cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Copy number variation is associated with gene expression change in archaea

Genomic instability, although frequently deleterious, is also an important mechanism for microbial adaptation to environmental change. Although widely studied in bacteria, in archaea the effect of genomic instability on organism phenotypes and fitness remains unclear. Here we use DNA segmentation methods to detect and quantify genome-wide copy number variation (CNV) in large compendia of high-throughput datasets in a model archaeal species, Halobacterium salinarum. CNV hotspots were identified throughout the genome. Some hotspots were strongly associated with changes in gene expression, suggesting a mechanism for phenotypic innovation. In contrast, CNV hotspots in other genomic loci left expression unchanged, suggesting buffering of certain phenotypes. The correspondence of CNVs with gene expression was validated with strain- and condition-matched transcriptomics and DNA quantification experiments at specific loci. Significant correlation of CNV hotspot locations with the positions of known insertion sequence (IS) elements suggested a mechanism for generating genomic instability. Given the efficient recombination capabilities in H. salinarum despite stability at the single nucleotide level, these results suggest that genomic plasticity mediated by IS element activity can provide a source of phenotypic innovation in extreme environments.
The Palimpsest Project

Palimpsest: 1) A manuscript on which more than one text has been written with the earlier writing incompletely erased and still visible. 2) A place whose older layers or aspects are apparent beneath its surface. The Palimpsest Project will create a digital, illuminated manuscript using the journals of the dead and a shifting population database. An intersection of The Archive, technology and storytelling, this ‘manuscript’ – an interactive video installation - will breathe life into East-Central Illinois’ history, bridging past and future with an anthology of interconnected stories stretching back beyond memory, just below the surface, incompletely erased.
Fermi-Fermi crossover in the ground state of one-dimensional few-body systems with anomalous three-body interactions

In one spatial dimension, quantum systems with an attractive three-body contact interaction exhibit a scale anomaly. In this work, we examine the few-body sector for up to six particles. We study those systems with a self-consistent, non-perturbative, iterative method, in the subspace of zero total momentum. Exploiting the structure of the contact interaction, the method reduces the complexity of obtaining the wavefunction by three powers of the dimension of the Hilbert space. We present results on the energy, and momentum and spatial structure, as well as Tan's contact. We find a Fermi-Fermi crossover interpolating between large, weakly bound trimers and compact, deeply bound trimers: at weak coupling, the behavior is captured by degenerate perturbation theory; at strong coupling, the system is governed by an effective theory of heavy trimers (plus free particles in the case of asymmetric systems). Additionally, we find that there is no trimer-trimer attraction and therefore no six-body bound state.
Unfavorable Donor after Cardiac Death Characteristics in Lung Transplantation: An Analysis of the UNOS Registry

Purpose Despite growing evidence that donation after circulatory death (DCD) lung transplants have comparable survival outcomes and primary graft dysfunction rates to donation after brain death (DBD), DCD continues to be underutilized in the US. We examined DCD donor characteristics associated with non-utilization. Methods In this retrospective study, all adult (age ≥ 18) DCD donors who donated at least one organ for transplant between 1993 and 2017 were analyzed from the UNOS registry. DBD donors and DCD donors who did not successfully donate any organ were excluded. Organ disposition per lung and reasons for non-use of donor lungs were identified. The primary outcome of interest was donor characteristics that correlated with lower transplant rates. Results A total of 12,627 DCD donors met inclusion criteria. Of 25,254 lungs available for analysis, 2.8% were transplanted and 68% were discarded primarily due to poor organ function and ischemic time constraints. Notably, consent was not requested in 15.3% of DCD offers with non-heart beating donor being the leading reason for consent not requested (77.7%). DCD lungs were less likely to be transplanted if the donor had a higher BMI (mean 26.6 vs. 25.4, p=0.008), smoking history (23.7% vs. 7.5%, p Conclusion The underutilization of DCD lungs in the US remains consistent with prior studies, in contrast with 30-40% utilization in several other countries. The most common reasons for non-transplantation of DCD lungs include modifiable pre-donor factors, such as lack of consent request, as well as donor factors, including hypoxemia. Interventions to increase consent and optimize DCD donor conditions, such as selective use of ex vivo lung perfusion, may increase utilization of DCD organs and expand the donor pool.
Core Transcriptional Regulatory Circuit Controlled by the TAL1 Complex in T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia,

