cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Acral manifestations of contact dermatitis

Contact dermatitis is a broad term that encompasses both nonimmunologic irritant contact dermatitis (ICD) and immunologically mediated allergic contact dermatitis (ACD). Both ICD and ACD can negatively affect a patient's quality of life and are a source of exorbitant medical and societal costs. Avoidance of inciting irritants and/or allergens and liberal use of emollients or humectants are the cornerstone of therapy. When an allergic cause is suspected, patch testing is highly encouraged. In this contribution, we highlight both the commonalities and differences of acral contact dermatitis as it relates to specific regions of the body. In addition, a review of the predisposing conditions, risk factors, and treatment options in the literature is presented to help with the care of these challenging patients.
Abstract 5216: Potential use of saliva and hair samples to identify genetic markers for anti-VEGF therapy

Anti-angiogenic therapy to block and disrupt tumor angiogenesis has been used in clinical treatment of various malignancies including: glioblastoma, colorectal, lung and kidney cancer. Currently, the most clinically effective anti-angiogenic agents are the humanized monoclonal antibody (bevacizumab) against vascular endothelia growth factor (VEGF) and the small molecule receptor-tyrosine-kinase inhibitors (RTKIs) of VEGF receptors. However, the therapeutic benefit varies substantially for many of these agents. Predictive biomarkers that are required for personalized treatment with these agents are currently not available. Recently the role of germline single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) has been investigated as potential biomarkers for anti-angiogenic treatments. The rationale is that these agents target the vasculature in host (vessels) rather than tumor tissue, which could mean that much of the variability is dictated by the host. Several studies reported the association of SNPs in VEGFA with differential outcomes from clinical trials with these agents. SNP genotyping assays in these studies used germline DNA extracted from blood. However, collection of peripheral blood is invasive. Saliva and hair that are known to contain genomic DNA can be used as noninvasive and convenient DNA sampling resources, but the limited quantity of DNA in the hair and the low quality of DNA in the saliva make genotyping assays non-reproducible. We have sought to improve SNP genotype assays with DNA from saliva and hair by applying SNP target pre-amplification for genotyping five SNPs (rs699947, rs833061, rs1570360, rs201093, rs3025039) in VEGFA. The concordance of genotyping calls of individual SNP using DNA from blood, saliva and hair from the same volunteer was compared. Our preliminary results demonstrated that pre-amplification substantially improved genotyping calls with saliva DNA and hair DNA samples. The average genotyping call rate with saliva and hair samples was about 45% and 10%, respectively, without pre-amplification. The pre-amplification improved the call rate with saliva and hair samples to 100% and 94%, respectively. The current report may facilitate easier clinical sample collection for genetic tests for these SNPs. Citation Format: Gloria R. Xue, Crystal R. Xue, Fei Shen, Bryan P. Schneider. Potential use of saliva and hair samples to identify genetic markers for anti-VEGF therapy. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 5216. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-5216
Luminescent cadmium 1,3-adamantanedicarboxylate coordination polymers with diverse topologies depending on dipyridylamide ligands

Abstract Hydrothermal reaction of cadmium nitrate, 1,3-adamantanedicarboxylic acid (adcH2), and a hydrogen-bonding capable dipyridylamide ligand afforded five crystalline coordination polymers whose dimensionality depends on the dipyridylamide length and nitrogen donor disposition. The five new phases were structurally characterized via single-crystal X-ray diffraction. [Cd(adc)(4-pmina)]n (1, 4-pmina = 4-pyridylmethylisonicotinamide) displays a (4,4) grid topology with [Cd(adc)]n chains pillared by the dipodal dipyridylamide ligands. {[Cd(adc)(4-pmna)(H2O)]·4H2O}n (2, 4-pmna = 4-pyridylmethylnicotinamide) displays a similar layered topology, but with octameric water molecule clusters residing in the interlamellar regions. {[Cd(adc)(3-pna)(H2O)]·6H2O}n (3, 3-pna = 3-pyridylnicotinamide) possesses 1-D ribbon submotifs due to the syn-conformation and shorter tether length of the dipyridylamide ligands. Compound 3 entrains intriguing “infinite” water molecule tapes comprised of 4- and 5-membered rings. {[Cd2(adc)2(3-pina)2]·H2O}n (4, 3-pina = 3-pyridylisonicotinamide) manifests a 4-connected 3D 658 cds topology. The minor coordination polymer chain product {[Cd(adc)(3-pyram)2(H2O)]·2H2O}n (5) was isolated along with 4 (3-pyram = 3-pyridylamine). Luminescent behavior in 1–4 is attributed to intra-ligand molecular orbital transitions. The new phases were also surveyed for the ability to detect nitrobenzene in ethanol suspension. Thermal decomposition behavior is also discussed herein.
An experimental comparison of web-push vs. paper-only survey procedures for conducting an in-depth health survey of military spouses.

