cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
In Vitro Synthesis, Phosphorylation, and Localization on 48 S Initiation Complexes of Human Protein Synthesis Initiation Factor 4E

Complementary DNA for human eukaryotic initiation factor 4E (eIF-4E) was transcribed in vitro and the transcripts used to direct protein synthesis in a cell-free reticulocyte translation system. The predominant translation product was 25 kDa, was bound to a m7GTP-Sepharose affinity column, and was specifically eluted with m7GTP. Both phosphorylated (P) and unphosphorylated (U) forms of eIF-4E were synthesized, and the P/U ratio increased as a function of incubation time in the reticulocyte lysate system. Both forms were quantitatively retained on m7GTP-Sepharose. When translation reactions were resolved on sucrose density gradients, the 35S-labeled eIF-4E sedimented predominantly at 3-4 S. However, in the presence of edeine or guanylyl imidodiphosphate, both of which cause accumulation of 48 S initiation complexes, eIF-4E was detected in the 48 S region. In the presence of sparsomycin, used to accumulate 80 S initiation complexes, no eIF-4E was observed in the 80 S region. No change in the eIF-4E distribution was caused by m7GTP. These results are consistent with a model whereby eIF-4E is transferred to the 43 S initiation complex together with mRNA and is released from the initiation complex when the 60 S ribosomal subunit joins.
Apico-aortic valved conduit for the treatment of severe aortic stenosis and porcelain aorta

A 74-year-old man with a history of chest radiation for Hodgkin's disease in 1971, coronary artery disease, status post-coronary artery bypass grafting, and mitral valve repair in 2007 was referred for evaluation of aortic stenosis after presenting with acutely decompensated congestive heart failure. Transthoracic echocardiography demonstrated the left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction of 35%, severe tricuspid regurgitation, calcified trileaflet aortic …
Immunity in Plague: Protection of the Vervet (Cercopithecus aethiops) against Pneumonic Plague by the Oral Administration of Live Attenuated Yersinia pestis

Protection against pneumonic plague by the oral administration of a live, attenuated Yersinia pestis vaccine, EV76 (Paris) F, was evaluated in the vervet (Cercopithecus aethips). Six animals were vaccinated with a dose of 1.175 X 10(9) colony-forming units (cfu); all tolerated the dose and developed antibodies to Fraction I of Y. pestis. Three immunized animals were challenged with an inhaled dose of 3.2 X 10(6) cfu (160 LD50 [50% lethal dose]) of virulent Y. pestis strain 195/P and two survived; the other three received a challenge dose of 4.9 X 10(6) cfu (245 LD50) and one survived. The three surviving monkeys had high titers of antibody to Fraction I. At necropsy of the animals that succumbed to the challenge infection, almost complete consolidation of the lungs was apparent, and sizable effusions were present in the thoracic cavities. Indeed, the striking pathology indicated the severest form of pneumonic plague. Since it can be assumed that the animal surviving challenge with the larger inoculum would have survived the smaller dose, we conclude that the immunization procedure protected half of the vervets that were exposed to challenge.
Analytical and Experimental Studies of Orthotropic Corner-Supported Plates With Segmented In-Plane Actuators

This paper outlines a model for a corner-supported, thin, rectangular bimorph actuated by a two-dimensional array of segmented, orthotropic PVDF laminates; it investigates the realization and measurement of such a bimorph. First, a model is derived to determine the deflected shape of an orthotropic laminate for a given distribution of voltages over the actuator array. Then, boundary conditions are realized in a laboratory setup to approach the theoretical corner-supported boundary condition. Finally, deflection measurements of actuated orthotropic PVDF laminates are performed with Electronic Speckle Pattern Interferometry and are compared to the model results.
Effect of Replacing Part of the Soybean Meal in Turkey Poult Rations With Amino Acid and Carbohydrate Mixtures

Abstract THIS paper reports results of experiments conducted to determine if poult performance could be improved by altering the amino acid balance in a ration based on corn, soybean meal and methionine or in a ration based on corn, soybean meal, herring meal and methionine. Experiments also are being conducted at our station to determine how the essential amino acids should be proportioned to make a well balanced turkey poult ration. The results of tests along this line through the 1968 season were presented at the 1968 meeting of the Poultry Science Association. A more complete publication of these results is not planned until more experiments are conducted. Major modification of the proportions listed in the abstract (Warnick and Anderson, 1968b) is not expected, and the values reported in the abstract were used as a guide in formulating rations 2 and 5 fed in the work reported in this paper. The. . .
Perceptions Of Lakota Native American Students Taking Online Business Course At Oglala Lakota College (OLC)

This research examined the perceptions of Lakota Native American students taking a Business online course at the Oglala Lakota College on the Pine Ridge Reservation. The study was conducted in the fall of 2010 and spring of 2011. The themes found in this study were flexibility, transportation, communication, and technical support. Furthermore, the study found some of the advantages for students taking online courses as well as some obstacles encountered by students on the reservation.
Genetic Studies of the Mouse Mutations Mahogany and Mahoganoid

