cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Bayesian probabilistic network modeling from multiple independent replicates

Often protein (or gene) time-course data are collected for multiple replicates. Each replicate generally has sparse data with the number of time points being less than the number of proteins. Usually each replicate is modeled separately. However, here all the information in each of the replicates is used to make a composite inference about signal networks. The composite inference comes from combining well structured Bayesian probabilistic modeling with a multi-faceted Markov Chain Monte Carlo algorithm. Based on simulations which investigate many different types of network interactions and experimental variabilities, the composite examination uncovers many important relationships within the networks. In particular, when the edge's partial correlation between two proteins is at least moderate, then the composite's posterior probability is large.
Pediatric Asthma Morbidity: The Importance of Symptom Perception and Family Response to Symptoms

Objective To determine whether family response to asthma symptoms mediates the relationship between child symptom perception and morbidity. Methods A total of 122 children with asthma, aged between 7 and 17 years (47% females; 25% ethnic minorities), were recruited from three sites. Participants completed a family asthma management interview and 5–6 weeks of symptom perception assessment. Results Family response to symptoms mediated the relationship between child underestimation of symptoms and asthma morbidity and partially mediated the relationship between accurate symptom perception and morbidity. In contrast, although child overestimation of symptoms and family response to symptoms were independently related to asthma morbidity, a mediational model was not supported. Conclusions Our study found support for the role of family response to symptoms in mediating the relationship between child symptom perception and morbidity, particularly with regard to underestimation of symptoms, underscoring the need for behavioral tools to accurately recognize and optimally respond to exacerbations.
ENGINEERING BIDENTATE MACROMOLECULAR INHIBITORS FOR TRYPSIN AND UROKINASE-TYPE PLASMINOGEN ACTIVATOR

Abstract Ecotin, a dimeric serine protease inhibitor from Escherichia coli , is a novel platform for inhibitor design. An approach using the three-dimensional structure of the ecotin-trypsin complex to guide combinatiorial design efforts was taken to create potent bidentate ecotin inhibitors for trypsin and human urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA). The ecotin surface loop that was redesigned is composed of residues 67 to 70 (60 s loop), and binds to the target protease at a region 25 A from the enzyme active site. Two ecotin phage display libraries were constructed to exploit the binding interactions at the 60 s loop. The ecotin 60X 4 library, in which residues 67 to 70 of ecotin were randomized, was panned against rat and bovine trypsin in parallel for four rounds. Panning against bovine trypsin resulted in enrichment of ecotin phage but did not yield a consensus sequence. Panning against rat trypsin resulted in enrichment as well as the ecotin consensus sequence WGFP at positions 67 to 70. The variant ecotin encoded by this sequence inhibited rat trypsin at 80 pM, a 12-fold improvement over ecotin wild-type (WT). A second generation library, ecotin M84R+60X 4 including an additional methionine to arginine substitution at position 84 in the primary binding site of ecotin, was generated for panning against uPA and rat trypsin. Panning against rat trypsin resulted in enrichment but no consensus sequence. Panning against uPA resulted in enrichment as well as the different ecotin consensus sequence WGYR at positions 67 to 70. Ecotin M84R+D70R bound to uPA at 50 pM, a 56,000-fold increase in binding compared to ecotin WT. Furthermore, ecotin M84R+D70R achieved a 13,680-fold preference of specificity towards uPA versus rat trypsin. The fact that the 60 s loop of ecotin plays different roles in binding to trypsin and uPA suggests this site can be used to introduce specificity and potency for other members of the serine proteases with a chymotrypsin fold.
Correlation of peel and burst tests for pouches

Theoretical equations based on force diagrams were developed in order to explain pouch behaviour during a restrained burst test. According to the resulting equation, P = 2 S/D, the burst pressure (P) increases directly with seal strength (S) and inversely with the distance between the restraining plates (D). After performing a restrained burst test and a peel test on Tyvek/plastic pouches, it was found that the theoretical development did not exactly explain burst test results in terms of peel test values. The test results demonstrate that even though the peeling times for the peel and burst tests were controlled to be the same, the theoretical formula (P = 2 S/D) tends to overestimate the burst pressure. The overestimation increases at smaller gaps. These results are an indication that the formula is not universal and they suggest that it is an oversimplification. It might work for some materials at a particular set of testing conditions but not for others. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Constriction of Pial Arterioles Produced by Prostaglandin F2α

Prostaglandin F2α constricted pial arterioles when locally applied to the cerebral surface. Norepinephrine and serotonin each elicited similar contractile effects. The constriction produced by F2α in combination with either biogenic amine was greater than the constriction elicited by F2α or amine acting alone. The effect of one agent on the other was additive rather than potentiating. Since F2α, norepinephrine and serotonin are all naturally occurring agents, it is possible that their combined effect is important under pathological circumstances and this combined effect should not be overlooked in the search for single spasmogens of great potency. Before ascribing a pathologically important effect to F2α, either alone or in combination, evidence is required showing that doses effective in experiments are similar to the concentrations occurring during disease states and/or that vessels may become hypersensitive to F2α during such states.
Patient heal thyself: modeling and treating neurological disorders using patient-derived stem cells:

Disorders of the brain and spinal cord are common worldwide problems but have remained very difficult to treat. As a group they have diverse etiologies and can be due to trauma, infection, tumors, genetic mutations and environmental insults. Though distinct in etiology, neurological disorders share an overall intractability as current therapies are largely limited to treatment of symptoms. Improved outcomes are further constrained by the minimal endogenous capacity of the brain and spinal cord for repair. Spectacular recent scientific advances, however, suggest that new stem cell-based approaches may change this undesirable situation. In this review, I will broadly outline the challenges of studying and treating disorders of the brain and spinal cord. I will review ongoing attempts to use stem cell-based therapies to both model and treat neurological disorders. While this field is in its infancy, expected advances and needed breakthroughs point to a future where patient-derived stem cells will be the basis for the emerging discipline of regenerative neurology.
An advanced air interface-another point of view

It is desirable to have a single air interface applicable to the objectives of both indoor and outdoor environments. In reality, there are some air interfaces that can operate in all environments. The problem is that no air interface can meet the breadth of the requirements put forth for each of the envisioned environments. This paper suggests we need to develop a strategy for generating air interface solutions that are market driven as well as technology driven. Expected market requirements to date range from local loop alternatives, wireless pay phone alternatives, and pedestrian low mobility systems, to office and high mobility vehicular systems. These systems require higher data rate capability along with "good" voice quality, An overriding consideration is that these systems can also utilize a rapidly advancing telecommunications network and emerging cable networks. A new air interface must be able to grow as new applications emerge. This paper suggests that the solution may be a system of compatible air interfaces rather than a single air interface.
Predicting a changing taste: Do people know what they will like?

A distinction is made between decision utility, experienced utility, and predicted utility and an experiment is reported addressing people's ability to forecast experienced utility. Subjects in two experiments made predictions of their future liking for stimuli to which they were then exposed daily for one week. The stimuli were ice cream in a pilot study, plain yogurt in the main study, and short musical pieces in both studies. Decreased liking was the modal prediction, even when the true outcome was increased liking, or reduced dislike. There was substantial stability of tastes, but there were also substantial individual differences in the size and even the sign of changes in liking with repeated exposure. There was little or no correlation between the predictions of hedonic change that individuals made and the changes they actually experienced.
Comparison of CT Perfusion and Digital Subtraction Angiography in the Evaluation of Delayed Cerebral Ischemia

Rationale and Objectives Delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) is a devastating condition that occurs secondary to aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (A-SAH). The purpose is to compare computed tomography perfusion (CTP) and digital subtraction angiography (DSA) for determining DCI in A-SAH. Materials and Methods A retrospective study of A-SAH patients admitted at our institution between December 2004 and December 2008 was performed. CTP and DSA were obtained at days 6–8 after aneurysm rupture. Both qualitative and quantitative analyses of CT perfusion deficits were performed. DSA was categorized as presence or absence of vasospasm. The reference standard for determining DCI was based on clinical deterioration or infarction on CT or MRI. The test characteristics of CTP and DSA were calculated and their graphs of conditional probabilities were constructed using Bayesian analysis. Results Fifty-seven patients were included; 79% (45/57) had DCI. Seventy percent (40/57) had CTP perfusion deficits; 80% (36/45) of the DCI and 33% (4/12) of no DCI patients. Sixty-three percent (36/57) had DSA demonstrating vasospasm; 73% (33/45) of the DCI and 25% (3/12) of no DCI patients. Quantitative analysis of the CTP data revealed a significant difference in cerebral blood flow values for the DCI (29.4 mL/100 g/minute) and no DCI groups (40.5 mL/100 g/minute, P = .0213). The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values for CTP were 0.80 (95% CI 0.68–0.92), 0.67 (95% CI 0.40–0.93), 0.90 (95% CI 0.82–0.96), 0.47 (95% CI 0.27–0.62), and for DSA were 0.73 (95% CI 0.60–0.86), 0.75 (95% CI 0.50–0.99), 0.92 (95% CI 0.82–0.98), and 0.43 (95% CI 0.26–0.53), respectively. Conclusion CTP and DSA have similar test characteristics and Bayesian analysis for determining DCI in A-SAH patients.
2‐Bromo‐3‐Methylbenzoic Acid

2-bromo-3-methylbenzoic acid intermediate: 2-bromo-4-nitrotoluene solvent: 500 ml. of petroleum ether product: 2-bromo-3-methylbenzoic acid Keywords: halogenation, bromination; replacement reactions, miscellaneous; hydrogen cyanide; filter aids
Quantitative comparison of cardiac ventricular myocyte electrophysiology and response to drugs in human and nonhuman species