Previous research has found that a “web-push” approach to data collection, which involves contacting people by mail to request an Internet survey response while withholding a paper response option until later in the contact process, consistently achieves lower response rates than a “paper-only” approach, whereby all respondents are contacted and requested to respond by mail. An experiment was designed, as part of the Millennium Cohort Family Study, to compare response rates, sample representativeness, and cost between a web-push and a paper-only approach; each approach comprised 3 stages of mail contacts. The invited sample (n = 4,935) consisted of spouses married to U.S. Service members, who had been serving in the military between 2 and 5 years as of October, 2011. The web-push methodology produced a significantly higher response rate, 32.8% compared to 27.8%. Each of the 3 stages of postal contact significantly contributed to response for both treatments with 87.1% of the web-push responses received over the Internet. The per-respondent cost of the paper-only treatment was almost 40% higher than the web-push treatment group. Analyses revealed no meaningfully significant differences between treatment groups in representation. These results provide evidence that a web-push methodology is more effective and less expensive than a paper-only approach among young military spouses, perhaps due to their heavy reliance on the internet, and we suggest that this approach may be more effective with the general population as they become more uniformly internet savvy.
Radio Frequency Magneto-Optical Trapping of CaF with High Density

We demonstrate significantly improved magneto-optical trapping of molecules using a very slow cryogenic beam source and either rf modulated or dc magnetic fields. The rf magneto-optical trap (MOT) confines 1.0(3)×10^5 CaF molecules at a density of 7(3)×10^6 cm^(−3), which is an order of magnitude greater than previous molecular MOTs. Near Doppler-limited temperatures of 340(20) μK are attained. The achieved density enables future work to directly load optical tweezers and create optical arrays for quantum simulation.
Political Geographies in E. M. Forster’s “The Machine Stops”

Although he published acclaimed works in several genres, E. M. Forster (1879–1970) wrote just one science fiction story during his long career in letters, a work that “has received less attention t...
Another View of Psychotherapy

Over the years, David Shapiro’s career and mine have intersected productively several times. I think we have a talent for bouncing ideas off one another. This piece is about one such encounter, or perhaps it was a mythical encounter for my recollection of it lacks detail. In any case, I prefer not to check on the veridicality of my memory; it serves me well enough, whether or not it tells me the truth in any absolute sense about this occasion of enlightenment. As you will see, I take a narrative view toward truth-telling, and I will leave it to Dr. Shapiro to vet my recollection of the founding incident. In his modest way, he may disown having been the source of my inspiration. I accept that risk. It will make no essential difference to my conclusions, and in view of our long acquaintance, I prefer to be grateful to him rather than to one of his antecedents; if he feels he has not met all of his obligations to his intellectual forbearers, they are for him to acquit. Anyway, enough throat clearing, or to unmix the metaphor, enough pen wiping or pencil sharpening; let me get on with it already.
A Clinical Experiment in Bone Marrow Transplantation: Estimating a Percentage Point of a Quantal Response Curve

A pilot clinical experiment is described that aims to determine the dose of a new drug combination that produces toxicity equal to the standard single drug treatment. In order to limit the subjects exposed to extreme toxicity, the dose levels used in the experiment are chosen to minimize the predicted posterior variance of the target dose. To further limit toxicity, the experiment was conducted by sequentially allocating treatments to groups using an up-and-down procedure in which each group’s treatment depended on the responses of the previous group.
Receptors for C3 on B Lymphocytes: Possible Role in the Immune Response

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the possible role of receptors for C3 on B lymphocytes in the immune response. Complement–receptor lymphocytes (CRLs) have been defined as a population of lymphoid cells found in many mammalian species, including man, which is capable of binding antigen–antibody–complement complexes through a membrane receptor for a modified complement component (C3). CRL can be readily identified and isolated by virtue of their ability to form rosettes with sheep erythrocytes that have been sensitized with rabbit antibody against the Forssmann antigen and complement. CRL have a characteristic distribution in lymphoid organs thatgrossly coincides with that of lymphocytes carrying easily detectable immunoglobulin (Ig) determinants on their membranes. They are absent from the thymus and can be found in large numbers among cells from the lymph nodes, spleen, and thoracic duct lymph of normal mice. The chapter discusses the differences between CRL and mononuclear phagocytes. It also describes the function of the C3 receptor on lymphocytes.
Evaluation of Performance and Accuracy in PET

The performance of PET instrumentation has been evaluated in our laboratory in terms of reproducibility or precision. Measurements were made for current PET systems and simulated by both computer and experimental methods for potential future systems (1). The present and potential future precision of PET systems is on the order of 1–2 % for equilibrium studies, such as FDG metabolism measurements, with a few million counts per image, and better than 10 % for dynamic studies with a few hundred thousand counts per image. To take advantage of this high precision, the instrumental accuracy of PET systems should match or better the precision of the measurements. The major sources of inaccuracy in PET, outside of deficiencies in electronic or computer hardware and software, are poor resolution, nonuniform resolution and scatter. The use of narrow BGO detectors, system designs with adequately large detector ring diameters and properly designed interplane septa provides significant improvement in all of these deficiencies.
Vlasov and Fokker-Planck Equations

