cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Impact of a Neurointensivist on Outcomes in Critically Ill Stroke Patients

Current guidelines for management of critically ill stroke patients suggest that treatment in a neurocritical care unit (NCCU) and/or by a neurointensivist (NI) may be beneficial, but the contribution of each to outcome is unknown. The relative impact of a NCCU versus NI on short- and long-term outcomes in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS), intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), and aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) was assessed. 2,096 stroke patients admitted to a NCCU or nonneuro ICU at a tertiary stroke center were analyzed before the appointment of a NI, during the NI’s tenure, and after the NI departed and was not replaced. Data included admission ICU type, availability of a NI, age, NIHSS, ICH score, and 3 and 12 month outcome. For AIS, compared to the time interval with a NI, departure of the NI predicted a worse rate of return to pre-stroke function at 3 months. For ICH, NCCU treatment predicted shorter ICU and hospital LOS but had no effect on short- or long-term outcomes. No effect of a NI was seen. For SAH, availability of an NI (but not an NCCU) predicted improved outcomes but longer ICU LOS. Disposition and in-hospital mortality improved when a NI was present, but continued improvement did not occur after the NI’s departure. Presence of an NI was associated with improved clinical outcomes. This effect was more evident in patients with SAH. Patients with ICH tend to have poor outcomes regardless of the presence of a NCCU or a NI.
4-alkylamino-3-bromo-N-alkyl-1,8-naphthalimides: new photochemically activatable antiviral compounds

The synthesis of several 3-bromo-4-alkylamino-N-alkyl-1,8-naphthalimides is described. These compounds have been shown to be effective, non-oxygen based photochemical inactivators of enveloped viruses, including herpes simplex virus and HIV.
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spin-Lattice Relaxation in High and Low Fields.

An experimental and theoretical study is presented of the magnetic-field dependence of nuclear-magnetic-resonance (NMR) spin-lattice relaxation in solids. Theoretically, density-matrix methods are used along with the spin-temperature assumption to derive an expression for the field dependence of the relaxation time ${T}_{1}$ in the laboratory and rotating reference frames. It is shown that with the assumptions of extreme narrowing and cubic symmetry, the ratio of the Zeeman relaxation time to the dipolar relaxation time should be two for a one-ingredient crystal in both the laboratory and rotating reference frames. The ratio of the Zeeman ${T}_{1}$ to the dipolar ${T}_{1}$ is also calculated for two-ingredient crystals. To test the theory, measurements were made of the field dependence of the laboratory- and rotating-frame spin-lattice relaxation times of the sodium nuclei in NaCl. There is a large discrepancy between the calculated and measured ratios of high-field to low-field relaxation times in both frames. The origin of the discrepancy is not fully understood.
Productive functions and isomorphisms

Joseph and Young [5] conjectured that there are non-p-isomorphic NP-complete sets if ak-creative set in NP exists which has no p-invertible p-productive function. We prove that this conjecture is true for the exponential-time (deterministic and nondeterministic) complexity classes E and NE. In particular, we prove that non-p-isomorphic E-complete sets exist if and only if there is a p-creative set in E which has no p-invertible p-productive function. Similar result holds for NE as well.
Analysis of Recent Growth in Low-Income CIS Countries

This paper analyzes factors that determine recent economic growth in the low-income countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States.2 The main findings are as follows: (1) productivity gains in export-oriented sectors and expansion of exports may have become the main sources of growth in five of the seven CIS-7 countries, while in the early years of transition the output recovery was mainly driven by consumption; (2) economic growth has concentrated in agriculture and the raw material sectors, and, thus, is vulnerable to changes in external conditions; and (3) structural reforms matter for growth, which is consistent with previous research on growth in transition countries.
Editing the 2004 AMJ Best Article Award Winner

The author discusses his experience serving as the action editor for a three-person panel that reviewed an academic paper submitted for publication. Opinions varied among the reviewers as to the paper's merit, and after a revised manuscript was submitted one of the editors thought the paper had deteriorated in quality. This same reviewer still had reservations after a third edition arrived, but the author decided they were not strong enough to prevent him from conditionally accepting the manuscript for publication. The experience convinced him that papers benefit considerably from peer review, and from authors' willingness to honestly address reviewers' concerns.
The Determinants of Perceived Underpayment: The Role of Racial Comparisons

Using a sample of young employed physicians, the determinants of perceived underpayment are examined for both white and minority workers. The examination confirms the importance of earnings comparisons within racial groups but also finds a substantial role for comparisons between racial groups. Workers apparently perceive racial earnings differences (as measured by economists) and build them into an assessment of the fairness of their labor market treatment. This finding emerges for both whites and minorities and occurs in a sample in which the pattern of earnings indicates a modest minority earnings premium.
Alcohol Consumption Negates Estrogen-mediated Myocardial Repair in Ovariectomized Mice by Inhibiting Endothelial Progenitor Cell Mobilization and Function

