cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Management of Regional Lymph Node Basins in Melanoma

Of all malignancies, melanoma has the most rapid increase in incidence; in 2009 it was estimated to have had the fifth highest number of new cases overall. Surgical therapy remains the primary and most effective intervention for this disease. Over the past 20 years there has been a significant paradigm shift in the management of the regional nodal basin, driven predominantly by the introduction of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB). This new technique has drastically altered the method of detecting nodal disease and has become a routine component of melanoma treatment. In addition to SLNB, a better understanding of ultrasound, fine-needle biopsy, and the considerable efforts to minimize the morbidity of surgical intervention has led to innovations in the management of patients with regional metastases. An overview of the current therapeutic options for managing patients with nodal disease follows.
Estimates of Density, Detection Probability, and Factors Influencing Detection of Burrowing Owls in the Mojave Desert

We estimated relative abundance and density of Western Burrowing Owls (Athene cunicularia hypugaea) at two sites in the Mojave Desert (2003–04). We made modifications to previously established Burrowing Owl survey techniques for use in desert shrublands and evaluated several factors that might influence the detection of owls. We tested the effectiveness of the call-broadcast technique for surveying this species, the efficiency of this technique at early and late breeding stages, and the effectiveness of various numbers of vocalization intervals during broadcasting sessions. Only 1 (3%) of 31 initial (new) owl responses was detected during passive-listening sessions. We found that surveying early in the nesting season was more likely to produce new owl detections compared to surveying later in the nesting season. New owls detected during each of the three vocalization intervals (each consisting of 30 sec of vocalizations followed by 30 sec of silence) of our broadcasting session were similar (37%, 40%, and 23%; n = 30). We used a combination of detection trials (sighting probability) and double-observer method to estimate the components of detection probability, i.e., availability and perception. Availability for all sites and years, as determined by detection trials, ranged from 46.1%–58.2%. Relative abundance, measured as frequency of occurrence and defined as the proportion of surveys with at least one owl, ranged from 19.2%–32.0% for both sites and years. Density at our eastern Mojave Desert site was estimated at 0.09 ± 0.01 (SE) owl territories/km2 and 0.16 ± 0.02 (SE) owl territories/km2 during 2003 and 2004, respectively. In our southern Mojave Desert site, density estimates were 0.09 ± 0.02 (SE) owl territories/km2 and 0.08 ± 0.02 (SE) owl territories/km2 during 2004 and 2005, respectively.
Quantum–classical correspondences for atomic operators: a positive P representation approach

We demonstrate the successful simulation of classical stochastic differential equations obtained from the positive P phase-space technique for two-level atoms pumped by a near-resonant laser. Numerical results for both the resonance fluorescence spectrum and the absorption spectrum are compared with the exact results.
Suckling Unmasks the Stimulatory Effect of Dopamine on Prolactin Release: Possible Role for α-Melanocyte- Stimulating Hormone as a Mammotrope Responsiveness Factor*

Mounting evidence indicates that dopamine (DA) can stimulate as well as inhibit PRL release when given in appropriately low doses. In the present study, we investigated whether the suckling stimulus could influence this response. Pituitary cultures from suckled or nonsuckled rats were exposed to DA (10−16–10−6 M) during a reverse hemolytic plaque assay for PRL. Pituitary cells from nonsuckled rats exhibited only the inhibitory response to DA; exposure to high-dose DA (10−6 M) reduced plaque area to 42.3 ± 7.2% (mean ± SEM) of control. A low dose of DA (10−12 M) had no effect on PRL secretion (79.3 ± 13.3% of control). In striking contrast, a brief suckling stimulus (10 min) rendered the mammotropes responsive to stimulation by low-dose DA (to 152.7 ± 12.5% of control). Thus, suckling appears to be a requirement for expression of the stimulatory effect of DA in lactators. In a subsequent series of experiments we explored the possibility that a hypophysial factor, released during nursing, might mimic the ef...
Impact of communication delays and deadline times on distributed processing in packet radio networks

The authors describe a simulation model to aid in the evaluation of time-critical distributed processing scenarios utilizing a multihop packet radio networks. The simulation model includes a user-defined network, spread-spectrum random-access protocols, end-to-end transport functions, and an error model that includes the effects of interference from concurrent transmissions as well as that of an on-off partial band jammer. An abstract description of a typical distributed processing scenario with hierarchical primary and subtask structures, in which a distributed task is described by a 'script', has been devised. In this representation, a distributed task consists of a primary task and a hierarchy of one or more subtasks. Numerical results were obtained through simulations representing a wide variety of task scenarios. Processing scenarios include assignment of task deadlines with levels of task-subtask hierarchy, and redundant processing on multiple hosts. >
An effective theory of initial conditions in inflation

