cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Enhancement of Indices of Viral Infection by Simultaneously Administering Helicoverpa zea and Autographa californica Nuclear Polyhedrosis Viruses to Larval Helicoverpa zea (Boddie)

Abstract Corn earworm, Helicoverpa zeo (Boddie), were simultaneonsly administered Heliothis zea and Authographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis viruses (HzSNPV and AcMNPV, respectively). These viruses are classified within the Baculoviridae (subfamily Eubaculovirinae) and are known to he pathogenic to H. zea. When viruses were simultaneously introduced, significant reductions of median lethal dose (LD50) estimates occurred for second- and fourth-instars. However, statistical analysis to determine the virus ratio which optimized LD50 estimates found that second-instars were most susceptible to treatments containing HzSNPV alone. Analysis of fourth-instars indicated that a viral mixture of 65% HzSNPV and 35% AcMNPV resulted in significantly lower LD50 estimates than either of the viruses as single infections. Similar studies involving median survival time (ST50) analysis indicated that viral mixtures significantly reduced the time required between infection and mortality.
Strategy for supplementing structure calculations using limited data with hydrophobic distance restraints.

Introductory biochemistry texts often note that the fold of a protein is completely defined when the dihedral angles ϕ and ψ are known for each amino acid. This assertion was examined with torsion angle dynamics and simulated annealing (TAD/SA) calculations of protein G using only dihedral angle restraints. When all dihedral angles were restrained to within 1° of the values of the X-ray structure, the TAD/SA structures gave a backbone root mean square deviation to the target of 4 A. Factors that contributed to divergence from the correct solution include deviations of peptide bonds from planarity, internal conflicts resulting from the nonuniform energies of different ϕ, ψ combinations, and relaxation to extended conformations in the absence of long-range constraints. Simulations including hydrogen-bond restraints showed that even a few long-range contacts constrain the fold better than a complete set of accurate dihedral restraints. A procedure is described for TAD/SA calculations using hydrogen-bond restraints, idealized dihedral restraints for residues in regular secondary structures, and “hydrophobic distance restraints” derived from the positions of hydrophobic residues in the amino acid sequence. The hydrogen-bond restraints are treated as inviolable, whereas violated hydrophobic restraints are removed following reduction of restraint upper bounds from 2 to 1 times the predicted radius of gyration. The strategy was tested with simulated restraints from X-ray structures of proteins from different fold classes and NMR data for cold shock protein A that included only backbone chemical shifts and hydrogen bonds obtained from a long-range HNCO experiment. Proteins 2004. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
CMOS analog iterative decoders using margin propagation circuits

Analog iterative decoders offer several advantages over their digital counterparts in terms of speed and power consumption. The current state of art CMOS analog decoders uses MOS transistors biased in weak inversion which limits their speed of operation. In this paper a novel analog decoding network is presented which can operate with MOS transistor biased both in weak and strong inversion. The principle of operation is based on margin propagation algorithm which requires only addition, subtraction and thresholding operation which can be easily implemented in analog VLSI. A current mode implementation of the decoder is proposed which operates directly in log-likelihood space. This not only improves the speed of convergence for iterative decoding but also enhances the dynamic range of the decoder. Simulation based on a simple tail-biting trellis is presented that demonstrate the decoding characteristic and speed of operation of the proposed margin propagation network.
Avoidance Learning in the Lizard Dipsosaurus Dorsalis

5 desert iguanas (Dipsosaurus dorsalis) were given avoidance training on a modified Mowrer-Miller one-way shuttle-box using shock as US and a compound light and buzzer CS. All lizards reached avoidance criterion with a mean of 140 trials. Several procedural factors may account for these results which are in marked contrast to previous reports of failure of lizards in avoidance acquisition. A longer CS-US and inter-trial interval was used in conjunction with high substrate temperature between trials and a more natural pseudo-tunnel one-way escape route.
Discussion of Disclosure Practices of Foreign Companies Interacting with U.S. Markets

Khanna, Palepu, and Srinivasan (hereafter, KPS) provide an innovative examination of the relations between the use of U.S. disclosure practices by non-U.S. firms and the level of interaction such firms have with U.S. market participants. Prior research focuses on the capital markets, investigating relations between disclosure practices and cross-listing decisions, home bias in equity investment, and properties of analyst forecasts. KPS expand this focus by recognizing that firms also have significant product and labor market interactions that potentially influence disclosure practices. To provide evidence on this question, KPS develop numerous proxies for these interactions and use a new multinational disclosure index. The Standard
Hypervitaminosis A altering the lipid profile in a hypercholesterolemic patient.

