cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comprehension of before and after in logical and arbitrary sequences

Pre-school children were required to act out a series of two-event sequences conjoined by either before or after . The sentences to be acted out consisted of either a meaningfully or an arbitrarily ordered sequence of events. Performance was markedly superior for meaningfully ordered sequences. It is suggested that the meanings of before and after must be acquired in situations which provide contextual support, and only then can be applied in situations which do not provide such support.
Recent Advances in Surface Micromachining

Surface micromachining is the fabrication of micromechanical structures from deposited thin films. Although the process dates to the 1960s, this paper will survey its rapid extension over the past few years and its application to batch-fabrication of micromechanisms and of monolithic micro electromechanical systems (MEMS). Two central issues in surface micromachining are: (i) the understanding and control of the material properties of microstructural films, such as polycrystalline silicon, and (ii) the release of the microstructure, for example by wet-etching silicon dioxide sacrificial films, followed by the drying and surface passivation of the microstructure. Recent developments in hinged structures for post-release assembly and high-aspect ratio fabrication of molded parts from deposited thin films promise to extend greatly the capabilities of surface micromachining technology.
Thermography of tuberculin reactions in cattle.

Abstract The allergic reactions of dermal induration and hyperthermia were compared in tuberculin-hypersensitive calves. Tuberculins prepared from Mycobacterium avium, M. bovis, and M. paratuberculosis were administered intradermally and the responses were compared. The indurations from immediate and delayed hypersensitivity reactions were readily distinguishable, but the hyperthermic responses appeared to contain elements of both immediate and delayed hypersensitivity.
Changing Epidemiology of HIV/AIDS in the United States: Implications for Enhancing and Promoting HIV Testing Strategies

Despite aggressive prevention efforts, > 1 million people in the United States are currently estimated to be living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, with or without progression to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Although men who have sex with men remain the group at highest risk, updated prevention strategies need to take into account the changing face of the epidemic, notably, the increasing burden of the disease among African Americans and young people. One of the major obstacles to current efforts in the United States to prevent HIV infection is the high rate of transmission among people who do not know they are infected. Many Americans still receive a diagnosis of advanced HIV disease, including AIDS, < or = 1 year after HIV infection is diagnosed, suggesting that they have been HIV positive and unaware of their serostatus for 5-10 years. Promoting access to and receipt of HIV testing is one of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's 4 main strategies for advancing efforts to prevent HIV infection. Making HIV testing a routine part of medical care would lead to earlier diagnosis of infection. This would in turn improve the prognosis for the infected individual and reduce the risk of onward transmission, particularly if effective counseling, education, and treatment are provided upon diagnosis. New recommendations aimed at making HIV testing more routine in health care settings should have a substantial impact on these efforts, but it is crucially important that our strategies reflect the changing face of the epidemic.
Nitrogen fixation and phosphatase activity in periphyton growing on nutrient diffusing substrata: evidence for differential nutrient limitation in stream periphyton

AbstractWe explored N2 fixation and alkaline phosphatase activity (APA) in periphyton from a N-limited stream ecosystem by coupling measurements of these processes with nutrient diffusion substrata (NDS) experiments. We measured periphyton biomass accumulation (as ash-free dry mass [AFDM] and chlorophyll a [CHLA]), N2 fixation, and APA to evaluate the relative importance of N2 fixation as an N source to the periphyton community and APA as an indicator of P deficiency in a seemingly N-limited system. We used fritted-glass-disc NDS and estimated AFDM, CHLA, N2 fixation, and APA on days 6, 18, and 29 after deployment. Periphyton AFDM steadily increased on NDS over time, but was not influenced by nutrients. CHLA was elevated in the N treatment on days 18 and 29, indicating autotrophic N limitation. Consistent with N limitation, N2 fixation was high but not different in the control and P treatments and was virtually undetectable on the N treatment. N2 fixation in control and P treatments was detectable in both...
Compressed plane waves yield a compactly supported multiresolution basis for the Laplace operator

This paper describes an L1 regularized variational framework for developing a spatially localized basis, compressed plane waves, that spans the eigenspace of a differential operator, for instance, the Laplace operator. Our approach generalizes the concept of plane waves to an orthogonal real-space basis with multiresolution capabilities.
The factor structure of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT).

