cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ruby at high pressure. II. Fluorescence lifetime of the R line to 130 Gpa

We have measured the ruby R-line fluorescence lifetime to 130 GPa in a nonhydrostatic environment. We observed a rapid, nonlinear increase in the lifetime with increasing pressure. The lifetime data are fitted to a theory relating the transition rate to parameters obtained independently from measurements of high-pressure ruby spectra. We discuss the R-line fluorescence intensity in terms of a rate-equation analysis of a model ruby three-level system. We conclude that the excitation mechanism of observed R-line Auorescence at very high pressures is likely to be different from the mechanism at ambient pressure. The efFects of pressure on electronic structure are easily studied in ruby (Alz03:Cr +), a system in which the electronic structure is well described at ambient pressure by ligand-field theory. ' In high-pressure diamond-anvilcell research, the ruby R & fluorescence frequency shift is the most commonly used method of pressure determination. An understanding of the high-pressure spectroscopic behavior of ruby is necessary for understanding the ruby fluorescence pressure scale at very high pressure. In this paper we report on measurements of the Rline lifetime up to 130 GPa and discuss the Auorescence intensity of the R lines at high pressure. Previously, the R-line lifetime has been measured to 7 and 44.2 GPa. In our preceding paper (hereafter cited as I) we reviewed the electronic structure of ruby, including the notation used for energy terms and transitions between terms. The following discussion makes use of the notation, the scaling-theory fits to the line shifts of ruby, and some of the data presented in I. II. FLUORESCENCE MECHANISM The radiative transitions between energy terms in ruby (see Fig. I in I) are primarily electric dipole in nature. In the cubic approximation, however, electric-dipole transitions are parity forbidden, since all energy terms have even parity and the dipole operator, P = — e g, r;, has odd parity. Transitions from doublet states ( E, T„T2) to the ground state ( A2) are spin forbidden as well. The trigonal distortion and the spin-orbit interaction, which are treated as perturbations, relax the parity and spin selection rules slightly. Mixing of the quartet states ( T2, T, ) with odd-parity states, arising from the lack of inversion symmetry caused by the trigonal distortion, relaxes the parity selection rule. The spin selection rule for doublet states is relaxed by mixing with the quartet states via the spin-orbit interaction (see Fig. 2 in I). In this paper we study the R-line fluorescence from the metastable E state to the ground state. Fluorescence also occurs from the T, states (R ' lines), but since the E
Effects of chromate and chromate conversion coatings on corrosion of aluminum alloy 2024-T3

Various effects of chromate conversion coatings (CCCs) and chromate in solution on the corrosion of AA2024-T3 and pure Al are studied in this work. Raman spectroscopy was used to investigate the nature of chromate in CCCs through a comparison with the spectra of known standards and artificial Cr(III)/Cr(VI) mixed oxides. Chromate was shown to be released from CCCs and to migrate to and protect a nearby, uncoated area in the artificial scratch cell. However, experiments investigating the effect of chromate in solution on anodic dissolution kinetics under potentiostatic control indicated that large chromate concentrations were needed to have an effect.
Inducing phytoplankton iron limitation in iron-replete coastal waters with a strong chelating ligand

Dissolved iron (Fe) concentrations in the California coastal upwelling regime vary over two orders of magnitude (from ,0.05 to .5 nM), which leads to a wide range in Fe effects on phytoplankton growth. Fe-addition experiments are appropriate to use to assess the biological role of Fe in low-Fe areas, but other methods are needed in Fe-replete regions. We present experiments that use additions of the exogenous siderophore desferrioxamine B (DFOB, obtained from a terrestrial actinomycete fungus) to sequester ambient Fe and to markedly decrease its availability to the biota. DFOB additions resulted in artificial Fe limitation of the phytoplankton community in highFe areas of the upwelling region. Results of these ‘‘Fe-removal’’ experiments mirror those of Fe-addition experiments in low-Fe, high-nutrient, low-chlorophyll (HNLC) waters. When DFOB is added to Fe-replete waters, changes in nutrient concentrations, biomass, and other biological parameters closely resemble those seen in Fe-limited controls in HNLC areas, while the controls without DFOB behave much like HNLC Fe-addition bottles. DFOB additions in high-Fe waters greatly reduced biological Fe uptake and, consequently, nitrate, silicic acid, and carbonuptake rates as well as particulate production. Diatoms and other phytoplankton bloomed profusely in unamended controls but not in Fe-limited 1DFOB bottles. Bacterial numbers and zooplankton grazing activity were also severely reduced in DFOB-addition bottles. These experiments demonstrate that artificially lowering Fe availability can induce limitation of autotrophic and heterotrophic plankton and can prevent utilization of the high ambient levels of upwelled nutrients along the California coast. Our results suggest that DFOB-bound Fe is highly unavailable to the plankton community, a result that offers researchers an important tool to use to probe the influence of Fe on biological community development in high-Fe regimes.
Drive circuit for a mode conversion rotary ultrasonic motor

