cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nucleation Energy Barriers for Volume-Conserving Shape Changes of Crystals with Nonequilibrium Morphologies

This paper quantifies the nucleation energy barrier that must be overcome if a faceted, defect-free particle with a nonequilibrium morphology is to change shape by intraparticle transport. Two types of crystals are considered: those whose equilibrium form is a truncated sphere and those whose equilibrium form is a cube. Numerical estimates show that, for a particle near equilibrium, the barrier becomes insurmountable for a facet larger than a few tens of nanometers. For nonequilibrium shapes where material must be transferred from faceted surfaces to uniformly curved surfaces to reach the equilibrium shape, the facets enlarge without a nucleation barrier (at a rate limited by diffusion or surface attachment kinetics) until they reach a fraction of their equilibrium size that is typically between 0.5 and 0.75. At this point, a significant barrier is encountered that, in the absence of step producing defects, prevents the particle from continuing toward equilibrium. For nonequilibrium shapes where material must be transferred to faceted surfaces from other parts of the crystal for it to reach the equilibrium shape, significant energy barriers for the nucleation of new layers persist even when the shape is far from equilibrium. Predictions from our model are compared to experimental observations reported by other researchers.
Relationship of Selected Tests with Energy Metabolism and Swimming Performance

Abstract Forty-one varsity swimming team candidates were tested using a battery of 52 swimming, cardiovascular, and energy metabolism measures, the latter being obtained during all-out static swimming. All of the measures were intercorrelated, and metabolic and swimming performance criteria were established. Multiple regression analyses were completed to select the most representative measures of each of the criteria from each of the testing areas. The better measures from each of the testing areas, as determined by the multiple regression analyses, were combined in further multiple regression analyses to determine the relative importance of the measures to 100-yd. and 440-yd. swimming performance. The results show that energy metabolism tests are significantly related to 100-yd. and 440-yd. swim times but are reflected also in simpler tests of a practical nature which any teacher or coach can administer. The 100-yd. crawl swim was predicted to the extent indicated by the multiple R = .815 ± 4.99 secs. an...
Assessing Arms Makers¿ Corporate Social Responsibility.

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) has become a focal point for research aimed at extending business ethics to extra-corporate issues; and as a result many companies now seek to at least appear dedicated to one or another version of CSR. This has not affected the arms industry, however. For, this industry has not been discussed in CSR literature, perhaps because few CSR scholars have questioned this industry’s privileged status as an instrument of national sovereignty. But major changes in the organization of political communities call traditional views of sovereignty into question. With these considerations in mind I assess the U.S. arms industry on the basis of CSR requirements regarding the environment, social equity, profitability, and use of political power. I find that this industry fails to meet any of these four CSR requirements. Countering a claim that these failings should not be held against arms manufacturers because their products are crucial to national defense, I contend that many of these companies function not as dutiful agents of a nation-state but as politically powerful entities in their own right. So, I conclude, they should be held responsible for the foreseeable consequences that flow from use of their products. This responsibility should include civil liability and, in cases involving war crimes and violations of human rights, responsibility under international human rights standards.
Microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia resembling thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura in systemic lupus erythematosus: the role of ADAMTS13

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a rare but frequently fatal complication of SLE. It occurs in the context of both active and inactive lupus and carries a worse overall prognosis than idiopathic acquired TTP. Recent advances in the knowledge and treatment of TTP do not seem to have brought similar improvements in the management and outcome of TTP in SLE. The illumination of the role of the von Willebrand factor multimer protease, ADAMTS13 in idiopathic TTP continues to enhance our comprehension of the pathogenesis of the disease and has contributed to improvements in diagnosis and management. We explore the overlap of TTP and SLE, and discuss the current understanding of the involvement of ADAMTS13 and its implications for patients with this uncommon form of microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia.
The Reaction Titanite+Kyanite=Anorthite+Rutile and Titanite-Rutile Barometry in Eclogites

