cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Restoring order: Interpreting suicide through a Burkean lens

This Burkean analysis of suicide notes argues that suicide is motivated by an innate human desire for “Order.” The notes analyzed in this study were composed by individuals who portrayed their lives as filled with much chaos and pain. In Burke's words, they viewed their lives as highly disordered. Their final communiques indicate that they saw suicide as a way to overcome the tremendous feelings of guilt and/or shame associated with that disorder. In a smaller number of cases, the deceased suggested that suicide allowed them to transcend their painful circumstances, thereby allowing them to avoid the assignment of guilt or shame. As the rhetoric of suicide notes reveals, suicide functions as an agency by which their authors believe a sense of “control” can be reestablished and, ultimately, “Order” restored to their worlds.
Extraction of an urease-active organo-complex from soil.

Description of an extraction from a Dublin clay loam soil of a colloidal organic matter complex that is urease active and, by X-ray analysis, free of clays. Urease activity in the clay-free precipitates, as in the soil, was not destroyed by the activity of an added proteolytic enzyme, pronase. This is attributed to the circumstance that native soil urease resides in organic colloidal particles with pores large enough for water, urea, ammonia, and carbon dioxide to pass freely, but nevertheless small enough to exclude pronase.
Unattractive consequences: litigation from facial dermabrasion and chemical peels

Background: Facial dermabrasion and chemical peel are common cosmetic procedures that are generally safe yet do possess inherent risks. The patient’s expectations, formed well in advance of treatment, strongly correlate with overall satisfaction. Objectives: The authors reviewed and analyzed litigation related to the performance of facial dermabrasion and chemical peel. Methods: The authors searched the WestlawNext legal database for relevant litigation and examined factors such as allegations raised, patient demographics, defendant specialties, final outcomes, and payments. Results: Proceedings from 25 cases were analyzed, involving 22 female and 2 male plaintiffs; in 1 case, sex was not specified. Sixteen cases (64%) resulted in a decision for the defendant and 9 (36%) were resolved with payments. The median difference between out-of-court settlements (median, $940 000) and jury-awarded damages (median, $535 000) was not statistically significant. Factors raised in litigation included poor cosmetic outcome (80%), alleged intratreatment negligence (68%), permanent injury (64%), informed-consent deficits (60%), emotional/psychological injury (44%), posttreatment negligence (32%), and the need for additional treatment/surgery (32%). Conclusions: Out-of-court settlements and jury-awarded damages were considerable in cases where physicians practicing various (or multiple) specialties were named as defendants. These findings emphasize the need for physicians to thoroughly document potential complications prior to treatment, during the informed-consent process. Additionally, general considerations should be taken into account, such as patient expectations and the potential need for other procedures, which may enhance pretreatment communication and ultimately minimize liability. Finally, it is important to stress that physicians may be held liable for procedures performed by nonphysician ancillary staff.
Prolonged Acute Mechanical Ventilation: Implications for Hospital Benchmarking

Background Hospital performance measures rely on aggregate outcomes. For patients receiving mechanical ventilation (MV), outcomes depend on severity of illness, hospital MV volume, and case mix. Patients requiring prolonged acute MV (PAMV) [MV for ≥ 96 h] comprise a resource-intensive group, but the impact of its volume on aggregate outcomes is unknown. We investigated whether observed outcomes differed from those predicted by APACHE (acute physiology and chronic health evaluation) IV risk adjustment and the relationship between hospital MV volume and outcomes among patients receiving PAMV. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study using the APACHE IV database between the years 2001 and 2005. Results Of the 94,553 patients receiving MV at 45 hospitals, 24,366 (25.8%) were receiving PAMV. Unadjusted mortality was 32.3% for patients receiving PAMV and 22.9% for patients receiving short-term MV (STMV) [ Conclusions In patients requiring PAMV, the SMR is inversely proportional to hospital MV volume. Conversely, the PAMV group had a disproportionate effect on durations of MV, ICU LOS, and hospital LOS, and these marginal excesses increased with the hospital MV volume quintile. Development of specific predictive equations for patients receiving PAMV is recommended. Benchmarking measures must consider the case mix of patients receiving STMV vs those receiving PAMV.
Degrading detritus: Changes in food quality of aging kelp tissue varies with species

