cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Acoustic detection of metal ablation resulting from excimer laser excitation

We are using acoustic and photoacoustic detection methods for time resolving metals ablated from and onto targets resulting from excimer laser excitation, These techniques offer an alternative to mass spectroscopic methods in that it is possible to detect all particles in real time, independent of their charged state. Acoustic transducers used so far include commercially available resonant PZT detectors and disks of PZT.
A Fully Integrated Reconfigurable Switched-Capacitor DC-DC Converter With Four Stacked Output Channels for Voltage Stacking Applications

This work presents a fully integrated 4-to-1 DC-DC symmetric ladder switched-capacitor converter (SLSCC) for voltage stacking applications. The SLSCC absorbs inter-layer load power mismatch to provide minimum voltage guarantees for the internal rails of a multicore system that implements four-way voltage stacking. A new hybrid feedback control scheme reduces the voltage ripple across stacked voltage layers for high levels of current mismatch, a condition that exacerbates voltage noise in conventional SC converters. Furthermore, the proposed SLSCC dynamically allocates valuable flying capacitor resources according to different load conditions, which improves conversion efficiency and supports more power mismatch between the layers. Implemented in TSMC’s 40G process, the SLSCC converts a 3.6 V input voltage down to four stacked output voltage layers, each nominally at 900 mV.
Thermo-mechanical Behavior of Confined Granular Systems

We present a mathematical formulation that integrates thermal contact and Hertzian deformation models to understand the thermo-mechanical behavior of consolidated granular systems. The model assumes quasi-static equilibrium and quasi-steady heat conduction conditions that are appropriate for many thermally-assisted manufacturing processes. We perform a parametric study that explores the effect of applied thermal and mechanical loads, and of particles’ thermal expansion. The nonlinearity of the multi-physics problem reveals that thermo-mechanical coupling enhances the effective thermal conductivity and mechanical stiffness by directly impacting the interrelation between contact conductance and overlapping between the particles. Alterations in temperature profiles and displacements of particles are significant for materials with higher thermal expansion coefficients. In this regards, it is worth noting that the results of the proposed thermo-mechanical model depart from those of conventional compaction models based on a continuum mechanics description.
Cerebral amyloid is associated with greater white-matter hyperintensity accrual in cognitively normal older adults

Cross-sectional studies show that elevated cerebral amyloid is associated with greater white-matter hyperintensity (WMH) burden in cognitively normal (CN) older adults. However, the relative time courses of amyloid and WMH accrual are unclear. To address this, we tested the associations between known WMH correlates-age, hypertension, and amyloid-with WMH accrual rate. We used brain magnetic resonance imaging to measure WMH change in 112 CN Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (GO/2) participants over a 2-year period. A linear mixed effects model assessed baseline cerebrospinal fluid amyloid beta (Aβ) 1-42, hypertension, age, and their interactions, as predictors of greater WMH accrual. Greater amyloid burden was associated with greater WMH accrual over time. Those with hypertension showed a stronger association between greater amyloid burden and WMH accrual rate. Greater age was not significantly associated with greater WMH accrual in this model. Although the direction of the relationship cannot be tested in this model, CN individuals harboring cerebral amyloid had greater accrual of WMH over a 2-year period after accounting for hypertension and age. Impaired amyloid clearance and cerebral small vessel disease may both underlie the more rapid emergence of WM lesions. The role of cerebral amyloid burden in white-matter injury should thus be considered as a relevant factor when WMHs are detected clinically.
Unraveling the Effects of Residence in an Ethnic Enclave on Immigrants’ Travel Mode Choices

This article examines the relationship between immigrants’ residence in an ethnic enclave and use of alternative modes of transportation. Ethnic enclaves may offer stronger social networks, which may affect mode choice. Using the 2012–2013 California Household Travel Survey, I find that immigrants residing in ethnic enclaves have higher rates of household-external carpooling for nonwork trip purposes than immigrants residing outside ethnic enclaves. I find no difference in the rate of transit use, once built environment characteristics are taken into account. External carpools require arrangements between people in different households, and thus may reflect the social network effect of ethnic enclaves.
Lynx1 Limits Dendritic Spine Turnover in the Adult Visual Cortex.