Objective: Past research assessing the factor structure of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) with various exploratory and confirmatory factor analytic techniques has identified one-, two-, and three-factor solutions. Because different factor analytic procedures may result in dissimilar findings, we examined the factor structure of the AUDIT using the same factor analytic technique on two new large clinical samples and on archival data from six samples studied in previous reports. Method: Responses to the AUDIT were obtained from participants who met Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV), criteria for alcohol dependence in two large randomized clinical trials: the COMBINE (Combining Medications and Behavioral Interventions) Study (N = 1,337; 69% men) and Project MATCH (Matching Alcoholism Treatments to Client Heterogeneity; N = 1,711; 76% men). Supplementary analyses involved six correlation matrices of AUDIT data obtained from five previously pu...
Erythropoietin as a neonatal neuroprotective agent

Brain injury is common in critically ill preterm and term infants. To date, no proven therapies are available for preterm infants who experience intracranial hemorrhage or white matter injury. Hypothermia appears to improve the outcome of term or near-term infants who have perinatal asphyxia, but only among those who have mild-to-moderate injury. This article provides an overview of a novel approach to neuroprotection: high-dose recombinant erythropoietin (rEpo). This treatment has potential for stand-alone use or as an adjunct to hypothermia. Experimental and clinical data supporting the use of erythropoietin (Epo) as a neuroprotective agent for neonates who have brain injury are discussed.
Photochemistry of biogenic emissions over the Amazon forest

The boundary layer chemistry over the Amazon forest during the dry season is simulated with a photochemical model. Results are in good agreement with measurements of isoprene, NO, ozone, and organic acids. Photochemical reactions of biogenic isoprene and NOx can supply most of the ozone observed in the boundary layer. Production of ozone is very sensitive to the availability of NOx, but is insensitive to the isoprene source strength. High concentrations of total odd nitrogen (NOy) are predicted for the planetary boundary layer, about 1 ppb in the mixed layer and 0.75 ppb in the convective cloud layer. Most of the odd nitrogen is present as PAN-type species, which are removed by dry deposition to the forest. The observed daytime variations of isoprene are explained by a strong dependence of the isoprene emission flux on sun angle. Nighttime losses of isoprene exceed rates of reaction with NO3 and O3 and appear to reflect dry-deposition processes. The 24-hour averaged isoprene emission flux is calculated to be 38 mg/sq m per day. Photooxidation of isoprene could account for a large fraction of the CO enrichment observed in the boundary layer under unpolluted conditions and could constitute an important atmospheric source of formic acid, methacrylic acid, and pyruvic acid.
Production of single-domain magnetite throughout life by sockeye salmon, Oncorhynchus nerka

Although single-domain particles of biogenic magnetite have been found in different species of pelagic fishes, nothing is known about when it is synthesized, or about whether the time during life when it is produced is correlated with the development of responses to magnetic field stimuli. We have investigated production of biogenic magnetite suitable for use in magnetoreception in different life stages of the sockeye salmon, Oncorhynchus nerka (Walbaum). Sockeye salmon were chosen because responses in orientation arenas to magnetic field stimuli have been demonstrated in both fry and smolt stages of this species. We found significant quantities of single-domain magnetite in connective tissue from the ethmoid region of the skull of adult (4-year-old) sockeye salmon. The ontogenetic study revealed an orderly increase in the amount of magnetic material in the same region of the skull but not in other tissues of sockeye salmon fry, yearlings and smolts. The physical properties of this material closely matched those of magnetite particles extracted from the ethmoid tissue of the adult fish. We suggest that single-domain magnetite particles suitable for use in magnetoreception are produced throughout life in the ethmoid region of the skull in sockeye salmon. Based on theoretical calculations, we conclude that there are enough particles present in the skulls of the fry to mediate their responses to magnetic field direction. By the smolt stage, the amount of magnetite present in the front of the skull is sufficient to provide the fish with a magnetoreceptor capable of detecting small changes in the intensity of the geomagnetic field. Other tissues of the salmon, such as the eye and skin, often contained ferromagnetic material, although the magnetizations of these tissues were usually more variable than in the ethmoid tissue. These deposits of unidentified magnetic material, some of which may be magnetite, appear almost exclusively in adults and so would not be useful in magnetoreception by young fish. We suggest that tissue from within the ethmoid region of the skull in pelagic fishes is the only site yet identified where magnetite suitable for use in magnetoreception is concentrated.
Implantation of a defibrillator in a patient with an upper airway stimulation device

The patient is a 62-year-old man with continuous positive airway pressure-intolerant obstructive sleep apnea who was enrolled in a study for a hypoglossal nerve upper airway stimulation device (UAS). Nearly 2.5 years later, he was admitted to the hospital for unstable angina. Diagnostic workup revealed a prior myocardial infarction, an ejection fraction of 30% on maximal medical therapy, and episodes of nonsustained ventricular tachycardia. During hospitalization, the patient received an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). This is the first reported case of simultaneous use of a UAS and an ICD, and we report no untoward device interference between the two implantable devices.
Physiology and Pathophysiology of Pulmonary Macrophages

The respiratory tract is the most common entry route for toxic particles from urban and occupational environments. The same thinness and delicacy of the air-blood barrier which facilitates rapid exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide also reduces its effectiveness as a barrier to inhaled carcinogens, toxic particles, allergens, and microorganisms.
Trace Mineral Elements, Mammalian Requirements and Man’s Presumptive Needs

