cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Structure, electronic configuration, and Mössbauer spectral parameters of an antiferromagnetic Fe2-peroxo intermediate of methane monooxygenase.

Determining structures of reaction intermediates is crucial for understanding catalytic cycles of metalloenzymes. However, short life times or experimental difficulties have prevented obtaining such structures for many enzymes of interest. We report geometric and electronic structures of a peroxo intermediate in the catalytic cycle of methane monooxygenase hydroxylase (MMOH) for which there is no crystallographic characterization. The structure was predicted via spin density functional theory using 57Fe Mossbauer spectral parameters as a reference. Computed isomer shifts (δFe = +0.68, +0.66 mm s−1) and quadrupole splittings (ΔEQ = −1.49, −1.48 mm s−1) for the predicted structure are in excellent agreement with experimental values of a peroxo MMOH intermediate. Predicted peroxo to iron charge transfer bands agree with UV-Vis spectroscopy. Peroxide binds in a cis μ-1,2 fashion and plays a dominant role in the active site's electronic structure. This induces a ferromagnetic to antiferromagnetic transition of the diiron core weakening the O–O bond in preparation for cleavage in subsequent steps of the catalytic cycle.
Leader personal influences on membership decisions in moderated online social networking groups

Moderated online social networking (MOSN) groups have become a prominent way for Internet users to form relationships, learn about specialized topics, and share their understandings with others. However, unlike traditional social and work groups, very little research has addressed the individual and collective characteristics influencing MOSN group membership decisions. This paper is concerned with the roles of leader and member personality and values characteristics in the formation of MOSN groups. Using data from 583 MOSN group members (including 38 leaders), we investigated three hypotheses concerning: 1) the presence of personality and values homogeneity, 2) the congruence between leader and member personality and values, and 3) whether leadership style is related to modal personality and values. We found partial support for all three hypotheses, which implies that MOSN group membership decisions are related to the personality and values traits of the leader. Findings suggest that in a clicks-and-mortar organization, an IS functional manager may consider enlisting personnel having the traits desired of the MOSN group membership to serve as the group leader. Furthermore, replacing the leaders of strategically important MOSN groups should be done with regard to personality and values continuity, since likely changes in the composition of the group may also change its strategic orientation.
Evolution of a small-muscle polymorphism in lines of house mice selected for high activity levels.

To study the correlated evolution of locomotor behavior and exercise physiology, we conducted an artificial selection experiment. From the outbred Hsd:ICR strain of Mus domesticus, we began eight separate lines, each consisting of 10 breeding pairs. In four of the lines, we used within-family selection to increase voluntary wheel running. The remaining four lines were random-bred (within lines) to serve as controls. Various traits have been monitored to test for correlated responses. Here, we report on organ masses, with emphasis on the triceps surae muscle complex, an important extensor of the ankle. Mice from the selected lines exhibit reduced total body mass, increased relative (mass-corrected) kidney mass, and reduced relative triceps surae mass. In addition, a discrete muscle-mass polymor- phism was observed: some individuals had triceps surae that were almost 50% lighter than normal for their body mass. This small-muscle phenotype was observed in only three of the eight lines: in one control line, it has fluctuated in frequency between zero and 10%, whereas in two of the selected lines it has increased in frequency to approximately 50% by generation 22. Data from a set of parents and offspring (generations 23 and 24) are consistent with inheritance as a single autosomal recessive allele. Evidence for the adaptive significance of the small-muscle allele was obtained by fitting multiple-generation data to hierarchical models that include effects of genetic drift and/or selection. The small-muscle allele is estimated to have been present at low frequency (approximately 7%) in the base population, and analysis indicates that strong selection favors the allele in the selected but not control lines. We hypothesize that the small muscles possess functional characteristics and/or that the underlying allele causes pleiotropic effects (e.g., reduced total body mass; increased relative heart, liver, and kidney mass) that facilitate high levels of wheel running. Nevertheless, at generation 22, wheel running of affected individuals did not differ significantly from those with normal-sized muscles, and the magnitude of response to selection has been similar in all four selected lines, indicating that multiple genetic ''solutions'' are possible in response to selection for high activity levels.
Sprinkler — Reliable Broadcast for Geographically Dispersed Datacenters

This paper describes and evaluates Sprinkler, a reliable high-throughput broadcast facility for geographically dispersed datacenters. For scaling cloud services, datacenters use caching throughout their infrastructure. Sprinkler can be used to broadcast update events that invalidate cache entries. The number of recipients can scale to many thousands in such scenarios. The Sprinkler infrastructure consists of two layers: one layer to disseminate events among datacenters, and a second layer to disseminate events among machines within a datacenter. A novel garbage collection interface is introduced to save storage space and network bandwidth. The first layer is evaluated using an implementation deployed on Emulab. For the second layer, involving thousands of nodes, we use a discrete event simulation. The effect of garbage collection is analyzed using simulation. The evaluation shows that Sprinkler can disseminate millions of events per second throughout a large cloud infrastructure, and garbage collection is effective in workloads like cache invalidation.
Anorexia Nervosa Presenting with Spontaneous Pneumomediastinum

