cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Persistent Enteric Murine Norovirus Infection is Associated with Functionally Suboptimal Virus-Specific CD8 T Cell Responses

Norovirus (NV) gastroenteritis is a major contributor to global morbidity and mortality, yet little is known about immune mechanisms leading to NV control. Previous studies using the murine norovirus (MNV) model have established a key role for T cells in MNV clearance. Despite these advances, important questions remain regarding the magnitude, location, and dynamics of the MNV-specific T cell response. To address these questions, we identified MNV-specific major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I immunodominant epitopes using an overlapping peptide screen. One of these epitopes (amino acids 519 to 527 of open reading frame 2 [ORF2(519-527)]) was highly conserved among all NV genogroups. Using MHC class I peptide tetramers, we tracked MNV-specific CD8 T cells in lymphoid and mucosal sites during infection with two MNV strains with distinct biological behaviors, the acutely cleared strain CW3 and the persistent strain CR6. Here, we show that enteric MNV infection elicited robust T cell responses primarily in the intestinal mucosa and that MNV-specific CD8 T cells dynamically regulated the expression of surface molecules associated with activation, differentiation, and homing. Furthermore, compared to MNV-CW3 infection, chronic infection with MNV-CR6 resulted in fewer and less-functional CD8 T cells, and this difference was evident as early as day 8 postinfection. Finally, MNV-specific CD8 T cells were capable of reducing the viral load in persistently infected Rag1(-/-) mice, suggesting that these cells are a crucial component of NV immunity. Collectively, these data provide fundamental new insights into the adaptive immune response to two closely related NV strains with distinct biological behaviors and bring us closer to understanding the correlates of protective antiviral immunity in the intestine.
Late diagnosis of choroidal malignant melanomas in eyes with clear media and low visual acuity

Five patients seen in a one-year period with advanced malignant melanoma of the choroid in eyes with low visual acuity and clear media are reported. The low visual acuity appeared clinically to be antecedent to the malignant tumor; although in certain cases it may have been related to the occult melanoma, this was not appreciated clinically. Because of the low visual acuity, these patients did not have vision symptoms referable to the melanoma, and the malignancy was diagnosed late in its course. All five cases had extrascleral extension of the tumor at the time of surgical treatment; three are dead of metastatic disease, and two have undergone orbital exenteration with only brief follow-up periods. This experience suggests that eyes with clear media and low vision owing to presumably unrelated causes should undergo periodic examination to rule out the presence of a growing malignant melanoma and to prevent its late diagnosis.
Cultural responses to the altithermal: The role of aquifer-related water resources

The focus of this research is Early Archaic adaptation to the hot and dry Altithermal in the North American Great Plains. The view presented here suggests a direct link between Altithermal climatic conditions and cultural responses to those conditions. Water was a key factor in cultural adaptation to arid Altithermal conditions. Statistical analysis reveals a significant relationship between Early Archaic site location and certain sources of groundwater that is not apparent during the periods preceding and succeeding the Altithermal. The distribution of Early Archaic sites may reflect increased emphasis on predictable water supplies offered by aquifers. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
State-level legislation on follow-on biologic substitution

In 2009, the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act (BPCIA) paved the way for market entry of generic biologics by establishing a pathway for their regulatory approval. Proliferating with the advent of recombinant DNA technology, biologic drugs are derived from living organisms to create vaccines, blood products, allergenic products, monoclonal antibodies, cytokines, growth factors, enzymes, immunomodulators, thrombolytics, proteins, arsphenamine (and derivatives), toxins, and antitoxins.1 Larger and more complex than traditional pharmaceutical molecules, biologics are more difficult to create (and replicate) than small-molecule drugs.2 Their clinical effects are determined not only by their primary chemical structure but also by glycosylation patterns found in their structural folds.3 Thus, follow-on biologics, also referred to as biosimilars, can never be exact replicas of a reference product.4 Unlike generic drugs, biologics with pharmacokinetic equivalence may nevertheless exhibit varying pharmacodynamics, clinical efficacy, and immunogenicity (the product's power to cause an immune reaction), not only between follow-on and reference products, but also within a particular reference product manufactured at different times or locations.5 The BPCIA defines biosimilars as biological products that are highly similar to reference products with no clinically meaningful differences in terms of safety, purity, or potency.6 The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is authorized to designate a biosimilar as ‘interchangeable’ with a reference product if ‘the risk in terms of safety or diminished efficacy of alternating or switching between use of the biological product and the reference product is not greater than the risk of using the reference product without such alternation or switch’.7 Importantly, if deemed interchangeable, a follow-on ‘biological product may be substituted for the reference product without the intervention of the health care provider who prescribed the reference product’.8 While the FDA's European counterpart has already approved 16 follow-on biologics,9 no follow-on biologics have yet been approved in the United States.10 In anticipation of their arrival, though, several states have sought over the past year to legally limit the extent to which pharmacies may actually treat follow-on biologics as interchangeable.
Question Detection in Spoken Conversations Using Textual Conversations

