cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract 2270: Recruitment of CD103+DCs via tumor-targeted chemokine delivery enhances efficacy of checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapy

Checkpoint inhibitor antibody (CPI) therapy has demonstrated significant clinical benefit in a number of tumor types. Unfortunately, certain tumor characteristics, such as the lack of immune cell infiltration, often correlate with poor responses to CPI therapy. Studies have identified C-C Motif Chemokine Ligand 4 (CCL4) as a key molecule necessary for the recruitment of cross-presenting, CD103+dendritic cells (DCs) to the tumor; tumors lacking CCL4 expression exhibit a “cold tumor” phenotype and respond poorly to immunotherapy (Spranger and Gajewski, Nat. Rev. Cancer, 2018). Based on these results, we hypothesized that tumor-targeted CCL4 could enhance immune cell infiltration into the tumor and synergize with CPI therapy. We generated a fusion protein comprised of CCL4 and a collagen binding domain (CBD) derived from von Willebrand factor. Utilizing exposure of collagen in leaky tumor vasculature due to its disordered structure, we observed that that i.v. infusion of CBD-CCL4 fusion proteins, but not native CCL4, can enhance infiltration of CD103+DCs, CD8+T cells, and natural killer cells and slow B16F10 tumor growth when combined with CPI therapy consisting of anti-cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 antibody (αCTLA4) + anti-programmed death-ligand 1 antibody (αPD-L1). Further analysis showed strong correlations between the presence of CD103+DCs and CD8+ T cells and tumor regression. Similarly, in the EMT6 breast cancer model, tumor-targeted CCL4 in combination with CPI, but not native form CCL4, enhanced recruitment of CD103+ DCs, CD8+ T cells, and led to a reduction in tumor growth. To confirm the importance of CD103+DCs in mediating anti-tumor responses, we utilized Batf3 knockout mice bearing B16F10 tumors; in this instance, anti-tumor efficacy of CPI + CBD-CCL4 was completely lost. Preliminary results also showed that CBD-CCL4 can synergize with αPD-1 antibody therapy, slowing tumor growth in CT26 and MC38 colon cancer models compared to αPD-1 therapy alone. Importantly, CBD-CCL4 treatment did not lead to any detectable levels of systemic cytokine elevation or serum liver damage markers, suggesting that this therapy was well-tolerated following systemic administration. These results highlight the utility of recruiting CD103+DCs to the tumor to improve the efficacy of CPI therapy. This engineered chemokine delivery strategy demonstrates significant translational potential by targeting the tumor stroma following systemic administration. Citation Format: John-Michael Williford, Jun Ishihara, Ako Ishihara, Aslan Mansurov, Melody A. Swartz, Jeffrey A. Hubbell. Recruitment of CD103+DCs via tumor-targeted chemokine delivery enhances efficacy of checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapy [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 2270.
Infants with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome and Their Drug Dependent Mothers Compared to Matched Controls: We have a drug problem

Purpose: To compare infants with neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) and their drug dependent mothers to a control group at a single women’s hospital between the years 2011-2016. Methods: Chart review was performed on infants with NAS and matched with controls at Hutzel Women’s Hospital, Detroit, Michigan from November 2011 to December 2016. Infants were diagnosed with NAS using the modified Finnegan scoring system, maternal history, urine and meconium drug screens. A matched control was identified as the two newborns delivered …
When Survey Respondents Cheat: Internet Exposure and Ideological Consistency in the United States

Increasingly biased Internet news and information is frequently cited as a cause of opinion polarization in the United States. But is it that easy for media messages to influence political opinion? Matched samples of face-to-face versus online respondents in the 2012 and 2016 American National Election Studies reveal that about 23% of online respondents likely “cheated” by referencing the Internet to inform their answers. Doing so allowed those participants to provide more ideologically consistent responses to 41 survey questions, creating a strikingly bimodal distribution of reported opinion by pulling moderate answers to the political right. Quantile regression confirms these results. Probable cheating also increased the effect of Internet news source bias. These findings suggest that in-the-moment Internet messages can influence reported opinions, not because Internet media consumers are duped, but because online information empowers them to give answers
Iris Recognition in Postmortem Enucleated Eyes

This paper presents a comprehensive multispectral study of iris recognition on postmortem enucleated eyes over a period of three days. An off the shelf iris recognition methodology is employed to analyze the biometric capability of iris in the post mortem setting. We observed that iris patterns of enucleated eyes can provide biometric matches with no false accepts for up to 164 hours after death, albeit with high false rejection rates. We also present our observations on the effects of the environment and other confounding factors that may affect the performance of postmortem iris recognition, with recommendations for rehy-dration of specimen to regain postmortem biometric utility.
Apodized Meta-Gratings for Visible- Wavelength Beam Shaping

We design and experimentally demonstrate apodized photonic metamaterial gratings at 461 nm. Subdiffractive grating elements enable precise control of optical scattering and the projection of collimated Gaussian beams with waists greater than 100 µm.
Creating a more efficient Internet of Things through predictive analysis of resources

