cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
SU-F-T-32: Evaluation of the Performance of a Multiple-Array-Diode Detector for Quality Assurance Tests in High-Dose-Rate Brachytherapy with Ir-192 Source

Purpose: To evaluate the performance of a two-dimensional (2D) array-diode- detector for geometric and dosimetric quality assurance (QA) tests of high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy with an Ir-192-source. Methods: A phantom setup was designed that encapsulated a two-dimensional (2D) array-diode-detector (MapCheck2) and a catheter for the HDR brachytherapy Ir-192 source. This setup was used to perform both geometric and dosimetric quality assurance for the HDR-Ir192 source. The geometric tests included: (a) measurement of the position of the source and (b) spacing between different dwell positions. The dosimteric tests include: (a) linearity of output with time, (b) end effect and (c) relative dose verification. The 2D-dose distribution measured with MapCheck2 was used to perform the previous tests. The results of MapCheck2 were compared with the corresponding quality assurance testes performed with Gafchromic-film and well-ionization-chamber. Results: The position of the source and the spacing between different dwell-positions were reproducible within 1 mm accuracy by measuring the position of maximal dose using MapCheck2 in contrast to the film which showed a blurred image of the dwell positions due to limited film sensitivity to irradiation. The linearity of the dose with dwell times measured from MapCheck2 was superior to the linearity measured with ionization chamber due to higher signal-to-noise ratio of the diode readings. MapCheck2 provided more accurate measurement of the end effect with uncertainty < 1.5% in comparison with the ionization chamber uncertainty of 3%. Although MapCheck2 did not provide absolute calibration dosimeter for the activity of the source, it provided accurate tool for relative dose verification in HDR-brachytherapy. Conclusion: The 2D-array-diode-detector provides a practical, compact and accurate tool to perform quality assurance for HDR-brachytherapy with an Ir-192 source. The diodes in MapCheck2 have high radiation sensitivity and linearity that is superior to Gafchromic-films and ionization chamber used for geometric and dosimetric QA in HDR-brachytherapy, respectively.
The Christian in the World

An Academic Speech: Are Contemporary Politicians to be Considered among the Number of Christians? — so read the title of an oration by the English Catholic theologian Thomas Stapleton, which was published posthumously in Munich in 1608. It pointed to an old issue that seemed to engross and even torture leading figures of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries after Machiavelli brought it to the surface anew in 1513. He contended in the Prince that there is such a difference between how men live and how they ought to live that he who abandons what is done for what ought to be done learns his destruction rather than his preservation, because any man who under all conditions insists on making it his business to be good will surely be destroyed among so many who are not good. Hence a prince, in order to hold his position, must acquire the power to be not good, and understand when to use it and when not to use it, in accord with necessity.1 In other words, a ruler or man of politics could not adhere consistently to moral principles, at least as understood in a traditional Christian sense, and be successful, that is, maintain and increase the power of his state.
Epistemic Game Theory: An Overview

The following three articles survey some aspects of the foundations of non-cooperative game theory. The goal of work in foundations is to examine in detail the basic ingredients of game analysis.
Classroom Context and Years of Teaching Experience as Predictors of Misalignment on Ratings of Preschoolers’ Classroom Engagement

ABSTRACTResearch Findings: This study investigated the relationship between features of the classroom environment and misalignment between teacher and observer ratings of preschoolers’ classroom engagement and the extent to which years of teaching experience moderated this relationship. In a sample of 116 preschoolers and 21 teachers in 29 classrooms, classroom engagement was assessed using teacher report and independent direct observation. Classroom-level predictors included severity of challenging behaviors, child:adult ratio, and the percentage of students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Lower misalignment was noted on ratings of negative engagement than positive engagement. Multilevel regression analyses revealed that misalignment was largely independent of variation in classroom factors, except for a consistent interaction between years of teaching experience and child:adult ratio. Specifically, observers’ ratings were less misaligned with novice teachers’ ratings than veterans’ in class...
Critical Limb Ischemia Secondary to Antiphospholipid Syndrome in a Pediatric Patient: Case Report and Review

Background Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is a condition that manifests as venous or arterial thrombosis, as well as complications of pregnancy. APS affecting primarily the arteries is less common when compared to venous complications. We present a case of arterial occlusion resulting in critical limb ischemia (CLI) in a pediatric patient. Methods A 14-year old boy presented with worsening right lower extremity pain and ulcerative lesions of his foot. Laboratory analysis revealed a diagnosis of APS. This case report and review of the literature expands our understanding of arterial manifestations of APS in the pediatric patient. Results The patient was discovered to have proximal occlusion of the superficial femoral artery (SFA), the distal popliteal artery, the anterior tibial artery at the mid-calf, and the posterior tibial artery at the ankle. He underwent a common femoral artery to above-knee-popliteal artery bypass with reversed greater saphenous graft. Follow up after over one-year demonstrated an ABI of 1.0 and no evidence of stenosis in the bypass graft on duplex ultrasound (DUS). Conclusions APS is a complex syndrome with a variety of clinical presentations. This case highlights arterial manifestations of APS and reviews the expanding literature to guide improved patient outcomes.
Untangling the Web of Food, Class, and Culture: An Ethnographic Analysis of the Farmers’ Market in Lexington, Kentucky

