cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Enhanced Cyclability of Lithium–Sulfur Batteries by a Polymer Acid-Doped Polypyrrole Mixed Ionic–Electronic Conductor

A mixed ionic–electronic conductor (MIEC) of polypyrrole (PPy) synthesized with poly(2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid) (PAAMPSA), which is water-dispersible and is in the form of nanoparticles intertwined by the PAAMPSA, is explored as an additive in sulfur cathodes for rechargeable lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries. A S-MIEC composite containing a sulfur content of 75 wt % was synthesized by an in situ deposition of sulfur with MIEC. The sulfur retains an orthorhombic phase randomly mixed with MIEC nanoparticles, exhibiting a lower thermal decomposition temperature than the pristine sulfur. Cathodes containing the S-MIEC composite were prepared and evaluated in half cells by cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic cycling. The S-MIEC composite cathode shows excellent electrochemical stability as the MIEC facilitates ion and electron transfer and capture intermediate polysulfides within the electrodes. The MIEC in the composite electrodes forms a porous, 3D heterostructure providing good electroche...
Abstract 467: Circulating DNA released from brain tumors in response to conditional cytotoxic/immune stimulatory gene therapy induces activation of TLR9 on pDCs, leading to antitumor immunity

Proceedings: AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011‐‐ Apr 2‐6, 2011; Orlando, FL Complexes of DNA and proinflammatory proteins are found in serum during autoimmune responses and activate antigen presenting cells, contributing to autoimmune pathogenesis. Although circulating DNA has been extensively evaluated as a biomarker for cancer progression, its role in the onset of anti-tumor immunity remains elusive. Here we aimed to evaluate the role of circulating DNA in the induction of anti-tumor immunity induced by the combination of immune-stimulant Flt3L and conditionally cytotoxic thymidine kinase (TK), which leads to long-term survival when delivered into intracranial brain tumor models using adenoviral vectors (Ad). Treatment of CNS-1 glioblastoma cells with Ad.TK+GCV led to substantial release of DNA in vitro. Similar results were observed in vivo; intratumoral treatment of established intracranial CNS-1 glioblastomas in rats with Ad-TK/GCV+Ad-Flt3L led to increased levels of circulating DNA in serum when compared to saline-treated tumor-bearing rats. Since our previous results suggest that tumor immunity was dependent on the function of activated pDCs, we aimed to evaluate the hypothesis that circulating tumor DNA induces pDC activation. Using specific inhibitors, such as DNAse, micrococcal DNAse, CpG2088 (an inhibitor of TLR9) and cloroquine (an inhibitor of endocytosis, required for intracellular TLR9 activation), we found that circulating DNA from treated rats induced TLR9-dependent activation of pDCs. Taken together, our results suggest that after treatment of brain tumors with Ad.TK+Ad.Flt3L dying tumor cells release DNA to the general circulation, which mediate antitumor immunity by acting as danger-associated molecular patterns, leading to TLR9 signaling and pDC activation. Supported by NIH/NINDS grants Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 467. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-467
Effects of Sleep Fragmentation on Sleep and Markers of Inflammation in Mice

Many people in our society experience curtailment and disruption of sleep due to work responsibilities, care-giving, or life style choice. Delineating the health effect of acute and chronic disruptions in sleep is essential to raising awareness of and creating interventions to manage these prevalent concerns. To provide a platform for studying the health impact and underlying pathophysiologic mechanisms associated with inadequate sleep, we developed and characterized an approach to creating chronic disruption of sleep in laboratory mice. We used this method to evaluate how 3 durations of sleep fragmentation (SF) affect sleep recuperation and blood and lung analyte concentrations in male C57BL/6J mice. Mice housed in environmentally controlled chambers were exposed to automated SF for periods of 6, 12, or 24 h or for 12 h daily during the light (somnolent) phase for 4 sequential days. Sleep time, slow-wave amplitude, or bout lengths were significantly higher when uninterrupted sleep was permitted after each of the 3 SF durations. However, mice did not recover all of the lost slow-wave sleep during the subsequent 12- to 24-h period and maintained a net loss of sleep. Light-phase SF was associated with significant changes in serum and lung levels of some inflammatory substances, but these changes were not consistent or sustained. The data indicate that acute light-phase SF can result in a sustained sleep debt in mice and may disrupt the inflammatory steady-state in serum and lung.
Epidemiological characteristics of school public health emergency in Guangzhou,2006-2012

Objective To investigate the epidemiological characteristics of school public health emergencies in Guangzhou,and to provide evidence for the prevention and control strategies. Methods School public health emergencies from webbased report system during 2006-2012 in Guangzhou were analyzed. Results During 2006-2012,a total of 461 public health emergencies and 17 996 cases were reported. The attack rate in affected population was 2. 92%. Communicable diseases including varicella,influenza and hand-foot-mouth disease,accounted for 83. 51% of emergencies. Most of emergencies took place in March,April,June,September and December and in elementary education stage in Yuexiu,Tianhe,Huangpu,Panyu districts. The annual incidence rate of public health emergencies was highest in college students( 10. 35%). Conclusion Primary education institutions should be aware of public health emergency. It is necessary to stay focused on infectious disease in school health agenda.
Laboratory Data Analysis System: Section VI—System Summary

