cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Local residential segregation matters: stronger association of census tract compared to conventional city-level measures with fatal and non-fatal assaults (total and firearm related), using the Index of Concentration at the Extremes (ICE) for Racial, Economic, and Racialized Economic Segregation, Massachusetts (US), 1995-2010

Research on residential segregation and health, primarily conducted in the USA, has chiefly employed city or regional measures of racial segregation. To test our hypothesis that stronger associations would be observed using local measures, especially for racialized economic segregation, we analyzed risk of fatal and non-fatal assault in Massachusetts (1995-2010), since this outcome is strongly associated with residential segregation. The segregation metrics comprised the Index of Concentration at the Extremes (ICE), the Index of Dissimilarity, and poverty rate, with measures computed at both the census tract and city/town level. Key results were that larger associations between fatal and non-fatal assaults and residential segregation occurred for models using the census tract vs. city/town measures, with the greatest associations observed for racialized economic segregation. For fatal assaults, comparing the bottom vs. top quintiles, the incidence rate ratio (and 95% confidence interval (CI)) in models using the census tract measures equaled 3.96 (95% CI 3.10, 5.06) for the ICE for racialized economic segregation, 3.26 (95% CI 2.58, 4.14) for the ICE for income, 3.14 (95% CI 2.47, 3.99) for poverty, 2.90 (95% CI 2.21, 3.81) for the ICE for race/ethnicity, and only 0.93 (95% CI 0.79, 1.11) for the Index of Dissimilarity; in models that included both census tract and city/town ICE measures, this risk ratio for the ICE for racialized economic segregation was higher at the census tract (3.29; 95% CI 2.43, 4.46) vs. city/town level (1.61; 95% CI 1.12, 2.32). These results suggest that, at least in the case of fatal and non-fatal assaults, research on residential segregation should employ local measures, including of racialized economic segregation, to avoid underestimating the adverse impact of segregation on health.
Improving Safety on Highways by Customizing Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks

This paper studies the need for individualizing vehicular communications in order to improve safety for a highway scenario. Adapting a vehicular ad hoc network to both its individual driver’s characteristic and traffic conditions enables it to transmit in a smart manner to other vehicles. This radical improvement is now possible due to the progress that is being made in vehicular ad hoc networks (VANET). In this paper, we first derive the packet success probability for a chain of vehicles by taking multi-user interference, path loss, and fading into account. Then, by considering the delay constraints and types of potential collisions, we approximate the optimal channel access probabilities. Lastly, we propose an algorithm for customizing channel access probabilities in VANET. Our Monte Carlo simulation results show that this approach achieves more than 25% reduction in traffic collision probability compared with the case with equal channel access probabilities in its optimal range. Therefore, it has a huge advantage over other non-optimal systems.
Ergonomics Evaluation of a Manual Braking System for Skateboards

In late decades’ skateboarding, has moved from garages and skate parks to city parks and lanes. It has extended from entertainment into a type of transportation. The skateboard permits the youngster to get extraordinary velocities, frequently in abundance of 20 miles for each hour, yet takes into consideration just restricted directional control. To date, no successful braking gadget has been devised. This study is a comparison between a traditional skateboard and remodeled skateboard with a braking system. Result showed a significant effect of brakes on the users’ performance. The research should give a different perception to safety and performance of skateboarders.
Global Landmarks in a Complex Indoor Environment.

Wayfinding in complex indoor environments can be a difficult and disorienting activity. Many factors contribute to this difficulty, including the variable number of floors and half-floors paired with many different and often unpredictable ways to get from one floor to another. In order to explore how the spatial information of floor to floor transitions is represented cognitively, a user study was conducted at the Carnegie Museums of Art and Natural History that drew on experienced participants from the Visitor Services Department. The participants were asked to give wayfinding descriptions to and from several landmarks in the museums with the majority of the routes spanning multiple floors. It was found that floor to floor transition points were often represented as landmarks with notable locations in the Museums being represented with both functional and referential aspects. A functional aspect of a floor to floor transition points meant that its purpose in the wayfinding description was to provide a means to get from one floor to another. A referential quality meant that a floor to floor transition points was simply an indemnity and did not serve as a way to move vertically through the environment. This finding informs the discussion on global landmarks and their representation and salience in large complex indoor environments.
A 3D epithelial–mesenchymal co-culture model of human bronchial tissue recapitulates multiple features of airway tissue remodeling by TGF-β1 treatment

