cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Diffusion of Innovations and Sports Concussion Return to Play: A Mixed Methods Investigation of Decision-Makers, Policy, Protocols, and Evidence Based Best Practices (P1.348)

OBJECTIVE: Identify and assess key decision-makers for sports concussion RTP policies in high school, their perceptions of evidence based concussion guidelines, and implementation of these guidelines and state policy using a novel application of Diffusion of Innovations and mixed qualitative and quantitative methods BACKGROUND: Nearly 4 million concussions happen in the US annually. High-school athletes are susceptible because over 7 million play high-school sports, and they often hide concussions and return to play (RTP) prematurely. Sports concussion research rarely incorporates socio-behavioral theory and qualitative methods. Diffusion of innovations (DOI) theory has examined social systems and preventive health intervention adoption. DOI incorporates communication and decision-making between key influencers regarding adopting innovations. Thus, DOI theory will elucidate sports concussion RTP decision-making processes. Finally, Georgia policy has unclear RTP standards, meaning schools may have significant policy differences. DESIGN: The present study used in-depth-interviews and surveys to assess key professionals’ involvement in RTP policy decision-making. Participants included school administrators, athletic trainers, concussion researchers, parent advocates, and physicians in Georgia. Study instrument topics stemmed from DOI theory: knowledge; innovation characteristics; characteristics of decision-makers: socioeconomic, personality, and communication behavior. Analyses involved codebook development for thematic analysis of key themes from over 20 interviews and surveys. RESULTS: Results yielded 13 major themes revealing several notable findings: athletic trainers are critical resources for implementing concussion policies; lack of enforcement and monitoring for Georgia’s concussion law; competition among providers and diagnostic tools stemming from a business focused model; variability in high-schools’ protocols and possibly compliance due to availability of resources and proper personnel. CONCLUSIONS: Understanding how decision-making regarding protecting athletes is important. Qualitative applications of DOI will allow individuals to describe theirs and others’ roles in decision-making processes. Understanding this dynamic is critical concussion prevention. Results provide suggestions for best practices and improvements of concussion policies and protocols. Disclosure: Dr. Youngner has nothing to disclose. Dr. Thompson has received personal compensation for activities with Hughston Sports Medicine Foundation as a consultant. Dr. Elifson has nothing to disclose.
A single-algorithm ensemble approach to estimating suitability and uncertainty: cross-time projections for four Malagasy tenrecs

Aim Ecological niche models (ENMs) are used widely in ecology, evolution, global change biology, but model uncertainty remains an underappreciated issue. Generally, either a single model from one algorithm or an ensemble of single models from different algorithms is used to provide a prediction. In addition to variability among algorithms, recent studies have shown the need to consider variability within a single algorithm, for example optimizing model complexity by tuning model settings. We present an ensemble ENM using a single-algorithm approach, while adjusting model settings to maximize performance. Location Madagascar. Methods We used maxent, bioclimatic variables and occurrence records of four species of Malagasy tenrecs (Family Tenrecidae). We calibrated and evaluated preliminary models using a jackknife approach, tuning two model settings to estimate optimal model complexity. We chose a suite of top-performing preliminary models and then generated a consensus prediction. Furthermore, we calculated the variability among predictions of the co-optimal models to indicate variation in geography (i.e. uncertainty). We then did the same after projecting the predictions to climatic estimates for the Last Glacial Maximum and the year 2070. Results The default settings were never identified as optimal for any of the four species. The model settings considered as the co-optimal solutions essentially led to the same evaluation statistics; however, they showed high variation in their geographic predictions for three of the four species. Additionally, variation among such models was greater when transferred across time. Main conclusions This approach likely can provide better predictions for a single algorithm as well as quantifications of within-algorithm uncertainty, qualities that are highly useful in interpreting reconstructed suitable areas or forecasts of potential range shifts under future climate change. Finally, this within-algorithm uncertainty can be integrated into a larger framework that considers variability due to other factors (e.g. related to input data, alternate algorithms or various Global circulation models).
β-(1,3)-Glucan Unmasking in Some Candida albicans Mutants Correlates with Increases in Cell Wall Surface Roughness and Decreases in Cell Wall Elasticity

