cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Draft Reference Genome Sequence of Corynebacterium mastitidis 16-1433, Isolated from a Mouse.

ABSTRACT We report here a nearly complete draft genome sequence for a Corynebacterium mastitidis isolate from a mouse. The total read coverage is 198×, and the genome size is 2,264,319 bp with a 69.04% GC content. This genome complements the only other genome available for C. mastitidis, which was obtained from a sheep.
Models of Argumentation and Judicial Judgment

The traditional logical approach to the making of judgment closely parallels mathematical models and is primarily concerned with correctness. A jurisprudential model views judgment as a process of ...
Electric switching of magnetism in 2D.

Combined electrostatic gating and magnetic fields switch a 2D atomic crystal from an antiferromagnetic to a ferromagnetic state.
Spondylolysis and Spondylolisthesis

Spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis are both conditions occurring in pediatric and adult patients. Spondylolysis can lead to isthmic spondylolisthesis, but not all patients with spondylolysis develop spondylolisthesis. Older patients can develop spondylolisthesis from advanced degenerative disease.
Judicial Review of the Manual for Courts-Martial

In the Manual for Courts-Martial, the President of the United States has established the procedural, evidentiary, and other rules that govern many aspects of the military justice system. This article describes and analyzes nine arguments that litigants have advanced when asking courts to ignore or invalidate Manual provisions: (1) The Manual provision is merely precatory; (2) The Manual provision conflicts with the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ); (3) The Manual provision conflicts with another Manual provision; (4) The Manual provision conflicts with a federal regulation; (5) The President lacked authority to promulgate the Manual provision; (6) The Manual provision is arbitrary and capricious; (7) The Manual provision interprets an ambiguous portion of the UCMJ and a better interpretation is possible; (8) The President promulgated the Manual pursuant to an improper delegation from Congress; and (9) The Manual provision violates the accused's constitutional rights.
Sensitivity Analysis with Nonlinear Multiple Regression Models

In this chapter, the insights offered by sensitivity analysis of nonlinear regression models built with multiple drivers and cross sectional data are examined. With nonlinear models, the impact of each driver depends on the values of other drivers. This joint influence adds an element of realism relative to linear regression models with constant response and provides richer insights from sensitivity analysis.
Heat Transfer with Nanofluids

Nanofluids are suspensions of nano-size particles (typically 5–1,000;nm) in liquids. Several research projects in the late 1990s and the first decade of the twenty-first century indicated that the addition of small amounts of nanoparticles in common cooling fluids increases significantly the effective conductivity of these suspensions as well as their convective heat transfer coefficients. While typical experimentally determined conductivity enhancements were in the range 10–50%, some early experiments showed enhancement values higher than 100%. Experiments on the mass transfer coefficients with nanofluids reported more dramatic results with maximum mass transfer enhancements in the range of two to six times that of the base fluid. The significantly enhanced transport properties of the nanofluids have enormous implications in industrial processes, such as the cooling of very small electronic components, which will comprise the next generation of computer chips, absorption of gases by liquid carriers, chemical reactions, combustion for electricity generation, cooling of IC engines, directed-energy weapons, boiling under microgravity conditions, nuclear reactor cooling, and biomedicine. Because of the enormous industrial and economic potential of nanofluids, a significant amount of research was conducted during the first decade of the twenty-first century on the thermal and transport properties and applications of nanofluids, hundreds of journal articles were written, and several conferences were devoted to the subject. This chapter describes the salient heat transfer characteristics of nanofluids. At first, the chapter includes a fundamental description of continua and when nanoparticles may be considered as continua. Second, a rigorous definition of the thermodynamic properties of heterogeneous mixtures is given, with applications to the density and specific heat capacity of nanofluids. Third, the transport properties of nanofluids are described, in particular, viscosity and conductivity. Likely mechanisms for the enhancements of the transport properties are also described in detail and in a critical way. Finally, experimental results and the underlying theory are presented on the enhancement of the convective heat transfer coefficients and the effect of nanoparticles on the pool boiling processes and the critical heat flux of the base fluids.
A Meta-Analysis Examining the Evidence-Base of Mathematical Interventions for Students With Emotional Disturbances:

Math outcomes for students with disabilities, in particular students with emotional disturbance (ED), are bleak, warranting intervention strategies that have research to support their utility. The ...
The impact of researchers loyal to Big Pharma on the ethics and quality of clinical trials in Latin America

This article explains the difficulties innovative pharmaceutical firms have in repaying shareholders with attractive dividends. The problem is the result of the expiration of the patents of blockbuster drugs and the difficulties that the firms have in bringing new blockbuster drugs to the market. One of the solutions companies have found has been to accelerate the implementation of clinical trials in order to expedite the commercialization of new drugs. Doing so increases the period in which they can sell drugs at monopoly prices. We therefore discuss how innovative pharmaceutical firms shorten the implementation time of clinical trials in Latin America and the consequences such actions have on the quality of the collected data, the protection of human rights of the subjects of experimentation, and compliance with the ethical principles approved in international declarations.
Energy Modeling of Cluster System

