cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Laser ablation sampling

Abstract Laser ablation sampling provides significant benefits and capabilities for chemical analysis. It represents one of the most promising technologies for direct solid sample introduction. Despite the advantages, there are a number of issues that should be addressed to better understand and utilize this technology. Laser ablation itself is a complex process and is poorly understood, fundamentally. In this paper, we describe the current achievements and limitations in order to better understand and utilize laser ablation sampling for chemical analysis. Several current issues related to laser ablation sampling are discussed, including calibration and optimization, fractionation, sensitivity enhancements, mass loading, and particle transport.
Tricuspid valve regurgitation in congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries and a left ventricle to pulmonary artery conduit.

Background The configuration of the interventricular septum can affect the function of the tricuspid valve in patients with congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries who have a systemically functioning right ventricle. Altering septal configuration by addressing a dysfunctional conduit placed between the left ventricle (LV) and the pulmonary artery (PA) in these patients can impact septal configuration and competency of the tricuspid valve. Methods In 38 patients with an LV to PA conduit, we evaluated relationships between conduit function, RV geometry, and tricuspid valve function, and compared these variables before and after conduit intervention. Results Median age at conduit implant was 4.5 years (0.5 to 36) and median total follow-up was 12 years (2 to 22). Of the 38 patients, 23 (60%) underwent conduit intervention, a median of 7.5 years after implant. In 15 of these patients (65%) the degree of tricuspid regurgitation (TR) worsened, compared with only 2 patients (15%) in the non-intervention group (p Conclusions Intervention for LV to PA conduit dysfunction may result in worsening TR and right ventricular function, likely due in part to altered septal shift due to changes in the interventricular pressure ratio. Management of LV to PA conduit dysfunction should take these findings into account.
Large data visualization on distributed memory multi-GPU clusters

Data sets of immense size are regularly generated on large scale computing resources. Even among more traditional methods for acquisition of volume data, such as MRI and CT scanners, data which is too large to be effectively visualized on standard workstations is now commonplace.One solution to this problem is to employ a 'visualization cluster,' a small to medium scale cluster dedicated to performing visualization and analysis of massive data sets generated on larger scale supercomputers. These clusters are designed to fit a different need than traditional supercomputers, and therefore their design mandates different hardware choices, such as increased memory, and more recently, graphics processing units (GPUs). While there has been much previous work on distributed memory visualization as well as GPU visualization, there is a relative dearth of algorithms which effectively use GPUs at a large scale in a distributed memory environment. In this work, we study a common visualization technique in a GPU-accelerated, distributed memory setting, and present performance characteristics when scaling to extremely large data sets.
Microscopy of the gap junction: A historical perspective

Gap junctions were discovered more than three decades ago, and since this time, enormous strides have been made in understanding their structure and function. This article summarises the part played by microscopy, within the context of multidisciplinary research, in the historical development of our knowledge of the gap junction.
Structural Overview of the Nuclear Receptor Superfamily: Insights into Physiology and Therapeutics

As ligand-regulated transcription factors, the nuclear hormone receptors are nearly ideal drug targets, with internal pockets that bind to hydrophobic, drug-like molecules and well-characterized ligand-induced conformational changes that recruit transcriptional coregulators to promoter elements. Yet, due to the multitude of genes under the control of a single receptor, the major challenge has been the identification of ligands with gene-selective actions, impacting disease outcomes through a narrow subset of target genes and not across their entire gene-regulatory repertoire. Here, we summarize the concepts and work to date underlying the development of steroidal and nonsteroidal receptor ligands, including the use of crystal structures, high-throughput screens, and rational design approaches for finding useful therapeutic molecules. Difficulties in finding selective receptor modulators require a more complete understanding of receptor interdomain communications, posttranslational modifications, and receptor-protein interactions that could be exploited for target gene selectivity.
Simulation of electrode impedance and current densities near an atherosclerotic lesion

A four-point electrode measuring impedance in the vicinity of an atherosclerotic lesion was modeled using FEM software. The simulation modeled the electrodes as being attached to an angioplasty balloon in a coronary artery. Impedance was calculated when the "balloon" was uninflated (not in contact with the lesion) and inflated (in contact with the lesion). Additionally, different lesion types (Va and Vb, as defined by the American Heart Association) and the effects of the low-conductivity calcium layer were considered. Results showed that the real component of the impedance was much higher when the electrodes were in contact with lesion. When the electrodes were not in contact with the lesion, the real component was low. Also, when the electrodes were in direct physical contact with the lesion, the difference between various lesion morphologies could be seen by observing the differences in the imaginary and phase component of the impedance. As a consequence of these simulations, it appears plausible that four-point electrodes mounted to an angioplasty balloon may be useful in determining whether a balloon has made contact with a lesion, and in characterizing that lesion.
Δ1,9(11))-ll-Deoxy cortisol: An Improved Glucocorticoid Antagonist