Mathematical tools have been derived in previous chapters to describe the dynamics of singly charged particles in electromagnetic fields. While the knowledge of single-particle dynamics is essential for the development of particle beam transport systems, we are still missing a formal treatment of the behavior of multiparticle beams. In principle a multiparticle beam can be described simply by calculating the trajectories of every single particle within this beam, a procedure that is obviously too inefficient to be useful for the description of any real beam involving a very large number of particles.
Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Family

Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) are a group of protein kinases that play an essential role in signal transduction by modulating gene transcription in the nucleus in response to changes in the cellular environment. MAPKs also play a key role in intracellular communication, and their activating pathways have been conserved throughout evolution, from plants, fungi, nematodes, insects, to mammals. In humans, there are at least 11 members of the MAPK superfamily, which can be divided into six groups: the extracellular signal-regulated protein kinases (ERK1 and ERK2); c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK1, JNK2, and JNK3); p38s (p38 α , p38 β , p38 γ , and p38 δ ); ERK5 (ERK5); ERK3s (ERK3, p97 MAPK, and ERK4); and ERK7s (ERK7 and ERK8). Each group of MAPKs can be stimulated by a separate signal transduction pathway in response to different extracellular stimuli. In turn, MAPKs exhibit distinct substrate specificities. Thus, individual extracellular stimuli can lead to the differential activation of each MAPK and the consequent phosphorylation of a distinct set of MAPK substrates. Whereas components of some of these biochemical routes are now well established, others are still poorly understood. The specificity of the molecular mechanisms by which each MAPK can be activated ensures that cells mount an appropriate response to extracellular stimulation, as the resulting pattern of gene expression will depend on the integration of the combinatorial signals provided by the temporal activation of each of these groups of MAPKs.
Introduction: Multilingualism and Bilingual Education: Politics, Policies, and Practices in a Globalized Society

This volume focuses on the conditions of bilingualism and bilingual education across the new global society and on the demands and challenges placed on them by the many features and processes of globalization. The authors examine the intrinsic and complex characteristics of multilingual societies and bilingualism, discuss historical and current issues of multilingualism and language teaching, and present models of bilingual education. The chapters are written in either native American English or in World English styles. This organic linguistic authenticity is a significant feature of the volume, uncommonly found in multilingualism and bilingual education literature.
Genetics of Hypopituitarism

This review will summarize pituitary development and function, as well as review defects in transcription factor genes PROP1 and POU1F1, which play a critical role in pituitary cell differentiation. These selected factors have been well described in patients with hypopituitarism and therefore are very relevant to clinical practice.
Longitudinal study of upper extremity reachable workspace in fascioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy.

Abstract Facioscapulohumeral Dystrophy (FSHD) results in slowly progressive strength impairment, especially the upper extremities. Recent discoveries regarding pathophysiology have led to exciting novel therapeutic strategies. To further facilitate drug development, improved FSHD outcome measures that are functionally-relevant and sensitive to longitudinal change will be critical. Recently, a motion sensor (Kinect)-based upper extremity outcome called ‘reachable workspace’ that provides a quantitative reconstruction of an individual's reachability was developed. In this study, changes in reachable workspace were tracked upwards for five-years in 18 FSHD subjects. Results show -1.63 %/year decline in total reachable workspace (p = 0.144); with most notable decline in the above-the-shoulder level quadrants (upper-lateral Q3: -9.5 %/year, p
Two Studies Comparing Students' Explanations of an Oxidation-Reduction Reaction after Viewing a Single Computer Animation: The Effect of Varying the Complexity of Visual Images and Depicting Water Molecules.

This paper describes two studies comparing students’ explanations of an oxidation–reduction reaction after viewing the chemical demonstration and one of two different particulate-level computer animations. In the first study, the two animations differed primarily in the complexity of the visual images. Students viewing the more simplified animation provided more correct explanations regarding the identity of water and nitrate ions in the animations, the absence of ion pairs, the correct ratios of silver to nitrate ions and silver ions to copper atoms, the electron transfer process, size changes in the atoms and ions as the reaction occurred, the source of blue colour in solution, and the driving force for the reaction. Students viewing the more simplified animation also wrote more correct balanced chemical equations for the reaction compared to students viewing the more complex animation. Students in the first study also noted that the more simplified animation did not depict extraneous information (camera angle changes, the overabundance of water molecules), and did depict relevant information (atom and ion charges, the number of electrons transferred, the source of the blue colour). In the second study, the two animations differed only by whether water molecules were shown or omitted from the animation. Students’ explanations for most concepts were similar for these two groups of students; however, students viewing the animation with water molecules omitted were better able to identify nitrate ions in the animation. The only difference the students in the second study noticed between the two animations is the presence or absence of water molecules, but these student did not agree as to whether showing or omitting water molecules was more beneficial. The results of the two studies together suggest that showing or omitting water molecules in the animations had a limited effect on students’ explanations of the oxidation–reduction process.
Materials Performance Of Ferritic Steel In Combustion Gases For Heat Exchanger Applications In Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Systems

