cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nanotechnology in Radiation Oncology

Nanotechnology, the manipulation of matter on atomic and molecular scales, is a relatively new branch of science. It has already made a significant impact on clinical medicine, especially in oncology. Nanomaterial has several characteristics that are ideal for oncology applications, including preferential accumulation in tumors, low distribution in normal tissues, biodistribution, pharmacokinetics, and clearance, that differ from those of small molecules. Because these properties are also well suited for applications in radiation oncology, nanomaterials have been used in many different areas of radiation oncology for imaging and treatment planning, as well as for radiosensitization to improve the therapeutic ratio. In this article, we review the unique properties of nanomaterials that are favorable for oncology applications and examine the various applications of nanotechnology in radiation oncology. We also discuss the future directions of nanotechnology within the context of radiation oncology.
Characteristics of shared health reflections in a local community

We performed a content analysis of the information shared in a locally and culturally focused health application, EatWell. In EatWell, information is shared via the creation of audio recordings. Our results highlight the reflective nature of these recordings, in particular, 1) the topics discussed in these reflections as well as their tone, 2) how these reflections were contextualized (locally and culturally) and 3) how system users addressed one another in their reflections. We compare our findings with the dominant technological approach to supporting health information exchange amongst lay people: online support groups. In particular, we reflect upon why, though many of the community-building features of online support groups did not translate into EatWell, our users felt a sense of community empowerment. Based on our results, we discuss implications for designing locally and culturally focused health applications that leverage reflection as a contribution method.
Influence of patient costs and requests on emergency physician decisionmaking.

Study objectives We examine emergency physician knowledge of, attitudes about, and responses to patient cost-sharing in the emergency department (ED). Methods A convenience sample of emergency physicians from an integrated delivery system completed a questionnaire including self-report questions about knowledge of and attitudes about cost-sharing and an experimental vignette. The vignette describes a patient with an uncomplicated asthma exacerbation, with a version in which she has a $100 ED visit copayment and a version in which she does not. Subjects responded with their "best judgment" of whether they would order a chest radiograph and their decision after specific patient request. We examined the frequency of responses overall and associated characteristics with χ 2 testing. Results Of 204 respondents (349 eligible participants [58%]), 203 answered the vignette questions. No respondent reported that ordering a radiograph was clinically appropriate; however, 85% reported that they would order a radiograph if the patient requested it. There were no significant differences in the percentage of physicians ordering the test across the 2 versions. Overall, 77% of respondents reported having limited awareness of an individual patient's cost-sharing level; 67% reported that patient costs sometimes affect their clinical decisions; only 10% estimated changing their decisions in greater than 20% of encounters in which the cost-sharing level was known. Conclusion Emergency physicians are usually not aware of a patient's cost-sharing level and, in instances which they are, report that this knowledge rarely affects their clinical decisions. However, emergency physicians are responsive to patient requests, even when the treatment request differs from their clinical judgment.
Fast direct solvers for integral equations in complex three-dimensional domains

Methods for the solution of boundary integral equations have changed significantly during the last two decades. This is due, in part, to improvements in computer hardware, but more importantly, to the development of fast algorithms which scale linearly or nearly linearly with the number of degrees of freedom required. These methods are typically iterative, based on coupling fast matrix-vector multiplication routines with conjugate-gradient-type schemes. Here, we discuss methods that are currently under development for the fast, direct solution of boundary integral equations in three dimensions. After reviewing the mathematical foundations of such schemes, we illustrate their performance with some numerical examples, and discuss the potential impact of the overall approach in a variety of settings.
Transverse beam motion on the second axis of the Dual Axis Radiographic Hydrodynamic Test Facility

The accelerator on the second-axis of the Dual-Axis Radiographic Hydrodynamic Test (DARHT-II) Facility will generate a 20 MeV, 2-4 kA, 2 /spl mu/s long electron beam with an energy variation /spl les//spl plusmn/0.5%. Four short current pulses with various lengths will be selected out of this 2 /spl mu/s long current pulse and delivered to an X-ray converter target. The DARHT-II radiographic resolution requires these electron pulses to be focused to sub-millimeter spots on bremsstrahlung targets with peak-to-peak transverse beam motion less than a few hundred microns. We have modeled the transverse beam motion, including the beam breakup instability, corkscrew motion, transverse resistive wall instability and beam induced transverse deflection in the kicker system, from the DARHT-II injector exit to the X-ray converter target. Simulations show that the transverse motion at the X-ray converters satisfies the DARHT-II radiographic requirements.
Sex Differences in Response to School Failure

Boys have difficulties in learning far more often than girls. While girls' relatively more advanced cognitive development may account for some of this difference, the present questionnaire study of 222 grade school children shows that sex differences In emotional response to failure could amplify the effect. Failing girls have the alternative of pleasing the teacher by good behavior, a so-called feminine attribute, whereas most failing boys have to resort to excellence in sports or leadership, qualities which are less valued and not readily accessible in the classroom. Failing girls' acceptable social behavior receives the teacher's approval, whereas failing boys behave antisocially, which further discredits them with the teacher, setting up a vicious cycle.
Opinion space: a scalable tool for browsing online comments