A mode conversion rotary ultrasonic motor (USM) has potential applications in miniature robotics. However, its electrical drive circuit presents some unique challenges, particularly in producing a high frequency (/spl sim/40 kHz), high voltage (/spl sim/200 V peak-to-peak) signal into a low impedance (/spl sim/100 /spl Omega/) capacitive motor, while achieving high efficiency. This paper describes the design of such a drive circuit, intended for use with a 12 V battery. The drive circuit consists of a switch-mode power converter driving the USM via a step-up planar transformer. Compensation and resonant elements are added to improve the power efficiency. While the peak efficiency of this circuit is 45%, in practice the equivalent impedance of the USM changes with mechanical load and temperature, resulting in an average efficiency of 16%. The admittance vs. frequency characteristic and the equivalent electrical model for a USM prototype are also presented in this paper. The circuit simulations and loaded testing of a full-bridge DC-AC resonant converter with DC-offset module were performed. A load-adapted frequency tracking method has also been proposed to improve the efficiency and stability of the drive circuit.
Infrared and Raman Microscopy and Imaging of Biomaterials

Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy have been widely utilized to evaluate the molecular structure of polymers, biomaterials, and tissues, with the choice of technique dependent on the problem under investigation. Major advances in spectroscopic analyses occurred with the coupling of microscopes to infrared and Raman spectrometers, developments that allowed investigators to assess the location of different chemical species at high spatial resolution, on the order of 1 μm for Raman, and 2–6 μm for FTIR. A further advance was the development of imaging technology, where an array detector is utilized to efficiently collect high-resolution spectral data from relatively large sections (millimeters) of tissue and material samples. Several applications to biomaterials are discussed here, including assessment of polymer composition and degradation, evaluation of composition of tissue-engineered constructs and cells, of dental materials, and characterization of drug delivery systems.
A phase II trial of oxaliplatin plus capecitabine (xelox) as second line therapy for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer

4119 Background: There is no established chemotherapy for patients with pancreatic cancer who have progressed on gemcitabine. This trial was designed to explore the efficacy of xelox as second line...
Antiviral Substances to the Virus of Encephalitis (St. Louis Type) in Serums Collected in California

SummaryOf 29 serums from patients diagnosed as having had acute encephalitis or a polio-encephalitis, respectively, in one region of California none neutralized the virus of lymphocytic choriomeningitis, while 16 or 55.1% gave a positive test with the St. Louis type of encephalitic virus.Appreciation is extended to Dr. E. R. Zumwalt and his staff at Tulare, to Dr. H. M. Ginsburg and the group at Fresno for their kind cooperation and the many courtesies offered and to Dr. C. Hawley for the collection of many of the serums.
Response to and Assay of Vitamin B12 by a Mutant of Escherichia coli.

SummaryA mutant organism, Escherichia coli 113-3, which responds to vit. B12 or methionine in a mineral salts-citrate-glucose medium, was adopted successfully for the assay of vit. B12. The effects of the degree of aero-biosis, and of potassium cyanide and two reducing agents, upon the response of this bacterium to vit. B12 and B12a are described.
Efficacy of Dipel and Geocoris punctipes (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae) against the Tobacco budworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on Cotton

The efficacy of Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner in combination with Geocoris punctipes (Say) for control of Heliothis virescens (F.) on cotton was studied under greenhouse and field cage conditions. Various rates of B. thuringiensis (141, 282,561, and 1,121 g/ha) were evaluated in combination with predator densities ranging from one G. punctipes nymph per plant to one per four plants. Results indicated potential for good control with rates as low as 282 g of B. thuringiensis per ha and one Geocoris nymph per four plants.
A phase II trial of VP-16, ifosfamide, cisplatin, vinblastine, and bleomycin in advanced germ-cell tumors

Purpose : A Phase II study to evaluate the effect of a five-drug regimen, VP-16, ifosfamide, cisplatin, vinblastine, and bleomycin (VIP/VB) on complete response rate, continuous disease-free survival, and toxicity in patients with advanced germ-cell tumor. Patients and methods : Twenty male patients with a histologic diagnosis of advanced-stage germ-cell cancer, previously untreated with chemotherapy, received the following: etoposide 75 mg/m 2 i.v. days 1-5 ; ifosfamide (with mesna uroprotection) 1.2 g/m 2 i.v. days 1-5 ; cisplatin 20 mg/m 2 i.v. days 1-5 ; vinblastine 0.18 mg/kg i.v. day 1 ; bleomycin 30 units i.v. day I ; filgrastim 5 μg/kg days 7-16. Chemotherapy was given every 3 weeks (bleomycin weekly X 12) for four courses. Results : All patients entered were evaluable for toxicity, response, and survival. Eleven of 20 (55%) achieved complete remissions with chemotherapy alone and an additional 5 (25%) were rendered disease-free with surgical resection of teratoma (3) or viable cancer (2). Two patients relapsed at 4 and 5 months from complete remission (CR). There was one treatment-related death, from bleomycin lung toxicity after thoracotomy. Thirteen patients (65%) are alive and continuously free of disease, with a median follow-up of 20 months and a minimal follow-up of 12 months. Hematologic toxicity was most common, with 16 patients (80%) having grade 3 or 4 leukopenia. Conclusion : VIP/VB appears to be a very active regimen in advanced disseminated germ-cell cancer. Hematological toxicity was severe but manageable.
Near-field radiative heat transfer between arbitrarily shaped objects and a surface

