cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of tumor presence on cisplatin and carboplatin: disposition in the isolated, perfused tumor and skin flap

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the disposition of elemental platinum (Pt) derived from cisplatin (CDDP) or carboplatin (CBDCA) in the isolated, perfused tumor and skin flap (IPTSF). Flaps were perfused with either 3.0 μg CDDP/ml perfusion medium (n=4 tumor,n=4 control) or 15 μg CBDCA/ml (n=4 tumor,n=3 control) at a rate of 1 ml/min for 3 h. A 2-h (CDDP experiments) or 3-h (CBDCA experiments) washout phase using undosed medium was then performed. The disposition kinetics of free (ultrafilterable) Pt were characterized using a four-compartment physiologically relevant pharmacokinetic model. A tumor effect on the disposition of Pt was noted in that the Pt mass from CDDP in the central and mobile tissue compartments was greater in tumor flaps than in control flaps (P<0.05). Similar trends were noted in CBDCA-treated flaps, but these were not significant. The Pt mass in the fixed tumor and non-tumor tissue compartments was significantly greater when Pt was derived from CDDP than when it was derived from CBDCA (P<0.05). A linear relationship existed between the estimated micrograms of Pt in the flaps from both CDDP and CBDCA and the cross-sectional vascular resistance of the flaps at 30 (CDDP,r=0.78; CBDCA,r=0.89) and 60 min (CDDP,r=0.65; CBDCA,r=0.85) of perfusion. We conclude that the IPTSF is a useful model for evaluating the disposition of Pt drugs in tumor and non-tumor tissue and that tumor presence alters the disposition of CDDP.
Nonlinear Input-Shaping Controller for Quay-Side Container Cranes

Input-shaping is one of the most practical open-loop control strategies for gantry cranes, especially those having predefined paths and operating at constant cable lengths. However, when applied to quay-side container cranes, its performance is far from satisfactory. A major source of the poor performance can be linked to the significant difference between the gantry crane model and the quay-side container crane model. Gantry cranes are traditionally modeled as a simple pendulum. However, a quay-side container crane has a multi-cable hoisting mechanism. In this paper, a two-dimensional four-bar-mechanism model of a container crane is developed. For the purpose of controller design, the crane model is reduced to a double pendulum with two fixed-length links and a kinematic constraint. The method of multiple scales is used to develop a nonlinear approximation of the oscillation frequency of the simplified model. The resulting frequency approximation is used to determine the switching times for a bang-off-bang input-shaping controller. The performance of the controller is numerically simulated on the full model of the container crane, and is compared to the performance of similar controllers based on a nonlinear frequency approximation of a simple pendulum and a linear frequency approximation of a constraint double pendulum. Results demonstrate a superior performance of the controller based on the nonlinear frequency approximation of the constraint double pendulum. The effect of the oscillation frequency on the controller performance is investigated by varying the model's frequency around the design value. Simulations revealed that the performance of the controller suffers serious degradation due to small changes in the model frequency. To alleviate the shortcomings of the input-shaping controller, a delayed-position feedback controller is successfully applied at the end of each transfer maneuver to eliminate residual oscillations without affecting the commands of the input-shaping controller.
Polymorphisms among chloroplast and mitochondrial genomes of Citrullus species and subspecies

Twelve and six DNA clones representing various parts of chloroplast and mitochondrial genomes, respectively, were used to detect polymorphism among five watermelon cultivars and 21 U.S. Plant Introductions (PIs) collected from diverse geographical locations and representing major groups of Citrullus species. Cluster analysis based on 20 chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) and 10 mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) markers differentiated the accessions into three major phenetic groups: PIs and watermelon cultivars of Citrullus lanatus subsp. vulgaris (Schrad. ex Eckl. et Zeyh.) Fursa (also designated as C. lanatus var. lanatus) (group I), PIs of C. lanatus var. citroides (of C. lanatus subsp. lanatus Schrad. ex Eckl. et Zeyh.)(group II), and C. colocynthis (L.) Schrad. PIs (group III). The chloroplast and mitochondrial genomes of watermelon cultivars are distinct, but closely related to those of the C. lanatus var. lanatus PIs. On the other hand, the chloroplast and mitochondrial genomes of the wild species C. colocynthis are more similar to those of C. lanatus var. citroides. Polymorphic cpDNA and mtDNA markers identified in this study can complement isozyme and nuclear DNA data used in earlier phylogenetic and phenetic classifications of Citrullus PIs. These cpDNA and mtDNA markers are being used in experiments designed to enhance watermelon cultivars by replacing the chloroplast and mitochondrial genome of cultivated watermelon with those of the wild species C. colocynthis.
Discovering Influence in Communication Networks Using Dynamic Graph Analysis

