techniques (global minimizers, fast computation, powerful incorporation of user input) with some of the benefits of active surface techniques (representation of a full 3D tubular surface rather than a just curve). The key is to represent the trajectory of the vessel not as a 3D curve but to go up a dimension and represent the entire vessel as a 4D curve, where each 4D point represents a 3D sphere (three coordinates for the center point and one for the radius). The 3D vessel structure is then obtained as the envelope of the family of spheres traversed along this 4D curve. Because the 3D surface is simply a curve in 4D, we are able to fully exploit minimal path techniques to obtain global minimizing trajectories between two user supplied end-points in order to reconstruct vessels from noisy or low contrast 3D data without the sensitivity to local minima inherent in most active surface techniques. In contrast to standard purely spatial 3D minimal path techniques, however, we are able to represent the full vessel surface rather than just a curve which runs through its interior. Our representation also yields a natural notion of a vessels "central curve", which is obtained by tracing the center points of the family of 3D spheres rather than its envelope. We demonstrate the utility of this approach on 2D images of roads as well as both 2D and 3D MR angiography and CT images.
578: Gene expression analysis of VEZF1, a lymphatic transcription factor, in fetal cystic hygromas and increased nuchal translucency

vasive assessment of chromosome 21 dosage in the fetus. STUDY DESIGN: 100 pregnant women were recruited to study. Cell free plasma RNA was extracted from maternal peripheral blood. Due to high heterozygosities, five SNP markers (rs8130833, rs4818219, rs59066201, rs7717, rs1044598) encoding the regions of PLAC4 and COL6A2 were studied. Fluoresceins labeled specific primers were used to amplify the markers. Digestion with restriction endonucleases was applied specifically to cut one allele while dumb to the other. PCR products were analyzed with capillary electrophoresis. Allelic ratios were calculated from the areas of the fluorescent peaks from each specific fragmental size. RESULTS: At least one of the five SNP markers exhibited heterozygous in 100% T21 cases. 95% cases showed multiple heterozygous alleles. Allelic ratios of the heterozygous SNP markers are 0.7-1.3 in non T21 fetus’s group vs 1.8-2.1 in T21 group. CONCLUSION: Trisomy 21 can be screening by noninvasive method using maternal blood. Five SNP markers encoding the regions of PLAC4 and COL6A2 can be accurately detected by fluorescent PCR and endonuclease digestion followed by capillary electrophoresis. The approach may be specifically useful for very fine mapping of the regions of chromosome 21 that are critical for Down syndrome.
Reply to Robison

In reconstructing my paper, Wade Robison finds at least two confusions (having a right with its exercise; liberty-rights with legal privileges), two gaps (in my lists of rights and virtues), and a falsehood essential for my argument against children’s liberty-rights (in his words, “…because one being is dependent upon another the first therefore lacks liberty-rights”). He does agree that there is a kind of right more important for children’s welfare than any liberty-rights they share with adults, but it is a “right of forbearance” not to be harmed. As such, it is neither a right to non-interference nor a claim-right to the assistance of others. Since my proposed “child-rights” to become an adult with the aid of adequate parents are claim-rights on parents and the state, they do not fall under this “third kind of right.” Moreover, children allegedly have this right not to be harmed in virtue of being persons, just as adults. My child-rights, by contrast, reflect differences from adults in capacities, forms of dependence, and life-prospects.
Frequency-selective REDOR and spin-diffusion relays in uniformly labeled whole cells

