cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Genetic screening: carriers and affected individuals.

▪ Abstract Genetic screening utilizes analytical approaches adapted for high throughput to identify carrier and affected individuals in a targeted population. Currently, genetic screening focuses on carrier screening, prenatal screening, and newborn screening. Newborn screening should serve as a model for all genetic screening, with more than forty years of experience and numerous lessons learned. As with all genetic screening, there are policy concerns in newborn screening regarding which disorders and technologies should be selected, and how centralized or decentralized the process to set policy should be. The need to share experiences and develop databases transcends all other policy considerations in genetic screening. The future will see population-based screening for adult-onset disorders. However, there needs to be extensive research to define predictive risk for various ethnocultural groups and to determine effective interventions. Ethical concerns regarding the timing of population screening, as ...
Fundamentals in Nuclear Physics: From Nuclear Structure to Cosmology

Basic concepts in nuclear physics.- Nuclear models and stability.- Nuclear reactions.- Nuclear decays and fundamental interactions.- Radioactivity and all that.- Fission.- Fusion.- Nuclear Astrophysics.- Nuclear Cosmology.
Sterol methyl transferase: enzymology and inhibition.

Abstract Sterol C-methylations catalyzed by the (S)-adenosyl- l -methionine: Δ24-sterol methyl transferase (SMT) have provided the focus for study of electrophilic alkylations, a reaction type of functional importance in C–C bond formation of natural products. SMTs occur generally in nature, but do not occur in animal systems, suggesting that the difference in sterol synthetic pathways can be exploited therapeutically and in insect–plant interactions. The SMT genes from several plants and fungi have been cloned, sequenced and expressed in bacteria or yeast and bioengineered into tobacco or tomato plants. These enzymes share significant amino acid sequence similarity in the putative sterol and AdoMet binding sites. Investigations of the molecular recognition of sterol fitness and studies with stereospecifically labeled substrates as well as various sterol analogs assayed with native or mutant SMTs from fungi and plants have been carried out recently in our own and other laboratories. These analyses have led to an active-site model, referred to as the ‘steric-electric plug’ model, which is consistent with a non-covalent mechanism involving the intermediacy of a 24β-methyl (or ethyl) sterol bound to the ternary complex. Despite the seeming differences between fungal and plant SMT activities the recent data indicate that a distinct SMT or family of SMTs exist in these organisms which bind and transform sterols according to a similar mechanistic plan. Vascular plants have been found to express different complements of C1/C2-activities in the form of at least three SMT isoforms. This enzyme multiplicity can be a target of regulatory control to affect phytosterol homeostasis in transgenic plants. The state of our current understanding of SMT enzymology and inhibition is presented.
`Like a Shrivelled Blood Orange'—Bilirubin, Jaundice, and Phototherapy

The biochemistry of bilirubin is reviewed with particular reference to newborn infants. The formation, properties, and metabolism of bilirubin are summarized and the importance of molecular shape, hydrogen-bonding, and polarity on the biologic disposition of bilirubin is emphasized. The chemical basis for the subtle influence of visible (blue) light on bilirubin structure and metabolism is explained, and recent concepts of the mechanism of phototherapy are presented. A glossary of current jargon is appended.
Trends in the ultimate breakdown strength of high dielectric-constant materials

The ultimate breakdown strength E/sub bd/ of a dielectric material is found to decrease as the dielectric-constant k increases. A thermochemical description of the ultimate breakdown strength of high-k dielectrics suggests that E/sub bd/ should reduce approximately as (k)/sup -1/2/ over a wide range of dielectric materials while the field-acceleration parameter /spl gamma/ should increase in similar but inverse manner. New time-dependent dielectric breakdown (TDDB) data are presented over a wide range of dielectric materials and E/sub bd/ was found to decrease as (k)/sup -0.65/ while /spl gamma/ increases as (k)/sup 0.66/. The good agreement between thermochemical theory and high-k TDDB observations suggests that the very high local electric field (Lorentz-relation/Mossotti-field) in high-k dielectrics tends to distort/weaken the polar molecular bonds making them more susceptible to bond breakage by standard Boltzmann processes and/or by hole-capture and thus lowers the breakdown strength.
Autophagy in the pathogen Candida albicans.

Autophagy is a major cellular process that facilitates the bulk degradation of eukaryotic macromolecules and organelles, through degradation within the lysosomal/vacuole compartment. This has been demonstrated to influence a diverse array of eukaryotic cell functions including adaptation, differentiation and developmental programmes. For example, in Saccharomyces cerevisiae autophagy is required for sporulation and survival of nitrogen starvation. The opportunistic pathogen Candida albicans has the ability to colonize and cause disease within a diverse range of mammalian host sites. The ability to adapt and differentiate within the host is liable to be critical for host colonization and infection. Previous results indicated that the vacuole plays an important role in C. albicans adaptation to stress, differentiation, and survival within and injury of host cells. In this study the importance of vacuole-mediated degradation through the process of autophagy was investigated. This involved identification and deletion of ATG9, a C. albicans gene required for autophagy. The deletion strain was blocked in autophagy and the closely related cytoplasm to vacuole (cvt) trafficking pathway. This resulted in sensitivity to nitrogen starvation, but no defects in growth rate, vacuole morphology or resistance to other stresses. This indicates that the mutant has specific defects in autophagy/cvt trafficking. Given the importance of autophagy in the development and differentiation of other eukaryotes, it was surprising to find that the atg9Δ mutant was unaffected in either yeast–hypha or chlamydospore differentiation. Furthermore, the atg9Δ mutant survived within and killed a mouse macrophage-like cell line as efficiently as control strains. The data suggest that autophagy plays little or no role in C. albicans differentiation or during interaction with host cells.
Online news reading behavior: From habitual reading to stumbling upon news