Candida albicans is among the most common human fungal pathogens, causing a broad range of infections, including life-threatening systemic infections. The cell wall of C. albicans is the interface between the fungus and the innate immune system. The cell wall is composed of an outer layer enriched in mannosylated glycoproteins (mannan) and an inner layer enriched in β-(1,3)-glucan and chitin. Detection of C. albicans by Dectin-1, a C-type signaling lectin specific for β-(1,3)-glucan, is important for the innate immune system to recognize systemic fungal infections. Increased exposure of β-(1,3)-glucan to the immune system occurs when the mannan layer is altered or removed in a process called unmasking. Nanoscale changes to the cell wall during unmasking were explored in live cells with atomic force microscopy (AFM). Two mutants, the cho1Δ/Δ and kre5Δ/Δ mutants, were selected as representatives that exhibit modest and strong unmasking, respectively. Comparisons of the cho1Δ/Δ and kre5Δ/Δ mutants to the wild type reveal morphological changes in their cell walls that correlate with decreases in cell wall elasticity. In addition, AFM tips functionalized with Dectin-1 revealed that the forces of binding of Dectin-1 to all of the strains were similar, but the frequency of binding was highest for the kre5Δ/Δ mutant, decreased for the cho1Δ/Δ mutant, and rare for the wild type. These data show that nanoscale changes in surface topology are correlated with increased Dectin-1 adhesion and decreased cell wall elasticity. AFM, using tips functionalized with immunologically relevant molecules, can map epitopes of the cell wall and increase our understanding of pathogen recognition by the immune system.
Optically generated ultra-stable microwaves

I will discuss the recent developments at the National Institute of Standards in the generation and broadband synthesis of ultra-low noise microwave signals from optical sources.
Presidential address: Systemic radiotherapy—the new frontier

Abstract The present day use of systemically administered isotopes and conjugated isotopic combinations are reviewed. Administration of 131 Iodine in thyroid cancer led to a 97% local control and 50% complete remission of pulmonary metastases. Specificity directed isotopic therapy (metabolic, hormonal, and antibody) is discussed and includes factors such as tumor physiology and isotopic linkage. The clinical results and new knowledge being gained in Hodgkin's disease, non-Hodgkin's, colorectal, hepatoma, intrahepatic biliary and gliomatous cancers are reviewed. The dose response relationship to tumor remission is demonstrated in Hodgkin's treated With 131 I antiferritin (40% partial remission) and more recently 90 Yttrium antiferritin (50% complete response). Varied routes of administration, the problem of anti-antibody and bone marrow transplantation are discussed. Finally, the challenge to radiobiologists, physicists, chemists, immunologists, nuclear radiologists, and radiation oncologists is emphasized by definition of the new laboratory and clinical app roaches being developed in systemic radiation therapy.
Reconstructing and mining protein energy landscape to understand disease

Many pathogenic mutations percolate to protein dysfunction by altering dynamics. Reconstructing protein energy landscapes promises to relate dynamics to function but is generally infeasible due to the disparate spatio-temporal scales involved. Recent algorithmic innovation allows reconstructing energy landscapes of medium-size proteins in the presence of sufficient prior wet-laboratory structure data. The ability to do so on healthy and pathogenic variants of a protein is renewing the need for landscape analysis and comparison. Here we describe a novel landscape analysis method that detects altered landscape features in response to mutations and allows formulating hypotheses on the impact of mutations on (dys)function. This work opens up interesting avenues into automated analysis and summarization of landscapes.
Engineering the Plastid Genome: Problems and Potential

The plastid genome of higher plants is a 120-kb to 160-kb double-stranded DNA present in 1,900 to 50,000 copies per leaf cell. To obtain genetically stable transplastomic lines every one of the plastid genome copies (ptDNA) should be uniformly altered in a plant. Transformation is accomplished through the following steps: (i) introduction of the transforming DNA, encoding antibiotic resistance, by the biolistic process or PEG treatment; (ii) integration of the transforming DNA by two homologous recombination events and (iii) elimination of wild-type genome copies during repeated cell divisions on a selective medium. As integration of foreign DNA always occurs by homologous recombination, plastid transformation vectors contain segments of the plastid genome to target insertions to specific locations. The plastid vectors also contain a marker for selection. Useful, non-selectable genes are cloned next to selectable marker genes, with which they are introduced into the plastid genome. Homology-directed genome manipulations have included introduction of point-mutations and deletion of targeted genes.
Acute Arachidonate Toxicity

Since the discovery by Silver et al. [1] that injection of arachidonic acid into the marginal ear vein of the rabbit induced sudden death, this method has gained wide acceptance as a technique for in vivo study of antithrombotic agents acting via arachidonic acid metabolites. Typically, the agent being studied is used to pretreat experimental animals, and the incidence of death of pretreated animals following intravenous sodium arachidonate infusion is compared to the mortality of nonpretreated animals. The cause of death has been shown to be occlusive pulmonary platelet aggregation [1]. Because this method is used to evaluate potential therapeutic agents, it is useful to consider the factors which regulate the mortality induced by arachidonate.
A National Science Foundation Proposal

The objectives of this research are to improve software productivity, reliability, and performance of complex systems. The approach combines program transformations, sometimes in reflective ways, to turn very high-level perspicuous specifications into efficient implementations. These transformations will be implemented in a metatransformational system, which itself will be transformed from an executable specification into efficient code. Experiments will be conducted to assess the research objectives in scaled-up applications targetted to systems that perform complex program analysis and translation.
The Emergent Self

