cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ab Initio Reaction Energetics of Phosgene Decomposition by Zn2+ and Ni Atoms: Implications for Gas Mask Filters†

The reactions of phosgene, a World War I-style chemical weapon, with two transition metals (TMs) are examined by complete active space self consistent field and multireference single and double excitation configuration interaction theory. We clarify the reason why TM ions are effective at decomposing phosgene yet do not react catalytically. In particular, we find that phosgene reacts much more exothermically with Zn2+, an ion present in protective mask filters, than with the isoelectronic neutral TM case of Ni. Zn ions react by three barrierless, extremely exothermic routes, with oxidative cleavage of C−Cl bonds as the most favored. By contrast, we find the isoelectronic Ni atoms undergo only C−Cl bond insertion. The predicted reaction energetics can be nicely rationalized within a valence bond view of oxidation states and organometallic bonding. These energetics then are used to give a chemical reason why saturation of the charcoal filters occurs.
Structural Attributes of Schizachyrium scoparium in Restored Texas Blackland Prairies

Structural attributes of the C4, perennial bunchgrass Schizachyrium scoparium in restored prairies may be affected by the time since restoration. One hundred plants each in 8-, 17-, and 23-year-old restored prairies and a native Texas Blackland prairie were assessed for the presence/absence and diameter of a hollow crown (i.e., dead center portion), degree of fragmentation, plant height, and tiller density. Structural attributes of S. scoparium plants were generally (1) different between recent (8 years) and older (17 and 23 years) restored prairies (2) similar between the 17- and 23-year-old restored prairies, and (3) more similar between the 8- and 17-year restored prairies and the native, remnant prairie than between the 23-year restored prairie and the native prairie. Plants were shorter in restored prairies, regardless of time since restoration, than in the native prairie. Mean basal area of plants was 80163% greater in the 17- and 23-year restored prairies compared with the native and 8-year restored prairies. Percentage of hollow crowns and fragmentation was smallest in the 8-year restored prairie, largest in the 17and 23-year restored prairies, and intermediate in the native prairie. Tiller density exhibited inverse second-order polynomial decreases with increasing plant basal area for all prairies. In contrast to tiller density, diameter of hollow crowns increased logarithmically with increasing plant basal area. Structural attributes of S. scoparium in restored prairies changed predictably with age, despite growing in different communities.
The Deep Cause of the Subprime Lending Crisis

The financial crisis induced calls to extend, strengthen and tighten financial regulations. This paper argues that the deep underlying problem is not in the financial industry, but in the real side of the economy, in real estate. The most important collateral for mortgage loans is land value, which then serves as collateral for packages of loans and leverage derivatives. The problem is that real estate has had periodic boom-bust cycles. The rise in land values becomes magnified as land speculators buy properties for resale at higher prices. Land then becomes priced not for current use but for expected future demand, which at the peak of the boom is overly optimistic. Speculators with the greatest expectations later suffer the winner’s curse. If taxation were shifted to tax almost all of the land value, the price of land would fall to a small fraction of the pre-tax price, eliminating gains from land speculation. Mortgage loans would be collateralized by the value of buildings and of income from tenants, rather than land value. The boom-bust real estate cycle would disappear.
Chloro[(1,2,3,4,5‐ɛ)‐1,2,3,4,5‐pentamethyl‐2,4‐cyclopentadien‐1‐yl]bis(triphenylphosphine)ruthenium

[92361-49-4] C46H45ClP2Ru (MW 796.32) InChI = 1S/2C18H15P.C10H15.ClH.Ru/c2*1-4-10-16(11-5-1)19(17-12-6-2-7-13-17)18-14-8-3-9-15-18;1-6-7(2)9(4)10(5)8(6)3;;/h2*1-15H;1-5H3;1H;/q;;;;+1/p-1 InChIKey = KLXKSZDVKAWYRT-UHFFFAOYSA-M Physical Data: mp 270 °C. Solubility: dichloromethane, chloroform, toluene, tetrahydrofuran. Form Supplied in: orange crystalline or red needles. Preparative Method: prepared in two steps from RuCl3·3H2O.1 Purification: crystallized from dichloromethane/hexanes1 or acetone/diethyl ether.2 Handling, Storage, and Precautions: air stable.
Competing Roads to Larynx Preservation

