cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
CFD study of flow boiling in silicon microgaps with staggered pin fins for the 3D-stacking of ICs

Flow boiling in surface-enhanced microgaps represents a promising thermal control method for the removal of relatively high heat fluxes in applications such as three-dimensional (3D) integration of microelectronics. Although a few experimental investigations have reported encouraging results for these types of cooling layers, the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis of the involved physics has lagged behind due to a number of challenges. In the present study, a phase-change model is used with the Volume of Fluid (VOF) method for interface tracking to analyze the transient flow regime evolution due to boiling in a microgap with circular pin fins for area enhancement, where the simultaneous heat conduction is solved in the silicon medium. High-Performance Computing (HPC) is used for investigating two-phase flow and heat transfer in a relatively dense array of pin fins of 150 µm diameter populating a 175 µm height microgap, which is 10 mm long. The dielectric refrigerant R245fa is used as the coolant due to its negligible electrical conductivity, desirable for inter-tier cooling. Results provide useful insight on how the vapor phase is generated and distributed as a function of the axial direction, as well as the implication on heat transfer and resulting surface temperatures to identify trends and required conditions for the reliable operation in potential microelectronic applications.
Estimation of line dimensions in 3D direct laser writing lithography

Two photon polymerization (TPP) based 3D direct laser writing (3D-DLW) finds application in a wide range of research areas ranging from photonic and mechanical metamaterials to micro-devices. Most common structures are either single lines or formed by a set of interconnected lines as in the case of crystals. In order to increase the fidelity of these structures and reach the ultimate resolution, the laser power and scan speed used in the writing process should be chosen carefully. However, the optimization of these writing parameters is an iterative and time consuming process in the absence of a model for the estimation of line dimensions. To this end, we report a semi-empirical analytic model through simulations and fitting, and demonstrate that it can be used for estimating the line dimensions mostly within one standard deviation of the average values over a wide range of laser power and scan speed combinations. The model delimits the trend in onset of micro-explosions in the photoresist due to over-exposure and of low degree of conversion due to under-exposure. The model guides setting of high-fidelity and robust writing parameters of a photonic crystal structure without iteration and in close agreement with the estimated line dimensions. The proposed methodology is generalizable by adapting the model coefficients to any 3D-DLW setup and corresponding photoresist as a means to estimate the line dimensions for tuning the writing parameters.
Determination of the Soil Parameters from Multichannel Remote Sensing Data

Possibilities of soil parameter determination by dual-frequency multipolarization radar for terrain remote sensing are analyzed. It is shown that the sensitivity for soil moisture and roughness is rather weak at X- and K a -bands. There is correlation between polarization ratios and soil erosion.
Optimal Fluid Therapy for Traumatic Hemorrhagic Shock

The resuscitation of traumatic hemorrhagic shock has undergone a paradigm shift in the last 20 years with the advent of damage control resuscitation (DCR). Major principles of DCR include minimization of crystalloid, permissive hypotension, transfusion of a balanced ratio of blood products, and goal-directed correction of coagulopathy. In particular, plasma has replaced crystalloid as the primary means for volume expansion for traumatic hemorrhagic shock. Predicting which patient will require DCR by prompt and accurate activation of a massive transfusion protocol, however, remains a challenge.
Inherited pathologic mutations and family history in patients with prostate cancer.

185Background: In prostate cancer (PCa), germline pathogenic variants have previously been underestimated. PCa patients (pts) with DNA repair defects have a higher percentage of non-PCa family history (FH) with the most common cancers being derived from the breast, GI tract, ovary, pancreas, lymphoma/leukemia. The goal of this study was to evaluate and characterize pathogenic variants detected in PCa patients undergoing both enhanced FH screening and genetic testing. Methods: In this single-institution study, 535 PCa pts from Tulane Cancer Center over the last year underwent enhanced FH screening, and FH of PCa and other cancers were collected. 124 PCa pts including those with both localized and metastatic disease were identified to have a FH that met NCCN guidelines for genetic testing. Genetic testing was done using a commercially available panel (Invitae, San Francisco, CA) of 25-79 cancer-related genes for mutations and selected exonic deletions/duplications. Results: Of the 124 tested pts, 21 pts (16...
Synthesis, biochemical evaluation, and molecular modeling studies of aryl and arylalkyl di-n-butyl phosphates, effective butyrylcholinesterase inhibitors

A series of dialkyl aryl phosphates and dialkyl arylalkyl phosphates were synthesized. Their inhibitory activities were evaluated against acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE). The di-n-butyl phosphate series consistently displayed selective inhibition of BChE over AChE. The most potent inhibitors of butyrylcholinesterase were di-n-butyl-3,5-dimethylphenyl phosphate (4b) [KI=1.0±0.4μM] and di-n-butyl 2-naphthyl phosphate (5b) [KI=1.9±0.4μM]. Molecular modeling was used to uncover three subsites within the active site gorge that accommodate the three substituents attached to the phosphate group. Phosphates 4b and 5b were found to bind to these three subsites in analogous fashion with the aromatic groups in both analogs being accommodated by the "lower region," while the lone pairs on the PO oxygen atoms were oriented towards the oxyanion hole. In contrast, di-n-butyl-3,4-dimethylphenyl phosphate (4a) [KI=9±1μM], an isomer of 4b, was found to orient its aromatic group in the "upper left region" subsite as placement of this group in the "lower region" resulted in significant steric hindrance by a ridge-like region in this subsite. Future studies will be designed to exploit these features in an effort to develop inhibitors of higher inhibitory strength against butyrylcholinesterase.
Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of the First Triple Inhibitors of Human Topoisomerase 1, Tyrosyl-DNA Phosphodiesterase 1 (Tdp1), and Tyrosyl-DNA Phosphodiesterase 2 (Tdp2).

