cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Computational Fluid Dynamics Studies of a Flow Reactor: Free Energies of Clusters of Sulfuric Acid with NH3 or Dimethyl Amine

Computational fluid dynamics simulations of a flow reactor provided 3D spatial distributions of its temperature and flow profiles and abundances of sulfuric acid, nitrogeneous base, and the acid–base clusters formed from them. Clusters were simulated via their kinetic formation and decomposition involving sulfuric acid and base molecules. Temperature and flow profiles and the base and sulfuric acid distributions are characterized and the latter is compared to mass spectrometer measurements. Concentrations of simulated clusters of sulfuric acid with either NH3 or dimethylamine were compared to experimentally measured particle concentrations. Cluster thermodynamics were adjusted to better the agreement between simulated and experimental results. Free energies of acid–base clusters derived here are also compared to recent quantum chemistry calculations. Sensitivities to the thermodynamics were explored with a 2D laminar flow simulation and the abundance of large clusters was most sensitive to the thermodynam...
The impact of dietary regimen compliance on outcomes for head and neck cancer patients treated with definitive radiation therapy.

e17100 Background: We have initiated a nutritional program where all patients treated with definitive radiation therapy are evaluated and closely followed by a registered oncologic dietitian. In this report, we analyze nutritional factors and compliance with dietary recommendations as related to overall survival (OS) and progression free survival (PFS). Methods: We identified 352 patients with non-metastatic oropharyngeal (206) and laryngeal (146) cancer who were treated with definitive RT between 2004-2013. Individual patient data including compliance with nutritional program were tabulated. Adherence to the nutritional program was scored weekly and patients were deemed non-compliant with nutritional program if they cancelled > 25% of their appointments with the dietitian, refused nutritional counseling or did not follow recommendations. Descriptive analyses, logrank test and Cox regression model was fitted to examine predictors of OS and PFS. Results: The median follow-up was 22.86 (0.56-116) months. Th...
Negativity and Positivity Biases in Economic News Coverage: Traditional Versus Social Media:

Past work suggests that the priorities for information propagation in social media may be markedly different from the priorities for news selection in traditional media outlets. We explore this pos...
Stability of ARDS subphenotypes over time in two randomised controlled trials.

Rationale Two distinct acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) subphenotypes have been identified using data obtained at time of enrolment in clinical trials; it remains unknown if these subphenotypes are durable over time. Objective To determine the stability of ARDS subphenotypes over time. Methods Secondary analysis of data from two randomised controlled trials in ARDS, the ARMA trial of lung protective ventilation (n=473; patients randomised to low tidal volumes only) and the ALVEOLI trial of low versus high positive end-expiratory pressure (n=549). Latent class analysis (LCA) and latent transition analysis (LTA) were applied to data from day 0 and day 3, independent of clinical outcomes. Measurements and main results In ALVEOLI, LCA indicated strong evidence of two ARDS latent classes at days 0 and 3; in ARMA, evidence of two classes was stronger at day 0 than at day 3. The clinical and biological features of these two classes were similar to those in our prior work and were largely stable over time, though class 2 demonstrated evidence of progressive organ failures by day 3, compared with class 1. In both LCA and LTA models, the majority of patients (>94%) stayed in the same class from day 0 to day 3. Clinical outcomes were statistically significantly worse in class 2 than class 1 and were more strongly associated with day 3 class assignment. Conclusions ARDS subphenotypes are largely stable over the first 3 days of enrolment in two ARDS Network trials, suggesting that subphenotype identification may be feasible in the context of clinical trials.
Continuous PTH in Male Mice Causes Bone Loss Because It Induces Serum Amyloid A

Increased bone resorption is considered to explain why intermittent PTH is anabolic for bone but continuous PTH is catabolic. However, when cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2) is absent in mice, continuous PTH becomes anabolic without decreased resorption. In murine bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs), serum amyloid A (SAA)3, induced in the hematopoietic lineage by the combination of COX2-produced prostaglandin and receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand (RANKL), suppresses PTH-stimulated osteoblast differentiation. To determine whether SAA3 inhibits the anabolic effects of PTH in vivo, wild-type (WT) and SAA3 knockout (KO) mice were infused with PTH. In WT mice, continuous PTH induced SAA3 and was catabolic for bone. In KO mice, PTH was anabolic, increasing trabecular bone, serum markers of bone formation, and osteogenic gene expression. In contrast, PTH increased all measurements associated with bone resorption, as well as COX2 gene expression, similarly in KO and WT mice. SAA1 and SAA2 in humans are likely to have analogous functions to SAA3 in mice. RANKL induced both SAA1 and SAA2 in human bone marrow macrophages in a COX2-dependent manner. PTH stimulated osteogenesis in human BMSCs only when COX2 or RANKL was inhibited. Addition of recombinant SAA1 or SAA2 blocked PTH-stimulated osteogenesis. In summary, SAA3 suppresses the bone formation responses but not the bone resorption responses to PTH in mice, and in the absence of SAA3, continuous PTH is anabolic. In vitro studies in human bone marrow suggest that SAA may be a target for enhancing the therapeutic effects of PTH in treating osteoporosis.
Finding associated variants in genome-wide association studies on multiple traits.