A summary for the Laboratory Data Analysis System , which briefly capsulizes the important ramifications of each section of data processing, is provided. The key point is that such a system is a natural byproduct of a well-organized Medical Information System which collects and stores patient care information. This system is modular and attempts to provide a critical interface between the actual numeric finding on the laboratory instrument and the physician’s decision-making process. All analytic systems are well within our present laboratory computer capability and should extend the use and application of this machine.
What Does Algebra Look Like in Early Childhood

How can educators encourage and better prepare students to pursue science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM)-based fields? To start, students are more likely to pursue these fields if they enjoy and perceive themselves to be good at them. This means introducing relevant concepts and skills at an early age and embedding them throughout the entire pre-K-12 school experience. But can algebra, a unifying thread of almost all of mathematics, be taught to 3- and 4-year-olds? Although such an idea may seem far-fetched and unfeasible to many early childhood educators, this is exactly what Joohi Lee, Denise Collins, and Janet Melton propose. By breaking down algebra into its basic concepts—patterns, symbols, and relationships between concrete materials—they show how even the youngest children can begin to grasp concepts of concrete algebra and algebraic reasoning, significantly increasing their odds of success in other courses later on and in life.
Bayesian inference for the distribution of grams of marijuana in a joint.

Abstract Background The average amount of marijuana in a joint is unknown, yet this figure is a critical quantity for creating credible measures of marijuana consumption. It is essential for projecting tax revenues post-legalization, estimating the size of illicit marijuana markets, and learning about how much marijuana users are consuming in order to understand health and behavioral consequences. Methods Arrestee Drug Abuse Monitoring data collected between 2000 and 2010 contain relevant information on 10,628 marijuana transactions, joints and loose marijuana purchases, including the city in which the purchase occurred and the price paid for the marijuana. Using the Brown–Silverman drug pricing model to link marijuana price and weight, we are able to infer the distribution of grams of marijuana in a joint and provide a Bayesian posterior distribution for the mean weight of marijuana in a joint. Results We estimate that the mean weight of marijuana in a joint is 0.32 g (95% Bayesian posterior interval: 0.30–0.35). Conclusions Our estimate of the mean weight of marijuana in a joint is lower than figures commonly used to make estimates of marijuana consumption. These estimates can be incorporated into drug policy discussions to produce better understanding about illicit marijuana markets, the size of potential legalized marijuana markets, and health and behavior outcomes.
A Phenomenological Study of Games, Simulations, and Virtual Environments Courses: What Are We Teaching and How?

Educational technology programs from across the United States are offering graduate courses in games, simulations, and virtual environments GSVE to their students. However, these courses, until now, have not been systematically studied. This research uses a hermeneutical phenomenological approach to answer the research question: "How do instructors describe their experience teaching GSVE courses?" Five professors of educational technology that have taught GSVE courses were interviewed using a semi-structured protocol based on the TPACK Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge framework. These data were analyzed both analytically and thematically. The results of the study showed a wide variety of topics, tools, and pedagogies are used within GSVE courses. The results had five themes emerge: Focus on Application and Theory, Experiential Learning and Constructivism, Instructor's Prior Experience with Games, Heterogeneous Student Populations, and Range of Technology Tools. These themes as well as these courses are highlighted within this paper. A discussion is provided.
The US Bishops’ Campaign for Religious Freedom During the 2012 Presidential Election Year: A Critical Analysis

In the USA, during the months leading up to the 2012 presidential election, Catholic bishops launched a campaign designed to defend religious freedom against the encroachment of the federal government. The particular focus was the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), the universal health care legislation commonly called Obamacare. The point of controversy was the proposal to mandate that employer-provided health insurance include coverage for contraception. Some religious institutions were to be exempt from this requirement, but the definition of which institutions qualified as religious was narrow. Parish and diocesan offices, for example, would be exempt, but Catholic universities and hospitals that employed and served many non-Catholics would not be. Also not exempted were Catholic and other religious employers who owned small businesses but whose consciences could be violated by the PPACA’s requirements.
Theory of Unipolar Politics: The Sources of Competition under Unipolarity

Ever since the bipolar Cold War ended and a unipolar world replaced it, much has been written on whether this new U.S.-led order can last. Among IR theorists, a lively debate has emerged on the question of unipolar durability. Estimates for the date at which a systemic balance of power would be reestablished have varied widely, from Christopher Layne's early prediction that by 2010 other states would have caught up with the United States, to Wohlforth's view that U.S. power would remain unchallenged at least until 2030. Scholarship on the question of whether unipolarity will last generally gravitates around two main positions: declinism and primacism. Whereas declinists assert that unipolarity is bound to end relatively soon, primacists reaffirm the long-term durability of a unipolar system. At the core of this dispute lies a deeper theoretical disagreement between balance-of-power realists, who believe in the stabilizing effects of power parity, and hegemonic realists, who claim that, much to the contrary, power preponderance is the “natural” state of the international system. For almost two-and-a-half decades, this debate has remained unresolved.
Collaborative art and the emergence and development of ethnographic knowledge and empathy

