cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ray Tracing for Simulation of Millimeter-Wave Whole Body Imaging Systems

A ray tracing algorithm for modeling millimeter waves in a whole body imaging system is presented. Ray tracing is a well-known method for approximating high-frequency wave behavior and is well suited for implementation on graphics processing units (GPUs), presenting computational speed advantages over conventional full-wave modeling techniques. This method leverages the NVIDIA OptiX engine to ensure computational efficiency. Numerical results in this work are compared with conventional two-dimensional method of moments solutions to assess accuracy and computational times are compared with a three-dimensional GPU implementation of the modified equivalent current approximation.
Thermodynamic Optimization of Multi-Stage Cryocoolers

Active Stirling class cryocoolers, including pulse tube coolers, are complex, difficult to optimize machines. The large number of characteristics and properties associated with geometry, materials, gas properties, heat transfer devices, flow manifolds, mechanical mechanisms, and electro-mechanical devices that determine a particular machine’s performance make quick optimization difficult. Single-stage coolers are now sufficiently well understood that design optimization is reasonably straight forward. However, multi-stage coolers compound the design problem by virtue of the dramatically enlarged number of variables, and optimization is still a challenge. Often, multi-stage machines are “optimized” by a brute force search of the design space or design decisions are made based on overly generalized or inaccurate assumptions about relationships between variables. The schedule-constrained time typically available to perform optimization procedures combined with the large number of variables and their complex interaction results in sub-optimal products. This paper presents a concept for optimization that more rapidly converges on an optimal design.
High Th17:Treg ratio may predict complete response to HDIL-2 in the setting of melanoma

In vitro and in vivo experiments have demonstrated a potent yet opposite effect of IL-2 on both regulatory T cells (TREG) and IL-17+CD45RA-CD4+ T cells (Th17). TREG cells have been implicated as an important immunoregulator enhancing tumor growth whereas Th17 cells may mediate tumor destruction. This study compares the effect of high-dose IL-2 (HDIL-2) on both the TREG and Th17 compartments in responders and non-responders.
Supporting the Literacy Skills of Adolescents with Traumatic Brain Injury

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) can affect developmental trajectories as well as language, attention, memory, executive functions, and other cognitive skills related to literacy. Literacy demands change through adolescence and into young adulthood, with academic literacy demands increasing and vocational literacy demands being introduced. Speech-language pathology services must evolve with the literacy needs of each client. This article discusses assessment and treatment approaches designed for adolescents with TBI and recommendations for adapting literacy interventions from the learning disabilities literature. Through proper assessment and intervention, speech-language pathologists can have a meaningful impact on the academic and vocational literacy needs of adolescents with TBI.
Symptomatic vallecular cysts: diagnosis and management with the KTP laser

The objective of this study is to discuss the evaluation and treatment of patients with vallecular cysts removed via potassium titanyl phosphate (KTP) laser therapy. This is a retrospective cohort study with longitundinal follow-up. Clinical records were reviewed for demographic information, symptoms, and findings on laryngoscopy of nine patients having had KTP laser surgery for vallecular cysts. Nine patients (six female, three male) had vallecular cysts removed via KTP laser. The average age at the time of removal was 61, with a range of 34–95 years. The most common preoperative symptom was dysphagia, present in two-thirds of patients. The most common physical exam finding was a smooth, rounded vallecular cyst with reproduction of symptoms upon palpation of the lesion. More than half of the patients had a history of laryngopharyngeal reflux disease and were being treated with acid-reducing medication. Only, patient #1 had a history of trauma. All but two patients had a vallecular cyst located on the right side. Four of the patients underwent treatment in the office procedure room and five in the operating room. The average age of those treated in the office was 71 and 53 in the operating room. 89 % of patients had complete resolution of symptoms post operatively. Patient #4, treated in the office, continued to experience the symptoms but was lost to follow-up. No complications or adverse events were noted. KTP laser removal of vallecular cysts is a successful treatment option for symptomatic patients. Furthermore, the ability to remove such lesions in an office setting is advantageous, cost-effective, and convenient. Level of evidence: Level 4.
Caregiver Involvement in Sexual Risk Reduction with Substance Using Juvenile Delinquents: Overview and Preliminary Outcomes of a Randomized Trial.

BACKGROUND Substance using juvenile offenders have some of the highest rates for engaging in risky sexual behaviors compared to other adolescent subgroups. METHODS An overview of the literature on sexual risk behaviors among these youth is provided, including the empirical support for including caregivers/parents as critical partners in sexual risk reduction efforts with this population. In particular, there is (a) evidence that family factors contribute to adolescent sexual risk, (b) emerging support for caregiver focused interventions that target adolescent sexual risk, and (c) established support for caregiver focused interventions that target other complex adolescent behavior problems. In addition, this paper presents preliminary results from a randomized controlled trial evaluating a family-based intervention for substance using juvenile delinquents that combines contingency management (CM) for adolescent substance use with a novel sexual risk reduction (SRR) protocol. Results through six months post-baseline (corresponding with the end of treatment) are presented for intervention fidelity and outcomes including number of intercourse acts (Sex Acts), use of condoms or abstinence (Safe Sex), and obtaining HIV testing (Testing). CONCLUSIONS In comparison to youth focused group substance abuse treatment, the CM-SRR intervention was associated with significantly greater therapist use of SRR techniques and greater caregiver involvement in treatment sessions (supporting treatment fidelity) and significantly lower increases in Sex Acts (supporting treatment efficacy). There were also higher odds for Safe Sex and for Testing, although these results failed to reach statistical significance. Findings add to the growing literature supporting the feasibility and efficacy of caregiver focused interventions targeting sexual risk behaviors among high-risk adolescent populations.
Presidential rhetoric on cybercrime: links to terrorism?

