cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Diagnosis of Streptococcus canis periprosthetic joint infection: the utility of next-generation sequencing.

Abstract A 62-year-old man who had undergone a primary knee arthroplasty 3 years earlier, presented to the emergency department with an infected prosthesis. He underwent prosthesis resection. All cultures failed to identify the infecting organism. Analysis of the intraoperative samples by next-generation sequencing revealed Streptococcus canis (an organism that resides in the oral cavity of dogs). It was later discovered that the patient had sustained a dog scratch injury several days earlier. The patient reports that his dog had licked the scratch. Treatment was delivered based on the sensitivity of S. canis , and the patient has since undergone reimplantation arthroplasty.
Ordering reaction in cobalt-platinum alloys

The order-disorder phenomenon in alloys near CoPt composition was studied during the progress of the ordering reaction. The changes in hardness, electrical resistance, X-ray diffraction, and microstructure which accompany the transformation at various temperatures were found to be similar to those characteristic of conventional heterogeneous precipitation reactions. The transformation is discussed in terms of four distinct processes which can appear in the reaction.
The United Nations as Actor of Governance

This chapter describes how the preferences of the United Nations evolved quite independently of the Swiss initiative and how they were shaped by the highly institutionalized anti-mercenary norm. An international treaty aimed at setting the highest standards for PMSCs but failed to gain support. Key events created continuity and change, such as the Iraq war, the UN Baghdad bombing, and the reform of the Human Rights bodies. Narratives and tables illustrate how the United Nations gradually shifted to accept the distinction between “mercenaries” and PMSCs.
From Learned Profession to Policy Science: A Trend Analysis of Sociology in the Medical Education of the United States

During the first half of this century, medical education in the United States was preoccupied with the establishment of scientific medicine as the basis of the professional training of physicians. In the process, the populist, Jacksonian-democracy spirit of the frontier gave way to the elitist, science-oriented standards of the English and German universities, and the independent proprietary medical schools of the nineteenth century were almost totally replaced by university medical schools.
MONTE CARLO ELECTRON DOSE CALCULATIONS USING DISCRETE SCATTERING ANGLES AND DISCRETE ENERGY LOSSES

We present a computationally efficient single event Monte Carlo approach for calculating dose from electrons. Analog elastic scattering and inelastic energy-loss differential cross sections for ele...
A Novel Technique for the Extraction of Depth Information by Gradient Analysis on Grayscale Images

A technique specifically designed for 3D surface reconstruction of human face in a single grayscale image was developed based on the principle of Shape from Shading (SFS). Lambertian reflectance model was used to obtain the surface gradient information contained in the intensity image. The surface depth was computed by direct integration of surface gradients. The X and Y components of surface gradients were determined based on the assumption that the direction of surface gradient is parallel to the image intensity gradient. In order to determine the signs of the X and Y components of surface gradients, the analysis of image intensity and face detection technique were used to provide the position of critical points based on the 3D characteristics of human face. This algorithm has been applied to synthetic face images with light source direction along z axis, and the reconstructed 3D human face was obtained with good accuracy and high speed. The result produced by our algorithm was also compared with those of other SFS algorithms. The performance of the proposed algorithm indicates that the new concept of combining face detection with SFS will be a promising and useful technique for recovering 3D faces from grayscale images.
Histologic Classification of Ovarian Tumors

One of the prerequisites for comparative studies is agreement on histologic criteria for the classification of cancer types and a standardized nomenclature. All too often different terms are used for the same pathologic entity, and indeed the same term is sometimes applied to lesions of different types. It is most important to have an internationally accepted classification of tumor. A committee of the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) formulated a classification of the common epithelial tumors of the ovary, and more recently a group of pathologists appointed by the World Health Organization (WHO) suggested a classification. WHO currently lists 19 cell types and 27 subtypes for benign and malignant primary ovarian tumors based on histogenesis. The histogenetic classification has provided a parameter by which to judge prognosis. Unfortunately, it has not been applicable to all ovarian tumors. Approximately 90% of ovarian carcinomas originate from the epithelial (mesothelial cells) surface of the ovary. These classifications are presented in this chapter.
Flow patterns and plug/slug flow characteristic of R134a in a 0.643 mm microchannel tube

Abstract This paper presents visualization of the two-phase flow of R134a in a 24-port microchannel tube with the average hydraulic diameter of 0.643 mm. The experiment is conducted on the same facility in the previous work for R32 (Li and Hrnjak, 2019). Mass flux covers the range from 50 to 250 kg-m−2s−1. The two-phase flow is generated by adding heat in several steps to originally subcooled refrigerant at the very entrance. When mass flux is 50 kg-m−2s−1, no annular flow is observed in the tube. The annular flow starts at x = 0.9 when mass flux is 100 kg-m−2s−1 and x = 0.6 when 250 kg-m−2s−1. The transitional flow starts at x = 0.25 (G = 50 kg-m−2s−1) and x = 0.8 (250 kg-m−2s−1). Revellin and Thome (2007), Ong and Thome (2011), and Zhao and Hu (2000) correlations are plotted against the measurements. None of them fit our data since the experiment is in lower mass flux than the database of their correlations’. The interface velocity and vapor plug length fraction (close to void fraction) are measured from the high speed videos. The velocity and vapor fraction agree to results based on the homogeneous assumption. In plug/slug flow, both the vapor plug and liquid slug lengths are uneven. The length distribution of plug and slug seems to follow Beta distribution. When the quality is low, the quantity of short vapor plugs is larger than long plugs. At fixed mass flux, when quality increases, length of vapor plugs increases and length of liquid slugs decreases.
Rebuilding Tertiary Education in Guinea-Bissau: Can it be done?

