cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Role of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in Restenosis The Controversy Continues

In 1996, the late Jeffrey Isner proposed the use of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene delivery in patients undergoing percutaneous transluminal angioplasty as a strategy to limit the risk of restenosis.1VEGF promotes endothelial cell function and is a potent stimulator of endothelial cell migration and survival. Because normal endothelium inhibits smooth muscle cell proliferation, it was hypothesized that accelerating the reendothelialization of the balloon-injured site would diminish the severity of restenosis. Indeed, reports in animal models demonstrate that local administration of VEGF-A or VEGF-C leads to accelerated reendothelialization and a reduction in intimal thickening.2–5 However, the utility of VEGF or other proangiogenic factors for the treatment of restenosis is questioned by reports that have documented extensive vascular networks in atherosclerotic plaques6 and balloon-injured coronary arteries.7 Thus, the delivery of proangiogenic agents might exacerbate the growth of vascular lesions, analogous to the concept that angiogenesis contributes to tumor growth. These concerns are supported by studies showing that treatment of apolipoprotein E (ApoE)-deficient mice with an angiogenesis inhibitor reduced intimal neovascularization and plaque growth,8 and administration of VEGF enhanced atherosclerotic plaque progression, which was associated with increased capillary density.9 See pp 2424, 2430, 2436, 2444 This controversy has been rekindled by 3 articles appearing in the present issue of Circulation .10–12 Although many of the previous studies focused on the effects of exogenously administered angiogenic growth factors on vascular lesions, these new studies analyze the role of endogenous angiogenic growth factor signaling in neointima formation after acute vascular injury. Specifically, these studies tested whether VEGF-Traps (Figure), inhibitors of endogenous VEGF signaling, have a positive or negative effect on the process of intimal hyperplasia. On the basis of these new studies, we can conclude that VEGF inhibits restenosis,10 VEGF promotes restenosis,12 …
De Volder’s Cartesian Physics and Experimental Pedagogy

In 1675, Burchard de Volder (1643–1709) was the first professor to introduce the demonstration of experiment into a university physics course and built the Leiden Physics Theatre to accommodate this new pedagogy. When he requested the funds from the university to build the facility, he claimed that the performance of experiments would demonstrate the “truth and certainty” of the postulates of theoretical physics. Such a claim is interesting given de Volder’s lifelong commitment to Cartesian scientia. This chapter will examine de Volder’s views on experiment and show that they are not Newtonian or inductivist, as is sometimes claimed. While de Volder thinks we need deductive reasoning from first principles to provide evidence of the certainty of the content of our physical theories, he also contends that we need experiment to provide evidence of the certainty of the existence of the particular bodies those theories discuss. This approach to experiment is based on a distinction between rational certainty and the certainty of material bodies in the actual world. While this account is deeply influenced by Descartes, it is importantly different than Descartes’ distinction between absolute and moral certainty. De Volder’s “Cartesian Empiricism” is best understood as a continuation and further development of a long tradition of teaching through observation at Leiden.
Immune Cell Regulatory Pathways Unexplored as Host-Directed Therapeutic Targets for Mycobacterium tuberculosis: An Opportunity to Apply Precision Medicine Innovations to Infectious Diseases

The lack of novel antimicrobial drugs in development for tuberculosis treatment has provided an impetus for the discovery of adjunctive host-directed therapies (HDTs). Several promising HDT candidates are being evaluated, but major advancement of tuberculosis HDTs will require understanding of the master or "core" cell signaling pathways that control intersecting immunologic and metabolic regulatory mechanisms, collectively described as "immunometabolism." Core regulatory pathways conserved in all eukaryotic cells include poly (ADP-ribose) polymerases (PARPs), sirtuins, AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), and mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling. Critical interactions of these signaling pathways with each other and their roles as master regulators of immunometabolic functions will be addressed, as well as how Mycobacterium tuberculosis is already known to influence various other cell signaling pathways interacting with them. Knowledge of these essential mechanisms of cell function regulation has led to breakthrough targeted treatment advances for many diseases, most prominently in oncology. Leveraging these exciting advances in precision medicine for the development of innovative next-generation HDTs may lead to entirely new paradigms for treatment and prevention of tuberculosis and other infectious diseases.
Development of Biomarker Models to Predict Outcomes in Lupus Nephritis.

Objective The American College of Rheumatology guidelines for the treatment of lupus nephritis recommend change in induction therapy when response to therapy has not occurred within 6 months. Response is not defined, and renal fibrosis can occur while waiting for this end point. Therefore, a decision support tool to better define response is needed to guide clinicians when starting patients on therapy. This study was undertaken to identify biomarker models with sufficient predictive power to develop such a tool. Methods Urine samples from 140 patients with biopsy-proven lupus nephritis who had not yet started induction therapy were analyzed for a panel of urinary biomarkers. Univariate receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were generated for each individual biomarker and compared to the ROC area under the curve values from machine learning models developed using random forest algorithms. Biomarker models of outcome developed with novel markers in addition to clinical markers were compared to those developed with traditional clinical markers alone. Results Models developed with the combined traditional and novel biomarker panels demonstrated clinically meaningful predictive power. Markers most predictive of response were chemokines, cytokines, and markers of cellular damage. Conclusion This is the first study to demonstrate the power of low-abundance biomarker panels and machine learning algorithms for predicting lupus nephritis outcomes. This is a critical first step in research to develop clinically meaningful decision support tools.
Hexagonal theory of flavor