We examine the renormalization of an effective theory description of a general initial state set in an isotropically expanding space-time, which is done to understand how to include the effects of new physics in the calculation of the cosmic microwave background power spectrum. The divergences that arise in a perturbative treatment of the theory are of two forms: those associated with the properties of a field propagating through the bulk of space-time, which are unaffected by the choice of the initial state, and those that result from summing over the short-distance structure of the initial state. We s how that the former have the same renormalization and produce the same subsequent scale dependence as for the standard vacuum state, while the latter correspond to divergences that are localized at precisely the initial tim e hypersurface on which the state is defined. This class of divergences is therefore renormalized by adding initial -boundary counterterms, which render all of the perturbative corrections small and finite. Initial states that approach the standard vacuum at short distances require, at worst, relevant or marginal boundary counterterms. States that differ from the vacuum at distances below that at which any new, potentially trans-Planckian, physics becomes important are renormalized with irrelevant boundary counterterms.
MARIN Hybrid Optical-Wireless Access Network

A novel hybrid optical-wireless access network is proposed for metropolitan area. This novel architecture consists of wireless mesh networks and a reconfigurable optical backhaul and aggregation network based on TDM-PON technology.
The Process and Practice of Downtown Revitalization

Efforts to revitalize downtown areas have gained momentum over the past few decades. This article reviews the literature on downtown revitalization, presents a model that illustrates the process of decline and the more recent process of revitalization that has occurred in downtown areas over the past half-century, and discusses local policies that can facilitate the process. Revitalization policies and resulting projects in the cities of Jeffersonville, Indiana, and New Albany, Indiana, are used to illustrate components of the model that deal with the revitalization process.
Airmass aging metrics derived from particle and other measurements near Fort Worth

Abstract The composition, concentration, and size of submicron particulate matter (PM1) were measured at five-minute resolution by an Aerodyne high-resolution time-of-flight aerosol mass spectrometer (HR-ToF-AMS) at a semi-rural location northwest of the Dallas-Fort Worth, TX, area during June 2011. Because of increased organic aerosol (OA) levels, focus here is placed on the period from June 17–30. The total measured PM1 mass concentration ranged between 1.1 and 16.5 μg m−3, with a mean of 4.4 ± 2.6 (one s.d.) μg m−3. Significant variability is observed in the time series of total PM1 and of four individual HR-ToF-AMS species, particularly between June 21 and 25. The average PM1 mass composition was dominated by OA (55.0 ± 14.8%) and sulfate (30.7 ± 12.3%). Organic aerosol concentrations were correlated positively with carbon monoxide (CO) (R = 0.81). This study uses a variety of aging metrics and their relations to OA/ΔCO to characterize secondary organic aerosol. Photochemical age is estimated by using the toluene to benzene ratio. The average photochemical age was 26.7 ± 5.3 h. Other metrics of age used in this work include the ratio of sulfate to total sulfur and the ratio of nitrogen oxides to total reactive nitrogen. The correlations between the OA/ΔCO and nitrogen aging metrics indicate consistent aging, and a weak relationship is observed between OA/ΔCO and sulfur aging. However, the relationship between photochemical age and OA/ΔCO does not show a statistically significant correlation.
Variability in Cognitive Function in the Elderly: Implications for Societal Participation

There is a vast literature on the course of psychometric intelligence over the adult life span that has made us familiar with the finding that most abilities tend to peak in early midlife, plateau until the late fifties or early sixties, and then show decline, initially at slow pace, but accelerating as the late seventies are reached (Botwinick, 1977; Cunningham, in press; Labouvie-Vief, 1985; Schaie, 1980a). There remains some controversy on the specific ages at which certain abilities peak and on the ages at which significant decline can first be detected (Botwinick, 1977; Willis, 1985). Data from cross-sectional studies usually draw relatively pessimistic conclusions for those variables where positive cohort trends have been observed, and unduly optimistic conclusions for those variables where cohort trends have been negative. Age-comparative work is often flawed, moreover, because of the fact that it is difficult or impossible to match samples differing widely in age with respect to other variables that might critically effect the dependent variable of interest. Longitudinal studies are consequently called for, because they control for cohort effects and, of course, allow within-subject comparisons.
Towards a More Secure Apache Hadoop HDFS Infrastructure

Apache Hadoop and the Hadoop Distributed File System (HDFS) have become important tools for organizations dealing with “Big Data” storage and analytics. Hadoop has the potential to offer powerful and cost effective solutions to Big Data analytics; however, sensitive data stored within an HDFS infrastructure has equal potential to be an attractive target for exfiltration, corruption, unauthorized access, and modification. As a follow-up to the authors’ previous work in the area of improving security of HDFS via the use of Trusted Computing technology, this paper will describe the threat against Hadoop in a sensitive environment, describe how and why an Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) could target Hadoop, and how standards-based trusted computing could be an effective approach to a layered threat mitigation.
Adaptive Write and Shift Current Modulation for Process Variation Tolerance in Domain Wall Caches

Domain wall memory (DWM), also known as racetrack memory, is gaining significant attention for embedded cache application due to low standby power, excellent retention, and the ability to store multiple bits per cell. In addition, it offers fast access time, good endurance, and retention. However, it suffers from poor write latency, shift latency, shift power, and write power. In addition, we observe that process variation can result in a large spread in write and read latency variations. The performance of conventionally designed DWM cache can degrade as much as 13% due to process variations. We propose a novel and adaptive write current and shift current boosting to address this issue. The bits experiencing worst case write latency are fixed through a combination of write and shift boosting, whereas worst case read bits are fixed by shift boosting. Simulations show a 30% dynamic energy improvement compared with boosting all bit-cells and a 18% performance improvement compared with worst case latency due to process variation over a wide range of PARSEC benchmarks.
Micronized resmethrin dust for control of flies in dairy barns.

