cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
F + H2 FH + H potential energy surface: Construction of the reference configuration state function space and MR-ACPF-2 results

A new electronic configuration reference space (subsequently used in multi-reference averaged coupled pair functional (MR-ACPF) or multi-reference configuration interaction singles and doubles (MR-CI(SD)) level treatments of electron correlation) is determined using the aug-cc-pVQZ basis set as a step toward constructing a new potential energy surface (PES) for the F H2 3 FH H reaction. We use our new reference space to calculate several chemically important properties (e.g., barriers, exothermicity, van der Waals wells) of the F H2 PES. We obtain nonrelativistic barrier heights of 1.32 kcal/mol 1 (bent) and 1.67 kcal/mol 1 (collinear) that are 0.2- 0.3 kcal/ mol 1 lower than those obtained from the current best PES. Our nonrelativistic value for the exothermicity is 32.45 kcal/mol 1 , which is 0.7-1.1 kcal/mol 1 higher than the values obtained from some other PESs and 0.45 kcal/mol 1 higher than the experimental value. The van der Waals wells we find are slightly deeper (0.05 kcal/mol 1 ) than the wells on the other PES. The 1-kcal/mol 1 magnitude of the differences among barrier heights, exothermicities, and well depths, obtained in our work and using the most reliable current PESs suggest that to obtain a three-dimensional (3D) PES for the F H2 3 FH H
An overview of generic battery models

Battery performance prediction is crucial in many applications. A good prediction mechanism of the battery performance has many advantages. For example, it increases the battery lifetime by preventing over (dis)charging the battery, it allows utilizing the entire capacity of the battery, and it offers an access to the user to know the amount of energy in the battery pack. In this paper, some battery models are derived and tested on a commercial Lithium battery cell. The results show the capabilities of these models under different tests.
50th Anniversary—Invited Article: Challenges and opportunities for integrated weed management

Despite several decades of modern weed control practices, weeds continue to be a constant threat to agricultural productivity. Herbicide-resistant weeds and weed population shifts continue to generate new challenges for agriculture. Because of weed community complexity, integrated approaches to weed management may help reduce economic effects and improve weed control practices. Integrated weed management emphasizes the combination of management techniques and scientific knowledge in a manner that considers the causes of weed problems rather than reacts to existing weed populations. The goal of weed management is the integration of the best options and tools to make cropping systems unfavorable for weeds and to minimize the effect of weeds that survive. No single practice should be considered as more than a portion of an integrated weed management strategy. The best approach may be to integrate cropping system design and weed control strategies into a comprehensive system that is environmentally and economically viable. Management decisions must also be made on a site- and time-specific basis. Considering weeds in a broader ecological and management context may lead to the use of a wider range of cultural and management practices to regulate weed communities and prevent the buildup of adapted species. This will help producers manage herbicides and other inputs in a manner that preserves their effectiveness and move weed scientists toward the development of more diverse and integrated approaches to weed management.
CYP1A2, GSTM1, and GSTT1 Polymorphisms and Diet Effects on CYP1A2 Activity in a Crossover Feeding Trial

Cytochrome P-450 1A2 (CYP1A2) is a biotransformation enzyme that activates several procarcinogens. CYP1A2 is induced by cruciferous and inhibited by apiaceous vegetable intake. Using a randomized, crossover feeding trial in humans, we investigated the dose effects of cruciferous vegetables and the effects of any interaction between cruciferous and apiaceous vegetables on CYP1A2 activity. We also investigated whether response varied by CYP1A2*1F, GSTM1, and GSTT1 genotypes (glutathione S-transferases that metabolize crucifer constituents) and whether CYP1A2 activity rebounds after apiaceous vegetables are removed from the diet. Participants (N = 73), recruited based on genotypes, consumed four diets for two weeks each: low-phytochemical diet (basal), basal plus single dose of cruciferous (1C), basal plus double dose of cruciferous (2C), and basal plus single dose of cruciferous and apiaceous vegetables (1C+A). CYP1A2 activity was determined by urine caffeine tests administered at baseline and the end of each feeding period. Compared with basal diet, the 1C diet increased CYP1A2 activity (P < 0.0001) and the 2C diet resulted in further increases (P < 0.0001), with men experiencing greater dose-response than women. The 1C+A diet decreased CYP1A2 activity compared with the 1C and 2C diets (P < 0.0001 for both). Although there was no overall effect of CYP1A2*1F or GSTM1-null/GSTT1-null genotypes or genotype-by-diet interactions, there were significant diet response differences within each genotype. Additionally, CYP1A2 activity recovered modestly one day after the removal of apiaceous vegetables. These results suggest complex interactions among dietary patterns, genetic variation, and modulation of biotransformation that may not be apparent in observational studies.
On Gâteaux Differentiability of Convex Functions in WCG Spaces