Previous studies in the rat have demonstrated that 11-deoxycortisol [compound S (pregn-4-ene-17α,21-diol-3,20-dione)], a competitive glucocorticoid antagonist in vitro, fails to behave as an antagonist in growth and adrenal suppression bioassays in nonadrenalectomized animals. This is probably explained by conversion of 11-deoxycortisol to cortisol by the adrenal glands. Δ1,9(11)-ll-Deoxycortisol (pregn-l,4,9(11)-triene-17α,21-diol-3,20 dione) has been shown to resist 11-hydroxylation because of the double bond at the 9–11 position and, hence, should be a more effective antiglucocorticoid in vivo. This hypothesis was tested by comparing the in vivo antiglucocorticoid activity of Δ1,9(11)-11-deoxycortisol with that of 11-deoxycortisol. The affinity of both compounds for the rat thymus glucocorticoid receptor was similar (equilibrium dissociation constant, 3 × 10-7 M). Both compounds antagonized dexamethasone-induced liver glycogen accumulation in nonadrenalectomized rats, Δ1,9(11)-11-deoxycortisol being 3-...
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) DNA Copy Number Is Dependent on Grade of Cervical Disease and HPV Type

The association between human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA copy number and cervical disease was investigated. Viral DNA copy number for the most common high-risk HPV types in cervical cancer (types 16, 18, 31, and 45) was determined in cervical cytobrush specimens from 149 women with high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasias (CIN II-CIN III), 176 with low-grade CIN (CIN I), and 270 with normal cytology. Quantitative, PCR-based fluorescent assays for each of the HPV genotypes and for the b-globin gene were used. The amount of cellular DNA increased significantly with increasing disease; thus, HPV was expressed as copies per microgram of cellular DNA. The assay had a dynamic range of >10 7 , allowing documentation for the first time of the wide range of HPV copy numbers seen in clinical specimens. Median HPV DNA copy number varied by more than 10 4 among the viral types. HPV16 was present in the highest copy number; over 55% of HPV16positive samples contained more than 10 8 copies/mg. Median copy number for HPV16 showed dramatic increases with increasing epithelial abnormality, an effect not seen with the other HPV types. HPV16 increased from a median of 2.2 3 10 7 in patients with normal cytology, to 4.1 3 10 7 in CIN I patients, to 1.3 3 10 9 copies/mg in CIN II-III patients. Even when stratified by cervical disease and viral type, the range of viral DNA copies per microgram of cellular DNA was quite large, precluding setting a clinically significant cutoff value for “high” copy numbers predictive of disease. This study suggests that the clinical usefulness of HPV quantitation requires reassessment and is assay dependent.
A physical design study of fabscalar-generated superscalar cores

FabScalar is a recently published tool for automatically generating superscalar cores, of different pipeline widths, depths and sizes. The output of FabScalar is a synthesizable register-transfer-level (RTL) description of the desired core. While this capability makes sophisticated cores more accessible to designers and researchers, meaningful applications require reducing RTL descriptions to physical designs. This paper presents the first systematic physical design study of FabScalar-generated superscalar cores.
Supercritical CO2 extraction of porogen phase: An alternative route to nanoporous dielectrics

We present a supercritical CO2 (SCCO2) process for the preparation of nanoporous organosilicate thin films for ultralow dielectric constant materials. The porous structure was generated by SCCO2 extraction of a sacrificial poly(propylene glycol) (PPG) from a nanohybrid film, where the nanoscopic domains of PPG porogen are entrapped within the crosslinked poly(methylsilsesquioxane) (PMSSQ) matrix. As a comparison, porous structures generated by both the usual thermal decomposition (at approximately 450 °C) and by a SCCO2 process for 25 and 55 wt% porogen loadings were evaluated. It is found that the SCCO2 process is effective in removing the porogen phase at relatively low temperatures (<200 °C) through diffusion of the supercritical fluid into the phase-separated nanohybrids and selective extraction of the porogen phase. Pore morphologies generated from the two methods are compared from representative three-dimensional (3D) images built from small-angle x-ray scattering (SAXS) data.
Integrating an Acupuncture Service at an Ivy League University Student Health Service

Abstract Background: Acupuncture is a commonly utilized complementary and alternative modality in the United States. Acupuncture is well-positioned to be integrated as a therapy in allopathic settings because there is strong evidence for its efficacy for addressing several conditions. College health populations use acupuncture more than other populations; therefore, college health centers are ideal locations to add acupuncture services Methods: The Integrative Medicine Working Group at Columbia University, New York, NY, added an acupuncture session for students on the university's Morningside Campus by aligning with the priorities of Columbia Health Services, including key stakeholders in planning, and developing a collaboration with the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine. Results: The new acupuncture session has been highly utilized with a low no-show rate and high patient-satisfaction scores. Conclusions: Program evaluation and collaboration between key stakeholders can guide the creation of a success...
Daily Associations Between Alcohol Consumption and Dating Violence Perpetration Among Men and Women: Effects of Self-Regulation.

