cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The α-Tocopherol Form of Vitamin E Reverses Age-Associated Susceptibility to Streptococcus pneumoniae Lung Infection by Modulating Pulmonary Neutrophil Recruitment

Streptococcus pneumoniae infections are an important cause of morbidity and mortality in older patients. Uncontrolled neutrophil-driven pulmonary inflammation exacerbates this disease. To test whether the α-tocopherol (α-Toc) form of vitamin E, a regulator of immunity, can modulate neutrophil responses as a preventive strategy to mitigate the age-associated decline in resistance to S. pneumoniae, young (4 mo) and old (22–24 mo) C57BL/6 mice were fed a diet containing 30-PPM (control) or 500-PPM (supplemented) α-Toc for 4 wk and intratracheally infected with S. pneumoniae. Aged mice fed a control diet were exquisitely more susceptible to S. pneumoniae than young mice. At 2 d postinfection, aged mice suffered 1000-fold higher pulmonary bacterial burden, 2.2-fold higher levels of neutrophil recruitment to the lung, and a 2.25-fold higher rate of lethal septicemia. Strikingly, α-Toc supplementation of aged mice resulted in a 1000-fold lower bacterial lung burden and full control of infection. This α-Toc–induced resistance to pneumococcal challenge was associated with a 2-fold fewer pulmonary neutrophils, a level comparable to S. pneumoniae–challenged, conventionally fed young mice. α-Toc directly inhibited neutrophil egress across epithelial cell monolayers in vitro in response to pneumococci or hepoxilin-A3, an eicosanoid required for pneumococcus-elicited neutrophil trans-epithelial migration. α-Toc altered expression of multiple epithelial and neutrophil adhesion molecules involved in migration, including CD55, CD47, CD18/CD11b, and ICAM-1. These findings suggest that α-Toc enhances resistance of aged mice to bacterial pneumonia by modulating the innate immune response, a finding that has potential clinical significance in combating infection in aged individuals through nutritional intervention.
The Role of Investigational Therapy in Management of Patients With Advanced Metastatic Malignancy

There is reason for patients and physicians to question the role of palliative chemotherapy in patients with advanced malignancy. In this unfortunate clinical situation, patients and physicians often turn to palliative care and hospice care in lieu of chemotherapy, which is clearly palliative and offers the prospect of limited effectiveness with unpleasant adverse effects. The important question to be asked is when is it too soon to abandon the prospects for a favorable outcome from investigational therapy. Many authors have concluded that investigational therapy offers such small promise of benefit that it is not worth considering. It is the purpose of this communication to emphasize the potential for investigational therapy; to illustrate it with a description of two real patient experiences; and to encourage physicians not to abandon therapeutic approaches for their patients too soon.
Cessation from cocaine use.

Cette etude explore les facteurs lies a l'arret de la cocaine et ceux lies a la persistance de la consommation dans un echantillon non-clinique d'adolescents et de jeunes adultes americains interviewes a trois moments differents. Au temps 3, ceux qui avaient arrete la cocaine (n = 104) et les consommateurs actuels (n = 267) etaient compares en fonction des facteurs suivants: âge, sexe, modeles de toxicomanie actuelle ou ancienne, caracteristiques liees au style de vie et certaines variables d'apprentissage social. Les donnees recueillies indiquent que les uns et les autres ont les memes comportements vis-a-vis de l'alcool, la marijuana, la cigarette, la cocaine et les autres drogues au temps 1 et au temps 2, mais que les consommateurs actuels ont au temps 3 des frequences plus elevees de consommation d'alcool, de marijuana et d'autres drogues. De plus, ceux qui ont ete arrete sont plus souvent maries et ont des enfants, bien que les groupes ne different pas en termes de statut professionnel et scolaire. Les donnees accordent un soutien partiel a une perspective d'apprentissage social et indiquent que les punitions (consequences negatives) et les associations (consommation des amis) sont plus fortement liees a l'arret. Les consommateurs rapportent aussi davantage de symptomes de dependance que ceux qui ont arrete.
New discovery rarely runs smooth: an update on progranulin/TNFR interactions

Progranulin (PGRN) is a growth factor implicated in various pathophysiological processes, including wound healing, inflammation, tumorigenesis, and neurodegeneration. It was previously reported that PGRN binds to tumor necrosis factor receptors (TNFR) and has therapeutic effects in inflammatory arthritis (Tang et. al, in Science 332:478-484, 2011); however, Chen et al. reported their inability to demonstrate the PGRN-TNFR interactions under their own conditions (Chen et. al, in J Neurosci 33:9202-9213, 2013). A letter-to-editor was then published by the original group in response to the Chen et al. paper that discussed the reasons for the latter's inability to recapitulate the interactions. In addition, the group published follow-up studies that further reinforced and dissected the interactions of PGRN-TNFR. Recently, the dispute about the legitimacy of PGRN-TNFR interactions appears to be finally settled with independent confirmations of these interactions in various conditions by numerous laboratories. This review presents a chronological update on the story of PGRN-TNFR interactions, highlighting the independent confirmations of these interactions in various diseases and conditions.
Web-Based Billing System Exploits Mature and Emerging Technology