The mouse mutations mahogany (mg) and mahoganoid (md) are negative modifiers of the Agouti coat color gene, which encodes a paracrine signaling molecule that induces a switch in melanin synthesis from eumelanin to pheomelanin. Animals mutant for md or mg synthesize very little or no pheomelanin depending on Agouti gene background. The Agouti protein is normally expressed in the skin and acts as an antagonist of the melanocyte receptor for α-MSH (Mc1r); however, ectopic expression of Agouti causes obesity, possibly by antagonizing melanocortin receptors expressed in the brain. To investigate where md and mg lie in a genetic pathway with regard to Agouti and Mc1r signaling, we determined the effects of these mutations in animals that carried either a loss-of-function Mc1r mutation (recessive yellow, Mc1r(e)) or a gain-of-function Agouti mutation (lethal yellow, A(y)). We found that the Mc1r(e) mutation suppressed the effects of md and mg, but that md and mg suppressed the effects of A(y) on both coat color and obesity. Plasma levels of α-MSH and of ACTH were unaffected by md or mg. These results suggest that md and mg interfere directly with Agouti signaling, possibly at the level of protein production or receptor regulation.
Boron implantation using plasma source ion implantation (PSII)

Boron implants with ion beam surface modification technology have been used with great success in materials applications. With plasma source ion implantation (PSII), the capability of processing large or complex geometries without sample manipulation could prove to be very useful. Boron trifluoride was used as the process gas. The sample substrates implanted were 6061 aluminum and tool steel. Processing and analysis (AES, Knoop, etc.) issues will be discussed.
Polycentric Stakeholder Analysis: Corporate Governance and CSR under Value Heterogeneity

This paper presents a method of stakeholder analysis based on recent developments in the theory of polycentricity and co-production. A polycentric system of governance is a collection of heterogene...
An Adaptive LQ-Based Control Design with Parameter Projection Applied to the NASA GTM

In this paper, an adaptive linearization-based control design method is studied for a nonlinear aircraft flight control system model. An adaptive linear quadratic (LQ)-based control scheme is designed for the linearized models of the aircraft dynamics. To ensure the controllability of the estimated aircraft models, a parameter projection algorithm is derived for multivariable parameter estimation models. To support the use of a linearizationbased control design, the stabilizability of the nonlinear system and linearized system models is studied, to establish their inherent connection. The adaptive control algorithm is simulated on linearized lateral models of the NASA Generic Transport Model (GTM) trimmed at certain operating conditions, to verify its desired adaptation properties in handling parameter uncertainties. It is then tested on the nonlinear GTM simulink model, to show its desirable performance in dealing with uncertainties of the nonlinear aircraft system dynamics.
A contemporary study of the decision to incarcerate white‐collar and street property offenders

Conventional wisdom holds that white‐collar offenders operate with relative impunity because of widespread public and governmental apathy. The present study, however, examines whether public tolera...
Certain Nuclear Phenomena in Albugo Portulacae

1. The mitotic spindles of both first and second divisions in the developing oogonia of A. Portulacae appear to form after the disappearance of the nuclear membrane.2. The spindles of the first ant...
Synthesis, Electrochemistry, and Excited-State Properties of Three Ru(II) Quaterpyridine Complexes.

The complexes [Ru(qpy)LL′]2+ (qpy = 2,2′:6′,2″:6″,2‴-quaterpyridine), with 1: L = acetonitrile, L′= chloride; 2: L = L′= acetonitrile; and 3: L = L′= vinylpyridine, have been prepared from [Ru(qpy) (Cl)2]. Their absorption spectra in CH3CN exhibit broad metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) absorptions arising from overlapping 1A1 → 1MLCT transitions. Photoluminescence is not observed at room temperature, but all three are weakly emissive in 4:1 ethanol/methanol glasses at 77 K with broad, featureless emissions observed between 600 and 1000 nm consistent with MLCT phosphorescence. Cyclic voltammograms in CH3CN reveal the expected RuIII/II redox couples. In 0.1 M trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), 1 and 2 undergo aquation to give [RuII(qpy)(OH2)2]2+, as evidenced by the appearance of waves for the couples [RuIII(qpy)(OH2)2]3+/[RuII(qpy)(OH2)2]2+, [RuIV(qpy)(O)(OH2)]2+/[RuIII(qpy)(OH2)2]3+, and [RuVI(qpy)(O)2]2+/[RuIV(qpy)(O)(OH2)]2+ in cyclic voltammograms.
Contrast opacification on thoracic CT angiography: challenges and solutions

