cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Role of graft oversizing in the fixation strength of barbed endovascular grafts.

Purpose The role of endovascular graft oversizing on risk of distal graft migration following endovascular aneurysm repair for abdominal aortic aneurysm is poorly understood. A controlled in vitro investigation of the role of oversizing in graft-aorta attachment strength for endovascular grafts (EVGs) with barbs was performed. Methods Barbed stent grafts (N = 20) with controlled graft oversizing varying from 4-45% were fabricated while maintaining other design variables unchanged. A flow loop with physiological flow characteristics and a biosynthetic aortic aneurysm phantom (synthetic aneurysm model with a bovine aortic neck) were developed. The stent grafts were deployed into the aortic neck of the bio-synthetic aortic aneurysm phantom under realistic flow conditions. Computed tomography imaging of the graft-aorta complex was used to document attachment characteristics such as graft apposition, number of barbs penetrated, and penetration depth and angle. The strength of graft attachment to the aortic neck was assessed using mechanical pullout testing. Stent grafts were categorized into four groups based on oversizing: 4-10%; 11-20%; 21-30%; and greater than 30% oversizing. Results Pullout force, a measure of post-deployment fixation strength was not different between 4-10% (6.23 ± 1.90 N), 11-20% (6.25 ± 1.84 N) and 20-30% (5.85 ± 1.89 N) groups, but significantly lower for the group with greater than 30% oversizing (3.67 ± 1.41 N). Increasing oversizing caused a proportional decrease in the number of barbs penetrating the aortic wall (correlation = −0.83). Of the 14 barbs available in the stent graft, 89% of the barbs (12.5 of 14 on average) penetrated the aortic wall in the 4-10% oversizing group while only 38% (5.25 of 14) did for the greater than 30% group ( P Conclusion Greater than 30% graft oversizing affects both barb penetration and graft apposition adversely resulting in a low pullout force in this in vitro model. Barbed stent grafts with excessive oversizing are likely to result in poor fixation and increased risk of migration.
Development of Priority-Based Robust Design

Among the engineering design methods currently studied in the engineering design community, researchers often identify robust design as one of the most important fields for the purpose of quality improvement. Although the notion of robust design is clearly important, the use of Taguchi's signal-to-noise ratios and crossed arrays to capture variability has been a subject of controversy. As a natural alternative, a response surface approach to robust design has drawn much attention recently. This article first investigates the robust design models based on response surface approach and then proposes a priority-based robust design model to better reflect an engineer's point of view at the early product design stage. Discussions are made and numerical optimizations are performed for the purpose of comparative studies.
Opioid-Related Adverse Drug Events in Surgical Hospitalizations: Impact on Costs and Length of Stay

Background Opioid analgesics remain a mainstay in the treatment of pain associated with surgical procedures. Such use is associated with adverse drug events (ADEs). Objective To investigate the impact of opioid-related ADEs on total hospital costs and length of stay (LOS) in adult surgical patients. Methods This was a retrospective matched cohort study using data from computerized medical records. ADE cases were prospectively detected using computerized surveillance and verified by pharmacists. Surgical patients treated at LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City from January 1, 1998, to December 31, 2003, were included. The primary outcomes were costs and hospital LOS associated with opioid-related ADEs and the relationship of opioid dose to ADE events. Results Patients experiencing opioid-related ADEs had significantly increased median total hospital costs (7.4% increase; 95% CI 3.83 to 10.96; p Conclusions Opioid-related ADEs following surgery were associated with significantly increased LOS and hospitalization costs. These ADEs occurred more frequently in patients receiving higher doses of opioids.
Adaptive iterative detection for phase tracking in turbo-coded systems

The problem of performing iterative detection (ID)-a technique originally introduced for the decoding of turbo codes-for systems having parametric uncertainty has received relatively little attention in the open literature. In this paper, the problem of adaptive ID (AID) for serial and parallel concatenated convolutional codes (SCCCs and PCCCs or turbo codes) in the presence of carrier-phase uncertainty is examined. Based on the theoretical framework of Anastasopoulos and Chugg, (see Proc. Int. Conf. Communications, p.177-181, 1999). and Colavolpe, Ferrari and Raheli (see IEEE Trans. Commun., vol.48, p.1488-98, 2000), adaptive soft inverse (ASI) algorithms are developed for two commonly used blocks in turbo codes, leading to the adaptive soft-input soft-output (A-SISO) and the adaptive soft demodulator (A-SODEM) algorithms. Based on these algorithms, practical AID receivers are presented. Several design options are proposed and compared and the impact of parametric uncertainty on previously established results for iterative detection with perfect channel state information (CSI) is assessed.
A lattice-based approach for updating access control policies in real-time

