cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Monitoring Blood for CD34+ Cells to Determine Timing of Hematopoietic Progenitor Cells Apheresis

Hematopoietic Progenitor Cell (HPC) Apheresis generally results in a mononuclear cell product that is highly enriched for hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells when performed on autologous patients in whom autologous stem cell transplant is planned who have been mobilized with cytotoxic chemotherapy and exogenous hematopoietic growth factors (cytokines) and possibly CXCR4 antagonists. Alternatively, patients scheduled for autologous transplants may be mobilized with cytokines only or a combination of cytokines and CXCR4 antagonists. Allogeneic Donors, either matched related donors (MRD) or matched unrelated donors (MUD), are typically mobilized with cytokines only. The HPC Apheresis product, enriched for hematopoietic progenitor cells collected from the patient/donor's peripheral blood via an apheresis system, is used for restoring hematopoiesis in the patient/recipient who has received myeloablative therapy. Timing of the collection of an HPC Apheresis product from allogeneic donors is based on the schedule of the recipient's myeloablative regime. However, the optimal timing of collection on HPC Apheresis product from a patient scheduled for an autologous stem cell transplant can be complex.
Polycarbonate-Based Capillary Electrophoresis Devices for DNA Analysis

We report on the fabrication of capillary electrophoresis (CE) devices using compression molded polycarbonate (PC) substrates. PC surface modification techniques were developed to control flow properties inside plastic microfluidic channel. The electroosmotic flow (EOF) properties in native and surface modified PC devices were evaluated and compared. The effect of buffer pH and ionic strength on EOF flow and CE separation of DNA molecules were also presented.
Surface Damage Characterization on Thirty-Five Retrieved Contemporary Ceramic-on-Ceramic Total Hip Replacements

Ceramic-on-ceramic (C-C) total hip replacements (THRs) are an attractive option for young, active patients [1, 2]. However, more clinical data is necessary to establish the reasons of failure of contemporary C-C THRs in vivo. The objective of the present study was to assess the surface damage on retrieved C-C THRs and determine possible influential factors that may explain their in vivo performance. Thirty-five C-C retrievals of material type Biolox® forte (n=28) and Biolox® delta (n=7) (CeramTec AG, Plochingen, Germany) were collected after a mean of 3.7 ± 3.2 years in vivo. Semi-quantitative surface damage assessment [3] was performed on all retrievals to obtain both a damage score (DS) (Fig. 1). Contact profilometry was performed on the retrieved femoral heads to characterize the type of surface damage (metal transfer, stripe wear). Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images were obtained from two femoral heads displaying areas of typical surface damage. The implantation period correlated with the damage score (DS) of the femoral heads (R=0.573, p 45° was associated with a greater DS rate [DS/time of implantation], which had also been suggested elsewhere [4]. Four patients reported squeaking in their C-C THRs; one of which was a 54 yr-old male patient who completed three full marathons with his implant. In this his case, the DS for this retrieval was below average, with metal-transfer being the only macroscopic damage feature. Fracture of the acetabular liner occurred in three patients, all of which had malpositioned components. Metal-transfer on the ceramic surface could possibly cause a local break down of the fluid film and may facilitate, in addition to an increased inclination angle, stripe damage via an adhesive wear mechanism. Therefore, direct contact between the Ti-alloy acetabular shell and the ceramic femoral head should be avoided at primary surgery. C-C THRs remain an attractive option for young, active patients, but care must be taken during implantation to appropriately position the acetabular cup and to avoid unwanted metal-transfer as such alteration at the bearing interface may change implant tribology.
The Immaculate Carbapenemase Study

Carbapenemase-producing organisms, or CPOs, are Gram-negative pathogens that produce a transmissible carbapenemase and are typically resistant to most (sometimes all) antibiotics. We now face a global CPO pandemic of high mortality. In this issue of the Journal of Clinical Microbiology, Karlowsky et al. (J Clin Microbiol 55:1638-1649, 2017, https://doi.org/10.1128/JCM.02316-16) report the results of an extensive global surveillance study that provide much-needed information that enhances our understanding of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) and which will be valuable for the development of improved strategies for CPE control and therapy of infections.
Writing Life: Early Twentieth-Century Autobiographies of the Artist-Hero

Because modernist scholars have traditionally placed so much importance on the notion of impersonality, they have generally been loath to consider the relations between modernism and life writing. ...
Talking about end-of-life care: Perspectives of nursing home residents.

Abstract The purpose of the paper is to describe how residents express preferences for end-of-life (EOL) care. For this qualitative study, we conducted semi-structured interviews and completed conventional content analysis to describe how residents’ expressed their preferences for care at the end of life. Sixteen residents from four nursing homes (NH) in southeastern Pennsylvania participated in this study. Residents were on average 88 years old, primarily non White, and widowed. Three key domains emerged from the analyses: Preferences for Today, Anticipating the End of My Life, and Preferences for Final Days . Residents linked their everyday living and EOL preferences by using ‘if and then’ logic to convey anticipation and readiness related to EOL. These findings suggest new strategies to start discussions of EOL care preferences with NH residents.
A Zone-II Flexor Tendon Injury Secondary to a Catfish Spine: A Case Report.