Explanations for arrhythmia mechanisms at the cellular level are usually based on experiments in nonhuman myocytes. However, subtle electrophysiological differences between species may lead to diff...
Rising Carbon Dioxide and Weed Ecology

Documented and projected changes in the concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) and other gases suggest potential changes in climate stability that could negatively impact human systems. This would include negative impacts on agricultural crops and associated weeds. Worldwide crop production losses from weeds are estimated at 12%, with a 25% loss in undeveloped agronomic systems (Parker and Fryer, 1975). Climatic outcomes regarding crops and weed/crop interactions have been addressed in several seminal reviews (Patterson and Flint, 1980; Patterson, 1993, 1995 a, b; Bunce and Ziska, 2000). The current review acknowledges the importance of such climatic variables, but recognizes the uncertainty of future climatic change. At present there is greater consensus on the direct effect of CO2 on plant systems (Cure and Acock, 1986; Kimball, 1983, 1993); consequently, the principal focus of the current review is to integrate what is known regarding the direct effects of rising CO2 on weed biology.
Throughput optimal distributed power control of stochastic wireless networks

The maximum differential backlog (MDB), or "backpressure" control policy of Tassiulas and Ephremides has been shown to adaptively maximize the stable throughput of multihop wireless networks with random traffic arrivals and queueing. The practical implementation of the MDB policy in wireless networks with mutually interfering links, however, requires the development of distributed optimization algorithms. Within the context of code-division multiple-access (CDMA)-based multihop wireless networks, we develop a set of node-based scaled gradient projection power control algorithms which solves the MDB optimization problem based on the high-signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) approximation of link capacities using low communication overhead. We investigate the impact of the high-SINR approximation and the nonnegligible convergence time required by the power control algorithms on the throughput region achievable by the iterative MDB policy. We show that the policy can achieve at least the stability region induced by the high-SINR capacity region.
Body Mass Index Trajectories among Middle-Aged and Elderly Canadians and Associated Health Outcomes.

Background. Whether there is heterogeneity in the development of BMI from middle-age onward is still unknown. The primary aim of this study is to analyze long-term obesity and how BMI trajectories are associated with health outcomes in midlife. Methods. Latent Class Growth Modelling was used to capture the changes in BMI over time. In this study, 3070 individuals from the National Population Health Survey (NPHS), aged 40–55 years at baseline, were included. Results. Four BMI trajectory groups, “Normal-Stable” (N-S), “Overweight-Stable” (OV-S), “Obese I-Stable” (OB I-S), and “Obese II-Stable” (OB II-S), were identified. Men, persons of White ancestry, and individuals who had no postsecondary education had higher odds of being in the latter three groups. Moreover, members of the OV-S, OB I-S, and OB II-S groups experienced more asthma, arthritis, hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, cognitive impairment, and reduced self-rated overall health. Individuals in the OB II-S group were at greater risk for back problems, chronic bronchitis or emphysema, and emotional issues when compared to the N-S group. Conclusion. Understanding different BMI trajectories is important in order to identify people who are at the highest risk of developing comorbidities due to obesity and to establish programs to intervene appropriately.
Statistical Electronic Structure Calibration Study of the CCSD(T*)-F12b Method for Atomization Energies.

In the explicitly correlated CCSD(T)-F12b coupled cluster method only the singles and doubles component of the energy benefits from inclusion of terms involving the interelectronic distance. Consequently, only that component exhibits accelerated convergence with respect to the 1-particle basis set. The smaller perturbative triples component converges at the same rate as the corresponding piece in standard CCSD(T). With the alternative CCSD(T*)-F12b method the triples correlation energy is scaled up by the ratio of explicitly correlated to standard second-order perturbation theory correlation energies in an attempt to better approximate the basis set limit. An extensive and diverse 212 molecule collection of reference total atomization energies, developed with large basis sets (up to aug-cc-pV9Z in some cases) and standard CCSD(T), was used to calibrate the performance of CCSD(T*). Scaling of the (T) energy led to improved results relative to raw F12b values but only provided a statistical advantage over p...
Short-Chain HDAC Inhibitors Differentially Affect Vertebrate Development and Neuronal Chromatin

Carboxylic acids with known central nervous system and histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitory activities were converted to hydroxamic acids and tested using a suite of in vitro biochemical assays with recombinant HDAC isoforms, cell based assays in human cervical carcinoma HeLa cells and primary cultures from mouse forebrain, and a whole animal (Xenopus laevis) developmental assay. Relative to the parent carboxylic acids, two of these analogues exhibited enhanced potency, and one analogue showed altered HDAC isoform selectivity and in vivo activity in the Xenopus assay. We discuss potential uses of these novel hydroxamic acids in studies aimed at determining the utility of HDAC inhibitors as memory enhancers and mood stabilizers.
Business Gaming: A Progress Report

This article presents a study assessing how extensively business games were being utilized in undergraduate and graduate courses at U.S. business schools. Information was sought about the extent to...
My 65 years in protein chemistry.