AbstractThis article addresses the use of collaborative art in the creation of ethnographic knowledge and the development of empathy between the ethnographer – who is also a visual artist – and nine Chilean political exiles during the creation of artworks depicting the experience of exile for the art installation Geographies of the Imagination. Using the creation of the monoprint banner of one of the exiles, I show how the participatory method of making images made visible the development of empathy and the emergence of an embodied and dialogical form of ethnographic knowledge. The processes of collaborative art making and empathetic development had in common the involvement of emotional, imaginative and cognitive stages. The images themselves became checkpoints for the verification of the mutual understanding between ethnographer and informant. As the images were created and revised, they became the basis for sharing imagination and emotions – those of the exiles and my own – which led to a dialogical un...
An Evaluation of Methods for Detecting and Comparative Incidence of Penicillin Residues in Different Types of Raw Milk Supplies

Over a one-month period, 288 samples of raw milk (equally divided among grade A, and manufacturing grade can and bulk milk producers) were tested by the disc assay and Delvotest P methods for penicillin residues. All positive samples were also checked by the Sarcina lutea cylinder plate method. The disc assay procedure detected one positive sample (0.34%), the Delvotest P method seven positive samples (2.4%) and one questionable (+/−) reaction. When applied to samples found positive by the Delvotest P procedure, the cylinder plate method identified as positive two samples. The Delvotest P method was found sensitive to 0.002 unit of penicillin. Hydrolytic rancidity (to acid degree values as high as 4.75) caused no false positive reactions. When applied to delactosed whey, false positive reactions did occur, as has been noted with other methods.
Endovascular Therapy for the Treatment of Cerebrovascular Disease

Abstract Neuroendovascular therapy for the management of cerebrovascular diseases has tremendously evolved since the periods around 1995-2002, mainly because of the rapid advancements in technology. Neuroendovascular technologies and procedures have been standardized to the point that these interventions are routinely performed at many medical centers. Cerebrovascular diseases managed through these therapies include, but are not limited to, ischemic stroke, intracranial and extracranial stenosis, intracranial aneurysms, intracranial arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), dural and pial fistulas, and intracranial vascular tumors. In this chapter, we present the current status of neuroendovascular management for the most common cerebrovascular diseases: ischemic stroke, intracranial aneurysms, and AVMs.
Impact of exogenous female hormone use (EHU) on breast cancer (BC) recurrence as assessed by the 21-gene assay (Oncotype DX).

563 Background: Observational studies suggest that EHU, such as oral contraceptive (OCPs) or postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy (HRT), increases the risk of developing BC. However, the prog...
An Atopic Dermatitis Management Algorithm for Primary Care Providers and Assessment of Its Usefulness as a Clinical Tool.

Background/Objectives There is a lack of primary care provider (PCP) understanding of atopic dermatitis (AD) treatments and topical steroid use. We designed an AD management algorithm for pediatric PCPs. We hypothesized that the algorithm would improve pediatric PCPs' knowledge of AD diagnosis and management. Methods Pediatric primary care resident and attending physicians at three residency programs were invited to participate in an electronic AD algorithm survey that contained demographic and 19 knowledge-based questions. Participants were randomized to intervention and control groups, with the intervention group receiving a short lecture and copy of our algorithm to use in an inpatient or outpatient setting for 2 months. Changes in scores between preintervention and postintervention surveys were compared. Results Of the 54 participants, those in the intervention group (n = 26) performed significantly better than those in the control group (n = 28) after controlling for pretest scores (β = 1.19 [95% confidence interval 0.07, 2.32], p = 0.04). The intervention group had a higher average score on the posttest knowledge questions (71% correct) than the control group (65% correct) (p = 0.06). The majority of physicians who received the algorithm agreed or strongly agreed that they liked using the algorithm. Conclusion The use of a management algorithm improved physician knowledge about the diagnosis and treatment of AD and was well accepted by physicians. Use of this management algorithm may lead to better recognition and management of AD, particularly earlier recognition of and therapy for superinfection, improving treatment outcomes and quality of life for patients and families.
Mobile nucleic acid amplification testing (mobiNAAT) for Chlamydia trachomatis screening in hospital emergency department settings

Management of curable sexually-transmitted infections (STI) such as Chlamydia can be revolutionized by highly sensitive nucleic acid testing that is deployable at the point-of-care (POC). Here we report the development of a mobile nucleic acid amplification testing (mobiNAAT) platform utilizing a mobile phone and droplet magnetofluidics to deliver NAAT in a portable and accessible format. By using magnetic particles as a mobile substrate for nucleic acid capture and transport, fluid handling is reduced to particle translocation on a simple magnetofluidic cartridge assembled with reagents for nucleic acid purification and amplification. A mobile phone user interface operating in tandem with a portable Bluetooth-enabled cartridge-processing unit facilitates process integration. We tested 30 potentially Chlamydia trachomatis (CT)-infected patients in a hospital emergency department and confirmed that mobiNAAT showed 100% concordance with laboratory-based NAAT. Concurrent evaluation by a nontechnical study coordinator who received brief training via an embedded mobile app module demonstrated ease of use and reproducibility of the platform. This work demonstrates the potential of mobile nucleic acid testing in bridging the diagnostic gap between centralized laboratories and hospital emergency departments.
IN VIVO ROLE OF NK(HSV-1) IN THE INDUCTION OF GRAFT VERSUS HOST DISEASE IN BONE MARROW TRANSPLANT RECIPIENTS