Real-time update of access control policies, that is, updating policies while they are in effect and enforcing the changes immediately and automatically, is necessary for many dynamic environments. Examples of such environments include disaster relief and war zone. In such situations, system resources may need re-configuration or operational modes may change, necessitating a change of policies. For the system to continue functioning, the policies must be changed immediately and the modified policies automatically enforced. In this paper, we propose a solution to this problem-we consider real-time update of access control policies in the context of a database system. In our model, a database consists of a set of objects that are read and updated through transactions. Access to the data objects are controlled by access control policies which are stored in the form of policy objects. We consider an environment in which different kinds of transactions execute concurrently; some of these may be transactions updating policy objects. Updating policy objects while they are deployed can lead to potential security problems. We propose algorithms that not only prevent such security problems, but also ensure serializable execution of transactions. The algorithms differ on the degree of concurrency provided and the kinds of policies each can update.
Diabetes and Cardiovascular Events in Hypertensive Patients

To determine the relation of self-reported history of diabetes as well as baseline and in-treatment blood sugar to subsequent cardiovascular disease (CVD) in treated hypertensive patients, we assessed the experience of 6886 participants in a systematic treatment program. The presence or absence of a history of diabetes was known for all patients, who were then stratified into 3 groups according to blood sugar at baseline and in treatment ( /=7.75 mmol/L). Some 7.4% of all patients reported history of diabetes, and the overall prevalence of blood sugar >/=7. 75 mmol/L was 7.7% and 10.4% at baseline and in treatment, respectively. Patients with a history of diabetes were 10 or 8 times as likely to have blood sugar >/=7.75 mmol/L at baseline (47.2% versus 4.5%) or in treatment (55.0% versus 6.8%), as were patients without history. During an average 6.3 years of follow-up, patients with history of diabetes had a cardiovascular event incidence 2-fold higher than those without history (20.8 versus 8.6/1000 person-years). Age-gender-adjusted CVD incidence rate but not non-CVD was twice as high in the highest compared with the lowest blood sugar stratum (baseline 16.6 versus 8.4/1000 person-years; in treatment 15.2 versus 8.2). Three separate models of Cox multivariate analysis revealed that history of diabetes (with no history as reference) had a greater association with CVD events (hazard ratio 2.37, 95% confidence interval 1.80 to 3.11) than did baseline (1.75, 1.31 to 2.33) or in-treatment blood sugar (1.55, 1. 19 to 2.02). Furthermore, in the presence of history of diabetes (2. 15, 1.58 to 2.92), neither baseline nor in-treatment blood sugar was independently associated with CVD risk. In the elevated (>/=7.75 mmol/L) in-treatment blood sugar group, the age-gender-adjusted rate of CVD events in frequent diuretic users (30.79/1000 person-years) was significantly higher than in moderate (13.34, P=0.004) and rare users (13.25, P=0.008). These data affirm that the coincidence of diabetes and hypertension is common, that evidence of diabetes substantially increases CVD risk, that self-reported history is a more powerful predictor of CVD events than any measure of blood sugar, and that CVD increases in hypertensive diuretic users who develop hyperglycemia even when blood pressure is well controlled.
Nitric oxide mediates the increase in local cerebral blood flow during focal seizures.

Abstract The role of nitric oxide (NO) in the increase in local cerebral blood flow (LCBF) elicited by focal cortical epileptic seizures was investigated in anesthetized adult rats. Seizures were induced by topical bicuculline methiodide applied through two cranial windows drilled over homotopic sites of the frontal cortex, and LCBF was measured by quantitative autoradiography by using 4-iodo[N-methyl-14C]antipyrine. Superfusion of an inhibitor of NO synthase, N omega-nitro-L-arginine (NA; 1 mM), for 45 min abolished the increase of LCBF induced by topical bicuculline methiodide (10 mM) [164 +/- 18 ml/100 g per min in the artificial cerebrospinal fluid (aCSF)-superfused side and 104 +/- 12 ml/100 g per ml in the NA-superfused side; P < 0.005]. This effect was reversed by coapplication of an excess of L-arginine substrate (10 mM) (218 +/- 22 ml/100 g per min in the aCSF-superfused side and 183 +/- 31 ml/100 g per min in the NA + L-Arg-superfused side) but not by 10 mM D-arginine, a stereoisomer with poor affinity for NO synthase (193 +/- 17 ml/100 g per min in the aCSF-superfused side and 139 +/- 21 ml/100 g per min in the NA + D-Arg-superfused side; P < 0.005). Superfusion of the guanylyl cyclase inhibitor methylene blue attenuated the LCBF increase elicited by topical bicuculline methiodide by 25% +/- 16% (P < 0.05). The present findings suggest that NO is the mediator of the vasodilation in response to focal epileptic seizures.
Plasma lithography for control of cell morphology and proliferation

We have utilized a plasma based patterning technique [1], that we have developed, to study the effects of micrometer and submicrometer scale surface functionalization on cell proliferation and morphology. We have applied this method to cellular patterning and examined the response of mammalian cells to patterns of hydrophobic and hydrophilic areas created directly on polystyrene substrates. We have observed that the residual plasma pattern can serve as a template for cell attachment and growth on patterns at line widths ∼22 µm and larger. At smaller sizes, cells do not align themselves with the pattern, but their growth is affected and is significantly less than on homogeneous hydrophilic polystyrene surfaces. This type of patterning could have several uses including tissue engineering, medical implants, or providing a means for studying the fundamental behavior of cell to surface and other interactions.
The patient as a policy factor: a historical case study of the consumer/survivor movement in mental health.

