cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Echocardiographic Analysis of an Extracellular Matrix Tricuspid Valve

(Echocardiography 2014;31:E264–E266)Key words: CorMatrix, tricuspid valve, extracellular matrix graft, bioprosthetic valve, echocardiogra-phy, three-dimensional echocardiographyA 26-year-old woman with the diagnosis of adysplastic tricuspid valve was referred for surgicalcorrection due to increasing frequency of dysp-nea on exertion and presyncopal symptoms.Preoperative transthoracic echocardiogram doc-umented severely dilated right-sided chambersand severe tricuspid regurgitation (movie clipS1). The patient was clear that if a repair wasunsuccessful, she did not want a mechanicalvalve replacement.In the operating room, preoperative trans-esophageal echocardiography (TEE) (Vivid I, GEHealthcare, Wauwatosa, WI, USA) again demon-strated severe tricuspid regurgitation (movie clipS2). Initial attempts at repair with closure of mul-tiple leaﬂet fenestrations as part of performing amodiﬁed cone repair and then additionallydownsizing the annulus with a 36-mm tricuspidvalve annuloplasty ring were attempted but ulti-mately failed due to abnormal anterior leaﬂetattachment to the dilated right ventricular (RV)free wall. A custom-made 34-mm extracellularmatrix cylinder valve (ECM-CV; CorMatrix Car-diovascular, Roswell, GA, USA) was used forreplacement. The cylinder valve was constructedfrom a single sheet of ECM fashioned into a cylin-der with a valve height of 1.5 times that of thediameter. It was sewn in circumferentially at theannulus and tacked with pledgeted suture to theRV septum, the RV free wall (there was no ante-rior papillary muscle and the moderator bandwas too remote) and the true posterior papillarymuscle. TEE showed no tricuspid regurgitation inone view (movie clip S3, Fig. 1) and moderateregurgitation in another view (movie clip S4,Fig. 2). Thus, the mechanism of regurgitationwas not entirely clear. Three-dimensional (3D)images clearly showed the mechanism ofregurgitation was through a central coaptationpoint and not due to another mechanism (movie
Probability-interpretation of the observed return-periods of floods

The purpose of this article is to show by numerical examples how the problem of flood-flows can be treated from the view-point of probability without making any artificial or arbitrary assumptions whatever. It is customary in hydrology to calculate either the observed recurrence or the observed exceedance-intervals of floods. In a recent article [see 3 of “References” at end of paper] we have shown that there is only one theoretical value which corresponds to both. We call it the return-period. It is a statistical function as is the distribution or the cumulative frequency. Therefore these calculations are related to the distribution of flows. We have reproduced this distribution by the theory of largest values. As the flood-flows are the largest flows within N = 365 daily observations, this method assumes that N = 365 is a large number and that the discharges can be considered as unlimited statistical variables.
Shrunken (geopetal) ooids; evidence of origin unrelated to carbonate-evaporite diagenesis

ABSTRACT The presence of shrunken ooids is thought to be related to the former presence of evaporites in associated rocks. Geopetal ooid textures which resemble shrunken ooids were observed in Cambrian carbonates from the Mohawk Valley of New York in which no evidence of former evaporites has been found. The origin of these geopetal ooids is related to the selective aggrading recrystallization of the ooid nuclei during a period of meteoric diagenesis. Such recrystallization, which progressed from the top of the oolite body (and ooid nuclei), resulted in the partial replacement of the ooid-nuclei micrite to pseudospar and the formation of "pseudo-shrunken" ooids.
C-17 O-level fault detection and isolation bit improvement concepts

C-17 avionics built-in test (BIT) improvement is critical to mission readiness and capability. While many dramatic successes in 1995 led to the Department of Defense decision to build 120 C-17 airlifters, one area that still warrants improvement is a reduction in cannot-duplicate (CND) failure conditions. The primary goal of the MDA internal research and development (IRD a corresponding benefit is the transformation of raw recorded aircraft data into more useful maintenance information.
Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube AFM Probes: Optimal Imaging Resolution of Nanoclusters and Biomolecules in Ambient and Fluid Environments

Carbon nanotubes are potentially ideal atomic force microscopy (AFM) probes due to their well-defined geometry, robust mechanical properties, and in the case of single-walled nanotubes (SWNTs), diameters approaching the size of small organic molecules. Here we elucidate fundamental factors that determine AFM imaging resolution using a combination of experiments with well-characterized SWNT probes and numerical simulations. Tapping mode AFM imaging on gold nanoclusters and DNA molecules using SWNT probes shows that the tip-induced broadening reaches the geometrical limit (i.e., the diameter of the SWNT tips) in the repulsive imaging regime, and the broadening effect becomes greater than the geometrical limit in the attractive imaging regime due to long-range attractive forces. Adjusting the damping enables imaging of isolated DNA molecules with a resolution defined by the tip diameter without disrupting the sample.
Shear-stress-mediated arterial remodeling in atherosclerosis: too much of a good thing?