Case We present the case of a 17-year-old man who sustained a delayed rupture of a zone-II flexor tendon injury in the long finger from a catfish spine, which caused local envenomization and a likely secondary bacterial infection. He underwent surgical exploration and irrigation and debridement of the finger. The flexor digitorum profundus tendon was found to be lacerated and was primarily repaired. Conclusion Catfish spines can cause traumatic disruption of anatomic structures and can envenomate the area of injury, which can lead to a secondary bacterial infection. We review the literature regarding catfish spine injuries and describe a basic treatment algorithm for patients who are injured by catfish spines.
From Absorption to Judgment: Empathy in Aesthetic Response

In this chapter, Freedberg sets out to establish a more rigorous basis for the understanding of empathy, and proposes a novel hypothesis about the neural substrate of judgment. After discussing the history of empathy in aesthetic theory and the frequently ambiguous conceptualizations of aesthetic judgment within cognitive neuroscience of art, he confines empathy to the domain of motor responses. Moving on to examine the role of immediate and automatic bodily reactions both in the perception of visual images and in aesthetic response, he emphasizes the precognitive dimension of empathy and its place in the understanding of such responses. He distinguishes empathy from sympathy by assessing the degree of cognitive content of each. Finally, he shows how these positions enable a new neural theory of aesthetic judgment predicated on the modulation of bottom-up responses, the ensual of self-awareness, and the detachment from absorption essential for judgment.
Financial Barriers and Lapses in Treatment and Care of HIV-Infected Adults in a Southern State in the United States.

Abstract Antiretroviral (ARV) adherence has largely been considered from the perspective of an individual's behavior with less attention given to potential structural causes for lapses in treatment, such as the cost of medications and care. HIV medication expense is typically covered by third party payers. However, private insurance premiums and deductibles may rise, or policies terminated such as with a change in employment. Likewise, a patient's eligibility for publicly funded coverage like state AIDS Drug Assistance Programs (ADAP) or Medicaid can also be lost. We conducted a one-time survey of a sample of 300 patients receiving HIV care at a single large academic center in the south of United States to examine lapses in HIV therapy due to financial reasons. We found that during the prior year, financial issues including medication cost or coverage led to a lapse in ARVs in 10% (n = 31) of participants. However, of the 42% (n = 125) participants who had been enrolled in ADAP at any time during the prio...
Urinoma: Urinary Fistula

Urinomas contained collections of urine, usually found in the retroperitoneum, outside of the normal pathway that urine travels. FDG PET/MR imaging in the evaluation of urinomas can better determine precise anatomical location, enhancement characteristics, and potential fistulous connections or leaks.
Free vascularized fibula grafting in the operative treatment of malignant bone tumors of the upper extremity: A systematic review of outcomes and complications.

Background and objectives Vascularized bone grafting after tumor resection can be an important component in the treatment of bony neoplasms of the upper extremity. The purpose of this study was to determine the outcomes of free vascularized fibula grafting (FVFG) in the treatment of upper extremity sarcomas. Methods A systematic review of the literature of FVFG used in the treatment of upper extremity sarcomas was performed. Results A total of 56 studies were included in final analysis. The most common diagnosis was osteosarcoma (35.1%) and the most common recipient site was the humerus (57.3%). FVFG had a median union rate of 93.3%, with the median time to union being 5.0 months. The most common complications were fracture (11.7%), nerve injury (7.5%), infection (5.7%), and hammer toe deformity (3.3%). The reoperation rate was 34.5%. The most commonly reported standardized assessment of clinical outcomes following treatment was the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society Score, which had a median of 80% postoperatively. Conclusions FVFG in the treatment of malignant bony neoplasms of the upper extremity has a high rate of union and good overall outcomes; however, postoperative complication rates are high. A greater degree of standardization is needed in the reporting of patient-centered outcomes to facilitate future comparative studies.
Improved estimates of net primary production, growth, and standing crop of Macrocystis pyrifera in Southern California.

The giant kelp Macrocystis pyrifera forms subtidal forests on shallow reefs in temperate regions of the world. It is one of the fastest-growing multicellular autotrophs on Earth and its high productivity supports diverse marine food webs. In 2008, we published a method for estimating biomass and net primary production (NPP) of giant kelp along with five years of data, to provide a more integrated measure of NPP than those yielded by previous methods. Our method combines monthly field measurements of standing crop and loss rates with a model of kelp biomass dynamics to estimate instantaneous mass-specific growth rates and NPP for each season of each year. We have since improved our approach to account for several previously unresolved sources of biomass loss. These improvements have led to a near doubling of our prior estimates of growth and NPP. At our site with the most persistent stand of giant kelp, NPP averages ~5.2 kg dry mass·m-2 ·yr-1 and results from the rapid growth (~3.5% per d) of a relatively small standing biomass (~0.4 kg dry mass/m2 on average) that turns over ~12 times annually. Here we provide revised estimates of seasonal biomass, growth, and NPP for the five years covered by our previous publication (2002-2006), along with more than a decade of additional data (2007-2017). We also present updated relationships for predicting giant kelp biomass and NPP from much more easily obtained measurements of frond density. These data can be used to understand the mechanisms that drive variation in giant kelp NPP at a wide range of temporal scales. No copyright or proprietary restrictions are associated with the use of this data set other than citation of this Data Paper.
Introduction: G-Protein Signaling in the Retina

