cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Tissue compensation and verification of dose uniformity.

Abstract The problem of nonuniform dose distribution due to irregular and sloping surfaces is frequently encountered during treatment planning whose ultimate goal is to deliver uniform dose to a specific target volume. In order to overcome this problem, various tissue compensation systems have often been employed. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the computerized tissue compensation system, Autocomp, manufactured by Nuclear Associates, for its ability to obtain dose uniformity both in phantoms and in clinical use. For the phantom studies, a film was placed below a tissue-equivalent phantom with a 45° sloping surface and exposed to either a compensated or an uncompensated beam of 60 Co. The field profiles scanned by a computerized film scanning densitometer showed significant improvement in dose uniformity when the compensator was used. For the clinical study, a left buccogingival sulcus carcinoma treated with 60 Co gamma ray was chosen to verify the dose uniformity at a depth over the entire field of irradiation. A comparison of two isodose distributions, obtained with and without tissue compensation, indicated the elimination of the nonuniform dose distribution.
Calibration strategies for quantifying the Mn content of tooth and bone samples by LA-ICP-MS

There is a growing interest in using biomonitoring of tooth and bone specimens to assess human exposure to manganese (Mn). Information on historical exposure to Mn can be obtained through micro-spatial analysis of such specimens by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). The principal aim of this study was to compare several calibration strategies for determining Mn content in tooth and bone by LA-ICP-MS including: (a) a six-point calibration curve based on synthesized hydroxyapatite (HA) materials, and single-point calibrations based on (b) NIST SRM 1400 Bone Ash, (c) NIST SRM 1486 Bone Meal, and (d) NIST SRM 612 Trace Elements in Glass. Performance was similar between different ICP-MS platforms (quadrupole ICP-MS, dynamic reaction cell ICP-MS, and sector field ICP-MS). Data based on calibration using the 55Mn count rate were compared to that based on using the 55Mn/43Ca count rate ratio to obtain results as the Mn mass fraction. Reasonable performance was obtained by calibration using either SRM 612 or SRM 1400, in combination with the 55Mn/43Ca count rate ratio and using either the synthesized HA standards or SRM 1400 as calibrators, combined with 55Mn count rate. By contrast, calibration based on SRM 1486 resulted in a systematic low bias. While there are several options for quantifying the Mn content of tooth and bone using LA-ICP-MS, users should be aware of the potential for strong matrix effects that may affect results. Overall, determining the 55Mn/43Ca count rate ratio, rather than the mass fraction, may represent a better approach for reporting the content of Mn in tooth and bone by LA-ICP-MS.
Functionalized Cycloolefin Polymer Capillaries for Open Tubular Ion Chromatography

We describe novel cycloolefin polymer (COP)-based open tubular capillary ion exchange columns. COP capillaries (inner diameter of 19–28 μm) were successfully sulfonated at room temperature using a cocktail of ClSO3H (85–95% w/w) and HOAc or H2SO4. The cation exchange capacity is controlled by the sulfonation time and the sulfonation solution composition and can be as high as 300 pequiv/mm2. Following sulfonation, the capillaries were coated with 65-nm-diameter anion exchanger (AEX) latex nanoparticles that attach electrostatically. The typical anion exchange capacities were ∼20 pequiv/mm2. The chromatographic behavior of the AEX latex-coated COP capillaries are greatly dependent on the degree of sulfonation. When the base is heavily sulfonated, neutrals elute after the anions. The position of the water dip varies with the degree of sulfonation; the elution order is normal (water dip appear before anions) only with lightly sulfonated columns. On silica (−SiOH) or poly(methyl methacrylate) (−COOH) surfaces,...
Quantifying the Impact of Partisan Gerrymandering: Uncompetitive, Unresponsive, and Unaccountable American Democracy

In pursuit of electoral advantage, legislators create custom-designed congressional and legislative districts. Gerrymandering turns democracy on its head by permitting legislators to hand-pick their constituents - threatening the democratic ideals of electoral choice and officeholder accountability. The result is declining electoral competition and increasing partisanship in Congress as elections are frequently decided in party primaries and officeholders represent increasingly partisan districts. The 2006 elections brought dramatic change, yet 87% of congressional elections were won by more than 10%. Some argue that gerrymanders in red states balance gerrymanders in blue states, but injustice equally spread is equally unjust and the resulting rise in partisanship in Congress is eroding deliberation and compromise. Despite ruling in 1986 that partisan gerrymandering was justiciable, the U.S. Supreme Court has upheld even the most partisan plans. The recent failure of the Court to invalidate the Texas redistricting plan demonstrates the urgent need to prevent this partisan abuse from occurring multiple times each decade.
Single-cell protein-mRNA correlation analysis enabled by multiplexed dual-analyte co-detection

