cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Distinct responses of compartmentalized glutathione redox potentials to pharmacologic quinones targeting NQO1.

Deoxynyboquinone (DNQ), a potent novel quinone-based antineoplastic agent, selectively kills solid cancers with overexpressed cytosolic NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase-1 (NQO1) via excessive ROS production. A genetically encoded redox-sensitive probe was used to monitor intraorganellar glutathione redox potentials (EGSH) as a direct indicator of cellular oxidative stress following chemotherapeutic administration. Beta-lapachone (β-lap) and DNQ-induced spatiotemporal redox responses were monitored in human lung A549 and pancreatic MIA-PaCa-2 adenocarcinoma cells incubated with or without dicumarol and ES936, potent NQO1 inhibitors. Immediate oxidation of EGSH in both the cytosol and mitochondrial matrix was observed in response to DNQ and β-lap. The DNQ-induced cytosolic oxidation was fully prevented with NQO1 inhibition, whereas mitochondrial oxidation in A549 was NQO1-independent in contrast to MIA-PaCa-2 cells. However, at pharmacologic concentrations of β-lap both quinone-based substrates directly oxidized the redox probe, a possible sign of off-target reactivity with cellular thiols. Together, these data provide new evidence that DNQ's direct and discerning NQO1 substrate specificity underlies its pharmacologic potency, while β-lap elicits off-target responses at its effective doses.
Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) as Curative Therapy for Fanconi Anemia (FA) Patients with Acute Leukemia or Advanced Myelodysplasia (MDS).

Abstract Historically outcomes have been very poor for FA patients with advanced MDS or leukemia. It remains controversial as to whether HSCT is indicated for such patients and there is no consensus as to the optimal conditioning regimen in this setting. Traditionally, conditioning for FA patients has incorporated total body irradiation (TBI). Here, we report results of a pilot study in which we have substituted busulfan for TBI, designed for FA patients with one or more high risk features, identified following analysis of 42 previous consecutive URD FA transplants: advanced MDS or leukemia, age >18 years, or previous proven fungal or gram negative infection. Between 12/02–08/04 6 patients were enrolled, 5 with acute leukemia. Patient and disease characteristics are presented in Table 1. Conditioning consisted of busulfan (total 3.2mg/kg), cyclophosphamide (total 40mg/kg), fludarabine (total 140 mg/m2) and ATG (total dose 75mg/kg); GVHD prophylaxis consisted of cyclosporine and mycophenolate mofetil. All patients received prophylactic voriconazole for one month prior to transplant. BM was T cell depleted with CD34 selection by Isolex 300i. Five out of six patients achieved neutrophil engraftment. Median time to an ANC>500 was 16 days (range: 11–20 days). One patient developed Grade I acute GVHD; no patient has developed chronic GVHD. The preparative regimen was well tolerated. Toxicities included Grade IV mucositis (n=1), VOD (n=2), hemorrhagic cystitis (n=1) and CMV pneumonia (n=1). Three patients are alive and in remission with a median follow-up of 575 days. Table 1 . Age Diagnosis FANC group Remission status Donor source D+21 chimerism D+60 chimerism Vital status 5.9 ALL BRCA2 treated; CR 5/6 related BM 100% donor 100% donor alive d+894 21.7 AML A untreated 5/6 URD BM 99.1% donor 100% donor died resp. failure d+99 20.8 SAA A N/A 5/6 URD BM insufficient cells N/A died VOD d+24 6.6 ALL,MDS,Wilm's BRCA2 ALL treated CR; MDS (7.5% blasts) 6/6 URD UCB 100% donor 100% donor alive d+575 7.1 AML A treated; refractory 4/6 UCB + 5/6 UCB 100% donor #2 54.7% #2; 45.3% recipient died AML relapse d+60 17.3 AML A treated; refractory 5/6 UCB x2 66.7% #1; 31.3% #2; 2% recipient 100% donor #1 alive d+423 Patient and disease characteristics These results suggest TBI is not required to achieve durable engraftment and leukemia control, busulfan 3.2 mg/kg is tolerable, and advanced MDS or acute leukemia does not preclude HSCT in FA patients.
Hydrogen Selenide (H2Se) Dopant Gas for Selenium Implantation

With the continued scaling of semiconductor devices, controlling contact resistance becomes more and more challenging. Selenium (Se) ion implantation is noted in the literatures to effectively reduce contact resistance in NMOS transistors by lowering the electron Schottky barrier height (SBH). A suitable selenium source feed material is required and can be in solid form, such as selenium oxide (e.g. SeO2), or in gas form, such as hydrogen selenide (H2Se). Solid source materials in general suffer from relatively longer setup times and concern of re-deposition of the dopant, whereas hydrogen selenide gas stored at high pressure poses safety and handling issues. In this paper, we present performance and usage data associated with a subatmospheric source of H2Se, including beam setup, Se+ beam current, beam stability, and source conditions. Material properties, as well as the subatmospheric delivery source are also described.
Global nickel anomaly links Siberian Traps eruptions and the latest Permian mass extinction