A fluctuational electrodynamics-based formalism for calculating near-field radiative heat transfer between objects of arbitrary size and shape and an infinite surface is presented. The surface interactions are treated analytically via Sommerfeld's theory of electric dipole radiation above an infinite plane. The volume integral equation for the electric field is discretized using the thermal discrete dipole approximation (T-DDA). The framework is verified against exact results in the sphere-surface configuration and is applied to analyze near-field radiative heat transfer between a complex-shaped probe and an infinite plane, both made of silica. It is found that, when the probe tip size is approximately equal to or smaller than the gap $d$ separating the probe and the surface, coupled localized surface phonon (LSPh)-surface phonon-polariton (SPhP) mediated heat transfer occurs. In this regime, the net spectral heat rate exhibits four resonant modes due to LSPhs along the minor axis of the probe, while the net total heat rate in the near field follows a ${d}^{\ensuremath{-}0.3}$ power law. Conversely, when the probe tip size is much larger than the separation gap $d$, heat transfer is mediated by SPhPs, resulting in two resonant modes in the net spectral heat rate, corresponding to those of a single emitting silica surface, while the net total heat rate approaches a ${d}^{\ensuremath{-}2}$ power law. It is also demonstrated that a complex-shaped probe can be approximated by a prolate spheroidal electric dipole when the thermal wavelength is larger than the major axis of the spheroidal dipole and when the separation gap $d$ is much larger than the radius of curvature of the dipole tip facing the surface.
Complexity theory

We present high-level technical summaries of five recent results on the computational complexity of the shortest lattice vector problem.
Winners and Losers in Globalization

(2007). Winners and Losers in Globalization. Journal of Economic Issues: Vol. 41, No. 1, pp. 283-287.
An Evaluation of a Natural Language Processing Tool for Identifying and Encoding Allergy Information in Emergency Department Clinical Notes

Emergency department (ED) visits due to allergic reactions are common. Allergy information is often recorded in free-text provider notes; however, this domain has not yet been widely studied by the natural language processing (NLP) community. We developed an allergy module built on the MTERMS NLP system to identify and encode food, drug, and environmental allergies and allergic reactions. The module included updates to our lexicon using standard terminologies, and novel disambiguation algorithms. We developed an annotation schema and annotated 400 ED notes that served as a gold standard for comparison to MTERMS output. MTERMS achieved an F-measure of 87.6% for the detection of allergen names and no known allergies, 90% for identifying true reactions in each allergy statement where true allergens were also identified, and 69% for linking reactions to their allergen. These preliminary results demonstrate the feasibility using NLP to extract and encode allergy information from clinical notes.
Communications options for patients with brain stem lesions

The communication treatment programs of five individuals with brain stem lesions were reviewed. The sequence of treatment included the following stages: early establishment of communication, establishment of a flexible nonvocal communication system, development of functional verbal communication, and maximizing intelligibility of speech.
Control of the Inflammatory Macrophage Transcriptional Signature by miR-155

Inflammatory M1 spectrum macrophages protect from infection but can cause inflammatory disease and tissue damage, whereas alternatively activated/M2 spectrum macrophages reduce inflammation and promote tissue repair. Modulation of macrophage phenotype may be therapeutically beneficial and requires further understanding of the molecular programs that control macrophage differentiation. A potential mechanism by which macrophages differentiate may be through microRNA (miRNA), which bind to messenger RNA and post-transcriptionally modify gene expression, cell phenotype and function. We hypothesized that the inflammation-associated miRNA, miR-155, would be required for typical development of macrophage inflammatory state. miR-155 was rapidly up-regulated over 100-fold in inflammatory M1(LPS + IFN-γ), but not M2(IL-4), macrophages. Inflammatory genes Inos, Il1b and Tnfa and their corresponding protein or enzymatic products were reduced up to 72% in miR-155 knockout mouse M1(LPS + IFN-γ) macrophages, but miR-155 deficiency did not affect expression of the M2-associated gene Arg1 in M2(IL-4) macrophages. Additionally, a miR-155 oligonucleotide inhibitor efficiently suppressed Inos and Tnfa gene expression in wild-type M1(LPS + IFN-γ) macrophages. Comparative transcriptional profiling of unstimulated and M1(LPS + IFN-γ) macrophages derived from wild-type (WT) and miR-155 knockout (KO) mice revealed that half (approximately 650 genes) of the signature we previously identified in WT M1(LPS + IFN-γ) macrophages was dependent on miR-155. Real-Time PCR of independent datasets confirmed that miR-155 contributed to suppression of its validated mRNA targets Inpp5d, Tspan14, Ptprj and Mafb and induction of Inos, Il1b, Tnfa, Il6 and Il12. Overall, these data indicate that miR-155 plays an essential role in driving the inflammatory phenotype of M1(LPS+ IFN-γ) macrophages.
Multi-year MODIS active fire type classification over the Brazilian Tropical Moist Forest Biome

ABSTRACTThe Brazilian Tropical Moist Forest Biome (BTMFB) spans almost 4 million km2 and is subject to extensive annual fires that have been categorized into deforestation, maintenance, and forest fire types. Information on fire types is important as they have different atmospheric emissions and ecological impacts. A supervised classification methodology is presented to classify the fire type of MODerate resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) active fire detections using training data defined by consideration of Brazilian government forest monitoring program annual land cover maps, and using predictor variables concerned with fuel flammability, fuel load, fire behavior, fire seasonality, fire annual frequency, proximity to surface transportation, and local temperature. The fire seasonality, local temperature, and fuel flammability were the most influential on the classification. Classified fire type results for all 1.6 million MODIS Terra and Aqua BTMFB active fire detections over eight years (2003–...
Does the Safety Demand Characteristic Influence Human-Robot Interaction?

