cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
If Only They’d Ask: Gender, Recruitment, and Political Ambition

Based on data from the second wave of the Citizen Political Ambition Panel Study—our national survey of more than 2,000 “potential candidates” in 2008—we provide the first thorough analysis of the manner in which gender interacts with political recruitment in the candidate eligibility pool. Our findings are striking. Highly qualified and politically well-connected women from both major political parties are less likely than similarly situated men to be recruited to run for public office by all types of political actors. They are less likely than men to be recruited intensely. And they are less likely than men to be recruited by multiple sources. Although we paint a picture of a political recruitment process that seems to suppress women’s inclusion, we also offer the first evidence of the significant headway women’s organizations are making in their efforts to mitigate the recruitment gap, especially among Democrats. These findings are critically important because women’s recruitment disadvantage depresses...
Folding@home: Lessons from eight years of volunteer distributed computing

Accurate simulation of biophysical processes requires vast computing resources. Folding@home is a distributed computing system first released in 2000 to provide such resources needed to simulate protein folding and other biomolecular phenomena. Now operating in the range of 5 PetaFLOPS sustained, it provides more computing power than can typically be gathered and operated locally due to cost, physical space, and electrical/cooling load. This paper describes the architecture and operation of Folding@home, along with some lessons learned over the lifetime of the project.
Testosterone and Abnormal Glucose Metabolism in an Inner-City Cohort.

Background Low testosterone (T) has been associated with insulin resistance and diabetes mellitus (DM) among men in population-based studies. These studies included racially diverse men, but did not target for inclusion individuals with opiate use, Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infection, or Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection, which disproportionately affect inner-city populations and may alter the relationship between T and DM.
Synthesis and Evaluation of Dinitroanilines for Treatment of Cryptosporidiosis

The efficacy of a series of dinitroaniline herbicide derivatives for the treatment of Cryptosporidium parvum infections has been studied. The lead compounds oryzalin (compound 1) and trifluralin (compound 2) have low water solubility (<3 ppm) which was alleged to be a major contributor to their poor pharmacokinetic availability. Derivatives of compounds 1 and 2 were synthesized. In these derivatives the functionality at the C-1 amine position or the C-4 position was substituted with groups with various hydrophilicities to determine if a direct relation existed between water solubility and overall activity. The chlorinated precursors of these derivatives were also examined and were found to be less active in the C. parvum assays, a result in direct contrast to earlier work with Leishmania. Enhanced water solubility alone did not overcome the drug availability problem; however, several candidates with similar activities but with toxicities lower than those of the lead compounds were produced.
Ultrasound contrast and real-time perfusion in conjunction with supine bicycle stress echocardiography for comprehensive evaluation of surgically corrected congenital heart disease

Aims We sought to evaluate the efficacy of ultrasound contrast (UC) and low mechanical index real-time perfusion (RTP) in the haemodynamic and anatomic assessment of repaired congenital heart disease (CHD) at rest and during supine bicycle stress echocardiography (BSE). Methods and results Patients with CHD ( n = 51, median age 21.5 years) were prospectively studied. All had compromised image quality, 20 (39%) had arrhythmias, and 10 (20%) had pacemakers. RTP was performed at rest and during BSE using Definity and Contrast Pulse Sequencing, with assessment of Doppler pressure gradients. Diagnoses included tetralogy of Fallot ( n = 27), transposition of the great arteries (TGA) atrial switch ( n = 10), TGA arterial switch ( n = 2), aortic valve disease ( n = 4), Fontan ( n = 4), and Kawasaki disease ( n = 4). UC with RTP improved endocardial border definition, with increased number of left ventricular (LV) and right ventricular (RV) segments visualized at rest ( P < 0.0001) and during stress. LV ejection fraction (EF) and RV fractional area change (FAC) were measurable at rest and peak stress, RV FAC correlating closely with same-day magnetic resonance EFs ( r = 0.72; P < 0.001). UC enhanced Doppler signals, enabling subpulmonary ventricular systolic pressure measurements at rest and stress. In six patients, marked elevations of subpulmonary ventricular systolic pressure were detected with UC during BSE, and quantifiable ventricular dysfunction. No adverse events occurred, other than transient low back pain in one patient. Conclusion UC at rest and with supine BSE enables safe and comprehensive assessment of anatomy, haemodynamics, and biventricular functional and perfusion reserve in adolescents and young adults with surgically modified CHD. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: [NCT00861848][1] [1]: /lookup/external-ref?link_type=CLINTRIALGOV&access_num=NCT00861848&atom=%2Fejechocard%2F13%2F6%2F500.atom
A time-implicit numerical method and benchmarks for the relativistic Vlasov–Ampere equations

We present a time-implicit numerical method to solve the relativistic Vlasov–Ampere system of equations on a two dimensional phase space grid. The time-splitting algorithm we use allows the generalization of the work presented here to higher dimensions keeping the linear aspect of the resulting discrete set of equations. The implicit method is benchmarked against linear theory results for the relativistic Landau damping for which analytical expressions using the Maxwell-Juttner distribution function are derived. We note that, independently from the shape of the distribution function, the relativistic treatment features collective behaviours that do not exist in the nonrelativistic case. The numerical study of the relativistic two-stream instability completes the set of benchmarking tests.
Phase Field Methods

