cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Inhibition of IGF1R signaling abrogates resistance to afatinib (BIBW2992) in EGFR T790M mutant lung cancer cells

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation have benefited from treatment of reversible EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) such as gefitinib and erlotinib. Acquisition of a secondary mutation in EGFR T790M is the most common mechanism of resistance to first generation EGFR TKIs, resulting in therapeutic failure. Afatinib is a second generation of EGFR TKI that showed great efficacy against tumors bearing the EGFR T790M mutation, but it failed to show the improvement on overall survival of lung cancer patients with EGFR mutations possibly because of novel acquired resistance mechanisms. Currently, there are no therapeutic options available for lung cancer patients who develop acquired resistance to afatinib. To identify novel resistance mechanism(s) to afatinib, we developed afatinib resistant cell lines from a parental human-derived NSCLC cell line, H1975, harboring both EGFR L858R and T790M mutations. We found that activation of the insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF1R) signaling pathway contributes to afatinib resistance in NSCLC cells harboring the T790M mutation. IGF1R knockdown not only significantly sensitizes resistant cells to afatinib, but also induces apoptosis in afatinib resistance cells. In addition, combination treatment with afatinib and linsitinib shows more than additive effects on tumor growth in in vivo H1975 xenograft. Therefore, these finding suggest that IGF1R inhibition or combination of EGFR-IGF1R inhibition strategies would be potential ways to prevent or potentiate the effects of current therapeutic options to lung cancer patients demonstrating resistance to either first or second generation EGFR TKIs © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
High‐resolution melt analysis of the minisatellite D1S80: A potential forensic screening tool

High-resolution melt (HRM) analysis of the VNTR region of the human D1S80 locus, a 16-bp repeat minisatellite from approximately 400 to over 700 bp in length, was investigated. A Qiagen Rotor-Gene Q using the Type-it PCR HRM kit was used to acquire HRM curves for 14 single, and 16 biallelic, dsDNA samples. The HRM analysis was applicable over a range of DNA concentrations; however the characteristics of the melt curve did depend on the forward and reverse primer ratio. Despite the large amplicon size and the similarities of the repeat sequences, it was possible to discriminate different genotypes. Heterozygotes were clearly different from the homozygous variants and even small differences in the repeat sequence could be differentiated. However, the melt analysis requires a high-resolution system with temperature resolution of 0.02°C or better in order to sort out differences in these large amplicons of near identical GC content (in this case 56%). HRM analysis of amplicons with large repeat sequences can be used as a means of comparing DNA fragments. Examination of multiple sequences can be used to differentiate DNA samples and demonstrate the potential of HRM analysis as a rapid and inexpensive prescreening technique in forensic applications.
Fixed dilated pupils and tacrolimus toxicity in paediatric liver transplant patients.

Westrope C, Rowlands H, Morris K, Gupte GL. Fixed dilated pupils and tacrolimus toxicity in paediatric liver transplant patients. Pediatr Transplantation 2011: 15: E96–E99. © 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Abstract: We report a case series of four children who developed fixed dilated pupils associated with high tacrolimus levels (>30 nanograms/millilitre [ng/mL]) in the immediate post-operative period following isolated liver or liver and small bowel transplantation.
Management training of technological entrepreneurs

The majority of new technological ventures are started by entrepreneurs, who are leaders in their chosen technological fields, but lack business and management experience. Thus, of the companies that fail, about two–thirds fail for management reasons, and one–third for technical reasons. This paper describes the innovative approach developed at Rensselaer to give management training to technological entrepreneurs and, at the same time to offer management assistance to new ventures in the Rensselaer Incubator and Technology Park. Two new courses 'Principles of Entrepreneurship' and 'Technological Entrepreneurship' are described and case histories are presented. Surveys of the 95 students and 29 companies that have participated in the program to date show high degrees of satisfaction and concrete results. Finally, guidelines are offered for universities and business development organisations intending to offer similar training programs to their communities.
Insulin resistance in polycystic ovary syndrome: decreased expression of GLUT-4 glucose transporters in adipocytes

We have found that women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have decreased sensitivity and responsiveness to insulin. The present study was performed to determine whether this impaired insulin responsiveness was associated with diminished GLUT-4 glucose transporter content in adipocytes. Insulin-stimulated glucose transport and GLUT-4 abundance were measured in abdominal adipocytes from obese (n = 9) and lean (n = 7) PCOS as well as obese (n = 8) and lean (n = 8) control women matched for age and weight. No woman had impaired glucose tolerance. The maximal insulin-stimulated increment in adipocyte glucose transport was independently decreased by obesity and by PCOS. As expected, GLUT-4 content in adipocyte membranes was decreased in obesity (by 40%, P < or = 0.01). GLUT-4 content was also significantly decreased in PCOS (by 36%, P < or = 0.01), independent of obesity. There was a highly significant correlation (R = 0.66, P < = 0.001) between GLUT-4 content and insulin-stimulated glucose transport in adipocytes from individual women across the study population. We conclude that the diminished adipocyte insulin responsiveness in PCOS is associated with decreased GLUT-4 abundance. This represents a newly recognized phenotypic feature of the insulin resistance of PCOS. Moreover, in human adipocytes, GLUT-4 abundance is highly correlated with insulin responsiveness.
Inversion structure and winter ozone distribution in the Uintah Basin, Utah, U.S.A.

