cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Regulation of Bacterial Cell Walls: Turnover of Cell Wall in Staphylococcus aureus

The cell wall of Staphylococcus aureus was shown to undergo turnover during exponential growth. The rate of turnover, about 15% per generation, was identical for both cell wall polymers, peptidoglycan and teichoic acid. Both the old and newly synthesized wall material appeared to undergo turnover at similar rates. The rate of turnover followed first-order kinetics until more than 90% of the original wall was lost. Cell wall turnover was completely blocked under conditions of unbalanced synthesis known to inhibit cellular autolysis, e.g., addition of chloramphenicol. Cell wall turnover was shown to occur in a number of different strains of S. aureus and appears to be widely distributed in this species.
Optimization in product design with properties correlated with topological indices

This paper addresses the problem of incorporating topological indices as structural descriptors for correlating properties in the design of product molecules with fine-tuned or optimized property values. Three different types of topological indices are considered: Randic's molecular connectivity indices, Kier's shape indices and the Wiener Index. The adjacency matrix representation which provides a complete description of the connectivity of a molecule is utilized. Thus, complete molecular interconnectivity information is introduced in the optimization framework which, in principle, provides for more accurate property prediction than simple group contributions. The nonlinear expressions for the topological indices are systematically transformed into equivalent linear relations enabling the formulation of the molecular design problem as a Mixed Integer Linear Program (MILP). Two different examples are considered: The first involves the design of alkanes with target physical properties correlated with Kier's shape indices and the second the selection of the best substituent of a compound with desired fungicidal properties correlated with Randic's connectivity index. In both examples, uncertainty in the model regression coefficients is quantitatively taken into account.
Development of inhibitory and excitatory synaptic transmission in the rat dentate gyrus.

We studied the ontogeny of inhibitory and excitatory processes in the rat dentate gyrus by examining paired-pulse plasticity in the hippocampal slice preparation. The mature dentate gyrus produces characteristic paired-pulse responses across a wide range of interpulse intervals (IPI). Paired-pulse effects on population excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP) slope and population spike (PS) amplitude were analyzed at postnatal day 6 (PN6), PN7/8, PN9/10, PN15/16, and PN > 60. The synaptic paired-pulse profile (10–5,000 ms IPI) matured by PN7/8. The triphasic pattern of short-latency depression, a relative facilitation at intermediate intervals, and long-latency depression was present at all ages tested. Paired-pulse effects on granule cell discharge indicated the presence of weak short-latency (20 ms IPI) inhibition at PN6, the earliest day that a population spike could be evoked. By PN7/8, short-latency inhibition was statistically equivalent to the mature dentate gyrus. Long-latency (500–2,000 ms IPI) PS inhibition was present, and equal to the mature dentate gyrus by PN6. The most consistent difference between the mature and developing dentate gyrus occurred at intermediate IPIs (40–120 ms) where spike facilitation was significantly depressed in the developmental groups. The studies indicate that short-term plasticity matures rapidly in the dentate gyrus and suggest that the inhibitory circuitry can function at a surprisingly early age. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Effects of urbanization on site occupancy and density of grassland birds in tallgrass prairie fragments

Tallgrass prairies are among the most threatened ecosystems in the world. Remaining prairies tend to be small and isolated and many are associated with urban and suburban landscapes. We asked how urbanization might impact the conservation value of tallgrass prairie fragments for grassland birds by comparing the densities and the probability of occurrence of Dickcissels (Spiza americana), Grasshopper Sparrows (Ammodramus savannarum), and Eastern Meadowlarks (Sturnella magna) across 28 grasslands surrounded by low, moderate, and high levels of urbanization. We employed a hierarchical model selection approach to ask how variables that describe the vegetation structure, size and shape of grasslands, and urbanization category might explain variation in density and occurrence over two breeding seasons. Occurrence of all three species was explained by a combination of vegetation and patch characteristics, though each species was influenced by different variables and only Eastern Meadowlark occurrence was explained by urbanization. Abundance of all three species was negatively impacted by urbanization, though vegetation variables were also prevalent in the best-supported models. We found no evidence that vegetation structure or other patch characteristics varied in a systematic way across urbanization categories. Although our results suggest that grassland bird density declines with urbanization, urban tallgrass prairies still retain conservation value for grassland birds because of the limited availability of tallgrass prairie habitat and the limited impact of urbanization on species occurrence.
The Motogenic Effects of Cyclic Mechanical Strain on Intestinal Epithelial Monolayer Wound Closure Are Matrix Dependent