Under physiological conditions, chronic changes in blood flow stimulate compensatory changes in arterial size. This arterial remodeling process occurs during normal growth and development and contributes to the adaptive response to a variety of clinical situations. For example, repetitive increases in blood flow during exercise may stimulate expansive remodeling of conduit arteries in the limbs and heart,1 whereas chronic disuse of the lower extremities as a result of spinal cord injury is associated with constrictive remodeling of the femoral arteries.2 Uterine arteries display expansive remodeling during pregnancy and then undergo constrictive remodeling after delivery. Thus, dynamic remodeling of the arterial tree plays a critical role in maintaining the appropriate balance between tissue demand and blood supply throughout life. Article p 2826 A primary signal for arterial remodeling is shear stress, which is the frictional force at the endothelial surface produced by flowing blood.3,4 Shear stress relates directly to flow and blood viscosity and inversely to the third power of arterial radius.3 A macroscopic increase in blood flow increases local shear stress and stimulates arterial expansion until shear stress has been restored to baseline. Conversely, low shear stress leads to constrictive remodeling. This important homeostatic mechanism maintains shear stress in an appropriate range. When exposed to physiological levels of shear stress (15 to 40 dyne/cm2), endothelial cells appropriately elongate, align in the direction of flow, and maintain barrier function.4 Furthermore, normal shear stress promotes expression of vasodilator and antithrombotic factors, suppresses growth and proinflammatory factors, and generally maintains a state of vascular health. In contrast, low, oscillating, and disordered shear stress promotes the development of atherosclerosis. Expansive remodeling in response to chronic or repetitive increases in flow involves a coordinated sequence of events in the arterial wall, as has been extensively reviewed.3,5,6 Over a …
Spinning Contingency Reserve: Economic Value and Demand Functions

Spinning contingency reserve is idle capacity connected to the system to ensure reliable operations in the case of equipment outages. The reserve has an economic value since it reduces the outage costs. In several electricity markets, reserve demand functions have been implemented to take into account the value of reserve in the market clearing process. These often take the form of a step-down function at the reserve requirement level, and as such they may not appropriately represent the reserve value. The value of spinning contingency reserve is impacted by the reliability and dynamic characteristics of system components, the system operation policies, and the economic aspects such as the risk preferences of the demand. In this paper, we take into account these aspects to approximate the reserve value and construct reserve demand functions. The results are obtained in closed form. Illustrative examples show that the demand functions constructed have similarities with those implemented in some markets.
Chromosome elasticity and mitotic polar ejection force measured in living Drosophila embryos by four-dimensional microscopy-based motion analysis.

Abstract Background: Mitosis involves the interaction of many different components, including chromatin, microtubules, and motor proteins. Dissecting the mechanics of mitosis requires methods of studying not just each component in isolation, but also the entire ensemble of components in its full complexity in genetically tractable model organisms. Results: We have developed a mathematical framework for analyzing motion in four-dimensional microscopy data sets that allows us to measure elasticity, viscosity, and forces by tracking the conformational movements of mitotic chromosomes. We have used this approach to measure, for the first time, the basic biophysical parameters of mitosis in wild-type Drosophila melanogaster embryos. We found that Drosophila embryo chromosomes are significantly less rigid than the much larger chromosomes of vertebrates. Anaphase kinetochore force and nucleoplasmic viscosity were comparable with previous estimates in other species. Motion analysis also allowed us to measure the magnitude of the polar ejection force exerted on chromosome arms during metaphase by individual microtubules. We find the magnitude of this force to be approximately 1 pN, a number consistent with force generation either by collision of growing microtubules with chromosomes or by single kinesin motors. Conclusions: Motion analysis allows noninvasive mechanical measurements to be made in complex systems. This approach should allow the functional effects of Drosophila mitotic mutants on chromosome condensation, kinetochore forces, and the polar ejection force to be determined.
Calcium homeostasis in vascular smooth muscle cells is altered in type 2 diabetes by Bcl-2 protein modulation of InsP3R calcium release channels.

This study examines the extent to which the antiapoptotic Bcl-2 proteins Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL contribute to diabetic Ca2+ dysregulation and vessel contractility in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) ...
Quality assurance measures for critical diagnoses in anatomic pathology.

We sought to characterize how well computerized “case flags” performed in evaluating critical diagnoses in anatomic pathology. All cases identified by a pathologist at sign-out and flagged as a critical diagnosis in anatomic pathology in 2 hospital laboratories during a 3-year period were reviewed. A subset of all critical diagnoses consisting of only treatable, immediately life-threatening (TILT) diagnoses was selected, and a text search for key words was used to evaluate performance during a 6-month period. During a 3-year period, there were 635 cases (0.5% of all cases) that were flagged as critical diagnoses. A key word search identified 269 TILT cases, which represented 1.8% of all cases during this time; 30 (11.2%) were critical diagnoses, of which 24 (80%) had documentation of a call to the clinician and only 2 (7%) were flagged as a critical diagnosis. Critical diagnoses in anatomic pathology remain poorly defined. Computerized case flags underestimate the number of critical diagnosis cases in a laboratory and cannot identify missed critical diagnoses. A more limited and clearly defined approach to quality assurance of critical diagnoses emphasizing TILT diagnoses and selected key word searches can be performed and requires reviewing only 1.8% of all cases.
Liquid Crystalline Characteristics of Natural Silk Secretions