The greatest driver behind the stellar growth of the Internet of Things in the last couple of decades have been their minimal energy requirements. While this low energy envelope have made them near ubiquitous, it is also a huge bottleneck in real world deployments. A fine balance needs to be achieved such that these devices can perform enough meaningful computation in a reasonable amount of time to justify their deployment while consuming a reasonable amount of power to keep them running for extended periods. A common method to achieve this is through computational offloading wherein these devices move the heavy computation away to the edge and the cloud thereby increasing the network lifetime. Offloading computation from these devices also improves their performance as the computations are performed by powerful hardware at the edge and the cloud. However, this increases power consumption and network latencies from the need to transmit and receive extra synchronization data. Optimum performance can be achieved by intelligently deciding if the computation should be offloaded or performed locally - a task that is inherently difficult given the transient nature of the network and the systems. In this work, we formulate a distributed network optimization problem to achieve a balance between performance and energy consumption. Our simulation results show substantial network latency reduction and overall reduced power consumption.
Meal timing relative to DLMO: Associations with BMI and body fat

Abstract Background Timing of eating relative to the dim light melatonin onset (DLMO) may serve as a modifiable risk factor for adverse cardiometabolic outcomes. The primary aim of this study was to examine whether the timing of eating relative to DLMO is associated with body mass index (BMI), body fat, and diet in healthy adults without the confound of sleep deprivation. Methods Healthy men and women (N = 97), ages 18-50, with a habitual sleep duration of ≥6.5 hours and ≤8.5 hours completed 7 days of actigraphy and daily sleep and food diaries. Participants underwent a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scan and blood draws to assess DLMO in the clinical research unit. Results A shorter duration between DLMO and the average clock time of the last meal (last meal-DLMO) was related to a higher number of meals consumed, b = 0.25, SEb = 0.06, P Conclusion These results suggest that timing of last meal relative to DLMO may serve as a marker of circadian misalignment and that eating the last meal closer to DLMO may negatively impact dietary habits.
An Archival Study of Suicide Status Form Responses Among Crisis Stabilization Center Consumers

Suicide is a persistent leading cause of death in the United States (U.S.A.). Following a stepped-care approach, Crisis Stabilization Centers have positioned themselves as a viable treatment option for many patients experiencing suicidal crises. These centers are staffed by an array of clinicians with varied professional backgrounds and clinical preferences. Thus, some treatments may hold greater flexibility and potential for broad implementation than others. In various settings, the Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS) has served as an effective and flexible therapeutic framework. Research on the Suicide Status Form (SSF)—a central component of the CAMS-based assessment process—has not been previously performed with adults in Crisis Stabilization Center settings in the USA. Aggregate data from a cross section of 61 residential Crisis Stabilization Center consumers who completed SSFs as part of the CAMS-based assessment process were analyzed. Analyses examined self-reported SSF Core Assessment constructs associated with suicidality and self-reported suicide risk. Statistically significant decreases in suicide related SSF Core Assessment construct ratings from initial to outcome time point were observed. There were also statistically significant correlations between change in each individual SSF Core Assessment variable and change in self-reported suicide risk over treatment. Initial SSF Core Assessment ratings together significantly predicted both change in self-reported suicide risk and outcome self-reported suicide risk. These findings highlight the utility of the CAMS approach and SSF Core Assessment variables within USA adult Crisis Stabilization Center consumers experiencing suicidality. Clinical implications and opportunities for future research are discussed.
Film Quality Prediction Using Acoustic, Prosodic and Lexical Cues

In this paper, we propose using acoustic, prosodic, and lexical features to identify movie quality as a decision support tool for film producers. Using a dataset of movie trailer audio clips paired with audience ratings for the corresponding film, we trained machine learning models to predict a film’s rating. We further analyze the impact of prosodic features with neural network feature importance approaches and find differing influence across genres. We finally compare acoustic, prosodic, and lexical feature variance against film rating, and find some evidence for an inverse association.
Rethinking the Relationship Between Punishment and Policing: A Response to Gabriel Mendlow

Gabriel Mendlow has published a rich and provocative essay on thought-crimes. In it, he argues that punishing thoughts is wrong, in essence, because mind-control is wrong. According to Prof. Mendlow, (1) we enjoy a right of “mental integrity” that forbids the state from controlling our thoughts, and (2) authority to control is a prerequisite of authority to punish; if the state may not control an activity directly (in this case, thinking), it is likewise forbidden from imposing criminal sanctions on the same activity after the fact. The second proposition, which Prof. Mendlow calls the “Enforceability Constraint,” forms the heart of his argument and represents an interesting conceptual innovation. But it is also, we will see, an implausible account of criminal law. Though the Enforceability Constraint gives voice to a common sensibility about police power—namely, that authority to enforce a criminal prohibition follows automatically from the state’s authority to designate an activity prohibited and assign it a criminal penalty—ultimately it is this sensibility, not our view of thought-crimes, that needs reforming. Ultimately, Prof. Mendlow has the core point backwards. According to him, the state may not punish at t2 an activity that officials do not even have authority to control at t1. The correct theory of criminal law, however, hews the other way: officials may not control at t1 an activity the state does not even have authority to punish at t2. In other words, punishability sets an outer limit on control. The reason is simple: a legal order that authorized officials to exert direct, physical control over activities beyond those properly designatable for criminal punishment would be a police state, one in which individual law enforcement officers, rather than legislative bodies—and ultimately, the people—set the bounds of state power. Prof. Mendlow seeks to make the mirror-image claim: that direct controllability sets an outer limit on punishment. But there is nothing infirm about a legal order in which officials are not authorized to control every activity legitimately subject to criminal sanction. In fact, this is the mark of a healthy legal order.
Strategic Entrepreneurial Storytelling: An Applied Framework for Better Pitches