Studies show a correlation between large relative brain size and life-history characteristics of extended parental care, delayed reproduction, and prolonged lifespan. These can be seen as part of a strategy that emphasizes learning and behavioral flexibility as a way to deal with the challenges of a changing environment. Four species that share these characteristics are reviewed: chimpanzees, elephants, dolphins, and ravens. They share higher-order conceptual thinking, such as advanced tool making and tool modification. They are capable of third-order social relations whereby two individuals form an alliance against a third. Mental representations appear to operate in flexible mimicry and mirror self-recognition. Species with large relative brain size have much to express in terms of communication and manipulation of their environment and value conspecifics, as shown by unusual caregiving behavior. These qualities appear anthropomorphic because our species shares with these groups a convergent strategy of using delayed maturation and extended brain growth as a way to promote learning, insight, and flexible behavior to secure a niche.
Consumer Health Information Provision: A Workshop for Librarians

AbstractLibrarians in all library settings may receive health-related questions from patrons. Librarians in settings outside of medical and consumer health libraries may not have received training ...
Drug Overdose Trends among Black Indiana Residents: 2013-2017

Objective To understand trends in race-specific mortality rates between blacks and whites to discover any racial inequalities that might exist for drug overdose deaths. To delve into the types of drugs that are prominently involved in black drug overdose deaths from 2013-2017 in the state of Indiana. Introduction Black Hoosiers, the largest minority population in Indiana, make up almost 10% of the state’s population, and accounted for 8% of the total resident drug overdose deaths from 2013-2017 compared to whites at 91%. However, a closer look at race-specific mortality rates might reveal racial inequalities. Therefore, the purpose of this project was to analyze drug overdose morality rates among white and black Hoosiers to discover possible racial inequalities and to discover trends in drug involvement in overdose deaths among blacks. Methods Drug overdose deaths that occurred in Indiana between 2013 and 2017 were identified using the underlying and contributing cause of death ICD-10 codes and abstracted from the Indiana State Department of Health’s annual finalized mortality dataset. Race-specific drug overdose death rates were calculated and compared among racial groups. Drug overdose deaths in blacks were examined for trends over time and by the types of drugs involved. Results Between 2013 and 2017, drug overdose mortality rates for whites increased from 17.05 to 27.28 per 100,000. Blacks saw a higher rate increase during this same time frame: from 10.74 to 30.62 per 100,000, surpassing the mortality rate of whites by the end of 2017. Drug overdose deaths in blacks increased 197% from 2013-2017 and drug specific mortality rate increases were seen across all drug category’s. Opioids, which were involved in 61% of the 2017 drug overdose deaths among blacks, had a rate increase from 3.05 to 18.62 per 100,000 between 2013 and 2017. Drug specific overdose mortality rate increases were also seen for overdoses involving cocaine (1.76 to 10.62 per 100,000), benzodiazepines (0.32 to 3.08 per 100,000), and psychostimulants other than cocaine (0.16 to 1.69 per 100,000) such as amphetamines. Conclusions While white Hoosiers had higher drug overdose mortality rates between 2013 and 2016, black Hoosiers had a greater mortality rate increase and surpassed the mortality rate in whites in 2017. Opioids, the most frequently involved substance in overdose deaths among blacks from 2013-2017, showed increasing rates during this time period. However, increases in drug specific overdose mortality rates for cocaine, benzodiazepines, and psychostimulants other than cocaine also call for public health attention. These results promote the inclusion of minority health experts in drug overdose prevention efforts and issue a call for future prevention efforts to be targeted toward the state’s largest minority population.
Acute aerobic exercise effects on cognitive function in breast cancer survivors: a randomized crossover trial

Many breast cancer survivors (BCS) report deficits in cognitive function. Physical activity (PA) has been associated with better processing speed and memory in healthy adults and thus may be a useful method for improving cognition in BCS. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of an acute bout of PA on processing speed and spatial working memory in a sample of BCS. Using a repeated measures, crossover design, BCS [N = 27; Mage (SD) = 49.11(8.05)] completed two sessions in counterbalanced order: 30 min of moderate-intensity treadmill walking and 30 min of seated rest. Women completed cognitive tasks immediately before and after each session. Within-subjects repeated measures analyses of variance revealed a significant time by session effect for processing speed reaction time [F (1,25) = 5.02, p = .03, η2 = 0.17]. This interaction was driven by significantly reduced reaction time (e.g., faster response) post-exercise and no change post-rest. Further between-subjects analyses indicated a significant time by session by moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) split [F (1,25) = 5.23, p = .03, η2 = 0.17], such that women who engaged in ≥45 min of average daily MVPA reduced their reaction time post-exercise (p = .01) and increased RT post-rest (p = .06). Time by session effects for spatial working memory 3-item accuracy and 4-item reaction time trended towards significance, p = 0.08 and p = 0.10, respectively, again driven by better performance post-exercise. The moderate effect of acute exercise on domains of memory and processing speed in BCS is encouraging. Cancer-related cognitive impairment remains largely misunderstood; however, the results from the present study offer preliminary evidence for the positive relationship between acute exercise and cognition in BCS. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02592070 . Registered 30 October 2015. Retroactively registered.
Assessing Neural Network Scene Classification from Degraded Images

