cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reactions of C2H with 1- and 2-butynes: an ab initio/RRKM study of the reaction mechanism and product branching ratios.

Ab initio CCSD(T)/cc-pVTZ(CBS)//B3LYP/6-311G** calculations of the C6H7 potential energy surface are combined with RRKM calculations of reaction rate constants and product branching ratios to investigate the mechanism and product distribution in the C2H + 1-butyne/2-butyne reactions. 2-Ethynyl-1,3-butadiene (C6H6) + H and ethynylallene (C5H4) + CH3 are predicted to be the major products of the C2H + 1-butyne reaction. The reaction is initiated by barrierless ethynyl additions to the acetylenic C atoms in 1-butyne and the product branching ratios depend on collision energy and the direction of the initial C2H attack. The 2-ethynyl-1,3-butadiene + H products are favored by the central C2H addition to 1-butyne, whereas ethynylallene + CH3 are preferred for the terminal C2H addition. A relatively minor product favored at higher collision energies is diacetylene + C2H5. Three other acyclic C6H6 isomers, including 1,3-hexadiene-5-yne, 3,4-hexadiene-1-yne, and 1,3-hexadiyne, can be formed as less important produ...
Near-, middle-, and far-field dipolar interactions in gold nanoparticle arrays

The resonance wavelength of collective surface plasmon polariton in a chain of 50 nm gold nanoparticles has been calculated and compared to experimental data. The distance between the nanoparticles in a chain was varied from 100 nm to 1000 nm, and the polarization of the incident light was gradually changed from parallel to perpendicular relative to the axis connecting the nanoparticles in the chain. The calculations explicitly included the near-, middle-, and far-field dipole coupling between the nanoparticles. The numerical results matched the experimental data with less than 2% error. Arrays of noble metal nanoparticles are of interest for plasmonics, nanooptics, photovoltaics, and biochemical applications. They are widely used as biosensors and molecular rulers. Over the last decade, interest has turned towards the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) in single-nanoparticle sensors. Benefits of such an approach include simplicity (it does not require momentum-matching geometry), versatility on the nanoscale level, and the possibility of single-molecule detection. While single-nanoparticle sensors offer a better sensitivity down to a single protein-receptor binding, a high degree of sensor miniaturization tends to result in a worse detection limit because of limited surface coverage. A solution to this problem might be the use arrays of nanoplasmonic sensors, each of which is capable of resolving single protein binding events. Present study provides a background for bio-sensing, waveguiding, and molecular ruler applications.
Treatment outcome variation between depression symptom combinations in the STAR*D study

Abstract Background In response to recent documentation of symptom and subtype heterogeneity in major depressive disorder, we report on exploratory analyses of the Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression (STAR*D) clinical-trial data to further describe heterogeneity in depression and test the hypothesis that citalopram treatment-outcome patterns differ as a function of depression symptom combinations. Methods Combinatorial algorithms, latent profile analysis, and repeated-measures multivariate analysis of variance were employed to characterize heterogeneity and depression outcome-measure profile variability in the most prevalent symptom combinations with full data (26% of baseline and 13% of endpoint total sample). Results Descriptive results suggest that substantial heterogeneity and moderate coherence characterize major depressive disorder; as in previous analyses, pairs of individuals sharing no symptoms in common were observed. Exploratory latent profile analysis indicated that different patterns of treatment outcome data exist among STAR*D participants. A small but significant interaction effect of symptom combination×outcome measure profile was observed for clinician-rated but not self-reported symptom combinations. Limitations Factors moderating the generalizability of these findings include binary symptom measures, a short treatment period, and a smaller number of individuals per combination. Conclusions These results provide evidence that citalopram treatment outcomes vary as a function of diagnostic combinations, thereby providing preliminary evidence that the substantial heterogeneity documented in depression symptom presentations may carry implications for prognosis and treatment outcome. At the level of descriptive phenomenology, these results appear to corroborate the claim that depression is not a homogenous syndrome.
Analysis of Public Health Related Accidents from 2004 to 2007 in Chongqing

Objective To analyze the occurrence of public health-related accidents occurred between 2004 and 2007 in ChongQing.Methods Descriptive epidemiological method was used to analyze the characteristics of the accidents.Results There were 478 reported cases of public health-related accidents from 2004 to 2007,including 19 884 cases of illness and 56 cases of death.Most of the reported cases were in south-east areas,and 2 peak seasons were observed.80.98% of the reported cases were infectious disease,and the accident was mainly occurred in schools(78.87%) .Average reporting time was 3.44 days and the average time to control the incidence was 46.72 days.Conclusion The occurrence of public health-related accidents is related to the regional economy and cultural conditions.Attentions should be paid to Class B,Class C and non-notifiable infectious diseases.Public health education program in schools should be strengthened.The reporting system of public health-related accidents should also be improved.
Gazing from the Inside: Lacan and an Endocrinological Notion of the Male “Gaze”