This paper examines the concept of class, the role power plays in defining class structures,and the implications of this process of construction within the context of food consumption. Both power and class are embedded in historical frameworks that this paper explores through an ethnographic analysis of the Farmers’ Market in Lexington, Kentucky. The research raises questions on the definitions of nature and organic food, the role of the economy within this process of defining, how these definitions come to serve as an embodiment of power, and the consequences for those who can afford neither organic food, nor the lifestyle that has come to accompany it. In addressing these questions, this paper seeks to historicize the construction of the organic food industry by exploring a more fluid, rather than essentialist, approach to the subjectivities that emerge within the industry while providing a context for exploring the otherwise limited perceptions of class and organic food. Through an anthropological lens, this paper attempts to deconstruct the Farmer’s Market, organic food, culture, and class-driven inequalities.
MicroRNA-1246 is an exosomal biomarker for aggressive prostate cancer

Because of high heterogeneity, molecular characterization of prostate cancer based on biopsy sampling is often challenging. Hence, a minimally invasive method to determine the molecular imprints of a patient's tumor for risk stratification would be advantageous. In this study, we employ a novel, digital amplification-free quantification method using the nCounter technology (NanoString Technologies) to profile exosomal serum miRNAs (ex-miRNA) from aggressive prostate cancer cases, benign prostatic hyperplasia, and disease-free controls. We identified several dysregulated miRNAs, one of which was the tumor suppressor miR-1246. miR-1246 was downregulated in prostate cancer clinical tissues and cell lines and was selectively released into exosomes. Overexpression of miR-1246 in a prostate cancer cell line significantly inhibited xenograft tumor growth in vivo and increased apoptosis and decreased proliferation, invasiveness, and migration in vitro miR-1246 inhibited N-cadherin and vimentin activities, thereby inhibiting epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Ex-miR-1246 expression correlated with increasing pathologic grade, positive metastasis, and poor prognosis. Our analyses suggest ex-miR-1246 as a promising prostate cancer biomarker with diagnostic potential that can predict disease aggressiveness.Significance: Dysregulation of exosomal miRNAs in aggressive prostate cancer leads to alteration of key signaling pathways associated with metastatic prostate cancer. Cancer Res; 78(7); 1833-44. ©2018 AACR.
Extraction of breast lesions from ultrasound imagery: Bhattacharyya gradient flow approach

Breast cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed neoplasms among American women and the second leading cause of death among women all over the world. In order to reduce the mortality rate and cost of treatment, early diagnosis and treatment are essential. Accurate and reliable diagnosis is required in order to ensure the most effective treatment and a second opinion is often advisable. In this paper, we address the problem of breast lesion detection from ultrasound imagery by means of active contours, whose evolution is driven by maximizing the Bhattacharyya distance1 between the probability density functions (PDFs). The proposed method was applied to ultrasound breast imagery, and the lesion boundary was obtained by maximizing the distance-based energy functional such that the maximum (optimal contour) is attained at the boundary of the potential lesion. We compared the results of the proposed method quantitatively using the Dice coefficient (similarity index)2 to well-known GrowCut segmentation method3 and demonstrated that Bhattacharyya approach outperforms GrowCut in most of the cases.
Agro-Food Typicality and Cultural Heritage: The Case of the Mediterranean Diet

There are no doubts that typical foods (and traditional popular dishes) are part of the cultural heritage of a place and of a people. As Massimo Montanari says, food and above all typical and quality foods constitute culture. But can typical dishes and above all the Mediterranean diet, which is made up of typical dishes, be considered cultural heritage and as such be subject to the same forms of protection that apply to material cultural heritage?
A small-angle scattering environment for in situ ultrasound studies

Ultrasonic devices are common tools in laboratory and industrial settings to produce cavitation events for cleaning, emulsification, cell lysis and other materials applications. Effects of sonication at the macroscopic scale can be visible while effects at the molecular and nano-scales are not easily probed and, therefore, not fully understood. We present a new small angle scattering sample environment designed specifically to study structural changes occurring in various types of dispersions at the nano-scale due to ultrasonic acoustic waves. The sample environment features two face-to-face high-intensity focused ultrasound transducers coaxially aligned and normal to the neutron/X-ray beam propagation direction. A third broadband transducer is fixed beneath the scattering volume to acoustically monitor for cavitation events. By correlating acoustic data to scattering data, measured structural changes can be correlated to changes in parameters such as frequency, acoustic pressure, or cavitation pressure threshold. Several example applications of colloidal systems effectively influenced by ultrasound fields are also presented to demonstrate the capabilities of the device and to motivate future work on in situ scattering analysis of ultrasound materials processing methods.
Sensory Quality, Physicochemical Attributes, Polyphenol Profiles, and Residual Fungicides in Strawberries from Different Disease-Control Treatments

