cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Decaying woodrat (Neotoma spp.) middens increase soil resources and accelerate decomposition of contemporary litter

Abstract Ecosystem engineers can have broad-reaching impacts when they alter biogeochemical pools and processes, thus affecting resource availability. In the Chihuahuan Desert, woodrats (Neotoma spp.) build stick nests on the soil surface within Yucca baccata patches. We assessed the impacts of these middens on the underlying soil pools. We also assessed midden impacts on litter decomposition because decomposition exerts control over soil biogeochemical pools. We specifically focused on midden activity state, selecting Yucca patches with no midden, an active midden, or a decayed midden. Soil were analyzed for organic carbon, total nitrogen, and available nitrogen. To probe a mechanistic driver of soil biogeochemical pools, we measured litter mass loss of mesquite leaflets (Proposis glandulosa) and poplar wood (Populus spp.). Soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, available nitrogen and litter decay were all enhanced in decayed midden patches. These results support observations from other species in which the environmental modifications caused by ecosystem engineers persist beyond the life of the engineer. However, in this case the impacts of ecosystem engineers on biogeochemical pools and processes were greater for engineered structures that were not being maintained than for actively maintained structures. Woodrats have long-term impacts on spatial distribution of soil resources through their persistent middens.
T1ρ, T2 mapping, and EPIC‐µCT Imaging in a Canine Model of Knee Osteochondral Injury

The dog is the most commonly used large animal model for the study of osteoarthritis. Optimizing methods for assessing cartilage health would prove useful in reducing the number of dogs needed for a valid study of osteoarthritis and cartilage repair. Twelve beagles had critical-sized osteochondral defects created in the medial femoral condyle of both knees. Eight dogs had T1ρ and T2 magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) performed approximately 6 months after defect creation. Following MRI evaluations, all 12 dogs were humanely euthanatized and cartilage samples were obtained from the medial and lateral femoral condyles, medial and lateral tibial plateaus, trochlear groove, and patella for proteoglycan and collagen quantification. Equilibrium partitioning of an ionic contrast (EPIC)-µCT was then performed followed by the histologic assessment of the knees. Correlations between T1ρ, T2, EPIC-µCT and proteoglycan, collagen, and histology scores were assessed using a multivariate analysis accounting for correlations from samples within the same knee and in the same dog. Pearson's correlation coefficients were calculated to assess the strength of significant relationships. Correlations between µCT values and biochemical or histologic assessment were weak to moderately strong (0.09-0.41; p < 0.0001-0.66). There was a weak correlation between the T2 values and cartilage proteoglycan (-0.32; p = 0.04). The correlation between T1ρ values and cartilage proteoglycan were moderately strong (-0.38; p < 0.05) while the strongest correlation was between the T1ρ values and histological assessment of cartilage with a correlation coefficient of 0.58 (p < 0.0001). These data suggest that T1ρ shows promise for possible utility in the translational study of cartilage health and warrants further development in this species. © 2019 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 38:368-377, 2020.
Identifying and addressing gaps in the implementation of a community care team for care of Patients with multiple chronic conditions.

Patients with multiple chronic conditions represent a growing segment for healthcare. The Chronic Care Model (CCM) supports leveraging community programs to support patients and their caregivers overwhelmed by their treatment plans, but this component has lagged behind the adoption of other model elements. Community Care Teams (CCTs) leverage partnerships between healthcare delivery systems and existing community programs to address this deficiency. There remains a gap in moving CCTs from pilot phase to sustainable full-scale programs. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to identify the cognitive and structural needs of clinicians, social workers, and nurse care coordinators to effectively refer appropriate patients to the CCT and the value these stakeholders derived from referring to and receiving feedback from the CCT. We then sought to translate this knowledge into an implementation toolkit to bridge implementation gaps. Our research process was guided by the Assess, Innovate, Develop, Engage, and Devolve (AIDED) implementation science framework. During the Assess process we conducted chart reviews, interviews, and observations and in Innovate and Develop phases, we worked with stakeholders to develop an implementation toolkit. The Engage and Devolve phases disseminate the toolkit through social networks of clinical champions and are ongoing. We completed 14 chart reviews, 11 interviews, and 2 observations. From these, facilitators and barriers to CCT referrals and patient re-integration into primary care were identified. These insights informed the development of a toolkit with seven components to address implementation gaps identified by the researchers and stakeholders. We identified implementation gaps to sustaining the CCT program, a community-healthcare partnership, and used this information to build an implementation toolkit. We established liaisons with clinical champions to diffuse this information. The AIDED Model, not previously used in high-income countries’ primary care settings, proved adaptable and useful.
Simulation scaling studies of reactor core two-phase flow using direct numerical simulation

