cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
DARHT Axis-I Diode Simulations II: Geometrical Scaling

Flash radiography of large hydrodynamic experiments driven by high explosives is a venerable diagnostic technique in use at many laboratories. Many of the largest hydrodynamic experiments study mockups of nuclear weapons, and are often called hydrotests for short. The dual-axis radiography for hydrodynamic testing (DARHT) facility uses two electron linear-induction accelerators (LIA) to produce the radiographic source spots for perpendicular views of a hydrotest. The first of these LIAs produces a single pulse, with a fixed {approx}60-ns pulsewidth. The second axis LIA produces as many as four pulses within 1.6-{micro}s, with variable pulsewidths and separation. There are a wide variety of hydrotest geometries, each with a unique radiographic requirement, so there is a need to adjust the radiographic dose for the best images. This can be accomplished on the second axis by simply adjusting the pulsewidths, but is more problematic on the first axis. Changing the beam energy or introducing radiation attenuation also changes the spectrum, which is undesirable. Moreover, using radiation attenuation introduces significant blur, increasing the effective spot size. The dose can also be adjusted by changing the beam kinetic energy. This is a very sensitive method, because the dose scales as the {approx}2.8 power of the energy,more » but it would require retuning the accelerator. This leaves manipulating the beam current as the best means for adjusting the dose, and one way to do this is to change the size of the cathode. This method has been proposed, and is being tested. This article describes simulations undertaken to develop scaling laws for use as design tools in changing the Axis-1 beam current by changing the cathode size.« less
Myocardial Protection Using Del Nido Cardioplegia Solution in Adult Reoperative Aortic Valve Surgery

Background and Aims The immediate postischemic period is marked by elevated intracellular calcium levels, which can lead to irreversible myocyte injury. Del Nido cardioplegia was developed for use in the pediatric population to address the inability of immature myocardium to tolerate high levels of intracellular calcium following cardiac surgery. Our aim in this study is to determine if this solution can be used safely and effectively in an adult, reoperative population. Methods All patients undergoing isolated reoperative aortic valve replacement at our institution from 2010 to 2012 were retrospectively reviewed. Demographics, comorbidities, operative variables, postoperative complications, and patient outcomes were collected. Patients were divided into two groups based on cardioplegia strategy used: whole blood cardioplegia (WB, n = 61) and del Nido cardioplegia (DN, n = 52). Results Mean age in the study was 73.4 ± 14.3 years and 86 patients were male (76.1%). Eighty-four patients had undergone prior coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) (74.3%). Patients in the DN group required significantly lower total volume of cardioplegia (1147.6 ± 447.2 mL DN vs. 1985.4 ± 691.1 mL WB, p < 0.001) and retrograde cardioplegia dose (279.3 ± 445.1 mL DN vs. 1341.2 ± 690.8 mL WB, p < 0.001). There were no differences in cross-clamp time, bypass time, postoperative complication rate, or patient outcomes between groups. Conclusions Del Nido cardioplegia use in an adult, reoperative aortic valve population offers equivalent postoperative outcomes when compared with whole blood cardioplegia. In addition, use of del Nido solution requires lower total and retrograde cardioplegia volumes in order to achieve adequate myocardial protection. doi: 10.1111/jocs.12360 (J Card Surg 2014;29:445–449)
CqsA–CqsS quorum‐sensing signal‐receptor specificity in Photobacterium angustum

Quorum sensing (QS) is a process of bacterial cell-cell communication that relies on the production, detection and population-wide response to extracellular signal molecules called autoinducers. The QS system commonly found in vibrios and photobacteria consists of the CqsA synthase/CqsS receptor pair. Vibrio cholerae CqsA/S synthesizes and detects (S)-3-hydroxytridecan-4-one (C10-CAI-1), whereas Vibrio harveyi produces and detects a distinct but similar molecule, (Z)-3-aminoundec-2-en-4-one (Ea-C8-CAI-1). To understand the signalling properties of the larger family of CqsA-CqsS pairs, here, we characterize the Photobacterium angustum CqsA/S system. Many photobacterial cqsA genes harbour a conserved frameshift mutation that abolishes CAI-1 production. By contrast, their cqsS genes are intact. Correcting the P. angustum cqsA reading frame restores production of a mixture of CAI-1 moieties, including C8-CAI-1, C10-CAI-1, Ea-C8-CAI-1 and Ea-C10-CAI-1. This signal production profile matches the P. angustum CqsS receptor ligand-detection capability. The receptor exhibits a preference for molecules with 10-carbon tails, and the CqsS Ser(168) residue governs this preference. P. angustum can overcome the cqsA frameshift to produce CAI-1 under particular limiting growth conditions presumably through a ribosome slippage mechanism. Thus, we propose that P. angustum uses CAI-1 signalling for adaptation to stressful environments.
Properties of Tritium Inferred from Pellet Injector Experiments

