cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Characterization of the glass transition using a microindenter

The microindenter described here requires a very small sample (c. 10 mg), can be used with heating rates comparable to those in DSC (i.e., 10°C/min), and gives a large, clearly defined change at the glass transition. The essential features are a needle probe and a linear variable differential transformer (LVDT). By suitably controlling the force on the needle, the rate of heating, and the sample thickness, reproducible results can be obtained. The small sample size permits a relatively fast heating rate. Most mechanical tests (often using oscillating stress and strain) require large samples and a correspondingly long time for temperature equilibration to take place (ASTM D 4065). Another indentation test, the Vicat Softening Temperature (ASTM 1525) also uses a thick (3 mm) sample. Like the Vicat test, the present procedure is best suited to amorphous polymers. The application to plasticized samples of poly(methyl methacrylate) illustrates the utility of the method. The simple, rugged, and inexpensive nature of the apparatus makes it suitable for an under-graduate experiment in a polymer laboratory course.
Neutron and capture gamma along the mazes of linear accelerator vaults.

Neutron and photon dose equivalents at various points along the mazes of the vaults for two 15 MV linear accelerators were measured. The measurements were made with the machines set at various gantry angles with and without the scattering phantom, and with the collimators set at the maximum and the minimum field sizes. Neutron dose equivalent measurements were made for five other accelerator vaults. Empirical equations were used to fit the dose data at points along the center of the maze, at 1 m above floor level, with the primary radiation beam pointing downward. It is reported here that both the capture gamma and the neutron dose attenuations along the maze are in agreement with the literature. The neutron dose is dependent on the square root of the ratio of the cross-sectional areas of the inner maze entrance and the maze. The tenth value distance (T(N)) is proportional to the square root of the cross-sectional area of the maze.
Comparison of phylogenetic trees through alignment of embedded evolutionary distances

The understanding of evolutionary relationships is a fundamental aspect of modern biology, with the phylogenetic tree being a primary tool for describing these associations. However, comparison of trees for the purpose of assessing similarity and the quantification of various biological processes remains a significant challenge. We describe a novel approach for the comparison of phylogenetic distance information based on the alignment of representative high-dimensional embeddings (xCEED: Comparison of Embedded Evolutionary Distances). The xCEED methodology, which utilizes multidimensional scaling and Procrustes-related superimposition approaches, provides the ability to measure the global similarity between trees as well as incongruities between them. We demonstrate the application of this approach to the prediction of coevolving protein interactions and demonstrate its improved performance over the mirrortree, tol-mirrortree, phylogenetic vector projection, and partial correlation approaches. Furthermore, we show its applicability to both the detection of horizontal gene transfer events as well as its potential use in the prediction of interaction specificity between a pair of multigene families. These approaches provide additional tools for the study of phylogenetic trees and associated evolutionary processes. Source code is available at http://gomezlab.bme.unc.edu/tools .
Macroscopic Evidence of Thermally Activated Friction with Polytetrafluoroethylene

Under macroscopic pin-on-disk testing the sliding friction coefficient of Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) was investigated over a temperature range of approximately 200–400 K. This study examines the nature of the temperature dependence by testing PTFE pins at varying temperature and humidity on a linear reciprocating pin-on-disk tribometer. The friction coefficient increased monotonically with decreasing temperature from μ = 0.075to μ = 0.210 in a manner consistent with thermal activation; it deviated from this trend only during phase and glass transitions in the PTFE and temperatures below the frost-points for the respective environments.
Effect of pelleting on the "extra caloric" effect of dietary fat for developing turkeys.

Abstract Large White developing turkeys were fed rations containing 0, 3 and 6% added fat in pelleted and unpelleted forms from 8–24 weeks of age. Growth rate was not affected but feed efficiency was significantly improved by each increment of added fat and by pelleting the rations containing 0 and 3% added fat. Feed efficiency in the ration containing 6% added fat was not improved by pelleting, but this diet failed to pellet adequately and the ration was similar in physical form to the unpelleted ration when fed to the birds. The “extra caloric” effect of added fat was observed in both pelleted and unpelleted rations when the physical form of the pellet was retained.
TMLR: Potential Mechanisms of Action and Design Parameters for Excimer-Based Clinical Systems

The idea of transmyocardial revascularization (TMR) was to provide blood flow to ischemic myocardium by creating a reptilian heart, in which blood from the left ventricle perfuses the myocardium by a series of channels. The clinical advantages of the technique are evidenced by the decreased intensity and frequency of angina, reduction in the need for antianginal medications, and improved work capacity [1–5]. The original laser-based technique (TMLR) was proposed by Mirhoseini et al. [6–8] who applied a specially designed CO2 laser to drill channels from the epicardial to the endocardial surface. The epicardial bleeding stops after few minutes of drilling and it is believed that the channels remained patent to perfuse the myocardium directly from the ventricle. However, many investigators [9–14] have found that the majority of the channels close relatively quickly and believed that other mechanisms must be responsible for the observed clinical improvement and reduction of anginal symptoms. Current research [9–14] suggests that the original hypothesis of the reptilian heart may not be correct, and that TMLR may provide its benefits, if any, through other mechanisms. Various investigators have proposed the following hypotheses as mechanisms of action of TMLR, however, the observed clinical improvement may be resulting from a combination of some or all.
MAST CELLS AS “TUNABLE” EFFECTOR AND IMMUNOREGULATORY CELLS: Recent Advances