The collagen gel contraction assay measures gel size to assess the contraction of cells embedded in collagen gel matrices. Using the assay with lung fibroblasts is useful in studying the lung tissue remodeling process in wound healing and disease development. However, the involvement of bronchial epithelial cells in this process should also be investigated. We applied a layer of mucociliary differentiated bronchial epithelial cells onto collagen gel matrices with lung fibroblasts. This co-culture model enables direct contact between epithelial and mesenchymal cells. We stimulated the culture with transforming growth factor (TGF) β1 as an inducer of tissue remodeling for 21 days, and measured gel size, histological changes, and expression of factors related to extracellular matrix homeostasis. TGF-β1 exerted a concentration-dependent effect on collagen gel contraction and on contractile myofibroblasts in the mesenchymal collagen layer. TGF-β1 also induced expression of the mesenchymal marker vimentin in the basal layer of the epithelium, suggesting the induction of epithelial-mesenchymal transition. In addition, the expression of various genes encoding extracellular matrix proteins was upregulated. Fibrotic tenascin-C accumulated in the sub-epithelial region of the co-culture model. Our findings indicate that TGF-β1 can affect both epithelial and mesenchymal cells, and induce gel contraction and structural changes. Our novel in vitro co-culture model will be a useful tool for investigating the roles of epithelial cells, fibroblasts, and their interactions in the airway remodeling process.
From Margins to Center: Developing Cultural Citizenship Education Through the Teaching of Asian American History

Citizenship education is considered a primary purpose for social studies education. However, in elementary classrooms, it is often limited to the memorization of mainstream civic knowledge and learning about a handful of American heroes. This qualitative study of three Asian American educators uses Asian Critical Race Theory to explore how the teachers drew from their own cultural and linguistic experiences to inform pedagogies of cultural citizenship education that interrogated what it means to be a citizen. By (re)defining the terms Asian American and American (citizen), the teachers enacted cultural citizenship education through the use of counternarratives and children’s literature that disrupted normative conceptualizations of citizen. Their work demonstrates how educators can present more inclusive depictions of civic identity, membership, and agency to young learners.
Serotonergic and cholinergic mechanisms during disruption of approach and avoidance behavior.

Injections of d,l-5-hydroxytryptophan (d,l-5-HTP) into pigeons and rats’ working on approach schedules produce a period of behavioral depression that is temporally correlated to increased levels of total serotonin (5-HT) in the telencephalon and diencephalon. Administration of α-methyl-meta-tyrosine (α-MMT) also results in depressed responding; however, the temporal correlation is with decreased levels of total 5-HT in brain. Our hypothesis to explain these two apparent opposite biochemical states which result in similar behavioral disruptions is that in both cases more 5-HT is released within certain key serotonergic synapses mediating this behavior. Evidence from subcellular studies supports this concept. Not only are the levels of 5-HT significantly higher in preparations of nerve endings isolated from the telencephalon and diencephalon of pigeons given injections of d,l-5-HTP, but in vitro studies also show that low concentrations of l-5-HTP significantly increased the release of radioactive 5-HT from serotonergic nerve endings. On the other hand, l-5-HTP in much higher concentrations had no effect on the release of labeled dopamine or norephinephrine. A major metabolite of α-MMT, α-methyl-meta-tyramine, also caused a significant increase in the release of labeled 5-HT from similar preparations of nerve endings. Whereas serotonin appears to be involved in the disruption of approach behavior, another series of studies have indicated that acetylcholine may play a role in excitation during avoidance behavior. Behavioral excitation observed following administration of tetrabenazine 18 hr after iproniazid pretreatment to rats working on shock-avoidance schedules was temporally correlated with lowered levels of acetylcholine in the telencephalon. Pretreatment with 0.8 mg/kg of atropine blocked excitation whereas one-eighth of this dose increased the duration. Excitation in these rats was shortened by 50% following bilateral septal lesions, which lowered brain acetylcholine levels. Mechanisms to explain these neurochemical correlates of behavior are discussed.—Aprison, M. H., J. N. Hingtgen, and W. J. Mcbride. Serotonergic and cholinergic mechanisms during disruption of approach and avoidance behavior. Federation Proc. 34: 1813–1822, 1975.
Let "The Fundamental Things Apply": Necessary and Contingent Truths in Legal Scholarship

This Symposium is devoted to understanding methods and trends in legal scholarship. At one level, there is very little new to report. Huge portions of legal scholarship as practiced in the academy are devoted to the routine tasks of lawyers. Nothing that we say or write here will, or should, alter the brute fact that much academic scholarship services the internal operations of the legal profession. Astute trial and appellate lawyers seek to modify legal doctrine to advance their own cases; judges try to sort out sound from spurious claims; and legal scholars chronicle the development of law in both its positive and normative dimensions. Lawyers revise restatements, draft legislative reports, and write academic critiques of judicial decisions and legislative and administrative programs. They take as given the fundamental premises of the system, whether explicit or implicit, and then seek to work out their implications in new areas, such as railroads and oil and gas in the nineteenth century or the electromagnetic spectrum and cyberspace in the twentieth.' In discharging their professional obligations, lawyers usually examine social theory not as an end in itself, but as one means among many to resolve those interstitial cases that crop up in any system of rules. Lawyers use social policy to smooth out a statute with some roughness about its edges or to tie together a line of cases that does not otherwise connect. One classic illustration of this technique is the mimeographed Hart and Sacks materials on the legal process, which begins a general analysis of contract law with the question of who took the risk of loss for some spoiled cantaloupes.2 Indeed, much of my own early scholar-
Information and Function

