cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Coronary Angiography of Native Vessels

Cardiac computed tomography (CT) is a robust technology for the non-invasive assessment for a spectrum of cardiovascular disease processes. This image modality has been used to provide assessment of atherosclerotic plaque burden and coronary artery disease risk through coronary calcium scoring for 20 years and CT angiography for over 10 years [1]. While electron beam tomography has been used to perform CT angiography (CTA) for well over a decade, this modality has been largely supplanted by multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) due to higher spatial resolution, improved slice thickness, and greater availability. MDCT scanners with x-ray tubes rotating fast enough to allow coronary artery imaging (500 milliseconds [ms] or less per rotation) became available in the late 1990s. The temporal resolution of MDCT is a little more than half the time it takes for the x-ray gantry to complete a 360 ◦ rotation around the patient when using half-scan reconstruction. Thus, typical rotation speeds are 330–420 ms (depending on vendor), so half-scan reconstruction results in rotation speeds of 200–250 ms. The nominal temporal resolution can be improved by a factor of 2–3 (depending on the heart rate) by segmented reconstruction techniques that combine projection data acquired during two or more cardiac cycles into one image. This has been done in two ways. Combining images from consecutive heartbeats is widely available on all current 64-detector systems (multisegment reconstruction). The Dual Source CT (Siemens, Erlangen, Germany) can also obtain similar temporal resolution by combining images from two detector arrays in the same heartbeat. In this way, current MDCT scanners can acquire up to 64 slices simultaneously with a maximum temporal resolution as low as 100 ms. Because of the high motion velocity of the coronary arteries, CT scanners must have temporal resolution of <50 ms to provide motion-free images of the beating heart. Since that level of temporal resolution is not yet available with current MDCT scanners, use of beta-blockers is routine. Most centers utilize oral beta-blockers prior to patient arrival at the scanning center if possible, and subsequent use of intravenous
Rapid Prototyping for Neural Networks

A massively parallel, all-digital, stochastic architecture — TInMANN — is described which performs competitive and Kohonen types of learning at rates as high as 145,000 training examples per second. TInMANN is composed of very simple neurons and is very amenable to VLSI implementation, but rapid advances in IC technology and neural network theory reduce the rewards of such an endeavor. As an alternative, we discuss the rapid-prototyping of a bit-serial version of TInMANN using commercially available logic cell arrays and RAMs.
Jamming-resistant communication in multi-channel multi-hop multi-path wireless networks

The broadcast nature of wireless links makes wireless communication extremely vulnerable to jamming attacks. There has been a significant body of research in the literature that addresses jamming attacks at different layers of the network, exploiting various layer-specific techniques. However, these separate efforts have never been integrated, examined and optimized in a cross-layer manner. In this paper, we propose a cross-layer anti-jamming system to achieve optimized network throughput in a multi-channel multi-hop multi-path wireless network. Specifically, we formulate the routing and scheduling problem as a linear programming problem, the solution of which provides an upper bound on the feasible effective network throughput for the joint routing, scheduling and traffic allocation protocols. Based on this solution, we further propose a learning based dynamic channel assignment scheme to approximate the achievable network throughput. Simulation studies are also performed to evaluate the performance of the proposed anti-jamming scheme under different jamming strategies.
Highly parallel single-molecule identification of proteins in zeptomole-scale mixtures.

Single-protein molecules are identified in parallel through fluorescence monitoring of Edman degradation. The identification and quantification of proteins lags behind DNA-sequencing methods in scale, sensitivity, and dynamic range. Here, we show that sparse amino acid–sequence information can be obtained for individual protein molecules for thousands to millions of molecules in parallel. We demonstrate selective fluorescence labeling of cysteine and lysine residues in peptide samples, immobilization of labeled peptides on a glass surface, and imaging by total internal reflection microscopy to monitor decreases in each molecule's fluorescence after consecutive rounds of Edman degradation. The obtained sparse fluorescent sequence of each molecule was then assigned to its parent protein in a reference database. We tested the method on synthetic and naturally derived peptide molecules in zeptomole-scale quantities. We also fluorescently labeled phosphoserines and achieved single-molecule positional readout of the phosphorylated sites. We measured >93% efficiencies for dye labeling, survival, and cleavage; further improvements should enable studies of increasingly complex proteomic mixtures, with the high sensitivity and digital quantification offered by single-molecule sequencing.
A decade of interfacility extracorporeal membrane oxygenation transport