Tdp1 and Tdp2 are two tyrosyl–DNA phosphodiesterases that can repair damaged DNA resulting from topoisomerase inhibitors and a variety of other DNA-damaging agents. Both Tdp1 and Tdp2 inhibition could hypothetically potentiate the cytotoxicities of topoisomerase inhibitors. This study reports the successful structure-based design and synthesis of new 7-azaindenoisoquinolines that act as triple inhibitors of Top1, Tdp1, and Tdp2. Enzyme inhibitory data and cytotoxicity data from human cancer cell cultures establish that modification of the lactam side chain of the 7-azaindenoisoquinolines can modulate their inhibitory potencies and selectivities vs Top1, Tdp1, and Tdp2. Molecular modeling of selected target compounds bound to Top1, Tdp1, and Tdp2 was used to design the inhibitors and facilitate the structure–activity relationship analysis. The monitoring of DNA damage by γ-H2AX foci formation in human PBMCs (lymphocytes) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia CCRF-CEM cells documented significantly more DNA dama...
Erratum: Kim, K.-P.; Singh, A.K.; Bai, X.; Leprun, L.; Bhunia, A.K. Novel PCR Assays Complement Laser Biosensor-Based Method and Facilitate Listeria Species Detection from Food. Sensors 2015, 15, 22672–22691

The authors wish to correct the oligonucleotide sequence of primer E-LAP-F1 and LIS-R1 in Table 1in their paper published in Sensors [1], doi:10.3390/s150922672, http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/15/9/22672. The following table should be used.[...].
Protein disulfide isomerase regulates renal AT1 receptor function and blood pressure in rats.

The role and mechanism of renal protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) in blood pressure regulation has not been tested before. Here, we test this possibility in Sprague-Dawley rats. Rats were treated w...
Measure and Measurement Reprise (Area and Perimeter, the Metric System)

Our ancestors in antiquity must have developed units of linear measurement before they got very far with measuring two-dimensional objects. There are two special interests in objects of two-dimensions. One deals with the boundary of the object, which we will in general call its perimeter, except in the case of the circle where the boundary is the circumference. Perimeter is a one-dimensional measurement. A perimeter is a path that surrounds an area.
Applications of Temperament: A Review of Caregiver-Focused Temperament-Driven Interventions.

ABSTRACTResearch Findings: Temperament, often defined in terms of reactive and regulatory tendencies, has been shown to predict child outcomes over and above other risk factors and represents a critical aspect of social-emotional development. The present article is a systematic review of temperament-based interventions targeting caregivers, wherein the aim is to inform caregivers about temperament in an effort to influence a variety of outcomes, such as goodness of fit, parenting stress, achievement, and behavior problems. In total, 13 randomized and nonrandomized trials were reviewed, with promising outcomes. Temperament-driven interventions have demonstrated the capacity to increase parental knowledge of temperament, reduce behavior problems, improve math and reading achievement, create more positive teacher–child relationships, and reduce numbers of medical visits. Caregivers report satisfaction with and usefulness of the interventions, which suggests promise for future application of temperament-based...
Effect of an Adjustable Hinged Operating Table on Lumbar Lordosis During Lumbar Surgery.

STUDY DESIGN Prospective observational study. OBJECTIVES Quantify the amount of lumbar lordosis achieved on a hinged operative table in neutral, flexion, and extension. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA Hinged operative tables may allow surgeons to adjust lumbar spine positioning intraoperatively. The amount of lumbar lordosis in neutral, flexion, and extension positions has not been quantified prospectively using a hinged table. METHODS Thirty patients undergoing elective lumbar surgery were enrolled. Standing x-rays taken in neutral, maximal flexion, and maximal extension were obtained. After prone positioning on a hinged operative table, x-rays in neutral, maximal flexion, and maximal extension were taken. Total lumbar lordosis was calculated for all six images by two physicians. Disc degeneration was graded using Pfirrmann grades. RESULTS Lumbar lordosis on the operative table was 56.5 ± 2.1, 43.6 ± 2.2, 63.2 ± 2.0 compared with 46.9 ± 3.1, 33.2 ± 2.8, 52.3 ± 3.3 on the standing films in neutral, flexion, and extension, respectively. Average flexion (12.9 ± 1.1) and extension (6.7 ± 1.2) were significantly different from neutral on the table (P < 0.001). Lumbar lordosis was significantly higher on the operative table (P < 0.001). Total range of motion was 19.6 ± 1.9 on the table and 19.1 ± 2.0 with standing (P = 0.42). Average Pfirrmann disc grade was 2.77 ± 0.10 that did not correlate with range of motion (P = 0.40). CONCLUSION In this cohort, the hinged operative table allowed for a physiologic arc of motion of nearly 20 from flexion to extension. A considerable amount of lumbar sagittal motion can be obtained on hinged operative tables without decreasing overall lumbar lordosis below physiologic levels. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 3.
A Multi-task Learning Approach to Adapting Bilingual Word Embeddings for Cross-lingual Named Entity Recognition