The Uintah Basin in Utah, U.S.A. experiences high concentrations of ozone during some winters due to strong, multi-day temperature inversions that facilitate the buildup of pollution from local sources, including the oil and gas industry. Together, elevation of monitoring sites and proximity to oil and gas wells explain as much as 90% of spatial variability in surface ozone concentrations during inversion episodes (i.e., R 2 ¼ 0.90). Inversion conditions start earlier and last longer at lower elevations, at least in part because lower elevations are more insulated from winds aloft that degrade inversion conditions and dilute produced ozone. Surface air transport under inversions is dominated by light, diurnal upslope edownslope flow that limits net transport distances. Thus, different areas of the Basin are relatively isolated from each other, allowing spatial factors like elevation and proximity to sources to strongly influence ozone concentrations at individual sites.
Frequency response based tuning of Power System Stabilizer to mitigate low frequency oscillation

Power System Stabilizers (PSS) have been using for many years with synchronous generator control system which improve power system stability by providing supplementary feedback signal. In order to ensure an efficient stabilization, the proper tuning of PSS is very important. This paper is focused on the tuning process of PSS connected to the single machine infinite bus (SMIB) system. The mathematical model of synchronous generator and PSS are analyzed. The system transfer functions in absence and in presence of PSS are derived. From the transfer function, by using frequency response, the PSS parameters are tuned. The simulation results are presented for a wide range of operating conditions to demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed tuning method.
Semiparametric estimation for the additive hazards model with left-truncated and right-censored data

Survival data from prevalent cases collected under a cross-sectional sampling scheme are subject to left-truncation. When fitting an additive hazards model to left-truncated data, the conditional estimating equation method (Lin & Ying, 1994), obtained by modifying the risk sets to account for left-truncation, can be very inefficient, as the marginal likelihood of the truncation times is not used in the estimation procedure. In this paper, we use a pairwise pseudolikelihood to eliminate nuisance parameters from the marginal likelihood and, by combining the marginal pairwise pseudo-score function and the conditional estimating function, propose an efficient estimator for the additive hazards model. The proposed estimator is shown to be consistent and asymptotically normally distributed with a sandwich-type covariance matrix that can be consistently estimated. Simulation studies show that the proposed estimator is more efficient than its competitors. A data analysis illustrates application of the method.
NI-58LOCATION OF GLIOBLASTOMA INTERSECTIING WHITE MATTER TRACTS PREDICT PATIENT PROGNOSIS AND RESPONSE TO BEVACIZUMAB PRIOR TO THERAPY

INTRODUCTION: Brain tumors are known to invade healthy brain along white matter tracts. We therefore hypothesized that specific white matter tracts would be associated with poorer prognosis based on their connection to primitive brain regions necessary for essential life functions. We also hypothesized that tumors in these regions treated with bevacizumab would alter patient survival. METHODS: 109 subjects with primary GBM tumors were retrospectively included in this study. Voxel-wise survival analyses were performed to test for spatial and treatment dependence of GBM survival prognosis. An intersection analysis was first performed between an enhancing tumor mask and template-space diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) derived tractography which highlighted voxels with tumor-intersecting white matter tracts. Maps of voxels with these tracts were made for each patient. A voxel-wise Kaplan-Meier test was performed comparing the survival times of patients with and without a tumor-intersecting white matter tract in that voxel. The same analysis was implemented to compare survival of participants with and without bevacizumab. This highlighted regions where survival was effected due to anti-VEGF treatment. A Monte Carlo simulation was performed to validate the observed survival differences induced by bevacizumab considering inconsistencies in treatment regimens seen in the patient population. RESULTS: Glioblastoma patients with tumors intersecting the right anterior thalamic radiation, right inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus, bilateral corticospinal tracts, and corpus callosum have decreased survival compared to those with tumors intersecting elsewhere. Patients treated with bevacizumab and who also had tumors intersecting the corpus callosum, corticospinal tract, or the thalamic radiations were found to be at a survival advantage when compared to those who did not receive bevacizumab. CONCLUSIONS: Patient prognosis is associated with the location of tumor intersecting WM tracts. A survival advantage was found in tumors intersecting specific WM tracts treated with bevacizumab.
Deoxyribonucleic acid base composition of some cellular slime molds.