Objective:Alcohol intoxication has been associated with dating violence perpetration, defined here as psychological and/or physical violence occurring between young adult dating partners. However, little is known about how the individual variability in the level of alcohol intoxication would influence dating violence perpetration and how sex and self-regulation might influence this association.Method:College-aged men and women (N = 146) from a large southwestern U.S. university completed background questionnaires, including the Brief Self-Control Scale, to assess self-regulation and then reported their dating violence perpetration and alcohol consumption using a 90-day Timeline Followback assessment. Their average estimated blood alcohol concentration (eBAC) and their daily deviation from this average were calculated for each of the 90 days to examine the between- and within-person effects of alcohol consumption, respectively.Results:Results of a two-level generalized estimating equation suggest that incr...
Lymphoid interstitial pneumonia with dysproteinemia. Report of two cases with plasma cell predominance.

The cases of two patients with prolonged courses of a distinctive combination of cough, shortness of breath, diffuse and nodular pulmonary infiltrates, severe hypergammaglobulinemia with elevated total protein levels, and plasmacytic and lymphocytic infiltration of the lungs are reported. We do not know whether this combination of symptoms and findings constitutes a separate, previously unrecognized entity or whether these cases are part of a spectrum of chronic pulmonary disease in which an unusual number of plasma cells is responsible for the high gamma globulin levels. On the basis of the clinical and pathologic findings, including an autopsy in one case, and the electrophoretic studies, we believe these cases probably represent a chronic inflammatory reaction to some undetermined stimulant rather than an unusual form of multiple myeloma, and that they should be classified as an unusual form of lymphoid interstitial pneumonia.
Trials and Error: U.S. newspapers’ digital struggles toward inferiority

Most of us in the field of journalism are familiar with the view that print newspapers are nearing their death at an alarming pace, and that the future of journalism rests on digital technologies. ...
Tocopherol Level in Serum of Normals and Patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.

Summary(1) Normal serum tocopherol values determined by a new photocolorimetric method are given. (2) Untreated patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis show values within the normal range. (3) The blood level invariably rises on oral administration, irrespective of whether the patient does or does not show clinical improvement. (4) Intramuscular administration without simultaneous oral administration produces a drop in serum tocopherol.
The rate of torque development: A unique, non-invasive indicator of eccentric-induced muscle damage?

This study examined the time courses of recovery for isometric peak torque and rate of torque development (RTD) after eccentric-induced muscle damage. 18 men completed 6 sets of 10 maximal eccentric isokinetic muscle actions at 30° · s−1. Peak torque, peak RTD and RTD at 10 (RTD10), 50 (RTD50), 100 (RTD100) and 200 ms (RTD200), serum creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase were measured before (PRE), immediately after (POST), 24, 48 and 72 h after eccentric exercise. Creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase increased from 139 to 6 457 and from 116 to 199 IU · L−1 from PRE to 72 h, respectively. Peak torque and all RTDs decreased at POST. Peak torque and RTD200 remained lower than PRE through 72 h. Peak RTD remained lower than PRE through 48 h, but was not different from PRE at 72 h. RTD10 and RTD100 were lower than PRE through 24 h, but were not different from PRE at 48 and 72 h. RTD50 decreased at POST, but was not different from PRE at 24 h. Early phase RTDs recovered more quickly than PT and RTD200. Early phase RTDs may reflect neural mechanisms underlying eccentric-induced force decrements, while late RTDs may describe the same physiological mechanisms as PT.
Autoantibodies in rheumatic fever

SummaryFrom the results reported it would seem that the presence of autoantibodies to human heart has been demonstrated in 75% of a group of patients with acute rheumatic fever.
Double aortic arch

In conclusion, the diagnosis of DAA should be suspected in an infant with either biphasic stridor or feeding-related respiratory distress. Radiographic studies combined with appropriate thorough endoscopic evaluation should confirm clinical suspicion. Thoracotomy with surgical division of the DAA has given excellent long-term results.
The role of mHealth for improving medication adherence in patients with cardiovascular disease: a systematic review

Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and a key barrier to improved outcomes is medication non-adherence. The aim of this study is to review the role of mobile health (mHealth) tools for improving medication adherence in patients with cardiovascular disease. We performed a systematic search for randomized controlled trials that primarily investigated mHealth tools for improving adherence to cardiovascular disease medications in patients with hypertension, coronary artery disease, heart failure, peripheral arterial disease, and stroke. We extracted and reviewed data on the types of mHealth tools used, preferences of patients and healthcare providers, the effect of the mHealth interventions on medication adherence, and the limitations of trials. We identified 10 completed trials matching our selection criteria, mostly with <100 participants, and ranging in duration from 1 to 18 months. mHealth tools included text messages, Bluetooth-enabled electronic pill boxes, online messaging platforms, and interactive voice calls. Patients and healthcare providers generally preferred mHealth to other interventions. All 10 studies reported that mHealth interventions improved medication adherence, though the magnitude of benefit was not consistently large and in one study was not greater than a telehealth comparator. Limitations of trials included small sample sizes, short duration of follow-up, self-reported outcomes, and insufficient assessment of unintended harms and financial implications. Current evidence suggests that mHealth tools can improve medication adherence in patients with cardiovascular diseases. However, high-quality clinical trials of sufficient size and duration are needed to move the field forward and justify use in routine care.
Reaping the Benefits of Brain Circulation: The Impact of the Overseas Study and the Returnees on the Development of the Management Education in China

