cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Using ICESat-2 and Operation IceBridge altimetry for supraglacial lake depth retrievals

Abstract. Supraglacial lakes and melt ponds occur in the ablation zones of Antarctica and Greenland during the summer months. Detection of lake extent, depth, and temporal evolution is important for understanding glacier dynamics, but passive remote sensing techniques have inherent uncertainties associated with depth retrievals, and observations from the original ICESat mission experienced high absorption in water. In this study, we use laser altimetry data from the Ice, Cloud, and land Elevation Satellite-2 (ICESat-2) over the Antarctic and Greenland ablation zones and the Airborne Topographic Mapper (ATM) for Hiawatha Glacier (Greenland) to demonstrate retrievals of supraglacial lake depth. Using an algorithm to separate lake surfaces and beds, we present case studies for 12 supraglacial lakes with the ATM lidar and 12 lakes with ICESat-2. Both lidars detect bottom returns for lake beds as deep as 7 m. Uncertainties for these retrievals are 0.05–0.20 m for ATM and 0.12–0.80 m for ICESat-2, with the highest uncertainties observed for lakes deeper than 4 m. Using ICESat-2 confidence classifications of detected photons, we found that high-confidence photons are often insufficient to fully profile lakes, so lower confidence and buffer photons are recommended for improved retrievals. Despite issues in photon classification, the altimeter results are promising, and we expect them to serve as a benchmark for future studies of surface meltwater depths.
Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections

A 41-year-old female with breast cancer presents to the outpatient infusion center for her scheduled weekly dose of intravenous chemotherapy. She states that she’s been more fatigued than usual since her last dose 1 week ago, but otherwise feels well. Her temperature is 37.2°C, pulse 82 beats per minute, respirations 16 per minute, blood pressure 112/80 mmHg, and pulse oximetry 99%. The skin overlying the location of the implanted venous access “port” device appears normal. Using aseptic technique, her nurse inserts a 90° Huber needle percutaneously into the reservoir, verifying good blood return. She collects blood to send to the laboratory for a complete blood count and comprehensive metabolic panel and then flushes the catheter with 5 ml of saline. As she finishes, the patient develops shaking chills. Her temperature is now 39.4°C, pulse 128 beats per minute, and blood pressure 132/86. Blood cultures of equal volume are collected from the line and from a peripheral vein, and empiric treatment with vancomycin and piperacillin plus tazobactam is started via a peripheral intravenous catheter. The chemotherapy is postponed, and the patient is admitted to the hospital. Results from the complete blood count show an absolute neutrophil count of 1900 cells/μl. Six hours later, the laboratory reports that the blood culture collected from the central line shows growth of Gram-positive cocci in clusters. The organism is further identified the next day as Staphylococcus epidermidis, susceptible to vancomycin. The laboratory report is further updated indicating that the blood culture collected from the peripheral vein was now also positive for growth of Gram-positive cocci in clusters, lagging the time to positivity of the central line culture by 21 hours. The peripheral blood culture isolate was subsequently identified to be S. epidermidis, with the same antibiotic susceptibility profile as the isolate growing from the central line culture.
Abstract WP491: HUCBC Treatment Promotes White Matter Remodeling and Improves Glymphatic Function and Cognitive Outcome in Rats With Vascular Dementia

Aim: Vascular Dementia (VaD) accounts for nearly 20% of all dementia. We have investigated the therapeutic effects of human umbilical cord blood cells (HUCBCs) treatment of VaD and tested mechanism...
Using RE-AIM to examine the potential public health impact of an integrated collaborative care intervention for weight and depression management in primary care: Results from the RAINBOW trial.

Background An integrated collaborative care intervention was used to treat primary care patients with comorbid obesity and depression in a randomized clinical trial. To increase wider uptake and dissemination, information is needed on translational potential. Methods The trial collected longitudinal, qualitative data at baseline, 6 months (end of intensive treatment), 12 months (end of maintenance treatment), and 24 months (end of follow-up). Semi-structured interviews (n = 142) were conducted with 54 out of 409 randomly selected trial participants and 37 other stakeholders, such as recruitment staff, intervention staff, and clinicians. Using a Framework Analysis approach, we examined themes across time and stakeholder groups according to the RE-AIM (Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance) framework. Results At baseline, participants and other stakeholders reported being skeptical of the collaborative care approach related to some RE-AIM dimensions. However, over time they indicated greater confidence regarding the potential for future public health impact. They also provided information on barriers and actionable information to enhance program reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, and maintenance. Conclusions RE-AIM provided a useful framework for understanding how to increase the impact of a collaborative and integrative approach for treating comorbid obesity and depression. It also demonstrates the utility of using the framework as a planning tool early in the evidence-generation pipeline.
Gender, adverse childhood experiences, and the development of self-control

