cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
CaO-based sorbents for CO2 capture prepared by ultrasonic spray pyrolysis

We report the ultrasonic spray pyrolysis (USP) synthesis and characterization of composite calcium oxide-based sorbents for carbon dioxide capture. Inclusion of a small amount of Al2O3 into the CaO matrix (as low as Al/Ca: 0.03) yielded significant enhancement of resistance to recycling degradation. The effective homogenous dispersion of additives in the CaO matrix and the relatively high surface area materials obtained via USP explain the sorbent's high performance. All materials were characterized by XRD, STEM, TEM, SEM, and TGA (for CO2 uptake measurements). Two common phases of CaAlxOy, Ca12Al14O33 and Ca3Al2O6, were formed during multiple cycles of calcination and CO2 uptake.
Elevated maternal cortisol levels during pregnancy are associated with reduced childhood IQ

Background In animal models, there is evidence to suggest a causal link between maternal cortisol levels during pregnancy and offspring outcomes; however, evidence for this relationship in humans is inconclusive. We address important confounders of this association by estimating the relationship between maternal cortisol levels in late pregnancy and childhood IQ in a birth cohort and in a subsample of siblings. Methods This study included 832 children who were members of the Collaborative Perinatal Project. Maternal serum collected between 1959 and 1966 during the third trimester of pregnancy was analysed for free cortisol. We investigated the relationship between maternal cortisol in quintiles and full, verbal and performance scale scores on the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children at age 7 years, adjusting for prenatal and family characteristics. We repeated this analysis among 74 discordant sibling pairs using a fixed effects approach, which adjusts for shared family characteristics. Results Maternal cortisol levels were negatively related to full-scale IQ, an effect driven by verbal IQ scores. Compared with those in the lowest quintile of cortisol exposure, the verbal IQ of children in the highest quintile of exposure was 3.83 points lower [95% confidence interval (CI): −6.44 to −1.22]. Within sibling pairs, being in the highest quintile of exposure was associated with verbal IQ scores 5.5 points lower (95% CI: −11.24 to 0.31) compared with the other quintiles. Conclusion These findings are consistent with prior human and animal studies, and suggest that exposure to high levels of maternal cortisol during pregnancy may be negatively related to offspring cognitive skills independently of family attributes that characterize the postnatal environment.
Visualization for structured constraint satisfaction problems

Constraint satisfaction problems are mathematical models of real-world problems. In contrast to randomly generated artificial problems, real-world problems usually have nonrandom structure. Knowledge about that structure, when identified in advance, can make search to find solutions more effective. This paper introduces DrawCSP, a visualization program that can show both the original and the discovered structure of constraint satisfaction problems. DrawCSP provides insight into both search algorithm design and into the challenges real-world problems present.
Symbolic Boundaries: Overview

Symbolic boundaries are the lines that include and define some people, groups, and things while excluding others. This article focuses on boundaries within and between groups. It discusses the history, current research, and future challenges of work on this topic. Two of the founding fathers of sociology played central roles in shaping the literature on symbolic boundaries: Emile Durkheim and Max Weber. Their contributions are reviewed before turning to the ‘neo-classical’ writings of Mary Douglas, Norbert Elias, and Thornstein Veblen, which illustrate the lasting influence of Durkheim and Weber on this literature up to the 1960s. The question of how boundaries intersect with the production of inequality has attracted great interest in recent years. In the United States in particular, cultural sociologists have been working to assess some of Pierre Bourdieu's theoretical claims and to use his work as a stepping stone for improving our understanding of the cultural aspects of class, gender, and racial inequality. Other important developments concern the study of identity through boundary work, and research on moral order, community, and symbolic politics. Future challenges include (a) a necessary synthesis of the various strands of work that speak to boundary issues across substantive areas; and (b) a study of the connection between objective and subjective boundaries.
The red and the black: Marie-Noëlle Thibault and the novels of Dominique Manotti

Dominique Manotti’s novels are informed by her experiences before she adopted this pen name and began writing fiction. As an instructor at Vincennes, a union leader and a militant with Les Cahiers de mai, Marie-Noelle Thibault practised forms of political action aimed at empowering students and workers. She saw the possibilities for social change these promoted lost with the transformation of France during the presidency of Francois Mitterrand. Though Manotti continues to use methods she learned in Les Cahiers de mai and related projects, she adopted the roman noir to depict the self-reproducing nature of contemporary society which has displaced the world of participatory democracy to which she had devoted herself. Aware of France’s troubled recent past, she is less confident than Didier Daeninckx that revelation of it will weaken the powers that be.
Particle laden geophysical flows: from geophysical to sub-kolmogorov scales

A brief review of natural particle-laden flows is given, paying particular attention to the wide range of scales of motions and particles found in the environment. Some fundamental concepts underlying particle-turbulence interactions are discussed and their application to a few selected flow configurations (particle laden jets and particle settling through vortices and turbulence) is exemplified. Examples of the application of a sophisticated modeling system to predict particle concentration and visibility in the atmosphere are also illustrated.
A mechanistic IR calibration technique for boiling heat transfer investigations