Internet users are increasingly inclined to contribute comments to online news articles, videos, product reviews, and blogs. The most common interface for comments is a list, sorted by time of entry or by binary ratings. It is widely recognized that such lists do not scale well and can lead to "cyberpolarization," which serves to reinforce extreme opinions. We present Opinion Space: a new online interface incorporating ideas from deliberative polling, dimensionality reduction, and collaborative filtering that allows participants to visualize and navigate through a diversity of comments. This self-organizing system automatically highlights the comments found most insightful by users from a range of perspectives. We report results of a controlled user study. When Opinion Space was compared with a chronological List interface, participants read a similar diversity of comments. However, they were significantly more engaged with the system, and they had significantly higher agreement with and respect for the comments they read.
Gel-Induced Selective Crystallization of Polymorphs

Although nanoporous materials have been explored for controlling crystallization of polymorphs in recent years, polymorphism in confined environments is still poorly understood, particularly from a kinetic perspective, and the role of the local structure of the substrate has largely been neglected. Herein, we report the use of a novel material, polymer microgels with tunable microstructure, for controlling polymorph crystallization from solution and for investigating systematically the effects of nanoconfinement and interfacial interactions on polymorphic outcomes. We show that the polymer microgels can improve polymorph selectivity significantly. The polymorphic outcomes correlate strongly with the gel- induced nucleation kinetics and are very sensitive to both the polymer microstructure and the chemical composition. Further mechanistic investigations suggest that the nucleation-templating effect and the spatial confinement imposed by the polymer network may be central to achieving polymorph selectivity. We demonstrate polymer microgels as promising materials for controlling crystal polymorphism. Moreover, our results help advance the fundamental understanding of polymorph crystallization at complex interfaces, particularly in confined environments.
Assessment of the Esophageal Pressure in Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease by the Local Regression

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is one of the most prevalent gastrointestinal diseases. It is characterized by excessive reflux of gastric content (acid, pepsin, etc.) into the esophagus causing symptoms (heartburn, acid regurgitation, etc.) and mucosal inflammation and injuries. GERD occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) has a low resting pressure and stomach contents leak back, or reflux, into the esophagus. Therefore, the accurate measurement of the LES pressure is of great importance for the diagnosis of GERD. The LES pressure signal, involving severe respiratory contamination and motion artifacts, demands specific capabilities not provided by conventional data analysis methods. Recently, local regression has proved to be a very attractive technique to the nonparametric regression in statistics. In this contribution we apply the ideas of local regression to develop strategies for selecting smoothing parameters of local linear squares estimators, and present its application on the extraction of the LES pressure in GERD. The results from both extensive simulations and real data demonstrate the ability of local regression to characterize the LES pressure, which is consistent with the clinical observation.
Patellar Height and Tibial Slope After Opening-Wedge Proximal Tibial Osteotomy: A Prospective Study

BackgroundFurther knee surgery after proximal tibial osteotomies has been reported to have a more difficult surgical exposure due to decreased patellar height after the osteotomy. Although a decrease in patellar height has been reported for closing-wedge proximal tibial osteotomies, it has not been widely verified among opening-wedge procedures.HypothesisA significant decrease in patellar height would result after opening-wedge proximal tibial osteotomies and a postoperative change in tibial slope would also result, depending on the medial tibial plate position, which would affect patellar height.Study DesignCase series; Level of evidence, 4.MethodsPatients (n = 129) who underwent opening-wedge proximal tibial osteotomies (n = 130) were prospectively followed. Patellar height was calculated for preoperative lateral knee radiographs, and postoperatively at 2 weeks and 3 and 6 months. The Insall-Salvati, Blackburne-Peel, and Caton-Deschamps indices and a modified Miura and Kawamura index were used to calcul...
Tangential oscillations of a circular disk in a viscous stratified fluid

A complete solution is obtained for the wave field generated by the time-harmonic edgewise oscillations of a horizontal circular disk in an incompressible stratified viscous fluid. The linearized equations of viscous internal waves and the no-slip condition on the rigid disk are used to derive sets of dual integral equations for the fluid velocity and vorticity. The dual integral equations are solved by analytic reduction to sets of linear algebraic equations. Asymptotic results confirm that this edgewise motion no longer excites waves in the small-viscosity limit. Broadside oscillations and the effect of density diffusion are also considered.
Estimating plant-available nitrogen release from manures, composts, and specialty products.

