cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Analysis of secreted proteins from Aspergillus flavus

MS/MS techniques in proteomics make possible the identification of proteins from organisms with little or no genome sequence information available. Peptide sequences are obtained from tandem mass spectra by matching peptide mass and fragmentation information to protein sequence information from related organisms, including unannotated genome sequence data. This peptide identification data can then be grouped and reconstructed into protein data. In this study, we have used this approach to study protein secretion by Aspergillus flavus, a filamentous fungus for which very little genome sequence information is available. A. flavus is capable of degrading the flavonoid rutin (quercetin 3-O-glycoside), as the only source of carbon via an extracellular enzyme system. In this continuing study, a proteomic analysis was used to identify secreted proteins from A. flavus when grown on rutin. The growth media glucose and potato dextrose were used to identify differentially expressed secreted proteins. The secreted proteins were analyzed by 1- and 2-DE and MS/MS. A total of 51 unique A. flavus secreted proteins were identified from the three growth conditions. Ten proteins were unique to rutin-, five to glucose- and one to potato dextrose-grown A. flavus. Sixteen secreted proteins were common to all three media. Fourteen identifications were of hypothetical proteins or proteins of unknown functions. To our knowledge, this is the first extensive proteomic study conducted to identify the secreted proteins from a filamentous fungus.
LONG LATENCY EVENT-RELATED POTENTIALS IN RATS: EFFECTS OF NUCLEUS BASALIS MAGNOCELLULARIS LESIONS*

The effects of AMPA lesions of the nucleus basalis magnocellularis (NBM) on EEG and event-related potentials (ERPs) generated by an auditory discrimination task were examined. The lesions significantly reduced choline acetyl transferase (ChAT) activity in frontal and parietal cortex. NBM lesions produced significantly more errors in the task. Significant increases in EEG spectral power in the fronto-parietal cortex were found, most predominantly in the higher frequencies (8-32 Hz), suggesting increases in arousal in the lesioned animals. Additionally, the lesion resulted in an increase in the area, the standard deviation of the amplitude of the N1 component, as well as instability in the amplitudes of several other ERP components. These results suggest that NBM lesions may impair ability to correctly respond in a discrimination task by a combination of increased arousal and an inability to maintain stable attentional capacity.
Risk Prediction Model for Heart Failure and Cardiomyopathy After Adjuvant Trastuzumab Therapy for Breast Cancer

Background Adjuvant trastuzumab improves survival for women with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive breast cancer, but increases risk for heart failure (HF) and cardiomyopathy (CM). However, clinical trials may underestimate HF/CM risk because they enroll younger subjects with fewer cardiac risk factors. We sought to develop a clinical risk score that identifies older women with breast cancer who are at higher risk of HF or CM after trastuzumab. Methods and Results Using the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER)-Medicare database, we identified women with breast cancer who received adjuvant trastuzumab. Using a split-sample design, we used a proportional hazards model to identify candidate predictors of HF/CM in a derivation cohort. A risk score was constructed using regression coefficients, and HF/CM rates were calculated in the validation cohort. The sample consisted of 1664 older women (mean age 73.6 years) with 3-year HF/CM rate of 19.1%. A risk score consisting of age, adjuvant chemotherapy, coronary artery disease, atrial fibrillation or flutter, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and renal failure was able to classify HF/CM risk into low (0 to 3 points), medium (4 to 5 points), and high (≥6 points) risk strata with 3-year rates of 16.2%, 26.0%, and 39.5%, respectively. Conclusions A 7-factor risk score was able to stratify 3-year risk of HF/CM after trastuzumab between the lowest and highest risk groups by more than 2-fold in a Medicare population. These findings will inform future research aimed at further developing a clinical risk score for HF/CM for breast cancer patients of all ages.
Issues in the design of multi-server file systems to cope with load skew

It is observed that a large number of operations in many environments are to the files that are mostly-read and rarely updated. Such operations can be served by any server without incurring a high coherency. Several dynamic load balancing algorithms of various degrees of complexity that achieve high reduction in load skew albeit reducing the server buffer hit probability are proposed. It is shown using real workload traces that server load skew can be significantly reduced using these policies, and that there is an inherent tradeoff between load balancing and server buffer hit probability. Some variations of the proposed buddy-based policies which limit the number of replications of buffer pages seem to provide a good compromise between the two factors. >
The case for individualized screening recommendations for breast cancer.

typesofcancer,includingbreastcancer. 2-4 Thelinkbetweenbreast cancer and lower levels of radiation, such as those in diagnostic chest x-rays, computed tomography 5 scans, or mammograms, remains controversial. Studies to date suggest some excess risk even with low levels of radiation exposure, although the magnitude is ill defined. 4 Annual mammography is currently the cornerstone of breast cancer surveillance and has been shown to provide a mortality benefit for women over the age of 40 years old. 6 Thus, the benefits of mammographic screening outweigh the risks for women of average risk over the age of 40 years old. Epidemiologic studieshaveconsistentlydescribedahigherriskofbreastcancerfor womenexposedtoatomicandmedicalirradiationbeforetheageof 20 years old, 2-4 and it seems that there is little to no increased risk with exposure after the age of 50 years old. 2 It is likely that the impactofradiation-associatedbreastcancerissmalltononexistent among women who begin standard mammographic screening at 40 years old, but we do not know if this is also the case for women at high genetic risk.
Optimal error estimates of the direct discontinuous Galerkin method for convection-diffusion equations

