cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
General practitioner turnover and migration in England 1990-94.

BACKGROUND: In tandem with fears about a GP workforce crisis, increasing attention is being focused on the supply and distribution of primary care services: on general practitioners in particular. Differential turnover and migration across health authority boundaries could lead to a maldistribution of GPs, yet comprehensive studies of GP turnover are non-existent. AIM: To quantify general practitioner (GP) turnover and migration in England from 1990 to 1994. METHOD: Yearly data from 1 October 1990 to 1 October 1994 were collected on GPs in England practising full time, including average yearly turnover, rates of entry to and exit from general practice, and net migration among GPs. All were calculated at the family health service authority (now the new health authorities) level. RESULTS: Average yearly GP turnover ranges from 2.9% in Shropshire to 7.8% in Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster; turnover is associated with deprivation and high-need areas. Migration of GPs across health authority borders was rare. Entry and exit rates were also positively related to measures of deprivation and need. Relatively underprovided health authorities lost 23 GPs over the study period as a result of migration; relatively overprovided ones gained three. CONCLUSION: Turnover is driven primarily by exits from general practice and is related to deprivation and high need. Retention appears to be the main problem in ensuring an adequate GP supply in relatively deprived and underprovided health authorities.
Nerve Problems and Compartment Syndromes in the Hand, Wrist, and Forearm

Typically, sports-related peripheral nerve injuries in the distal upper extremity are due to chronic compressive loads, with chronic tensile overload occurring less frequently. Injuries can result from abnormal or altered mechanics with normal anatomy, or normal mechanics with variant or abnormal anatomy. This article discusses the anatomy, unique clinical syndromes, electrodiagnosis, and treatment of four major distal upper-extremity nerves that are susceptible to sports injury. Also included is a discussion of the recognition and treatment of acute and chronic compartment syndromes in the distal upper extremity.
Scotopic threshold response of proximal retina in cat.

We describe a new response in proximal retina of cat that is present under scotopic conditions, clearly differs from PII (b-wave and DC component) and contributes a negative potential at threshold to the diffuse electroretinogram (ERG). We have termed this response the scotopic threshold response (STR). Extracellular potentials evoked in response to circular spots of light at dark-adapted threshold, and with dim backgrounds, were recorded with microelectrodes placed intraretinally at different depths. The dark-adapted response of proximal retina (STR) consisted of a graded negative potential to the onset of illumination that maintained amplitude during illumination and decayed back toward the base line at stimulus offset without evidence of a negative-going off response. It thereby differed in form from the photopic M-wave response of proximal retina, which has a negative-going off response. It also did not exhibit spatial tuning, simply increasing in size with stimulus area. In addition, the STR appears to be a rod-driven response whose threshold approximates that of the most sensitive ganglion cells in cat, whereas the M-wave is a much higher threshold cone-driven response. The STR could be clearly distinguished from PII on the basis of its form, depth-distribution, and dynamic range. For example, the STR had its maximum amplitude in the proximal retina at 17% retinal depth, whereas scotopic PII had its maximum in the distal retina at 48% retinal depth. Also, the STR had a lower threshold than PII intraretinally and saturated well below the level of saturation of scotopic PII (rod saturation). By analogy to the PNR and M-wave, the STR is hypothesized to represent either an extracellular voltage arising from proximal retinal neurons or Muller cell responses to K+ released by these neurons. Recording in the vitreous, near the retinal surface, showed that the STR always had a negative polarity. The polarity reversal of the STR at 50-60% retinal depth (from negative, proximal to positive, distal) suggested the presence of a sink proximal to the reversal point and a source distal to it. We also recorded the vitreal ERG in response to diffuse illumination of the dark-adapted retina. The STR could be clearly identified in the scotopic ERG as a threshold negative potential that had been observed previously in the mammalian ERG. The STR differs, therefore, from PII (b-wave and DC component) that is a higher threshold positive component in the diffuse ERG.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Lipases in Signaling Plant Defense Responses

Cellular membranes are important reservoirs for signaling lipids and their precursors. Plant lipases have important functions in the release/synthesis of signaling lipids that contribute to plant defense against pests, including effector- and MAMP-triggered immunity and the hypersensitive response. However, some pests have evolved a way to hijack host lipases and use them to counter and/or suppress host defenses. Other pests actively secrete lipases to breakdown host membranes, releasing molecular signals that benefit growth and development of the pest. This chapter focuses on progress made in recent years toward the identification and characterization of lipases that have important roles in the outcome of plant interaction with pests.
Composite Surface Integral Transforms in Neutron Therapy of Cancer

Composite surface finite integral transforms are applied to formulate the optimal ballistic property for a temporally tuned multibeam neutron cancer 3D therapy as a single-valued dynamical system. By invoking Pontryagin's maximum principle, with the operation functions of the beams constituting the control vector, it is proved, in an inverse problem formulation, that for every spatial configuration of the neutron beams, there exists an optimal temporal control vector satisfying an a priori system of linear homogeneous Volterra integral equations of the first kind and convolution type. A version of this newly advanced, temporally optimalized, multibeam 3D irradiation therapy, with a linearized ballistic property, is shown to result from a shooting-type solution to a related, semihomogeneous dual system of linear integral equations of the first kind. A criterion for the controllability of this optimization problem has also been established.
Renzulli's Philosophy and Program: Opening Doors and Nurturing Potential:

For decades, educators have searched for answers to explain the persistent and pervasive underrepresentation of minority students in gifted education. In too many school districts, arbitrary cutoff...
Medical Child Abuse: What Have We Learned in 40 Years?