This paper analyzes the history of the modern consumer/survivor movement and its impact on the policy-making climate in the mental health field. The growing attentiveness to consumers’ perspectives...
Induced rotational autokinesis.

The independent autokinesis of the components of a complex pattern was a rather common phenomenon. The direction of such independent motion was placed under E's control by use of an induced autokinesis paradigm. A sequence of related eye-movement studies showed that, while S divided his attention between the various parts of the pattern, the apparent motion of each of the components was not related to the onset of optic nystagmus. Therefore, a possible local-sign interpretation of the effect was rejected.
Orthopaedic aspects of fragile-X syndrome

Fragile-X syndrome is one of the most common inherited forms of mental retardation. An associated connective-tissue disorder involving elastin accounts for the most frequent musculoskeletal manifestations, which include severe flexible flat feet, excessive laxity of the joints, and scoliosis. At our institution, seventy-five (50 per cent) of the 150 male patients who had fragile-X syndrome had flat feet, eighty-five (57 per cent) had excessive laxity of the joints, and ten had scoliosis. Twenty-nine of the patients who had flat feet had been evaluated or treated, or both, by an orthopaedic surgeon before the diagnosis of fragile-X syndrome had been made. Only one of these patients had been referred for developmental and genetic evaluation, which suggests that the orthopaedic community is not familiar with this syndrome. The orthopaedist should consider the diagnosis of fragile-X syndrome in the evaluation of a mentally retarded boy or man who has a family history of mental retardation. The presence of flat feet and excessive laxity of the joints, associated with the characteristic facies, macro-orchidism, and behavior, justifies a referral for developmental and genetic evaluation. Early diagnosis is important for several reasons, including genetic counseling for the family, more efficacious medical treatment, and specialized education.
Selectivity for the configural cues that identify the gender, ethnicity, and identity of faces in human cortex

We used psychophysical and functional MRI (fMRI) adaptation to examine how and where the visual configural cues underlying identification of facial ethnicity, gender, and identity are processed. We found that the cortical regions showing selectivity to these cues are distributed widely across the inferior occipital cortex, fusiform areas, and the cingulate gyrus. These regions were not colocalized with areas activated by traditional face area localizer scans. Traditional face area localizer scans isolate regions defined by stronger fMRI responses to a random series of face images than to a series of non-face images. Because these scans present a random assortment of face images, they presumably produce the strongest responses within regions containing neurons that are face-sensitive but not highly tuned for face type. These areas might be expected to show only weak selective adaptation effects. In contrast, the largest responses to our selective adaptation paradigm would be expected within areas containing more selectively tuned neurons that might be expected to show only a sparse collective response to a series of random faces. Many aspects of face processing (e.g., prosopagnosia, recognition, and configural vs. featural processing) are likely to rely heavily on regions containing high proportions of neurons that show selective tuning for faces.
Acute myocardial infarction secondary to thromboembolism in a patient with atrial fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation is a common entity and can be associated with thromboembolic complications in as many as 18% of patients per year. Anticoagulation is the mainstay of therapy to reduce the risk of stroke and peripheral embolization. A coronary thromboembolus with subsequent myocardial infarction, however, is rare. We describe the case of a 53 year-old female with a history of non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy that presented with newly diagnosed, symptomatic atrial fibrillation and during hospitalization suffered an acute myocardial infarction from embolization of a left atrial appendage thrombus.
It cuts two ways: microtubule loss during Alzheimer disease.

Microtubule loss from axons and dendrites is a key contributor to nervous system degeneration during Alzheimer disease. Previous evidence suggested a simple pathway by which tau dissociation from microtubules in the axon allows excess severing of microtubules by katanin. Now, new evidence has emerged for a more complex pathway by which abnormal tau invasion into dendrites, triggered by Aβ oligomers, results in excess severing of microtubules by spastin. Alzheimer disease (AD) is a member of a category of neurodegenerative disorders called tauopathies (Wang and Liu, 2008). These are diseases of the nervous system in which tau becomes abnormally phosphorylated, and thereby detaches from microtubules. As the microtubules lose tau, they diminish in number and density, and this loss of microtubule mass negatively impacts the capacity of the neuron to maintain axonal transport and synaptic connections. Terms such as disintegrate or ‘fall apart’ are often used to describe the effect on the microtubules as they lose tau, but to date there has been very little information on how this happens. There is no mechanistic evidence to support the view that the microtubules become less stable and simply disassemble by their normal dynamic properties. One possibility is that tau normally protects microtubules from being destroyed by various proteins in the axon that would otherwise cut them into pieces or in some other way break them down. This presumably reflects a physiological mechanism wherein the regulation of tau dissociation from the microtubule via signalling pathways controls when and where microtubule breakage normally occurs. When a pathological condition causes tau to detach from microtubules, they become extremely sensitive to such factors. In addition, there is strong evidence that the abnormal tau, whether soluble or filamentous, can elicit toxic gain‐of‐function effects on the axon (Wang and Liu, 2008). To make matters even more complex, …
Synthesis and photoluminescence enhancement of Mn2+-doped ZnS nanocrystals

