cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Impact of concurrent treatment with omeprazole on phenylbutazone-induced equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS)

Background Phenylbutazone is commonly prescribed for treatment of various painful or inflammatory disorders in horses, but is associated with gastrointestinal (GI) adverse effects. Anecdotally, many practitioners prescribe omeprazole concurrently with phenylbutazone to reduce development of equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS), but the efficacy and safety of this practice remains unknown. Objectives To evaluate the effect of omeprazole on phenylbutazone-induced equine glandular gastric disease (EGGD) and equine squamous gastric disease (ESGD). Study design Randomised block experimental design. Methods Twenty-two horses with EGGD and ESGD scores ≤2 were included. Horses were assigned to treatment groups: phenylbutazone (4.4 mg/kg PO q 12 h; PBZ), phenylbutazone plus omeprazole (4 mg/kg PO q. 24 h; PBZ/OME) or placebo (CON) in a randomised block design based upon initial EGGD score. Horses were treated for up to 14 days. Gastroscopy was performed weekly; CBC and biochemistry were performed at Day 0 and study end. Horses were monitored for signs of colic and/or diarrhoea. Results EGGD score increased in PBZ (median change 1, inter-quartile range, [IQR], 0-2) compared to PBZ/OME (median change 0, IQR -1 to 0; P = .05). PBZ/OME (6/8) had more intestinal complications than CON (0/6; difference between proportions = 75%; 95% CI, 23%-93%; P = .03). Plasma protein concentrations decreased in PBZ, compared to CON (mean difference between groups, 14 g/L; 95% CI, 1.04-27; P = .03). Five horses were withdrawn from the study due to intestinal complications (n = 3 PBZ/OME and n = 2 PBZ); one horse (PBZ) was withdrawn due to severe grade 4 EGGD. Main limitations Small sample size and changes in management for the 2-3 days prior to study initiation; variable treatment duration among groups due to development of complications. Conclusions Administration of omeprazole ameliorated PBZ-induced EGGD, but was associated with an increase in intestinal complications. Caution should be exercised when co-prescribing NSAIDs and omeprazole in horses, particularly in association with change in management.
Retrospective analysis of reported suicide deaths and attempts on veterans health administration campuses and inpatient units.

Introduction Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the USA. Inpatient suicide is the fourth most common sentinel event reported to the Joint Commission. This study reviewed root cause analysis (RCA) reports of suicide events by hospital unit to provide suicide prevention recommendations for each area. Methods This is a retrospective analysis of reported suicide deaths and attempts in the US Veterans Health Administration (VHA) hospitals. We searched the VHA National Center for Patient Safety RCA database for suicide deaths and attempts on inpatient units, outpatient clinics and hospital grounds, between December 1999 and December 2018. Results We found 847 RCA reports of suicide attempts (n=758) and deaths (n=89) in VHA hospitals, hanging accounted for 71% of deaths on mental health units and 50% of deaths on medical units. Overdose accounted for 55% of deaths and 68% of attempts in residential units and the only method resulting in death in emergency departments. In VHA community living centres, hanging, overdose and asphyxiation accounted for 64% of deaths. Gunshot accounted for 59% of deaths on hospital grounds and 100% of deaths in clinic areas. All inpatient locations cited issues in assessment and treatment of suicidal patients and environmental risk evaluation. Conclusions Inpatient mental health and medical units should remove anchor points for hanging where possible. On residential units and emergency departments, assessing suicide risk, conducting thorough contraband searches and maintaining observation of suicidal patients is critical. In community living centres, suicidal patients should be under supervision in an environment free of anchor points, medications and means of asphyxiation. Suicide prevention on hospital grounds and outpatient clinics can be achieved through the control of firearms.
Initial phase II experience of ipilimumab (IPI) alone and in combination with radiotherapy (XRT) in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC)

5138 Background: IPI is a fully human, monoclonal anti-CTLA-4 antibody capable of enhancing anti-tumor immunity. In preclinical models, XRT releases tumor antigens and enhances anti-tumor activity ...
Outcomes in Patients With Non-small-cell Lung Cancer With Brain Metastases Treated With Pembrolizumab-based Therapy.

Abstract Background Patients with metastatic non–small-cell lung cancer (mNSCLC) and untreated brain metastases (BM) have been excluded from most trials of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Real-world evidence on efficacy and survival outcomes of ICIs in patients with BM is limited. Patients and Methods We conducted a single-center retrospective study of patients with mNSCLC treated with pembrolizumab with or without chemotherapy and compared progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) between patients with and without BM using Kaplan-Meier and Cox methodology. We also characterized systemic and intracranial objective response rate (ORR) and treatment details, including timing of cranial irradiation. Results Between Augutst 2013 and December 2018, 570 patients with mNSCLC treated with pembrolizumab-based therapy were analyzed. Of 126 (22.1%) patients with BM, 96 (76.2%) had treated BM (local therapy prior to pembrolizumab), and 30 (23.8%) had untreated BM. Of patients with untreated BM, 17 (56.7%) underwent radiation within 30 days after pembrolizumab initiation. In the remaining 13 (43.3%) treated with pembrolizumab-based therapy alone, intracranial ORR was 36.4%. Patients with and without BM did not have significantly different systemic ORR (27.8% vs. 29.7%; P = .671), PFS (mPFS 9.2 vs. 7.7 months; P = .609), or OS (mOS 18.0 vs. 18.7 months; P = .966). Factors associated with improved survival on Cox analysis included female gender, performance status, adenocarcinoma histology, and first-line therapy. Conclusions Patients with BM did not have inferior survival to patients without BM after treatment with pembrolizumab-based therapy. In the current era, BM may not automatically confer inferior survival, and should not exclude patients from receiving pembrolizumab-based therapy.
Further stabilization and exact observability results for voltage-actuated piezoelectric beams with magnetic effects