The authors construct a supersymmetric theory of flavor based on the discrete gauge group (D{sub 6}){sup 2}, where D{sub 6} describes the symmetry of a regular hexagon under proper rotations in three dimensions. The representation structure of the group allows one to distinguish the third from the lighter two generations of matter fields, so that in the symmetry limit only the top quark Yukawa coupling is allowed and scalar superpartners of the first two generations are degenerate. Light fermion Yukawa couplings arise from a sequential breaking of the flavor symmetry, and supersymmetric flavor-changing processes remain adequately suppressed. They contrast the model with others based on non-Abelian discrete gauge symmetries described in the literature, and discuss the challenges in constructing more minimal flavor models based on this approach.
Abstract 452: Hyperglycemia and Oxidative Stress Impair Fluid Shear Stress-mediated Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase Phosphorylation and Activation via Disrupting Adherens Junctions

Endothelial dysfunction, characterized by a decrease of nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability in the vessel wall, plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Oxidative stress due to increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) is implicated in endothelial dysfunction associated with diabetes. However the molecular mechanisms by which oxidative stress causes endothelial dysfunction remain incompletely understood. Blood flow, which generates fluid shear stress acting on endothelium, is the most potent physiological stimulus for NO production through endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) activation. Here we report that hyperglycemia and oxidative stress impairs fluid shear stress signal transduction and eNOS activation in endothelium. We found that the exposure of endothelial cells (ECs) to ROS generators such as menadione and xanthine/xanthine oxidase inhibited laminar flow-mediated Akt and eNOS phosphorylation and activation in human endothelial cells. Moreover, ECs pre-exposed to high glucose that generates ROS production in ECs, failed to respond to laminar flow for Akt/eNOS phosphorylation and activation. Consequently NO production from ECs in response to laminar flow was attenuated by high glucose treatment. Mechanistically, we observed that hyperglycemia and oxidative stress altered endothelial adherens junction integrity, manifested by the alternation of the localization of cell-cell junction molecules vascular endothelial cadherin (VE-cadherin) and beta-catenin. Silencing VE-cadherin or beta-catenin with small interference RNA also inhibited laminar flow-mediated signaling for eNOS activation, which mimics the effects of oxidative stress, suggesting that cell-cell junction integrity is critical for fluid shear stress signal transduction and eNOS activation. Collectively, our results demonstrate that hyperglycemia and oxidative stress impair laminar flow-mediated eNOS activation through the alternation of endothelial junction integrity and fluid shear stress signal transduction. Our findings suggest a novel mechanism whereby oxidative stress induces diabetes-associated endothelial dysfunction.
Three generations of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in a family: SPECT brain perfusion findings.

Tc-99m SPECT brain imaging was performed on three patients who represented three different generations in a family with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Among the findings were bilateral frontal, parietal, and thalamic hypoperfusion and brain atrophy.
NETWORK ROLES AND THE DYNAMICS OF INTERORGANIZATIONAL TRUST.

In positing a correlation between experience and levels of trust, interorganizational network theory often fails to account for changes in network roles. Using ethnographic data, I theorize that tr...
Design and Fabrication of a High-Throughput Microreactor and Its Evaluation for Highly Exothermic Reactions

The effect of distributor and channel positions on flow uniformity in a high-throughput reactor is studied using a COMSOL MULTIPHYSICS, CFD package. The best design is subsequently fabricated and evaluated for propane total oxidation reaction at low conversions. Comparison of our design with a literature design is also presented. The results indicate that the conical distributor performs significantly better in terms of flow uniformity as compared to the commonly used disc shaped distributor. The flow uniformity is improved when the central channel is removed from the design, indicating that the channel arrangement also affects the flow uniformity. The experimental results on flow uniformity are in good agreement with simulation. The deviation in conversion of propane from channel to channel is within experimental error, indicating that the reactor can reliably screen catalysts and deliver kinetics. A half a dozen catalysts were tested for complete propane oxidation using the developed technology.
Rheological and Mechanical Properties of Ultra-fine Cellulose-Filled Thermoplastic Epoxy Composites

Thermoplastic epoxy resin (TPER)-based composites containing different amounts of ultra-fine cellulose (UFC) were prepared via melt compounding and injection molding. The effect of UFC loading on the mechanical properties and dynamic rheological behavior of the UFC-filled TPER composites was analyzed. The UFC-filled composites displayed higher complex viscosities than those of the neat TPER composites, especially at low frequencies. The elastic modulus of the 20 wt.% UFC-filled composite was up to 6- and 2-fold higher than that of TPER at 0.1 and 100 Hz, respectively. The loss factor decreased over the entire frequency range with the incorporation of UFC. The tensile modulus of elasticity (TMOE) of neat TPER was 3.13 GPa, and it increased as a function of UFC loading. The neat TPER exhibited the lowest flexural strength (108.1 MPa), and the flexural strength increased by 14% with the incorporation of 20 wt.% UFC. The results of the TMOE and the flexural modulus of elasticity (FMOE) were in agreement with rheological data on complex viscosity, elastic modulus, and viscous modulus. Ultra-fine cellulose-filled TPER composites may provide special capabilities for automotive applications and may also meet requirements for end-of-life vehicle (ELV) directives.
Evaluating the Interpretation of Natural Language Trace Queries

