cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Visualizing the effect of gold nanocages on absorption, imaging, and lower critical solution temperature phase transition of individual poly(NiPAM)-based hydrogel particles by near infrared multispectral imaging microscopy.

We have successfully utilized the near-infrared multispectral imaging (NIR-MSI) microscope to observe and measure directly images and spectra of individual hydrogel particles alone or with added gold nanocages (GNs). The NIR-MSI is suited for this task because it can simultaneously record spectral and spatial information of a sample with high sensitivity (single pixel resolution) and high spatial resolution (∼0.9 μm/pixel). Because both images and spectra of the individual particles can be directly and simultaneously measured by the microscope, it is possible to detect any changes in the spectroscopic properties and/or nature (size, volume) of individual hydrogel particles induced by external factors (e.g., temperature and/or pH). These features make it possible to determine lower critical solution temperature (LCST) values based on monitoring either changes in the NIR spectra or the volume of the hydrogel particle in response to variations in temperature. More importantly, the measured volume transition ...
Mechanisms and control of programmed cell death in invertebrates

Apoptosis is a morphologically distinct form of programmed cell death that plays important roles in development, tissue homeostasis and a wide variety of diseases, including cancer, AIDS, stroke, myopathies and various neurodegenerative disorders (see Thompson (1995) for review). It is now clear that apoptosis occurs by activating an intrinsic cell suicide program which is constitutively expressed in most animal cells, and that key components of this program have been conserved in evolution from worms to insects to man. Genetic studies of programmed cell death in experimentally highly accessible invertebrate model systems have provided important clues about the molecular nature of the death program, and the intracellular mechanisms that control its activation. This review summarizes some of the key findings in this area, but also touches on some of the many unresolved questions and challenges that remain.
Internal Corrosion Morphology and Products of NY-400 Strain Clamp under AC Conditions

Objective To study the internal AC corrosion of old strain clamp. Methods The strain clamp which has been run for36 years was cut and dissected. Scanning electron microscope( SEM),X-Ray diffraction( XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy( XPS) were used to observe and analyze the microstructure,elements and corrosion products in order to explore the evolution of internal corrosion damage of strain clamps. Results Lots of white corrosion product and black covering occurred on the inner surface of strain clamp and surface of aluminum conductor. White corrosion product presented two forms,powder and slice. The product consisted of Al2O3,Al O( OH) and Al OOH. The black covering reduced with increasing depth. The main elements were Al,O and C,and the phases were Al2O3,Carbon( graphite) and organic compounds. The aluminum conductor was corroded more seriously near the steel core where the Zn protective layer was damaged. The corrosion region was black. There were some iron-rich particles embedded in other corrosion products. The main elements were Al,C,O,Fe and Zn in the corrosion region,and the existing form of Fe element was Fe2O3. The local corrosion of the surface of the steel core was serious. It exhibited a planar pitting morphology. The main elements were Zn,Al,C and O,and the corrosion product of Zn was hexagonal wurtzite Zn O. Conclusion Liquid entering into strain clamp resulted in serious internal AC corrosion and produced a lot of heat,which decomposed the seal material.
Primary Signet Ring Cell Adenocarcinoma of the Bladder (Linitis Plastica of the Bladder): Report of a Case and Review of the Literature

AbstractSignet ring cell adenocarcinoma of the bladder is a rare tumor that usually presents as a diffuse and infiltrating neoplasm, similar to the linitis plastica type of gastric adenocarcinoma. We report the thirteenth case of primary signet ring cell adenocarcinoma of the bladder, which is documented by light microscopic, immunohistochemical and electron microscopic studies. The pertinent medical literature is reviewed and analyzed. In general, this tumor presents with hematuria and irritative symptoms, and may yield equivocal radiologic and cystoscopic findings. It is characterized by a rather rapid growth rate, infiltration of the surrounding pelvic organs, and variable response to radiotherapy and radical surgery. The prognosis is apparently favorably modified by early detection of localized forms of the tumor and aggressive treatment.
Time series model used for syndromic surveillance of influenza

通过对石家庄市流感流行规律分析[1,2],以实际效果和统计学原理论证了以药房药物销售量为代表的流感症状监测信息能够有效的服务于流感监测,症状监测与传统监测相结合是流感监测体系建设发展的目标[3,4].为了进一步了解流感症状监测信息,对2004年11月至2008年11月的门诊就诊量、药物销售量和学校缺勤率分别构建时间序列模型。
Associations between active living-oriented zoning and no adult leisure-time physical activity in the U.S.