Motivation Many variants identified by genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have been found to affect multiple traits, either directly or through shared pathways. There is currently a wealth of GWAS data collected in numerous phenotypes, and analyzing multiple traits at once can increase power to detect shared variant effects. However, traditional meta-analysis methods are not suitable for combining studies on different traits. When applied to dissimilar studies, these meta-analysis methods can be underpowered compared to univariate analysis. The degree to which traits share variant effects is often not known, and the vast majority of GWAS meta-analysis only consider one trait at a time. Results Here, we present a flexible method for finding associated variants from GWAS summary statistics for multiple traits. Our method estimates the degree of shared effects between traits from the data. Using simulations, we show that our method properly controls the false positive rate and increases power when an effect is present in a subset of traits. We then apply our method to the North Finland Birth Cohort and UK Biobank datasets using a variety of metabolic traits and discover novel loci. Availability and implementation Our source code is available at https://github.com/lgai/CONFIT. Supplementary information Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Equilibria Involving Solutions and Gaseous Mixtures

In this chapter we discuss the equilibrium relations in systems with phases of variable compositions. It includes derivation and applications of the Gibbs Phase Rule and Duhem’s theorem, equilibrium constant of a chemical reaction followed by solid-gas and homogeneous gas speciation reactions with applications to petrological and planetary problems, nebular condensation, oxidation states of terrestrial and planetary systems, melting and crystallization in petrologically important systems, pressure dependence of eutectic condition with application to core formation in the Earth, retrieval of activity coefficients from phase equilibrium data, calculation of equilibrium abundance and composition of phases in natural systems by minimization of appropriate thermodynamic potentials.
Mathematical Models for Aversive Conditioning

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses some mathematical models for aversive conditioning, such as two-operator linear model, discrete performance-level Markov model, and general Markov model. It focuses on a number of sets of response sequences from avoidance conditioning experiments that generated a hundred or more sequences to assess the commutativity and other sequential properties of the two-operator model. It also presents data that indicate that the two-operator linear model is an inadequate approximation to active avoidance conditioning and choice reversal in a shock escape T-maze. The general Markov model that requires discrete changes in performance has been shown to provide a reasonable description of the avoidance conditioning process in a large number of studies using rats as subjects. Interpretation of the discrete performance model in terms of short-term and long-term memory processes has been proven fruitful because predictions that follow from the memory interpretation have been supported when experimental variables identified with the model's parameters were manipulated. The discrete performance-level Markov model does not require stationarity of either the intermediate response probabilities or response latencies between the first avoidance and last error. The chapter also reviews the development of these mathematical models for avoidance conditioning providing some preliminary terminological and notational considerations.
Environmental Federalism in a Global Economy

Once upon a time, several kingdoms decided to end their trade wars. They created a centralized rulemaker with the authority to legislate against interference with trade. Over time, however, this power greatly expanded, partly because of creative judicial interpretations. By the end of the 1900s, the rulemaker was heavily involved in environmental regulation. Environmentalists applauded this expansion, while economists worried about excessive centralization. In the meantime, the rulemaker's judicial counterpart had become unexpectedly aggressive in striking down local regulations affecting trade. This development alarmed environmentalists, while economists applauded it as a triumph for free trade. To the dismay of legal formalists, constitutional text and original intent seemed forgotten. Whether they all lived happily ever after remains to be seen.
DYNAMIC ASPECTS OF BODY IMPEDANCE

ABSTRACT This paper describes a group of experiments conducted on humans to determine physiological factors that attend the onset of electrical shock sensation including how body resistance varies as a function of the potential and frequency of an applied voltage. The unique test setup employed is fully explained and diagrammed, experimental techniques are described, and several X-Y plots, where each point on the resultant curve represents instantaneous body resistance, are included. Data from this investigation suggests that: 1) for some portions of the human body, impedance is a function of both applied voltage level and the duration of its application; and 2) at a particular voltage level there is an apparent sudden decrease in skin impedance (increase in current) coincident with the onset of (the sensation of) electrical shock.
Kinship, Funerals, and the Durability of Culture in Chuuk

This chapter asks what processes might contribute to the historical durability of cultural beliefs and practices over time and uses the historical durability of funerary rituals in Chuuk Lagoon as its empirical case. Through an analysis of ethnographic materials from Chuuk Lagoon, the author argues that the historical durability of culture requires three things. First, it requires the ongoing availability of cultural propositions in a community that provide for the meaningful assignment of status functions that are associated with social institutions like those of kinship. Second, the historical durability of cultural forms requires repeated Status Function Declarations that assign status functions of kinship to actual people and objects. Finally, in an era where waves of (post)colonialism and globalization provide ready alternatives to locally traditional cultural propositions, people must not only continue to collectively accept or recognize the legitimacy of local cultural propositions, but these must also be related to powerful psychological motivations. In other words, there must exist historically robust local processes for their deep internalization, such that active participation in the ritual practice allows for the fulfillment of needs or the expression of powerful sentiments.
Correlative characterization of dislocation defects and defect clusters in GaAs and CdTe solar cells by spatially resolved optical techniques and high-resolution TEM