Abstract This paper presents a new calibration technique to improve the accuracy of infrared thermometry in boiling heat transfer investigations. The technique is suitable for heaters consisting of a thin, infrared (IR) opaque conductive film coated on one side of a flat and IR semi-transparent substrate. The conductive film is in contact with the liquid and acts as the boiling surface. The IR camera sees the boiling surface through the substrate. If the substrate is not completely transparent, the radiation emitted by the IR opaque film is partially absorbed and contaminated by the radiation emitted by the substrate itself. Therefore, the correlation between the IR radiation measured by the IR camera and the temperature of the boiling surface (IR opaque film) is not unique, but depends on the temperature distribution in the substrate. To solve this issue, we developed a model that solves the coupled conduction/radiation inverse problem in the heater. The problem is inverse because the boundary condition for the conduction problem (the boiling surface temperature) is not known. The IR camera measures the combined radiation emitted by the boiling surface, emitted by the substrate and also the reflection of the background radiation; from that information one has to reconstruct the boiling surface temperature. The technique is unique in that it takes into account the spectral dependence of optical properties in the optical materials. For this reason, it is particularly suitable for heaters where the optical properties of the conductive film and the substrate materials depend on the wavelength of the IR radiation. Using this technique, we can measure with improved accuracy the time-dependent 3D temperature distribution in the heater, as well as local temperature and local heat flux distributions on the boiling surface. The validation of the technique was carried out using transient conduction experiments. Then, the technique was applied to transient pool boiling experiments to prove its feasibility and show the potential applications.
Impaired initial vowel versus consonant letter-word fluency in dementia of the Alzheimer type.

Objectives: Early detection of Alzheimer disease (AD) is important. With AD, the loss of connectivity should first induce dysfunction in those representational networks with the weakest connectivity. Less frequently used networks have weaker connectivity. Given the letter “A” has more phonemes than the letters “F” and “S”, fewer words would begin with each of these “A” phonemes than with the “F” or “S” phonemes. We wanted to learn if patients with AD would produce fewer words starting with “A”.Methods: Patients with AD, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and normal participants, were assessed with the Controlled Oral Word Association (COWA) test.Results: Compared to controls and MCI patients, AD patients produced relatively fewer words beginning with “A” than with “F” and “S”.Conclusions These results support the postulate that the less frequently used, and thus more weakly connected, phonetic-lexical networks are more sensitive to the degradation induced by AD.
The Significant Features of Enterprises in Chinese Capital-intensive Industries and Labor-intensive Industries——An Empirical Analysis of a Typical Feature of the Chinese Economic Structure

An empirical analysis showed that the typical feature of the Chinese economic structure: in capital-intensive industries state-owned enterprises take relative advantages over private ones while in labor-intensive industries private enterprises take relative advantages over state-owned ones.In capital-intensive industries,the ratio of general output value of state-owned enterprises to private ones has decreased by 14.83% every year since 2005 and was less than 1.0 in 2010.And the total industrial output value of private enterprises has slightly surpassed that of state-owned enterprises.In capital-intensive industries,the ratio of property of state-owned enterprises to private ones has decreased by 12.49% every year since 2005.In labor-intensive industries the strength of state-owned enterprises has showed an obviously downward trend compared with that of private enterprises and the ratio of total output value of state-owned enterprises to private ones decreases by 14.86% every year while the ratio of property of state-owned enterprises to private ones decreases by 12.76% every year.The strength of total property of state-owned enterprises decreased by 13% every year,as a whole,from 2005 to 2010,compared with that of private enterprises.And the strength of total output value of state-owned enterprises decreased 15% every year in the same period,compared to that of private enterprises.
Mechanistic basis of light induced cytotoxicity of photoactive nanomaterials

Abstract Photoactive nanomaterials have unique ability for generating functional activities in response to light. These nanomaterials have been increasingly used as novel research tools for various biomedical applications and active ingredients in certain consumer products. Given their emergent roles and wider uses, it would be of considerable significance to analyze their potential impact on human health and the surrounding ecosystems. In this review article, these photoactive nanomaterials are identified and classified on the basis of two primary mechanisms of action, spanning nanomaterials that are: (i) producers of reactive oxygen species (ROS), (ii) generators of plasmonic photothermal heat. Exposure to specific light plays an important role in each of these mechanisms as it triggers the activation of these nanomaterials as well as causes spatiotemporal variation of such activity. These mechanisms are suggested as the basis that determines the light-induced toxicity and/or genotoxicity in model cells and organisms by these nanomaterials. It is hoped that this review offers fundamental insights into the light activation properties of photoactive nanomaterials and their potential implications in ecotoxicology.
Cost-effectiveness analysis of combination statin/ezetimibe therapy for the treatment of elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol

Purpose: Although statins have been shown to reduce LDL-C and coronary heart disease risk, it is not uncommon for patients to fail to reach NCEP ATP III goals. Some statins cannot lower LDL-C sufficiently; others cannot be titrated optimally due to drug interactions and adverse effects. Concomitant ezetimibe administration can augment LDL-C reduction over statin monotherapy; however, multidrug therapy may result in additional expense. Methods: We conducted a cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) from the hospital perspective including all FDA approved statins alone (fluvastatin, lovastatin, pravastatin, simvastatin, rosuvastatin, or atorvastatin) or the following statins plus ezetimibe: lovastatin, pravastatin, simvastatin, or atorvastatin. LDL-C lowering efficacy was determined from clinical trials. Our institution's actual acquisition cost was used to approximate drug cost (US $2,004) for each statin dose alone and with ezetimibe. To test the robustness of our results a Monte Carlo simulation was conducted varying both the cost of drug and percent LDL-C reduction efficacy. Results: For patients requiring less than or equal to 40% reduction from baseline in LDL-C, lovastatin 10, 20, or 40 mg, or fluvastatin 80 mg would appear to be reasonable choices based upon both efficacy and cost data. For reductions in LDL-C in the range of greater than 40%; simvastatin 40 mg plus ezetimibe 10 mg was found to be most cost effective; although, simvastatin 80 mg, rosuvastatin 20 or 40 mg, or simvastatin 80 mg plus ezetimibe 10 mg appear to be reasonably cost-effective as well. These results were not found to be robust to variations in drug cost and LDL-C reduction. Conclusion: When smaller reductions in LDL-C are required (less than 40%), drug cost is the variable that most significantly drives cost effectiveness; however, when larger LDL-C reductions are required, LDL-C lowering capacity is the single most important factor in determining cost-effectiveness of the lipid-lowering therapies. The addition of ezetimibe becomes most cost-effective when larger reductions are required.
Establishing big brother using covert channels and other covert techniques

Weiser's vision about computers in the next century is that they will be ubiquitous and in MIT's Media Lab project, called Things That Think, they will be embedded in such objects as shoes, belt buckles, tie clasps, etc. In this paper we explain how covert technology, such as covert channels, covert sensors and covert computing facilitates the set up of Big Brother, for example in a society where computers are ubiquitous. Detecting the absence of covert hardware and covert software is actually undecidable and cryptography alone seems inadequate to protect against the abuse of covert technology, extending the work of Anderson regarding the limitations of cryptography. Also, the use of covert technology to protect copyright can be abused to suppress freedom of expression.
Introduction to Hurricane Dynamics: Tropical Cyclone Intensification

The broad aim of this set of two articles (chapters 21 and 22) on tropical cyclone theory is to provide graduate students and post-doctoral researchers from India and other parts of the world with state-of-the-art knowledge and understanding of tropical cyclone dynamics. It is hoped that this knowledge base will be a useful tool to help these students and post docs understand and improve the forecasts of tropical cyclone genesis and intensification in various parts of the world affected by these storms.
Biomarkers in Prodromal Parkinson Disease: a Qualitative Review.

Background: Over the past several years, the concept of prodromal Parkinson disease (PD) has been increasingly recognized. This term refers to individuals who do not fulfill motor diagnostic criteria for PD, but who have clinical, genetic, or biomarker characteristics suggesting risk of developing PD in the future. Clinical diagnosis of prodromal PD has low specificity, prompting the need for objective biomarkers with higher specificity. In this qualitative review, we discuss objectively defined putative biomarkers for PD and prodromal PD. Methods: We searched Pubmed and Embase for articles pertaining to objective biomarkers for PD and their application in prodromal cohorts. Articles were selected based on relevance and methodology. Key Findings: Objective biomarkers of demonstrated utility in prodromal PD include ligand-based imaging and transcranial sonography. Development of serum, cerebrospinal fluid, and tissue-based biomarkers is underway, but their application in prodromal PD has yet to meaningfully occur. Combining objective biomarkers with clinical or genetic prodromal features increases the sensitivity and specificity for identifying prodromal PD. Conclusions: Several objective biomarkers for prodromal PD show promise but require further study, including their application to and validation in prodromal cohorts followed longitudinally. Accurate identification of prodromal PD will likely require a multimodal approach. (JINS, 2016, 22, 956–967)
GM-CSF Secreting Leukemia Cell Vaccinations after Allogeneic Reduced-Intensity Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation (SCT) for Advanced Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) or Refractory Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML).