Scene recognition is an essential component of both machine and biological vision. Recent advances in computer vision using deep convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have demonstrated impressive sophistication in scene recognition, through training on large datasets of labeled scene images (Zhou et al. 2018, 2014). One criticism of CNN-based approaches is that performance may not generalize well beyond the training image set (Torralba and Efros 2011), and may be hampered by minor image modifications, which in some cases are barely perceptible to the human eye (Goodfellow et al. 2015; Szegedy et al. 2013). While these “adversarial examples” may be unlikely in natural contexts, during many real-world visual tasks scene information can be degraded or limited due to defocus blur, camera motion, sensor noise, or occluding objects. Here, we quantify the impact of several image degradations (some common, and some more exotic) on indoor/outdoor scene classification using CNNs. For comparison, we use human observers as a benchmark, and also evaluate performance against classifiers using limited, manually selected descriptors. While the CNNs outperformed the other classifiers and rivaled human accuracy for intact images, our results show that their classification accuracy is more affected by image degradations than human observers. On a practical level, however, accuracy of the CNNs remained well above chance for a wide range of image manipulations that disrupted both local and global image statistics. We also examine the level of image-by-image agreement with human observers, and find that the CNNs’ agreement with observers varied as a function of the nature of image manipulation. In many cases, this agreement was not substantially different from the level one would expect to observe for two independent classifiers. Together, these results suggest that CNN-based scene classification techniques are relatively robust to several image degradations. However, the pattern of classifications obtained for ambiguous images does not appear to closely reflect the strategies employed by human observers.
Immature bovine cartilage wear by fatigue failure and delamination

This study investigated wear damage of immature bovine articular cartilage using reciprocal sliding of tibial cartilage strips against glass or cartilage. Experiments were conducted in physiological buffered saline (PBS) or mature bovine synovial fluid (SF). A total of 63 samples were tested, of which 47 exhibited wear damage due to delamination of the cartilage surface initiated in the middle zone, with no evidence of abrasive wear. There was no difference between the friction coefficient of damaged and undamaged samples, showing that delamination wear occurs even when friction remains low under a migrating contact area configuration. No difference was observed in the onset of damage or in the friction coefficient between samples tested in PBS or SF. The onset of damage occurred earlier when testing cartilage against glass versus cartilage against cartilage, supporting the hypothesis that delamination occurs due to fatigue failure of the collagen in the middle zone, since stiffer glass produces higher strains and tensile stresses under comparable loads. The findings of this study are novel because they establish that delamination of the articular surface, starting in the middle zone, may represent a primary mechanism of failure. Based on preliminary data, it is reasonable to hypothesize that delamination wear via subsurface fatigue failure is similarly the primary mechanism of human cartilage wear under normal loading conditions, albeit requiring far more cycles of loading than in immature bovine cartilage.
Nanozymes for Catalytic Cancer Immunotherapy

Nanozymes are nanoparticles with enzyme-mimicking properties. With the intrinsic catalytic properties, nanozymes are endowed with merits to modulate the immunosuppression of tumor immune microenvir...
RNA-recognition motif in Matrin-3 mediates neurodegeneration through interaction with hnRNPM

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is an adult-onset, fatal neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive loss of upper and lower motor neurons. While pathogenic mutations in the DNA/RNA-binding protein Matrin-3 (MATR3) are linked to ALS and distal myopathy, the molecular mechanisms underlying MATR3-mediated neuromuscular degeneration remain unclear. We generated Drosophila lines with transgenic insertion of human MATR3 wildtype, disease-associated variants F115C and S85C, and deletion variants in functional domains, ΔRRM1, ΔRRM2, ΔZNF1 and ΔZNF2. We utilized genetic, behavioral and biochemical tools for comprehensive characterization of our models in vivo and in vitro. Additionally, we employed in silico approaches to find transcriptomic targets of MATR3 and hnRNPM from publicly available eCLIP datasets. We found that targeted expression of MATR3 in Drosophila muscles or motor neurons shorten lifespan and produces progressive motor defects, muscle degeneration and atrophy. Strikingly, deletion of its RNA-recognition motif (RRM2) mitigates MATR3 toxicity. We identified rump, the Drosophila homolog of human RNA-binding protein hnRNPM, as a modifier of mutant MATR3 toxicity in vivo. Interestingly, hnRNPM physically and functionally interacts with MATR3 in an RNA-dependent manner in mammalian cells. Furthermore, common RNA targets of MATR3 and hnRNPM converge in biological processes important for neuronal health and survival. We propose a model of MATR3-mediated neuromuscular degeneration governed by its RNA-binding domains and modulated by interaction with splicing factor hnRNPM.
DNA-PKcs Inhibition Extends Allogeneic Skin Graft Survival.