Abstract Tremendous growth in supercomputing power in recent years has resulted in the emergence of high-resolution flow analysis methods as an advanced research tool to evaluate single and two-phase flow behavior. In particular, unstructured mesh-based methods have been applied to analyze flows in complex reactor core geometries, including those of light water reactors (LWR). The finite-element based code, PHASTA, is utilized to perform large-scale simulations of two-phase bubbly flows in LWR geometries. Given the large computational cost of direct numerical simulation (DNS) coupled with interface tracking methods (ITM), typical domains encompass a portion of a single subchannel. In the presented research, the state-of-the-art analysis of turbulent two-phase flows in complex LWR subchannel geometries are demonstrated at both prototypical reactor parameters as well as scaled low pressure conditions. Three different cases are studied, a high-pressure simulation in prototypical reactor subchannel geometry, a low-pressure case in prototypical geometry and a final low-pressure case in a geometry scaled up to conserve the ratio between the bubble size and the domain pitch. Utilizing advanced statistical processing tools, these simulation conditions are compared to shed light on the relevancy of two-phase flow characteristics given the significant differences between LWR and low-pressure conditions. These findings can lead to the generation of useful guiding principles when researchers need to scale the two-phase flow behavior captured at low pressure and temperature conditions to those at reactor operating conditions.
Aspects of Biodegradable Vascular Prostheses

The clinical efficacy of vascular prostheses depends largely on the histologic and functional characteristics of its induced tissue reactions. Various woven and knitted absorbable and partially absorbable compound polymeric prostheses were implanted into rabbit aortas to evaluate the effect of the prostheses on the regenerative and functional capabilities of repopulating endothelial and smooth muscle-like cells. Specimens harvested to one year were evaluated grossly and by light and scanning and transmission electron microscopy, compliance studies, and 6-keto prostaglandin F 1 α (PGF 1 α ) assays. Results suggest that certain polymers may activate macrophages to induce a transinterstitial migration and proliferation of primitive mesenchymal cells which differentiate into cells with ultrastructural and functional characteristics of smooth muscle-like myofibroblasts and endothelial-like cells. Dacron® appears to inhibit these regenerative activities actively. Following total prosthetic reabsorption, conduits regenerated over polyglactin 910 or polydioxanone prostheses produced 6-keto PGF 1 α and demonstrated strengths and compliances resembling normal aortic tissue. Clarification of factors controlling arterial regeneration should provide insights into the development of nonefficacious vascular prostheses and into the process of artherogenesis and myointimal hyperplasia.
The Militarization of the Police? Ideology versus Reality: by George C. Klein, 2019, San Diego, CA, Cognella Academic Publishing, 308 pp., $78.95 (paperback); $59.95 (ebook). ISBN: 978-1-5165-3440-1

The Militarization of the Police? Ideology Versus Reality addresses police militarization in the United States at the national level, while also describing relevant case studies of the police respo...
A system for risk stratification and prioritization of breast cancer surgeries delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic: preparing for re-entry.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, most breast surgery for benign and malignant conditions has been postponed, creating a backlog of patients who will need surgery. A fair and transparent system for assessing the risk of further delaying surgery for individual patients to prioritize surgical scheduling is needed. Factors related to risk of delaying surgery for breast patients were identified. Scores were assigned to each factor, with higher scores indicating a greater risk from delaying surgery. REDCap and Microsoft Excel tools were designed to track and score delayed patients. Published data and multidisciplinary clinical judgement were used to assign risk scores based on patient and tumor factors, length of delay, and tumor response to preoperative therapy. Patients completing neoadjuvant chemotherapy were assigned the highest scores as their options for delaying surgery are most limited. Among patients receiving neoadjuvant endocrine therapy or no medical therapy, higher scores were assigned for low-estrogen receptor or high-genomic risk scores, higher grade, larger tumors, younger age and longer delay. High priority scores were assigned for progression during preoperative therapy. Low scores were assigned for re-excisions, atypical lesions and other benign indications. There was good agreement of the tool’s ranking of sample patients with rankings by experienced clinicians. The tool generates risk-stratified patient lists by surgeon or institution to facilitate assignment of surgery dates. This tool generates a clinically consistent, risk-stratified priority list of breast surgical procedures delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. This systematic approach may facilitate surgical scheduling as conditions normalize.
To seal or not to seal: The closure dynamics of a splash curtain

Splashes are ubiquitous in nature and engineering, and they govern processes from diving to ocean oxygenation. Yet, to date, it is not understood when or why a splash sometimes seals and sometimes does not. Supported by theory and experimental observations, a detailed analysis is presented, and a critical dimensionless number that predicts the occurrence of a surface seal is uncovered.
Late perilymphatic fistula with pneumolabyrinthitis in a patient with previous stapedotomy and obstructive sleep apnea: A case report

