cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
EPR, ENDOR, and electronic structure studies of the Jahn-Teller distortion in an Fe(V) nitride

The recently synthesized and isolated low-coordinate FeV nitride complex has numerous implications as a model for high-oxidation states in biological and industrial systems. The trigonal [PhB(tBuIm)3FeV≡N]+ (where (PhB(tBuIm)3– = phenyltris(3-tert-butylimidazol-2-ylidene)), (1) low-spin d3 (S = 1/2) coordination compound is subject to a Jahn–Teller (JT) distortion of its doubly degenerate 2E ground state. The electronic structure of this complex is analyzed by a combination of extended versions of the formal two-orbital pseudo Jahn–Teller (PJT) treatment and of quantum chemical computations of the PJT effect. The formal treatment is extended to incorporate mixing of the two e orbital doublets (30%) that results from a lowering of the idealized molecular symmetry from D3h to C3v through strong “doming” of the Fe–C3 core. Correspondingly we introduce novel DFT/CASSCF computational methods in the computation of electronic structure, which reveal a quadratic JT distortion and significant e–e mixing, thus reac...
Improved Resolution of Light-field Fluorescence with Scanning Bessel Beam Illumination

We apply deconvolution to light-field data acquired by light-field fluorescence microscopy with scanning Bessel-beam illumination to enhance resolution of 3D images. We demonstrate enhanced axial resolution and correction of aberration due to refractive index mismatch.
Legal Aspects of Price Discrimination: Federal Law:

wo articles already have appeared in this series.1 In the first, price discrimination was defined, and it was demonstrated that discriminatory schemes are universal phenomena and that the practice is not necessarily socially harmful. It was pointed out that, although non-perfect competitive conditions are a prerequisite of price discrimination, the practice does not depend upon complete control of supply (monopoly). The second article was devoted mainly to classifications of various techniques which may be employed in the practice of price discrimination and the several purposes underlying its use. These two articles, in short, dealt with the subject of price discrimination largely in its marketing and economic aspects. It is now in order to examine the legal aspects of the subject; it should be possible, by so doing, to discover our public policy on price discrimination as expressed by our statutes and the court decisions arising therefrom. The present article and the one to follow are designed to accomplish this purpose. The current article deals largely with federal legislation serving to curb discriminatory pricing, and the final one covers state and municipal enactments having a similar purpose. A section on common law is provided in the present article as an introduction to the whole subject of price discrimination in relation to the law.
Larvae of Some Genera of Cossoninae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

The Cossoninae is a moderate-sized subfamily of the Curculionidae. The species placed in it are usually small and live rather obscurely in dead or dying wood or woody tissues. They are found frequently in the hard, dry sap wood exposed by scars on the sides of standing deciduous trees. In so far as can be ascertained from casual observations, the size or seriousness of the wound on the tree is not augmented in any way by the feeding, although the introduction of organisms causing rot may be hastened. The infestation in each of these scars, which may include two or three species of weevils living together, continues as long as sufficient nutriment remains to support the colony. Only a few of the species of the subfamily have an economic significance. Hexarthrum ulkei Horn is sometimes destructive to finished woodwork in buildings, the injury having much the same appearance as that caused by powder-post beetles of the families Anobiidae and Lyctidae. Pselactus spadix (Hbst.) is of somewhat less importance, but has been found in pilings and in damp woodwork under buildings.
A protocol of early aggressive acceleration of tube feeding increases ileus without perceptible benefit in severely burned patients

Optimal nutrition is essential to the recovery of burned patients. The authors evaluated the efficacy of an aggressive nutrition delivery protocol. The following protocol was implemented: initiation of tube feeds within 4 hours, acceleration to goal rate within 8 hours, and tolerance of gastric residual volumes of 400 ml. Patients on the protocol formed the study group whereas patients admitted immediately before implementation served as controls for a study period of 7 days after admission. Outcome variables included ileus, prokinetic medication use, intensive care unit and overall length of stay, ventilator days and mortality. Variables were compared using bivariate analysis. The 42 study subjects and 34 controls were similar at baseline. Time to initiation was similar (6.8 vs 9.4 hours; P = .226), however, goal rate was achieved much sooner in the study group (11.2 vs 20.9 hours; P < .001). Number of hours spent at goal was different on days 1 and 2 (6.62 vs 2.74, P = .003 and 17.24 vs 13.18, P = .032) with no difference thereafter. Residual volumes in the study group were higher from day 2 onward, and remained increased throughout the study period (401 vs 234 ml average; P = .449). Clinical ileus was much more common in the study group (8 cases vs 1, P = .037). There was no difference in length of stay or mortality. The protocol was successfully implemented and resulted in early achievement of goal tube feed rates. However, this resulted in tube feed intolerance as manifested by more cases of clinical ileus.
COMMERCIAL BEHAVIOUR OF SMALLHOLDER POTATO PRODUCERS: THE CASE OF KOMBOLCHAWOREDA, EASTERN PART OF ETHIOPIA

