cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Tumor Monocyte Cross Talk Promotes Chemotherapy Resistance In Lymphoma

Background Immune editing is a major mechanism used by tumors to promote their survival. We have previously reported the presence of immunosuppressive monocytes (CD14+HLA-DR low/neg) in a number of cancers. Increased presence of these cells was associated with decreased treatment response and OS. Here we report an in vitro model to examine tumor monocyte cross talk and demonstrate that these monocytes may directly promote tumor cells’ resistance to chemotherapy. Method Monocytes from healthy donors were co-cultured with lymphoma cell lines (OCI-Ly1, OCI-Ly3, OCI-Ly7, OCI-Ly10, Su-DHL2, Su-DHL6, Jeko-1, Granta-519) with or without doxorubicin (DOX). Cultured cells were assessed for phenotype, viability, proliferation, and induced protein expression. Changes in vitro were confirmed in primary tissue by gene expression profile from 48 primary diffuse large B cell (DLBCL) lymphoma tumors. Results Monocytes converted CD14+HLA-DR+ to the CD14+HLA-DRlow/neg phenotype by co-culture with 5 of the 8 B cell lymphoma cell lines. The HLA-DR suppression was not due to the known regulatory effects of IL-10 nor was the effect seen in co-culture using B cells from healthy donors. Thus, the magnitude of DR loss is mediated by a yet undetermined mechanism. DOX incubation induced apoptosis in all of the cell lines. Co-culture with monocytes improved lymphoma cell survival in 3 of the 4 lymphoma cell lines. For example, untreated OCI-Ly3 had a 1.3±0.2 fold expansion that was reduced to 0.6±0.1 when treated with DOX (p<0.0001, n=13). However, when the cells were treated with DOX and co-cultured with monocytes the survival improved to 0.8±0.2 (p<0.0001, n=13). Having previously shown that CD14+HLA-DRlow/neg were capable of suppressing patient immunity, partially through arginase I, we determined if co-culture of monocytes with tumor cells increased arginase I expression in either monocytes or tumor cells. Not only did we see arginase I expression increases during co-culture(n=10, p<0.01), but surprisingly, the greatest increases were seen during co-culture and DOX treatment (n=10, p=0.01). To determine if our in vitro observations reflect human tumors, we used gene expression data obtained from 48 DLBCL tumors and found that increased CD14 gene expression was positively correlated with increased arginase I expression (n=48, p=0.02). Conclusions We have demonstrated that certain tumor cells induced phenotype changes in monocytes in an IL-10 independent and a tumor specific way. In those cells where tumors factors mediate monocyte phenotype, the monocytes can promote tumor cell resistance to cytotoxic killing by DOX, thus demonstrating a cross-talk between monocyte and tumor function. We found that in an environment of monocyte/tumor cross talk, arginase I expression is further increased in a cytotoxic environment. Together, this data demonstrates an active cross talk between monocytes and tumors resulting in multiple mechanisms of tumor resistance to chemotherapy. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Paul: Patron Saint of the Post-Factual

This chapter sets forth key terms in Badiou’s read of Paul, taking up the claim that the Pauline or apostolic gesture operates outside of relation to extant discursive regimes. Badiou writes that the apostle is neither a memory nor a witness and that the urgency of our historical moment requires something similarly radical. The chapter’s conclusion hints that the stances of Memory and Witness are somehow failing, in this “post-factual” moment.
Opioid Analgesia Hard to Tolerate and Not Effective for Chronic Low Back Pain.

Effective pain control in patients with low back pain is still elusive. Approximately one-half of all patients with low back pain who take an opioid analgesic will stop treatment because of ineffectiveness or adverse effects. Patients staying the course will experience, on average, a small decrease in pain relative to patients who take placebo (similar to the benefit from nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) and will not have improved function.
An all-in-one model: Computer simulation of population genetics and evolution under Hardy-Weinburg conditions

Population genetics studies the genetic basis of evolution in a quantitative manner. The Hardy-Weinberg Principle is one of the simplest and most important principles in population genetics. Physical models are generally applied in laboratory of evolution to simulate the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, which are often time consuming and error prone. Here, we presented a computer simulation program to model the genetic equilibrium between allele and genotype frequencies of a single gene under Hardy-Weinberg conditions with various selection pressures against dominant and/or recessive allele. The simulation program is based on the simplified all-in-one mathematical model. Results demonstrated that the accuracy of the all-in-one model was comparable to the ones implemented using three individual equations. The all-in-one model provides a more convenient and efficient way with regard to the computer programming. Our computer simulation program will greatly facilitate the biological education to provide the students hands-on experience to investigate the causes of evolutionary changes. In addition, it may also be extended further to simulate the effects of other factors such as genetic mutation and population migration on evolutionary process.
Micropipette aspiration of the Pacinian corpuscle