Using alternative agricultural practices in combination with proper postharvest handling has become a major goal to improve fresh produce quality. Here, two different strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa) genotypes were used as a model to study the impact of repeated, reduced-fungicide or no-fungicide applications on the sensory quality, physicochemical attributes, polyphenol profiles, and residual fungicide in strawberries. Strawberries grown under reduced-fungicide applications had similar or better physicochemical quality than conventionally and organically grown fruit and lower levels of fungicide residues than conventional fruit. Overall, flavor- and health-related attributes of strawberries from reduced-fungicide applications were intermediate between conventional and organic fruit. Thus, growing strawberries with reduced-fungicide applications can be an alternative to conventional or organic agricultural practices.
Disruption Damage to Plasma-Facing Components from Various Plasma Instabilities

Damage to plasma-facing components and structural materials of fusion reactors during abnormal plasma instabilities such as hard disruptions, edge-localized modes (ELMs), and vertical displacement ...
Legal Issues Involved in the Outpatient Management of Pain

Legal issues confront the physician frequently when he or she deals with patients in the outpatient management of pain. These issues involve proper documentation for establishing disability with regard to workers' compensation, the Social Security Administration, or third-party liability cases. One must also be knowledgeable about when and how to deliver proper information as an expert witness. In this article, the elements of malpractice and other causes of legal liabilities are reviewed, both to inform the physician better about the legal process and to aid him or her in steering clear of creating a legal cause of action. Finally, some issues regarding documentation for reimbursement are reviewed.
Intentional Subtotal Resection of Vestibular Schwannoma: A Reexamination.

Background Treatment of vestibular schwannomas (VS) remains controversial. Historical surgical series prioritized gross total resections (GTR); however, near total resections (NTR) and intentional subtotal resections (STR) aiming at improving cranial nerve outcomes are becoming more popular. Objective The main purpose of this article is to assess the tumor control and facial nerve outcomes in VS patients treated with STR or NTR. Methods VS patients undergoing STR or NTR at our institution between 1984 and 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. Patient demographics, extent of tumor resection, facial nerve injury, tumor recurrence, and need for Gamma Knife radiosurgery were analyzed. Facial nerve outcomes were quantified using House–Brackmann (HB) scores. Tumor regrowth was defined by the San Francisco criteria. Results Four-hundred fifty-seven VS resections were performed in a 32-year period. Sixty cases met inclusion criteria. The mean (range) follow-up duration was 30.9 (12–103) months. The STR cohort (n = 33) demonstrated regrowth in 12 patients (36.3%) at an average of 23.6 months. The NTR cohort (n = 27) did not experience tumor recurrence. Risk of tumor recurrence was positively correlated with preoperative tumor size (p = 0.002), size of residual tumor (p Conclusion GTR remains the gold standard as long as facial nerve outcomes remain acceptable. NTR achieved superior tumor control and higher likelihood of facial nerve recovery compared with STR.
MolFind 2: A Protocol for Acquiring and Integrating MS 3 Data to Improve In Silico Chemical Structure Elucidation for Metabolomics

Structure elucidation of metabolites (<1000 Da) in biofluids is extremely challenging due to the diversity and complexity of chemical structure space. Generally, due to lack of reference tandem mass data (MS2), in silico fragmenters are used to rank candidates acquired from chemical databases as a function on how well they explain an experimental collision-induced dissociation spectrum. However, multistage fragmentation data (i.e., MS3) have not been adequately utilized in current metabolomics structure elucidation pipelines. To address this shortcoming, here we describe an experimental (nontargeted direct infusion ion mobility-mass spectrometry-based) and computational workflow to acquire and utilize multistage mass (MS3) spectrometry data for database-assisted structure elucidation.
Failure to build: Sewage and the choppy temporality of infrastructure in Palestine:

Drawing on fieldwork in the West Bank (2007–2016) with engineers building sewage infrastructures for the would-be Palestinian state, I make a three-pronged argument. First, I argue that “failure to...
Proximal Humerus Fractures in the Elderly: Concomitant Fractures and Management.

Introduction. The purpose of this study was to identify additional injuries commonly seen with proximal humerus fractures experienced by patients 65 years or older and to evaluate discrepancies in the management of these patients with regard to provider type. Methods. A retrospective review was conducted of all patients 65 years or older who sustained a proximal humerus fracture. Patient data collected included demographics, injury details, hospital course, and discharge destination. Results. Patients with a concomitant fracture (45.5%, n = 65) had a slightly higher Injury Severity Score (ISS; 8.3 ± 3.0 vs. 6.4 ± 3.0, p < 0.001) and experienced one additional death than those with an isolated fracture (54.5%, n = 78). Slightly more patients were managed by a trauma provider (51.7%, n = 74) than by a non-trauma provider (48.3%, n = 69). Those managed by a trauma provider sustained the most pelvic fractures (12.2% vs. 2.9%, p = 0.038), were more likely to be injured in a motor vehicle collision (8.1% vs. 0%, p = 0.005), had a higher ISS (8.0 ± 3.3 vs. 6.4 ± 2.8, p = 0.003), and had more imaging performed than those treated by a non-trauma provider. There was, however, no difference in operative rates, concomitant injuries, length of stay or discharge disposition regarding provider type. Conclusions. It is important to recognize proximal humerus fractures as a sign of fragility and to optimize hospital management of these patients.
Syndesmotic Screw Breakage May Be More Problematic Than Previously Reported: Increased Rates of Hardware Removal Secondary to Pain With Intraosseous Screw Breakage:

Background. The majority of retained syndesmotic screws will either loosen or break once the patient resumes weight-bearing. While evidence is limited, anecdotal experience suggests that intraosseo...
Characterization Procedure for Unsymmetrical Single-Phase Capacitor-Start Induction Machines

This paper describes an experimental and numerical optimization procedure for off-line extraction of parameters for unsymmetrical, single-phase induction machines with capacitor-start operation. In addition to permitting asymmetry between phase winding parameters, the approach requires only average and rms measurements as inputs; electrical phase angle measurements are not required. The method is validated on an experimental motor with transient and steady-state simulations, using fitted parameters obtained using the proposed approach.
Application of the Left Ventricle 17-Segment Model in Delineation of Transthyretin Cardiac Amyloidosis Diagnosed on Myocardial Tc-99m Pyrophosphate Scintigraphy

2008 Objectives: Cardiac amyloidosis is the most common etiology of restrictive cardiomyopathy. Myocardial Tc-99m pyrophosphate (PYP) scintigraphy has been successfully used for diagnosis of transthyretin (TTR) positive cardiac amyloidosis. Both quantitative myocardial to contralateral lung ratio and semi-quantitative visual grading of PYP uptake by comparison to bone have been adopted as the standard Tc-99m PYP interpretation reporting system. However, neither approach can provide an accurate tracer distribution pattern in the myocardium. The left ventricular segmentation model is a standard reporting model for Nuclear Cardiology and Echocardiography. Given the fact that Echocardiogram is the first line modality to diagnose restrictive cardiomyopathy, it is important to find a common interpretive and quantitative tool that can be used to correlate the findings of both exams. In this study, we aim to set up a left ventricle 17-segment model in displaying the Tc-99m PYP distribution in TTR positive cardiac amyloidosis. Methods: There are 22 patients with positive Tc-99m PYP exams included in the current study. All patients had undergone both Tc-99m PYP planar and SPECT/CT imaging. Utilizing the Volumetrix MI and Myovation applications from the Xeleris Workstation, the SPECT/CT imaging data was processed in the following steps: Step 1) Using an iterative reconstruction algorithm, attenuation-corrected images were generated with the Volumetrix MI application. Step 2) Myocardial images were reformatted into three planes: short-axis (SA), vertical long-axis (VLA), and horizontal long-axis (HLA) by identification of the long axis of the left ventricle utilizing the Myovation application. Step 3) Processed myocardial images were displayed in array of formats, including a bull9s eye display, in which the left ventricle 17-segmnet model was applied utilizing the QGS/QPS tool within the Myovation application. Results: All 22 patients’ SPECT/CT imaging data generated a full-set array of display formats, including the three axes image, bull’s eye display, and left ventricle 17-segment model. On pseudo-color scale, the intensity of color represents the PYP accumulation density at the specific segment of left ventricle (Figure 1 - 2). The apex is usually spared. Conclusions: With the left ventricle 17-segment model, positive Tc-99m PYP exams can provide detailed amyloidosis distribution information, and may correlate with strain information derived on echocardiogram. These improved results can then also be used to evaluate therapeutic candidacy and effects of newly developed medications for cardiac amyloidosis. With a standardized tool across the imaging modalities, a more accurate and non-invasive diagnosis can be made to provide the best care for the patient.
Significance of herbicide order in sequential applications to target weeds in a sunn hemp living mulch

Striking a balance between the weed control capacity of living mulches and their competition with the main crop is complex. At rates that avoid severe injury to living mulch, herbicides may reduce their vigor while simultaneously contributing to weed control. In a 2-yr field study carried out in Freeville, NY, we evaluated the effects of various combinations consisting of two herbicides, applied sequentially at reduced rates, on the growth of a sunn hemp living mulch and weeds (including common lambsquarters, common purslane, hairy galinsoga, and Powell amaranth). When a herbicide with primarily POST activity (Type 1; e.g., rimsulfuron, 0.005 to 0.007 kg ai ha−1) was applied first, performance of sunn hemp (1700 to 3900 kg ha−1 dry biomass; 10% to 88% groundcover) was poor and weed growth (25% to 62% groundcover) was high, likely because sunn hemp was severely injured at a young growth stage and was outcompeted by weeds. A follow-up application (approximately 2 wk later) of a herbicide with primarily PRE and residual activities (Type 2; e.g., metribuzin, 0.05 to 0.15 kg ai ha−1), with a surfactant to enhance its POST activity, had little effect on established weeds. However, because sunn hemp was already 20 cm tall at weed emergence, applying a Type 2 herbicide first did not cause severe injury to sunn hemp and reduced weed pressure, thereby also enhancing sunn hemp performance (3,800 to 6,100 kg ha−1 dry biomass; 85% to 94% groundcover). Moreover, the follow-up application of a Type 1 herbicide affected the smaller weeds more (4% to 21% groundcover) than the better-established sunn hemp. Our results demonstrate that an appropriate sequence of herbicides at reduced rates may be important to control weeds while maintaining a healthy living mulch stand.
Remedies and Respect: Rethinking the Role of Federal Judicial Relief