Abstract Objective Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is used to provide support for patients with cardiopulmonary failure. Best available medical management often fails in these patients and referring hospitals have no further recourse for escalating care apart from transfer to a tertiary facility. In severely unstable patients, the only option might be to use ECMO to facilitate safe transport. This study aimed to examine the characteristics and outcomes of patients transported while receiving ECMO. Methods Statistical analysis was performed on data gathered retrospectively from the electronic medical records of adult patients transported while receiving ECMO to Columbia University Medical Center between January 1, 2008, and December 31, 2017. Results Two hundred sixty five adult patients were safely transported while receiving ECMO with no transport-related complications that adversely affected outcomes. Transport distance ranged from 0.2 to 7084 miles with a median distance of 16.9 miles. One hundred eighty-three (69%) received on veno-venous, 72 (27%) veno-arterial, and 10 (3.8%) veno-venous arterial or veno-arterial venous configurations. Two hundred ten (79%) cannulations were performed at our institution at the referring hospital. Sixty-four percent of patients transported while receiving ECMO survived to hospital discharge. Conclusions Interfacility transport during ECMO was shown to be safe and effective with minimal complications and favorable outcomes when performed at an experienced referral center using stringently applied protocols.
Ultrasound shear wave elastography effectively predicts integrity of ventral hernia repair using acellular dermal matrix augmented with platelet-rich plasma (PRP)

Complications of ventral hernia repair (VHR) may be investigated by computed tomography or ultrasound (US) but neither modality gives a quantifiable metric of repair quality short of identifying hernia recurrence. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP), a growth factor-rich autologous blood product, has been shown to improve incorporation of native tissue with bioprosthetics. In this study, we investigate the effect of PRP on the incorporation and mechanical integrity of a non-crosslinked porcine acellular dermal matrix (pADM) in a rodent model of VHR and the correlative ability of ultrasound shear wave elastography (US-SWE) to assess repair quality. PRP was isolated from whole blood of Lewis rats. Twenty-eight Lewis rats underwent chronic VHR using either pADM alone or augmented with autologous PRP prior to non-invasive imaging assessment and specimen harvest at either 3 or 6 months. US-SWE was performed to estimate the Young’s modulus prior to histological assessment and data from PRP-treated rodents were compared to controls. Implanted pADM was easily distinguishable by US-SWE imaging in all cases analyzed in this study. The mean Young’s modulus measured was 1.78 times and 2.54 times higher in PRP-treated samples versus control at 3-month and 6-month time points respectively (p < 0.05). At 3 months, qualitative and quantitative histology revealed decreased inflammation and improved incorporation in PRP-treated samples along the implant/abdominal wall interface. At 6 months, the PRP cohort had no hernia recurrence and preserved ADM integrity from immunologic degradation, while all control animals suffered hernia recurrence (4/6) or extreme ADM thinning (2/6). This study confirms both the efficacy of PRP in augmenting VHR using pADM, as well as the reliability of US-SWE to non-invasively predict the quality of VHR. Although further human studies are necessary, this work supports PRP use to improve VHR outcomes and US-SWE potential for bedside non-invasive hernia characterization.
Actions and Attitudes Regarding Middle-Grade LGBTQ Students: Principals’ Perspectives:

This study examined Indiana public middle school principals’ perceptions of school conditions and stakeholders’ attitudes regarding middle-grade lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning...
Abstract 4034: DCLK1 is upregulated in melanoma and it is a novel predictive marker for survival and response

Melanoma is the deadliest form of all skin cancer, and the incidence of melanoma has been rising for the last 30 years. There are only a few reported biomarkers for prediction and prognosis for melanoma, therefore, there is an unmet medical need to identify predictive and prognostic biomarkers. Doublecortin-like kinase 1 (DCLK1) marks a population of tumor-initiating cells in colonic and pancreatic cancers, and it is overexpressed in many solid tumors. Our preliminary studies suggest that DCLK1 is overexpressed in serum samples of melanoma patients and it maybe a novel biomarker for melanoma. In this study we examined DCLK1 expression in melanoma tumor tissues and further evaluated whether its levels in serum could be quantitatively assessed in melanoma patients before and after therapy treatment. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) analysis was performed to detect DCLK1 in a tissue microarray with 60 tumor and normal adjacent tissues (NAT) from melanoma patients. ELISA assay were performed to detect DCLK1 levels in the serum samples of melanoma patients before and after treatment. Western blotting was also performed to detect DCLK1 protein in the serum samples of melanoma patients. Additionally, analysis of DCLK1 and correlative gene expressions was performed using TCGA Melanoma dataset. Here we report that the intensity of DCLK1 staining in melanoma tumor tissues are significantly increased compared to NAT. DCLK1 levels in the serum were elevated in melanoma patients (n=65) compared to healthy volunteers. Patients with higher levels of serum DCLK1 had reduced overall survival compared to patients with lower levels of serum DCLK1. We also compared DCLK1 levels in 10 patients for whom pre- and post- treatment samples were available. Among these patients, seven had elevated DCLK1 before treatment and had a significantly decrease (about 30-50%) in serum DCLK after treatment. Three patients had no change in DCLK1 levels after treatment. Interestingly, the patients with decrease level of DCLK1 post-treatment demonstrated significant clinical responses to therapy, however, the patients with no change in DCLK1 level post therapy showed no clinical improvement (p Citation Format: Dongfeng Qu, Nathaniel Weygant, Parthasarathy Chandrakesan, Kamille Pitts, Randal May, Adam Asch, Alexandra Ikeguchi, Courtney Houchen. DCLK1 is upregulated in melanoma and it is a novel predictive marker for survival and response [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 4034.
Analyzing domain knowledge for big data analysis: A case study with urban tree type classification