An array of correlative and spatially-resolved techniques, including electroluminescence, photoluminescence, Raman, I-V curve, and high-resolution TEM, have been performed on both GaAs and CdTe solar cells, to study the impact of individual dislocation defects and defect clusters on device performance, the dependence of the impact on the device operation conditions, and the microscopic structures of the defects. This approach offers quantitative and definitive correlation between the atomistic structure of a defect and its effects in a real device.
Race/Ethnicity and Insurance-Specific Disparities in In-Hospital Mortality Among Adults with Primary Biliary Cholangitis: Analysis of 2007–2014 National Inpatient Sample

Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is a progressive autoimmune liver disease that can result in cirrhosis and end-stage liver disease. We aim to evaluate hospitalization burden and in-hospital mortality among PBC patients in the USA. Using data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample from 2007 to 2014, hospitalizations among US adults with PBC were stratified by sex, age, and race/ethnicity. Overall in-hospital mortality was stratified by these variables and adjusted multivariate regression models evaluated for predictors of in-hospital mortality. From 2007 to 2014, there were 18,279 hospitalizations among adults with PBC (15.0% male, mean age 63.8 years, 41.3% cirrhosis). Among non-Hispanic whites, the proportion of total PBC hospitalizations increased from 57.8% in 2007 to 71.2% in 2014, compared to 4.1–6.3% for African-Americans, 8.6–10.9% for Hispanics, and 1.7–2.8% for Asians (p < 0.001 for all). While overall in-hospital mortality was low (4.2%), increasing age was associated with higher odds of in-hospital mortality (OR: 1.02, 95% CI 1.01–1.03, p < 0.001). Compared to non-Hispanic white PBC patients, higher in-hospital mortality was observed in African-American PBC patients (OR: 1.40, 95% CI 1.16–2.03, p < 0.05). Compared to patients with private/commercial insurance, significantly higher odds of in-hospital mortality were observed in patients with Medicaid insurance (OR 1.42, 95% CI 1.00–1.99, p < 0.05). In summary, among adults with PBC hospitalized in the USA from 2007 to 2014, the overall number of hospitalizations is increasing. Significant disparities in in-hospital mortality were observed; African-Americans with PBC and Medicaid patients with PBC have disproportionately higher odds of in-hospital mortality.
Inferior Vena Cava Filter Evaluation and Management for the Diagnostic Radiologist: A Comprehensive Review Including Inferior Vena Cava Filter-Related Complications and PRESERVE Trial Filters

Inferior vena cava filters are commonly encountered devices on diagnostic imaging that were highlighted in a 2010 Food and Drug Administration safety advisory regarding their complications from long-term implantation. The Predicting the Safety and Effectiveness of Inferior Vena Cava Filters (PRESERVE) trial is an ongoing after-market study investigating the safety and utility of commonly utilized filters in practice today. While most of these filters are safe, prompt recognition and management of any filter-associated complication is imperative to prevent or reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with them. This review is aimed at discussing the appropriate utilization and placement of inferior vena cava filters in addition to the recognition of filter-associated complications on cross-sectional imaging. An overview of the PRESRVE trial filters is also provided to understand each filter's propensity for specific complications.
The Evolution of Energetic Particles and the Emitted Radiation in Solar Flares.

The evolution of accelerated particle distributions in a magnetized plasma and the resulting radiation are calculated, and the results are applied to solar flares. To study the radiation on timescales of order the particle lifetimes, the evolution of the particle distribution is determined by the use of the Fokker-Planck equation including Coulomb collisions and magnetic mirroring. Analytic solution to the equations are obtained for limiting cases such as homogeneous injection in a homogeneous plasma, and for small pitch angle. These analytic solutions are then used to place constraints on flare parameters such as density, loop length, and the injection timescale for very short implusive solar flares. For general particle distributions in arbitrary magnetic field and background density, the equation is solved numerically. The relative timing of microwaves and X-rays during individual flares is investigated. A number of possible sources for excessive microwave flux are discussed including a flattening in the electron spectrum above hard X-ray energies, thermal synchrotron emission, and trapping of electron by converging magnetic fields. Over shorter timescales, the Fokker-Planck equation is solved numerically to calculate the temporal evolution of microwaves and X-rays from nonthermal thick target models. It is shown that magnetic trapping will not account for the observed correlation of microwaves of approximately 0.15 seconds behind X-rays in flares with rapid time variation, and thus higher energy electrons must be accelerated later than lower energy electrons.
Sometimes, It's Okay to Judge a Patient by Their Diagnosis

Fischer and Truog (2017) present an interesting discussion on the problems associated with fixating on consciousness when treating patients with disorders of consciousness (Fischer and Truog 2017)....
Discovery for New Herbicide Sites of Action by Quantification of Plant Primary Metabolite and Enzyme Pools