While it is increasingly common to have robots in real-world environments, many Human-Robot Interaction studies are conducted in laboratory settings. Evidence shows that laboratory settings have the potential to skew participants’ feelings of safety. This paper probes the consequences of this Safety Demand Characteristic and its impacts on the field of Human-Robot Interaction. We collected survey and video data from 19 participants who had varied consent forms describing different levels of risk for participating in the study. Participants were given a distractor task to prevent them from knowing the purpose of the study. We hypothesized that participants would feel less safe with the changed consent form and that participants’ views of the robot would change depending on the version of consent. The results showed that features of the robot were viewed by participants differently depending on the perceived risks of participating in the study, warranting further inspection.
At-line determination of pharmaceuticals small molecule's blending end point using chemometric modeling combined with Fourier transform near infrared spectroscopy.

Abstract This article summarizes the development and validation of a Fourier transform near infrared spectroscopy (FT-NIR) method for the rapid at-line prediction of active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) in a powder blend to optimize small molecule formulations. The method was used to determine the blend uniformity end-point for a pharmaceutical solid dosage formulation containing a range of API concentrations. A set of calibration spectra from samples with concentrations ranging from 1% to 15% of API (w/w) were collected at-line from 4000 to 12,500 cm− 1. The ability of the FT-NIR method to predict API concentration in the blend samples was validated against a reference high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method. The prediction efficiency of four different types of multivariate data modeling methods such as partial least-squares 1 (PLS1), partial least-squares 2 (PLS2), principal component regression (PCR) and artificial neural network (ANN), were compared using relevant multivariate figures of merit. The prediction ability of the regression models were cross validated against results generated with the reference HPLC method. PLS1 and ANN showed excellent and superior prediction abilities when compared to PLS2 and PCR. Based upon these results and because of its decreased complexity compared to ANN, PLS1 was selected as the best chemometric method to predict blend uniformity at-line. The FT-NIR measurement and the associated chemometric analysis were implemented in the production environment for rapid at-line determination of the end-point of the small molecule blending operation.
High performance cardiac SPECT camera: Resolution and sensitivity simulations

SPECT is primarily used in the clinic for cardiac myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI). However, for SPECT, sensitivity is impaired due to the need for collimation. System resolution is poor as well. In this work we demonstrate the advantages of curved detector over a flat detector on a pinhole for cardiac applications using ray-tracing simulations and comparing to independently obtained theoretical derivations. For the flat detector we use parameters close to what we would expect the new multi-pinhole GE Discovery system. We show that using a paraboloid detector we can obtain sensitivity gains as much as ∼2.25 for similar resolutions as a flat detector by opening the pinhole diameter more or we could obtain a better resolution system (∼30% better on the average) by keeping same pinhole opening. Thus far we compared the effect of pinhole and have not included the intrinsic resolution yet.
Situated documentaries: embedding multimedia presentations in the real world

We describe an experimental wearable augmented reality system that enables users to experience hypermedia presentations that are integrated with the actual outdoor locations to which they are relevant. Our mobile prototype uses a tracked see-through head-worn display to overlay 3D graphics, imagery, and sound on top of the real world, and presents additional, coordinated material on a hand-held pen computer. We have used these facilities to create several situated documentaries that tell the stories of events that took place on our campus. We describe the software and hardware that underly our prototype system and explain the user interface that we have developed for it.
Cable SGEMP Code Validation Study

This report compared data taken on the Modular Bremsstrahlung Simulator using copper jacketed (cujac) cables with calculations using the RHSD-RA Cable SGEMP analysis tool. The tool relies on CEPXS/ONBFP to perform radiation transport in a series of 1D slices through the cable, and then uses a Green function technique to evaluate the expected current drive on the center conductor. The data were obtained in 2003 as part of a Cabana verification and validation experiment using 1-D geometries, but were not evaluated until now. The agreement between data and model is not adequate unless gaps between the dielectric and outer conductor (ground) are assumed, and these gaps are large compared with what is believed to be in the actual cable.
Genomic Methods for Clinical and Translational Pain Research

Pain is a complex sensory experience for which the molecular mechanisms are yet to be fully elucidated. Individual differences in pain sensitivity are mediated by a complex network of multiple gene polymorphisms, physiological and psychological processes, and environmental factors. Here, we present the methods for applying unbiased molecular-genetic approaches, genome-wide association study (GWAS), and global gene expression analysis, to help better understand the molecular basis of pain sensitivity in humans and variable responses to analgesic drugs.
X-Linked Diseases and Disorders of the Sex Chromosomes