Dendritic spine turnover becomes limited in the adult cerebral cortex. Identification of specific aspects of spine dynamics that can be unmasked in adulthood and its regulatory molecular mechanisms could provide novel therapeutic targets for inducing plasticity at both the functional and structural levels for robust recovery from brain disorders and injuries in adults. Lynx1, an endogenous inhibitor of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, was previously shown to increase its expression in adulthood and thus to limit functional ocular dominance plasticity in adult primary visual cortex (V1). However, the role of this “brake” on spine dynamics is not known. We examined the contribution of Lynx1 on dendritic spine turnover before and after monocular deprivation (MD) in adult V1 with chronic in vivo imaging using two-photon microscopy and determined the spine turnover rate of apical dendrites of layer 5 (L5) and L2/3 pyramidal neurons in adult V1 of Lynx1 knock-out (KO) mice. We found that the deletion of Lynx1 doubled the baseline spine turnover rate, suggesting that the spine dynamics in the adult cortex is actively limited by the presence of Lynx1. After MD, adult Lynx1-KO mice selectively exhibit higher rate of spine loss with no difference in gain rate in L5 neurons compared with control wild-type counterparts, revealing a key signature of spine dynamics associated with robust functional plasticity in adult V1. Overall, Lynx1 could be a promising therapeutic target to induce not only functional, but also structural plasticity at the level of spine dynamics in the adult brain. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Dendritic spine turnover becomes limited in the adult cortex. In mouse visual cortex, a premier model of experience-dependent plasticity, we found that the deletion of Lynx1, a nicotinic “brake” for functional plasticity, doubled the baseline spine turnover in adulthood, suggesting that the spine dynamics in the adult cortex is actively limited by Lynx1. After visual deprivation, spine loss, but not gain rate, remains higher in adult Lynx1 knock-out mice than in control wild-type mice, revealing a key signature of spine dynamics associated with robust functional plasticity. Lynx1 would be a promising target to induce not only functional, but also structural plasticity at the level of spine dynamics in adulthood.
Electromigration failure of circuit interconnects

We show that analysis of steady-state stress is required to accurately predict the location of electromigration vulnerabilities in multi-segment conductors. Electromigration voids form at regions of maximum stress, and these do not necessarily coincide with the highest current density regions. Failure time distributions of circuit-like interconnects are predicted by incorporating the effect of stress on critical current densities. Conventional current density analysis is generally inaccurate in identifying locations of electromigration damage and predictions of failure time.
Non-Linear Analysis Of An Active Peak Detector

The transient response of an active peak detector is analyzed assuming appropriate non-linearites for the drive amplifier and coupling diode, as well as dynamics for the capacitive load and the amplifier's gain bandwidth. A piecewise linear model development is compared to the quasi-exact solution of the describing non-linear differential equation. The results show that the piecewise linear model predicts an underdamped clamped response to a step, whereas the quasi-exact response shows monotonic behavior. The discrepancy is explained on the basis of a gradual change in the coupling diode's impedance as peak detection occurs in reality versus a ficticious abrupt change in the diode impedance as assumed for the linear piecewise model.
Recent advances in single-stage power factor correction

This paper presents an overview of various interesting power factor correction techniques for single-phase applications. The discussion includes commonly-used control strategies and various types of converter topologies. Included is a comparative study of these strategies, with the major advantages and disadvantages is highlighted. We will emphasize the single-stage topologies, its drawbacks and some promising solutions.
Tumor Microenvironment Metabolism: A New Checkpoint for Anti-Tumor Immunity

When a T cell infiltrates a tumor, it is subjected to a variety of immunosuppressive and regulatory signals in the microenvironment. However, it is becoming increasingly clear that due to the proliferative and energetically-deregulated nature of tumor cells, T cells also operate at a metabolic disadvantage. The nutrient dearth of the tumor microenvironment (TME) creates “metabolic checkpoints” upon infiltrating T cells, impacting their ability to survive, proliferate and function effectively. In this review, we summarize the basics of tumor cell and T cell metabolism and discuss recent advances elucidating the individual metabolic checkpoints exerted on T cells that drive their dysfunction in the TME.
Sensing danger

CRISPR-Cas loci encode for an adaptive immune system in prokaryotes that provides defense against viruses (1) and plasmids (2) that infect these organisms. CRISPR loci contain a series of repetitive sequences intercalated with short sequences derived from invading viruses and plasmids (3⇓–5). These short sequences, called spacers, are acquired from the invader upon infection during an “immunization” event (1). This is the first phase of CRISPR-Cas immunity. The information stored in spacers is then used to target the invader in the second phase of the CRISPR immune response (6). Each spacer sequence is transcribed and processed as a short RNA called CRISPR RNA (crRNA) that directs RNA-guided Cas nucleases to their matching target in the invader’s genome to cleave it. Little is known about the regulation of the CRISPR-Cas immune response. The CRISPR-Cas locus present in Escherichia coli has been shown to be tightly repressed by HNS, a negative regulator of widespread effects in bacteria (7). Repression can be relieved by the LeuO activator (8), but environmental or physiological conditions that lead to the expression of the CRISPR-Cas machinery have not been identified.
A six-component surrogate for emulating the physical and chemical characteristics of conventional and alternative jet fuels and their blends