Vitamin A is an essential lipid soluble vitamin needed for various cellular processes in humans. Erratic and supraphysiologic intake of vitamin A can lead to adverse effects that can be life threatening. For this reason, various medical societies have limited the recommended daily allowances and intakes (RDA and RDI, respectively) in an attempt to prevent hypervitaminosis toxicity. Studies have reported an association between hypertriglyceridemia and hypervitaminosis A. We present a patient with a history of familial combined hypercholesterolemia who developed an abrupt increase in his total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and triglycerides (TG) after taking high doses of vitamin A supplements.
Stress Hormone-Related Psychopathology: Pathophysiological and Treatment Implications

Stress is commonly associated with a variety of psychiatric conditions, including major depression, and with chronic medical conditions, including diabetes and insulin resistance. Whether stress causes these conditions is uncertain, but plausible mechanisms exist by which such effects might occur. To the extent stress-induced hormonal alterations (e.g., chronically elevated cortisol levels and lowered dehydroepiandrosterone [DHEA] levels) contribute to psychiatric and medical disease states, manipulations that normalize these hormonal aberrations should prove therapeutic. In this review, we discuss mechanisms by which hormonal imbalance (discussed in the frameworks of "allostatic load" and "anabolic balance") might contribute to illness. We then review certain clinical manifestations of such hormonal imbalances and discuss pharmacological and behavioural treatment strategies aimed at normalizing hormonal output and lessening psychiatric and physical pathology.
Fluorescence of atmospheric aerosols and lidar implications.

The fluorescence of aerosols in the ambient atmosphere has been monitored in situ using cw argon ion laser excitation in bands of 50 nm and 100 nm over the spectral region of 560–810 nm. The observed broadband aerosol fluorescence may limit lidar (laser radar) determinations of pollutants. The limitation can be overcome by a method in which the aerosol fluorescence excited at two wavelengths is constant while the molecular signals differ. The effectiveness of the technique has been demonstrated by in situ measurements of atmospheric nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in the presence of aerosols.
Spectral conditioning and pseudospectral growth

Using the language of pseudospectra, we study the behavior of matrix eigenvalues under two scales of matrix perturbation. First, we relate Lidskii’s analysis of small perturbations to a recent result of Karow on the growth rate of pseudospectra. Then, considering larger perturbations, we follow recent work of Alam and Bora in characterizing the distance from a given matrix to the set of matrices with multiple eigenvalues in terms of the number of connected components of pseudospectra.
Structural requirements for the assembly of LINC complexes and their function in cellular mechanical stiffness

The evolutionary-conserved interactions between KASH and SUN domain-containing proteins within the perinuclear space establish physical connections, called LINC complexes, between the nucleus and the cytoskeleton. Here, we show that the KASH domains of Nesprins 1, 2 and 3 interact promiscuously with luminal domains of Sun1 and Sun2. These constructs disrupt endogenous LINC complexes as indicated by the displacement of endogenous Nesprins from the nuclear envelope. We also provide evidence that KASH domains most probably fit a pocket provided by SUN domains and that post-translational modifications are dispensable for that interaction. We demonstrate that the disruption of endogenous LINC complexes affect cellular mechanical stiffness to an extent that compares to the loss of mechanical stiffness previously reported in embryonic fibroblasts derived from mouse lacking A-type lamins, a mouse model of muscular dystrophies and cardiomyopathies. These findings support a model whereby physical connections between the nucleus and the cytoskeleton are mediated by interactions between diverse combinations of Sun proteins and Nesprins through their respective evolutionary-conserved domains. Furthermore, they emphasize, for the first time, the relevance of LINC complexes in cellular mechanical stiffness suggesting a possible involvement of their disruption in various laminopathies, a group of human diseases linked to mutations of A-type lamins.
A Descriptive Study of Farm-Related Injuries Presenting to Emergency Departments in North Carolina: 2008–2012

Farming is among the most dangerous industries for fatal and nonfatal injuries. A comprehensive agricultural injury surveillance system is absent in North Carolina (NC), and data sets traditionally used to provide estimates of nonfatal farm injuries surveillance in the United States are relatively incomplete. In the absence of a comprehensive farm injury surveillance system, individual local administrative data sources can provide a useful profile of the epidemiology of injuries in a population. The objective of this study was to use emergency department data to help describe the burden of farm-related injuries in NC and explore its usefulness in conducting work-related injury surveillance. Emergency department data from the North Carolina Disease Event Tracking and Epidemiologic Collection Tool (NC DETECT) was utilized to identify farm injury cases. The study sample included all farm injury cases for the period of 2008-2012 that contained International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) E code 919.0 (agricultural machinery) or 849.1 (place of occurrence = farm; this E code excludes farm house and home premises of farm). Results indicated that an average of 459 cases of farm injury occurred annually from 2008 to 2012, with no significant change between years. Among the patients, 79.7% were male, 74.7% were between 18 and 64 years old, and 28.1% had no form of insurance coverage. Injuries were more heavily concentrated in the Piedmont and Coastal Plains regions (41.3% and 42.2%, respectively). Of farm-coded incidents, 73.2% were given injury- or poisoning-related primary diagnosis codes, and of these, the most frequent specific codes were related to open wounds of upper limbs (16.2%), contusions (12.0%), and sprains and strains (9.3%). Some significant relationships between diagnoses and sex, region, and age are also identified. Injuries occurring on a farm have been well documented and constitute a significant public health problem. Exploring emergency department data provides an opportunity to better characterize nonfatal farm-related injuries in NC for prevention purposes. The data provided by this study may serve to direct prevention programs, whereas the methods used offer a potential farm-related injury surveillance tool.
Passive optical amplifier for picosecond and fenitosecond pulses

The coherent superposition of mode-locked pulses stored in a passive optical cavity results in a single amplified pulse when switched out. Theoretical and experimental results demonstrate superior performance when compared with active cavity dumping techniques.
Effects of temporal frequency on phase-dependent sensitivity to heterochromatic flicker.