If we want to build a low-cost computer, we buy components and build it. Three essential features are involved: (i) instructions for how to assemble, (ii) parts, and (iii) assembler. In a biological system, these components are also present, but the situation is more complex: The assembler must be part of the system, and the system must be self-reproducing. The structure of such a system is schematically shown in Fig. 2.1.
Studies of the Structure of Caprine Arthritis-Encephalitis Virus Surface Envelope Glycoprotein

Caprine arthritis-encephalitis virus (CAEV) is a monocyte/macrophage tropic lentivirus which causes an immune-mediated disease complex in domestic goats characterized mainly by progressive arthritis of carpal joints. Joint lesions caused by CAEV consist of synovial membrane hyperplasia and villous hypertrophy with extensive angiogenesis and perivascular infiltration of mononuclear cells accompanied by significant cortical hyperplasia of regional lymph nodes. The mononuclear cell phenotypes, comprising perivascular infiltrates, include MHC class II activated macrophages, CD4+ and CD8+ ab T lymphocytes, and, predominantly, B lymphocytes and plasma cells. CAEV-induced arthritis follows a chronic, progressive course with clinical signs of periarticular swelling, accumulation of synovial fluid containing inflammatory cells and radiographic changes of soft tissue mineralization, and erosion of articular surfaces. Lesions contain CAEV infected macrophages8 and virus are readily recovered from synovial fluid, synovial fluid cells, and explants of synovial tissue. Previous studies have established that immune responses to CAEV envelope glycoproteins contribute to the development of arthritis.
Robotic Transversus Abdominis Release: Tips and Tricks

Robotic ventral hernia repair (rVHR) has experienced exponential growth in recent years. The benefits of three-dimensional, magnified visualization, articulating instruments that allow complex intracorporeal dissection and suturing, and improved surgeon ergonomics are appealing. Open retromuscular VHR as initially described by Rives [1] is widely considered the standard for hernia repair, with placement of mesh in a well-vascularized space behind the rectus muscle, isolated from the visceral cavity by closure of the posterior sheath. However, wound morbidity remains a significant deterrent to this approach, particularly in patients at higher risk for these complications. The robotic platform enables even this complex myofascial dissection to be performed in a minimally invasive fashion, thus maximizing the benefits and minimizing the complications associated with standard laparoscopic or open repairs. Published literature to date on robotic transversus abdominis release (rTAR) demonstrates a reduced length of stay compared to both laparoscopic and open repair and some improvement in wound complications [2] [3, 4]. This is a complex technique that requires detailed understanding of abdominal wall anatomy and how to manipulate the various layers to ultimately mobilize the posterior layers and release tension on the anterior fascia for closure of the linea alba.
Does emergency financial assistance reduce crime

Abstract Does emergency financial assistance reduce criminal behavior among those experiencing negative shocks? To address this question, we exploit quasi-random variation in the allocation of temporary financial assistance to eligible individuals and families that have experienced an economic shock. Chicago's Homelessness Prevention Call Center (HPCC) connects such families and individuals with assistance, but the availability of funding varies unpredictably. Consequently, we can determine the impact of temporary assistance on crime by comparing outcomes for those who call when funds are available to those who call when no funds are available. Linking this call center information to arrest records from the Chicago Police Department, we find some evidence that total arrests fall between 1 and 2 years after the call. For violent crime, police arrest those for whom funds were available 51% less often than those who were eligible but for whom no funds were available. Single individuals drive this decrease. The decline in crime appears to be related, in part, to greater housing stability—being referred to assistance significantly decreases arrests for homelessness-related, outdoor crimes such as trespassing. However, we also find that financial assistance leads to an increase in property crime arrests. This increase is evident for family heads, but not single individuals; the increase is mostly due to shoplifting; and the timing of this increase suggests that financial assistance enables some families to take on financial obligations that they are subsequently unable to meet. Overall, the change in the mix of crime induced by financial assistance generates considerable social benefits due to the greater social cost of violence.
Spanning Boundaries by Building Relationships

