cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
SU‐E‐T‐255: Optimized Supine Craniospinal Irradiation with Image‐Guided and Field Matched Beams

Purpose: Conventional craniospinal irradiation (CSI) challenges include dose inhomogeneity at field junctions and position uncertainty due to the field divergence, particular for the two spinal fields. Here we outline a new supine CSI technique to address these difficulties. Methods: Patient was simulated in supine position. The cranial fields had isocenter at C2/C3 vertebral and were matched with 1st spinal field. Their inferior border was chosen to avoid the shoulder, as well as chin from the 1st spine field. Their collimator angles were dependent on asymmetry jaw setting of the 1st spinal field. With couch rotation, the spinal field gantry angles were adjusted to ensure, the inferior border of 1st and superior border of 2nd spinal fields were perpendicular to the table top. The radio-opaque wire position for the spinal junction was located initially by the light field from an anterior setup beam, and was finalized by the portal imaging of the 1st spinal field. With reference to the spinal junction wire, the fields were matched by positioning the isocenter of the 2nd spinal field. A formula was derived to optimize supine CSI treatment planning, by utilizing the relationship among the Yjaw setting, the spinal field gantry angles, cranial field collimator angles, and the spinal field isocenters location. The plan was delivered with portal imaging alignment for the both cranial and spinal junctions. Results: Utilizing this technique with matching beams, and conventional technique such as feathering and forwarding planning, a homogenous dose distribution was achieved throughout the entire CSI treatment volume including the spinal junction. Placing the spinal junction wire visualized in both spinal portals, allows for precise determination and verification of the appropriate match line of the spine fields. Conclusion: This technique of optimization supine CSI achieved a homogenous dose distributions and patient localization accuracy with image-guided and matched beams.
Multiplicity distribution in high-energy collisions

Abstract An integral equation for the multiplicity distribution is discussed. The equation can be easily solved by taking the moments of it.
Incentivizing Out-of-State Vendor Compliance with Sales Tax Revenue Rebates

Increased awareness of e-commerce revenue loss coupled with declining sales and use tax receipts has prompted states to undertake at least one of two approaches to capture foregone revenue from remote sales: Amazon tax legislation and membership of the Streamlined Sales Tax Project. Both policies, however, suffer from significant challenges that undermine their effectiveness in achieving the desired goal. This paper proposes an alternative policy that encourages out-of-state vendor sales tax compliance through the use of sales tax revenue rebates as an incentive. It is argued that revenue incentives used in this fashion are more resistant to the criticisms leveled at tax incentives in general. The advantages and disadvantages of revenue rebates as a tool to incentivize out-of-state vendor compliance are also explored.
Long-Range Magnetic Order in Mn[N(CN)2]2(pyz) {pyz = pyrazine}. Susceptibility, Magnetization, Specific Heat, and Neutron Diffraction Measurements and Electronic Structure Calculations

Using dc magnetization, ac susceptibility, specific heat, and neutron diffraction, we have studied the magnetic properties of Mn[N(CN)2]2(pyz) {pyz = pyrazine} in detail. The material crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21/n with a = 7.3248(2), b = 16.7369(4), and c = 8.7905 (2) A, β = 89.596 (2)°, V = 1077.65(7) A3, and Z = 4, as determined by Rietveld refinement of neutron powder diffraction data at 1.35 K. The 5 K neutron powder diffraction data reflect very little variation in the crystal structure. Interpenetrating ReO3-like networks are formed from axially elongated Mn2+ octahedra and edges made up of μ-bonded [N(CN)2]- anions and neutral pyz ligands. A three-dimensional antiferromagnetic ordering occurs below TN = 2.53(2) K. The magnetic unit cell is double the nuclear one along the a- and c-axes, giving the (1/2, 0, 1/2) superstructure. The crystallographic and antiferromagnetic structures are commensurate and consist of collinear Mn2+ moments, each with a magnitude of 4.15(6) μB aligned p...
Sex Differences in Adolescent High-Risk Sexual and Drug Behaviors:

The Youth Risk Behavior Survey, administered to 545 girls and 551 boys in 18 high schools in a midwestern state during spring of 1997, indicated few statistically significant differences between bo...
Factors controlling the concentrations of methotrexate in cultured hepatic cells

Abstract The polyglutamate metabolites of methotrexate are as inhibitory to the target enzyme dihydrofolate reductase as is methotrexate. Because of their greater retention they have a longer half-life within the cells and thus a greater potential for cytotoxicity. These metabolites have been found in numerous cells and tissues and are extensively synthesized in cultured hepatic cells. Uptake of methotrexate by primary cultures of rat hepatocytes occurs by a pathway which is independent of the folate coenzymes but appears to be related in some way to cholic acid and organic anion uptake. The evidence for the commonality of these pathways is (a) an instability of both uptake systems in the absence of hormones in the culture medium, (b) nearly equal inhibition of uptake by PCMS and NEM, and (c) cross competition of cholic acid and methotrexate for entry into the cells. Cholic acid and BSP can also selectively inhibit methotrexate polyglutamate formation in hepatocytes. Methotrexate entry into H35 hepatoma cells is mediated by the transport system which is shared by folate coenzymes and is not inhibited by cholic acid, BSP or sulfhydryl reagents. At concentrations of cholic acid or BSP which inhibit methotrexate polyglutamate formation in hepatocytes there is little or no loss of polyglutamate formation in H35 cells, possibly because BSP and cholic acid are taken up less by H35 cells than by hepatocytes.
The Frailty Syndrome: Definition and Natural History