It is human nature for people to seek the land of opportunities, where they can make a better living and reap higher rewards, and modern international migration has largely been a one-way process, in which people migrate from poor countries to rich nations. Since the mid- twentieth century, however, most developed nations have established tight policies that essentially close doors to all but a few highly edu- cated and skilled individuals. Those measures, while greatly benefiting the receiving countries, have had a profoundly adverse impact on the sending countries, a disturbing economic and human resource phe- nomenon that is widely known as “brain drain” (Todaro, 1985).
Sentencing Discretion at Gunpoint: How to Think about Convictions Underlying § 924(c) Mandatory Minimums

United States v Booker rapidly broadened judicial discretion in federal sentencing by rendering the United States Sentencing Guidelines merely advisory. But the Guidelines do not apply to sentences for all crimes. Some criminal statutes, such as 18 USC § 924(c), establish separate mandatory minimum sentences. Because Booker only applies to the Guidelines, it does not apply to crimes with statutory mandatory minimum sentences. Section § 924(c) makes it a crime to use a firearm in the course of committing a crime of violence or a drug trafficking offense, and the statute punishes the use of the firearm with a mandatory minimum sentence. Prosecutors separately charge the underlying crime of violence or drug trafficking offense (underlying offense), and underlying offenses are usually punished by the Guidelines. Section 924(c) indicates that the mandatory minimum must run subsequent to other convictions. Therefore, a defendant convicted of a § 924(c) firearms offense and a crime of violence must serve his entire Guidelines sentence for the crime of violence before
Dual exploration architectures for breaking the decades-long cycles of planetary science

The Dual Exploration Architecture is a mission concept that combines remote sensing and in-situ observations into a single mission to answer planetary science questions that can only be answered with both types of data. Adoption of dual exploration architectures may short circuit the long, slow cycle of missions to inaccessible bodies by eliminating the need for separate precursor and follow-up missions. Additionally, the dual architecture possesses inherent flexibility that enables the design of adaptive, event-driven missions. Five key observations about the state and trends of planetary science exploration lead us to the dual architecture: increasing complexity of observations, scarcity of future missions, desire to capture transitory events, continued miniaturization of components, and the Mars exploration cycle. A study of the planetary science the decadal survey reveals broad applicability of dual missions to solve mysteries that cannot be answered with a traditional mission architecture. These missions fall into three classes: choosing a local target from a global survey, dynamic/reactive science, and global in-situ networks. These mission classes further reveal four technology development needs that must be addressed for dual missions: passive landers, guided atmospheric probes, robust sensing packages, and small, precise orbital instruments. This study pursues a specific focus on two examples of such technologies: the ChipSat and cold atom gravimetry. Using these technologies, we study an example dual architecture mission to both characterize and sample the subsurface oceans at Europa. The identification of regions with thin ice precedes the selection of surface targets and dispatching of probes to those targets.
Supporting Leadership Development: An Examination of High School Principals’ Efforts to Develop Leaders’ Personal Capacities

In this article, we report findings from an exploratory, qualitative study in which we used a constructivist lens to examine how two high school principals endeavored to develop the personal capaci...
Modeling for Nonlinear Vibrational Response of Mechanical Systems

This chapter describes the modeling of mechanical systems in order to describe their nonlinear vibratory response, focusing on free vibration and frequency response near resonance. Some general thoughts about modeling are offered first, along with some archetypical models for nonlinear vibration, motivated by physical examples. We focus on considerations related to the inclusion of nonlinearities in system models and how nonlinearity affects the ability of a model to describe system response. Methods for analyzing nonlinear vibration systems are not emphasized, and only the minimum tools required to demonstrate the results of interest are introduced. Models with one and two modes with polynomial nonlinearities are considered, since these offer descriptions of generic behaviors that are quite common and qualitatively distinct from linear system response. Sample physical systems that are used to demonstrate the main ideas include the simple pendulum, transverse vibrations of beams, capacitively driven micro-systems, the spherical pendulum, and a spring-pendulum system. The chapter closes with some general thoughts about nonlinear system modeling and its use in design.
Efficient information dissemination in wide area heterogeneous overlay networks