Ferritic steels have been recognized as candidates for their applications in heat exchangers used in Solid Oxide Fuel Cells’ balance of plant. Combustion gases flowing through those heat exchangers can be very corrosive. Therefore, the National Energy Technology Laboratory determined materials performance of commercial S43000 stainless steel exposed to a simulated combustion gas at 800 °C. The exposure experiments were conducted on flat samples in the simulated combustion gas: 19vol% O2+6vol% H2O + 4vol% CO2 +71vol% N2 under isothermal conditions. After the experiment, the surface of a corroded sample was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) to identify possible phases present in the scale, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to determine microstructure of the oxide scales, and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) or wavelength dispersive energy X-ray (WDX) spectroscopy to determine chemical composition in the scale and the metal substrate.
How RO membrane permeability and other performance factors affect process cost and energy use: A review

Abstract Reverse osmosis (RO) technology has progressed steadily over the last few decades. Those gains were achieved through improvements in both RO membrane element performance and energy recovery technologies. However, some recent literature indicates that RO membrane water permeability is approaching performance limits imposed by transport processes and thermodynamic constraints. This paper reviews how RO membrane element performance affects the cost of RO processes, especially the specific energy consumption. RO membrane performance encompasses water permeability, salt permeability, and other some characteristics of the RO element. This paper considers not only conventional RO processes, but also the recently proposed closed-circuit RO and batch RO processes. Even if the membrane water permeability increases, little additional effect is found when the membrane water permeability exceeds around 3 LMH/bar for seawater RO and 8 LMH/bar for brackish water RO in conventional single-stage RO. Increasing membrane water permeability has the potential to decrease membrane surface area and associated costs. A major limitation of most existing literature is that performance is evaluation on in terms of the initial operating conditions. Chronological changes, such as result from fouling, must also be considered to accurately validate how membrane element performance affects RO cost.
Use of Type-2 Fuzzy Sets for Military Value of Information Decision Support

Fuzzy systems are known to be excellent for reasoning where information is uncertain, incomplete, imprecise, and/or vague. Over the past several years, work has been done to prototype an automated value of information (VoI) decision support tool for military intelligence analysts. The system was constructed using the type-1 fuzzy sets. Recently, the use of type-2 fuzzy sets has been proffered as an alternative to account for the differing opinions expressed by the experts during the knowledge elicitation process. Compounding this challenge for the military is the fact that military science is as much an art as it is a science. The work described in this paper focuses on the investigation with respect to transitioning to type-2 fuzzy sets.
Segmenting Hippocampus from Infant Brains by Sparse Patch Matching with Deep-Learned Features

Accurate segmentation of the hippocampus from infant MR brain images is a critical step for investigating early brain development. Unfortunately, the previous tools developed for adult hippocampus segmentation are not suitable for infant brain images acquired from the first year of life, which often have poor tissue contrast and variable structural patterns of early hippocampal development. From our point of view, the main problem is lack of discriminative and robust feature representations for distinguishing the hippocampus from the surrounding brain structures. Thus, instead of directly using the predefined features as popularly used in the conventional methods, we propose to learn the latent feature representations of infant MR brain images by unsupervised deep learning. Since deep learning paradigms can learn low-level features and then successfully build up more comprehensive high-level features in a layer-by-layer manner, such hierarchical feature representations can be more competitive for distinguishing the hippocampus from entire brain images. To this end, we apply Stacked Auto Encoder (SAE) to learn the deep feature representations from both T1- and T2-weighed MR images combining their complementary information, which is important for characterizing different development stages of infant brains after birth. Then, we present a sparse patch matching method for transferring hippocampus labels from multiple atlases to the new infant brain image, by using deep-learned feature representations to measure the inter-patch similarity. Experimental results on 2-week-old to 9-month-old infant brain images show the effectiveness of the proposed method, especially compared to the state-of-the-art counterpart methods.
Elevated intraocular pressure induces Rho GTPase mediated contractile signaling in the trabecular meshwork

Abstract Rho GTPase regulated contractile signaling in the trabecular meshwork (TM) has been shown to modulate aqueous humor (AH) outflow and intraocular pressure (IOP). To explore whether elevated IOP, a major risk factor for primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) influences Rho GTPase signaling in the TM, we recorded AH outflow in enucleated contralateral porcine eyes perfused for 4–5 h at either 15 mm or 50 mm Hg pressure. After perfusion, TM tissue extracted from perfused eyes was evaluated for the activation status of Rho GTPase, myosin light chain (MLC), myosin phosphatase target substrate 1 (MYPT1), myristoylated alanine-rich C-kinase substrate (MARCKS) and paxillin. Eyes perfused at 50 mm Hg exhibited a significant decrease in AH outflow facility compared with those perfused at 15 mm Hg. Additionally, TM tissue from eyes perfused at 50 mm Hg revealed significantly increased levels of activated RhoA and phosphorylated MLC, MYPT1, MARCKS and paxillin compared to TM tissue derived from eyes perfused at 15 mm Hg. Taken together, these observations indicate that elevated IOP-induced activation of Rho GTPase-dependent contractile signaling in the TM is associated with increased resistance to AH outflow through the trabecular pathway, and demonstrate the sensitivity of Rho GTPase signaling to mechanical force in the AH outflow pathway.
Ángel Esteban. El hombre que amaba los sueños. Leonardo Padura entre Cuba y España. Bruselas: Peter Lang, 2018