Contrast flow and enhancement patterns seen on thoracic CT angiography (CTA) can often be challenging and may often reveal more than is immediately apparent. A non-diagnostic CTA following the initial contrast injection can be secondary to many causes; these include both extrinsic factors, such as injection technique/equipment failure (iv cannula, power injector), and intrinsic, patient-related factors. Contrast pressure and flow graphs often contain useful information regarding the etiology of a non-diagnostic scan. Understanding these graphs will help the radiologist plan a repeat contrast injection to overcome the deficiencies of the first injection and thus obtain a diagnostic scan. The current review article outlines normal and abnormal intravenous contrast dynamics, discusses how to recognize etiologies of non-diagnostic scans, and ultimately addresses techniques to overcome obstacles towards obtaining normal contrast opacification of the target vessel. In addition, there are some life-threatening findings, which unless sought for, may remain hidden in plain sight. Key Points • Using contrast enhancement and flow patterns to identify the cause of a non-diagnostic CTA.• Recognize life threatening causes of altered contrast dynamics such as cardiac asystole.• Non-target vessel opacification may hold key to underlying pathophysiology.
Digital Tip Amputations from the Perspective of the Nail

The management strategy proposed herein for fingertip amputations advocates secondary healing with preservation of appearance as well as function. Conservative healing is more likely to result in a sensate, nontender, and cosmetically acceptable fingertip compared to surgical management in many clinical scenarios. This manuscript examines in detail the extent of fingertip injury and defines the relationship of injury to final fingertip outcome. A classification is presented, which allows adequate initial counseling regarding prognosis, and predicts the need for secondary corrective surgery.
Two-Step Approach to Partial Factorial Invariance: Selecting a Reference Variable and Identifying the Source of Noninvariance

To date, no effective empirical method has been available to identify a truly invariant reference variable (RV) in testing measurement invariance under a multiple-group confirmatory factor analysis. This study proposes a method that, in selecting an RV, uses the smallest modification index (min-mod). The method’s performance is evaluated using 2 models: (a) a full invariance model, and (b) a partial invariance model. Results indicate that for both models the min-mod successfully identifies a truly invariant RV (Study 1). In Study 2, we use the RV found in Study 1 to further evaluate the performance of item-by-item Wald tests at locating a noninvariant variable. The results indicate that Wald tests overall performed better with an RV selected in a partial invariance model than an RV selected in a full invariance model, although in certain conditions their performances were rather similar. Implications and limitations of the study are also discussed.
DEVELOPMENTS IN THE NEUROSCIENCE OF DREAMS

12.00 Dreams and the act of dreaming have been subjects dismissed and discussed by great philosophers and psychologists for centuries. This paper explores developments in neuroscience as they relate to dreams, and how these developments help people in general understand better the role of dreams. The role of dreams and sleep are explored as they relate to mental health and affect regulation. Developments in neuroscience also help us understand the value of dream interpretation. Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Normalni tabulka"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
Los límites de la letra: palabra/imagen en el proyecto liberal de Jorge Zalamea

As part of the Colombian liberal project, Jorge Zalamea (Bogota, 1905 - 1969) was fierce detractor of the position of power held by the media in the early 20th century. According to him, the Conservative party was engaged in saying a lot but not doing anything, controlling the rhetoric as a tool of distinction and segregation. Zalamea’s editorial project questioned the centrality and boundaries of the word through publications that employed different means and arts to re-configurate the spaces of the representation of the national affairs. This work explores the relationship between photography and text in La metamorfosis de su excelencia (1951), as well as the composition of El gran Burundun-Burunda ha muerto (1952), as an impure text.
Development of TiO2 containing hardmasks through PEALD deposition

With the increasing prevalence of complex device integration schemes, tri layer patterning with a solvent strippable hardmask can have a variety of applications. Spin-on metal hardmasks have been the key enabler for selective removal through wet strip when active areas need to be protected from dry etch damage. As spin-on metal hardmasks require a dedicated track to prevent metal contamination, and are limited in their ability to scale down thickness without comprising on defectivity, there has been a need for a deposited hardmask solution. Modulation of film composition through deposition conditions enables a method to create TiO2 films with wet etch tunability. This paper presents a systematic study on development and characterization of PEALD deposited TiO2-based hardmasks for patterning applications. We demonstrate lithographic process window, pattern profile, and defectivity evaluation for a tri layer scheme patterned with PEALD based TiO2 hardmask and its performance under dry and wet strip conditions. Comparable structural and electrical performance is shown for a deposited vs a spin-on metal hardmask.
MicroRNAs: Tiny genetic switches in our genome

Gary Ruvkun is a winner of the 2015 Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences. He is a co-discoverer of microRNAs (with Victor Ambros, University of Massachusetts), regarded as one of the seminal discoveries of 21st century molecular biology. In addition to the Breakthrough Prize, Ruvkun and Ambros have received the Warren Triennial Prize, the Laskar Foundation Award, and numerous other awards and prizes. Professor Ruvkun obtained his PhD from Harvard University, did his postdoctoral research at MIT, and subsequently accepted a faculty position at Harvard, where he is currently Professor of Genetics. His laboratory conducts research on basic cellular processes, using the worm C. elegans as a model system.
Joint convergence along different subsequences of the signed cubic variation of fractional Brownian motion

