cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Clinical Validation and Implementation of a Measurable Residual Disease Assay for NPM1 in Acute Myeloid Leukemia by Error-Corrected Next-Generation Sequencing

Nucleophosmin 1 (NPM1) is one of the most commonly mutated genes in acute myeloid leukemia, with mutations observed in approximately 30% of all adult cases. The persistence of NPM1 mutations following chemotherapy is associated with a greater risk of relapse as well as a lower rate of survival, making NPM1 measurable residual disease (MRD) an informative clinical target. Herein, we have developed a straightforward unique molecular identifier (UMI)-based amplicon next-generation sequencing method for the detection of NPM1-mutated MRD that addresses some of the limitations present in other assays. The NPM1 assay allowed for accurate counting of individual mutant and wild-type molecules down to 0.01% variant allelic frequency. In silico contamination experiments highlighted the ability of this UMI methodology to maximize specificity through dramatic reductions in sequencing/demultiplexing bleed-through error. Performance and clinical utility of the NPM1 MRD assay are established via both validation experiments and analyses of live performance over 1.5 years of routine clinical service.
Cultivating Design Thinking of Middle School Girls through an Origami STEAM Project

This paper presents results from an exploratory case study on the use of Origami for developing design thinking with a group of 22 middle school girls participating in a summer STEM program. The case study combines the process of design thinking, common in STEM-based exploration, and aligned to Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) with the art of Origami as a tool for encouraging innovation and creative thinking. Student teams were challenged to design and build a three-dimensional Origami structure made of business cards that could withstand the weight of a typical middle school age student. Data in the form of observation during the design process and follow up interviews were utilized to determine the impact of the art-infused STEM approach. Overall, participants found the open-ended, exploratory nature of design thinking to be challenging though Origami engaged students, providing them with a familiar and approachable method to use for their designs. Initial findings provide support to a STEAM-based approach with consideration for structures that are best for collaboration and exploration.
The effectiveness of cutaneous wart resolution with current treatment modalities

Non-venereal warts are a frequent dermatological presentation with potential spontaneous regression in immunocompetent adults and children within 2 years. Evidence shows that conventional wart treatments are not a guaranteed treatment modality and can carry concerns regarding safety. The aim of this literature review was to identify the most effective treatments for wart resolution to guide clinical practice while identifying areas for further research. A systematic literature review was performed to determine the current treatment modalities for non-anogenital cutaneous warts in immunocompetent individuals and their effectiveness. Articles were categorized into one of eight groups depending on anatomical location, population age, or recalcitrant status with ranked levels of evidence. This literature review highlights a variety of treatments for non-venereal warts shown to be effective. In this instance where optimal evidence-based treatments are not available, clinical experience determines the most appropriate clinical practice. Further reproducible immunotherapy research on wart resolution is required to enable clear comparisons of these treatment modalities to conventional methods. Future clinical practice will require the human papillomavirus type to target the wart treatment accordingly; however, further research is required to determine these correlations.
Pain-related anxiety, sex, and co-use of alcohol and prescription opioids among adults with chronic low back pain.

Abstract Background Both alcohol and prescription opioid use/misuse are highly prevalent among individuals with chronic pain. Co-use of alcohol and prescription opioids is also common, despite contraindications due to increased risk of negative health effects and mortality. There is evidence that pain-related anxiety (i.e., the tendency to respond to pain with anxiety or fear) may be associated with heavier drinking and prescription opioid use/co-use, and that these associations may be especially salient among men. Methods This study is the first examination of pain-related anxiety in relation to hazardous alcohol use, prescription opioid use/misuse, and alcohol-opioid co-use. Participants included 1812 adults with chronic low back pain (69 % female, Mage = 43.95) who completed an online survey assessing health behaviors. Results Pain-related anxiety was positively associated with indices of alcohol (i.e., alcohol-related consequences) and opioid use (i.e., prescription opioid use/misuse, daily opioid consumption). Of note, sex moderated associations between pain-related anxiety and both alcohol-related consequences and prescription opioid misuse. In addition to being associated with alcohol and prescription opioid use, independently, pain-related anxiety was also associated with greater likelihood of endorsing co-use of alcohol and opioids and engaging in concurrent hazardous drinking and prescription opioid misuse. Conclusions These findings contribute to a growing literature suggesting that pain-related anxiety is an important transdiagnostic factor in pain and alcohol and prescription opioid use/co-use, perhaps especially among males.
Removal of hydrocarbon from soils possessing macro-heterogeneities using electrokinetics and surfactants