AbstractPresidents often give speeches about crime issues as a way to convince the public that there are significant problems for which an easy solution can be found. Studies have shown that presidential rhetoric on crime not only influences the public’s perception of the problem, but also the perception of the best solution. More recent research has demonstrated that presidents sometimes draw on the public’s fear of crime as a way to further affect the public’s perception of crime. In other words, presidents link crime with the public’s anxiety about other fearful events as a way to further impact the public’s perception of a problem (and thus further their agenda). This study examines presidential rhetoric on cybercrime to determine if executives link cybercrime with other issues such as national security. The findings provide credibility to both Cavelty’s threat frames approach as well as assertions made regarding the politics of fear.
TESTING STUDY ON INTERNAL FORCES FOR PRESTRESSED ANCHOR CABLE FRAME IN REINFORCED SOIL SLOPE

Based on the field test,the distribution law of internal forces of prestressed anchor cable frame used in soil slope is studied. The law of internal forces under the same grade of anchor forces,the change of internal forces under the various grades of anchor forces,and the distribution of anchor forces in horizontal beams and vertical beams of frame,are proposed. The results show that the maximum positive moment appears at anchoring spot,and the minimum negative moment appears at the middle of the beam. In addition,due to the increase of anchor forces,the moment is linearly increasing. The calculation of internal forces for prestressed anchor cable frame is validated.
Detection of Listeria monocytogenes isolates by combinated molecular serotyping and binary gene typing

Objective To investigate the molecular serotyping distribution of Listeria monocytogenes( LM) in food,so as to explore the value of binary gene typing in the typing detection of LM. Methods A total of 154 food-borne Listeria monocytogenes isolates were typed by molecular serotyping and binary gene typing,which were collected from 2005 to 2012. Results Among the 154 LM isolates,the major serotype was 1 /2a( 52. 60%),followed by 1 /2c( 22. 08%),1 /2b( 15. 58%) and 4b( 9. 74%). Binary gene typing divided 154 isolates into 31 binary types( BTs) and the Simposon's index of diversity( DI) was92. 28%. But the combination of molecular serotyping and binary gene typing divided 154 isolates into 34 BTs,the Simpson's index of diversity( DI) was 92. 56%. Analyzed by the evolutionary tree,most of the BTs belonged to one serotype,but a few of the isolates belonged to two serotypes,it still need to see the relationship between binary gene typing and molecular serotyping.Conclusion Combined binary gene typing with molecular serotyping would be useful for the subtyping of Listeria monocytogenes isolates. These two methods were simple,rapid,high-throughput and easy to promote,and can be used in the outbreak identification and sourcing detection.
Familial nesidioblastosis: more evidence for autosomal recessive inheritance

SummarySevere neonatal hypoglycaemia in five Saudi Arab infants of both sexes belonging to two families of consanguineous parents is reported. All of these infants needed sub-total pancreatectomy to maintain normoglycaemia. Histopathological studies with immunohistochemistry proved diffuse nesidioblastosis of the pancreas in all five infants. Data obtained from these families and other families reported in the literature strongly suggest that familial nesidioblastosis is an autosomal recessive disorder. Knowledge of the inheritance pattern is important both for genetic counselling and for making a prompt diagnosis in subsequently affected siblings, as delay in appropriate treatment may have serious consequences.
Interpreting the Complexity of the Kinetics of the Maillard Reaction

Summary The Maillard reaction in foods is a very complex reaction comprising some well studied initial steps, much data on intermediate product formation (flavors) and the overall production of brown color, but little information exists that can be used to model the extent of the reaction based on basic physical chemical principles. It is known that the reaction has a high activation energy which is reactant, moisture and pH dependent but the exact influence is unclear. This paper takes available data and tries to put some basic physical chemical sense into them so that future studies can be better designed.
The Olfactory System and Behavior