SYNOPSIS. Deoxyribonucleic acids (DNAs) isolated from 12 representatives of cellular slime molds grown in monoxenic cultures were analyzed by density gradient centrifugation in CsC1. The unique contribution of the DNA of each food organism was subtracted and the DNA base composition of each cellular slime mold determined. The guanine plus cytosine contents range 22–37 moles % within the representatives of the order. Minor bands (satellite bands) of DNA have been observed in preparations from Dictyostelium spp. and from Polysphondylium pallidum.
Low-angle grain boundaries in YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7 − δ with high critical current densities

The grain-boundary network in high-${T}_{c}$ coated conductors consists of a large number of low-angle grain boundaries with many types of misorientation. Using the bicrystal technology we have measured the critical current densities of the relevant ${\text{YBa}}_{2}{\text{Cu}}_{3}{\text{O}}_{7\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\delta}}$ grain boundaries as a function of the grain-boundary angle. We find that in the low-angle regime [010]-tilt boundaries and [100]-twist boundaries reduce the critical current density much less than [001]-tilt boundaries. Transmission electron microscopy reveals a low defect density in the [010]-tilt boundaries and we find that ${\text{CuO}}_{2}$ planes cross these boundaries without interruption.
Everything is a precursor: The asymptotic singular value decomposition for transmission through absorbing media

cSommerfeld and Brillouin introduced electromagnetic precursors in 1914. Their result showed that “precursors” were not exponentially absorbed by the medium, but rather were only absorbed at a very slow polynomial rate. We will present an asymptotic singular value decomposition (SVD) of the electromagnetic absorption and dispersion operator, which supports this work. This SVD is relatively independent of the type of absorption model which is assumed. We will show that there are no causal functions which are exponentially absorbed in any medium in which the absorption approaches zero at the origin in frequency. Thus, all causal functions are “precursors” in the sense that they are not exponentially absorbed.
Effect of Zatosetron on Ipecac‐Induced Emesis in Dogs and Healthy Men

Serotonin receptor (5-HT3) antagonists provide effective antiemetic therapy in cancer patients receiving emetogenic chemotherapy, such as cisplatin. Animal studies have shown that 5-HT3 receptor antagonists also have antiemetic activity in ipecac-induced emesis. The authors investigated the antiemetic activity of zatosetron maleate, a 5-HT3 receptor antagonist, on ipecac-induced emesis in dogs and healthy men. They also evaluated the effect of ipecac administration on serotonin release and metabolism by measuring urinary 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) excretion in healthy men. In separate randomized, placebo-controlled trials, 20 dogs received zatosetron intravenously and eight healthy men received zatosetron (50 mg) orally, followed by ipecac syrup. In both trials, emetic response to ipecac was recorded, including the number and time of vomits and retches. Zatosetron treatment inhibited and delayed ipecac-induced emesis in both groups. In dogs, zatosetron inhibited ipecac-induced emesis in a dose-dependent manner with a 100-μg/kg dose producing complete inhibition. In men, zatosetron administration resulted in fewer emetic episodes after ipecac than had occurred with placebo administration (P = .03); vomiting was completely inhibited by zatosetron. In men, ipecac administration did not affect the urinary 5-HIAA/creatinine ratio (mg/g) or 5-HIAA excretion rate (μg/hour). Our study demonstrates that zatosetron has similar efficacy on ipecac-induced emesis in healthy men, as has been shown previously with other 5-HT3 receptor antagonists in chemotherapy-induced emesis in cancer patients. We did not observe the increase of urinary 5-HIAA in our study with ipecac-induced emesis, however, as has been described previously in cisplatin-induced emesis. Our study indicates that ipecac-induced emesis may be a useful model for testing 5-HT3 receptor antagonists for antiemetic activity in dogs and healthy men.
East Asia Institutionalizes: China, Japan and the Vogue for Free Trade

In the past decade, East Asia has taken steps to increase regional integration. This paper examines the vogue for Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) currently raging in China and Japan. After mapping the regional links that knit East Asia together during the 1990s and 2000s, the focus then shifts to the specific trade agreements that China and Japan have signed. Both countries exhibit a particular FTA “style;” Japan has adopted a more orthodox and comprehensive approach to its treaties, while China has shown greater flexibility and gradualism when dealing with FTA partners. It is still unclear whether these efforts will lead to a region-wide FTA, or a continued crisscrossing of bilateral arrangements. In either case, China's eagerness to adapt to partner country expectations likely gives it an edge in becoming the regional hub of East Asia
Generation of magnetic tape debris and head stain in a linear tape drive

AbstractThe presence of tape debris at the head-tape interface can cause an increase in spacing and consequently an increase in signal loss. In this study, the generation of tape debris in linear tape drives is analysed. Functional drive tests are conducted using thin-film AlO3-TiC and Ni-Zn ferrite heads run against commercial metal particle (MP) tape. Three types of tape debris are found: magnetic particle rich, polymer rich and adherent (stain). Each type is found at a distinct location on the head surface. Optical microscopy and computerized image analysis are used both to quantify the tape debris and to find its distribution on the head. Atomic force microscopy is used to measure the thickness of adherent debris. The Al2O3-TiC sample generates more of all three types than does the Ni-Zn ferrite sample. This is probably a result of the higher hardness of Al2O3-TiC. The differential wear of Al2O3 and TiC probably accounts for the presence of adherent debris on the Al2O3-TiC head. No adherent debris can...
Segmentation and quantification of materials with energy discriminating computed tomography: a phantom study.