We show how to adapt bilingual word embeddings (BWE’s) to bootstrap a cross-lingual name-entity recognition (NER) system in a language with no labeled data. We assume a setting where we are given a comparable corpus with NER labels for the source language only; our goal is to build a NER model for the target language. The proposed multi-task model jointly trains bilingual word embeddings while optimizing a NER objective. This creates word embeddings that are both shared between languages and fine-tuned for the NER task.
Lentivirus-Mediated Transduction of Optical Reporter Genes in Blastocysts for Placental Studies

Chapter Summary Genetic manipulation methods in rodents have greatly enhanced understanding of pathophysiological processes. However, although placental dysfunction underlies many pregnancy disorders, understanding molecular functions in the placenta has been limited by difficulties in gene manipulation in this tissue. Recently developed placenta-specific gene manipulation methods have addressed many of these limitations, enabling analysis of gene functions specifically in the placenta, without confounding effects from embryonic gene functions. Here, we describe methods recently used to alter gene function in rodent placentas, with particular emphasis on lentivirus-based gene transduction. This method enables consistent, high levels of transgene expression in all trophoblast lineages throughout pregnancy and serial, quantitative monitoring of optical reporter gene expression in live pregnant animals by bioluminescence imaging. The addition of inducible placenta-specific transgene expression using an advanced doxycycline-inducible transgene system makes it possible to alter gene expression at multiple, discrete stages of pregnancy with on-off control and serial live imaging of optical reporters.
Is Array-Comparative Genomic Hybridization Useful for Children with Apparently Isolated Congenital Anomalies?

To consider the utility of array-comparative genomic hybridization patients with apparently isolated congenital anomalies, 109 patients whose indication for testing was a birth defect without other concerns about syndromes or intellectual disability were selected from 1766 analyses conducted from 2009 to 2017. Twenty-nine had copy number variants more likely to contribute to the birth defect and another 80 were potentially contributory. Defects of the central nervous (23 patients), cardiovascular (20), digestive (19), and pulmonary (9) systems predominated with some high prevalence variants, traditionally reported as benign, recurring in particular anomaly cases. This small number of anomaly-associated copy number variants does not provide a definitive answer to the title question. However, the value of further studies is supported by consideration of the polygenic inheritance/multifactorial determination of congenital malformations, their derivation from common developmental fields, and their possible prediction by determination of copy number variant profiles.
Reproducibility of non-fasting plasma metabolomics measurements across processing delays.

Processing delays after blood collection is a common pre-analytical condition in large epidemiologic studies. It is critical to evaluate the suitability of blood samples with processing delays for metabolomics analysis as it is a potential source of variation that could attenuate associations between metabolites and disease outcomes. We aimed to evaluate the reproducibility of metabolites over extended processing delays up to 48 h. We also aimed to test the reproducibility of the metabolomics platform. Blood samples were collected from 18 healthy volunteers. Blood was stored in the refrigerator and processed for plasma at 0, 15, 30, and 48 h after collection. Plasma samples were metabolically profiled using an untargeted, ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC–MS/MS) platform. Reproducibility of 1012 metabolites over processing delays and reproducibility of the platform were determined by intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) with variance components estimated from mixed-effects models. The majority of metabolites (approximately 70% of 1012) were highly reproducible (ICCs ≥ 0.75) over 15-, 30- or 48-h processing delays. Nucleotides, energy-related metabolites, peptides, and carbohydrates were most affected by processing delays. The platform was highly reproducible with a median technical ICC of 0.84 (interquartile range 0.68–0.93). Most metabolites measured by the UPLC–MS/MS platform show acceptable reproducibility up to 48-h processing delays. Metabolites of certain pathways need to be interpreted cautiously in relation to outcomes in epidemiologic studies with prolonged processing delays.
Vessel wall and lumen characteristics with age in healthy participants using 3T intracranial vessel wall magnetic resonance imaging