We have investigated the correlation between proteins and mRNAs in single cells employing an integrated workflow for dual-analyte co-detection. This is achieved by combining the oligo extension reaction (OER), which converts protein levels to DNA levels, with reverse transcription for mRNA detection. Unsupervised gene expression profiling analysis, including principal component analysis and hierarchical clustering, revealed different aspects of the protein-mRNA relationship. Violin plot analysis showed that some genes exhibited similar distribution patterns for proteins and mRNAs. We also demonstrate that cells can be separated into subpopulations based on their protein-mRNA expression profiles, and that different subpopulations have distinct correlation coefficient values. Our results demonstrated that integrated investigations of mRNA and protein levels in single cells allows comprehensive analysis not attainable at bulk levels.
Structural Risk Assessment and Mitigation for Low- to Mid-Rise Residential Buildings in China

China has experienced major earthquakes recently. The 2014 Ludian earthquake struck Ludian County, Yunnan, (Mw= 6.1) on 3 August, 2014. On April 20, 2013, Ya'an earthquake (Mw=6.9), on April 14th 2010, Qinghai earthquake (Mw = 7.1), on July 9th 2009, Yunnan earthquake (Mw = 6.0), and on May 12th 2008 Sichuan earthquake (Mw = 7.9) struck China. Among these disasters, the most devastating, the Sichuan earthquake, resulted in the collapse of 5 million buildings and damage to more than 21 million. Human loss was also high with over 60,000 people dead, 360,000 injured and more than 14 million people displaced. South-west China lies in an area that is prone to earthquakes. In 1970, a magnitude 7.7 earthquake in Yunnan with 15,000 lost. This study presents a detailed risk assessment for a structural risk assessment and mitigation for low to mid-rise residential buildings for China. The risk assessment, through seismic hazard assessment approaches, evaluates the impact of the disasters for integrated structural health monitoring. Among the results of the investigation, relations and links between safety and risk are defined.
Development of Chemical and Metabolite Sensors for Rhodococcus opacus PD630.

Rhodococcus opacus PD630 is a nonmodel, Gram-positive bacterium that possesses desirable traits for biomass conversion, including consumption capabilities for lignocellulose-based sugars and toxic lignin-derived aromatic compounds, significant triacylglycerol accumulation, relatively rapid growth rate, and genetic tractability. However, few genetic elements have been directly characterized in R. opacus, limiting its application for lignocellulose bioconversion. Here, we report the characterization and development of genetic tools for tunable gene expression in R. opacus, including: (1) six fluorescent reporters for quantifying promoter output, (2) three chemically inducible promoters for variable gene expression, and (3) two classes of metabolite sensors derived from native R. opacus promoters that detect nitrogen levels or aromatic compounds. Using these tools, we also provide insights into native aromatic consumption pathways in R. opacus. Overall, this work expands the ability to control and characteri...
Myocardin-Related Transcription Factor-A Mending a Broken Heart

The association of transcriptional coactivators with DNA-binding proteins provides an efficient mechanism to expand and modulate genetic information encoded within the genome. Myocardin-related transcription factors (MRTFs), including myocardin, MRTF-A/MKL1/MAL, and MRTF-B/MKL2, comprise a family of related transcriptional coactivators that physically associate with the MADS box transcription factor, serum response factor, and synergistically activate transcription. MRTFs transduce cytoskeletal signals to the nucleus, activating a subset of serum response factor–dependent genes promoting myogenic differentiation and cytoskeletal organization. MRTFs are multifunctional proteins that share evolutionarily conserved domains required for actin-binding, homo- and heterodimerization, high-order chromatin organization, and transcriptional activation. Mice harboring loss-of-function mutations in myocardin, MRTF-A, and MRTF-B, respectively, display distinct phenotypes, including cell autonomous defects in vascular ...
CDX2 and LEF-1 expression in pilomatrical tumors and their utility in the diagnosis of pilomatrical carcinoma.

BACKGROUND The Wnt signaling pathway has been implicated in the pathogenesis of pilomatrical tumors. Lymphoid enhancer-binding factor 1 (LEF-1) is a downstream component of this pathway, and Caudal-related homeobox transcription factor 2 (CDX2) has been postulated to regulate it, but little is known about expression of these transcription factors in pilomatrical tumors. METHODS Immunohistochemistry for CDX2, β-catenin, LEF-1, CK19, CK5, Special AT-rich sequence- binding protein 2 (SATB2), cadherin 17 and androgen receptor was performed on pilomatricomas (PMs) (N = 12), pilomatrical carcinomas (PMCAs) (N = 12) and non-pilomatrical cutaneous tumors (N = 18). RESULTS PMs and PMCAs were positive for CDX2 (9/12 PMs, sensitivity = 75%, specificity = 100%; 11/12 PMCAs, sensitivity = 92%, specificity = 100%; P < 0.01), β-catenin (12/12 PMs, sensitivity = 100%, specificity = 94%; 10/12 PMCAs, sensitivity = 83%, specificity = 94%; P < 0.01) and LEF-1 (12/12 PMs, sensitivity = 100%, specificity = 56%; 12/12 PMCAs, sensitivity = 100%, specificity = 56%; P < 0.01). CDX2 expression was commonly focal, within a discrete subpopulation of squamoid cells. The LEF-1 expression pattern was different and discernable between pilomatrical tumors (strong, diffuse) and non-pilomatrical tumors (weak, patchy). CONCLUSION This study reaffirms the importance of the Wnt signaling pathway in the tumorigenesis of pilomatrical tumors, and this introduces CDX2 as a possible regulator and marker of pilomatrical tumorigenesis. LEF-1 and CDX2 performed at least as well as β-catenin, if not better when taking into account expression pattern, as a diagnostic marker for PMCA, and should be considered in the workup of ambiguous primitive-appearing cutaneous tumors.
Effects of seminal plasma and flash-freezing on DNA structure of stallion epididymal sperm exposed to different potentiators of DNA damage.