Background & Aims: Complex deformation during normal digestion due to peristalsis or villous motility may be trophic for the intestinal mucosa. Because tissue fibronectin is increased in inflammatory states that may accompany mucosal injury, we evaluated the effects of cyclic mechanical strain and fibronectin on intestinal epithelial monolayer wound closure in Caco-2 and IEC-6 intestinal epithelial cells. Methods: Wounds created in intestinal epithelial monolayers were subjected to cyclic deformation. Wound closure was assessed by morphometry using microscopic imaging. Cell signals were assessed by Western blot and confocal microscopy. Results: Mechanical strain stimulated wound closure on fibronectin but inhibited closure on collagen in Caco-2 and IEC-6 cells. The effect was independent of proliferation or cell spreading. Myosin light chain (MLC) and extracellular signal–regulated kinase (ERK) were phosphorylated in response to strain in confluent monolayers on both collagen and fibronectin. Blocking MLC or ERK phosphorylation inhibited the motogenic effect of strain on fibronectin. Although phosphorylated MLC was redistributed to the leading edge of migrating cells following 6 hours of strain on collagen and fibronectin, phosphorylated ERK was redistributed to the lamellipodial edge only on fibronectin. Conclusions: Strain promotes intestinal epithelial wound closure by a pathway requiring ERK and MLC kinase. Fibronectin-dependent ERK redistribution in response to strain in confluent migrating cells may explain the matrix dependence of the motogenic effect. Repetitive deformation stimulates intestinal epithelial proliferation on a collagen substrate, but not fibronectin. Deformation may exert matrix-dependent effects on intestinal epithelial cells, promoting epithelial restitution in fibronectin-rich tissue and proliferation in fibronectin-poor mucosa.
Economic statecraft, Interdependence, and national security: Agendas for research

(1999). Economic statecraft, Interdependence, and national security: Agendas for research. Security Studies: Vol. 9, Power and the Purse: Economic Statecraft, Interdependence, and National Security, pp. 288-316.
A Comparison of the Structure and Bonding in the Aliphatic Boronic R-B(OH)2 and Borinic R-BH(OH) acids (R=H; NH2, OH, and F): A Computational Investigation.

Boronic acids, R-B(OH)2, play an important role in synthetic, biological, medicinal, and materials chemistry. This investigation compares the structure and bonding surrounding the boron atoms in the simple aliphatic boronic acids, R-B(OH)2 (R = H; NH2, OH, and F) and the analogous borinic acids, R-BH(OH). Geometry optimizations were performed using second-order Moller-Plesset perturbation theory (MP2) with the Dunning-Woon aug-cc-pVTZ, aug-cc-pVQZ and aug-cc-pV5Z basis sets; single-point CCSD(FC)/aug-cc-pVTZ//MP2(FC)/aug-cc-pVTZ level calculations were used to generate a QCI density for Natural Bond Orbital analyses of the bonding. The optimized boron-oxygen bond lengths for the X-B-Ot-H trans-branch of the endo-exo form of the boronic acids and for the X-B-O-H cis-branch of the boronic and borinic acids (X = N, O, and F respectively) decrease as the electronegativity of X increases. The boron-oxygen bond lengths are generally longer in the endo-exo or anti forms of the boronic acids than in the corresponding borinic acids. NBO analyses suggest the boron-oxygen bond in H2BOH is a double bond; the boron-oxygen bonding in the remaining boronic and borinic acids in this study have a significant contribution from dative pπ-pπ bonding. Values for [Formula: see text] for the highly balanced reaction, R-B(OH)2 + R-BH2 → 2 R-BH(OH), suggest that the bonding surrounding the boron atom is stronger in the borinic acid than in the corresponding boronic acid.
Long Range Potential of VTOL Aircraft

The application of VTOL (Vertical Takeoff and Landing) to short haul aircraft, supersonic transports, and space launchers are described. VTOL potential as a means of providing a new and effective major transportation system is evaluated. It is shown that the control characteristics of these aircraft are such that routine, all-weather operations will be possible with a high degree of safety. The economic factors determining ticket costs are analyzed. A comparison of various VTOL aircraft configurations is presented together with an evaluation of their relative operational advantages. It is shown that VTOL also shows promise for long range supersonic transports and increases the feasibility of a hypersonic transport. Finally, the improvements in launch capabilities with a VTOL launch vehicle for space flights are described and the costs of a reusable, air breathing, VTOL booster are compared with more conventional booster concepts.
Inhibition of enterotoxin-induced porcine colonic secretion by diarylsulfonylureas in vitro

Muscle-stripped piglet colon was used to evaluate changes in short-circuit current (I sc) as an indicator of anion secretion. Mucosal exposure to Escherichia coli heat-stable (STa) or heat-labile e...
Histology of the Third Instar of the Apple Maggot, Rhagoletis pomonella

The histology of the third instar of Rhagoletis pomonwlla (Walsh) is described from paraffin sections. Histological features are noted for tissues of the integument, anal organ, tracheal system, alimentary tract, nervous system, imaginal discs, reproductive system, circulatory system, and endocrine glands.
Abstract 5292: Role of voltage-gated Na+ channels in the metastatic potential of colon cancer cells

