cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
UV light activates a Gαq/11-coupled phototransduction pathway in human melanocytes.

While short exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) can elicit increased skin pigmentation, a protective response mediated by epidermal melanocytes, chronic exposure can lead to skin cancer and photoaging. However, the molecular mechanisms that allow human skin to detect and respond to UVR remain incompletely understood. UVR stimulates a retinal-dependent signaling cascade in human melanocytes that requires GTP hydrolysis and phospholipase C β (PLCβ) activity. This pathway involves the activation of transient receptor potential A1 (TRPA1) ion channels, an increase in intracellular Ca2+, and an increase in cellular melanin content. Here, we investigated the identity of the G protein and downstream elements of the signaling cascade and found that UVR phototransduction is Gαq/11 dependent. Activation of Gαq/11/PLCβ signaling leads to hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol (4,5)-bisphosphate (PIP2) to generate diacylglycerol (DAG) and inositol 1, 4, 5-trisphosphate (IP3). We found that PIP2 regulated TRPA1-mediated photocurrents, and IP3 stimulated intracellular Ca2+ release. The UVR-elicited Ca2+ response appears to involve both IP3-mediated release from intracellular stores and Ca2+ influx through TRPA1 channels, showing the fast rising phase of the former and the slow decay of the latter. We propose that melanocytes use a UVR phototransduction mechanism that involves the activation of a Gαq/11-dependent phosphoinositide cascade, and resembles light phototransduction cascades of the eye.
Warrior or worrier: Is the British army producing the right man to command its troops on operations?

In his prize‐winning essay, Brigadier Denaro focuses on a key issue facing the British Armed Forces today, namely the quality of its commanders. Examining the traditional attributes of the war commander, he discusses how far these are relevant today and how they may have changed, exploring current selection and training processes, differentiating between the needs of peace time and war. He concludes that qualities always required of the commander are as necessary now as ever, although the nature of future conflict has changed certain emphases. It is the selection process itself which is seen as flawed, relying on outmoded criteria and sensibilities. More active and thorough training, and appraisal is required now to produce the commanders needed or the next century.
Recombination Behaviour of Stacking Faults in SiC p-i-n Diodes

In this paper the electrical activity of stacking faults and that of their bounding partial dislocations in degraded PiN diodes has been investigated by the technique of electron beam induced current (EBIC). The recombination behavior of C- and Si-core dislocations is discussed. It is proposed that nonradiative recombination significantly exceeds radiative recombination on both the C- and Si-core partial dislocations. At the same time, predominantly radiative recombination takes place in the faulted planes that presumably act as quantum wells.
Signals Released from Alfalfa Regulate Microbial Activities in the Rhizosphere

The discovery that flavonoids from legumes induce transcription of nodulation (nod) genes in Rhizobium (Firmin et al 1986, Peters et al 1986, Redmond et al 1986) and Bradyrhizobium (Kosslak et al 1987) bacteria created new opportunities for soil microbiology. While initial work has centered on studies of how plant signals regulate microbial genes, future investigations will explore the ecological significance of microbial responses to plant signals. Both paths will increase our understanding of Rhizobium-legume associations, but agronomic applications may flow more rapidly from ecological studies that clarify how microbial responses change when plant signals are altered.
Resonant recoil in extreme mass ratio binary black hole mergers

The inspiral and merger of a binary black hole system generally leads to an asymmetric distribution of emitted radiation, and hence a recoil of the remnant black hole directed opposite to the net linear momentum radiated. The recoil velocity is generally largest for comparable mass black holes and particular spin configurations, and approaches zero in the extreme mass ratio limit. It is generally believed that for extreme mass ratios η≪1, the scaling of the recoil velocity is |V|∝η^2, where the proportionality coefficient depends on the spin of the larger hole and the geometry of the system (e.g. orbital inclination). The small recoil velocity is due to cancellations; while the fraction of the total binary mass radiated away in gravitational waves is O(η), most of this energy is emitted during the inspiral phase where the momentum radiated integrates to zero over an orbit. Here, we show that for low but nonzero inclination prograde orbits and very rapidly spinning large holes (spin parameter a_⋆>0.9678) the inspiralling binary can pass through resonances where the orbit-averaged radiation-reaction force is nonzero. These resonance crossings lead to a new contribution to the kick, |V|∝η^(3/2). For these configurations and sufficiently extreme mass ratios, this resonant recoil is dominant. While it seems doubtful that the resonant recoil will be astrophysically significant, its existence suggests caution when extrapolating the results of numerical kick results to extreme mass ratios and near-maximal spins.
YOUTH, LEARNING, AND SOCIAL MEDIA

