cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Allogeneic blood cell transplantation without posttransplant colony-stimulating factors in patients with hematopoietic neoplasm: a phase II study.

PURPOSEThere is limited experience with allogeneic blood cell transplantation (BCT). In an earlier pilot study, the combination of bone marrow and blood did not produce severe acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). We now report the results of a phase II study using blood stem cells alone in 19 patients.PATIENTS AND METHODSThe median age was 40 years. All patients had hematopoietic malignancies and received transplants from HLA-identical sibling donors. GVHD prophylaxis consisted of cyclosporine plus prednisone. Posttransplant colony-stimulating factors were not administered. Donors were mobilized with subcutaneous granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF; 16 microg/kg/d) for 5 days. Apheresis was performed on 2 consecutive days.RESULTSThe median cell content of the two apheresis was 11.9 x 10(8) WBC/kg, 3.2 x 10(8) CD3/kg, and 8.3 x 10(6) CD34/kg. The median time to achieve an absolute neutrophil count (ANC) > or = 500/microL was 13 days, and 14 days to a platelet count > or = 50,000/microL. All pat...
Sustained presentation of BMP‐2 enhances osteogenic differentiation of human adipose‐derived stem cells in gelatin hydrogels

Human adipose-derived stem cells (hASCs) show great potential for healing bone defects. Bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) has been reported to stimulate their osteogenic differentiation both in vitro and in vivo. Here, methacrylated gelatin (GelMA) hydrogels were evaluated as a system to deliver BMP-2 to encapsulated hASCs from two different donors, and BMP-2 delivered from the hydrogels was compared to BMP-2 presented exogenously in culture media. GelMA hydrogels were shown to provide sustained, localized presentation of BMP-2 due to electrostatic interactions between the growth factor and biomaterial after an initial burst release. Both donors exhibited similar responses to the loaded and exogenous growth factor; BMP-2 from the hydrogels had a statistically significant effect on hASC osteogenic differentiation compared to exogenous BMP-2. Expression of alkaline phosphatase was accelerated, and cells in hydrogels with loaded BMP-2 deposited more calcium at one, two, and four weeks than cells without BMP-2 or with the growth factor presented in the media. There were no statistically significant differences in calcium content between groups with 25, 50, or 100 µg/mL loaded BMP-2, suggesting that using a lower growth factor dose may be as effective as a higher loading amount in this system. Taken together, these findings suggest that controlled delivery of BMP-2 from the GelMA enhances its osteogenic bioactivity compared to free growth factor presented in the media. Thus, the GelMA system is a promising biomaterial for BMP-2-mediated hASC osteogenesis. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 104A: 1387-1397, 2016.
Performance Tests as Aids in the Diagnosis of Maladjustment

* Recommended by H. B. English, accepted for publication by Carl Murchison of the Editorial Board, and received in the Editorial Office, December 23, 1935.
Electrochemistry of Magnesium Electrolytes in Ionic Liquids for Secondary Batteries

The electrochemistry of Mg salts in room-temperature ionic liquids (ILs) was studied using plating/stripping voltammetry to assess the viability of IL solvents for applications in secondary Mg batteries. Borohydride (BH4–), trifluoromethanesulfonate (TfO–), and bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (Tf2N–) salts of Mg were investigated. Three ILs were considered: l-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium (BMIM)-Tf2N, N-methyl-N-propylpiperidinium (PP13)-Tf2N, and N,N-diethyl-N-methyl(2-methoxyethyl)ammonium (DEME+) tetrafluoroborate (BF4–). Salts and ILs were combined to produce binary solutions in which the anions were structurally similar or identical, if possible. Contrary to some prior reports, no salt/IL combination appeared to facilitate reversible Mg plating. In solutions containing BMIM+, oxidative activity near 0.8 V vs Mg/Mg2+ is likely associated with the BMIM cation, rather than Mg stripping. The absence of voltammetric signatures of Mg plating from ILs with Tf2N– and BF4– suggests that strong Mg/anion Coulo...
Imaging Fluorescence-Correlation Spectroscopy for Measuring Fast Surface Diffusion at Liquid/Solid Interfaces

The development of techniques to probe interfacial molecular transport is important for understanding and optimizing surface-based analytical methods including surface-enhanced spectroscopies, biological assays, and chemical separations. Single-molecule-fluorescence imaging and tracking has been used to measure lateral diffusion rates of fluorescent molecules at surfaces, but the technique is limited to the study of slower diffusion, where molecules must remain relatively stationary during acquisition of an image in order to build up sufficient intensity in a spot to detect and localize the molecule. Although faster time resolution can be achieved by fluorescence-correlation spectroscopy (FCS), where intensity fluctuations in a small spot are related to the motions of molecules on the surface, long-lived adsorption events arising from surface inhomogeneity can overwhelm the correlation measurement and mask the surface diffusion of the moving population. Here, we exploit a combination of these two techniques, imaging-FCS, for measurement of fast interfacial transport at a model chromatographic surface. This is accomplished by rapid imaging of the surface using an electron-multiplied-charged-coupled-device (CCD) camera, while limiting the acquisition to a small area on the camera to allow fast framing rates. The total intensity from the sampled region is autocorrelated to determine surface diffusion rates of molecules with millisecond time resolution. The technique allows electronic control over the acquisition region, which can be used to avoid strong adsorption sites and thus minimize their contribution to the measured autocorrelation decay and to vary the acquisition area to resolve surface diffusion from adsorption and desorption kinetics. As proof of concept, imaging-FCS was used to measure surface diffusion rates, interfacial populations, and adsorption-desorption rates of 1,1'-dioctadecyl-3,3,3'3'-tetramethylindocarbocyanine (DiI) on planar C18- and C1-modified surfaces.
Ray tracing reconstruction investigation for C-arm tomosynthesis