Abstract We have shown previously that estrogen (estradiol, E2) supplementation enhances voluntary alcohol consumption in ovariectomized female rodents and that increased alcohol consumption impairs ischemic hind limb vascular repair. However, the effect of E2-induced alcohol consumption on post-infarct myocardial repair and on the phenotypic/functional properties of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) is not known. Additionally, the molecular signaling of alcohol-estrogen interactions remains to be elucidated. This study examined the effect of E2-induced increases in ethanol consumption on post-infarct myocardial function/repair. Ovariectomized female mice, implanted with 17β-E2 or placebo pellets were given access to alcohol for 6 weeks and subjected to acute myocardial infarction. Left ventricular functions were consistently depressed in mice consuming ethanol compared with those receiving only E2. Alcohol-consuming mice also displayed significantly increased infarct size and reduced capillary density. Ethanol consumption also reduced E2-induced mobilization and homing of EPCs to injured myocardium compared with the E2-alone group. In vitro, exposure of EPCs to ethanol suppressed E2-induced proliferation, survival, and migration and markedly altered E2-induced estrogen receptor-dependent cell survival signaling and gene expression. Furthermore, ethanol-mediated suppression of EPC biology was endothelial nitric oxide synthase-dependent because endothelial nitric oxide synthase-null mice displayed an exaggerated response to post-acute myocardial infarction left ventricular functions. These data suggest that E2 modulation of alcohol consumption, and the ensuing EPC dysfunction, may negatively compete with the beneficial effects of estrogen on post-infarct myocardial repair.
Human immunodeficiency virus evolution towards reduced replicative fitness in vivo and the development of AIDS

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection progresses to AIDS following an asymptomatic period during which the virus is thought to evolve towards increased fitness and pathogenicity. We show mathematically that progression to the strongest HIV-induced pathology requires evolution of the virus towards reduced replicative fitness in vivo. This counter-intuitive outcome can happen if multiple viruses co-infect the same cell frequently, which has been shown to occur in recent experiments. According to our model, in the absence of frequent co-infection, the less fit AIDS-inducing strains might never emerge. The frequency of co-infection can correlate with virus load, which in turn is determined by immune responses. Thus, at the beginning of infection when immunity is strong and virus load is low, co-infection is rare and pathogenic virus variants with reduced replicative fitness go extinct. At later stages of infection when immunity is less efficient and virus load is higher, co-infection occurs more frequently and pathogenic virus variants with reduced replicative fitness can emerge, resulting in T-cell depletion. In support of these notions, recent data indicate that pathogenic simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) strains occurring late in the infection are less fit in specific in vitro experiments than those isolated at earlier stages. If co-infection is blocked, the model predicts the absence of any disease even if virus loads are high. We hypothesize that non-pathogenic SIV infection within its natural hosts, which is characterized by the absence of disease even in the presence of high virus loads, could be explained by a reduced occurrence of co-infection in this system.
Observations on the application of chaos theory to the study of Kondratyev waves

Summary form only given. The existence of "long" waves years in economic variables, having a period of about 55, has been a contentious issue in economics since they were first proposed by Nikolai Dmitriyevich Kondratyev in the 1920s. Economic activity, as measured by changes in the rate of growth of GNP, fluctuates on a 25- to 30-year Kuznets cycle. Two of these cycles make up a Kondratyev wave, in which the PPI is seen to fluctuate between inflationary and deflationary episodes on an approximate 55-year period. All analyses of cycles in economic history suffer from a lack of data, and his problem becomes acute when considering long waves, simply because there are fewer possible cycles to observe. Furthermore, it has been known for a long time that windowing of time series data can impose a false periodicity. We use some simple calculations to demonstrate that similar pitfalls can occur when applying chaos theory to analyze time series. What, then, does our analysis suggest is the bottom line? To the question, "Do Kondratyev waves actually exist?" we would respond "Probably." We would be more certain if Berry could have included some more quantitative analysis, most importantly, a trial of his techniques on suitably constructed periodic, chaotic, and random time series. To the question, "Are the long waves endogenous or exogenous?" we would respond that the situation here is much more uncertain. In particular, performing chaos maps with synthetic data could be a crucial test. Finally, to the question, "Do technological innovations really cluster during periods of deflationary growth?" we would respond that, again, we would like to see more quantitative arguments, including cluster analysis.
Parametric oscillation in nonlinear dipole arrays

An experimental investigation of large nonlinear dipole arrays is presented, using a diode-loaded dipole placed between two parallel conducting plates. Using this topology the authors were able to demonstrate enhanced conversion efficiency into the second harmonic and obtain spontaneous parametric oscillation for certain array geometries. Parametric oscillation was achieved by strongly driving the antenna at a single pump frequency and adjusting the cavity length for resonance at a subharmonic. A pump threshold for parametric down-conversion was observed, below which no sub-harmonics were produced. These results suggest using quasi-optical techniques for frequency multiplication and parametric up-conversion or amplification. >
Fluid heuristics, Lyapunov bounds and efficient importance sampling for a heavy-tailed G/G/1 queue

We develop a strongly efficient rare-event simulation algorithm for computing the tail of the steady-state waiting time in a single server queue with regularly varying service times. Our algorithm is based on a state-dependent importance sampling strategy that is constructed so as to be straightforward to implement. The construction of the algorithm and its asymptotic optimality rely on a Lyapunov-type inequality that is used to bound the second moment of the estimator. The solution to the Lyapunov inequality is constructed using fluid heuristics. Our approach takes advantage of the regenerative ratio formula for the steady-state distribution--and does not use the first passage time representation that is particular to the delay in the G/G/1 queue. Hence, the strategy has the potential to be applied in more general queueing models.
Medical education: how is change to come about?