Returning from a conference on a flight from Dallas, I was struck by how, on a seemingly daily basis, we witness accounts of people altering conventional practices and connecting in new ways using emerging web-enabled technologies. As e-books outsell hard covers by over 40%, I should not have been surprised by Delta passengers tapping into the free Wi-Fi via their iPads and reading electronic book titles layered with links to extra content such as videos, the author’s spoken commentary, and increasingly, social reading options, such as note-sharing, social highlighting, real-time book discussions, ratings, tags, and links to Facebook and Twitter (Watters, 2010). We are witnessing similar trends in education. In the last 10 years, Internet access, the nature of the web, and contexts for learning have been transformed, and new desired competencies for learners, teachers, and administrators have emerged. Such shifts have impacted constructs for learning, instruction, and paths for future research (Greenhow, Robelia, & Hughes, 2009a, 2009b). Internetconnectivity in schools, homes, neighborhoods, and communities has become increasingly pervasive, enabling expanded sites for formal and informal learning. Moreover, technological advancements have contributed increasingly to young people’s adoption of social media, a term often used interchangeably with Web 2.0, to refer to online applications which promote users, their interconnections, and user-generated content (Barnes, 2006; Cormode & Krishnamurthy, 2008). Ninety percent of school-aged youth now use the Internet regularly, with over 75% of adolescents aged 12 to 17 using social media (DeBell & Chapman, 2006; Lenhart, Arafeh, Smith, & Macgill, 2008; Lenhart, Madden, & Hitlin, 2005).
Small-deformation theory for a surfactant-covered drop in linear flows

A small-deformation perturbation analysis is developed to study the effect of surfactant on drop dynamics in viscous flows. The surfactant is assumed to be insoluble in the bulk-phase fluids; the viscosity ratio and surfactant elasticity parameters are arbitrary. Under small-deformation conditions, the drop dynamics are described by a system of ordinary differential equations; the governing equations are given explicitly for the case of axisymmetric and two-dimensional imposed flows. Analytical results accurate to third order in the flow-strength parameter (capillary number) are derived (i) for the stationary drop shape and surfactant distribution in simple shear and axisymmetric straining flows, and (ii) for the rheology of a dilute emulsion in shear flow which include a shear-thinning viscosity and non-zero normal stresses. For drops with clean interfaces, the small-deformation theory presented here improves the results of Barthes-Biesel & Acrivos (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 61, 1973, p. 1). Boundary integral simulations are used to test our theory and explore large-deformation conditions.
Effect of Dietary Lipids on Growth of Transplantable Neoplasms in Mice.

SummaryThe incidence of susceptibility of inbred mice to 2 transplantable neoplasms, L1210 leukemia and adenocarcinoma 755, was not influenced by variation in the dietary fats. Diets deficient in fat likewise had neither inhibiting nor stimulating activity in the pathogenesis of the 2 neoplasms.The authors are indebted to Dr. Clyde Culbertson and Dr. Irving Johnson, Eli Lilly and Co., for help in supplying mice and transplantable tumers, and to Mr. James F. Glore, Dept. of Illustration at the Medical Center, for preparation of graphs. The capable technical assistance of Pearl Driver, Betty Corya, Shirley Stockslager, and Donna King is also appreciated.
Further Research is Needed to Define the Benefits of Non-operative Rotator Cuff Treatment:

Kukkonen et al.'s "Treatment of Nontraumatic Rotator Cuff Tears: A Randomized Controlled Trial with Two Years of Clinical and Imaging Follow-up" compared the efficacy of physical therapy, acromioplasty, and rotator cuff repair for the treatment of degenerative supraspinatus tendon tears in patients aged over 55. This review examines the authors' findings and their implications on clinical practice. Kukkonen et al. reported no significant difference in clinical outcome among patients treated operatively versus non-operatively for degenerative rotator cuff tears. The authors concluded that non-operative treatment is an appropriate option for patients aged 55 or older. Rotator cuff treatment outcomes are closely linked to patient age, and while this level I study found no evidence of a benefit of surgical treatment, the age range in the studied demographic was perhaps too wide to draw generalizable conclusions. Furthermore, 2-year follow-up may be inadequate to fully demonstrate the differences in outcomes between these treatment options.
A single asperity sliding contact model for molecularly thin lubricant

Molecularly thin lubricants are important in protecting the recording head and the rotating disk in a magnetic storage hard disk drive from mechanical damage induced by contact. Direct contact is more likely to occur at lower head-media spacing, which is the distance between the rotating magnetic disk and the head that reads/writes the data, and is highly desirable to be extremely low (in the nanometer range) for Terabit/in2 areal densities. Solid contact mechanics of the head-disk interface has been well addressed through extensive experiments and modeling, by neglecting the effect of the molecularly thin lubricant. Considering the important role of the lubricant, it is necessary to investigate the contact mechanics that include the lubricant. The present study develops a mechanics-based model to account for the nanoscale phenomena including slippage, nonlinear viscosity and bonded lubricant fraction, thus providing a measure to bridge the hydrodynamic lubrication and solid contact regimes at the nanoscale. Results show that the friction coefficient increases with the bonded ratio, which correlates with experimental observations.
Safety and Efficacy of Long-Term Use of Extended Release Cornstarch Therapy for Glycogen Storage Disease Types 0, III, VI, and IX