Titanite and rutile are a common mineral pair in eclogites, and many equilibria involving these phases are potentially useful in estimating pressures of metamorphism. We have reversed one such reaction, $$\begin{gathered} {\text{CaTiSiO}}_{\text{5}} {\text{ + Al}}_{\text{2}} {\text{SiO}}_{\text{5}} = {\text{CaAl}}_{\text{2}} {\text{Si}}_{\text{2}} {\text{O}}_{\text{8}} {\text{ + TiO}}_{\text{2}} ,{\text{ }} \hfill \\ {\text{TitaniteKyaniteAnorthiteRutile}} \hfill \\ \end{gathered} $$ using a piston-cylinder apparatus. Titanite+kyanite is the high-pressure assemblage and our results locate the equilibrium between 15.5 15.9, 17.7–17.9, 18.8–19.0, and 20.0–20.2 kb at 900, 1000, 1050, and 1100°C, respectively. The experiments require a positivedP/dT of between 20.5 and 23.5 bars/°C for the reaction. We use the reversed equilibrium and two other reactions, $$\begin{gathered} {\text{3Ca}}_{\text{3}} {\text{Al}}_{\text{2}} {\text{Si}}_{\text{3}} {\text{O}}_{{\text{12}}} {\text{ + 5TiO}}_{\text{2}} {\text{ + 2SiO}}_{\text{2}} {\text{ + H}}_{\text{2}} {\text{O = }} \hfill \\ {\text{GrossularRutileQuartz}} \hfill \\ {\text{2Ca}}_{\text{2}} {\text{Al}}_{\text{3}} {\text{Si}}_{\text{3}} {\text{O}}_{{\text{12}}} \left( {{\text{OH}}} \right){\text{ + 5CaTiSiO}}_{\text{5}} \hfill \\ {\text{ZoisiteTitanite}} \hfill \\ \end{gathered} $$ and $$\begin{gathered} {\text{Ca}}_{\text{3}} {\text{Al}}_{\text{2}} {\text{Si}}_{\text{3}} {\text{O}}_{{\text{12}}} {\text{ + 3TiO}}_{\text{2}} {\text{ + SiO}}_{\text{2}} {\text{ = 3CaTiSiO}}_{\text{5}} {\text{ + Al}}_{\text{2}} {\text{SiO}}_{\text{5}} {\text{, }} \hfill \\ {\text{GrossularRutileCoesiteTitaniteKyanite}} \hfill \\ \end{gathered} $$ to calculate metamorphic conditions for three eclogite localities. Using these reactions in conjunction with garnet-clinopyroxene Fe2+−Mg exchange equilibria, conditions of metamorphism were 16 kb and 750°C for kyaniteeclogites from Glenelg, Scotland, 21 kb and 625°C for eclogite-facies mica schists from the Tauern Window, Austria, and 46 kb and 850°C for eclogite-facies biotite gneisses from the Kokchetav Massif, USSR. For the Scottish and Austrian eclogites, the pressures derived from the titanite-rutile reactions provide additional constraints on pressures for these localities, leading to precise estimates of metamorphic conditions. In the case of the Soviet Union eclogites, the results show that the silicate-oxide assemblage is consistent with the remarkable occurrence of diamond inclusions in the garnets. The results of this study suggest that titanite and rutile stably coexist in many eclogites and that titanite solid solutions are ideal or nearly so.
Mechanisms and time course of vocal learning and consolidation in the adult songbird

In songbirds, the basal ganglia outflow nucleus LMAN is a cortical analog that is required for several forms of song plasticity and learning. Moreover, in adults, inactivating LMAN can reverse the ...
A New Technique for Reconstruction of the Ulnar Collateral Ligament of the Thumb

BackgroundSeveral previous studies have described reconstructive methods for the treatment of an injury to the ulnar collateral ligament of the thumb. However, there are few biomechanical studies to date to analyze the strength of the surgical reconstruction.PurposeTo evaluate 2 reconstruction techniques with use of a cadaveric model (1) reconstruction with the use of a free tendon graft placed in a figure-of-8 fashion through drill holes in the metacarpal and proximal phalanx of the thumb, and (2) reconstruction with the use of the Bio-Tenodesis Screw System.Study DesignControlled laboratory study.MethodsEight matched pairs of cadaveric specimens underwent removal of the proper and accessory ulnar collateral ligaments. One of the 2 reconstruction methods was performed, and specimens were mounted on a materials-testing machine. The specimens were subjected to valgus stress to failure at 30° of flexion. Failure was defined as valgus laxity of 30° at the metacarpophalangeal joint.ResultsThe peak load to fai...
CAN SELECTION BY AN ECTOPARASITE DRIVE A POPULATION OF RED CROSSBILLS FROM ITS ADAPTIVE PEAK

The bill structures of different call types of red crossbills (Loxia curvirostra complex) in western North America usually approximate the predicted optima for foraging on single species of conifers. One clear exception is the call type in the South Hills, Idaho, that is coevolving in an evolutionary arms race with Rocky Mountain lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta ssp. latifolia). Although South Hills crossbills forage only on the cones of these lodgepole pines, their average bill depth is smaller than that predicted to be optimal. Because preliminary data showed that large-billed males were more likely to exhibit symptoms of ectoparasitic mite (Knemidokoptes jamaicensis) infestation, the goal of our study was to further quantify the incidence of mite infestation and determine whether selection by mites may have favored smaller-billed crossbills and thus driven crossbills away from the foraging optimum. We estimated annual survival of both infected and uninfected South Hills crossbills using program MARK, which allows for auxiliary variables such as bill size and sex to be included in survival analyses. Mite infestation depressed crossbill survival and, especially for males, caused directional selection against larger-billed individuals. Such selection may explain why South Hills crossbills have smaller bills than the optimum and why average bill size for males has decreased from 1998 to 2003. This selection may also explain why the degree of sexual size dimorphism has decreased by nearly 50% since 1998.
Tmem178 acts in a novel negative feedback loop targeting NFATc1 to regulate bone mass