Abstract. In this paper, we present the optimal L2-error estimate ofO(hk+1) for polynomial elements of degree k of the semidiscrete direct discontinuous Galerkin method for convection-diffusion equations. The main technical difficulty lies in the control of the inter-element jump terms which arise because of the convection and the discontinuous nature of numerical solutions. The main idea is to use some global projections satisfying interface conditions dictated by the choice of numerical fluxes so that trouble terms at the cell interfaces are eliminated or controlled. In multi-dimensional case, the orders of k + 1 hinge on a superconvergence estimate when tensor product polynomials of degree k are used on Cartesian grids. A collection of projection errors in both oneand multi-dimensional cases is established.
Robotic-Assisted Minimally Invasive Central Pancreatectomy: Technique and Outcomes

Background Central pancreatectomy is a definitive treatment for low-grade tumors of the pancreatic neck that preserves pancreatic and splenic function at the potential expense of postoperative pancreatic fistula. We analyzed outcomes after robot-assisted central pancreatectomy (RACP) to reexamine the risk–benefit profile in the era of minimally invasive surgery.
METSTAT—The solar radiation model used in the production of the National Solar Radiation Data Base (NSRDB)

Abstract This paper describes selectee aspects of the METSTAT (Meteorological/Statistical) solar radiation model. METSTAT was developed specifically to support the production of the National Solar Radiation Data Base for the United States. The model was used to estimate hourly values of direct normal, diffuse horizontal, and global horizontal solar radiation for those times and locations for which measured data were not available. The input parameters for METSTAT include total and opaque cloud cover, aerosol optical depth, precipitable water vapor, ozone, surface albedo, snow depth, days-since-last-snowfall, atmospheric pressure and present weather. The model employs deterministic algorithms to generate accurate monthly means for each element for each hour and statistical algorithms to simulate the statistical and stochastic characteristics of multiyear solar radiation data sets.
Extracting dense features for visual correspondence with graph cuts

We present a method for extracting dense features from stereo and motion sequences. Our dense feature is defined symmetrically with respect to both images, and it is extracted during the correspondence process, not in a separate preprocessing step. For dense feature extraction we use the graph cuts algorithm, recently shown to be a powerful optimization tool for vision. Our algorithm produces semi-dense answer, with very accurate results in areas where features are detected, and no matches in featureless regions. Unlike sparse feature based algorithms, we are able to extract accurate correspondences in some untextured regions, provided that there are texture cues on the boundary. Our algorithm is robust and does not require parameter tuning.
Multi-dimensional characterization of temporal data mining on graphics processors

Through the algorithmic design patterns of data parallelism and task parallelism, the graphics processing unit (GPU) offers the potential to vastly accelerate discovery and innovation across a multitude of disciplines. For example, the exponential growth in data volume now presents an obstacle for high-throughput data mining in fields such as neuroscience and bioinformatics. As such, we present a characterization of a MapReduced-based data-mining application on a general-purpose GPU (GPGPU). Using neuroscience as the application vehicle, the results of our multi-dimensional performance evaluation show that a “one-size-fits-all” approach maps poorly across different GPGPU cards. Rather, a high-performance implementation on the GPGPU should factor in the 1) problem size, 2) type of GPU, 3) type of algorithm, and 4) data-access method when determining the type and level of parallelism. To guide the GPGPU programmer towards optimal performance within such a broad design space, we provide eight general performance characterizations of our data-mining application.
Locus Coeruleus Lesions Suppress the Seizure-Attenuating Effects of Vagus Nerve Stimulation

Summary: Purpose: Although vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is now marketed throughout most of the world as a treatment for drug-resistant epilepsy, the therapeutic mechanism of action of VNS-induced seizure suppression has not yet been established. Elucidation of this mechanism is an important first step in the development of strategies to improve VNS efficacy. Because the locus coeruleus (LC) has been implicated in the antinociceptive effects of VNS, we chemically lesioned the LC in the present study to determine if it is a critical structure involved in the anticonvulsant mechanisms of VNS. Methods: Rats were chronically depleted of norepinephrine (NE) by a bilateral infusion of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) into the LC. Two weeks later, they were tested with maximal electroshock (MES) to assess VNS-induced seizure suppression. In another experiment, the LC was acutely inactivated with lidocaine, and seizure suppression was tested in a similar fashion. Results: VNS significantly reduced seizure severities of control rats. However, in animals with chronic or acute LC lesions, VNS-induced seizure suppression was attenuated. Conclusions: Our data indicate that the LC is involved in the circuitry necessary for the anticonvulsant effects of VNS. Seizure suppression by VNS may therefore depend on the release of NE, a neuromodulator that has anticonvulsant effects. These data suggest that noradrenergic agonists might enhance VNS-induced seizure suppression.
Intravenous lipid emulsion therapy in three cases of canine naproxen overdose