The rise of Internet-based social networks has shifted many decision-impacting discussions online. Increasingly, people weigh new ideas, choose products, pick technologies, find entertainment and socialize virtually by engaging in online discourse. The participants depend on who people find online, who they get to know and trust, and who they consider as authorities on subjects of interest. This paper presents techniques to track who has influence in such a network and how they got there. Many definitions of influence are possible; here we focus specifically on the social interaction and its dynamics, using Twitter as the reference network and data source. We build a replier graph from each user $A$'s messages mentioning another user $B$ (which may be either ``for'' or ``about'' $B$), and study how this graph evolves. (In a tweet from $A$ mentioning \verb|@B|, $A$ is the replier mentioning $B$.) For every day in the study, we compute a pagerank-type score and a \emph{drank}, a dynamic function of the pagerank, for all users, together with a series of features such as the number of mentions a user gives or receives. The daily-versioned features enable exploratory data analysis of the conversational dynamics by looking at the relative decline or growth in specific features for every user every day, separately or relative to others. For instance, we find the longest periods of growth in the number of times a user $A$ is mentioned by other users on a day $d$, $m=|M(A,d)|$, over a contiguous period of days, and also compute its acceleration over that period, $dm/dt$. Those accelerating the most, or sustaining the longest growth, or both, are worth closer modeling. Our metrics are applicable to any evolving directed graphs and allow us to find people of growing influence in social networks based purely on the structure and dynamics of their conversations. These are the first dynamic metrics for social networks which take into the account both global and local influence (pagerank and repliers), and can be applied to other communication networks as well. Most interestingly, using them, we uncover a high-intensity ecosystem with its own ``mind economy,'' adapting to maximize the participants' rankings and promote their shared message.
PCR-based gene synthesis and protein NMR spectroscopy

We thank Maria Martinez-Yamout, Stefan Prytulla, John Laity and Michael Lubienski for helpful discussions. This work was supported by grants GM36643 and DK34909 (PEW) and GM43238 (HJD) from the National Institutes of Health.
Modeling and evaluating empathy in embodied companion agents

Affective reasoning plays an increasingly important role in cognitive accounts of social interaction. Humans continuously assess one another's situational context, modify their own affective state accordingly, and then respond to these outcomes by expressing empathetic behaviors. Synthetic agents serving as companions should respond similarly. However, empathetic reasoning is riddled with the complexities stemming from the myriad factors bearing upon situational assessment. A key challenge posed by affective reasoning in synthetic agents is devising empirically informed models of empathy that accurately respond in social situations. This paper presents Care, a data-driven affective architecture and methodology for learning models of empathy by observing human-human social interactions. First, in Care training sessions, one trainer directs synthetic agents to perform a sequence of tasks while another trainer manipulates companion agents' affective states to produce empathetic behaviors (spoken language, gesture, and posture). Care tracks situational data including locational, intentional, and temporal information to induce a model of empathy. At runtime, Care uses the model of empathy to drive situation-appropriate empathetic behaviors. Care has been used in a virtual environment testbed. Two complementary studies investigating the predictive accuracy and perceived accuracy of Care-induced models of empathy suggest that the Care paradigm can provide the basis for effective empathetic behavior control in embodied companion agents.
Dynamic Trip Attraction Estimation with Location Based Social Network Data Balancing Between Time of Day Variations and Zonal Differences

The emergence of location based social network (LBSN) services make it accessible and affordable to study individuals’ mobility patterns in a fine-grained level. Via mobile devices, LBSN enables the availability of large-scale location-sensitive data with spatial and temporal context dimensions, which is capable of the potential to provide traffic patterns with significantly higher spatial and temporal resolution at a much lower cost than can be achieved by traditional methods. In this paper, the Foursquare LBSN data was applied to analyze the trip attraction for the urban area in Austin, Texas, USA. We explore one time-dependent function to validate the LBSN’s data with the origin-destination matrix regarded as the ground truth data. The objective of this paper is to investigate one new validation method for trip distribution. The results illustrate the promising potential of studying the dynamic trip attraction estimation with LBSN data for urban trip pattern analysis and monitoring.
Embrittlement of interfaces by solute segregation

Abstract We discuss theoretical models of interfacial embrittlement by solute segregation. Of properties susceptible to alteration by segregation, the ideal work of interfacial separation, 2 γ int , is predicted to have an important but probably not exclusive role in controlling embrittlement. A thermodynamic framework for estimating 2 γ int from data available through free surface and grain boundary adsorption studies is outlined, and relevant segregation energies are given for carbon, phosphorus, tin, antimony and sulphur segregation in iron. Data from intergranular fracture experiments involving these same segregants is also summarized in an attempt to test the idea that segregation-induced embrittlement (or ductilization) can be understood in terms of the segregant's effect on 2 γ int . Uncertainties in present data do not allow a convincing test, but it is not implausible that the deleterious effects of phosphorus, tin, and sulphur in iron can be understood in this way. The effect of carbon does not seem to be similarly understandable, although that may be due to the inappropriateness of the only available surface segregation data in that case, which are for a (001) surface rather than a general polycrystalline surface created by intergranular fracture.
Techniques for Increasing Servers' Tips: How Generalizable Are They?