Purpose: To experimentally investigate whether a computed tomography(CT)system based on CdZnTe (CZT) detectors in conjunction with a least-squares parameter estimation technique can be used to decompose four different materials. Methods: The material decomposition process was divided into a segmentation task and a quantification task. A least-squares minimization algorithm was used to decompose materials with five measurements of the energy dependent linear attenuation coefficients. A small field-of-view energy discriminating CTsystem was built. The CTsystem consisted of an x-ray tube, a rotational stage, and an array of CZT detectors. The CZT array was composed of 64 pixels, each of which is 0.8 × 0.8 × 3 mm . Images were acquired at 80 kVp in fluoroscopic mode at 50 ms per frame. The detector resolved the x-ray spectrum into energy bins of 22–32, 33–39, 40–46, 47–56, and 57–80 keV. Four phantoms were constructed from polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), polyethylene, polyoxymethylene, hydroxyapatite, and iodine. Three phantoms were composed of three materials with embedded hydroxyapatite (50, 150, 250, and 350 mg/ml) and iodine (4, 8, 12, and 16 mg/ml) contrast elements. One phantom was composed of four materials with embedded hydroxyapatite (150 and 350 mg/ml) and iodine (8 and 16 mg/ml). Calibrations consisted of PMMA phantoms with either hydroxyapatite (100, 200, 300, 400, and 500 mg/ml) or iodine (5, 15, 25, 35, and 45 mg/ml) embedded. Filtered backprojection and a ramp filter were used to reconstruct images from each energy bin. Material segmentation and quantification were performed and compared between different phantoms. Results: All phantoms were decomposed accurately, but some voxels in the base material regions were incorrectly identified. Average quantification errors of hydroxyapatite/iodine were 9.26/7.13%, 7.73/5.58%, and 12.93/8.23% for the three-material PMMA, polyethylene, and polyoxymethylene phantoms, respectively. The average errors for the four-material phantom were 15.62% and 2.76% for hydroxyapatite and iodine, respectively. Conclusions: The calibrated least-squares minimization technique of decomposition performed well in breast imaging tasks with an energy resolving detector. This method can provide material basis images containing concentrations of the relevant materials that can potentially be valuable in the diagnostic process.
Substance Abuse and Dependency in Gay Men and Lesbians

Research on the incidence, etiology and treatment needs of gay men and lesbians who abuse alcohol and drugs is limited. Recent studies challenge earlier beliefs that the incidence of substance abuse is higher among gay men and lesbians than in the general population. However, a substantial number of this population drink problematically. This article reviews the literature on the etiology of substance abuse among gay men lesbians, and details important assessment and treatment issues unique to this population. The strengths and limited of gay-specific treatment programs are discussed. Recommendations are made about how social workers can respond more appropriately to their gay and lesbian clients.
Packet Switching in Radio Channels: Part I--Carrier Sense Multiple-Access Modes and Their Throughput-Delay Characteristics

Radio communication is considered as a method for providing remote terminal access to computers. Digital byte streams from each terminal are partitioned into packets (blocks) and transmitted in a burst mode over a shared radio channel. When many terminals operate in this fashion, transmissions may conflict with and destroy each other. A means for controlling this is for the terminal to sense the presence of other transmissions; this leads to a new method for multiplexing in a packet radio environment: carrier sense multiple access (CSMA). Two protocols are described for CSMA and their throughput-delay characteristics are given. These results show the large advantage CSMA provides as compared to the random ALOHA access modes.
Effects of cytochalasin B on the maturation of herpes simplex virus type 1: An ultrastructural investigation

Abstract The maturation of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) was examined in thin sections of human embryonic lung cells cultured in the presence or absence of cytochalasin B. Infected cells maintained in the presence of the drug produced infectious particles at titers significantly lower than untreated infected cells. Thickening and reduplication of the nuclear membrane and fusion of cytoplasmic membranes, typical of HSV-infected cells, were absent in cells cultured in the presence of the drug. In addition, a distinctive feature of the nuclei of cytochalasin-treated cells was the accumulation of electron-dense nucleocapsids in aggregates and crystalline arrays which became more prevalent later in the infectious cycle.
Optimal part selection

The authors point out that part selection is the problem of choosing a set of parts that implements given functions and meets cost bounds. Multiple-function parts make globally optimal part selection an exponentially complex task. Task difficulty is compounded by optimizing among multiple cost attributes. An algorithm that generates optimal designs, and handles multiple cost attributes is presented. >
Light‐Inhibited Leaf Development in a White Mutant: Resemblance to Effeets of 2‐Thiouracil in Normally Pigmented Helianthus annuus