This article evaluates the potential for rebuilding tertiary education in Guinea-Bissau focusing on the reconstitution of the Universidade Amilcar Cabral, the operations of Universidade Lusofona da Guine, and the development of the Bissau Campus Project through the West African Vocational Schools (WAVS) project. The article considers available resources and contextual constraints in the face of underdevelopment, structural violence, neo-colonialism, and a context-specific educational legacy. In the face of considerable barriers to rebuilding tertiary education in Guinea-Bissau, how can it be done? Achievements in other contexts, and specific recommendations for Guinea-Bissau, are aggregated to demonstrate how collaborating stakeholders can amalgamate knowledge and develop viable educational programs that are contextually sensitive, appropriate, and sustainable.
Heat Shock Proteins

Heat-shock proteins (HSPs) are a large family of genes that play critical roles in normal cellular function and respond to stress signals. For example, the HSP90 family facilitates the formation of the steroid receptor complex, the HSP70 family mediates protein synthesis, its translocation and folding, whereas the HSP60 family provides stability to proteins. In contrast, members of the small HSPs family include HSP32 or heme oxygenase-1, HSP27, HSP22, and HSP20. Of these HSP32 is most relevant to toxicology as it is induced by an incredibly diverse variety of stressors, including hypoxia, ischemia-reperfusion, hydrogen peroxide, heavy metals (selenium, arsenite, cadmium), and a wide variety of drugs and chemicals (acetaminophen, carbon tetrachloride). Induction of these proteins has been reported in toxicant-exposed cells committed to apoptosis, necrosis, and anoikis. Upregulation of HSP32 has been suggested to be protective against several insults although its precise mechanism(s) of action remain unclear. While primarily recognized for their role in protein folding and chaperoning, HSPs participate in a diverse range of cellular activities, including autophagy, synaptic transmission, endoplasmic stress, and cell death signaling. HSPs also play roles in immunity mechanisms, cardiovascular physiology, inflammation, and cellular senescence. Newer nomenclature of this important family of proteins is covered.
Theremin in the Press: Instrument remediation and code-instrument transduction

This article shows how the theremin as a new musical medium enacted a double logic throughout its century-old techno-cultural life. On the one hand, in an attempt to be a ‘better’ instrument, the theremin imitated or remediated traditional musical instruments and in this way affirmed the musical values these instruments materialised; simultaneously, by being a new and different medium, with unprecedented flexibility for designing sound and human–machine interaction, it eroded and challenged these same values and gradually enacted change. On the other hand, the theremin inadvertently inaugurated a practice of musical instrument circulation using electronics schematics that allowed for the instrument’s reproduction, starting with the publication of schematics and tutorials in amateur electronics magazines and which can be seen as a predecessor to today’s circulation of open source code. This circulation practice, which I call instrument-code transduction, emerged from and was amplified by the fame the theremin obtained using its touchless interface to imitate or remediate traditional musical instruments, and in turn, this circulation practice has kept the instrument alive throughout the decades. Thus remediation and code-instrument transduction are not just mutually dependent, but are in fact, two interdependent processes of the same media phenomenon. Drawing from early reactions to the theremin documented in the press, from new media theory, and from publications in amateur electronics, this article attempts to use episodes from the history of the theremin to understand the early and profound changes that electric technologies brought to the concept of musical instruments at large.
A bio-inspired sound source localization sensor with internal coupling

The mechanism of using internal coupling to enhance directional hearing has been found in various animals across multiple length scales, including crickets, lizards, frogs, birds, and alligators. For each eardrum, the acoustic stimuli impinge not only on the front side but also on the opposing side via the connecting cavity. The combination of these two stimuli renders a much higher directional sensitivity than the case with two uncoupled independent receivers. Inspired by this mechanism found in Nature, here we present a bio-inspired sound source localization sensor which consists of two pre-tensioned membranes on a three-dimensional printed housing. The vibration of the two membranes is detected by a low coherence fiber optic interferometric system. The experimental results from this prototype will be demonstrated to validate the feasibility of developing miniature bio-inspired devices for sound source localization.
Kids on Earth: A unique learning tool for the 21st century

Kids on Earth is a free online collection of interviews with children and teenagers, 8 years old to 15 years old, living around the world and sharing details about their lives, hopes, dreams, and i...
Physical Examination and Diagnosis

