cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Efficient tuning of siRNA dose response by combining mixed polymer nanocarriers with simple kinetic modeling.

Abstract Two of the most prominent challenges that limit the clinical success of siRNA therapies are a lack of control over cargo release from the delivery vehicle and an incomplete understanding of the link between gene silencing dynamics and siRNA dosing. Herein, we address these challenges through the formulation of siRNA polyplexes containing light-responsive polymer mixtures, whose varied compositions and triggered release behavior provide enhanced gene silencing and controlled dose responses that can be predicted by simple kinetic models. Through the straightforward mixing of two block copolymers, the level of gene knockdown was easily optimized to achieve the maximum level of GAPDH protein silencing in NIH/3T3 cells (~70%) using a single siRNA dose. The kinetic model was used to describe the dynamic changes in mRNA and protein concentrations in response to siRNA treatment. These predictions enabled the application of a second dose of siRNA to maximally suppress gene expression over multiple days, leading to a further 50% reduction in protein levels relative to those measured following a single dose. Furthermore, polyplexes remained dormant in cells until exposed to the photo-stimulus, demonstrating the complete control over siRNA activity as well as the stability of the nanocarriers. Thus, this work demonstrates that pairing advances in biomaterials design with simple kinetic modeling provides new insight into gene silencing dynamics and presents a powerful strategy to control gene expression through siRNA delivery. Statement of Significance Our manuscript describes two noteworthy impacts: (1) we designed mixed polymer formulations to enhance gene silencing, and (2) we simultaneously developed a simple kinetic model for determining optimal siRNA dose responses to maintain silencing over several days. These advances address critical challenges in siRNA delivery and provide new opportunities in therapeutics development. The structure-function relationships prevalent in these formulations were established to enable tuning and forecasting of nanocarrier efficiency a priori , leading to siRNA dosing regimens able to maximally suppress gene expression. Our advances are significant because the mixed polymer formulations provide a straightforward and scalable approach to tailor siRNA delivery regimens. Moreover, the implementation of accurate dosing frameworks addresses a major knowledge gap that has hindered clinical implementation of siRNA.
Theoretical Studies of the Structures of Molecular Ions

The prediction of the equilibrium geometries and stabilities of molecular ions is a major challenge to quantum chemistry. Although many ions are detectable by experimental techniques such as mass spectroscopy and although some information may be available on their heats of formation, experimental determination of structure is more difficult because of low concentrations and the amount of good data is relatively small. The techniques of ab initio molecular orbital theory, on the other hand, are as easily applied to ionic as neutral systems and, if they can be documented for reliability, such studies provide an independent approach to structural problems. In these lectures, the current level of development of molecular orbital theory will be described and some recent application to structural problems for small ions, particularly cations, will be reviewed.
Using population projections in climate change analysis

The two leading sources of long-range population projections, the United Nations (UN) and the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), currently disagree on the most likely end-of-the-century world population by over two billion people. Because climate change policy models are influenced by population uncertainty, this poses an underappreciated problem for analysts. Furthermore, long-range population projections have not been predictably stable over time and climate change policy models have not consistently used one set of population projections. This only increases the difficulty of comparing research results. Comparing the UN and IIASA population projections, the UN’s probabilistic population projections should be used with caution as they tend to understate the uncertainty in long-range population forecasts. Currently, the IIASA scenario projections are better suited to long-range climate change policy analysis. As a final recommendation, a simple demographic sub-model is proposed for use in cost-benefit climate change integrated assessment models that performs better than current alternatives.
Effects of electrode deactivation on speech recognition in multichannel cochlear implant recipients

Objectives: The objective of the current study is to evaluate how speech recognition performance is affected by the number of active electrodes that are turned off in multichannel cochlear implants. Several recent studies have demonstrated positive effects of deactivating stimulation sites based on an objective measure in cochlear implant processing strategies. Previous studies using an analysis of variance have shown that, on average, cochlear implant listeners’ performance does not improve beyond eight active electrodes. We hypothesized that using a generalized linear mixed model would allow for better examination of this question.Methods: Seven peri- and post-lingual adult cochlear implant users (eight ears) were tested on speech recognition tasks using experimental MAPs which contained either 8, 12, 16 or 20 active electrodes. Speech recognition tests included CUNY sentences in speech-shaped noise, TIMIT sentences in quiet as well as vowel (CVC) and consonant (CV) stimuli presented in quiet and in sig...
FAILURE OF SANITARY WELLS TO PROTECT AGAINST CHOLERA AND OTHER DIARRHŒAS IN BANGLADESH

Abstract Within an area of Bangladesh in which the incidence of cholera was high, use of sanitary pipe wells did not protect against cholera or related non-cholera diarrhœas because well users also used contaminated water sources regularly enough to maintain high infection-rates. Protection was found to correlate with education and wealth.
A First-order Prediction-Correction Algorithm for Time-varying (Constrained) Optimization