Combining REST and Ajax with the traditional model-view-controller software architecture and using emerging technologies in software development, such as object relational modeling and Python, results in a successful new Web-based billing system.
Optimization and Evaluation of a Coarse-Grained Model of Protein Motion Using X-Ray Crystal Data

Simple coarse-grained models, such as the Gaussian network model, have been shown to capture some of the features of equilibrium protein dynamics. We extend this model by using atomic contacts to define residue interactions and introducing more than one interaction parameter between residues. We use B-factors from 98 ultra-high resolution (≤1.0 A) x-ray crystal structures to optimize the interaction parameters. The average correlation between Gaussian network-model fluctuation predictions and the B-factors is 0.64 for the data set, consistent with a previous large-scale study. By separating residue interactions into covalent and noncovalent, we achieve an average correlation of 0.74, and addition of ligands and cofactors further improves the correlation to 0.75. However, further separating the noncovalent interactions into nonpolar, polar, and mixed yields no significant improvement. The addition of simple chemical information results in better prediction quality without increasing the size of the coarse-grained model.
Generation of truncated forms of the NG2 proteoglycan by cell surface proteolysis.

Abstract NG2 is a chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan that is expressed on dividing progenitor cells of several lineages including glia, muscle, and cartilage. It is an integral membrane proteoglycan with a core glycoprotein of 300 kDa. In the present study we have characterized three molecular forms of the NG2 core protein expressed by different cell lines. Many cell lines that express the full length 300-kDa NG2 core protein also release a 290-kDa form into the medium. This species lacks the cytoplasmic domain but contains almost the entire ectodomain. Two core protein species, the intact 300-kDa form and a truncated 275-kDa form, are expressed at the surface of an NG2-transfected cell line U251NG52. The 275-kDa species lacks the cytoplasmic domain and at least 64 amino acids of the ectodomain. Mild trypsinization of B49 cells also generates the 275-kDa species, suggesting that this component is produced by proteolysis of the 300-kDa form. Conversion of the 300-kDa species to the 275-kDa form in U251NG52 cells is stimulated by reagents such as phorbol esters, which activate protein kinase C. Phorbol esters are also known to induce expression of metalloproteinases such as collagenase and stromelysin, which could be responsible for cleavage of the 300-kDa core protein. Although B49 cells do not spontaneously produce the truncated 275-kDa species, use of monoclonal antibodies against NG2 to block the interaction between NG2 and type VI collagen results in the appearance of the 275-kDa component in these cells. Thus the interaction between NG2 and type VI collagen, which contains a Kunitz-type proteinase inhibitor sequence in the alpha 3 chain, may protect the proteoglycan against proteolysis. This is consistent with the observed deficiency of U251NG52 cells in anchoring type VI collagen at the surface.
Y2K: Legal Implications and Future Repercussions

The legal system will ultimately determine where much of the huge losses that will be occasioned by the Millennium Bug will land. Seemingly minor glitches, such as a computerized inventory control system’s wrongfully rejecting an order of chemicals as expired since 1900 (when the real expiration date is in the year 2000) can create a myriad of lawsuits among manufacturers, suppliers, customers, software vendors and consultants, and insurance companies. No major producers or consumers of software will escape unscathed. Although software producers have grounds for optimism regarding the early rounds of litigation, it is likely that persistent plaintiffs’ attorneys and concerned legislators ultimately will threaten a “litigation crisis” of unprecedented proportions. The software industry can fruitfully draw strategic lessons from the accounting profession’s similar litigation crisis of the late 1980s and early 1990s in terms of litigation strategies, lobbying efforts, and funding of useful academic research.
Compact Modeling of RRAM Devices and Its Applications in 1T1R and 1S1R Array Design

In this paper, we present a compact model for metal–oxide-based resistive random access memory (RRAM) devices with bipolar switching characteristics. The switching mechanism relies on the dynamics of conductive filament growth/dissolution in the oxide layer. Besides the dc and pulsed $I$ – $V$ characteristics, the model also captures the RRAM retention property and the temperature dynamics. The model parameters and the device variations are calibrated from the experimental data of IMEC HfO x -based RRAM devices. The model has been implemented in Verilog-A, which can be easily adapted into the SPICE simulator for the circuit-level analysis. As case studies, we demonstrate the model’s applications on the programming scheme design of the 1-transistor-1-resistor array, as well as the design space exploration of the 1-selector-1-resistor cross-point array toward megabit-level.
A Multistate Switchable [3]Rotacatenane

