cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Introduction to biofilm

The idea that bacteria grow preferentially on surfaces has come to the fore at regular intervals, for more than 150 years, whenever microbiologists have used direct methods to examine natural populations of these organisms growing in real ecosystems. In 1947, Antonie van Leuwenhoek used his primitive but effective microscope to describe aggregates of ‘animalcules’ that he had scraped from human tooth surfaces. Almost 100 years later, in 1934, Claude Zobell examined natural marine populations by direct microscopy, and concluded that these bacteria are attracted to the surfaces to which they sometimes adhere, to form sessile populations. Steadily, throughout the history of microbiology, a very small proportion of microbiologists have chosen to examine their subjects directly, by microscopy, and have found that bacteria grow differently after they adhere to a surface and initiate biofilm formation. Between 1935 and 1978, microbiologists at the Forsyth Dental Center, notably Ron Gibbons and van Houte, examined the microbial biofilms that constitute dental plaque and form macroscopic accretions on tooth surfaces. In 1964, Ralph Mitchell and Kevin Marshall examined the first stages of biofilm formation by bacteria in pure cultures, and distinguished between the reversible adsorption of bacteria to surfaces and the subsequent irreversible attachment that constitutes the first stage of biofilm formation. All of these bellwether studies of the association of bacterial cells with surfaces meet the criteria of the recent report of the taskforce of the American Academy of Microbiology (AAM). This AAM taskforce has taken the position that the discipline of microbiology has been seriously misled by its tendency to extrapolate from studies of planktonic cells in monospecies cultures, and these early studies that discovered biofilms constitute one of its most persuasive examples. The idea that some bacteria, in some natural ecosystems, lived preferentially on surfaces has been present consistently since the beginning of this relatively ‘young’ scientific discipline. However, partly because the subjects of this arcane science are rarely visible to the unaided eye, most practitioners have removed bacteria from their native ecosystems and have studied them in pure cultures, where they grow predominantly as floating ‘planktonic’ cells that are not, by definition, associated with surfaces.
Further evidence for an immediate antidepressant action of intracerebral drug administration in a model of chronic depression

This study was designed to replicate an earlier finding of a rapid acute therapeutic action of intracerebrally administered antidepressant in chronically depressed rodents. The effects of acute fourth ventricular (ivt.) injections were compared to those of acute peripheral (i.p.) injections of desipramine (DMI) in mice subjected to repeated open-space forced swim. In confirmation, it was found that a single ivt. injection of a low (3 nmol) but not high (30 nmol) dose immediately reversed the immobility and inactivity of the model whereas acute i.p. administration was without effect up to 30 mg/kg. The repeated forced swim stress was also found to significantly reduce the net accumulation of DMI in the brain but not liver after a single i.p. injection of a moderate dose (10 mg/kg). The results suggest that stress-induced alterations of regional drug uptake or metabolism in the CNS may contribute to the therapeutic lag for antidepressants and other compounds in disorders with high distress.
A sectioned spheroid model for cylindrical permanent magnets

A model is proposed for approximating the field strength of permanent magnets. The model has only one adjustable parameter rather than the usual two, and implies a specific pole distribution within the magnet. Calculations and measurements of axial field are compared for six small Alnico magnets of various sizes, with agreement generally within a few percent. The model assumes a distribution of magnetic poles on part of the surface of a uniformly magnetized spheroid, that segment of the surface which lies inside a cylinder of the size of the magnet. The aspect ratio of the spheroid is an adjustable parameter that permits a good fit of calculated and measured data. The calculated internal fields due to the assumed pole distributions support the concept that isolated cylindrical magnets may partially demagnetize near the end faces.
RNA-seq differential expression studies: more sequence or more replication?

Motivation: RNA-seq is replacing microarrays as the primary tool for gene expression studies. Many RNA-seq studies have used insufficient biological replicates, resulting in low statistical power and inefficient use of sequencing resources. Results: We show the explicit trade-off between more biological replicates and deeper sequencing in increasing power to detect differentially expressed (DE) genes. In the human cell line MCF7, adding more sequencing depth after 10 M reads gives diminishing returns on power to detect DE genes, whereas adding biological replicates improves power significantly regardless of sequencing depth. We also propose a cost-effectiveness metric for guiding the design of large-scale RNAseq DE studies. Our analysis showed that sequencing less reads and performing more biological replication is an effective strategy to increase power and accuracy in large-scale differential expression RNAseq studies, and provided new insights into efficient experiment design of RNA-seq studies. Availability and implementation: The code used in this paper is provided on: http://home.uchicago.edu/� jiezhou/replication/. The expression data is deposited in the Gene Expression Omnibus under the accession ID GSE51403.
The pharmacokinetics of single high doses of dexamethasone in cancer patients.