When small amounts (0.25 g) of micronized 30% resmethrin dust/1000 ft3 were released into a 15,000 ft3 barn containing both laboratory-reared (caged) and indigenous (uncaged) adult Musca domestica L., Stomoxys calcitrnis (L.), and Fannia canicularis (L.), 100% fly kill was achieved. The dust Was expelled into the barn air by compressed gas (CO2at 800 lb/in.2).
IN VLVO OPTICAL MEASUREMENT OF TISSUE pH TO ASSESS BOWEL ISCHEMIA AND REPERFUSION DURING HEMORRHAGIC SHOCK

An optical, noninvasive method of measuring bowel pH was demonstrated on nine swine undergoing hemorrhagic shock and reperfusion. Using reflected near infrared light and partial least squares analysis it was possible to develop calibration models with mean accuracy better than 0.05 pH units. Continuous measurement of bowel pH was compared to blood flow in the superior mesenteric artery to investigate cellular response to ischemia and blood flow restoration to the bowel.
Designation of Lectotype and synonymy for Euchloe lotta Beutenmuller (Lepidoptera: Pieridae)

Beutenmuller (1898) described Synchloe lotta from a short series of syntypes now housed in the American Museum of Natural History. Because Beutenmuller listed lotta’s distribution as Colorado, Arizona, Utah, and southern California, and because a wide variety of phenotypes occur in these states, it is necessary to eliminate current confusion by clarifying the identity of this name. In this short paper, I select a lectotype and concomitant type locality. A brief synonymy is presented.
A statistical evaluation of the Youden Matched-Pairs Procedure.

AOAC INTERNATIONAL currently permits investigators to use the Youden Matched-Pairs Procedure to obtain estimates of the method performance indicators repeatability and reproducibility (S r and S R , respectively). This report explains the statistical model assumptions upon which the procedure is based, provides validity tests for several of these assumptions, explains conditions under which Youdens' precision error is not consistent with precision estimate S r or S R as defined by AOAC INTERNATIONAL, and indicates when precision estimates based on the procedure should be interpreted with caution or should not be used.
The Education of Physically Handicapped Children In Finland

The material on which this article is based was collected during a survey carried out under the auspices of the International Society for the Welfare of Cripples and of the International Union for Child Welfare, with the endorsement of UNESCO and financial support from the World Rehabilitation Fund, the Association for the Aid of Crippled Children, the Easter Seal Research Foundation of the National Society for Crippled Children and Adults, and the National Foundation. This is the first of a series by the authors.
Carbon Dioxide Copolymerization Study with a Sterically Encumbering Naphthalene-Derived Oxide

Poly(1,4-dihydronaphthalene carbonate) has been prepared via the catalytic coupling of carbon dioxide and 1,4-dihydronaphthalene oxide using chromium(III) catalysts. The copolymer formation is found to be greatly dependent on the steric environment around the metal center. Traditional (salen)CrIIIX/cocatalyst systems bearing bulky t-butyl groups hinder the approach of the large monomer, significantly diminishing polymer chain growth and providing the entropically favored cyclic byproduct in excess. In contrast, employing the sterically unencumbered azaannulene-derived catalyst, (tmtaa)CrIIIX/cocatalyst system (tmtaa = tetramethyltetraazaannulene) shows polymer selectivity close to 90% with three times the activity (TOF = 20–30 h–1). With the use of a bifunctional (salen)CrIII catalyst, even higher polymer selectivity (>90%) can be observed. The complete synthesis of a new bifunctional tetraazaannulene ligand for a more effective catalyst is also described herein.
Suprasellar epithelioid hemangioendothelioma: Case report and review of the literature.

Background: Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (EHE) is a rare sarcoma of vascular origin, which is clinically and histologically intermediate between benign hemangioma and angiosarcoma. It is most commonly found in the liver, lung, and bone, however, 46 intracranial cases have been reported in the literature, of which this is the fifth reported suprasellar tumor.
Asymptomatic CNS demyelination related to TNF-α inhibitor therapy