Ever increasing energy consumption has been a major cost for maintaining data centers, and there is urgent need to reduce the energy consumption of data centers. The key components contribute a large portion of energy consumed in a computing node, both in terms of electrical cost and cooling cost. In this paper, we studied the performance and thermal profiling of a cluster, and proposed an approach to model energy consumption of a computing node based on the workload that is dispatched to the node. Statistical methods were used in generating the temperature and computing energy cost model, and our experimental result indicated high accuracy of our temperature model and energy model. Our proposed approach could be extended to large-scale cluster systems and data centers.
Impact of Leukoaraiosis Severity on the Association of Time to Successful Reperfusion with 90-Day Functional Outcome After Large Vessel Occlusion Stroke

The chance for a favorable outcome after mechanical thrombectomy (MT) for large vessel occlusion stroke decreases with the symptom onset-to-reperfusion time (OTR). Patients with severe leukoaraiosis are at increased risk for a poor outcome after MT. However, whether leukoaraiosis modulates to the association between OTR and 90-day functional outcome is uncertain. We retrospectively analyzed 144 consecutive patients with successful (TICI ≥ 2b/3) MT for anterior circulation large vessel occlusion within 24 h form OTR between January 2012 to November 2016. Leukoaraiosis was dichotomized to absent-to-mild (van Swieten scale score 0–2) versus moderate-to-severe (3–4) as assessed on admission head CT. Multiple linear, logistic, and ordinal regression analyses were used to determine the association between leukoaraiosis, OTR, and 90-day modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score, after adjustment for pertinent covariates. Leukoaraiosis was independently associated with the OTR on multivariable linear regression (p = 0.003). The association between OTR and 90-day outcome depended on the degree of pre-existing leukoaraiosis burden as shown by a significant leukoaraiosis-by-OTR interaction on multivariable logistic regression (OR 0.76, 95% CI 0.58–0.98, p = 0.037) and multivariable ordinal regression (OR 0.87, 95% CI 0.78–0.97, p = 0.011). Pre-existing leukoaraiosis is associated with the 90-day functional outcome after successful reperfusion and impacts the association between the OTR and 90-day mRS among patients undergoing MT. Patients with high leukoaraiosis burden need to present earlier than patients with low leukoaraiosis burden for a similar favorable outcome. Pending confirmation, these results may have important implications for optimizing patient selection for acute stroke therapies.
A Review of Automated Speech and Language Features for Assessment of Cognitive and Thought Disorders

It is widely accepted that information derived from analyzing speech (the acoustic signal) and language production (words and sentences) serves as a useful window into the health of an individual's cognitive ability. In fact, most neuropsychological testing batteries have a component related to speech and language where clinicians elicit speech from patients for subjective evaluation across a broad set of dimensions. With advances in speech signal processing and natural language processing, there has been recent interest in developing tools to detect more subtle changes in cognitive-linguistic function. This work relies on extracting a set of features from recorded and transcribed speech for objective assessments of speech and language, early diagnosis of neurological disease, and tracking of disease after diagnosis. With an emphasis on cognitive and thought disorders, in this paper we provide a review of existing speech and language features used in this domain, discuss their clinical application, and highlight their advantages and disadvantages. Broadly speaking, the review is split into two categories: language features based on natural language processing and speech features based on speech signal processing. Within each category, we consider features that aim to measure complementary dimensions of cognitive-linguistics, including language diversity, syntactic complexity, semantic coherence, and timing. We conclude the review with a proposal of new research directions to further advance the field.
Smartphone-based driver license testing: demo abstract

Road safety is compromised today by the inadequacies in driver license testing. Testing is typically still performed manually, and efforts aimed at automating testing are stymied by the cost of outfitting a testing track with sensors. We demonstrate a low-cost, smartphone-based system for automating key aspects of the driver license test. We have a pilot deployment of our system at an official testing track in India. We will present an analysis of license test results obtained from this pilot, comparing the smartphone-based testing results with manual evaluation.
Surgical management of ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament in the cervical spine

Abstract OPLL is a progressive process that can result in spinal cord compression and myelopathy. Various surgical approaches for the management of OPLL in the cervical spine exist. Our goal is to present our institution’s experience in the management of OPLL over the last 20 years. Sixty-eight patients underwent surgery for cervical OPLL. Mean age at surgery was 56.9 years. No differences between demographic characteristics and surgical approach were identified. There were no significant differences between the approaches regarding the mean estimated blood loss, occurrence of durotomy, reoperation rate, positive K-line and preoperative cervical spine sagittal balance. Number of levels operated on was significantly different (anterior approach 2 ± 0.8 levels, posterior approach 4.3 ± 1.3 levels, combined approach 3.3 ± 0.9 levels, p-value 0.6 (OR 6.9, 95% CI 1.35–42.7, p-value 0.02). OPLL is a rare disease for which prompt referral for surgical decompression may lead to good clinical outcomes.
Sustaining STEM Outreach: Successes and Challenges