The Internet and new technologies are changing the information behavior of news readers. This study explored the perception of news and online news reading behavior by applying Savolainen's (1995) model of Everyday Life Information Seeking. Online news readers participated in a two-phase mixed method study. The first phase involved a web survey with 148 participants recruited through the website of a local newspaper and the second phase followed up with think-aloud interviews with 20 survey respondents. The findings revealed that while for some respondents the perception of news is tied to traditional media, another group held a much broader view that went beyond what is reported by professional journalists. These respondents considered “all of the Internet” as news. Findings of this study indicate that that online news reading mostly happens on a habitual basis without conscious decisions from news consumers. Many respondents stated that they follow the same routine of reading news online at specific times every day and monitor news throughout the day. However, for many respondents incidental exposure to online news is becoming a typical way to get informed about the new events.
Intergenerational Equity in Natural Resource Extraction: Rhetoric or Rationality?

Whether we would rather live in a world that takes a more responsible ecological approach is a moot point. Whether we like it or not, the world we have is the world we inherited. Judging by the frenzy of growth in the world market, future generations might start to bear some heavy burdens due to our choices with regards to natural resources. The problem is that, while we may lament this state of affairs, it is perhaps not in our nature to change our course, at least in our private choices. The market works on economic principles, and these principles are based upon the innate and irrepressible human tendency to maximize his wealth. Only if mankind shared the norm that sustainability and intergenerational equity are of utmost value could the market effect a change in extraction behaviors. This paper explores the ways in which norms inform our decision-making, and how they are still highly useful today, since we still suffer from an incomplete data set from which to make complex ecological decisions. Logging and mining (renewable and nonrenewable resources) both illustrate the inability of industry to take stock of intergenerational equity. Although the arguments in favor of taking up the cause of intergenerational equity are, at bottom, rhetorical, they seem to strike a chord with us. The problem that is left, then, is how to take what we believe to be right, and incorporate that value into the economics of natural resources extraction. That is, how can we rationalize the rhetoric?
A model for determination of radome transmission, reflection, depolarization, loss, and effects on antenna patterns

Even though a radar antenna may be carefully designed to have low sidelobes and high radiation efficiency, a poorly designed radome can degrade its performance seriously. Degradation occurs both because of losses in the radome and by distortion in the antenna pattern as a result of deformation of the effective illumination pattern. In addition, radiation scattered from the radome may affect the radar performance by elevating antenna sidelobes, thus adding to the clutter that must be mitigated via signal processing. We present a method for analyzing radome performance and give examples of calculations showing transmission, reflection, loss, and antenna pattern effects for spherical and ogive radomes. The approach is sufficiently general for application to almost any radome shape.
γ/IgG ratio: role in distinguishing monoclonal spikes from fibrinogen

Serum protein electrophoresis (SPEP) is a standard screening method for detecting monoclonal gammopathies. Presence of fibrinogen, however, can mimic a true monoclonal spike and interfere with accurate monoclonal protein identification. We describe a novel approach for distinguishing fibrinogen spikes from true monoclonal spikes. We classified 600 individual patient samples into four groups: group 1, 58 samples with a fibrinogen spike; group 2, 127 samples with a spike due to a monoclonal gammopathy; group 3, 181 samples with previously established monoclonal gammopathies but resolved posttreatment; and group 4, 234 control samples without monoclonal gammopathies. The value of using a γ region fraction/IgG ratio in distinguishing fibrinogen from true monoclonal spikes was assessed. The γ/IgG ratio in the fibrinogen group is significantly (P<0.0001) higher than this ratio in the other three groups. A γ/IgG ratio cut-off value of 1.13 discriminates true monoclonal gammopathies from fibrinogen. Moreover, exclusion of elevated IgA or IgM cases improves the ratio's predictive power. The probability cut-off is 0.756, corresponding to a γ/IgG ratio of 1 (93% sensitivity, 91% specificity). Using the γ/IgG ratio improves the screening power of SPEP and offers a simple and reliable diagnostic tool for distinguishing fibrinogen spikes from true monoclonal spikes.
Ethnic Differences in Mother-Infant Language and Gestural Communications Are Associated with Specific Skills in Infants.