Phospholipase C gamma-2 (PLCγ2)-dependent calcium (Ca2+) oscillations are indispensable for nuclear factor of activated T-cells, cytoplasmic 1 (NFATc1) activation and downstream gene transcription driving osteoclastogenesis during skeletal remodeling and pathological bone loss. Here we describe, to our knowledge, the first known function of transmembrane protein 178 (Tmem178), a PLCγ2 downstream target gene, as a critical modulator of the NFATc1 axis. In surprising contrast to the osteopetrotic phenotype of PLCγ2−/− mice, Tmem178−/− mice are osteopenic in basal conditions and are more susceptible to inflammatory bone loss, owing to enhanced osteoclast formation. Mechanistically, Tmem178 localizes to the ER membrane and regulates RANKL-induced Ca2+ fluxes, thus controlling NFATc1 induction. Importantly, down-regulation of Tmem178 is observed in human CD14+ monocytes exposed to plasma from systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis patients. Similar to the mouse model, reduced Tmem178 expression in human cells correlates with excessive osteoclastogenesis. In sum, these findings identify an essential role for Tmem178 to maintain skeletal mass and limit pathological bone loss.
Natural Language and Text Processing in Biomedicine

After reading this chapter, you should know the answers to these questions: Why is natural language processing (NLP) important? What are the potential uses for NLP in the biomedical domain? What forms of knowledge are used in NLP? What are the principal techniques of NLP? What are the challenges for NLP in the clinical domain? What are the challenges for NLP in the biological domain?
Grain Boundaries of Controlled Geometry in ZnO Films Grown by Chemical Vapor Deposition: Undoped and Bi -Doped Boundaries

We describe a chemical vapour deposition technique for the controlled growth of ZnO films, containing grain boundaries which are suitable for detailed atomic resolution studies. Using this technique, we have grown; (1) random polycrystalline, (2) highly textured polycrystalline and (3) nominally single crystal films Also, a technique for doping the grain boundaries in these specimens with Bi by an “in-diffusion” method is demonstrated. The grain boundary atomic level structure and chemistry is studied by means of High Resolution Electron Microscopy (HREM) and STEM/EDX microanalysis. Some results obtained from boundaries in textured polycrystalline films which have the c-axes in neighboring grains lined-up to ˜1 ° are described.
Rare case of "wandering artery of drummond" as a result of chronic triple mesenteric vessel occlusion treated by isolated angioplasty and stenting of the inferior mesenteric artery.

We report a rare clinical scenario of chronic mesenteric ischemia (CMI) patient with obstruction of all the three major gut vessels including celiac, superior mesenteric artery (SMA), and inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) with a sole artery supplying the collaterals through marginal artery of left colon (the “wandering artery of Drummond”). A 70-year-old man was presented to hospital with acute onset of dyspnea, diaphoresis, severe epigastric pain, nausea, and vomiting that started after lunch. Initially, patient was diagnosed and treated for non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). Furthermore, work-up, including computed tomographic scan of abdomen followed by angiogram, revealed 100% obstruction of celiac and SMA, whereas inferior IMA had 90% ostial lesion with poststenotic dilatation and collaterals supplying to entire colon. Subsequently, IMA ostial lesion was stented through percutaneous intervention and patient noted significantly improved symptoms and quality of life. To conclude, percutaneous endovascular treatments confer favorable strategy for CMI, and it may either be curative or allow nutritional optimization before definitive surgery.
Screening for Ovarian Cancer-More Hype Than Hope?

In keeping with the principles of the Choosing Wisely campaign, physicians and patients would do well to avoid the pitfalls of overscreening and wait for results that promise more hope than hype.
Identified Baryon and Meson Distributions at Large Transverse Momenta from Au+Au Collisions at sNN=200 GeV

Abstract We report the results of π ± , p and p ¯ production up to transverse momentum 12 GeV/c from 200 GeV Au+Au collisions at mid-rapidity at STAR. The nuclear modification factor RCP, p ¯ / p , and p ( p ¯ ) / π ratios are discussed.
Molecularly engineered hydrogels for implant biocompatibility

The biocompatibility of biosmart polymer membranes synthesized from cross-linkable (2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (HEMA) and tetraethylene glycol diacrylate and containing different mole-percent polyethylene glycol methacrylate (PEGMA) and methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC), a phosphorylcholine-containing co-monomer, was investigated. The cytotoxicity (cell viability and proliferation) and the adhesion of extra cellular matrix proteins to these hydrogel surfaces were separately tested. Cell proliferation assays were conducted by cultivating human skeletal muscle fibroblasts onto the surfaces of these polymeric membranes prepared by in-situ polymerization in chemically derivatized 8-well cell-culture plates. The compositions containing MPC and PEGMA concentrations greater than 1.0 and 0.05 mole% respectively demonstrated good protein adhesion and cell viability (>90%) of human muscle fibroblast cells. Morphological deviances and partial colonization of the hydrogel surface has been noticed and suggests good compatibility of hydrogels for cellular viability but restricted proliferation. It is well known that the adsorption of proteins onto biomaterial surfaces modulates the cellular interaction with these surfaces. The extent of adsorption of fluorescein labeled proteins (laminin, collagen, and fibronectin) onto these polymer membrane surfaces was evaluated by measuring the resultant fluorescence intensity using a confocal fluorescence scanner.
Simulation of a pinhole-collimator insert for small animal PET using GATE