The human X chromosome constitutes one of the most intensively examined stretches of genetic material in a higher eukaryote. This is probably the result of certain technical features that facilitate the study and recognition of X-linked genes, the relative frequency of X-linked disorders as a group, and the quantitative importance of several specific conditions, such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy and hemophilia. It has been relatively easy to recognize X-encoded mutant genes by virtue of their typical pattern of inheritance, and several X-linked diseases have been known since antiquity. Clear descriptions of X-linked pedigrees of hemophilia, color blindness, ichthyosis, muscular dystrophy, nystagmus, and ectodermal dysplasia antedate the postulation of Mendel’s laws and the recognition of sex chromosomes (McKusick, 1983). More than 120 X-linked single-gene Mendelian human conditions have been catalogued. The vertical transmission of traits through a number of generations affecting only males, but involving carrier females, and the absence of male-to-male transmission have come to be appreciated as the hallmark of this form of inheritance. Since a single copy of a mutant gene in males is sufficient to produce disease, it is not uncommon to find many affected individuals in a single pedigree in addition to many at-risk women, creating significant complexities in genetic counseling.
Empathy, burnout, and antibiotic prescribing for acute respiratory infections: a cross-sectional primary care study in the US

Background The impact of physician–patient relationship factors, such as physician empathy and burnout, on antibiotic prescribing has not been characterised. Aim To assess associations between physician empathy and burnout and antibiotic prescribing for acute respiratory infections (ARIs) in primary care. Design and setting Cross-sectional study of primary care practices in the Cleveland Clinic Health System in the US. Method Patient and prescribing data were obtained from the medical record. All patients with primary diagnoses of ARIs from 1 January 2012 to 31 December 2013, except those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or who were immunocompromised, were included. Physician empathy was measured using the Jefferson Scale of Empathy while physician burnout was measured using the Maslach Burnout Inventory. The relationship between empathy and burnout and antibiotic prescribing, adjusted for patient and provider characteristics, was analysed using multiple linear regression. Results In 5937 ARI visits to 102 primary care physicians, the median proportion resulting in antibiotic prescribing was 48.6% (interquartile range [IQR] 24.1% to 70.0%). Neither physician empathy (correlation coefficient [β] 0.005, 95% confidence interval [CI] = −0.001 to 0.010, P = 0.07) nor any burnout measures were significantly associated with antibiotic prescribing: emotional exhaustion (β 0.001, 95% CI = −0.005 to 0.006, P = 0.79), tendency to depersonalise patients (β −0.009, 95% CI = −0.021 to 0.003, P = 0.13), and sense of personal accomplishment (β −0.004, 95% CI = −0.014 to 0.006, P = 0.44). Conclusion The authors found no significant association between empathy or burnout measures and antibiotic prescribing for ARIs in primary care. Other physician characteristics should be investigated to explain individual variation in antibiotic prescribing.
Vacuolar protein sorting 13C is a novel lipid droplet protein that inhibits lipolysis in brown adipocytes

Abstract Objective Brown adipose tissue (BAT) thermogenesis depends on the mobilization and oxidation of fatty acids from intracellular lipid droplets (LD) within brown adipocytes (BAs); however, the identity and function of LD proteins that control BAT lipolysis remain incomplete. Proteomic analysis of mouse BAT subcellular fractions identified vacuolar protein sorting 13C (VPS13C) as a novel LD protein. The aim of this work was to investigate the role of VPS13C on BA LDs. Methods Biochemical fractionation and high resolution confocal and immuno-transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to determine the subcellular distribution of VPS13C in mouse BAT, white adipose tissue, and BA cell culture. Lentivirus-delivered shRNA was used to determine the role of VPS13C in regulating lipolysis and gene expression in cultured BA cells. Results We found that VPS13C is highly expressed in mouse BAT where it is targeted to multilocular LDs in a subspherical subdomain. In inguinal white adipocytes, VPS13C was mainly observed on small LDs and β3-adrenergic stimulation increased VPS13C in this depot. Silencing of VPS13C in cultured BAs decreased LD size and triglyceride content, increased basal free fatty acid release, augmented the expression of thermogenic genes, and enhanced the lipolytic potency and efficacy of isoproterenol. Mechanistically, we found that BA lipolysis required activation of adipose tissue triglyceride lipase (ATGL) and that loss of VPS13C greatly increased the association of ATGL to LDs. Conclusions VPS13C is present on BA LDs where is targeted to a distinct subdomain. VPS13C limits the access of ATGL to LD and loss of VPS13C elevates lipolysis and promotes oxidative gene expression.
Progress Toward an Improved Equation of State and Opacity for Stellar Envelopes

A brief description is given of a large international project for computing new stellar envelope opacities and equation of state data.
Conventional and electronic cigarettes dysregulate the expression of iron transporters and detoxifying enzymes at the brain vascular endothelium: In vivo evidence of a gender-specific cellular response to chronic cigarette smoke exposure