This chapter reviews the principles and applications of the phase field (PF) technique for modeling phase transformations and microstructural evolution, with an emphasis on solid–solid transformations. Conventional PF models (PFMs), which rely on phenomenological thermodynamic and kinetic descriptions, are first presented and selected examples are discussed. Recent efforts toward the derivation of quantitative PFMs are then summarized. Lastly, applications of the PF method to phenomena induced by irradiation are reviewed, including the dynamical stabilization of compositional patterns and void lattices, the disordering of ordered precipitates, and the buildup on nonequilibrium segregation on defect clusters.
Pragmatism’s Advantage

AbstractIn this paper, the author argues that within the current philosophical debate, pragmatism has a distinct advantage over its rivals—on the one hand, Anglo-American analytic philosophy and, on the other hand, continental philosophy. By refusing to succumb to `naturalizing’ tendencies, pragmatism is able to overcome scientistic tendencies in contemporary analytic philosophy. At the same time, by emphasizing the `natural’, pragmatism provides a helpful correction to metaphysical tendencies in continental philosophy.
Positive contrast following a shift from partial punishment to continuous reinforcement.

The primary emphasis in the area of incentive contrast has centered around the effects of shifts in reward magnitude. However, with increasing evidence of the broad nature of contrast phenomena, investigators have explored the effect under other experimental contingencies. One procedure of potential theoretical interest deals with shifts in percentage or frequency of reward. Lehr (1974) and Shanab, Birnbaum, and Cavallaro (1974) have recently found positive contrast following shifts from partial reinforcement to continuous reinforcement schedules. The purpose of the present study was to expand the scope of research on percentage shift to include an examination of preshift incentive level by introducing punishment as a partial determinant of incentive. Twenty-four albino rats, 100 days old, were initially given 40 trials of continuous reinforcement (10 .045-gm. pellets on each trial) in a straight, 1.2-m., wooden alley (4 trials/day). All subjects received a constant 20-sec. delay of reward throughout the experiment to hold down running speed and allow for the emergence of positive contrast. The alley was 10 cm wide, 13.75 cm high, and covered by a hinged Plexiglas top. During a subsequent 40-trial preshift-phase 3 conditions (8 subjects/group) experienced different reward schedules. As a control, continuous reinforced subjects received 10 .045-gm. Noyes pellets per trial throughout the experiment (4 trials/day). Subjects partially reinforced received 2 reinforced and 2 nonreinforced trials each day and subjects partially punished received 2 rewarded and 2 punished trials each day (punishment was superimposed on nonreinforcement). During this phase, the alley was modified such that bIack and white vertical stripes were placed over the grey interior and a grid floor was installed in the delay and goal sections of the alley. A Lehigh Valley, Model 1531 shock unit was employed to administer a brief (.5-sec. duration) electric shock at 2.5 mA. Following preshift training, in order to avoid the possible contaminating influence of conditioned fear, the alley was reconverted to grey interior and wooden floor and all subjects shifted to delayed continuous reinforcement (10 pellets on each trial). This postshift phase lasted 32 trials (4 trials/day). A 3 groups X 8 blocks of 4 trials repeated-measures analysis of variance was performed on total speeds during postshift. The finding of greatest interest was a significant interaction of groups X blocks (K,,I,, = 1.82, p < .05). Newman-Keuls post hoc procedure indicated that a significant positive contrast effect emerged on Blodc 4; the condition of partial punishment was superior to those of partial and continuous reinforcement, which did not differ (p < .05). Since parcial punishment would have been expected to have had a lower preshift-incentive level than partial reinforcement, the present experiment supporcs the position that in studies of percentage shift, preshift-incentive level determines the magnitude of contrast in postshift.
ID: 117: SIRT3, THE MAJOR ANTI-AGING MITOCHONDRIAL DEACETYLASE, IS IMPORTANT FOR PREVENTING PULMONARY FIBROSIS

Objectives Alveolar epithelial cell (AEC) injury from ‘exaggerated’ lung aging and mitochondrial dysfunction play vital roles in the development of lung fibrosis. Our group, using the asbestos lung fibrosis paradigm, has shown that AEC mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) mediate asbestos-induced AEC mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) damage and apoptosis by a mitochondria-regulated (intrinsic) death pathway. Sirtuin 3 (SIRT3), the anti-aging major mitochondrial deacetylase governing mitochondrial function, mitigates oxidative stress and fibrosis in non-lung models though deacetylation of diverse substrates including MnSOD (Chen et al EMBO Rep 2011) and OGG1 (Cheng et al Cell Death Dis 2013). We previously reported that SIRT3 deficient ( Sirt3 −/− ) mice have increased lung fibrosis following asbestos exposure associated with exaggerated AEC mtDNA damage and apoptosis. Herein, we determined whether SIRT3 deficiency augments bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis and whether AEC acetylation is increased in lung biopsy samples from patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Methods Male 8- to 10- week-old 129SJ ( Sirt3 +/+ ) and Sirt3 −/− mice were treated with a single intratracheal instillation of saline or bleomycin (0.01U). At 3 weeks, the lungs were harvested for various endpoints including Sircol collagen assay, fibrosis scoring and measurement of lung compliance. Specimens from explanted lungs of patients with IPF were subject to immunohistochemistry with antibodies to MnSOD K68 , Ac-OGG1 and IgG (negative control) to assess acetylation. Results Compared to wild type, Sirt3 −/− mice developed increased pulmonary fibrosis following bleomycin exposure as measured by fibrosis score (7.8 vs. 11.25, p 2 O, p K68 and Ac-OGG1 was evident in the lungs of patients with IPF. Co-localization studies evaluating MnSOD K68 and SFPTC are ongoing. Conclusions SIRT3 deficiency enhances bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in a manner similar to asbestos fibers. An important role for augmented human IPF lung parenchymal cell mitochondrial acetylation is suggested by our pilot studies. Taken together, this suggests that SIRT3 plays a key role in the pathogenesis of IPF in part by preserving AEC mitochondrial function and mtDNA through modulation of the SIRT3/ACO-2/OGG1/apoptosis axis. Given the crucial role for aging in IPF as well as changes in SIRT3 expression with aging, our findings suggest a novel therapeutic target for modulating lung fibrosis. Funding VA Merit and NIH R01 ES02037-01A1 (DK), NIH/NHLBI T32 HL076139-11A1 (RJ).
Measurements for the Development of a Simulated Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material