Abstract Nearly one-third of adults report no leisure-time physical activity (LTPA). Governmental and authoritative bodies recognize the role that community design through zoning code changes can play in enabling LTPA. This study examined the association between zoning and no adult LTPA in the U.S. This study was conducted between 2012 and 2016, with analyses occurring in 2015–2016. Zoning codes effective as of 2010 were compiled for jurisdictions located in the 495 most populous U.S. counties and were evaluated for pedestrian-oriented code reform zoning, 11 active living-oriented provisions (e.g., sidewalks, bike-pedestrian connectivity, mixed use, bike lanes) and a summated zoning scale (max = 12). Individual-level LTPA data were obtained from the 2012 CDC Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). County-aggregated, population-weighted zoning variables were constructed for linking to BRFSS. Log-log multivariate regressions (N = 147,517 adults), controlling for individual and county characteristics and with robust standard errors clustered on county, were conducted to examine associations between zoning and no LTPA. Relative risks (RR) compared predicted lack of LTPA at 0% and 100% county-level population exposure to each zoning predictor. Zoning code reforms were associated with a 13% lower probability of no LTPA (RR: 0.87, 95% CI: 0.82–0.92). Except for crosswalks, all zoning provisions were associated with an 11–16% lower probability of no LTPA. Having all 12 zoning provisions was associated with a 22% lower probability of no LTPA (RR: 0.78, 95% CI: 0.72–0.83). The results suggest that active living-oriented zoning is a policy lever available to communities seeking to reduce rates of no LTPA.
Oral corticosteroids in the management of chronic rhinosinusitis with and without nasal polyps: Risks and benefits

BackgroundOral steroids are synthetic mimics of adrenal cortex hormones and are considered a staple in the management of chronic rhinosinusitis due to their anti-inflammatory effects. Despite their...
Early International Relations

We have thus far used the term Arabian for all the inhabitants of the peninsula without regard to geographical location. We must now differentiate between the South Arabians and the North Arabians, the latter including the Najdis of Central Arabia. The geographical division of the land by the trackless desert into northern and southern sections has its counterpart inthe peoples who inhabit it.
Hypoxia-inducible factors: a central link between inflammation and cancer

Abstract The tumor immune response is in a dynamic balance between antitumor mechanisms, which serve to decrease cancer growth, and the protumor inflammatory response, which increases immune tolerance, cell survival, and proliferation. Hypoxia and expression of HIF-1α and HIF-2α are characteristic features of all solid tumors. HIF signaling serves as a major adaptive mechanism in tumor growth in a hypoxic microenvironment. HIFs represent a critical signaling node in the switch to protumorigenic inflammatory responses through recruitment of protumor immune cells and altered immune cell effector functions to suppress antitumor immune responses and promote tumor growth through direct growth-promoting cytokine production, angiogenesis, and ROS production. Modulating HIF function will be an important mechanism to dampen the tumor-promoting inflammatory response and inhibit cancer growth.
Current Rural Drug Use in the US Midwest

The nature and challenge of illicit drug use in the United States continues to change rapidly, evolving in reaction to myriad social, economic, and local forces. While the use of illicit drugs affects every region of the country, most of our current information about drug use comes from large urban areas. Data on rural drug use and its harms justify greater attention. Record overdose rates, unexpected outbreaks of HIV, and a dearth of treatment facilities point to a rapidly worsening health situation. While health sciences have made considerable progress in understanding the etiology of drug use and uncovering the link between drug use and its myriad associated harms, this promising scientific news has not always translated to better health outcomes. The scope of the problem in the Central Plains of the US is growing, and can be estimated from available sources. Clear remedies for this rising level of abuse are available, but few have been implemented. Suggestions for short-term policy remedies are discussed.
Estimating population size of fishers (Pekania pennanti) using camera stations and auxiliary data on home range size

Estimating density and population size is often more challenging than measuring indices of abundance because of uncertainty about the effective area of surveys. We combined hierarchical modeling of detection/non-detection data from camera stations with auxiliary information on home range sizes to address this issue. We used this approach to estimate the total population size of fishers (Pekania pennanti) throughout the largest remaining native range (Northern California and Southern Oregon [NCSO], 48,760 km2) of this species in the Pacific States of the United States. After controlling for various habitat, gender, and survey factors affecting detection probability, local abundance, and home range size, we estimated an average density of 6.6 fishers per 100 km2 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 5.1–8.6) and a total of 3196 fishers (95% CI: 2507–4184). We mapped how fisher density varied throughout the range and demonstrated spatial autocorrelation in density at lag distances up to 40 km. These findings represent the first robust estimate of fisher population size for the range in NCSO. They are important for setting a baseline against which to monitor changes in population status and spatial distribution of fishers which are a species of conservation concern at federal and state levels. However, we note that our estimate of population size is very sensitive to assumptions about the effective area of camera surveys. Our methods could likely be applied to other forest carnivores and highlight the benefits of coordination between researchers to collect and share comparable survey and telemetry data.
Consent Decrees: An Approach to Police Accountability and Reform

Federal consent decrees have been a method of police reform available to the federal government since the 1990s. The consent decree process has been shrouded in secrecy for many years. Recently, the methods and data have become available allowing for more detailed analyses of the objectives and outcomes of these agreements. As a result, several reviews of consent decrees have been conducted, noting the successes and failures. Overall, consent decrees are successful in the short term but have not been sustainable. With the changing political landscape, consent decrees may not be available in the near future, and efforts will revert back to the individual agencies and their political entities. This special issue provides a window into the inner-workings of consent decrees through the perspectives of individuals who are involved with them. The authors of the articles are all involved with consent decrees and are reporting their experiences and assessments.
Opposing Effects of PD-1/PD-L1/L2 Engagement and IFN-γ/TNF-α in the Treatment of AML w/ Anti-CD33 Chimeric Antigen Receptor-Modified T Cells