Abstract The removal of n-hexadecane from soil in two-dimensional (vertical) setups was investigated using electrokinetics (EK), hydraulic gradient (HG), and anionic surfactant SDS (Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate) and nonionic surfactant Tween 80. The investigation relied on creating a two-dimensional block containing 3 × 3 cells each 3 cm in dimension. The soils in the blocks were created by mixing loamy sand soil (LSS) with kaolinite (clay) at three proportions: 100% LSS + 0% clay, 95% LSS + 5% clay and 90% LSS + 10% clay. This approach is very different from existing approaches where heterogeneity is layered. The surfactant concentration exhibited a large variability in space, including in the sand around the soil which highlights the limitations of one-dimensional investigations. In general, HG delivered surfactant more uniformly in the sand, but not in the soil. The performance of Tween 80 with EK was slightly higher than that of SDS, as the removal was 64% to 51%, respectively; and was better than SDS when HG was used, 65% to 46%. Another set of experiments was conducted using one cell made of 20% LSS + 80% clay with Tween 80. The EK provided a much higher removal efficiency (77%) than HG (43%), which indicates that EK performs better than HG for clayey soils. Overall, the study indicates that for both anionic and nonionic surfactant, the removal of n-hexadecane using EK was comparable to or better than HG, and that EK is capable of delivering the surfactants in two-dimensional systems.
Laparoscopic Heated Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy in the Treatment of Carcinomatosis of Gastric Adenocarcinoma Origin

The use of heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) in conjunction with cytoreductive surgery has been gaining increasing traction in treating gastric adenocarcinoma with metastasis to the peritoneum in recent years. The addition of laparoscopic HIPEC (LS-HIPEC) to these treatment algorithms has increased the flexibility and adaptability of HIPEC integrating into treatment sequencing, allowing for iterative protocols of LS-HIPEC prior to cytoreduction as neoadjuvant treatment, as well as in the palliation of patients with unresectable disease and uncontrolled ascites. As the use of HIPEC in gastric adenocarcinoma continues to be refined, LS-HIPEC algorithms should continue to be considered and utilized both in curative treatment algorithms as well as in patients in the palliative setting. Given that LS-HIPEC remains a relatively nascent treatment modality, we advocate for its use in the setting of a clinical trial when feasible.
$s$-Catalan numbers and Littlewood-Richardson polynomials

In this note, we study two generalizations of the Catalan numbers, namely the $s$-Catalan numbers and the spin $s$-Catalan numbers. These numbers first appeared in relation to quantum physics problems about spin multiplicities. We give a combinatorial description for these numbers in terms of Littlewood-Richardson coefficients, and explain some of the properties they exhibit in terms of Littlewood-Richardson polynomials.
Determination of aldehydes and acetone in fog water samples via online concentration and HPLC

Aldehydes and ketones, ubiquitous air, cloud, and fog water pollutants, are precursors to secondary organic aerosol formation and photochemical smog. Traditional aldehyde and ketone determination methods involve the addition of 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH) as a derivatization agent, but many require a large sample volume or a lengthy extraction/concentration process. For fog water, where the sample size is inherently small, a DNPH derivatization method, based on U.S. EPA Method 8315A, was developed to combat this issue. In this method, a manual injection online concentration system in conjunction with HPLC was used, eliminating all liquid-liquid extraction and concentration steps and reducing the required sample volume. Hence, concentration and separation were combined in a single step. Using this injection method shortened the procedure time and also lowered the limit of detection to the nanomolar range. In this study, fourteen fog water samples, collected from October 2012 through April 2014 in Baton Rouge, LA, were analyzed for the concentration of aldehydes and ketones in order to test the feasibility of this method. Dissolved organic content (DOC), ionic concentration, and pH were measured. Formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, acrolein, butyraldehyde, benzaldehyde, and acetone were quantified. The DOC of the collected fog samples varied between 6.2 and 262.2 mgC/L. The wide range of organic content in the fog water samples corresponds to a diverse sample set, highlighted by the large variation of observed acetone concentration (under 5 nM to 1.05 mM). However, formaldehyde had a relatively stable concentration between each event (0.5 to 4.5 μM).
Modeling and Analysis of an Inherently Multi-Rate Sampling Fuel Injected Engine Idle Speed Control Loop

This paper develops a model for the idle speed control of a six cylinder. electronically fuel injected, spark ignition engine. The inherently discrete microprocessor based fuel controller is not constrained to operate at the engine's natural sampling rate, resulting in a hybrid (continuous-discrete) multi-rate system. A method for evaluating the stability of the system is developed.
Naturalistic Auditory Contrast Improves Spectrotemporal Coding in the Cat Inferior Colliculus

Statistical analysis of natural sounds and speech reveals logarithmically distributed spectrotemporal modulations that can cover several orders of magnitude. By contrast, most artificial stimuli used to probe auditory function, including pure tones and white noise, have linearly distributed amplitude fluctuations with a limited average dynamic range. Here we explore whether the operating range of the auditory system is physically matched to the statistical structure of natural sounds. We recorded single-unit and multi-unit neuronal activity from the central nucleus of the cat inferior colliculus (ICC) in response to dynamic spectrotemporal sound sequences to determine whether ICC neurons respond preferentially to linear or logarithmic spectrotemporal amplitudes. We varied the intensity, dynamic range, and contrast statistics of these sounds to mimic those of natural and artificial stimuli. ICC neurons exhibited monotonic and nonmonotonic contrast dependencies with increasing dynamic range that were independent of the stimulus intensity. Midbrain neurons had higher firing rates and higher receptive field energies and showed a net improvement in spectrotemporal encoding ability for logarithmic stimuli, with an increase in the mutual information rate of ∼50% over linear amplitude sounds. This efficient use of logarithmic spectrotemporal modulations by auditory midbrain neurons reflects a neural adaptation to structural regularities in natural sounds and likely underlies human perceptual abilities.
Making sense of the conflicting magic numbers in WSi(n) clusters.

