cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Solid state bonding of silicon chips to copper substrates using silver with cavities

Silicon (Si) chips were bonded to copper (Cu) substrates using 10 µm silver (Ag) layer as the bonding medium. Neither solder nor flux was used. The bonding was achieved by solid state bonding mechanism. The Ag layer was first plated onto Si chips coated with chromium and gold. The Si chips were then bonded to Cu substrates at 300 °C with a static pressure of 600–1000 psi (6.9 MPa) for 5 min in 0.1 torr vacuum. To assist deformation and flow of the Ag layer during bonding, array of cavities was fabricated in the Ag layer. Because of the cavities, the bonding pressure could be reduced to 600 psi (4.1 MPa). Despite significant coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) mismatch between Si and Ag, no sample broke. Cross-section SEM images show that Ag layer on Si chips was well bonded to Cu substrates without voids. Shear test was performed on six samples. The breaking force of five samples passes MIL-STD-883H requirement. Fracture analyses reveal that only 6.2–7.5 % of the Ag layer surface was actually bonded to the Cu substrate. There is still room to improve to increase the breaking force.
Reading and Writing Like Computer Scientists: How to Promote Critical Thinking and Student Engagement (Abstract Only)

This workshop introduces participants to an informal writing process that promotes student engagement and critical thinking with easily-assessed, low-stakes assignments. Unlike the formal writing typically used in software development or capstone courses to demonstrate knowledge, informal writing supports student learning (i.e., writing as thinking). Participants will use the Prioritize, Translate, and Analogize (PTA) Process in a model assignment; discuss how it works; and use it to develop a writing assignment. Participants will receive materials for the workshop assignment, samples of prompts employing the PTA process in a variety of courses, and other support materials. Participants are encouraged to bring an assignment idea to develop at the workshop. The workshop is intended for computer science instructors who want to learn about strategies for integrating writing in their courses to engage students and improve their critical thinking while limiting time for instruction and evaluation. No laptop is required.
Onward from the cradle

This essay records a voyage of discovery from the “cradle of cell biology” to the present, focused on the biology of the oldest known cell organelle, the cilium. In the “romper room” of cilia and microtubule (MT) biology, the sliding MT hypothesis of ciliary motility was born. From the “summer of love,” students and colleagues joined the journey to test switch-point mechanisms of motility. In the new century, interest in nonmotile (primary) cilia, never lost from the cradle, was rekindled, leading to discoveries relating ciliogenesis to autophagy and hypotheses of how molecules cross ciliary necklace barriers for cell signaling.
GENO-29MUTATIONAL DIVERSITY UNDERLYING TELOMERE MAINTENANCE MECHANISMS IN AN APPRECIABLE FRACTION OF ADULT GLIOMAS

Somatic alterations in the TERT promoter and in ATRX facilitate telomere maintenance and permit glial cells to escape replicative senescence. We assessed the mechanism of telomere maintenance in 452 infiltrative adult gliomas (WHO Grades II-IV) from the UCSF Adult Glioma Study. Hotspot mutations in the TERT promoter were detected by Sanger sequencing, while ATRX mutations were identified by immunohistochemistry. In total, 267 gliomas were classified as “TERT-mutated” (59%), 127 as “ATRX-mutated” (28%), and 58 as “TERTwt/ATRXwt” (13%). To identify the mechanism of telomere maintenance in these 58 TERTwt/ATRXwt gliomas, we designed a custom-sequencing panel targeting 36 genes with known roles in telomere biology. Parallel high-depth sequencing was performed, covering introns, exons and 15kb flanking regions on 5′ and 3' ends. Ten TERTwt/ATRXwt glioma specimens and matched-normal controls have been sequenced to-date, to an average depth of 250X. In 2 cases we identified a missense mutation of ATRX (p.R2197C and p.H1767D). In-silico functional analyses predict these to be highly-damaging mutations. This was confirmed by FISH, which revealed the presence of the Alternative Lengthening of Telomeres (ALT) phenotype. These ATRX mutations are located in a helicase ATP-binding and a helicase C-terminal domain, respectively, and likely lead to the expression of a non-functional ATRX protein that appears wild-type by IHC. We also identified a subclonal TERT C250T mutation in a 47 year-old glioblastoma patient with no IDH mutation. A fourth case had several somatic alterations of potential interest, including a highly clonal mutation in the Regulator of Telomere Elongation Helicase 1 (RTEL1) gene. Results from the first ten TERTwt/ATRXwt gliomas are promising and suggest a greater diversity of mutation types than can be revealed through simple Sanger sequencing or immunohistochemistry. Extension of these preliminary findings to a larger number of TERTwt/ATRXwt glioma cases is ongoing.
Assay of organic solvent component in the furniture industry from Zhongshan city