When the white mutant of Helianthus animus is grown in full sunlight, leaf expansion and differentiation of the mesophyll are inhibited. More normal development results when incident wavelengths, shorter than 450nm, are removed by appropriate filters. A short wavelength photoreaction has been proposed which results in cessation of leaf development at a juvenile stage, and is analogous in its mechanism to the effects of 2-thiouracil on leaf developmient.
Geochemical and Geophysical Examination of Submarine Groundwater Discharge and Associated Nutrient Loading Estimates into Lynch Cove, Hood Canal, WA

Geochemical tracer data (i.e., 222Rn and four naturally occurring Ra isotopes), electromagnetic (EM) seepage meter results, and high-resolution, stationary electrical resistivity images were used to examine the bi-directional (i.e., submarine groundwater discharge and recharge) exchange of a coastal aquifer with seawater. Our study site for these experiments was Lynch Cove, the terminus of Hood Canal, WA, where fjord-like conditions dramatically limit water column circulation that can lead to recurring summer-time hypoxic events. In such a system a precise nutrient budget may be particularly sensitive to groundwater-derived nutrient loading. Shore-perpendicular time-series subsurface resistivity profiles show clear, decimeter-scale tidal modulation of the coastal aquifer in response to large, regional hydraulic gradients, hydrologically transmissive glacial terrain, and large (4-5 m) tidal amplitudes. A 5-day 222Rn time-series shows a strong inverse covariance between 222Rn activities (0.5−29 dpm L-1) and...
Structural model of mechanical properties and failure of crystalline polymer solids with fibrous structure

The failure of an axially strained polymer solid having a fibrous structure is caused by formation, coalescence, and growth of microcracks up to critical size crack, which then propagates catastrophically through the cross-section of the sample. The primary candidates for microcrack formation are the ends of microfibrils where the material connection by tie molecules to the rest of the sample is almost completely interrupted. The opening of microcracks and sliding motion of fibrillar elements ruptures locally the most strained taut tie molecules and, thus, produces radicals detectable by ESR. But, chain rupture is the consequence and not the cause of displacement of the strong fibrillar elements. It also does not substantially affect the load carrying properties of the sample which mainly depend on the lateral autoadhesion of microfibrils and fibrils and on their quasi-viscous resistance to axial displacement. Hence, one has to reject the completely inadequate models trying to base the observed load-elongation curve of such samples on the load carrying properties of those tie molecules which are eventually ruptured upon straining. Some examples of these models are treated explicitly.
Catalase-peroxidase gene sequences in isoniazid-sensitive and -resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis from New York City.

Isoniazid resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis is associated with lack of catalase-peroxidase activity. A recent study showed that some isoniazid-resistant M. tuberculosis strains have a complete deletion of the gene (katG) encoding this enzyme. To examine what proportion of clinical isolates of M. tuberculosis have katG deletion, katG sequences in 80 randomly selected isolates from New York City were analyzed. Polymerase chain reaction was used to amplify a 282-bp segment of M. tuberculosis katG and showed that 35 (90%) of 39 isoniazid-sensitive and 31 (76%) of 41 isoniazid-resistant strains contained katG sequences (P > .1). Ten multidrug and high-level isoniazid-resistant strains with identical restriction fragment length polymorphism patterns were also analyzed. All were found to have katG sequences. These findings suggest that mechanisms other than complete deletion of katG are involved in isoniazid resistance among most clinical isolates of M. tuberculosis from New York City.
Reactions of unsaturated fatty alcohols. III. Viscosity and molecular weight studies on some vinyl ether polymers

Molecular weights of the polymers of the vinyl ethers of stearyl, soybean, and linseed fatty alcohols were measured cryoscopically in cyclohexane at three different concentrations. Corrected number-average molecular weights were obtained by extrapolation to zero cocentration. For each family of polymers a series of preparations varying in degree of polymerization were studied with number-average molecular weights ranging from 1,500 to 15,000 or higher.
Postponed linear approximations and adaptive control with non-quadratic losses

A new solution approach for stochastic optimal control problems, called postponed linear approximations or PLA, is introduced and applied to MacRae's OLCV adaptive control formulation. Sample calculations are reported demonstrating the accuracy of PLA for computing optimal first period policies. PLA is then used to extend MacRae's formulation to a class of adaptive control problems with non-quadratic, asymmetric loss functions. It is shown that this extension can be quantitatively important, suggesting that misspecification of non-quadratic, asymmetric loss functions by substituting a local or global quadratic approximation may often be a serious error.
Aggregation rate of fine sediment

A dynamical description of estuarial fine sediment aggregation has been developed. The spectrum of fine particle or agglomerate size is represented by a discrete number of classes based on particle mass. Aggregation and disaggregation, respectively, move mass up and down through the classes. The frequency of two- and three-body particle collisions due to Brownian motion, shearing and differential settling is expressed by simple statistical relationships, using a new form of the collision efficiency parameter. This parameter is defined by nondimensional terms accounting for the physical and chemical forces that determine whether close encounters result in collisions. Calculations of the rate of change of sediment mass for each class as the aggregation process approaches equilibrium, when compared with previously obtained data in a Couette chamber, highlight the need to characterize the sediment as to particle density and strength. Near equilibrium, three-body collisions seem to play a major role by disaggregating particles that have been aggregated by the more numerous but less forceful two-body collisions.
Late Onset Infection in Patients with Ventricular Assist Devices: Etiology, Management and Outcomes