First principles studies on the geometric structure, stability, and electronic structure of WSin clusters, n = 6-16, have been carried out to show that the observed differing “magic sizes” for WSin clusters are associated with the nature of the growth processes. The WSi12 cluster, observed as a magic species in experiments reacting transition metal ions with silane, is not stable due to a filled shell of 18 electrons, as previously proposed, but due to its atomic structure that arrests further growth because of an endohedral transition metal site. In fact, it is found that all of these clusters, n = 6-16, have filled 5d shells except for WSi12, which has a 5d8 configuration that is caused by crystal field splitting. The stability of WSi15+, observed as highly stable in clusters generated by vaporizing silicon and metal carbonyls, is shown to be associated with a combination of geometric and electronic features. The findings are compared with previous results on CrSin clusters.
ALTERNATIVE DIPOLE MAGNETS FOR ISABELLE

A dipole magnet, intended as a possible alternative for the ISABELLE main-ring magnet, was designed at LBL. Three layers of FNAL Doubler/Saver conductor were used. Two 1.3-m-long models were built and tested, both with and without an iron core, and in both helium I and helium II. The training behavior, cyclic energy loss, point of quench initiation, and quench velocity were determined. A central field of 6.5 tesla was obtained in He I (4.4 K), and 7.6 tesla in He II (1.8K).
High-Mobility-Group Chromosomal Proteins: Architectural Components That Facilitate Chromatin Function

Publisher Summary This chapter summarizes recent information on the function of high-mobility-group (HMG) proteins. Advances in this field were made primarily by elucidating the structure of these proteins and by understanding their mode of interactions with DNA and chromatin. Renewed interest in these proteins is because of the finding that the DNA-binding domains of many regulatory proteins share common elements with the HMG-1/-2 chromosomal protein family. The HMG proteins are among the largest and best characterized group of nonhistone chromosomal proteins. Members of this protein group are found in all the cells of higher eukaryotes. Most of the data suggest that HMG proteins are associated with selected regions in chromatin and this association affects the architecture and increases the structural complexity of the chromatin fiber. The human HMG-I(Y) gene is located on the short arm of chromosome 6 in a region involved in rearrangements, translocations, and other abnormalities correlated with a number of human cancers.
MAVS Coordination of Antiviral Innate Immunity.

ABSTRACT RNA virus infection is sensed in the cytoplasm by the retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I)-like receptors. These proteins signal through the host adaptor protein MAVS to trigger the antiviral innate immune response. Here, we describe how MAVS subcellular localization impacts its function and the regulation underlying MAVS signaling. We propose a model to describe how the coordination of MAVS functions at the interface between the mitochondria and the mitochondrion-associated endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane programs antiviral signaling.
Topography of efferent vagal innervation of the rat gastrointestinal tract

The gastrointestinal territories innervated by the gastric, celiac, and hepatic abdominal vagi were identified in rats with selective branch vagotomies by means of 1) anterograde tracing with the carbocyanine dye DiI injected into the dorsal motor nucleus and 2) measurement of cervical vagal stimulation-induced motility responses throughout the gut axis. Presence of DiI-labeled vagal terminals in the myenteric plexus and evoked motility responses were well correlated across the sampled gastrointestinal (GI) sites. In animals with only the two gastric branches intact, the entire stomach and the most proximal duodenum showed significant motility responses and were densely innervated, having DiI-labeled vagal terminals in almost every ganglion. The hepatic branch was found to primarily innervate the duodenum, with minor projections to the distal antral stomach and the intestines. The two celiac branches were found to almost exclusively innervate the jejunum, ileum, cecum and entire colon, and, together with the other vagal branches, the duodenum. Therefore, while there is some degree of specific innervation by the abdominal vagal branches of the oral-to-anal gut axis, which could be called "viscerotopic," the considerably overlapping innervation of the duodenum does not satisfy a viscerotopy criterion and needs further functional analysis.
The Effectiveness of Arts in Trauma Intervention

With many people throughout the world struggling with traumatic experiences often leading to to Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), different ways of treating those symptoms have emerged. Expressive arts therapy is the method of utilizing different modalities of art to address specific issues. By framing PTSD and the role of the arts through Abraham Maslow’s “Hierarchy of Needs,” relevant research literature is discussed on the compatibility of the two beyond the level of self-actualization. By looking at three populations with high PTSD rates - refugees, victims of sexual violence, and incarcerated individuals - different art interventions are discussed along with their effectiveness. The literature review found that using the arts is effective among PTSD populations, especially as an enhancer of regular therapy. Several recommendations for further research are given, including the creation of a suitable measurement tool that effectively captures both the quantitative results with qualitative results in addition to ensuring culturally competent therapies.
Basis for the resistance of several algae to microbial decomposition.