Needless to say, the influence of psychology on literary theory has, over the decades, been significant. Whether one has been influenced by depth psychology, the trend of the past, or critical theory and psychoanalysis, the trend of the present, critics have incorporated theories from Freud on in any number of innovative and variegated ways. But as ofen as the theories of psychoanalysis have been utilized in textual ways, as ways of exploring the psychological matrix of characters or (even) their inventors, the theories of behavioral endocrinology have been ignored. To see what the relation may be between behavioral endocrinology and Lacan’s notion of the gaze, the essay explores the process of androgenic biochemistry and Lacan’s notion of the gaze through an endocrinological approach.
Comparison of SUVR Methods and Reference Regions in Amyloid PET

1741 Objectives We compare results of standard uptake value ratio (SUVR) analyses of Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) florbetapir PET scans using a native space compared to SPM template methods and a variety of possible SUVR reference regions. The objective is to find a method with highest longitudinal effect size to allow a sufficiently powered clinical trial efficacy measure using the smallest number of subjects. Methods Freesurfer (FS) was used to obtain an ROI parcellation on T1 MRI data from 476 ADNI subjects (179 Normal, 160 EMCI, 93 LMCI, 44 AD). Florbetapir data from two time points approximately 24 months apart were registered to the MRI data in T1 native space, and SUVR’s were computed for 110 subregions. A composite SUVR was computed using a grouping of 4 larger cortical regions, equally weighted as described by Landau1. Eight reference regions including whole cerebellum, cerebellar grey matter, brainstem and subcortical white matter were evaluated. SUVR’s were also computed in template space using a PET-only (PO) method and SPM on regions described by Clark2 as well as on grey matter-masked AAL regions3,4. Effect sizes between AD and Normal groups were evaluated using Cohen’s d. Effect size of longitudinal change in SUVR in the AD group was also compared. Results In both the cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses, and for both native space and templates space SUVR methods, effect size was greatest when using a reference region that included white matter. Methodological differences in effect size for the cross-sectional analysis were modest, however in the longitudinal analysis, large differences were seen. Consistently, the native space Freesurfer method outperformed the template space methods over all tested reference regions. Conclusions Use of reference regions including white matter appears essential for increased effect size and therefore possibly reduced sample size in a clinical trial using longitudinal amyloid SUVR as an efficacy measure. Additionally a native space approach using Freesurfer-defined cortical and reference regions appears to be superior to template space methods.
Enhanced Medical Rehabilitation: Effectiveness of a clinical training model.

BACKGROUND Patient engagement in medical rehabilitation can be greatly influenced by their provider during therapy sessions. We developed Enhanced Medical Rehabilitation (EMR), a set of provider skills grounded in theories of behavior change. EMR utilizes 18 motivational techniques focused on providing frequent feedback to patients on their effort and progress and linking these to patient goals. OBJECTIVE To examine the effectiveness of a clinical training protocol for clinicians to do EMR, as measured by clinician adherence. METHODS A physical therapist, physical therapist assistant, occupational therapist, and certified occupational therapist assistant were trained in EMR. Training consisted of five formal training sessions and individual and group coaching. Adherence to EMR techniques was measured during two phases: Pre-Training and Maintenance, with an a priori target of 90% adherence by clinicians to each EMR technique. RESULTS With training and coaching, clinician adherence per therapeutic activity significantly improved in 13 out of 18 items (p < 0.05). The target of 90% adherence was not achieved for many items. CONCLUSIONS Our training and coaching program successfully trained clinicians to promote patient engagement during therapeutic service delivery, although not typically to 90% or greater adherence. Ongoing coaching efforts were necessary to increase adherence.
Role of Reduced Inputs in Flag Mining

Typically compilers provide a wide choice of optimization flags that can be used to improve the application performance. The process of searching for the best flag combination for a given application is referred to Flag Mining. Brute force ways of flag mining are time consuming as it requires a number of runs with different combinations of flags. Flag mining techniques that are based on machine learning rely on a database consisting of measurements of application run-times obtained with a large number of combinations of binaries compiled with different flags. This work quantifies the impact of using reduced inputs in flag mining. Reduced inputs are much smaller inputs than real representative inputs and cause the application to run for less than 10 percent of original execution time. Some examples of reduced inputs are the train input used in SPEC benchmarks, MinneSPEC inputs. Using reduced inputs instead of full inputs would reduce time/space overhead of flag mining significantly when used in brute force or machine learning based methods. However inorder to use reduced inputs for flag mining, the behavior of the application compiled with a set of flags, when presented with reduced inputs should give similar benefits on full representative inputs. This can happen only if reduced inputs are an accurate representatives of ref inputs in the context of application performance. Our experiments show that reduced inputs correlate to full representative inputs for 5 out of 7 SPEC CPU2006 benchmarks on all 11 flag combinations considered with the GCC compiler and are found to reduce the experimentation time of flag mining by up to 82%. We also outline the necessary conditions that need to be satisfied by reduced inputs to qualify for use in flag mining.
Quantile house price indices in Beijing

