cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Potential economic costs of invasive structural pests: conehead termites, Nasutitermes corniger, in Florida†

Increased trade and human mobility result in sizable benefits to society, but are often accompanied by negative consequences, such as increased introduction of invasive pests to different landscapes and seascapes. In this paper, we couple an existing model of the biological spread of Nasutitermes corniger, an invasive neotropical termite recently introduced to Florida, with information on the costs to treat and repair affected structures, and use this coupled model to simulate the potential short-term costs of establishment of this structural pest. We construct empirical distributions of control and repair costs, using surveys of the pest control industry and homeowners, and use them to simulate treatment and damage costs through a re-sampling procedure. Our results suggest that the net present value of potential costs from an unchecked N. corniger invasion in Florida range between $6.9 and $9.9 million over the next 10 years.
301 WOUND FLUID GLYCOSAMINOGLYCANS AND THEIR INFLUENCE ON CELL BEHAVIOR DURING WOUND REPAIR.

Introduction Epithelial wound healing consists of a variety of steps resulting in the repair of the skin following injury. One important aspect of wound healing is new tissue formation that involves cell proliferation stimulated by fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) and inflammation initiated by the release of cytokines. During wound repair, the surrounding fluid contains high concentrations of linear glycosaminoglycan chains, specifically dermatan sulfate and hyaluronan. Dermatan sulfate has been shown to be an important cofactor for FGF-2 and FGF-7, both of which are essential components of wound repair. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that soluble dermatan sulfate and hyaluronan in wound fluid serve as important elements in the repair process, enabling epithelial growth and modifying the inflammatory response. Methods To test the effect of glycosaminoglycans on cell proliferation and migration, we used a model of artificial wounding based on migrating keratinocytes in culture. In addition, we explored the inflammatory aspect of wound healing by introducing glycosaminoglycans to macrophages to quantify the release of proinflammatory cytokines. The mechanism of glycosaminoglycan action was explored by using a cell model in which cell membrane fluidity was perturbed by naturally occurring membrane-active peptides. Results The introduction of exogenous dermatan sulfate to cultured keratinocytes in vitro impaired the ability of cells to migrate and proliferate into an open space. A mixture of wound fluid glycosaminoglycans induced the release of proinflammatory cytokines from macrophages. To determine which GAG present in wound fluid induced cytokine release, several glycosaminoglycans, including dermatan sulfate, heparan sulfate, and hyaluronan, were tested for their ability to activate macrophages. It was determined that hyaluronan is capable of inducing cytokine release, whereas the other glycosaminoglycans are not. The effects of hyaluronan stimulation are dependent on membrane fluidity because treatment of cells with LL-37, which disrupts membrane fluidity, abrogated the inflammatory response. Conclusions We conclude that wound fluid glycosaminoglycans participate in several roles critical to wound healing. This study has further elucidated the molecular basis of wound repair by defining dermatan sulfate as a critical regulator that can influence the function of growth factors necessary for angiogenesis, epidermal proliferation, and cell growth.
Intrinsic cardiac enkephalins inhibit vagal bradycardia in the dog

Met-enkephalin-Arg-Phe (MEAP) has been identified in acid extracts of canine heart tissue. The effects of synthetic MEAP on the vagal control of heart rate were investigated in anesthetized dogs. The arterial infusion of MEAP (3 nmol.min-1.kg-1) inhibited the bradycardia observed during electrical stimulation of the right vagus nerve by 72%. After the infusion was stopped, the responsiveness to vagal stimulation returned to normal, with a half-time between 2 and 3 min. The inhibition by MEAP was reversed by the high-affinity opiate antagonist diprenorphine (100 micrograms/kg). MEAP did not alter the negative chronotropic effect of the direct-acting muscarinic agonist methacholine. This observation suggested that MEAP exerted its effect at a site in the efferent vagal tract proximal to nodal muscarinic receptors. Increasing MEAP infusions (0.09-3.00 nmol.min-1.kg-1) produced a graded suppression of vagal bradycardia, with a half-maximal effect near 0.3 nmol.min-1.kg-1. Met-enkephalin (ME) produced responses very similar to those obtained with MEAP. The effects of ME were also blocked by prior administration of diprenorphine. Dose responses to ME were shifted to the right of those for MEAP, and half-maximal responses for ME were obtained at two to four times the dose required for MEAP. The data suggest that the intrinsic cardiac enkephalin MEAP can regulate vagal control of heart rate at physiologically achievable concentrations and may serve as a local regulator of the parasympathetic-myocardial interface.
Trust, Sacrifice, and Public Support for Health Care Reform

This paper analyzes the puzzle of deteriorating public support for health care reform. Using a unique series of tracking polls, we argue that declining support for health care reform was a function of three distinct trends in public opinion. First, we find that trust in government fell precipitously during 2009, leading many Americans to question whether government was up to the challenge of implementing a national health plan. Second, more Americans came to believe that health care reform would require them to make material sacrifices. Third, we observe that conservatism became a significantly more attractive ideological label for Americans, which increased the percentage of people who perceived that health care would require an ideological sacrifice of them. Collectively, our analysis demonstrates, these trends contributed to the erosion of public support for health care reform and made the idea of a national health plan unpalatable to a larger segment of the American public.
Risks and complications of peripherally and centrally inserted intravenous catheters.

