cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Character coding of secondary chemical variation for use in phylogenetic analyses

A coding procedure is presented for secondary chemical data whereby putative biogenetic pathways are coded as phylogenetic characters with enzymatic conversions between compounds representing the corresponding character states. A character state tree or stepmatrix allows direct representation of the secondary chemical biogenetic pathway and avoids problems of non-independence associated with coding schemes that score presence/absence of individual compounds. Stepmatrices are the most biosynthetically realistic character definitions because individual and population level polymorphisms can be scored, reticulate enzymatic conversions within pathways may be represented, and down-weighting of pathway loss versus gain is possible. The stepmatrix approach unifies analyses of secondary chemicals, allozymes, and developmental characters because the biological unity of the pathway, locus, or character ontogeny is preserved. Empirical investigation of the stepmatrix and character state tree coding methods using floral fragrance data in Cypripedium (Orchidaceae) resulted in cladistic relationships which were largely congruent with those suggested from recent DNA and allozyme studies. This character coding methodology provides an effective means for including secondary compound data in total evidence studies. Furthermore, ancestral state reconstructions provide a phylogenetic context within which biochemical pathway evolution may be studied.
Research and design of a mobile streaming media content delivery network

Delivering media to large numbers of mobile users presents challenges due to the stringent requirements of streaming media, mobility, wireless, and scaling to support large numbers of users. This paper presents a mobile streaming media content delivery network (MSM-CDN) designed to overcome these challenges. The MSM-CDN is a network overlay consisting of overlay servers on top of the existing network; these overlay servers are control points that facilitate end-to-end media delivery and mid-network media services. This paper presents an overview of the MSM-CDN system architecture, and describes the testbed prototype that we built based on these architectural principles. The MSM-CDN provides a new platform for media delivery, and we describe a number of research directions related to the MSM-CDN.
Lipid Labeling in Normal and Nitrogen‐Deficient Squash (Cucurbita maxima) Leaves

Squash (Cucurbita maxima Duchesne) plants were grown on normal and on nitrogen-deficient nutrients. The degrees of label incorporation into chloroplast lipids as well as non-chloroplast lipids were determined. Nitrogen-deficient tissues contain less chlorophyll, have a decreased chlorophyll a/b ratio, incorporate more label into phosphatidyl choline and phosphatidyl ethanolamine than into the chloroplast lipids such as mono- and digalactosyl diglycerides, have a reduced capacity to incorporate the hexose moieties into the glycolipids but normal capacity to incorporate bases into the phospholipids of non-chloroplast constituents, and have a normal level of total fatty acids even though the level of linolenate is decreased. All of this would suggest that the most evident changes in membrane lipid constituents during nitrogen-deficiency occur as changes in the chloroplast lipid constituents as opposed to the non-chloroplast lipid constituents.
Ingres as a Blasted Allegory

John Baldessari's concept of ‘blasted allegory’ forms the theoretical framework for a discursive reading of how Ingres has been revisioned by four twentieth-century artists: Pablo Picasso, who pays an ironic homage to the Old Master in his 1918 painting of Bathers; Cindy Sherman, who associates Ingres with the abject in her 1989 history portrait; Calum Colvin, who restages the Bain turc as a kitsch palace in his 1986 photo-construction; and Kurt Kauper, whose 1996–99 suite of paintings entitled Diva Fictions use a seduction of the signs to destabilize gender – imagine Ingres as a drag queen. These four case studies are looked at as a form of historiography, but what unfolds is perhaps better labelled hysteria-graphy since Ingres emerges as an hysterical discourse in the form of a ‘blasted allegory’. What gets ‘blasted’ is any notion of a monolithic definition or mastery of what all Ingres has come to signify within the context of twentieth-century art practices and their critical receptions. Both elevated and derided as the epitome of ‘high culture’, a return to Ingres is cast as reactionary (Picasso) and cutting-edge (Sherman and Colvin), and sometimes cutting-edge precisely because it is reactionary, and thus transgressive (Kauper and Picasso). Read in these opposing ways, the twentieth-century Ingres ends up a ‘blasted allegory’ with no singular, coherent truth.
Why patients who die of worsening pulmonary arterial hypertension are not on parenteral prostacyclin analog treatment