In previous work we demonstrated the feasibility to conduct SPECT imaging using a multi-pinhole collimator insert in a small animal PET scanner. A simplified analytical simulation method was used, modeling mainly geometric attributes, to optimize the multi-pinhole configuration to achieve the best trade-off between resolution and sensitivity for specific applications. To more accurately optimize the pinhole configuration more physical attributes need to be modeled, including attenuation and scatter in both the object and collimator. In this work we used GATE, a Monte Carlo simulation platform based on the well-validated Geant4 libraries, to better model our system. New simulations have been performed using the geometry of the MOSAIC (Philips) system and our simple prototype cylindrical insert (lead, 12 pinholes, pinhole diameter 1.0 mm, insert diameter 60 mm). Measurements of sensitivity (0.22%), resolution (FWHM=1.6 mm), and scatter fraction (28%) using point and capillary sources from GATE-simulated data are in good agreement with measured experimental data. Having validated this simulation environment with this baseline test, we are iteratively testing various objects, pinhole configurations, and collimator materials to design our next generation of optimal pinhole configurations for specific imaging tasks.
On-demand rapid transport and stable trapping of nanoparticles of nanoparticles by a hybrid electrothermoplasmonic nanotweezer(Conference Presentation)

In plasmon nano-optical tweezers, plasmonic nanoantennas are illuminated to generate highly localized and enhanced electromagnetic field in the vicinity of the nanoantenna. The highly localized and enhanced electromagnetic field creates much stronger optical gradient forces and tighter potential wells for confining particles than in conventional optical tweezers, thus providing a means to trap nanoscale objects and molecules. This approach have been successfully applied for trapping small particles such as protein molecules. However a long standing problem in this field is how to rapidly load the potential well without relying on Brownian diffusion. Conventional design rely on Brownian diffusion to load the trap, which is very slow and could take several minutes to hours depending on the concentration of the nanoscale objects. Furthermore since the plasmonic trapping sites are pre-patterned on a substrate, current plasmonic nanotweezers suffer from the problem of lack of dynamic control over the particles in the trap. Recently we have addressed these challenges by introducing a novel design paradigm known as the Hybrid Electrothermoplasmonic Nanotweezer (HENT)1, where the intrinsic photo-induced heating of the plasmonic nanoantenna is combined with an applied AC electric field to induce a large scale microfluidic flow on-demand. The microfluidic flow enables rapid delivery of suspended nanoparticles to an illuminated plasmonic nanoantenna where they are trapped within a few seconds. In this talk I will discuss the working principle of HENT, as well as HENT-based nanotweezers utilizing alternative plasmonic materials.
A Fracture Criterion for Composites Using an Energy Approach

The strain energy density factor or S-Criterion has been widely used and our theoretical, numerical and experimental analysis indicates that it can be successfully applied to explain the cracking behavior of a homogeneous, isotropic solid. When used for orthotropic materials however, this theory, as originally presented, does not appear to be adequate. A new hypothesis is proposed for the prediction of crack initiation conditions and propagation direction. This new criterion suggests that for composite materials, Mode I crack initiation is controlled by the dilatational strain energy density factor. Analytical equations have been derived to express the crack tip stress fields as well as the total, dilatational and distortional strain energy density factors, for a composite material in which the crack direction is arbitrary with respect to the unidirectional fibers. This failure criterion may be readily extended to the other crack opening modes and to mixed mode conditions.
QTL mapping and loci dissection for leaf epicuticular wax load and canopy temperature depression and their association with QTL for staygreen in Sorghum bicolor under stress

Plant waxes and staygreen are distinct phenotypic traits that have been independently implicated in heat and drought tolerance among grasses. The association between these two traits has not been fully explored, which makes the exploitation of synergy between them difficult. This study assessed the association between QTL regulating the staygreen (Stg) trait in sorghum and those regulating epicuticular wax load (WL) and associated canopy temperature depression (TD). Using a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population derived from Tx642 and Tx7000, phenotypic data were collected in three replicated field trials and one greenhouse trial. High absolute TD generally corresponded to high WL. The r2 of TD against WL was highest under non-stress conditions in the greenhouse while it was much larger in the cooler and irrigated field conditions compared to hotter, drier field trials. The genetic correlations between the two traits also followed this pattern. Composite interval mapping identified a total of 28 QTL, 15 of which had significant overlaps between different traits. Most of the wax QTL were associated with pre-anthesis drought tolerant Tx7000. However, one QTL for WL overlapped with a QTL for staygreen (Stg2) and was represented by a single, isolated marker near the centromeric region on the short arm of SBI-01. The marker is identified by a Cis-acting regulatory module and is part of a 2-kb multifunctional motif-rich region which includes core promoter and enhancer regions and transcription elements, including a drought-responsive MYB binding site. We suggest that this QTL may be pleiotropic for important stress tolerance mechanisms regulating both staygreen and leaf wax in sorghum.
A finite element correction method for sub-20 nm nanoindentation considering tip bluntness