Nineteen different commercially available samples containing naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) (i.e., natural uranium, thorium, radium and potassium) were investigated, including zircon sand, cat litter, roofing tiles, ice melt and fertilizer among others. A large variation in isotopic composition was observed across the measured samples. As a result of this observation, a need was identified to develop and implement the use of a simulated NORM sample to serve as a reference standard sample containing naturally occurring radioactive elements. The purpose of the simulated NORM sample would be to simulate typical samples containing NORM to be used for testing radiation detection instruments against ANSI/IEEE and IEC document standards requirements. The design and construction of the proposed new simulated NORM sample and the subsequent energy spectra characterization measurements are presented as part of this work.
Persistent or New Onset Microscopic Hematuria in Patients with Small Vessel Vasculitis in Remission: Findings on Renal Biopsy

Objective. Hematuria is considered a sign of active renal disease in patients with small-vessel vasculitis. In patients who are in apparent clinical remission, presence of persistent or new-onset microscopic hematuria may reflect active vasculitis, damage, or other glomerular pathology. Methods. We identified 74 patients from the Johns Hopkins Renal Pathology database between 1995 and 2009 with the diagnosis of pauciimmune glomerulonephritis (GN). Among them we identified 9 who were in clinical remission and underwent a renal biopsy for evaluation of persistent or new-onset hematuria. Results. Nine patients with small-vessel vasculitis, 8 antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-positive and 1 ANCA-negative, underwent a renal biopsy at variable time periods after remission of vasculitis (6 to 164 months) for persistent microscopic hematuria (n = 6) or new-onset microscopic hematuria (n = 3). All patients were in apparent clinical remission at the time of renal biopsy. Of the 3 patients presenting with new-onset hematuria, 2 had crescentic IgA nephropathy and 1 had healed crescentic pauciimmune GN. Of the 6 patients with persistent hematuria, 2 had arteriosclerosis, 2 had focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, and 2 had global and segmental glomerulosclerosis and healed crescentic GN, and none had active vasculitis. Conclusion. Microscopic hematuria in patients with renal vasculitis otherwise in remission could represent chronic glomerular injury from prior episode of vasculitis or may represent new glomerular pathology. Renal biopsy should be considered in these patients to guide therapy.
Optimization of the Passive Recovery of Uranium from Seawater

The aim of this study is to optimize the design and deployment conditions utilized by a technology for passively collecting uranium from seawater in order to achieve the minimum uranium production cost. Given the complicated empirically driven nature of the cost calculation, which uses discounted cash flow techniques to follow the life cycle costs of a unit mass of adsorbent, the cost calculation tool is treated as a black box model, and thus the minimization employs a derivative free optimization method, chosen to be the Nelder–Mead simplex method. By use of an illustrative base case, the uranium production cost is minimized, resulting in a 20% savings. From there, sensitivity analyses are considered in order to provide insight as to how the optimal deployment conditions are determined and to shed light on significant cost drivers. It is determined that optimizing the deployment conditions and improving the uranium binding kinetics can significantly decrease production cost. The results presented in this...
Pneumodissection for skin protection in image-guided cryoablation of superficial musculoskeletal tumours

Pneumodissection is described as a simple method for preventing skin injury during cryoablation of superficial musculoskeletal tumours. Superficial tumour cryoablations performed from 2009 to 2015 were retrospectively reviewed. Pneumodissection was performed in 13 patients when the shortest tumour-skin distance was less than 25 mm. Indications were pain palliation (n = 9) and local tumour control (n = 4). Patients, target tumours, technical characteristics and complications up to 60 days post ablation were reviewed. The ice ball-skin distances with and without pneumodissection were compared by a paired t-test and further assessed for association with covariates using ANCOVA. Technical success for ablation was 12 of 13. The mean shortest tumour-skin distance was 15.0 mm (3.2–24.5 mm). The mean thickness of pneumodissection was 9.6 mm (5.2–16.6 mm) resulting in mean elevation of skin of 3.4 mm (1.2–5.3 mm). Mean shortest ice ball-skin distance after pneumodissection was 10.5 mm (4.2–19.7 mm). No infection or systemic air embolism was noted. No intraprocedural frostbite was observed. Pneumodissection is feasible, effective and safe in protecting the skin during image-guided cryoablation of superficial tumours. • Frostbite during image-guided cryoablation of superficial tumours is commonly under-reported. • Frostbites are painful and may introduce infection into the superficial ablation zone. • Warm compress, saline and CO 2 have shortcomings in protecting the skin. • Pneumodissection is free, readily available, easy to use and safe and effective.
Effects of marginal selenium deficiency and winter protein supplementation on growth, reproduction and selenium status of beef cattle.