Book Review: Angel Esteban: El hombre que amaba los suenos. Leonardo Padura entre Cuba y Espana. Bruselas: Peter Lang, 2018. 152 pp. ISBN:9782807608238
Public Awareness Toward Coronavirus Disease-2019.

BackgroundThe emergence of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection has become a global issue of concern. Since its occurrence, about 18 million cases have been reported globally and about...
Sustained Sobriety: A Qualitative Study of Persons with HIV and Chronic Hepatitis C Coinfection and a History of Problematic Drinking

For persons diagnosed with HIV and who are coinfected with hepatitis C virus (HCV), chronic liver disease is a leading cause of death and excessive consumption of alcohol can be a contributing factor. Little is known about the factors these individuals identify as key to achieving sustained sobriety. In this qualitative study, fourteen HIV/HCV coinfected persons who endorsed past problematic drinking were interviewed about their path to sustained sobriety. In open-ended interviews, participants often described their drinking in the context of polysubstance use and their decision to become sober as a singular response to a transcendent moment or a traumatic event. All articulated specific, concrete strategies for maintaining sobriety. The perceived effect of the HIV or HCV diagnosis on sobriety was inconsistent, and medical care as an influence on sobriety was rarely mentioned. Qualitative interviews may offer new insights on interventions and support strategies for heavy-drinking persons with HIV/HCV coinfection.
Divergence in a stress regulatory network underlies differential growth control

Abstract: The use of marginal lands in agriculture is increasingly necessary to support the global human population. Elevated salinity frequently occurs in degraded soils and hinders their use due to the negative impact salt stress has on plant growth. While the hormonal networks controlling growth have been extensively characterized in stress-sensitive plants, it is unclear how these pathways are rewired in plants that maintain growth in extreme environments. We have compared the physiological and molecular responses of four closely related members of the Brassicaceae family including two salt-tolerant species (Shrenkiella parvula and Eutrema salsugineum) and two salt-sensitive species (Sisymbrium irio and Arabidopsis thaliana) to the salt stress-induced hormone, abscisic acid (ABA). While ABA inhibits root growth in most species, we uncovered substantial growth-promoting effects in Shrenkiella parvula, due to an enhancement in cell elongation. Comparative transcriptomics informed by phylogenetic relationships uncovered lineage and extremophile-specific differences in ABA response. DNA Affinity Purification followed by sequencing (DAP-Seq) was utilized to establish gene regulatory networks (GRNs) in each species for the entire ABA-RESPONSIVE ELEMENT BINDING FACTORS (AREB/ABF) clade. Comparative GRN analysis identified relative conservation in the core ABA signaling GRN, while the auxin growth-hormone GRN was highly divergent, revealing how patterns of gain and loss of cis-regulatory elements mediate novel physiological outcomes. Our findings demonstrate that the targets of hormone signaling pathways are highly divergent between species and that diametric inversion of growth regulation is possible, even between closely related species of the same plant family.
Ultrasound mediated cellular deflection results in cellular depolarization

Ultrasound has been used to manipulate cells in both humans and animal models. While intramembrane cavitation and lipid clustering have been suggested as likely mechanisms, they lack experimental evidence. Here we use high-speed digital holographic microscopy (to 100-kHz order) to visualize the cellular membrane dynamics. We show that neuronal and fibroblast membranes deflect about 150 nm upon ultrasound stimulation. Next, we develop a biomechanical model that predicts changes in membrane voltage after ultrasound exposure. Finally, we validate our model predictions using whole-cell patch clamp electrophysiology on primary neurons. Collectively, we show that ultrasound stimulation directly defects the neuronal membrane leading to a change in membrane voltage and subsequent depolarization. Our model is consistent with existing data and provides a mechanism for both ultrasound-evoked neurostimulation and sonogenetic control.
Tools for supporting solution scattering during the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, synchrotron beamlines were forced to limit user access. Performing routine measurements became a challenge. At the Life Science X-ray Scattering (LiX) beamline, new instrumentation and mail-in protocols have been developed to remove the access barrier to solution scattering measurements. Our efforts took advantage of existing instrumentation and coincided with the larger effort at NSLS-II to support remote measurements. Given the limited staff–user interaction for mail-in measurements, additional software tools have been developed to ensure data quality, to automate the adjustments in data processing, as users would otherwise rely on the experience of the beamline staff, and produce a summary of the initial assessments of the data. This report describes the details of these developments.
Antibiotic use influences outcomes in advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma patients.