Anomalous peaks of nickel abundance have been reported in Permian-Triassic boundary sections in China, Israel, Eastern Europe, Spitzbergen, and the Austrian Carnic Alps. New solution ICP-MS results of enhanced nickel from P-T boundary sections in Hungary, Japan, and Spiti, India suggest that the nickel anomalies at the end of the Permian were a worldwide phenomenon. We propose that the source of the nickel anomalies at the P-T boundary were Ni-rich volatiles released by the Siberian volcanism, and by coeval Ni-rich magma intrusions. The peaks in nickel abundance correlate with negative δ13C and δ18O anomalies, suggesting that explosive reactions between magma and coal during the Siberian flood-basalt eruptions released large amounts of CO2 and CH4 into the atmosphere, causing severe global warming and subsequent mass extinction. The nickel anomalies may provide a timeline in P-T boundary sections, and the timing of the peaks supports the Siberian Traps as a contributor to the latest Permian mass extinction.
Aftermath of induced inflammation: acute periaortitis due to nivolumab therapy.

A 57-year-old man with medical history of left upper lobe metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of lung and seizures due to brain metastasis was admitted with acute-onset low back pain. Patient also had a known history of infrarenal aortic and left common iliac artery aneurysm stable on regular surveillance CT over the past 3 years with the most recent CT scan 1 month prior to presentation showing no signs of inflammation around the infrarenal aneurysmal aorta as seen in figure 1. Positron emission tomography 1 year prior to presentation did not show signs of inflammation in the region of aortic aneurysm as shown in figure 2. For his metastatic lung cancer, he was initially started on carboplatin and gemcitabine therapy but unfortunately had progression of cancer in left lung on the regimen. Subsequently, he was placed on nivolumab therapy. After being on the medication for 9 months, patient presented with acute low back pain that started about 1 hour after completion of nivolumab infusion. Pain was described as sharp, 10/10 in intensity, …
J. M. Keynes's General Theory: The Role of Virtue Ethics Versus the Benthamite Utilitarian Ethics of Classical, Neoclassical and 'Modern' Economics

J. M. Keynes based the ethical foundations of the General Theory on a type of Virtue Ethics that he had learned from G. E. Moore. Keynes himself reinforced his understanding of Moore’s version of Virtue ethics with extensive readings of the works of Plato and Aristotle. Keynes was one of the exceedingly few to have read Adam Smith’s The Wealth of Nations. Keynes had known since 1910 that Smith was not a Classical (utilitarian) economist. Keynes returned to the wisdom of Adam Smith in his last published article in June,1946 in the Economic Journal. What Neoclassical economists really objected to were two major points made by Keynes in the General Theory. First, Utilitarianism, of whatever type, collapses if either the probabilities or the utility of the outcomes (consequences) can’t be estimated precisely using numerical probabilities and point estimates for the utility value. Utilitarianism can only work, then, if the future is risky. Utilitarianism can NEVER work if the future is uncertain. Therefore, since Benthamite Utilitarianism is the foundation for all of the work of, for example, both Milton Friedman and Robert Lucas, no type of uncertainty or vagueness or ambiguity or fuzziness can be allowed in any theoretical aspect of economics. Adam Smith was the first to clearly recognize this in the Wealth of Nations on pp.106-113. Under risk assessment, the point estimates of the probabilities and the consequences, or the utility of the consequences, can be estimated. Utilitarianism collapses if the probabilities or outcomes or the utilities of the outcomes are interval valued. For Keynes and Smith, the probabilities and the utilities or outcomes are interval valued. Second, for Neoclassical economists, there is no right or wrong or good or evil in the moral sense of the term that can be applied to any position taken by an individual as it relates to future outcomes. Therefore, moral judgments can and should play no role at all, since only the consequences of actions matter and are good or bad. Good means a good outcome for the individual and bad means a bad outcome for the individual. Keynes, near the end of section II in chapter 19, brings the full force of his brand of virtue ethics into play by explicitly and relentlessly attacking the neoclassical position. It is these two points which will always separate Keynes from any type of neoclassical analysis.
Submillisievert chest dual energy computed tomography: a pilot study.

Objective:To assess if diagnostic dual energy CT (DECT) of the chest can be achieved at submillisievert (sub-mSv) doses.Methods:Our IRB-approved prospective study included 20 patients who were scanned on dual-source multidector CT(MDCT). All patients gave written informed consent for acquisition of additional image series at reduced radiation dose on a dual-source MDCT (80/140 kV) within 10 s after the standard of care acquisition. Dose reduction was achieved by reducing the quality reference milliampere-second, with combined angular exposure control. Four readers, blinded to all clinical data, evaluated the image sets. Image noise, signal-to-noise and contrast-to-noise ratio were assessed. Volumetric CT dose index (CTDIvol), doselength product (DLP), size specific dose estimate, and effective dose were also recorded.Results:The mean age and body mass index of the patients were 71 years ± 9 and 24 kg m−2 ± 3, respectively. Although images became noisier, overall image quality and image sharpness on blende...
One-pot Synthesis of Phosphorodiamidothioates Using N-heterocyclic Phosphine (NHP)-thiourea

Abstract N -heterocyclic phosphine (NHP)-thiourea-promoted thiophosphation of thiols has been developed for the synthesis of phosphorodiamidothioates under additive-, metal-free reaction conditions. This reaction takes place at room temperature and exhibits good functional group tolerance. The key to success is that the thiourea group can serve as an excellent leaving group, which is tethered with NHP moiety.
The endoplasmic reticulum is the site of lipoprotein assembly and regulation of secretion.