In 1933, Herrick proposed that “At all stages of cortical elaboration an important function of the olfactory cortex, in addition to participation in its own specific way in cortical association, is to serve as a nonspecific activator for all cortical activities” (p. 14). Among these activities he included overt behavior, learning, memory, and affective reactions. This theme from Herrick, so reminiscent of Sherrington’s description of the distance receptors as “the great inaugurators of reaction” (1906, p. 350), serves as the keynote for this article. The concern here is not with the physiology of olfaction as a specific sensory system, but rather with the contribution of the primary and secondary portions of the olfactory system to such patterns of behavior as Herrick mentioned, patterns that are not typically classified as olfactory. The terms olfactory system or direct olfactory system (Girgis, 1970) will be used to refer collectively to the olfactory mucosa in the nasal cavity; the fibers of the olfactory nerves, which originate in the mucosa; the olfactory bulb, where the mucosal fibers make synaptic contact with the second fibers in the pathway; and the secondary fibers, the courses of which are discussed below.
New Ways to Evaluate Goodness of Fit: A Note on Using Equivalence Testing to Assess Structural Equation Models

Structural equation models are typically evaluated on the basis of goodness-of-fit indexes. Despite their popularity, agreeing what value these indexes should attain to confidently decide between the acceptance and rejection of a model has been greatly debated. A recently proposed approach by means of equivalence testing has been recommended as a superior way to evaluate the goodness of fit of models. The approach has also been proposed as providing a necessary vehicle that can be used to advance the inferential nature of structural equation modeling as a confirmatory tool. The purpose of this article is to introduce readers to key ideas in equivalence testing and illustrate its use for conducting model–data fit assessments. Two confirmatory factor analysis models in which a priori specified latent variable models with known structure and tested against data are used as examples. It is advocated that whenever the goodness of fit of a model is to be assessed researchers should always examine the resulting ...
Determining Si1−xGex layer thickness and composition by ellipsometry

The thickness and composition of Si 1―x Ge x layers deposited on silicon substrates can be determined by optical ellipsometry after suitable calibration by other means, such as Rutherfold backscattering. The technique is sensitive to a few tenths of a nanometre native oxide on the surface of the Si 1―x Ge x layer (primarily affecting Δ), and this oxide must be considered in using the technique
Structure and Dynamics of Nanopore-Confined Membrane Proteins are Affected by Bilayer Lipid Composition

Self-assembled nanotubular lipid bilayers confined within macroscopically aligned high-density homogeneous nanopore array structure of anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) membranes exhibit a high degree of macroscopic alignment that facilitates their studies by oriented sample solid state (OS SS) NMR and spin-labeling EPR methods. The principal advantages of the lipid nanotube arrays are in the applicability of this method to essentially any lipid composition and a tolerance of the macroscopic alignment to a wide range of environmental conditions such as, e.g., temperature, pH, and ionic strength. Here we describe 1) a recent progress in reconstructing small pore-forming and transmembrane peptides as well as large membrane protein complexes, such as photosynthetic reaction center (RC) protein in inorganic nanopores and 2) utilization of this technology to study lipid-induced changes in protein conformations by magnetic resonance methods. Specifically, by using OS SS NMR we have shown that the tilt and α-helix kink angles of Pf1 coat protein are affected by the bilayer composition on example of DOPC, POPC and DMPC bilayers. Effects of unsaturated lipids on Pf1 dynamics as evidenced by the changes in the linewidths in the Pf1 spectra are also reported. We relate these changes to the bilayer fluidity and its effects on the uniaxial rotational diffusion of the protein within the membrane. Further, we demonstrate the use of DEER spectroscopy to obtain long-range distance constraints for membrane protein systems incorporated into lipid nanotubes. The improved nanopore alignment technique described here provides a general method for studying lipid-induced structural conformations of membrane proteins under physiologically relevant conditions by magnetic resonance. Supported by U.S. DOE contract No. DE-FG02-02ER15354 to A.I.S. and NSF MRI 1229547 to A.A.N.
Explaining the Low Rate of Female Labor Force Participation in the Middle East and North Africa

Using dynamic panel data models, this chapter tests the significance of the main hypotheses offered in various social science disciplines regarding the low rate of Female Labor Force Participation (FLFP) in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). The study finds that basic education and lower fertility rate are associated with higher FLFP while the effects of secondary and tertiary education on FLFP are ambiguous. Neither Islam nor oil income are directly associated with lower rates of FLFP. The findings suggest, however, that FLFP is low in MENA countries mainly because of the persistence of patriarchal culture in the region.
An adaptive filter with gain and time-shift parameters for echo cancellation

In this paper, we propose a simple yet effective parametric adaptive filter (PAF) and demonstrate its excellent performance in acoustic echo cancellation applications. Specifically, the proposed PAF decomposes an adaptive filter into three components: a normalized finite impulse response filter, a gain factor and a time-shift factor. With a novel update scheme for the PAF, these three components can be adjusted with different step-size respectively. Therefore, the novel adaptive filter with a parametric structure is suitable to track an acoustic echo path, the change of which mainly happens to the gain and time-shift while the “basic shape” of the transfer function keeps relatively stable. It is also important to point out that the proposed PAF is a general platform of adaptive filtering, and the conventional method can be considered as a special case of this general platform. Experiments based on measured impulse response in realistic environment show that the proposed PAF outperforms the conventional method on convergence rate in echo cancellation application when dealing with channel changes caused by adjustments of system gain and delay.
Topological charge and cooling scales in pure SU(2) lattice gauge theory