BACKGROUND Organ transplantation is life-saving and continued investigations into immunologic mechanisms that drive organ rejection are needed to improve immunosuppression therapies and prevent graft failure. DNA-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit, DNA dependent-protein kinase catalytic subunit (DNA-PKcs), is a critical component of both the cellular and humoral immune responses. In this study, we investigate the contribution of DNA-PKcs to allogeneic skin graft rejection to potentially highlight a novel strategy for inhibiting transplant rejection. METHODS Fully MHC mismatched murine allogeneic skin graft studies were performed by transplanting skin from BalbC mice to C57bl6 mice and treating with either vehicle or the DNA-PKcs inhibitor NU7441. Graft rejection, cytokine production, immune cell infiltration, and donor-specific antibody formation were analyzed. RESULTS DNA-PKcs inhibition significantly reduced necrosis and extended graft survival compared with controls (mean survival 14 d versus 9 d, respectively). Inhibition reduced the production of the cytokines interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α, and IFN-γ and the infiltration of CD3+ lymphocytes into grafts. Furthermore, DNA-PKcs inhibition reduced the number of CD19+ B cells and CD19+ CD138+ plasma cells coinciding with a significant reduction in donor-specific antibodies. At a molecular level, we determined that the immunosuppressive effects of DNA-PKcs inhibition were mediated, in part, via inhibition of nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells signaling through reduced expression of the p65 subunit. CONCLUSIONS Our data confirm that DNA-PKcs contributes to allogeneic graft rejection and highlight a novel immunologic function for DNA-PKcs in the regulation of nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells and concomitant cytokine production.
Bayesian hierarchical modeling of people’s decision-making during an extreme weather event

Investigating effects of a alarm type on people’s level of fear and protective actions during a tornado event can result in a more effective warning system. After collecting data on people’s responses to hypothetical tornado displays of the Probabilistic Hazard Information (PHI) warning system, we studied effects of providing some uncertainty information about the tornado threat on people’s levels of fear and protective action. There is an ongoing debate, however, on the appropriate method for analyzing these ordinal and Likert-type data. We adopted a Bayesian multivariate approach with non-informative priors to analyze the ordinal data. It has been demonstrated that the common practice of treating ordinal data as metric can lead to false conclusions, and that the Bayesian approach is more powerful than nonparametric tests for handling this kind of data. Our method finds that providing some uncertainty information about any particular tornado occurrence through PHI significantly increases people’s levels of fear and severity of the protective actions. The results also show that as the distance between the tornado and the weather warning recipient decreases, people’s levels of fear and severity of protective actions increase and vice versa.
Matrix Force Analysis of Thin-Walled Structures

The Bernoulli's hypothesis of plane cross sections remaining perpendicular to the deformed center line does not adequately approximate the deformation due to the torsion of a long prismatic shell (or thin-walled structure with open cross section). Due to the warping, the pure torsion gives rise to the occurrence of normal stresses in longitudinal direction. In order to simplify the analysis, a specific design model standing in between a long shell and a classical beam is introduced. The matrix force method proves to be a powerful tool for the analysis of such thin-walled members. The flexibility, transformation, and equilibrium matrices are derived. Two different techniques of matrix force method are presented in detail. Through a limiting process (when the torsional rigidity approaches zero) it is shown that the suggested procedure presents the generalization of the method used in the case of solid beam assemblages.
Lessons from History: What Today’s Retailers Can Learn from the Marketing of The Wizard of Oz Stage Show in the 1900s

Despite the contributions of services marketing research to retailing – such as blueprinting, critical incidents, and service quality – some crucial issues related to the drivers of retail success have not yet been addressed. To address these gaps in the literature, this essay applies dramaturgy to retailing and also goes beyond the drama metaphor to examine a theater performance at the turn of the previous century that was immensely successful. The stage show is a good model for many types of retail encounters where “performance” is instrumental in short- and long-term success. The objective of this essay is to share how this classic stage show was carefully managed and marketed, with customers always in mind, and to provide insights into how retailers today can apply similar strategies and tactics for success and profitability.
Biofuels: Fungal, Bacterial and Insect Degraders of Lignocellulose