▪ Abstract This review focuses on recent progress in our understanding of how mast cells can contribute to the initiation, development, expression, and regulation of acquired immune responses, both those associated with IgE and those that are apparently expressed independently of this class of Ig. We emphasize findings derived from in vivo studies in mice, particularly those employing genetic approaches to influence mast cell numbers and/or to alter or delete components of pathways that can regulate mast cell development, signaling, or function. We advance the hypothesis that mast cells not only can function as proinflammatory effector cells and drivers of tissue remodeling in established acquired immune responses, but also may contribute to the initiation and regulation of such responses. That is, we propose that mast cells can also function as immunoregulatory cells. Finally, we show that the notion that mast cells have primarily two functional configurations, off (or resting) or on (or activated for ex...
Simulation based test generation for scan designs

We describe a simulation-based test generation procedure for scan designs. A test sequence generated by this procedure consists of a sequence of one or more primary input vectors embedded between a scan-in operation and a scan-out operation. We consider the set of faults that can be detected by test sequences of this form, compared to the case where scan is applied with every test vector. The proposed procedure constructs test sequences that traverse as many pairs of fault-free/faulty states as possible, and thus avoids the use of branch-and-bound test generation techniques. Additional techniques are incorporated into this basic procedure to enhance its effectiveness.
Evolutionary neural network modeling for software cumulative failure time prediction

Abstract An evolutionary neural network modeling approach for software cumulative failure time prediction based on multiple-delayed-input single-output architecture is proposed. Genetic algorithm is used to globally optimize the number of the delayed input neurons and the number of neurons in the hidden layer of the neural network architecture. Modification of Levenberg–Marquardt algorithm with Bayesian regularization is used to improve the ability to predict software cumulative failure time. The performance of our proposed approach has been compared using real-time control and flight dynamic application data sets. Numerical results show that both the goodness-of-fit and the next-step-predictability of our proposed approach have greater accuracy in predicting software cumulative failure time compared to existing approaches.
Solid-Phase Microextraction of Organophosphate Pesticides in Source Waters for Drinking Water Treatment Facilities

The rapid detection of contaminants in our nation's drinking water has become a top homeland security priority in this time of increased national vigilance. Real-time monitoring of drinking water for deliberate or accidental contamination is key to national security. One method that can be employed for the rapid screening of pollutants in water is solid-phase microextraction (SPME). SPME is a rapid, sensitive, solvent-free system that can be used to screen for contaminants that have been accidentally or intentionally introduced into a water system. A method using SPME has been developed and optimized for the detection of seven organophosphate pesticides in drinking water treatment facility source waters. The method is tested in source waters for drinking water treatment facilities in Mississippi and Alabama. Water is collected from a deepwater well at Stennis Space Center (SSC), MS, the drinking water source for SSC, and from the Converse Reservoir, the main drinking water supply for Mobile, AL. Also tested are samples of water collected from the Mobile Alabama Water and Sewer System drinking water treatment plant prior to chlorination. The method limits of detection for the seven organophosphates were comparable to those described in several Environmental Protection Agency standard methods. They range from 0.25 to 0.94 microg/L.
Light-Driven Droplet Manipulation Technologies for Lab-on-a-Chip Applications

Droplet-based (digital) microfluidics has been demonstrated in many lab-on-a-chip applications due to its free cross-contamination and no dispersion nature. Droplet manipulation mechanisms are versatile, and each has unique advantages and limitations. Recently, the idea of manipulating droplets with light beams either through optical forces or light-induced physical mechanisms has attracted some interests, since light can achieve 3D addressing, carry high energy density for high speed actuation, and be patterned and dynamically reconfigured to generate a large number of light beams for massively parallel manipulation. This paper reviews recent developments of various optical technologies for droplet manipulation and their applications in lab-on-a-chip.
Modeling Wilderness Campsites: Factors That Influence Amount of Impact

A standard campsite model is proposed and then manipulated to examine the influence of individual variables on amount of vegetation loss. Amount of impact is influenced by amount of use, vegetation fragility, vegetation density, and the degree to which activities are concentrated spatially on the site. Degree of concentration also influences the importance of the other explanatory variables. Amount of use and vegetation fragility are equally important determinants of impact and are most influential where activity concentration is low. The curvilinear relationship between amount of use and amount of impact can be explained by the tendency for activities to become increasingly concentrated as amount of use increases. This relationship should not vary with regional or environmental characteristics except where these influence degree of activity concentration.
Endogenous Collateral Constraints and the Leverage Cycle