Although there is a sense of urgency when a child presents to the dental office or emergency department with a traumatic dental injury, it is essential that thorough documentation is made of the event, treatment, and follow-up. It is recommended that a trauma assessment form be used to provide consistency and to minimize the risk of missing vital information. Often, the injury may result in litigation at a later date, so having detailed documentation of the accident, the clinical findings, and the treatment recommendations is critical. Whenever possible, clinical photographs and radiographs should be made to aid in the documentation of the injury. Early in the assessment, the dentist must determine if the injuries are serious enough to warrant referral to the emergency department. This is done by completing a neurologic evaluation of each of the cranial nerves. For young children or children with developmental disabilities, the child’s reaction may be difficult to assess.
To Evangelize the Poor

In this essay, I will examine the scriptural basis for Origen’s interpretation of Luke 4:18-19 as an allusion to Jesus’ identity as savior, not as a call to social justice. I argue that this interpretation is consistent with the intentions of the gospel writer. The essay begins with an analysis of the gospel writer’s redaction of Mark 1 in Luke 3-5. Based on that redaction, I hypothesize that Luke intends to emphasize Jesus’s identity with the anointed one mentioned in Isaiah 61:1-2. This excerpt from Isaiah not only gives Luke 4:18-19 its Christological significance but also clarifies Luke’s understanding of poverty in relation to the Gospel. I then examine Origen’s application of the Lucan passage for his pastoral purposes. To conclude, I suggest that we, like Luke and Origen, read Scripture Christocentrically in order to better facilitate the church’s encounter with Christ during the liturgy.
aPTT Versus Anti Xa Monitoring of Unfractionated Heparin - a Retrospective Review of Clinical Outcomes

Abstract Abstract 4391 In May 2008, The William W. Backus Hospital changed the unfractionated heparin dosing protocol and the monitoring parameter for the treatment of thromboembolic disease. The original protocol utilized the Rashke's method (Bolus dose 80 units/kg and initial infusion of 18 units/kg/hour) monitored with aPTT (Therapeutic range 61–80.9 seconds). The newer protocol is a novel model utilizing a bolus dose of 26 units/kg and initial infusion rate of 15 units/kg/hour, calculated using the methodology designed by Rosbourough et al monitored with anti-Xa (Therapeutic range 0.3–0.7 anti Xa units). This is a retrospective study comparing of the efficacy and safety of each protocol. Methods: Data abstraction was completed through electronic medical record review of two hundred patients. Time point 0 was the date of changing to the new protocol. One hundred patients in reverse chronological order were reviewed for the original protocol and one hundred patients in chronological order with the new protocol. Data included demographics, duration of time prior to achieving therapeutic parameters, number of dosage changes, diagnosis of cancer, bleeding events and recurrent thrombotic events. Unpaired Student t tests were utilized to statistically analyze the differences between the cohorts. Results: Rashke Method Rosbourough Method Recurrence Rate 3% 9% Cancer Diagnosis in Recurrent TE 2/3 (67%) 2/9 (22%) Mean Age 61.7 (range 51–70) 61.6 (range 35–90) Mean Weight males (kg) 86.5 (range 77–96) 88.64 (range 81–101.2) Mean Weight females (kg) 103.2 (one patient) 76.2 (range 51–94.5) Initial VTE provoked 1/3 (33%) 1/9 (33%) Genetic Predisposition 1/3 (33%) 1/9 (11%) Days to Recurrent VTE (mean) 17.3 days 17.4 days Mean Time Spent Subtherapeutic range within first 24 hours 5 hours 2.83 hours Conclusion: Both methodologies achieved therapeutic levels rapidly. The Rosbourough method required statistically significant less dosage changes when compared to the Rashke method. The incidence of major and minor bleeding was similar between the two dosing algorithms. Although not statistically significant, the incidence of recurrent thromboses was numerically higher with the Rosbourough method compared to Rashke method. This is concerning and suggests that the higher loading dose may be more appropriate. A prospective comparison of these two monitoring methods using Rashke dosing is planned. Disclosures: Off Label Use: Discuss alternative dosing and anti Xa monitoring of unfractionated heparin infusion.
Applicability of Unconventional Intersection Designs Over Pretimed Signalized Intersection Design Along a Coordinated Corridor

The focus of this research is on evaluating the performance of three unconventional intersection designs [Michigan U-turn (MUT), superstreet, and continuous green T-intersection (CGT)] over existing pretimed signalized intersection design along Highway 49 in the city of Charlotte, North Carolina, USA. MUT and superstreet intersection designs eliminate the left turns from side streets and replaces them with a combination of right-turn and U-turn movement. However, in the case of CGT, a separate continuous lane is provided for the through movement at one of the approaches of the intersection. Ten signalized intersections were identified along the selected study corridor. A base model was developed using Synchro/SimTraffic traffic simulation software and validated by comparing traffic volumes (provided as input vs. simulated) and through visual audits. Underperforming intersections were identified along the study corridor and were replaced with the aforementioned unconventional intersection designs. Performance measures, such as the total vehicle delay, the total delay per vehicle, and the total number of stops, were computed and compared with the existing condition. The results obtained indicate that the selected unconventional designs are not applicable at all considered intersections. The use of unconventional intersection designs could reduce the average delay per vehicle at the corridor level. However, the use of unconventional intersection designs could result in an increase in the total number of stops at the corridor level. The findings and recommendations from this research help practitioners assess the applicability of the selected unconventional intersection designs over the conventional pretimed signalized intersection design.
Environmental features associated with trapping success of mongoose (Herpestes auropunctatus) in eastern Puerto Rico

