cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Survival from profound alcohol-related lactic acidosis

We present the case of a patient with profound alcohol-related lactic acidosis (lactate = 16.1 mmol/L; pH = 6.67) associated with a multitude of metabolic derangements who made a remarkable recovery following aggressive management. The patient was in extremis upon arrival in the emergency department (ED), and resuscitation was begun immediately. While in the ED, the problem list generated included: acute alcohol intoxication, severe lactic acidosis, dehydration, hypothermia, hypoglycemia, acute renal insufficiency, and hepatic failure. Resuscitation continued in the intensive care unit with remarkable improvement and satisfactory outcome. In this patient, the severe lactic acidosis and associated abnormalities were all attributed to acute and chronic effects of ethanol. A brief summary of the proposed mechanism by which these metabolic derangements developed and an outline of her management follows.
A comparative study of photoresponse inDrosophila pseudoobscura andDrosophila persimilis

The phototactic responses of nine strains ofDrosophila pseudoobscura from the population at Mather, California, and six strains ofD. persimilis from the population at White Wolf, California, were measured in an open field design. The flies were tested in a crossed gradient of light intensity and temperature in which the light choices allowed were 0.3, 2.0, and 10.0 ft-candles. This gradient was at right angles to a linear temperature gradient of 12 to 20°C. Theoretically, a relative humidity gradient was also established coincident with the temperature gradient. In this complex stimulus environment the flies made a choice within 5 min with little or no subsequent movement. The responses of the strains for each population were not homogeneous. Because of the lack of homogeneity within each species population, a direct comparison of the two species populations was not possible. However, the two species populations could be compared by the classification of the distribution profiles of each of the strains in the light bands. Phototaxis seems to be a population phenomenon and distinctions between populations can be made only by comparing large samples of individuals from each population.
Identity, behavior, and efficacy of nitidulid beetles (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) pollinating commercial Annona species in Florida.

Insect pollination of commercial annonaceous crops is variable among localities and poorly understood. To gain basic information for use in pollinator management programs, we studied the nitidulids that pollinate commercially grown sugar apples ( Annona squamosa L.) and atemoyas ( A. squamosa X A. cherimola P. Miller) in Florida. Only flowers visited by nitidulids set fruit. We found nine species of nitidulid flower visitors, seven of which pollinated. Carpophilus mutilatus Erichson was the most important pollinator in terms of efficacy and abundance, followed by C. fumatus Boheman and Haptoncus luteolus (Erichson). The Annona flowers, which are protogynous, are entered by the beetles usually during the female phase. Peak entry into atemoya flowers occurs in the morning (0700–0900 EST) and into sugar apple flowers both in morning (0700–1100) and evening (1700–2100). The beetles remain inside up to 22 h, until the flowers senesce and the stamens fall. In 1989, natural fruit set ranged from 0–29% of sampled flowers per day in atemoya groves and from 0–10% of flowers per day in sugar apples. Percentage of fruit set is correlated with numbers of nitidulids in the flowers.
Fish communities of estuarine salt marshes of eastern North America, and comparisons with temperate estuaries of other continents

Twenty eastern North American estuarine/saltmarsh locations, for which publishedinventories of inhabiting fishes wereavailable, were selected for study. Thegeographic range of systems extended from southTexas on the west; North River, FL. on thesouth; to Prince Edward Island, Canada on theeast; and James and Hudson Bays, Canada at thenorth. A total of 237(±) species offishes were associated with these systems. Lifehistory groupings included: permanent residents(9.3%); marine nursery species (17.7%);diadromous fishes (5.5%); marine transients(52.3%); and freshwater transients (15.2%).The most widely distributed species wereprimarily permanent residents and marinenursery species. The fraction of residentspecies did not vary significantly over thelatitudinal range, but the fraction of marinemigratory (MN + MT) species decreased withlatitude. An increasing fraction of diadromous(anadromous) species may compensate for thedecreasing fraction of marine migratoryspecies. Permanent residents, marine nurseryspecies, and marine transients all showedextended periods of spawning. Permanentresident species showed the widest ranges ofambient salinity tolerances or of ambientsalinity ranges of occupied habitats, withmarine nursery species second. Patterns withrespect to ambient temperature tolerances wereassociated with geographic ranges rather thanlife history groups. A general profile wasproduced of characteristics of species thatlive as permanent residents in salt marshestuaries of eastern North America. Species and family relationships of fishes froma group of 17 and another of 25 estuarieslocated along the west coast of Europe werecompared with the eastern North American group.European estuaries showed higher speciesrichness per system than did those of easternNorth America. Family representations ofeastern North American and western Europeanestuaries were compared with a series ofestuaries located in southwestern Australia andSouth Africa. This showed significant overlapin family representation, with two speciesbeing common among the four continents.
Optimization of monolithic charged-particle sensor arrays