We have given single high doses of dexamethasone phosphate by intravenous infusion as an antiemetic to 15 cancer patients receiving regimens containing cisplatin and/or doxorubicin. The patients received graded doses of dexamethasone phosphate, in the range 40–200 mg, dependent upon nausea and vomiting scores, during up to three consecutive cycles of cancer chemotherapy. Plasma and urine concentrations of dexamethasone (dexamethasone alcohol) were measured by HPLC. The plasma concentration-time data were described by an open two-compartment model. The pharmacokinetic variables were independent of the dose of dexamethasone over the range studied. The terminal half-time was 4.0±0.4 h and the total body clearance was 3.5±0.4 ml·min−1·kg−1. The volume of the central compartment and the total apparent volume of distribution were 0.23±0.03 and 1.0±0.1 l·kg−1 respectively. Approximately 8% of the dose was excreted into the urine as dexamethasone.
Evidence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Borrelia burgdorferi infection in cats after exposure to wild-caught adult Ixodes scapularis:

Cats are infected by Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Borrelia burgdorferi when exposed to infected Ixodes scapularis (black-legged ticks). The purpose of our study was to allow wild-caught I. scapularis to feed on healthy research cats (n = 4) and temporally evaluate for A. phagocytophilum DNA in blood by a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay as well as for antibody responses to the B. burgdorferi C6 peptide, to the A. phagocytophilum P44 peptide, and to a novel A. phagocytophilum peptide (P44-4). Prior to I. scapularis infestation, all cats were negative for antibodies against both organisms based on a kit optimized for dog serum, and negative for A. phagocytophilum DNA in blood using a conventional PCR assay. Using the pre-infestation samples, an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detecting antibodies against the P44-4 peptide was optimized. Cats were infested with wild-caught I. scapularis for 7 days. Genomic DNA of A. phagocytophilum was amplified from the blood before antibodies were detected in all 4 cats. Antibodies against the C6 peptide, P44 peptide, and P44-4 peptide were detected in the sera of all 4 cats. Antibodies against P44-4 were detected prior to those against P44 in 3 out of 4 cats. The results suggest that a PCR assay should be considered in acutely ill cats with suspected anaplasmosis that are seronegative.
Surgical management of ascending aortic aneurysm due to non-infectious aortitis.

Objectives. We reviewed the spectrum of disease and early outcomes of patients undergoing ascending aortic surgery for Giant cell aortitis (GCA). Design. Of 1 259 patients undergoing repair of ascending aortic aneurysms between January 1993 and July 2006, 100 had histologic evidence of GCA or lymphoplasmacytic aortitis. Results. Operative Mortality was 4% (4/100). One patient underwent aortoplasty and aortic valve replacement (AVR). Among 99 patients undergoing graft replacement of the ascending aorta, distal disease required hemiarch replacement in 33 and total arch replacement in 14. Proximal aneurismal disease of the root was managed by mechanical or biological root replacement (n=18), Yacoub remodeling (n=2) or David reimplantation (n=9). Another 12 patients had separate AVR and ascending graft, while 26 had AR corrected by restoration of proper sinotubular junction diameter. In total, of 63 patients with AR, 38 had a valve-preserving procedure (61%). Conclusions. Ascending aortic aneurismal disease d...
Establishment of lymphoblastoid cell lines from Marek's disease primary tumors.

Abstract Seven lymphoblastoid cell lines were developed from 15 Marek's disease primary lymphomas treated to remove adherent cells (46.7% success rate) and 1 cell line was developed from 15 untreated lymphomas (6.7% success rate). These cell lines are designated as MDCC-RP22 through MDCC-RP29. Tumor materials were from 1515 × 71 chickens infected with either JM-111S clone or the GA-22 clone of Marek's disease virus. Factors contributing to the establishment of cell lines include, in addition to the removal of adherent cells at the initial stage of culture, the periodic adjustment and the concentration of viable cells, including the removal of dead cells. The cell lines bear T-cell surface markers and Marek's disease tumor associated surface antigen (MATSA). MDCC-RP22 and MDCC-RP23 are high virus producers.
From the Microscope to the Clinic MR Assessment of Atherosclerotic Plaque

Magnetic resonance is the newest of the clinical imaging technologies to evaluate the cardiovascular system. The ability to image the aorta and the ileofemoral and carotid arteries is now a clinical reality. Imaging of the large epicardial coronary arteries is rapidly developing as a clinical tool. The next step will be to characterize atherosclerotic plaque in vivo in larger vessels and then, potentially, in human coronary arteries. In this issue of Circulation , Fayad et al1 take a step forward in the imaging of atherosclerotic plaque by MR. They report on their experience with high-field MRI of “magnetic resonance microscopy” in small mice, some of which were “wild-type” controls and others genetically engineered to produce severe atherosclerosis (apolipoprotein E knockout). Using commonly available NMR hardware, the investigators were able to visualize aortas with a total area of 0.3 mm2 in wild-type mice and 0.6 mm2 in the apolipoprotein E–knockout mice. To image such small structures, they achieved a spatial resolution of 47 μm per pixel. MR measurements of wall area versus histopathology correlated well (slope=1, r =0.86). In addition, the grading of lesion shape and type from MR images also correlated well with that by histopathology ( r =0.91 and r =0.90, respectively). Correlations of linear regression analysis of MR and histopathology gradings of atherosclerotic severity also were good (slope=0.64, r =0.90, n=58). Of course, the ideal model for human atherosclerosis is Homo sapiens , and the versatility of NMR methods allows such studies to be performed in humans. …
Outmigration of Juvenile Chinook Salmon in the Lower Willamette River, Oregon