C-arm tomosynthesis is a three dimensional imaging technique. Both x-ray source and the detector are mounted on a C-arm wheeled structure to provide wide variety of movement around the object. In this paper, C-arm tomosynthesis was introduced to provide three dimensional information over a limited view angle (less than 180o) to reduce radiation exposure and examination time. Reconstruction algorithms based on ray tracing method such as ray tracing back projection (BP), simultaneous algebraic reconstruction technique (SART) and maximum likelihood expectation maximization (MLEM) were developed for C-arm tomosynthesis. C-arm tomosynthesis projection images of simulated spherical object were simulated with a virtual geometric configuration with a total view angle of 40 degrees. This study demonstrated the sharpness of in-plane reconstructed structure and effectiveness of removing out-of-plane blur for each reconstruction algorithms. Results showed the ability of ray tracing based reconstruction algorithms to provide three dimensional information with limited angle C-arm tomosynthesis.
Effect of Press-Fit on Frictional Torque Generated at the Articulating Surfaces of Acetabular Shells With Fixed and Dual Mobility Bearing Insert Designs

Introduction Frictional torque is generated at the hip joint during normal gait loading and motion [1]. This study investigated the effect of shell deformation due to press-fit on frictional torque generated at the articulating surfaces of cementless acetabular shells that incorporated fixed and dual mobility bearing designs. Materials and Methods Figure 1 lists the study groups (minimum of n = 5). All groups were tested with a 50 mm Trident PSL shell (Stryker Orthopaedics, NJ) and a Ti6Al4V trunnion. Metal-on-Metal specimens were custom designed and manufactured, and are not approved for clinical use. The remaining groups consisted of commercially available products (Stryker Orthopaedics, NJ). All groups were tested with the shells in deformed and undeformed states. Deformed Setup: A two-point relief configuration was created in a polyurethane foam block (Figure 2) with a density of 30 lb/ft 3 to replicate shell deformation due to press-fit [2]. The blocks were machined to replicate the press-fit prescribed in the shell9s surgical protocol. Each shell was assembled into the foam block by applying an axial force at 5 mm/min until it was completely seated. Undeformed Setup: Each shell was assembled in a stainless steel block with a hemispherical cavity that resulted in a line-to-line fit with the shell OD. Frictional torque was measured using a physiologically relevant test model [3]. In this model, the specimen block was placed in a fixture to simulate 50° abduction and 130° neck angle (Figure 2). A 2450N side load was applied and the femoral head underwent angular displacement of ± 20° for 100 cycles at 0.75 Hz. The articulating surfaces were lubricated with 25% Alpha Calf Fraction Serum. Peak torque was observed towards the end or the beginning of each cycle where the velocity of the femoral head approaches 0 and the head changes direction. This torque is referred as maximum static frictional torque. Specimen groups were statistically compared with a single-factor ANOVA test and a Tukey post-hoc test at 95% confidence level. Paired t-tests were performed to compare individual groups in deformed and undeformed states. Results Figure 3 contains the results. In both deformed and undeformed states, the MoM group exhibited the highest frictional torque whereas the MDM group had the lowest frictional torque. In both states, the difference in frictional torque between MoM vs. 28 mm–Fixed Bearing and MoM vs. MDM was statistically significant whereas the difference between 28 mm-Fixed Bearing and MDM was not statistically significant. Shell deformation due to press-fit did not have a significant effect on any of the groups. Discussion This study evaluated the effect of press-fit on the frictional torque generated in various cementless acetabular systems using a physiologically relevant in-vitro test model. Results from this test suggest a trend towards lower frictional torque for dual mobility bearings, which is worthy of further investigation.
Chemically Modified Electrodes

Publisher Summary The chapter focuses on electrodes that are chemically modified. Chemically modified electrode can be defined as a conducting or semiconducting material that has been coated with a monomolecular, multi-molecular, ionic, or polymeric film. It also helps to alter the electrochemical, the optical, and other properties of the interface. The conductive and semiconductive substrates can be derived from conventional electrode materials, while the adlayers are widely diverse in their origins and properties. This diversity enhances the range and scope of electrochemical techniques. The properties of an adlayer impart a predictable function to an electrode. The substrate is the platform electrode that supports the adlayer. Available or custom fabricated substrates can be used commercially. In most electrode preparation schemes, the electrode surface can be treated before modification to provide reproducible surface attributes. These procedures involve conventional electrode treatments, with adaptations or additions where needed. After a desired composition like single- or multi-component is achieved, lateral pressure can be applied to increase the two-dimensional film concentration. The attractive forces are sufficient to exclude solvent molecules from the interface between the solid support and the film.
Reflections on the Vesey Chapter