Abstract Purpose Grounding our work within the larger gender and self-control literature, the purpose of this paper is three-fold: to examine the relative effects of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on self-control for boys and girls, whether gender differences in self-control can be explained by exposure to ACEs, and the extent to which ACEs differentially influence empathy and impulsivity for boys and girls, two components of self-control with notable gender differences. Methods Using data from the Fragile Families and Childhood Wellbeing Study, we examine our three questions using stepwise, ordinary least squares (OLS) regression and generalized linear models (GLM) to explain the relationship between ACEs and gender differences in self-control. Results We found that as ACEs increased, self-control declined for boys and girls. Higher numbers of ACEs were associated with increased impulsivity for boys but, ACEs were not significantly related to empathy for either boys or girls. Conclusions We found that ACEs significantly impaired the development of self-control for boys and girls. We also found that the relationship between ACEs and impulsivity was only significant for boys. As such, delinquency prevention and intervention efforts should screen for ACEs, their relationship to deficits in self-control and, in particular, should address the significant connection between ACEs and boys' impulsivity. Finally, self-control development programs should focus on addressing past, childhood trauma for boys and girls.
Comparing symptoms and emotion recognition in African American and White samples with schizophrenia.

Racial status has an important role in schizophrenia, with African American samples being rated lower than White participants on a range of constructs. In many studies, however, demographic factors are not accounted for. In the present study, African American (n = 106) and White participants (n = 81) were compared on symptom severity and emotion recognition scales while controlling for other demographic factors. Contrary to our hypothesis, there were no differences in symptoms between racial groups. However, White participants performed better on an emotion recognition measure than African Americans. These differences were most prominent in response to negatively-valenced stimuli. This study replicated previous findings of racial differences in emotion recognition but not symptom severity. Future research should assess the role of racial identity on symptom severity. In addition, further research is needed to assess if utilising multi-ethnic stimuli improves performance by racial minorities on emotion recognition measures.
Surface approximations using generalized NURBS

We extend the concept of generalized NURBS (GNURBS), recently introduced by the authors for parametric curves, to bivariate parametric surfaces. These generalizations are obtained via either explicit or implicit decoupling of the weights along different physical coordinates. This decoupling allows for treating the weights as additional degrees of freedom in a wider range of applications compared to classic NURBS surfaces, providing additional flexibility and increased control. This proposed concept effectively improves the capability of NURBS and alleviates its deficiencies in certain applications. In particular, we will demonstrate that GNURBS can be effectively used for improved approximation of certain class of surfaces such as helicoids, revolved surfaces and minimal surfaces. It will also be established that these proposed generalizations can be exactly transformed to equivalent, but higher order, classic NURBS surfaces, ensuring a strong theoretical foundation. Finally, a comprehensive MATLAB toolbox, GNURBS3D-Lab, has been developed and introduced in order to better demonstrate the behavior and properties of GNURBS surfaces compared to classic NURBS.
Exercise as Treatment for Neuropathy in the Setting of Diabetes and Pre-diabetic Metabolic Syndrome: a Review of Animal Models and Human Trials.

Background Peripheral neuropathy is among the most common complications of diabetes, but a phenotypically identical distal sensory predominant, painful axonopathy afflicts patients with prediabetic metabolic syndrome, exemplifying a spectrum of risk and continuity of pathogenesis. No pharmacological treatment convincingly improves neuropathy in the setting of metabolic syndrome, but evolving data suggests that exercise may be a promising alternative. Objective To review in depth current literature regarding exercise treatment of metabolic syndrome neuropathy in humans and animal models, highlight the diverse mechanisms by which exercise exerts beneficial effects, and examine adherence limitations, safety aspects, modes and dose of exercise. Results Rodent models that recapitulate the organismal milieu of prediabetic metabolic syndrome and the phenotype of its neuropathy provide a strong platform to dissect exercise effects on neuropathy pathogenesis. In these models, exercise reverses hyperglycemia and consequent oxidative and nitrosative stress, improves microvascular vasoreactivity, enhances axonal transport, ameliorates the lipotoxicity and inflammatory effects of hyperlipidemia and obesity, supports neuronal survival and regeneration following injury, and enhances mitochondrial bioenergetics at the distal axon. Prospective human studies are limited in scale, but suggest exercise improves cutaneous nerve regenerative capacity, neuropathic pain, and task-specific functional performance measures of gait and balance. Like other heath behavioral interventions, benefits of exercise are limited by patient adherence. Conclusion Exercise is integrative therapy that potently reduces cellular inflammatory state and improves distal axonal oxidative metabolism to ameliorate features of neuropathy in metabolic syndrome. Intensity of exercise need not improve cardinal features of metabolic syndrome [e.g. weight, glucose control] to exert beneficial effects.
Runners maintain locomotor-respiratory coupling following isocapnic voluntary hyperpnea to task failure.

