cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Inhibition of VCAM-1 expression in the arterial wall is shared by structurally different antioxidants that reduce early atherosclerosis in NZW rabbits

We previously established that probucol decreases basal expression of VCAM-1 in the aorta of WHHL rabbits and inhibits the up-regulation of VCAM-1 expression that normally accompanies atherogenesis. To determine whether this effect is shared by other antioxidants in vivo, we now investigated whether a structurally unrelated antioxidant, vitamin E, also inhibits arterial VCAM-1 expression and whether the degree of VCAM-1 inhibition correlates with the reduction of atherosclerosis or the antioxidant protection of LDL. Atherogenesis and VCAM-1 mRNA and protein were determined in four groups of NZW rabbits (n = 6;-8) fed 0.5% cholesterol alone or supplemented with 0.1% vitamin E, a low dose (0.04;-0.075%) of probucol yielding the same degree of antioxidant protection of plasma LDL as vitamin E, or a high dose (0.5%) of probucol, and in normocholesterolemic rabbits. After 81 days, extensive atherosclerosis and a greater than 4-fold up-regulation of VCAM-1 mRNA was seen in rabbits on high cholesterol diet, mostly in the intima. Treatment with vitamin E, high-dose probucol, and low-dose probucol significantly decreased VCAM-1 mRNA by 49.0, 74.9, and 57. 5%, respectively, and reduced atherosclerosis in adjacent segments of the thoracic aorta to a similar degree as reported by previous studies. Immunocytochemistry confirmed that lesions of antioxidant-treated animals also contained less VCAM-1 protein. Neither the degree of VCAM-1 inhibition nor the extent of atherosclerosis correlated with the degree of antioxidant protection of plasma LDL.In summary, treatment with structurally unrelated antioxidants conveyed different degrees of antioxidant protection to plasma LDL but significantly reduced VCAM-1 expression in vivo and inhibited atherogenesis. This is consistent with the assumption that antiatherogenic effects of antioxidants may in part be mediated by interference with oxidation-dependent intracellular signaling.
Failure mode and effects analysis: a comparison of two common risk prioritisation methods

Background Failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) is a method of risk assessment increasingly used in healthcare over the past decade. The traditional method, however, can require substantial time and training resources. The goal of this study is to compare a simplified scoring method with the traditional scoring method to determine the degree of congruence in identifying high-risk failures. Methods An FMEA of the operating room (OR) to intensive care unit (ICU) handoff was conducted. Failures were scored and ranked using both the traditional risk priority number (RPN) and criticality-based method, and a simplified method, which designates failures as ‘high’, ‘medium’ or ‘low’ risk. The degree of congruence was determined by first identifying those failures determined to be critical by the traditional method (RPN≥300), and then calculating the per cent congruence with those failures designated critical by the simplified methods (high risk). Results In total, 79 process failures among 37 individual steps in the OR to ICU handoff process were identified. The traditional method yielded Criticality Indices (CIs) ranging from 18 to 72 and RPNs ranging from 80 to 504. The simplified method ranked 11 failures as ‘low risk’, 30 as medium risk and 22 as high risk. The traditional method yielded 24 failures with an RPN ≥300, of which 22 were identified as high risk by the simplified method (92% agreement). The top 20% of CI (≥60) included 12 failures, of which six were designated as high risk by the simplified method (50% agreement). Conclusions These results suggest that the simplified method of scoring and ranking failures identified by an FMEA can be a useful tool for healthcare organisations with limited access to FMEA expertise. However, the simplified method does not result in the same degree of discrimination in the ranking of failures offered by the traditional method.
Quantity Does Not Reflect Quality- Musculoskeletal Health in Obese Peri- Pubertal Girls

Recent studies have challenged the traditionally accepted view that obesity is beneficial to the growing skeleton. Despite having greater bone mineral content (BMC) and lean mass when assessed by dual X-ray energy absorptiometry (DXA), compromise in skeletal integrity (i.e. fracture, joint pain) are increasingly being reported in the pediatric population. The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between absolute quantitative (mass) and qualitative aspects of bone and muscle (cortical and trabecular density, muscle and marrow density, and stress strain index; SSI) in obese peri-pubertal girls ages 7-11 years. Mass (bone, fat and lean) was assessed by DXA and density, strength and fatty infiltration was evaluated by peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT). pQCT scans were performed at 4% and 66% of radius length as well as 66% of the tibia length. All girls were obese BMI % (>95th). Statistical analysis was conducted using the sample mean body fat percentage girls to stratify into two groups, obese ( 43.78 %). BMC and lean mass were not significantly different between the groups. Total body fat was positively associated with both lean and bone mass in both groups. Total body fat was inversely associated with cortical density and SSI in the upper and lower extremity. SSI at 4% in the radius was significantly lower in the morbidly obese group, yet the trabecular and cortical density of the upper extremity was higher. In addition, marrow area was greater yet marrow density, an estimate of bone marrow adipose tissue was significantly lower in the morbidly obese group (p<0.05). This study extends these observations to demonstrate the impact of obesity in the context of bone and muscle quality and suggest the increased fracture in obese, particularly morbidly obese girls, rates may be due to the adverse impact of obesity on musculoskeletal health.
The Federal Common Law of ERISA