It is shown, using the Borwein?Preiss variational principle that for every continuous convex function f on a weakly compactly generated space X, every x0 ? X and every weakly compact convex symmetric set K such that \cspan K = X, there is a point of Gâteaux differentiability of f in x0 + K. This extends a Klee's result for separable spaces.
Magnetically actuated MEMS scanning mirror

Keywords: Mems ; magnetic ; scanning mirror ; holographic memory Reference EPFL-CONF-158464View record in Web of Science Record created on 2010-11-25, modified on 2017-05-10
Pharmacokinetic characteristics and safety and tolerability of a reformulated azelastine hydrochloride nasal spray in patients with chronic rhinitis.

Background: Intranasal azelastine hydrochloride (Astelin®, Meda Pharmaceuticals, Somerset, NJ, USA) is a first-line treatment for allergic and non-allergic vasomotor rhinitis with well-established therapeutic efficacy and safety. A new formulation of azelastine nasal spray (Astepro®, Meda Pharmaceuticals, Somerset, NJ, USA), with a sorbitol-based vehicle and sucralose as a taste-masking agent, was developed to reduce the bitter taste of azelastine experienced by some patients. Objective: Two studies were conducted to evaluate the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetic parameters of this new formulation compared with the original azelastine nasal spray. Methods: In a pharmacokinetic study, 18 healthy volunteers received either a single dose of the new formulation or the original formulation and pharmacokinetic parameters were determined. In a 1-year safety study, patients with chronic rhinitis were randomized to the new formulation (n = 430) or the original formulation (n = 432) to assess tolerability an...
Achieving Majority Public Support for Urban Road Pricing: Preserving the Driver's Right to Choose

This paper contends that majority opposition from the voting public is the major barrier to urban road pricing implementation. The reason that majority opposition typically exists is investigated at the aggregate level by a consideration of the main factors that determine whether an individual will vote in favor of or against such proposals. Responses to a 2003 survey of southeast Scotland's population were used to assess public views toward Edinburgh's road pricing proposal. Majority opposition to the proposal was observed in aggregate terms. A bivariate correlation analysis showed that car usage was the primary determinant of stated voting behavior. Further analysis showed that a significant majority of car users and non-car users agreed that urban congestion was a significant problem that needed to be reduced and that considerable support existed for implementing road pricing as a way of achieving this. It appears that the public dislike the concept of employing road pricing as a demand management meas...
Collective Bargaining under EMU: Lessons from the Italian and Spanish Experiences

This paper seeks to shed light on the question of the likely evolution of collective bargaining in Europe under EMU by considering the experiences of two countries (Italy and Spain) in which governments and social actors attempted to decentralized collective bargaining during the 1980s only to opt in favor of a re-centralization of bargaining during the 1990s. The paper argues that the experiences of Italy and Spain offer two kinds of insights for our understanding of the future evolution of wage bargaining in the EU. On the one hand, they illustrate why governments and social actors may come to favor a consolidation of the structure of bargaining under EMU rather than opt for a further decentralization of bargaining. On the other hand, they also suggest that any such process of consolidation faces great obstacles in moving beyond the national level. The recent experiences of Italy and Spain thus lead us to conclude that the most likely outcome in the EU is that of a reaffirmation of the national and national/sectoral-levels of bargaining within member states, rather than either a radical decentralization of bargaining across the EU, or an effective shift to EU-level bargaining.
Improvements and performance of diagnostic compositional imaging using a novel dual-energy x-ray technique