The purpose of this paper is to study the convergence in distribution of two subsequences of the signed cubic variation of the fractional Brownian motion with Hurst parameter $$H=1/6$$ . We prove that, under some conditions on both subsequences, the limit is a two-dimensional Brownian motion whose components may be correlated and we find explicit formulae for its covariance function.
LIVING WITH AN INFERIOR SINUS VENOSUS DEFECT

Sinus venosus defect (SVD) is a rare subtype of atrial septal defect and can be missed on standard transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE). A 70 year old female presented with worsening exertional dyspnea. She has been symptomatic for 8 years and multiple previous TTE demonstrated progressive right
Effects of heptachlor epoxide on components of various signal transduction pathways important in tumor promotion in mouse hepatoma cells. Determination of the most sensitive tumor promoter related effect induced by heptachlor epoxide.

Abstract The effects of the organochlorine (OC) liver tumor promoter heptachlor epoxide (HE; 0, 0.1, 1, 10, and 50 μM) on several cellular tumor promoter-sensitive parameters were studied in mouse 1c1c7 hepatoma cells in an effort to identify the most sensitive biomarker for OC promoter exposure and the critical pathway and target of OC promoters. The levels of Ca2+ in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) store, connexin43 (Cx43), PLCγ1, nPKCe, and AP-1 DNA binding in nucleus were studied to screen for effects induced by submicromolar HE levels. While all the parameters tested elicited effects, particulate PLCγ1 and AP-1 DNA binding were found to be the most sensitive parameters affected by HE on both dose and temporal bases. Their levels were increased with 10- to 100-fold lower HE concentrations than were required to affect nPKCe or Cx43. Further, with the lower HE dosages, particulate PLCγ1 and nuclear AP-1 were positively modulated by HE after 1 h versus 3 or 72 h for nPKCe and Cx43. Ca2+ store depletion was probably the third most sensitive parameter, after AP-1 and PLCγ1. These results suggest the tyrosine kinase growth factor receptor pathway is the probable critical pathway for HE-induce tumor promotion with the critical target most likely being upstream of PLCγ1 and AP-1. This work also demonstates that upon exposure to a tumor promoter such as HE, many hepatocellular effects or changes result, suggesting that a cellular-program shift occurs similar to that described by the resistant hepatocyte model after exposure to a carcinogen or enzyme inducer.
Acid Hydrolysis and Chemicals from Cellulosics

Acid hydrolysis of cellulosics can be divided into two groups: high temperature and low temperature. Approximately, 140°C can be considered the demarcation of the two types of processes. The low temperature acid process ranges from 80 to 140°C; most high temperature processes operate from 160 to 240°C. The main difference in the reaction results caused by the difference in the reaction temperature is the formation of furfural and its derivatives at a high temperature in the acidic solution. Furfural and related by-products represent a loss of sugar yield and create problems in subsequent fermentations due to the inhibitory effects of these by-products on living cells. The acid is also much more corrosive at a high temperature and the required special metal for equipment fabrication is costly.
Overview Of Field Data on the Deposition Of Aerosol-Associated Species to the Surface Snow Of Polar Glaciers, Particularly Recent Work in Greenland

This contribution presents a review of recent field experiments investigating the relationship between the composition of snow falling onto polar glaciers and the composition of aerosols in the overlying atmosphere. The limited data exisiting prior to the late 1980s indicated that aerosol removal processes should cause fractionation between the composition of aerosols and snow. Uncertainties regarding the relative importance of ice-nucleation scavenging, in-cloud riming of snow flakes and dry deposition over polar ice sheets precluded assessment of the impact the likely fractionation would have on efforts to reconstruct temporal variations in aerosol chemistry from ice core chemistry records. Two large international experiments on the Greenland ice sheet after 1988 focused on these, and other, issues central to understanding air-snow exchange processes. These experiments confirmed that ice-nucleation scavenging is the major process incorporating aerosol-associated species into polar snow. This process enriches snow in large aerosols relative to the aerosol population aloft. Dry deposition was found to be of minor importance at the present time, but also enriches the snow in large aerosols and the species associated with them. Since the large aerosols over Greenland are predominantly derived from sea-salt and dust, while SO4=. NH4 + and several pollutant trace metals are concentrated in submicron aerosols, snow chemistry presents a biased view of aerosol composition. However, it would appear to be possible to incorporate such a bias into efforts to reconstruct aerosol chemistry records from ice cores, were it not for several complicating factors. Spatial variability in snow chemistry will likely impose an inherent limit on the temporal resolution that will be possible in such reconstructions.
Sensors for Carbonization Control