The principal function of plasma lipoproteins is to transport water-insoluble lipid from its site of synthesis and absorption to peripheral cells. In modern industrialized societies where overconsumption of animal fat is common, plasma lipoproteins are dramatically increased leading to an increased incidence of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. In an attempt to design methods to prevent the occurrence of atherosclerosis, a great amount of effort has been applied to understanding the molecular mechanisms through which plasma lipoproteins are assembled and secreted. The major focus of this chapter is to describe these mechanisms, many of which are distinct from the paradigms describing the assembly, intracellular targeting, and metabolism of other lipid-protein macromolecular aggregates (e.g., membranes, vesicles, and viruses). These distinctions provide new insights into a regulatory secretion mechanism intimately linked to the physicochemical forces governing the translocation and integration of proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Since very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) is the principal, if not sole, precursor of the other plasma lipoproteins, we will focus our attention on the molecular interactions involved in its assembly and secretion.
Bilateral thoracoscopic sympathectomy for the treatment of palmar hyperhidrosis in the active duty population.

ABSTRACT In an active duty population charged with handling weapons and heavy equipment, hyperhidrosis is a dangerous affliction. Surgical correction of hyperhidrosis is possible by transection of the thoracic sympathetic chain. Thoracoscopic sympathectomy should yield results similar to those of a standard open thoracotomy approach but with decreased recovery times, a more rapid return to duty, and improved job performance. Three active duty patients presented to the Naval Medical Center, San Diego, for evaluation of palmar hyperhidrosis. All patients underwent bilateral thoracoscopic sympathectomy for the treatment of palmar hyperhidrosis. They tolerated the procedure well without complications and were satisfied with their outcomes. They reported no further episodes of hyperhidrosis and have returned to full duty. This procedure is especially relevant for patients in the active duty population, whose job safety is affected by hyperhidrosis. Those treated can expect to return to full duty in a timely ma...
New Ground-Based Studies of Two Active IRAS Galaxies

New data are presented for IRAS 0421+040P06 and NGC 6240. These two galaxies have properties that differ from both Seyfert and starburst galaxies.
Abstract 625: Cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4) expression in ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) of the breast

Background: Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) consists of a heterogeneous group that can be subclassified by molecular signatures. High grade DCIS is commonly associated with periductal inflammation, a feature associated with increased risk for microinvasion. We previously assessed the immune microenvironment of DCIS and reported that HER2+ DCIS has increased numbers of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), with significant expression of PD-L1. CTLA-4 is a supplementary immunomodulatory marker, which serves as a negative regulator of T-cell response. Targeted therapy is currently available against both PD-L1 and CTLA-4, and studies suggest an enhanced response with combination therapy as these therapies act though different mechanisms. In this study we evaluated the expression of CTLA-4 in both TILs and tumor cells in DCIS. Design: The study population consisted of 74 cases of DCIS treated with surgical excision from 2008-2012. The molecular subtypes of DCIS were determined based on ER and HER2 expression. Tissue microarrays were constructed (3 cores/case) to account for tumor heterogeneity. The TMAs were immunostained for CTLA-4 and the expression CTLA-4 was assessed. Results: Of the 74 cases, 41 were classified as Luminal A (ER+/HER2-), 17 as Luminal B (4 as Luminal B HER2- [ER+/HER2-/high Ki-67] and 13 as Luminal B HER2+ [ER+/HER2+]), 11 as HER2+ (ER-/HER2+) and 5 as basal (ER-/HER2-). Overall, the DCIS tumor cells expressed CTLA-4 in 58% of Luminal B (HER2+ 53% [7/13]; HER2- 75% [3/4]) and 36% of HER2+ (4/11), while only 39% of Luminal A (16/41), and one basal DCIS (1/5) did. In addition, the presence of CTLA-4 positive TILs was strongly associated with HER2+ expression (Luminal B HER2+=21.8%, HER2+=13.4%), compared to HER2- DCIS (Luminal B HER2-=8.5%, Luminal A=7.3%, Basal=6.4%) (p=0.026). Conclusion: 1. CTLA-4 expression in TILs is increased in HER2+ DCIS. 2. A significant percent of tumor cells express CTLA-4 in all DCIS subtypes. Our results further advance our understanding of the role of the immune microenvironment in DCIS. Additional studies are needed to further elucidate the complex interplay between the host immune system and DCIS, which may offer insights into breast carcinoma progression and possible use of novel immune-based therapies. Citation Format: Jorge E. Novo, Lauren Rosen, Julianne M. Ubago, Jennifer Pincus, Luis Blanco, Kalliopi P. Siziopikou. Cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4) expression in ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) of the breast [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 625.
Challenges in multi-unit reconstruction: a framework perspective