article i nfo Article history: Export of detrital kelp from the photic zone is thought to provide an important trophic subsidy to adjacent food webs. In the San Juan Archipelago, Washington, deep habitats (e.g. N90 m) contain abundant, senescent kelp detritusthatpresumablyiscolonizedbymicrobesasitsinks.Suchagingalgalpiecesmay beofgreaternutritional value than fresh material, and may have reduced levels of polyphenolic compounds, which in living kelps deter both bacterial colonization and herbivory. We report here on a diverse set of experiments designed to test the value to consumers of fresh and aged tissue of two kelps with very different biochemical compositions, Nereocystis luetkeana (low polyphenolics) and Agarum fimbriatum (high polyphenolics). We tested 1) short- term food preference and assimilation efficiency in adult isopods; 2) growth rates of juvenile isopods over 10 weeks; 3) gonad development in urchins over 18 weeks; 4) population growth of copepods over 4 weeks and subsequent egg-hatching time; and 5) caloric content, fatty acids, and C:N ratios of fresh and aged tissue of these two kelps, with some additional data for a third kelp species. In a food-choice situation, Nereocystis is strongly preferred over Agarum, and is a superior food by a number of metrics. Aging kelp blades in the dark led to Nereocystis degrading much faster than Agarum. Overall, aging of the two kelp species tended to have opposite effects in various metrics of their value t oc onsumers, so that in many experiments there was a species × age interaction term. Fresh Nereocystis was slightly 'better' than aged in terms of isopod growth and preference, gonad development in urchins, and population growth metrics in copepods, while aged Agarum was 'better' than fresh in a number of these metrics at least over the time scales of our studies. Degrading kelps show broad changes in fatty acids that differed among species, but we did not find a general increase in N as has been suggested elsewhere. In combination with several other recent studies, our data suggest that the value of different types of detritus to deep trophic webs is likely to be both species- and time-dependent.
Maternal serum α‐fetoprotein screening and fetal chromosome anomalies: Is lowering maternal age for amniocentesis preferable?

We have compared the cytogenetic abnormalities diagnosed prenatally in 1,098 patients referred for amniocentesis because of low maternal serum α-fetoprotein (MSAFP) to those of 445 patients whose indication was elevated MSAFP and those of 361 patients who had amniocentesis for “maternal anxiety.” Autosomal trisomies, sex chromosome aberrations, and various structural rearrangements were detected in all 3 groups and actually exceeded the age-related incidence estimates. The frequency of chromosome anomalies in cases studied because of “maternal anxiety” with no prior screening was similar to that in the group referred for low MSAFP (1.38 and 1.27%, respectively). A relatively higher frequency (2.02%) was detected in the group whose indication was elevated MSAFP. Maternal serum screening is designed primarily to recalculate risk figures for Down syndrome, but not for other major chromosome abnormalities. The concept of prenatal screening for chromosome aberrations must therefore be reevaluated. We think that efforts should be directed at making amniocenteses more accessible to patients who request it. “Lowering” maternal age limits to 30 would encompass a greater proportion of pregnancies at risk and would be a step toward more effective prenatal diagnosis for chromosome abnormalities.
Editorial to accompany "Effects of statins on liver cell function and inflammation in septic rats".

DOI of original article: 10.1016/j.jss.2012.0 * Corresponding author. Department of Sur Tel.: þ1 253 968 2361; fax: þ1 253 968 5900. E-mail address: matthew.martin1@amed 0022-4804/$ e see front matter Published by http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jss.2013.03.055 “All who drink of this remedy recover in a short time, except those whom it does not help, who all die. Therefore it’s obvious that it fails only in incurable cases”. Galen
Optofluidic platform advancements for optical particle manipulation

A new design mitigates multimode waveguide behavior in an optofluidic platform and increases fundamental mode coupling to 95%. Experimental results yield excellent agreement with simulations and demonstrate a suitable device for optical particle manipulation.
De novo tandem duplication of chromosome segment 22q11-q12: Clinical, cytogenetic, and molecular characterization

We report on a case of duplication of the segment 22q11-q12 due to a de novo duplication. Molecular cytogenetics studies demonstrated this to be a tandem duplication, flanked proximally by the marker D22Z4, a centromeric alpha satellite DNA repeat, and distally by D22S260, an anonymous DNA marker proximal to the Ewing sarcoma breakpoint. The segment includes the regions responsible for the "cat-eye," Di George, and velo-cardio-facial syndromes and extends distal to the breakpoint cluster region (BCR). The clinical picture is dominated by the cardiac defects and includes findings reminiscent of "cat-eye" syndrome. These findings reinforce the hypothesis that the proximal 22q region contains dosage-sensitive genes involved in development.
Blood Pressure Response to Inversion Traction

The purpose of this study was to determine blood pressure response to two minutes of inversion traction. Sixty female volunteers aged 20 to 30 years were assigned randomly to an Experimental or Control Group. After resting blood pressure was measured in the standing position, the Experimental Group was inverted for two minutes. Blood pressure was measured before the subjects dismounted. The Control Group remained standing for two minutes, after which blood pressure was measured again. The results of a Hotelling's T2 analysis and subsequent post hoc tests revealed a significant difference between the mean gain scores of the Experimental and Control Groups (p less than .05). Both systolic and diastolic blood pressures increased significantly. This increase with inversion indicates a need for caution when using inversion traction as a treatment technique for low back pain. Hypertensive individuals may need to avoid its use.
PYK2 mediates anti-apoptotic AKT signaling in response to benzo[a]pyrene diol epoxide in mammary epithelial cells