Study funding: No targeted funding. Disclosure: The authors report no financial disclosure. Go to Neurology.org/nn for full disclosure forms. The Article Processing Charge was paid by the authors.
Immunotherapies for Movement Disorders: Parkinson’s Disease and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Although patterns of neuronal degeneration are unique in PD and ALS, both disorders share common pathways and processes that support and possibly initiate neurodegeneration. Most of these processes are associated with induction, propagation, or consequences of neuroinflammation. Increased numbers of microglia that express reactive phenotypes and proximate dying neurons reflect the neuroinflammatory cellular response. Neuroinflammation amplifies oxidative stresses via reactive oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon species that react with biomolecules and increase molecular modifications of lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids. These reactive modifications eventually become deleterious to biochemical and cellular processes resulting in dysregulation of cellular functions and further neuronal injury and death. Whether neuroinflammatory responses are causal or consequential remains to be determined. Nevertheless, the importance of inflammatory responses to neurodegeneration is underscored in animal models, whereby attenuation of neuroinflammation by genetic manipulation or pharmacological agents mitigates neurodegeneration and increases neuronal survival. As such, immunological strategies that target neuroinflammatory processes represent promising candidates for therapeutic intervention in neurodegenerative disorders. These strategies embrace the capacity of regulatory T cells to protect neurons either directly via neurotrophic factors, or indirectly by modulation of microglial function to attenuate neuroinflammatory responses and by induction of astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factors.
On the creation of high spatial resolution imaging spectroscopy data from multi-temporal low spatial resolution imagery

The Hyperspectral Infrared Imager (HyspIRI) mission aims to provide global imaging spectroscopy data to the benefit of especially ecosystem studies. The onboard spectrometer will collect radiance spectra from the visible to short wave infrared (VSWIR) regions (400-2500 nm). The mission calls for fine spectral resolution (10 nm band width) and as such will enable scientists to perform material characterization, species classification, and even sub-pixel mapping. However, the global coverage requirement results in a relatively low spatial resolution (GSD 30m), which restricts applications to objects of similar scales. We therefore have focused on the assessment of sub-pixel vegetation structure from spectroscopy data in past studies. In this study, we investigate the development or reconstruction of higher spatial resolution imaging spectroscopy data via fusion of multi-temporal data sets to address the drawbacks implicit in low spatial resolution imagery. The projected temporal resolution of the HyspIRI VSWIR instrument is 15 days, which implies that we have access to as many as six data sets for an area over the course of a growth season. Previous studies have shown that select vegetation structural parameters, e.g., leaf area index (LAI) and gross ecosystem production (GEP), are relatively constant in summer and winter for temperate forests; we therefore consider the data sets collected in summer to be from a similar, stable forest structure. The first step, prior to fusion, involves registration of the multi-temporal data. A data fusion algorithm then can be applied to the pre-processed data sets. The approach hinges on an algorithm that has been widely applied to fuse RGB images. Ideally, if we have four images of a scene which all meet the following requirements - i) they are captured with the same camera configurations; ii) the pixel size of each image is x ; and iii) at least r 2 images are aligned on a grid of x/r - then a high-resolution image, with a pixel size of x/r , can be reconstructed from the multi-temporal set. The algorithm was applied to data from NASA's classic Airborne Visible and Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS-C; GSD 18m), collected between 2013-2015 (summer and fall) over our study area (NEON's Southwest Pacific Domain; Fresno, CA) to generate higher spatial resolution imagery (GSD 9m). The reconstructed data set was validated via comparison to NEON's imaging spectrometer (NIS) data (GSD 1m). The results showed that algorithm worked well with the AVIRIS-C data and could be applied to the HyspIRI data.
Race/ethnicity is associated with ABO-nonidentical liver transplantation in the United States

United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) policies allows for ABO non-identical liver transplantation (LT) in candidates with Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) scores greater than 30. Previous studies showed ABO non-identical LT resulted in an 18% and 55% net gain in livers for B and AB candidates. These results suggested that the current liver ABO allocation policies may need refinement. There are, however, strong associations between ABO blood groups and race/ethnicity. We hypothesized that race/ethnicity is associated with ABO non-identical LT and that this is primarily influenced by recipient ABO status. We examined non-status 1 adult candidates registered between 7/1/2013-12/31/2015. There were 27,835 candidates (70% Non-Hispanic White, 15% Hispanic, 9% Black, 4% Asian, 1% Other/Multiracial). 11,369 underwent deceased donor LT: 93% ABO-identical, 6% ABO-compatible, 1% ABO-incompatible. Black and Asian race/ethnicity were associated with increased likelihoods of ABO non-identical LT. Adjustment for disease etiology, listing MELD, transplant center volume, and UNOS region did not alter this association. Stepwise inclusion of recipient ABO status did eliminate this significant association of race/ethnicity with ABO non-identical LT. Blacks and Asians may be advantaged by ABO non-identical LT and we suspect that changes to the existing policies may disproportionately impact these groups. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Split-Gate 1.2-kV 4H-SiC MOSFET: Analysis and Experimental Validation

