cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Selective catalytic reduction of NO with ammonia over Fe3+-exchanged mordenite (Fe-MOR): Catalytic performance, characterization, and mechanistic study

Fe-exchanged zeolites, i.e., mordenite (MOR), clinoptilolite (HEU), beta, ferrierite (FER), and chabazite (CHA), are studied as catalysts for selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NO with NH3. It is found that SCR activity decreases in the following order: Fe–MOR>Fe–HEU>Fe–FER>Fe-beta>Fe–CHA. Fe–MOR and Fe–HEU are much more active than the commercial vanadia catalyst. For Fe–MOR, SCR activity increases with a decreasing Si/Al ratio. Moreover, SO2 and SO2+H2O improve SCR activity. On Fe–MOR, nearly 100% NO conversion is obtained at a high space velocity (GHSV=4.6×105 h−1) in the presence of SO2. The Fe–MOR catalysts are also characterized by H2-TPR (temperature-programmed reduction) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. TPR profiles indicate that iron cations in the catalysts are present as approximately 73% Fe3+ and 27% Fe2+. FT-IR spectra show that NO can be oxidized by O2 to N2O3, NO2, and nitrate adsorbed species, and that they are bonded to the iron cations. NH3 molecules adsorb on Bronsted acid sites of the zeolite to form NH4+ ions. NO+O2 is very active in reacting with NH4+ ions on Fe–MOR at 300°C, but it is less active with those on H–MOR. This is in good agreement with their SCR activities and is probably related to the fast formation of NO2 on Fe–MOR. A possible reaction scheme for SCR reduction is proposed. NO reduction involves the reaction between NO2 and a pair of NH4+ ions to generate an active intermediate, which then reacts with NO to produce N2 and H2O. NO oxidation to NO2 is the rate-determining step.
Analytical Illuminance Calculation in a Multi-interface Optical System

An analytical expression for the illuminance over a receiver surface and an equation for the caustic surface are derived for rays which have passed through a multi-interface optical system. The results are expressed in terms of the intrinsic geometry of the deflector surface, that is, the Gaussian, mean, and normal curvatures, and the derivative of the incident ray vector over the deflector surface. The original source may be a plane wave, a point source, or an extended source. As a numerical example of this technique, the caustic surface and the line-spread function on different image planes are plotted for an off-axis point source of light whose rays are refracted by a thick double convex lens.
The Chickens can Come Home to Roost: The Anatomy of a Local Infrastructure Crisis

Local governments are entrusting private developers with supplying their communities' roads and water, sewer, and drainage systems. In this study, the author examines a 30-year public-private partnership in infrastructure that failed its community. The analysis reflects the vulner-ability of local public authority and citizen participation in the public-private partnership. The case highlights the broader issue of governance in land use as county and state intervention in the partnership contributed to the infrastructure crisis. Overlapping local land-use controls with growth management mandates offered no panacea for governing a private producer of public services.
External Ca2+ acts upstream of adenylyl cyclase SACY in the bicarbonate signaled activation of sperm motility

Abstract The HCO3− anion activates sperm motility, an important early step in capacitation, by increasing flagellar beat frequency through a pathway that requires the atypical adenylyl cyclase SACY and the sperm-specific Cα2 catalytic subunit of PKA. Here we show that the accelerating action of HCO3− also requires the continued presence of external Ca2+ (EC50 ∼ 0.5 mM), and find that Ca2+ can be replaced by Sr2+ but not by Mn2+. Ca2+ is required for HCO3− to elevate cAMP, but not for cAMP-AM to increase beat frequency, indicating that external Ca2+ acts before rather than after stimulation of SACY by HCO3−. With external Ca2+ present, HCO3− does not alter cytosolic or near-membrane [Ca2+]. Removal of external Ca2+ initiates a slow decline in intracellular [Ca2+] and rapid block of the HCO3−-evoked acceleration that is not relieved upon increasing internal [Ca2+] by rapid photolysis of caged Ca2+. We also find that the rapid (t1/2 ∼ 10 s) accelerating action of HCO3− is slowed more than three-fold by the carbonic anhydrase inhibitor acetazolamide. It is unaltered by the broad spectrum anion transport inhibitor SITS, and is not accompanied by detectable changes in intracellular pH. We propose that external Ca2+ binds an unidentified extracellular protein that is required for HCO3− to engage cAMP-mediated activation of motility.
Switching a Replication-Defective Adenoviral Vector into a Replication-Competent, Oncolytic Adenovirus