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, such as benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), are known mammary carcinogens in rodents and may be involved in human breast cancer. The carcinogenicity of BaP has been partially attributed to the formation of the BaP diol epoxide (BPDE), which has been shown to stably bind DNA and act as an initiator. BaP is a complete carcinogen, but the mechanisms for tumor promotion are less well characterized. Previous studies have demonstrated that BPDE enhanced antiapoptotic signaling through Akt; however, mechanisms for Akt activation by BPDE are not well defined. In the current studies, we found that BPDE increased intracellular Ca 2+ concentration in the human mammary epithelial cell line MCF-10A. A peak in Ca 2+ concentration at 20 min was followed by increased phosphorylation of Pyk2 at Tyr881 and increased total tyrosine phosphorylation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Consistent with activation of the EGFR, Akt and ERK1/ 2 phosphorylation was detected in MCF-10A cells treated with BPDE. Pharmacological methods to prevent Ca 2+ elevation and EGFR activity, and small-interfering RNA against Pyk2, prevented Akt phosphorylation by BPDE, which suggested that Ca 2+ , Pyk2 and EGFR activation lay upstream of Akt. In addition, we found that BPDE increased p53 activity and apoptosis in MCF-10A; however, transient transfection of constitutively active Akt attenuated both BPDE-dependent apoptosis and p53 activity. In contrast, apoptosis was enhanced by inhibitors of phosphatidyl inositol 3-kinase (PI3-K). This work demonstrates a novel mechanism for Akt activation by BPDE that occurs through increased Ca 2+ concentration, and implicates Ca 2+ , Pyk2, EGFR and Akt as a potential
An architectural design for digital objects

Defines the term "digital object" and specifies a variety of qualities that are important during the object design phase. A digital object contains a set of models, and is meant to serve as a reusable entity to be used on the World Wide Web or over the Internet. An example using a two-link robot arm is presented. We have found the digital object design methodology to provide an information schema to describe where to locate information about the object, for simulation of dynamic models as well as the execution of other model types.
New Perspectives on the Role of Vitiligo in Immune Responses to Melanoma

Melanoma-associated vitiligo is the best-studied example of the linkage between tumor immunity and autoimmunity. Although vitiligo is an independent positive prognostic factor for melanoma patients, the autoimmune destruction of melanocytes was long thought to be merely a side effect of robust anti-tumor immunity. However, new data reveal a key role for vitiligo in supporting T cell responses to melanoma. This research perspective reviews the history of melanoma-associated vitiligo in patients, the experimental studies that form the basis for understanding this relationship, and the unique characteristics of melanoma-specific CD8 T cells found in hosts with vitiligo. We also discuss the implications of our recent findings for the interpretation of patient responses, and the design of next-generation cancer immunotherapies.
Parastandardized Examination Guidelines for Adult Aphasia

SummaryA 20-point examination guide is offered as a model for speech pathologists to use in broadening their knowledge of the aphasic patient's behavior beyond the limits afforded by standardized and published aphasia tests. Although the guide's major purpose is a focus on the patient as a potential candidate for language therapy, it also discusses the examination strategies used by the clinician to facilitate the aphasic's maximum recovery of language.
Single-Layer Wire Routing and Compaction

This pioneering study of two-dimensional wiring patterns develops powerful algorithms for the physical design of VLSI circuits. Its homotopic approach to circuit layout advances the state of the art in wire routing and layout compaction, and will inspire future research. By viewing wires as flexible connections with fixed topology, the author obtains simple and efficient algorithms for CAD problems whose previous solutions employed, unreliable or inefficient heuristics."Single-Layer Wire Routing and Compaction" is the first rigorous treatment of homotopic layouts and the techniques for optimizing them. In a novel application of classical mathematics to computer science, Maley characterizes the ideal routing of a layout in terms of simple topological invariants. He derives practical algorithms from this theoretical insight. The algorithms and their underlying ideas are intuitive, widely applicable, and presented in a highly readable style.F. Miller Maley is a Research Associate in the Computer Science Department at Princeton University. "Single-Layer Wire Routing and Compaction" is included in the series Foundations of Computing, edited by Michael Garey and Albert Meyer.
Collaborative Practice: Development, Implementation, and Evaluation of a Weaning Protocol for Patients Receiving Mechanical Ventilation

• BACKGROUND Use of protocols to reduce weaning time for patients receiving mechanical ventilation helps reduce cost and length of stay. However, implementation of this type of protocol is not easy and requires a consistent collaborative effort. • OBJECTIVE To provide a systematic approach to the weaning process by developing, implementing, and evaluating a protocol for weaning patients from mechanical ventilation in a medical respiratory intensive care unit. • METHODS The weaning protocol used was a modification of a protocol developed by Ely et al. Modifications included a more aggressive approach in proceeding to the spontaneous breathing trial, inclusion of the Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale, and documentation of the production of secretions. • RESULTS Implementation of the protocol significantly reduced the duration of mechanical ventilation as measured by 8-hour shifts and ventilator days. Although length of stay in the intensive care unit was not significantly reduced (P = .29), a continuing downward trend occurred, from a mean of 8.6 days before the protocol was implemented to 7.9 days during the last 6 months of data collection (P = .07). • CONCLUSIONS The need to provide efficient care requires the collaboration of all disciplines involved in providing patients’ care. The weaning protocol introduced in this study demonstrates the benefits of using a collaborative team to identify best practices and implement them in a practice setting. (American Journal of Critical Care. 2003;12:454-460).
The glottaltopograph: A method of analyzing high-speed images of the vocal folds