Recent adoption of national rules for organic crop production have stimulated greater interest in meeting crop N needs using manures, composts, and other organic materials. This study was designed to provide data to support Extension recommendations for organic amendments. Specifically, our objectives were to (i) measure decomposition and N released from fresh and composted amendments and (ii) evaluate the performance of the model DECOMPOSITION, a relatively simple N mineralization/immobilization model, as a predictor of N availability. Amendment samples were aerobically incubated in moist soil in the laboratoryat 22C for 70 d to determine decomposition and plant-available nitrogen (PAN) (n 5 44), and they were applied preplant to a sweet corn crop to determine PAN via fertilizer N equivalency (n 5 37). Well-composted materials (n 5 14) had a single decomposition rate, averaging 0.003 d 21 . For uncomposted materials, decomposition was rapid (.0.01 d 21 ) for the first 10 to 30 d. The laboratory incubation and the full-season PAN determination in the field gave similar estimates of PAN across amendments. The linear regression equation for lab PAN vs. field PAN had a slope not different from one and a y-intercept not different than zero. Much of the PAN released from amendments was recovered in the first 30 d. Field and laboratory measurements of PAN were strongly related to PAN estimated by DECOMPOSITION (r 2 . 0.7). Modeled PAN values were typically higher than observed PAN, particularly for amendments exhibiting high initial NH4–N concentrations or rapid decomposition. Based on our findings, we recommend that guidance publications for manure and compost utilization include short-term (28-d) decomposition and PAN estimates that can be useful to both modelers and growers.
Looking Back on September 11, 2001: Appraised Impact and Memory for Emotions in Adolescents and Adults

This study investigated changes over time in adolescents’and parents’memories for how they felt when they learned of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. Adolescents recalled having felt less negative emotion than parents did both 3 months and 8 months after the attacks. Moreover, the intensity of negative emotion recalled decreased over time for adolescents but increased for parents. Parental anxiety and stress at 3 months predicted adolescent reactions at 8 months, and there was no evidence of bidirectional effects. Adolescents (but not parents) appraised the attacks as having less impact on themselves than on others. Appraising the attacks as having less impact predicted lower recalled negative emotion and fewer posttraumatic stress symptoms. The results suggest that adolescents’tendency to view themselves as less vulnerable than others, which can lead to risky behaviors, may also serve a protective function when adolescents confront distant traumatic events.
Edgar Schein's Process Versus Content Consultation Models

Edgar Schein (1969, 1978, 1989, 1990) has proposed three models of consultation based on assumptions inherent in different helping styles. The first two models, purchase-of-expertise and doctor-patient, focus on the content of organizational problems. The client gives the problem to the consultant to find and implement solutions. The process consultation model focuses on how organizational problems are solved. The client and consultant collaborate throughout the problem-solving effort to find workable solutions. Because of the nature of organizations' cultures and the underlying assumptions that determine how they operate, Schein has suggested that it is most efficacious for consultants to begin in the process consultation mode and involve the client in the investigation of the problem.
Sliding Friction of Solid Xenon Monolayers and Bilayers on Ag(111)

We have measured the force required to slide one- and two-atom-thick solid films of xenon along a Ag(111) surface, and observe that the friction associated with the bilayer is approximately 25% greater than that associated with the monolayer. Our result sheds new light on the nature of atomic-scale frictional energy dissipation mechanisms, and demonstrates how localized to an interface such mechanisms can be.
A Parameterization-Based Numerical Method for Isotropic and Anisotropic Diffusion Smoothing on Non-Flat Surfaces

Neuroimaging data, such as 3D maps of cortical thickness or neural activation, can often be analyzed more informatively with respect to the cortical surface rather than the entire volume of the brain. Any cortical surface-based analysis should be carried out using computations in the intrinsic geometry of the surface rather than using the metric of the ambient 3D space. We present parameterization-based numerical methods for performing isotropic and anisotropic filtering on triangulated surface geometries. In contrast to existing FEM-based methods for triangulated geometries, our approach accounts for the metric of the surface. In order to discretize and numerically compute the isotropic and anisotropic geometric operators, we first parameterize the surface using a p-harmonic mapping. We then use this parameterization as our computational domain and account for the surface metric while carrying out isotropic and anisotropic filtering. To validate our method, we compare our numerical results to the analytical expression for isotropic diffusion on a spherical surface. We apply these methods to smoothing of mean curvature maps on the cortical surface, a step commonly required for analysis of gyrification or for registering surface-based maps across subjects.
Numerical Functions and Special Congruences

In this chapter the topic of congruences is expanded to look at three particularly useful theorems on congruences, named after the people who introduced them. The first, Wilson’s Theorem, was originally stated by John Wilson, but the first published proof was by another mathematician, Joseph Lagrange. The second, Fermat’s Little Theorem, was stated by Pierre de Fermat, although it was first proved by Leonhard Euler. The third congruence, known as Euler’s Theorem, was actually stated and proved by Euler himself. Wilson’s Theorem is about factorials. Fermat’s Little Theorem and Euler’s Theorem both provide methods of finding powers of integers that will have a least residue of one in a particular modulus. Both Fermat’s Little Theorem and Wilson’s Theorem require that the modulus is prime, but Euler was able to generalize Fermat’s Little Theorem so that a prime modulus is not required.
Re-evaluating Measurement Algorithms in Software