Combined modality research in laryngeal cancer has focused on the dual goals of increased survival and functional organ preservation. Competing strategies consist of induction chemotherapy as initially established in the Veterans’ Administration Larynx Preservation trial and of concomitant chemoradiotherapy. Randomized trials established the combination of cisplatin and fluorouracil (PF) as induction chemotherapy and of radiotherapy with systemic-dose cisplatin every 3 weeks as feasible and effective. 1-3 More recently, the addition of docetaxel to the PF regimen (TPF) was shown to further increase overall survival when compared with PF in a general population of patients with head and neck cancer and to allow for a higher larynx preservation rate in patients with laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer. 4-6 Bioradiotherapy by using concurrent cetuximab was shown to be superior to single-modality radiotherapy but has not been directly compared with either induction or concurrent chemoradiotherapy, tested specifically for laryngeal cancer, or shown to further improve survival when added to cisplatin radiotherapy. 7,8 Viral carcinogenesis of nasopharyngeal cancer (Epstein-Barr virus) and oropharyngeal cancer (human papillomavirus) is well recognized; in particular, the latter is associated with the current rapid increase in the incidence of oropharyngeal cancers. However, for larynx cancer, tobacco and alcohol exposure remain the dominant risk factors that lead to frequent significant comorbidities and competing mortality risks. In addition, laryngeal cancer can predispose patients to swallowing problems with associated malnutrition and aspiration. Similarly, acute and long-term effects of surgery and radiation can contribute to these complications, especially in older patients and patients with advanced stage disease. 9 In the article that accompanies this editorial, Forastiere et al 10 report 5- and 10-year outcomes for Radiation Therapy Oncology
The dissociation energies of He2, HeH, and ArH: A bond function study

The bond energies and bond lengths are determined for He2, HeH, and ArH at the CCSD(T) level using both atom-centred basis sets and those that include bond functions. The addition of bond functions dramatically improves that rate of convergence of the results with respect to the size of the atom-centred basis set; with bond functions, triple-zeta atom-centred basis sets outperform quintuple-zeta basis sets without bond functions. The addition of bond functions also reduces the number of diffuse functions that must be added to the atom-centred sets. Employing bond functions appears to offer a cost-effective method for computing the interaction energy between weakly bound systems, especially for He.
Prognostic factors for alveolar regeneration: effect of a space-providing biomaterial on guided tissue regeneration

Objectives: There is a limited understanding of the effect of bone biomaterials on the healing potential when used in conjunction with guided tissue regeneration (GTR). The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of a space-providing coral-derived biomaterial on alveolar bone regeneration in conjunction with GTR. Methods: Bilateral, critical-size, 6-mm, supra-alveolar, periodontal defects were created in four young adult Beagle dogs. In a split-mouth design, the animals received an ePTFE device to provide for GTR in contralateral defect sites with or without the coral biomaterial. The animals were euthanized at 4 weeks post surgery. A histometric analysis assessed vertical regeneration of alveolar bone relative to space-provision by the ePTFE device. Because of the correlation of within-dog measurements, a mixed model anova was used to analyze the data. Results: There was significantly greater mean bone regeneration in sites receiving calcium carbonate coral implant GTR (cGTR) compared to GTR (p 0.5). Conclusions: Space-provision has a significant effect on bone regeneration following GTR. The coral biomaterial effectively enhances space-provision, and this appears to be the principal mechanism by which this biomaterial supports bone regeneration rather than postulated osteoconductive properties.
Conceptual Design for a Universal Reed-Solomon Decoder

An algorithm is presented which enables one ReedSolomon decoder to process other Reed-Solomon encoded data from a different code. All that is required is that both codes have the same length, the same rate, and the same field of coefficients.
Maladaptive behavior in children with Prader-Willi syndrome, Down syndrome, and nonspecific mental retardation

Although some genetic, mental retardation syndromes have well-described behavioral features, comparative studies have not yet assessed the relative uniqueness of these so-called phenotypes. Maladaptive behavior of 43 children with Prader-Willi syndrome was compared to age- and gender-matched children with Down syndrome and with nonspecific mental retardation. The Prader-Willi group showed more frequent and severe internalizing, externalizing, and total problem behaviors on the Child Behavior Checklist. Some problems were elevated in all groups, and 12 behaviors were significantly elevated in Prader-Willi subjects relative to both comparison groups. Seven behaviors predicted membership into the Prader-Willi group with 91% accuracy. Implications were discussed for research on behavioral phenotypes in general and for dual diagnosis in particular.
Integrated coverage and connectivity configuration for energy conservation in sensor networks

An effective approach for energy conservation in wireless sensor networks is scheduling sleep intervals for extraneous nodes while the remaining nodes stay active to provide continuous service. For the sensor network to operate successfully, the active nodes must maintain both sensing coverage and network connectivity. Furthermore, the network must be able to configure itself to any feasible degree of coverage and connectivity in order to support different applications and environments with diverse requirements. This article presents the design and analysis of novel protocols that can dynamically configure a network to achieve guaranteed degrees of coverage and connectivity. This work differs from existing connectivity or coverage maintenance protocols in several key ways. (1) We present a Coverage Configuration Protocol (CCP) that can provide different degrees of coverage requested by applications. This flexibility allows the network to self-configure for a wide range of applications and (possibly dynamic) environments. (2) We provide a geometric analysis of the relationship between coverage and connectivity. This analysis yields key insights for treating coverage and connectivity within a unified framework; in sharp contrast to several existing approaches that address the two problems in isolation. (3) We integrate CCP with SPAN to provide both coverage and connectivity guarantees. (4) We propose a probabilistic coverage model and extend CCP to provide probabilistic coverage guarantees. We demonstrate the capability of our protocols to provide guaranteed coverage and connectivity configurations through both geometric analysis and extensive simulations.
Disorganization and Reality Distortion in Schizophrenia: A Meta-Analysis of the Relationship between Positive Symptoms and Neurocognitive Deficits