It is well known that magnetic energy of the piezoelectric beam is relatively small, and it does not change the overall dynamics. Therefore, the models, relying on electrostatic or quasi-static approaches, completely ignore the magnetic energy stored/produced in the beam. A single piezoelectric beam model without the magnetic effects is known to be exactly observable and exponentially stabilizable in the energy space. However, the model with the magnetic effects is proved to be not exactly observable/exponentially stabilizable in the energy space for almost all choices of material parameters. Moreover, even strong stability is not achievable for many values of the material parameters. In this paper, it is shown that the uncontrolled system is exactly observable in a space larger than the energy space. Then, by using a $$B^*$$ -type feedback controller, explicit polynomial decay estimates are obtained for more regular initial data. Unlike the classical counterparts, this choice of feedback corresponds to the current flowing through the electrodes, and it matches better with the physics of the model. The results obtained in this manuscript have direct implications on the controllability/stabilizability of smart structures such as elastic beams/plates with piezoelectric patches and the active constrained layer (ACL) damped beams/plates.
Radial Gaussian Beam Metasurface Antenna

A general method for designing metasurface antennas with radially-polarized, azimuthally invariant aperture fields is introduced. The antennas consist of a metasurface (a cascade of inhomogeneous electric sheets) above a coaxially-fed, cylindrical cavity. The metasurface covering the cylindrical cavity matches the antenna to the feed and establishes the desired aperture field through modal conversion. The impedance profiles of the electric sheets comprising the metasurface are found through optimization. The optimization routine is accelerated through the use of the Discrete Hankel Transform (DHT) and modal network theory.
Critical theory as Post-Marxism: The Frankfurt School and beyond

Critical theory as a Post-Marxist discourse is a category of academic thought that broadly involves theoretical scholarship aimed at interrogating the structures and discourses of power. As such, i...
Math to Code to Petaflops

AI is a great example of how rapid advances in software tools and hardware have synergized to create a revolution in computing. High-level tools which are built on others allow higher abstraction and quick experimentation, making it easy for AI engineers to forge ahead. The speed of execution of brilliant ideas matters.
Racial Differences in Adherence to Lung Cancer Screening Follow-up: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background In 2013, the United States Preventive Services Taskforce instituted recommendations for annual lung cancer screening (LCS) with low-dose chest CT imaging for high-risk individuals. LCS reduces lung cancer mortality, with greater reduction observed in Black participants in clinical trials. Although racial disparities in lung cancer mortality have been well documented, less is known about disparities in LCS participation and adherence to follow-up in clinical practice. Research Question What is the association between race and adherence to LCS follow-up? Study Design and Methods A systematic review was conducted through a search of published studies in MEDLINE, PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature Database from database inception through October 2020. We included studies that examined rates of adherence to LCS follow-up and compared rates by race. Studies were pooled using random-effects meta-analysis. Results We screened 18,300 titles and abstracts, and 229 studies were selected for full-text review. Nine studies met inclusion criteria; seven were included in the meta-analysis. Median adherent follow-up rate was 37% (range, 16%-82%). Notable differences among the studies included the proportion of the Black population (range, 4%-47%) and the structure of the LCS programs. The meta-analyses showed lower adherence to LCS follow-up in the Black population (OR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.55-0.80). This disparity persisted across all malignancy risk levels determined by initial screening results. Interpretation Lower adherence to LCS follow-up in Black compared with White patients occurs despite the higher potential lung cancer mortality benefit. Literature specifically addressing race-related barriers to LCS adherence remains limited. To ensure equity in LCS benefits, greater outreach to eligible Black patients should be implemented through increased physician education and use of screening program coordinators to focus on this patient population. Trial Registry PROSPERO; No.: CRD42020214213; URL: http://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO
Filtering, smoothing and deconvolution in a discrete H ∞ setting: a game theory approach

The problem of filtering, smoothing and deconvolution for a discrete-time linear system in a discrete H∞ setting is derived. The masurement noise and process noise have bounded energies. The case with known initial conditions is considered The approach uses basic quadratic game theory in a discrete time-domain H∞ setting.
Biological autoxidation: II. Cholesterol esters as inert barrier antioxidants. Self-assembly of porous membrane sacs. An hypothesis