The goals of this research were to create a labeled dataset of tree shadows and to test the feasibility of shadow-based tree type identification using aerial imagery. Urban tree big data that provides information about individual trees can help city planners optimize positive benefits of urban trees (e.g., increasing wellbeing of city residents) while managing potential negative impacts (e.g., risk to power lines). The continual rise of tree type specific threats, such as emerald ash borer, due to climate change has made this problem more pressing in recent years. However, urban tree big data are time consuming to create. This paper evaluates the potential of a new tree type identification method that utilizes shadows in aerial imagery to survey larger regions of land in a shorter amount of time. This work is challenging because there are structural variations across a given tree type and few verified tree type identification datasets exist. Related work has not explored how tree structure characteristics translate into a profile view of a tree’s shadow or quantified the feasibility of shadow-only based tree type identification. We created a consistent and accurate dataset of 4,613 tree shadows using ground truthing procedures and novel methods for ensuring consistent collection of spatial shadow data that take binary and spatial agreement between raters into account. Our results show that identifying trees from shadows in aerial imagery is feasible and merits further exploration in the future.
Implications Of The Rapid Growth Of The Nurse Practitioner Workforce In The US

Concerns about physician shortages have led policy makers in the US public and private sectors to advocate for the greater use of nurse practitioners (NPs). We examined recent changes in demographi...
CCNE1 and BRD4 co-amplification in high-grade serous ovarian cancer is associated with poor clinical outcomes.

Abstract Objective High-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) is the most common and lethal histological subtype of epithelial ovarian cancer. HGSOC with cyclin E1 gene (CCNE1) amplification and bromodomain and extraterminal 4 (BRD4) amplification have been associated with poor outcomes. Our objective was to evaluate clinical outcomes of HGSOC with co-amplification of CCNE1 and BRD4 and high protein expression of cyclin E and BRD4. Methods Copy number amplification data were extracted from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) for 579 HGSOC. Reverse phase protein array (RPPA) TCGA data were used to determine cyclin E and BRD4 protein expression in 482 HGSOC. Cyclin E and BRD4 protein expression by immunohistochemistry (IHC) was evaluated in a tissue microarray (TMA) of 110 HGSOC. Measured clinical outcomes were survival and platinum sensitivity. Results Of 30% of HGSOC with amplifications in CCNE1 or BRD4, 8% have both CCNE1 and BRD4 amplification. Protein expression of cyclin E and BRD4 are positively correlated, both by RPPA (r = 0.23; p Conclusion HGSOC with CCNE1 and BRD4 co-amplification are associated with poor overall survival. Further studies are warranted to determine the use of protein expression by IHC as a surrogate marker for CCNE1 and BRD4 co-amplified HGSOC.
GDE2-Dependent Activation of Canonical Wnt Signaling in Neurons Regulates Oligodendrocyte Maturation.

Summary Neurons and oligodendrocytes communicate to regulate oligodendrocyte development and ensure appropriate axonal myelination. Here, we show that Glycerophosphodiester phosphodiesterase 2 (GDE2) signaling underlies a neuronal pathway that promotes oligodendrocyte maturation through the release of soluble neuronally derived factors. Mice lacking global or neuronal GDE2 expression have reduced mature oligodendrocytes and myelin proteins but retain normal numbers of oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs). Wild-type (WT) OPCs cultured in conditioned medium (CM) from Gde2-null (Gde2KO) neurons exhibit delayed maturation, recapitulating in vivo phenotypes. Gde2KO neurons show robust reduction in canonical Wnt signaling, and genetic activation of Wnt signaling in Gde2KO neurons rescues in vivo and in vitro oligodendrocyte maturation. Phosphacan, a known stimulant of oligodendrocyte maturation, is reduced in CM from Gde2KO neurons but is restored when Wnt signaling is activated. These studies identify GDE2 control of Wnt signaling as a neuronal pathway that signals to oligodendroglia to promote oligodendrocyte maturation.
A Two-Stage Decomposition Approach for AC Optimal Power Flow

The alternating current optimal power flow (AC-OPF) problem is critical to power system operations and planning, but it is generally hard to solve due to its nonconvex and large-scale nature. This paper proposes a scalable decomposition approach in which the power network is decomposed into a master network and a number of subnetworks, where each network has its own AC-OPF subproblem. This formulates a two-stage optimization problem and requires only a small amount of communication between the master and subnetworks. The key contribution is a smoothing technique that renders the response of a subnetwork differentiable with respect to the input from the master problem, utilizing properties of the barrier problem formulation that naturally arises when subproblems are solved by a primal-dual interior-point algorithm. Consequently, existing efficient nonlinear programming solvers can be used for both the master problem and the subproblems. The advantage of this framework is that speedup can be obtained by processing the subnetworks in parallel, and it has convergence guarantees under reasonable assumptions. The formulation is readily extended to instances with stochastic subnetwork loads. Numerical results show favorable performance and illustrate the scalability of the algorithm which is able to solve instances with more than 11 million buses.
Relationship Between Peat Type and Microbial Ecology in Sphagnum-Containing Peatlands of the Adirondack Mountains, NY, USA.

