cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Targeting the Fc receptor in autoimmune disease.

Introduction: The Fc receptors (FcRs) and their interactions with immunoglobulin and innate immune opsonins, such as C-reactive protein, are key players in humoral and cellular immune responses. As the effector mechanism for some therapeutic monoclonal antibodies, and often a contributor to the pathogenesis and progression of autoimmunity, FcRs are promising targets for treating autoimmune diseases. Areas covered: This review discusses the nature of different FcRs and the various mechanisms of their involvement in initiating and modulating immunocyte functions and their biological consequences. It describes a range of current strategies in targeting FcRs and manipulating their interaction with specific ligands, while presenting the pros and cons of these approaches. This review also discusses potential new strategies including regulation of FcR expression and receptor crosstalk. Expert opinion: FcRs are appealing targets in the treatment of inflammatory autoimmune diseases. However, there are still knowle...
Improved xenograft survival with continuous infusion deoxyspergualin and RATG.

The critical shortage of available donor organs is the major limit to current allogeneic transplantation. Xenografting has the potential to overcome this difficult problem. Suppressing the vigorous rejection response remains a major obstacle to the clinical application of xenografting. 15-Deoxyspergiialin (DOSP), a potent new immunosuppressive agent has been shown to be effective in allogeneic and xenogeneic experimental models. This study tests DOSP in combination with rabbit anlithymocyte globulin (RA TG) in the hamster-to-rat cardiac xenograft. Results show that combination therapy with DOSP/RA TG was superior to treatment with either agent alone (p > 05). Optimal graft prolongation (20.9 days versus control of 3.1 days, p >. 05) was achieved with combination therapy of RATG and DOSP 2.5 mg/kg day by continuous infusion.
Sanskrit for the Nation

. . . the people of India love and venerate Sanskrit with a feeling which is next only to that of patriotism towards Mother India.Report of the Sanskrit Commission, 1956–57This essay raises the language question in its relationship to the wider problematic of the nationalization of pasts by focusing on the curious and puzzling status accorded to Sanskrit in the nationalization of the Indian past in this century. I use the words ‘curious’ and ‘puzzling’ deliberately, for the Sanskrit issue unsettles many well-entrenched assumptions about language and nationalism that circulate in scholarly circles and popular imagination. Just as crucially, Sanskrit's (mis)adventures in the past century or so, draw our attention to the troubling linguistic turns taken by the nationalization process in India with its disquieting complicity with colonial categories and certitudes. The concerns of this paper have thus been shaped by three related issues pertaining to language, nationalism, and modernity.
The plutonium-zinc system

Abstract That portion of the plutonium-zinc system lying between 65 and 98 at % zinc has been reinvestigated. Metallographic and X-ray diffraction methods were used to examine specimens of each of the four compounds (PuZn2, Pu2Zn9, PuZn8 and Pu2Zn17) found in the system. Alloy specimens were subjected to extended heat treatments at temperatures between 324 and 817° C to elucidate phase relationships at elevated temperatures. The melting points of the two compounds which melt congruently (PuZn2 and Pu2Zn9) were determined.
STCON in Directed Unique-Path Graphs

We study the problem of space-efficient polynomial-time algorithms for {\em directed st-connectivity} (STCON). Given a directed graph $G$, and a pair of vertices $s, t$, the STCON problem is to decide if there exists a path from $s$ to $t$ in $G$. For general graphs, the best polynomial-time algorithm for STCON uses space that is only slightly sublinear. However, for special classes of directed graphs, polynomial-time poly-logarithmic-space algorithms are known for STCON. In this paper, we continue this thread of research and study a class of graphs called \emph{unique-path graphs with respect to source $s$}, where there is at most one simple path from $s$ to any vertex in the graph. For these graphs, we give a polynomial-time algorithm that uses $\tilde O(n^{\varepsilon})$ space for any constant $\varepsilon \in (0,1]$. We also give a polynomial-time, $\tilde O(n^\varepsilon)$-space algorithm to \emph{recognize} unique-path graphs. Unique-path graphs are related to configuration graphs of unambiguous log-space computations, but they can have some directed cycles. Our results may be viewed along the continuum of sublinear-space polynomial-time algorithms for STCON in different classes of directed graphs - from slightly sublinear-space algorithms for general graphs to $O(\log n)$ space algorithms for trees.
White Perceptions of Whether African Americans and Hispanics are Prone to Violence and Support for the Death Penalty

Objective: To explore whether the impact of racial and ethnic pejorative stereotypes and prejudice on White support for the death penalty changes over time. Methods: The data were drawn from the 1990 and 2000 General Social Surveys. This trend analysis included a four-item racial–ethnic prejudice scale and two stereotype or “typification” measures that assessed the extent to which the respondents believed that African Americans and Hispanics were more prone to violence than Whites. Controls were introduced for standard demographic measures and for known covariates of punitiveness, such as conservative political ideology and religious beliefs and involvement. The dependent variable was whether the respondents favored the death penalty for persons convicted of murder. Results: The analyses revealed that racial and ethnic prejudice increases Whites' embrace of capital punishment in both periods of time. By contrast, the negative stereotypes that typify African Americans and Hispanics as prone to violence exe...
Convolution reverse-projection