Solid-state NMR is a powerful and non-perturbative method to measure and define chemical composition and architecture in bacterial cell walls, even in the context of whole cells. Most NMR studies on whole cells have used selectively labeled samples. Here, we introduce an NMR sequence relay using frequency-selective REDOR (fsREDOR) and spin diffusion elements to probe a unique amine contribution in uniformly (13)C- and (15)N-labeled Staphylococcus aureus whole cells that we attribute to the d-alanine of teichoic acid. In addition to the primary peptidoglycan structural scaffold, cell walls can contain significant amounts of teichoic acid that contribute to cell-wall function. When incorporated into teichoic acid, d-alanine is present as an ester, connected via its carbonyl to a ribitol carbon, and thus has a free amine. Teichoic acid d-Ala is removed during cell-wall isolations and can only be detected in the context of whole cells. The sequence presented here begins with fsREDOR and a chemical shift evolution period for 2D data acquisition, followed by DARR spin diffusion and then an additional fsREDOR period. fsREDOR elements were used for (13)C observation to avoid complications from (13)C-(13)C couplings due to uniform labeling and for (15)N dephasing to achieve selectivity in the nitrogens serving as dephasers. The results show that the selected amine nitrogen of interest is near to teichoic acid ribitol carbons and also the methyl group carbon associated with alanine. In addition, its carbonyl is not significantly dephased by amide nitrogens, consistent with the expected microenvironment around teichoic acid.
Analysis of high-pressure hydrogen, methane, and heptane laminar diffusion flames : Thermal diffusion factor modeling

Abstract Direct numerical simulations are conducted for one-dimensional laminar diffusion flames over a large range of pressures ( 1 ⩽ P 0 ⩽ 200 atm ) employing a detailed multicomponent transport model applicable to dense fluids. Reaction kinetics mechanisms including pressure dependencies and prior validations at both low and high pressures were selected and include a detailed 24-step, 12-species hydrogen mechanism (H2/O2 and H2/air), and reduced mechanisms for methane (CH4/air: 11 steps, 15 species) and heptane (C7H16/air: 13 steps, 17 species), all including thermal NOx chemistry. The governing equations are the fully compressible Navier–Stokes equations, coupled with the Peng–Robinson real fluid equation of state. A generalized multicomponent diffusion model derived from nonequilibrium thermodynamics and fluctuation theory is employed and includes both heat and mass transport in the presence of concentration, temperature, and pressure gradients (i.e., Dufour and Soret diffusion). Previously tested high-pressure mixture property models are employed for the viscosity, heat capacity, thermal conductivity, and mass diffusivities. Five models for high-pressure thermal diffusion coefficients related to Soret and Dufour cross-diffusion are first compared with experimental data over a wide range of pressures. Laminar flame simulations are then conducted for each of the four flames over a large range of pressures for all thermal diffusion coefficient models and results are compared with purely Fickian and Fourier diffusion simulations. The results reveal a considerable range in the influence of cross-diffusion predicted by the various models; however, the most plausible models show significant cross-diffusion effects, including reductions in the peak flame temperatures and minor species concentrations for all flames. These effects increase with pressure for both H2 flames and for the C7H16 flames indicating the elevated importance of proper cross-diffusion modeling at large pressures. Cross-diffusion effects, while not negligible, were observed to be less significant in the CH4 flames and to decrease with pressure. Deficiencies in the existing thermal diffusion coefficient models are discussed and future research directions suggested.
Kidney transplantation in highly sensitized patients

Background Desensitization, a term loosely referring to a collection of antibody reduction and B-cell depletional therapies aimed at improving rates of transplantation in highly HLA and ABO-incompatible transplant recipients, has seen significant growth in the last decade. Advancements relate to an increasing unmet medical need for FDA-approved therapies, advancements in antibody detection methodologies and improved renal pathological assessments of antibody-mediated rejection (ABMR). Sources of data, areas of agreement and controversy Data reviewed include collective summaries of experience with high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), B-cell depletion with rituximab and the use of plasma exchange with low-dose IVIG. Consensus suggests that these protocols are the most commonly used while experiences with other agents (i.e. bortezomib) are evolving. Controversy exists as to the extent of resources required, expense and outcomes of desensitization protocols. Growing points or areas timely for developing research Here we review and synthesize data from evolving protocols and summarize developments of novel biologics aimed at modification of B-cells, antibodies and complement activation which will likely improve desensitization and treatment of ABMR.
Abstract IA08: Systematic functional genomics and KRAS

