cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract B35: Outcomes of patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer who progress on first restaging imaging

Background: Objective responses to first-line systemic chemotherapy in patients (pts) with metastatic pancreatic cancer (mPC) are seen in less than one third of cases. While disease stabilization is achievable for a significant percentage, many of these pts will have radiographic evidence of disease progression (PD) on their first restaging imaging. With patients’ short life expectancy in the metastatic setting, limited systemic treatment options, and significant toxicities associated with multidrug chemotherapy, it is crucial for clinicians to be prudent when deciding whom and when to treat. The purpose of our study was to evaluate outcomes of pts who progressed on their first restaging imaging while on first-line therapy. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed mPC pts treated at MD Anderson since 2011 whose first restaging imaging on first-line therapy demonstrated PD. Data collected included patient demographics, choice of first-line therapy, and whether they received second-line therapy. Primary outcome was overall survival (OS) from date of metastatic diagnosis to death or last follow-up. Results: A total of 121 pts were included in the analysis. Seventy-two received second-line therapy, and 49 did not pursue second-line therapy. The median ages for pts who did and did not receive second-line therapy were 61 and 67, respectively (p=0.001). More pts had a poor Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (ECOG 2-3) at the time of initial diagnosis in the non-second-line therapy group (31% vs. 6.9%, p=0.003). Forty-two pts (34.7%) received combination 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, irinotecan, and oxaliplatin (FOLFIRINOX) first-line, while 72 pts (59.5%) received gemcitabine + nab-paclitaxel (GnP). Thirty-four pts (80%) who received FOLFIRINOX first-line did proceed with second-line therapy, and 29 pts (40%) who received GnP proceeded with second-line therapy. Median OS for those receiving second-line therapy was 8.28 months compared to 2.73 months for those not receiving second-line therapy (p Conclusions: Although likely biased due to better performance status and younger age, our mPC pts who progressed rapidly on first-line therapy showed an OS benefit if they received second-line therapy. These results suggest that pts maintaining a good performance status after immediate progression on first-line therapy should be offered second-line therapy. Citation Format: Jonathan D. Mizrahi, Jane E. Rogers, Graciela M. Nogueras-Gonzalez, Robert A. Wolff, Gauri R. Varadhachary, Milind M. Javle, Rachna T. Shroff, Linus Ho, David R. Fogelman, Kanwal P. Raghav, Michael J. Overman, Shubham Pant. Outcomes of patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer who progress on first restaging imaging [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Pancreatic Cancer: Advances in Science and Clinical Care; 2019 Sept 6-9; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(24 Suppl):Abstract nr B35.
Effects of temperature and density evolution in MHD simulations of HIT-SI

The helicity injected torus-steady inductive (HIT-SI) experiment uses steady inductive helicity injection to form a spheromak equilibrium and sustain the structure against resistive decay. Helicity injection is performed using two half-tori “injectors” connected to the main plasma volume, whose fields are oscillated in an AC manner. The properties of the sustained spheromak equilibrium have been experimentally observed to vary with the frequency of the injector oscillation, producing higher current gains and more-symmetric and outwardly shifted current centroids with higher frequency. A computational scan of injector frequency using the 3D MHD code PSI-Tet, which models the entire HIT-SI plasma volume including the injectors, has been performed, including a comparison of the results using the full Hall MHD model to those obtained using a simplified “zero-beta” (constant temperature and density) model. The results of both PSI-Tet models are also compared with experimental data and with simulations using the NIMROD code, which does not model the injector regions. The results of the PSI-Tet simulations show that the average temperature and current gain increase with injector frequency, in agreement with experimental trends. The simulations also show qualitative changes in the dynamics of several quantities with increasing injector frequency, such as density oscillations and current evolution. However, the outward shift and symmetrizing of the current centroid, observed experimentally, are not observed in these MHD simulations, indicating that unresolved or excluded dynamics may be important.
The “Anatomy” of Dry Eye Disease; A Clinical Introduction to the Attendees at Dry Eye University

Our goal at Dry Eye University is to help in creating a more unified approach in treating this complex disease in a real-world setting.
An Anisotropic Damage-Plastic Model for Concrete

Abstract An anisotropic elasto-plastic damage model for concrete is developed within the general framework of thermodynamics with internal variables. The secant elastic moduli are employed as the damage variables, whose evolution equations are defined by postulating Generalized Potential and Generalized Normality in strain space. A damage index is introduced on the basis of energy absorption capability, which measures the accumulated damage and controls, together with the current state of strain, the pattern of further damage. The formulation of plasticity consists of a yield surface in strain space and a plastic potential in stress space. In the absence of damage, the aforementioned surfaces reduce to a single surface, and therefore the plasticity becomes one with an associated flow rule. The proposed constitutive model for concrete satisfies the requirements of the laws of thermodynamics and is capable of reproducing the essential features of concrete behavior.
The Presidential Voting of American Jews

Most American Jews have been voting Democratic since the late-1920s. In every election since 1948, there has been speculation as to whether Jews’ affinity to the Democratic Party is about to end; but it has displayed remarkable persistence. Yet, more careful examination reveals that there has been variation in Jews’ voting patterns. Partisanship is not static or immutable. Attention to Jewish voting received renewed attention in early 2019 when the Republicans launched a new organization intended to create a Jewish “exodus” from the Democratic Party.
Gender Authorship in the Field of Clinical Chemistry.