Trace mineral elements are present in all links of the food chain (Underwood, 1977). In plants, animals, and man, the essential elements function as catalysts, required in small amounts for optimal growth, productivity and health. Most are difficult to measure and the interpretation of measured values is complicated by the incomplete understanding of principles that govern their biological availability and interactions. Thus, it is not surprising that the initial scientific efforts to define nutrient requirements of plants, animals, and man were directed toward the macronutrients and that man’s modern successes in agricultural production were based on the application of knowledge of macronutrient requirements. The enormous benefit derived from the use of chemical fertilisers is but one example. When the needs for macroelements are met, the supply of microelements may become limiting (Bertrand, 1912). The rate of depletion of agricultural soils of essential micromineral elements can be calculated; it varies from one soil type to another, and depends on agricultural practices, but depletion of the microelements can ultimately result in a reduction of either crop yield or the microelement concentration in the plants or both. This, in turn, will affect the farm animals living on these lands, possibly diminishing growth rates and productivity (Underwood, 1977). Microelement deficiency can also, albeit less directly, affect human health by contributing to low, perhaps even deficient, intakes in the affected regions.
Technology's Triple Threat to the Attorney-Client Privilege

Three issues – volume of recorded communications, ease of dissemination, and lack of knowledge – are today’s primary technology-related threats to the attorney-client privilege. Generally speaking, attorney-client communications must be kept confidential to retain their privileged status. In the information age, the volume of recorded attorney-client communications and ease of their dissemination makes it more difficult than ever to protect against disclosure. Whether that disclosure is intentional or inadvertent, it can result in privilege waiver. While some perceive that a gap in attorney knowledge about technology is a major threat to the privilege, that does not appear to be the case at this time. The perception is that attorneys who use technology without understanding it are putting the privilege at risk by unintentionally revealing confidential information to third parties such as cloud service providers or those who intercept unencrypted email. In short, some fear that an attorney’s unwitting compromise of confidentiality through use of technology is resulting in an increased incidence of privilege waiver. But this concern is not playing out in the privilege waiver case law. Inadvertent disclosures that result in privilege waiver are generally made directly to opposing counsel and can typically be traced to the volume of information and ease of dissemination rather than lawyer misunderstanding of technology and data privacy. That being said, a lack of knowledge is the third technology-related privilege threat identified in this article. But it is a legal knowledge deficit that most often jeopardizes privilege in the information age. Attorneys are not educating their clients regarding the need to avoid intentional disclosures of otherwise privileged information to preserve the privilege. With the growing use of email, blogs, and social media, lawyers must explain to clients the risks of disclosing privileged information in these fora. Further many lawyers do not understand the legal protections they can institute to prevent waiver following the inadvertent disclosures of privileged information that are seemingly unavoidable today. These “legal knowledge” threats to the privilege are reflected in the case law and should be the primary concern for attorneys worried about privilege waiver. This article explores this triple technology threat to the attorney-client privilege and considers how lawyers can better protect the privilege in the future.
Enabling Smart Grid Cosimulation Studies: Rapid Design and Development of the Technologies and Controls

The 21st century electric power grid is transforming with an unprecedented increase in demand and increase in new technologies. In the United States Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, Title XIII sets the tenets for modernizing the electricity grid through what is known as the ?Smart Grid Initiative.? This initiative calls for increased design, deployment, and integration of distributed energy resources, smart technologies and appliances, and advanced storage devices. The deployment of these new technologies requires rethinking and re-engineering the traditional boundaries between different electric power system domains (Figure 1).
Glucose transporters of rat proximal tubule: differential expression and subcellular distribution.

In the late proximal tubule, glucose reabsorption progressively lowers the concentration of luminal glucose, and concentrative glucose influx increases to ensure complete glucose reabsorption. The ...
The Action of Irradiated Ergosterol on Rats and Chickens

It is generally taken for granted that there is a parallelism between rickets, the percentage of ash in the bones, and the concentration of inorganic phosphorus in the blood, and furthermore that factors which prevent or cure rickets are associated with a tendency to increase the bone ash and the phosphorus in the blood. In connection with infantile rickets, attention has been drawn from time to time by one of us to the fact that this disorder may be accompanied by a high concentration of inorganic phosphorus in the blood. In the course of an extended investigation, we have found that this same phenomenon may hold true for rats. Furthermore, a striking difference in this respect has been noted between the action of irradiated ergosterol and cod liver oil, when inadequate amounts of the former preparation are given. In a series of curative experiments it was found repeatedly that the inorganic phosphorus could be raised to normal concentrations, to 6 mg. or more per 100 cc. of serum, and that nevertheless ...
Measuring Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulator (SERM)–Membrane Interactions with Second Harmonic Generation