Objective To report a case series of canine naproxen overdoses successfully treated with intravenous lipid emulsion therapy (IVLE). Series Summary Three dogs were presented for acute ingestion of naproxen and were treated with IVLE. Baseline and post treatment serum naproxen concentrations were measured. The first exposure involved ingestion of 61 mg/kg of an over-the-counter naproxen formulation in a 7-month-old male intact Labrador Retriever. Pre-IVLE toxin concentration assessed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was 73 μg/mL with a one-hour post-IVLE concentration decreasing to 30 μg/mL. The second and third exposures were 3-year-old female spayed Pembroke Welsh Corgi dogs from the same family, presented for potential ingestion of up to 207 mg/kg of a prescription strength naproxen formulation. Pre-IVLE naproxen concentration by HPLC for case 2 was 30 μg/mL with a reduction to 12 μg/mL and 7.2 μg/mL 1 and 3 hours post-IVLE treatment, respectively. For case 3, pre-IVLE naproxen concentration by HPLC was 86 μg/mL with post concentrations at 21 μg/mL one hour and 10 μg/mL 3 hours post-IVLE administration. New or Unique Information Provided Naproxen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug with a long half-life and narrow margin of safety in dogs. Ingestion of > 5 mg/kg has been associated with adverse gastrointestinal effects, including ulceration. At doses > 10–25 mg/kg, acute kidney failure has been reported, and at doses > 50 mg/kg, neurologic abnormalities occur. This is the first reported use of IVLE for treatment of naproxen overdose with documented decrease in serum toxin concentrations shortly after administration. No long-standing gastrointestinal, renal, or neurologic effects occurred in these dogs.
The Mortality Risk of Elevated Serum Transferrin Saturation and Consumption of Dietary Iron

BACKGROUND Recent data shows an increased mortality risk associated with elevated transferrin saturation. Because ingestion of dietary iron may contribute to iron overload in persons with elevated transferrin saturation, we investigated the relationship between elevated transferrin saturation, ingestion of dietary iron and red meat, and mortality. METHODS This 12-year cohort study used data from the second National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1976–1980 (NHANES II) and the NHANES II Mortality Study 1992. Population estimates were based on 9,229 persons aged 35 to 70 years at baseline. A Cox proportional hazards analysis was performed based on levels of transferrin saturation, intake of dietary iron, and intake of red meat. The analysis was conducted while controlling for demographics, severity of illness, body mass index, and smoking status. RESULTS Unadjusted analyses indicated that those who had a high transferrin saturation and reported high dietary iron or red meat consumption had an increased mortality risk. The adjusted survival analysis indicated that persons with elevated transferrin saturation who reported high dietary iron intake had a hazard ratio for death of 2.90 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.39–6.04) compared with those with normal transferrin saturation levels and reported low dietary iron intake. Persons who had a high transferrin saturation and reported high red meat consumption also had an increased hazard ratio for death (2.26; 95% CI, 1.45–3.52) compared with those who had normal transferrin saturation and reported low red meat consumption. CONCLUSIONS Ingestion of large quantities of dietary iron and red meat in persons with high transferrin saturation is associated with an increase in mortality. Simple dietary restrictions may reduce the mortality risk associated with high transferrin saturation.
Differential glucocorticoid effects on stress-induced gene expression in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus and ACTH secretion in the rat

Although previous studies have examined the extent to which adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) secretion depends on endogenous glucocorticoid levels, few have examined the parallel glucocorticoid dependency of gene expression within the corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) neuron containing subregion of the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN). This study examined resting and stress-induced expression of three immediate early genes (c-fos, zif268, and NGFI-B mRNAs) and two phenotypic restricted immediate early genes that code for ACTH secretagogues (CRH and arginine vasopressin [AVP] hnRNAs) in the PVN of adrenalectomized (ADX) rats given either 0.9% saline to drink for 5 days or saline with corticosterone (CORT; 25 μg/ml). CORT-containing saline was replaced with saline 18 h before testing to ensure clearance of CORT at the time of testing. Dependent measures were examined 0, 15, 30, 60, or 120 min after 30 min restraint. Compared to sham surgery, ADX produced a large upregulation of basal ACTH se...
Techniques to Identify Themes

Theme identification is one of the most fundamental tasks in qualitative research. It also is one of the most mysterious. Explicit descriptions of theme discovery are rarely found in articles and reports, and when they are, they are often relegated to appendices or footnotes. Techniques are shared among small groups of social scientists, but sharing is impeded by disciplinary or epistemological boundaries. The techniques described here are drawn from across epistemological and disciplinary boundaries. They include both observational and manipulative techniques and range from quick word counts to laborious, in-depth, line-by-line scrutiny. Techniques are compared on six dimensions: (1) appropriateness for data types, (2) required labor, (3) required expertise, (4) stage of analysis, (5) number and types of themes to be generated, and (6) issues of reliability and validity.
Trafficking Deficient KV11.1 (HERG) Mutations Linked to Long QT Syndrome Localize to Different Endoplasmic Reticulum Subcompartments