Evidence has long suggested that mammalian ventilatory and locomotor rhythms are linked, yet determinants and implications of locomotor–respiratory coupling (LRC) continue to be investigated. Anecdotally, respiratory muscle fatigue seen at the end of heavy exercise may result in an uncoupling of movement–ventilation rhythms; however, there is no scientific evidence to substantiate this claim. We sought to determine whether or not fatigue of the respiratory muscles alters locomotor–respiratory coupling patterns typically observed in highly trained individuals while running. A related query was to examine the relationship between the potential changes in LRC and measures of running economy. Twelve male distance runners ran at four submaximal workloads (68–89 % $${\dot{V}}$$ O2peak) on two separate days while LRC was quantified. One LRC trial served as a control (CON), while the other was performed following an isocapnic voluntary hyperpnea to task failure to induce respiratory muscle fatigue (FT+). LRC was assessed as stride-to-breathing frequency ratios (SF/fB) and degree of LRC (percentage of breaths occurring during the same decile of the step cycle). Hyperpnea resulted in significant declines in maximal voluntary inspiratory (MIP) and expiratory (MEP) mouth pressures (ΔMIP = −10 ± 12 cm H2O; ΔMEP = −6 ± 9 cm H2O). There were no differences in minute ventilation between CON and FT+ (CON, all speeds pooled = 104 ± 25 L min−1; FT+ pooled = 106 ± 23 L min−1). Stride frequency was not different between trials; however, breathing frequency was significantly greater during FT+ compared to CON at all speeds (CON pooled = 47 ± 10 br min−1; FT+ pooled = 52 ± 9 br min−1), resulting in smaller corresponding SF/fB. Yet, the degree of LRC was the same during CON and FT+ (CON pooled = 63 ± 15 %; FT+ pooled = 64 ± 18 %). The results indicate that trained runners are able to continue entraining breath and step cycles, despite marked changes in exercise breathing frequency, after a fatiguing hyperpnea challenge.
Komplexe Vektoren und Matrizen

In einer vollstandigen Darstellung der linearen Algebra kann man komplexe Zahlen nicht auslassen. Selbst wenn eine reelle Matrix vorliegt, sind ihre Eigenvektoren und Eigenwerte haufig komplex. Ein Beispiel: Eine 2 x 2-Drehmatrix besitzt keine reellen Eigenvektoren, denn jeder Vektor wird um einen Winkel θ gedreht — seine Richtung andert sich also. Sie hat aber die komplexen Eigenvektoren (1, ί) und (1,-ί). Die Eigenwerte sind ebenfalls komplexe Zahlen, namlich e ίθ und e- ίθ Wollten wir darauf bestehen, nur reelle Zahlen zu betrachten, so mussten wir die Eigenwerttheorie auf halbem Wege verlassen.
Chapter 10. Antibiotics

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the development and clinical studies of antibiotics. The commercial 6-APA processes, chemical relationships between penicillins and cephalosporins, mechanism of action, bacterial resistance, and immunological properties of penicillins are examined. The physicochemical properties and biological activities of clinically significant 6-lactam antibiotics are reviewed. Comparative in vitro evaluations of tobramycin continue to indicate it is two to four times more active than gentamicin against clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Gentamicin proved four times as potent as tobramycin against isolates of Serratia marcescens and both antibiotics demonstrated comparable-activity against the majority of other gram negative pathogens. Enzymatic inactivation of gentamicin by cell-free extracts from clinical isolates of Ps. aeruginosa and R-factor carrying Klebsiella pneumoniae was described. The mechanism of this pseudomonas resistance to gentamicin was established by showing that acetylation occurs on the amino group of the 2-deoxystreptamine ring. All gentamicin C components and sisomicin were reported to be excellent substrates for the inactivating enzyme gentamicin acetyltransferase, whereas tobramycin and kanamycin B proved to be poor substrates.
Changes in the mechanical and electromyographic output during isotonic and isometric exercise in men and women

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine if surface electromyography (EMG) could be used to index fatigue during isotonic and maximal voluntary isometric contractions (MVIC) of the knee extensors in men and women. Methods: Ten males (age = 22.1 ± 3.3 yr, ht = 180.3 ± 5.5 cm, mass 78.7 ± 5.1 kg) and ten females (age = 23.9 ± 4.6 yr, ht = 163.7.3 ± 11.1 cm, mass 63.2 ± 7.4 kg) underwent one isometric (120 s MVIC of the knee extensors) and one isotonic (120 maximal effort isotonic contractions at a resistance of 25% of the MVIC peak torque determined on the testing day) exercise session separated by at least 48 hrs. The EMG signal was collected from the vastus lateralis during both exercise protocols using standard EMG collection techniques. Average torque (AT) was calculated from each 3 s window of the 120 s MVIC, and the average peak power (APP) was calculated for every 3 consecutive contractions during the dynamic exercise. Results: Both the isometric and isotonic fatigue protocols resulted in significant (p 0.05). A main effect for gender (p < 0.05) revealed larger EMG amplitude for females when compared to males during isotonic exercise. Conclusions: These results indicate that gender may be a factor in the development of dynamic fatigue and that EMG can index fatigue during a sustained MVIC.
A Review of: “Analysis of Observational Health Care Data Using SAS, by D. E. Faries, A. C. Leon, J. M. Haro, and R. L. Obenchain (Eds.).”