Abstract The Pacinian corpuscle (PC) is a cutaneous mechanoreceptor sensitive to high-frequency vibrations (20–1000 Hz). The PC is of importance due to its integral role in somatosensation and the critical need to understand PC function for haptic feedback system development. Previous theoretical and computational studies have modeled the physiological response of the PC to sustained or vibrating mechanical stimuli, but they have used estimates of the receptor’s mechanical properties, which remain largely unmeasured. In this study, we used micropipette aspiration (MPA) to determine an apparent Young’s modulus for PCs isolated from a cadaveric human hand. MPA was applied in increments of 5 mm H 2 O (49 Pa), and the change in protrusion length of the PC into the pipette was recorded. The protrusion length vs. suction pressure data were used to calculate the apparent Young’s modulus. Using 10 PCs with long-axis lengths of 2.99 ± 0.41 mm and short-axis lengths of 1.45 ± 0.22 mm, we calculated a Young’s modulus of 1.40 ± 0.86 kPa. Our measurement is on the same order of magnitude as those approximated in previous models, which estimated the PC to be on the same order of magnitude as skin or isolated cells, so we recommend that a modulus in the kPa range be used in future studies.
The signature of undetected change: An exploratory electrotomographic investigation of gradual change blindness

This study represents the first neuroimaging-based investigation of gradual change blindness, a visual phenomenon that has significant potential to shed light on the processes underlying visual det...
Non-pharmacological interventions for aggression in persons with dementia: A 10-year follow-up review of the literature

Aggression is a common behavior in persons with dementia (PWDs). Nursing staff report that aggression is the most distressing behavior they face on the job. In addition, aggression may result in the prescription of psychotropic medications, which are largely ineffective and have dangerous side effects. Therefore, non-pharmacological interventions are necessary to safely manage aggressive behaviors and target the underlying cause of aggression. The current paper is a 10-year follow-up to Buchanan and colleagues’ 2007 literature review of non-pharmacological interventions for aggression in PWDs. This paper has three primary purposes: (1) To update the review of the empirical literature in this area; (2) To examine how limitations in the literature have been addressed over the past 10 years; and (3) To suggest areas of future inquiry. Findings suggest that comprehensive staff training interventions and distraction-based interventions during activities of daily living (ADLs) show the most promise for managing aggression in PWDs.
The Subtle Unraveling of Federalism: The Illogic of Using State Legislation as Evidence of an Evolving National Consensus

The Supreme Court's cruel and unusual punishment jurisprudence increasingly relies on state legislation to establish whether a national consensus has evolved against particular forms of punishment. This article argues that trends in state legislation should not be a basis for interpreting the Eighth Amendment. Using state legislation to establish a national consensus is contrary to basic notions of federalism, and is so methodologically indeterminate as to be entirely subjective. The states were intended to be independent from one another's policy preferences, to allow them to act as policy-making laboratories for the nation. Resting constitutional interpretation on the preferences of a majority of states is antithetical to the federal system. In application, the use of state legislation creates doctrinal chaos. The Supreme Court cannot agree on how to characterize, group or count state legislation. Once legislation is counted, the Court cannot agree on what actually constitutes a "consensus." Although the Court justifies its reliance on state legislation on the basis of its alleged objectivity, this uncertainty means that the use of state legislation is more subjective than traditional doctrines, such as culpability and proportionality. The lack of a clear standard as to what constitutes a national consensus has resulted in questionable findings, which in turn are relied on, creating an increasingly lax standard of cruel and unusual jurisprudence.
Dieu et son mirage : L’exégèse druze de Coran 24:39

Quoique le Coran ne soit pas le Livre sacre des druzes, il demeure un ouvrage de reference majeur. Les fondateur de la religion, Hamza Ibn ‘Ali et Isma‘il al-Tamimi en font un usage constant, mais en le soumettant a une interpretation qui en bouleverse le sens. L’auteur s’attache a en donner un exemple a travers l’exegese qui est faite du verset 39 de la sourate de la Lumiere. Dans le contexte coranique, ce verset signifie que les bonnes actions n’assurent pas le salut si leurs agents sont des infideles. Pour Tamimi, il concerne le Dieu qui a revetu une forme humaine et comment le reconnaitre sous son incognito.
Mechanical inserts for the treatment of faecal incontinence: A systematic review

Objective: To perform a systematic review of the literature to examine original research on the role of mechanical inserts, both vaginal and anal, for the treatment of faecal incontinence (FI). Materials and methods: We searched the PubMed, Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov databases for any peer-reviewed original research in English on the role of mechanical inserts for the treatment of FI. Results: We identified 35 unique citations. After title review and exclusion of articles not reporting original research, eight publications were included in the final review: two focused on vaginal inserts and six focused on anal inserts. Limited evidence indicates that both vaginal and anal inserts can be an effective and safe therapeutic option for patients with FI. Conclusions: Data regarding vaginal and anal mechanical inserts for the treatment of FI, albeit limited, suggest that inserts can be included in a discussion of therapeutic options for a patient with FI. Further studies are needed to elucidate long-term usability, efficacy, and safety. Abbreviations: FI: faecal incontinence; (m)ITT: (modified) intention-to-treat.
Context-Aware Convolutional Neural Network over Distributed System in Collaborative Computing