Abstract Chimeric antigen receptor-modified T lymphocytes (CART cells) have shown benefit as an adjuvant immunotherapy in the treatment of B cell malignancies. This success of re-targeted T cells has not been extended to other hematologic malignancies. We have developed an immunotherapeutic approach to treat acute myeloid leukemia (AML) using CAR T cells re-directed against the myeloid-specific antigen CD33 (CART-33). CART-33 cells are potent and specific in eliminating AML cells in vitro and in vivo. Despite this, CART-33 cells have shown poor in vivo expansion and persistence in NOD-SCID IL2rγ (-/-) (NSG) AML xenograft models. To address the reason for this, we assessed the impact of AML-expressed programmed death ligands 1 & 2 (PD-L1/2) on CART-33 cell activity. PD-L1 inhibits T cell functions upon binding PD-1, which is upregulated with T cell activation. Less is known about PD-L2’s effect. Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), a primary effector cytokine secreted by CD4+ and CD8+ effector T cells, is a known potent inducer of PD-L1 on AML blasts. Using AML cell lines U937, Oci-AML3, CMK, and MV4-11 we show that IFN-γ, TNF-α, and activated CART-33 supernatant can induce up-regulation of PD-L1 and PD-L2 on AML. IFN-γ and TNF-α synergize strongly in up-regulating PD-1 ligands on AML. The kinetics and induction of PD-L2 are distinct from that of PD-L1. Although PD-L1 is well documented to suppress T cell function via ligation of T cell expressed PD-1, induction of PD-L1/L2 had no effect on the cytolytic activity of CART-33 cells against AML in short term ( Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Stereotactic radiosurgery of early melanoma brain metastases after initiation of anti-CTLA-4 treatment is associated with improved intracranial control.

Abstract Background Numerous studies suggest that radiation can boost antitumor immune response by stimulating release of tumor-specific antigens. However, the optimal timing between radiotherapy and immune checkpoint blockade to achieve potentially synergistic benefits is unclear. Material and methods Multi-institutional retrospective analysis was conducted of ninety-nine metastatic melanoma patients from 2007 to 2014 treated with ipilimumab who later received stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for new brain metastases that developed after starting immunotherapy. All patients had complete blood count acquired before SRS. Primary outcomes were intracranial disease control and overall survival (OS). Results The median follow-up time was 15.5 months. In the MD Anderson cohort, patients who received SRS after 5.5 months (n = 20) of their last dose of ipilimumab had significantly worse intracranial control than patients who received SRS within 5.5 months (n = 51) (median 3.63 vs. 8.09 months; hazard ratio [HR] 2.07, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.03–4.16, p = 0.041). OS was not different between the two arms. The improvement in intracranial control was confirmed in an independent validation cohort of 28 patients treated at Yale-New Haven Hospital. Circulating absolute lymphocyte count before SRS predicted for treatment response as those with baseline counts >1000/µL had reduced risk of intracranial recurrence compared with those with ≤1000/µL (HR 0.46, 95% CI 0.0.23–0.94, p = 0.03). Conclusions In this multi-institutional study, patients who received SRS for new brain metastases within 5.5 months after ipilimumab therapy had better intracranial disease control than those who received SRS later. Moreover, higher circulating lymphocyte count was associated with improved intracranial disease control.
Big Data and Analysis of Data Transfers for International Research Networks Using NetSage

Modern science is increasingly data-driven and collaborative in nature. Many scientific disciplines, including genomics, high-energy physics, astronomy, and atmospheric science, produce petabytes of data that must be shared with collaborators all over the world. The National Science Foundation-supported International Research Network Connection (IRNC) links have been essential to enabling this collaboration, but as data sharing has increased, so has the amount of information being collected to understand network performance. New capabilities to measure and analyze the performance of international wide-area networks are essential to ensure end-users are able to take full advantage of such infrastructure for their big data applications. NetSage is a project to develop a unified, open, privacy-aware network measurement, and visualization service to address the needs of monitoring today's high-speed international research networks. NetSage collects data on both backbone links and exchange points, which can be as much as 1Tb per month. This puts a significant strain on hardware, not only in terms storage needs to hold multi-year historical data, but also in terms of processor and memory needs to analyze the data to understand network behaviors. This paper addresses the basic NetSage architecture, its current data collection and archiving approach, and details the constraints of dealing with this big data problem of handling vast amounts of monitoring data, while providing useful, extensible visualization to end users.
Acoustic reflection and transmission by sub-critical and super-critical elastic partitions with structural discontinuities forced by multiple-angle oblique broadband sound waves