It is accepted doctrine that Congress specifically delegated to federal courts broad power to create federal common-law rights and obligations under employee benefit plans. Courts claim that in creating such rights and obligations they are merely filling gaps in ERISA. Sometimes they are. At other times, however, the only gap is between ERISA as it is written and ERISA as the courts wish it had been written.This article examines the different uses of federal common law relating to employee benefit plans. It argues that courts have an important, but limited, role in creating a federal common law of ERISA.
One Health: Its Origins and Future

One Health is an emerging concept that aims to bring together human, animal, and environmental health. Achieving harmonized approaches for disease detection and prevention is difficult because traditional boundaries of medical and veterinary practice must be crossed. In the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, this was not the case—then researchers like Louis Pasteur and Robert Koch and physicians like William Osler and Rudolph Virchow crossed the boundaries between animal and human health. More recently, Calvin Schwabe revived the concept of One Medicine. This was critical for the advancement of the field of epidemiology, especially as applied to zoonotic diseases. The future of One Health is at a crossroad with the need to more clearly define its boundaries and demonstrate its benefits. Interestingly, the greatest acceptance of One Health is seen in the developing world where it is having significant impacts on control of infectious diseases.
Evolution patterns and parameter regimes in edge localized modes on the National Spherical Torus Experiment

We implement unsupervised machine learning techniques to identify characteristic evolution patterns and associated parameter regimes in edge localized mode (ELM) events observed on the National Spherical Torus Experiment. Multi-channel, localized measurements spanning the pedestal region capture the complex evolution patterns of ELM events on Alfven timescales. Some ELM events are active for less than 100 μs, but others persist for up to 1 ms. Also, some ELM events exhibit a single dominant perturbation, but others are oscillatory. Clustering calculations with time-series similarity metrics indicate the ELM database contains at least two and possibly three groups of ELMs with similar evolution patterns. The identified ELM groups trigger similar stored energy loss, but the groups occupy distinct parameter regimes for ELM-relevant quantities like plasma current, triangularity, and pedestal height. Notably, the pedestal electron pressure gradient is not an effective parameter for distinguishing the ELM groups, but the ELM groups segregate in terms of electron density gradient and electron temperature gradient. The ELM evolution patterns and corresponding parameter regimes can shape the formulation or validation of nonlinear ELM models. Finally, the techniques and results demonstrate an application of unsupervised machine learning at a data-rich fusion facility.
Altitudinal Distribution of Brown Trout and Other Fishes in a Headwater Tributary of the South Platte River, Colorado

Upstream distribution of brown trout (Salmo trutta) in the Little South Poudre River drainage stops between the elevations of 2,590 and 2,750 m in five tributaries. As no geomorphic barriers limit distribution, trout distribution may be related to water temperature. Brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) is present at higher altitudes in all headwaters. Maximum 5—day water temperature is approximately 13°C at the upper altitudinal distribution of brown trout. Distribution of other species is discussed briefly.
The Question Discussion for Expression of Uncertainty in Calibration Results

In view of the current that expression of uncertainty in measurement is bad,the paper points out that the phenomenon for several evaluation common problem,gives the proper treatment method.It also provides available for reference of the literature,in order to promote the measurement uncertainty evaluation and application.
The Sources of Behavior: Toward a Naturalistic, Control Account of Agency

For the scientist, behavior does not fall into 2 broad and clear categories: the rational and the other (where anything goes). There is a spectrum of behaviors, just as there is a spectrum of behavior disorders. And to illuminate the spectrum, we must remove the distorting spectacles of common sense, which divide behavior into the diffuse categories of rational and irrational. And we must take into view the entire range of sources of behavior. Here I will be articulating foundational principles for the scientific enterprise of explaining behavior, and roughly sketching a model of the agent based upon them. Along the way I will be aiming to discredit motivationalist accounts of behavior (this is the broad category under which the belief-desire family of models falls), and putting forward instead a model that qualifies as voluntarist (postulating an independent something that deserves calling will). The model will emphasize the importance of executive function in explaining behavior, and this talk will exhibit some explanatory applications of the model.
Transitioning to Academic Quality-Improvement Work Within the Field of Oncology: Opportunities and Challenges