This paper discusses the tritium proof-of-principle (TPOP) experiment, designed and built by Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) to demonstrate the formation and acceleration of the worlds first tritium pellets for fueling of future fusion reactors. Many parameters measured during the course of the experiment have been used to evaluate the physical properties of solid tritium. Pellet size was measured as a function of equilibrium fill pressure. a model was developed to predict this information form values of thermal conductivity, vapor pressure, and density reported in the literature. Good agreement between theory and experiment was found for both deuterium and tritium pellets. Evaluation of breakaway pressure data for deuterium pellets indicates that the shear strength of deuterium is about equal to its ultimate tensile strength. Tritium shear strength appears to be about twice that of deuterium at temperatures around 8K. The reduction in pellet diameter due to barrel erosion for deuterium was about twice that for tritium pellets at a given velocity. This about also indicative of the greater strength of tritium relative to deuterium.
Laser-Tissue Interactions

The best gauge of laser interactions is the tissue response, and experiment is the most realistic manner to address medical treatment challenges. However, theoretical models are helpful in planning treatment approaches and laser parameters. In this chapter we discuss basics of lasers, their non laser counterparts, and laser-tissue interactions.
Formal methods, statistical debugging and exploratory analysis in support of system development: Towards a verification and validation calculator tool

In this paper, we propose an approach to formally verify and rigorously validate a simulation system against the specification of the real system. We implement the approach in a verification and validation calculator tool that takes as input a set of statements that capture the requirements, internal conditions of the system and expected outputs of the real system and produces as output whether the simulation satisfies the requirements, faithfully represents the internal conditions of the system and produces the expected outputs. We provide a use case to show how subject matter experts can apply the tool.
SCAP benchmark for Cisco router security configuration compliance

Information security management is time-consuming and error-prone. Apart from day-to-day operations, organizations need to comply with industrial regulations or government directives. Thus, organizations are looking for security tools to automate security management tasks and daily operations. Security Content Automation Protocol (SCAP) is a suite of specifications that help to automate security management tasks such as vulnerability measurement and policy compliance evaluation. SCAP benchmark provides detailed guidance on setting the security configuration of network devices, operating systems, and applications. Organizations can use SCAP benchmark to perform automated configuration compliance assessment on network devices, operating systems, and applications. This paper discusses SCAP benchmark components and the development of a SCAP benchmark for automating Cisco router security configuration compliance.
Toxicological Assessment of CoO and La2O3 Metal Oxide Nanoparticles in Human Small Airway Epithelial Cells.

Cobalt monoxide (CoO) and lanthanum oxide (La2O3) nanoparticles are 2 metal oxide nanoparticles with different redox potentials according to their semiconductor properties. By utilizing these two nanoparticles, this study sought to determine how metal oxide nanoparticle's mode of toxicological action is related to their physio-chemical properties in human small airway epithelial cells (SAEC). We investigated cellular toxicity, production of superoxide radicals and alterations in gene expression related to oxidative stress, and cellular death at 6 and 24 h following exposure to CoO and La2O3(administered doses: 0, 5, 25, and 50 µg/ml) nanoparticles. CoO nanoparticles induced gene expression related to oxidative stress at 6 h. After characterizing the nanoparticles, transmission electron microscope analysis showed SAEC engulfed CoO and La2O3nanoparticles. CoO nanoparticles were toxic after 6 and 24 h of exposure to 25.0 and 50.0 µg/ml administered doses, whereas, La2O3nanoparticles were toxic only after 24 h using the same administered doses. Based upon the Volumetric Centrifugation Methodin vivoSedimentation, Diffusion, and Dosimetry, the dose of CoO and La2O3nanoparticles delivered at 6 and 24 h were determined to be: CoO: 1.25, 6.25, and 12.5 µg/ml; La2O3: 5, 25, and 50 µg/ml and CoO: 4, 20, and 40 µg/ml; and La2O3: 5, 25, 50 µg/ml, respectively. CoO nanoparticles produced more superoxide radicals and caused greater stimulation of total tyrosine and threonine phosphorylation at both 6 and 24 h when compared with La2O3nanoparticles. Taken together, these data provide evidence that different toxicological modes of action were involved in CoO and La2O3metal oxide nanoparticle-induced cellular toxicity.
Authority Relinquishment in Agency Relationships

AbstractA key decision for the design of principal–agent agreements is how much control or authority the buyer (or principal) should be allowed to exercise in relation to the seller (or agent). Historically, agency theory has viewed exchange agreements as ranging from those in which the buyer has very high authority over the seller (formal authority) to those in which the buyer and seller are relatively independent so there is little or no authority relation (market exchange). However, some principal–agent agreements reverse the authority relationship usually assumed in agency theory by allowing the seller to exercise authority over the buyer. The authors study this unexplored type of agency agreement and refer to it as “authority relinquishment.” Using data collected from interviews with clients and guides on commercial high-altitude mountain expeditions, the authors identify conditions that make authority relinquishment likely. They also identify the benefits and drawbacks of authority relinquishment an...
Preferences and development of western flower thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) on plant hosts of tomato spotted wilt tospovirus in Hawaii