High-speed video provides a way to record physiological vibrational patterns of the vocal folds. Due to the large amount of data it produces, many methods have been proposed to reduce raw images to the underlying vibrational patterns. Previous methods either focus on a certain location on the vocal folds, or a certain frequency of vibrational activity. In this paper, we propose the “glottaltopograph” which is based on principal component analysis of pixels' gray scale time courses. This method reveals the overall synchronization of the vibrational patterns of the vocal folds. Experimental results showed that this method is effective in visualizing pathological and normal vocal-fold vibrational patterns.
Functional Roles of Neural Preparatory Processes in a Cued Stroop Task Revealed by Linking Electrophysiology with Behavioral Performance

It is well established that cuing facilitates behavioral performance and that different aspects of instructional cues evoke specific neural preparatory processes in cued task-switching paradigms. To deduce the functional role of these neural preparatory processes the majority of studies vary aspects of the experimental paradigm and describe how these variations alter markers of neural preparatory processes. Although these studies provide important insights, they also have notable limitations, particularly in terms of understanding the causal or functional relationship of neural markers to cognitive and behavioral processes. In this study, we sought to address these limitations and uncover the functional roles of neural processes by examining how variability in the amplitude of neural preparatory processes predicts behavioral performance to subsequent stimuli. To achieve this objective 16 young adults were recruited to perform a cued Stroop task while their brain activity was measured using high-density electroencephalography. Four temporally overlapping but functionally and topographically distinct cue-triggered event related potentials (ERPs) were identified: 1) A left-frontotemporal negativity (250-700 ms) that was positively associated with word-reading performance; 2) a midline-frontal negativity (450-800 ms) that was positively associated with color-naming and incongruent performance; 3) a left-frontal negativity (450-800 ms) that was positively associated with switch trial performance; and 4) a centroparietal positivity (450-800 ms) that was positively associated with performance for almost all trial types. These results suggest that at least four dissociable cognitive processes are evoked by instructional cues in the present task, including: 1) domain-specific task facilitation; 2) switch-specific task-set reconfiguration; 3) preparation for response conflict; and 4) proactive attentional control. Examining the relationship between ERPs and behavioral performance provides a functional link between neural markers and the cognitive processes they index.
Flipping the Online Classroom With Web 2.0 The Asynchronous Workshop

This article examines how Web 2.0 technologies can be used to “flip” the online classroom by creating asynchronous workshops in social environments where immediacy and social presence can be maximized. Using experience teaching several communication and writing classes in Google Apps (Google+, Google Hangouts, Google Drive, etc.), I argue that flipping the classroom online with Web 2.0 technologies can maximize student participation and engagement, while also helping students develop flexible strategies for writing collaboratively and publicly in online spaces.
Effects of Alkyl-Dimethyl-Benzyl-Ammonium Chlorides upon Plasma-Coagulation by Staphylococcus and Fibrinolysis by Streptococcus

Summary(1) Zephiran chloride in a dilution of 1:10, 000 inhibits and in higher dilutions (up to 1:1, OOO, OOO) delays the clotting of oxalated human plasma by staphylococcal cultures. (2) Zephiran chloride in dilutions up to 1:1OO, OOO inhibits fibrinolysis by hemolytic streptococcus.
Multicenter Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization–Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry Study for Identification of Clinically Relevant Nocardia spp.

This multicenter study analyzed Nocardia spp., including extraction, spectral acquisition, Bruker matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) identification, and score interpretation, using three Nocardia libraries, the Bruker, National Institutes of Health (NIH), and The Ohio State University (OSU) libraries, and compared the results obtained by each center. A standardized study protocol, 150 Nocardia isolates, and NIH and OSU Nocardia MALDI-TOF MS libraries were distributed to three centers. Following standardized culture, extraction, and MALDI-TOF MS analysis, isolates were identified using score cutoffs of ≥2.0 for species/species complex-level identification and ≥1.8 for genus-level identification. Isolates yielding a score of <2.0 underwent a single repeat extraction and analysis. The overall score range for all centers was 1.3 to 2.7 (average, 2.2 ± 0.3), with common species generally producing higher average scores than less common ones. Score categorization and isolate identification demonstrated 86% agreement between centers; 118 of 150 isolates were correctly identified to the species/species complex level by all centers. Nine strains (6.0%) were not identified by any center, and six (4.0%) of these were uncommon species with limited library representation. A categorical score discrepancy among centers occurred for 21 isolates (14.0%). There was an overall benefit of 21.2% from repeat extraction of low-scoring isolates and a center-dependent benefit for duplicate spotting (range, 2 to 8.7%). Finally, supplementation of the Bruker Nocardia MALDI-TOF MS library with both the OSU and NIH libraries increased the genus-level and species-level identification by 18.2% and 36.9%, respectively. Overall, this study demonstrates the ability of diverse clinical microbiology laboratories to utilize MALDI-TOF MS for the rapid identification of clinically relevant Nocardia spp. and to implement MALDI-TOF MS libraries developed by single laboratories across institutions.
Multimodal, 3D pathology-mimicking bladder phantom for evaluation of cystoscopic technologies (Conference Presentation)