Abstract Conventional and alternative jet fuels, such as petroleum-derived Jet-A, coal-derived IPK, and natural-gas-derived S-8, display significant chemical and physical fuel property differences that influence their ignition characteristics. The current work addresses the need for surrogate mixtures capable of emulating the various properties of these fuels and their select blends, which are often used within compression ignited engines for acceptable ignition behavior. A six-component surrogate palette is proposed with species that are readily available within recent kinetic mechanisms, including n-dodecane, n-decane, iso-cetane, iso-octane, decalin, and toluene. The use of these species allows for a seamless compositional transition between the neat target jet fuels and their blends. The surrogate optimizer, which includes various correlations and models to estimate properties of model mixtures, is used to determine the surrogate composition that best matches target fuel properties. For an accurate ignition quality prediction during the optimization, a non-linear Derived Cetane Number regression equation is generated from Ignition Quality Tester experiments of 76 surrogate component mixtures. The newly formulated surrogates and their blends successfully capture the wide range of properties present within the target fuels, including temperature-dependent physical properties such as density, viscosity, specific heat, and volatility, along with experimental ignition delays obtained from a constant volume spray chamber. Kinetic modeling with a detailed mechanism showed that predicted ignition delay times are in good agreement with shock tube and rapid compression machine ignition delay experiments. A sensitivity analysis with variations in the composition of the Jet-A surrogate showed that its calculated ignition delay times are most sensitive to the composition of n-dodecane among the four Jet-A surrogate constituents over the range of temperatures and pressures examined.
Abstract P062: Loss of Plasma Membrane Integrity Occurs in 2 Stages During Early Myocardial Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury

Myocardial ischemia is an acute health emergency. Reperfusion, critical for salvaging ischemic tissues, contributes to the acute tissue damage known as ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. While therapeutic approaches aimed at reducing I/R injury have been promising in preclinical studies, clinical studies have been inconclusive, suggesting an inadequate knowledge of the mechanisms underlying I/R injury and their time-frame. In the current work, myocardial necrosis was evaluated in a murine I/R model using a propidium iodide-based fluorescent method that evaluated loss of plasma membrane integrity (LPMI) during the first 24 hours of reperfusion and permitted histological analysis of other pathological events on adjacent sections. LPMI was found to develop in two stages in WT animals: a significant increase occurred between 0 and 1 hour of reperfusion and was maintained through 6 hours; an additional increase was apparent at 24 hours. Complement C3 deposition lagged LPMI by 2 hours and C3 −/− mice were protected from second-stage LPMI but not first-stage. Transgenic mice overexpressing the anti-oxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase or catalase were protected from first stage LPMI but not second stage. The results provide support for the development of therapeutic approaches that are directed at the early stages of reperfusion and take into account the two phases of ischemia-related myocardial damage, designing strategies targeting the reactive oxygen species of first stage and the complement-mediated events of second stage.
Numerical analysis of right-half plane zeros for a single-link manipulator

The purpose of this research is to further develop an understanding of how nonminimum phase zero location is affected by structural link design. As the demand for light-weight robots that can operate in a large workspace increases, the structural flexibility of the links become more of an issue in controls problems. When the objective is to accurately position the tip while the robot is actuated at the base, the system is nonminimum phase. One important characteristic of nonminimum phase systems is system zeros in the right half of the Laplace plane. The ability to pick the location of these nonminimum phase zeros would give the designer a new freedom similar to pole placement. The research targets a single-link manipulator operating in the horizontal plane and modeled as a Euler-Bernoulli beam with pinned-free end conditions. Using transfer matrix theory, one can consider link designs that have variable cross-sections along the length of the beam. A FORTRAN program was developed to determine the location of poles and zeros given the system model. The program was used to confirm previous research on nonminimum phase systems, and develop a relationship for designing linearly tapered links. The method allows the designer to choose the location of the first pole and zero and then defines the appropriate taper to match the desired locations. With the pole and zero location fixes, the designer can independently change the link's moment of inertia about its axis of rotation by adjusting the height of the beam. These results can be applied to inverse dynamic algorithms currently under development at Georgia Tech.
Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza A virus infection associated with respiratory signs in sloth bears (Melursus ursinus)

Summary In 2009, a pandemic influenza A virus (pH1N1) spread globally in humans and infected a broad range of captive animals with close human contact. In February 2014, a pH1N1 virus was isolated from a sloth bear with respiratory signs at a US zoo, demonstrating that recurring epidemics present an ongoing threat to animals, including threatened species. This is the first report of pH1N1 infection in sloth bears. To understand the sloth bear virus within the global context of pH1N1, phylogenetic trees were inferred including full-length sequences from available non-human, non-swine hosts, representing four families in the order Carnivora and one order of birds. A combination of phylogenetic and epidemiological evidence strongly suggests the sloth bear was infected with a human-origin pH1N1 virus, supporting the implementation of biosecurity measures to protect human and animal health.
Effects of Recent Concussion and Injury History on Instantaneous Relative Risk of Lower Extremity Injury in Division I Collegiate Athletes.