Abstract Background Concerns with barotrauma after otologic surgery are well-established, but rarely is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) considered despite evidenced impacts on middle ear pressure. With increasing CPAP use, it is vital to investigate CPAP's role in middle ear physiology and otologic barotrauma. Case presentation A 47-year-old male presented with sudden complete right hearing loss. He had a history of bilateral otosclerosis treated with bilateral stapedotomies years prior. His right ear required revision complicated by otitis media and bacterial labyrinthitis. His hearing had been stable for years prior to the sudden loss. Initial treatment was antibiotics and nasal steroids for presumed otitis media. Medical history confirmed OSA treated with CPAP. Otoscopy demonstrated intact ear drums without middle ear fluid. No nystagmus was observed. An audiogram demonstrated worsened right mixed hearing loss. Oral corticosteroids were prescribed, and a temporal bone computed tomographic (CT) scan was ordered. The patient's hearing did not improve, and the CT scan demonstrated a well-positioned stapes prosthesis and air in the vestibule consistent with pneumolabyrinth. The patient was offered hearing aids, exploratory middle ear surgery, or cochlear implantation. He elected for cochlear implantation. CPAP was suspended postoperatively. After activation, his hearing improved dramatically. Six-month postoperative CT scan demonstrated no pneumolabyrinth. Conclusions Postoperative CPAP utilization confers increased risk of barotrauma and warrants prolonged vigilance for complications in patients undergoing stapedotomy. Otologists should consider CPAP's role in sudden hearing loss after otologic surgery. Further investigation into the physiology of CPAP and pneumolabyrinth is warranted.
Cancer drug discovery as a low rank tensor completion problem

Abstract The heterogeneity of cancer necessitates developing a multitude of targeted therapies. We propose the view that cancer drug discovery is a low rank tensor completion problem. We implement this vision by using heterogeneous public data to construct a tensor of drug-target-disease associations. We show the validity of this approach computationally by simulations, and experimentally by testing drug candidates. Specifically, we show that a novel drug candidate, SU11652, controls melanoma tumor growth, including BRAFWT melanoma. Independently, we show that another molecule, TC-E 5008, controls tumor proliferation on ex vivo ER+ human breast cancer. Most importantly, we identify these chemicals with only a few computationally selected experiments as opposed to brute-force screens. The efficiency of our approach enables use of ex vivo human tumor assays as a primary screening tool. We provide a web server, the Cancer Vulnerability Explorer (accessible at https://cavu.biohpc.swmed.edu), to facilitate the use of our methodology.
Measuring in-service teacher self-efficacy for teaching computational thinking: development and validation of the T-STEM CT

Despite a growing recognition that K-12 teachers should be prepared to teach students computational thinking (CT) skills across disciplines, there is a lack of valid instrumentation that measures teachers’ efficacy beliefs to do so. This study addresses this problem by developing and validating an instrument that measures in-service teachers’ self-efficacy beliefs for teaching CT. In parallel, we conducted a regression analysis to predict teachers’ self-efficacy and outcome expectancy beliefs for teaching CT based on demographic traits of the respondents. We surveyed a total of 330 K-12 in-service teachers. A combination of classical test theory and item response theory Rasch was used to validate the instrument. Our results yielded a valid and reliable tool measuring teaching efficacy beliefs for CT. Based on the differential item functioning analysis, the instrument did not reflect bias with gender, race, or teaching experience. Additionally, a regression analysis did not reveal significant predictors using teachers’ demographic characteristics. This suggests a need for looking at other factors that may significantly predict K-12 teachers’ teaching efficacy beliefs for CT to inform theory and practice around successful CT teaching and learning. Furthermore, we provide implications for the instrument we have developed.
Viral pores are everywhere.

Jones et al. (2021) and Zhang et al. (2021) reveal by cryo-EM the oligomeric crown-like structure formed by a membrane-associated Chikungunya virus replication protein that gates the export of newly synthesized viral RNA from viral replication organelles.
Osteochondritis Dissecans: Current Understanding of Epidemiology, Etiology, Management, and Outcomes.

➤ Osteochondritis dissecans occurs most frequently in the active pediatric and young adult populations, commonly affecting the knee, elbow, or ankle, and may lead to premature osteoarthritis. ➤ While generally considered an idiopathic phenomenon, various etiopathogenetic theories are being investigated, including local ischemia, aberrant endochondral ossification of the secondary subarticular physis, repetitive microtrauma, and genetic predisposition. ➤ Diagnosis is based on the history, physical examination, radiography, and advanced imaging, with elbow ultrasonography and novel magnetic resonance imaging protocols potentially enabling early detection and in-depth staging. ➤ Treatment largely depends on skeletal maturity and lesion stability, defined by the presence or absence of articular cartilage fracture and subchondral bone separation, as determined by imaging and arthroscopy, and is typically nonoperative for stable lesions in skeletally immature patients and operative for those who have had failure of conservative management or have unstable lesions. ➤ Clinical practice guidelines have been limited by a paucity of high-level evidence, but a multicenter effort is ongoing to develop accurate and reliable classification systems and multimodal decision-making algorithms with prognostic value.
Neurologic Manifestations and Complications of COVID-19.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has created a global pandemic. Beyond the well-described respiratory manifestations, SARS-CoV-2 may cause a variety of neurologic complications, including headaches, alteration in taste and smell, encephalopathy, cerebrovascular disease, myopathy, psychiatric diseases, and ocular disorders. Herein we describe SARS-CoV-2's mechanism of neuroinvasion and the epidemiology, outcomes, and treatments for neurologic manifestations of COVID-19. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Medicine, Volume 73 is January 2022. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.
Polarization switching in Hf0.5Zr0.5O2-dielectric stack: The role of dielectric layer thickness