We used direct sampling and radio telemetry to describe the outmigration of juvenile Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) in the lower Willamette River downstream of Willamette Falls from 2000 to 2003. Juvenile Chinook salmon were present all year, with peak densities occurring in winter and spring. Small, naturally-produced (and therefore ESA-listed) fish were present in December and January, a period when in-water work (e.g. dredging) is authorized. Small fish were likely spring-run stocks that outmigrated as subyearlings. Juvenile Chinook salmon were significantly larger at downstream sampling sites, suggesting growth occurs, or larger fish entering from the Columbia River use this area as rearing habitat. Radio-tagged fish (>100 mm fork length) migrated at a median rate of 11.3 km/d, and hatchery fish migrated significantly faster than naturally-produced fish (12.4 vs. 8.4 km/d). Fork length and river flow were significant predictors of migration rate. Radio-tagged fish were distributed evenly ac...
M&A update

Most of 2009 was slow for mergers and acquisitions (M&As), due to financial turmoil and economic uncertainty that carried over from late 2008. But the deal market rebounded in the fourth quarter of 2009, and 2010 appears to be much better for M&As than 2009. Yet while the global economy shows signs of recovery, and many buyers and sellers are flush with cash, M&A activity may begin slowly in the United States in 2011-due to uncertainty about the business outlook and potential tax changes. How healthy is current deal making? And what is the short- and long-term outlook for M&As?. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Impact of a high-intensity fire on mixed evergreen and mixed conifer forests in the Peninsular Ranges of southern California, USA

Abstract Fire is an important disturbance agent in the southern California landscape and plays a large role in the function and structure of its pine and mixed conifer forests. However, humans have changed the forest fire regime across the western United States by excluding fire. Fire suppression has been blamed for increasing stand densities and a shift from fire-tolerant trees to shade-tolerant but fire sensitive trees. These changes had been observed in Cuyamaca Rancho State Park (CRSP), Peninsular Ranges, San Diego County, California, USA. We surveyed an area in CRSP during the first two post-fire growing seasons following the October 2003 Cedar Fire, a historically large and severe fire, to determine patterns of tree mortality and vegetation recovery. This area is a mosaic of mixed evergreen and mixed conifer forest, oak woodland, chaparral and grassland. Most conifers were killed by the fire, especially smaller trees, and very few pine seedlings have established. Oaks were top-killed but most were resprouting by the second year, although larger oaks were more likely to have died than smaller. A rich herbaceous community of native annuals established in the first post-fire growing season. With a record rainy season during the winter of 2004–2005, all plant functional groups increased in abundance in the second year, including exotic annual grasses. The spread of exotic grasses in CRSP is a plant community change that may be of concern to resource managers. As forest succession is a long term process, it is important to continue monitoring vegetation recovery.
Assembly and intracellular transport of snRNP particles

The assembly of the major small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (snRNP) particles begins in the cytoplasm where large pools of common core proteins are preassembled in several RNA-free intermediate particles. Newly synthesized snRNAs transiently enter the cytoplasm and complex with core particles to form pre-snRNP particles. Subsequently, the cap structure at the 5' end of the snRNA is hypermethylated. The resulting trimethylguanosine (TMG) cap is an integral part of the nuclear localization signal for snRNP particles and the pre-snRNP particles are rapidly transported into the nucleus. SnRNP particles mature when snRNA-specific proteins complex with the particles, in some cases, just before or during nuclear transport, but in most instances after the particles are in the nucleus. In addition, U6 snRNA hybridizes with U4 snRNA to form a U4/U6 snRNP in the nucleus. The transport signals are retained on the snRNP particles and proteins since existing particles and proteins enter the reformed nucleus after mitosis.
Gender differences in personality and earnings: Evidence from Russia

Does personality affect earnings? If so, are there gender differences in personality that explain part of the gender wage gap? We use survey data collected from over 2,600 Russian employees between 2000 and 2003 to evaluate the impact on earnings of two personality traits: locus of control (Rotter 1966) and challenge-affiliation (Hill et al. 1985). We find that gender differences in personality traits are significant. Men are more likely to exhibit an internal locus of control and need for challenge, while women are more likely to exhibit an external locus of control and need for affiliation. Moreover, there are differences in the effect of personality on earnings by gender – women’s earnings are affected by personality, while men’s earnings are not. Among participating employees in our study, the “unexplained” portion of the gender wage gap falls by as much as 12% when personality traits are included.
Representations of Multi-Feature Selectivity

Neurons that respond to multiple features are ubiquitous in the nervous system. Cells in V1 may have both orientation and frequency preferences; whereas, cells in orbitofrontal cortex may respond for both location and odors. Yet, very few explorations have been performed on this phenomena. Here we explore the encoding, representation, and interdependency of neurons to multiple features in the environment.
Synthesis, characterization, DFT calculations, and electrochemical comparison of novel iron(II) complexes with thione and selone ligands