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) and blue light cystoscopy (BLC) have shown significant potential as complementary technologies to traditional white light cystoscopy (WLC) for early bladder cancer detection. Three-dimensional (3D) organ-mimicking phantoms provide realistic imaging environments for testing new technology designs, the diagnostic potential of systems, and novel image processing algorithms prior to validation in real tissue. Importantly, the phantom should mimic features of healthy and diseased tissue as they appear under WLC, BLC, and OCT, which are sensitive to tissue color and structure, fluorescent contrast, and optical scattering of subsurface layers, respectively. We present a phantom posing the hollow shape of the bladder and fabricated using a combination of 3D-printing and spray-coating with Dragon Skin (DS) (Smooth-On Inc.), a highly elastic polymer to mimic the layered structure of the bladder. Optical scattering of DS was tuned by addition of titanium dioxide, resulting in scattering coefficients sufficient to cover the human bladder range (0.49 to 2.0 mm^-1). Mucosal vasculature and tissue coloration were mimicked with elastic cord and red dye, respectively. Urethral access was provided through a small hole excised from the base of the phantom. Inserted features of bladder pathology included altered tissue color (WLC), fluorescence emission (BLC), and variations in layered structure (OCT). The phantom surface and underlying material were assessed on the basis of elasticity, optical scattering, layer thicknesses, and qualitative image appearance. WLC, BLC, and OCT images of normal and cancerous features in the phantom qualitatively matched corresponding images from human bladders.
Quantum-intensity correlations of polarizations in a nonlinear-optical fiber

The propagation of a quasimonochromatic beam in an optical fiber may be unstable owing to phase-matched four-wave mixing. The phase matching may arise in a variety of ways, and the resulting instabilities are commonly referred to as modulational instabilities. Here I consider the cross-phase-modulational (XPM) instability arising in a high birefringence optical fiber in the normal dispersion (visible) regime when the pump is polarized at 45° to the principal axes of birefringence.1,2 Orthogonally polarized sidebands are generated along these axes. Phase matching arises from a balance between dispersion and the group velocity mismatch of the sidebands and dictates that the up-shifted sideband travels on the fast axis. The sidebands result in terahertz modulation of the pump and are interesting from the point of view of optical communications. From a quantum-statistical perspective, the quantum correlations, which develop as the sidebands are generated from quantum noise, are the focus of attention here.
Cardiac retransplantation: determining limits.

OBJECTIVE: Cardiac transplantation has become an acceptable treatment option for end-stage congestive heart failure. Because of the increasing demand, there are not enough hearts to supply all patients in need of cardiac transplantation. This significant supply and demand imbalance necessitates that rationing decisions be made. This article will explore decisions made surrounding cardiac retransplantation. CONCLUSIONS: Early statistics suggest that survival for patients undergoing retransplantation is lower than first-time transplant recipients. In addition, the question of justice or fairness arises. Patients who are offered second and third heart transplants may deprive a significant number of patients who have not had their first chance at transplantation. The authors propose, based on medical suitability, respect for autonomy, and the principle of justice, that cardiac transplantation be a one-time treatment option. Retransplantation should not be allowed.
The reflectivity of Mars at 1064 nm: Derivation from Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter data and application to climatology and meteorology

Abstract The Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter (MOLA) on board Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) made > 10 8 measurements of the reflectivity of Mars at 1064 nm ( R 1064 ) by both active sounding and passive radiometry. Past studies of R 1064 neglected the effects of atmospheric opacity and viewing geometry on both active and passive measurements and also identified a potential calibration issue with passive radiometry. Therefore, as yet, there exists no acceptable reference R 1064 to derive a column opacity product for atmospheric studies and planning future orbital lidar observations. Here, such a reference R 1064 is derived by seeking R 1064 M , N : a Minnaert-corrected normal albedo under clear conditions and assuming minimal phase angle dependence. Over darker surfaces, R 1064 M , N and the absolute level of atmospheric opacity were estimated from active sounding. Over all surfaces, the opacity derived from active sounding was used to exclude passive radiometry measurements made under opaque conditions and estimate R 1064 M , N . These latter estimates then were re-calibrated by comparison with R M, N derived from Hubble Space Telescope (HST) observations over areas of approximately uniform reflectivity. Estimates of R 1064 M , N from re-calibrated passive radiometry typically agree with HST observations within 10%. The resulting R 1064 M , N is then used to derive and quantify the uncertainties of a column opacity product, which can be applied to meteorological and climatological studies of Mars, particularly to detect and measure mesoscale cloud/aerosol structures.
Western Industrial Policies and East-West Economic Relations