We read with great interest the article by Dr Farber et al.(1) on the treatment of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) at the time of death or deterioration to functional class IV, based on the REVEAL (Registry to Evaluate Early and Long-term PAH Disease Management) registry data. The authors concluded that intravenous prostacyclin therapy and combination therapy are not consistently used in patients that either progress to New York Heart Association (NYHA) class IV or died. Although the authors elaborate on the potential explanations of this apparently low use of intravenous prostacyclin analogues or PAH-combination treatment in this particular group of PAH patients, the REVEAL registry did not investigate the particular reasons for not initiating or continuing these PAH-specific treatments. We have recently presented a study on the causes and circumstances of death in PAH patients in which we carefully investigated the reasons why these patients were not on IV prostacyclin analogues or PAH-combination therapy before death (2). Interestingly, almost all PAH patients (83 of 84)received at least one PAH-specific therapy; however only 50 % of patients (42 out of 84) were on parenteral prostacyclin analogues before death. The proportion of patient receiving the latter treatment increased when considering those that died due to worsening PH (73 %) and were in NYHA class IV (78%). More importantly the reasons for not receiving parenteral prostacyclin analogues included the concomitant presence of advanced interstitial lung disease and hypoxemia in patients with scleroderma (n=2), dementia (n=1), psychiatric disease (n=1), advanced age with inadequate family support (n=1), frequent catheter related infections (n=1), comorbidities with poor prognosis (n=1), suspicion of pulmonary venous occlusive disease (n=1) and patient refusal (n=1). Most of the PAH patients that died due to worsening PAH and were on NYHA functional class III or IV received PAH combination therapy (n=34, 94 %) At our institution, as in the REVEAL registry, a significant proportion of PAH patient did not receive treatment before death, but this was because patients had conditions other than PH that led to their demise, were not in NYHA class III or IV or the risk / benefit ratio did not favor initiating this treatment. It would be important to know how the authors adjudicated patients to the “PAH-related death” group, since in our experience this was a very complex task, even when we prospectively reviewed each case in our own program as a group.
Neutron diffraction and electrical transport studies on magnetic ordering in terbium at high pressures and low temperatures

Neutron diffraction and electrical transport measurements have been carried out on the heavy rare-earth metal terbium at high pressures and low temperatures in order to elucidate the onset of ferromagnetic (FM) order as a function of pressure. The electrical resistance measurements show a change in slope as the temperature is lowered through the FM Curie temperature. The temperature of this FM transition decreases at a rate of−16.7 K/GPa up to a pressure of 3.6 GPa, at which point the onset of FM order is suppressed. The neutron diffraction measurements as a function of pressure at temperatures ranging from 90 to 290 K confirm that the change of slope in the resistance is associated with the FM ordering, since this occurs at pressures similar to those determined from the resistance results at these temperatures. A disappearance of FM ordering was observed as the pressure is increased above 3.6 GPa and is correlated with the phase transition from the ambient hexagonal close packed structure to an α-Sm-type...
2-Anthraquinonesulfonic acid photosensitized autoxidation of HEPES buffer.

— Autoxidation of N-2-hydroxyethylpiperazine-N'-2-ethanesulfonic acid buffer occurred in the presence of 2-anthraquinonesulfonic acid and light. The disappearance of oxygen, measured with an oxygen electrode, followed zero-order kinetics until 75 per cent of the oxygen in solution was consumed. The actual rate observed depended upon pH, light intensity, temperature, and concentrations of 2-anthraquinonesulfonic acid and buffer. The oxygen consumption was inhibited by hydroquinone and superoxide dismutase. Autoxidation of N-tris(hydroxymethyl)methylglycine was analogous, but no oxygen was consumed by phosphate buffer in the presence of 2-anthraquinonesulfonic acid and light.
Shopping Goals, Goal Concreteness, and Conditional Promotions

We propose a two-stage model to describe the increasing concreteness of consumers' goals during the shopping process, testing the model with a series of field experiments at a convenience store. Using a number of different process measures (experiment 1), we first established that consumers are less certain of their shopping goals and construe products in less concrete terms when they are in the first (vs. second) stage of the shopping process. The results of experiments 2 and 3 next demonstrate that goal-evoking marketing promotions (e.g., conditional coupons) are more effective in influencing consumers' spending when consumers' goals are less concrete.
Dielectrophoretic assembly and integration of nanowire devices with functional CMOS operating circuitry

We present a novel platform for the development and deployment of nanosensors in integrated systems. The nanosensor technology is based on "striped" high aspect ratio cylindrical structures grown using porous membranes as templates. These nanostructures are manipulated using dielectrophoretic forces, allowing their individual assembly and characterization. This assembly also enables the development of "mixed-mode" integrated circuits that include readout, signal processing, and communications circuitry, as well as the requisite layout for the post-IC assembly of the nanostructures. We report on preliminary designs of such mixed mode systems whose layouts integrate dielectrophoretic assembly sites with a rudimentary resistance read-out circuitry.
Contrasting population genetic patterns within the white-throated sparrow genome (Zonotrichia albicollis)