Locally advanced or recurrent head and neck cancer can present both oncologic and reconstructive challenges. There are no current guidelines for reconstruction of multi-unit defects, yet reconstructive goals should serve the purpose of providing a safe healing environment for both adjuvant therapy and functional rehabilitation. In light of a younger head and neck cancer population, reconstructive methods aimed at preserving form and function over a long survivorship period are optimal. The review of the literature regarding use of single or double free flaps, with or without locoregional reconstructive options, and new techniques for multi-unit defects is described. Managing complex defects with multiple units involves determining a framework of critical, optimal, and optional elements for each reconstruction with consideration of the medical tolerance of the patient and long-term functional rehabilitation. Multi-unit reconstruction should involve distinction of critical, optimal, and optional aspects to provide a safe healing environment for both adjuvant therapy and functional rehabilitation fit for long-term survivorship.
Effects of an Introductory Computer Course on Special Educators' Attitudes and Evaluations of Instructional Software

This study examined the effect of an introductory computer course on special education students' attitudes toward computers in education and their self-perceived confidence and competence to use computers. The impact of course information and exposure to principles of effective instruction upon students' evaluations of computer-assisted instructional software also was assessed. General attitudes toward computers, which were highly positive at the start of the study, were not significantly affected by the course, nor did course experiences have a systematic effect on participants' ratings of instructional software programs. However, the course appeared to significantly enhance participants' self-perceived competence in using computers. Implications of these findings for preparing special educators to effectively use computer-based instruction are discussed.
Engaging Disadvantaged Communities in Targeting Tobacco-Related Health Disparities and Other Health Inequities

AbstractTobacco-related health disparities (TRHD) (e.g., respiratory disease, cancer) have been repeatedly shown to disproportionately affect individuals living in disadvantaged communities. In our...
Fracture resistance of Cu/Nb metallic nanolayered composite

In this work, molecular dynamics simulations to explore the crack propagation and fracture behavior of Cu/Nb metallic nanolayered composites (MNCs) were performed. The results of this study are consistent with the previous experimental results, which illustrated that cracks in Cu and Nb layers may exhibit different propagation paths and distances under the isostrain loading condition. The analysis reveals that the interface can increase the fracture resistance of the Nb layer in Cu/Nb MNCs by providing the dislocation sources to generate the plastic strain at the front of the crack. Increasing the layer thickness can enhance the fracture resistance of both Cu and Nb layers, as the critical stress for activating the dislocation motion decreases with the increment of the layer thickness. In addition, grain boundaries (GBs) in polycrystalline Cu/Nb samples would decrease the fracture resistance of Nb layer by promoting the crack propagate along the GBs, i.e., intergranular fracture, while the effect of interface and layer thickness on the fracture resistance of MNCs will not be altered by introducing the GBs in MNCs.
Assessment of men’s risk thresholds to proceed with prostate biopsy for the early detection of prostate cancer

To delineate the range of “risk thresholds” for prostate biopsy to determine how improved prostate cancer (CaP) risk prediction tools may impact shared decision-making (SDM). We conducted a cross-sectional survey study involving men 45–75 years old attending a multispecialty urology clinic. Data included demographics, personal and family prostate cancer history, and prostate biopsy history. Respondents were presented with a summary of the details, risks, and benefits of prostate biopsy, then asked to indicate the specific risk threshold (% chance) of high-grade CaP at which they would proceed with prostate biopsy. Of a total of 103 respondents, 18 men (17%) had a personal history of CaP, and 31 (30%) had undergone prostate biopsy. The median risk threshold to proceed with prostate biopsy was 25% (interquartile range 10–50%). Risk thresholds did not vary by race, education, or employment. Personal history of CaP or prostate biopsy was significantly associated with lower mean risk thresholds (19% vs. 32% [P = 0.02] and 23% vs. 33% [P = 0.04], respectively). In the lowest versus highest risk threshold quartiles, there were significantly higher rates of CaP (36% vs. 1%, P = 0.01) and prior prostate biopsy (46% vs. 17%, P < 0.01). Men have a wide range of risk thresholds for high-grade CaP to proceed with prostate biopsy. Men with a prior history of CaP or biopsy reported lower risk thresholds, which may reflect their greater concern for this disease. The extent to which refined risk prediction tools will improve SDM warrants further study.
What Do Platforms Do? Understanding the Gig Economy

The rapid growth of the platform economy has provoked scholarly discussion of its consequences for the nature of work and employment. We identify four major themes in the literature on platform wor...
Magnetic Calcium Phosphate Cement for Hyperthermia Treatment of Bone Tumors