Meeting the challenge of improving rural incomes in Ethiopia will require some form of transformation of the subsistence, low-input and low-productivity farming systems to agricultural commercialization. In the process, commercial production of high value food crops like potato would have been expected. Nonetheless, in the study area, Kombolcha Woreda, the extent to which farmers have commercialized potato production was not known. This study was then undertaken to analyse the extent to which potato was oriented towards the market (denoted by commercialization index) and identify the factors affecting commercialization of potato. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 130 sample households from six sample kebeles. In the study, both primary and secondary data sources were used. Results showed that potato production was lucrative and semi-commercialized i.e. about 59.50% of the potato produce were sold. Moreover, the two limit-Tobit regression model results indicated that non/off farm income, access to information, access to improved seed and access to irrigation affect proportion of the value of potato sold positively and significantly while number of plots affects it negatively. Hence, policies should emphasis on reducing land fragmentation, creating awareness on non/off farm employment, and offer improved seeds and irrigation facilities to farmers and access information.
The comparison of glycosphingolipids isolated from an epithelial ovarian cancer cell line and a nontumorigenic epithelial ovarian cell line using MALDI-MS and MALDI-MS/MS.

Glycosphingolipids (GSLs) are important biomolecules, which are linked to many diseases such as GSL storage disorders and cancer. Consequently, the expression of GSLs may be altered in ovarian cancer cell lines in comparison to apparently healthy cell lines. Here, differential expressions of GSLs in an epithelial ovarian cancer cell line SKOV3 and a nontumorigenic epithelial ovarian cell line T29 were studied using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) and MALDI-MS/MS. The isolation of GSLs from SKOV3 and T29 cell lines was carried out using Folch partition. GSLs were successfully detected by MALDI-MS, and structurally assigned by a comparison of their MALDI-MS/MS fragmentation patterns with MS/MS data found in SimLipid database. Additionally, LIPID MAPS was used to assign GSL ion masses in MALDI-MS spectra. Seventeen neutral GSLs were identified in Folch partition lower (chloroform/methanol) phases originating from both cell lines, while five globo series neutral GSLs were identified only in the Folch partition lower phase of SKOV3 cell line. Several different sialylated GSLs were detected in Folch partition upper (water/methanol) phases of SKOV3 and T29 cell lines. Overall, this study demonstrates the alteration and increased glycosylation of GSLs in an epithelial ovarian cancer cell line in comparison to a nontumorigenic epithelial ovarian cell line.
Multi-Physics Demonstration Problem with the SHARP Reactor Simulation Toolkit

This report describes to employ SHARP to perform a first-of-a-kind analysis of the core radial expansion phenomenon in an SFR. This effort required significant advances in the framework Multi-Physics Demonstration Problem with the SHARP Reactor Simulation Toolkit used to drive the coupled simulations, manipulate the mesh in response to the deformation of the geometry, and generate the necessary modified mesh files. Furthermore, the model geometry is fairly complex, and consistent mesh generation for the three physics modules required significant effort. Fully-integrated simulations of a 7-assembly mini-core test problem have been performed, and the results are presented here. Physics models of a full-core model of the Advanced Burner Test Reactor have also been developed for each of the three physics modules. Standalone results of each of the three physics modules for the ABTR are presented here, which provides a demonstration of the feasibility of the fully-integrated simulation.
Comparison of three-dimensional particle tracking and sizing using plenoptic imaging and digital in-line holography

Digital in-line holography (DIH) and plenoptic photography are two techniques for single-shot, volumetric measurement of 3D particle fields. Here we present a comparison of the two methods by applying plenoptic imaging to experimental configurations that have been previously investigated with DIH. These experiments include the tracking of secondary droplets from the impact of a water drop on a thin film of water and tracking of pellets from a shotgun. Both plenoptic imaging and DIH successfully quantify the 3D nature of these particle fields. This includes measurement of the 3D particle position, individual particle sizes, and three-component velocity vectors. For the initial processing methods presented here, both techniques give out-of-plane positional accuracy of approximately 1–2 particle diameters. For a fixed image sensor, digital holography achieves higher effective in-plane spatial resolutions. However, collimated and coherent illumination makes holography susceptible to image distortion through index of refraction gradients, as demonstrated in the shotgun experiments. In contrast, plenoptic imaging allows for a simpler experimental configuration and, due to the use of diffuse, white-light illumination, plenoptic imaging is less susceptible to image distortion in the shotgun experiments.
Going West and Going Out: discourses, migrants, and models in Chinese development

AbstractIn 1999 China announced the launching of the Open up the West campaign, sometimes called “Going West,” to help western China finally catch up to the much wealthier eastern, coastal areas after several decades of lagging behind. The same year, China also announced a “Going Out” strategy to encourage Chinese investment abroad. The 15 years since then have witnessed dramatic Chinese government investment in various development activities in western regions of China, as well as around the world. Though rarely considered together, we argue that there are significant parallels in development discourse, the centrality of physical infrastructure, the characteristics of Chinese labor migration and the nature of migrant-local relations, and the application of “models from elsewhere” in Going West and Going Out. Considering these parallels can help shed light on Chinese development discourse and practice, as China becomes increasingly important in the field of development once dominated by Western countries....
Fine Families and a Forgotten Past: The New Narrative