Invasive predators are among the most detrimental biological invaders of island ecosystems. However, information detailing the effectiveness of trapping for these invasive species is often underreported. Here, we quantified the influence of environmental features on mongoose (Herpestes auropunctatus) trapping success across five forest types in eastern Puerto Rico. Specifically, we evaluated how canopy and understory cover, woody debris, proximity metrics, and elevation influenced the likelihood of capturing a mongoose at a trap location. The likelihood increased in habitats that were farther from rivers (P = 0.003), farther from recreation areas (P = 0.06), closer to trails (P = 0.11), and closer to coastal shoreline (P = 0.01). Optimizing capture success via trap placement can help reduce both trapping effort and costs. Thus, our results can be used to prioritize locations for future trapping as a means to improve capture success.
Buprenorphine Induction Simulation: Focus on Patient Safety and Quality Care

Abstract Background Provider education for medication-assisted treatment (MAT) primarily relies on didactic instruction. Clinical simulation that enhances the ability of advanced practice nurses (APRNs) is needed to effectively and safely implement MAT. Method We developed and conducted a pilot study of a MAT clinical simulation designed to enhance patient safety and increase MAT competency. Results Clinical simulation improved APRN preparedness to effectively implement MAT. In addition, students indicated increased self-efficacy and better understanding of patient safety. Conclusions Clinical simulation is an innovative way to teach APRN students to effectively implement buprenorphine treatment while ensuring patient safety.
Can Morphology Predict the Conservation Status of Iguanian Lizards

The integrity of regional and local biological diversity is under siege as a result of multiple anthropogenic threats. The conversion of habitats, such as rain forests, into agricultural ecosystems, reduces the area available to support species populations. Rising temperatures and altered rainfall patterns lead to additional challenges for species. The ability of conservation biologists to ascertain the threats to a species requires data on changes in distribution, abundance, life history, and ecology. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) uses these data to appraise the extinction risk for a species. However, many species remain data deficient (DD) or unassessed. Here, I use 14 morphological traits related to locomotor function, habitat, and feeding to predict the threat status of over 400 species of lizards in the infraorder Iguania. Morphological traits are an ideal proxy for making inferences about a species' risk of extinction. Patterns of morphological covariation have a known association with habitat use, foraging behavior, and physiological performance across multiple taxa. Results from phylogenetic general linear models revealed that limb lengths as well as head characters predicted extinction risk. In addition, I used an artificial neural network (ANN) technique to generate a classification function based on the morphological traits of species with an assigned IUCN threat status. The network approach identified eight morphological traits as predictors of extinction risk, which included head and limb characters. The best supported model had a classification accuracy of 87.4%. Moreover, the ANN model predicted >18% of DD/not assessed species were at risk of extinction. The predicted assessments were supported by other sources of threat status, for example, Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species appendices. Because of the functional link between morphology, performance, and ecology, an ecomorphological approach may be a useful tool for rapid assessment of DD or poorly known species.
Everything is fine! Using “The Good Place” to teach administrative ethics

Creating an engaging and educational experience in an ethics class can be difficult. But media, such as TV and movies, can supplement ethics education in public administration. For this study, I us...
Single-blind test of airplane-based hyperspectral methane detection via controlled releases

Methane leakage from point sources in the oil and gas industry is a major contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions. The vast majority of such emissions come from a small fraction of "super-emitting" sources which, once detected, can generally be fixed at relatively low cost. We evaluate the emission detection and quantification capabilities of Kairos Aerospace’s airplane-based hyperspectral imaging methane emission detection system. In blinded controlled releases of methane conducted over four days in San Joaquin County, California, USA, Kairos detected 182 of 200 valid nonzero releases, including all 173 over 8 mcfd(CH$_4$) per mile per hour (mph) of wind and none of the 8 nonzero releases below 4 mcfd(CH$_4$)/mph. There were no false positives: Kairos did not detect methane during any of the 19 negative controls. Plume quantification accuracy depends on the wind measurement technique, with a parity slope of 1.15 ($\sigma$=0.037, $R^2$=0.84, N=185) using a cup-based wind meter and 1.45 ($\sigma$=0.059, $R^2$=0.80, N=157) using an ultrasonic anemometer. Quantification error scales roughly as a fixed percentage of emission size. These findings suggest that at 5 mph winds under favorable environmental conditions in the US, Kairos could detect over 50% of total emissions by identifying super-emitting sources.
Smart Linear Algebraic Operations for Efficient Gaussian Markov Improvement Algorithm