Background : Impaired glycogen release with fasting results in hypoglycemia in the glycogen storage diseases. A waxy-maize extended release cornstarch was introduced in the United States in 2012 to maintain glucose concentrations during the overnight period, but no studies have assessed the long-term safety and efficacy of this product in the ketotic forms of GSD. Objective : To assess long-term safety and efficacy of modified cornstarch in patients with ketotic forms of GSD. Design : An open label overnight trial of extended release cornstarch was performed. Subjects who had a successful trial (defined as optimal metabolic control lasting 2 or more hours more than with traditional cornstarch) were given the option of continuing into the long-term observational phase. Participants were assessed biochemically at baseline and after 12 months. Results : A total of 16 subjects participated in the open label trial. Efficacy was demonstrated in 100% of the subjects with GSD 0, III, VI, and IX. Of the patients who entered the longitudinal phase, long-term data are available for all subjects. The mean duration of overnight fasting on traditional cornstarch prior to the study for the cohort was 4.9 hours and 9.6 hours on the extended release cornstarch ( P < 0.001). All laboratory markers of metabolic control have remained stable in the chronically treated patients. Conclusion : Extended release cornstarch dramatically prolongs the overnight fast duration, maximizes safety from hypoglycemic events, reduces the possibility of sleep deprivation, and improves the quality of life of patients by eliminating the need to awaken without fail for middle of the night therapy without sacrificing metabolic control.
The Citrus Rust Mite Game: A Simulation Model of Pest Losses

The citrus rust mite game (CRM GAME) is an interactive simulation algorithm for estimating citrus yield loss to the rust mite. Losses occur due to increased fruit drop and decreased fruit size of damaged (russetted) fruit. There is no single economic threshold of mites at which a pesticide should be applied. Instead, a range of damage thresholds can equal a spray cost depending upon crop value, timing of pest attack, timing of harvest and temperature. Mean percent surface damage of 5 to 20% equals the cost of a pesticide application depending upon the particular situation. Since the emphasis must be on prevention of the loss, predictive capability of the pest population is implicit in the concept of economic thresholds for agricultural pests.
Distribution and Abundance of a Stem Weevil, Cylindrocopturus adspersus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), in Cultivated Sunflower in the Northern Plains

Larvae of a stem weevil, Cylindrocopturus adspersus (LeConte), overwintered in sunflower stalks in North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota in 1979 and 1980. Population levels averaged 2.0 and 1.6 larvae per stalk in 1979 and 1980, respectively. The highest number of overwintering larvae per stalk occurred in North Dakota. About half of the stalks from each sampled field were infested with larvae. There was no correlation between stalk diameter and number of larvae per stalk. Overwintering sites were in the upper root crown and in the base of the plant stalk, with half the larvae between soil level and 4 cm above soil level. Overwintering sites averaged 5.9 and 4.6 cm above the soil level in 1979 and 1980, respectively.
Acetylene Ion Enhanced Bonding of PbS Nanoparticles to Quaterthiophene in Thin Films

Lead sulfide (PbS) nanoparticles of ∼3–5 nm average diameter were codeposited into quaterthiophene (4T) organic films, which in some cases, were additionally modified by simultaneous 50 eV acetylen...
The relationship between the markets for health insurance and medical malpractice insurance

This article evaluates the interdependence of medical malpractice insurance markets and health insurance markets. Prior research has addressed the performance of these markets, individually, without specifically quantifying the extent to which they are linked. Increasing levels of health insurance losses could increase the scale of potential malpractice claims, boosting medical malpractice losses, or could embody an improvement in medical care quality, which will reduce malpractice losses. Our results for a state panel data set from 2002 to 2009 demonstrate that health insurance losses are negatively related to medical malpractice insurance losses. An additional dollar of health insurance losses is associated with a $0.01–$0.05 reduction in medical malpractice losses. These findings have potentially important implications for assessments of the net cost of health insurance policies.
Epidemic characteristic of rubella in Gongzhuling city from 2008 to 2012

Objective To understand the epidemic characteristics of rubella in Gongzhuling,provide scientific basis for rubella control and prevention.Methods Data of rubella cases were analyzed in Gongzhuling from 2008 to 2012.Results833 rubella cases were reported from 2008 to 2012 in Gongzhuling.The average morbidity was 15.408/105,death case was none.457 rubella cases were reported at the top 10 districts.The cases of 10 districts accounted for 54.86%.The male to female ratio of the cases was 1.28∶ 1.722 cases aged under 20 years were reported,occupying 86.67%.719 rubella cases of students,preschool children and scattered children were reported,occupying 86.31%.473 rubella cases were reported from March to June,occupying 56.78%.Conclusion The epidemic situation of rubella is still severe,the key to control rubella is the implementation of comprehensive prevention and control measures.
The Fast Shutting-down Process Testing for the Large Steam Turbine Valve