[Context and Motivation:] In current practice, existing traceability data is often underutilized due to lack of accessibility and difficulties users have in constructing the complex SQL queries needed to address realistic Software Engineering questions. In our prior work we therefore presented TiQi --- a natural language NL interface for querying software projects. TiQi has been shown to transform a set of trace queries collected from IT experts at accuracy rates ranging from 47i¾?% to 93i¾?%. [Question/problem:] However, users need to quickly determine whether TiQi has correctly understood the NL query. [Principal ideas/results:] TiQi needs to communicate the transformed query back to the user and provide support for disambiguation and correction. In this paper we report on three studies we conducted to compare the effectiveness of four query representation techniques. [Contribution:] We show that simultaneously displaying a visual query representation, SQL, and a sample of the data results enabled users to most accurately evaluate the correctness of the transformed query.
The role of cyclic adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate in the regulation of tyrosine 3-monooxygenase activity.

The activity of tyrosine 3-monooxygenase (TH) was measured in extracts of cell suspensions prepared from a rat pheochromocytoma. Incubation of the cells with cholera toxin (0.1-1 µg/ml) or dibutyryl cAMP (1 mM) leads to an increase in TH activity in the cells. The effects of these agents are not dependent upon the presence of extracellular Ca2+, and are not blocked by diphenylhydantoin, an inhibitor of Ca2+ uptake into the cells. The activation of TH by cholera toxin occurs after a lag period of 10-15 min, and is associated with a large rise in cAMP levels in the cells. Cholera toxin and dibutyryl cAMP increase the rate of catecholamine biosynthesis in these cells, but have no effect on the secretion of catecholamine from the cells. Incubation of the cells in media containing 56 mM K+ also leads to the activation of TH. However, this treatment does not result in a rise in cAMP levels, nor does it increase the rate of formation of [3H]cAMP from [3H]adenine in these cells. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that TH can be regulated by two distinct pathways, one of which involves cAMP, and the other of which is independent of the nucleotide.
Morphological and molecular convergences in mammalian phylogenetics

Phylogenetic trees reconstructed from molecular sequences are often considered more reliable than those reconstructed from morphological characters, in part because convergent evolution, which confounds phylogenetic reconstruction, is believed to be rarer for molecular sequences than for morphologies. However, neither the validity of this belief nor its underlying cause is known. Here comparing thousands of characters of each type that have been used for inferring the phylogeny of mammals, we find that on average morphological characters indeed experience much more convergences than amino acid sites, but this disparity is explained by fewer states per character rather than an intrinsically higher susceptibility to convergence for morphologies than sequences. We show by computer simulation and actual data analysis that a simple method for identifying and removing convergence-prone characters improves phylogenetic accuracy, potentially enabling, when necessary, the inclusion of morphologies and hence fossils for reliable tree inference.
Effects of learner-to-learner interactions on social presence, achievement and satisfaction

One current focus of research regarding online courses concentrates on identifying effective design and delivery methodologies. This non-experimental comparative research study investigated two types of learner-to-learner interaction techniques: designed and contextual interactions and their effects on learner achievement, social presence, interaction quality and learning satisfaction in online asynchronous courses. Designed interactions have a high level of collaborative/cooperative instructional intent. Contextual interactions provide the opportunity for interaction but have little or no collaborative/cooperative instructional intent. Results indicate designed interactions or interactions that have high levels of collaborative/cooperative intent positively affect learner achievement and satisfaction. Results also indicate that a high level of instructor social presence has positive effects on student achievement and learning satisfaction. The results continue to reveal that a high level of interactive quality significantly affects levels of instructor and learner social presence as well as learner satisfaction.
Maximum Standard Uptake Value (SUVmax) on FDG-PET Imaging Predicts Time to First Treatment in Patients with Low Grade Follicular Lymphoma,