Spontaneous pneumomediastinum (SP) is uncommon in children and adolescents. It can be associated with anorexia nervosa (AN), particularly in cases having a preceding history of vomiting. We highlight the case of a 15-year-old girl with SP as the presenting symptom of AN. She lost 10 kilograms (kg) over six months but denied vomiting. She complained of neck swelling and dysphagia. Physical examination revealed subcutaneous crepitations over the neck. X-rays confirmed subcutaneous emphysema and also revealed pneumomediastinum. The patient was managed with oxygen therapy as well as slow re-feeding. A subsequent chest X-ray showed complete resolution in 16 days.
Chatting on Cynthia's porch: Creating community in an e‐mail fan group

This is an enthnographic study of an e‐mail list devoted to fans of the television show Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman. The central question is whether e‐mail groups can function as “communities,” and if so, how. I examine the practices of the list members, including the establishment of rules, nurturing of community, and communal fantasy activities. I conclude that although virtual communities are not the same as face‐to‐face communities, they may indeed function as communities for members, although they do not necessarily do so. I call for closer examination of different kinds of on‐line activities, rather than taking extreme positions on the Internet as either the panacea for lost community or the harbinger of the destruction of close, personal affiliations.
Pleomorphic Ventricular Tachycardias in Nonischemic Cardiomyopathy

Compared to patients with prior myocardial infarction, mapping and ablation of ventricular tachycardia (VT) in nonischemic cardiomyopathy (NICM) patients represents a unique challenge, often with non-endocardial myocardial substrate, multiple VT morphologies, and higher incidence of arrhythmia recurrence post-ablation. Multi-modality imaging and detailed electroanatomic mapping demonstrated two predominant regional scar distributions: basal inferolateral and basal anteroseptal locations. Among the latter group, patients with predominantly septal scar pose a particularly difficult subset. Careful and systemic mapping is required to define the VT substrate. Aggressive ablations are often required from both sides of the septum to achieve arrhythmia control.
Comprehensive Structural Study of Pre- and Post-Heat Treated Compression Molded Polyurethane Samples of Varying Composition Studied by Scanning Probe Techniques

Only a limited number of structural studies have been performed on polyurethanes using scanning probe techniques to determine both the microstructure and the corresponding distribution of hard and soft segments within samples. This type of information is needed to better understand the mechanical properties of these materials and to facilitate modeling. In order to address these issues, we have fabricated a series of compression molded segmented poly(ester urethane) samples with hard (HS) to soft segment ratios from 19 to 100%. Samples were examined using scanning probe phase imaging techniques to obtain the topography and corresponding distribution of hard domains before and after heating at 100 C. A number of significant differences were observed between the pre- and post-heat treated samples. Variations in structure and heat-induced morphological changes were directly related to HS content. Fine strand- or fibril-like structures were most prominent in the 23 and 19% HS sample but first appeared at 30% HS. Harder, thicker elongated structures dominated the surface of the 100% HS sample and were seen to a limited extent on all samples, especially after annealing and quenching. The 23% HS sample surface structure depended on quenching rate and time after treatment.
Seasonal and Spatial Distribution of Culicoides furens and C. mississippiensis (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) Larvae Near Yankeetown, Florida

Seasonal and spatial distribution patterns of Culicoides furens (Poey) and C. mississippiensis Hoffman larvae were determined during a 19-mo study of a 5-ha salt marsh located near Yankeetown, Fla. Larvae of both species were found throughout the year in substrate samples taken from all vegetation types (including Spartina and Distichlis ), but their relative distributions apparently changed according to annual tidal dynamics. Maximum larval production occurred when approximately equal flood index values were recorded; i.e., 0.22 (December–April) for Spartina and 0.20 (May–September) for Distichlis . These values represent periods of least and most frequent flooding for Spartina and Distichlis , respectively. C. mississippiensis and C. furens were most abundant, respectively, in Spartina and Distichlis areas.
Reid on Primary and Secondary Qualities

Th. Reid defend la distinction entre les qualites premieres et les qualites secondes et soutient que nous avons une conception claire et distincte des qualites premieres, mais pas des qualites secondes. Comment peut-il defendre ces distinctions alors qu'il rejette la theorie de la ressemblance de Locke et la theorie rationaliste de Descartes?.
CO2 saturation, distribution and seismic response in two-dimensional permeability model.