The fast shutting-down process curve of the steam turbine valve can reflect it's health.This paper introduced how to do this test,discussed three factors which influence the fast shutting-down time,enumerated four abnormities of the fast shutting-down process curve,and put forward five suggestions for this job.
Extended V-Y Advancement Flap Reconstruction of a Large Posterior Upper Midline Trunk Defect

Large posterior upper trunk defects can be challenging to reconstruct. Trapezius or latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flaps are principally utilized for reconstruction; however, some defects may not be amenable to this standard approach. Here, we describe a patient with a full-thickness skin and subcutaneous tissue loss of the upper back and inferior cervical region after dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans resection. A large, extended V-Y flap was used for closure of this wound secondary to its location, size, and orientation. This approach preserves shoulder function, allows for readvancement of the flap as needed, and is a reconstructive option for patients with large upper back defects.
Serum lipids, dietary intakes, and physical exercise in medical students.

Early identification of persons “at risk” is suggested as a first step in reducing coronary mortality. This study was carried out on a young population group from a geographic area and profession with higher-than-average death rates from heart disease, for whom preventive measures might be appropriate.
A re-evaluation of daily sperm output of men.

The daily sperm output (DSO) was reevaluated and urinary loss of sperm was determined. Ejaculates were immediately fixed with glutaraldehyde, stored, and homogenized in a blender to produce a cell suspension. The number of sperm per ejaculate was determined by phase-contrast cytometry. Based on the average number of sperm per ejaculate for the last three of five daily ejaculates, the DSO was 166±29 x 10 6 sperm for nine men aged 26 to 38years. Two successive daily ejaculates were sufficient to stabilize extragonadal sperm reserves following accumulation or depletion of epididymal sperm. Sperm were found in urine of three men, and
Inferring probability comparisons

Abstract The problem of inferring probability comparisons between events from an initial set of comparisons arises in several contexts, ranging from decision theory to artificial intelligence to formal semantics. In this paper, we treat the problem as follows: beginning with a binary relation ≿ on events that does not preclude a probabilistic interpretation, in the sense that ≿ has extensions that are probabilistically representable, we characterize the extension ≿ + of ≿ that is exactly the intersection of all probabilistically representable extensions of ≿ . This extension ≿ + gives us all the additional comparisons that we are entitled to infer from ≿ , based on the assumption that there is some probability measure of which ≿ gives us partial qualitative information. We pay special attention to the problem of extending an order on states to an order on events. In addition to the probabilistic interpretation, this problem has a more general interpretation involving measurement of any additive quantity: e.g., given comparisons between the weights of individual objects, what comparisons between the weights of groups of objects can we infer?
Modeling the interaction force during a haptically-coupled cooperative manipulation

One of the most challenging aspects of cooperative manipulation is coordination process between haptically-coupled subjects. The interaction force is believed to play a significant role in this process. In this paper, we propose a model for the interaction force and validate our model through a human study. The human study includes both bimanual and dyadic modes in three different scenarios, specifically designed to study the effect of coordination process in performance of the cooperation. We consider five different performance metrics to measure several aspects of the cooperation. The statistical analysis of these performance indexes proves that, while our model can explain the human behavior in different scenarios and different modes, the alternative models fail to do so.
Dispersal of Newly Emerged Diamond-Backed Terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) Hatchlings at Jamaica Bay, New York

Abstract Overwintering behavior of diamond-backed terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) hatchlings is highly unusual; a substantial percentage of hatchlings leave nests in the fall, travel overland, and rebury themselves on land farther from water. Many aspects of this behavior are poorly documented and conflicting. We tracked 81 newly emerged M. terrapin hatchlings from their nest sites in Jamaica Bay, New York, to their overwintering refugia and until spring/summer emergence. Hatchling M. terrapin used the wrack line only as short-term cover before moving upland and burying themselves in terrestrial refugia. Hatchling refugia depths were variable, up to 10 cm deep, with some vertical movement seasonally. Hatchlings selected winter refugia with relatively high levels of vegetative cover; in this way, overwintering sites differed substantially from temporary refugia. Hatchlings emerged from overwintering refugia between 17 March and 7 July following fall emergence. Our observations better characterize what may b...
Harnessing inner strengths of at-risk university students: relationships between well-being, academic achievement and academic attainment

ABSTRACTConcern for the academic performance and persistence to graduation among university students is well-warranted. Numerous studies have tied performance to overall positive affect in professional settings and to individual internal concepts, indicating an expectation for similar ties in demanding academic settings. For students at increased risk for attrition, social connection and resilience are expected to play a role in buffering against attainment failures. This study examined the relationship between academic achievement, academic attainment, and various dimensions of well-being using a multidimensional well-being scale currently in development. Participants completed the Journey to College Success Scale, and Brief MSLSS-College in an online format, and were asked for permission to examine academic transcript records. We found relationships between the JCSS overall well-being score and academic achievement, a group of dimensions relating to resilience and academic achievement, a relationship be...
U.S. Strategy for International Collaboration on Magnetic Fusion Energy Development—A Technological and Scientific View