An estimated 1.2 million refugee students attend schools across the United States (U.S.). They represent between 35-40% of the total number of refugees in the U.S. Yet, we know little about how school districts work with refugee students, most of whom have had significant gaps in their formal education and for whom English is not their first language. Drawing on data collected during a three-year ethnography of refugee networks in Arizona, which included a case study of one school district’s refugee support department, we examine how the influx of refugee students alters the discourses and practices traditionally associated with school-family-community relationships. Framing refugee mentors who work in the school district and their community-based counterparts as “boundary spanners” Tushman (1977), we demonstrate how the mentors aim to bridge the boundaries between refugees’ homes and communities and their new U.S. schools. Highlighting the complexity of the varied, and often contentious, interactions between the policies of the school, the practices the community-based organizations, and the understandings of the refugee parents, we point to the precariousness of the school-family-community interactions and discuss what boundaries are left unbridged. Finally, we offer recommendations for the further development of policies made to influence the formal education of refugees attending U.S schools.
Implementation of Bug-in-Ear Coaching by Community-Based Professional Development Providers.

Research Findings: Bug-in-ear coaching implemented under highly controlled situations has a promising research base. Yet few researchers have examined its effects when implemented within less contr...
How Uniform is the Uniform Distribution on Permutations

For large $q$, does the (discrete) uniform distribution on the set of $q!$ permutations of the vector $(1,2,\dots,q)$ closely approximate the (continuous) uniform distribution on the $(q-2)$-sphere that contains them? These permutations comprise the vertices of the regular permutohedron, a $(q-1)$-dimensional convex polyhedron. Surprisingly to me, the answer is emphatically no: these permutations are confined to a negligible portion of the sphere, and the regular permutohedron occupies a negligible portion of the ball. However, $(1,2,\dots,q)$ is not the most favorable configuration for approximate spherical uniformity of permutations. Unlike the permutations of $(1,2,\dots,q)$, the normalized surface area of the largest empty spherical cap among the permutations of the most favorable configuration approaches 0 as $q\to\infty$. Several open questions are posed.
Multi-level Assessment on EPSCoR

This chapter provides a comprehensive assessment on the effectiveness of EPSCoR programs beyond the individual level. The macro-level assessment shows that the two largest EPSCoR programs—NSF's EPSCoR and NIH's IDeA—have been effective in reducing the concentration index of the respective agency support to academic research, but the magnitude of the effects is small. Additional state-level assessments present quite modest effects of NSF's EPSCoR and NIH's IDeA on a state's shares of NSF and NIH funding for academic research, respectively. Supplemental analysis suggests that the effects of EPSCoR vary across the eligible states.
A Comparison of Strain-Based Methods for the Evaluation of the Relative Displacement of Beam-Like Structures

This research presents an evaluation and comparison of the various strain to displacement transformation methods for a beam-like structure. Displacements can provide useful information for the monitoring and assessment of structural performance, health, and safety. The displacement of a structure is correlated with the curvature of a structure, so any unusual behavior of the structure that alters the curvature will also affect the displacement of the structure. Additionally, monitoring the displacement of a structure is useful for evaluating service limits as excessive displacement are uncomfortable to users and can cause damage to surrounding structures. Direct displacement monitoring of a real-life structure can be challenging, especially for long-term measurements. Because of this, the focus of this research is on in-direct displacement monitoring based on strain sensors. Several methods to determine displacements from strain measurements have been presented in the literature; this paper provides a quantitative comparison of selected methods using both a static and dynamic analysis, providing the errors of the methods. The methods were applied in a small-scale laboratory test to a beam with fiber Bragg-grating strain sensors, with both static and dynamic loading cases. The experimental displacement results are compared to displacement results from LVDT displacement sensors. Finally, the methods are applied to an existing structure equipped with long-gauge fiber Bragg-grating strain sensors, an in-service highway overpass subjected to vehicle loading. The displacements for the overpass were obtained and compared with the service requirements.
Using critical curves to compute master stability islands for amplitude death in networks of delay-coupled oscillators.

In this paper, we present a method to compute master stability islands (MSIs) for amplitude death in networks of delay-coupled oscillators using critical curves. We first demonstrate how critical curves can be used to compute boundaries and contours of MSIs in delay-coupling parameter space and then provide a general study on the effects of the oscillator dynamics and network topology on the number, size, and contour types of all MSIs. We find that the oscillator dynamics can be used to determine the number and size of MSIs and that there are six possible contour types that depend on the choice of oscillator dynamics and the network topology. We introduce contour sequences and use these sequences to study the contours of all MSIs. Finally, we provide example MSIs for several classical nonlinear systems including the van der Pol system, the Rucklidge system, and the Rossler system.
A Phase I Trial of IGF-1R Inhibitor Cixutumumab and mTOR Inhibitor Temsirolimus in Metastatic Castration-resistant Prostate Cancer.