Every year an estimated 150 million peripheral intravenous (IV) catheters are used compared to approximately 5 million peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) and central intravenous catheters (CVCs). Reported complications associated with peripheral IV catheters are usually non-life- threatening, localized, and mechanical complications, such as phlebitis, infiltration, and occlusion. The majority of complications associated with PICCs are mechanical malfunctions including catheter migration, unplanned removal, curling or looping, and occlusion. Approximately 90% of catheter- associated life-threatening infections occur in nontunneled CVC catheters. This article focuses on identifying of peripheral and central catheter-related complications and providing nursing implications for practice.
Run-off-road and recovery – state estimation and vehicle control strategies

ABSTRACTDespite many advances in vehicle safety technology, traffic fatalities remain a devastating burden on society. With over two-thirds of all fatal single-vehicle crashes occurring off the roadway, run-off-road (ROR) crashes have become the focus of much roadway safety research. Current countermeasures, including roadway infrastructure modifications and some on-board vehicle safety systems, remain limited in their approach as they do not directly address the critical factor of driver behaviour. It has been shown that ROR crashes are often the result of poor driver performance leading up to the crash. In this study, the performance of two control algorithms, sliding control and linear quadratic control, was investigated for use in an autonomous ROR vehicle recovery system. The two controllers were simulated amongst a variety of ROR conditions where typical driver performance was inadequate to safely operate the vehicle. The sliding controller recovered the fastest within the nominal conditions but exh...
SU-F-T-648: Sharpening Dose Fall-Off Via Beam Number Enhancements For Stereotactic Brain Radiosurgery

Purpose: Sharp dose fall-off is the hallmark of brain radiosurgery to deliver a high dose of radiation to the target while minimizing dose to normal brain tissue. In this study, we developed a technique for the purpose of enhancing the peripheral dose gradient by magnifying the total number of beams focused toward each isocenter via patient head tilt and simultaneous beam intensity modulations. Methods: Computer scripting for the proposed beam number enhancement (BNE) technique was developed. The technique was tested and then implemented on a clinical treatment planning system for a dedicated brain radiosurgical system (GK Perfexion, Elekta Oncology). To study technical feasibility and dosimetric advantages of the technique, we compared treatment planning quality and delivery efficiency for 20 radiosurgical cases previously treated at our institution. These cases included relatively complex treatments such as acoustic schwannoma, meningioma, brain metastasis and mesial temporal lobe epilepsy. Results: The BNE treatment plans were found to produce nearly identical target volume coverage (absolute value 0.2) and dose conformity (BNE CI= 1.41±0.15 versus 1.41±0.20, P>0.9) as the original treatment plans. The total beam-on time for theBNE treatment plans were comparable (within 1.0 min or 1.8%) with those of the original treatment plans for all the cases. However, BNE treatment plans significantly improved the mean gradient index (BNE GI = 2.9±0.3 versus original GI =3.0±0.3 p<0.0001) and low-level isodose volumes, e.g. 20-50% prescribed isodose volumes, by 2.0% to 5.0% (p<0.02). Furthermore, with 4 to 5-fold increase in the total number of beams, the GI decreased by as much as 20% or 0.5 in absolute values. Conclusion: BNE via head tilt and simultaneous beam intensity modulation is an effective and efficient technique that physically sharpens the peripheral dose gradient for brain radiosurgery.
Factors controlling production in hydraulically fractured low permeability oil reservoirs

Fundamentals of fluid flow in ultra-low permeability reservoirs need to be examined to understand production behaviours. In this paper, we perform sensitivity studies of reservoir properties (matrix permeability, heterogeneity, rock compressibility and reservoir pressure), fluid properties (bubble point pressure and initial dissolved gas oil ratio), rock fluid properties (relative permeabilities), completion parameters (fracture spacing) and operating parameters (bottom hole pressure) on production performances. Matrix permeability, rock compressibility, fluid properties and fracture spacing have major impact on oil recovery and gas oil ratio (GOR). More oil is recovered from higher permeability reservoir in the expense of higher GOR. Recovery increases with increasing rock compressibility since the pressure decline is more gradual in higher compressibility rocks. Oil phase becomes less viscous and more mobile due to higher amount of dissolved gas. Higher initial GOR improves production of oil with higher produced GOR. Closer fracture spacing yields more oil recovery. [Received: April 2, 2015; Accepted: August 26, 2015]
Higher Oil Prices and the World Economy: The Adjustment Problems

(1977). Higher Oil Prices and the World Economy: The Adjustment Problems. Journal of Economic Issues: Vol. 11, No. 1, pp. 148-150.
Kα/Kβ X-ray intensity ratios for elements from Z=29 to Z=92

Abstract The K α /K β X-ray intensity ratios were measured with a high resolution Ge(Li) spectromenter. The results for the lower Z elements were as much as 20% lower than previously reported measurements and recent radiative decay rate calculations.
Experimental Verification for Adaptive Tracking Control of a Nonholonomic Mobile Robot