This paper presents a novel convolutional method called convolution reverse-projection (CRP) for reconstructing objects from their X-ray projections. CRP has a significant edge over the popular convolution back-projection (CBP) method, because it uses a more accurate back-projection method. Reverse-projection avoids the interpolation and compensates for the differences in ray-density in the reconstruction region. >
The Political Economy of Infectious Diseases in Africa: Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) as a Case in Point

Copyright 2016 (in press), IGI Global. This chapter to appear in Social, Economic, and Political Perspectives on Public Health Policy-Making, editors Rahmatollah Gholipour and Khadijeh Rouzbehani.
Statistics Based Detection and Isolation of UEGO Sensor Faults

Stringent emission regulations mandated by California air regulation board (CARB) require monitoring the upstream exhaust gas oxygen (UEGO) sensor for any possible malfunction causing the vehicle emissions to exceed certain thresholds. Six faults have been identified to potentially cause the UEGO sensor performance to deteriorate and potentially lead to instability of the air-fuel ratio (AFR) control loop. These malfunctions are either due to an additional delay or an additional lag in the transition of the sensor response from lean to rich or rich to lean. Current technology detects the faults the same way (approximated by a delay type fault) and does not distinguish between the different faults. In the current paper, a statistics based approach is developed to diagnose these faults. Specifically, the characteristics of a non-normal distribution function are estimated based on the UEGO sensor output and used to detect and isolate the faults. When symmetric operation is detected, a system identification process is employed to estimate the parameters of the dynamic system and determine the type of operation. The proposed algorithm has been demonstrated on real data obtained from both Ford F150 and Mustang V6 vehicles.© 2013 ASME
First-principles opacity table of warm dense deuterium for inertial-confinement-fusion applications

Accurate knowledge of the optical properties of a warm dense deuterium-tritium (DT) mixture is important for reliable design of inertial confinement fusion (ICF) implosions using radiation-hydrodynamics simulations. The opacity of a warm dense DT shell essentially determines how much radiation from hot coronal plasmas can be deposited in the DT fuel of an imploding capsule. Even for the simplest species of hydrogen, the accurate calculation of their opacities remains a challenge in the warm-dense matter regime because strong-coupling and quantum effects play an important role in such plasmas. With quantum-molecular-dynamics (QMD) simulations, we have derived a first-principles opacity table (FPOT) of deuterium (and the DT mixture by mass scaling) for a wide range of densities from ρ(D)=0.5 to 673.518g/cm(3) and temperatures from T=5000K up to the Fermi temperature T(F) for each density. Compared with results from the astrophysics opacity table (AOT) currently used in our hydrocodes, the FPOT of deuterium from our QMD calculations has shown a significant increase in opacity for strongly coupled and degenerate plasma conditions by a factor of 3-100 in the ICF-relevant photon-energy range. As conditions approach those of classical plasma, the opacity from the FPOT converges to the corresponding values of the AOT. By implementing the FPOT of deuterium and the DT mixture into our hydrocodes, we have performed radiation-hydrodynamics simulations for low-adiabat cryogenic DT implosions on the OMEGA laser and for direct-drive-ignition designs for the National Ignition Facility. The simulation results using the FPOT show that the target performance (in terms of neutron yield and energy gain) could vary from ∼10% up to a factor of ∼2 depending on the adiabat of the imploding DT capsule; the lower the adiabat, the more variation is seen in the prediction of target performance when compared to the AOT modeling.
Cost-Effectiveness of Electrocardiography vs. Electrocardiography Plus Limited Echocardiography to Diagnose LVH in Young, Newly Identified, Hypertensives

BACKGROUND In the United States, screening for left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in a newly diagnosed hypertensive patient is typically performed using electrocardiography (ECG). Echocardiography (echo) is a more accurate but also more expensive procedure. However, the introduction of limited echo within the past decade has made sonographic imaging of the heart less expensive and more available for routine screening. METHODS The cost per additional correct diagnosis of LVH for ECG vs. ECG plus limited echo (with limited echo utilized in patients without ECG evidence of LVH) was analyzed using decision analytic modeling. A structured literature search was used to parameterize model probabilities, and costs are based on the 2008 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. The study population consisted of black and white cohorts ~50 years of age with new diagnosis of hypertension. Outcomes included short-term results of LVH screening and diagnosis, and the study perspective was health system. RESULTS Base-case results indicate each additional correct LVH diagnosis by ECG plus limited echocardiography instead of ECG cost $655 in the black cohort and $829 in the white cohort. Results in both cohorts were most sensitive to the cost of echocardiography. Simulation-generated cost-effectiveness acceptability curves demonstrated costs per additional correct diagnosis have a 90% likelihood of being below $993 and $1,420 in the black and white cohorts, respectively. CONCLUSIONS LVH detection by ECG plus limited echocardiography may be an economically feasible alternative to ECG due to increased accuracy. However, final recommendations require analysis of long-term effects on morbidity, mortality, quality of life, and subsequent treatment costs between the diagnostic approaches.
Numerical Research on Impact of Air Exhausting between Stages on Performance and Flow-field of Multistage Axial Compressor