This chapter analyzes the new post-racial narrative among interviewees. Interviewees voiced a set of themes that seemed carefully constructed to disassociate themselves from the racism of Birmingham’s past. Many expressed sympathy and regret for the treatment of the black girls who desegregated their class in their senior year. Others spoke positively of black neighbors. These white Southerners maintain that they accept others regardless of skin color. Yet many felt free to switch narratives and disparage blacks who do not conform to white middle-class culture.
Low Dose Busulfan Is Associated with Bronchiolitis Obliterans Syndrome Following Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation.

Abstract 3128 Rationale: Bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) is the most common late non-infectious pulmonary complication following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). The prevalence is estimated to be between 5–10% after allogeneic HSCT with a significant increase in morbidity and mortality. We conducted a retrospective case control study to evaluate the associations between patients with BOS and those who did not develop airflow obstruction or symptoms. Methods: Between January 1st 2000 and June 30th 2010 all patients who underwent an allogeneic HSCT at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/Brigham and Women9s Hospital (n=1854) were screened for the development of BOS, using a modified NIH diagnostic criteria. BOS was defined as 1) new onset airflow obstruction, FEV1/FVC ratio ≤0.7 and FEV1 Results: We identified 89 subjects meeting our diagnostic criteria for BOS with a prevalence of 4.8%. The median time from transplantation to meeting criteria for BOS was 491 days (range: 48–2067). Univariate analysis demonstrated that BOS was significantly associated with previously reported risk factors including age, pre-transplantation PFT9s, high risk disease, source of peripheral blood stem cells, unrelated donor, history of respiratory infection prior to day 100, and busulfan based conditioning regimens. (all p Conclusion: Our findings extend those from prior reports of risk factors associated with BOS. Our results demonstrate that busulfan, even when used at lower doses in reduced intensity conditioning transplantation, confers an increased risk for BOS. Future studies in prospective cohorts will be important to confirm these findings. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Intermittent Preventive Treatment (IPT): Its Role in Averting Disease-Induced Mortality in Children and in Promoting the Spread of Antimalarial Drug Resistance

We develop an age-structured ODE model to investigate the role of intermittent preventive treatment (IPT) in averting malaria-induced mortality in children, and its related cost in promoting the spread of antimalarial drug resistance. IPT, a malaria control strategy in which a full curative dose of an antimalarial medication is administered to vulnerable asymptomatic individuals at specified intervals, has been shown to reduce malaria transmission and deaths in children and pregnant women. However, it can also promote drug resistance spread. Our mathematical model is used to explore IPT effects on drug resistance and deaths averted in holoendemic malaria regions. The model includes drug-sensitive and drug-resistant strains as well as human hosts and mosquitoes. The basic reproduction, and invasion reproduction numbers for both strains are derived. Numerical simulations show the individual and combined effects of IPT and treatment of symptomatic infections on the prevalence of both strains and the number of lives saved. Our results suggest that while IPT can indeed save lives, particularly in high transmission regions, certain combinations of drugs used for IPT and to treat symptomatic infection may result in more deaths when resistant parasite strains are circulating. Moreover, the half-lives of the treatment and IPT drugs used play an important role in the extent to which IPT may influence spread of the resistant strain. A sensitivity analysis indicates the model outcomes are most sensitive to the reduction factor of transmission for the resistant strain, rate of immunity loss, and the natural clearance rate of sensitive infections.
2016 William Allan Award Introduction: James Gusella.

Good evening. The Allan Award is our society’s oldest and highest honor. It was established in 1961 in memory of William Allan (1881–1943), who was one of the first American physicians to conduct extensive research into human genetics in his practice in North Carolina.
Safety and utility of magnetic resonance imaging in patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices

Background Off-label magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for patients with cardiac implantable electrical devices has been limited owing to concerns about safety and unclear diagnostic and prognostic utility. Objective The purpose of this study was to define major and minor adverse events with off-label MRI scans. Methods We prospectively evaluated patients with non–MRI-conditional cardiac implantable electrical devices referred for MRI scans under a strict clinical protocol. The primary safety outcome was incidence of major adverse events (loss of pacing, inappropriate shock or antitachycardia pacing, need for system revision, or death) or minor adverse events (inappropriate pacing, arrhythmias, power-on-reset events, heating at the generator site, or changes in device parameters at baseline or at 6 months). Results A total of 189 MRI scans were performed in 123 patients (63.1% [78] men; median age 70 ± 18.5 years; 56.9% [70] patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators; 33.3% [41] pacemaker-dependent patients) predominantly for brain or spinal conditions. A minority of scans (22.7% [43]) were performed for urgent or emergent indications. Major adverse events were rare: 1 patient with loss of pacing, no deaths, or system revisions (overall rate 0.5%; 95% confidence interval 0.01–2.91). Minor adverse events were similarly rare (overall rate 1.6%; 95% confidence interval 0.3–4.6). Nearly all studies (98.4% [186]) were interpretable, while 75.1% [142] were determined to change management according to the prespecified criteria. No clinically significant changes were observed in device parameters acutely after MRI or at 6 months as compared with baseline across all patient and device categories. Conclusion Off-label MRI scans performed under a strict protocol demonstrated excellent short- and medium-term safety while providing interpretable imaging that frequently influenced clinical care.
Sample Size Estimation for On-Site Creel Surveys