Mammalian organisms are composed of a multitude of cells with unique anatomical and physiological specifications that perform a vast variety of functions. The survival of mammals is hinged on seamless integration of cells and coordination of their processes, within a particular structure or organ, or between organs. Intracellular signaling pathways play an indispensable role in this process. The typical architecture for such pathways includes cell surface receptors for sensing molecules or physical stimuli and the intracellular machinery for converting their presence into changes in biochemical activity that allows the organism to exploit this information.
Circulation in the maternal placenta of primates.

Abstract The following generalizations apply to the rhesus monkey and are based on study of 23 injected, in situ placentas of Macaca mulatta pregnant for periods of time ranging from 19 to 154 days: 1.1. During the period of growth, the endometrial arteries lengthen and become increasingly coiled. In the period of stretching which follows "conversion" the coils are paid out. 2.2. Endometrial veins grow less extensively than do the endometrial arteries and adapt to both phases of uterine enlargement chiefly by passive alterations in caliber. 3.3. The marginal sinus is constantly recognizable after the sixth week of pregnancy. Its drainage is largely indirect. 4.4. Basal drainage channels persist to term and are responsible for at least half of the venous drainage of the placenta. 5.5. Overflow filling of the placenta is achieved by the force of maternal blood pressure, which exceeds the pressure in the intervillous space by 60 to 70 mm. Hg, rather than by the action of septal dividers. Certain comparisons between the placenta of the monkey and that of the human being are incorporated in the discussion.
Multiscale Semi-Lagrangian Reproducing Kernel Particle Method for Modeling Damage Evolution in Geomaterials

Damage processes in geomaterials typically involve moving strong and weak discontinuities, multiscale phenomena, excessive deformation, and multi-body contact that cannot be effectively modeled by a single-scale Lagrangian finite element formulation. In this work, we introduce a semi-Lagrangian Reproducing Kernel Particle Method (RKPM) which allows flexible adjustment of locality, continuity, polynomial reproducibility, and h- and p-adaptivity as the computational framework for modeling complex damage processes in geomaterials. Under this work, we consider damage in the continua as the homogenization of micro-cracks in the microstructures. Bridging between the cracked microstructure and the damaged continuum is facilitated by the equivalence of Helmholtz free energy between the two scales. As such, damage in the continua, represented by the degradation of continua, can be characterized from the Helmholtz free energy. Under this framework, a unified approach for numerical characterization of a class of damage evolution functions has been proposed. An implicit gradient operator is embedded in the reproduction kernel approximation as a regularization of ill-posedness in strain localization. Demonstration problems include numerical simulation of fragment-impact of concrete materials.
Nationalism, Collaboration, and Resistance: France under Nazi Occupation

Does nationalism produce resistance to foreign military occupation? The existing literature suggests that it does. Nationalism, however, also can lead to acquiescence and even to active collaborati...
The effect of tumor size and location on efficacy and safety of US- and CT- guided percutaneous microwave ablation in renal cell carcinomas.

To evaluate the effect of size and central location of the tumor on safety and efficacy of percutaneous CEUS- and CT-guided MWA in biopsy-proven renal cell carcinomas (RCCs). In this IRB-approved retrospective study, 69 biopsy-proven renal tumors in 56 patients, who underwent MWA in our institution from January 2013 to March 2017, were evaluated. Data collection included demographics, tumor characteristics, procedural protocols, and follow-up visits within 6 months post procedure. Primary outcomes were assessed by technical success (TS), local tumor progression (LTP), and complications. The Kaplan–Meier analysis was used for survival rate. Overall technical success was achieved for all 69 lesions (92.8% primary TS, 100% overall). Median nephrometry score was 8 (4–11) and median tumor size was 2.5 cm (0.8–7). Five lesions which required second ablation had significantly higher median tumor size 4 cm (P = 0.039) with the same nephrometry score. Renal function remained stable with no significant change in eGFR before or after ablation. The LTP rate was 5.8%. The most recurrent tumors were clear cell (50%) followed by papillary tumors (25%). The complication rate was 5.8% with minor complications (hematoma and pain) and no major issues. There was no significant association between nephrometry score and technical success, recurrence, or complication rates. Overall and tumor-specific survival rates were 96.7% and 100% at 11.9 months. Image-guided MWA appears to be a safe and effective treatment regardless of nephrometry score and tumor location with high technical success, low recurrence, and complication rates.
Use of indocyanine green to minimise uretero-enteric strictures after robotic radical cystectomy.