Objective To understand and master the use of organic solvents in Zhongshan furniture industry,assay of the main chemical constituents of the volatile was conducted as a guide to daily monitoring,evaluation and hazard control in organic solvents in the furniture industry to provide the scientific basis.Methods Samples of organic solvents were collected in furniture industry in Zhongshan City in 2010-2012,and were tested by GC Analysis of Volatile Constituents of the instrument.Results In the 120samples,xylene,butyl acetate,ethylbenzene were the leading toxic substances in the volatility of organic solvent.Other toxic substances were dimethyl carbonate,1,2-dichloroethane,n-hexane,benzeneetc.,the detection rates were 77.50%,68.33%,60.00%,16.67%,10.83%,3.33%and 2.50%,respectively.There was statistically significant difference of the detection rate of 1,2-dichloroethane and dimethyl carbonate between 2010and2012.The percentage of toluene showed an increasing trend from 2010to 2012.Conclusions Organic solvents used in furniture industry of Zhongshan is not optimistic.Effective control measures to reduce occupational hazards in the furniture industry should be taken.supervision,monitoring of toxic substances at high risk,companies should try to use non-toxic or low toxic organic solvents.
Utilization of Nest PCR in Intestinal Infection Caused by F subgenus of Enteric Adenovirus

Objective To set up a nest polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for the rapid and sensitive detection of F subgenus of enteric adenovirus,and to know the prevalence of enteric adenovirus in diarrhea. Methods According to the sequences of F subgenus of enteric adenovirus gene,a couple of consensus primers were designed to amplify the target gene sequence,the size of the amplified fragment was 520 bp.In addition,a specific primer was designed to re-amplify the target gene as the template was the first PCR product and the product was 300 bp.The specificity of the method was evaluated by ABI3130 gene sequence analysis,the PCR products were serially diluted by 10 times and amplified by nest PCR to verify the sensitivity and the detection limit,at last the PCR products were assayed by electrophoresis and DNA sequence analysis. Results In intestinal infection,we could detect F subgenus of enteric adenovirus through nest PCR,the specificity was verified by gene analysis and in the sensibility test the lowest limit we had detected was 2.08×10-4ug/ml. Conclusions The nest PCR assay is a rapid,specific and sensitive detection method for F subgenus of enteric adenovirus,and it can be used for epidemiological investigation and clinical detection.
Fat Compartments of the Back and Their Clinical Applications to Breast Reconstruction Using the Low Transverse Extended Latissimus Dorsi Flap

Introduction: The use of the extended latissimus dorsi flap remains limited in autologous breast reconstruction because of insufficient volume and donor-site morbidity. Use of the low transverse extended latissimus dorsi flap harvest technique increases flap volumes and improves donor-site aesthetics. The skin paddle is oriented transversely over the lumbothoracic and lumbar fat compartment, which allows for efficient harvest of the largest fat depots in the back. The low transverse extended latissimus dorsi flap is based on the descending branch of the thoracodorsal artery but differs in other approaches to extended harvest techniques by centering the flap over the fat compartments with the most volume. In addition, the supplementary fat harvest is confined to the lower back preventing the unsightly upper back contour deformity. The low transverse skin paddle extended latissimus dorsi flap is reliable and a viable option to provide ample volume for completely autologous breast reconstruction for a select group of patients.
Converting to adapt

Effective immune responses rely on balancing lymphocyte stability and plasticity. Lymphocytes have regulatory circuits that control phenotypic and functional identity. Stable circuits maintain homeostasis and prevent autoimmunity. But plasticity is needed to integrate new environmental inputs and generate immune responses that subdue the eliciting agent without damaging tissue. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are a subset of CD4+ T cells that control effector T cell responses and prevent excessive inflammation and autoimmunity ( 1 , 2 ). On page 1581 in this issue, Sujino et al. ( 3 ) report that intestinal Tregs convert into CD4+ intraepithelial T cells (CD4IELs) to adapt to the local intestinal environment, thus identifying the intestinal epithelium as a compartment that enforces lymphocyte plasticity.
Technique of Masquelet Bone Grafting

The patient is a 28-year-old male who sustained an open right proximal tibia and fibula fracture, as a result of a motorcycle accident, which was treated with irrigation and debridement (I + D) as well as an acute open reduction internal fixation on July 13, 2007. He was transferred to the plastic surgery service at my hospital for treatment of a “chronic wound with exposed hardware,” which had been treated with repeated operative debridements and placement of a wound VAC on August 24, 2007, a little over a month or so after his initial injury.
Abstract 173: Tailoring Follow-Up Methods for Hard-to-Reach Participants in Outcomes Research: An Example from TRACE-CORE