Abstract Using a comprehensive micro-level dataset of newly-built residential housing units in Beijing, we examine the determinants of house prices from 2013 to 2015, and construct a regular house price index using Ordinary Least Squares estimation and quantile house price indices using quantile regression. Our findings suggest a high appreciation rate of house prices from 2013 to 2015. Moreover, we find that most housing attributes are valued differently across the complete distribution of house prices, and the distribution of house prices changes according to the different value of housing attributes. The result shows that even though the trend of house price indices is similar, the magnitude of appreciation rates vary across different quantiles.
Rotation of Single Cell Surface Molecules Examined via Polarized FCS Measurements using Quantum Dot Probes

Rotational motions of cell surface molecules are of particular interest given the sensitivity of such motions to molecular size and aggregation state. The time-autocorrelation function (TACF) of fluctuations in fluorescence polarization from asymmetric quantum dots (QD) such as Molecular Probes’ Qdot655 labeling cell surface molecules indicates the rotational correlation times (RCT) of the QD-containing complexes. Type I Fce receptors (FceRI) and insulin receptors (IR) on 2H3 cells, subjected to various treatments potentially affecting receptor rotation, including polyvalent DNP-BSA, methyl-β-cyclodextrin, cytochalasin D or paraformaldehyde, were labeled by Qdot655s. Over 700 individual QD were examined. Side-by-side vertically(v)- and horizontally(h)-polarized fluorescence images of QD-labeled cells were obtained simultaneously as image stacks at 10 ms per frame by means of a Princeton Instrument Dual-View. To minimize apparent polarization TACF arising from QD lateral diffusion, v- and h-substacks were aligned to sub-pixel accuracy. From fluorescence in identical regions around each QD in each stack, intensity and polarization fluctuation TACF were calculated. Given the blinking of QD, experimental parameters such as g-factor, camera background, etc. were carefully optimized for each QD to minimize cross-correlation between polarization and intensity fluctuations. This could otherwise appear as intensity fluctuation TACF contributing to the apparent polarization fluctuation TACF. Using these techniques, the initial polarization fluctuation TACF for FceRI averages about 0.0015 and the geometrically-averaged RCT is about 55-85 ms, both independent of cell treatment. More limited results on IR appear similar. Absence of treatment effects on magnitudes or decay rates of polarization TACF is puzzling. Previous time-resolved phosphorescence anisotropy studies on FceRI suggest limited presence of orientational relaxations slower than 1 ms. However, the absence of treatment effects here suggests such slow reorientation may be a property of the membrane itself, perhaps reflecting large-scale fluctuations of mesoscale membrane regions. Supported by NSF grant MCB-1024668 and NIH grant CA175937 to BGB.
Lines of flight in sex education: Adolescents’ strategies of resistance to adult stereotypes of teen sexuality:

Can school-based sex education (SBSE) that reproduces structural inequalities simultaneously hold possibilities for meaningful and transformative experiences? In this article, we situate students’ ...
Cardiac Defibrillators and Heart Failure

Congestive heart failure affects over five million people in the United States with over 500,000 new cases reported annually. Roughly half of patients die from heart failure related causes within the first 5 years of diagnosis. Conventional medical therapy including beta blockers, renin-angiotensin antagonists and aldosterone antagonists has improved morbidity and mortality in this population. However Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD) remains the leading cause of death in this group of patients. Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillators (ICDs) were initially used to prevent future arrhythmic deaths in patients who survived SCD. Utilization of ICDs was greatly expanded when landmark clinical trials demonstrated that ICDs reduce mortality, particularly due to arrhythmic events, in heart failure patients. In addition to conventional medical therapy, ICD implantation has become the standard of care in patients with reduced ejection fraction, no matter the etiology of their heart failure.
Characteristics and Associated Factors of Postoperative Pulmonary Complications in Patients Undergoing Radical Cystectomy for Bladder Cancer: A National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Study.

Abstract Introduction The purpose of this study was to summarize the characteristics and identify associated factors of postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) in patients undergoing radical cystectomy (RC). Materials and Methods The National Surgical Quality Improvement Project (NSQIP) database (2005-2014) was used to identify patients who underwent RC for bladder cancer. PPCs were defined as pneumonia, unplanned reintubation, and ventilator support > 48 hours within 30 days of RC. Incidence, timing, and outcomes of PPCs were described and analyzed. Multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate associated factors of PPCs. Results Among 3790 patients included, 213 (5.6%) had at least 1 PPC. Patients with PPCs had a significantly higher 30-day mortality (17.4% vs. 0.7%; P P P = .001), body mass index 2 (OR, 2.48; P = .017), body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m 2 (OR, 1.71; P = .009), dependent functional status (OR, 2.77; P = .006), current smoker (OR, 1.57; P = .011), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (OR, 1.70; P = .018), insulin-treated diabetes (OR, 1.70; P = .042), and albumin P = .015) were associated with increased risk of overall PPCs. Conclusion Approximately 5.6% of patients have at least one PPC within 30 days of RC. Several preoperative associated factors for PPCs were identified, which should be helpful for risk stratification, patient counseling, and perioperative care.
Effects of adjunctive lacosamide on mood and quality of life in patients with epilepsy