This book describes modern methods for analyzing observational health care data using SAS. Each chapter is written by experts on the particular topic, and includes an introduction to the methodolog...
Neurophysiological and Neuroimaging Techniques

Keywords: electroencephalography; event-related potentials; magnetic resonance imaging; neuroscience; brain imaging; methodology
The Synthetic Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor-γ Agonist Ciglitazone Attenuates Neuroinflammation and Accelerates Encapsulation in Bacterial Brain Abscesses

Brain abscesses result from a pyogenic parenchymal infection commonly initiated by Gram-positive bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus. Although the host immune response elicited following infection is essential for effective bacterial containment, this response also contributes to the significant loss of brain parenchyma by necrosis that may be reduced by modulating the inflammatory response. Ciglitazone, a PPAR-γ agonist with anti-inflammatory properties, was evaluated for its ability to influence the course of brain abscess development when treatment was initiated 3 days following infection. Interestingly, abscess-associated bacterial burdens were significantly lower following ciglitazone administration, which could be explained, in part, by the finding that ciglitazone enhanced S. aureus phagocytosis by microglia. In addition, ciglitazone attenuated the expression of select inflammatory mediators during brain abscess development including inducible NO synthase, TNF-α, IL-1β, CXCL2, and CCL3. Unexpectedly, ciglitazone also accelerated brain abscess encapsulation, which was typified by the heightened expression of fibronectin and α-smooth muscle actin-positive myofibroblasts. Collectively, through its ability to attenuate excessive inflammation and accelerate abscess encapsulation, ciglitazone may effectively sequester brain abscesses and limit bacterial dissemination.
Reflex high-risk human papillomavirus DNA testing (Hybrid Capture 2) of bloody ThinPrep specimens with atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance interpretation: does pretreatment with acetic acid affect test performance?

BACKGROUND The current study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA testing of residual ThinPrep specimens, which were pretreated with acetic acid to optimize cellularity with a special focus on atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS) specimens. METHODS A total of 120 ThinPrep gynecologic samples were chosen for a pilot study including cases with a normal or abnormal interpretation and those with or without blood. Each residual specimen was divided into two portions. One portion was treated with glacial acetic acid (GAA) and the other half remained untreated. Both aliquots were tested for high-risk HPV DNA using the Hybrid Capture 2 test. After internal validation, reflex HPV DNA testing was performed on all consecutive 1776 ASCUS specimens including 98 acid-washed bloody specimens in routine practice. RESULTS Of the 120 specimens with paired aliquots, 117 specimens had concordant HPV DNA test results in the treated and untreated groups with a squared correlation coefficient value of 0.97 and a kappa value of 0.95. Subsequently, in the clinical setting, 43 of 98 (43.9%) acid-washed specimens and 845 of 1676 (50.4%) routine specimens with an ASCUS interpretation tested positive for high-risk HPV DNA. There was no statistically significant difference noted between these two groups with regard to age, percentage HPV DNA positivity, or viral load. CONCLUSIONS The pretreatment of bloody specimens with GAA did not appear to significantly affect high-risk HPV DNA testing in specimens with an ASCUS interpretation. Cancer (Cancer Cytopathol) 2005. © 2005 American Cancer Society.
Chapter 7 Biophysical Regulation of Selectin–Ligand Interactions Under Flow

Publisher Summary Leukocytes use a multistep process in which they initially tether to and roll along the vessel wall, then decelerate and arrest, and finally emigrate into the underlying tissues. For cells to tether, interactions between adhesion molecules must form rapidly. For cells to roll, these interactions must break rapidly. Rolling adhesion on vascular surfaces is the first step in recruiting circulating leukocytes to secondary lymphoid organs or to sites of infection or injury. Rolling requires the rapid yet balanced formation and dissociation of adhesive bonds in the challenging environment of blood flow. This chapter explores how selectins interact through mechanically regulated kinetics with their ligands to meet these challenges. Remarkably, increasing force applied to adhesive bonds first prolongs their lifetimes (catch bonds) and then shortens their lifetimes (slip bonds). Catch bonds mediate the counterintuitive phenomenon of flow-enhanced rolling adhesion. Force-regulated disruptions of receptor interdomain or intradomain interactions remote from the ligand-binding surface generate catch bonds. Adhesion receptor dimerization, clustering in membrane domains and interactions with the cytoskeleton, modulate the forces applied to bonds.
Lipids of the Kernel

Abstract Although the content of lipids in corn kernels is not high compared to oilseeds, the impact of such lipids on economics and health of animal and human is significant because of the high volume of corn produced and utilized in the United States. Various classes of lipids present in corn kernels, such as neutral and polar acyl lipids, sterols, tocols, and carotenoids, are presented in this chapter. The natural variation of these lipids and their genetic modification to improve compositional traits are discussed. There are distinct lipid distribution patterns in corn kernel's endosperm, germ, pericarp, and tip cap. About 80% of total kernel lipids is in the germ, and the remaining is mainly in the endosperm and aleurone layer. About 90% of the kernel carotenoids is in the endosperm, and the lipids in the aleurone layer have very high concentration of the unique ferulic acid esters of the phytosterols (about 85% of the total). Thus, corn germ oil's lipid class composition is very different from oils extracted from the entire kernels using a solvent that is more polar than hexane and from the corn fiber oil. Corn starch, particularly the amylose fraction, is naturally complexed with monoacyl lipids. Such property has been used to create a slowly digestable corn starch product. Enzymatically derived lipids and hormones are important class of oxilipins that are signaling molecules and are involved in plant's defense against pathogens. High-value lipid products from corn milling and dry-grind ethanol fermentation, such as corn fiber oil and distiller's corn oil, can be produced more efficiently to improve the economics of the corn processing industry. Other challenges and future directions of research and development are also discussed.
Autoradiographic localization and characterization of tachykinin receptor binding sites in the rat brain and peripheral tissues