We review the theory of leverage developed in collateral equilibrium models with incomplete markets. We explain how leverage tends to boost asset prices and create bubbles. We show how leverage can be endogenously determined in equilibrium and how it depends on volatility. We describe the dynamic feedback properties of leverage, volatility, and asset prices, in what we call the leverage cycle, and show how it differs from a credit cycle. We also describe some cross-sectional implications of multiple leverage cycles, including contagion, flight to collateral, and swings in the issuance volume of the highest-quality debt.
A Miniaturized Band-Pass Frequency Selective Surface

In this paper, we propose a new type of engineered material that can act as a frequency selective surface (FSS) with any desired order. The material consists of a periodic array of small metallic patches printed on one side of a dielectric substrate and a wire grid structure printed on the other side, both having the same period, which is much smaller than the wavelength of operating frequency
Successful testicular sperm retrieval in adolescents with Klinefelter syndrome treated with at least 1 year of topical testosterone and aromatase inhibitor

Objective To evaluate surgical sperm retrieval rates in adolescents with Klinefelter syndrome and testosterone replacement therapy (TRT). Design Case series. Setting Academic medical center. Patient(s) Ten patients with Klinefelter syndrome, aged 14–22 years, treated with testosterone replacement and aromatase inhibitor therapy for a period of 1–5 years before surgical sperm retrieval. Intervention(s) Microsurgical testis sperm extraction with cryopreservation of harvested tissue. Main Outcome Measure(s) Presence of spermatozoa within testis tissue. Result(s) Successful sperm retrieval in 7/10 patients (70%). Conclusion(s) Use of topical TRT did not appear to suppress spermatogenesis in adolescents with KS. It is uncertain whether sperm retrieval rates would be higher or lower without testosterone replacement in these young males. Sperm cryopreservation should be discussed in all KS adolescents who are either receiving or considering initiating TRT.
Histopathologic assessment of depth of follicular invasion of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in situ (SCCis): Implications for treatment approach

Background Squamous cell carcinoma in situ (SCCis) has been reported to involve the hair follicle epithelium. Deep follicular invasion is often cited as a cause of treatment failure. Objective We sought to define the frequency and the depth of hair follicle invasion by SCCis. Methods The study included both a retrospective review of intraoperative pathology specimens from 42 SCCis cases treated with Mohs micrographic surgery and a prospective evaluation of serially sectioned SCCis tissue from 12 additional patients. Pathology specimens were analyzed for follicular invasion of SCCis. Results SCCis invasion of the superficial hair follicle infundibulum was observed in 61.3% to 87.5% of cases in the 2 cohorts, whereas invasion of the isthmus and lower follicle was observed in only 8.3% to 12.5% of cases. In most tumors the depth of follicular invasion was comparable with the thickness of the surrounding epidermis. The maximum observed depth of follicular invasion was 0.82 mm. Limitations The study was performed on a limited number of cases referred for surgery at a single institution. Conclusions Although SCCis invasion of the upper hair follicle infundibulum is common, deep invasion below the level of the surrounding epidermis is rare. This may have implications for optimal therapy of this condition.
Trapped CO2 in Carbon Nanotube Bundles

An infrared spectroscopic study of CO2 that becomes permanently trapped in carbon nanotube bundles during thermolysis is reported. The temperature dependence of the ν3 modes for trapped CO2 is stud...
Irreversibility Questions in Chemistry, Quantum-Counting, and Time-Delay

I would like to bring together here three questions, each of independent and fundamental interest, bound together by a common underlying theme: how do we distinguish irreversibility effects in microscopic processes? The three questions come from our models for molecules, counters, and particles. Although somewhat idealized here, they lie at the heart of the foundations of theoretical chemistry, measurement theory, and quantum mechanics.
Abstract 3694: Role of the inflammatory response in pancreatic cancer treatment

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is an aggressive malignancy, often diagnosed late in the course of the disease, and very difficult to diagnose and treat. To date, systemic treatment for pancreatic cancer, either a single agent or combinations of agents, has shown only modest benefits; however, growing understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of pancreatic cancers, and the complex heterogeneous signals associated with them, may help to target these pathways specifically and improve patient outcome. There is evidence for a significant role of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and COX-2-generated prostaglandin (PG) E2 (PGE2) during pancreatic tumorigenesis. COX-2 has therefore become a potential chemotherapeutic target for pancreatic cancer. Clinical trials combining Gemcitabine and Celecoxib [1] or Gemcitabine+ Irinotecan and Celecoxib [2] have not shown a significant benefit from celecoxib but there were relatively few patients treated and they were not selected or stratified based on biomarkers. We have measured the levels of 4 cytokines, including Interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1α, Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF)-α and Interferon (IFN)-α in patient blood samples at day 0, day 29 and day 50 following the combination Gemcitabine - Celecoxib treatment. For all samples analyzed and averaged, we show an increase in plasma TNF-α (by 1.37 fold) and IL-1α (by 2 fold) concomitantly with a dramatic increase in IFN-γ (by 7 fold on day 29, by 3 fold on day 50) and stable IL-6 using the Meso Scale Discovery multiplex platform. One patient had a stable profile of all 4 cytokines and was shown to have partial response to the treatment. All others exhibited a strong variation in their cytokines during the treatment and did exhibit progression of the disease. Although the number of patients enrolled in the trial [1] was low, these results showed an interesting trend. These findings provide a basis for investigating further the inflammation-linked pathways along the COX2/mPGE-S1/EP4/IL-6 axis in pancreatic cancer cells and animal models of pancreatic cancers which will be subjected to the comparative treatment. [1]. Dragovich et al., Am. J. Clin. Oncol. 31:157-162 (2008) [2]. Lipton et al., J. Clin. Gastroenterol. 44:286-288 (2010) Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3694. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-3694
Perioperative medicine: combining the science and the art.