Background Intracranial vessel wall imaging (VWI) at a clinical field strength of 3T has become more widely available. However, how vessel measurements change with age and sex, over an age range spanning a typical lifespan, are needed. Purpose/hypothesis To assess for identifiable changes in arterial wall thickness, outer vessel wall diameter, and lumen diameter with age cross-sectionally in healthy controls without cerebrovascular disease risk factors at the spatial resolution afforded by currently recommended 3T VWI approaches. Study type Prospective. Population/subjects Healthy subjects (n = 82; age = 8-79 years). Field strength/sequence 3T intracranial VWI, angiography, and T1 -weighted anatomical imaging. Assessment Two readers measured lumen and outer wall diameters of the supraclinoid internal carotid artery (ICA) and distal basilar artery. Wall thickness and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were calculated. Statistical tests Separate linear regressions were performed to understand the relationship between wall measurements (lumen diameter, outer vessel wall diameter, and wall thickness) and age, gender, side (left or right); significance: two-sided P Results Readers showed excellent agreement for lumen and outer wall diameters (ICC 0.83-094). Linear regression of supraclinoid ICA wall measurements showed a statistically significant increase in wall thickness (P = 0.00051) and outer vessel wall diameter (P = 0.030) with age. ICA lumen and outer vessel wall diameters were statistically greater in males vs. females (lumen diameter 3.69 ± 0.41 vs. 3.54 ± 0.35 mm, P = 0.026; outer wall diameter 5.78 ± 0.52 vs. 5.56 ± 0.44 mm, P = 0.0089) with a trend toward increase in wall thickness (1.05 ± 0.12 vs. 1.01 ± 0.10 mm, P = 0.055). No significant difference was found in basilar artery wall thickness (P = 0.45, P = 0.72), lumen diameter (P = 0.15, P = 0.42), or outer vessel wall diameter (P = 0.34, P = 0.41) with age or gender, respectively. Data conclusion Intracranial vessel wall measurements were shown to be consistent between readers. At the available spatial resolution of 3T intracranial VWI sequences, supraclinoid ICA vessel wall thickness and outer vessel wall diameter appear to mildly increase with age. There was no detectable change in basilar artery vessel wall characteristics with age. Level of evidence 2 Technical Efficacy: Stage 3 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2019;50:1452-1460.
Pleasures, Power, and Pitfalls of Writing up Mathematics Education Research

Research in mathematics education consists of both doing a study and reporting its thesis and conclusions. Communicating one’s research clearly and adequately is at least as important as conducting it proficiently. At ICME-13, we each conducted a workshop on academic writing in which we drew upon our experiences as writers and editors to acquaint novice researchers with potential benefits and costs of reporting in our field. In this chapter, we present some of the points made in our workshops. We look at the nature of research in our field, the elements of a research report, its structure, the importance of choosing an appropriate publication outlet, and some pitfalls of academic writing. The chapter ends by reprinting a satirical editorial that underlines some of the ways in which a research report can go wrong.
Tumor stroma proportion to predict platinum chemoresistance in primary ovarian carcinomas: A prospective study.

5581Background: Platinum chemotherapy resistance occurs in approximately 25% of patients with ovarian carcinoma and represents a major barrier to effective care of this patient population. To date ...
Structure retention of silica gel-encapsulated bacteriorhodopsin in purple membrane and in lipid nanodiscs.

Abstract The integral membrane protein, bacteriorhodopsin (BR) was encapsulated in sol-gel derived porous silica gel monoliths in native purple membrane (BR-PM) and synthetic lipid nanodisc (BR nanodisc) environments. BR nanodiscs were synthesized by solubilizing purple membrane in discoidal phospholipid bilayer stabilized by amphipathic Styrene-Maleic Acid (SMA) copolymer. UV–vis absorbance spectroscopy and dynamic-light scattering indicated the formation of BR monomers solubilized in lipid nanodiscs 10.2 ± 0.7 nm in average diameter. Fluorescence and absorbance spectroscopic techniques were utilized to probe conformational, environmental, and rotational changes associated with the tryptophan residues and the covalently-bound retinal moiety of BR upon entrapment in the silica matrix. We show that the immobilized BR in both membrane environments retained its bound retinal cofactor and the ability of the cofactor to undergo conformational changes upon light illumination necessary for BR’s activity as a proton transporter. For purple membrane fragments, the results indicated that the local pH in the pores around BR after encapsulation was important for its stability at temperatures higher than 50 °C. Under the same buffering conditions, retinal was released from silica-encapsulated BR-PM and BR nanodiscs beginning at 80 °C (without a conformational change) and 50 °C (with a conformational change), respectively, reflecting differences in protein-protein (trimeric vs. monomeric) and protein-lipid interactions.
The Common European Sales Law's Compliance with the Subsidiarity Principle of the European Union