I struggle with the attitudes and actions of those in positions to guide the thinking and behaviors of the masses. I just read your chapter focused on the recent mass murders at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina, and my frustration/anger spills out of my eyes like the rushing waters as they attempt to traverse Niagara Falls. Near the beginning of this chapter you state, that Emanuel AME, “not only embodies but also equates democracy and social justice in the U.S. south.”
An Energy-Efficient NoC Router with Adaptive Fault-Tolerance Using Channel Slicing and On-Demand TMR

The competing goals of energy-efficiency, performance, and fault tolerance have not been well bridged in current NoC designs. In this paper, we propose an energy-efficient NoC router that exhibits strong fault-tolerance by leveraging channel slicing. This router has three identical router slices connected with internal sharing paths. Channel slicing reduces the overhead of applying power gating to improve energy-efficiency. When faults occur in any of the slices, resource sharing is enabled to enhance fault-tolerance. These router slices can also be harnessed for on-demand TMR, to further improve fault-tolerance and reduce the need for deploying costly on-chip testers. Our method can diagnose and repair both control and datapath faults without interrupting normal NoC operations. Experimental results show that our proposed router can tolerate 180 percent more gate faults than the state-of-the-art fault-tolerant NoC router architecture HPR. In addition, 64 percent energy improvement at low injection rate, and 28 percent energy improvement at high injection rate are achieved compared to HPR. Furthermore, our method attains 100 percent higher throughput (with 40 faults in one router) compared to HPR. Our proposed method increases router logic area by 7.8 percent compared to baseline.
Along the Folds: Sea and Spar and Portals Between

This article employs the concept of the fold, in part as developed by Deleuze out of Leibniz, as an approach to its own attempt at folding together the discourses of literature and game study. On the game side we consider Portal 2 (2011), and from the literary area, the generative mega-poem ‘Sea and Spar Between’ (2010). Though formally disparate, both texts employ a unit operation of folding, applying to virtual space in the game and to verbal space in the systemic poem. We inquire into how the structure of implication in both cases leads to an irruption of the technological sublime, an encounter with spaces and magnitudes that escape both human and computational reckoning. Drawing on Myers's concept of ‘anti-ness’ as a feature of play, we conclude that further discussion of games and literature, the main concern of cybertextual studies, requires more complex structure than symmetry or zero-sum relations.
Different than the Sum of Its Parts: Examining the Unique Impacts of Immigrant Groups on Neighborhood Crime Rates

Examining the immigration-crime nexus across neighborhoods in the Southern California metropolitan region, this study builds on existing literature by unpacking immigration and accounting for the rich diversity that exists between immigrant groups. Using data from a variety of sources, we capture this diversity with three different approaches, operationalizing immigrant groups by similar racial/ethnic categories, areas or regions of the world that immigrants emigrate from, and where immigrants co-locate once they settle in the U.S. We also account for the heterogeneity of immigrant populations by constructing measures of immigrant heterogeneity based on each of these classifications. We compare these novel approaches with the standard approach, which combines immigrants together through a single measure of percent foreign born. The results reveal that considerable insights are gained by distinguishing between diverse groups of immigrants. In particular, we find that all three strategies explained neighborhood crime levels better than the traditional approach. The findings underscore the necessity of disaggregating immigrant groups when exploring the immigration-crime relationship.
Rehabilitation in Patents With Tumors of the Spinal Column

Rehabilitation is a critical part of the interdisciplinary approach to treating cancer patients suffering from tumors of the spinal column. Early mobilization and physical therapy (PT) intervention play and important role in preventing complications (see Fig. 1) (1) and improving quality of life. Rehabilitation is an integral part of the spine oncology team. It includes physical therapy, occupational therapy (OT), nursing, social work, case management, and physicians. This chapter discusses the role of PT and OT in patients with spinal tumors.
In Vitro Antibacterial Activity of Rhodanine Derivatives against Pathogenic Clinical Isolates