Abstract 3453 Aberrant expression of TAL1 is one of the most frequent abnormalities in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL), yet little is known about the transcriptional network controlled by this oncogenic transcription factor, posing a major obstacle to understanding T-ALL pathogenesis. Here we identify the core transcriptional regulatory circuit controlled by TAL1 and its regulatory partners HEB, E2A, GATA3 and RUNX1 in T-ALL cells. We determined direct transcriptional targets of TAL1 and its regulatory partners by ChIP-seq analysis, and found that TAL1 binds to the majority of HEB- and E2A-enriched regions and that these commonly bound regions are frequently overlapping with the GATA3- and RUNX1-enriched regions. We found that TAL1 forms an interconnected auto-regulatory loop with its partners, which likely contribute to the sustained upregulation of its direct target genes. TAL1 core regulatory circuit activates genes involved in T-cell development and hematopoesis. Microarray gene expression analysis revealed that TAL1 and GATA3 predominantly act as positive regulators of the expression of their direct target genes in T-ALL. Importantly, we found the MYB oncogenic transcription factor is directly activated by the TAL1 complex and positively regulates many of the same target genes, thus forming a feed-forward positive regulatory loop that further promotes the TAL1-regulated oncogenic program. Moreover, we found that a specific subset of TAL1 target genes are oppositely regulated by TAL1 and its obligate partner proteins E2A and HEB, uncovering a leukemogenic pattern that previously emerged from studies in murine models. These findings underscore the importance of TAL1 as a critical regulator of an aberrant gene expression program in T-ALL, and indicate how these networks maintain the malignant state in thymocytes. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
The \boldmath$B\to D^\ast\ell\nu$ semileptonic decay at nonzero recoil and its implications for $\ |V_{cb}\ |$ and $R(D^\ast)$

We present nearly final results from our analysis of the form factors for $B\to D^\ast\ell\nu$ decay at nonzero recoil. Our analysis includes 15 MILC asqtad ensembles with $N_f=2+1$ flavors of sea quarks and lattice spacings ranging from $a\approx0.15$ fm down to $0.045$ fm. The valence light quarks employ the asqtad action, whereas the $b$ and $c$ quarks are treated using the Fermilab action. We discuss the impact that our results will have on $\ |V_{cb}\ |$ and $R(D^\ast)$.
Mitophagy in Alzheimer's Disease and Other Age-Related Neurodegenerative Diseases.

Mitochondrial dysfunction is a central aspect of aging and neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and Huntington’s disease. Mitochondria are the main cellular energy powerhouses, supplying most of ATP by oxidative phosphorylation, which is required to fuel essential neuronal functions. Efficient removal of aged and dysfunctional mitochondria through mitophagy, a cargo-selective autophagy, is crucial for mitochondrial maintenance and neuronal health. Mechanistic studies into mitophagy have highlighted an integrated and elaborate cellular network that can regulate mitochondrial turnover. In this review, we provide an updated overview of the recent discoveries and advancements on the mitophagy pathways and discuss the molecular mechanisms underlying mitophagy defects in Alzheimer’s disease and other age-related neurodegenerative diseases, as well as the therapeutic potential of mitophagy-enhancing strategies to combat these disorders.
State-Level Ruling Shows U.S. Courts Still Leery of Internet Jurisdiction

Late in 2017, the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts (SJC), in the United States, remanded an internet jurisdiction case because the lower court jumped to constitutional law before first applying the state’s jurisdictional statute, or “long-arm” statute. The superior court had rejected jurisdiction over the defendant on constitutional grounds, and in September 2018, the superior court reaffirmed that rejection under state law. SCVNGR v. Punchh is not a landmark case. But its dual iteration, reaching the same conclusion on constitutional and statutory grounds, exemplifies a persistent leeriness of internet jurisdiction in U.S. state courts, with ramifications in global jurisdiction.
Large aperture photoconducting antennas

A large aperture photoconducting antenna is a device which consists of a planar photoconductor having an active area which is much greater than the spatial duration (cτp, where τp is the time duration) of the illuminating optical pulse, as illustrated in Fig. I. These devices have recently been shown to radiate directional subpicosecond electromagnetic pulses which can be steered by varying the angle of incidence of the optical beam. We have measured the temporal waveforms, directional properties, and radiation efficiency of different photoconducting materials in antenna configurations as large as 1 cm2. The physical mechanism for the generation of subpicosecond electromagnetic pulses is the coherent surface current induced by the incident optical pulse (see Fig. 1).
The business of building a wall: Donald Trump’s rhetorical signature:

This essay offers a metaphoric analysis of Donald J. Trump’s announcement speech. We argue that by focusing on two of his metaphors, the presidency as a business and his promise to build a wall, we...
Validating Thermal Lethality to Salmonella enterica in Chicken Blood by Simulated Commercial Rendering.

The U.S. rendering industry produces materials for use in further processed animal foods and feeds and is required to scientifically validate food safety hazard control. This study aimed to provide lethality validation for Salmonella enterica during simulated commercial rendering of whole chicken blood. Chicken blood was inoculated with a blend of multiple serovars of the pathogen (S. Heidelberg, Typhimurium, Senftenberg) and subjected to heating at 82.2, 87.8, or 93.3 °C; surviving cells were enumerated incrementally up to 5.0 min. Survivor data were modeled using the GInaFiT 1.7 freeware package. D-values and t7D (time to a 7.0 log10-cycle inactivation) values were generated from best-fit model parameters. Predictive modeling analysis revealed that the survival curves of Salmonella possessed log-linear components but also possessed shoulder and/or tail components. Mean D-values declined from 0.61 to 0.12 min as heating temperature was raised from 82.2 to 93.3 °F, respectively, differing by heating temperature (p = 0.023). t7D values differed significantly by heating temperature (p = 0.001), as was also the case for shoulder length (SL) (p = <0.0001), where, at lower temperatures, a shoulder was observed versus heating at 93.3 °F. These data aid scientific validation of Salmonella enterica inactivation during thermal rendering of poultry blood for use in further processed animal foods.
Gasoline compression ignition (GCI) combustion of pump-grade gasoline fuel under high compression ratio diesel engine