Abstract No herbicide with a new molecular site of action (SOA) has been introduced since the 1980s. Since then, the widespread evolution of resistance of weeds to most commercial herbicides has greatly increased the need for herbicides with new SOAs. Two untried strategies for the discovery on new herbicide SOAs are discussed. Some primary metabolism intermediates are phytotoxic (e.g., protoporphyrin IX and sphingoid bases), and, because of this, the in vivo concentrations of these compounds are maintained at very low levels by plants. The determination of all primary metabolite phytotoxicities and pool sizes will identify targets of interest. Targeting SOAs that result in accumulation of phytotoxic compounds is the first novel approach to herbicide discovery. The second approach is to identify potential SOAs with very low in vivo enzyme levels. We know that higher numbers of enzyme molecules for a SOA requires more herbicide to kill a plant. Modern proteomic methods can identify low enzyme level SOAs for biorational herbicide discovery. These approaches might be useful in discovery of herbicides more closely related to natural compounds and that can be used in lower doses.
Daily surveillance of COVID-19 using the prospective space-time scan statistic in the United States.

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was first discovered in late 2019 in Wuhan City, China. The virus may cause novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in symptomatic individuals. Since December of 2019, there have been over 7,000,000 confirmed cases and over 400,000 confirmed deaths worldwide. In the United States (U.S.), there have been over 2,000,000 confirmed cases and over 110,000 confirmed deaths. COVID-19 case data in the United States has been updated daily at the county level since the first case was reported in January of 2020. There currently lacks a study that showcases the novelty of daily COVID-19 surveillance using space-time cluster detection techniques. In this paper, we utilize a prospective Poisson space-time scan statistic to detect daily clusters of COVID-19 at the county level in the contiguous 48 U.S. and Washington D.C. As the pandemic progresses, we generally find an increase of smaller clusters of remarkably steady relative risk. Daily tracking of significant space-time clusters can facilitate decision-making and public health resource allocation by evaluating and visualizing the size, relative risk, and locations that are identified as COVID-19 hotspots.
Exchangeable Markov multi-state survival processes.

We consider exchangeable Markov multi-state survival processes, which are temporal processes taking values over a state-space S , with at least one absorbing failure state b∈S that satisfy the natural invariance properties of exchangeability and consistency under subsampling. The set of processes contains many well-known examples from health and epidemiology including survival, illness-death, competing risk, and comorbidity processes. Here, an extension leads to recurrent event processes. We characterize exchangeable Markov multi-state survival processes in both discrete and continuous time. Statistical considerations impose natural constraints on the space of models appropriate for applied work. In particular, we describe constraints arising from the notion of composable systems. We end with an application to irregularly sampled and potentially censored multi-state survival data, developing a Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithm for inference.
Alteration of FBXW7 is Associated with Worse Survival in Patients Undergoing Resection of Colorectal Liver Metastases.

For patients undergoing resection of colorectal liver metastases (CLMs), the prognostic role of somatic gene alterations is increasingly recognized. F-box/WD repeat–containing protein 7 (FBXW7) is a tumor suppressor gene found in approximately 10% of patients with colorectal cancer. The aim of this study is to assess the association of FBXW7 with overall survival after CLM resection. Patients who underwent initial CLM resection during 2001–2016 and had genetic sequencing data were studied. Risk factors for overall survival (OS) were evaluated with Cox proportional hazards models using backward elimination. Of 2045 patients who underwent CLM resection during the study period, 476 were included. The majority (90.5%) underwent prehepatectomy chemotherapy. A total of 27 patients (5.7%) had FBXW7 alteration, along with 240 (50.4%) RAS, 337 (70.8%) TP53, 51 (10.7%) SMAD4, and 27 (5.7%) BRAF. Cox proportional hazards model analyses including 5 somatic gene alteration status and 12 clinicopathologic factors revealed FBXW7(hazard ratio [HR] 1.99, P = 0.015), BRAF (HR 2.47, P = 0.023), RAS (HR 2.42, P 6 cycles (HR 1.51, P = 0.021), number of CLM (HR 1.05, P = 0.007), and largest liver metastasis diameter (HR 1.07, P = 0.023). The covariate-adjusted 5-year OS was significantly lower in patients with FBXW7 alteration than in patients with FBXW7 wild-type (40.4% vs.59.4%, P = 0.015). FBXW7 alterations are associated with worse survival after CLM resection. The information on multiple somatic gene alterations is imperative for risk stratification and patient selection for CLM resection.
Role of Famotidine and Other Acid Reflux Medications for SARS-CoV-2: A Pilot Study.

