cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Maximal conditional chi-square importance in random forests.

Motivation: High-dimensional data are frequently generated in genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and other studies. It is important to identify features such as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in GWAS that are associated with a disease. Random forests represent a very useful approach for this purpose, using a variable importance score. This importance score has several shortcomings. We propose an alternative importance measure to overcome those shortcomings. Results: We characterized the effect of multiple SNPs under various models using our proposed importance measure in random forests, which uses maximal conditional chi-square (MCC) as a measure of association between a SNP and the trait conditional on other SNPs. Based on this importance measure, we employed a permutation test to estimate empirical P-values of SNPs. Our method was compared to a univariate test and the permutation test using the Gini and permutation importance. In simulation, the proposed method performed consistently superior to the other methods in identifying of risk SNPs. In a GWAS of age-related macular degeneration, the proposed method confirmed two significant SNPs (at the genomewide adjusted level of 0.05). Further analysis showed that these two SNPs conformed with a heterogeneity model. Compared with the existing importance measures, the MCC importance measure is more sensitive to complex effects of risk SNPs by utilizing conditional information on different SNPs. The permutation test with the MCC importance measure provides an efficient way to identify candidate SNPs in GWAS and facilitates the understanding of the etiology between genetic variants and complex diseases.
Optimal Rough Terrain Trajectory Generation for Wheeled Mobile Robots

An algorithm is presented for wheeled mobile robot trajectory generation that achieves a high degree of generality and efficiency. The generality derives from numerical linearization and inversion of forward models of propulsion, suspension, and motion for any type of vehicle. Efficiency is achieved by using fast numerical optimization techniques and effective initial guesses for the vehicle controls parameters. This approach can accommodate such effects as rough terrain, vehicle dynamics, models of wheel-terrain interaction, and other effects of interest. It can accommodate boundary and internal constraints while optimizing an objective function that might, for example, involve such criteria as obstacle avoidance, cost, risk, time, or energy consumption in any combination. The algorithm is efficient enough to use in real time due to its use of nonlinear programming techniques that involve searching the space of parameterized vehicle controls. Applications of the presented methods are demonstrated for planetary rovers.
Möbius energy of thick knots

The Mobius energy of a knot is an energy functional for smooth curves based on an idea of self-repelling. If a knot has a thick tubular neighborhood, we would intuitively expect the energy to be low. In this paper, we give explicit bounds for energy in terms of the ropelength of the knot, i.e. the ratio of the length of a thickest tube to its radius.
An immunological focus assay for murine leukemia viruses on viable attached cell lines

An assay is described for the detection and isolation of murine leukemia virus (MuLV)-infected cells in viable monolayers. The procedure utilizes antisera or monoclonal antibodies which specifically bind cell surface viral antigens of infected cells. Bound antibodies are subsequently detected by binding with 125I-labeled Staphylococcus aureus protein A followed by autoradiography of the tissue culture vessel. Focal areas of infection can be identified from the autoradiograph and infected cells can subsequently be isolated and subcultured as MuLV-producing cell lines. With appropriate antibodies the procedure should be useful for the direct isolation of minor components, including mutants, in complex virus mixtures.
Bumble Bee (Hymenoptera: Apidae) Diversity and Abundance in Tallgrass Prairie Patches: Effects of Local and Landscape Floral Resources

Conservation of biodiversity recently has focused on the importance of pollinator services for the preservation of threatened plant species in fragmented landscapes such as the tallgrass prairie biome. In this study, we assessed the insuence of local and landscape soral resource diversity and abundance on bumble bee (Bombus Latreille) diversity and abundance at eight tallgrass prairie sites in Iowa. We calculated a landscape soral resource index (LRI) for areas within 500- and 700-m radii of each site based on the density and diversity of sowering plant species in polygons of different landscape elements. LRI values, areas of each landscape habitat type, and the diversity and abundance of bumble beeÐ used sowering ramets at each site were compared with bumble bee diversity and abundance at the site. Bumble bee diversity was best predicted by a model including the LRI of grasslands surrounding sites at 500 m, which explained most of the variance, and the abundance of bumble beeÐvisited plants at the site. Bumble bee abundance was best predicted by a model including the percent of the landscape in grasslands at the 700-m radius, which explained most of the variance, and the abundance of bumble beeÐvisited plants at the site. Our results reveal that bumble bee diversity at tallgrass prairie patches is insuenced by the availability of resources in the landscape, particularly in grasslands, and to a lesser extent by site characteristics, indicating the importance of spatial scale for creating successful pollinator management plans in fragmented landscapes.
Psychosocial concerns among Latinas with life-limiting advanced cancers.