Objective To evaluate the impact of indocyanine green (ICG) for assessing ureteric vascularity on the rate of uretero-enteric stricture formation after robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) with intracorporeal urinary diversion (ICUD). Patients and methods We identified 179 patients undergoing RARC and ICUD between January 2014 and May 2017, and divided the patients into two groups based on the utilisation of ICG for the assessment of ureteric vascularity (non-ICG group and ICG group). We retrospectively reviewed the medical records to identify the length of ureter excised. Demographic, perioperative outcomes (including 90-day complications and readmissions), and the rate of uretero-enteric stricture were compared between the two groups. The two groups were compared using the t-test for continuous variables and the chi-squared test for categorical variables. A P Results A total of 132 and 47 patients were in the non-ICG group and the ICG group, respectively. There were no differences in baseline characteristics and perioperative outcomes including operating time, estimated blood loss, and length of stay. The ICG group was associated with a greater length of ureter being excised during the uretero-enteric anastomosis and a greater proportion of patients having long segment (>5 cm) ureteric resection. The median follow-up was 14 and 12 months in the non-ICG and ICG groups, respectively. The ICG group was associated with no uretero-enteric strictures compared to a per-patient stricture rate of 10.6% and a per-ureter stricture rate of 6.6% in the non-ICG group (P = 0.020 and P = 0.013, respectively). Conclusion The use of ICG fluorescence to assess distal ureteric vascularity during RARC and ICUD may reduce the risk of ischaemic uretero-enteric strictures. The technique is simple, safe, and reproducible. Larger studies with longer follow-up are needed to confirm our findings.
Effect of Arctic snow cover on red knot, Calidris canutus, population size

The red knot, Calidris canutus, is a species of migratory shorebird that is currently listed as “near threatened” on the IUCN Red List; the subspecies Calidris canutus rufa is listed as a “threatened” species under the US Endangered Species Act. Causes of red knot population decline have not been clearly identified. Here I hypothesize that snow coverage declines in the high Arctic may be linked to red knot breeding success and to population declines in Florida. In this study, wavelet and crosswavelet analyses were used to identify temporal trends and relationships between changes in red knot populations and Arctic snow coverage. Strong El Nino Southern Oscillation events that occurred during the late 1970s through the 1980s appear to have contributed to a decline in snow cover, which was linked to the significant decline in the red knot population. The period of highest common power was predominated by antiphase trending, suggesting that red knot populations mirror snow coverage trends from 1982 to 1988, a period of maximum population decline.
The Association of Parity with Greater Dynamic Pronation of the Feet.

Author(s): Heronemus, Marc J; Rabe, Kaitlin; Tolstykh, Irina; Gross, K Douglas; Wise, Barton L; Nevitt, Michael C; Lewis, Cora E; Hillstrom, Howard J; Segal, Neil A; MOST Study Group | Abstract: BackgroundPostpartum women are at increased risk for lower limb musculoskeletal disorders. Foot arch collapse following pregnancy has been reported as a mechanism for this increased risk. However, dynamic changes during gait in postpartum women have not been reported. Therefore, we assessed the association between parity and dynamic foot pronation during gait.ObjectiveTo determine (1) if there is an association between parity and dynamic foot pronation (center of pressure excursion index, CPEI) during gait; and (2) the extent to which there is a dose-effect of parity on foot pronation.DesignThe Multicenter Osteoarthritis Study (MOST) Study is a longitudinal cohort study of adults with or at risk for knee osteoarthritis (OA).SettingTwo communities in the United States, Birmingham, Alabama and Iowa City, Iowa.InterventionsNot applicable PARTICIPANTS: A population-based sample of 1177 MOST participants who were female, had complete CPEI and parity data and completed the baseline, 30- and 60-month visits.Main outcome measuresOdds of a one quintile decrease in CPEI by parity group and mean CPEI by parity group.ResultsIn 1177 women, mean age was 67.7 years and mean body mass index (BMI) was 30.6 kg/m2 . As parity increased, there was significantly greater foot pronation, lower mean CPEI: 19.1 (18.2-20.1), 18.9 (18.4-19.4), 18 (17.5-18.6) to 17.5 (16.4-18.6) in the 0 to 4 and g5 children groups, respectively; (P = .002), which remained significant after adjusting for race and clinic site (P = .005). There was a positive linear trend (β = 1.08, 1.03-1.14) in odds ratios of a one quintile decrease in CPEI (greater pronation) with increasing parity level (P = .004), which remained significant after adjusting for race and clinic site (P = .01). After adjusting for age and BMI, these two associations were no longer statistically significant.ConclusionsThis study indicates a positive correlation between parity and greater dynamic pronation of the feet.
Do U.S. Consumers Want More Power over their Personal Data? A Preliminary Study on Consumer Data Right Preferences: An Abstract

In the wake of the Facebook/Cambridge Analytica data scandal (New York Times 2018) and the implementation of the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) (European Commission 2018), the need to understand U.S. consumers’ attitudes toward online retailers and current privacy regulations is warrant. Adopting Bandura’s social cognitive theory Westin’s privacy segment index, the purpose of this study is to evaluate the importance of consumer data rights implemented by the European Union and how right preferences differ among privacy groups. Moreover, how brand trust correlates with the different rights given to consumers under the new GDPR regulation. A total of 200 responses were collected using the Amazon MTurk platform to administer an online questionnaire that was developed in Qualtrics.
Collateral damage - Impact of a pandemic on stroke emergency services.