ABSTRACT The adenovirus immediate early gene E1A initiates the program of viral gene transcription and reprograms multiple aspects of cell function and behavior. For adenoviral (Ad) vector-mediated gene transfer and therapy approaches, where replication-defective (RD) gene transfer is required, E1A has thus been the primary target for deletions. For oncolytic gene therapy for cancer, where replication-competent (RC) Ad viral gene expression is needed, E1A has been either mutated or placed under tumor-specific transcriptional control. A novel Ad vector that initially infected target tumor cells in an RD manner for transgene expression but that could be “switched” into an RC, oncolytic state when needed might represent an advance in vector technology. Here, we report that we designed such an Ad vector (proAdΔ24.GFP), where initial Ad replication is silenced by a green fluorescent protein (GFP) transgene that blocks cytomegalovirus (CMV)-mediated transcription of E1A. This vector functions as a bona fide E1A-deleted RD vector in infected tumor cells. However, because the silencing GFP transgene is flanked by FLP recombination target (FRT) sites, we show that it can be efficiently excised by Flp recombinase site-specific recombination, either when Flp is expressed constitutively in cells or when it is provided in trans by coinfection with a second RD herpes simplex virus (HSV) amplicon vector. This switches the RD Ad, proAdΔ24.GFP, into a fully RC, oncolytic Ad (rAdΔ24) that lyses tumor cells in culture and generates oncolytic progeny virions. In vivo , coinfection of established flank tumors with the RD proAdΔ24.GFP and the RD Flp -bearing HSV1 amplicon leads to generation of RC, oncolytic rAdΔ24. In an orthotopic human glioma xenograft tumor model, coinjection of the RD proAdΔ24.GFP and the RD Flp -bearing HSV1 amplicon also led to a significant increase in animal survival, compared to controls. Therefore, Flp -FRT site-specific recombination can be applied to switch RD Ad into fully oncolytic RC Ad for tumor therapy and is potentially applicable to a variety of gene therapy approaches.
Impact of COPD on Postoperative Outcomes: Results From a National Database

Abstract Background Although COPD affects large sections of the population, its effects on postoperative outcomes have not been rigorously studied. The objectives of this study were to describe the prevalence of COPD in patients undergoing surgery and to analyze the associations between COPD and postoperative morbidity, mortality, and hospital length of stay. Methods Patients with COPD who underwent surgery were identified from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database (2007-2008). Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed on this multicenter, prospective data set (N = 468,795). Results COPD was present in 22,576 patients (4.82%). These patients were more likely to be older, men, white, smokers, and taking corticosteroids and had a lower BMI ( P P P P 50 comorbidities through logistic regression modeling, COPD was independently associated with higher postoperative morbidity (OR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.30-1.40; P P P Conclusions COPD is common among patients undergoing surgery and is associated with increased morbidity, mortality, and length of stay.
WICI: an efficient switching scheme for large scalable networks

Many recent supercomputers employ either some kind of cluster-based design or other highly scalable networks. Clustering is built-in in the hierarchical system, while highly scalable networks like mesh or torus could be easily partitioned into modules to form several clusters. The paper explores potential use of prevalent routing schemes of wormhole and virtual cut-through and outline their relative drawbacks. Then, it introduces a new switching method, called Wormhole Intracluster Cut-through Intercluster (WICI) routing, to improve the network performance and to reduce the buffer cost in large networks. WICI routing, in general, is applicable to any hierarchical or large networks and its usefulness has been demonstrated for some practical networks including dBCube, mesh and torus. Simulation results of WICI routing are compared with wormhole and virtual cut-through routings. >
Effects of Cooperation and Editing on Instruction Writing Performance

AbstractThe study examined the effects of editing and cooperation on an instruction writing task. Performance on an individual transfer task was also assessed. Eightynine students participated in the experiment. The students’ instructions were scored for communicativeness and completeness. The results of the study showed that dyads significantly outperformed individuals on a communication score and noneditors outperformed editors. Significant differences were also found for the completeness score with editors outperforming individuals on the first task. No significant differences on completeness were found for the transfer task.
Some results on the multivariate truncated normal distribution

This note formalizes some analytical results on the n-dimensional multivariate truncated normal distribution where truncation is one-sided and at an arbitrary point. Results on linear transformations, marginal and conditional distributions, and independence are provided. Also, results on log-concavity, A-unimodality and the MTP2 property are derived.
A comparison of models for predicting sperm retrieval before microdissection testicular sperm extraction in men with nonobstructive azoospermia.

Purpose: We developed an artificial neural network and nomogram using readily available clinical features to model the chance of identifying sperm with microdissection testicular sperm extraction by readily available preoperative clinical parameters for men with nonobstructive azoospermia.Materials and Methods: We reviewed the records of 1,026 men who underwent microdissection testicular sperm extraction. Patient age, follicle-stimulating hormone level, testicular volume, history of cryptorchidism, Klinefelter syndrome and presence of varicocele were included in the models. For the artificial neural network the data set was divided randomly into a training set (75%) and a test set (25%) with n1/n2 cross validation used to evaluate model accuracy, and then modeled with a neural computational system. In addition, a nomogram with calibration plots was developed to predict sperm retrieval with microdissection testicular sperm extraction. We compared these models to logistic regression.Results: The ROC area fo...
A theoretical and experimental analysis of the ellipsometer