Abstract Abstract 4204 Introduction: Most patients with asymptomatic advanced-stage low grade follicular lymphoma (FL) are managed by a ”watch and wait” strategy until they develop disease related symptoms or significant progression in tumor volume. The median time to first treatment (TFT) has been reported to be about 30 months from initial diagnosis (Ardeshna et al., Lancet 2003; 362: 516–22). Various prognostic factors such as FLIPI have been developed to estimate progression free survival and overall survival, but predictors for TFT from diagnosis have not been well defined in this population. The optimal frequency of follow-up and surveillance imaging remains unclear. Methods: We reviewed our institutional database of FL patients who underwent [18F]-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) or FDG-PET imaging at diagnosis or as part of follow-up imaging during the ”watch and wait” period. Only patients with FL with low grade histologies (grade 1 or 2) on tissue biopsy who were untreated prior to FDG-PET imaging and with a minimum of 6 months of follow-up after the imaging were included in the analysis. SUVmax was defined as the highest lesional SUV on each scan and was determined by a nuclear medicine physician. ROC curve analysis was used to identify SUVmax cutoff values which would best predict short (≤ 6 months) vs. long (> 6 months) TFT with clinically relevant sensitivity and specificity for a training set of patients. The SUVmax cutoff value was then tested in another set of patients for the ability to categorize patients by TFT ≤ 6 months vs. > 6 months from imaging. Comparison between the two groups was performed using the Fisher’s exact test. STATA 10.1 software was utilized for data analysis. Results: 78 FL patients followed in our institution from 2001 until 2011 were included in the study. In the training set of 27 patients (median age 52 years, range 19–67), the ROC curve analysis revealed that an SUVmax cutoff at 10 could distinguish between those with TFT ≤ 6 months vs. > 6 months. When applied to the test set of 51 patients (median age 53, range 18–82), an SUVmax ≥ 10 was able to predict short TFT correctly in 14 out of 16 patients who required treatment ≤ 6 months from the FDG-PET or FDG-PET/CT scan (positive predictive value of 88%). SUVmax ≥ 10 had a high specificity in the test set (90%), but limited sensitivity (47%). A Fisher’s exact test (two sided) confirmed that the association between SUVmax ≥ 10 and short vs. long TFT groups was statistically significant (p=0.006). Conclusion: SUVmax ≥ 10 on FDG-PET or FDG-PET/CT imaging in patients with low grade FL can be used to identify those who will have a short TFT. An SUVmax cutoff at 10 could be an important factor in determining the frequency of clinical and imaging follow-up in asymptomatic, advanced-stage low grade FL patients who are managed by a ”watch and wait” strategy. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Emotional Abuse History and Migraine among Young Adults: Results from The Add Health Dataset (S26.003)

Objectives: To examine the relationship between childhood abuse and migraine among young adults. Methods: Data was obtained from 14,484 adults aged 24 - 32 years old in the wave 4 of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. Childhood abuse was measured using three items asking respondents to recall three types of abuse (emotional, physical and sexual) that happened during childhood. Self-reported doctor diagnosis of migraine was used as dependent variable. Logistic regression was used to model effect of childhood abuse on migraine, controlling for socio-demographics, anxiety and depression. Results: About 14.2[percnt] (n = 2,061) of the sample reported a migraine diagnosis. Childhood abuse was recalled by 60.5[percnt] (n =1,246) of the migraine sample and 49[percnt] (n = 6,088) of the non-migraine sample. Childhood abuse increased the chances of a migraine diagnosis by 55[percnt] (OR: 1.55; 95[percnt] CI 1.35 - 1.77). Of the three types of abuse, emotional abuse had a stronger effect on migraine (OR: 1.52; 95[percnt] CI 1.34 - 1.73) when compared to physical and sexual abuse. When controlled for depression and anxiety, the effect of childhood abuse on migraine (OR: 1.32; 95[percnt] CI 1.15 - 1.51) attenuated but remained significant. Similarly, the effect of emotional abuse on migraine decreased but remained significant (OR: 1.33; 95[percnt] CI 1.16 - 1.52), when controlled for depression and anxiety Conclusions: Childhood abuse had a significant effect on migraine. Emotional abuse contributed more to migraine than physical or sexual abuse. The interplay of depression and migraine on the relationship between childhood abuse and migraine need to be investigated further. Disclosure: Dr. Tietjen holds stock and/or stock options in Johnson & Johnson and Stryker. Dr. Karmakar has nothing to disclose. Dr. Amialchuk has nothing to disclose.
McCarthyism, Mexican Americans, and the Los Angeles Committee for Protection of the Foreign-Born, 1950–1954

En este artfculo, Jeffrey M. Garcilazo examina la formaci6n y las actividades del Comite de Protecci6n de los Nacidos en el Extranjero de Los Angeles durante la Era de McCarthy en los anios cincuenta. El argumento trata sobre los esfuerzos del comite para proteger los derechos de los mexico-americanos de clase trabajadora en el sur de California y el resultado de este tipo de activismo. Al estar preparando la revisi6n de este ensayo, el autor sufri6 un accidente medico que no le ha permitido terminar su trabajo. La Revista Western Historical Quarterly publica esta versi6n, la ultima que se recibi6 de Jeffrey M. Garcilazo, como reconocimiento de sus importantes contribuciones a la historia mexico-americana y del oeste.
Caught in the Act: Trapping an Acyl Carrier Protein Interacting with a Ketosynthase