We examined the effects of adjunctive lacosamide (LCM) on mood and quality of life (QOL) in adult patients with partial-onset seizures in a prospective, controlled, single-blind study. Patients in whom LCM was added to their AED regimen for clinical indications comprised the LCM group (n=18), while the control group (n=32) comprised patients on ≥2 AEDs with anticipated stable dosing for the duration of the study. Profile of Mood States (POMS) and QOLIE-89 were used to assess mood and QOL at enrollment and 12-16weeks later. Adherence to LCM was measured electronically with the Medication Event Monitoring System (MEMS) and using a self-report measure. There were no significant between-group differences in age, AED load, side-effects (A-B Neurotoxicity Scale), MoCA mental status, or seizure-related factors. LCM adherence (measured by MEMS) was 70.7%. There was a significant decrease in negative mood states in the LCM group (estimated marginal mean at baseline=49.4, at follow-up=29.7; p=0.02), after controlling for seizure freedom. Based on previously reported benchmarks, clinically significant change on the POMS occurred in 7 (38%) LCM patients. The effect of LCM on the overall QOL was not significant (p=0.078). Correlation between POMS Total Mood Distress and Emotional-Wellbeing on the QOLIE-89 was significant (r=-0.783; p=0.01). These results suggest that LCM may have a favorable impact on mood.
Formation enthalpies and heat capacities of rear earth titanates: RE2TiO5 (RE=La, Nd and Gd)

Abstract The formation enthalpies and heat capacities of orthorhombic rare earth titanates, RE 2 TiO 5 ( RE =La, Nd and Gd), have been studied by high temperature differential scanning calorimetry (300–1473 K) and oxide-melt solution calorimetry. The RE 2 TiO 5 samples are stable in enthalpy with respect to their oxides and the pyrochlore RE 2 Ti 2 O 7 phase. The general trend that has been demonstrated in other RE -ternary systems; decreasing thermodynamic stability with decreasing R A / R B was found to be valid for the RE 2 TiO 5 , and their enthalpies of formation from oxides become more negative with increasing RE 3+ ionic radius.
Anterior Jugular Vein Tunneled Dialysis Catheter

This chapter discusses what is unfortunately a common situation in the environment of dialysis catheter over-use - a patient in whom the sites of choice for catheter palcement are no longer available. In these cases, a careful examination may discover a cervical vein that can be used because it has become more prominent with the loss of other conduits for venous drainage from the head and neck. Angiographic evaluation will answer the question as to whether such a vein can be used for the palcement of a dialysis catheter.
Folate-Targeted Dendrimers Selectively Accumulate at Sites of Inflammation in Mouse Models of Ulcerative Colitis and Atherosclerosis

Folate receptor positive activated macrophages are critical for the development and maintenance of many chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Previously, small molecule folate-targeted conjugates were found to specifically bind to these activated macrophages in vitro and selectively accumulate at sites of inflammation in vivo. While these small molecule conjugates have shown promise, the use of a folate-targeted, higher cargo capacity nanovehicle may prove superior in delivering imaging and/or therapeutic agents in vivo. This nanoparticle strategy has been demonstrated in oncology where targeted dendrimers have shown superior delivery capabilities, however, little research has been pursued in the area of folate-targeted dendrimers for inflammation and autoimmune diseases. Therefore, we endeavored to create a folate-decorated dendrimer to explore its uptake in mouse models of ulcerative colitis and atherosclerosis. Herein, we demonstrate that our final PEG-coated, acetic anhydride-capped, folate-ta...
Determination of the optimal technique for bipolar electrocoagulation treatment: An experimental evaluation of the BICAP and Gold probes

Abstract The optimal technique for use of bipolar electrocoagulation has not been established despite its widespread clinical use. This study of the BICAP (Circon-ACMI, Stamford, CT) and Gold (Microvasive, Watertown, MA) probes evaluates the maximal force that can be applied through an endoscope and quantifies the depths of coagulation and sticking at varying parameters in a beef liver model. Maximal forces of application were determined with 3.2- and 2.3-mm probes extended 3 and 6 cm outside the endoscope at 90 ° and 45 °. Depths of coagulation and sticking were measured at 90 combinations of varying forces of application (0, 50, and 100 g), watt settings (1, 3, 5, 7, and 9), and durations (2, 6, 10, and 14 seconds; 3 × 2 seconds, 7 × 2 seconds) for the 3.2-mm BICAP and Gold probes. Mean maximal force of application decreased with greater extension or angulation of the probe outside the scope (3.2-mm BICAP—90 °: 3 cm, 110 g; 6 cm, 56 g; 45 °: 3 cm, 50 g; 6 cm, 30 g; P
Predictors of quality of life in non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer survivors.