Summary Carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS) has been actively researched as a strategy to mitigate CO2 emissions into the atmosphere. The main three components in CCS are monitoring, verification and accounting (MVA). Technologies based on seismic are at the forefront to meet the requirements of MVA, but seismic monitoring requires establishing quantitative relationships between multiphase saturation distributions and elastic responses to seismic wave propagation. One of the main obstacles for quantitative MVA activities arises from the nature of the saturation distribution, i.e. homogeneous to patchy, which in turn affects the relationship between compressional velocity and saturation. In this work, we carry out multiphase flow simulations in a 2-D aquifer model with a lognormal absolute permeability distribution and capillary pressure parameterized by permeability. The heterogeneity level is tuned by using the well-known Dykstra-Parson (DP) coefficient. We show that despite differences in saturation distribution among different realizations, CO2 trapping and Vp-Sw relationship are essentially a function of the DP coefficient only. When the results are compared with the well accepted limits, Gassmann-Wood (homogeneous) (Wood, 1941) and Gassmann-Hill (patchy) models (Mavko and Mukerji, 1998), the relationship never approaches the patchy model, even at the highest level of heterogeneity model.
Effect of unilateral nephrectomy on in vitro hepatic microsomal oxidative drug metabolism in the rat.

AbstractThe effect of ablation of renal mass on in vitro hepatic microsomal oxidative drug metabolism was studied in unilaterally nephrectomized rats which were not uremic. When compared to either sham-operated or unoperated control rats, hepatic microsomal cytochrome P-450 content and ethylmorphine N-demethylase activity were both decreased significantly at 4 days but not at 15 days after unilateral nephrectomy. Differences were not observed in hepatic microsomal cytochrome b5 content or NADPH-cytochrome c reductase activity at either 4 or 15 days following unilateral nephrectomy. These results demonstrate that the removal of renal mass can influence temporarily in vitro hepatic microsomal oxidative drug metabolism and that this effect is apparent in the absence of uremia.
Modeling and Simulation of Structurally Dynamic Crystallizable Shape Memory Polymers With Light-Induced Bond Exchange Reaction

Shape Memory polymers (SMPs) is a novel class of smart polymeric materials that have been attracted tremendous scientific interest within the last decades. SMPs have the ability to “remember” their original shape even after undergoing significant deformation into a temporary shape. For most first generation of SMPs, the shape memory effect was accomplished by a thermally induced process, triggered in many different ways, such as heating/cooling, electromagnetic field and infrared light. The transient shape in thermally induced SMPs is due to a glassy phase or a semi-crystalline phase. The thermally induced SMPs which temporary shape is fixed through crystallization is called crystallizable shape memory polymers (CSMPs). For traditional CSMPs, their original shape is predefined and is not able to be reprogrammed. This limits the applications of the CSMPs. Recently, a new class of CSMPs has been developed. These materials can perform a typical thermally induced shape memory cycle, but their original shape can be reprogrammed through exposing to UV light. The shape reprogramming effect is governed by light induced covalent bonds exchange reaction, while the shape memory effect-as typical CSMPs-is due to solid-phase crystallization. In this work, we focus on modeling the mechanical behavior of this new class of structurally dynamic CSMPs. The framework used in developing the model is built upon the theory of multiple natural configurations[1]. The model has been applied to solve a specific boundary condition problem, namely uni-axial tension. Furthermore, we implement our model through Abaqus (commercial finite element package) subroutine UMAT to simulate 3D behavior of this attractive material.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Pirimiphos Methyl as a Short Term Protectant of Grain Against Stored-Product Insects2

Pirimiphos methyl ( O -[2-(diethylamino)-6-methyl-4-pyrimidinyl] O, O -dimethyl phosphorothioate), applied as a water emulsion (5, 10, and 20 ppm) to hard winter wheat and shelled yellow corn killed all exposed adult rice weevils, Sitophilus oryzae (L.), red flour beetles, Tribolium castaneum (Herbst), confused flour beetles, T. confusum Jacquelin duVal, and lesser grain borers, Rhyzopertha dominica (F.) at 24 h and 1 month after treatment; no F1 progeny developed. After 3 months, a few red and confused flour beetles survived exposure to grain treated with 5 ppm, but no progeny developed. Also, some lesser grain borers survived, and F1 progeny and damage were recorded in wheat treated with 5 ppm and in corn treated with 5 and 10 ppm. Malathion, applied at a calculated dosage of 10 ppm as the chemical standard, gave complete protection to both grains for 3 months. The residues of pirimiphos methyl degraded gradually as the storage period lengthened except for the 20 ppm applied to shelled corn. The residues of malathion de-graded gradually on both grains.
Study on Strength Analysis of Submersible Pressure Hull

The strength of the pressure hull is the key of the deep sea submersible's study,and in recent years it has attracted the attention of the scholars at home and abroad; in the analysis of submersible structure's compressive strength,the creation of finite element model and the boundary conditions are the essential parts of the analytical work. By importing the solid model of the submersible pressure hull which is built in the Solidworks into ANSYS,and taking advantage of the powerful features of ANSYS in Working Plane(WP),it proposed a convenient and fast method of building submersible pressure hull's finite element model. Taking into account the actual force on the pressure hull,a new method to process the boundary conditions was raised. And the theory proved that it is feasible to take this approach to analyze the strength of the submersible pressure hull.
Define Some Linemodels of Coal mine Auto CAD Map-making

