cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of limestone type and grind on SO2 scrubber performance. The cost-reduction effect of finer limestone grinding on SO2 scrubber efficiency can be very considerable

The major objective of this paper is to compare the amount of limestone feed required as a function of particle size, to obtain a given SO/sub 2/-removal efficiency. Experimental data were also obtained with limestones from four different quarries ground to similar sizes, 90 percent -325 mesh and 70 percent -200 mesh, to test the geological or type effect on limestone reactivities. The second objective of this paper is to test the effectiveness of wet screen analysis as a means of classifying limestone grinds for scrubber use. A mass-transfer model and Coulter-counter particle-size distribution data were also tested as a means of defining limestone reactivities.
A rare cause of Bachmann interatrial block

Primary cardiac lymphoma (PCL) is a rare malignancy, accounting for 1.3–2% of primary cardiac tumours. We report of a patient with a large PCL who presented with a very rare ECG: an advanced interatrial conduction disturbance of the Bachmann bundle highly suspicious to be due to tumour's involvement of interatrial connections between both atria across the …
Characterization of selected nutrients and bacteria from anaerobic swine manure lagoons on sow, nursery, and finisher farms in the Mid-South USA.

Swine (Sus scrofa domestica) production in the Mid-South USA comprises sow, nursery, and finisher farms. A 2007 packing plant closure started a regional shift from finisher to sow and nursery farms. Changes in manure stored in lagoons and land-applied as fertilizer were expected but were unknown because nutrient and bacterial levels had not been characterized by farm type. The objectives of this study were to quantify selected nutrients and bacteria, compare levels by farm types, and project impacts of production shifts. Nutrients and bacteria were characterized in 17 sow, 10 nursery, and 10 finisher farm lagoons. Total and thermotolerant coliforms, Eschericbia coli (Migula) Castellani and Chalmers, Enterococcus spp., Clostridium perfringens (Veillon and Zuber) Hauduroy et al., Campylobacter spp., Listeria spp., and Salmonella spp. were evaluated. Highest levels were from total coliforms (1.4— 5.7 x 10 5 cfu 100 mL -1 ), which occurred with E. coli, Campylobacter spp., C. perfringens, and Enterococcus spp., in every lagoon and virtually every sample. Lowest levels were from Listeria spp. and Salmonella spp. (≤1.3 x 10 2 most probable number [MPN] 100 mL -1 ), detected in 81 and 89% of lagoons and 68 and 64% of samples, respectively. Sow farm levels were higher for all except Listeria spp. and Salmonella spp., which were lower (1.4 x 10 1 and 2.8 x 10' MPN 100 mL -1 , respectively) and only slightly below their respective levels from nursery farms (1.1 × 10 2 and 3.4 x 10' MPN 100 mL-'). Shifting from finishes to nursery farm would not affect bacterial levels, but shifting to sows would. Either shift would reduce NPK and N:P and suggest modification of nutrient management plans.
Glycera dibranchiata hemoglobin. Structure and refinement at 1.5 A resolution.

Abstract The coelomic cells of the common marine bloodworm Glycera dibranchiata contain several hemoglobin monomers and polydisperse polymers. We present the refined structure of one of the Glycera monomers at 1.5 A resolution. The molecular model for protein and ordered solvent for the deoxy form of the Glycera monomer has been refined to a crystallographic R-factor of 12.7% against an X-ray diffraction dataset at 1.5 A resolution. The positions of 1095 protein atoms have been determined with a maximum root-mean-square (r.m.s.) error of 0.13 A, and the r.m.s. deviation from ideal bond lengths is 0.015 A and from ideal bond angles is 1.0 °. The r.m.s. deviation of planar groups from their least-squares planes is 0.007 A, and the r.m.s. deviation for torsion angles is 1.2 ° for peptide groups and 16.8 ° for side-chains. A total of 153 water molecules has been located, and they have been refined to a final average occupancy of 0.80. Multiple conformations have been found for five sidechains, and a change has been suggested for the sequence at five residues. The heme group is present in the “reverse” orientation that differs only in the positions of the vinyl β-carbons from the “normal” orientation. The doming of the heme towards the proximal side, and the bond distances and angles of the heme and proximal histidine are typical of most deoxy globin structures. The substitution of leucine for the distal histidine residue (E7) creates an unusually hydrophobic heme pocket.
QUANTITATIVE EVALUATION OF DEFORMABLE IMAGE REGISTRATION

In this paper, a concept based on unbalanced energy is proposed to evaluate deformable registration algorithms. The new concept is demonstrated through the comparison of the ITK "demons" algorithm and thin-plate spline interpolation, performed on a prostate patient's CT images. The resultant displacement vector fields are substituted into a finite element based elastic framework to derive the unbalanced energy at each element. The detection of unbalanced energy coupled with a conditioned finite element model provides a quantitative assessment of each registration instance. The requirement of boundary constraints in a traditional mechanical model has been removed in the calculation of unbalanced energy. This method is automatic and suitable to evaluate deformable registration in a clinical setting.
Viscoplastic‐elastic modeling of tubular blown film processing