Background Gender underrepresentation has long existed in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields. While there are upward trends in many areas of the life and health sciences, some disciplines are underrepresented in female author numbers, including first and corresponding authors. This study evaluated the participation by women as authors in the field of clinical chemistry. Methods Clinical Chemistry and The Journal of Applied Laboratory Medicine were selected for data collection. Data were classified into four categories: total number of authors for each article, number of female authors for each article, whether the first author was female, and whether the corresponding author was female. From these data, the percentages of female authors, articles with female first authors, articles with female corresponding authors, and articles where a female was either first or corresponding author were calculated. Results Both journals had ≥40% total female authorship, ≥45% female first author, and 64% female first or corresponding author. The 40% female author number matched the percentage of female doctoral degree, board certified clinical chemists, and the 39% female PhDs and MDs in academic clinical pathology departments. Compared with a selected group of science or medicine journals and gender reports, Clinical Chemistry and The Journal of Applied Laboratory Medicine exceeded most journals and gender reports in female total authorship, first author, and corresponding author. Conclusions Women are well represented as authors in these two clinical chemistry journals. Both journals compare favorably against other scientific/medical journals. Female authorship in these two journals also parallels gender composition of the field of clinical chemistry.
Woven electrocardiogram (ECG) electrodes for health monitoring in operational environments

Electrical signals produced within the human body can reveal information about a wide variety of physiological processes including physical activity, cardiac health, and psychological state. The industry standard for physiological signal detection is the use of adhesive electrodes that stick onto the skin. These electrodes can irritate the skin over long periods of time and are not reusable, making them a challenge for use in operational environments. Further, these electrodes often require gel to improve signal transduction, leading to changes in signal quality as these gels dry over time. Wearable sensors for operational environments should be comfortable, unobtrusive, and non-stigmatizing while maintaining signal quality high enough to allow the detection of health states. Here, we present the development and test of a set of woven textile electrodes of 8 different sizes for chest-mounted, 3-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring. Ten male subjects were tested with each of the woven electrode sizes and with one set of adhesive electrodes. A derived performance metric and signal-to-noise ratio were calculated for each set of electrodes for comparison between them. The smallest sized electrodes were found to be least effective, while the 6th of the 8 sizes were found to be most effective.
An Angular Velocity Sensor using Machine Learning and Optical Orbital Angular Momentum

We demonstrate a means for measuring the angular velocity of small particles using light with orbital angular momentum and a machine learning signal processing toolbox. This approach is applicable to studying turbulence at small scales.
Impact of Length of Stay on Readmission in Hospitalized Patients.

Background Readmission and length of stay (LOS) are two hospital-level metrics commonly used to assess the performance of hospitalist groups. Healthcare systems implement strategies aimed at reducing both. It is possible that tactics aimed at improving one measure in individual patients may adversely impact the other. Objective We sought to analyze the impact of length of stay on readmission risk in an inpatient general medical population to assess whether patients with a lower length of stays were readmitted more frequently to the hospital. Methods We performed a retrospective analysis of inpatient adult patients admitted to our institution between January 2016 and December 2019. We recorded demographic variables and the outcomes of LOS and 30-day readmission. We excluded patients who expired, left against medical advice, or were transferred to other hospitals. We performed both univariate and multivariate analyses. Results There were 91,723 patients included in the study of which 10,598 (11.6%) were readmitted. The geometric LOS for all patients was 5.37 days and was higher in readmitted patients (6.87 vs 5.18 days, respectively, p < 0.001). Patients with higher readmission rates were older, had a higher proportion of male gender, African-American ethnicity, and were more likely to have Medicare or Medicaid payors. After performing a multivariate regression analysis, we found that a high LOS was associated with a higher likelihood of readmission (P < 0.001). Conclusion Contrary to our initial hypothesis, we found that general medical patients with a higher LOS had a higher likelihood of being readmitted to the hospital after adjusting for other variables. It is possible that factors not captured in the current dataset may help explain both the increase in LOS and readmission risk.
Usability Assessment of the Rehabilitation Lower-limb Orthopedic Assistive Device by Service Members and Veterans With Lower Limb Loss