First, I am pleased Dr. Cohn described how the writing committee of the new guidelines handled the well-publicized breaches of scien-tific integrity by Dr. Don Poldermans, a prolif-ic perioperative-medicine researcher at Eras-mus University in the Netherlands who has contributed an abundance of literature that influenced clinical practice. Although some of his key publications were excluded by the ACC/AHA committee in its overall analysis, it remains unclear to me if simply ignoring
Experience with fra(X) (q27) in retarded males and carrier females

The fragile site at Xq27 is associated with X-linked mental retardation with macro-orchidism. This fragile site has been studied in 21 retarded males. Chromosome studies on 11 obligate carrier females have demonstrated the site in only 3 of them. As carriers become older the fragile site becomes more difficult to demonstrate. Amongst 10 young daughters of obligate carriers, 5 have been shown to carry the fragile site. Cytogenetic carrier detection of this form of X-linked mental retardation appears to be fairly reliable in females aged less than 20-25 yr, but is unreliable after this age.
My Brother's Keeper? CEO Identification with the Corporate Elite, Social Support among CEOS, and Leader Effectiveness

This study examines factors influencing CEOs' willingness to provide social support to fellow CEOs who are experiencing significant personal problems (e.g., marital difficulties) and the benefits o...
Alzheimer's disease and heparan sulfate proteoglycan

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a debilitating neurodegenerative disorder. Cardinal histopathologic changes of AD are neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) and deposits of beta-amyloid protein (A-beta) in the form of neuritic plaques (NPs). Several different mutations found in patients with familial AD have been demonstrated to increase A-beta production, resulting in a common pathological cascade of beta-amyloidosis in the brain. Heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG) has been co-localized with both A-beta in the NPs and NFTs. The proteoglycans are a family of complex macromolecules consisting of a protein core to which glycosaminoglycan (GAG) chains are covalently attached. HSPG has been shown to bind to A-beta, accelerate its fibril formation, and maintain its fibril stability. In AD and other neurodegenerative disorders, tau becomes hyperphosphorylated hence it is unable to bind to microtubules which results in the production of paired helical filaments, a building unit of NFTs. It has been shown in vitro that sulfated GAGs induce the formation of paired helical-like filaments under physiological conditions from tau. Furthermore, an interaction between HSPG and apolipoprotein E (a potent risk factor of AD) has been shown to be involved in neurodegeneration. Thus, substantial evidence exists to underscore important roles of HSPG in the etiology of AD.
Conditions sufficient for nonsynaptic epileptogenesis in the CA1 region of hippocampal slices.

Nonsynaptic mechanisms exert a powerful influence on seizure threshold. It is well-established that nonsynaptic epileptiform activity can be induced in hippocampal slices by reducing extracellular ...
System Utterance Generation by Label Propagation over Association Graph of Words and Utterance Patterns for Open-Domain Dialogue Systems

A novel graph-based utterance generation method for open-domain dialogue systems is proposed in this paper. After an association graph of words and utterance patterns from a dialogue corpus is constructed, a label propagation algorithm is used for generating system utterances from the words and utterance patterns in the association graph that are found to strongly correlate with the words and utterance patterns that appeared in previous user utterances. We also propose a crowdsourcing framework for collecting annotated chat data so that we can implement our method in a cost effective manner. Crowdsourcing is also used for conducting subjective evaluations and the results will show that the proposed method can not only provide interesting and informative responses but it also can appropriately expand the topics by comparing them to a well-known chat system in Japanese.
Bisphenol A alters the self-renewal and differentiation capacity of human bone-marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells

ABSTRACTBisphenol A (BPA) is an endocrine disruptor commonly used in industry to manufacture polycarbonate plastics. This endocrine disrupting chemical has been shown to mimic estrogens and has been associated with many serious health conditions. The effects of BPA on bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) were investigated in vitro in the present study. BMSCs were exposed to BPA and assessed for proliferation and self-renewal capacity. The impact of BPA on osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation of BMSCs were also explored. Inhibitor studies were conducted to determine whether BPA alters BMSC biology through estrogen receptor (ER) signaling or MAPK signaling pathways. Although BMSCs treated with BPA demonstrated enhanced proliferation rate, BPA-treated BMSCs demonstrated a reduction in the total number of colony forming units (CFU); however, each CFU was larger (composed of more cells). BPA enhanced adipogenic differentiation of BMSCs, which correlated with increased mRNA expression levels ...
Herpes simplex virus infections.