Summary. The challenge to medical education as we enter the last decade of the century and face the next millenium is how to utilize the new knowledge of human learning to train medical students in applying the fruits of rapidly advancing science and technology to the moral imperative of fulfilling social needs. To bring about the reforms defined in the Edinburgh Declaration, adopted as globally applicable by the World Conference on Medical Education, intrinsic and extrinsic elements must act in synergy. The intrinsic elements are teachers, students and institutional frameworks; the extrinsic elements political will, administrative commitment and societal pressure. In the developing world, while there is much that medical schools themselves can do through intrinsic changes, their dependence on government support is so pervasive that such government support becomes an essential prerequisite for change. The creation of a cohesive organizational framework involving health and education ministries, the academic sector and professional bodies for a systematic and continuing study of medical education and for inducing and sustaining change are essential to facilitate the change process.
EXACT: explicit dynamic-branch prediction with active updates

Branches that depend directly or indirectly on load instructions are a leading cause of mispredictions by state-of-the-art branch predictors. For a branch of this type, there is a unique dynamic instance of the branch for each unique combination of producer-load addresses. Based on this definition, a study of mispredictions reveals two related problems:(i) Global branch history often fails to distinguish between different dynamic branches. In this case, the predictor is unable to specialize predictions for different dynamic branches, causing mispredictions if their outcomes differ. Ideally, the remedy is to predict a dynamic branch using its program counter (PC) and the addresses of its producer loads, since this context uniquely identifies the dynamic branch. We call this context the identity, or ID, of the dynamic branch. In general, producer loads are unlikely to have generated their addresses when the dynamic branch is fetched. We show that the ID of a distant retired branch in the global branch stream combined with recent global branch history, is effective context for predicting the current branch.(ii) Fixing the first problem exposes another problem. A store to an address on which a dynamic branch depends may flip its outcome when it is next encountered. With conventional passive updates, the branch suffers a misprediction before the predictor is retrained. We propose that stores to the memory addresses on which a dynamic branch depends, directly update its prediction in the predictor. This novel "active update" concept avoids mispredictions that are otherwise incurred by conventional passive training.We highlight two practical features that enable large EXACT predictors: the prediction path is scalably pipelinable by virtue of its decoupled indexing strategy, and active updates are tolerant of 100s of cycles of latency making it ideal for virtualizing this component in the general-purpose memory hierarchy. We also present a compact form of the predictor that caches only dynamic instances of a static branch that differ from its overall bias.
Evaluation of ProstAsure Index in the Detection of Prostate Cancer: a Preliminary Report

Abstract Objectives. Although prostate-specific antigen (PSA) has revolutionized the detection of prostate cancer, it has definite limitations with respect to its clinical sensitivity and specificity. Because a substantial number (20% to 40%) of men undergoing radical prostatectomy have a PSA level of 4.0 ng/mL or less, any new test offering diagnostic improvement must perform well in patients whose PSA level is less than or equal to 4.0 ng/mL, as well as in patients whose PSA is greater than 4.0 ng/mL. The performances of two tests, the ProstAsure index and the percent free PSA test, were evaluated in detecting cancer. Methods. We retrospectively analyzed serum samples from 225 men who were grouped into three categories: 94 men who had a normal digital rectal examination and a serum PSA level of 4.0 ng/mL or less, 77 men who were clinically suspected of having benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) with a serum PSA level of 4.0 ng/mL or less, and 54 men with localized prostate cancer. The PSA assays were performed using the Hybritech and Tosoh assays and the ProstAsure index was determined by Global Health Net, Savannah, Ga. Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed to evaluate the performance of these two tests, and the areas under the curve were compared for significance. Results. The sensitivity and specificity of detecting prostate cancer using ProstAsure were 93% and 81%, respectively. Using a cutoff value of 15%, the sensitivity and specificity of detecting cancer for percent free PSA were 80% and 74%, respectively (sensitivity increased to 93% and specificity to 59% for free PSA at 19%). In men with a total serum PSA level of 4.0 ng/mL or less, ProstAsure had a lower false-positive rate compared to free PSA level at 19% for men with or without clinical BPH as well as for men without clinical BPH using a 15% free PSA threshold. ProstAsure left fewer cancers undetected (7%) compared to free PSA at the 15% cutoff (20%). Conclusions. In this study of selected men, ROC curve analysis shows a statistically significant advantage in performance ( P = 0.0023) for the ProstAsure index compared to free PSA in detecting prostate cancer.
Interconnect Criticality-Driven Delay Relaxation