A mobile robot is suitable for a variety of applications in unstructured environments where a high degree of autonomy is required. It is one of typical systems with nonholonomic constraints, and many researchers have devoted their efforts on its tracking control. In this paper, an adaptive controller is proposed for tracking control of a nonholonomic mobile robot with consideration of unknown model parameters. This design does not need precise knowledge of the inertia matrix, Coriolis and centrifugal force. The close loop stability is proved by using the Lyapunov technique. The effectiveness of the proposed controller is demonstrated by experiments conducted on our mobile robot platform.
Macrophages and Resistance to JHM Virus CNS Infection

The macrophage is an important cell in determining the outcome of viral infections, especially those due to herpes and mouse hepatitis viruses (Morgensen, 1979). Mouse hepatitis virus (MHV), is a member of the coronavirus group which are positive stranded RNA viruses (Lai and Stohlman, 1978) and produce a wide spectrum of diseases in their natural hosts (Mclntosch, 1973). The principle organs attacked by MHV during infection are the liver and the central nervous system (CNS). Bang and co-workers have demonstrated a genetic basis for the resistance of mice to fatal hepatitis caused by MHV and that in vitro macrophages from resistant animals exhibit resistance parallel to that determined in vivo (Bang, 1978). They have shown that MHV can only replicate in vitro in macrophages from susceptible animals. This type of resistance appears to be analogous to the intrinsic resistance described for herpes viruses (Johnson, 1964). Intrinsic resistance to viral replication limits virus dissemination thereby affording protection to the target organ and the host. Recently, we have demonstrated the ability of passively transferred macrophages to confer resistance to the JHM strain of MHV (MHV-JHM) induced acute CNS disease (Stohlman et al, 1980). However, macrophages from both susceptible and resistant animals exhibited intrinsic resistance to MHV-JHM replication.
Assessing Public Expenditures in Small Towns: Beyond Roads and Fire Engines

Large, urban governments often provide a tremendous variety of public goods, while the expenditures of small communities usually address basic needs such as fire protection and road maintenance. Ho...
The effectiveness of a monetary incentive offer on survey response rates and response completeness in a longitudinal study.

Achieving adequate response rates is an ongoing challenge for longitudinal studies. The World Trade Center Health Registry is a longitudinal health study that periodically surveys a cohort of ~71,000 people exposed to the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York City. Since Wave 1, the Registry has conducted three follow-up surveys (Waves 2–4) every 3–4 years and utilized various strategies to increase survey participation. A promised monetary incentive was offered for the first time to survey non-respondents in the recent Wave 4 survey, conducted 13–14 years after 9/11. We evaluated the effectiveness of a monetary incentive in improving the response rate five months after survey launch, and assessed whether or not response completeness was compromised due to incentive use. The study compared the likelihood of returning a survey for those who received an incentive offer to those who did not, using logistic regression models. Among those who returned surveys, we also examined whether those receiving an incentive notification had higher rate of response completeness than those who did not, using negative binomial regression models and logistic regression models. We found that a $10 monetary incentive offer was effective in increasing Wave 4 response rates. Specifically, the $10 incentive offer was useful in encouraging initially reluctant participants to respond to the survey. The likelihood of returning a survey increased by 30% for those who received an incentive offer (AOR = 1.3, 95% CI: 1.1, 1.4), and the incentive increased the number of returned surveys by 18%. Moreover, our results did not reveal any significant differences on response completeness between those who received an incentive offer and those who did not. In the face of the growing challenge of maintaining a high response rate for the World Trade Center Health Registry follow-up surveys, this study showed the value of offering a monetary incentive as an additional refusal conversion strategy. Our findings also suggest that an incentive offer could be particularly useful near the end of data collection period when an immediate boost in response rate is needed.
Diurnal oscillation of CSF Aβ and other AD biomarkers

To assess stages of Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis and the efficacy of drugs during clinical trials, there has been immense interest in the field to establish baseline cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentrations for potential AD biomarkers such as amyloid-β (Aβ) and tau. Significant within-person variations in CSF Aβ concentrations over time found that this variation followed the sleep-wake cycle. A recent paper in Molecular Neurodegeneration reported the absence of diurnal variations in multiple classical and candidate AD biomarkers, such as soluble APP, Aβ, tau, p-tau, YKL-40, VILIP-1, or apolipoprotein E. This commentary addresses these apparently discordant results regarding the diurnal variability of APP and Aβ compared with the literature. Despite our concerns, we appreciate the authors' interest in this important topic and contribution to improve our knowledge about the factors influencing Aβ diurnal variation.
Outcome of autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in refractory multiple myeloma