In this dissertation research we study and address the unique challenges involved in information sharing and dissemination of large-scale group communication applications. We focus on system architectures and various techniques for efficient and scalable information dissemination in distributed P2P environments. Our solutions are developed by targeting at utilizing three representative P2P overlay networks: structured P2P network based on consistent hashing techniques, unstructured Gnutella-like P2P network, and P2P GeoGrid based on geographical location and proximity of end nodes. We have made three unique contributions to the general field of large-scale information sharing and dissemination. First, we propose a landmark-based peer clustering techniques to grouping end-system nodes by their network proximity, and a communication management technique addresses load balancing and reliability of group communication applications in structured P2P network. Second, we develop a utility-based P2P group communication service middleware, consisting of a utility-based topology management and a utility-aware P2P routing, for providing scalable and efficient group communication services in an unstructured P2P overlay network of heterogeneous peers. Third, we propose an overlay network management protocol that is aware of the geographical location of end-system nodes and a set of routing and adaptation techniques, aiming at building decentralized information dissemination service networks to support location-based applications and services. Although different overlay networks require different system designs for building scalable and efficient information dissemination services, we have employed two common design philosophies: (1) exploiting end-system heterogeneity and (2) utilizing proximity information of end-system nodes to localize most of the communication traffic, and (3) using randomized shortcuts to accelerate long-distant communications. We have demonstrated our design philosophies and the performance improvements in the above three types of P2P overlay networks. Concretely, by assigning more workloads to more powerful peers, we can greatly increase the system scalability and reduce the variation of workload distribution. By clustering end-system nodes based on their IP-network proximity or their geographical proximity, and utilizing randomized shortcuts, we can reduce the end-to-end communication latency, balance peer workloads against service request hotspots across the overlay network, and significantly enhance the scalability and efficiency of large-scale decentralized information dissemination and group communication.
Parsing Prior Convictions: Mathis v. United States and the Means-Element Distinction

Legislatures regularly specify increased penalties for criminal defendants with certain types of prior convictions. In Mathis v. United States, the Supreme Court clarified how sentencing judges must analyze prior convictions under statutes that could be violated in multiple ways, not all of which would trigger a subsequent sentence enhancement. Sentencing judges may only impose the enhancement if the facts necessary for the enhancement were “elements” of the prior offense, not “means” — only the former are necessarily found by a convicting jury or admitted in a guilty plea. The Court divided over whether this rule would prove workable for lower-court judges to apply. This Note analyzes the lower-court decisions applying Mathis and reaches four conclusions. First, it finds that Mathis has proven workable in early applications of its approach, though it does often necessitate challenging interpretation of state criminal law. Second, it argues that the judicial burden of applying the Mathis rule can be lessened by rejecting dicta in the majority opinion that would treat this inquiry into state law as a “threshold” issue that must be resolved before examining the record documents of the defendant’s prior conviction. Third, it argues that courts should be permitted to impose prior-conviction enhancements even in the presence of some legal uncertainty about the nature of the prior conviction, so long as there is no factual uncertainty. And fourth, this Note argues that facts alleged in indictments alone are never sufficient to establish factual certainty about the nature of a prior offense.
Surgical Technique and Difficult Situations for Crohn Disease from Adrian Greenstein

Crohn’s disease is a nonspecific transmural inflammatory bowel disease that may affect the intestinal tract from the mouth to the anus. The areas of maximum prevalence are Northern Europe and America. It is also characterized by multiple extraintestinal manifestations which may be colon related (mouth, eye, joint, skin, or liver) or small bowel related (urinary stones, fat-soluble vitamin deficiencies) [1]. There are two major forms of presentation of the intestinal form of the disease: “obstructing or stricturing” and “perforating or penetrating.” “Inflammatory” is now considered to be a third group or a subtype of the non-perforating group [2, 3].
A combination of soy isoflavone diet and radiation synergistically inhibits the growth of human prostate cancer xenografts