BACKGROUND Growing evidence suggests that concussion increases the risk of lower extremity (LE) musculoskeletal injury. However, it is unclear to how the effect of concussion on LE injury risk may be influenced by previous injuries. This study sought to examine the association between concussion, previous LE injuries, and the risk LE injury to the same previously injured limb (ipsilateral) or the opposite limb (contralateral). METHODS This retrospective study examined medical records from 110 concussed athletes and 110 matched controls for LE injuries in the 365 days before and after the concussion event. The effect of concussion on time to injury was assessed with a Cox proportional hazard model after adjusting for injury history. Fine and Gray subdistribution models assessed the cumulative risk of ipsilateral and contralateral injury by group. RESULTS Concussion was associated with an increased instantaneous relative risk of LE injury when adjusting for LE injury history [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.67, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.11-2.53], agreeing with previous results. Among individuals who had a history of LE injuries before the concussion event, a nonsignificant yet moderate effect of concussion on the instantaneous relative risk of ipsilateral injuries was found after adjusting for the competing risk of contralateral injuries and censored values (HR = 1.85, 95% CI = 0.76-4.46). CONCLUSIONS This study provides independent confirmation of previous studies, reporting an association between concussion and LE injury risk. Furthermore, this study suggests that future large-scale studies should consider the competing risk of ipsilateral, contralateral, and new injuries in populations with an injury history.
Biologically Inspired Design of Nanoparticle Artificial Antigen-Presenting Cells for Immunomodulation

Particles engineered to engage and interact with cell surface ligands and to modulate cells can be harnessed to explore basic biological questions as well as to devise cellular therapies. Biology has inspired the design of these particles, such as artificial antigen-presenting cells (aAPCs) for use in immunotherapy. While much has been learned about mimicking antigen presenting cell biology, as we decrease the size of aAPCs to the nanometer scale, we need to extend biomimetic design to include considerations of T cell biology—including T-cell receptor (TCR) organization. Here we describe the first quantitative analysis of particle size effect on aAPCs with both Signals 1 and 2 based on T cell biology. We show that aAPCs, larger than 300 nm, activate T cells more efficiently than smaller aAPCs, 50 nm. The 50 nm aAPCs require saturating doses or require artificial magnetic clustering to activate T cells. Increasing ligand density alone on the 50 nm aAPCs did not increase their ability to stimulate CD8+ T ce...
Subregional Nowcasts of Seasonal Influenza Using Search Trends

Background: Limiting the adverse effects of seasonal influenza outbreaks at state or city level requires close monitoring of localized outbreaks and reliable forecasts of their progression. Whereas forecasting models for influenza or influenza-like illness (ILI) are becoming increasingly available, their applicability to localized outbreaks is limited by the nonavailability of real-time observations of the current outbreak state at local scales. Surveillance data collected by various health departments are widely accepted as the reference standard for estimating the state of outbreaks, and in the absence of surveillance data, nowcast proxies built using Web-based activities such as search engine queries, tweets, and access of health-related webpages can be useful. Nowcast estimates of state and municipal ILI were previously published by Google Flu Trends (GFT); however, validations of these estimates were seldom reported. Objective: The aim of this study was to develop and validate models to nowcast ILI at subregional geographic scales. Methods: We built nowcast models based on autoregressive (autoregressive integrated moving average; ARIMA) and supervised regression methods (Random forests) at the US state level using regional weighted ILI and Web-based search activity derived from Google's Extended Trends application programming interface. We validated the performance of these methods using actual surveillance data for the 50 states across six seasons. We also built state-level nowcast models using state-level estimates of ILI and compared the accuracy of these estimates with the estimates of the regional models extrapolated to the state level and with the nowcast estimates published by GFT. Results: Models built using regional ILI extrapolated to state level had a median correlation of 0.84 (interquartile range: 0.74-0.91) and a median root mean square error (RMSE) of 1.01 (IQR: 0.74-1.50), with noticeable variability across seasons and by state population size. Model forms that hypothesize the availability of timely state-level surveillance data show significantly lower errors of 0.83 (0.55-0.23). Compared with GFT, the latter model forms have lower errors but also lower correlation. Conclusions: These results suggest that the proposed methods may be an alternative to the discontinued GFT and that further improvements in the quality of subregional nowcasts may require increased access to more finely resolved surveillance data. [J Med Internet Res 2017;19(11):e370]
Nodular Lymphocyte-Predominant Hodgkin Lymphoma in Progressive Transformation of Germinal Centers

Nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma is an uncommon variant of Hodgkin lymphoma. Progressive transformation of germinal centers has been associated with and can develop prior to, concurrent with, or after the diagnosis of nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma. We present a patient with a history of progressive transformation of germinal centers of the right parotid who presented 4 years later with ipsilateral parotid mass and cervical adenopathy. Knowledge of her previous diagnosis raised our concern for lymphoma, influenced our surgical management, and spared the patient additional surgery with risk of facial nerve injury inherent in revision parotidectomy.
From Offline Politics to Online Action: Social Media Adoption and Communication by the Legislators, Lobbyists, and Business Groups of Maine