The realization that caretakers could harm children by getting unnecessary and harmful or potentially harmful medical care began 40 years ago with the first paper on what Meadow called Munchausen by proxy. This article reviews the evolving understanding of this form of child abuse and discusses ongoing controversies including as follows: what to call it, whether it is rare or common, who gets the diagnosis, is there a profile of a perpetrator, is the motivation of the perpetrator important, and how treatable is the condition. Several recent policy guidelines are available detailing current recommendations for evaluation and treatment. Pediatricians tend to conceptualize this phenomenon in child abuse terms and refer to it as medical child abuse (MCA). Mental health professionals continue to use the deceptive behavior of the perpetrator as the organizing principle. Medical and mental health professionals are working together to develop treatment strategies. Clarity regarding the ongoing controversies suggests avenues for future research.
Are Lek Disturbance Buffers Equitable for All Gunnison Sage-Grouse Populations?

Abstract Lek disturbance buffers can be used to identify areas that provide important seasonal habitat for Gunnison sage grouse Centrocercus minimus (hereafter GUSG), a species with declining or vu...
High-Resolution Chromatin Profiling Using CUT&RUN.

Determining the genomic location of DNA-binding proteins is essential to understanding their function. Cleavage Under Targets and Release Using Nuclease (CUTR this can be done with either uncrosslinked or formaldehyde-crosslinked cells. DNA fragments near sites of antibody binding are released from the insoluble bulk chromatin through endonucleolytic cleavage and used to build barcoded DNA-sequencing libraries that can be sequenced in pools of at least 30. Therefore, CUT&RUN provides an alternative to ChIP-seq approaches for mapping chromatin proteins, which typically have relatively high signal-to-noise ratios, while using fewer cells and at a lower cost. Here, we describe the methods for performing CUT&RUN, generating DNA-sequencing libraries, and analyzing the resulting datasets. © 2019 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
A comparison of dynamic and static economic models of uneven-aged stand management

Numerical techniques have been used to compute the discrete-time sequence of residual diameter distributions that maximize the present net worth (PNW) of harvestable volume from an uneven-aged stand. Results contradicted optimal steady-state diameter distributions determined with static analysis. In this paper, optimality conditions for solutions to dynamic and static harvesting problems are established. Comparison of these conditions shows that for a stand with any diameter distribution: (1) the optimal transition regime does not converge to the steady state that maximizes land expectation value (LEV) using the Faustmann equation; (2) the PNW of the optimal transition and steady-state regime is greater than the PNW of the statically determined steady-state regime; and (3) the optimal steady-state regime is invariant. A refined version of a recently published dynamic optimization algorithm is provided and demonstrated with a whole-stand/diameter-class simulator for hardwood stands in Wisconsin. Optimal management regimes are computed for comparison with a static equilibrium management regime and for analysis of the effect of cutting-cycle length on harvest pattern and PNW.
Real-Time Equivalence of Chemical Reaction Networks and Analog Computers

This paper investigates the class \( \mathbb {R}_{RTCRN}\) of real numbers that are computable in real time by chemical reaction networks (Huang, Klinge, Lathrop, Li, Lutz, 2019), and its relationship to general purpose analog computers. Roughly, \( \alpha \in \mathbb {R}_{RTCRN}\) if there is a chemical reaction network (CRN) with integral rate constants and a designated species \( X \) such that, when all species concentrations are initialized to zero, \( X \) converges to \( \alpha \) exponentially quickly. In this paper, we define a similar class \( \mathbb {R}_{RTGPAC}\) of real numbers that are computable in real time by general purpose analog computers, and show that \( \mathbb {R}_{RTGPAC}= \mathbb {R}_{RTCRN}\) using a construction similar to that of the difference representation introduced by Fages, Le Guludec, Bournez, and Pouly. We prove this equivalence by showing that \( \mathbb {R}_{RTCRN}\) is a subfield of \( \mathbb {R}\) which solves a previously open problem. We also prove that a CRN with integer initial concentrations can be simulated by a CRN with all zero initial concentrations. Using these results, we give simple and natural constructions showing \( e \) and \( \pi \) are members of \( \mathbb {R}_{RTCRN}\), which was not previously known.
Postsynaptic densities fragment into subcomplexes upon sonication.