Abstract Background Despite frequent PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homologue) loss and Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling in prostate cancer, the disease is insensitive to single-agent mTOR inhibition. Insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor inhibition might mitigate the feedback inhibition by Torc1 inhibitors, suppressing downstream Akt activation and, thus, potentiating the antitumor activity of mTOR inhibition. Patients and Methods In the present phase I study, patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer received 6 mg/kg cixutumumab and 25 mg temsirolimus intravenously each week. The primary objective was safety and tolerability. Temsirolimus was decreased if ≥ 2 dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) were observed in 6 patients. The correlative analyses included measurement of circulating tumor cells, [18F]-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography, 16β-[18F]-fluoro-α-dihydrotestosterone positron emission tomography, and tumor biopsy. Results A total of 16 patients were enrolled across 3 cohorts (1, −1, −2). Two DLTs (grade 3 oral mucositis) were observed in cohort 1 (temsirolimus, 25 mg), and 1 DLT (grade 3 lipase) in cohort −1 (temsirolimus, 20 mg). The most common adverse events included hyperglycemia (100%; 31% grade 3), oral mucositis (63%; 19% grade 3), and diarrhea (44%; 0 grade 3). Low-grade pneumonitis occurred in 7 of 11 patients (44%; 0 grade 3), prompting the opening of a 3-weekly cohort (temsirolimus, 20 mg/kg), without pneumonitis events. No patient had a >50% decline in prostate-specific antigen from baseline. The best radiographic response was stable disease, with median study duration of 22 weeks (range, 7-63 weeks). Conclusions Despite a strong scientific rationale for the combination, temsirolimus plus cixutumumab demonstrated limited antitumor activity and a greater than expected incidence of toxicity, including low-grade pneumonitis and hyperglycemia. Hence, the trial was stopped in favor of alternative androgen receptor/phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase–directed combinatorial therapies.
Cultural Considerations in Behavioral Health Service Delivery for Social Anxiety

Previously termed social phobia, social anxiety disorder (SAD) is persistent fear and anxiety in one or more social or performance situations in which an individual may be exposed to scrutiny or negative evaluation by others. In the USA it is estimated that about 7% of adults aged 18 years or older had social anxiety in the past year, while about 13% of US adults had experienced SAD in their lifetime. Discrimination and fear of discrimination has been linked to increased symptoms of SAD. Several evidence-based treatments have been adapted to address the specific needs of individuals with SAD, including a cognitive behavioral therapy group focused on addressing the experiences of marginalization. In this chapter we discuss prevalence rates of SAD among different ethnic groups, adapted treatments for working with people with SAD, and describe several guidelines and principles to assist in working with the individuals with SAD.
The Long & Lingering Shadow of the Scopes Trial

Just before his death in 1970, John Scopes claimed that his famous trial “had no other effect upon my family” than his sister Lela losing her teaching job in Paducah, Kentucky. He was wrong. My interviews with John Scopes9s family members and descendants – most of whom have never talked about their famous relative until now – reveal that the legacy of the Scopes Trial continues.
Physician Specialty and Office Visits Made by Adults With Diagnosed Multiple Chronic Conditions: United States, 2014-2015.

ObjectivesAdults with multiple chronic conditions (MCCs; ≥2 chronic conditions) account for a substantial number of visits to health care providers. The complexity of a patient’s care, including th...
7 – Hemolytic anemia

Publisher Summary Hemolytic anemia is a reduction in the normal red cell survival of 120 days. This chapter highlights the causes, diagnosis, clinical features, and treatments for hemolytic anemia. Premature destruction of red cells may result from corpuscular abnormalities of membrane, enzymes, hemoglobin, and extracorpuscular abnormalities. The causes of hemolytic anemia due to corpuscular and extracorpuscular defects are membrane defects, enzyme defects, hemoglobin defects, and congenital dyserythropoietic defects. Similarly, the causes of hemolytic anemia due to extracorpuscular defects majorly are immune and nonimmune. The approach to the diagnosis of hemolytic anemia should include consideration of the clinical features suggesting hemolytic disease, laboratory demonstration of the presence of a hemolytic process, and determination of the precise cause of the hemolytic anemia by special hematologic investigations. Two major laboratory findings of hemolytic anemia consist of: reduced red cell survival and evidence of accelerated hemoglobin catabolism, and evidence of increased erythropoiesis. Once the presence of a hemolytic process has been established, the root cause of the hemolytic anemia can be determined. Various treatments have been proposed for the treatment of hemolytic anemia, such as transfusion, splenectomy, and folic acid supplementation.
Air Toxics in the Board Room: An Empirical Study of EPA's Hazardous Air Pollutant Rules