Ion channels are major signaling proteins spanning the plasma membrane where they enable the diffusion of specific ions into and out of a variety of cells. Voltage-gated Na+ channels (VGSCs) are responsible for the depolarization phase of neuronal action potentials and their activity is required for neurite extension and neurotransmitter release. Aberrant expression of VGSCs has recently been implicated in cancer. Overexpression of VGSCs appears to be associated with increased motility and invasive potential in vitro, whereas treatment with pharmacological agents that block Na+ currents, significantly reduce invasion. We have recently identified functional VGSCs in SW480, SW620, and HT29 colon cancer cells and examined their role in invasion. Electrophysiological techniques were employed to confirm functional expression of the SCN5A isoform in colon cancer cells. The more invasive SW620 cell line has a higher current density and increased protein expression compared to the less invasive SW480 and HT29 cell lines. Furthermore, we used RNA interference and VGSC blockers (tetrodotoxin and lidocaine) to inhibit channel expression and activity, respectively, and demonstrated a loss of invasive potential. Conversely, treatment with veratridine, a neurotoxin that prevents complete inactivation of VGSCs, increased Na+ influx and led to higher invasive potential. In addition to colon cancer cell lines, the expression of Nav1.5, the protein encoded by SCN5A, was examined in colon cancer patient samples by immunohistochemistry. Expression of this channel was restricted to the lumen of colon cancer specimens when compared to their normal matched controls. The contribution of this channel to metastatic behavior has not been previously demonstrated in colon cancer. To facilitate a further understanding of the mechanism by which this channel induces invasive potential, we have analyzed the involvement of SCN5A in activation of the MAPK pathway, which is deregulated in many cancers. Coincidentally, this pathway is also activated after depolarization in neurons during neurogenesis. Lastly, we show that SCN5A participates in the regulation of a colon cancer transcriptional network important for invasion. Taken together, our data suggest that VGSCs contribute to the metastatic potential of colon cancer cells through activation of the MAPK pathway and transcriptional regulation of genes important for the invasion process. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 5292.
Tubuloglomerular feedback and autoregulation in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Experiments were conducted in 8-wk-old spontaneously hypertensive rats to determine whether tubuloglomerular feedback is essential for the autoregulation of renal blood flow. Autoregulation curves ...
Can physiographic regions substitute for genetically-determined conservation units? A case study with the threatened plant, Silene spaldingii

Protecting genetic diversity throughout the range of a species is important for conservation, as doing so provides for long-term evolutionary potential and persistence under a changing environment. Conservation of diversity at the intraspecific level requires identification of all genetically distinct population segments within species; i.e., conservation units (CUs). Silene spaldingii occurs in grasslands of the Columbia Plateau region of western North America and is listed as threatened under the Federal Endangered Species Act. The recovery plan identified five physiographic regions across the range of the species to use as surrogates for genetic CUs. We collected leaf samples from an average of 26 plants from each of 19 of the largest populations across all five physiographic regions and used variable microsatellite and chloroplast DNA markers to determine how genetic variation is distributed across the range of the species and how well physiographic regions reflect population structure within this species. Results of several multivariate analyses clustered our samples into four genetic groups which did not correspond well with the physiographic regions. We observed little genetic differentiation among populations in the main range of the species which encompasses nearly all of four contiguous physiographic regions. However, three other distinct genetic groups were identified: two in the disjunct northeast corner and one at the southeast edge of the main range. Modification of the CUs to reflect the genetic groups rather than the physiographic regions would result in CUs which better reflect historical patterns of population structure. Moreover, use of the genetic units to inform translocation and genetic rescue efforts could improve our ability to mimic natural patterns of gene flow. Our results suggest that physiographic regions may not always be an accurate reflection of population structure for threatened or endangered species.
Management of upper tract calculi in patients with tubularized urinary diversions.

AbstractIn a retrospective review of patients with urinary diversion who presented to our stone center during a 3.5-year period 9 underwent 20 procedures for suspected stone episodes. Eventual outcome was excellent in all but 1 patient. In particular, all attempts at retrograde trans-stomal manipulation were successful. We present our cases, and note the technical considerations and management principles. Frequently, these patients are best served by a combination of percutaneous antegrade, trans-stomal retrograde and/or extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy.
WE-DE-201-10: Pitfalls When Using Ruby as An Inorganic Scintillator Detector for Ir-192 Brachytherapy Dosimetry