Rotacatenanes are exotic molecular compounds that can be visualized as a unique combination of a [2]catenane and a [2]rotaxane, thereby combining both the circumrotation of the ring component (rotary motion) and the shuttling of the dumbbell component (translational motion) in one structure. Herein, we describe a strategy for the synthesis of a new switchable [3]rotacatenane and the investigation of its switching properties, which rely on the formation of tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) radical π-dimer interactions—namely, the mixed-valence state (TTF{sub 2}){sup +.} and the radical-cation dimer state (TTF{sup +.}){sub 2}—under ambient conditions. A template-directed approach, based on donor–acceptor interactions, has been developed, resulting in an improved yield of the key precursor [2]catenane, prior to rotacatenation. The nature of the binding between the [2]catenane and selected π-electron-rich templates has been elucidated by using X-ray crystallography and UV/Vis spectroscopy as well as isothermal titration microcalorimetry. The multistate switching mechanism of the [3]rotacatenane has been demonstrated by cyclic voltammetry and EPR spectroscopy. Most notably, the radical-cation dimer state (TTF{sup +.}){sub 2} has been shown to enter into an equilibrium by forming the co-conformation in which the two 1,5-dioxynaphthalene (DNP) units co-occupy the cavity of tetracationic cyclophane, thus enforcing the separation of TTF radical-cation dimer (TTF{sup +.}){submore » 2}. The population ratio of this equilibrium state was found to be 1:1. We believe that this research demonstrates the power of constructing complex molecular machines using template-directed protocols, enabling us to make the transition from simple molecular switches to their multistate variants for enhancing information storage in molecular electronic devices.« less
Global observation of vertical-CLVD earthquakes at active volcanoes

[1] Some of the largest and most anomalous volcanic earthquakes have non-double-couple focal mechanisms. Here, we investigate the link between volcanic unrest and the occurrence of non-double-couple earthquakes with dominant vertical tension or pressure axes, known as vertical compensated-linear-vector-dipole (vertical-CLVD) earthquakes. We determine focal mechanisms for 313 target earthquakes from the standard and surface wave catalogs of the Global Centroid Moment Tensor Project and identify 86 shallow 4.3 ≤ MW ≤ 5.8 vertical-CLVD earthquakes located near volcanoes that have erupted in the last ~100 years. The majority of vertical-CLVD earthquakes occur in subduction zones in association with basaltic-to-andesitic stratovolcanoes or submarine volcanoes, although vertical-CLVD earthquakes are also located in continental rifts and in regions of hot spot volcanism. Vertical-CLVD earthquakes are associated with many types of confirmed or suspected eruptive activity at nearby volcanoes, including volcanic earthquake swarms as well as effusive and explosive eruptions and caldera collapse. Approximately 70% of all vertical-CLVD earthquakes studied occur during episodes of documented volcanic unrest at a nearby volcano. Given that volcanic unrest is underreported, most shallow vertical-CLVD earthquakes near active volcanoes are likely related to magma migration or eruption processes. Vertical-CLVD earthquakes with dominant vertical pressure axes generally occur after volcanic eruptions, whereas vertical-CLVD earthquakes with dominant vertical tension axes generally occur before the start of volcanic unrest. The occurrence of these events may be useful for identifying volcanoes that have recently erupted and those that are likely to erupt in the future.
Insulinlike growth factor gene expression in rat muscle during reinnervation.

Because insulinlike growth factors (IGFs) support motor axon regeneration, we tested whether the IGF genes expressed during the development of neuromuscular synapses are reexpressed in adult rat muscles during synapse regeneration. Following sciatic nerve crush, IGF-II mRNAs per poly(A)+ RNA, as well as per poly(A)+ RNA per milligram muscle, were significantaly up-regulated in denervated relative to intact contralateral gastrocnemius muscles. IGF-II mRNAs were downregulated after the reestablishment of functional neuromuscular synapses, but remained up-regulated when nerves were transected to prevent the reestablishment of synapses. These data are consistent with a model in which the IGF-II gene is reexpressed during regeneration due to loss of nerve-dependent feedback inhibition. There was a slight but significant increase in IGF-I mRNAs per poly(A)+ RNA per milligram muscle, probably as a consequence of muscle atrophy. These results show that IGF-II gene expression is up-regulated in muscle during the reestablishment of synapses. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Fair Value Accounting: Affect On The Auditing Profession

During this period of global markets, multinational corporations are demanding financial accounting standards with enhanced uniformity. In an effort to achieve this objective, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) and the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) have been working together on the Convergence Project, aiming to develop accounting standards that closely correlate with international financial reporting standards. In September 2006 and February 2007, the FASB issued two key fair value accounting (FVA) standards which focused on providing guidelines for fair value measurement (through a classification hierarchy), expanding disclosure requirements, and also allowing business entities to increase FVA’s application. However, the recent financial crisis has placed increased scrutiny on estimates derived under FVA. Consequently, a spotlight has been placed on the auditing profession, as the effectiveness of an auditor’s ability to test estimates derived under FVA has been questioned due to numerous firms approaching collapse in the midst of the credit crisis. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to present the challenges auditors face when auditing FV estimates, and to discuss the profession’s capability of adapting to FVA in the future.
Community, Family and School-based Interventions for HIV/AIDS Prevention in African American Adolescents

This article examined HIV/AIDS interventions targeted towards African American adolescents published between 1992 and 2006. Fourteen interventions met the inclusion criteria of which eight were community-based, three were family-based and three were school-based. The most common focus of interventions was in 6th through 10th grades which seems logical as the average age of initiating sexual intercourse among adolescents is 16 years and in African Americans 13 years. Most of the interventions were based on behavioral theories, with social cognitive theory being the most prevalent. Theory-based interventions were more effective than the one’s that were not. The components of the interventions included culturally specific materials, African American facilitators, and gender sensitivity. HIV/AIDS knowledge, risk reduction strategies, behavioral skills, condom use, self-efficacy, decision-making and goal setting were the main foci of the interventions. Behavioral change was found in seven of the interventions. Recommendations for enhancing the success of these interventions are discussed.
The Meaning of Lethal Events in Infants With Long QT Syndrome.