Abstract The tolerance of sperm DNA structure to seminal plasma and freezing conditions has both clinical and basic biologic relevance. In this study, fresh (FS) or flash-frozen (FZ) stallion epididymal sperm were exposed (SP+) or unexposed (SP−) to seminal plasma. Sperm were then evaluated to monitor the degree of change in DNA structure following challenge with chemical (dithiothreitol-DTT), oxidative (iron sulfate; FeSO4) or enzymatic (DNase I) potentiators of DNA damage. For sperm not treated with potentiators (controls), there was no effect of SP treatment (SP− vs. SP+) or freezing treatment (FS vs. FZ; non-significant) on measures of any DNA assays (i.e., 8-hydroxy, 2′deoxyguanosine [8OHdG], TUNEL, or sperm chromatin structure [SCSA] assays). Group FZ was more susceptible than Group FS to potentiators of DNA damage. Percent 8OHdG-positive sperm was higher in Group FZ/SP− treated with FeSO4 than all other groups (P
A mixture model approach for gene selection using Johnson's system and Bayes formula

Microarrays have become increasingly common in biological and medical research. They enable the simultaneous study of thousands of genes and provide gene expression information on a whole genome level. A major goal of microarray experiments is to determine which genes are differentially expressed between samples. A mixed model approach using the Johnson's system of distributions and Baye's formula is proposed in this paper for the selection of differentially expressed genes. In this approach, no specific parametric distribution is assumed for the gene expression levels. The simulation results show that the proposed approach has a higher power over the other commonly used Bayesian methods such as EBarrays and EBAM.
Comments on Brock’s “Involuntary Commitment of the Mentally Ill: Some Moral Issues”

Professor Brock concludes his paper with the following claim: … cases of paternalistic commitment may therefore be, contrary to the common view, less morally problematic than commitment for dangerousness to others.
Identifying phenotypes and factors impacting outcomes in older adults with asthma: A research protocol and recruitment results.

Success in testing research outcomes requires identification of effective recruitment strategies in the targeted population. In this paper, we present the protocol for our NIH-funded study as well as success rates for the various recruitment strategies employed. This longitudinal observational study is: developing a phenotyping algorithm for asthma in older adults, exploring the effects of the asthma phenotype and of volatile organic compounds on asthma control, and developing a predictive model of asthma quality of life. A sub-aim is to characterize barriers to successful medication management in older adults with asthma. Individuals are eligible if they are ≥60 years, have a positive response to at least 1 of 6 asthma screening questions, are non-smokers, and demonstrate bronchodilator reversibility or a positive bronchial challenge test with methacholine. Exclusion criteria are smokers who quit 20 pack year smoking history, and those having other chronic pulmonary diseases. Participants (N = 190) complete baseline pulmonary function testing, questionnaires, sputum induction, skin prick testing, and have blood drawn for Vitamin D and Immunoglobulin E. Home environmental assessments are completed including 24-hr particulate and volatile organic compound measurements. At 9-months post-baseline, home spirometry, medication assessment, and assessment of asthma quality of life and asthma control are assessed. At 18-months post-baseline, home spirometry, completion of baseline questionnaires, and a home environmental assessment are completed. We have employed multiple recruitment efforts including referrals from clinical offices, no-cost media events, flyers, and ads. The most successful efforts have been referrals from clinical offices and media events.
Connections with Other Areas

This chapter deals with some of the other areas of mathematics and engineering that intersect with the notions from the preceding chapters. We set the stage in Section 5.1 with a measure of the size of a ring called the Krull dimension, for use throughout the chapter.
Cerebral edema secondary to chimeric antigen receptor T-cell immunotherapy.

A 40-year-old man with relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia received lymphodepleting chemotherapy followed by immunotherapy with autologous T cells expressing a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) targeting CD19. Two days after infusion of CD19-CAR-T cells, he developed fever refractory to acetaminophen; received a dose of the interleukin-6 receptor inhibitor, tocilizumab; and defervesced. Five days later, he had recurrent fever and rapid onset of mental status changes. Over the subsequent hours, he developed seizures and became obtunded. MRI revealed cerebral edema (figure, B) associated with his progressive and fulminant CAR-T-cell–related encephalopathy syndrome, which was irreversible, and resulted in brain death.1,2
Technical Note: Optimization of spot and trimmer position during dynamically collimated proton therapy.