Due to decreasing transistor sizes and increasing clock frequency, interconnect delay is a dominant factor in achieving timing closure in deep-submicrometer designs. In field programmable gate arrays (FPGA), interconnect delay is contributed by programmable routing switches. This increases the wire delay significantly. In FPGA devices, the interconnect delay is usually more than 40% of the total delay. Techniques like wire pipelining and retiming can manage delay of timing critical wires. However, the latency of the design limits the total pipelining in the design. Therefore, new techniques are needed at synthesis stage to consider the effect of critical wires in the design. In this paper, we propose an intuitive Critical Edge Reduction (CER) algorithm, which minimizes the number of critical wires on a maximal delay- budgeting solution under fixed latency constraint. We prove that this problem is NP-hard. We provide an integer linear programming formulation of the problem and an iterative heuristic algorithm (CER). During the course of our algorithm, we introduce multiple graph problems. We give a proof of NP-hardness of one such problem, which we call max arc-cost balancing problem. In our experiments, we present an in-depth analysis of tradeoff between various maximal budgetings and critical edge minimization. We implemented our design flow using a set of MediaBench datapaths on Xilinx VirtexE FPGA devices. Using our algorithm, the Xilinx Place-and-Route tool achieved timing closure, which is, on average, 2.8 times faster than using maximum budgeting. The resulting average clock period using CER algorithm outperforms the one using the maximum budgeting by 6%. Other results show similar advantages of critical edge minimization over traditional budgeting techniques.
Social Justice, the Ethics of Care, and Market Economies:

This essay explores the roles of social justice and the “ethics of care” as animating forces for social change in light of the near universal ascendance of the principles of market-based economics and of their extension into nonmarket areas of social concern, particularly in the United States. The main argument is that linking the “ethics of care”, social justice, and power makes possible the development of a democratic political and social agenda that can respectively aid in meeting the caregiver needs of the nation and contribute to the transformation of gender roles associated with care.
The effect of animal traction on labour productivity and food self-sufficiency: The case of mali

Abstract The effects of animal traction (AT) on Malian labour productivity (area planted per labour unit and yield per hectare) were analysed. A farm budgeting technique was used to analyse net farm returns from the use of AT. A logistic regression model was used to study the effects of AT on food self-sufficiency. AT helped farmers increase total surface area cultivated, but not necessarily the area cultivated per active labour unit. The yield per hectare of food crops decreased with the use of AT, but that of cash crops increased. Total farm income was higher for all equipped farmers than for non-equipped ones, but income per active labour unit was highest for traditional farmers. The acquisition of AT did not ensure food self-sufficiency. Farmers with AT attained food self-sufficiency only when AT enhanced labour productivity.
Time-resolved measurement of Bell inequalities and the coincidence loophole

We report an Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen-Bohm experiment with a pulsed source of entangled pairs of photons, recording the time of arrival of the pulses and of the detection of each single photon. This allows varying the parameters of the analysis (as the size of the time coincidence window) at will after the experiment has ended. Among other results, we present the measurement of the time variation of the Clauser-Horne-Shimony-Holt parameter during the pulse. The obtained results close (or at least impose new and tight restrictions to) the last loophole that remains open in the tests of quantum mechanics vs local realism (the so-called coincidence loophole).
Electronic Structure Calculations of Ti doped CeFe2

Over the past years, theoretical and experimental investigations have shown that Ce plays an important role in determining the electronic and magnetic properties in CeFe2. Recent experiments indicate that Ce carries a small moment in contrast to the earlier notion of its being non-magnetic. It is also been found that various additives to the intermetallic CeFe2 alloy behave differently when substituted at the Fe site. The magnetization in some cases remains nearly the same whereas in other cases drops off drastically. We report here the effect of Ti impurity substituted at the Fe site in CeFe2.
Effect of nephrectomy and a low sodium diet on the increase in plasma renin levels produced by hemorrhage.

SummaryIn pentobarbital-anesthetized normal dogs previously fed a diet providing approximately 40 mEq of sodium per day, hemorrhage caused an increase in circulating renin levels. The values continued to rise 30 and 60 min after hemorrhage when blood pressure was returning toward normal. Plasma renin levels were very low 4 hours after bilateral nephrectomy and they failed to rise following hemorrhage in the nephrectomized dogs. Dogs fed a low sodium diet for 14 days had higher prehemorrhage renin values and a much greater increase in plasma renin following hemorrhage than the animals fed 40 mEq of sodium per day.
Biological Studies on Haemolaelaps Centrocarpus Berlese (Acarina: Laelapidae) With Observations on its Classification