We examined gestural and verbal interactions in 226 mother–infant pairs from Mexican, Dominican, and African American backgrounds when infants were 14 months and 2 years of age, and related these interactions to infants’ emerging skills. At both ages, dyads were video-recorded as they shared a wordless number book, a wordless emotion book, and beads and string. We coded mothers’ and infants’ gestures and language ⁄ vocalizations. Each maternal utterance was coded as referential (e.g. ‘That’s a bead’) or regulatory (e.g. ‘Put it there’). Mothers reported on infants’ gestural, receptive, and productive vocabularies at 14 months, and infants were assessed on receptive language, expressive language, and action sequencing and imitation at 2 years of age. Mothers of the three ethnicities differed in their gesturing, distributions of the two types of language, and coupling of language and gestures. Mothers’ ethnicity, language, and gestures were differentially associated with infants’ 2-year skills. Mother–infant communicative interactions are foundational to infant learning and development, and ethnic differences in modes of early communication portend divergent pathways in the development of specific skills.
Greater sadness reactivity in late life

Although previous research suggests that overall emotional reactivity does not change with normal aging, it is possible that different emotions follow different developmental courses. We examined emotional reactivity to films selected to elicit sadness, disgust, and a neutral state in young, middle-aged and older adults (total N ¼ 222). Physiology and expressive behavior were measured continuously and reports of subjective emotional experience were obtained following each film. Results indicated that older adults reported greater sadness in response to all films and greater physiological responses to the sadness film than did the younger age groups. There were no age differences found in self-reported disgust or in behavioral expressions of sadness or disgust in response to any film. The age differences that were found were maintained even after controlling for pre-film self-reported sadness and for personal experiences of loss. These findings support the notion that sadness reactivity is heightened with age.
“The horror tonight:” Network television news and three mile island

A content analysis of television network news coverage of the accident at the nuclear plant at Three Mile Island in 1979 reveals contrasting reporting styles of both anchors and correspondents. ABC's style was generally sensationalist, CBS was informative and reassuring, NBC was didactic and ambiguous.
Analysis of Information about Television in Developmental Psychology Textbooks

A content analysis of the information about television and children was performed on child and adolescent development textbooks to determine the degree of emphasis and quality of information provided. There is considerable variability among textbooks with respect to the amount and type of information. Pairwise group comparisons indicate that information about television declined from 1986 to 1989 and that child development texts are more likely than child and adolescent or adolescent textbooks to present information about television. Analysis of the textbook material is contrasted with the extensive literature on television and children to indicate biases and omissions in textbook presentations. Implications of these findings for teaching courses in child and adolescent development are discussed.
Optical characterization of electron-phonon interactions at the saddle point in graphene.

The role of many-body interactions is experimentally and theoretically investigated near the saddle point absorption peak of graphene. The time and energy-resolved differential optical transmission measurements reveal the dominant role played by electron-acoustic phonon coupling in band structure renormalization. Using a Born approximation for electron-phonon coupling and experimental estimates of the dynamic lattice temperature, we compute the differential transmission line shape. Comparing the numerical and experimental line shapes, we deduce the effective acoustic deformation potential to be ${D}_{\text{eff}}^{\text{ac}}\ensuremath{\simeq}5\text{ }\mathrm{eV}$. This value is in accord with recent theoretical predictions but differs from those extracted using electrical transport measurements.
Self‐Restraint as a Mediator of Family Influences on Boys' Delinquent Behavior: A Longitudinal Study

In the course of social development, family influences seem to become partly internalized and transformed into personality characteristics that regulate behavior outside the family sphere. In a longitudinal study of 81 boys and their families, we hypothesized that individual differences in boys' self-restraint would serve as a mediator between family factors in preadolescence and sons' delinquent behavior 4 years later. Measures were derived from principal components analyses of multiple indices of each construct as assessed by multiple informants. As expected, parenting practices measured at both pre- and mid-adolescence predicted delinquent acts only indirectly via their association with boys' self-restraint. In addition, general family functioning at preadolescence, independent of other scores, predicted boys' levels of self-restraint 4 years later. There was no evidence that boys' self-restraint at preadolescence systematically affected the quality of parenting that they subsequently received. Parents' and families' role in children's development of self-regulatory skills may be a primary vehicle by which they ultimately influence adolescents' problem behaviors.
Comparing CVA and ERA in transfer function measurements for lithography applications

Identification of linear, time invariant systems from input and response time series is a demanding problem with applications in virtually every area of science and technology. Recently several important techniques have been developed to derive the state model of a multiple-input, multiple-response system from measured values of the input and response time series. Two algorithms commonly in use are canonical variate analysis (CVA) and the eigensystem realization algorithm (ERA). In this paper we develop a realistic numerical model for a lithographic stage, which is a complex dynamic, structural system. Identification of this model is performed over a range of signal-to-noise ratios using both CVA and ERA techniques. An error measure is developed based on comparisons of the system and model impulse responses. This measure directly compares the two techniques. The CVA estimates of the state model are substantially more accurate than those provided by ERA.
Regulation of Stem Cells by the Endocannabinoid System