An analysis is presented for acoustic reflection and transmission from an infinite fluid-loaded flexible barrier with spatially periodic discontinuities. The plate, with similar or dissimilar acoustic fluids on both sides, is excited by an oblique wave incident acoustic field. The fully-coupled structural/acoustic problem is treated by Analytical-Numerical Matching (ANM) which improves the numerical accuracy and convergence rate. Periodic spatial discontinuities, modelled by various boundary conditions, create deviations from specular directivity. For super-critical structural wave speeds, the scattering is characterized by a distribution of reflection and transmission angles centered around the Mach Angles. For sub-critical structural waves, energy redistribution is most pronounced at the structural resonances. These results are compared to a baffled finite barrier analyzed by approximate means. For the subcritical finite barrier, a fluid loading correction is introduced to the structural wavenumber to approximate the effects of the fluid coupling and radiation damping. For subsonic flexural waves, the radiation is analyzed in terms of the wavenumber transform and interpreted as a series of edge singularities dependent on the boundary conditions. For the super-critical configuration, the effects of the fluid loading are introduced by approximating the structural wavenumber from the dispersion relation of the free response of the unbounded structure.An analysis is presented for acoustic reflection and transmission from an infinite fluid-loaded flexible barrier with spatially periodic discontinuities. The plate, with similar or dissimilar acoustic fluids on both sides, is excited by an oblique wave incident acoustic field. The fully-coupled structural/acoustic problem is treated by Analytical-Numerical Matching (ANM) which improves the numerical accuracy and convergence rate. Periodic spatial discontinuities, modelled by various boundary conditions, create deviations from specular directivity. For super-critical structural wave speeds, the scattering is characterized by a distribution of reflection and transmission angles centered around the Mach Angles. For sub-critical structural waves, energy redistribution is most pronounced at the structural resonances. These results are compared to a baffled finite barrier analyzed by approximate means. For the subcritical finite barrier, a fluid loading correction is introduced to the structural wavenumber to a...
Further study of α + α scattering

The α + α scattering problem is investigated with the resonating-group method in the one-channel approximation, using an improved nucleon-nueleon potential. The results are significantly better than those obtained in previous α + α calculations using this method.
Introduction to Non-Relativistic Transport Theories

We give an introduction to non-relativistic transport theories. In the first part, we show how kinetic equations can be derived from the BBGKY hierarchy. Maxwell models are briefly discussed. The hydrodynamical regime and the Chapman-Enskog solution for classical systems are reviewed. Applications to noble gases are given. We give an outline of the Boltzmann-Langevin method for dealing with fluctuations. The semi-classical description of nuclear systems is discussed by comparing TDHF simulations to Vlasov calculations. The second part is devoted to quantal non-relativistic systems. It is based on the Green’s function formalism. Special emphasis is given to the time-ordering method proposed by Keldysh. It is shown that a generalized Boltzmann equation can be obtained via smoothness arguments. This equation reduces to the semi-classical Landau-Vlasov equation in the quasi-particle approximation and the T-matrix approximation. Examples like the impurity scattering problem and Fermi liquids are given. It is argued that for nuclear systems as those encountered in heavy-ion collisions above 200–300 MeV/nucleon a proper account of the quantal effects in the collisional regime is required.
Effect of ${\rm RuCl}_{3}$ on Morphology and Magnetic Properties of CoNi Nanowires

Ferromagnetic CoNi nanocrystals with different shape and size were synthesized by reduction in liquid polyol via heterogeneous nucleation. Morphological, structural and compositional characterizations of the nanocrystals were performed together with magnetic property measurements. The CoNi nanocrystals can be controlled to form nanowires or nanorods with length of 20-200 nm and diameter of 5-20 nm by using different catalyst concentration in the synthesis. It is found that the magnetic coercivity of the CoNi nanowires/ nanorods depends on the morphology. The highest coercive force of 2.9 kOe was obtained for nanowires of 50 × 200 nm with Co80Ni20 composition.
Biologic-response modifiers and adjuvant chemotherapy: consideration of selected preclinical investigations in relation to clinical potential.

In cancer therapeutics, attention has been focused increasingly on the interrelationship between host responses to tumor, tumor effects on the host, and effects of the antitumor treatment being studied. Biologic-response modifiers include agents or approaches that are capable of modifying the tumor-host relationships in such manner that there is an alteration in host response to tumor cells. Since such an alteration may be beneficial, it is of interest to consider the potentiality of biologic- response modifiers in the management of cancer.
Cost of inpatient admissions for immune-related adverse effects from immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy: A single center experience.