Quality improvement is an integral component of cancer care. In 1999, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) published “Ensuring Quality Cancer Care,” a seminal report on the state of cancer care in the United States. The IOM found that patients with cancer do not always receive effective care, and there has been little study of the reasons for this variation. The IOM reiterated these concerns in a 2013 report entitled “Delivering High-Quality Cancer Care: Charting a New Course for a System in Crisis.” The IOM highlighted that cancer care in the United States is in a state of crisis; treatment decisions are often not based on scientific evidence, and symptoms and adverse effects are sometimes overlooked. The findings of the IOM highlight that it is imperative for cancer specialists (ie, medical, radiation, and surgical oncologists) to improve delivery of cancer care. Ideally, this work should have an academic focus to ensure that projects are rigorously designed and the results are relevant to a wider audience. There is limited evidence, however, that cancer specialists are pursuing academic quality-improvement work. A systematic review by Coory et al found that between 1990 and 2012, there were only 12 published studies of quality-improvement interventions targeted at cancer specialists. These authors concluded that although there has been much work to describe quality problems in cancer care, more research is needed on the impact of qualityimprovement interventions. Since the review by Coory et al, there have been several more reports of quality-improvement work in the cancer literature. For example, Newcomer et al conducted a 3-year study of five medical oncology groups and found that a program which rewarded quality care reduced medical costs by 34%. ASCO’s Quality Oncology Practice Initiative has also had a positive effect on participating practices, and ASCO’s Quality Training Program holds similar promise. Yet, despite these favorable trends, there continues to be a relative dearth of publications on quality-improvement efforts in oncology. Such publications may not only identify best practices in delivering cancer care, but also improve adoption of evidence-based care by cancer specialists. Although cancer specialists are well poised to engage in academic qualityimprovement work, they require guidance in making this transition. Table 1 outlines a framework for understanding the key barriers to pursuing academic qualityimprovement work. The framework is on the basis of this author’s experience in leading quality-improvement efforts, as well as themes from the literature.
SU-F-T-664: The Efficacy of Gold Nanoparticles as Contrast Agents in Mice

Purpose: Micro-Computed Tomography (micro-CT) has been widely used as a non-invasive, high-resolution imaging modality in preclinical research. However, tumors cannot be well distinguished, since their density are similar to those of surrounding tissues, and the tumors’ natural contrast is very low. The benefits of using Gold Nanoparticles (AuNPs) as a promising high atomic weight contrast agent have been published in recent years. The aim of this study is to investigate the efficacy of AuNPs as contrast agents using different energy x-rays. Methods: The left flank of an immune-compromised athymic nude mouse was implanted with subcutaneous xenograft model of human lung cancer line, A549 cells (from ATCC). After 14 days, this mouse was imaged with dual energy cone-beam micro-CT. The selected energies were 45 kVp and 65 kVp. 10µg AuNPs (200 µg/ml concentration) approximately 12 nm in size were injected subcutaneously into the tumor. The mouse was imaged 0, 3 and 24 hours post-injection. During scanning, this mouse was anesthetized. All projection raw data have been optimized and then images were reconstructed with the FDK Algorithm. Results: Based on images, at 0 hour, AuNPs provided obvious contrast no matter which energy selected, 45 kVp or 65 kVp; and using 45 kVp X-ray, AuNps showed greater contrast. After 3 hours or evenand longer, AuNPs distributed throughout the whole body of mouse, and they were not shown clearly shown in the images. Conclusion: In this study, we investigated the efficacy of AuNPs as image contrast agents at different energies with dual-energy micro-CT, using 200µg/mL of AuNPs. Sufficiently high concentrations of AuNPs are needed to be able to track intratumoral distribution. Images showed good contrast immediately following the administration of the agent but results were poor after 3 hours.
Design and Development of Optimal Control System for Quad Copter UAV

Background/Objectives: Design and development of an optimal control system for a quadcopter unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). Methods/Statistical Analysis: The 6DOF quad copter state-space models was used for Linear Quadratic Regulator (LQR) and Linear Quadratic Gaussian (LQG) simulations in MATLAB/Simulink. The simulations produced satisfactory results, which have been presented. Findings: A comparison between Low Pass Filter (LPF) and Kalman filter is also shown which shows that LQR is useless in presence of noise hence LQG was employed in such a situation. Application/Improvements: The optimal control system for quadcopter was successfully developed, which can be practically implemented on an actual quadcopter for stable unmanned flight of the aerial vehicle.
A Survey of Speech Sound Production in Children with Visual Impairment

This survey addressed a twofold need: first, research into speech sound productions in children with visual impairments and, second, evidence upon which speech-language pathologists might base inte...
Cybersecurity: Role of Behavioral Training in Healthcare

We were tasked by a global leader in healthcare to look into making the organization more secure by creating a training program that focused on employee habits. By adapting a model from consumer behavior to information security, we were able to find strong correlations between habit creation and security threats such as phishing, unauthorized cloud computing use, and password sharing.
Paramagnetism and Crystalline Fields: The Iron Series Ions