Abstract Background Factor analytic studies have shown that in schizophrenia patients, disorganization (e.g., conceptual disorganization and bizarre behavior) is a separate dimension from other types of positive symptoms such as reality distortion (delusions and hallucinations). Although some studies have found that disorganization is more strongly linked to neurocognitive deficits and poor functional outcomes than reality distortion, the findings are not always consistent. Methods A meta-analysis of 104 studies (combined n = 8015) was conducted to determine the magnitude of the relationship between neurocognition and disorganization as compared to reality distortion. Additional analyses were conducted to determine whether the strength of these relationships differed depending on the neurocognitive domain under investigation. Results The relationship between reality distortion and neurocognition was weak ( r = −.04; p = .03) as compared to the moderate association between disorganization and neurocognition ( r = −.23; p r 's range from −.20 to −.26) than to reality distortion ( r 's range from .01 to −.12). Conclusions The effect size of the relationship between neurocognition and disorganization was significantly larger than the effect size of the relationship between neurocognition and reality distortion. These results hold across several neurocognitive domains. These findings support a dimensional view of positive symptoms distinguishing disorganization from reality distortion.
Cylindrical acceleration structures for large hexahedral volume visualization

Scientific simulations generate large irregular volumes with complex geometry. In volume rendering, the efficiency of the ray casting algorithms relies heavily on acceleration data structures to achieve accurate visual representations at interactive rates. In this paper, two acceleration structures are introduced to visualize a large irregular volume on the GPU: (i) two-level cylindrical grid, and (ii) cylindrical bounding volume hierarchy (BVH). With thorough analysis and detailed experimental results, we demonstrate that the cylindrical data structures can effectively store the hexahedral volumes, reduce duplications, and increase ray casting performance.
Mental and Simulated Models in Health Policy Making

Models are approximations. We make mental models all the time. These mental models start the process but it does not end there. Whether they on their own are helpful is another story altogether. System thinking, by way of formal models, offers policymakers’ microworlds to offset attribution errors and faulty sense making that can lead policy astray. This chapter offers a brief descriptive of simulation as applications of system thinking education to state policymaking, system dynamics modeling of prescription opiate abuse as well as a look at avatar-like simulation of health-care data based on mathematical models for policy.
Similar pressure pulse propagation and reflection characteristics in aortas of mammals

Similar pressure and flow waveforms recorded in mammalian aortas suggest that pulse transmission characteristics may also be similar. We examined the validity of this hypothesis, utilizing allometric equations of pertinent hemodynamic parameters and a model of the arterial system. Results show that both the reflection coefficient and the propagation constant times the aortic length are essentially invariant across the mammalian species investigated. Resolved forward and reflected propagating waves are also similar. These findings suggest that the arterial system in these mammals indeed functions in a similar manner.
Usefulness of Cardiac Rehabilitation After Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is an increasingly recognized cause of myocardial infarction; however, the role of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) for patients with SCAD has not been well defined. To further understand CR in patients with SCAD, we studied a large cohort of patients with confirmed SCAD enrolled in the Mayo Clinic SCAD Registry from January 2010 to December 2014 (n = 354). Demographics, clinical characteristics, mental health status, and details about CR participation and experience were collected through medical record review and questionnaires. Participants at time of SCAD were 46 ± 10 years old; 96% were women. Most (76%) attended ≥1 CR sessions, averaging 18 ± 12 sessions. Most reported CR-related physical and emotional benefits (82% and 75%, respectively). Of the CR nonparticipants, 57 of 85 reported not participating because CR was not recommended by their health care provider. Other reasons included inadequate transportation (10 of 85), no insurance coverage (7 of 85), cost (2 of 85), no energy (2 of 85), being too ill (2 of 85), and miscellaneous comments (5 of 85). In conclusion, 3 of 4 of patients with SCAD participated in CR, most of whom reported benefit. Lack of recommendation for CR by a health care provider was the primary reason patients did not participate.
Signalling mechanisms involved in C-peptide-mediated inhibition of low O2-induced ATP release from human erythrocytes