With the advancement of multicore servers, there is a new trend of moving network functions to software servers. Measurement is critical to most network functions as it not only helps the operators understand the network usage and detect anomalies, but also produces feedback to the control loop in management tasks such as load balancing and traffic engineering. Traditional researches on measurement algorithms mainly focus on reducing the memory usage leveraging the fact that measurement can sustain bounded inaccuracy. In this study, we re-evaluate these algorithms on software servers in order to understand their tradeoffs of accuracy and performance. We observe that simple hash tables work better than more advanced measurement algorithms for a variety of measurement scenarios. This is because with better cache design in modern servers and the skewness in the access patterns of measurement tasks, the memory usage of measurement tasks is largely irrelevant to the packet processing performance.
Structures and phase transitions of CePd3+xGa8-x: new variants of the BaHg11 structure type.

New distorted variants of the cubic BaHg11 structure type have been synthesized in Ga flux. Multiple phases of CePd3+xGa8-x, which include an orthorhombic Pmmn structure (x = 3.21(2)), a rhombohedral R3m structure (x = 3.13(4)), and a cubic Fm3m superstructure (x = 2.69(6)), form preferentially depending on reaction cooling rate and isolation temperature. Differential thermal analysis and in situ temperature-dependent powder X-ray diffraction patterns show a reversible phase transition at approximately 640 °C between the low temperature orthorhombic and rhombohedral structures and the high temperature cubic superstructure. Single crystal X-ray diffraction experiments indicate that the general structure of BaHg11, including the intersecting planes of a kagome-type arrangement of Ce atoms, is only slightly distorted in the low temperature phases. A combination of Kondo, crystal electric field, and magnetic frustration effects may be present, resulting in low temperature anomalies in magnetic susceptibility, electrical resistivity, and heat capacity measurements. In addition to CePd3+xGa8-x, the rare earth analogues REPd3+xGa8-x, RE = La, Nd, Sm, Tm, and Yb, were successfully synthesized and also crystallize in one of the lower symmetry space groups.
Origin and evolution of developmental enhancers in the mammalian neocortex

Morphological innovations such as the mammalian neocortex may involve the evolution of novel regulatory sequences. However, de novo birth of regulatory elements active during morphogenesis has not been extensively studied in mammals. Here, we use H3K27ac-defined regulatory elements active during human and mouse corticogenesis to identify enhancers that were likely active in the ancient mammalian forebrain. We infer the phylogenetic origins of these enhancers and find that ∼20% arose in the mammalian stem lineage, coincident with the emergence of the neocortex. Implementing a permutation strategy that controls for the nonrandom variation in the ages of background genomic sequences, we find that mammal-specific enhancers are overrepresented near genes involved in cell migration, cell signaling, and axon guidance. Mammal-specific enhancers are also overrepresented in modules of coexpressed genes in the cortex that are associated with these pathways, notably ephrin and semaphorin signaling. Our results also provide insight into the mechanisms of regulatory innovation in mammals. We find that most neocortical enhancers did not originate by en bloc exaptation of transposons. Young neocortical enhancers exhibit smaller H3K27ac footprints and weaker evolutionary constraint in eutherian mammals than older neocortical enhancers. Based on these observations, we present a model of the enhancer life cycle in which neocortical enhancers initially emerge from genomic background as short, weakly constrained “proto-enhancers.” Many proto-enhancers are likely lost, but some may serve as nucleation points for complex enhancers to evolve.
For Profit, For Success, For Black Men: A Review of Literature on Urban For-Profit Colleges and Universities:

In the last 20 years, the U.S. higher education system has witnessed the tremendous growth of for-profit colleges and universities (FPCUs). In fact, FPCUs have quickly become the fastest growing se...
Cause for Misdiagnosis of Lung Cancer as Tuberculosis

Objective To explore the causes for misdiagnosis of lung cancer as tuberculosis and thus to reduce the misdiagnosis.Methods Twenty misdiagnosed lung cancer cases were retrospectively analyzed based on medical records.Results Eight misdiagnosed lung cancer cases were due to merger or non-active pulmonary tuberculosis and other 12 cases were due to the lack of dynamic observation.Conclusion In the process of diagnosis and treatment,fully consideration and dynamic observation are necessary to prevent misdiagnosis.
Summarization and Evaluation for Reactive Power Planning Schemes of 31 Major Urban Power Networks Underneath State Grid Corporation of China

On the basis of summarizing reactive power planning schemes for urban power networks of 31 key cities,that belong to State Grid Corporation of China,the reasonableness and economy of the configurations of these reactive power compensation schemes,which will be completed at the end of the 11th five year plan of China,are comprehensively evaluated,and following conclusions are obtained: advanced planning tools and planning methods are applied to the reactive power compensation planning schemes for key cities,so the obtained recommended reactive power compensation schemes are better than original schemes in both technology and economy; in the year 2010 the urban power networks of these key cities can satisfy the operational requirement for voltage under normal high- and low-load operation modes as well as N-1 mode; as for majority of key cities,by means of reasonably configuring reactive power compensation equipments the network losses in urban power networks can be reduced. The feasibility and the application of adopting new reactive power and voltage control techniques,including static var compensator (SVC),static synchronous compensator (STATCOM),thyristor controlled reactor (TCR),thyristor switched filter with reactive power compensation and filtering functions,low voltage dynamic reactive power compensation device and so on,are prospected.
Using a Theory-Guided Learning Collaborative Model to Improve Implementation of EBPs in a State Children’s Mental Health System: A Pilot Study