Five important plant hosts of tomato spotted wilt tospovirus at two phenological stages were assayed in the laboratory to determine the host preference of adult western Rower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande). F. occidentalis readily fed and oviposited on nonflowering romaine lettuce, Lactuca sativa ssp. longifolia Lam. Cheese weed, Malva palviflora L. and burdock (gobo), Arctium lappa L. were likewise more preferred for oviposition compared with jimson weed, Datura stramonium L. or golden crown-beard, Verbesina enceloides (Cav.) Benth & Hook. ex Gray. The following order of feeding or oviposition preference for plants in the vegetative stage was observed: L. sativa > A. lappa = M. palviflora > D. stramonium = V. enceloides . Preference changed at plant flowering with M. palviflora = V. enceloides > D. stramonium = L. sativa . The mean proportion of immatures completing development to adults was greatest at higher temperatures. Leaf suitability for F. occidentalis development was ranked as L. sativa > M. palviflora = D. stramonium > V. enceloides = A. lappa. Implications of results in tomato spotted wilt tospovirus epidemiology are discussed.
Increased Production of Colon Agglutinins in Blood Sera of Infantile Paralysis Patients

The colon bacillus was not the prime factor causing the death of guinea pigs after subcutaneous injections of standardized emulsions of stools from infantile paralysis patients. Nevertheless, this organism might have some part in the disease picture since convalescent serum protected coli injected guinea pigs to a slight extent, prolonging the lives of the animals, though not ultimately saving them. This slight protection might be due to an antibody in the serum, perhaps, an agglutinin.Twenty-three coli-paratyphoid organisms, obtained partly from the American Type Culture Collection and partly isolated by us were used to determine the relative agglutinating capacity of serum obtained at the height of the disease and convalescent serum obtained 21 days after the onset of the disease. Both specimens were taken from the same patient.Of 88 cases whose sera were thus tested, 55 showed marked increases in the agglutination titer of the convalescent sera as compared to the sera obtained in the acute stages. Thir...
Objectivity Establishes Creditability

SIR-I agree with the recent editorial by Dr. Daniel M. Musher [1]. The author discusses several areas of concern to the medical community in general and to the infectious disease community in particular, including issues such as proliferation of drug company-sponsored "educational" trips, industry-funded academic "research," and sponsorship of speakers by pharmaceutical companies. These are real and immediate problems. I am even more anguished, personally, by nationally known infectious disease authorities who participate in the educational/marketing ventures referred to by Dr. Musher. On one hand, the infectious disease literature abounds with eloquent discussions of exploding antibiotic expenditures, antibiotic-associated hazards (e.g., antibiotic-associated colitis and inducible resistance), and prescribing abuses. Yet the authors of these same articles frequently appear on the programs of drug company-sponsored meetings. As infectious disease practitioners, do we not have a duty to serve as teachers and role models of conservative and scientific antibiotic usage? Creditability in this role is strained severely when one exchanges objectivity, even briefly, for obvious secondary gain.
Residue and the Spirit of Chinese Traditional Culture

Adopting and revolving around Pareto's conception of residue,this disquisition explores the trend of Chinese traditional culture as to the holy dimension.Traditional Chinese thoughts such as Confucianism and Taoism do not have the implication in the respect of holy residue though they to some extent expose some remnants of heaven.Both Chinese Buddhism and the Neo-Confucianism in Song and Ming dynasties also hold that the holy residue is unnecessary and must be refuted in any case.Considering Max Weber's discussion on the spirit of capitalism with the ethics of Protestant,this paper then draws its conclusion that there is a great gulf in spirit between Chinese traditional culture and the spirit of capitalism.
In Their Own Words: Consequences 0f Child Labor in Urban Nigeria

This paper utilizes a 2002 datasets gathered through interviews with 1,535 children (aged 8-14 years) and their parents in urban Nigeria to examine the dangers and hazards reported by children who work in the urban economy. Findings indicate that slightly over half of interviewed child laborers are female; they begin work as early as age 7; and work for an average of 4 hours a day in order to contribute financially to the sustenance of the family; and to acquire training needed in future occupations. The children come mostly from large households of about 6 persons, where many of their parents have low levels of education, income, and occupational statuses. Furthermore, because the sample is urban based, children come mostly from nuclear and monogamous households. A significant percentage of working children are involved in motor accidents, face attempted kidnapping, rape, and sexual molestation. Many are also invited by gangsters to participate in robbery and anti-social activities. Others suffer from physical exhaustion and pains due to frequent long walks. These health problems have detrimental effects on children's school attendance, punctuality, school performance, and leisure time. This study has policy implications for regulating child labor in Nigeria.
Sexual Selection and the Evolution of Advertisement Signals