Abstract This paper focuses on the design of online algorithms based on prediction-correction steps to track the optimal solution of a time-varying constrained problem. Existing prediction-correction methods have been shown to work well for unconstrained convex problems and for settings where obtaining the inverse of the Hessian of the cost function can be computationally affordable. The prediction-correction algorithm proposed in this paper addresses the limitations of existing methods by tackling constrained problems and by designing a first-order prediction step that relies on the Hessian of the cost function. Analytical results are established to quantify the tracking error. Numerical simulations corroborate the analytical results and showcase the performance and benefits of the algorithms.
Under Vehicle Inspection with 3d Imaging

This research is motivated towards the deployment of intelligent robots for under vehicle inspection at check-points, gate-entry terminals and parking lots. Using multi-modality measurements of temperature, range, color, radioactivity and with future potential for chemical and biological sensors, our approach is based on a modular robotic “sensor brick” architecture that integrates multi-sensor data into scene intelligence in 3D virtual reality environments. The remote 3D scene visualization capability reduces the risk on close-range inspection personnel, transforming the inspection task into an unmanned robotic mission. Our goal in this chapter is to focus on the 3D range “sensor brick” as a vital component in this multi-sensor robotics framework and demonstrate the potential of automatic threat detection using the geometric information from the 3D sensors. With the 3D data alone, we propose two different approaches for the detection of anomalous objects as potential threats. The first approach is to perform scene verification using a 3D registration algorithm for quickly and efficiently finding potential changes to the undercarriage by comparing previously archived scans of the same vehicle. The second 3D shape analysis approach assumes availability of the CAD models of the undercarriage that can be matched with the scanned real data using a novel perceptual curvature variation measure (CVM). The definition of the CVM, that can be understood as the entropy of surface curvature, describes the under vehicle scene as a graph network of smooth surface patches that readily lends to matching with the graph description of the aprioriCAD data. By presenting results of real-time acquisition, visualization, scene verification and description, we emphasize the scope of 3D imaging over several drawbacks with present day inspection systems using mirrors and 2D cameras.
Obtaining Partial Solutions for Divergent State Estimation Problems in Large Power Systems

This paper describes implementation of a multi-area state estimation approach where a converged solution can be obtained for a large part of the network even if the conventional state estimator does not converge. This is accomplished by locating and isolating the area which contains the gross error that is responsible for divergence. The paper investigates and addresses two main issues, namely area partitioning and network observability. Simulation results are provided to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Yeast Derived LysA2 Can Control Bacterial Contamination in Ethanol Fermentation

Contamination of fuel-ethanol fermentations continues to be a significant problem for the corn and sugarcane-based ethanol industries. In particular, members of the Lactobacillaceae family are the primary bacteria of concern. Currently, antibiotics and acid washing are two major means of controlling contaminants. However, antibiotic use could lead to increased antibiotic resistance, and the acid wash step stresses the fermenting yeast and has limited effectiveness. Bacteriophage endolysins such as LysA2 are lytic enzymes with the potential to contribute as antimicrobials to the fuel ethanol industries. Our goal was to evaluate the potential of yeast-derived LysA2 as a means of controlling Lactobacillaceae contamination. LysA2 intracellularly produced by Pichia pastoris showed activity comparable to Escherichia coli produced LysA2. Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) with the A4α peptidoglycan chemotype (L-Lys-D-Asp crosslinkage) were the most sensitive to LysA2, though a few from that chemotype were insensitive. Pichia-expressed LysA2, both secreted and intracellularly produced, successfully improved ethanol productivity and yields in glucose (YPD60) and sucrose-based (sugarcane juice) ethanol fermentations in the presence of a LysA2 susceptible LAB contaminant. LysA2 secreting Sacharomyces cerevisiae did not notably improve production in sugarcane juice, but it did control bacterial contamination during fermentation in YPD60. Secretion of LysA2 by the fermenting yeast, or adding it in purified form, are promising alternative tools to control LAB contamination during ethanol fermentation. Endolysins with much broader lytic spectrums than LysA2 could supplement or replace the currently used antibiotics or the acidic wash.
“Un pueblo”: menosprecio de corte y alabanza de aldea en la poesía de Agustín Acosta

This article analyzes the poem “Un pueblo”, belonging to the book La zafra (1926) by the Cuban writer Agustin Acosta, in relation to the pastoral and brucolic poetry as well as nature, Cuban peasant, naturalism, and the country side, among other topics.
Infinite Dimensional Vector Spaces

Up to this point we have directed our attention to the consideration of finite dimensional vector spaces exclusively. While it is true that the basic concepts of the finite case are applicable for arbitrary spaces, it is not obvious that all of these are significant for spaces without finite bases.
Sinking SCHIP: A First Step toward Stopping the Growth of Government Health Programs