The 1.2-kV-rated 4H-SiC Split Gate MOSFET (SG-MOSFET) structure is demonstrated to have a superior high-frequency figures-of-merit (HF-FOMs) by numerical simulations, with experimental validation for the first time. Excellent electrical characteristics (specific on-resistance, threshold voltage, breakdown voltage, reverse transfer capacitance, and gate-to- drain charge) were measured from devices fabricated on a 6-in SiC wafer. Compared with the conventional MOSFET, the SG-MOSFET has $2.4\times $ smaller HF-FOM [ $\text{R}_{\text {on}}\times \text{Q}_{\text {gd}}$ ] due to the reduced gate-to-drain charge.
Combat Triage and Mass Casualty Management

In this chapter we will introduce the reader to triage from a historical perspective as well as how it is applied on the modern battlefield. We will also introduce the concepts of damage control resuscitation, damage control surgery, and massive transfusion for initial management of combat casualties. Understanding the principles that guide triage and damage control described in this chapter will help physicians rapidly implement current guidelines to effectively treat even the most severely injured of casualties in austere environments.
Control-Theoretic Approaches for Modeling, Analyzing, and Manipulating Neuronal (In)activity

Understanding the mechanisms of brain inactivation, such as during administration of general anesthesia, has emerged as a key question in basic and clinical neuroscience. This chapter will examine this question through the lens of dynamical systems and control theory. We will survey existing methods and new formalisms to probe and assess the geometry of neural trajectories, i.e., neural activity patterns at multiple spatial scales. In particular, we will discuss connections between neural dynamics and control-theoretic notions such as reachability and controllability, focusing on how these latter notions may inform our understanding of inactivated brain states. Subsequently, we will discuss how these analyses may enable strategies for neurocontrol, whereby neuronal dynamics are systematically altered by extrinsic means such as pharmacological modulation or neurostimulation.
Investigating temporal access in a flipped classroom: procrastination persists

This paper reports on a study that examines the learning behaviors and characteristics of students in a mobile applications computer programming class that adopted a “flipped” learning style. By harvesting learning analytics data from a learning management system, we created visualizations of work intensity to explore temporal patterns of students’ behavior and then correlate them with the students’ performance. Findings indicate that low, medium, and high performing students tend to access learning materials late with work intensity spiking on the lecture day, specifically during the lecture session. While high and low performing students show no difference in temporal access to material, medium performing students demonstrate the greatest degree of vibrancy regarding course content material access. Further a discussion of implications and insights on procrastination in the context of flipped classrooms are included.
Light and Melatonin Treatment for Jet Lag Disorder

Jet lag emerges after rapid air travel across several time zones, and is characterized by a set of acute symptoms, such as difficulty initiating and maintaining sleep, excessive daytime sleepiness, decrements in performance, and gastrointestinal distress. These symptoms emerge primarily because the circadian (∼24-h) timing system cannot adjust instantaneously to the new time zone and its new environmental time cues. Once the circadian timing system is aligned with the new time zone, these symptoms dissipate. This article reviews how to shift the circadian clock using appropriately timed bright light, sleep/dark, and exogenous melatonin to prevent or minimize acute jet lag and the associated symptoms. First, the underlying properties of the circadian system are briefly reviewed. A description of bright light and exogenous melatonin and how to use these external stimuli to shift the circadian clock follows. Finally, the article describes an example of how to apply the phase-shifting properties of light and melatonin to adjust to a time zone 7 h east.
Detecting a Stochastic Signal in Noise

In the detection models considered thus far we have assumed that the receiver either had complete knowledge of the transmittable waveforms or knew them except for parameters such as phase, amplitude, and/or doppler rf carrier shift. However, in communication systems which, for example, employ the reflecting characteristics of the ionospheric layers of the earth’s atmosphere, the transmitted signals become distorted to such an extent that their received version can be described only statistically, in which cases they have the appearance of a narrowband stochastic process. Such systems are called scatter or multipath communication systems and are often used for conveying information beyond the horizon.
Elements of Thermodynamically Constrained Averaging Theory

Mechanistic computational modeling of environmental systems presupposes the existence of a properly posed set of equations that adequately describes the underlying physical, chemical, and biological processes at time and length scales consistent with the problem being addressed.
A Matter of Life & Death: Advocates in New York Respond to Medical Repatriation

This article is about the response of one group of advocates to the practice of medical repatriation, also referred to as medical deportation, in which hospitals choose to send non-citizen patients, usually those in need of long-term care, back to their home countries for treatment without engaging the federal immigration process. In an effort to better grapple with the problem, the Health Justice Program at New York Lawyers for the Public Interest (“NYLPI”) along with the New York Immigration Coalition (“NYIC”) and the New York Academy of Medicine (“NYAM”) decided to convene a statewide workgroup on medical repatriation and long-term care for undocumented immigrants. In this Article, we share our workgroup’s approach to understanding and addressing medical repatriation in the hope that some of what we have learned in New York will inform the advocacy of practitioners elsewhere. Part I shares the findings of a series of structured interviews we conducted with health care providers, community advocates and hospital social workers, which provide very preliminary data on the scope of the medical repatriation problem in New York and the reasons for its persistence. Part II discusses strategies that emerge out of the factual research we have conducted thus far. Part III concludes with a discussion of the recently enacted health care reform bill and the implications, if any, it may have for medical repatriation as well as with a discussion of the communications challenges that remain on the workgroup’s agenda if we are to make meaningful progress in providing care to some of the country’s must vulnerable patients.
Carbon Nanotubes Derived from Yeast-Fermented Wheat Flour and Their Energy Storage Application