The blown film process has been modeled through the transition from liquidlike to solidlike behavior at the freeze line. A new constitutive equation has been developed that, when incorporated into the the kinematic and dynamic equations that describe the process, for the first time yields qualitatively correct predictions of all process variables. It is suggested that the demarcation between liquidlike behavior and solidlike behavior be altered from the conventional, kinematically based constraint, dr/dz = O, to a rheologically based constraint, the plastic-elastic transition (PET). The results are qualitive in nature since the material is modeled as an elastic solid above the PET instead of as a viscoelastic material. The model is tested using the polystyrene data of Gupta (1981).
Hydronium Ions in Soda‐lime Silicate Glass Surfaces

The presence of leachable alkali ions, or their hydrated sites in the glass, is believed to be a determining factor for the interfacial water structure at the glass surface, influencing the surface properties of glass. The interfacial water structure on soda-lime silicate glass in humid ambience at room temperature was analyzed with sum-frequency-generation (SFG) vibration spectroscopy, which can probe the interfacial water layer without spectral interferences from the gas phase water. The soda-lime glass surface exposed to water vapor shows three sharp SFG peaks at 3200, 3430, and 3670 cm−1 in SFG, which is drastically different from the SFG spectra of the water layers on the fused quartz glass surface and the liquid water/air interface. The sharp peak at 3200 cm−1 is believed to be associated with the hydronium ions in the Na+-leached silicate glass surface. The 3200 cm−1 peak intensity varies with the relative humidity, indicating its equilibrium with the gas phase water. It is proposed that the hydronium ions in the Na+-leached sites produce compressive stress in the silicate glass surface; thus the growth of hydronium ions with increasing humidity might be responsible for the increased wear resistance of soda-lime glass surfaces in near-saturation humidity conditions.
Interconnected power systems laboratory: a computer automated instructional facility for power system experiments

This paper presents a unique facility capable of exhibiting the operation of modern day power system energy management systems (EMS). The purpose is educational with possible research applications. We present the design and construction of the laboratory facility. Key elements of the facility include a real-life, flexible power system network, signal conditioning hardware, data acquisition (DAQ) equipment, and client/server industry standard computer networking technology. The designed EMS system will allow students to get experience on the realistic operation and control of power systems and expose students to modern supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) equipment and procedures used by the power industry.
Precision alignment of integrated optics in hybrid microsystems

We achieve submicrometer precision in the integration of micro-optics with surface electrode ion traps. The high-precision alignment is accomplished using off-axis linear Fresnel zone plates (FZPs). Four pairs of FZPs are fabricated on the optics chip that contains the high numerical aperture microlens, a diffractive optical element (DOE). The four pairs of FZPs enable alignment in six translational and rotational degrees of freedom. Four corresponding alignment rulers are etched in the top metal layer of the ion trap, enabling quantification of misalignment. The integration of optics for efficient light delivery and the collection of fluorescence from trapped ions are key to achieving scalability in quantum information processing. An accurate and precise approach to the integration of DOEs advances the scalability of surface electrode ion traps and many other hybrid microsystems.
Implementation of strategies to prevent and control the emergence and spread of antimicrobial-resistant microorganisms in U.S. hospitals.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the extent to which the strategies recommended by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID)-Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) co-sponsored workshop, Antimicrobial Resistance in Hospitals: Strategies to Improve Antimicrobial Use and Prevent Nosocomial Transmission of Antimicrobial-Resistant Microorganisms, have been implemented and the relationship between the degree of implementation and hospital culture, leadership, and organizational factors. DESIGN: Survey. SETTING: A representative sample of U.S. hospitals stratified by teaching status, bed size, and geographic region. PARTICIPANTS: Infection control professionals. RESULTS: Surveyed hospitals had implemented strategies to optimize the use of antimicrobials and to detect, report, and prevent transmission of antimicrobial-resistant microorganisms. Multivariate analyses found that hospitals with a greater degree of implementation of the NFID-CDC strategic goals were more likely to have management support, education of staff, and interdisciplinary groups specifically to address these issues; they were also more likely to engage in benchmarking on broader quality of care indicators. CONCLUSIONS: Most surveyed hospitals had implemented some measures to address the NFID-CDC recommendations; however, hospitals need to do much more to improve antimicrobial use and to increase their efforts to detect, report, and control the spread of antimicrobial resistance. A supportive hospital administration must foster a culture of ongoing support, education, and interdisciplinary work groups focused on this important issue to successfully accomplish these goals.
Gastrointestinal toxicity from the preparative regimen is associated with an increased risk of graft-versus-host disease.