Background and objectives In vivo, insulin is released with connecting peptide (C-peptide) which has recently been shown to have biological activity. When erythrocytes are exposed to reduced oxygen (O2) tension, they release O2 as well as the vasodilator ATP enabling them to participate in the appropriate distribution of vascular perfusion and, thereby, O2 supply. Low O2-induced ATP release is absent in erythrocytes of humans with type 2 diabetes (DM2), but this response is restored by co-administration of physiological concentrations of insulin and C-peptide. However, either C-peptide or insulin, when administered alone, inhibits low O2-induced ATP release from healthy human erythrocytes. Here, we investigated the mechanism(s) by which C-peptide inhibits this physiological ATP release from human erythrocytes. Methods Erythrocytes from healthy humans (n = 21) or humans with DM2 (n = 4) were incubated with C-peptide in the absence or presence of inhibitors of either protein kinase C alpha (PKCα) or soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC). Erythrocytes were then exposed to low O2, and ATP release was determined. Results In healthy human erythrocytes, C-peptide inhibited ATP release in response to low O2. Preincubation with either Go6976, a PKCα inhibitor, or ODQ, a sGC inhibitor, prevented this effect of C-peptide. In addition, C-peptide alone did not rescue low O2-induced ATP release from DM2 erythrocytes. Conclusion Administration of C-peptide in excess of levels present under physiological conditions or the combination of C-peptide and insulin at ratios that exceed those observed physiologically to insulin-deficient individuals can be detrimental for low O2-induced ATP release from human erythrocytes and could, consequently, interfere with optimal O2 delivery to skeletal muscle.
Energetics and the Distribution of Vampires

The weight fluctuations and rates of metabolism of vampires in the laboratory were examined in an attempt to describe the energy budget of vampires in the field. Their energy expenditure is limited by the size of the meal that can be transported in flight. A Desmodus of 42 grams would expend about 26 kilocalories per day, more than 90 per cent of which is committed directly to homeostasis and to the cost of handling the food. Appreciably colder environmental temperatures than those found in the tropics would increase the cost of thermoregulation, which in turn would require a meal-size beyond that which can be transported. In fact, the limits in distribution of Desmodus are correlated with the 10°C minimal winter isotherm both in Mexico and in Argentina and Chile.
Mosquito density and seasonal variation in Lanzhou city

Objective To understand the growth and decline of mosquito density,population structure and seasonal variation in Lanzhou city,and provide scientific basis for mosquito control.Methods Mosquito lure lamp method was used.Results The average mosquito density was 3.99/(lamp·h).The mosquito densities were 3.39,1.48,6.95 and 4.74/(lamp · h) respectively in neighborhoods,hospitals,parks and livestocks.Culex accounted for96.18% of the total.The density peak appeared in August with the density of 14.27/(lamp·h).Conclusion Mosquito population structure,density fluctuation in Lanzhou city are well understood.
Optimization of Distribution Network Reconfiguration Based on Loop and Improved Genetic Algorithm

An optimization model of distribution network reconfiguration is established,in which the network loss and motion number of switches are considered,and the restrictions to the decline of voltage,current and the capacity of power source are taken as constraint conditions,through the outer penalty function method,the solution is transformed to an unrestrained optimization problem,and the improved genetic algorithm is used to solve the problem.Based on the features of distribution network,a loop method is adopted in the operations of initial solutions creating,cross and mutation,the methods of creating correct chromosomes and modifying wrong chromosomes are given,so the infeasible solutions are avoided,the computational efficiency of the method is enhanced.Aiming at the limitation of genetic algorithm,some operational processes are improved,expression of fitness function is adjusted,making the optimal direction of objective function same as the increasing direction of fitness function.Based on the relative capability of current population,computing methods of cross rate and mutation rate are improved,forming adaptive genetic algorithm.Meanwhile,simulated annealing algorithm is combined and the method of determining initial temperature is given,making use of relative capability of the initial population,operation of reproduction is improved based on the method of roulette wheel selection and differentiating rule of metropolis.Comparing with other optimal methods,the improved genetic algorithm can improve the speed of convergence and avoid premature convergence.Its application shows that the algorithm is efficient.
Determination of alcohol and total acid content in Miaofu rice wine by near infrared spectroscopy

The quantitative models for alcohol and total acid in Miaofu rice wine were established by Near-infrared(NIR) transmission spectroscopy combined with successive projection algorithm partial least squares(PLS).The determination coefficient(R2) of the alcohol content model and the total acid model was 90.36% and 96.73%,respectively.The Root Mean Square Error of Prediction(RMSEP) of extern validation of amino acid nitrogen and alcohol degree was 0.058 and 0.081,respectively.These results can provide a foundation for rapid quantitative analyses and controlling the quality of Miaofu rice wine on line.
Acute risk factors for suicide attempts and death: prospective findings from the STEP-BD study.

OBJECTIVES: Suicide is unfortunately common in psychiatric practice, but difficult to predict. The present study sought to assess which clinical symptoms increase in the months before suicidal behavior in a sample of psychiatric outpatients with bipolar disorder. METHODS: Data from the Systematic Treatment Enhancement Program for Bipolar Disorder (STEP-BD) trial were used. A total of 103 participants who attempted suicide or died by suicide during the trial were included; a 15% random sample of the remaining participants (n = 427) was used as a comparison sample. Linear mixed models in the six months before suicidal behavior were conducted for each of five proposed acute risk factors for suicidal behavior. Participants were assessed using the Clinical Monitoring Form (CMF) at each visit for the following potential acute risk factors for suicidal behavior: suicidal ideation, loss of interest, anxiety, psychomotor agitation, and high-risk behavior. RESULTS: Each of the five symptoms was elevated overall in individuals who engaged in suicidal behavior (p CONCLUSIONS: Suicidal ideation, loss of interest and, to a lesser extent, anxiety may represent acute suicide risk factors up to four months before suicidal behavior in outpatients with bipolar disorder. Further investigation of these potential acute risk factors in prospective analyses is warranted.Published 2016. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA. Language: en
Video-assisted thoracic surgery: experience with 126 cases.