Purpose Device related infections are a common problem and is associated with significant morbidity. Approaches and outcomes related to chronic management of VAD related infections have not been established. We report our experience with management and outcomes for late onset VAD related infections. Methods and Materials A retrospective analysis of all Heartmate II VADs from 2004 to 2012 was performed. We defined late onset infection as a documented positive culture > 90 days following initial VAD implant. Results Of the 254 patients received a Heartmate II, 47 patients developed a late onset hardware related infection (36 driveline, 11 pump pocket +/- driveline); 25 of these patients also developed bacteremia. 43% of infection involved gram-positive bacteria, 43% gram negative and 15% anerobes. 11 of these patients had an incision and drainage or debridement of their abscess cavities (5 for drivelines and 6 for pump pockets), and 8 patients underwent a pump exchange and 14 patients went on to receive a transplant. In addition, another 10 patients developed isolated bacteremia, with 90% being gram positive. Kaplan-Meier survival from time of VAD implant showed a 1, 2, and 3 year survival of 86%, 73%, 73% without infection; 97%, 71% and 40% in patient with pump related infection; and 1 and 2 year survival of 76% and 38% in the group with isolated bacteremia. (p=0.19) However once the infection starts, the 1 and 2 year survival was only 67% and 36% in patients with hardware infection and 1 year survival of 33% in patients with isolated bacteremia. Conclusions Delayed onset VAD related infection and bacteremia is a common event, occurring in over 20% of patients. Device-related infection and isolated bacteremia show a trend towards progressive decrements in survival. Chronic management remains difficult once infection starts. Transplantation appears to offer the best results.
Management of Acute Contrast Media Reactions: Assessing Preparedness of a Tertiary Care Veterans Affairs Medical Center

THE PROBLEM: HOSPITAL READINESS FOR CONTRAST MEDIA REACTIONS Acute contrast media reactions can range in severity from mild discomfort to life-threatening anaphylaxis. Three percent of all patients receiving intravenous (IV) contrast will experience reactions, although most will not require treatment. Severe, potentially life-threatening reactions occur in about 1 in 2,500 patients [1]. Overall, contrast reactions remain rare, particularly because of the widespread use of nonionic, lowosmolar contrast media. Because of the rarity of adverse reactions to contrast, many radiologists and hospital staff members remain unfamiliar with optimal treatments, appropriate medications, and their respective doses. Additionally, reaction training for nonradiology staff members covering after hours is not well established. Potential errors that commonly occur in the management of contrast reactions are a failure to recognize a contrast reaction; uncertainty regarding how to treat a reaction; failure to administer oxygen promptly; incorrect dosing or administration of epinephrine, atropine, and antihistamines; and an overall lack of advanced preparedness for the possibility of reactions [2,3]. Because of this concern for a lack f preparedness, other radiology epartments have performed local udit studies or surveys, and often any of these management errors re identified [4,5]. In our quality mprovement initiative, we assessed he readiness of our department nd medical center both during and after hours in responding to acute contrast media reactions and identified areas for improvement to ensure proper and efficient treatment should a contrast reaction occur.
Ultrastructure of synapses from the A‐laminae of the lateral geniculate nucleus in layer IV of the cat striate cortex

The morphology of synapses in layer IV of the cat striate cortex was studied by electron microscope (EM) autoradiography of serial sections following injection of tritiated amino acids into the lateral geniculate nucleus. Of the terminals in the neuropil, 22% had 2 or more silver grains in 10 successive sections and were labeled at 8-80 times the background level. These terminals were considered to be specifically labeled and to be derived from the lateral geniculate. Two forms of geniculate synapse were observed. One had medium-size, round vesicles and a modest postsynaptic asymmetry (RA); the other had smaller, pleomorphic vesicles and hardly any postsynaptic opacity; that is, it appeared symmetrical (PS). The geniculate RA terminals were presynaptic to dendritic spines, fine processes, and cell bodies; the geniculate PS terminals were presynaptic to dendrites and cell bodies but not to spines. The possible sources of geniculate PS terminals are discussed.
Lignin and silicate based hydrogels for biosensor applications