Bacterial infections present a serious challenge to healthcare practitioners due to the emergence of resistance to numerous conventional antibacterial drugs. Therefore, new bacterial targets and new antimicrobials are unmet medical needs. Rhodanine derivatives have been shown to possess potent antimicrobial activity via a novel mechanism. However, their potential use as antibacterials has not been fully examined. In this study, we determined the spectrum of activity of seven rhodanine derivatives (compounds Rh 1-7) against clinical isolates of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains and Candida albicans. We also synthesized and tested three additional compounds, ethyl ester and amide of rhodanine 2 (Rh 8 and Rh 10, respectively) and ethyl ester of rhodanine 3 (Rh 9) to determine the significance of the carboxyl group modification towards antibacterial activity and human serum albumin binding. A broth microdilution assay confirmed Rh 1-7 exhibit bactericidal activity against Gram-positive pathogens. Rh 2 had significant activity against various vancomycin-resistant (MIC90 = 4 μM) and methicillin-resistant (MIC90 = 4 μM) Staphylococcus aureus (VRSA and MRSA), Staphylococcus epidermidis (MIC = 4 μM) and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) strains (MIC90 = 8 μM). The rhodanine compounds exhibited potent activity against Bacillus spp., including Bacillus anthracis, with MIC range of 2-8 μM. In addition, they had potent activity against Clostridium difficile. The most potent compound, Rh 2, at 4 and 8 times its MIC, significantly decreased S. epidermidis biofilm mass by more than 35% and 45%, respectively. None of the rhodanine compounds showed antimicrobial activity (MIC > 128 μM) against various 1) Gram-negative pathogens (Acinetobacter baumannii, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Salmonella Typhimurium) or 2) strains of Candida albicans (MIC > 64 μM). The MTS assay confirmed that rhodanines were not toxic to mouse murine macrophage (J774.1A) up to 64 μM, human keratinocytes (HaCat) up to 32 μM, and human ileocecal colorectal cell (HRT-18) up to 128 μM. Overall, these data suggest that certain rhodanine compounds may have potential use for the treatment of several multidrug-resistant Gram-positive bacterial infections.
Do bank failures still matter in affecting regional economic activity

Abstract Using a panel dataset covering all 50 states and the District of Columbia for 1984–2014, this study examines the consequences of commercial bank failures on the regional economy. Employing both single-equation panel estimations as well as panel VAR models, I find credit crunch and bank-business relationship channels to be operative at the state-level. Although the deleterious effect of bank failures is found on different measures of regional economic activity including industry-specific labor and goods markets, it is most pronounced on construction-sector employment and GDP growth rates. The findings imply when credit flows are disrupted, potential borrowers like construction companies and building contractors may not be able to secure funds to undertake investment activities, leading to a decline in employment and output growth. The results call for constant monitoring of banks by banking regulatory authorities and identifying early warning signals of bank failures to mitigate their potential real sector losses.
Poly(styrene-b-isobutylene-b-styrene) block copolymers produced by living cationic polymerization: I. Compositional analysis

Abstract Poly(styrene-b-isobutylene-b-styrene) block copolymers made through controlled–living cationic polymerization using the t Bu -m-DCC–TiCl4 initiating system in 60/40 (v/v) hexane–methyl chloride cosolvents were analyzed using curve-resolution software in conjunction with high-resolution g.p.c. Fractional precipitation and selective solvent extraction were applied to a representative sample in order to confirm the identity of contaminating species. The block copolymers were found to consist of 70–75 wt% of the target molecule, and about 20 wt% of coupled (and higher linked) block copolymers formed by intermolecular electrophilic aromatic substitution linking reactions occurring during the styrene polymerization. Minor contaminants were identified as diblock copolymer and low molecular weight polystyrene homopolymer.
Numerical Study of p-n-Doped Poly-Silicon Shield Gate Trench MOSFET With Reduced Output Capacitance

This letter proposes a new shield gate (SG) trench MOSFET structure, which utilizes a p-n-doped polysilicon refill as the SG electrode to minimize the total output capacitance or charge. TCAD simulation is carried out to compare the proposed and conventional device structures. It is shown that the proposed structure offers 30% lower $\text{Q}_{\text {OSS}}$ and 18.2% reduction of inductive switching loss while retaining other attractive characteristics of the SG trench MOSFET.
Sleep and Breathing the First Night After Adenotonsillectomy in Obese Children With Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Study Objectives:There are few studies measuring postoperative respiratory complications in obese children with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) undergoing adenotonsillectomy (AT). These complications...
Additive Damage Models for Cellular Pharmacodynamics of Radiation–Chemotherapy Combinations

Many cancer patients receive combination treatments with radiation and chemotherapy. Available mathematical models for cellular pharmacodynamics have limited ability to represent observed in vitro responses to radiochemotherapy. Here, a family of additive damage models is proposed to describe cell kill resulting from radiochemotherapy with fixed schedule and variable doses. The pathways by which the agents produce cellular damage are assumed to converge in a single cell death process, so that survival depends on total damage, which can be represented as a sum of contributions from the various damage pathways. Heterogeneity in response across the cell population is ascribed to variations in the damage threshold for cell kill. The family of proposed models includes effects of one or two pathways of damage for each agent, saturation in drug responses, and cooperative or antagonistic interactions between agents. Models from this family with 4-7 unknown parameters are tested for their ability to fit 218 in vitro literature data sets for a range of drugs and cell lines. Overall, the additive damage models are found to outperform models based on the existing concept of independent cell kill, according to the corrected Akaike Information Criterion. The results are used to assess the importance of the various effects included in the models. These additive damage models have potential applications to the optimization of treatment and to the analysis and interpretation of in vitro screening data for new drug-radiation combinations.
Active Role of Phosphorus in the Hydrogen Evolving Activity of Nickel Phosphide (0001) Surfaces

Optimizing catalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is a critical step toward the efficient production of H2(g) fuel from water. It has been demonstrated experimentally that transition-metal phosphides, specifically nickel phosphides Ni2P and Ni5P4, efficiently catalyze the HER at a small fraction of the cost of archetypal Pt-based electrocatalysts. However, the HER mechanism on nickel phosphides remains unclear. We explore, through density functional theory with thermodynamics, the aqueous reconstructions of Ni2P(0001) and Ni5P4(0001)/(0001), and we find that the surface P content on Ni2P(0001) depends on the applied potential, which has not been considered previously. At −0.21 V ≥ U ≥ −0.36 V versus the standard hydrogen electrode and pH = 0, a PHx-enriched Ni3P2 termination of Ni2P(0001) is found to be most stable, consistent with its P-rich ultrahigh-vacuum reconstructions. Above and below this potential range, the stoichiometric Ni3P2 surface is instead passivated by H at the Ni3-hollow s...
Dose to mass for evaluation and optimization of lung cancer radiation therapy.