The endocannabinoids, endogenous lipid mediators of related chemical structure to the prototype exogenous cannabinoid Δ9-THC found in marijuana, have emerged as important mediators that regulate central and peripheral neural functions as well as immune responses. Endogenous and exogenous cannabinoid ligands bind to cannabinoid receptors: the predominant central cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1) and the peripheral cannabinoid receptor type 2 (CB2). CB1 and CB2 are members of the G-protein coupled receptor family. Cannabinoids were shown to modulate the immune system and to affect the migration of blood cells, such as T-cells, monocytes and myeloid leukemia cells, through CB receptors. Recent data indicate the potential role of cannabinoid ligands and receptors in the regulation of hematopoiesis and hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) migration and trafficking. These studies may lead to clinical applications of cannabinoid-based compounds as new HSC-mobilizer agents for therapeutic intervention in bone marrow failure.
Low-Cost Workflow Improvement Reduces Gastrointestinal Block Use 17% by Altering Classic Histotechnology Testing

Objectives: Gastrointestinal (GI) biopsy specimens were previously limited to four per cassette to facilitate established internal technical work practices and histotechnology best practice guidelines. We evaluated the workflow of these biopsy specimens. Methods: We implemented three specific changes: (1) up to 10 GI biopsy specimens could be placed in each cassette, (2) histotechnologists would no longer orient GI biopsy specimens, and (3) embedding would be in a straight line rather than diagonal. We evaluated the effects of these changes on total block numbers, quality of slides, and perceptions of staff. Results: The mean number of cassettes used was reduced 17% for GI biopsy cases, or an overall decrease of 3% of total blocks processed by our histopathology laboratory. Slide quality was unchanged. Staff reported increased job satisfaction. Conclusions: This simple, low-cost, low-effort process change yielded immediate and significant time savings for grossing and histology staff, increased job satisfaction, and challenges conventional histotechnology teaching.
Turkey, the West, Secularism and Fanaticism

The presentation of different nationalities and religious movements in the press varies given the source of the publication and the background of the reporter. Walter Lippman (1914) produced the first comprehensive discussion of this problem nearly 100 years ago during another period of international crisis. Edward Said (1981) addressed the current form of the problem in the general context of Islam and the Western press. In this essay, I briefly focus the analysis on the Western press and Turkey, with regard to the relation of religion and secularism comparing both to Turkey and nations in the West. The means of defining or measuring the degree of influence of religion is diffuse and by using some current standards the USA would be considered a fundamentalist nation. An examination of the Armenian Question is also included. I also examine these problems and the related idea of the conflict of cultures that so profoundly undermines the means of securing a constructive international dialogue on the crisis of our times.
New technologies in drug metabolism and toxicity screening: organ-to-organ interaction.

Pharmaceutical drugs are necessary to cure or slow down the progression of diseases. The promising chemical and biological candidates that go through the drug development process are evaluated firs...
On the existence of a cell granule in a thermophilic bacterium.

ConclusionThe red fraction, previously isolated from a stenothermophilic bacterium, represents a specific piece of bacterial protoplasm. The evidence presented consists of photographs taken with the phase contrast microscope, photomicrographs of stained preparations of bacteria and of red fraction, and of enzymatic data. The enzymatic data rest chiefly on the presence of succinoxidase activity.
Measuring the maturity of a technology : guidance on assigning a TRL.

This report provides guidance on how to assign a technology readiness level (TRL). The method proposed assists in assigning TRLs through a series of questions that focus on a set of unambiguous maturation metrics. This method is slightly biased towards the environment and approach to technology maturation at Sandia National Laboratories where customers and suppliers are in very close proximity to one another, allowing for supplier-customer interactions at a very early stage in technology development. The hope is that this report can serve as a practical guide to anyone trying to understand the maturity of a specific technology. Risk is reduced in system acquisition by selecting mature technologies for inclusion in system development. TRLs are used to assess the maturity of evolving technologies and therefore become part of an overall risk reduction strategy in system development.
Two-dimensional echocardiography in dogs. Variation of left ventricular mass, geometry, volume, and ejection fraction on cardiopulmonary bypass

Quantitative two-dimensional echocardiography was evaluated in 39 open-chest dogs placed on cardiopulmonary bypass. The correlation coefficient of left ventricular end-diastolic volume against postmortem pressure-volume curves was r = 0.89 to 0.93 (347 measurements in 15 dogs, 0 to 24 mm Hg). Ejection fraction was validated against roller pump flow and echo left ventricular end-diastolic volume (r = 0.83, n = 13). Left ventricular mass in vivo was compared with postmortem left ventricular mass (r = 0.81 in 21 early studies, r = 0.91 in 10 later studies with updated equipment) and was found to increase with ischemic injury as well as cardiopulmonary bypass with hemodilution. Left ventricular mass increased (p less than 0.001) from 119 +/- 5 (standard error of the mean) to 138 +/- 6 gm (n = 23) after 2 1/2 hours on cardiopulmonary bypass and moderate hemodilution. With the addition of ischemic arrest, left ventricular mass increased from 119 +/- 7 to 148 +/- 11 gm (p less than 0.01, n = 8), and myocardial water content increased by 2.0% +/- 0.4%, which accounted for at least 65% of the observed mass change. Mean left ventricular wall thickness increased from 13.8 to 15.5 mm (p = 0.02) after ischemia. Ventricular shape became more spherical with increasing left ventricular end-diastolic pressure. We conclude that two-dimensional echocardiography can be reliably used for accurate, serial measurements in physiological studies. The demonstrated variability in left ventricular mass is important, yet frequently ignored. Recognizing left ventricular mass changes may facilitate the detection of myocardial injury reflected as edema.
LIQUID ANTIBIOTIC IN BONE CEMENT: AN EFFECTIVE WAY TO INCREASE THE ANTIBIOTIC RELEASE EFFICACY OF ANTIBIOTIC-LOADED BONE CEMENT