Lignocellulose is the main structural component of plant cell walls and can be degraded into simple sugars with the help of hydrolytic enzymes. Lignocellulose is composed of three polymers: cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. Certain fungi, bacteria and insects have evolved the ability to degrade lignocellulose. Cellulose is degraded to glucose by the synergistic action of three distinct classes of enzymes: endoglucanases, exoglucanases and β-glucosidases. Owing to its variable structure and organisation, hemicellulose degradation requires various enzymes with diverse modes of action, which include endoxylanases, endomannanases, β-xylosidases, β-mannosidases, β-galactosidases, α-glucuronidases, α-arabinofurnosidases, α-galactosidases, acetyl xylan esterases, feruloyl esterases and glucuronyl esterases. Lignin degradation is much more difficult due to its complex structure and bonding to carbohydrate complexes. It requires oxidative enzymes, such as lignin peroxidases, manganese peroxidases, versatile peroxidases, laccases, and several other auxiliary enzymes. Commercial biofuel production from lignocellulosic materials can be achieved by artificially producing these cellulases, hemicellulases and lignases in recombinant form. Key Concepts: Lignocellulose is the most abundant renewable resource of energy on the Earth. Lignocellulose is a general term referring to a natural complex of three biopolymers: cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. Simple sugar can be released from lignocellulose using three categories of enzymes: cellulases, hemicellulase and lignases. Released sugars from lignocellulose can be fermented into biofuel (ethanol). Wood-rotting fungi such as white-rot, brown-rot and soft-rot fungi can degrade lignocellulose. Aerobic and anaerobic bacteria such as Bacillus, Streptomyces, Cellulomonas and Clostridium possess lignocellulose-degrading enzymes. Wood and plant-feeding insects such termites, roaches, longhorn beetles and grasshoppers are rich sources of novel lignocellulases genes. Lignocellulases of fungal, bacterial and insect origin can be artificially/recombinantly produced in various protein expression systems. Fungal, bacterial and insect lignocellulases are expected to play important roles in the development of successful lignocellulose conversion technologies. Keywords: bioethanol; insects; protozoa; termites; recombinant enzymes; bioenergy; biomass; biorefining; renewable energy
Escritura y percepción en la narrativa de Juan José Saer: El entenado como sistema de representación especular.

Resumen es: En el presente articulo, estudio como la narrativa de Juan Jose Saer se desenvuelve como antropologia especulativa. Tomando como punto de referencia su n...
New Results on the Distance Scale and the Hubble Constant

The following topics are discussed: galactic extinction, primary distance indicators, distance moduli in the Local and Sculptor groups, luminosity index, HI line width, velocity dispersion, sosies, supernovae, Malmquist bias, distance to the Hercules supercluster and Hubble constant. The best estimate is still 90 ≦ H0 ≦ 100.
Linear Equations and Inequalities

This chapter presents the concept of graphing some straight lines. It presents the definition of the slope of a line and the use of this definition to find two special forms of the equation of a straight line. The chapter discusses how to find the graph of a straight line given the equation of that line and how to find the equation of a line given the coordinates of two points on the line or given one point and the slope of the line. A rectangular coordinate system is made by drawing two real number lines at right angles to each other. The two number lines, called axes, cross each other at 0. This point is called the origin. Positive directions are to the right and up. Negative directions are down and to the left. The horizontal number line is called the x -axis and the vertical number line is called the y -axis. A linear inequality in two variables is any expression that can be put in the form ax + by c , where a , b , and c are real numbers ( a and b are not both 0). The inequality symbol can be any one of the following four: , and ≥. The solution set for a linear inequality is a section of the coordinate plane. The boundary for the section is found by replacing the inequality symbol with an equal sign and graphing the resulting equation.
Safe and accurate placement of thoracic and thoracolumbar percutaneous pedicle screws without image-navigation.

Background: Percutaneous pedicle screw placement is now commonly used to treat spinal instability. It is imperative, especially at thoracic levels, to avoid damage to adjacent neurovascular structures. Although more technically demanding when compared with the lumbar spine, we believe that the percutaneous placement of thoracic pedicle screws can be performed safely without image-navigation. Purpose: The purpose was to evaluate the safety of percutaneous pedicle screw placement in the thoracic and thoracolumbar spine without image-navigation. Study Design / Setting: A retrospective study at a single institution. Patient Sample: Patients over the age of 18 years who presented with degenerative disease, trauma or tumor that required surgical stabilization. Outcome Measures: Our outcomes included postoperative plain film X-rays and computerized tomography (CT). Materials and Methods: We performed a retrospective study of patients who underwent percutaneous pedicle screw placement without image-navigation between T2 and L2. Results: Between 2005 and 2011, a total of 507 pedicle screws were placed in 120 patients. The indications included trauma (17%), tumor (8%), and degenerative conditions (75%). The mean age was 61.3 years (range: 20-81 years). Fifty-seven percent were male, and 43% were female. The mean blood loss was 297 ± 40 ml. All patients underwent postoperative anterior-posterior and lateral films that showed safe placement of pedicle screws. Moreover, 57% of patients underwent postoperative CT imaging. There was 1 (0.4%) medial breach and 13 (5%) lateral breaches of the pedicle screw patients who underwent CT imaging as read by an independent neuroradiologist. None of the breaches resulted in adverse neurological sequelae either immediately after or at most recent follow-up. Conclusion: Thoracic and thoracolumbar percutaneous pedicle screw placement can be performed safely and accurately without image-navigation.
Surgical intervention for Kasaback-Merritt Syndrome: A case report