In the study of social media in sub-national politics, offline-bounded methods offer an attractive alternative to the current emphasis on content search. When cases are selected according to content, analysis suffers from nebulous content boundaries, reliance on samples instead of populations, missing relationship data, and a lack of distinction between members of different sets and groups. Sub-national political entities, in contrast, typically have clear and substantive boundaries set by formal membership rules in the offline environment. These features make questions of adoption and interconnection more feasible to address. This chapter makes use of the Twitter list feature and data-mining capabilities of R to understand social media adoption, in-group interaction, and between-group intersection among legislators, lobbyists, and business groups in the American state of Maine. We find that Twitter adopters are distinguished from non-adopters to varying degrees according to offline characteristics. Although rates of Twitter adoption are similar for all three groups, only Maine legislators appear to form an internal community of Twitter interaction. Maine lobbyists and business groups, by contrast, maintain political connection through communication with outsiders.
Nudging toward a stable retirement

The classical economics perspective is that public policy should be used to allow, not hinder, economic freedom. In some cases it may be possible for government to gently nudge individuals to change their behavior without hindering freedom. One example is a change from the default on pension program enrollment forms from “not contribute” to “contribute.” This is generally viewed as a good nudge that gets people to do what the majority of people view as generally the correct behavior. However, a choice to contribute to a pension fund is not always in the individual’s best interest — thus, it is a nudge, not a mandate. To maintain personal liberty, individuals should be fully informed about the consequences of their choice and the motives of the political authority. Saving for retirement is a complex issue, and pension contribution decisions are often made with little foresight or information. Pension contribution nudges may not always be freedom preserving because of complexity and unintended consequences. The benefits, risks, and limitations of default contribution pension nudges are discussed.
Latch-up in FinFET technologies

Low-power FinFET technologies pose new challenges for latch-up safe design. Downscaling of the feature size causes significant drop of the trigger current and holding voltage in the latch-up (LU) victims (standard-cell logic). It is accompanied by an increase of resistance in the wells and tap-connections. The increase of well resistance causes a drop in the efficiency of latch-up guard-rings around aggressors (diffusion at IO). Weak victims and inefficient guard-rings boost the latch-up hazard in FinFET, compared to a planar process. New strategies for latch-up safe design are described.
Severe tricuspid regurgitation due to interactions with right ventricular permanent pacemaker or defibrillator leads

Although thought to be a rare event, permanent pacemakers and implantable cardioverter-defibrillators with right ventricular intracardiac leads have the potential to induce tricuspid valve dysfunction. Adverse lead-valve interactions can take place through a variety of mechanisms including damage at the time of implantation, leaflet pinning, or long-term fibrosis encapsulating the leaflet tissue. Clinical manifestations can display a wide range of severity, as well as a highly variable time span between implantation and hemodynamic deterioration. This review aims to describe the potential pathophysiologic effects of intracardiac device leads on the tricuspid valve, with a focus on ideal diagnostic strategies and treatment options once lead-induced valvular dysfunction is suspected.
Nicotine Reduction Strategy: State of the science and challenges to tobacco control policy and FDA tobacco product regulation.

Nicotine addiction is the proximate cause of disease and death from cigarette smoking. In 1994, we proposed reducing the nicotine content of cigarettes to non-addicting levels to reduce the risk of youth becoming addicted smokers and promoting quitting in established smokers. In 2009, the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act provided the authority to FDA to reduce nicotine levels as appropriate to benefit public health. Over the past 15 years, considerable research has determined that nicotine reduction is feasible and safe, resulting in reduced nicotine dependence with little evidence of compensatory over-smoking. The availability of acceptable non-combusted form of nicotine would provide support and enhance acceptability of nicotine reduction in tobacco. Most recently, the FDA promulgated a nicotine-based regulatory framework, which includes nicotine reduction combined with ready availability of noncombustible nicotine products. Nicotine reduction could contribute to a virtual end to the use of cigarette smoking, with enormous benefits to public health.
Fabric1 — Fabric Cell Based Design

In the Fabric 1 design methodology, library cells correspond to the standard cells of a standard-cell based design methodology. We call our library cells fabric cells. The routing area between instances of the fabric cells utilizes the DWF fabric. The layout of a fabric cell utilizes the DWF fabric internally. As a result, the DWF fabric is utilized all over the IC layout.
Mycobacterium avium Complex Disease