Federal lawmakers are considering legislation that could result in millions more middle-income families obtaining health insurance from government. Unfortunately, the debate over expansion of the State Children's Health Insurance Program is divorced from the reality of who truly needs assistance and the forces that are making health insurance increasingly unaffordable. SCHIP and its larger sibling Medicaid currently enroll many people who do not need government assistance, including some families of four earning up to $72,000 per year. That is a direct result of federal funding rules that reward states for making more Americans dependent on government for their health care. Rather than expand SCHIP, Congress should (1) make private health insurance more affordable by allowing consumers and employers to purchase less expensive policies from other states, and (2) fold federal Medicaid and SCHIP funding into block grants that no longer encourage states to open taxpayer-financed health care to non-needy families. With more Americans able to afford private insurance and no incentive for states to expand government programs beyond the truly needy, federal and state governments could reduce spending on those programs.
DEACYLATION OF PHOSPHOLIPIDS: PREREQUISITE FOR PROSTAGLANDIN SYNTHESIS BY TRANSFORMED FIBROBLASTS

Stimulations of prostaglandin production by serum, bradykinin, and thrombin are blocked by actinomycin D, cycloheximide, and other eukaryotic protein synthesis inhibitors, and anti-inflammatory steroids. The RNA and protein synthesis inhibitors do not affect cyclooxygenase activity in vitro or in vivo , nor do they affect the acylation of exogenous arachidonic acid into phospholipids. Serum-stimulated release of arachidonic acid and prostaglandins from [ H 3 ] arachidonic acid-labeled cells is inhibited by actinomycin D and cycloheximide, suggesting that RNA and protein synthesis are required for the release of arachidonic acid from cellular lipids.
Digital (or Virtual) Hoarding: Emerging Implications of Digital Hoarding for Computing, Psychology, and Organization Science

This article outlines hoarding issues involving virtual goods including databases, videos, images, avatars, and digital documents in workplaces, households, and personal contexts. It explores the i...
Numerical investigation of horizontal two-phase plug/bubble flows: Gravitational effect on hydrodynamic characteristics

Abstract This paper investigates hydrodynamic characteristics of horizontal gas–liquid plug/bubble flows under various gravity levels. A three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model based on the Volume of Fluid (VOF) approach, was developed and validated with experimental at normal gravity observations and previously published correlations in literature. The gravity levels used for the simulations include 2 g o (hyper), g o ( = 9 . 81 m/s earth), 0 . 38 g o (Mars), 0 . 17 g o (Moon), and 1 0 − 4 g o (microgravity). The simulations were conducted for two pairs of working fluids (air–water and air–oil) each for two different superficial velocities. Results indicate that the maximum time-averaged void fraction at selected tube cross-sections is shifted toward the center line at reduced gravity due to a decreased buoyancy force. At microgravity, axisymmetric bubbles exist at the center of the tube creating thin liquid films at the tube wall, while at hyper-gravity, a bubble is pushed to the top region of the tube, leaving a thick liquid film at the bottom. The time-averaged void fraction is slightly increased by reducing the gravity which indicates the volume of the gas phase slightly expands at reduced gravities. A simplified theoretical model predicts the onset of the gravity condition well in which a bubble detaches from the tube wall. Bubble detachment causes a slight increase in the translational velocity of gas bubbles. Pressure drop of gas–liquid plug/bubble flows shows a complex behavior as gravity is reduced from hyper ( 2 g o ) to micro ( 1 0 − 4 g o ) . However, for all of the two-phase flow conditions used in this study, the minimum pressure drop occurs near the normal-gravity.
Comparative Study of Maintenance Planning and Failure Modes of Drinking Water Projects: Case Studies from Eastern Uganda

In a rush to attain the Sustainable Development Goal 6 (clean drinking water and sanitation), many technology-based water and sanitation projects lack a long-term maintenance program, particularly when the organization initiating and/or sponsoring the project is not located near the implementation site. Since 2015, Burleson (lead author) conducted three field study efforts on community drinking water projects in Eastern Uganda. In the field, Burleson observed the consequences of both good and bad maintenance programs in drinking water projects, underpinning the importance of maintenance programming at the outset of the project. Additionally, Uganda's water supply strategy of decentralization with an emphasis on stakeholder engagement across public, private, and community-based entities is presented and analyzed, of which only one of the three Ugandan projects discussed in this paper appears to comply with. The other two projects did not follow the country's multi-stakeholder framework, nor did they incorporate sufficient long-term sustainability plans and thus the projects were terminated by default. The third Ugandan project did incorporate long-term sustainability planning from the outset and was still operational three years after inception. We discuss the success or lack thereof for these three case studies with respect to the aspects listed above within a framework of assessing failure modes, including a particular focus on planning for maintainability. We will compare the failure modes of these three projects to four other water development projects in the literature, and will relate the impact of such planning to observe its project termination or longevity.
Fractional permissions

Fractional permissions allow resource tracking type systems to give out multiple read accesses to the same resource without losing the ability to re-form a unique write access later. This paper describes the motivation for fractional permissions, and different fractional models including those for which fractional scaling is required. We describe a particular system of fractional permissions that uses scaling to support the technique of "nesting."
Cost of Military Eye Injury and Vision Impairment Related to Traumatic Brain Injury: 2001-2017.