The opportunities for international collaboration in fusion are discussed within the context of the present status of fusion development and international research and development activities. A spe...
Equine Color Genetics and Deoxyribonucleic Acid Testing

Horses appear in a variety of coat colors and patterns, varying from solid red, black, or white to dapples and pearls, and in patterns like appaloosas and paints. These colors and patterns are managed by genes that may be associated with undesirable flaws or defects that can be fatal, such as the Lethal White Syndrome. Because deoxyribonucleic acid testing is now available to horse breeders, owners, and veterinarians, it is important to understand the fundamental concepts of dominant and recessive genes, genetics, and the potential for flaws to be expressed. Genetic testing can be performed to satisfy curiosity or to implement life saving measures to prevent the death of an offspring.
Therapeutic Potential of Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibition in Breast Cancer

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of zinc endopeptidases that cleave nearly all components of the extracellular matrix as well as many other soluble and cell-associated proteins. MMPs have been implicated in normal physiological processes, including development, and in the acquisition and progression of the malignant phenotype. Disappointing results from a series of clinical trials testing small molecule, broad spectrum MMP inhibitors as cancer therapeutics led to a re-evaluation of how MMPs function in the tumor microenvironment, and ongoing research continues to reveal that these proteins play complex roles in cancer development and progression. It is now clear that effective targeting of MMPs for therapeutic benefit will require selective inhibition of specific MMPs. Here, we provide an overview of the MMP family and its biological regulators, the tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs). We then summarize recent research from model systems that elucidate how specific MMPs drive the malignant phenotype of breast cancer cells, including acquisition of cancer stem cell features and induction of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and we also outline clinical studies that implicate specific MMPs in breast cancer outcomes. We conclude by discussing ongoing strategies for development of inhibitors with therapeutic potential that are capable of selectively targeting the MMPs most responsible for tumor promotion, with special consideration of the potential of biologics including antibodies and engineered proteins based on the TIMP scaffold. J. Cell. Biochem. 118: 3531-3548, 2017. © 2017 The Authors. Journal of Cellular Biochemistry Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Are we underestimating the rates of incontinence after prostate cancer treatment? Results from NHANES.

Local therapy for prostate cancer (PCa) includes radical prostatectomy (RP) and radiotherapy (XRT), both of which share a complication of urinary incontinence. Post-treatment incontinence has been reported to occur 6–69%, yet no truly patient-centered report has been compiled. We evaluated patient-reported incontinence rates and bother scores after treatment for prostate cancer. The NHANES database was queried for all men who reported a diagnosis and treatment of PCa from 2001 to 2010. A control arm of men without a diagnosis of PCa age 60–80 years was constructed for baseline incontinence rates. Incontinence was patient-reported and obtained through questionnaires. Three additional cohorts were created for patients treated with RP, XRT or combination RP and XRT. We identified 316 men treated for prostate cancer, of which 136 reported RP and 125 reported XRT, who were compared to 3534 controls. Men that underwent RP experience significant incontinence rates of 23% compared to 12% of those patients treated with XRT, whereas those patients with combined therapy had incontinence rates of 52% (p < 0.0001). Bother scores did not significantly vary, but were increased compared to baseline. Urge incontinence did not differ between treatment groups, but stress incontinence was significantly higher in surgical patients. These data from a nationwide sample of patient-reported urinary outcomes have limited interviewer bias and report significantly higher incontinence rates, which may impact prostate cancer discussions. This further underscores the importance of patient-reported outcomes in the evaluation of treatment success and counseling for patients with prostate cancer.
Internet, Maps and Public Participation: Contemporary Limits and Possibilities

Publisher Summary This chapter evaluates the potential of the Internet as a venue for thematic cartography dedicated to public participation. Thematic maps are primarily designed by experts for use by experts in centralized, top-down management systems. The resulting inadequacy of these kinds of maps for public participation can be potentially offset by some of the possibilities offered by the Internet. To evaluate whether this potential is being used, the chapter examines selected maps on the Internet that have been designed specifically for public participation. In some ways, the use of maps on the Internet may disguise a centralized management process as a public participatory one. To offset this risk, the status of the map itself must also undergo a fundamental change. The Internet provides a valuable medium within which such conceptual change can occur.
Multi-modality photoacoustic tomography, ultrasound, and light sheet microscopy for volumetric tumor margin detection