Large scale characterization of cancer genomes has led to information regarding the identify, number, and types of alterations found in human tumors. However, the large number of mutations identified to date require complementary approaches to understand the function of these mutated genes and to elucidate pathways involved in cancer initiation and progression. Over the past several years, we have developed genome scale RNAi libraries and open reading frame expression libraries that permit a systematic evaluation of genes involved in cancer initiation and maintenance. We have used these tools to dissect known and novel pathways involved in malignant transformation. In particular, we have dissected the signaling pathways related to one of the most frequently mutated oncogenes KRAS, that has proven to be difficult to target therapeutically. We have identified new components of KRAS effector pathways that are essential for the survival of KRAS driven cancers. We have also developed signatures that allow us to dissect KRAS-driven gene programs that correspond to KRAS-dependence. We have used this information to develop inhibitors of components of KRAS signaling that show promise in KRAS-driven cancer models. Citation Format: William C. Hahn. Systematic functional genomics and KRAS. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on RAS Oncogenes: From Biology to Therapy; Feb 24-27, 2014; Lake Buena Vista, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Res 2014;12(12 Suppl):Abstract nr IA08. doi: 10.1158/1557-3125.RASONC14-IA08
Toward Electrosynthesis with Uncoupled Extracellular Electron Uptake and Metabolic Growth: Enhancing Current Uptake with Rhodopseudomonas palustris

The production of metabolites from CO2 with microbes at cathodes (i.e., microbial electrosynthesis) is an attractive application of microbial electrochemistry. However, processes for the uptake of electrons from electrodes remain elusive, and microbial conservation of energy does not often occur at the cathode. One mechanism known for the uptake of electrons from electrodes is iron-mediated electron transfer to iron-oxidizing bacteria such as obligate aerobic chemolithotrophs and anaerobic photoautotrophs. However, for photoautotrophs, this requires an illuminated cathode to provide metabolic energy for growth. Here, we increased published iron-mediated electron uptake rates of Rhodopseudomonas palustris TIE-1 by uncoupling the electrochemical from the biological environment in a photobioelectrochemical system consisting of an electrochemical system and a photobioreactor. This uncoupled system resulted in a volumetric iron-mediated electron uptake rate (electric current) 56-fold higher than that in a sing...
Poorly Controlled HIV Infection: An Independent Risk Factor for Liver Fibrosis.

BACKGROUND Liver disease is a major cause of mortality among HIV-infected persons. There is limited information about the extent to which HIV disease severity impacts liver disease progression. METHODS We determined the incidence and predictors of advanced hepatic fibrosis measured by the Fibrosis-4 index (≥3.25) in a large diverse population of HIV-infected patients without significant liver disease at baseline (Fibrosis-4 score <1.45) in care between January 2000 and March 2014. We used Cox proportional hazards analysis to examine factors associated with progression to Fibrosis-4 score ≥3.25. RESULTS Among 14,198 HIV-infected patients, hepatitis C virus (HCV) coinfection [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 1.9, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.6 to 2.1], hepatitis B virus coinfection (aHR 1.5, 95% CI: 1.2 to 1.8), alcohol-use disorder (aHR 1.4, 95% CI: 1.2 to 1.6), and diabetes (aHR 1.9, 95% CI: 1.6 to 2.3) were associated with progression to advanced fibrosis in multivariable analysis. In addition, patients at each lower level of time-varying CD4 cell count had a significantly greater risk of progression, with ∼7-fold higher risk in those with CD4 <100 cells per cubic millimeter (aHR 6.9, 95% CI: 5.8 to 8.3) compared with CD4 ≥500 cells per cubic millimeter. An increasing gradient of risk was also observed among patients with higher time-varying HIV viral load (VL), with the greatest risk noted with VL ≥100,000 copies per milliliter (aHR 2.6, 95% CI: 2.2 to 3.1) compared with VL <500 copies per milliliter. CONCLUSIONS Lower CD4 cell count and higher HIV VL were significantly associated with progression to advanced hepatic fibrosis in a dose-dependent manner, independent of the risk associated with traditional factors: hepatitis C virus or hepatitis B virus coinfection, alcohol, and diabetes. Our findings suggest that early treatment of HIV infection could mitigate liver disease.
From what we perceive to what we remember: Characterizing representational dynamics of visual memorability