Introduction Annual incidence of eye injury among members of the US armed services is high and can cause vision impairment and blindness. Traumatic brain injury is also associated with visual function. An estimate of the cost of treatment, benefits for those who are disabled, productivity loss for those with reduced vision function, and the cost of replacing and retraining others to take the responsibility of those who are discharged from the military will provide a benchmark to which to compare the cost of new methods to prevent, diagnose, mitigate, treat, and rehabilitate vision loss after injury. Materials and methods The modeling exercise used a combination of data from military websites, results previously published in the literature, and from other government websites. Data were combined to estimate the number of superficial injuries, the number of injuries with a high risk of blindness, the cost of medical care, the cost of disability benefits, and the cost of potential lost productivity. Results Over the time period in question, the average annual incidence of eye injury was 15,681 with 304 hospitalized and 298 at high risk of blindness. There were 4,394 annual TBI cases without injury to the eye but with visual impairment. The total cost of treatment, benefits, and potential lost productivity is $2.4 billion annually; $1.9 billion is associated with TBI. $11.7 million is associated with replacing and retraining members of the military. Conclusions The cost of eye injury and vision dysfunction in the military is substantial. The cost of potential productivity loss associated with TBI makes up the largest proportion of total costs. Developing new standards to enhance eye safety and limit TBI could be cost-effective. Cost analyses such as this study should prove helpful in determining the economic return on investments to prevent, mitigate, treat, and rehabilitate visual system injury.
A Time-Replacement Policy for Multistate Systems with Aging Components under Maintenance, from a Component Perspective

This study aims for multistate systems (MSSs) with aging multistate components (MSCs) to construct a time-replacement policy and thereby determine the optimal time to replace the entire system. The nonhomogeneous continuous time Markov models (NHCTMMs) quantify the transition intensities among the degradation states of each component. The dynamic system state probabilities are therefore assessed using the established NHCTMMs. Solving NHCTMMs is rather complicated compared to homogeneous continuous time Markov models (HCTMMs) in determining reliability related performance indexes. Often, traditional mathematics cannot acquire accurate explicit expressions, in particular, for multiple components that are involved in designed system configuration. To overcome this difficulty, this study uses Markov reward models and the bound approximation approach to assess rewards of MSSs with MSCs, including such things as total maintenance costs and the benefits of the system staying in acceptable working states. Accordingly, we established a long-run expected benefit (LREB) per unit time, representing overall MSS performance through a lifetime, to determine the optimal time to replace the entire system, at which time the LREB values are maximized. Finally, a simulated case illustrates the practicability of the proposed approach.
Introduction: The Science of Everyday Life

This chapter argues that Freud’s theories and practices can help us live better lives by applying the scientific method to everyday life. Although Freud resisted giving advice, and he focused on abnormal psychology, my goal is to show that we can take his ideas and apply them to how we understand our selves and the world around us in the twenty-first century. Not only can we live more rational and satisfying lives, but we can also overcome many of our political and social problems if we understand how reason, emotions, desires, and the unconscious work.
Measuring Worker Perfromace Within The Limits Of Employment Law In The Changing Workplace Environment of Industry 4.0

“Structural changes in economies driven by digitalization, demographic changes and migration are changing the shape of jobs and workplaces. Technological advances have the potential to deliver enormous benefits to society but will also have profound consequences on employment and the quality thereof.” The very issues created by corporate restructuring and changing workplace environments, with their infusion of new technology, also create emerging employment law issues in regulating the changes and in addressing the challenges in evaluating performance. An employee's workplace environment is said to be a key determinant of the quality of their work and their level of productivity. Familiar legal issues may arise, though perhaps with unfamiliar applications. Not all jobs fall under the changing labor market conditions; and for those cases, traditional evaluations may be aided with electronic technology for measuring and evaluating productivity and performance. But for those many workers, now and in the future working in a changing or alternative work environment, at home, in a different city, overseas, or in an ambiguous or joint employment relationship, questions of legal application of contractual wages and statutory benefits, safety and health requirements, workers compensation, and especially anti-discrimination laws arising from these performance evaluations may create novel situations in areas of still developing legal solutions. This paper addresses employment law implications of evaluating workers in the changing labor market regarding its workplace environment and uses of technology. Following Part I Introduction, Part II of the paper describes the changing workplace environment with its restructuring of companies and resulting changes in the employment relationship that raise issues of who is the evaluator of worker performance and by what means and by whose standards it is undertaken, as well as the role of technology and unions in that evaluative process. Part III examines the legal implications of a changing workplace environment and new technology on workers and performance. Part IV analyzes the relationship between the performance evaluations arising in the changing work environment and the labor and employment laws within which performance evaluations take place and suggests possible reforms of existing employment law and performance evaluation approaches. Part V concludes.
Oral vinorelbine (Navelbine) in the treatment of advanced breast cancer.