The interaction of selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) with lipid membranes has been measured at clinically relevant serum concentrations using the label-free technique of second harmonic generation (SHG). The SERMs investigated in this study include raloxifene, tamoxifen, and the tamoxifen metabolites 4-hydroxytamoxifen, N-desmethyltamoxifen, and endoxifen. Equilibrium association constants (Ka) were measured for SERMs using varying lipid compositions to examine how lipid phase, packing density, and cholesterol content impact SERM-membrane interactions. Membrane-binding properties of tamoxifen and its metabolites were compared on the basis of hydroxyl group substitution and amine ionization to elucidate how the degree of drug ionization impacts membrane partitioning. SERM-membrane interactions were probed under multiple pH conditions, and drug adsorption was observed to vary with the concentration of soluble neutral species. The agreement between Ka values derived from SHG measurements of the ...
Radially Combined Solid State High Power Amplifier for Space Communications

A radially combined set of SSPAs provides a method to generate high RF power using solid state devices. Although common in radar and jammer applications, these HPAs have not been in common use for communication channels, especially those with multi-carriers. This paper describes the design, simulation and testing of a solid state, Ku-band HPA for a multicarrier ground to spacecraft RF link using a set of 24, radially combined SSPAs. Testing of a prototype model demonstrates that the HPA behaves like a single SSPA with the output IP3 increased by a factor equal to the number of amplifiers minus any losses in the output cables and combiner itself.
Recognition of Belligerency and the Spanish War

Few problems raised by the Spanish civil war are more interesting than those growing out of the fact that a state of war, in the legal sense, does not exist; belligerent rights have been accorded to neither of the contestants by third Powers. Consequently, on January 8 of this year, Germany turned over to the rebel authorities two Spanish loyalist vessels captured in retaliation to an “act of piracy”—an indictment earned by the loyalist government for its seizure of the German freighter, Palos. One may feel justifiably surprised that a government almost universally recognized as legitimate can be charged with piratical activities. Further reflection reveals that the Spanish situation presents many more questions concerning the rights and duties of the contestants as against third parties. In the absence of the recognition of belligerency, what are the rights of loyalist and rebel ships on the high seas? In the territorial waters of Spain? May the fascist or socialistic factions establish blockades? What are the powers and validity of their prize courts? Who is answerable for the illegal acts of the rebels should they lose—or be victorious? What claims will the Spanish Government have as against third Powers should one or the other prove successful? May the loyalist authorities by simple decree close to neutral trade the ports held by the insurgents? Moreover, how would all of these matters be affected if the maritime Powers of the world were to recognize the existence of a state of war, i.e., belligerency, in Spain? And, finally, in view of the magnitude and duration of the struggle, is there any justification for withholding such recognition?
Direct fluorescence detection of RNA on microarrays by surface-initiated enzymatic polymerization.

We report the first demonstration of surface-initiated enzymatic polymerization (SIEP) for the direct detection of RNA in a fluorescence microarray format. This new method incorporates multiple fluorophores into an RNA strand using the two-step sequential and complementary reactions catalyzed by yeast poly(A) polymerase (PaP) to incorporate deoxyadenosine triphosphate (dATP) at the 3′–OH of an RNA molecule, followed by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) to catalyze the sequential addition of a mixture of natural and fluorescent deoxynucleotides (dNTPs) at the 3′–OH of an RNA–DNA hybrid. We found that the 3′-end of RNA can be efficiently converted into DNA (∼50% conversion) by polymerization of dATP using yeast PaP, and the short DNA strand appended to the end of the RNA by PaP acts as the initiator for the TdT-catalyzed polymerization of longer DNA strands from a mixture of natural and fluorescent dNTPs that contain up to ∼45 Cy3 fluorophores per 1 kb DNA. We obtained an ∼2 pM limit of detection ...
High-Dimensional Analysis of Acute Myeloid Leukemia Reveals Phenotypic Changes in Persistent Cells during Induction Therapy

The plasticity of AML drives poor clinical outcomes and confounds its longitudinal detection. However, the immediate impact of treatment on the leukemic and non-leukemic cells of the bone marrow and blood remains relatively understudied. Here, we conducted a pilot study of high dimensional longitudinal monitoring of immunophenotype in AML. To characterize changes in cell phenotype before, during, and immediately after induction treatment, we developed a 27-antibody panel for mass cytometry focused on surface diagnostic markers and applied it to 46 samples of blood or bone marrow tissue collected over time from 5 AML patients. Central goals were to determine whether changes in AML phenotype would be captured effectively by cytomic tools and to implement methods for describing the evolving phenotypes of AML cell subsets. Mass cytometry data were analyzed using established computational techniques. Within this pilot study, longitudinal immune monitoring with mass cytometry revealed fundamental changes in leukemia phenotypes that occurred over time during and after induction in the refractory disease setting. Persisting AML blasts became more phenotypically distinct from stem and progenitor cells due to expression of novel marker patterns that differed from pre-treatment AML cells and from all cell types observed in healthy bone marrow. This pilot study of single cell immune monitoring in AML represents a powerful tool for precision characterization and targeting of resistant disease.
Preventable hospitalizations and Medicare managed care: a small area analysis.