Abstract Graft-versus-host disease and disease relapse are the 2 major causes of failure of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (SCT). Ideally, patients who undergo transplantation for malignancies would receive the minimum effective acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis to maximize the graft-versus-tumor potential of the allogeneic SCT. Tailoring acute GVHD prophylaxis to the risk for each patient has long been a goal for SCT, but no practical way to adjust acute GVHD prophylaxis has been developed. In murine models of acute GVHD, gut damage from the preparative regimen resulting in the release of many mediators is crucial for initiation of acute GVHD. Using diarrhea as a marker of gut damage, we performed a retrospective study of patients at the Johns Hopkins Hospital given matched sibling transplants for chronic myelogenous leukemia to determine whether gut damage during the preparative regimen is predictive of the development of acute GVHD in humans. Logistic regression models were used to perform the retrospective analysis of the relation of diarrhea during the preparative regimen to a significant acute GVHD grade. This work demonstrated a significant positive correlation between the sum of diarrhea on days 4 to 7 after SCT and acute GVHD and showed a borderline significant positive correlation between the sum of diarrhea on days 1 to 3 and acute GVHD. This is the first correlation demonstrated between gut damage during the preparative regimen and acute GVHD severity in humans. This suggests that damage from the preparative regimen could be used as a marker for the risk of acute GVHD. Prospective trials would have to test whether acute GVHD prophylaxis could be adjusted according to this risk. This may result in a greater graft-versus-tumor effect for patients with less risk of acute GVHD.
The effect of the presence of adult fishes, gonad homogenates, and embryo homogenates on the dispersion‐reaggregation phase during early embryonic development of the annual fish Nothobranchius korthausae

The effect of the presence of adults of the annual fish Nothobranchius korthausae on development of eggs of this species was investigated. If the eggs were incubated in glass tanks together with adult females, embryonic development was prolonged during the dispersion-reaggregation phase. Furthermore, gonadal homogenates as well as homogenates of oocytes and fertilized eggs or embryos (until the prehatching stage) also caused prolongation of the dispersion-reaggregation phase. This prolongation was attributed to a longer lasting reaggregation, although the occurrence of a brief diapause I could not be ruled out. We suggest that gonads of adult annual fishes, especially females, contain one or more pheromonelike agents that are released into the water and induce a prolongation of the dispersion-reaggregation phase of the deposited eggs. By increasing or decreasing the amount of agent released, the adults would be able to affect embryonic development. The fact that homogenates of oocytes and fertilized eggs had the same effect on egg development indicates that also the eggs may be a source of this agent. Therefore, it probably plays a function during (normal) embryonic development.
Increase in tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2) levels and inhibition of MMP-2 activity in a metastatic breast cancer cell line by an anti-invasive small molecule SR13179

Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2), the endogenous inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), regulates tumor invasion by modulating the activity of MMP-2. In addition, TIMP-2 is involved in the direct regulation of cell growth and angiogenesis, independent of MMP inhibition. Therefore, the development of therapeutic agents that increase TIMP-2 levels may offer a novel and broad approach to anti-neoplastic therapy. We report that a novel small molecule synthetic flavanoid SR13179, which inhibits the invasion of a highly metastatic human breast cancer cell line MCF-10CA1a through Matrigel, significantly increases protein and mRNA levels of TIMP-2 in a time- and dose-dependent manner. SR13179 inhibits the gelatinolytic activity of MMP-2 by >50% but has no effect on MMP-2 protein expression. SR13179 also possesses potent anti-tumor activity in several tumor cell lines regardless of their hormone receptor, p53 or multi-drug resistance status. Given the multifunctional inhibitory activity of TIMP-2 on tumor growth and invasion, the observed increase in TIMP-2 expression by SR13179 may play a central role in the anti-tumor and anti-invasive activity of this novel small molecule. Modulation of TIMP-2 protein expression may be a new molecular target for anti-metastatic adjuvant therapy for breast and other cancers.
The pharmacology and toxicology of kratom: from traditional herb to drug of abuse

Mitragyna speciosa (Rubiaceae), commonly known as kratom, is a tropical tree with a long history of traditional use in parts of Africa and Southeast Asia. In recent years, kratom has gained popularity for use as a recreational drug across the globe. Relatively new to the illicit market and used in a manner different from its traditional applications, preparations of kratom are touted by many as a safe and legal psychoactive product that improves mood, relieves pain, and may provide benefits in opiate addiction. Available literature was reviewed for M. speciosa via PubMed, Google Scholar, CINAHL, and EBSCO to summarize its traditional uses, phytochemical composition, pharmacology and toxicology of proposed active constituents, and potential for misuse and abuse. Research has demonstrated that both stimulant and sedative dose-dependent effects do exist, but a growing concern for the drug's effects and safety of use has resulted in national and international attention primarily due to an increase in hospital visits and deaths in several countries that are said to have been caused by extracts of the plant. The main active alkaloid substances in kratom, mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, present with a range of CNS stimulant and depressant effects mediated primarily through monoaminergic and opioid receptors. Recently, Palm Beach County, located in the southeastern corridor of Florida, has considered regulating kratom due to public safety concerns following the death of a young adult. At the local, state, and even federal levels, governments are now being confronted with the task of determining the safety and the possible regulation of kratom extracts. There are currently no standard analytical screening techniques for mitragynine and its metabolites following ingestion limiting its detection to more sophisticated techniques like liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry to determine kratom use. The growing concern of the abuse potential of kratom requires careful evaluation of its benefits and potential toxicities.
Wind-Tunnel Testing of Structures