First, it is by no means easy to define “industrial policy”. Precise definitions are useful for certain purposes but for general discussion they are usually too narrow and may be misleading. When one conceives industrial policy in broad terms, it proves to be intertwined with other policies and can rarely be isolated for analysis.
Sequencing of chronic lymphocytic leukemia therapies

Abstract It is an unprecedented time for the treatment of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) with the recent approval of several targeted agents for use in frontline, relapsed, refractory, and high-risk disease. Traditionally, frontline management of CLL has been a combination of chemotherapy (fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, bendamustine, or chlorambucil) with an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody (rituximab, ofatumumab, obinutuzumab). The current landscape is rapidly evolving with the advent of therapies that demonstrate selective inhibition of important pathways necessary for CLL proliferation and survival. Despite considerable progress, much is still unknown and optimal treatment selection and sequence is still debatable. None of the new agents have been compared against each other and the impact of adding an additional agent to monotherapy is not yet fully elucidated. In routine clinical practice, the choice of therapy is based on nonrandomized comparisons, presence of comorbidities, and toxicity considerations. These recently approved drugs (ibrutinib, idelalisib, and venetoclax) are reporting excellent outcomes, including patients with high-risk disease such as 17p deletion (17p-) or TP53 mutations (TP53mut). Ibrutinib and venetoclax have been approved for use in 17p- patients (frontline and relapsed, respectively). Ibrutinib is currently moving into the frontline space given recent regulatory approvals. This review will summarize and interpret the limited therapeutic sequencing data available, highlighting the need for additional studies to optimize combination strategies and treatments after failure or discontinuation of these novel agents.
Characterization of Ferromagnetic Bimetallic Nanomaterials Using Electron Microscopy

Bimetallic ferromagnetic nanoparticles can be characterized using various techniques such as neutron scattering, magnetometry, electron microscopy, etc. The results from most of those techniques are from the average sample, not from individual nanoparticle. The property of nanoparticle is affected by its shape, size, chemical order, and composition. The atomic level characterization of each nanoparticle is essential and can be done by employing scanning/transmission electron microscopy (S/TEM). The use of Z-contrast imaging in STEM analysis of material permits distinguishing the atomic columns of the constituents, and the spectroscopic techniques (electron energy loss and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy) allow mapping the positions of different metals and the chemical order can be seen. In addition, the magnetic property can be investigated using electron holography and Lorentz microscopy, where the change in phase information is recorded, which is directly related with the local variation in magnetic induction and the electrostatic potential.
Contention resolving optimal priority assignment for event-triggered model predictive controllers

Priority-based scheduling strategies are often used to resolve contentions in resource constrained networked control systems (NCSs). Such scheduling strategies inevitably introduce time delays into controls. Considering the coupling between priority assignment and control, this paper proposes a novel method to co-design priority assignments and controls for each control loop in NCSs. The co-design aims to minimize the performance degradation caused by time delays. The priority assignment is determined by a path planning approach to search for optimal priority assignments. Model predictive controllers are designed based on optimizing priority assignments to compute optimal controls. Simulations are presented to show the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Two-photon polymerization for biological applications

Two-photon polymerization (2PP) leverages the two-photon absorption (TPA) of near-infrared (NIR) radiation for additive manufacturing with sub-diffraction limit resolution within the bulk of a photosensitive material. This technology draws heavily on photosensitive polymers from the microelectronics industry, which were not optimized for TPA or for biocompatibility. 2PP with sub 100 nm resolution has been repeatedly demonstrated; however, this level of fabrication resolution comes at the expense of long fabrication times. Manufacturing of medical devices beyond surface texturing would be prohibitively slow using the current state of the art 2PP technology. Current research into TPA-sensitive photopolymers with good biocompatibility and holographic projections using spatial light modulators address current technological limitations by providing materials specifically formulated for biological applications and by making better use of available laser power for applications in which nanoscale resolution is not required.
Hourly mass and snow energy balance measurements from Mammoth Mountain, CA USA, 2011–2017

Abstract. The mass and energy balance of the snowpack govern its evolution. Direct measurement of these fluxes is essential for modeling the snowpack, yet there are few sites where all the relevant measurements are taken. Mammoth Mountain, CA USA, is home to the Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory and University of California – Santa Barbara Energy Site (CUES), one of five energy balance monitoring sites in the western US. There is a ski patrol study site on Mammoth Mountain, called the Sesame Street Snow Study Plot, with automated snow and meteorological instruments where new snow is hand-weighed to measure its water content. There is also a site at Mammoth Pass with automated precipitation instruments. For this dataset, we present a clean and continuous hourly record of selected measurements from the three sites covering the 2011–2017 water years. Then, we model the snow mass balance at CUES and compare model runs to snow pillow measurements. The 2011–2017 period was marked by exceptional variability in precipitation, even for an area that has high year-to-year variability. The driest year on record, and one of the wettest years, occurred during this time period, making it ideal for studying climatic extremes. This dataset complements a previously published dataset from CUES containing a smaller subset of daily measurements. In addition to the hand-weighed SWE, novel measurements include hourly broadband snow albedo corrected for terrain and other measurement biases. This dataset is available with a digital object identifier: https://doi.org/10.21424/R4159Q .
Safety assessment of niacin in the US Food and Drug Administration's mini-sentinel system.