This paper studies computational improvement of the Gaussian Markov improvement algorithm (GMIA) whose underlying response surface model is a Gaussian Markov random field (GMRF). GMIA’s computational bottleneck lies in the sampling decision, which requires factorizing and inverting a sparse, but large precision matrix of the GMRF at every iteration. We propose smart GMIA (sGMIA) that performs expensive linear algebraic operations intermittently, while recursively updating the vectors and matrices necessary to make sampling decisions for several iterations in between. The latter iterations are much cheaper than the former at the beginning, but their costs increase as the recursion continues and ultimately surpass the cost of the former. sGMIA adaptively decides how long to continue the recursion by minimizing the average per-iteration cost. We perform a floating-point operation analysis to demonstrate the computational benefit of sGMIA. Experiment results show that sGMIA enjoys computational efficiency while achieving the same search effectiveness as GMIA.
Hippocrates: healing persistent memory bugs without doing any harm

Persistent memory (PM) technologies aim to revolutionize storage systems, providing persistent storage at near-DRAM speeds. Alas, programming PM systems is error-prone, as the misuse or omission of the durability mechanisms (i.e., cache flushes and memory fences) can lead to durability bugs (i.e., unflushed updates in CPU caches that violate crash consistency). PM-specific testing and debugging tools can help developers find these bugs, however even with such tools, fixing durability bugs can be challenging. To determine the reason behind this difficulty, we first study durability bugs and find that although the solution to a durability bug seems simple, the actual reasoning behind the fix can be complicated and time-consuming. Overall, the severity of these bugs coupled with the difficultly of developing fixes for them motivates us to consider automated approaches to fixing durability bugs. We introduce Hippocrates, a system that automatically fixes durability bugs in PM systems. Hippocrates automatically performs the complex reasoning behind durability bug fixes, relieving developers of time-consuming bug fixes. Hippocrates’s fixes are guaranteed to be safe, as they are guaranteed to not introduce new bugs (“do no harm”). We use Hippocrates to automatically fix 23 durability bugs in realworld and research systems. We show that Hippocrates produces fixes that are functionally equivalent to developer fixes. We then show that solely using Hippocrates’s fixes, we can create a PM port of Redis which has performance rivaling and exceeding the performance of a manually-developed PM-port of Redis.
Recommendations for acceleration of vaccine development and emergency use filings for COVID-19 leveraging lessons from the novel oral polio vaccine

A new oral polio vaccine, nOPV2, has become the first vaccine to pursue a WHO Emergency Use Listing. Many lessons were learned as part of the accelerated development plan and submission, which have been categorized under the following sections: regulatory, clinical development, chemistry manufacturing and controls, and post-deployment monitoring. Efforts were made to adapt findings from these studies to COVID-19 vaccine candidates. Specific concepts for accelerating COVID-19 vaccine development across multiple functional domains were also included. The goals of this effort were twofold: (1) to help familiarize vaccine developers with the EUL process; and (2) to provide general guidance for faster development and preparations for launch during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Use of Ballistocardiography to Monitor Cardiovascular Hemodynamics in Preeclampsia.

Objective: Pregnancy requires a complex physiological adaptation of the maternal cardiovascular system, which is disrupted in women with pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia, putting them at higher risk of future cardiovascular events. The measurement of body movements in response to cardiac ejection via ballistocardiogram (BCG) can be used to assess cardiovascular hemodynamics noninvasively in women with preeclampsia. Methods: Using a previously validated, modified weighing scale for assessment of cardiovascular hemodynamics through measurement of BCG and electrocardiogram (ECG) signals, we collected serial measurements throughout pregnancy and postpartum and analyzed data in 30 women with preeclampsia and 23 normotensive controls. Using BCG and ECG signals, we extracted measures of cardiac output, J-wave amplitude × heart rate (J-amp × HR). Mixed-effect models with repeated measures were used to compare J-amp × HRs between groups at different time points in pregnancy and postpartum. Results: In normotensive controls, the J-amp × HR was significantly lower early postpartum (E-PP) compared with the second trimester (T2; p = 0.016) and third trimester (T3; p = 0.001). Women with preeclampsia had a significantly lower J-amp × HR compared with normotensive controls during the first trimester (T1; p = 0.026). In the preeclampsia group, there was a trend toward an increase in J-amp × HR from T1 to T2 and then a drop in J-amp × HR at T3 and further drop at E-PP. Conclusions: We observe cardiac hemodynamic changes consistent with those reported using well-validated tools. In pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia, the maximal force of contraction is lower, suggesting lower cardiac output and a trend in hemodynamics consistent with the hyperdynamic disease model of preeclampsia.
In-plane compression modulus and strength of Nomex honeycomb cores:

The stress-strain response and deformation mechanism of a range of Nomex honeycomb cores tested under in-plane compression has been examined experimentally. The cores with a thin wall displayed ext...
Efficacy and safety of gemcitabine plus doxorubicin in patients with renal medullary carcinoma