Purpose: To study the promising potential of inorganic scintillator detectors (ISDs) and investigate various unwanted luminescence properties which may compromise their accuracy. Methods: The ISDs were comprised of a ruby crystal coupled to a polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) fiber-optic cable and a charged coupled device camera. A new type of ISD was manufactured and included a long-pass filter that was sandwiched between the crystal and the fiber-optic cable. The purpose of the filter was to suppress the Cerenkov and fluorescence background light induced in the PMMA (the stem signal) from striking the ruby crystal, generating unwanted ruby excitation. A variety of experiments were performed to characterize the ruby based ISDs. The relative contribution of the induced ruby signal and the stem signal were quantified while exposing the detector and a bare fiber-optic cable to a high dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy (BT) source, respectively. The unwanted ruby excitation was quantified while irradiating the fiber-optic cable with the detector volume shielded. Other experiments addressed time-dependent luminescence properties and a comparison to other commonly used organic scintillator detectors (BCF-12, BCF-60). Results: When the BT source dwelled 0.5 cm away from the fiber-optic cable, the unwanted ruby excitation amounted to >5% of the total signal if the source-distance from the scintillator was >7 cm. However, the unwanted excitation was suppressed to <1% if the ISD incorporated an optic filter. The stem signal was suppressed with a 20 nm band-pass filter and was <3% as long as the source-distance was <7 cm. The ruby based ISDs generated signal up to 20(40) times that of BCF-12(BCF-60). Conclusion: The study presents solutions to unwanted luminescence properties of ruby based ISDs for HDR BT. An optic filter should be sandwiched between the scintillator volume and the fiber-optic cable to prevent the stem signal to excite the ruby crystal.
Frequency-dependent selection: a diversifying force in microbial populations.

The benefits of “bet‐hedging” strategies have been assumed to be the main cause of phenotypic diversity in biological populations. However, in their recent work, Healey et al ([2016][1]) provide experimental support for negative frequency‐dependent selection (NFDS) as an alternative driving force of diversity. NFDS favors rare phenotypes over common ones, resulting in an evolutionarily stable mixture of phenotypes that is not necessarily optimal for population growth. Mol Syst Biol. (2016) 12: 880 [1]: #ref-6
Swimming with Sharks: A Physical Educator's Guide to Effective Crowdsourcing

The reality-competition television series Shark Tank affords up-and-coming entrepreneurs the opportunity to make a formal business presentation to a panel of potential investors. Adopting a similar framework, entrepreneurial teachers have started using web-based collaborative fundraising or crowdsourcing as a tool to build program capacity with the ultimate goal of increasing student learning. The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of crowdsourcing as a viable approach for resourcing physical education programs, including teacher success stories and guidelines for putting together an effective fundraising campaign using a crowdsourcing approach.
Persistence of Behavior Disorders in Children

The major objective of this study was to investigate spontaneous improvement in public school children who had been identified as behavior problems but who had not had the help of any special educational or psychiatric care. The study examined the basic assumption underlying early detection programs that the majority of childhood problems would continue or become worse if left untreated. After a 4 year interval, behavior disordered children, who had completed the first screening and had not received any type of intervention, were reexamined with the same screening device (an abbreviated form of the Bower, 1960, instrument). Persistent disturbances were found in 30 percent of the children.
Vasoinhibin, an N-terminal Prolactin Fragment, Directly Inhibits Cardiac Angiogenesis in Three-dimensional Heart Culture

Vasoinhibins (Vis) are fragments of the growth hormone/prolactin family and have antiangiogenic functions in many species. It is considered that Vis derived from prolactin are involved in the pathogenesis of peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM). However, the pathogenic mechanism of PPCM, as well as heart angiogenesis, is not yet clear. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to clarify the effects of Vis on endothelial cells and angiogenesis of the heart. Endothelial cell viability was decreased by Vi treatment in a culture experiment. Furthermore, expression of proangiogenic genes, such as vascular endothelial growth factor, endothelial nitric oxide synthase, and VE-cadherin, were decreased. On the other hand, apoptotic factor gene, caspase 3, and inflammatory factor genes, tumor necrosis factor α and interleukin 6, were increased by Vi treatment. In three-dimensional left ventricular wall angiogenesis assay in mice, Vi treatment also inhibited cell migration, neovessel sprouting, and growth toward collagen gel. These data demonstrate that Vi treatment directly suppresses angiogenesis of the heart and supports the hypothesis that Vis induce PPCM.
Teacher Leaders' Work with Peers in a Quasi-Formal Teacher Leadership Model.

Building on evolving conceptions of teacher leadership in the literature, this article argues that an integration of both positional and empowering elements of teacher leadership are the seeds of an evolved approach to teacher leadership for instructional improvement. Using data from a study of quasi-formal teacher leadership, the research examines how teacher leaders play a positive role in schools and fulfil a series of needs of teachers. However, the constraints of teacher leaders’ instructional authority limits their ability to influence the instructional practices of their peers. The findings clarify the distinction between school-level and individual-level teacher leadership.
Quantum Electrodynamics — From a Personal Perspective —

Renormalized quantum electrodynamics is such a sturdy theory that its breakdown has not yet been witnessed, in spite of the most careful and extensive scrutinies it has undergone since its inception in 1947. In this talk I review the high precision tests at low energies in which I have participated for nearly 30 years, through calculation of higher-order radiative corrections to the anomalous magnetic moments of the electron and the muon and to the hyperfine structure of the ground state of muonium.
Mechanical and Electrical Study of Linear Spring and J-Spring