Worldwide growing commercial interests in applying carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in diverse applications, such as batteries, sensors, catalyst supports, thermal electronics, and high-strength composites, have dramatically expanded the demand for higher CNT production capacity. However, current CNT production is still dominated by relatively high-cost chemical vapor deposition (CVD) methods, which usually involve high temperatures, expensive catalysts, and substantial quantities of nonrenewable petroleum-derived carbon sources. Here, we report that highly dense carbon nanotubes can be derived from yeast-fermented wheat dough scaffolds via a simple, green, and sustainable activation process without using any additional catalysts or extra carbon sources. When the activated wheat dough/carbon nanotube (AWD/CNT) scaffold is used as a sulfur host to prepare cathode for lithium–sulfur (Li–S) battery, the assembled Li–S cell exhibited excellent cyclic performance, with a well-retained capacity of ∼450 mA h g–1 even aft...
Sequential Interventional Management of Osseous Neoplasms via Embolization, Cryoablation, and Osteoplasty

The purpose of this study is to determine if sequential interventional therapy can become a mainstay option in providing palliation from fastidious osseous neoplasms in patients with pain refractory to oral analgesia and radiotherapy. This retrospective monocentric study was approved by our institutional review board. Between July 2012 and August 2014, we reviewed 15 patients (6 women, 9 men; age range of 36-81 years) who underwent embolization followed by cryoablation, with or without osteoplasty. Patient demographics and tumor characteristics, including primary histology and the location of metastasis, were included in our review. Pain intensity at baseline, after radiotherapy, and after sequential interventional therapy was reviewed using the hospital electronic medical record. The use of oral analgesia and procedural complications was also noted. Data was then assessed for normality and a two-tailed Student’s t-test was performed on mean pain scores for difference phases of treatment. While radiotherapy offers pain relief with a mean pain score of 7.25 ±1.5 (p =<.0001), sequential interventional therapy results in better comfort as demonstrated by a mean pain score of 3.9 ± 2.6 (p=.0015). Moreover, all patients who reported oral analgesic use at presentation reported a decrease in their requirement after sequential interventional therapy. Embolization and cryoablation were performed in all patients, while osteoplasty was indicated in 6 cases. There was no difference in postprocedural pain intensity between patients who required osteoplasty and patients who did not (p = 0.7514). There were no complications observed during treatment. This retrospective study shows that sequential intervention with transarterial embolization, cryoablation, and osteoplasty is both safe and efficacious for bone pain refractory to the current standard of care. We demonstrated that this combination therapy has the potential to become an effective mainstay treatment paradigm in the palliative care of osseous neoplasm to improve quality of life.
Galectin-1 expression in glioblastoma cell lines is associated with p53 gene expression: Implications with cell survival, invasive phenotype, presence in CD133 glioma cancer-stem cells (CSC) and poor patient survival

3778 We previously reported, using proteomics approaches, a lectin-binding protein (galectin-1) that is subject to extremely large expression level changes after glioblastoma cell lines are transfected with wild-type-p53. In particular, galectin-1 was found to be negatively regulated by transfection with p53. Expression level changes were confirmed by Western blot. Subsequent analysis of several high-grade glioma cell lines demonstrated very high levels of galectin-1, regardless if the cell lines contained mutant or wild-type p53. Further examination of galectin-1 (Gal-1) expression through microarray analysis in tumor materials from patients confirmed galectin-1 as a valuable biomarker and possible therapeutic target. We demonstrate that the reduction in Gal-1 levels is due to p53 export through exosomes secretion (previously unknown mechanism of export). We also found that the expression of Gal-1 significantly influenced the invasive behavior of glioblastoma cell lines in matrigel invasion assays. Gal-1 appears to exert these various functions dependant on the specific location that it is expressed. It appears that nuclear expression of gal-1 increases cell cycle rate and that external location (or export) decreases cell motility and invasion, whereas cytoplasmic and membrane raft location increases cellular motility. All glioblastoma cell lines tested to date expressed a high level of galectin-1 in addition to glioma cancer-stem cell lines (CSC), suggesting an important roll of this protein in gliomagenesis. Additionally, cell survival and clonogenic colony growth in soft-agar was also significantly reduced by inhibition of galectin-1 through siRNA treatment. Finally, tumor samples from patients with high-grade malignant gliomas demonstrated that survival is inversely correlated with galectin-1 expression level (p
Noninvasive Ventilation in the Delivery Room for the Preterm Infant