Abstract Introduction Renal medullary carcinoma (RMC) is a rare and lethal renal cell carcinoma characterized by the loss of tumor suppressor SMARCB1. Molecular profiling studies have suggested that RMC cells may be vulnerable to therapies that generate DNA damage, such as the combination of the nucleoside analog gemcitabine, and topoisomerase inhibitor doxorubicin. Patients and Methods We retrospectively analyzed the records of patients with RMC treated with gemcitabine plus doxorubicin at our institution between January 2005 and September 2020. Best radiographic response and disease progression (RECIST v1.1) were assessed by a blinded radiologist. Results Sixteen patients were included in the study. All but 1 patient (93.8%) received prior platinum-based chemotherapy. Gemcitabine was given intravenously at 900-1200 mg/m2 and doxorubicin at 40-50 mg/m2 intravenously every 2 weeks. Three patients (18.8%) achieved partial response and 7 (43.8%) patients achieved stable disease. The median progression-free survival was 2.8 months (95% CI, 0-6.0). Median overall survival (OS) from gemcitabine plus doxorubicin initiation was 8.1 months (95% CI, 4.6-11.7) and OS from diagnosis was 15.5 months (95% CI, 4.2-26.8 months). There were no grade ≥ 4 AEs; grade 3 AEs were cytopenias (18.8%), nausea (12.5%), fatigue (12.5%), and cardiotoxicity (6.2%). No somatic alterations were detected in the 9 patients tested by targeted next generation sequencing assays. Conclusion Gemcitabine plus doxorubicin was well tolerated and demonstrated clinical activity in patients with platinum-refractory RMC, with a subset of patients experiencing durable responses lasting longer than 6 months. Further investigation is warranted to determine biomarkers of sensitivity and target mechanisms of resistance.
The Coccolithophorida in Red Sea Sediments

Coccoliths delineate four and possibly five main zones within core C61–154P which are equivalent to the major glacial salinity cycles. The youngest and oldest zones contain oceanic warm water floras indicative of interglacial climates while the zones between represent restricted cooler waters with occasional influxes of oceanic species.
Institutions of the Global South

Introduction Multilateralism and the global south 1. Tricontinental diplomacy: the Non-Aligned Movement 2. Tricontinental functionalism: the Group of 77 3. Tricontinental single-issue functionalism: the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries 4. Regional visions: Pan-Americanism 5. Regional visions: Pan-Africanism 6. Regional visions: Pan-Arabism and Pan-Islam 7. Subregional communities: Latin America and the Caribbean 8. Subregional communities: Africa 9. Subregional communities: Asia 10. Summarizing global south institutionalism Notes Bibliography
Enhanced sandwich immunoassay using antibody-functionalized magnetic iron-oxide nanoparticles for extraction and detection of soluble transferrin receptor on a photonic crystal biosensor

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) has detrimental effects on individuals and societies worldwide. A standard sandwich assay (SA) for the detection of soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR), a biomarker of IDA, on a photonic crystal (PC) biosensor was established, but it was susceptible to non-specific signals from complex matrixes. In this study, iron-oxide nanoparticles (fAb-IONs) were used as magnetic immuno-probes to bind sTfR and minimize non-specific signals, while enhancing detection on the PC biosensor. This inverse sandwich assay (IA) method completely bound sTfR with low variability ( 0.05) at 14 and 21 μg/mL, respectively. The inherent imprecision of the IA and reference ELISAs was σ(δ)=0.45 µg/mL and the mean biases for Liquichek™ 1, 2 and 3 were 0.18, 0.19 and -0.04 µg/mL, respectively. Whereas the inherent imprecision of the SA and reference ELISAs was σ(δ)=0.52 µg/mL and the biases for Liquichek™ 1, 2 and 3 were 0.66, 0.14 and -0.67 µg/mL, respectively. Thus, unlike the SA, the IA method measures sTfR with the same bias as the reference ELISAs. Combined magnetic separation and detection of nutrition biomarkers on PC biosensors represents a facile method for their accurate and reliable quantification in complex matrixes.
An Enhanced Percolation Model for the Capillary Pressure-Saturation Relation

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses an enhanced percolation model for the capillary pressure–saturation relation. Analysis of immiscible flow in porous media requires constitutive relationships between fluid content(s), fluid pressure(s), and relative permeabilities. Laboratory measurement of these relationships, especially, for the case of more than two fluid phases, is an expensive and time-consuming undertaking. An enhanced percolation model offers a theoretical framework in which these relationships can be predicted based on measurement of simple fluid and matrix properties. An application of this technique to the hysteretic relationship between capillary pressure and saturation for a two-fluid system is presented. Fundamental to the present work is construction of a topologically complex, yet mathematically tractable model of pore space. This takes the form of a regular geometric pattern of spherical nodes connected by cylindrical bonds. Specification of bond and node radii, bond length, and the pattern of interconnectedness serves to completely define the geometry of the pore space.
EXPRESSION OF VOLTAGE-GATED POTASSIUM CHANNELS DECREASES CELLULAR PROTEIN TYROSINE PHOSPHORYLATION