Abstract Direct-detection CMOS image sensors optimized for charged-particle imaging applications, such as electron microscopy and particle physics, have been designed, fabricated and characterized. These devices directly image charged particles without reliance on image-degrading hybrid technologies such as the use of scintillating materials. Based on standard CMOS Active Pixel Sensor (APS) technology, the sensor arrays use an 8–20 μm thick epitaxial layer that acts as a sensitive region for the generation and collection of ionization electrons resulting from impinging high-energy particles. A range of optimizations to this technology have been developed via simulation and experimental device design. These include the simulation and measurement of charge-collection efficiency vs. recombination, effect of diode area and stray capacitance vs. signal gain and noise, and the effect of different epitaxial silicon depths. Several experimental devices and full-scale prototypes are presented, including two prototypes that systematically and independently vary pixel pitch and diode area, and a complete high-resolution camera for electron microscopy optimized through experiment and simulation. The electron microscope camera has 1×1 k 2 pixels with a 5 μm pixel pitch and an 8 μm epitaxial silicon thickness.
Characteristics and performance of a constant modulus adaptive array for wireless digital communications systems

In mobile cellular environments where many sources of interference exist, adaptive arrays have attracted the attention of a number of researchers. We consider a constant modulus adaptive array (CM array) which requires no reference signal for adaptation. Convergence property is provided for more than two PSK signals under certain constraints. We also present an explicit expression for the weight coefficients of the array by which we evaluate transient response and signal-to-interference-noise ratio (SINR) at the array output. The bit error rate at the array output is calculated for a desired signal corrupted by one cochannel interference and Gaussian noise.
PROPRIOCEPTION: CONFRONTING PRIOR KNOWLEDGE

The concept of proprioception (sensory information about muscle position and tension) is fundamental to understanding how we and other animals move, how reflexes work, how we maintain our balance, and how the motor system portion of the nervous system works. However, it is difficult to make the
MAINTENANCE OF PELVIC FLOOR INTEGRITY DURING CHILDBIRTH

Abstract A review of the literature of the many factors affecting the condition of the female pelvic floor tissues is presented. The factors contributing to pelvic floor integrity during childbirth are discussed, with special emphasis on the technique of perineal massage.
Zero-tracking adaptive filters

A new type of adaptive filter is proposed which can directly estimate and track its own zeros. The adaptation algorithm adapts the zeros of the filter and hence, indirectly, the filter coefficients. To first order in the adaptation parameter, the new algorithm is equivalent to the usual LMS algorithm, and thus it shares the same convergence properties with the latter. The cases of adaptive prediction, the adaptive Pisarenko method, and adaptive point-source location are discussed in detail.
Enantioselective conversion of aldehydes to cyanohydrins by a catalytic system with separate chiral binding sites for aldehyde and cyanide components

Abstract A new enantioselective method for the synthesis of chiral cyanohydrins from aldehydes and trimethylsilyl cyanide is described which uses a pair of synergistic chiral reagents, one to activate the aldehyde and the other to provide an equivalent of chiral cyanide ion.
mTOR complex 2 is involved in regulation of Cbl-dependent c-FLIP degradation and sensitivity of TRAIL-induced apoptosis

The mTOR positively regulates cell proliferation and survival through forming 2 complexes with raptor (mTOR complex 1; mTORC1) or rictor (mTOR complex 2; mTORC2). Compared with the mTORC1, relatively little is known about the biologic functions of mTORC2. This study focuses on addressing whether mTORC2 regulates apoptosis, particularly induced by TRAIL (TNFSF10). Using the mTOR kinase inhibitor, PP242, as a research tool, we found that it synergized with TRAIL to augment apoptosis of cancer cells. PP242 reduced the abundance of the short form of c-FLIP (FLIP(S), CFLAR(S)) and survivin (BIRC5). Enforced expression of ectopic FLIP(S), but not survivin, attenuated augmented apoptosis induced by PP242 plus TRAIL. Thus, it is FLIP(S) downregulation that contributes to synergistic induction of apoptosis by PP242 plus TRAIL. PP242 decreased FLIP(S) stability, increased FLIP(S) ubiquitination, and facilitated FLIP(S) degradation. Moreover, knockdown of the E3 ligase Cbl (CBL) abolished PP242-induced FLIP(S) reduction. Thus, PP242 induces Cbl-dependent degradation of FLIP(S), leading to FLIP(S) downregulation. Consistently, knockdown of rictor or mTOR, but not raptor, mimicked PP242 in decreasing FLIP(S) levels and sensitizing cells to TRAIL. Rictor knockdown decreased FLIP(S) stability, whereas enforced expression of rictor stabilized FLIP(S). Moreover, silencing of Cbl abrogated FLIP(S) reduction induced by rictor knockdown. Collectively we conclude that it is mTORC2 inhibition that results in FLIP(S) downregulation and subsequent sensitization of TRAIL-induced apoptosis. Our findings provide the first evidence showing that mTORC2 stabilizes FLIP(S), hence connecting mTORC2 signaling to the regulation of death receptor-mediated apoptosis.
Nest habitat use of the Puerto Rican Nightjar Caprimulgus noctitherus in Guanica Biosphere Reserve