AbstractThe European Union is considering a proposal to create a uniform sales law that would apply to cross-border sales agreements: the Common European Sales Law (CESL). If adopted, the CESL would be an optional instrument: traders could write their contracts with other traders and consumers to make the CESL govern their sales contracts. This Comment addresses whether the CESL complies with the EU's subsidiarity principle, which prohibits the EU from passing any regulations that address matters that can be sufficiently addressed by lower government authorities. One of the EU's primary objectives is completing the internal market among the member states, which the CESL would allegedly encourage by reducing traders' legal costs in cross-border trade. Ultimately, however, the CESL violates the subsidiarity principle precisely because of its optional nature. Traders seeking to engage in crossborder trade will not willingly choose to operate under a legal regime with no preexisting case law, no guarantees of consistent rulings by member states' judiciaries, provisions that prevent the CESL's broader application outside of sales contracts, and particularly high consumer protections.Table of ContentsI. Introduction 318II. A Political and Economic Framework for the Subsidiarity Principle 321A. Efficiency Analysis of the Subsidiarity Principle 321B. Decentralization as a Response to the Underlying Democratic Deficit in the EU 323C. Subsidiarity Case Law: Skirting the Centralization Debate 327ΙII. CESL Provisions That Complicate the Development of European Contract Law 328IV. Legal Arguments for and against the Common European Sales Law's Compliance with the Subsidiarity Principle 333A. The Commission's Leg^l Support 333B. Member States in Support 337C. Member States in Opposition 339V. Solution: An Optional Instrument Violates the Subsidiarity Principle 342VI. Conclusion 344I. IntroductionIn November 2011, the European Commission (the Commission) formally proposed the Common European Sales Law (CESL).1 The product of a comparative study of contract law within the EU,2 the CESL is an attempt to consolidate further the EU internal market by reducing transaction costs for traders and consumers engaged in cross-border transactions. The CESL emphasizes both uniform background contract rules and stronger consumer protections to incentivize both traders and consumers to participate in the regime. Similar to the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) in the United States,3 the CESL's provisions draw on the merchant practices and contract law of the member states, thereby theoretically streamlining legal issues that traders face when conducting business in multiple jurisdictions.There is one key difference, however, between the UCC and the CESL. While the UCC replaces and supplements the law in states that have selectively adopted its provisions, the CESL does not. Instead, the CESL would stand alongside member states' sales laws as a second national law. …
The New Slave Narrative: The Battle Over Representations of Contemporary Slavery: by Laura T. Murphy, 307 pp., New York, Columbia University Press, 2019, US $90.00 (Hardcover), ISBN 9780231188258; US $30.00 (Paperback/E-Book)

Laura T. Murphy’s The New Slave Narrative: The Battle Over Representations of Contemporary Slavery will be welcomed by scholars interested in how contemporary stories of slavery conform to “certain...
A novel triple power cycle featuring a gas turbine cycle with supercritical carbon dioxide and organic Rankine cycles: Thermoeconomic analysis and optimization

Abstract In this study, a novel triple power cycle is proposed where waste heat from a gas turbine cycle is utilized to drive a supercritical carbon dioxide (s-CO2) recompression cycle and a recuperative organic Rankine cycle (ORC) in sequence. A detailed thermoeconomic model is developed and implemented in MATLAB to evaluate the performance of the proposed cycle under different operating conditions. Optimization using a particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm is performed to minimize the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) and determine the optimum design conditions of the cycle. The optimization results show that for a 100 MW cycle, the overall thermal efficiency and LCOE are 0.521 and $52.819/MWh, respectively. The turbine inlet temperature of the gas turbine and s-CO2 cycles are found as the most influential parameters on the thermoeconomic performance of the triple cycle. The proposed triple cycle shows an excellent waste energy recovery potential and superiority over a very thermodynamically efficient cycle from the literature, which included a gas turbine topping cycle and a complex cascade s-CO2 power cycle used a bottoming cycle. The proposed triple cycle shows up to 0.9% points higher efficiency while it has fewer heat exchangers and turbomachinery than the cycle from the literature.
DGS Based Ultra Wideband Antenna For Wireless Applications

In this paper, a new Ultra Wide Band (UWB) antenna with high bandwidth is proposed. The antenna consists of defected ground structure, patch of different step sizes with irregular shape on an FR4 epoxy dielectric substrate, with a microstrip feed line of 50 ohms. Varying the dimensions of the steps, slots and notch, which enhances the gain and bandwidth of the antenna. Modifications are introduced in the antenna are changing the dimensions of notch, steps and adding two slots on the defected ground plane. The characteristics of antenna design is an improvement from the previous research and is simulated using High frequency structure Simulator (HFSS) 15.0 software.The performance of the designed antenna was analysed in terms of bandwidth, gain, return loss and radiation pattern.
Traditional and Nontraditional Mental Healthcare Services: Usage and Preferences Among Adolescents and Younger Adults

In recent years, nontraditional mental healthcare services and tools (e.g., mobile apps, peer counselors, online support groups) have been developed to increase access to and utilization of behavioral health services. This study investigates how adolescents and younger adults use and perceive various nontraditional mental healthcare services in comparison to traditional services and in comparison to each other. A questionnaire-based study was conducted that included 203 participants between the ages of 17 and 37 (M = 25.01, SD = 5.04). Results showed that while usage rates of nontraditional mental health services were considerably high, the highest rates were reported for traditional services. Similarly, participants reported high levels of willingness to use nontraditional services, yet the highest levels of willingness were reported for traditional services. These findings suggest that the integration of nontraditional services with traditional services may be particularly impactful for young people.
Immunotherapy for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains a lethal cancer with an urgent need for better medical therapies. Efforts have been made to investigate the efficacy of immunotherapy, particularly given the hallmarks of immune suppression and exhaustion in PDAC tumors. Here, we review the molecular components responsible for the immune-privileged state in PDAC and provide an overview of the immunotherapeutic strategies for PDAC including vaccine therapy, checkpoint blockade, myeloid-targeted therapy, and immune agonist therapy.
Chain breaking in the statistical mechanical constitutive theory of polymer networks