Taking some generating multistage axial compressor as a research object and using 3D numerical simulating method for comparing air exhausting compressor and none air exhausting compressor,impact on overall performance of the compressor and flow-field of the blade grid was studied.Results indicated that air exhausting between stages had larger impact on overall performance of the whole compressor and second half of upstream blade grid of the air exhausting opening especial the area close to compressor casing.It was found that high speed area size of blade grid entrance was obviously increasing and integral pressure of S1 flow surface of downstream blade grid casing was decreasing.In addition,low pressure area of upstream blade grid was obviously decreasing and low pressure size was increasing as well.
A Helix-Stabilizing Linker Improves Subcutaneous Bioavailability of a Helical Peptide Independent of Linker Lipophilicity

Stabilized peptides address several limitations to peptide-based imaging agents and therapeutics such as poor stability and low affinity due to conformational flexibility. There is also active research in developing these compounds for intracellular drug targeting, and significant efforts have been invested to determine the effects of helix stabilization on intracellular delivery. However, much less is known about the impact on other pharmacokinetic parameters such as plasma clearance and bioavailability. We investigated the effect of different fluorescent helix-stabilizing linkers with varying lipophilicity on subcutaneous (sc) bioavailability using the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor ligand exendin as a model system. The stabilized peptides showed significantly higher protease resistance and increased bioavailability independent of linker hydrophilicity, and all subcutaneously delivered conjugates were able to successfully target the islets of Langerhans with high specificity. The lipophilic peptide variants had slower absorption and plasma clearance than their respective hydrophilic conjugates, and the absolute bioavailability was also lower likely due to the longer residence times in the skin. Their ease and efficiency make double-click helix stabilization chemistries a useful tool for increasing the bioavailability of peptide therapeutics, many of which suffer from rapid in vivo protease degradation. Helix stabilization using linkers of varying lipophilicity can further control sc absorption and clearance rates to customize plasma pharmacokinetics.
An Introduction to Disaggregate Demand Modeling in the Transportation Field

This chapter discusses disaggregate demand modeling in the transportation field. In specifying a model, one must decide the attributes that are going to be used, the number of parameters that one is to estimate, and the functional way in which attributes and parameters are combined in the choice function. The following four features should be carefully considered when selecting attributes: (1) availability, (2) statistical fit, (3) reasonableness, and (4) relevance. An attribute should be available as a part of the data in both the calibration and the prediction stage as otherwise such stages cannot be carried out. It should be noted, though, that an attribute that is not forecastable for certain problems may be forecastable in other instances. The reasonableness is a variable that should be considered for inclusion in the model only if there is some strong a priori feeling that there is some cause-and-effect relationship between such variable and the choice probability. The statistical fit feature includes the standard statistical properties that one likes to see after the model is calibrated. The relevance suggests a reason for including an attribute in the model. As the purpose of demand modeling is to assess the consequences (effects) of certain actions (causes), it seems desirable to include in the model variables that describe the actions.
The use of cell-free systems to characterize parkinson's disease-related gene products

Publisher Summary This chapter examines use of cell-free systems to characterize Parkinson's disease-related gene products. Findings of using cell-free systems on two extensively studied proteins, α-synuclein and DJ-1 are also presented. A cell-free system or test-tube model is defined as any experimental setup involving the characterization of structural and functional properties of a purified protein. Cell-free systems are used to examine the impact of phosphorylation and C-terminal truncation on α-synuclein self-assembly. The first two sections of the chapter focus on α-synuclein and DJ-1, two PD-related gene products. The chapter concludes with a discussion of advantages and disadvantages of cell-free systems for PD research and how these models can be improved to become more predictive of pathogenic mechanisms in vivo. The examples outlined in the chapter demonstrate that cell-free systems play an essential role in PD research and without these systems, it would be difficult to characterize protofibrils on the α-synuclein self-assembly pathway.
The Problematics of Magic on the Threshold of Fairy Tale Magic: Straparola’s Early Modern Pleasant Nights

Giovan Francesco Straparola’s Piacevoli Notti (The Pleasant Nights) holds surprises when it comes to magic. The kinds of magic that Straparola introduced into his 1550s tale collection, the ways in which he did so, and his apparent attitudes toward magic are unanticipated, as is the disjunction between Straparola’s magic and that documented in studies of contemporary popular magic.1
Effective index tuning in micro-opto-mechanical structures using gradient electric forces