OBJECTIVE To examine the association between preventable hospitalization rates and proportions of managed care enrollment at the primary care service area level. STUDY DESIGN Multivariate design. METHODS The study used the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project State Inpatient Data from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality for Arizona, Massachusetts, and New York for the years 1995 and 2005 to examine the association between preventable hospitalization rates and proportions of managed care enrollment in 1995 and 2005. The period 1995-2005 was marked by the beginning and end of several legislative and policy initiatives causing changes in elderly hospitalization patterns as well as Medicare managed care enrollment patterns. The study used ordinary least squares regressions, adjusting for heteroscedasticity. A cross-sectional analysis was used to examine the association each year. A pooled sample analysis over years tested the changes in relative contributions of managed care over time. RESULTS Preventable hospitalization rates were inversely associated with Medicare managed enrollment in both years. This association was, however, found to be weaker in 2005 than in 1995. The decline in contributions of managed care was also statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS Despite increased managed care enrollment, the role of Medicare managed care in explaining declines in preventable hospitalization rates diminished over time. The results could be explained by the growth of private fee-for-service types of managed care plans and the resultant decline in emphasis on care coordination relative to health maintenance organization plans.
Ozone-induced IL-8 expression and transcription factor binding in respiratory epithelial cells

Ozone, one of the most reactive oxidant gases to which humans are routinely exposed, induces inflammation in the lower airways. The airway epithelium is one of the first targets that inhaled ozone will encounter, but its role in airway inflammation is not well understood. Expression of inducible genes involved in the inflammatory response, such as interleukin (IL)-8, is controlled by transcription factors. Expression of the IL-8 gene is regulated by the transcription factors nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB, NF-IL-6, and possibly activator protein-1 (AP-1). Type II-like epithelial cells (A549) were grown on a collagen-coated membrane and exposed in vitro to 0.1 ppm ozone or air. Exposure to ozone induced DNA-binding activity of NF-kappaB, NF-IL-6, and AP-1. IL-8 mRNA and IL-8 protein levels were also increased after ozone exposure. These results link ozone-induced DNA-binding activity of transcription factors and the production of IL-8 by epithelial cells thus demonstrating a potential cellular cascade resulting in the recruitment of inflammatory cells into the airway lumen.
Assessing protocol adherence in a clinical trial with ordered treatment regimens: Quantifying the pragmatic, randomized optimal platelet and plasma ratios (PROPPR) trial experience

Abstract Background Medication dispensing errors are common in clinical trials, and have a significant impact on the quality and validity of a trial. Therefore, the definition, calculation and evaluation of such errors are important for supporting a trial’s conclusions. A variety of medication dispensing errors can occur. In this paper, we focus on errors in trials where the intervention includes multiple therapies that must be given in a pre-specified order that varies across treatment arms and varies in duration. Methods The Pragmatic, Randomized Optimal Platelet and Plasma Ratios (PROPPR) trial was a Phase III multi-site, randomized trial to compare the effectiveness and safety of 1:1:1 transfusion ratios of plasma and platelets to red blood cells with a 1:1:2 ratio. In this trial, these three types of blood products were to be transfused in a pre-defined order that differed by treatment arm. In this paper, we present approaches from the PROPPR trial that we used to define and calculate the occurrence of out of order blood transfusion errors. We applied the proposed method to calculate protocol adherence to the specified order of transfusion in each treatment arm. Results Using our proposed method, protocol adherence was greater in the 1:1:1 group than in the 1:1:2 group (96% vs 93%) (p Conclusions Overall, PROPPR adherence to blood transfusion order pre-specified in the protocol was high, and the required order of transfusions for the 1:1:2 group was more difficult to achieve. The approaches proposed in this manuscript were useful in evaluating the PROPPR adherence and are potentially useful for other trials where a specific treatment orders with varying durations must be maintained.
Abstract 4874: Interleukin-12/FasTI: A novel bi-functional fusion protein for cancer immunotherapy

Whereas cancer immunotherapy with cytokines demonstrates effective in activating immune response against tumor cells, one major obstacle with the use of these cytokines is their severe side effects when delivered systemically at high doses. Another challenge is that advanced tumor cells often evade immunosurveillance of the immune system and block the Fas-mediated apoptosis by down-regulating its expression. In the present study, we report the design and preliminary evaluation of the antitumor activity of a novel fusion protein:mIL-12/FasTI, consisting of mIL-12 and the transmembrane and intracellular domains of Fas. The fusion construct (pmIL-12/FasTI) was transfected into mouse lung carcinoma cell line TC-1. Stable cell clones expressing the fusion protein were established as assayed by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. ELISA and cell proliferation analyses demonstrated that NK cells were effectively activated by the fusion protein with increased IFN-a production and cytotoxicity. Enhanced caspase 3 activity of the clones when co-cultured with NK cells demonstrated that apoptosis was induced through Fas/FasL signaling pathway. The bifunctional protein is clearly more effective than IL-12 alone. It, therefore, represents a promising new therapeutic agent for cancer treatment when combined with tumor cell-specific gene delivery. Citation Format: Xi Yang, Ashlee Tietje, Xianzhong Yu, Yanzhang Wei. Interleukin-12/FasTI: A novel bi-functional fusion protein for cancer immunotherapy. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 4874.
Properties of Soluble His-Tagged rGPIbα1–483 Wild-Type and Increase-of-Function Mutants.