The discussion thus far has centered on the lowest-lying energy levels — the ground state — of a transition metal ion. These are the states which determine the magnetic susceptibility at low temperatures — say, the temperature of boiling liquid 4He (4.2 K). Yet, there are many magnetic measurements that do not extend to temperatures below that of boiling liquid nitrogen. Many measurements of interest to chemists have been reported over the temperature interval 80 K to 300 K; for example, that is generally an adequate temperature range in which one is able to determine whether the divalent cobalt in a given sample is present in either octahedral or tetrahedral stereochemistry. Even more straightforwardly, such a method easily allows one to distinguish whether a given sample is paramagnetic or diamagnetic! This can be important with nickel(II) for example, which is paramagnetic at room temperature in both octahedral and tetrahedral stereochemistry, but is diamagnetic in four-coordinate square planar geometry. Though the color of nickel compounds often changes dramatically as its stereochemistry changes, this has long been known to be an unreliable guide. Magnetic measurements can be conclusive in this regard.
Sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Presenting as Non-Convulsive Status Epilepticus: A Case Report (P1.333)

OBJECTIVE: To describe a rare presentation of prion disease presenting as new onset non-convulsive status epilepticus. DESIGN/METHODS: A case report. BACKGROUND: This report highlights the importance of considering prion disease in new-onset non-convulsive status epilepticus. RESULTS: A 71 year-old woman with a recent diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease after a six-month progressive history of impulsivity and perseveration was found acutely unresponsive. EMS was called, and an acute stroke alert activated. On evaluation, she was comatose (GCS 3), with right head and eye deviation, spontaneous rhythmic blinking of the eyelids, twitching of the left foot for a few seconds, and no blinking to visual threat. CT brain showed mild generalized atrophy. Continuous EEG demonstrated nonconvulsive status epilepticus (NCSE). Lorazepam and a loading dose of levetiracetam were given without resolution. She was intubated and placed on a midazolam drip in burst suppression for 48 hours. NCSE finally resolved after treatment with lacosamide, levetiracetam, valproic acid and midazolam. She regained consciousness after several days off sedation, and began following commands. Her exam was notable for visual hallucinations, tremor and dysdiadochokinesia. MRI brain showed multifocal cortical diffusion restriction and T2 hyperintensities suggestive of cortical ribbon sign. CSF studies did not show any evidence for viral encephalitis, but did reveal a positive 14-3-3 protein and 1751 pg/ml tau giving a positive predictive value of 76[percnt] for prion disease. WHO criteria were met for probable sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. Per the family’s request and the patient’s previous wishes, she was discharged to hospice. Our final diagnosis was new onset refractory status epilepticus (NORSE) secondary to Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. CONCLUSIONS: Non-convulsive status epilepticus is an extremely rare presentation of prion disease. To date, there have only been three reported cases in the literature. This case highlights the need to consider prion disease as an etiology in NCSE and NORSE. Disclosure: Dr. Alobaidy has nothing to disclose. Dr. Parker has nothing to disclose. Dr. Bershad has nothing to disclose.
Prescribing for Children With Rheumatic Disease: Perceived Treatment Approaches Between Pediatric and Adult Rheumatologists

Objective: To compare practice patterns and prescribing differences for juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) between adult and pediatric rheumatologists, the perceived educational needs, and factors that enhance or impede co-management. Methods: Two parallel, cross sectional surveys focusing on JIA were administered in 2009 to a random sample of 193 pediatric rheumatologists (PR) and 500 adult rheumatologists (AR) using the American College of Rheumatology membership file. Bivariate analysis was conducted for common items. Results: The response rate was 62.1% for adult rheumatologists (N=306) and 72.3% for pediatric rheumatologists (N=138). Only 23% of responding adult rheumatologists (N=69) reported caring for children with JIA. Of these, 94% strongly agreed/agreed feeling comfortable diagnosing JIA; however, only 76% felt comfortable treating JIA. Clinical vignettes highlighted several prescribing differences. Forty-eight percent of adult rheumatologists and 31% of pediatric rheumatologists felt medications to treat JIA did not have clear dosing guidelines. Though pediatric rheumatologists initiated DMARDs and biologics earlier, treatments were similar after 3 months. To enhance co-management, 74% of pediatric respondents endorsed shared medical records. Conclusion: Nearly a quarter of surveyed adult rheumatologists care for children with JIA, with most limiting their practice to older children. There was more discomfort in treating JIA than diagnosing it, and there were significant prescribing differences. Both provider types identified the need for better dosing and treatment resources. Updated management guidelines along with exposure to pediatric rheumatology in fellowship could reduce treatment differences and enhance the care of children with JIA. Shared medical records and improvement in reimbursement may optimize co-management. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
On nonparametric estimation of the latent distribution for ordinal data

Abstract Ordinal data collected in surveys often consist of numerical scores that have a natural ordering. Observed values of ordinal variables can be thought of as a manifestation of an underlying continuous latent variable that is related to the observed ordinal variable through a set of threshold values or “cut-points”. The “cut-points” partition the latent variable into intervals corresponding to the observed levels of the ordinal variable. This latent distribution is of interest to researchers for purposes of descriptive statistics and statistical modeling. However, restrictive parametric assumptions about the latent distribution are often not adequate. A nonparametric model based on mixtures of scaled Beta distributions is presented and estimation is carried out using a version of Anderson–Darling statistic-based criteria which is shown to be computationally more efficient than likelihood based criteria. A Monte Carlo simulation shows that the proposed model and estimation method performs well and is robust against any underlying continuous distribution. Several empirical examples based on ordinal data from the household section of the Agricultural Resource Management Survey (ARMS) illustrate the versatility and adaptability of the method in practice.
Non-Intrusive Multi-Modal Estimation of Building Occupancy