Summary The Puerto Rican Nightjar Caprimulgus noctitherus is a 'Critically Endangered' caprimulgid endemic to coastal dry and lower montane forests of southwest Puerto Rico. I studied nest habitat use of this nightjar at the Guanica Biosphere Reserve in southwestern Puerto Rico. Nightjar nests (n 5 23) were located in evergreen and deciduous forest and were more common at elevations above 100 m. Nests were located from 2 mt o125 m into the forest from the nearest road or trail and were characterised by a deep layer of leaf litter, and an open midstorey beneath a closed canopy. Six of the 10 nests found in evergreen forest were located within abandoned mahogany (Sweetenia mahogany) plantations. Habitat structure and vegetation composition were quantified at each nightjar nest and an equivalent number of randomly selected sites. Four of 13 habitat variables differed significantly (P , 0.05) between nest and random sites and included: elevation, leaf litter biomass, midstorey stem density, and canopy closure. Stepwise logistic regression generated a best model describing nightjar nest habitat. Leaf litter biomass, midstorey stem density, and canopy closure correctly classified 77.3% of nightjar nests. Management of forest stands at higher elevations to promote nightjar nest habitat structure, protection of private lands in the periphery of the Guanica Biosphere Reserve, and acquisition of privately owned forest tracts in other portions of the nightjar's range will ensure the long-term persistence of the species.
Gene Therapy for Genetic Disease and Cancer

Numerous strategies have been developed for the application of gene transfer techniques to the treatment of human genetic and neoplastic diseases. Strategies for genetic therapy of cancer have included those which aim to provide improved antitumor immunity, provide improved chemotherapy (either by prodrug activation or by protection of drug-sensitive normal tissues to the toxic side effects of cancer chemotherapy), inhibit angiogenesis, and/or restore disrupted growth regulatory function. As a chemoprotective approach, we have been using a transgenic mouse model system to study the expression of drug-resistant forms of dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) as a means of protecting against the toxic side-effects of antifolate chemotherapy. Antifolate administration may also be applied for the purpose of selectively expanding cells which express drug-resistant DHFR, thus increasing the representation of cells expressing any therapeutic gene co-introduced along with the selectable DHFR gene.
Ureteroscopy: Opinion – No Stents

Ureteral stent placement is not necessary following uncomplicated ureteroscopy, as stenting in such cases subjects the patient to stent-related symptoms but does not reduce the incidence of postoperative complications, including unplanned medical visits and readmissions. The utility of ureteral stent placement depends on what constitutes uncomplicated ureteroscopy. In this commentary, I argue that uncomplicated ureteroscopy includes a large portion of these procedures and that efforts can be made to increase the likelihood that the ureteroscopy is an uncomplicated one, such that ureteral stent placement is unnecessary following many ureteroscopies. Avoiding ureteral stent placement when it is not necessary saves time and money, and reduces patient suffering.
RMS digital trips offer increased accuracy and reliability advances in low voltage circuit breaker trip technology

The function of low voltage circuit breaker trip units, and the need for direct RMS (root mean square) overcurrent sensing of the sinusoidal and nonsinusoidal current wave, including percentage error analysis are reviewed. It is found that the application of digital microprocessor technology to achieve direct RMS sensing allows the true RMS (heating) protection of thermal-electromechanical trip units, along with the precise protection and coordination selectivity of solid-state trip. This direct RMS sensing provides accurate long-time and short-time overcurrent protection in power distribution systems with the increasing occurrence of nonsinusoidal currents. >
Mucosal Atrophy in Celiac Disease: Extent of Involvement, Correlation With Clinical Presentation, and Response to Treatment

Background & Aims: Wireless capsule endoscopy provides an opportunity to study the macroscopic features in celiac disease by providing a magnified view of the intestinal mucosa. In this study, we evaluated the following: (1) the distribution of atrophy in untreated celiac disease, (2) the correlation between extent of changes and clinical manifestations, (3) the accuracy and interobserver agreement of wireless capsule endoscopy assessment, and (4) the effect of gluten withdrawal. Methods: Thirty-eight consecutive patients with untreated biopsy-proven celiac disease underwent wireless capsule endoscopy. Each subject was invited to undergo repeat testing after at least 6 months of gluten withdrawal. The video images of each patient were reviewed independently by 2 investigators. Results: Thirty-five (92%) subjects had visible atrophy detected by capsule endoscopy. Twenty-two (59%) subjects showed an extensive enteropathy, 12 (32%) had enteropathy limited to the duodenum, and only 1 had a jejunal enteropathy. No association was shown between the extent of the lesion and clinical manifestations. Capsule endoscopy had a better overall sensitivity for the detection of atrophy as compared with upper endoscopy (92% vs 55%, P = .0005), with a specificity of 100%. The overall interobserver agreement for the 2 reviewers was relatively high (% total agreement, 86.5%). After gluten withdrawal, the extent and the pattern of atrophy improved both qualitatively and quantitatively. Conclusions: Celiac disease affects a highly variable portion of the small intestine starting at the duodenum. The extent of visible enteropathy does not explain differences in clinical presentation. Most subjects with visually detected villous atrophy showed a clinically significant improvement after gluten withdrawal.
Steroid Inhibitory Effects upon Human Adrenal 3βHydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Activity