The basis for the resistance of certain algae to microbial decomposition in natural waters was investigated using Pediastrum duplex, Staurastrum sp., and Fischerella muscicola as test organisms. Enzyme preparations previously found to convert susceptible algae into spheroplasts had no such effect on the resistant species, although glucose and galacturonic acid were released from P. duplex walls. Little protein or lipid but considerable carbohydrate was found in the walls of the refractory organisms, but resistance was not correlated with the presence of a unique sugar monomer. A substance present in Staurastrum sp. walls was characterized as lignin or lignin-like on the basis of its extraction characteristics, infrared spectrum, pyrolysis pattern, and content of an aromatic building block. Sporopollenin was found in P. duplex, and cellulose in Staurastrum sp. Cell walls of the algae were fractionated, and the fractions least susceptible to microbial degradation were the sporopollenin of P. duplex, the polyaromatic component of Staurastrum sp., and two F. muscicola fractions containing several sugar monomers. The sporopollenin content of P. duplex, the content of lignin or a related constituent of Staurastrum sp., and the resistance of the algae to microbial attack increased with age. It is suggested that resistance results from the presence of sporopollenin in P. duplex, a lignin-like material in Staurastrum sp., and possibly heteropolysaccharides in F. muscicola.
Cost-benefit analysis of neonatal intensive care for infants weighing less than 1,000 grams at birth.

Cost-benefit analysis was performed on the care of 247 infants weighing between 500 and 999 g at birth, admitted to Women and Infants Hospital of Rhode Island between January 1977 and December 1981. The neonatal mortality was 68%. Eighty-seven percent of the survivors were evaluated neurodevelopmentally for 1 to 5 years: 74% were normal or minimally impaired, 10% were moderately impaired, and 16% were severely handicapped. Using these data in conjunction with cost information obtained from the hospital and therapeutic care facilities for handicapped children, total lifetime costs for the care of these infants were estimated. In 1982 dollars, present values of costs ranged from $362,992 per survivor for those weighing between 600 and 699 g to $40,647 per survivor for those weighing between 900 and 999 g, resulting in an inverse correlation between cost per survivor and birth weight (P less than .001). We estimated present values of expected lifetime earnings per survivor, with a range of zero earnings for infants between 500 and 699 g, to $77,084 for those with birth weight of 900 to 999 g. It is concluded that from the standpoint of cost-benefit analysis as was used for this study population, neonatal intensive care may not be justifiable for infants weighing less than 900 g at birth.
Modeling of helix reversal defects in polytetrafluoroethylene: I. Force field development and molecular mechanics calculations

A force field suitable for modeling fluoropolymers and oligomers in the solid state has been derived from MOPAC semiempirical molecular orbital calculations on perfluorohexadecane. A conformational energy profile was generated using the PM3 Hamiltonian, and then valence parameters of a molecular mechanics (MM) energy expression, including a six-term cosine dihedral potential, were adjusted with a nonlinear least squares fitting algorithm to reproduce the profile. Minimum energy helical conformations of 48/22 and 13/6 were obtained when the geometries of C60F122 molecules in isolation and in a crystalline cluster, respectively, were optimized using the refined force field. The X-ray diffraction pattern calculated from the crystalline cluster indicated an equatorial d-spacing of 4.9685 A ˚. These intra and intermolecular structural characteristics for the cluster are in agreement with experimental X-ray diffraction data. Energy penalties of helix reversal defects in isolated chains and in a crystalline environment were also investigated. q 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
A Self-Assembling Nanoscale Camshaft: Implications for Nanoscale Materials and Devices Constructed from Proteins and Nucleic Acids

The methyltransferase-directed addressing of fusion proteins to DNA scaffolds offers an approach to the construction of protein/nucleic acid biostructures with potential in a variety of applications. In this report I describe the use of this technology in the design and construction of a molecular camshaft with implications in the design of independently addressable trisubstituted components for the construction of additional nanoscale materials and devices.
X-ray coefficient of reflection of acid phthalate crystals across the oxygen K-edge region

A systematic experimental study of the x-ray coefficient of reflection R/sub c/ of five commonly used acid phthalate crystals has been carried out over the energy range 500--650 eV around the oxygen K edge. Extrapolation of a calibrated continuum x-ray spectrum permitted the evaluation of R/sub c/ within +- 15 percent accuracy. The magnitude of R/sub c/ is strongly influenced by the oxygen photoelectric absorption coefficient. The R/sub c/ data show a strong resonance peak caused by absorption to an unoccupied molecular-orbital state. In addition there are weak Rydberg and molecular-orbital peaks, a continuum shape resonance, and weak extended x-ray absorption fine structure running to 300 eV above the binding energy. Auxiliary data were obtained to aid the interpretation of features in the R/sub c/ curves. These include emission spectra, Auger spectra, electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis, and relative data on R/sub c/ for clinochlore.
Observations of higher-order laser-induced surface ripples on 〈111〉 germanium

We report the observation and analysis of higher-order optical diffraction patterns arising from linear combinations of the primary laser-induced gratings or ripples on germanium surfaces. These higher-order surface structures presumably arise from nonlinear interactions between superimposed primary gratings with different grating wave vectors. For gratings produced by normally incident laser beams on Ge 〈111〉 surfaces, the diffraction patterns exhibit a strongly hexagonal symmetry.
Hematological changes following a marathon race in male and female runners.