Current methods for breast tumor margin detection are invasive, time consuming, and typically result in a reoperative rate of over 25%. This marks a clear clinical need to develop improved tools to intraoperatively differentiate negative versus positive tumor margins. Here, we utilize photoacoustic tomography (PAT), ultrasound (US), and inverted Selective Plane Illumination Microscopy (iSPIM) to assess breast tumor margins in eight human breast biopsies. Our PAT/US system consists of a tunable Nd:YAG laser (NT 300, EKSPLA) coupled with a 40MHz central frequency US probe (Vevo2100, FUJIFILM Visual Sonics). This system allows for the delivery of 10Hz, 5ns pulses with fluence of 40mJ/cm2 to the tissue with PAT and US axial resolutions of 125μm and 40μm, respectively. For this study, we used a linear stepper motor to acquire volumetric PAT/US images of the breast biopsies using 1100nm light to identify bloodrich “tumor” regions and 1210nm light to identify lipid-rich “healthy” regions. iSPIM (Applied Scientific Instrumentation) is an advanced microscopy technique with lateral resolution of 1.5μm and axial resolution of 7μm. We used 488nm laser excitation and acridine orange as a general comprehensive histology stain. Our results show that PAT/US can be used to identify lipid-rich regions, dense areas of arterioles and arteries, and other internal structures such as ducts. iSPIM images correlate well with histopathology slides and can verify nuclear features, cell type and density, stromal features, and microcalcifications. Together, this multimodality approach has the potential to improve tumor margin detection with a high degree of sensitivity and specificity.
A Model for Out-of-School Educator Professional Learning:

Quality out-of-school time (OST) programs for youth are limited by a lack of professional learning opportunities for staff and volunteers that are based upon solid learning theory, affordable, and ...
Addition and Decomposition of Polytopes

In this chapter we discuss two methods of ‘adding together’ two polytopes to form a third. The first of these, vector addition or Minkowski addition as it is sometimes called, has already been used in the preceding chapters. The second, called Blaschke addition, will form the topic of section 15.3. One of the main problems is to find criteria for deciding whether a given polytope is decomposable, that is to say, can be expressed as a’ sum’ (in either sense) of other polytopes. In section 15.4 the extension of these results to general convex sets will be discussed, and references given to the relevant literature.
Anatomic risk factors for sinus disease: fact or fiction?

BACKGROUND Sinonasal anatomic variants have been postulated as a risk factor for sinus disease. Therefore, a study was conducted to examine the correlation of sinus disease to septal deviation, concha bullosa, and infraorbital ethmoid cells. METHODS Two hundred fifty consecutive sinus and orbital computed tomography scans were examined at the University of Virginia over a 2-year period. Coronal, sagittal, and axial views were examined for the presence and size of concha bullosa and infraorbital ethmoid cells. Septal deviations were measured by examining the width of the nasal cavity at the level of the maxillary sinus ostium. The severity of mucosal thickening in the maxillary, ethmoid, and frontal sinuses was recorded. The correlation between mucosal disease of the sinuses to the anatomic variants was then compared. RESULTS Computed tomography images were reviewed in 250 consecutive studies (500 sides). Of the 500 sides, 67.2% of sides had some level of mucosal thickening. Concha bullosa and infraorbital ethmoid cells were both present in 27% of the sides. Concha bullosa was associated with maxillary sinus disease (p 0.05). For sinuses with infraorbital ethmoid cells or concha bullosa, there were a higher number of diseased sinuses with larger anatomic variants (p < 0.01). Narrow nasal cavities were associated with maxillary sinus disease (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION Septal deviations, concha bullosa, and infraorbital ethmoid cells, which contribute to the narrowing of the osteomeatal complex, are associated with mucosal disease.
Understaging of clinical stage I pancreatic cancer and the impact of multimodality therapy.

Abstract Background Although current guidelines recommend multimodal therapy for all patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, it is unclear the extent to which clinical stage I patients are accurately staged and how this may affect management. Methods In this retrospective cohort study of 4,404 patients aged 18–79 years with clinical stage 1 (ie, T1N0 or T2N0) pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma treated with upfront resection in the National Cancer Database (2004–2014), understaging was ascertained by comparing pretreatment clinical stage with pathologic stage. The association between adjuvant treatment and overall risk of death among true stage I and understaged patients was evaluated using multivariable Cox regression. Results Upstaging was identified in 72.6% of patients (62.8% T3/4, 53.9% N1) of whom 69.7% received adjuvant therapy compared with 47.0% with true stage I disease. Overall survival at 5 years among those with true stage I disease was significantly higher than those who had been clinically understaged (42.9% vs 16.6%; log-rank, p Conclusion The majority of clinical stage I pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma patients actually have higher-stage disease and benefit from multimodal therapy; however, one third of understaged patients do not receive any adjuvant treatment. Clinicians should discuss all potential treatment strategies with patients (in the context of the acknowledged risks and benefits), including the utilization of neoadjuvant approaches in those presenting with potentially resectable disease.
Divided Attention Selectively Impairs Value-Directed Encoding