Haemolaelaps centrocarpus Berlese, 1911 is an oviparous mite. Stages in the life cycle consist of egg, nonfeeding larva, feeding protonymph, feeding deutonymph, and feeding adults of both sexes. Mites penetrated the intact skin of suckling laboratory mice to feed, but also fed on free blood, on their own eggs and larvae, and on other mites. The minimum time recorded from egg deposition to emergence of adults was approximately 8.5 days. Adult females fed at one to several day intervals survived almost 3 months in the laboratory under favorable conditions, and both sexes survived starvation for longer than 1 month. A temperature of 35°C was lethal to eggs within 24 hours. A continuously saturated substratum and a temperature of 27°C provided a suitable combination for laboratory cultures. Parthenogenesis was of the arrhenotokous type for both H. centrocarpus and the closely related H. longipes Bregetova, 1952. Cross mating studies demonstrated that the two species are distinct reproductively. Males of both species inseminated females by introducing spermatophores into a pair of sperm induction pores in juxtaposition to the third pair of coxae.
PATTERNS OF THERMAL REARRANGEMENTS INVOLVING 3RD ROW ELEMENTS

Abstract The thio-Claisen rearrangement of allyl aryl sulfides was found to be catalyzed by nucleophiles exerting only a small fraction of their nucleophilic abilities. A mechanism of nucleophilic triggering of concerted sigmatropic rearrangement was proposed and successfully tested against the rival proposal of cyclization-induced rearrangement on the basis of substituent-rate and secondary D-isotope effects. On the basis of the evidence presented the thioallylic rearrangement of allyl aryl sulfides under light-free, anaerobic conditions was shown to be a 2-step cyclic process in which a zwitterionic thiacyclobutane intermediate intervenes, involving octet expansion of the central sulfur. This is transformed to its rearranged isomer via permutational isomerism. By contrast, the corresponding silaallylic rearrangement, however, follows a concerted pericyclic pathway in which a 3p orbital of silicon bridges the allylic framework with complete inversion of configuration and unattended by any racemization. T...
ORE-CONTROLLING REGULARITY AND ITS IMPLICATION OF CRYPTOEXPLOSIVE ROCKS IN THE FENGNING SILVER DEPOSIT

Fengning silver deposit is an important ore deposit of cryptoexplosive type discovered in the North Hebei province in recent years.Ore bodies are strictly controlled by cryptoexplosive breccia bodies,and mostly occurred in the inner contact zone between molten and smashed breccias.Thickness of ore bodies and silver grade are controlled by breccia bodies.This regularity is indicative to the deep ore prospecting and ore-finding.
Production of Glucaric Acid from Hemicellulose Substrate by Rosettasome Enzyme Assemblies

Hemicellulose biomass is a complex polymer with many different chemical constituents that can be utilized as industrial feedstocks. These molecules can be released from the polymer and transformed into value-added chemicals through multistep enzymatic pathways. Some bacteria produce cellulosomes which are assemblies composed of lignocellulolytic enzymes tethered to a large protein scaffold. Rosettasomes are artificial engineered ring scaffolds designed to mimic the bacterial cellulosome. Both cellulosomes and rosettasomes have been shown to facilitate much higher rates of biomass hydrolysis compared to the same enzymes free in solution. We investigated whether tethering enzymes involved in both biomass hydrolysis and oxidative transformation to glucaric acid onto a rosettasome scaffold would result in an analogous production enhancement in a combined hydrolysis and bioconversion metabolic pathway. Three different enzymes were used to hydrolyze birchwood hemicellulose and convert the substituents to glucaric acid, a top-12 DOE value added chemical feedstock derived from biomass. It was demonstrated that colocalizing the three different enzymes to the synthetic scaffold resulted in up to 40 % higher levels of product compared to uncomplexed enzymes.
Expression of heavy chain genes is restricted in Peyer’s patch germinal center B cells

We have studied Peyer’s patches (PP) of conventional BALB/c mice to determine heavy chain (Igh) gene expression in PP germinal centers (GC). Using fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis of surface immunoglobulin (sIg), we found that PP GC B cells expressed only slgM or slgA but not detectable slgG1, sIgG3, or slgE. In situ hybridization using isotype specific riboprobes on tissue sections or cytospots of purified GC B cells detected IgM and IgA message production within the GC B cell subset at heterogeneous levels between that expressed in small resting B cells and plasmablasts. Using Southern and Northern analyses, we further examined whether GC B cells delete their genomic DNA following a switch to a non-IgM/lgD isotype, and which mRNAα and mRNAμ species they express. Our results indicate that PP GC B cells appear to delete their DNA for Cμ and Cγ1 upon switching from IgM to IgA and that they express both secretory and membrane message for μ and α chains. From these studies we suggest that PP GC B cells are restricted in the Igh gene usage.
Mini-Tn7 insertion in an artificial attTn7 site enables depletion of the essential master regulator CtrA in the phytopathogen Agrobacterium tumefaciens

ABSTRACT Mechanistic studies of many processes in Agrobacterium tumefaciens have been hampered by a lack of genetic tools for characterization of essential genes. In this study, we used a Tn7-based method for inducible control of transcription from an engineered site on the chromosome. We demonstrate that this method enables tighter control of inducible promoters than plasmid-based systems and can be used for depletion studies. The method enables the construction of depletion strains to characterize the roles of essential genes in A. tumefaciens. Here, we used the strategy to deplete the alphaproteobacterial master regulator CtrA and found that depletion of this essential gene results in dramatic rounding of cells, which become nonviable. IMPORTANCEAgrobacterium tumefaciens is a bacterial plant pathogen and natural genetic engineer. Thus, studies of essential processes, including cell cycle progression, DNA replication and segregation, cell growth, and division, may provide insights for limiting disease or improving biotechnology applications.
Gas adsorption properties of ZSM-5 zeolites heated to extreme temperatures