This is a tour of a physical chemist through 65 years of protein chemistry from the time when emphasis was placed on the determination of the size and shape of the protein molecule as a colloidal particle, with an early breakthrough by James Sumner, followed by Linus Pauling and Fred Sanger, that a protein was a real molecule, albeit a macromolecule. It deals with the recognition of the nature and importance of hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions in determining the structure, properties, and biological function of proteins until the present acquisition of an understanding of the structure, thermodynamics, and folding pathways from a linear array of amino acids to a biological entity. Along the way, with a combination of experiment and theoretical interpretation, a mechanism was elucidated for the thrombin-induced conversion of fibrinogen to a fibrin blood clot and for the oxidative-folding pathways of ribonuclease A. Before the atomic structure of a protein molecule was determined by x-ray diffraction or nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, experimental studies of the fundamental interactions underlying protein structure led to several distance constraints which motivated the theoretical approach to determine protein structure, and culminated in the Empirical Conformational Energy Program for Peptides (ECEPP), an all-atom force field, with which the structures of fibrous collagen-like proteins and the 46-residue globular staphylococcal protein A were determined. To undertake the study of larger globular proteins, a physics-based coarse-grained UNited-RESidue (UNRES) force field was developed, and applied to the protein-folding problem in terms of structure, thermodynamics, dynamics, and folding pathways. Initially, single-chain and, ultimately, multiple-chain proteins were examined, and the methodology was extended to protein–protein interactions and to nucleic acids and to protein–nucleic acid interactions. The ultimate results led to an understanding of a variety of biological processes underlying natural and disease phenomena.
Intimate Strangers: Unseen Life on Earth

The item in the March Microbe (p. 134 – 136) on ASM's current podcasts of segments from this 1999 PBS program failed to mention the authors of the superb ASM-published book on which it is based: Cynthia Needham, Mahlon Hoagland, Kenneth McPherson, and Bert Dodson. Together with the help of many, Needham et al. created a book that is sui generis, and it seems appropriate that they be cited when this work and its various venues are mentioned.
Americanizing the Teachers: Identity, Citizenship, and the Teaching Corps in Hawai‘i, 1900–1941

During the territorial period, elites and administrators in Hawai'i sought to Americanize their multiracial teaching force. This article argues that administrators applied cultural, legal, and linguistic filters to weigh teachers' potential to Americanize their students. Teachers’ responses challenged elite notions of American identity and the role of education in a democracy.
Three-membered Rings with Two Heteroatoms including Other Elements

This chapter covers three-membered cyclic compounds where one atom is carbon, one atom is a metal or metalloid from groups 1–14 and the f metals, and the last atom lies in groups 1–17 in the periodic table (except hydrogen). General compound types surveyed include β-metallated, η2-heteroyne, and η2-heteroene d- and f-metal compounds (heterometallacyclopropenes and cyclopropanes), carbenoids, diborirenes and diboriranes and their heavier congeners, heteroborirenes and heteroboriranes and their heavier congeners, disiliranes, digermiranes, distanniranes, pnictogenametallirenes and pnictogenametalliranes, and chalcogenametalliranes.
Quantum performance analysis of an EMCCD-based x-ray detector using photon transfer technique

The low electronic noise, high resolution, and good temporal performance of electron-multiplying CCDs (EMCCDs) are ideally suited for applications traditionally served by x-ray image intensifiers. In order to improve an expandable clinical detector's field-of-view and have full control of the system performance, we have successfully built a solid-state x-ray detector. The photon transfer technique was used to quantify the EMCCD quantum performance in terms of sensitivity (or camera gain constant, K), read noise (RN), full-well capacity (FW), and dynamic range (DR). Measured results show the system maintains a K of 11.3 ± 0.9 e−/DN at unit gain, with a read noise of 71.5±6.0 e− rms at gain 1, which decreases proportionally with higher gains. The full well capacity was measured to be 31.3±2.7 ke−, providing a dynamic range of 52.8±0.7 dB using the chip manufacturer specified clocking scheme. Similar performance was measured with other commercial camera systems. The manufacturer data sheet indicates a dynamic range of 66 dB is plausible with improved read noise and full well capacity. Different clocking schemes are under investigation to assess their impact on improving performance towards idealized values. EMCCD driver clock voltage levels were adjusted individually to check the influence on quantum performance. The clocks work to transfer charge from the image area to readout amplifier through the storage area, horizontal and multiplication registers. Results indicate that the clock that contributes to lateral overflow drain bias is essential to the system performance in terms of dynamic range and full well capacity. The serial register clocks used for transporting charge stored in the pixels of the memory lines to the output amplifier had the largest effect on RN, while others had less of an impact. Initial adjustment of these clocks resulted in a variability of 16% in the performance of dynamic range, 38% in read noise and 56% in full well capacity. Quantifying the quantum performance provides valuable insight into overall performance and enables optimal adjustment of the clocking scheme. Further improvements are expected.
Evaluation of Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia: Academic and Community-Based Management Within the Same Health System