Civil engineers, architects, and city planners are beginning to use design data derived from wind-tunnel tests as extensively as aeronautical engineers have for many years. This evolution of wind engineering has been made possible by development of special meteorological wind tunnels that simulate essential characteristics of natural boundary-layer-type wind. Unique features of these wind tunnels include a long test section — quite different than the coventional aeronautical wind tunnel. Modeling criteria, measurement techniques, and data processing to determine mean and fluctuating wind pressures, dynamic response, and induced street level winds from measurements on small-scale models of structures have been established. Currently, physical modeling of these wind effects in a simulated wind is the only reliable source of design data.
Area-constrained wirelessly-powered UWB SoC design for small insect localization

This paper describes a wireless-powered UWB system-on-a-chip (SoC) tag for area-constrained localization applications. An antenna-rectifier co-design methodology optimizes sensitivity under area constraints. A 300-nA power management unit (PMU) and low-voltage (0.8-V) UWB TX reduces tag load and required rectifier output voltage. The rectifer, PMU and UWB TX are integrated in 65nm CMOS and the rectifier demonstrates state-of-the-art −30.7 dBm sensitivity for 1 V output voltage with only 1.3 cm2 antenna area. Wireless measurements demonstrate sub-10 cm range resolution at range exceeding 10 m.
Who Makes Foreign Policy Decisions and How: An Empirical Inquiry

At the apex of foreign policy making in all governments or ruling parties are actors with the ability to commit the resources of the government and the power to prevent other entities within the government from reversing their position-the ultimate decision unit. Although this decision unit may change with the nature of the policy problem and with time, its structure will shape a government's foreign policy. In this paper we propose three types of decision units: predominant leaders, single groups, and multiple autonomous actors. Each of these exists in one of several conditions that help to determine whether the decision unit affects foreign policy largely through the pre-existing knowledge, beliefs, and style of those participating in the unit (a self-contained unit) or whether factors outside the decision unit must be taken into consideration in understanding the results of the decision-making process (an externally influenceable unit). The hypotheses that self-contained units will engage in more extreme foreign policy behavior than externally influenceable units and that single group decision units will show more extreme foreign policy behavior than those comprised of multiple autonomous actors are examined using data from twenty-five nations during the decade from 1959 to 1968. Who makes foreign policy decisions? What is the effect of the decision unit on foreign policy? An examination of how governments and ruling parties around the world make foreign policy decisions suggests that authority is exercised by an extensive array of different entities. Among the decision units are prime ministers, presidents, politburos, juntas, cabinets, inter-agency groups, coalitions, and parliaments. Moreover, within any one government the pertinent decision units often change with time and issue. When cross-national comparisons of governmental decision-making bodies are contemplated, as in the comparative study of foreign policy, the number of possible kinds of decision units becomes formidable. This essay examines one way of classifying decision units, showing how it enhances our ability to differentiate and account for governments' behavior in the foreign Author's Note: This research was funded by a National Science Foundation grant (SES-8618438), the Mershon Center, and the Ohio State University Instructional and Research Computing Center. We would like to thank Greg Peacock for his help with the data analysis as well as Bahgat Korany, Roy Licklider, Jerel Rosati, and Harvey Starr for their thoughtful comments on earlier drafts of the paper.
Direct Interference Suppression Technology for Bistatic Digital Phased Array Radar

The problem of direct-path-interference in the bistatic digital phased array radar is analysed.According to the radar work mode,signal processing architecture and radar practical application,several technologies are studied including transmitter-receiver isolation,digital beam adaptive nulling,frequency agility,adaptive canceling and pulse compression to solve above problem.The theoretical analysis and computer simulation indicate that the presented technologies can solve the problem of direct-path-interference in the bistatic digital array radar.
Collages of Memory: Remembering the Second World War Differently as the Epistemology of Crafting Cultural Conflicts between Russia and Ukraine

AbstractThis essay critically examines the current duality of Russian-Ukrainian intercultural relations and explores the subject of politics of active and selective memory as the claimed root of current controversies and military tensions. Through rhetorical analysis of historical and contemporary national narratives, it demonstrates how culturally defining experience of the Second World War and the Great Patriotic War is remembered, rethought, and reused by respective parties to reinvent the Self and the Br/Other, as well as rethink ones positionality on the world arena.
H(+)-K(+)-ATPase mediates net acid secretion in rat terminal inner medullary collecting duct