Peatland microbial community composition varies with respect to a range of biological and physicochemical variables. While the extent of peat degradation (humification) has been linked to microbial community composition along vertical stratification gradients within peatland sites, across-site variations have been relatively unexplored. In this study, we compared microbial communities across ten pristine Sphagnum-containing peatlands in the Adirondack Mountains, NY, which represented three different peat types—humic fen peat, humic bog peat, and fibric bog peat. Using 16S amplicon sequencing and network correlation analysis, we demonstrate that microbial community composition is primarily linked to peat type, and that distinct taxa networks distinguish microbial communities in each type. Shotgun metagenomic sequencing of the active water table region (mesotelm) from two Sphagnum-dominated bogs—one with fibric peat and one with humic peat—revealed differences in primary carbon degradation pathways, with the fibric peat being dominated by carbohydrate metabolism and hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis, and the humic peat being dominated by aliphatic carbon metabolism and aceticlastic methanogenesis. Our results suggest that peat humification is a major factor driving microbial community dynamics across peatland ecosystems.
The hard limit on human nonanthropocentrism

There may be a limit on our capacity to suppress anthropocentric tendencies toward non-human others. Normally, we do not reach this limit in our dealings with animals, the environment, etc. Thus, continued striving to overcome anthropocentrism when confronted with these non-human others may be justified. Anticipation of super artificial intelligence may force us to face this limit, denying us the ability to free ourselves completely of anthropocentrism. This could be for our own good.
Amyloid arthropathy in smoldering myeloma: Do not take it lightly

We report a case of smoldering multiple myeloma patient who developed signs and symptoms consistent with polyarthritis. A PET-CT demonstrated marked FDG activity in multiple joints, concerning for inflammatory arthritis. Arthrocentesis from the glenohumeral joint was consistent with inflammatory synovial fluid with no evidence for infection or crystals. Congo-red stain of the synovial fluid was positive, and mass-spectrometry based amyloid typing was consistent with wild-type transthyretin type. The patient responded instantly to glucocorticoids. This case reports highlights the feasibility of non-tissue diagnosis of amyloidosis using body fluids and underscores the importance of accurate typing to avoid erroneous treatment.
Periodontal Disease and Breast Cancer Risk: Results from the Nurses' Health Study

Background: While periodontal disease has been linked to increased cancer risk, studies regarding an association with breast cancer are limited. Methods: We examined the relationship between self-reported diagnosis of periodontal bone loss and incidence of breast cancer in a large, prospective cohort study, the Nurses9 Health Study (1998–2014). We calculated HRs using Cox proportional hazards modeling, adjusting for risk factors common to both periodontal disease and breast cancer. Results: During 1,023,647 person-years of follow-up, 5,110 of breast cancer cases were reported. We observed no association between periodontal disease and overall breast cancer risk (HR, 1.02; 95% confidence interval: 0.94–1.10); the association was not modified by smoking status, or other breast cancer risk factors or by breast tumor subtypes. Conclusions: We did not observe any association between periodontal disease and breast cancer risk. Impact: Given inconsistent findings in the literature, further research with standardized clinical measures of periodontitis is warranted.
Mechanisms of Smoothened Regulation in Hedgehog Signaling

The seven-transmembrane protein, Smoothened (SMO), has shown to be critical for the hedgehog (HH) signal transduction on the cell membrane (and the cilium in vertebrates). SMO is subjected to multiple types of post-translational regulations, including phosphorylation, ubiquitination, and sumoylation, which alter SMO intracellular trafficking and cell surface accumulation. Recently, SMO is also shown to be regulated by small molecules, such as oxysterol, cholesterol, and phospholipid. The activity of SMO must be very well balanced by these different mechanisms in vivo because the malfunction of SMO will not only cause developmental defects in early stages, but also induce cancers in late stages. Here, we discuss the activation and inactivation of SMO by different mechanisms to better understand how SMO is regulated by the graded HH signaling activity that eventually governs distinct development outcomes.
Organoaluminum chemistry : II. The oxidation of some unsaturated aluminum compounds with cobalt chloride

Abstract I -Butynyldiethylaluminum (I), I -butenyldiethylaluminum (II), and (4-methyl- I -pentenyl)diisobutylaluminum (III) react with cobalt chloride in ether to furnish a complex array of products including much polymeric material. Benzene, which was isolated from the oxidation of compound (I), was shown to arise from initially formed I -butyne by trimerization and subsequent dealkylation. A α-arenecobalt(I) surface complex is postulated to account for the cyclization. The oxidation of compound (II) yields trans-3-octene and trans-4-octene, while compound (III) gives rise to two C20H38 hydrocarbons which differ only in the position of the double bonds, and a C23H54 hydrocarbon. These results are shown to be consistent with the previously proposed mechanism for the oxidation of aluminum alkyls by metal halides1.
Case Studies in the US National Science Digital Library: DL-in-a-Box, CITIDEL, and OCKHAM