Modulation sensitivity was measured as a function of the relative phase of two equiluminous chromatic sources (564 and 625 nm) for temporal frequencies ranging from 1 to 40 Hz. Measurements were made at a retinal illuminance of 900 Td, with a 2° field metameric to approximately 600 nm. For most frequencies, the phase of least sensitivity was other than 180°, indicating the existence of a luminance response to antiphase modulation. Additional data sets examined the effects of field size (0.5°–8°) and mean chromaticity (583–610 nm). Variation in field size, chromaticity, and photometric setting had little effect on the phase of least sensitivity. The data were fitted by using vector summation between luminance and chromatic responses; the modulation-sensitivity functions that resulted from this analysis agreed with those of earlier studies.
PERFORMANCE COMPARISON OF SCALED III-V AND Si BALLISTIC NANOWIRE MOSFETs

This paper describes analysis and simulations of Si and III-V Gate-All-Around nanowire MOSFETS assuming ballistic or quasi-ballistic transport. It is found that either channel material can provide the higher saturation current depending on the oxide thickness. For effective oxide thickness above approximately 0.5nm, the higher electron velocity of III-V's outweighs the higher density of states available in the Si device associated with higher effective mass and valley degeneracy and result in higher current for the III-V device. However, materials with higher effective mass and valley degeneracy result in smaller on-resistance in ballistic limit. Depending on the gate oxide capacitance, valley degeneracy may influence the attainable saturation current in a positive or negative way.
Ice-rafted detritus events in the Arctic during the last glacial interval, and the timing of the Innuitian and Laurentide ice sheet calving events

Ice-rafted detritus (IRD) layers in the Arctic Ocean not only indicate the source of this detrital sediment, but give insights into the ice drift and ice sheet history. Detrital sand-sized Fe oxide mineral grains that are matched to precise sources using the microprobe chemical fingerprint of each grain, along with elevated coarse IRD abundance and radiocarbon ages, are used to define IRD peaks from the Innuitian and Arctic portions of the Laurentide ice sheets. Because grains from these two areas can be entrained by sea ice from the shelves just offshore of the calving areas, peaks in these grains must be correlated to coarse IRD to identify iceberg calving events, and to distinguish them from sea-ice rafting. The sequence of IRD peaks deposited by icebergs from these two ice sheets indicate that both ice sheets calved bergs at accelerated numbers, six or seven times, from 11 to 36 Kya. The relatively short times between most of these IRD events suggest that the ice sheets did not completely collapse with each IRD event, except the last event. Although there is some indication that one ice sheet may have begun calving bergs before the other, the resolution of the Arctic cores does not allow definitive determination of this. This emphasizes the need for higher resolution cores from the central Arctic, as well as from near the terminus of large Pleistocene ice sheets. Sea-ice rafting occurs throughout the last glacial stage, even during some glacial IRD events, as indicated by Fe grains from non-glacial sources.
Hospital Nurses' Perceptions of the Ethical Climate of Their Work Setting

Purpose: To develop an instrument to measure how hospital nurses perceive the ethical climate of their work setting and to evaluate its psychometric properties. A way to measure ethical climate can help nurses understand the work setting influences on their practice and can be used to diagnose areas for organizational change as well as to evaluate effectiveness of organizational interventions. Design: Descriptive. Instrument developed was the Hospital Ethical Climate Survey (HECS). Sampled were 360 RNs (48% response rate) employed in clinical practice at two acute-care hospitals in one U.S. midwestern city. The nurses completed a questionnaire in 1993–1994 consisting of items developed to assess their perceptions of ethical climate, along with the 43-item Integrity Audit, a social desirability scale, and a demographic inventory. Methods: Construct validity was assessed by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) using the LISREL®7 statisticaI program. Results: The final CFA model consisted of 26 variables in five factors, which were organized according to the relationships of nurses with peers, patients, managers, hospital, and physicians. Internal consistency reliability, using Cronbach's alpha, for the final 26-item instrument was 0.91 (range 0.68 to 0.92) for the subscales. Conclusions: The Hospital Ethical Climate Survey has acceptable initial reliability and validity.
Law and the Causation of Social Problems