We demonstrate a new device architecture enabling large effective index tuning in a highly-evanescent waveguide interacting with a suspended microbridge. Using gradient electric forces, we actuate the microbridge to induce dynamic phase shifts Δφ>π at low electrical power.
A Contributorn Monte Carlo Method

A Contribution Monte Carlo method is developed and successfully applied to a sample deep-penetration shielding problem. The random walk is simulated in most of its parts as in conventional Monte Carlo methods. The probability density functions (pdf's) are expressed in terms of spherical harmonics and are continuous functions in direction cosine and azimuthal angle variables as well as in position coordinates; the energy is discretized in the multigroup approximation. The transport pdf is an unusual exponential kernel strongly dependent on the incident and emergent directions and energies and on the position of the collision site. The method produces the same results obtained with the deterministic method with a very small standard deviation, with as little as 1,000 Contribution particles in both analog and nonabsorption biasing modes and with only a few minutes CPU time.
Flow Cytometry Based Chimerism Analysis Can Predict Graft Rejection in Pediatric Patients Receiving HLA Mismatched Stem Cell Transplantation

Abstract Abstract 4156 Graft failure is a life-threatening complication after allogeneic stem cell transplantation and its probability increases with the degree of HLA disparity between donor and recipient. In HLA-mismatched transplantation, specific T cells against mismatched HLA class I alleles were shown to be associated with rejection. Moreover, HLA mismatches allow to monitor the chimerism status of several cell populations by flow cytometry with specific monoclonal antibodies against HLA alleles with high sensitivity even in very low cell numbers. We report our experience with this method in a cohort of 90 pediatric patients who received T and B cell depleted haploidentical stem cells after myeloablative conditioning regimens. Diagnoses were: leukemias n=43, solid tumors n=28, non malignant diseases n=19. Graft manipulation was carried out by magnetic microbeads and the clinimacsO device with 4 to 5 log depletion efficacy. Conditioning regimens were TBI, Bu or Mel based and comprised ATG or OKT3. Immunosuppression with mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) was given in most patients (if donor T cells in the graft exceeded 25.000/kg body weight) Flow cytometry with HLA antibodies for detection of chimerism status of T and NK cell subsets in peripheral blood was started at day 0 and was repeated at least weekly. 14 out of 90 patients (15%) rejected the graft between day 19 and 86 (median day 33). Two different rejection patterns were observed: early rejections (diagnosis of rejection, day 19–40, median day 28) with cytokine release syndrome including high fever, massive elevation of CRP, ferritin, LDH and D-Dimers or late rejections without signs of inflammation (diagnosis of rejection, day 53–86). In all patients, residual T cells of recipient origin were still detectable after the conditioning procedure. The portion of residual recipient T cells within the first week (day 0–7) was predictive: Non-rejectors had a median percentage of 46+-5% recipient T cells detectable (n=42 analyses) whereas rejectors showed a significant higher percentage (85+-7%, n=13 analyses, p 60% detectable recipient T cells was 41% (12 out of 29 rejected), whereas patients with Conclusions: Flow cytometry with specific monoclonal antibodies against HLA alleles allows to analyze the origin of lymphocyte subsets and their kinetics after HLA mismatched transplantation with high sensitivity even in very low cell numbers. The percentage of residual recipient T cells in the first week posttransplant was predictive, since patients with >60% detectable recipient T cells had a significantly higher risk to experience graft rejection. In all cases, rejection was associated with increasing recipient T cells. Intervention with DLI and cessation of immune suppression may contribute to prevent rejection. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Electron transfer and radical forming reactions of methane monooxygenase.

Dioxygen is a unique reagent for biological systems being at once thermodynamically reactive and kinetically stable. Life in a sea of oxygen is possible because oxygenase and oxidase enzymes have evolved that allow the inherent reactivity of dioxygen to be realized in a controlled manner that maintains specificity. Monooxygenases are a class of such enzymes that catalyze the activation of dioxygen through reductive cleavage of the OoO bond with the incorporation of one oxygen atom into the product and the release of the second as water. Numerous mechanistic strategies are used within the monooxygenase family, but a cofactor of some type is generally required to facilitate the binding and reduction of dioxygen. Typically, hemes, metal ions, flavins, pterins, and similar redox active species are bound by the enzyme and perform this function. The cofactor selected depends to some extent on the type of
Using Narrative Therapy With Low-Income Middle School Students: A Model for School Counselors

The physical, emotional, and cognitive changes incurred during adolescence coupled with heightened anxiety levels and social issues associated with attending middle school can be challenging for yo...
Descending Neurons in Drosophila: Bridging the Gap between Vision and Action.