The integrated circuit (IC) fabrication technology continues to push the limits of microelectronics packaging technologies. Today millions of transistors can be fabricated in a chip of about 1 cm × 1 cm in size, and the required I/O density is about 1600/cm2 . Although tremendous advances have been made in die to substrate interconnect technologies as well as substrate/PWB technologies, these advances have not kept pace with advances in semiconductor technology, and therefore, continue to be a bottleneck for further advances in semiconductor technologies. In addition to fabrication constraints, low cost and reliability are other requirements that affect interconnect development. Wafer-level Packaging (WLP) is an effective solution to address some of these issues. A compliant interconnect, called “J-Spring”, has been proposed and developed at Georgia Institute of Technology. Although based on the same concept of inherent stress-gradient used in the linear spring, the J-Spring will provide greater in-plane compliance. These compliant interconnects can be fabricated in batch at wafer level and the pitch can be as low as 30 μm. The fine pitch can meet and exceed the requirements of International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductor (ITRS) for 2011 [ITRS, 2001] and beyond. J-Springs with different radius, angle, width, and release length have been fabricated on a test wafer. Numerical model has been created to determine the release height based on J-Spring geometry and stress gradients. Also, the compliance of J-Spring has been determined in three orthogonal directions using parametric numerical models. The compliance of J-Spring is compared with the compliance of the linear spring. The proposed compliant interconnects can accommodate the differential displacement due to CTE mismatch between the die and the substrate. In addition, to their mechanical characteristics, their electrical characteristics have been studied as well. The electrical characteristics are dependent on the geometry, dimensions and the materials used.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
Wavefront Fields in the Scattering of Elastic Waves by Surface-Breaking and Sub-Surface Cracks

Of strong practical interest in the subject of fracture mechanics and related structural design and damage are the surface-breaking and sub-surface cracks. Indeed the scattered-wave fields generated by the interaction of incident surface or body waves with these cracks would be expected to yield most of the important in-formation about the geometries of the cracks. It follows, in the subject of quantitative non-destructive evaluation (QNDE) there is considerable interest in scattering by surface-breaking and sub-surface cracks, as important steps in solving the inverse problems of obtaining the crack geometries from the scattered wave fields. However, having the solutions to the corresponding direct problems is a prerequisite to the inverse problems.
Spatial Filtering Applications: Selected Counts Datasets

Chapter 1 presents an overview of a variety of georeferenced counts datasets1 (see §1.4.2). These data are further analyzed in this chapter to exemplify how spatial filtering methodology can capture positive spatial autocorrelation for georeferenced Poisson variables and to demonstrate how spatial autocorrelation impacts upon overdispersion.
Probability of Tight Crack Detection via Eddy-Current Inspection

Among current NDE investigations, one of the important topics is the development of so-called probability-of-detection (POD) models. This activity is important because, given a POD model, one can examine inspection systems quantitatively in terms of flaw detectability. In the area of the eddy-current (EC) testing, there are a few applicable POD models in the literature [1,2]. In this paper, we will report on a generalization of the model constructed by one of the present authors [2]. After the generalization is done, the model becomes applicable to a wider variety of flaws than before.
Predictability of Clinical Knowledge Through Mobile App-based Simulation for the Treatment of Pediatric Septic Arthritis: A Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND Recently the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery and the Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education have identified the treatment of septic arthritis of the hip in children as a milestone skill for all US orthopaedic residents. The purpose of this study was to test correlation between clinical knowledge and examination score on a mobile app-based training module for the treatment of pediatric septic hip arthritis. METHODS A 4-part simulation model on surgical decision-making associated with the treatment of pediatric septic arthritis was developed through expert consensus. Orthopaedic trainees participating in the "Top Gun" program of the 2015 and 2016 International Pediatric Orthopaedic Symposiums were recruited to participate in this pilot study. Trainees completed a presimulation quiz on their knowledge of diagnosis, arthrocentesis, and surgical irrigation and debridement on a pediatric patient presenting with septic arthritis of the hip. Trainees then completed the 4-part simulation on the mobile app. Pearson correlation analysis was used to assess the relationship between the quiz and the simulation. RESULTS A total of 53 orthopaedic residents and fellows participated in the simulation. Median quiz score was 87 points [interquartile range (IQR), 81 to 94] before the intervention and 100 points (IQR, 94 to 100) postintervention. The median simulation test score was 89 (IQR, 81 to 92) which demonstrated a positive correlation with the postintervention quiz (r=0.44, P<0.001). The preintervention metrics demonstrated a positive correlation with postintervention metrics (r=0.53, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS This study revealed a statistically significant positive correlation between the mobile app simulation and the clinical knowledge of the participants, as well as the ability to improve knowledge about a procedure during the testing period. These findings support the ability for the mobile app to test clinical knowledge. In the current environment of decreased work hours and patient exposure for orthopaedic trainees, mobile app-based simulation has the potential to safely aid in assessment of orthopaedic residents and fellows.
Synthesis and Characterizations of Plasmonic Nanoparticles: Large Plain Au and Au/TiO 2 Core-Shell Nanoparticles