In this study we challenge the conventional wisdom that Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rulemakings are generally subjected to robust pluralistic processes by a diverse group of affected parties. We test for imbalance in interest group participation and influence (primarily between industry and environmental groups) in a complete set of highly technical and complex EPA pollution control rules governing hazardous air pollutant emissions. We test for this imbalance at three stages of the rulemaking life cycle – before the proposed rule is published, between notice and comment and the final rule, and after the final rule is published. Our results reveal imbalances in interest group participation at each of these stages. At the pre-proposal stage, industry had an average of 83.6 informal communications with the EPA per rule; public interest groups had an average of 0.65 communications per rule. During the comment process, industry provided approximately 77% of the total comments; public interest groups provided 5%. Changes made to the final rule after notice and comment favored industry by a factor of 5 to 1 as compared to the changes benefitting the public interest. Post-final rule activity was considerable as well. Petitions and litigation occurred for 22% of the rules, with industry filings accounting for 2 times the petitions filed by public interest groups. After promulgation of the rules, moreover, roughly 70% were revised and amended, with an average rate of over 4 revisions per rule for those that were revised at least once. Our findings are consistent with recent empirical studies, but our study adds to the growing list of empirically-based challenges facing administrative law. Specifically, we observe imbalances in interest group participation where imbalances are not typically expected (“salient” EPA rules that have a direct bearing on public health protection) and where imbalances are not typically measured (occurring prior to publication of the proposed rule and after publication of the final rule).
Personalized-induced neural stem cell therapy: Generation, transplant, and safety in a large animal model

In this study, we take an important step toward clinical translation by generating the first canine-induced neural stem cells (iNSCs). We explore key aspects of scale-up, persistence, and safety of personalized iNSC therapy in autologous canine surgery models. iNSCs are a promising new approach to treat aggressive cancers of the brain, including the deadly glioblastoma. Created by direct transdifferentiation of fibroblasts, iNSCs are known to migrate through the brain, track down invasive cancer foci, and deliver anticancer payloads that significantly reduce tumor burden and extend survival of tumor-bearing mice. Here, skin biopsies were collected from canines and converted into the first personalized canine iNSCs engineered to carry TNFα-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) and thymidine kinase (TK), as well as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents for in vivo tracking. Time-lapse analysis showed canine iNSCs efficiently migrate to human tumor cells, and cell viability assays showed both TRAIL and TK monotherapy markedly reduced tumor growth. Using intraoperative navigation and two delivery methods to closely mimic human therapy, canines received autologous iNSCs either within postsurgical cavities in a biocompatible matrix or via a catheter placed in the lateral ventricle. Both strategies were well tolerated, and serial MRI showed hypointense regions at the implant sites that remained stable through 86 days postimplant. Serial fluid sample testing following iNSC delivery showed the bimodal personalized therapy was well tolerated, with no iNSC-induced abnormal tissue pathology. Overall, this study lays an important foundation as this promising personalized cell therapy advances toward human patient testing.
Current developments and applications of micro-CT for the 3D analysis of multiphase mineral systems in geometallurgy

Abstract The use of X-ray micro computed tomography (X-ray micro-CT) for three-dimensional (3D) characterization of multiphase systems continues to increase in metallurgical research. In recent years, a number of technical developments in X-ray sources and X-ray imaging arrays have broadened the utility of micro-CT. Here, the authors review the current state-of-the-art tomographic techniques for both qualitative and quantitative geometallurgical characterization. This review first considers the basic principles of tomography and commonly used tomographic systems. The advantages and disadvantages (shortcomings) of micro-CT are discussed. Software development, including current image reconstruction algorithms, such as traditional weighted back projection and iterative reconstruction algorithms, as well as image segmentation tasks, are then discussed for processing 3D images and conducting quantitative analysis. Based on the development of hardware and software, applications involved in geometallurgy and minerals engineering are then thoroughly discussed. Specifically, applications include the determination of microstructure such as particle size, shape, and damage, as well as porosity and pore network structure of packed particle beds. In this way, the permeability, mineral composition, coal washability, mineral liberation, and exposed grain surface area can be determined.
Abstract 14842: Brain Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor 4 Stimulation is Involved in High Phosphate Diet-Induced Skeletal Muscle Reflex Overactivation in Rats

An increasing number of studies have reported a deleterious role of inorganic phosphate (Pi) in promoting hypertension. Previously, we have shown high Pi diet-induced excessive pressor and sympathe...
A Phosphonate Natural Product Made by Pantoea ananatis is Necessary and Sufficient for the Hallmark Lesions of Onion Center Rot.