The inhibitory effects of varying concentrations of steroids upon 3β-hydroxysteroiddehydrogenase/Δ5-Δ4 isomerase (3β–HSD) kinetics were studied in human adrenal microsomes. Each enzyme assay was conducted in triplicate at five different concentrations of three substrates (dehydroepiandrosterone, pregnenolone, and 17OH-pregnenolone), using microsomes from at least three donors. Each steroid was screened for possible inhibition at concentrations of 10-−8 and 10−6M and thenstudied in more detail at five different concentrations. The type of inhibition and the inhibition constant (Ki) were determined by analysis of Lineweaver-Burk and Dixon plots,together with replots of the slopes from the Dixon plots. The mean Km (Michaelis-Menten constant)for the three substrates was 0.42 ± 0.04 (SE) μmol/liter (n = 73). Each steroidtested, including Δ5-3β-hydroxysteroids, estrogens, and several Δ4–3–ketosteroids, with the exception of cortisol, caused significant inhibition of 3β-HSD activity, and in each case the steroid...
Contralateral delay activity tracks the influence of Gestalt grouping principles on active visual working memory representations

Recent studies have demonstrated that factors influencing perception, such as Gestalt grouping cues, can influence the storage of information in visual working memory (VWM). In some cases, stationary cues, such as stimulus similarity, lead to superior VWM performance. However, the neural correlates underlying these benefits to VWM performance remain unclear. One neural index, the contralateral delay activity (CDA), is an event-related potential that shows increased amplitude according to the number of items held in VWM and asymptotes at an individual’s VWM capacity limit. Here, we applied the CDA to determine whether previously reported behavioral benefits supplied by similarity, proximity, and uniform connectedness were reflected as a neural savings such that the CDA amplitude was reduced when these cues were present. We implemented VWM change-detection tasks with arrays including similarity and proximity (Experiment 1); uniform connectedness (Experiments 2a and 2b); and similarity/proximity and uniform connectedness (Experiment 3). The results indicated that when there was a behavioral benefit to VWM, this was echoed by a reduction in CDA amplitude, which suggests more efficient processing. However, not all perceptual grouping cues provided a VWM benefit in the same measure (e.g., accuracy) or of the same magnitude. We also found unexpected interactions between cues. We observed a mixed bag of effects, suggesting that these powerful perceptual grouping benefits are not as predictable in VWM. The current findings indicate that when grouping cues produce behavioral benefits, there is a parallel reduction in the neural resources required to maintain grouped items within VWM.
High-Pressure Raman Study on the Decomposition of Polycrystalline Molybdenum Hexacarbonyl

High pressure Raman scattering on Mo(CO)6 up to 37.7 GPa at ambient temperatures are recorded inside the Diamond-Anvil-Cell (DAC). The Raman spectra of the molybdenum hexacarbonyl completely vanish at 23.3 GPa, signifying novel pressure induced decomposition. The decomposed Raman spectrum recovered at ambient conditions has the characteristic features of a highly dense polymer with δ(OCO) units possibly attached to metal centers, C=O functional group, and graphitic carbon; and also CO adsorbed to molybdenum metal centres. The so formed highly dense metal mediated polymer upon relaxation from high pressure conditions and upon exposure to 514.5 nm argon ion laser outside the DAC transforms to MoO3 in the presence of disordered carbon as characterized by the Raman modes.
Fisher'S Exact Test of Mutual Independence for 2 X 2 X 2 Cross-Classification Tables

A subroutine to calculate Fisher's exact test of mutual independence in 2 x 2 x 2 cross-classification tables is presented. The subroutine's speed is due to use of an arbitrary constant for the initial table and recursively defined values obtained for all remaining tables.
AN ASSESSMENT OF SPERM SURVIVAL IN DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER

Recently published evidence based on cytological staining indicates that sperm die rapidly after being stored in female Drosophila melanogaster. However, measuring sperm death in this way has a potential artifact: the death of sperm owing to the extraction, mounting, and staining of sperm. Here we use a protocol that bypasses all of these potential extraneous mortality factors to test the hypothesis that there is high mortality of stored sperm in D. melanogaster. Contrary to the findings from cytological staining, our data indicates that mortality of stored sperm is quite low.
Molding acrylic resin anterior teeth over processed core

Abstract This method of molding and staining acrylic resin anterior teeth allows us to reproduce effective likenesses of natural teeth in respect to color distribution and irregularities and enables us to develop the qualities of transmitted and reflected light, two characteristics so vitally important in attaining a lifelike appearance in fabricated teeth. Six anterior teeth are processed in a selected body shade of acrylic resin. Their incisal edges are then modified in a manner which is specific for each individual tooth. Then the palatal surfaces of the upper teeth and the lingual surfaces of the lower teeth are ground-down slightly and reconstructed with a light incisal acrylic resin powder by placing them in a mold under pressure in boiling water for five minutes. After this, the labial surfaces are ground-down and rebuilt in the same manner but with the addition of color variations and anomalies as are found in nature. The processing of the labial surfaces is interrupted after boiling for one minute for the addition of a check line and the stained outlines of simulated silicate restorations. The processing in boiling water in a tightly compressed mold is then continued for thirty minutes, after which the acrylic resin teeth are completed.
250-600 MHz 12b digital filters in 0.8-0.25 /spl mu/m bulk and SOI CMOS technologies

This paper describes a family of high-speed Finite Impulse Response (FIR) digital filters that have been scaled across three generations of CMOS processes. The processes include commercial varieties as well as experimental bulk and low power Silicon-On-Insulator (SOI) technologies. Wafer tests demonstrate the speed and power advantages of the experimental SOI technology when applied to a 24 k-device digital signal processing (DSP) function, by direct comparison with the same filter manufactured in conventional (bulk) CMOS. The filters presented here have 8 taps and operate on 6 b data with 6 b programmable coefficients and deliver 12 b fixed-point output values, but the layout design is modular so that the number of taps and bits can be changed easily. The filters operate with maximal speeds of 250-600 MHz depending on the fabrication technology, and are suitable for the equalization task in Partial Response magnetic recording channels.
Low LDL-C levels and cancer reassuring but still not definitive.