Postsynaptic density (PSD) fractions were isolated from rat forebrain and sonicated. Pellets from sonicated samples examined by electron microscopy revealed particles with an electron density similar to PSDs that appeared to be fragments of PSDs. Immuno-gold labeling confirmed that some of these contained PSD-95 and/or SynGAP. Biochemical analysis of supernatant and pellet fractions from sonicated samples showed almost complete recovery of several major PSD components (SynGAP, PSD-95, Shank3, Homer and Glutamate receptors) in the pellet, while the supernatant contained known contaminants of PSD fractions, such as glial acidic fibrillary protein and neurofilament protein, as well as actin and α-actinin, indicating susceptibility of these cytoskeletal elements to mechanical disruption. Size distributions of particulate material in control and sonicated samples were clearly different, with particles in the 40–90 nm range observed only in sonicated samples. Fragmentation of the PSD into subcomplexes containing major constituents suggests a patchwork structure consisting of weakly bound modules, that can be readily dissociated from each other through mechanical disruption. Modular organization and weak association between modules would endow the PSD with lateral structural flexibility.
Iowa and the Civil War, volume 1, Free Child of the Missouri Compromise, 1850-1862

Review of: "Iowa and the Civil War, volume 1, Free Child of the Missouri Compromise, 1850-1862" by Kenneth L. Lyftogt
Comparative Study of Cold Staining and Heat Staining for Detection of Acid-fast Bacilli in Sputum Smears

Objective To compare the difference between cold staining(not to heat directly but to remain motionless when the initial staining) and heat staining(to heat directly when the initial staining) in detecting acid-fast bacilli in sputum smears.Methods Totally 811 smear positive sputum specimens and 1,050 smear negative sputum specimens collected from January 31,2008 to September 30,2009 were detected.Each specimen painted two smear samples,and acid-fast bacilli in the two smear samples with cold staining and heat staining were determined. And the results of the two smear staining methods were compared.Results There was no statistically significant difference between the results of cold staining and heat staining in the same sputum specimen under the identical circumstances of taking the part of sputum,sputum film thickness,and the size of sputum film(χ2smear negative=0.31,χ2smear positive=0.20,both P0.05).Conclusions The cold staining method is superior to the hot staining method in simplifying the operation steps,reducing the amount of dye,and protecting the environment.
The Impact of Repair Method on the Chloride-Induced Corrosion of Steel Embedded in Cracked Concrete

The primary objective of this study was to experimentally assess the mitigating impacts of repair methods on the chloride-induced corrosion of reinforcement steel in precracked concrete. Precracked reinforced concrete specimens with a single transverse crack with three different crack widths of 0.1, 0.3, and 0.7 mm (0.004, 0.012, and 0.028 in) as well as uncracked beams were prepared. The specimens were exposed to alternating wet and dry cycles of 2 wk using a 3 wt. % sodium chloride solution to simulate an aggressive environmental condition and thus accelerate corrosion of embedded reinforcement bars. Three different methods were used for repair: (1) epoxy only, (2) injecting the inhibitor inside the crack and then coating the surface with epoxy, and (3) injecting a mixture of epoxy and inhibitor inside the crack and then coating the crack surface with epoxy. Electrochemical measures showed that all repair methods significantly suppressed corrosion activity. Prior to application of the repair methods, the corrosion activity was correlated with the crack width. After repair, the corrosion activity was diminished and was similar regardless of crack width. The epoxy-only repair method corresponded to greater reduction in corrosion activity than the other two methods.
Variable Responsiveness to Agonists for TLR2 and TLR7 in Myometrial Cells from Different Sources: Correlation with Receptor Expression

The myometrium plays a vital role in maintenance of pregnancy. Disruption of myometrial sensitivity to pro-contractile stimuli might lead to preterm labor. Inflammation and/or infection are common precursors to preterm birth, in part by initiating pro-contractile stimuli through toll-like receptor (TLRs) activation. In this study, we investigated the responses specific to inflammatory stimuli for both human primary myometrial cells (HPMCs) and PHM1-41 cells, a human immortalized myometrial cell line. Both these types of cells are commonly used to study labor and pregnancy. Both cell lines were treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), peptidoglycan (PGN), or imiquimod (IQ) (ligands for TLRs 2, 4, and 7, respectively). We demonstrate that inflammatory cytokines increase significantly with LPS treatment; however, no change occurs with PGN and IQ, suggesting lack of TLR2- and TLR7-specific signaling in both HPMCs and in the PHM1-41 cell line. Absence of TLR2- and TLR7-specific protein bands on western blots confirmed the lack of these receptors in both HPMCs maintained in long-term culture and PHM1-41 cells. However, TLR2 expression was present in freshly collected matched human myometrial tissue (i.e., the tissues used to create the HPMC cultures), showing loss of TLR2 receptors by HPMCs during the cell culturing process. TLR7 protein expression was lacking both in myometrial tissue and in cultured cells. These results demonstrate the limited applicability and reliability of cellular models to investigate the role of the myometrium during pregnancy and labor.
The association between prenatal exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances and childhood neurodevelopment.