Entrepreneurs are responsible for bringing innovative products and services to market. However, in order to bring new value to consumers, most entrepreneurs must secure funding. An integral component in the process of resource acquisition is the entrepreneur’s story. Very little research has dealt with the storytelling structure that a good pitch should use. Stories are a fundamental part of the way human beings understand themselves and the world around them. This paper synthesizes the current state of entrepreneurial storytelling and builds a parsimonious framework for strategic entrepreneurial storytelling (SES) through qualitative analysis of actual pitches. Our framework will help entrepreneurs build intentional and compelling stories for their investment pitch through the concepts of SES context, content, and execution.
Comparison of short-range order in irradiated dysprosium titanates

The structural response of Dy2TiO5 oxide under swift heavy ion irradiation (2.2 GeV Au ions) was studied over a range of structural length scales utilizing neutron total scattering experiments. Refinement of diffraction data confirms that the long-range orthorhombic structure is susceptible to ion beam-induced amorphization with limited crystalline fraction remaining after irradiation to 8 × 1012 ions/cm2. In contrast, the local atomic arrangement, examined through pair distribution function analysis, shows only subtle changes after irradiation and is still described best by the original orthorhombic structural model. A comparison to Dy2Ti2O7 pyrochlore oxide under the same irradiation conditions reveals a different behavior: while the dysprosium titanate pyrochlore is more radiation resistant over the long-range with smaller degree of amorphization as compared to Dy2TiO5, the former involves more local atomic rearrangements, best described by a pyrochlore-to-weberite-type transformation. These results highlight the importance of short-range and medium-range order analysis for a comprehensive description of radiation behavior.
Senescence mechanisms and targets in the heart.

Cellular senescence is a state of irreversible cell cycle arrest associated with ageing. Senescence of different cardiac cell types can direct the pathophysiology of cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, and cardiac fibrosis. While age-related telomere shortening represents a major cause of replicative senescence, the senescent state can also be induced by oxidative stress, metabolic dysfunction, and epigenetic regulation, among other stressors. It is critical that we understand the molecular pathways that lead to cellular senescence and the consequences of cellular senescence in order to develop new therapeutic approaches to treat cardiovascular disease. In this review, we discuss molecular mechanisms of cellular senescence, explore how cellular senescence of different cardiac cell types (including cardiomyocytes, cardiac endothelial cells, cardiac fibroblasts, vascular smooth muscle cells, valve interstitial cells) can lead to cardiovascular disease, and highlight potential therapeutic approaches that target molecular mechanisms of cellular senescence to prevent or treat cardiovascular disease.
How to Survive the Next Scandal: Replace Obsolete Campaign Finance Reform with Political Law Reform?

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Agieren und Mitagieren in der Behandlung von Substanzabhängigen

In den letzten Jahrzehnten wurden in der Abklarung, Beurteilung und der Behandlung von Substanzabhangigen erfreuliche Fortschritte gemacht. Die differenzierte Erfassung korperlicher und psychischer Leiden hat die Interventionen nachhaltig verandert und verbessert. Heroinabhangige konnten mit der Substitution erfolgreich behandelt werden. Verschiedene Substitutionsmoglichkeiten (Methadon, Heroin, Buprenorphin, Morphin etc.), die Spritzenabgabe, kontrollierte Injektionsmoglichkeiten, eine differenzierte Uberlebenshilfe lassen unsere Patienten uberleben. Es geht ihnen korperlich und seelisch besser. Starben fruher jahrlich regelmasig mehr als 1% der Heroinabhangigen, uberleben heute die meisten. Das Uberwinden der Sucht gelingt jedoch nicht allen.
Voltage clamp studies of fertilization in sea urchin eggs: I. Effect of clamped membrane potential on sperm entry, activation, and development