Not all visual memories are equal − some endure in our minds, while others quickly disappear. Recent behavioral work shows we can reliably predict which images will be remembered. This image property is called memorability. Memorability is intrinsic to an image, robust across observers, and unexplainable by low-level visual features. However, its neural bases and relation with perception and memory remain unknown. Here we characterize the representational dynamics of memorability using magnetoencephalography (MEG). We find memorability is indexed by brain responses starting at 218ms for faces and 371ms for scenes − later than classical early face/scene discrimination perceptual signals, yet earlier than the late memory encoding signal observed at ~700ms. The results show memorability is a high-level image property whose spatio-temporal neural dynamics are different from those of memory encoding. Together, this work brings new insights into the underlying neural processes of the transformation from what we perceive to what we remember.
Fluid extraction across pumping and permeable walls in the viscous limit

In biological transport mechanisms such as insect respiration and renal filtration, fluid travels along a leaky channel allowing material exchange with systems exterior to the channel. The channels in these systems may undergo peristaltic pumping which is thought to enhance the material exchange. To date, little analytic work has been done to study the effect of pumping on material extraction across the channel walls. In this paper, we examine a fluid extraction model in which fluid flowing through a leaky channel is exchanged with fluid in a reservoir. The channel walls are allowed to contract and expand uniformly, simulating a pumping mechanism. In order to efficiently determine solutions of the model, we derive a formal power series solution for the Stokes equations in a finite channel with uniformly contracting/expanding permeable walls. This flow has been well studied in the case in which the normal velocity at the channel walls is proportional to the wall velocity. In contrast we do not assume flow that is proportional to the wall velocity, but flow that is driven by hydrostatic pressure, and we use Darcy’s law to close our system for normal wall velocity. We incorporate our flowsolution into a model that tracks the material pressure exterior to the channel. We use this model to examine flux across the channel-reservoir barrier and demonstrate that pumping can either enhance or impede fluid extraction across channel walls. We find that associated with each set of physical flow and pumping parameters, there are optimal reservoir conditions that maximize the amount of material flowing from the channel into the reservoir.
Alternative Pathway Dysregulation and the Conundrum of Complement Activation by IgG4 Immune Complexes in Membranous Nephropathy

Membranous nephropathy (MN), a major cause of nephrotic syndrome, is a non-inflammatory immune kidney disease mediated by IgG antibodies that form glomerular subepithelial immune complexes. In primary MN, auto-antibodies target proteins expressed on the podocyte surface, often phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R1). Pathology is driven by complement activation, leading to podocyte injury and proteinuria. This article overviews the mechanisms of complement activation and regulation in MN, addressing the paradox that anti-PLA2R1 and other antibodies causing primary MN are predominantly (but not exclusively) IgG4, an IgG subclass that does not fix complement. Besides immune complexes, alterations of the glomerular basement membrane (GBM) in MN may lead to impaired regulation of the alternative pathway. The alternative pathway amplifies complement activation on surfaces insufficiently protected by complement regulatory proteins. Whereas podocytes are protected by cell-bound regulators, the GBM must recruit plasma factor H, which inhibits the alternative pathway on host surfaces carrying certain polyanions, such as heparan sulfate chains. Because heparan sulfate chains present in the normal GBM are lost in MN, we posit that the local complement regulation by factor H may be impaired as a result. Thus, the loss of GBM heparan sulfate in MN creates a micro-environment that promotes local amplification of complement activation, which in turn may be initiated via the classical or lectin pathways by subsets of IgG in immune complexes. A detailed understanding of the mechanisms of complement activation and dysregulation in MN is important for designing more effective therapies.
Altered kinetics of AMP deaminase by myosin binding