Polyketide synthases (PKSs) and fatty acid synthases (FASs) in microorganisms rely on selective and specific protein-protein interactions to build structurally complex molecules. These synthases utilize acyl carrier proteins (ACPs) to carry reactive intermediates and substrates to different stops on the enzyme assembly line. ACPs collaborate with their partner enzymes by tethering substrates and intermediates onto its highly conserved 4′-phosphopantetheine (4′-Ppant) arm. Previously, we showed that the installation of a site-specific thiocyanate vibrational spectroscopy probe onto the 4′-Ppant arm allows us to visualize and evaluate the solvation environment of the 4′-Ppant arm using infrared spectroscopy. Herein, we extend these studies to show that the thiocyanate probe can be used to probe ACP-protein interactions. We characterized a potential ACP-enzyme interaction using a range of biochemical and biophysical techniques including FTIR spectroscopy, SDS PAGE, exclusion chromatography, and tandem proteolysis mass spectrometry. The ability to induce a covalent link between an ACP and its catalytic partner could represent a powerful tool for exploring the possibility of synthesizing “unnatural” natural products through the bioengineering of PKSs and FASs.
Introduction to the Scholarship of Engaged Collaboration

Taken together, these chapters extend an invitation to the reader to consider where the process of digital storytelling begins and ends and to explore the ways in which digital storytelling practices hold us accountable to one another. The chapters also invite us to consider both the limitations and possibilities of digital storytelling as a means by which boundaries between universities and communities can be made more malleable, as multiple sources of knowledge are used to create reciprocal benefits for individuals and groups of people invested in working toward positive change and addressing issues of social justice.
A proposal for a magnetostriction-assisted all-spin logic device

As scaling CMOS devices is approaching its fundamental limits, a new direction of research has emerged to study beyond-CMOS spintronic devices that use electronic spin as their state variable, offering new and enhanced functionalities. Due to low operating voltage, non-volatility, and efficient implementation of majority gate, a novel spin-based device, all-spin logic (ASL), has been widely studied for applications including interconnects [1], pattern recognition systems [2], and Boolean gates [3]. However, ASL relies on a non-local spin valve (NLSV) structure with the connection to ground being close to the input magnet to ensure non-reciprocity. Thus, a large fraction of injected spins is shunted to ground without ever reaching the output magnet. In addition, supply clocking is envisioned to reduce energy dissipation [3]. Even then, a 32-bit addition by ASL compared to that by CMOS, requires 5 orders of magnitude more energy. In this paper, we propose a novel device that uses voltage-controlled strain-mediated magnetization switching [4] and spin transfer torque (STT) to perform the first and second 900 of switching, respectively. The STT is created in a conventional spin valve instead of the NLSV structure used in ASL. Hence, the wasteful shunt path to ground is eliminated. Non-reciprocity is ensured through a clocking scheme in which the input and output magnets are oriented along the stable easy axis and the meta-stable saddle point of energy profile, respectively. It has been shown that the deterministic switching of a magnet from a saddle point is more efficient in terms of delay and energy and affected less by thermal noise [5], [6]. The device can be cascaded in a domino logic scheme, Fig. 1 a, by performing the first 900 switching for all cascaded logic gates simultaneously; therefore, the overall delay of a more complicated circuit like a 32-bit adder significantly improves.
Preoperative Pectoralis Muscle Quantity and Attenuation by Computed Tomography Are Novel and Powerful Predictors of Mortality After Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation.

Background: Skeletal muscle mass decreases in end-stage heart failure and is predictive of clinical outcomes in several disease states. Skeletal muscle attenuation and quantity as quantified on preoperative chest computed tomographic scans may be predictive of mortality after continuous flow (CF) left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation. Methods and Results: A single-center continuous flow-LVAD database (n=354) was used to identify patients with chest computed tomographies performed in the 3 months before LVAD implantation (n=143). Among patients with computed tomography data available, unilateral pectoralis muscle mass indexed to body surface area and attenuation (approximated by mean Hounsfield units [PHU m ]) were measured in each patient with a high intrarater and inter-rater reliability (intraclass correlation coefficients 0.98 and 0.97, respectively). Multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed, censoring at cardiac transplantation, to assess the impact of preoperative pectoralis muscle index and pectoralis muscle mean Hounsfield unit on survival after LVAD implantation. Each unit increase in pectoralis muscle index was associated with a 27% reduction in the hazard of death after LVAD (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.73; 95% confidence interval, 0.58–0.92; P =0.007). Each 5-U increase in pectoralis muscle mean Hounsfield unit was associated with a 22% reduction in the hazard of death after LVAD (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.78; 95% confidence interval, 0.68–0.89; P Conclusions: Pectoralis muscle size and attenuation were powerful predictors of outcomes after LVAD implantation in this data set. This one time, repeatable, internal assessment of patient substrate added valuable prognostic information that was not available on standard preoperative testing.
Superior Plasmonic Photodetectors Based on Au@MoS2 Core-Shell Heterostructures.