Abstract Due to substrate effects and inherent tip bluntness, using current state-of-the-art nanoindentation instrumentation, it is difficult to directly measure mechanical properties of thin films less than 20 nm thick. With the aid of Finite Element Analysis (FEA), we obtain the mechanical properties by correlating simulated force-displacement responses with those from nanoindentation experiments. For shallow indentation experiments that is required for very thin films, it is found that an indenter model with a blunt tip is more realistic and leads to accurate characterization of mechanical properties. The proposed blunt tip model is validated with experiments on a standard fused quartz sample, and then applied to measure the nanomechanical properties of a 90 nm thick metal alloy layer and a 14 nm thick magnetic layer sandwiched between a carbon overcoat and a metal alloy. The magnetic layer properties are found to be 180 GPa for the reduced modulus and 2.9 GPa for the yield strength.
Optimal sizing of modular multi-level converters designed for shipboard applications

With the push towards Medium Voltage DC (MVDC) based shipboard electrical distribution systems, the power converter(s) between Medium Voltage AC generators and common MVDC buses must handle more power than any other electrical power conversion component in the ship. The Modular Multi-Level Converter (MMLC) is a compelling topology for this function because of its modular structure and the potential for achieving economies of scale and, hence, lower cost power conversion equipment. It is vital to consider the optimal sizing of all capacitive and magnetic storage elements within the MMLC in order to achieve the highest power density and determine its feasibility in the shipboard context. This paper presents an optimization process that is applied to the MMLC to achieve the highest power density given a set of requirements, environmental constraints, such as available cooling system attributes and technology insertions, such as Wide Band Gap (WBG) power semiconductors.
Mutual effects and in planta accumulation of co-existing cerium oxide nanoparticles and cadmium in hydroponically grown soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.)

Cadmium (Cd) is a metal toxic to humans even at very low concentrations. Elevated levels of Cd in soil due to various anthropogenic activities have led to higher Cd concentrations in various crop tissues, making it a food safety concern. With the progressive production and continued accumulation of engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) in agricultural soils, understanding the effect of ENPs on the uptake and accumulation of metals by plants is imperative. The goal of this study was to determine the mutual effects of cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO2NPs) and Cd2+ on their uptake and accumulation by soybean seedlings (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) in a hydroponic system. Soybean seedlings were exposed to four treatments (1.0 mg L−1 Cd2+, 1.0 mg L−1 Cd2+ + 100 mg L−1 CeO2NPs, 100 mg L−1 CeO2NPs and 0 mg L−1 Cd and CeO2NPs as the control) for 10 days. At termination, plant roots and shoots were separated and the concentrations of Cd and Ce in these tissues were determined. In addition, the amounts of ionic Ce and particulate Ce within soybean roots were determined. Significant interactions between co-existing CeO2NPs and Cd were found with regard to their accumulation in plant tissues. While CeO2NPs did not affect the total Cd associated with soybean roots, they significantly reduced the translocation of Cd from roots to shoots by 70%. In contrast, the co-presence of Cd lowered the concentration of Ce in soybean roots by 45% but significantly increased the concentration of Ce in soybean shoots by 60%. The altered plant accumulation of co-existing Cd and Ce was attributed to various physical, chemical and biological processes that occurred in the plant rhizosphere. Specifically, the co-presence of Cd and CeO2NPs led to higher excretion of plant root exudates, which might have altered the chemical environment in the plant rhizosphere and enhanced CeO2NP dissolution, leading to different plant accumulation of both chemicals.
Clinical Decision Support for Recognition and Management of Hypertension: A Randomized Trial

OBJECTIVES: Although blood pressure (BP) is routinely measured in outpatient visits, elevated BP and hypertension are often not recognized. We evaluated whether an electronic health record–linked clinical decision support (CDS) tool could improve the recognition and management of hypertension in adolescents. METHODS: We randomly assigned 20 primary care clinics within an integrated care system to CDS or usual care. At intervention sites, the CDS displayed BPs and percentiles, identified incident hypertension on the basis of current or previous BPs, and offered tailored order sets. The recognition of hypertension was identified by an automated review of diagnoses and problem lists and a manual review of clinical notes, antihypertensive medication prescriptions, and diagnostic testing. Generalized linear mixed models were used to test the effect of the intervention. RESULTS: Among 31 579 patients 10 to 17 years old with a clinic visit over a 2-year period, 522 (1.7%) had incident hypertension. Within 6 months of meeting criteria, providers recognized hypertension in 54.9% of patients in CDS clinics and 21.3% of patients in usual care (P ≤ .001). Clinical recognition was most often achieved through visit diagnoses or documentation in the clinical note. Within 6 months of developing incident hypertension, 17.1% of CDS subjects were referred to dieticians or weight loss or exercise programs, and 9.4% had additional hypertension workup versus 3.9% and 4.2%, respectively (P = .001 and .046, respectively). Only 1% of patients were prescribed an antihypertensive medication within 6 months of developing hypertension. CONCLUSIONS: The CDS had a significant, beneficial effect on the recognition of hypertension, with a moderate increase in guideline-adherent management.
Antibiotic use and outcomes with systemic therapy in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC).