Using Monte Carlo simulations with overrelaxation, we have equilibrated lattices up to $\ensuremath{\beta}=2.928$, size $6{0}^{4}$, for pure SU(2) lattice gauge theory with the Wilson action. We calculate topological charges with the standard cooling method and find that they become more reliable with increasing $\ensuremath{\beta}$ values and lattice sizes. Continuum limit estimates of the topological susceptibility $\ensuremath{\chi}$ are obtained of which we favor ${\ensuremath{\chi}}^{1/4}/{T}_{c}=0.643(12)$, where ${T}_{c}$ is the SU(2) deconfinement temperature. Differences between cooling length scales in different topological sectors turn out to be too small to be detectable within our statistical errors.
The challenge of changing federal management processes: implementation barriers relating to strategic planning and the government performance and results act

Getting the most bang for the taxpayer buck by bolstering federal agency accountability continues to be a political theme in the 21st century. The second round of strategic plan development mandated by Congress in the 1993 Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) was recently completed. This article reports the results of empirical research diagnosing the implementation issues in GPRA requirements. This research reports on the efficacy of this process from the perspectives of agency representatives. Implementation issues are grouped into two broad categories; those associated with the organization’s structure and those concerned with the plan development process. This research suggests that the potential for alignment of key management systems is suspect given that institutionalization has not occurred after nearly five years of reform efforts. Reporting on federal agency efforts provides insight into barriers to and opportunities for improving GPRA implementation processes
Co-editors’ introduction: Alternative paradigms for identifying evidence-based interventions for English Learners

The Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015 mandates that schools use “evidence-based” activities, strategies, and interventions (collectively referred to as “interventions”) that lead to desired outcom...
A sensitive method for the quantitation of the peptide-based glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist liraglutide in plasma using microfluidics chromatography tandem MS.

Aim: An LC–MS/MS assay for the quantitation of liraglutide, a peptide-based injectable glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, has been developed as a convenient alternative to the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and used to characterize liraglutide pharmacokinetics in cynomolgus monkeys. Results: Assay calibration curves exhibited a linear dynamic range of 10–5000 ng/ml and correlation coefficient ≥0.98. Following a 30 μg/kg intravenous dose, liraglutide demonstrated low plasma clearance and distribution volume, which led to a terminal half-life of 6.59 h in monkeys. Conclusion: The dynamic range of our LC–MS/MS assay provides sufficient coverage of the average efficacious liraglutide concentrations in human plasma, and can be used for pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics studies in animals and potentially in humans.
Accuracy of Service Area Estimation Methods Used for Critical Infrastructure Recovery

Electric power, water, natural gas and other utilities are served to consumers via functional sources such as electric power substations, pumps and pipes. Understanding the impact of service outages is vital to decision making in response and recovery efforts. Often, data pertaining to the source-sink relationships between service points and consumers is sensitive or proprietary, and is, therefore, unavailable to external entities. As a result, during emergencies, decision makers often rely on estimates of service areas produced by various methods. This paper, which focuses on electric power, assesses the accuracy of four methods for estimating power substation service areas, namely the standard and weighted versions of Thiessen polygon and cellular automata approaches. Substation locations and their power outputs are used as inputs to the service area calculation methods. Reference data is used to evaluate the accuracy in approximating a power distribution network in a mid-sized U.S. city. Service area estimation methods are surveyed and their performance is evaluated empirically. The results indicate that the performance of the approaches depends on the type of analysis employed. When the desired analysis includes aggregate economic or population predictions, the weighted version of the cellular automata approach has the best performance. However, when the desired analysis involves facility-specific predictions, the weighted Thiessen polygon approach tends to perform the best.
SALT DOMES - THE PAST AND PRESENT, KEYS TO THE FUTURE

ABSTRACT The scale, character, and durability of the artifacts of modern man require assessment of their long-range environmental impact. The significance of the impact is a function of length of time that the effect persists and rate of operation of relevant natural processes. A slow natural-process rate combined with a short period of impact would be more benign than a rapid-process rate interacting with a long-lasting environmental impact. Prob-lems in environmental geology also are sensitive to such temporal relationships. A familiar dictum in geology is: the present is the key to the past. The geologic analysis required to predict future impacts introduces a new concept: the present is a key to the future. Contemporary studies of the utility of salt domes for the isolation of radioactive wastes furnish an example of the application of this concept. Predictions for both short-range and long-range hazards are made on the basis of conventional geologic studies of salt-dome growth, hydrologic conditions, caprock formation, and others. Both on-going and historical geologic processes are utilized in this exercise in predictive geology. The more difficult problem is predicting future cultural changes. Here again geology offers some promise of help in evaluation of facility integrity and the establishment of protective modes.
Telephone quitlines to help surgical patients quit smoking patient and provider attitudes.