In this paper a categorization is developed, from a variety of studies dealing with different kinds of social problems, as to how law-innovators and law-enforcers, in seeking to cope with one set of social problems, create new social problems. Sometimes the new social problems have more drastic social consequences than the original ones. From the categories developed and examples given, a set of general hypotheses is offered as to the diverse ways in which law helps to create social problems. While the negative situations have been deliberately emphasized in this article, nothing is said to deny that law may be a most important force for social melioration.
Optimizing Total Facial Nerve Patient Management for Effective Clinical Outcomes Research

ImportanceAssessment of outcomes in patients with facial paralysis is challenging owing to the lack of objective tools to evaluate facial function and suboptimal data collection. ObjectiveTo descri...
Prevention of Alzheimer's disease: Omega-3 fatty acid and phenolic anti-oxidant interventions

Abstract Alzheimer's disease (AD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) are syndromes of aging that share analogous lesions and risk factors, involving lipoproteins, oxidative damage and inflammation. Unlike in CVD, in AD, sensitive biomarkers are unknown, and high-risk groups are understudied. To identify potential prevention strategies in AD, we have focused on pre-clinical models (transgenic and amyloid infusion models), testing dietary/lifestyle factors strongly implicated in reducing risk in epidemiological studies. Initially, we reported the impact of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), notably ibuprofen, which reduced amyloid accumulation, but suppressed few inflammatory markers and without reducing oxidative damage. Safety concerns with chronic NSAIDs led to a screen of alternative NSAIDs and identification of the phenolic anti-inflammatory/anti-oxidant compound curcumin, the yellow pigment in turmeric that we found targeted multiple AD pathogenic cascades. The dietary omega-3 fatty acid, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), also limited amyloid, oxidative damage and synaptic and cognitive deficits in a transgenic mouse model. Both DHA and curcumin have favorable safety profiles, epidemiology and efficacy, and may exert general anti-aging benefits (anti-cancer and cardioprotective.)
Age at death, season, and day of death as indicators of the effect of the back to sleep program on sudden infant death syndrome in the United States, 1992-1999.

Background In June 1992, the American Academy of Pediatrics Task Force on Infant Positioning and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) made its first recommendation concerning placing infants in a supine position. Since the publication of this recommendation, SIDS rates in the United States have declined 44%. Before this recommendation, SIDS had a marked seasonal pattern and was noted to occur more frequently on weekends. Objective The objective of this study was to determine if significant changes in SIDS rates have occurred in age at death (0-27 days vs 1-6 months vs 7-11 months), season of death, and weekday of death since the implementation of the recommendations for supine positioning of infants for sleep. Design United States natality and mortality data were used for the years 1992 through 1994. United States linked infant birth and death certificate files were used for the years 1995 through 1999. Season of death was calculated from month of death and was ordered for analysis from winter to fall to spring to summer; day of death was ordered from Monday to Sunday and additionally analyzed as weekend (Saturday and Sunday) vs weekday (Monday through Friday). Results During the 8 years, 28 548 deaths were attributed to SIDS among residents of the United States. The average annual decrease in the SIDS rate for neonates aged 0 to 27 days was 6.6%; for infants aged 1 to 6 months, 9.0%; and for infants aged 7 to 11 months, 6.1%. The average decline in seasonal rates from winter to summer was 11.2% per season. A significant interaction between year of death and season indicated a diminishing rate of seasonal variation. The odds ratio for weekend vs weekday SIDS deaths was 0.98 (95% confidence interval, 0.96-1.01). There was no significant interaction between year of death and weekday of death, which indicates no change in the relationship since the implementation of the supine sleeping recommendations. Conclusions These data provide insights into the effect of the supine sleep recommendations on SIDS. The reduction in seasonal variation of SIDS suggests advantages conferred by supine sleeping in colder seasons.
Foreign currency debt and the global financial architecture

Abstract This paper discusses some problems posed by foreign currency debt for emerging economies in the context of the ongoing debate on the reform of the global financial architecture. We present a model in which the currency composition of corporate debt is endogenous, and discuss the optimality of measures aimed at coping with the risks posed by foreign currency debt. While removing these risks is not necessarily efficient in the presence of moral hazard, some forms of public intervention, such as a tax on foreign currency debt or international bailouts, may be optimal.
Task-Related Social Behavior in Children With Down Syndrome

The specificity and stability of task-related social behaviors in children ages 5 to 12 was examined. Social behaviors during solvable and unsolvable puzzles were compared among children with Down syndrome, children with mental retardation, and typically developing children matched on mental age (MA). Compared to children without Down syndrome, those with the disorder looked to an adult and requested help more frequently. They also took longer to complete the tasks. These findings suggest that the overuse of social behaviors observed in young children with Down syndrome remains stable over the early school years and are specific to children with Down syndrome.
Identification of prolapsing mitral valve scallops by a three-dimensional multiplanar reconstruction method.