Abstract The antioxidation defenses recognized thus far appear too weak. Needed are inert barriers to encapsulate foci of activated oxygen (FAOs) and contain their spreading. These capsules must: 1 . self-assemble nonenzymatically and spontaneously in face of adversity; 2 . resist oxidation and dissolution in water; and 3 . be moderately fluid and elastic enough to withstand flexing by tissues. Evidence shows activated oxygen: a . is produced by common cholesterolester (CE)-raising agents; b . boosts accumulation of CEs; and c . splits low-density lipoproteins (LDL), thus releasing CE-rich coalescence-prone lipid micelles. I am proposing that CEs, combined with polar lipids, are uniquely suited to form inert-lipid antioxidation barriers (ILABs). Porous ILAB capsules self-assemble from lipid micelles released by oxidatively degraded LDL. The capsules are thermodynamically unstable but elastic, durable and capable of self-repair through oxidation of ambient LDL. All capsules tend to contract into spheres. Enclosed needle-like “foreign bodies”, such as asbestos, puncture the contracting capsules. Hence the odd bulbous architecture of asbestos bodies. ILABs protect from—and their failure initiates and promotes—carcinogenesis and atherosclerosis. ILABs may be mediators of membrane biogenesis. The loss of arterial flexibility in atherosclerosis protects ILAB capsules from breakage.
"It Takes More Than a Little Parsley:" the Public Marketing Strategies of the Shenango China Company

The idea of a“Rust Belt,” an area of the United States encompassing a stretch of land from New York to Illinois marked by large amounts of industrial closure, points to a paradox common in American...
Sources of work-related acute fatigue in United States hospital nurses

This study identified the nursing work activities that could be the primary sources of work-related acute fatigue in US hospital nurses.Continuous recording of working heart rate and random observations of nursing activities were applied to collect data from eight nurses during two consecutive 12 h day shifts. Using descriptive statistics and random-effect analysis of variance, the contributions of individual nursing work activities to acute fatigue were compared based on the activity frequencies and nurses' corresponding heart rate elevations. Of 860 observed nursing-related work activities, manual patient-handling, bedside-care, care- coordinating, and walking/standing activities accounted for 5%, 16%, 38%, and 41%, respectively. After controlling for the differences of participant and shift, the percentage of working heart rate to maximal heart rate of manual patient-handling (64.3%), bedside-care (59.7%), and walking/standing (57.4%) activities were significantly higher than that of care-coordinating activities (52.3%, F(3, 38.0) = 7.5, P < 0.001). These findings suggest that bedside care and walking/standing, other than manual patient handling, contributed most to the level of acute fatigue.
P 4 -trees and substitution decomposition

Abstract This paper introduces a new data structure called a P4-tree, and uses the data structure as part of an algorithm to find the substitution decomposition of a graph in O(mα(m,n)) time.
Production of rovibronic-ground-state RbCs molecules via two-photon-cascade decay

We report the production of ultracold RbCs molecules in the rovibronic ground state, i.e., $X{\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}}^{1}{\ensuremath{\Sigma}}^{+}(v=0,J=0)$, by short-range photoassociation to the $2{\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}}^{3}{\ensuremath{\Pi}}_{0}$ state followed by spontaneous emission. We use narrow-band depletion spectroscopy to probe the distribution of rotational levels formed in the $X{\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}}^{1}{\ensuremath{\Sigma}}^{+}(v=0)$ state. We conclude, based on selection rules, that the primary decay route to $X{\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}}^{1}{\ensuremath{\Sigma}}^{+}(v=0)$ is a two-step cascade decay that leads to as much as $33%$ branching into the $J=0$ rotational level. The experimental simplicity of our scheme opens up the possibility of easier access to the study and manipulation of ultracold heteronuclear molecules in the rovibronic ground state.
Word of mouth marketing and international adoption agencies

Word-of-mouth is an important tool in marketing efforts to build a brand and clientele base. Nonprofits have relied on word of mouth as free advertising and need to focus on what keeps clients coming back. The demand for adoption of Chinese infants and children is high and competition among nonprofit American adoption agencies can be fierce. Nonprofit organizations need proven strategies to attract new clients and keep those they have. But, does positive word-of-mouth about nonprofit adoption agencies affect an individuals’ choice of agency and does word-of-mouth promote client retention? Data for 971 cases of international adoptions indicates word of mouth may initially lead someone to choose one agency over another, and the source of the word-of-mouth is influential in that decision but not strongly. Whether a nonprofit agency is successful in recruiting new or retaining existing clients depends more on the service experience of each client. The quality of the communication was the single strongest predictor of whether clients were satisfied, would recommend the agency, and whether they would choose that agency again. This research helps fill a gap in understanding the relationship between nonprofit adoption agencies and their clients.
Arithmetic achievement and creativity: explorations with elementary school children.