Determine whether or not improvements to the calibration procedure for a novel dual-energy x-ray mammography technique improve the uniformity, accuracy, and/or reproducibility of the measured breast composition. The long-term goal of this project is to develop a technique that will improve the specificity of mammography diagnosis. Energy dependent corrections for light-field, dark-field, and Heel effect were made for each measurement. A total of 20 women who were scheduled for additional imaging prior to biopsy underwent an additional dual-energy/low dose full-field digital mammography scan as part of a pilot study investigating the use of breast composition measures in mammography. The estimated water/lipid/protein content of suspicious lesions were measured. The modified x-ray calibration procedure resulted in over a 3-fold improvement in the uniformity of a flat-field calibration phantom with known breast density. Some preliminary results from women are available and show that different types of breast lesions have different compositions.
Scanning electron microscopic and histologic evaluation of the AcrySof SA30AL acrylic intraocular lens. Manufacturing quality and morphology in the capsular bag.

Abstract Purpose To evaluate the properties of the AcrySof® SA30AL (Alcon Laboratories, Inc.) single-piece foldable posterior chamber intraocular lens (IOL). Setting Center for Research on Ocular Therapeutics and Biodevices, Storm Eye Institute, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA. Methods Two nonimplanted clinical-quality AcrySof IOLs were examined by gross, light, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In addition, 2 eyes implanted with this IOL obtained post-mortem, the first such eyes accessioned in our laboratory and the first described to date, were examined using the Miyake-Apple posterior photographic technique and by histologic sections. Results Scanning electron microscopy of the SA30AL IOL showed excellent surface finish. The edge of the optic was square (truncated) and had a matte (velvet or ground-glass) appearance, a feature that may minimize edge glare and other visual phenomena. A well-fabricated square or truncated optic edge was demonstrated. Miyake-Apple analysis revealed that the SA30AL IOL showed appropriate fit and configuration within the capsular bag. Histologic correlation of the IOL’s square edge and its relation to the capsular bag and adjacent Soemmering’s ring were noted. Conclusions The AcrySof SA30AL IOL is a well-fabricated lens that situates well in the capsular bag. The truncated optic and its relationship to adjacent structures show a morphological profile that has been shown to be highly efficacious in reducing the rate of posterior capsule opacification.
HHLA2 and TMIGD2: A new pathway of the B7/CD28 families and novel targets for human cancer immunotherapy (TUM2P.1028)

We have recently identified HHLA2 as a new member of the B7 family that shares 23-33% similarity to other human B7 proteins and phylogenetically forms a subfamily with B7x and B7-H3. HHLA2 is expressed in humans but not in mice. HHLA2 protein is constitutively expressed on monocytes and induced on B cells, and inhibits proliferation and cytokine production of human CD4 and CD8 T cells in the presence of TCR signaling. HHLA2 protein is not detected in most organs, but is widely expressed in human cancers from the breast, lung, thyroid, melanoma, pancreas, ovary, liver, bladder, colon, prostate, kidney, and esophagus. 56% of patients with triple negative breast cancer have aberrant expression of HHLA2 on their tumors, and high HHLA2 expression is significantly associated with regional lymph node metastasis and stage. HHLA2 copy-number gains are present in 29% of basal breast cancers. HHLA2 binds putative receptors expressed not only on resting and activated CD4 and CD8 T cells but also on APCs. Furthermore, we have identified TMIGD2 as one of the receptors for HHLA2. TMIGD2 shares 23-29% similarity to other human CD28 proteins, but is expressed in humans not in mice. Our results identify HHLA2/TMIGD2 as a new pathway of the B7/CD28 families and suggest that the HHLA2 pathway represents a novel immunosuppressive mechanism within the tumor microenvironment and an attractive target for human cancer therapy.
Moving Beyond Screening: How Emergency Departments Can Help Extinguish the HIV/AIDS Epidemic.