AbstractConducting sample size analysis is important to ensure that sample sizes are adequate to meet objectives for precision but not so large that valuable resources are wasted. When simple survey designs are used, sample size analysis is straightforward. However, creel surveys often follow complex designs that can make sample size estimation difficult. The objectives of this study were to provide sample size estimators for commonly used creel survey designs and investigate sample size requirements to achieve varying levels of precision. For estimates of angling effort, the average sample size among fisheries required to achieve relative 95% confidence intervals of 40% (i.e., coefficient of variation of approximately 0.2) was 16 d (range = 7–40 d). To estimate mean catch rate with the same level of precision, 43 survey days (range = 8–95 d) were required when the daily catch rate estimator was used, and 11 d (range = 3–30 d) were required when the multi-day estimator was used. Fifty-five days (range = 1...
Power-sharing ‘discontinuities’: Legitimacy, rivalry, and credibility:

Power-sharing arrangements between a leader and a popular outsider can be mutually beneficial and threatening. The literature has focused primarily on the former’s trade-off where a leader gains le...
Constrained control of input–output linearizable systems using control sharing barrier functions

Abstract Control barrier functions (CBFs) have been used as an effective tool for designing a family of controls that ensures the forward invariance of a set. When multiple CBFs are present, it is important that the set of controls satisfying all the barrier conditions is non-empty. In this paper, we investigate such a control-sharing property for multiple CBFs and provide sufficient and necessary conditions for the property to hold. Based on that, we study the tracking control design problem of an input–output linearizable system with multiple time-varying output constraints, where the output constraints are encoded as CBFs and the barrier conditions are expressed as hard constraints in a quadratic program (QP) whose feasibility is guaranteed by the control-sharing property of the CBFs. With the controller generated from the QP, the output constraints are always satisfied and the tracking objective is achieved when it is not conflicting with the constraints. The effectiveness of our control design method is illustrated by two examples.
The importance of understanding manufacturing distributions in simulating manufactured performance of optical systems

Manufactured system performance analysis routines are built into several optical design software programs. These programs have limited abilities to change the probability distribution function of the tolerances. At Corning Incorporated, Advanced Optics, in-house analysis software is used which allows the distribution function of different tolerances to be customized. These simulation tools are capable of accurately modeling the distribution functions from the internal optical fabrication capabilities of Corning. This case study demonstrates the change in performance outcomes due to distribution functions and the importance of knowing the manufacturing distribution functions of the optical fabrication house used.
A QUEST FOR UNFETTERED CREDIT: HOW MONETARY POLICY DRIVES CREDIT RISK TRANSFER OF STRUCTURED FINANCE PRODUCTS

This study examines the effects of monetary policy contractions on bank loans to households and firms and instruments in three different credit risk transfer (CRT) capital markets over two separate time periods (1995–2006 and 2007–2015). The findings show that in both periods, banks decrease business lending but increase lending to consumers through a combination of mortgage, auto, credit card, and student loans from more liquidity produced by consumer‐related CRT activity. Additional results reveal relative CRT movements toward securitized mortgages from bank mortgage debt over both periods and toward securitized and insured business loans from bank business debt in the latter period, which suggest vulnerabilities among interconnected credit markets. (JEL E44, E51, G21, G23)
Stock Returns and the Tone of Marketplace Information: Does Context Matter?

The author provides empirical evidence that marketplace context matters for understanding stock price behavior. Investor sentiment, as measured by the informational tone of stock market reports fro...
Control of Energy Flow Dynamics between Tetracene Ligands and PbS Quantum Dots by Size Tuning and Ligand Coverage

We have prepared a series of samples with the ligand 6,13-bistri(iso-propyl)silylethynyl tetracene 2-carboxylic acid (TIPS-Tc-COOH) attached to PbS quantum dot (QD) samples of three different sizes in order to monitor and control the extent and time scales of energy flow after photoexcitation. Fast energy transfer (∼1 ps) to the PbS QD occurs upon direct excitation of the ligand for all samples. The largest size QD maintains the microsecond exciton lifetime characteristic of the as-prepared oleate terminated PbS QDs. However, two smaller QD sizes with lowest exciton energies similar to or larger than the TIPS-Tc-COO− triplet energy undergo energy transfer between QD core and ligand triplet on nanosecond to microsecond timescales. For the intermediate size QDs in particular, energy can be recycled many times between ligand and core, but the triplet remains the dominant excited species at long times, living for ∼3 μs for fully exchanged QDs and up to 30 μs for partial ligand exchange, which is revealed as a...
Plastic Surgery Overseas: How Much Should a Physician Risk in the Pursuit of Higher-Quality Continuity of Care?