Atherosclerosis and its complications, coronary heart disease, stroke, and peripheral arterial disease, remain the leading cause of death and are increasing in incidence in the developing world ([1][1]). Treatment of dyslipidemia, particularly lowering of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C
Dialogic argumentation as a bridge to argumentative thinking and writing / La argumentación dialógica como puente para el pensamiento y la escritura argumentativa

AbstractArgumentation has been claimed to be ‘the more general human process of which more specific forms of reasoning are a part’. The educational context in which argument is most often practised and assessed is individual expository writing — a skill that teachers routinely report as their most challenging to teach and one in which students typically perform poorly. It becomes increasingly important with advancing grade and by the post-secondary level is crucial to academic success. We describe the dialogic method we have developed to foster young adolescents’ argument skills. Its essence is to engage students in rich and extended dialogues with one another on significant topics. We review evidence that the method, implemented in extended form over two or more years, produces positive outcomes in argumentative discourse, in individual writing and in meta-level understandings of argumentative discourse and evaluations of argument. In this study, we elaborate on these results and on the promise and chall...
Carbon Metabolism in the Rhizobium- Legume Symbiosis

Combined nitrogen is often the nutrient that limits plant growth. Legumes that establish a nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with rhizobia can gain a major competitive advantage, since they can then grow well on nitrogen-limited soils and can allocate more nitrogen to their seeds and tissues in the form of protein and nitrogen-containing feeding deterrents. The high protein content of legumes makes them important grain and forage crops that may become even more valuable through manipulation of the symbiosis. By allowing legumes to prosper without expensive and energy requiring inputs of nitrogen fertilizer, the symbiosis is also crucial to many ideas for sustainable agriculture.
A cohort analysis of employment status and homicide victimization in the United States

ABSTRACTThe purpose of the study was to examine the impact of employment status on homicide victimization among cohort members. Data were derived from the US National Longitudinal Mortality Study. Cox proportional hazards regression models were fitted to the data. Analysis showed that employment status was significantly associated with homicide. The unemployed were over 50% more likely to become homicide victims than the employed. Persons not in the labor force were 1.3 times more likely to be victimized than employed cohort members. Results also showed that race was significantly associated with homicide. Non-Hispanic Blacks were over 4.5 times as likely to die as whites. Hispanics were nearly 1.9 times as likely to be victims as Non-Hispanic whites. When the sample was stratified by race/ethnicity, unemployment was highly significant for both non-Hispanic white and non-Hispanic African American men. Employment status is a significant risk factor for homicide victimization.
G301(P) Medical intervention for children with medical complexity (micmac)

Aim To evaluate the effect of targeted consultant time in sharing mental models with parents and nursing staff for children with medical complexity (CMC). Background CMC are part of a mixed caseload covered by the acute paediatric team. We define them here as children with a length of stay ≥ 7 days with ≥ 2 system involvement. Feedback shows these children experience prolonged length of stays (LOS) with a need for coordination of care often between different teams. Parents have highlighted that that better communication with them, within teams and between different teams could improve their child’s journey. Methods All team members were briefed using written and verbal communication as were parents and children taking part. Patients were allocated a weekly slot over a four week period to meet with the MICMAC consultant and a member of the nursing team. Sharing of mental models was facilitated using a targeted proforma covering current expectations and barriers to discharge. The MICMAC consultant was briefed by the service team prior to the meeting and handed back afterwards. Qualitative feedback was obtained using structured debriefing interviews with ward managers and parents. Group debriefing sessions were carried out with the junior medical team and the consultant body covering key themes highlighted by the parental feedback. Results A total of 12 patients with an average LOS of 90 days (range 13–241) over 6 wards were included. 11 consultants led a total of 34 meetings. 3 children were discharged home and 2 patients had withdrawal of care. A total of 6 nursing manager interviews and 9 parental interviews and one substituted lead clinician interview were undertaken. Debriefing of the medical teams was undertaken in 2 group sessions. Positive feedback was centred around improved coordination of care, understanding of overall direction and sharing of information. Conclusions The CMC group is recognised as an expanding patient group. Key factors influencing their inpatient journey involve communication between caregivers and the responsible teams. We highlight how a simple targeted communication tool can improve quality of patient journey.
Adjoint and Truncation Error Based Adaptation for 1D Finite Volume Schemes

In addition to design, control, and optimization applications, adjoint methods can be used to provide discretization error estimation and solution adaptation for solution functionals. This paper seeks to demonstrate the link between adjoint based error estimation, truncation errors, residuals, and discretization errors. The generalized truncation error expression is extended from finite difference schemes to finite volume schemes and is used to provide truncation error estimates for both 1D Burgers’ equation and the quasi-1D form of the Euler equations. Comparisons between different types of adaptation indicators and error estimation techniques are made.
HIV-I replication requires an intact integrase reading frame.