Two distinct approaches to synthesizing spherical, monodisperse, and large (>40 nm) gold nanoparticles are reported. The first approach involves synthesizing monodisperse gold octahedrons followed by selective etching of the vertices. The second approach exploits the nanoreactor strategy for gold nanoparticles and the related core-shell nanoparticles.
Post-treatment mortality after definitive chemoradiotherapy versus trimodality therapy for locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Abstract Purpose Locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is commonly managed with either definitive chemoradiation (dCRT) or neoadjuvant chemoradiation followed by surgery (nCRT + S). This study sought to compare 30- and 90-day mortality between nCRT + S and dCRT for these patients. Methods The National Cancer Database was queried (2004–2014) for clinicall staged T1-3N2 or T3-4N0-1 (except T3N0) NSCLC that received nCRT + S or dCRT. Statistics included cumulative incidence analysis of 30- and 90-day mortality (before and following propensity score matching) and Cox proportional hazards regressions. Results Of 28,379 patients, 4063 (14.3%) underwent nCRT-S, and 24,316 (85.6%) dCRT. Of the trimodality patients, 79.2% received lobectomy, 8.2% sublobar resection, and 12.5% pneumonectomy. Trimodality therapy and age, in addition to several soceiodempographic and oncologic variables, were associated with 30- and 90-day mortality. Short-term mortality was significantly higher with nCRT + S compared to dCRT at both 30 (3.4% vs. 0.8%, p Conclusions Treatment with nCRT + S was associated with greater 30- and 90- day post-treatment mortality when compared to treatment with dCRT, with larger differences in observed in 30-day post-treatment mortality. These data may inform shared-decsion making among patients eligible for both aproaches.
Political, relational, and complexly embodied; experiencing disability in the mathematics classroom

The academic field of Disability Studies (DS) offers theoretical tools to understand how social practices intersect with embodiment, long a critical issue in DS because disability is a category of human difference that is always already embodied. I review two theories that seek to resolve this dichotomy between the body and social worlds: complex embodiment (Siebers, Disability theory, University of Michigan Press, Ann Arbor, 2008) and the political/relational model (Kafer, Feminist, Queer, Crip, Indiana University Press, Bloomington, 2013). I use these theories to analyze ethnographic data and narratives of a Latina named Desi around disability and mathematics. Desi’s narratives explored experiences relating to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Learning Disabilities, and mathematics anxiety. Desi’s narratives described disabilities as socio-political constructs, involving relations of power and exclusion, as well as acknowledging the physiological, embodied experience of some differences in relation to mathematics. Through this analysis, I argue for the inclusion of emotion in embodiment, and the use of narrative analysis paired with ethnography as a tool to understand embodied experience.
Hemodynamic Evaluation of Right Ventricular Function before and after Impella 5.0 Placement for Cardiogenic Shock

Purpose Right ventricular (RV) dysfunction is a known complication following implantation of a durable left ventricular assist device (LVAD). Whether this occurs following temporary LVAD support with the Impella 5.0 is unknown. With increasing use of the Impella 5.0, knowledge of the acute hemodynamic effects on RV function after implantation are relevant for appropriate patient selection. The pulmonary artery (PA) pulsatility index or PAPi (PA systolic pressure minus PA diastolic pressure divided by right atrial pressure) is a novel hemodynamic marker associated with increased risk of RV failure after durable LVAD implantation. Whether this is true following temporary LVAD support is not known. The purpose of this study was to determine if patients with cardiogenic shock and pre-existing RV dysfunction had worsening or improvement in RV function following Impella 5.0 placement. Methods During a 5-year period ending August 2018 a total of 103 patients underwent Impella 5.0 placement for cardiogenic shock at our institution. Sixty-one of these patients had hemodynamic variables before and after implantation, 39 of which had a baseline PAPi ≤ 2, a value below which there is an increased risk for developing RV failure after durable LVAD placement. Hemodynamic variables were compared using Mann-Whitney U test. Results Median age was 56 (interquartile range (IQR) = 43 - 63) years at the time of Impella 5.0 placement. After device placement, PAPi increased to above 2 in 23 (59%) patients. Median PAPi increased from 1 (IQR = 0.75-1.34) to 2.40 (IQR = 1.28-3.20); p Conclusion In patients with biventricular dysfunction and cardiogenic shock before Impella 5.0 implantation, a majority demonstrated improvement in RV function (PAPi) as well as RAP, mPAP, and CI after temporary LVAD placement.
Veterans Portrait Project

This article provides a review of the Veterans Portrait Project (VPP). The author provides an overview of the VPP website and discusses the use of the portraits as a means of narrating individual veterans' experience.
Permo-Triassic Buildups and Late Triassic Ecologic Reefs