Quantitative receptor autoradiography using several radiolabeled tachykinins was used to localize and characterize tachykinin peptide receptor binding sites in rat CNS and peripheral tissues. Autoradiographic localization and displacement experiments using several radiolabeled tachykinins indicate that in the rat there are at least 3 distinct tachykinin receptor binding sites. One of these is present in both the CNS and peripheral tissues, one is present only in the CNS, and one is present only in peripheral tissues. The first tachykinin receptor binding site, which is detectable in both the CNS and peripheral tissues, appears to prefer substance P (SP) as an endogenous ligand. Areas expressing high concentrations of this binding site include the medial septum, superior colliculus, inferior olive, inner plexiform layer of the retina, external muscle of the bladder, and the muscularis externa of the esophagus. The second type of tachykinin receptor binding site, which is detectable only in the CNS appears to prefer either neuromedin K (NK) and/or substance K (SK) as the endogenous ligand. This receptor binding site is labeled by Bolton- Hunter conjugates of NK, SK, eledoisin, or kassinin and is found in high concentrations in laminae 4 and 5 of the cerebral cortex, the ventral tegmental area, laminae 1 and 2 of the spinal cord, and the inner plexiform layer of the retina. The third type of tachykinin receptor binding site is detectable only in peripheral tissues and appears to prefer SK as the endogenous ligand. This receptor binding site is labeled by SK, eledoisin, or kassinin radioligands and tissues that express high concentrations include the muscularis mucosae of the esophagus, the circular muscle of the colon, and the external muscle of the bladder. These data suggest that SP receptors are expressed in the brain and peripheral tissues, NK receptors are expressed in the CNS, and SK receptors are expressed in peripheral tissue. These data fit well with radioimmunoassay data that suggest that, whereas in the CNS SP, SK and NK are present in high concentrations, in peripheral tissues only SP and SK are present in detectable concentrations. The present classification of tachykinin receptors places a lower limit on the number of mammalian tachykinin receptor types and provides a functional/morphological framework for exploring the diverse actions of tachykinin peptides in both the CNS and peripheral tissues.
Role Theory and Social Cognition: Learning to Think like a Recycler

While the interactionist tradition of sociological role theory has been recognized as a promising conceptual framework for linking theories of social structure and social cognition, there remains little empirical research that examines the link between cognitive structure and role behavior. Our study tests the fundamental assumption that commitment to role behavior is associated with the development of a corresponding cognitive structure, through an analysis of a six-week field experiment designed to produce commitment to the role of “recycler.” We propose that intervention program participation resulted in recycler role-identity development, as well as corresponding changes in cognitive structure—i.e., the development of cognitive schemata—linked to the emergence of a new role-based view of self.
Long-term survival after complete resection and repeat resection in patients with adrenocortical carcinoma.

Background: One of the key issues in the treatment of adrenocortical carcinoma is the efficacy of repeat resection of local recurrence and metastatic disease in affected patients. Options in the treatment of locally recurrent or metastatic disease are limited because chemotherapy and radiotherapy generally do not provide any significant prolongation in survival in treated patients. Methods: A series of 113 patients who presented to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center for treatment of adrenocortical carcinoma are presented. Results: The median overall survival for all 113 patients was 38 months (5-year survival, 37%). Patients presenting with early stage I or II disease (n = 57) had a median survival of 101 months (5-year survival, 60%), whereas those with late stage III or IV disease (n = 56) had a median survival of 15 months (5-year survival, 10%). Patients who had complete primary resection (n = 68) had a median survival of 74 months (5-year survival, 55%), whereas those with incomplete primary resection (n = 45) had a median survival of 12 months (5-year survival, 5%). Resection of locally recurrent or distant metastatic disease was performed in 47 of these patients. Patients who had a complete second resection had a median survival of 74 months (5-year survival, 57%), whereas those with incomplete second resection had a median survival of 16 months (5-year survival, 0%). Conclusions: Improved survival is seen in patients who present with early stage and have complete primary resection. Patients who undergo complete repeat resection of local recurrence or distant metastasis also have improved survival. Complete repeat resection was more readily accomplished in discrete distant metastatic lesions compared with bulky local recurrences.
Trace Detection of Metastable Helium Molecules in Superfluid Helium by Laser-Induced Fluorescence

We describe an approach to detecting ionizing radiation that combines the special properties of superfluid helium with the sensitivity of quantum optics techniques. Ionization in liquid helium results in the copious production of metastable ${\mathrm{He}}_{2}$ molecules, which can be detected by laser-induced fluorescence. Each molecule can be probed many times using a cycling transition, resulting in the detection of individual molecules with high signal to noise. This technique could be used to detect neutrinos, weakly interacting massive particles, and ultracold neutrons, and to image superfluid flow in liquid $^{4}\mathrm{He}$.
Distal arthrogryposis 5: A dominant syndrome of peripheral contractures and ophthalmoplegia