In a 1996 article in Cornell Hotel and Restaurant Administration Quarterly, Michael Lynn introduced the idea that restaurant managers could increase their servers' tips, and thereby reduce turnover...
MPI-2: standards beyond the message-passing model

The MPI (Message-Passing Interface) Standard has been successful in its goal of promoting portable parallel programming for both application writers and library implementors. MPI-I confined itself to the well-known and understood message-passing model, in which a fixed number of processes with separate address spaces communicate only though cooperative operations such as send/receive or collective operations such as broadcast and reduce. In a second round of activity, the MPI Forum has recently concluded work on the MPI-2 Standard, which extends MPI beyond the message-passing programming model in a number of ways, including dynamic process management, one-sided operations, and some shared-memory operations. The message-passing model has also been used in MPI-2 as a model for parallel I/O. This paper describes the salient features of the MPI-2 Standard with special emphasis on the programming model that results from these extensions to the message-passing model.
Reversible cellular senescence: implications for immortalization of normal human diploid fibroblasts

IMR-90 normal human diploid fibroblasts, transfected with a steroid inducible mouse mammary tumor virus-driven simian virus 40 T antigen, were carried through crisis to yield an immortal cell line. Growth was dependent on the presence of the inducer (dexamethasone) during both the extended precrisis life span of the cells and after immortalization. After dexamethasone removal, immortal cells divided once or twice and then accumulated in G1. These results are best explained by a two-stage model for cellular senescence. Mortality stage 1 (M1) causes a loss of mitogen responsiveness and arrest near the G1/S interface and can be bypassed or overcome by the cellular DNA synthesis-stimulating activity of T antigen. Mortality stage 2 (M2) is an independent mechanism that is responsible for the failure of cell division during crisis. The inactivation of M2 is a rare event, probably of mutational origin in human cells, independent of or only indirectly related to the expression of T antigen. Under this hypothesis, T-antigen-immortalized cells contain an active but bypassed M1 mechanism and an inactivated M2 mechanism. These cells are dependent on the continued expression of T antigen for the maintenance of immortality for the same reason that precrisis cells are dependent on T antigen for growth: both contain an active M1 mechanism.
Computer-assisted resection of benign sinonasal tumors with skull base and orbital extension

Objective: To use freehand, real-time, intraoperative, 3-dimensional computed tomography (3-D CT) localization to assist with resection of sinonasal lesions with skull-base and/or orbital extension. Design: The 3-D CT is computer-assisted technology using the preoperative CT scan as a road map for resection of lesions. Previous technology, while resulting in little intraoperative error, required use of a somewhat cumbersome rigid articulated arm and attached probe, limiting mobility and requiring rigid fixation of the head to maintain system reference. A new freehand version of this technology, eliminating these limitations, has been used for resection of benign sinonasal lesions with skull-base and/or orbital extension. Setting: Tertiary care, university-based practice. Patients: Seven patients prospectively selected with benign lesions involving the sinonasal cavity and orbit and/or skull base. Intervention: All patients underwent surgical resection of their tumors using endoscopic, open, or combined procedures with the assistance of freehand 3-D CT localization. Main Outcome Assessment: Surgeon assessment of usefulness. Results: In several cases, the device assisted the operator in determining the exact location of a displaced optic nerve, ensuring vision preservation, while in other cases, the location and depth of skull-base penetration was clearly determined, allowing resection via a transnasal endoscopic approach. In addition, the device was useful for determining the depth of necessary resection for optimal cosmetic result. In all cases, system accuracy was within less than 2 mm at the operative site. System limitations included need for an additional preoperative CT and time required at the beginning of the case for system setup and registration. Conclusions: Freehand 3-D CT, while still with limitations, offers the advantage of increased surgical safety, aiding anatomic understanding in distorted surgical fields for resection of benign sinonasal tumors with orbital and skull-base extension. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1997;127:706-711
An Online Lab Manual for Neurophysiology

A combination of student interest, a grant for computers, and a suggestion from a colleague led me to convert the printed lab manual for my neurophysiology course into an online version. The web-based version incorporates videos of procedures, color photos, diagrams, links to articles, and other supplementary materials. This paper discusses designing for the web, retaining compatibility with print, layering information, making videos in digital format, and sharing self-published resources. The labs themselves (appendix) are traditional "wet" experiments with crayfish that have been used in many neurobiology courses.
Absolute transition probabilities for some electronic states of CS, SO and S2

Abstract Radiative lifetimes of upper states of CS, SO, and S2 have been measured via a phase shift method using modulated electron beam excitation. Lifetimes between 16·2 nsec for SO(B3Σ--X3Σ-, v′ = 2) and 339 nsec for CS (A 1 Π−X 1 Σ, v′ = 1) were determined. Substantial lifetime variations are found for some vibrational sequences. Using published Franck-Condon factors, Av′v″ values are derived, and used to obtain absolute oscillator strengths or electric transition moments.
ER-associated mitochondrial division links the distribution of mitochondria and mitochondrial DNA in yeast