The extracellular domain of human platelet GPIbα contains the binding site for von Willebrand factor (vWF) within the amino-terminal 45 kDa region comprising approximately 300 amino acids. In the present studies, we have used CHO cells to synthesize a longer fragment of His 1 -Phe 483 , representing nearly the complete extracellular domain of GPIbα, with an additional 8 histidine residues added at the carboxyl end to provide recognition by his-tag reagents. Both wild-type and the increase-of-function mutants Gly 233 →Val 233 and/or Met 239 →Val 239 were employed. For studies of antibody binding, modulator-induced vWF binding, or antibody inhibition of this vWF binding, capture of the recombinant GPIbα could be accomplished by nickel chelate binding of the his-tag. Both botrocetin and ristocetin induced saturable binding of vWF by ELISA, as demonstrated by HRP-conjugated anti-vWF polyclonal antibody. In the case of the different increase-of-function mutants, significant vWF binding was seen even in the absence of added modulator. Inhibition of botrocetin-induced vWF binding was greater for wild-type than for the Met 239 →Val 239 GPIbα mutant with some mabs (e.g., AS-2), whereas the degree of inhibition was essentially equivalent with other mabs (e.g., C-34). When a rabbit polyclonal anti-his antibody was used to immobilize the recombinant proteins instead of the nickel chelate system, binding of vWF and of conformation-dependent mabs was impaired. However, when this same antibody was biotinylated and then captured on a streptavidin plate, excellent capture and subsequent binding characteristics of the recombinant GPIbα were restored. With both this latter system and with the nickel chelate system, a highly sensitive functional vWF activity assay could be established, using botrocetin-induced binding of vWF from human plasma. Linearity of binding was observed between 0.1–0.6% normal plasma, with saturation occurring around 2%. Whereas higher concentrations of plasma actually appeared to displace bound GPIbα to the nickel chelate, the streptavidin-biotin-anti-his attachment method appeared more resistant to such effects. The ELISA-based assay systems developed in this study accordingly provide an and effective approach to study functional interactions of both wild-type and mutant forms of GPIbα with its ligand vWF and also with antibodies directed against different epitopes within the entire extracellular domain of this receptor molecule. The high sensitivity, reproducibility, and rapidity of the assay system also offer the possibility of a useful test for functional assay of plasma vWF.
The Consequences of a Deified Market Model

This chapter reviews the many ways that neoliberal theory is informing our understanding of the public good in higher education. We will examine the scholarly response to this market-driven definition of the public good. All of the work we review in this chapter shares a number of common features: concern about neoliberal ideals subverting traditional understandings of the public good; worry about the broad mandate of higher education being reduced simply to job placement and workplace training; alarm at the loss of the civic and moral dimension of higher education; and a sense that access, opportunity, and democratic ideals are being actively subverted by an exclusive focus on certain kinds of marketplace considerations.
Anti-VEGF Monotherapy Treatment Strategies for Neovascular AMD

This chapter provides a review of the discovery of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents, the evolution of drug development, and the refinement of evidence-based treatment strategies for neovascular AMD.
A Review of Scanning Electron Microscopy in Near Field Emission Mode

Abstract The use of low energy electrons in the analysis of materials at the nanoscale will play a significant role over many research areas including biological, medical, data storage, computing and renewable energy. This recent trend in these fields is to employ low energy primary electrons for better resolution and specificity of the resulting analysis. Here, we will discuss the method we have implemented that combines the essential functionalities of two types of microscopies; thereby, creating a quite compact instrument that can readily be integrated into ultrahigh vacuum scanning probe microscopy systems. The close proximity between the source and the specimen provides a means of overcoming the limitations of conventional scanning electron microscopes and opens the possibility to use lower primary beam energies ( 50 eV). We have named this technique, “near field emission scanning electron microscopy,” and this chapter will summarize the developmental phases of the device.
Implementing a Digital Learning Initiative: a Case Study in K-12 Classrooms