Objectives This study is to compare the elution characteristics, antimicrobial activity, and mechanical properties of antibiotic-loaded bone cement (ALBC) loaded with powder antibiotic, powder antibiotic with inert filler (xylitol), or liquid antibiotic, particularly focusing on vancomycin and amphotericin B. Methods Cement specimens loaded with 2 g of vancomycin or amphotericin B powder (powder group), 2 g of antibiotic powder, and 2 g of xylitol (xylitol group) or 12 ml of antibiotic solution containing 2 g of antibiotic (liquid group) were tested. Results Vancomycin elution was enhanced by 234% in the liquid group and by 12% in the xylitol group compared with the powder group. Amphotericin B elution was enhanced by 265% in the liquid group and by 65% in the xylitol group compared with the powder group. Based on the disk-diffusion assay, the eluate samples of vancomycin–loaded ALBC of the liquid group exhibited a significantly larger inhibitory zone than samples of the powder or xylitol group. Regarding the amphotericin B–loaded ALBCs, only the eluate samples of the liquid group exhibited a clear inhibitory zone which was not observed in either xylitol nor powder groups. The ultimate compressive strength was significantly reduced in specimens containing liquid antibiotics. Conclusions Adding vancomycin or amphotericin B antibiotic powder in distilled water before mixing with bone cement can significantly improve the antibiotic-release efficacy than that by loading ALBC with the same dose of antibiotic powder. This simple, and effective method for preparation of ALBCs can significantly improve the antibiotic-release efficacy of ALBCs.
Engineering Education for Elementary Students

In the last two decades educators have begun advocate for the inclusion of engineering at the pre-university level. Before this time, efforts were focused on students at the secondary level – a goal was to recruit and prepare students for engineering majors in college. More recently, attention has turned to involving younger children – elementary children – in engineering activities.
Cavernous Malformations and Other Vascular Abnormalities: Observation-Alone Perspective

Observation alone as a reasonable option in management of cavernous malformations (CMs) or other vascular abnormalities can only be justified based on a favorable comparison between the natural history of the lesion and the expected effi- cacy and risks of treatment. For each lesion type in question, we will review existing knowledge regarding natural history in comparison with the effects of radiosurgical treatment.
The audience eats more if a movie character keeps eating: An unconscious mechanism for media influence on eating behaviors

Media's presentation of eating is an important source of influence on viewers' eating goals and behaviors. Drawing on recent research indicating that whether a story character continues to pursue a goal or completes a goal can unconsciously influence an audience member's goals, a scene from a popular movie comedy was manipulated to end with a character continuing to eat (goal ongoing) or completed eating (goal completed). Participants (N = 147) were randomly assigned to a goal status condition. As a reward, after viewing the movie clip viewers were offered two types of snacks: ChexMix and M&M's, in various size portions. Viewers ate more food after watching the characters continue to eat compared to watching the characters complete eating, but only among those manipulated to identify with a character. Viewers were more likely to choose savory food after viewing the ongoing eating scenes, but sweet dessert-like food after viewing the completed eating scenes. The results extend the notion of media influence on unconscious goal contagion and satiation to movie eating, and raise the possibility that completing a goal can activate a logically subsequent goal. Implications for understanding media influence on eating and other health behaviors are discussed.
Promoting healthy nutrition in Mexican immigrant communities: results of the Secretos de la Buena Vida project.