Integrating plasmonic materials into semiconductor media provides a promising approach for applications such as photosensing and solar energy conversion. The resulting structures introduce enhanced light–matter interactions, additional charge trap states, and efficient charge-transfer pathways for light-harvesting devices, especially when an intimate interface is built between the plasmonic nanostructure and semiconductor. Herein, we report the development of plasmonic photodetectors using Au@MoS2 heterostructures—an Au nanoparticle core that is encapsulated by a CVD-grown multilayer MoS2 shell, which perfectly realizes the intimate and direct interfacing of Au and MoS2. We explored their favorable applications in different types of photosensing devices. The first involves the development of a large-area interdigitated field-effect phototransistor, which shows a photoresponsivity ∼10 times higher than that of planar MoS2 transistors. The other type of device geometry is a Si-supported Au@MoS2 heterojuncti...
Eggshells as hosts of bacterial communities: An experimental test of the antimicrobial egg coloration hypothesis

Oviparous animals have evolved multiple defenses to prevent microbes from penetrating their eggs and causing embryo mortality. In birds, egg constituents such as lysozyme and antibodies defend against microbial infestation, but eggshell pigments might also impact survival of bacteria. If so, microbes could exert an important selective pressure on the evolution of eggshell coloration. In a previous lab experiment, eggshell protoporphyrin caused drastic mortality in cultures of Gram positive, but not Gram negative, bacteria when exposed to light. Here, we test this "photodynamic antimicrobial hypothesis" in a field experiment. In a paired experimental design, we placed sanitized brown, protoporphyrin-rich chicken eggs alongside white eggs that lack protoporphyrin. We deployed eggs for 48 hr without incubation, as can occur between laying and incubation, when microbial infection risk is highest. Eggs were placed on the open ground exposed to sunlight and in dark underground storm-petrel burrows. We predicted that the proportion of Gram-positive bacteria on brown eggs should be lower when exposed to sunlight than when kept in the dark, but we expected no such difference for white eggs. Although our data revealed variation in bacterial community composition, the proportion of Gram-positive bacteria on eggshells did not vary by egg color, and there was no interaction between egg color and location. Instead, Gram-positive bacteria were proportionally more common on eggs on the ground than eggs in burrows. Overall, our experiment did not support the photodynamic antimicrobial hypothesis. The diverse range of avian egg colors is generated by just two pigments, but over 10 hypotheses have been proposed for the evolution of eggshell color. If our results are generalizable, eggshell protoporphyrin might not play a substantial role in defending eggs against microbes, which narrows the field of candidate hypotheses for the evolution of avian eggshell coloration.
Review: mechanical behavior of metal/ceramic interfaces in nanolayered composites—experiments and modeling

Recent experimental and modeling studies in nanolayered metal/ceramic composites are reviewed, with focus on the mechanical behaviors of metal/nitrides interfaces. The experimental and modeling studies of the slip systems in bulk TiN are reviewed first. Then, the experimental studies of interfaces, including co-deformation mechanism by micropillar compression tests, in situ TEM straining tests for the dynamic process of the co-deformation, thickness-dependent fracture behavior, and interrelationship among the interfacial bonding, microstructure, and mechanical response, are reviewed for the specific material systems of Al/TiN and Cu/TiN multilayers at nanoscale. The modeling studies reviewed cover first-principles density functional theory-based modeling, atomistic molecular dynamics simulations, and mesoscale modeling of nanolayered composites using discrete dislocation dynamics. The phase transformation between zinc-blende and wurtzite AlN phases in Al/AlN multilayers at nanoscale is also reviewed. Finally, a summary and perspective of possible research directions and challenges are given.
Arytenoid Repositioning Surgery

Surgical adjustment of the arytenoid cartilage is a valuable tool in the surgical armamentarium for the treatment of laryngeal paralysis. While this approach is technically more difficult and requires more operative time than a type-I thyroplasty, it is much more effective in patients with a large glottic gap and posterior glottic incompetence.
BRD4: epigenetic origin and target of CTCL.

In this issue of Blood , Kohnken et al demonstrate a novel oncogenic pathway featuring IL-15-miR-29b-BRD4 positive feedback loop and targeting bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4) disables the oncogenic loop, identifying a potentially effective target for therapy for cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) patients. 1
An analysis of an item-response strategy based on knowledge retrieval

In this paper, we hypothesize a type of item-response strategy based on knowledge retrieval. Knowledge retrieval-based item-solving strategy may emerge when: (1) one's regular ability is not utilized, (2) fast response time is not necessarily applied, and (3) the accuracy rate may be higher than the expected level due to chance. We propose to utilize item-response time with a finite-mixture IRT modeling approach to illustrate a potentially knowledge retrieval-based item-solving strategy. The described strategy is illustrated through the utilization of a low-stakes assessment data administered under no time constraint. A simulation study is provided to evaluate the accuracy of the empirical results.
Phyto-Extraction of Field-Weathered DDE by Subspecies of Cucurbita and Exudation of Citric Acid from Roots