Medical tourism creates an ethical dilemma for domestic physicians who wish to provide continuity of care but avoid liability in a malpractice suit.
Chemical reactions in soils that affect iron availability to plants. A quantative approach

Chemical reactions in soils largely determine the availability of Fe to plants. The solubility of Fe in soils can best be expressed as: Fe(OH)3(soil-Fe) + 3H+ ⇌ Fe3+ + 3H2O having a log K° value of 2.70. This solubility constant is 0.84 log units less than that of freshly precipitated amorphous Fe(OH)3, and approximately 2.7 log units more soluble than goethite and hematite. Hydrolysis species of Fe3+ raise total soluble Fe to approximately 10-10.4 M in calcareous soils, but plants growing in soils require approximately 10-8 M soluble Fe. Without some modifying mechanism, most plants would show Fe deficiencies when growing in media above pH 5.0.
Neural Network Model for Dissolved Oxygen Control in a Batch Fermenter

Abstract This work is to study the application of neural network model in self-learning control for batch process. A neural network model is developed to simulate the empirical control strategies using by a control engineer. The process system status and time varying set-point values are treated as input variables of the model. The manipulated variables are used as output variables. A moving-average method is used to describe the batch process dynamics and to condense the past history of process responses. Both efficiency and effectiveness of our neural network model are validated by plentiful experimental data from an E. Colt hatch fermenter.
Reliability of chemoreceptor cell response. I: Intensity coding by pattern and response magnitude with a comparison of analytical methods

1. To determine reliability of stimulus intensity coding we measured the response variability of 30 hydroxy-L-proline sensitive chemoreceptor cells from antennules of Homarus americanus. First, cells were tested with 5 repeated presentations of 10-5M and l0-4M hydroxy-L-proline. Then a stimulus response function was determined in each cell from l0-6to 5 × l0-4M in half log steps. 2. Population mean responses to repetitive stimulation showed little variability and mean stimulus response functions increased monotonically. In contrast, most individual cells showed a high response variability and no single cell stimulus-response function increased monotonically. The greatest response variability occurred between different cells. 3. Mean response magnitude of a 30 cell population allowed reliable discrimination between 10-5M and l0-4M hydroxy-L-proline for each of the 5 repetitions. It also allowed discrimination of all concentrations of hydroxy-L-proline tested. Across-fiber response patterns also differed significantly with concentration while they remained relatively stable with repetition of the same stimulus. 4. We applied different analytical methods to test the reliability of response magnitude and across-fiber pattern as possible codes for intensity discrimination. We demonstrated that a random population of rather unreliable receptor cells could provide remarkably reliable intensity information to the CNS based on response magnitude or across-fiber pattern.
Gastric access temporary for endoscopy (GATE): a proposed algorithm for EUS-directed transgastric ERCP in gastric bypass patients.

Performing endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in patients with Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) anatomy is technically challenging. Device-assisted enteroscopy and laparoscopic-assisted methods suffer from high failure rates and/or post-procedural complications. A novel endoscopic technique termed EUS-Directed Transgastric ERCP (EDGE) or Gastric Access Temporary for Endoscopy (GATE) has recently emerged, demonstrating excellent technical and therapeutic success. The technique involves endoscopic ultrasound-guided deployment of a lumen-apposing metal stent (LAMS) to gain access into the remnant stomach to facilitate standard ERCP. In this case series, we describe our center’s experience and unique approach with the GATE procedure and discuss several key strategies and differences. Patients underwent the GATE procedure via a novel algorithmic approach. Key information on procedural details, technical and clinical success, follow-up, and adverse events was prospectively collected and retrospectively reviewed. 10 patients underwent the GATE procedure from May 2017 to March 2018. Technical and clinical success were both 100%. Gastric and jejunal access points for LAMS deployment were 30% and 70%, respectively. Total procedure time per patient, including LAMS deployment, ERCP, and all follow-up procedures, averaged 2.37 ± 0.63 h. 2 out of 10 patients (20%) had adverse events that were resolved either intra-procedurally or after repeat endoscopy with no long-term complications and none requiring surgery. For patients with complete follow-up (n = 7), access tract closure rate was 100% with the aid of a temporary plastic double pigtail stent to facilitate closure. GATE appears to be a safe and effective procedure and may be considered the preferred approach to ERCP in patients with RYGB anatomy at centers with LAMS experience. The procedure offers more definitive and higher range of ERCP interventions compared to traditional methods and is associated with fewer adverse events. Improvements in strategies and methods with the GATE technique may reduce risks and improve outcomes.
Bisphosphonate use and incident cardiovascular events among older breast cancer survivors.