Background Despite the introduction of effective, novel agents, the outcome of patients with refractory multiple myeloma remains poor, particularly those who are refractory to both proteasome inhibitors (PIs) and immunomodulatory agents (IMiDs). Limited data are available on the role of autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in this population. Methods Patients with refractory myeloma who underwent first autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (auto-HCT) between March 2000 and October 2015 were retrospectively analyzed. Those who had primary refractory disease and those with relapsed and refractory disease were included. Disease that was refractory to at least 1 PI and at least 1 IMiD was classified as double-refractory multiple myeloma (DR-MM). Results In total, 233 patients were identified, including 105 (45%) classified with DR-MM and 128 (55%) classified with nondouble-refractory myeloma (NDR-MM). At a median follow-up of 42 months for surviving patients, at least a partial response was observed in 188 patients (81%; 83 patients in the DR-MM group [79%] and 105 patients in the NDR-MM [82%]; P = .77). A near complete response or better was observed in 52 patients (22%; 25 patients in the DR-MM group [24%] and 27 patients in the NDR-MM group [21%]; P = .77). The median progression-free survival was 17.6 months (14.4 months in the DR-MM group and 18.2 months in the NDR-MM group), and the 2-year progression-free survival rate was 38% (35% in the DR-MM group and 40% in the NDR-MM group; P = .40). The median overall survival was 48 months (38.9 months in the DR-MM group and 56.6 months in the NDR-MM group), and the 2-year overall survival rate was 74% (71% in the DR-MM group and 76% in the NDR-MM group; P = .27). Conclusions The current findings indicate that auto-HCT is an effective and safe therapy in patients with refractory multiple myeloma, including those who are refractory to IMiDs and PIs. Cancer 2017;123:3568-75. © 2017 American Cancer Society.
In C difficile infection, adding IV bezlotoxumab to standard antibiotics reduced recurrence at 12 weeks.

Source Citation Wilcox MH, Gerding DN, Poxton IR, et al; MODIFY 1 and MODIFY II Investigators. Bezlotoxumab for prevention of recurrent Clostridium difficile infection. N Engl J Med. 2017;376:305-1...
The Sphinx Takes Manhattan, or the Significance of "A Man From the Yaman" in Ameen Rihani's Arabian Peak and Desert

In 1989, a replica of the Great Sphinx of Giza was photographed passing in front of the Statue of Liberty. This image recalls neglected imperial histories and challenges global models of center and periphery. A similar encounter occurs at the beginning of Ameen Rihani’s work Arabian Peak and Desert: Travels in Al-Yaman, where the early twentieth century Syrian American scholar writes of a chance meeting with a “man from the Yaman.” Their conversation is brief, yet it colors the travel narrative that follows. In this paper, I read these encounters together to situate moments of “reply” to Orientalist discourses. These encounters simultaneously reproduce and displace Eurocentric histories and epistemologies by creating a space that is both within and outside modern narratives of progress. This paper analyzes the two encounters and proposes montage as a method for reexamining literary and visual texts.
Nanocatalyst for Biofuel Production: A Review

The demand for renewable and alternative types of energy has taken a new dimension; the primary reason is traceable to the climate change effects that fossil-based fuels have in the earth atmosphere. Bioenergy is one of the many arrays of renewable forms of energy that have taken centre stage in replacing the conventional fossil-based energy sources. Biofuel is the liquid or gaseous fuel derived from biological processes such as agriculture (biomass) or anaerobic digestion (solid or liquid wastes) or a combination of both, rather than geological processes that are known with the traditional fossil-based counterparts. Biomass energy is readily available and environmentally friendly, because it does not lead to a net increase in carbon dioxide levels and produces low amounts of sulphur. An effective implementation of biomass in the current energy scheme would involve the development of new technologies for the large-scale production of biofuel. The two primary methods for converting biomass to biofuels are thermochemical and biochemical processes. Thermochemical conversion is a major path for producing products such as bioethanol, biodiesel, bio-oil, bio-syngas and biohydrogen. It includes fast pyrolysis, liquefaction, combustion and gasification. Liquefaction of biomass to bio-oils involves two main routes which are hydrothermal and catalytic liquefaction. Catalytic liquefaction is very similar to hydrothermal liquefaction; however, a catalyst is used to reduce the residence time, operating temperature and pressure thereby increasing the quality of liquid products. Thermochemical biofuels are getting much more attention lately as these biofuels offer several technical and strategic advantages, such as highly developed industrial infrastructure and the biofuels can be produced from virtually all sorts of available biomass in a reasonable timeframe without significant modification in the overall process. At lower reaction temperatures, thermal processing of biomass with catalytic methods offers the possibility of selectively yielding a narrow range of products and reducing the energy requirements of the transformations. In terms of catalysts used, for biodiesel production, heterogeneous catalysts in comparison to homogeneous catalysts provide more effective separation steps for products and catalysts, eliminate quenching process, and offer conditions for the continuous production process. The objective of this review is to discuss the trends, recent advances in heterogeneous catalysts and expected contribution to knowledge, specifically in nanocatalysts for biofuel production, such as metal oxide catalysts (e.g. ZnO), metal supported by metal oxide catalysts (e.g. Au–ZnO), Alloy (e.g. Cu–Co), Metal oxide supported by metal oxide (e.g. KF–CaO–Fe3O4). Our focus will be on heterogeneous catalysts.
Evidence-based medicine regarding the prevention of retinal detachment.