Seventy-two Hereford X Simmental cows, averaging 498 kg in body weight and 5.2 yr of age, were used in a 2-yr study to ascertain if selenium (Se)-vitamin E (E) injections and winter protein supplementation would affect growth, reproduction and health of beef cattle maintained year-round on feedstuffs marginally deficient in Se (.03 to .05 mg/kg). Cows received either no injection or a mixture of 30 mg Se (as sodium selenite) and 408 IU E injected subcutaneously beginning 3 to 4 mo prepartum and at 60-d intervals throughout the 2-yr period. Calves born to Se-E treated cows were injected with 5.5 mg Se and 75 IU E/100 kg body weight at 60-d intervals beginning at 1 mo of age. Calves were born between December 30 and February 20 and cows were bred between March 20 and May 20. Cattle grazed pasture (.05 mg Se/kg) that consisted of orchardgrass, bluegrass and white clover during the fall, spring and summer. During winter (December 15 to May 2), cattle were fed corn silage (.03 mg Se/kg) supplemented with either: no protein supplement (control), soybean meal or a urea-corn mixture. Cows and calves receiving Se-E had higher (P less than .01) whole blood glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity and plasma Se concentrations than controls. Selenium-E injections reduced (P less than .05) calf death losses from 15.3% to 4.2% and slightly increased (P less than .10) adjusted calf weaning weights. Hemoglobin concentrations were higher (P less than .05) in Se-E-injected supplemented calves at 1 mo of age but not at 5 or 7 mo of age.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Confession and Memory in the Age of Reformations

Near the conclusion of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, the Scottish Doctor of Physic provides two contradictory solutions for curing Lady Macbeth’s troubled mind. On observing Lady Macbeth’s sleepwalking and allusions to Banquo’s wife, the Doctor admits to the maidservant that “the disease is beyond my practice,” but remains agnostic about her spiritual condition (5.1.59). After Lady Macbeth unwittingly confesses her complicity in the murders of Duncan, Banquo, and members of the Macduff family, he offers a more conclusive spiritual diagnosis: Unnatural deeds Do breed unnatural troubles: infected minds To their deaf pillows will discharge their secrets. More needs she the divine than the physician. (5.1.71-4)
The Creation of Austrian Foreign Policy, 1945/6

Traditional Cold War histories usually see the postwar international arena as a gargantuan struggle between the superpowers. Even declining great powers such as Great Britain and France were seen as affecting the postwar course of history only minimally. Small countries such as Austria are not present at all in such monochromatic histories, let alone being viewed as independent actors. Yet Austrian diplomacy slowly managed to assert itself after the war, as this chapter will show. There was much continuity in political life from the First to the Second Austrian Republics. Most of the “founding fathers” of postwar Austria had been politically active before the war. The prewar diplomatic staff untainted by (and often victims of) Nazism, returned to the Ballhausplatz. Together they initiated the difficult task of regaining Austrian independence. The country was divided by the Chinese Walls of the zonal borders, and the first few months were chaotic. With the election of the Figl Government Austrian diplomacy created manoeuvring space between the occupation powers. First the world was persuaded to accept the construct of the “occupation doctrine”. This “Rip Van Winkle myth” of dormant Austrian statehood during the war presented Austria as Hitler’s “first victim”, not liable to pay reparations. This lawyers’ version of the past expunged Austrians’ complicity in Nazi war crimes. The Foreign Office spearheaded this invention of collective victimhood.
Analysis of close conjunctions between dayside polar cap airglow patches and flow channels by all-sky imager and DMSP

Recent imager and radar observations in the nightside polar cap have shown evidence that polar cap patches are associated with localized flow channels. To understand how flow channels propagate from the dayside auroral oval into the polar cap, we use an all-sky imager in Antarctica and DMSP (F13, F15, F16, F17 and F18) to determine properties of density and flows associated with dayside polar cap patches. We identified 50 conjunction events during the southern winter seasons of 2007–2011. In a majority (45) of events, longitudinally narrow flow enhancements directed anti-sunward are found to be collocated with the patches, have velocities (up to a few km/s) substantially larger than the large-scale background flows (~500 m/s) and have widths comparable to patch widths (~400 km). While the patches start with poleward moving auroral forms (PMAFs) as expected, many PMAFs propagate azimuthally away from the noon over a few hours of MLT, resulting in formation of polar cap patches quite far away from the noon, as early as ~6 MLT. The MLT separation from the noon is found to be proportional to the IMF |By|. Fast polar cap flows of >~1500 m/s are predominantly seen during large IMF |By| and small |Bz|. The presence of fast, anti-sunward flow channels associated with the polar cap patches suggests that the flow channels form in the dayside auroral oval through transient reconnection and can be the source of flow channels propagating into the polar cap.
The Leadless Cardiac Pacemaker: Conductive Communication.