A four-generation family with distal arthrogryposis 5 is described. All affected members had limitations of ocular motility and some had ptosis. Restrictive lung disease is a feature in most affected patients in this family. It is possible that this syndrome may be due to a muscle abnormality.
Differential Effects of Unfolded Protein Response Pathways on Axon Injury-Induced Death of Retinal Ganglion Cells

Loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) accounts for visual function deficits after optic nerve injury, but how axonal insults lead to neuronal death remains elusive. By using an optic nerve crush model that results in the death of the majority of RGCs, we demonstrate that axotomy induces differential activation of distinct pathways of the unfolded protein response in axotomized RGCs. Optic nerve injury provokes a sustained CCAAT/enhancer binding homologous protein (CHOP) upregulation, and deletion of CHOP promotes RGC survival. In contrast, IRE/XBP-1 is only transiently activated, and forced XBP-1 activation dramatically protects RGCs from axon injury-induced death. Importantly, such differential activations of CHOP and XBP-1 and their distinct effects on neuronal cell death are also observed in RGCs with other types of axonal insults, such as vincristine treatment and intraocular pressure elevation, suggesting a new protective strategy for neurodegeneration associated with axonal damage.
Production of lysophospholipids and free fatty acids by a sarcolemmal fraction from canine myocardium.

Abstract The potential for injury of myocardial sarcolemma by endogenous lipases was studied. The sarcolemmal fraction was incubated for 30 min under conditions found optimal for hydrolysis of exogenous phosphatidylethanolamine (5 mM calcium, pH 7.0, 37°C). Incubation of the sarcolemmal fraction increased significantly the level of total free fatty acids (14.1 to 31.1 nmoles/mg protein, P
Physical properties, electrochemistry and environmental stability of polyacetylene copolymers and composites

Abstract The physical properties of diblock copolymers of polyacetylene are studied using various techniques, i.e., visible spectroscopy, Raman scattering, e.s.r., etc., in order to determine the polyacetylene chain morphology and the conduction mechanism in the doped materials. The electrochemistry of the block copolymers is also discussed. Results are reported for soluble an insoluble copolymers, the synthesis of which is summarized. A comparative study of the long-term environmental stability of polyacetylene, its copolymers and composites is reported.
A Data-Driven Approach for Monitoring Blade Pitch Faults in Wind Turbines

A data-mining-based prediction model is built to monitor the performance of a blade pitch. Two blade pitch faults, blade angle asymmetry, and blade angle implausibility were analyzed to determine the associations between them and the components/subassemblies of the wind turbine. Five data-mining algorithms have been studied to evaluate the quality of the models for prediction of blade faults. The prediction model derived by the genetic programming algorithm resulted in the best accuracy and was selected to perform prediction at different time stamps.
Optimal Estimate of Transmission Line Fault Location Considering Measurement Errors

Various transmission line fault location algorithms have been proposed in the past depending on the measurements available. These algorithms perform well when the measurements utilized are accurate; they may yield erroneous results when the measurements contain considerable errors. In some cases, there are redundant measurements available for fault location purposes, and it may be possible to design an optimal estimator for the fault location based on nonlinear estimation theories. This paper aims at proposing a possible method for deriving an optimal estimate of the fault location that is capable of detecting and identifying the bad measurement data, minimizing the impacts of the measurement errors and thus significantly improving the fault location accuracy. The solution is based on the distributed parameter line model and thus fully considers the effects of shut capacitances of the line. Since field data are not available, case studies based on simulated data are presented for demonstrating the effectiveness of the new method.
Postnatal evaluation of prenatal exposure to p-xylene in the rat.

Abstract Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to either 3500 or 7000 mg/m 3 p -xylene from days 7–16 of gestation. Dams were allowed to give birth, and litters were counted, weighed, and observed for external malformations on postnatal days (PD) 1 and 3. Litters were normalized to 8 pups (4 males and 4 females ± 1) on PD4. On PD21 animals were weaned and littermates housed by sex. Body weights were recorded weekly until weaning and once every 2 weeks thereafter. Central nervous system (CNS) development was evaluated by acoustic startle response on PD13, 17, 21, and 63 as well as figure-8 maze activity on PD22 and 65. Maternal weight gain during the treatment period was significantly less in the high-dose group. No effects were seen on litter size or weight at birth or on PD3. There were no effects of xylene exposure on growth rate. There were no treatment-related effects on acoustic startle response or figure-8 maze activity. Thus, p -xylene as administered in this study does not appear to be a selective developmental toxicant in the rat.
Ecology, distribution and host relationships of ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) infesting livestock in Mali