Type 2 Long QT syndrome (LQT2) is commonly caused by trafficking-deficient Kv11.1 missense mutations. The goal of this study is to determine the subcellular localization of different LQT2 mutations expressed in human inducible pluripotent stem cell derived cardiomyocytes (iPSC-CMs). iPSC-CMs transfected with the LQT2 mutation F805C showed an anti-Kv11.1 staining pattern that primarily consisted of several intracellular circles that overlapped with the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) associated degradation marker derlin-1, but not the rough ER marker calnexin, the transitional ER marker BAP31, the COPII vesicle marker Sec31, or the ER Golgi intermediate marker ERGIC-53. Incubating cells in the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib (10μM for 4 hrs) altered the F805C staining pattern from several circles to a largely diffuse intracellular pattern. We next studied the trafficking-deficient LQT2 mutation G601S, which, unlike F805C, has a trafficking-deficient phenotype that is corrected by culturing cells in drugs that bind to Kv11.1 and block IKr (e.g. the class III anti-arrhythmic E-4031). iPSC-CMs transfected with G601S showed a diffuse intracellular anti-Kv11.1 staining pattern that colocalized with BAP31, but not calnexin, Sec31, derlin-1 or ERGIC-53. Culturing cells in E-4031 (10μM for 24 hrs) decreased G601S colocalization with BAP31. We conclude that F805C and G601S expressed in iPSC-CMs localize to different ER subcompartments: F805C localizes to a proteasome-sensitive ER associated degradation subcompartment, whereas G601S is sequestered in the transitional ER subcompartment with BAP31.
Dynamic management of network risk from epidemic phenomena

Despite the recent popularity of analyzing epidemic phenomena over networks, the budgeted control and protection of networks from viral propagations is not widely understood. In this paper, we blend methods from control theory and robust optimization to create a framework for network protection from epidemic environments using a limited control budget. As our emphasis is on the application of these methods to realistic contexts, our approach is designed to work with arbitrary networks, and it incorporates both decentralization as well as robustness to uncertainties in network topology. We illustrate tradeoffs between efficiency, robustness, and decentralization with respect to network protection, and we discuss methods that could build upon our framework to mitigate these tradeoffs.
Characteristics and Correlates of Word Use in Physician-Patient Communication

Background Numerous studies have described and evaluated communication in healthcare contexts, but these studies have focused on broad content and complex units of behavior. Growing evidence reveals the predictive power and importance of precise linguistic characteristics of communication.
C-reactive protein: the best laboratory indicator available for monitoring disease activity

Recent technical advances in measurement of serum C-reactive protein (CRP) have made this laboratory test highly specific, sensitive, reproducible, quantitative, and easy and rapid to perform. Several studies have shown that serial and quantitative measurement of serum CRP can be very helpful in monitoring disease activity in a wide variety of clinical situations, and that CRP testing offers distinct advantages over testing for any of the other acute-phase reactants. CRP testing is superior to erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) measurements on clinical, scientific, and practical grounds, and it is strongly recommended that serious consideration be given to replacing ESR with CRP testing for monitoring disease activity.
Emission tuning of fluorescent kinase inhibitors: conjugation length and substituent effects.

Fluorescent N-phenyl-4-aminoquinazoline probes targeting the ATP-binding pocket of the ERBB family of receptor tyrosine kinases are reported. Extension of the aromatic quinazoline core with fluorophore “arms” through substitution at the 6- position of the quinazoline core with phenyl, styryl, and phenylbutadienyl moieties was predicted by means of TD-DFT calculations to produce probes with tunable photoexcitation energies and excited states possessing charge-transfer character. Optical spectroscopy identified several synthesized probes that are nonemissive in aqueous solutions and exhibit emission enhancements in solvents of low polarity, suggesting good performance as turn-on fluorophores. Ligand-induced ERBB2 phosphorylation assays demonstrate that despite chemical modification to the quinazoline core these probes still function as ERBB2 inhibitors in MCF7 cells. Two probes were found to exhibit ERBB2-induced fluorescence, demonstrating the utility of these probes as turn-on, fluoroescent kinase inhibitors.
LEAST SQUARE FE BASED MPD ALGORITHM FOR PRACTICAL MAGNETOPLASMA APPLICATIONS

The magnetoplasmadynamic (MPD) thruster is of significant interest to the high power in-space propulsion research initiative. This paper introduces a loosely-coupled computational method that combines the Galerkin Finite Element Method (GFEM) and the Least Squares Finite Element Method (LSFEM) that is applicable for designing practical self-field and applied-field MPD thruster. Theoretical development for a fully ionized single temperature computational model addresses potential understanding of geometric and parametric scales, and predictions of self-field magnetic effects. Documented results on practical twodimensional computational domain show the capability of the GFEM/LSFEM algorithm under different parametric design conditions. NOMENCLATURE bj- Local Magnetic Field (Weber/m2) B - Magnetic Field (Weber/m2) E-Electric Field (V/m) h - Enthalpy (J/kg) J- Current Density (A/m2) k - Thermal Conductivity (W/m-K) p - Pressure (Pa) R - Gas Constant (J/kg-K) T - Temperature (K) V - Velocity (m) p - Density (kg/m3) jLif - Fluid Viscosity (Pa-s) |io - Permeability of Free Space (W/A-m) Ec - Electron Charge (c) Im - Ion Mass (kg) Q - Hall Parameter Pn - Plasma Number Density (p/I Particles/m3) a - Electrical Conductivity (mho/m) 4 - Voltage (V)
Destruction of Diphtheria Toxin by Bacteria