Vinorelbine (Navelbine; Burroughs Wellcome Co, Research Triangle Park, NC; Pierre Fabre Medicament, Paris, France) has been formulated as a liquid-filled, soft gelatin capsule. Pharmacokinetic studies of this agent indicate that it has a large volume of distribution, a long terminal half-life, and a high clearance rate. The pharmacokinetics of vinorelbine are similar whether the drug is administered orally or intravenously. Oral vinorelbine has a low bioavailability, which may be due to a high first-pass effect. Preliminary results from two multicenter phase II trials of oral vinorelbine in patients with advanced breast cancer are presented. In one study of 98 advanced breast cancer patients aged 65 years and older with limited prior therapy, the response rate of oral vinorelbine was 24% (complete response, 5%; partial response, 19%). In a study of 131 heavily pretreated patients with advanced breast cancer, the response rate of oral vinorelbine was 11% (complete response, 0%; partial response, 11%). In both studies, oral vinorelbine was generally well tolerated. As with intravenous administration, neutropenia is common and neuropathy is infrequent. In contrast to intravenous administration, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea are common. Based on these preliminary results, further clinical investigation of oral vinorelbine is warranted.
Application of Botulinum Neurotoxin in Female Sexual and Genitourinary Dysfunction: A Review of Current Practices.

Abstract Introduction The past 2 decades have witnessed an increased amount of research into botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) as a treatment for various forms of sexual dysfunction and pain syndromes refractory to other medical therapy. BoNT is postulated to reduce pain sensation by inhibiting neuropeptide release in the presynaptic neuron. Dyspareunia, vaginismus, vestibulodynia, and persistent genital arousal disorder are female sexual dysfunctions with cryptic pathophysiology and limited treatment options. BoNT has emerged as a potential treatment for many of these afflictions in women. Objectives To review the literature regarding BoNT as a treatment for female sexual and genitourinary dysfunction. Methods A PubMed search for English-language articles was performed using the following terms: “Botox,” “botulinum toxin,” “botulinum toxin A,” “Onabotulinum A,” “Abobutlinum A,” “BoNT,” and “BoNT-A.” The main outcomes measured by each study were resolution of dysfunction. This entailed reduction of pain with intercourse for dyspareunia, reduction of pain for vestibulodynia, decreased arousal for persistent genital arousal disorder, and ability to tolerate penetration for vaginismus. Results A total of 12 human studies that evaluated BoNT as a treatment for female sexual disorders were included. Study types included prospective, retrospective, cohort, pilot, and open-label. Conclusion There is growing evidence suggesting that BoNT is a safe and efficacious treatment option for female patients suffering from various sexual and genitourinary disorders. However, more research is needed to develop a better understanding of the mechanisms through which BoNT treats these disorders. Dick B, Natale C, Reddy A, et al. Application of Botulinum Neurotoxin in Female Sexual and Genitourinary Dysfunction: A Review of Current Practices. Sex Med 2021;9:57–63.
Transduction of mutated or wild type beta-catenin in a naturally beta-catenin nullosomic tumor cell line leads to elevated S100A4/mts-1/metastasin expression

1456 The S100A4/mts-1/metastasin gene is known to be associated with the metastatic phenotype of several tumor types. Our previous findings showed downregulation of the S100A4 gene in HCT116 knock out cell lines expressing only wild type beta-catenin. In order to evaluate the causal role of beta-catenin in regulating S100A4, we created beta-catenin-transfectants of the naturally beta-catenin nullosomic tumor cell line NCI-H28. We generated stable transfectants containing wild type beta-catenin, mutated beta-catenin (position 45 in exon 3), and both variants (beta-catenin plasmids were kindly provided by B. Vogelstein, MD). Transfectants were characterized by real time PCR with probes designed to discriminate between wild type vs. mutated beta-catenin. In clones harboring the mutated beta-catenin, either exclusively or in combination with the wild type beta-catenin, S100A4 mRNA levels were increased (maximum-70-fold), as determined by quantitative real time RT-PCR. In contrast, in clones harboring the wild type beta-catenin exclusively, S100A4 expression was increased approximately 10-fold. Furthermore, in vitro migration was significantly enhanced in those clones stably transfected with the mutated beta-catenin. In order to characterize the binding of either wild type or mutated beta-catenin/TCF-4 complex to the S100A4 promoter region, which harbors the TCF-4 consensus sequence, we performed electrophoretic mobility shift assays with cell lysates from the HCT116 and the NCI-H28 cell lines. Whereas the binding of both the beta-catenin/TCF-4 complex and of TCF-4 was seen in HCT116 cells, only the binding of TCF-4 was detectable in NCI-H28 cells. To support this finding, we analyzed the impact of different deletion mutants of the S100A4 promoter (kindly provided by R. Barraclough and D. Allard, UK; subcloned into CAT-plasmids) in the CAT reporter assay. Transient transfection revealed promoter activity dependent on the presence of the TCF-4 consensus sequence within the respective S100A4 promoter variants. Taken together, these data obtained with the naturally beta-catenin nullosomic cell line NCI-H28 showed that S100A4 is a target gene of beta-catenin, and that this mutation in beta-catenin leads to elevation in S100A4 expression.
Surgery Grand Rounds: Perspectives of the 21st Century Attendee.