Abstract Purpose To evaluate potential organ at risk dose-sparing by using dose-mass-histogram (DMH) objective functions compared with dose-volume-histogram (DVH) objective functions. Methods Treatment plans were retrospectively optimized for 10 locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients based on DVH and DMH objectives. DMH-objectives were the same as DVH objectives, but with mass replacing volume. Plans were normalized to dose to 95% of the PTV volume (PTV-D95v) or mass (PTV-D95m). For a given optimized dose, DVH and DMH were intercompared to ascertain dose-to-volume vs. dose-to-mass differences. Additionally, the optimized doses were intercompared using DVH and DMH metrics to ascertain differences in optimized plans. Mean dose to volume, D v ‾ , mean dose to mass, D M ‾ , and fluence maps were intercompared. Results For a given dose distribution, DVH and DMH differ by >5% in heterogeneous structures. In homogeneous structures including heart and spinal cord, DVH and DMH are nearly equivalent. At fixed PTV-D95v, DMH-optimization did not significantly reduce dose to OARs but reduced PTV- D v ‾ by 0.20 ± 0.2 Gy (p = 0.02) and PTV- D M ‾ by 0.23 ± 0.3 Gy (p = 0.02). Plans normalized to PTV-D95m also result in minor PTV dose reductions and esophageal dose sparing ( D v ‾ reduced 0.45 ± 0.5 Gy, p = 0.02 and D M ‾ reduced 0.44 ± 0.5 Gy, p = 0.02) compared to DVH-optimized plans. Optimized fluence map comparisons indicate that DMH optimization reduces dose in the periphery of lung PTVs. Conclusions DVH- and DMH-dose indices differ by >5% in lung and lung target volumes for fixed dose distributions, but optimizing DMH did not reduce dose to OARs. The primary difference observed in DVH- and DMH-optimized plans were variations in fluence to the periphery of lung target PTVs, where low density lung surrounds tumor.
A Model of Capital Structure Under Labor Market Search

This paper develops a competitive search equilibrium model of capital structure and labor outcomes. In the model, employers design capital structures and compete for workers subject to idiosyncratic productivity shocks and labor search frictions. The capital structure policy reflects the trade-off between the "strategic benefit" of debt in wage bargaining and the cost of debt in labor hiring. The model generates rich comparative static implications regarding the impacts of productivity, credit and labor market factors on leverage and labor outcomes. A calibration yields a large wage dispersion and a highly elastic labor market tightness with respect to productivity.
Advanced control strategies for convertible static transmission controller enabled dual active power filters and PV-power integration

This paper proposes a hybrid convertible static transmission controller (CSTC), in shunt-shunt mode, with dual active filters and photovoltaic (PV) power integration. The combined system aims to back up and control the power of the transmission transformer, as well as, improve the transmitted power quality. The filters are also designed to eliminate the harmonics due to the injected renewable energy. A new reference generation technique is proposed to inject the solar power into the grid and compensate the system reactive power and current harmonics. Moreover, the varying nature of PV power due to the change in solar radiation and temperature is accounted with the online computation of the DC voltage and power references with the help of the system rectifier. A simulation study adopted by PSCAD-EMTDC environment software is used to validate the proposed system with integration of a solar PV under normal and fault conditions.
Structural properties of resonance graphs of plane elementary bipartite graphs

Abstract In this paper, we investigate some structural properties of resonance graphs of plane elementary bipartite graphs using Djokovic – Winkler relation Θ and structural characterizations of a median graph. Let G be a plane elementary bipartite graph. It is known that its resonance graph Z ( G ) is a median graph. We first provide properties for Θ -classes of the edge set of Z ( G ) . As a corollary, Z ( G ) cannot be a nontrivial Cartesian product of median graphs, which is equivalent to a result given by Zhang et al. that the distributive lattice on the set of perfect matchings of G is irreducible. We then present a decomposition structure on Z ( G ) with respect to a reducible face s of G . As an application, we give a necessary and sufficient condition on when Z ( G ) can be obtained from Z ( H ) by a peripheral convex expansion with respect to a reducible face s of G , where H is the subgraph of G obtained by removing all internal vertices (if exist) and edges on the common periphery of s and G . Furthermore, we show that Z ( G ) can be obtained from Z ( H ) by adding one pendent edge with the face-label s if and only if s is a forcing face of G such that both s and the infinite face of G are M -resonant for a degree-1 vertex M of Z ( G ) . Our results generalize the peripheral convex expansion structure on Z ( G ) given by Klavžar et al. for the case when G is a catacondensed even ring system.
Speech and Communicative Participation in Patients With Facial Paralysis.