Learning collaboratives (LCs) are used widely to promote implementation of evidence-based practices. However, there has been limited research on the effectiveness of LCs and models vary widely in their structure, focus and components. The goal of the present study was to develop and field test a theory-based LC model to augment a state-led, evidence-based training program for clinicians providing mental health services to children. Analysis of implementation outcomes contrasted LC sites to matched comparison sites that participated in the clinical training program alone. Results suggested that clinicians from sites participating in the LC were more highly engaged in the state-led clinical training program and were more likely to complete program requirements.
Synthesis and Reactivity of a Zwitterionic Palladium Allyl Complex Supported by a Perchlorinated Carboranyl Phosphine

A zwitterionic palladium complex of a phosphine bearing a perchlorinated carba-closo-dodecaborate anion as a ligand substituent is reported. A single-crystal X-ray diffraction study reveals that, in the solid state, one of the chlorides of the carborane cage occupies a coordination site of the square-planar complex. However, in solution, the P–carborane bond of the ligand is rapidly rotating at temperatures as low as −90 °C, which demonstrates the carborane substituent’s weak coordinative ability even though this anion is covalently linked to the phosphine ligand. The complex is thermally stable and catalyzes the vinyl addition polymerization of norbornene.
Gender performance stress and risk for psychopathology: Looking beyond sexual orientation

ABSTRACTThe authors review research on the risk factors for, and prevalence of, psychological disorders as they relate to gender nonconformity in adolescence and adulthood. Findings from existing literature suggest gender nonconforming individuals are more likely to experience a variety of risk factors associated with psychopathology when compared with general and sexual minority populations. Associated with these risk factors, gender nonconforming individuals also report higher rates of psychopathology as well. The authors propose more research that examines gender nonconformity as an independent line of inquiry that transcends sexual orientation and gender identity.
Filamentous Phages As a Model System in Soft Matter Physics

Filamentous phages have unique physical properties, such as uniform particle lengths, that are not found in other model systems of rod-like colloidal particles. Consequently, suspensions of such phages provided powerful model systems that have advanced our understanding of soft matter physics in general and liquid crystals in particular. We described some of these advances. In particular we briefly summarize how suspensions of filamentous phages have provided valuable insight into the field of colloidal liquid crystals. We also describe recent experiments on filamentous phages that have elucidated a robust pathway for assembly of 2D membrane-like materials. Finally, we outline unique structural properties of filamentous phages that have so far remained largely unexplored yet have the potential to further advance soft matter physics and material science.
Effects of Edge Contrast on Redback Salamander Distribution in Even-Aged Northern Hardwoods

Terrestrial salamanders are sensitive to forest disturbance associated with even-aged management. We studied the distribution of redback salamanders (Plethodon cinereus) for 4 yr at edges between even-aged northern hardwood stands along three replicate transects in each of three edge contrast types: regeneration/mature, sapling/mature, and poletimber/mature in northern New Hampshire. We used 2 m2 coverboard clusters at the edge, and at 5, 10, 20, and 40 m into the younger and mature stands. Salamanders were surveyed 12 times per year from May to October, approximately once every 2 wk, usually within 24 hr of a rain event. Habitat variables included board station soil temperature, litter depth, organic layer depth, depth to soil mottling, herbaceous cover, down log cover, three classes of understory hardwood stem density [0.5–1m tall, 1–2 m tall and 2 m tall], softwood stem density, Rubus/other stem density, and overstory basal area (ba) and mean dbh. A total of 4,038 redback salamanders were detected during 432 transect counts. The mean salamander density was 0.41/m2 across regenerating stand transects, 0.47m2 across sapling transects, and 0.69 m2 across poletimber transects. We analyzed salamander distribution by edge type, replicate, year, station (distance from edge), and their interactions. There were significant differences in salamander detections among edge types, replicates, station, and years for both counts across entire younger forest/mature forest transects and across the younger forest transect sections. There were significant interactions between edge type and distance from edge. Salamander detections were greater (P 2cm tall and 2m tall and <10 cm dbh, and organic soil layer depth, and explained 29% of the variation in redback salamander counts. Our findings are consistent with reported recovery times for redback salamanders after clearcut harvesting; revcovery rates even along edges may take about 30 yr. Seasonal and yearly variation must be taken into account if terrestrial salamanders are used in monitoring programs.
Technological considerations for genome-guided diagnosis and management of cancer