It is well established that tobacco smoking is associated with vascular endothelial dysfunction in a causative and dose dependent manner primarily related to the tobacco smoke (TS) content of reactive oxygen species (ROS), nicotine, and oxidative stress (OS) -driven inflammation. Preclinical studies have also shown that nicotine (the principal e-liquid's ingredient used in e-cigarettes (e-Cigs) can also cause OS, exacerbation of cerebral ischemia and secondary brain injury. Likewise, chronic e-Cig vaping could be prodromal to vascular endothelial dysfunctions. Herein, we provide direct evidence that similarly to TS, e-Cig promotes mitochondrial depolarization in primary brain vascular endothelial cells as well as the vascular endothelial cell line bEnd3. In addition, both TS and e-Cig exposure upregulated the transmembrane iron exporter Slc40a1 (crucial to maintain cellular iron and redox homeostasis) and that of porphyrin importer Abcb6 (linked to accelerated atherosclerosis). We then investigated in vivo whether gender plays a role in how chronic TS affect vascular endothelial functions. Our results clearly show chronic TS exposure differentially impacts the expression levels of Phase-II enzymes as well as the iron transporters previously investigated in vitro. Although the physiological implications of the gender-specific differential responses to TS are not fully clear, they do demonstrate that gender is a risk factor that needs to be investigated when assessing the potential impact of chronic smoking and perhaps e-Cig vaping.
Controlled Clinical Trials of Head Injury

Head injury is a major health problem internationally. Even though antecedent factors may vary between geographic areas, there are some epidemiologic characteristics which thus far are universal. Males are consistently more frequently affected than females, and the age group at highest risk is that between 15 and 35 years of age, a period of life in which those affected are entering their most productive years. For this group, permanent disability can mean many years of financial hardship and social burden.
Correction to: Wonderland in winter and little Europe in summer: a case study on how Harbin promotes its international image

The university name in the authors’ affiliation was incorrect in the published article. The correct affiliation should read as: 1. College of Journalism and Communications, University of Florida, PO Box 118400, Gainesville, FL 32603, USA
Reduction of blood volume required to perform paper-based hematocrit assays guided by device design

Point-of-care diagnostic tests can provide rapid and accurate information about the health of a patient without relying on the expensive equipment found in centralized laboratories. Not only does the development and application of these assays rely on the means of signal transduction, but also the method by which a sample is procured. In order for point-of-care tests to have real clinical utility, they must use sample types and volumes that are relatively easy to obtain (e.g., fingerstick volumes of blood). In this paper, we demonstrate how the design of a paper-based microfluidic device controls the transport of blood within the device and ultimately influences the development of an assay to measure the hematocrit. We show that, with directed design modifications, altering the dimensions of paper-based devices can greatly reduce the volume of blood required to initiate a hematocrit assay (from 50 μL to only 10 μL) without impacting its analytical performance.
Impact of Growth Conditions on the Phase Selectivity and Epitaxial Quality of TiO2 Films Grown by the Plasma-Assisted Atomic Layer Deposition

Plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition (PE-ALD) is a promising method to grow conformal, epitaxial films at low temperatures (<300 °C). In this study, PE-ALD was used to deposit high-quality, epit...
Differences in chemical thickness of grain and phase boundaries: an atom probe tomography study of experimentally deformed wehrlite

The chemical widths of grain and phase boundaries in deformed wehrlite (olivine–clinopyroxene; Ol–Cpx) aggregates are characterized by atom probe tomography (APT), a (laser-assisted) field evaporation technique employing time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The wehrlite was deformed to high finite strain in diffusion creep: The effective viscosity measured for the wehrlite is approximately an order of magnitude lower than that of either end-member aggregate; further, phase ordering, in which the spatial density of Ol–Cpx phase boundaries increases with accumulated strain, characterizes the deformation (Zhao et al. in Earth Planet Sci Lett 517:83–94, 2019). The mechanical results imply that the transport properties of the phase boundaries—dictated by their structure and composition—differ from those of grain boundaries. Our APT data show that, indeed, the chemical widths of crystalline Ol–Cpx phase boundaries—3.1–6.6 nm, depending on the element used for their characterization—are up to a factor of two greater than the chemical widths of crystalline Ol–Ol and Cpx–Cpx grain boundaries. Careful statistical analyses of the APT data reveal that the near-boundary compositional profiles of the presented Ol–Cpx phase boundary are consistent with—indeed, evidence for—the rheological model in which diffusion creep is rate-limited by the (mechanism-required) interfacial reactions at the Ol–Cpx phase boundaries. Such an analysis is unavailable by current electron beam/X-ray spectrometry approaches, which have not the requisite spatial precision. APT application to nanometer-scale problems in silicate petrology is challenging, particularly because signal overlap is caused by the evaporation of polyion species. We carefully outline the procedures used to acquire and discriminate the data in order to address the challenges of signal overlap.
Volumetric fluorescence imaging in a human eye model by oblique scanning laser ophthalmoscope (oSLO): a feasibility study

Abstract Fluorescence retinal imaging, such as fluorescein angiography, indocyanine green angiography, and autofluorescence imaging, are valuable tools in ophthalmology and vision science. However, these clinical imaging modalities provide en face view of the retina, with limited capability to discriminate retinal layers over a large field-of-view (FOV). We recently developed a novel retinal imaging method, oblique scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (oSLO), to provide volumetric retinal fluorescence imaging without any depth sectioning. OSLO breaks the coaxial alignment of the excitation and detection, to produce a cross-sectional view on retina using the natural ocular optics. In this paper, we demonstrated oSLO in a realistic human eye model and showed the feasibility for future in vivo human retinal imaging. A new optical design was implemented to significantly simplify our previous oSLO systems. We overcame the limitation by the small numerical aperture (NA) of the human eye, by integrating a pair of cylindrical lens in the remote focusing system. We experimentally showed that the current setup can achieve a FOV of ~3×6×0.8 mm3, and the transverse and axial resolutions of 7 and 41 μm, respectively. The capability of volumetric fluorescence imaging over a large FOV in the human retina could lead to new clinical imaging paradigms for retinal diseases.
Nightmare on Elm Street: What if my job does not work out?