Abstract PURPOSE: To assess the quality of information in the literature regarding the prevention of retinal detachment in an effort to establish appropriate practice guidelines. METHODS: A panel of vitreoretinal experts performed a literature review of all publications in the English language for articles about prevention of retinal detachment. These article were then used to prepare recommendations for patient care in an American Academy of Ophthalmology "Preferred Practice Pattern" (PPP). Each recommendation was rated according to its importance in the care process and the strength of evidence supporting the given recommendation. RESULTS: Most recommendations were given a rating of "A" (most important to patient care). Only a single publication was graded as Level I (providing strong evidence in support of a recommendation), and this was not a prospective trial. Of the few publications rated as Level II (substantial evidence), most were studies documenting a lack of treatment benefit. Because of an absence of Level I and Level II studies in the literature, Level III (consensus of expert opinion) was the basis for most recommendations in the PPP. CONCLUSION: The current literature regarding prevention of retinal detachment does not provide sufficient information to strongly support prophylactic treatment of lesions other than symptomatic flap tears. Prospective randomized trials of prophylactic therapy are indicated. Eyes highly predisposed to retinal detachment should be considered for such studies.
Problems with Different Time Scales and Acoustics

In applications, the initial value problem for systems of partial differential equations which allow solutions on different time scales typically has the form $$\partial u/\partial t = \frac{1}{\varepsilon }p_0 \left( {\partial /\partial x} \right)u + P_1 \left( {u,\partial /\partial x} \right)u + vP_2 \left( {\partial /\partial x} \right)u + f\left( {x,t} \right),t\underline > 0,u\left( {x,0} \right) = f\left( x \right),x = \left( {x_1 , \ldots ,x_s } \right) \in R^s $$ (1.1)
Controller Design and Parameter Identifiability Studies for a Large Space Antenna

The problem of control systems synthesis and parameter identifiability are considered for a large, space-based antenna. Two methods are considered for control system synthesis, the first of which uses torque actuators and collocated attitude and rate sensors, and the second method is based on the linear-quadratic-Gaussian (LQG) control theory. The predicted performance obtained by computing variances of pointing, surface and feed misalignment errors in the presence of sensor noise indicates that the LQG-based controller yields superior results. Since controller design requires the knowledge of the system parameters, the identifiability of the structural parameters is investigated by obtaining Cramer-Rao lower bounds. The modal frequencies are found to have the best identifiability, followed by damping ratios, and mode-slopes.
The interaction between pain and movement.

Abstract Study Design Clinical commentary. Introduction/Purpose Pain and movement are universally relevant phenomena that influence human experiences in readily observable ways. Improved understanding of pain-movement relationships can guide medical and rehabilitative approaches to recovery and decrease risk of dysfunctional long-term consequences of otherwise normal neuromuscular responses. Therefore, the overall intent of this article is to elucidate the relationships between pain and movement as they relate to clinical decision making. Conclusions Motor output is highly adaptable, can be influenced by multiple mechanisms at various levels along the nervous system, and may vary between individuals despite similar diagnoses. Therefore, interventions need to be individualized and consider both the types of motor response observed (ie, whether the response is protective or maladaptive), and the patient's acute physical activity tolerance when prescribing exercise/movement.
Foot-propelled swimming kinematics and turning strategies in common loons

ABSTRACT Loons (Gaviiformes) are arguably one of the most successful groups of swimming birds. As specialist foot-propelled swimmers, loons are capable of diving up to 70 m, remaining underwater for several minutes, and capturing fish. Despite the swimming prowess of loons, their undomesticated nature has prevented prior quantitative analysis. Our study used high-speed underwater cameras to film healthy common loons (Gavia immer) at the Tufts Wildlife Clinic in order to analyze their swimming and turning strategies. Loons swim by synchronously paddling their feet laterally at an average of 1.8 Hz. Combining flexion–extension of the ankle with rotation at the knee, loon swimming resembles grebe swimming and likely generates lift forces for propulsion. Loons modulate swimming speed by altering power stroke duration and use head bobbing to enhance underwater vision. We observed that loons execute tight but slow turns compared with other aquatic swimmers, potentially associated with hunting by flushing fish from refuges at short range. To execute turns, loons use several strategies. Loons increase the force produced on the outside of the turn by increasing the speed of the outboard foot, which also begins its power stroke before the inboard foot. During turns, loons bank their body away from the turn and alter the motion of the feet to maintain the turn. Our findings demonstrate that foot-propelled swimming has evolved convergently in loons and grebes, but divergently from cormorants. The swimming and turning strategies used by loons that allow them to capture fish could inspire robotic designs or novel paddling techniques.
Preclinical testing of chemopreventive agents in a mouse model of DCIS