Abstract To analyze the role of the activation potential (a positive shift of the membrane potential which occurs following sperm attachment) in fertilization and development of the sea urchin egg, unfertilized Lytechinus variegatus eggs were voltage clamped at membrane potentials (Em) from +20 to −90 mV, and then inseminated. Either a fast two electrode voltage clamp, or a single electrode switched voltage clamp was used. The clamp was maintained for 3 to 15 min after initiation of a conductance increase. At Em more positive than +18 mV, even though many sperm may attach, the egg remains completely inert (Jaffe, Nature (London) 261, 68–71, 1976). At Em from +17 to −90 mV, all inseminated eggs elevate normal fertilization envelopes, although substantially increased concentrations of sperm are required at Em from +17 to +12 mV. Whether cleavage occurs depends on the clamped Em. When clamped at Em from +17 to −25 mV, 100% of activated eggs cleave. However, when clamped at Em from −26 to −75 mV the percentage of activated eggs which cleave progressively decreases. At clamped Em between −76 and −90 mV, none of the activated eggs cleave. All monospermic voltage clamped eggs that cleave develop to normal swimming blastulae. In all eggs that fail to cleave (clamped at Em more negative than −30 mV), sperm penetration is blocked, the sperm is lifted off the egg surface as the fertilization envelope rises, and a sperm aster never forms. Preventing formation of the fertilization envelope by prior disruption of the vitelline layer with dithiothreitol does not promote entry of the sperm. In conclusion, preventing the depolarization normally associated with fertilization suppresses sperm entry in the sea urchin egg, yet activation proceeds. Present evidence suggests an effect of the electrical field across the plasma membrane in suppressing sperm entry.
Effects of salicylates on the canine stomach: a morphological and histochemical study.

The acute and chronic effects of aspirin (100 to 300 mg per kg) administered orally for 1 to 4 weeks were determined in 3 dogs bearing total gastric fistulae and in 2 intact dogs. Serial gastroscopic examinations were carried out in the fistula-bearing dogs permitting visual inspection and procurement of biopsy specimens, and autopsy specimens were available in 4 dogs. Histochemical techniques and in vivo radioautography using Na235S04 for sulfated mucin incorporation were employed. Aspirin induced systemic signs of toxicity in all animals with three fatalities. One dog died of hematemesis due to bleeding jejunal erosions, and 1 died from a perforated gastric ulcer. Gross lesions included hemorrhagic mucosal erosions and, with higher doses, larger erosions and generally shallow ulcers. The most common histopathological changes were degeneration or necrosis of surface epithelium and mucosal hemorrhages. The fresh ulcers and larger erosions exhibited signs of acute inflammation; older lesions showed early stromal and epithelial repair. In grossly normal areas, a cuboidal regenerative-type surface epithelium and numerous mitoses in the crypts were frequently found, suggesting a chronic response to sustained, aspirin-induced damage. Intracellular mucin was reduced in both damaged and regenerating epithelium.
CHAPTER 6 – Neuroendocrine Regulation of the Perimenopause Transition

The concept of the perimenopause was first introduced by Treolar and colleagues when they conducted a cross-sectional analysis of several hundred menstrual cycle calendars obtained from women across the reproductive life span. The critical marker of aging was menstrual irregularity, defined as a change in genital bleeding to either longer or shorter flow intervals. However, menstrual cycle irregularity is now known to be a late feature of the perimenopause transition, brought about by neuroendocrine events that occur well before cyclic ovulation is disrupted. Premature menopause (premature ovarian failure) is a condition causing amenorrhea, hypoestrogenism, and elevated gonadotropins in women less than age 40 years. In addition to the premature loss of fertility, health consequences for these young women appear to be similar to consequences for older hypoestrogenic women, and include higher cardiac risk and bone loss acceleration. The clinical picture of this disordered folliculogenesis has been likened to the natural perimenopausal stage of diminished ovarian reserve when transient fluctuations of follicular development and atresia occur prior to complete cessation of ovarian function. However, compared to the perimenopause, women with premature menopause show much higher FSH concentrations, perhaps due to the younger reproductive axis or, alternatively, due to less restraint from differences in inhibin.
CO2 EMISSIONS FROM PASSENGER TRANSPORT. A COMPARISON OF INTERNATIONAL TRENDS FROM 1973 TO 1992

Abstract This paper provides a comparative analysis of the changes in energy use and CO 2 emissions from passenger transport in nine OECD countries. Unlike most previous analyses, we base our analysis on a newly published international data set covering vehicle activity, passenger travel and fuel use by mode. We calculate how changes in activity, modal composition and the energy intensity of each mode contributed to changes in total energy use from travel in nine countries between 1973 and 1992. Increased travel activity and modal shifts boosted energy use, while reduction in modal energy intensities reduced energy use from automobiles in the USA and in air travel throughout the sample of countries. As a result, travel related energy use increased sharply in every country except in Denmark and the USA. Using these calculations, we then show how activity, modal shift and modal energy intensities affected CO 2 emissions from travel. Noting that the shifts of fuels within transport has been small, even counting shifts in the fuels used to produce the small amount of electricity used for passenger transport in every country, we find that increased activity and modal shifts also raised CO 2 emissions from travel in every country except the USA. We discuss briefly how a change in fuel mix, lower transport energy intensities, or even reduced levels of travel might lead to restraining or reducing CO 2 emissions from travel. Recalling that real prices for road fuels have fallen to near their 1973 levels while energy intensities remain level or are falling slowly, we foresee continued increases in travel, particularly in cars and airplanes, pushing emissions even higher. We ask what could restrain CO 2 in the future, should stringent restraints become a clear policy goal.
p210Bcr/Abl and p160v-Abl induce an increase in the tyrosine phosphorylation of p93c-Fes