Each time we move our eyes or rotate our head, the whole visual field moves across our retinas. Such optic flow stimuli are contingent on the course of our movements and thus can be used to monitor self-movements. Many animals with image-forming eyes, from Drosophila to humans, seem to use optic
The Movement of Water Across Vasopressin-Sensitive Epithelia

Publisher Summary This chapter presents the evidence for the pore enlargement hypothesis and reviews the recent studies that provide a basis for an alternative view of water movement across vasopressin-sensitive epithelia and cell membranes in general. It was proposed that vasopressin enlarges pores in the membrane—permitting an increase of Poiseuille flow—with only a small accompanying increase in the diffusion rate of labeled water. Extraneous layers of a vasopressin-sensitive epithelium—the urinary bladder of the toad—retard the diffusion rate of tritiated water to a significant extent. When this retarding effect is taken into account, a number of conclusions can be drawn about the effects of vasopressin on the structure of the luminal membrane of the epithelial cell. First, the diffusion rate of water increases dramatically following vasopressin, possibly enough to account fully for the increase in water flow. Second, the activation energy for diffusion remains high following hormone treatment. This indicates that water is moving through the membrane in a highly bonded state and that there may be no change in the physical properties of the aqueous pathway. Finally, it cannot be said with certainty whether the membrane sites are channels or simply points in the membrane through which individual water molecules can move.
Phylogeography of direct-developing sea stars in the genus Leptasterias in relation to San Francisco Bay outflow in central California

Genetic structure in the marine environment can show patterns consistent with expectations of life history, geography, and ocean circulation. Organisms with direct development often have low dispersal rates and high potential for local adaptation. Leptasterias is a genus of six-rayed sea stars with direct development and multiple clades forming cryptic species complexes on the eastern Pacific coast. The L. aequalis complex is comprised of several clades found on the central California coast in intertidal and subtidal habitats. Using DNA sequence data from portions of the mitochondrial putative control region and 16S, we show here that a previously undescribed and genetically distinct lineage of Leptasterias inhabits intertidal sites in close proximity to the San Francisco Bay estuary, while geographically separated yet genetically similar clades are located to the north and south. The San Francisco Bay estuary might act as a phylogeographic barrier to dispersal and localized environmental features of San Francisco Bay outflow might shape opportunities for differentiation by further partitioning Leptasterias populations.
Glia put visual map in sync

Watching a fireworks display is a breathtaking experience. As explosions pattern the sky, the visual system must capture information about the time-varying positions, colors, and contrasts of myriad spots of light. This testament to high-acuity vision necessitates the development of neural circuits that map visual space. To generate this retinotopy (visual mapping), neurons must differentiate and connect to their synaptic targets with both spatial and temporal precision. How is this achieved? The molecules that regulate neuronal differentiation have been described in detail, as have the cues that allow differentiated neurons to reach and choose their synaptic partners ( 1 , 2 ). However, the mechanisms that coordinate neuronal specification with the development of retinotopic circuit wiring have remained elusive. On page 886 of this issue, Fernandes et al. ( 3 ) demonstrate that in the visual system of flies ( Drosophila melanogaster ), photoreceptors use glial cells as intermediaries to communicate with their neural targets to generate retinotopic circuits.
Heterogeneity of studies in anesthesiology systematic reviews: a meta-epidemiological review and proposal for evidence mapping.

Abstract Heterogeneity among the primary studies included in a systematic review (SR) is one of the most challenging considerations for systematic reviewers. Current practices in anaesthesiology SRs have not been evaluated, but traditional methods may not provide sufficient information to evaluate the true nature of these differences. We address these issues by examining the practices for evaluating heterogeneity in anesthesiology reviews. Also, we propose a mapping method for presenting heterogeneous aspects of the primary studies in SRs. We evaluated heterogeneity practices reported in SRs published in highly ranked anesthesiology journals and Cochrane reviews. Elements extracted from the SRs included heterogeneity tests, models used, analyses conducted, plots used, and I2 values. Additionally, we selected a SR to develop an evidence map in order to display clinical heterogeneity. Our statistical analysis showed 150/207 SRs reporting a test for statistical heterogeneity. Plots were used in 138 reviews to display heterogeneity. Subgroup analyses were the most commonly reported analysis (54%). Meta-regression and sensitivity analyses were used sparingly (25%; 23% respectively). A random effects model was most commonly reported (33%). Heterogeneity statistics across meta-analyses suggested that, in our sample, the majority (55%) did not present sufficient heterogeneity to be of great concern. Cochrane reviews (n=58) were also analysed. Plots were used in 88% of Cochrane reviews. Subgroup analysis was used in 59% Cochrane reviews, while sensitivity analysis was used in 62%. Many reviews did not provide sufficient detail regarding heterogeneity. We are calling for improvement to reporting practices.
Peri-Operative Infection Control in Maxillofacial Surgery

Healthcare-associated infections are a major preventable cause of significant morbidity of patients receiving care in a healthcare facility. These include surgical site infections, central line-associated bloodstream infections, ventilator-associated pneumonia, and catheter line-associated urinary tract infections. This chapter will discuss concepts in the prevention and management of these infections. There will be focused discussion on antibiotic prophylaxis for specific oral and maxillofacial surgery procedures.
Fundamental study on the wetting property of liquid lithium