Introduction Telehealth is an increasingly common approach to improve healthcare delivery, especially within the Veterans Health Administration and Department of Defense (DoD). Telehealth has diminished many challenges to direct access for clinical follow-up; however, the use of mobile telehealth for specialty rehabilitative care is emerging and is referred to as telerehabilitation. As early adopters of telehealth, the Veterans Affairs and DoD have supported collaborated efforts for programs designed to increase the access and quality of rehabilitative care while improving the functional ability of our service members (SMs) and veterans with lower limb amputation (LLA). The DoD and Veterans Health Administration collaborated on a Mobile Device Outcomes-based Rehabilitation Program (MDORP) to help injured SMs and veterans with LLA. The MDORP project utilized a mobile health system called the Rehabilitative Lower Limb Orthopedic Accommodating Device (ReLOAD) to assess walking quality. The ReLOAD system includes real-time auditory biofeedback to notify the user of their most prominent gait deviation and then recommends exercises that address specific balance and strength impairments. The purpose of this study was to describe the responses to a postintervention survey evaluating the feasibility and usability of ReLOAD completed by SMs and veterans with LLA who used the system for 5 months. Materials and methods A link to an anonymous usability survey was emailed to all participants who completed MDORP. The survey was modeled after the System Usability Scale, with agreeableness to items rated on a 5-point Likert-style questionnaire in addition to open feedback. Data visualization of Likert-style questionnaires was conducted using ggplot2 and reshape2 statistical packages and was analyzed using R. We obtained institutional review board approval through both Miami Veterans Affairs Healthcare System and Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. Results The majority of participants reported that they would use the system again for home rehabilitation (65%) and that auditory biofeedback helped them walk better (59%). Participants also suggested that future work should include a greater variety of exercise options and the use of smart phones for the ReLOAD application in addition to the iPad tablet. Conclusions The participants provided positive and constructive feedback that will enhance the value and usability of telerehabilitation interventions like the ReLOAD system for future users.
Atrioventricular and Intraventricular Conduction Defects

For proper diagnosis and management of conduction defects it is important to understand the anatomy and vascular supply of the specialized conduction system of the heart (figure 8–1).
Grafting Interiority: Generative Methodologies Between the Natural and the Synthetic

Design is approaching a crucial period where the exchange between interior and exterior systems needs to be rethought and addressed from the standpoint of resilience and innovative environmental responses. The era of the detached interior bubble that is climate controlled and therein severed from natural systems is no longer justified or feasible. Interior spaces must respond to environmental conditions and proactively engage natural systems. The paper examines grafting methodology as an interior spatial formula that aims to generate complex sectional strategies for new programmatic typologies. It showcases work from a third-year interior architecture studio where students utilised natural landscapes as the premise to develop generative computational models that informed their design interventions.While placing interior interventions between natural and synthetic processes, interior grafts outline a design tactic that challenges the disjunction between internal settings and external parameters. The potential to draw relevance from external parameters and integrate the derivative systems into the interior volume carries many implications for interior architecture and urban dynamics. This approach demarks a radical repositioning of the interior volume as a continuation of the exterior scape, proliferating a fluid and active interiority.
Effect of Low-Dose Methotrexate on eGFR and Kidney Adverse Events: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background Low-dose methotrexate (LD-MTX) is contraindicated in advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD), but the kidney safety in normal kidney function or mild-to-moderate CKD is less clear. Methods We performed a secondary analysis for eGFR and kidney AEs using the randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled Cardiovascular Inflammation Reduction Trial. Adults with cardiovascular disease and diabetes and/or metabolic syndrome were randomly allocated to oral LD-MTX (target dose 15-20 mg/week) or placebo. All participants took folic acid 1 mg six days/week. Exclusion criteria included systemic rheumatic disease and creatinine clearance Results A total of 2,391 participants were randomized to LD-MTX and 2,395 to placebo. At baseline, mean age was 66 years, 19% were female, and mean eGFR was 80.0mL/min/1.73m2 (54% had Stage 2 CKD and 18% had Stage 3 CKD). Median follow-up was 23 months. The LD-MTX group had less decline in eGFR than placebo (difference in least-squares mean ΔeGFR from baseline to on-treatment visits: 0.93mL/min/1.73m2, 95%CI 0.45-1.40, p Conclusions These results demonstrate the kidney safety of LD-MTX among patients with normal kidney function or mild/moderate CKD at baseline.
A Stray-Insensitive Low-Power Capacitive Sensor Interface with Time-Compensation Technique

This paper proposes a low-power capacitive sensor interface using novel time-compensation technique to eliminate the effect of stray capacitance. The interface comprises a capacitance-to-current converter charging a load capacitor and a time-compensation control system. Even with large stray capacitance, the control system will adjust the charging time, thereby ensuring the same measurement. Besides, the system only requires a few switches and two comparators which makes this technique unique regarding simplicity, low-cost of power and chip area. To prove the idea, the circuit was designed and simulated using 0.18μm standard CMOS technology powered from ±1V supply. It accomplishes 125kHz measuring frequency, ±1pF capacitance variation, and a sensitivity of 0.5mV/fF with only 30μW average power consumption. The simulation also shows an accurate output result within 1% difference between 6pF parasitic capacitance and no parasitic.
Chapter 3.2.1 Gene transfer and therapy in the CNS