Case Report A term female developed fever and tachypnea and had a transient episode of poor color and tone on the third day of life. She was delivered by cesarean section 5 hours after rupture of membranes to a 19-year-old, gravida 4, para 0 mother whose serology was negative for syphilis, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and hepatitis B surface antigen. The mother had no history of sexually transmitted diseases. Apgar scores were 8 at 1 minute and 9 at 10 minutes. When the infant was admitted to the nursery, scalp abrasions were noticed by the nurse. On the third day of life, a sepsis evaluation was initiated, and the infant received ampicillin and gentamicin intravenously: no bacterial infection was found. On the fifth day of life, vesicular lesions were noticed on her scalp. Bilateral interstitial infiltrates were present On chest radiograph and laboratory studies revealed mild elevations in liver function tests. There were no cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) abnormalities. She was started on intravenous acyclovir, and herpes simplex virus (HSV)-2 subsequently was isolated from both her pharynx and scalp lesions. After receiving intravenous acyclovir for 3 weeks, she was discharged with no evidence of residual sequelae. Four days after acyclovir was discontinued, new scalp vesicles appeared and the infant developed a temperature of 38.8°C (102°F).
Diabetes mellitus. What have we learned from animals

Progress in our understanding of the pathophysiology of diabetes mellitus has been made possible because of the availability of animal analogs of the various human diseases. Diabetes mellitus can be mild, moderate or severe depending on the genetic error that is responsible for the disease. Present estimates of errors that result in diabetes range from 20 to 100. Because similar errors have been found in spontaneously diabetic animals scientists have been able to identify the sequence of metabolic events and subsequent tissue change in many of these phenotypes. Studies of the efficacy of various drugs, diets and lifestyle choices on disease development and management thus were made possible.
A Paradigm Shift in Orthodontic Marketing

The increase in primary care dentists who are providing their own orthodontic care has caused orthodontic specialists to change their marketing strategy. Recently, a paradigm shift in marketing has occurred from dentist-based referrals to direct-to-consumer advertising. Orthodontists are now choosing to advertise to patients directly, rather than solicit primary care dentists to refer patients when they deem ready. In essence, primary care dentists have forced the orthodontist’s proverbial hand to become independent. The reach of this independence will likely extend well beyond current direct-to-consumer methods to orthodontists soon owning pediatric and general dental offices in the future. The purpose of this paper is to review current and future trends in orthodontic marketing.
State, Class and Underdevelopment in Nigeria

In one of his most celebrated speeches, Amilcar Cabral said that ‘the problem of the nature of the state created after independence is perhaps the secret of the failure of African independence’.1 While the statement informs us of the state’s centrality, it is hardly a correct interpretation of the post-colonial state in Africa. In all of independent sub-Saharan Africa no such new state has been created; rather the colonial state has been reinstated, and in most cases strengthened. As I analysed in Chapter 1, the colonial state was exploitative, not developmental. At independence, only the personnel changed but not the structures, form or nature of the colonial state. Thus, Cabral’s statement needs re-writing; the secret of the failure of African independence is the fact that no alternative non-colonial style state has been created. The reason, I will suggest, is that an exploitative state benefits members of the new ruling classes.
Growth and Enterotoxin Production of Staphylococcus aureus in Fresh Packaged Mushrooms ( Agaricus bisporus ).

Freshly harvested mushrooms were found to induce a near-anaerobic environment (<2% O 2 ) in unventilated, PVC-overwrapped packages within 2 to 6 h when incubated at 20 to 30°C. Mushrooms were inoculated with an enterotoxigenic strain of Staphylococcus aureus and incubated in overwrapped trays at different temperatures. S. aureus grew and produced staphylococcal enterotoxin (SE) in unventilated PVC-overwrapped mushroom packages when inoculated at levels of 10 3 , 10 4 , and 10 5 CFU/g of mushroom after 4 days of incubation at 30°C. Growth of S. aureus was observed at all levels of inoculation at 25°C, but no SE was detected after 7 days of incubation. When mushroom packages were ventilated, S. aureus growth was suppressed and no SE was detected after 7 days at 25°C and 4 days at 30°C. However, S. aureus growth in ventilated packs exceeded growth in unventilated packages when the incubation temperature was increased to 35°C ; SE was detected within 18 h of incubation at this temperature, even in mushrooms inoculated at a low level (10 2 CFU/g). These results show the extreme importance of proper sanitation and worker hygiene during mushroom harvesting and packaging, ventilation of fresh mushroom packages, and proper storage temperatures for fresh mushrooms at all points of the food chain.
Arthrogryposis Congenita and Hepatorenal Abnormalities