Aims: Telephone follow-up for longitudinal outcomes research is common, with widely variable response rates. Non-respondents are often different from respondents and come from vulnerable groups, including racial and ethnic minorities, elders, or those with multiple co-morbidities. We aimed to create a comprehensive follow-up strategy to target follow-up resources to the hardest-to-reach participants. These methods could help outcomes researchers retain hard-to-reach patients in longitudinal studies. Methods: Using interview completion data from the first 614 patients hospitalized with an acute coronary syndrome and enrolled in the Transitions, Risks, and Actions in Coronary Events Center for Outcomes Research and Education (TRACE-CORE) cohort at our largest enrollment site, we fit a logistic regression model that used socio-demographic characteristics and difficulties with hearing and vision to predict likelihood of non-completion of a 1-month post-hospitalization telephone interview. Patients whose predicted probability of non-completion exceeded a threshold were triaged to a new follow-up protocol with more intensive calling by site-specific staff with access to medical records and follow-up appointment schedules. We compared the post-implementation follow-up completion rates to the expected completion rates based on the model. Results: The model predicted a completion rate of 69.8% (56 of 80) among the hard-to-reach group; our intervention achieved a 85.0% (68 of 80) completion rate (p=0.002). Increases in response rates were observed across most subgroups, although not all improvements reached statistical significance (Table). Improvements in completion rates were less pronounced for vulnerable groups. Conclusions: We used a statistical model to prospectively identify a “hard-to-reach” group for more intensive follow-up efforts. The statistical model provided an expected completion rate for patients receiving the new protocol against which the observed rate could be tested, allowing us to conclude that the enhanced protocol worked to improve follow-up in these typically hard-to-reach populations. ![Graphic][1] [1]: /embed/inline-graphic-1.gif
Can gadolinium be re-chelated in vivo? Considerations from decorporation therapy

Gadolinium (Gd) and Gd-based contrast agents (GBCAs) have been observed to deposit in tissues of patients following contrast enhanced MR imaging procedures. A conservative approach for chelation therapy of this toxic metal dictates the assumption that minimal intact GBCAs are present. Currently the extent to which these deposits are primarily de-chelated Gd remains uncertain, prevailing knowledge suggests that for linear agents much of the Gd is de-chelated, while for the macrocyclic agents, the Gd may be still largely chelated. To extract Gd from tissues and facilitate its release, chelation therapy should be both safe and effective. Here we discuss chelation therapy as it relates to Gd deposition. The principles of chelation are reviewed, initially with reference to ligand stability in complex biological fluids. A model of decorporation and how it relates to elimination of Gd deposits is also reviewed. When more is learned about Gd deposition, optimal removal strategies must be developed using basic thermodynamic and kinetic principles.
Elasticity and viscosity estimation from shear wave velocity and attenuation: A simulation study

Shearwave Dispersion Ultrasound Vibrometry (SDUV) measures tissue elasticity and viscosity by quantifying dispersion of shear wave propagation velocity. Long tone bursts of focused ultrasound are transmitted by an array transducer to a push origin at a pulse repetition frequency of f p to produce multi-tone shear waves at f p and its harmonics. Shear waves are monitored by pulse echo ultrasound transmitted by the same array transducer between the push tone bursts. The Voigt dispersion model is fitted to shear wave velocities measured at multiple frequencies to estimate elasticity f 1 and viscosity f 2 . Alternatively, f 1 and f 2 can be calculated from shear wave amplitude attenuation and shear velocity at frequency^, also based on Voigt model. In the present study, these two approaches were compared using simulation data. Field II was used to simulate ultrasound radiation force field generated by a linear array transducer. Motion in a homogenous viscoelastic medium was calculated using the Green's function. Simulation results showed comparable estimations for both methods when SNR was high. When SNR was low, the amplitude attenuation method was more robust than the velocity method.
The Experience of Genetic Counselors Working with Patients Facing the Decision of Pregnancy Termination after 24 Weeks Gestation.

Prenatal genetic counselors are health care professionals who counsel women making reproductive decisions which include decisions such as terminating pregnancies due to fetal anomalies. Little is known about the experiences and practices of prenatal genetic counselors working with women who have the option of termination after 24 weeks gestation. In this national survey of 168 genetic counselors who have practiced prenatal genetic counseling, we asked about their general practice patterns, including indications for which termination is offered and types of abortion care services that are coordinated by genetic counselors. We report respondents’ self-assessments of level of understanding of federal abortion law and abortion procedures. Seventy-six percent of respondents have offered and counseled on termination after 24 weeks and 93% of respondents believe it is the responsibility of the counselor to discuss this option with patients. However, one-third report that they have some or no understanding of the procedures and three-quarters report that they have some or no understanding of federal abortion law. The results of this study provide insight into knowledge and experiences of genetic counselors working with these patients, allowing for improved genetic counselor training and continuing education to provide better guidance and develop more effective means of assisting patients.
The Lattice Thermal Conductivity of Copper and Aluminum Alloys at Low Temperatures

Measurements of the lattice thermal conductivity of copper and aluminum alloys are reviewed. The lattice thermal resistivi-ties due to electron-phonon scattering, phonon-phonon scattering, and phonon scattering by point defects are deduced from the mea­surements and compared to theoretical predictions. Good agreement between theory and experiment is found for the aluminum alloys. The results for the copper alloys are complicated by the presence of a defect which is the dominant phonon scatterer at very low temperatures.
Design and Fabrication of a Precious Metal-Free Tandem Core–Shell p+n Si/W-Doped BiVO4 Photoanode for Unassisted Water Splitting