A 67-year-old man underwent implantation of a single-chamber leadless cardiac pacemaker (Nanostim, St. Jude Medical, St. Paul, Minnesota) for recurrent syncope and paroxysmal complete heart block ([Figure 1][1]). At routine follow-up (4 weeks post-implantation), the patient underwent simultaneous
The RapidScat Ocean Winds Scatterometer: A Radar System Engineering Perspective

The NASA International Space Station (ISS)-RapidScat scatterometer operated on board the ISS from October 2014 into August 2016. It was developed using a combination of new subsystems and spare SeaWinds scatterometer engineering model subsystems to interface with the ISS. Using commercial (nonflight-qualified) parts in the new assemblies, developing RapidScat required a relatively small budget and short time schedule (just over two years). This article describes RapidScat's development from the perspective of radar system engineering, particularly in relation to performance requirements and testing.
Effects of Extreme Events on Arsenic Cycling in Salt Marshes

Extreme events such as storm surges, intense precipitation, and supermoons cause anomalous and large fluctuations in water level in tidal salt marshes, which impacts the sediment biogeochemistry that dictates arsenic (As) cycling. In addition to changes in water level, which impacts soil redox potential, these extreme events may also change salinity due to freshwater inputs from precipitation or saltwater inputs due to surge. It is currently unknown how As mobility in tidal salt marshes will be impacted by extreme events, as fluctuations in salinity and redox potential may act synergistically to mobilize As. To investigate impacts of extreme events on As cycling in tidal salt marshes, we conducted a combined laboratory and field investigation. We monitored pore water and soil samples before, during, and after two extreme events: a supermoon lunar eclipse followed by a storm surge and precipitation induced by Hurricane Joaquin in Fall 2015 at the St. Jones Reserve in Dover, Delaware, a representative tidal salt marsh in the Mid-Atlantic United States. We also conducted soil incubations of marsh sediments in batch and in flow-through experiments in which redox potential and/or salinity were manipulated. Field investigations showed that pore water As was inversely proportional to redox potential. During the extreme events, a distinct pulse of As was observed in the pore water with maximum salinity. Combined field and laboratory investigations revealed that this As pulse is likely due to rapid changes in salinity. These results have implications for As mobility in the face of extreme weather variability.
Mid-term outcomes of routine proximal row carpectomy compared with proximal row carpectomy with dorsal capsular interposition arthroplasty for the treatment of late-stage arthropathy of the wrist

AimsThe aims of this study were to compare the mid-term outcomes of patients with late-stage arthritis of the wrist treated with proximal row carpectomy (PRC) and dorsal capsular interposition (DCI) arthroplasty with a matched cohort treated with routine PRC alone.Patients and MethodsA total of 25 arthritic wrists (24 patients) with pre-existing degenerative changes of the proximal capitate and/or the lunate fossa of the radius were treated with PRC + DCI over a ten-year period. This group of patients were matched 1:2 with a group of 50 wrists (48 patients) without degenerative changes in the capitate or lunate fossa that were treated with a routine PRC alone during the same period. The mean age of the patients at the time of surgery was 56.8 years (25 to 81), and the demographics and baseline range of movement of the wrist, grip strength, Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (QuickDASH) score, and Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation (PRWE) score were similar in both groups. ResultsAt a mean follo...
Cavity-Correlated Electron-Nuclear Dynamics from First Principles.

The rapidly developing and converging fields of polaritonic chemistry and quantum optics necessitate a unified approach to predict strongly correlated light-matter interactions with atomic-scale resolution. Toward this overarching goal, we introduce a general time-dependent density-functional theory to study correlated electron, nuclear, and photon interactions on the same quantized footing. We complement our theoretical formulation with the first ab initio calculation of a correlated electron-nuclear-photon system. For a ${\mathrm{CO}}_{2}$ molecule in an optical cavity, we construct the infrared spectra exhibiting Rabi splitting between the upper and lower polaritonic branches, time-dependent quantum-electrodynamical observables such as the electric displacement field, and observe cavity-modulated molecular motion. Our work opens an important new avenue in introducing ab initio methods to the nascent field of collective strong vibrational light-matter interactions.
Association between lifestyle factors and completion of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer.

91Background: Completion of chemotherapy has been associated with improved breast cancer outcomes. We evaluated whether lifestyle factors, such as physical activity and diet, may contribute to neoa...
PURIFICATION OF LIVER FLAVOKINASE BY COLUMN CHROMATOGRAPHY ON FLAVIN-CELLULOSE COMPOUNDS.