Thione- and selone-containing compounds and their metal complexes show promise as antioxidants, as antithyroid drugs, and for applications in lasers and blue light-emitting diodes. Although Cu(I/II), Co(II), Ag(I), and Zn(II) coordination to thione and selone ligands has been broadly studied and Fe(II) plays an important role in oxidative damage, very few iron–thione complexes and no iron–selone complexes are reported. Novel Fe(II)-containing thione and selone complexes of the formulae FeL2Cl2, [FeL2(CH3CN)2]2+, and [FeL4]2+, and {FeL′Cl2}n, (L = N,N′-dimethylimidazole selone (dmise), and thione (dmit); L′ = bis(thioimidazolyl)ethane (ebit) and bis(selenoimidazolyl)ethane (ebis)) have been synthesized and characterized. Structures of Fe(dmise)2Cl2, Fe(dmit)2Cl2, [Fe(dmit)4][BF4]2, [Fe(dmise)4][BF4]2, and {Fe(ebit)Cl2}n were determined by X-ray crystallography. All Fe(II) centers adopt a distorted tetrahedral coordination geometry with Fe–S distances ranging from 2.339(1) to 2.397(1) A and F–Se distances ranging from 2.453(1) to 2.514(1) A. Density functional theory optimized structures of FeL2Cl2, [FeL2(CH3CN)2]2+, and [FeL4]2+ are consistent with experimental results and suggest that thiones and selones are π-donor ligands that coordinate through their zwitterionic resonance structures. Thione and selone coordination to Fe(II) lowers the Fe(II/III) reduction potential, with a greater decrease for Fe(II)-bound dmise than Fe(II)-bound dmit. Dmit and dmise ligand-based oxidation potentials also significantly increase upon Fe(II) binding compared, indicating that bound thione and selone ligands will undergo oxidation prior to Fe(II). The synthesis of these complexes suggests that iron coordination by thione and selone ligands may occur in vivo and may contribute to the protective antioxidant properties of sulfur and selenium.
Non-Compete Clauses in Physician Employment Contracts are Bad for Our Health

Restrictive covenants in employment contracts describe a class of ancillary agreements between employers and employees whereby the employee agrees not to compete with the employer after termination of the contract. Typically the non-compete clause contains a limit on the duration, scope of activity, and geographic area to which it extends. Nationally, there is widespread criticism of the use of restrictive covenants in physician employment contracts because of the potential harm to the public. Here, we offer medical workforce shortages as yet another reason to discourage non-compete agreements in this context. We describe the national and local shortage. We will briefly outline the origin and purpose of restrictive covenants and discuss the state of the law in Hawai‘i, and propose a legislative solution.
Reproductive Inhibition in Female Cactus Mice (Peromyscus eremicus)

Female Peromyscus eremicus born into freely growing populations generally failed to reproduce prior to 180 days of age, although asymptotic population size varied from nine to 27 among nine experimental groups. Also, fewer females housed individually with both parents gave birth to any offspring prior to 180 days of age than did control females or females housed with their father only. Those daughters that gave birth did so at a significantly more advanced age than did controls or females kept in father-daughter pairs. Reproductively inhibited females experienced normal estrous cycling and in many cases copulated successfully with their fathers as determined by the presence of spermatozoa in the reproductive tract. Females that copulated continued to exhibit uninterrupted, regular estrous cycling. Reproductive inhibition in females housed in the presence of the mother is interpreted as a strategy, which may result in the maximum long-term genetic contribution by the individuals involved.
Function Impact Matrix for Sustainable Concept Generation: A Designer’s Perspective

Reducing the environmental effects of products has become a significant focus of corporate strategies. As a result, easy-to-use ecodesign tools that can be implemented during the early design stage are essential for corporations to gain a competitive advantage in product development. A novel eco-design method, the function impact matrix (FIM), is being developed as a tool to enable the development and evaluation of design concepts by correlating environmental impacts with product functions. This paper aims to illustrate the efficacy and relative ease of use of the FIM. Understanding designers’ interactions with visual tools and cognitive load analysis of designers can provide new insight that aids in the development of easy-to-use ecodesign tools. In this pilot study, design engineers with varying levels of experience and self-perceived eco-design knowledge are asked to redesign an alarm clock under four different design scenarios: 1) using no eco-design tools, 2) using the LiDS wheel and an ecodesign checklist, 3) raw life cycle assessment (LCA) data and 4) the function impact matrix. Surveying the designers reveals that the function impact method carried the highest overall rank compared to the other ecodesign tools with regard to ease of use, quality of data, ability for identifying redesign opportunities, and overall effectiveness. As suggested by the designers, a combination of a modified LiDS wheel with the FIM would lead to a helpful tool for sustainable concept generation.© 2010 ASME
Separation of Large Numbers of Cabbage Looper Moths from Pupae

The rearing methods for the cabbage looper, Trichoplusia ni (Hubner), described by Henneberry and Kishaba (1966) included a device for removing emerged moths from pupae in which cardboard cartons and CO2 anesthesia were used. However, the method did not prevent large amounts of moth scales from escaping into the area when the moths were removed. The present paper describes a device that can be used to separate large numbers of newly emerged moths from pupae, that minimizes contamination by moth scales, and that eliminates the need for an anesthetic. In addition, the device simplifies the separation of moths emerging over several days from a given group of pupae.
A lead-acid battery charge power supply controlled by microcontroller