Abstract The wetting behavior of molten liquid lithium is important to many fields of applications, especially to the Li-matrix composite anodes for batteries. Although changing the wettability of matrices has been previously shown through surface-coating, the selection criteria for suitable coating materials and optimal coating thickness and the mechanism of wettability improvement still remain unclear. Here, we study the effects of temperature, surface chemistry and surface topography on the wettability of substrates by molten liquid lithium. We summarize the following guiding principles: 1) Higher temperature decreases the viscosity of molten liquid lithium and produces smaller contact angle. 2) The wettability can be improved by coating the substrates with Li-reactive materials. The negative Gibbs free energy drives the wetting thermodynamically. The solid reaction product (Li2O) can cause kinetic barriers to wet. The contact angle decreases along with the increase of Li-reactive materials’ coating thickness since more materials give more negative Gibbs free energy. Among all the coating materials, gold shows the best wettability due to the large negative Gibbs free energy released by the Li-Au reaction thus providing a strong driving force, and the lack of solid product (Li2O) formation thus avoiding any spreading resistance of liquid lithium. 3) Substrate morphology also affects the wetting behavior of molten lithium, in way similar to water wetting. Surface roughness can increase drastically the lithiophobicity, resulting in super lithiophobic surface. These findings provide important insights in the design of Li-matrix composites and open up new opportunities for the practical application of lithium.
Abstract 5145: PAH-metabolizing microorganism in the oral cavity of smokers

Certain soil microorganisms have been identified as being not only resistant to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) but also capable of metabolizing these compounds. We hypothesized that a subset of oral bacteria may be enriched by the altered oral environment of the tobacco smoker with relatively high levels of PAHs. We identified microorganisms that survived long term in minimal media with PAH as the sole carbon source and showed they were much more likely to be isolated from smokers. To start to determine their contribution to oral health, we measured their level in vivo on two mucosal surfaces. On both gingival and lateral border of the tongue mucosa, a group of bacteria were seen to be at lower relative numbers in those exposed to cigarette smoke, while a minority increased. Three taxons were shown to be enriched on gingiva on the family, Streptococcaceae, or genus level, Staphylococcus and Granulicatella. On tongue, genera Mogibacterium and Dialister were enriched. Of bacteria genera that survived harsh PAH exposure in vitro, one was found at substantial levels in the oral mucosal microbiome. Staphylococcus was enriched approximately 6x in smokers, suggesting that the reason for its increase in smokers is due to its resistance to PAH. We will report on this and other oral microbes that can metabolize PAHs. This study highlights the possibility that the oral microbiome can metabolize PAHs like those in cigarette smoke, resulting in carcinogenic products that may contribute to the cancer process in vivo. Citation Format: Guy R. Adami, Lin Tao, Sylvia Pavlova, Stefan J. Green, Ankur Naqib, Benjamin Salameh, Jessica L. Tang, Joel L. Schwartz. PAH-metabolizing microorganism in the oral cavity of smokers [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 5145.
High Thoughput, High Content Tissue Cyotometry

The study of pathogenesis of many diseases requires quantification of cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix interactions on the tissue level. A particularly promising assay technology is high throughput multiphoton tissue cytometry. This technique is based on mulitphoton microscopy (MPM) allowing minimally invasive 3D resolved imaging deep inside tissues. MPM not only can provide tissue and cellular morphological information but can also provide genetic (via fluorescence in situ hybridization), proteomic (via antibody labeling) and biochemical (via fluorescence spectroscopy with appropriate biochemical probes) information. A major limitation of microscopy is its relatively low speed and only a small tissue volume can be assayed greatly limiting statistical power of the assay. We have developed 3D tissue cytometry based on high speed MPM imaging by producing and simultaneously scanning multiple two-photon excitation foci simultaneously. This approach parallelizes the raster scanning process by acquiring data over multiple regions in the specimen. The advantage of this method is that the imaging speed is enhanced by the degree of parallelization but the pixel dwell time can in principle remain the same as in the conventional multiphoton microscope preserving image signal to noise ratio. An implementation is shown in Figure 1. A lenslet array (MLA) is used to produce an array of foci from the laser (Ti-Sap) and the beam expander (T). The excitation beamlet is send to the objective (OL) via a dichoric mirror (DCM1) and galvanometric scanner (GSM). The GSM provides lateral raster scanning while the axial translation is achieved with a piezo-positioner (ZP). Specimen is placed on a 3D translation stage (TS).
The frizzled/stan pathway and planar cell polarity in the Drosophila wing.