Studies in our laboratory have demonstrated total CO2 absorption (JtCO2) and total ammonia secretion in the terminal inner medullary collecting duct (tIMCD) perfused in vitro. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether the H(+)-K(+)-adenosinetriphosphatase (H(+)-K(+)-ATPase) participates in proton secretion or JtCO2 in this segment. Tubules from the middle third of the tIMCD were dissected from rats with chronic metabolic acidosis (300 mM NH4Cl, 3-4 days in drinking water) and perfused in vitro. Perfusate and bath were symmetrical solutions containing 5 mM KCl, 6 mM NH4Cl, and 25 mM NaHCO3. Bafilomycin A1 (5 nM), a specific inhibitor of the H(+)-ATPase, did not affect JtCO2 compared with baseline (JtCO2, 3.0 +/- 1.0 and 3.0 +/- 0.8; n = 6, P = not significant) or with time controls (n = 4). With removal of luminal K+, JtCO2 fell from 2.8 +/- 0.6 to 1.6 +/- 0.4 pmol.mm-1.min-1 (n = 5, P < 0.05). To further evaluate K(+)-sensitive JtCO2, the effect of H(+)-K(+)-ATPase inhibition on JtCO2 was explored using the specific H(+)-K(+)-ATPase inhibitor, Sch-28080. Addition of 10 microM Sch-28080 to the luminal perfusate decreased JtCO2 (2.7 +/- 0.4 to 1.4 +/- 0.5 pmol.mm-1. min-1; n = 5, P < 0.05) but did not alter transepithelial membrane potential. Thus luminal Sch-28080 addition, as well as luminal K+ removal, limits apical H+ exit or OH-/HCO3- entry. These results demonstrate that net acid secretion is mediated by the H(+)-K(+)-ATPase in the tIMCD.
Officer Perceptions of Body-Worn Cameras Before and After Deployment: A Study of Three Departments

Over the past few years, several events have highlighted the strained relationship between the police and residents in many communities. Police officer body-worn cameras (BWCs) have been advocated ...
The Fate of Global Conservation Laws in Grand Unified Theories

We emphasize that global conservation laws are likely to be broken in Grand Unified theories on very general grounds. We describe the mechanisms involved and then discuss the consequences of lepton number violation such as neutrino oscillations which we illustrate in a recently proposed version of the SO(10) model.
Eliciting: Basic Morphology and Syntax

Being about to ask intelligible questions about language is one of the most important skills a fieldworker can have. How do you learn to ask people who haven’t studied linguistics about their language? How do you interpret their answers and how do you frame questions in a way that they can answer?
PREDICTION OF PHYSIOLOGICAL LIMITS TO HUMAN UNDERSEA ACTIVITY AND EXTENSION OF TOLERANCE TO HIGH PRESSURE

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the prediction of physiological limits to human undersea activity and extension of tolerance to high pressure. Man exposed as a diver in the deep sea experiences greater environmental forces and stresses in all of his physiological systems than in any other sustained working situation. These forces drastically modify his physiological processes and his performance. Physiological limits of many forms exist for diving. They exist at all depths, from the shallowest to deep diving. Some limits can be overcome or postponed by modification of the diving method. Some can be masked. Some can be eliminated by engineering. Most persist and must reemerge with the increasing pressures and durations of deep diving. The addition of narcotic drugs or gases to helium breathed at high pressures can be expected to diminish some symptomatic and neurologic expressions of hydrostatic pressure effects. Where this diminution is produced by masking rather than by prevention of the hydrostatic pressure effects, effects can be expected to re-emerge as pressure is further increased.
Performance improvement for a fixed-bed reactor with layered loading catalysts of different catalytic properties for oxidative coupling of methane

Abstract Layered loading of catalysts with different catalytic properties is studied for oxidative coupling of methane reaction (OCM) in a fixed bed reactor. Layered loading of a more active catalyst Ag-Mn-Na2WO4/SiO2 in front of a more selective one Ce-Mn-Na2WO4/SiO2 compared to loading Mn-Na2WO4/SiO2 catalyst only, lowers reaction temperature and increases selectivity. Such layered loading broadens the temperature range to achieve a high selectivity, which is important for OCM reaction carried out with multi-stage adiabatic fixed bed reactor. Similarly, with a very active La-Ce oxide catalyst loaded in front of a selective catalyst Ce-Mn-Na2WO4/SiO2, the temperature needed to start the reaction is lowered significantly. Therefore, a catalyst bed such as La-Ce oxide can be used as a “pre-heater” for the high temperature OCM reaction to lower the feed temperature. The total CH4 utilization can be improved with this loading strategy.
Four-month course of adjuvant dabrafenib in patients with surgically resected stage IIIC melanoma characterized by a BRAFV600E/K mutation.