Chronic myelogenous leukemia is caused by a reciprocal chromosomal translocation of human chromosomes 9 and 22. The resulting fusion protein, p210Bcr/Abl, has enhanced tyrosine kinase activity compared with the normal cellular homologue, p145c-Abl. Expression of this chimeric protein in hematopoietic cell lines results in a rapid progression to growth factor independence and increased tyrosine phosphorylation of a number of unidentified cellular proteins. In this study, we show that the phosphorylation state of the hematopoietically restricted tyrosine kinase, p93c-Fes, is increased. Increased phosphorylation of p93c-Fes was detected in p210Bcr/Abl(+) human leukemic cell lines, in primary leukemic cells from patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia, and in myeloid cell lines expressing p210Bcr/Abl after transfection. Furthermore, p93c-Fes phosphorylation was increased by p210Bcr/Abl even when coexpressed in NIH 3T3 fibroblasts. v-abl expression was also found to increase the tyrosine phosphorylation of p93c-Fes. This increased phosphorylation was found to be accompanied by an increase in the ability of p93c-Fes to phosphorylate exogenous substrates. p93c-Fes could contribute to the transforming activity of the abl oncogenes.
Polymorphism in Amorphous Si O 2

Brillouin scattering from $a$-Si${\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ up to 17 GPa shows that an irreversible change in the longitudinal sound velocity takes place between 10 and 17 GPa and that this change is stable at atmospheric pressure. Raman spectra of the retrieved sample indicate that it is also amorphous but differ noticeably from that of the original sample.
Development of hybrid NIR/MRI imaging system algorithm: use of a-priori information for tumor detection in the female breast

The use of dual modality MRI and near infrared (NIR) optical tomography is under investigation. It will be shown in this work that accurate structural a-priori knowledge from the MRI image, together with appropriate constraints on the image reconstruction can yield useful and accurate images of internal optical property distributions and that this should help in identifying anomalies within the breast tissue.
Design Strategies and Applications of Tissue Bioadhesives

In the past two decades tissue adhesives and sealants have revolutionized bleeding control and wound healing. This paper focuses on existing tissue adhesive design, their structure, functioning mechanism, and their pros and cons in wound management. It also includes the latest advances in the development of new tissue adhesives as well as the emerging applications in regenerative medicine. We expect that this paper will provide insightful discussion on tissue bioadhesive design and lead to innovations for the development of the next generation of tissue bioadhesives and their related biomedical applications.
Automatic translation in multilingual business meetings

Purpose – Multilingual meetings continue to be a problem in business communication due to the necessity to translate between different natural language pairs. The paper has developed a new electronic meeting technology that automatically translates comments written in any of 41 languages (e.g. French, Chinese, etc.). The purpose of this paper is to quickly and accurately show on each user's terminal in his or her own native language all comments contributed by the group written in several different tongues.Design/methodology/approach – A prototype system, Polyglot II, utilizes instant messaging on Microsoft Windows PCs to exchange comments between client personal computers and a server which in turn, calls the Google Translate API for each translation. In an attempt to measure the accuracy, reverse translations are conducted, e.g. English to French to English, because of the lack of human experts fluent in all of the languages. The final English translations are analyzed for comprehension by 240 college b...
Single-shot measurement of the complete spatiotemporal field of an ultrashort laser pulse

We present a technique for measuring the full spatiotemporal electric field of a femtosecond pulse on a single shot. Using a simple apparatus, we generate multiple replicas of the pulse to be measured and record numerous spatially separated digital holograms at different frequencies using a spectrally-resolved reference pulse on a single-exposure digital hologram. We then numerically reconstruct the complete electric field, E( x,y,r ), using a direct algorithm. The technique is demonstrated using pulses from a modelocked Ti:Sapphire oscillator.
The Affect of Omecamtiv Mecarbilon the Phosphoate Dissociation and Motile Properties of the Recombinant Human β-Cardiac Heavymeromyosin