Plaintiffs bringing civil lawsuits often express sentiments like “I just wanted the defendants to admit they were wrong” and “we’re worth something and can’t be treated this way.” These statements suggest that civil litigation is not only a vehicle for material redress. It can also be a quest for more intangible forms of relief—respect, dignity, or vindication. But are these the kinds of interests that courts imposing remedies may legitimately satisfy? In analyzing divergent responses to this question, this Article illuminates the bounds of courts’ remedial authority. According to an influential line of reasoning in federal courts, which the Article identifies and calls the “circumscribed” approach, the central remedial task is to change the material circumstances of the parties to a lawsuit. On this view, federal courts are not meant to provide “moral” or “psychic” satisfaction. The Article reveals the impact of the circumscribed approach in a variety of doctrinal areas, including class action mootness, nationwide injunctions, and attorney’s fees. The effect of this approach, the Article argues, is to define appropriate judicial relief in ways that shortchange litigants for whom a true remedy requires courts to take due account of their dignity. The Article then articulates and justifies an alternative approach: a remedy that takes effect by expressing respect for the party whose rights were violated is a constitutionally legitimate, normatively desirable, and practically feasible exercise of federal judicial authority. This alternative view has several implications. For example, it provides a basis for courts to impose “symbolic” remedies like nominal damages; to treat an admission of liability from the defendant as a prerequisite of full relief for the plaintiff; and to issue nationwide injunctions in order to address stigma directed at a group to which the plaintiff belongs. In addition to highlighting these practical consequences, the Article draws out theoretical ramifications for the nature of a judicial remedy. The result is a distinctive and fuller view of federal courts’ remedial authority.
Developing and Investigating the Promise of Early Measurement Screeners

This study investigated the technical characteristics of four early measurement curriculum-based measures (EM-CBMs) designed to assess concepts related to linear measurement and iteration. The samp...
Third-generation smallpox vaccine strain-based recombinant vaccines for viral hemorrhagic fevers

Vaccinia virus has been used as a smallpox vaccine. Now that smallpox has been eradicated, the vaccinia virus is expected to be used as a bioterrorism countermeasure and a recombinant vaccine vector for other infectious diseases, such as viral hemorrhagic fevers. Many vaccinia virus strains were used as smallpox vaccines in the smallpox eradication campaign coordinated by the World Health Organization. These strains can be classified into generations, according to the history of improving production methods and efforts to reduce the adverse reactions. Significantly, the third-generation of smallpox vaccine strains, which include modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA) and LC16m8, are currently popular as recombinant vaccine vectors due to their well-balanced safety and immunogenicity profiles. The present review firstly focuses on the characteristics of the smallpox vaccine generations. The historical background of the development of the third-generation smallpox vaccine strains is detailed, along with the history of the transition of the vaccinia virus generation used as vectors for hemorrhagic fever vaccines to the third generation. Among the vaccinia viruses, MVA is currently the most commonly used vector for developing hemorrhagic fever vaccines, including dengue fever, yellow fever, Ebola viral disease, Lassa fever, Rift Valley fever, and Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever. LC16m8 is a vaccine candidate for severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome. The current status and recent advances in the development of these hemorrhagic fever vaccines using third-generation vaccinia strains are discussed.
Effects of Combined Varenicline With Nicotine Patch and of Extended Treatment Duration on Smoking Cessation: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Importance Smoking cessation medications are routinely used in health care. Research suggests that combining varenicline with the nicotine patch, extending the duration of varenicline treatment, or both, may increase cessation effectiveness. Objective To compare combinations of varenicline plus the nicotine or placebo patch vs combinations used for either 12 weeks (standard duration) or 24 weeks (extended duration). Design, Settings, and Participants Double-blind, 2 × 2 factorial randomized clinical trial conducted from November 11, 2017, to July 9, 2020, at 1 research clinic in Madison, Wisconsin, and at 1 clinic in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Of the 5836 adults asked to participate in the study, 1251 who smoked 5 cigarettes/d or more were randomized. Interventions All participants received cessation counseling and were randomized to 1 of 4 medication groups: varenicline monotherapy for 12 weeks (n = 315), varenicline plus nicotine patch for 12 weeks (n = 314), varenicline monotherapy for 24 weeks (n = 311), or varenicline plus nicotine patch for 24 weeks (n = 311). Main Outcomes and Measures The primary outcome was carbon monoxide–confirmed self-reported 7-day point prevalence abstinence at 52 weeks. Results Among 1251 patients who were randomized (mean [SD] age, 49.1 [11.9] years; 675 [54.0%] women), 751 (60.0%) completed treatment and 881 (70.4%) provided final follow-up. For the primary outcome, there was no significant interaction between the 2 treatment factors of medication type and medication duration (odds ratio [OR], 1.03 [95% CI, 0.91 to 1.17];P = .66). For patients randomized to 24-week vs 12-week treatment duration, the primary outcome occurred in 24.8% (154/622) vs 24.3% (153/629), respectively (risk difference, −0.4% [95% CI, −5.2% to 4.3%]; OR, 1.01 [95% CI, 0.89 to 1.15]). For patients randomized to varenicline combination therapy vs varenicline monotherapy, the primary outcome occurred in 24.3% (152/625) vs 24.8% (155/626), respectively (risk difference, 0.4% [95% CI, −4.3% to 5.2%]; OR, 0.99 [95% CI, 0.87 to 1.12]). Nausea occurrence ranged from 24.0% to 30.9% and insomnia occurrence ranged from 24.4% to 30.5% across the 4 groups. Conclusions and Relevance Among adults smoking 5 cigarettes/d or more, there were no significant differences in 7-day point prevalence abstinence at 52 weeks among those treated with combined varenicline plus nicotine patch therapy vs varenicline monotherapy, or among those treated for 24 weeks vs 12 weeks. These findings do not support the use of combined therapy or of extended treatment duration. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:NCT03176784
Chemical Engineering Design and Analysis: An Introduction