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic's impact on stroke care is two-fold direct impact of the infection and indirect impact on non-COVID-19 diseases. Anecdotal evidence and clinical observation suggest that there is a decrease in the number of patients presenting with stroke during the pandemic. We aim to understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the utilization of stroke emergency services on a single comprehensive stroke center (CSC). Methods We performed a retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained database and compared all emergency department (ED) encounters, acute stroke admissions (including TIA), and thrombectomy cases admitted in March 2017-2019 to patients admitted in March 2020 at a comprehensive stroke center. Results Number of total ED encounters (22%, p=0.005), acute ischemic strokes (40%, p=0.001), and TIAs (60%, p=0.163) decreased between March of 2017–2019 compared to March of 2020. The number of patients undergoing EVT in March 2020 was comparable to March 2017–2019 (p=0.430). Conclusion A pandemic-related stay-at-home policy reduces the utilization of stroke emergency services at a CSC. This effect appears to be more prominent for ED encounters, all stroke admissions and TIAs, and less impactful for severe strokes. Given the relatively low prevalence of COVID-19 cases in our region, this decrement is likely related to healthcare seeking behavior rather than capacity saturation.
Principles of Transparent and Authentic Leadership from Scripture

The qualities of authentic leadership and followership are necessary in today’s world. The following chapter relays the story of Balaam and his donkey, which is a story that reveals both authentic leadership and followership and inauthentic leadership and followership. The lowly donkey is the one who exhibits attributes of authentic leadership. Caught in a situation between a bad leader, who is beating her, and an angel who wants to kill her master, she employs concepts of courageous followership. She reveals authentic leadership to her selfish, inauthentic leader who is “perverse” in his ways. The apophatic approach highlights what an authentic leader is not. The chapter concludes with applications for authentic leadership, authentic followership, and the possibility of authentic organizational context, or culture. The exegetical method utilized for the pericope (Numbers 22:22–35, NKJV) is inner texture, which is a segment of social-rhetorical interpretation. The chapter concludes with ideas concerning future research in the area of authentic leadership and followership.
Development of a nanosensor-integrated stent for wireless, continuous monitoring of restenosis progression

A leading cause of death in the US is cardiovascular disease, of which approximately 44% are attributable to coronary artery disease. A minimally invasive procedure with stent placement has drastically improved the outcomes. However, there are still relatively high percentages of a life-threatening complication called "restenosis" (i.e., re-narrowing of a coronary artery). Here, we introduce an imperceptible nanostructured electronic stent that incorporates an ultrathin stretchable wireless sensor with a stent for continuous surveillance of restenosis along with neointimal proliferation and plaque deposition. The low-profile, nanomembrane capacitive strain sensor is constructed by the printing of conductive nanoparticles and polymers on a soft elastomeric membrane. This sensor is capable of detecting strains as low as 0.15% with a sensitivity of 3% per linear strain. The sensor performance is suitable to detect small alterations produced in the coronary artery with the progression of restenosis under typical pulsatile flow. In addition, an in vitro testing platform has been developed to accurately evaluate the sensor's performance. Both numerical analysis and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) were used to design the artery model with various levels of restenosis. The strain plots of artery models from both numerical and computational analyses have successfully shown the relationship between the strain and restenosis levels, varied pressures, artery lumens, and artery thicknesses. Our recent outcomes will provide better solutions for both diagnostic heart disease and many other vascular diseases that require stents.
Magnitude-Dependent Omori Law: Empirical Study and Theory

We propose a new physically-based ``multifractal stress activation'' model of earthquake interaction and triggering based on two simple ingredients: (i) a seismic rupture results from activated processes giving an exponential dependence on the local stress; (ii) the stress relaxation has a long memory. The combination of these two effects predicts in a rather general way that seismic decay rates after mainshocks follow the Omori law 1/t^p with exponents p linearly increasing with the magnitude M of the mainshock and the inverse temperature. We carefully test the prediction on the magnitude dependence of p by a detailed analysis of earthquake sequences in the Southern California Earthquake catalog. We find power law relaxations of seismic sequences triggered by mainshocks with exponents p increasing with the mainshock magnitude by approximately 0.1-0.15 for each magnitude unit increase, from p(M=3) \approx 0.6 to p(M=7) \approx 1.1, in good agreement with the prediction of the multifractal model. The results are robust with respect to different time intervals, magnitude ranges and declustering methods. When applied to synthetic catalogs generated by the ETAS (Epidemic-Type Aftershock Sequence) model constituting a strong null hypothesis with built-in magnitude-independent $p$-values, our procedure recovers the correct magnitude-independent p-values. Our analysis thus suggests that a new important fact of seismicity has been unearthed. We discuss alternative interpretations of the data and describe other predictions of the model.
Outcomes in mantle cell lymphoma with central nervous system involvement.