VATS was performed in 126 patients at the Medical Center of Delaware from December 1991 to August 1993, with no major complications and no mortality. A definitive diagnosis was made in all cases. Results with VATS therapeutic procedures appear to equal those of the standard open technique. Operating time was comparable to that with the open technique. Length of stay and pain and suffering were dramatically reduced when compared with those associated with the open technique. We now consider VATS to be the preferred procedure in cases of: 1. Undiagnosed pulmonary infiltrate in the nonventilator-dependent patient 2. Indeterminate pulmonary nodule 3. Undiagnosed disease of the pleural space 4. Recurrent or persistent pneumothorax 5. Mediastinal or pericardial cystic tumors 6. Thoracic sympathectomy 7. Selected patients requiring esophagocardiomyotomy. The utilization of VATS for resection of a pulmonary mass in patients with cardiopulmonary compromise (i.e., FEV < 1) is being studied. Further development of this technique and expansion to formal pulmonary resection and cardiovascular procedures must follow the philosophy presented in our conclusion. The place of VATS in the management of penetrating thoracic trauma has been studied at several centers, with excellent results when precise guidelines have been followed. Obviously, one-lung anesthesia is not well tolerated when a patient is in profound shock, but if the patient can be stabilized before thoracotomy, the introduction of a camera to diagnose a carotid or internal mammary artery laceration or to staple an easily accessible pulmonary tear could obviate the need for a thoracotomy and its consequences for the patient. Again, as in all surgical operations, common sense and good judgment must prevail.
Distinct Residues Contribute to Motility Repression and Autoregulation in the Proteus mirabilis Fimbria-Associated Transcriptional Regulator AtfJ

ABSTRACT Proteus mirabilis contributes to a significant number of catheter-associated urinary tract infections, where coordinated regulation of adherence and motility is critical for ascending disease progression. Previously, the mannose-resistant Proteus-like (MR/P) fimbria-associated transcriptional regulator MrpJ has been shown to both repress motility and directly induce the transcription of its own operon; in addition, it affects the expression of a wide range of cellular processes. Interestingly, 14 additional mrpJ paralogs are included in the P. mirabilis genome. Looking at a selection of MrpJ paralogs, we discovered that these proteins, which consistently repress motility, also have nonidentical functions that include cross-regulation of fimbrial operons. A subset of paralogs, including AtfJ (encoded by the ambient temperature fimbrial operon), Fim8J, and MrpJ, are capable of autoinduction. We identified an element of the atf promoter extending from 487 to 655 nucleotides upstream of the transcriptional start site that is responsive to AtfJ, and we found that AtfJ directly binds this fragment. Mutational analysis of AtfJ revealed that its two identified functions, autoregulation and motility repression, are not invariably linked. Residues within the DNA-binding helix-turn-helix domain are required for motility repression but not necessarily autoregulation. Likewise, the C-terminal domain is dispensable for motility repression but is essential for autoregulation. Supported by a three-dimensional (3D) structural model, we hypothesize that the C-terminal domain confers unique regulatory capacities on the AtfJ family of regulators. IMPORTANCE Balancing adherence with motility is essential for uropathogens to successfully establish a foothold in their host. Proteus mirabilis uses a fimbria-associated transcriptional regulator to switch between these antagonistic processes by increasing fimbrial adherence while simultaneously downregulating flagella. The discovery of multiple related proteins, many of which also function as motility repressors, encoded in the P. mirabilis genome has raised considerable interest as to their functionality and potential redundancy in this organism. This study provides an important advance in this field by elucidating the nonidentical effects of these paralogs on a molecular level. Our mechanistic studies of one member of this group, AtfJ, shed light on how these differing functions may be conferred despite the limited sequence variety exhibited by the paralogous proteins.
A Printed Icon in Early Modern Italy: Forlì's Madonna of the Fire

In 1428, a devastating fire destroyed a schoolhouse in the northern Italian city of Forli, leaving only a woodcut of the Madonna and Child that had been tacked to the classroom wall. The people of Forli carried that print - now known as the Madonna of the Fire - into their cathedral, where two centuries later a new chapel was built to enshrine it. In this book, Lisa Pon considers a cascade of moments in the Madonna of the Fire's cultural biography: when ink was impressed onto paper at a now-unknown date; when that sheet was recognized by Forli's people as miraculous; when it was enshrined in various tabernacles and chapels in the cathedral; when it or one of its copies was - and still is - carried in procession. In doing so, Pon offers an experiment in art historical inquiry that spans more than three centuries of making, remaking, and renewal.
FAM26F: An Enigmatic Protein Having a Complex Role in the Immune System