Estimation of building occupancy has emerged as an important research problem with applications ranging from building energy efficiency, control and automation, safety, communication network resource allocation, etc. In this research work, we propose the estimation of occupancy using non-intrusive information that is already available from existing sensing modes, namely, number of WiFi devices, electrical energy demand and water consumption rate. Using data collected from 76 buildings in a university campus, we study the feasibility of multi-modal fusion between the three data sources for estimating fine-grained occupancy. In order to make the estimation model scalable, we propose three different clustering schemes to identify similarity in building characteristics and training per-cluster occupancy estimation models. The presented multi-modal fusion estimation framework achieves a mean absolute percentage error of 13.22% and we find that leveraging all three modalities provide an improvement of 48% in accuracy as compared to WiFi-only occupancy estimation. Our evaluation also shows that clustering buildings greatly increases the scalability of the proposed approach through significant reduction in training overhead, while providing an accuracy comparable to exhaustive, per-building estimation models.
A method for obtaining bounds on eigenvalues and eigenfunctions by solving non-homogeneous integral equations

A new technique is presented for obtaining upper and lower bounds on eigenvalues and eigenfunctions for linear integral equations. The method is unique in that the bounds are obtained by solving non-homogeneous equations. In order to solve the non-homogeneous equations, non-linear sequence-to-sequence transformations are used to accelerate convergence of the Neumann series inside the radius of convergence and are used to “sum” the Neumann series outside the radius of convergence. Since the reciprocals of the eigenvalues appear as poles in the solution of the non-homogeneous equation, a very sensitive bounding criterion can be given. The method applies to quite general kernels, and has been successfully applied to symmetric and non-symmetric kernels. In addition, thekth eigenfunction may be obtained without a knowledge of the first (k−1) eigenvalues or eigenfunctions.
Open Radical Retropubic Prostatectomy and Pelvic Lymph Node Dissection

The open surgical technique for radical retropubic prostatectomy with extended bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy has been refined over time to enable rapid recovery along with excellent continence and potency outcomes without sacrificing cancer control. Epidural anesthesia and a small incision accelerate recovery. An eight-centimeter incision allows adequate exposure and visualization of the prostate to facilitate dissection in the correct plane, thereby avoiding positive margins. Sharp division of the dorsal venous complex, without first passing a blunt instrument, avoids the risk of damaging the anterior-striated sphincter. Sharp dissection and minimal retraction on the neurovascular bundles maximizes the probability of potency recovery. A watertight vesicourethral anastomosis is performed.
Implications for Research: Toward a More Comprehensive Understanding of Interpersonal Violence

Recognition of the interconnections among different forms of interpersonal violence has critical implications for conducting research that can produce valid conclusions about the causes and consequences of abuse, maltreatment, and trauma.
Invisible terminology, visible translations: the New Penguin Freud translations and the case against standardized terminology

Consistency has become an industry expectation for the translation of terminology within scholarship and scientific writing, but such consistency may not do justice to texts where technical terms rely on polysemy for heuristic effects. This article considers the historical factors that explain why context-sensitive differential translation strategies prevailed in several recent retranslations of Sigmund Freud’s works. Freud’s twenty-first-century translators were freed from constraints of consistency due partly to the series editor Adam Phillips’s decision to rebrand Freud’s genre as literature. When Benjamin Moser reframed Brazilian author Clarice Lispector’s work as wisdom literature, some retranslations that he edited for New Directions also worked interestingly through dilemmas between context-sensitivity and consistency when translating repeated vocabulary. By claiming that these texts work on multiple genre-levels, these translations’ series editors reduced the expectation that language should function univocally as terminology in the translations.
Enhancing performance of magnetized liner inertial fusion at the Z facility