We have used transmitted polarized light microscopy to examine the fluid contents of silk glands taken from Bombyx mori silkworms and Nephila clavipes orb-weaving spiders. In the absence of shear, the secretions are optically isotropic. As the concentration is allowed to increase by evaporation, microstructures typical of the nematic liquid crystalline state are observed. Thus it appears that naturally spun silk becomes liquid crystalline en route to solidifying into fiber - which is advantageous to introducing and retaining global molecular alignment. This will facilitate the formation of strong, stiff fibers without the need for a significant post-spinning draw. We have also found that natural silk does not exhibit the defects in molecular alignment that are typical of synthetic polymer fibers spun from liquid crystalline solutions or melts.
Issues and solutions in surveillance camera placement

Cameras are becoming a common tool for automated vision purposes due to their low cost. Many surveillance and inspection systems include cameras as their sensor of choice. How useful these camera systems are is very dependent upon the positioning of the cameras. This is especially true if the cameras are to be used in automated systems as a beneficial camera placement will simplify image processing operations. Therefore, a reliable positioning algorithm can lower the processing requirements of the system. In this paper several considerations for improving camera placement are investigated with the goal of developing a general algorithm that can be applied to a variety of systems. This paper presents this algorithm for placement problem in the context of computer vision and robotics. Simulated results of our method are then shown and discussed, along with an outline of future work.
The Predischarge Chromophore in Bacteriorhodopsin: A 15N Solid-State NMR Study of the L Photointermediate†

The L550 intermediate in the bacteriorhodopsin (bR) photocycle has drawn much attention with respect to the mechanism of light-driven proton transport because it selectively releases the Schiff base (SB) proton to the extracellular proton channel in the L→M transition. Here we extend our solid-state NMR studies of bR photocycle intermediates to the L state. Under conditions that stabilize L550, a new SB signal is detected in the 15N NMR spectrum which disappears upon thermal relaxation. This signal is in the range for a protonated SB, but downfield from the SB signals of bR568 and N520. Since steric interactions would have the opposite effect on shielding, the data argue against a 13,14-dicis chromophore in L550. Comparison with the 15N chemical shifts of halide salts of protonated Schiff bases (pSB's) of retinal suggests that the interaction of the SB with its counterion is significantly stronger in L550 than in N520 (which in turn is stronger than in bR568). This is consistent with models of the early p...
Invasion is not an independent prognostic factor in high-grade glioma

Purpose: The role of invasion as a prognostic factor in high-grade gliomas (HGG) remains controversial. An apparent increase in invasiveness following anti-angiogenic therapy makes this question clinically relevant. The goal of this study is to assess survival differences in patients with newly diagnosed HGG who present with diffuse invasive disease compared to those who did not, but went on to develop diffuse invasive disease following bevacizumab therapy. Materials and Methods: Twenty-three patients presented as newly diagnosed diffuse invasive HGG. All patients underwent surgical resection with radiation therapy and temozolomide for one year. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were compared to a control of 58 patients with focal high-grade glioma who received similar therapy, but that included bevacizumab at 10 mg/kg given every two weeks. Results: The patient characteristics were similar in each group. The median PFS and OS for invasive HGG patients were 6 and 13 months and for the focal HGG patients, 11 and 24 months, respectively (P=0.092 and P=0.071). In the subgroup of invasive HGG that showed significant angiogenesis, the median PFS and OS were 3 and 9 months, respectively. 56% of the focal HGG patients recurred as diffuse invasive relapse. For patients with focal HGG who recurred as invasive disease, the median PFS and OS were 9 and 21 months respectively. Conclusions: Presence of diffuse invasive disease not accompanied by angiogenesis either prior to therapy or subsequent to anti-angiogenic therapy does not seem to have prognostic significance. However, invasion accompanied by angiogenesis in newly diagnosed HGG may confer a poor prognosis.
LOPA as practiced at a global manufacturing API facility

The standard risk assessment practices used in industry since the OSHA 1910.119 regulation was issued, are to conduct Process Hazard Analyses (PHAs) for hazardous and exothermic (or otherwise high risk) processes. During PHAs, the potential consequences of an undesired event are evaluated along with the safeguards that exist to mitigate the consequences or reduce the frequency of the event. If the PHA team determines that the risk is still not tolerable, additional safeguards are recommended to reach a tolerable level of risk. Typically, a Quantitative Risk Assessment can be completed to evaluate the effectiveness of these existing or newly proposed safeguards. Unfortunately, this is a complex and time-consuming task. The relatively new methodology of Layer of Protection Analysis (LOPA) allows a PHA team to evaluate the effectiveness of safeguards in reducing risk in an efficient yet semiquantitative fashion using some basic assumptions and standard lookup tables. The LOPA methodology can be utilized to evaluate the effectiveness of Safety Instrumented Functions (SIF) (e.g., automated critical interlocks and alarms) to achieve a tolerable risk. The LOPA methodology provides consistency in an approach to risk assessments and communications. It can support an effective mechanical integrity or risk-based maintenance system for critical components of an SIF. This article describes LOPA and includes several scenarios that will provide an overview of how the LOPA methodology is used in a multibatch pharmaceutical facility. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Process Saf Prog, 2009
The epistemic unity of perception