Comparison of scores obtained from 184 Ss in Grades 4 through 6 on Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking, Verbal and Nonverbal, Form A and Seeing Through Arithmetic Tests produced significant correlations of small to moderate magnitude between verbal originality and mathematics (rs = .23 to .43, df = 183).
Nurses' attitudes and beliefs about influenza and the influenza vaccine: A summary of focus groups in Alabama and Michigan

Background The U.S. Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends influenza immunization among United States health care workers (HCWs) to reduce the spread of influenza to and from workers and patients. Despite these recommendations, influenza immunization coverage of health care workers is less than 50%. Participants and Methods Eight focus groups of registered nurses (RNs) were conducted in Birmingham, Alabama (n = 34) and Detroit, Michigan (n = 37). In each city, the focus groups consisted of 2 groups each of vaccinated and unvaccinated RNs. Results These focus groups revealed that many nurses were concerned about influenza vaccine effectiveness and safety; their lack of information about the vaccine plays a part in their willingness to promote it to patients. Unvaccinated nurses tended to be less aware of the ACIP recommendations for HCW vaccination, and overall, nurses were not aware of the rationale for HCW vaccination. Attitudes were mixed regarding mandatory influenza vaccination programs, including the hope that such programs would result in higher vaccination rates and concern about potential disciplinary action if vaccine was declined. Participants believed that increasing convenience was the key to increasing HCW vaccination. Conclusions Our findings confirm the importance of comprehensive approaches that combine education and convenience, and suggest that emphasizing the rationale for HCW vaccination may contribute to increasing vaccination rates.
Reserve Design to Maximize Species Persistence

We develop a reserve design strategy to maximize the probability of species persistence predicted by a stochastic, individual-based, metapopulation model. Because the population model does not fit exact optimization procedures, our strategy involves deriving promising solutions from theory, obtaining promising solutions from a simulation optimization heuristic, and determining the best of the promising solutions using a multiple-comparison statistical test. We use the strategy to address a problem of allocating limited resources to new and existing reserves. The best reserve design depends on emigration, dispersal mortality, and probabilities of movement between reserves. When movement probabilities are symmetric, the best design is to expand a subset of reserves to equal size to exhaust the habitat budget. When movement probabilities are not symmetric, the best design does not expand reserves to equal size and is strongly affected by movement probabilities and emigration rates. We use commercial simulation software to obtain our results.
Of Worms and Men: HLH-30 and TFEB Regulate Tolerance to Infection

In this issue of Immunity, Visvikis et al. (2014) use the model host Caenorhabditis elegans to discover a role in innate immunity for the basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor, HLH-30. The finding inspires study of the mammalian ortholog TFEB, in which a similar role in immune response is ascertained.
DB-110 performance update

The image performance analysis of the second set of flights for the DB-110 demonstration reconnaissance camera system is presented. The DB-110 demonstration sensor consists of a dual band (visible/MWIR) LOROP camera developed by Raytheon for continuous day/night operation. The second image collection set was conducted this summer at various areas in the UK with the DB-110 mounted in a pod on the Strike Attack Operational Evaluation Unit (SAOEU) Tornado Squadron Aircraft. These result are compared to the predicted performance and prior imagery collected in the winter of 1997 at other sites in the UK with the DERA Tornado GR1 Aircraft. The NIIRS scale was used as the image performance metric. The predicted performance shows good agreement with the measured data. Sample imagery from both the winter and summer collections are also presented.
AN OBJECTIVE METHOD OF ASSESSING A STRESS SYNDROME RELATED TO ACHIEVEMENT MOTIVATION.

An approach to the definition and assessment of a stress syndrome related to achievement motivation is described. Because of the importance it has assumed in some recent psychosomatic hypotheses and because of its broader implications for personality theory and research, a relatively simple and objective means of measuring the intensity of stress referable to this syndrome seemed necessary. Toward this end a standard psychophysiological test procedure was devised. The method yields objective measures of degree and duration of heart-rate elevation in response to tasks emphasizing speed and accuracy pressures. An initial experiment demonstrated the validity of some theoretical constructs underlying the procedure. A retest study demonstrated its replicability and its potential for measuring adaptation to stress. The results indicate that the sustained heart-rate response, as utilized in this procedure, is a sensitive and convenient measure of stress associated with achievement motivation. It is suggested tha...
Long‐term neurobehavioral effects of perinatal polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) exposure in monkeys

In recent years, there has been growing concern about the potential long-term neurobe-havioral effects of perinatal polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) exposure. We have addressed this issue in a series of studies at the Harlow Primate Laboratory. Offspring of rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatto) exposed to commercial PCB mixtures (Aroclor 1016 or Aroclor 1248) were tested on two-choice discrimination-reversal learning at 1.5 years of age and on delayed spatial alternation, a spatial learning and memory task, at four to six years of age. Deficits in performance were observed on both tasks. The deficit observed on delayed spatial alternation in Aroclor 1248-exposed monkeys was quite dramatic. The monkeys were tested for 80 test sessions, but were never able to achieve control levels of performance. This effect was observed when the monkeys were four to six years of age (young adulthood), even though they had not been exposed to PCBs since they were weaned at four months of age. The pattern of effects on both discrimination-reversal learning and delayed spatial alternation was suggestive of damage to the prefrontal cortex.
Attenuating the visual suffix effect with color.