This article reviews the current state of knowledge regarding the epidemiology of frailty by focusing on 6 specific areas: (1) clinical definitions of frailty, (2) evidence of frailty as a medical syndrome, (3) prevalence and incidence of frailty by age, gender, race, and ethnicity, (4) transitions between discrete frailty states, (5) natural history of manifestations of frailty criteria, and (6) behavior modifications as precursors to the development of clinical frailty.
Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (CRRT) in the Intensive Care Unit

This review is specifically designed to address the topic of CRRT based on the needs and interests of intensivists. Some of the materials, concepts, and formulas presented in this review have been drawn from a previous chapter authored by myself and intended for individuals whose primary interest is specifically dialysis[1]. Since this previous chapter was authored in 1994, similar material presented in this review has been updated in order to present the most current information.
Radiologic Differences between Bone Marrow Stromal and Hematopoietic Progenitor Cell Lines from Fanconi Anemia (Fancd2−/−) Mice

FancD2 plays a central role in the human Fanconi anemia DNA damage response (DDR) pathway. Fancd2–/– mice exhibit many features of human Fanconi anemia including cellular DNA repair defects. Whether the DNA repair defect in Fancd2–/– mice results in radiologic changes in all cell lineages is unknown. We measured stress of hematopoiesis in long-term marrow cultures and radiosensitivity in clonogenic survival curves, as well as comet tail intensity, total antioxidant stores and radiation-induced gene expression in hematopoietic progenitor compared to bone marrow stromal cell lines. We further evaluated radioprotection by a mitochondrial-targeted antioxidant GS-nitroxide, JP4-039. Hematopoiesis longevity in Fancd2–/– mouse long-term marrow cultures was diminished and bone marrow stromal cell lines were radiosensitive compared to Fancd2+/+ stromal cells (Fancd2–/– D0 = 1.4 ± 0.1 Gy, n = 5.0 ± 0.6 vs. Fancd2+/+ D0 = 1.6 ± 0.1 Gy, n = 6.7 ± 1.6), P = 0.0124 for D0 and P = 0.0023 for n, respectively). In contras...
“Inferior” Factors of Production

I. On the nature of production functions, 86. — II. An example of a discontinuity, 89. — III. Origins of the discontinuity, 92. — IV. The proposition in terms of plant average cost curves, 96. — V. Conclusions, 97.
High-gain lateral p-n-p bipolar action in a p-MOSFET structure

Lateral p-n-p bipolar junction transistors (BJTs) fabricated using a bulk 0.25 mu m CMOS technology are presented. The devices are structurally the same as p-MOSFETs in which the gate and the n-well are internally connected to form the base. The p-n-p BJT has an adjustable current gain which can be higher than 1000 and its peak cutoff frequency is 3.7 GHz. Since the lateral p-n-p BJT is fully process compatible with submicrometer CMOS and/or BiCMOS technologies, extension to a BiCMOS and/or complementary BiCMOS process is readily achieved. >
Determination of Optimized Blending Fractions for Particle-Size Distributions or Molecular-Weight Distributions Involving Various Physical-Properties

It has been shown in this study that the effects of particle size distribution or molecular weight distribution on selected physical properties can be related by a generalized blending approach that involves similar equations. The blending equations developed involve different z-fractions where z = 3 for volume blending of spherical particles, z = 2 for surface blending of spherical particles, or z = 1 for the weight blending of molecular weights. This new analysis approach addresses the magnitude of the ratios of particle size averages, D x /D y , or ratios of molecular weight averages, M x /M y , as well as the location of this maximum, the level of distribution information available for the starting materials, and the type of z-fraction blending. To illustrate this approach suspension viscosity/concentration data was used to show how the D x /D y ratio could be introduced successfully to analyze latex volume blending where z = 3. In addition, the maximum steady-state elastic compliance, J e , as a function of weighted blends (z = 1) of two different molecular weights of polyisobutylene was shown to fit the simple equation J e = 1.187 (M 3 /M 2 )(M 4 /M 1 ) reasonably well. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Reduced degree of long-range phase synchrony in pathological human brain.