The Magnetized Liner Inertial Fusion concept (MagLIF) [Slutz et al., Phys. Plasmas 17, 056303 (2010)] is being studied on the Z facility at Sandia National Laboratories. Neutron yields greater than 1012 have been achieved with a drive current in the range of 17–18 MA and pure deuterium fuel [Gomez et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 113, 155003 (2014)]. We show that 2D simulated yields are about twice the best yields obtained on Z and that a likely cause of this difference is the mix of material into the fuel. Mitigation strategies are presented. Previous numerical studies indicate that much larger yields (10–1000 MJ) should be possible with pulsed power machines producing larger drive currents (45–60 MA) than can be produced by the Z machine [Slutz et al., Phys. Plasmas 23, 022702 (2016)]. To test the accuracy of these 2D simulations, we present modifications to MagLIF experiments using the existing Z facility, for which 2D simulations predict a 100-fold enhancement of MagLIF fusion yields and considerable increases in burn temperatures. Experimental verification of these predictions would increase the credibility of predictions at higher drive currents.The Magnetized Liner Inertial Fusion concept (MagLIF) [Slutz et al., Phys. Plasmas 17, 056303 (2010)] is being studied on the Z facility at Sandia National Laboratories. Neutron yields greater than 1012 have been achieved with a drive current in the range of 17–18 MA and pure deuterium fuel [Gomez et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 113, 155003 (2014)]. We show that 2D simulated yields are about twice the best yields obtained on Z and that a likely cause of this difference is the mix of material into the fuel. Mitigation strategies are presented. Previous numerical studies indicate that much larger yields (10–1000 MJ) should be possible with pulsed power machines producing larger drive currents (45–60 MA) than can be produced by the Z machine [Slutz et al., Phys. Plasmas 23, 022702 (2016)]. To test the accuracy of these 2D simulations, we present modifications to MagLIF experiments using the existing Z facility, for which 2D simulations predict a 100-fold enhancement of MagLIF fusion yields and considerable increase...
Nicotine Effects in Adolescents

Abstract Smoking commonly is initiated during adolescence: thus, it is important to understand the consequences of early exposure to nicotine. Most studies have focused on male adults; however, in the past 15 years or so, there has been more attention paid to adolescence. More recently, studies have begun to include females. Preclinical laboratory studies show that male adolescents appear to be particularly susceptible to the effects of nicotine and that often the effects are different from adults and from females. Nicotine is more potent as a reward and a stimulant in adolescent males than in females or adults, and the long-term effects are more pronounced than in the other groups. A greater understanding of the differences between adult and adolescent drug responses will aid in the development of appropriate age- and sex-specific treatments for substance abuse.
The Public Library as Resistive Space in the Neoliberal City

With reduced hours, decaying infrastructure, and precariously positioned staff, local public libraries provide much needed services in cities devastated by inequality and slashed safety nets. In th...
Co-expression of CCT subunits hints at TRiC assembly

The eukaryotic cytosolic chaperonin, t-complex polypeptide 1 (TCP-1) ring complex or TRiC, is responsible for folding a tenth of the proteins in the cell. TRiC is a double-ringed barrel with each ring composed of eight different CCT (chaperonin containing TCP-1) subunits. In order for the subunits to assemble together into mature TRiC, which is believed to contain one and only one of each of these subunits per ring, they must be translated from different chromosomes, correctly folded and assembled. When expressed alone in Escherichia coli, the subunits CCT4 and CCT5, interestingly, form TRiC-like homo-oligomeric rings. To explore potential subunit-subunit interactions, we co-expressed these homo-oligomerizing CCT4 and CCT5 subunits or the archaeal chaperonin Mm-Cpn (Methanococcus maripaludis chaperonin) with CCT1-8, one at a time. We found that CCT5 shifted all of the CCT subunits, with the exception of CCT6, into double-barrel TRiC-like complexes, while CCT4 only interacted with CCT5 and CCT8 to form chaperonin rings. We hypothesize that these specific interactions may be due to the formation of hetero-oligomers in E. coli, although more work is needed for validation. We also observed the interaction of CCT5 and Mm-Cpn with smaller fragments of the CCT subunits, confirming their intrinsic chaperone activity. Based on this hetero-oligomer data, we propose that TRiC assembly relies on subunit exchange with some stable homo-oligomers, possibly CCT5, as base assembly units. Eventually, analysis of CCT arrangement in various tissues and at different developmental times is anticipated to provide additional insight on TRiC assembly and CCT subunit composition.
A Dean of Character

Jeff Lewis’s deanship will be remembered for the tangible contributions it made to the development of Saint Louis University School of Law (the School) and to the University of which it is an important part. The size of the faculty increased dramatically through entry-level and lateral hiring (the latter something rarely done before). More resources were made available to support faculty scholarly activities. The School intensified its commitment to clinical and practical skills training, the curriculum was expanded and arranged in a coherent manner to better prepare students for practice, and small-section classes were introduced. The School’s program centers were given additional support, and new academic concentrations were created to respond to increased specialization in the legal profession. Study abroad programs were created, including the American Bar Association (ABA) approved Summer Law Program at the University’s Madrid campus. In addition, the School made increased efforts to connect with alumni consistent with Dean Lewis’s respect for the practice of law. The credentials of the incoming student body improved, bar passage rate increased, the number of faculty chairs tripled, and new scholarships were created. The School also began a capital campaign to finance a new building project—shortly before the economy tanked, unfortunately.
Noninvasive prenatal testing: from aneuploidy to single genes