This article introduced how to define some linemodels in the Coal mine Auto CAD map-making,This step has made up Auto CAD map-making insuf-ficient.
Relationship between the apolipoprotein E gene and headache following sports-related concussion

ABSTRACTIntroduction: Headache is one of the most commonly reported and longest lasting symptoms that concussed athletes report, yet the etiology of headache symptoms following concussion is not entirely clear. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the e4 allele of the apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene influences the presence and severity of postconcussion headache. Method: Participants were composed of 45 concussed athletes and 43 healthy/nonconcussed athletes who were involved in a clinically based sports concussion management program. All athletes completed the Post-Concussion Symptom Scale (PCSS). The “headache” symptom from the PCSS was the primary outcome variable. Buccal samples were collected and analyzed to determine APOE genotype. Results: A significantly greater proportion of concussed e4+ athletes than e4– athletes endorsed headache. Furthermore, concussed e4+ athletes endorsed more severe headaches than e4– athletes. When examining the healthy/nonconcussed sample (i.e., athletes at ba...
Assessment of Geriatric Syndromes and Physical Function in People Living with HIV.

As the number of older adults living with HIV continues to increase, understanding how to incorporate geriatric assessments within HIV care will be critical. Assessment of geriatric syndromes and physical function can be useful tools for HIV clinicians and researchers to help identify the most vulnerable older adults and to better understand the aging process in people living with HIV (PLWH). This review focuses on the assessment of falls, frailty, and physical function, first in the general population of older adults, and includes a specific focus on use of these assessments in older adults living with HIV.
Effect of charge on the mechanical properties of surfactant bilayers

Charge effects on the mechanical properties of surfactant bilayers have been measured, for a system with a low ionic strength, using small-angle neutron scattering and neutron spin echo spectroscopy. We report that, not only does increasing the surface charge density lead to greater structural ordering and a stiffening of the membrane, which is consistent with classical theory of charge effects on membranes, but also that the relaxation rate of the membrane thickness fluctuations decreases without affecting the fluctuation amplitude. From the relaxation rate we demonstrate, using recent theory, that the viscosity of the surfactant membrane is increased with surface charge density, which suggests that the amount of charge controls the diffusion behavior of inclusions inside the membrane. The present results confirm that the thickness fluctuation relaxation rate and amplitude are tuned independently since the membrane viscosity is only influencing the relaxation rate. This work demonstrates that charge stabilization of lamellar bilayers is not merely affected by intermembrane interactions and structural ordering but that intramembrane dynamics also have a significant contribution.
The Cusco ceque system as shown in the Exsul immeritus Blas Valera populo suo

In this article I discuss a recently discovered drawing of the Cusco ceque system. A previous study of the drawing suggests that it is an inaccurate reproduction of the system. In contrast, I propose that the drawing is accurate and organizes information on the system in ways not considered by scholars before. While the accuracy of the drawing is confirmed, the question of authorship remains open.
Electrostatic interactions govern "odd/Even" effects in water-induced gemini surfactant self-assembly

Gemini surfactants comprise two single-tailed surfactants connected by a linker at or near the hydrophilic headgroup. They display a variety of water-concentration-dependent lyotropic liquid crystal morphologies that are sensitive to surfactant molecular structure and the nature of the headgroups and counterions. Recently, an interesting dependence of the aqueous-phase behavior on the length of the linker has been discovered; odd-numbered linker length surfactants exhibit characteristically different phase diagrams than even-numbered linker surfactants. In this work, we investigate this “odd/even effect” using computer simulations, focusing on experimentally studied gemini dicarboxylates with Na+ counterions, seven nonterminal carbon atoms in the tails, and either three, four, five, or six carbon atoms in the linker (denoted Na-73, Na-74, Na-75, and Na-76, respectively). We find that the relative electrostatic repulsion between headgroups in the different morphologies is correlated with the qualitative fe...
Association of Cognitive Impairment in Patients on 3-Hydroxy-3-Methyl-Glutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors

Background: Atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in the United States. A reduction in cholesterol with 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-CoA reductase inhibitors (statin) significantly reduces mortality and morbidity. Statins may be associated with cognitive impairment or dementia. Our aim was to study the association of cognitive impairment or dementia in patients who were on a statin. Methods: Electronic medical records of 3,500 adult patients in our suburban internal medicine office were reviewed. Results: There were 720 (20.6%) patients in the statin treatment group. Dementia or cognitive impairment was an associated comorbid condition in 7.9% patients in the statin treatment group compared to 3.1% patients in the non-statin group (P < 0.001). Analysis of all of the patients with cognitive impairment or dementia showed that among the age ranges of 51 years through 100 years, the patients in the statin treatment group had a higher prevalence of cognitive impairment or dementia compared to the non-statin group. In the statin treatment group, we found significantly higher prevalence of hyperlipidemia (86.3%), hypertension (69.6%), diabetes mellitus (36.0%), osteoarthritis (31.5%), coronary artery disease (26.1%), hypothyroidism (21.5%) and depression (19.3%) compared to the non-statin group (P < 0.001). About 39.9% of the patients with dementia or cognitive impairment were on statin therapy compared to 18.9% patients who had no dementia or cognitive impairment and were on statin therapy (P < 0.001). Among the patients with cognitive deficit or dementia in the statin treatment group, the majority of the patients were either on atorvastatin (43.9%) or simvastatin (35.1%), followed by rosuvastatin (12.2%) and pravastatin (8.8%). We found greater odds of dementia or cognitive impairment with each year increase in age (1.3 times), in women (2.2 times), African American race (2.7 times), non-consumption of moderate amount of alcohol (two times), diabetes mellitus (1.6 times), hypothyroidism (1.7 times), cerebrovascular accident (3.2 times), and other rheumatological diseases (1.8 times). Conclusions: The association of dementia or cognitive impairment was significantly higher in the patients who were on statin therapy compared to the patients who were not on a statin. J Clin Med Res. 2017;9(7):638-649 doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/jocmr3066w
Pharmacy technician self-efficacies: Insight to aid future education, staff development, and workforce planning.