In this paper multivariate spontaneous EEG signals from three broad groups of human subjects - control, seizure, and mania - were studied with the aim of investigating the possible effect of these pathologies on the degree of phase synchronization between cortical areas. The degree of phase synchrony was measured by two recently developed measures which are more suitable than classical indices like correlation or coherence when dealing with nonlinear and non-stationary signals like the EEG. Signals were reduced to seven frequency bands (delta, theta, alpha-1, alpha-2, beta-1, beta-2 and gamma) which were statistically compared between the normal and the other two groups. It was found that the degree of long-range synchrony was significantly reduced for both pathological groups as compared with the control group. No clear differences were found in the degrees of short-range synchrony.
Occipital nerve stimulation for chronic migraine—interpreting the ONSTIM feasibility trial:

Chronic migraine, which affects approximately 2% of the population, results in substantial costs to individual sufferers and to society (1). Current treatment options for chronic migraine are often inadequate, with a proportion of chronic migraine patients being intractable to conventional therapy. Clearly, better treatment strategies are needed to reduce the burden from this common and disabling disorder. Dr Saper and co-investigators report the results from the ONSTIM trial, a Medtronic sponsored study of occipital nerve stimulation for the treatment of chronic migraine patients who had been intractable to standard pharmacotherapy (2). Subjects had suffered from migraine for an average of 22 years and chronic migraine for 10 years, had approximately 23 days per month with headache, had pain in the distribution of the occipital nerves, were intractable to prophylactic medications from at least two standard classes and had transient relief of pain following occipital nerve block. These subjects were randomized to one of three groups: (i) adjustable stimulation (N1⁄4 33); (ii) sham stimulation (pre-set stimulation for one minute daily) (N1⁄4 17); or (iii) continued medical management (N1⁄4 17). In order to assess whether or not response to occipital nerve block was a useful predictor for response to occipital nerve stimulation, a subset of subjects who did not benefit from the blocks were placed into an ancillary group that also received treatment with adjustable stimulation (N1⁄4 8). Safety and efficacy data were derived from three months of follow-up. The primary aim of this study was to collect preliminary data regarding the safety and efficacy of occipital nerve stimulation for the treatment of chronic migraine. The study was not designed to yield conclusions regarding this treatment modality. Consistent with the study goals, the sample size was small and multiple outcomes were investigated independently. Many of these outcomes showed numerical superiority (although not necessarily statistically significant superiority) of adjustable stimulation over sham stimulation and over continued medical management. Despite the small sample size, adjustable stimulation was associated with statistically superior benefit for a few disability and quality-of-life outcomes when independently analyzed (not corrected for multiple comparisons). These results suggest that occipital nerve stimulation is a promising treatment for chronic migraine and that further clinical trials are warranted. In addition to the study power and methods of analysis, a few other study specifics should be considered when interpreting the results.
Processing and characterization of samarium and manganese modified lead titanate thin film

Samarium and manganese modified lead titanate thin films were fabricated by spin-coating an amorphous citrate precursor. These films transformed into an oxide film upon heat treatment at 400/spl deg/C or above. Relatively large area and crack-free thin films could be obtained by this process both easily and inexpensively. The rheological behavior of the precursor solution, as well as its thermal decomposition and phase development were studied by means of DSC/TGA and XRD. The thickness and grain size of the oxide film were examined by TEM and SEM.
Tetracyclines: Double Blind Clinical Study to Evaluate the Effectiveness in Periodontal Surgery

Twenty consecutive hospital patients who were to have periodontal surgery were assigned to one of two groups in a double blind clinical study. Ten were placed on tetracycline 250 mg, 6 times per day for 5 days. The other ten were given an identical appearing placebo 6 times per day for 5 days. The capsules were placed in a brown envelope so that neither the patient nor the periodontist knew which medication was being administered. The patients were randomly assigned to one of the two groups and were evaluated subjectively and objectively on the 3rd day and the 7th day. Statistically there were no differences between the two groups. In both groups there was some inflammation on the 3rd day but on the 7th day, it had subsided. Tetracycline is not recommended for routine prophylactic use in periodontal surgery.
GRP78 and cripto form a complex at the cell surface and collaborate to inhibit transforming growth factor β signaling and enhance cell growth

Cripto is a multifunctional cell surface protein with important roles in vertebrate embryogenesis and the progression of human tumors. While Cripto has been shown to modulate multiple signaling pathways, its binding partners do not appear to fully explain its molecular actions. Therefore, we conducted a screen aimed at identifying novel Cripto-interacting proteins. This screen led to our identification of glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78), an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) chaperone that is also expressed at the surfaces of tumor cells. Here we demonstrate that Cripto and GRP78 interact at the cell surfaces of multiple cell lines and that their interaction is independent of prior association within the ER. Interestingly, short hairpin RNA knockdown of endogenous GRP78 resulted in enhanced transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) signaling, indicating that like Cripto, GRP78 inhibits this pathway. We further show that when coexpressed, GRP78 and Cripto collaborate to antagonize TGF-beta responses, including Smad phosphorylation and growth inhibition of prostate cancer cells grown under anchorage-dependent or -independent conditions. Finally, we provide evidence that cells coexpressing GRP78 and Cripto grow much more rapidly in soft agar than do cells expressing either protein individually. Together, our results indicate that these proteins bind at the cell surface to enhance tumor growth via the inhibition of TGF-beta signaling.
The Oracle Diffie-Hellman Assumptions and an Analysis of DHIES