Understanding the role of the dielectric (DE) layer in ferroelectric (FE) Hf0.5Zr0.5O2 (HZO) based devices (e.g., ferroelectric-field-effect-transistors, FE-FETs) is important to enable their application-driven optimizations. To that end, in this work, we systematically investigate the polarization switching mechanisms in FE–DE stacks and analyze their dependence on the dielectric layer thickness (TDE). First, we fabricate a HZO–Al2O3 (FE–DE) stack and experimentally demonstrate a decrease in remanent polarization and an increase in coercive voltage with an increase in TDE. As such dependencies are out of the scope of commonly used single domain polarization switching models, therefore, we argue that the consideration of the multi-domain model is essential for analyzing the polarization switching in HZO. Then, using phase-field simulations of the FE–DE stack, we show that an increase in TDE results in a larger number of reverse domains in the FE layer to suppress the depolarization field, which leads to a decrease in the remanent polarization and an increase in the coercive voltage. Furthermore, our analysis signifies that the polarization switching mechanism in HZO can be modulated from domain-nucleation based to domain-wall motion based by increasing the TDE and that can serve as a potential knob for application-specific optimization of FE-FETs. In addition, we show that the effective polarization–voltage characteristics of the FE layer in the FE–DE stack exhibit a negative slope region that leads to the charge enhancement effects in the FE–DE stack. While such effects are most commonly misinterpreted as either the transient effects or the stabilized single-domain negative capacitance effects, we demonstrate that the appearance of a negative slope in the hysteretic polarization–voltage characteristics is quasi-static in nature and that originates from the multi-domain polarization switching in the FE.
Generalized discriminative feature transformation for speech recognition.

We propose a new algorithm called Generalized Discriminative Feature Transformation (GDFT) for acoustic models in speech recognition. GDFT is based on Lagrange relaxation on a transformed optimization problem. We show that the existing discriminative feature transformation methods like feature space MMI/MPE (fMMI/MPE), region dependent linear transformation (RDLT), and a non-discriminative feature transformation, constrained maximum likelihood linear regression (CMLLR) are special cases of GDFT. We evaluate the performance of GDFT for Iraqi large vocabulary continuous speech recognition.
Standard Gibbs Free Energy, Enthalpy, and Entropy Changes as a Function of pH and pMg for Several Reactions Involving Adenosine Phosphates

Abstract The standard Gibbs free energy change ΔG0obs, number (nh) of moles of H+ produced, number (nmg) of moles of Mg2+ produced, standard enthalpy change ΔH0obs, and standard entropy change ΔS0obs have been calculated as functions of pH and pMg for the following phosphohydrolyase and phosphotransferase reactions at 25° and 0.2 ionic strength: ATP + H2O = ADP + Pi (1) ATP + AMP = 2ADP (2) ATP + H2O = AMP + PPi (3) ADP + H2O = AMP + Pi (4) ATP + 2H2O = AMP + 2Pi (5) PPi + H2O = 2Pi (6) The values of these thermodynamic quantities are presented by means of contour diagrams for the range pH 4 to 10 and pMg 1 to 7. These diagrams make the general features of the pH and pMg dependences readily discernible and summarize the results of some 2500 calculations per diagram. There are significant changes in the heat evolved by these reactions over this range of the independent variables. Equations are derived which make it possible to calculate the standard entropy of reaction ΔS0obs from the entropy change of the reaction written in terms of particular ionic species, entropy changes of the various acid and metal ion dissociation reactions, the entropies of mixing of the various forms of each reactant and product, and the entropies of dilution of H+ and Mg2+. The relative contributions of enthalpy and entropy to the equilibrium constants of these reactions may be accessed from the diagrams as a function of pH and pMg.
What is so bad about reverse epidemiology anyway

The term "reverse epidemiology" is used to indicate that such surrogates of cardiovascular risk and metabolic syndrome as obesity, hypercholesterolemia and hypertension are paradoxically associated with greater survival in individuals with chronic disease states and wasting, including dialysis patients, in whom the short-term survival is the issue at hand. It is being debated whether the crossing curves of the obesity-mortality association in dialysis patients vs. the general population reflect the residual confounding that needs to be controlled away statistically, or whether they have biological plausibility in sharp contradistinction to the currently dominating Framingham paradigm. In the rush to define the crossing curves as statistical artifact and to dismiss the term "reverse epidemiology" as a misnomer, we may miss the opportunity to gain information housed in those crossing lines and may miss the bigger picture, i.e., how to improve longevity in dialysis patients. Even though some of the survival paradoxes in dialysis patients appear to fulfill the Hill's criteria of causation, there are still two major drawbacks: (1) convincing pathophysiologic pathways to link dialysis patient survival to obesity, fat accumulation, higher serum lipoprotein levels or slightly higher than normal blood pressure values are yet to be verified in animal and other scientifically sound models; and (2) randomized controlled trials need to show that nutritional interventions resulting in weight gain can lead to greater survival in dialysis patients. Studying the survival paradoxes may lead to a paradigm shift by establishing targets beyond the Framingham guidelines for populations with chronic disease states.
Parametrically Sufficient Optimality Conditions for Multiobjective Fractional Subset Programming Relating to Generalized $(\eta, \rho, \theta)$-Invexity of Higher Order