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses gene transfer and therapy in the CNS. The chapter focuses on the ex vivo approach of CNS gene transfer, and will only briefly describe the current status of in vivo gene transfer technologies which are further analyzed in other chapters. In ex vivo applications, there are four primary considerations: (1) identification and manipulation of a therapeutic transgene, (2) identification of cells that can survive and retain gene expression following intracerebral transplantation, (3) Selection of suitable vectors for transferring novel transgenes into the selected cell type, and (4) intracerebral implantation of the engineered cells. The chapter provides some protocols developed in the laboratory and examines the caveats and complications that are encountered using ex vivo gene transfer. The potentials of ex vivo and in vivo gene transfer as a CNS gene therapy method through the analysis of an animal model of neurodegenerative disease is discussed, and the chapter concludes with new techniques in development which hold some promises for successful CNS gene transfer.
Physically Handicapped Children

The psychiatric problems that arise in physically handicapped children can be divided into two major categories: those in which the physical defect is complicated by primary psychiatric disorders, and those in which the behavioral pathology is of a reactive nature. Examples of the first group are retardation, chronic brain syndrome, psychosis, and developmental delays. The same causative agent may produce different constellations of symptoms in a particular child, such as a combination of spastic diplegia, mental retardation, and brain damage, each with its own set of symptoms. In the reactive category, behavior problems may reflect stress on the child who cannot cope with the normative environmental demands because of his physical limitations, or they may appear as the consequence of inappropriate handling. An example of the latter is the failure of some parents to expect as much self-care activity as the child is capable of, thus creating unnecessary helplessness. Both primary and reactive psychiatric disorders may coexist in a particular child.
Refractivity estimation from sea clutter: An invited review

[1] Non-standard radio wave propagation in the atmosphere is caused by anomalous changes of the atmospheric refractivity index. In recent years, refractivity from clutter (RFC) has been an active field of research to complement traditional ways of measuring the refractivity profile in maritime environments which rely on direct sensing of the environmental parameters. Higher temporal and spatial resolution of the refractivity profile, together with a lower cost and convenience of operations have been the promising factors that brought RFC under consideration. Presented is an overview of the basic concepts, research and achievements in the field of RFC. Topics that require more attention in future studies also are discussed.
Enzyme alterable alkylating agents X: Experimental study of an esterase-susceptible water-soluble agent (S-73) for Regional Chemotherapy

Abstract Although circumvention of the problem of systemic toxicity during regional infusions was shown to be possible with S-182, an alkylating agent with a very short half-life, practical use of this drug was hampered by its lack of water solubility and damage to normal tissue near the injection site. Studies were undertaken to find an agent without such shortcomings and ethylene N-2-chloroethyl-N-methylglycine, diester (S-73), a stable water-soluble, bifunctional alkylating agent with esterase-susceptible bonds was studied further. This compound should be rapidly detoxified by esterases in blood and epithelial tissue. In dogs, low doses of S-73 (0.27 μm./kg.) injected into a branch of the mesenteric artery, about 10 cm. from the intestine, damaged the intestinal epithelium but no damage occurred when injected 20 cm. away. HN2 (0.06 μm./kg.) unlike S-73, did not lose its cytotoxic effect when injected twice as far from its target. High doses of S-192 (a monofunctional mustard which could result from the cleavage of S-73 by esterase) were innocuous when injected 10 cm. from the intestine. Bone marrow depression occurred only with high doses of S-73 (17.6 μm./kg.) injected into the left ventricle but not through the femoral vein. The significance of this observation is enhanced by the observation that 2.6 μm. per kilogram of HN2 by either route depresses bone marrow. In vitro studies, however, show that S-73 is not rapidly detoxified in blood, and suggest that much of the compound may be in the uncyclized form which is incapable of alkylating at the time it reaches the target. Nevertheless, in vivo studies reveal that considerable alkylation has occurred at the target. Furthermore, rapid detoxification of S-73 may be inferred by the higher doses required to effect regional damage, the relationship of its cytotoxic effect to distance from the target, and the lack of local effect of its presumed metabolite. Since very high doses of S-192 caused damage in the lungs of dogs, it is not surprising that equivalently high doses of S-73 are also damaging to lung. Preliminary clinical trials [2] in advanced cancer patients have shown that high doses of S-73 have not produced damage to either bone marrow or lung. Mucosal damage on intramesenteric arterial injection and spinal cord damage via the lower aorta in dogs as well as preliminary clinical observations have shown that S-73 is a potent cytotoxic agent when injected near a limited target. On the other hand high doses in a larger tumor-bearing area produced minimal damage to local tissue with no significant systemic effects. Whether clinical cancer can be specifically and significantly damaged with this new agent is in the process of investigation.
Fluid mechanics. Jets from a singular surface