We investigate the use of textual Internet conversations for detecting questions in spoken conversations. We compare the text-trained model with models trained on manually-labeled, domain-matched spoken utterances with and without prosodic features. Overall, the text-trained model achieves over 90% of the performance (measured in Area Under the Curve) of the domain-matched model including prosodic features, but does especially poorly on declarative questions. We describe efforts to utilize unlabeled spoken utterances and prosodic features via domain adaptation.
Management of disseminated choroid plexus papilloma: A case study

Choroid plexus papilloma (CPP) is a low-grade neoplasm of the choroid plexus that typically occurs in childhood and comprises under 1% of adult brain tumors. In this article, we report our experience delivering craniospinal irradiation (CSI) to a highly unusual case of disseminated CPP in an adult patient 8 years after an initial near total resection. The patient remains free of disease progression 3 years after completing radiation. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2014;61:562–563. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A controlled comparison of continuous intraarterial and intravenous infusions of vasopressin in hemorrhage from esophageal varices

Infusions of intraarterial vasopressin (IAV) into the superior mesenteric artery have been shown to be effective in controlling hemorrhage from esophagogastric varices. Intravenous infusions of vasopressin (IVV), which can be initiated rapidly and require less sophisticated equipment and personnel, have also been reported to control variceal hemorrhage. We undertook a controlled clinical trial to compare these two routes of administration. Twenty-two cirrhotic patients with massive hemorrhage from varices were randomized to receive either IVV or IAV. Intraarterial vasopressin was begun at 0.1 U/min and increased progressively as needed to 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, and 0.5 U/min. Intravenous vasopressin was begun at 0.3 U/min and increased progressively as needed to 0.6, 0.9, 1.2, and 1.5 U/min. Hemorrhage was controlled in 5 of 10 episodes (50%) with IVV and in 6 of 12 episodes (50%) with IAV. Seven of the ten episodes treated with IVV (70%) ended fatally compared with 9 of 12 treated with IAV (75%). Side-effects and complications occurred with similar frequency in the two groups. The two routes of administration are equal in effects, side-effects, and complications. We recommend that IVV, which can be administered more easily, be given a brief therapeutic trial early in the management of hemorrhage from varices.
NONLINEAR VIBRATION OF A CANTILEVER BEAM WITH TIP MASS UNDER RANDOM BASE EXCITATION

Nonlinear large amplitude random vibration of cantilever beam with lumped mass and rotary inertia under zero mean, stationary, Gaussian random base excitation is studied, using the inextensional beam theory. Single-mode approximation is employed to discretize the Lagrange's equation. The resulting nonlinear governing modal equation of motion is solved with application of the stochastic linearization method. Two examples, a cantilever beam with/without tip mass, are analyzed as application of the developed methodology. Effects of mass and rotary inertia variation on system response are investigated in detail.
Positive flatband voltage shift in MOS capacitors on n-type GaN

GaN MOS capacitors were fabricated using silicon dioxide deposited by low-pressure chemical vapor deposition oxide at 900/spl deg/C. The MOS capacitor flatband voltage shift versus temperature was used to determine a pyroelectric charge coefficient of 3.7 /spl times/ 10/sup 9/ q/cm/sup 2/-K, corresponding to a pyroelectric voltage coefficient of 7.0 /spl times/ 10/sup 4/ V/m-K.
Nuclear Structure and the Fate of Core Collapse (Type II) Supernova

Abstract For a long time Gerry Brown and his collaborator Hans Bethe considered the question of the final fate of a core collapse (Type II) supernova. Recalling ideas from nuclear structure on Kaon condensate and a soft equation of state of the dense nuclear matter they concluded that progenitor stars with mass as low as 17 – 18 M ⊙ (including supernova 1987A) could collapse to a small mass black hole with a mass just beyond 1.5 M ⊙ , the upper bound they derive for a neutron star. We discuss another nuclear structure effect that determines the carbon to oxygen ratio (C/O) at the end of helium burning. This ratio also determines the fate of a Type II supernova with a carbon rich progenitor star producing a neutron star and oxygen rich collapsing to a black hole. While the C/O ratio is one of the most important nuclear inputs to stellar evolution it is still not known with sufficient accuracy. We discuss future efforts to measure with gamma-beam and TPC detector of the C 12 ( α , γ ) O 16 reaction that determines the C/O ratio in stellar helium burning.
Theoretical characterization of ion channel blockade: Ligand binding to periodically accessible receptors

With repetitive stimulation, the time course of use-dependent blockade as assessed by peak membrane ion currents can be described by a sequence of blocking relationships that have the form of recurrence equations. The equations of the sequence describe blockade acquired during each interval of a stimulus where the possibly different binding and unbinding rates are assumed constant during each interval. The solution predicts that use-dependent uptake follows an exponential time course. Furthermore, the exponential uptake rate is a linear function of uptake rates associated with the stimulus time intervals. Similarly, the fraction of blocked channels at steady state is a linear function of the interval dependent blockade equilibria. Several novel tests of consistency between the model and observations are derived from these theoretical results. It is also shown that as the stimulus interval increases to infinity, steady state dissociation constants measured by peak membrane currents are theoretically equivalent to those measured with true equilibrium methods such as radioligand binding studies.
A Simulation Study of Permutation, Bootstrap, and Gene Dropping for Assessing Statistical Significance in the Case of Unequal Relatedness