The Permian Reef Complex, surrounding the Delaware basin of West Texas and New Mexico, and the Middle Triassic (Ladinian) of the Dolomites of the South Alps are two of the worlds greatest and best known ancient carbonate buildups. They are closely related in age and organic content. Surprisingly enough, they still present unsolved problems of origin and subsequent diagenetic history. This Chapter briefly reviews and compares these famous models of carbonate facies focusing on both the deposition and diagenesis of the sediments.
Effect of material structure on trimming and sheared edge stretchability of 6xxx aluminum alloys

Wide variety of 6xxx Aluminum alloys is currently being used for manufacturing of lightweight automotive components. Very often each car manufacturer gets its own variation of the 6xxx alloy. Majority of these alloys have very similar yield and tensile strength as well as the stress-strain curve. Therefore, selection of the best alloy for each technical application might be challenging. In this paper, a comparison of performance of three 6xxx alloys in trimming process and sheared edge stretchability for wide variety of cutting clearances is being studied. This performance is compared with postnecking behavior of the same sheets in a standard tensile test. The ability of material to form visible diffuse neck and the cutting tool indentation prior to initiation of fracture shows some correlation for three studied 6xxx Aluminum alloys. The material with more pronounced diffuse neck shows a stronger tendency to form burrs at larger cutting clearances. However, other parameters of the standard tensile, such as yield stress, tensile strength, uniform elongation and even total elongation of these three alloys are very similar. Sheared edge stretchability measured via tensile testing of sheared samples showed that the materials with larger diffuse necking in the tensile test have higher sensitivity of edge stretchability to the cutting clearance. For large cutting clearances, the crack usually propagates almost vertically and leads to a burr formation. It appeared that the grain aspect ratio also influences the trajectory of the crack: for the materials with substantially elongated grains, the crack typically propagates more vertically. For the materials with nearly equiaxial grains, the cracks show stronger tendency to turn towards the lower cutting edge. The reason for such a behaviour is in crack propagation via grain boundaries. The experimental study of nanohardness measured at grains and grain boundaries for one of the studied alloys indicated that the grain boundaries have about 30% lower nanohardness than the material inside the grains.
The Fusion of Incident Learning and Failure Mode and Effects Analysis for Data-Driven Patient Safety Improvements.

Abstract Purpose Incident learning is a critical part of the quality improvement process for all radiation therapy clinics. Failure mode and effects analysis has also been adopted as a hazard analysis method within the field of radiation oncology based on the recommendations of American Association of Physicists in Medicine Task Group 100. In this work, we demonstrate a fusion of these techniques that is efficient and transferrable to all types of clinics and that allows data-driven targeting of the highest risk error types. Methods and Materials Four clinical physicists recorded safety events detected during physics treatment plan quality assurance over a 27-month period. Events were sorted into the broad categories of either a documentation or plan construction error. Events were further stratified into subcategories until sufficiently discriminated against for analysis. Event risks were quantified using reduced-resolution TG-100 severity scores combined with observed occurrence rates. The highest risk categories were examined for intervention strategies. Results A total of 871 events were identified over the study period. Of these, 652 (74.9%) were classified as low severity, 178 (20.4%) as medium severity, and 41 (4.7%) as high severity. Four of the top 5 ranked categories could be targeted by a preplanning chart rounds. Several of the categories could be targeted by additional automation in the planning and QA processes. Conclusions The retrospective classification and risk analysis of safety events allows clinics to design targeted workflow and quality assurance changes aimed at reducing the occurrence of high-risk events. The method presented here leverages incident learning efforts that many clinics are already performing, allows the severity of events to be efficiently assigned, and generates actionable results without requiring a complete failure mode and effects analysis.
Mechanisms of organ transplant injury mediated by B cells and antibodies: Implications for antibody-mediated rejection

Recent adjustments to the histological diagnosis and the introduction of molecular classification are providing renewed support for the paradigm that antibody-mediated rejection (ABMR) is an important clinical problem for which there is an urgent need for better therapies. Acute ABMR is observed when the graft is exposed to rapid increases in high-titer donor-specific antibodies (DSA) that are most often generated as anamnestic responses in sensitized recipients or de novo responses in nonsensitized patients who are nonadherent. Chronic ABMR is associated with slower increases in DSA, which may be high or low titer and transient or persistent. These DSA elicit cycles of injury and repair that manifest as multilamination of the peritubular capillary basement membrane or arteriopathy manifesting as intimal fibrosis. Mitigating the problem of AMBR requires the anamnestic and de novo DSA responses to be prevented and established DSA responses to be reversed. To this end, a better understanding of the immunobiology of DSA production is necessary and also the development of assays capable of detecting early humoral immune responses.Recent advances in understanding the immunobiology of B cells and areas requiring further investigation that might lead to new therapies or better diagnosis are discussed in this review.
The Use of Algorithmic Models to Develop Secondary Teachers’ Understanding of the Statistical Modeling Process

Statistical modeling continues to gain prominence in the secondary curriculum, and recent recommendations to emphasize data science and computational thinking may soon position algorithmic models i...
A Penrose limit for type IIB AdS6 solutions