Understanding singularity formation (the classic example is the creation of black holes) can give insights into a broader class of problems than was originally expected. For instance, a study of the special properties of violent jets produced when a tub of viscous liquid is shaken up and down will interest engineers trying to limit the damage caused by certain types of collapsing bubbles.
Fragile X Syndrome FMRP Co-localizes with Regulatory Targets PSD-95, GABA Receptors, CaMKIIα, and mGluR5 at Fiber Cell Membranes in the Eye Lens

Fmr1 and FMRP underlie Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) and are linked with related autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Fmr1 also has an essential role in eye and lens development. Lenses express FMRP along with γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors (GABARs), post-synaptic density protein 95 (PSD-95), Tyr-phosphatase STEP, CaMKIIα and Alzheimer's disease Aβ precursor protein, which are verified targets of FMRP regulation in neurons and outline major topics in FXS/ASD research. PSD-95 as well as CaMKIIα transcripts undergo polypryimidine tract binding protein dependent alternative splicing in lens, consistent with PSD-95 translation in lens. At least 13 GABAR subunits and GAD25/65/67 GABA metabolism enzymes are expressed in lenses beginning in embryonic development, matching neural development. Interestingly, GABAergic drugs (e.g. baclofen) studied as FXS/ASD therapeutics are shown to resolve developmental vision defects in experimental myopia. Here, we demonstrated that FMRP co-localizes at fiber cell membranes with PSD-95, GABAAδ, GABAAβ3, GABBR1, STEP, CaMKIIα, and mGluR5 in young adult lenses. GAD65 and GABA detection was greatest at the peri-nuclear lens region where fiber cell terminal differentiation occurs. These findings add to an extensive list of detailed parallels between fiber cell and neuron morphology and their lateral membrane spine/protrusions, also reflected in the shared expression of genes involved in the morphogenesis and function of these membrane structures, and shared use of associated regulatory mechanisms first described as distinguishing the neuronal phenotype. Future studies can determine if GABA levels currently studied as a FXS/ASD biomarker in the brain, and generated by GAD25/65/67 in a comparable cell environment in the lens, may be similarly responsive to Fmr1 mutation in lens. The present demonstration of FMRP and key regulatory targets in the lens identifies a potential for the lens to provide a new research venue, in the same individual, to inform about Fmr1/FMRP pathobiology in brain as well as lens.
Alignment of AIS with Business Intelligence Requirements

An important issue in the fields of accounting and management decision-making concerns the alignment of the accounting information system with an organization’s needs for conducting business intelligence activities. The present research identifies sources of requirements for business intelligence activities that are contingent on the degree of organizational formalization, information interdependence among functional areas, and dependence in interorganizational information sharing. Results of the empirical study indicated that, as hypothesized, the alignment between the accounting system design and the requirements for business intelligence resulted in a more successful system.
Connectedness in the context of patient-provider relationships: a concept analysis.

PHILLIPS-SALIMI c.r., haase j.e. & kooken w.c. (2012) Connectedness in the context of patient–provider relationships: a concept analysis. Journal of Advanced Nursing68(1), 230–245. Abstract Aim. This paper is a report of an analysis of the concept of connectedness. Background. Previous attempts to conceptualize patient–provider relationships were limited in explaining how such relationships are fostered and maintained, and how they influence patient outcomes. Connectedness is a concept that may provide insights into the advantages of patient–provider relationships; however, the usefulness of this concept in health care is limited by its conceptual ambiguity. Although connectedness is widely used to describe other social relationships, little consistency exists among its definitions and measures. Data sources. Sources identified through CINAHL, OVID, PubMed and PsychINFO databases and references lists of selected articles between 1983 and 2010. Review methods. A hybrid concept analysis approach was used, involving a combination of traditional concept analysis strategies that included: describing historical conceptualizations, identifying attributes, critiquing existing definitions, examining boundaries and identifying antecedents and consequences. Results. Using five distinct historical perspectives, seven attributes of connectedness were identified: intimacy, sense of belonging, caring, empathy, respect, trust and reciprocity. A broad definition of connectedness, which can be used in the context of patient–provider relationships, was developed. A preliminary theoretical framework of connectedness was derived from the identified antecedents, attributes and consequences. Conclusion. Research efforts to advance the concept of connectedness in patient–provider relationships have been hampered by a lack of conceptual clarity. This concept analysis offers a clearer understanding of connectedness, provides recommendations for future research and suggests practice implications.
Oxidative cyclizations in orthosomycin biosynthesis expand the known chemistry of an oxygenase superfamily.