A nonrandomized, retrospective comparison of Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia between an academic hospital setting (n=53) and a community hospital setting (n=245) within a single healthcare system was performed. Despite infectious disease consultations, S. aureus bacteremia management recommendations based on Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) guidelines were not followed as closely in the community hospital setting. The community hospital setting requires management standardization for patients with S. aureus bacteremia. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2017;38:740-742.
Streamflow environment predicts divergent life history phenotypes among populations of the Blacktail Shiner Cyprinella venusta: Temporal stability of a large‐scale pattern

Egg size variation among 16 Gulf Coast populations of Cyprinella venusta, the Blacktail Shiner, previously was shown to be significantly correlated with annual stream runoff. In this study, we examined egg size across multiple years and seasons in a subset of the original populations, focusing on three streams that differed widely in annual stream runoff. These populations appear to have been derived independently, possibly nearly synchronously in geological time, from an ancestral form. Thus, they can be considered statistically independent. Most of the variation in egg size was attributable to differences across the three populations. Although annual and seasonal variation was present, the three populations shifted similarly on both of these time scales. The results support an earlier hypothesis that streamflow, quantified using mean annual runoff, is a strong selective influence on egg size, hence offspring size, favouring larger egg size in populations inhabiting streams with greater levels of runoff.
Reproductively dependent song cyclicity in mated male mockingbirds (Mimus polyglottos).

-Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) song has been demonstrated to function in the species' perennial territoriality. Data reported here suggest that this species' diverse song may also function intersexually in reproduction. Observations on the amount of song produced by identified males throughout the breeding season revealed a pronounced cyclicity in the occurrence of song. Further, song cyclicity was systematically associated with the nature of the breeding activity in progress. In each of six mated males, the amount of song increased substantially while the male was nest building. The amount of song decreased significantly during incubation and during the care of offspring. This relationship held even when the cycle of breeding activities was disrupted through nest loss; males resumed singing immediately, although losses often occurred during periods of very little song. Analyses indicated that the nest-building song burst did not result from the activities involved in nest construction itself but often preceded the first observed instance of nest building. Increased song during nest building cannot be explained by excess amounts of unoccupied singing time available to males not engaged in the care of offspring. The overall pattem of results indicates that Mockingbird song may function in reproductive as well as in territorial contexts. Further, the cyclic relationship between song and breeding activities suggests that song may constitute a mechanism by which the reproductive state of the female is rapidly reset in preparation for subsequent broods. Received 11 February 1982, accepted 1
A retrospective analysis of Impella use in all-comers: 1-year outcomes.

Background There are non-randomized data about the benefits of Impella use in the setting of cardiogenic shock. However, limited data exist to help guide clinicians about whether in the context of the intervention the device should be implanted early or late; how long the device should stay in; and how the mode of explant should be. Methods This is a retrospective, single center registry over 5 years comparing in-hospital outcomes and 1 year mortality in an all-comers in patients who had the Impella device placed early versus those who had the device placed late as a bailout. The primary endpoint was a composite of in hospital all-cause mortality, major vascular, bleeding complications, and stroke. A secondary endpoint was 1 year mortality. Results Of 262 total patients, 181 (69.1%) had early and 81 (30.9%) had late Impella placement. Patients in the early group had a lower combined MACCE (17.1 vs 59.3%, P < 0.001) and in-hospital mortality (8.8 vs 48.1%, P < 0.001) compared to the late group. Major vascular (3.3 vs 2.5%, P = 1.0), bleeding complications (5.0 vs 7.4%, P = 0.57), and stroke (3.3 vs 7.4%, P = 0.2) were not significant between groups. Early Impella placement had lower 6 month (17.7 vs 53.1%, P < 0.001) and 1 year mortality rates (21.5 vs 53.1%, P < 0.001) compared to those in the late group. Conclusion For patients with need for an Impella device, regardless of the indication, early implantation is associated with better in hospital and 1 year outcomes as compared to when the device is implanted late as a bailout.
Intercellular calcium waves are controlled by morphogen signaling during organ development

Spontaneous and dramatic intercellular calcium waves are frequently observed during organ development, but are poorly understood. Calcium ions are ubiquitous second messengers that carry out a wide-range of functions, including the regulation of cell proliferation, metabolism and death. Consequently, regulation of calcium signaling encodes a significant portion of the cellular decision making state of cells through both amplitude and frequency-dependent regulation of transcription factors and key regulatory enzymes. Here we report that intercellular calcium waves exhibit spatiotemporal patterns at the organ-level using a quantitative image analysis pipeline. Intercellular calcium waves in the Drosophila wing disc require a specific phospholipase C, Plc21C. Further, we demonstrate that the morphogen signaling pathway, Hedgehog, controls frequencies of calcium oscillations uniformly in the tissue and is required for non-uniform spatial patterning of oscillation amplitudes. Thus, the dynamics of spontaneous intercellular calcium waves are regulated by morphogenetic signaling. Intercellular calcium waves propagate information at the organ-scale that reflects the differentiation state of the developing wing disc.
The Structural View: 2D Realities and 3D Possibilities