Abstract Zeolites are broadly useful catalysts and molecular sieve adsorbents for purification. In this work the thermal degradations of bare and platinum-loaded ZSM-5 was studied with the goal of understanding the behavior of nanoporous solids at extreme temperatures comparable to those present in nuclear fuels. Zeolites were heated in air and nitrogen at temperatures up to 1500 °C, and then characterized for thermal stability via X-ray diffraction (XRD) and for gas adsorption by the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) method. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) were also employed. These results indicate zeolites are stable when heat-treated up to 800 °C and degrade slowly at higher temperatures. However, significant surface area degradation begins at 1025–1150 °C with an activation energy of 400 kJ/mole. At 1500 °C, gas adsorption measurements and SEM images show complete collapse of the porous structure. Critically for nuclear fuel applications, however, the zeolites still adsorb helium in significant quantities.
Grade 3 radiation dermatitis in a patient with presumed latent actinic lichen planus.

Radiation-induced skin injury ranges from acute dermatitis to chronic skin changes. Acute skin injury occurs during the course of radiation treatment and may take 1 to 3 months after the completion of radiation therapy to completely heal. Patients with mild acute dermatitis present with mild erythema, dry desquamation, pruritus, hyperpigmentation, and hair loss. Severe acute dermatitis is characterized by confluent moist desquamation, ulcers, hemorrhage, and necrosis. Chronic radiation-induced skin injury includes chronic fibrosis with associated skin breakdown and infection. The severity of radiation-induced skin toxicity depends on radiation factors (dose, fractionation, volume, and surface area) and patient-specific factors. Excessive skinfolds increase radiation-induced skin toxicity. Also, patients with poor nutrition status or a preexisting vascular condition or connective tissue disease have impaired wound healing and are at increased risk of skin toxicity. Actinic lichen planus is an autoimmune skin disease characterized by a violaceous papule rash. Here, we report the case of a patient with presumed latent actinic lichen planus treated with definitive radiation therapy who subsequently developed overt lichen planus and severe radiation dermatitis in the treatment fields.
Observed Redox Potential Range of Li2BeF4 Using a Dynamic Reference Electrode

A compact electrochemical probe has been used to measure the redox potential ranges of molten Li2BeF4, a candidate nuclear reactor coolant commonly referred to as flibe, via a dynamic beryllium ref...
Comparing Outcomes of Two Types of Bariatric Surgery in an Adolescent Obese Population: Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass vs. Sleeve Gastrectomy.

Background: Obesity is prevalent among adolescents and is associated with serious health consequences. Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (RYGB) and Sleeve Gastrectomy (SG) are bariatric procedures that cause significant weight loss in adults and are increasingly being performed in adolescents with morbid obesity. Data comparing outcomes of RYGB versus SG in this age-group are scarce. This study aims to compare short-term (1-6 months) and longer-term (7-18 months) body mass index (BMI) and biochemical outcomes following RYGB and SG in adolescents/young adults. Methods: A retrospective study using data extracted from medical records of patients 16-21 years who underwent RYGB or SG between 2012-2014 at a tertiary care academic medical center. Results: Forty-six patients were included in this study: 24 underwent RYGB and 22 underwent SG. Groups did not differ for baseline age, sex, race or BMI. BMI reductions were significant at 1-6 months and 7-18 months within groups (p<0.0001), but did not differ by surgery type (p= 0.65 and 0.09, for 1-6 months and 7-18 months, respectively). Over 7-18 months, within-group improvement in low density lipoprotein (LDL) (-24±6 in RYGB, p=0.003, vs. -7±9mg/dL in SG, p=0.50) and non-high density lipoprotein (non-HDL) cholesterol (-23±8 in RYGB, p=0.02, vs. -12±7 in SG, p=0.18) appeared to be of greater magnitude following RYGB. However, differences between groups did not reach statistical significance. When divided by non-alcoholic steatohepatitis stages (NASH), patients with Stage II-III NASH had greater reductions in ALT levels vs. those with Stage 0-I NASH (-45±18 vs -9±3, p=0.01) after 7-18 months. RYGB and SG groups did not differ for the magnitude of post-surgical changes in liver enzymes. Conclusion: RYGB and SG did not differ for the magnitude of BMI reduction across groups, though changes trended higher following RYGB. Further prospective studies are needed to confirm these findings.
A Dozen Prescriptions to Take Back the Markets

if we acknowledge the importance of investor confidence, and can deal with market failures and fear head-on, we can prevent the Global Financial Meltdown from reoccurring. To do so will necessitate some changes that can reduce market fear.
Is NSVS 5066754 a Near-contact or a Marginal Contact Binary?