In order to extend the life of lead-acid battery efficiently and supervise the charging process meanwhile,a 36V lead-acid battery charge powe supply controlled by microcontroller is designed.The charger is flyback switching power supply and works in CCM mode.A EM78P258N microcontroller made by ELAN microelectronics corporation is used as power management IC which is designed at the secondary circuit.The project is a successful attempt to low-cost intelligent power used microcontroller simulating power management IC.The charger also has the functions of the status reveal,charge time control,alarming,thermal protect,current limit and overvoltage protect by the software design.The circuit actually implements the three-step charge process,whose power is up to 90W and whose efficiency can get 85%.The net cost of this charger is less than 20 RMB,so that the charger is of powerful market competitiveness.
Understanding Research Impact: A Review of Existing and Emerging Tools for Nursing

Researchers and educators are required to show the impact they have in their field when they apply for promotion or extramural funding. There are several tools available for nursing faculty to consult as they build a research impact profile. This article highlights both traditional and more novel tools, the impact metrics they calculate, and why the tools are particularly relevant to the field of nursing.
Orbital enucleation implants and ocular prostheses: Biocompatibility and design

The evolution of thought and practice in relation to orbital enucleation implants and ocular prostheses is the subject of this chapter. Topics covered include orbital anatomy and physiology after enucleation, the current state of knowledge on implant motility, developments in the use of porous implants, and considerations for pediatric enucleation. A new section has been added on bacterial seeding of ocular polymethylmethacrylate prostheses.
Selecting state or private joint venture partners in emerging markets: Impact of liability of foreignness and rule of law

The present study develops an international joint venture (IJV) partner selection framework to explain the choice between state-owned or privately owned local partners in the context of emerging economies. We suggest that once an IJV is selected as the mode of entry, a multinational enterprise's strategic motivations – that is, efficiency seeking, market seeking and knowledge seeking – will influence its choice of IJV partner type: state-owned enterprise or privately owned firm. We argue that liability of foreignness and rule of law moderate the multinational enterprise's selection of IJV partner type.
Opening government health data to the public: benefits, challenges, and lessons learned from early innovators.

Objective Government agencies are rapidly developing web portals to proactively publish “open” data that are searchable, available in nonproprietary formats, and with unlimited use and distribution rights. In this dynamic environment, we aimed to understand the experiences of 2 early leaders in open health data, the US Department of Health and Human Services and the New York State Department of Health. Materials and Methods Semistructured interviews with 40 practitioners and policymakers elicited value propositions, capabilities required for successful open data programs, and strategies for improving impact and sustainability. Transcripts were analyzed using a grounded theory approach to identify common perspectives and divergent viewpoints. Results Respondents were optimistic about the value of open data, reporting numerous opportunities to advance the triple aim of lower costs, improved health care quality, and better population health. Benefits to agencies include enhanced data quality and more efficient operations. External benefits include improved health literacy, data-driven changes in health care delivery, consumer engagement, and community empowerment. Key challenges are resources, cultural resistance, navigating legal and regulatory issues, and data quality. Discussion The open data movement will likely continue, but success requires sustained leadership, resources, organizational cultural change, promotion of data use, and governance. Jurisdictions that are initiating open data programs can incorporate these lessons from early innovators. Conclusions The open data movement has a bright future but unknown long-term impact. To maintain momentum, important directions for the field include reconsidering legal guidance on protecting health data in the open data era and quantifying the return on investment.
UHF micromechanical extensional wine-glass mode ring resonators

Vibrating polysilicon micromechanical ring resonators, utilizing a unique extensional wine-glass mode shape to achieve lower impedance than previous UHF resonators, have been demonstrated at frequencies as high as 1.2-GHz with a Q of 3,700, and 1.47-GHz (highest to date) with a Q of 2,300. The 1.2-GHz resonator exhibits a measured motional resistance of 560 k/spl Omega/ with a dc-bias voltage of 20 V, which is 6/spl times/ lower than measured on radial contour mode disk counterparts at the same frequency, and which can be driven down as low as 2 k/spl Omega/ when a dc-bias voltage of 100 V and electrode-to-resonator gap spacing of 460 /spl Aring/ are used. The above high Q and low impedance advantages, together with the multiple frequency, on-chip integration advantages afforded by electrostatically-transduced /spl mu/mechanical resonators, make this device an attractive candidate for use in the front-end RF filtering and oscillator functions needed by wireless communication devices.
Reply to 'A phase II randomized controlled trial of nicotinamide for skin cancer chemoprevention in renal transplant recipients'.