In this issue of the Journal , Spazzolini et al. ([1][1]) report a study from several primary research centers in arrhythmogenic channelopathies of severe clinical manifestations of long QT syndrome in the infant. Before discussing their important and possibly controversial findings, it is worth
Influence of relative permeability on injection pressure and plume configuration during CO2 injections in a mafic reservoir

Abstract Carbon capture and sequestration projects have traditionally targeted deep sedimentary basins; however, mafic reservoirs may also be attractive targets for CO 2 disposal on the basis of permanent mineral trapping over relatively short time scales (10 1 to 10 2 yr). Nevertheless, CCS development in mafic reservoirs is hampered by substantial uncertainty in fracture-controlled reservoir characteristics, particularly with respect to the effects of multi-phase fluid flow, e.g., relative permeability and capillary pressure. The present study quantifies uncertainty surrounding relative permeability effects in a basalt reservoir by developing a numerical modeling experiment on the basis of site characterization data from the Slack Canyon #2 flow top, which is one of three flow tops comprising the injection zone at the Wallula Basalt Sequestration Pilot Project in southeast Washington State. This numerical modeling experiment controls for the effects of curvature in the relative permeability models by performing an ensemble of 399 CO 2 injection simulations with constant geometry and reservoir properties, while systematically varying the phase interference parameter ( λ ) and residual CO 2 saturation ( S gr ), which govern wetting and non-wetting phase relative permeability, respectively. The relative permeability parameter space is defined by selecting combinations of λ and S gr that cover a wide range of experimental laboratory measurements. For each simulation, CO 2 is injected into the reservoir for 10 years at a constant rate of 2.78 kg s −1 (87,856 metric tons (MT) yr −1 ), which is 10% of the annual injection rate proposed for one injection scenario at the Wallula Site. Results from the ensemble of simulations show that relative permeability alone can account for >50 MPa of variability in the injection pressure and a two-fold difference in lateral CO 2 plume migration. Additionally, this work shows that curvature in the wetting phase relative permeability model is the stronger influence on reservoir pressure accumulation, while curvature in the non-wetting phase relative permeability model strongly governs CO 2 plume geometry.
Gene Mapping in Fishes and Other Vertebrates

Assessments of genetic divergence during vertebrate evolution have been studied using a variety of methods during the past several decades. A question that remains in large degree unanswered has provided an underlying theme to this area of research: what kinds of genetic change are associated with speciation events and major adaptive radiations? The pursuit of general correlates to morphological divergence has generated a wealth of data relating to variability and evolutionary rates of change of: (1) protein structure, as assessed indirectly by electrophoretic and immunological methods or more directly by amino acid sequencing (2) chromosome organization, as revealed by karyotypic analyses and DNA hybridization techniques; and (3) most recently, DNA and RNA structure determined directly by nucleotide sequencing.
MANAGEMENT OF BONE LOSS: BOTH SIDES NOW

Management of bone loss on both sides of the glenohumeral joint has been made much easier by the introduction of the reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA). While traditional posterior bone grafting and newer augmented glenoid components are still being used for Walch type B2 glenoids, there is movement and the trend towards using the reverse prosthesis with Bone Ingrowth Offset (BIO-RSA) techniques. Bone loss on the humeral side can be managed by the prosthesis itself, fresh matched or frozen proximal humerus allografts, femoral shaft allografts, or tibial strut allografts. Several cases will be shown to illustrate each technique.
Beyond accuracy: creating interoperable and scalable text-mining web services

UNLABELLED The biomedical literature is a knowledge-rich resource and an important foundation for future research. With over 24 million articles in PubMed and an increasing growth rate, research in automated text processing is becoming increasingly important. We report here our recently developed web-based text mining services for biomedical concept recognition and normalization. Unlike most text-mining software tools, our web services integrate several state-of-the-art entity tagging systems (DNorm, GNormPlus, SR4GN, tmChem and tmVar) and offer a batch-processing mode able to process arbitrary text input (e.g. scholarly publications, patents and medical records) in multiple formats (e.g. BioC). We support multiple standards to make our service interoperable and allow simpler integration with other text-processing pipelines. To maximize scalability, we have preprocessed all PubMed articles, and use a computer cluster for processing large requests of arbitrary text. AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION Our text-mining web service is freely available at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/CBBresearch/Lu/Demo/tmTools/#curl CONTACT : Zhiyong.Lu@nih.gov.
Error Control and Limit Cycle Elimination in Event-Driven Piecewise Linear Analog Functional Models