Arthrogryposis multiplex congenita with renal and hepatic abnormalities, demonstrated at autopsy in a two month old child of consanguineous parents, is reported from the Pediatric Hospital, Coimbra, Portugal.
Shaping Ultrafast Laser Fields for Photonic Signal Processing

Laser and photonics technologies are capable of very high speeds and bandwidths, far beyond those available with state-of-the-art electronics such as those used in computers and wireless communications equipment. This capability is developed and exploited in two main technology areas: lightwave communications and ultrafast optics.
Platelet 12-Lipoxygenase Is Required for Dense Granule Secretion and Platelet Aggregation: Role of 12-hLO In Platelet Hemostasis and Thrombosis

Abstract Abstract 3203 Platelet activation plays a central role in regulating hemostasis. Uncontrolled activation of circulating platelets can result in the formation of occlusive thrombi and stroke. Following activation, metabolism of arachidonic acid by 12-lipoxygenase (12-hLO) may play a significant role in regulating the degree and stability of platelet reactivity. Using specific inhibitors for 12-hLO which do not interact with other lipoxygenases or enzymes in the COX-1 pathway, we were able for the first time to asses the involvement of 12-hLO in platelet reactivity. In order to assess the role of 12-hLO in platelet activation and thrombosis, dense granule secretion, platelet aggregation, alpha granule secretion, and platelet adhesion and clot formation under flow were measured. Inhibiting 12-hLO results in a complete inhibition of dense granule secretion with only a partial attenuation of alpha granule secretion indicating a novel regulatory scheme for modulating positive autocrine reinforcement of platelet reactivity and clot formation. Addition of the 12-hLO metabolite, 12-HETE (as low as 250 nM), resulted in a significant (25%) increase in PAR1-mediated dense granule secretion compare to agonist alone indicating that 12-HETE may be the crucial metabolite formed by 12-hLO metabolism of arachidonic acid. Importantly, platelet aggregation and adhesion are also significantly attenuated in the absence of 12-hLO. In fact, collagen-mediated platelet aggregation was shifted over 25 fold to the right in the absence of 12-hLO. These studies support the role of 12-hLO in hemostasis and may be a good target for anti-platelet therapy. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Multiracial college students’ experiences with multiracial microaggressions

While research on monoracial college students’ experiences with racial microaggressions increases, minimal, if any, research focuses on multiracial college students’ experiences with racial microag...
Update on the treatment of Parkinson's disease psychosis: role of pimavanserin.

Parkinson’s disease (PD) has a prevalence of nearly 1 million people in the USA, with increasing incidence in the elderly population. Generally, the age of presentation is between 55 and 65 years, with the likelihood of diagnosis increasing as patients reach the age of 80 years or above. Some of the common treatments for PD increase dopamine levels in the brain. Dopaminergic therapy helps to improve motor and non-motor symptoms, but it is not without risks. Dopaminergic therapy can cause confusion, delirium, and psychotic-like behavior. It is recommended that these agents are used cautiously in patients with a history of psychosis due to the risk of exacerbation. It is unclear whether Parkinson’s disease psychosis (PDP) is due to the disease itself, the treatment, or a combination of both, but it is clear that a safe, effective treatment is necessary. Second-generation (atypical) antipsychotics are the current choice of therapy for PDP. All of these agents have a black box warning from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for elevated risk of mortality in elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis. Pimavanserin (Nuplazid®) received its novel drug approval by the FDA on April 29, 2016, to treat hallucinations and delusions associated with psychosis experienced by some people with PD. We review in this article the new research that led to this approval as well as its potential place in therapy.
Malignant Hyperthermia: An Anesthesiology Simulation Case for Early Anesthesia Providers.

Introduction The patient is a 40-kg, 12-year-old Caucasian male with history of asthma who is undergoing an elective inguinal hernia repair. There is no family history of anesthesia-related complic...
Redesigning a course to help students achieve higher-order cognitive thinking skills: from goals and mechanics to student outcomes

Here we describe a 4-yr course reform and its outcomes. The upper-division neurophysiology course gradually transformed from a traditional lecture in 2004 to a more student-centered course in 2008,...
Ultrastructural analysis of the mature spermatozoon in the copperhead, Agkistrodon contortrix (Linnaeus, 1766)