The subjects of this experiment were well-trained men (6) and women (4) participating in a marathon race in Phoenix, Arizona, on a cool, cloudy, windy day. Venous blood was collected one week prior to the run, immediately after, and 4,8, and 24 h after the race. There were no significant changes in hematocrit, hemoglobin, or red blood cell counts following the race. The sample collected immediately after the race showed a pronounced leucocytosis. Differential counts showed that this increase in white blood cell count was limited to polymorphonuclear cells, suggesting that an inflammatory response to stress of the race was involved. Percentage changes in blood volume, red blood cell volume, and plasma volume were calculated from hematocrit and hemoglobin changes. These changes showed that there was reduction of plasma volume of 8% for females and 13% for males immediately after the race, with return to initial values within 8 h. We suggest that the increase in protein following the race was contributed by the flow of lymph from muscle to the vascular compartment.
The Diurnal Precipitation Change over the Sea

Abstract Analysis of nine weathership records indicates that maritime precipitation is significantly more frequent at night. The effect varies with season and latitude. The diurnal variation is related to the absorption of solar radiation. Non-adiabatic heating may cause a reduction of liquid water production within rising clouds; this factor becomes important when vertical velocities are not too high. At the top of layer clouds, the diurnal rhythm of irradiation can also cause a time-lagged diurnal change of inversion levels and cloud thickness. The last inference is supported by observational data.
How does it look

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to remind readers that library online catalogs should be simple, easy to use, and graphically appealing if they are to be successful. Design/methodology/approach – The paper lists and examines several issues relevant to web page design and online user behavior. Findings – The paper finds that many online catalogs are still not easy to use, even for librarians. Layout and design can still be confusing and frustrating, even to those with experience in using online catalogs regularly. Originality/value – Web site design is impossible to ignore, and can be the difference between a successful online catalog and one that is not. Librarians need to remember that users familiar to online searching expect their sessions to be simple, quick, and relevant. Bells and whistles that clutter up the screen and obscure its use should be avoided.
ADP-ribosylation of Translation Elongation Factor 2 by Diphtheria Toxin in Yeast Inhibits Translation and Cell Separation

Eukaryotic translation elongation factor 2 (eEF2) facilitates the movement of the peptidyl tRNA-mRNA complex from the A site of the ribosome to the P site during protein synthesis. ADP-ribosylation (ADPR) of eEF2 by bacterial toxins on a unique diphthamide residue inhibits its translocation activity, but the mechanism is unclear. We have employed a hormone-inducible diphtheria toxin (DT) expression system in Saccharomyces cerevisiae which allows for the rapid induction of ADPR-eEF2 to examine the effects of DT in vivo. ADPR of eEF2 resulted in a decrease in total protein synthesis consistent with a defect in translation elongation. Association of eEF2 with polyribosomes, however, was unchanged upon expression of DT. Upon prolonged exposure to DT, cells with an abnormal morphology and increased DNA content accumulated. This observation was specific to DT expression and was not observed when translation elongation was inhibited by other methods. Examination of these cells by electron microscopy indicated a defect in cell separation following mitosis. These results suggest that expression of proteins late in the cell cycle is particularly sensitive to inhibition by ADPR-eEF2. Background: Diphtheria toxin inhibits translation by ADP-ribosylation of elongation factor 2. Results: Diphtheria toxin expression results in accumulation of cells that fail to separate following mitosis. Conclusion: Diphtheria toxin expression has unique effects on translocation and the production of specific proteins. Significance: Understanding how ADP-ribosylated elongation factor 2 affects translocation will increase knowledge of translation and potentially lead to new treatments for toxin exposure.
Five dimensions of effectiveness for nonprofit annual reports

Annual reports are an important communication device through which nonprofit entities can satisfy their duty to be accountable to donors and the public at large. The primary objective of this article is to identify best practices for annual reports based on five dimensions: completeness, accessibility, transparency, full disclosure, and relevance. This article reports on both the financial and nonfinancial content in voluntarily provided annual reports. Based on our survey, we include recommendations and examples to help nonprofit leaders improve communication with stakeholders. While many of the recommendations can be adopted at little or no additional cost, achieving the most important criterion, relevance, will require nonprofit leaders to substantially improve their reporting of organizational goals and accomplishments.
A Review of the Suggested Wet Bulb Globe Temperature Adjustment for Encapsulating Protective Clothing