Summary Infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is responsible for the coronavirus-19 disease (COVID-19) pandemic. The H-2 blocker famotidine has been suggested as an FDA-approved drug that could potentially be repurposed for treatment of COVID-19. Famotidine has since been shown to improve patient outcomes and reduce symptom severity in patients acutely ill with COVID-19. Other studies have suggested that proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) might have an association with COVID-19. Objective The purpose of the present study was to determine whether famotidine or any other antireflux medications have a prophylactic or detrimental effect for SARS-CoV-2 infection when taken regularly for the management of acid reflux. Methods An anonymous, web-based survey was distributed via email to adult otolaryngology patients to collect demographic data, past medical history, medication history, incidence of symptoms associated with COVID-19, potential exposure to SARS-CoV-2, and results of any PCR or serological testing. Associations between reflux medications and incidence of COVID-19 cases were analyzed. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS. Chi-square with Fisher's exact test, Point-Biserial correlation, Kendall's-tau-b, independent samples t test, and the Mann-Whitney U test were used as appropriate. A binary logistic regression model was fit to determine probability of COVID-19 cases after adjustment for other risk factors. Results There were 307 patients who responded to the survey. The average age of respondents was 52.63 ± 17.03. Famotidine use was not associated with incidence of laboratory-confirmed (P= 0.717) or symptomatically suspected (P= 0.876) COVID-19. No other reflux medications were found to be significant predictors for laboratory-confirmed or suspected COVID-19 (P> 0.05). Younger age (odds ratio [OR] = 1.043, 95% CI: 1.020–1.065, P Conclusions There was no association between incidence of COVID-19 and use of reflux medications, including famotidine at doses used orally to manage reflux and high dose PPIs. Reflux medications did not protect against or increase the risk of COVID-19.
Rebuttal of the Pro View: Albuminuria Is an Appropriate Therapeutic Target in Patients with CKD.

We thank the editors for the opportunity to write a rebuttal to Dr. Lambers Heerspink’s and Dr. Gansevoort’s pro side of the debate of whether albuminuria is an appropriate therapeutic target. There are a few areas in which we agree with their argument. Albuminuria does predict poor outcomes,
Triology of human herpesvirus type-8: A rare and fatal case report of primary effusion lymphoma, Kaposi sarcoma and Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus inflammatory cytokine syndrome (KICS)

Abstract Introduction Human herpesvirus type-8 (HHV-8), also known as Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is associated with Kaposi sarcoma (KS), Primary effusion lymphoma (PEL), Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus inflammatory cytokine syndrome (KICS), and Multicentric Castleman disease (MCD). PEL is a rare and aggressive disease, commonly presents as malignant effusions in body cavities. KICS is an inflammatory syndrome with poor prognosis. We present a case to enhance the awareness of these novel conditions that can potentially co-exist, and advocate for more research. Case Report A 32-year-old male with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and KS, who presented with progressive dyspnea, fatigue, and anasarca. He was found to have bilateral pleural effusion and ascites, and labs showed anemia, thrombocytopenia, hyponatremia, and hypoalbuminemia. Through pleuritic fluid analysis and the presence of HHV-8 in both pleuritic fluid and serum, he was diagnosed with PEL and KICS. Though treated aggressively with chemotherapy, he unfortunately passed away two months after presentation. Conclusion We presented a case of three rare conditions (KS, PEL and KICS) that are all associated with HHV-8/KSHV, and we also reported the presentation of osteolytic bone lesion that is unusual in any of these three conditions.
Progranulin associates with Rab2 and is involved in autophagosome-lysosome fusion in Gaucher disease

Progranulin (PGRN) is a key regulator of lysosomes, and its deficiency has been linked to various lysosomal storage diseases (LSDs), including Gaucher disease (GD), one of the most common LSD. Here, we report that PGRN plays a previously unrecognized role in autophagy within the context of GD. PGRN deficiency is associated with the accumulation of LC3-II and p62 in autophagosomes of GD animal model and patient fibroblasts, resulting from the impaired fusion of autophagosomes and lysosomes. PGRN physically interacted with Rab2, a critical molecule in autophagosome-lysosome fusion. Additionally, a fragment of PGRN containing the Grn E domain was required and sufficient for binding to Rab2. Furthermore, this fragment significantly ameliorated PGRN deficiency-associated impairment of autophagosome-lysosome fusion and autophagic flux. These findings not only demonstrate that PGRN is a crucial mediator of autophagosome-lysosome fusion but also provide new evidence indicating PGRN's candidacy as a molecular target for modulating autophagy in GD and other LSDs in general. KEY MESSAGES : PGRN acts as a crucial factor involved in autophagosome-lysosome fusion in GD. PGRN physically interacts with Rab2, a molecule in autophagosome-lysosome fusion. A 15-kDa C-terminal fragment of PGRN is required and sufficient for binding to Rab2. This PGRN derivative ameliorates PGRN deficiency-associated impairment of autophagy. This study provides new insights into autophagy and may develop novel therapy for GD.
Gaseous Insulation for High-Voltage Transformers [includes discussion]

It is well recognized that sulfur-hexafluoride (SF6) possesses, even at relatively low pressures, superior insulating properties for high-voltage apparatus. Under certain conditions the dielectric strength of this gas can be superior to either liquid or solid insulating materials. During the last few years much experimental work has been done on the electrical and chemical properties of this gas. These and other pertinent data are presented herewith. Of particular importance are the data obtained on the physiological effect of the decomposition products of SF6 gas when it is subjected to heavy short circuit arcs between bare electrodes and also in the presence of other insulating materials.
Chaos, courage, choice, & creativity

(1995). Chaos, courage, choice, & creativity. Psychological Perspectives: Vol. 31, No. 1, pp. 65-70.
Iron Oxidation and Precipitation of Ferric Hydroxysulfates by Resting Thiobacillus ferrooxidans Cells.