Digital libraries can support education, as is being shown through work on the US National Science Digital Library. We explain this approach, highlighting issues and innovations, by considering three case studies. The Digital Library in a Box project aims to make construction of digital libraries fast, easy, and effective, building upon a suite of powerful components. The Computing and Information Technology Interactive Digital Educational Library (CITIDEL) project supports the community interested in computing-related areas with a large and growing collection of resources and services. The OCKHAM project aims to move the DL field into a next generation, through peer-to-peer services, lightweight reference models, lightweight protocols, and pools of components. Altogether, these parts of NSDL suggest that it is possible for many nations to support teaching and learning with digital libraries, and that it may be time to launch an International Education Digital Library Association.
Hybrid Manufacturing System Modeling Environment Using VRML

Manufacturing systems are complex entities, comprised of people, processes, products, information systems and data, and material processing, handling, and storage systems. Because of this complexity, systems must be modeled using a variety of views and modeling formalisms. In order to design and properly integrate system functions, the multiple views and models must often be considered simultaneously. However, no single tool or computing environment currently exists that allows this to be done in an efficient and intelligible manner. Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRML) provides a variety of features which make it attractive for use in developing such environments. This paper describes how a team at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (VPI) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is using VRML as a hybrid manufacturing-modeling environment. Different manufacturing scenarios that are being investigated with the environment and future research directions are also discussed.
Attachment Security and Oxytocin Receptor Gene Polymorphism Interact to Influence Affectionate Communication

The present study investigated the interaction of attachment security and genotype in the oxytocin receptor gene on affectionate communication. Specifically, we predicted that individuals’ genotype for the single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs53576 on the oxytocin receptor gene would show a stronger influence in individuals with weak attachment security compared to individuals with strong attachment security. One hundred sixty-four participants completed questionnaire measures about their attachment security and affectionate communication and provided saliva samples for genetic analysis. In support of a predicted gene-environment interaction (G x E) interaction, the GG genotype showed a stronger influence on affectionate communication for people low in attachment security than for people high in attachment security. These results support the (G x E) approach to understanding the relationship between genetics and environmental triggers, as the influence of genotype for rs53576 on affectionate communicati...
Carl E. Braaten, No Other Gospel! Christianity among the World's Religions

Carl E. Braaten, No Other Gospel! Christianity among the World's Religions Minneapolis, USA: Fortress Press, 1992. Paperback: 146 pp. including endnotes and index.
Robust Fixed-Structure Controller Synthesis

The ability to develop an integrated control system design methodology for robust high performance controllers satisfying multiple design criteria and real world hardware constraints constitutes a challenging task. The increasingly stringent performance specifications required for controlling such systems necessitates a trade-off between controller complexity and robustness. The principle challenge of the minimal complexity robust control design is to arrive at a tractable control design formulation in spite of the extreme complexity of such systems. Hence, design of minimal complexitY robust controllers for systems in the face of modeling errors has been a major preoccupation of system and control theorists and practitioners for the past several decades.
Controllability, recognizability, and complexity issues in robot motion planning

Path planning has been widely studied by computer scientists. However, it is a very simplified version of the motion planning problems occurring in robotics. This paper examines extensions yielding two important issues: controllability and recognizability. The controllability issue arises when the number of controls is smaller than the number of independent parameters defining the robot's configuration: Can the motions span the configuration space? The recognizability issue occurs when there are errors in control and sensing: Can the robot recognize goal achievement? Both issues have interesting impact on the computational complexity of motion planning. This paper will also discuss a new path planning scheme based on random sampling of configuration space, to deal with many-degree-of-freedom robots. The blend of controllability, recognizability, and complexity issues discussed in this paper is unique to robotics and its study is key to the development of autonomous robots.
Genetic correction of p67phox deficient chronic granulomatous disease using peripheral blood progenitor cells as a target for retrovirus mediated gene transfer.

Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) can result from any of four single gene defects involving the components of the superoxide (O 2 - ) generating phagocyte nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase. We show that transduction of peripheral blood CD34 + hematopoietic progenitors from a p67 phox deficient CGD patient with replication defective amphotropic retrovirus encoding p67 phox (MFGS-p67 phox ) significantly corrected the CGD functional defect in phagocyte oxidase activity in vitro. Using a chemiluminescence assay of oxidase activity, we showed that transduced patient CD34 + progenitors differentiating to myeloid cells in culture produced 25% of the total superoxide produced by normal CD34 + progenitors differentiating in culture. A flow cytometric assay of oxidase activity used to assess the oxidase function of individual cells in the cultures indicated that up to 32% of maturing granulocytes derived from transduced CD34 + progenitors from the p67 phox CGD patient were oxidase positive with the average level of correction per granulocyte of 85% of that seen with granulocytes in similar cultures of CD34 + progenitors from normal volunteers. Nitroblue tetrazolium dye reduction assays of colonies of transduced progenitors in soft agar indicated that in some studies restoration of oxidase activity occurred in myeloid cells within 44% of granulocyte-erythrocyte-monocyte colonies, and within 28% of the combined group of granulocyte colonies/monocyte colonies/granulocyte-monocyte colonies. These high correction rates were achieved without any selective regimen to enrich for transduced cells. This study provides a basis for development of gene therapy for the p67 phox deficient form of CGD. This is a US government work. There are no restrictions on its use.
Intensity-modulated radiation therapy with dose-painting for pediatric sarcomas with pulmonary metastases