Soil characteristics in certain regions may favor the growth of Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC), leading to regional differences in epidemiology. Laboratory abnormalities classically have reflected the disseminated nature of the disease with profound anemia out of proportion to neutropenia or thrombocytopenia, and elevated transaminases and alkaline phosphatase. Either because of improved diagnosis or concurrent antiretroviral therapy, these laboratory abnormalities may be less common among patients with disseminated Mycobacterium avium complex (DMAC) diagnosed in the present day than among those diagnosed earlier in the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/AIDS epidemic. One study has suggested that interferon (IFN)-ү release assays, which do not cross-react with MAC, may be useful to make the distinction between nontuberculous mycobacterial lymphadenitis. If highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) is ineffective, due to HIV multidrug resistance, for example, or CD4 lymphocyte improvement is delayed in a particular individual, MAC prophylaxis is still an important adjunct to care and is cost-effective. Dyspnea on initial presentation and presence of coexisting lung disease have been associated with increased mortality among patients with MAC pulmonary disease. In studies conducted for a course of clarithromycin monotherapy and a course of azithromycin monotherapy, gastrointestinal side effects were common, and changes in hearing were not infrequent. These two studies strongly suggested that clarithromycin and azithromycin have clinical utility for treatment of pulmonary MAC. DMAC is almost exclusively seen in patients with latestage AIDS and can be treated with the combination of either clarithromycin or azithromycin in combination with ethambutol, with or without rifabutin or a fluoroquinolone.
Treating Neurodegenerative Disorders: Towards Detailed Pathophysiology and Precision Medicine

The following paper reviews current literature on disease etiology, pathophysiology, and therapeutic options of neurodegenerative disorder (NDs). We first discuss current directions of disease management and treatment, and highlight technical hindrances of current gene therapy-based treatments as well as significant ethical, regulatory, and efficacy-based concerns present in current stem cell treatment options for Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Huntington’s Disease. We then suggest a narrower focus for future research on identifying molecular, pathological, and biomarker-based disease progression that can in turn inform the development of novel approaches in developing ND therapies.
Berries and Cancer

Publisher Summary This chapter explores the role of phytochemicals from berries for potential anti-cancer effects and treatment of cancer. Epidemiological studies have reported the protective effect of diet rich in fruit or vegetables against cancer. It mentions that there is evidence of the anti-cancer properties of bioactive chemicals from berries and in vitro experiments have contributed to the knowledge base for probable mechanism of action. The chemopreventive mechanisms include preventing radical damage, DNA stabilization, metabolic detoxification and inhibition of inflammatory processes as well as induction of apoptosis. The various phytochemicals in berries include phenolics, polyphenols and ascorbic acid and phenolics are a large and chemically diverse class of anti-oxidant compounds. The in vitro evidence of the chemoprevention by berry phytochemicals is elaborated and induction of cell death in breast and cervical cancer cells. A table is presented that lists the different varieties of berries along with their Latin names. It mentions that there is a need to understand the bioavailability, tissue distributions and metabolism of berry phytochemicals.
Superluminal Expansion of the Quasar 3C 345

VLBI hybrid maps of the compact radio structure in 3C 345 at 5.0 and 10.7 GHz show a core-jet morphology, with two components in the jet separating from the core with apparent transverse velocities ≃ 8/h c (for Ho = 100 h km/s/Mpc and qo = 0.05). These “knots” decay as they move down the jet, with lifetimes ≃ 2–3 years.
Pharmacy Practice and Positron Emission Tomography

Positron emission tomography (PET) is an imaging technique that has recently experienced growth because of its unique advantages (1). Unlike computerized axial tomography (CAT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which visualize anatomical structure, PET permits noninvasive assessment of human physiology and organ function. PET data is derived from the tissue accumulation of tracer, which is intrinsically related to the biochemical and metabolic processes that affect the radiopharmaceutical in vivo.
Appointment at the Royal Greenwich Observatory

In 1952, when my Trinity Fellowship had run its course, a very nice gentleman, Sir Harold Spencer-Jones, the Astronomer Royal of Great Britain, offered me the job of his Chief Assistant at the Royal Greenwich Observatory. This was a great honor, after so short a career in astronomy, to be offered such a position by the most prominent astronomer in the UK. I think I would have preferred to stay in Cambridge, but, as they say, this was an offer I could not turn down. And so once again, I found myself working for the Admiralty, which was responsible for the Royal Observatory, but now I had the illustrious title Senior Principal Scientific Officer.
Narcissists stand united: Grandiose and vulnerable narcissists agree that others’ narcissism is less repulsive.

Abstract. Previous research suggests narcissists (vs. non-narcissists) may perceive grandiose narcissism as a less dislikeable trait in others. However, previous research has only addressed this ph...
Radiation for bone metastases: Reconsidering the optimal timing.