Publisher Summary This chapter examines in vivo role of NK (HSV-1) in the induction of graft versus host disease in bone marrow transplant recipients. In a study described in the chapter, patients undergoing bone marrow or fetal liver transplantation to restore marrow function were studied prospectively. The treatments in preparation for transplantation were as described. NK(HSV-1) assay was carried out. The estimated lysis at a 50:1 ratio was used for comparisons. Normal control values were used to develop a geometric mean and normal range (± 2 standard deviations). The chapter describes results of pretransplant NK(HSV-1) and development of GvHD in the post-transplant period. There was a highly significant correlation between normal pretransplant NK(HSV-1) and the development of GvHD in the period after transplantation. This association is held for each of the major patient groups when evaluated individually (aplastic anemia, leukemia, and severe combined immunodeficiency disease). There was no correlation between the grade of GvHD and the NK(HSV-1). High NK(HSV-1) response only predicted that the patient would have GvHD and did not suggest that it would be severe.
Research on electric vehicle fast charging station billing and settlement system

In order to meet the trend of increasing scale and more complexly layout of electric vehicle(EV) fast charging station(FCS), as well as the development of urban intelligent city, this paper studied on use mobile Internet and mobile terminal to realize the intelligent billing and settlement system of EV FCS, which provided a integrated charging billing model based on time-of-use price, proposed a solution to achieve system that can scan identification through vehicle QR code, guide the charging vehicle orderly parking by APP, start charging process, and realized no card payment by the mobile terminal. At last, this paper gave experimental result to verify time-of-use price is the important influence factor to integrated charging fee, and the billing model which adopted optimized peak-valley segmentation method can instruct the customer to charge economically, a lot of users can save the cost of travel. The system can enhance the customer satisfaction and will help to improve the operational efficiency and service capability of EV FCS.
Varieties of Rural Experience: Country Communities in Virginia and Wessex

After an initial reflection on just what might be meant by ‘rural experience’, the essay turns to an explicit comparison of the author's childhood experiences on his maternal grandparents’ farm in ...
Black phosphorus: a novel 2D material and its photonics applications (Conference Presentation)

Two-dimensional (2D) materials such as graphene, transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), and hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) have attracted a large amount of interests due to their extraordinary electrical, optical, and mechanical properties comparing with their bulk counterparts. Recently, black phosphorus (BP) has emerged as a new 2D material with demonstrated high hole mobility, showing great potential in electronic applications such as field-effect transistors (FETs). In this talk we will first review our recent works on the electric, photo-electrical, mechanical, and thermal behaviors of few-layer black phosphorus [1-4]. We will then discuss the photonics applications of black phosphorus. 2D black phosphorus is an excellent candidate for use in photodetection devices due to its direct and thickness-dependent bandgap [1]. However, light absorptions in these 2D materials are often very low due to its ultra- thin nature. For example, the visible light absorption in single layer graphene is only 2.3%. Making plasmonic structures, such as nano disks and rods, on top of the 2D material can be a possible way to enhance the absorption. In our work, a new bowtie-like plasmonic structure was proposed, and numerical simulations were used to design and optimize the plasmonic structures that are used to enhance both absorption and polarization selectivity in black phosphorus photodetection devices. The optimized structure devices were then fabricated on black phosphorus on transparent substrate. Photocurrent measurements showed strong light polarization dependence/selectivity in the fabricated device as well as much stronger photo responsivity compared with devices without plasmonic enhancement. Our study demonstrated the potentials of black phosphorus for photodetection and other light harvesting applications. [1] Liu, H., Neal, A., Zhu, Z., Luo, Z., Xu, X., Tomanek, D., Ye, P.D., 2014, “Phosphorene: An Unexplored 2D Semiconductor with a High Hole Mobility,” ACS Nano, 8(4), pp. 4033–4041. [2] Deng, Y., Luo, Z., Conrad, N. J., Liu, H., Gon,g Y., Najmaei, S., Ajayan, P. M., Lou, J., Xu, X., and Ye, P. D., 2014, “Black Phosphorus-Monolayer MoS2 van der Waals Heterojunction P-N Diode.,” ACS Nano, 8(8), pp. 8292–8299. [3] Luo, Z., Maassen, J., Deng, Y., Du, Y., Garrelts, R. P., Lundstrom, M. S., Ye, P. D., and Xu, X., 2015, "Anisotropic in-plane thermal conductivity observed in few-layer black phosphorus", Nat. Commun. 6:8572, pp. 9572-1-8. [4] Du, Y., Maassen, J., Wu, W., Luo, Z., Xu, X., and Ye, P., 2016, "Auxetic Black Phosphorus: A 2D Material with Negative Poisson’s Ratio", Nano Lett., DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.6b03607.
Lessons Learned from the EOSDIS Engineering Experience