CS19-01 A variety of nutrition interventions have targeted the Latino population, but little research has been conducted to determine the comparative efficacy and sustainability of these dietary behavior change methods among Latinos. In an attempt to inform the research, a randomized controlled trial, Secretos de la Buena Vida [Secrets of the Good Life], measured the 1-year impact of two dietary behavior-change interventions designed to reduce fat intake and increase consumption of dietary fiber among Mexican immigrant women. To accomplish this, a sample of 357 Spanish-dominant Latinas was recruited by random-digit-dialing to participate in a 14-week tailored nutrition communication intervention. Each woman was randomly assigned to one of the following three conditions: 1) tailored mailed print materials with personalized dietary counseling by lay health advisors (promotoras), 2) tailored mailed print materials only (tailored), and 3) targeted mailed "off-the-shelf" materials. Dietary data was collected at four different time points: baseline, 12 weeks (two weeks prior to the intervention conclusion), 6-months post-intervention, and finally, 12-months post-intervention. The initial analysis of the three groups in the immediate post-intervention period revealed significant improvements in the nutritional outcomes among the promotora group, as compared to the tailored and control groups. However, analyses of the follow-up periods indicate that the dietary achievements of the promotora group were no longer significant, while the tailored group continued to realize dietary improvements. The significant and relatively immediate improvements among the promotora group participants suggest that the personalized counseling and interpersonal interaction through home visits and phone calls served as significant behavioral reinforcement. In the short-term, the additional individual tailoring that may have occurred as a result of the relational dynamic made this intervention more effective when compared to the other two groups, but additional research is needed to determine if lasting behavioral effects can be achieved through intermittent follow-up counseling with promotoras.
Assessment of Initial Vancomycin Dosing in Pediatric Oncology Patients

This was a retrospective audit assessing vancomycin dosing of 60 mg/kg/day in the attainment of therapeutic concentrations between 10–20 mcg/mL among 56 pediatric oncology patients. Twelve patients (21%) achieved therapeutic concentrations of 10–20 mcg/mL, while 44 patients (79%) obtained trough levels below 10 mcg/mL despite the addition of nephrotoxic agents.
Evaluation of the respiratory tract toxicity of ortho-phthalaldehyde, a proposed alternative for the chemical disinfectant glutaraldehyde.

Abstractortho-Phthalaldehyde (OPA) is a high-level chemical disinfectant that is commonly used for chemical sterilization of dental and medical instruments as an alternative to glutaraldehyde, a known skin and respiratory sensitizer. Concern for safe levels of human exposure remains due to a lack of toxicity data as well as human case reports of skin and respiratory sensitization following OPA exposure. The present study evaluated the inhalational toxicity of OPA in Harlan Sprague–Dawley rats and B6C3F1/N mice. Groups of 10 male and female rats and mice were exposed to OPA by whole-body inhalation for 3 months at concentrations of 0 (control), 0.44, 0.88, 1.75, 3.5, or 7.0 ppm. Rats and mice developed a spectrum of lesions at sites of contact throughout the respiratory tract (nose, larynx, trachea, lung), as well as in the skin and eye, consistent with a severe irritant response. In general, histologic lesions (necrosis, inflammation, regeneration, hyperplasia and metaplasia) occurred at deeper sites with...
Magnetic structure and excitation spectrum of the hyperhoneycomb Kitaev magnet β-Li2IrO3

© 2018 American Physical Society. We present a theoretical study of the static and dynamical properties of the three-dimensional, hyperhoneycomb Kitaev magnet β-Li2IrO3. We argue that the observed incommensurate order can be understood in terms of a long-wavelength twisting of a nearby commensurate period-3 state, with the same key qualitatively features. The period-3 state shows very different structure when either the Kitaev interaction K or the off-diagonal exchange anisotropy Γ is dominant. A comparison of the associated static spin structure factors with reported scattering experiments in zero and finite fields gives strong evidence that β-Li2IrO3 lies in the regime of dominant Kitaev coupling, and that the Heisenberg exchange J is much weaker than both K and Γ. Our predictions for the magnon excitation spectra, the dynamical spin structure factors, and their polarization dependence provide additional distinctive fingerprints that can be checked experimentally.
Driven similarity renormalization group for excited states: A state-averaged perturbation theory.

The multireference driven similarity renormalization group (MRDSRG) approach [C. Li and F. A. Evangelista, J. Chem. Theory Comput. 11, 2097 (2015)] is generalized to treat quasi-degenerate electronic excited states. The new scheme, termed state-averaged (SA) MRDSRG, is a state-universal approach that considers an ensemble of quasi-degenerate states on an equal footing. Using the SA-MRDSRG framework, we implement second- (SA-DSRG-PT2) and third-order (SA-DSRG-PT3) perturbation theories. These perturbation theories can treat a manifold of near-degenerate states at the cost of a single state-specific computation. At the same time, they have several desirable properties: (1) they are intruder-free and size-extensive, (2) their energy expressions can be evaluated non-iteratively and require at most the three-body density cumulant of the reference states, and (3) the reference states are allowed to relax in the presence of dynamical correlation effects. Numerical benchmarks on the potential energy surfaces of l...
A Neural Processor for Maze Solving

This paper describes an nMOS integrated circuit designed in the late 1970’s that performed the computationally expensive portion of a maze-solving algorithm using a fine-grained parallel processor architecture. The algorithm included continuously variable weights associated with travel through the maze in different directions. The integrated circuit described here directly incorporated those weights as analog parameters affecting inter-processor communication of digital data. The combination of fine-grained parallelism and inter-processor communication controlled by analog weights was unique, and can be viewed as an early example of what might now be called a neural system.
Increasing trends in high-severity fire in the southwestern USA from 1984 to 2015