In previous studies using a short-duration visual presentation (200-340 msec), presentation of a different colored suffix did not attenuate the visual suffix effect. In Experiment 1, color attenuated the suffix effect for a longer duration visual presentation (approximately 3-4 sec) during which the subject engaged in articulatory suppression to prevent auditory recoding. Experiments 2 and 3 confirmed that color does not attenuate the suffix effect for the short-duration presentations. In Experiment 4, recall of a long-duration presentation was not improved when the last digit was a different color, suggesting that the different color of the suffix improves recall by allowing the suffix to be excluded from visual short-term memory. The attenuation by color is consistent with the hypothesis that preattentive grouping governs the entry of information into visual short-term memory.
Pressure Sensitivity of Axial-Flow and Centrifugal-Flow Left Ventricular Assist Devices

Continuous-flow ventricular assist devices (CF-VADs) defy normal physiologic principles associated with pulsatile flow. Despite being programmed at set speeds, pump flow can be modified by variations in the pressure differential across the pump, termed pressure sensitivity (PS). Currently, PS has been reported using steady-state closed-loop systems that are unable to provide physiologically-relevant assessment of PS or account for partially- or fully-unloaded ventricles. We report a unique model system to examine PS and its influence on efficiency of CF-VADs. A mock-circulation loop was designed that measures low and high extremes of pressure differential. Two axial-flow and two centrifugal-flow VADs were tested. Device output flow rate, preload, and afterload were measured and PS was calculated. Numerical models were implemented to simulate “fully-loaded,” “partially-unloaded,” and “fully-unloaded” cardiac cycles. Our open-loop model successfully generated pressure gradients that were lower than typical when using static, closed-loop systems. All devices exhibit highest PS during early diastole; however, average PS values of centrifugal-flow were 3× greater than axial-flow devices. The average maximum PS for the axial and centrifugal VADs under physiologic conditions was 0.08 and 0.42 L/min/mmHg, respectively. Compared to the axial-flow pumps, the two centrifugal-flow VADs in our study demonstrate increased PS at intermediate to low flow rates. Enhanced device PS allows for more effective self-regulation of device output, thus allowing a given VAD to better mimic the native heart under exercise conditions, and minimize undesirable effects, including ventricular suck-down or atrial collapse.
Clinical and radiographic evaluation of the Harris-Galante Cup

Abstract A retrospective evaluation of the clinical and radiographic results of the Harris-Galante acetabular cups was performed in 112 patients with 127 total hip arthroplasties. Patients with 14 hips had died, and patients with 20 hips were lost to follow-up. A total of 82 patients with 93 hips was available for follow-up. There were 67 men and 45 women. The mean follow-up was 87 months (range, 48–113 months). There were a total of 9 revisions: 2 for recurrent dislocations, 1 for a loose cup, and 6 for wear and osteolysis. Radiographic evaluation demonstrated that 22 (24%) hips had periacetabular osteolysis, and 16 of these 22 (73%) were associated with the screws. Twenty-two hips (23%) demonstrated osteolytic lesions around the femoral stem. Mean femoral head displacement was of 1.00 mm (range, 0.40–4.5 mm) with a rate of 0.16 mm/yr (range, 0.05–0.44 mm/yr). The Harris-Galante socket has maintained a low implant failure rate at intermediate term, even in these young patients. As follow-up increases, wear of the polyethylene and periprosthetic osteolysis may become growing concerns.
Estimating undisclosed earnings data

A problem with constructing regional economic models from secondary sources is that of undisclosed data. For example, the RIMS II technique for developing nonsurvey input-output models, requires disaggregated industry earnings data. County Business Patterns employment and earnings data are suppressed for industries with few firms or with a dominate firm, requiring that earnings be estimated for some industries. We examine eleven representative methods for estimating undisclosed earnings. A simple earnings ratio technique using more aggregated data from the same state is shown to provide reasonable estimates of industry earnings.
Unconscious cerebral initiative and the role of conscious will in voluntary action

Voluntary acts are preceded by electrophysiological “ readiness potentials” (RPs). With spontaneous acts involving no preplanning, the main negative RP shift begins at about -550 ms. Such RPs were used to indicate the minimum onset times for the cerebral activity that precedes a fully endogenous voluntary act. The time of conscious intention to act was obtained from the subject’s recall of the spatial clock position of a revolving spot at the time of his initial awareness of intending or wanting to move (W). W occurred at about -200 ms. Control experiments, in which a skin stimulus was timed (S), helped evaluate each subject’s error in reporting the clock times for awareness of any perceived event.
In situ boron doping during heteroepitaxial growth of diamond on Ir/YSZ/Si