The level of nucleotide diversity observed across the genome is positively correlated with the local rate of recombination. Avian karyotypes are typified by large variation in chromosome size and the rate of recombination in birds has been shown to be negatively correlated with chromosome size. It has thus been predicted that nucleotide diversity is negatively correlated with chromosome size in aves. However, there is limited empirical evidence to support this prediction. Here we sequenced 27 autosomal and 12 sex chromosome-linked loci in the white-throated sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) to quantify and compare patterns of recombination, linkage disequilibrium (LD), and genetic diversity across the genome of this North American songbird. Genetic diversity on the autosomes varied up to 8-fold, with the lowest diversity observed on the macrochromosomes and the highest diversity on the microchromosomes. Genetic diversity on the sex chromosomes was reduced compared to the autosomes, the most extreme difference being a ~300-fold difference between the W chromosome and the microchromosomes. LD and population structure associated with a common inversion polymorphism (ZAL2/2m) in this species were found to be atypical compared to other macrochromosomes, and nucleotide diversity within this inversion on the two chromosome arrangements was more similar to that observed on the Z chromosome. A negative correlation between nucleotide diversity and autosome size was observed in the white-throated sparrow genome, as well as low levels of diversity on the sex chromosomes comparable to those reported in other birds. The population structure and extended LD associated with the ZAL2/2m chromosomal polymorphism are exceptional compared to the rest of the white-throated sparrow genome.
Abstract 4203: EF24, a novel curcumin analogue inhibits oncogenic activation induced by radiation abscopal effect in distant mice lungs

Ascertaining the ionizing radiation (IR)-induced carcinogenesis through an abscopal effect would raise a paradigm shift in our understanding of the radiobiological effects and radiation carcinogenesis. EF24, a synthetic analog of curcumin with improved physicochemical properties has been shown to possess potent anticancer activity, both in vitro as well as in vivo. In this study, we investigated the oncogenic activation after IR in an organ (lung) distant from the exposure field. C57/BL6 mice either mock irradiated, exposed to single dose IR (SDR: 2 or 10Gy) or fractionated IR (FIR, 2 Gy/day for 5 days) with or without EF24 (i.p. 200μg/Kg, 3h prior to IR) treatment were sacrificed 1h through 2 weeks post-irradiation. All IR exposures were limited to the lower abdomen area (1cm diameter), while the rest of the animal was protected by a specially designed cerrobend shield. DNA binding activity of AP-1, E2F1, cFOS and FRA1 were examined using EMSA analysis. Transcriptional activation of 88 oncogenes was assessed using QPCR profiling. Phosphorylation of CREB and JNK were examined using immunoblotting. Cellular localization of JunB, JunC and JunD were analyzed by immunohisto staining. IR significantly induced AP-1, E2F1, cFOS and FRA1 DNA binding activity in lungs distant from the exposure fields. EF24 completely and persistently (up to 2wks) suppressed IR-induced distant effect on AP-1, E2F1, cFOS and FRA1 DNA binding activity. Second, EF24 completely suppressed all 52, 31 and 64 oncogenes that were significantly upregulated after 2 Gy, 10Gy and 2Gyx5D exposures. We observed a similar inhibitory effect of oncogene transcriptome even after 2wk with EF24 treatment. Third, a profound increase in JunB, JunC and JunD levels observed in distant lung tissue after IR were significantly inhibited by EF24. Fourth, we observed a profound inhibition of IR-induced CREB phosphorylation with EF24 treatment in distant lungs. Taken together, these data clearly demonstrated an induced abscopal carcinogenic response in mice lungs after clinically relevant doses of IR exposure. The findings further imply that systemic administration of EF24 could potentially inhibit DNA binding activity, transactivation and translation of oncogenes and thereby mitigate IR-induced oncogenic activation at distant site. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4203. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-4203
A Virus-Binding Hot Spot on Human Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 Is Critical for Binding of Two Different Coronaviruses

How viruses evolve to select their receptor proteins for host cell entry is puzzling. We recently determined the crystal structures of NL63 coronavirus (NL63-CoV) and SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV) receptor-binding domains (RBDs), each complexed with their common receptor, human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (hACE2), and proposed the existence of a virus-binding hot spot on hACE2. Here we investigated the function of this hypothetical hot spot using structure-guided biochemical and functional assays. The hot spot consists of a salt bridge surrounded by hydrophobic tunnel walls. Mutations that disturb the hot spot structure have significant effects on virus/receptor interactions, revealing critical energy contributions from the hot spot structure. The tunnel structure at the NL63-CoV/hACE2 interface is more compact than that at the SARS-CoV/hACE2 interface, and hence RBD/hACE2 binding affinities are decreased either by NL63-CoV mutations decreasing the tunnel space or by SARS-CoV mutations increasing the tunnel space. Furthermore, NL63-CoV RBD inhibits hACE2-dependent transduction by SARS-CoV spike protein, a successful application of the hot spot theory that has the potential to become a new antiviral strategy against SARS-CoV infections. These results suggest that the structural features of the hot spot on hACE2 were among the driving forces for the convergent evolution of NL63-CoV and SARS-CoV.
Platelet von Willebrand's Antigen II: Active Release by Aggregating Agents and a Marker of Platelet Release Reaction In Vivo

von Willebrand's antigen II (vW AgII), a plasma and platelet antigen immunologically and biochemically distinct from factor-VIII-related antigen (VIIIR:Ag), is decreased in von Willebrand's disease. vW AgII is released from platelets during aggregation and clotting. The release of platelet vW AgII was studied in washed platelets following aggregation by thrombin, collagen, and adenosine diphosphate (ADP). Total platelet vW AgII was 3.39 U/10(9) platelets. Thrombin and collagen yielded release of 85% and 86% of platelet vW AgII, respectively, at the highest concentrations. Release of platelet vW AgII was correlated with the release of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5HT). Release of vW AgII by collagen and thrombin was inhibited by metabolic inhibitors. In addition, collagen release of vW AgII was inhibited by aspirin. In clinical syndromes associated with intravascular platelet destruction, marked elevations of plasma vW AgII were noted. Thus, vW AgII is released by a metabolically active process from platelets during aggregation. In addition, vW AgII appears to be a marker of intravascular platelet destruction.
Callosal Abnormalities Across the Psychosis Dimension: Bipolar Schizophrenia Network on Intermediate Phenotypes.