Background We examined patterns of failure in pediatric patients with thoracic sarcoma and pulmonary metastases treated with intensity-modulated radiation therapy with dose-painting (DP-IMRT). Procedure Eleven pediatric patients, five with Ewing sarcoma family tumors (ESFT) and six with rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), with primary thoracic tumors and pulmonary metastases underwent DP-IMRT with chemotherapy for definitive treatment. Eight patients also underwent surgery. Median time to RT was 21 (15–31) weeks. Nine patients received 45–50.4–Gy in 1.8 Gy fractions to the primary tumor (n = 3) or post-operative tumor bed (n = 6). Two patients ≤4 years received 12 Gy intraoperative radiation therapy and 30.6–36 Gy IMRT postoperatively to the tumor bed. All patients received 14–16.8 Gy in 0.54–0.88 Gy fractions to the whole lungs (n = 6) or hemithorax (n = 5) using dose-painting technique. A representative case was re-planned with IMRT plus standard AP/PA whole lung irradiation (WLI) for dosimetric comparison. Results With 27-month median follow-up, 3-year pulmonary relapse-free survival in all patients was 61%: 80% for RMS and 40% for ESFT. Five patients (4 ESFT and 1 RMS) experienced pulmonary relapse at median 16 (9–41) months. There were no local failures. Our representative case demonstrated more homogeneous target volume coverage of the whole lungs and decreased mean dose to esophagus (15%), heart (31%), spinal cord (15%), and liver (19%) with DP-IMRT. Conclusions The treatment of children with a primary thoracic tumor and pulmonary metastases poses a significant challenge. DP-IMRT is one solution to this technical problem. Initial data from this small series suggest DP-IMRT is feasible and produces superior sparing of critical normal tissues. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2013;60:1616–1620. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The kinetics of the catalytic hydrogenation of benzene on supported nickel and nickel oxide catalysts

In the development of a pilot unit for studying reactions involving heterogeneous catalysis a nickel catalyst was selected for the initial study, and the hydrogenation of benzene in a fluidized reactor using nickel and nickel oxide supported on silica gel was investigated for the reaction C6H6 + 3 H2 → C6H12 at temperatures of 150—220° for the nickel oxide study and 220–275° for nickel, pressures being 25–100 p.s.i.g. and molal ratios of hydrogen to benzene ranging from 0·5 to 3·9. The data were correlated with an equation of the form By observing how the history of the catalyst affects its activity some of the known erratic behaviour of nickel catalysts is now better understood. The reported rate equation and constants for various activity levels for nickel catalyst enable a more intelligent design of chemical reactors employing this catalyst.
A commentary on the views of environmental groups on access control in fisheries

Abstract This paper assesses the views of various environmental groups on access control in fisheries, as stated in documents prepared by these groups. The views range from outright opposition to tentative promotion. Differing views on the definition of conservation, the appropriate make-up of the fishing industry and the likely make-up with and without access control, and the appropriate nature of property rights for fisheries are highlighted. An important aspect of the last issue is the concern over potential ‘takings’ problems under the Fifth Amendment to the US Constitution when management is imposed in rights-based fisheries regimes.
Microchannel plates: recent advances in performance

Microchannel plates have, because of their adaptability to various size and configuration formats, allowed a wide range of devices to be realized in astronomical applications for X-ray, UV and visible sensing, employing many different forms of readout techniques and photocathode types. Two essential performance issues are the quantum detection efficiency, and the uniformity of response over the detector field of view. In both of these areas microchannel plates have had issues, both in the consistency of high quantum detection efficiency, and in fixed pattern noise introduced by fabrication processes for microchannel plates. We show that recent work has improved the consistency of obtaining high quantum detection efficiency, and has virtually eliminated the causes of fixed pattern noise due to fabrication issues.
Electron microscopic observations of peripheral myelin in a central nervous system lesion

After cyanide intoxication and after triethyltin implantation in the brain, cystic spaces were found in the forebrains, of two rats. Within these spaces, many examples of remyelinating axons were observed. Most of them displayed typical mature or developing “central type” myelin sheaths. Some, however, showed all the morphological features characteristic of mature or developing peripheral myelin. In both rats, the cavities of the cysts were open to the overlying subarachnoid spaces due to partial disruption of the subpial astrocytic layer. It was concluded that the myelin-forming cells responsible for the formation of the “peripheral type” myelin within the cyst were probably Schwann cells derived from peripheral nervous elements accompanying some subarachnoid blood vessels. It could not be determined whether the axons within the “peripheral type” sheaths were part of the central or peripheral nervous systems. These data might be relevant to the origin of central neurinomas.
Articulating everyday actions: an activity theoretical approach to scrum