Abstract In this paper, gasoline compression ignition (GCI) combustion was investigated under a high compression ratio (CR = 22:1) system that was developed for a high-efficiency heavy-duty diesel engine platform. The experiment includes Single-Cylinder Engine (SCE) testing of two combustion systems with distinctively different piston designs: wave and stepped-lip. Validated Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations provide insights on the in-cylinder phenomenon under GCI combustion. While early spray/flame and ignition characteristics were driven mainly by nozzle configuration in each combustion system, flame-wall and flame-flame interaction during the late-cycle combustion process were strongly affected by the piston's wall-flow-guided feature. The wave piston is unique with a recirculation flow, also known as radial mixing zone (RMZ). RMZ results from in-cylinder flow interactions of adjacent flames, which play a crucial part in enhancing late-cycle soot oxidation. Meanwhile, the stepped-lip piston splits flame jet (at the time of impingement) upward and downward to head and bowl, respectively. Overall, the stepped-lip piston showed lower heat loss due to reduced spray penetration. In contrast, wave piston demonstrated superior end-cycle mixing, reducing soot emissions. Both systems provided similar indicated thermal efficiency (ITE). Comparison between diesel and GCI shows that GCI can reach diesel-like efficiency while maintaining low soot emissions. However, there is a remaining challenge in GCI combustion with higher carbon monoxide (CO) and unburned hydrocarbon (UHC) emissions than diesel combustion.
Satisfiability Based Attacks

In this chapter, we discuss an oracle-guided attack called the satisfiability (SAT) attack against split manufactured ICs. In the design constraint based attacks, usually an attacker cannot recover all of the BEOL signals correctly. In contrast, the SAT attack can reveal 100% of the hidden signals. We begin the chapter by discussing three background topics: satisfiability checking, logic locking through key gates, and the SAT attack against logic locking. We discuss a method for netlist to layout mapping using satisfiability in the context of trojan insertion attacks. We then introduce the application of the SAT attack for reverse engineering a split design and discuss in detail the methods for transforming the BEOL signal recovery problem into the problem of logic decryption. We discuss methods for elimination of cycles from the equivalent encrypted circuit corresponding to incorrect BEOL recoveries. We show how to extend the SAT attack to split manufactured sequential circuits. We discuss how to incorporate proximity constraints into a SAT attack to reduce the attack time and increase the attack capacity. Finally, we discuss a method to group the BEOL signals using a satisfiability-modulo theories (SMT) solver to further reduce the size of the SAT problem and increase attack efficiency.
Pituitary adenomas

Treatment of pituitary adenomas can be pharmacologic or surgical. First-line treatment of prolactinomas is usually medical, using either bromocriptine or cabergoline. Other symptomatic pituitary adenomas typically should be treated with transsphenoidal surgery. Radiation therapy can be adjunctive for residual or recurrent tumor. The prognosis for endocrinologic and visual improvement is usually good.
Measuring Number of Algal Symbionts in Hydra viridis

To determine the number of symbiotic algae living within individual digestive cells, in an intact hydra, or in a population of hydra.
A Cumulus Representation Based on the Episodic Mixing Model: The Importance of Mixing and Microphysics in Predicting Humidity

The observations of cumulus clouds presented in Part I of this monograph weigh strongly against the entraining plume model of clouds. In particular, aircraft observations show that the thermodynamic properties of clouds are extremely inhomogeneous, with a strong tendency for buoyancy sorting (chapter 2). This basic notion of mixing in clouds solves the paradox raised by Warner (1970) that while clouds entrain much mass from their environments they still ascend to the level predicted by undilute ascent from cloud base.
Distinguishing Scientific From Pseudoscientific Psychotherapies: Evaluating the Role of Theoretical Plausibility, With a Little Help From Reverend Bayes

[Clin Psychol Sci Prac 18: 105–112, 2011] In their stimulating article, David and Montgomery (2011) underscore the importance of identifying pseudoscientific and potentially harmful psychotherapies, and observe that the criteria for empirically supported therapies neglect to take into account the theoretical support for treatment packages. They propose a framework for evidence-based therapies that includes empirical support for both the efficacy of the treatment and the theory that spawned it. I discuss several challenges to this and similar frameworks, including (a) the absence of convincing data regarding how most current therapies work, (b) the underdetermination of theory by data, making it difficult to strongly corroborate models of therapeutic change mechanisms using only a small number of studies, and (c) the risk of false negatives, viz., efficacious treatments derived from nonexistent or flawed theories. As a friendly amendment, I propose a Bayesian alternative to David and Montgomery’s classification that incorporates the role of theoretical plausibility while minimizing the aforementioned difficulties.
Generating Hypotheses Regarding Cognitive and Emotional Contributors to the Child’s Pain