Technological, methodological, and analytical advances continue to improve the resolution of our view into the cancer genome, even as we discover ways to carry out analyses at greater distances from the primary tumor sites. These advances are finally making the integration of cancer genomic profiling into clinical practice feasible. Formalin fixation and paraffin embedding, which has long been the default pathological biopsy medium, is now being supplemented with liquid biopsy as a means to profile the cancer genomes of patients. At each stage of the genomic data generation process—sample collection, preservation, storage, extraction, library construction, sequencing, and variant calling—there are variables that impact the sensitivity and specificity of the analytical result and the clinical utility of the test. These variables include sample degradation, low yields of nucleic acid, and low variant allele fractions (proportions of assayed molecules carrying variant allele(s)). We review here the most common pre-analytical and analytical factors relating to routine cancer patient genome profiling, some solutions to common challenges, and the major sample preparation and sequencing technology choices available today.
Insights into the Biosynthesis of Duramycin

Lantibiotics are ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified antimicrobial peptides that are characterized by the thioether cross-linked bisamino acids lanthionine (Lan) and methyllanthionine (MeLan). Duramycin contains 19 amino acids including one Lan and two MeLan, an unusual lysinoalanine (Lal) bridge formed from the ϵ-amino group of lysine 19 and a serine residue at position 6, and an erythro -3-hydroxy-L-aspartic acid at position 15. These modifications are important for the interactions of duramycin with its biological target phosphatidylethanolamine (PE). Based on the binding affinity and specificity for PE, duramycin has been investigated as a potential therapeutic, as a molecular probe to investigate the role and localization of PE in biological systems, and to block viral entry into mammalian cells. Herein, we identified the duramycin biosynthetic gene cluster by genome sequencing of Streptomyces cinnamoneus ATCC 12686 and investigated the dur biosynthetic machinery by heterologous expression in Escherichia coli . In addition, the analogue duramycin C, containing six amino acid changes compared to duramycin, was successfully generated in E. coli . The substrate recognition motif of DurX, an α-ketoglutarate/iron(II)-dependent hydroxylase that carries out the hydroxylation of aspartate 15 of the precursor peptide DurA, was also investigated using mutagenesis of the DurA peptide. Both in vivo and in vitro results demonstrated that Gly16 is important for DurX activity. Importance Duramycin is a natural product produced by select bacteria that binds to phosphatidyl ethanolamine (PE). Because PE is involved in many cellular processes, duramycin is an antibiotic that kills bacteria, but it has also been used as a molecular probe to detect PE and monitor its localization in mammalian cells and even whole organisms, and it was recently shown to display broad-spectrum inhibition of viral entry into host cells. In addition, the molecule has been evaluated as treatment for cystic fibrosis. We report here the genes that are involved in duramycin biosynthesis, and produce duramycin by expressing those genes in Escherichia coli . We show that duramycin analogs can also be produced. The ability to access duramycin and analogs by production in E. coli opens opportunities to improve duramycin as antibiotic, PE probe, antiviral, or cystic fibrosis therapeutic.
The R753Q polymorphism in Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) attenuates innate immune responses to mycobacteria and impairs MyD88 adapter recruitment to TLR2

Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) plays a critical role in host defenses against mycobacterial infections. The R753Q TLR2 polymorphism has been associated with increased incidence of tuberculosis and infections with non-tuberculous mycobacteria in human populations, but the mechanisms by which this polymorphism affects TLR2 signaling are unclear. In this study, we determined the impact of the R753Q TLR2 polymorphism on macrophage sensing of Mycobacterium smegmatis. Upon infection with M. smegmatis, macrophages from knock-in mice harboring R753Q TLR2 expressed lower levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-10 compared with cells from WT mice, but both R753Q TLR2- and WT-derived macrophages exhibited comparable bacterial burdens. The decreased cytokine responses in R753Q TLR2-expressing macrophages were accompanied by impaired phosphorylation of IL-1R-associated kinase 1 (IRAK-1), p38, ERK1/2 MAPKs, and p65 NF-κB, suggesting that the R753Q TLR2 polymorphism alters the functions of the myeloid differentiation primary response protein 88 (MyD88)-IRAK-dependent signaling axis. Supporting this notion, HEK293 cells stably transfected with YFP-tagged R753Q TLR2 displayed reduced recruitment of MyD88 to TLR2, decreased NF-κB activation, and impaired IL-8 expression upon exposure to M. smegmatis. Collectively, our results indicate that the R753Q polymorphism alters TLR2 signaling competence, leading to impaired MyD88-TLR2 assembly, reduced phosphorylation of IRAK-1, diminished activation of MAPKs and NF-κB, and deficient induction of cytokines in macrophages infected with M. smegmatis.
A comparative study of magnetization dynamics in dinuclear dysprosium complexes featuring bridging chloride or trifluoromethanesulfonate ligands