Research has demonstrated that limited dialogue in end-of-life (EOL) care can negatively impact decision-making and place of death. Furthermore, when vulnerable populations are faced with EOL cancer care, they experience issues resulting from previous gaps in services attributed to sociocultural and economic issues that influence EOL care. These conditions place an additional burden on disadvantaged populations which can cause distress, especially as disparate conditions continue to persist. Little is known about *Editor’s Note: The content from this article is a result of the author’s attendance and participation in the ACE Project: Advocating for Clinical Excellence: A Transdisciplinary Palliative Care Education program supported by a grant from the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health under award number R25CA110454 (Shirley Otis-Green, Principal Investigator). We appreciate the OMEGA: Journal of Death and Dying for publishing this article as part of a dedicated special issue celebrating the achievements of the ACE Project participants. 167
Reflexionen und Quellen

In diesem Kapitel losen wir die einfachsten Reflexionsprobleme, bei denen der Endpunkt einer Halbgeraden Reflexionspunkt ist. In Kapitel 4 beginnen wir ein systematisches Studium von komplizierteren Reflexionsproblemen. Die Abschnitte 3.3 und 3.4 behandeln Probleme mit sogenennten Quellen, das heist, wir losen die inhomogene Wellen- und Diffusionsgleichung. Schlieslich, in Abschnitt 3.5, untersuchen wir die Losung der Diffusionsgleichung noch einmal, aber noch sorgfaltiger.
Government Regulation or Other 'Abridgements' of Scientific Research: The Proper Scope of Judicial Review Under the First Amendment

As science increasingly pushes forward the frontiers of knowledge and enables the development of technologies with the capacity to alter or destroy life, more and more calls are being heard to prohibit or regulate different areas of scientific research. As government responds to these demands, others warn that such regulations threaten to substantially impede the progress of science and the benefits it has bestowed on humankind while doing little to address the alleged harms from certain areas of research. Ever present in these debates are arguments, concerns and assumptions that are voiced about the constitutional status of scientific research that have never been addressed by the U.S. Supreme Court - but promise to be in the near future. This Article contends that the surprisingly small amount of legal literature that has seriously addressed this important issue, has focused primarily on a narrow doctrinal debate that does not come close to resolving this complex problem. Employing several different modes of constitutional interpretation that are recognized today as being key to analyzing such important questions, including a more comprehensive and updated analysis of arguments from precedent and doctrine, this Article concludes that the most viable source of constitutional protection for scientific inquiry - the freedoms of speech and press guaranteed by the First Amendment - does not protect a right of research per se. However, those clauses do provide protection against restrictions on scientific expression, of both a direct and incidental nature, that frequently will provide a basis for the constitutional review of regulations alleged to unduly interfere with the research process. This analysis has important implications for the conduct of science in this country, and especially for the dominant portion of that research which is performed by scientists in private industry and other non-academic environments who do not ordinarily publish their findings. To the extent scientists and those that enable their research seek constitutional review of restrictions that allegedly interfere with it in an unreasonable manner, those claims will be correspondingly weakened or strengthened depending on the extent those parties can show their research efforts cohere with a central purpose of the First Amendment - to facilitate the free flow of ideas and information in society, including those of a scientific nature.
Improved survival and neurodevelopmental outcomes among extremely premature infants born near the limit of viability

Abstract Background Infants born near the limit of viability are at high risk for death or adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes. It is unclear whether these outcomes have improved over the past 15 years. Aim To determine if death and neurodevelopmental impairment have declined over the past 15 years in infants born at 22 to 24 weeks' gestation. Study design Retrospective cohort study. Subjects We identified infants born at 22 to 24 weeks' gestation in our center in two epochs: 1998–2004 (Epoch 1) and 2005–2011 (Epoch 2). Outcome measures The primary outcome, death or neurodevelopmental impairment, was evaluated at 17–25 months' corrected gestational age with neurologic exams and Bayley Scales of Infant Development. Perinatal characteristics, major morbidities, and outcomes were compared between epochs. Results Birth weight and gestational age were similar between 170 infants in Epoch 1 and 187 infants in Epoch 2. Mortality was significantly lower in Epoch 2, 55% vs. 42% ( p = 0.02). Among surviving infants, late-onset sepsis ( p p p = 0.04) were less common in Epoch 2. Neurodevelopmental impairment among surviving infants declined from 68% in Epoch 1 to 47% in Epoch 2, p = 0.02. Odds of death or NDI were significantly lower in Epoch 2 vs. Epoch 1, OR = 0.31 (95% confidence interval; 0.16, 0.58). Conclusion Risk of death or neurodevelopmental impairment decreased over time in infants born at 22 to 24 weeks' gestation.
2D layered materials: From materials properties to device applications

An overview of material properties and the current state of electronic devices based on 2D layered materials is presented. Atomic scale smoothness, varying band alignment and sizeable bandgaps in the single layer limit make this class of materials very interesting for optoelectronic applications. Scaling effects, doping techniques, contacts and strain engineering of 2D materials are discussed. In addition, important advancements in 2D material electronic devices, for example the all-2D field effect transistor (FET), heterojunction devices, and tunnel diode are highlighted.
Optimization of Optical Methodology for High-Digital Resolution Quantitative Evaluation of Reliability of Microelectronics and Packaging