Donaldson 2 in a study of septic gunshot wounds noted that, in cases where the salt bag treatment failed, no foul, pungent odor was emitted. Further investigation showed an anaerobe, which Donaldson called the "Reading Bacillus," to be the cause of the foul odor. This organism in pure culture was found capable of destroying diphtheria and tetanus toxins. Guinea-pigs were unharmed by 60 MLD of diphtheria toxin in which this organism had grown. Most workers consider the "Reading Bacillus" a strain of Clostridium sporogenes. Dernby 3 and his coworkers conclude that diphtheria toxin is produced by the action of proteolytic enzymes on the albumoses and peptones present in the medium. They think some of the primary split products constitute the toxin. It is felt by them that further proteolysis will disintegrate the toxin. These workers found that ". . . Bacillus pyocyaneus, Bacillus proteus, and others, destroy the toxin very rapidly." The diphtheria toxin used in these experiments was made by the method recommended by Dernby and David 4 with only minor modifications. In their procedure a veal-yeast-peptone medium with a PH value of 7.2 to 7.3 is used. The familiar Park 8 strain of Corynebacterium diphtheriae was used by us. The sterile toxin-filtrate preparation was mixed with sterile beef infusion-2% peptone broth (PH 7.4) in the proportion of one part of toxin solution to four parts of the peptonebeef extract broth. Tubes of this mixture were inoculated with cultures of the bacteria tested, while other tubes of the toxin-broth mixture were retained sterile as controls. All tubes were then incubated at 37 C. for
Clinical Dementia Rating Scores and Prediction of Mortality in Older Adults (P01.084)

Objective: To determine whether ratings on the Clinical Dementia Rating scale (CDR) are independently associated with mortality risk. Background In 2010, dementia was the sixth leading cause of death in older adults. Less is known about mortality risk associated with clinical ratings of dementia severity, especially when ratings are questionable or mild. Design/Methods: Participants took part in the Einstein Aging Study, a longitudinal study of aging and cognition in the Bronx, NY. We recruited a systematic sample of community-dwelling adults over age 70 and followed them annually with clinical evaluations and neuropsychological tests. Research neurologists completed the CDR for 1528 participants as part of the annual structured neurological examination. Mortality information was obtained from National Death Index and Social Security records. Using a CDR score of 0 (9no dementia9) as reference, Cox proportional hazards models estimated univariate hazard ratios (HR) for mortality associated with CDR scores of 0.5 (9questionable dementia9) and 1.0 (9mild dementia9). A series of nested models then progressively adjusted for age, sex and race/ethnicity, educational attainment and depressive symptoms, and self-reported hypertension and diabetes. Results: At baseline, 1055 (66%) participants were rated as CDR 0, 416 (27%) as CDR 0.5, and 90 (6%) as CDR 1.0. A total of 439 (28%) participants died during 12882 person-years of follow-up: 243 (24%) participants with CDR 0, 127 (31%) with CDR 0.5 and 55 (61%) with CDR 1.0. Univariate mortality risk was higher in those with CDR 0.5 (HR 1.43; 95% CI 1.12-1.83) and 1.0 (HR 2.76; 95% CI 1.90-3.99). In the fully-adjusted model, mortality risk for CDR 0.5 was attenuated (HR 1.25; 95% CI 0.97-1.61) but CDR 1.0 remained independently associated with mortality (HR 2.35; 95% CI 1.61-3.46). Age, male sex, depressive symptoms, and self-reported diabetes also independently predicted mortality. Conclusions: CDR scores of mild dementia were associated with increased mortality in our population. Supported by: The Einstein Aging Study is funded by the National Institutes of Health: NIH NIA AG03949 (PI: RBL). Dr. Sanders is funded by NCRR UL1 RR025750/ KL2 RR025749/ TL1 RR025748. The funding organizations had no role in the design and conduct of the study, in the collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of the data, or in the preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript. Disclosure: Dr. Sanders has nothing to disclose.
A NEW ASSAY FOR α-AMYLASE ISOZYMES USING γ-CYCLODEXTRIN AS SUBSTRATE

Our previous finding that γ-cyclodextrin is hydrolyzed by human pancreatic α-amylase 3 times more rapidly than by human salivary α-amy-lase led us to the development of a new differential assay for human α-amylase isozymes. The assay is based on the measurement of α-amylase activity in a sample by the use of two α-amylase assay methods, one of which utilizes γ-cyclodextrin as substrate.
A Fast-running CFD Formulation for Unsteady Ship Maneuvering Performance Prediction