e19527Background: While extra nodal involvement by MCL is relatively common, involvement of the central nervous system (CNS) is a rare ( < 5% of cases) complication with limited treatment options. ...
Low dose mRNA-1273 COVID-19 vaccine generates durable T cell memory and antibodies enhanced by pre-existing crossreactive T cell memory

Abstract Understanding human immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 RNA vaccines is of interest for a panoply of reasons. Here we examined vaccine-specific CD4+ T cell, CD8+ T cell, binding antibody, and neutralizing antibody responses to the 25 μg Moderna mRNA-1273 vaccine over 7 months post-immunization, including multiple age groups, with a particular interest in assessing whether pre-existing crossreactive T cell memory impacts vaccine-generated immunity. Low dose (25 μg) mRNA-1273 elicited durable Spike binding antibodies comparable to that of convalescent COVID-19 cases. Vaccine-generated Spike memory CD4+ T cells 6 months post-boost were comparable in quantity and quality to COVID-19 cases, including the presence of TFH cells and IFNγ-expressing cells. Spike CD8+ T cells were generated in 88% of subjects, with equivalent percentages of CD8+ T cell memory responders at 6 months post-boost compared to COVID-19 cases. Lastly, subjects with pre-existing crossreactive CD4+ T cell memory had increased CD4+ T cell and antibody responses to the vaccine, demonstrating a biological relevance of SARS-CoV-2 crossreactive CD4+ T cells. One-Sentence Summary The mRNA-1273 vaccine induces a durable and functional T cell and antibody response comparable to natural infection.
Finite Element Mesh Refinement Algorithm Using Element Residuals

An algorithm is formulated for automatic adaptive refinement of finite element meshes for 2-point boundary-value problems. Global a posteriori error bounds by the residual lead to the use of element residuals as a relative measure of solution accuracy on the elements. A statistical procedure is devised to establish the regions of refinement and the degree of refinement necessary. An associated research code has been applied to linear and nonlinear problems including applications of boundary-layer type. Numerical experiments demonstrate the effectiveness of the scheme and its value in efficient solution of nonlinear problems.
Non-uniform spectral encoding for enhanced multi-user performance in optical CDMA networks

We propose a novel non-uniform spectral coding scheme in an optical-CDMA system that utilizes spectral phase encoded time-spreading (SPECTS). The new method achieves lower multi-user-interference and twice network capacity for Gaussian spectral shape optical pulses
Functional gap junctions in corneal fibroblasts and myofibroblasts.

Purpose Within the corneal stroma, keratocytes communicate through gap junctions. These plasma membrane channels, which connect the cytoplasm of adjacent cells, are composed of connexins. In a cell culture model, an investigation was conducted to determine whether connexin-based gap junction intercellular communication is present in fibroblasts and myofibroblasts, both of which replace keratocytes after wounding. Methods Fibroblasts and myofibroblasts were grown according to preestablished methods. Phenotype was determined by immunocytochemistry. A gap junction-permeant dye, Lucifer yellow or Cascade blue, and nonpermeant 10-kDa Texas red-dextran were used. Tracer fluorescent dyes were introduced by scrape-loading or by microinjection, and their diffusion into adjacent cells was recorded photographically. Inhibition of gap junction dye transfer was elicited by treatment with 18-alpha-glycyrrhetinic acid (AGA). Results In confluent fibroblast or myofibroblast cultures, the scrape-loaded dextran probe remained within wounded cells, whereas the Lucifer yellow or Cascade blue dye diffused into adjacent intact cells. Similarly, in nonconfluent fibroblast and myofibroblast cultures, microinjected Lucifer yellow rapidly diffused from the microinjected cell to adjacent cells. Treatment with 2 microM AGA, an uncoupling agent, blocked the spread of Lucifer yellow in fibroblast and myofibroblast cultures. Conclusions Cultured fibroblasts and myofibroblasts have functional gap junctions as has previously been demonstrated for keratocytes in vivo. Thus, fibroblasts and myofibroblasts have the ability to establish and maintain intercellular communication with themselves and with nonactivated keratocytes. This property may be critical in the wound-healing process, especially in the avascular corneal environment.
Strategy for analysis of flow diverting devices based on multi-modality image-based modeling

SUMMARY Quantification and characterization of the hemodynamic environment created after flow diversion treatment of cerebral aneurysms is important to understand the effects of flow diverters and their interactions with the biology of the aneurysm wall and the thrombosis process that takes place subsequently. This paper describes the construction of multi-modality image-based subject-specific CFD models of experimentally created aneurysms in rabbits and subsequently treated with flow diverters. Briefly, anatomical models were constructed from 3D rotational angiography images, flow conditions were derived from Doppler ultrasound measurements, stent models were created and virtually deployed, and the results were compared with in vivo digital subtraction angiography and Doppler ultrasound images. The models were capable of reproducing in vivoobservations, including velocity waveforms measured in the parent artery, peak velocity values measured in the aneurysm, and flow structures observed with digital subtraction angiography before and after deployment of flow diverters. The results indicate that regions of aneurysm occlusion after flow diversion coincide with slow and smooth flow patterns, whereas regions still permeable at the time of animal sacrifice were observed in parts of the aneurysm exposed to larger flow activity, that is, higher velocities, more swirling, and more complex flow structures. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Developing quantitative guidelines using integrated data from sequential experiments