Evolution of the advertisement signals of male animals may be influenced by various sexual selection forces. Female choice mechanisms, male-male competition, and mate recognition may all initiate and maintain the signaling systems involved in sexual advertisement. The initiation of signaling systems may also be constrained phylogenetically; in particular, ancestral biases in perception may serve as preadaptations that select for specific signaling properties.
Application of 3-Dimensional Computed Tomographic Image Guidance to WATCHMAN Implantation and Impact on Early Operator Learning Curve: Single-Center Experience

Abstract Objectives The aim of this study was to examine the impact of 3-dimensional (3D) computed tomographic (CT) guided procedural planning for left atrial appendage (LAA) occlusion on the early operator WATCHMAN learning curve. Background Traditional WATCHMAN implantation is dependent on 2-dimensional transesophageal echocardiographic (TEE) sizing and intraprocedural guidance. Methods LAA occlusion with the WATCHMAN device was performed in 53 patients. Pre-procedural case plans were generated from CT studies with recommended device size, catheter selection, and C-arm angle for deployment. Results All 53 patients underwent successful LAA occlusion with the WATCHMAN. Three-dimensional CT LAA maximal-width sizing was 2.7 ± 2.2 mm and 2.3 ± 3.0 mm larger than 2-dimensional and 3D TEE measurements, respectively (p ≤ 0.0001). By CT imaging, device selection was 100% accurate. There were 4 peri-WATCHMAN leaks ( Conclusions Three-dimensional CT image case planning provides a comprehensive and customized patient-specific LAA assessment that appears to be accurate and may possibly facilitate reducing the early WATCHMAN implantation learning curve.
Single machine scheduling to minimize a modified total late work function with multiple due dates

In this paper, the problem of scheduling n jobs on a single machine is evaluated. We introduce a Modified Total Late Work function that allows a declining piecewise linear penalty over time. Multiple due dates for each job are identified and at each due date, the penalty is reassessed. Many instances occur when delivery urgency leads to progress metrics or dates being added to a contract. Over the life of the contract, a loss of incentives or a price decrease can occur at each of the negotiated due dates. After the final due date, the product is valueless and the penalty ceases to accrue. The number and placement of contract due dates are part of the initial negotiations. Two metaheuristics, Simulated Annealing and the Noising Method, are empirically evaluated to determine their performance when measured by this new loss function.
Planning sustainable cities and regions: Towards more equitable development, by Karen Chapple

Rising income inequality, continuing racial disparities, and climate change are three of the most pressing current urban policy challenges. Policymakers are seeking ways to limit greenhouse gas emi...
Regional Organizations, Conflict Resolution and Mediation in South America

This chapter approaches regional conflict resolution and mediation in South America, focusing on the role regional organizations and arrangements have played as social spaces where shared meanings and collective representations of peace and security are produced, contested and (re)negotiated. In the case of South America, the images that constitute the regional experience in conflict resolution are (a) a plural institutional architecture; (b) a legalist framework with strong preference for non-interventionism and peaceful conflict resolution; (c) a separation between domestic violence and international peace; and (d) ad hoc arrangements based on presidential involvement. These four images are part of public life, constituting a particular symbolic frame developed by the local elites and reproduced through decision-making practices on peace and conflict in the region.
Sustainable Power: Decolonising Sustainability Through Anishinaabe Birchbark Canoe Building

This essay explores the relationship between sustainability and social power, as dramatised within Anishinaabe (Ojibwe) efforts to retain cultural sovereignty and to preserve their intangible cultural heritage. The authors propose moving towards a discourse not of sustainability, but rather of sustainabilities, a term that is more inclusive of the diversity of cultural, environmental, economic, and political strategies that are employed to sustain various lifeways in a multicultural world.
A Systematic Review of Longitudinal Studies of Mathematics Difficulty

Some students may be diagnosed with a learning disability in mathematics or dyscalculia, whereas other students may demonstrate below-grade-level mathematics performance without a disability diagno...
Security Analysis of Relationship-Based Access Control Policies

Relationship-based access control (ReBAC) policies can express intricate protection requirements in terms of relationships among users and resources (which can be modeled as a graph). Such policies are useful in domains beyond online social networks. However, given the updating graph of user and resources in a system and expressive conditions in access control policy rules, it can be very challenging for security administrators to envision what can (or cannot) happen as the protection system evolves. In this paper, we introduce the security analysis problem for this class of policies, where we seek to answer security queries about future states of the system graph and authorizations that are decided accordingly. Towards achieving this goal, we propose a state-transition model of a ReBAC protection system, called RePM. We discuss about formulation of security analysis queries in RePM and present our initial results for a limited version of this model.
Biomaterials in Craniofacial Surgery

Bone substitutes are increasingly used in craniofacial surgery. This chapter discusses the characteristics of an ideal bone substitute and briefly reviews the evolving history of the biomaterials with a particular emphasis on craniofacial reconstruction. Some of the most important bone substitutes, including calcium phosphate and hydroxyapatite (HA) ceramics and cements, bioactive glass and polymer products, are discussed. Areas of active research and future directions include tissue-engineered products and an increasing emphasis on bioactivity of the implant material.
Aβ42 Protofibrils Interact with and Are Trafficked through Microglial-Derived Microvesicles