Abstract A theoretical analysis of the problem of determining ψ and Δ from instrument readings is made for two commonly used ellipsometer geometries. The significance of the different zones of measurement and the effects due to multiple internal reflections in the retardation plate are emphasized resulting in an unambiguous, exact set of formulae. The optical bandwidth of the light employed as well as several other operational parameters, such as source polarization, collimation, and prism deviation, are considered and the analysis is compared with experimental results in effort to determine the effect of these parameters upon the overall instrumental accuracy. Finally, evidence is presented to show that muscovite mica, such as is normally employed in the fabrication of retardation plates, is a non-homogeneous substance, displaying a fine grained structure in which individual grains have slightly different crystal orientations, thus resulting in differing “fast axes” for different grains within a plate.
Complete genome sequence of the porcine strain Brachyspira pilosicoli P43/6/78T

ABSTRACT Reported herein is the complete genome sequence of Brachyspira pilosicoli strain P43/6/78T, isolated from a pig with clinical disease. This sequence will aid in the study of genome-wide comparison among Brachyspira species.
College Recruiting in Large Organizations: Practice, Evaluation, and Research Implications.

Directors of college recruiting for Fortune 1000 corporations were surveyed regarding a broad set of college recruiting practices and college recruiting effectiveness measures. Descriptive results suggested that most college recruiting programs diverge from normative prescriptions (e.g., little recruiter training, limited data collection, and almost no empirical evaluation of recruiting outcomes). Stepwise regression revealed several statistically significant relationships between organizational characteristics, recruiting practices, and perceived recruiting effectiveness. Some of these findings were consistent with conventional wisdom (e.g., positive relationships between perceived effectiveness and recruiter information, recruiter selection criteria, and recorded information about new hires) while others were not (e.g., negative associations between perceived effectiveness, personalization of rejection notices, training recruiters in a broad range of content areas, and the existence of a human resource information system). Methodological limitations are noted, and suggestions are offered for future practical recruitment improvements and theoretical research.
Allylic Alcohols by Alkene Transfer from Zirconium to Zinc: 1‐[(tert‐Butyldiphenylsilyl)oxy]‐Dec‐3‐en‐5‐ol

Allylic alcohols by alkene transfer from zirconium to zinc: 1-[(tert-butyldiphenylsilyl)oxy]-dec-3-en-5-ol intermediate: tert-butyl(but-3-ynyloxy)diphenylsilane product: 1-[(tert-butyldiphenyl-silyl)oxy]-dec-3-en-5-ol Keywords: alkenylation, C-alkenylation; Grignard and related reactions; protection, oxygen; dichloromethane (methylene chloride); chlorobis(η5-cyclopentadienyl)hydridozirconium = Schwartz's reagent; 4-dimethylaminopyridine, poison; flasks, equipped with gas inlet stopcock
Community Worldview and Rural Systems: A Study of Five Communities in Iowa

Rural geography has gone through profound changes over the decades. Dissatisfaction with traditional emphases on population distribution, landscape features, labor markets, and economic restructuring has led to a recent focus on the construction of meanings associated with rural landscapes and social constructions of rurality. Included in this new turn is a willingness to consider the concept of worldview, or metaphysical frameworks, in geographic study. These new studies, however, often address culture and religious constructs apart from more traditional topics of rural geography. This study of five Iowa farm communities attempts to put such metaphysical frameworks in the context of their everyday settings and connect them to rural agricultural systems. Each of the five communities had a particular vision of society, challenging the monolithic assumptions about rural places. Fundamental to these communities’ worldviews was their range from communitarian to individualistic. Communitarian groups tended tow...
On the DMT of bidirectional relaying with limited feedback

Several half-duplex decode-and-forward two-way relaying protocols that efficiently exploit quantized channel state information (CSI) at the transmitters (CSIT) are investigated. Adapting the number of channel uses for each relaying phase and the transmit power based on limited CSIT is shown to result in a significant improvement in the diversity-multiplexing tradeoff (DMT). With CSI feedback from relay to sources, allocating the number of channel uses is sufficient to match the performance of power allocation. However, power control is instrumental to efficiently exploit CSI feedback from sources to relay.
On chip spatial power combining for short range millimeter-wave systems

Using spectrum around 60 GHz for high speed short range wireless systems has led to examination of antennas on chip. System analysis indicates that spatial power combining on chip may allow for a good combination of small size and compatibility with silicon amplifier performance indicates this approach may be the solution of choice. We have shown good agreement between modeled and measured performance for a candidate antenna element with three candidate elements shown which can achieve good gain in the frequency band of operation. Further, we have shown that system performance can be achieved in the very compact area of 7 x 7 mm2 while using a reasonable upper limit on output power from a silicon amplifier in this band.
Prospects for the use of ipilimumab in treating advanced prostate cancer

ABSTRACTIntroduction: Ipilimumab is a fully human monoclonal antibody that blocks Cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) to potentiate antitumor T cell response. Ipilimumab is approved for the treatment of advanced melanoma based on improved overall survival. Clinical trials of ipilimumab in patients with metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) have demonstrated some clinical activity, but have largely been disappointing to date.Areas covered: Results of key clinical studies of ipilimumab in the treatment of prostate cancer, including clinical efficacy and toxicities, are summarized.Expert opinion: There is likely a clinical benefit to ipilimumab in a subset of mCRPC patients. The development of biomarkers for enrichment treatment strategies that select for patients most likely to benefit from ipilimumab is a top priority. Similarly, an understanding of the factors predictive of toxicity will be important in the development of future treatment approaches.
When Is a Man a Man, and When Is a Woman a Woman?