3060Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors such as anti-CTLA4 and anti-PD1 antibodies represent a paradigm shift in the treatment of many advanced malignancies. However, immune related adverse ef...
FDA analyses of survival in older adults with metastatic non–small cell lung cancer in controlled trials of PD-1/PD-L1 blocking antibodies

Abstract Background Among patients with newly diagnosed non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), approximately 70% occur in those above 65 years of age and more than half are metastatic or locally advanced NSCLC. Methods Retrospective analyses pooling data across 4 randomized clinical trials comparing programmed death 1 receptor (PD-1) or programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) to docetaxel for the treatment of patients with advanced or metastatic NSCLC with disease progression on or after a platinum-containing therapy were conducted. Demographics, efficacy, and safety data from these trials were pooled and aggregated based on age. The relative treatment effects on overall survival (OS) across age groups were evaluated using Kaplan–Meier methodology. A meta-analysis was performed comparing OS across age groups treated with PD-1/PD-L1 blocking antibodies compared with those treated with docetaxel, as a common control arm across trials. A Cox Proportional Hazards model, stratified by clinical trial, was used and a univariate and multivariate adjusted analysis of OS to further identify trends in efficacy across age groups. Results Among patients treated with PD-1/PD-L1 blocking antibodies enrolled across the 4 clinical trials, 42% were >65 years of age, 99% had ECOG performance status of 0–1, 75% had received 1 prior therapy, and 76% were diagnosed with Stage IV disease. In the pooled analysis of 2,824 patients across both arms, the treatment effects in age-defined subgroups were similar, with a hazard ratios (HR), unadjusted or adjusted, for OS of 0.71 (95% confidence interval 0.63, 0.80) in patients Grade 3 or 4 treatment-related adverse events with PD-1/PD-L1 blocking antibodies were less frequent in patients ≥75 years (23%) compared to patients> 65 year ( 49%) and 65 years (47%), as were serious adverse events (30%, 32.5%, 15%); however, treatment-emergent adverse events leading to discontinuation of treatment (7%, 7%, and 5%) in those subgroups ≤65 years, >65 years, and >75 years, respectively, were similar. Conclusions Patients 65 and older with advanced and metastatic NSCLC, including those ≥75 years, seem to derive similar survival benefits from treatment with PD-1/PD-L1 blocking antibodies as patients 65 years of age.
Rogue Two: Reflections on the Creative and Technological Development of the Audiovisual Duo—The Rebel Scum

This article examines the development of the audiovisual duo Obi-Wan Codenobi and The Wookie (authors Shawn Lawson and Ryan Ross Smith respectively). The authors trace a now four-year trajectory of technological and artistic development, while highlighting the impact that a more recent physical displacement has had on the creative and collaborative aspects of the project. We seek to reflect upon the creative and technological journey through our collaboration, including Lawson’s development of The Force, an OpenGL shader-based live-coding environment for generative visuals, while illuminating our experiences with, and takeaways from, live coding in practice and performance, EDM in general and algorave culture specifically.
Gravitational form factors of light mesons

We calculate the gravitational form factors of the pion, $\ensuremath{\sigma}$ meson, and $\ensuremath{\rho}$ meson in the Nambu--Jona-Lasinio model of quantum chromodynamics. The canonical energy-momentum tensor (EMT) is used in their derivation, allowing the possibility of an antisymmetric contribution when the hadron has intrinsic spin. We show that the asymmetric graviton vertex arising from the canonical EMT satisfies a simpler Ward-Takahashi identity (WTI) than the symmetric graviton vertex of the Belinfante EMT. The necessity of fully dressing the graviton vertex through the relevant Bethe-Salpeter equation is demonstrated for observing both the WTI and a low-energy pion theorem. Lastly, we calculate static moments of the meson EMT decompositions, obtaining predictions for the meson mass radii. We find light cone mass radii of 0.27 fm for the pion, 0.32 fm for the $\ensuremath{\sigma}$, and 0.32 fm for the $\ensuremath{\rho}$. For the pion and $\ensuremath{\rho}$, these are smaller than the light cone charge radii, respectively 0.51 fm and 0.45 fm, while we have a $\ensuremath{\sigma}$ charge radius of zero. Our light cone pion mass radius agrees with a phenomenological extraction from KEKB data.
Identification of depth and size of subsurface defects by a multiple-voltage probe sensor : Analytical and neural network techniques

A theoretical study was conducted using a multiple-voltage probe sensor for detecting nonconducting inclusions in conducting media. Results show that the multiple-voltage probe sensor is capable of providing precise quantitative measurements of submerged nonconducting objects if the surface voltage response has a standard two-peak form. The standard response is observed for well-localized non-slender single inclusions below the sensor surface. In this case, the peak separation distance is associated with the inclusion depth whereas the peak magnitude is associated with the inclusion volume. Linear dependencies of the inclusion depth and the inclusion volume are observed for a wide variety of inclusion shapes. The predefined form of the surface voltage response makes it feasible to identify useful signal responses at very high noise levels. This is accomplished by using a 2D neural network classifier, based on the probabilistic neural network. A reasonable recognition error of less than 20 % is obtained if the signal-to-noise ratio is larger than or equal to 1/10. A metal casting example shows that the multiple-voltage probe sensor can measure inclusion concentrations in hot conducting melts (gas bubbles and sludge) with inclusion radii in the range from 100 to 1000 μm. In contrast to existing particle counter technology, this sensor construction is simple to construct and does not require special aperture and vacuum treatment.
Small Town Values: Exploring the Values of Latina College Students from Rural Communities

This multiple-case study sought to understand the values of Latina college students from rural communities and how those values impacted their choices concerning higher education. Archival records,...
Mentoring to engage diverse undergraduate nursing students in honors research.