The EOSDIS Core System (ECS) began as NASA’s vision for a geographically distributed system to support the operation and management of satellite-derived earth observations, and facilitate interdisciplinary scientific research of the Earth System and the interaction among its components (Settle 1995). The ECS serves as a major component in support of the EOS mission to process, archive, and distribute data.
Family Environment in the Production of Schooling

The association between social class and student achievement is well known, but often misinterpreted. There are specific pathways by which socioeconomic disadvantages produce lower achievement. Children from less literate homes have poorer vocabularies and reasoning skills prior to entering school and less parental reinforcement of literacy skills taught in school. Children in poor health are absent from school more often, less able to benefit from instruction. Children whose families have inadequate housing are more mobile, thus receiving less continuous instruction. Better quality schools can raise the average achievement of disadvantaged children, but cannot be expected to fully overcome these predictors.
Plasma Monitoring of Antidepressants

Depression is a major health problem. It is estimated that 5–10 per cent of the population will suffer from depression at least once during their lifetime. The majority can be helped by chemotherapy. Since their introduction in 1956, tricyclic antidepressants have become the treatment of choice. Yet, one-third of patients who could improve with chemotherapy do not. There are three main reasons for such failures: (a) noncompliance, (b) inappropriate drug concentrations, and (c) nonresponsiveness to the prescribed drug. Recent developments in plasma drug monitoring can eliminate the first two problems while the development of novel antidepressants offers hope of rectifying the latter. These issues will be discussed in this paper.
Sarcasm Detection on Flickr Using a CNN

Sarcasm is an important aspect of human communication. However, it is often difficult to detect or understand this sentiment because the literal meaning conveyed in communication is opposite of the intended meaning. Though the field of sentiment analysis is well studied, sarcasm has often been ignored by the research community. So far, to detect sarcasm on social media, studies have largely focused upon textual features. However, visual cues are an important part of sarcasm. In this paper, we present a convolutional neural network based model for detecting sarcasm based on images shared on a popular social photo sharing site, Flickr.
Adaptive state-feedback control with sensor failure compensation for asymptotic output tracking

Summary This paper addresses a new adaptive output tracking problem in the presence of uncertain plant dynamics and uncertain sensor failures. A new unified nominal state‐feedback control law is de...
Racial Discrimination, Protective Processes, and Sexual Risk Behaviors Among Black Young Males.

Racial discrimination is a documented risk factor for sexual risk behaviors among young Black men. Mechanisms of effect and protective processes remain to be investigated. This study examined the mediating effect of emotional distress, self-regulation, and substance use on the association between racial discrimination and sexual risk behaviors. Sexual risk behaviors included in this study were inconsistent condom use and sexual concurrency (sexual partnerships that overlap overtime). The protective effect of protective social ties was also investigated. A sample of 505 heterosexually active men aged 19–22 years were recruited and surveyed for 3 time points. Men answered questions on racial discrimination, sexual risk behaviors, emotional distress, self-regulation, and substance use. Mediation and moderation models were tested. Racial discrimination (T1) significantly and positively predicted emotional distress (T2). Emotional distress, substance use, and self-regulation partially mediated the association between racial discrimination and sexual risk behaviors. Protective social ties attenuated the effects of emotional distress on substance use and self-regulation. Racial discrimination is an important context for sexual risk behaviors. Minority stress may translate to sexual risk behavior through psychosocial mediators, such as emotional distress, self-regulation, and substance use. Protective social ties may buffer against emotional distress to reduce substance use and increase self-regulation. The findings of this study can provide new insights through the investigation of risk and protective processes that influence sexual risk behaviors among young Black men.
Advanced Universal Grid Analyzer Development and Implementation

This paper discusses the development and implementation of universal grid analyzers (UGAs) with advanced feature such as, a high reporting rate, utilizing the IEEE C37.118.2011 communication protocol, and data compression technology. UGAs are distributional level, real-time, highly accurate, and GPS synchronized phasor measurement units (PMUs). More importantly, UGAs can also be treated as power quality analyzer which monitor the power quality factors such as voltage sag, swell, harmonics measurement, and signal to noise ratio. With the recently issued PMU standard IEEE P60255-118-1, the UGAs are modified and improved with higher reporting rate (Up to 180 frame per second), utilizing IEEE C37.118.2011 protocol, and data compression technology. Finally, a real world deployed UGA in Atlanta is taken as an example to verify the data accuracy and power quality of UGAs.
Quantification of BK viral load