Recent technological trends based on miniaturization of mechanical, electromechanical, and photonic devices to the microscopic scale have led to the development of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). Effective development of MEMS components requires the synergism of advanced design, analysis, and fabrication methodologies, and also of quantitative metrology techniques for characterizing their performance, reliability, and integrity during the electronic packaging cycle. In this paper, we describe optoelectronic techniques for measuring, with sub-micrometer accuracy, shape and changes in states of deformation of MEMS structures. With the described optoelectronic techniques, it is possible to characterize MEMS components using the display and data modes. In the display mode, interferometric information related to shape and deformation is displayed at video frame rates, providing the capability for adjusting and setting experimental conditions. In the data mode, interferometric information related to shape and deformation is recorded as high-spatial and high-digital resolution images, which are further processed to provide quantitative 3D information. Furthermore, the quantitative 3D data are exported to computer-aided design (CAD) environments and utilized for analysis and optimization of MEMS structures. Capabilities of optoelectronic techniques are illustrated with representative applications demonstrating their applicability to provide indispensable quantitative information for the effective development and optimization of MEMS structures.© 2002 ASME
A unified strategy for the synthesis of 7-membered-ring-containing Lycopodium alkaloids.

A unique subset of the Lycopodium alkaloid natural products share a 7-membered-ring substructure and may potentially arise from a common biosynthetic precursor. To both explore and exploit these structural relationships, we sought to develop a unified biosynthetically inspired strategy to efficiently access these complex polycyclic alkaloids through the use of a cascade sequence. In pursuit of these goals, the first total synthesis of (+)-fastigiatine (2) was accomplished via a series of cascade reactions; we describe herein a full account of our efforts. Insight from these endeavors led to critical modifications of our synthetic strategy, which enabled the first total syntheses of (−)-himeradine A (1), (−)-lycopecurine (3), and (−)-dehydrolycopecurine (4), as well as the syntheses of (+)-lyconadin A (5) and (−)-lyconadin B (6). Our approach features a diastereoselective one-pot sequence for constructing the common 7-membered-ring core system, followed by either a biomimetic transannular Mannich reaction ...
Preclinical evaluation of a biolized temporary ventricular assist device.

An external clinical temporary ventricular assist device (VAD) has been developed with the use of our universal, multipurpose cardiac prosthesis with specially designed inflow and outflow cannulas. The cannulas allow flexibility in application of the VAD, which can access the vascular system via either the atrium or ventricle for inflow, and the aorta or pulmonary artery for outflow. A high-pressure pneumatic actuator activates the pusher-plate of the VAD. The clinical drive system for this VAD has complete redundancy and automatic switching to a backup system in the event of any component failure. Six VADs were tested in calves as a temporary left VAD before clinical use and functioned well.
Streptococcal pharyngitis: an uncommon cause of subdural empyema.

A 7-year-old girl with an unremarkable medical history presented to a local paediatric emergency department with a 7-day history of fever, sore throat and vomiting, and a 1-day history of rash. She was admitted to the hospital, with presumed Kawasaki disease. A few hours after admission, the patient had sudden onset of two witnessed tonic–clonic seizures and subsequent decreased mental status. She was transferred to the paediatric intensive care unit and started on broad-spectrum antibiotics. On hospital day 2, cerebral spinal fluid cultures and blood cultures grew Streptococcus pyogenes, and repeat physical examination was consistent with acute streptococcal pharyngitis. On hospital day 3, the patient developed left-sided hemiparesis and had another witnessed seizure. A CT scan was obtained and revealed a subdural abscess. She was transferred to a tertiary care centre and underwent craniotomy with evacuation of her subdural abscess. Surgical cultures eventually grew S. pyogenes.
Significance and Problem of Area of Medical Information System

This article introduces the present situation of seeing a doctor,the significance of regional health information system and problems we should pay attention to.
Studying New Antidepressants: If There Were a Light at the End of the Tunnel, Could We See It?

This commentary began with the proposition that the SSRIs have become the standard of comparison for new antidepressants. It is also suggested that the conventional wisdom that all antidepressants are equally effective is no longer true. Rather, it is asserted that the same factors that have compromised the sensitivity of RCTs to detect drug-placebo differences similarly have impaired discriminations between effective and even more effective antidepressants. In order to have the power to make such a distinction, an RCT may need to enroll 300 or more patients per cell. Few studies thus have adequate statistical power. Alternatively, conclusions can be drawn from quantitative methods that combine data from groups of smaller studies. The relative merits and limitations of 2 strategies used to examine the results of comparative studies, meta-analysis and pooled analysis, were discussed. The former method is preferred when there are a large number of relevant RCTs; however, failure to include unpublished data from all relevant studies may inflate results. The latter method, unless biased by selective inclusion of studies or marked heterogeneity of results, is preferred when there are only a handful of comparable studies. Although the task of selecting among a number of good choices remains more clinical art than science, quantitative methods are now available to help determine if there are clinically meaningful differences in antidepressant efficacy. The conventional RCT provides a low power telescope for visualizing differences between effective medications. If there were a light at the end of the tunnel, it would be difficult to see it. Until methods that can improve the ability to discriminate between an active antidepressant and a placebo are identified and implemented, the ability to see modest differences necessitates the use of statistical methods such as meta-analysis and pooled analysis of original data.
Cellular and Molecular Basis of Asthma