677 We have utilized a mouse model of DCIS for preclinical testing of chemopreventive agents. This model consists of transplantable premalignant mammary hyperplasia, or Mammary Intraepithelial Neoplasia-Outgrowth (MIN-O), originated from polyoma virus middle T (PyV-mT) transgenic mice (Maglione, et al 2004). PyV-mT is a potent oncogene that is a molecular surrogate of ErbB RTKs and the PyV-mT mouse mammary tumor development mimics the biology of human breast cancer development (Lin, et al 2003, Desai, et al 2002, Rosner, et al 2002, Namba, et al 2004). The MIN-Os have been maintained by serial transplantation into wild-type FVB host female mammary fat pads for over three years. The histological characteristics of the MIN-Os remain stable over multiple generations of serial transplantation, and all MIN-Os develop invasive carcinoma (tumors) at a predictable latency. Gene expression analysis and microarray-based comparative genomic hybridization of MIN-Os and corresponding tumors demonstrate similar molecular alterations in MIN-O and tumor alike. Since the MIN-Os have stable biological characteristics and predictable tumor latency, we have utilized the most highly characterized MIN-O line, 8w-B, for chemoprevention studies. SERMs (Namba et al 2005), aromatase inhibitors, and mTOR inhibitors have been tested for chemopreventive effects in trials ranging from 4 to 11-weeks. Aromatase inhibitor treatment had a slight inhibitory effect on MIN-O growth and tumor development at the early phase of treatment, but did not result in significant long-term inhibition of tumorigenesis. An mTOR inhibitor, rapamycin, effectively reduced the MIN-O growth and tumor latency in vivo. Rapamycin inhibited the activation of mTOR targets, and reduced cell proliferation and angiogenesis. The rapamycin treatment resulted in increased expression of PPARG related genes in the MIN-O tissues. The extent of the MIN-O growth inhibition was visualized by in vivo mPET imaging throughout the treatment. However, the growth inhibitory effect was reversible, since the MIN-Os resumed growth after rapamycin withdrawal and eventually developed tumors. Combinational therapy with aromatase inhibitors or SERMS has been initiated and resulted in additional MIN-O growth inhibition. These studies demonstrate the utility of the model and the potential for more effective chemoprevention treatment with combined therapy. Maglione, et al. 2004 Mol Cancer Ther 3(8)941-953 Lin, et al. 2003 Am J Pathol 163(5) 2113-2126 Desai, et al. 2002 Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 99(1) 6967-6972 Rosner, et al. 2002 Am J Pathol 161(3) 1087-1097 Namba, et al. 2004 Mol Cancer Res 2(8) 453-463 Namba et al. 2005 Breast Cancer Research 7:R881-889
Thoracoscopic Resection of an Esophageal Lobe in a Neonate

Abstract Introduction: Thoracoscopy has been well established for resections of lung lesions, foregut duplication cysts, and tumors, as well as for repair of esophageal atresia anomalies. This appr...
Improved Techniques for Sensing Intra-Device Side Channel Leakage

Side channels which introduce intra-device circuit module information leakage or functional influence are of concern for the security and trust of many applications, such as multi-tenant and multi-level security single FPGA designs. Previous works utilized a sensor co-located on the same FPGA with a target module which was able to detect side channel voltage variations. We build on this by creating a sensor with more programmability and sensitivity resulting in improved recovery of bit patterns from an isolated target. We demonstrate for the first time the recovery of an unknown target frequency and data pattern length in a multi-user FPGA side channel attack. We also show increased sensitivity over previously developed voltage sensors enabling data recovery with fewer samples.
Neutral Particle Measurements and Searches with the E864 Spectrometer

We present preliminary results from measurements of neutral particles and a search for neutral strangelets in Au+Pb collisions with the E864 spectrometer at the Brookhaven Alternating Gradient Synchrotron. A brief historical survey of searches for strangelets is presented in the first section. The E864 apparatus is described in the second section with a particular emphasis on the hadronic calorimeter. Results concerning the performance of the E864 hadronic calorimeter as well as results relevant for the search for heavy neutral objects are presented in the third section. Conclusions and an outlook are given in the last section.
Mixed neuroendocrine-non-neuroendocrine neoplasms (MiNENs) of gastrointestinal (GI) tract: A single institution experience.

633Background: MiNENs are heterogeneous group of rare tumors and represent less than 1% of all GI malignancies. These are pathologically classifiable according to neuroendocrine component into low ...
Melanocytoma of the Optic Nerve Head

A melanocyte may give rise to a melanocytoma, a benign, usually black tumor most commonly seen on or adjacent to the optic nerve. Histopathologically, the melanocytoma is a magnocellular nevus. Melanocytomas are probably present at birth, although the diagnosis is usually made later in life. They usually appear unilaterally, and there is no preferential predilection for women over men. Darkly pigmented individuals are more likely to be affected.
Developing physician leaders: does it work?