Dogmatists and phenomenal conservatives think that if it perceptually seems to you that p, then you thereby have some prima facie justification for believing that p. Increasingly, writers about these views have argued that perceptual seemings are composed of two other states: a sensation followed by a seeming. In this article we critically examine this movement. First we argue that there are no compelling reasons to think of perceptual seemings as so composed. Second we argue that even if they were so composed, this underlying disunity in metaphysical or psychological structure would fall below the threshold of epistemic significance.
From Spears to M-16s: Testing the Imbalance of Power Hypothesis among the Enga

Major works on warfare in noncentralized societies have suggested that warfare is spurred by imbalances of power. Intergroup aggression is seen as predatory and aimed at dominance and acquisition (Chagnon 1988; Manson and Wrangham 1991; Meggitt 1977), that is, total warfare conducted with limited means (Keeley 1996). Here it is argued that the imbalance of power hypothesis overlooks the importance of intergroup ties for human production, reproduction, and exchange. An alternate "balance of power" hypothesis is presented: that warfare in simple societies is largely about retaliation to establish a balance of power with allies and enemies so that intergroup social and economic exchange can flow. Data from the Enga of Papua New Guinea are used to examine both hypotheses, concentrating on the motives behind warfare, male coalitionary dynamics, and the outcomes of warfare among the Enga during a 300-year period of rapid change from the introduction of the sweet potato until the adoption of modern high-powered ...
Microarray Determination of the Expression of Drug Transporters in Humans and Animal Species Used for the Investigation of Nasal Absorption.

Mice and rats are commonly used to investigate in vivo nasal drug absorption, yet their small nasal cavities limit their use for in vitro investigations. Bovine tissue explants have been used to investigate drug transport through the nasal respiratory and olfactory mucosae, yet limited information is available regarding the similarities and differences among these animal models compared to humans. The aim of this study was to compare the presence of a number of important drug transporters in the nasal mucosa of these species. DNA microarray results for nasal samples from humans, rats, and mice were obtained from GenBank, while DNA microarray and RT-PCR were performed on bovine nasal explants. The drug transporters of interest include multidrug resistance, cation, anion, peptide, and nucleoside transporters. Each of the species (mouse, rat, cattle, and human) shows similar patterns of expression for most of the important drug transporters. Several transporters were highly expressed in all the species, incl...
Reconstructions of the Computer Monitoring System in Yingxiu Gulf Hydro Power Station

Based on the reconstruction programs of Yingxiu Gulf Hydro Power Station and the subordinate three stations, the article introduces the structure configuration and control of LCU corresponding multi control centers and emphasizes on the illustration of NPT network time,double loop network between plants and the mode of PC control center communicating station side PLC.It has project reference value to the double control in one plant in the future.
Ultrahigh resolution infrared diode laser studies of chemical and collision dynamics

Studies of the dynamics of molecular collisions provide insight into the mechanisms which control energy transfer and chemical reaction processes. High resolution lasers have essentially revolutionized the study of collision dynamics by providing probes for the individual quantum states produced as a result of molecular collisions. Infrared diode lasers, which have a spectral purity of 0.0003 cm−1, offer a particularly convenient source of probe laser radiation which can be used to follow even the final quantum states of polyatomic molecules excited by collisions. The resolution of these devices is sufficient to probe velocity recoil profiles as well through measurements of the instantaneous Doppler profile of a particular spectral line. Variations in recoil velocity with the internal quantum state provide a wealth of information about the specific details of collisions which lead to the excitation of a particular molecular quantum state.
Small-Molecule Procaspase-3 Activation Sensitizes Cancer to Treatment with Diverse Chemotherapeutics.