Phase I of “Research on Intelligent Processing of Carbon-Carbon Composites” is a two year program to develop enabling technologies for real time control of the carbonization process for resin matrix composites. The research has three related foci: in situ material property sensors; process models; and intelligent control architecture. The research has, to date, 1) developed control strategies at three levels of sophistication that use sensors and models to complete carbonization more rapidly while still reducing losses; 2) developed a control architecture that integrates those sensors and models; 3) conducted successful in situ tests of chemical and physical property sensors; 4) developed a high temperature eddy current sensor (not yet tested in situ); 5) developed considerable kinetic data on the carbonization reactions, described the basic reaction paths and their relation to physical properties qualitatively, and developed a kinetic equation for the lowest temperature family of carbonization reactions, the production of water from hydroxyl groups; 6) defined the modeling strategy for calculating gas pressure and the experimental strategy for developing models for matrix strength. In the following, we describe the general problem and the issues in modeling and control to provide a context for the sensor results.
An Interactive Data Editing Program for Material Behavior Data

SPIDER (Software Package for Interactive Data Editing and Rendering) is the first of a series of specialized data handling packages at Sandia National Laboratories designed to process material testing data.
Litters of self-replicating origami cross-tiles.

Self-replication and exponential growth are ubiquitous in nature but until recently there were few examples of artificial self-replication. Often replication is a templated process where a parent produces a single offspring, doubling the population in each generation. Many species however produce more than one offspring at a time, enabling faster population growth and higher probability of species perpetuation. We have made a system of cross-shaped origami tiles that yields a number of offspring, four to eight or more, depending on the concentration of monomer units to be assembled. The parent dimer template serves as a seed to crystallize a one-dimensional crystal, a ladder. The ladder rungs are then UV–cross-linked and the offspring are then released by heating, to yield a litter of autonomous daughters. In the complement study, we also optimize the growth conditions to speed up the process and yield a 103 increase in the growth rate for the single-offspring replication system. Self-replication and exponential growth of autonomous motifs is useful for fundamental studies of selection and evolution as well as for materials design, fabrication, and directed evolution. Methods that increase the growth rate, the primary evolutionary drive, not only speed up experiments but provide additional mechanisms for evolving materials toward desired functionalities.
High-Performance, Flexible, Inkjet Printed Heterostructure Photodetector for Biosensing Applications

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a retinal degenerative disease that results in a continuous degeneration of photoreceptors in the retina, which eventually leads to complete blindness. One approach to combat AMD is through the use of artificially implantable photodetectors that are physically placed on the retina. Interestingly, 2D materials such as photosensitive and semiconducting molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) and electrically conducting graphene have recently received tremendous promise due to their unique photonic and optoelectronic properties and their potential in various types of micro and nano-devices. In this study, a highly biocompatible 2D graphene-MoS2 photodetectors on a flexible polyimide substrate were designed, fabricated using inkjet printing to form photosensitive pixels and tested as a function of photo intensity and strain. The inkjet printed 2D heterostructure devices were photoresponsive and the photocurrent scaled proportionally with the incident light intensity, exhibiting a photoresponsivity R ~ 0.30 A/W at room temperature. The strain-dependent measurements of photocurrent with bending showed a photocurrent of Iph ~ 1.16 μA with strain levels for curvature up to ~ 0.262 cm-1. Inkjet printed graphene and MoS2 inks were also characterized using techniques such as Raman Spectroscopy, Photoluminescence (PL) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM).
Adaptive Transitions: The Long‐Term Perspective on Humans in Changing Coastal Settings

Adaptation is a key concept in long‐term human adjustments to climate change. Despite the centrality of human decisions and actions in adaptation, much of the climate change literature is thin on h...
Brain-Gut Therapies for Pediatric Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders and Inflammatory Bowel Disease

The purpose of this review is to discuss current knowledge of brain-gut therapies (BGT) in pediatric functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGID) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including their evidence base, the common psychopathology that they address, and the integration of this knowledge into medical settings. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), hypnotherapy (HT), mindfulness-based therapy (MBT), and exposure-based therapy (EBT) have the most data supporting their use in children, particularly in FGID, more so than in IBD. This difference is most likely because of the increased role of psychological factors in FGID, though these same factors can be seen comorbidly in IBD. Integrative BGT treatment strategies with the collaboration of clinicians across disciplines may provide the most benefit to patients. This review details our current understanding of the evidence for BGT in pediatric FGID and IBD and how they may best be used in treatment strategies.
Polyacrylic acid coated carbon nanotube–paper composites for humidity and moisture sensing

Various carbon nanotube–paper composites (CPCs) have been studied to measure relative humidity. This study presents a tissue paper-based CPC coated with polyacrylic acid (PAA) for sensing humidity and surface moisture. When the CPC is exposed to humidity, its electrical resistance changes due to its electrostatic interaction with water molecules and the swelling of cellulose fibers and PAA. The enhancement of sensor response due to the swelling of CPCs coated with PAA, acid, and Nafion is studied in terms of resistance change. The hysteresis of a CPC sensor response to a cyclic humidity change is characterized for both the CPC region and the interfacial region between carbon nanotubes and a silver electrode. Based on the empirical relationship, the humidity sensor is applied for the measurement of surface moisture in a simulated sweat model. The CPC surface moisture sensor provides a low-cost, highly sensitive, light-weight flexible platform potentially beneficial for health, food, agricultural and environmental applications.
Towards minimally-invasive, quantitative assessment of chronic kidney disease using optical spectroscopy.