Reptilian sperm morphology studies are continually increasing, and sperm biology is presently being utilized in other areas of study such as sexual selection, evolution, and phylogenetic analysis. The numbers of studies concerning sperm morphology in Squamata, however, are still limited compared to the diversity and number of lizard and snake species and the taxonomic distribution of these studies is widespread and random. Comparisons between closely related taxa are not feasible until further spermatozoal studies investigating designated comparative taxa are completed; therefore, this study aims to add a description of the mature spermatozoa of Agkistrodon contortrix (Linnaeus, 1766) and compare these data to the mature spermatid morphology of its related taxon, Agkistrodon piscivorus (Lacepede, 1789). Although the general architecture of the mature spermatozoa in A. contortrix is consistent with previous reports of mature sperm morphology in snakes, minor differences are noted including the location of the fibrous sheath starting at mitochondrial tier 4, a location that has not yet been reported for snakes. These data further suggest that minute differences in sperm ultrastructure can be observed in closely related taxa and may be beneficial in future phylogenetic and evolutionary analyses.
Orthostatic Syncope from Compromised Flow after Heartware HVAD by Lateral Thoracotomy: Potential Role of Dynamic Echocardiographic Testing for Cannula Assessment

- Orthostatic syncope after left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation is uncommon.
Adherence to lipid management guidelines is associated with lower mortality and major adverse limb events in patients undergoing revascularization for chronic limb-threatening ischemia

Abstract Objective The 2013 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association lipid management guidelines recommend high-intensity statins for all patients ≤75 years old with chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) and moderate-intensity statins for CLTI patients >75 years old without contraindications or on dialysis, but these recommendations are based primarily on coronary and stroke data. We aimed to validate these guidelines in patients with CLTI and to assess current adherence to these recommendations. Methods We identified all patients with CLTI who underwent first-time revascularization (endovascular or surgical) at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center from 2005 to 2014. Patients were classified as taking high-intensity, moderate-intensity, low-intensity, or no statin postoperatively. Outcomes included death and major adverse limb event (MALE). Propensity scores were calculated for the probability of receiving guideline-recommended intensity of statin therapy to account for nonrandom assignment of treatments. Cox regression models were constructed and adjusted for the propensity scores and further adjusted for strong potential confounders. Results After excluding patients on hemodialysis (n = 252), we identified 1019 limbs from 931 patients with a median follow-up of 380 days. Patients discharged on the recommended statin intensity had higher rates of preoperative statin use, coronary artery disease, chronic kidney disease, stroke, atrial fibrillation, congestive heart failure, and coronary artery bypass grafting; they had lower smoking rates and were less likely to be ambulatory preoperatively. Overall, only 35% were taking the recommended statin dosage: 55% of those >75 years old and 20% of those ≤75 years old. In multivariable analysis including propensity scores where appropriate, discharge on any statin was associated with lower mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 0.71; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.60-0.90; P P P 75 years old and ≤75 years old accrued similar benefit. In patients >75 years old, moderate-intensity statin therapy was associated with lower rates of death and MALE compared with high-intensity therapy but did not reach statistical significance. Conclusions Use of the recommended intensity of statin therapy in compliance with 2013 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association lipid management guidelines is associated with significantly improved survival and lower MALE rate in patients undergoing revascularization for CLTI. Adherence to current guidelines is an appealing target for quality improvement.
Investigation and simulation model results of high density wireless power harvesting and transfer method

The paper presents and provide simulation model results of a method for wireless power transfer by harvesting and/or transferring the switching ripple energy of the inductor current in a switching power converter. By placing a planar coil as a wireless power receiver (Rx) in the proximity of a power inductor of a power converter, wireless power can be received by the Rx coil because of the oscillating magnetic field generated by AC switching ripple of the inductor current. This yields a power converter with a wireless power transmitter (Tx) in addition to the original wired output of the power converter, therefore, eliminating the need for Tx side in an inductive wireless power transfer system. Using an example Buck-WPT system, which achieves step down power conversion for a wired output and WPT at the same time, this paper discusses the related operation principle and provide simulation model results.
Abstract P125: Correlation of Inflammatory Marker Burden with Progressive Increase in Short-Term Risk of Cardiovascular Disease

Background: Newer inflammatory markers of atherosclerosis have been shown to correlate well with cardiac risk profiling. Methods: Multi-Ethnic study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) is a population based study (n=6814) of varying ethnicities, aged 44-84 years, free from clinical cardiovascular disease (CVD). We did a post-hoc analysis of the NHLBI Limited Access Dataset of MESA subjects between 44-50 years(n=1076), and stratified them into 3 risk groups- low 10-year ( 39%), and high 10-year risk (>10%) or diagnosed diabetes mellitus. C - reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen, Interleukin 6 (Il-6) and plasmin-antiplasmin complex (PAC) levels were analyzed across the 3 groups. Further each quartile of a marker was assigned 1 point and a Mean inflammatory score was computed by adding total points for each patient in the risk groups. Age, sex and race adjusted regression co-efficients were estimated. Results: Mean age of the study group was 47±1.7 yrs, CRP-3.3±4.9 mg/L, IL-6-1.4±1.1 pg/ml, fibrinogen-324±69. Mean levels of CRP, fibrinogen, Il-6, PAC and mean inflammatory score increased progressively across the 3 risk groups. Adjusted regression co-efficients also demonstrated linear relationship with increasing risk hierarchy (Table 1). Conclusions: Burden of inflammatory markers increases progressively across risk groups- being the highest in those with high short term risk of cardiovascular disease.
Real-time drug pharmacokinetics.