Purpose To demonstrate a novel theoretical optimization design which considers beam spot and trimmer positioning in addition to beamlet weighting for dynamically collimated proton therapy (DCPT) treatments. Prior to this, the previous methods of plan optimization used to study this emerging technology relied upon an intuitive selection criterion to fix the trimmers blades for a uniform grid of beam spots before determining the individual beamlet weights. To evaluate the potential benefit from this new optimization design, a treatment planning optimization study was performed in order to compare the algorithm's functionality against the existing methods of plan optimization. Materials and methods A direct parameter optimization (DPO) method was developed to determine beam spot and trimmer positions cohesively with beamlet weighting for DCPT treatment plans. Gradients were numerically determined from applying small adjustments to the aforementioned parameters and quantifying the resulting impact on an objective function. This technique was compared to the conventional trimmer selection algorithm (TSA) which does not optimize spot position concurrently with trimmer position. Both planning methods were used to optimize a set of brain treatment plans, and the resulting dose distributions were compared with dose-volume histogram quantities in addition to target coverage, homogeneity, and conformity metrics. Results An overall improvement to the target conformity and healthy tissue sparing was achieved with DPO over TSA while maintaining an equivalent planning target volume (PTV) coverage index for the three brain patients evaluated in this study. On average, the conformity index improved by 5.5% when utilizing DPO. A similar improvement in reducing the dose to several organs at risk was also noted. Conclusion Both the TSA and DPO planning methods can achieve highly conformal treatments with the dynamic collimation system (DCS) technology. However, an improvement in the target conformity and healthy tissue sparing was achieved by simultaneously optimizing beam spot position, trimmer location, and beamlet weights using DPO in comparison to the TSA technique.
Benchmark seasonal prediction skill estimates based on regional indices

Abstract. Basic statistical metrics such as autocorrelations and across-region lag correlations of sea ice variations provide benchmarks for the assessments of forecast skill achieved by other methods such as more sophisticated statistical formulations, numerical models, and heuristic approaches. In this study we use observational data to evaluate the contribution of the trend to the skill of persistence-based statistical forecasts of monthly and seasonal ice extent on the pan-Arctic and regional scales. We focus on the Beaufort Sea for which the Barnett Severity Index provides a metric of historical variations in ice conditions over the summer shipping season. The variance about the trend line differs little among various methods of detrending (piecewise linear, quadratic, cubic, exponential). Application of the piecewise linear trend calculation indicates an acceleration of the winter and summer trends during the 1990s. Persistence-based statistical forecasts of the Barnett Severity Index as well as September pan-Arctic ice extent show significant statistical skill out to several seasons when the data include the trend. However, this apparent skill largely vanishes when the data are detrended. In only a few regions does September ice extent correlate significantly with antecedent ice anomalies in the same region more than 2 months earlier. The springtime “predictability barrier” in regional forecasts based on persistence of ice extent anomalies is not reduced by the inclusion of several decades of pre-satellite data. No region shows significant correlation with the detrended September pan-Arctic ice extent at lead times greater than a month or two; the concurrent correlations are strongest with the East Siberian Sea. The Beaufort Sea's ice extent as far back as July explains about 20 % of the variance of the Barnett Severity Index, which is primarily a September metric. The Chukchi Sea is the only other region showing a significant association with the Barnett Severity Index, although only at a lead time of a month or two.
Birds of a feather: how manager-subordinate disagreement on goal clarity influences value congruence and organizational commitment

A substantial body of research underscores the importance of congruence between employee and organizational values. Yet, despite evidence that value congruence affects key individual and organizati...
Solitary Waves as Fixed Points of Infinite Dimensional Maps

Coherent structures which are localized in space arise and play important roles in turbulent fields. Examples include tornados, large vortices in a turbulent wake, and isolated vortices in the ocean. These coherent effects are cetainly observed in nature. They can be simulated in numerical experiments and to a lesser extent in laboratory experiments. To understand such coherent phenomena analytically one must use nonlinear techniques from modern mathematics, and indeed one must extend and improve these techniques considerably.
Infant skin care: updates and recommendations.

Purpose of reviewNeonatal skin acclimates rapidly to dry, aerobic conditions at birth and skin function gradually matures throughout infancy. Gentle skin care practices support the ongoing development and function of newborn skin. This article reviews research updates and current skin care recommend
Opioid use trajectory groups and changes in a physical health biomarker among HIV-positive and uninfected patients receiving opioid agonist treatment.