Courts are being asked on a more frequent basis to determine whether a marriage involving a transgendered spouse is an invalid same-sex union or a legal heterosexual marriage. Historically, these cases were all brought by one of the parties to the marriage who wanted to avoid marital obligations by having the marriage declared void. Recently, these actions have been brought by people who are not parties to the marriage. For example, in Texas, a doctor who sought to avoid liability under a wrongful death statute was granted summary judgment because the surviving widow who sued him was a post-operative male-to-female transsexual wife. The Texas Court of Appeals ruled that the wife was not legally a woman and the marriage was an invalid same-sex marriage. Similarly, a Kansas appellate court is currently reviewing a trial court decision that declared a marriage between a male-to-female post-operative transsexual and a man invalid as a same-sex marriage. The person contesting the validity of the marriage is the decedent's son who has the right to inherit the entire estate if the marriage is held invalid. These recent court rulings have added a new dimension to the same-sex marriage debate. Because the Texas appellate court ruled that a post-operative transsexual remains the sex assigned at birth, Texas court clerks are now issuing marriage licenses to self-proclaimed lesbians who are able to show a valid birth certificate indicating that their birth sex was male. Thus, Texas has now become the first state in this country to approve what most of society would identify as a same-sex marriage. Because the laws controlling the sex designated on a person's birth certificate, driver's license and passport vary by governmental agency and jurisdiction, a transgendered person's "legal" sex may change as the transgendered person crosses state borders. Typically, as one's legal sex changes, one's ability to marry will also change. In other words, a marriage between a post-operative male-to-female transsexual and a man will be considered a legal heterosexual marriage in some states and an invalid same-sex relationship in other states. This article focuses on the policy concerns that courts and legislatures should consider when they are asked to determine the validity of a marriage in which one of the parties is transgendered. It analyzes the policy considerations that have shaped the same-sex marriage debate and concludes that these concerns should not control the determination of the validity of marriages involving transsexuals. Courts and legislature must consider additional policy concerns when they determine whether these marriages should be held invalid. How the courts resolve these transsexual marriage cases, however, may have a profound effect on the rights of gays and lesbians to marry.
Finding Cross-National Consistency: Use of G-Theory to Validate Acculturation to Global Consumer Culture Measure

ABSTRACTThe authors use G-theory to explore a parsimonious measure of global consumer acculturation for its cross-national applicability. Our study is based on data from four countries that vary in size, location, and economic development—United States, China, New Zealand, and Nigeria. Given the spread of globalization and as consumption behaviors are becoming more homogeneous between countries and heterogeneous within countries, the measure of acculturation to global consumer culture serves as an important indicator for segmenting international consumers. Moreover, global consumer acculturation is considered to be an antecedent to consumer behavior variables like consumer ethnocentrism and materialism, while being viewed as a predictor of consumption-related behaviors. It is in this context that the parsimonious measure would find application—both in academia and in practice.
Plant Bugs: Effects of Feeding on Grass Seed Development; and Cultural Control

The plant bugs Leptopterna ferrugata (Fallen) and Megaloceroea recticornis (Geoffrey) reduced seed set in grasses by feeding on the culm or directly on developing seeds. Bugs made relatively fewer feeding probes on stems than on leaves and panicles during different stages of development of grass. The viability of seeds was destroyed when bugs had fed directly on the developing seeds. Survival of overwintering eggs laid in the stems of grasses determined the density of bugs the following season and was influenced by postharvest management of the straw. Mechanical removal of the straw was not as effective in reducing the incidence of feeding injury as burning the straw.
The Perfect Stage of Hendersonia Mali

A few years ago apple twigs bearing the fungus Hendersonia Mali Thiimen were collected at Hemlock Lake, New York. Accompanying this conidial form were perithecia, asci and ascospores characteristic of the genus Pleospora. When cultures of ascospores were made the resulting growth yielded Hendersonia conidia which agreed morphologically with those noted on the apple twigs. Further study of the ascomycete has proved that the fungus is a new species. Perithecia were removed to a sterile drop of water in a sterile petri dish. Further procedure ensued along one of two general lines: (1) by means of a capillary pipette (as previously de? scribed, Hesler 1913: 291-292) a single ascospore was removed either (a) to a drop of sterile water in another sterile petri dish into which warm potato agar was then poured, or (b) to a hard potato agar plate prepared in advance; (2) warm potato agar was poured into a dish in which ascospores had been placed. When the dish and contents were cooled single ascospores were marked for further study. Under conditions described above ascospores germinated within a few (8-12) hours, and pycnidia bearing pycnospores were matured within six days. A number of sowings were made to learn the genetic connection, if any, between the ascomycete and Hendersonia Mali Thiim.
Two Paradigmatic Waves of Public Discourse on Nuclear Waste in the United States, 1945-2009: Understanding a Magnitudinal and Longitudinal Phenomenon in Anthropological Terms.