Background Leader development programmes are signature features of frontrunner multinational companies. Healthcare institutions have generally lagged behind, though attention to implementing leader development programmes in healthcare institutions is increasing. The rationale for leader development in healthcare is that leadership competencies matter and that traditional selection and training of physicians may conspire against both optimal leadership competencies and followership. Methods The growth of leader development in healthcare institutions begs the question: Does leader development work? Results In this context, three meta-analyses have examined the impact of leader development programmes in healthcare institutions. In general, findings from these studies indicate that while studies do assess the subjective learning of participants, few studies have evaluated the organisational impact of such leader development programmes. Conclusions These findings suggest the need for more rigorous, objective assessment of the organisational impact of leader development programmes in healthcare institutions. Such evidence is critically needed in the current resource-constrained environment of healthcare.
TSA-NoC: Learning-Based T hreat Detection and Mitigation for S ecure Network-on-Chip A rchitecture

Networks-on-chip (NoCs) are playing a critical role in modern multicore architecture, and NoC security has become a major concern. Maliciously implanted hardware Trojans (HTs) inject faults into on-chip communications that saturate the network, resulting in the leakage of sensitive data via side channels and significant performance degradation. While existing techniques protect NoCs by detecting and isolating HT-infected components, they inevitably incur occasional inaccurate detection with considerable network latency and power overheads. We propose TSA-NoC, a learning-based design framework for secure and efficient on-chip communication. The proposed TSA-NoC uses an artificial neural network for runtime HT-detection with higher accuracy. Furthermore, we propose a deep-reinforcement-learning-based adaptive routing design for HT mitigation with the aim of minimizing network latency and maximizing energy efficiency. Simulation results show that TSA-NoC achieves up to 97% HT-detection accuracy, 70% improved energy efficiency, and 29% reduced network latency as compared to state-of-the-art HT-mitigation techniques.
DoThisHere: Multimodal Interaction to Improve Cross-Application Tasks on Mobile Devices

Many computing tasks, such as comparison shopping, two-factor authentication, and checking movie reviews, require using multiple apps together. On large screens, "windows, icons, menus, pointer" (WIMP) graphical user interfaces (GUIs) support easy sharing of content and context between multiple apps. So, it is straightforward to see the content from one application and write something relevant in another application, such as looking at the map around a place and typing walking instructions into an email. However, although today's smartphones also use GUIs, they have small screens and limited windowing support, making it hard to switch contexts and exchange data between apps. We introduce DoThisHere, a multimodal interaction technique that streamlines cross-app tasks and reduces the burden these tasks impose on users. Users can use voice to refer to information or app features that are off-screen and touch to specify where the relevant information should be inserted or is displayed. With DoThisHere, users can access information from or carry information to other apps with less context switching. We conducted a survey to find out what cross-app tasks people are currently performing or wish to perform on their smartphones. Among the 125 tasks that we collected from 75 participants, we found that 59 of these tasks are not well supported currently. DoThisHere is helpful in completing 95% of these unsupported tasks. A user study, where users are shown the list of supported voice commands when performing a representative sample of such tasks, suggests that DoThisHere may reduce expert users' cognitive load; the Query action, in particular, can help users reduce task completion time.
Mothers’ reports of behavioral symptoms among children detained at family detention centers in the U.S

Few studies have empirically examined children’s symptoms during immigration detention. This study investigated the behavioral problems of detained children through their mothers’ reports by interv...
Comparison of Data Analytics Software Usage in Biomedical and Health Sciences Research: A Case Study

Responding to the new data science initiative at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH), this study aimed to investigate the usage of data analytics software (DAS) in biomedical and health sciences research. We selected three DAS tools (i.e., SAS, R, & Python), systematically searched PubMed and PubMed Central databases for UNC-CH publications in which any of the three tools was adopted, manually screened retrieved articles, and then conducted a bibliometric analysis. We found that (1) UNC researchers produced more publications using SAS than using R or Python. (2) The citation impact was similar across the publications supported by three tools and higher than the average of NIH-funded papers. (3) The most frequently addressed topics supported by SAS or R included cancer, HIV, risk factors and assessment, and associations between diseases/symptoms and clinical outcomes. Python was often used to investigate cancer genes and genetic inferences, interactions and sequencing. Overall, the prevalent adoption of SAS by UNC authors in biomedical research highlighted the importance of software availability, industry-academia collaboration, and training programs. Our findings provided insights to the new data science initiative for informed decision making.
Polyphony and Symphony: A Rereading of Q 4.157

This article investigates the Qur’an’s position regarding Jesus’s death. It maintains that the classical exegetes read Q 4.157 as a monophony—hearing a sole melodic voice that denies Jesus’s death ...
Forward and Reverse Genetic Dissection of Morphogenesis Identifies Filament-Competent Candida auris Strains