Conventional chemotherapeutics remain essential treatments for most cancers, but their combination with other anticancer drugs (including targeted therapeutics) is often complicated by unpredictable synergies and multiplicative toxicities. As cytotoxic anticancer chemotherapeutics generally function through induction of apoptosis, we hypothesized that a molecularly targeted small molecule capable of facilitating a central and defining step in the apoptotic cascade, the activation of procaspase-3 to caspase-3, would broadly and predictably enhance activity of cytotoxic drugs. Here we show that procaspase-activating compound 1 (PAC-1) enhances cancer cell death induced by 15 different FDA-approved chemotherapeutics, across many cancer types and chemotherapeutic targets. In particular, the promising combination of PAC-1 and doxorubicin induces a synergistic reduction in tumor burden and enhances survival in murine tumor models of osteosarcoma and lymphoma. This PAC-1/doxorubicin combination was evaluated in ...
Mechanisms of axonal damage and repair after central nervous system injury

Central nervous system (CNS) injury initiates spatial and temporal neurodegeneration. Under pathologic conditions, damaged glial cells cannot supply sufficient metabolites to neurons, leading to energy deficiency for neuronal axons. The widespread disruption of cellular membranes causes disturbed intracellular signaling via dysregulated ionic gradients in neurons. Although several deleterious cascades are activated during the acute phase of CNS injury, some compensatory responses may tend to promote axonal repair during the chronic/remodeling phase. Because it may not be easy to block all multifactorial neurodegenerative pathways after CNS injury, supporting or boosting endogenous regenerative mechanisms would be an important therapeutic approach for CNS diseases. In this mini-review, we briefly but broadly introduce basic mechanisms that trigger axonal degeneration and then discuss potential targets for promoting axonal regeneration after CNS injury.
Renal dendritic cells sample blood-borne antigen and guide T-cell migration to the kidney by means of intravascular processes

Bony fish are among the first vertebrates to possess an innate and adaptive immune system. In these species, the kidney has a dual function: filtering solutes similar to mammals and acting as a lymphoid organ responsible for hematopoiesis and antigen processing. Recent studies have shown that the mammalian kidney has an extensive network of mononuclear phagocytes, whose function is not fully understood. Here, we employed two-photon intravital microscopy of fluorescent reporter mice to demonstrate that renal dendritic cells encase the microvasculature in the cortex, extend dendrites into the peritubular capillaries, and sample the blood for antigen. We utilized a mouse model of systemic bacterial infection as well as immune complexes to demonstrate antigen uptake by renal dendritic cells. As a consequence, renal dendritic cells mediated T-cell migration into the kidney in an antigen-dependent manner in the setting of bacterial infection. Thus, renal dendritic cells may be uniquely positioned to play an important role not only in surveillance of systemic infection but also in local infection and autoimmunity.
The Precision of Monetary Control

In the last several years the discussion surrounding monetary policy in the United States, both in professional circles and in the press, increasingly has focused on the tactics employed by the Federal Reserve in the attempt to achieve its announced goals for monetary growth. The discussion has intensified since the October 6, 1979 announcement by the Federal Reserve that it would relax its historical focus on the federal funds rate as the operating guide for monetary policy and give greater attention to bank reserves. Tactics have allegedly changed, but performance by the Fed, as judged by its critics, has not improved notably. The criticism has spread from academic circles and professional conferences to the popular as well as the financial press.
Putting Passion in Action: Service Learning at Wheelock College

Lucy Wheelock, the founder of Wheelock College, saw service as the essence of her individual calling to work with children. She said, upon entering a kindergarten, reminiscent of her early biblical training, “I have found my kingdom.” The mission of Wheelock College, to improve the quality of life for children and families, continues to express service in the academic work of Wheelock students. The field work that students undertake in their professional study, and often in their liberal arts preparation as well, will be described elsewhere in this chapter.
Scientific Approach for a Cleaner Environment Using Ionic Liquids

Ionic liquids (ILs) are ionic compounds composed of a bulky organic cation and a smaller anion. The size mismatch leads to the low melting points relative to typical ionic compounds such as NaCl. ILs have become a very fruitful area of academic and industrial research primarily because of their beneficial and diverse properties. Ionic liquids characteristically have low vapor pressures, good solvency, high ionic conductivities, and good heat transfer properties. Our work on different combinations of cations and anions has led to a wide span of properties, such as acidity, water solubility, chemical reactivity, viscosity, melting points, etc. Further optimization of a property for a particular application was accomplished through synthesis and compositional variations. Ionic liquid compositions can be tailored to make them much greener than many traditional solvents and catalysts. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) may cause air pollution and health issues. As a result industrial processes are looking for s...
Boosting Metacognition in Science Museums: Simple Exhibit Label Designs to Enhance Learning

ABSTRACTScience museums can be excellent learning environments for engaging citizens in the complex societal issues of our time—such as climate change, fishery collapse, social prejudice, and wealth inequities—by fostering experimentation and metacognition about visitors' own social behaviors. The authors studied a low-cost metacognitive tool—Question Asking—in exhibit labels through a within-subjects, quasi-experimental research design with 59 randomly selected adult and teen dyads. Results indicated that the inclusion of an exhibit-specific question increased the proportion of time visitors spent in metacognitive conversations by at least a factor of three. Following that specific question with a more generally applicable real-world question maintained the already elevated proportion of time spent in metacognitive talk but did not boost that proportion further. The authors recommend including an exhibit-specific question at social science exhibits (and potentially adding another, broader real-world ques...
Abstract SY33-01: Targeting metabolism to enhance immunotherapy