Allergic asthma is a heterogeneous chronic inflammatory disease caused by a milieu of factors including heredity, allergen exposure, repeated viral infections in childhood, and TH1/TH2 imbalance. Inhalation of common allergens results in atopic sensitization and is characterized by elevated levels of circulating IgE. Allergic sensitization is followed by airway inflammation and remodeling. In this chapter the focus is on the cellular and molecular components of allergic sensitization, airway inflammation, airway hyperresponsiveness, and airway remodeling. This includes TLR, antigen-presenting cells, lymphoid cells, inflammatory cells, chemokines, and a variety of signal transduction factors associated with cytokines and other proteins. A damaged epithelium allows the migration of dendritic cells into the respiratory tract. Dendritic cells which accompany the airway epithelium and underlying mucosa play a crucial role in the uptake of allergens, processing, and presentation to naive T cells. This pattern creates the environment for the development of TH2 cells and production of IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13. IL-9 is secreted by TH9 cells, and both TH2 and TH9 cytokines lead to the symptoms of asthma. There is detailed explanation of the role played by various cytokines and chemokines in this process followed by inflammatory process resulting in airway remodeling. This is succeeded by a discussion of the role of mitogen-activated protein kinases and the concept of MAPK bistability. Lastly, the future therapeutic options to treat atopic asthma are explored.
Effects of Dietary Fibre on Mucosal Cell Proliferation

The surface of the human small intestinal mucosa is covered by an array of finger-like or leaf-like processes, the villi. Each villus consists of an inner core of mesenchymal cells, blood and lymph vessels, nerves and connective tissue, and an outer surface layer or sheet of columnar epithelial cells. The epithelium contains both absorptive cells and mucus-secreting goblet cells. Beneath the villi are blind, glandular crypts, which open into the intestinal lumen at the bases of the villi. As early as 1892 the Italian pathologist Bizzozero had recognized that the mucosal surface was a dynamic tissue, containing transient elements or elementi labili, and that the whole structure was constantly in a state of renewal. He was the first to suggest that cells shed into the lumen from the tips of the villi were replaced by new cells migrating outwards from the crypts. This conjecture was confirmed with the advent of modern techniques such as autoradiography, which is used to detect and localize radioactively labelled DNA precursors within cells and tissues.
Freshwater ostracodes from upper Middle Devonian fluvial facies, Catskill Mountains, New York

Leperditiocope ostracodes identified as Sollenella ? sp. were discovered in the Gilboa Formation (upper Givetian, uppermost Middle Devonian) within the continental Catskill Magnafacies of New York State. The deposits in which the ostracodes were found are meandering-fluvial facies that were part of a vast alluvial plain that sloped westward from the eroding Acadian Mountains. Hence, ostracodes colonized freshwater habitats earlier than heretofore thought. It has been widely accepted that, until now, the oldest known unequivocal occurrences of freshwater ostracodes are of Late Carboniferous age. This new discovery means that the first colonization of freshwater habitats by Ostracoda occurred approximately 60 million years earlier than previously known.
Nitrogen-Based Ligands Accelerate Ammonia Borane Dehydrogenation with the Shvo Catalyst

We previously reported that quantitative poisoning, a test for homogeneous catalysis, behaves oddly in the dehydrogenation of ammonia borane (AB) by Shvo’s catalyst, whereas the “poison” 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) accelerates catalysis and apparently prevents catalyst deactivation. Thus, we proposed a protective role for phen in the catalysis. Herein we account for the mechanistic origin of this accelerated AB dehydrogenation in the presence of phen and define the relevance boundaries of our prior proposal. In so doing, we present syntheses for novel amine- and pyridine-ligated homologues of the Shvo catalyst and show their catalytic efficacy in AB dehydrogenation. These catalysts are synthetically easy to access, air stable, and rapidly release over 2 equiv of H2. The mechanisms of these reactions are also discussed.
Biodiversity in Plant Breeding

Modern agriculture involves the minimization of species cultivated while maximizing yields. Plant breeding has played a critical role in this process by producing improved cultivars. Plant breeding may both decrease and increase genetic diversity. Reductions or increases in genetic diversity have occurred following domestication and breeding. Legal protection of intellectual property and reduced germplasm sharing have limited the creation of biodiversity. However, germplasm banks have fostered the preservation of biodiversity for future use. The goal of this article is to explain the nature of these fluxes in crop biodiversity and characterize their importance in plant breeding.
Nanoionics and Nanocatalysts: Conformal Mesoporous Surface Scaffold for Cathode of Solid Oxide Fuel Cells.