Protein tyrosine phosphorylation by endogenous and expressed tyrosine kinases is reduced markedly by the expression of functional voltage-gated potassium (Kv) channels. The levels of tyrosine kinase protein and cellular protein substrates are unaffected, consistent with a reduction in tyrosine phosphorylation that results from inhibition of protein tyrosine kinase activity. The attenuation of protein tyrosine phosphorylation is correlated with the gating properties of expressed wild-type and mutant Kv channels. Furthermore, cellular protein tyrosine phosphorylation is reduced within minutes by acute treatment with the electrogenic potassium ionophore valinomycin. Because tyrosine phosphorylation in turn influences Kv channel activity, these results suggest that reciprocal modulatory interactions occur between Kv channel and protein tyrosine phosphorylation signaling pathways.
A Problematic First Year at Harvard Law School: Problem-Based Learning's Role in Meaningful Curricular Reform

This paper, which I wrote as a third-year law student at Harvard Law School in the spring of 2004, summarizes critiques of the traditional first-year curriculum, and it puts forth a number of suggestions for reform. Many of the proposals in this paper were subsequently adopted in some form by the Harvard Law School faculty, including (1) introduction of a regulation or legislation course requirement, (2) introduction of international perspectives, and (3) a course involving problems. The paper was distributed to a number of Harvard faculty in the spring of 2004.
A Decomposition-based Symbolic Analysis Method for Analog Synthesis from Behavioral Specifications

This paper discusses a technique for symbolic analysis of large analog systems.The method exploits the hierarchical structure and uniformity of a system for producing compact symbolic expressions. The technique is based on decomposing a system through the method of tearing [5] as opposed to traditional symbolic methods that use nodal analysis. After producing the symbolic model of a system, a set of reduction rules is applied to the model. Reductions attempt to decrease the number of arithmetic operations performed for numerically evaluating the symbolic model. The discussed technique is useful for synthesis, inside an exploration-loop, as it avoids repeatedly computing the symbolic models.
Multipurpose reservoir operation: 1. Monthly model for a single reservoir

Abstract The Becker and Yeh monthly operation model, which maximizes the energy output of a reservoir system, has been extended to allow for maximization of both water and energy from the system. The model is a combination of parametric linear programming (used for month-by-month optimization) and dynamic programming (used for optimization over the 1-yr. operation period). The resulting operating policy is updated as new monthly inflow forecasts become available, thus incorporating the stochasticity of inflows. An iterative procedure is used to reduce the computation time and computer storage requirements. This efficiency allows the use of minicomputers which are less expensive than mainframe computers. The use of the model is illustrated for the Shasta reservoir (California Central Valley Project).
Repetitive or Continuous Thyrotropin (TSH)-Releasing Hormone Administration Induces a Biphasic Rise in Plasma TSH in Euthyroid but not in Hypothyroid Rats*

In euthyroid rats, repetitive bolus injections of 0.1, 1, or 5 μg/100 g BW TRH every 15 min for 2 h produced a biphasic rise in the plasma TSH concentration. After an initial peak at 15 min, plasma TSH fell at 60 min to a nadir 50–80% of the 15-min peak, then rose again by 90 min to a plateau with approximately the same amplitude as the initial peak. Plasma TSH remained at this level until TRH injections were stopped at 2 h, then fell to the pre-TRH baseline by 3 h. A similar biphasic rise in plasma TSH was produced by constant infusion of 0.01, 0.1, or 1 μg/min TRH for 3 h. If the dose of bolus TRH injected was increased at 45 min, the dip in plasma TSH at 60 min was significantly decreased. A single iv injection of 1 μg/ 100 g BW T4 immediately or 4 h before the bolus TRH injections did not abolish the biphasic TSH response. However, the T4 injection 4 h before TRH significantly attenuated the amplitude of the TSH response. In hypothyroid rats, either repetitive bolus injections or constant infusion of ...
The Crystal Structure and Mechanism of 1-l-myo-Inositol- 1-phosphate Synthase

Abstract 1-l-myo-Inositol-1-phosphate synthase catalyzes the conversion of d-glucose 6-phosphate to 1-l-myo-inositol-1-phosphate (MIP), the first and rate-limiting step in the biosynthesis of all inositol-containing compounds. It involves an oxidation, intramolecular aldol cyclization, and reduction. We have determined the first crystal structure of MIP synthase. We present structures of both the NAD-bound enzyme and the enzyme bound to an inhibitor, 2-deoxy-glucitol-6-phosphate. While 58 amino acids are disordered in the unbound form of the enzyme in the vicinity of the active site, the inhibitor nucleates the folding of this domain in a striking example of induced fit, serving to completely encapsulate it within the enzyme. Three helices and a long β-strand are formed in this process. We postulate a mechanism for the conversion based on the structure of the inhibitor-bound complex.
Inhibitory effect of quinidine on plasma pseudocholinesterase activity in pregnant women.