This textbook puts design at the center of introducing students to the course in mass and energy balances in chemical engineering. Employers and accreditations increasingly stress the importance of design in the engineering curriculum, and design-driven analysis will motivate students to dig deeply into the key concepts of the field. The second edition has been completely revised and updated. It introduces the central steps in design and three methods of analysis: mathematical modeling, graphical methods, and dimensional analysis. Students learn how to apply engineering skills, such as how to simplify calculations through assumptions and approximations; how to verify calculations, significant figures, spreadsheets, graphing (standard, semi-log and log-log); and how to use data maps, in the contexts of contemporary chemical processes such as the hydrogen economy, petrochemical and biochemical processes, polymers, semiconductors, and pharmaceuticals.
Kinetics of Asbestos-Induced Haemolysis of Human Red Blood Cells

Encounters between chrysotile fibres and red blood cells (RBC) lead to the haemolysis of the latter and to the loss of capacity of the former to further damage the cells. Jaurand et al.’s in vitro experiments (1979) yield the evolution of concentrations of healthy RBC and of active chrysotile fibres. When it is assumed that once-reacted RBC are completely deactivated, the rate equations are solvable and show the observed concentrations. Moreover, they show precisely the experimentally observed linear relation beween the inverses of maximal haemolysis and of the ratios of fibre/RBC surtaxes. When the assumption of complete RBC deactivation is rescinded, systematic deviations from the data are found. Observation of the collision fingerprints on the fibres, e.g. by atomic force microscopes, is suggested.
Carpools at Large Suburban Technical Center

A questionnaire survey on carpooling characteristics at a large suburban technical center in Warren, Mich. was carried out in early 1973. The survey showed that carpool participation increased with both trip time and trip distance. However, carpooling decreased for the longer trips where neighbor-coworker concentration was low. It was also found that larger carpools were composed of respondents with longer trip lengths. The overall results indicate that trip length and neighbor-coworker concentration are the two most important locational factors influencing carpool formation. Carpool participation has increased from 22% in early 1973 to 36% in early 1974. This change might be attributable to the fuel shortage, greater publicity, and carpool matching efforts.
IFN-γ-Mediated Survival Enables Human Neutrophils to Produce MCP-1/CCL2 in Response to Activation by TLR Ligands

TLRs are key elements of the pathogen recognition mechanism used by the host immune system. Neutrophils express almost all TLRs, and activation of TLRs, such as TLR2 and TLR4, has been shown to induce the production of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines, potentially linking innate and adaptive immunity. In the present study, we investigated whether activation of TLRs induces neutrophil production of MCP-1/CCL2, a key mediator involved in the development of adaptive immunity. Activation of neutrophils with LPS, lipoteichoic acid, or N-palmitoyl-S-[2,3-bis(palmitoyloxy)-(2RS)-propyl]-[R]-Cys-[S]-Ser-[S]-Lys did not induce significant MCP-1 production and release; however, the Th1 cytokine IFN-gamma dramatically up-regulated MCP-1 production in cells activated with each TLR ligand. The majority of MCP-1 was released between 24 and 48 h of culture, indicating that this is a late event. The effect of IFN-gamma appeared to be due to its antiapoptotic effect, but not priming effect, revealing a biological consequence of IFN-gamma-induced neutrophil survival. Although IFN-gamma failed to protect neutrophils from cell death at a higher dose of LPS, the p38 MAPK inhibitor SB203580 dramatically increased MCP-1 release and neutrophil survival at this LPS concentration. Thus, p38 MAPK plays a previously uncharacterized role in neutrophil function. Taken together, our results indicate that human neutrophils produce MCP-1 in a Th1 microenvironment and this neutrophil-derived MCP-1 potentially amplifies the development of Th1 adaptive responses.
Effect of the Purification of Virus Antigens on the Production of Specific Complement-Fixing Antibodies

The effect of viral purification procedures on the antibody response of guinea pigs to immunization with reovirus type 2 and echovirus type 19 was investigated. Three grades of antigens were employed: (i) infectious monkey kidney tissue culture fluid (TCF), (ii) virus sedimented in the ultracentrifuge and suspended in phosphate-buffered saline, and (iii) virus purified by centrifugation in CsCl density gradients. The antibody response of the guinea pigs was studied by the hemagglutination inhibition, complement fixation, and serum neutralization tests. Only sera produced from virus purified by CsCl density gradients reacted specifically with homologous antigen in the complement fixation test. Sera from animals receiving tissue culture fluid virus or sedimented virus cross-reacted with heterologous antigens such as tissue culture fluid from uninfected monkey kidney cells. All sera, however, reacted specifically in hemagglutination inhibition and serum neutralization tests. Sera from intranasally infected animals (reovirus type 2), even though reacting specifically in the complement fixation test, had much lower titers than sera from animals inoculated intramuscularly.
The angular power spectrum of the first-year Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe data reanalyzed