Abstract Kasabach-Merritt Syndrome (KMS) is an uncommon phenomenon characterized by the presence of a vascular tumor in association with thrombocytopenia, consumption coagulopathy and hemodynamic instability. Typically presents in infancy and involve the skin and deep soft tissues of the arms and legs. Treatment options vary with clinical presentation, and ranges from medical management to immediate surgical intervention. We present an unusual case of a newborn with KMS and fatal hemodynamic collapse imminent, which was successfully treated with surgical resection at our institution.
Integration in finite terms and simplification with dilogarithms: a progress report

In this extended abstract, we report on a new theorem that generalizes Liouville’s theorem on integration in finite terms. The new theorem allows dilogarithms to occur in the integral in addition to elementary functions. The proof is based on two identities, for the dilogarithm, that characterize all the possible algebraic relations among dilogarithms of functions that are built up from the rational functions by taking transcendental exponentials, dilogarithms, and logarithms. We report also on a generalization of Risch’s decision procedure for integrating elementary transcendental functions to include dilogarithms and elementary functions in the integral.
Examination of domain-reversed layers in Z-cut LiNbO/sub 3/ using maker fringe analysis, atomic force microscopy, and high-resolution X-ray diffraction imaging

Domain-engineering of LiNbO3 is of importance for the fabrication of efficient cw and pulsed second-harmonic generators and optical parametric oscillators.
Fault analysis based on integration of digital relay and DFR data

This paper discusses integration of two existing automated analysis applications, DFR data analysis and digital relay data analysis, to achieve comprehensive fault analysis. As inputs to the integrated application, digital relay files and reports are introduced. The proposed strategy and implementation of integration are outlined. An example is used to demonstrate features of the integrated application developed so far.
The LBL Magnetic Measurements Data Acquisition System

The LBL Magnetic Measurements Engineering (MME) Group has developed a Real-Time Data Acquisition System (DAS) for magnetic measurements. The design objective was for a system that was versatile, "portable," modular, expandable, quickly and easily reconfigurable both in hardware and software, and inexpensive. All objectives except the last were attained. An LSI 11/23 microcomputer is interfaced to a clock-calendar, printer, CRT control terminal, plotter with hard copy, floppy and hard disks, GPIB, and CAMAC buses. Off-the-shelf hardware and software have been used where possible. Operational capabilities include: (1) measurement of high permeability materials, (2) harmonic error analysis of (a) superconducting dipoles and (b) rare earth cobalt (REC) and conventional quadrupole magnets, and (3) 0.1% accuracy x-y mapping with Hall probes. Results are typically presented in both tabular and graphical form during measurements. Only minutes are required to switch from one measurement capability to another. Brief descriptions of the DAS capabilities, some of the special instrumentation developed to implement these capabilities, and planned developments are given below.
Hydrocarbon Component of the Drosophila virilis (Diptera: Drosophilidae) Aggregation Pheromone: (Z)-10-Heneicosene

Existence of an aggregation pheromone in Drosophila virilis Sturtevant was demonstrated by laboratory bioassay. Sexually mature (6+-day-old) males produce compounds that attract males and females of any age tested (1–9 days). Extracts of males or females 2 to 6 days old were also significantly more attractive than controls, but extracts of females 6 to 10 days old or of males or females <2 days old were not attractive. Flies had to be starved for a number of hours before they would respond to the pheromone. The pheromone from mature males contained two classes of active compounds: one with the polarity of hydrocarbons and the other similar in polarity to esters. The active hydrocarbon was identified as (Z)-10-heneicosene, and the synthetic alkene was active. Twenty-one carbon (Z)-alkenes with double bonds in locations other than the 10 position were not active. Homologs of (Z)-10-heneicosene having chain lengths of 18, 19, or 23 to 25 carbons were inactive, while the 20- and 22-carbon homologs had moderate activity. None of the ( E )-alkenes was active.
Inhaled aztreonam lysine: an evidence-based review.

Introduction: Chronic airway infection in cystic fibrosis (CF) is linked with progressive loss of pulmonary function and is the primary cause of mortality. Treatment regimens have generally focused on the use of chronic antibiotic therapy to target Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA), a major pathogen associated with a decline in FEV1%. Specifically, inhaled antibiotic therapy provides high antibiotic sputum concentrations and decreases bacterial burden. Areas covered: This article describes the pharmacology, pharmacodynamics/pharmacokinetics, clinical efficacy, microbiology and safety of aztreonam lysine (AZLI, Cayston), an inhaled antibiotic indicated for use in CF patients with PA. Articles were identified using MEDLINE (1966 – June 13, 2013) and EMBASE (1947 – June 13, 2013). Abstracts from the annual meeting (2011 – 2012) of the North American Cystic Fibrosis Conference were searched to identify additional publications. Expert opinion: AZLI is an additional product that can be used in the management of CF an...
Daily prostate targeting using implanted radiopaque markers.