429 Studies have reported that soy isoflavones inhibit growth in a number of carcinoma cell lines and may enhance radiotherapy. Our study investigated the interaction of a soy isoflavone diet (ISF) and radiation on PC-3 human prostate xenograft tumors, which are androgen-insensitive and do not express p53 or PTEN tumor suppressor genes. Methods: Male nude mice on a soy-free control diet were injected with PC-3-prostate cancer cells into the hind flank. On day 5, half the mice were placed on a diet containing 0.5% soy isoflavone concentrate (ISF). On day 9, half the mice from each diet group were randomly irradiated to 2 Gy (XRT). Tumor sizes were monitored biweekly. Resected tumors were fixed in formalin and paraffin-embedded. Immunohistochemical staining was performed using antibodies against p21 CIP1 , Akt, phosphorylated-Akt (pAKT), VEGF, CD34 and PCNA. Results: Both the soy ISF diet and radiation treatment were well tolerated and significantly inhibited xenograft tumor growth. Compared with either treatment alone, the combination of soy ISF and radiation (2 Gy) further inhibited xenograft tumor growth. At 39 days, median tumor size was 659 mm 3 in soy-free controls, 283 mm 3 in mice treated with radiation (p=0.002), 384 mm 3 in mice on the ISF diet (p=0.018), and 201 mm 3 in mice treated with the combination (p =0.0005). Immunohistochemical staining showed that radiation markedly decreased tumor cell density and the expression of nuclear PCNA and cytoplasmic VEGF. In contrast, the predominant effects of the ISF diet were markedly decreased staining for PCNA and phos-Akt, a major prosurvival mediator overexpressed in PC-3 tumor cells. The ISF diet further inhibited tumor cell proliferation with increased levels of p21 CIP1 , a major inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinases and cell cycle progression. An anti-angiogenic effect of ISF was also seen with decreases in VEGF and microvessel CD34 staining in tumors. Combination ISF and XRT treatment further supressed cellular proliferation and tumor-induced neovascularity. Thus, inhibition of xenograft tumor growth by radiation and an ISF diet, respectively, involved distinct mechanisms within the tumor microenvironment. Conclusions: Together, these findings indicate that the combination of soy ISF and radiation strongly inhibited the growth of human prostate tumors which is mediated by the inhibition of angiogenesis and cellular proliferation. The interactive effect of soy with radiation may involve a radiosensitizing effect of ISF as well as growth inhibition of cells that survive post-irradiation. (Supported by grants from NIH CA102386 and the Maren Foundation)
Electrophoretic cytometry of adherent cells.

Cell–matrix and cell–cell interactions influence intracellular signalling and play an important role in physiologic and pathologic processes. Detachment of cells from the surrounding microenvironment alters intracellular signalling. Here, we demonstrate and characterise an integrated microfluidic device to culture single and clustered cells in tuneable microenvironments and then directly analyse the lysate of each cell in situ, thereby eliminating the need to detach cells prior to analysis. First, we utilise microcontact printing to pattern cells in confined geometries. We then utilise a microscale isoelectric focusing (IEF) module to separate, detect, and analyse lamin A/C from substrate-adhered cells seeded and cultured at varying (500, 2000, and 9000 cells per cm2) densities. We report separation performance (minimum resolvable pI difference of 0.11) that is on par with capillary IEF and independent of cell density. Moreover, we map lamin A/C and β-tubulin protein expression to morphometric information (cell area, circumference, eccentricity, form factor, and cell area factor) of single cells and observe poor correlation with each of these parameters. By eliminating the need for cell detachment from substrates, we enhance detection of cell receptor proteins (CD44 and β-integrin) and dynamic phosphorylation events (pMLCS19) that are rendered undetectable or disrupted by enzymatic treatments. Finally, we optimise protein solubilisation and separation performance by tuning lysis and electrofocusing (EF) durations. We observe enhanced separation performance (decreased peak width) with longer EF durations by 25.1% and improved protein solubilisation with longer lysis durations. Overall, the combination of morphometric analyses of substrate-adhered cells, with minimised handling, will yield important insights into our understanding of adhesion-mediated signalling processes.
Racial/Ethnic, Nativity, and Sociodemographic Disparities in Maternal Hypertension in the United States, 2014-2015

This study examines racial/ethnic, nativity, and sociodemographic variations in the prevalence of maternal hypertension in the United States. The 2014-2015 national birth cohort data (N = 7,966,573) were modeled by logistic regression to derive unadjusted and adjusted differentials in maternal hypertension consisting of both pregnancy-related hypertension and chronic hypertension. Substantial racial/ethnic differences existed, with prevalence of maternal hypertension ranging from 2.2% for Chinese and 2.9% for Vietnamese women to 8.9% for American Indians/Alaska Natives (AIANs) and 9.8% for non-Hispanic blacks. Compared with Chinese women, women in all other ethnic groups had significantly higher risks of maternal hypertension, with Filipinos, non-Hispanic blacks, and AIANs showing 2.0 to 2.9 times higher adjusted odds. Immigrant women in most racial/ethnic groups had lower rates of maternal hypertension than the US-born, with prevalence ranging from 1.9% for Chinese immigrants to 10.3% for US-born blacks. Increasing maternal age, lower education, US-born status, nonmetropolitan residence, prepregnancy obesity, excess weight gain during pregnancy, and gestational diabetes were other important risk factors. AIANs, non-Hispanic whites, blacks, Puerto Ricans, and some Asian/Pacific Islander subgroups were at substantially higher risk of maternal hypertension. Ethnicity, nativity status, older maternal age, and prepregnancy obesity and excess weight gain should be included among the criteria used for screening for gestational hypertension.
Bile Acid Metabolism in Gnotobiotic Animals

The bile acid metabolism of conventional animals is an intimately related blend of effects caused by the enzymes of the host and the enzymes of the indigenous microbial flora. In the absence of pathogenic conditions, significant populations of enteric microorganisms will be found in the lower small intestine, and in the colon (and cecum if present) they will reach up to 1010 organisms per gram of intestinal contents. This microflora exerts a profound effect on the biology of the host and particularly on those systems which come into intimate contact with it.
The Development and Implementation of a Statewide Certified Peer Specialist Program