The oxidation of ferrous ions, in acid solution, by resting suspensions of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans produced sediments consisting of crystalline jarosites, amorphous ferric hydroxysulfates, or both. These products differed conspicuously in chemical composition and infrared spectra from precipitates formed by abiotic oxidation under similar conditions. The amorphous sediments, produced by bacterial oxidation, exhibited a distinctive fibroporous microstructure when examined by scanning electron microscopy. Infrared spectra indicated outer-sphere coordination of Fe(III) by sulfate ions, as well as inner-sphere coordination by water molecules and bridging hydroxo groups. In the presence of excess sulfate and appropriate monovalent cations, jarosites, instead of amorphous ferric hydroxysulfates, precipitated from bacterially oxidized iron solutions. It is proposed that the jarositic precipitates result from the conversion of outer-sphere (Td) sulfate, present in a soluble polymeric Fe(III) complex, to inner-sphere (C3v) bridging sulfate. The amorphous precipitates result from the further polymerization of hydroxo-linked iron octahedra and charge stabilized aggregation of the resulting iron complexes in solution. This view was supported by observations that bacterially oxidized iron solutions gave rise to either amorphous or jarositic sediments in response to ionic environments imposed after oxidation had been completed and the bacteria had been removed by filtration. Images
Development of a path forward for special-case wastes at the Oak Ridge Reservation

This report addresses the management of the inventory of existing and potential surplus equipment and materials at the Oak Ridge Reservation (ORR) that are candidates for various waste or surplus material categories, including special case waste (SCW). This inventory is called candidate equipment and materials (CEM). This report presents a logical method for disposition of this and future CEM, summarizes the inventory, and suggests preliminary dispositions for the CEM. Also, recommendations are offered for an improved CEM management strategy and actions in this and future years to implement that strategy.
Japanese Encephalitis Virus

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is a member of the genus Flavivirus, family Flaviviridae. It causes a rural, mosquito-borne, zoonotic viral disease that is a major public health problem in many Asian countries. The natural cycle involves rice-field breeding mosquitoes and domestic pigs or wading ardeids (e.g., egrets and herons). The most important vector is Culex tritaeniorhynchus, which is found in most parts of Asia and breeds in water pools and flooded rice fields. Humans and most other vertebrates are ‘dead-end’ hosts, producing low viremias, such that mosquitoes cannot be infected while feeding on them. Japanese encephalitis (JE) is characterized by infection of the central nervous system. It is the most important arthropod-borne virus encephalitis. At least 50 000 clinical cases of JE are reported each year. The case–fatality rate is approximately 25% and up to 70% of those who survive infection develop neurological sequelae. JE is the most important veterinary flavivirus disease. In addition to wild boars, two animal hosts are considered to be important: horses and pigs. Horses become encephalitic and are considered to be dead-end hosts, whereas JEV induces abortion in pigs, considered to be a major peridomestic amplifying host.
Folklore: In All of Us, In All We Do

Reviewed Medium: book Year: 2006 Pages: 312 Publisher: University of North Texas Press ISBN: 978-1-58441-223-9 (hard cover). Prices: $34.95 USD(hard cover).
General Toxicity Testing and Immunotoxicity Testing for Biopharmaceuticals

Toxicity testing of biopharmaceuticals is highly dependent on species specificity. If the molecule is pharmacologically active in both rodent and nonrodent species, then the toxicology studies should be conducted in two species. On the other hand, alternative strategies for conducting safety studies such as testing with surrogate molecules, or using transgenic/knockout mice, need to be considered if the molecule is not active in nonhuman primates. Keywords: toxicity testing; biopharmaceuticals; immunotoxicity; species selection
Novel Approaches in Low-Cost, High-Throughput Gene Sequencing

Whole-genome DNA sequencing is evolving from a costly collective effort, requiring the work of several laboratories in parallel, to a single-user, single-device laboratory tool. This technological revolution will open the realm of personal medicine where treatment of diseases are adjusted to suit the genetic background of an individual. Such a breakthrough in genetics can only be achieved through the advent of high-throughput and affordable sequencing methods — some of which are detailed in this article. Several particularly novel DNA sequencing concepts have been proposed to reach the $1000-per-genome goal. Cost reduction is envisioned by the use of massively parallel processes, where sequence information is obtained by detecting single DNA molecules or colonies of DNA strands amplified from single molecules. Other methods are based on the direct sequential readout of the genetic code on a single DNA strand, but the detection schemes currently lack the required single-nucleotide resolution. The article concludes by describing a nanotechnology-based method for DNA sequencing at high throughput that couples a novel scheme for electrophoresis together with near-field optical detection of separated bands at a sensitivity level down to a few molecules. With further development, the technology can evolve into a low-cost sequencing scheme similar to the reliable and accurate four-color DNA Sanger sequencing method. Keywords: Atomic force microscopy; DNA sequencing; electrophoresis; probe-based electrophoresis; scanning probe microscopy; sequencing by hybridization; sequencing by synthesis
A concise synthesis of chiral indanes as α1A adrenoceptor partial agonists