Abstract Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) were among various persistent organic pollutants suspected to have been released during the collapse of the World Trade Center (WTC) on 9/11. Evidence on the association between prenatal PFAS exposure and child neurodevelopment is limited and inconsistent. This study evaluated the association between prenatal PFAS exposure and child cognitive outcomes measured at 5 different time points in a population prenatally exposed to the WTC disaster. The study population included 302 pregnant women in the Columbia University WTC birth cohort enrolled between December 13, 2001 and June 26, 2002 at three hospitals located near the WTC site: Beth Israel, St. Vincent’s, and New York University Downtown. We evaluated the association between prenatal exposure to four PFAS (perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA)) and child neurodevelopment measured using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development (BSID-II) at approximately 1, 2 and 3 years of age and using The Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI) at approximately 4 and 6 years of age. Geometric mean (range) concentrations of PFAS were 6.03 (1.05, 33.7), 2.31 (0.18, 8.14), 0.43 (
Knowing What You Don't Know: The Role of Information and Sophistication in Ballot Completion

Objective We seek to examine how individual factors such as information and political sophistication can affect the likelihood of a voter completing his or her ballot. Methods Through the use of an original experiment, we examine the individual‐level effects of information and political sophistication on ballot completion. Results We find that having less information about the candidates on a ballot results in lower levels of ballot completion. On average, voters complete 19 percent less of their ballot when they possess low levels of information about the candidates involved. Moreover, there are significant differences in how political sophisticates and nonsophisticates respond to deficiencies in candidate information. Conclusion Even though voters are likely to be hesitant to make a decision for a ballot contest when they are lacking in information, political sophisticates are more comfortable making a voting choice than nonsophisticates, even when they are operating under the exact same information constraints.
Progress in cornelia de lange syndrome

Cornelia de Lange syndrome is a rare congenital disease, which was firstly reported on 1933.It usually causes multiple organs dysplasia.Clinical manifestations include severe growth retardation, cognitive impairment, characteristic facial and upper limb defects.With the rapid development of medical science, especially in genetics and molecular biology, much research on the pathogenesis of Cornelia De Lange syndrome has been performed.Herein, we review the progress in this rare disease in recent years. Key words: Cornelia de Lange syndrome; Pathogenesis
What students write about when students write about mechanisms: analysis of features present in students’ written descriptions of an organic reaction mechanism

Learning to reason through organic reaction mechanisms is challenging for students because of the volume of reactions covered in introductory organic chemistry and the complexity of conceptual knowledge and reasoning skills required to develop meaningful understanding. However, understanding reaction mechanisms is valuable for students because they are useful for predicting and explaining reaction outcomes. To identify the features students find pertinent when explaining reaction mechanisms, we have collected students’ written descriptions of an acid-catalysed amide hydrolysis reaction. Students’ writing was produced during the implementation of Writing-to-Learn assignments in a second semester organic chemistry laboratory course. We analysed students’ written responses using an analytical framework for recognizing students’ mechanistic reasoning, originally developed with attention to the philosophy of science literature. The analysis sought to identify the presence of specific features necessary for mechanistic reasoning belonging to four broad categories: (1) describing an overview of the reaction, (2) detailing the setup conditions required for the mechanism to occur, (3) describing the changes that take place over the course of the mechanism, and (4) identifying the properties of reacting species. This work provides a qualitative description of the variety of ways in which students included these features necessary for mechanistic reasoning in their writing. We additionally analysed instances of co-occurrence for these features in students’ writing to make inferences about students’ mechanistic reasoning, defined here as the use of chemical properties to justify how electrons, atoms, and molecules are reorganized over the course of a reaction. Feature co-occurrences were quantified using the lift metric to measure the degree of their mutual dependence. The quantitative lift results provide empirical support for the hierarchical nature of students’ mechanistic descriptions and indicate the variation in students’ descriptions of mechanistic change in conjunction with appeals to chemistry concepts. This research applies a framework for identifying the features present in students’ written mechanistic descriptions, and illustrates the use of an association metric to make inferences about students’ mechanistic reasoning. The findings reveal the capacity of implementing and analysing writing to make inferences about students’ mechanistic reasoning.
Studying Personalized Just-in-time Auditory Breathing Guides and Potential Safety Implications during Simulated Driving

Driving can occupy a considerable part of our daily lives and is often associated with high levels of stress. Motivated by the effectiveness of controlled breathing, this work studies the potential use of breathing interventions while driving to help manage stress. In particular, we implemented and evaluated a closed-loop system that monitored the breathing rate of drivers in real-time and delivered either a conscious or an unconscious personalized acoustic breathing guide whenever needed. In a study with 24 participants, we observed that conscious interventions more effectively reduced the breathing rate but also increased the number of driving mistakes. We observed that prior driving experience as well as personality are significantly associated with the effect of the interventions, which highlights the importance of considering user profiles for in-car stress management interventions.
Abstract PO-033: Metabolic differences between human papillomavirus-related and smoking-related squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck independently predict overall patient survival