Disease relapse is a frequent cause of treatment failure in patients undergoing reduced intensity allogeneic stem cell transplantation for advanced MDS and AML. Prior studies with GVAX, a cancer vaccine composed of irradiated autologous myeloblasts modified to secrete GM-CSF, suggested anticancer activity in MDS and AML after autologous SCT or in primary therapy. We investigated the feasibility and safety of administering GVAX after allogeneic SCT. Patients with MDS-RAEB or AML with >5% marrow blasts and with a donor matched at HLA-A,B, DRB1 were eligible. Prior to transplant, autologous myeloblasts were collected from the marrow or blood and transfected with an adenovirus vector bearing the GM-CSF gene to generate the GVAX vaccine. Patients were conditioned with fludarabine 30mg/m2/d IV days -6 to -3, and busulfan 0.8mg/kg IV q12H days -6 to -3 prior to allogeneic PBSC infusion. GVHD prophylaxis included tacrolimus and mini-methotrexate. GM-CSF (Leukine) 250 mg/m2 SC QD was administered from day +1 until neutrophil engraftment. GVAX was administered SC/ID weekly for the first three doses, then q2 weeks for the last three doses starting between day +30 to +45 if there was neutrophil recovery and no grade II-IV acute GVHD. Taper of tacrolimus began after vaccine completion. Eighteen patients (10 URD, 8 MRD) have been transplanted to date: 12 AML, 4 MDS/RAEB, 2 CML myeloid blast crisis. Median age was 63 (range, 41–71 years). Median marrow blast content at transplant was 31% (range, 6–91%). GVAX was successfully generated for all 18 patients. Median vaccine cell dose was 1.0 × 107 cells (range, 0.1–1.0 ×107), and median 24-hour GM-CSF secretion by the vaccine was 8.2 ng/ml/106 cells (range 0.4 – 195). Seven patients did not initiate vaccination due to: inadequate neutrophil recovery/leukemia progression (4); acute GVHD (2); sepsis/death (1). Two patients were recently transplanted and have not reached day 30 to start vaccination. Among 9 patients who received GVAX, vaccination was well tolerated. Mild injection site reaction with induration, erythema, or pruritus was the only common side effect. After vaccination, 1 patient developed grade II skin acute GVHD and 3 had cGVHD that resolved with steroids. Donor chimerism was not adversely affected by vaccination. Six of 9 patients who started GVAX are alive at a median follow up of 7.5 months post transplant (range 1–16 mos). These include 4 patients in complete remission (3 AML, 1 MDS-RAEB) between 5 and 16 months after transplant, and 2 patients with minimal persistent AML early after SCT. Four of 5 patients who completed 6 vaccines remain progression free. Histologic examination of vaccination and leukemia cell DTH sites revealed significant infiltration with inflammatory cells and eosinophils. These preliminary results suggest GVAX vaccination is safe and may have anticancer activity in patients with MDS/AML after reduced intensity allogeneic SCT.
Minds in Crisis: Medico-moral Theories of Disorder in the Late Colonial World

This chapter examines two now-discredited medical theories that offered similar diagnoses of mental and moral disorder in the late colonial world. One theory concerned the colonizers and the other the colonized. Tropical neurasthenia, a popular diagnosis in the early twentieth century, attributed mental breakdowns by Western residents of the colonial tropics to their difficulties coping with primitive environments. Ethnopsychiatry, which gained currency in the era of decolonization, attributed outbreaks of violence among colonized peoples to the destabilizing effects of colonial modernity on their psyches. Race was a defining feature of both theories. Taken together, they can be read as casting doubts about the colonial project itself, suggesting that it was designed to drive people crazy.
Neurotypical Peers are Less Willing to Interact with Those with Autism based on Thin Slice Judgments

Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), including those who otherwise require less support, face severe difficulties in everyday social interactions. Research in this area has primarily focused on identifying the cognitive and neurological differences that contribute to these social impairments, but social interaction by definition involves more than one person and social difficulties may arise not just from people with ASD themselves, but also from the perceptions, judgments, and social decisions made by those around them. Here, across three studies, we find that first impressions of individuals with ASD made from thin slices of real-world social behavior by typically-developing observers are not only far less favorable across a range of trait judgments compared to controls, but also are associated with reduced intentions to pursue social interaction. These patterns are remarkably robust, occur within seconds, do not change with increased exposure, and persist across both child and adult age groups. However, these biases disappear when impressions are based on conversational content lacking audio-visual cues, suggesting that style, not substance, drives negative impressions of ASD. Collectively, these findings advocate for a broader perspective of social difficulties in ASD that considers both the individual’s impairments and the biases of potential social partners.
Internship and Experiential Learning Model for Liberal Arts Graduates to Prepare Them for Advanced Manufacturing Careers

Liberal Arts (BA) graduates are, more often than not, either underemployed or unemployed in the field(s) for which they received their degree. This is more so true in hard economic and recessionary times. It is also well known that BA graduates are well rounded by virtue of their education and are more adept at changing careers. Advanced manufacturing is one such career where BA graduates may excel, especially in entry-level positions such as CAD operators, CNC programmers, production supervisors, and in support staff roles. The challenge is how to prepare these non-technical majors (BA graduates) for technical careers (advanced manufacturing). This paper presents an internship model that is part of a 12-month fast track certificate in advanced manufacturing to enable BA graduates to gain both the technical skills and experiential knowledge they need to secure jobs in advanced manufacturing. This paper describes the certificate academic program, corresponding courses, and the recruitment process of BA graduates to provide context. It then focuses on the details of the internship model: recruiting industry partners to provide internships, preparing students for the internships, the management and support system of these internships, and lessons learned so far. These research findings are part of an NSF, 3-year grant that investigates a transformation model of BA graduates for careers in advanced manufacturing.Copyright © 2016 by ASME
Multigroup Diffusion with Periodic Arrays of Line Sources