Abstract In the last three decades, over 4.1 million hectares have burned in Arizona and New Mexico and the largest fires in documented history have occurred in the past two decades. Changes in burn severity over time, however, have not been well documented in forest and woodland ecosystems in the southwestern US. Using remotely sensed burn severity data from 1621 fires (>404 ha), we assessed trends from 1984 to 2015 in Arizona and New Mexico in (1) number of fires and total area burned in all vegetation types; (2) area burned, area of high-severity, and percent of high-severity fire in all forest and woodland areas; and (3) area burned, area of high-severity, and percent of high-severity in seven different grouped forest and woodland vegetation types (Ecological Response Unit [ERU] Fire Regime Types). Number of fires and area burned increased across the Southwest regardless of vegetation type. The significant increasing trends held for area burned, area of high-severity, and percent of high-severity fire in all forest and woodland ecosystems. Area burned and area burned severely increased in all seven ERU Fire Regime Types while percent of high-severity fire increased in two ERUs: Mixed Conifer Frequent Fire and Mixed Conifer with Aspen/Spruce Fir. Managers must face the implications of increasing, uncharacteristic high-severity fire in many ecosystems as climate change and human pressures continue to affect fire regimes.
Fabrication of bioinspired, self-cleaning, anti-icing, superliquiphilic/phobic titanium using different pathways.

Titanium is an important material having a high tensile strength-to-density ratio and high corrosion resistance. It has found applications in the aerospace, marine, automotive and biomedical indust...
In situ graphene liquid cell-transmission electron microscopy study of insulin secretion in pancreatic islet cells.

Background Islet cell transplantation is one of the key treatments for type 1 diabetes. Understanding the mechanisms of insulin fusion and exocytosis are of utmost importance for the improvement of the current islet cell transplantation and treatment of diabetes. These phenomena have not been fully evaluated due either to the lack of proper dynamic imaging, or the lack of proper cell preservation during imaging at nanoscales. Methods By maintaining the native environment of pancreatic β-cells between two graphene monolayer sheets, we were able to monitor the subcellular events using in situ graphene liquid cell (GLC)-transmission electron microscopy (TEM) with both high temporal and high spatial resolution. Results For the first time, the nucleation and growth of insulin particles until the later stages of fusion were imaged at nanometer scales. The release of insulin from plasma membrane involves the degradation of plasma membrane and drastic reductions in the shorter axis of the insulin particles. Sequential exocytosis results indicated the nucleation, growth and attachment of the new insulin particles to the already anchored ones, which is thermodynamically favorable due to the reduction in total surface, further reducing the Gibbs free energy. The retraction of the already anchored insulin toward the cell is also monitored for the first time live at nanoscale resolution. Conclusion Investigation of insulin granule dynamics in β-cells can be investigated via GLC-TEM. Our findings with this technology open new realms for the development of novel drugs on pathological pancreatic β-cells, because this approach facilitates observing the effects of the stimuli on the live cells and insulin granules.
Localized random projections with applications to coherent array imaging

We consider the standard active array imaging problem and propose a novel trade-off that enables the imaging of range limited target scenes with far fewer measurements than conventional techniques by exploiting the bandwidth of the known excitation signal. Unlike standard compressed sensing, we do not assume that the scene is sparse, only that it is range limited. We abstract the proposed method as a novel matrix sketching problem that utilizes a few localized random projections in the row space of a matrix to capture the full row space. We provide mathematical guarantees on the number of such projections required. We present imaging simulation results that support our theoretical results.
Schädelhirnverletzungen bei Verkehrsunfällen 1974 und 1975 im südbadischen Raum

Schadelhirnverletzungen bei Verkehrsunfallen 1974 und 1975 im sudbadischen Raum, die zur stationaren Behandlung im Klinikum der Universitat Freiburg fuhrten, werden nach Art und Schwere gegenubergestellt. Im Gegensatz zu fast unveranderten Zahlen der amtlichen Unfallstatistik wird eine deutliche Zunahme der schweren Schadel-Hirnverletzungen registriert. Auf die besondere Gefahrdung der Kinder im Strasenverkehr wird hingewiesen.
Competition and immune selection of multi-strain Plasmodium falciparum malaria

Malaria Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) species contains multiple parasite strains with different immunogenic profiles and expressed phenotypes. These strains interact (compete, cooperate) within host and in transmission (mosquito) environment, so host immunity and environment play important part in evolution and selection of parasite quasi-species. Conventional population-based models (e.g. Ross-MacDonald) have limited capacity to accommodate parasite diversity. An alternative Individual-based approach (IBM) offers greater flexibility. Here we develop an IBM for multi-strain Pf malaria with genetically structured parasite and immune regulation. Parasite diversity is not constrained (could increase through recombination), yet the model allows efficient simulations of individual histories, as well as large communities and host ensembles over extended time period with multiple transmission cycles. We employ our model to study competition and selection of mixed malaria strains in individual hosts and in host populations. The model offers different ways of quantifying parasite fitness, and selecting most viable types, under selective pressures. We explore the relationship between selected clones, in terms of their genetic makeup and associated fitness traits. The model analysis revealed peculiar features of multi-strain malaria: winners of mixed competition in single-infection histories (individual hosts), may not succeed in host communities over multiple transmission cycles. So short-term competitive fitness does not guarantee strain survival. The latter in fact, was strongly associated with cooperative behavior, i.e. strain potential to co-exist and persist in different mixed combinations within-host. We examined network structure of such surviving cooperative cliques. These networks are found to have a few persistent core nodes, each one carrying a subordinate (transient) cluster. Our results shed new light on relative importance of competitive vs. cooperative behavior. Other potential applications of our model (future development) include spatially distributed host-mosquito systems, and putative vaccine that target dominant var-genes and persistent clusters.
Evaluation of soil test phosphorus extractants in Idaho soils.