We used simulations to evaluate methods for assessing statistical significance in association studies. When the statistical model appropriately accounted for relatedness among individuals, unrestricted permutation tests and a few other simulation-based methods effectively controlled type I error rates; otherwise, only gene dropping controlled type I error but at the expense of statistical power.
Calpain Cleavage Promotes Talin Binding to the β3Integrin Cytoplasmic Domain

Talin links integrin β cytoplasmic domains to the actin cytoskeleton and is involved in the clustering and activation of these receptors. To understand how talin recognizes integrin β cytoplasmic domains, we configured surface plasmon resonance methodology to measure the interaction of talin with the β3 integrin cytoplasmic domain. Here we report that the N-terminal ∼47-kDa talin head domain (talin-H) has a 6-fold higher binding affinity than intact talin for the β3tail. The affinity difference is mainly due to a difference ink on. Calpain cleavage of intact talin released talin-H and resulted in a 16-fold increase in apparentK a and a 100-fold increase in apparentk on. The increase in talin binding after cleavage was greater than predicted for stoichiometric liberation of free talin-H. This additional increase in binding was due to cooperative binding of talin-H and talin rod domain to the β3 tail. Talin resembles ERM (ezrin, radixin, moesin) proteins in possessing an N-terminal FERM (band four-point-one, ezrin, radixin, moesin) domain. These data show that the talin FERM domain, like that in the ERM proteins, is masked in the intact molecule. Furthermore, they suggest that talin cleavage by calpain may contribute to the effects of the protease on the clustering and activation of integrins.
Endothelin induces vascular and mucosal lesions, enhances the injury by HCl/ethanol, and the antibody exerts gastroprotection.

Vascular factors play an important role in the pathogenesis and prevention of acute gastric mucosal lesions. Endothelin-3 (ET-3), a potent vasoactive peptide, was infused intra-arterially to induce gastric microvascular and hemorrhagic mucosal lesions, and to enhance the damaging effects of dilute HCl and ethanol. ET-3 antibody was injected intravenously to decrease hemorrhagic mucosal lesions induced by ethanol. Locally infused ET (0.01, 0.1, and 1.0 nmol.100 g-1.min-1 for up to 15 min) was followed in some cases by intragastric dilute ethanol or HCl, which alone caused no or only mild vascular and mucosal lesions. Monastral blue was used to visualize and quantify vascular injury. ET-3 produced dose-dependent vascular lesions that affected the walls of mucosal capillaries and venules and induced mucosal congestion and focal endothelial labeling in vessels of the gastric muscular layers. The highest dose of ET induced hemorrhagic gastric mucosal lesions, mortality, and periods of hyper- and hypotension in...
Crossing the Line Observations from East Detroit, Michigan, USA

This is an experimental piece that reports on findings from a research project conducted from September to December 2006 on the border between a neighborhood on the east side of Detroit (Jefferson Chalmers) and Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan. The project addresses the stark racial, economic, and physical divides between two proximate communities, and the way that the boundary line between these communities is enacted. Alter Road, serves as this real and infrequently crossed border. The physical barriers put in place to reinforce the imaginary line between East Detroit,1 and Grosse Pointe Park and the conditions on either side of the border are prominent themes. For social workers, understanding how and why bordering communities remain insular, and the effect of that segregation, is important in understanding human behavior and better appreciating the circumstances from which people come. This qualitative piece illustrates these issues through the eyes of a graduate social work student walking again and agai...
A modeling approach to represent hysteresis in capillary pressure‐saturation relationship based on fluid connectivity in void space

[1] This study presents a new model for description of hysteretic constitutive relationships between capillary pressure and saturation under capillary-dominated multiphase flow conditions in porous media. Hysteretic relationships are required for accurate prediction of spatial and temporal distribution of multiphase fluids in response to successively occurring drainage and imbibition events in porous media. In addition to contact angle effects, connectivity of the void space in the porous medium plays a central role for the macroscopic manifestation of hysteresis behavior and capillary entrapment of wetting and nonwetting fluids. The hysteretic constitutive model developed in this work uses void-size distribution and a measure of connectivity for void space to compute the hysteretic curves and to predict entrapped fluid-phase saturations. Two functions, the drainage connectivity function and the wetting connectivity function, are introduced to characterize connectivity of fluids in void space during drainage and wetting processes. These functions can be estimated through pore-scale simulations in computer-generated porous media or from traditional experimental measurements of primary drainage and main wetting curves. The hysteresis model results are verified by comparing the model predicted scanning curves with 3-D pore-scale simulations as well as with actual data sets obtained from column experiments found in the literature.
Unsteady heat transfer in laminar non‐Newtonian boundary layer over a wedge

The transient thermal response of a power-law type non-Newtonian, laminar boundary layer flow over a wedge is investigated. Consideration is given to the case of a step change in surface temperature. Details of the transient heat flux and the temperature field are obtained and have been presented graphically. The range of Prandtl numbers investigated is from 5 to 1000 while the viscosity index was allowed to vary from 0.1 to 5.0.
Gender HCI: What About the Software?