// Parisa Momtaz 1 , James J. Harding 1, 2 , Charlotte Ariyan 1, 2 , Daniel G. Coit 1, 2 , Taha Merghoub 1 , Billel Gasmi 1 , Daoqi You 1 , Agnes Viale 1 , Katherine S. Panageas 1 , Aliaksandra Samoila 1 , Michael A. Postow 1, 2 , Jedd D. Wolchok 1, 2 and Paul B. Chapman 1, 2 1 Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA 2 Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA Correspondence to: Paul B. Chapman, email: chapmanp@mskcc.org Keywords: cfDNA, digital PCR, drug cost, relapse-free survival Received: June 07, 2017 Accepted: July 25, 2017 Published: September 16, 2017 ABSTRACT Background: We tested the hypothesis that a 4-month course of adjuvant dabrafenib in stage IIIC BRAF-mutated melanoma would improve 2 year RFS from 24% to 51%, and that tumor-derived cell free DNA (cfDNA) in plasma would correlate with and predict recurrence. Methods: Patients with stage IIIC BRAF V600E/K mutated melanoma who were free of disease after surgical resection received 4 months of adjuvant dabrafenib. Patients were evaluated with imaging at baseline, at the end of cycles 2, 4, 6, then every 3 months until disease relapse or 2 years, whichever came first. Serial blood samples were collected for evaluation of cfDNA at the same time. Results: 21/23 patients enrolled were evaluable; 2 patients withdrew consent during the first week of treatment. The 2 year RFS was 28.6% (95% CI 12-48%). The estimated overall survival at 2 years was 78% (95% CI 51-91%). cfDNA detection had a 53% sensitivity in relapsing patients but cfDNA detection did not provide lead-time advantage over CT scanning. Conclusion: A 4-month course of adjuvant dabrafenib did not result in a detectable improvement in 2-year RFS. cfDNA was less sensitive than standard CT imaging and did not provide a lead-time advantage in detecting relapse.
UUV localization using acoustic communications, networking, and a priori knowledge of the ocean current

Underwater navigation is particularly challenging due to the fact that a number of navigation aids, such as GPS and similar, are not available. In order to accurately estimate a UUV's position at any time during a mission, we are relying on acoustic communication between the UUV and a network of surface platforms at known locations (reference points). By using the acoustic modems and a model of the environment, the acoustic wave travel time from the UUV to the reference points can be measured and converted into a distance. These distance measurements are then used by a tracking algorithm to improve the UUV positioning accuracy. In previous work [1], a tracking algorithm based on the Unscented Kalman Filter (UKF) was developed presenting satisfactory results. As part of the UUV tracking model, the drift caused by the ocean current was modeled as a random walk and is part of the state of the system. Based on predictions for the ocean current made by different UUVs at different times, a consensus algorithm was developed [2]. The knowledge of the ocean current provided by the consensus algorithm is then used to improve the UUV positioning. The developed algorithms were initially tested using synthetic data. To validate the simulation results, the algorithms were applied to data collected during sea tests that took place in Monterey Bay in August, 2015.
Diversity, Inclusion, and the US Census: A Conversation with Paul Watanabe

This interview with political scientist Paul Watanabe examines how the U.S. Census has been and could be instrumental in facilitating or hindering diversity and inclusion efforts in the public and private sectors as well as in the academy. The conversation addresses the impact of the Census’ data gathering and reporting methods on the histories and realities of diverse populations and communities in the United States, the politicization of the survey and the data, the challenges faced by the Census Bureau in its data collection efforts, and how the Census has been perceived as both a vehicle for erasing and recognizing racial and ethnic identities over the years.
Sharp-wave ripples as a signature of hippocampal-prefrontal reactivation for memory during sleep and waking states

It is widely believed that memories that are encoded and retrieved during waking behavior are consolidated during sleep. Recent studies on the interactions between the hippocampus and the prefrontal cortex have greatly advanced our understanding of the physiological bases of these memory processes. Although hippocampal-prefrontal network activity differs in many aspects during waking and sleep states, here we review evidence that hippocampal sharp-wave ripples (SWRs) emerge as a common neurophysiological pattern in both states, facilitating communication between these two regions via coordinated reactivation of stored memory information. We further consider whether sleep and awake reactivation mediate similar memory processes or have different mnemonic functions, and the mechanistic role of this cross-regional dialogue in learning and memory. Finally, we provide an integrated view of how these two forms of reactivation might work together to support spatial learning and memory.
Development of primary human pancreatic cancer organoids, matched stromal and immune cells and 3D tumor microenvironment models

Patient-derived tumor models are the new standard for pre-clinical drug testing and biomarker discovery. However, the emerging technology of primary pancreatic cancer organoids has not yet been broadly implemented in research, and complex organotypic models using organoids in co-culture with stromal and immune cellular components of the tumor have yet to be established. In this study, our objective was to develop and characterize pancreatic cancer organoids and multi-cell type organotypic co-culture models to demonstrate their applicability to the study of pancreatic cancer. We employed organoid culture methods and flow cytometric, cytologic, immunofluorescent and immunohistochemical methods to develop and characterize patient-derived pancreatic cancer organoids and multi-cell type organotypic co-culture models of the tumor microenvironment. We describe the culture and characterization of human pancreatic cancer organoids from resection, ascites and rapid autopsy sources and the derivation of adherent tumor cell monocultures and tumor-associated fibroblasts from these sources. Primary human organoids displayed tumor-like cellular morphology, tissue architecture and polarity in contrast to cell line spheroids, which formed homogenous, non-lumen forming spheres. Importantly, we demonstrate the construction of complex organotypic models of tumor, stromal and immune components of the tumor microenvironment. Activation of myofibroblast-like cancer associated fibroblasts and tumor-dependent lymphocyte infiltration were observed in these models. These studies provide the first report of novel and disease-relevant 3D in-vitro models representing pancreatic tumor, stromal and immune components using primary organoid co-cultures representative of the tumor-microenvironment. These models promise to facilitate the study of tumor-stroma and tumor-immune interaction and may be valuable for the assessment of immunotherapeutics such as checkpoint inhibitors in the context of T-cell infiltration.
Historical Roots of Flow Cytometry