Mobile devices have become especially enticing to schools because of their portability, flexibility, and intuitive interfaces. A growing number of schools have begun using tablets as a cost-effective strategy in a digital learning environment. Other schools have embraced a bring your own device (BYOD) policy, which addresses pedagogical goals as well as the lack of funds many schools struggle with to support digital learning. BYOD makes digital learning easier by leveraging the devices students already have. The purpose of this study was to explore a digital learning initiative implementation in a large public school district in southwest Florida in order to provide formative feedback to guide its digital learning initiative beyond the initial implementation.
Faster redox fluctuations can lead to higher iron reduction rates in humid forest soils

Iron (Fe) minerals play an important role in carbon (C) and nutrient dynamics in redox fluctuating soils. We explored how the frequency of redox oscillations influence Fe reduction rates and C content in Puerto Rican soils. We hypothesized that iron reduction rates would be faster during short oscillation periods than in longer oscillation periods. Surface soils from an upland valley in a humid tropical forest were exposed to systematic redox oscillations over 49 days. The oxidation events were triggered by the introduction of air (21% O2), maintaining the time ratio under oxic or anoxic conditions at 1:6 (τox/τanox). After pre-conditioning the soil to fluctuating redox conditions for 1 month, we imposed 280- and 70-h (or 11.67- and 2.5-day) redox oscillations, measuring FeII every few days. We found that by the end of the experiment, Fe reduction rates were higher in the short oscillation period (τox = 10 h, τanox = 60 h) than in the long oscillation period (τox = 40 h, τanox = 240 h). Carbon and nitrogen loss however was similar for both treatments. These results suggest the characteristics of redox fluctuations can alter rates of Fe reduction and potentially influence ecosystem processes that depend on iron behavior.
Calmodulin-like protein from Bacillussubtilis☆

Abstract The first example of a calmodulin-like activity in a Gram-positive bacterium, Bacillus subtilis , is reported. A calcium ion-dependent, 3′,5′ cyclic-AMP phosphodiesterase-stimulating activity was found in the soluble fraction of cell-free extracts of cells sporulating in a chemically-defined medium; activation was reversed by trifluoperazine. The activity was heat stable, bound to phenothiazine-agarose in a calcium ion-dependent manner and was eluted therefrom with buffer containing EGTA, and displaced authentic beef brain calmodulin from its antibody in a radioimmunoassay.
Racial Differences in Children's Trauma Symptoms Following Complex Trauma Exposure.

Complex trauma exposure has been defined as multiple or chronic interpersonal trauma that begins early in life, which leads to widespread dysregulation. Previous studies have reported that minorities may be at greater risk for trauma exposure and symptoms; yet, racial differences have not been investigated in the context of complex trauma. The aim of the present study was to determine if there are racial disparities in children’s trauma exposure and outcomes among 167 child survivors of complex trauma (3-18 years, M = 9.90, SD = 3.92; 61.67% female; 62.2% Black). Black children endorsed a greater number of trauma types and were more likely to have experienced community violence and have been placed in child protective custody than White children. Caregivers of White children endorsed higher levels of select internalizing symptoms and social concerns whereas Black children reported higher levels of sexual concerns than White children. White children who experience complex trauma may be at higher risk for s...
Plasma cell myeloma associated with eosinophilia

The association of plasma cell myeloma and eosinophilia is rare. The authors describe a 49-year-old man with plasma cell myeloma and marked absolute peripheral blood eosinophilia, 109.7 x 10(9)/L. Analysis of his bone marrow revealed cytologically atypical plasma cells that expressed monotypic IgG lambda and marked eosinophilia with normal maturation. A combination of steroids and chemotherapy resulted in a significant and sustained decrease in his absolute eosinophil count and bone marrow plasma cells. Analysis of the patient's pre-therapy serum revealed immunoreactive interleukin-3 (IL-3), but not IL-5 or granulocyte/macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF). The post-therapy serum sample was negative. Immunohistochemical analysis of the plasma cells for IL-3 and IL-5 was negative. This review of the literature has revealed five cases of plasma cell myeloma associated with eosinophilia described previously. In two patients, the eosinophilia was attributed to drug therapy. In the remaining cases, the pathogenesis of the eosinophilia was unexplained. In this case, IL-3 secreted either by the neoplastic cells at a level below detection by immunohistochemistry or by other cells in response to the presence of plasma cell myeloma may have played a role in causing the eosinophilia.
Overview of Non-Volatile Testing and Screening Methods

Testing methods for memories and non-volatile memories have become increasingly sophisticated as they become denser and more complex. High frequency and faster rewrite times as well as smaller feature sizes have led to many testing challenges. This paper outlines several testing issues posed by novel memories and approaches to testing for radiation and reliability effects. We discuss methods for measurements of Total Ionizing Dose (TID).
The contribution of space for a more sustainable earth: leveraging space to achieve the sustainable development goals

This article raises awareness of how countries can leverage space and space technologies to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through concrete examples. Space science, technology and applications can support a range of pro-developmental activities, such as agricultural planning, biodiversity protection, tele-health and disaster management. United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) helps countries to use space technology in all of these areas, through capacity building and partnerships with government and private sector entities to expand access to space, especially for developing countries. This article also outlines the work of UNOOSA in promoting increased participation of women in the space sector and in STEM careers.
HIGH-SENSITIVITY TROPONIN IS ASSOCIATED WITH HIGH-RISK CORONARY PLAQUE IN PSORIASIS

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease associated with accelerated high-risk plaque (HRP). High-sensitivity troponin (hs-cTnT) is highly specific for myocardial injury and therefore may provide information on potential significance of high-risk plaque in psoriasis. We aimed to explore
Pre-exposure prophylaxis access in federally qualified health centers across 11 United States metropolitan statistical areas.