Abstract Background The roles of pharmacy technicians are increasingly prominent given pharmacy's transition to patient-centered activities and evolving scopes of practice in many U.S. states and throughout the world. Objectives The aims of this study were to assess U.S. pharmacy technicians' self-efficacies for and attitudes toward performing current and emerging roles in hospital and in community pharmacy and to identify factors related to pharmacy technician self-efficacies in these roles. Methods A total of 5000 pharmacy technicians from 8 U.S. states were sent an electronic survey eliciting data on current involvement, self-efficacies, and attitudes for practicing in an expansive list of practice activities. The 8 states from which the sample was drawn were selected from a stratified randomized procedure using U.S. Census Bureau geographically defined regions. Pre-notification and response reminders were employed. Data were analyzed descriptively and with univariate, inferential tests, as appropriate, to determine associations with commitment, practice environment, experience level, and other variables. Results Of the 612 participants who responded, 494 were currently working as a technician and not enrolled in a PharmD program of study. Participants reported various activities in which they were highly engaged. Overall, attitudes toward performing most of the activities and self-efficacies were quite favorable, even for those activities in which technicians were currently less involved. There were some notable differences between technicians practicing in community versus hospital settings. Years of experience, profession commitment, and advanced employee ranking were associated with higher levels of self-efficacy, overall. Conclusions This initial examination of pharmacy technician self-efficacies identified areas that along with other factors could help employers with further expanding technician practice activities and vocational institutions with considerations for education and development of these key members of the workforce. The results would suggest technicians to be ready for continued evolution in their practice.
The Complexity Approach to Phonological Treatment: How to Select Treatment Targets

Purpose There are a number of evidence-based treatments for preschool children with phonological disorders (Baker & McLeod, 2011). However, a recent survey by Brumbaugh and Smit (2013) suggests tha...
Gold nanoparticles (GNPs) as multifunctional materials for cancer treatment

Abstract: In this chapter we highlight recent advances in the use of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) and their conjugates as nanomedicine platforms, with an emphasis on their potential for cancer diagnosis and treatment. Following a short review of the physical properties and surface chemistry of GNPs, we will examine their use as drug carriers (as exemplified by siRNA delivery), contrast agents in biomedical imaging and theranostics, photothermal agents for cellular hyperthermia and tissue ablation, and as sensitizers in radiation therapy. Current challenges in the development of GNP-enhanced therapies include particle size and quality control for scalable manufacturing, and the optimization of GNP surfaces for maximum bioavailability without adverse physiological response.
Missing Millie Benson: The Secret Case of the Nancy Drew Ghostwriter and Journalist

Review of: "Missing Millie Benson: The Secret Case of the Nancy Drew Ghostwriter and Journalist," by Julie K. Rubini
Some Uses of the Capacity Concept in Understanding Investment Behavior

What is the proper framework for an econometric investigation of investment in fixed capital? The answer depends upon which investment phenomena one wishes to analyze. Our interests are in the expectational aspects of investment--in the questions of how businessmen forecast, how plans are drawn based on forecasts, and how plans are modified as expectations change. Despite the importance of these expectational phenomena (the phrase “animal spirits” might be invoked here), the conventional capital stock adjustment model of investment (typified by JORGENSON [1971]) downgrades them in favor of other factors. The fact that considerable expectational (ex ante) data exist for the U.S. manufacturing sector makes it possible to rectify the relative neglect of these phenomena.
Physical Activity, Growth, and Functional Capacity

Physical activity subjects the organism to a variety of stresses which give rise to measurable physiological and biomechanical respon­ses. The magnitude and degree of response varies with the duration, intensity, and perhaps timing of the activity stimulus. The responses generated via regular physical activity initiated during childhood are believed by many to result in favorable influences on the organism during growth and into adulthood (Espenschade, 1960; Malina, 1969a, 1975a; Bailey, 1973; Rarick, 1974; Bailey et al., 1978). Some of the effects of regularly repeated physical activity on the growing organism are considered subsequently. Nevertheless, the precise role of properly graded activity, training or exercise programs in influencing growth and development is not completely understood, and the results of studies are equivocal. The terms activity, exercise and training are used as being synon­ymous, although they are variably used in the literature.
A Generalized Composition Algorithm for Weighted Finite-State Transducers