Flavokinase, which catalyzes the formation of flavin mononucleotide from riboflavin and adenosine triphosphate, has been partially purified from rat liver by such conventional means as fractionation with ammonium sulfate and chromatography on diethylaminoethyl cellulose (2). A greater separation of flavokinase from interfering acid phosphatases which catalyze hydrolysis of FMN’ (3, 4) was deemed desirable, but more extensive purification of the kinase necessitated the development of more selective treatments. Also it has been suggested recently that pure flavokinase has a specific activity of approximately 100 mpmoles of FMN synthesized per mg of protein per hour at 30”, regardless of the sources from which the enzyme is obtained (5). The apparent homogeneity of a preparation of a bean kinase upon electrophoresis and ultracentrifugation, together with comparable specific activities of this flavokinase and those partially purified by other investigators from several sources in&ding liver, were cited as evidence for this maximum specific activity. As specific activities considerably above that suggested for “pure” flavokinase had been obtained in this laboratory with the liver enzyme, even in the presence of some contaminating phosphatase (2), it seemed that greater purification of the kinase could be accomplished and would reveal the maximum specific activity suggested by others (5) to be unrealistically low. Chromatographic techniques which utilize the specific complexing of substrate-like compounds with enzymes have found occasional use in the purification of enzymes. An example of such a technique is afforded by the work of Lerman (6), who enriched mushroom tyrosinase by passage through columns of p-azophenol-cellulose derivatives. Studies on the substrate specificity of liver flavokinase (2, 7, 8) indicate that the enzyme exhibits moderate binding to several flavin substrates and competitive inhibitors. Among variations of the side chain in position 9 of the isoalloxazine system which permit reactivity are substrates with a I’-n-ribityl or competitive inhibitors with a methyl substituent present. Considerable tolerance in size and inductive effect of 6and 7-substituents is also observed. These findings suggested the chromatographic use of 9-(l’-n-ribityl)and 9-methylflavins bearing in either position 6 or 7 an acetamido
Radiochemical purity assessment of Tc-99m sestamibi using miniaturized chromatography: Evaluation of solvent developing chambers

2203 Objectives: In our nuclear medicine department, variable results in radiochemical purity of Tc-99m sestamibi have been observed using miniaturized chromatography. These variable results may be attributable to solvent developing chambers. Our laboratory evaluated the effect of developing chambers on the radiochemical purity of Tc-99m sestamibi. Methods: The migration of Tc-99m sestamibi in specific developing chambers was assessed. Two different developing chambers were utilized: a large developing chamber (10.7 cm in height) and a small developing chamber (3.7 cm in height). Tc-99m sestamibi was spotted on miniaturized Whatman 31 ET strips and developed with ethyl acetate in their respective developing chamber. After developing, chromatography strips were immediately removed, cut into 0.5 cm sections and counted using a multichannel analyzer interfaced to a NaI (Tl) detector. Strip activity distribution was graphically expressed and radiopharmaceutical migration (Rf value) determined. In addition, the radiochemical purity of Tc-99m sestamibi, was determined for both chambers using the chromatography procedure outlined above. For each respective developing chamber, four replicate samples were analyzed and data statistically summarized. Results: Strip activity distribution analysis demonstrated faster migration of Tc-99m sestamibi using a small developing chamber, with a Rf value of 0.9, as opposed to a large developing chamber, with a Rf value of 0.6. Because radiochemical impurities remain at the origin (Rf = 0.0), maximal separation between Tc-99m sestamibi and the radiochemical impurity was achieved using a small developing chamber. From statistical analysis, the radiochemical purity of Tc-99m sestamibi for the long and small developing chamber was 91.2% ± 4.3% (mean ± sd, N=4) and 97.0% ± 1.7% (mean ± sd, n=4), respectively. Radiochemical purity differences were due to less efficient separation of radiochemical species with the long developing chamber. Conclusions: By utilizing a small developing chamber with miniaturized chromatography, optimal separation between Tc-99m sestamibi (Rf = 0.9) and the radiochemical impurity (Rf = 0.0) was noted and, as a result, more accurate radiochemical purity assessment of Tc-99m sestamibi was achieved.
Unmet challenges in membranous nephropathy.

Purpose of reviewDespite major advances in since the discovery of the phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R) as the major autoantigen on podocytes in primary membranous nephropathy, there are still several unanswered questions as highlighted here.Recent findingsA substantial body of literature, included
Unprecedented Enzymatic Synthesis of Perfectly Structured Alternating Copolymers via "Green" Reaction Cocatalyzed by Laccase and Lipase Compartmentalized within Supramolecular Complexes.

This study describes the first use of laccase–lipase enzymatic reaction for the synthesis of novel perfectly structured alternating copolymers. Initially, six types of complexing agents, linear(A)–...
ChieF: A Change Pattern based Interpretable Failure Analyzer

Discovering the underlying dynamics leading up to an industrial asset failure is an important problem to be solved for successful development of Predictive Maintenance techniques. Existing work has largely focused on building complex ML/AI models for developing Predictive Maintenance solution patterns, but has largely avoided developing methods to explain the underlying failure dynamics. In this paper, we use an old but significantly improved change-pattern based technique to analyze IoT sensor data and failure information to generate useful and interpretable failure-centric insight. We discuss a solution pattern that we call ChieF, which when applied on multi-variate time series datasets, discover the leading failure indicators, generate associative patterns among multiple features, and output temporal dynamics of changes. Experimental analysis of ChieF on four datasets uncovers insights that may be valuable for predictive maintenance.
The current and future landscape of smallpox vaccines