Orthosomycins are oligosaccharide antibiotics that include avilamycin, everninomicin, and hygromycin B and are hallmarked by a rigidifying interglycosidic spirocyclic ortho-δ-lactone (orthoester) linkage between at least one pair of carbohydrates. A subset of orthosomycins additionally contain a carbohydrate capped by a methylenedioxy bridge. The orthoester linkage is necessary for antibiotic activity but rarely observed in natural products. Orthoester linkage and methylenedioxy bridge biosynthesis require similar oxidative cyclizations adjacent to a sugar ring. We have identified a conserved group of nonheme iron, α-ketoglutarate–dependent oxygenases likely responsible for this chemistry. High-resolution crystal structures of the EvdO1 and EvdO2 oxygenases of everninomicin biosynthesis, the AviO1 oxygenase of avilamycin biosynthesis, and HygX of hygromycin B biosynthesis show how these enzymes accommodate large substrates, a challenge that requires a variation in metal coordination in HygX. Excitingly, the ternary complex of HygX with cosubstrate α-ketoglutarate and putative product hygromycin B identified an orientation of one glycosidic linkage of hygromycin B consistent with metal-catalyzed hydrogen atom abstraction from substrate. These structural results are complemented by gene disruption of the oxygenases evdO1 and evdMO1 from the everninomicin biosynthetic cluster, which demonstrate that functional oxygenase activity is critical for antibiotic production. Our data therefore support a role for these enzymes in the production of key features of the orthosomycin antibiotics.
Kokomo: an empirically evaluated methodology for affective applications

The introduction of affect or emotion modeling into software opens up new possibilities for improving user experience. Yet, current techniques for building affective applications are limited, with the treatment of affect in essence handcrafted in each application. The multiagent middleware Koko attempts to reduce the burden of incorporating affect modeling into applications. However, Koko can be effective only if the models it needs to function are suitably constructed.We propose Kokomo, a methodology that employs expressive communicative acts as an organizing principle for affective applications. Kokomo specifies the steps needed to create an affective application in Koko. A key motivation is that Kokomo would facilitate the construction of an affective application by engineers who may lack a prior background in affective modeling.We empirically evaluate Kokomo's utility through a developer study. The results are positive and demonstrate that the developers who used Kokomo were able to develop an affective application in less time, with fewer lines of code, and with a reduced perception of difficulty than developers who worked without Kokomo.
Blue 470 nm light suppresses the growth of Salmonella enterica and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in vitro.

Background and Objective Emerging evidence suggests that blue light can photo-inactivate some bacteria of clinical importance. Consequently, we tested the hypothesis that 470 nm light can suppress growth of two recalcitrant bacteria, MRSA and Salmonella. Materials and Methods We plated 5 × 106 and 7 × 106 CFU/ml USA300 strain of MRSA and 1 × 106 CFU/ml of Salmonella enterica serovars Typhimurium and Heidelberg. Plates were irradiated with 55, 110, 165 and 220 J/cm2 of blue light, incubated at 37°C for 24 hours and colony counts determined. Results Compared with controls, blue light irradiation produced a significant dose-dependent reduction in the number of colonies formed by each bacterial strain (P < 0.001). Irradiation of 5 × 106 and 7 × 106 CFU/ml MRSA with 55 J/cm2 produced 92% (4.6 × 106 CFU/ml) and 86% (6 × 106 CFU/ml) inactivation respectively, while 110 and 220 J/cm2 suppressed each MRSA density 100%. Irradiation of Salmonella Typhimurium with 55 and 110 J/cm2 suppressed bacterial growth 31% (3.1 × 105 CFU/ml) and 93% (9.3 × 105 CFU/ml) respectively; while Salmonella Heidelberg was inhibited 11% (1.1 × 105 CFU/ml) and 84% (8.4 × 105 CFU/ml) respectively by the two fluences. Complete inactivation of each Salmonella strain was achieved using 165 or 220 J/cm2. Conclusion The observed inhibition of Gram-positive (MRSA) and Gram-negative (Salmonella) bacteria suggests the versatility of blue light in bacteria eradication, making it a viable intervention strategy for decontamination of food and environments that harbor such bacteria. Lasers Surg. Med. 47:595–601, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Citizens, Interest Groups, and Local Ballot Initiatives