ABSTRACT Background The corpus callosum has been implicated in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. However, it is unclear whether corpus callosum alterations are related to the underlying familial diathesis for psychotic disorders. We examined the corpus callosum and its subregion volumes and their relationship to cognition, psychotic symptoms, and age in probands with schizophrenia (SZ), psychotic bipolar disorder (PBD), and schizoaffective disorder; their first-degree relatives; and healthy control subjects. Methods We present findings from morphometric and neurocognitive analyses of 1381 subjects (SZ probands, n = 224; PBD probands, n = 190; schizoaffective disorder probands, n = 142; unaffected relatives, n = 483 [SZ relatives, n = 195; PBD relatives, n = 175; schizoaffective disorder relatives, n = 113]; control subjects, n = 342). Magnetization prepared rapid acquisition gradient-echo T1 scans across five sites were obtained using 3-tesla magnets. Image processing was done using FreeSurfer Version 5.1. Neurocognitive function was measured using the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia scale. Results Anterior and posterior splenial volumes were significantly reduced across the groups. The SZ and PBD probands showed robust and significant reductions, whereas relatives showed significant reductions of intermediate severity. The splenial volumes were positively but differentially correlated with aspects of cognition in the probands and their relatives. Proband groups showed a significant age-related decrease in the volume of the anterior splenium compared with control subjects. Among the psychosis groups, the anterior splenium in probands with PBD showed a stronger correlation with psychotic symptoms, as shown by the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale. All five subregions showed significantly high familiality. Conclusions The splenial volumes were significantly reduced across the psychosis dimension. However, this volume reduction impacts cognition and clinical manifestation of the illnesses differentially.
Revamping Aid for Trade for the Post-Bali WTO Agenda

Developing countries’ requests for financial and technical assistance acquired a high profile during the Doha Round negotiations prompting the launch of the Aid for Trade Initiative. The Initiative succeeded in mobilising a large amount of financial resources. However, because the Doha Round talks stalled, these resources could not support the implementation of a multilateral agreement. Instead, they were spent on various projects, some not clearly related to trade. As a result, developing countries are increasingly questioning the additionality of aid for trade. To make matters worse, facing a fiscal crisis, donors are reducing their aid envelope and are requesting evidence that the money spent has had an impact. The future of the Aid for Trade Initiative and its capacity to support the post-Bali WTO Agenda will depend on its capacity to address these concerns. To do so, a change in approach is needed. In its Aid for Trade Work Programme 2012-13, the WTO answered the challenges by expanding its scope of the Initiative. Post-Bali, it should instead narrow the scope of the Initiative, in order to make it more focused and efficient.
Towards Debugging Sentiment Lexicons

Central to many sentiment analysis tasks are sentiment lexicons (SLs). SLs exhibit polarity inconsistencies. Previous work studied the problem of checking the consistency of an SL for the case when the entries have categorical labels (positive, negative or neutral) and showed that it is NPhard. In this paper, we address the more general problem, in which polarity tags take the form of a continuous distribution in the interval [0, 1]. We show that this problem is polynomial. We develop a general framework for addressing the consistency problem using linear programming (LP) theory. LP tools allow us to uncover inconsistencies efficiently, paving the way to building SL debugging tools. We show that previous work corresponds to 0-1 integer programming, a particular case of LP. Our experimental studies show a strong correlation between polarity consistency in SLs and the accuracy of sentiment tagging in practice.
Distributed architecture of Oracle database in-memory

Over the last few years, the information technology industry has witnessed revolutions in multiple dimensions. Increasing ubiquitous sources of data have posed two connected challenges to data management solutions -- processing unprecedented volumes of data, and providing ad-hoc real-time analysis in mainstream production data stores without compromising regular transactional workload performance. In parallel, computer hardware systems are scaling out elastically, scaling up in the number of processors and cores, and increasing main memory capacity extensively. The data processing challenges combined with the rapid advancement of hardware systems has necessitated the evolution of a new breed of main-memory databases optimized for mixed OLTAP environments and designed to scale.The Oracle RDBMS In-memory Option (DBIM) is an industry-first distributed dual format architecture that allows a database object to be stored in columnar format in main memory highly optimized to break performance barriers in analytic query workloads, simultaneously maintaining transactional consistency with the corresponding OLTP optimized row-major format persisted in storage and accessed through database buffer cache. In this paper, we present the distributed, highly-available, and fault-tolerant architecture of the Oracle DBIM that enables the RDBMS to transparently scale out in a database cluster, both in terms of memory capacity and query processing throughput. We believe that the architecture is unique among all mainstream in-memory databases. It allows complete application-transparent, extremely scalable and automated distribution of Oracle RDBMS objects in-memory across a cluster, as well as across multiple NUMA nodes within a single server. It seamlessly provides distribution awareness to the Oracle SQL execution framework through affinitized fault-tolerant parallel execution within and across servers without explicit optimizer plan changes or query rewrites.
Objective Sleep Assessments in Patients with Postural Tachycardia Syndrome using Overnight Polysomnograms.