This paper provides security analysis for the public-key encryption scheme DHIES (formerly named DHES and DHAES), which was proposed in [7] and is now in several draft standards. DHIES is a Diffie-Hellman based scheme that combines a symmetric encryption method, a message authentication code, and a hash function, in addition to number-theoretic operations, in a way which is intended to provide security against chosen-ciphertext attacks. In this paper we find natural assumptions under which DHIES achieves security under chosen-ciphertext attack. The assumptions we make about the Diffie-Hellman problem are interesting variants of the customary ones, and we investigate relationships among them, and provide security lower bounds. Our proofs are in the standard model; no random-oracle assumption is required.
H ∞ robust control of a seat belt load-limiting device

Continuously adaptive restraint system is currently the ideal state of restraint systems for occupant protection. It operates in real time during the impact according to the sensed operating conditions, such as seat belt force, occupant motion, crash severity, etc. In this paper, a linear time invariant (LTI) model of a crash dummy/vehicle system is built based on the method of system identification. The order of the system is first reduced using singular value decomposition (SVD). Next, a robust H ∞ controller is designed for the reduced-order system using linear matrix inequalities (LMIs). Simulations have been performed for the closed-loop system with both designed controller and the MADYMO occupant and vehicle model to demonstrate the performance of the designed controller.
Optic disc, foveal, and extrafoveal damage due to surgical separation of the vitreous

Objective To evaluate the morphologic outcomes resulting from surgical vitreoretinal separation in young adult primates. Materials and Methods Vitrectomy and mechanical separation of the vitreous from the internal limiting lamina (ILL) of the posterior retina and surface of the optic disc were performed on 25 young adult cynomolgus monkey eyes in vivo. Lectin histochemical studies were used to evaluate the vitreoretinal interface. Morphologic outcomes were tabulated. Results In 11 of 25 eye regions, residual vitreous remained attached to the ILL in some of the regions. Localized ILL breaks or separation of the ILL from the neural retina was noted in 9 eyes. Retinal tissue loss, including avulsion of the ganglion cell, inner plexiform, or inner nuclear layers, was observed in 7 eyes. Avulsion of axon bundles in the optic disc was noted in 9 eyes. Significantly, partial- or full-thickness foveal tears were noted in 11 eyes. Based on the surgeons' intraoperative observations, small superficial optic disc or retinal hemorrhages were observed in 3 of 25 eyes. None of the eyes on which a vitrectomy alone was performed showed ILL damage, or retinal or optic disc tissue loss. Conclusion Damage may occur to the optic disc, fovea, and extrafoveal retina as a result of surgical separation of the vitreous from the retina in young adult primates. Clinical Relevance These data support the contention that surgically induced damage at the level of the vitreoretinal interface may help explain the visual field defects noted after surgery to close full-thickness macular holes. These data also support the need for developing additional modalities to assist in vitreous separation, thereby reducing the risk of traumatic complications associated with purely mechanical procedures.
VOLTAGE STABILITY ENHANCEMENT VIA MODEL PREDICTIVE CONTROL OF LOAD

Impending voltage collapse can often be avoided by appropriate control of loads. However the traditional form of load control (shedding) is unpopular due to the resulting consumer disruption. Advances in communications and computer systems allow more selective load control though. Individual loads that are sacrificeable in the short-term can be switched with minimal consumer disruption. The paper considers the use of such non-disruptive load control for improving voltage stability. A control strategy that is based on model predictive control (MPC) is proposed. MPC utilizes an internal model to predict system dynamic behaviour over a finite horizon. Control decisions are based on optimizing that predicted response. MPC is a discrete- time form of control, so inaccuracies in predicted behaviour are corrected at the next control interval. A standard 10 bus voltage collapse example is used to illustrate this control strategy.
Investigations of Nonstandard, Mickens-type, Finite-difference Schemes for Singular Boundary Value Problems in Cylindrical or Spherical Coordinates

It is well known that standard finite-difference schemes for singular boundary value problems involving the Laplacian have difficulty capturing the singular ((1/r) or (log r)) behavior of the solution near the origin (r = 0). New nonstandard finite-difference schemes that can capture this behavior exactly for certain singular boundary value problems encountered in theoretical aerodynamics are presented here. These schemes are special cases of nonstandard finite differences which have been extensively researched by Professor Ronald E. Mickens of Clark Atlanta University in their most general form. Several examples of these “Mickens-type” finite differences that illustrate both their accuracy and utility for singular boundary value problems in both cylindrical and spherical co-ordinates are investigated. The numerical results generated by the Mickens-type schemes are compared favorably with solutions obtained from standard finite-difference schemes. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq 19: 380–398, 2003.
Academic headache medicine in America: report of academic membership survey of the American Headache Society special interest section on academic affairs.