AMP deaminase catalyzes the deamination of AMP to inosine 5'-monophosphate (IMP) and ammonia. Factors controlling the enzyme in muscle can rapidly promote high rates of IMP formation when ATP utilization exceeds supply. We evaluated whether binding of AMP deaminase to myosin, which occurs during intense contraction conditions, alters the kinetic behavior of the enzyme. Reaction kinetics of myosin-bound and free AMP deaminase were evaluated. Reaction kinetics of the free enzyme yielded a near-linear double-reciprocal plot with an expected Km of approximately 1 mM AMP concentration (AMP). In contrast, reaction kinetics of AMP deaminase became bimodal when bound to myosin. At [AMP] less than 0.15 mM, a high-affinity Km (0.05-0.10 mM) with maximal velocity approximately 20% that of free enzyme was evident. At [AMP] greater than 0.15 mM, the Km and maximal velocity values were similar to that of the free enzyme. The 10- to 20-fold higher affinity Km would allow for a higher rate of AMP deamination at the low [AMP] found physiologically. AMP deaminase binding to myosin also induced a marked resistance to orthophosphate inhibition (10 mM) in the presence of 50 microM ADP. Results were similar for purified preparations of AMP deaminase bound to myosin subfragment 2 and crude extracts obtained from contracting muscle. Our results add further support to the hypothesis that AMP deaminase binding to myosin serves an important role in control of enzyme activity in contracting muscle.
Cell Trafficking of Carbon Nanotubes Based on Fluorescence Detection

Cell trafficking of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) is an area of scientific inquiry that has great implications in medicine, biosensing, and environmental science and engineering. The essence of this inquiry resides in the interaction of carbon nanostructures and cell membranes, regulated by the laws of molecular cell biology and the physiochemical properties of the nanostructures. Of equal importance to this inquiry is a description of cellular responses to the integration of man-made materials; yet, how cellular responses may invoke whole-organism level reaction remains unclear. In this chapter, we show three experimental studies, which may be beneficial to obtaining such an understanding. Among the reservoir of methodologies, which have proved of merit, we focus our attention on fluorescence microscopy, one of the most powerful and yet least invasive means of probing nanoparticles in biological systems. Especially, we present the method of fluorescence energy transfer induced between a lysophospholipid molecule and a single-walled CNT upon cellular uptake, and describe coating nanotubes with RNA and suspending fullerenes with phenolic acids for facilitating their translocation across cell membranes and shuttling between cell organelles. Finally, we comment on the perspective of using molecular simulations for facilitating and guiding such experiments.
The new colitides, Collagenous, lymphocytic, and diversion colitis

Three recently described colitides are collagenous, lymphocytic, and diversion colitis. Collagenous and lymphocytic colitis are similar inflammatory bowel disorders of unknown cause that present as chronic watery diarrhea in middle age. Diversion colitis occurs as the result of surgery in which segments of the large intestine are excluded from the fecal stream. The clinical and histologic features of these entities are discussed.
TU‐FG‐207B‐02: NIBIB Funding Opportunities

Up-to-date knowledge about federal funding opportunities related to medical physics research, as well as obtaining skills for writing effective grant proposals are critical for academic and entrepreneurial medical physicists. In this symposium, program directors from key federal research funding agencies, including the National Cancer Institute, the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, and the National Science Foundation, will present information about current funding opportunities relevant to the field of medical physics. They will also provide insight to issues that applicants should pay special attention to when crafting their research grant proposals. In addition, the symposium will include presentations on research funding for small business concerns, and the results of an independent AAPM study of the National Institutes of Health funding of AAPM members from 2002–2015. Learning Objectives: 1.To learn about current federal funding initiatives relevant to medical physics research 2.To learn about tactics important for crafting convincing research proposals 3.To learn about an independent study of NIH funding of research done by AAPM members B. Whelan, this work was commissioned and funded by the AAPM
Growth and characterization of MnAu2 films

