cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An algorithmic approach to CT of pulmonary arterial disorders

A broad spectrum of pulmonary arterial disorders can be diagnosed on computed tomography (CT). Comprehensive evaluation of the pulmonary arteries requires careful assessment of their configuration, patency, and size. This article presents an organized approach to pulmonary arterial disorders on CT, with particular attention to characteristic CT findings that aid in accurate diagnosis and proper management.
A Mind-Map of Geology

(2000). A Mind-Map of Geology. Journal of Geoscience Education: Vol. 48, No. 5, pp. 599-599.
Efficacy of the PARP Inhibitor Veliparib with Carboplatin or as a Single Agent in Patients with Germline BRCA1 - or BRCA2 -Associated Metastatic Breast Cancer: California Cancer Consortium Trial NCT01149083

Purpose: We aimed to establish the MTD of the poly (ADP-ribose) (PAR) polymerase inhibitor, veliparib, in combination with carboplatin in germline BRCA1- and BRCA2- (BRCA)-associated metastatic breast cancer (MBC), to assess the efficacy of single-agent veliparib, and of the combination treatment after progression, and to correlate PAR levels with clinical outcome.Experimental Design: Phase I patients received carboplatin (AUC of 5-6, every 21 days), with escalating doses (50-20 mg) of oral twice-daily (BID) veliparib. In a companion phase II trial, patients received single-agent veliparib (400 mg BID), and upon progression, received the combination at MTD. Peripheral blood mononuclear cell PAR and serum veliparib levels were assessed and correlated with outcome.Results: Twenty-seven phase I trial patients were evaluable. Dose-limiting toxicities were nausea, dehydration, and thrombocytopenia [MTD: veliparib 150 mg po BID and carboplatin (AUC of 5)]. Response rate (RR) was 56%; 3 patients remain in complete response (CR) beyond 3 years. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 8.7 and 18.8 months. The PFS and OS were 5.2 and 14.5 months in the 44 patients in the phase II trial, with a 14% RR in BRCA1 (n = 22) and 36% in BRCA2 (n = 22). One of 30 patients responded to the combination therapy after progression on veliparib. Higher baseline PAR was associated with clinical benefit.Conclusions: Safety and efficacy are encouraging with veliparib alone and in combination with carboplatin in BRCA-associated MBC. Lasting CRs were observed when the combination was administered first in the phase I trial. Further investigation of PAR level association with clinical outcomes is warranted. Clin Cancer Res; 23(15); 4066-76. ©2017 AACR.
Shigella : Virulence Factors and Pathogenicity

Each year, Shigella species are responsible for an estimated 100–150 million infections worldwide, with nearly 500,000 of these infections occurring in the United States, where approximately 30% of cases can be attributed to the ingestion of contaminated foods. Clinical symptoms associated with shigellosis (otherwise known as bacillary dysentery) include diarrhea, sometimes bloody; fever; stomach cramps; and tenesmus. Possible sequellae of Shigella infection can include hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) or rheumatoid arthritis. This pathogen possesses a repertoire of virulence factors that modulate the host innate/adaptive immune systems and enable the bacteria to invade colonic epithelial cells, escape from phagocytic vesicles, and finally destroy mucosal cells lining the intestinal tract. One of the hallmarks of Shigella pathogenesis is utilization of the type three secretion system (T3SS) to insert bacterial effector proteins into host cells. Most of the genetic factors necessary for pathogenicity reside on a large virulence plasmid (pINV), while a few of these genes are in chromosomal pathogenicity islands.
Brown’s Lunar Treatise: Theory of the Motion of the Moon; Containing a New Calculation of the Expressions for the Coordinates of the Moon in Terms of the Time

This treatise, published in Volumes 53, 54, 57, and 59 of the Memoirs of the Royal Astronomical Society (1897–1908), embodies some 18 years of calculative labor,from 1890 to 1907, on the development of the lunar theory. Initially Brown worked alone, but after 1895 he was assisted by Ira I. Sterner, A.B., of Haverford College, as a computer. The treatise incorporated the results of Brown’s earlier papers, and carried to completion the task he had set for himself. This consisted of two sub-tasks. In the first and more extensive of these, he developed the theory under idealizing restrictions: the assumption of a strictly elliptical orbit for the Sun relative to the center of gravity of the Earth and Moon, and the representation of the bodies of the Moon, Earth, and Sun as point-masses – equivalent to assuming the mass-distribution within each of them to be spherically symmetrical.
A medium access scheme for voice, self-similar traffic and data integration in DS-CDMA personal communication networks

Future CDMA personal communication systems will support a wide range of broadband services exhibiting self-similarity or long-range dependence. The long-tail property of the aggregate self-similar traffic makes it difficult for the system to predict future resource usage from current resource usage. The result is difficulty in efficient management and control of admitted traffic components. To address this problem, we propose a medium access scheme that guarantees Quality-of-Service (QoS) requirements for a DS-CDMA personal communication system that supports voice, delay-insensitive data and self-similar traffic. The performance of the scheme is analyzed in terms of outage probability, data packet delay and throughput of voice and self-similar traffic. Numerical results are calculated and compared with the performance of a system without control of data access.
Associations between narrative transportation, risk perception and behaviour intentions following narrative messages about skin cancer.