Study Objectives:Patients with postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS) commonly complain of fatigue, unrefreshing sleep, daytime sleepiness, and diminished quality of life. The study objective was to ...
The Character of the Chemical Index of Alteration and Discussion of Subdivision and Correlation of the Nanhua System in Yichang Area

The chemical index of alteration(CIA)is first proposed as a marker to distinguish the chemical weathering degree of source rocks, and later it is used to distinguish the depositional environment of sediments. The formula of the chemical index of alteration is CIA= n(Al_2O_3) /[ n(Al_2O_3) + n(CaO*) + n(Na_2O) + n(K_2O) ]×100, here, CaO* represents CaO in silicates, n(CaO*) = n(CaO) - n(CO_2,calcite) -0.5· n(CO_2,dolomite) -10/3· n(P_2O_5) . It is very important to select samples for analyses of the chemical index of alteration. Following two factors have to be considered when sampling in the field. First, the best rocks are the fine clastic rocks. Second, the influence of diagenetic potassium replacement should be avoided. The index of compositional variability(ICV)is used to distinguish circulation and reformed degree of the composition of sediments. At the same time, A—CN—K diagram is used to distinguish the feature of source rock and character of potassium replacement and its weathering degree. Our results show that the value of CIA is at 50～65 in the lower part, 65～75 in the upper part and 55～60 in the top part of the Liantuo Formation, Lower series of Nanhua. The value of CIA varies between 60～65 in the Nantuo Formation, but is up to 70 at the top of the Nantuo Formation at Sandouping, Yichang area. Variation of the value of CIA indicates separately the circle of the arid—frigid low chemical weathering environment to warm—damp medium chemical weathering environment and to arid—frigid low chemical weathering environment from base to the top in the section. The results demonstrates that the lower part of the Liantuo Formation represents an arid—frigid cold ice period, the upper part of the Liantuo Formation represents a warm—damp interglacial period, and the top Liantuo Formation and the Nantuo Formation represent an arid—frigid cold ice period again. According to the present result, a new division and correlation of the Nanhua System in the Yangtze Platform are suggested here.
Investigation on Legionella pneumophila pollution in water of air conditioner in public places of Tianhe

Objective:To investigate the problem of Legionella pneumophila in contaminated water of central air conditioners located in public places of Tianhe,and provide a basis for the legionella disease control and prevention.Methods:99 samples were cultivated by GVPC,BCYE and BCY media and identified by serum typing.Results:The positive rate was 14.1%(14/99) and it was no obvious different among different years,seasons,typical places.In separated 14 Legionella pneumophila,LP6 and LP1 are dominated with the rate of 43.0%(14/99),35.7%(5/14).Conclusion:Public place′s central air conditioner cooling waters were seriously polluted in Tianhe and the native people′s health will be hurt,so we should do much works to prevent and control the bacterial pollution.
Studies of non-metabolizable polyamines that support growth of SV-3T3 cells depleted of natural polyamines by exposure to α-difluoromethylornithine

A number of synthetic polyamine derivatives that included five achiral gem-dimethylspermidines and two analogous tetramethylated spermines were tested for their abilities to serve as substrates for enzymes metabolizing polyamines and for their capacities to substitute for the natural polyamines in cell growth. It was found that none of the compounds were effective substrates for spermine synthase, and only one, namely 8,8-dimethylspermidine, was a substrate for spermidine/spermine N1-acetyltransferase. However, all of the spermidine derivatives and 1,1,12,12-tetramethylspermine were able to support the growth of SV-3T3 cells in which endogenous polyamine synthesis was prevented by the addition of alpha-difluoromethylornithine. These results suggest that either spermidine or spermine can support cell growth without the need for metabolic interconversion. In contrast with the result with 1,1,12,12-tetramethylspermine, 3,3,10,10-tetramethylspermine did not restore growth of polyamine-depleted SV-3T3 cells. Comparison of the properties of these derivatives may prove valuable in understanding the physiological role of polyamines.
Studies on a new anticholinergic drug, Marplan