Abstract Mn 2+ -doped ZnS nanoparticles were synthesized by a chemical precipitation method at room temperature. The particle size was estimated to be 2.8 nm from high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and calculated as 2.6±0.4 nm from peak broadening of the X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern. A 30-fold increase in photoluminescence intensity has been observed from Mn 2+ -doped ZnS nanoparticles after surface passivation by a passivating agent with carboxylic functional groups.
Bars and medals

There can only be one gold medal in each event at the Olympics. In science, on the other hand, as Eve Marder explains, it is more important to recognize excellence in its many different forms than it is to identify a winner.
Intrinsic Curvature Properties of Photosynthetic Proteins in Chromatophores

In purple bacteria, photosynthesis is carried out on large indentations of the bacterial plasma membrane termed chromatophores. Acting as primitive organelles, chromatophores are densely packed with the membrane proteins necessary for photosynthesis, including light harvesting complexes LH1 and LH2, reaction center (RC), and cytochrome bc1. The shape of chromatophores is primarily dependent on species, and is typically spherical or flat. How these shapes arise from the protein-protein and protein-membrane interactions is still unknown. Now, using molecular dynamics simulations, we have observed the dynamic curvature of membranes caused by proteins in the chromatophore. A membrane-embedded array of LH2s was found to relax to a curved state, both for LH2 from Rps. acidophila and a homology-modeled LH2 from Rb. sphaeroides. A modeled LH1-RC-PufX dimer was found to develop a bend at the dimerizing interface resulting in a curved shape as well. In contrast, the bc1 complex, which has not been imaged yet in native chromatophores, did not induce a preferred membrane curvature in simulation. Based on these results, a model for how the different photosynthetic proteins influence chromatophore shape is presented.
Practical method of adaptive radiotherapy for prostate cancer using real-time electromagnetic tracking.

Purpose We have created an automated process using real-time tracking data to evaluate the adequacy of planning target volume (PTV) margins in prostate cancer, allowing a process of adaptive radiotherapy with minimal physician workload. We present an analysis of PTV adequacy and a proposed adaptive process. Methods and Materials Tracking data were analyzed for 15 patients who underwent step-and-shoot multi-leaf collimation (SMLC) intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) with uniform 5-mm PTV margins for prostate cancer using the Calypso® Localization System. Additional plans were generated with 0- and 3-mm margins. A custom software application using the planned dose distribution and structure location from computed tomography (CT) simulation was developed to evaluate the dosimetric impact to the target due to motion. The dose delivered to the prostate was calculated for the initial three, five, and 10 fractions, and for the entire treatment. Treatment was accepted as adequate if the minimum delivered prostate dose (D min ) was at least 98% of the planned D min . Results For 0-, 3-, and 5-mm PTV margins, adequate treatment was obtained in 3 of 15, 12 of 15, and 15 of 15 patients, and the delivered D min ranged from 78% to 99%, 96% to 100%, and 99% to 100% of the planned D min . Changes in D min did not correlate with magnitude of prostate motion. Treatment adequacy during the first 10 fractions predicted sufficient dose delivery for the entire treatment for all patients and margins. Conclusions Our adaptive process successfully used real-time tracking data to predict the need for PTV modifications, without the added burden of physician contouring and image analysis. Our methods are applicable to other uses of real-time tracking, including hypofractionated treatment.
Medical, psychiatric and demographic factors associated with suicidal behavior in homeless veterans

This study assessed potential for suicidal behaviors associated with sociodemographic, predisposing physical and mental health factors and self-reported psychological problems among homeless veterans in a large northeastern region. Data were obtained from a demographic and clinical history interview conducted with 3595 homeless veterans. Odds-ratio (OR) statistics were used to assess potential for suicidal behavior. Statistically significant ratios were similar for ideation and attempts. The highest ratios were for self-report of depression and difficulty controlling violence, but statistically significant ratios were found for reporting sleeping in a treatment facility the night before the interview, receiving VA support for a psychiatric condition, and the diagnoses of Alcoholism, Mood Disorder and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Low but statistically significant odds-ratios were obtained for most of the physical health items. A negative odds-ratio was obtained for African-American ethnicity. Logistic regression results indicated that for ideation and attempts items entered first involved subjective report of trouble controlling violent behavior and experiencing depression. High odds ratios for the interview items concerning experiencing serious depression and having difficulties controlling violence may have strong implications for treatment and management of homeless veterans. There may be up to 14-1 odds that an individual who reports being seriously depressed or having difficulty inhibiting aggression may have a serious potential for suicidal behaviors. Language: en
Synovial Fibroblasts Promote the Expression and Granule Accumulation of Tryptase via Interleukin-33 and Its Receptor ST-2 (IL1RL1)