Background The objectives of this study were twofold: to assess the diagnostic utility of three-dimensional (3D) multiplanar reconstruction (MPR) in identifying prolapsing mitral valve (MV) scallops, and (2) to compare two-dimensional (2D) transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and 3DMPR to (2D) transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) approaches among patients with mitral valve prolapse (MVP). Methods Fifty-five patients with MVP who underwent MV repair or replacement were retrospectively analyzed using 3 types of echocardiographic studies (2DTEE, 2DTTE, 3DMPR). The operative (OR) findings were considered the gold standard. Results When 3DMPR was combined with 2DTTE, the agreement with the OR findings was moderately strong for the A2 scallop (P < 0.001) and strong for the A3 scallop (P = 0.001), entire anterior leaflet (P < 0.001), P2 scallop (P < 0.001) and the entire posterior leaflet (P < 0.001). In comparison to the OR findings, 2DTEE demonstrated moderately strong agreement for the A2 scallop (P = 0.010) and the entire anterior leaflet (P < 0.001), and strong agreement for the P2 scallop (P < 0.001) and entire posterior leaflet (P < 0.001). Conclusions Three-dimensional MPR should be added to the armamentarium of complementary echo techniques in the evaluation of MVP. There is increased benefit in combining 3DMPR with 2DTTE findings as part of the preoperative evaluation of patients with MVP.
The effect on stability and thermal hydraulic quenchback of perforating the jacket of a cable-in-conduit conductor

This paper continues earlier work on the reduction of the quench pressure in a double-jacketed cable-in-conduit conductor achieved by perforating the inner jacket. The present study examines the effect of the perforations on the stability margin and on the onset of thermal hydraulic quenchback. >
Multi-criteria and multi-objective decision making for land allocation using GIS

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are designed for the acquisition, management, analysis and display of georeferenced data. As such they have clear implications for informing the spatial decision making process. Subsequently, recent developments in GIS software and in the conceptual basis for decision making have led to dramatic improvements in the capabilities of GIS for resource allocation. These developments are reviewed through an examination of procedures for Multi-Criteria and Multi-Objective land allocation in GIS. Special emphasis is given to the problems of incorporating subjective expertise in the context of participatory decision making; the expression of uncertainty in establishing the relationship between evidence and the decision to be made; procedures for the aggregation of evidence in the presence of varying degrees of tradeoff between criteria; and procedures for conflict resolution and conflict avoidance in cases of multiple objective decision problems.
Integrative Therapies for People with Interstitial Lung Disease, Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, and Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

There have been minimal evidence-based studies on the role of ­complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in patients with interstitial lung disease. Clinical experience demonstrates that patients often use complementary and alternative medical approaches independently without medical advice or guidance. The use of CAM, while biologically plausible, may unknowingly expose the patient to harmful side effects with or without interactions with their prescribed medications. Further research is necessary to determine the role of CAM in patients with interstitial lung diseases.
Survival of the Fittest: An Assessment of the Herfindahl Index and Product Market Competition

A large body of recent empirical work uses the Herfindahl index to proxy for industry-level product market competition. However, researchers use a variety of data and methods to construct the index. This paper measures the ability of the Herfindahl index to reflect changes in product market competition and introduces a new meaure of product market competition, the Boone indicator. I examine the effect of an exogenous shock to competition (the US-Canada Free Trade Agreement) on the Herfindahl index. The Herfindahl index does not respond to the reduction in import and export tariffs, even among industries that are most affected by the shocks. In contrast, the Boone indicator reflects changes in competition. In industries that receive shocks to both import and export tariffs, the Boone indicator increases, confirming that these industries become more competitive following the tariff shock. These findings question the validity of the Herfindahl index to proxy for industry competition and point to the Boone indicator as a viable alternative.
ANALYSIS OF DRILL PIPE REVERSE ROTATION AND IT'S BENDING FREQUENCY

Based on the well structure size and the drilling parameters, the characteristic of drill pipe reverse rotation, the calculating formula of the reverse rotation speed and its bending frequency was analyzed in detail. The rotation speed is not only in the drill pipe, but also the reverse rotation speed is in the drill pipe, its bending frequency is the sum of the drill pipe rotation speed and its reverse rotation speed. Under the certain drill pipe rotation speed, the reverse rotation speed of the drill pipe is related to the annulus gap ratio. The results indicated the measures prevented the drill pipe washout of Tarim oil field: 1. the rotation speed of the turntable should be controlled within (44.5-)92.0 r/min; 2. Under the case of the certain drill pipe size, the casing size is increased to decrease the bending stress frequency; 3. The bottom hole dynamical drill tools were adopted. It provides the theoretical supports for the reasonable drill parameter selections of the deep well and extra-deep well.
A 167-processor computational array for highly-efficient DSP and embedded application processing

This article consists of a collection of slides from the authors' conference presentation. Some of the topics discussed included processors and shared memories; on-chip communication; dynamic voltage & clock frequency; and an analysis and summary.
Survey of the anti–factor IX immunoglobulin profiles in patients with hemophilia B using a fluorescence‐based immunoassay