BVR c I c light curves of NSVS 5066754 were taken on 2014 May at Dark Sky Observatory in North Carolina. This variable is a solar-type eclipsing binary (T1 ~ 5750 K) with a period of only 0.3751689(1) days. It appeared to be one of the shortest periods in Shaw's list of near-contact binaries. The Binary Maker fits and our Wilson–Devinney solutions show that the binary could have both semidetached and marginal contact binary configurations. Five new times of minimum light were calculated, along with two minima determined from archived All Sky Automated Survey observations. From these minima and the discovery epoch, a quadratic ephemeris was determined. Thus, a magnetic braking scenario is possible. Both semidetached and contact models were explored. A marginal contact solution had the best sum of square residuals. It gave a mass ratio of ~0.5, and a component temperature difference of ~360 K, albeit somewhat large for a contact binary. Two substantial cool spots were determined in this solution with 37° and 28° radii and t-factors or 0.94 and 0.78 respectively. The fill-out is very shallow, ~106%. It may have recently achieved contact.
Anatomic distribution of cervicofacial lymphatic malformations based on lymph node groups.

Abstract Objectives To evaluate radiographic characteristics and to identify locations of cervicofacial lymphatic malformations in children based on known lymph node groupings. Methods Retrospective chart review of pediatric patients with cervicofacial lymphatic malformations who underwent imaging with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT) or ultrasonography (US). Ninety charts were reviewed from November 2005 to June 2015. Demographic information and imaging characteristics were evaluated. Results Ninety children were included. The average age at presentation was 52 months (range, 1 day to 170 months). Imaging modalities were MRI in 73 (81%), CT in 7 (8%), US in 6 (7%), and multimodality imaging in 4 (4%) cases. Nearly half (49%) of lesions were found in the parotid and submandibular nodal group, 32% in the cervical group, and 19% in the midline face and oral cavity group. The lymphatic malformations were found on the left in 39 (43%) of cases, on the right in 30 (33%) of cases, and were bilateral in 21 (23%) cases. Nineteen (21%) lesions were macrocystic, twenty-two (24%) were microcystic, and forty-nine (49%) had mixed features. Mixed lesions were more likely to be extensive and involve multiple lymph node groups (P = 0.0005). Adjacent lymphadenopathy was present in 20 (22%) among all subjects, with an average size of 1.22 (± 1.92) cm in the short-axis. Conclusion The results of this study demonstrate three lymph node groupings in which LM are commonly identified. The midline face and oral cavity lesions are predominantly microcystic, the parotid and submandibular lesions are predominately of mixed morphology, and the cervical lesions are predominately macrocystic and mixed. Further studies are needed to determine if such a classification system demonstrates clinically significant difference in disease progression and response to therapy.
Nanotwins soften boron-rich boron carbide (B13C2)

Extensive studies of metals and alloys have observed that nanotwins lead to strengthening, but the role of nanotwins in ceramics is not well established. We compare here the shear strength and the deformation mechanism of nanotwinned boron-rich boron carbide (B_(13)C_2) with the perfect crystal under both pure shear and biaxial shear deformations. We find that the intrinsic shear strength of crystalline B_(13)C_2 is higher than that of crystalline boron carbide (B_4C). But nanotwins in B_(13)C_2 lower the strength, making it softer than crystalline B_4C. This reduction in strength of nanotwinned B_(13)C_2 arises from the interaction of the twin boundary with the C-B-C chains that connect the B_(12) icosahedra.
Making Air Pollution Visible: A Tool for Promoting Environmental Health Literacy

Background: Digital maps are instrumental in conveying information about environmental hazards geographically. For laypersons, computer-based maps can serve as tools to promote environmental health literacy about invisible traffic-related air pollution and ultrafine particles. Concentrations of these pollutants are higher near major roadways and increasingly linked to adverse health effects. Interactive computer maps provide visualizations that can allow users to build mental models of the spatial distribution of ultrafine particles in a community and learn about the risk of exposure in a geographic context. Objective: The objective of this work was to develop a new software tool appropriate for educating members of the Boston Chinatown community (Boston, MA, USA) about the nature and potential health risks of traffic-related air pollution. The tool, the Interactive Map of Chinatown Traffic Pollution (“Air Pollution Map” hereafter), is a prototype that can be adapted for the purpose of educating community members across a range of socioeconomic contexts. Methods: We built the educational visualization tool on the open source Weave software platform. We designed the tool as the centerpiece of a multimodal and intergenerational educational intervention about the health risk of traffic-related air pollution. We used a previously published fine resolution (20 m) hourly land-use regression model of ultrafine particles as the algorithm for predicting pollution levels and applied it to one neighborhood, Boston Chinatown. In designing the map, we consulted community experts to help customize the user interface to communication styles prevalent in the target community. Results: The product is a map that displays ultrafine particulate concentrations averaged across census blocks using a color gradation from white to dark red. The interactive features allow users to explore and learn how changing meteorological conditions and traffic volume influence ultrafine particle concentrations. Users can also select from multiple map layers, such as a street map or satellite view. The map legends and labels are available in both Chinese and English, and are thus accessible to immigrants and residents with proficiency in either language. The map can be either Web or desktop based. Conclusions: The Air Pollution Map incorporates relevant language and landmarks to make complex scientific information about ultrafine particles accessible to members of the Boston Chinatown community. In future work, we will test the map in an educational intervention that features intergenerational colearning and the use of supplementary multimedia presentations. [JMIR Public Health Surveill 2017;3(2):e16]
High-dose UV-B radiation alters human dendritic cell costimulatory activity but does not allow dendritic cells to tolerize T lymphocytes to alloantigen in vitro