As outlined in Melzack and Wall’s gate control theory (Melzack, 1993; Melzack & Wall, 1965), how a person thinks about pain can have a tremendous impact on how the individual experiences pain. This applies to everyone, not just individuals thought to have psychosomatic pain. Indeed, the entire notion of “psychosomatic” pain is obsolete. Scientists now know that psychological factors can affect almost all aspects of physiological functioning, from the level of heart rate down to basic T-cell immunological functioning (Oltmanns & Emery, 1998). Therefore, one must assume that, for every individual, psychological (cognitive and emotional) factors contribute in some way to the experience of pain. The important goal of the assessment process, therefore, is not to determine if psychological factors are playing a role for this individual, but rather to determine how psychological factors function for this particular individual. As part of this process, one can generate specific hypotheses regarding cognitive and emotional factors that might be contributing to or exacerbating the child’s pain problem. The possible hypotheses described in this chapter are not exhaustive. They are intended to suggest areas of inquiry that may be important in understanding a child’s pain experience.
Reflections upon the Law of Political Parties

No one writes reflections any more. A bygone era treasured the essayist, the feuilletonist who held some aspect of life or law under scrutiny, discoursed lovingly for a few moments and then departed, making no point, driving home no argument and attempting no more than a brief illumination of his subject. Such writings are passe. And certainly they have scant place in a sober legal journal, which perforce derives a substantial part of its support from busy lawyers in search of bread-and-butter material. Yet, in the matter of the law's impact on political parties there may be some occasion for a discussion of that sort. The legal profession, more than any other, has made American politics its own. Without benefit of statistics, it is probably true that during most of our national existence the majority of elective public offices in federal and state government have been held by lawyers. Too, lawyers have played a major role as party leaders and party workers. They were in the forefront of yesterday's local and state conventions, and they are prominent in today's central committees and party councils. Thus, it may not be amiss to consider some of the legal incidents of party existence and function, with the idea of developing concepts rather than specific rules of behavior. "Political parties," one court has observed, are "neither mentioned, protected, nor favored in the Constitution."' The prescience of the Founding Fathers fell short of recognizing the powerful role parties were to play in the new republic. For almost a century American constitutional and statutory law ignored the parties. What the law ignored it did not regulate. The first American parties, Federalist and Republican, were hardly more than labels describing those who clustered around the opposing philosophies of Hamilton and Jefferson. They exercised none of the functions of party organization, fixed no membership criteria, nominated no candidates, erected no platforms. Candidates were nominated by caucuses, that is to say, by informal groups of influential gentlemen meeting in secret session. Samuel Adams' amusing description of the caucus antedates the Revolution. Yet it applies with equal vigor to the political forces which held sway in the early days of the republic:2
Masculinization Effects in the Auditory System

Otoacoustic emissions (OAEs) and auditory evoked potentials (AEPs) are different in several special populations of subjects. For females having opposite-sex co-twins (OSDZ females) and for homosexual and bisexual females, OAEs are masculinized. Certain AEP measures from homosexual and bisexual females also are masculinized. Certain AEP measures from homosexual males are hypermasculinized. These and other facts can be explained by assuming that these special populations received greater-than-normal exposures to androgens at some point(s) during development, possibly during prenatal development. It is proposed that some differences in androgenization may have been spatially and temporally localized rather than global, and that the localized response to androgen exposure sometimes may be nonmonotonic.
Chapter 2 Rare earth-cobalt permanent magnets

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on “rare earth permanent magnets”. The REPM are metal magnets. Their magnetically active components are alloys of one or more of the 3d-transition metals (abbreviated TM or T) with elements of the rare earth group (symbols RE or R). The rare earths comprise the fifteen 4f-elements, La through Lu, and Y. Of these, some that are mentioned in the chapter are of particular significance for magnets in combination with cobalt as the main alloying component. The chapter presents two major subgroups of REPM: the rare earth-cobalt magnets, most commonly based on Sm-Co alloys, and the RE-Fe-based magnets typefied by Nd-Fe-B, and discusses the rare earth-cobalt (RE-Co) permanent magnets with a fairly applied bias. Alloy of samarium with cobalt (or with Co and Fe) are technologically the most important. The chapter discusses the fundamentals of rare earth-cobalt magnets, magnet manufacturing technology, properties of commercial magnets, and applications of the REPMs.
HELPING CHILDREN SUCCEED AFTER DIVORCE

In an effort to prevent some of the well-documented problems that occur in children and families undergoing divorce, a parent education program, Helping children Succeed After Divorce, was developed and mandated by a domestic relations court in a major metropolitan area. The purpose of the parent seminar is to educate divorcing parents about the effects of divorce and continued conflict on their children and to specify concrete actions that divorcing parents can take to help their children. The seminar's intent is to prevent long-term emotional, social, and academic problems among children of divorce. This article addresses the development, operation, and preliminary evaluation results of this psychoeducational program for divorcing parents.
Exposure to potentially traumatic events in early childhood: differential links to emergent psychopathology