Mammalian immune system is a complex amalgam of diverse cellular and noncellular components such as cytokines, receptors and co-receptors. FAM26F (family with sequence similarity 26, member F) is a recently identified tetraspanin-like membrane glycoprotein which is predicted to make homophilic interactions and potential synapses between several immune cells including CD4+, CD8+, NK, dendritic cells and macrophages. Various whole transcriptome analyses have demonstrated the differential expression of FAM26F in several bacterial, viral and parasitic infections, in certain pathophysiological conditions such as liver and heart transplantation, and in various cancers. The complete understanding of transcriptional regulation of FAM26F is in its infancy however it is up regulated by various stimulants such as polyI:C, LPS, INF gamma and TNF alpha, and via various proposed pathways including TLR3, TLR4 IFN-β and Dectin-1. These pathways can merge in STAT1 activation. The synergistic expression of FAM26F on both NK-cells and myeloid dendritic cells is required to activate NK-cells against tumors via its cytoplasmic tail, thus emphasizing therapeutic potential of FAM26F for NK sensitive tumors. Current review provides a comprehensive basis to propose that FAM26F expression level is at least a hallmark for IFN-γ-lead immune responses and thus can proficiently be regarded as an early diagnostic marker. Future investigation dissecting the role of FAM26F in activation of various immune cell populations in local amplification by cell-cell contact is crucial to provide the missing link imperative for elucidating the relevance of this protein in immune responses.
There’s No Geneva Convention Here: Torture in Three Films Set in World War II

This chapter focuses comparatively on different strategies for representing the Axis powers’ use of torture in World War II in Roma, Citta Apeta, (Rome, Open City), Roberto Rossellini, 1945, The Bridge over the River Kwai, David Lean, 1957, and Senjō no Merī Kurisumasu (Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence), Nagisa Oshima, 1983. Scenes pertaining to torture are closely examined in light of the different representational strategies of each film, ranging from neo-realist immersion in historical recreation, Hollywood-style spectacle deployed with irony, and Brechtian distantiation. The ‘Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War’ flouted by the regimes that seized power, by the Italian Fascists and German Nazis, or ones such as the Japanese militarist government who had never signed it are directly referenced in the latter two films. Each uses emblematic imagery of torture to stress how victims resist as acts of courage with important moral consequences, but once again the analysis also highlights in detail how the inscription differs from film to film, and the consequences of that specificity.
Social Change and Psychotherapeutic Implications

Psychotherapists see women who are successful in many areas, but who are in conflict about their aspirations and activities. Since therapists are influenced by the same cultural, familial, and intrapsychic factors as their patients, they may find their objectivity clouded by their own values and attitudes, so that it may be difficult for them to examine with their patients the conflicts presented: An important example that is now being brought most forcefully to our attention has to do with the radical transformation currently taking place in the conceptualization of the position of women in our society, the rapidly changing reality of being a woman in today’s world. I submit that many of our familiar usages and the comfortably established assumptions underlying them, concerning such psychoanalytically salient conceptions in our understandings of the psychology of women, as our notions of passive and active, of “normal masochism,” and of so-called feminine and masculine attributes and behaviors, must necessarily be profoundly affected by the changing meanings enforced by the changing realities of the new woman’s world. To not be aware of or be unable or unwilling to accommodate to a social reality that has been so profoundly transformed within our generation is to unnecessarily and perhaps irreparably burden the delicate balance of transferences and countertransferences on which the progressive resolutions of our therapeutic analytic task depend. If the analyst and analysand have profoundly different visions of this reality—of the “proper” or normal role of women in society—an analytic impass may readily ensue in which, the structure of the relationship being “tilted”(Greenacre) the way it is, the patient is the more usually bent into pseudocompliances with analytic interpretive pressures, though it can oppositely take the course of active withdrawals by the patient of major segments of psychic functioning from the analytic arena.1
A Kidney Graft Survival Calculator that Accounts for Mismatches in Age, Sex, HLA, and Body Size

Background and objectives Outcomes for transplants from living unrelated donors are of particular interest in kidney paired donation (KPD) programs where exchanges can be arranged between incompatible donor-recipient pairs or chains created from nondirected/altruistic donors. Design, setting, participants, & measurements Using Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients data, we analyzed 232,705 recipients of kidney-alone transplants from 1998 to 2012. Graft failure rates were estimated using Cox models for recipients of kidney transplants from living unrelated, living related, and deceased donors. Models were adjusted for year of transplant and donor and recipient characteristics, with particular attention to mismatches in age, sex, human leukocyte antigens (HLA), body size, and weight. Results The dependence of graft failure on increasing donor age was less pronounced for living-donor than for deceased-donor transplants. Male donor–to–male recipient transplants had lower graft failure, particularly better than female to male (5%–13% lower risk). HLA mismatch was important in all donor types. Obesity of both the recipient (8%–18% higher risk) and donor (5%–11% higher risk) was associated with higher graft loss, as were donor-recipient weight ratios of Conclusions This calculator provides useful information to donors, candidates, and physicians of estimated outcomes and potentially in allowing candidates to choose among several living donors. It may also help inform candidates with compatible donors on the advisability of joining a KPD program.
Particle image velocimetry measurements in an anatomical vascular model fabricated using inkjet 3D printing