In the present study, we examined the effect of value-directed encoding on recognition memory and how various divided attention tasks at encoding alter value-directed remembering. In the first experiment, participants encoded words that were assigned either high or low point values in multiple study-test phases. The points corresponded to the value the participants could earn by successfully recognizing the words in an upcoming recognition memory task. Importantly, participants were instructed that their goal was to maximize their score in this memory task. The second experiment was modified such that while studying the words participants simultaneously completed a divided attention task (either articulatory suppression or random number generation). The third experiment used a non-verbal tone detection divided attention task (easy or difficult versions). Subjective states of recollection (i.e., “Remember”) and familiarity (i.e., “Know”) were assessed at retrieval in all experiments. In Experiment 1, high value words were recognized more effectively than low value words, and this difference was primarily driven by increases in “Remember” responses with no difference in “Know” responses. In Experiment 2, the pattern of subjective judgment results from the articulatory suppression condition replicated Experiment 1. However, in the random number generation condition, the effect of value on recognition memory was lost. This same pattern of results was found in Experiment 3 which implemented a different variant of the divided attention task. Overall, these data suggest that executive processes are used when encoding valuable information and that value-directed improvements to memory are not merely the result of differential rehearsal.
Sawtooth oscillation behavior with varying amounts of applied stellarator rotational transform

Tokamak-like sawtooth oscillations are observed in the Compact Toroidal Hybrid (CTH), a current-carrying stellarator. CTH has the unique ability to change the amount of the applied vacuum rotational transform from external stellarator coils relative to the rotational transform generated by the internal plasma current to investigate the effects of strong three-dimensional magnetic shaping on sawtooth behavior. The observed sawteeth in CTH, for plasmas with monotonically decreasing rotational transform profiles dominated by the plasma current, have characteristics of those observed on tokamaks including (1) a central emissivity rise and then a sudden crash with a well-defined inversion radius, (2) the presence of an m = 1 emissivity fluctuation, and (3) the normalized inversion surface radius scales with the total edge rotational transform. We explore the properties of an ensemble of discharges in CTH in which the fractional rotational transform, defined as the vacuum rotational transform divided by the total rotational transform, is systematically varied from 0.04 to 0.42 to observe changes in sawtooth oscillation dynamics. Over this range of the fractional rotational transform, the measured sawtooth period decreased by a factor of two. At a high fractional rotational transform, the sawtooth amplitude is observed to consist of only low-amplitude oscillations while the measured crash time of the sawtooth oscillation does not appear to have a strong dependence on the amount of the fractional transform applied. Experimental results indicate that the low-amplitude sawteeth are accompanied by a decrease in the sawtooth period and predominantly correlated with the mean elongation (due to the increasing fractional rotational transform) of the non-axisymmetric plasmas within CTH rather than other global equilibrium parameters.
Study of Superconducting, Structural, and Thermal Properties of SnO2 Added MgB2 Bulks.

A series of SnO 2 added MgB 2 bulk superconductors were prepared by in situ route to study the effect of oxygen doping on superconducting and structural properties of MgB 2 . Several (MgB 2 ) 1-x (SnO 2 ) x samples were fabricated with x ranging from 0, 3 wt%, 4 wt%, and 6 wt%. Upper critical field (B c2 ) and irreversible field (B irr ) were measured by physical property measurement system. Thermal analysis was performed on the as-received SnO 2 powder. Critical current densities (J cm ) were obtained at 4.2 K using magnetic measurement. X-ray diffraction results showed evidence of full SnO 2 decomposition in all the doped bulk samples and a shift of a-axis in MgB 2 lattice was seen. Oxygen was successfully released during heat treatment, yet no enhancement of B C2 or B irr was seen, indicating that oxygen atoms did not end up in the host lattice. Further exploration of different processing procedures is still needed in order to get oxygen substitution on the host lattice sites.
Increased Nitrogen Fixation and Remobilization May Contribute to Higher Seed Protein Content Without a Yield Penalty in a Soybean Introgression Line

ABSTRACT The development of soybean varieties with higher seed protein content has been hindered by a negative correlation between protein content and yield. Benning hi-pro, a genotype that breaks this tradeoff, was recently developed by introgression of a high protein allele on chromosome 20 into a high yielding parent. Because seed protein is thought to be limited by N, field and growth chamber experiments were performed to identify the N flux(es) that enable Benning hi-pro’s increased seed protein without a yield penalty. When the N source was completely controlled in growth chambers, Benning hi-pro was occasionally able to fix more N than its recurrent parent, but this response depended on the strain of the rhizobia symbiont and was not observed at all developmental stages. In the field, Benning hi-pro remobilized N from its leaves at a higher rate relative to C during seed fill, but this response was only observed in one of the two years studied. The high protein allele and surrounding region of chromosome 20 present in Benning hi-pro increases its potential for N fixation and N remobilization from vegetative tissue, but those phenotypes are not consistently expressed and may depend on environmental and sink control.
OCTOPUS: Deep Reinforcement Learning for Holistic Smart Building Control