10122Background: Bone metastases impair function and decrease quality of life due to acute or chronic pain. The standard approach for patients with multiple bone metastases is systemic therapy and ...
Abstract WP246: Long Term Risk of Hip Fracture After Ischemic Stroke

Introduction: The recent Insulin Resistance Intervention after Stroke trial found that pioglitazone decreased the risk of stroke and myocardial infarction in patients with insulin resistance and a ...
Environmental Takings: The Case for Full Water Privatization

This chapter is divided into two parts: Environmental “Takings” of Private Water Rights and The Case for Water Privatization. In “Takings” we make the following points: Government regulation of private property for a public purpose like protection of species under the Endangered Species Act raises important constitutional questions concerning whether a compensable “taking” of private property has resulted. This section discusses the property and liberty interests that arise when the Endangered Species Act is used as a reason for the government to breach a contract to provide water to farmers. It concludes by suggesting that the Fifth Amendment “Takings Clause” mandates that we should all share in the costs associated with a taking of private water rights for environmental purposes by the government. The case for Water Privatization makes the more general philosophical point that the public interest and the cause of justice would be enhanced if all bodies of water were transferred from the public to the private sector. Then, among other benefits, there would be no need for all of to share in the costs associated with a taking of private water rights for environmental purposes by the government; there would be no need for such takings in the first place.
On the Question of the Existence and Nature of Homogeneous-Center Target Patterns in the Belousov-Zhabotinskii Reagent

This continues previous work by Tyson and the author on the application of multiple-scaling techniques to the modeling and analysis of the expanding concentric rings of chemical activity seen in the Belousov-Zhabotinskii reagent. The model is based on “Oregonator” kinetics. Previous work with these kinetics concentrated on heterogeneous-center patterns, induced by an external particle or other stimulus; this explores the possibility of homogeneous center structures, more controversial but reportedly observed.
The relationship between serum microelement and psychiatric factors

Objective To explore the relationship between psychiatric factors and sernm microelements.Method Divided 126 children that age 0.5-13 into psychiatric group which had 80cases and normal control group which had 46cases.Used atomic absorption method to test the Zn,Ca,Fe,Pn blood level of all children.Results The zinc deficiency is 71.25%in psychoatric group;and the normal control group is 64%(P＜0.05). The calcium deficiency is 70%in psychiatric group;and the control group is 46.5%(P＜0.05). The iron deficiency is 18.75%in psychiatric group;and the control group is 15.3%(P＜0.05).The high levels of blood lead is 50%in psychiatric group;and the control group is 32.6%(P＜0.05). Conclusion These data suggest that there is a relationship between serum microelements and psychiatric factors. Key words: Microelement; Child; Neurotic element
Imprint of local environment on fast radio burst observations

When fast radio burst (FRB) waves propagate through the local (< 1 pc) environment of the FRB source, electrons in the plasma undergo large-amplitude oscillations. The finite-amplitude effects cause the effective plasma frequency and cyclotron frequency to be dependent on the wave strength. The dispersion measure and rotation measure should therefore vary slightly from burst to burst for a repeating source, depending on the luminosity and frequency of the individual burst. Furthermore, free-free absorption of strong waves is suppressed due to the accelerated electrons' reduced energy exchange in Coulomb collisions. This allows bright low-frequency bursts to propagate through an environment that would be optically thick to low-amplitude waves. Given a large sample of bursts from a repeating source, it would be possible to use the deficit of low-frequency and low-luminosity bursts to infer the emission measure of the local intervening plasma and its distance from the source. Information about the local environment will shed light on the nature of FRB sources.
Methylene Blue Does Not Improve Vasoplegia After Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation.

Background Vasoplegia is a frequent complication of left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation. We investigated the effectiveness of methylene blue (MB) for vasoplegia in LVAD recipients. Methods Twenty-seven patients received MB for vasoplegia after LVAD implantation and met study criteria between March 2015 and May 2018. Propensity score inverse probability weighting identified 41 controls who did not receive MB for post-LVAD vasoplegia. Clinical outcomes were compared between control and MB groups and between patients who received doses during (n = 15) and after surgery (n = 12). Hemodynamics and vasopressor requirements were analyzed using analysis of covariance. Results Median total MB dose was 1.9 mg/kg (interquartile range, 1.2-2.2 mg/kg). Methylene blue recipients experienced a transient initial decline in norepinephrine requirement from 141 ng/kg per min (95% confidence interval [CI], 81-201 ng/kg per min) to 117 ng/kg per min (95% CI, 58-176 ng/kg per min; P = .022) and a delayed decline in vasopressin from 4.8 U/h (95% CI, 3.8-5.8 U/h) to 4.0 U/h (95% CI, 2.8-5.1 U/h) (P = .004). In-hospital mortality, postoperative complications, and end-organ dysfunction did not differ from those of controls. There were no observed differences in mean arterial pressure, vasopressor requirements, or outcomes between patients who received doses during or after surgery. Weighted overall mortality in the entire study cohort was 8.8%. Conclusions Although MB may affect vasopressor requirements, clinical outcomes in vasoplegia after LVAD implantation did not improve and were not affected by the timing of administration.
Improving duty cycle in the Folded Flight Path high-resolution time-of-flight mass spectrometer