A multigroup diffusion theory is formulated for heterogeneous reactors having periodic arrays of line discontinuities. These discontinuities are idealized cylindrical internal boundaries of an othe...
Identification and Control of Bacterial Contamination in Callus Cultures of Ulmus americana

Abstract Bacillus macerans Schardinger appeared on culture media and forceps used in serial transfers of Ulmus americana callus tissue after several contamination-free transfers and may have originated as an endophyte in the leaf tissue used as an explant. Bacteria remained viable on forceps stored for several weeks in 95% ethanol whether or not the excess was burned off in a flame from an alcohol lamp. Bacteria were eliminated from forceps treated similarily with 85% ethanol. The bacterium on artificially contaminated forceps remained viable after immersion up to 4 hr in either 95%, 85%, 80%, or 70% ethanol with or without flaming. Artificial contamination was eliminated, either by autoclaving for 20 min at 121C (185.8F) or exposure to a bunsen burner flame for 6-8 sec. Bacillus macerans remained viable in both naturally and artificially contaminated ethanol at dilutions of 95%, 85%, 80%, and 70%. Thus, forceps may be contaminated by latent bacteria in callus or contaminated ethanol. Ethanol may become c...
Noise cancellation for robust copy number variation detection using next generation sequencing data

High-throughput next generation sequencing (NGS) technologies have created an opportunity for detecting copy number variations (CNVs) more accurately. However, efficient and precise detection of CNVs remains challenging due to high levels of noise and biases, data heterogeneity and the “big data” nature of NGS data. In this work, we introduce a novel preprocessing pipeline to improve the detection accuracy of CNVs in heterogeneous NGS data, such as cancer whole exome sequencing data. We employed several normalizations to reduce biases due to GC content, mappability and tumor contamination. We also developed a novel efficient and effective smoothing approach based on the Taut String method to reduce noise and increase the detection power of the CNV detection methods.
Prospective MEG Biomarkers in ASD: Pre-Clinical Evidence and Clinical Promise of Electrophysiological Signatures

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are characterized by social impairments and restricted/stereotyped behaviors and currently affect an estimated 1 in 68 children aged 8 years old. While there has been substantial recent focus on ASD in research, both the biological pathology and, perhaps consequently, a fully effective treatment have yet to be realized. What has remained throughout is the hypothesis that ASD has neurobiological underpinnings and the observation that both the phenotypic expression and likely the underlying etiology is highly heterogeneous. Given the neurodevelopmental basis of ASD, a biologically based marker (biomarker) could prove useful not only for diagnostic and prognostic purposes, but also for stratification and response indices for pharmaceutical development. In this review, we examine the current state of the field for MEG-related biomarkers in ASD. We describe several potential biomarkers (middle latency delays [M50/M100], mismatch negativity latency, gamma-band oscillatory activity), and investigate their relation to symptomology, core domains of dysfunction (e.g., language impairment), and putative biological underpinnings.
Hexose Transport and Its Regulation in Mammalian Cells

The uptake of solutes across the cell-surface membrane can occur by either an active or passive transport mechanism. Active transport mechanisms are characterized by the uptake of solutes against their concentration gradient at the expense of metabolic energy. Active transport of hexoses occurs in two major tissues in mammals, kidney and intestine, and will not be dealt with in this review. Passive transport can be subdivided into the two categories of simple diffusion or facilitative diffusion. In both cases, the movement of solutes across the cell membrane is driven solely by the concentration gradient between the intracellular and extracellular environment without any metabolic energy being required. Net uptake ceases when the concentration of solutes between the inside and outside of the cell has reached equilibrium. Facilitative diffusion differs from simple diffusion in that the former process is mediated by membrane-bound proteins which exhibit a high degree of specificity and whose activity is competitively inhibited with appropriate analogues. The difference in transport rate between simple and facilitative diffusion is dramatically exemplified by the permeability of d-glucose across synthetic lipid bilayers with a permeability coefficient of 10−9–10−10 cm/sec (Lidgard and Jones, 1975; Jung, 1971a), whereas for the intact erythrocyte, the permeability coefficient is approximately 10−4 cm/sec (Jung, 1971b).
Increased urine catecholamines and cortisol in women with irritable bowel syndrome

Objectives : There are few data on the sympathetic nervous system and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in individuals with chronic GI symptoms. The current study was designed to describe and compare urine catecholamine (norepinephrine, epinephrine) and cortisol levels in women diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-patients), women who report similar symptom levels but had not sought health care services (IBS-nonpatients ; IBS-NP), and asymptomatic (control) women. Methods : Seventy-three women (24 IBS ; 24 IBS-NP; 25 controls) were interviewed for demographic, GI, gynecological, and psychological data and then followed for two menstrual cycles with a daily health diary. Urine samples were obtained in the evening and morning at specific phases across two menstrual cycles. Results : Women in the IBS group had significantly higher PM and AM urine norepinephrine levels. Urine epinephrine and cortisol levels were also generally higher in women with IBS. Differences in neuroendocrine indicators of arousal were not accounted for by differences in demographic variables, lifestyle characteristics, menstrual distress, or average daily measures of anxiety or depression. Conclusions : Increases in indicators of sympathetic nervous system activation in women seeking health care for IBS may reflect greater symptom distress or may contribute to increased symptom distress.
Perioperative complications and the cost of rescue or failure to rescue in hepato-pancreato-biliary surgery.