For decades, the study of biomedical fluid dynamics using optical flow visualization and measurement techniques has been limited by the inability to fabricate transparent physical models that realistically replicate the complex morphology of biological lumens. In this study, we present an approach for producing optically transparent anatomical models that are suitable for particle image velocimetry (PIV) using a common 3D inkjet printing process (PolyJet) and stock resin (VeroClear). By matching the index of refraction of the VeroClear material using a room-temperature mixture of water, sodium iodide, and glycerol, and by printing the part in an orientation such that the flat, optical surfaces are at an approximately 45 $$^{\circ }$$ angle to the build plane, we overcome the challenges associated with using this 3D printing technique for PIV. Here, we summarize our methodology and demonstrate the process and the resultant PIV measurements of flow in an optically transparent anatomical model of the human inferior vena cava.
MRI‐guided preoperative 125I seed localizations: Case report

Preoperative nonwire localizations with 125 I seeds are performed using mammographic or ultrasonographic guidance. Current MRI-guided interventions in the breast are primarily limited to biopsies and wire localizations. Occasionally, nonwire localization with 125 I seeds is preferred, but the target is only well seen on MRI. This case report describes how MRI-guided preoperative two 125 I seed bracket localization was performed.
Novel Therapeutic Strategies in Sjögren’s Syndrome: T-Cell Targeting

Abstract The treatment of Sjogren’s syndrome (SS) depends on symptomatic relief of xerophthalmia and xerostomia while its most significant systemic effects are treated with nonspecific immunosuppressive agents. Abatacept, a medication approved for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis that targets T cells, has shown promising preliminary results in the treatment of SS. Herein we review novel therapeutic strategies that target T cells in patients with SS.
Illness, Handicapping Conditions, and Hospitalization: Specific Challenges for the Pediatrician

That morning, Benjamin could barely open his eyes. He felt as if someone had placed burning coals on his eyelids, the kind his family used when they camped out in the woods.
The Critical Path Method in Stroke Rehabilitation: Lessons from an Experiment in Cost Containment and Outcome Improvement

This study tested the effects of a project network technique called the Critical Path Method (CPM) on the costs and outcomes of inpatient team stroke rehabilitation. On admission to a large, academic, inpatient rehabilitation hospital adults who had a recent (< 120 days) stroke were randomly assigned to receive rehabilitation services from a team trained in CPM (N = 53) or from usual care teams (N = 68). Results showed no significant difference between groups in length of stay, hospital charges, or functional status at discharge. CPM may be effective in patient care services that are less influenced by specialization, professional issues, and external regulation and in settings where patient outcomes are relatively fixed and predictable, and medical care is integrated across institutions.
Identifying neural predictors of response to cortical or striatal deep brain stimulation in a rodent model of alcohol drinking: Towards developing individualized therapies for alcohol use disorders

Alcohol use disorders (AUDs) affect a large proportion of individuals in the United States. Unfortunately, the current therapies to treat AUDs are largely ineffective. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) has been proposed as a promising therapy for AUDs, but the high individual variability in treatment response limits broader implementation of this approach. The corticostriatal circuit is key in processing the rewarding properties of alcohol and we hypothesize that we can identify neural features within this circuit that will predict individual response to DBS in order to maximize treatment outcomes. In the current experiment, local field potentials (LFPs) were recorded from the nucleus accumbens shell (NAcSh) and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) of male Sprague-Dawley rats (n=13). The impact of NAcSh and mPFC DBS on levels of alcohol consumption was subsequently evaluated. On a population level, DBS in either region failed to significantly alter alcohol drinking behavior due to high individual variability in response. However, when individual features of corticostriatal LFPs were used as predictors of alcohol drinking outcomes (decreasers, increasers, or nonresponders to DBS) for each rat using a machine-learning approach (lasso), response to DBS could be predicted with greater accuracy than expected by chance. These data suggest that individual differences in corticostriatal circuit activity prior to stimulation likely contributes to the variable responses to DBS therapy. Ultimately, we hope to use knowledge gained from these data to tailor DBS therapies to individuals, further enhancing treatment efficacy.
Crowdsourcing sugammadex adverse event rates using an in-app survey: feasibility assessment from an observational study

Background:Mobile applications (apps) have become a ubiquitous source of clinical decision support. We sought to ascertain the feasibility of using an app platform to obtain a crowdsourced measure ...
A single episode of binge alcohol drinking causes sleep disturbance, disrupts sleep homeostasis, and down-regulates equilibrative nucleoside transporter 1.