BK virus (BKV) is a nonenveloped, double-stranded DNA virus of the polyomavirus family that primarily affects immunocompromised people. BKV may cause nephropathy in renal transplant recipients receiving immunosuppressive therapy, resulting in renal dysfunction and, possibly, graft loss. Monitoring of BK viral load in blood and urine samples has been used as a surrogate marker of BKV nephropathy (BKVN). Although real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is the method of choice, currently, there is no standardized BK viral load assay. Different PCR assays vary significantly in sample types, DNA extraction method, PCR primers and probes, and reference materials used to generate a standard curve. These differences can affect the accuracy, specificity, and dynamic ranges of various real-time PCR assays.
Predictive Value of PET-CT in Patients with T-Cell Lymphoma Undergoing Autologous and Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplant

Introduction T-NHL are associated with an aggressive clinical course and poor outcomes. The role of PET-CT at the time of SCT (pre-SCT), BM biopsy, and peripheral blood (PB) flow cytometry have not been well investigated. We retrospectively analyzed 83 pts with T-NHL undergoing auto or allo SCT to determine the predictive value of pre-SCT PET-CT scan, BM and PB flow for relapse-free survival (RFS) and OS. Methods PET CR was defined as the absence of any radiographic dz by PET-CT (5-pt score). Overall CR was defined as negative PET, BM and PB flow. Pre-SCT variables were assessed for their effects on RFS and OS: age, number of previous lines of therapy, CIBMTR dz risk, pre-SCT BM, pre-SCT PB flow, and pre-SCT PET-CT. Results Of 83 pts studied, 49 were autoSCT and 34 were alloSCT. Six pts who underwent alloSCT had received a prior autoSCT. Diagnosis was PTCL NOS 34, AITL 23, CTCL/Sezary syndrome 11, nasal NK-T 6, EATL 3, SPTCL 2, hepatosplenic 1, ALK-ALCL 1, HTLV-2 ATL 1, T-lymphoblastic 1. The majority of pts with AITL (16/23) underwent autoSCT upfront. Conditioning for autoSCT was BEAM. Conditioning for alloSCT was Pentostatin/TBI in all but 6 SCT. Median lines of therapy prior to SCT were 1 for auto and 4 (r 2-13) for alloSCT. Median age at SCT was 60 (r 20-75). A total of 6 out of 49 (12%) autoSCT and 8 out of 34 (24%) alloSCT had positive PET-CT (score 4-5) at the time of SCT. BM was positive in 8 out of 49 (16%) at the time of autoSCT and 7 out of 34 (21%) at the time of alloSCT. PB flow was positive in 9 out of 49 (18%) at the time of auto SCT and 6 out of 34 (12%) at the time of alloSCT. CIBMTR dz index was low in 57(69%), intermediate in 15(18%), and high in 11 (13%) of 83 SCT. The majority of allo-SCT were intermediate-high risk. The median follow-up 56 months (r 6 - 122). Twenty (24%) pts had expired. Univariate analysis of pre-autoSCT variables did not reveal statistically significant (SS) results for BM or PET positivity. Univariate analysis of pre-alloSCT variables identified positive BM and positive PET/CT scan as being SS. There was a SS lower incidence of relapse, longer RFS and OS in alloSCT pts with either negative pre-SCT PET-CT scan or negative pre-SCT BM. Other pre-SCT variables tested were not SS. In multivariate analysis, pre-alloSCT PET-CT alone retained SS. Pre-alloSCT PET-CT scan was a strong predictor of 2-yr RFS and 2-yr OS. Conclusion This data indicates that in heavily pretreated pts with T- NHL undergoing alloSCT, a negative pre-SCT PET-CT is a statistically significant predictor of long-term RFS and OS regardless of dz risk and number of lines of therapy. Due to the small number of autoSCT with positive PET-CT scans, BM biopsy, or PB flow at the time of SCT, no association between the above-mentioned variables and relapse was identified. Further studies with larger numbers of pts are warranted to determine the role of pre-autoSCT PET-CT, BM and PB flow as prognostic factors in T-NHL.
GW5074 and PP2 kinase inhibitors implicate nontraditional c-Raf and Lyn function as drivers of retinoic acid-induced maturation

The multivariate nature of cancer necessitates multi-targeted therapy, and kinase inhibitors account for a vast majority of approved cancer therapeutics. While acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) patients are highly responsive to retinoic acid (RA) therapy, kinase inhibitors have been gaining momentum as co-treatments with RA for non-APL acute myeloid leukemia (AML) differentiation therapies, especially as a means to treat relapsed or refractory AML patients. In this study GW5074 (a c-Raf inhibitor) and PP2 (a Src-family kinase inhibitor) enhanced RA-induced maturation of t(15;17)-negative myeloblastic leukemia cells and rescued response in RA-resistant cells. PD98059 (a MEK inhibitor) and Akti-1/2 (an Akt inhibitor) were less effective, but did tend to promote maturation-uncoupled G1/G0 arrest, while wortmannin (a PI3K inhibitor) did not enhance differentiation surface marker expression or growth arrest. PD98059 and Akti-1/2 did not enhance differentiation markers and have potential, antagonistic off-targets effects on the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), but neither could the AhR agonist 6-formylindolo(3,2-b)carbazole (FICZ) rescue differentiation events in the RA-resistant cells. GW5074 rescued early CD38 expression in RA-resistant cells exhibiting an early block in differentiation before CD38 expression, while for RA-resistant cells with differentiation blocked later, PP2 rescued the later differentiation marker CD11b; but surprisingly, the combination of the two was not synergistic. Kinases c-Raf, Src-family kinases Lyn and Fgr, and PI3K display highly correlated signaling changes during RA treatment, while activation of traditional downstream targets (Akt, MEK/ERK), and even the surface marker CD38, were poorly correlated with c-Raf or Lyn during differentiation. This suggests that an interrelated kinase module involving c-Raf, PI3K, Lyn and perhaps Fgr functions in a nontraditional way during RA-induced maturation or during rescue of RA induction therapy using inhibitor co-treatment in RA-resistant leukemia cells.
Tumorigenic Potential of Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor Therapy-A Case Report and Review of Literature.