T32 HL007224 - NHLBI NIH HHS; R01CA175382 - U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | National Institutes of Health (NIH); T32 GM86308 - U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | National Institutes of Health (NIH); R01 CA175382 - NCI NIH HHS; 1UL1TR001430 - U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | National Institutes of Health (NIH); NIH R01HL132325 - U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | National Institutes of Health (NIH); T32 HL007224-40 - U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | National Institutes of Health (NIH); T32 GM086308 - NIGMS NIH HHS; R01 HL132325 - NHLBI NIH HHS; R01HL132325 - U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | National Institutes of Health (NIH); UL1 TR001430 - NCATS NIH HHS
New concerns on caffeine consumption and the impact of potential regulations: The case of energy drinks

Abstract The increasing consumption of energy drinks and caffeine added products, coupled with somewhat inconsistent labeling practices, has generated health concerns from possible excessive caffeine intake. In this paper, we simulate the impacts of potential caffeine content regulatory policies on demand for energy drinks as well as caffeine and sugar consumption. We model demand for energy drinks as a function of price and product characteristics that includes both caffeine levels and the presence of labeled caffeine content. Using our demand estimation results, we simulate the impact of potential policies including mandatory caffeine content labeling, advertising restriction and caffeine content regulations. Results indicate that mandatory labeling and advertising restrictions would reduce the overall sales in the energy drinks sector, but with a limited impact. The effect of caffeine content regulation would vary depending on whether the policy is implemented on a per-ounce basis or a per-can basis. Furthermore, these policies have different impacts on sugar and caffeine consumption, and therefore policymakers should be cautious when implementing caffeine regulations.
Temperature effects on retention and efficiency of butyl and lauryl acrylate porous polymer monoliths in capillary electrochromatography.

The development of organic porous polymer monoliths represents an alternative approach to stationary phase design. The use of these materials has helped to rekindle interest in capillary electrochromatography. Although a large number of investigations have explored different monolith recipes, polymerization conditions, and application challenges, few investigations have addressed the fundamentals of this separation mode with this type of material. This study addresses the thermodynamics of the reversed phase retention mechanism on 100% butyl acrylate and 1:3 butyl:lauryl acrylate (volume/volume ratio) porous polymer monoliths used in a capillary electrochromatography mode. Linear van't Hoff plots yield enthalpies of retention of -3.9 to -14.3 kJ/mol on two different, but related columns for five selected hydrophobic analytes across a thirty degree temperature range. Minimum plate heights were only moderately impacted over this temperature range.
Transcriptional circuits in control of shoot stem cell homeostasis

Plant shoot apical meristems (SAMs) play essential roles in plant growth and development. Located at the growing tip of a plant stem, these dome-like structures contain stem cells, which serve to perpetuate themselves in an undifferentiated state while continually adding new cells that differentiate and eventually form all above-ground tissues. In a SAM, the pool of stem cells is dynamically maintained through a balance between cell division (self-renewal) and differentiation (loss of stem-cell identity). In the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, a negative feedback loop between WUSCHEL (WUS) and the CLAVATA3 (CLV3) plays important roles in maintaining the stem cell population. In this review, we highlight recent findings mainly from studies in Arabidopsis, and summarize the research progress on understanding how multiple transcriptional circuits integrate and function at different cell layers to control the WUS-CLV3 loop and stem cell homeostasis.
Optimizing the Number of Child Deaths Averted with Mass Azithromycin Distribution.

Biannual mass azithromycin distribution to children younger than 5 years has been shown to reduce all-cause mortality in sub-Saharan Africa. Antibiotic-sparing approaches to azithromycin distribution, such as targeting to younger children who are at higher risk of mortality, are being considered by policymakers. We evaluated the absolute number of deaths averted in the Macrolides Oraux pour Reduire le Deces avec un Oeil sur la Resistance study in three age-groups: 1-5 months, 1-11 months, and 1-59 months. The number of deaths averted decreased from 729 (95% CI 492 to 966) in children aged 1-59 months to 297 (95% CI 168 to 427) and 126 (95% CI 43 to 209) in the 1- to 11-month and 1- to 5-month groups, respectively. Limiting antibiotic treatment to a subgroup of higher risk children may result in fewer deaths averted compared with treating all preschool children.
The Future of Nuclear Medicine Depends on the Quality of Its Research: Researchers at the University of Heidelberg Receive the Award for Best Article of the Year.