We utilized a rigid ligand platform PyCp22− (PyCp22− = [2,6-(CH2C5H3)2C5H3N]2−) to isolate dinuclear Dy3+ complexes [(PyCp2)Dy-(μ-O2SOCF3)]2 (1) and [(PyCp2)Dy-(μ-Cl)]2 (3) as well as the mononuclear complex (PyCp2)Dy(OSO2CF3)(thf) (2). Compounds 1 and 2 are the first examples of organometallic Dy3+ complexes featuring triflate binding. The isolation of compounds 1 and 3 allows us to comparatively evaluate the effects of the bridging anions on the magnetization dynamics of the dinuclear systems. Our investigations show that although the exchange coupling interactions differ for 1 and 3, the dynamic magnetic properties are dominated by relaxation via the first excited state Kramers doublet of the individual Dy sites. Compounds 1 and 3 exhibit barriers to magnetization reversal (Ueff = 49 cm−1) that can be favorably compared to those of the previously reported examples of [Cp2Dy(μ-Cl)]2 (Ueff = 26 cm−1) and [Cp2Dy(thf)(μ-Cl)]2 (Ueff = 34 cm−1).
Computing Just What You Need: Online Data Analysis and Reduction at Extreme Scales

A growing disparity between supercomputer computation speeds and I/O rates makes it increasingly infeasible for applications to save all results for offline analysis. Instead, applications must analyze and reduce data online so as to output only those results needed to answer target scientific question(s). This change in focus complicates application and experiment design and introduces algorithmic, implementation, and programming model challenges that are unfamiliar to many scientists and that have major implications for the design of various elements of supercomputer systems. I review these challenges and describe methods and tools that various groups, including mine, are developing to enable experimental exploration of algorithmic, software, and system design alternatives.
Enhancement of Activity of Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner Against Four Lepidopterous Insect Pests by Nutrient-Based Phagostimulants

To help improve control of insect pests with microbial insecticides, we investigated the interactions of four commercial, nutrient-based phagostimulants (Pheast [AgriSense], Coax [CCT Corp.], Gusto [Atochem North America, Inc.], and Entice [Custom Chemicides] with Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner and four lepidopterous insect pests (gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar [L.] [Lymantriidae]; corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea [Boddie] [Noctuidae]; European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis [Hubner] [Pyralidae]; and diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella [L.] [Plutellidae]). Comparisons were made of treated foliage in Petri dishes in the laboratory and of sprayed whole plants in a greenhouse. In general, phagostimulants increased mortality of all species tested, but no consistent differences among phagostimulants were found for any species. Food consumption was generally lower on the treatments that contained phagostimulants causing the highest rates of mortality, possibly as a result of more rapid ingestion of a lethal dose ...
Private Subgraph Matching Protocol

In many applications, information can be stored and managed using graph data structures, and there is a rich set of graph algorithms that can be used to solve different problems. The subgraph isomorphism problem is defined as, given two graphs G and H, whether G contains a subgraph that is isomorphic to H. The problem has been well studied for many years, and it can be used for many application areas, such as cheminformatics, pattern matching, data mining and image processing. In this paper, we present a private subgraph matching protocol, which solves a special case of the subgraph isomorphism problem. The protocol allows two parties, each holding a private graph, to jointly compute whether one graph is a subgraph of the other. During the protocol, each party learns no useful information about the graph of the other party. We prove that the protocol is secure in the semi-honest setting.
Inflammation, circadian rest-activity rhythms, and behavioral sequelae of chronic graft-versus-host disease

Chronic graft-versus-host-disease (cGVHD) is a common complication of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation that involves alloegeneic and autoimmune dysregulation affecting multiple organ systems. We hypothesized that disrupted circadian rest-activity rhythms and inflammation contribute to co-occurring behavioral symptoms in this population. Adults with cGVHD (N = 55) wore a wrist actigraph for 7 days, provided a blood sample, completed self-report measures of depression (IDAS), fatigue (FSI), and cognition (PROMIS), and underwent clinical evaluation. Rest-activity indices (mesor, amplitude, acrophase) were derived from actigraphy. Cytokines and chemokines relevant to cGVHD (IL-6, IL-8, TNF α , MIF, MCP-1, MIP-1 alpha) were measured with multiplex detection. After covarying for disease severity and age, participants with less optimal rest-activity patterns, including less overall activity (mesor) and less distinction between daytime and nighttime activity (amplitude), reported more severe depression ( β = −.372, −.296), fatigue ( β = -.237, −.314), and cognitive dysfunction ( β = .331, .440) and had poorer physician-rated performance status ( β = .340, .383); all p .05. Higher circulating IL-8 and MIP-1 alpha were associated with greater depression ( β =.304, .282), IL-8 and MIF were associated with greater fatigue ( β = .350, .283), and IL-6, IL-8, and MCP-1 were indicative of poorer performance status ( β = −.229 to −.320); all p .05. Unexpectedly, those with higher IL-6 and TNF α had better cognition ( β = .285, .355, p .05). Findings provide evidence for biobehavioral pathways by which disrupted circadian rhythms and dysregulated immune processes may contribute to depression, fatigue, and disability among individuals with cGVHD.
Computable Expert Knowledge in Computer Games