In this paper, we detail findings about the use of Scrum--a widely adopted agile software development framework--among a student game development team. Looking closely at six weeks of Scrum practices from a larger fifteen-week ethnography, we describe how Scrum strongly mediates everyday actions for the thirteen participants we studied. In analyzing our data, we deployed activity theory in concert with genre theory to better understand how participants repeatedly articulated and coarticulated finite, goal-directed, individual actions in the service of a broader, ongoing, shared objective. We offer, therefore, a way of understanding the Scrum process framework as a powerful orienting genre that facilitates collective development practice by stabilizing and intermediating a host of related, dynamic genres and artifacts.
Mixed layer sub-mesoscale parameterization – Part 1: Derivation and assessment

Abstract. Several studies have shown that sub-mesoscales (SM ~1 km horizontal scale) play an important role in mixed layer dynamics. In particular, high resolution simulations have shown that in the case of strong down-front wind, the re-stratification induced by the SM is of the same order of the de-stratification induced by small scale turbulence, as well as of that induced by the Ekman velocity. These studies have further concluded that it has become necessary to include SM in ocean global circulation models (OGCMs), especially those used in climate studies. The goal of our work is to derive and assess an analytic parameterization of the vertical tracer flux under baroclinic instabilities and wind of arbitrary directions and strength. To achieve this goal, we have divided the problem into two parts: first, in this work we derive and assess a parameterization of the SM vertical flux of an arbitrary tracer for ocean codes that resolve mesoscales, M, but not sub-mesoscales, SM. In Part 2, presented elsewhere, we have used the results of this work to derive a parameterization of SM fluxes for ocean codes that do not resolve either M or SM. To carry out the first part of our work, we solve the SM dynamic equations including the non-linear terms for which we employ a closure developed and assessed in previous work. We present a detailed analysis for down-front and up-front winds with the following results: (a) down-front wind (blowing in the direction of the surface geostrophic velocity) is the most favorable condition for generating vigorous SM eddies; the de-stratifying effect of the mean flow and re-stratifying effect of SM almost cancel each other out, (b) in the up-front wind case (blowing in the direction opposite to the surface geostrophic velocity), strong winds prevents the SM generation while weak winds hinder the process but the eddies amplify the re-stratifying effect of the mean velocity, (c) wind orthogonal to the geostrophic velocity. In this case, which was not considered in numerical simulations, we show that when the wind direction coincides with that of the horizontal buoyancy gradient, SM eddies are generated and their re-stratifying effect partly cancels the de-stratifying effect of the mean velocity. The case when wind direction is opposite to that of the horizontal buoyancy gradient, is analogous to the case of up-front winds. In conclusion, the new multifaceted implications on the mixed layer stratification caused by the interplay of both strength and directions of the wind in relation to the buoyancy gradient disclosed by high resolution simulations have been reproduced by the present model. The present results can be used in OGCMs that resolve M but not SM.
Autoimmune hepatitis in children—Impact of cirrhosis at presentation on natural history and long-term outcome

Abstract Little is known regarding the natural history of autoimmune hepatitis in children. The aims of this longitudinal cohort study were to determine the long-term prognosis of children with autoimmune hepatitis and to determine the effect of cirrhosis at presentation on survival. Methods Thirty-three children with autoimmune hepatitis who were seen at our institution over a 25-year period were studied retrospectively. Results The median age of diagnosis was 12.9 years (2.7–18.1) with a female predominance of 3:1. Liver biopsies showed cirrhosis in 18 (55%) patients at time of diagnosis. Patients with cirrhosis at baseline had a similar 10-year survival 85% (70–100%) to those without cirrhosis 75% (49–100%) (p = 0.97). The overall survival was significantly lower than the expected in the age- and gender-matched U.S. population (log-rank test; p Conclusion AIH in children is associated with a significant shorter survival rate than the expected in the general population. Cirrhosis on initial liver biopsy does not seem to impact long-term survival in children with AIH.
Microstructure, adhesion, and tribological properties of conventional plasma-sprayed coatings on steel substrate

A variety of metallic and oxide coatings were deposited under various conditions on 1020 mild steel substrate by conventional plasma spraying. The coating thickness, microhardness, cohesion and adhesion failure loads, friction coefficient, and abrasive wear resistance were evaluated. The coatings were classified as follows, in order of decreasing microhardness and wear resistance: alumina, chromia, 316 stainless steel, Ni-5% Al, elemental aluminum and aluminum-polyester. Wear resistance increased with increasing microhardness and decreasing friction coefficient. The microhardness and wear resistance of high-velocity oxy-fuel (HVOF) diamond jet (DJ)-sprayed aluminum were found to be superior to those of plasma-sprayed aluminum. Plasma or flame-sprayed metallic coatings adhered well to the substrate. The cohesion, adhesion, microhardness, and wear resistance of alumina coatings exceeded those of equally thick chromia coatings.
ACTIVATION OF CARBON DIOXIDE : GAS-PHASE REACTIONS OF Y+, YO+, AND YO2+ WITH CO AND CO2