Sustainability is perhaps the greatest challenge confronting those who develop STEM outreach programs. We invited researchers to submit manuscripts for a special issue devoted to descriptions of programs that have had positive outcomes and have continued at least eight years beyond federal funding. These articles cover a broad range of topics, audiences, and STEM institutions, as address strategies that promote program sustainability.
Analytical expression for the width of quantum cascade laser frequency comb

An analytical expression for the maximum potential bandwidth of the frequency modulated comb naturally occurring in free running quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) has been derived. The maximum bandwidth is not as wide as the one attainable in passively mode locked lasers, but wider than that in the actively mode locked ones. The bandwidth is shown to critically depend on the flatness of the gain spectrum and the cavity length and less so on pump current. The results firmly establish that the performance of QCL frequency combs can be on par with combs generated by other means.
Standardizing postoperative handoffs using the evidence-based IPASS framework through a multidisciplinary initiative improves handoff communication for neurosurgical patients in the neuro-intensive care unit.

Abstract Errors in communication are a major source of preventable medical errors. Neurosurgical patients frequently present to the neuro-intensive care unit (NICU) postoperatively, where handoffs occur to coordinate care within a large multidisciplinary team. A multidisciplinary working group at our institution started an initiative to improve postoperative neurosurgical handoffs using validated quality improvement methodology. Baseline handoff practices were evaluated through staff surveys and serial observations. A formalized handoff protocol was implemented using the evidence based IPASS format ( I llness severity, P atient summary, A ction list, S ituational awareness and contingency planning, S ynthesis by receiver). Cycles of objective observations and surveys were employed to track practice improvements and guide iterative process changes over one year. Surveys demonstrated improved perceptions of handoffs as organized (17.1% vs 69.7%, p Standardization of handoff practices yields improvements in communication practices for postoperative neurosurgical patients.
Severity of neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome with prenatal exposure to serotonin reuptake inhibitors

Objective To evaluate the severity of neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS) in infants prenatally exposed to medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) and serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SRI). Methods A prospective cohort included 148 maternal-infant pairs categorized into MOUD (n = 127) and MOUD + SRI (n = 27) groups. NOWS severity was operationalized as the infant's need for pharmacologic treatment with opioids, duration of hospitalization, and duration of treatment. The association between prenatal SRI exposure and the need for pharmacologic treatment (logistic regression), time-to-discharge, and time-to-treatment discontinuation (Cox proportional hazards modeling) was examined after adjusting for the type of maternal MOUD, use of hydroxyzine, other opioids, benzodiazepines/sedatives, alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, gestational age, and breastfeeding. Results Infants in the MOUD + SRI group were more likely to receive pharmacologic treatment for NOWS (OR = 3.58; 95% CI: 1.31; 9.76) and had a longer hospitalization (median: 11 vs. 6 days; HR = 0.54; 95% CI: 0.33; 0.89) compared to the MOUD group. With respect to time-to-treatment discontinuation, no association was observed in infants who received treatment (HR = 0.59; 95% CI: 0.26, 1.32); however, significant differences were observed in the entire sample (HR = 0.55; 95% CI: 0.34, 0.89). Conclusions Use of SRIs among pregnant women on MOUD might be associated with more severe NOWS. Impact A potential drug-drug interaction between maternal SRIs and opioid medications that inhibit the reuptake of serotonin has been hypothesized but not carefully evaluated in clinical studies. Results of this prospective cohort indicate that the use of SRIs among pregnant women on MOUD is associated with more severe neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome. This is the first prospective study which carefully examined effect modification between the type of maternal MOUD and SRI use on neonatal outcomes. This report lays the foundation for treatment optimization in pregnant women with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders.
Patterned Threadlike Micelles and DNA-Tethered Nanoparticles: A Structural Study of PEGylated Cationic Liposome-DNA Assemblies.

The self-assembly of oppositely charged biomacromolecules has been extensively studied due to its pertinence in the design of functional nanomaterials. Using cryo electron microscopy (cryo-EM), optical light scattering, and fluorescence microscopy, we investigated the structure and phase behavior of PEGylated (PEG: poly(ethylene glycol)) cationic liposome–DNA nanoparticles (CL–DNA NPs) as a function of DNA length, topology (linear and circular), and ρchg (the molar charge ratio of cationic lipid to anionic DNA). Although all NPs studied exhibited lamellar internal nanostructure, NPs formed with short (∼2 kbps), linear, polydisperse DNA were defect-rich and contained smaller domains. Unexpectedly, we found distinctly different equilibrium structures away from the isoelectric point. At ρchg > 1, in the excess cationic lipid regime, threadlike micelles rich in PEG-lipid were found to coexist with NPs, cationic liposomes, and spherical micelles. At high concentrations these PEGylated threadlike micelles forme...
CT Utilization and Thyroid Cancer: Is There a Connection?