Abstract Background Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of mortality in early-stage breast cancer survivors. Recent studies suggest that bisphosphonates may decrease CVD risk in older patients. Objective This study sought to assess whether bisphosphonate use is associated with lower rates of incident CVD events among early-stage breast cancer survivors. Methods Longitudinal, population-based cohort study was conducted by using data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results registry linked to Medicare claims. We identified women >65 years with no history of CVD who were diagnosed with stage 0-III primary breast cancer between 2007 and 2010. Our primary outcome was a composite of incident angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, atrial fibrillation/flutter, heart failure, or stroke within 36 months of cancer diagnosis. Bisphosphonate use was defined as the presence of ≥1 pharmacy claim from 6 months prior to cancer diagnosis to the incident CVD event. We used propensity scores to create a matched group of breast cancer survivors without bisphosphonate exposure to compare rates of incident CVD events. Results A total of 2178 breast cancer survivors had ≥1 bisphosphonate prescription; the average length of bisphosphonate use was 15 months. Analyses of the matched data showed that 13.0% of bisphosphonate users and 23.4% of non-bisphosphonate users experienced an incident CVD event (p Conclusions Bisphosphonate use is associated with lower incidence of CVD events among older early-stage breast cancer survivors. Future studies should prospectively evaluate whether bisphosphonate use can decrease CVD incidence.
Enantioselective two-phase hydrogenation of α-amino acid precursors with water soluble rhodium complexes of the cationic ligand (S,S)-2,4-bis[bis-(p-N,N,N-trimethylammoniumphenyl)phosphino]pentane, [CH3CH(P(p-C6H4NMe3)2CH2CH(P(p-C6H4NMe3)2CH3]4+

Rhodium complexes of the chiral cationic phosphine, (S,S)-2,4-bis[bis-(p-N,N.N-trimethyl-ammoniumphenyl)phosphino]pentane show excellent enantioselectivity for the hydrogenation of the DOPA precursor. (Z)-3-OMe,4-OAcC6H3CHC(COOH)(NHCOCH3), and dehydro-phenylalanineacetamide as slurries in water. The catalytic reactions may be done in either a two-phase system with the catalyst in the aqueous phase or as a slurry in water provided the substrates have some water solubility. Enantioselectivities of as high as 95% can be obtained.
Heart Failure Re-Admissions: Impact of a Specialized Resident Task Force in Year Two of a Performance Improvement Project

Background Heart failure (HF) is a complex disorder that imposes substantial patient burden and entails much health care costs. Nationwide, 30 day re-admissions for HF are tracked and serve as a measure of quality of care. Efforts to minimize HF related hospital re-admissions have generally had mixed results. Hypothesis Development of a specialized, experienced team of internal medicine residents trained to educate and counsel HF patients will enhance their knowledge of the disease, improve self-care and reduce hospital re-admissions in those admitted with acute decompensated HF. Methods In August 2017 a team of 9 Internal Medicine residents were recruited to create a Specialized Resident Force (SRF). The team was expanded to 20 residents in August 2018; they received individual hands-on training sessions in counseling hospitalized HF patients from a mentor weekly initially, later monthly. Patients with HF were counseled by the SRF on diet, activity, medication use, weight monitoring and outpatient follow-up. Demographic data, comorbidities and HF specific data was gathered. Patient's cognition was evaluated. If cognitively impaired, education was offered to caregiver, if available. A tool helped document data; a booklet on HF education, counseling by the resident and a 2 page summary script were offered to patients. Other disciplines (nurse, nutritionist, cardiologist, social worker) had roles in the project. Results Enhanced SRF education was provided to 171 patients with HF between August 2018 and January 2019. Education provided by SRF resulted in declines in 30 day all cause readmissions following index HF admission (Table 1). Observations by mentor suggested enhanced practical knowledge base of SRF trainees as a result of participation. Conclusions A Specialized Resident Force with support from other disciplines helped reduce and maintain low 30 day HF hospital re-admissions consistently over a 6 month period. The project help residents acquire expertise in PI activity while also enhancing their real life experience in managing HF patients.
Impact of Suction-Assisted Laryngoscopy and Airway Decontamination Technique on Intubation Quality Metrics in a Helicopter Emergency Medical Service: An Educational Intervention.