Objective: To examine associations between exposure to potentially traumatic events (PTEs) and clinical patterns of symptoms and disorders in preschool children. Method: Two hundred and thirteen referred and non-referred children, ages 24 to 48 months (MN = 34.9, SD = 6.7 months) were studied. Lifetime exposure to PTEs (family violence and non-interpersonal events) and recent stressful life events were assessed with the Preschool Age Psychiatric Assessment (PAPA) and Child Life Events Scale. Child psychiatric symptoms and disorders were assessed with parent-reports in the PAPA, a comprehensive, developmentally sensitive interview. Sociodemographic risk, parental anxiety and depressive symptoms (Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression, Beck Anxiety Inventory), and child developmental level (Mullen Scales of Early Learning) also were assessed. Results: Violence exposure was broadly associated with psychiatric status in the areas of depression, separation anxiety, posttraumatic stress, and conduct problems, whereas potentially traumatic non-interpersonal exposure was associated with phobic anxiety. The majority of the associations between violence exposure and preschoolers' symptoms were significant even when other key factors, including economic disadvantage and parental mood and anxiety symptoms, were controlled statistically. However, parental depressive/anxious symptoms may have partially or fully mediated the relationships between violence exposure and depressive and conduct symptoms. Conclusions: Evidence of robust associations between violence exposure and early childhood internalizing and externalizing disorders and symptoms highlights the need for longitudinal prospective research concerning neurodevelopmental mechanisms and pathways. Findings underscore the relevance of assessing trauma exposure, particularly interpersonal violence, to identify young children at risk. Language: en
Status of the advanced Stirling conversion system project for 25 kW dish Stirling applications

Technology development for Stirling convertors directed toward a dynamic power source for space applications is discussed. Space power requirements include high reliability with very long life, low vibration, and high system efficiency. The free-piston Stirling engine has the potential for future high power space conversion systems, either nuclear or solar powered. Although these applications appear to be quite different, their requirements complement each other. The advanced Stirling conversion system (ASCS) project at NASA Lewis Research Center is described. Each system design features a solar receiver/liquid metal heat transport system and a free-piston Stirling convertor with a means to provide nominally 25 kW of electric power to utility grid while meeting the US Department of Energy (DOE) performance and long term cost goals. The design is compared with other ASCS designs.
Cul-de-sac aspiration for diagnostic cytologic study

Abstract 1. Cul-de-sac aspiration to obtain a cytologic specimen was performed in 1,123 asymptomatic women all of whom were over the age of 34 years. 2. The procedure was easily performed, safe, accepted by women, and the slides were processed by the same methods as for a cervical cytosmear. 3. Fifty-two per cent of all women and 72 per cent of postmenopausal women had representative cytologic specimens of peritoneal fluid obtained from the cul-de-sac.
Population nomadic pastoralism and the environment in the Mongolian Plateau.

The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between population, economic activity and the environment in the Mongolian Plateau. This analysis provides a valuable case study for several reasons. First, it elucidates a specific ecosystem—the steppe—that has not received much attention in the literature and a traditional economic activity consistent with such environment: nomadic pastoralism. Second, the Mongolian Plateau is shared by two entities, with two different economic and social organisation: the Republic of Mongolia and the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China. Third, these two entities have also experienced two different population dynamics that have resulted in different population densities and population pressure on natural resources. Fourth, environmental degradation does not seem to be a problem in the Republic of Mongolia, while in Inner Mongolia the quantity and quality of the grasslands are in decline.The argument discussed here is that the difference in resource depletion and environmental degradation between the two regions is mainly the result of different population dynamics, which has resulted in different human and animal population densities.
The Minority Voice in Educational Reform: An Analysis by Minority and Women College of Education Deans

The Minority Voice in Educational Reform: An Analysis by Minority and Women College of Education Deans. Louis A. Castenell and Jill M. Tarule, eds. Greenwich, CT: Ablex Publishing Corporation, 1997. 170 pp.
OR34 Flow and virtual cross match exchange – A new component of the International Cell Exchange

Aim Single antigen bead assays provide investigators with a means to accurately identify the presence and relative strength of HLA antibodies through the use of MFI (Mean Fluorescence Intensity) values. However, inter-laboratory variation to the interpretation of MFI values creates the potential for discordant results. The aim of this study was to provide a medium to compare and correlate MFI data together with flow crossmatch outcomes. Methods In 2014, the International Cell Exchange program introduced the UCLA Flow and Virtual Cross Match Exchange. In three exchanges, a total of 6 cells and 12 sera were tested by 17 laboratories around the world. T and B flow cytometric crossmatch results, along with class I and class II single antigen data were reported and analyzed. Fifteen laboratories used a Luminex single antigen bead assay (LSAB) and 2 used a flow single antigen bead assay (FSAB). To further investigate the correlation between MFI values and positive flow crossmatch results, the strength of donor-specific antibodies were compared with their crossmatch outcomes. In addition, coefficients of variations (%CV) were calculated using the MFI reported for each DSA and by each laboratory. We also examined the prediction of positive T/B virtual crossmatches in relationship to the strength of DSAs identified. Results The mean class I and class II DSA MFI of the positive T and B flow crossmatches were 15355 and 14641, respectively. Among labs reporting LSAB MFI, the mean %CV was 26%. Overall, 16 (67%) T-cell and 8 (33%) B-cell flow crossmatch challenges were reported among the labs without discordance. When restricting analysis to DSA MFI greater than mean values, the T flow concordance rate improved to 79%, while B flow concordance remained poor at 31%. In contrast, high concordance rates were observed for virtual crossmatch predictions: 92% (22/24) for T- and 88% (21/24) for B-cell crossmatches. Conclusions The data suggests that the variability of cell based assays is higher than that observed in solid phase SAB test. It also suggests that variability exists in the sensitivity of flow crossmatch testing among laboratories and that this variability is correlated with DSA strength. As such, educational activities should continue to provide standards for quality control of antibody and crossmatch testing methods.
Plastic particles found in tern pellets, on coastal beaches and at factory sites