Omecamtiv mecarbil (OM), a small-molecule increases cardiac contractility by directly activating cardiac myosin by accelerating phosphate (Pi) release (Malik et al., 2011). Here we analyzed the affect of OM on the mechanochemical cycle and motility of human β-cardiac heavymeromyosin expressed in a adenoviral/C2C12 muscle cell based system, and purified porcine ventricular myosin (PV-HMM). Double-mixing stopped-flow fluorescence and phosphate binding protein (MDCC-PBP) were used to determine the maximum rate (kmax) of phosphate release. Rates of 30s−1 and 35s−1 were obtained for human and porcine cardiac HMM respectively. Addition of 20 µM OM resulted in a 2-fold increase in the maximal rate of actin activated Pi release to kmax = 70 s−1 (AM-ADP-Pi _> AM-ADP + Pi) for both human and porcine cardiac HMM. The unloaded actin filament velocity measured in the in vitro motility assay was 0.76 ± 0.37 µm/sec for human β-cardiac HMM and 0.97 ± 0.23 µm/sec for PV-HMM. OM has two effects on the motor activity: 1) The actin filament velocity was significantly slower (∼ 16 -fold at saturation); 2) the filament motion became more persistent with long periods of uninterrupted movement. This suggests that OM recruits more crossbridges to participate in the movement of the actin filaments resulting in higher forces per filament, which overcomes the pinning defects that invariably trap actin filaments in normal motility assays. The increase in attached crossbridges/filament also slows the filament velocity. The motility data are consistent with the kinetic analysis indicating that OM accelerates Pi release without dramatically enhancing the rate of the ATPase hydrolysis. This produces a higher duty ratio in which the motor spends more of the ATPase cycle in tight binding states. Supported by AHA-BGIA to EF and AHA-GI to DAW.
Addressing Medical Errors in Hand Surgery

Influential think tanks such as the Institute of Medicine have raised awareness about the implications of medical errors. In response, organizations, medical societies, and hospitals have initiated programs to decrease the incidence and prevent adverse effects of these errors. Surgeons deal with the direct implications of adverse events involving patients. In addition to managing the physical consequences, they are confronted with ethical and social issues when caring for a harmed patient. Although there is considerable effort to implement system-wide changes, there is little guidance for hand surgeons on how to address medical errors. Admitting an error by a physician is difficult, but a transparent environment where patients are notified of errors and offered consolation and compensation is essential to maintain physician–patient trust. Furthermore, equipping hand surgeons with a guide for addressing medical errors will help identify system failures, provide learning points for safety improvement, decrease litigation against physicians, and demonstrate a commitment to ethical and compassionate medical care.
Design and testing of conductive polysilicon beam leads for use in a high-density biomedical connector

A study was conducted to measure and characterize the reliability of polysilicon cantilever beams with electroplated gold pads for use in a high-density biomedical connector. In this design, an array of beams is brought into contact with a corresponding array of 30 ?m high gold bumps, forming electrical connection. Analytical computations of multi-layer beams were performed, including the effects of residual stresses. Beam leads of various lengths and widths with electroplated gold contact pads on their ends were tested over 1000 cycles to determine their mechanical reliability, and to measure their contact resistance with gold bumps on a separate substrate. The dimensions of the polysilicon beam that produce the least breakage were determined to be 400 ?m long by 125 ?m wide. For a beam having a calculated contact force of ~100 ?N, the initial contact resistance was 764 m?. After 1000 connect/disconnect cycles, beams of this type had an average final contact resistance of 1.598 ?. These results demonstrate that very high-density connectors with high mechanical reliability and low-contact resistance can be fabricated.
Mutations in the α-Tubulin 67C Gene Specifically Impair Achiasmate Segregation in Drosophila melanogaster

Drosophila melanogaster oocytes heterozygous for mutations in the alpha-tubulin 67C gene (alphatub67C) display defects in centromere positioning during prometaphase of meiosis I. The centromeres do not migrate to the poleward edges of the chromatin mass, and the chromatin fails to stretch during spindle lengthening. These results suggest that the poleward forces acting at the kinetochore are compromised in the alphatub67C mutants. Genetic studies demonstrate that these mutations also strongly and specifically decrease the fidelity of achiasmate chromosome segregation. Proper centromere orientation, chromatin elongation, and faithful segregation can all be restored by a decrease in the amount of the Nod chromokinesin. These results suggest that the accurate segregation of achiasmate chromosomes requires the proper balancing of forces acting on the chromosomes during prometaphase.
An experimental investigation of the reaction: glaucophane + 2 quartz = 2 albite + talc