Background A diverse workforce is necessary to reflect our communities and impact the health disparities of our increasingly diverse populations. Students from ethnic minority and socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds face many challenges and barriers to their academic success. Faculty must try new ways of supporting the engagement of this student population to positively affect quality outcomes for the entire community. Methods High-performing students were recruited from undergraduate research courses to participate in a study to determine how honors research mentoring programs affect the engagement of undergraduate nursing students from ethnic minority and socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds. Findings Study participants who were mentored for 3 years had a retention rate of 98%, compared to a rate of 73% in the year before the start of the mentoring initiative with faculty. NCLEX (National Council Licensure Examination)-RN pass rates were 95% for those in the mentoring program, compared to 84% for those not mentored. Of the students completing the program and passing the NCLEX-RN, 100% are employed in the local community. Conclusions A competent and diverse nursing workforce is a priority for eliminating health disparities in rural and underserved communities. Supporting ethnic minority and socioeconomically disadvantaged students is valuable to bridging this gap and positively influencing our communities.
Impaired labyrinth formation prevents the establishment of the maternal-fetal interface in conditional Hand1-deficient mice

Abstract Introduction Congenital heart defects (CHD) affect approximately 1% of all live births, and often require complex surgeries at birth. Placental development and function is vital to ensure normal fetal development. We have previously demonstrated abnormal placental development and vascularization in human CHD placentas, and placental expression changes in genes important for heart development. Hand1 has roles in both heart and placental development and is implicated in CHDs including double right outlet, hypoplastic left heart syndrome, and septal defects; however, Hand1 involvement in placental vascularization and development is under-investigated. We utilized the Hand1A126fs/+ murine model to investigate Hand1 in placentation and vascularization. Methods Hand1A126fs/+ female mice were time-mated with Nkx2.5cre (placenta- and heart-specific) males to produce either Nkx2.5cre;Hand1+/+ or Nkx2.5cre;Hand1A126fs/+ fetuses. Feto-placental units were harvested at timepoints from E8.5 to E14.5 for histological analysis; vascular assessment by immunohistochemistry for Hand1, CD-31, and CK-7; and angiogenesis by qPCR. Results Embryonic lethality occurs in Nkx2.5cre/Hand1A126fs/+ by E14.5 due to a failure of placental labyrinth formation and vascularization. Chorionic trophoblasts did not form, although trophoblast giant cell subtypes were present. Fetal vessels failed to develop properly and were significantly lower in the labyrinth by day E12.5. Placental growth factor levels were significantly increased, and Angiopoietin2 expression trended higher in Nkx2.5cre/Hand1 A126fs/+ placental labyrinths compared to control littermates. Conclusion We demonstrate that Hand1 expression in placental chorion and trophoblast is necessary for proper patterning of the labyrinth and vascularization within the labyrinth. Multiple angiogenic factors known to be expressed in trophoblast were disrupted in Nkx2.5cre/Hand1 A126fs/+ placental labyrinths compared to control littermates. Alterations in Hand1 expression represent a potential mechanism for abnormal placentation and early miscarriage in cases of CHD.
Exterior Robin Problem

The exterior Robin problem consists in finding u such that $$\displaystyle \begin {array}{rl} &Au(x)=0,\quad x\in S^-,\\ &\big (T-\sigma (x)\big )u(x)=\mathscr {R}(x),\quad x\in {\partial S},\\ &u\in \mathscr {A}^*, \end {array} $$ where the symmetric, positive definite, continuous 3 × 3 matrix function σ and the vector function \(\mathscr {R}\in C^{0,\alpha }({\partial S})\), α ∈ (0, 1), are prescribed.
Cyber security during the COVID-19 pandemic

COVID-19 has changed the way cyber security is viewed by corporations in the global community. Not only did COVID-19 make many individuals work at home, sometimes on their own computers, and using their own routers, virus protection, etc., the lack of cyber security protection that individuals can provide against hacker attacks, especially for highly sensitive information can be limited. This paper introduces major technologies (such as 5G, blockchain, telemedicine, and big data) in fighting COVID-19, cyber-attacks, and cyber risks (due to peopleos actions as well as systems and technology failures) during the COVID-19 pandemic, cyber security for telework, cyber security of Internet of Things (IoT) and telemedicine, and cyber security based on blockchain technology. Blockchain helps mitigate the risks of COVID-19 and improves the privacy and security of health systems.
Stability-indicating HPLC method to determine the stability of extemporaneously prepared vancomycin oral solution cups.