Abstract Small polystyrene particles, evidently of industrial origin, now appear as a contaminant of the sea in several parts of the world. They have been discovered in pellets of indigestible food regurgitated by gulls and terns, so are clearly entering the food chain at some point. So far as is known at present, they are harmless but it would be as well to exercise caution in releasing plastic to the environment.
Measurement of Coherent Thermal Emission Due to Magnetic Polaritons in Subwavelength Microstructures

Spectral and directional control of thermal emission is critically important for applications such as space cooling and energy harvesting. The effect of magnetic polaritons (MPs) on spectral modulation has been analyzed in metallic grating structures with a dielectric spacer on a metallic film. It has been predicted that the spectral emission peaks exhibit omnidirectional characteristics when MPs are excited. The present work provides an experimental demonstration of coherent thermal emission from several microfabricated grating structures in the infrared region from room temperature to elevated temperatures. The emittance at elevated temperatures is directly measured using an emissometer, while the room-temperature emittance is indirectly obtained from the reflectance measurement. The rigorous coupled-wave analysis and an LC-circuit model are employed to elucidate the mechanisms of various resonant modes and their coupling effect, taking into consideration the temperature-dependent electron scattering rate of the metals. [DOI: 10.1115/1.4024469]
Stabilization of alanine aminopeptidase, gamma glutamyltranspeptidase, and N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase activity in normal urines.

The question of assessing renal toxicity in studies of humans exposed to environmental toxicants is of major concern in health effects studies. The measurement of urinary enzymes is a reliable, sensitive indicator of renal tubular damage due to a variety of causes, including heavy metal and drug toxicity. However, urine is not a favorable matrix for some enzymatic activities because certain enzymes are less stabile in urine than in a matrix such as serum. This study addresses the problem of the lack of stability of alanine aminopeptidase (AAP) and gamma glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT) in the urinary matrix. Four urinary treatment methods consisting of dialysis or the addition of albumin, dimethyl sulfoxide, or glycerol have been examined and compared. The activities of AAP, GGT, andN-acetyl-Β-D-glucosaminidase (NAGA) in six normal treated and untreated urines were followed for 28 days at 4‡C and for 6 months at −20‡C. This study indicates that of the methods tested, giycerol treatment provides the most stable AAP and GGT activity and is the most reliable method for stabilizing these enzymes in frozen urine. Even with giycerol treatment, some GGT activity is lost (mean loss of 11% over 6 months at −20‡C), indicating GGT should be assayed as soon as possible. NAGA activity is most stable in untreated urines but still increases by approximately 9% (mean of six samples) in 6 months at −20‡C. The implications of observed effects of dialyzable inhibitors are discussed for the three enzymes.
Developing Passion and Excellence in Critical Care Nursing: Proposed Solutions to Current Challenges in Critical Care

This article addresses significant challenges in the delivery of critical care services in hospitals including the need for partnerships between service and education, the need to strengthen interd...
Potash-Depth (K-h) Relations in Continental Margin and Intra-Oceanic Magmatic Arcs

Plots of potash content against depth from volcanoes to inclined seismic zones for active magmatic arcs reveal slightly different relations for (a) continental margin arcs containing full or excessive thicknesses of continental crust overlying presumably old continental lithosphere, and (b) migratory intra-oceanic arcs that bound interarc basins of marginal seas and lack any known continental basement rocks. Detached intra-oceanic arcs containing continental basement rocks and stationary intra-oceanic arcs where back-arc spreading is absent display intermediate or equivocal relations. The significance of the difference in K- h correlation for continental margin and intra-oceanic magmatic arcs is uncertain but should be taken into account by theories for the petrogenesis of arc magmas.
FIBER-OPTIC REMOTE MULTISENSOR SYSTEM BASED ON AN ACOUSTO-OPTIC TUNABLE FILTER (AOTF)