Inspired by the recent investigations, a general framework for a class of $(\eta, \rho,\theta)$-invex $n$-set functions of higher order $r\geq 1$ is introduced, and then some optimality conditions for multiobjective fractional programming on the generalized $(\eta,\rho,\theta)$-invexity are established. The obtained results are general in nature and unify various results on fractional subset programming in the literature.
Effect of Canard Interactions on Aerodynamic Performance of a Fin-Stabilized Projectile

This study was undertaken to better understand the impact of the canard trailing vortex flow interactions on the aerodynamic design and flight performance of short length-to-diameter, fin-stabilized munitions. Advanced computational aerodynamic and parameter sensitivity analysis techniques were applied. Results indicated that airframe designs that did not consider canard trailing vortex interactions on tail fins suffered from drastically underpredicted stability. Analyses were performed with the canard trailing-edge vortex–tail-fin interactions included to design a new airframe, and the suitability of this design was verified. The aerodynamics of the resulting configuration, as determined from advanced computational techniques, compared within 25% of the predictions (stability underpredicted) using scaled aerodynamic coefficients, suggesting that inclusion of scaled interference effects is a reasonable assumption during the design process.
Glycosyltransferase activities in normal and polyoma-transformed BHK cells.

Normal (BHK 21-C13) and polyoma-transformed (BHK 21-C13/PyH3) baby hamster kidney fibroblasts were assayed for several glycosyltransferases involved in the synthesis of glycoproteins and gangliosides. Glycosyltransferase activities in the polyoma-transformed cells were generally reduced to between 36 and 87% of those of normal cells; however, the activity of the sialyltransferase catalyzing the formation of hematoside (N-acetylneuraminylgalactosylglucosylceramide) from lactosylceramide and cytidine monophospho-N-acetylneuraminic acid (CMP-NAN) was reduced to about 15%. Activity of this sialyltransferase from normal cells was considerably enhanced by the addition of phosphatidyl-glycerol or cardiolipin to the incubation medium, whereas these lipids showed little or no effect on the sialyltransferase from transformed cells.
Replication fork inhibition in seqA mutants of Escherichia coli triggers replication fork breakage

SeqA protein negatively regulates replication initiation in Escherichia coli and is also proposed to organize maturation and segregation of the newly replicated DNA. The seqA mutants suffer from chromosomal fragmentation; since this fragmentation is attributed to defective segregation or nucleoid compaction, two-ended breaks are expected. Instead, we show that, in SeqA's absence, chromosomes mostly suffer one-ended DNA breaks, indicating disintegration of replication forks. We further show that replication forks are unexpectedly slow in seqA mutants. Quantitative kinetics of origin and terminus replication from aligned chromosomes not only confirm origin overinitiation in seqA mutants, but also reveal terminus under-replication, indicating inhibition of replication forks. Pre-/post-labelling studies of the chromosomal fragmentation in seqA mutants suggest events involving single forks, rather than pairs of forks from consecutive rounds rear-ending into each other. We suggest that, in the absence of SeqA, the sister-chromatid cohesion 'safety spacer' is destabilized and completely disappears if the replication fork is inhibited, leading to the segregation fork running into the inhibited replication fork and snapping the latter at single-stranded DNA regions.
Quantum symmetric ^{} derivatives

For 1 < p < ∞, a one-parameter family of symmetric quantum derivatives is defined for each order of differentiation as are two families of Riemann symmetric quantum derivatives. For 1 < p < ∞, symmetrization holds, that is, whenever the L P kth Peano derivative exists at a point, all of these derivatives of order k also exist at that point. The main result, desymmetrization, is that conversely, for 1 < p < ∞, each L p symmetric quantum derivative is a.e. equivalent to the L p Peano derivative of the same order. For k = 1 and 2, each kth L p symmetric quantum derivative coincides with both corresponding kth L p Riemann symmetric quantum derivatives, so, in particular, for k = 1 and 2, both kth L p Riemann symmetric quantum derivatives are a.e. equivalent to the L p Peano derivative.
Surgical Embolectomy for Acute Massive and Submassive Pulmonary Embolism in a Series of 115 Patients