Purpose To determine the stability of compounded sweetened vancomycin oral formulations in plastic unit dose cups stored up to 180 days under 2 temperature conditions: refrigeration (2°C-6°C) and room temperature (25°C with 60% relative humidity). Methodology A stability-indicating high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was developed to analyze vancomycin in the presence of degradation peaks. The stability of extemporaneously compounded vancomycin solution stored in oral unit dose cups was investigated using this method. The tested vancomycin oral solutions were compounded formulations of 125 mg/2.5 mL and 500 mg/10 mL. Three oral unit dose cups from each storage condition were withdrawn and assessed for stability on days 0, 3, 7, 15, 22, 30, 90, 120, 150, and 180 as per United States Pharmacopeia guidelines. The assay of vancomycin was carried out by using a calibrated stability-indicating HPLC method. Results The stability-indicating HPLC assay showed that vancomycin completely degraded within 2 hours when exposed to highly acidic or basic pH conditions. No precipitation, cloudiness, or color changes were observed during the study under either temperature condition. The HPLC assay revealed that vancomycin oral solution cups retained greater than 90% of the initial concentrations of vancomycin for 30 days when stored at room temperature (25°C and 60% relative humidity) and for 180 days with refrigeration (2°C-6°C). Conclusion Vancomycin oral formulations were stable for long-term storage periods beyond those specified in manufacture guidelines. Our data suggests the extended stability of vancomycin oral solutions compounded for hospital use can be extended.
Enhancing Latent Space Clustering in Multi-filter Seq2Seq Model: A Reinforcement Learning Approach.

In sequence-to-sequence language processing tasks, sentences with heterogeneous semantics or grammatical structures may increase the difficulty of convergence while training the network. To resolve this problem, we introduce a model that concentrates the each of the heterogeneous features in the input-output sequences. Build upon the encoder-decoder architecture, we design a latent-enhanced multi-filter seq2seq model (LMS2S) that analyzes the latent space representations using a clustering algorithm. The representations are generated from an encoder and a latent space enhancer. A cluster classifier is applied to group the representations into clusters. A soft actor-critic reinforcement learning algorithm is applied to the cluster classifier to enhance the clustering quality by maximizing the Silhouette score. Then, multiple filters are trained by the features only from their corresponding clusters, the heterogeneity of the training data can be resolved accordingly. Our experiments on semantic parsing and machine translation demonstrate the positive correlation between the clustering quality and the model's performance, as well as show the enhancement our model has made with respect to the ordinary encoder-decoder model.
SANDS: An Architecture for Clinical Decision Support in a National Health Information Network

A new architecture for clinical decision support called SANDS (Service-oriented Architecture for NHIN Decision Support) is introduced and its performance evaluated. The architecture provides a method for performing clinical decision support across a network, as in a health information exchange. Using the prototype we demonstrated that, first, a number of useful types of decision support can be carried out using our architecture; and, second, that the architecture exhibits desirable reliability and performance characteristics.
Rational approach to treatment options for Lennox-Gastaut syndrome

Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) is an intractable childhood-onset epileptic encephalopathy. Seizure freedom is rare in LGS. One of the hallmarks of LGS is medical intractability, with generally poor response to antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). Nevertheless, several treatment options are available that can mitigate the severity of seizures and curtail their frequency. New AEDs have been validated in randomized, controlled trials for the treatment of seizures in LGS. In some cases, nonpharmacologic options may be effective, although more data are needed to confirm efficacy outcomes. Comprehensive patient assessments are critical to achieve an optimal AED treatment regimen and minimize the potential for adverse effects.
Spatiotemporal analysis of simultaneous single-unit activity in the dragonfly

Continuous neural spiking records were obtained from the mesothoracic ganglion of the dragonfly. For analysis the 12 s records of all 58 discriminated cells were "tracked" across three continuous behavioral states: pre-flight, flight and post-flight. The recorded spike amplitudes and angles (widths) for each cell were used to construct a simple map of individual cell positions relative to each other within the ganglion. Individual cell activity patterns were then characterized both with respect to neighboring cell locations and patterns of cell spiking observed across three behavioral states. The results indicated that this technique for constructing a "neighboring cell map" effectively reflects the known histological features of the ganglionic cell architecture. The gross firing histories of individual cells were found to correspond to the overall spike patterns of neighboring ganglionic cells as opposed to more distal cells. Such relationships suggest that the physical layout of this ganglionic network may help to determine or bias individual cell firing histories that occur during different behavioral states in the dragonfly.
Infections and Inequalities

Anthrax. The word conjures images of germ warfare, which is pretty ridiculous when you discover that we're not really sure anthrax has ever been used in this fashion. Germ warfare is certainly not what came to mind when a six-year-old girl showed up in our clinic with half of her face puffed up like a balloon, her right eye swollen shut (Figure 1). We were in rural Haiti, where a very different sort of germ warfare is the rule. So what came to mind that day was the word epidemic, and sure enough a young woman from the same village was also diagnosed with cutaneous anthrax—called charbon in Haiti, "malignant pustule" in the older textbooks—on her right chest wall. Soon after their arrival, both were receiving intravenous penicillin; they would recover completely. Later that night, the clinic's medical staff held a meeting. Another anthrax case had been diagnosed a few days earlier, and the patient was from the same area. It seemed increasingly likely that we were dealing with an epidemic. By morning, we learned that a young man from the village had just died of charbon. Why? "Because he didn't have enough money to get here." It costs no more than four dollars to take a truck from their village to our clinic. It was an epidemic, all right, and it had already taken a life.
Evaluating Bluetooth as a medium for botnet command and control