Abstract Background Objective outcomes for measuring the physical health effects of substance use disorder treatment are needed. We compared the responsiveness of CD4, HIV-1 RNA and a biomarker index (VACS Index 2.0) to changes in opioid use among people with HIV (PWH) and uninfected individuals receiving opioid agonist treatment (OAT). Methods Electronic health record data were used to identify patients who received ≥90 days of OAT and had ≥1 urine toxicology test in the Veterans Aging Cohort Study. Trajectory models identified patterns of opioid urine toxicology results. We used linear regression adjusted for age and race/ethnicity to determine associations between opioid toxicology groups and biomarker changes from up to one-year pre OAT to 3–15 months after OAT initiation. Results Among 266 with detectable HIV-1 RNA, 366 with suppressed HIV-1 RNA, and 1183 uninfected patients, we identified five opioid toxicology groups ranging from consistently negative (54%) to consistently positive (9%). Among PWH with detectable HIV-1 RNA, all three biomarkers improved more for those consistently negative compared to those consistently positive (all p Conclusions Among patients on OAT, changes in biomarkers are associated with opioid toxicology groups among PWH, but vary by HIV-1 RNA. These findings may be useful for measuring the health effects of OAT.
Welfare Reform: An Economist's Perspective

The election of Bill Clinton has brought welfare reform back to the forefront of the national agenda. President Clinton has listed welfare reform as one of his highest priorities. While concerned with the welfare system in general, he has committed himself to a specific type of reformplacing a maximum limit on the amount of time a family can receive welfare and requiring some type of work program for those still in need after the time limit. Public discussion of welfare reform did not begin with the 1992 campaign. Welfare reform "came back" into public discourse about ten years ago after a long hiatus, in part because of the 1981 Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA)1 proposed by President Reagan and passed by Congress. OBRA had two major features. First, it raised the welfare "benefit-reduction rate" from 67% to 100%. Also called the "tax rate" by economists, the benefit-reduction rate is the rate at which a recipient's welfare benefits are reduced for each extra dollar of earnings. Under a 100% tax rate, a recipient who earns $100 will have his or her benefits correspondingly reduced by $100, leaving total income unchanged. Many have argued that the higher rate creates work disincentives.2 Regardless of whether that concern is justified, OBRA did bring the work incentive issue back under discussion. Second, OBRA encouraged states to initiate their own welfare reforms. In particular, the Act encouraged states to create work and training programscalled "workfare" by the general public. Most states tested, albeit on a small scale, a wide variety of such programs.3 The 1980s thus saw a gradual increase in state welfare reform activity which continues today and shows no signs of abating. Despite only sporadic debate on the issue, extensive research on the U.S. welfare system has been conducted since the 1960s. In this essay I present the findings of research by economists on the welfare system and welfare reform, and discuss their implications. Economists have addressed many different aspects of the welfare reform problem, but perhaps their most important contribution has been in explaining the behavioral incentives of welfare systems.
Improved Quality of Life with Interleukin-6 (IL-6) Blockade with Siltuximab Peri-Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (AHCT) in Older Patients with Multiple Myeloma (MM)

Background Symptom burden after AHCT for multiple myeloma is highest at count nadir with elevation of inflammatory markers such as IL-6 as one potential etiology (Wang, 2014). We aimed to alleviate symptom burden post-AHCT using siltuximab (anti-IL-6 antibody, EUSA Pharma) in older MM pts. Methods Siltuximab at 11mg/kg was given on day -7 and day +21 from AHCT. Patient reported outcomes were assessed using the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory (MDASI) – MM at baseline, day -2, +7, and +30. C-reactive protein (CRP) and IL-6 were measured at baseline, day -2, 0, +3, +7, +14, +21, and +30. IL-6 was quantitated with the Proteinsimple Ella platform. Results Between 1/2018 – 8/2019, the study enrolled 14 pts, passed the interim analysis for futility, and enrolled an additional 14 pts. Median age for all 28 pts was 66 (range 60-74) with 57% female and 64% Caucasian. Median HCT-CI was 2 (range 0-8, with HCT-CI >2 in 13 pts) and median KPS on day -2 was 80 (range 70-90) with 75% receiving 200mg/m2 of melphalan. Neutrophil engraftment occurred at a median of 10 days (range 8-12); 11 pts (19%) received at least one dose of filgrastim after engraftment. 2/28 had neutropenic fever with one having a true bacteremia and CMV reactivation. One pt developed a pneumonia requiring high-flow oxygen without a fever. The average MDASI-MM score per question at each time point ranged between 0-3 on a scale of 1-10, which represents an improvement from a historical control group where scores peaked at day 11 after AHCT with average scores up to 8 (Figure 1). CRP levels were detectable at baseline in 23/28 (82%, Figure 2). Median CRP levels at each time point were 0.19mg/dL (range IL-6 level analysis is ongoing (Figure 3). Median IL-6 levels (n=23) at each time point were 4 pg/mL (range Two pts had mild first dose siltuximab infusion reactions, one with tingling of lips and one with hives that resolved with Benadryl. Neither had a reaction with the subsequent infusion. With the 2nd dose, one pt had rigors and angioedema which resolved with discontinuing the infusion and anti-reaction medications. Conclusion We show for the first time that IL-6 blockade with siltuximab is feasible and safe post-AHCT, and it mitigates IL-6 elevation in most pts with an associated improvement in symptom burden and quality of life.
Urbanization, Citizenship, and Economic Growth in the Long Run