Nanoionics has become increasingly important in devices and systems related to energy conversion and storage. Nevertheless, nanoionics and nanostructured electrodes development has been challenging for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) owing to many reasons including poor stability of the nanocrystals during fabrication of SOFCs at elevated temperatures. In this study, a conformal mesoporous ZrO2 nanoionic network was formed on the surface of La1−xSrxMnO3/yttria-stabilized zirconia (LSM/YSZ) cathode backbone using Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) and thermal treatment. The surface layer nanoionic network possesses open mesopores for gas penetration, and features a high density of grain boundaries for enhanced ion-transport. The mesoporous nanoionic network is remarkably stable and retains the same morphology after electrochemical operation at high temperatures of 650–800 °C for 400 hours. The stable mesoporous ZrO2 nanoionic network is further utilized to anchor catalytic Pt nanocrystals and create a nanocomposite that is stable at elevated temperatures. The power density of the ALD modified and inherently functional commercial cells exhibited enhancement by a factor of 1.5–1.7 operated at 0.8 V at 750 °C.
Translation and adaptation of skin cancer genomic risk education materials for implementation in primary care.

Genomic medicine has revolutionized disease risk identification and subsequent risk reduction interventions. Skin cancer risk genomic feedback is a promising vehicle to raise awareness and protective behaviors in the general population, including Hispanics who are largely unaware of their risks. Yet, personalized genomics currently has limited reach. This study is the initial phase of a randomized controlled trial investigating the personal utility and reach of genomic testing and feedback for melanoma. Semi-structured cognitive interviews (N = 28), stratified across education level, were conducted to assess the comprehension and acceptability of translated skin cancer genomic risk education materials with Spanish-speaking Hispanic primary care patients. Overall, materials were comprehensible and acceptable with 33 of 246 terms/concepts identified as difficult. Common problems included translation challenges (e.g., peeling from sunburn), ambiguous concepts (e.g., healthcare system), and problematic terms (e.g., risk version). Aiming to expand the reach of genomic medicine across subpopulations that may benefit from it, necessary modifications were made to education materials to improve comprehensibility, acceptability, and cultural relevance.
Richard T. Ely: The Story of Economics in the United States

(2003). Richard T. Ely: The Story of Economics in the United States. Journal of Economic Issues: Vol. 37, No. 3, pp. 820-822.
Advances in the pharmacotherapy of chronic heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: an ideal opportunity for precision medicine

ABSTRACTIntroduction: Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), which comprises approximately 50% of all heart failure patients, is a challenging and complex clinical syndrome that is often thought to lack effective treatments.Areas covered: Despite the common mantra that HFpEF has no effective treatments, closer inspection of HFpEF clinical trials reveals that several of the drugs tested are associated with benefits in exercise capacity and quality of life, and reduction in heart failure hospitalization. Here we review major randomized controlled trials in HFpEF, focusing on renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system antagonists, organic nitrates, digoxin, beta-blockers, and phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors. In addition, we review several classes of drugs currently in development for HFpEF such as neprilysin inhibitors, inorganic nitrates (nitrites), and soluble guanylate cyclase stimulators.Expert opinion: HFpEF should not be viewed as lacking effective treatments. While there have been no breakth...
Chaperone SurA Interacts with Unfolded Membrane Protein Clients via Delocalized Interface

The trafficking of outer membrane proteins (OMPs) through the periplasm of gram-negative bacteria is a prerequisite to the folding of the protein into the membrane and subsequent outer membrane integrity. Critical for this biogenesis process of OMPs in Escherichia coli is SurA, a periplasmic prolyl-isomerase that has been implicated in binding unfolded OMPs (uOMPs) in the periplasm. We aim to understand how SurA interacts with various uOMP clients to prevent their aggregation in the periplasm. We utilized analytical ultracentrifugation to determine that full-length SurA is predominantly monomeric at physiological concentrations. We additionally probed the binding surface of monomeric SurA for uOMP clients using chemical crosslinking under experimental conditions in which the client OMP is an unfolded monomer. These indicated that the N-terminal and 1st peptidyl-prolyl isomerase domains of SurA are involved in a delocalized binding interface with the uOMP client. We have combined these data with complementary solution studies to construct a structural model in which the uOMP is expanded when bound to SurA. Altogether, these studies provide insight into the non-canonical protein-protein interactions formed between chaperones and unfolded clients that are important for the accurate biogenesis of the unfolded client proteins.
Should patients with congenital heart disease and a systemic ventricular ejection fraction less than 30% undergo prophylactic implantation of an ICD? Patients with congenital heart disease and a systemic ventricular ejection fraction less than 30% should undergo prophylactic implantation of an implantable cardioverter defibrillator.