Abstract MnAu 2 films ranging from 60 to 200 nm thickness are deposited by co-sputtering from elemental targets. X-ray diffraction confirmed these films to be nearly single phase with tetragonal lattice parameters of a =0.336 nm and c =0.872 nm that compare well to the bulk values of a =0.336 nm and c =0.876 nm. The density of the films is analyzed using x-ray reflectivity to be 14.95 g/cm 3 and within experimental error of previously determined value of 15.00 g/cm 3 . The films grown on c-plane sapphire, (100)MgO and (100)MgF 2 are randomly oriented polycrystalline, while the films grown on a -plane sapphire, (111)MgO and (111)Si/(0001)AlN showed that the (110) plane is parallel to the film plane and there are three sets of domains in equal amount differing by 60° in-plane rotation. Magnetic order is found to become paramagnetic near 360 K which is in close proximity to the bulk value. There are deviations in the slope of hysteresis loops observed at 10 K around 10 kOe that indicate complex magnetic switching.
iHear Food: Eating Detection Using Commodity Bluetooth Headsets

Monitoring a person's dietary behavior has many health applications (e.g. weight management). Existing approaches for automatic eating detection using wearable sensors often require custom hardware that may not be practical as their usability and energy efficiency have not been validated. In this paper, we propose to use off-the-shelf Bluetooth headsets to unobtrusively monitor and detect users' eating episodes by analyzing the chewing sound. The challenges of using commodity acoustic hardware include the limited sampling rate that reduces feature fidelity and the impact of environment noise in real-world settings. Our experimental results show that the traditional kernel-based approach using Support Vector Machine (SVM) could achieve 94-95% classification accuracy in lab settings, though the detection performance quickly degraded to 65-76% for in-the-field testing. We then propose a novel Deep Learning based classification technique that drastically improved detection accuracy to 77-94% despite the existence of ambient noise. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to use Bluetooth headsets to detect eating episodes and to use Deep Learning to significantly increase classification performance in this context. We believe that the adoption of readily available and low-cost consumer devices provides a foundation for practical deployment of automated dietary monitoring applications.
Examination of an Innovative Solution for Internationalizing the Curriculum Through Online Study Abroad

As we move further into the twenty-first century, businesses continue to seek employees with global experience and intercultural competence, but the reality is that many students are unable to gain this experience through study abroad programs for a variety of reasons. The purpose of this study was to determine if there is value in using web conferencing technology to provide students with access to international learning activities or ways to internationalize the curriculum for students who are unable to travel abroad. This formative case evaluation is the first in a series of iterative studies aimed at developing a viable, sustainable, technology-based solution through design-based research. The Online Learning Consortium’s (OLC) Quality Framework is composed of five pillars that support successful online learning: access, student satisfaction, faculty satisfaction, learning effectiveness, and scale (Online Learning Consortium 2017). Using the OLC Quality Framework, this formative case evaluation focuses on both quality (student satisfaction, faculty satisfaction, learning effectiveness) and value added (access, scale) when web conferencing technology was used to allow participants in the USA to participate live in study abroad activities in a global health management course in Brazil. Researchers found that web conferencing technology appears to be a viable alternative that provides its own set of benefits to students in higher education. Using the OLC Quality Framework to explore the evaluation questions revealed both success factors and areas for improvement in each of the five categories promoted by the international professional organization dedicated to the advancement of quality online learning.
Policy Review: Appeals process for disability claims equals long wait time for veterans

Policymakers, advocate groups, and national VA leadership express concerns about the timeliness and quality of the Compensation and Pension (C&P) claims adjudication system. This C & P system is defined as the overarching process the Veterans Benefits Administration uses to review and to adjudicate a veteran’s claim for a service connected disability. For this policy review, we present a summary of the appeals process, a summary of delays, outline some change efforts, and conclude our review with an analysis of a proposal to systematically address and to resolve the appeals backlog, the Fully Developed Appeal.
The CIA and the Politics of US Intelligence Reform