The conventional method to visualizing molecular structures is structural formulas—codified systems that use symbols to represent atoms and bonds. In the popular communication of genetics, these formulas were seen in the mid-twentieth century. Demanding extensive disciplinary knowledge, they are not accessible to publics. Schema design, by turning unfamiliar symbols into patterns, can help make these images relevant and meaningful. In recent communication, molecular structures are conveyed via colorful computer models, which are more attractive and seemingly more accessible with 3D effects. However, because publics lack access to computer modeling programs and must imagine 3D structures via 2D prints, computer models lose their inherent advantage. The chapter recommends Web applets that allow publics direct interaction with molecular modeling and suggests areas for further research.
Social Media Ratings of Minimally Invasive Fat Reduction Procedures: Benchmarking Against Traditional Liposuction.

BACKGROUND Minimally invasive fat reduction procedures are rapidly growing in popularity. OBJECTIVE Evaluate online patient reviews to inform practice management. MATERIALS AND METHODS Data from RealSelf.com, a popular online aesthetics platform, were reviewed for all minimally invasive fat reduction procedures. Reviews were also aggregated based on the primary method of action (e.g., laser, radiofrequency, ultrasound, etc.) and compared with liposuction. A chi-square test was used to assess for differences with the Marascuilo procedure for pairwise comparisons. RESULTS A total of 13 minimally invasive fat reduction procedures were identified encompassing 11,871 total reviews. Liposuction had 4,645 total reviews and a 66% patient satisfaction rate. Minimally invasive fat reduction procedures had 7,170 aggregate reviews and a global patient satisfaction of 58%. Liposuction had statistically significantly higher patient satisfaction than cryolipolysis (55% satisfied, n = 2,707 reviews), laser therapies (61% satisfied, n = 3,565 reviews), and injectables (49% satisfied, n = 319 reviews) (p < .05). Injectables and cryolipolysis had statistically significantly lower patient satisfaction than radiofrequency therapies (63% satisfied, n = 314 reviews) and laser therapies. Ultrasound therapies had 275 reviews and a 73% patient satisfaction rate. CONCLUSION A large number of patient reviews suggest that minimally invasive fat reduction procedures have high patient satisfaction, although liposuction still had the highest total patient satisfaction score. However, there are significant pitfalls in interpreting patient reviews, as they do not provide important data such as a patient's medical history or physician experience and skill.
Ultrasonic NDE of Sprayed Ceramic Coatings

Thermal spraying of protective coatings has been in use since 1917 when the initial application was the spraying of zinc layers onto steel structures to prevent corrosion [1]. In the 1970’s plasma-spray technology was first used with the introduction of vacuum plasma-spraying [1]. Today, gases such as argon and nitrogen (sometimes with an additional gas such as helium or hydrogen) are often used in plasma-spray guns. In plasma-spraying an electric-arc discharge heats the gas stream to high temperature (≥ 10,000 K), turning it into a plasma. The gas exits the spray-gun at high speed (≈ 200 m/s to 600 m/s) towards the material to be coated. Material powder (often carried by a second gas stream) is injected into the plasma stream, where it melts into liquid droplets. These droplets are carried onto the target surface, where they rapidly cool (≈ 106 K/s) into solid, flat splats. A layer of material can be built up by repeated spraying of the same surface area. This high-temperature process allows for the spraying of virtually any material possessing a stable molten phase, including ceramics [2]. Further technical details and the history of plasma-spraying can be found in [1–2].
Globalization and Internal Organizational Responses

The most powerful forces affecting the world economic system today are summarized under the rubric of globalization. The primary antecedent of globalization is the rapid transferability of capital and information across national boundaries facilitated by technological advances in communication and transportation. This allows the owners of capital to be constantly informed of changes in market factors and to quickly transfer their capital investments to areas that provide the greatest marginal returns on their investment (McMichael 1996). It allows them to decouple their organizations so that specific functions can be performed in the location that offers the best service for the price. Thus an organization may have its accounting division (or contracted accounting services) located in India or Ireland, research functions in Germany, parts production in the U.S., assembly in Poland or Thailand, and markets world wide. At the same time, customers worldwide are similarly affected by the nearly ubiquitous global information system resulting in an escalation of their expectations regarding product quality, variety and customization. As businesses from different countries compete with each other in markets that only local companies used to serve, workers and communities find themselves forced to compete against each other to create a "business friendly climate." The reason workers and communities are involved in the
β-Hydroxybutyrate Prevents Vascular Senescence through hnRNP A1-Mediated Upregulation of Oct4