As the computing power of end-point devices grows, there has been interest in developing distributed deep neural networks specifically for hierarchical inference deployments on multi-sensor systems. However, as the existing approaches rely on latent parameters trained by machine learning, it is difficult to preemptively select front-end deep features across sensors, or understand individual feature’s relative importance for systematic global inference. In this paper, we propose multi-view convolutional neural networks exploiting likelihood estimation. Proof-of-concept experiments show that our likelihood-based context selection and weighted averaging collaboration scheme can decrease an endpoint’s communication and energy costs by a factor of $3\times$, while achieving high accuracy comparable to the original aggregation approaches. CCS CONCEPTS • Computing methodologies → Neural networks; Distributed artificial intelligence; Feature selection; • Computer systems organization → Neural networks; Distributed architectures;
Incidence and Outcomes of Acute Laryngeal Injury After Prolonged Mechanical Ventilation

Objectives:Upper airway injury is a recognized complication of prolonged endotracheal intubation, yet little attention has been paid to the consequences of laryngeal injury and functional impact. The purpose of our study was to prospectively define the incidence of acute laryngeal injury and investi
Effects of glucose concentration in semen extender and storage temperature on stallion sperm quality following long-term cooled storage.

Abstract In Experiment 1, the effects of glucose concentration in extender (0 mM, 67 mM, 147 mM, 270 mM; G0, G67, G147, and G270, respectively) and storage temperature of extended semen (5, 10, 15 and 20 °C) were evaluated after storage for up to 5 days (T0h to T120h). For all time points tested, mean total (TMOT) and progressive (PMOT) sperm motility were lower in G0 than all other treatment groups (P 0.05). Mean TMOT and PMOT, were lower for semen stored at 20 °C than all lower storage temperatures (P 0.05). Mean TMOT and PMOT were higher in G0 – G147 than G0 – G0 at T72h and T120h (P 0.05). In Experiment 3, the minimum concentration of glucose required to maintain sperm quality following long-term cooled storage (T120 h) was evaluated (G0, G5, G10, G20, G40, G67, G147 mM). At T120 h, mean TMOT was lowest in G0, G5, G10, and G20 (P 0.05). In conclusion, the absence of added glucose in extender reduced the motion characteristics of stallion sperm during long-term storage (5 days), but VAI was not affected. The use of temperatures between 5 and 15 °C for long-term storage (5 days) best maintained sperm motility and VAI. The threshold concentration of added glucose in extender required to optimize sperm motion characteristics was 40 mM.
Chapter III – REPRESENTATIONS

Publisher Summary A matrix group is a group in which the elements are square matrices (of the same dimension), the multiplication law is matrix multiplication, and the group inverse of an element is the matrix inverse. Because the inverse of an element is the matrix inverse, and the inverse of a group element must exist, only non-singular matrices can be elements of matrix groups, and that the group identity is the identity matrix. Most applications of group theory to physical problems are applications of representation theory. One reason is that representation theory reduces the abstract properties of groups to numbers, with which a physicist feels more at home. Hence, representation theory is, for a physicist, the most important aspect of group theory. This theory was developed at the turn of the century almost single-handedly by the German mathematician F. G. Frobenius. The concept of representation rests on the two concepts, matrix group and homomorphism. This chapter discusses finite matrix groups.
Investigation of the short argon arc with hot anode. II. Analytical model

A short atmospheric pressure argon arc is studied numerically and analytically. In a short arc with an inter-electrode gap of several millimeters, non-equilibrium effects in plasma play an important role in operation of the arc. High anode temperature leads to electron emission and intensive radiation from its surface. A complete, self-consistent analytical model of the whole arc comprising of models for near-electrode regions, arc column, and a model of heat transfer in cylindrical electrodes was developed. The model predicts the width of non-equilibrium layers and arc column, voltages and plasma profiles in these regions, and heat and ion fluxes to the electrodes. Parametric studies of the arc have been performed for a range of the arc current densities, inter-electrode gap widths, and gas pressures. The model was validated against experimental data and verified by comparison with numerical solution. Good agreement between the analytical model and simulations and reasonable agreement with experimental d...
Optogenetic analysis of Ca++ transients in Caenorhabditis elegans muscle cells during forward and reverse locomotion

ABSTRACT Understanding how an organism generates movement is an important step toward determining how a system of neurons produces behavior. With only 95 body wall muscles and 302 neurons, Caenorhabditis elegans is an attractive model organism to use in uncovering the connection between neural circuitry and movement. This study provides a comprehensive examination of the muscle cell activity used by C. elegans during both forward and reverse locomotion. By tracking freely moving worms that express genetically encoded calcium indicators in their muscle cells, we directly measure the patterns of activity that occur during movement. We then analyzed these patterns using a variety of signal processing and statistical techniques. Although our results agree with many previous findings, we also discovered there is significantly different mean Ca++ levels in many of the muscle cells during forward and reverse locomotion and, when considered independently, the dorsal and ventral muscle activation waves exhibit classical neuromechanical phase lag (NPL).
Aging-Associated Alterations in Mammary Epithelia and Stroma Revealed by Single-Cell RNA Sequencing