This article reports, for the first time, the 'proof-of-concept' results on magnetic monetite (CaHPO4)-based calcium phosphate cements (CPCs) compositions developed for the hyperthermia treatment of bone tumors. Hyperthermia involves the heating of a tumor within a temperature range of 40-45 °C, inducing apoptosis in the tumor cells. This process holds promising potential in the field of cancer treatment and has been proven to be more effective than conventional therapeutics. Hence, we aimed to develop cement compositions that are capable of the hyperthermia treatment of bone tumors. To achieve that central goal, we incorporated iron oxide (Fe3O4), a ferromagnetic material, into monetite and hypothesized that, upon the application of a magnetic field, magnetite will generate heat and ablate the tumor cells near the implantation site. The results confirmed that an optimized content of magnetite incorporation in monetite can generate heat in the range of 40-45 °C upon the application of a magnetic field. Furthermore, the compositions were bioactive and cytocompatible with an osteoblastic cell line.
Fair Housing for a Non-Sexist City

Sex discrimination is built into the American landscape. Zoning ordinances, building codes, restrictive covenants and other housing laws reflect—and then entrench—the gender norms of an earlier era. These laws evict domestic violence victims from their homes, privilege stay-at-home parenting over paid child care, push men into homelessness by eliminating forms of low-cost housing on which they disproportionately relied, and create spatial patterns of development which systematically exacerbate women’s secondary-earner status. This Article identifies the ways that gender disparities and sex stereotypes are built into our cities and suburbs—something few legal scholars have recognized—and for the first time, shows that fair housing law provides the tools to confront this discrimination. This Article also demonstrates that fair housing law has uniquely failed to tackle sex discriminatory policies and structures. Neither litigants nor HUD, the agency responsible for administering the Fair Housing Act (“FHA”), have done so—unlike for other protected classes, including race or disability. Instead, the FHA has been used almost exclusively to attack individual, intentional acts of sex discrimination. This Article proposes a new path forward, showing how the FHA can take on subtly sex-discriminatory housing policies. It identifies policies which are readily cognizable as sex discrimination under current law, including the FHA’s unique mandate that governments “affirmatively further fair housing.” Drawing on those examples, the Article advances a new understanding of “fair housing” for sex: one which seeks to dismantle the legacy of the gendered “separate spheres” ideology underlying so much of contemporary American urbanism.
RNAi-based screens uncover a potential new role for the orphan neuropeptide receptor Moody in Drosophila female germline stem cell maintenance

Reproduction is highly sensitive to changes in physiology and the external environment. Neuropeptides are evolutionarily conserved signaling molecules that regulate multiple physiological processes. However, the potential reproductive roles of many neuropeptide signaling pathways remain underexplored. Here, we describe the results of RNAi-based screens in Drosophila melanogaster to identify neuropeptides/neuropeptide receptors with potential roles in oogenesis. The screen read-outs were either the number of eggs laid per female per day over time or fluorescence microscopy analysis of dissected ovaries. We found that the orphan neuropeptide receptor encoded by moody (homologous to mammalian melatonin receptors) is likely required in somatic cells for normal egg production and proper germline stem cell maintenance. However, the egg laying screens had low signal-to-noise ratio and did not lead to the identification of additional candidates. Thus, although egg count assays might be useful for large-scale screens to identify oogenesis regulators that result in dramatic changes in oogenesis, more labor-intensive microscopy-based screen are better applicable for identifying new physiological regulators of oogenesis with more subtle phenotypes.
Incidence of thyroid dysfunction in children after HSCT with reduced intensity conditioning (RIC) or myeloablative conditioning (MAC).

We have previously demonstrated a 11% incidence of post-transplant de novo thyroid disease, even with a radiation-free RIC regimen. Following the enactment of a universal late effects screening program at our institution, we compared the outcomes of 108 pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients after a RIC regimen (n = 33) to those after a MAC regimen (n = 75) during the same time period. Overall, 10% of subjects developed thyroid dysfunction after HSCT, with a median follow-up of 669 days. Seven subjects had primary hypothyroidism prior to HSCT. Of the thirty-one subjects who received RIC, one (3.2%) developed a new thyroid disorder, compared to the nine of sixty-nine (13.0%) subjects who received MAC (p = .167). No significant associations were seen with donor type, graft-vs.-host disease, or total body irradiation. Nine of the 10 subjects who developed thyroid disease after transplant were asymptomatic. Continued follow-up of this contemporary cohort will further delineate risk factors for post-transplant-associated thyroid dysfunction and better inform discussions of transplant-associated sequelae.
Principles of Conflict Economics: The Political Economy of War, Terrorism, Genocide, and Peace: Second edition, by Charles H. Anderton and John R. Carter, Cambridge and New York, Cambridge University Press, 2019. xxii, 503 pp., $44.99 (paperback), ISBN: 978-1-316-63539-1

Principles of Conflict Economics by Charles H. Anderton and John R. Carter, a second printing for a ten-year update, applies economics in its full range of approaches to the problem of violence. Th...
Physics of the Medical Record: Handling Time in Health Record Studies

The rapid increase in adoption of electronic health records (EHRs) creates the possibility of tracking billions of patient visits per year and exploiting them for clinical research. The international observational research collaboration, Observational Health Data Sciences and Informatics (OHDSI), has counted 682 million patient records that have been converted to a common format known at the OMOP Common Data Model [1]. While this number includes duplicates and records that have not been made broadly available to researchers, its scale demonstrates that converting the world population to a common format is feasible.
Chapter IX Isolation, Cultivation and Maintenance of the Myxobacteria