193Background: Non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) survivors face frequent invasive surveillance cystoscopies, repeated treatment, and the highest recurrence rates and medical cost among all cancer survivors for the remainder of their lifespan. Despite the burdens of survivorship for this group, very little is known about the quality of life (QOL) impact of NMIBC diagnosis. We identified factors associated with QOL in NMIBC survivors. Methods: 2000 patients were randomly selected from the 5979 NMIBC population diagnosed between 2010-2014 in North Carolina. These patients received a mailed survey including cancer-specific (EORTC QLQ-C30) and NMIBC-specific (QLQ-NMIBC24) measures of QOL. QOL in this population was described, and hierarchical multiple linear regression was used to determine which patient and disease characteristics are associated with QOL. Results: 376 survivors were included in the analyses (response rate 22%). The mean QOL scores for the following domains include (range 0- 100, high...
Growth of amorphous and epitaxial ZnSiP2–Si alloys on Si

ZnSiP2 is a wide band gap material that is lattice matched with Si, offering the potential for Si-based optoelectronic materials and devices, including multijunction photovoltaics. We present a carbon-free chemical vapor deposition process for the growth of both epitaxial and amorphous thin films of ZnSiP2–Si alloys with tunable Si content on Si substrates. Si alloy content is widely tunable across the full composition space in amorphous films. Optical absorption of these films reveals relatively little variation with Si content, despite the fact that ZnSiP2 has a much wider band gap of 2.1 eV. Post-growth crystallization of Si-rich films resulted in epitaxial alignment, as measured by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. These films have an optical absorption onset near 1.1 eV, suggesting the possibility of band gap tuning with Si content in crystalline films. The optical absorption is comparably strong to pure ZnSiP2, suggesting a more direct transition than in pure Si.
Endogenous superoxide is a key effector of the oxygen sensitivity of a model obligate anaerobe

It has been unclear whether superoxide and/or hydrogen peroxide play important roles in the phenomenon of obligate anaerobiosis. This question was explored using Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, a major fermentative bacterium in the human gastrointestinal tract. Aeration inactivated two enzyme families-[4Fe-4S] dehydratases and nonredox mononuclear iron enzymes-whose homologs, in contrast, remain active in aerobic Escherichia coli Inactivation-rate measurements of one such enzyme, B. thetaiotaomicron fumarase, showed that it is no more intrinsically sensitive to oxidants than is an E. coli fumarase. Indeed, when the E. coli enzymes were expressed in B. thetaiotaomicron, they no longer could tolerate aeration; conversely, the B. thetaiotaomicron enzymes maintained full activity when expressed in aerobic E. coli Thus, the aerobic inactivation of the B. thetaiotaomicron enzymes is a feature of their intracellular environment rather than of the enzymes themselves. B. thetaiotaomicron possesses superoxide dismutase and peroxidases, and it can repair damaged enzymes. However, measurements confirmed that the rate of reactive oxygen species production inside aerated B. thetaiotaomicron is far higher than in E. coli Analysis of the damaged enzymes recovered from aerated B. thetaiotaomicron suggested that they had been inactivated by superoxide rather than by hydrogen peroxide. Accordingly, overproduction of superoxide dismutase substantially protected the enzymes from aeration. We conclude that when this anaerobe encounters oxygen, its internal superoxide levels rise high enough to inactivate key catabolic and biosynthetic enzymes. Superoxide thus comprises a major element of the oxygen sensitivity of this anaerobe. The extent to which molecular oxygen exerts additional direct effects remains to be determined.
Water Treatment, Industrial

Industrial wastewaters are generated from a wide variety of sources and contain a broad diversity of chemical constituents and concentrations. Biological treatment processes offer a cost-effective method to remove organic compounds and nitrogen from the wastewater. Treatment designs are continually evolving to provide greater treatment efficiency, at a lower cost. The microbial methods that are used to treat industrial wastewaters must frequently be more robust than traditional municipal wastewater treatment processes owing to the greater variability in flow rates, chemical characteristics, and potential presence of toxic or inhibitory compounds. A variety of aerobic treatment designs are highlighted, ranging from conventional activated sludge (AS) systems, to hybrid attached-suspended growth processes, and the increasingly popular membrane bioreactors. Various anaerobic treatment processes are discussed, largely focusing on traditional upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactors and recent variations on this design. More innovative approaches to achieve treatment objectives include coupling anaerobic and aerobic processes, and coupling biological and chemical oxidation processes. Examples of full-scale treatment of specific types of industrial wastewaters are provided for the various reactor designs. Molecular methods are being used to characterize the microorganisms present in the wastewater and present in treatment reactors, and offer new insights into these systems. Research is also exploring options for the generation of energy and electricity from industrial wastewater.
Economic Evaluation of Primary HIV Prevention in Injection Drug Users

In 1998, injecting drug users are the most important risk group in the AIDS epidemic. Injecting drug users (IDUs) themselves account for 26% of all newly reported AIDS cases1 and are estimated to represent 50% of new HIV infections.2 In addition, HIV infections in IDUs spread in quantitatively important ways to other population groups. For example, women whose risk factor is being the sex partner of IDUs constitute 4% of all new AIDS cases.1 These women may in turn transmit the virus to other sex partners and to their offspring.
Pore Structure and Permeability of an Alumina Fiber Filter Membrane for Hot Gas Filtration