Maneuvering prediction tools are important resources for naval and commercial ship designers. They can enable designers to determine maneuvering characteristics of a design prior to construction or be useful in redesign if a ship is underperforming. Numerical methods allow for multiple hulls to be compared digitally, so a certain level of optimization can be achieved through evaluating trade-offs among designs before construction. In this paper, a novel maneuvering prediction method is presented that seeks to provide the accuracy available from today state-of-the-art numerical viscous-flow tools but with significantly reduced computational cost. The numerical formulation is based on the unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (URANS) equations, and the unsteady ship generated waves are represented by the linear free-surface boundary conditions. The URANS equations are solved on an unstructured finite-volume discretization of the fluid domain around the hull and its appendages. The linearized free-surface approximation accounts for first-order wave effects while reducing the necessary extent of the computational domain and level of grid refinement required by fully nonlinear methods that employ an interface-capturing technique. The resulting formulation provides a marked improvement in computational efficiency with respect to nonlinear methods and can empower naval architects to obtain accurate results earlier in the design process.
Activities of a Clostridium difficile infection reduction team.

Clostridium difficile is the most common cause of infectious health-care-associated diarrhea.[1][1] The mortality rate due to colitis secondary to C. difficile infection ( CDI) is as high as 30% during an outbreak.[2][2] Treatment options for CDI are limited; therefore, it remains paramount to
Charting Digital Literacy: A Framework for Information Technology and Digital Skills Education in the Community College

The understanding of information technologies and past efforts to assess, improve, and correlate technology skills with student success have sometimes been limited by a lack of an interdisciplinary approach or consideration of the unique needs of community college student and staff populations. This study identifies core literacy areas of digital technologies by synthesizing a comprehensive review of the digital and technology literacies literature within the education, policy, technology studies, media studies, and communications disciplines. To guide further research of technology education within the community college, a framework to assess digital literacy skills within the community college environment is proposed and discussed.The understanding of information technologies and past efforts to assess, improve, and correlate technology skills with student success have sometimes been limited by a lack of an interdisciplinary approach or consideration of the unique needs of community college student and staff populations. This study identifies core literacy areas of digital technologies by synthesizing a comprehensive review of the digital and technology literacies literature within the education, policy, technology studies, media studies, and communications disciplines. To guide further research of technology education within the community college, a framework to assess digital literacy skills within the community college environment is proposed and discussed.
Reading Northrop Frye Reading François Rabelais

"In looking at the several points of contact between Frye and Rabelais, we have perhaps gained a better understanding of Frye’s statement that “Rabelais is probably the writer who most clearly grasped all the dimensions of language and verbal communication” (CW 6: 458). The points of contact between Frye and Rabelais—giantism, allegory, linear rhythm, the passage from oracle to wit, the movement of creative descent, the nature of the anatomy as a prose form—help us to understand at least some of the reasons why Rabelais was such a compelling writer for Frye, who was fascinated by encyclopedic works."
The predictive accuracy of staging transurethral resection of the prostate in the management of stage A cancer of the prostate: A comparative evaluation

AbstractThe role of staging transurethral resection of the prostate in the management of stage A prostate cancer is controversial. The accuracy of staging transurethral resection, A1/A2 substaging and probability of progression tables for predicting cancer progression was evaluated in untreated patients with stage A adenocarcinoma of the prostate who were followed for at least 5 years. Survival free of disease was predicted correctly in 93% of 52 patients who underwent staging transurethral resection of the prostate, 92% of 96 with the probability tables and in 85% of 96 using a common criteria for A1 and A2 substaging. Staging transurethral resection of the prostate upgraded patient risk in 7% of the low risk patients predicted by the probability tables and 14% of the stage Al cancer patients. Staging transurethral prostatectomy and the probability of progression tables were more accurate in predicting survival free of disease than the A1/A2 substaging system. Comparison of the predictive accuracy of sta...
Cytosolic pH regulation in osteoblasts.

The process of bone formation depends on an optimal alkaline pH in the extracellular milieu surrounding the osteoblast. To the extent that ionic composition of an extracellular environment is determined by events taking place inside the cell, it is conceivable that the pH in the fluid outside the osteoblast is affected by cytosolic pH (pHi) regulation by these cells. Under HEPES-buffered conditions, the main pH regulatory mechanism is the ubiquitous acid-extruding mechanism, Na+/H+ exchange. However, under the more physiologic HCO3- environment, one can identify three additional acid-bone transporters: Na(+)-independent Cl-/HCO3- exchanger, Na+(HCO3-)3 cotransporter, and HCO(3-)-conductive pathway. In addition to their role in regulation of pHi in the osteoblast, these transporters also play a role in volume regulation of these cells both under hypertonic conditions (regulatory volume increase) and during osmotic swelling (regulatory volume decrease). Second messengers produced by calciotropic hormones (e.g. cytosolic Ca2+, cAMP) regulate the activity of Na+/H+ exchanger and Cl-/HCO3- exchanger.
Hypertension in pregnancy.