Mitochondria generate most of the energy used by cells, and they also play key roles in cellular growth, death, and differentiation. They are evolutionarily derived from bacteria and have retained their own DNA and protein translation system, but they are also dependent on the cell for their growth and replication. A significant portion of the outer membrane of a mitochondrion is in contact with the endoplasmic reticulum (ER)—an organelle that is the starting point for the synthesis of secreted proteins, and is also critical for the synthesis of lipids and other organelles. Recent work suggests that mitochondria–ER contact points mark sites of mitochondrial division, but it is unclear exactly how this process occurs. Here, Murley et al. use the budding yeast and model organism Saccharomyces cerevisiae to show that at mitochondrial division sites, a multiprotein complex called ERMES promotes the formation of ER–mitochondrial contact points, while an evolutionarily conserved enzyme, Gem1, antagonizes these contacts to aid mitochondrial segregation. The contact points are found adjacent to nucleoids (which are complexes of mitochondrial DNA and proteins)—an observation suggesting that ER-associated mitochondrial division evolved to help distribute nucleoids between newly formed mitochondria. The present study also reveals a novel role for the conserved protein Gem1 and could lead researchers to reinvestigate the functions of Miro1/2—the equivalent of Gem1 in higher eukaryotes. Miro1/2 is thought to connect mitochondria to motor proteins, which transports them through the cell along microtubules. Dysfunction of Miro1/2 reduces the mobility of mitochondria, and the work of Murley et al. suggests that this could be a consequence of enhanced contacts between mitochondria and the ER.
Systematic derivation of anisotropic PML absorbing media in cylindrical and spherical coordinates

A simple and systematic derivation of anisotropic perfectly matched layers (PMLs) in cylindrical and spherical coordinates is presented. The derivation is based on the analytic continuation of Maxwell's equations to complex space. Through field transformations, results for Cartesian anisotropic PML media are recovered and, more importantly, a generalization of the anisotropic PML to cylindrical and spherical systems is obtained, providing further clarification on the PML concept. As expected, these new PML media are cylindrically and spherically layered, respectively.
The Tropospheric Biennial Oscillation and Asian–Australian Monsoon Rainfall

In the context of the Asian‐Australian monsoon, the tropospheric biennial oscillation (TBO) is defined as the tendency for a relatively strong monsoon to be followed by a relatively weak one, and vice versa. Therefore the TBO is not so much an oscillation, but a tendency for the system to flip-flop back and forth from year to year. The more of these interannual flip-flops or transitions, the more biennial the system. The transitions occur in northern spring for the south Asian or Indian monsoon and in northern fall for the Australian monsoon involving coupled land‐atmosphere‐ocean processes over a large area of the Indo-Pacific region. There is considerable seasonal persistence from the south Asian to Australian monsoon as noted in previous studies, with a strong south Asian or Indian monsoon tending to precede a strong Australian monsoon and vice versa for weak monsoons. Therefore, transitions from March‐May (MAM) to June‐September (JJAS) tend to set the system for the next year, with a transition to the opposite sign the following year. Quantifying the role of the conditions that contribute to these transitions in the TBO and their relationship to ENSO is crucial for verifying their accurate representation in models, which should lead to improved seasonal forecast skill. An analysis of observed data shows that the TBO (with roughly a 2‐3-yr period) encompasses most ENSO years (with their well-known biennial tendency) as well as additional years that contribute to biennial transitions. Thus the TBO ←
Sibling Donor Cord Blood Transplantation for Thalassemia Major: Experience of the Sibling Donor Cord Blood Program

The Sibling Donor Cord Blood (SDCB) Program was initiated in 1998 as a resource to collect, characterize, and release cord blood units (CBUs) from families affected by malignant and nonmalignant disorders for transplantation. Families in the United States were recruited by telephone after referrals by community and academic physicians. Collection kits were mailed to prospective participants and family members were instructed about CBU procurement from community hospitals and shipping to a central laboratory. Data about the infant's delivery and CBU harvest, CBU processing, prethaw characteristics, sterility, and human leukocyte antigen (HLA) typing were collected. Standard outcome data were collected after CBU release for transplantation. Descriptive analyses of CBU collections, processing, release, and transplantation outcomes were performed. Currently, 1617 CBU collections have been processed from families with thalassemia (6%), sickle cell disease (28%), malignant disorders (49%), and other rare hematological disorders (17%). Thirty-two of 96 donor-recipient pairs with thalassemia major were HLA identical and 14 have received cord blood transplantation, either alone or in combination with bone marrow or peripheral blood progenitor cells (N = 4) from the same donor. Eleven of the 14 survive free of thalassemia after transplantation. These preliminary results confirm the feasibility and utility of remote-site sibling donor cord blood collection and subsequent transplantation for hematological disorders, with a very high rate of usage from a cord blood bank dedicated to performing these unique collections. It was concluded that cord blood transplantation from sibling donors represents a suitable alternative to bone marrow transplantation.
Does Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea) Facilitate the Recruitment of Eastern Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis)