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the isolation, cultivation, and maintenance of the myxobacteria. Though they are a small group of organisms, there is considerable diversity within the order; even the same techniques of isolation and culture cannot be applied to all the myxobacteria. The order Myxobacterales, as recognized in “Bergey's Manual,” consists of five families: (1) the Cytophagaceae, (2) the Myxococcaceae, (3) the Archangiaceae, (4) the Sorangiaceae, and (5) the Polyangiaceae. The members of the monogeneric family Cytophagaceae and the three recognized species of the genus Sporocytophaga of the family Myxococcaceae do not produce fruiting bodies; all the other myxobacteria do. Three characteristics are common to all members of the myxobacteria: (1) they produce copious amounts of polysaccharide slime and, hence, a distinctive, slimy colony, (2) they all possess vegetative cells that glide on solid surfaces, and (3) they produce resistant fruiting bodies that are aggregates of many shortened cells bounded by a slime sheath.
Estimation of signals in an interconnection of LTI systems and unknown static maps

We consider the estimation of unknown signals in structured models that are interconnections of known linear dynamic systems and unknown static maps, and contain unmeasured exogenous disturbances. A main motivation for considering this is a system identification problem in which such an interconnection exists, and the static maps are to be identified when the inputs and/or outputs of the maps themselves are not available. Our approach is to search for estimates of the unmeasured signals based on three main types of criteria, these being that they are consistent with the linear dynamic system, that stochastic assumptions for disturbance processes are met, and that input-output pairs of the static maps are consistent with there being a static relationship between them. We consider various candidate criteria for enforcing the staticness consideration; they are essentially smoothness or regularizing criteria. These are what make our formulation different from other common estimation methods, for instance Kalman smoothing. We compare and contrast different methods using an example.
Some homogeneous Einstein manifolds

Let G be a connected Lie group and H a closed subgroup with Lie algebra such that in the Lie algebra g of G there exists a subspace m with (subspace direct sum) and In this case the corresponding manifold M = G/H is called a reductive homogeneous space and (g, ) (or ( G,H )) a reductive pair . In this paper we shall show how to construct invariant pseudo-Riemannian connections on suitable reductive homogeneous spaces M which make M into an Einstein manifold.
Rule based system for interpretation of evoked potential waveforms

Results obtained with a prototype expert decision-support system for interpretation of sensory evoked-potential waveforms are described. An analytic module calculates several parameters from the waveform, and the parameters are converted into scores to be used by a rule-based module. The scores are treated as linguistic variables to determine whether a response is present with low, medium, or high confidence. Results obtained with the system are presented. The parameters can also be summarized by fuzzy descriptors. The advantages and disadvantages of the two approaches are discussed. >
Treatment of Essential Hypertension in Asians: Enalapril as Monotherapy versus Combination Therapy with Hydrochlorothiazide

This study compared enalapril maleate (Enaprin) as a single antihypertensive agent and enalapril plus hydrochlorothiazide in Korean patients to determine if one regimen is superior to the other in terms of efficacy and subjective adverse effects. After a 1-week washout period, 12 patients were randomized to receive enalapril 10 mg daily and 13 patients to receive enalapril 10 mg daily plus hydrochlorothiazide 25 mg daily. After 2 weeks, enalapril was increased to 20 mg daily if diastolic blood pressure was greater than 90 mm Hg. The study period was 12 weeks. The mean changes in diastolic blood pressure in mm Hg were enalapril alone -10.7 +/- 10.5 mm Hg and enalapril plus hydrochlorothiazide -25.1 +/- 12.1 mm Hg (difference between the two groups significant at p less than 0.01). Mean dose of enalapril required to achieve goal blood pressure was 18.8 mg for monotherapy and 13.0 mg for combination therapy (p less than 0.05). Adverse effects were comparable. We concluded that enalapril in combination with hydrochlorothiazide is more effective and safe, and allows for lower dosing of enalapril than the drug as monotherapy in Korean hypertensives.
Parenting from Prison: An Examination of a Children's Visitation Program at a Women's Correctional Facility

The impact of parental incarceration on minor children has been well documented. Children with at least one parent in prison are at greater risk to suffer from anxiety, depression, sleeplessness, anger, and attention deficiencies. In comparison to the research on children, less emphasis has been placed on how mothers are affected when they are incarcerated away from their children. The current research focus is how children's visitation programs and parenting classes can improve the relationships between incarcerated women and their children. Female prisoners participating in a specialized children's visitation program were interviewed to gain their perceptions of their relationships with their children and how the program had affected this bond. A comparison group of women not in the program were also questioned about their relationships with their children. The authors suggest that incarcerated mothers respond positively to institutional efforts to keep them in touch with their children.
Missing Pages in Our Photo Album of the Infant Universe