The results of four experiments were integrated using empirical models and data bridging. These models can be used in the design of telephone-based information systems as quantitative guidelines. Ten independent variables including environmental, hardware, dialogue, and user factors were considered in four related studies. Three dependent variables (total search time, user-added keypresses, and message transcription accuracy) were evaluated in each separate study. Multiple linear regression was used to generate an integrated second-order empirical model for each of the three dependent variables. Overall, the use of integrated empirical models offers several advantages
Toward development of a testbed for sustainable manufacturing

A growing number of manufacturing companies are treating sustainability as a strategic objective that will increase both their global competitiveness and their market share. To implement this objective, these companies must first assess, and then evaluate, their current sustainability performance. Assessments and evaluations are carried out by choosing among a variety of existing sustainability metrics, assessment tools, and related standards. To help companies make the best choice, the National Institute of Standards and Technology is establishing a Smart Manufacturing Testbed, with an initial emphasis on sustainable manufacturing. The sustainable manufacturing testbed will provide (1) the infrastructure to demonstrate, test, and validate assessment methods and tools; (2) the ability to test conformance to current and future assessment-related standards; (3) the capability needed by the manufacturing industries to perform sustainability assessments; and (4) a repository for storing sustainability data re...
Effect of excess chelating agent in nutrient solution at low levels of iron, zinc, copper and manganese

Abstract When iron was supplied as FeEDDHA at 10‐6 M or 10‐7 M, Mn and Zn as sulfates variously at 10‐5to 10‐7 M and Cu at 10‐6 M, the copper concentrations of trifoliate leaves of bush beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) was in the toxic range (30–77 mg/kg)/ when iron was at 10‐5 M with the same concentrations of zinc, manganese and copper as above, the copper was in the adequate range (7.5–14 mg/kg) but when 10‐4 M Na2EDTA was applied to each of the above solutions, copper in the leaves was in the deficient range (2–4 mgAg) • The results point to the need for extreme care when chelating agents are used in hydroponic nutrient solutions especially where copper, manganese and/or zinc as well as iron are applied in che— lated form. As iron becomes depleted in a nutrient solution, copper toxicity can result, but deficiency can also result if there is excess free chelate even with the same copper level in the nutrient solution. The multielement stresses were shown to be mostly additive in nature, although in some c...
Simitar: Simplified Searching of Statistically Significant Similarity Structure

This paper describes Simitar, a toolbox for studying the similarity structure of patterns of brain activation in different experimental conditions. We focus on supporting two types of analysis, namely, the calculation of local similarity matrices for all locations in the brain and the identification of locations where similarity has a desired structure, via an intuitive interface.
Comment on Structure and Theory

I should like to raise two questions about the new German Code and then discuss what seem to me to be the most important requirements of a criminal theory. First, there is the often repeated claim that the new Code is based on fault (Schuld) in a moral sense. But German law relies rather heavily on inadvertent negligence as a sufficient ground of penal liability. This question has been widely discussed in Anglo-American journals,1 and only two brief comments will be made. The late Professor Turner's statement: "it should now be recognized that at common law there is no criminal liability for harm thus caused by inadvertence,"2 representing centuries of thoughtful decisions by very able judges and applied even in cases where many deaths were caused by the defendant, must surely raise a doubt regarding the claim that harms caused inadvertently involve moral culpability, indeed, such a high degree of moral culpability that it should be dealt with by the imposition of punitive sanctions. It is true, of course, that American scholars disagree on this subject as do English scholars; in this discussion I only suggest that the claim that the new German Code is based on moral fault is debatable. Later, I shall discuss the reasons for thinking that the acceptance of inadvertent negligence handicaps the construction of a theory of penal law.
Multi-process control software for HUBO2 Plus robot

Humanoid robots require greater software reliability than traditional mechatronic systems if they are to perform useful tasks in typical human-oriented environments. This paper covers a software architecture which distributes the load of computation and control tasks over multiple processes, enabling fail-safes within the software. These fail-safes ensure that unexpected crashes or latency do not produce damaging behavior in the robot. The distribution also offers benefits for future software development by making the architecture modular and extensible. Utilizing a low-latency inter-process communication protocol (Ach), processes are able to communicate with high control frequencies. The key motivation of this software architecture is to provide a practical framework for safe and reliable humanoid robot software development. The authors test and verify this framework on a HUBO2 Plus humanoid robot.
The Representational Theory of Mind

This article is a lecture extracted from a chapter in a forthcoming book discussing the nature of concepts. It summarizes the representational theory of mind, which provides the theoretical framewo...
Transformation of 4-connected zeolite topologies into a mixed 4- and 6-connected 3-dimensional open framework