Objective: Narrative messages may be an effective strategy to increase risk perceptions and motivate preventive behaviours related to cancer. The aim of this research was to examine associations between narrative transportation (i.e. psychological absorption into a narrative), risk perceptions, and intentions following narrative messages about skin cancer.Design: In two studies, women who reported indoor tanning read first-person narrative messages about skin cancer. We examined associations between narrative transportation and the women’s responses to the narratives, including risk perceptions for skin cancer and behaviour intentions to reduce risk. Associations between transportation, knowledge and worry were also examined.Results: Greater transportation was associated with higher intentions to perform skin self-examination, talk to one’s doctor about skin cancer, and look for more information. Greater transportation was also associated with higher gut feelings of risk and higher worry about skin cancer...
Bicaudal D2 facilitates the cytoplasmic trafficking and nuclear import of HIV-1 genomes during infection

Numerous viruses, including HIV-1, exploit the microtubule network to traffic toward the nucleus during infection. Although numerous studies have observed a role for the minus-end microtubule motor dynein in HIV-1 infection, the mechanism by which the viral core containing the viral genome associates with dynein and induces its perinuclear trafficking has remained unclear. Here, we report that the dynein adapter protein bicaudal D2 (BICD2) is able to interact with HIV-1 viral cores in target cells. We also observe that BICD2 can bind in vitro-assembled capsid tubes through its CC3 domain. We observe that BICD2 facilitates infection by promoting the trafficking of viral cores to the nucleus, thereby promoting nuclear entry of the viral genome and infection. Finally, we observe that depletion of BICD2 in the monocytic cell line THP-1 results in an induction of IFN-stimulated genes in these cells. Collectively, these results identify a microtubule adapter protein critical for trafficking of HIV-1 in the cytoplasm of target cells and evasion of innate sensing mechanisms in macrophages.
Sex Differences in Cardiac Arrhythmias

Cardiac arrhythmias comprise a heterogenous group of disorders ranging from benign premature heart beats to malignant sustained ventricular tachyarrhythmias. Catheter and device-based therapies coupled with landmark clinical trials have enhanced our understanding and treatment of these disorders. Studies evaluating pathophysiology, disease course, and therapeutic options for cardiac arrhythmias have been performed in predominantly male patients. Sex differences have the potential to impact diagnostic and therapeutic interventions in a wide variety of medical conditions and cardiac arrhythmias are no exception. This chapter will review sex differences in different cardiac arrhythmias with an emphasis on clinical evaluation, treatment, and outcomes.
Ultrasound Image Transmission via Camera Phones

Ultrasound is a modern imaging technique, which delivers no radiation and does not require injection of any chemicals to enhance visualization. Unlike other imaging modalities, it can reach locations that are inaccessible to plain X-rays, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging. Ultrasound image transmission through camera phones can be useful in scenarios like remote locations, disaster scenes, battlefields, cruise ships, ground and air ambulances, and expeditions. The most important requirement for transmitting ultrasound images and video via camera phones is access to a network on which the camera phone can transmit data.
Development of α-melanocortin analogs for melanoma prevention and targeting.

Melanocortins, particularly α-Melanocortin (α-Melanocyte stimulating hormone, α-MSH), were first identified as the physiological regulators of pigmentation in many vertebrate species. Their role in regulating human pigmentation was unequivocally demonstrated in the 1990s, with the cloning of the human melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) gene from human melanocytes and the demonstration that functional MC1R is expressed by these cells. α-Melanocyte stimulating hormone is a tridecapeptide, with the core sequence His6-Phe7-Arg8-Trp9 shared with β- and γ-MSH and identified as essential for receptor activation and stimulation of pigmentation. The small size of α-MSH makes it an attractive molecule for drug design. There has been longstanding interest in the development of melanocortin analogs that target the MC1R expressed on normal melanocytes and melanoma cells. The aim has been to develop MC1R agonists that stimulate melanogenesis and confer photoprotection to human melanocytes and thus prevent skin cancer formation. Recent findings that the physiological α-MSH not only stimulates melanogenesis, but also reduces the extent of DNA damage caused by exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation have further rejuvenated the interest in developing synthetic MC1R agonists for skin cancer prevention. α-Melanocortin analogs have also been developed for imaging of melanoma tumors, localization of residual metastasis and specific delivery of radionuclides to eradicate melanoma tumors, sparing normal tissues. The main challenge is to develop specific MC1R agonists that will target melanocytes for skin cancer prevention, or for localization and treatment of metastatic melanoma.
Electron dynamics and energy conversion in O-type linear-beam devices.