Abstract Eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) was a major component of mesic forests in the Upper Great Lakes region, but presently persists in only a few locations. Many of these stands experience poor regeneration due to herbivory by white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), suggesting that hemlock will become progressively less common in these stands. We tested the hypothesis that balsam fir (Abies balsamea) facilitates establishment of eastern hemlock at 11 sites in northern Wisconsin. Hemlock saplings are three times as dense and twice as tall when growing within patches of balsam fir compared to growing outside such patches. Hemlock saplings growing outside balsam fir patches are also four times as likely to exhibit deer browsing damage as those growing inside. These results suggest that patches of balsam fir create a physical or visual barrier to deer and thus provide a refuge for hemlock saplings from white-tailed deer browsing. Because balsam fir saplings are much more abundant than hemlock in no...
Dormancy Resulting from Gamma-irradiation of Lettuce Seed

SummaryLettuce seeds given 300–1000 kr of gamma-rays show inhibition of germination when subsequently put into water. That this failure to germinate was caused by seed dormancy was suggested by the fact that such irradiated seeds did germinate if treated with any of the following germination-stimulating agents: gibberellic acid, kinetin, thiourea, pricking, or light. Germination was accompanied by cellular expansions and cell divisions, irrespective of radiation and chemical treatments. The first four agents mentioned were fully effective under conditions where continuous white light was not. The chemical treatments, which reversed the gamma-radiation effects on germination, gave no reversal of any of the following gamma-radiation effects: inhibition of respiratory rates, production of chromosomal aberrations, and reduction in seedling height. Consequently, the chemical treatments that enabled gamma-irradiated seeds to germinate had radioprotective activity specific for the germination process. These resu...
Ventilator modes: old and new.

The "old" conventional positive pressure ventilation remains the mainstay of ventilatory support in patients with acute respiratory failure. Although some of the "new" ventilatory modes might have the potential to replace conventional positive pressure ventilation in the future, its superiority over the "old" ventilatory mode remains to be established. A well-controlled study comparing the "new" ventilatory modes with the conventional positive pressure ventilation is important.
Resistance in Lycopersicon and Solanum to Greenhouse Whiteflies

Preliminary evaluations of species of Lycopersicon and Solanum for resistance to the greenhouse whitefly, Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Westwood), revealed that the heavy vesture of sticky glandular exudate on the aerial parts of S. pennellii Correll and L. hirsutum Humb. & Bonpl. is a death trap for the adults alighting upon it. However, when the foliar exudate was removed with alcohol, oviposition occurred, and young developed normally to adults. This vesture of glandular exudate is a variable character in the self-incompatible L. hirsutum ,, but it is stable and pronounced in S. pennellii .
Extradural Spinal Arachnoid Cysts

A 14-year-old boy with multiple spinal arachnoid cysts and paraplegia, and 37 similar cases in the literature are reviewed by neurosurgeons and radiologist at Univ of Sao Paulo, Brazil.
The Government Strikes Back - New IRS Notice Strengthens Anti-Inversion Rules

Inversion or expatriation transactions are often prompted by financial institutions, such as private equity owners and hedge funds that own or control companies in which they have invested and that desire to reduce U.S. corporate taxes they must pay. This article explains the basic steps and perceived tax benefits to U.S. corporations engaging in inversion transactions, and describes both the current statutory limitations contained in the Internal Revenue Code to prevent such inversions and a recently announced Internal Revenue Service (IRS) plan to make inversions more difficult to achieve. Finally, the article discusses the appropriateness of the new IRS plans and suggests other ways to make such inversions less attractive.
Investigating microstructural evolution during the electroreduction of UO2 to U in LiCl-KCl eutectic using focused ion beam tomography

Reprocessing of spent nuclear fuels using molten salt media is an attractive alternative to liquid-liquid extraction techniques. Pyroelectrochemical processing utilizes direct, selective, electrochemical reduction of uranium dioxide, followed by selective electroplating of a uranium metal. Thermodynamic prediction of the electrochemical reduction of UO2 to U in LiCl-KCl eutectic has shown to be a function of the oxide ion activity. The pO2− of the salt may be affected by the microstructure of the UO2 electrode. A uranium dioxide filled “micro-bucket” electrode has been partially electroreduced to uranium metal in molten lithium chloride-potassium chloride eutectic. This partial electroreduction resulted in two distinct microstructures: a dense UO2 and a porous U metal structure were characterised by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Focused ion beam tomography was performed on five regions of this electrode which revealed an overall porosity ranging from 17.36% at the outer edge to 3.91% towards the centre, commensurate with the expected extent of reaction in each location. The pore connectivity was also seen to reduce from 88.32% to 17.86% in the same regions and the tortuosity through the sample was modelled along the axis of propagation of the electroreduction, which was seen to increase from a value of 4.42 to a value of infinity (disconnected pores). These microstructural characteristics could impede the transport of O2− ions resulting in a change in the local pO2− which could result in the inability to perform the electroreduction.
CHAPTER 2 – Weeds: The Beginning

This chapter attempts to provide an understanding of why weeds are defined as they are. It explains the characteristics that weeds share and explores the different way in which weeds cause harm. In addition, it examines how estimates of the cost of weeds are made, and the magnitude of those costs.
Nonproliferation Organizations and Regimes beyond 1995