The state-level ballot initiative process has been criticized for failing to live up to the progressive ideals of a citizen-driven, grassroots endeavor. Much less attention, however, has been paid to the initiative process on the local level. This article assesses the democratic credentials of the local initiative process by analyzing which groups sponsor initiatives and what types of issues they attempt to influence. Using a dataset of California initiatives between 2001 and 2008, I find that the local initiative process is a mix of interest group politics and citizen-driven efforts. There are many examples of “grassroots” campaigns that resemble twentieth-century progressives' hopes for direct democracy. By contrast, established interest groups frequently use ballot measures to accomplish their political goals, similar to dynamics observed at the statewide level. This is a result of the relatively small size of jurisdictions, which creates conditions favorable to both types of politics. El proceso de las propuestas de ley a nivel estatal ha sido criticado por los altos ideales progresistas impulsados por los ciudadanos. Sin embargo, el proceso de iniciativas a nivel local ha recibido mucho menos atencion. Este articulo evalua las cualidades democraticas de los procesos de iniciativas ciudadanas locales analizando que grupos patrocinan iniciativas y que tipos de problemas tratan de influir. Usando una base de datos de las iniciativas California entre 2001 y 2008, encuentro que el proceso de las iniciativas locales es una mezcla de intereses de grupos politicos y esfuerzo impulsado por los ciudadanos. Existen muchos ejemplos de campanas “con raices locales” que se asemejan a las expectativas progresistas del siglo veinte por una democracia directa. Por otra parte, grupos de interes establecidos usan las urnas frecuentemente para lograr sus objetivos politicos, de manera similar a la dinamica observada a nivel estatal. Este es el resultado de areas juridicas relativamente pequenas, lo cual crea condiciones favorables para ambos tipos de politicas. Related Articles:“Conditions for Efficacious Petitions,” (2011): http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1747-1346.2011.00314.x/abstract“Elite Frame Selection and Development in Ballot Initiative Campaigns,” (2009): http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1747-1346.2009.00175.x/abstract“Raiders of the Lost Vote,” (2005): http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1747-1346.2005.tb00643.x/abstract
CO(2) uptake and fixation by a thermoacidophilic microbial community attached to precipitated sulfur in a geothermal spring.

Carbon fixation at temperatures above 73°C, the upper limit for photosynthesis, is carried out by chemosynthetic thermophiles. Yellowstone National Park (YNP), Wyoming possesses many thermal features that, while too hot for photosynthesis, presumably support chemosynthetic-based carbon fixation. To our knowledge, in situ rates of chemosynthetic reactions at these high temperatures in YNP or other high-temperature terrestrial geothermal springs have not yet been reported. A microbial community attached to precipitated elemental sulfur (So floc) at the source of Dragon Spring (73°C, pH 3.1) in Norris Geyser Basin, YNP, exhibited a maximum rate of CO2 uptake of 21.3 ± 11.9 μg of C 107 cells−1 h−1. When extrapolated over the estimated total quantity of So floc at the spring's source, the So floc-associated microbial community accounted for the uptake of 121 mg of C h−1 at this site. On a per-cell basis, the rate was higher than that calculated for a photosynthetic mat microbial community dominated by Synechococcus spp. in alkaline springs at comparable temperatures. A portion of the carbon taken up as CO2 by the So floc-associated biomass was recovered in the cellular nucleic acid pool, demonstrating that uptake was coupled to fixation. The most abundant sequences in a 16S rRNA clone library of the So floc-associated community were related to chemolithoautotrophic Hydrogenobaculum strains previously isolated from springs in the Norris Geyser Basin. These microorganisms likely contributed to the uptake and fixation of CO2 in this geothermal habitat.
Black Slaveowners : Free Black Slave Masters in South Carolina, 1790-1860

Most Americans, both black and white, believe that slavery was a system exclusively maintained by whites to exploit blacks, but Larry Koger's authoritative study reveals the extent to which African Americans played a significant role as slave masters in the peculiar institution. By examining South Carolina's diverse population of African-American slaveowners, Koger demonstrates that free African Americans widely embraced slavery as a viable economic system and that they--like their white counterparts--exploited the labor of slaves on their farms and in their businesses. Drawing on the federal census, wills, mortgage bills of sale, tax returns, and newspaper advertisements, Koger sheds light on the nature of African-American slaveholding, its complexity, and its rationales. He describes how some African-American masters earned their freedom but how many others--primarily mulattoes--were unfamiliar with slavery's dehumanization because they were born of free parents. Koger reveals the caste system that existed within the antebellum African-American community--one in which prosperous mulattoes and African Americans of lighter skin sought to separate themselves from those held in bondage. Koger challenges the notion that most African-American slaveholders were benevolent owners who purchased the freedom of relatives. Instead he shows that while some did buy family members and other slaves for humanitarian reasons, African Americans in South Carolina acquired slaves primarily because they had little access to other sources of labor and because they viewed slaveowning as a means of elevating themselves above the masses.
Statistical analysis of thresholding errors for adaptive projection-based fast block matching motion estimation

Fast and accurate block-based motion estimation (BME) is desired in many video coding systems. By conducting block matching in lower dimensional projection space, followed by candidate exclusion through thresholding, projection-based BME (PBME) methods can run several times faster than the exhaustive full search method, with little loss in accuracy. In PBME methods, the appropriate choice of threshold is critical, as the threshold controls the important trade-offs between complexity and accuracy. In the literature, PBME methods rely on fixed thresholds that were chosen on an ad hoc basis. This paper provides an in-depth analysis of errors due to thresholding in PBME, based on the sum absolute difference (SAD) as the matching criterion. A new PBME method is proposed that can adaptively select thresholds according to a target probability of error. Simulation results show that this adaptive method can offer highly scalable complexity/accuracy tradeoffs desired in many fast BME algorithms.
A mass transfer model of absorption of carbon dioxide in a bubble column reactor by using magnesium hydroxide slurry