This project set out to illuminate the discursive existence of nuclear waste in American culture. Given the significant temporal dimension of the phenomenon as well as the challenging size of the United States setting, the project adapted key methodological elements of the sociocultural anthropology tradition and produced proxies for ethnographic fieldnotes and key informant interviews through sampling the digital archives of the New York Times over a 64-year period that starts with the first recorded occurrence of the notion of nuclear waste and ends with the conclusion of the presidency of George W. Bush. Two paradigmatic waves of American public discourse on nuclear waste come to light when subjecting this empirical data to quantitative inventorying and interpretive analysis: between 1945 and 1969 nuclear waste was generally framed in light of the beneficial utilizations of nuclear reactions and with optimistic expectations for a scientific/technological solution; by contrast, between 1969 and 2009 nuclear waste was conceptualized as inherited harm that could not be undone and contestation that required political/legal management. Besides this key finding and the empirical timing of the two paradigms, the study’s value lies also with its detailed empirical documentation of nuclear waste in its sociocultural existence.
Plastic surgery pitfalls.

As a founding member of the physician-owned insurance carrier The Doctors’ Company, the author has reviewed many plastic surgery policy claims. In this article, he presents an overview of the plastic surgery procedures that produce the most severe losses. He then offers suggestions on how to proceed with these “medical malpractice favorites.” The author discusses potential antitrust traps and legal recourse for plastic surgeons.
Harmonic Mapping of Intracranial Aneurysm Surfaces

We describe an approach for harmonic surface mapping of blood vessel aneurysms into a topologically equivalent canonical space. We use this approach to map and visualize local hemodynamic variables associated with the surface of sidewall internal carotid artery aneurysms (ICA) imaged by 3D X-ray angiography. These variables are derived from steady-state computational fluid dynamic simulations. An invertible harmonic map of the aneurysm surface onto the unit disc allows visual inspection of the entire surface and associated quantities at once, unobscured by shape irregularities. Results indicate that the developed approach is close to being conformal, thereby preserving local shape. This approach has applications in the generation of statistical atlases of aneurysms and in quantitative group studies of aneurysm development, growth, rupture, and treatment.
PanIN Neuroendocrine Cells Promote Tumorigenesis via Neuronal Cross-talk.

Nerves are a notable feature of the tumor microenvironment in some epithelial tumors, but their role in the malignant progression of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is uncertain. Here we identify dense innervation in the microenvironment of precancerous pancreatic lesions, known as pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasms (PanIN), and describe a unique subpopulation of neuroendocrine PanIN cells that express the neuropeptide substance P (SP) receptor Neurokinin 1-R (NK1-R). Using organoid culture, we demonstrated that sensory neurons promoted the proliferation of PanIN organoids via SP-NK1-R signaling and Stat3 activation. Nerve-responsive neuroendocrine cells exerted trophic influences and potentiated global PanIN organoid growth. Sensory denervation of a genetically engineered mouse model of PDAC led to loss of Stat3 activation, a decrease in the neoplastic neuroendocrine cell population, and impaired PanIN progression to tumor. Overall, our data provide evidence that nerves of the PanIN microenvironment promote oncogenesis, likely via direct signaling to neoplastic neuroendocrine cells capable of trophic influences. These findings identify neuroepithelial crosstalk as a potential novel target in PDAC treatment.
Intensity modulated radiation therapy for squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva: Treatment technique and outcomes.

Abstract Objective The objective of this study was to present the treatment technique and evaluate clinical outcomes after intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) for vulvar cancer. Methods and materials This retrospective study included 39 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva treated with IMRT from 2005 to 2015. There were 21 patients treated with postoperative IMRT, 13 with definitive IMRT, and 5 with preoperative IMRT. Tumor staging was Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage I in 6, stage II in 7, stage III in 19, and stage IV in 7 patients. Concurrent chemotherapy was administered to 14 patients. Brachytherapy was delivered in 8 patients. Results The median follow-up was 34 months (range, 3.3-71). Median IMRT dose to patients receiving pre- or postoperative IMRT was 5040 cGy (range, 5040-6080). Median combined IMRT and brachytherapy dose to gross tumor was 7000 cGy (range, 5040-7520) in those treated with definitive RT. The 3-year locoregional control (LRC) and overall survival for those receiving postoperative RT were 89% and 67%, respectively. The 3-year LRC and overall survival for those receiving definitive IMRT were 42% and 49%, respectively. In patients receiving definitive or neoadjuvant IMRT, 69% had complete clinical response and 44% had complete pathologic response. The actuarial 3-year inguinal recurrence rate was 7%. There were no acute grade 3-4 hematological, gastrointestinal, or genitourinary toxicities. There were no late grade 3-4 gastrointestinal or genitourinary toxicities. Conclusions IMRT for vulvar cancer is associated with high rates of LRC in the postoperative setting and limited radiation-related toxicity. Durable LRC of disease after definitive IMRT remains challenging, and several refinements to our treatment technique are suggested.
In the Anthropocene