607Background: Antibiotic (Abx) use is shown to alter commensal gut microbiota, a key regulator of immune homeostasis. We conducted the largest investigation to date on the impact of Abx use on outcomes in mRCC patients treated with systemic agents. Methods: Two cohorts were analyzed: an institutional cohort (DFCI, n = 146) of patients receiving PD-1/PD-L1-based immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI), and an external cohort from pooled phase II/III clinical trials (Pfizer, n = 4144) of patients treated with interferon (IFN, n = 510), mTOR inhibitors (n = 660), and VEGF inhibitors (n = 2974). Abx use was defined as Abx treatment at any time between 8-weeks pre- and 4-weeks post the start of systemic therapy. We examined the associations of Abx use and objective response rate (ORR), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) using Cox/logistic regression models, adjusted for prognostic factors including risk groups. Results: In the DFCI cohort, 15% had non-clear cell histology, 43% had first-lin...
Regressus and Empiricism in the Controversy about Galileo’s Lunar Observations

This paper defends a version of J. H. Randall’s thesis that modern empiricism is rooted in the Scholastic regressus method epitomized by Jacopo Zabarella in De Regressu (1578). Randall’s critics note that the empirical practice of Galileo and his contemporaries does not follow Zabarella. However, Zabarella’s account of the regressus is imprecise, which permitted an interpretation introducing empirical hypothesis testing into the framework. The discourse surrounding Galileo’s lunar observations in Sidereus Nuncius (1610) suggests that both Galileo and his interlocutors amended the regressus method in this way, such that a developmental narrative links Scholastic logic to Galilean science.
Incorporation of a Theranostic “Two-Tone” Luminescent Silver Complex into Biocompatible Agar Hydrogel Composite for the Eradication of ESKAPE Pathogens in a Skin and Soft Tissue Infection Model

Microbial invasion and colonization of the skin and underlying soft tissues are among the most common types of infections, becoming increasingly prevalent in hospital settings. Systemic antibiotic chemotherapies are now extremely limited due to emergence of drug-resistant Gram-positive and multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacterial strains. Topical administration of antimicrobials provides an effective route for the treatment of skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs). Therefore, the development of new and effective materials for the delivery of these agents is of paramount importance. Silver is a broad-spectrum antibiotic used for the treatment and prevention of infections since ancient times. However, the high reactivity of silver cation (Ag+) makes its incorporation into delivery materials quite challenging. Herein we report a novel soft agar hydrogel composite for the delivery of Ag+ into infected wound sites. This material incorporates a Ag(I) complex [Ag2(DSX)2(NO3)2] (1; DSX = 5-(dimethylamino)-N,...
Interactions Between Herbs and Antiinfective Medications

Over 15 million people in the United States report using complementary and alternative medications (CAM). Patients with HIV infection represent an important segment of this population. Because of their ability to modulate a variety of cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes and drug transport proteins such as P-glycoprotein (P-gp), a number of herbs have been shown to interact with coadministered medications. Unfortunately, in vitro microsomal studies often fail to predict results obtained in humans. The herb associated with the greatest number of drug interactions in humans is St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum). As a potent inducer of CYP and P-gp, St. John’s wort has been shown to reduce the plasma concentrations of certain coadministered medications by >50%. Other herbs have been shown to induce the metabolism of coadministered medications as well. However, the magnitude of these interactions is markedly less than that produced by St. John’s wort. Nonetheless, even mild herb-drug interactions may be clinically relevant for coadministered medications with narrow therapeutic indices. To this end, the need for rigorous studies to identify potentially significant herb-drug interactions continues. Clinicians caring for patients taking CAM therapy should maintain a high degree of suspicion for herb-drug interactions in the face of unexplained toxicity or loss of efficacy, and be familiar with resources that can help manage or avoid herb-drug interactions.
Evolution and Management of Resistance in the Colorado Potato Beetle, Leptinotarsa Decemlineata

The Colorado potato beetle is notorious for its rapid development of insecticide resistance, even compared to other major pests, such as those on cotton. The causes of this rapid evolution appear to include: (1) capacity for rapid population growth; (2) high fraction of the population being treated each generation (due to the relative scarcity of populations on untreated alternative host plants); (3) selection across all active life stages; (4) the existence of a single mechanism capable of causing broad cross-resistance; and (5) use of soil insecticides. We have developed an integrated resistance management program for the Colorado potato beetle that includes: (1) crop rotation, scouting and border sprays; (2) the replacement of soil insecticides with alternative foliar insecticides for control of aphids and leafhoppers; and (3) intergenerational rotation of pesticides, including those from Bacillus thuringiensis, that do not show cross-resistance and preserve predators. Other refinements, including trap crops, propane flame technologies, and genetically resistant host plants are under investigation. With adequate grower education, resistance in the Colorado potato beetle seems manageable.
Microfinance participation and intimate partner violence among women in Bangladesh

We examine the links between microfinance, often a vehicle for credit and entrepreneurship for the poor, and intimate partner violence (IPV) using the 2006 Bangladesh Urban Health Survey. Unlike existing studies, we distinguish between various types of microfinance programmes, isolating programmes that exclusively make loans versus programmes with a more diverse portfolio. In order to address potential self-selection bias we use matching estimators in a multiple-treatment format, controlling for some of the observed differences between participants and non-participants. We find that the association of microfinance participation with IPV is heterogeneous. Members of organizations such as BRAC, Proshika, or ASA report significantly higher rates of IPV, while such results do not hold across all organizations. Specifically, we find that organizations focused exclusively on making loans are not associated with either increased or reduced violence in a significant way.
Compositional simulation of fractured shale reservoir with distribution of nanopores using coupled multi-porosity and EDFM method