Essentials Studies characterizing neutralizing antibodies (inhibitors) in hemophilia B (HB) are lacking. The current study describes anti–factor (F) IX antibody profiles in 37 patients who have HB. Anti-FIX IgG4 levels exhibited a strong positive correlation with Nijmegen–Bethesda results. These data will help to more clearly define, predict, and treat alloantibody formation in HB. SummaryBackground Hemophilia B (HB) is an inherited bleeding disorder caused by the absence or dysfunction of coagulation factor IX (FIX). A subset of patients who have HB develop neutralizing alloantibodies (inhibitors) against FIX after infusion therapy. HB prevalence and the proportion of patients who develop inhibitors are much lower than those for hemophilia A (HA), which makes studies of inhibitors in patients with HB challenging due to the limited availability of samples. As a result, there is a knowledge gap regarding HB inhibitors. Objective Evaluate the largest group of patients with inhibitor-positive HB studied to date to assess the relationship between anti-FIX antibody profiles and inhibitor formation. Methods A fluorescence immunoassay was used to detect anti-FIX antibodies in plasma samples from 37 patients with HB. Results Assessments of antibody profiles showed that anti-FIX IgG1-4, IgA, and IgE were detected significantly more often in patients with a positive Nijmegen–Bethesda assay (NBA). All NBA-positive samples were positive for IgG4. Anti-FIX IgG4 demonstrated a strong correlation with the NBA, while correlations were significant, yet more moderate, for anti-FIX IgG1-2 and IgA. Conclusions The anti-FIX antibody profile in HB patients who develop inhibitors is diverse and correlates well with the NBA across immunoglobulin (sub)class, and anti-FIX IgG4 is particularly relevant to functional inhibition. The anti-FIX fluorescence immunoassay may serve as a useful tool to confirm the presence of antibodies in patients who have low positive NBA results and to more clearly define, predict, and treat alloantibody formation against FIX.
HVAC control loop performance assessment: A critical review (1587-RP)

This article presents a comprehensive review of control loop performance assessments in the context of building HVAC controls. Few studies are available for assessing HVAC control loop performance using a single control quality factor. A control quality factor should be an objective and quantitative metric with simple-to-interpret criteria and should only use data available from the actual control system, such as the control output. The authors systematically reviewed 34 indices and the associated methods of evaluating control loop performance and cataloged the drawbacks and merits of the different indices. Most of these performance assessment indices are currently used in process control industry applications. There were 14 of the 34 indices selected for further review, due to their particular suitability for implementation in HVAC control loop performance assessment. Finally, the selected 14 indices are implemented for assessments of three regulatory control loops with proportional-integral controllers:...
Hope: A Talmudic Quandary and Remedy

In this response to Caputo and Marshall's papers, I am offering a Jewish perspective on hope. Jewish theology is neither systematic nor linear. In fact, the use of the word “theology” is rather new...
170. TransfeX and TransIT-LT1 Mediated Gene Delivery to Cervical and Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cells

While TransIT-LT1 is not quite as effective, TransfeX facilitates unusually high levels of transgene expression at levels comparable to that achieved by adenoviral transduction (our unpublished data). Transfection of HeLa cells with TransfeX exhibited the highest transfection activity obtained in our laboratory, and was almost 5 times higher than that achieved with TransIT-LT1. In HSC-3 cells, transfection efficiency of TransfeX was 29 times higher than that of TransIT-LT1. Very high levels of luciferase activity were obtained in H357 cells with TransfeX. TransfeX is likely to be beneficial in various cancer gene therapy approaches and other gene therapies involving non-viral vectors.
Myelodysplastic Syndrome Clinically Presenting with the "Classic TTP Pentad".

The clinical presentation of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is not specific. Many patients can be asymptomatic and can be detected only due to an abnormal complete blood cell count (CBC) on routine exam or for other reasons while others can be symptomatic as a consequence of underlying cytopenias. Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) usually is suspected under the evidence of microangiopathic hemolytic anemia (MAHA) and thrombocytopenia and because it is a life-threatening condition (medical emergency) immediate initiation of plasmapheresis could be life-saving. The following case illustrates an unusual presentation of MDS in a patient who came in to the emergency room with the classic TTP “pentad” of fever, renal involvement, MAHA, mental status changes, and thrombocytopenia. We will focus our discussion in the clinical presentation of this case.
Extended Mind and Embodied Social Psychology: Historical Perspectives

This study traces the evolution of a research program that frames the human mind as an embodied social phenomenon. The essay is divided into two parts, the first one focused on historical issues, the second on contemporary developments. The discussion begins with the mind-body problem central to the scholarship in this area and then focuses the changing perspective on consciousness as a symbolically mediated process. Next, the paper surveys the relevant writings of Mead and Vygotsky, tracks the debate about the place of body in interactionist sociology, and connects this debate to current research in neuroscience. The report concludes with reflections on the prospects for embodied sociology and the contribution it can make to the debate about extended mind.
Parents' Perceptions of the First-Year Implementation of a One-to-One Laptop Initiative in a Midwestern High School