Noninvasive prenatal testing has undergone rapid advances in the last few years. Although researchers have long known about circulating pregnancy-based cell-free fragments of DNA in maternal plasma, it was the introduction of massively parallel sequencing that allowed noninvasive prenatal testing to become a widely used clinical test. This review will begin with an in-depth analysis of the use of noninvasive prenatal testing for aneuploidy, including common causes for inaccurate and/or discordant results. It will also review the ongoing expansion of noninvasive prenatal testing to include copy number variants and select single-gene disorders. Finally, integrated throughout the review is a comparison of noninvasive prenatal testing to more traditional screening methods along with some medical and ethical implications of the widespread use of this new technology.
Molecular Regulation of Circadian Chromatin

Circadian rhythms are generated by transcriptional negative feedback loops and require histone modifications and chromatin remodeling to ensure appropriate timing and amplitude of clock gene expression. Circadian modifications to histones are important for transcriptional initiation and feedback inhibition serving as signaling platform for chromatin-remodeling enzymes. Current models indicate circadian-regulated facultative heterochromatin (CRFH) is a conserved mechanism at clock genes in Neurospora, Drosophila, and mice. CRFH consists of antiphasic rhythms in activating and repressive modifications generating chromatin states that cycle between transcriptionally permissive and nonpermissive. There are rhythms in histone H3 lysine 9 and 27 acetylation (H3K9ac and H3K27ac) and histone H3 lysine 4 methylation (H3K4me) during activation; while deacetylation, histone H3 lysine 9 methylation (H3K9me) and heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1) are hallmarks of repression. ATP-dependent chromatin-remodeling enzymes control accessibility, nucleosome positioning/occupancy, and nuclear organization. In Neurospora, the rhythm in facultative heterochromatin is mediated by the frequency (frq) natural antisense transcript (NAT) qrf. While in mammals, histone deacetylases (HDACs), histone H3 lysine 9 methyltransferase (KMT1/SUV39), and components of nucleosome remodeling and deacetylase (NuRD) are part of the nuclear PERIOD complex (PER complex). Genomics efforts have found relationships among rhythmic chromatin modifications at clock-controlled genes (ccg) revealing circadian control of genome-wide chromatin states. There are also circadian clock-regulated lncRNAs with an emerging function that includes assisting in chromatin dynamics. In this review, we explore the connections between circadian clock, chromatin remodeling, lncRNAs, and CRFH and how these impact rhythmicity, amplitude, period, and phase of circadian clock genes.
Dynamic FOV Tracking Receiver for Dense Optical Wireless Networks

Dense networks are characterized by the prevalence of wireless access points (APs) in close proximity to a population of user devices on a similar scale. This is in contrast with a legacy model of a single AP serving many devices. By increasing AP density, the aggregate data consumption of the system can be dramatically increased. In this paper we consider dense deployment of directional optical access points. In particular, we analyze how a user device can select and track a transmitter then adapt its field of view (FOV) to achieve the best signal quality within the array of APs. Using a geometric model for an indoor space and a reference optical channel model, we formulate an optimization problem with a goal of optimizing FOV for maximum signal to noise ratio (SNR). The results, applied as a proposed dynamic FOV technique with receiver tracking capability, show an average SNR increase of up to 40\% when compared to a fixed receiver associated with a user device with dynamic translational/rotational motion. These results motivate the adoption of dynamic pointing and adaptive FOV at the receiver in order to realize improved performance for mobile devices in a dense optical wireless network.
Manual Bag Valve Mask Ventilation Performance Among Respiratory Therapists: A Cross-Sectional Study and Current Implications for COVID-19 Patients

Background: Previous research has shown that providers consistently demonstrate poor technique with manual ventilation in all populations. Manual ventilation with high peak pressures and high tidal volumes is particularly concerning among patients susceptible to lung injury, including those infected with COVID-19. This study sought to examine manual ventilation performance among RTs in a simulation model. Methods: Respiratory therapists (n=98) participated in a simulation model, which included a standard BVM and an IMT Analytics SL 2000 2L and an IMT Analytics Citrex H5 (IMT analytics, Switzerland). Participants were instructed to normally ventilate a manikin for 18 breaths following a preset variable frequency indicated by a flashing light for 90 seconds. A short survey was administered to participants while the study was in progress. Descriptive statistics were computed to determine the mean ventilation estimates. Multiple linear regression was utilized to determine associated provider predictors with the outcomes: delivered tidal volume, pressure and flow. The university institutional approval board approved this study. Results: Among all respiratory therapist participants, the mean ventilation parameters include a tidal volume of 599.70 mL, peak pressure of 26.35 cm H2O, peak flow of 77.20 L/min, inspiratory time of 0.75 seconds and an inspiratory rise time of 0.49 seconds. Those who had greater than 10 years of experience and the highest self-rated confidence (n=28), ventilated the most unsafely with the highest mean values of volume (631.43 mL), peak pressure (30.55 cm H2O) and peak flow (86.10 L/min). Confidence level was associated with higher mean pressure and higher flow delivered via bag valve mask. Conclusions: The group with the greatest experience and highest confidence level delivered higher tidal volumes, pressures and flows compared to their peers. Our results emphasize the urgent need to create an intervention that allows providers to deliver safe and optimal manual ventilation, particularly in vulnerable patients such as those with COVID-19.
Implementation of a fracture liaison service for patients with hip fracture cared for on a hospital medicine service.