Recent studies defined a potentially important role of the microbiome in modulating pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and responses to therapies. We hypothesized that antibiotic usage may predict outcomes in patients with PDAC. We retrospectively analyzed clinical data of patients with resectable or metastatic PDAC seen at MD Anderson Cancer from 2003 to 2017. Demographic, chemotherapy regimen and antibiotic use, duration, type, and reason for indication were recorded. A total of 580 patients with PDAC were studied, 342 resected and 238 metastatic patients, selected retrospectively from our database. Antibiotic use, for longer than 48 hrs, was detected in 209 resected patients (61%) and 195 metastatic ones (62%). On resectable patients, we did not find differences in overall survival (OS) or progression-free survival (PFS), based on antibiotic intake. However, in the metastatic cohort, antibiotic consumption was associated with a significantly longer OS (13.3 months vs. 9.0 months, HR 0.48, 95% CI 0.34-0.7, p = 0.0001) and PFS (4.4 months vs. 2 months, HR 0.48, 95% CI 0.34-0.68, p = <0.0001). In multivariate analysis, the impact of ATB remained significant for PFS (HR 0.59, p = 0.005) and borderline statistically significant for OS (HR 0.69, p = 0.06). When we analyzed by chemotherapy regimen, we found that patients who received gemcitabine-based chemotherapy as first-line therapy (n = 118) had significantly prolonged OS (HR 0.4, p 0.0013) and PFS (HR 0.55, p 0.02) if they received antibiotics, while those receiving 5FU-based chemotherapy (n = 98) had only prolonged PFS (HR 0.54, p = 0.03). Antibiotics-associated modulation of the microbiome is associated with better outcomes in patients with metastatic PDAC.
Studies of E. coli Ribosomes Involving Fluorescence Techniques

Most models of the Escherichia coli ribosome and its subunits [see Figs. 2, 4, and 5 in Wittmann (1983)] are based primarily on images obtained by electron microscopy. Information about the spatial arrangements of the individual ribosomal proteins and rRNA2 has come mainly from immune electron microscopy, neutron scattering, and protein-protein cross-linking experiments. Techniques involving fluorescence provide another powerful approach for determining ribosome structure and function. One of the most useful procedures involves determination of distances between pairs of probes by nonradiative singlet-singlet energy transfer. Though the useful range for energy transfer with commonly used donor and acceptor probes is relatively narrow (about 20 A to 80 A), this range is compatible with the size of most ribosomal proteins and tRNA. An advantage of this method is that a single fluorophore can be covalently attached to a specific known position, for instance a cysteine in a protein or a terminal nucleotide in an RNA molecule.
Soft solar X-rays and solar activity

Minor Hα activity, consisting of small brightenings and small, surgelike spikes, was observed to take place above an active center at the solar limb in good time-association with small fluctuations in the soft X-ray background flux, suggesting that even small dynamical events seen optically are associated with coronal heating. The ratio of Hα flux to soft X-ray flux in some of the surges was approximately the same as the ratio already established for flares. The total energy dissipated by the events in a 24-hour period is estimated; it is approximately equivalent to that released by one flare of imp 1 per day.
LBM-DEM modeling of fluid-solid interaction in porous media

SUMMARY Three porous media flow problems, in which the fluid mechanical interactions are critical, are studied in a mesoscopic–microscopic coupling system. In this system, fluid flow in the pore space is explicitly modeled at mesoscopic level by the lattice Boltzmann method, the geometrical representation and the mechanical behavior of the solid skeleton are modeled at microscopic level by the particulate distinct element method (DEM), and the interfacial interaction between the fluid and the solids is resolved by an immersed boundary scheme. In the first benchmark problem, the well-known and frequently utilized Ergun equation is validated in periodic particle and periodic pore models. In the second problem, the upward seepage problem is simulated over three stages: The settlement of the column of sphere under gravity loading is measured to illustrate the accuracy of the DEM scheme; the system is solved to hydrostatic state with pore space filled with fluid, showing that the buoyancy effect is captured correctly in the mesoscopic–microscopic coupling system; then, the flow with constant rate is supplied at the bottom of the column; the swelling of the ground surface and pore pressure development from the numerical simulation are compared with the predictions of the macroscopic consolidation theory. In the third problem, the fluid-flow-induced collapse of a sand arch inside a perforation cavity is tested to illustrate a more practical application of the developed system. Through comparing simulation results with analytical solutions, empirical law and physical laboratory observations, it is demonstrated that the developed lattice Boltzmann–distinct element coupling system is a powerful fundamental research tool for investigating hydromechanical physics in porous media flow. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Observations and Numerical Modeling of the Jovian Ribbon