This paper describes a new fiber-optic multisensor based on an acousto-optic tunable filter (AOTF) and capable of remote sensing using a multioptical fiber array (MOFA). A two-dimensional charge-coupled device (CCD) was used as a detector, and the AOTF was used as a wavelength selector. Unlike a tunable grating or prism-based monochromator, an AOTF has no moving parts, and an AOTF can be rapidly tuned to any wavelength in its operating range within microseconds. The large aperture of the AOTF allows the optical signal from over 100 fiber-optic sensors to be measured simultaneously. These characteristics, combined with their small size, make AOTFs an important new alternative to conventional monochromators, especially for spectral multisensing and imaging. A prototype fiber-optic multisensor system has been developed, and its feasibility for simultaneous detection of molecular luminescence signal via fiber-optic probes is demonstrated.
Testing as a selection tool: Another old and sticky managerial human rights issue

The intent of this paper is to state testing's definition and purpose within the selection process. A brief review of the current trend toward the increased use of testing in the selection process. An actual example of the increased use of testing in both the public and private sector is illustrated. Some discussion regarding future trends of testing — Genetic Screening, Personality Test, Honesty Test, etc. are also presented as issues of concern.
Evaluation and Management of Rectourethral Fistulas After Prostate Cancer Treatment

Most men newly diagnosed with prostate cancer will undergo local treatment with prostatectomy, radiation, or tissue ablation. A small percentage of these men will develop a rectourethral fistula, a complicated disease that requires a multidisciplinary approach to management. Diagnosis is typically made with a careful history and physical exam with endoscopy and select imaging recommended in all patients. Fistulas resulting from prostatectomy, radiation, or tissue ablative technology are approached differently due to local tissue changes following therapy. Post-radiation and thermal ablation fistulas have a lower fistula closure rate due to the deleterious effect of the primary treatment on local tissue. It is imperative that the patient understands the complexity of treatment and sets reasonable goals for treatment.
Optical characterization of a compact multilayer-mirror polarimeter in the extreme-ultraviolet range.

A molybdenum–silicon (Mo/Si) multilayer-mirror (MLM) polarimeter has been constructed and used to analyze the extreme-ultraviolet (EUV) emission from excited HeI and HeII states following electron impact on He for wavelengths ranging from approximately 256 to 584 A. A ratio of reflectivities for s- and p-polarized light, Rs:Rp ≈ 10, and a resolving power of λ/Δλ ≈ 6 at 304 A were obtained. These characteristics and the use of a VYNS (a copolymer material composed of 90% vinyl chloride and 10% vinyl acetate) spectral filter were sufficient to allow a detailed polarization study of the first two members of the Lyman series of He+ at wavelengths of 304 A (HeII 2p → 1s) and 256 A (HeII 3p → 1s) for impact-electron energies ranging from threshold to 1500 eV. The MLM has also been used as a single flat-surface mirror polarimeter for the analysis of longer-wavelength radiation (517 to 584 A) from the (1snp) 1Po → (1s2) 1S series of neutral He with Rs/Rp ≈ 3. Although MLM polarimeters were previously used for EUV measurements with bright photon sources such as those provided by synchrotron facilities, the results presented clearly demonstrate the feasibility of such devices with lower-intensity electron and ion impact sources. The compact design of the apparatus makes it suitable as a portable measurement and calibration device.
The drinking philosophers problem

The problem of resolving conflicts between processes in distributed systems is of practical importance. A conflict between a set of processes must be resolved in favor of some (usually one) process and against the others: a favored process must have some property that distinguishes it from others. To guarantee fairness, the distinguishing property must be such that the process selected for favorable treatment is not always the same. A distributed implementation of an acyclic precedence graph, in which the depth of a process (the longest chain of predecessors) is a distinguishing property, is presented. A simple conflict resolution rule coupled with the acyclic graph ensures fair resolution of all conflicts. To make the problem concrete, two paradigms are presented: the well-known distributed dining philosophers problem and a generalization of it, the distributed drinking philosophers problem.
Regulation of MMP-13 expression by RUNX2 and FGF2 in osteoarthritic cartilage

Summary Objective To understand the molecular mechanisms that lead to increased MMP-13 expression and cartilage degeneration during the progression of osteoarthritis (OA), we have investigated the expression of the transcription factor RUNX2 in OA cartilage and the regulation of MMP-13 expression by RUNX2 and FGF2 in articular chondrocytes. Design RUNX2 and MMP-13 expression in human OA and control cartilage was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. The effects of RUNX2 over-expression, with or without FGF2 treatment, on MMP-13 promoter activity and enzyme accumulation were measured in articular chondrocytes. Inhibitors of MEK/ERK were assayed for their ability to block FGF2 and RUNX2 up-regulation of the MMP-13 promoter. We analyzed RUNX2 phosphorylation in response to FGF2. Results Fibrillated OA cartilage exhibited increased RUNX2 immunoreactivity when compared to control cartilage. RUNX2 co-localized with MMP-13 in clusters of chondrocytes in fibrillated OA cartilage. RUNX2 over-expression in cultured chondrocytes increased their responsiveness to FGF2 treatment, which led to increased MMP-13 expression. Inhibitors of MEK/ERK signaling blocked up-regulation of the MMP-13 promoter by RUNX2 and FGF2, and also blocked the activation of RUNX2 by FGF2. FGF2 treatment of articular chondrocytes increased RUNX2 phosphorylation approximately 2-fold. Conclusions Increased expression of RUNX2 in OA cartilage may contribute to increased expression of MMP-13. FGF2, which is present in OA synovial fluid, activated RUNX2 via the MEK/ERK pathway and increased MMP-13 expression. However, it is unlikely that RUNX2 is a substrate of ERK1/2. RUNX2 expression and activation may be a significant step in the progression of OA by promoting changes in gene expression and chondrocyte differentiation.
Acute toxicity of chlorantraniliprole to non-target crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) associated with rice-crayfish cropping systems.