This paper describes a weighted finite-state transducer composition algorithm that generalizes the concept of the composition filter and presents filters that remove useless epsilon paths and push forward labels and weights along epsilon paths. This filtering permits the compostion of large speech recognition contextdependent lexicons and language models much more efficiently in time and space than previously possible. We present experiments on Broadcast News and a spoken query task that demonstrate an∼5% to 10% overhead for dynamic, runtime composition compared to a static, offline composition of the recognition transducer. To our knowledge, this is the first such system with so little overhead.
Novel Use for Intracardiac Echocardiography: Evaluation of Patients With Continuous Flow Left Ventricular Assist Devices.

A comprehensive evaluation of left ventricular assist device (LVAD) physiology requires concomitant hemodynamic and imaging assessment. Currently, transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is the standard diagnostic modality for device interrogation. However, TTE imaging can be limited by poor acoustic
Two-Tier Lyme Disease Serology Test Results Can Vary According to the Specific First-Tier Test Used

Background Variability in 2-tier Lyme disease test results according to the specific first-tier enzyme immunoassay (EIA) in children has not been examined rigorously. In this study, we compared paired results of clinical 2-tier Lyme disease tests to those of the C6 peptide EIA followed by supplemental immunoblotting (C6 2-tier test). Methods We performed a prospective cohort study of children aged ≥1 to ≤21 years who were undergoing evaluation for Lyme disease in the emergency department at 1 of 6 centers located in regions in which Lyme disease is endemic. The clinical first-tier test and a C6 EIA were performed on the same serum sample with supplemental immunoblotting if the first-tier test result was either positive or equivocal. We compared the results of the paired clinical and C6 2-tier Lyme disease test results using the McNemar test. Results Of the 1714 children enrolled, we collected a research serum sample from 1584 (92.4%). The clinical 2-tier EIA result was positive in 316 (19.9%) children, and the C6 2-tier test result was positive or equivocal in 295 (18.6%) children. The clinical and C6 2-tier test results disagreed more often than they would have by chance alone (P = .002). Of the 39 children with either a positive clinical or C6 2-tier test result alone, 2 children had an erythema migrans (EM) lesion, and 29 had symptoms compatible with early disseminated Lyme disease. Conclusions Two-tier Lyme disease test results differed for a substantial number of children on the basis of the specific first-tier test used. In children for whom there is a high clinical suspicion for Lyme disease and who have an initially negative test result, clinicians should consider retesting for Lyme disease.
Systemic clearance of p16INK4a -positive senescent cells mitigates age-associated intervertebral disc degeneration

Author(s): Patil, Prashanti; Dong, Qing; Wang, Dong; Chang, Jianhui; Wiley, Christopher; Demaria, Marco; Lee, Joon; Kang, James; Niedernhofer, Laura J; Robbins, Paul D; Sowa, Gwendolyn; Campisi, Judith; Zhou, Daohong; Vo, Nam | Abstract: RationaleAge-related changes in the intervertebral discs are the predominant contributors to back pain, a common physical and functional impairment experienced by older persons. Cellular senescence, a process wherein cells undergo growth arrest and chronically secrete numerous inflammatory molecules and proteases, has been reported to cause decline in the health and function of multiple tissues with age. Although senescent cells have been reported to increase in intervertebral degeneration (IDD), it is not known whether they are causative in age-related IDD.ObjectiveThe study aimed to elucidate whether a causal relationship exists between cellular senescence and age-related IDD.Methods and resultsTo examine the impact of senescent cells on age-associated IDD, we used p16-3MR transgenic mice, which enables the selective removal of p16Ink4a -positive senescent cells by the drug ganciclovir. Disc cellularity, aggrecan content and fragmentation alongside expression of inflammatory cytokine (IL-6) and matrix proteases (ADAMTS4 and MMP13) in discs of p16-3MR mice treated with GCV and untreated controls were assessed. In aged mice, reducing the per cent of senescent cells decreased disc aggrecan proteolytic degradation and increased overall proteoglycan matrix content along with improved histological disc features. Additionally, reduction of senescent cells lowered the levels of MMP13, which is purported to promote disc degenerative changes during aging.ConclusionsThe findings of this study suggest that systemic reduction in the number of senescent cells ameliorates multiple age-associated changes within the disc tissue. Cellular senescence could therefore serve as a therapeutic target to restore the health of disc tissue that deteriorates with age.
Reconstructing the three-dimensional latent image of extreme ultraviolet resists with resonant soft x-ray scattering

Extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography is one of the most promising printing techniques for high-volume semiconductor manufacturing at the 14-nm half-pitch device node and beyond. However, key challenges around EUV photoresist materials, such as the exposure-dose sensitivity or the line-width roughness, continue to impede its full adoption into industrial nanofab facilities. Metrology tools are required to address these challenges by helping to assess the impact of the EUV materials’ properties and processing conditions along different steps of the nanofabrication process. We apply the resonant soft x-ray scattering (RSoXS) technique to gain insights into the structure of patterned EUV resists before the development step takes place. By using energies around the carbon K-edge to take advantage of small differences in chemistry, the electronic density contrast between the exposed and unexposed regions of the resists could be enhanced in order to image the patterns with subnanometer precision. Critical-dimension grazing-incidence small-angle x-ray scattering is then performed at energies where the contrast is maximized, enabling the reconstruction of the three-dimensional shape of the latent image. We demonstrate the potential of RSoXS to provide a high-resolution height-sensitive profile of patterned EUV resists, which will help in quantifying the evolution of critical features, such as the line-edge roughness, at a key step of the nanofabrication process.
Positivity of the Rational Function of Gillis, Reznick and Zeilberger

We prove that the power series expansion of the rational function of Gillis, Reznick and Zeilberger (1983) has only nonnegative coefficients.
Interstitial Lung Disease as the Initial Manifestation of Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, systemic, inflammatory disorder that primarily affects synovial joints. Approximately 18-41% of patients with RA develop extra-articular manifestations [1]. However, extra-articular manifestations preceding or occurring without articular symptoms in RA have rarely been reported. Such atypical presentations of RA pose a diagnostic challenge to the clinician and may delay treatment. Case presentation: A 57-year-old female with long standing diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia and Raynaud’s phenomenon presented shortness of breath, cough and new subcutaneous nodules. Four years before, she had been diagnosed with non specific interstitial pneumonia but had declined treatment. The physical exam did not reveal any signs suggestive of RA however, she was seropositive for rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-citrullinated peptide antibody (ACPA). Treatment for RA-associated interstitial lung disease was discussed. Conclusion: Extra-articular involvement of RA can be observed as initial presentation of the disease in a handful of cases. However, RA diagnosis must be achieved to correctly manage these patients which can at that time receive targeted therapeutic interventions. From our literature review, pulmonary involvement was seen in over half of the cases in seropositive RA patients who lacked articular involvement at initial presentation.
Group sequential design for historical control trials using error spending functions

Group sequential designs using Lan-DeMets error spending functions are proposed for historical control trials with time-to-event endpoints. Both O'Brien-Fleming and Gamma family types of sequential decision boundaries are derived based on sequential log-rank tests, which follow a Brownian motion in a transformed information time. Simulation results show that the proposed group sequential designs using historical controls preserve the overall type I error and power.
Mesenchymal stem cell therapy alleviates the neuroinflammation associated with acquired brain injury

Ischemic stroke and traumatic brain injury (TBI) comprise two particularly prevalent and costly examples of acquired brain injury (ABI). Following stroke or TBI, primary cell death and secondary cell death closely model disease progression and worsen outcomes. Mounting evidence indicates that long-term neuroinflammation extensively exacerbates the secondary deterioration of brain structure and function. Due to their immunomodulatory and regenerative properties, mesenchymal stem cell transplants have emerged as a promising approach to treating this facet of stroke and TBI pathology. In this review, we summarize the classification of cell death in ABI and discuss the prominent role of inflammation. We then consider the efficacy of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem/stromal cell (BM-MSC) transplantation as a therapy for these injuries. Finally, we examine recent laboratory and clinical studies utilizing transplanted BM-MSCs as antiinflammatory and neurorestorative treatments for stroke and TBI. Clinical trials of BM-MSC transplants for stroke and TBI support their promising protective and regenerative properties. Future research is needed to allow for better comparison among trials and to elaborate on the emerging area of cell-based combination treatments.
Outpatient fluoroquinolone prescribing patterns before and after US FDA boxed warning.

Objectives Fluoroquinolones are routinely overprescribed for uncomplicated urinary tract infection (uUTI), acute sinusitis, and acute bronchitis. In 2016, the United States (US) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) updated the boxed warning on fluoroquinolones, recommending against their use as first-line agents for the routine pharmacologic management of uUTI, acute sinusitis, and acute bronchitis in patients who have other treatment options. The primary objective of this study was to determine if the 2016 expanded boxed warning was associated with decreased fluoroquinolone prescription rates for these three diagnoses. Methods We retrospectively reviewed antibiotics prescribed at a single, large, academic outpatient center for these three diagnoses between January 2013 and May 2018. Interrupted time series analysis was used to compare the rate of fluoroquinolone prescriptions before and after the May 2016 FDA boxed warning. Results A total of 10 087 antibiotic prescriptions for these three diagnoses were examined. There was no significant change in fluoroquinolone prescription rates after the FDA boxed warning. The majority of inappropriate fluoroquinolone prescriptions were given for the management of uUTI. Conclusion The 2016 US FDA boxed warning against fluoroquinolone use for uUTI, acute sinusitis, and acute bronchitis was not associated with a statistically significant reduction in the rate of fluoroquinolone prescriptions for these diagnoses. Additional research is needed to define how US FDA boxed warnings may be incorporated into broader antibiotic stewardship programs to decrease overuse of fluoroquinolones and avoid adverse effects of the drug class, including Clostridioides difficile infections and emergence of resistant organisms.
Wireless Bayesian Neural Networks with Self-Assembly DNA Memory and Spin-Torque Oscillators