Abstract 1.1. Marplan, a new synthetic anticholinergic drug, was shown by the balloon-kymograph method to inhibit both spontaneous and stimulated motility at all levels of the gut excepting the spasm of the choledochal sphincter induced by Dromoran. 2.2. This inhibition may be demonstrated consistently by parenteral administration of 0.5 to 1.0 mg. of the drug, less consistently by oral administration of 20 to 35 mg. in a single dose. 3.3. Clinically, the drug is an effective adjunct in the management of peptic ulcer, in an average dose of one 5 mg. tablet orally at appropriate intervals during the day and two tablets at bedtime. 4.4. Marplan is well tolerated by patients who have no specific intolerance to anticholinergic drugs generally. Troublesome side effects in oral doses at the therapeutic level were infrequent and with one exception occurred only in patients who had had similar reactions to other anticholinergic drugs. 5.5. In all of the physiologic and clinical properties investigated in the present study, Marplan has been found to be comparable to atropine and to several synthetic anticholinergic preparations already on the market. While Marplan has no particular advantage over the latter, at the same time, on the basis of our experience, none is superior to it.
Switches are Monitors Too!: Stateful Property Monitoring as a Switch Design Criterion

Testing and debugging networks /in situ/ is notoriously difficult. Many vital correctness properties involve histories over multiple packets (e.g., prior established connections). Checking such properties requires /cross-packet state/, which cannot be fully captured on stateless switch hardware.Recent SDN work is enabling limited switch operations on persistent state. We present runtime checking of cross-packet correctness properties as a unique and instructive use case for developing stateful switch primitives. In this paper, we examine a set of cross-packet properties and distill from them switch features needed to monitor their correctness. We then contrast these against features provided by current approaches to switch state in SDNs and identify semantic gaps with an eye toward informing future switch instruction sets.
Cooling capacity and acoustic performance of radiant slab systems with free-hanging acoustical clouds

Radiant slab systems have the potential to achieve significant energy savings, yet, when applied in the ceiling (e.g., thermally activated building system) the exposed concrete may also create acoustical challenges due to the high reflectivity of the hard surface. Balancing all of the building indoor environmental quality factors is important in the design of an effective workspace for the occupants, and so we need to consider the interactions between thermal and acoustic comfort. We assessed the cooling capacity in a hydronic test chamber and the sound absorption in a reverberation chamber to study the effects, for an office room, of different coverage areas of free-hanging acoustical clouds below a radiant chilled ceiling. The cooling experiments showed that for 47% cloud coverage of the ceiling area, we measured only an 11% reduction in cooling capacity caused by the blockage of radiant exchange between the ceiling and the room. The acoustical results showed that if the cloud covered 30% of the ceiling in a private office or 50% in an open plan office, acceptable sound absorption at the ceiling was achieved. We showed that good acoustic quality can be achieved with only a minor reduction of cooling capacity.
MRI Image-Guided Low-Dose Rate Brachytherapy for Prostate Cancer

Permanent prostate brachytherapy is recognized as a standard of care for localized prostate cancer. Although most physicians performing permanent prostate implants have more commonly utilized ultrasound-guided techniques, MRI-guided radiosurgery (MARS) has emerged as an exciting advancement in the field. Compared to ultrasound and CT, MRI can reduce the level of target volume uncertainty given its superior soft tissue delineation. In this chapter, we will focus on essential concepts pertaining to MRI-guided LDR prostate brachytherapy for the management of localized prostate cancer including proper patient selection, pretreatment planning, implanting techniques, and postimplant assessment.
Optimal Seed Deployment Under Climate Change Using Spatial Models: Application to Loblolly Pine in the Southeastern US

Provenance tests are a common tool in forestry designed to identify superior genotypes for planting at specific locations. The trials are replicated experiments established with seed from parent tr...
A new approach for prediction of collapse settlement of sandy gravel soils

Collapse settlement of the granular soils has become one of the main concerns of geotechnical engineers since their increased usage for constructing rockfill dams. Behavioral characterization of soil collapse settlement is a challenging task because this phenomenon is influenced by several parameters. In this study, a multi-gene genetic programming (MGGP) approach is proposed for the prediction of the collapse settlement of sandy gravel soils. The main goal is to formulate the collapse settlement and coefficient of stress release (CSR) in terms of sand content, normal stress, shear stress level, and relative density. The proposed models are compared with linear regression and ANN models. The results indicate that the MGGP models have superb accuracy and efficiency while they are simple and practical. The contribution of each parameter is evaluated through a sensitivity analysis. A parametric study is performed, and the obtained results are discussed.
Capturing haplotypes in germplasm core collections using bioinformatics

Genomewide data sets of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) offer great potential to improve ex situ conservation. Two factors impede their use for producing core collections. First, due to the large number of SNPs, the assembly of collections that maximize diversity may be intractable using existing, serial software algorithms. Second, the effect of the natural partitioning of the genome into linked regions, or haplotype blocks, on the optimization of collections, and the capture of diversity, is unknown. To address the first problem, we report the development of a parallel computer program, M+, for identifying optimized core collections from arbitrarily large genotypic data sets on high performance computing systems. With respect to the second problem, we use three exemplar data sets to show that, as haplotype block length increases, the number of accessions necessary to capture a predetermined proportion of genomewide haplotypic variation also increases. This relationship is asymptotic such that the minimum haplotype block length suitable for assembling core collections can be empirically determined, and the number of accessions necessary to capture a given percentage of the haplotypic diversity present in the entire collection can be estimated, even when true haplotype structure is unknown. Additionally, we test whether simple geographic or environmental information can be used to produce core collections with elevated genomewide haplotypic diversity. We find this opportunity to be limited, and dependent on natural history and improvement status.
Targeting HPV16 DNA using CRISPR/Cas inhibits anal cancer growth in vivo.