Real number modeling of analog circuits in hardware description languages (HDLs) has become more common as a part of mixed-signal SoC validation. We propose two methods that both improve the fidelity and simulation speed, and make the event-driven, piecewise linear (PWL) analog functional models easier to write. First we use the accuracy set by users to dynamically determine when a new output segment should be emitted, which is computed without any iteration. This capability allows designers to trade accuracy for simulation speed of analog models without any time-consuming model calibration/error estimation, and creates models which generate events only when needed to maintain output accuracy. We next extend this method to eliminate limit-cycle oscillations that occur when simulating circuits with continuous-time feedback in a discrete-time event simulator. Handling this feedback efficiently allows the user to create the system model from simpler component models. The performance of this modeling approach is demonstrated on various analog filter models, an operational amplifier, and a high-speed, wireline transceiver system, and is 3.1 $\times$ faster than an optimally-chosen, fixed-time step simulation for the transceiver.
Differential modes of engagement in the Internet era: a latent class analysis of citizen participation and its stratification in China

ABSTRACTThe advent of the Internet in China has broad implications for citizen participation in public life. To assess the impact of the Internet, we need to ask questions first about the basic structural patterns of participation among Chinese population and then on whether the Internet may provide new opportunities for disengaged people, or expand the scope of participation, or reinforce the existing structural conditions that hamper citizen participation. We address these questions with data from a nationally representative sample survey in China. Through a latent class analysis, we differentiate four types of participation. We conduct a multinomial analysis to show that the Internet recruits some disengaged, but capable participants into public life, but overall, it allots more opportunities for the socioeconomically advantaged segments of the population.
The Content and Process of Counseling Leadership: Implications for Research and Practice

ABSTRACTThis article applies the Integrative Process Model of Leadership to the conceptualization, research, and practice of counseling leadership. The model broadens perspective on leadership to consider processes among leaders, individuals (e.g., followers), groups, and contexts, thereby allowing counselors to better understand how to lead and allowing researchers to study leadership from multiple angles. Implications for counseling leadership research and practice are discussed.
Demonstration of Globi and Leprosy Bacilli by Fluorescence Microscopy.

Hagemann1 reported the superiority of a fluorescence method using berberine sulfate stain for demonstrating leprosy bacilli in nasal mucus and thick blood smears. The same year he2 proposed an auramin-fluorescence technic for the routine identification of acid-fast fast bacteria, especially tubercle bacilli. The suitability of this method for cultures of Myco. leprae has been confirmed by Kuster3 and for leproma smears by Kline and Leach.4Recently one of us (H.J.H.) has investigated the separation and concentration of acid-fast organisms from the tissues of leprosy patients. To cryochemed spleen† distilled water was added and direct impression smears were made from a piece of the tissue. One set of smears was stained with auramin O and examined according to the fluorescence procedure described by Richards and Miller.5A representative field is shown in the accompanying photomicrographs. The faint material in the background is non-acid-fast splenic cellular substance. The acid-fast bacilli have a characteri...
Nicotinamide riboside, a trace nutrient in foods, is a vitamin B3 with effects on energy metabolism and neuroprotection.

Purpose of reviewThis review focuses upon the biology and metabolism of a trace component in foods called nicotinamide riboside. Nicotinamide riboside is a precursor of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), and is a source of Vitamin B3. Evidence indicates that nicotinamide riboside has unique p
Organic Sulfides as Vulcanizing Agents of Rubber

Abstract 1. It has been demonstrated that a number of organic sulfides possess the property of breaking down under vulcanizing conditions in a rubber compound to produce a cure. 2. Although several scores of sulfur-containing organic compounds other than those discussed in this paper or described in other papers have been tested, as yet there appear possible no generalizations to serve as a guide to further exploratory studies. 3. Organic sulfur compounds which are unstable under temperature conditions higher than normal do not liberate all of their sulfur in all cases. 4. Organic sulfur compounds employed alone as vulcanizing agents usually produce slower-curing rubber stocks than does sulfur, and at the same time lessen greatly the tendency of the stock to scorch. 5. Stocks of satisfactory physical properties, superior aging characteristics, and outstanding freedom from scorchiness are obtained by the use of a fractional part of the normal sulfur requirement together with a sulfur liberator. 6. Morpholi...
Detection of Inland Open Water Surfaces Using Dual Polarization L-Band Radar for the Soil Moisture Active Passive Mission