Advances in biocompatible materials and electrocatalytic nanomaterials have extended and enhanced the field of biosensors. Immobilization of biorecognition elements on nanomaterial platforms is an efficient technique for developing high fidelity biosensors. Single layer (i.e., Langmuir–Blodgett) protein films are efficient, but disadvantages of this approach include high cost, mass transfer limitations, and Vromer competition for surface binding sites. There is a need for simple, user friendly protein-nanomaterial sensing membranes that can be developed in laboratories or classrooms (i.e., outside of the clean room). In this research, we develop high fidelity nanomaterial platforms for developing electrochemical biosensors using sustainable biomaterials and user-friendly deposition techniques. Catalytic nanomaterial platforms are developed using a combination of self assembled monolayer chemistry and electrodeposition. High performance biomaterials (e.g., nanolignin) are recovered from paper pulp waste and combined with proteins and nanomaterials to form active sensor membranes. These methods are being used to develop electrochemical biosensors for studying physiological transport in biomedical, agricultural, and environmental applications.
Kinetics of abscission in the bean petiole explant

The progress of bean petiole abscission has been followed using quantitative measurements of the mechanical force required to break explants at the separation zone. It is found that the shortest time for a measurable effect of ethylene (1 ppm) in stimulating the development of frangibility is about 1 hr. Removal of the ethylene is followed by a return to the endogenous rate of weakening, the slower rate being established in 1 hr. Application of the inhibitor cycloheximide leads to a cessation of abscission development within one-half hr. As in the stimulations of certain plant processes with auxins, gibberellins, and cytokinins. ethylene stimulation of abscission requires the continuous presence of the regulator.
Corrosion resistance of stainless steel in chloride contaminated concrete

Abstract The results of an investigation of the performance of 2-year-old stainless steel reinforced concrete specimens which were previously placed in an aggressive aqueous solution containing chlorides are presented. This study consisted of corrosion rate testing of reinforced concrete samples with normal reinforcing steel and stainless steel rebars by means of the a.c. impedance spectroscopy. The equivalent circuit simulation analysis method was applied in the data interpretation. The performance and effectiveness of stainless steel in preventing corrosion in chloride contaminated concrete was evaluated.
Comparative Study of Immunoactivity and Bioactivity of Sodium Insulin

Abstract The bioactivity of equal doses (by radioimmunoassay) of regular insulin and sodium insulin were measured in six preconditioned female mongrel hound dogs by a previously described bioassay. The hypoglycemic nadir of blood glucose induced by intravenous injection of the drugs was compared with the nadirs induced by a known amount of the international standard insulin. The level of blood glucose was monitored instantaneously and continuously using a nonthrombogenic continuous glucose-monitoring system. The hypoglycemic effect of subcutaneously injected sodium insulin was compared with the effect of subcutaneously injected regular insulin. The two drugs were injected at 1-2-week intervals to seven dogs. While the bioactivity of intravenously administered sodium insulin was equal to the bioactivity of intravenously administered regular insulin, the hypoglycemic effect of subcutaneously injected sodium insulin differed from the effect of subcutaneously injected regular insulin. The blood glucose nadir after subcutaneous injection of regular insulin occurred 101 ± 21 min after the injection. The nadir after subcutaneous injection of sodium insulin occurred 163 ± 33 min after the injection.
A Model of Action Potentials and Fast Ca2+ Dynamics in Pancreatic β-Cells

We examined the ionic mechanisms mediating depolarization-induced spike activity in pancreatic β-cells. We formulated a Hodgkin-Huxley-type ionic model for the action potential (AP) in these cells based on voltage- and current-clamp results together with measurements of Ca2+ dynamics in wild-type and Kv2.1 null mouse islets. The model contains an L-type Ca2+ current, a “rapid” delayed-rectifier K+ current, a small slowly-activated K+ current, a Ca2+-activated K+ current, an ATP-sensitive K+ current, a plasma membrane calcium-pump current and a Na+ background current. This model, coupled with an equation describing intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis, replicates β-cell AP and Ca2+ changes during one glucose-induced spontaneous spike, the effects of blocking K+ currents with different inhibitors, and specific complex spike in mouse islets lacking Kv2.1 channels. The currents with voltage-independent gating variables can also be responsible for burst behavior. Original features of this model include new equations for L-type Ca2+ current, assessment of the role of rapid delayed-rectifier K+ current, and Ca2+-activated K+ currents, demonstrating the important roles of the Ca2+-pump and background currents in the APs and bursts. This model provides acceptable fits to voltage-clamp, AP, and Ca2+ concentration data based on in silico analysis.
Hypermagnetic knots, Chern-Simons waves and the baryon asymmetry

At finite hyperconductivity and finite fermionic density the flux lines of long range hypermagnetic fields may not have a topologically trivial structure. The combined evolution of the chemical potentials and of pseudoscalar fields (like the axial Higgs field), possibly present for temperatures in the TeV range, can twist the hypercharge flux lines, producing, ultimately, hypermagnetic knots (HK). The dynamical features of the HK depend upon the various particle physics parameters of the model (pseudoscalar masses and couplings, strength of the electroweak phase transition, hyperconductivity of the plasma) and upon the magnitude of the primordial flux sitting in topologically trivial configurations of the hypermagnetic field. We study different cosmological scenarios where HK can be generated. We argue that the fermionic number sitting in HK can be released producing a seed for the baryon asymmetry of the Universe (BAU) provided the typical scale of the knot is larger than the diffusivity length scale. We derive constraints on the primordial hypermagnetic flux required by our mechanism and we provide a measure of the parity breaking by connecting the degree of knottedness of the flux lines to the BAU. We rule out the ordinary axion as a possible candidate for production (around temperatures of the order of the GeV) of magnetic knots since the produced electromagnetic helicity is negligible (for the cosmological standard) if the initial amplitude of the axion oscillations is of the order of the Peccei-Quinn breaking scale.
Effect of an epoxidized novolac resin anhydride structure on the properties of resin