Background Pulmonary embolectomy is often indicated for central pulmonary embolism (PE) with hemodynamic instability, but remains controversial for hemodynamically stable patients with signs of right ventricular dysfunction. Because thrombolytic therapy is often contraindicated postoperatively, we reviewed risk factors and outcomes of pulmonary embolectomy for stable and unstable central PE, particularly in the early postoperative period. Methods Between October 1999 and September 2013, 115 patients underwent pulmonary embolectomy for central, hemodynamically unstable PE (49 of 115, 43%) or hemodynamically stable PE (56 of 115, 49%). Ten operations for alternate indications (right atrial mass, endocarditis) were excluded for comparison analysis, leaving 105 patients. Results Mean age was 59 ± 13 years; 46 of 105 patients (44%) had recent surgery (within 5 weeks): orthopedic (12 of 46, 25%), neurosurgery (11 of 46, 24%), or general surgery (10 of 46, 22%). Preoperative demographics did not differ between groups, except for the frequency of cardiopulmonary resuscitation among unstable patients (11 of 49, 22%) versus stable patients (0 of 56, 0%; p Conclusions This large series of pulmonary embolectomies demonstrates excellent early and late survival rates for patients with stable PE and unstable PE. These findings confirm pulmonary embolectomy as a beneficial therapeutic option for central PE, especially during the postoperative period when thrombolytic therapy is often contraindicated.
Constellations for High Elevation Angles

Millimeter wave satellite communication will require high ground elevation angle over large areas. Four orbital constellations which can supply this need are discussed. Elevation angle probability density functions are generated and shown for each of the three constellations. The first is a combination of two antipodal geostationary and three phased Molniya satellites. The 72 satellite Motorola M-Star LEO system is then shown, and orbital stability is compared to the TOPEX/Poseidon. A 48 satellite elliptic LEO system is described and its expected orbital lifetime is discussed. Finally, a Teledesic-Boeing constellation is briefly discussed. The Appendix shows orbital lifetime as a function of altitude of perigee and eccentricity.
Broadbanding of concentric planar ring arrays by space tapering

The paper discusses the application of concentric ring arrays as a new approach to space tapering for planar arrays. It describes the design of an array of non-uniformly spaced concentric rings of non-uniform density containing discrete elements. The array can be operated over a large frequency range and wide scan-angles. The ring array was designed to simulate the performance of a Taylor-weighted circular aperture. An array having a diameter of 34 wavelengths was designed with ten concentric rings containing a total of 759 elements and a thinning factor of 0.21. This array has a side-lobe level of −20 dB or better over a range of sin θ up to 2.5 at mid-band. Taking a dielectric filled square-guide as the radiating element, the mutual coupling was calculated. The element spacing is 0.498 λmid for the innermost and 1028 λmid for the outermost ring. The mutual coupling does not produce any appreciable deleterious effect on the array-factor. For the scan angle of θ0 = 60° and ϕ0 = 0°, the array has a side-lobe level better than −20 dB for a frequency range of 0.75 λmid to 1.25 λmid.
A sensitive method for the simultaneous determination of caffeine and its dimethylxanthine metabolites in human plasma : Application to CYP1A2 phenotyping

Abstract A sensitive high performance liquid chromatographic assay was developed for the determination of caffeine and its dimethylxanthine metabolites in human plasma. Caffeine, paraxanthine, theophylline, and theobromine were extracted from 0.5 mL of matrix with methylene chloride. Separation of the analytes was achieved using a mobile phase consisting of 0.1 M sodium acetate pH 4.5, methanol, tetrahydrofuran, and distilled water (10:6.5:1.4:82.1, v/v) and a Microsorb MV C18 analytical column with UV detection at 274 nm. Excellent linearity was observed for each analyte over the concentration range of 20 – 8000 ng/mL. The within- and between-day coefficients of variation were less than 4.1% at all concentrations examined. This method is suitable for pharmacokinetic or pharmacogenetic studies utilizing caffeine as a probe for CYP1A2 activity whether given alone or in combination with other CYP probe drugs.
Abstract 3782: Benzyl isothiocyanate-induced apoptosis in human breast cancer cells is mediated by downregulation of X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein

Proceedings: AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010‐‐ Apr 17‐21, 2010; Washington, DC Benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC) is a highly promising cancer chemopreventive constituent of edible cruciferous vegetables such as gardencress. We have shown previously that BITC treatment inhibits viability of MDA-MB-231 (an estrogen-independent cell line expressing mutant p53) and MCF-7 (an estrogen-responsive cell line with wild-type p53) by causing reactive oxygen species-mediated apoptosis. In addition, oral administration of BITC inhibits growth of MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells subcutaneously or orthotopically implanted in female athymic mice without causing weight loss or any other side effects. More recent studies from our laboratory have indicated that dietary feeding of BITC offers protection against mammary hyperplasia and carcinoma development in MMTV-neu transgenic mice. The present study extends these exciting observations and determines role of p53 and inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) family proteins in regulation of BITC-induced apoptosis. Exposure of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells to apoptosis inducing concentrations of BITC (2.5 and 5.0 μM) resulted in up-regulation of p53 in MCF-7 cell line and down-regulation of X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis (XIAP) in both cell lines. The BITC-mediated down-regulation of XIAP was evident as early as 8 h post-treatment. BITC-treated cell also exhibited induction of survivin especially in the MCF-7 cell line. The level of cIAP2 protein was only modestly increased upon treatment of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells with BITC. The BITC-induced apoptosis was only marginally affected by knockdown of p53 protein level by RNA interference. On the otehr hand, forced expression of XIAP protein conferred significant protection against BITC-mediated cytoplasmic histone-associated apoptotic DNA fragmentation in both cell lines. The BITC-induced cytoplasmic histone-associated apoptotic DNA fragmentation was significantly increased by knockdown of survivin protein in the MCF-7 cell line but not in the MDA-MB-231. These results indicate that down-regulation of XIAP contributes to the BITC-induced apoptosis in breast cancer cells. In addition, induction of survivin confers resistance against BITC-mediated cell death at least in the MCF-7 cell line. This study was supported by the National Cancer Institute grant CA129347-03. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3782.
Skill assessment of spatial maps for oceanographic modeling