Importance Problems with speech in patients with facial paralysis are frequently noted by both clinicians and the patients themselves, but limited research exists describing how facial paralysis affects verbal communication. Objective To assess the influence of facial paralysis on communicative participation. Design, Setting, and Participants A nationwide online survey of 160 adults with unilateral facial paralysis was conducted from March 1 to June 1, 2017. To assess communicative participation, respondents completed the Communicative Participation Item Bank (CPIB) Short Form questionnaire and the Facial Clinimetric Evaluation (FaCE) Scale. Main Outcomes and Measures The CPIB Short Form and the correlation between the CPIB Short Form and FaCE Scale. In the CPIB, the level of interference in communication is rated on a 4-point Likert scale (where not at all = 3, a little = 2, quite a bit = 1, and very much = 0). Total scores for the 10 items range from 0 (worst) to 30 (best). The FaCE Scale is a 15-item instrument that produces an overall score ranging from 0 (worst) to 100 (best), with higher scores representing better function and higher quality of life. Results Of the 160 respondents, 145 (90.6%) were women and 15 were men (mean [SD] age, 45.1 [12.6] years). Most respondents reported having facial paralysis for more than 3 years. Causes of facial paralysis included Bell palsy (86 [53.8%]), tumor (41 [25.6%]), and other causes (33 [20.6%]), including infection, trauma, congenital defects, and surgical complications. The mean (SD) score on the CPIB Short Form was 0.16 (0.88) logits (range, –2.58 to 2.10 logits). The mean (SD) score of the FaCE Scale was 40.92 (16.05) (range, 0-83.3). Significant correlations were observed between the CPIB Short Form and overall FaCE Scale scores, as well as the Social Function, Oral Function, Facial Comfort, and Eye Comfort subdomains of the FaCE Scale, but not with the Facial Movement subdomain. Conclusions and Relevance Patients with facial paralysis in this study sample reported restrictions in communicative participation that were comparable with restrictions experienced by patients with other known communicative disorders, such as laryngectomy and head and neck cancer. We believe that communicative participation represents a unique domain of dysfunction and can help quantify the outcome of facial paralysis and provide an additional frame of reference when assessing treatment outcomes.
The Industrial Transition

The differences between industrialized and nonindustrialized societies are dramatic and extensive. In industrialized societies the per capita income, life expectancy, literacy rate, and education level are all much higher than in nonindustrial societies. The ease of communications, travel, and transport makes the population mobile and permits the widespread distribution of goods. Industrial societies devote a much smaller fraction of economic effort to agriculture and a larger fraction to consumer goods, health care, and education. Above all, industrial societies exhibit self-sustaining growth. That is, they enjoy a continuing increase in per capita wealth and income which results from the continual reinvestment of a portion of the national income to expand knowledge and to improve the technological base of the economy. An ever-increasing stream of inventions and innovations feeds into an expanding economy to provide goods and services at lower costs and to perform functions that were previously impossible. An industrial society is dynamic, not only in its technique but also in its social and institutional forms; it is continually recreating itself as technological change is reflected in, and complemented by, cultural and social changes.
Acute and Chronic Toxicity of Alcohol

An attempt will be made to review the toxic effects of ethanol in functional terms and wherever possible to relate these changes to biochemical events and structural alterations of cells. Factors which contribute to ethanol toxicity, such as nutritional abnormalities, changes in hormones, catecholamines, serotonin, acetylcholine, and the like, changes in electrolyte balance and heavy metal content, will be discussed only as they relate directly to ethanol toxicity. Much of what is known about these contributing factors will be left to other chapters where they are dealt with specifically.
Active disturbance rejection based load frequency control and voltage regulation in power systems

An active disturbance rejection controller (ADRC) is developed for load frequency control (LFC) and voltage regulation respectively in a power system. For LFC, the ADRC is constructed on a three-area interconnected power system. The control goal is to maintain the frequency at nominal value (60Hz in North America) and keep tie-line power flow at scheduled value. For voltage regulation, the ADRC is applied to a static var compensator (SVC) as a supplementary controller. It is utilized to maintain the voltages at nearby buses within the ANSI C84.1 limits (or ±5% tolerance). Particularly, an alternative ADRC with smaller controller gains than classic ADRC is originally designed on the SVC system. From power generation and transmission to its distribution, both voltage and frequency regulating systems are subject to large and small disturbances caused by sudden load changes, transmission faults, and equipment loss/malfunction etc. The simulation results and theoretical analyses demonstrate the effectiveness of the ADRCs in compensating the disturbances and achieving the control goals.
The link between anemia and adverse outcomes in patients with acute coronary syndrome

Introduction: Anemia is one of the most frequent comorbidities in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients and is associated with a significant impact on clinical outcomes. This review summarizes the...
The Evolution and Fragmentation of Olympic Media Consumption and Its Impact on the Entertainment Value of the 2018 Winter Olympics