Existing data sets include an image of the Universe when it was 0.4 million years old (in the form of the cosmic microwave background), as well as images of individual galaxies when the Universe was older than a billion years. But there is a serious challenge: in between these two epochs was a period when the Universe was dark, stars had not yet formed, and the cosmic microwave background no longer traced the distribution of matter. And this is precisely the most interesting period, when the primordial soup evolved into the rich zoo of objects we now see. In this popular-level overview, I describe how astronomers plan to observe this nearly-invisible yet crucial period.
Many Hats: The Methods and Roles of the Program Evaluator:

Program evaluation often casts the social scientist in multiple roles that require the use of various methods and skills to deliver the product or products desired by the hiring agency. Social scientists engaged in evaluation research often find their roles being expanded beyond those articulated in their contracts. Balancing these numerous demands while maintaining professional integrity can be both challenging and rewarding in terms of professional growth and expansion of one's professional network. This article focuses on the experiences of one research team working with a law enforcement agency in a midsized city in the Southwest during the first two years of the implementation of a Weed and Seed program. Nimbleness of method, expansion of the evaluator's role, and the reality of unexpected challenges are the primary lessons to be drawn from this experience.
Microtubular elements and cell membranes isolated from nucleated erythrocytes.

Fine tubular elements from nucleated erythrocytes of the amphibian Triturus viridescens have been isolated with cell membranes by the Langmuir trough-critical point method. In intact membranes, the tubules occur in a bundle running around the circumference of the cell membrane and are thus identical to the microtubules of the marginal band of nucleated erythrocytes. Cell membranes isolated by this method show a granular or beaded surface with a unit of approximately 200 . The possible relationship of this configuration to the structure of membranes in thin-sectioned preparations is discussed.
Further examination of the criterion for crack initiation under mixed-mode I+III loading

Mixed-mode fracture presents spectacular, scale-independent, pattern formation in nature and engineering applications. The criteria for crack initiation and growth under such mixed mode loading, however, are not well established. This work is aimed at exploring the failure criteria and the pattern formation under combined modes I and III. Specific designs of specimens based on boundary element simulations are considered with the aim of examining crack path selection at nucleation, threshold behavior of crack front fragmentation and, spacing of fragmentation. Experimental investigations with these specially designed geometries show that there does not exist a threshold ratio of $$K_{III}^{\infty }/K_{I}^{\infty }$$ below which a crack will propagate smoothly without fragmenting into facets. The crack front is shown to fragment immediately as soon as it is perturbed by a small amplitude mode III loading. The experimental results show further that spacing of the fragmentation is set not by any intrinsic length scale of the material, but by the characteristic dimension of the driving crack and the global loading.
Anionic Homopolymers Efficiently Target Zerovalent Iron Particles to Hydrophobic Contaminants in Sand Columns

The transport of microscale carbonyl iron powder suspensions modified with anionic homopolymers was studied in water-saturated sand columns containing well-dispersed hydrophobic sand grains. Sand g...
Chemical repellents appear non-useful for eliciting exit of brown tree snakes from cargo

The brown tree snake (Boiga irregularis) is invasive in Guam, has imposed ecological and economic problems there, and threatens to be dispersed via cargo and vehicles to other islands in the Pacific, where it could be expected to inflict similar damages. Prevention of inadvertent snake export currently relies on cargo inspection and suppression of snake populations around ports, which are expensive and incompletely reliable. Hence, there has long been interest in developing additional tools to preclude snakes leaving in cargo, and fumigation with essential oils has been suggested for this role. We tested gaseous or aerosol deliveries of several essential oils and three other candidate irritants. We found none to work reliably in repelling snakes, and we discuss several limitations that make development of an effective fumigation tool from these chemicals improbable. Additional effort to develop an operational tool using essential oils would likely be misdirected, and effective fumigation methods for invas...
Evaluation of coatings produced via kinetic and cold spray processes

An analysis of physical and mechanical properties of coatings produced by kinetic and cold spray processes is presented. Adhesion, hardnesses, porosities, critical velocities, and other properties of aluminum and copper coatings from both spray methods are analyzed and discussed, including scanning electron microscopy and optical micrographs. Similarities and differences between each of the coating methods and their effects on the resulting coatings are presented. A brief history and discussion of the bonding mechanisms for the larger particle coatings produced by the kinetic spray method is provided.
First-principles determination of charge and orbital interactions in Fe 3 O 4

The interactions between charge and orbitally ordered $d$ electrons are important in many transition-metal oxides. We propose an effective energy model for such interactions, parameterized with density-functional theory plus $U$ calculations, so that energy contributions of both electronic and lattice origin can be simultaneously accounted for. The model is applied to the low-temperature phase of magnetite, for which we propose a ground-state structure. The effective interactions on the B lattice of ${\text{Fe}}_{3}{\text{O}}_{4}$ can be interpreted in terms of electrostatics and short-range Kugel-Khomskii exchange coupling. The frustration between optimal charge and orbital orderings leads to a complex energy landscape whereby the supercell for the charge ordering, orbital ordering, and ionic displacements can all be different.
Cyclotron mass of two-dimensional holes in strained Si/Si0.88Ge0.12/Si heterostructures