Microvesicles (MVs) and exosomes comprise a class of cell-secreted particles termed extracellular vesicles (EVs). These cargo-holding vesicles mediate cell-to-cell communication and have recently been implicated in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The two types of EVs are distinguished by the mechanism of cell release and their size, with the smaller exosomes and the larger MVs ranging from 30 to 100 nm and 100 nm to 1 μm in diameter, respectively. MV numbers are increased in AD and appear to interact with amyloid-β peptide (Aβ), the primary protein component of the neuritic plaques in the AD brain. Because microglial cells play such an important role in AD-linked neuroinflammation, we sought to characterize MVs shed from microglial cells, better understand MV interactions with Aβ, and determine whether internalized Aβ may be incorporated into secreted MVs. Multiple strategies were used to characterize MVs shed from BV-2 microglia after ATP stimulation. Confocal images of isola...
Demographic Influences on Psychiatric Diagnoses Among Youth Served in California Systems of Care

We examined the influences of demographic factors on diagnostic assignment among youth served in California public mental health systems after adjusting for the effects of county characteristics and standardized symptom and functioning indices. The sample consisted of 12,106 youth with severe emotional disturbance being served in integrated and coordinated service systems in 13 counties of California. African Americans were overrepresented in the sample relative to the ethnic characteristics of the counties and Asian Americans were under-represented. Results from logistic regression analyses showed that gender, age, and ethnicity affected the assignment of eight categories of clinical diagnosis at admission. However, standardized measurement of clinical status and functioning had little relationship to clinicians' assignment of diagnosis. Whereas no significant gender and age differences were found on broadband CBCL syndromes, ethnically diverse youth differed on CBCL internalizing and externalizing scores. Youth's role functioning as assessed by the CAFAS also significantly differed by gender, age, and ethnicity.
Diagnosis and treatment of chronic hepatitis C in incarcerated patients.

How hepatitis C is diagnosed and treated and why treatment of most prisoners with the virus may be safely postponed until after their release from prison. Virtual Mentor is a monthly bioethics journal published by the American Medical Association.
Crucifix, Communion, and Convent: The Real Presence of Anglican Ritualism in Bram Stoker's Dracula:

This essay posits that Dracula's sacred symbolism embodies greater complexity than what has thus far been read as an “either/or” position of Catholic/Protestant representation. An examination of the theological debates that surround Bram Stoker and the composition of Dracula reveals that the novel speaks more to conflicts within the Anglican community than it does to the opposition between Catholicism and Protestantism. When Jonathan Harker wonders if “there is something in the essence of the [crucifix] itself” (52) that comforts him, and he and his companions successfully battle the count with what are typically viewed as Catholic accoutrements, Stoker advocates the existence and efficacy of the Real Presence, a highly controversial doctrine of High Church ritualism.
Durability of Stroke Prevention with Carotid Endarterectomy and Carotid Stenting.

Abstract Background Carotid artery stenting remains an effective alternative to carotid endarterectomy for stroke prevention; however, the long-term durability of carotid artery stenting remains poorly defined. We performed a 10-year “real-world” comparative analysis of carotid endarterectomy and carotid artery stenting to help evaluate the success of these procedures in preventing late ischemic stroke events. Methods This was a single-center retrospective review of 996 patients (symptomatic and asymptomatic) treated with carotid endarterectomy or carotid artery stenting from January 2001 through December 2011 at a tertiary academic medical center. All-cause death, stroke, and myocardial infarction event rates were analyzed using log-rank analysis. Results Among the 996 patients treated with carotid endarterectomy (n = 787) or carotid artery stenting (n = 209), the 30-day, 1-year, 5-year, and 10-year survival rates for carotid endarterectomy patients were 99.1%, 95.3%, 77.9%, and 54.8%; carotid artery stenting rates were 99.5%, 96.2%, 67.8%, and 40.2%, respectively (P = .005, at 10 years). There was no significant difference in early stroke rates or myocardial infarction rates between the groups. Subgroup analysis comparing symptomatic status demonstrated no statistically significant differences in overall survival, stroke, or myocardial infarction rates at 10 years. In addition to reduced long-term overall survival, carotid artery stenting patients had a higher long-term restenosis rate as compared to carotid endarterectomy (6.3% vs 2.8%, P Conclusions Early death, stroke, and myocardial infarction rates are comparable after carotid endarterectomy and carotid artery stenting. Carotid artery stenting is an effective means of preventing stroke among patients with carotid artery stenosis. Symptomatic status does not seem to affect rates of stroke, myocardial infarction, or death. Carotid endarterectomy continues to be the preferred long-term solution for extracranial carotid artery occlusive disease as it is associated with better long-term survival and lower restenosis rates.
Biotic filtering of endophytic fungal communities in Bromus tectorum