In situ boron doping of heteroepitaxial diamond films grown by microwave plasma chemical vapor deposition on Ir/YSZ/Si (001) is investigated. The study comprises the analysis of the gas phase by optical emission spectroscopy (OES) and measurements of B doped films by secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS), cathodoluminescence (CL), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The OE intensity of BH species scales linearly with the concentration of the boron precursor trimethylboron (TMB) in the feed gas. Addition of CO2 as an oxygen source causes a proportional reduction of the BH signal. At a ratio C:O = 1, a reduction factor of ∼50 is obtained. It is shown for two diamond samples that the boron incorporation drops nearly identical to the BH emission intensity. We conclude that the influence of oxygen on boron incorporation is a pure gas phase effect. In contrast, CN and BH emission indicate a negligible interaction between N2 and TMB added to the feed gas. At the same time, preliminary growth rate measurements show that the boron background pressure in the chamber after growth with TMB completely cancels the growth acceleration by nitrogen up to N2 concentrations of 100 ppm which points to the dominance of surface processes. Heteroepitaxial diamond films grown on Ir at 50 mbar between 720 and 900 °C contain high intrinsic stress that varies from −2.2 GPa compressive at the lowest to slightly tensile at the highest deposition temperature. The observed behavior is similar to former work at 200 mbar in which effective climb of dislocations was suggested as responsible mechanism. Addition of boron rather enhances the stress formation than causing a relaxation. The B concentration in the heteroepitaxial films is deduced by SIMS, CL, and XRD and correlated with the TMB concentration in the gas phase.
Applying machine learning techniques in detecting Bacterial Vaginosis

There are several diseases which arise because of changes in the microbial communities in the body. Scientists continue to conduct research in a quest to find the catalysts that provoke these changes in the naturally occurring microbiota. Bacterial Vaginosis (BY) is a disease that fits the above criteria. BV afflicts approximately 29% of women in child bearing age. Unfortunately, its causes are unknown. This paper seeks to uncover the most important features for diagnosis and in turn employ classification algorithms on those features. In order to fulfill our purpose, we conducted two experiments on the data. We isolated the clinical and medical features from the full set of raw data, we compared the accuracy, precision, recall and F-measure and time elapsed for each feature selection and classification grouping. We noticed that classification results were as good or better after performing feature selection although there was a wide range in the number of features produced from the feature selection process. After comparing the experiments, the algorithms performed best on the medical dataset.
Daily deposition of dentine in juvenile Alligator and assessment of tooth replacement rates using incremental line counts

Incremental lines were found in the dentine of Alligator mississippiensis and Caiman crocodilus. Fluorochrome markers indicate that these increments form daily in juvenile alligators. By counting the total number of incremental lines in a functional tooth and subtracting the number in the successive replacement tooth, it is possible to ascertain the replacement rate for the tooth position. Counts done on teeth of mean size for individuals give reasonable estimates of the mean replacement rates for the entire dentition. The tooth replacement rates were monitored for 11 months in juvenile alligators to test this methodology. The hypothesized reduction of tooth replacement rate with ontogeny was supported. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Electron Microscope Autoradiography of DNA Synthesis in the Replication Band of Two Hypotrichous Ciliates

The synthesis of DNA in two hypotrichous ciliates, Styx sp. and an amicronucleated strain of Oxytricha sp., was studied by high voltage (1000 kV) electron microscopy. High voltage EM permits use of thick sections (0.25-0.40 micron), including serial sections; thick sections produce strong autoradiographic images with relatively short exposure times. The autoradiographs show that DNA synthesis occurs in a narrow part of the rear zone of a replication band in the macronucleus. Macronuclear DNA synthesis occupies a substantial part of the interdivision interval, and micronuclear DNA synthesis in Styx sp. takes place in early prophase at a time when macronuclear DNA synthesis is in its terminal phase.
Synthesis and assay of wound-tumor soluble antigen in an insect vector

Abstract Growth curves for wound-tumor soluble antigen (WTSA) in Agallia constricta after injection of massive doses of wound-tumor virus (WTV) rose steeply, and attained a plateau level after 8–10 days. The “transmission curve,” reflecting average inoculativity of the group of injected insects as a function of time in days after injection, attained a maximum about 35 days after injection, then dropped slowly. Analyses of single vectors by the precipitin ring test showed that nearly all insects injected with massive doses of WTV supported WTSA synthesis. No insects negative for WTSA were found to transmit WTV to plants, but a number of insects positive for WTSA failed to transmit. Proportions of infected vectors could be estimated either by serological analysis of single insects, or by obtaining the WTSA titer of mass extracts.
Dietary n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids increase T-lymphocyte phospholipid mass and acyl-CoA binding protein expression.

Dietary flaxseed oil, which is enriched in α-linolenic acid, and fish oil, which is enriched inEPA and DHA, possess anti-inflammatory properties when compared with safflower oil, which is enriched in linoleic acid. The influence of flaxseed oil and fish oil feeding on lipid metabolism in T-lymphocytes is currently unknown. This study directly compared the effects of feeding safflower oil, flaxseed oil, and fish oil for 8 wk on splenic T-lymphocyte proliferation, phospholipid mass, and acyl-CoA binding protein expression in the rat. The data show that both flaxseed oil and fish oil increased acyl-CoA binding protein expression and phosphatidic acid mass in unstimulated T-lymphocytes when compared with safflower oil feeding. Fish oil feeding increased cardiolipin mass, whereas flaxseed oil had no effect. After stimulation, flaxseed oil and fish oil blunted T-lymphocyte interleukin-2 production and subsequent proliferation, which was associated with the lack of incraased acyl-CoA binding protein expression. The results reported show evidence for a novel mechanism by which dietary flaxseed oil and fish oil suppress T-lymphocyte proliferation via changes in acyl-CoA binding protein expression and phospholipid mass.
IMMUNOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF THERMAL INJURY : I. INHIBITION OF SPERMATOGENESIS IN GUINEA PIGS