I do not need to tell you that the last 15 years have seen a revolution in how patients undergo diagnostic workups. That change had already begun about 35 years ago with the phenomenal growth of radiology, including the advent of ultrasound, CT, MR, nuclear medicine and interventional radiology. And from 1995 to 2009 these has been a precipitous rise in CT utilization occasioned by fantastic advances in that technique [1]. Growth has leveled off and declined a little but more than 60 million CT exams are done each year in the U.S.A. This period of growth has caused not merely an increase in the number of cases but, in fact, a transformation, actually a metamorphosis, about how patients are evaluated. For many diseases diagnosis has been ceded to the radiologist. That change is not merely a modification of medical practice but a sociological transformation that has been accepted by the public as well as by other medical practitioners. Are there implications in this increasing reliance on CT that perhaps are not salutary? I am not only talking about economic issues but actually also issues of the induction of pathology.
Use of an electronic nose to diagnose bacterial sinusitis.

BACKGROUND Having previously established that an electronic nose (enose) can distinguish among bacteria samples, between cerebrospinal fluid leak and serum, and can identify patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia, we hypothesized that bacterial sinusitis could be diagnosed by sampling exhaled gas with an enose. METHODS Using a nasal continuous positive airway pressure mask, we sampled gas exhaled through the nose of patients with sinusitis and compared them with controls. Data were first projected onto the principal components and then classified by support vector machine (SVM), a machine learning algorithm for pattern recognition. RESULTS SVM analysis showed good discrimination using three approaches. First, 11 samples were used to create a training set that was used to predict whether individual samples from each set were a member of the control or infected sets. The enose was correct 98.4% of the time. Second, one-half of the samples from each of the same 11 control and infected groups were used to construct a training set, which was used to predict infection in the remaining samples. The enose was correct 82% of the time. Finally, 68 samples (34 positive and 34 controls) were analyzed using a leave-one-out scheme for creating training sets and testing sets. This method, designed to reflect the generalization property of the SVM classifier, scored a classification rate of 72%. CONCLUSION Using the enose to sample nasal exhalation from patients with suspected sinusitis, we were able to predict correctly the diagnosis of sinusitis in at least 72% of the samples. The next step will be to do forward prediction using this model.
SPACE AND THE SOCIAL ORDER IN PEPYS' DIARY

Samuel Pepys' Diary (1 660-1 669) contains a uniquely detailed record of public and private life in London during a turbulent decade of English urban history: a decade which saw the Restoration, the Plague, and the Great Fire of London. The Diary has been largely neglected by urban social geographers. Taking as a point of departure some theoretical ideas of Sennett, Arendt and Lofland, this paper examines Pepys' understandings of public and private urban spaces. A continuum of urban settings is described, distinguished by the amount of social/moral tension and commentary they elicited from Pepys. The preindustrial sumptuary order of social knowing is largely intact, but Lofland's new, spatially based social order is crystallizing at points of tension in the urban social space.
Tuberculosis Associated with HIV Infection

Tuberculosis and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection are two major global public health threats that undermine the development of societies because of their high morbidity and mortality. This chapter reviews the pathogenesis of the coinfection of HIV and Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB), the epidemiology, and the clinical aspects of tuberculosis associated with HIV infection. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) greatly reduces the risk of tuberculosis in HIV infection, but it appears that in most populations, even after effective treatment with ART, the risk of tuberculosis is still on average 5- to 10- fold higher than in the HIV- uninfected population. Due to the high frequency of coinfection of MTB and HIV, all patients infected with HIV should be screened for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) and tuberculosis. Also, all patients with tuberculosis should be advised to undergo voluntary counseling and testing for HIV infection. Rifabutin is the least powerful inducer and recommended for the treatment of tuberculosis in patients with HIV infection, especially if protease inhibitors are required to treat HIV. The interaction of rifampin and rifabutin with approved antiretroviral drugs is summarized in the chapter. It is remarkable how difficult it has been to control the epidemic of tuberculosis, a curable disease. HIV is the most important factor contributing to the increase of cases of tuberculosis, but tuberculosis is both preventable and treatable even in persons with HIV infection. We need to accelerate the development of new diagnostic tools, new antituberculosis drugs, and a new effective vaccine.
Models and algorithmic tools for computational processes in cellular biology: recent developments and future directions