The assembly of horizontally transmitted endophytic fungi within plant tissues may be affected by “biotic filtering”. In other words, only particular endophytic fungal taxa from the available inoculum pool may be able to colonize a given plant species. We tested that hypothesis in Bromus tectorum, an important invasive species in the arid, western United States. We collected seed from Bromus tectorum and sources of inoculum for endophytic fungi including soil and various kinds of plant litter at a field site in central Utah. We characterized, using Illumina sequencing, the endophytic fungal communities in the various inoculum sources, inoculated Bromus tectorum seedlings under gnotobiotic conditions with the various sources, and then characterized the communities of endophytic fungi that assembled in their roots and leaves. Different inoculum sources containing significantly different endophytic fungal communities produced complex communities of endophytic fungi in leaves and roots of Bromus tectorum. In leaves, the communities assembling from the various inoculum sources were not significantly different from each other and, in roots, they were only slightly different from each other, mainly due to variation in a single fungal OTU, Coprinopsis brunneofibrillosa. Consequently, there was significantly more variation in the structure of the communities of endophytic fungi among the inoculum sources than in the resultant endophytic fungal communities in the leaves and roots of Bromus tectorum. These results are consistent with biotic filtering playing a significant role in endophytic fungal community assembly.
A clinicopathologic study of the spectrum of systemic forms of EBV-associated T-cell lymphoproliferative disorders of childhood: A single tertiary care pediatric institution experience in North America.

Background Systemic forms of EBV-associated T-cell lymphoproliferative disorders of childhood (S-EBV-T-LPD) comprise three major forms: EBV-positive hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (EBV-HLH), systemic EBV-positive T-cell lymphoma (S-EBV-TCL), and systemic chronic active EBV infection (S-CAEBV). These disorders occur rarely in children in Western countries. Here, we described eight children of such entities. Design Eight cases (six clinical and two autopsy) with S-EBV-T-LPD of childhood were retrospectively identified from 1990 to 2015. Clinicopathologic parameters including histomorphology, immunophenotype, EBV studies, and T-cell receptor gene rearrangement studies were recorded. Results Patients include five females and three males of Hispanic, Asian, and Caucasian origins with an age range of 14 months to 9 years. Fever, hepatosplenomegaly, cytopenias, abnormal EBV serologies, and very high EBV viral loads were common findings. Histologic findings showed EBV+ T-cell infiltrates with variable degrees of architectural distortion and cytologic atypia ranging from no to mild cytologic atypia to overt lymphoma and tissue hemophagocytosis. All showed aberrant CD4+ or CD8+ T cells with dim to absent CD5, CD7, and CD3, and bright CD2 and CD45 by flow cytometry or loss of CD5 by immunohistochemistry. TCR gene rearrangement studies showed monoclonal rearrangements in all clinical cases (6/6). Outcomes were poor with treatment consisting of chemotherapy per the HLH-94 or HLH-2004 protocols with or without bone marrow transplant. Conclusion In this large pediatric clinicopathologic study of S-EBV-T-LPD of childhood in the United States, EBV-HLH, S-EBV-TCL, and S-CAEBV show many overlapping features. Diagnosis is challenging, and overall outcome is poor using current HLH-directed therapies.
Experimental Laceration Spinal Cord Injury Model in Rodents

Experimental laceration spinal cord injury (l-SCI) is an important in vivo model to investigate mechanisms of axonal regeneration and neurite plasticity following SCI. l-SCI is customarily performed freehand under visual guidance that results in variable lesion depths and shapes. In this chapter, a precise l- SCI model will be described for rodents using the Louisville Injury System Apparatus (LISA). This method incorporates: (1) reliable vertebral stabilization and spinal cord exposure and (2) accurate tissue laceration without contusion.
Dauer life stage of Caenorhabditis elegans induces elevated levels of defense against the parasite Serratia marcescens.

Host-parasite research often focuses on a single host life stage, yet different life stages may exhibit different defenses. The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans has an alternate dispersal life stage, dauer. Despite dauer’s importance in nature, we know little of how it responds to parasites. Previous research indicates that non-dauer C. elegans prefer to consume the virulent bacterial parasite, Serratia marcescens, when given a choice between the parasite and benign Escherichia coli. Here, we compared the preferences of dauer individuals from six strains of C. elegans to the preferences of other life stages. We found that dauer individuals exhibited reduced preference for S. marcescens, and dauers from some strains preferred E. coli to S. marcescens. In addition to testing food preference, a mechanism of parasite avoidance, we also measured host mortality rates after direct parasite exposure to determine if life stage also altered host survival. Overall, dauer individuals exhibited reduced mortality rates. However, dauer versus non-dauer larvae mortality rates also varied significantly by host strain. Collectively, we found evidence of dauer-induced parasite avoidance and reduced mortality in the presence of a parasite, but these effects were strain-specific. These results demonstrate the importance of host life stage and genotype when assessing infection dynamics.
Physiological consequences of rising water salinity for a declining freshwater turtle.