The pore structure and permeability of an alumina-fiber-based hot gas filter membrane containing an acid phosphate binder were characterized using capillary flow porometry. The smallest pore diameter was 1.24 ± 0.06 μm; the largest pore diameter (bubble point pore diameter) was 23 ± 1 μm. The pore size distribution was narrow, with almost all pores ranging from 2 to 4 μm, and the mean flow pore size 2.6 ± 0.1 μm. The Darcy permeability constant for air through the membrane was (114 ± 6) × 10−9 cm2.
Traditional Chinese Medicine to the rescue of allopathic medicine in the co-adjuvant treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death in the world, and is the fastest rising cause of cancer-related death in the United States (1). Surgical resection of HCC is a potentially curative treatment option that can be applied to patients with no cirrhosis or compensated cirrhosis and no significant portal hypertension. However, when patients are treated even at early stage (e.g., small or few tumors) with resection, the 5-year recurrence free survival (RFS) is as low as 30% (2) due to new tumors arising in the remaining diseased liver.
Dual Language Teachers: An Exploration of Teachers’ Linguistic Identities and Pedagogy in a U.S.-Mexico Frontera Dual Language Program

This chapter serves to inform on a study that explored the linguistic identities and pedagogical practices of Latina/o bilingual-certified K-2 teachers in a dual language (DL) program along the U.S.-Mexico border. In this study, the author drew from sociocultural theory (NLG in Harvard Educ Rev 66(1):60–92, 1996; Hornberger in Int J Bilingual Educ Bilingualism 7(2):155–171, 2004) and applied methods of data collection and analysis focused on linking DL teachers’ identity formation with both their conceptions of teaching and pedagogical practices related to language use. The findings painted a portrait of how DL teachers’ languages, literacies, and identities intertwined to shape their pedagogical practice. It was found that language dynamics were influenced by language ideology, non-standard varieties of Spanish and/or English. The individual and collective stories of DL teachers, which are integral to this study, indicate that teacher preparation programs need to give their students the opportunity to explore identity formation, develop academic Spanish skills, and also to increase their knowledge about bilingual education goals and the practices that support the programs’ goals.
Effect of background mean flow on PSI of internal wave beams

An asymptotic model is developed for the parametric subharmonic instability (PSI) of finite-width nearly monochromatic internal gravity wave beams in the presence of a background constant horizontal mean flow. The subharmonic perturbations are taken to be short-scale wavepackets that may extract energy via resonant triad interactions while in contact with the underlying beam, and the mean flow is assumed to be small so that its advection effect on the perturbations is as important as dispersion, triad nonlinearity and viscous dissipation. In this ‘distinguished limit’, the perturbation dynamics are governed by the same evolution equations as those derived in Karimi & Akylas (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 757, 2014, pp. 381–402), except for a mean flow term that affects the group velocity of the perturbations and imposes an additional necessary condition for PSI, which stabilizes very short-scale perturbations. As a result, it is possible for a small amount of mean flow to weaken PSI dramatically.
Healthy Weight on Fhir - Innovative Technology to Support High Quality Clinical Care & Clinical to Community Linkages for Child Obesity

PURPOSE: Electronic Health Records (EHRs) are under-utilized to support healthy weight-related clinical care. Though most EHRs can calculate body mass index (BMI), many cannot perform more complex functions, such as prompting clinicians to counsel regarding nutrition or physical activity, generating referrals to community resources, or incorporating information from other electronic sources. These forms of clinical decision support (CDS), even when developed, have historically been poorly adopted because of the lack of integration into clinical workflows and processes. To better respond to the clinical and public health needs for healthy …
Four versus six weeks of antibiotic therapy for osteoarticular infections after implant removal: a randomized trial.

BACKGROUND The optimal duration of antibiotic therapy for treating orthopaedic implant infections after surgical drainage and complete implant removal is unknown. METHODS This was a single-centre, unblinded, prospective trial randomizing (1:1) eligible patients to either 4 or 6 weeks of systemic, pathogen-targeted antibiotic therapy. Clinical trial registration number: ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT0362209). RESULTS We analysed 123 eligible patients (62 in the 4 week antibiotic arm and 61 in the 6 week arm) in the ITT analysis. The patients' median age was 64 years, 75 (61%) were men and 38 (31%) were immunocompromised. The most common types of infection treated included: two-stage exchange procedure for prosthetic joint infection (n = 38); orthopaedic plate infection (44) and infected nail implants (11). The median duration of post-explant intravenous antibiotic therapy was 4 days. Overall, 120 episodes (98%) were cured microbiologically and 116 (94%) clinically after a median follow-up period of 2.2 years. During follow-up, four patients had a clinical recurrence with a pathogen other than the initial causative agent. We noted recurrence of clinical infection in four patients in the 4 week arm and three patients in the 6 week arm (4/62 versus 3/61; χ2 test; P = 0.74); in all cases, this occurred at around 2 months following the end of antibiotic treatment. CONCLUSIONS We found no statistically significant difference in the rates of clinical or microbiological remission between patients randomized to only 4 compared with 6 weeks of systemic antibiotic therapy after removal of an infected osteoarticular implant.
Facial rejuvenation using photodynamic therapy with a novel preparation of ALA and hyaluronic acid in young adults