ABSTRACTWith the widespread use and implementation of technology into PK-20 education, one-to-one laptop programs are becoming popular approaches and have been implemented all over the world in PK-20 classrooms. With the enthusiastic implementation of this kind of program, educators and researchers have started to pay attention to evaluating their effectiveness in teaching and learning. Most researchers have focused on teacher and student perceptions and attitudes toward one-to-one programs, omitting the opinions of an important stakeholder, parents. The purpose of this study was to investigate parents' perceptions toward the one-to-one laptop initiative in a Midwestern high school. The researchers used a pre-post design and collected both quantitative and qualitative data from parents and guardians. Results revealed that a majority of parents had high regard for the program. Parents also shared their perceived advantages of and concerns about the program.
Characterization of tumor-induced superior vena cava syndrome with F-18 FDG PET/CT: A case report of an unusual great veins intimal sarcoma

1023 Learning Objectives 1. Understand the role of FDG PET/CT for differentiation between intravascular tumor and thrombus. 2. Illustrate the pattern of extensive intravascular tumor spread in the central great veins and right atrium of an intimal sarcoma. F-18 FDG PET/CT is widely used for routine staging of many tumors and identification of tumors of unknown origin. However seldom is it used as a problem-solving tool, a prognostic indicator with quantification, a biopsy-directing tool or even a more precise staging modality in nonapproved indications. Here we present a case where FDG PET/CT proves to be crucial for staging, prognosis, tumor characterization and differentiation between intravascular tumor and thrombus. A 47 year-old male presented with worsening SVC syndrome and cervical lymphadenopathy. The initial CT study demonstrated extensive occlusive filling defects within central veins, and SVC extending to right atrium. The patient was felt to have an extensive vascular thrombus based on CT findings and a concurrent echocardiogram. The F-18 FDG PET/CT study demonstrated extensive, intense uptake in the soft tissue density within the central veins, SVC, and right atrium with a maximum SUVm: 43.8. The excision biopsy of a central neck lymph node/mass showed high grade pleomorphic malignant spindle cell tumor infiltrating blood vessels and soft tissue, consistent with undifferentiated vascular intimal sarcoma. Intimal sarcomas are rare malignancies and commonly seen in the greater arteries. They frequently are diagnosed postmortem after dissection of thrombus-like material. It is not uncommonly mistaken with a thrombus premortem. The pattern and intensity of these aggressive tumors distinguishes themselves from clots and shows the value of FDG PET-CT in differentiating tumor versus thrombus and prognostication, hopefully impacting palliative care versus some survival benefit with appropriate treatment. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report with PET/CT findings of a great veins intimal sarcoma
From silent spring to silent night: Agrochemicals and the anthropocene

We are now living in the Anthropocene, the first time in Earth’s history when synthetic chemicals—created by humans—are damaging the planet and contributing to a major loss of biodiversity. Pesticides are a particular problem in this regard. Agricultural practices changed dramatically following World War II. Methods for the production of nitrogen for manufacturing explosives were adapted for use as fertilizer in agriculture. Further, chemicals used to combat insect vectors for disease during World War II were adapted for the control of insect pests in agriculture. Eventually, herbicides used as defoliants to destroy food supplies and aid in combating soldiers using forests as cover, were customized to control weeds in agriculture. The heavy use of pesticides in agriculture has resulted in global exposure to these chemicals. Travelling through water, air, and in migrating animals, pesticides can be found in drinking water reservoirs, the atmosphere, on mountain tops, and even in remote areas in the Arctic where they are not used. The widespread exposure to agrichemicals has altered landscapes and ecosystems around the world. In addition to directly killing non-target organisms, target and non-target organisms can evolve resistance to pesticides, resulting in altered gene pools. Further, emerging data demonstrate that even low— formerly considered “non-toxic”— concentrations of pesticides can impact health, physiology, reproduction and development through endocrine-disrupting effects. The development of genetically modified crops that are resistant to pesticides and that produce pesticides themselves, and the financial incentive of the chemical companies that produce the genetically modified organisms (GMOs) have resulted in increased pesticide applications. There is probably no place on earth that is not affected by pesticides. The solution is the adoption of integrated pest management practices that reduce the use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers in agriculture and the decoupling of the agrichemical and seed industry.
Trends and Key Correlates of Prescription Opioid Injection Misuse in The United States.