Wireless Bayesian neural networks (WBNNs) have been proposed to address the problem of energy efficiency and design complexity for training and classification in resourceconstrained edge devices. By introducing thermally-activated DNA actuators and magnetically-tuned spin-torque oscillators (STOs), WBNNs are capable of learning from small data sets and resolving overfitting issues to achieve accurate classification results. To efficiently generate Gaussian variables, this work presents electromagnetically-coupled STOs that can inherently create programmable spectrum distributions for variational inference on Bayesian neural networks (BNNs). Specifically, a nanoscale heterostructure that monolithically integrates DNA origami with STOs is presented to perform multiplication-andaccumulation (MAC) with BNNs using a maximum amount of Gaussian variables, including: 1) STOs with weighted bias currents to set probability distributions and generate oscillation signals over a wide frequency range through interacting with an external magnetic field; (2) DNA origami that can selectively integrate wireless signals from various STOs to transform received energy into programmable magnetic fields. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed WBNN can achieve an accuracy rate of higher than 96% while consuming 625 µW.
The biophysical basis of receptor tyrosine kinase ligand functional selectivity: Trk-B case study

Tropomyosin receptor kinase B (Trk-B) belongs to the second largest family of membrane receptors, Receptor Tyrosine Kinases (RTKs). Trk-B is known to interact with three different neurotrophins: Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), Neurotrophin-4 (NT-4), and Neurotrophin-3 (NT-3). All three neurotrophins are involved in survival and proliferation of neuronal cells, but each induces distinct signaling through Trk-B. We hypothesize that the different biological effects correlate with differences in the interactions between the Trk-B receptors, when bound to different ligands, in the plasma membrane. To test this hypothesis, we use quantitative FRET to characterize Trk-B dimerization in response to NT-3 and NT-4 in live cells, and compare it to the previously published data for Trk-B in the absence and presence of BDNF. Our study reveals that the distinct Trk-B signaling outcomes are underpinned by both different configurations and different stabilities of the three ligand-bound Trk-B dimers in the plasma membrane.
Polynomial Approximation Theory in Sobolev Spaces

We will now develop the approximation theory appropriate for the finite elements developed in Chapter 3. We take a constructive approach, defining an averaged version of the Taylor polynomial familiar from calculus. The key estimates are provided by some simple lemmas from the theory of Riesz potentials, which we derive. As a corollary, we provide a proof of Sobolev’s inequality, much in the spirit given originally by Sobolev.
The resilience paradox

Decades of research have consistently shown that the most common outcome following potential trauma is a stable trajectory of healthy functioning, or resilience. However, attempts to predict resilience reveal a paradox: the correlates of resilient outcomes are generally so modest that it is not possible accurately identify who will be resilient to potential trauma and who not. Commonly used resilience questionnaires essentially ignore this paradox by including only a few presumably key predictors. However, these questionnaires show virtually no predictive utility. The opposite approach, capturing as many predictors as possible using multivariate modelling or machine learning, also fails to fully address the paradox. A closer examination of small effects reveals two primary reasons for these predictive failures: situational variability and the cost-benefit tradeoffs inherent in all behavioural responses. Together, these considerations indicate that behavioural adjustment to traumatic stress is an ongoing process that necessitates flexible self-regulation. To that end, recent research and theory on flexible self-regulation in the context of resilience are discussed and next steps are considered.
Error bounds for Lanczos-based matrix function approximation.

We analyze the Lanczos method for matrix function approximation (Lanczos-FA), an iterative algorithm for computing $f(\mathbf{A}) \mathbf{b}$ when $\mathbf{A}$ is a Hermitian matrix and $\mathbf{b}$ is a given mathbftor. Assuming that $f : \mathbb{C} \rightarrow \mathbb{C}$ is piecewise analytic, we give a framework, based on the Cauchy integral formula, which can be used to derive {\em a priori} and \emph{a posteriori} error bounds for Lanczos-FA in terms of the error of Lanczos used to solve linear systems. Unlike many error bounds for Lanczos-FA, these bounds account for fine-grained properties of the spectrum of $\mathbf{A}$, such as clustered or isolated eigenvalues. Our results are derived assuming exact arithmetic, but we show that they are easily extended to finite precision computations using existing theory about the Lanczos algorithm in finite precision. We also provide generalized bounds for the Lanczos method used to approximate quadratic forms $\mathbf{b}^\textsf{H} f(\mathbf{A}) \mathbf{b}$, and demonstrate the effectiveness of our bounds with numerical experiments.