Abstract Background It is unclear how either the successful or failed rescue of hepato-pancreato-biliary (HPB) patients from complications impacts costs. Methods A retrospective cohort study of HPB surgical patients was performed using claims data from 2013 to 2015 in the Medicare Provider Analysis and Review (MEDPAR) database. Patient demographics, characteristics, outcomes and risk-adjusted Medicare payments were compared. Results 11,596 patients were identified. Over half of the patients (n = 5,810, 50.1%) underwent liver surgery, while 42% (n = 4892) had pancreatic and 8% (n = 894) had biliary operations. The overall complication rate varied (liver: 19.6%; pancreas: 20.3%; biliary: 25.2%, p = 0.001). In general, both minor and serious complications resulted in higher Medicare payments. Failed rescue led to higher average Medicare payments during index hospitalization compared to successful rescue ($53,476 versus $44,636, p Conclusion Following HPB surgery, there is a significant cost associated with both rescue and failure-to-rescue from perioperative complications. Total hospitalization cost was highest for patients who experienced failure-to-rescue.
Cellular Manufacturing—Some Design Considerations

Cellular manufacturing is making rapid inroads as a viable production system for improving productivity in discrete lot manufacturing. To make the system operate efficiently, several important factors have to be closely examined at the design phase. The paper outlines some of the important factors one cannot afford to overlook in the design of such a system.
Organosulfates in Atlanta, Georgia: anthropogenic influences on biogenic secondary organic aerosol formation

Abstract. Organosulfates are secondary organic aerosol (SOA) products that form from reactions of volatile organic compounds (VOC), such as isoprene, in the presence of sulfate that is primarily emitted by fossil fuel combustion. This study examines the anthropogenic influence on biogenic organosulfate formation at an urban site in Atlanta, Georgia (GA) in the southeastern United States (US). Organosulfates were analyzed in fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) collected during August 2015 in Atlanta using hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC), tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS), and high-resolution time-of-flight (ToF) mass spectrometry. By their MS/MS response, 32 major organosulfate species were identified, selected species were quantified, and other species were semi-quantified using surrogate standards. Organosulfates accounted for 16.5 % of PM 2.5 organic carbon (OC). Isoprene-derived organosulfates were the most abundant, dominated by methyltetrol sulfate which accounted for 12.6 % of PM 2.5 OC. Together, the isoprene-derived organosulfates accounted for the majority of the isoprene-derived SOA that had been previously observed in Atlanta, but had not been identified at the molecular level. Other major species included seven monoterpene-derived organosulfates, five diesel and/or biodiesel-derived organosulfates, and three new organosulfates that are also expected to derive from isoprene. Organosulfate species and concentrations in Atlanta were compared to those in a rural forested site in Centreville, Alabama (AL) during summer 2013, which were also dominated by isoprene-derived organosulfates. In Atlanta, isoprene-derived organosulfate concentrations were 2–6 times higher and accounted for twice as much OC. The greatest enhancement in concentration was observed for 2-methylglyceric acid sulfate whose formation is enhanced in the presence of nitrogen oxides (NO and NO2 ; NOx ) and is a tracer for isoprene high- NOx SOA. The isoprene-derived organosulfates indicated a stronger influence of NOx in Atlanta compared to Centreville. Overall, these results suggest that SOA in the southeastern US can be reduced by controlling NOx and SO2 emissions from fossil fuel combustion. This study gives insights into the major organosulfate species that should be targets for future measurements in urban environments and standard development.
Enterovascular Fistula: An Under-Recognized Complication Related to Therapy for Esophageal Carcinoma

Background and Objectives: The formation of a fistula between the gastrointestinal tract and cardiovascular system is a rare but devastating condition. Although clinical diagnosis is suspected, autopsy confirmation is rarely obtained. Advancement in the treatment of esophageal cancer could result in an increased risk of enterovascular fistula formation. We describe autopsy-proven series of enterovascular fistulas with particular focus on this complication developing as a consequence of esophageal cancer therapy. Methods: Cases of enterovascular fistulas were retrospectively identified in the institutional autopsy case records (1994-2017). Relevant clinical information and pathologic findings were reviewed. Results: Nine cases were identified. Seven out of 9 were related to malignancy, with 6/9 occurring in the setting of treated esophageal carcinoma. This esophageal cancer group was a unique set of patients (age median: 71 years) with male predominance (M:F-5:1) presenting with hematemesis as the main symptom. All patients had advanced disease at diagnosis and the complication generally occurred late after treatment (mean interval: 1.7 years). The fistula site was between the esophagus and variety of vascular structures. The most common etiology was tumor invasion (4/6). The diagnosis of enterovascular fistula was made postmortem in all cases. Conclusions: The development of enterovascular fistulas is a late complication of treated esophageal cancer. Tumor invasion, infection, and radiation response are the leading etiologies. Early recognition and aggressive treatment may salvage this highly morbid complication.
Palladium‐Catalyzed Dearomative syn‐1,4‐Carboamination with Grignard Reagents