Human blood dendritic cells require UV-B radiation (290 to 320 nm) in excess of 1,000 J/m2 to inhibit their stimulation of primary T-cell responses to alloantigen by 60% to 70% or more. The effect is twofold to threefold greater in the allogeneic mixed leukocyte reaction (MLR) than in polyclonal mitogenesis using comparable numbers of dendritic cells and doses of UV-B radiation. UV-B radiation does not significantly alter dendritic cell viability at the doses administered. Dendritic cell expression of important costimulatory ligands, eg, B7/BB1 and ICAM-1/CD54, is reduced in proportion to the dose of UV-B light administered. UV-B irradiated dendritic cells nevertheless initiate stable contacts with primary alloreactive T lymphocytes that are sufficient to prime T-cell responsiveness to interleukin-2 (IL-2). Subsequent proliferation is severely abrogated without supplemental lymphokine, while T-cell alloreactivity is preserved in a secondary response, irrespective of primary exposure to UV-B irradiated dendritic cells.
Abstract 988: Effect of a supervised exercise intervention on sarcopenic obesity and metabolic syndrome in prostate cancer patients: A randomized pilot study

Purpose: Prostate cancer survivors (PCS) on androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) experience adverse side effects such as skeletal muscle loss and adiposity gain, together called sarcopenic obesity, and changes in cardiometabolic factors that increase risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS). Resistance exercise can increase skeletal muscle mass, but no exercise interventions to date in PCS on ADT have concomitantly improved sarcopenic obesity and cardiometabolic risk factors. Utilizing a 12-week intervention of progressive resistance exercise designed to target skeletal muscle mass, this ongoing pilot trial investigates sarcopenic obesity and as a secondary analyses, MetS components, in PCS on ADT. Methods: Eighteen PCS (65.6±8.8 yr) on current or previous ADT were recruited from the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center and randomized to resistance training (RT; n=9) or a control stretching program (CS; n=9). Body composition, measured through dual-x-ray absorptiometry, and MetS outcomes, including waist circumference, blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, triglycerides and HDL, were assessed at baseline and after the 12-week intervention. Appendicular skeletal muscle index (ASMI), a common index of sarcopenia, was calculated from body composition. RT performed a supervised total-body resistance exercise and stretching program 3 times/week. CS performed home-based stretching 3 times/week. Baseline differences were tested with univariate ANOVA. Differences in all outcomes were tested with 2(group) x 2(time) ANOVA. Results: No significant differences in ADT duration, Gleason score, body fat, skeletal muscle mass, or MetS components were found between groups at baseline (P>0.05). RT program compliance was 98.3%, while CS program compliance was 75.5%. Post-intervention, significant increases were observed in RT compared to CS for appendicular skeletal mass (mean±SE; 0.8±.4 kg; P=0.04) and ASMI (0.3±.1 kg/m2; P=0.041). A nonsignificant decrease in body fat (%) was observed in RT compared to CS (1.3±.7 %; P=.067; d=0.89). No differences were found in MetS components. Conclusions: While 12 weeks of resistance exercise in PCS on ADT improved skeletal muscle mass, no changes in adiposity and MetS variables were observed. Future interventions are needed for PCS to determine the optimal exercise prescription to target both sarcopenic obesity and cardiometabolic risk factors. Citation Format: Jacqueline L. Kiwata, Tanya B. Dorff, E. T. Schroeder, Christina M. Dieli-Conwright. Effect of a supervised exercise intervention on sarcopenic obesity and metabolic syndrome in prostate cancer patients: A randomized pilot study [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 988. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-988
Of Mice, Macaques, and Men: Broadly Neutralizing Antibody Immunotherapy for HIV-1

The neutralizing antibodies targeting the HIV-1 envelope protein have been a major focus for HIV therapy. Early studies with anti-HIV-1 neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) administered to infected individuals showed some promise, as they resulted in transient reductions in plasma viremia in some recipients. However, resistant viral variants rapidly emerged. A major development during the past 6 to 7 years has been the isolation and characterization of highly potent and broadly neutralizing mAbs (bNAbs) from infected individuals known as "elite neutralizers." These "next-generation" bNAbs have been tested in animal model systems and shown to effectively control virus replication, particularly following combination immunotherapy. The success of these preclinical animal studies has led to human clinical trials using an individual bNAb for therapy. This review examines recent findings from animal models and human clinical trials and discusses the future use of bNAbs for HIV-1 treatment.