A dual-copolarization algorithm to classify inland open water bodies free of flooded vegetation using an L-band radar is presented and evaluated, with a view to applying the method to the Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) mission for hydrological science and soil moisture retrieval applications. Past radar-based water body detection algorithms have applied a threshold to a single-polarization measurement, with water body detection declared if the observed cross section is less than the specified threshold. However, such methods are subject to ambiguities associated with scene variability and terrain slopes, making a universal threshold value difficult to derive and complicating the global application of such methods. Because SMAP will provide measurements in both HH and VV polarizations, the copolarization ratio is also available for water body detection. A threshold of −3 dB applied to the HH/VV polarization ratio is found effective in detecting water bodies at 40° incidence angle based on analysis of theoretical model predictions and measurements from airborne synthetic aperture radar and the spaceborne Aquarius scatterometer. When the water surface is calm and its radar response is very small (i.e., at the radar thermal noise level), the HH/VV ratio method fails. However, a combination of an HH/VV threshold (at −3 dB) and an HH threshold (at −25 dB) is shown to allow water body classification even in this situation. This proposed “combined” algorithm is assessed in four different geophysical scenarios. The resulting water body detection error is shown to be less than 10% for these cases, which satisfies SMAP requirements to allow accurate soil moisture retrieval, and the corresponding false alarm rate is smaller than 2%. The robustness of the proposed approach to subpixel heterogeneity has been also investigated. The performance of the algorithm remains sensitive to the noise level of the radar observations: for SMAP, a radar noise-equivalent sigma0 of −28.5 dB or less is required in order to facilitate acceptable performance.
Collisions Frequency of Particles and Bubbles Suspended in Homogenous Isotropic Turbulence

Particles and bubbles suspended in homogeneous isotropic turbulence are tracked and their collisions frequencies are determined as functions of particle Stokes number. The carrier phase velocity uctuations are determined by Direct Numerical Simulations (DNS). The e ects of the dispersed phases on the carrier phase are neglected. Particles and bubbles of sizes on the order of Kolmogorov length scale are treated as point masses. In addition to Stokes drag, forces on the dispersed phases account for the pressure gradient in the carrier phase and added-mass force. Equations of motions of dispersed phases are integrated simultaneously with the equations of the carrier phase using the same time stepping scheme. The collision model used here allows overlap of particles and bubbles. Simulations for three turbulence Reynolds numbers Re = 57; 82; and 102 have been performed. Comparisons are made with Zaichik et al. model which is valid for an arbitrary Stokes number. In general, good agreement between DNS and Zaichik et al. model is obtained. For particle Stokes numbers around unity, collisions kernel of mono-disperse (particle-particle) predicted by DNS is higher than that of the model due to the accumulation e ects of particles. For particle-bubble collisions kernel, DNS predictions are in qualitative agreement with predictions by Zaichik et al. model.
Building an Information Literate Population Through Problem Based Learning Experiences

University students navigate the Internet with exceptional ease, comfort, and confidence. Although they are facile with technology in the sense of finding information, they are not always proficient at recognizing misleading, flawed, or incorrect information. These are skills that an information literate person possesses. Today's technologically savvy youth are the next generation's leaders. . .
Possible Radiologic Approaches to Fetal Diagnosis and Therapy

Though ionizing radiation can be employed only sparingly during gestation, in threatened pregnancies radiation hazards are usually insignificant when compared to the costs and risks faced by a mother-fetus pair. Knowledge of techniques currently feasible (and those as yet only potentially useful), combined with rational approach to their utilization will aid in the identification of potentially threatening disorders.
NASA's Radioisotope Power Systems program overview — A focus on RPS users

The goal of NASA's Radioisotope Power Systems (RPS) Program is to make RPS ready and available to support the exploration of the solar system in environments where the use of conventional solar or chemical power generation is impractical or impossible to meet potential future mission needs. To meet this goal, the RPS Program manages investments in RPS technologies and RPS system development, working closely with the Department of Energy. This paper provides an overview of the RPS Program content and status, its collaborations with potential RPS users, and the approach employed to maintain the readiness of RPS to support future NASA mission concepts.
SPECT: Quality Control

The process of quality control starts with ensuring safe measurement and administration of radiopharmaceuticals to the patient. The mechanisms to ensure this will be reviewed. Optimal functioning nuclear cardiology imaging equipment is also essential. Methods to evaluate and monitor quality performance of the imaging equipment will be described. Finally, variability at the patient level can lead to significant artifacts in the images. Mechanisms to recognize and reduce these artifacts will be discussed.
The Sociolinguistic and Demographic Context for the Study

This chapter describes the research site of the study. It also discusses the migration history of African American and Appalachian White migrants to Detroit as well as the relationship between these two groups. I also discuss work on the phonological characteristics of the three varieties involved in this language contact situation. Research on Appalachian English and AAE, both in the South and in Southeastern Michigan, is reviewed along with work on Midwestern White vowel systems in the Detroit area.
Transverse Myelitis in Veterans: Epidemiology and Outcomes (P6.129)