Tandem photoelectrochemical water splitting cells utilizing crystalline Si and metal oxide photoabsorbers are promising for low-cost solar hydrogen production. This study presents a device design and a scalable fabrication scheme for a tandem heterostructure photoanode: p+n black silicon (Si)/SnO2 interface/W-doped bismuth vanadate (BiVO4)/cobalt phosphate (CoPi) catalyst. The black-Si not only provides a substantial photovoltage of 550 mV, but it also serves as a conductive scaffold to decrease charge transport pathlengths within the W-doped BiVO4 shell. When coupled with cobalt phosphide (CoP) nanoparticles as hydrogen evolution catalysts, the device demonstrates spontaneous water splitting without employing any precious metals, achieving an average solar-to-hydrogen efficiency of 0.45% over the course of an hour at pH 7. This fabrication scheme offers the modularity to optimize individual cell components, e.g., Si nanowire dimensions and metal oxide film thickness, involving steps that are compatible with fabricating monolithic devices. This design is general in nature and can be readily adapted to novel, higher performance semiconducting materials beyond BiVO4 as they become available, which will accelerate the process of device realization.
NQO1 in protection against oxidative stress

Abstract NQO1 can be induced by multiple forms of stress including oxidative stress. NQO1 is a pleiotropic enzyme and consideration of some of the known endogenous substrates and functions of NQO1 may explain the potential beneficial effects of NQO1 against oxidative stress. NQO1 can reduce ubiquinone and vitamin E quinone to antioxidant forms and can reduce superoxide directly which suggests a primary protective role. However, the rate constant for superoxide reduction by NQO1 is low and this reaction is only likely to be relevant where NQO1 levels are high and superoxide dismutase levels are low. NQO1 can participate in protein-protein interactions, protecting other proteins including p53 against 20S proteasomal degradation. This suggests one important role for NQO1 when induced under stress is to maintain the stability of critical proteins such as p53 and other transcription factors. RNA-protein interactome studies have also shown that NQO1 can bind to mRNA and modulate protein levels by affecting translation. Changes in the redox balance of pyridine nucleotides, which occurs during oxidative stress, alters the conformation and resultant binding of NQO1 to macromolecules. Whether this behavior of NQO1 is relevant for protection or signaling during oxidative stress remains to be determined.
Impact of Platelet Transfusion on Intracerebral Hemorrhage in Patients on Antiplatelet Therapy–An Analysis Based on Intracerebral Hemorrhage Score

Objective Platelet transfusions for patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) on antiplatelet therapy (APT) remain controversial. Diverging past research and differences in platelet preparation warrant further investigation of this topic. In this study, the association between platelet transfusion and clinical outcomes of ICH is investigated in patients matched by ICH score, a validated predictor of mortality. Methods A consecutive review of all patients from 2012 to 2015 with nontraumatic ICH was performed. Risk factors including demographics, medical comorbidities, APT use, and ICH score were reviewed. Standardized differences were used to assess baseline characteristics; logistic regression models were performed to determine whether platelet transfusions were associated with adverse outcomes, both before and after matching for ICH score. Results A total of 538 patients with nontraumatic ICH were investigated. Of these, 168 were on APT; 71 were excluded. Thirty-nine patients (40%) received platelet transfusions and 58 (60%) did not. An overall mortality of 9.3% was measured, with 29.9% of patients enduring complications. In the unmatched cohort, patients who received platelet transfusions were more likely to deteriorate (odds ratio [OR], 4.7), undergo surgical intervention during their hospital stay (OR, 7.2), be discharged with a worse modified Rankin Scale score (OR, 3.6), or die (OR, 6.1). After matching by ICH score, platelet transfusion was not a significant predictor for any negative outcome. Conclusions This is the first analysis of platelet transfusions in patients with ICH based on ICH score. For patients on APT, platelet transfusion is not associated with clinical outcomes in an ICH score–matched sample.
Patch-Clamp Recordings from Mouse Olfactory Sensory Neurons.

Olfactory sensory neurons are bipolar cells with a single thin dendrite that ends in a protuberance, the knob, from which several thin cilia emerge. The cilia are the site of olfactory transduction since they contain the molecular machinery necessary to initiate the olfactory response.The patch clamp technique is a powerful tool to investigate ion channels and receptor mediated currents in neurons. In this chapter, we describe the preparation of dissociated olfactory neurons and their use in patch clamp experiments for the functional characterization of their ionic conductances.
The use of molecular data in mangrove plant research

The use of molecular data in plant studies has increased dramatically duringthe last decade. Recently, molecular techniques have been applied tomangrove plants to investigate population structure and phylogeneticrelationships. We briefly review research on mangrove plants based onprotein polymorphism and DNA data. Results of these molecular studieshave provided new insights into conservation issues, systematics,biogeography, and population biology of mangrove plants, in many casesrevealing unexpected and surprising patterns.
On the Spectrum of Toeplitz and Wiener—Hopf Operators