We measure the angular power spectrum of the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP) first-year temperature anisotropy maps. We use the Spatially Inhomogeneous Correlation Estimator (SpICE) to estimate Cl's for multipoles l = 2-900 from all possible cross-correlation channels. Except for the map-making stage, our measurements provide an independent analysis of that by G. Hinshaw et al. Despite the different methods used, there is virtually no difference between the two measurements for l 700; the highest l's are still compatible within 1 σ errors. We use a novel intrabin variance method to constrain Cl errors in a model-independent way. Simulations show that our implementation of the technique is unbiased within 1% for l 100. When applied to WMAP data, the intrabin variance estimator yields diagonal errors ~10% larger than those reported by the WMAP team for 100 < l < 450. This translates into a 2.4 σ detection of systematics, since no difference is expected between the SpICE and the WMAP team estimator window functions in this multipole range. With our measurement of the Cl's and errors, we get a χ2 per degree of freedom (dof) of 1.042 for a best-fit ΛCDM model, which has a 14% probability, whereas the WMAP team obtained χ2/dof = 1.066, which has a 5% probability. We assess the impact of our results on cosmological parameters using Markov chain Monte Carlo simulations. From WMAP data alone, assuming spatially flat power-law ΛCDM models, we obtain the reionization optical depth τ = 0.145 ± 0.067, spectral index ns = 0.99 ± 0.04, Hubble constant h = 0.67 ± 0.05, baryon density Ωbh2 = 0.0218 ± 0.0014, cold dark matter density ΩCDMh2 = 0.122 ± 0.018, and σ8 = 0.92 ± 0.12, consistent with a reionization redshift zre = 16 ± 5 (68% CL).
Variable viscosity and density biofilm simulations using an immersed boundary method, part II

The goal of this work is to develop a numerical simulation that accurately captures the biomechanical response of bacterial biofilms and their associated extracellular matrix (ECM). In this, the second of a two-part effort, the primary focus is on formally presenting the heterogeneous rheology Immersed Boundary Method (hrIBM) and validating our model by comparison to experimental results. With this extension of the Immersed Boundary Method (IBM), we use the techniques originally developed in Part I (19) to treat biofilms as viscoelastic fluids possessing variable rheological properties anchored to a set of moving locations (i.e., the bacteria locations). In particular, we incorporate spatially continuous variable viscosity and density fields into our model. Although in 14,15, variable viscosity is used in an IBM context to model discrete viscosity changes across interfaces, to our knowledge this work and Part I are the first to apply the IBM to model a continuously variable viscosity field.We validate our modeling approach from Part I by comparing dynamic moduli and compliance moduli computed from our model to data from mechanical characterization experiments on Staphylococcus epidermidis biofilms. The experimental setup is described in 26 in which biofilms are grown and tested in a parallel plate rheometer. In order to initialize the positions of bacteria in the biofilm, experimentally obtained three dimensional coordinate data was used. One of the major conclusions of this effort is that treating the spring-like connections between bacteria as Maxwell or Zener elements provides good agreement with the mechanical characterization data. We also found that initializing the simulations with different coordinate data sets only led to small changes in the mechanical characterization results. Matlab code used to produce results in this paper will be available at https://github.com/MathBioCU/BiofilmSim.
The distribution and binding of zinc in the hippocampus

Quantitative and qualitative studies suggest that zinc is concentrated in the mossy fiber boutons of the hippocampus and is believed to exist as a chelatable cytosolic pool. These studies were aimed at testing the hypothesis that a zinc-binding protein(s) or an amino acid pool in the cytosol is responsible for the sequestration of zinc. For comparison with the hippocampus, the cerebellum was chosen as a control region since it has been reported to contain lower levels of zinc both quantitatively and qualitatively. Initially, we confirmed that a quantitative difference in the levels of zinc exists between the hippocampus (12.59 +/- 0.85 micrograms of zinc/gm wet weight tissue, X +/- SD) and that this difference is reflected in cytosolic zinc levels. Using Ultrogel AcA 34 gel permeation chromatography, three major zinc- binding species were resolved. Two of these binding species appeared to account for most of the difference observed in the cytosolic levels of the two brain regions. Molecular weight criteria and differential pulse polarography behavior suggest that one of the species is a metallothionein-like protein. Based upon both molecular weight and ion exchange chromatography criteria, the other binding species may be a zinc-glutathione complex. There are no qualitative differences in the zinc-binding species localized in the cytosol of the hippocampus as compared with the cerebellum. However, the amount of binding species, in particular, the metallothionein-like protein and the putative zinc- glutathione complex, is greater in the hippocampus. These findings support the hypothesis that a cytosolic zinc-binding protein(s) may be responsible for the sequestration of zinc observed in the hippocampus.
The Biomechanics of Femoroacetabular Impingement

Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) is proposed as a possible biomechanical etiology of early, idiopathic hip osteoarthritis (OA). Two primary mechanisms are proposed: cam impingement and pincer impingement. In cam impingement, an abnormally shaped or excessively large femoral head or neck abuts against the anterosuperior acetabulum. In pincer impingement, overcoverage of the proximal femur by the acetabulum results in impingement. In severe cases, a contre-coup mechanism results in an anterosuperior contact point that functions as a fulcrum and produces posteroinferior impingement as the femoral head is levered out of the acetabulum. However, these proposed mechanisms are made on the basis of surgical observation rather than in vivo documentation of FAI, and controversy exists as to whether surgical interventions should be made on the basis of these theories alone. In this review of FAI biomechanics we discuss the proposed biomechanical mechanisms of FAI, the analytical methods currently available to study FAI biomechanics, and the topics that future biomechanical studies of FAI will need to address. Ultimately, a better understanding the biomechanics of FAI may help physicians design interventions that decrease the risk of progression to hip OA.
Effects of End Relief for Arbitrarily Misaligned Self-Acting Gas Bearings

Influence d'un degagement aux extremites d'un palier aerodynamique avec un arbre ayant un defaut d'alignement quelconque
Ras Nanoclusters and Membrane Domains

Lipid-anchored signaling proteins assemble into dynamic signaling platforms on the plasma membrane [1] as well as in model membranes [2]. One of the best characterized examples of these membrane-assemblies are those of Ras proteins. Ras is a molecular switch that controls cell growth and proliferation. The primary site of Ras action is the inner surface of the plasma. A fraction of membrane-associated Ras proteins forms small transient preotlipid assemblies, or nanoclusters, that are the exclusive sites of effector recruitment and activation. Therefore, nanoclusters represent novel therapeutic targets to prevent defective Ras signaling, a common cause of many cancers. However, due to the dynamic nature of nanoclusters, with critical events occurring on nano- to micro-second time scales, major questions are difficult to address using current experimental approaches. For instance, it is unclear why highly homologous Ras isoforms form different clusters and whether nanoclusters sense/stabilize curved membrane regions or facilitate membrane deformation. We have begun to address these questions based on coarse-grained molecular simulations [3,4]. This presentation will focus on the role of cholesterol and protein concentration on Ras clustering and the effect of the clusters on the mechanical properties of the host membrane.[1] Plowman, S. J.; Muncke, C.; Parton, R. G.; Hancock, J. F. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2005, 102, 15500-5.[2] Weise, K.; Kapoor, S.; Denter, C.; Nikolaus, J.; Opitz, N.; Koch, S.; Triola, G.; Herrmann, A.; Waldmann, H.; Winter, R. J Am Chem Soc 2011, 133, 880-7.[3] Janosi, L.; Li, Z.; Hancock, J. F.; Gorfe, A. A. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2012, 109, 8097-102.[4] Li, Z.; Janosi, L.; Gorfe, A. A. J Am Chem Soc 2012, In press.
Reducing Medication Errors in a Geriatric Population

Three compliance-improving strategies were tested in an ambulatory geriatric population, and the results were compared with those in a control group. The strategies included standardized instructions with tapes and transcripts, color-coded pill bottles, and color-coded pill bottles matched to a color-coded weekly pill tray. Only in the color-coded bottles-tray group were the results significantly better (P < 0.001) than in the controls; on the average, the scores deviated only 1.7 per cent from the ideal pill count compared with 17.1 per cent for the control group.
BACTERIOPHAGE FORMATION WITHOUT BACTERIAL GROWTH : III. THE EFFECT OF IODOACETATE, FLUORIDE, GRAMICIDIN, AND AZIDE ON THE FORMATION OF BACTERIOPHAGE

1. Iodoacetate, fluoride, and azide have been found to prevent the formation of phage and to inhibit the synthesis of ATP by Staphylococcus muscae. It is suggested that energy-rich phosphate is needed for the synthesis of phage. 2. Gramicidin prevented the formation of phage. 3. No differences were found between normal bacteria and phage-infected bacteria in the inorganic phosphate, adenosinetriphosphate, ribonucleic acid, and desoxyribonucleic acid content of the cells. 4. The mechanism of phage formation is discussed.
The effect of intravenous insulin on accumulation of excitotoxic and other amino acids in the ischemic rat cerebral cortex.

Insulin has been reported to be neuroprotective during cerebral ischemia/reperfusion. However, it may also increase the sensitivity of cultured cortical neurons to glutamate toxicity. The experiments described here utilized a rat four-vessel occlusion model with cerebral cortical windows to determine the effects of intravenous insulin, alone (I) or combined with glucose (IG) to maintain physiologic blood glucose levels, on the extracellular accumulation of amino acids in superfusates of the cerebral cortex. Aspartate, phosphoethanolamine, taurine and γ-aminobutyric acid were increased in the I and IG groups and glutamate was increased in the IG group compared to controls during ischemia/reperfusion. Insulin treatment attenuated the rebound in cortical superfusate glucose levels in both groups of animals during reperfusion. The increases in amino acid release during reperfusion may be due to a lack of glycolytically derived energy available for amino acid uptake systems and ionic pumps.