Summary β-hydroxybutyrate (β-HB) elevation during fasting or caloric restriction is believed to induce anti-aging effects and alleviate aging-related neurodegeneration. However, whether β-HB alters the senescence pathway in vascular cells remains unknown. Here we report that β-HB promotes vascular cell quiescence, which significantly inhibits both stress-induced premature senescence and replicative senescence through p53-independent mechanisms. Further, we identify heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A1 (hnRNP A1) as a direct binding target of β-HB. β-HB binding to hnRNP A1 markedly enhances hnRNP A1 binding with Octamer-binding transcriptional factor (Oct) 4 mRNA, which stabilizes Oct4 mRNA and Oct4 expression. Oct4 increases Lamin B1, a key factor against DNA damage-induced senescence. Finally, fasting and intraperitoneal injection of β-HB upregulate Oct4 and Lamin B1 in both vascular smooth muscle and endothelial cells in mice in vivo . We conclude that β-HB exerts anti-aging effects in vascular cells by upregulating an hnRNP A1-induced Oct4-mediated Lamin B1 pathway.
Exploring Student Achievement Gaps in School Districts across the United States.

This study examined factors contributing to achievement gaps between White and African American students in 2,868 diverse school districts across the United States. Using pooled data across five sc...
Fluoropolymer coatings for solar cover glass: Anti-soiling mechanisms in the presence of dew

Abstract Soiling of solar cover glass can cause a significant loss of electrical output from PV panels. Dew condensed on the surface exacerbates soiling rates and promotes reactions between dust and glass leading to stronger adhesive forces that make cleaning more expensive. To reduce soiling rates and lower cleaning costs, anti-soiling coatings are being developed. Although the interactions between dust particles and uncoated low-iron glass surfaces are known, the mechanisms by which anti-soiling coatings reduce soiling rates are less well understood. In this paper we report on the effect of wetting properties on both the soiling rate as well as the cleaning efficiency of polymer coated solar cover glass substrates in the presence of condensed water in a controlled environment. Coatings were fabricated with water contact angles (CAs) ranging from 149° to 51° and compared to bare glass. Arizona Test Dust was applied onto substrates on which water condensate (i.e. artificial dew) had formed. The surfaces were baked to enable cementation to occur. Such dew-dust-dry cycles were repeated to simulate naturally occurring, cumulative soiling processes. Changes in dust accumulation rates were assessed as a function of coating properties. Hydrophobic coated glass exhibited 42% lower soiling rates compared to hydrophilic glass. A dust “herding” mechanism was identified to account for these reduced soiling rates, by which dust is concentrated into discrete piles during the lateral shrinkage of droplets on low-energy surfaces. These hydrophobic surfaces were also easier to clean with >99% of the original direct transmittance restored using only water.
Outcomes After Multidisciplinary Management of Primary Mediastinal Germ Cell Tumors.

OBJECTIVE We examined management strategies, overall survival (OS), and progression-free survival (PFS) among patients with PMNSGCTs undergoing resection and multidisciplinary management at a high-volume institution. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA Outcomes after resection of PMNSGCTs are not well-characterized, with limited data on factors associated with survival. METHODS We reviewed patients with PMNSGCT who underwent resection between 1980 and 2019. Median follow-up was 3.4 years. Preoperative therapy (including use of bleomycin), surgical management, recurrence, and survival were examined. Factors associated with survival were analyzed using Cox regression. RESULTS In total, 113 patients were included [median age, 28 years (range, 16-65)]. Preoperative serum tumor markers (STMs) normalized/decreased in 74% of patients. Pathology included necrosis only (25%), teratoma +/- necrosis (20%), viable nonteratomatous germ cell tumor +/- teratoma (41%), and secondary somatic-type malignancy +/- teratoma (20%). Bleomycin chemotherapy was not associated with pulmonary complications or 90-day mortality. Patients receiving second-line chemotherapy followed by resection had significantly worse OS and PFS than patients receiving first-line chemotherapy followed by resection. On multivariable analysis, R1/R2 resection (HR, 3.92; P < 0.001) and increasing postoperative STMs (HR, 4.98; P < 0.001) were associated with shorter PFS; necrosis on pathology (HR, 0.42, P = 0.043) was associated with longer PFS. CONCLUSIONS In patients with PMNSGCT undergoing resection, completeness of resection, postoperative pathology, and postoperative STMs were associated with PFS. Induction bleomycin was not associated with pulmonary complications or mortality in patients undergoing resection. Patients undergoing second-line chemotherapy followed by resection have a poor prognosis, with long-term survival of 22%.
Implications for Electric Dipole Moments of a Leptoquark Scenario for the $B$-Physics Anomalies

Author(s): Altmannshofer, Wolfgang; Gori, Stefania; Patel, Hiren H; Profumo, Stefano; Tuckler, Douglas | Abstract: Vector leptoquarks can address the lepton flavor universality anomalies in decays associated with the $b \to c \ell \nu$ and $b \to s \ell \ell$ transitions, as observed in recent years. Generically, these leptoquarks yield new sources of CP violation. In this paper, we explore constraints and discovery potential for electric dipole moments (EDMs) in leptonic and hadronic systems. We provide the most generic expressions for dipole moments induced by vector leptoquarks at one loop. We find that $O(1)$ CP-violating phases in tau and muon couplings can lead to corresponding EDMs within reach of next-generation EDM experiments, and that existing bounds on the electron EDM already put stringent constraints on CP-violating electron couplings.
Readmission and Ambulatory Health Care Use After Asthma Hospitalization Among Urban Minority Children.