Aim The goal of this study was to determine if a single AAV vector, encoding Cas9 and guide RNAs specific for the HPV16 E6 and E7 genes, could inhibit the growth of an HPV16-induced tumor in vivo. Materials & methods We grew HPV16+, patient-derived anal cancer explants in immunodeficient mice and then challenged these by injection of AAV-based vectors encoding Cas9 and control or HPV16-specific guide RNAs. Results & conclusion We observed a significant and selective reduction in tumor growth when the HPV16 E6 and E7 genes were targeted using Cas9. These studies provide proof of principle for the hypothesis that CRISPR/Cas has the potential to be used to selectively treat HPV-induced tumors in humans.
Benefits of reducing national playbook flight routing via advanced flight-specific trajectories (AFST)

▪ It will allow time-based metering to continue more often when there is severe weather in en route airspace by providing weather-free trajectories through metered airspace before flights enter that airspace ▪ It will enable more direct routes — Especially as severe weather dissipates or evolves differently than predicted — Also in clear weather ▪ It will identify shorter routes through Special Activity Airspace when it is scheduled to be inactive ▪ It may allow traffic managers to defer or avoid implementing an Airspace Flow Program ▪ It may allow traffic managers to defer or avoid implementing Playbook Routes or to put those flights onto more efficient routes.
Estimating State-Level Health Burden of Diabetes: Diabetes-Attributable Fractions for Diabetes Complications.

Introduction Limited information is available on the health burden of diabetes at the state level. This study estimated state-specific attributable fractions and the number of cases attributable to diabetes for diabetes-related complications. Methods For each state, diabetes-attributable fractions for nine diabetes complications were estimated: three self-reported complications from the 2013 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, hospitalizations with three complications from 2011 to 2014 State Inpatient Databases, and three complications from 2013 Medicare data. Attributable fractions were calculated using RR and diabetes prevalence and the total number of cases using attributable fractions and total number of complications. Adjusted RR of each complication for people with and without diabetes by age and sex was estimated using a generalized linear model. Analyses were conducted in 2015–2016. Results Median state-level diabetes-attributable fractions for self-reported complications were 0.14 (range, 0.10–0.19) for mobility limitations; 0.13 (range, 0.04–0.21) for limitations in instrumental activities of daily living; and 0.12 (range, 0.06–0.20) for severe visual impairment or blindness. Median state-level diabetes-attributable fractions for diabetes-associated hospitalizations were 0.19 (range, 0.08–0.24) for congestive heart failure; 0.08 (range, 0.02–0.16) for myocardial infarction; and 0.62 (range, 0.46–0.73) for lower extremity amputations. Median state-level diabetes-attributable fractions for complications among Medicare beneficiaries were 0.17 (range, 0.14–0.23) for coronary heart disease; 0.28 (range, 0.24–0.33) for chronic kidney disease; and 0.22 (range, 0.08–0.32) for peripheral vascular disease. Conclusions Diabetes carries a significant health burden, and results vary across states. Efforts to prevent or delay diabetes or to improve diabetes management could reduce the health burden because of diabetes.
Surroundings and Environments in Fourth Order Design

Interior design is a neglected practice within the broader framework of design theory. Indeed, it is often misunderstood by the general public and sometimes regarded problematically among better-re...
Multilingual Education in Kenya: Implications for Culture Preservation and Transmission

Kenya is a multilingual society comprised of as many as 42 different ethnic groups with about the same number of languages and/or dialects. In addition to these indigenous languages, Kenya, like many other countries adopted the colonizer’s language, English, as the official language (Muaka in Language perceptions and identity among Kenyan speakers, 2011). As would be expected, the English language is not only highly regarded, but those who can speak it are considered to have more privileges in public domains. In addition to the 42 indigenous languages, Kiswahili, with its various regional derivatives, is the national language. As official and national languages respectively, English and Kiswahili are taught and examined in schools. Accordingly, everyone with at least elementary level education speaks some Kiswahili and English. The emphasis in the two languages buoyed by their ascribed status, academic, and economic utility has relegated indigenous languages as less important; thus, threatening their survival. In fact, many children in Kenya speak only English and Kiswahili and have little comprehension, if any, of their parents’ indigenous language(s). Notwithstanding the clear advantages of the English and Kiswahili languages, there is need to feature and teach native languages in schools, as they are pivotal to the preservation and transmission of indigenous cultures and hence the identity of the Kenyan nation. This chapter examines the impact that the emphasis on English and Kiswahili languages has had on indigenous languages since Kenya attained its independence in 1963 and discusses the importance of including indigenous languages as language subjects and media of instruction in schools.
WE-F-213-02: Building, Maintaining and Improving Physics Residency Programs