The lower pressure stability of glaucophane in the presence of quartz can be attributed to the reaction: glaucophane + 2 quartz = 2 albite + talc. Reaction reversals in the Na 2 O-MgO-Al 2 O 3 -SiO 2 -H 2 O system were obtained using a ½ inch diameter piston-cylinder press, synthetic talc, albite, glaucophane and natural quartz for the starting mixtures. Reversals were made with low H 2 O contents to avoid the growth of smectite. The reaction has been bracketed at 11.0–12.5 kbar at 600 °C; 14.5–16.0 kbar at 700 °C; and 16.0–17.50 kbar at 750 °C. At 800 °C a different reaction occurs: glaucophane + talc = 3 enstatite + 2 albite + H 2 O, and at temperatures below 600 °C smectite appeared. Run products were analysed using the electron microprobe and X-ray powder diffraction. The initial (nearly pure) glaucophane composition changed slightly to the average composition: Na 0.18 (Na 1.78 Mg 0.22 )(Mg 3.23 Al 1.77 )(Al 0.17 Si 7.83 )O 22 (OH) 2 ; this change in chemical composition also correlates with an increase in unit-cell volume. The average composition of talc was Na 0.26 Mg 2.68 Al 0.25 Si 3.91 O 10 (OH) 2 which also correlates with a slight increase in unit-cell volume, due to the incorporation of Na into the structure. Changes in order/disorder in albite were also analysed using XRD patterns. Values of the Δ 131 2 Θ parameter were within the range 1.8–2.0 indicating albite remains essentially disordered. Activities using regular solution theory withW_ −Na = 9.7, W Mg-Na =20, and W Mg-Al = 21.4 kJ for glaucophane, and published values of W_ −Na , W Al-Mg , andW Al-Si for mica applied to talc gave equilibrium constants ( K ) of 0.966, 0.955, and 0.949 at 600, 700, 750 °C, respectively. Using these K values with this study’s experimental boundary yields Δ H 0 f,298 and S 0 298 values of end-member glaucophane of −11,972.60 ± 16.5 kJ and 0.530 ± 0.017 kJ/K, respectively.
The fine structure of the peripheral nerve root sheath in the subarachnoid space in the rat and other laboratory animals

Spinal nerve roots from several laboratory animals (rat, mouse, dog, chinchilla) were fixed by perfusion with buffered aldehydes and prepared for electron microscopy. The fine structure of the root sheath possesses a common histologic organization wherever found. Its cellular and fibrous coverings are arranged in several lamellae which can be divided into two basic layers. The cytology of the outer layers resembles the characteristics of cells which line the subarachnoid space elsewhere (pia, arachnoid, arachnoid trabeculae, blood vessel adventitia). These cells adjacent to the subarachnoid space are arranged loosely and are in close association with extracellular connective tissues. The junctions between them appear to be intermittent, which would allow communication between the subarachnoid space and the intercellular spaces. The inner layers (adjacent to the endoneurium) are regularly arranged and are close to each other. Facing the endoneurium a boundary (basement) membrane is almost invariably associated with the basal cell layer. The inner cell layers are more nearly comparable to perineurium but, because of structural variations, are not readily classified. However, in its totality, the root sheath does not correspond histologically to pia, arachnoid or perineurium as they are found in their usual locations.
Solitons in conducting polymers

Self-localized nonlinear excitations (solitons, polarons, and bipolarons) are fundamental and inherent features of quasi-one-dimensional conducting polymers. Their signatures are evident in many aspects of the physical and chemical properties of this growing class of novel materials. As a result, these polymers represent an opportunity for exploring the novel phenomena associated with topological solitons and their linear confinement which results from weakly lifting the ground-state degeneracy. The authors review the theoretical models that have been developed to describe the physics of polyacetylene and related conducting polymers and summarize the relevant experimental results obtained for these materials. An attempt is made to assess the validity of the soliton model of polyacetylene and its generalization to related systems in which the ground-state degeneracy has been lifted.
Downdating of Szego Polynomials and Data Fitting Applications

Abstract Many algorithms for polynomial least-squares approximation of a real-valuedfunction on a real interval determine polynomials that are orthogonal with respect to a suitable inner product defined on this interval. Analogously, it is convenient to compute Szego polynomials, i.e., polynomials that are orthogonal with respect to an inner product on the unit circle, when approximating a complex-valued function on the unit circle in the least-squares sense. It may also be appropriate to determine Szego polynomials in algorithms for least-squares approximation of real-valued periodic functions by trigonometric polynomials. This paper is concerned with Szego polynomials that are defined by a discrete inner product on the unit circle. We presenta scheme for downdating the Szego polynomials and given least-squares approximant when a node is deleted from the inner product. Our scheme uses the Q R algorithm for unitary upper Hessenberg matrices. We describe a data-fitting application that illustrates how our scheme can be combined with the fast-Fourier-transform algorithm when the given nodes are not equidistant. Application to sliding windows is discussed also.
The polar properties of single crystals of ice

Although the crystallography of ice has been the subject of much study,* there is still no general agreement upon it. This is due chiefly to the fact that in the absence of authentic single crystals of ice with well-defined natural faces, the available material has been limited to specimens formed under uncontrolled and in most cases obviously complex conditions. The approach by way of the X-ray analysis of structure has now reached substantial conclusions in the work of Barnes, and it remains to compare these conclusions with observations on single crystals of ice of simple forms, grown under controlled conditions. Such crystals, of microscopic size, have now been made and photographed, and the figures of Plate 7 reproduce some photographs of collections and individuals which seem most significant for the present study. The crystals were photographed as they lay on a glass plate which had been ruled with lines 0·01 cm. apart, thereby supplying the photographs with a linear scale. The optical system was similar to that of a microscope as ordinarily used, when the object is viewed by light from a source about 25 cm. distant, traversing the slide from below. Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, which have been enlarged 55 diameters, show four successive stages in the growth of a collection of crystals. Most of the individuals are seen to pass through these stages with a proportional increase in all their dimensions, and without any perceptible change of shape— an observation which gives strong support to the view that they are monocrystalline.
The Expanding Mi-2/NuRD Complexes: A Schematic Glance