What are the trends in the evolution of international organizations and regimes with responsibilities in nuclear nonproliferation? On the basis of these trends, what are their prospects for development beyond the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Treaty on the Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT)? This forward-looking assessment and analysis will be attempted on the assumption that the NPT will be extended in 1995 for a reasonably long period of time, if not indefinitely.
Megalencephaly and Developmental Delay

Neurodevelopmental function, language, academic achievement, visuomotor integration, and motor function were evaluated in 20 nonreferred children, aged 6 to 15 years, with idiopathic megalencephaly (>98th percentile) from a suburban practice, and compared to 19 siblings with normal heads and 16 age-matched controls, at the Olson Huff Center for Child Development, Thoms Rehabilitation Hospital, Asheville, North Carolina.
Predictors of 30-Day Pulmonary Complications after Outpatient Surgery: Relative Importance of Body Mass Index Weight Classifications in Risk Assessment

Background Current literature is controversial regarding the importance of obese BMI classifications as a risk factor for pulmonary complications after outpatient surgery. The objective of the current investigation was to evaluate predictors of pulmonary outcomes after outpatient surgery and to assess the importance of BMI weight classifications in risk assessment. Study Design Patients with "outpatient" recorded as their inpatient/outpatient status in the 2012 to 2013 NSQIP database were included. The primary outcome of interest was the occurrence of a new pulmonary complication (eg pneumonia, pulmonary embolism, unplanned intubation, or ventilator-assisted respiration for greater than 48 hours) within 30 days of surgery. Results There were 444,532 cases included in the final analysis. There were 996 (0.22%; 99% CI 0.21% to 0.24%) all-cause pulmonary complications. Binary logistic regression identified BMI as an independent predictor of a pulmonary complication, unadjusted odds ratio 1.091 (99.75% CI 1.026 to 1.160) per 5 kg/m 2 change in BMI, p 2 was 1.44 (99.75% CI 1.01 to 2.06; p = 0.002) and with a BMI of 40 to 49.99 kg/m 2 was 1.68 (99.75% CI 1.13 to 2.50; p 2 . Conclusions Obese classes II and III were associated with an independent risk of a pulmonary complication. The risk associated with obesity was low compared with the risk associated with advanced age, prolonged surgical duration, and the risk of comorbidities including congestive heart failure, COPD, and renal failure.
Abstract 4193: A triple exon-skipping luciferase reporter assay identifies a new CLK inhibitor scaffold

The splicing of pre-mRNA is a critical process in normal cells and is deregulated in cancer. Compounds that modulate this process have recently been shown to target a specific vulnerability in tumors. We have developed a novel cell-based assay that specifically activates luciferase in cells exposed to SF3B1 targeted compounds, such as sudemycin D6. This assay was used to screen a combined collection of approved drugs and bioactive compounds. This screening approach identified several active hits, the most potent of which were CGP-74514A and aminopurvalanol A, both have been reported to be cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) inhibitors. We found that these compounds, and their analogs, show significant cdc2-like kinase (CLK) inhibition and clear structure-activity relationships (SAR) at CLKs. We prepared a set of analogs and were able to ‘dial out’ the CDK activity and simultaneously developed CLK inhibitors with low nanomolar activity. Thus, we have demonstrated the utility of our exon-skipping assay and identified new molecules that exhibit potency and selectivity for CLK, as well as some structurally related dual CLK/CDK inhibitors. Citation Format: Yihui Shi, Jaehyeon Park, Chandraiah Lagisetti, Wei Zhou, Lidia C. Sambucetti, Thomas R. Webb. A triple exon-skipping luciferase reporter assay identifies a new CLK inhibitor scaffold [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 4193. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-4193
Chemical Pathways of Peptide Degradation: IX. Metal-Catalyzed Oxidation of Histidine in Model Peptides

Purpose. To elucidate the nature of the reactive oxygen species (i.e., superoxide anion radical, hydroxyl radical, and hydrogen peroxide) involved in the metal-catalyzed oxidation of histidine (His) in two model peptides.
Developing a Hospital-Wide Fertility Preservation Service for Pediatric and Young Adult Patients

Abstract Purpose Gonadal damage is a common consequence of treatment for pediatric malignancies. Nononcologic conditions may also utilize treatments with potential impact on fertility. Models for oncology fertility preservation programs have emerged and demonstrate that a multidisciplinary team approach can have a positive impact on referral patterns, appropriate risk counseling, and access to fertility preservation options. Expansion of programmatic breadth is needed, providing improved care to nonmalignant conditions where the disease itself may impact reproductive health or treatment modalities. Methods With support from the Department of Pediatrics Chair's Initiative, a multidisciplinary, hospital-wide Fertility Preservation Service was created at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. A centralized team provides fertility consults across the institution, allowing for risk-based counseling and facilitation of fertility preservation options (both standard care and experimental). Results Team structure, consult process, and available fertility options for prepubertal and pubertal males and females are described. Preinitiative and postinitiative referral patterns were analyzed. Postinitiative referrals from divisions outside oncology more than doubled (34% vs. 15% at baseline). Conclusions A comprehensive model for fertility counseling provides accessible, high-value fertility preservation care to pediatric and young adult patients with a wide variety of diagnoses. A centralized point of contact ensures timely referrals and risk-based counseling and streamlines access to fertility preservation procedures.
Light-Driven Water Splitting in the Dye-Sensitized Photoelectrosynthesis Cell