Human immunodeficiency virus type I (HIV-I), is a human retrovirus that is the causative agent of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Retroviruses replicate through a DNA intermediate. After initial synthesis of unintegrated DNA the insertion of that DNA into the host cell genome is thought to be a required step in the retroviral life cycle [1].
The PVT properties of concentrated aqueous electrolytes. VIII. The volume changes for mixing the major sea salts at an ionic strength of 3.0 from 5 to 95°C

The densities of mixtures of the six possible combinations of the four major sea salts (NaCl, Na2SO4, MgCl2, and MgSO4) have been measured at a constant ionic strength of I=3.0 at the temperatures 5, 25, 55, and 95°C. The results have been used to determine ΔVm, the volume change for mixing the major sea salts, which were fitted to equations of the from $$\Delta V{\text{m = }}y2y3I^2 \left[ {v0 + v1\left( {1 - 2y{\text{3}}} \right)} \right]$$ where y1 is the molal ionic strength fraction of solute i, and vo and v1 are parameters related to the interaction of like-charge ions. The cross-square rule was verified at each of the temperatures of study, but the rule did not hold as well at the higher temperatures. The temperature dependence of the volume change for mixing ΔVm was examined for each of the six mixtures. It was found that the two mixtures NaCl−Na2SO4 and MgSO4−MgCl2 showed little or no variation of ΔVm with temperature, while the other mixtures showed considerable temperature dependence. These results indicate that the anion-anion interactions of Cl− and SO 4 2− do not vary with temperature, while the cation-cation interactions of Na+ and Mg2+ are temperature sensitive. Explanations for these results based on ion-water inter actions are presented.
Catheter-Based Therapy for Inoperable Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension

Interventional cardiologists have been innovators in treating all forms of vascular and valvular heart disease in the systemic circulation; however, the pulmonary circulation has not received the same degree of interest from our community. Recent advances in the diagnosis and management of pulmonary vascular diseases and multidisciplinary collaboration among pulmonologists, cardiologists, and surgeons have brought the interventional treatment of pulmonary vascular disease to the forefront. One area of particular interest is the interventional management of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) in inoperable patients. CTEPH is a form of pulmonary hypertension that is characterized by a mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) ≥25 mm Hg, a pulmonary artery occlusion pressure of <15 mm Hg, and the presence of partially or completely occlusive thrombi in the main, lobar, segmental, or subsegmental pulmonary arteries that are present after at least 3 months of effective anticoagulation.1 The incidence of CTEPH is estimated to be 1.6 to 7.9 cases per million, and ≈0.6% to 4.8% of individuals may develop CTEPH within 2 years of an acute pulmonary embolism.2,3 The true incidence of CTEPH is likely underestimated owing to the nonspecific nature of the associated symptoms. Patients typically present with exercise intolerance, fatigue, and exertional dyspnea and may also have chest discomfort, peripheral edema, light-headedness, or syncope.2,3 At present, surgical pulmonary endarterectomy is the only established and curative therapy for CTEPH; all patients with CTEPH should be evaluated at expert centers to determine candidacy for surgery. Surgery decreases mortality with an estimated survival at 1, 2, and 3 years of 93%, 91%, and 89% in operated patients compared with 88%, 79%, and 70% in nonoperated patients.4 Despite the survival advantage offered by surgery, recent findings from international registries have revealed that ≤37% of patients with CTEPH are deemed inoperable owing to …
cDPD: A new dissipative particle dynamics method for modeling electrokinetic phenomena at the mesoscale

We develop a “charged” dissipative particle dynamics (cDPD) model for simulating mesoscopic electrokinetic phenomena governed by the stochastic Poisson-Nernst-Planck and the Navier-Stokes equations. Specifically, the transport equations of ionic species are incorporated into the DPD framework by introducing extra degrees of freedom and corresponding evolution equations associated with each DPD particle. Diffusion of ionic species driven by the ionic concentration gradient, electrostatic potential gradient, and thermal fluctuations is captured accurately via pairwise fluxes between DPD particles. The electrostatic potential is obtained by solving the Poisson equation on the moving DPD particles iteratively at each time step. For charged surfaces in bounded systems, an effective boundary treatment methodology is developed for imposing both the correct hydrodynamic and electrokinetics boundary conditions in cDPD simulations. To validate the proposed cDPD model and the corresponding boundary conditions, we fi...
Software Usability and Productivity

Computers play an integral role in our lives. Computer systems perform a wide variety of tasks automatically that were once done manually. They have literally changed the way people do business, teach their children lessons, heal themselves, and keep themselves informed on a daily basis. Computers control monetary flow, speed the judicial process, decipher our past and shape our future.
Core Needle Biopsy and Fine Needle Aspiration Alone or in Combination: Diagnostic Accuracy and Impact on Management of Renal Masses