Flow cytometry is a high-speed technology by which single cells, cell aggregates, or small multicellular organisms in liquid suspension can be classified and viably sorted at real-time rates well in excess of thousands per second. Cell classification by flow cytometry departs from automated microscopy in that cells are identified by a minimal set of scalar parameters without attempting to spatially resolve and analyze images. In flow cytometry, it is not unusual to use only 3–5 numbers representing light scatter intensity in specific directions, fluorescence at specific wavelengths, and the cellular electrical impedance as highly encompassing descriptors of a cell. This minimalism simplifies computing, enables rapid processing of tens of thousands of cells, and places cell classification on solid statistical ground, even for rare cell types such as peripheral blood stem cells. We trace the development of multiparameter flow cytometry devices, computing, and cell analysis from a 1960s epicenter at IBM Watson Laboratories to the present day where it is an essential scientific and medical tool deployed worldwide. Flow cytometry is central to our understanding of cell-based immunity. Leukemia/lymphoma immunophenotyping and therapy rest upon flow cytometry. Millions of HIV/AIDS victims in resource-challenged environments are living longer through therapy management by flow cytometry.
Identification of epitopes of immunological importance on the peplomer of porcine transmissible gastroenteritis virus.

Transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) causes serious economic losses in the pig industry in many parts of the world. Immunity in young piglets relies on passive transfer of antibodies in maternal milk. Although, over the past 40 years, there has been a great deal of effort aimed at producing an efficient vaccine in many laboratories, it has proved difficult to achieve lactogenic immunity with inactivated or attenuated vaccines. There are two aspects to the problem; identification of the most appropriate antigen and the method for its delivery to the sow in such a way as to stimulate lymphocyte migration to the mammary gland.
Hydrolytic Degradation and Erosion of Polyester Biomaterials

Strategies to refine the degradation behavior of polyester biomaterials, particularly to overcome the limitations of slow hydrolytic degradation, would broaden their utility. Herein, we examine the complexities of polyester degradation behavior, its assessment and strategies for refinement. The factors governing polyester degradation are strikingly complex. In addition to the half-life of the hydrolytically-labile bond, a series of interdependent material properties must be considered. Thus, methods used to characterize such material properties, both before and during degradation, must be carefully selected. Assessment of degradation behavior is further complicated by the variability of reported test protocols and the need for accelerated rather than real-time in vitro testing conditions. Ultimately, through better control of degradation behavior and correlation of in vitro, simulated degradation to that observed in vivo, the development of superior devices prepared with polyester biomaterials may be achieved.
An optical frequency atomic clock based on quantum matter

We present the first atomic clock based on quantum degenerate matter, overcoming atomic collisions, reaching a record spectroscopic quality factor of Q = 5.2 ⨉ 1015, and measuring a frequency difference to 3 ⨉ 10-19 in 2 hours.
Dysregulation of Neuronal Cholesterol Homeostasis upon Exposure to HIV-1 Tat and Cocaine Revealed by RNA-Sequencing

HIV-1 Tat protein is released from HIV-1-infected cells and can enter non-permissive cells including neurons. Tat disrupts neuronal homeostasis and may contribute to the neuropathogenesis in people living with HIV (PLWH). The use of cocaine by PLWH exacerbates neuronal dysfunction. Here, we examined the mechanisms by which Tat and cocaine facilitate alterations in neuronal homeostatic processes. Bioinformatic interrogation of the results from RNA deep sequencing of rat hippocampal neurons exposed to Tat alone indicated the dysregulation of several genes involved in lipid and cholesterol metabolism. Following exposure to Tat and cocaine, the activation of cholesterol biosynthesis genes led to increased levels of free cholesterol and cholesteryl esters in rat neurons. Results from lipid metabolism arrays validated upregulation of several processes implicated in the biogenesis of β-amyloid and Alzheimer's disease (AD), including sterol o-acyltransferase 1/acetyl-coenzyme A acyltransferase 1 (SOAT1/ACAT1), sortilin-related receptor L1 (SORL1) and low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 12 (LRP12). Further studies in Tat-treated primary neuronal cultures and brain tissues from HIV-1 transgenic mice as well as SIV-infected macaques confirmed elevated levels of SOAT1/ACAT 1 proteins. Our results offer novel insights into the molecular events involved in HIV and cocaine-mediated neuronal dysfunction that may also contribute to neuropathogenic events associated with the development of AD.
Photoacoustic Microscopy of Cerebral Hemodynamic and Metabolic Responses to General Anesthetics