Artificial photosynthesis integrates solar energy conversion and storage in processes that produce solar fuels. The targets are water splitting into H2 and O2 or solar-driven reduction of CO2 by water to carbon-based fuels. Light-driven water-splitting devices, also known as dye-sensitized photoelectrosynthesis cells (DSPECs), show promise and are based on molecular light absorption and catalysis which occur at the surfaces of nanocrystalline oxide semiconductors. Absorption of sunlight by surface-attached molecules leads to electron injection into the semiconductor conduction band followed by catalyst activation. Light-driven water splitting occurs by repetition of this cycle four times at a photoanode with solar fuels generated at the cathode. The underlying design of the DSPEC is based on this photoelectrochemical approach. Light-driven water splitting is made possible by the recent development of molecular water oxidation catalysts. With the components finally available to explore the DSPEC in detail, design principle guidelines are rapidly emerging which will lay the foundation for these devices to harness and utilize solar energy, night or day.
THE IDEAL DISTRIBUTION OF FARMERS: EXPLAINING THE EURO-AMERICAN SETTLEMENT OF UTAH

Explaining how and why populations settle a new landscape is central to many questions in American archaeology. Recent advances in settlement research have adopted predictions from the Ideal Free Distribution model (IFD). While tests of IFD predictions to date rely either on archaeologically derived coarse-grained diachronic data or ethnographically derived fine-grained synchronic data, here we provide the first test using historically derived data that is both fine-grained and diachronic. Fine-grain diachronic data allow us to test model predictions at a temporal scale in line with human settlement decisions and to validate proxies for application in archaeological contexts. To test model predictions pertaining to the relationship between population density and habitat quality, we use data from the historical settlement of Utah. The results demonstrate a negative relationship between population density and the quality of habitats occupied. These results are consistent with IFD predictions, suggesting that Euro-American settlement of Utah resulted from individuals attempting to maximize individual returns via agricultural productivity. Our results provide a quantitative and testable explanation for population dispersion over time and explain the spatial distribution of population density today. The results support predictions derived from a general theory of behavior, providing an explanatory framework for colonization events worldwide.
Resonant light scattering from weakly rough metal surfaces

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the resonant light scattering from weakly rough metal surfaces. A broad development of new theoretical and experimental techniques has been stimulated by a variety of interesting and even remarkable phenomena noted in this field. The chapter illustrates that if the structure of a rough surface allows incident and outgoing waves to interact with surface plasmon polaritons, unusual effects such as, backscattering enhancement and bands may be seen in the diffusely scattered light. All these phenomena represent multiple scattering in the sense that they require an interaction with at least two surface wavenumbers, with the surface plasmon polariton providing an intermediate resonant scattering channel. The relevant theoretical methods are still under development, and with a wide range of opportunities also available for experimental investigation, surface scattering should remain a highly active field for many years to come.
Development of bead based multiplexed immunoassay for evaluation of midkine, syndecan-1, and ANGPTL4 in patient serum

ABSTRACTBackground: Angiogenesis is associated with tumor progression in a range of malignancies. Herein, we develop custom immunobead assays for several mechanistically important targets and evaluated these against sera from cohorts of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients.Methods: Antigen “capture” antibodies for midkine, syndecan-1, and ANGPTL4 were independently conjugated to MagPlex® Microspheres using standard carbodiimide/NHS-based chemistry. These reagents served as the basis for quantitative sandwich assay assembly using biotinylated detection antibodies and R-phycoerythrin-conjugated streptavidin reporter system. Standard curves were created using dilution series of recombinant target proteins with assay performance characteristics calculated, accordingly. Finally, we evaluated a range of serum samples from NSCLC patients (n = 32) to verify assay performance.Results: Multiplexed assays for midkine, syndecan-1, and ANGPTL4 were developed with three orders of magnitude in dynamic range, exce...
Pronouns: Students’ Worst Enemy in the Foreign Language Classroom