Abstract Elastomers are used in a wide range of applications because of their large strain to failure, low density, and tailorable stiffness and toughness. The mechanical behavior of elastomers derives mainly from the entropic elasticity of the underlying network of polymer chains. Elastomers under large deformation experience bonds breaking within the backbone chains that constitute the polymer network. This breaking of chains damages the network, can lead to material failure, and can be utilized as an energy dissipation mechanism. In the case of reversible bonds, broken chains may reform and heal the damage in the network. If the reversible bonds are dynamic, chains constantly break and reform and create a transient network. A fundamental constitutive theory is developed to model the mechanics of these polymer networks. A statistical mechanical derivation is conducted to yield a framework that takes in an arbitrary single-chain model (a Hamiltonian) and outputs the following: the single-chain mechanical response, the breaking and reforming kinetics, the equilibrium distribution of chains in the network, and the partial differential equations governing the deformation-coupled network evolution. This statistical mechanical framework is then brought into the continuum scale by using macroscopic thermodynamic constitutive theory to obtain a constitutive relation for the Cauchy stress. The potential-supplemented freely jointed chain ( u FJC) model is introduced, and a parametric study of its mechanical response and breaking kinetics is provided. This single-chain model is then implemented within the constitutive framework, which we specialize and apply in two exemplary cases: the mechanical response and irreversible breakdown of a multinetwork elastomer, and the mechanical response of a dual crosslink gel. After providing a parametric study of the general constitutive model, we apply it to a hydrogel with reversible metal-coordination crosslinks. In several cases, we find that the breakdown of the network causes secondary physical mechanisms to become important and inhibit the accuracy of our model. We then discuss these mechanisms and indicate how our existing framework can be adjusted to incorporate them in the future.
The Value of Having an Expert Sports Performance and Medicine Staff in the National Football League

An expert strength and conditioning coach can be an important component of a sports performance and medicine staff that will train their athletes to help them become more resilient to injury. Previous research in a variety of sports has shown that teams with players that have fewer games missed due to injury have achieved greater success. The purpose of this study was to determine if a relationship exists between games missed due to injury by offensive and defensive starters on National Football League (NFL) rosters and a NFL team’s ability to win during the 2010-19 NFL seasons. A Spearman rank-order correlation analysis set at (p ≤ 0.01) level of significance indicated that fewer games missed by starters in the NFL is correlated with multiple variables associated with winning such as games won per season and playoff appearances. These results were obtained after analyzing all 32 NFL teams from the 2010-19 seasons. Descriptive statistics were also used to further analyze the data set and found that teams ranked in the top-five in terms of fewest injuries outperformed the remainder of the teams in the NFL according to multiple variables associated with winning. The data in this study supports that NFL organizations that have fewer games missed due to injury of their athletes may have a better opportunity of achieving success.
It's the Effort that Counts: Exerting Self-Control Biases Goal Progress Perceptions

Does how much self-control we exert influence how much goal progress we feel that we have made? In eight studies (N = 5,061), we demonstrate that consumers perceive that they have made more progress on their goals, and are motivated to further pursue the goal, if the identical goal-relevant task they completed required more (vs. less) self-control to complete. This is because consumers perceive they have put more effort towards their goal when they exert more (vs. less) self-control to complete a goal-relevant task. Relying on an effort-progress heuristic, consumers translate any perceived effort towards the goal to mean increased progress towards the goal. While this effort-progress heuristic can many times lead to accurate judgments of goal progress, we demonstrate that consumers misapply this heuristic when they exert more self-control effort, as this effort is irrelevant to goal progress.
Patient and Clinician Characteristics Associated With Secure Message Content: Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: Good communication has been shown to affect patient outcomes; however, the effect varies according to patient and clinician characteristics. To date, no research has explored the differences in the content of secure messages based on these characteristics. Objective: This study aims to explore characteristics of patients and clinic staff associated with the content exchanged in secure messages. Methods: We coded 18,309 messages that were part of threads initiated by 1031 patients with hypertension, diabetes, or both conditions, in communication with 711 staff members. We conducted four sets of analyses to identify associations between patient characteristics and the types of messages they sent, staff characteristics and the types of messages they sent, staff characteristics and the types of messages patients sent to them, and patient characteristics and the types of messages they received from staff. Logistic regression was used to estimate the strength of the associations. Results: We found that younger patients had reduced odds of sharing clinical updates (odds ratio [OR] 0.77, 95% CI 0.65-0.91) and requesting prescription refills (OR 0.77, 95% CI 0.65-0.90). Women had reduced odds of self-reporting biometrics (OR 0.78, 95% CI 0.62-0.98) but greater odds of responding to a clinician (OR 1.20, 95% CI 1.02-1.42) and seeking medical guidance (OR 1.19, 95% CI 1.01-1.40). Compared with White patients, Black patients had greater odds of requesting preventive care (OR 2.68, 95% CI 1.30-5.51) but reduced odds of requesting a new or changed prescription (OR 0.72, 95% CI 0.53-0.98) or laboratory or other diagnostic procedures (OR 0.66, 95% CI 0.46-0.95). Staff had lower odds of sharing medical guidance with younger patients (OR 0.83, 95% CI 0.69-1.00) and uninsured patients (OR 0.21, 95% CI 0.06-0.73) but had greater odds of sharing medical guidance with patients with public payers (OR 2.03, 95% CI 1.26-3.25) compared with patients with private payers. Staff had reduced odds of confirming to women that their requests were fulfilled (OR 0.82, 95% CI 0.69-0.98). Compared with physicians, nurse practitioners had greater odds of sharing medical guidance with patients (OR 2.74, 95% CI 1.12-6.68) and receiving prescription refill requests (OR 3.39, 95% CI 1.49-7.71). Registered nurses had greater odds of deferred information sharing (OR 1.61, 95% CI 1.04-2.49) and receiving responses to messages (OR 3.93, 95% CI 2.18-7.11) than physicians. Conclusions: The differences we found in content use based on patient characteristics could lead to the exacerbation of health disparities when content is associated with health outcomes. Disparities in the content of secure messages could exacerbate disparities in patient outcomes, such as satisfaction, trust in the system, self-care, and health outcomes. Staff and administrators should evaluate how secure messaging is used to ensure that disparities in care are not perpetuated via this communication modality. Trial Registration:
Reliability Models to Estimate Mean Time to Failure of Switched Reluctance Machines