A protocol for palladium-catalyzed dearomative functionalization of simple, nonactivated arenes with Grignard reagents has been established. This one-pot method features a visible-light-mediated [4+2] cycloaddition between an arene and an arenophile, and subsequent palladium-catalyzed allylic substitution of the resulting cycloadduct with a Grignard reagent. A variety of arenes and Grignard reagents can participate in this process, forming carboaminated products with exclusive syn-1,4-selectivity. Moreover, the dearomatized products are amenable to further elaborations, providing functionalized alicyclic motifs and pharmacophores. For example, naphthalene was converted into sertraline, one of the most prescribed antidepressants, in only four operations. Finally, this process could also be conducted in an enantioselective fashion, as demonstrated with the desymmetrization of naphthalene.
Resolution of HCV-Autoimmune Hepatitis Overlap Syndrome With Antiviral TreatmentA Paired Liver Biopsy Study.

Objectives To evaluate histologic changes occurring in patients having chronic hepatitis C and autoimmune hepatitis overlap (HCV-AIH), and who achieved virologic cure using direct-acting antiviral agents (DAA). Methods Characteristics of HCV-AIH patients who underwent paired liver biopsies before and after receiving DAA treatment from 2011 to 2018 were evaluated. Results Five HCV-AIH patients (three male; mean age, 60.4 years) underwent paired liver biopsies (average interval, 2.3 years) before and after achieving cure with DAA treatment. All patients showed virologic response, while four showed decreased inflammation, and three cases showed features of fibrosis regression. Immunohistochemical staining demonstrated significant decrease in plasma cell count in three patients (20.6 vs 11.9 plasma cells/high power field; P = .02, t test). Conclusions Histologic improvements in inflammation and fibrosis are noted in most HCV-AIH patients after DAA treatment, suggesting that the autoimmune component of the HCV-AIH overlap syndrome is merely a secondary phenomenon of viral infection.
Synthesis and Characterization of Bodipy-FL-Cyclosporine A as a Substrate for Multidrug Resistance-Linked P-Glycoprotein (ABCB1)

Fluorescent conjugates of drugs can be used to study cellular functions and pharmacology. These compounds interact with proteins as substrates or inhibitors, helping in the development of unique fluorescence-based methods to study in vivo localization and molecular mechanisms. P-glycoprotein (P-gp, ABCB1) is an ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter that effluxes most anticancer drugs from cells, contributing to the development of drug resistance. To study the transport function of P-gp, we synthesized a Bodipy-labeled fluorescent conjugate of cyclosporine A (BD-CsA). After synthesis and characterization of its chemical purity, BD-CsA was compared with the commonly used 7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazol-4-yl (NBD)-CsA probe. In flow cytometry assays, the fluorescence intensity of BD-CsA was almost 10 times greater than that of NBD-CsA, enabling us to use significantly lower concentrations of BD-CsA to achieve the same fluorescence levels. We found that BD-CsA is recognized as a transport substrate by both human and mouse P-gp. The rate of efflux of BD-CsA by human P-gp is comparable to that of NBD-CsA. The transport of BD-CsA was inhibited by tariquidar, with similar IC50 values to those for NBD-CsA. BD-CsA and NBD-CsA both partially inhibited the ATPase activity of P-gp with similar IC50 values. In silico docking of BD-CsA and NBD-CsA to the human P-gp structure indicates that they both bind in the drug-binding pocket with similar docking scores and possibly interact with similar residues. Thus, we demonstrate that BD-CsA is a sensitive fluorescent substrate of P-gp that can be used to efficiently study the transporter's localization and function in vitro and in vivo. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: The goal of this study was to develop an effective probe to study drug transport by P-glycoprotein (P-gp). Fluorophore-conjugated substrates are useful to study the P-gp transport mechanism, structural characteristics, and development of its inhibitors. Cyclosporine A (CsA), a cyclic peptide comprising 11 amino acids, is a known substrate of P-gp. P-gp affects CsA pharmacokinetics and interactions with other coadministered drugs, especially during transplant surgeries and treatment of autoimmune disorders, when CsA is given as an immunosuppressive agent. We synthesized and characterized Bodipy-FL-CsA as an avid fluorescent substrate that can be used to study the function of P-gp both in vitro and in vivo. We demonstrate that Bodipy-FL-conjugation does not affect the properties of CsA as a P-gp substrate.
Addressing Individual Factors