A general nonlinear interaction theory is used to investigate the effects of transverse fields (i.e., radial circuit fields and radial space-charge fields) in traveling-wave amplifiers for a variety of beam-focusing conditions. Magnetic focusing fields which are periodic or tapered (increased) with distance along the device are considered in addition to uniform magnetic fields. Results are presented for Brillouin flow and near-Brillouin flow, and the minimum magnetic field strength required to effectively constrain the electron beam is determined as a function of the operating parameters for the various focusing systems. Confined flow is also examined for the uniform-field case in order to have a basis of comparison from which the effects of radial motion of the beam electrons can be determined. The results indicate the importance of transverse effects and further yield information on the stability of strongly modulated cylindrical electron beams.-
Application of Heat to Quickly Stain and Destain Proteins Stained with Coomassie Blue

Proteins separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis have been visualized reliably by staining with Coomassie Brilliant Blue. In this chapter, we show that it is possible to drastically reduce protein staining and destaining time, while simultaneously increasing detection sensitivity, with the application of heat. It took 5 min to stain proteins at 55, 62.5, or 70 °C for a 1.5 mm gel, while it took 45, 45, and 20 min respectively for destaining. The time for staining was 1 min for a 0.8 mm gel at 65 °C, 2 min at 60 °C and 5 min at 55 °C. The destaining of proteins separated on a 0.8 mm gel took 8, 15, and 20 min at 65, 60, and 55 °C respectively. Proteins can be stained and destained rapidly with the use of heat, while enhancing detection sensitivity.
Analysis of crystalline and solution states of ligand-free spermidine N-acetyltransferase (SpeG) from Escherichia coli.

Spermidine N-acetyltransferase (SpeG) transfers an acetyl group from acetyl-coenzyme A to an N-terminal amino group of intracellular spermidine. This acetylation inactivates spermidine, reducing the polyamine toxicity that tends to occur under certain chemical and physical stresses. The structure of the SpeG protein from Vibrio cholerae has been characterized: while the monomer possesses a structural fold similar to those of other Gcn5-related N-acetyl­transferase superfamily members, its dodecameric structure remains exceptional. In this paper, structural analyses of SpeG isolated from Escherichia coli are described. Like V. cholerae SpeG, E. coli SpeG forms dodecamers, as revealed by two crystal structures of the ligand-free E. coli SpeG dodecamer determined at 1.75 and 2.9 A resolution. Although both V. cholerae SpeG and E. coli SpeG can adopt an asymmetric open dodecameric state, solution analysis showed that the oligomeric composition of ligand-free E. coli SpeG differs from that of ligand-free V. cholerae SpeG. Based on these data, it is proposed that the equilibrium balance of SpeG oligomers in the absence of ligands differs from one species to another and thus might be important for SpeG function.
Influence of carrier water pH, foliar fertilizer, and ammonium sulfate on 2,4-D and 2,4-D plus glyphosate efficacy

Carrier water pH is an important factor for enhancing herbicide efficacy. Coapplying agrochemical products with the herbicide might save time and resources; however, the negative effect of foliar fertilizers on herbicide efficacy should be thoroughly evaluated. In greenhouse studies, the effect of carrier water pH (4, 6.5, and 9), foliar fertilizer (zinc [Zn], manganese [Mn], or without fertilizer), and ammonium sulfate (AMS) at 0% or 2.5% vol/vol was evaluated on 2,4-D and premixed 2,4-D plus glyphosate efficacy for giant ragweed, horseweed, and Palmer amaranth control. In addition, a field study was conducted to evaluate the effect of carrier water pH (4, 6.5, and 9); and Zn or Mn foliar fertilizer on premixed 2,4-D plus glyphosate efficacy for horseweed and Palmer amaranth control. In the greenhouse study, 2,4-D and premixed 2,4-D plus glyphosate provided 5% greater weed control at acidic compared with alkaline carrier water pH. Coapplied Mn foliar fertilizer reduced 2,4-D and premixed 2,4-D plus glyphosate efficacy at least 5% for weed control. Addition of AMS enhanced 2,4-D and premixed 2,4-D plus glyphosate efficacy at least 6% for giant ragweed, horseweed, and Palmer amaranth control. In the field study, few significant differences occurred between coapplied Zn or Mn foliar fertilizer for any treatment variables. Therefore, carrier water pH, coapplied foliar fertilizer, and water-conditioning adjuvants have potential to influence herbicide performance. However, weed species could play a role in the differential response of these factors on herbicide efficacy.Nomenclature: 2,4-D; glyphosate; giant ragweed, Ambrosia trifida L. AMBTR; horseweed, Erigeron canadensis (L.) ERICA; Palmer amaranth, Amaranthus palmeri S. Watson AMAPA
Erratum: Development of a clinical teaching evaluation and feedback tool for emergency medicine faculty (Western Journal of Emergency Medicine (2019 ) 20:1 (50-57 ) DOI: 10.5811/westjem.2018.11.39987)