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a promising tool for HIV prevention, but uptake has been slow in key demographics and geographic areas including racial and ethnic minorities. Federally qualified...
Secure Connectivity of Heterogeneous Wireless Sensor Networks Under a Heterogeneous On-Off Channel Model.

In this paper, we investigate the secure connectivity of wireless sensor networks utilizing the heterogeneous random key predistribution scheme, where each sensor node is classified as class-$i$ with probability $\mu_i$ for $i=1,\ldots,r$ with $\mu_i>0$ and $\sum_{i=1}^r \mu_i=1$. A class-$i$ sensor is given $K_i$ cryptographic keys selected uniformly at random from a key pool of size $P$. After deployment, two nodes can communicate securely if they share at least one cryptographic key. We consider the wireless connectivity of the network using a heterogeneous on-off channel model, where the channel between a class-$i$ node and a class-$j$ node is on (respectively, off) with probability $\alpha_{ij}$ (respectively, $1-\alpha_{ij}$) for $i,j=1,\ldots,r$. Collectively, two sensor nodes are adjacent if they i) share a cryptographic key and ii) have a wireless channel in between that is on. We model the overall network using a composite random graph obtained by the intersection of inhomogeneous random key graphs (IRKG) $\mathbb{K}(n;\pmb{\mu},\pmb{K},P)$ with inhomogeneous Erdős-Renyi graphs (IERG) $\mathbb{G}(n;\pmb{\mu}, \pmb{\alpha})$. The former graph is naturally induced by the heterogeneous random key predistribution scheme, while the latter is induced by the heterogeneous on-off channel model. More specifically, two nodes are adjacent in the composite graph if they are i) adjacent in the IRKG i.e., share a cryptographic key and ii) adjacent in the IERG, i.e., have an available wireless channel. We investigate the connectivity of the composite random graph and present conditions (in the form of zero-one laws) on how to scale its parameters so that it i) has no secure node which is isolated and ii) is securely connected, both with high probability when the number of nodes gets large. We also present numerical results to support these zero-one laws in the finite-node regime.
The local invariant for scale structures on mapping spaces

A scale Hilbert space is a natural generalization of a Hilbert space which considers not only a single Hilbert space but a nested sequence of subspaces. Scale structures were introduced by H. Hofer, K. Wysocki, and E. Zehnder as a new concept of smooth structures in infinite dimensions. In this paper, we prove that scale structures on mapping spaces are completely determined by the dimension of domain manifolds. We also give a complete description of the local invariant introduced by U. Frauenfelder for these spaces. Product mapping spaces and relative mapping spaces are also studied. Our approach is based on the spectral resolution of Laplace type operators together with the eigenvalue growth estimate.
Code-Domain Multiplexing for Shared IF/LO Interfaces in Millimeter-Wave MIMO Arrays

Millimeter-wave (mm-wave) multi-input–multi-output (MIMO) systems with the digitization of every element enable spatial multiplexing, virtual arrays for radar, and digital beamforming for high mobility scenarios. However, per-element digitization results in a formidable I/O challenge in large-scale tiled MIMO mm-wave arrays. This article analyzes a code-domain approach to multiplex signals from different elements as well as the LO on a single interface. System considerations are presented, and the approach is demonstrated through a 28 GHz four-element MIMO receiver in 65-nm CMOS. Measurements show the feasibility of digital beamforming after de-multiplexing of the baseband signals from the IF/LO interface. Each element in the array achieves 16-dB conversion gain while consuming 60 mA from 1.2 V. The IC occupies 5.75 mm2 in 65-nm CMOS, achieving small size and compatibility with $\lambda /2 \times \lambda /2$ antenna spacing due to the absence of phase shifters/combiners required in phased arrays.
A Brief History of Reflux Disease

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is one of the most common disorders managed by primary health-care physicians, gastroenterologists, and otolaryngologists today. Esophageal reflux, which was originally thought to be cardiac in nature in the fifteenth century, is now a well-recognized entity, with a thoroughly documented cellular and pathophysiological basis. Extra-esophageal symptoms of reflux involving the larynx, pharynx, and lower airways have more recently been described. The purpose of this chapter is to describe advances in the concept of reflux disease over the last several millennia, as new discoveries propelled the understanding of the disease to include the current definitions of today.