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) status and tobacco use are the strongest prognostic factors of survival for squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). Patients with HPV-related SCCHN live more than twice as long as patients with tobacco-related SCCHN. The underlying metabolic dysregulation characterizing these two clinically distinct groups may pose exciting translational targets that are yet unknown. Using a metabolome-wide approach, we investigated the metabolic differences of HPV vs smoking-related SCCHN in a large patient population. We then linked those metabolic differences to patient survival. Methods: We recruited 137 patients from Emory University hospitals and clinics: 55 HPV-positive never smokers (i.e., HPV-related SCCHN) and 82 HPV-negative current or former smokers (i.e., smoking-related SCCHN). We performed untargeted high-resolution metabolomics using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry on pre-treatment patient plasma at the Emory Clinical Biomarkers Laboratory. Our statistical approach has three steps. 1) Metabolite feature selection: We aggregated the results from two selection algorithms (5-fold cross-validated partial least squares discriminant analysis and support vector machine) to determine the metabolites that differentiated HPV vs smoking-related SCCHN. 2) Metabolic pathway analysis (Mummichog): We identified statistically significant (P Citation Format: Ronald C. Eldridge, Karan Uppal, Jonathan Beitler, Kristin Higgins, Evanthia C. Wommack, Dong M. Shin, Nabil F. Saba, Andrew Miller, Deborah W. Bruner, Canhua Xiao. Metabolic differences between human papillomavirus-related and smoking-related squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck independently predict overall patient survival [abstract]. In: Abstracts: AACR Special Virtual Conference on Epigenetics and Metabolism; October 15-16, 2020; 2020 Oct 15-16. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(23 Suppl):Abstract nr PO-033.
High temperature isotropic and anisotropic etching of silicon carbide using forming gas

Plasma-etched micropillars in 4H-SiC were etched in forming gas (4% H2, 96% N2) at 1500, 1550, and 1600 °C at 2.4 and 9.4 standard liters per min (slm). At 2.4 slm, oxygen from the aluminum oxide components of the tube furnace oxidized the SiC surface, and the pillars etched isotropically. At 9.4 slm, the pillars etched crystallographically at 1500 and 1550 °C, and sharp 4H-SiC needless with tips as narrow as 15 nm were produced. The lateral etch rates of both 4H- and 6H-SiC were measured with the a-plane etching faster than the m-plane at 1500 and 1550 °C. At 1600 °C, the m-plane and a-plane etch at comparable rates. Due to the difference in etch rates between the m-plane and a-plane, convex surfaces tend to produce facets parallel to the a-plane, while concave surfaces produce facets parallel to the m-plane.
Are REITs more resilient than non-REITs? Evidence from natural experiments

Abstract REITs draw attention from investors around the world, yet our understanding of the various risks associated with such securities is limited. Using the introduction of Arrowhead, a low-latency high-frequency trading platform, to the Tokyo Stock Exchange and the financial crisis of 2008 as natural experiments, we compare the resilience of REITs and equities in terms of liquidity and volatility. The results indicate that the introduction of Arrowhead improved the quality of the Japanese REIT market but also increased the probability of flash crashes. We also find that although the financial crisis significantly deteriorated overall equity market quality, the Japanese REIT market was resilient. Finally, using a difference-in-differences regression model, we show that the higher transparency and better price discovery of REITs, compared to non-REITS, protected them from the negative effects of the financial crisis and the introduction of Arrowhead. Overall, our analysis shows that REITs are more resilient than non-REITs.
The Montroll Defect Technique and Its Application to Molecular Crystals

Experiments to probe the nature of a system may be either of the gentle kind examined in Chap. 5 or such that they modify the given system substantially. An example of the latter situation is when guest molecules such as those of tetracene are placed within an aromatic hydrocarbon crystal like anthracene to ascertain the nature of the motion of excitations in the latter. Such doping can alter the original system profoundly and require new methods of solution of the equations governing motion. The defect technique was constructed for such purposes in this chapter along lines first set out by Montroll and his collaborators. It was explained in the context of a crystal. An extension to study effects of the coherence of the motion when the detectors are placed at random positions within the crystal was explained next. It was then generalized to address high concentrations of defects via the so-called ν-function formalism. A theory was constructed to interpret measurements of the exciton diffusion constant in observations with detectors placed at the end of a crystal in what is sometimes referred to as Simpson geometry. It offered an explanation of the large discrepancy in reported values of the diffusion constant. Several experimental schemes were developed theoretically to be used along with proposed experiment. One such involved varying the penetration length of the excitons in the sample and another dealt with the time dependence of detector emission. The temperature dependence and magnitude of the diffusion constant, when extracted from annihilation experiments on the one hand and sensitized luminescence on the other, were found to be in stark conflict when interpreted in the usual way. The paradox was resolved with the theory developed in this chapter. The question of whether it is the motion or the reaction process that limits the reaction-diffusion phenomenon in a given experiment was investigated carefully and conclusions were presented.
Exceptional Radiation Absorption in a Pentagon-Based Si Allotrope