One aspect of the Anthropocene, the “human-dominated geologic epoch,” that has received less attention is the estrangements it produces among the people living in its space and time. Wet-season tides began to extend to unusually high distances along the Murik coast in late 2007. They knocked down coconut palms, eroded beaches and sometimes broke through the narrow seashore, raising the prospect of resettlement. Returning to Bakhtin’s concept of chronotope, the chapter focuses on modern and Anthropocene-based chronotopes as well as the chronotope of archaic Murik masculinity and the chronotope of doubt found in local-level debates about the meanings of rising sea levels. As a whole, the Anthropocene is a new context of the dual alienation of Murik men.
CD138 mediates selection of mature plasma cells by regulating their survival

Antibody secreting cells (ASCs) are critical effector cells and long-lived sentinels for immune memory. ASCs are highly dependent on exogenous soluble factors such as interleukin-6 (IL-6) and APRIL, to prevent their cell death. We have found that the canonical surface marker of ASCs, CD138 (syndecan-1), which is upregulated during ASC maturation, is required in a cell-intrinsic manner to mount an effective long-term humoral immune response following immunization. Surface expression of CD138 increased heparan sulfate levels on ASCs, which are known to bind pro-survival cytokines, leading to increased survival in a cell-intrinsic manner in vivo. In IL-6 and APRIL-deficient hosts, ASCs underwent extensive apoptosis independently of CD138 expression. We propose a model in which CD138 expression on fully mature ASCs provides a selective survival advantage over less mature, newly minted ASCs, by enhancing pro-survival cytokine signaling.
Ontogeny, phylogeny, and apparatus reconstruction of the conodont genus Histiodella, Joins Fm., Arbuckle Mountains, Oklahoma

Histiodella is a biostratigraphically valuable conodont genus that evolved rapidly through several species in the early Middle Ordovician. Sampling of the Joins Formation (basal Simpson Group) in Oklahoma provided over 9,200 specimens assignable to several form elements that are believed to be parts of the Histiodella apparatus reconstructed herein on evidence of relative abundance, stratigraphic range, morphologic similarities and parallel phyletic development. The following form-generic terms are used to convey the morphology of the elements: bryantodontiform, short bryantodontiform, twisted bryantodontiform, trichonodelliform, zygognathiform, and oistodontiform. All of the elements of the apparatus become increasingly denticulate higher in the section, but the bryantodontiform element is the most useful for taxonomy and stratigraphy, progressing from smooth to minutely serrate to anteriorly denticulate to denticulate, both anterior and posterior of the apex of the blade. Individual species are discriminated at the level of the lowest occurrence of characteristic ornamentation on the bryantodontiform element. Two trends are recognized during both ontogeny and phylogeny of the bryantodontiform element: 1) increasing denticulation, and 2) decreasing height/length ratio. The phyletic trends are explained as resulting from acceleration of the ontogenetic trends producing an increasingly long upper margin of the bryantodontiform element, especially anterior of the blade apex. All available evidence also points to a phyletic increase in the ratio of bryantodontiform elements to nonbryantodontiform elements in the Histiodella apparatus. Because acceleration is a mechanism for evolution in this lineage, it is reasonable to suspect that the number of bryantodontiform elements in the apparatus also increased ontogenetically, although this cannot be directly demonstrated.
Neurotropic Retroviruses of Mice, Cats, Macaques, and Humans

The prominent neurological manifestations associated with infection by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the human T-lymphotropic retrovirus (HTLV) have focused attention on the neurotropic properties of the family Retroviridae. This family is divided into three subfamilies, the oncoviruses, the lentiviruses, and the spumaviruses, each of which is known to infect the central nervous system (CNS) of their natural animal hosts.1 The only known naturally occurring neurological disease caused by an oncovirus in animals is the spongiform polioencephalomyelopathy caused by murine leukemia virus (MuLV) discovered in the early 1970s in a population of wild mice in southern California (for review, see Gardner2). Since then, several strains of laboratory-derived, temperature-sensitive, and mutant MuLV have produced a similar disease experimentally in mice and rats.3,4
On Estimating Largest Defects in Castings