Multiple wavelength observations made by the Hubble Space Telescope in early 2007 show the presence of a wavy, high-contrast feature in Jupiter's atmosphere near 30 degrees North. The "Jovian Ribbon," best seen at 410 nanometers, irregularly undulates in latitude and is time-variable in appearance. A meridional intensity gradient algorithm was applied to the observations to track the Ribbon's contour. Spectral analysis of the contour revealed that the Ribbon's structure is a combination of several wavenumbers ranging from k equals 8-40. The Ribbon is a dynamic structure that has been observed to have spectral power for dominant wavenumbers which vary over a time period of one month. The presence of the Ribbon correlates with periods when the velocity of the westward jet at the same location is highest. We conducted numerical simulations to investigate the stability of westward jets of varying speed, vertical shear, and background static stability to different perturbations. A Ribbon-like morphology was best reproduced with a 35 per millisecond westward jet that decreases in amplitude for pressures greater than 700 hectopascals and a background static stability of N equals 0.005 per second perturbed by heat pulses constrained to latitudes south of 30 degrees North. Additionally, the simulated feature had wavenumbers that qualitatively matched observations and evolved throughout the simulation reproducing the Jovian Ribbon's dynamic structure.
Storage Iron Kinetics: VI. THE EFFECT OF INFLAMMATION ON IRON EXCHANGE IN THE RAT

Summary. The effect of turpentine-induced inflammation on iron exchange in the rat has been studied. Within a few hours the basal level of plasma iron turnover fell from 1539 to 430 μg/kg/day, and iron absorption from the gut was reduced from 910 to 235 μg/kg/day. Early release of iron from nonviable red cells by reticulo-endothelial cells was reduced from 72% to 38%, whereas early release of haemoglobin iron by hepatocytes was reduced from 29% to 17% with inflammation. These observations provide quantitative definition of the effects of inflammation on iron nietabolism and further demonstrate its general effect in impairing iron exchange by a number of cellular transport systems.
Blood volume and red cell space in tissues of the rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri.

Abstract 1. 1. Whole body blood volume and red cell space of 22 tissues were measured in unanesthetized rainbow trout at 4, 12, 30, 60, 150 and 240 min after dorsal aortic injection of 51Cr-labeled red blood cells. 2. 2. Apparent blood volume decreased during the initial 30 min after injection and increased thereafter. At 240 min the blood volume was 33.5 ± 3.1 ml/kg body wt. 3. 3. Tissue red cell space varied as a function of the interval between labeled red cell injection and tissue collection. Red cell space was highest in spleen followed by heart, kidney and liver. Lowest red cell spaces were found in stomach and red and white skeletal muscle. 4. 4. Variability in blood volume and tissue red cell space over time suggests that caution should be exercised in the design of experiments that employ indicator dilution measurements to measure vascular volumes.
Gliding through sugar channels: how sweet it is!

The recently determined structures of ScrY and LamB porin, with and without bound ligands, have provided atomic-level details about the transit pathway of sugars through these channels and in turn revealed a novel transport mechanism.
Uranium in soil around phosphate processing plants in Pocatello, Idaho.

A study was conducted on the distribution of uranium in soil around two phosphate processing plants as a function of distance, depth, and prevalent wind direction of the area. Such information is essential for understanding the dispersion of uranium and its daughter products into the environment by the phosphate processing operations. Soil samples were collected at different depths along three lines radiating from the center of the two plants. U concentrations in soil were determined by neutron activation analysis. Results are reported.
An immunologic renal tubular lesion in man

Abstract A distinctive renal tubular lesion has been observed in seven patients, characterized by granular deposition of IgG and/or β1C along the basement membrane of proximal tubules and by corresponding electron-dense deposits. Associated histologic findings were tubular cell damage, interstitial fibrosis and irregular, generally scanty lymphocytic infiltrates. Three of the patients had lupus erythematosus, one lipoid nephrosis, one membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis, one unclassified tubular and interstitial disease and one rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis. Two patients with extensive deposits had suggestive evidence of tubular dysfunction. On the basis of their resemblance to experimental models, it is suggested that the tubular deposits represent immune complexes containing autoantibody and autologous antigens.
Direct correlation function in fluid interfaces.

It is shown that in the absence of a macroscopic external field, the direct correlation function in the planar interface between two fluid phases has a slow decay in the transverse directions. This is in contrast to all earlier assumptions and approximate results. More generally, when several fluid phases meet along a surface of contact, it is found that the direct correlation function decays slowly in the surface of contact. These results hold provided that self-maintained interfaces exist and the intermolecular forces decay rapidly enough at infinity.
RACIAL, ECONOMIC, AND INSTITUTIONAL DIFFERENCES IN HOME MORTGAGE LOANS: St. Joseph County, Indiana

: Numerous studies have documented racial and economic disparities in the home mortgage market. Almost all of these have been done in large urban areas, many of which have long histories of racial conflict and discrimination. Further, little attention has been paid to institutional disparities, i.e., the ways in which mortgage lenders differ among themselves in their community reinvestment performance. In this study, we profile the home mortgage lending of several institutions doing business in the medium-sized urban area of St. Joseph County, Indiana. We find tremendous differences between lenders, suggesting that bank practices and policies exert a great impact on how well low income and minority neighborhoods and individuals are served. Lender characteristics, such as the legal structure of the institution (e.g., commercial bank, credit union, savings and loan), branch locations, and other factors are associated with these disparities. We conclude by suggesting that several heretofore ignored variables need closer examination.
SNDL-MOEA: stored non-domination level MOEA