Purpose The Heart Protection Study 2—Treatment of HDL to Reduce the Incidence of Vascular Events (HPS2-THRIVE) trial found higher incidence rates of adverse reactions, including bleeding, in patients receiving the combination of extended-release niacin and laropiprant versus placebo. It is not known whether these adverse events are attributable to laropiprant, not approved in the USA, or to extended-release niacin. We compared rates of major gastrointestinal bleeding and intracranial hemorrhage among initiators of extended-release niacin and initiators of fenofibrate. Methods We used Mini-Sentinel (now Sentinel) to conduct an observational, new user cohort analysis. We included data from 5 Data Partners covering the period from January 1, 2007 to August 31, 2013. Individuals who initiated extended-release niacin were propensity score-matched to individuals who initiated fenofibrate. Within the matched cohorts, we used Cox proportional hazards models to compare rates of hospitalization for major gastrointestinal bleeding events and intracranial hemorrhage assessed using validated claims-based algorithms. Results A total of 234 242 eligible extended-release niacin initiators were identified, of whom 210 389 (90%) were 1:1 propensity score-matched to eligible fenofibrate initiators. In propensity score-matched analyses, no differences were observed between exposure groups in rates of major gastrointestinal bleeding (hazard ratio [HR], 0.98; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.82 to 1.18) or intracranial hemorrhage (HR, 1.21; 95% CI, 0.66 to 2.22). Results were similar in pre-specified sensitivity and subgroup analyses. Conclusions We did not observe evidence for an association between extended-release niacin versus fenofibrate and rates of major gastrointestinal bleeding or intracranial hemorrhage.
Multi-energy spectral CT: adding value in emergency body imaging

Most vendors offer scanners capable of dual- or multi-energy computed tomography (CT) imaging. Advantages of multi-energy CT scanning include superior tissue characterization, detection of subtle iodine uptake differences, and opportunities to reduce contrast dose. However, utilization of this technology in the emergency department (ED) remains low. The purpose of this pictorial essay is to illustrate the value of multi-energy CT scanning in emergency body imaging.
@Preacher_Bot: an experiment in evangelical speech making

This article is an experiment in digital methodology. It applies tools associated with the digital humanities to the study of Protestant evangelicalism in order to ask what digital research methods...
Hydrogen Bonding in Aromatic Polyamides

Rigid, rodlike polyamides, polyesters and polyesteramldes characteristically exhibit a high degree of intermolecular association resulting in crystalline and liquid crystalline materials with high thermal transitions and moderate to poor solubility. Certain structural modifications can diminish intermolecular attractive forces which leads to nearly complete elimination of highly-correlated structures. Many of these materials exhibit unique spectral, thermal, optical and morphological properties, and several are very soluble in common solvents but do not form lyotropic solutions. The specific structural modification primarily responsible for this unusual combination of properties are the 2,2’-disubstituted-4,4’-biphenylene diacid, diol or diamine comonomers. This substitution pattern forces non-coplanarity between the phenyl rings while maintaining the rodlike conformation of the backbone. This paper describes an investigation of the effect of orientation on hydrogen bonding in polyamides containing a non-coplanar biphenyl diamine in the backbone. The results help substantiate the notion that weak intermolecular associations are primarily responsible for many of the properties exhibited by these polymers.
Opioid use in the acute setting: A survey of providers at an academic medical center.

Objective: To examine attitudes, beliefs, and influencing factors of inpatient healthcare providers regarding prescription of opioid analgesics. Design: Electronic cross-sectional survey. Setting: Academic medical center. Participants: Physicians, advanced practice providers, and pharmacists from a single academic medical center in the southeast United States. Main Outcome Measures: Respondents completed survey items addressing: (1) their practice demographics, (2) their opinions regarding overall use, safety, and efficacy of opioids compared to other analgesics, (3) specific clinical scenarios, (4) main pressures to prescribe opioids, and (5) confidence/comfort prescribing opioids or nonopioids in select situations. Results: The majority of the sample (n = 363) were physicians (60.4 percent), with 69.4 percent of physicians being attendings. Most respondents believed that opioids were overused at our institution (61.7 percent); nearly half thought opioids had similar efficacy to other analgesics (44.1 percent), and almost all believed opioids were more dangerous than other analgesics (88.1 percent). Many respondents indicated that they would modify a chronic regimen for a high-risk patient, and use of nonopioids in specific scenarios was high. However, this use was often in combination with opioids. Respondents identified patients (64 percent) and staff (43.1 percent) as the most significant sources of pressure to prescribe opioids during an admission; the most common sources of pressure to prescribe opioids on discharge were to facilitate discharge (44.8 percent) and to reduce follow-up requests, calls, or visits (36.3 percent). Resident physicians appear to experience more pressure to prescribe opioids than other providers. Managing pain in patients with substance use disorders and effectively using nonopioid analgesics were the most common educational needs identified by respondents. Conclusion: Most individuals believe opioid analgesics are overused in our specific setting, commonly to satisfy patient requests. In general, providers feel uncomfortable prescribing nonopioid analgesics to patients.
Learned Helplessness Paradigm