A decade ago, preterm infants were prophylactically intubated and mechanically ventilated starting in the delivery room; however, now the shift is toward maintaining even the smallest of neonates on noninvasive respiratory support. The resuscitation of very low gestational age neonates continues to push the boundaries of neonatal care, as the events that transpire during the golden minutes right after birth prove ever more important for determining long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) remains the most important mode of noninvasive respiratory support for the preterm infant to establish and maintain functional residual capacity and decrease ventilation/perfusion mismatch. However, the majority of extremely low gestational age infants require face mask positive pressure ventilation during initial stabilization before receiving CPAP. Effectiveness of face mask positive pressure ventilation depends on the ability to detect and overcome mask leak and airway obstruction. In this review, the current evidence on devices and techniques of noninvasive ventilation in the delivery room are discussed.
Under the Radar: Strategies Used by Black Mothers to Prepare Their Sons for Potential Police Interactions:

The current qualitative study explores the experiences of Black mothers who prepare their sons for potential police encounters. Police presence in the Black community has historically elicited feel...
Variation in expenditure for common, high cost surgical procedures in a working age population: implications for reimbursement reform

In the move toward value-based care, bundled payments are believed to reduce waste and improve coordination. Some commercial insurers have addressed this through the use of bundled payment, the provision of one fee for all care associated with a given index procedure. This system was pioneered by Medicare, using a population generally over 65 years of age, and despite its adoption by mainstream insurers, little is known of bundled payments’ ability to reduce variation or cost in a working-age population. This study uses a universally-insured, nationally-representative population of adults aged 18–65 to examine the effect of bundled payments for five high-cost surgical procedures which are known to vary widely in Medicare reimbursement: hip replacement, knee replacement, coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), lumbar spinal fusion, and colectomy. Five procedures conducted on adults aged 18–65 were identified from the TRICARE database from 2011 to 2014. A 90-day period from index procedure was used to determine episodes of associated post-acute care. Data was sorted by Zip code into hospital referral regions (HRR). Payments were determined from TRICARE reimbursement records, they were subsequently price standardized and adjusted for patient and surgical characteristics. Variation was assessed by stratifying the HRR into quintiles by spending for each index procedure. After adjusting for case mix, significant inter-quintile variation was observed for all procedures, with knee replacement showing the greatest variation in both index surgery (107%) and total cost of care (75%). Readmission was a driver of variation for colectomy and CABG, with absolute cost variation of $17,257 and $13,289 respectively. Other post-acute care spending was low overall (≤$1606, for CABG). This study demonstrates significant regional variation in total spending for these procedures, but much lower spending for post-acute care than previously demonstrated by similar procedures in Medicare. Targeting post-acute care spending, a common approach taken by providers in bundled payment arrangements with Medicare, may be less fruitful in working aged populations.
Invasive Species Control, Agricultural Pesticide Use, and Infant Health Outcomes

This paper investigates the relationship between infant health and agricultural pesticide use for purposes of invasive species control, by exploiting U.S. detections of invasive spotted wing drosophila (SWD) as a natural experiment. Difference-in-differences results show that insecticide and fungicide use increase by 32.1% and 33.7%, respectively, after SWD detection. Using an instrumental variables approach, we show that a 10% increase in insecticide and fungicide use is associated with 0.18 and 0.15 percentage point increased instances of infant prematurity and 0.08 and 0.08 percentage point increased instances of low birth weight, respectively. Findings are robust to alternative specifications and falsification tests.
Axial resin duct quantification in tree rings: A functional defense trait.

Abstract Resin ducts in the secondary xylem of tree rings are a measure of a tree's defense capacity from insects and pathogens. Because resin ducts are permanently embedded within the xylem, retrospective analysis can be performed to quantify changes in defense over time and determine factors that contribute to this change, such as climate and disturbance. Here, we provide methods on how to measure axial resin ducts in secondary xylem. These methods provide the necessary protocols for consistent quantification of xylem resin ducts and terminology, which will also allow easier cross-comparison among studies in the future. We describe: • Steps to prepare tree cores for resin duct measurements. • Procedure to obtain image and measure individual resin ducts. • Software code to compile duct measurements into a complete chronology with both standardized and unstandardized resin duct metrics for further analyses.
An Examination of Stock Performance: The Three Top-Performing Lodging Firms August 1987 - January 1990

A study published in the Fall 1988 issue of the FIU Hospitality Review revealed that the top three lodging stock performers during the period July 1982 to January 1988 were Prime Motor Inns, Inc., Marriott Corporation, and Hilton Hotels Corporation. The author has completed a follow-up study in an attempt to determine how selected lodging firms have fared since the summer rally of 1987 (which preceded the stock crash of October 19, 1987) until more recent times.
Multi-Robot Joint Visual-Inertial Localization and 3-D Moving Object Tracking