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a well-established, non-invasive treatment modality that has shown desirable effects such as improvement of fine lines, dyspigmentation, and other signs of photodamage. Many patients seek to decrease, or reverse, effects of sun damage on the skin. Hyaluronic acid (HA), a naturally occurring glycosaminoglycan found in the body, has enormous potential to bind water which allows the skin to retain moisture and maintain elasticity. Topical application of HA has been found to produce anti-wrinkle effects. We conducted a pilot case series evaluating the safety and efficacy of a commercially available 2% 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) gel with hyaluronic acid (ALA-HA) and light-emitting diode-red light (LED-RL) for facial rejuvenation as determined by clinical assessments and digital skin analysis of rhytides, pore size, and erythema. All patients noted improvement of their skin and experienced minimal pain during PDT. Evaluation by dermatologists demonstrated significant improvement in overall skin appearance. Digital analysis of photographs revealed improvement of skin spots, wrinkles, pores, texture, UV spots, brown spots, red areas, and porphyrins. Our findings demonstrated safety and efficacy of this novel preparation of photodynamic gel with HA and subsequent activation with LED-RL.
Region-specific effects of maternal separation on oxidative stress accumulation in parvalbumin neurons of male and female rats

Abstract Early life adversity in humans is linked to cognitive deficits and increased risk of mental illnesses, including depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia, with evidence for different vulnerabilities in men versus women. Modeling early life adversity in rodents shows similar neuropsychological deficits that may partially be driven by sex-dependent dysfunction in parvalbumin (PV) interneurons in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), hippocampus (HPC), and basolateral amygdala (BLA). Research demonstrates that PV interneurons are particularly susceptible to oxidative stress; therefore, accumulation of oxidative damage may drive PV dysfunction following early life adversity. The goal of this study was to quantify oxidative stress accumulation in PV neurons in rats exposed to maternal separation (MS). Pups were separated from their dam and littermates for 4 h per day from postnatal day (P)2 to 20. Serial sections from the PFC, HPC, and BLA of juvenile (P20) rats of both sexes were immunohistochemically stained with antibodies against PV and 8-oxo-dG, a marker for oxidative DNA damage. PV cell counts, colocalization with 8-oxo-dG, and intensity of each signal were measured in each region to determine the effects of MS and establish whether MS-induced oxidative damage varies between sexes. A significant increase in colocalization of PV and 8-oxo-dG was found in the PFC and HPC, indicating increased oxidative stress in that cell population following MS. Region-specific sex differences were also revealed in the PFC, BLA, and HPC. These data identify oxidative stress during juvenility as a potential mechanism mediating PV dysfunction in individuals with a history of early life adversity.
The innate immunity protein IFITM3 modulates γ-secretase in Alzheimer’s disease

Innate immunity is associated with Alzheimer’s disease1, but the influence of immune activation on the production of amyloid-β is unknown2,3. Here we identify interferon-induced transmembrane protein 3 (IFITM3) as a γ-secretase modulatory protein, and establish a mechanism by which inflammation affects the generation of amyloid-β. Inflammatory cytokines induce the expression of IFITM3 in neurons and astrocytes, which binds to γ-secretase and upregulates its activity, thereby increasing the production of amyloid-β. The expression of IFITM3 is increased with ageing and in mouse models that express familial Alzheimer’s disease genes. Furthermore, knockout of IFITM3 reduces γ-secretase activity and the formation of amyloid plaques in a transgenic mouse model (5xFAD) of early amyloid deposition. IFITM3 protein is upregulated in tissue samples from a subset of patients with late-onset Alzheimer’s disease that exhibit higher γ-secretase activity. The amount of IFITM3 in the γ-secretase complex has a strong and positive correlation with γ-secretase activity in samples from patients with late-onset Alzheimer’s disease. These findings reveal a mechanism in which γ-secretase is modulated by neuroinflammation via IFITM3 and the risk of Alzheimer’s disease is thereby increased. The IFITM3 innate immunity protein directly binds presenilin near the active site and upregulates γ-secretase activity and the production of amyloid-β, and IFITM3 is upregulated in patients with late-onset Alzheimer’s disease.
Chest Wall Deformities

Chest wall deformities are uncommon in the pediatric population. The majority of which are cosmetic, and therefore surgical correction is to improve the patient’s body image. Rare abnormalities, such as Jeune’s syndrome and sternal clefts, have clinical consequences for the patient.
Descartes on the Animal Within, and the Animals Without

Descartes held that animals are material automata without minds. However, this raises a puzzle. Descartes’s argument for this doctrine relies on the claims that animals lack language and general intelligence. But these claims seem compatible with the view that animals have minds. As a solution to this puzzle, I defend what I call the introspective-analogical interpretation. According to this interpretation, Descartes employs introspection to show that certain human behaviors do not depend on thought but rather on automatic bodily processes. Descartes then argues that animal behavior resembles only those behaviors that are automatic in humans. Analogy thus supports the view that the behaviors of animals do not depend on thought but are, rather, automatic. And if animal behavior is automatic, then animals are best regarded as automata.
The effect of atmosphere on the flash-sintering of nanoscale titania ceramics