Abstract Background Grand rounds is an important and traditional academic medical institution. With generational changes in learning and the advancement of technology, it is difficult to know if the current method of grand rounds remains relevant and is meeting its audience's needs. Furthermore, surgeons may have different educational needs for grand rounds than other fields of healthcare. This study evaluates the needs of attendees and their attitudes toward modern surgical grand rounds through focus groups. Materials and methods Independent focus groups were conducted in the department of surgery at a large academic institution. In total, 19 individuals (five professors, three associate professors, three assistant professors, seven senior residents, and one junior resident) participated in the focus groups. Thematic analysis was conducted through a process of independent coding and defining of themes followed by joint revision until consensus was reached. Results Four major themes arose from the discussion: current design and format of grand rounds, audience attitudes and needs, perceived barriers to meaningful grand rounds, and suggestions and improvements to grand rounds. Further subthemes also emerged. These themes were present in both faculty and resident responses, with 115 individual data pieces coded in total. Conclusions Grand rounds is an opportunity for social interaction, networking, professional and personal identity formation, and learning meaningful and relevant content. Audience diversity, desire for more audience engagement, and changes in the modern learning environment provide the largest challenges to meaningful grand rounds. This first and interesting research into surgery grand rounds provides insight on how to best meet attendee needs in the 21st century.
Draft Genome Sequence of Escherichia coli Strain UMD142.

ABSTRACT Escherichia coli can be a harmless commensal organism or cause a range of diseases in humans, including diarrhea, urinary tract infections, meningitis, sepsis, and skin and soft tissue infections. Here, we describe the genome of an isolate that was associated with necrotizing fasciitis and the decompensation of previously undiagnosed cirrhosis.
Understanding crisis communication on social media with CERC: topic model analysis of tweets about Hurricane Maria

This study outlines the communication patterns that emerged throughout phases of Hurricane Maria according to the crisis and emergency risk communication model. Topic model analysis, latent semanti...
Efficient Leaky-Wave Antenna for Terahertz Wireless Communications

We study the radiation properties of leaky-wave antenna at terahertz frequencies for wireless communications. We introduce a novel aperture design that increase the efficiency and directionality of the generated beams.
Classification and Reliability of Lumbar Facet Cysts Grading Scales.

Background The presence of symptomatic lumbar facet cysts has been associated with segmental instability. Given this association, decompression versus decompression with fusion is a frequently debated topic. Multiple grading scales have been devised to identify patients at high risk for development of cyst recurrence; however, there exists no external evaluation of these scales. Methods A retrospective review of 54 patients undergoing initial treatment for lumbar synovial cysts at a single institution over the past 12 years was conducted. Surgical treatment consisted of decompression with cystectomy without fusion. Patients were assessed and classified according to the NeuroSpine Surgery Research Group (NSURG) and Rosenstock Classification systems. Five neurosurgeons reviewed the preoperative magnetic resonance images, and results were classified. Interrater reliability was assessed using both Gwet’s AC1 coefficient and Krippendorff’s alpha. A 1-way analysis of variance was used to evaluate predictive ability of both classification systems. Results In total, of the 54 patients who underwent decompression, 7 had cyst recurrence. Overall cyst recurrence was most common in NSURG grade 2 cysts (3/12, 25%) followed by grade 1 cysts (4/27, 14.8%). Of the NSURG grade 3 and 4 patients, none had cyst recurrence. In the Rosenstock grades the most common recurrence was in grade 3 cysts (1/4, 25%) followed by grade 1 cysts (5/26, 19.2%). Interrater reliability demonstrated good reproducibility on Gwet’s AC1 and Krippendorff’s alpha on both grading scales. Neither score was predictive of cyst recurrence (P > 0.05). Conclusions The Rosenstock and NeuroSpine scores demonstrate good overall interrater reliability but are inconsistent in their ability to predict recurrence of lumbar facet cysts.
A Project-Based, Spiral Curriculum for Introductory Courses in ChE: Part 1. Curriculum Design

In this series of papers we describe the design, implementation, and evaluation of a new curriculum for the beginning core course sequence of chemical engineering. We completely reorganized our material and energy balances, thermodynamics, and stage-wise separation processes courses into an integrated year-long course wherein learning of chemical engineering fundamentals is facilitated by completing a series of laboratory and design projects. The new curriculum features a spiral approach that reinforces key topics by revisiting them in different context with increasing sophistication throughout the year.
Optimization of wastewater treatment plant operation for greenhouse gas mitigation