Maarten Prak argues that urban citizen associations remained vigorous in the West from the Middle Ages through the Industrial Revolution, and that their support for commercial activity helped bring about that Revolution. That is half correct. During the two thousand years from 300 BC to 1750 AD, numerous societies had similar peaks of urbanization, commercial activity, and per capita income (often approaching, but never exceeding, a “peak pre-industrial income” level of roughly $1,900 in 1990 international dollars.) Vigorous urban societies produced repeated episodes of comparably high incomes, not ever-escalating levels of GDP/capita. What produced the breakthrough of the Industrial Revolution was a particular manifestation of urban citizenship that occurred only in Great Britain – the victory of Parliament over royal authority creating exceptional religious and intellectual freedom and institutionalized pluralism. This was not common to urbanized, commercial societies except in rare periods; only in Britain did urban associations and culture blend with scientific culture, producing a broad surge of scientific and technical activity that overcame the prior limits on organic societies.
Research Toward Monolithic Three-Dimensional ICs

Internet of things and artificial intelligence demand further performance improvements in integrated circuit systems. One ongoing effort is to continue the transistor scaling with either new device architectures or adopting new materials with superior gate controllability [1]. Another attractive approach is to construct threedimensional integrated circuits (3D ICs) with monolithic integration; for example, adding sensor functionalities, or constructing upper-layer logic circuits or memory devices on CMOS Si wafers [2]. The research on materials and processes compatible with the backend-of-line (BOEL) fabrication temperature (<400 °C), is urgently needed. In this presentation, I like to discuss on few potential components useful for achieving monolithic 3D ICs including 2D layered materials such as transition metal dichalcogenide based semiconductors, hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) insulators [3], and 1D semiconducting carbon nanotubes. The proof-of-concept monolithic integration of carbon nanotube transistors on our 28 nm CMOS technology wafers has also been demonstrated [4].
Parallel Analysis of Cystic Fibrosis Sputum and Saliva Reveals Overlapping Communities and an Opportunity for Sample Decontamination.

ABSTRACT Culture-independent studies of the cystic fibrosis (CF) airway microbiome typically rely on expectorated sputum to assess the microbial makeup of lower airways. These studies have revealed rich bacterial communities. There is often considerable overlap between taxa observed in sputum and those observed in saliva, raising questions about the reliability of expectorated sputum as a sample representing lower airway microbiota. These concerns prompted us to compare pairs of sputum and saliva samples from 10 persons with CF. Using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and droplet digital PCR (ddPCR), we analyzed 37 pairs of sputum and saliva samples, each collected from the same person on the same day. We developed an in silico postsequencing decontamination procedure to remove from sputum the fraction of DNA reads estimated to have been contributed by saliva during expectoration. We demonstrate that while there was often sizeable overlap in community membership between sample types, expectorated sputum typically contains a higher bacterial load and a less diverse community compared to saliva. The differences in diversity between sputum and saliva were more pronounced in advanced disease stage, owing to increased relative abundance of the dominant taxa in sputum. Our effort to model saliva contamination of sputum in silico revealed generally minor effects on community structure after removal of contaminating reads. Despite considerable overlap in taxa observed between expectorated sputum and saliva samples, the impact of saliva contamination on measures of lower airway bacterial community composition in CF using expectorated sputum appears to be minimal. IMPORTANCE Cystic fibrosis is an inherited disease characterized by chronic respiratory tract infection and progressive lung disease. Studies of cystic fibrosis lung microbiology often rely on expectorated sputum to reflect the microbiota present in the lower airways. Passage of sputum through the oropharynx during collection, however, contributes microbes present in saliva to the sample, which could confound interpretation of results. Using culture-independent DNA sequencing-based analyses, we characterized the bacterial communities in pairs of expectorated sputum and saliva samples to generate a model for “decontaminating” sputum in silico. Our results demonstrate that salivary contamination of expectorated sputum does not have a large effect on most sputum samples and that observations of high bacterial diversity likely accurately reflect taxa present in cystic fibrosis lower airways.
Developing benchmarks to capture relative performance for sales force incentives decisions: Lessons from B2B insurance industry

Abstract Performance-based incentives are widely used in B2B sales; however, sales managers find it challenging to customize such incentives. In response, we propose a new methodology to assess salespeople's capability using performance history data. To evaluate relative performance, we filter out the impact of systematic factors of job characteristics (e.g., channel type, territory, and market size). Therefore, by providing appropriate benchmarks, our approach captures the idiosyncratic component of performance, allowing a direct comparison of a salesperson with other counterparts in the firm. We also account for prospective customer characteristics that let us distinguish between competent salespeople and those fortunate enough to have a customer mix with a high predisposition to buy. Using a data set of automobile insurance sales to small business owners in the U.S., we model salesperson performance as consisting of three stages: generating leads, converting leads to customers and upselling. Our output, a “grade card” for each salesperson, contains metrics that can aid managers in setting individual level performance goals, in deciding who should be rewarded or let go, and in diagnosing salespeople's strengths and weaknesses. Our easy to implement methodology is useful for a wide variety of applications, wherever relative performance needs to be judged.
Livestock Mobility Through Integrated Beef Production-Scapes Supports Rangeland Livestock Production and Conservation