We algorithmically compute and demonstrate multi-scale expert knowledge of computer gaming through pattern compositions on two levels of heterogeneity. Hierarchical clustering (HC) is applied to construct block-based heatmaps: colored matrices framed by two hierarchical trees imposed upon row and column axes. The computed heterogeneity is seen to induce different collections of viable gaming features pertaining to different map-clusters. On the game level, the map-dependent heterogeneity is seen to reveal which gaming-feature-pattern compositions are indeed viable for wins or losses with near-certainty, and which correspond to 50-50 uncertainty in outcome. Hence, such pattern compositions become the critical knowledge bases for pre-game prediction as well as ongoing-gaming strategy. The computer game, TagPro: Capture the Flag, is used as an illustrating example throughout the development of this paper.
The use of STarT BACK Screening Tool in emergency departments for patients with acute low back pain: a prospective inception cohort study

(1) To analyse the clinical utility of the STarT Back Screening Tool (SBST) in emergency departments by describing changes in classification over time and; (2) to identify what would be the best time to use the SBST to predict long-term clinical outcomes in patients with acute nonspecific low back pain (LBP) seeking emergency care. A 6 months prospective inception cohort study was conducted. 200 participants with LBP seeking emergency medical treatment were included. Pain intensity, disability and SBST were collected at baseline, 6 and 26 weeks. Categories of improvement, clinical worsening, and stability were created to calculate the changes in the SBST subgroups. Linear regression models were built to analyse the predictive ability of SBST when applied at baseline, 6 weeks as well as changes in the subgroup from baseline to 6 weeks. These models were adjusted for potential confounders. 45% of patients were classified as high risk of chronicity at baseline. Most patients classified as medium (86.7%) or high (52.4%) risk changed their risk subgroup after 6 weeks and most of them improved. The SBST improved the prediction for all outcomes when applied at 6 weeks (R2 = 22.1% for disability and R2 = 15.6% for pain intensity), but not at baseline. Most of patients seeking care in emergency departments with a new episode of acute LBP improved after 6 weeks. The use of SBST to guide initial treatment and to predict clinical outcomes are most indicated when the instrument is applied after 6 weeks after presentation to emergency care. These slides can be retrieved under Electronic Supplementary material.
The potential of interprofessional education to translate physiology curricula effectively into future team-based healthcare

Incorporating active interprofessional education (IPE) opportunities into the classroom setting is a potentially effective mechanism to enhance student learning both in the basic sciences and for f...
Zero Tolerance School Policies

Zero tolerance in schools is a philosophical approach to discipline that generally mandates predetermined punitive consequences—most commonly expulsion and suspension—for violations of particular school rules, regardless of circumstances or situational context (Stinchcomb et al. 2006; Teske 2011), with the apparent intent to deter and prevent undesirable behavior (APA Zero Tolerance Task Force 2008; Mallett 2016). In the USA, these policies can be traced to the federal Gun-Free School Act of 1994, which sought to restrict weapons in schools, but expanded to include non-weapon related and non-violent behaviors. Now used in most schools in all fifty USA states, this disciplinary orientation has also expanded to a number of additional countries, including Britain and Canada. While zero tolerance has been widely criticized for having unintended consequences, such as alarming disparities that negatively affect poor and minority students, original supporters advocated greater fairness toward students, more consistent discipline, and violence prevention (Gorman and Pauken 2003; Henault 2001). Research, however, has yet to produce any evidence that zero tolerance policies have achieved these objectives. In fact, ample evidence suggests wide-ranging harm to students, schools, and communities. In this chapter, we describe and evaluate these aspects of zero tolerance policies in schools and offer recommendations for productive and thoughtful disciplinary alternatives. Finally, we make some suggestions for future research that may enhance our understanding of the impact of zero tolerance in schools.
1 H, 13 C, 15 N resonance assignment of recombinant Euplotes raikovi protein Er-23

Er-23 is a small, 51 amino acid, disulfide-rich pheromone protein used for cell signaling by Euplotes raikovi. Ten of the 51 amino acids are cysteine, allowing up to five disulfide bonds. Previous NMR work with Er-23 utilized homologously expressed protein, prohibiting isotopic labeling, and consequently the chemical shift assignments were incomplete. We have expressed uniformly 15N and 13C-labeled Er-23 in an E. coli expression system. Here we report the full backbone and side chain resonance assignments for recombinant Er-23.
There Is No Place Like Home—Family Role in the Rehabilitation and Reintegration Process

The family is perhaps the most important single agent of socialization in all societies. As such, it may also be perceived as the most crucial agent in the rehabilitation process of released prisoners. While information about interaction between the family and the ex-inmate is scarce (Klein, Bartholomew, & Hibbert, 2002), such information is important to the understanding of the rehabilitation and reintegration process, especially with regard to the type of support ex-inmates need.
Impact and Prospects

It is very difficult to measure with any precision the impact of a political party or social movement on a society. The best that can be hoped for, in most cases, is that indicators can be found that will provide some clues as to the extent of that impact.