Excellent photovoltaic performance is predicted in a pentagonal covalent network of Si in a hollow structure exhibiting both thermal and dynamical stability. Consisting of a combination of sp2 and sp3 hybridized Si atomic orbitals, the GW0 computed band structure shows an indirect band gap near the zone edge and also a manifold of directly absorbing transitions at frequencies in the window of visible light, in distinction with conventional Si. Hydrogenation of a single sp2 site is predicted to lead to a robust local magnetic moment. We find a low formation energy at low pressure that is compatible with other experimentally known phases, suggesting that a stable phase might be obtained.
The Dynamics of Cyber Conflict between Rival Antagonists, 2001-2011

Much discussion of the concept of cyber conflict and the changing dynamic of future security interactions is founded upon the study of what could be, conjured through spectacular flights of the imagination. The goal of this research is to exhaustively collect information on all cyber interactions between rival states in the last decade so that we can delineate the patterns of cyber conflict as reflected by evidence. Our theory of cyber conflict is that restraint and regionalism should be expected, counter-intuitive to conventional wisdom. We find here that the actual magnitude and pace of cyber disputes among rivals does not match with popular perception; only 20 of 126 active rivals engaged in cyber conflict and, the interactions uncovered are limited in terms of magnitude and frequency. The coming era of cyber conflict should continue to exhibit these patterns despite fears mentioned in the discourse.
Comparing Acute Toxicities of Patients With Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treated With Definitive Proton vs. Photon-Based Radiotherapy.

Purpose/Objective(s) Radiation therapy (RT) remains a critical treatment modality for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), with proton beam therapy (PBT) being widely utilized due to its decreased exit dose compared to photon-based RT. We hypothesize that patients with HCC receiving definitive PBT would experience decreased acute toxicity when compared to those receiving photon-based RT. Materials/Methods Electronic medical records were retrospectively reviewed at a single institution for patients diagnosed with unresectable HCC and treated with definitive RT between 1/2011 and 12/2020. Patients treated with prior surgery or radiofrequency ablation were excluded. Progress notes and treatment summaries were reviewed to determine baseline characteristics including age at diagnosis, Child-Pugh classification (CPC), AJCC 8th edition T stage, performance status, and RT dose. Acute treatment toxicities were evaluated using Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events v5.0. Descriptive statistics were quantified for baseline characteristics. Odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were generated to determine the association between PBT vs. photon therapy and acute radiation toxicities in bivariate and multivariate logistic regression models. Results Forty-six patients were included in the analysis. 24 (52%) patients received PBT while 22 (48%) received photon-based RT. Median age for the PBT and photon-based RT groups were 67 (interquartile range (IQR): 58.6 to 72.5) and 65.5 years (IQR: 61.0 to 73.0), respectively (P = 0.991). 50% of patients who received PBT had a T stage greater than T2, compared to 71% of patient in the photon group (P = 0.148). 42% of the PBT group had CPC B or worse, compared to 38% in the photon group (P = 0.813). Performance status and total dose did not significantly differ between groups (P = 0.351 and P = 0.773, respectively). PBT was associated with higher odds of any grade radiation dermatitis (RD) (OR = 6.00, 95% CI: 1.13 to 31.9) and lower odds of any grade anorexia (OR = 0.21, 95% CI 0.05 to 0.91). Odds of any grade diarrhea and fatigue, did not significantly differ between groups (P = 0.086 and P = 0.958, respectively). After controlling for performance status, total dose, T stage, CPC, and age at diagnosis, PBT was still associated with higher odds of RD (OR = 11.07, 95% CI: 1.14 to 107.71) and lower odds of anorexia (OR = 0.14, 95% CI: 0.02 to 0.93). Conclusion This study provides evidence that although PBT appears to have a superior safety profile in regard to acute anorexia, patients treated with PBT have higher odds of acute RD; these effects persist even after controlling for relevant confounding factors. PBT may result in fewer GI toxicities at the cost of greater skin toxicity.
Older patients with eosinophilic esophagitis have high treatment response to topical steroids.

Abstract Background There are few data assessing treatment response in older eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) patients and we evaluated treatment outcomes to topical corticosteroids (tCS) in this older population. Methods This retrospective cohort study of the UNC EoE Clinicopathologic database included subjects with a new diagnosis of EoE treated with tCS. Histologic responses, global symptom response, and endoscopic changes were recorded. Older EoE patients (≥65 years) were compared to younger EoE patients ( Results We identified 467 EoE patients treated with tCS, 12 (3%) of whom were ≥65 years. Compared to those Conclusions EoE patients ≥65 years had a higher likelihood of responding to tCS therapy, suggesting they should be studied more closely and included in future trials.
Mapping forest leaf area index using reflectance and textural information derived from WorldView-2 imagery in a mixed natural forest area in Florida, US