In this paper, we present a novel distributed algorithm to track a moving object’s state by utilizing a heterogenous mobile robot network in a three-dimensional (3-D) environment, wherein the robots’ poses (positions and orientations) are unknown. Each robot is equipped with a monocular camera and an inertial measurement unit (IMU), and has the ability to communicate with its neighbors. Rather than assuming a known common global frame for all the robots (which is often the case in the literature regarding multi-robot systems), we allow each robot to perform motion estimation locally. For localization, we propose a multi-robot visual-inertial navigation systems (VINS) where one robot builds a prior map and then the map is used to bound the long-term drifts of the visual-inertial odometry (VIO) running on the other robots. Moreover, a novel distributed Kalman filter is introduced and employed to cooperatively track the six degree-of-freedom (6-DoF) motion of the object which is represented as a point cloud. Further, the object can be totally invisible to some robots during the tracking period. The proposed algorithm is extensively validated in Monte-Carlo simulations.
Comparison of linear-combination modeling strategies for GABA-edited MRS at 3T

Abstract Purpose J-difference-edited spectroscopy is a valuable approach for the in vivo detection of γ-aminobutyric-acid (GABA) with MRS. A recent expert consensus article recommends linear combination modeling (LCM) of edited MRS but does not give specific details of implementation. This study explores different modeling strategies to adapt LCM for GABA-edited MRS. Methods 61 medial parietal lobe GABA-edited MEGA-PRESS spectra from a recent 3T multi-site study were modeled using 102 different strategies combining six different approaches to account for co-edited macromolecules, three modeling ranges, three baseline knot spacings, and the use of basis sets with or without homocarnosine. The resulting GABA and GABA+ estimates (quantified relative to total creatine), the residuals at different ranges, SDs and CVs, and Akaike information criteria, were used to evaluate the models’ performance. Results Significantly different GABA+ and GABA estimates were found when a well-parameterized MM3co basis function was included in the model. The mean GABA estimates were significantly lower when modeling MM, while the CVs were similar. A sparser spline knot spacing led to lower variation in the GABA and GABA+ estimates, and a narrower modeling range – only including the signals of interest – did not substantially improve or degrade modeling performance. Additionally, results suggest that LCM can separate GABA and the underlying co-edited MM3co. Incorporating homocarnosine into the modeling did not significantly improve variance in GABA+ estimates. Conclusion GABA-edited MRS is most appropriately quantified by LCM with a well-parameterized co-edited MM3co basis function with a constraint to the non-overlapped MM0.93, in combination with a sparse spline knot spacing (0.55 ppm) and a modeling range between 0.5 and 4 ppm. Graphical Abstract 102 strategies to model GABA-edited MRS with linear combination modeling were evaluated to quantify GABA and GABA+ in Osprey. Significantly different GABA and GABA+ estimates were found when a well-parameterized macro-molecule at 3 ppm was included. The findings suggest that linear combination modeling needs to be adapted for quantification of GABA-edited MRS.
Efficient discovery of potently neutralizing SARS-CoV-2 antibodies using LIBRA-seq with ligand blocking

SARS-CoV-2 therapeutic antibody discovery efforts have met with notable success but have been associated with a generally inefficient process, requiring the production and characterization of exceptionally large numbers of candidates for the identification of a small set of leads. Here, we show that incorporating antibody-ligand blocking as part of LIBRA-seq, the high-throughput sequencing platform for antibody discovery, results in efficient identification of ultra-potent neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. LIBRA-seq with ligand blocking is a general platform for functional antibody discovery targeting the disruption of antigen-ligand interactions.
Suppressing spacetime emergence

Abstract One of the primary tasks in building a quantum theory of gravity is discovering how to save spatiotemporal phenomena using a theory which, putatively, does not include spacetime. Some have taken this task a step further and argue for the actual emergence of spacetime from a non-spatiotemporal ontology in the low-energy regime. In this paper, it is argued that the account of spacetime emergence presented in Huggett and Wuthrich (2013) and then assumed in Baron (2019), Crowther (2016), Wuthrich (2017), and Wuthrich and Lam (2018) fails to accomplish the task to which it is set. There is a prima facie contradiction between the scale-independent ontology of spacetime in GR and the scale-dependent account of emergence proposed by this literature. One can avoid this contradiction but only at the cost of changing the target of emergence and by endorsing a perspectival theory of ontology – a view I call “ontic-perspectivism”. Though this paper explicitly addresses spacetime emergence, many of the following arguments are applicable to other accounts where objects of ontology, or their properties, are claimed to emerge in the low-energy regime.
The Ethics of Consent in a Shifting Genomic Ecosystem

The collection and use of human genetic data raise important ethical questions about how to balance individual autonomy and privacy with the potential for public good. The proliferation of local, n...
Selecting Antibodies for Western Blotting

Western blotting, the transfer of proteins to membrane support, is a powerful tool to study proteins immunologically. The process helps to detect tiny amounts of proteins with the help of suitable antibodies. The main feature of an effective immunoblot is the particular interaction between an antigen and an antibody. Therefore, the selection of the right antibodies plays a crucial role in this procedure. Both polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies are used in immunoblotting. Higher background and cross-reactivity are observed with polyclonal antibodies, compared to monoclonal antibodies, resulting from the detection of several epitopes. Since the signal is amplified due to several antibodies binding per antigenic target, polyclonal antibodies are more sensitive than monoclonals. The choice of antibodies should be made depending upon the downstream application.