Background.—What constitutes the typical clinical experience of an academic headache specialist in America is unknown. Purpose.—To clarify this issue, we undertook a survey of academic headache specialists who are members of the American Headache Society. Methods.—In June 2000, 181 surveys including questions regarding academic rank, departmental and institutional affiliation, and time distribution were sent to members drawn from the 1999-2000 Membership Directory of the American Headache Society whose primary addresses were recognized academic institutions or who, by reputation, had extensive academic affiliation. Additional questions about headache teaching, research, and practice were included. Results.—Seventy-two (39.7%) of the surveys were returned. Forty-nine (40%) of the 122 American medical schools were represented. The most prevalent academic rank was professor (38%). Included were 2 departmental chairs, 1 division chief, 1 vice dean, and 1 residency training director. The majority (70.8%) were neurologists. Seventy-two percent of respondents spent at least 50% of their time in a clinic, 79% spent 25% or less of their time on research, and 78% spent 25% or less time in teaching. The average number of new patients seen per week was 9.0 ± 7.6, with each visit lasting 62.4 ± 20.8 minutes. Clinicians saw 22.7 ± 14.6 patients for follow-up per week, with the average visit lasting 24.7 ± 6.8 minutes. Although it appears that at least informal instruction in headache is provided to medical students, interns, and residents, 19.7% (12 of 61) of respondents reported that no formal medical school lecture on the topic of headache was offered at their institutions. Conclusion.—This preliminary survey offers some insight into the clinical experience of academic headache specialists in the American medical system. Suggestions for future studies are discussed.
A new segmentation framework for infrared spectroscopic imaging using frequent pattern mining

Histologic analysis of a stained tissue sample by a trained pathologist forms the definitive diagnosis of prostate cancer. Rapid and objective second opinions are highly desirable to make more accurate diagnostic decisions. One alternate method is to use Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopic imaging, which is an emerging technique that combines the molecular selectivity of spectroscopy with the spatial specificity of optical microscopy. While instrumentation is well-developed for FT-IR imaging, information extraction from the data could benefit greatly from improved approaches. Here we propose a new approach to segment histologic classes in a tissue for FT-IR imaging using frequent pattern mining. Prior to applying frequent pattern mining, FT-IR images are discretized, and subsequent pruning method and feature selection method result in a classifier for the segmentation. The method is evaluated using two different datasets. Results indicate that accurate histologic segmentation is achievable by this approach.
Roles of cardiac output and peripheral resistance in mediating blood pressure response to stress in rats.

The change in arterial blood pressure (BP) in response to presentation of an acute behavioral stress (i.e., classical conditioning) in rat includes an initial rapid rise (C1) followed by a delayed,...
The Private Foundation's Topsy Turvy Road in the American Political Process

This article studies the American political debate on the charitable tax exemption from 1864 to 1969, in particular, the debate regarding philanthropic, private foundations. The article’s premise is that the debate’s core has evolved little since the period from the 1850s to the 1870s. To create perspective, a short summary of the modern economic significance of the foundation sector follows. Thereafter, the article reviews the pre- and post-colonial attitudes toward charitable institutions leading up to the debates in the 1800s, illustrating the incongruity of American policy regarding whether and to what extent to grant tax exemptions to charities. The 1800s state debates are referenced and correlated to parts of the 1900s federal debate to show the similarity if not sameness of the arguments against and justifications for exemption. The 20th-century legislative examination primarily focuses upon the regulatory evolution of foundations. Finally, the article concludes with a brief discussion of the 1969 tax reform’s changes to the foundation rules and the significant 20th-century legislation regulating both public and private foundations.
An individual-based forest model links canopy dynamics and shade tolerances along a soil moisture gradient.

Understanding how forested ecosystems respond to climatic changes is a challenging problem as forest self-organization occurs simultaneously across multiple scales. Here, we explore the hypothesis that soil water availability shapes above-ground competition and gap dynamics, and ultimately alters the dominance of shade tolerant and intolerant species along the moisture gradient. We adapt a spatially explicit individual-based model with simultaneous crown and root competitions. Simulations show that the transition from xeric to mesic soils is accompanied by an increase in shade-tolerant species similar to the patterns documented in the North American forests. This transition is accompanied by a change from water to sunlight competitions, and happens at three successive stages: (i) mostly water-limited parkland, (ii) simultaneously water- and sunlight-limited closed canopy forests featuring a very sparse understory, and (iii) mostly sunlight-limited forests with a populated understory. This pattern is caused by contrasting successional dynamics that favour either shade-tolerant or shade-intolerant species, depending on soil moisture and understory density. This work demonstrates that forest patterns along environmental gradients can emerge from spatial competition without physiological trade-offs between shade and growth tolerance. Mechanistic understanding of population processes involved in the forest–parkland–desert transition will improve our ability to explain species distributions and predict forest responses to climatic changes.
Bait and scrape: An approach for assessing biofilm microbial communities on organic media used for gas-phase biofiltration

Abstract Gas-phase biofilters offer effective pollution control for agricultural effluents, but a better understanding of microbial communities responsible for capture and degradation is needed to improve process control. In this study, we developed a wood bait and optimized microbial biofilm sampling for monitoring microbial biomarkers (microbial C, ergosterol, DNA) in a full-scale biofilter. Results demonstrated that targeting biofilm dynamics required removing the biofilm from the wood substrates prior to biomarker extraction. We identified a sampling threshold for these biofilms of ≥100 mg for accurate and low variability biomarker measurement, a threshold that can inform analyses in other systems or using other approaches (i.e. DNA sequencing). Using this approach in a full-scale biofilter revealed that the fungal contribution (as ergosterol) to total microbial biomass was greatest in the most desiccation-prone area of the biofilter. This observation is in-line with results from previous lab-scale studies and could be due, in part, to connectivity between fungal hyphae growing in biofilms and the wood baits, shown by confocal microscopy. This work provides a targeted sampling strategy for microbial biofilms in gas-phase biofiltration, adaptable to other pollution control bioreactors and that can be used to study microbial community dynamics in full-scale systems.
Standing-wave fluorescence microscopy