The procedure developed by Beretta and Murakami has two issues that were not addressed previously: (i) the selection of the Weibull plotting position formula for linear regression fits to estimate Gumbel distribution parameters and (ii) the untested hypothesis that the estimates for the upper Gumbel percentiles are distributed normally. Monte Carlo simulations were run to determine the plotting position formula that provided the least bias and the distribution of Gumbel percentiles. It was found that among the nine formulas used in this study, the one developed by Hazen had the least bias, whereas the one by Weibull had the highest bias. Moreover, 0.999 percentiles of the Gumbel distribution were found to follow the three-parameter lognormal distribution. Empirical relationships between the estimated parameters of the three-parameter lognormal distribution and sample size are provided in the paper.
Automated content-based filtering for enhanced vision-based documentation in construction toward exploiting big visual data from drones

Abstract In recent years, emerging mobile devices and camera-equipped platforms have offered a great convenience to visually capture and constantly document the as-is status of construction sites. In this regard, visual data are regularly collected in the form of numerous photos or lengthy videos. However, massive amounts of visual data that are being collected from jobsites (e.g., data collection on daily or weekly bases by Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, UAVs) has provoked visual data overload as an inevitable problem to face. To address such data overload issue in the construction domain, this paper aims at proposing a new method to automatically retrieve photo-worthy frames containing construction-related contents that are scattered in collected video footages or consecutive images. In the proposed method, the presence of objects of interest (i.e., construction-related contents) in given image frames are recognized by the semantic segmentation, and then scores of the image frames are computed based on the spatial composition of the identified objects. To improve the filtering performance, high-score image frames are further analyzed to estimate their likelihood to be intentionally taken. Case studies in two construction sites have revealed that the accuracy of the proposed method is close-to-human judgment in filtering visual data to retrieve photo-worthy image frames containing construction-related contents. The performance metrics demonstrate around 91% of accuracy in the semantic segmentation, and we observed enhanced human-like judgment in filtering construction visual data comparing to prior works. It is expected that the proposed automated method enables practitioners to assess the as-is status of construction sites efficiently through selective visual data, thereby facilitating data-driven decision making at the right time.
New Structural Features of Unsupported Chains of Metal Ions in Luminescent [(NH3)4Pt][Au(CN)2]2·1.5(H2O) and Related Salts

Luminescent [(NH3)4Pt][Au(CN)2]2·1.5(H2O), which forms from aqueous solutions of [(NH3)4Pt]Cl2 and K[Au(CN)2], crystallizes with extended chains of the two ions with multiple close Pt···Au (3.2804(4) and 3.2794(4) A) and Au···Au (3.2902(5), 3.3312(5), and 3.1902(4) A) contacts. Nonluminescent [(NH3)4Pt][Ag(CN)2]2·1.4(H2O) is isostructural with [(NH3)4Pt][Au(CN)2]2·1.5(H2O). Treatment of [(NH3)6Ni]Cl2 with K[Au(CN)2] forms [(NH3)2Ni][Au(CN)2]2 in which the [Au(CN)2]- ions function as nitrile ligands toward nickel, which assumes a six-coordinate structure with trans NH3 ligands. The [Au(CN)2]- ions self-associate into linear columns with close Au···Au contacts of 3.0830(5) A, and pairs of gold ions in these chains make additional but longer (3.4246(5) A) contacts with other gold ions.
Expert evaluation of open-data indicators of seaport vulnerability to climate and extreme weather impacts for U.S. North Atlantic ports

Abstract When comparing vulnerabilities of multiple disparate systems, indicator-based vulnerability assessment (IBVA) methods can yield standardized metrics, allowing for high-level analysis to identify areas or systems of concern. Identification of indicators is often a first step in the development of coastal vulnerability indices (CVI). To advance IBVA for the seaport sector, researchers investigated the sufficiency of and elicited expert-evaluation of publicly available open-data to serve as indicators of climate and extreme-weather vulnerability for 22 major seaports in the North East United States, addressing the question: How sufficient is the current state of data reporting for and about the seaport sector to develop expert-supported vulnerability indicators for a regional sample of ports? Researchers developed a framework for expert-evaluation of candidate indicators that can be replicated to develop indicators in other sectors and for other purposes. Researchers first identified candidate indicators from the climate change vulnerability assessment (CCVA) and seaport-studies literature and vetted them for data-availability for the sample ports. Candidate indicators were then evaluated by experts via a mind-mapping exercise, and finally via a visual analogue scale (VAS) measurement instrument. Researchers developed a VAS instrument to elicit expert perception of the magnitude and direction of correlation between candidate indicators and each of the three dimensions of vulnerability that have become standard in the CCVA literature, e.g., exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity. For candidate indicators selected from currently available open data sources, port-expert respondents found notably stronger correlation with the exposure and sensitivity of a port than with the adaptive capacity. Results suggest that more open reporting and sharing of port-specific data within the maritime transportation sector will be necessary before IBVA will become feasible for seaports.
Evolution of a Strategy for the Enantioselective Synthesis of (−)-Cajanusine