Aging is closely associated with increased susceptibility to breast cancer, yet there have been limited systematic studies of aging-induced alterations in the mammary gland. Here, we leverage high-throughput single-cell RNA sequencing to generate a detailed transcriptomic atlas of young and aged murine mammary tissues. By analyzing epithelial, stromal, and immune cells, we identify age-dependent alterations in cell proportions and gene expression, providing evidence that suggests alveolar maturation and physiological decline. The analysis also uncovers potential pro-tumorigenic mechanisms coupled to the age-associated loss of tumor suppressor function and change in microenvironment. In addition, we identify a rare, age-dependent luminal population co-expressing hormone-sensing and secretory-alveolar lineage markers, as well as two macrophage populations expressing distinct gene signatures, underscoring the complex heterogeneity of the mammary epithelia and stroma. Collectively, this rich single-cell atlas reveals the effects of aging on mammary physiology and can serve as a useful resource for understanding aging-associated cancer risk.
Market frictions and overpriced favourites: evidence from arena football

Prior academic studies find that bets on underdogs persistently win more often than expected in National Football League (NFL) and National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) football gambling markets. We extend this stream of literature by examining this ‘underdog bias’ in the market for Arena Football League (AFL) bets, a setting in which both betting limits and bettor sophistication are comparatively low. Results show that the underdog bias is significantly stronger in the AFL, suggesting that smaller and less liquid markets are more heavily influenced by these, and perhaps other, behavioural biases.
Representation Consolidation for Training Expert Students.

Traditionally, distillation has been used to train a student model to emulate the input/output functionality of a teacher. A more useful goal than emulation, yet under-explored, is for the student to learn feature representations that transfer well to future tasks. However, we observe that standard distillation of task-specific teachers actually *reduces* the transferability of student representations to downstream tasks. We show that a multi-head, multi-task distillation method using an unlabeled proxy dataset and a generalist teacher is sufficient to consolidate representations from task-specific teacher(s) and improve downstream performance, outperforming the teacher(s) and the strong baseline of ImageNet pretrained features. Our method can also combine the representational knowledge of multiple teachers trained on one or multiple domains into a single model, whose representation is improved on all teachers' domain(s).
Investigation of ouzo effect colloid formation via organosilica nanoparticles

The ouzo effect is a rapid route to nanoparticle formation through nanoprecipitation via the addition of a poor solvent to supersaturate a polymer solution. Currently, there are differing opinions on the mechanism of particle formation: nucleation and growth, nucleation and aggregation, or spinodal decomposition. To elucidate the mechanism, various concentrations of organosilica were added as artificial nucleation embryos to poly(methyl methacrylate)-tetrahydrofuran solutions prior to nanoprecipitation. Particle size distribution was monitored via dynamic light scattering, while the morphology and organic content of select samples were further characterized via transmission electron microscopy and thermal gravimetric analysis, respectively. The data establishes that spinodal decomposition was the mechanism of particle formation and that silica can be used as an additive for particle size distribution control during ouzo effect particle formation.
Supercritical fluid extraction and other technologies for extraction of high-value food processing co-products

Publisher Summary Supercritical Fluid Extraction (SFE) with carbon dioxide is established as a process for the decaffeination of coffee beans and tea. Recent studies have focused on other applications, especially with botanical materials and thermally liable substances. The development of new separation techniques for pharmaceutical and food industries has received a lot of attention due to rising concerns about health, environmental, and safety hazards associated with traditional solvent techniques. SFE with CO 2 is used in the extraction of desired components from natural materials for eventual use in food, perfumery, pharmaceutical, and nutraceutical industries. SFE utilizes the ability of normally gaseous chemicals to become excellent solvents for certain solutes under a combination of tunable properties in terms of temperature and pressure. The increasing public awareness about healthy, natural, and non-toxic products and strict environmental regulations has acted as an impetus for the supercritical fluid industry.
Inpatient safety outcomes following the 2011 residency work-hour reform

BACKGROUND The impact of the 2011 residency work-hour reforms on patient safety is not known. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the association between implementation of the 2011 reforms and patient safety outcomes at a large academic medical center. DESIGN Observational study using difference-in-differences estimation strategy to evaluate whether safety outcomes improved among patients discharged from resident and hospitalist (nonresident) services before (2008–2011) and after (2011–2012) residency work-hour changes. PATIENTS All adult patients discharged from general medicine services from July 2008 through June 2012. MEASUREMENTS Outcomes evaluated included length of stay, 30-day readmission, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, inpatient mortality, and presence of Maryland Hospital Acquired Conditions. Independent variables included time period (pre- vs postreform), resident versus hospitalist service, patient age at admission, race, gender, and case mix index. RESULTS Patients discharged from the resident services in the postreform period had higher likelihood of an ICU stay (5.7% vs 4.5%, difference 1.4%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.5% to 2.2%), and lower likelihood of 30-day readmission (17.2% vs 20.1%, difference 2.8%; 95 % CI: 1.3 to 4.3%) than patients discharged from the resident services in the prereform period. Comparing pre- and postreform periods on the resident and hospitalist services, there were no significant differences in patient safety outcomes. CONCLUSIONS In the first year after implementation of the 2011 work-hour reforms relative to prior years, we found no change in patient safety outcomes in patients treated by residents compared with patients treated by hospitalists. Further study of the long-term impact of residency work-hour reforms is indicated to ensure improvement in patient safety. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2014;9:347–352. © 2014 Society of Hospital Medicine
The single cell gel assay: a sensitive technique for evaluating intercellular differences in DNA damage and repair.