We have read with interest the paper by Chen et al. in which oral nicotinamide is used to prevent keratinocyte carcinomas (KC; basal and squamous cell carcinomas of the skin) in renal transplant patients.1 The current study suggests nicotinamide is safe and effective to prevent the development of KC in this high-risk group, similarly to a study by the same group in non-transplant patients (ONTRAC study, Oral Nicotinamide To Reduce Actinic Cancer). This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Architectural history in the Anthropocene: towards methodology

In recent years, different fields in the Humanities have tried to address the staggeringly complex challenge placed before them by the Anthropocene. Whereas architects have engaged with the issue b...
Exact solution of the Fokker-Planck equation for isotropic scattering

The Fokker-Planck (FP) equation ${\ensuremath{\partial}}_{t}f+\ensuremath{\mu}{\ensuremath{\partial}}_{x}f={\ensuremath{\partial}}_{\ensuremath{\mu}}(1\ensuremath{-}{\ensuremath{\mu}}^{2}){\ensuremath{\partial}}_{\ensuremath{\mu}}f$ is solved analytically. Foremost among its applications, this equation describes the propagation of energetic particles through a scattering medium (in $x$- direction, with $\ensuremath{\mu}$ being the $x$- projection of particle velocity). The solution is found in terms of an infinite series of mixed moments of particle distribution, $⟨{\ensuremath{\mu}}^{j}{x}^{k}⟩$. The second moment $⟨{x}^{2}⟩$ ($j=0$, $k=2$) was obtained by G. I. Taylor (1920) in his classical study of random walk: $⟨{x}^{2}⟩={⟨{x}^{2}⟩}_{0}+t/3+[\mathrm{exp}(\ensuremath{-}2t)\ensuremath{-}1]/6$ (where $t$ is given in units of an average time between collisions). It characterizes a spatial dispersion of a particle cloud released at $t=0$, with $\sqrt{{⟨{x}^{2}⟩}_{0}}$ being its initial width. This formula distills a transition from ballistic (rectilinear) propagation phase, $⟨{x}^{2}⟩\ensuremath{-}{⟨{x}^{2}⟩}_{0}\ensuremath{\approx}{t}^{2}/3$ to a time-asymptotic, diffusive phase, $⟨{x}^{2}⟩\ensuremath{-}{⟨{x}^{2}⟩}_{0}\ensuremath{\approx}t/3$. The present paper provides all the higher moments by a recurrence formula. The full set of moments is equivalent to the full solution of the FP equation, expressed in form of an infinite series in moments $⟨{\ensuremath{\mu}}^{j}{x}^{k}⟩$. An explicit, easy-to-use approximation for a point source spreading of a pitch-angle averaged distribution ${f}_{0}(x,t)$ (starting from ${f}_{0}(x,0)=\ensuremath{\delta}(x)$, i.e., Green's function), is also presented and verified by a numerical integration of the FP equation.
Models of Toxicity of Diacetyl and Alternative Diones

Abstract Diacetyl (DA; 2,3-butanedione), with the chemical formula (CH3CO)2 is a volatile organic compound with a deep yellow color and a strong buttery flavor and aroma. These properties have made DA a particularly useful and common food flavoring ingredient. However, because of this increased occupational use, workers can be exposed to high vapor concentrations in the workplace. Despite being listed by the USFDA to be ‘generally regarded as safe’ (GRAS), multiple lines of evidence suggest that exposure to high concentrations of DA vapor causes long-term impairments in lung function with lung function testing indicating evidence of either restrictive or obstructive airway narrowing in affected individuals. A growing number of pre-clinical studies have now addressed the short and long-term toxicity associated with DA exposure providing further insight into the toxicity of DA and related diones. This review summarizes these observations.
Thermo-Physiological Comfort Assessment of Performance Cooling Fabrics in Medical Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Healthcare workers wear medical PPE during contagious disease outbreaks, but the protective garments often create a microclimate that causes thermo-physiological discomfort in the wearer.Â To investigate solutions for this problem, we tested inner-layer garments made of 3 cooling fabrics and 1 control fabric with no cooling properties. Eight male participants were recruited. They were asked to fill out a demographics survey; have their physical body dimensions measured; and participate in a 30-min exercise program while wearing a test garment made of each of the selected fabrics under the full ensemble of medical PPE. Critical biofeedback was monitored along with subjective thermal comfort. This study evaluated the cooling effectiveness of the performance fabrics, and identified effective cooling fabrics that could be used in medical PPE applications. This study was conducted in a lab setting, and it will be desirable to verify the study findings with human subjects in real medical fields.
Some Conceptual Foundations: A Primer on the Economic Structure of Professional Sport

The notion of competition is fundamentally at the core of a capitalist society. When firms actively compete against each other in a market, several social benefits are generated. In general, competition tends to lower costs, reduces production inefficiency, and leads to a more efficient allocation of societal resources. In other words, resources flow to their most productive uses. Competition is a dynamic process in that it is inherently forward looking, leading to innovation and creativity amongst producers. These benefits ultimately flow through to consumers, who enjoy a more wide range of product choices, higher-quality products, and lower prices. In general, the lower the degree of competition in a given market, the less present are these array of benefits—all else equal, less competitive markets can result in greater production inefficiencies, reduced innovation, fewer product choices, and higher prices for consumers, with the latter directly resulting in higher profits for producers.
Parallel Parallel Computers