BACKGROUND: Chlorantraniliprole, a novel anthranilic diamide insecticide, was recently introduced into the United States where rice–crayfish crop rotations are practiced to control rice water weevil (Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus Kuschel) infestations. Chlorantraniliprole has high margins of mammalian safety and excellent insecticidal efficacy, but its toxicity to non-target crayfish is uncertain. In this study, the acute toxicity of chlorantraniliprole to the red swamp crayfish Procambarus clarkii Girard was determined using aquatic and feeding assays. RESULTS: The aquatic 96 h median lethal toxicity (LC50) data indicate that technical-grade chlorantraniliprole is highly toxic (US EPA category) to crayfish with an LC50 of 951 µg L−1 (95% CL = 741–1118 µg L−1). A no observed effect concentration (NOEC) of 480 µg L−1 was recorded. Neither the 36 day chronic feeding study, where crayfish fed on chlorantraniliprole-treated rice seed in aquaria, nor the 144 h acute feeding test, where crayfish fed on rice seeds treated with chlorantraniliprole, produced mortality or abnormal behavior. CONCLUSION: Chlorantraniliprole is three orders of magnitude less acutely toxic to P. clarkii than lambda-cyhalothrin and etofenprox, two pyrethroid insecticides also used in rice, and is less likely to cause acute crayfish toxicity in rice pond ecosystems. Based on acute toxicity data, the use of chlorantraniliprole should be more compatible with rice–crayfish crop rotations than pyrethroids. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry
Image-Guided Interventions in Oncology

Interventional oncology, a term commonly used to indicate the minimally invasive procedures performed by interventional radiologists to diagnose and manage cancer, encompasses a broad spectrum of techniques unique to interventional radiology that have been established as a vital part of the multidisciplinary oncologic cancer care team. This article provides an updated overview of the variety of applications of image-guided procedures to distinct clinical scenarios, such as the diagnosis, treatment, and management of complications of malignancies.
Testing Methodology for Smart Wells Completion toward Attaining Optimal Production Rate Setting for Maximum Hydrocarbon Recovery

Every oil company strives to produce its fields smartly, effectively and efficiently to ensure maximum recovery and minimize any unrecovered reserves. Being the largest integrated oil company with the most reserves, Saudi Aramco is in the forefront of such efforts by utilizing real time data and controls, also referred in our industry as smart or intelligent wells and controls. Some of these efforts are evident from the recent development of Haradh III increment (2006); part of Ghawar field, which is considered to be the world’s first fully intelligent field1. Even prior to that, individual intelligent field ventures started in many fields and Safaniya, the world’s largest offshore oil field, is not new to that. Safaniya holds a wide range of intelligent field equipment and is expected to be fully automated in the near future. Completing wells with smart completion jewelry is one such effort. With an increasing number of smart well completions in Safaniya, the need is to ensure the maximum benefit is gained from them and the completion design is optimized early on. This paper is an effort to detail the procedure adopted to conduct the first test on smart well completions in one of Saudi Arabia’s offshore fields. The paper details the processes and practices of testing smart well completions for inflow performance and capacity of all laterals and the operation of the downhole valves. To evaluate the completion practices in horizontal multilateral wells followed by simulation runs with various completion configurations, the test was run for two different wells with two different completion configurations. This practice helped optimize design completion (tubing size, number of multilaterals) of dual lateral wells with inflow control valves (ICVs) to maximize production.
THERMAL CRACKING OF VISCOELASTIC ASPHALT-CONCRETE PAVEMENT

This paper studies the thermal cracking of asphalt-concrete pavements using a semianalytical model that accounts for the multiscale nature of the thermal cracking phenomenon, the viscoelasticity of asphalt-concrete, and the frictional constraint on the pavement interface. This paper extends previous work to include the effects of asphalt-concrete viscoelasticity and to include a study of the effects of the major parameters. Numerical simulations lead to almost uniformly spaced thermal cracks, similar to field observations of real flexible pavement structures. A parameter study shows that material homogeneity, asphalt-concrete ductility, frictional constraint on the interface, and rate of cooling significantly influence the thermal cracking of asphalt-concrete pavements.
Isolation of chromatin bearing nascent RNA from nuclei of sea urchin embryos.

Abstract Sea urchin embryos were labeled with C14 thymidine and H3 Uridine, the nuclei isolated, and a chromatin preparation partially deproteinized in salt and detergent. After banding this preparation in a Cs2SO4 gradient, the nascent RNA is associated with a small fraction of the chromatin at a density lighter than the bulk chromatin.