1087 Objectives: Hypoxia is widely existed in solid tumor, the existence of hypoxia plays an important role in increasing the radio- and chemo- therapy resistance, as well as the risk of metastasis and poor prognosis. Accurate assessment of tumor hypoxia is essential for the selection of radiation doses radiotherapy to improve survival. In this study, we developed a novel HIF-1α (hypoxia inducible factor-1α) specific PET probe, Al18F-CLLFVY, which was different in mechanism from traditional tumor hypoxia imaging agent, 18F-FMISO and 64Cu-ATSM. Al18F-CLLFVY was prepared as scheme 1 with routine Al18F labeling method with the radiochemical yield of 27-35%, the radiochemical purity was over 99% and the specific activity of 11.8±1.2 GBq/μmol. It was stable in vitro for 6 h in saline and the elution solution. Al18F-CLLFVY was lipophilic with the log P value of 0.63±0.05 (n=3). Cell uptake study in A549 cell line showed higher uptake in cells pretreated with CoCl2 (1.80±0.22 %) than that in cells pretreated with saline (0.86±0.03%, P=0.002). In mice bearing S180, Al18F-CLLFVY was highly accumulated in gallbladder and cleared out, the uptake was 1.22±0.91 and 0.33±0.28 ID% at 5 min and 120 min p.i., respectively. Al18F-CLLFVY showed high initial accumulation in tumor but cleared out with time, the uptake in tumor was 2.01±0.24 ID%/g at 5 min p.i. and m0.69±0.25 ID%/g at 120 min p.i.. As the accumulation in muscle and blood was fast cleared out, the tumor-to-muscle and tumor-to-blood ratios were increased with time, the ratios were 3.45 and 3.63 at 120 min p.i., respectively. We developed A549 lung cancer tumor models and performed micro-PET imaging. Similar with the biodistribution data in mice bearing S180, Al18F-CLLFVY was accumulated in gallbladder, intestine and tumor. Compared with the result of 18F-FMISO in mouse bearing A549, Al18F-CLLFVY showed comparable uptake in tumor, but lower uptake in lung and abdominal organs. Which offered high contrast between tumor and background. When co-injected with nonradioactive cyclo-CLLFVY, the tumor was invisible while the uptake in gallbladder and intestine was similar with mouse without cyclo-CLLFVY. The in vitro and in vivo study showed Al18F-CLLFVY was HIF-1α specific and hold the potential for tumor hypoxia.
Durable Control of HIV-1 Using a Staphylococcus aureus Cas9-Expressing Lentivirus Co-Targeting Viral Latency and Host Susceptibility

ABSTRACT CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing has the potential to revolutionize the clinical management of HIV-1 infection, and may eliminate the need for antiretroviral therapy (ART). Current gene therapies attempt to either excise HIV-1 provirus or target HIV-1 entry receptors to prevent infection of new cells. Using a viral dynamic model, we determined that combining these two interventions, in the presence or absence of ART, significantly lowers the gene editing efficacy thresholds required to achieve an HIV-1 cure. To implement this dual-targeting approach, we engineered a single lentiviral vector that simultaneously targets multiple highly-conserved regions of the provirus and the host CXCR4 coreceptor, and developed a novel coculture system enabling real-time monitoring of latent infection, viral reactivation, and infection of new target cells. Simultaneous dual-targeting depleted HIV-1-infected cells with significantly greater potency than vectors targeting either virus or host independently, highlighting its potential as an HIV-1 cure strategy.
Mainframe-Based Legacy Integration: An Industry Project

ABSTRACT As a computing environment evolves, heterogeneous and distributed computing environments are often unavoidable. Companies are willing to retain their legacy systems and also acquire new types of systems for their daily business operations. Rewrite, facelift and convert are three common ways to address legacy integration for use in heterogeneous and distributed computing environments. Rewrite and convert may not be suitable for companies to reengineer their legacy systems because the companies have made significant investments in the systems. They are more willing to reduce the effort of their programming staff and minimize unnecessary rework. Therefore, it is essential to provide a cost effective approach to integrating legacy systems. In this paper, we present an extended facelift approach to integrating an industry mainframe-based software reengineering legacy system in a distributed heterogeneous computing environment. An experience of implementing the approach and lessons learned are also discussed.
TwinOps - DevOps meets model-based engineering and digital twins for the engineering of CPS

The engineering of Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) requires a large set of expertise to capture the system requirements and to derive a correct solution. Model-based Engineering and DevOps aim to efficiently deliver software with increased quality. Model-based Engineering relies on models as first-class artifacts to analyze, simulate, and ultimately generate parts of a system. DevOps focuses on software engineering activities, from early development to integration, and then improvement through the monitoring of the system at run-time. We claim these can be efficiently combined to improve the engineering process of CPS.In this paper, we present TwinOps, a process that unifies Model-based Engineering, Digital Twins, and DevOps practice in a uniform workflow. TwinOps illustrates how to leverage several best practices in MBE and DevOps for the engineering Cyber-Physical systems. We illustrate our contribution using a Digital Twins case study to illustrate TwinOps benefits, combining AADL and Modelica models, and an IoT platform.
Cutaneous foreign body microemboli-induced occlusive vasculopathy: A complication of illicit intravenous injection of oral opioid tablets

Occlusive nonvasculitic vasculopathy is a process characterized clinically by retiform purpura and potential ulceration and necrosis of affected areas, secondary to blockage of small vessels without associated inflammatory vasculitis. Intravascular injection of foreign material is known to cause distal ischemia and necrosis due to thrombosis, local vasoconstriction, or microemboli formation. A 27-year-old male presented with retiform purpura and worsening distal fingertip necrosis of the right upper extremity accompanied by suspicious intravascular polarizable foreign material identified on skin, muscle, and vascular biopsies. We report a case that highlights concerning complications and dermatopathologic findings of intravascular injection of oral opioid tablets.
An Alternative Method of Public Reporting of Comparative Hospital Quality and Performance Data for Transparency Initiatives.