Much of the world's rangelands contribute to food production through extensive grazing systems. In these systems, livestock producers, pastoralists and ranchers move grazing animals to access variable feed and water resources to create value while supporting numerous other ecosystem services. Loss of mobility due to political, social, ecological, and economic factors is documented throughout the world and poses a substantial risk to rangeland livestock production and conservation of rangeland resources. The integration of production-scapes can facilitate livestock mobility through transportation and trade. This paper describes the beef cattle production system in California, where transporting and marketing animals integrate an extensive grazing system with intensive production systems, including feeding operations. Analysis of livestock inspection data quantifies the magnitude of livestock movements in the state and the scope of production-system integration. Over 500,000 head – 47 percent of the state's calf crop – leave California rangelands and are moved to new pastures or feedyards seasonally over a 12-week period each year. Most ranchers in California, from small-scale producers (1 to 50 head) to larger producers (more than 5000), participate in the integrated beef production system. Less than 1% of steers and heifers go from rangeland to meat processing. Like pastoralists, ranchers strategically move cattle around (and off) rangeland to optimize production within a variable climate. Ranchers indicate that their movements result from changes in forage quality and quantity and support their desire to manage for conservation objectives, including reducing fire fuels, controlling weeds, and managing for wildlife habitat. Inspection data, as well as direct observation, interviews, and surveys within the San Francisco Bay area, reveal the extent to which the region's ranchers rely on saleyards to facilitate the movement of cattle and integration of production systems. Saleyards and cattle buyers drive beef production efficiency by sorting, pricing, and moving cattle and matching them to feed resources in more intensive production systems. However, transactions lack traceability to inform policy and consumer choice. New data technologies like blockchain can provide traceability through integrated production-scapes and facilitate market development to support grazing landscapes and consumer choice.
Stellar Metallicities and Type Ia Supernova Rates in the Early-Type Galaxy NGC 5846 from ROSAT and ASCA Observations

In this paper we analyze the diffuse X-ray coronae surrounding the elliptical galaxy NGC 5846, combining measurements from two observatories, ROSAT and the Advanced Satellite for Cosmology and Astrophysics. We map the gas temperature distribution and find a central cool region within an approximately isothermal gas halo extending to a radius of about 50 kpc and evidence for a temperature decrease at larger radii. With a radially falling temperature profile, the total mass converges to (9.6±1.0)×1012 M☉ at ~230 kpc radius. This corresponds to a total mass to blue light ratio of 53±5 M☉/L☉. As in other early type galaxies, the gas mass is only a few percent of the total mass. Using the spectroscopic measurements, we also derive radial distributions for the heavy elements silicon and iron and find that the abundances of both decrease with galaxy radius. The mass ratio of Si to Fe lies between the theoretical predictions for element production in SN Ia and SN II, suggesting an important role for SN Ia, as well as SN II, for gas enrichment in ellipticals. Using the SN Ia yield of Si, we set an upper limit of 0.012 h250 solar neutrino units (SNU) for the SN Ia rate at radii >50 kpc, which is independent of possible uncertainties in the iron L-shell modeling. We compare our observations with thetheoretical predictions for the chemical evolution of ellipticals. We conclude that the metal content in stars, if explained by the star formation duration, requires a significant decline in the duration of star formation with galaxy radius, ranging from ~1 Gyr at the center to ~0.01 Gyr at 100 kpc radius. Alternatively, the decline in metallicity with galaxy radius may be caused by a similar drop with radius in the efficiency of star formation. Based on the Si and Fe measurements presented in this paper, we conclude that the latter scenario is preferred unless a dependence of the SN Ia rate on stellar metallicity is invoked.
Discordance Between Perinatal Alcohol Use Among Women and Provider Counseling for Alcohol Use: An Assessment of the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System.

Objective In the United States, guidelines indicate all pregnant women should be screened for and counseled on alcohol use to prevent adverse perinatal outcomes due to alcohol consumption. The objective of this study was to describe sociodemographic factors associated with receipt of prenatal alcohol counseling and perinatal alcohol use among US women. Methods State health departments collected data for the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System Phase 7 during 2012-2015, and we restricted the sample to a complete case analysis (N = 135 111). The 3 dichotomous outcomes were preconception alcohol use (3 months before pregnancy), prenatal alcohol use (during last 3 months of pregnancy), and prenatal alcohol counseling. Predictor variables were age, race, Hispanic ethnicity, education, marital status, health insurance status, and previous live births. We estimated survey-weighted logistic regression models for each outcome. Results Half (56.0%) of pregnant women reported preconception alcohol use, 70.5% received prenatal alcohol counseling, and 7.7% reported prenatal alcohol use during the last 3 months of pregnancy. Black women were significantly less likely than White women (odds ratio [OR] = 0.49; 95% CI, 0.46-0.52) and Hispanic women were significantly less likely than non-Hispanic women (OR = 0.62; 95% CI, 0.58-0.66) to report preconception alcohol use. We found similar patterns for prenatal alcohol use among Black women. Black women were significantly more likely than White women (OR = 1.66; 95% CI, 1.55-1.77) and Hispanic women were significantly more likely than non-Hispanic women (OR = 1.51; 95% CI, 1.40-1.61) to receive prenatal alcohol counseling. We found similar patterns for age, education, and health insurance status. Conclusion Disparities in alcohol counseling occurred despite the national recommendation for universal screening and counseling prenatally. Continued integration of universal screening for alcohol use during pregnancy is needed.
Improving Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health: Can Mobile Health Interventions Affect Behavior?