Over the last few decades, researchers in various fields have witnessed applications of novel computing models and algorithmic paradigms in many application areas involving biological processes, quantum computing, nanotechnology, social networks and many other such disciplines. Typical characteristics of these application areas include their interdisciplinary nature going beyond previous traditional approaches that were used, and often high-risk high-gain nature of resulting collaborations. Major research challenges on a macroscopic level for such collaborations include forming appropriate interdisciplinary teams, effective communication between researchers in diverse areas, using individual expertise for overall goal of the project, and collaboration with industry if necessary. In addition, one also faces the usual challenge that lies in collaboration between theory and practice, namely sometimes theory follows application, sometimes theory precedes application, and sometimes they walk hand-in-hand. Recent and not so recent developments on analysis of models of computational processes in biology, in the context of gene and protein networks that arise in organism development and cell signalling, have given rise to many types of discrete, continuous and hybrid models, and researchers have studied the inter-relationships, powers and limitations, computational complexity and algorithmic issues as well as biological implications and validations of these models. Such investigations have given rise to fascinating interplay between many diverse research areas such as biology, control theory, discrete mathematics and computer science.
Kinetic Studies at High pH of the Trypsin-catalyzed Hydrolysis of Nα-Benzoyl Derivatives of l-Arginamide, l-Lysinamide, and S-2-Aminoethyl-l-cysteinamide and Related Compounds

Abstract A steady state kinetic analysis has been made of the trypsin-catalyzed hydrolysis of Nα-benzyol-l-arginamide, Nα-benzoyl-l-lysinamide, and Nα-benzoyl-S-2-aminoethyl-l-cysteinamide at pH values from 8 to 10.7 at 30°. The Km (app) of the arginine derivative changes from 2.5 to 4.5 x 10-3 m while that of the lysine derivative increases from 4.6 to 17.2 x 10-3 m in going from pH 8 to 10.7. Over the same range the kcat for the arginine derivative decreases from 2.8 to 1.5 sec-1 while the value for the lysine derivative decreases from 1.9 to 1.3 sec-1. At pH 8.0, the Km (app) for the aminoethylcysteine derivative (4.3 x 10-3 m) was about the same as that for lysine derivative whereas the value of kcat of 0.33 sec-1 was considerably lower. At pH 9, 30° and under, the conditions in which the reaction was first order with respect to substrate concentration, the relative rate of cleavage of the arginyl, lysyl, and aminoethylcysteinyl bonds was 100:40:7. From the effect of pH on Km (app) and kcat of the arginine derivative, it was deduced that the enzyme possessed an ionizable group with a pKa of 10.4 which must be protonated in order to have a fully active enzyme. After correcting for the ionization of the enzyme, the effect of pH on the kinetic parameters of lysine and aminoethylcysteine derivatives could be correlated with the dissociation of their distal amino groups. The ionization constants of these groups as determined by the kinetic method agreed within 0.3 pH unit of their values as determined by titration in distilled water. More importantly, it was found by titration that the pKa of the α-amino group of the aminoethylcysteine derivative was 9.4 while the pKa for the e-amino group of the lysine derivative was 10.3. The same difference in the ionization constant was determined by the kinetic method. As a result of the difference in pK values between the basic groups of arginyl, lysyl, and aminoethylcysteinyl residues, it should be possible at high pH (10.7) to catalyze the hydrolysis of arginyl bonds in an aminoethylated protein with no cleavage of aminoethylcysteinyl bonds and with only slight cleavage of lysyl bonds. At pH 7.9, there was no indication of substrate activation by the above mentioned amides or by Nα-tosyl-l-arginamide or Nα-tosyl-l-lysinamide over the substrate range of 5 x 10-5 to 5 x 10-2 m. Under the same conditions the phenomenon attributed to substrate activation was observed for Nα-tosyl-l-arginine methyl ester and Nα-tosyl-l-lysine methyl ester. These studies were performed with trypsin that had been treated with the chymotrypsin inhibitor, l-(1-tosylamido-2-phenyl)ethyl chloromethyl ketone, and subjected to chromatography on carboxymethyl cellulose. The chromatography revealed two active components which were apparently interconvertible on rechromatography.
Texture Extraction and Blending without Prior Knowledge of Lighting Conditions

Texture mapping techniques are widely used in photo-realistic 3D model rendering, but different lighting and viewing parameters create a difference in intensity for neighboring images, so that an edge appears at the boundary where neighboring images are stitched together. We propose an automatic procedure to extract and blend textures. Firstly, textures are extracted from the images and mapped to the triangles of the model. We choose the one with largest resolution if multiple textures extracted from different images are mapped to the same triangle. Secondly, a texture blending procedure is applied. We normalize the images to user-specified base images through overlapping area. Textures are then adjusted to the corresponding textures in the base images, if they exist. Finally, we check the boundary of neighboring textures. Boundary pixels varying discontinuously are averaged, and interior pixels are reassigned colors. Experimental results show that the smooth transition between neighboring textures provide better visual quality than just blending the boundary where neighboring images stitched.
The Monte Carlo Calculation

Let us reconsider the problem of determining the output probability law p Y (y) from a system, when the input law has a known form P X (x). This problem was originally considered in Chapter 5. We found there that the Jacobian approach called “transformation of a random variable” did the trick. Actually, this analytic approach was somewhat misleading. In a great number of real problems the system is too complicated to take an analytic approach. In these problems, the output RV y is the result of a great many intermediary events, each randomly conditional upon its predecessor. This causes the Jacobian approach to become extremely complicated and unwieldy since even the number of intermediary events that occur under such circumstances is a random variable. Hence, a different approach must be resorted to.
Partial solution of LMI in stability problem of time-delay systems

Some linear matrix inequalities in the stability problem of time-delay systems can be partially solved by eliminating some variables. A previous stability criterion is made less conservative by allowing some parameters to depend on the uncertain system matrix. These free parameters can be eliminated. As a result, the stability criterion is simpler and less conservative.
Current therapeutic strategies and new treatment paradigms for follicular lymphoma.