Abstract The synthesis of a series of chiral indanes with reported α1A partial agonist activity is outlined, applying a rhodium catalysed cyclisation for template construction. This method was extended to the asymmetric synthesis of lead compound PF-03774076 (1) which was prepared on >20 g scale in seven steps. Highlights include Rh-mediated cyclocarbonylation and an asymmetric alkene hydrogenation.
The Fall and Rise of Keynesian Fiscal Policy

This paper reviews the recent evolution of thinking and evidence regarding the effectiveness of activist fiscal policy, including how policy multipliers might vary with respect to economic conditions. Like many other countries that were hit by the “Great Recession,” the USA responded initially with active fiscal policy measures. But a more positive view of fiscal intervention appears to have developed earlier in the decade, and estimated decision rules confirm that there was an increase in policy activism. While this positive view has been tested by the unclear effects of fiscal policy during the Great Recession, recent evidence does suggest that fiscal policy may be especially effective in recession. Fiscal policy activism has also been tempered by recent concerns about growing government debt, a development which potentially might also undercut the effectiveness of expansionary fiscal policy.
Dynamic behaviors of growth cones extending in the corpus callosum of living cortical brain slices observed with video microscopy

During development, axons of the mammalian corpus callosum must navigate across the midline to establish connections with corresponding targets in the contralateral cerebral cortex. To gain insight into how growth cones of callosal axons respond to putative guidance cues along this CNS pathway, we have used time-lapse video microscopy to observe dynamic behaviors of individual callosal growth cones extending in living brain slices from neonatal hamster sensorimotor cortex. Crystals of the lipophilic dye 1,1'-dioctadecyl-3,3,3',3'-tetramethylindocarbocyanine perchlorate (Dil) were inserted into the cortex in vivo to label small populations of callosal axons and their growth cones. Subsequently, 400 microns brain slices that included the injection site, the corpus callosum, and the target cortex were placed in culture and viewed under low-light-level conditions with a silicon-intensified target (SIT) camera. Time-lapse video observations revealed striking differences in growth cone behaviors in different regions of the callosal pathway. In the tract, which is defined as the region of the callosal pathway from the injection site to the corresponding target cortex, growth cones advanced rapidly, displaying continual lamellipodial shape changes and filopodial exploration. Forward advance was sometimes interrupted by brief pauses or retraction. Growth cones in the target cortex had almost uniform compact shapes that were consistently smaller than those in the tract. In cortex, axons adhered to straight radial trajectories and their growth cones extended at only half the speed of those in the tract. Growth cones in subtarget regions of the callosum beneath cortical targets displayed complex behaviors characterized by long pauses, extension of transitory branches, and repeated cycles of collapse, withdrawal, and resurgence. Video observations suggested that extension of axons into cortical targets could occur by interstitial branching from callosal axons rather than by turning behaviors of the primary growth cones. These results suggest the existence of guidance cues distinct for each of these callosal regions that elicit characteristic growth cone behaviors.
Mars Sample Return Orbiter concepts using Solar Electric Propulsion for the post-Mars2020 decade

Since the selection of the proposed Mars 2020 mission as a Rover with the capability of sample collection and caching, there has been renewed interest in subsequent mission concepts to return Mars samples to Earth. The general architecture for this series of missions is outlined in the Planetary Science Decadal Survey of 2011. The role of the Sample Return Orbiter (SRO) in The 2011 Decadal Survey MSR architecture was to collect an orbiting sample (OS) from low Mars orbit and deliver it to Earth's surface. The architecture focused on chemical propulsion orbiters with ballistic and aerobraking trajectories that were dedicated entirely to the capture of orbiting samples and returning them to the surface of the Earth.
Protein tyrosine kinase 7: a novel surface marker for human recent thymic emigrants with potential clinical utility