Abstract Candida auris is an emerging healthcare-associated pathogen of global concern. Although this organism does not display the same morphological plasticity as the related fungal pathogen Candida albicans, recent reports have identified numerous C. auris isolates that grow in cellular aggregates or filaments. However, the genetic circuitry governing C. auris morphology remains largely uncharacterized. Here, we developed an Agrobacterium-mediated transformation system to generate mutants exhibiting aggregating or filamentous cell morphologies. Aggregating strains were associated with disruption of homologs of Saccharomyces cerevisiae chitinase and chitin synthase regulatory proteins, including components of the Regulation of ACE2 Morphogenesis (RAM) pathway, while disruption of a homolog of the S. cerevisiae ELM1 gene resulted in a novel filamentous strain of C. auris. To facilitate targeted genetic manipulation, we developed a transiently expressed Cas9 and sgRNA expression system for use in C. auris. Transformation using this system significantly increased the efficiency of homologous recombination and targeted integration of a reporter cassette in all four clades of C. auris. Using this system, we generated targeted deletion mutants to confirm the roles of RAM and Elm1 proteins in regulating C. auris morphogenesis. Overall, our findings provide novel insights into the genetic regulation of aggregating and filamentous morphogenesis in C. auris. Furthermore, the genetic manipulation tools described here will allow for inexpensive and efficient manipulation of the C. auris genome. Importance Candida auris is an emerging and often multi-drug resistant fungal pathogen responsible for outbreaks globally. Current difficulties in performing genetic manipulation in this organism remain a barrier to understanding C. auris biology. Homologous recombination approaches can result in less than 1% targeted integration of a reporter cassette, emphasizing the need for new genetic tools specific for manipulating C. auris. Here, we adapted Agrobacterium-mediated transformation and a transient Cas9 and sgRNA expression system for use in forward and reverse genetic manipulation of C. auris. We demonstrated the efficacy of each system by uncovering genes underlying cellular morphogenesis in C. auris. We identified a novel filamentous mutant of C. auris, demonstrating that this organism has maintained the capacity for filamentous growth. Our findings provide additional options for improving the genetic tractability of C. auris, which will allow for further characterization of this emerging pathogen.
Determining black carbon emissions and activity from in-use harbor craft in Southern California

Abstract Black carbon (BC) emitted from diesel fuel combustion contributes significantly to particulate matter emissions that impact air quality and human health. Off-road sources of BC are increasingly important as emissions from on-road vehicles continue to decrease. This study characterizes harbor craft emissions and activity, including tugboats, passenger boats, and fishing vessels. Vessel traffic data suggest that the Southern California tugboat fleet is composed of relatively few unique vessels, yet tugboats spent more non-idle operating time within 3 nautical miles of California's coast than all other vessel types (including large ocean-going vessels). Fuel-based BC emission factors (EFBC) were measured from shore in the San Pedro Bay Port Complex in Los Angeles using the plume capture method, yielding 78 EFBC values from ~45 unique vessels. Passenger boats had the highest geometric mean EFBC (0.56 ± 0.86 g/kg). Tugboats had higher EFBC while moving with versus without loads (0.64 ± 0.29 and 0.48 ± 0.67 g/kg, respectively). Non-idle EFBC for vessels were skewed, with the dirtiest 20% of plume intercepts contributing ~47% of BC emissions. Given the trends observed in both vessel activity and EFBC values, tugboats could be worthwhile targets for emissions reductions.
ENTPD3 Marks Mature Stem Cell-Derived β-Cells Formed by Self-Aggregation In Vitro.

Stem cell derived beta-like cells (sBC) carry the promise of providing an abundant source of insulin-producing cells for use in cell replacement therapy for patients with diabetes, potentially allowing widespread implementation of a practical cure. To achieve their clinical promise, sBC need to function comparably to mature adult beta cells, but as yet they display varying degrees of maturity. Indeed, detailed knowledge of the events resulting in human beta cell maturation remains obscure. Here we show that sBC spontaneously self-enrich into discreet islet-like cap structures within in vitro cultures, independent of exogenous maturation conditions. Multiple complementary assays demonstrate that this process is accompanied by functional maturation of the selfenriched sBC (seBC); however, the seBC still contain distinct subpopulations displaying different maturation levels. Interestingly, the surface protein ENTPD3 (also known as nucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolase-3 (NDPTase3)) is a specific marker of the most mature seBC population and can be used for mature seBC identification and sorting. Our results illuminate critical aspects of in vitro sBC maturation and provide important insights towards developing functionally mature sBC for diabetes cell replacement therapy.
Aging in Place During a Pandemic: Neighborhood Engagement and Environments Since the COVID-19 Pandemic Onset.

Background and objectives The COVID-19 pandemic may fundamentally change neighborhood environments and ways of aging in place. This research aimed to investigate perceptions of and engagement in neighborhoods since the pandemic onset among aging Americans. Research design and methods Data were from the COVID-19 Coping Study, a longitudinal cohort study of health and wellbeing of US adults aged ≥55 years during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the present analysis, we conducted a qualitative thematic analysis of responses to an open-ended survey question about how respondents felt that COVID-19 has impacted their neighborhood and relationships with neighbors. The survey data were collected June-September 2020 and analyzed for a random stratified sub-sample of 1,000 study participants. Sampling quotas for age, gender, race/ethnicity, and education aimed to match the US population aged ≥55 (average age: 67.7 years). Results We identified four overarching themes: altered neighborly social interactions, support levels, and community environments; and no observed changes. Geographic factors that impacted neighborhood engagement included age structure, sociopolitical diversity, urbanicity/rurality, and walkability; while individual factors included age, race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, political orientation, health status, duration of residence, lifestyle, and personality. Discussion and implications The results highlight resilience among aging adults and their neighbors, sources of individual and community vulnerability, and opportunities to strengthen social infrastructure to support aging in place since the pandemic onset.