Abstract Objective Suction-assisted laryngoscopy and airway decontamination (SALAD) was created to assist with the decontamination of a massively soiled airway. This study aims to investigate the usefulness of SALAD training to prehospital emergency providers to improve their ability to intubate a massively contaminated airway. Methods This was a prospective study conducted as a before and after teaching intervention. Participants were made up of prehospital providers who were present at regularly scheduled training sessions and were asked to intubate a high-fidelity mannequin simulating large-volume emesis before and after SALAD instruction. They were subsequently tested on 3-month skill retention. Twenty subjects participated in all stages of the study and were included in the analysis. Results The median time to successful intubation for all study participants before instruction was 60.5 seconds (interquartile range [IQR] = 44.0-84.0); post-training was 43.0 seconds (IQR = 38.0-57.5); and at the 3-month follow-up, it was 29.5 seconds (IQR = 24.5-39.0). The greatest improvement was seen on subgroup analysis of the slowest 50th percentile where the median time before instruction was 84.0 seconds (IQR = 68.0-96.0); post-instruction was 41.5 seconds (IQR = 36.0-65.0); and at the 3-month follow-up, it was 29.5 seconds (IQR = 25.0-39.0). Conclusion The implementation of the SALAD technique through a structured educational intervention improved time to intubation and the total number of attempts.
Cortical Representations of Visual Stimuli Shift Locations with Changes in Memory States

Summary Episodic memory retrieval is thought to rely on reactivation of the same content-sensitive neural activity patterns initially expressed during memory encoding.1–6 Yet there are emerging examples of content representations expressed in different brain regions during encoding versus retrieval.7–14 Although these differences have been observed by comparing encoding and retrieval tasks that differ in terms of perceptual experience and cognitive demands, there are many real-world contexts—e.g., meeting a new colleague who reminds you of an old acquaintance—where the memory system might be intrinsically biased either toward encoding (the new colleague) or retrieval (the old acquaintance).1516 Here, we test whether intrinsic memory states, independent of task demands, determine the cortical location of content representations. In a human fMRI study, subjects (n = 33) viewed object images and were instructed to either encode the current object or retrieve a similar object from memory. Using pattern classifiers, we show that biases toward encoding versus retrieval were reflected in large-scale attentional networks.17–19 Critically, memory states decoded from these networks—even when entirely independent from task instructions—predicted shifts of object representations from visual cortex (encoding) to ventral parietal cortex (retrieval). Finally, visual versus ventral parietal cortices exhibited differential connectivity with the hippocampus during memory encoding versus retrieval, consistent with the idea that the hippocampus mediates cortical shifts in content representations. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that intrinsic biases toward memory encoding versus retrieval determine the specific cortical locations that express content information.
LC3B phosphorylation regulates FYCO1 binding and directional transport of autophagosomes

Macroautophagy (hereafter referred to as autophagy) is a conserved process that promotes cellular homeostasis through the degradation of cytosolic components, also known as cargo. During autophagy, cargo is sequestered into double-membrane vesicles called autophagosomes, which are predominantly transported in the retrograde direction to the perinuclear region to fuse with lysosomes, thus ensuring cargo degradation.1 The mechanisms regulating directional autophagosomal transport remain unclear. The ATG8 family of proteins associates with autophagosome membranes2 and plays key roles in autophagy, including the movement of autophagosomes. This is achieved via the association of ATG8 with adaptor proteins like FYCO1, involved in the anterograde transport of autophagosomes toward the cell periphery.1,3-5 We previously reported that phosphorylation of LC3B/ATG8 on threonine 50 (LC3B-T50) by the Hippo kinase STK4/MST1 is required for autophagy through unknown mechanisms.6 Here, we show that STK4-mediated phosphorylation of LC3B-T50 reduces the binding of FYCO1 to LC3B. In turn, impairment of LC3B-T50 phosphorylation decreases starvation-induced perinuclear positioning of autophagosomes as well as their colocalization with lysosomes. Moreover, a significantly higher number of LC3B-T50A-positive autophagosomes undergo aberrant anterograde movement to axonal tips in mammalian neurons and toward the periphery of mammalian cells. Our data support a role of a nutrient-sensitive STK4-LC3B-FYCO1 axis in the regulation of the directional transport of autophagosomes, a key step of the autophagy process, via the post-translational modification of LC3B.
Comprehensive assessment of the effect of eye plaque tilt on tumor dosimetry.

Abstract PURPOSE: Tilting of the posterior plaque margin during eye plaque brachytherapy can lead to tumor underdosing and increased risk of local recurrence. We performed a quantitative analysis of the dosimetric effects of plaque tilt as a function of tumor position, basal dimension, height and plaque type using 3D treatment planning software. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Posterior and anterior tumors with largest basal dimensions of 6, 12 and 18 mm and heights of 4, 7 and 10 mm were modeled. Both Eye Physics and COMS plaques were simulated and uniformly loaded. Plans were normalized to 85 Gy at the tumor apex. Posterior plaque tilts of 1, 2, 3 and 4 mm were simulated. RESULTS: Volumetric coverage is more sensitive to tilt than the area coverage. Wide, flat tumors are more susceptible to tilt. Apical dose changed significantly as a function of tumor height and diameter. No other parameter exhibited significant differences. Posterior tumors are slightly more susceptible to tilt due to the use of notched plaques. Plaque type does not significantly alter the effect of plaque tilt. CONCLUSIONS: Wide, flat tumors are the most susceptible to plaque tilt. Tumor location or plaque type does not have a significant effect on dosimetry changes from plaque tilt. Robust clinical procedures such as the use of mattress sutures, pre- and post-implant ultrasound and post-implant dosimetry can all mitigate the risk associated with plaque tilt.
Brigham and Women's Hospital tumor classification system for basal cell carcinoma identifies patients with risk of metastasis and death