Parallel architectures are of several general types: (1) large arrays, usually 1-bit processors with nearest-neighbor connections; (2) closely coupled networks, typically 8-bit, 16-bit, or 32-bit processors, with a variety of interconnection patterns; (3) pipelines, typically one pipe using relatively powerful but specialized processors; (4) systolic arrays, where each executes a particular function in a specially designed two- or three-dimensional pipeline; and (5) distributed networks, where each processor works on a different program, but processors can communicate and pass data. This chapter discusses a set-of-resources computer system that might make effective use of each type of architecture when it is called for, multiprogramming in a parallel parallel mode. Such a structure may seem inelegant, because it puts together a variety of different types of computers in a single system. However, it is actually, on a much larger scale, the structure seen in the central processing unit of traditional serial computers, with their several specialized processors. The chapter discusses some suggested requirements for parallel parallel systems.
Membrane-Based Adaptations of Deep-Sea Piezophiles

Pressure is an important thermodynamic variable of particular significance when comparing biological processes that take place at different depths. Most of what is known about high pressure habitats has come from studies of deep-sea environments. When one considers the tremendous diversity of deep-sea benthic invertebrates (Rex et al., 1993), and the propensity of marine microorganisms to establish symbiotic associations, the combined diversity of free-living and host-associated deep-sea microorganisms must surely be immense. Add to these microorganisms those dwelling in the deep-earth (Kerr, 1997), and high pressure environments are seen to encompass a diverse biota as well as represent the vast majority of the biosphere by volume. Within both marine and terrestrial environments pressure usually increases by about 10 megapascal (MPa, 1 MPa = 10 bar ≈ 9.87 atmospheres ≈ 145 pounds per square inch) per kilometer depth, however, great variation in this rule is found within the deep earth. In contrast to the deep sea where an isothermal temperature near freezing (2°C) predominates, subterranean temperatures generally increase by 20–30°C per kilometer. The highest pressure environment yet sampled for microorganisms is within the Challenger Deep of the Mariana Trench at a depth of 10,898 m and a pressure of 110 MPa. The current upper pressure limit for microbial growth is about 130 MPa (Yayanos, 1986).
The BMP Pathway and Its Inhibitors in the Skeleton

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) constitute the largest subdivision of the transforming growth factor-β family of ligands. BMPs exhibit widespread utility and pleiotropic, context-dependent effec...
Valuing Emotions in Punishment: an Argument for Social Rehabilitation with the Aid of Social and Affective Neuroscience

Dominant approaches to punishment tend to downplay the socio-emotional dimension of perpetrators. This attitude is inconsistent with the body of evidence from social and affective neuroscience and its adjacent disciplines on the crucial role of emotions and emotion-related skills coupled with positive social stimuli in promoting prosocial behavior. Through a literature review of these studies, this article explores and assesses the implications that greater consideration of emotional and social factors in sentencing and correctional practices might have for conventional punitive approaches to crime. It argues that proper attention to these factors within the judgment of offending can challenge the tenets of dominant punitive ideologies and responses to crime. It further emphasizes the higher rationality and effectiveness of a paradigm of justice that aims for the social reintegration of perpetrators through a path to self-reform and change that is based on relational and inclusionary processes in the least confining environments possible to still ensure public safety. Hence, this article supports the pursuit of social rehabilitation as the ultimate goal of criminal justice.
De novo leukocyte chemotactic factor 2 amyloidosis in a pediatric renal allograft, 15 years post-transplant.

Leukocyte chemotactic factor 2 amyloidosis (ALECT2) is a recently described form of systemic amyloidosis, which most commonly affects the kidney and liver. The LECT2 protein is produced during inflammatory processes, but its precise function in renal diseases in unclear. ALECT2, however, is known to be a relatively common form of renal amyloidosis, after amyloid light chain and serum amyloid A types and is most often seen in patients of Hispanic ethnicity. ALECT2 can occur de novo or as recurrent disease in kidney transplants. We present the first case, to our knowledge, of de novo ALECT2 in a pediatric kidney transplant patient, 15 years post-transplant.
A 3D Printed Cyanobacterial Leaf for Carbon Dioxide Reduction

This work created a self-sustainable, biological artificial leaf that dramatically reduced atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) and replaced it with oxygen (O 2 ). Three-dimensionally printed photosynthetic bacteria, Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803, on pre-defined microfluidic reservoirs, captured solar energy to convert CO 2 and water into O 2 and carbohydrates, which they subsequently use for their respiratory reaction, re-generating water, and only about half that CO 2 . The artificial leaf integrated a hierarchically porous structure, mimicking biological system (i.e. plants) with the water transpiration process and the gas exchange surface, offering self-sustainable and self-maintainable features. The solar evaporation on the porous leaf surface developed suction pressure so that water/nutrients could be transported from a media reservoir to individual bacterial cells. The novel microscale approaches maximized microbial activities in a smaller group of cells with excellent control over the microenvironment.
Implementation of a clinical decision-making pathway for feverish illness in children younger than five years