Drosophila has been the key model system for studies on planar cell polarity (PCP). The rich morphology of the insect exoskeleton contains many structures that display PCP. Among these are the trichomes (cuticular hairs) that cover much of the exoskeleton, sensory bristles, and ommatidia. Many genes have been identified that must function for the development of normal PCP. Among these are the genes that comprise the frizzled/starry night (fz/stan) and dachsous/fat pathways. The mechanisms that underlie the function of the fz/stan pathway are best understood. All of the protein products of these genes accumulate asymmetrically in wing cells and there is good evidence that this involves local intercellular signaling between protein complexes on the distal edge of one cell and the juxtaposed proximal edge of its neighbor. It is thought that a feedback system, directed transport, and stabilizing protein–protein interactions mediate the formation of distal and proximal protein complexes. These complexes appear to recruit downstream proteins that function to spatially restrict the activation of the cytoskeleton in wing cells. This leads to the formation of the array of distally pointing hairs found on wings.
THE ROLE OF BLOOD VISCOSITY IN RAT HYPERTENSION

A capillary viscosimeter employing a 48 μm diameter test section and a novel method for measuring small flow rates was used to determine apparent whole blood viscosities of normotensive (NT) Wistar-Kyoto rats and their hypertensive (HT) substrain, the Spontaneously Hypertensive rat. Based on our current data set taken over flow rates ranging from 2.0 nl/s to 22.0 nl/s, apparent viscosity for HT rats ranged from 6.26 to 2.39 cp and for NT rats from 3.60 to 2.28 cp. At the physiologically normal flow rate for vessels of this size, 10 nl/s, HT viscosity is 3.51 cp while that of NT rats is 2.67 cp. The ratio of NT to HT whole blood viscosity is 0.75, whereas the ratio of mean systolic blood pressures for the same rat strains is 0.76. Thus, the increased blood viscosity in HT rats can account for virtually the entire elevation of blood pressure. Therefore, hyperviscosity is a major contributing factor, if not the direct causal agent, of hypertension in these animals.
Say it With Numbers

The evolution of numbers in Western society is summarized in a brief introduction. The first index (MTI or S) devised by the author is examined, with descriptions of its utility for the prediction of alkane boiling points. The four matrix expressions — determinant, permanent, hafnian, and pfaffian — are next portrayed, with summaries of their utilities in QSPR studies of alkanes, alkenes, and heteroatom systems. A new route to molecular topological indices, linear filtration, is also explained and illustrated.
Identification of epistatic interactions between the human RNA demethylases FTO and ALKBH5 with gene set enrichment analysis informed by differential methylation

The Genetic Analysis Workshop (GAW) presents an opportunity to collaboratively evaluate methodology relevant to current issues in genetic epidemiology. The GAW20 data combine real clinical trial data with fictitious epigenetic drug response endpoints. Considering the evidence suggesting that networks of interactions between many genes underlie complex phenotypes, we utilize differential methylation status to identify a relevant gene set for enrichment analysis and use this to infer potential biological function underlying drug response. We highlight the pertinence of considering the potential for widespread epistatic interactions in the absence of main effects, and present evidence of epistasis between single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on the two RNA demethylases FTO and ALKBH5.
Anomaly Detection for Power System Generation Control based on Hierarchical DBSCAN

The generation level of a generator in power grid is under control of multiple control loops such as governor action, Automatic Generation Control (AGC), and manual control. These control loops are vulnerable to cyber attacks and could become potential targets for the malicious adversary. In this paper, we investigated the detection of abnormal generation controls induced by cyber attacks. One data-driven anomaly detection methodology is presented based on the behavior conformity of generation units located in the same balancing authority. A semi-supervised clustering algorithm with Hierarchical Density based Spatial Clustering of Application with Noise (HDBSCAN) is proposed for the detection model training. In our previous work, we obtained a synthetic dataset that covers scenarios including normal operation, generation control under ramp attack, switching attack, AGC integrity attacks, etc. and it is used to evaluate the proposed clustering algorithm. Experimental results show that the proposed algorithm provides better detection accuracy than K-means clustering and can distinguish not only between normal and abnormal generation controls but also among various anomaly scenarios.
Novel PIKK inhibitor antibody-drug conjugates: Synthesis and anti-tumor activity

Abstract Novel neolymphostin-based antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) precursors were synthesized either through amide couplings between both cleavable and non-cleavable linkers and neolymphostin derivatives, or through Cu(I)-catalyzed acetylene-azide click cycloadditon between non-cleavable linkers and neolymphostin acetal derivatives. These precursors were site-specifically conjugated to cysteine mutant trastuzumab-A114C to provide neolymphostin-based ADCs. Preliminary in vitro data indicated that the corresponding ADCs were active against HER2-expressing tumor cell lines, thus providing a proof-of-concept for using neolymphostin as ADC-based anticancer agents.
Abdominal Wall Pain: A Common Clinical Problem.

Abstract Abdominal wall pain (AWP) is a common and underrecognized cause of chronic abdominal pain. The etiology of AWP varies. History and physical examination are critical to an accurate diagnosis of AWP. Trigger point injection using either a corticosteroid, a local anesthetic, or a combination of both often gives relief of pain and is of diagnostic and therapeutic value. Increased awareness of AWP as a cause of chronic, nonvisceral abdominal pain can prevent fruitless searches for intra-abdominal pathology and reduce medical costs.
Optimization of Pulmonary Vasculature Tridimensional Phenotyping in The Rat Fetus.