Hip fracture is a common and morbid condition. Prior studies have shown that the majority of patients with fragility fracture are not treated for underlying osteoporosis. Our hospitalist-led co-man...
Forced Migration and the Spread of Infectious Diseases.

Abstract We examine the role of Venezuelan forced migration on the propagation of 15 infectious diseases in Colombia. For this purpose, we use rich municipal-monthly panel data. We exploit the fact that municipalities closer to the main migration entry points have a disproportionate exposure to infected migrants when the cumulative migration flows increase. We find that higher refugee inflows are associated with increments in the incidence of vaccine-preventable diseases, such as chickenpox and tuberculosis, as well as sexually transmitted diseases, namely syphilis. However, we find no significant effects of migration on the propagation of vector-borne diseases. Contact with infected migrants upon arrival seems to be the main driving mechanism.
Single Snapshot 2D-DOA Estimation in Wireless Location System

In this research paper, we have devised single-snapshot direction-of-arrival (DOA) algorithms for a uniform circular array (UCA) to resolve multiple targets. Estimation of signal parameters via rotational invariance technique (ESPRIT) and the modified multiple signal classification (MUSIC) algorithms are employed for high-resolution estimation of DOAs. Experimental results are shown to validate the efficacy of the proposed methods. Computer simulations prove that the proposed UCA-ESPRIT and the UCA-modified MUSIC algorithms using single snapshot provide the accurate estimation of DOAs but with the reduced computational complexity. The CPU time obtained using an intel i5 processor shows a significant reduction in computation time as compared to the classical methods. Hence the proposed DOA methods using single snapshot for UCA are suitable in wireless location systems when only a few snapshots or, in the worst case, a single snapshot of the antenna array is on hand for the signal estimation.
Experts' Understanding of Partial Derivatives Using the Partial Derivative Machine.

An innovative device is used to probe how experts in physics, mathematics, and engineering understand and experimentally evaluate partial derivatives.
Seven confluence principles: a case study of standardized statistical analysis for 26 methods that assign net atomic charges in molecules

This article studies two kinds of information extracted from statistical correlations between methods for assigning net atomic charges (NACs) in molecules. First, relative charge transfer magnitudes are quantified by performing instant least squares fitting (ILSF) on the NACs reported by Cho et al. (ChemPhysChem, 2020, 21, 688–696) across 26 methods applied to ∼2000 molecules. The Hirshfeld and Voronoi deformation density (VDD) methods had the smallest charge transfer magnitudes, while the quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM) method had the largest charge transfer magnitude. Methods optimized to reproduce the molecular dipole moment (e.g., ACP, ADCH, CM5) have smaller charge transfer magnitudes than methods optimized to reproduce the molecular electrostatic potential (e.g., CHELPG, HLY, MK, RESP). Several methods had charge transfer magnitudes even larger than the electrostatic potential fitting group. Second, confluence between different charge assignment methods is quantified to identify which charge assignment method produces the best NAC values for predicting via linear correlations the results of 20 charge assignment methods having a complete basis set limit across the dataset of ∼2000 molecules. The DDEC6 NACs were the best such predictor of the entire dataset. Seven confluence principles are introduced explaining why confluent quantitative descriptors offer predictive advantages for modeling a broad range of physical properties and target applications. These confluence principles can be applied in various fields of scientific inquiry. A theory is derived showing confluence is better revealed by standardized statistical analysis (e.g., principal components analysis of the correlation matrix and standardized reversible linear regression) than by unstandardized statistical analysis. These confluence principles were used together with other key principles and the scientific method to make assigning atom-in-material properties non-arbitrary. The N@C60 system provides an unambiguous and non-arbitrary falsifiable test of atomic population analysis methods. The HLY, ISA, MK, and RESP methods failed for this material.
Platelet FcγRIIA in immunity and thrombosis: Adaptive immunothrombosis

Sepsis and autoimmune diseases remain major causes of morbidity and mortality. The last decade has seen a new appreciation of platelets in host defense, in both immunity and thrombosis. Platelets are first responders in the blood to microbes or non-microbial antigens. The role of platelets in physiologic immunity is counterbalanced by their role in pathology, for example, microvascular thrombosis. Platelets encounter microbes and antigens via both innate and adaptive immune processes; platelets also help to shape the subsequent adaptive response. FcγRIIA is a receptor for immune complexes opsonized by IgG or pentraxins, and expressed in humans by platelets, granulocytes, monocytes and macrophages. With consideration of the roles of IgG and Fc receptors, the host response to microbes and autoantigens can be called adaptive immunothrombosis. Here we review newer developments involving platelet FcγRIIA in humans and humanized mice in immunity and thrombosis, with special attention to heparin-induced thrombocytopenia, systemic lupus erythematosus, and bacterial sepsis. Human genetic diversity in platelet receptors and the utility of humanized mouse models are highlighted.