In this paper a Penrose limit is constructed for type IIB AdS6 × S2 × Σ supergravity solutions. These solutions are dual to five dimensional SCFTs related to (p,q) five brane webs, which can often be described in terms of long quiver gauge theories. The null geodesic from which the Penrose limit is constructed is localized at a unique point on the two dimensional Riemann surface Σ, where the AdS6 and S2 metric factors are extremal. The resulting pp-wave spacetime takes a universal form. The world sheet action of the Green-Schwarz string is quadratic in the light cone gauge and the spectrum of string excitations is obtained.
Light controlled dimerization of spiropyran as a tool to achieve dual responsive capture and release system in aqueous media

Abstract A photoresponsive spiropyran derivative was synthesized and evaluated for redox and light-responsive behavior. The response of the spiropyran derivative was also investigated towards metal ions using techniques like UV-vis, digital colorimetry, and cyclic voltammetry (CV). Photochromic spiropyran displayed redox responsive behavior, which was influenced by UV and Visible lights. Redox responsive spiropyran selectively interacted with Fe3+ ions, which was exploited to demonstrate alteration in the cyclic voltammetric (CV) signal in the Fe3+ ion complex. The probe was further used as a light-controlled reversible tool for the detection of Fe3+ ions. CV studies under light irradiation indicated that the visible light (450 nm and 532 nm) exposure led to a change in the current (Ip,c & Ip,a) for the probe and probe-Fe3+ complex. However, the reversibility was witnessed in the voltammogram when solutions were exposed to 450 nm visible light. Digital colorimetry in solution and on a paper-based device aided by a smartphone was successfully used to perceive ferric ions with the help of spiropyran. The reuse of the probe on a paper-based device was demonstrated in water through digital mode assisted by a smartphone with the aid of 450 nm light.
Varicella-Zoster Hemorrhagic Encephalitis in an AIDS patient (P6.013)

OBJECTIVE: To describe a case of Varicella-Zoster (VZV) encephalitis presenting with intraparenchymal hemorrhage and multifocal leukoencephalopathy. BACKGROUND: VZV infections of the Central Nervous System (CNS) occur after reactivation of dormant virions established in sensory ganglia leading to invasion of the retina, meninges or brain parenchyma. DESIGN/METHODS: Case report RESULTS: 48-year-old man with medical history of HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C, presented with sudden onset of speech difficulties. He had not been treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) for at last seven years. Neurological exam was remarkable for global aphasia, right homonymous hemianopia and right arm paresis. His laboratories showed WBC: 1.4 x103/ml, CD4: 72 cells/mm3. Platelets: 94x103/ml, HIV load: 577005 copies/ml. Brain MRI revealed acute hemorrhage in the left parietal and temporal lobes measuring 35cm3 and also areas of increased T2/FLAIR signal in the subcortical white matter of the frontal, right parietal, both temporal and occipital lobes. Head and neck MRA were normal. CSF studies disclosed glucose: 38 mg/dL, protein: 113 mg/dL, WBC: 2 cells/ml and RBC: 1 cells/ml. VZV DNA was detected by RT-PCR. JC, EBV and HSV1/2 DNA were not detected. Treatment was initiated with HAART and Acyclovir. He was seen in follow-up after 1 month rehabilitation with language and motor deficit markedly improved. Repeat brain MRI showed resolution of lesions.CONCLUSIONS: We describe a patient with AIDS and VZV encephalitis in the absence of cutaneous eruptions or trigeminal compromise. HIV is known to cause vasculitis and could coexist with VZV. It is important to recognize that VZV infection is a cause of small or large vessel vasculopathy which may cause focal demyelination at the the gray-white matter junction mimicking JC viral lesions. The case highlights VZV encephalitis as an entity that could lead to devastating complications, including inflammatories vasculopathy with either ischemic or hemorrhagic sequelae. Disclosure: Dr. Vela-Duarte has nothing to disclose. Dr. Pasquale has nothing to disclose. Dr. Flaster has nothing to disclose.
Does Monitoring Effect Explain the Relation between Analyst Following and Firm Value

Researchers argue that analysts’ information acquisition activities increase firm value through reducing agency costs, i.e., the monitoring effect (Jensen and Meckling 1976; Healy and Palepu 2001). However, the existing empirical evidence on analyst monitoring effect is limited and inconclusive. This paper extends the literature by examining 1) whether analyst following is related to higher firm value; and 2) if the relation is positive, whether the positive relation reflects analyst monitoring effect. We document a positive relation between analyst following and asset value and the positive relation is consistent with analyst monitoring effect as reflected in two aspects. First, the positive effect is significant for cash and much weaker for other assets. This is consistent with a stronger monitoring effect for assets that are subject to higher agency costs or information asymmetry. Second, consistent with analyst following constraining asset mismanagement or motivating more efficient asset use, analyst following is related to higher subsequent operating performance and total payout of cash.