Background Despite approximately 4400 locally advanced US cases annually, high-stage basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is ill-defined. Objective To develop a tumor (T) staging system for BCC that will predict metastasis/death and compare its performance with that of the American Joint Committee on Cancer 8th edition (AJCC8) T-staging system. Methods Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) T staging was developed from a previously published nested cohort of 488 primary BCCs. Tumors were staged via BWH and AJCC8 T-staging systems, and predictions of metastasis and/or death were compared. Results The BWH and AJCC8 T-staging systems both captured all metastases/deaths in high T stages (BWH, T2; AJCC8, T3/T4). BWH T2 included 54% fewer cases ≥2 cm than AJCC8 T3/T4. BWH had a higher specificity (0.92 vs 0.80; P Limitations Two-center cohort. Conclusions BWH and AJCC 8 BCC staging both capture all metastases and deaths in the upper stages. However, BWH staging does so in half the number of cases, thus minimizing inappropriate up-staging. The risk of metastasis or death in BWH T2 BCC is sufficient to warrant surveillance for recurrence and clinical trials of adjuvant therapy.
Forest restoration is forward thinking

R. Kasten Dumroese, Brian J. Palik, and John A. Stanturf I t is not surprising to us that the topic of forest restoration is being discussed in the Journal of Forestry. It is a topic frequently bantered about in the literature; a quick search in Google Scholar for “forest restoration” generates more than 1 million hits. A significant portion of the debate centers on the search for succinct, holistic, universally accepted terminology, and we confess that we have recently contributed to that effort (Stanturf et al. 2014a, 2014b). Given the lack of consensus on definitions for each word, forest and
Multiscale Bayesian estimation in Pairwise Markov Trees

An important problem in multiresolution analysis of signals and images consists in estimating hidden random variables (r.v.) x = {x s } s∨S from observed ones y = {y s } s∨S . This is done classically in the context of Hidden Markov Trees (HMT). In particular, a smoothing Kalman-like algorithm has been proposed by Chou et al. in the linear Gaussian case. In this paper we extend this algorithm to the more general framework of Pairwise Markov Trees (PMT).
Case Studies of Future Teachers: Learning to Teach with Technology

This longitudinal research study explores preservice teachers’ developing vision of technology in teaching and learning. Participants include eight teacher education students enrolled in one of three consecutive educational technology courses. Qualitative methods were used, to analyze data, and tentative assertions have emerged related to a developing vision of teaching with technology: expectations for teaching with technology perceived challenges of technology, questioning classroom uses of technology and the driving development of a technology-rich program by education students.
An adaptive fuzzy neural based controller and its application to smart structures

This paper introduces a fuzzy neural based adaptive controller for simultaneous stabilization and robust performance of a family of plants. The family of plants may be attained from linearization of a nonlinear plant around different operating points or large parameter variations in a given plant. The main idea is to design a sequence of controllers corresponding to the different plants utilizing any standard control design. Thereafter, the obtained controllers will form the basis of the knowledge base of a fuzzy controller capable of deriving a desired crisp output through its inference engine. A neural network is utilized to derive a fuzzy model of the plant and to generate the rule base for the fuzzy logic controller through training. The effectiveness of this new scheme is verified on a smart structure with piezoceramic sensors and actuators.
Mathematical Model of Foraging in a Group of Robots: Effect of Interference

In multi-robot applications, such as foraging or collection tasks, interference, which results from competition for space between spatially extended robots, can significantly affect the performance of the group. We present a mathematical model of foraging in a homogeneous multi-robot system, with the goal of understanding quantitatively the effects of interference. We examine two foraging scenarios: a simplified collection task where the robots only collect objects, and a foraging task, where they find objects and deliver them to some pre-specified “home” location. In the first case we find that the overall group performance improves as the system size growss however, interference causes this improvement to be sublinear, and as a result, each robot's individual performance decreases as the group size increases. We also examine the full foraging task where robots collect objects and deliver them home. We find an optimal group size that maximizes group performance. For larger group sizes, the group performance declines. However, again due to the effects of interference, the individual robot's performance is a monotonically decreasing function of the group size. We validate both models by comparing their predictions to results of sensor-based simulations in a multi-robot system and find good agreement between theory and simulations data.
Recent Advances in the Problem of Three Bodies

These lectures discuss the persistently inherent instability dominating the dynamical behavior of three gravitationally interacting point masses. The masses of the participating bodies are of the same order of magnitude and their mutual distances are arbitrary.
Tool Support for Improving Test Coverage

Testing is a critical part of the software-engineering process. Coverage tools provide information about which components are exercised by a test suite, but they do not assist programmers with the important problem of how to increase coverage. We propose a tool to address that problem: Using the program's control and flow dependences, the tool helps programmers determine where to focus their efforts, and how to force a chosen component to be exercised.