Abstract A bubble column reactor was tested and evaluated for carbon dioxide removal from flue gases by using magnesium hydroxide slurry. The study showed that a high CO 2 removal efficiency could be achieved. An absorption model was developed for system analysis and CO 2 removal data analysis. The overall mass transfer coefficients for CO 2 -H 2 O and CO 2 -Mg(OH) 2 -H 2 O systems have been calculated. The chemistry of the system, temperature effects, and changes of equilibrium constants also have been discussed.
Randomized trial of low-dose interleukin-2 vs cyclosporine A and interferon- γ after high-dose chemotherapy with peripheral blood progenitor support in women with high-risk primary breast cancer

High-risk primary breast cancer patients treated with high-dose chemotherapy (HDC) and stem cell support (SCS) have shown prolonged disease-free survival (DFS) in many studies; however, only one trial has demonstrated an overall survival benefit (OS). We hypothesize that the period following myeloablative therapy is ideal for immunologic manipulation and studied the effects of two different methods of immunotherapy following HDC with SCS aimed at the window of immune reconstitution. Seventy-two women with high-risk stage II or III breast cancer were randomized following HDC to receive either interleukin 2 (IL-2) at 1 million units/m(2) SQ daily for 28 days or combined cyclosporine A (CsA) at 1.25 mg/kg intravenously daily from day 0 to +28 and interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) 0.025 mg/m(2) SQ every 2 days from day +7 to +28. At a median follow-up of 67 months, no significant difference was observed in DFS or OS between the two treatment groups. The IL-2 arm had a 59% DFS (95% CI (0.45, 0.78)) and a 72% OS (95% CI (0.58, 0.88)) at 5 years. The CsA/INF-gamma arm had a similar outcome with a 55% DFS (95% CI (0.40, 0.76)) and a 78% OS (95% CI (0.65, 0.94)) at 5 years. Treatment was well tolerated, without increased toxicity.
Syngas production from burner-stabilized methane/air flames: The effect of preheated reactants

Abstract The effect of preheated reactants on syngas production from a methane/air flame was investigated over a range of inlet temperatures up to 630 K. In addition to experimental measurements, the results from a burner-stabilized flame and freely-propagating flame models are presented. A comparison of the modeling and experimental results in terms of flame standoff distance, stability limit conditions and species yields show excellent agreement across a broad range of equivalence ratios and preheat temperatures. Preheating of reactants increased the rich limit for stable operation from 1.26 to 1.75 for a given inlet velocity, and syngas yields were shown to increase with equivalence ratio. The preheat temperature of the reactants was shown to have little impact on syngas yields beyond extending the limits of stable operation. The results of this study are useful for the design and analysis of heat recirculating reactors and other reactors that are designed for producing syngas through the combustion of rich mixtures.
Curvature in the eighties

ROBERT OSSERMAN wrote a Ph.D. thesis on Riemann surfaces under the direction of Lars V. Ahlfors at Harvard University. He gradually moved from geometric function theory to minimal surfaces, differential geometry, isoperimetric inequalities, and some aspects of partial differential equations and ergodic theory. He has been at Stanford University since 1955 and will be spending half time as Deputy Director of MSRI in Berkeley for a period of three years, starting September 1, 1990.
News diffusion of the George Wallace shooting: The apparent lack of interpersonal communication as an artifact of delayed measurement

Reactions to the Wallace shooting and awareness of it indicate that the role of interpersonal first sources of information was much greater than expected from previous studies. A second study supported the hypothesis that delays between the event and the time‐of‐interview account for the apparent lack of interpersonal influence in other studies, through the dissociation of source and content within the receiver.
Effect of freezing and lyophilization on the chicken cell agglutination (CCA) activity of inactivated influenza virus vaccines.

The CCA activity of formalin-inactivated influenza vaccine prepared by the conventional Sharples and the newer ether-degraded hemagglutinin processes was reduced by freezing and subsequent storage at −20‡C and −70‡C. Lyophilization also adversely affected their CCA value. Vaccines prepared by the zonal ultra-centrifugation method were relatively unaffected by freezing and storage at freezing temperatures. Lyophilization did result in a decrease in the CCA activity of zonal vaccines. However, this was not as marked as the decreases seen with the other preparations.
In vitro effects of ACTH on uridine incorporation into rapidly labelled adrenal RNA of normal and dexamethasone-suppressed rats.

Abstract Adrenals from control and dexamethasone suppressed rats were incubated in a continuous flow system and exposed to ACTH and radioactive uridine. The adrenal response to ACTH was measured by corticosterone determination in the effluent medium. Cytoplasmic RNA was extracted and fractionated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. ACTH increased the incorporation of labelled uridine into total RNA and all RNA species on the gels of normal and suppressed adrenals, but with a preferential incorporation into the 18S fraction.