This mini-review will schematically update the progress of the expanding Mi-2/Nucleosome Remodeling Deacetylase (NuRD) complexes in cancer and in normal development such as stemness, with a focus on mammals and the increasingly popular and powerful model organism Caenorhabditis elegans. The Mi-2/NuRD complexes control gene activity during the development of complex organisms. Every Mi-2/NuRD complex contains many different core polypeptides, which form distinct multifunctional complexes with specific context-dependent regulators. The Mi-2/NuRD complexes have unique ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling, histone deacetylase, demethylase activities and higher order chromatin organization. They can regulate the accessibility of transcription factors or repair proteins to DNA. In this review, we summarize our current knowleges in the composition, interaction and function of the subunits within the Mi-2/NuRD complex, the methodology used for the identification of Mi-2/NuRD complexes, as well as the clinical and therapeutic implications targeting the Mi-2/NuRD subunits.
Erosive and strand burning of stick propellants. I - Measurements ofburning rates and thermal-wave structures

Burning-rate characteristics and thermal-wave structures of NOSOL-363 stick propellant under erosiveand strand-burning conditions were studied using a real-time x-ray radiography system, a strand burner setup, and fine-wire thermocouples. For the erosive-burning rate measurements, locations of instantaneous burning surfaces along the center perforation of a cylindrical propellant grain were determined by comparison of x-ray images obtained during a test and calibration images. The burning rates under strong crossflow conditions, deduced from the instantaneous burning-surface locations, were found to be much higher (up to 2.5 times) than the strand-burning rate of NOSOL-363 stick propellant. This study demonstrated that real-time x-ray radiography is a powerful and reliable tool for nonintrusive measurements of instantaneous burning rates in an optically opaque test chamber. From the strand-burning rate data and thermal-wave structures, a set of important thermochemical properties of NOSOL-363 stick propellant was deduced.
Visual search, anticipation, and reactive comparisons between highly-skilled and beginning tennis players

Abstract Simulated tennis playing situations were created for the laboratory testing of visual search patterns, anticipation, reactions, and movements to compare male and female high-level and beginning players. Of particular interest was the degree to which each measure would differentiate the groups. Participants were highly-rated university players (N-30) and students enrolled in a beginning tennis class (N = 30). Under one testing condition, visual search patterns were recorded as they viewed filmed opponents serve (60 trials) and hit ground strokes (60 trials). Also recorded was anticipation accuracy and speed of the intended type and location of serves and the intended placement of ground strokes. In other testing, execution of a split step was followed by moving rapidly to the comet location for a simulated stroke in response to a series of light cues. Reaction and movement times were recorded. Discrimination analysis revealed that experts and beginners were most differentiated due to fixations on ...
I Know That my Redeemer Lives: Relational Perspectives on Trauma, Dissociation, and Faith

This paper focuses the lens of multiplicity on patients’ religious experience in relation to the psychic realities of early or pervasive trauma, where dissociation is not just a normal means of self-regulation, but becomes an entrenched structuring mechanism through which the trauma survivor experiences every relationship, including any relationship to God. What might God or faith look like from the perspective of the traumatized self? This paper considers issues of multiplicity and dissociation as they affect the processing of religious or spiritual experience, with a few brief clinical illustrations, and offers a reading of the biblical book of Job as a metaphor for the inner world of the survivor of early trauma.
Colorectal cancer screening participation by older women

Abstract Objective: Although recent screening guidelines recommend annual fecal occult blood testing (FOBT) for adults aged ≥50, a number of studies report that these tests are underused. Systematic efforts to increase awareness of colorectal cancer (CRC) and to promote screening participation are needed to meet national objectives for CRC control. Methods: This study examined CRC-screening practices and evaluated factors related to recent participation in screening by FOBT in a sample of women aged 50 to 80 who were surveyed about their use of clinical preventive services at Group Health Cooperative, a managed care organization in western Washington State. Results: Of the 931 women eligible for analysis, 75% reported ever having been screened by FOBT and 48% reported having been screened within 2 years before the survey. Participation in screening did not vary by demographic characteristics or by perceived or actual risk of CRC. Women with a positive attitudes toward CRC screening had sevenfold greater odds of recent screening by FOBT (odds ratio=7.1; 95% confidence interval, 4.4 to 11.6). Only 58% of study women reported that their physicians encouraged CRC screening, but this factor was strongly related to participation (odds ratio=12.7; 95% confidence interval, 6.6 to 24.4). Conclusions: We identified several areas in which understanding of CRC risk may be low. As a whole, these findings suggest that effective strategies to control CRC may include efforts to improve knowledge of risk and prevention, but must also appeal directly to primary care physicians to identify and address their barriers to screening recommendations.
Nutritional factors that may be involved in cancer of the bladder

(1978). Nutritional factors that may be involved in cancer of the bladder. Nutrition and Cancer: Vol. 1, No. 2, pp. 82-88.