Author(s): Dehon, Erin; Robertson, Ellen; Barnard, Marie; Gunalda, Jonah; Puskarich, Michael | Abstract: Introduction: Formative evaluations of clinical teaching for emergency medicine (EM) faculty are limited. The goal of this study was to develop a behaviorally-based tool for evaluating and providing feedback to EM faculty based on their clinical teaching skills during a shift. Methods: We used a three-phase structured development process. Phase 1 used the nominal group technique with a group of faculty first and then with residents to generate potential evaluation items. Phase 2 included separate focus groups and used a modified Delphi technique with faculty and residents, as well as a group of experts to evaluate the items generated in Phase 1. Following this, residents classified the items into novice, intermediate, and advanced educator skills. Once items were determined for inclusion and subsequently ranked they were built into the tool by the investigators (Phase 3). Results: The final instrument, the “Faculty Shift Card,” is a behaviorally-anchored evaluation and feedback tool used to facilitate feedback to EM faculty about their teaching skills during a shift. The tool has four domains: teaching clinical decision-making; teaching interpersonal skills; teaching procedural skills; and general teaching strategies. Each domain contains novice, intermediate, and advanced sections with 2-5 concrete examples for each level of performance. Conclusion: This structured process resulted in a well-grounded and systematically developed evaluation tool for EM faculty that can provide real-time actionable feedback to faculty and support improved clinical teaching. There was an error on Figure 1. Faculty Shift Card. The top card originally stated, “What should this faculty member do to improve their procedural teaching skills? Select all that apply.” This should be revised to, “What should this faculty member do to improve their clinical decision making teaching skills? Select all that apply.”
GLP-1 Analog Modulates Appetite, Taste Preference, Gut Hormones, and Regional Body Fat Stores in Adults With Obesity

Purpose Obesity is associated with alterations in appetite, gastrointestinal hormone levels and excessive fat mass. We previously published a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, 16-week trial on effects of once-daily glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analog, liraglutide on weight, satiation, and gastric functions in obese volunteers. The aim of this substudy is to compare to placebo the effects of liraglutide on appetite, taste preference, regional body fat stores, and anthropometric measurements. Methods Forty obese adults received standard instruction for weight management, monthly behavioral intervention utilizing motivational interviews, and 16-week treatment of once-daily liraglutide (escalated to 3 mg SQ daily). At baseline and 16 weeks, the following were measured: appetite and taste preferences rated every 30 min for 5 h after ingesting 300 mL Ensure®; maximal tolerated volume (MTV) with a nutrient drink test; fasting and postprandial bioactive GLP-1 (7-36) and peptide YY (PYY) levels; total and regional body fat with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and waist and hip circumference. Results Thirty-five participants (17 liraglutide; 18 placebo) completed the trial. Compared to placebo group, liraglutide group had significant reductions in MTV; prospective food consumption score; desire to eat something sweet, salty, savory or fatty; and an increase in perceived fullness. Postprandial plasma levels of GLP-1 decreased and PYY levels increased with liraglutide relative to baseline. Significant reductions in total body, trunk, and upper and lower body fat without reduction in lean body mass were observed. Conclusion Liraglutide 3 mg SQ modulates appetite, taste preference, gut hormones, and regional body fat stores in adults with obesity without reduction in lean body mass.
Data set on Separase Inhibitor–Sepin-1 toxicity on organ weights, hematology and clinical parameters in Sprague-Dawley rats

Separase Inhibitor-Sepin-1 has shown great promise as a developmental chemotherapeutic agent to treat Separase-overexpressing tumors, however, very little is known about its toxicity profile. Here we present the data set of organ weights, hematology, and clinical chemistry parameters in Sepin-1-treated Sprague-Dawley rats. The data set was generated from two study groups-Main Study and Recovery Study, with in-life duration of 29 and 57 days, respectively. Rats in both groups were dosed with 0, 5, 10 and 20 mg/kg of Sepin-1 once daily for 28 consecutive days. Blood samples from rats in Main Study were collected and their organs were weighed on day 29. The animals in Recovery Study were on a dose-off period of 28 days after dosed with Sepin-1 for 28 days, and their blood samples and organ weight data were collected on day 57. Body weights of rats in both Main and Recovery Study were collected twice a week. Hematology parameters of whole blood samples, such as hemoglobin concentration, counts of platelet and blood cells etc., were determined. Clinical chemistry parameters of serum, such as concentrations of albumin, glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride, alanine/aspartate aminotransferase, ect., were measured. Further analysis may yield useful information regarding the toxicity of Sepin-1 in Sprague-Dawley Rats. Data presented here are related to a research article entitled "Toxicity study of separase inhibitor-Sepin-1 in Sprague-Dowley rats", available in Pathology - Research and Practice Journal [1].
Properties and Functional Role of a Sodium-Activated Nonselective Cation Channel in Lobster Olfactory Receptor Neurons

Research on lobster olfactory receptor cells has implicated a novel sodium-activated nonselective cation channel in olfactory transduction. In addition to providing some of the first evidence for a functional role for sodium-activated channels, these studies provide a possible explanation as to how the sensitivity of these channels to sodium could be much greater in intact cells than in excised patches.
A Meta-analytic Review of the Five Minute Speech Sample as a Measure of Family Emotional Climate for Youth: Relations with Internalizing and Externalizing Symptomatology

The Five Minute Speech Sample’s (FMSS) measure of parental expressed emotion (EE), defined as criticism (CRIT) and emotional overinvolvement (EOI), has been increasingly used to measure family emotional climate in relation to youth psychopathological development. As CRIT and EOI were defined based on adults, a meta-analysis and systematic review was conducted to analyze the presence and strength of an effect among maternal CRIT and EOI with youth internalizing and externalizing problems. A random effects model was used to analyze the 42 studies on families of youth (aged 1.5 to 19). There was a small, significant relation among maternal CRIT with youth internalizing and externalizing problems and among EOI with youth internalizing problems. EOI was not significantly related to externalizing problems. The current study suggests that the FMSS measure of CRIT is a more robust correlate of youth internalizing and externalizing symptoms than EOI, but EOI does relate to internalizing behaviors. Few moderators emerged, highlighting a continued need to identify factors accounting for heterogeneity. The current results suggest that the FMSS measure of CRIT may be a valuable measure of the family emotional climate in families of youth, but care should be taken when including analyses on EOI.
Students’ use of symbolic forms when constructing equations of boundary conditions