Follicular lymphoma (FL) is an indolent non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma that remains an incurable disease for most patients. It is responsive to a variety of different treatments, however it follows a pattern of relapsing and remitting disease. Traditional therapeutic options for patients with untreated FL include expectant observation for asymptomatic and low tumor burden and multiagent cytotoxic chemotherapy for symptomatic and/or high tumor burden. Biologics have become an integral part of therapy with agents that target B lymphocytes, including monoclonal anti-CD20 antibodies and radiolabeled anti-CD20 antibodies. Treatment response to cytotoxic and biologic therapy is high initially; however, with subsequent treatments, response rate and remission duration typically decline and cumulative toxicities increase. The identification of novel targeted agents, use of stem cell transplantation, and new treatment combinations provide the opportunity to enhance patient outcomes. In this review, we critically examine standard treatment strategies for patients with newly diagnosed and relapsed or refractory FL and discuss established and emerging novel therapeutic approaches.
Small Business Sourcebook by S. D. Hill (Ed.)

First published in 1983, Gale's Small Business Sourcebook was at that time a single volume with two parts. Part I furnished 100 small business “profiles”—basically lists of information sources arra...
Fatty liver vulnerability to endotoxin-induced damage despite NF-κB induction and inhibited caspase 3 activation

Fatty livers are sensitive to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) damage. This study tests the hypothesis that this vulnerability occurs because protective, antiapoptotic mechanisms are not upregulated approp...
Late cretaceous to recent palaeoenvironments of the Saudi Arabian Red Sea

Abstract Integrated micropalaeontological, palynological and lithological analysis of the Upper Cretaceous to Recent sedimentary succession, as observed in deep and shallow well drill cores and field samples, has revealed a highly varied history of environments of deposition. Supratidal, freshwater conditions prevailed during the Late Cretaceous, Oligocene, Early and Late Miocene to Recent Marginal marine conditions are represented in the Palaeocene to Lower Eocene successions, but without any indication of hypersaline sabkha environments. Marginal marine conditions involving periodic hypersaline sabkha and hypersaline lake development existed during the Early and Late Miocene. In most of the studied areas, very deep, normal salinity marine conditions, within the upper bathyal regime, existed during the Early Miocene; episodes of marine suboxia are indicated by the microfaunal and organic facies character. Later, during the late Early Miocene and early Middle Miocene, similar deep marine conditions prevailed, but with episodes of hypersalinity that culminated in the late Middle Miocene. Such conditions are believed to have resulted from the isolated of the basin and the precipitation of deep marine precipitates. These changes in palaeoenvironment are considered to reflect episodes of eustatic sea level fluctuation, which are possibly linked to the structural evolution of the Red Sea.
Let patients control the purse strings

Patient choice is much talked about in the NHS and other health systems but action has been limited. Vidhya Alakeson argues that piloting individual healthcare budgets would signal real commitment to creating patient centred care
Proton exchange at the Ta2O5 — electrolytic solution double layer

Abstract The potential across the Ta2O5-electrolytic solution double layer is altered by exchange of protons between the oxide surface and proton acceptors in the solution. The potential changes 0.057 V per pH unit except in solutions containing lithium or sodium ions at pH > 4. The activation energy for the exchange is less than 0.25 eV. An adsorption capacitance of about 2000 microF/cm2 is associated with the proton adsorption at the oxide surface. Between p>H4 and pH10 proton adsorption is diffusion controlled, and the large adsorption capacitance is not realized. Consequently, the measured series combination of the oxide film capacitance and double layer capacitance has a minimum at intermediate p H. A quantitative interpretation is in reasonable accord with the observations. Less extensive data for niobium and zirconium oxides are contrasted with the results for Ta2O5.
Persistent lymphadenopathy associated with hypertransfusion in sickle-cell disease☆

We report the results of an immunologic evaluation of two hypertransfused (HT) patients with sickle-cell disease (SCD) who have developed persistent generalized lymphadenopathy. In order to interpret the results of this evaluation, we studied seven other HT patients with SCD and seven nonhypertransfused patients with SCD. Patients with SCD had decreased percentages of T-lymphocytes to include both helper and suppressor subsets in their peripheral blood. These decreases resulted in T helper/suppressor ratios not different from those of healthy normal control subjects. Lymphocyte proliferative responses to mitogen were decreased in the nonhypertransfused group, whereas mononuclear cell populations from both patient groups had higher levels of spontaneous suppressor cell activity than did control subjects. The patients with lymphadenopathy were distinguished from other HT sickle-cell anemia patients by immunologic abnormalities that included decreased percentages of T4+ lymphocytes, decreased T helper/suppressor ratios, and decreased lymphocyte responses to mitogen. Furthermore, the serum of these patients contained antibody specific for human T cell lymphotropic virus type III (HTLV-III). We believe that these two patients have developed acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-related lymphadenopathy as the result of transfusion-acquired HTLV-III. We propose that hypertransfusion treatment in SCD, possibly in association with phenytoin administration, places individuals at risk for HTLV-III-associated syndromes.
Corporal Punishment and Kids: How Do Parent Support and Gender Influence Child Adjustment?