OBJECTIVES: The role of ambulatory follow-up after pediatric asthma hospitalization in preventing long-term readmissions is not well studied among hospitalized minority children. We sought to examine the association of ambulatory visit attendance with long-term readmission as well as identify predictors of attendance at these visits among urban, minority children with asthma. METHODS: This 2-year retrospective cohort study analyzed data for urban, minority children 2 to 18 years old who were hospitalized for asthma at a tertiary-care center. Using bivariate and multivariable analyses, we examined the independent associations of attending a postdischarge visit (within 14 days), a routine visit (within 3 months of discharge or postdischarge visit), and both visits with likelihood of asthma readmission within 365 days. We also identified predictors of attending each of these visits. RESULTS: The study included 613 children with a median age of 5 years. Of the children, 57.4% were boys, 51.2% were Hispanic, and 36.9% were non-Hispanic African American. One-quarter of the children were readmitted within 365 days of the index hospitalization. Children who attended the postdischarge visit had lower odds of long-term readmission (odds ratio = 0.65; 95% confidence interval = 0.43–0.97). However, attending a routine or both a postdischarge and a routine visit was not significantly associated with long-term readmission. Children with previous sick visits, complicating comorbidities, or more severe exacerbation were more likely to attend visits. CONCLUSIONS: Attending a postdischarge visit within 14 days of hospitalization is associated with a lower likelihood of long-term readmission. Those with a previous sick visit, more severe disease, or exacerbation are more likely to attend ambulatory visits after hospital discharge. This knowledge is important in fostering quality care transitions for children with asthma.
Millennial preferences in training messages: The role of teamwork and corporate social responsibility.

Background As the last of the millennial generation is graduating and entering the work force, it has become imperative to devise new ways of engaging this group in safety initiatives. Objective This study seeks to investigate if messages aligned with particular identified millennial workplace culture preferences (i.e. teamwork and CSR) can more effectively engage millennial workers. Methods Thirty participants completed surveys to determine their predisposed attitudes of teamwork and CSR. They then viewed three versions of a safety presentation each addressing the same topic and information, but each with a different theme behind their safety message (i.e. control, teamwork, and CSR). Results The pooled teamwork and CSR data showed that these messages were favored in larger proportion than the control message. No statistically significant differences were found between the three messages when analyzed individually. Conclusions ANOVA analyses showed a significant difference between the control presentation data and the pooled teamwork and CSR presentation data indicating that millennials prefer safety messages aligned with teamwork and social responsibility to a safety message with no extrinsic motivational theme.
Ultrafast Multiphoton Absorption in Optical-Coating Materials at Near-Damage-Threshold Fluence

Multiphoton absorption substantially contributes to the initiation of laser damage of optical coatings by ultrashort laser pulses. Here we report a simulation approach to fix some assumptions of the traditional models violated at near-damage-threshold fluence.
Non-Hermitian lattices with a flat band and polynomial power increase [Invited]

In this work, we first discuss systematically three general approaches to construct a non-Hermitian flat band, defined by its dispersionless real part. These approaches resort to, respectively, spontaneous restoration of non-Hermitian particle-hole symmetry, a persisting flat band from the underlying Hermitian system, and a compact Wannier function that is an eigenstate of the entire system. For the last approach in particular, we show the simplest lattice structure where it can be applied, and we further identify a special case of such a flat band where every point in the Brillouin zone is an exceptional point of order 3. A localized excitation in this “EP3 flat band” can display either a conserved power, quadratic power increase, or even quartic power increase, depending on whether the localized eigenstate or one of the two generalized eigenvectors is initially excited. Nevertheless, the asymptotic wave function in the long time limit is always given by the eigenstate, in this case, the compact Wannier function or its superposition in two or more unit cells.
The pulmonary nodule following lung transplantation

The clinical scenario of a pulmonary nodule following lung transplantation is one with limited experience and no supporting guidelines for the approach to diagnosis and management. Given the broad differential diagnosis for pulmonary nodules in this setting, most of which are life-threatening without appropriate treatment, aggressive evaluation is required. Here we present a case of a 70-year-old female with the development of a large pulmonary nodule in the native lung four years following a single lung transplant. She underwent bronchoscopy with endobronchial ultrasound to achieve a tissue diagnosis which showed small cell lung carcinoma. The patient was started on chemotherapy and has shown clinical and radiographic improvement at most recent follow up seven months after the initial diagnosis. In this report we discuss the differential diagnosis and corresponding imaging findings for the pulmonary nodule following lung transplantation to aid in guiding clinicians navigate this challenging clinical situation.