Abstract Background Despite concerns over increasing harms associated with prescription opioid injection misuse, there is a paucity of research on the magnitude, characteristics, injection practices, and syringe sources for people who inject prescription opioids; limiting the implementation of targeted policy and programmatic initiatives. Materials and methods Data from the 2003 through 2014 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health were used to estimate prescription opioid injection trends and examine risky injection practices and syringe sources for people who inject prescription opioids. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify characteristics associated with prescription opioid injection. Results Among people 12 years or older, the rate of prescription opioid injection misuse increased from 1.6 per 1000 in 2003–2005 to 2.7 per 1000 in 2012–2014 (p value for trend Conclusion This study found significant increases in prescription opioid injection misuse trends in the U.S. These findings underscore the need to bring to scale evidence-based interventions to increase the provision of medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorders and expand access to comprehensive risk-reduction services for people who inject drugs.
On the effects of pre- and post-transient rod positions for TREAT temperature-limited transient powers

Abstract A set of KENO models to simulate select TREAT temperature-limited transients using the Transient Reactor eXcursion simulator (T-ReX), a hybrid deterministic-stochastic code, has been prepared. These transients are from the M8CAL experiment series, which are a set of experiments performed to determine the relationship between the fission power generated in the TREAT core and the fission power generated in experiment fuel located in an experiment vehicle. The experiments were performed to provide necessary calibration information specifically needed for planning and analysis of the M8 test series. The models have been prepared using best available information on materials and geometry. These models resulted in somewhat different reactivity values than those that were reported. Control rod positions prior to and post transient were adjusted to yield the reported critical values as well as the reactivity insertions. The effect of using different cross-section libraries as well as continuous energy vs. multigroup treatments were assessed. Finally, transient analyses were performed using T-ReX for both unmodified and modified cases and compared to experimental results. It was observed that the modified rod positions result in better agreement for maximum yield measured during the M8CAL experiments.
Subconjunctival Exposure to Carbopol Causes Chronic Histiocytic Inflammatory Response in Rabbits.

Purpose We recently reported a clinical association between surgical exposure to the ophthalmic lubricant GenTeal gel and postoperative subconjunctival necrotizing granulomatous inflammation. We used a rabbit model to test our hypothesis that subconjunctival exposure to the carbopol 980 component is responsible for inciting chronic inflammation. Methods Of eight adult wild-type Dutch belted rabbits, 16 eyes received subconjunctival injections of the following: hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) 0.3% with carbopol 980 (GenTeal gel, n = 4), HPMC 0.3% (GenTeal tears, n = 3), 0.1% carbopol 980 in sterile water (n = 3), HPMC 1.7% (ImproVue, n = 3), and balanced salt solution (BSS, negative control, n = 3). Rabbits were examined weekly for clinical evidence of inflammation, and biopsies were taken for final pathology 10 weeks postinjection. Results All seven eyes exposed to subconjunctival carbopol 980 (HPMC 0.3% with carbopol 980 or 0.1% carbopol 980) demonstrated conjunctival injection and edema at 4 weeks followed by yellow subconjunctival lesions with scattered pigmentation at 10 weeks. Each of these eyes demonstrated chronic histiocytic inflammation on pathology. No eyes treated with HPMC 0.3%, HPMC 1.7%, or BSS (noncarbopol-containing agents) developed clinical abnormalities or histiocytic inflammation (Fisher's exact test P < 0.0001). Conclusions Subconjunctival exposure to ophthalmic lubricants containing carbopol 980 stimulates a chronic histiocytic inflammatory response. HPMC-based lubricants lacking carbopol 980 are well tolerated in the subconjunctival space. Translational Relevance Ophthalmic lubricants containing carbopol polymers should be avoided during surgical procedures that may result in subconjunctival exposure. Caution should be exercised when considering surgical use of biomedical products containing highly cross linked, high molecular weight acrylic acid polymers.
Management of Bleeding from the Pancreas

Acute hemorrhage originating from the pancreas is the least common form of gastrointestinal bleeding. Patients typically present with a triad of epigastric abdominal pain, intermittent gastrointestinal hemorrhage, and hyperamylasemia. Diagnosis is challenging but can be made through a combination of upper endoscopy, endoscopic retrogradge cholangiopancreatography, endoscopic ultrasound, computed tomography angiography, and angiography. First line treatment in stable patients is endovascular. In unstable patients, operative intervention is required.
DIVERSITY OF PHENOTYPES OF NON-HODGKIN'S MALIGNANT LYMPHOMA

ABSTRACT Tumor masses from 100 patients with lymphoma were studied in both single cell suspensions and tissue frozen sections with a panel of 13 monoclonal antibodies and other lymphocyte marker assays (1). Various immunologic phenotypes were defined and they were compared with histologic classification. The diagnostic and biologic implications are discussed.
Biology of Coagulation and Coagulopathy in Neurologic Surgery.

Hemostasis is a cell-based process that is regulated in a tissue-specific manner by the differential expression of procoagulant and anticoagulant factors on endothelial cells from different sites throughout the vasculature. The central nervous system, in particular, exhibits unique mechanisms of hemostatic regulation that favor increased activity of the tissue factor pathway. This results in an unusually high degree of protection against hemorrhage, at the potential expense of increased thrombotic risk. Unfortunately, standard laboratory assays, including the PT and aPTT, do not accurately reflect the complexity of hemostasis in vivo; therefore, they cannot predict the risk of bleeding or thrombosis.