This article reviews research relevant to the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists' (ACGIH's) suggested wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) adjustment to threshold limit values (TLV®s) for workers in vapor barrier encapsulative protective clothing. This adjustment was recommended to be 10°C according to the 1990 ACGIH guidelines but was not included in the 1991 guidelines. Six studies were reviewed comparing heart rate and rectal temperature increase over time. The studies were matched based on the ambient WBGT and the workload performed by the subjects. Results show that a TLV adjustment of 5°C is not large enough, and 14°C appears to be too much. The findings of this research review support the suggested WBGT TLV adjustment of 10°C when wearing encapsulating protective clothing.
Chelation of urinary cadmium with ammonium pyrrolidine dithio-carbamate prior to determination by tungsten-coil inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry

Cadmium in the urine samples of patients with age-related disease forms a complex with a chelating agent, ammonium pyrrolidine dithio-carbamate, and the complex is extracted with methyl isobutyl ketone. One milliliter of urine provides three separate 200-μl aliquots of extract, so a preconcentration factor of 5/3 is observed. In this manner, the Cd is effectively separated from the complex urine matrix. An internal standard, Bi, is added to improve both precision and accuracy. The extracts are analyzed by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry using a tungsten-coil as an electrothermal vaporizer. A 20-μl aliquot of the extract is injected directly onto the coil. Two Cd atomic emission lines are observed simultaneously: 228.8 nm and 226.5 nm. The limits of detection at these wavelengths are 0.04 and 0.2 μg/l, respectively. Without the extraction technique, the detection limit is 0.4 μg/l at the 228.8-nm line. With the internal standard technique, the accuracy as measured with a urine standard reference material is 98%. Six urine samples collected from patients with age-related diseases are found to contain Cd levels in the range 0.9 to 4.1 μg/l. The precision associated with the measurement of these real samples is 6.2% relative standard deviation. The technique provides off-wavelength background correction and simultaneous determination at two different wavelengths, so samples that are limited in volume can still be analyzed with a high degree of confidence.
Effect of Duration and Amplitude of Direct Current when Lidocaine Is Delivered by Iontophoresis

Dosage for the galvanic stimulation for iontophoresis varies. Clinicians manipulate the duration or the amplitude of the current, but it is not known which is more effective. We compared the anesthetic effect of lidocaine HCL (2%) by manipulating the current parameters on 21 healthy volunteers (age: 21.2 ± 4.2, height 170.7 ± 10.2 cm, mass 82.1 ± 19.2 kg). Three conditions were administered in a random order using a Phoresor II® with 2 mL, 2% lidocaine HCL in an iontophoresis electrode. (1) HASD (40 mA*min): High amplitude (4 mA), short duration (10 min); (2) LALD (40 mA.min): Low amplitude (2 mA), long duration (20 min); (3) Sham condition (0 mA, 20 min). Semmes-Weinstein monofilament (SWM) scores were taken pre and post intervention to measure sensation changes. Two-way ANOVA with repeated measures was used to compare sensation. Both iontophoresis treatments: LALD (4.2 ± 0.32 mm) and HASD (4.2 ± 0.52 mm) significantly increased SWM scores, indicating an increase in anesthesia, compared to the sham condition (3.6 ± 0.06 mm) p < 0.05. Neither LALD nor HASD was more effective and there was no difference in anesthesia with the sham. Lidocaine delivered via iontophoresis reduces cutaneous sensation. However, there was no benefit in either a HASD or LALD treatment.
Evaluating locational accessibility to the US air transportation system

Although there are hundreds of airports that support commercial air passenger traffic in the United States (US), not all areas are equivalently served by the commercial air transportation system. Locations in the US differ with respect to their level of access to the commercial air network and their overall accessibility within the system. Given the complexity of the domestic commercial air passenger network and supporting infrastructure, past research has only been able to provide a limited assessment of locational accessibility within the United States. To address these complexities, this paper proposes a new metric that incorporates measures of access to air transport as well as accessibility within air transportation networks. Using a comprehensive dataset on scheduled airline service, the developed approach is then applied to the US domestic commercial passenger air transportation network to explore geographic differentials in accessibility. Results suggest marked differences between core-based statistical areas throughout the US.
Effects of tixocortol pivalate on gastrointestinal disease in systemic mastocytosis: a preliminary study

Summary Tixocortol pivalate is a steroid reportedly without significant adrenal-pituitary axis suppression when administered via the gastrointestinal tract. To determine whether this steroid would suppress the gastrointestinal manifestations of systemic mastocytosis, we performed an open clinical trial for safety and efficacy with tixocortal pivalate in four patients for periods of 8-15 weeks. All patients showed a decrease in the symptoms of abdominal pain and frequency of stools. Laboratory parameters of malabsorption improved in parallel with symptom relief. Histopathologic abnormalities of the small bowel improved in one patient. There was no significant suppression of the pituitary adrenal axis. Two patients developed fluid retention while on tixocortol pivalate, which was attributed to a mineralocorticoid effect. One patient had a fall in am cortisol. In summary, this study strongly suggests that tixocortol pivalate, when administered orally, has gastrointestinal anti-inflammatory activity comparable to conventional steroids, but may not be entirely without adrenal-suppressive effect and may lead to fluid retention in some patients. Further studies are warranted to assess the value of tixocortol pivalate in the therapy of inflammatory diseases of the upper gastrointestinal tract.
Time of Artificial Insemination and Fertility in Dairy Cattle