Previous research on corporal punishment has failed to consider the interaction of parent support and parent gender in predicting child outcomes. The current study examined whether parental support moderated the effects of corporal punishment on child outcomes (i.e., depression and aggression), and more specifically, whether the gender of the supportive parent moderated the effects of punishment from the opposite-sex parent. Results differed depending on the gender of the punishing and supportive parents, suggesting that parental support can be a protective factor in child outcomes but only under certain conditions. Mother support moderated the effects of father punishment on child depression but not child aggression. High corporal punishment by father was related to more child depression at both high and low levels of mother support. High levels of mother support only seemed important (i.e., children were less depressed) at low levels of father corporal punishment. In contrast, father support moderated the relationship between mother corporal punishment and child aggression but not depression. Children with high father support showed less aggression across all levels of mother corporal punishment. At low levels of father support, child aggression increased as mother corporal punishment increased. For depression, mother corporal punishment was positively related to child depression regardless of level of father support. These findings suggest differential effects for mother and father support and have implications for the treatment and prevention of negative outcomes in children who are physically punished by their parents.
Comparison of Mercurial Diuretics and Bed Rest in Normal and Toxemic Pregnancies

Recent reports have indicated that oral organomercurial compounds are effective in promoting diuresis in edematous states. In the majority of these studies, however, salt restriction, bed rest, and other medications were used. Therefore, the diuretic effects of the oral mercurials alone have not been properly assessed. In the present report, the effects of oral mercurials on water and electrolyte excretion were studied in normal and toxemic pregnancies and were compared to effects induced by bed rest and by injectable organomercurial agents.
Circular polarization of sunlight reflected by planetary atmospheres

Multiple scattering calculations are performed in order to investigate the nature of the circular polarization of sunlight reflected by planetary atmospheres. Contour diagrams as a function of size parameter and phase angle are made for the integrated light from a spherical but locally plane-parallel atmosphere of spherical particles. To investigate the origin of the circular polarization, results are also computed for second-order scattering and for a simpler semiquantitative model of scattering by two particles. Observations of the circular polarization of the planets are presently too meager for accurate deduction of cloud particle properties. However, certain very broad constraints can be placed on the properties of the dominant cloud particles on Jupiter and Saturn. The cloud particle size and refractive index deduced for the Jupiter clouds by Loskutov, Morozhenko, and Yanovitskii from analyses of the linear polarization are not consistent with the circular polarization. The few available circular polarization observations of Venus are also examined.
The requirements for serum albumin metabolism in subcellular fractions of liver and brain

Abstract 1. 1. Particulate fractions derived by centrifugation from both liver and brain homogenates have been shown to catabolize added serum albumin. The enzymic activity appears to be localized in the mitochondria. 2. 2. The degradation of the protein is dependent on energy-yielding processes and is markedly stimulated by added ATP and CoA. The process therefore, does not appear to be a simple hydrolysis. 3. 3. A major percentage of the products obtained from the breakdown of [ 14 C]-phenylalanine labeled protein may be identified as free phenylalanine. 4. 4. Additional products are found, at least one of which contains phenylalanine in a combined form. A nucleotide-type spectrum is associated with this material. 5. 5. Under the conditions employed, 15–30% of added albumin is metabolized by the liver preparation and about 3% by that of the brain.
Complexation of Methylphosphonic Acid with the Surface of Goethite Particles in Aqueous Solution

Adsorption of methylphosphonic acid (MPA) onto goethite (α- FeOOH) was studied as a function of pH and the concentration of MPA in solution. In situ attenuated total reflectance-FTIR (ATR-FTIR) techniques were used to identify the type of surface complexes formed under each of the solution conditions used in the adsorption studies. Additionally, electrophoretic mobility measurements were performed in each of these systems. At low pH and high Γ, MPA was bound to the surface of goethite predominantly as a monodentate protonated species, while at high pH and low Γ the prevailing structure was that of a bridging bidentate complex. The change in denticity of the surface MPA under different solution conditions may explain the charge reversals shown in the electrophoretic mobility curves.
Genetic susceptibility in familial multiple sclerosis not linked to the myelin basic protein gene