Examining the political foundations of American intelligence policy, this book develops a new theory of intelligence adaptation to explain the success or failure of major reform efforts since World War II. Durbin draws on careful case histories of the early Cold War, the Nixon and Ford administrations, the first decade after the Cold War, and the post-9/11 period, looking closely at the interactions among Congress, executive branch leaders, and intelligence officials. These cases demonstrate the significance of two factors in the success or failure of reform efforts: the level of foreign policy consensus in the system, and the ability of reformers to overcome the information advantages held by intelligence agencies. As these factors ebb and flow, windows of opportunity for reform open and close, and different actors and interests come to influence reform outcomes. Durbin concludes that the politics of US intelligence frequently inhibit effective adaptation, undermining America's security and the civil liberties of its citizens.
Doping Effect on the Physical Properties of Ca 10 Pt 3 As 8(Fe 2 As 2) 5 Single Crystals

Ca10Pt3As8(Fe2As2)5 is a unique parent compound for superconductivity, which consists of both semiconducting Pt3As8 and metallic FeAs layers. We report the observation of superconductivity induced via chemical doping in either Ca site using rare-earth (RE) elements (RE = La, Gd) or Fe site using Pt. The interlayer distance and the normal-state physical properties of the doped system change correspondingly. The coupled changes include (1) superconducting transition temperature T c increases with increasing both doping concentration and interlayer distance, (2) our T c value is higher than previously reported maximum value for Pt doping in the Fe site, (3) both the normal-state in-plane resistivity and out-of-plane resistivity change from non-metallic to metallic behavior with increasing doping concentration and T c, and (4) the transverse in-plane magnetoresistance (MRab) changes from linear-field dependence to quadratic behavior upon increasing T c. For La-doped compound with the highest T c (~35 K), upper critical fields ([Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]), coherence lengths (ξ ab, ξ c), and in-plane penetration depth (λ ab) are estimated. We discuss the relationship between chemical doping, interlayer distance, and physical properties in this system.
Accuracy and Reliability of the FitBit ChargeTM Activity Tracker Among Older Adults

Wearable technology, including activity trackers, remains a top fitness trend world-wide; however, the ability of individual activity trackers to accurately and consistently record physical activity remains unknown. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy and reliability of step counts from the Fitbit Charge™ among older adults. Thirteen participants with a mean age of 70.38 ±4.27 years volunteered to participate and completed all testing. Participants completed a 96 meter walk around a gymnasium while wearing the Fitbit Charge™ activity tracker. Step counts on the activity tracker were recorded before and after the walk to determine the step count. Each walk was also video recorded to determine the actual number of steps taken during the walk. Step counts from video analysis were confirmed by two researchers. The same procedures were repeated on a second, non-consecutive day of testing to determine the reliability of the activity tracker. Accuracy of the activity tracker was determined by comparing step counts reported by the Fitbit Charge™ to the observed step counts from each testing session. The reliability of the activity tracker was determined by correlation analysis and comparison of step counts from the first testing session to the second testing session. The activity tracker significantly underestimated observed steps at both testing sessions by 21.31 steps and 22.62 steps, respectively (p .05); however, the correlation between the two sessions was only moderate, r = .55, p = .05. Among older adults, the Fitbit Charge™ appears to underestimate steps taken even over a short distance. The reliability of the Fitbit Charge™ is questionable given only a moderate correlation between sessions. While preliminary, these results call into question the accuracy and reliability of daily step counts from the Fitbit Charge™. It is suggested that all new activity trackers to hit the market are given careful study to determine their ability to accurately measure daily activity.
A flexible model for instrumented indentation of viscoelastic-plastic materials

The time-dependent pyramidal or conical indentation of viscoelastic-plastic materials, such as glassy polymers, is examined by a flexible, Kelvin-like model. The model equation is simply solved numerically for a wide range of material properties and indentation loading sequences. The flexibility of the model is demonstrated by generating typical indentation responses for a metal, a ceramic, an elastomer, and a glassy polymer. Polymer indentation is further examined under ramp, hold, and cyclic loading conditions, including adhesive effects. The model and approach should be particularly useful in identifying the various deformation components contributing to observed instrumented indentation phenomena.
ENDOPHTHALMITIS AFTER PARS PLANA VITRECTOMY: Efficacy of Intraoperative Subconjunctival Antibiotics.