Abstract Newly graduating physicians prefer employed positions over independent positions. Reasons for this shift are numerous and varied. Nonetheless, upcoming and recent graduates may find themselves in a situation wherein the job they desire is unworkable. Many physicians continue to thrive independently, both seasoned and new. There are primary considerations that a physician should consider in deciding if an independent practice is a proper fit, and if so how to navigate the independent world successfully. If done correctly, an independent medical practice will likely lead to higher job satisfaction than an employed position.
THE ECONOMIC PAMPHLETEER: Indigenous Wisdom and the Sovereignty to Eat Meat

First paragraph: Growing concerns about global climate change have rekindled an age-old controversy about eating meat (Carrington, 2018). Animal agriculture is frequently indicted as a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. However, animal agri­culture is not without defenders, including those who claim that holistically managed livestock graz­ing systems could actually “reverse climate change” (Savory, 2013). Various studies suggest that the environmental impacts of food animal production differ significantly among management systems—particularly confinement versus pasture-based systems (Koneswaran & Nierenberg, 2008). Due to its complexity, this controversy will not likely be resolved by science. Instead, the wisdom of Indige­nous peoples may prove more useful in deciding whether to eat or not eat meat. . . . See the press release for this article.
Organizational and Decision-Making Tools

This chapter includes a selection of organizational management, decision-making, and business process frameworks. It delves into the people, teams, and structures designed to manage the flow of information, resources, and decisions. Organizations are formal or informal groups of individuals, teams, or other organizations. Organizational structure contains the institutional wisdom, traditions, and also inertia to change. Decision-making tools are the thought processes, priorities, and trade-offs that managers need to think through when making a decision. As much as an energy strategist needs to understand the details of energy and carbon, they must also know how to work as a team. In today’s fast-changing and ambiguous scenarios, strategists will need to guide with certainty into an uncertain future.
Sublethal neurotoxicity of organophosphate insecticides to juvenile coho salmon.

Abstract For decades, organophosphate (OP) insecticides have been used as chemical control agents in watersheds that support at-risk populations of Pacific salmon throughout western North America. Spray drift, runoff, and other processes transport OPs to critical surface water habitats for migratory salmonids. While most OPs share a common mechanism of action (i.e., inhibition of neuronal acetylcholinesterase, or AChE), they typically vary in toxic potency. Moreover, dose-response relationships for exposure and sublethal neurotoxicity (e.g., brain AChE inhibition) in salmonids have not been defined for many OPs. Here we exposed juvenile coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) to five common anticholinesterase insecticides (dimethoate, ethoprop, naled, phorate and phosmet) that are widely used on agricultural, commercial, residential, and public lands. Each of the five pesticides produced a concentration-dependent inhibition of AChE enzyme activity. The effective concentration for 50 % AChE inhibition (96-hr EC50) indicated the highest toxicity for phorate (EC50 = 0.57 μg/L) followed by phosmet (3.3 μg/L), naled (7.8 μg/L), ethoprop (90.6 μg/L) and dimethoate (273 μg/L). These findings can inform 1) relative hazard analyses for OP use near sensitive aquatic habitats, 2) predictions of sublethal OP mixture toxicity, and 3) ecological risk assessments for threatened or endangered species of Pacific salmon.
Postmodernism Trumps All: The World Without Facts:

Monadism and postmodernism have displaced utilitarian ethics and modernist cultural norms. Social media users’ individual virtual spaces present personal desires as “truth.” Interactions are experi...
Marked Reduction of Socioeconomic and Racial Disparities in Invasive Pneumococcal Disease Associated With Conjugate Pneumococcal Vaccines.