Sea-level rise, drought and water diversion can all lead to rapid salinization of freshwater habitats, especially in coastal areas. Increased water salinities can in turn alter the geographic distribution and ecology of freshwater species including turtles. The physiological consequences of salinization for freshwater turtles, however, are poorly known. Here, we compared the osmoregulatory response of two geographically separate populations of the freshwater Western Pond Turtle (Actinemys marmorata)-a species declining across its range in western North America-to three constant salinities: 0.4 ppt, 10 ppt and 15 ppt over 2 weeks. We found that turtles from a coastal estuarine marsh population regulated their plasma osmolality at lower levels than their conspecifics from an inland freshwater creek population 45 km away. Plasma osmolalities were consistently lower in estuarine marsh turtles than the freshwater creek turtles over the entire 2-week exposure to 10 ppt and 15 ppt water. Furthermore, estuarine marsh turtles maintained plasma osmolalities within 1 SD of their mean field osmolalities over the 2-week exposure, whereas freshwater creek turtles exceeded their field values within the first few days after exposure to elevated salinities. However, individuals from both populations exhibited body mass loss in 15 ppt water, with significantly greater loss in estuarine turtles. We speculate that the greater ability to osmoregulate by the estuarine marsh turtles may be explained by their reduced feeding and drinking in elevated salinities that was not exhibited by the freshwater creek population. However, due to mass loss in both populations, physiological and behavioural responses exhibited by estuarine marsh turtles may only be effective adaptations for short-term exposures to elevated salinities, such as those from tides and when traversing saline habitats, and are unlikely to be effective for long-term exposure to elevated salinity as is expected under sea-level rise.
Disparities between young and elderly patients in the first course of treatment for stage II and III rectal cancers.

e14546 Background: The use of neoadjuvant chemoradiation for stage II and III rectal cancers is associated with higher rates of resectability, sphincter preservation and improved local control. In ...
Optimal Surgical Timing After Neoadjuvant Therapy for Stage IIIa Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Background Patients with clinically/pathologically diagnosed stage IIIa non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) considered for surgery are recommended to undergo neoadjuvant chemotherapy with or without radiation. The timing of an operation after therapy is not standardized; therefore, we investigated the timing of intervention after neoadjuvant therapy and the impact on outcomes in this demographic. Methods The National Cancer Database was queried between 2010 and 2015 for patients with clinical/pathologic stage IIIa NSCLC. Patients were then divided into short ( 114 days) groups based on interquartile values. These groups were then compared for age, race, gender, insurance type, Charlson-Deyo score, length of stay, readmission rate, and overall survival based on timing of operation. Results There were 31,357 patients with clinical/pathologic stage IIIa NSCLC, and 5946 patients underwent surgical intervention. Preoperatively 3593 patients underwent chemoradiotherapy, 2185 underwent chemotherapy only, and 168 received radiation alone. The short, mid, and long delay groups were clinically and statistically similar in age, gender, insurance type, comorbidity index, treating facility type, and distance from home. Long delay groups had larger tumor size compared with other groups. Postoperative length of stay, rates of 30-day readmission, and 30- and 90-day mortality were similar across all groups. Cox modeling demonstrated a significant difference in survival when patients underwent earlier operative intervention compared with late operative intervention and when patients received chemoradiation compared with chemotherapy alone. Short, mid, and long delay group 1-year survivals were 82%, 83%, and 80% and 3-year survival 59%, 58%, and 52%, respectively (P = .0003). Conclusions The delay in surgical resection of stage IIIa NSCLC is not associated increased early mortality; however, it is associated with worse 3-year postresection survival.
FERROELECTRIC MATERIALS FOR APPLICATIONS IN THE 1990S (Abstract)

It appears probable that through the 1990s major applications for ferroelectric materials will continue to be as dielectrics in capacitors, as piezoelectrics and electrostrictors in transducers, as pyroelectric IR sensors, and as active elements in electro-optic and non-linear optic systems.
Locating and leaving Babylon: A missional reading of Revelation 17 and 18 in light of ancient and contemporary political contexts:

This article explores a missional reading of Revelation 17 and 18, focusing on the significance of “Babylon” for John’s audience in Roman Asia and for Christian communities today. John uses the sym...
Thermal Annealing of Singlet Fission MicrocrystalsReveals the Benefits of Charge Transfer Couplings and Slip-StackedPacking

Defects in molecular crystals, created by non-equilibrium crystal packing, can have significant influence over the energetics and dynamics of singlet fission. Though normally thought of as detrimen...
Radiometric diffraction corrections in remote-sensing applications

Diffraction corrections are required in radiometric measurements in remote sensing. In this work, I will discuss the capabilities that we have developed to calculate them accurately and efficiently. Several aspects will be considered, namely, (1.) diffraction effects for a single aperture, for spectral power and total power in the case of radiation thermometry, including asymptotic behavior a small wavelengths and high temperatures; (2.) diffraction effects specific to multi-staged optics trains; (3.) applications in remote-sensing applications in test chambers use to simulate observation of remote objects in outer space; and (4.) solar radiometry.
Between Emergency Department Visits: The Role of Harm Reduction Programs in Mitigating the Harms Associated With Injection Drug Use.