Recently, significant efforts have been done to improve quality of comfort for commercial buildings' users while also trying to reduce energy use and costs. Most of these efforts have concentrated in energy efficient control of the HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air conditioning) system, which is usually the core system in charge of controlling buildings' conditioning and ventilation. However, in practice, HVAC systems alone cannot control every aspect of conditioning and comfort that affects buildings' occupants. Modern lighting, blind and window systems, usually considered as independent systems, when present, can significantly affect building energy use, and perhaps more importantly, user comfort in terms of thermal, air quality and illumination conditions. For example, it has been shown that a blind system can provide 12%~35% reduction in cooling load in summer while also improving visual comfort. In this paper, we take a holistic approach to deal with the trade-offs between energy use and comfort in commercial buildings. We developed a system called OCTOPUS, which employs a novel deep reinforcement learning (DRL) framework that uses a data-driven approach to find the optimal control sequences of all building's subsystems, including HVAC, lighting, blind and window systems. The DRL architecture includes a novel reward function that allows the framework to explore the trade-offs between energy use and users' comfort, while at the same time enable the solution of the high-dimensional control problem due to the interactions of four different building subsystems. In order to cope with OCTOPUS's data training requirements, we argue that calibrated simulations that match the target building operational points are the vehicle to generate enough data to be able to train our DRL framework to find the control solution for the target building. In our work, we trained OCTOPUS with 10-year weather data and a building model that is implemented in the EnergyPlus building simulator, which was calibrated using data from a real production building. Through extensive simulations we demonstrate that OCTOPUS can achieve 14.26% and 8.1% energy savings compared with the state-of-the art rule-based method in a LEED Gold Certified building and the latest DRL-based method available in the literature respectively, while maintaining human comfort within a desired range.
The Impact of Preoperative Anti-TNFα Therapy on Postoperative Outcomes Following Ileocolectomy in Crohn's Disease.

Controversy remains regarding the impact of anti-TNFα agents on postoperative outcomes in Crohn’s disease. Patients (≥ 18 years) with Crohn’s disease (ICD-9, 555.0–555.2, 555.9) undergoing ileocolectomy between 2005 and 2013 were identified using the Truven MarketScan® database and stratified by receipt of anti-TNFα therapy. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to evaluate anti-TNFα use on emergency department (ED) visits, postoperative complications, and readmissions at 30 days, adjusting for potential confounders. Relationships between timing of anti-TNFα administration and outcomes were examined. The sample contained 2364 patients with Crohn’s disease undergoing ileocolectomy, with 28.5% (n = 674) who received biologic therapy. Median duration between anti-TNFα therapy and surgery was 33 days. Postoperative ED visits and readmission rates did not significantly differ among those receiving biologics and those that did not. Overall 30-day complication rates were higher among those receiving biologic therapy, namely related to wound and infectious complications. In multivariable analysis, anti-TNFα inhibitors were associated with increased odds of postoperative complications at 30 days (aggregate complications [OR 1.6], infectious complications [OR 1.5]). There was no significant association between timing of anti-TNFα administration and occurrence of postoperative outcomes. Anti-TNFα therapy is independently associated with increased postoperative infectious complications following ileocolectomy in Crohn’s disease. However, in patients receiving anti-TNFα therapy within 90 days of operative intervention, further delaying surgery may not attenuate risk of postoperative complications.
Open Sesame! Uncovering a Hidden Key Used by Pathogenic Bacteria to Open the Doors Connecting Plant Cells

It has been known for several decades, and suggested as early as the 1930s ([Caldwell, 1931][1]), that viruses move their proteins and other molecules from one plant cell to the next by altering and regulating plasmodesmata (PD), the tiny doors connecting the cytoplasm between plant cells. And, only
Fastest Mixing Markov Chain on a Compact Manifold

In this paper, we address the problem of optimizing the convergence rate of a discrete-time Markov chain (DTMC), which evolves on a compact smooth connected manifold without boundary, to a specified target stationary distribution. This problem has been previously solved for a DTMC on a finite graph that converges to the uniform distribution. We consider arbitrary positive target measures that are supported on the entire state space of the system and are absolutely continuous with respect to the Riemannian volume. Similar to the previous work that addressed DTMCs on finite graphs, we pose the optimization problem in terms of maximizing the spectral gap of the operator that pushes forward measures, also known as the forward operator. Prior to formulating the optimization problem, we prove the existence of a forward operator that can stabilize the class of measures that we consider. In addition, we prove the existence of an optimal solution to our problem. The optimization problem admits an exact solution in the case where the manifold is a Lie group and the target measure is uniform. Lastly, we develop a numerical scheme for solving the optimization problem and validate our approach on a simulated system that evolves on a torus in${\mathbb{R}^3}$
Advancing Interdisciplinary Work in Computational Communication Science

In this paper I discuss the interdisciplinarity of computational communication science. I draw on my own experiences leading a multi-disciplinary lab that broadly studies multimodal communication. ...
Ozonolysis Chemistry and Phase Behavior of 1-Octen-3-ol-Derived Secondary Organic Aerosol

Secondary organic aerosol (SOA) is ubiquitous in the atmosphere and plays important roles in environmental chemical processes, influencing air quality and the Earth’s radiative budget. In the prese...