A characteristic feature of tissue resident human mast cells (MCs) is their hTryptase-β-rich cytoplasmic granules. Mouse MC protease-6 (mMCP-6) is the ortholog of hTryptase-β, and we have shown that this tetramer-forming tryptase has beneficial roles in innate immunity but adverse roles in inflammatory disorders like experimental arthritis. Because the key tissue factors that control tryptase expression in MCs have not been identified, we investigated the mechanisms by which fibroblasts mediate the expression and granule accumulation of mMCP-6. Immature mouse bone marrow-derived MCs (mBMMCs) co-cultured with fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) or mouse 3T3 fibroblasts markedly increased their levels of mMCP-6. This effect was caused by an undefined soluble factor whose levels could be increased by exposing FLS to tumor necrosis factor-α or interleukin (IL)-1β. Gene expression profiling of mBMMCs and FLS for receptor·ligand pairs of potential relevance raised the possibility that IL-33 was a sought after fibroblast-derived factor that promotes tryptase expression and granule maturation via its receptor IL1RL1/ST2. MCs lacking IL1RL1 exhibited defective fibroblast-driven tryptase accumulation, whereas recombinant IL-33 induced mMCP-6 mRNA and protein accumulation in wild-type mBMMCs. In agreement with these data, synovial MCs from IL1RL1-null mice exhibited a marked reduction in mMCP-6 expression. IL-33 is the first factor shown to modulate tryptase expression in MCs at the mRNA and protein levels. We therefore have identified a novel pathway by which mesenchymal cells exposed to inflammatory cytokines modulate the phenotype of local MCs to shape their immune responses.
A data mining methodology for predicting early stage Parkinson's disease using non-invasive, high-dimensional gait sensor data

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurological disorder after Alzheimer's disease. Key clinical features of PD are motor-related and are typically assessed by healthcare providers based on qualitative visual inspection of a patient's movement/gait/posture. More advanced diagnostic techniques such as computed tomography scans that measure brain function, can be cost prohibitive and may expose patients to radiation and other harmful effects. To mitigate these challenges, and open a pathway to remote patient-physician assessment, the authors of this work propose a data mining driven methodology that uses low cost, non-invasive sensors to model and predict the presence (or lack therefore) of PD movement abnormalities and model clinical subtypes. The study presented here evaluates the discriminative ability of non-invasive hardware and data mining algorithms to classify PD cases and controls. A 10-fold cross validation approach is used to compare several data mining algorithms in order to determine that which provides the most consistent results when varying the subject gait data. Next, the predictive accuracy of the data mining model is quantified by testing it against unseen data captured from a test pool of subjects. The proposed methodology demonstrates the feasibility of using non-invasive, low cost, hardware and data mining models to monitor the progression of gait features outside of the traditional healthcare facility, which may ultimately lead to earlier diagnosis of emerging neurological diseases.
An empirical approach to the treatment of multidrug-resistant ventilator-associated pneumonia

There is a general consensus that antimicrobial resistance in the hospital setting has emerged as an important variable that influences patient outcomes and overall use of resources [ 1-3]. Hospitals worldwide are faced with increasingly rapid emergence and spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Antibiotic-resistant strains of both gram-negative bacilli and gram-positive bacteria are reported to be important causes of hospital-acquired infection, including ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) [4, 5]. In many cases, few antimicrobial agents remain available for effective treatment, particularly with regard to methicillin-resistant and vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and gram-negative bacteria that produce extended-spectrum 3-lactamases and that have resistance to multiple other antibiotics [6-8]. One of the consequences of a greater prevalence of antimicrobial resistance is an increased recognition of inadequate
Effectiveness of iterative interventions to increase research productivity in one residency program.

Background : The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education requires residency programs to expose residents to research opportunities. Objective : The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of a series of iterative interventions to increase scholarly activity in one internal medicine residency. Methods : Retrospective analysis of the effectiveness of a series of interventions to increase resident and faculty scholarly productivity over a 14-year period was performed using quality improvement methodology. Outcomes measured were accepted regional and national abstracts and PubMed indexed manuscripts of residents and faculty. Results : Initially, regional meeting abstracts increased and then were supplanted by national meeting abstracts. Sustained gains in manuscript productivity occurred in the eighth year of interventions, increasing from a baseline of 0.01 publications/FTE/year to 1.57 publications/FTE/year in the final year measured. Run chart analysis indicated special cause variation associated with the interventions performed. Conclusions : Programs attempting to stimulate research production among faculty and residents can choose among many interventions cited in the literature. Since success of any group of interventions is likely additive and may take years to show benefit, measuring outcomes using quality improvement methodology may be an effective way to determine success. Keywords: increasing research productivity; education; medical; graduate; research (Published: 11 December 2015) Citation: Journal of Community Hospital Internal Medicine Perspectives 2015, 5 : 29203 - http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/jchimp.v5.29203
Hybrid Tip-Enhanced Nanospectroscopy and Nanoimaging of Monolayer WSe2 with Local Strain Control.