The extraordinary proliferative capacity of cancer necessitates specialized metabolic programming on the part of cancer cells. Indeed, this specialized metabolism not only facilitates growth but also creates a hypoxic, acidic, nutrient-deprived tumor microenvironment able to thwart immune destruction. We hypothesized that by targeting tumor metabolism we could not only slow down tumor growth but also “condition” tumors to be more susceptible to immunotherapy. Inherent to the specialized metabolism of tumors is a markedly increased requirement for glutamine. To this end we have devised a novel glutamine antagonist that is delivered as an inert prodrug that is converted to the active drug by enzymatic activity, which is enriched in tumors. In syngeneic mouse models of cancer our prodrug (JHU-083) markedly inhibited tumor growth, leading to cure of mice after only 14 days of monotherapy. Importantly, targeting glutamine metabolism led to a decreased extracellular acidification rate (ECAR), decreased hypoxia, and increased nutrient availability. Furthermore, we observed decreases in MDSC and fibrocytes with a concomitant increase in inflammatory (TNF-producing) tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). Likewise, there was an increase in the CD8:Treg ratio and in some tumors a decrease in PDL1 expression on both tumors and infiltrating immune cells. Most importantly, JHU-083 markedly enhanced the efficacy of immunotherapy in the form of checkpoint blockade, adoptive cellular therapy (ACT), and A2aR blockade. Overall our studies define a novel compound for targeting metabolism as a means of enhancing immunotherapy for cancer. Citation Format: Jonathan D. Powell, Robert Leone, Judd Englert, Rana Rais, Barbara Slusher. Targeting metabolism to enhance immunotherapy [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 SY33-01. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-SY33-01
Biocompatibility of intraocular lens power adjustment using a femtosecond laser in a rabbit model.

Purpose To evaluate the biocompatibility (uveal and capsular) of intraocular lens (IOL) power adjustment by a femtosecond laser obtained through increased hydrophilicity of targeted areas within the optic, creating the ability to build a refractive-index shaping lens within an existing IOL. Setting John A. Moran Eye Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. Design Experimental study. Methods Six rabbits had phacoemulsification with bilateral implantation of a commercially available hydrophobic acrylic IOL. The postoperative power adjustment was performed 2 weeks after implantation in 1 eye of each rabbit. The animals were followed clinically for an additional 2 weeks and then killed humanely. Their globes were enucleated and bisected coronally just anterior to the equator for gross examination from the Miyake-Apple view to assess capsular bag opacification. After IOL explantation for power measurements, the globes were sectioned and processed for standard histopathology. Results Slitlamp examinations performed after the laser treatments showed the formation of small gas bubbles behind the lenses that disappeared within a few hours. No postoperative inflammation or toxicity was observed in the treated eyes, and postoperative outcomes and histopathological examination results were similar to those in untreated eyes. The power measurements showed that the change in power obtained was consistent and within ±0.1 diopter of the target. Conclusions Consistent and precise power changes can be induced in the optic of commercially available IOLs in vivo by using a femtosecond laser to create a refractive-index shaping lens. The laser treatment of the IOLs was biocompatible.
Psychosocial Needs of Head and Neck Cancer Patients and the Role of the Clinical Social Worker.

In this chapter, we examine the demographics and risk factors in the population diagnosed with head and neck cancer (HNC), what challenges these patients face post-treatment and what the role of psychosocial support through clinical social work is in managing these stressors. While many forms of head and neck cancer found in the early stages have a high cure rate, the side effects of treatment for these cancers have major life-altering effects. Previously, the majority of those diagnosed with head and neck cancers were those who used excessive alcohol and tobacco, but the numbers are changing to include the human papillomavirus (HPV) as a major risk factor. Due to the behavioral risk factors that are often causes of head and neck cancers and the effects of treatment that often lend to psychosocial distress, the role of psychosocial intervention at time of diagnosis throughout the disease trajectory is essential for compliance with treatment and healthy coping post-treatment. Clinical social workers play an essential role within the multidisciplinary team of assessment and interventions for managing patient’s psychosocial distress.
Leveraging system complexity for improvement

The purpose of this article is to describe theoretical and current thought leadership on managing system complexity to engage improvement for better results. The literature review presented describ...
Roman Parallels: Plutarch and the Trump Election

Plutarch’s analysis of statesmen and regimes through analogy and dis-analogy makes him a promising guide for reflection on what the election of a man like Trump reveals about the condition of contemporary America and its constitutional order. Examination of the Roman republican regime, and especially the role in it of the office of tribune, sheds light on a deficiency in the American constitutional order that Trump has exploited. Placing post-Cold War America in parallel with post-Punic War Rome reveals similarities in the conditions that set the stage for Trump and those that prompted the populist agenda of the Gracchi, as well as in their rhetorical appeals. Trump is no Caesar, but raises the specter of the possibility of a Caesar.
Local Preconditioning: Who Needs It?