The properties of an epoxidized novolac resin cured with two homologous series of substituted succinic anhydrides (alkenyl and alkyl) have been determined and the effects of anhydride structure on properties have been evaluated. Substituted succinic anhydrides yield cured resins with lower strengths, lower heat distortion temperatures, and lower moduli. Use of substituted succinic anhydrides could broaden the range of application of alicyclic anhydrides to include those requiring a more flexible resin. Effects of specific elements of anhydride structure have been consistently interpreted from properties measurements and from aging and solvent resistance studies.
Polymer Concentration-Controlled Substrate Specificity in Solvolysis of p-Nitrophenyl Alkanoates Catalyzed by 4-(Dialkylamino)pyridine- Functionalized Polymer in Aqueous Methanol Solution.

The substrate specificity in solvolysis reactions of p-nitrophenyl alkanoates 2 (n = 2−18) catalyzed by 4-(dialkylamino)pyridine-functionalized polymer 1 can be controlled by the concentration of 1 in 50:50 (v/v) methanol−aqueous phosphate buffer solution at pH 8.0 and 30 °C. Below 1.0 × 10-5 unit mol L-1, macromolecule 1 exhibits substrate specificity for 2 (n =14). As the concentration of 1 increases to 2.5 × 10-5 unit mol L-1, the substrate preference changes from 2 (n = 14) to 2 (n = 12). The substrate specificity changes again from 2 (n = 12) to 2 (n = 10) when the concentration of 1 increases further to 7.5 × 10-5 unit mol L-1. The control of substrate specificity by polymer catalyst concentration is believed to be unprecedented for catalysis of ester solvolysis.
On tonal pattern perception in monkeys (Cebus apella)

The monkey’s capacity to extract tonal pattern from a sequence of tones was assessed in four subjects that had the benefit of substantial past experience in discriminating, matching, and remembering acoustic stimuli. In Experiment 1, the monkeys failed to transfer their well-established matching behavior to the matching of two structured sequences of tones that differed primarily in tonal pattern, indicating that for them tonal pattern was not a salient feature of the acoustic stimuli. Experiment 2 was an attempt to encourage tonal pattern perception by employing, within a discrimination paradigm, very simple tonal patterns and multiple exemplars of the positive and negative patterns; the transfer design, borrowed from Hulse and Cynx (1985), was a powerful one for revealing tonal pattern perception. Verifying earlier results from our laboratory, there was little in the monkeys’ transfer performance to indicate that they had extracted tonal pattern from the acoustic stimuli. Major discriminative control seemed to be vested in the first tone of each exemplar. This apparent cognitive limitation may be rather general among animals, perhaps reflecting an intimate connection between the capacity for tonal pattern perception and that for acoustically based language.
Chemical and agronomic evaluation of common milkweed,Asclepias syriaca

Common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) has been identified as a potential whole-plant source of poly phenol, oil, and polymeric hydrocarbon. Based on in situ sampling, a range of 4.7-14.4% (dry weight) polyphenol + oil (variation significant at 1% level) and 0.2-1.2% polymeric hydrocarbon (variation significant at 5% level) were found among 48 Maryland and northern Virginia populations. In a 2-yr replicated evaluation of progenies from 41 populations, significant differences (5% level) in vigor,Aphis nerii feeding preference, numbers of plants surviving the seeding year, and numbers of tillers produced the second year were observed. Genetic variation for agronomic traits was generally small, but appeared sufficient to justify a breeding program. Excluding aphid feeding-preference, all agronomic variables were positively correlated with each other (significant at 1% level); aphid feeding-preference was weakly, negatively correlated with the remaining agronomic variables (significant at 1% level). Chemical and agronomic data were not significantly correlated. Factor analysis indicated that plants which performed well early in their life cycle would be expected to perform well on a long term basis. Based on cluster analysis, the environment in which some populations developed may have affected in situ production of poly phenols + oil and polymeric hydrocarbon as well as the subsequent agronomic performance of their progenies.
Linear differential-difference equations in a banach space

A scheme for extending linear differential-difference equations from a Euclidean phase space into a Banach phase space. This is not a new idea. For example Travis and Web [9] have made this extension for autonomous systems involving partial differential equations of parabolic type. The technique presented in this discussion is based on the ability to express solutions of the problem in terms of certain transformations which are the analogues of the fundamental matrices of the finite dimensional theory (see e.g. [1] or [7]).