Many classes of two-dimensional (2D) materials have emerged as potential platforms for novel electronic and optical devices. However, their physical properties are strongly influenced by nanoscale heterogeneities in the form of edges, twin boundaries, and nucleation sites. Using combined tip-enhanced Raman scattering and photoluminescence (PL) nanospectroscopy and nanoimaging, we study the associated effects on the excitonic properties in monolayer WSe2 grown by physical vapor deposition. With ∼15 nm spatial resolution, we resolve nanoscale correlations of PL spectral intensity and shifts with crystal edges and internal twin boundaries associated with the expected exciton diffusion length. Through an active atomic force tip interaction we can control the crystal strain on the nanoscale and tune the local bandgap in reversible (up to 24 meV shift) and irreversible (up to 48 meV shift) fashion. This allows us to distinguish the effect of strain from the dominant influence of defects on the PL modification a...
The Use of Four-Point Bending Notched Beam Fatigue Tests to Rank Crack-Mitigating Interlayers

The laboratory characterization of reflective crack-mitigating interlayer systems has been challenging due to the difficulty in establishing loading conditions that can simulate field behavior. Due to their widespread use in characterizing the fatigue resistance of single-layered asphalt concrete (AC) specimens, four-point beam fatigue tests are considered to be possible index tests for evaluating the behavior of various systems. However, the boundary conditions of the beam fatigue test and the criteria used to determine failure of the system with interlayers must be taken into account or else the results can be misleading. In this study, notched layered AC beams with various interlayer systems were subjected to four-point bending fatigue tests. The interlayer systems included three geosynthetics (two paving mats and one paving fabric), a chip seal layer, and a tack coat-only sample. Digital Image Correlation (DIC) was used to monitor deformation and crack propagation within these beams, and the results from the DIC analysis were compared with traditional beam fatigue failure criteria to evaluate their ability to rank the relative performance of the samples. This study found that commonly used beam fatigue failure criteria are inadequate measures of performance for layered beam tests, as they are incapable of quantifying all of the damage mechanisms that occur within layered samples, and that rankings obtained using these criteria can be misleading. Future research is needed to develop improved failure criteria and a better understanding of the correlation between the behavior of the interlayer systems tested in the four-point bending test and behavior in the field.
Postnatal Cerebellar Hypoplasia and Dysfunction following Methylazoxymethanol Acetate Treatment

SummarySwiss albino mice were injected postnatally with 0.05 μl of MAM-ac/g body weight. The mice were sacrificed at 0, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 days. Cerebellar, whole brain and body weights were determined. The treated mice generally showed smaller body weights reflecting the general toxicity of MAM-ac. There was no statistical difference between the whole brain weights of the two groups, when the loss of cerebellar weight was taken into account. Significant differences between the cerebellar weights of control and treated animals were shown at each sacrifice time. It is the conclusion of this study that those differences in weight reflect the destruction induced by MAM-ac during the first 5 days of postnatal life and are not due to a continued degeneration. As for general developmental and behavioral dysfunctions, the treated mice showed delayed eye opening and fur appearance, and by day 25, exhibited a tremorous altered gait.The technical assistance of Nina Miller is gratefully acknowledged. The authors w...
Low-Temperature Treatment of Illinois No. 6 Coal in Ionic Liquids

Certain ionic liquids can fragment coals to a remarkable degree at temperatures below 100 °C. Here, it is shown that when Illinois No. 6 coal is mixed with the ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoromethanesulfonate and tetralin and held at temperatures of 300 °C or less under hydrogen, a dramatic increase in pyridine solubility is obtained. The highest yield of soluble material was in excess of 90% [dry and ash-free (daf) basis], but the results were very variable, partly as a result of the small sample sizes used.
Imaging of Spinal Manifestations of Hematological Disorders

Imaging manifestations of hematological diseases and their potential complications are broad, and there may be significant overlap in features of various disease processes. Knowledge of appropriate choice of imaging test, pertinent imaging patterns, and pathophysiology of disease can help the reader increase specificity in the diagnosis and treatment of the patient. Most importantly, we encourage readers of this review to engage their radiologists during the diagnostic, treatment, and management phases of care delivery.
The First Two Years of Mathematics at the University as it relates to the mathematical needs of students in the social sciences

The task of preparing a common set of courses in mathematics for students intending to major in one of the social sciences differs significantly from the same task for prospective physical science, mathematics, or engineering majors. For one thing, there is no generally accepted body of mathematics that every social science student is expected to know. In fact, a great many social science majors take as little mathematics as they can, usually a modicum of statistics. And few social science departments require much mathematics from their students. Besides, many of the faculty teaching in the social sciences have little mathematical training and use almost no mathematics; they are not apt to encourage their students to study mathematics. Many of these students and quite a few of the faculty show a strong fear of mathematics.
Functional quantitative security risk analysis (QSRA) to assist in protecting critical process infrastructure