An association between granulocyte colony-stimulating factor therapy (G-CSFT) in patients with glycogen storage disease type Ib (GSDIb) and the development of giant cell lesions of the maxillofacial complex has emerged. We have reported, to the best of our knowledge, the fourth case of giant cell granuloma (GCG) in a patient with GSDIb undergoing G-CSFT. GSDIb can present with hypoglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia, and neutropenia. G-CSFT has often been used in the treatment of recurrent infections or sepsis caused by neutropenia and to treat inflammatory bowel disease and diarrhea. The current reported data are lacking in both the association and the potential causation of G-CSFT and the development of giant cell tumors. Given the prevalence of GSDIb and its therapy, oral and maxillofacial surgeons should be aware of the tumorigenic potential of G-CSFT in patients with GSDIb. In the present report, we have described the case of a 17-year-old patient with GSDIb undergoing GCSFT who presented with a peripheral and central GCG. She was treated but presented again 13 months later with concerns for a new primary lesion. We have also discussed GSDIb, G-CSFT, and the current data, highlighting the association between G-CSFT for GSDIb, the potential mechanism of GCG development, the use of adjuvant therapy, and the need for close follow-up of this population. The purpose of the present case report is to highlight the presentation, management, and follow-up of giant cell lesions in patients with GSDIb treated with G-CSFT.
Integrated silicon photonic true-time delay beam-former for wide-band phased-array antenna

Conventional electronically-steerable phased-array antenna systems suffer from increasingly complicated control schemes to allow for narrowband RF steering. A phased array antenna architecture was previously presented which provides for wideband steering using a simplified control scheme requiring only one analog control parameter for steering along one dimension. A cascaded architecture of slow-light-based true-time delay gratings within an silicon photonic integrated circuit (PIC) enable the C-band optical carrier wavelength to serve as this control parameter for an X-band radio-frequency signal. Fabrication of this beamformer PIC was carried out using the American Institute for Manufacturing (AIM) Photonics foundry. Thermal sensitivity of the slow-light gratings and directional couplers on the PIC were investigated, and packaging solutions were evaluated, including integrated doped-silicon heaters to compensate for fabrication variations. A homodyne phase-tracking technique is employed to further characterize the slow-light performance of the beamformer, allowing for phase-sensitive measurements near the band-edge of the slow-light gratings.
Fenofibrate Reduces the Severity of Neuroretinopathy in a Type 2 Model of Diabetes without Inducing Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Alpha-Dependent Retinal Gene Expression.

Fenofibrate slows the progression of clinical diabetic retinopathy (DR), but its mechanism of action in the retina remains unclear. Fenofibrate is a known agonist of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα), a transcription factor critical for regulating metabolism, inflammation and oxidative stress. Using a DR mouse model, db/db, we tested the hypothesis that fenofibrate slows early DR progression by activating PPARα in the retina. Relative to healthy littermates, six-month-old db/db mice exhibited elevated serum triglycerides and cholesterol, retinal gliosis, and electroretinography (ERG) changes including reduced b-wave amplitudes and delayed oscillatory potentials. These pathologic changes in the retina were improved by oral fenofibrate. However, fenofibrate did not induce PPARα target gene expression in whole retina or isolated Muller glia. The capacity of the retina to respond to PPARα was further tested by delivering the PPARα agonist GW590735 to the intraperitoneal or intravitreous space in mice carrying the peroxisome proliferator response element (PPRE)-luciferase reporter. We observed strong induction of the reporter in the liver, but no induction in the retina. In summary, fenofibrate treatment of db/db mice prevents the development of early DR but is not associated with induction of PPARα in the retina.
A Nation Within: Navajo Land and Economic Development

In A Nation Within, Ezra Rosser explores the connection between land-use patterns and development in the Navajo Nation. Roughly the size of Ireland or West Virginia, the Navajo reservation has seen successive waves of natural resource-based development over the last century: grazing and over-grazing, oil and gas, uranium, and coal; yet Navajos continue to suffer from high levels of unemployment and poverty. Rosser shows the connection between the exploitation of these resources and the growth of the tribal government before turning to contemporary land use and development challenges. He argues that, in addition to the political challenges associated with any significant change, external pressures and internal corruption have made it difficult for the tribe to implement land reforms that could help provide space for economic development that would benefit the Navajo Nation and Navajo tribal members.
Evaluation of a risk assessment model to predict infection with healthcare facility-onset Clostridioides difficile.