Instructors in upper-level undergraduate physics should pay more attention to emphasizing the conceptual underpinnings of boundary conditions by focusing student attention on what is being set equal to what on the two sides of the equation.
Business Models for Shared and Autonomous Mobility

Shared autonomous systems are an opportunity for cites to improve mobility, yet little discussion has framed their business model and how public and private stakeholders can plan for their deployment. This chapter frames the range of shared services as well as the anticipated opportunities and challenges to shared autonomous mobility ecosystems. It anticipates opportunities of “platform” and opportunities of “place”, and frames these within the context of autonomous vehicle development, concluding that partnerships, both business-to-business and across sectors, are a key to solving many business challenges for shared and autonomous mobility.
Stem size selectivity is stronger than species preferences for beaver, a central place forager

Abstract The North American beaver (Castor canadensis) is a classic ecosystem engineer, creating and expanding wetlands throughout their vast range. As important as their impacts on aquatic ecosystems, beaver as central place foragers restructure the surrounding forest community by their selective cutting of preferred woody species and size classes. These effects, which have been studied in several regions of North America, are still poorly understood within forests of the northeastern United States, where beaver populations are rebounding following regional extirpation. Here, beaver represent a key disturbance agent in a region where other drivers such as fire and timber cutting have been greatly reduced over the last century. Understanding their specific impacts on forest composition and structure is needed to manage these forests and their multiple ecosystem services. In this context, we assessed beaver foraging preferences throughout New York’s Adirondack State Park, a vast northern wooded region, to model their impacts on forest structure and composition. Across 19 sites distributed throughout the Park, beavers preferentially harvested stems
Medicaid expansion and neonatal outcomes in Oregon

Rationale, aims and objectives Low-income women disproportionately experience preventable, adverse neonatal outcomes. Prior to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Medicaid expansion, many low-income women became eligible for coverage only after becoming pregnant, reducing their access to healthcare before pregnancy and creating discontinuities in care that may delay Medicaid enrollment. The objective of this study was to examine the impact of the ACA Medicaid expansion on neonatal outcomes among low-income populations in Oregon. Method We used linked Oregon birth certificate and Medicaid data from 2008-2016 to identify control and policy groups of women who gave birth both before and after implementation of the ACA Medicaid expansion (n = 21 204 births to N = 10 602 women). We conducted a difference-in-differences analysis of the effect of Medicaid expansion on preterm birth, low birthweight (LBW), neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admissions, and neonatal mortality. Results We found policy effects on reducing LBW (interaction aOR = 0.71, 95% CI: 0.57-0.90) and preterm birth (interaction aOR 0.77, 95% CI: 0.62 = 0.96) but not on NICU admissions or neonatal mortality. Conclusions This study provides evidence that expanding Medicaid coverage may have positive effects on LBW and preterm birth, which could lead to important long-term impacts on childhood and later-life health outcomes. States that have not expanded their Medicaid programs might improve neonatal outcomes among low-income populations by extending insurance coverage to low-income adults.
Dendritic cell responses to Plasmodium falciparum in a malaria-endemic setting

Plasmodium falciparum causes the majority of malaria cases worldwide and children in sub-Saharan Africa are the most vulnerable group affected. Non-sterile clinical immunity that protects from symptoms develops slowly and is relatively short-lived. Moreover, current malaria vaccine candidates fail to induce durable high-level protection in endemic settings, possibly due to the immunomodulatory effects of the malaria parasite itself. Because dendritic cells play a crucial role in initiating immune responses, the aim of this study was to better understand the impact of cumulative malaria exposure as well as concurrent P. falciparum infection on dendritic cell phenotype and function. In this cross-sectional study, the phenotype and function of dendritic cells freshly isolated from peripheral blood samples of Malian adults with a lifelong history of malaria exposure who were either uninfected (n = 27) or asymptomatically infected with P. falciparum (n = 8) was assessed. Additionally, plasma cytokine and chemokine levels were measured in these adults and in Malian children (n = 19) with acute symptomatic malaria. With the exception of lower plasmacytoid dendritic cell frequencies in asymptomatically infected Malian adults, peripheral blood dendritic cell subset frequencies and HLA-DR surface expression did not differ by infection status. Peripheral blood myeloid dendritic cells of uninfected Malian adults responded to in vitro stimulation with P. falciparum blood-stage parasites by up-regulating the costimulatory molecules HLA-DR, CD80, CD86 and CD40 and secreting IL-10, CXCL9 and CXCL10. In contrast, myeloid dendritic cells of asymptomatically infected Malian adults exhibited no significant responses above the uninfected red blood cell control. IL-10 and CXCL9 plasma levels were elevated in both asymptomatic adults and children with acute malaria. The findings of this study indicate that myeloid dendritic cells of uninfected adults with a lifelong history of malaria exposure are able to up-regulate co-stimulatory molecules and produce cytokines. Whether mDCs of malaria-exposed individuals are efficient antigen-presenting cells capable of mounting an appropriate immune response remains to be determined. The data also highlights IL-10 and CXCL9 as important factors in both asymptomatic and acute malaria and add to the understanding of asymptomatic P. falciparum infections in malaria-endemic areas.
A Longitudinal Study of Parent Gestures, Infant Responsiveness, and Vocabulary Development in Infants at Risk for Autism Spectrum Disorder