Abstract Shale reservoir contains highly heterogenous pore systems due to the wide-range distributions of nanopores in shale matrix and hydraulic/natural fractures. To explicitly include pore size distribution in simulation of shale reservoir, a multi-porosity model is applied to subdivide the matrix into multiple continua based on experimental pore size data. Each continuum has its own pore size, porosity and permeability, as well as other petrophysical properties. Besides, the embedded discrete fracture model (EDFM) is coupled with multi-porosity model to describe the complex fractures networks with any angles and intersections. To evaluate effects of pore size distribution on production, compositional simulation is conducted in a fractured shale reservoir using different number of continua in shale matrix. Simulation results show that the use of multiple continua results in lower oil and gas production. Different pressures, oil and gas saturations and compositions are observed in different continua. To further investigate the effects of distribution of nanopores, oil-gas capillary pressure is rigorously calculated in every continuum. The existence of large capillary pressure leads to different fluid properties in different size of nanopores. Moreover, capillary pressure reduces oil and gas recovery and alters compositions of residuals. The effects of capillary pressure are more significant in the low permeable continua due to smaller pore sizes.
NUTS for Mixture IRT Models

The No-U-Turn Sampler (NUTS) is a relatively new Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) algorithm that avoids the random walk behavior that common MCMC algorithms such as Gibbs sampling or Metropolis Hastings usually exhibit. Given the fact that NUTS can efficiently explore the entire space of the target distribution, the sampler converges to high-dimensional target distributions more quickly than other MCMC algorithms and is hence less computational expensive. The focus of this study is on applying NUTS to one of the complex IRT models, specifically the two-parameter mixture IRT (Mix2PL) model, and further to examine its performance in estimating model parameters when sample size, test length, and number of latent classes are manipulated. The results indicate that overall, NUTS performs well in recovering model parameters. However, the recovery of the class membership of individual persons is not satisfactory for the three-class conditions. Findings from this investigation provide empirical evidence on the performance of NUTS in fitting Mix2PL models and suggest that researchers and practitioners in educational and psychological measurement should benefit from using NUTS in estimating parameters of complex IRT models.
Abiraterone acetate in comparison to enzalutamide in African American patients with metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer: A single-center retrospective study.

e16547Background: African American (AA) patients with metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) represent a high-risk population with higher mortality. Recent data suggested that abirat...
Acute corneal injury in rabbits following nitrogen mustard ocular exposure.

Abstract Sulfur mustard (SM), a potent vesicating chemical warfare agent, and its analog nitrogen mustard (NM), are both strong bi-functional alkylating agents. Eyes, skin, and the respiratory system are the main targets of SM and NM exposure; however, ocular tissue is most sensitive, resulting in severe ocular injury. The mechanism of ocular injury from vesicating agents' exposure is not completely understood. To understand the injury mechanism from exposure to vesicating agents, NM has been previously employed in our toxicity studies on primary human corneal epithelial cells and ex vivo rabbit cornea organ culture model. In the current study, corneal toxicity from NM ocular exposure (1%) was analyzed for up to 28 days post-exposure in New Zealand White male rabbits to develop an acute corneal injury model. NM exposure led to conjunctival and eyelid swelling within a few hours after exposure, in addition to significant corneal opacity and ulceration. An increase in total corneal thickness and epithelial degradation was observed starting at day 3 post-NM exposure, which was maximal at day 14 post-exposure and did not resolve until 28 days post-exposure. There was an NM-induced increase in the number of blood vessels and inflammatory cells, and a decrease in keratocytes in the corneal stroma. NM exposure resulted in increased expression levels of cyclooxygenase-2, Interleukin-8, vascular endothelial growth factor and Matrix Metallopeptidase 9 indicating their involvement in NM-induced corneal injury. These clinical, biological, and molecular markers could be useful for the evaluation of acute corneal injury and to screen for therapies against NM- and SM-induced ocular injury.
Multitype Activity Recognition in Robot-Centric Scenarios

Activity recognition is very useful in scenarios where robots interact with, monitor, or assist humans. In the past years many types of activities—single actions, two persons interactions or ego-centric activities, to name a few—have been analyzed. Whereas traditional methods treat such types of activities separately, an autonomous robot should be able to detect and recognize multiple types of activities to effectively fulfill its tasks. We propose a method that is intrinsically able to detect and recognize activities of different types that happen in sequence or concurrently. We present a new unified descriptor, called relation history image (RHI), which can be extracted from all the activity types we are interested in. We then formulate an optimization procedure to detect and recognize activities of different types. We apply our approach to a new dataset recorded from a robot-centric perspective and systematically evaluate its quality compared to multiple baselines. Finally, we show the efficacy of the RHI descriptor on publicly available datasets performing extensive comparisons.
Multilingualism and multiculturalism in an International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme with particular emphasis on supporting linguistic minority students