BACKGROUND Hospital performance comparisons for transparency initiatives may be inadequate if peer comparison groups are poorly defined. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to evaluate a new approach identifying hospital peers for comparison. DESIGN/SETTING We used Mahalanobis distance as a new method of developing peer-specific groupings for hospitals to incorporate both external and internal complexity. We compared the overlap in groups with an existing method used by the Veterans' Health Administration's Office for Productivity, Efficiency, and Staffing (OPES). PARTICIPANTS One hundred twenty-two acute-care Veterans' Health Administration's Medical Facilities as defined in the OPES fiscal year 2014 report. MEASURES Using 15 variables in 9 categories developed from expert input, including both hospital internal measures and community-based external measures, we used principal components analysis and calculated Mahalanobis distance between each hospital pair. This method accounts for correlation between variables and allows for variables having different variances. We identified the 50 closest hospitals, then eliminated any potential peer whose score on the first component was >1 SD from the reference hospital. We compared overlap with OPES measures. RESULTS Of 15 variables, 12 have SDs exceeding 25% of their means. The first 2 components of our analysis explain 24.8% and 18.5% of variation among hospitals. Eight of 9 variables scaling positively on the first component measure internal complexity, aligning with OPES groups. Four of 5 variables scaling positively on the second component but not the first are factors from the policy environment; this component reflects a dimension not considered in OPES groups. CONCLUSION Individualized peers that incorporate external complexity generate more nuanced comparators to evaluate quality.
Metasurface design optimization via D-Wave based sampling

The developed design framework employs the D-Wave to enable global optimization of meta-devices with complex topologies and material composition. The framework opens up the pathways to solving broad range of highly-constrained optimization problems of nanophotonics.
Co-Verbal Touch: Enriching Video Telecommunications with Remote Touch Technology

This paper explores the psycho-physiological impact of remote touch in conjunction with conversations shared over video telecommunication. Interlocutors sent upper arm squeezes to each other through paired touch input and output devices in real time. Committed couples were recruited to use the devices in semi-structured discussions after they watched a video clip that contained emotionally charged moments. Users were not told how to use the devices and were free to define the purpose of their use. We examined how remote touch may impact skin conductance and heart rate variability during emotionally charged conversations. Our results revealed that irrespective of speech sentiment, co-verbal touch reduced arousal when compared to discourse without touch. However, touch was used more frequently in utterances that were judged negative and its reduction in arousal was more pronounced than co-verbal touch in positive utterances. These findings suggest that remote touch can be used to attenuate negative conversations or similar circumstances.
Chapter 14 Concreteness, imagery, and memory for prose

Publisher Summary This chapter presents experiments to study the concreteness, imagery, and memory for prose. In Experiment 1, the subjective contrast effect and the effects of within- and between-subjects comparisons of concrete and abstract paragraphs under identical conditions have been examined. The results of this and other experiments indicate that concreteness effects might be robust in some memory tasks, but that prose memory is not one of them. Imagery seems to be one particularly powerful source of distinctiveness in verbal as well as nonverbal memory tasks, insofar as images constructed to capture the meanings of particular items are likely to be relatively unique and specific. Imagery is not the only variable that can serve this function and it does not always have beneficial effects. An essential aspect of the present framework is that distinctive and relational information go “hand-in-hand” in affecting memory. The lack of concreteness effects in memory for well-controlled prose materials and the results of Experiment 2, in particular, reflect the essential role of relational information in text processing.
Results of treatment of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia with a modified BFM protocol

Our study presents the results of ALL treatment from year 1995 to 2002 according to modified BFM protocol at the Department of Hematology of the University Children's Hospital, Belgrade. Modification was necessary due to inadequate drug and diagnostic reagent supply at that time and related mainly to reduced intensity of therapy and difference of definition of risk factors in relation to original BFM protocol. A total of 69 patients were treated, 36 girls (52.2%) and 33 boys (47.8%), mean age 4.5 years (range 0.4-16.8 yrs.). Thirteen children were classified as high risk, out of whom, one had Down syndrome, two had earlier corticosteroid treatment, nine were with T immunophenotype, out of whom three were poor prednisone responders and one was female infant. Clinical and laboratory parameters on diagnosis in our group were similar to the characteristics of patients in large published studies which exclude selection bias. There were four toxic deaths (5.8%) and ten relapses (14.5%). Five year event-free survival (EFS) with median follow-up of 5.2 years (range 2.2-9.2 years) was 70%.