Background Fever in children is a common reason for seeking advice from healthcare professionals. The challenge is to determine which children have a simple self-limiting cause and which have a potentially serious or even life-threatening illness that needs urgent treatment. In 2007 the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) for England and Wales produced a guide to the assessment and initial management of feverish illness in children younger than five years. This aims to help guide parents and healthcare professionals to identify those at risk of serious illness. Methods We implemented this NICE guidance by producing a clinical decision-making pathway to be used by staff to assess children who present to the Emergency Department at Royal Liverpool Children’s Hospital with fever, where the source is not immediately apparent. This pathway follows a “traffic light” system to categorise patients into high, medium and low risk of serious illness, and direct appropriate investigation and treatment strategies. Discussion The intention is that the pathway will improve patient care by standardising clinical assessment, investigation and treatment of these children. In addition, it ensures that clinicians are aware of updated national guidance, aids teaching and education of junior medical and nursing staff and provides a convenient way to audit clinical practice. The pathway we have designed will be of interest to others involved in the emergency care of children. Our poster will present this pathway, display the results of an ongoing audit of its use and discuss the challenges of implementing national guidance.
Communication-Efficient Optimal Control Design For Distributed Control Systems In Cooperative Vehicular Networks

In this paper, we propose and evaluate a new communication-efficient design technique for solving the linear quadratic regulator (LQR) optimal control problem. We propose this design to minimize the communication overhead and resulting energy consumption in wireless distributed control scenarios in the context of cooperative vehicular networking (CVN). We introduce the LQR optimal control design problem, then we propose our new design technique using the alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM). Our numerical results demonstrate that our communication-efficient control design can outperform the previous methods namely the sparsity-promoting optimal control design and the conventional LQR optimal control design. We also provide simulation results to evaluate the resilience of proposed technique under various wireless connectivity conditions.
Use of a novel richness-weighted abundance index of age-0 fishes to identify key features for habitat conservation and restoration

Abstract Prioritizing sites for conservation or setting goals for enhancement and restoration projects is often difficult due to limited knowledge about relations between habitat characteristics and faunal assemblages. We tested the utility of a novel richness-weighted abundance (RWA) index as a tool for guiding habitat conservation and restoration for native fishes and compared its utility to established indices of abundance and diversity (i.e., Shannon diversity index, Simpson diversity index, species richness, total catch). Habitat and fishes were sampled in the upper Niagara River during late summer, 2013–2015. We used multivariate adaptive regression splines to model the relation between each index of abundance or diversity of native age-0 fish and aquatic habitat features, and compared R2 values among models to determine the strength of the relationship between each index and aquatic habitat features. Our RWA index had the strongest relation with habitat features (R2 = 0.40) and Shannon and Simpson indices were unrelated to habitat features. We found the best habitats for native fishes (i.e., highest RWA scores) contained substantial submerged aquatic vegetation extending into the water column (>20%), low water velocities (
Defining the role of the condylar–C2 sagittal vertical alignment in Chiari malformation type I

OBJECTIVE The authors' objective was to better understand the anatomical load-bearing relationship between the atlantooccipital joint and the upper cervical spine and its influence on the clinical behavior of patients with Chiari malformation type I (CM-I) and craniocervical pathology. METHODS In a single-center prospective study of patients younger than 18 years with CM-I from 2015 through 2017 (mean age 9.91 years), the authors measured the occipital condyle-C2 sagittal vertebral alignment (C-C2SVA; defined as the position of a plumb line from the midpoint of the occiput (C0)-C1 joint relative to the posterior aspect of the C2-3 disc space), the pB-C2 (a line perpendicular to a line from the basion to the posteroinferior aspect of the C2 body on sagittal MRI), and the CXA (clivoaxial angle). Control data from 30 patients without CM-I (mean age 8.97 years) were used for comparison. The primary outcome was the need for anterior odontoid resection and/or occipitocervical fusion with or without odontoid reduction. The secondary outcome was the need for two or more Chiari-related operations. RESULTS Of the 60 consecutive patients with CM-I identified, 7 underwent anterior odontoid resection or occipitocervical fusion and 10 underwent ≥ 2 decompressive procedures. The mean C-C2SVA was greater in the overall CM-I group versus controls (3.68 vs 0.13 mm, p < 0.0001), as was the pB-C2 (7.7 vs 6.4 mm, p = 0.0092); the CXA was smaller (136° vs 148°, p < 0.0001). A C-C2SVA ≥ 5 mm was found in 35% of CM-I children and 3.3% of controls (p = 0.0006). The sensitivities and specificities for requiring ventral decompression/occipitocervical fusion were 100% and 74%, respectively, for C-C2SVA ≥ 5 mm; 71% and 94%, respectively, for CXA < 125°; and 71% and 75%, respectively, for pB-C2 ≥ 9 mm. The sensitivities and specificities for the need for ≥ 2 decompressive procedures were 60% and 70%, respectively, for C-C2SVA ≥ 5 mm; 50% and 94%, respectively, for CXA < 125°; and 60% and 76%, respectively, for pB-C2 ≥ 9 mm. The log-rank test demonstrated significant differences between C-C2SVA groups (p = 0.0007) for the primary outcome. A kappa value of 0.73 for C-C2SVA between raters indicated substantial agreement. CONCLUSIONS A novel screening measurement for craniocervical bony relationships, the C-C2SVA, is described. A significant difference in C-C2SVA between CM-I patients and controls was found. A C-C2SVA ≥ 5 mm is highly predictive of the need for occipitocervical fusion/ventral decompression in patients with CM-I. Further validation of this screening measurement is needed.