Fluorescence microscopy is enormously useful in cell biology and biomedicine because highly-specific probe molecules can be used to label structure or transduce physiological condition within complex cells and tissues. Fluorescence optical sectioning microscopy (FOSM) and confocal scanning fluorescence microscopy (CSFM) are widely used for viewing 3D structure in such labeled specimens. In both methods, 3D data consists of images recorded as the specimen is stepped through focus. Direct image formation in FOSM is fast and relatively efficient, but the spatial frequency band limit of the optical transfer function (OTF) limits axial resolution severely. Computational deconvolution is required to achieve full resolution. Direct spatial filtering in CSFM expands the band limit axially and transversely, but with the tradeoff of lower speed and lower signal-to-noise ratio. Limited axial resolution remains a challenge in both cases.
Design, synthesis, and evaluation of inhibitors of pyruvate phosphate dikinase.

Pyruvate phosphate dikinase (PPDK) catalyzes the phosphorylation reaction of pyruvate that forms phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) via two partial reactions: PPDK + ATP + Pi → PPDK-P + AMP + PPi and PPDK-P + pyruvate → PEP + PPDK. Based on its role in the metabolism of microbial human pathogens, PPDK is a potential drug target. A screen of substances that bind to the PPDK ATP-grasp domain active site revealed that flavone analogues are potent inhibitors of the Clostridium symbiosum PPDK. In silico modeling studies suggested that placement of a 3–6 carbon-tethered ammonium substituent at the 3′- or 4′-positions of 5,7-dihydroxyflavones would result in favorable electrostatic interactions with the PPDK Mg-ATP binding site. As a result, polymethylene-tethered amine derivatives of 5,7-dihydroxyflavones were prepared. Steady-state kinetic analysis of these substances demonstrates that the 4′-aminohexyl-5,7-dyhydroxyflavone 10 is a potent competitive PPDK inhibitor (Ki = 1.6 ± 0.1 μM). Single turnover experiments were ...
Some Secondary Metabolites from Nectria Species

The potential use of certain metabolites and pigments in the classification of species in the genus Nectria was studied. Eleven species of Nectria were used: N. aquifolii, N. cinnabarina, N. coryli, N. gliocladioides, N. peziza, N. ochroleuea, N. sporangiicola, N. candicans, N. episphaeria, N. lactea and N. purtonii. Two to four compounds were obtained from all but the last five species. The substances were unique to one species but some species appeared to have a chromophore in common. Preliminary separation and characterization of these compounds was achieved by countercurrent distribution and visible and UV spectrophotometry.
Economic Analysis of Obtaining a PharmD Degree and Career as a Pharmacist

Objective. To evaluate the economic value of pharmacy education/career and the effects of the cost of private or public pharmacy school, the length of degree program, residency training, and pharmacy career path on net career earnings. Methods. This study involved an economic analysis using Markov modeling. Estimated costs of education including student loans were considered in calculating net career earnings of 4 career paths following high school graduation: (1) immediate employment; (2) employment with bachelor’s degree in chemistry or biology; (3) employment as a pharmacist with no residency training; and (4) employment as a pharmacist after completing one or two years of residency training. Results. Models indicated that throughout their careers (up to age 67), PharmD graduates may accumulate net career earnings of $5.66 million to $6.29 million, roughly 3.15 times more than high school graduates and 1.57 to 1.73 times more than those with bachelor’s degrees in biology or chemistry. Attending a public pharmacy school after completing 3 years of prepharmacy education generally leads to higher net career earnings. Community pharmacists have the highest net career earnings, and PGY-1 residency-trained hospital pharmacists have greater net career earnings than those who immediately started their careers in a hospital setting. Conclusion. The economic models presented are based on assumptions described herein; as conditions are subject to variability, these models should not be used to predict future earnings. Nevertheless, the findings demonstrate investment in a pharmacy education yields favorable financial return. Application of results to schools of pharmacy, students, and graduates is discussed.
Remestemcel-L for the treatment of graft versus host disease

ABSTRACTIntroduction: Remestemcel-L, a third-party, off-the-shelf preparation of bone-marrow derived mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs), has been developed for experimental use in acute graft-versus-host disease (aGvHD) and other immune-mediated conditions. Several preclinical and clinical studies have indeed suggested the potential of human mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) as an effective treatment for steroid-refractory aGvHD. However, an unambiguous demonstration of efficacy is still lacking.Areas covered: This review critically examines the biologic rationale supporting MSCs use in aGvHD and analyzes the results of published clinical trials in this setting, with a particular focus on the potential benefits and drawbacks of Remestemcel-L. For this purpose, a systematic literature search was performed in PubMed using the following keywords: ‘mesenchymal stromal cells’, ‘mesenchymal progenitor cells’, ‘multipotent stromal cells’, ‘mesenchymal cells’, ‘MSC’, ‘Remestemcel-L’, ‘Prochymal’, and ‘graft-versus-h...
Opioids used for mild to moderate pain