Over the past several decades, peer support services have received increasing attention and support. Recently mental health peer support has become more formalized through the development and implementation of certified peer specialist (CPS) programs. While CPS programs vary from state to state, the basic premise of a CPS program is to train mental health service consumers so that they can provide support to other mental health service consumers who want to follow a path toward recovery. Late in 2007, a certified peer specialist (CPS) program emerged in Kansas following the model set forth in Georgia. This chapter traces the roots of the CPS program from Georgia to Kansas with particular focus on the benefits and crucial facets of the programs thought to be linked to program success. This chapter reports on findings from surveys conducted with over 100 Kansas CPSs. Reported findings include a description of job activities and services, workplace integration, satisfaction, and organizational support. Findings indicate that Kansas CPSs are well-received by many mental health centers, report high job satisfaction, and perceive positive organizational support. Limitations of current research and suggestions for future research are also discussed.
An Application of Fuzzy Set Theory for Evaluation of Human Performance on an Inspection Task

Abstract A frequent finding from studies in the area of inspection is the large individual differences in inspection performance, a factor that has contributed to both undermining the development of valid selection tests and complicating the training process for inspectors. In a study designed to discover cognitive factors that can potentially account for a large part of these differences, a fuzzy set approach formulated as a multi-criteria decision-making problem was utilized in order to determine whether individuals can prioritize cognitive skills considered important for inspection performance. Results indicated a close correspondence between fuzzy set and statistical approaches, suggesting the possibility for integrating the individual's subjective appraisal of the relative importance of cognitive factors into the design, selection, and training process for inspection tasks.
Women Physicians as Minorities

When Carole Lopate’s book Women in Medicine was first published in 1969,1 a male physician reviewer made several negative comments: “unless the girl agrees to take vows of celibacy on entering medical school, it is reasonable to conclude that she should be factored out,”2 i.e., the woman physician who was married and/or a mother would not work. He also believed that there was unlikely to be any demand for female physicians since women patients would find it less threatening to their ego to reveal their bodily imperfections to a male than a female. Further, he insinuated that the female’s ’well-known proclivity to gossip’ would be detrimental to patient confidentiality. His prejudices are quite evident to us today.
The Strain Ellipsoid

In this chapter we continue to restrict attention to homogeneous deformations, but we now include certain three-dimensional aspects.
Selective use of pericardial window and drainage as sole treatment for hemopericardium from penetrating chest trauma.

Background Penetrating cardiac injuries (PCIs) are highly lethal, and a sternotomy is considered mandatory for suspected PCI. Recent literature suggests pericardial window (PCW) may be sufficient for superficial cardiac injuries to drain hemopericardium and assess for continued bleeding and instability. This study objective is to review patients with PCI managed with sternotomy and PCW and compare outcomes. Methods All patients with penetrating chest trauma from 2000 to 2016 requiring PCW or sternotomy were reviewed. Data were collected for patients who had PCW for hemopericardium managed with only pericardial drain, or underwent sternotomy for cardiac injuries grade 1–3 according to the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) Cardiac Organ Injury Scale (OIS). The PCW+drain group was compared with the Sternotomy group using Fisher’s exact and Wilcoxon rank-sum test with P Results Sternotomy was performed in 57 patients for suspected PCI, including 7 with AAST OIS grade 1–3 injuries (Sternotomy group). Four patients had pericardial injuries, three had partial thickness cardiac injuries, two of which were suture-repaired. Average blood drained was 285 mL (100–500 mL). PCW was performed in 37 patients, and 21 had hemopericardium; 16 patients proceeded to sternotomy and 5 were treated with pericardial drainage (PCW+drain group). All PCW+drain patients had suction evacuation of hemopericardium, pericardial lavage, and verified bleeding cessation, followed by pericardial drain placement and admission to intensive care unit (ICU). Average blood drained was 240 mL (40–600 mL), and pericardial drains were removed on postoperative day 3.6 (2–5). There was no significant difference in demographics, injury mechanism, Revised Trauma Score exploratory laparotomies, hospital or ICU length of stay, or ventilator days. No in-hospital mortality occurred in either group. Conclusions Hemodynamically stable patients with penetrating chest trauma and hemopericardium may be safely managed with PCW, lavage and drainage with documented cessation of bleeding, and postoperative ICU monitoring. Level of evidence Therapeutic study, level IV.
Morphological Patterns of the Anterior Median Fissure in the Cervical Spinal Cord Evaluated by Computed Tomography After Myelography.