Comparative, functional, developmental, and some morphological studies on animal anatomy require accurate visualization of three-dimensional structures. Nowadays, several widely applicable methods exist for non-destructive whole-mount imaging of animal tissues. The purpose of this study was to optimize specimen preparation and develop a method for quantitative analysis of the total pulmonary vasculature in fetal rats. Tissues were harvested at E21 and fetuses fixed overnight in 4% paraformaldehyde/phosphate buffered saline. They were treated with 25% Lugol solution for 72 hours to ensure perfusion. Four different methods were used for fetal specimen preparation; isolated lung, upper torso, direct right ventricle contrast injection, and whole body with partial thoracic skin excision. The microCT scan was performed, and pulmonary vasculature was segmented. Vessels were analyzed for diameter, length, and branching. Of the four preparation methods, only whole body with partial thoracic skin excision resulted in adequate reconstruction of the pulmonary vasculature. In silico generated 3D images gathered by micro CT showed pulmonary vasculature distributed throughout the lung, which was representative of the shape and structure of the lungs. The mean number of vessels segmented in the pulmonary tree was 900 ± 24 with a mean diameter of 134.13 µm (range 40.72–265.69 µm). While up to the 30th generation of vessels could be segmented, both for arteries and veins, the majority of branching was between the 21st and 30th generations. Passive diffusion of contrast material enables quantitative analysis of the fetal pulmonary vasculature. This technique is a useful tool to analyze the characteristics and quantify the fetal pulmonary vasculature.
Coding Pedagogy for the Liberal Arts: An Online Publication

Professors across various disciplines in the liberal arts increasingly find themselves incorporating programming into their classes. Examples include media professors teaching web design and video game development, art professors teaching Processing, and statistics and political science professors teaching R. In order to help meet the professional development needs of this group, an online publication published in late fall 2018 covers both the general trends related to coding across the liberal arts disciplines, as well as specific pedagogical strategies and assignments related primarily to media production. Specifically, the chapters are: 1) an overview of the use of coding within media departments nationwide; 2) a literature review and analysis of coding pedagogical discourse as it relates to the liberal arts; 3) a discussion of why journalism and media students need to know coding; and six case studies: 4) mobile app creation; 5) p5.js; 6) HTML/CSS 7) interactive documentaries; 8) data visualizations; 9) video games. This book takes an innovative trajectory by never being entirely complete. Authors may submit additional chapters for consideration at anytime with the goal of creating a large repository of coding pedagogy strategies for professors teaching programming outside of traditional Computer Science (and hopefully, Computer Science professors may find this source useful as well). This poster showcases some of the content of the online publication and invites new authors to consider submitting-after discussion with the editor who will be available at the poster session.
A New Formal Analysis of AOR

This chapter develops a new formal analysis of N modifiers by critically reviewing Cinque’s (The syntax of adjectives. A comparative study. MIT Press, Cambridge, MA, 2010), Larson’s (Events and modification in nominals. In: Proceedings from semantics and linguistic theory (SALT) VIII, 145–168, 1998, Temporal modification in nominals. Paper presented at The International Roundtable on the Syntax of Tense. University of Paris VII, France, 2000), Svenonius’ (Adjectives and adverbs: syntax, semantics, and discourse, pp 16–42. Oxford University Press, New York, 2008), and Laenzlinger’s (Lingua 115:645–689, 2005) works on the subject and then incorporating their insights into a new cartographic framework. The new analysis postulates three sub-fields inside a full-fledged DP based on the way different kinds of RCs are distributed across nominal space. It also suggests that all functional elements merge low though they may later raise to a higher region to “pronounce” relevant functional projections in accordance with what I call the Principle of Economy of Lexical Insertion (or PELI). I also propose a new typology of RCs. After this, I show how the proposed system yields desirable results for data drawn from English, Spanish, Italian, and French which contain different kinds of N modifiers as well as focused/unfocused DEMs and/or definite/indefinite articles.
Rchimerism: An R Package for Automated Chimerism Data Analysis

A quantitative chimerism test monitors engraftment of donor hematopoietic stem cells or relapse of leukemias or lymphomas in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation patients. The most common method used for chimerism testing is PCR amplification of short tandem repeat loci, followed by capillary gel electrophoresis. Manual data analysis is tedious and time consuming, as it involves the selection of informative loci and the repetition of quantifying chimerism percentage for multiple loci from multiple cell types. It is also susceptible to human errors. Currently, there is no free software to fully automate chimerism data analysis. Rchimerism, an R shiny package, was developed to automatically pick informative loci, calculate chimerism percentage, and display the results through a user-friendly interface. The accuracy of the program was compared with manual calculation on 60 patient samples with 100% concordance. Compared with manual calculation, Rchimerism drastically reduces analysis time from 20 to 40 minutes for single donor transplantation samples and from 40 to 80 minutes for double donor transplantation samples to >1 minute. Rchimerism can be downloaded and used freely by noncommercial laboratories.