Abstract The most commonly prescribed opioids in the United States are formulations containing hydrocodone and acetaminophen. Opioids, such as hydrocodone, oxycodone, and codeine, are combined with nonopioid analgesics including aspirin, ibuprofen, or acetaminophen. These commonly prescribed combination formulations create a potential problem by mixing an opioid that has no dose ceiling effect with acetaminophen or nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which may cause toxicity beyond a certain dose. The risk for acetaminophen and NSAID toxicity increases when over-the-counter acetaminophen or NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen, are taken with combination products containing an opioid and nonopioid analgesic. In 2009, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory committee recognized the public health burden associated with acetaminophen and voted in favor of eliminating prescription acetaminophen/opioid combination products. The FDA did not follow this recommendation but did require manufacturers to limit acetaminophen to 325 mg per dosage by January 2014. Pharmacogenetic differences between patients can lead to significant variability in response to codeine, tramadol, oxycodone, and hydrocodone. Codeine and tramadol should not routinely be used to treat mild to moderate pain because a significant number of patients are poor CYP2D6 metabolizers and cannot metabolize the parent drug into the active metabolites required for analgesic effect. Patients who are poor CYP2D6 metabolizers and who are taking oxycodone or hydrocodone are at higher risk for significant drug interactions with medications that are CYP3A4 inhibitors. CYP3A4 inhibition in these patients can result in accumulation of oxycodone or hydrocodone leading to sedation and/or respiratory depression.
Facing challenges to family-centered care I: conflicts over visitation. (Family Matters)

Policies and practices related to parental presence and participation in the care of a hospitalized child can be a source of tension between nurses and families. Tensions often revolve around "visiting" hours, who may visit, the number of visitors allowed at the bedside at a time, and inconsistent enforcement of existing visitation policies. A family-centered framework for evaluating these policies and practices can provide direction that will help reduce these tensions. Visitation policies that are flexible and offer guidelines, not rules, will usually best meet the needs of families. Some nurses may need education, mentoring, skill-building, and role-playing opportunities to work comfortably with flexible guidelines and increased family presence and participation.
Neurological outcomes following iatrogenic vascular injury during posterior atlanto-axial instrumentation.

Abstract Background Iatrogenic vascular injury is a feared complication of posterior atlanto-axial instrumentation. A better understanding of clinical outcome and management options following this injury will allow surgeons to better care for these patients. The object of the study was to systematically review the neurologic outcomes after iatrogenic vascular injury during atlanto-axial posterior instrumentation. Methods We performed a systematic review of the Medline database following PRISMA guidelines. In our analysis, we included any retrospective cohort studies, prospective cohort studies, case reports, cases series, or systematic reviews with patients who had undergone posterior atlanto-axial fusion via screw rod constructs (SRC) or transarticular screws (TAS) that reported a patient with an injury to an arterial vessel directly attributable to the surgical procedure. Results Sixty cases of vascular injury were reported in 2078 (2.9%) patients over 27 publications. The average age for this patient population was 55.7+/−17.9. Vascular injury following posterior C1/2 instrumentation resulted in ipsilateral stroke in 10.0% (n = 6/60) and non-persistent neurologic deficit in 6.7% (n = 4/60) of cases with the deficit being permanent (not including death) in 1.7% (n = 1/60) of cases. Four patients (6.7%) died. Arteriovenous fistula or pseudoaneurysm occurred in 8.3% (n = 5/60) and 3.3% (n = 2/60) of cases, respectively. Eight patients (13.3%) underwent endovascular repair of the injury with no permanent deficit. Conclusion Neurological morbidity after iatrogenic vascular injury during posterior C1/2 fixation is higher than previously reported in literature. Some patients may benefit from endovascular treatment. Surgeons should be aware of normal and anomalous vertebral artery anatomy to avoid this potentially catastrophic complication.
Anomalously deep polarization in SrTiO3 (001) interfaced with an epitaxial ultrathin manganite film

Using atomically resolved imaging and spectroscopy, we reveal a remarkably deep polarization in nonferroelectric $\mathrm{SrTi}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}$ near its interface with an ultrathin nonmetallic film of $\mathrm{L}{\mathrm{a}}_{2/3}\mathrm{S}{\mathrm{r}}_{1/3}\mathrm{Mn}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}$. Electron holography shows an electric field near the interface in $\mathrm{SrTi}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}$, yielding a surprising spontaneous polarization density of $\ensuremath{\sim}21\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{C}/\mathrm{c}{\mathrm{m}}^{2}$. Combining the experimental results with first-principles calculations, we propose that the observed deep polarization is induced by the electric field originating from oxygen vacancies that extend beyond a dozen unit cells from the interface, thus providing important evidence of the role of defects in the emergent interface properties of transition metal oxides.
Clustering brain-network-connectivity states using kernel partial correlations