OBJECTIVE Computed tomography following myelography (CTM) revealed an unusual flow of contrast dye into the anterior median fissure (AMF) in a patient with cervical spondylotic myelopathy. Since then, several AMF configurations have been observed on CTM. Therefore, we evaluated morphological patterns of the AMF on CTM and investigated the significance and mechanisms of contrast dye flow into the AMF. METHODS Morphological patterns of the AMF on CTM were examined in 79 patients. Group A (24 patients) underwent surgery because of symptomatic cervical myelopathy. Group B (43 patients) had no clinical symptoms but showed spinal cord compression on CTM. Group C (12 patients), who showed neither clinical symptoms nor cord changes, underwent CTM for lumbar lesion evaluation. AMF patterns were classified into 4 types according to their configurations on CTM (reversed T, Y, V, and O types). RESULTS In group B, the reversed T type and Y type appeared significantly more often near the compressed portion (p<0.001). A similar tendency was seen in group A. The V and O types were most frequently observed in group C (p<0.001). CONCLUSION On CTM, contrast dye tends to flow into the AMF of the cervical cord when the spinal cord is compressed. We speculate that there may be 3 possible mechanisms for this phenomenon: deformation of the epipial layer of the AMF due to cervical cord compression, AMF dilatation due to atrophy of the anterior funiculus or anterior horn, and temporary AMF dilatation when it becomes an alternative route for cerebrospinal fluid circulation.
Experimental investigation of turbulent flow over surfaces of rigid and flexible roughness

Abstract This study presents a comparative experiment to investigate turbulent channel flows over surfaces of rigid and flexible roughness. Using digital inline holographic particle tracking velocimetry in a refractive-index-matched flow channel, the turbulent flow and roughness deformation are measured simultaneously. The mean velocity profiles of the two cases match closely, but the flow over flexible roughness shows a substantial reduction of Reynolds stresses with a corresponding decrease of coherence in roughness-induced flow structures. For flexible roughness, the streamwise roughness deformation exhibits higher energy levels at lower frequencies where the fluid velocity spectra peak, while the spanwise deformation shows a more prominent peak at the natural frequency of the roughness elements. Combining the measurements of turbulent flow and roughness kinematics, we show a close match of the strain energy of the flexible roughness with the deficit of turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) due to roughness compliance, and a connection between large roughness deformation and elevated levels of Reynolds stresses. Overall, these analyses demonstrate the anisotropic process of turbulence-roughness interaction, in which the TKE is dampened and primarily converted into streamwise deformation of roughness, and is partially returned to the smaller scale turbulence through spanwise oscillation of roughness at its natural frequency.
Fourfold amplification of solitary-wave Mach reflection at a vertical wall

With the use of a higher-order Euler formulation, we numerically study the reflection of an obliquely incident solitary wave at a vertical wall and compare results with the higher-order Kadomtsev–Petviashvili theory. A maximum amplification of 3.91 is achieved along the wall, nearly realizing the fourfold prediction by Miles (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 79 (1), 1977, pp. 171–179).
Anxiety moderates the influence of ASD severity on quality of life in adults with ASD

Abstract Background Comorbidity of anxiety and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children and adolescents is well-documented. Preliminary evidence suggests rates of comorbidity in adults with ASD may be comparable. Little is known about the manifestation of anxiety symptoms in adults with ASD or the potential for these symptoms to impact quality of life in this population. The current study aimed to examine the role of anxiety symptoms in quality of life among young adults with ASD. Method We collected online survey data from a large sample (N = 224) of parents of young adults with ASD and a subsample of adults with ASD. We examined prevalence of anxiety symptoms based on reported prior diagnoses and proportion of individuals exceeding clinical cutoffs on anxiety measures. Regression models were used to evaluate anxiety as a moderator of the relationship between ASD symptoms and quality of life. Results Based on parent- and self-report data, 48% of adults with ASD exceeded clinical cutoffs for anxiety. Anxiety moderated the relationship between ASD severity and the social relations domain of quality of life such that ASD severity predicted quality of life only among individuals with low levels of anxiety. Conclusions Results provide preliminary evidence that anxiety symptoms relate to quality of life in adults with ASD independently of core ASD symptomatology. Future research should further characterize anxiety symptoms among adults with ASD, as well as evaluate the impact of anxiety symptoms on quality of life and overall outcome through the use of prospective longitudinal studies.
Linear-Response and Real-Time, Time-Dependent Density Functional Theory for Predicting Optoelectronic Properties of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Abstract Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) show immense promise for efficiently converting solar energy to electricity. Ideally, one would like to use computational design beforehand to satisfy the various energy requirements and to optimize the electronic processes that would yield efficient charge separation. An important area where theory should contribute is the prediction of charge-transfer effects arising from different donor/acceptor groups in order to guide chemical synthesis. In this chapter, we focus on the photoexcitation processes occurring in conventional DSSCs in which the absorption of a photon promotes an electron into an excited state. These types of simulations require the use of accurate, yet efficient, time-dependent quantum-dynamical methods. Here, we examine two time-dependent density functional theory methods applied to DSSC dyes: (1) a linear-response approach that yields excited-state properties by solving a frequency-domain equation, and (2) a real-time approach that also gives excited-state properties, but using a time-domain approach.