A survey for ticks on livestock with emphasis on ticks parasitizing cattle was conducted below 16°N lat. in Mali. Seventeen species of ixodid ticks were recovered from cattle, 12 from sheep, five from goat, four from horse, one from donkey and four from camel. Amblyomma variegatum (F.), Boophilus geigyi Aeschlimann & Morel, Hyalomma marginatum rufipes Koch and H. truncatum Koch were widespread, and could each be collected as adults from cattle throughout the year in certain regions. A. variegatum was most numerous from the tropical woodlands to the Sahelo-Sudanian steppe. The prevalence of B. geigyi in Mali confirms an extended distribution of this species in West Africa. B. annulatus (Say) and B. decoloratus (Koch) were prevalent in the inland delta area and in south-western Mali. H. m. rufipes and H. truncatum were most numerous in the Sudanian and Sahelo-Sudanian steppe. H. dromedarii Koch, H. impeltatum Schulze & Schlottke and H. impressum Koch were collected in the steppeland areas. H. nitidum Schulze was collected for the first time in Mali. This comparatively more hydrophilic species was prevalent in the North Guinean forest and Sudano-Guinean vegetation zones. Of eight Rhipicephalus species from livestock, seven were collected from cattle: R. cuspidatus Neumann, R. evertsi evertsi Neumann, R. guilhoni Morel & Vassiliades, R. muhsamae Morel & Vassiliades, R. sanguineus (Latreille), R. senegalensis Koch and R. lunulatus Neumann. R. sulcatus Neumann was obtained only from sheep. The distribution and phytoclimatic associations of these species are discussed.
Abstract 2064: SF3B1 inhibitors sensitize head and neck squamous cell carcinoma to Bcl-xL inhibition by regulating Mcl-1 alternative splicing.

This study explored the application of the alternative splicing of Bcl-2 family protein Mcl-1 in combination chemotherapy for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cell lines: meayamycin B (SF3b inhibitor) switched the pre-mRNA alternative splicing of Mcl-1 from anti-apoptotic to pro-apoptotic; the combination of meayamycin B with ABT-737 (Bcl-xL inhibitor) rapidly stimulated apoptosis in a panel of HNSCC cells, overcoming the HPV-16-mediated Mcl-1 over-expression. Western blotting and semi-quantitative RT-PCR as well as qPCR afforded evaluation of the expression of Mcl-1 splicing variants at mRNA and protein levels. Apoptosis status was monitored by using caspase 3/7 activity assays and Annexin V/7-AAD staining. siRNA was used to specifically knock down HPV-16 E6 gene. Meayamycin B exhibited 0.1-10 nM ED50 values in HNSCC cell lines that are mostly resistant to ABT-737. In HPV-16 positive HNSCC, E6 oncogene affords moderate resistance to meayamycin B. The combination of meayamycin B and ABT-737 synergistically induced apoptosis in HNSCC cell lines regardless of HPV status. These data demonstrate the potential of meayamycin B, both as a single agent and in combination with Bcl-xL inhibitors, for both research and targeted molecular therapeutic purposes for HNSCC. Citation Format: Yang Gao. SF3B1 inhibitors sensitize head and neck squamous cell carcinoma to Bcl-xL inhibition by regulating Mcl-1 alternative splicing. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2064. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-2064
“Give me mine angle”: fishing for a moral in Antony and Cleopatra

This essay, which focuses on Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra, takes as its starting point an early scene in which Cleopatra calls for her angling rod and imagines herself fishing, an episode which has been used to illustrate the queen's mercenary hedonism. Building on recent scholarship that underscores the play's fundamental ambivalence, this article reads Antony and Cleopatra through the lens of the angler, or fisherman, a complex literary figure associated with seductive temptation and devilish deceit as well as apostolic cunning and ministerial accommodation, and in either case bound up in questions concerning the roles of rhetorical deception and theatrical spectacle. By associating Cleopatra with such a complicated figure, Shakespeare offers his own baited hook, dramatizing for his audience the perilous limitations and consequences of their own interpretive commitments.
What about aging in regional science

This paper is a revised version of a North American Regional Science Council Presidential Address delivered at the 57th North American Meetings of the Regional Science Association International, Denver, Colorado, November 11, 2010. The question ‘What about aging in regional science?’ is posed and discussed from three perspectives. First, the aging of the corpus of practitioners of the multidisciplinary field is considered. Second, views are expressed about how, as each of us individually ages, participation in the temporal and spatial web of the regional science community helps to structure and impart meaning to our professional lives. Third, it is argued that age and aging deserve more attention as regional science research continues to advance. The implications of aging for research in the author’s specialty area of migration are discussed.
Service Abstractions With Fault Virtualization for Distributed Network Infrastructures

The paper deals with service abstractions that allow managing the dependability features of networked application systems.Component-level faults in the infrastructure are mapped on to degradations in the service quality space. Fault recovery mechanisms in a service-layer algorithm, if any, purport to maintain either the same level of service as in the no-fault case or a reduced level of service proportionate to the fault severity. Treating the occurrence of component faults as a normal case rather than as an exception, a virtualization mechanism provides a systematic mapping of faults on to canonical service quality spaces in a measurable way (e.g.,service availability and agility). Our paper describes the generic mechanisms and programming interfaces in the virtualization layer to manage the infrastructure in a flexible way that allows attaining an optimal service quality. Such service layer abstractions are useful for applications to in fuse adaptive fault-tolerance and quality assurance.
Emphysema is associated with increased inflammation in lungs of atherosclerosis-prone mice by cigarette smoke: implications in comorbidities of COPD