Abstract Purpose: A system has been implemented for daily localization of the prostate through radiographic localization of implanted markers. This report summarizes an initial trial to establish the accuracy of patient setup via this system. Methods and Materials: Before radiotherapy, three radiopaque markers are implanted in the prostate periphery. Reference positions are established from CT data. Before treatment, orthogonal radiographs are acquired. Projected marker positions are extracted semiautomatically from the radiographs and aligned to the reference positions. Computer-controlled couch adjustment is performed, followed by acquisition of a second pair of radiographs to verify prostate position. Ten patients (6 prone, 4 supine) participated in a trial of daily positioning. Results: Three hundred seventy-four fractions were treated using this system. Treatment times were on the order of 30 minutes. Initial prostate position errors (σ) ranged from 3.1 to 5.8 mm left-right, 4.0 to 10.1 mm anterior-posterior, and 2.6 to 9.0 mm inferior-superior in prone patients. Initial position was more reproducible in supine patients, with errors of 2.8 to 5.0 mm left-right, 1.9 to 3.0 mm anterior-posterior, and 2.6 to 5.3 mm inferior-superior. After prostate localization and adjustment, the position errors were reduced to 1.3 to 3.5 mm left-right, 1.7 to 4.2 mm anterior-posterior, and 1.6 to 4.0 mm inferior-superior in prone patients, and 1.2 to 1.8 mm left-right, 0.9 to 1.8 mm anterior-posterior, and 0.8 to 1.5 mm inferior-superior in supine patients. Conclusions: Daily targeting of the prostate has been shown to be technically feasible. The implemented system provides the ability to significantly reduce treatment margins for most patients with cancer confined to the prostate. The differences in final position accuracy between prone and supine patients suggest variations in intratreatment prostate movement related to mechanisms of patient positioning.
Gallium Solvent Extraction from Sulfuric Acid Solutions Using OPAP

Abstract The U.S. Bureau of Mines investigated solvent extraction methods for recovering gallium from sulfuric acid leach filtrates produced from hydrometallurgical zinc residues. These filtrates typically had pH values of 0 to 0.5, too low for effective gallium recovery by traditional extractants. Of the nine extractants tested, octylphenyl acid phosphate (OPAP) was the most effective. Gallium stripping was accomplished using a 1.5 M-H2SO4 liquor. A continuous solvent extraction system was designed and operated for 32.4 hr, treating a 0.32 g/L Ga and 20 g/L Fe filtrate. Overall gallium recovery in the system was 94%.
Metal Adsorption onto Bacterial Surfaces: Development of a Predictive Approach

Abstract Aqueous metal cation adsorption onto bacterial surfaces can be successfully modeled by means of a surface complexation approach. However, relatively few stability constants for metal-bacterial surface complexes have been measured. In order to determine the bacterial adsorption behavior of cations that have not been studied in the laboratory, predictive techniques are required that enable estimation of the stability constants of bacterial surface complexes. In this study, we use a linear free-energy approach to compare previously measured stability constants for Bacillus subtilis metal-carboxyl surface complexes with aqueous metal-organic acid anion stability constants. The organic acids that we consider are acetic, oxalic, citric, and tiron. We add to this limited data set by conducting metal adsorption experiments onto Bacillus subtilis, determining bacterial surface stability constants for Co, Nd, Ni, Sr, and Zn. The adsorption behavior of each of the metals studied here was described well by considering metal-carboxyl bacterial surface complexation only, except for the Zn adsorption behavior, which required carboxyl and phosphoryl complexation to obtain a suitable fit to the data. The best correlation between bacterial carboxyl surface complexes and aqueous organic acid anion stability constants was obtained by means of metal-acetate aqueous complexes, with a linear correlation coefficient of 0.97. This correlation applies only to unhydrolyzed aqueous cations and only to carboxyl binding of those cations, and it does not predict the binding behavior under conditions where metal binding to other bacterial surface site types occurs. However, the relationship derived in this study permits estimation of the carboxyl site adsorption behavior of a wide range of aqueous metal cations for which there is an absence of experimental data. This technique, coupled with the observation of similar adsorption behaviors across bacterial species (Yee and Fein, 2001) , enables estimation of the effects of bacterial adsorption on metal mobilities for a large number of environmental and geologic applications.
Secondary peritonitis due to rupture of the ileum in a nephrotic patient

PRIMARY OR SPONTANEOUS PERITONITIS is a we/lknown complication of the nephrotic syndrome? Peritonitis secondary to rupture of the small intestine in a child with nephrotic syndrome has not been reported; our experience with such a patient prompted this report.