Depressive disorders present a heterogeneous spectrum of manifestations with respect to etiology, levels of severity, and clinical course. In order to formulate empirical models of depression, theorists have categorized clinical phenomena and hypothesized distinct subsets of depression. Because it emphasizes instrumental learning and implicates interactional failures between caregivers and infants, one theory, Learned Helplessness, may especially illuminate the realm of depression in infancy and childhood.
Correlation of tryptophan metabolites with connectivity of extended central reward network in healthy subjects.

Objective A growing body of preclinical and clinical literature suggests that brain-gut-microbiota interactions play an important role in human health and disease, including hedonic food intake and obesity. We performed a tripartite network analysis based on graph theory to test the hypothesis that microbiota-derived fecal metabolites are associated with connectivity of key regions of the brain’s extended reward network and clinical measures related to obesity. Methods DTI and resting state fMRI imaging was obtained from 63 healthy subjects with and without elevated body mass index (BMI) (29 males and 34 females). Subjects submitted fecal samples, completed questionnaires to assess anxiety and food addiction, and BMI was recorded. Results The study results demonstrate associations between fecal microbiota-derived indole metabolites (indole, indoleacetic acid, and skatole) with measures of functional and anatomical connectivity of the amygdala, nucleus accumbens, and anterior insula, in addition to BMI, food addiction scores (YFAS) and anxiety symptom scores (HAD Anxiety). Conclusions The findings support the hypothesis that gut microbiota-derived indole metabolites may influence hedonic food intake and obesity by acting on the extended reward network, specifically the amygdala-nucleus accumbens circuit and the amygdala-anterior insula circuit. These cross sectional, data-driven results provide valuable information for future mechanistic studies.
Applying Machine Learning to Improve Curriculum Design

Creating curriculum with an ever-changing student body is difficult. Faculty members in a given department will have different perspectives on the composition and academic needs of the student body based on their personal instructional experiences. We present an approach to curriculum development that is designed to be objective by performing a comprehensive analysis of the preparation of declared majors in Computer Science (CS) BS programs at two universities. Our strategy for improving curriculum is twofold. First, we analyze the characteristics and academic needs of the student body by using a statistical, machine learning approach, which involves examining institutional data and understanding what factors specifically affect graduation. Second, we use the results of the analysis as the basis for applying necessary changes to the curriculum in order to maximize graduation rates. To validate our approach, we analyzed two four-year open enrollment universities, which share many trends that help or hinder students' progress toward graduating. Finally, we describe proposed changes to both curriculum and faculty mindsets that are a result of our findings. Although the specifics of this study are applied only to CS majors, we believe that the methods outlined in this paper can be applied to any curriculum regardless of the major.
Wide-temperature-range characterization of 1.55-µm phosphorus-free multiple-quantum-well lasers grown by MBE on InP

Phosphorus-free multiple-quantum-well lasers with In0.53Ga0.47As wells, In0.53Al0.2Ga0.27As barriers, and In0.53Al0.47As claddings have been fabricated as Fabry-Perot devices of different lengths and widths. Their current-voltage and light-current characteristics have been measured over a wide temperature range from 200 K down to 20 K. These data have been analyzed for experimental information on carrier freeze out, gain changes related to temperature, temperature-dependence of series resistance, and prospects for high-performance lasers operating at cryogenic temperatures.
Phase Conjugation Metrology

In this paper we present an introductory discussion on non-linear optical phase conjugation (NOPC) properties and how they might be used in metrology. Quantitative details and descriptions of the various phase conjugation (PC) setups possible are cited in the references (1). Among the different types of nonlinear media available we shall describe PC results on ruby; the one used in our study on speckle noise reduction.
Alveolar Macrophage Transcriptional Programs Are Associated with Outcomes in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome.

Rationale: Serial measurements of alveolar macrophage (AM) transcriptional changes in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) could identify cell-specific biological programs that ...
Thermodynamic Modeling of Lead Nitrate Aqueous Solution: Pitzer Temperature Dependency Parameters

A comprehensive thermodynamic model was elaborated for lead nitrate aqueous solution using the Pitzer framework. The evaluation of the ion interaction parameters for the Pitzer model was carried ou...