Abstract The duty cycle is a critical parameter affecting the sensitivity of analyses by Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometers with Orthogonal Accelerators (OA-TOFMS). Improving the duty cycle becomes especially critical for the analytical performance of high-resolution TOFMS (HR-TOFMS) with elongated ion paths, such as based on multi-reflecting types of mass analyzers. Currently used methods for improving the duty cycle are based on accumulating ions in various trapping devices between push pulses. These methods do not always provide the best analytical results, may create conditions for secondary reactions, and require adjusting acquisition conditions to maximize the effect. The Encoded Frequent Pushing® (EFP®) method is the spectral multiplexing technique developed for improving the duty cycle of the HR-TOFMS. We report on the implementation of the EFP in HR-TOFMS with a Folded Flight Path® mass analyzer coupled with gas chromatography (GC) and two-dimensional comprehensive GC (GCxGC) for analysis of complex mixtures. This approach is expected to benefit the results of analysis of complex samples by improving limits of detection and mass spectra quality.
The Pharmacology of Substance Abuse and Its Effects on Therapy

Summary Delirium tremens may occur upon acute withdrawal and may be fatal. The alcoholic patient admitted for maxillofacial trauma should be managed for acute ethanol withdrawal. Liver damage may be significant and coagulation may be affected. Patients also may be more prone to infections, and surgical wound healing may be slow. Chronic abusers of ethanol require larger doses of many anesthetic drugs. Acute intoxication is additive with anesthetic agents, reducing anesthesia requirements. Chronic abusers of heroin and other opioids have low tolerance to pain, require increased doses of opioids, and may acutely withdraw with opioid antagonists. Postoperative pain control may be problematic and chronic abusers often complain that pain medications do not work. The possibility of transmitting blood-borne infections are high, especially hepatitis B and C and HIV. Liver damage from hepatitis also may be present and coagulation problems may develop. Heart valve damage can occur and the risk of bacterial endocarditis may be significant. Wound healing also may be delayed. Because these patients get frequent skin and dental infections, they may develop resistant strains of organisms to several of the most widely used antibiotics. Chronic abusers of cocaine have paranoid delusions, labile blood pressure with extreme hypertension, and difficult vascular access. Acute toxicity causes seizures, ventricular fibrillation, and sudden death. Marijuana users frequently use ethanol and may be subjected to the same risks as alcoholics. Long-term abusers of marijuana have chronic bronchitis and a sensitive airway. In light brevital anesthesia, laryngospasm may be a problem. Acute toxicity is associated with tachycardia, hypotension, injected sclera, and somnolence. The psychotomimetic effects of PCP are long lasting. Bizarre violent behavior occurs, including apparently painless self-mutilation. Hallucinations are common. Acute intoxication resembles ketamine anesthesia with open-eyed stare, active laryngeal reflexes, hypertension, and tachycardia. Patients need special treatment for extended periods until they are drug free. These patients may exhibit unexpected behavioral patterns during office anesthesia.
Discharging the Discharge for Value Defense

Despite its massive size, the corporate debt market is often considered a sleepy refuge for the risk-averse. Yet, corporate debt contracts are often mind-numbingly detailed. That complexity—when coupled with the financial stakes in play—can be a recipe for calamity. And in late 2020, calamity struck in the form of an accidental $1 billion payoff sent to Revlon Inc.’s distressed creditors—not by Revlon itself but rather by Citibank, the administrative agent for the loan. When several lenders refused to return the cash, Citibank commenced what many reckoned would be a successful (if embarrassing) lawsuit to claw it back. But in a dramatic 2021 opinion, a New York federal court sided with the creditors, applying an obscure equitable doctrine known as the “Discharge for Value” defense. The lenders could keep their wayward windfall, and Citibank got stuck with a sizeable write-down. Regardless of how it comes out on appeal, the case seems destined to feature prominently in contracts classes and textbooks for years to come. Against this backdrop, this Article makes three contributions: First, it spotlights several doctrinal and logical irregularities in the District Court’s opinion. Second, it builds on these inconsistencies to critique the opinion from an economic policy perspective. Third (and most substantially), it presents novel empirical data to analyze how market participants have reacted to the opinion. Consistent with the policy critique, I document a rapid, precipitous trend towards writing and/or amending debt contracts to nullify the Citibank opinion in its entirety, manifested in a variety of “Revlon blocker” provisions that have appeared in hundreds of publicly disclosed contracts. The firms that adopt Revlon blockers are systematically the largest and most sophisticated companies in the public markets, and their rejection of Citibank appears to have met with general market approval. Beyond demonstrating how legal theory and empirical evidence can helpfully interact, this analysis underscores the critical role that default rules play in contract law and policy, and the high stakes involved in getting them right.