Areduced left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (EF) is established as one of the strongest risk factors for sudden and total cardiac mortality in adults with ischemic and nonischemic heart disease.1,2 Based on the Multicenter Automatic Defibrillator Implantation Trial II and Sudden Cardiac Death in Heart Failure Trial (SCD-HeFT) clinical trials, patients with an LVEF <30% are at a significantly increased risk for sudden cardiac death (SCD) and thus warrant an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD).3,4 At the same time, increasing numbers of patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) continue to survive complex repairs or palliations of their heart defects, allowing survival beyond adolescence and into adulthood. However, it is uncertain whether the risks of systemic ventricular dysfunction and the benefits of primary prevention ICDs demonstrated in adult clinical trials extend to patients with CHD. Clarification regarding this issue is important because in the current era, the majority of ICD implantations in patients with CHD are for primary prevention of SCD.5 Response by Triedman see p 307 In this article, we argue that patients with CHD and a systemic ventricular EF <30% should undergo prophylactic implantation of an ICD. Although large-scale randomized clinical ICD trials are unlikely to be performed in these patients, data from adult studies with other forms of heart disease as well as observational and registry studies in CHD patients provide consistent support for the proposal that advanced systemic ventricular dysfunction is a significant risk factor for SCD in CHD patients and thus provides a rational basis for prophylactic implantation of an ICD. Several major randomized clinical trials have been reported regarding the efficacy of ICDs for the primary prevention of SCD in adults with ischemic and nonischemic heart disease and have been the subject of several meta-analyses and reviews.3,4,6–8 These studies include a total …
P2.56 A reminder from the great imitator – gummatous syphilis of the nasal cavity with septal perforation

Introduction Gummatous syphilis presenting as nasal septal perforation is well described in the classic literature, but rarely encountered in the current antibiotic era. We present a man with a destructive nasal process with a delayed diagnosis of tertiary (late benign) syphilis. Case Description A 45 year old Eritrean gentleman presented with an ulcero-nodular lesion of the left nares, progressive over the previous six months. He denied trauma or illicit drug inhalation. Exam was remarkable for left nasal cavity with an eroding destructive lesion perforating through the nasal septum and left nasal ala. He had no clinical signs or symptoms of neurosyphilis. Multiple biopsies revealed acute-on-chronic inflammation with focal necrosis and no evidence of malignancy. Fungal, treponemal and routine bacterial stains were negative, and tissue cultures were negative. Imaging indicated no bony destruction. The patient was treated for presumed cellulitis with multiple courses of oral antibiotics (cephalexin, amoxicillin) with no improvement in symptoms. At follow up, the patient tested negative for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and negative for anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA). Serologic tests for syphilis were ultimately performed, revealing a rapid plasma reagin (RPR) titer of 1:512 with a reactive florescent treponemal antibody absorption test (FTA-ABS). A CSF evaluation was normal, with no pleocytosis and normal protein and glucose. Treatment was initiated with benzathine penicillin G, three doses of 2.4 million units each at one-week intervals. Clinical response to treatment is pending at the time of this report. Discussion Gummatous syphilis is of clinical importance because of its potential for local destruction and disfigurement of the nasal structures. Early recognition and management has important individual and public health implications and this case would remind contemporary physicians that “the great imitator” could lurk behind unusual presentations.
Complications and Retrieval Data of Vena Cava Filters Based on Specific Infrarenal Location

Although recommended placement of IVC filters is with their tips positioned at the level of the renal vein inflow, in practice, adherence is limited due to clinical situation or IVC anatomy. We seek to evaluate the indwelling and retrieval complications of IVC filters based on their specific position within the infrarenal IVC. Retrospective, single institution study of 333 consecutive infrarenal vena cava filters placed by interventional radiologists in patients with an average age of 62.2 ± 15.7 years was performed between 2013 and 2015. Primary indication was venous thromboembolic disease (n = 320, 96.1%). Filters were classified based on location of the apex below the lowest renal vein inflow on the procedural venogram: less than 1 cm (n = 180, 54.1%), 1–2 cm (n = 96, 28.8%), and greater than 2 cm (n = 57, 17.1%). Denali (n = 171, 51.4%) and Celect (n = 162, 48.6%) filters were evaluated. CT follow-up, indwelling complications, and retrieval data were obtained. Follow-up CT imaging performed for symptomatic indications occurred for 38.3% of filters placed 2 cm (p = .16). There was no difference in caval strut penetration, penetration of adjacent viscera, time to penetration, filter migration, or tilt (p = .15, .27, .41, .57, .93). No filter fractures occurred. There was no difference in the incidence of breakthrough PE or complex filter retrieval (p = .83, .59). Only one retrieval failure occurred. This study suggests filter apex location within the infrarenal IVC, including placement > 2 cm below the level of the renal vein inflow, is not associated with differences in indwelling or retrieval complications. Level 3 non-randomized controlled follow-up study.
Supervisory control of EO tracking and pointing