Transformation of a small fraction of germanium tetrahedral centers in UCSB-9 and -11 type structures into octahedral centers leads to a novel germanate denoted as UCSB-46 with a mixed 4- and 6-connected 3D topology. The driving force for the tetrahedral-to-octahedral transformation is not the atomic size but the need for generating negative centers on the framework to achieve host−guest charge matching. Such a transformation also reveals an interesting pathway to a thicker wall in the 3D framework without a sacrifice in the channel dimensionality and the pore size.
External Inducement and Non-Westernization in the Uses of the ◊ Asheninka Cushma

The cushma is a cotton tunic worn by the Pajonal Asheninka and other montana Indians in the Peruvian Amazon. The cushma constitutes an impor tant article of dress and cultural identity. Its continued use points to the per sistence of shared Asheninka values and practices in the face of prolonged colonization efforts in the area. An influx of industrial goods into the Asheninka trading system has boosted the circulation of traditional exchange items. Recent political organizing has further strengthened Asheninka iden tity. Asheninka leaders who have started to wear Western-style clothes now don the cushma to display Asheninka-ness to influential outsiders. No longer may we assume that its use merely testifies to the cultural purity of its wearer. Its use may also be an indication of his or her sophisticated acknowledgment that the timely display of indigenous identity may well be rewarded. This adds a new layer of meaning to the Asheninka cushma.
Hydrogenation and Hydrocarbonation and Etching of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes

We present a systematic experimental investigation of the reactions between hydrogen plasma and single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) at various temperatures. Microscopy, infrared (IR) and Raman spectroscopy, and electrical transport measurements are carried out to investigate the properties of SWNTs after hydrogenation. Structural deformations, drastically reduced electrical conductance, and an increased semiconducting nature of SWNTs upon sidewall hydrogenation are observed. These changes are reversible upon thermal annealing at 500 °C via dehydrogenation. Harsh plasma or high temperature reactions lead to etching of nanotubes likely via hydrocarbonation. Smaller SWNTs are markedly less stable against hydrocarbonation than larger tubes. The results are fundamental and may have implications to basic and practical applications including hydrogen storage, sensing, band gap engineering for novel electronics, and new methods of manipulation, functionalization, and etching of nanotubes.
Quantification of DNA repair capacity in whole blood of patients with head and neck cancer and healthy donors by comet assay.

Abstract Comet assay has been used to estimate cancer risk by quantification of DNA damage and repair in response to mutagen challenge. Our goal was to adopt best practices for the alkaline comet assay to measure DNA repair capacity of white blood cells in whole blood of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (HNSCC). The results show that initial damage by 10 Gy of gamma radiation expressed as percent DNA in comet tail was higher in stimulated lymphocytes (61.1 ± 11.8) compared to whole blood (43.0 ± 12.1) but subsequent repair was similar with comet tail of approximately 20% at 15 min and 13% at 45 min after exposure. Exposure of whole blood embedded in agarose from 5 to 10 Gy gamma radiation was followed by an approximately 70% repair of the DNA damage within 45 min with a faster repair phase in the first 15 min. Variability of the measurement was lower within repeated measurements of the same person compared to measurement of different healthy individuals. The repair during first 15 min was slower ( p = 0.01) in ex-/non-smokers (41.0 ± 2.1%) compared to smokers (50.3 ± 2.7%). This phase of repair was also slower ( p = 0.02) in HNSCC patients (36.8 ± 2.1%) compared to controls matched on age and smoking (46.4 ± 3.0%). The results of this pilot study suggest that quantification of repair in whole blood following a gamma radiation challenge is feasible. Additional method optimization would be helpful to improve the assay for a large population screening.
Early temporal-specific responses and differential sensitivity to lithium and Wnt-3A exposure during heart development

Members of both Wnt and bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) families of signaling molecules are important in heart development. We previously demonstrated that β-catenin, a key downstream intermediary of the canonical Wnt signaling pathway, delineates the dorsal boundary of the cardiac compartments in an anteroposterior progression. We hypothesized the progression involves canonical Wnt signaling and reflects development of the primary body axis of the embryo. A similar anteroposterior signaling wave leading to cardiac cell specification involves inductive signaling by BMP-2 synthesized by the underlying endoderm in anterior bilateral regions. Any molecule that disrupts the normal balance of Wnt and BMP concentrations within the heart field may be expected to affect early heart development. The canonical Wnt signaling step mimicked by lithium involves inactivation of glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β; Klein and Melton [1996] Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 93:8455–8459). We show that lithium, Wnt-3A, and an inhibitor of GSK-3β, SB415286, affect early heart development at the cardiac specification stages. We demonstrate that normal expression patterns of key signaling molecules as Notch-1 and Dkk-1 are altered in the anterior mesoderm within the heart fields by a one-time exposure to lithium, or by noggin inhibition of BMP, at Hamburger and Hamilton (HH) stage 3 during chick embryonic development. The severity of developmental defects is greatest with exposure to lithium or Wnt-3A at HH stage 3 and decreases at HH stage 4. Taken together, our results demonstrate that there are temporal-specific responses and differential sensitivities to lithium/Wnt-3A exposure during early heart development. Developmental Dynamics 235:2160–2174, 2006. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.