SUMMARY Blood pressure; extracellular fluid volume; renal plasma flow; glomerular filtration rate; plasma concentrations of renin, angiotensin, aldosterone, desoxycorticosterone, and prostaglandins; responses to infused angiotensin; and many other factors are altered during normal and hypertensive gestation. The diagnosis of the exact disease process responsible for hypertension in pregnancy in an individual patient is extremely difficult if based solely on clinical criteria. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has suggested the following clinical classifications: (1) preeclampsia-eclampsia, (2) chronic hypertension of whatever cause, (3) chronic hypertension with superimposed preeclampsia, and (4) late or transient hypertension. The three broad categories of renal disease responsible for these clinical syndromes are: (1) preeclampsia-eclampsia, (2) hypertensive changes, and (3) various primary renal diseases. Controversy abounds regarding the aggressiveness of therapy in this syndrome. We prefer a middle-of-the-road approach, bringing blood pressure down to the range of 95 to 100 mm Hg. Hydralazine and Aldomet are the usual drugs of choice. Any intervening nervous system hyperexcitability suggests impending eclampsia and should be immediately treated with magnesium sulfate. The long-term prognosis for the mother with pure preeclampsia appears to be excellent. Most infants born of hypertensive gestations are small for date, with a prognosis that is also affected by the underlying disease of the mother.
Learning from the Leaders: Gene Regulation by the Transcription Termination Factor Rho

The RNA helicase Rho triggers 20–30% of transcription termination events in bacteria. While Rho is associated with most transcription elongation complexes, it only promotes termination of a subset. Recent studies of individual Rho-dependent terminators located within the 5′ leader regions of bacterial mRNAs have identified novel mechanisms that govern Rho target specificity and have revealed unanticipated physiological functions for Rho. In particular, the multistep nature of Rho-dependent termination enables regulatory input from determinants beyond the sequence of the Rho loading site, and allows a given Rho-dependent terminator to respond to multiple signals. Further, the unique position of Rho as a sensor of cellular translation has been exploited to regulate the transcription of genes required for protein synthesis, including those specifying Mg 2+ transporters.
Design and expected performance of a fast neutron attenuation probe for light element density measurements

Abstract We present the design and expected performance of a proof-of-concept 32 channel material identification system. Our system is based on the energy-dependent attenuation of fast neutrons for four elements: hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen and oxygen. We describe a new approach to obtaining a broad range of neutron energies to probe a sample, as well as our technique for reconstructing the molar densities within a sample. The system's performance as a function of time-of-flight energy resolution is explored using a Geant4-based Monte Carlo. Our results indicate that, with the expected detector response of our system, we will be able to determine the molar density of all four elements to within a 20–30% accuracy in a two hour scan time. In many cases this error is systematically low, thus the ratio between elements is more accurate. This degree of accuracy is enough to distinguish, for example, a sample of water from a sample of pure hydrogen peroxide: the ratio of oxygen to hydrogen is reconstructed to within 8±0.5% of the true value. Finally, with future algorithm development that accounts for backgrounds caused by scattering within the sample itself, the accuracy of molar densities, not ratios, may improve to the 5–10% level for a two hour scan time.
Back to Africa Movement

The desire to return to Africa has remained a persistent theme in the social and political imagination of Africans and their descendants who were forcibly removed from the continent. This impulse and its organizational outlets can be traced from the founding of the West African colonies of Sierra Leone in 1787 and Liberia in 1819, and in the emigrationist movements of Paul Cuffe, Martin Delany, Chief Alfred Sam, Marcus Garvey, and others. Although Back to Africa movements have subsided in recent decades, the impulse to return to the African “homeland” persists, as is vividly illustrated in “roots” tourism in Ghana. Keywords: Africa; African American; diaspora
Late Effects of Treatment and Palliative Care

Identifying late effects of treatment and integrating palliative care when appropriate are increasingly recognized as important elements of childhood tumor management. Patients with CNS tumors are at a high risk for mortality, and survivors have high morbidity rates related to the late effects of treatment. While intensified therapy has improved average 5-year survival in patients with pediatric brain tumors to 73 % (Ostrom et al. 2014) from less than 60 % in 1975–1979 (Linabery and Ross 2008), it has also increased the long-term consequences. Survivors may develop a spectrum of late effects ranging from subtle memory loss and cosmetic anomalies to severe neurological disabilities and recurrent neoplasms. While seemingly quite different, both palliative and late-effects care focus on improving quality of life for patients and need to be integrated into the overall care plan.
Introduction: Can Transcendence be Found in Things?

This book is about many questions: God, time, and the search by human beings for God in time and space. As Coleridge said of George Berkeley, the philosopher and bishop, because the topic reaches from ‘tar-water, ends with the Trinity, the omne scibile forming the interspace,’1 carrying a map or fixing upon a geophysical satellite might be useful as readers travel through the terrain. In the foreground I will examine the ways in which metaphors for time function in the natural sciences and theology or religious studies.2 But I will aim for a view of God and divine action in our world that includes, rather than excludes, all of creation – from the formation of metals and planets to human beings. To complete these tasks will require some clarity about notions of metaphor, changing notions of temporality in the sciences, and Christian theology. If it has been chronically painful for theology since the nineteenth century to become privatized, relegated to personal experience or intimate interpersonal interactions, this book hopes to be some remedy.
The Ebola Crisis and the Corresponding Public Behavior: A System Dynamics Approach.