In response to the demand on data-analytic tools that monitor time-varying connectivity patterns within brain networks, the present paper extends the framework of [Slavakis et al., SSP'16] to include kernel-based partial correlations as a tool for clustering dynamically evolving connectivity states of networks. Such an extension becomes feasible due to the argument which runs beneath also this work: network dynamics can be successfully captured if learning is performed in Rie-mannian manifolds. Sequences of kernel-based partial correlations, collected over time and across a network, are mapped to sequences of points in the Riemannian manifold of positive-(semi)definite matrices, and a sequence that corresponds to a specific connected state of the network forms a submanifold or cluster. Based on a very recently developed line of research, this work demonstrates that by exploiting Riemannian geometry in a specific way, the present clustering framework outperforms classical and state-of-the-art techniques on segmenting connectivity states, observed from both synthetic and real brain-network data.
Effects of Individual, Peer, and Family Factors on Child Alcohol Abuse in Ukraine

The present study aims to estimate the relationship between child alcohol problems, sociodemographic characteristics, externalizing behavior, parental and peer alcohol use, and family violence by using a cross-sectional community sample of 320 Ukrainian children (9–16 years of age, 50% boys) and their parents. Participants answered questions from the Drinking and Drug History and Current Use Patterns Questionnaire, the Revised Conflict Tactics Scales, the Alabama Parenting Questionnaire, and the Child Behavior Checklist. Fifty-two percent of children reported alcohol use within the past year and 32% experienced alcohol-related problems. The average number of reported alcohol problems was 11.19 (SD = 63.65). Five robust regression models examined correlates of early problem drinking in Ukraine. The final model indicated older child age (β = 0.21, p < 0.001), more symptoms of externalizing behavior (β = 0.17, p < 0.01), and higher peer alcohol use (β = 0.23, p < 0.001) were significantly and positively associated with child alcohol problems. Results of the final model explained 32% of the variance in child alcohol problems, F(8, 311) = 10.76, p < 0.001. In conclusion, the findings suggest that older age, exposure to high-risk alcohol permeated peer environments, impulsivity, and rule-breaking behaviors are linked with the trajectory of early alcohol abuse among Ukrainian children. Mechanisms that reduce the harmful influence of these risk factors on alcohol consumption need to be in place.
Cardiovascular outcomes associated with canagliflozin versus other non-gliflozin antidiabetic drugs: population based cohort study

ABSTRACT Objective To evaluate the cardiovascular safety of canagliflozin, a sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus, in direct comparisons with DPP-4 inhibitors (DPP-4i), GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA), or sulfonylureas, as used in routine practice. Design Population based retrospective cohort study. Setting Nationwide sample of patients with type 2 diabetes from a large de-identified US commercial healthcare database (Optum Clinformatics Datamart). Participants Three pairwise 1:1 propensity score matched cohorts of patients with type 2 diabetes 18 years and older who initiated canagliflozin or a comparator non-gliflozin antidiabetic agent (ie, a DPP-4i, a GLP-1RA, or a sulfonylurea) between April 2013 and September 2015. Main outcome measures The primary outcomes were heart failure admission to hospital and a composite cardiovascular endpoint (comprised of being admitted to hospital for acute myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, or hemorrhagic stroke). Hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals were estimated in each propensity score matched cohort controlling for more than 100 baseline characteristics. Results During a 30 month period, the hazard ratio for heart failure admission to hospital associated with canagliflozin was 0.70 (95% confidence interval 0.54 to 0.92) versus a DPP-4i (n=17 667 pairs), 0.61 (0.47 to 0.78) versus a GLP-1RA (20 539), and 0.51 (0.38 to 0.67) versus a sulfonylurea (17 354 ). The hazard ratio for the composite cardiovascular endpoint associated with canagliflozin was 0.89 (0.68 to 1.17) versus a DPP-4i, 1.03 (0.79 to 1.35) versus a GLP-1RA, and 0.86 (0.65 to 1.13) versus a sulfonylurea. Results were similar in sensitivity analyses further adjusting for baseline hemoglobin A1c levels and in subgroups of patients with and without prior cardiovascular disease or heart failure. Conclusions In this large cohort study, canagliflozin was associated with a lower risk of heart failure admission to hospital and with a similar risk of myocardial infarction or stroke in direct comparisons with three different classes of non-gliflozin diabetes treatment alternatives as used in routine care.
PCA and DFA as multivariate tools to resolve ambiguous species relationships in museum collections

Abstract Taxonomic relationships in genus Berylmys (B. bowersi, B. mackenziei, B. manipulus, B. berdmorei) have traditionally been ambiguous and made difficult by their geographically disjunct and scattered populations. Several specimens held in museum collections are still of unknown or disputed species assignations. Nor have cranial characters in this genus been tested for significance in variance or for usefulness in separating species. Appropriate species identifications are important for any museum-based study of phylogeny, phylogeography, population biology, functional morphology, or conservation. This study tested diagnostic characters and species assignments on one-hundred two specimens of Berylmys housed in American Museum of Natural History (AMNH), Smithsonian Museum of Natural History (NMNH), and Field Museum of Natural History (FMNH) collections. Discriminant function (DFA), principal components (PCA), and linear regression were used to analyze sixteen morphometric measurements. DFA correctly ...