espanolEste articulo reporta los resultados de un estudio en el que se buscaba la categoria lexico-gramatical con mas errores en un corpus de 90 redacciones en espanol escritas por estudiantes angloparlantes matriculados en los cursos de 2o, 3o y 4o semestre a nivel universitario. Se uso la tecnica de analisis de errores y la creacion de una taxonomia para contar, identificar, describir y clasificar los errores. Sorprendentemente, la categoria con mas errores (vs. formas correctas) no fue verbos, como se esperaba, sino pronombres en 2o y 4o, asi como la segunda con mas errores en 3o. El articulo describe que tipo de errores se encontraron, como evolucionaron de semestre a semestre y sus posibles causas. Se incluyen algunas recomendaciones pedagogicas, como la necesidad de dar mas instruccion en clase sobre este tema tan complicado. EnglishIn the Spanish-as-a-foreign-language class, there is a vast amount of classroom instruction (and textbook attention) dedicated to verbs, assuming that this is the most difficult issue for native English speakers to learn. A research study was carried out to confirm this common assumption. Error analysis was used and a lexico-grammatical taxonomy was created to count, identify, describe and classify the written errors found in ninety unaided compositions from 2nd-, 3rd-, and 4th-semester courses. Surprisingly, the category with the highest internal error rate in 2nd- and 4th-semester courses and the second highest in 3rd-semester courses was pronouns. A description of errors by type and their evolution from one semester to the next is included. An obvious cause for errors was found to be the interference of the L1. Pedagogical implications include the need to strengthen instruction of this apparently neglected category of pronouns at all levels of proficiency.
School Quality and Earnings

The article reviews the literature on the relation between school resources and earnings. Studies vary on whether there is a significant relationship, with studies that focus on more recent generations and that measure school resources of the actual school attended being less likely to find an effect. Even the most optimistic estimates suggest that increasing school resources is likely to increase wages by only a very small amount. Policies designed to keep students in school longer are likely to be more cost effective than increasing spending per pupil. The article also summarizes alternative explanations for the variations observed across studies.
Pressure Field Data Acquisition on a Physical Well Model Using a Minicomputer

A physical well model is being used to determine the efficiency of various well screens and well screen development techniques at the Bureau of Reclamation Hydraulic Laboratory in Denver, Colorado. Head losses due to the effects of size, orientation, and configuration of the openings in different types of well screens can be lessened through various well development techniques. This reduction of head loss is beneficial because, when the head loss is reduced for a particular well, the pumping cost associated with that well can also be reduced.
A Price Theory of Multi-sided Platforms: Reply

I appreciate the clarification of my work by Tan and Wright, regret the confusing way my equations were labeled and intended them to be interpreted in the manner they suggest is correct.
Legacy habitat contamination as a limiting factor for Chinook salmon recovery in the Willamette Basin, Oregon, USA

In the western United States, the long-term recovery of many Pacific salmon populations is inextricably linked to freshwater habitat quality. Industrial activities from the past century have left a legacy of pollutants that persist, particularly near working waterfronts. The adverse impacts of these contaminants on salmon health have been studied for decades, but the population-scale consequences of chemical exposure for salmonids are still poorly understood. We estimated acute and delayed mortality rates for seaward migrating juvenile Chinook salmon that feed and grow in a Superfund-designated area in the Lower Willamette River in Portland, Oregon. We combined previous, field-collected exposure data for juvenile Chinook salmon together with reduced growth and disease resistance data from earlier field and laboratory studies. Estimates of mortality were then incorporated into a life cycle model to explore chemical habitat-related fish loss. We found that 54% improved juvenile survival-potentially as a result of future remediation activities-could increase adult Chinook salmon population abundance by more than 20%. This study provides a framework for evaluating pollution remediation as a positive driver for species recovery.
Use of Ventilatory Efficiency Slope as a Marker for Increased Mortality in Wild-Type Transthyretin Cardiac Amyloidosis.

Wild-type transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTRwt) results in an infiltrative cardiomyopathy often culminating in symptomatic heart failure. The use of cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) in determining outcomes in ATTRwt cardiac amyloidosis is unknown. Given the emergence of novel therapies to treat transthyretin amyloidosis, we sought to investigate the utility of CPET on outcomes in patients with ATTRwt cardiomyopathy. Fifty-six patients, with biopsy and immunohistochemically proved ATTRwt, were enrolled between 2005 and 2015, as part of an NIH ATTRwt substudy at the Boston University Amyloidosis Center. Patients were prospectively studied, which included laboratory tests, electrocardiogram, echocardiography, in addition to CPET. In this cohort of ATTRwt patients who performed CPET were elderly, all were male, and predominantly white (69.9%). The overall median survival was 59.01 months (95% confidence interval [CI] 49.29 to 88.69). By multivariate analysis, C-reactive protein (CRP; hazard ratio [HR] 1.10 [1.03 to 1.18]), decreased sodium (HR 0.75 [0.58 to 0.97]), creatinine (HR 7.48 [2.44 to 22.98]) and VE/VCO2 (HR 1.10 [1.05 to 1.16]) were significant risk factors for mortality (p 40 had a worse median survival of 38.54 months (95% CI 32.63 to 51.47) versus 88.69 months (95% CI 56.26 to 89.49) than patients with VE/VCO2 slope ≤40. Receiver-operating characteristic curve showed that the combination of VE/VCO2, CRP, sodium, and creatinine (Area under the ROC Curve [AUC], 0.89) predicted 1-year mortality in ATTRwt cardiac amyloidosis. In conclusion, increased VE/VCO2, in combination with CRP, sodium, and creatinine, may identify patients at increased risk of death in ATTRwt cardiomyopathy. VE/VCO2 might have a role in objectively assessing therapeutic response in ATTRwt cardiac amyloidosis.