Malware targeting mobile phones is being studied with increasing interest by the research community. While such attention has previously focused on viruses and worms, many of which use near-field communications in order to propagate, none have investigated whether more complex malware such as bot-nets can effectively operate in this environment. In this paper, we investigate the challenges of constructing and maintaining mobile phone-based botnets communicating nearly exclusively via Bluetooth. Through extensive large-scale simulation based on publicly available Bluetooth traces, we demonstrate that such a malicious infrastructure is possible in many areas due to the largely repetitive nature of human daily routines. In particular, we demonstrate that command and control messages can propagate to approximately 2/3 of infected nodes within 24 hours of being issued by the botmaster. We then explore how traditional defense mechanisms can be modified to take advantage of the same information to more effectively mitigate such systems. In so doing, we demonstrate that mobile phone-based botnets are a realistic threat and that defensive strategies should be modified to consider them.
Quantitative bacteriology of the vaginal flora in vaginitis

Vaginal flora was studied quantitatively in 29 sexually active women, 16 to 33 years of age, to define the role of C. vaginale in vaginitis. Seventeen were asymptomatic and 12 complained of symptoms of vaginitis. Seven asymptomatic women had scant secretions: four of these seven had C. vaginale at log10 6 to 9 CFU per milliliter, none of whom had "clue" cells; none had trichomonas or candida; six had lactobacilli at log10 7 to 9.7 per milliliter; only one had Bacteroidaceae at greater than log10 5 per milliliter. Ten asymptomatic women had easily collectable secretions; eight of 10 had C. vaginale at log10 6.5 to 9.6 per milliliter, three of whom had "clue" cells; four had trichomonas and none candida; nine had Lactobacilli at log10 7 to 9.3 per milliliter; four had Bacteroidaceae at greater than log10 5 per milliliter. Twelve had vaginitis: five of 12 had C. vaginale at log10 7.9 to 11 per milliliter, one of whom had "clue" cells; nine had either trichomonas or candida or both and three had no pathogen, including C. vaginale; 10 had Lactobacilli at log10 7 to 10 per milliliter; six had Bacteriodaceae at greater than log10 5 per milliliter. Three had "clue" cells in absence of C. vaginale.
Impact of National Board for the Professional Teaching Standards Certification on Student Achievement

A growing number of teachers have undertaken National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) certification training since its inception over twenty-five years ago. Previous empirical research on the impact of NBCTs on student performance has focused on state or district- level exams in individual states and found mixed results. This study examines the relationship between National Board Certified Teachers (NBCTs) and student achievement on the reading and math assessments of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). We argue that achievement can be affected both directly by the certified teacher and indirectly as NBCTs provide mentoring to colleagues and assume school leadership positions. This study focuses on a nationally representative assessment to measure student achievement rather than state- or district-level assessment exams. We find that the percentage of National Board certified teachers in a state is positively related to scores on state-level NAEP Reading and Math assessments.
The effect of Hydrocortisone on the kinetics of normal human lymphocytes.

Lymphocyte kinetic studies employing 51-chromium-labeled autologous lymphocytes were performed in nine normal volunteers in order to determine the effects of hydrocortisone administration on the recirculating versus the nonrecirculating intravascular lymphocyte pools. Following infusion of labeled cells, the recirculating portion of the labeled cells rapidly equilibrated with the total intravascular lymphocyte pool and the vastly larger total-body recirculating lymphocyte pool, so that by 1 hr following infusion 21.8% plus or minus 3.2% of the labeled lymphocytes were left in the circulation. Four hundred milligrams of intravenous hydrocortisone administered 24 hr after infusion of labeled cells caused a profound but transient lymphocytopenia which was maximal at 4 hr with return of lymphocyte counts to normal by 24 hr after injection. Concomitant with the lymphocytopenia there was a dramatic increase in lymphocyte specific activity (cpm per 10–6 lymphocytes), while the total lymphocyte- associated radioactivity remaining in the circulation was unchanged, indicating that corticosteroid administration depleted the unlabeled recirculating cells. As the lymphocyte counts returned to normal following hydrocortisone, the specific activity also returned to normal. These studies indicated that hydrocortisone administration caused a transient lymphocytopenia by a preferential depletion of the recirculating portion of the intravascular lymphocyte pool.
Inlet and outlet valve flow and regurgitant volume may be directly and reliably quantified with accelerated, volumetric phase-contrast MRI.

Purpose To determine whether it is feasible to use solely an accelerated 4D-PC MRI acquisition to quantify net and regurgitant flow volume through each of the cardiac valves.