Background The interaction of several sociocultural and environmental factors during an epidemic crisis leads to behavioral responses that consequently make the crisis control a complex problem. Methods The system dynamics approach has been adopted to study the relationships between spread of disease, public attention, situational awareness, and community's response to the Ebola epidemic. Results In developing different simulation models to capture the trend of death and incidence data from the World Health Organization for the Ebola outbreak, the final model has the best fit to the historical trends. Results demonstrate that the increase of quarantining rate over time due to increase in situational awareness and performing safe burials had a significant impact on the control of epidemic. However, public attention did not play a significant role. Conclusion The best fit to historical data are achieved when behavioral factors specific to West Africa like studying the Situational Awareness and Public Attention are included in the model. However, by ignoring the sociocultural factors, the model is not able to represent the reality; therefore, in the case of any epidemics, it is necessary that all the parties and community members find the most significant behavioral factors that can curb the epidemic.
Rate equation analysis of strongly injection-locked cascaded semiconductor ring lasers with modulated master laser

A novel method for modulation bandwidth enhancement is presented, involving strongly injection-locked cascaded whistle-geometry semiconductor ring lasers. Advantages of direct modulation of the master laser are revealed through numerical modeling.
Sources: A code for calculating (alpha, n), spontaneous fission, and delayed neutron sources and spectra

Abstract SOURCES is a computer code that determines neutron production rates and spectra from (alpha, n) reactions, spontaneous fission, and delayed neutron emission due to the decay of radionuclides in homogeneous media, interface problems, and three-region interface problems. The code is also capable of calculating the neutron production rates due to (alpha, n) reactions induced by a monoenergetic beam of alpha particles incident on a slab of target material. The (alpha, n) spectra are calculated using an assumed isotropic angular distribution in the center-of-mass system with a library of 107 nuclide decay alpha-particle spectra, 24 sets of measured and/or evaluated (alpha, n) cross sections and product nuclide level branching fractions, and functional alpha particle stopping cross sections for Z
Expanding Use of cfDNA Screening in Pregnancy: Current and Emerging Ethical, Legal, and Social Issues

Purpose of Review In 2011, screening platforms became available in the US that detect and analyze fragments of cell-free placental DNA (cfDNA) in maternal blood serum. Marketed as noninvasive prenatal tests (NIPT), cfDNA screening is more accurate than previously available serum screening tests for certain aneuploidies. The combination of a noninvasive procedure, high specificity and sensitivity, and lower false positive rates for some aneuploidies (most notably Down’s syndrome) has led to broad clinician and patient adoption. New ethical, legal, and social issues arise from the increased use and expanded implementation of cfDNA in pregnancy.
Impact of structured teaching programme (STP) on knowledge regarding prevention of protein energy malnutrition (PEM) among the mothers of under–five children at a selected community area, Bhubaneswar,Odisha, India

A Quasi experimental design was conducted among the mothers of under-five children to assess the effectiveness of structured teaching programme (STP) on knowledge regarding prevention of protein energy malnutrition. An evaluative approach with one group pre test and post test design was used for the study.60 samples were selected by purposive sampling technique method through the closed ended multiple choice questionnaire. The present study was conducted in Sitanatha basti area,Niladrivihar Bhubaneswar,Odisha.The data were analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistics A significant difference between pre test & post test knowledge was found (t=59,p≤0.05). The study findings showed that the STP was effective in improving the knowledge of mothers of under-five children regarding prevention of PEM. There was no significant association between the level of knowledge & demographic variables
The effect of schwa duration on pre-schwa mid-vowel lowering in French

In Southern French, mid vowels are lowered in open syllables before schwa and in closed syllables. I propose that mid-vowel lowering is a strategy to enhance the perceptibility of a following consonant lacking good release cues. Open syllables followed by schwa behave like closed syllables and not like open syllables followed by a full vowel because, as a short vowel, schwa does not provide long enough release transitions to adequately cue a preceding consonant. This study provides evidence that the likelihood of lowering pre-schwa mid vowels decreases as schwa duration increases, in accordance with the perceptual hypothesis. The effect of schwa duration on mid vowel quality is derived in a model of phonology allowing for speaker-specific details of phonetic realization to influence phonotactics.
Optics with Metasurfaces: Beyond Refractive and Diffractive Optics

Flat optics based-on metasurfaces has the potential to replace/complement conventional refractive/diffractive components. In this talk, we give an overview of our works on dielectric-metasurfaces, which have led to high performance components in the visible spectrum.
Probate and Succession Administration: Selected Issues

These materials have been prepared as part of LSU's annual Estate Planning Seminar. The materials consider complicated and unique issues that sometimes arise during estate administration including missing heirs, underage heirs, insolvent estates, and broken title.