Background The scheduling of elective surgery provides an excellent opportunity for cigarette smoking-cessation interventions. Abstinence from smoking may improve immediate surgical outcomes, and the surgical period represents a teachable moment for modifying smoking behavior. However, a variety of barriers to intervention exist. This qualitative, formative research identified themes to guide the development of a brief intervention used by the providers of surgical services to promote the use of telephone quitlines. Methods Structured interviews were conducted in 2007 with 19 cigarette smokers either scheduled for or recently receiving surgery at Mayo Clinic, Rochester MN and ten providers of surgical services (anesthesiologists and surgeons). Results Prominent patient themes included interest in quitting smoking around the time of surgery, a view of physicians having an important role in their cessation attempts, and a profound lack of knowledge regarding telephone quitline services. Patients were also poorly informed regarding the immediate benefits of quitting to surgical outcomes. Prominent provider themes included a similar ignorance of quitline services and a lack of time to deliver interventions. Although providers expressed interest in referring to quitlines if this could be easily accomplished, they were willing to spend only a limited amount of time learning how to intervene. Conclusions Both surgical patients and providers are potentially receptive to a quitline-based smoking-cessation intervention in the peri-operative period, but significant barriers exist.
The Future of Climate Epidemiology: Opportunities for Advancing Health Research in the Context of Climate Change

In the coming decades, climate change is expected to dramatically affect communities worldwide, altering the patterns of many ambient exposures and disasters, including extreme temperatures, heat waves, wildfires, droughts, and floods. These exposures, in turn, can affect risks for a variety of human diseases and health outcomes. Climate epidemiology plays an important role in informing policy related to climate change and its threats to public health. Climate epidemiology leverages deep, integrated collaborations between epidemiologists and climate scientists to understand the current and potential future impacts of climate-related exposures on human health. A variety of recent and ongoing developments in climate science are creating new avenues for epidemiologic contributions. Here, we discuss the contributions of climate epidemiology and describe some key current research directions, including research to better characterize uncertainty in climate health projections. We end by outlining 3 developing areas of climate science that are creating opportunities for high-impact epidemiologic advances in the near future: 1) climate attribution studies, 2) subseasonal to seasonal forecasts, and 3) decadal predictions.
User Trusts: Broad-Based Ownership for Online Platforms

This essay introduces what promise a novel broad-based capital strategy—trusts serving platform users—might hold for the online economy, especially as an enabler of more widespread, organized, and democratic user accountability. It draws on lessons from the experience of employee ownership alongside emerging opportunities for other kinds of broad-based ownership structures. User-oriented trusts could enable meaningful co-governance and profit sharing among essential stakeholders, a prospect that merits research and experimentation.
282 Generation of hydrolyzed complement component C3 is substantially elevated in SLE

Background Complement activation is a central pathophysiologic event in several autoimmune diseases. A key activation event is the conversion of native C3 to C3(H2O), where a highly reactive thioester bond in C3 is hydrolyzed. C3(H2O) can be utilized to generate C3 convertase, which further drives complement activation via the alternative pathway. C3(H2O) has been elusive to measure, but we have recently developed a novel ELISA-based assay allowing for its accurate measurement. We hypothesized that in autoimmune diseases where complement activation is a central feature, C3(H2O) levels will be elevated reflecting a primed state for triggering inappropriate alternative pathway activation and amplification. Methods Healthy adult subjects (n=5) and adults with classified SLE (n=6) were enrolled and consented for serum collection at Washington University School of Medicine. Frozen serum was tested either immediately after thawing or after incubation at room temperature or 37°C for 6 or 24 hours. C3(H2O) was measured by an ELISA assay that utilizes a capture antibody to C3b and a detection antibody to C3a. Data was analyzed using Prism version 7.0d (GraphPad Software, Inc.). Statistical significance was determined using 2-way ANOVA with Dunns multiple comparisons test. Results Substantial elevation of serum C3(H2O) levels were observed from patients with SLE following incubation at RT and 37°C compared to healthy controls. The differences were most pronounced in samples incubated at 37°C for 6 hours, with over a 4-fold increase in C3(H2O) levels in both the SLE samples. Interestingly, sera from both groups (healthy controls and SLE) did not reflect any difference in baseline C3(H2O) levels. Conclusions Both SLE and RA are associated with elevated C3(H2O) levels following in vitro incubation compared to healthy controls. These data suggest that the potential for C3(H2O) formation in SLE and RA patients are higher compared to healthy controls, which could support additional complement activation or utilization of C3(H2O) in other pathways such as intracellular activation in immune cells. Thus, In addition to a possible diagnostic tool for pathogenic autoimmunity, these data may also suggest novel mechanisms of how complement could drive symptomatic autoimmune disease. Funding Source(s): NIH R01 GM0099111
Genetic variation in tree leaf chemistry predicts the abundance and activity of autotrophic soil microorganisms