While providing information at the level of the individual cell, cytogenetic techniques for evaluating DNA damage or repair are, by their very nature, largely limited to proliferating cell populations. Furthermore, these techniques require the processing of DNA damage into microscopically visible lesions. Biochemical techniques, such as alkaline elution and nucleoid sedimentation, circumvent these difficulties in that DNA damage can be evaluated directly in almost any cell population. However, the resulting data do not provide any information about the distribution of damage or repair among individual cells. Since the effects of genotoxic agents are often tissue and cell-type specific, techniques which can directly detect DNA damage in individual cells are needed. Rydberg and Johanson (1978) were the first to directly quantitate DNA damage in individual cells by lysing cells embedded in agarose on slides under mild alkali conditions to allow the partial unwinding of DNA. After neutralization, the cells are stained with acridine orange and the extent of DNA damage quantitated by measuring the ratio of green (indicating double-stranded DNA) to red (indicating single-stranded DNA) fluorescence using a photometer.
Polynomial Real Root Isolation by Means of Root Radii Approximation

Univariate polynomial root-finding is a classical subject, still important for modern computing. Frequently one seeks just the real roots of a real coefficient polynomial and is challenged to approximate them faster. The challenge is known for long time, and the subject has been intensively studied. The real roots can be approximated at a low computational cost if the polynomial has no non-real roots, but for high degree polynomials, non-real roots are typically much more numerous than the real ones. The bounds on the Boolean cost of the refinement of the simple and isolated real roots have been decreased to nearly optimal, but the success has been more limited at the stage of the isolation of real roots. By revisiting the algorithm of 1982 by Schonhage for the approximation of the root radii, that is, the distances between the roots and the origin, we obtain substantial progress: we isolate the simple and well conditioned real roots of a polynomial at the Boolean cost dominated by the nearly optimal bounds for the refinement of such roots. Our numerical tests with benchmark polynomials performed with the IEEE standard double precision show that the resulting nearly optimal real root-finder is practically promising. Our techniques are simple, and their power and application range may increase in combination with the known efficient methods. At the end we point out some promising directions to the isolation of complex roots and root clusters.
Earnings Announcements, Private Information, and Liquidity

In this article, the author examines how the price impact of a trade varies throughout the days surrounding public earnings announcements. The results indicate that public news releases correlate with a reduction in the price impact of a trade on the day of the announcement.
The blood volume of infants. II. The premature infant during the first year of life.

Summary One hundred and forty-five plasma volume determinations were performed on 51 healthy premature infants between birth and 1 year of age. Two or more serial observations were made on 38 of the infants. Plasma volumes were measured with the use of T-1824. Serum iron and iron-binding capacity determinations were also made. The average blood volume at birth was found to be 109 ml. per kilogram, a value slightly higher than in fullterm infants. In the first 2 1/2 months of life there was a tendency for the plasma volume to increase as the erythrocyte volume decreased. This had the effect of maintaining the total blood volume at a relatively high level. The erythrocyte volume at birth was 45.5 ml. per kilogram (about 5 ml. higher than in full-term infants) and was close to 20 ml. per kilogram between 12 and 52 weeks of age. There was no significant correlation between erythrocyte volume and growth gain, nor between erythrocyte volume and venous hematocrit. Normal growth increments far outdistanced the expansion of erythrocyte volume. The circulating hemoglobin mass was 36.5 Gm. in the first 2 days of life; it declined 33 per cent by 4 weeks of age. At 12 weeks it was again at the value recorded in the first 2 days. Further increments were more gradual. On the basis of body weight, an abrupt fall from 20.5 Gm. per kilogram at birth to 10 Gm. at 6 weeks occurred. The average value remained between 6.4 and 8.0 Gm. per kilogram for the rest of the year. There was poor correlation between the values for hemoglobin concentration and circulating hemoglobin mass in both the neonatal period and later. The total hemoglobin iron reached its lowest level between 3 and 6 weeks of life. By the tenth week, values recorded in the first week were regained. It was concluded that erythropoiesis became active between 3 and 7 weeks after birth and that the original iron stores were adequate for hemoglobin synthesis until only about 10 weeks after birth. This explains in part the development of iron depletion and iron deficiency at an earlier age in the premature infant than in the full-term one. The results of this investigation indicate the average values of total blood, plasma, and erythrocyte volumes and of circulating hemoglobin mass of premature infants from birth through 1 year of age. It was concluded that within the limitations of the techniques used, these values are representative of an urban clinic group. It was observed that considerable variation about the mean values was present throughout the year. The average values, therefore, indicate changes that may be expected in the first year of life but should be considered specific in only a restricted sense.
Nitrogen Removal by Modified Activated Sludge Process