In this report we want to describe some results we have recently obtained on the invertibility of Toeplitz and Wiener—Hopf operators. In our exposition we try to place our results in the context of what is presently known about this problem. Since our principal aim is to clarify the ideas and techniques involved, a proof will be sketched in some instances, while in others the proof is omitted altogether. Complete proofs will appear elsewhere.
Effect of Intracranial Stenosis Revascularization on Dynamic and Static Cerebral Autoregulation

Severe intracranial stenosis might lead to acute cerebral ischemia. It is imperative to better assess patients who may benefit from immediate reperfusion and blood pressure management to prevent injury to peri-infarct tissue. We assessed cerebral autoregulation using static and dynamic methods in an 81-year-old woman suffering acute cerebral ischemia from severe intracranial stenosis in the petrous segment of the left internal carotid artery (LICA). Static cerebral autoregulation, evaluated by magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance perfusion studies showed a progression of infarcts and a large perfusion-diffusion mismatch in the entire LICA territory between the second and third days after onset, despite maximized medical therapy. Dynamic methods, including transfer function analysis and mean velocity index, demonstrated an increasingly impaired dynamic cerebral autoregulation (DCA) on the affected side between these days. Revascularization through acute intracranial stenting resulted in improved perfusion in the LICA territory and normalization of DCA and SCA. Thus DCA, a non-invasive bedside method, may be useful in helping to identify and select patients with large-vessel flow-failure syndromes that would benefit from immediate revascularization of intracranial atherosclerotic disease.
Neurodevelopmental outcomes among extremely premature infants with linear growth restriction

To compare neurodevelopmental outcomes in linear growth-restricted (LGR) infants born <29 weeks with and without weight gain out of proportion to linear growth. We compared 2-year neurodevelopmental outcomes between infants with and without LGR and between LGR infants with and without weight gain out of proportion to linear growth. The outcomes were Bayley-III cognitive, motor, and language scores, cerebral palsy, Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) level ≥ 2, and neurodevelopmental impairment. In total, 1227 infants were analyzed. LGR infants were smaller and less mature at birth, had higher BMI, and had lower Bayley-III language scores (82.3 vs. 85.0, p < 0.05). Among infants with LGR, infants with high BMI had lower language scores compared with those with low-to-normal BMI (80.8 vs. 83.3, p < 0.05), and were more likely to have GMFCS level ≥2 and neurodevelopmental impairment. Among infants with LGR, weight gain out of proportion to linear growth was associated with poorer neurodevelopmental outcomes.
The Price of Hate: Household Finance and Non-Pecuniary Preferences

Airbnb hosts in college towns increase their listing prices more than hotels on home football games against rival teams. By setting listing prices too high as a result of their non-pecuniary preferences against rival fans, hosts experience a 30% reduction in rental income. The overestimation of demand, the cost (inconvenience) of having to temporarily relocate, and the expected cost of damage cannot explain the inverse relation between listing price increases and rental incomes on games against rival teams. Instead, greater financial constraints are associated with smaller listing price increases and higher rental incomes on rival games, suggesting that non-pecuniary preferences are a luxury.
Comparative effects of technical-grade and formulated chlorantraniliprole to the survivorship and locomotor activity of the honey bee, Apis mellifera (L.).

Background The loss of honey bee colonies is a nationally recognized problem that demands attention from both the scientific community and the beekeeping industry. One outstanding threat is the unintended exposure of these pollinators to agricultural pesticides. Anthranilic diamides, such as chlorantraniliprole, are registered for use in stone and pome fruits, vegetables, turf, and grains. There are few publicly available studies that provide an analysis of chlorantraniliprole effects on the survivorship and locomotion activity of beneficial, pollinating insects such as honey bees. The data gathered in this study provide the acute toxicity, 30-day survivorship, and locomotor activity of honey bees exposed to technical-grade chlorantraniliprole and three formulated products with chlorantraniliprole as the active ingredient. Results Neither the technical-grade nor the formulated products of chlorantraniliprole were acutely toxic to honey bees following 4 or 72h treatments at the tested concentrations. A 4 h treatment of technical-grade and formulated chlorantraniliprole did not significantly affect the 30-day survivorship, although significantly higher mortality was observed after 30 days for bees receiving a 72 h treatment of technical-grade chlorantraniliprole and two formulated products. The locomotion activity, or total walking distance, of bees receiving a 4 h treatment of one chlorantraniliprole formulation was significantly reduced, with these individuals recovering their normal locomotion activity at 48 h post exposure. Conversely, there was observed lethargic behavior and significantly reduced walking distances for bees provided with a 72 h treatment of technical-grade chlorantraniliprole and each formulated product. Conclusion This study provides evidence for the effect of long-term exposure of chlorantraniliprole on the survivorship and locomotor activity of honey bees. Bees receiving a more field-relevant short-term exposure survived and moved similarly to untreated bees, reiterating the relative safety of chlorantraniliprole exposure to adult honey bees at recommended label concentrations. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.
Time Discipline and Health/Communicative Labor in Pediatric Primary Care

In rural Southern Chile, native Mapuche families receive care mostly from non-indigenous clinicians. Parents and doctors alike orient to the importance of timely medical care, but clinical and comm...
Learning Analytics to Assess Beliefs about Science: Evolution of Expertise as Seen through Biological Inquiry.