Abstract We have observed cyclotron resonance of the two-dimensional holes in strained layer Si/Si0.88Ge0.12/Si heterostructures with densities ps=3.7×1011cm−2 and 4.2×1011cm−2 in magnetic fields from 4T to 8T at 4.2K. Our data yield a mass value of (0.18±0.02)me, in good agreement with the calculated in-plane mass of the M J =± 3 2 “heavy hole” band.
Midbrain and contralateral labyrinth influences on brain stem vestibular neurons in the cat

Abstract Brain stem vestibular neurons were examined by extracellular recording in cats with high cervical spinal cord transsections and were physiologically identified by their response to angular acceleration. Type I units of the horizontal canal were strongly inhibited by stimulating both the contralateral vestibular nerve and the ipsilateral interstitial nucleus of Cajal in the midbrain. On stimulation of both these sites, type II neurons of the horizontal canal were transsynaptically facilitated. Type I neurons of the anterior canal showed less frequent and weaker inhibitory responses than those of the horizontal canal on stimulation of both the contralateral vestibular nerve and the interstitial nucleus of Cajal. However, units which were inhibited from one site were usually inhibited from the other. Type II neurons of the anterior canal were facilitated by stimulation of the opposite vestibular nerve, and responded to angular acceleration acting on the opposite posterior semicircular canal. The difference in strength of inhibition of type I units of the horizontal and the anterior canals on contralateral vestibular nerve stimulation suggests that precise coordination is more important for horizontal than for vertical eye movements. The stronger suppression, on interstitial nucleus of Cajal stimulation, of type I neurons of the horizontal canal as compared to those of the anterior canal may better contribute to support the interstitial nucleus in its role in vertical and rotatory head and eye motions.
Negative Differential Resistance in Electrochemically Self-assembled Layered Nanostructures

Resonant tunneling devices are used for ultrahigh-speed applications. In this work, tunnel junctions based on copper metal (Cu) and cuprous oxide (Cu2O) are electrochemically self-assembled from aq...
Fear of Crime among College Students: A Test of the Shadow of Sexual Assault Hypothesis

Women’s fear of rape and sexual assault has been both theoretically and empirically linked to their fear of other types of crimes, a phenomenon referred to as the shadow of sexual assault hypothesis in past research. This thesis has been supported across specific populations (i.e., the general population of women in the United States and college women in the United States), but the research examining the shadow of sexual assault hypothesis has suffered from methodological limitations. The current research corrected these limitations and performed a test of the shadow of sexual assault hypothesis among college and university students across temporal situations and victim-offender relationships. The findings indicate that women’s fear of rape and sexual assault does impact their fear of nonsexual crimes across temporal situations and victim-offender relationships.
Questions to Facilitate the Use of Maps As Primary Sources in the Classroom

Maps can be important primary sources of information for middle and high school students. This article discusses the kinds of questions that teachers and students can ask about maps to have a deeper understanding of the maps. These questions can be selectively used and overlap to some extent so that teachers can choose as needed for their classroom situation.
Elastic moduli and mode gammas of GaP: Their relationship to those of other isomorphic crystals and the high pressure structural-electrical transition

Abstract The transit times of ultrasonic waves associated with piezoelectrically inactive modes have been measured in sulfur-dope, n-type GaP using hydrostatic pressures up to 5 kbar. The velocities and elastic constants of most modes increase linearly with pressure but C S = 1 2 ( C 11 − C 12 ) decreases slightly. The behavior of the elastic constants and their associated mode gammas are compared to those of other III–V compounds and of Si and Ge. We suggest that the behavior of CS is related to the occurrence of the structural-electrical transition which occurs at high pressure. A modified Born criterion for lattice stability developed by Demarest et al . is used to explain this relationship. The contribution of thermal dilatation to the temperature dependence of each elastic constant is deduced. Using it and data from the literature we find that the explicit thermal contribution to each elastic constant is significant and in the case of C12 has an anomalous sign.
Oxidation study of a polycrystalline Ni/Cr alloy I: room-temperature exposure to O2

Abstract The changes induced at a cleaned polycrystalline Ni/Cr alloy surface upon increasing oxygen exposure (0 to 100 L) at room temperature were studied by Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), ion scattering spectroscopy (ISS), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Cr oxides, NiO and hydroxides form near the surface during the initial 5 L exposure. More of the oxygen present is bonded as NiO than Cr oxide, but a larger fraction of the near-surface Cr is oxidized. The Cr oxide formed consists of a mixture of CrO2, Cr2O3 and CrO3 with CrO2 as the predominant form. With increasing exposure to 100 L, both metallic Cr and Ni become increasingly oxidized, but most of the Ni within 3.5 nm of the surface remains in metallic form after a 100 L exposure. ISS data indicate that the outermost atomic layer becomes enriched in Cr with oxygen exposure, while AES data indicate a small enrichment of Cr in the near-surface region sampled by this technique. AES data also indicate that the oxygen uptake is rapid to 20 L and then slow above that exposure.