Multi/bilingual education has been found to have the potential to provide more equitable education for linguistic minority students; nevertheless, these students have not fully benefitted from it due to unequal power dynamics and Englishdominant language ideologies. While bilingual programmes in secondary schools remain extremely rare in the US, the Bilingual Diploma in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme offers a high school level bilingual curriculum and fosters heritage language education and multiculturalism. This study examines how advanced bilingual education in one International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme in a US high school served linguistic minority students’ specific needs by establishing an institutional structure promoting heritage language learning, which significantly empowered those students by overcoming deficit-oriented ideologies.
Cultivating a “Cosmic Perspective” in Theology: Reading William R. Stoeger with Laudato Si’:

The anthropocentric orientation and treatments of evolution and ecology found in Laudato Si’ undermine its potential for operationalizing its vision of “splendid universal communion.” Jesuit astron...
Design Rules for High Performance Tunnel Transistors From 2-D Materials

Tunneling field-effect transistors (TFETs) based on 2-D materials are promising steep sub-threshold swing devices due to their tight gate control. There are two major methods to create the tunnel junction in these 2-D TFETs: 1) electrical and 2) chemical doping. In this paper, design guidelines for both electrically and chemically doped 2-D TFETs are provided using full band atomistic quantum transport simulations in conjunction with analytic modeling. Moreover, several 2-D TFETs’ performance boosters such as strain, source doping, and equivalent oxide thickness are studied. Later on, these performance boosters are analyzed within a novel figure-of-merit plot (i.e., constant ON-current plot).
AML-356: High Dimensional Analytic Approaches Identify Stressor Specific Response Patterns in AML

Cellular response to stress is diverse, ranging from adaptation to induction of cell death. We designed a multicolor flow cytometry panel to gain insight into multifaceted stress response and to assess multiple cell death modes. This enabled simultaneous interrogation of multiple cell death modes including necrosis, necroptosis, apoptosis and parthanatos as well as proliferation, autophagy and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Notably, we utilized high dimensional analytic approaches to better elucidate stress response and cell death modes. We aimed to delineate response patterns and cell death modes associated with targeted agents in the context of AML. Bcl-2 or Mcl-1 inhibition alone did not alter cellular landscape. However, treatment with MDM2 or exportin 1 (XPO1) inhibitors and mitochondrial proteasome (ClpP) activator (ONC201) elicited divergent stress responses and cell death modes. Two-dimensional UMAP plots showed differential induction of autophagy and ER stress following treatment with MDM2, XPO1 inhibitors/ClpP activators. Remarkably, we observed that MDM2i and XPO1i were associated with emergence of quiescent cells, based on high p21 expression, and higher levels of ER stress and autophagy while ClpPa induced DNA damage, and was associated with persistent Ki-67 expression and lower levels of p21. This approach enabled us to dissect single agent specific stress signatures. Remarkably, dual combinations differentially altered and skewed response patterns. Strikingly, combinatorial use of MDM2i and XPO1i almost completely eliminated all AML cells except the ones with the highest levels of ER stress and autophagy. On the other hand, addition of either Bcl-2i or MCL-1i to MDM2i markedly reduced p21, ER stress and autophagy, indicating that these anti-apoptotic molecules may play a role in cellular adaptation. We leveraged diffusion map algorithm to map cellular trajectories. This approach enabled us to identify the earliest stage of cell death, characterized by expression of LC3B, H2AX and cleaved PARP while dead cell dye (+) cells marked the latest stage. These findings provide proof of concept for the utility of single cell mapping of cellular stress in delineating stressor-specific response patterns and identifying potential resistance mechanisms. Single cell mapping of cell stress and cell death can inform the development of more effective combinatorial drug regimens.
Can Originalism Constrain the Imperial Presidency

The Living Presidency: An Originalist Argument Against Its Ever-Expanding Powers, by Professor Saikrishna Bangalore Prakash, is a readable, systematic, and well-reasoned description of today’s living presidency, as well as a roadmap showing the way back to the constitutionally-authorized office. The Living Presidency’s thesis is that today’s presidents routinely “alter the Constitution and laws” such that the office has “become the amending executive.” But, in the beginning, “the original presidency was not meant to be all-powerful [and] lacked the unilateral authority to amend the Constitution or to make, amend, or unmake statutory law.” Professor Prakash describes the causes of today’s out-sized presidency, details support for his claims that the living presidency departs from the Constitution’s original meaning, and then suggests means to tame the living presidency.
The Economics of mastitis control

Benefits and costs to be taken into account when making economic estimates of mastitis control are discussed. They include changes in milk production and feed consumption, treatment and control programme costs, culling and death losses due to mastitis and to other diseases, and changes in labour, milk composition and calving intervals. Evidence on the economic impact of mastitis control is reviewed and potential problems in estimating impacts for individual herds are discussed.
Flaveria Juss.(Compositae), a ewly naturalized genus in China

Flaveria bidentis (L.) Kuntze, a newly naturalized genus and species of Compositae form Hebei and Tianjin, China, is described and illustrated. Flaveria Juss. is related to Tagetes L. and Gaillardia Fouger. in having phoranthium without chaffy bracts, but differs by having leaves opposite and decussate, base usually connate, capitula aggregated in flat-topped corymbose panicles or glomerulelike synflorescences in the apex of the branches, flower yellow, ligule floret 1 (rarely 2), pappus absent.