Purpose: Fine needle aspiration with and without concurrent core needle biopsy is a minimally invasive method to diagnose and assist in management of renal masses. We assessed the pathological accuracy of fine needle aspiration compared to and associated with core needle biopsy and the impact on management.Materials and Methods: We performed a single institution, retrospective study of 342 cases from 2001 to 2015 with small and large renal masses (4 or less and greater than 4 cm, respectively). Diagnostic and concordance rates, and the impact on management were analyzed.Results: Adequacy rates for fine needle aspiration only, core needle biopsy only and fine needle aspiration plus core needle biopsy were 21%, 12% and 8% (aspiration vs aspiration plus biopsy p <0.026). In the aspiration plus biopsy group adding aspiration to biopsy and biopsy to aspiration reduced the inadequacy rate from 23% to 8% and from 27% to 8% for a total reduction rate of 15% and 19%, respectively, corresponding to 32 cases (9.3%)....
FGF-2 Supplementation Enhances Hematopoietic Differentiation of Rhesus ESC’s.

Progress toward clinical application of embryonic stem cells (ESC) derived hematopoietic cellular transplantation will require rigorous evaluation in a large animal allogeneic model such as the rhesus macaque. However, in contrast to human ESC’s (hESC’s), efforts to induce conclusive hematopoietic differentiation from rhesus ESC’s (rESC’s) have been unsuccessful. Despite their close phylogenetic relationship, subtle differences exist between the hematopoietic differentiation of rESC’s and hESC’s. We recently reported that although rESC’s have the potential for hematopoietic differentiation; they exhibit an arrest at the hematoendothelial precursor stage of hematopoietic development in culture conditions developed for hESC’s. One possible difference may be in the requirement for fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signaling. Despite documentation of its contribution to the maintenance ESC’s in an undifferentiated state, the role for FGF-2 in the hematopoietic differentiation of hESC’s and rESC’s has not been similarly examined. Given its critical role for the formation and subsequent hematopoietic differentiation of murine ESC-derived hemangioblasts, we wondered if enhanced hematopoietic differentiation from rESC’s could be achieved by culture supplementation with FGF-2. To answer this question, undifferentiated rESC’s were subjected to embryoid body (EB) differentiation with daily FGF-2 supplementation of the cytokine-rich media. Cultures were analyzed by flow cytometry after 16 days of EB culture. We found that the FGF-2 supplemented cultures appeared more robust with an overall higher numbers of cells. More importantly, a dramatic expansion of hematoendothelial precursors (Flk1hi+ VE-cadherin- CD45−), committed hematopoietic progenitors (CD34+CD45+Lin−), and hematopoietic cells (CD45+) was seen in FGF-2 supplemented cultures when compared to controls. These effects were consistent in two separate lines of rESC’s (R420 and R456). Next we wondered if the observed effect of FGF-2 on hematopoietic development was concentration-dependent. Therefore, we compared serial increases in FGF-2 concentration (0, 10, 50 and 100 ng/ml) of the EB differentiation media and found the effect to be concentration-dependent. From these results, we conclude that FGF-2 appears to play a critical role in the hematopoietic differentiation of rESC’s. Both the development of hematoendothelial precursors and the differentiation of committed hematopoietic cell types are augmented. To study this further, the significance of FGF signaling at various stages of rESC-derived hematopoietic differentiation must be evaluated. A better understanding of the requirements for FGF-2 in EB development will likely lead to improved protocols for the production of human and rhesus ESC-derived hematopoietic progenitors.
Abstract PR02: Small molecules that specifically inhibit the D-loop activity of RAD51

RAD51 plays a central role in homologous recombination (HR), which maintains genome integrity. RAD51 is commonly overexpressed in cancer cells relative to normal tissue and is considered a therapeutic target in oncology. One potential challenge for targeting RAD51 pharmacologically is that it mediates functions in both double-strand DNA break (DSB) repair and stabilization of stalled replication forks. In order to distinguish compound-mediated effects on these RAD51 functions, we developed a novel class of RAD51 inhibitors. In contrast to many previously reported RAD51 inhibitors, we sought to develop compounds that do not inhibit RAD519s ability to bind single-stranded DNA (ssDNA). Instead, these compounds prevent RAD51-ssDNA nucleoprotein filaments from invading into homologous double-stranded DNA templates and forming D-loops. Our initial lead compound RI(dl)-1 (an abbreviation for RAD51 inhibitor of D-loop formation #1) is capable of blocking RAD51-mediated D-loop formation in biochemical assays, using concentrations that do not prevent RAD51 binding to ssDNA. An analog of this compound, termed RI(dl)-2, provides even better inhibition of RAD519s D-loop activity in biochemical systems (IC50 15.8 µM). RI(dl)-2 reduces HR activity in cells in dose ranges that do not stimulate single strand annealing (SSA) activity, which distinguishes it more generalized RAD51 inhibitors. RI(dl)-2 also sensitizes several cancer cell lines to radiation-induced death. We now present the results of more extensive structure activity relationship (SAR) optimizations aimed at further improving the potency and selectivity of this class of compounds. Several of these compounds are capable of delaying the timely resolution of radiation-induced RAD51 foci, even though initial RAD51 foci are apparently normal at earlier time points. Similar focus kinetics are observed for gamma-H2AX in identically treated cells, supporting the interpretation that these compounds permit RAD51 assembly at DSBs but prevent the completion of DSB repair. Unlike RI(dl)-2, some these newer compounds sensitize cancer cells to mitomycin C. These specialized RAD51 inhibitory compounds are attractive candidates for potential use as radiation or chemotherapy sensitizers, since they may exert fewer toxic risks compared to more generalized inhibitors of the HR repair machinery. They may also serve to help distinguish the functions of RAD51 DSB repair and replication stress tolerance, which may enable better understanding of RAD519s roles in maintaining genome stability. This abstract is also being presented as Poster A02. Citation Format: Brian Budke, Wei Lv, Werner Tueckmantel, Alan Kozikowski, Philip Connell. Small molecules that specifically inhibit the D-loop activity of RAD51 [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on DNA Repair: Tumor Development and Therapeutic Response; 2016 Nov 2-5; Montreal, QC, Canada. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Res 2017;15(4_Suppl):Abstract nr PR02.
Enabling intent to configure scientific networks for high performance demands