This work leverages methods from the learning analytics community to create an assessment of epistemological beliefs about science as seen through inquiry practices. Results advance our understandi...
Facial Nerve Paralysis Following Endovascular Embolization: A Case Report and Review of the Literature:

Objective:We report a case of facial nerve paralysis post-endovascular embolization of a sigmoid sinus dural arterio-venous fistula from initial presentation to current management and discuss the m...
On the Asymptotic Behavior of Solutions to the Einstein Vacuum Equations in Wave Coordinates

We give asymptotics for the Einstein vacuum equations in wave coordinates with small asymptotically flat data. We show that the behavior is wave like at null infinity and homogeneous towards time like infinity. We use the asymptotics to show that the outgoing null hypersurfaces approach the Schwarzschild ones for the same mass and that the radiated energy is equal to the initial mass.
The hedging benefits of industrial and global diversification: Evidence from economic downturns

In a large panel of US firms, we find that discounts for industrial and global diversification significantly decrease in economic downturns, suggesting a valuable hedging benefit of diversification. This finding is robust to a wide variety of business cycle and economic uncertainty variables and persists when we account for endogeneity of industrial and global diversification. We further analyze the channels through which diversification is more valuable in economic downturns. We find that the value improvement is largely explained by increases in investment and product market performance relative to focused firms. There is no evidence that improved internal capital market efficiency or access to external finance contribute to the hedging value of diversification.
In Sizing Civil Society, Wording and Format Matter

For six decades the civil society and democracy thesis has generated great interest. How dependably can the relationship of associational membership to democracy be demonstrated empirically? Using a data set derived from 37 national surveys in eight countries, this article finds that the questions used commonly to measure civil society are unreliable or simply measure different things, thereby imperiling the assumed universal and robust relationship between civil society membership and democracy. By emphasizing problems related to question wording, this article intends to prompt the profession to improve and standardize measurement of membership in civil society organizations to determine whether this tantalizing hypothesis has the powerful predictive value ascribed to it by the field of comparative politics.
Implementing Clinical Decision Support Tools and Pharmacovigilance to Reduce the Use of Potentially Harmful Medications and Health Care Costs in Adults With Heart Failure

Heart failure (HF) is associated with significant morbidity, mortality, compromised quality of life and socioeconomic burden worldwide. This chronic condition is becoming an increasingly important concern given the increased prevalence of HF among aging populations. Significant contributors toward escalating health care costs are emergency room visits and hospitalizations associated with HF. An important strategy to improve health care outcomes and reduce unnecessary costs is to identify and reduce the prescribing of potentially harmful medications (PHMs) among adults with HF. Previous studies in patients with HF found roughly 10-50% of them were prescribed at least one PHM in ambulatory care and inpatient health care settings. This opinion highlights recent findings from studies assessing prevalence of PHMs, associations between PHM prescribing and characteristics, and what can be done to improve patient outcomes and reduce the use of PHMs and associated health care costs in adults with HF.
Correspondence between functional connectivity and task-related activity patterns within the individual

Functional connectivity is able to define brain networks that show intrinsic (i.e. task-independent) coordinated activity. Group-averaged network estimates correspond broadly to task-driven activity patterns. Recently, methods have been developed that allow precise network estimation within individuals. Here, we review recent observations which show that networks estimated within individuals can display a complex topology of regions that nonetheless shows close correspondence with task-driven activity patterns. The relationship holds across multiple networks and cognitive domains, and is evident in individuals that display atypical organization. The evidence hence supports that intrinsic fluctuations of brain activity are coordinated between functionally related sets of regions. We also highlight trends that emerge with increasing spatial resolution and discuss limitations of within-individual network estimation.
Arkansas producers value upload speed more than download speed for precision agriculture applications

Abstract While access to broadband services has increased in recent years, many agricultural producers remain without access or are served by an inadequate connection. As many precision agriculture applications rely on data transfer through broadband networks, the expansion of broadband into rural areas has become critical for farm modernization. This study recruited Arkansas agriculture producers to complete a choice experiment on their willingness-to-pay (WTP) for a broadband connection. We examine factors influencing producers’ WTP for broadband upload and download speed using a conditional logit model. In the evaluation of WTP for broadband, producers were willing to pay on average $1.07 to $1.34 per Mbps (megabits per second) of upload speed, compared to $0.02 to $0.03 per Mbps of download speed. Producers also placed a premium on the reliability of the connection. These results suggest that producers value a symmetrical data flow for production operations to support precision agriculture applications.
Adopting robotic thoracic surgery: Impacts hospital overall lung resection case volume.