We use the term gender HCI (human-computer interaction) to refer to research into how software relates to gender differences. Our particular focus is on how gender-neutral software works, not on gender-oriented content. Specifically, we have concentrated on software aimed at supporting everyday users doing problem solving. Several of the hypotheses we developed in the first step of our investigative method predict that in a software environment with problem-solving features, gender differences will have a significant impact on the adoption and use of these features, due at least in part to differences related to risk perception and confidence. To maintain its creative edge, an organization must encourage a diversity of ideas
Size and price-to-book effects: Evidence from the Chinese stock markets

Abstract We examine the size and price-to-book effects in Chinese markets. We find strong evidence for the size effect but little evidence for the price-to-book effect. We further examine these effects in the context of the monetary policy of the People's Bank of China. We find that the size effect is stronger during the time of restrictive monetary policy. We attribute these results to specific characteristics of Chinese markets, such as potentially lower bankruptcy costs of partially state-owned enterprises. We also examine the herding behavior and find significant effects between 2002 and 2012. Herding behavior decreases after 2006 suggesting that the information asymmetries in Chinese markets are decreasing as the markets mature. Herding is also a significant information variable in a four-factor conditional pricing model.
Growth arrest specific gene 1 is a positive growth regulator for the cerebellum

Postnatal cerebellum development involves the generation of granule cells and Bergmann glias (BGs). The granule cell precursors are located in the external germinal layer (EGL) and the BG precursors are located in the Purkinje layer (PL). BGs extend their glial fibers into the EGL and facilitate granule cells' inward migration to their final location. Growth arrest specific gene 1 (Gas1) has been implicated in inhibiting cell-cycle progression in cell culture studies (G. Del Sal et al., 1992, Cell 70, 595--607). However, its growth regulatory function in the CNS has not been described. To investigate its role in cerebellar growth, we analyzed the Gas1 mutant mice. At birth, wild-type and mutant mice have cerebella of similar size; however, mature mutant cerebella are less than half the size of wild-type cerebella. Molecular and cellular examinations indicate that Gas1 mutant cerebella have a reduced number of granule cells and BG fibers. We provide direct evidence that Gas1 is required for normal levels of proliferation in the EGL and the PL, but not for their differentiation. Furthermore, we show that Gas1 is specifically and coordinately expressed in both the EGL and the BGs postnatally. These results support Gas1 as a common genetic component in coordinating EGL cell and BG cell proliferation, a link which has not been previously appreciated.
Long-term follow-up of unoperated macular holes.

Abstract Objective To investigate the anatomic and visual acuity outcomes among patients with unoperated macular holes and at least 5 years of follow-up. Design Retrospective, noncomparative case series from an institutional practice setting. Participants All patients with unoperated full-thickness macular holes evaluated at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute between January 1, 1968 and December 31, 1993 and observed for at least 5 years. Methods Demographic and clinical data were abstracted from patients' medical records and ophthalmologic photography records. For patients with bilateral macular holes, only one eye was included. Main outcome measures Visual acuity and clinical features on initial examination, at 5 years, and at final follow-up. Results The study included 65 eyes of 65 patients with a median age of 65 years (range, 52–85 years) and a median follow-up of 9.3 years (range, 5–29 years). On initial examination at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, the macular hole was stage 2 in 15 eyes (24%), stage 3 in 23 eyes (37%), and stage 4 in 25 eyes (40%). At final follow-up, the macular hole was stage 3 in 10 eyes (16%) and stage 4 in 53 eyes (84%). Visual acuity was 20/200 or worse in 35 eyes (54%) on initial examination, in 43 eyes (74%) at 5 years, and in 53 eyes (82%) at final follow-up. Poorer visual acuity on initial examination was a significant predictor of poorer final vision ( P Conclusions Long-term follow-up of unoperated macular holes demonstrates progression in hole size and stage, vision loss which generally stabilizes at the 20/200 to 20/400 level, a redistribution and reduced number of yellow nodular opacities at the level of the retinal pigment epithelium, and the development of retinal pigment epithelial atrophy surrounding the macular hole, resulting in a "bull's-eye" macular appearance.
Erratum to: Labor market institutions and income inequality: an empirical exploration

The online version of the original article can be found under doi:10.1007/s11127-008-9339-1.C. CalderonLatin American and Caribbean Department, The World Bank, 1818 H St. NW, Washington, DC 20433,USAA. Chong ( )Research Department, Inter-American Development Bank, 1300 New York Ave., NW, Washington,DC 20577, USAe-mail: albertoch@iadb.org
Policy and Training Recommendations Related to Police Use of CEDs: Overview of Findings From a Comprehensive National Study:

The authors report the policy and training recommendations derived from a comprehensive national study that examined conductive energy device (CED) use, resulting injuries, departmental policies and training, and reports from officers, trainers, and suspects concerning CED incidents. The overall purpose of the national project was to examine CED use from a variety of methods. Although the specific analyses and findings from each of the different methodologies are published separately, the authors integrate the findings of the various components of the study, and from the general literature, into a comprehensive set of policy and training recommendations. This article helps us understand how and why injuries occur to police and citizens during these use-of-force events and recommends a comprehensive set of policies and principles for training police officers on CED use. The major conclusions address not only the importance of CEDs to law enforcement but also the potential for abuse of CEDs by the police, and how such abuse can be avoided.
Telemedicine and the New Children`s Hospital Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children