We investigated gestures that parents used with 12-, 18-, and 24-month-old infants at high or low risk for autism spectrum disorder (ASD; high-risk diagnosed with ASD: n = 21; high-risk classified as no ASD: n = 34; low-risk classified as no ASD: n = 34). We also examined infant responses to parent gestures and assessed the extent to which parent gesture relates to vocabulary development. Parents of three groups gestured in similar frequencies and proportions. Infants, in turn, responded similarly to parent gestures regardless of the infant’s ASD risk and later diagnosis. Finally, parents who gestured more at 12 months had children with better vocabulary at 36 months than parents who gestured less. These findings highlight the importance of examining parent gestures when predicting language development.
Chondroinductive Peptides for Cartilage Regeneration.

Inducing and maintaining a hyaline cartilage phenotype are the greatest challenge for cartilage regeneration. Synthetic chondroinductive biomaterials might be the answer to the unmet clinical need for a safe, stable, and cost-effective material capable of inducing true hyaline cartilage formation. The past decade witnessed an emergence of peptides to achieve chondrogenesis, as peptides have the advantages of versatility, high target specificity, minimized toxicity and immunogenicity, and ease of synthesis. In this study, we review peptides as the basis for creating promising synthetic chondroinductive biomaterials for in situ scaffold-based cartilage regeneration. We provide a thorough review of peptides evaluated for cartilage regeneration while distinguishing between peptides reported to induce chondrogenesis independently, and peptides reported to act in synergy with other growth factors to induce cartilage regeneration. In addition, we highlight that most peptide studies have been in vitro, and appropriate controls are not always present. A few rigorously performed in vitro studies have proceeded to in vivo studies, but the peptides in those in vivo studies were mainly introduced through systemic, subcutaneous, or intra-articular injections, with a paucity of studies employing in situ defects with appropriate controls. Clinical translation of peptides will require the evaluation of these peptides in well-controlled in vivo cartilage defect studies. In the decade ahead, we may be poised to leverage peptides to design devices that are safe, reproducible, cost-efficient, and scalable biomaterials, which are themselves chondroinductive to achieve true hyaline cartilage regeneration without the need for growth factors and other small molecules.
Consideration of Margin in SRS/SRT Plans for Brain Metastases Treatment With Volumetric Modulated Radiotherapy

Purpose/Objective(s) It is well known that when treating brain metastases tumors local control depends not only on the amount of dose delivered but also on the margin to the clinical target volume in SRS/SRT treatment. The margin is commonly thought to be contributed from uncertainties of planning/treatment delivery, such as setup, imaging and target contouring, etc. It is defined as the margin expanding clinical target volume (CTV) to plan target volume (PTV). This margin, however, is the intended planning margin (PM) of clinicians. When considering contribution to the local control/toxicities from margin, it should be the delivery margin (DM), which is defined as the volume between CTV and the isodose surface at the minimum dose to PTV. The DM is contributed both from the high dose region outside of PTV and from the PM. The former has been ignored in current clinical practice though it is also a crucial part to affect the local control and treatment toxicities since this part is the high dose region in normal tissue but low dose region for the target. Materials/Methods To access the contribution from the high dose region outside of PTV, two indexes were proposed: the modified conformity index (mCI) and modified Paddick confirmity index (mPCI). mCI = Vmin/PTV = CI + Vextra/PTV, where Vmin is the volume of brain tissue received the minimum dose to PTV or more and Vextra is the volume of brain tissue received the dose between the minimum dose to PTV and the prescribed dose. mPCI = TV2min/(PTV*Vmin), where TVmin is the target volume that is covered by the minimum dose to PTV. This retrospective study evaluated the DM with mCI, mPCI, V12 Gy, etc. for volumetric modulated radiotherapy (VMAT) planning techniques in 50 clinically treated brain metastasis cases. Results After implementing a set of planning techniques conformity has largely improved in the retrospective plans. Comparing the clinically treated plans with the retrospective study plans, the average CI and mCI were decreased by (6.5 ± 4.1)% and (28.1 ± 5.7)%, and the PCI and mPCI have been increased by (8.9 ± 2.9)% and (17.2 ± 2.8)% respectively (all data is expressed as ± std). The V12 (normal tissue volume irradiated within 12 Gy) was reduced by more than 35%. Comparison of historic data from 3D conformal, Dynamic conform arc and VMAT was made, and it showed that the typical CI decreased about 36% from the pioneer modality of SRS/SRT (1.67 ± 0.07) to the latest modality, VMAT (1.07 ± 0.05). This indicates that the more conformal is treatment plan the smaller the DM margin. Conclusion Proposed mCI and mPCI to evaluate the DM in SRS/SRT plans for BM treatment with VMAT. Implementation of a set of planning techniques in VMAT largely improved the conformity of the VMAT plans. Comparison of CI from the progress of treatment modalities showed that the DM has been reduced 36% and its clinical impact on local control/toxicity is unknown. Author Disclosure D. Wang: None. A.S. DeNittis: None.
Helminths in Meat