Genetic variation in the chemistry of plant leaves can have ecosystem‐level consequences. Here, we address the hypothesis that genetic variation in foliar condensed tannins along a Populus hybridization gradient influences soil ammonia oxidizers, a group of autotrophic microorganisms that perform the first step of nitrification and are not dependent on carbon derived from plant photosynthesis. Evidence that genetically based plant traits influence the abundance and activity of autotrophic soil microbes would greatly expand the concept of extended plant phenotypes. We found that increasing foliar condensed tannin concentration reduced rates of soil nitrification potential by ~75%, reduced the abundance of ammonia‐oxidizing archaea by ~66%, but had no effect on ammonia‐oxidizing bacteria. Other indices that often drive nitrification rates, including soil total nitrogen, foliar nitrogen, and soil pH, were not significant predictors of either the activity or the abundance of ammonia oxidizers, suggesting genetic variation in foliar condensed tannins may be the dominant regulating factor. These results demonstrate the condensed tannin phenotypes of two different tree species and their naturally occurring hybrids have extended effects on a key ecosystem process and provide evidence for indirect genetic linkages among autotrophs across at least two domains of life.
Low concentrations and low spatial variability of marine microplastics in oysters (Crassostrea virginica) in a rural Georgia estuary

Abstract Microplastics are an emerging concern for the health of marine ecosystems. In the southeastern US, the filter-feeding Eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica, is susceptible to microplastic ingestion. We quantified the distribution of microplastics within adult oysters (harvestable size >7.5 cm) from 28 reefs throughout a rural estuary with limited riverine inputs (St. Catherines Sound, Georgia). To determine which variables best predict microplastic concentration in oysters, we also quantified oyster recruitment, distance to ocean, fetch, and water body width. Oysters averaged 0.72 microplastic particles per individual (0.18 particles per gram wet mass); microfragments and microplastics were equally abundant. Although microplastic concentrations were low, multivariate models identified a positive effect of water body width on the site-level concentration of plastic microfibers; average microfragment length was affected by fetch. Our work informs a growing understanding of microplastic distribution in coastal estuaries, providing an important rural contrast to the urbanized estuaries that have been examined.
Inhibition of colony stimulating factor 1 receptor corrects maternal inflammation-induced microglial and synaptic dysfunction and behavioral abnormalities

Maternal immune activation (MIA) disrupts the central innate immune system during a critical neurodevelopmental period. Microglia are primary innate immune cells in the brain although their direct influence on the MIA phenotype is largely unknown. Here we show that MIA alters microglial gene expression with upregulation of cellular protrusion/neuritogenic pathways, concurrently causing repetitive behavior, social deficits, and synaptic dysfunction to layer V intrinsically bursting pyramidal neurons in the prefrontal cortex of mice. MIA increases plastic dendritic spines of the intrinsically bursting neurons and their interaction with hyper-ramified microglia. Treating MIA offspring by colony stimulating factor 1 receptor inhibitors induces depletion and repopulation of microglia, and corrects protein expression of the newly identified MIA-associated neuritogenic molecules in microglia, which coalesces with correction of MIA-associated synaptic, neurophysiological, and behavioral abnormalities. Our study demonstrates that maternal immune insults perturb microglial phenotypes and influence neuronal functions throughout adulthood, and reveals a potent effect of colony stimulating factor 1 receptor inhibitors on the correction of MIA-associated microglial, synaptic, and neurobehavioral dysfunctions.
Integer vs. Floating-Point Processing on Modern FPGA Technology

Historically, FPGA designers have used integer processing whenever possible because floating-point processing was prohibitively costly due to higher logic requirements and speed reduction. Therefore, fixed-point processing was the norm. Recently, Intel introduced the Arria 10 FPGA which is the industry's first FPGA that includes single-precision hardened Floating-Point Units (FPUs) on DSP blocks. With the advent of hardened floating-point, FPGA designers have largely abandoned fixed-point processing. This paper introduces a series of arithmetic tests to evaluate whether fixed-point processing is obsolete considering the FPGA performance. A performance metric is developed to calculate the FPGA performance in terms of logic utilization and kernel speed. All programs are tested with Intel Stratix V FPGA which does not have hardened FPUs and Intel Arria 10 FPGA for comparison. The performance metric indicates that, on average, there is a 20.18% performance increase when Stratix V processes fixed-point operations and 27.17% performance increase when Arria 10 processes fixed-point operations. Even with hardened FPUs, it is shown that the Arria 10 FPGA exhibits a significant logic reduction when processing fixed-point operations. The results clearly indicate that the FPGAs perform better when processing converted fixed-point arithmetic operations compared to floating-point arithmetic regardless of whether they include hardened FPUs.
Management of the acute respiratory distress syndrome

Objective: To review the current support and treatment strategies of the acute respiratory distress syndrome. Sources of data: Original data from our research laboratory and from representative scientific articles on acute respiratory distress syndrome and acute lung Injury searched through Medline. Summary of the findings: Despite advances in the understanding of the pathogenesis of acute respiratory distress syndrome, this syndrome still results in significant morbidity and mortality. Mechanical ventilation, the main therapeutic modality for acute respiratory distress syndrome, is no longer considered simply a support modality, but a therapy capable of influencing the course of the disease. New ventilation strategies, such as high-frequency oscillatory ventilation appear to be promising. This text reviews the current knowledge of acute respiratory distress syndrome management, including conventional and nonconventional ventilation, the use of surfactant, nitric oxide, modulators of inflammation, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and prone position.
Trends in stimulant dispensing by age, sex, state of residence, and prescriber specialty - United States, 2014-2019.