In this paper, reliability models for Switched Reluctance Machine (SRM) are presented to estimate Mean Time to Failure (MTTF) when operated during normal and fault conditions. Markov state transition diagrams and reliability models are used to estimate the reliability of the machine following different fault occurrence levels. The variation of phase currents, output torque, and magnetic force acting on stator and rotor poles due to fault in the machine are recorded for failure rate estimation from electromagnetic simulations. The failure rate of each part in SRM is calculated using empirical-based models and is combined to calculate the machine's reliability and MTTF. A 32 kW, 18 slot/12 pole SRM is considered to perform state assessment and calculate the failure rate of parts in SRM. For validation of the presented results, reliability prediction from phase currents and torque obtained from the experiment is compared with simulations.
DmFer: Fer protein-tyrosine kinase (D. melanogaster)

FER was originally isolated by low stringency hybridization of a v-fps probe to a Drosophilamelanogaster genomic library. Subsequent analysis of the FER gene has shown that it is transcribed into two mRNAs that encode for two protein products p45fer and p93fer. Although the precise role of Fer in signal transduction is not known, initial characterization of mutations has revealed that it functions during the development of several tissues. The mutant adults that survive with weaker allele combinations exhibit rough eyes, lack one or more macrochaete mechanosensory bristles of the thorax, and have defects in thoracic flight muscle development. Both isoforms share a 380 amino acid C-terminal domain that contains the SH2 and kinase domains. The N-terminal region of p93 is similar to that of Fes/Fpsand Fer both. In p45 the N-terminal domain is replaced with 10 new amino acids.
Majorana fermions in a topological superconducting wire out of equilibrium: Exact microscopic transport analysis of a p -wave open chain coupled to normal leads

Topological superconductors are prime candidates for the implementation of topological-quantum-computation ideas because they can support non-Abelian excitations such as Majorana fermions. We go beyond the low-energy effective-model descriptions of Majorana bound states (MBSs) to derive nonequilibrium transport properties of wire geometries of these systems in the presence of arbitrarily large applied voltages. Our approach involves quantum Langevin equations and nonequilibrium Green's functions. By virtue of a full microscopic calculation we are able to model the tunnel coupling between the superconducting wire and the metallic leads realistically, study the role of high-energy nontopological excitations, predict how the behavior compares for an increasing number of odd versus even number of sites, and study the evolution across the topological quantum phase transition (QPT). We find that the normalized spectral weight in the MBSs can be remarkably large and goes to zero continuously at the topological QPT. Our results have concrete implications for the experimental search and study of MBSs.
Prosecutorial Discretion at the EPA: Some Evidence on Litigation Strategy

This paper examines the determinants of the EPA’s litigation strategy between 1977 and 1996 focusing on the tenure of Ann Gorsuch. Two hypotheses about this period are tested: (1) that changes in the EPA’s litigation strategy were in fact an effort to reduce the expected penalty for violating environmental laws or (2) that the changes made in litigation strategy were consistent with efforts to reduce transaction cost. Contrary to previous research, I find no conclusive evidence of an overall shift toward business interests in EPA prosecutions. There is, however, clear evidence of shifts in the EPA’s litigation strategy across administrations.
Morrison's measure of capacity utilization : A critique

Abstract Morrison (1986) has developed and used new capacity utilization measures based on an optimization framework to adjust productivity growth for changes in capacity utilization. She argues that we can adjust productivity growth for variations in capacity utilization by dividing a conventional productivity growth rate by a capacity utilization measure. However, Morrison's analysis is based on a conceptual error, which she recognizes in later research. This error can have considerable empirical significance.
Endoscopic optical coherence tomography