A modified activated sludge process called “contact-stabilization-denitrification” makes it possible to eliminate 80% to 90% of the incoming total nitrogen in addition to the usual BOD removal. A correlation between the organics removal and denitrification was made with laboratory data obtained and the data of other investigators. The principle of the process is as follows: Following the contact period, the activated sludge is separated from the clarified liquor by sedimentation. The clarified liquor, low in carbon, is pumped to the trickling filter for nitrification. The nitrified effluent and the sludge loaded with soluble and colloidal organic materials are contacted with each other in the denitrification tank for the stabilization of the organic matter and denitrification. The oxygen requirement for the stabilization of organic matter removed in the contact tank is supplied by the nitrate as the stabilization tank is kept anaerobic. The final effluent obtained after clarification is low, both in carbon and nitrogen.
Charge Symmetry and Charge Independence

Symmetry principles occupy a hallowed place in physics, indeed in all human culture. At the level at which we believe in a friendly and benevolent Nature, we believe in symmetries. Symmetries appeal to our sense of logic, order, and beauty. Nuclear physicists are very fond of pointing out that isospin (T) invariance was the first ‘internal’ symmetry (as distinguished from space-time symmetries) to be postulated[1], initially for nucleons, and soon after for mesons as well. Isospin invariance leads to the principle of charge independence (CI) which may be stated as:
Infrared Spectra of the H3N−HBr Complex in Solid Ne, Ne/Ar, Ar, Kr, and N2. Strong Matrix Effects on a Hydrogen-Bonded Complex

Ammonia and hydrogen bromide vapors from the thermal decomposition of NH4Br were co-deposited with excess neon at 4−5 K to form the H3N−HBr complex. New 1208.8 and 1079.9 cm-1 infrared absorptions ...
Metastable eutectic equilibrium brought down to Earth

Thermodynamic equilibrium feels comfortable because it satisfies our desire for order. For kinetic reasons, this ideal state is rarely established. Equilibrium describes the state of a system, but not how it got there. Still, we accept that metamorphic reactions will not occur at the P-T conditions predicted by the experimentally determined phase equilibria stability curves. Instead such reactions require metamorphic overstepping to provide the driving force to adjust the mineralogy to the new P-T conditions.
Molecular simulation study of the influence of small molecules on the dynamic and structural properties of phospholipid bilayers.

Molecular simulations were performed for phospholipid bilayers as model cell membranes to understand their dynamic and structural properties, in particular how those are affected in the presence of the cell-preservation agents trehalose and DMSO. Simulations covered a large range of temperatures and concentrations of trehalose and DMSO. A number of properties were examined, including the area per head group, lipid-tail order parameter, density profile, conformation, and binding of trehalose. Our results indicate that trehalose specifically interacts with the phospholipid bilayer by binding to the polar head groups (H-bonds). This binding serves as a bridge between the lipids and prevents their aggregation. The hydrophilic nature of trehalose also makes it a water substitute when binding to the phospholipids. At high trehalose concentrations, trehalose forms a glassy matrix and preserves the bilayer structure by ‘freezing’ it in its natured state, as the core of the bilayer is found to remain fluid. Simulations with DMSO revealed that DMSO can penetrate and freely diffuse through the bilayer, which is attributed to its unique characteristic of interacting favorably with both hydrophilic and hydrophobic domains.
Hurricane Beulah. A report in retrospect on the hurricane and its effect on biological processes in the Rio Grande Valley, Texas

The decreased barometric pressures (to 951.5 mb)that accompanied the wind (113 knots/hr) and the torrential rain that Hurricane Beulah (1967) inflicted on Brownsville, Texas had a marked physiological effect on both biological and vegetative forms of life. Ants survived the floods by congregating in spheres of living colonies and thus floated down the streams to safety; predaceous beetle larvae preyed on frogs and rodents, and crustaceous inhabitants of the beaches migrated en masse to the protection of high ground. Plant materials exhibited phase change in their development.
Voith Turbo Transmissions

The fundamental difference between a hydraulic coupling and a torque converter is that in the former the impeller and runner work directly together without the interposition of a guide wheel or reaction member. A torque converter, on the other hand, requires stationary guide vanes to deflect the flow, usually as a means of obtaining a higher torque at a correspondingly lower speed at the output shaft.The relationship between the power, torque, and number of revolutions at input and output in such a torque converter is examined theoretically, and the conditions of design to give the best efficiency for various applications are considered. It is desirable that the torque curve actually attainable in practice shall approach as nearly as possible the ideal curve. This cannot be realized by means of the usual torque converter, but an essential improvement can be obtained by adding a hydraulic coupling to the torque converter, and changing over at the appropriate time to direct drive through the coupling.Variou...
Chronic Minocycline-Induced Autoimmunity in Children