Abstract Comparing data-derived and model-generated spatial maps of key variables is a critical part of oceanographic model skill assessment. Yet, many comparisons resort to presenting the maps side-by-side and saying that the two maps look similar. We describe a suite of techniques for comparing 2-dimensional spatial maps that allow for fuzziness in the comparison and that are included in the Map Comparison Kit software package. These techniques included Kappa, Fuzzy Kappa, Moving Window, and Aggregated Cells. We also introduce a new measure that we call “slip-and-slide.” The slip-and-slide technique is based on determining what has to be done (shift, rotate, re-scale axes) to the model map to get the model map to agree as close as possible to the data map. We simulated two commonly encountered spatial patterns on a 100 by 100 grid of cells (hotspot and gradient), and used the generated maps in two simulation experiments. The first experiment was designed to confirm that the new slip-and-slide method could recover known differences between the data and model maps (identical twin experiment), while the second experiment included all of the map comparison techniques applied to data and model maps that were generated from different response surfaces. The slip-and-slide method successfully recovered the known distortion parameters under ideal conditions and when the response variable differed in magnitude between the model and data maps. Slip-and-slide started to show some difficulty in recovering known distortion parameters when noise was added to the fit of the response surface used in the parameter searching. The second simulation experiment demonstrated the fuzzy techniques, and how the similarity between data and model maps can be quantified and evaluated using increasing degrees of fuzziness in the various techniques. The second simulation experiment also showed the success of the slip-and-slide method, as the various techniques all showed greater similarity between the data and distorted model maps than between the data and the original model maps. Many of the fuzzy methods were designed for comparing maps with many small features, whereas oceanographic maps typically involve large-scale patterns. We propose that skill assessment of spatial maps be a multi-step process: (1) application of the fuzzy methods to the data and original model maps to initially quantify similarity, (2) application of the slip-and-slide method to align the large-scale features of the data and model maps, and (3) re-application of the fuzzy methods to the data and slip-and-slide distorted model map. Skill is quantified by the degree of improvement in similarity due to the slip-and-slide, and the values of the distortion parameters used to slip and slide. We offer some practical tips for how to implement the various skill assessment methods, and mention other metrics and techniques that may be useful for oceanographic model skill assessment. The techniques described should become part of the oceanographic modeling toolbox.
Safety of Reloading Prasugrel in Addition to Clopidogrel Loading in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Patients with acute coronary syndrome undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) commonly receive a loading dose of either clopidogrel or prasugrel, in addition to aspirin. The present study aimed to assess the safety of reloading prasugrel in patients who had initially received a loading dose of clopidogrel compared to prasugrel loading alone. The study included a cohort of 606 consecutive patients with acute coronary syndrome who had received a 60-mg loading dose of prasugrel before PCI. These patients were then categorized into clopidogrel preloading (300 or 600 mg) followed by prasugrel reloading (CP-load group, n = 90) and prasugrel loading only (P-load group, n = 516). Both groups received a 10-mg maintenance dose of prasugrel after PCI. The primary end point was in-hospital Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction-defined major bleeding. The secondary end points were other in-hospital bleeding complications and major cardiovascular events. Patients in the CP-load group compared to the P-load group were younger, with lower rates of cardiovascular risk factors. Significantly more patients in the CP-load group presented with biomarker-positive myocardial infarction (80.0% vs 30.6%, p ≤0.001) and cardiogenic shock (5.6% vs 1.4%, p = 0.022). No significant differences (p = NS) were seen in Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction major bleeding (2.6% vs 2.8%), Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction major or minor bleeding (12.2% vs 7.0%), the need for blood transfusion (2.6% vs 2.1%), and vascular complications (1.3% vs 2.0%) between groups. The CP-load group experienced more in-hospital major adverse cardiac events (5.6% vs 1.6%, p = 0.031), urgent coronary artery bypass grafting (3.3% vs 0.2%, p = 0.011), and longer hospital and intensive care unit stays. In conclusion, preloading with clopidogrel should not be prohibitive to reloading with prasugrel in patients presenting with acute coronary syndrome and undergoing PCI with respect to bleeding and vascular complications.
Recent progress in gauge theories of the weak, electromagnetic and strong interactions