Evaluation of soil-phosphorus (P) tests is critical to ensure the accuracy of fertilizer recommendations to optimize crop yield while minimizing negative environmental consequences. Olsen-P is the most commonly used soil-P test for alkaline calcareous soils found in Idaho and the Western United States. The Bray-1 test is commonly used in the Pacific Northwest (PNW) on neutral to acidic soils but underestimates P in alkaline calcareous soils. Mehlich-3 has been evaluated throughout various regions in the United States. Little data evaluating the test exists on soils in the Western United States. Additionally, the comparatively newly developed H3A test, a component of the soil health tool, has not been widely evaluated on alkaline calcareous soils. Soil samples from the 0- to 30-cm depth were collected from agricultural fields throughout Idaho and analyzed using Bray-1, H3A, Mehlich-3, and Olsen P extractants. Results suggested that Olsen P was strongly correlated with Mehlich-3, while Bray-1 and H3A were not correlated with Olsen P. Both the Bray-1 and H3A test underestimated extractable P when compared with the Olsen P test, whereas the Mehlich-3 overestimated. A threshold point in calcium carbonate (i.e., inorganic carbon (IC)) of 6.7 and 5.1 mg kg-1 for the Bray-1 and H3A was obtained, respectively, that indicated inorganic carbon concentrations at or above these levels result in underestimation of extractable soil P. Thus, Mehlich-3 was very strongly correlated to Olsen P and could be evaluated for use in alkaline calcareous soils whereas Bray-1 and H3A have notable issues that would limit their applicability.
The potent histone deacetylase inhibitor vorinostat, in combination with melphalan, markedly enhances the anti-myeloma effects of chemotherapy in vitro and in vivo

733 Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors represent a new targeted class of anti-cancer therapeutics and have been shown to exert anti-proliferative and apoptotic effects on cancer cells (including drug resistance subtypes), inhibit angiogenesis and sensitize cancer cells when combined with other anti-cancer therapies. Vorinostat (suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid) is a novel investigational small molecule drug that selectively inhibits HDAC enzymes resulting in acetylation of nucleosomal histones and activates gene transcription. In this study, we first evaluated the in vitro anti-myeloma effects of vorinostat alone and in combination with melphalan using the multiple myeloma (MM) cell lines RPMI8226, U266 and MM1S. Cells treated with the combination of vorinostat + melphalan showed marked synergistic anti-MM proliferative effects as determined by MTS assay. Next, we evaluated the anti-MM effects of vorinostat alone and in combination with melphalan in vivo using LAGκ-1B, one of our SCID-hu models of human MM. Each immunodeficient (SCID) mouse was implanted with a fragment (20 - 40 mm3) of the LAGκ-1B tumor into the left hind limb muscle. The tumors were allowed to grow for 14 days at which time human IgG levels were detectable in the mouse serum, and mice were blindly assigned into one of four treatment groups. Tumor-bearing mice were treated in groups consisting of vehicle only, vorinostat alone (100 mg/kg), melphalan alone (1 or 3 mg/kg), or vorinostat (100 mg/kg) + melphalan (1 and 3 mg/kg). Vorinostat was injected once daily for five consecutive days weekly (M-F) via intraperitoneal injection.Melphalan was injected once weekly (W) via intraperitoneal injection. Mice treated with vorinostat (100 mg/kg) and low-dose melphalan (1 mg/kg) combination therapy showed slight inhibition of tumor growth compared to mice receiving vehicle (P = 2 x10-5) or single agent vorinostat (P = 0.014) and single agent melphalan (P = 0.0016). In contrast, mice treated with the combination of vorinostat (100 mg/kg) and a higher dose of melphalan (3 mg/kg) showed markedly smaller tumors and decreased hIgG levels compared to treatment with vehicle alone (tumor volume P = 4 x10-5; hIgG P = 2 x10-5), vorinostat (tumor volume P = 0.02; hIgG P = 0.04) and melphalan alone (tumor volume P = 0.0091; hIgG P = 0.0035). Combination treatment with vorinostat and melphalan at these doses was not associated with any observed toxicity. These findings support the further clinical development of the combination of vorinostat + melphalan for MM patients and suggest that combining this HDAC inhibitor with low-dose chemotherapy may enhance the efficacy of both vorinostat and melphalan in relapsed/refractory myeloma.