Telemedicine is an important factor in the future strategy of the Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children. As a state, national and international centre of excellence, it is the hospital's role to assist in the development of the best child health services. An important aim is to provide easy access to a full range of paediatric services through the provision of a comprehensive telemedicine service, which encompasses videoconferencing and tele-imaging, and positions the child as the centre of service provision. Experience so far suggests that in Australia, as in other countries, the adoption of telemedicine may outstrip the ability of the legislative and administrative frameworks to keep pace. Thus, the enablers appear to be cultural and technological while the obstacles are rooted in the way in which health systems are financed and administered.
Newton-Stein method: a second order method for GLMs via Stein's Lemma

We consider the problem of efficiently computing the maximum likelihood estimator in Generalized Linear Models (GLMs) when the number of observations is much larger than the number of coefficients (n ≫ p ≫ 1). In this regime, optimization algorithms can immensely benefit from approximate second order information. We propose an alternative way of constructing the curvature information by formulating it as an estimation problem and applying a Stein-type lemma, which allows further improvements through sub-sampling and eigenvalue thresholding. Our algorithm enjoys fast convergence rates, resembling that of second order methods, with modest per-iteration cost. We provide its convergence analysis for the case where the rows of the design matrix are i.i.d. samples with bounded support. We show that the convergence has two phases, a quadratic phase followed by a linear phase. Finally, we empirically demonstrate that our algorithm achieves the highest performance compared to various algorithms on several datasets.
Impairment in Fracture Healing in a Mouse Model of Type 2 Diabetes Is Driven by Skeletal Stem Cell Niche Dysregulation

Impairment in Fracture Healing in a Mouse Model of Type 2 Diabetes Is Driven by Skeletal Stem Cell Niche Dysregulation Ruth Tevlin, MB, BCh, MRCSI*, Eun Young Seo, Adrian Mc Ardle, MB, BCh, MRCSI, Xinming Tong, PhD, Michael Januszyk, MD, PhD, Fan Yang, PhD, Geoffrey C Gurtner, MD, FACS, Charles KF Chan, PhD, Irving L Weissman, MD, Michael T Longaker, MD, MBA, FACS Stanford University Medical School, Stanford, CA
Motivating the academic mind: High-level construal of academic goals enhances goal meaningfulness, motivation, and self-concordance

How one thinks about or conceptualizes a goal has important consequences for the motivational features of goal pursuit. Two experiments tested the hypothesis, inspired by work on meaning in life, action identification theory, and expectancy-value theory, that high-level construal of an academic goal should enhance motivation to pursue that goal. In each experiment, we manipulated high-level versus low-level construal of an academic goal and assessed several variables related to the goal: the perceived meaningfulness of the goal, motivation to pursue the goal, and goal self-concordance. Supporting the hypothesis, individuals who thought about their academic goal in a high-level manner viewed their goal as more meaningful, reported being more motivated to pursue the goal, and reported the goal to be more self-concordant. Implications and future directions are discussed.
Abstract W MP79: The Sex Chromosome Complement Contributes to Ischemic Stroke Sensitivity and Inflammatory Responses in Aged FCG Mice

Introduction: Aging is the most important non-modifiable risk factor for ischemic stroke; modeling stroke in aged animals is of clinical relevance and translational value. Stroke is a sexually dimorphic disease. Elderly women not only have higher stroke incidence than age-matched men, but also have poorer recovery, higher morbidity and mortality once a stroke occurs. Much of this has been attributed to the loss of estrogen with menopause. However, stroke incidence does not begin to climb until well after natural menopause, suggesting there are hormone independent effects on ischemic sensitivity. As hormone levels are relatively equivalent between sexes at the age post-menopausal, tissue damage and functional outcomes must be influenced by biologic sex (XX vs. XY) in addition to the hormonal milieu. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that sex differences in ischemic stroke in aged brains are shaped by the sex chromosome complement. Methods: The Four Core Genotype (FCG) mouse model was utilized to dissociate the e...
Water Adsorption and Oxidation at the Co3O4 (110) Surface

We carried out density functional theory calculations with on-site Coulomb repulsion U terms to study the interaction of water with the (110) surface of the spinel cobalt oxide, Co3O4, a widely used oxidation catalyst. This surface has two different terminations, one positively (A) and the other negatively charged (B). Dissociative water adsorption is preferred from low up to one monolayer coverage on the A termination and up to half monolayer on the B termination. On the latter, a mixed molecular and dissociated monolayer is more stable at full coverage. The computed structures are used to investigate the free-energy changes during water oxidation on both surface terminations. We find that the most difficult step of the oxygen evolution reaction is the second deprotonation to form an adsorbed O species (O*). Moreover, the A-terminated surface is more active than the B-terminated surface. Analysis of the surface electronic structure shows a larger density of cobalt states near the Fermi energy on the A te...
Note on an "elastic" multidimensional scaling procedure.