There are four meat-borne helminths of medical significance: Trichinella species, Taenia solium, and Taenia asiatica, which occur primarily in pork; and Taenia saginata, which is found in beef. There are a variety of reasons for this, including animal management systems that perpetuate infection, inadequate or poorly enforced inspection requirements for slaughtered animals, new sources of infection, and demographic changes in human populations that introduce new culinary practices of preparing meats. Lower infectivity of other Trichinella species for the domestic pig diminishes their importance in the domestic cycle. As cooking, freezing, and other processing methods kill Trichinella larvae in meat, most human infections have resulted from instances where meat preparation was not adequate. Pork products such as fresh sausage, summer sausage, and dried or smoked sausage have all been implicated as sources of human trichinellosis. Diagnosis is based on a history of eating infected meat, symptoms, laboratory findings, and recovery of larvae from muscles. After the mid-1980s, pigs are putatively identified as the intermediate host for a unique taeniid (similar to T. saginata and T. solium) that had a predilection for liver tissue in a multitude of experimental hosts. For this reason, both T. asiatica and T. saginata asiatica have appeared and continue to appear in the literature as the scientific names identifying this organism. Although most cases of taeniasis are asymptomatic, up to one-third of patients complain of nausea or abdominal “hunger” pain that is often relieved by eating.
Corticotropin Releasing Factor mRNA Expression in the Hypothalamic Paraventricular Nucleus and the Central Nucleus of the Amygdala is Modulated by Repeated Acute Stress in the Immature Rat

Age-appropriate acute stress, such as cold exposure, provokes the secretion of corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) from the hypothalamus, leading to a robust increase of plasma corticosterone in the immature rat. This activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal system is accompanied by a stress-induced increase of steady-state CRF-mRNA expression in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN). In the current study, we analysed changes in CRF-mRNA expression in the PVN and the central nucleus of the amygdala (ACe) in the immature rat in response to a single episode of cold stress and three repeated exposures to this same stressor. CRF-mRNA expression in the PVN increased after a single, but not repeated exposures to cold stress, while repeated acute stress increased the content of the CRF peptide in the anterior hypothalamus. In the ACe, repeated episodes of cold stress resulted in increased expression of CRF-mRNA. These findings indicate a differential regulation of CRF gene expression in the PVN and ACe of the immature rat by single and repeated acute stress.
Phytohemagglutinin-Induced Proliferation of Guinea Pig Thymus-Derived Lymphocytes II. Accessory Cell Function

The accessory cell requirement for mitogen-induced T lymphocyte proliferation has been investigated by using a population of guinea pig lymph node lymphocytes enriched in T cells and markedly depleted of macrophages and B lymphocytes. We have found that effective phytohemagglutinin-induced proliferation of T cells is dependent on the participation of accessory cells. Augmentation of PHA responsiveness was noted when cultural conditions were manipulated to increase cell density, suggesting that physical proximity between T cell and accessory cell is required for efficient triggering. Both syngeneic and allogeneic macrophages, as well as syngeneic fibroblasts, serve as accessory cells in this response whereas polymorphonuclear leukocytes or thymocytes do not. Thus, although PHA-induced T lymphocyte proliferation requires accessory cells, the specificity of these cells is strikingly less stringent than for antigen-mediated triggering of immune guinea pig T cells, a response which is dependent upon participation of syngeneic macrophages.
Characterization of a new restart strategy for randomized backtrack search

We propose an improved restart strategy for randomized backtrack search, and evaluate its performance by comparing to other heuristic and stochastic search techniques for solving random problems and a tight real-world resource allocation problem. The restart strategy proposed by Gomes et al. [1] requires the specification of a cutoff value determined from an overall profile of the cost of search for solving the problem. When no such profile is known, the cutoff value is chosen by trial-and-error. The Randomization and Geometric Restart (RGR) proposed by Walsh does not rely on a cost profile but determines the cutoff value as a function of a constant parameter and the number of variables in the problem [2]. Unlike these strategies, which have fixed restart schedules, our technique (RDGR) dynamically adapts the value of the cutoff parameter to the results of the search process. Our experiments investigate the behavior of these techniques using the cumulative distribution of the solutions, over different run-time durations, values of the cutoff, and problem types. We show that distinguishing between solvable and over-constrained problem instances yields new insights on the relative performance of the search techniques tested. We propose to use this characterization as a basis for building new strategies of cooperative, hybrid search.
Trace metal modification of immunocompetence: II. Effect of Pb2+, Cd2+, and Cr3+ on RNA turnover, hexokinase activity, and blastogenesis during B-lymphocyte transformation in vitro