Benefits of local preconditioning for the Euler equations are reviewed, and illustrated with numerical examples. Progress in the fight against the feared stagnation-point instability is discussed, and hope-giving numerical evidence is presented in support of this development.
Fuzzy Probabilities and Their Role in Decision Analysis

Abstract The conventional approaches to decision analysis are based on the assumption that the probabilities which enter into the assessment of the consequences of a decision are known numbers. In most realistic settings, this assumption is of questionable validity since the data from which the probabilities must be estimated are usually incomplete, imprecise or not totally reliable. In the approach outlined in this paper, the probabilities are assumed to be fuzzy rather than real numbers. It is shown how such probabilities may be estimated from fuzzy data and a basic relation between joint, conditional and marginal fuzzy probabilities is established. Manipulation of fuzzy probabilities requires, in general, the use of fuzzy arithmetic, and many of the properties of fuzzy probabilities are simple generalizations of the corresponding properties of real-valued probabilities.
PHYTOCHROME-CONTROLLED ACETYLCHOLINE SYNTHESIS AT THE ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM

This chapter provides an overview of phytochrome-controlled acetylcholine (ACh) synthesis at the endoplasmic reticulum. Jaffe demonstrated that ACh, the neurotransmitter of the animal central nervous system, was present in bean roots and that its titre was increased by irradiation with red light and decreased by far-red light. The chapter presents a summary of the differences in endogenous ACh between red- and far-red light-irradiated tissues of various plants. In both etiolated mung bean root tips and a callus derived from moss, assayed by gas-liquid chromatography, the ACh titre of red light-irradiated tissue is much higher than that of tissue irradiated with far-red light or kept in the dark. To explain the phytochrome-mediated changes in the endogenous level of ACh, it is necessary to know if the synthetic and metabolic apparatus for ACh exists in plants. Such a system is known to exist in neurons of the central nervous system of animals. ACh is synthesized in animals by the enzyme cholineacetyl transferase (ChAT) from acetyl coenzyme A plus choline.
Will Barack Obama Be Black in 2012? The Strategic Persistence of Stereotypes

Racial identity is also a social construction. As such, others' perceptions of a person's racial identity are not a constant. They are potentially malleable. Indeed, many aspects of race-oriented social constructions have little relation to phenotypical correlates or the birthplace of one’s parents. So even if a person describes himself as half-black and half-white, others need not see him that way. If they want to, they can see him simply as black. Many descriptions of Barack Obama are consistent with such a view. Will Barack Obama be black in 2012? In other words, if President Obama seeks reelection, will voters who saw him as black in 2008 continue to see him as such? At one extreme, the president's race could have no effect on how they see him. At the other extreme, it could be all that they see. So, if people change the racial lenses through which they view Obama, who will change and why? This paper represents an initial attempt at a new research agenda. I want to integrate insights from cognitive psychology, communication, and economics to clarify the conditions under which racial stereotypes persist in political contexts. In this initial version of this paper, I will focus primarily on integrating a few insights from psychology into methods from applied math and economics to try to clarify what role race is likely to play for various Americans if Barack Obama seeks reelection as President of the United States in 2012. My plan is to examine three causal factors: • aspects of human psychology that pertain to the processing of race-related information, • the continuing evolution of incentives in electronic media, and • matters pertaining to the strategic use of speech. In addition to offering brief arguments that are intended to clarify how each of these factors will affect Americans' evaluations of Obama, I will seek to clarify how the effect of each of these factors depends upon the other two. As media incentives change, for example, people will receive different kinds of information about their president. While the relevant cognitive functions used to process such information are quite similar in most adults, the interactions of those functions with different – or even divergent – information flows -- will lead people to view Obama in different and divergent ways.
Acoustic Activity of Bats in Kentucky During the Total Solar Eclipse of 2017

We characterized patterns of bat activity outside primary hibernacula of Myotis bats at Mammoth Cave National Park on the days preceding, concurrent with, and following the total solar eclipse which occurred on 21 August 2017. Additionally, we documented nightly patterns of bat activity for hydric habitats and forest corridors across Kentucky during a 7-d period encompassing the eclipse. Our results suggest there was no diurnal bat activity occurring in response to the total solar eclipse, and there was no clear evidence of altered nightly activity patterns. However, these observations provide baseline data for future study of bat responses to eclipse events.
Validation and Verification of the Evaluated Electron Data Library in FRENSIE

Verification and validation tests have been performed for the single scattering Evaluated Electron Data Library (EEDL) implemented in the Framework for Research in Nuclear ScIence and Engineering (...
Dendrochronology at the Mission San Xavier del Bac convento (Tucson, Arizona, USA)

Abstract The Spanish Colonial Mission San Xavier del Bac near Tucson, Arizona has been studied extensively for its contribution to the origin and development of Tucson as an urban center. While the general timeline of construction is understood from historical documentation, suggestions of timber reuse from earlier structures (Fontana, 2015) have not been scientifically evaluated. Three vigas (horizontal roof support timbers) and an internal wall beam were sampled for tree-ring analysis and compared to tree-ring chronologies from the nearby Santa Rita, Catalina, and Rincon mountain ranges. Dates for the timbers suggest that timber reuse from earlier structures is not supported in the case of one room, the convento. Additionally, chronologies from the Santa Rita, Catalina, and Rincon ranges do cross-date with these and other historic materials from downtown Tucson, demonstrating potential for dating of local structures from the same period.
Echocardiographic Assessment of Right Ventricular Function in Clinically Well Pediatric Heart Transplantation Patients and Comparison With Normal Control Subjects.