Insight into the fundamental character of carbon dioxide activation at metal centers is studied in the gas phase using guided ion beam mass spectrometry. The reactions of Y+ and YO+ with CO2 and the reverse reactions, YO+ and YO2+ with CO, are investigated. To probe the potential energy surfaces of these systems more completely, YO2+ and the complexes OY(CO2)+, OY(CO)+, and O2Y(CO)+ are studied by collisional activation experiments with Xe. Thermochemical analysis of the reaction cross sections obtained in this study yield (in eV) D0(Y+−CO) = 0.31 ± 0.11, D0(OY+−CO) = 0.71 ± 0.04, D0(O2Y+−CO) = 0.69 ± 0.03, and D0(OY+−CO2) = 0.89 ± 0.05.
Room-temperature chemical synthesis of shape-controlled indium nanoparticles.

Shape-controlled metal nanoparticles are of interest because of their wide range of properties that are useful for applications that include optics, electronics, magnetism, and catalysis. Indium metal is an attractive target for nanoparticle synthesis because it is superconducting, plasmonically active, and is a component in low-melting solders and solid-state lubricants. Indium nanoparticles are typically synthesized using harsh physical or chemical techniques, and rigorous shape control is difficult. Here we present a simple and robust kinetically controlled process for synthesizing shape-controlled indium nanoparticles. By controlling the rate of dropwise addition of a solution of NaBH4 in tetraethylene glycol to an alcoholic solution of InCl3 and poly(vinyl pyrrolidone), indium nanoparticles are formed with shapes that include high aspect ratio nanowires and uniform octahedra and truncated octahedra. The zero-dimensional indium nanoparticles exhibit an SPR band centered around 400 nm, and all morpholo...
Phosphorylation of glyoxysomal malate synthase from castor oil seeds Ricinus communis L.

When glyoxysomes isolated from endosperm of 3-day germinated Ricinus communis L. seedlings were incubated with [γ-32P]ATP, phosphorylation of a small number of endogenous glyoxysomal proteins occurrred. A 64 kDa glyoxysomal matrix protein was predominately phosphorylated. Based upon results of immunoprecipitation, 2D-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Western blotting, the 64 kDa phosphorylated protein is identified as the subunit of malate synthase (EC 4.1.3.2). Phosphorylation of malate synthase was completed within 5 min and the amino acid residue phosphorylated was serine. Phosphorylation was inhibited by EDTA, EGTA and NaF, but enhanced by Triton X-100.
Two-stack indirect-barrier/triple-coupled quantum well infrared photodetector for mid-wavelength and long-wavelength infrared detection

We report a two-stack indirect-barrier (IB-) GaAs/Al 0.55 Ga 0.45 As quantum well infrared photodetector (QWIP) for mid-wavelength infrared (MWIR) and a voltage-tunable In 0.05 Ga 0.95 As/GaAs/Al 0.19 Ga 0.81 As triple-coupled (TC-) QWIP for long-wavelength infrared (LWIR) detection. We also investigate the performance dependence of this stacked QWIP with different quantum well periods (20-period and 40- period). The peak responsivity of the 20-period stacked-QWIP at zero bias (PV mode) was found to be 30 mA/W at (lambda) p equals 4.3 micrometer and T equals 40 K. The maximum peak responsivity (PC mode) was found to be 0.25 A/W at (lambda) p equals 4.3 micrometer, V b equals -4 V, and T equals 40 K for the 20-period MWIR IB-QWIP. For the LWIR TC- QWIP, the peak wavelength due to (E 1 yields E 3 ) transition shifts from 10 micrometer to 9.4 micrometer as bias voltage changes from 5 to 7 V and from 9 to 14 V for 20-period and 40 period devices, respectively. A peak responsivity of 0.16 A/W was obtained at (lambda) p equals 9.4 micrometer, V b equals 7 V, and T equals 40 K for the 20-period TC- QWIP. The results show that simultaneous detection of IR radiation at both the MWIR and LWIR bands can be achieved at V b greater than or equal to 7 V or V b less than or equal to -5 V for the 20-period stacked QWIP. It is shown that this two-stack QQWIP can be used as a wavelength-tunable IR detector for the MWIR and LWIR bands.
Biomimetic nano-antenna arrays: A concept for designing sub-wavelength angle-sensing detectors at optical wavelengths

Biologically-inspired coupled antenna arrays that mimic the hyperacute sense of directional hearing of certain insect species have recently been reported and several prototypes of such antennas have been experimentally characterized at microwave frequencies. In this paper, the concept of a two-element biomimetic antenna array is extended to optical frequencies and a new design for a two-element nano-antenna array that can act as a sub-wavelength angle-sensing optical detector is presented. The main feature of the proposed sub-wavelength detector is that it can be used to perform angle sensing without the need to perform coherent measurements at optical frequencies. This is particularly important at infrared and optical frequencies where conducting phase coherent measurement is challenging. The principles of operation of the new nano-antenna array along with the design and simulation results of a prototype are presented and discussed in this paper.