Binge alcohol drinking, a risky pattern of alcohol consumption, has severe consequences toward health and well-being of an individual, his family, and society. Although, binge drinking has detrimental effects on sleep, underlying mechanisms are unknown. We used adult male C57BL/6J mice and exposed them to a single, 4-h session of binge alcohol self-administration, in stress-free environment, to examine neuronal mechanisms affecting sleep. We first verified binge pattern of alcohol consumption. When allowed to self-administer alcohol in a non-stressful environment, mice consumed alcohol in a binge pattern. Next, effect of binge drinking on sleep-wakefulness was monitored. While sleep-wakefulness remained unchanged during drinking session, significant increase in non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep was observed during 4 h of active period post-binge, followed by increased wakefulness, reduced sleep during subsequent sleep (light) period; although the timing of sleep onset (at lights-on) remained unaffected. Next, electrophysiological and biochemical indicators of sleep homeostasis were examined using sleep deprivation-recovery sleep paradigm. Mice exposed to binge drinking did not show an increase in cortical theta power and basal forebrain adenosine levels during sleep deprivation; NREM sleep and NREM delta power did not increase during recovery sleep suggesting that mice exposed to binge alcohol do not develop sleep pressure. Our final experiment examined expression of genes regulating sleep homeostasis following binge drinking. While binge drinking did not affect adenosine kinase and A1 receptor, expression of equilibrative nucleoside transporter 1 (ENT1) was significantly reduced. These results suggest that binge alcohol consumption-induced down-regulation of ENT1 expression may disrupt sleep homeostasis and cause sleep disturbances. Open Data: Materials are available on https://cos.io/our-services/open-science-badges/ https://osf.io/93n6m/.
Testing an improved gain equalization non-uniformity correction algorithm

This paper is a follow-on to a previous study that comprehensively tested higher order polynomial, calibration-based, non-uniformity correction (NUC) algorithms targeted at short wave infrared (SWIR) imagers. As part of the previous study, a new nonlinear gain equalization algorithm was developed and compared with existing algorithms. Infrared imaging is an expansive field with many commercial and military applications. A known problem with infrared imaging devices is their non-uniformity. Contributing factors of non-uniformity include, but are not limited to, the unique photo response of each detector, amplifier mismatch, and dark current. This study takes a higher level view with the objective of determining the impacts of preprocessing on performance of the recently developed gain equalization algorithm. A basic linear banding threshold using mean replacement is compared with an unsupervised machine learning algorithm using principal component analysis (PCA) and nearest neighbor median filtering for replacement The details of both approaches are explained in this paper. Standard performance metrics such as the root mean square error (RMSE) and the residual non-uniformity (RNU) are compared. The techniques used in this study may be applied to any wavelength device, however testing was done using multiple sets of raw focal plane array data collected from SWIR cameras. Similar experiments could be performed on simulated data sets for reproducibility purposes and details on the experimental setup are included for this purpose. Experiments were repeated for different gain settings and device resolutions and the results were compared with other calibration-based nonlinear NUC algorithms. By applying preprocessing techniques, such as bad pixel identification and replacement, the accuracy of image data is improved and RMSE reduced by additional 5% on average. For certain applications even small levels of improvement are significant and finding algorithms that are easy to implement can be essential. This study highlights the improvements that can be made to SWIR devices by applying simple preprocessing techniques. As the use of SWIR technologies increases, performance demands are also expected to increase, thus making studies such as this more and more significant.
GaAs on Si: Potential Applications

Epitaxial gallium arsenide deposited on silicon substrates is a prime example of a mismatched epitaxial system. The crystal lattice constants of the two materials differ by about 4%, and the thermal expansion coefficients differ by more than a factor of two. Although such mismatched systems were considered infeasible only a few years ago, today they exemplify the revolution in epitaxial thin film capabilities that has spawned the promising new field called “Artificially Structured Materials”.
Recruitment of CD34(+) fibroblasts in tumor-associated reactive stroma: the reactive microvasculature hypothesis

Reactive stroma co-evolves with cancer, exhibiting tumor-promoting properties. It is also evident at sites of wound repair and fibrosis, playing a key role in tissue homeostasis. The specific cell types of origin and the spatial/temporal patterns of reactive stroma initiation are poorly understood. In this study, we evaluated human tumor tissue arrays by using multiple labeled, quantitative, spectral deconvolution microscopy. We report here a novel CD34/vimentin dual-positive reactive fibroblast that is observed in the cancer microenvironment of human breast, colon, lung, pancreas, thyroid, prostate, and astrocytoma. Recruitment of these cells occurred in xenograft tumors and Matrigel plugs in vivo and was also observed in stromal nodules associated with human benign prostatic hyperplasia. Because spatial and temporal data suggested the microvasculature as a common site of origin for these cells, we analyzed microvasculature fragments in organ culture. Interestingly, fibroblasts with identical phenotypic properties and markers expanded radially from microvasculature explants. We propose the concept of reactive microvasculature for the evolution of reactive stroma at sites of epithelial disruption common in both benign and malignant disorders. Data suggest that the reactive stroma response is conserved among tissues, in normal repair, and in different human cancers. A more clear understanding of the nature and origin of reactive stroma is needed to identify novel therapeutic targets in cancer and fibrosis.