This fragmentation of Olympic media is a fascinating trend to explore on an international level to examine if there are similarities in how citizens of different countries consume Winter Olympic me...
HIV microaggressions: a novel measure of stigma-related experiences among people living with HIV

Since the beginning of the HIV epidemic stigma has served as a strong barrier to effectively delivering HIV prevention and treatment. Due in part to its complex nature, stigma is difficult to address and novel methods of understanding stigma are needed. Based on formative and empirical research with N = 236 primarily Black men living with HIV, a HIV microaggressions scale was developed and evaluated in order to assess this component of stigma. Factor analysis resulted in a 13-item scale (α = .83) with 3 subscales explaining 51% of the total variance. The microaggressions scale demonstrated convergent validity (with internalized, enacted, and anticipated stigmas) and discriminant validity (with social support). HIV microaggressions was associated with longer gaps since last care appointment and depressive symptoms, and subscales were associated with barriers to accessing health care, disclosure, and HIV care self-efficacy. The HIV microaggressions scale is a novel tool for assessing a critical subcomponent of stigma.
Signaling Networks: Asynchronous Boolean Models

Signal transduction allows a cell to communicate with its surroundings. Many diseases such as developmental disorders, autoimmunity, and cancer have been shown to arise from mutations of signal transduction pathway components. Gaining a comprehensive understanding of the cell’s signaling mechanisms is vitally important as we attempt to control and combat these diseases. Boolean networks have recently emerged as a modeling tool that can successfully provide a qualitative description for signal transduction dynamics and reproduce complex behaviors such as excitation-adaptation, multistability, and hysteresis. A strength of the method is its ability to accommodate information gaps in the network topology, rules of interaction, initial conditions, and timing. Boolean models have led to a better understanding of cellular signaling and have provided predictions validated by follow-up experiments. The chapter presents an introduction to asynchronous Boolean models of signal transduction.
Extending the Membership Negotiation Model: Previous Work Experience and the Reproduction and Transformation of Structures:

Membership negotiation is the communicative process by which individuals transform from nonmembers to organizational members. This investigation extends the membership negotiation model proposed by...
Towards Personalized Closed-Loop Mechanical CPR: A Model Relating Carotid Blood Flow to Chest Compression Rate and Duration

Objective: There is a growing interest in the personalization of chest compressions to increase blood flow during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), but there has been very little systematic work to test the feasibility of a closed loop mechanical CPR system. The purpose of this study is to determine if it is possible to model the response of the carotid blood flow to different chest compression waveforms as a function of time during resuscitation from cardiac arrest. This work tests several approaches to predict the carotid blood flow generated by the next chest compression based on knowledge of the duration of resuscitation, the chest compression rate, and the last compression's carotid blood flow. Methods: Using an existing physiological database from swine cardiac arrest studies, we computed the features of CPR epoch, compression index, compression rate, and the previous carotid blood flow and used them as the inputs to our model in order to predict carotid blood flow using a Random Forest algorithm. We tested animal specific (estimated with data from a single animal) and global (estimated with data from all but one animals) models for effectiveness. Results: Animal specific models did not generalize when applied to the rest of the animals. The global model performed reasonably well when trained on six animals and tested on the 7th, resulting in errors of 40–160 μL per compression, compared to an average of approximately 400 μL net carotid blood flow per compression in early compressions. In addition, the global model highlighted the inter-animal variability in carotid blood flow generated by identical chest compression waveforms. Generation of probability distribution functions of carotid blood flows suggested at least three different distribution profiles in seven animals. Conclusion: A single physiological metric, carotid blood flow, combined with information about the duration of resuscitation and the compression rate was sufficient to model and predict carotid blood flow in the next compression. Significance: This demonstrates that the physiological response to chest compression can be predicted from a relatively modest data set. This suggests that closed loop mechanical CPR is a viable medical device target.
Study of schistosomiasis transmission interruption based on intensive agriculture

Objective To study the effect of schistosomiasis transmission interruption model based on intensive agriculture in hilly endemic areas, so as to provide the reference for the similar endemic areas. Methods Based on the development of intensive agriculture in Guanghan City, a comprehensive demonstration area of schistosomiasis control with measures such as new rural construction, hardening ditches, the adjustment of industrial structure and water remediation measures was constructed. Jinhua, Shiguan and Hongyan villages were chosen as the evaluation sites to comparatively analyze the indexes of intensive agriculture and schistosomiasis control effects. Results Compared with the demonstration area before construction, in 2014, the harden rates of ditches and village roads were increased by 49.57% and 39.33% respectively; and the proportion of agricultural machinery increased by 25%. The positive rate of serological tests of schistosomiasis was decreased by 81.74%. The Oncomelania hupensis snail area was decreased from 2.44 hm2 (2007) to 0 (2014). The awareness rate of schistosomiasis control knowledge and correct behavior rate of the residents were increased from 51.28% and 90.85% to 91.29% and 97.69% respectively. The experience of the demonstration area ensured the entire Guanghan District achieved the schistosomiasis transmission interruption criterion at the end of 2014. Conclusions The schistosomiasis control model of intensive agriculture combined with other comprehensive measures has a good effect on interrupting the endemic of schistosomiasis, and it can realize the sustainable development of the agricultural economy and schistosomiasis control.
Phase Equilibria, Diffusivities, and Equation of State Modeling of HFC-32 and HFC-125 in Imidazolium-Based Ionic Liquids for the Separation of R-410A