Abstract Purpose. We sought to evaluate the role of robotic-assisted lung surgery on hospital volume using difference in difference (DID). We propose hospital adoption of robotic thoracic technology increases total volume of specific procedures as compared to non-robotic hospitals. Methods. The 2010–2015 Florida Agency for Health Care Administration dataset was queried for open, video-assisted thoracoscopic, and robotic-assisted thoracic surgeries. Incident Rate Ratios (IRR) from DID analysis determined the significance of robotic technology. For each technique, length of stay and elements of charges were compared to determine statistical significance. Results. A total of 28,484 lung resection procedures performed at 162 hospitals, 65 of which had robotic capabilities were included. Robotic hospitals experienced an 85% increase in total lung surgical volume (IRR 1.85, p-value Conclusion. Hospital adoption of robotic technology significantly increases the overall lung surgical volume for select lung resection procedures.
Lost Voices on the Missouri: John Dougherty and the Indian Frontier

Review of: "Lost Voices on the Missouri: John Dougherty and the Indian Frontier," by Robert Willoughby.
Incorporation of CD4 into virions by a recombinant herpes simplex virus.

Abstract Two herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) recombinants were constructed by inserting the human CD4 gene into the HSV-1 genome between the gC promoter and the gC structural gene. These viruses, designated K delta T/CD4 and K082/CD4, synthesized a significant quantity of CD4. CD4 was expressed on the surface of infected cells at levels substantially higher than on the surface of HUT78 cells, a CD4+ cell line. Most significantly, a small but detectable quantity of CD4 was incorporated into virions produced by the recombinant viruses. This was demonstrated both by immunoprecipitation of CD4 from purified virions and by neutralization of the recombinant virions by OKT4 and complement. These results suggest that specific virion incorporation signals are not strictly required for inclusion of glycoproteins into HSV-1 virions. It may be possible to utilize this ability to alter the host range or tissue specificity of HSV-1.
Experimental results of using a linear step motor as a programmable spring

It is demonstrated experimentally that a variable-reluctance linear step motor can be controlled as a programmable spring with a spring constant of dynamic range 2000 to 1 for robot applications. This large dynamic range is mainly attributed to the direct-drive use of this variable-reluctance linear step motor. Using direct drive provides a high ratio of output force to friction because of the lack of commutation brushes and a reduction gear. The large dynamic range of achievable spring constants also demonstrates that a very simple electronic commutation-logic feedback can simplify a statically and dynamically complex variable-reluctance step motor to the point that it can be algebraically linearized. For a large operating range in force, velocity, and frequency, this linearized model can be approximated by a second-order ordinary differential equation; i.e. the force on a mass given by Newton's second law with the addition of a small friction force. >
Criminal justice: Portrait of a discipline in process

Abstract Criminal justice is an academic discipline in practice but not yet in theory. An analysis of intellectual resources used in recent criminal justice books shows that theory development is still tied to established disciplines, does not accurately reflect and incorporate the multiple intellectual traditions from which the discipline of criminal justice arose, and has failed to achieve a genuine multidisciplinary and multitheoretical stance or project. Some reasons for this state of affairs and some suggestions for training and practice in the new discipline of criminal justice are advanced.
Regulation of autophosphorylation of Escherichia coli nitrogen regulator II by the PII signal transduction protein.

The nitrogen regulator II (NRII or NtrB)-NRI (NtrC) two-component signal transduction system regulates the transcription of nitrogen-regulated genes in Escherichia coli. The NRII protein has both kinase and phosphatase activities and catalyzes the phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of NRI, which activates transcription when phosphorylated. The phosphatase activity of NRII is activated by the PII signal transduction protein. We showed that PII was also an inhibitor of the kinase activity of NRII. The data were consistent with the hypothesis that the kinase and phosphatase activities of two-component system kinase/phosphatase proteins are coordinately and reciprocally regulated. The ability of PII to regulate NRII is allosterically controlled by the small-molecule effector 2-ketoglutarate, which binds to PII. We studied the effect of 2-ketoglutarate on the regulation of the kinase and phosphatase activities of NRII by PII, using a coupled enzyme system to measure the rate of cleavage of ATP by NRII. The data were consistent with the following hypothesis: when not complexed with 2-ketoglutarate, PII cannot bind to NRII and has no effect on its competing NRI kinase and phosphatase activities. Under these conditions, the kinase activity of NRII is dominant. At low 2-ketoglutarate concentrations, PII trimers complexed with a single molecule of 2-ketoglutarate interact with NRII to inhibit its kinase activity and activate its phosphatase activity. However, at high 2-ketoglutarate concentrations, PII binds additional ligand molecules and is rendered incapable of binding to NRII, thereby releasing inhibition of NRII’s kinase activity and effectively inhibiting its phosphatase activity (by failing to stimulate it).
Who should fund basic technology