PURPOSE We evaluated a previously published risk model (Novant model) to identify patients at risk for healthcare facility-onset Clostridioides difficile infection (HCFO-CDI) at 2 hospitals within a large health system and compared its predictive value to that of a new model developed based on local findings. METHODS We conducted a retrospective case-control study including adult patients admitted from July 1, 2016, to July 1, 2018. Patients with HCFO-CDI who received systemic antibiotics were included as cases and were matched 1 to 1 with controls (who received systemic antibiotics without developing HCFO-CDI). We extracted chart data on patient risk factors for CDI, including those identified in prior studies and those included in the Novant model. We applied the Novant model to our patient population to assess the model's utility and generated a local model using logistic regression-based prediction scores. A receiver operating characteristic area under the curve (ROC-AUC) score was determined for each model. RESULTS We included 362 patients, with 161 controls and 161 cases. The Novant model had a ROC-AUC of 0.62 in our population. Our local model using risk factors identifiable at hospital admission included hospitalization within 90 days of admission (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 3.52; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.06-6.04), hematologic malignancy (adjusted OR, 12.87; 95% CI, 3.70-44.80), and solid tumor malignancy (adjusted OR, 4.76; 95% CI, 1.27-17.80) as HCFO-CDI predictors and had a ROC-AUC score of 0.74. CONCLUSION The Novant model evaluating risk factors identifiable at admission poorly predicted HCFO-CDI in our population, while our local model was a fair predictor. These findings highlight the need for institutions to review local risk factors to adjust modeling for their patient population.
An Independent Study of Reinforcement Learning and Autonomous Driving.

Reinforcement learning has become one of the most trending subjects in the recent decade. It has seen applications in various fields such as robot manipulations, autonomous driving, path planning, computer gaming, etc. We accomplished three tasks during the course of this project. Firstly, we studied the Q-learning algorithm for tabular environments and applied it successfully to an OpenAi Gym environment, Taxi. Secondly, we gained an understanding of and implemented the deep Q-network algorithm for Cart-Pole environment. Thirdly, we also studied the application of reinforcement learning in autonomous driving and its combination with safety check constraints (safety controllers). We trained a rough autonomous driving agent using highway-gym environment and explored the effects of various environment configurations like reward functions on the agent training performance.
Makerspace Implementation and Pandemic Response

Makerspaces have continued to be a popular addition to the services offered by libraries. This article will address the creation and implementation of one at a mid-sized medical library. The writer will summarize their personal experience of the steps taken towards opening the makerspace and give insight into the process. This article will also address the trying times brought on by Covid-19 and the challenges faced in an operational perspective.
Beyond Resolution: What Does Conflict Transformation Actually Transform?

The paper considers the concept of ‘conflict transformation’ in relation to earlier ideas concerning the ‘resolution’ of conflict and seeks to differentiate between the two approaches. Writers and writings from the conflict transformation ‘school’ are surveyed and an effort is made to delineate the core characteristics of the approach, viewed either as a process or an end state. Questions are raised about transformation on a personal, group or conflict system level, all of which seem to be encompassed by various adherents of the transformation school, and the unifying concept that emerges is that of the relationship between adversaries being transformed by a variety of techniques. However, it is finally argued that the very idea of ‘relationship’ is itself ambiguous so that a real intellectual effort needs to be made to clarify its nature and characteristics, and the various ways in which relationships can be changed.
Theories of Electromagnetic Productions of Pions

The current theoretical approaches for investigating the γN → πN and N (e, e′ π) reactions are reviewed. It is shown that the dynamical approach can be used to test the predictions from hadron structure calculations. Some N* form factors calculated using various chiral constituent quark models are presented.
Contributions of the σ(W) , σ(M) and σ(X) regulons to the lantibiotic resistome of Bacillus subtilis.

Summary In Bacillus subtilis, the extracytoplasmic function (ECF) σ factors σM, σW and σX all contribute to resistance against lantibiotics. Nisin, a model lantibiotic, has a dual mode of action: it inhibits cell wall synthesis by binding lipid II, and this complex also forms pores in the cytoplasmic membrane. These activities can be separated in a nisin hinge-region variant (N20P M21P) that binds lipid II, but no longer permeabilizes membranes. The major contribution of σM to nisin resistance is expression of ltaSa, encoding a stress-activated lipoteichoic acid synthase, and σX functions primarily by activation of the dlt operon controlling d-alanylation of teichoic acids. Together, σM and σX regulate cell envelope structure to decrease access of nisin to its lipid II target. In contrast, σW is principally involved in protection against membrane permeabilization as it provides little protection against the nisin hinge region variant. σW contributes to nisin resistance by regulation of a signal peptide peptidase (SppA), phage shock proteins (PspA and YvlC, a PspC homologue) and tellurite resistance related proteins (YceGHI). These defensive mechanisms are also effective against other lantibiotics such as mersacidin, gallidermin and subtilin and comprise an important subset of the intrinsic antibiotic resistome of B. subtilis.