Abstract This article proposes a quantitative security risk assessment methodology that can assist management in the decision-making process where and when to protect critical assets of a chemical facility. An improvement upon previous work is the approach of conducting concurrent Threat and Vulnerability Assessments, as opposed to a sequential approach. Furthermore, this method introduces a Bow Tie risk model mapped into a Bayesian Network model that allows for various logical relaxation assumptions to be applied. Different uncertainty relaxation approaches such as “Noisy-OR” and “Leaky Noisy-OR” and “Noisy-AND” are tested to improve Threat and Vulnerability likelihood. Finally, integrating threat/vulnerability likelihood with potential losses, the security risk is quantified. The potential security countermeasures are characterized into either decreasing vulnerability or decreasing threat likelihood and are reassessed considering a cost analysis. A theoretical case study is conducted to exemplify the execution and application of the proposed method.
The Ties that Bind Beyond the Battlefield: An Examination of the Diffusion Patterns of Veterans Treatment Courts

Objectives The growing number of veterans on court dockets with mental health and substance abuse issues has resulted in the proliferation of veterans treatment courts (VTCs). Given the ubiquity of substance abuse and mental illness across communities, it is unclear why some local courts innovate and, more importantly, why some do so earlier than others. Methods Using data from 2008 to 2014, the study applies event history modeling to investigate the extent to which, if any, presiding judges’ connection to the armed forces, either personally or through immediate family members (e.g., parents, children), accelerates the adoption of states’ initial VTCs. Results Findings show significant support for both the hastening effect of personal knowledge of the military and, to a lesser extent, the increased presence VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinics have on VTC innovation. Conclusions Judges’ social group membership and the availability of government resources in a community influence court organization innovation.
Diagnostic Strategies for Early Recognition of Cancer Therapeutics–Related Cardiac Dysfunction

Cardiovascular toxicity in the form of cardiac dysfunction continues to be an obstacle for patients with cancer. Survival and quality of life of cancer survivors are frequently affected by increased incidence of cardiovascular disease. The involvement of the cardiovascular system by primary or secondary malignancies, as well as its dysfunction secondary to the administration of antineoplastics, has led to the development of a new discipline called Cardio-Oncology, an exciting cardiology subspecialty with more questions than answers and as a result an enormous opportunity for research in the field. Multidisciplinary efforts have been focused on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer therapeutics–related cardiovascular dysfunction (CTRCD). This review article will focus on the early diagnosis of left ventricular dysfunction associated with chemotherapy. Currently, the identification of cardiac toxicity associated with cancer treatment is the cornerstone for critical decisions regarding anticancer therapy and cardioprotective strategies. Its early detection, especially in subclinical phases, allows immediate intervention to prevent further impairment of the myocardium and other cardiovascular structures. The most significant published studies were selected for this revision, providing an updated document for the health professionals involved in the care of patients with cancer. We examined the current evidence and recommendations for biochemical and noninvasive diagnostic techniques, including their specific role for identification of CTRCD. Traditional and advanced imaging modalities, used alone or in combination with cardiovascular biomarkers, are essential for the recognition of cardiotoxicity during cancer therapy. Evolving basic and clinical research are focused on the development of more sensitive and specific diagnostic tools and for the recognition of cardiac toxicity.
Insiders doing PAR with youth in their schools: negotiating professional boundaries and healing justice

AbstractIn this essay, I explore my experiences as a practitioner researcher collaborating with my students on a participatory action research project aimed at institutional change. I take up two areas: blurring the boundaries of professionalism in working toward authentic collaborations with students, and secondly, incorporating perspectives of ‘healing justice’ into school-based youth participatory action research (YPAR). I first provide a framework by delineating the emancipatory aims of YPAR and how these may be at odds with much of the research teachers/practitioners currently conduct in their school sites. While ultimately acknowledging the risks in taking up emancipatory change efforts as insiders, I make the case that there are also clear benefits to the process.
Function of the vitamin D endocrine system in mammary gland and breast cancer

The nuclear receptor for 1α,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol (1,25D), the active form of vitamin D, has anti-tumor actions in many tissues. The vitamin D receptor (VDR) is expressed in normal mammary gland and in many human breast cancers suggesting it may represent an important tumor suppressor gene in this tissue. When activated by 1,25D, VDR modulates multiple cellular pathways including those related to energy metabolism, terminal differentiation and inflammation. There is compelling pre-clinical evidence that alterations in vitamin D status affect breast cancer development and progression, while clinical and epidemiological data are suggestive but not entirely consistent. The demonstration that breast cells express CYP27B1 (which converts the precursor vitamin D metabolite 25D to the active metabolite 1,25D) and CYP24A1 (which degrades both 25D and 1,25D) provides insight into the difficulties inherent in using dietary vitamin D, sun exposure and/or serum biomarkers of vitamin D status to predict disease outcomes. Emerging evidence suggests that the normally tight balance between CYP27B1 and CYP24A1 becomes deregulated during cancer development, leading to abrogation of the tumor suppressive effects triggered by VDR. Research aimed at understanding the mechanisms that govern uptake, storage, metabolism and actions of vitamin D steroids in normal and neoplastic breast tissue remain an urgent priority.
Antecedents and Performance Benefits of Reciprocal Vicarious Learning in Teams