Abstract Data were from 44,707 cows and first-calf heifers in a commercial artificial insemination program. The percentage of heifers first seen in estrus in the morning was 73.2, not different from 72.6 for cows. Unfrozen semen was used for insemination. The 150- to 180-day percent nonreturns for cows inseminated before noon the same day (67.1) was not different from those inseminated between noon and 1800h (69.9) and after 1800h (68.9) the same day. However, insemination the following morning was too late for best results (62.7%). Cows first seen in estrus in the evening should be inseminated by noon the next day. The nonreturn rate for cows inseminated after 1400h the next day resulted in 63.8% 150- to 180-day nonreturns. A single mid-morning insemination for all cows first seen in estrus the night before or the same morning should give near maximum conception.
Using the spss mixed procedure to fit cross-sectional and longitudinal multilevel models

Beginning with Version 11, SPSS implemented the MIXED procedure, which is capable of performing many common hierarchical linear model analyses. The purpose of this article was to provide a tutorial for performing cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses using this popular software platform. In doing so, the authors borrowed heavily from Singer’s overview of SAS PROC MIXED, duplicating her analyses using the SPSS MIXED procedure.
Multiethnic Japan and the monoethnic myth

Japan is a society with many ethnic and social minority groups and a large majority population of heterogeneous origins. Anthropological evidence describes a migration from Southeast Asia and later from East Asia, probably over land bridges that once existed. The early settlers in the Jomon era included the Ainu and Ryukyuan peoples, and were followed by immigrants of the Yayoi era. The Ryukyuans lived in Okinawa and the other Ryukyu islands, and had their own distinctive language and culture and strong ties with China before their independent kingdom was forcibly incorporated into the expanding Japanese nation. The Ainu maintained their ethnic characteristics by moving north, but the Yayoi-era people either exterminated or absorbed the Jomon people with whom they came into contact. It was these Yayoi people who eventually formed the Yamato state in the fifth century. Invasion and migration from China and Korea continued until the ninth century, by which time nearly one-third of the aristocratic clans in the Chinese-style Heian capital (present-day Kyoto) were of Korean or Chinese ethnicity. Immigrants were well received as they were recognized as bearers of a superior cultural tradition, not only as nobility but as craftsmen, priests, and educated professionals. Their traditions in literature, art, and religion were absorbed and became a foundation on which much of Japanese culture was based (Sansom 1958). The sixteenth-century plunder of Korea by military forces under Hideyoshi included the capture of artisans and scholars who were brought to Japan en masse for their advanced skills in pottery and printing. In more recent times, large numbers of people from Korea and Taiwan, who were at that time colonial subjects and Japanese nationals, settled in Japan or were pressed into prewar or wartime labor there. Despite efforts to repatriate them after the war, many stayed in Japan but lost their Japanese nationality when the postwar San Francisco Peace Treaty of 1952 designated them as foreigners. The Allied Occupation brought hundreds of thousands of people to Japan, mostly American men, and the maintenance of military facilities has led to the continued presence of a significant number of American
Variable temperature dewar type tubular desiccator

Abstract An aqueous solution of the Solochromate Fast Grey RA. dye has proved a suitable indicator for the direct determination of thorium, ferric iron, bismuth and zinc, or the analysis of binary mixtures. thorium-iron, zinc-calcium, zinc-magnesium or zinc-thorium, with EDTA. Thorium can he determined in presence of U, Fe, Zn, Ba, Be, Mg, and comparatively large amounts of rare earths. Ferric iron and zinc can be estimated in presence of U, Mg, Ca, Ba and Be. Cations of the rare and the alkaline earths do not interfere with the determination of bismuth.
The Time of the Insult/Triggering Event in Primary Osteosarcoma and Ewing’s Sarcoma of Bone as Determined by Incubation Period Modeling and Age Distribution of Such Malignancies

The time for the triggering event in neoplasms can be estimated using incubation period modeling techniques. We applied these techniques to primary osteosarcoma and Ewing’s sarcoma of bone using the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results database for all cases of osteosarcoma or Ewing’s sarcoma of bone from 1993 through 2010. Secondary neoplasms were excluded. The age at diagnosis, gender, ethnicity, and anatomic location were collected. The time ( ) of the insult/triggering event was calculated using the best fit frequency distribution of age at diagnosis. There were 4,356 patients with osteosarcoma and 1,832 patients with Ewing’s sarcoma. The Pearson IV distribution was the best fit for both osteosarcoma ( ) and Ewing’s sarcoma ( ). For these distributions is −0.7 years of age (4 weeks after conception) for Ewing’s sarcoma, 0.45 years for long bone osteosarcoma, and 10.4 years for parosteal osteosarcoma. This confirms the genetic etiology of Ewing’s sarcoma since an is 4 weeks after conception. Long bone osteosarcoma is not entirely genetic, as was 0.4 years for conventional osteosarcoma and 10.4 years for parosteal osteosarcoma. The etiologies for those two different types of osteosarcoma are thus different.
Microwave oscillator requirements for CW radar