There exist a number of high-performance Multi-Objective Evolutionary Algorithms (MOEAs) for solving Multi-Objective Optimization (MOO) problems; two of the best are NSGA-II and epsilon-MOEA. However, they lack an archive population sorted into levels of non-domination, making them unsuitable for construction problems where some type of backtracking to earlier intermediate solutions is required. In this paper we introduce our Stored Non-Domination Level (SNDL) MOEA for solving such construction problems. SNDL-MOEA combines some of the best features of NSGA-II and epsilon-MOEA with the ability to store and recall intermediate solutions necessary for construction problems. We present results for applying SNDL-MOEA to the Tight Single Change Covering Design (TSCCD) construction problem, demonstrating its applicability. Furthermore, we show with a detailed performance comparison between SNDL-MOEA, NSGA-II, and epsilon-MOEA on two standard test series that SNDL-MOEA is capable of outperforming NSGA-II and is competitive with epsilon-MOEA.
In Defense of Utilitarianism: An Economist's Viewpoint

Two articles denigrating utilitarianism, which recently appeared in a single issue of the Review of Social Economy, [Anderson; Ross] are symptomatic of the negative viewpoint on utilitarianism as a philosoph? ical concept which is apparently becoming increasingly popular. I find this distressing because, in my judgment, utilitarianism is not merely the best approach to questions of desirable social policy and individual behavior but is quite literally the only viable approach. Failure to recognize this state of affairs probably injects even more random error into our thoughts about these questions; thoughts which are already sufficiently muddled by the sheer overwhelming complexity of the natu? ral and social environments. As many readers of the Review of Social Economy are liable to regard these statements as patently preposterous, let me say at the outset that my viewpoint on utilitarianism has been formed not only by many years of research as a policy-oriented econo? mist, but also by the high standards of Christian social awareness instilled in me by an exclusively Roman Catholic education through the college level (I graduated from Fordham University in 1965). As indicated, one encounters a great many criticisms of utilitarianism in both the philosophical and social scientific literatures. But the fact is that the critics develop their own dubious definitions or interpretations of utilitarianism, and then proceed to criticize them. I prefer to take a positive rather than a negative approach; my concept of utilitarianism incorporates the basic idea expressed in the dictionary definitions but develops this idea in a manner consistent, first, with modern social scientific policy analysis and, second, with an "enlightened" or "refined" view of human nature and society. Consider the analogy between the concepts of "utilitarianism" and "socialism." According to the dictionary, socialism is simply public ownership of land and capital. Most of the criticism of socialism goes far beyond the definition. For example, socialism is first identified with central planning or the one-party state (because of the observed situa? tion under Soviet Communism) and is then castigated on the basis of the perceived defects of central planning or the one party state. To my
The Relationship of Learning and Performance Diagnosis at Different System Levels.

The importance of performance diagnosis to the success of performance improvement interventions is widely recognized. Yet, while research in the last decade has sought to distinguish between learning and performance improvement, the relationship between learning and performance diagnosis remains unexamined. It is important to examine this relationship because human resource development professionals are urged to develop expertise in performance diagnosis, and it should be clear whether they are supposed to learn better or something else. This paper examines learningad performance diagnosis, separately and in relation to each other, asthey function in organization systems. Using a three-levels of performance model, the relationship between learning and performance diagnosis are examined at the individual, process, and organizational levels.
Decreases in tyrosine and p-hydroxyphenylglycol caused by various antidepressants

The effects of eleven different antidepressant drugs on brain p-hydroxyphenylglycol (pHPG) and on brain and plasma tyrosine concentrations were investigated in rats. Imipramine, amitriptyline, amoxapine, desmethylimipramine and iprindole (20 mg/kg each) and bupropion (50 mg/kg) decreased brain pHPG levels 4.5 or 6 hr after injection. Each of these drugs also significantly reduced plasma tyrosine levels 1.5 hr after injection. In contrast, zimelidine, amitriptylinoxide, trimipramine and trazodone had no significant effect on either brain pHPG or plasma tyrosine. Mianserin significantly lowered plasma tyrosine but produced a nonsignificant decrease in brain pHPG. The decreases in brain pHPG caused by the various drugs were significantly correlated with 3,4-dihydroxyphenylethyleneglycol. Moreover, decreases in brain pHPG and brain and plasma tyrosine concentrations were correlated with the potencies of these drugs to inhibit in vitro norepinephrine uptake. These results suggest the possibility that noradrenergic (or similar) mechanisms regulate both pHPG and tyrosine levels. However, the decreases in pHPG cannot be explained entirely by a deficiency in tyrosine, since the depletions in pHPG were much larger and longer lasting than those of tyrosine.