* Abbreviations: LGB+ — : lesbian, gay, bisexual, and other sexual minority mHealth — : mobile health SRH — : sexual and reproductive health In this issue of Pediatrics , Ybarra et al1 report the results of a national randomized controlled trial of Girl2Girl, a mobile health (mHealth) intervention aiming to reduce pregnancy rates among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and other sexual minority (LGB+) adolescent girls. Researchers randomly assigned 948 girls aged 14 to 18 to the theory-based, user-informed text messaging intervention versus an attention-matched control group. At trial end, 5 months post-enrollment, those in the Girl2Girl intervention group were significantly more likely to have condom-protected sex and use a birth control method other than condoms. The study allows us to reflect on the overall impact of mHealth interventions to date because few mHealth interventions have been successful in affecting adolescent sexual and reproductive health (SRH) to the level of Girl2Girl.2 Several reasons likely contribute to this variation. First, behavior change is multifactorial, especially SRH behaviors, affected by a variety of societal and contextual factors. These factors make behavior change challenging to comprehensively address within one intervention. Next, retention rates in mHealth trials can be suboptimal. Adolescents frequently change phone numbers and experience phone disconnections, making patient follow-up challenging and full intervention delivery problematic.3 Lastly, the adoption of any mHealth intervention competes with a host … Address correspondence to Lauren S. Chernick, MD, MSc, Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, 3959 Broadway, CHN 1-116, New York, NY 10032. E-mail: lc2243{at}columbia.edu
Initial Presentation of Renal Cell Carcinoma as Heart Failure Secondary to Tumor-Thrombus Extension to the Right Atrium.

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) can invade locally through the renal vein and into the inferior vena cava (IVC) with tumor-thrombus formation reported in 5%-15% of patients. From the IVC, RCC can grow intravascularly and extend into the right atrium. We present a rare case with two uncommon findings: tumor-thrombus extension leading to a right atrial mass and initial presentation of RCC as heart failure. A 69-year-old woman presented with signs and symptoms of heart failure. Electrocardiogram was normal and the initial troponin level was mildly elevated to 0.09 ng/mL. Echocardiography revealed a dilated right atrium with a 6.9 cm x 3.8 cm echogenic mass consistent with a tumor impinging on the tricuspid valve leading to a functional stenosis. Computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen revealed a large right-sided renal mass with enlargement of the renal vein suggestive of tumor thrombus. Although the initial presentation of RCC with cardiac symptoms is surprising, this case highlights the importance of maintaining a comprehensive differential diagnosis. It also signifies the need for further imaging as not all atrial masses are cardiac tumors. Many other primary tumors - kidney, liver, lung, and thyroid - can directly invade or metastasize into the atrium by way of the vena cava.
Organic fertility inputs synergistically increase denitrification-derived nitrous oxide emissions in agroecosystems

Soil fertility in organic agriculture relies on microbial cycling of nutrient inputs from legume cover crops and animal manure. However, large quantities of labile carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) in these amendments may promote the production and emission of nitrous oxide (N2 O) from soils. Better ecological understanding of the N2 O emission controls may lead to new management strategies to reduce these emissions. We measured soil N2 O emission for two growing seasons in four corn-soybean-winter grain rotations with tillage, cover crop, and manure management variations typical of organic agriculture in temperate and humid North America. To identify N2 O production pathways and mitigation opportunities, we supplemented N2 O flux measurements with determinations of N2 O isotopomer composition and microbiological genomic DNA abundances in microplots where we manipulated cover crop and manure additions. The N input from legume-rich cover crops and manure prior to corn planting made the corn phase the main source of N2 O emissions, averaging 9.8 kg/ha of N2 O-N and representing 80% of the 3-yr rotations' total emissions. Nitrous oxide emissions increased sharply when legume cover crop and manure inputs exceeded 1.8 and 4 Mg/ha (dry matter), respectively. Removing the legume aboveground biomass before corn planting to prevent co-location of fresh biomass and manure decreased N2 O emissions by 60% during the corn phase. The co-occurrence of peak N2 O emission and high carbon dioxide emission suggests that oxygen (O2 ) consumption likely caused hypoxia and bacterial denitrification. This interpretation is supported by the N2 O site preference values trending towards denitrification during peak emissions with limited N2 O reduction, as revealed by the N2 O δ15 N and δ18 O and the decrease in clade I nosZ gene abundance following incorporation of cover crops and manure. Thus, accelerated microbial O2 consumption seems to be a critical control of N2 O emissions in systems with large additions of decomposable C and N substrates. Because many agricultural systems rely on combined fertility inputs from legumes and manures, our research suggests that controlling the rate and timing of organic input additions, as well as preventing the co-location of legume cover crops and manure, could mitigate N2 O emissions.