A new orientation and a hybrid technique of multidimensional scaling are introduced in the interests of rational theoretical underpinnings and efficient numerical computation.
Nanoscale Mechanical Evaluation of Electrochemically Generated Tribolayer on CoCrMo Alloy for Hip Joint Application

Cobalt chromium molybdenum alloy (CoCrMo) is widely employed in the orthopedic device industry due to a combination of properties that include low wear, high mechanical strength, and high corrosion resistance. However, when used as the bearing component of total hip implants, this material can be susceptible to wear and corrosion, which can be triggered or exacerbated by factors such as changing pH, biological fluids and cell interactions, particle release, and friction. The physiological fluid, which is composed of electrolytes, proteins, and other organic species, plays a critical role in the tribological behavior of CoCrMo alloy. The aim of this work is to generate a proteinaceous layer electrochemically and carry out nanoscale mechanical and surface evaluation of CoCrMo to understand the feasibility of a pre-treatment on this material. The treatments consisted of electrolytes, with different protein concentrations, and pre-selected transpassive potentials at +0.6, +0.7 and +0.8 V and a passive potential of −0.4 V. These observations will help in determining the electrolyte concentration and potential combination that would yield the most protective film layer. The results demonstrated that all the positive transpassive potentials and electrolyte combinations led to surface degradation processes causing more material removal as seen by the formation of localized corrosion at carbide and grain boundaries. Only the negative potential of −0.4 V, used by itself as a pre-treatment and in combination with an electrolyte with 30 g/L of bovine calf serum (BCS), demonstrated more homogeneous oxide layer and proteinaceous layer distribution respectively.
Clinical observation of the pregnant women with iron deficient anemia treated by polyferose capsules

Objective This study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of polyferose capsules (Hong-yuan-da) in treating the pregnant women with iron deficient anemia(IDA). Methods An randomized, multicenter clinical study was undertaken in 480 pregnant women, who were assigned to receive daily (2×150 mg polyferose capsules)and (2×0.3 g vitamin C). Red blood cells count (RBC-count), hemoglobin (Hb), serum iron (SI ), serum ferritin (SF) and soluble transferring receptor (sTfR) were evaluated before and 2, 4, 8 weeks after the polyferose capsules treatment. All data were analyzed with the statistical softwares. Results After 2 week treatment with polyferose capsules, there were significant changes in SF and sTfR from baseline(P0.05). After 4 weeks, RBC-count, Hb, SF and sTfR were significantly increased (P0.05), while (P0.01). After 8 weeks, RBC-count, Hb, SF and sTfR obviously increased (P0.01). SI had no significant difference at various time points. No significant adverse reactions were observed during the treatment. Conclusion As less adverse effect and good prognosis, polyferose capsules is a good choice as the iron-supplementation for the pregnant women with IDA.
Basis-Function Trees for Approximation in High-Dimensional Spaces

Abstract I describe a new algorithm for approximating continuous functions in high-dimensional input spaces. The algorithm builds a tree-structured network of variable size which is determined both by the distribution of the input data and by the function to be approximated. Efficient computation in this tree structure takes advantage of the potential for low-order dependencies between the output and the individual dimensions of the input. This algorithm is related to the ideas behind k-d trees (Bentley, 1975), CART (Breiman et al., 1984), and MARS (Friedman, 1988). I present two examples.
Efficacy and Late Effects of Stanford V Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy in Untreated Hodgkin’s Disease: Mature Data in Early and Advanced Stage Patients.

Abstract From 5/89 to 5/01, 256 patients (pts) with classical Hodgkin's disease were treated on prospective trials with the weekly Stanford V (doxorubicin, vinblastine, mustard, vincristine, bleomycin, etoposide, prednisone) regimen +/− radiotherapy (RT). Pts with non-bulky stage I-IIA disease received 8 weeks Stanford V + 30 Gy involved field RT (G4 protocol, n=87) at Stanford (n=52) or Northern California Kaiser Permanente (n=35). Pts with bulky stage II (mediastinal mass > 1/3 intrathoracic diameter) or III,IV disease received 12 weeks Stanford V + 36 Gy to sites >=5 cm or macroscopic splenic disease (G2,3 protocol, n =169) at Stanford University. Bulky mediastinal pts received mediastinal, hilar and bilateral supraclavicular RT but no axillary or high neck RT to sites =4} with advanced stage disease, 16 (67%) were successfully treated with second-line therapy. Eleven pts have died: 6 from Hodgkin's disease and 1 each from suicide, complications of second-line transplantation, influenza, lung cancer, and unknown cause. No cases of secondary myelodysplasia/leukemia or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma have occurred. Second cancers included 1 prostate (no pelvic RT), 1 colon ( no abdominal RT but TBI used with second-line transplant), 1 lung (no RT) and 2 breast (1 with DCIS after mediastinal RT, 1 after axillary RT for >10 cm mass). To date, 72 post-treament conceptions (excluding pre-treament semen or embryo cryopreservation) were recorded with 65 live births (+ 4 current pregnancies) among 34 men and 30 women. In our hands, the Stanford V + RT regimen was effective with modest toxicity and 25% pts conceived post-treatment. An international score >=4 was the major adverse prognostic factor; the majority of relapses were successfully treated secondarily. These data support definitive testing of this treatment program as in the ongoing E2496 Intergroup Study for bulky and advanced stage disease. Efficacy and Late Effects All patients Favorable I, II Bulky I, II III. IV n=256 n=87 n=61 n=108 FFP / 4 yr 91% [87–95]* 96% [92–100] 92% [85–98] 86% [79–93] FFP / 8 yr 91% [91–94] 96% [92–100] 92% [85–98] 86% [79–93] FFP / 12 yr 89% [84–94] NA 92% [85–98] 83% [75–92] OS / 4 yr 97% [94–99] 98% [94–100] 98% [93–100] 95% [91–99] OS / 8 yr 95% [92–98] 98% [94–100] 92% [82–100] 95% [91–99] OS / 12 yr 95% [92–98] NA 92% [82–100] 95% [91–99] AML/MDS 0 0 0 0 Solid tumor 5 2 0 3 *[95% confidence intervals]
Automated performance monitoring for PV systems using pecos