Unilateral thermal injury to guinea pig testes has elicited the formation of organ- and species-specific antibodies against a testicular antigen. The antibodies were of an IgG1 nature, and reacted with autologous as well as homologous testicular extracts. A significant number of burned animals showed pathological changes in the contralateral testis, which were similar to those observed after the induction of experimental allergic orchitis by active immunization with testicular tissue. These results indicate that thermal injury may be associated with autoimmunization of the host by the injured organ.
The icosahedron in inorganic chemistry

Icosahedral clusters of atoms are found in the following types of inorganic structures: (1) boron derivatives including the borane anion B12H122− and its derivatives, the carboranes C2B10H12, elemental boron, certain types of boron-rich metal borides such as Mg2B14, and boron carbide; (2) alkali metal gallides such as RbGa7 and K3Ga13; (3) icosahedral quasicrystals containing large amounts of aluminum; (4) icosahedral transition metal carbonyl clusters of nickel and rhodium such as Ni9(AsPh)3(CO)152− and Rh12Sb(CO)273−; (5) icosahedral gold clusters such as Au12(Au)Cl2(PMe2Ph)103+. Analysis of the chemical bonding in these diverse icosahedral atomic clusters using graph-theoxy derived methods indicates delocalized bonding leading to relatively high chemical stabilities. In addition an icosahedron is found in the MO12 coordination polyhedron (MCe(IV), Th(IV), U(IV)) in the Silverton polyoxometalates MMo12O428−. The icosahedron is related to the cuboctahedron by a six-fold diamond-square process; cuboctahedra are found in a number of inorganic structures including the centered rhodium carbonyl cluster Rh12(Rh)(CO)24H32− and the Keggin polyoxometallates XM12O40n− (n=3 to 7; MMo, W; XB, Si, Ge, P, FeIII, CoIII, CuII, etc.). The reducibility of Keggin polyoxometallates to molybdenum and tungsten ‘blues’ can be related to delocalization involving overlap of the dxy orbitals on the twelve (μn-O)5MO vertices of a large cuboctahedron. The pure rotation point group of the icosahedron (I) is isomorphic to the group of even permutations of five objects (A5) and is of group-theoretical significance in being the non-trivial simple group having the smallest number of operations.
WAGR(O?) syndrome and congenital ptosis caused by an unbalanced t(11;15)(p13;p11.2)dn demonstrating a 7 megabase deletion by FISH

Aniridia usually occurs in isolation, but may also occur as part of the WAGR contiguous gene deletion syndrome, which includes Wilms tumor, aniridia, genitourinary abnormalities, and mental retardation. The aniridia and predisposition for Wilms tumor seen in WAGR are caused by haploinsufficiency for PAX 6 and WT1, respectively. We present a female infant with aniridia, bilateral ptosis, bilateral posterior capsular cataracts, nystagmus, left-sided glaucoma, microcephaly, mild unilateral hydronephrosis, poor linear growth, and gross motor delay consistent with a clinical diagnosis of WAGR syndrome. In addition, weight-for-height ratio at 12 months is at the 94th centile, raising the possibility of a diagnosis of WAGRO (WAGR + Obesity). Chromosome analysis revealed a translocation (11;15)(p13;p11.2) which has not been previously associated with a diagnosis of WAGR. Subsequent clinical WAGR fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis demonstrated a deletion of 11p13 including PAX6 and WT1. A complete FISH-mapping of the breakpoints on chromosome 11 revealed a 7 Mb deletion within 11p13-11p14. The patient is examined in light of other reported patients with deletions and/or translocations involving the regions between 11p12 --> 11p14 including patients with WAGR + obesity (WAGRO) as well as with other reported patients with aniridia and congenital ptosis.
Computational determination of the pigment binding motif in the chlorosome protein a of green sulfur bacteria.

We present a molecular-scale model of Bacteriochlorophyll a (BChl a) binding to the chlorosome protein A (CsmA) of Chlorobaculum tepidum, and the aggregated pigment–protein dimer, as determined from protein–ligand docking and quantum chemistry calculations. Our calculations provide strong evidence that the BChl a molecule is coordinated to the His25 residue of CsmA, with the magnesium center of the bacteriochlorin ring situated <3 A from the imidazole nitrogen atom of the histidine sidechain, and the phytyl tail aligned along the nonpolar residues of the α-helix of CsmA. We also confirm that the Q y band in the absorption spectra of BChl a experiences a large (+16 to +43 nm) redshift when aggregated with another BChl a molecule in the CsmA dimer, compared to the BChl a in solvent; this redshift has been previously established by experimental researchers. We propose that our model of the BChl a–CsmA binding motif, where the dimer contains parallel aligned N-terminal regions, serves as the smallest repeating unit in a larger model of the para-crystalline chlorosome baseplate protein.
Understanding the Role of RNA in Driving the Clustering of HIV Gag Molecules using Coarse-Grained Molecular Dynamics Models