Injection drug use is a major public health problem in the United States. Cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine are the most commonly injected illicit drugs, whereas opioids are responsible for the majority of overdose fatalities. Although recent emergency department (ED) efforts have focused on expanding capacity for buprenorphine induction for opioid use disorder treatment, the injection of illicit drugs carries specific health risks that require acknowledgment and management, particularly for patients who decline substance use treatment. Harm reduction is a public health approach that aims to reduce the harms associated with a health risk behavior, short of eliminating the behavior itself. Harm-reduction strategies fundamental to emergency medicine include naloxone distribution for opioid overdose. This clinical Review Article examines the specific health complications of injection drug use and reviews the evidence base for 2 interventions effective in reducing morbidity and mortality related to drug injection, irrespective of the specific drug used, that are less well known and infrequently leveraged by emergency medicine clinicians: syringe service programs and supervised injection facilities. In accordance with the recommendations of health authorities such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, emergency clinicians can promote the use of harm-reduction programs in the community to reduce viral transmission and other risks of injection drug use by providing patients with information about and referrals to these programs after injection drug use–related ED visits.
Geometric Affinity Propagation for Clustering with Network Knowledge.

Clustering data into meaningful subsets is a major task in scientific data analysis. To date, various strategies ranging from model-based approaches to data-driven schemes, have been devised for efficient and accurate clustering. One important class of clustering methods that is of a particular interest is the class of exemplar-based approaches. This interest primarily stems from the amount of compressed information encoded in these exemplars that effectively reflect the major characteristics of the respective clusters. Affinity propagation (AP) has proven to be a powerful exemplar-based approach that refines the set of optimal exemplars by iterative pairwise message updates. However, a critical limitation is its inability to capitalize on known networked relations between data points often available for various scientific datasets. To mitigate this shortcoming, we propose geometric-AP, a novel clustering algorithm that effectively extends AP to take advantage of the network topology. Geometric-AP obeys network constraints and uses max-sum belief propagation to leverage the available network topology for generating smooth clusters over the network. Extensive performance assessment reveals a significant enhancement in the quality of the clustering results when compared to benchmark clustering schemes. Especially, we demonstrate that geometric-AP performs extremely well even in cases where the original AP fails drastically.
The role of algal blooms and community respiration in controlling the temporal and spatial dynamics of hypoxia and acidification in eutrophic estuaries.

Abstract While hypoxia and acidification can be common occurrences in eutrophic coastal zones, the precise, coupled temporal and spatial dynamics of these conditions are poorly described. Here, continuous measurements of water column pH, pCO2, carbonate chemistry, and dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations were made from spring through fall across two, temperate eutrophic estuaries, western Long Island Sound (LIS) and Jamaica Bay, NY, USA. Vertical dynamics were resolved using an underway towing profiler and an automated stationary profiling unit. During the study, high rates of respiration in surface and bottom waters (> -0.2 mg O2 L-1 h-1) yielded strongly negative rates of net ecosystem metabolism during the summer (-4 to -8 g O2 m-2 d-1). Ephemeral surface algal blooms caused brief periods ( 2000 μatm) that persisted continuously for >40 days in both estuaries was often overlain by water with higher DO and pH. Diurnal vertical profiles demonstrated that oxic surface waters saturated with respect to calcium carbonate and DO during the day transitioned to unsaturated and hypoxic at night. Evidence is presented that, beyond respiration, nitrification in surface water promoted by sewage discharge and oxidation processes in sediments also contribute to acidification in these estuaries. Collectively, this study demonstrates the pervasive, persistent, and dynamic nature of hypoxia and acidification in eutrophic estuaries are likely to shape marine food webs.
Device Principles of High-K Dielectrics

The growth of the semiconductor industr yi nt he last few decades has largely been driven by the growth of integrated circuits (IC) based on complementary metal– oxide–semiconductor (CMOS) technology. CMOS technology uses n-type and p-type field effect transistors (FETs) to produce digita ll ogi ce lements that are superior to other available logic technologies for many applications. The dominance of CMOS ove ro t her logic technologies is based on its low power consumption as well as the ability to scale CMOS and achieve simultaneous improvements in power consumption, speed and cost. One of the key aspects of CMOS technology is the metal–oxide– semiconductor (MOS) capacitor that acts as the control element in a CMOS device. While there are other semiconductors that have either been used before silicon or may have better material properties than silicon, silicon has become by far the dominant materia li nt he semiconductor industry mainly due to its native oxide, silicon dioxide (SiO2), and the MOS capacitor that can be easily manufactured on silicon using this oxide. The properties of silicon dioxid ea n di ts interface to silicon are far superior t ot he native oxides on other commonly available semiconductors and enabl et he implementation of high performance CMOS.