When burnout and suicide among physicians first became a mainstream topic, individual wellness factors initially received the most attention. While it is now clear that system-based approaches work best to prevent severe manifestations of work-related stress, anxiety and depression such as burnout, attention to individual wellness should be part of a healthy, balanced lifestyle for everyone, healthcare professionals included. Adequate sleep, maintaining fitness and a healthy weight and regular exercise are prescribed by primary care physicians everywhere, yet often observed in the breach by physicians themselves. Nobody disputes the benefits of these measures; the question is how do we decide which practices to prioritize, and then find the time to engage in these measures, in the midst of busy professional and personal lives?
Investigation of the strength of different porous lattice structures manufactured using selective laser melting

The introduction and development of additive manufacturing (AM) has led to rapid rise in the innovative design and fabrication of lightweight metallic porous structures. This fabrication technique removes the difficulties presented by conventionally manufactured porous structures. Characteristics of conventionally manufactured porous include simple shapes and high cost because of its complicated manufacturing processes such as roll forming, brazing, and resistance welding. Porous structures with different levels of porosity offer customized mechanical properties, reduction in weight, and material quantity while improving functionality and hence can fulfill the demand for lightweight structures compared to a solid structure. Typically, the structures have high equivalent stiffness, strength, energy absorption, and heat dissipation. This concept is applied in various fields like medical and aerospace for its lightweight property. In this project, CAD models are developed with different porous structures, including BCC, BCC-Z, FCC, FCC-Z, Gyroid, Schwartz, and Diamond. The parts are then fabricated on an EOS M290 metal printer using Inconel 718 powder material. Detailed microstructure and mechanical characterization were carried out in order to obtain an in-depth understanding of the cellular parts with same level of porosity, but different porous structure. This study provides an insight on how to effectively choose the porosity type in a way to maximize the functionality of cellular structures for a specific application.
Chapter 3 – Explosive and general oxidative characteristics of fuels

Chain branching reactions and the criteria for explosion are presented. The explosion limits and oxidative characteristics of hydrogen and carbon monoxide are described first, as they are both simple fuels and intermediates formed during hydrocarbon oxidation. A brief review of organic nomenclature is presented prior to describing explosion limits and the general characteristics of low- and high-temperature oxidation of hydrocarbons. The high-temperature oxidation mechanisms of aldehydes, methane, aliphatic hydrocarbons, alcohols, biofuels, and aromatic hydrocarbons are discussed. Finally, a brief analysis of supercritical effects on hydrocarbon oxidation is presented.
Identification of Neurotoxicity after Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T Cell Infusion without Deterioration in the Immune Effector Cell Encephalopathy (ICE) Score.

ABSTRACT A consensus grading schema for cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS) resulting from chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy was published in 2019. Although this consensus grading schema has been imperative in identifying and monitoring CRS and ICANS in our CAR T cell population, we observed patients exhibiting subtle neurotoxicity symptoms prior to a decrease in their immune effector cell (ICE) score, which is one component of ICANS. Because we treat grade 1 ICANS at our institution, identification of early neurotoxicity symptoms is important. Additionally, we found changes in personality, occupational confusion, or inability to answer dichotomous questions were early signs of neurotoxicity. Therefore, we developed a 3-step command tool to supplement the ICE evaluation. We present 2 examples of patients who exhibited early neurotoxicity symptoms and led us to develop this tool and 1 in whom it was effective. We propose that CAR T cell patients are consistently followed by a clinical care provider who is familiar with the patient to recognize early changes in personality, behavior, and cognition. Additionally, we propose that the multistep command tool be used in conjunction with the ICE score to detect early symptoms of ICANS. Early intervention has the potential to prevent irreversible neurotoxicity.
In vivo efficacy investigations of an siRNA-containing nanoparticle formulation targeting the m2 subunit of ribonucleotide reducatse (rrm2) in tumor-bearing mice

1382 Calando Pharmaceuticals is developing siRNA-containing nanoparticle formulations and its leading formulation that will enter the clinic in 2008 contains the human transferrin protein as a targeting ligand and siRNA targeting the M2 subunit of ribonucleotide reductase (RRM2). As part of the pre-clinical investigations, a number of in vivo studies of this formulation in mice have been performed to determine the effects of dose level, dose schedule, and tumor type (e.g., HCC, melanoma, etc.) on efficacy. The results of these studies will be presented and include evidence of tumor growth delay and tumor regression. Efficacy is only obtained when the targeted version of the nanoparticles are employed. Results from numerous studies will be provided to support the claim that RRM2 inhibition by the RNAi mechanism (RACE analyses) is the cause of the tumor growth suppression rather than other off target effects.
A New Methodology to Design Electric Motors for Automotive Applications Including Magnetic, Thermal, Structural and Vibration Constraints

In order to design efficient electric motors for automotive applications, it is necessary to consider the constraints from different physics: size, weight, torque density, temperature, and mechanical stress due to high speed and vibration limits. A new methodology taking into account all these aspects will be presented in this paper. A design of experiments (DOE) analysis is carried out in order to build a surface of response and then optimize the motor, fulfilling the different constraints by only modifying the rotor shape.