Objective: To describe demographics and clinical data in a cohort of patients with transverse myelitis (TM) in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) population. Background: Transverse myelitis is a neurological condition caused by inflammation throughout a segment of the spinal cord that produces demyelination as well as axonal and neuronal injury. Resulting symptoms include pain, weakness, abnormal sensation, and incontinence. TM may arise from many etiologies including autoimmune, paraneoplastic, infectious and post-infectious disorders. The VHA population represents Americas largest integrated health care system with 1700 sites, serving 8.76 million Veterans annually. Methods: Retrospective review of patients charts with at least one of several ICD-9 codes queried to designate TM evaluated at VHA Clinics and Hospitals. Results: We identified over 4,000 unique patients with ICD-9 codes consistent with possible TM within the VHA System, and retrospectively reviewed each case and characterized it as TM or other neurologic disease (OND). The TM cases are described in detail in terms of relevant demographic and clinical data. Patient ages ranged from 26-93. The large majority of patients were male, in keeping with the demographics of the VA population. Etiologies identified included multiple sclerosis, neuromyelitis optica, Sjogrens syndrome, systemic lupus erythematosus, sarcoidosis, infectious and post-infectious, radiation-induced, post-vaccination, paraneoplastic, and idiopathic. Over one-third of patients had involvement of 3 or more levels of the spinal cord. Conclusions: This is the first comprehensive characterization of TM in the VHA Veteran population. Patients with TM within the VHA system provide a population for long-term evaluation of disease characteristics and response to treatment. Within this cohort, diverse etiologies lead to TM involvement of 3 or more spinal cord levels, indicating low sensitivity for neuromyelitis optica. Disclosure: Dr. Carlson has nothing to disclose. Dr. Haringer has nothing to disclose. Dr. Sweeney has nothing to disclose. Dr. Rose has received research support from Biogen Idec, AbbieVie Biotherapeutics, Teva, Cumming Foundation, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, VA and NIH. Dr. Carlson has nothing to disclose. Dr. Greenlee has received royalty payments from MedLink and Merck. Dr. Paz Soldan has nothing to disclose. Dr. Clardy has received personal compensation for activities with the DAVICK Group and Trinity Partners. Dr. Clardy9s spouse holds stock and/or stock options in Quadex. Dr. Clardy has received research support from Western Institue for Biomedical Research
Lithics: Getting started in lithic analysis: identification and classification

In 1967 it was written that approximately 80% to 90% of an archaeologist's time and energy is spent in classifying materials (Chang 1967:71). It can be argued that classification is still the “cornerstone of archaeological methodology” (Odell 1981:321). One of the principal purposes of classification for use in lithic artifact analysis is as an aid to the summarization of data for descriptive purposes. It is the same reason that classification is used in all fields of human enquiry. Classification reduces variability into manageable units to facilitate communication. Classifying items is ubiquitous for all cultures in all parts of the world (Ellen 1979:6–8). It is impossible to hold a conversation with someone without using a classification system of some kind. Like all phenomena, chipped stone artifacts have an infinite range of morphological variability. Because of this variability, chipped stone artifacts require some kind of ordering before they can be adequately discussed. It is much easier for others to understand the composition of an archaeological site if the reporter lists the number of artifacts found in each class of tool at the site as opposed to describing each tool individually: to say that a site is composed of 95 broken bifaces, 12 whole bifaces, and 589 blades is much more concise than describing the morphology of 696 individual artifacts found at the site. The reduction of variability into classes aids in the understanding of phenomena being investigated or discussed. The second primary purpose of classification is its role as an heuristic device.
Measurements on semiconductor and scintillator detectors at the Advanced Light Source (Conference Presentation)

During the transition period between closure of Beamline X27B at BNL’s NSLS and the opening of Beamline MID at NSLS-II, we began operation of LBNL’s ALS Beamline 3.3.2 to carry out our radiation detection materials RD. Measurements performed at this Beamline include, X-ray Detector Response Mapping and White Beam X-ray Diffraction Topography (WBXDT), among others. We will introduce the capabilities of the Beamline and present the most recent results obtained on CdZnTe and scintillators. The goal of the studies on CdZnTe is to understand the origin and effects of subgrain boundaries and help to visualize the presence of a higher concentration of impurities, which might be responsible for the deterioration of the energy resolution and response uniformity in the vicinity of the sub-grain boundaries. The results obtained in the second year of measurements will be presented.
Ceftaroline fosamil monotherapy for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia: a comparative clinical outcomes study.

Summary Objectives Vancomycin is the treatment of choice for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteremia; however, its use has been subject to scrutiny due to failure in severe infections. Ceftaroline fosamil (CPT-F) is approved for MRSA acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections, but not for bloodstream infections. The clinical outcomes of treatment with CPT-F in patients with MRSA bacteremia were evaluated. Methods Patients diagnosed with MRSA bacteremia at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan, USA, involving isolates with a vancomycin minimum inhibitory concentration ≥1.0mg/l and susceptible in vitro to CPT-F, were systematically reviewed retrospectively. Ceftaroline fosamil-treated patients were matched with at least two vancomycin- and/or one daptomycin-treated control patient based on age-patients age 65 years or greater or less than 65 years of age. Outcomes evaluated included the duration of hospitalization, duration of therapy, adverse events, relapse, hospital readmission, and death. Results Thirty consecutive cases of MRSA bacteremia treated with CPT-F during the period May 2011 to June 2013 were identified; these patients were matched to 56 MRSA bacteremia patients treated with vancomycin and 46 MRSA bacteremia patients treated with daptomycin. The primary source of MRSA bacteremia in the cohort treated with CPT-F was endocarditis ( n =7, 23%), skin/wound ( n =9, 30%), and bone/joint ( n =8, 27%). The MRSA bacteremia in those treated with CPT-F was community-acquired in 43% of cases, healthcare-associated in 43%, and hospital-acquired in 13%. The mean length of hospital stay for these patients was 22 days. The overall 30-day mortality rate was 13% ( n =4) in CPT-F patients versus 24% ( n =11) in daptomycin patients and 11% ( n =6) in vancomycin patients ( p =0.188). Conclusions CPT-F demonstrated comparable clinical outcomes in MRSA bacteremia patients compared with the other agents, especially as salvage therapy.
Fluctuation effects on the magnetic properties of superconducting layered compounds