Vicarious learning - the process by which an individual learns from another’s experience - has long been recognized as a source of development and performance improvement in organizations, at both ...
High-fat diet exposure, regardless of induction of obesity, is associated with altered expression of genes critical to normal ovulatory function

We evaluated the impact of high-fat diet (HFD) on ovarian gene expression. Female 5-week-old C57BL/6J mice were fed a 60% HFD or standard chow for 10 weeks. HFD-fed mice were then separated into obese (HF-Ob) and lean (HF-Ln) based on body weight. HFD exposure led to impairment of the estrous cycle, changes in hormones affecting reproduction, and decreased primordial follicles regardless of the development of obesity. RNA-sequencing of whole ovaries identified multiple genes with altered expression after HFD, with 25 genes displaying decreased expression in both HF-Ln and HF-Ob mice compared to the chow-fed controls (q < 0.05). Several of these 25 genes are involved in normal ovarian functions, including ovulation (Edn2, Tnfaip6, Errfi1, Prkg2, and Nfil3), luteinization (Edn2), and luteolysis (Nr4a1). Taken together, elevated dietary fat intake, regardless of obesity, is associated with impaired estrous cycle, depletion of the ovarian reserve, and altered expression of genes critical to normal ovulatory function.
Phase Measurement Interferometry for Mapping Fracture

Phase Measurement Interferometry is introduced as an effective approach for the process of measuring crack growth in concrete. The particular mode of cracking of concrete highlighted in this chapter is caused by composite action between reinforcing bars and concrete. The influence of specimen cross-section size and geometry on the interface stresses and bond slip is evaluated. The measured crack length and crack opening and a finite element material model are used in a hybrid experimental/numerical approach to evaluate the unknown normal component of traction at the interface of concrete and rebar.
1.05 – Historical and Future Cost Dynamics of Photovoltaic Technology

A variety of factors, including government activities, have enabled a factor of 700 reduction in the cost of photovoltaics (PV) over the past six decades. No single determinant predominantly explains the improvement to date; R&D, economies of scale, learning by doing, and knowledge spillovers from other technologies have all played a role in reducing system costs. The observed cost reductions in PV are due to both incremental and nonincremental technical improvements. Although policy models have typically emphasized incremental changes, this chapter describes the prevalence of nonincremental changes. Informing the important policy decisions related to PV depends on the development of models that reliably characterize both types of change.
Pimavanserin for Psychotic Symptoms in People With Parkinsonism: A Second Chart Review.

Introduction Pimavanserin (Pim) is a 5HT2A inverse agonist that is the only Food and Drug Administration-approved treatment for Parkinson disease (PD) psychosis. The published open-label experience is limited. Methods This report is a chart review of all patients who were started on the drugs since the one earlier report on 15 patients. All patients were included, whether or not they completed 6 weeks of treatment, the time required for maximum benefit found in the published phase 3 trial. Results Twenty-six patients are reported. Three patients had dementia with Lewy bodies; one had an atypical parkinsonism; 22 had PD, including one with schizophrenia and neuroleptic exacerbated, dopamine transporter scan-positive idiopathic PD; and another had PD complicated by strokes. Six stopped before 6 weeks due to adverse effects, including 1 with worsened psychosis. Eighteen completed at least 6 weeks of treatment. Of these, 3 stopped due to lack of efficacy and 3 due to worsened psychosis. Twelve found it helpful. Of the 18 who took Pim for at least 6 weeks, 12 improved and continue to take it. Conclusions Almost 50% of parkinsonian patients with psychotic symptoms found Pim to be a useful medication, which they continue to take. Reasons for intolerance varied and were thought to be unrelated to the drug.
Translating a spinal cord injury self-management intervention for online and telehealth delivery: A community-engaged research approach

Objective: To develop educational content and pilot test the use of tablet computers (iPads), online content management platform (iTunes U) and video conferencing (FaceTime) for delivery of a peer ...
Il genere delle controversie fra diritto e letteratura

Il dibattito dei Law and Literature Studies non ha preso in considerazione le controversiae classiche che contengono in fase embrionale le discipline del diritto e della letteratura. In questo saggio si danno esempi di come tali embrioni producano aneddoti e novelle. La metamorfosi avviene quando in una fabula controversistica si introduce un personaggio capace di risolvere quell’impasse che protrae all’infinito il dibattito fra gli oratori o avvocati. Le controversiae presentano dilemmi che stimolano la ricerca narrativa, cioe la creazione di personaggi che si definiscono nel momento in cui superano ostacoli e portano alla chiusura un’azione novellistica o teatrale. Il genere giudiziario e declamatorio delle controversiae ha in potenza il germe della letteratura, e lo prova storicamente il fatto che novellisti e drammaturghi ne abbiano ricavato spesso temi e trame per i loro racconti e spunti di azioni teatrali.