Objective To report our experience with minocycline-induced autoimmunity (MIA) in children, with an emphasis on the potential for chronicity. Study design Retrospective cohort study of patients with development of rheumatologic symptoms while receiving minocycline between 1996 and 2006. Results Twenty-seven children were diagnosed with MIA at a single pediatric rheumatology practice. The mean age at onset was 16.5 ± 1.39 years. The mean duration of minocycline use before diagnosis was 13.0 ± 10.8 months. All patients presented with constitutional symptoms. Twenty-two had polyarthralgia, and 17 had polyarthritis, mostly affecting hands and feet. On the basis of disease duration after discontinuation of minocycline, we divided subjects into 3 categories: transient, intermediate, and chronic. Seven patients had development of chronic autoimmune disease that was still active at last follow-up, a mean of 31.6 ± 13.0 (13-48) months after onset. Six patients followed an intermediate course, with resolution of symptoms within 12 months, and 14 patients had symptoms that resolved rapidly on discontinuation of minocycline. All patients with a chronic course had evidence of arthritis at presentation. Conclusion A substantial proportion of children with MIA had development of chronic symptoms with the potential for significant morbidity. Physicians who prescribe minocycline should be aware of its propensity for inducing potentially serious autoimmune phenomena.
Occult traumatic hemothorax: when can sleeping dogs lie?

Abstract Background Size of traumatic occult hemothorax on admission requiring drainage has not been defined. Computed axial tomography (CAT) may guide drainage criteria. Methods A retrospective review of patients with hemothoraces on CAT was performed. Extrapolating previously described methods of pleural fluid measurement, hemothoraces were quantified using the fluid stripe in the dependent pleural “gutter.” Data included patient age, injury severity, and intervention (thoracentesis or tube thoracostomy). Results Seventy-eight patients with 99 occult hemothoraces met the criteria for study inclusion: 52 hemothoraces qualified as “minimal” and 47 as “moderate/large.” Eight patients (15%) in the minimal group and 31 patients (66%) in the moderate/large group underwent intervention (P Conclusions CAT in stable blunt-trauma patients can predict which patients with occult hemothorax are likely to undergo intervention. Patients with hemothorax ≥1.5 cm on CAT were 4 times more likely to undergo drainage intervention compared with those having hemothorax
Physical Activity and Dementia: The Need for Prevention Trials

Dementia is a common and debilitating disease that will increase dramatically for the next 50 years unless a prevention or treatment is identified. This review summarizes the evidence that physical activity is associated with a reduced risk of dementia in older adults and recommends that prevention trials be performed to determine whether this association is causal
Surface alterations of fertilized surf clam (Spisula solidissima) eggs induced by concanavalin A.

Abstract Fertilized Spisula eggs, incubated in ConA, were examined at periodic intervals to determine the effects of lectin binding on events of fertilization and cleavage. ConA was localized to specific regions of the vitelline layer and plasma membrane by reacting lectin-treated eggs with horseradish peroxidase and diaminobenzidine. In contrast to eggs, little reaction product was associated with the plasma membrane of spermatozoa. Sperm that fused with ConA-treated eggs failed to move into the cortex of the ovum and were observed as bulbous appendages at the surface of the zygote. Reorganization of sperm nuclei was inhibited, and male pronuclei failed to develop. ConA also inhibited polar body formation and cleavage. The maternally derived chromatin underwent meiosis, and the chromosomes normally taken into the first and second polar bodies were retained within the zygote. All of the maternally derived chromatin was organized within four or more female pronuclei which subsequently entered mitosis. The effects of ConA binding on events at the surface of fertilized Spisula eggs were abrogated by α-methyl- d -mannoside; succinyl-ConA only partially inhibited fertilization-related processes. The effects of ConA are discussed in terms of possible cross-linking of surface components of fertilized Spisula eggs which may inhibit deformation of the zygote cortex.
Getting computers to understand

I think of storage as communication with the past, and by “embodiment” I mean somewhat unconstrained interactions with the physical world. The dates are when the wave began to be important; it’s interesting that they are about 25 years apart. Currently, the communication wave is in full flood, and the first signs of embodiment are starting to appear. Of course, old waves don’t recede: simulation continues to be an important class of applications. New applications are enabled to some extent by new knowledge, but mainly by Moore’s law, that is, by improvement in the cost/performance of computing hardware: processing, RAM, disk, and communications. This has been running at about a factor of 100 per decade. Sometimes, as with speech recognition or web search engines, the cheaper cycles or bytes are applied directly. Often, however, spending more hardware resources makes it possible to spend much less programming effort, as with applications that use web browsers or database systems as components. I find it much harder to predict what will happen in computing during the next 20 years than it was in 1972, when I thought it was fairly obvious [Lampson 1972, 1988]. Perhaps this is because I’m getting old, but perhaps it’s because embodiment is much more open-ended than simulation or communication. In addition, dealing with the physical world depends on many things outside the domain of computing, such as mechanical effectors, neural connections, or radio. And it requires dealing with uncertainty, which is still poorly understood. Nonetheless, I have chosen two problems whose solution will make a big difference both to computer science and to the larger world of which computing is now such an important part. One is an example of embodiment: cars that don’t kill people. The other is a technology that applies across the board: writing programs automatically from specifications. The second obviously has many applications, but the first demands major advances in computing that will also have many other applications. They share a common theme: getting the computer to understand something; in one case roads, in the other specifications.
Model of Occupational Empowerment and Gunnarsson’s Tree Theme: Intervention for Mothers in Recovery