We present advances in OCT technology that will enable in vivo OCT imaging of internal organ systems such as the cardiovascular system, the urinary tract, and the gastrointestinal tract. These advances include improvements in image acquisition speed to avoid motion artifacts, and the development of an OCT compatible catheter-endoscope for access to internal organ systems. A fast scanning OCT system has recently been constructed. This system employs a high power (200 mW) chromium doped forsterite laser as the low coherence source and a piezoelectric fiber stretcher to induce reference arm optical path length delay. The fast scanning system acquires OCT images with an acquisition rate of four images per second, an axial resolution of 15 /spl mu/m, and a signal to noise ratio of 112 dB.
Preliminary results from a global ocean/atmosphere prediction system

The Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) is developing a coupled atmosphere-ocean forecast system by integrating several existing, proven atmospheric and oceanic forecasting components into a loosely coupled software system. The atmospheric system consists of the Navy Operational Global Atmospheric Prediction System (NOGAPS), a dynamic atmospheric forecast model initialized by a multivariate optimal interpolation assimilation scheme. The oceanic components of the system consists of the Coupled Ocean Data Assimilation (CODA), an ocean multivariate optimal interpolation program, and the Parallel Ocean Program (POP), a dynamic ocean model that originated at the Los Alamos National Laboratory. In a set of six-month simulations POP is run on a global grid and loosely coupled to NOGAPS, running at resolution, through forecast momentum, heat, and moisture fluxes. NOGAPS is loosely coupled to the ocean by a daily analysis of sea-surface temperature. Ocean data are assimilated through incremental updates of temperature, salinity, velocity and height fields from an analysis run on the same grid as the model, a method widely used in operational atmospheric models. The entire system is designed to run at least once a day and produce 5-10 day forecasts of the ocean and atmosphere for operational use by the Navy. The system is robust and produces a skillful forecast as judged by comparisons with independent data.
Gastric bypass after liver transplantation

Few data are available for assessing the outcomes of bariatric surgery for patients who have undergone orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). The University of Minnesota bariatric surgery database and transplant registry were retrospectively reviewed to identify patients who had undergone OLT and then open Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery between 2001 and 2009. Comorbidity-appropriate laboratory values, body mass indices (BMIs), histopathology reports, and immunosuppressive regimens were collected. Seven patients were identified with a mean age of 55.4 ± 8.64 years and a mean follow-up of 59.14 ± 41.49 months from the time of RYGB. The mean time between OLT and RYGB was 26.57 ± 8.12 months. The liver disease etiologies were hepatitis C (n = 4), jejunoileal bypass surgery (n = 1), hemangioendothelioma (n = 1), and alcoholic cirrhosis (n = 1). There were 2 deaths for patients with hepatitis C 6 and 9 months after bariatric surgery due to multiple-organ dysfunction syndrome and metastatic esophageal squamous carcinoma, respectively. One patient with hepatitis C required a reversal of the RYGB because of malnutrition and an inability to tolerate oral intake. Four of the 7 patients had type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), 4 had hypertension, and 6 patients had dyslipidemia. All patients were on immunosuppressive medications, but only 4 were on corticosteroids. Glycemic control was improved in all surviving patients with T2DM. The mean BMI was 34.27 ± 5.51 kg/m2 before OLT and 44.34 ± 6.08 kg/m2 before RYGB; it declined to 26.47 ± 5.53 kg/m2 after RYGB. In conclusion, in this case series of patients undergoing RYGB after OLT, we observed therapeutic weight loss, improved glycemic control, and improved high-density lipoprotein levels in the presence of continued dyslipidemia. RYGB may have contributed to the death of 1 patient due to multiple-organ dysfunction syndrome. Liver Transpl 19:1324–1329, 2013. © 2013 AASLD.
Myocardial energy metabolism and morphology in a canine model of sepsis

The mechanism responsible for sepsis-induced myocardial depression is not known. To determine if sepsis-induced myocardial depression is caused by inadequate free energy available for work, we studied myocardial energy metabolism in a canine model of sepsis. Escherichia coli-infected (n = 18) or sterile (n = 16) fibrin clots were implanted intraperitoneally into beagles. Myocardial function and structure was assessed using radionuclide ventriculograms, echocardiograms, and light and electron microscopy. The adequacy of energy metabolism was evaluated by comparing catecholamine-induced work increases [myocardial O2 consumption (MVO2) and rate pressure product (RPP)] with a simultaneously obtained estimate of intracellular free energy [phosphocreatine-to-adenosine triphosphate ratio (PCr:ATP)] determined by 31P-magnetic resonance spectroscopy. When compared with control animals, septic animals had a decrease in left ventricular ejection fraction (EF, P < 0.0001) on day 1 and fractional shortening (FS, P < 0.0003) on day 2 after clot implantation. On day 2, neither septic nor control animals had statistically significant decreases in PCr:ATP, despite catecholamine-induced increases in MVO2 and RPP (mean maximal increases in septic animals 135 +/- 31 and 51 +/- 10%, respectively). Light and electron microscopic findings showed that hearts of septic animals, compared with control animals, had a greater degree of morphological abnormalities. Thus, in a canine model of sepsis with alterations in myocyte ultrastructure and documented myocardial depression (decreased EF and FS), intracellular free energy levels (PCr:ATP) were maintained despite catecholamine-induced increases in myocardial work (increased MVO2 and RPP), suggesting high-energy synthetic capabilities are not limiting cardiac function.