Multi-domain Gag protein is the fundamental building block of the retrovirus particles. In the process of the HIV-1 particle assembly, Gag poly-protein interacts with lipids, with ribonucleic acids (RNAs) and with other Gag proteins. These diverse interactions drive the construction of the infectious particle and the packaging of the viral RNA into the particle. In this work, we have used coarse-grained (CG) molecular dynamics models of plasma membrane, RNA and Gag poly-protein to understand the role of various components in the formation of virus-like particles (VLPs). In particular, we focus on the possible role that the genomic RNA plays as a scaffolding agent in driving the clustering and assembly of Gag proteins on the membrane. We use available CG models of Gag proteins [Ayton & Voth, BJ 2010] and lipids [Srivastava & Voth, JCTC 2012] and develop a new CG model (one-site per nucleotide) for the full genomic RNA using the experimentally available architecture and secondary structure of the entire HIV-1 NL4-3 genome. [Watts et. Al, Nature 2009; Jonikas et al, RNA 2009] Our simulations confirm that the extended Gag molecules are stable only when they are simultaneously associated with both the membrane and the RNA. Using our model, we also show the aggregation of distributed Gag molecules on the membrane surface in presence of RNA strands. Preliminary data from our simulations indicate that existing membrane-bound RNA-Gag seed complexes act as nucleation sites and possibly assist in capturing the diffusing Gag molecule at a distance on the bilayer, slowly increasing the cluster sizes. Large-scale simulation with full genomic RNA is expected to provide further insights into the scaffolding mechanism.
Surgery of the orbit.

Orbital surgery is challenging to perform, specifically when a sighted eye is compromised by orbital disease. Whenever orbital surgery is indicated, complex orbital anatomy is invariably altered by disease processes. Orbital disease may be primary or may be a manifestation of a systemic disease process. Some orbital diseases are more effectively treated medically while others require surgical treatment. A thorough preoperative diagnostic evaluation is imperative to determine if orbital surgery is indicated. Detailed familiarity of orbital anatomy and perception of the probable orbital pathology are prerequisites before attempting orbital surgery. Preoperative characterization and localization of orbital disease permits the surgeon to select the most appropriate surgical approach, plan for adjuvant postoperative treatment, and provide the owner a realistic expectation for surgical outcome.
What is a camp? Legitimate refugee lives in spaces of long-term displacement

Abstract Given their importance to a range of actors, refugee camps are an excellent site to consider the production of legitimacy in “anomalous geopolitical spaces.” Rather than focusing on how the parties that govern camps gain legitimacy, or do not, in the eyes their inhabitants, this essay considers the problem of refugee lives: how various actors define the right way to live as a refugee, what role they ascribe to refugee camps in this way of living, and the complex realities of actual refugee lives amidst these various claims. The legitimacy at issue here is not of a form of governing, but of a way of being, of living. Different arguments about the right way of being depend to a considerable degree on the perspectives these actors bring to bear: whether they approach refugees as primarily recipients of assistance, political symbols and actors, or multi-faceted subjects with a range of concerns. There is, of course, no final arbiter to decide what actually is the right way of living as a refugee: it is an ongoing debate. Even without resolution, these different arguments about legitimate refugee life are consequential, in no small part because they can shape the contours of people’s lives and relationships and influence the allocation of resources.
Holocene stratigraphy and chronology of the Casper Dune Field, Casper, Wyoming, USA

Activation chronologies of dune fields within the North American Great Plains are significant sources of paleoclimate information. Although many regional chronologies exist, several dune fields have been understudied, including the Casper Dune Field of central Wyoming. This study investigated aeolian dune sediment and buried soils of the Casper Dune Field. Complex parabolic and hairpin parabolic dunes dominate the eastern dune field, while simple parabolic and linear dunes dominate the western dune field. Buried soils are found throughout the dune field, though their distribution and degree of development varies. Buried soils in the eastern dune field are weakly developed with typical A-C profiles, whereas soils in the western dune field typically exhibit A-Bt-C profiles. Optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) and radiocarbon ages were used to provide a chronology of dune field activation that spans most of the Holocene. At the onset of the Holocene, alluvium was deposited first, followed by widespread d...
Antinociceptive effect of chronic nicotine and nociceptive effect of its withdrawal measured by hot-plate and tail-flick in rats.

Nicotine (6 mg/kg/day) was administered subcutaneously via Alzet osmotic pumps to rats for 28 days. Nociception was measured by the hot-plate and tail-flick methods. A significant antinociceptive effect was demonstrated during the first week of the treatment; after that tolerance developed, lasting for the remaining period of nicotine treatment. This effect was more pronounced in the habituated, rather than in the naive, rats. Rats subjected to nicotine withdrawal tended to exhibit the nociceptive effect for 10 days with an overallP value on the border of significance. This chronic nicotine-induced antinociception and nicotine withdrawal-induced nociception was detectable only by hot-plate but not the tail-flick technique.