Two subspecies of Cucurbita pepo L. (summer squash) differ in phyto-extraction of weathered DDE when grown in the field. Three cultivars were selected from each of the two subspecies; Cucurbita pepo ssp pepo (zucchini) with a greater ability to take up DDE, and Cucurbita pepo ssp ovifera (summer squash) with a lesser ability to take up DDE. When grown in the field, ssp pepo extracted 0.4 to 1.0 milligrams of DDE per plant, while ssp ovifera removed from the soil only 0.02 to 0.1 milligram per plant. These cultivars were grown in hydroponics to evaluate whether exudation of organic acids from the roots was involved in uptake of weathered DDE. Phosphorus nutrition played a significant role in exudation of organic acids into the hydroponics solution. For both subspecies, the better the phosphorus nutrition, the more tartaric and less citric acid was exuded. Subspecies pepo showed a greater increase in citric acid exuded under phosphorus depletion than ovifera. However, when solutions of root exudates were used to batch extract DDE from soil, effect of subspecies was opposite to that seen in the field. This suggests there are factors other than disruption of the soil matrix that play a role in phyto-extraction by plants. Nevertheless, among subspecies of Cucurbita pepo, the exudation of citric acid was related to phyto-extraction of more weathered organic contaminants in soil.
Juvenility, Maturity and Senescence

During its life cycle the plant undergoes embryonic, juvenile, transitional (between juvenile and mature), and mature (adult) phases of growth and development followed by senescence and death. The juvenile phase in some species has a distinctive morphology of leaves, stems, and other structures which are no longer present when the plant becomes mature. Once the plant reaches maturity, flowering can be induced by appropriate external cues. The change from mature to senescent conditions typically involves the deterioration of many synthetic reactions leading to the death of the plant, thereby completing the cycle.
Relative blending

Solid models may be blended through filleting or rounding operations that typically replace the vicinity of concave or convex edges by blends that smoothly connect to the rest of the solid's boundary. Circular blends, which are popular in manufacturing, are each the subset of a canal surface that bounds the region swept by a ball of constant or varying radius as it rolls on the solid while maintaining two tangential contacts. We propose to use a second solid to control the radius variation. This new formulation supports global blending (simultaneous rounding and filleting) operations and yields a simple set-theoretic formulation of the relative blending R"B(A) of a solid A given a control solid B. We propose user-interface options, describe practical implementations, and show results in 2 and 3 dimensions.
pH-weighted molecular MRI in human traumatic brain injury (TBI) using amine proton chemical exchange saturation transfer echoplanar imaging (CEST EPI).

Cerebral acidosis is a consequence of secondary injury mechanisms following traumatic brain injury (TBI), including excitotoxicity and ischemia, with potentially significant clinical implications. However, there remains an unmet clinical need for technology for non-invasive, high resolution pH imaging of human TBI for studying metabolic changes following injury. The current study examined 17 patients with TBI and 20 healthy controls using amine chemical exchange saturation transfer echoplanar imaging (CEST EPI), a novel pH-weighted molecular MR imaging technique, on a clinical 3T MR scanner. Results showed significantly elevated pH-weighted image contrast (MTRasym at 3 ppm) in areas of T2 hyperintensity or edema (P < 0.0001), and a strong negative correlation with Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) at the time of the MRI exam (R2 = 0.4777, P = 0.0021), Glasgow Outcome Scale - Extended (GOSE) at 6 months from injury (R2 = 0.5334, P = 0.0107), and a non-linear correlation with the time from injury to MRI exam (R2 = 0.6317, P = 0.0004). This evidence suggests clinical feasibility and potential value of pH-weighted amine CEST EPI as a high-resolution imaging tool for identifying tissue most at risk for long-term damage due to cerebral acidosis.
5-Fluorouracil induced liver toxicity in patients with colorectal cancer: role of computed tomography texture analysis as a potential biomarker

To assess if CT texture analysis (TA) can serve as a biomarker of liver toxicity in patients with colorectal cancer treated with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-based chemotherapy. In this IRB-approved, HIPAA-compliant retrospective study, patients with colorectal cancer treated with 5-FU-based regimens during 2008–2010 were identified from institutional electronic database. Total 43 patients (23 women; mean age 56 years) with normal baseline liver function tests (LFTs), availability of baseline (pre-chemotherapy) and first follow-up CT (median 1.7 months, interquartile range (IQR) 1.5–2.5) performed during chemotherapy were included. Two single-slice ROI of right and left liver lobe were obtained on baseline and first follow-up CT for TA. Texture features [mean, entropy, kurtosis, skewness, mean of positive pixel, standard deviation (SD)] were extracted using a commercially available software (TexRAD; Feedback Medical Ltd, Cambridge, UK). Changes in texture parameters between baseline and follow-up CT were evaluated with Wilcoxon signed-rank test for patients with and without LFT elevation during chemotherapy. Patients with LFT elevation (n = 34; 79%) showed significantly different mean, entropy, skewness, and SD (p values range 0.007–0.047) between baseline and first follow-up CT. No significant changes in features were observed in patients without LFT elevation (n = 9; 21%). In 19 patients (56%), first follow-up CT was performed before elevation of LFTs was observed. This proof-of-concept study shows that there are early changes in liver texture on first follow-up CT in patients with LFT elevation during 5-FU-based chemotherapy for colorectal cancer. In more than 50% of cases, these changes occur before LFT elevation becomes evident on blood tests.
Martin Ravallion Recommends “Poverty Traps” by Samuel Bowles, Steven Durlauf, and Karla Hoff