A review is presented of progress since mid-1972 in the development of gauge theories of the weak, electromagnetic, and strong interactions. A brief introduction to the history and the fundamentals of the subject is also provided.
Having Fun Over a Distance: Supporting Multiplayer Online Ball Passing Using Multiple Sets of Kinect

We present Alone Together, a collaborative virtual ball playing environment augmented with three sets of Microsoft Kinect. The play environment fulfills a 'sport over the distance' them via the attempt to mimic the real world ball-passing exercise (or rehabilitation sessions) except that the players can be miles away from each other, and they interact without a physical ball. Moreover, our system allows each player to see the other two and their physical environment respectively, which is a combination of the physical world where players are situated and the virtual world where they play with each other. Kinect sensors are used to map players' action into a virtual world including the passing of the virtual ball. The system prototype was tested with two groups of players; a revised version was pilot tested with 48 players and lead to the final version of the system. Pilot testing results were encouraging in that players reported collective fun and increased social bonding. Meanwhile, player anonymity increased players' willingness to play the virtual-ball game with a stranger, which indicates that the game might be more suitable for those with less social fluency.
A second order virtual node method for elliptic problems with interfaces and irregular domains in three dimensions

We present a numerical method for the variable coefficient Poisson equation in three-dimensional irregular domains and with interfacial discontinuities. The discretization embeds the domain and interface into a uniform Cartesian grid augmented with virtual degrees of freedom to provide accurate treatment of jump and boundary conditions. The matrix associated with the discretization is symmetric positive definite and equal to the standard 7-point finite difference Poisson stencil away from embedded interfaces and boundaries. Numerical evidence suggests second order accuracy in the L^~-norm. Our approach improves the treatment of Dirichlet and jump constraints in the recent work of Bedrossian et al. [1] and introduces innovations necessary in three dimensions. Specifically, we construct new constraint-based Lagrange multiplier spaces that significantly improve the conditioning of the associated linear system of equations; we provide a method for cell-local polyhedral approximation to the zero isocontour surface of a level set needed for three-dimensional embedding; and we show that the new Lagrange multiplier spaces naturally lead to a class of easy-to-implement multigrid methods that achieve near optimal efficiency, as shown by numerical examples. For the specific case of a continuous Poisson coefficient in interface problems, we provide an expansive treatment of the construction of a particular solution that satisfies the value jump and flux jump constraints. As in [1], this is used in a discontinuity removal technique that yields the standard 7-point stencil across the interface and only requires a modification to the right-hand side of the linear system.
Changes of elastic properties of central arteries during acute static exercise and lower body negative pressure

The aim of this investigation was to determine the acute effects of isometric fatiguing handgrip (IFHG) and lower body negative pressure (LBNP) on indices of central arterial stiffness. Thirteen subjects were studied. Renal blood velocity (Duplex Ultrasound) and blood pressure (Finapres) were monitored during IFHG and LBNP at −30 and −50 mmHg. Radial pulse-wave forms were recorded by applanation tonometry. Central aortic waveforms and other hemodynamic parameters were assessed using the Sphygmocor software. Renal vascular resistance index (RVRI; mean BP/renal blood velocity) was used as index of sympathetic nervous system (SNS) engagement. RVRI increased during both IFHG and LBNP indicating that SNS was engaged; however, BP increased only during the IFHG. Pulse-wave analysis showed that during the IFHG protocol the transit time of the pulse wave decreased and the peripheral pulse pressure/nonaugmented central pulse pressure ratio increased from baseline. Both of these measurements suggest an increase in central large artery stiffness. During LBNP no changes in the indices of central stiffness were noted, in spite of a similar level of sympathetic system engagement. Heart rate increased during both protocols, whereas augmentation index increased during the IFHG protocol and decreased during the LBNP. Our major conclusion was that blood pressure rather than sympathetic activity seems to play the major role in modulating the elastic properties of the central arteries. The decrease in augmentation index during the LBNP protocol can be attributed to the increased heart rate, given that there is a negative correlation between these two parameters.
Sarcoma arising as a distinct nodule within glioblastoma: a morphological and molecular perspective on gliosarcoma

Gliosarcoma is a variant of glioblastoma and is characterized by distinct glial and sarcomatous components. Typically, there is no macroscopic boundary between the components and special stains are often required to distinguish the glial and sarcomatous elements. Some studies suggest similar genetic alterations in both components pointing to a common origin. We present an extreme case of gliosarcoma arising as a discrete fibrous nodule adjacent to a typical glioblastoma. A 65 year-old woman presented with progressive weakness, seizures and right-sided hemiparesis. CT scan demonstrated an irregular enhancing left frontal lobe mass and an adjacent discrete nodule with different imaging characteristics. The unique nature of this macroscopically biphasic neoplasm allowed us to compare the molecular characteristics of glial and sarcomatous elements which were strikingly similar except for small losses and gains in Chr 3. Studies are under way to determine the significance of chromosome 3 alterations in gliosarcomas.