A new microsensor can simultaneously track drug pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics and the resulting electrophysiological activity in live animals.
Kinky Tax Policy and Abnormal Investment Behavior

This paper documents tax-minimizing investment, in which firms accelerate capital purchases near fiscal year-end to reduce taxes. Between 1984 and 2013, average investment in fiscal Q4 exceeds the average of fiscal Q1 through Q3 by 37%. Q4 spikes occur in the U.S. and internationally. Research designs using variation in firm tax positions and the 1986 Tax Reform Act show that tax minimization causes spikes. Spikes increase when firms face financial constraints or higher option values of waiting. We develop an investment model with tax asymmetries to rationalize these patterns. Models without purchase-year, tax-minimization motives are unlikely to fit the data.
Improving delivery performance for asymmetric Laplace distributed delivery time in a two-stage supply chain

This paper investigates strategies for improving supply chain delivery timeliness when the delivery time follows an asymmetric Laplace distribution. Delivery performance is measured using a cost-ba...
Modeling of Normal Tissue Complications Using Imaging and Biomarkers After Radiation Therapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Purpose To develop normal tissue complications (NTCP) models for hepatocellular cancer (HCC) patients who undergo liver radiation therapy (RT) and to evaluate the potential role of functional imaging and measurement of blood-based circulating biological markers before and during RT to improve the performance of these models. Methods and Materials The data from 192 HCC patients who had undergone RT from 2005 to 2014 were evaluated. Of the 192 patients, 146 had received stereotactic body RT (SBRT) and 46 had received conventional RT to a median physical tumor dose of 49.8 Gy and 50.4 Gy, respectively. The physical doses were converted into 2-Gy equivalents for analysis. Two approaches were investigated for modeling NTCP: (1) a generalized Lyman-Kutcher-Burman model; and (2) a generalization of the parallel architecture model. Three clinical endpoints were considered: the change in albumin-bilirubin (ALBI), change in Child-Pugh (C-P) score, and grade ≥3 liver enzymatic changes. Local dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging portal venous perfusion information was used as an imaging biomarker for local liver function. Four candidate inflammatory cytokines were considered as biological markers. The imaging findings and cytokine levels were incorporated into NTCP modeling, and their role was evaluated using goodness-of-fit metrics. Results Using dosimetric information only, the Lyman-Kutcher-Burman model for the ALBI/C-P change had a steeper response curve compared with grade ≥3 enzymatic changes. Incorporating portal venous perfusion imaging information into the parallel architecture model to represent functional reserve resulted in relatively steeper dose-response curves compared with dose-only models. A larger loss of perfusion function was needed for enzymatic changes compared with ALBI/C-P changes. Increased transforming growth factor-β1 and eotaxin expression increased the trend of expected risk in both NTCP modeling approaches but did not reach statistical significance. Conclusions The incorporation of imaging findings and biological markers into NTCP modeling of liver toxicity improved the estimates of expected NTCP risk compared with using dose-only models. In addition, such generalized NTCP models should contribute to a better understanding of the normal tissue response in HCC SBRT patients and facilitate personalized treatment.
Synthesis and Characterization of Quenched and Crystalline Phases: Q-Carbon, Q-BN, Diamond and Phase-Pure c-BN

We report the synthesis and characterization of quenched (Q-carbon and Q-BN) and crystalline (diamond and c-BN) phases using a non-equilibrium technique. These phases are formed as a result of the melting and subsequent quenching of amorphous carbon and nanocrystalline h-BN in a super undercooled state by using high-power nanosecond laser pulses. Pulsed laser annealing also leads to the formation of nanoneedles, microneedles and single-crystal thin films of diamond and c-BN. This formation is dependent on the nucleation and growth times, which are controlled by laser energy density and thermal conductivities of substrate and as-deposited thin film. The diamond nuclei present in the Q-carbon structure (~ 80% sp3) can also be grown to larger sizes using the equilibrium hot filament chemical vapor deposition process. The texture of diamond and c-BN crystals is 〈111〉 under epitaxial growth and 〈110〉 under rapid unseeded crystallization. Our nanosecond laser processing opens up a roadmap to the fabrication of novel phases on heat-sensitive substrates.
Axonal endoplasmic reticulum is very narrow

ABSTRACT The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is an interconnected network of tubules and sheets. In most tissues of the body, ER tubules have a diameter of ∼60 nm. Using new methods for serial-section electron microscopy, a distinct class of very narrow, 20- to 30-nm-diameter tubules were found in neurons of both the central and peripheral nervous system. The narrow tubules appear to be the most abundant form of ER in axons, and are also found interspersed in the cell bodies and dendrites. At the site of branch points, there is a small sheet that has a similarly narrow lumen. The narrowness of the ER is likely to be important for the as yet poorly characterized functions of the axonal ER.