Abstract Background Stimulant medications are commonly prescribed for the treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder; however, they also have high potential for diversion and misuse. We estimated national stimulant dispensing trends from 2014 to 2019 and differences in dispensing by age, sex, state, prescriber specialty, payor type, patient copay, and stimulant type. Methods We calculated rates of stimulant dispensing using IQVIA National Prescription Audit (NPA) New to Brand, NPA Regional, and NPA Extended Insights data, which provide dispensing estimates from approximately 49,900 pharmacies representing 92 % of prescriptions dispensed in the United States. Average annual percent change (AAPC) from 2014 to 2019 was analyzed using Joinpoint regression. Results From 2014 to 2019, the national annual rate of stimulant dispensing increased significantly from 5.6 to 6.1 prescriptions per 100 persons. Rates differed by prescription stimulant type, with increases occurring among both amphetamine-type stimulants and long-acting stimulants. Rates among females (AAPC = 3.6 %; P = 0.001) and adults aged 20–39 years (AAPC=6.7 %; P = 0.002), 40–59 years (AAPC=9.7 %; P Conclusions National stimulant dispensing rates increased from 2014 to 2019, driven by notable increases among females and adults aged ≥20 years. These trends should be considered when prescribing stimulants given growing concerns over prescription stimulant diversion, misuse, and related health harms.
Massively parallel computational methods in light scattering by small particles

Algorithms suitable for use on parallel computers are being developed to simulate the scattering and absorption of light by small penetrable objects such as ice crystals and biological cells. The solution of the problem is based on a geometrical optics approach. Each incident ray undergoes multiple reflections and refractions as it travels through the scattering object. Data parallel algorithms have been developed which assign one processor to each incident ray. A massively parallel architecture consisting of 64 K processors (the Connection Machine) is being used. This means that the scattering calculations for over 65000 rays can be carried out simultaneously. Using a stochastic approach, a Monte Carlo technique is used whereby each ray is either reflected or refracted based on probabilities.
Trends and Predictors of Hypofractionated and Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy for Organ Preservation in Bladder Cancer

ABSTRACT Introduction : Use of hypofractionated radiation (HFRT) and intensity-modulated radiation (IMRT) for organ preservation in bladder cancer is controversial and highly variable. We investigated practice patterns, trends, and predictors of HFRT and IMRT. Patients and Methods : The National Cancer Database was queried for patients with muscle-invasive, non-metastatic urothelial bladder cancer, treated with definitive (chemo)radiotherapy between 2004-2017. HFRT was defined as 50-60 Gy at >2 Gy/fraction. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify predictors of receiving HFRT or IMRT. Multivariable Cox regression was used to model overall survival (OS), adjusting for potential confounders such as age, comorbidity, and chemotherapy. Results : Of 5132 patients identified, 490 (9.5%) received HFRT, and only 334 (6.5%) received ≥ 2.5 Gy/fraction. HFRT patients were significantly older, less fit, and less likely to receive chemotherapy relative to CFRT, even after controlling for age and comorbidity (adjusted odds ratio 0.36, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.29-0.45, P Conclusion : HFRT is largely underutilized, being primarily reserved for older, frailer patients. Chemotherapy is significantly underused with HFRT relative to CFRT. IMRT is used frequently and was associated with equivalent or modestly increased overall survival. MICROABSTRACT : This National Cancer Database study of bladder cancer patients treated with definitive (chemo) radiotherapy uncovered significant under-utilization of hypofractionated RT (HFRT). Furthermore, chemotherapy was significantly underused with HFRT compared to patients receiving conventional fractionation. Use of both intensity-modulated RT (IMRT) and HFRT increased over time. IMRT was associated with similar or modestly increased survival, particularly in patients receiving HFRT.
Re-operation to Correct Unsuccessful Vascular Ring and Vascular Decompression Surgery

Abstract Objective While most children do well after operations to relieve vascular compression of the esophagus and airway, many will have persistent/recurrent symptoms. We review our surgical experience using a customized approach to correct various etiologies of failure following vascular ring/decompression surgery. Methods Our institutional database identified children who underwent re-operation for persistent/recurrent symptoms after vascular ring or aberrant arterial decompression surgery between January 2014 and December 2019. Charts were reviewed for operative approaches and clinical data. Findings were analyzed by Fischer’s exact test for comparison between groups with significance at p Results Twenty-seven children required re-operative surgery. Detailed preoperative workup identified 5 etiologies of failure for a customized approach. Residual scarring was corrected by lysis and rotational esophagoplasty (n=23/27); fibrotic bands recreating a ring were divided (n=11); ongoing vascular compression was addressed by descending aortopexy (n=19), aberrant subclavian division (n=7), aortic uncrossing procedure (n=4), and Kommerell resection (n=8); anterior aortopexy (n=6) and anterior tracheopexy (n=9) corrected cartilage malformation; and tracheobronchomalacia (TBM) was addressed with posterior airway pexy (n=26). At available short-term follow-up (median 1 year), 21/22 (95%) had symptom improvement and, on bronchoscopy, the average number of airway sections with severe TBM decreased from 2.8 ± 1.7 to 0.5 ± 0.9 (p Conclusions Persistent/recurrent symptoms following release of vascular compression are frequently caused by 5 different etiologies. A multidisciplinary strategy for workup and a customized operative approach can effectively treat these cases and may suggest opportunity at the index surgery to prevent re-operation and achieve optimal outcomes.
Development of the epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitor Tarceva (OSI-774).