BACKGROUND It is not known whether reductions in socioeconomic and racial disparities in incidence of invasive pneumococcal disease (defined as the isolation of Streptococcus pneumoniae from a normally sterile body site) noted after pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) introduction have been sustained. METHODS Individual-level data collected from 20 Tennessee counties participating in Active Bacterial Core surveillance over 19 years were linked to neighborhood-level socioeconomic factors. Incidence rates were analyzed across 3 periods-pre-7-valent PCV (pre-PCV7; 1998-1999), pre-13-valent PCV (pre-PCV13; 2001-2009), and post-PCV13 (2011-2016)-by socioeconomic factors. RESULTS A total of 8491 cases of invasive pneumococcal disease were identified. Incidence for invasive pneumococcal disease decreased from 22.9 (1998-1999) to 17.9 (2001-2009) to 12.7 (2011-2016) cases per 100 000 person-years. Post-PCV13 incidence (95% confidence interval [CI]) of PCV13-serotype disease in high- and low-poverty neighborhoods was 3.1 (2.7-3.5) and 1.4 (1.0-1.8), respectively, compared with pre-PCV7 incidence of 17.8 (15.7-19.9) and 6.4 (4.9-7.9). Before PCV introduction, incidence (95% CI) of PCV13-serotype disease was higher in blacks than whites (17.3 [15.1-19.5] vs 11.8 [10.6-13.0], respectively); after introduction, PCV13-type disease incidence was greatly reduced in both groups (white: 2.7 [2.4-3.0]; black: 2.2 [1.8-2.6]). CONCLUSIONS Introduction of PCV13 was associated with substantial reductions in overall incidence and socioeconomic and racial disparities in PCV13-serotype incidence.
Low-Grade Oncocytic Tumor of Kidney (CK7-Positive, CD117-Negative): Incidence in a Single Institutional Experience with Clinicopathological and Molecular Characteristics.

Summary Low-grade oncocytic tumor of the kidney (LOT) is characterized by cytoplasmic eosinophilia and a CK7-positive/CD117-negative immunophenotype. Morphologically, they exhibit overlapping features with oncocytoma and chromophobe renal cell carcinoma. Our aim was to obtain long-term clinical follow-up data, clinicopathological and molecular characteristics, and incidence of LOT. Tissue microarrays were constructed from 574 tumors historically diagnosed as oncocytoma and surgically treated at Mayo Clinic between 1970 and 2012, and immunostained for CK7 and CD117. An extended immunophenotype was obtained on whole slide sections, along with FISH for CCND1 rearrangement status and chromosomal microarray for copy number status. In addition, two cases were retrospectively identified in a set of tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC)-associated neoplasms and three more cases diagnosed on needle core biopsies were obtained during routine clinical practice. Twenty-four cases of LOT were identified among 574 consecutive tumors diagnosed as oncocytoma and treated with partial or radical nephrectomy, corresponding to an incidence of 4.18% of tumors historically diagnosed as oncocytomas, and 0.35% of 6944 nephrectomies performed between 1970 and 2012. Overall, 29 cases of LOT were identified in three clinical settings: sporadic, TSC-associated, and end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Multifocality was seen only in the setting of TSC and ESRD. No metastases attributable to LOT were identified (median follow-up 9.6 years). There were no recurrent arm level copy number changes detected by chromosomal microarray and all tested cases were negative for CCND1 rearrangement by FISH. LOT is an uncommon eosinophilic renal neoplasm with an indolent prognosis that constitutes ∼4% of tumors historically diagnosed as oncocytoma. The morphologic, immunophenotypic, and molecular features of this neoplasm suggest it is a distinct entity of renal neoplasia.
Dietary mitigation of enteric methane emissions and animal production from ruminants: Plant tannins mitigation options

Enteric methane (CH 4 ) emissions produced by microbial fermentation in the rumen provide the discharge of greenhouse gases (GHG) into the atmosphere. A reduction in ch 4 emissions would not only reduce GHG emissions but would also improve the efficiency of animal production. Methane is a source of energy loss from the animal which would otherwise be used for more efficient production of meat and milk. Animal dry matter intake (dmi) is the single important predictor of CH 4 production. Each 1.0 kg increase in dmi increased ch 4 production by an average of 20.53 (± 0.87) g per kg of dmi in beef and dairy cattle. However, total methanogens, total protozoa populations, and firmicutes: bacteroidetes (f: b) ratio can significantly affect this relationship. In addition, various dietary ch 4 interventions including ionophores, chemical compounds, legumes, essential oils, fats, saponins, probiotics, and plant secondary metabolites ( e.g. , tannins, saponins) have been investigated as methanogenesis inhibitors. However, in some cases, the desired anti-methanogenic effect may coexist with adverse effects such as decreasing dmi and feed efficiency. Tannins are thought to have both beneficial and detrimental effects on feed nutritive value and animal performance. One possible strategy to reduce GHG emissions is dietary modifications that include feeding tannin-rich diets to cattle and other ruminants. Properly designed tannin-rich diets can reduce GHG emissions as enteric CH 4 production without negative impacts on animal production. Therefore, GHG reduction strategies should be established to increase ruminant production efficiency, while minimizing losses of CH 4 and volatile organic compounds from animal agriculture.
Hemoptysis as an unusual presenting symptom of invasion of a descending thoracic aortic aneurysmal dissection by lung cancer.

A 70-year-old woman with a known chronic dissecting aneurysm of the descending thoracic aorta presented with new-onset back pain and hemoptysis. The hemoptysis was thought to be the result of invasion of the bronchial tree by the aneurysm. During surgical repair, a lesion that appeared to be a pulmonary abscess was discovered to be adhering to the aortic tissue, and the patient underwent a localized pulmonary resection. The pathology report of the surgical specimens revealed squamous cell carcinoma of the lung with infiltration of the aortic wall. The patient died of lung cancer 6 months later. Hemoptysis was an unusual presentation in a case of lung cancer that had invaded a stable chronic aortic aneurysm. (Tex Heart Inst J 2002;29:136–9)