A brief discussion of several types of CW radar will be given. Emphasis will be directed toward the function of the tube in each of the various radar systems. A detailed discussion of the requirements placed on the CW oscillator for each of the radar systems will be made. Tube characteristics which limit radar performance will be discussed. Some measuring techniques for evaluating magnetrons and klystrons will be discussed.
Phenytoin-Induced Gingival Overgrowth Resulting in Delayed Eruption of the Primary Dentition: A Case Report

A case of delayed eruption of the primary dentition secondary to phenytoin therapy in a 4-year-old child is reported. The patient had been on phenytoin therapy since the first months of life. Radiographs revealed that alveolar but not gingival emergence had occurred. Surgical excision of the excess gingival tissue was accomplished under general anesthesia. Oral hygiene procedures were stressed and parental cooperation solicited. Three- and nine-month postoperative visits revealed no regrowth of gingival tissue and continued eruption of the primary dentition.
Glacial–interglacial variations in Quaternary production of marine organic matter at DSDP Site 594, Chatham Rise, southeastern New Zealand margin

Abstract CaCO3 and total organic carbon concentrations, organic matter C/N and carbon isotope ratios, and sediment accumulation rates in late Quaternary sediments from DSDP Site 594 provide information about glacial–interglacial variations in the delivery of organic matter to the Chatham Rise offshore of southeastern New Zealand. Low C/N ratios and nearly constant organic δ13C values of −23‰ indicate that marine production dominates organic matter supply in both glacial and interglacial times during oxygen isotope stages 1 through 6 (0–140 ka) and 17 through 19 (660–790 ka). Increased organic carbon mass accumulation rates in isotope stages 2, 4, 6, and 18 record enhanced marine productivity during glacial maxima. Excursions of organic δ13C values to ca. −29‰ in portions of isotope stage 2 suggest that the local concentration of dissolved CO2 was occasionally elevated during the last glacial maximum, probably as a result of short periods of lowered sea-surface temperature. Dilution of carbonates by clastic continental sediment generally increases at this location during glacial maxima, but enhanced delivery of land-derived organic matter does not accompany the increased accumulation of clastic sediments.
Abstract B54: Coordinate RB/PTEN tumor suppressor loss: Drives aggressive invasive behavior and is strongly associated with the progression of ductal carcinoma to invasive breast cancer

Background: A subset of patients with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) treated by surgery will progress to invasive breast cancer. However, there is a limited understanding of the pathways driving such invasive progression and no accepted markers to differentiate lesions at high risk from those at lower risk of developing invasive disease. Methods: The association of two tumor suppressor genes, retinoblastoma (RB) and phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), with risk of any ipsilateral breast event (IBE) or progression to invasive breast cancer (IBC) was analyzed using data from 236 DCIS patients treated with breast conserving surgery with long-term follow up. RB and PTEN expression was assessed with immunohistochemistry. The functional effects of RB and/or PTEN loss were evaluated in preclinical models. Results: Modeling of RB and PTEN loss as observed in DCIS, revealed that the tumor suppressors coordinate complementary processes with respect to proliferation, motility, and invasiveness. Correspondingly, pharmaceutical interventions that mimic activation of RB or PTEN limit the invasive properties of such models. Gene expression profiling demonstrated unique transcriptional programs regulated by each tumor suppressor that are associated with epithelial mesenchymal transition and invasive disease progression. Loss of RB immunoreactivity in DCIS was strongly associated with risk of IBE occurrence (HR=2.64, 95% CI = 1.64 to 4.25) and IBC recurrence (HR=4.66, 95% CI = 2.19 to 9.93). The prognostic power of RB loss alone remained statistically significant in multivariable analyses, although PTEN loss alone did not. However, patients with DCIS lesions that were both RB and PTEN deficient were at higher risk for IBE (HR=3.39, 95% CI = 1.92 to 5.99) and IBC recurrence (HR=6.1, 95% CI = 2.5 to 14.76). Conclusions: These studies indicate that RB and PTEN have independent functions that modulate the invasive potetntial of breast cancer, and together have prognostic utility that could be used to improve the management of DCIS. Citation Format: Agnieszka Witkiewcz, Thomas Pajak, Gordon Schwartz, Erik Knudsen. Coordinate RB/PTEN tumor suppressor loss: Drives aggressive invasive behavior and is strongly associated with the progression of ductal carcinoma to invasive breast cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Tumor Invasion and Metastasis; Jan 20-23, 2013; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(3 Suppl):Abstract nr B54.