ABSTRACT Pantoea ananatis is the primary cause of onion center rot. Genetic data suggest that a phosphonic acid natural product is required for pathogenesis; however, the nature of the molecule is unknown. Here, we show that P. ananatis produces at least three phosphonates, two of which were purified and structurally characterized. The first, designated pantaphos, was shown to be 2-(hydroxy[phosphono]methyl)maleate; the second, a probable biosynthetic precursor, was shown to be 2-(phosphonomethyl)maleate. Purified pantaphos is both necessary and sufficient for the hallmark lesions of onion center rot. Moreover, when tested against mustard seedlings, the phytotoxic activity of pantaphos was comparable to the widely used herbicides glyphosate and phosphinothricin. Pantaphos was also active against a variety of human cell lines but was significantly more toxic to glioblastoma cells. Pantaphos showed little activity when tested against a variety of bacteria and fungi. IMPORTANCEPantoea ananatis is a significant plant pathogen that targets a number of important crops, a problem that is compounded by the absence of effective treatments to prevent its spread. Our identification of pantaphos as the key virulence factor in onion center rot suggests a variety of approaches that could be employed to address this significant plant disease. Moreover, the general phytotoxicity of the molecule suggests that it could be developed into an effective herbicide to counter the alarming rise in herbicide-resistant weeds.
A reaction-driven evolving network theory coupled with phase-field fracture to model polymer oxidative aging

Abstract High-temperature oxidation in polymers is a complex phenomenon, driven by the coupled diffusion–reaction process, causing changes in the amorphous network structure and resulting in property degradation. Prolonged oxidation in polymers results in the formation of a coarse, oxide layer on the outer surface and induces spontaneous cracking inside the material. In this paper, we present a chemical reaction-driven evolving network theory coupled with phase-field fracture to describe the effect of oxidation in polymers across different length scales. Guided by the statistical mechanics, the network theory has been introduced to model the reaction induced chain scissions and crosslinking events causing significant changes in the three-dimensional network structure. Further, these microscale events have been considered as the reason behind macroscopic mechanical property degradation, namely oxidative embrittlement. Finally the network theory is coupled with a phase-field fracture to model the macroscale damage initiation and propagation in the polymer under mechanical stress. The specific constitutive forms for all the physical–chemical processes are derived for the coupled system and numerically implemented in finite elements by writing ABAQUS user-defined element (UEL) subroutine. To present the model’s capability, various numerical examples with standard fracture geometries have been studied. The simulation results have demonstrated the model’s capability of predicting the effect of oxidative aging on the polymer’s response.
Adenocarcinoma of the Lung With Inguinal Lymph Node Metastasis.

Adenocarcinoma of the lung can present with distant metastasis, with major metastasis sites being mediastinal lymph nodes, liver, brain, and adrenal glands. Inguinal lymph nodes are an unusual site for distant metastasis of adenocarcinoma of the lung. We discuss the case of a 73-year-old Caucasian female with a medical history significant for hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who was seen in the primary care clinic for ongoing shortness of breath, worsening cough, and wheezing. She was prescribed a short course of steroids and antibiotics for possible COPD exacerbation. Despite these measures, the patient had worsening pulmonary symptoms and got evaluated in the emergency room. A CT scan of the chest showed right upper lobe bilobed masses and bulky mediastinal lymph nodes resulting in the partial collapse of the lung's right upper lobe. She got admitted to the hospital for further evaluation, and pulmonary service was consulted for possible endobronchial ultrasound-guided biopsy (EBUS) of the mediastinal nodes. During the physical exam, she was found to have a large fungating mass in the right groin. Upon further questioning, she reported that the mass began as a small swelling in the groin three months ago and was evaluated by the primary care physician and received antibiotics for two weeks. During this time, she did not have any worsening pulmonary symptoms. She underwent bedside excisional biopsy of the lymph node; the pathology came back positive for metastatic adenocarcinoma of pulmonary origin. Unfortunately, the patient had a significant worsening of her respiratory distress; she transitioned to comfort measures and passed away three days later. In this article, we report a case of metastatic lung adenocarcinoma with the inguinal lymph nodes' involvement as the site of distant metastasis, followed by a brief review of the occurrence of adenocarcinoma with the inguinal lymph nodes' involvement.
Preventing Irritability and Temper Outbursts in Youth by Building Resilience

Severe irritability and temper outbursts are risk factors for the onset of serious and lifelong mood disorders. In treating children and adolescents with severe irritability, clinicians should evaluate and address safety issues before acute stabilization of symptoms. Then, clinicians can initiate interventions to prevent the onset or relapses of the undesired behavior and its functional consequences. This review summarizes primary, secondary, and tertiary relapse prevention strategies, with an emphasis on strategies that build resilience in youth that mitigate the onset, recurrence, and progression of emotion dysregulation.
Treatment Options for Massive Irreparable Rotator Cuff Tears.