The myelin basic protein (MBP) gene is a candidate locus for disease susceptibility in familial multiple sclerosis. Amplification of a polymorphic tetranucleotide repeat region immediately 5' to MBP exon 1 demonstrated the presence of eight different alleles among members of 14 multiplex multiple sclerosis families (36 affected individuals). Linkage analysis was performed with autosomal dominant and autosomal recessive models, normal individuals with abnormal magnetic resonance scans being scored as either unknown or affected. Cumulative LOD scores were negative for both models of inheritance. The results do not demonstrate linkage between the MBP gene region and multiple sclerosis.
Some novel mesoionic bispurinone analogs: studies on preparation and characterization

The preparation of the first examples of class II mesoionic bispurinones is described. Arylaminobithiazole 3 is cyclized by condensation with bis(2,4,6-trichlorophenyl) methylmalonate to yield anhydro 3,3′-bis(6-methyl-8-aryl-5-hydroxy-7-oxothiazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidinium hydroxide).
Detection of Platelet Clumps on Peripheral Blood Smears by CellaVision DM96 System and Microscopic Review.

Objective: To determine and optimize the sensitivity of the CellaVision DM96 automated image-analysis system in detecting platelet (PLT) clumps on blood smears and to assess the reliability of the traditional laboratory practice of examining only the feather edge of the smear for PLT clumps. Methods: We processed 102 blood smears that revealed PLT clumps on microscopic review, using the CellaVision DM96, and reviewed the results for the ability of the analyzer to detect these clumps. We obtained the data regarding relative distribution of PLT clumps on different parts of the blood smear (feather edge, lateral edges, and readable area) from our microscopic-review observations. Results: The sensitivity of the Cellavision DM96 in detecting PLT clumps was between 40.4% and 82.8%, depending on the number of screens reviewed for this variable. Via microscopic review of the smears, the PLT-clump detection rate increased from 85.3%, obtained by examining only the feather edge, to 99.0%, obtained by examining the feather edge plus the readable area. Conclusion: The sensitivity of the DM96 for detecting PLT clumps can be maximized to 82.8% by reviewing the entire white blood cell screen and the entire PLT screen. Microscopic review of the blood smears yielded a PLT-clump detection rate of 99.0% when we examined the feather edge and the readable area of the smear. * RBC : red blood cell DM96 : CellaVision DM96 WBC : white blood cell EDTA : ethelenediaminetetraacetate
The influence of mammogenic hormones on serially transplanted mouse mammary gland.

Abstract Mouse mammary gland, which shows a progressive decline in rate of ductal growth during serial propagation in vivo , was passaged in both normal virgin hosts and in hosts bearing pituitary isografts. In both groups ductal proliferation declined, and there is no evidence that the mammogenic stimulation provided by additional pituitaries prevented loss of ductal growth potential. In the pituitary-stimulated group, it was found that alveolar proliferation, which was conspicuous in early transplant generations, also declined with age. Finally, mammary gland was propagated in normal virgins without pituitaries until ductal growth was slowed, and a single exposure to alveolar-mammogenic stimulation was provided by breeding. Alveolar proliferation was then normal and extensive, but ductal elongation was not stimulated. These results suggest that aging of mammary cells, when measured by reduced growth potential, occurs because of declining ability to respond by proliferation to any set of endocrine stimuli that is constant and which continues over a long period of time. The ability of gland which is aged under one particular set of humoral conditions to proliferate in response to another, different set, suggests that the observed aging effect represents progressive alterations to hormone-responsive regulatory mechanisms, and does not indicate a permanent inability of mammary cells to divide.
Soybean Hulls Pretreated Using Thermo-Mechanical Extrusion—Hydrolysis Efficiency, Fermentation Inhibitors, and Ethanol Yield

Soybean hulls were subjected to thermo-mechanical extrusion pretreatment at various in-barrel moisture contents and screw speeds. Extrusion degraded the lignocellulosic structure and enhanced enzymatic hydrolysis of soybean hulls, with up to 155% increase in glucose yield as compared to untreated substrate. Greater glucose yields were observed at higher in-barrel moistures (45% and 50%) and lower screw speed (280 and 350 rpm). Maximum 74% cellulose to glucose conversion resulted from using a two-enzyme cocktail consisting of cellulase and β-glucosidase. Conversion increased to 87% when a three-enzyme cocktail having a cell wall degrading enzyme complex was used for hydrolysis. Fermentation inhibitors, such as furfural, 5-(hydroxymethyl)-2-furaldehyde (HMF), and acetic acid, were found in the extrusion pretreated soybean hulls and hydrolysate. However, their concentrations were below the known thresholds for inhibition. Fermentation of hydrolysate by Saccharomyces cerevisiae led to high yields of ethanol, with concentration ranging from 13.04 to 15.44 g/L.
Global remodeling of nucleosome positions in C . elegans

Background Eukaryotic chromatin architecture is affected by intrinsic histone-DNA sequence preferences, steric exclusion between nucleosome particles, formation of higher-order structures, and in vivo activity of chromatin remodeling enzymes.