Abstract The leaf area index (LAI) of plant canopies is an important structural parameter that controls energy, water, and gas exchanges of plant ecosystems. Remote sensing techniques may offer an alternative for measuring and mapping forest LAI at a landscape scale. Given the characteristics of high spatial/spectral resolution of the WorldView-2 (WV2) sensor, it is of significance that the textural information extracted from WV2 multispectral (MS) bands will be first time used in estimating and mapping forest LAI. In this study, LAI mapping accuracies would be compared from (a) spatial resolutions between 2-m WV2 MS data and 30-m Landsat TM imagery, (b) the nature of variables between spectrum-based features and texture-based features, and (c) sensors between TM and WV2. Therefore spectral/textural features (SFs) were first selected and tested; then a canonical correlation analysis was performed with different data sets of SFs and LAI measurement; and finally linear regression models were used to predict and map forest LAI with canonical variables calculated from image data. The experimental results demonstrate that for estimating and mapping forest LAI, (i) using high resolution data (WV2) is better than using relatively low resolution data (TM); (ii) extracted from the same WV2 data, texture-based features have higher capability than that of spectrum-based features; (iii) a combination of spectrum-based features with texture-based features could lead to even higher accuracy of mapping forest LAI than their either one separately; and (iv) WV2 sensor outperforms TM sensor significantly. However, we need to address the possible overfitting phenomenon that might be brought in by using more input variables to develop models. In addition, the experimental results also indicate that the red-edge band in WV2 was the worst on estimating LAI among WV2 MS bands and the WV2 MS bands in the visible range had a much higher correlation with ground measured LAI than that red-edge and NIR bands did.
Tamoxifen induces apoptosis in Fas+ tumor cells by upregulating the expression of Fas ligand.

Purpose Tamoxifen (TAM), a nonsteroidal anticancer agent, is used in the treatment of breast cancer. In the current study, we investigated whether TAM induces apoptosis in tumor cells by altering the expression of Fas and Fas ligand (FasL).
AMPA, kainate, and quisqualate activate a common receptor-channel complex on embryonic chick motoneurons

The actions of the putative quisqualate-selective agonist DL-alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole-propionic acid (AMPA) were examined in identified embryonic chick motoneurons using gigaseal recording techniques and compared with properties of the selective non-NMDA excitatory amino acid agonists kainate and quisqualate. Pressure application of AMPA induces an inward going current when neurons are voltage-clamped at negative membrane potentials. The current-voltage relationship for this response is linear with reversal near 0 mV. Over the range of 1 microM-10 mM, the AMPA-induced current is dose-dependent with an ED50 of 40 microM. AMPA currents are insensitive to the selective NMDA receptor antagonist, 2-amino-5-phosphonovalerate, and the putative quisqualate selective blocker, glutamate diethyl ester, but are partially inhibited by kynurenic acid. In competition experiments, applications of saturating concentrations of AMPA and either kainate or quisqualate produce responses intermediate between the response to either agonist alone, indicating commonality in the mechanism of these agents. Applications of AMPA with the NMDA-selective agonist aspartate give an additive response. Analysis of current fluctuations indicates that AMPA, quisqualate, and kainate gate a channel with a primary conductance near 20 pS. Differences in maximal macroscopic current evoked by saturating concentrations of AMPA, kainate, and quisqualate cannot be explained by differences in mean channel open time as the most efficacious agonist, kainate, has the shortest channel open time (AMPA = 5.9 +/- 0.4 msec, kainate = 2.7 +/- 0.1 msec, quisqualate = 5.0 +/- 0.5 msec). Rather, kainate induces a greater frequency of channel opening. This finding contrasts with results obtained at the nicotinic ACh receptor, where the most efficacious agonists have the longest mean channel open time. Our results suggest that AMPA acts at the same receptor-channel complex as kainate and quisqualate on chick motoneurons and support the hypothesis that only 2 classes of excitatory amino acid receptor complexes exist in this preparation.
At pharmacologically relevant concentrations intravenous iron preparations cause pancreatic beta cell death.

Back ground: Overt and subtle iron overload cause diabetes by lowering insulin production and promoting insulin resistance. Via divalent metal transporters pancreatic beta cells take up non-transferrin-bound iron which by catalyzing Fenton reaction can cause oxidative stress. Due to their strict dependence on mitochondrial glucose metabolism and limited antioxidant capacity, beta cells are exquisitely vulnerable to oxidative stress and hence catalytically active iron. Intravenous (IV) iron preparations are routinely used in the management of anemia in patients with end stage renal disease. This has led to an epidemic of iron overload in this population. This study explored the effect of pharmacologically-relevant concentrations of a commonly used IV iron preparation on the beta cells in isolated pancreatic islets. Methods: Isolated rat pancreatic islets were incubated for 24 hours in culture media containing vehicle or pharmacologically-relevant concentration of ferric sucrose and examined for the extent of cell death and oxidative stress. Results: Exposure to iron sucrose resulted in a concentration-dependent oxidative stress and pancreatic islet cell death predominantly affecting beta cells. Conclusions: At pharmacologically-relevant concentrations a commonly used IV iron preparation causes oxidative stress and beta cell death. These findings suggest that indiscriminate use of IV iron may impair insulin production capacity in ESRD patients the majority of whom have Type-2 diabetes.
Immobilization impairs recovery after spinal cord injury.