The potential use of smallpox as a weapon for bioterrorism has created a need for more and better smallpox vaccines. The first generation vaccines such as Dryvax were produced by crude methods that would not allow licensure today. Second generation vaccines, grown in modern safe tissue cultures but employing seed virus from first generation vaccines of known effectiveness, have been developed. One, ACAM2000, has been licensed and added to the US National Stockpile. These second generation vaccines can produce the same complications as first generation vaccines, and myopericarditis has been well documented as associated with ACAM2000. This has created advocacy for third and fourth generation smallpox vaccines. Third generation vaccines are those which have been attenuated either by serial passage in non-human cells, or by careful deletions of genes in the laboratory. Two of these, MVA (Modified Vaccinia Ankara), and LC16m8 (a derivative of Lister strain vaccinia), have been tested in various human trials. These seem to be ready to apply for licensure if there proves to be a market. Fourth generation vaccines, created as subunits of full strength vaccinia, or fully engineered non-replicating molecules which express various known epitopes of vaccinia and/or smallpox, have also been developed. It may be difficult or impossible to prove the efficacy of these vaccines because smallpox no longer exists and there is no animal model that accurately reflects the human disease. These fourth generation vaccines include several large stable DNA viruses into which immunogens from others agents such as HIV and malaria can be inserted, so they may have a future as vector vaccines for a variety of other agents besides smallpox.
Association Between Radiofrequency Rhizotomy Parameters and Duration of Pain Relief in Trigeminal Neuralgia Patients with Recurrent Pain.

Background Radiofrequency rhizotomy (RFR) is a commonly used, effective procedure for trigeminal neuralgia (TN), but a subset of patients experiences pain recurrence and requires subsequent surgeries. Currently, the rhizotomy temperature and duration of application are empirically determined, and there is no consensus on what settings are most beneficial. In this study, we analyzed patients who underwent trigeminal RFR and had subsequent surgeries to identify whether rhizotomy parameters were associated with the duration of pain relief. Methods Single-center, retrospective analysis of patients undergoing RFR for TN from 1995 to 2016. The primary endpoint was subsequent procedure. Associations with rhizotomy parameters and covariates were assessed using Cox regression analysis. Results The study included 338 patients, average age 65 years; 61% were women. Temperature was significantly associated with both the degree of immediate postoperative pain relief and the duration of pain relief, and in subgroup analyses by multiple sclerosis status and RFR procedural count. Ablation duration was also independently significant, though not when analyzed alongside age, sex, and race. Duration of pain relief was generally shorter in patients with multiple sclerosis and in repeated RFR. Conclusions Higher temperatures may be necessary to achieve pain relief in some patients, given the progressive nature of the facial pain, but they are not associated with longer duration of pain relief in patients who have recurrent pain. Modulation of the ablation duration does not seem to affect the short-term or long-term outcomes.
Endoscopic Paramedian Forehead Flap Reconstruction of the Anterior Skull Base for Recalcitrant Cerebrospinal Fluid Leaks: Minimally Invasive Adaptation of Ancient Flap.

Background The anterior skull base (ASB) remains one of the greatest challenges for reconstructive surgeons. The current armamentarium includes endoscopic placement of free grafts, endonasal vascularized pedicled flaps, regional flaps, and microvascular free flaps. As the defect size increases, reconstruction complexity increases along with potential complications. Here, we report an endoscopic-assisted paramedian forehead flap, a novel adaptation of an age-old technique, for ASB reconstruction. Case Description A 66-year-old male underwent a dual bifrontal and transnasal endoscopic approach for the resection of a T4N0M0 sinonasal squamous cell carcinoma. The resulting ASB defect was repaired using simultaneous pericranial and nasoseptal flaps. Adjuvant radiation therapy resulted in delayed radiation necrosis in the right frontal lobe 3 years later requiring debridement via a supraorbital approach. Recovery from this operation was complicated by an ASB defect and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak. The defect remained despite multiple attempts at endoscopic repairs. Due to multiple medical comorbidities, the patient was not a candidate for microvascular reconstruction. Prior surgeries had disrupted the traditional regional flaps (i.e., pericranial, nasoseptal, and temporoparietal fascia flaps) bilaterally. Therefore the novel endoscopic-assisted paramedian forehead flap was used to successfully repair the ASB defect. Postoperatively, the patient has done well with no recurrences in the CSF leak. Conclusions The endoscopic-assisted paramedian forehead flap is a robust regional flap whose advantages include the utilization of muscle, low donor morbidity, and endoscopic placement with avoidance of craniotomies. Therefore it should be considered an important option for ASB reconstruction of recalcitrant CSF leaks when all other options are unavailable.
Cytologic smears improve accuracy of frozen sections of ovarian tumors in the community practice settings

Background: The ovaries can be the site for various primary tumors and also the presenting site of metastatic disease. Quick and correct intraoperative diagnosis is crucial for the patient's further management. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the advantages of the combined diagnostic method – ovarian frozen sections in conjunction with cytologic smears. Methods: From June 2016 to June 2017, we prospectively prepared additional two cytologic smears with Diff-Quik stain on ovarian frozen sections comprised of two hematoxylin and eosin sections. For quality assurance purposes, we compared the results of frozen section discrepancies and deferrals with those that of the previous year from June 2015 to June 2016. Results: With the introduction of cytologic smears to ovarian frozen sections, the number of discrepancies and deferrals combined decreased from 13.75% to 7.85%. The most benefit of smears was observed in primary ovarian malignancies. Conclusions: In the setting where all the members of the pathology group render cytologic evaluations routinely, smears play an important complementary role.
Corrosion inhibitors—advancements in testing