The idea of a poverty trap has been around for a long time, but remains relevant today. In the classic model, over time, a low-level attractor pulls in any wealth-poor people nearby. Yet, this coexists with other, preferred, equilibria—some stable, some not. Getting people out of the trap will not be possible with only a small transient gain in wealth, and people in their better equilibrium can be vulnerable to large downside shocks. The idea has important implications for development policy, including social protection.
“Place” in the Small Stories of African American Elders: A Narrative Case Study

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Although there is a rich literature on place and home within gerontology, few studies have considered how place acts as identity markers for older African Americans. Since narratives and stories represent ways of expressing self and identity through ordered talk, they offer an interesting way to consider how people age biographically such as through links between place and self. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We analyzed small stories (i.e., stories that can appear as snippets of talk immersed within a larger narrative) from five African Americans (three women, two men, ages 78-93 years) to better understand "place" in the context of their lives. RESULTS Overall, place in participants' small stories was linked to the African American oral tradition and, for some, the Great Migration (1915-1970) from south to north. Place identity in the small stories therefore went beyond fond reminisce and instead became a type of resistance to dominant narratives of place. DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS Studying small stories can therefore be an important tool in better understanding deeply personal experiences of place for under-represented elders.
Effect of referral pattern and histopathology grade on surgery for nonmalignant colorectal polyps

Background and Aims The incidence of surgery for nonmalignant colorectal polyps is rising. The aims of this study were to evaluate referral patterns to surgery for nonmalignant polyps, to compare outcomes between surgery and endoscopic resection (ER), and to identify factors associated with surgery in a university-based, tertiary care center. Methods Patients referred to colorectal surgery (CRS) for nonmalignant colorectal polyps between 2014 and 2019 were selected from the institution’s integrated data repository. Clinical characteristics were obtained through chart review. Multivariate analysis was performed to identify factors associated with surgery for nonmalignant polyps. Results Six hundred sixty-four patients with colorectal lesions were referred to CRS, of which 315 were for nonmalignant polyps. Most referrals (69%) came from gastroenterologists. Of the 315 cases, 136 underwent surgery and 117 were referred for attempt at ER. Complete ER was achieved in 87.2% (n = 102), with polyp recurrence in 27.2% at a median of 14 months (range, 0-72). When compared with surgery, ER was associated with a lower hospitalization rate (22.2% vs 95.6%; P Conclusions Gastroenterologists commonly refer nonmalignant colorectal polyps to surgery, even though ER is effective and associated with lower morbidity. Both referrals from academic gastroenterologists and baseline pathology of intramucosal adenocarcinoma were factors associated with surgery. All colorectal polyps should be evaluated in a multidisciplinary approach to identify lesions suitable for ER before embarking in surgery.
Whole genome sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 isolated in Guangdong Province and factors influencing the sequencing

Objective To obtain the genome sequences of SARS-CoV-2 in respiratory specimens in Guangdong Province with next-generation sequencing (NGS) and analyze the factors influencing sequencing. Methods Eight upper and lower respiratory tract specimens were collected from patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection in Guangdong Province in January 2020. RNA library construction was used to obtain the genome sequences of SARS-CoV-2. A bio-informatics software package (CLC Genomics Workbench 12.0) was used to analyze and compare the genomic sequences. Results Five SARS-CoV-2 genome sequences were obtained from the eight specimens and two were obtained from lower respiratory tract specimens. The nucleotide homology to SARS-CoV-2 was 97.74%-99.90%. The Ct values were lower, while the sequencing depth, coverage, relative abundance and genome integrity were higher in sequencing the SARS-CoV-2 in lower respiratory tract specimens. Conclusions The low Ct value of SARS-CoV-2 in the samples was good for sequencing. Key words: SARS-CoV-2; Next-generation sequencing; Influencing factor
Quantum Hall effect of Weyl fermions in n-type semiconducting tellurene

Dirac and Weyl nodal materials can host low-energy relativistic quasiparticles. Under strong magnetic fields, the topological properties of Dirac/Weyl materials can directly be observed through quantum Hall states. However, most Dirac/Weyl nodes generically exist in semimetals without exploitable band gaps due to their accidental band-crossing origin. Here, we report the first experimental observation of Weyl fermions in a semiconductor. Tellurene, the two-dimensional form of tellurium, possesses a chiral crystal structure which induces unconventional Weyl nodes with a hedgehog-like radial spin texture near the conduction band edge. We synthesize high-quality n-type tellurene by a hydrothermal method with subsequent dielectric doping and detect a topologically non-trivial π Berry phase in quantum Hall sequences. Our work expands the spectrum of Weyl matter into semiconductors and offers a new platform to design novel quantum devices by marrying the advantages of topological materials to versatile semiconductors. The accidental band-crossing origin of Weyl nodes paired with the absence of sizeable band gaps hampers the exploitation of low-energy relativistic quasiparticles in Weyl semimetals. In a gate-tunable high-quality tellurene film, quantum Hall measurements unveil a topologically non-trivial π Berry phase caused by unconventional Weyl nodes in these tellurium two-dimensional sheets.