Superconducting layered compounds intercalated with organic molecules have attracted considerable attention recently because of their unique structural and electronic properties which may make them intrinsically two-dimensional superconductors. Evidence for two-dimensional behavior, or at least very strong two-dimensional correlations, has been observed in the thermal1 and magnetic2 properties of these materials. In this paper we report the results of a preliminary investigation of the low-field magnetic behavior of the intercalated superconductor TaS2(pyridine)1/2, undertaken to examine further the possibility of two-dimensional superconductivity in these systems. Particular emphasis has been placed on studying the enhanced diagmagnetism due to thermally induced superconducting fluctuations above the superconducting transition, since such fluctuation effects are known to be sensitive to the dimensionality of the system.
Meibomian gland morphogenesis requires developmental eyelid closure and lid fusion.

Abstract Background and purpose Meibomian glands (MGs) play an important role in the maintenance of ocular surface health, but the mechanisms of their development are still poorly understood. The MGs arise from the epithelium at the junction of eyelid fusion, raising the possibility that defective eyelid fusion disturbs the formation of MGs. Methods We examined, histologically and functionally, the development of MGs in mice with either normal or defective eyelid fusion, displaying eye-closed at birth (ECB) or eye-open at birth (EOB) phenotypes, respectively. Results The Meibomian anlage was detected in the epithelium at the eyelid fusion junction immediately after birth at postnatal day 0 (PD0), and it extended into the eyelid stroma at PD1 and started to branch and produce meibum at PD7 in the ECB mice. In contrast, few if any MG structures were detectable in the EOB mice in the early postnatal periods. The Meibomian gland ductile system was seen aligned along the eyelid margin in the adult ECB mice, but was absent or scarce in that of the EOB mice. While MG abnormalities were found in all EOB mice, the severity varied and corresponded to the position and the size of eye opening but not the genetic defects of the mice. Conclusion Proper Meibomian gland formation and development require eyelid closure and fusion.
The interface among data analysis, marketing, and representation of knowledge

We selectively review the linkages among the foci of this conference, emphasizing areas of current and intense interest, and we predict some directions for future developments.
A STAT3- and p63-dependent transcriptional network to define a lethal basal subset of human bladder cancers.

4538 Background: Muscle-invasive bladder cancers (MIBCs) are a heterogeneous group of tumors that display widely variable clinical outcomes and responses to conventional chemotherapy. Methods: We u...
MRD in AML: a role for detecting leukemic blasts at day 14 post-induction chemotherapy?

The role of minimal residual disease (MRD) testing in acute myeloid leukemia is becoming increasingly relevant as its potential clinical utility continues to be explored. In general, the objective ...
Interdisciplinary multi-scale research on environment assisted cracking: The 50 year legacy of Robert P. Wei

Abstract Robert P. Wei died at the age of 84 in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania on September 28, 2015. The solid mechanics and materials science communities have lost a leader and visionary who dedicated five decades of his life to developing people and fundamental knowledge through world-class teaching and research. His contributions greatly advanced the broad areas of hydrogen embrittlement, stress corrosion cracking, and environment-assisted fatigue crack propagation. His approach, centered on interdisciplinary integration of rigorous fracture mechanics experiments and mass transport plus reaction rate modeling, provides a roadmap for future developments. It is appropriate to recognize the large body of Professor Wei’s work in this special issue of the International Journal of Fatigue.
Human antithrombin III heterogeneity.

Crossed immunoelectrophoretic patterns were obtained on three patients with a congenital deficiency of anti-thrombin III (AT-III), and on normal single donor and “pooled” plasma controls. In the presence of heparin (incorporated into the agarose gel matrix), the AT-III of normal human plasma was separated into four components: two major, faster-moving components, and two minor, slower-moving components. The three patients with congenital deficiency of AT-III (levels approximately 50% of normal) appeared to possess only one of the faster- moving components, and one of the slower-moving components.
Unemployment, the Great Recession, and apprenticeship attrition in the U.S.

The author estimates the impacts of the local rate of unemployment and the Great Recession on the quit and graduation rates of the U.S. construction trade apprentices over the 2001–2014 period. Tra...