Abstract Globally distributed scientific experiments involve movement of massive data volumes and many collaborators performing distributed data analysis. With complex workloads and heterogeneous resources, each user may desire certain behavior characteristics for their network paths. In this paper, we present the iNDIRA tool, which interacts with SDN north-bound interfaces to enable intent-based networking. It provides reliable, simple, and technology-agnostic communication between users and networks. Focusing particularly on science applications, iNDIRA uses natural language processing to construct semantic RDF graphs to understand, interact, and create the required network services. The technical challenges addressed by iNDIRA are: (1) development of a high-level descriptive language to query network-application requirements, (2) provides keyword identification and condition checking based on user profiles and topology details, (3) allows user negotiation based on the current network state, and (4) integrates network provisioning and service tools used by the application. iNDIRA is implemented on the ESnet network, where it interacts with OpenNSA (aka the NSI client) and Globus data transfer tools, to build complex cross-domain network paths for heterogeneous science applications, and perform secure data transfer. We argue that iNDIRA’s approach presents users with an alternative approach to interact and communicate their network demands, allowing seamless network service integration.
The influence of chemotherapy on survival in acute leukemia. 3. A comparison of patients treated during 1958-1964 with those treated in two sequentially preceding periods.

Abstract Three-hundred and ninety-nine patients with acute leukemia examined during the period 1947-1964 were divided into three sequential series and their survival, from diagnosis to death, was compared. A statistically significant increase in duration of survival for myeloblastic leukemia from a median of 2 to 5 months occurred between series I and series III. This is the first convincing evidence that 6-mercaptopurine therapy influences survival in myeloblastic leukemia. A steady increase in median survival of patients with lymphoblastic leukemia from 4 to 8 to 12 months was found in the three series. The results of analysis of these series are compared to other reported series. The hypothesis —that the longer survivals reported for patients treated in hematology clinics compared to that of patients selected from population areas reflects patient selection—was examined and appeared unlikely.
Frequency and Risk Factors for Live Discharge from Hospice

Objectives To report frequencies and associated risk factors for 4 distinct causes of live discharge from hospice. Design Retrospective cohort study using electronic medical records of hospice patients who received care from a large urban not-for-profit hospice agency in New York City during a 3-year period between 2013 and 2015 (n = 9,190). Results Roughly one in five hospice patients were discharged alive (21%; n = 1911). Acute hospitalization was the most frequent reason for live discharge (42% of all live discharges; n = 802). Additional reasons included elective revocation to resume disease-directed treatments (18%; n = 343), disqualification (14%; n = 271), and service transfers or moves (26%; n = 495). Multinomial logistic regression analyses revealed that risk for acute hospitalization was higher among younger patients (age AOR = 0.98 [95% CI = 0.98–0.99] P < .01), racial/ethnic minorities (Hispanic AOR = 2.23 [CI = 1.82–2.73] P < .001; African American OR = 2.46 [CI = 2.00–3.03] P < .001; Asian/other OR = 1.63 [CI = 1.25–2.11] P < .001), and patients without advance directives (AOR = 1.41 [95% CI = 0.98–0.99] P < .001). Disqualification occurred much more frequently among patients with non-cancer diagnoses, including dementia (AOR = 13.14 [95% CI = 7.96–21.61] P < .001) and pulmonary disease (AOR = 11.68 [95% CI = 6.58–20.74] P < .001). Transfers and service moves were more common among Hispanics (AOR = 1.56 [95% CI = 1.45–2.34] P < .001), African Americans (AOR = 1.35 [95% CI = 1.03–1.79] P < .05), patients without a primary caregiver (AOR = 1.35 [95% CI = 1.09–1.67] P < .001), and those without advance directives (AOR = 1.30 [95% CI = 1.07–1.58] P < .01). Conclusion Further research into factors that underlie live discharge events, especially acute hospitalization, is warranted given their cost and burden for patients/families. Hospices should develop strategies to address acute medical crises and thoroughly evaluate patients’ suitability, unmet needs, and knowledge about end-of-life issues at the time of hospice enrollment, especially for those with non-cancer diagnoses.