In this study the authors investigated Gunnarsson's Tree Theme Method as an occupational therapy intervention program for mothers in recovery from addiction in accordance with Fisher and Hotchkiss's Model of Occupational Empowerment (2008). Each session of this mixed design study consisted of relaxation exercises, discussions on self-help readings, and participation in the Tree Theme Method. Two participants out of three improved their personal growth initiative. Participant reflection provided insight into the women's inner feelings. Fisher and Hotchkiss's model (2008) was supported as the women achieved personal growth. Further research is needed concerning how this may guide occupational therapy practice with disadvantaged populations.
Review: Cross-Resistance Patterns Among HIV Protease Inhibitors

Acquired resistance to antiretroviral agents is an established sequela of HIV pharmacotherapy. Viral mutations can confer reduced susceptibility to antiretroviral medications, resulting in virologic and clinical failure in more than half of treated patients. Cross-resistance that can develop within each drug class leads to the progressive loss of future therapeutic options for individual patients. Although protease inhibitors (PIs) are a potent class of antiretrovirals, resistance can still develop rapidly, and multiple-PI resistance has become a serious, growing clinical problem. Development of rational treatment strategies that recognize specific patterns of cross-resistance among PIs are needed to help clinicians choose the most appropriate PI. Rational sequencing of PI use should be based on genotypic and phenotypic resistance testing. Maintaining higher drug plasma levels or using specific PI combinations may also diminish PI cross-resistance. New agents that are less likely to induce or be susceptib...
Evaluation of T cell stimulation by thyrotropin-receptor epitopes in Graves’ disease

In Graves’ disease (GD) immunized T cells reactive to TSH-receptor epitopes contribute to pathogenesis through B cell help, and cytotoxicity. We evaluated T cell responses to synthetic TSH-receptor epitopes in hyperthyroid patients with GD prior to therapy, at 6–8 weeks after radioactive iodine (RAI) administration, or 6–8 months later when euthyroid, and in control subjects. All T cell responses were relatively low as generally found in human autoimmune diseases. Responses in hyperthyroid GD patients were significantly greater than among controls, were augmented 6–8 weeks after RAI treatment, were still present after patients became euthyroid, and did not differ between DR3+ and non-DR3+ patients. Patient’s T cells reacted to multiple different epitopes, and reactivity differed depending on the course of the disease and treatment. While certain epitopes most commonly cause T cell reactivity, we did not find evidence for a single or few “dominant” epitopes.
The molecular origin of birefringence in skeletal muscle. Contribution of myosin subfragment S-1.

The state of optical polarization of He-Ne laser light diffracted by single skinned frog skeletal muscle fibers has been determined after decoration of the thin filaments of rigor fibers with exogenous S-1. Light on the first diffraction order was analyzed using optical ellipsometry for changes occurring in total birefringence (delta nT) and total differential field ratio (rT) and the experimental results compared with theoretical predictions. Fibers were examined with SDS-gel electrophoresis and electron microscopy as independent assays of S-1 binding. The binding of S-1 to the thin filaments caused a significant increase in rT and a small but significant decrease in delta nT. Release of bound exogenous S-1 with magnesium pyrophosphate demonstrated that the effect of S-1 on the optical parameters was reversible and both electrophoresis and electron microscopy demonstrated the presence of S-1 specifically bound to the thin filaments. Model simulations based on the theory of Yeh, Y., and R. Baskin (1988. Biophys. J. 54:205–218) showed that the values of delta nT and rT were sensitive to the axial bonding angle of exogenous S-1 as well as to the volume fraction of added S-1. Analysis of the data in light of the model showed that an average axial S-1 binding angle of 68 degrees +/- 7 degrees best fit the data.
Tropical pyomyositis: imaging findings and a review of the literature

Tropical pyomyositis is a rare cause of multiple abscesses of skeletal muscle. The entity is rare in temperate climates and, as its name suggests, is more common in areas such as the tropics and South Pacific. Staphylococcus aureus is the most common cause of infection. Therapy is aggressive, with surgical debridement and drainage followed by antibiotics. We report an unusual case of tropical myositis which simulated tumor recurrence in a patient without the typical risk factors associated with tropical pyomyositis.