Recent thymic emigrants (RTEs) are antigenically naive T cells that have recently completed intrathymic maturation and have emigrated from the thymus to the periphery. RTEs are clinically and immunologically important as they are essential for maintaining peripheral T cells in sufficient numbers in order to recognize, by their αβT-cell receptors (TCRs), a diverse array of foreign peptide antigens. However, RTE frequency and function has been poorly understood because of a lack of surface markers to distinguish them from older non-RTE naive T cells. This review summarizes the biology of the intrathymic generation and function of RTEs, including the recent identification of protein tyrosine kinase 7 (PTK7) as a novel marker for human RTEs of the CD4 (helper) T-cell lineage. PTK7+ RTEs in adults have a reduced capacity for activation-induced proliferation and cytokine production (interleukin-2 and interferon-γ) than older PTK7- naive CD4 T cells. Importantly, this immaturity in CD4 RTE effector function may contribute to the reduced adaptive immune responses observed in situations in which CD4 RTEs predominate, including the fetus, neonate and young infant, and following immune reconstitution, such as post-hematopoietic stem cell transplant. The ability to identify viable CD4+ RTEs based on PTK7 surface staining may be particularly useful in the infant for better defining the impact of nutritional and environmental factors on thymic output, peripheral T-cell function and adaptive immune responses to vaccination and infection.
A prominent role for invariant T cells in the amphibian Xenopus laevis tadpoles

Invariant T (iT) cells expressing an invariant or semi-invariant T cell receptor (TCR) repertoire have gained attention in recent years because of their potential as specialized regulators of immune function. These iT cells are typically restricted by nonclassical MHC class I molecules (e.g., CD1d and MR1) and undergo differentiation pathways distinct from conventional T cells. While the benefit of a limited TCR repertoire may appear counterintuitive in regard to the advantage of the diversified repertoire of conventional T cells allowing for exquisite specificity to antigens, the full biological importance and evolutionary conservation of iT cells are just starting to emerge. It is generally considered that iT cells are specialized to recognize conserved antigens equivalent to pathogen-associated molecular pattern. Until recently, little was known about the evolution of iT cells. The identification of class Ib and class I-like genes in nonmammalian vertebrates, despite the heterogeneity and variable numbers of these genes among species, suggests that iT cells are also present in ectothermic vertebrates. Indeed, recent studies in the amphibian Xenopus have revealed a drastic overrepresentation of several invariant TCRs in tadpoles and identified a prominent nonclassical MHC class I-restricted iT cell subset critical for tadpole antiviral immunity. This suggests an important and perhaps even dominant role of multiple nonclassical MHC class I-restricted iT cell populations in tadpoles and, by extension, other aquatic vertebrates with rapid external development that are under pressure to produce a functional lymphocyte repertoire with small numbers of cells.
Distinct genetic profile in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of psoriatic arthritis patients treated with methotrexate and TNF-inhibitors.

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a systemic inflammatory condition associated with psoriasis. Despite considerable heterogeneity in clinical presentation, genetic studies and animal models support the notion that PsA is a distinct disease. We aimed to characterize the PsA genotype by gene expression profile and to research the effect in gene modulation of methotrexate (MTX) and TNF-inhibitors (TNF-I) in PsA-treated patients. Nine PsA patients, according to CASPAR criteria, and three healthy controls were recruited from an outpatient rheumatology clinic. Three out of nine PsA patients were naive to treatment, three received TNF-I, and the remaining three were on MTX-monotherapy. Blood samples were collected and analyzed by human genome U95 Array-Affymetrix (GeneChip® instrument system). Identification of statistically significant differences between differentially expressed genes was determined by Mann–Whitney and t test (p < 0.05). The microarray profile identified a predominance of differentially expressed genes with an increased expression in baseline PsA patients: 115/12,000 genes were up-regulated and 13/12,000 down-regulated, as compared to healthy controls. The great majority were involved in inflammatory cells and pathways. In the biologic-treated patients, a higher number of down-regulated genes were expressed vs. the MTX patients, 161 vs. 33, respectively. This study shows that in PsA patients, TNF-I and MTX are able to modulate the gene expression in a synergistic and additive manner.
High titers of autoantibodies to glutamate decarboxylase in type 1 diabetes patients: epitope analysis and inhibition of enzyme activity.

ABSTRACT Objective Autoantibodies to glutamate decarboxylase (GAD65Ab) are found in patients with autoimmune neurological disorders or type 1 diabetes. The correct diagnosis of GAD65Ab-associated neurological disorders is often delayed by the variability of symptoms and a lack of diagnostic markers. We hypothesized that the frequency of neurological disorders with high GAD65Ab titers is significantly higher than currently recognized. Methods We analyzed GAD65Ab titer, GAD65 enzyme activity inhibition, and GAD65Ab epitope pattern in a cohort of type 1 diabetes patients (n = 100) and correlated our findings with neurological symptoms and diseases. Results Overall, 43% (43/100) of patients had detectable GAD65Ab titers (median = 400 U/mL, range: 142250,000 U/mL). The GAD65Ab titers in 10 type 1 diabetes patients exceeded the 90th percentile of the cohort (2,000250,000 U/mL). Sera of these 10 patients were analyzed for their GAD65Ab epitope specificity and their ability to inhibit GAD65 enzyme activity in vitro. GAD65Ab of 5 patients inhibited the enzyme activity significantly (by 34-55%). Three patients complained of muscle stiffness and pain, which was documented in 2 of these patients. Conclusions Based on our findings, we suggest that neurological disorders with high GAD65Ab titers are more frequent in type 1 diabetes patients than currently recognized. (Endocr Pract. 2013;19:663-668)