Abstract Lymphocytes obtained from the spleens of Balb/c mice have been cultured in the presence of 10 −7 to 10 −3 M , Cd 2+ , Pb 2+ , or Cr 3+ . The cells were also treated with the mitogen, bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The parameters examined were cell viability, blastogenesis, RNA turnover, and hexokinase activity. It was observed that each metal ion decreased the viability but to a lesser degree than LPS. When the lymphocytes were cultured with both metal ion and LPS present, the ion protected against the decreased viability caused by the LPS. Each of the metal ions was mitogenic of itself. However, with both the metal ion and LPS present, the total stimulation was less than that expected. It is postulated that two events occur, (A) metal ion-LPS interaction preventing the full stimulating effect of each and (B) metal ion binding to lymphocyte plasma membrane.
Myopic management behavior with efficient, but imperfect, financial markets

Abstract In order to gain insights into possible cross-national differences in asymmetric information between managers and investors, we empirically assess differences in timing between the U.S. and the Japanese stock markets in impounding accounting information. Our findings indicating that the Japanese stock market incorporates information earlier than does the U.S. stock market are consistent with the hypothesis that Japanese investors, who tend to have close ties to the businesses they invest in, are better informed than their U.S. counterparts. We suggest, building on Stein's (1989) work on market signaling/jamming, that larger information asymmetries in the U.S. may be creating incentives for a short-run management style detrimental to long-term competitiveness.
Solving gate-matrix layout problems by simulated evolution

A simulated evolution algorithm for synthesizing CMOS random logic modules is presented. The gate-matrix layout problem is solved as a one-dimensional transistor gates placement problem. Given a placement of all the transistor gates, simulated evolution offers a systematic method to improve the quality of the layout that is measured by the number of tracks needed for the given netlist. Extensive simulation results indicate that it produces very compact gate-matrix layouts. >
Reducing complications with improving gastric band design.

Abstract Background Adjustable gastric bands have undergone significant design changes since their introduction. Band diameter, balloon volume, and shape have been modified to create high balloon fill volumes but lower and more evenly distributed pressure on the upper stomach. There have been few comparative studies on complication rates with different band types. Objectives To compare complication rates among different types of adjustable gastric bands at a single institution. Setting University-affiliated hospital, United States. Methods We performed a retrospective cohort study of adult patients with a body mass index≥35.0 kg/m 2 who underwent laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding from January 1, 2001 to December 31, 2007 and were followed for at least 5 years. Primary outcomes of the analysis were complications requiring operative management at our institution within the first 5 years after initial band placement. Reoperative procedures included diagnostic laparoscopy, hiatal hernia repair, band repositioning, replacing the band, removing the band, and converting to another bariatric procedure. Results For this study, 2711 patients met the inclusion criteria—1827 (67.4%) women and 884 (32.6%) men. Bands initially implanted included first-generation bands, LAP-BAND™ 9.75 cm (24.0%), 10 cm (33.9%) and Vanguard (24.8%) and second-generation bands, AP standard (9.5%) and AP large (7.9%). Four hundred and eighty-five patients experienced complications requiring reoperation. The 5-year follow-up rate was 63.3%. In the first 5 postoperative years there were significantly fewer complications with second-generation bands (10.0% versus 19.5%, P Conclusion First-generation bands are associated with higher complication rates. Our study found that complication rates decreased with each successive model. We can expect that future design modifications will continue improve the performance with the adjustable gastric band. (Surg Obes Relat Dis 2015;0:000–00.) © 2015 American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. All rights reserved.
A survey on technologies for automatic forest fire monitoring, detection, and fighting using unmanned aerial vehicles and remote sensing techniques

Because of their rapid maneuverability, extended operational range, and improved personnel safety, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) with vision-based systems have great potential for monitoring, detecting, and fighting forest fires. Over the last decade, UAV-based forest fire fighting technology has shown increasing promise. This paper presents a systematic overview of current progress in this field. First, a brief review of the development and system architecture of UAV systems for forest fire monitoring, detection, and fighting is provided. Next, technologies related to UAV forest fire monitoring, detection, and fighting are briefly reviewed, including those associated with fire detection, diagnosis, and prognosis, image vibration elimination, and cooperative control of UAVs. The final section outlines existing challenges and potential solutions in the application of UAVs to forest firefighting.
Necessity for EFGR kinase enzymatic activity in the coordinate upregulation of a chemoattractant gene suite by vasoactive intestinal peptide in mouse lymphocytes (784.5)

Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) is a potent chemoattractant for immune cells that is delivered by the peripheral nervous system to immune organs. However, the molecular mechanism regulating VIP’s chemoattractant properties is not known. Previously, our group published the VIP transcriptome in resting CD4 T cells, which identified a chemoattractant gene set (e.g. EGFR, Snail and syt XIII) that was coordinately upregulated. We hypothesize that these gene products control the chemoattractant activity of VIP in immune cells. Moreover, we propose that this chemoattractant gene set is transcriptionally upregulated by the transactivation of EGFR by VIP as is observed in non-immune cells, including breast and colon cancer cells. This research will utilize primary mouse splenocytes treated +/- VIP over various time intervals in an attempt to identify which FACS-sorted splenocyte subpopulations are sensitive to VIP and the extent to which the chemoattractant gene set is upregulated. Optimal conditions will be r...