Growing concerns about the global warming potential of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) has led to increasing interest in developing technologies to effectively recover and recycle these refrigerants. Ion...
NUT Carcinoma in a Patient with Unusually Long Survival and False Negative FISH Results

Nuclear protein in testis (NUT) carcinoma is a rare and highly aggressive epithelial malignancy defined by rearrangement of the NUTM1 gene on chromosome 15q14. Histologically, NUT carcinoma is an undifferentiated carcinoma formed by sheets and nests of primitive and monotonous "round blue cells" with foci of abrupt keratinization in a subset. NUT carcinoma runs a fulminant clinical course and is almost always quickly lethal, with a median overall survival of only 6.7 months. There is no consensus regarding treatment for this disease, and most patients respond poorly to conventional chemotherapy and radiation. We report a case of NUT carcinoma in an African-American man who initially presented in 2009 with a tracheal mass at age 28. Although fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) assays for NUTM1 and BRD4 rearrangements were negative, he was diagnosed based on diffusely positive NUT immunostaining and BRD4-NUTM1 on RNA sequencing. Since his initial presentation, he has undergone multiple surgical procedures and radiation therapy. His tumor has recurred twice, but he has survived for 129 months and is currently alive without disease. Long-term survival of patients with NUT carcinoma is incredibly unusual, especially in patients with tumors that exhibit a BRD4 rearrangement. False negative FISH is a pitfall in diagnosing NUT carcinoma; NUT immunostaining and RNA sequencing are more sensitive diagnostic methods.
Benefits and Challenges for Social Media Users on the Autism Spectrum

Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) often face difficulties creating and maintaining social connections with others, which has been shown to negatively affect their well-being. Some researchers have investigated whether social media use can lead to social benefits, but with mixed results. To better understand how social media use can be beneficial and what challenges it poses, we conducted an interview study with eight adults on the Autism Spectrum. We report on the perceived benefits and real challenges participants faced when trying to engage with others through social media. Often the benefits users hope for are overshadowed by negative ramifications and safety risks that accompany their social media use. We conclude with recommendations for designing social media for neurodiverse users.
Black esophagus und black duodenum – seltene Ursache einer oberen gastrointestinalen Blutung

Wir berichten uber den fulminanten Verlauf eines black esophagus mit konsekutiver distaler Osophagusperforation sowie eines black duodenum bei einer 73-jahrigen Patientin. Die Diagnose des black esophagus erfolgt anhand des endoskopischen Bildes und ist charakterisiert durch die zirkulare Nekrose des Osophagus mit abruptem Ubergang in regelrecht perfundierte Schleimhaut ab der Z-Linie. Der black esophagus ist eine seltene Ursache einer oberen gastrointestinalen Blutung und ist mit einer hohen Mortaliat von uber 30 % verknupft. Komplikativ konnen sich eine Osophagusperforation und im langfristigen Verlauf eine Osophagusstenose entwickeln. Eine kausale Therapie existiert nicht.
Contributions of PD-L1 reverse signaling to dendritic cell trafficking.

Programmed Death-1 (PD-1)/Programmed Death-Ligand 1 (PD-L1) interactions are critical for dampening the immune response to both self and foreign antigens. The signaling of PD-L1 via its cytoplasmic domain, rather than through its interactions with PD-1 via the extracellular domain, has been termed PD-L1 reverse signaling. While this signaling is beneficial for cancer progression, little is understood about the consequences of PD-L1 reverse signaling in immune cells that express PD-L1 at steady state or in response to infection. Loss of PD-L1 during infection leads to unchecked T cell proliferation and increased autoimmune T cell responses. While the T cell intrinsic role of PD-1 for inhibiting T cell responses has been well explored, little to no effort has been directed at investigating the consequences of PD-L1 reverse signaling on the DCs interacting with PD-1+ T cells. We recently reported a defect in dendritic cell trafficking from the skin to the draining lymph node following immunization or infection in the absence of PD-L1. We demonstrated that a region within the cytoplasmic tail was responsible for the defect in dendritic cell trafficking. Here, we review the processes involved in dendritic cell trafficking and highlight what we know about PD-L1 expression, PD-L1 post-translational modifications, PD-L1 intracellular interactions and PD-L1 extracellular interactions.
Sexually Aggressive Women: Current Perspectives and Controversies. Edited by Peter B. Anderson and Cindy Struckman-Johnson. New York: Guilford, 1998. xii +244 pages, index. Hardback, ISBN 1-57230-165-1, $31.00.

(2001). Sexually Aggressive Women: Current Perspectives and Controversies. Edited by Peter B. Anderson and Cindy Struckman-Johnson. New York: Guilford, 1998. xii +244 pages, index. Hardback, ISBN 1-57230-165-1, $31.00. Journal of Sex Education and Therapy: Vol. 26, No. 2, pp. 153-155.