Photovoltaic system monitoring can generate vast amounts of data. Analytical methods are required to post-process this data into useful information. Pecos is open source software designed to address this need. The software was developed at Sandia National Laboratories and is compatible with performance models in PVLIB-Python. The software can be used to automatically run a series of quality control tests and generate reports which include performance metrics, test results, and graphics.
Quinacrine Suppresses Tumor Necrosis Factor-α and IFN-α in Dermatomyositis and Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus

Antimalarials are used to treat dermatomyositis (DM) and cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE). Although hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) is frequently used, addition of quinacrine (QC) has shown additional clinical effects when combined with HCQ. To quantify the effects of HCQ versus QC in suppressing secretion of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and IFN-α from the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of DM and CLE patients, lipopolysaccharide-stimulated and control peripheral blood mononuclear cells from DM and CLE patients and control subjects were analyzed for the effect of HCQ and QC on TNF-α and IFN-α production using ELISA testing. Flow cytometry showed the effects of these therapies on intracellular TNF-α in myeloid dendritic cells and monocytes of DM patients and control subjects. QC significantly suppressed TNF-α relative to HCQ from unstimulated and lipopolysaccharide-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells of DM and CLE patients ( P P P -values ≤ 0.0008). In conclusion, QC likely has a different mechanism of action than HCQ, given the broader inhibition of proinflammatory cytokines, including both TNF-α and IFN-α.
Echocardiographic evaluation of ‘sandwich plug’ closure of mechanical aortic valve at left ventricular assist device implantation

A 67-year-old man with a history of non-ischaemic cardiomyopathy (ejection fraction 15%–20%) and previous mechanical aortic valve replacement presented for HeartMate II left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation due to worsening heart failure symptoms (New York Heart Association III–IV). After redo sternotomy, the aortic valve was closed with a prefashioned occluder device (figure 1). After occluder placement, the aortic cross-clamp was removed and the valve assessed with transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE) to ensure proper closure (figures 2–4, videos 1–3). Once satisfactory closure was confirmed, a HeartMate II LVAD was inserted. Figure 1 Mechanical aortic valve prosthesis occluder constructed of felt, braided polyester sutures, and vascular clips prior to implantation. Figure 2 The mid-oesophageal aortic valve long-axis view confirming complete occlusion/closure of the aortic valve without leaflet motion. Ao, aorta; AV, aortic valve; LA, left atrium; LV, left ventricle. Figure 3 Colour flow Doppler across the left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) in the mid-oesophageal aortic valve long-axis view confirmed a lack of flow across the LVOT and complete closure of the mechanical valve. Ao, aorta; AV, aortic valve; LA, left atrium; LV, left ventricle. …
Age and spinal cord injury: an emphasis on outcomes among the elderly.

Objectives: Determine the unique effects of age across a variety of outcome domains following spinal cord injury (SCI).Design: Cross-sectional; 61 32 individuals with traumatic onset SCI in the Nat...
I'm from the government and I'm here to help: how can public health perspectives improve outreach in child maltreatment prevention programs?

ABSTRACTState and local governments are designing programs to prevent child maltreatment at an increasing rate. A relatively small portion of families offered these programs go on to engage in and complete services. Workers in a child maltreatment prevention program implemented across 21 sites in 1 state documented outreach efforts in logs maintained by program evaluators. Additionally, evaluators interviewed 23 outreach workers and supervisors who were developing and refining outreach strategies in this prevention program. Data from logs and responses to interviews speak to challenges in navigating prevention outreach with families to achieve engagement and buy-in, particularly when “cold-calling” about screened-out reports of child maltreatment. This paper presents a summary of barriers and facilitators of family engagement in outreach for prevention services, guidance from the public health literature on improving outreach strategies for at-risk populations, and suggested practice, policy, and research...
Numerical and analytical models of RC beams with corroded compression reinforcement

Finite-element analysis (FEA) and an analytical model were used to estimate the ultimate flexural strength of reinforced concrete (RC) beams with corroded compression bars. Both models accounted fo...
Exploring Youth Development through an Environmental Education Program for Rural Indigenous Women.