This study deals with the determination of optimal operation of a wastewater treatment system for minimizing greenhouse gas emissions, operating costs, and pollution loads in the effluent. To do this, an integrated performance index that includes three objectives was established to assess system performance. The ASMN_G model was used to perform system optimization aimed at determining a set of operational parameters that can satisfy three different objectives. The complex nonlinear optimization problem was simulated using the Nelder-Mead Simplex optimization algorithm. A sensitivity analysis was performed to identify influential operational parameters on system performance. The results obtained from the optimization simulations for six scenarios demonstrated that there are apparent trade-offs among the three conflicting objectives. The best optimized system simultaneously reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 31%, reduced operating cost by 11%, and improved effluent quality by 2% compared to the base case operation.
The Directed Minimum Latency Problem

We study the directed minimum latency problem: given an n-vertex asymmetric metric (V,d) with a root vertex ri¾? V, find a spanning path originating at rthat minimizes the sum of latencies at all vertices (the latency of any vertex vi¾? Vis the distance from rto valong the path). This problem has been well-studied on symmetric metrics, and the best known approximation guarantee is 3.59 [3]. For any $\frac{1}{\log n} , we give an nO(1/i¾?)time algorithm for directed latency that achieves an approximation ratio of $O(\rho\cdot \frac{n^\epsilon}{\epsilon^3})$, where ρis the integrality gap of an LP relaxation for the asymmetric traveling salesman pathproblem [13,5]. We prove an upper bound $\rho=O(\sqrt{n})$, which implies (for any fixed i¾?> 0) a polynomial time O(n1/2 + i¾?)-approximation algorithm for directed latency. In the special case of metrics induced by shortest-paths in an unweighted directed graph, we give an O(log2n) approximation algorithm. As a consequence, we also obtain an O(log2n) approximation algorithm for minimizing the weighted completion time in no-wait permutation flowshop scheduling. We note that even in unweighted directed graphs, the directed latency problem is at least as hard to approximate as the well-studied asymmetric traveling salesman problem, for which the best known approximation guarantee is O(logn).
From Embargo to Ostpolitik: The long road to Moscow: the origins of linkage, 1955

Bismarck spoke about his nightmare of coalitions against Germany. I have my own nightmare: its name is Potsdam. Konrad Adenauer, 1953 Chancellor Konrad Adenauer arrived in Moscow in September 1955, in response to a Soviet invitation, to begin negotiating with Soviet Premier Khrushchev. The talks were partly conducted out of a railway carriage, symbolizing the fact that West German–Soviet relations were still in their glacial phase. The Soviet experience with Germany during World War Two had left a legacy of profound mistrust and fear of Germany among both the leadership and the Soviet people. From the German side, Adenauer, Der Alte , was preoccupied with proving Germany's loyalty to the West. In many ways West Germany was a beneficiary of the origins of the cold war. Had the USSR not become the United States's main antagonist immediately after the Second World War ended, West Germany would have found rehabilitation more difficult. As it was, the denazification program was soon scaled down, and the FRG became one of the bulwarks of the Western alliance. After the USSR and the FRG established diplomatic relations in 1955, Soviet–West German relations improved marginally but remained antagonistic. Adenauer's visit to Moscow marked the beginning of a new era in Soviet–German relations. Background to the summit In analyzing Soviet political goals toward West Germany prior to the 1955 summit, it is essential to bear in mind that, until Germany became a member of NATO and was granted full sover–eignty in May 1955, there was some optimism on both sides of the iron curtain that a solution to the German problem could be found, other than its permanent division and incorporation into two antagonistic power blocs.
Rapid laser induced energy transfer in atomic systems

Analytical and experimental studies of the rapid transfer of stored populations from metastable states to selected target states of a different species are reported. Both laser-induced or laser-switched collision and laser-induced two-photon spontaneous emission are described. It is shown that the laser-induced collision method is particularly useful in the visible and UV spectral regions. It has applications in photochemistry, gas-phase kinetics, and in high-power, high-energy gas-phase lasers. The anti-Stokes source is useful in the VUV and soft X-ray spectral regions.
Small Groups and Mentors Foster Relationships During Summer Reading Program—A Qualitative Analysis

This study involved interviews with seventeen parents and twenty-six school personnel involved with children in a six-week summer reading and nutrition program, Energy Express. Quantitative studies of Energy Express show significant increases in reading scores. This study indicates that children develop relationships with their college student AmeriCorps mentors and with each other; parents develop relationships with the program. We conclude that the program provides opportunities for building relationships that enhance children’s learning.
Magnetic water treatment