In this session we will discuss the key steps for building, maintaining and improving a physics residency program. The initial momentum starts with a secure commitment of; a program director, physics faculty, physicians, key technical personnel, and, of course, administration. The ultimate goal is to build a strong clinical physicist who practice independently and/or work in an interdisciplinary team. Part of the initiation is to find out the right balance of training, resident empowerment, and service contributed back to the clinic. Another key step that will be discussed is the recruitment of resident candidates. Namely, where the residents are coming from, what their educational background is, and most importantly during interviews, how to gauge what makes an ideal resident. Experiences on the first year of Medphys Match will be shared as well as strategies for placement following graduation. The key to maintenance of a residency program is to not allow stagnation, but rather to constantly update. Examples will be given of evolution of programs in terms of the didactic and clinical rotational components. In addition, how to allocate the resident developmental work, whether it be clinical or benchmark, without disrupting training. We will also discuss how to evaluate faculty on the ownership they take regarding resident training. We will discuss both therapy and imaging programs. Finally, we will share experiences on steps to continually improve one’s program. Learning Objectives: 1. To obtain from the experience of long standing programs the lessons learned. 2. To find out what historically has worked out to be ideal resident candidates. 3. Guidelines for continually improving a program.
Benefit of perioperative systemic therapy in patients with colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) undergoing liver-directed therapy (LDT).

e14529 Background: The benefit of perioperative systemic therapy in CRLM patients with LDT has only been tested in limited clinical trials, but is frequently administered. We therefore evaluated th...
Comparative Evaluation of the Cytotoxic and Angiogenic Effects of Minocycline and Clindamycin: An In Vitro Study

Abstract Introduction This study aimed to compare the cytocompatibility and angiogenic potential of 2 antibiotics (clindamycin [CLIN] and minocycline [MINO]) at distinct concentrations on dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Methods DPSCs and HUVECs were exposed to cell culture media modified with CLIN or MINO at concentrations ranging from 30 μg/mL–1000 μg/mL. Cell toxicity and proliferation were investigated using the lactate dehydrogenase and tetrazolium reduction assays, respectively. A capillarylike tube formation in vitro assay was conducted to determine the angiogenic potential associated with each antibiotic. Additionally, selected morphometric angiogenesis parameters were determined using dedicated software (WimTube; Onimagin Technologies SCA, Cordoba, Spain). All statistical analyses were performed using 1-way analysis of variance and the Tukey post hoc test (α= .05). Results The collected data showed that compared with the control (cell culture media, alpha-minimum essential medium Eagle) increasing the antibiotic concentration significantly decreased cell viability and proliferation of both DPSCs and HUVECs. In terms of angiogenic potential, when tested at 30 μg/mL and 50 μg/mL, CLIN significantly amplified tube formation when compared with MINO with angiogenesis parameters (ie, tube length and tube number) similar to the effect promoted by exogenous vascular endothelial growth factor (50 ng/mL). Conclusions CLIN was less cytotoxic when compared with MINO at higher concentrations. Of note, CLIN did not hinder the proangiogenic activity induced by vascular endothelial growth factor to the same extent as MINO, suggesting that the replacement of MINO by CLIN might translate into positive implications in the overall regenerative outcome.
The Digital Drawer: A Crowd-Sourced, Curated, Digital Archive Preserving History and Memory

While many digital asset management platforms and digital libraries exist, most have been designed for technically savvy users and not the older adults who are a key audience for our Digital Drawer platform. In the domain of digital humanities collections, our project is significant in that we are utilizing a participatory design (PD) process wherein all of the stakeholders and potential users of a system are actively involved in the design process to help insure the result meets their needs and is usable. This paper presents a case study on the PD process and the challenges of designing a crowd-sourced media and metadata submission tool for the Historic Rural Churches of Georgia to accommodate older adult users with low technical savvy and disabilities. We report on the PD process to design the user interface and user experience (UI/UX) for this user demographic, present conclusions and plans for future work.
Using What We Already Have: Uncovering New Drug Repurposing Strategies in Existing Omics Data.

The promise of drug repurposing is to accelerate the translation of knowledge to treatment of human disease, bypassing common challenges associated with drug development to be more time- and cost-e...
Transradial Arterial Access

Transradial artery access is reliable, minimally invasive approach to treat many conditions that in the past required transfemoral access and hours of a patient lying supine. Transradial access allows for the patient to sit-up and/or ambulate immediately after patent homeostasis is achieved. The benefits of shorter recovery times and more same day discharges not only translates to increased patient experience and satisfaction, but also the institution’s ability to increase productivity while decreasing labor costs.
Natural history of an immediately detectable PSA following radical prostatectomy: A description of a contemporary cohort.

356Background: Radical prostatectomy (RP) can provide good long-term oncological outcomes in patients with localized and locally advanced prostate cancer (PCa). After RP, prostate specific antigen ...