Author(s): Kucirek, Natalie K; Hung, Nicole J; Wong, Stephanie E | Abstract: Purpose of reviewMassive irreparable rotator cuff tears present a significant challenge to the orthopedic surgeon. No single treatment, particularly among joint-preserving options, has been shown to be superior. The purpose of this review is to discuss recent advances in the treatment of massive irreparable rotator cuff tears, including partial repair with and without graft augmentation, interposition grafts, superior capsule reconstruction, subacromial balloon spacers, tendon transfer, and reverse total shoulder arthroplasty. We will also offer guidance on surgical indications based on our clinical experience.Recent findingsPartial repair may offer reasonable clinical improvement for patients with lower preoperative function despite high re-tear rates. Additionally, several types of interposition grafts have shown promising short-term results and may outperform repair alone. Subacromial balloon spacers may lead to clinical improvement, especially in patients without glenohumeral osteoarthritis or pseudoparalysis, and recently received FDA approval for use in the USA. Superior capsule reconstruction is a technically demanding procedure that appears to produce excellent short-term results particularly when performed at high volume, but long-term studies in heterogeneous study groups are needed. Tendon transfers improve function by restoring force coupling in the shoulder, offering a promising option for younger patients. Reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA) is a reliable option for treatment of irreparable cuff tears in elderly patients with lower functional demands. Irreparable cuff tears remain a difficult condition to treat. Recommended treatment for younger patients without glenohumeral osteoarthritis is particularly controversial. For older patients with low-demand lifestyles and glenohumeral osteoarthritis, RTSA is an effective treatment option. For all discussed procedures, patient selection appears to play a critical role in clinical outcomes.
Probing the adsorption behavior and free energy landscape of single–stranded DNA oligonucleotides on single–layer MoS2 with molecular dynamics

Interfacing single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) with 2D transition metal dichalcogenides are important for numerous technological advancements. However, the molecular mechanism of this process, including the nature of intermolecular association and conformational details of the self-assembled hybrids is still not well understood. Here, atomistic Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulation is employed to study the distinct adsorption behavior of ssDNA on a single-layer MoS2 in aqueous environment. The ssDNA sequences [T10, G10, A10, C10, U10, (GT)5, and (AC)5] are chosen on the basis that short ssDNA segments can undergo a spontaneous conformational change upon adsorption and allow efficient sampling of the conformational landscape. Differences in hybridization is attributed to the inherent molecular recognition ability of the bases. While the binding appears to be primarily driven by energetically favorable van der Waals π-stacking interactions, equilibrium structures are modulated by the ssDNA conformational changes. The poly-purines demonstrate two concurrently competing π-stacking interactions: nucleobase-nucleobase (intramolecular) and nucleobase-MoS2 (intermolecular). The poly-pyrimidines, on the other hand, reveal enhanced π-stacking interactions, thereby maximizing the number of contacts. The results provide new molecular-level understanding of ssDNA adsorption on the MoS2 surface and facilitate future studies in design of functional DNA/MoS2 structure-based platforms for DNA sequencing, biosensing (optical, electrochemical, and electronic), and drug delivery.
Quantum chaos in a weakly-coupled field theory with nonlocality

In order to study the chaotic behavior of a system with non-local interactions, we will consider weakly coupled non-commutative field theories. We compute the Lyapunov exponent of this exponential growth in the large Moyal-scale limit to leading order in the t'Hooft coupling and $1/N$. We found that in this limit, the Lyapunov exponent remains comparable in magnitude to (and somewhat smaller than) the exponent in the commutative case. This can possibly be explained by the infrared sensitivity of the Lyapunov exponent. Another possible explanation is that in examples of weakly coupled non-commutative field theories, non-local contributions to various thermodynamic quantities are sub-dominant.
Transforming the Republic of Letters: Pierre-Daniel Huet and European Intellectual Life, 1650-1720

Early modern Europe's most extensive commonwealth -- the Republic of Letters -- could not be found on any map. This republic had patriotic citizens, but no army; it had its own language, but no frontiers. From its birth during the Renaissance, the Republic of Letters long remained a small and close-knit elite community, linked by international networks of correspondence, sharing an erudite neo-Latin culture. In the late seventeenth century, however, it confronted fundamental challenges that influenced its transition to the more public, inclusive, and vernacular discourse of the Enlightenment. Transforming the Republic of Letters is a cultural and intellectual history that chronicles this transition to "modernity" from the perspective of the internationally renowned scholar Pierre-Daniel Huet (1630-1721). Under Shelford's direction, Huet guides us into the intensely social intellectual world of salons, scientific academies, and literary academies, while his articulate critiques illumine a combative world of Cartesians versus anti-Cartesians, ancients versus moderns, Jesuits versus Jansenists, and salonnieres versus humanist scholars. Transforming the Republic of Letters raises questions of critical importance in Huet's era, and our own, about defining, sharing, and controlling access to knowledge. April G. Shelford is Assistant Professor in the History Department at American University, Washington, D.C.