The effect of quinidine at therapeutic and subtherapeutic concentrations on pseudocholinesterase activity in the plasma of 16 normal pregnant women was studied. The mean plasma pseudocholinesterase activity in the absence of quinidine (control) was 0.67 ± 0.11 U/ml. The mean pseudocholinesterase activity in the presence of quinidine at concentrations of 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, and 5.0 µg/ml was 0.48 ± 0.09, 0.38 ± 0.09, 0.29 ± 0.10, and 0.19 ± 0.09 U/ml, respectively. At therapeutic concentrations needed to treat cardiac arrhythmias (2 to 5 µg/ml), quinidine inhibited pseudocholinesterase activity by 60% to 70%. All the plasma samples had a normal dibucaine number (78 to 85). We recommend caution when succinylcholine and/or ester-type local anesthetics are used in pregnant women receiving quinidine.
Multiperspective Approach to Exploring Comprehensive Cause Factors for Interface Issues

The severity of interface issues and the necessity of interface management (IM) have not received adequate recognition from both industry and academia. The understanding of interface issues is still insufficient and the proposed or employed measures are unilateral, which result in unsatisfactory IM performance in construction projects. After establishing IM’s importance in the construction industry, this paper presents a multiperspective approach that systematically explores comprehensive cause factors for various interface issues. From six interrelated perspectives, namely people/participants, methods/processes, resources, documentation, project management, and environment, hierarchical cause factors are identified and presented in a structured way. These cause factors are further converted into a series of interface management and control elements that allow for the development of an object data model and a systematic model-based IM strategy dealing with all interface issues. The multiperspective approa...
Global gene expression analysis reveals specific and redundant roles for H1 variants, H1c and H10, in gene expression regulation

In mammals, the functional significance of the presence of evolutionarily conserved, multiple non-allelic H1 variants remains unclear. We used a unique overproduction approach coupled with cell cycle synchronization and early time point assays to assess differential effects of H1 variants, H1c and H1°, on global gene expression in the absence of compensatory events that may mask variant-specific effects. We found that H1c and H1° act primarily as specific rather than global regulators of gene expression. Many of the genes affected were uniquely targeted by either H1c or H1°, affirming that H1 variants have some unique roles. We also identified genes that were affected by both variants, in which cases the expression of these genes was, for the most part, affected similarly by both the variants. This observation suggests that as well as having specific functions, the H1 variants share common roles in the organization of chromatin. We further noted that H1° repressed more genes than did H1c, which may underlie the prevailing notion that H1° is a stronger repressor of transcription.
Mobile-Subjective Programming for massively multithreaded shared memory applications

This paper describes a new parallel execution model motivated by 1) the idea that computation should move to, and execute near, the global data which it accesses, 2) a set of extended memory semantics to provide fine-grained global synchronization, 3) matching shared-memory architecture research, and 4) the need for high performance languages to provide protected system transparency. We compare this new model to MPI, Chapel, X10, and UPC, in terms of 1) expressibility of parallel structures, 2) shared memory synchronization, and 3) performance tuning. Initial simulation results of a graph traversal kernel on a research architecture good speedup up to 256 multicore nodes supporting over 1 million simultaneous threadlets.
Application of lithium aluminum hydride titrimetric method to pharmaceutical compounds.

The feasibility of lithium aluminum hydride titrimetric method for analysis of various pharmaceutical type compounds was investigated. Nineteen different substances were analyzed with an average error of less than two per cent. Compounds studied included amines, acids, lactones, alkaloids, alcohols, aldehydes, esters, and phenols. In all cases the reaction with the hydride followed the predicted stoichiometric relationship.
Identification of the electronic states of Se2− molecules embedded in borosilicate glasses and in Se-based nanometer sized crystals

Abstract Electron spin resonance (ESR), Raman, and photoluminescence spectra were measured to identify the electronic states of Se 2 − molecules embedded in potassium borosilicate glasses. The ESR spectra of all samples show a lineshape that is attributed to orthorhombic symmetry around the molecule. Photoluminescence spectra show a broad luminescence band between 500 and 900 nm that is identified as the π u → π g transition between the electronic levels of the Se 2 − molecule. An electron–lattice interaction gives rise to overtones of the fundamental vibration (322 cm −1 ) of the Se 2 − molecule and they are identified by Raman scattering measurements. The role of Se 2 − molecules as surface traps in Se-based semiconductor quantum dots is examined.
A critical review of social and structural conditions that influence HIV risk among Mexican deportees

Mexican migrants who are deported from the US may be at elevated risk for HIV infection. Deportations of Mexican migrants by the US have reached record numbers. We critically reviewed existing literature to assess how social and structural conditions in post-deportation settings can influence Mexican deported migrants' HIV risk. We also identify critical research gaps and make research recommendations.
Sonochemistry and Sonoluminescence of Room-Temperature Ionic Liquids

The sonication of ionic organic liquids leads to decomposition of the liquids. Multibubble sonoluminescence spectra and headgas analysis reveal a variety of decomposition products from the sonolysis of N,N‘-dialkylimidazolium ionic liquids. The decomposition is a result of acoustic cavitation, which generates localized hot spots from the implosive collapse of bubbles in the ionic liquids. Despite the negligible vapor pressure of the ionic liquids, reaction still occurs in a heated shell of the bubbles or from microdroplets thrown into the collapsing bubbles.