PURPOSE To examine rates of acute infectious endophthalmitis after pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) in eyes that received intraoperative subconjunctival antibiotics versus eyes that did not. METHODS A retrospective, nonrandomized, comparative case series of 18,886 consecutive cases of transconjunctival 23-, 25-, and 27-gauge PPV over a 5-year period was performed. The impact of prophylactic intraoperative subconjunctival antibiotics on the development of acute infectious postoperative endophthalmitis was examined. RESULTS Of 18,886 cases of PPV, 14,068 (74.5%) received intraoperative subconjunctival antibiotics, whereas 4,818 (25.5%) did not. Sixteen cases (0.085%, 1/1,176) of post-PPV endophthalmitis were identified. The incidence of endophthalmitis in eyes that received subconjunctival antibiotics was 0.078% (11/14,068 cases, 1/1,282), whereas the incidence in those that did not receive subconjunctival antibiotics was 0.10% (5/4,818 cases, 1/1,000). No statistically significant difference was identified in the incidence of endophthalmitis between those that received subconjunctival antibiotics and those that did not (P = 0.598). Microbial culture was performed in 11 cases with 6 culture-positive cases (5/8 cases that received subconjunctival antibiotics and 1/3 cases that did not). CONCLUSION Prophylactic subconjunctival antibiotics were not associated with a significantly reduced rate of post-PPV endophthalmitis. With consideration of emerging multidrug-resistant bacteria, routine prophylactic subconjunctival antibiotics may not be justified.
Capillary forces on a small particle at a liquid-vapor interface: Theory and simulation

We study the meniscus on the outside of a small spherical particle with radius $R$ at a liquid-vapor interface. The liquid is confined in a cylindrical container with a finite radius $L$ and has a contact angle $\ensuremath{\pi}/2$ at the container surface. The center of the particle is placed at various heights along the central axis of the container. By varying $L$, we are able to systematically study the crossover of the meniscus from nanometer to macroscopic scales. The meniscus rise or depression on the particle is found to grow as $ln(2L/R)$ when $R\ensuremath{\ll}L\ensuremath{\ll}{\ensuremath{\kappa}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ with ${\ensuremath{\kappa}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ being the capillary length and saturate to a value predicted by the Derjaguin-James formula when $R\ensuremath{\ll}{\ensuremath{\kappa}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}\ensuremath{\ll}L$. The capillary force on the particle exhibits a linear dependence on the particle's displacement from its equilibrium position at the interface when the displacement is small. The associated spring constant is found to be $2\ensuremath{\pi}\ensuremath{\gamma}{ln}^{\ensuremath{-}1}(2L/R)$ for $L\ensuremath{\ll}{\ensuremath{\kappa}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ and saturate to $2\ensuremath{\pi}\ensuremath{\gamma}{ln}^{\ensuremath{-}1}(3.7{\ensuremath{\kappa}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}/R)$ for $L\ensuremath{\gg}{\ensuremath{\kappa}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$. At nanometer scales, we perform molecular dynamics simulations of the described geometry and the results agree well with the predictions of the macroscopic theory of capillarity. At micrometer to macroscopic scales, comparison to experiments by Anachkov et al. [Soft Matter 12, 7632 (2016).] shows that the finite span of a liquid-vapor or liquid-liquid interface needs to be considered to interpret experimental data collected with $L\ensuremath{\sim}{\ensuremath{\kappa}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$.