Abstract Quantitative assessment of the influence of general anesthetics on cerebral hemodynamics and oxygen metabolism at the microscopic level has been a long-standing challenge in brain research. The newly developed head-restrained photoacoustic microscopy (PAM) enables, for the first time, simultaneous label-free imaging of blood perfusion, oxygenation, and flow in single microvessels of the awake mouse brain. Furthermore, vessel segmentation analysis of the multiparametric PAM images enables the quantification of regional cerebral oxygen extraction fraction and metabolism. This enabling technology allows comprehensive characterization of the cerebral hemodynamic and metabolic responses to general anesthetics and holds great potential for studying neurovascular coupling in the awake brain and anesthetic neuroprotection against cerebral hypoxia and ischemia.
Necrotizing soft tissue infection following routine third molar extraction: report of two cases and review of the literature

Necrotizing cellulitis, necrotizing fasciitis, and necrotizing myositis are a constellation of severe soft tissue infections characterized by rapid progression, dusky soft tissue changes, and edema and induration expanding beyond the clinical wound edges. The cases of two female patients with type II necrotizing soft tissue infections occurring after routine third molar extraction are reported here. The patients were treated for the infections at the University of North Carolina Hospitals in 2016. Both were previously healthy. Of particular interest, recent inoculation of group A Streptococcus appears to have contributed to the infection in both cases.
Asymptotically Independent Markov Sampling: A New MCMC Scheme for Bayesian Inference

In Bayesian statistics, most problems can be expressed as the evaluation of the expectation of a quantity of interest with respect to the posterior distribution. If the posterior is simple (i.e. can be readily sampled), we can use the standard Monte Carlo method, where expectations are estimated by sample averages based on samples drawn independently from the posterior. In practice, however, posterior distributions are usually complex and difficult to normalize, and so challenging to sample from directly. In this case, the most popular strategies are importance sampling, Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC), and annealing. In this talk I will introduce a new MCMC scheme for Bayesian inference, called Asymptotically Independent Markov Sampling (AIMS), which combines the above methods in the following way. Intermediate distributions π0(·), . . . , πm(·) interpolating between prior π0(·) and posterior π(·) = πm(·) are constructed adaptively, using the essential sample size (ESS) to measure how much πj−1(·) differs from πj(·). Importance sampling with πj−1(·) as the instrumental density is used for a construction of an approximation π j (·) of πj(·), which is based on a sample θ (1) j−1, . . . , θ (N) j−1 ∼ πj−1(·). This approximation is then employed as the independent (global) proposal distribution for sampling from πj(·) by the independent Metropolis-Hastings algorithm. This is a joint work with J. L. Beck.
Processing parameter and transient effects on melt pool geometry in additive manufacturing of Invar 36

The use of additive manufacturing (AM) in tooling enables low production components to be fabricated with lower costs, reduced waste, increased design flexibility, and reduced lead time. Invar 36 is a popular metal tooling material known for its low coefficient of thermal expansion. This work uses thermal finite element modeling as a tool to determine the feasibility of using the Invar 36 in the AM and to investigate the transient effect from a common stripe scanning strategy used in laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) AM. Modeling results show that the steady-state melt pool dimensions behave similarly to traditional AM materials with the same base materials when varying process parameters within the range of LPBF. Single bead and multiple laser pass experiments were performed to compare to the modeling results and determine additional transient effects resulting from repeated scans. Results show that the Invar 36 is a suitable material for use in the AM, which will enable rapid tooling for composite structures.
ARRAY OF THINGS: A PRIMER

The array of things (AoT) is part of the new smart cities initiative, enabling researchers to study an urban environment in order to improve city services. It is a project involving a network of sensors that will be installed around Chicago city to collect real-time data on the city’s environment. The data will be freely available to everyone and non-identifying in order to maintain privacy. It can be used to develop new data analysis tools and applications. Although the city of Chicago is the home of the AoT project, AoT was never meant to stay solely within Chicago. Through collaboration, partner projects will move AoT towards a global array of things network that will help around the world. This paper provides a primer on AoT.
Desistance from Crime during the Transition to Adulthood: The Influence of Parents, Peers, and Shifts in Identity

Objectives:Research on criminal continuity and change has traditionally focused on elements of the adult life course (e.g., marriage and employment); however, recent social and economic changes sug...
Dynamic Structure and Chemistry of the Silicon Solid-Electrolyte Interphase Visualized by Cryogenic Electron Microscopy

Summary The commercialization of the silicon (Si) anode has been hindered by the instability of its solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI), yet a comprehensive understanding of SEI properties remains underdeveloped owing to the challenge of characterizing this nanoscale passivation layer. In this work, we visualize the structure and chemistry of the SEI on silicon anodes using atomic-resolution cryogenic (scanning) transmission electron microscopy (cryo-(S)TEM) and electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS), revealing its evolution over the first cycle. We discover the origin of the Si SEI instability in ethylene carbonate (EC) electrolytes, owing to the high reversibility of the SEI. The role of the critical electrolyte additive fluoroethylene carbonate is revealed, which extends the cyclability of the Si anode through deposition of an electrochemically irreversible polycarbonate layer on the anode surface. These findings provide a nuanced view into the Si anode instability in commercial EC-based electrolytes and the role of additives for SEI stabilization.