Background Echocardiographic follow-up after pediatric heart transplantation is important because of the lifelong risk for rejection and resultant ventricular dysfunction. Although adult studies have shown that echocardiographic measures of right ventricular function are changed after transplantation, similar results have not been reported in the pediatric population. Methods A single-center retrospective study of echocardiograms obtained among pediatric heart transplant recipients was conducted. All echocardiograms were selected remote from transplantation, rejection, or graft vasculopathy. These criteria identified 127 patients. Right ventricular systolic function was measured using tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion, fractional area change (FAC), and peak systolic tricuspid annular tissue velocity (S′). Results were compared with those in 380 healthy age-matched echocardiographic control subjects. Results Tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion values in pediatric heart transplant recipients were significantly lower than in control subjects at all ages (P 6 months of age. FAC values in transplantation patients were significantly decreased compared with those in control subjects (P Conclusions Heart transplantation patients have significantly decreased quantitative metrics of right ventricular function relative to healthy control subjects; longitudinal shortening (tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion and S′) is particularly affected. FAC is relatively preserved and may be a better metric in this population. These results establish nomograms of RV function in pediatric heart transplantation patients and in normal pediatric control subjects, which may allow quantification of changes in this vulnerable population.
Structure of the Helicobacter pylori Cag type IV secretion system

Bacterial type IV secretion systems (T4SSs) are molecular machines that can mediate interbacterial DNA transfer through conjugation and delivery of effector molecules into host cells. The Helicobacter pylori Cag T4SS translocates CagA, a bacterial oncoprotein, into gastric cells, contributing to gastric cancer pathogenesis. We report the structure of a membrane-spanning Cag T4SS assembly, which we describe as three sub-assemblies: a 14-fold symmetric outer membrane core complex (OMCC), 17-fold symmetric periplasmic ring complex (PRC), and central stalk. Features that differ markedly from those of prototypical T4SSs include an expanded OMCC and unexpected symmetry mismatch between the OMCC and PRC. This structure is one of the largest bacterial secretion system assemblies ever reported and illustrates the remarkable structural diversity that exists among bacterial T4SSs.
Patterns of resource allocation in fly poison (Amianthium muscaetoxicum)

Male and female reproductive success of plants is controlled by biotic, abiotic, and genetic factors which often involve resource allocations between plant organs. The purpose of this study was to examine resource tradeoffs in fly poison, Amianthium muscaetoxicum, and whether tradeoffs affect plant fitness. At Mountain Lake Biological Station, Virginia, bulb and leaf number were counted, and data from individual anthers and flowers were analyzed, from 23 A. muscaetoxicum plants. No negative correlations were observed between growth and reproduction, suggesting that no resource tradeoffs were occurring. A significant positive relationship was observed between flower number and percent seed set, indicating that a larger floral display may attract more pollinators and increase female fitness.
Targeting metabolic dysregulation of T cells in kidney cancer.

722Background: Cancer cells can inhibit effector T cells through both immunomodulatory receptors and alteration of the tumor microenvironment. Rather than efficient use of aerobic glycolysis by act...
[Evaluation of transmission control of schistosomiasis in 19 counties (cities, districts) of Hubei Province in 2013].

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the schistosomiasis transmission control in 19 counties (cities, districts) of Hubei Province in 2013. METHODS The epidemic villages from different counties were randomly sampled by the cluster sampling method as the evaluation villages. The schistosome infection status of human and livestock, the Oncomelania hupensis snail status, the documents and data of schistosomiasis control, acute infection control and health education were investigated in the field. RESULTS The serum examination of schistosome infection was performed to 29 631 residents, and 2 068 were positive, with a positive rate of 6.98% (0.78% -16.47%). The stool examination was performed to 2 021 sero-positive persons, and 47 cases were stool-positive, with an infection rate of 0.16% (0 - 0.82%). The cattle was the main domestic animals in 19 counties (cities, districts), and the measures of replacing cattle with machine for cultivation were done in 17 counties (cities, districts). Totally 105 cattle in Caidian District and Huangpi District received stool examinations and no positives were detected. A total of 1 579.37 hm2 and 31 829 frames in 154 environments were surveyed, and 4 857 snails were collected. Of the 1 935 living snails dissected, no infected snails were detected. The files regarding the schistosomiasis morbidity and snail status have been established in 19 counties (cities, districts) since 2009. CONCLUSIONS The transmission of schistosomiasis in 19 counties (cities, districts) of Hubei Province has reached the standard of transmission controlled.