The US government sometimes funds research in private companies. But there has been disagreement about the type of research that should receive public money. A consensus may be beginning to emerge.
Hydraulic tests in highly permeable aquifers

[1] A semianalytical solution is presented for a mathematical model describing the flow of groundwater in response to a slug or pumping test in a highly permeable, confined aquifer. This solution, which is appropriate for wells of any degree of penetration and incorporates inertial mechanisms at both the test and observation wells, can be used to gain new insights into hydraulic tests in highly permeable settings. The oscillatory character of slug- and pumping-induced responses will vary considerably across a site, even in an essentially homogeneous formation, when wells of different radii, depths, and screen lengths are used. Thus variations in the oscillatory character of responses do not necessarily indicate variations in hydraulic conductivity (K). Existing models for slug tests in partially penetrating wells in high-K aquifers neglect the storage properties of the media. That assumption, however, appears reasonable for a wide range of common conditions. Unlike in less permeable formations, drawdown at an observation well in a high-K aquifer will be affected by head losses in the pumping well. Those losses, which affect the form of the pumping-induced oscillations, can be difficult to characterize. Thus analyses of observation-well drawdown should utilize data from the period after the oscillations have dissipated whenever possible. Although inertial mechanisms can have a large impact on early-time drawdown, that impact decreases rapidly with duration of pumping and distance to the observation well. Conventional methods that do not consider inertial mechanisms should therefore be viable options for the analysis of drawdown data at moderate to large times.
Evaluation of azacitidine and entinostat as sensitization agents to cytotoxic chemotherapy in preclinical models of non-small cell lung cancer

// Frank P. Vendetti 1 , Michael Topper 1 , Peng Huang 1 , Irina Dobromilskaya 1 , Hariharan Easwaran 1 , John Wrangle 1 , Stephen B. Baylin 1 , J. T. Poirier 2 , Charles M. Rudin 2 1 The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 2 Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, NY 10065, New York Correspondence to: Charles M. Rudin, e-mail: rudinc@mskcc.org Keywords: epigenetic, azacitidine, entinostat, priming, chemosensitivity, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) Received: July 25, 2014 Accepted: November 04, 2014 Published: November 25, 2014 ABSTRACT Recent clinical data in lung cancer suggests that epigenetically targeted therapy may selectively enhance chemotherapeutic sensitivity. There have been few if any studies rigorously evaluating this hypothesized priming effect. Here we describe a series of investigations testing whether epigenetic priming with azacitidine and entinostat increases sensitivity of NSCLC to cytotoxic agents. We noted no differences in chemosensitivity following treatment with epigenetic therapy in in vitro assays of viability and colony growth. Using cell line and patientderived xenograft (PDX) models, we also observed no change in responsiveness to cisplatin in vivo . In select models, we noted differential responses to irinotecan treatment in vivo . In vitro epigenetic therapy prior to tumor implantation abrogated response of H460 xenografts to irinotecan. Conversely, in vitro epigenetic therapy appeared to sensitize A549 xenografts (tumor growth inhibition 51%, vs. 22% in mock-pretreated control). In vivo epigenetic therapy enhanced the response of adenocarcinoma PDX to irinotecan. Taken together, these data do not support broadly applicable epigenetic priming in NSCLC. Priming effects may be context-specific, dependent on both tumor and host factors. Further preclinical study is necessary to determine whether, and in which contexts, priming with epigenetic therapy has potential to enhance chemotherapeutic efficacy in NSCLC patients.
Satellite communications with NRAO Green Bank antennas

The National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) has new opportunities to partner with organizations in addition to the NSF using the assets at the Green Bank site. The 100 m Green Bank Telescope (GBT) is the world's largest and most sensitive fully-steerable telescope, and can track at 20 deg min−1 in elevation and 40 deg min−1 in azimuth, providing the ability to track medium Earth orbit, geostationary, and deep space spacecraft. At X-band, its gain of 77 dB is unsurpassed by any fully steerable antenna. In addition to the GBT, the fully steerable, polar-mounted NRAO 140-ft telescope, with tracking rates of 20 deg min−1, and the 20 m telescope, with tracking rates of 120 deg min−1, provide a significant suite of instruments that can be deployed for spacecraft communications. Scheduled and target of opportunity observations are supported, allowing regular monitoring of and rapid response to targets.
Fibromuscular Dysplasia: Renal

Fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) is a nonatherosclerotic, noninflammatory disease of medium-sized arteries characterized by abnormal cell growth leading to stenosis, occlusion, dissection, or aneurysm formation. It was first described in a 5-year-old child by Leadbetter in 1938; however, the first accurate pathologic description was set by McCormack and coworkers in 1958. Almost every artery can be involved, and in 26 % of patients, more than one arterial region is involved. It involves the renal arteries in 60–75 % of cases and is often bilateral, cerebrovascular arteries in 25–30 %, visceral arteries in 9 %, and less commonly in the carotid, iliac, or other vessels. The incidence of FMD is unknown; however, it is more common than previously thought.