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is associated with numerous vascular effects including endothelial dysfunction, arterial stiffness and atherogenesis. It is also known that a decline in lung function is associated with increased cardiovascular comorbidity in smokers. The mechanism of this cardiopulmonary dual risk by cigarette smoke (CS) is not known. We studied the molecular mechanisms involved in development of emphysema in atherosclerosis-prone apolipoprotein E-deficient (ApoE-/-) mice in response to CS exposure. Adult male and female wild-type (WT) mice of genetic background C57BL/6J and ApoE-/- mice were exposed to CS, and lung inflammatory responses, oxidative stress (lipid peroxidation products), mechanical properties as well as airspace enlargement were assessed. The lungs of ApoE-/- mice showed augmented inflammatory response and increased oxidative stress with development of distal airspace enlargement which was accompanied with decline in lung function. Interestingly, the levels and activities of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-9 and MMP-12) were increased, whereas the level of eNOS was decreased in lungs of CS-exposed ApoE-/- mice as compared to air-exposed ApoE-/- mice or CS-exposed WT mice. These findings suggest that CS causes premature emphysema and a decline of lung function in mice susceptible to cardiovascular abnormalities via abnormal lung inflammation, increased oxidative stress and alterations in levels of MMPs and eNOS.
The use of 99mtechnetium pertechnetate to detect transplanted gastric mucosa in the dog

Abstract A surgical model of a Meckel's diverticulum with ectopic gastric mucosa was constructed in seven dogs by implanting a full-thickness patch of gastric wall into the open end of a Roux-en-Y ileoileostomy. 99m Tc Pertechnetate scintiphotography with a gamma camera consistently identified this ectopic gastric mucosa when it was 1.8 sq cm or larger. Excision of the surgical models after 99m Tc injection showed that gastric mucosal radioactive counts were 6–20 times those in the adjacent ileum. Contact radioautographs of the specimens compared to the histologic sections from which they were made demonstrated that the 99m Tc was concentrated in the mucous cells of the gastric mucosal surgace and gastric pits. 99m Tc Scintiphotography should be utilized to identify ectopic gastric mucosa in symptomatic patients, recognizing that the amount of ectopic gastric mucosa present will be one determining factor in visualization.
Prevention of urinary retention after anorectal operations.

Postoperative inability to urinate is likely to be due to acute distention of the bladder by rapid fluid intake, general sensory depression, sphincter spasm, prostatic obstruction, or a combination of these factors. A simple, effective method for the prevention of postoperative urinary retention and the need for catheterization which approaches 100 per cent effectiveness has been outlined. It consists of enteral and parenteral fluid restriction in the pre- and postoperative periods and theprecise instruction of the patient and nursing staff in proper technic to achieve this goal. It is extremely important to make positive statements and give precise instructions to the patient. If this is not done properly, there will be approximately 10 per cent failures. Use of the method resulted in spontaneous urination in 100 consecutive adult patients of all ages following surgical procedures on the anorectum.
Data driven adaptation for QoS aware embedded vision systems

We present a data driven method for high efficiency in a neuro-inspired vision pipeline. Our goal is to reduce low-utility computation arising from duplicated processing. In this paper, we examine two forms of redundant information in image data, spatiotemporal redundancy and channel redundancy. To maximize efficiency, the paper presents a dynamic, configurable approach that limits the computational cost of hardware by reusing previous results and sharing data paths. Our technique reduces redundant computation from both spatiotemporal and channel redundancy.
Treatment of acute leukemia in adults

Improvement in the management of acute leukemia in adults has not progressed nearly so rapidly as has the treatment of childhood leukemia. One important difference is that most adults have myeloblastic or related forms of the disease (AML), whereas the majority of children have lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). However, even adults with ALL fail to respond as well to a similar regimen as do children with the same type of leukemia. In a recent series of patients with ALL who were treated with the complex multiple drug "L-2" protocol, the incidence of complete remission in adults was 78% vs. 99% in children, and the median duration of remission was only 24 months in the adults, whereas it has not yet been reached in the children and is projected to be over 4 years. In AML and the related nonlymphoblastic forms of acute leukemia, therapy is still unsatisfactory in both adults and children. With the best current drug treatment schedules, the incidence of complete remission is now better than 50%, but it is often difficult to compare the exact remission rates in different series because of differences in reporting results. In adults treated with the multiple drug "L-6" protocol, the incidence of remission in previously untreated patients was 56% and the median duration of remission was 10 months. The median survival of all patients (responders and non-responders) was 1 year whereas that of responders only was 2 years. It is encouraging that a significant proportion of those patients with AML who have complete remissions now remain in remission for extended periods; about 45% of patients responding to the "L-6" protocol remained in remission over 1 year, and 18% have been in continuous remission for 2 to over 4 years. Even after discontinuing treatment, some patients with AML stay in remission for long periods, and it is possible that some of them may have been cured. If this proves to be true, it becomes of great importance to determine what is different about the patients who do exceptionally well as compared to the majority who continue to die within a year. However, no consistent nor distinctive favorable prognostic features have yet been identified.