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a transmembrane receptor involved in the regulation of a complex array of essential biological processes such as cell proliferation and survival. Dysregulation of EGFR signaling network has been frequently reported in multiple human cancers and has been associated with the processes of tumor development, growth, proliferation, metastasis and angiogenesis. Inhibition of the EGFR was associated with antitumor effects in preclinical models. On the bases of these data, therapeutics targeting the EGFR were explore in clinical trials. TarcevaTM(OSI-774, OSI Pharmaceuticals, Uniondale, NY) is a small molecule selective inhibitor of the EGFR tyrosine kinase (TK). In preclinical studies, TarcevaTMinhibited the phosphorylation of the EGFR in a dose and concentration dependent manner resulting in cell cycle arrest and induction of apoptosis. Inin vivostudies, the agent caused tumor growth inhibition and shoved synergistic effects when combined with conventional chemotherapy. Subsequent single agent phase I studies and phase I studies in combination with chemotherapy demonstrated that the agent has a good safety profile and induced tumor growth inhibition in a substantial number of patients with a variety of different solid tumor. Preliminary report from phase II studies confirmed the excellent tolerability of TarcevaTMas well as showed encouraging preliminary activity. Phase III studies have either been completed or are ongoing in several tumor types such as lung cancer and pancreatic cancer. In summary, TarcevaTMis a novel inhibitor of the EGFR TK which has shown promising activity in initial studies and is currently undergoing full development as an anticancer drug.
Mechanisms of smooth muscle contraction elicited by cationic proteins in guinea pig trachealis

Cationic proteins elicit contraction of airway smooth muscle, but the mechanisms by which this occurs are not completely understood. We studied potential mechanisms by which eosinophil major basic protein (MBP) and the synthetic cationic proteins poly-L-lysine (PL) and poly-L-arginine (PA) cause contraction of isolated guinea pig tracheal smooth muscle (TSM) in vivo. Topical application of 10(-8) mol/cm2 of each protein to an isolated tracheal segment elicited TSM contraction with potency PL > MBP > PA. Pretreatment with atropine blocked the subsequent response to MBP but did not block the response to either PL or PA. Pretreatment with indomethacin blocked the subsequent response to both MBP and PL but did not block the response to PA. We demonstrate that MBP causes contraction of guinea pig TSM both through stimulation of the parasympathetic nervous system and secretion of a cyclooxygenase mediator. Neither PL nor PA, while of similar molecular weight and charge as MBP, cause TSM contraction via the parasympathetic nervous system, though some cationic proteins may act via a prostanoid mediator. Thus the cationic charge of MBP is not solely responsible for its effects on TSM in the guinea pig.
Cyclopropene, 3,3‐Dimethoxy

[23529-83-1] C5H8O2 (MW 100.12) InChI = 1S/C5H8O2/c1-6-5(7-2)3-4-5/h3-4H,1-2H3 InChIKey = LOWCCDYETQYXQP-UHFFFAOYSA-N (reagent used in the formation of substituted cyclopropenones and in [4 + 2], [3 + 4], [3 + 2], [2 + 2], [1 + 2] cycloaddition reactions) Physical Data: bp ca. 25–30 °C/25 mm Hg. Solubility: readily soluble in ether. Form Supplied in: clear liquid. Analysis of Reagent Purity: NMR. Preparative Methods: treatment of commercially available 2,3-dichloro-1-propene in methanol with N-bromosuccinimide provides 1-bromo-3-chloro-2,2-dimethoxypropane which undergoes cyclization upon treatment with potassium amide in liquid ammonia giving 3,3-dimethoxycyclopropene.2 Purification: distillation under reduced pressure. Handling, Storage, and Precautions: the reagent should be stored at 0 °C.
A global three‐dimensional model of the circulation and chemistry of CFCl3, CF2Cl2, CH3CCl3, CCl4, and N2O

The use of a three-dimensional spectral model to study the tropospheric and stratospheric circulation, chemistry, and photochemistry of the CFCl3, CF2Cl2, CH3CCl3, CCl4, and N2O atmospheric species is examined. The components of the model are described. Lifetime, regional, and global trends and budgets for the species are evaluated. Calculated horizontal, vertical, and temporal distributions of the atmospheric species are compared with observations; good correlation is detected. The differences observed between calculated and observed surface distributions of CH3CCl3 and the vertical distribution of CCl4 are analyzed. The calculated global atmospheric lifetimes of CFCl3, CF2Cl2, CCl4, and N2O are 73, 210, 48, and 182 years, respectively.