Mobile platforms with heavy, high powered payloads, such as long range laser designators and directed energy weapons, require precision control of pointing in the presence of base motion disturbances. Wideband motion stabilization and target traking control systems with high dynamic gain are required. Cascading multiple integrators in the forward loop, for example, is a direct, commonly used technique for obtaining the loop gain required to achieve stabilization accuracy. This often leads, however, to stability problems and constraints on system bandwidth. The motion stabilized EO tracking and pointing control system design described in this paper uses a unique, supervisory control approach to achieve wideband pointing accuracy. The control system described is an extension of previously developed and fielded weapon pointing control systems. The model based tracking and feed forward methods, used to achieve high dynamic pointing and tracking accuracy without the destabilizing effect of excessive gain, are presented. The basic system configuration and the concept of a central electro—optical Stable Sensor System controller are described and demonstrated with a simple tracking scenario.
The Medician Stars

In the initial sections of The Sidereal Messenger, Galileo focused on his telescopic observations of the moon. Perhaps most importantly, he noticed that the moon, like Earth, possesses mountains and valleys. This seemingly mundane observation had great significance, as it clearly demonstrated the falsehood of Aristotle’s notion that the moon, like other heavenly bodies, must be made of a fifth—ethereal—substance, whose natural motion was circular. Aristotle’s physics, founded on the natural motion of the four earthly elements, was becoming increasingly difficult to defend. Now, in the following text selection, Galileo turns his attention to the stars and the planets. What additional observations did he make in this arena? And what new problems did his discoveries pose for the followers of Aristotle?
A representation for complex physical domains

We are exploring a system, called PROMPT, that will be capable of reasoning from first principles and high level knowledge in complex, physical domains. Such problem-solving calls for a representation that will support the different analyses techniques required (e.g. differential, asymptotic, perturbation etc.). Efficiency considerations require that the representation also support heuristic control of reasoning techniques. This paper lays the ground work for our effort by briefly describing the ontology and the representation scheme of PROMPT. Our ontology allows reasoning about multiple pasts and different happenings in the same space-time. The ontology provides important distinctions between materials, objects, bulk and distributed abstractions among physical entities. We organise world knowledgeinto "prototypes" that are used to focus the reasoning process. Problem-solving involves reasoning with and modifying prototypes.
TARGETING THE CONFLICT MINERALS TRADE: Corporate Social Responsibility Governance and the Multilateral System

For centuries, abundant natural resources in Sub-Saharan Africa attracted many stakeholders and governments to invest in the area. Specifically, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and its neighboring countries relied on the minerals trade with hope that it would stimulate job growth and reduce poverty in their economies. But in practice, this lucrative business resulted in indirect financing of armed rebels who relied on minerals mining to fund wars and engage in smuggling and corrupt government activities. In response, the United States became the first country to unilaterally enact a domestic legislation in 2010, the Dodd-Frank Act Section 1502. Publicly traded companies are now required to submit annual non-financial disclosures certifying that they have completed their due diligence checks for conflict minerals found in their product supply chains. Moreover, the European Union followed suit and recently announced its commitment to a similar law that will officially publish on June 8, 2017. But recent news of the Trump Administration’s plan to de-regulate several environmental and financial regulations suggests a possible rollback of the conflict minerals law. This paper will examine how the European Union’s commitment to regulate the conflict minerals trade will likely influence international trade policy and hold the United States accountable to its own conflict minerals law or bind the country to the new European regulation.
Uniqueness of bounded solutions for the homogeneous relativistic Landau equation with Coulomb interactions

We prove the uniqueness of weak solutions to the spatially homogeneous special relativistic Landau equation under the conditional assumption that the solution satisfies $(p^0)^7 F(t,p) \in L^1 ([0,T]; L^\infty)$. The existence of standard weak solutions to the relativistic Landau equation has been shown recently in (arXiv:1806.08720)
Focused Written Corrective Feedback and Linguistic Target Mastery: Conceptual Replication of Bitchener and Knoch (2010).

This study replicates Bitchener and Knoch (2010), which reported that written corrective feedback (WCF) targeting two single-rule English article functions (first mention a and subsequent mention the) is effective. The current replication study repeats the original study in most respects but adds to the assessment of the intervention's efficacy by recording the impact of focused WCF on all functional article uses, and not just on the two uses targeted by the WCF. The results of the replication study partially confirm Bitchener & Knoch's results and introduce some further differentiated findings. It is concluded that while the focused WCF leads to increased accuracy in the targeted functions of articles, the same WCF may negatively impact the remaining non-targeted article functions, especially for the group that received the most explicit WCF in the form of metalinguistic explanation.
CHAPTER 15 – Least Squares Fit and Max-Min

This chapter reviews the examples of least squares fit and the related max-min conditions. The basic idea of least squares fit is related to ( x 1 , y 1 ), ( x 2 , y 2 ), …, ( x n , y n ). These represent the output of a linear function z = mx + b , with errors introduced by measurement.
Investigation of strain and stoichiometry of epitaxial titanium nitride on sapphire