Abstract Corrosion inhibitors are used in applications with higher velocities, sand, and large amounts of water condensing on the top of the line. Advances in corrosion testing in high shear, erosion corrosion, and top-of-the-line conditions show improvements in the ability to test corrosion inhibitors under realistic conditions. Most failures due to internal corrosion occur as a result of pitting corrosion. Advances also have occurred in testing with better methods to create reproducible conditions for pitting corrosion and electrochemical techniques to detect pitting corrosion. As oil and gas fields mature, velocities can decrease, causing conditions conducive for under-deposit corrosion. New innovative methods have been developed to study under-deposit corrosion and test corrosion inhibitors under these conditions. In this chapter advances in corrosion inhibitor testing are reviewed under conditions of high shear stress, erosion corrosion, pitting corrosion, under-deposit corrosion, and top-of-the-line corrosion.
LBNL Cos-theta Nb 3 Sn Dipole Magnet D20

In 1996 the LBNL D20 Nb3Sn dipole magnet reached 12.8 T at 4.4 K and 13.5 T at 1.8 K, and caught the accelerator magnet community by surprise. Not only did it achieve a record field for an accelerator dipole magnet but it also demonstrated a breakthrough in Nb3Sn conductor technology. This chapter summarizes the technical aspects of D20 development and test, addresses lessons learned, and includes suggestions relevant to developing high-field magnets for future accelerators.
Is Latency Lost to Screen Time

* Abbreviation: NSCH — : National Survey of Children’s Health Pediatricians have in the past referred to “middle childhood” as the latency phase of a child’s development, suggesting that not much occurs in a child’s physical and mental development during this period of a young person’s life.1 Now, in this issue of Pediatrics , Parasuraman et al2 highlight the “fragility” of latency. They call us to recognize new health risk behaviors in this period of development, with morbidity resulting. Middle childhood encompasses the primary school years, which are defined as 5 to 10 years of age (by the American Academy of Pediatrics Bright Futures guidelines3) and 6 to 11 years (by the National Survey of Children’s Health [NSCH]). The NSCH is an address-based national survey that provides national and state estimates of key indicators of child health and well-being. The authors drew data from the 2016 and 2017 NSCH and share important findings in their study; some are reassuring, and some are surprising. During … Address correspondence to Joseph F. Hagan, Jr, MD, FAAP, Lakeside Pediatrics and The University of Vermont Medical Center, 128 Lakeside Ave, #115, Burlington, VT 05401. E-mail: jhagan{at}burlingtontelecom.net
Production of sustainable biofuel from biogenic waste using CuO nanoparticles as heterogeneous catalyst

Abstract Biofuel is renewable, environmentally friendly and non-toxic in nature. The present work focuses on the preparation of biofuel from waste cooking mustard oil. Biofuel was synthesized from waste cooking mustard oil using CuO nanoparticles as a heterogeneous catalyst for converting waste cooking mustard oil into biofuel in the presence of methanol. XRD peaks confirm that the formation of CuO from each precursor was in a monoclinic phase and the average grain size of CuO crystallite was found to be 13 nm. The FTIR results confirmed the presence of methyl and ester groups in the synthesised biofuel. FESEM images indicate the morphology as facets broken flower. The EDAX result shows that there are no other elemental impurities present in the prepared CuO nanoparticles. The product was analysed by GC–MS to verify the Fatty Acid Methyl Esters (FAMEs). Transesterification was used to reduce the viscosity of the oil. These results reveal that the synthesized biofuel can be considered as a prospective alternative fuel over the conventional diesel fuel.
Bis-tridentate N-Heterocyclic Carbene Ru(II) Complexes are Promising New Agents for Photodynamic Therapy.

Ruthenium(II) complexes developed for photodynamic therapy (PDT) are almost exclusively tris-bidentate systems with C2 or D3 symmetry. This is due to the fact that this structural framework commonly produces long-lived excited states, which, in turn, allow for the generation of large amounts of singlet oxygen (1O2) and other reactive oxygen species. Complexes containing tridentate ligands would be advantageous for biological applications as they are generally achiral (D2d or C2v symmetry), which eliminates the possibility of multiple isomers which could exhibit potentially different interactions with chiral biological entities. However, Ru(II) complexes containing tridentate ligands are rarely studied as candidates for photobiological applications, such as PDT, since they almost exclusively exhibit low quantum yields and very short excited-state lifetimes and, thus, are not capable of generating sufficient 1O2 or engaging in electron transfer reactions. Here, we report a proof-of-concept approach to make bis-tridentate Ru(II) complexes useful for PDT applications by altering their photophysical properties through the inclusion of N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands. Three NHC and two terpyridine ligands were studied to evaluate the effects of structural and photophysical modulations of bis-substituted Ru(II) complexes. The NHC complexes were found to have superior excited-state lifetimes, 1O2 production, and photocytotoxicity. To the best of our knowledge, these complexes are the most potent light-activated bis-tridentate complexes reported.