Abstract Flash-sintering is a promising approach for the ultra-rapid densification of ceramics at low furnace temperatures under an applied electric field. Here we have studied the effect of atmosphere on the flash-sintering of titania (TiO2) nanopowders under an applied electric field of 400 V.cm−1, and find a dramatic reduction in the flash-onset furnace temperature (TF), from 648°C in air to 239°C in argon (Ar). The reduced TF is close to the TiO2 Debye-temperature limit. This is attributed to a combination of nanocrystalline nature of the TiO2 powder and the O2-lean Ar atmosphere, resulting in enhanced electrical-conductivity characteristics. The reduced TF also results in finer, uniform average grain sizes (360 nm to 190 nm) and lower, uniform porosity (0.5% to 1.4%), going from the anode to the cathode. In contrast, in air the corresponding average-grain-size range is 9.6 μm to 1.3 μm and the porosity range is 1.9% to 3.3%.
Give Me a Wrench!: Finding Tools for Human Partners in Human-Robot Collaborative Manufacturing Contexts

Manufacturing processes can be optimized by enabling human-robot collaboration. A relevant goal in this area is to create a collaborative solution in which robots can provide assisting actions to humans, thereby, reducing menial labor as well as increasing productivity. The solution is based on implementing efficient hand-over of mechanical tools from robots to humans. Hand-over tasks are inevitable in human-robot collaborative manufacturing contexts. These tasks need three-step mechanism: object identification, object grasping, and the actual hand-over. This paper presents an approach for robots to find tools for human partners in human-robot collaboration via deep learning. This is achieved using the object detection system YOLOv3 for identification of commonly used mechanical tools. By training on a custom dataset of 800 images of mechanical tools created for the study, the tool recognition is implemented in realworld human-robot hand-over tasks. Experimental results show that the proposed approach achieves a high accuracy for identification of tools in real-world human-robot collaboration. Future work of this study is also discussed.
Baby Boomers Who Provide Informal Care for People Living with Dementia in the Community.

One in four Baby Boomers fills the informal caregiver role in the United States. The objectives of this study were to estimate the prevalence of Baby Boomers who are informal caregivers for people living with dementia and compare their physical and mental health status to caregivers for persons with conditions other than dementia using 2015–2018 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data (N = 10,602). We identified caregiving status (assisting a family member/friend with a long-term illness or disability in the past month, managing personal care, and not caring for a child/grandchild) and whether the care recipient’s major health condition was dementia. We calculated weighted estimates and used chi-square tests and log-binomial regression for comparisons of selected characteristics. Among Baby Boomer caregivers, 15.4% were caring for someone with dementia. Dementia caregivers were more likely to be female, caring for a parent/parent-in-law, and providing care longer than caregivers for persons without dementia. After adjusting for sociodemographic and caregiving characteristics, the prevalence of fair/poor health, frequent mental distress, and chronic conditions were similar across types of caregivers. Although no differences in caregiver’s physical and mental health by care recipient’s dementia status were found, we should underscore the importance of maintaining Baby Boomer caregivers’ health and well-being.
Assessment of incising ethology in the absence and presence of jaw muscle hyperalgesia in a mouse home cage environment.

Abstract Introduction Assessment of oral motor behavior in a mouse is challenging due to the lack of currently available techniques that are non-invasive and allow long-term assessment in a home cage environment. The purpose of this study was to evaluate incising behavior using mouse chow attached to a three-dimensional force transducer that was mounted on the existing home cage. In addition, a persistent hyperalgesia condition was introduced to evaluate the sensitivity of the technique to identify incising behavioral changes. Methods Incising activity of CD-1 male and female mice (n = 48) was evaluated over a 24 hour recording session during four baseline and six longitudinal hyperalgesia assessment sessions using custom written software. A pre-clinical persistent pain model was used to induce hyperalgesia in the masseter muscle by repetitive acidic saline injections. Sex and age differences were evaluated for multiple incising variables during both light and dark cycles during baseline and hyperalgesia conditions. Results Significant sex differences were found for multiple incising variables but not for age. Discrete incising frequencies were identified in the range of 4.6–10.4 Hz and were reproducibly found in both female and male mice. A significant shift to lower incising frequencies was observed after repetitive acidic saline injections compared to neutral saline injections. This shift to lower frequencies of incising returned to baseline levels after approximately four weeks but was statistically longer in female compared to male mice. Significant differences were also found for chow intake (reduced) and weight change during the hyperalgesia condition. No significant differences were found for total number of incisions or number of incising episodes per day or incising force. Conclusions The findings from this study support the use of recording three dimensional incising forces as a sensitive measure of incising behavior. This novel technique allowed the identification of specific incising variables that were differentially affected in female and male mice during a persistent hyperalgesia. The data were collected in the home cage environment with minimal bias such as experimenter interaction. Similar to other dental pain studies, mice were able to maintain normal incising activity levels per day (total incisions, total number of incising episodes) even in the presence of hyperalgesia.
Drosophila melanogaster Oogenesis: An Overview

The Drosophila melanogaster ovary has served as a popular and successful model for understanding a wide range of biological processes: stem cell function, germ cell development, meiosis, cell migration, morphogenesis, cell death, intercellular signaling, mRNA localization, and translational control. This review provides a brief introduction to Drosophila oogenesis, along with a survey of its diverse biological topics and the advanced genetic tools that continue to make this a popular developmental model system.