The first enantioselective synthesis of (-)-cajanusine is presented. Key features of the route include a rapid synthesis of the [4.2.0]bicyclooctane core by an enantioselective isomerization/stereoselective [2+2]-cycloaddition strategy as well as prominent use of catalytic methods for bond construction. The evolution of the approach is also presented that highlights unexpected roadblocks and how novel solutions were developed.
Child, Family, and School Behavioral Health Care in the Military Health System

Army family member health and resilience directly impact soldier readiness and are critical to maintaining a deployable force. Military families face unique stressors, including combat deployments,...
Metoclopramide Reduces Fluoroscopy and Procedure Time during Gastrojejunostomy Tube Placement: A Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Abstract Purpose To determine whether a single 10-mg intravenous dose of the promotility agent metoclopramide reduces the fluoroscopy time, radiation dose, and procedure time required for gastrojejunostomy (GJ) tube placement. Methods This prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial enrolled consecutive patients who underwent primary GJ tube placement at a single institution from April 10, 2018, to October 3, 2019. Exclusion criteria included age less than 18 years, inability to obtain consent, metoclopramide allergy or contraindication, and altered pyloric anatomy. Average fluoroscopy times, radiation doses, and procedure times were compared using t-tests. The full study protocol can be found at www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03331965). Results Of 110 participants randomized 1:1, 45 received metoclopramide and 51 received placebo and underwent GJ tube placement (38 females and 58 males; mean age, 55 ± 18 years). Demographics of the metoclopramide and placebo groups were similar. The fluoroscopy time required to advance a guide wire through the pylorus averaged 1.6 minutes (range, 0.3–10.1 minutes) in the metoclopramide group versus 4.1 minutes (range, 0.2–27.3 minutes) in the placebo group (P = .002). Total procedure fluoroscopy time averaged 5.8 minutes (range, 1.5–16.2 minutes) for the metoclopramide group versus 8.8 minutes (range, 2.8–29.7 minutes) for the placebo group (P = .002). Air kerma averaged 91 mGy (range, 13–354 mGy) for the metoclopramide group versus 130 mGy (range, 24–525 mGy) for the placebo group (P = .04). Total procedure time averaged 16.4 minutes (range, 8–51 minutes) for the metoclopramide group versus 19.9 minutes (range, 6–53 minutes) for the placebo group (P = .04). There were no drug-related adverse events and no significant differences in procedure-related complications. Conclusions A single dose of metoclopramide reduced fluoroscopy time by 34%, radiation dose by 30%, and procedure time by 17% during GJ tube placement.
COVID-19 and Tribes: The Structural Violence of Federal Indian Law

Like countless other health conditions, the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in inequalities. People of color are experiencing not only higher rates of COVID-19 infections but also worse outcomes from the infection. American Indians and Alaska Natives are experiencing COVID-19 infections at higher rates than other groups across several states including Arizona, New Mexico, and Wisconsin. The Navajo Nation, in particular, has been adversely impacted by COVID-19. The Tribe has had over 9,300 cases with 472 deaths as of August 9, 2020. By May 2020, the Navajo Nation had displaced New York City as having the highest per capita rates of COVID-19 infections in all the United States. This essay argues that, but for federal Indian law, American Indians and Alaska Natives would not have experienced the pervasive inequalities in COVID-19 response and health outcomes. It discusses the negative impact of federal Indian law on health outcomes generally before offering a specific discussion on the failures of federal Indian law in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. It acknowledges the sad reality that the impact of these failures will continue to manifest in other forms, including trauma-related conditions.
What do patients think about opioids? a survey of patient perceptions regarding pain control after shoulder surgery.

Background There is an increasing need to understand what barriers are present to reduce opioid consumption in orthopedic practice. The purpose of this study was to better understand patient perceptions and understanding of opioid use after shoulder surgery. Methods Eighty-five patients who underwent shoulder surgery anonymously completed a 27-question survey adapted from the Maryland Public Opinion Survey on Opioids with additional demographics. The patients were asked about pain expectations after surgery, use of and access to opioids, opioid perceptions, and information provided regarding safe use, storage, and disposal of opioids. Results When asked about receiving information regarding opioids, only 36% of the patients reported having a conversation with their physician. When asked about appropriate use, 10% agree it is permissible to take more than the recommended dosage of prescription narcotics if they are feeling more pain than usual and 8.5% of the patients reported taking an opioid to get high multiple times in the past year. Furthermore, a majority agreed that opioids may lead to other substance abuse with 76% reporting the risk of harm to be great, and only 55% believing that opioid abuse may lead to overdose or death. Conclusions Surgeons need to be aware that most patients expect to have significant pain after shoulder surgery and expect to be given necessary and continued amounts of opioids. This highlights the need for better counseling and innovative nonopioid pain management protocols. At the institutional level, more effort needs to be made on providing adequate education and disposal mechanisms to help reduce diversion and misuse.
Aligning faculty development with competencies for professional growth.

Faculty Development (FD) often focuses on acquiring and enhancing teaching skills. Typical FD programming consists of scheduled events such as workshops, bootcamps, and other opportunities that aim...