Youth development (YD) is receiving increased attention in environmental education (EE), yet faces critiques including lack of attention to cultural competency and structural barriers. We explore Y...
Cancer Site and Adverse Events Induced by Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: A Retrospective Analysis of Real-life Experience at a Single Institution.

Background Data on the characteristics of patients who are likely to experience adverse events, both immune-related and non-immune-related, from programmed cell death-1 (PD1) inhibitors are limited. Patients and methods Data from patients who received ≥1 dose of single-agent PD1 inhibitor between August 3, 2011 and August 31, 2016 were obtained from our Institution's pharmacy database. AEs were graded using Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 4. Results One hundred and eighty-two patients received at least one dose of single-agent PD1 inhibitor prior to data cut-off. After excluding 14 patients with uncommon malignancies, the total number of patients were 168. The median age was 63 (range=24-92) years. There were 87 (52%) cases of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), 35 (21%) of renal cell carcinoma (RCC), 12 (7%) of melanoma, 18 (11%) of Hodgkin's lymphomas, eight (5%) of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and eight (5%) of small cell lung cancer. Considering grade 2 or more AEs, 30 (18%) patients had kidney injury, 34 (20%) hypothyroidism, 36 (21%) transaminitis, 20 (12%) pneumonitis, and 18 (11%) colitis. Patients with RCC had higher odds of experiencing grade 2 or more kidney injury than patients with other primary tumor types (adjusted p=0.025), whereas patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma and HNSCC had higher odds of grade 2 hypothyroidism (adjusted p=0.005). Patients with NSCLC had higher risk of death with pneumonitis than those whose primary cancer was not NSCLC (adjusted p=0.005). Discussion The increased odds of patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma and HNSCC experiencing grade 2 or more hypothyroidism may be related to previous radiation exposure. Most patients with RCC had undergone nephrectomy, making them more susceptible to acute kidney injury. When pneumonitis occurred in patients with primary NSCLC, the overall survival was significantly worse. The duration of PD1 therapy was significantly associated with onset of pneumonitis (p=0.007). Conclusion The site of primary tumor or metastasis may help predict the most common AEs in patients treated with PD1 inhibitors.
Population pharmacokinetics of immediate- and prolonged-release tacrolimus formulations in liver, kidney and heart transplant recipients

Aims Develop a population pharmacokinetics model of tacrolimus in organ transplant recipients receiving twice-daily, immediate-release (IR-T; Prograf) and/or once-daily, prolonged-release (PR-T; Advagraf or Astagraf XL) tacrolimus. Methods Tacrolimus concentration-time profiles were analysed from 8 Phase II studies in adult and paediatric liver, kidney and heart transplant patients receiving IR-T and/or PR-T. A tacrolimus population pharmacokinetic model, including identification of significant covariates, was developed using NONMEM. Results Overall, 23,176 tacrolimus concentration records were obtained from 408 patients. A 2-compartment model with first-order absorption and elimination described the concentration-time profiles. Tacrolimus absorption rate was 50% slower with PR-T vs IR-T. Tacrolimus apparent oral clearance was 44.3 L/h in Whites and 59% higher in Asians. Tacrolimus central volume of distribution was 108 L in males and 55% lower in females; trough concentrations were similar between formulations. Tacrolimus relative bioavailability was similar between formulations (geometric mean ratio PR-T:IR-T 95%, 90% confidence intervals: 89%, 101%). Asians had 83% and 51% higher relative bioavailability than Whites and Blacks, respectively, for IR-T and PR-T. Whites had 49% and 77% higher relative bioavailability than Blacks for PR-T and IR-T, respectively. Blacks had 52% lower relative bioavailability than Whites and Asians for IR-T and PR-T. Type of organ transplanted and patient population (adult/paediatric) did not have a significant effect on tacrolimus pharmacokinetics. Conclusions This population pharmacokinetic model described data from transplant recipients who received IR-T and/or PR-T. Tacrolimus trough concentrations and relative bioavailability were similar between formulations, supporting 1 mg:1 mg conversion from Prograf to Advagraf/Astagraf XL in clinical practice.
NudC regulates photoreceptor disk morphogenesis and rhodopsin localization.

The outer segment (OS) of rod photoreceptors consist of a highly modified primary cilium containing phototransduction machinery necessary for light detection. The delivery and organization of the p...
Diamide reversibly induces a stress response in the sea urchin, Arbacia punctulata

Sea urchin blastulae were treated with two concentrations (0.54 and 0.72 mM) of diamide, a sulfhydryl oxidant, after hatching. These treatments increased the relative synthesis of one set of embryonic proteins while decreasing that of another. This was demonstrated by quantitating the incorporation of [35S]methionine into polypeptides separated by 2-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2D PAGE). These shifts were dose dependent and apparently reversible after the embryos had regenerated reduced sulfhydryls. Those proteins showing increased incorporation migrated at the same position by 2D PAGE as heat shock proteins, suggesting that diamide was inducing a stress response. Diamide also caused some developmental aberrations at low frequency, and reversibly inhibited ciliary beating.
Rupturing settler time: visual culture and geographies of Indigenous futurity

This article focuses on the implications of the work of two artists on discourses of temporality and Indigenous futurity. I analyze the work of Skawennati and Bonnie Devine, with particular conside...