Abstract Titanium nitride (TiN) is a recent material of interest for plasmonics and electrodes due to its high-temperature stability, robustness, and CMOS-compatibility. Previously we found that optical plasmonic quality correlated with the microstructural quality of TiN, and both properties depended on deposition temperature: TiN grown at 550 °C resulted in favorable optical properties for plasmonic materials. The present work investigates strain and stoichiometry of TiN films as a result of varying deposition temperature. Six (111)-oriented TiN films were grown on c-sapphire with reactive magnetron sputtering; substrate temperatures ranged from 280 °C to 760 °C. The TiN films were analyzed with x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy to examine composition, strain, lattice constants, unit cell angles, dislocation defects, mosaicity, and low-angle tilt boundaries. We found that lattice constants only remained a constant 4.242 A at temperatures above 490 °C. Above this substrate temperature the deviation from a 90˚ unit cell angle remained at a minimum, indicating less strain. When combined with the previously-found plasmonic material properties of the films, this trend suggests that more relaxed films grow above 490 °C and yield lower relative optical loss, and favorable plasmonic material quality factors. Rocking curves suggested fewest dislocation defects and least mosaicity in the optically favorable 550 °C film. The results of this work indicate that microstructure, most significantly strain and defects, correlates with optical properties in TiN. This work emphasizes the importance of specific deposition conditions—in this case, substrate temperature—to minimize strain and defect density for achieving optimal plasmonic properties for TiN thin films.
Mechanical Optimization of Diatomite Monoliths fromFreeze Casting for High-Throughput Applications

The silica cell walls of diatoms, the abundant microalga 1–100 μm in size, show a highly ordered hierarchical porosity and are widely available through their fossilized form known as diatomite. The...
Identification of A-Type Proanthocyanidins in Cranberry-Based Foods and Dietary Supplements by Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry, First Action Method: 2019.05

Background Cranberry proanthocyanidins (c-PAC) are oligomeric structures of flavan-3-ol units, which possess A-type interflavan bonds. c-PAC differs from other botanical sources because other PAC mostly have B-type interflavan bonds. Cranberry products used to alleviate and prevent urinary tract infections may suffer from adulteration, where c-PAC are replaced with less expensive botanical sources of PAC that contain B-type interflavan bonds. Objective Identifying the presence of A-type interflavan bonds in cranberry fruit and dietary supplements. Methods Thirty-five samples reported to contain A-type PAC (cranberry fruit and cranberry products) and 36 samples reported to contain B-type PAC (other botanical sources) were identified and differentiated using MALDI-TOF MS, deconvolution of overlapping isotope patterns, and principal component analysis (PCA). Results Our results show that both MALDI-TOF MS and deconvolution of overlapping isotope patterns were able to identify the presence of A-type interflavan bonds with a probability greater than 90% and a confidence of 95%. Deconvolution of MALDI-TOF MS spectra also determined the ratio of A-type to B-type interflavan bonds at each degree of polymerization in cranberry fruit and cranberry products, which is a distinguishing feature of c-PAC in comparison to other botanical sources of PAC. PCA shows clear differences based on the nature of the interflavan bonds. Conclusions MALDI-TOF MS, deconvolution of overlapping isotope patterns of MALDI-TOF MS spectra, and PCA allow the identification, estimation, and differentiation of A-type interflavan bonds in cranberry-based foods and dietary supplements among other botanical sources containing mostly B-type interflavan bonds.
Single dose of a replication-defective vaccinia virus expressing Zika virus-like particles is protective in mice.

Zika virus (ZIKV), a flavivirus transmitted primarily by infected mosquitos, can cause neurological symptoms such as Guillian-Barre syndrome and microcephaly. We developed several vaccinia virus (VACV) vaccine candidates for ZIKV based on replication-inducible VACVs (vINDs) expressing ZIKV pre-membrane (prM) and envelope (E) proteins (vIND-ZIKVs). These vIND-ZIKVs contain elements of the tetracycline operon and replicate only in the presence of tetracyclines. The pool of vaccine candidates was narrowed to one vIND-ZIKV containing a novel mutation in the signal peptide of prM that led to higher expression and secretion of E and production of virus-like particles, which was then tested for safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy in mice. vIND-ZIKV grows to high titers in vitro in the presence of doxycycline (DOX) but is replication-defective in vivo in the absence of DOX, causing no weight loss in mice. C57BL/6 mice vaccinated once with vIND-ZIKV in the absence of DOX (as a replication-defective virus) developed robust levels of E-peptide-specific IFN-γ-secreting splenocytes and anti-E IgG titers, with modest levels of serum-neutralizing antibodies. Vaccinated mice treated with anti-IFNAR1 antibody were completely protected from ZIKV viremia post-challenge after a single dose of vIND-ZIKV. Furthermore, mice with prior immunity to VACV developed moderate anti-E IgG titers that increased after booster vaccination, and were protected from viremia only after two vaccinations with vIND-ZIKV.
Implicit Side-Chain Model and Experimental Characterization of Bottlebrush Block Copolymer Solution Assembly

Bottlebrush polymers are a class of macromolecules with linear backbones and densely grafted side chains, possessing unique physical properties due to strong steric interactions between the side ch...