Abstract The effect of immobilization on motor recovery was studied in adult rats after subtotal spinal cord section. Anesthetized rats underwent three-quarter section of the cord, sparing the left lateral funiculus. After surgery, half the rats were placed in immobilization tubes for three to four weeks; the others were allowed free mobility. Hindlimb motor function was graded at various times in the two groups. In contrast to the marked recovery observed in mobile animals, the immobilized rats with similar cord lesions showed no significant motor recovery during the period of immobilization. Immobilized rats without cord lesions showed minimal transient deficits. In conclusion, hindlimb activity appears to be a necessary condition for motor recovery after subtotal spinal cord injury.
Profound inhibition of platelet aggregation with monoclonal antibody 7E3 Fab thrombolytic therapy: Results of the thrombolysis and angioplasty in mycardial infaraction (TAMI) 8 pilot study

Abstract Objectives. This study was undertaken to establish evidence for physiologic activity and to study the safety of murine-derived monoclonal antibody 7E3 Fab (m7E3 Fab) in receiving recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (rt-PA). Background. Platelet aggregation is believed to be a significant factor in the failure of pharmacologic reperfusion. By binding to the glycoprotein IIb/IHa receptor, m7E3 Fab inhibits platelet aggregation and has been shown experimentally to decrease the time required for lysis and to prevent reocclusion. However, the safety of profound platelet inhibition after thrombolysis for acute myocardial infarction has not been tested in humans. Methods. Sixty patients receiving rt-PA, aspirin and heparin for acute myocardial infarction received m7E3 Fab bolus injections in ascending doses at 3, 6 and 15 h after initiation of the thrombolytic infusion. Ten patients treated with rt-PA but not m7E3 Fab were studied as control subjects. Results. Receptor site blockade and inhibition of platelet aggregation to 20 μmol/liter adenosine were maximal at a dose of 0.25 mg/kg body of m7E3 Fab. Fifteen (25%) m7E3 Fab-treated patients and five (50%) control patients had major bleeding; eight of these events in seven m7E3 Fab-treated patients and one in a control patient occurred at the time of aortocoronary bypass surgery. Recurrent ischemia occured in eight (13%) m7E3 Fab-treated patients and two (20%) control subjects. Coronary angiography was performed in 43 patients; the infarct-related coronary artery was patent in 5 of 9 (56%) control patients and 34 (92%) of 37 patients receiving m7E3 Fab. Conclusions. Profound inhibition of platelet aggregation after thrombolysis was associated with bleeding rates comparable to those in control patients and a low rate of recurrent ischemia. The combination of m7E3 Fab and rt-PA, heparin and aspirin appears to be a promising and safe combination that should be evaluated in further studies of patients with acute myocardial infarction.
Neural Plasticity of Mild Tinnitus: An fMRI Investigation Comparing Those Recently Diagnosed with Tinnitus to Those That Had Tinnitus for a Long Period of Time.

Objectives. The aim of the study was to compare differences in neural correlates of tinnitus in adults with recent onset and others who had the disorder for longer than a year. Design. A total of 25 individuals with tinnitus were divided into groups based on the amount of time for which they had experienced tinnitus: 1 year (LTIN). Subjects underwent an fMRI scan while listening to affective sounds from the International Affective Digital Sounds database. Resting state functional connectivity data were also collected. Results. The RTIN group recruited the posterior cingulate and insula to a greater extent than the LTIN group when processing affective sounds. In addition, we found that the LTIN group engaged more frontal regions when listening to the stimuli compared to the RTIN group. Lastly, we found increased correlations between the default mode network and the precuneus in RTIN patients compared to LTIN at rest. Conclusion. Our results suggest that the posterior cingulate and insula may be associated with an early emotional reaction to tinnitus in both task and resting states. Over time, tinnitus patients may recruit more frontal regions to better control their emotional response and exhibit altered connectivity in the default mode network.
Fluid Transient Analysis for Safety Valve Vent Stack Using S-RELAP5 Code

This paper is to present a fluid transient analysis for the safety valve vent stack which is an open discharge system using the AREVA in-house thermal hydraulic code S-RELAP5. S-RELAP5 was developed by AREVA to perform thermal hydraulic analyses. It is a RELAP5-based thermal-hydraulic system code which incorporates features of the NRC RELAP5/MOD2 and RELAP5/MOD3 as well as other improvements. S-RELAP5 deals with one-dimensional two-phase, two-fluid, non-equilibrium hydrodynamic model with a non-condensable gas field.ASME B31.1-2010 Non-mandatory Appendix II provides formulas for hand calculation of blow down forces at elbow exit and vent pipe. In general, this approach generates only steady state forces. To more accurately calculate forcing functions, S-RELAP5 is a good tool to achieve this task. The purpose of this S-RELAP5 application is to show that the usage of BRANCH and other components in the S-RELAP5 code can effectively simulate the safety valve open system discharge. This is a first-of-a-kind application of the code. Furthermore, this method provides an alternative to the ASME Appendix II hand calculation. In this paper a sample problem from ASME Appendix II is utilized to generate the time history forcing functions to demonstrate the versatility of S-RELAP5. These forcing functions can then be used for the subsequent piping dynamic analysis.Copyright © 2013 by ASME