INTRODUCTION The buildup of scale deposits inside cooling water pipes and boilers presents a very costly problem in many industrial processes. Scale deposits significantly reduce heat transfer efficiency and can lead to partial or even complete blockage of the water flow passage inside the pipes. Several techniques can be used to remove scale deposits, ranging from washing the pipes and boiler walls with acid, to actually chipping away the scale with a chisel. Over the past 50 years, magnets have been marketed as devices for prevention of scale buildup. Magnetic water treatment consists of passing water through a strong permanent magnet installed in or on a feed pipeline. Later, when the water is heated in a boiler or heat exchanger, it presumably loses its tendency to deposit scale on the hot surfaces. The deposits that do form are reported to have a loose, non-adhering texture and to be easy to remove [i]. The manufacturers of these devices admit that they are not always effective, and almost all research groups that have evaluated magnetic water treatment devices in a controlled setting have concluded that the technique does not affect scale deposition [2,3]. Despite general skepticism about whether magnetic treatment works, the devices continue to be manufactured by hundreds of different companies and are fairly popular. If magnetic water treatment is indeed a real phenomenon and if the conditions which are necessary for it to work could be elucidated, it would be a very inexpensive alternative to conventional chemical water treatment techniques. Our research goal is to determine the most likely mechanisms whereby magnetic water treatment may work and to test these hypotheses experimentally. Most scale deposits consist of salts that become less soluble with increasing temperature. The most common is calcium carbonate (CaC03). CaCO 3 can occur in several crystalline forms calcite, aragonite, or vaterite. Calcite is thermodynamically more stable than aragonite or vaterite but precipitation of aragonite relative to calcite can be kinetically favored at elevated temperatures [4]. Depending on the pH, the types of ions present, and the temperature, aragonite may transform to calcite over time. We think it very unlikely that a magnetic field of only a few thousand gauss can affect Ca 2+ and CO32ions directly since the interaction energies are too small compared to kT; however, an interaction via iron is plausible. One way would be for the iron to act as a poison for growth of scale deposits. We have investigated this possibility and here report that ferrous iron at low concentrations is indeed a poison to calcite growth. It appears to have little or no effect on aragonite growth.
Applications and properties of ionized physical vapor deposition films

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the application and properties of ionized physical vapor deposition films in the microelectronics industry. The chapter gives a brief overview of the process flow of integrated circuits (ICs) during the metallization process. A discussion of the process results achieved with I-PVD sources follows, along with descriptions of specific applications. The I-PVD sources are used for several applications in microelectronic manufacturing. Process qualification for manufacturing involves several steps. The new process is integrated with all prior and subsequent process operations. For example, introducing an I-PVD liner/barrier process requires that subsequent plug fill operations provide mechanically stable fills. In the case of W plug fill, the W must be shown to adhere well to the I-PVD liner/barrier with no peeling or attack of the liner, and the W fill must show no keyholes. In the case of Al plug fill, the fill must show no voids, and at contact level there can be no penetration of the Al through the I-PVD barrier into the Si devices.
Intravitreal ranibizumab as an adjunct for Ahmed valve surgery in open-angle glaucoma: a pilot study

Background: To determine the safety and efficacy of intravitreal ranibizumab therapy before and after Ahmed tube insertion for open-angle glaucoma as a means of optimizing postoperative intraocular pressure control. Design: Randomized, controlled trial. Participants: Open-angle glaucoma patients scheduled for Ahmed tube insertion, randomized to ranibizumab or control groups. Methods: Ranibizumab (0.5 mg in 0.05 mL) was administered intravitreally at three time points: 9 days prior to surgery, 1 month post-surgery and 2 months post-surgery. Control patients underwent the same procedure without ranibizumab. Main Outcome Measure: Success at 6 months postoperatively was defined as intraocular pressure <18 mmHg with no adjunctive medications or intraocular pressure <15 mmHg with one adjunctive medication. Results: The study and control arms included six and five subjects, respectively, with four in each arm undergoing combined cataract surgery. In the ranibizumab arm, the preoperative and postoperative intraocular pressure/medication usage was 21.0 ± 6.7 mmHg on 3.2 ± 1.5 medications and 14.7 ± 1.9 mmHg on 0.5 ± 0.8 medications, respectively. In the control arm, preoperative and postoperative intraocular pressure/medication usage was 18.8 ± 3.8 mmHg on 2.8 ± 1.3 medications and 16.2 ± 3.6 mmHg with 1.8 ± 1.6 medications, respectively. Success was achieved in 83% of subjects in the ranibizumab group compared with 40% in the control group (two-tailed Fisher's exact test, P = 0.24). Conclusion: The findings from this small pilot comparative study suggest that intravitreal ranibizumab use may be a safe and potentially effective adjunctive treatment modality in improving success after Ahmed tube placement.
Interview with Carl Morris

CHANCE magazine invited Carl Morris, professor of statistics at Harvard University, to talk with Jim Albert, professor of statistics at Bowling Green State University and editor of the Journal of Q...