While great strides have been made in diagnostic and treatment strategies, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) remains a major public health epidemic. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report article, “Vital Signs: HIV Diagnosis, Care, and Treatment Among Persons Living with HIV – United States, 2011,” highlights current areas of concern regarding HIV diagnosis and care. The CDC estimates that 1.2 million people in the U.S. are living with HIV. Of them, 86% have received a diagnosis (14% remain undiagnosed and unaware), but only 40% are engaged in care and a mere 30% are virally suppressed. Emergency departments (EDs) can play a major role in combatting the HIV epidemic through regular screening and facilitating linkage to chronic HIV care. Universal opt-out screening as recommended by the CDC in 2006 has been shown to be effective but expensive, and has not been widely implemented in EDs nationwide. Cost-effective models and a renewed commitment from ED providers are needed to enhance ED-based HIV containment strategies.
Multivariate Exponential Operators

An unexpected connection between a certain class of exponential approximation operators and polynomial sequences of binomial type was discovered by Ismail. Building on this result, we present a multivariate analogue of these exponential operators.
Trends and Challenges for the Detection of HME Threats

The challenge of detecting IEDs for various high threat military and civilian operational scenarios requires detecting more than just explosive materials. A potential solution to support improved point, proximity, and stand-off detection is the fused sensing of multiple detection modalities. Article not available.
Effects of thiamine deficiency and octanoate administration, in vivo, on gluconeogenesis in rat kidney slices and on amino acid profile in rat liver.

SummaryThe effects of a single dose of octanoate (3.7 mmoles/kg, ip) on gluconeo-genesis in kidney slices and on amino acid profile in liver were determined in thiamine-deficient and pair-fed control rats. Kidney slices from the deficient rats produced glucose, from lactate or pyruvate, at greatly reduced rates. Octanoate, in vivo, increased the rates of glucose synthesis in slices from both control and deficient rats.Thiamine deficiency caused increased levels of threonine and decreased levels of aspartate but glutamate, glutamine, serine, glycine and alanine were unchanged. Octanoate administration, in vivo, to both control and diabetic rats, reduced the concentrations of all liver amino acids, except glycine.It was concluded that thiamine-deficiency inhibited gluconeogenesis indirectly, possibly via a primary lesion at pyruvate dehydrogenase, but that the inhibition could be circumvented by providing a fatty acid (e.g., octanoate).This work was supported by Army Research Grant #DAHC 19-68G0039. The aut...
Rodent population density and seasonal fluctuation in Guangzhou

Objective To understand the distribution and seasonal fluctuation of rodent population and provide the basis for the control of rodents and rodent-borne diseases in Guangzhou. Methods Rodent density surveillance covering a residential area,a special industry and a natural rural village was conducted once a month with mouse-cage trapping. Results The average rodent density of Guangzhou was 3. 43% from 2006 to 2012. The dominant species was Rattus norvegicus( 69. 55%),followed by Mus musculus( 12. 46%) and R. tanezumi( 11. 26%). It was found that the rodent density was lower in winter and higher in the other seasons( average 3. 66%). The highest density was4. 54% appeared in natural rural village. The proportion of R. tanezumi was higher than that of Mus musculus. Conclusion The high rodent density can cause high risk of diseases propagation. It is important to strengthen the integrated measures to reduce the rodent density.
Assuming Responsibility: Disability Rights and the Preparation of Art Educators

Disability rights activists have presented the public with a socially transformative orientation to people with disabilities. The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 aided this transformation through policy. This article argues in support of art educators joining with disability rights activists in promoting equity. Minimum levels of competence in the understanding and awareness of disability rights issues by graduates of preservice art education programs are suggested.
Assessment of the K–T boundary event

In this book we have attempted to provide an overview of the state of knowledge of plants and the K–T boundary. The center of North America has yielded a rich floral record and the high quality and vast extent of exposures hold much promise for further refinement. Nearly all of the K–T boundary sections that contain evidence of the impact event are in North America. For this reason, it is difficult to make global generalizations other than to say that more sections are needed on other continents. In fact, it is fair to say that without the North American record, we would be hard pressed to argue for major floral change at the K–T boundary. Only the New Zealand sections document floral change relative to the iridium anomaly, and in those sections it is primarily the fern-spore spike that supports the concept of an impact as a causal mechanism. Were the New Zealand sections studied in isolation, it is questionable whether the fern-spore spike would have been recognized as significant. Only when taken in context of the North American fern-spore spike is the New Zealand occurrence interpretable. Nonetheless, its presence and close association with an iridium spike is one of the strongest arguments for the global reach of the immediate and deleterious effects of the bolide impact. The loss of forest canopy at the K–T boundary in New Zealand was followed by the nearly complete recovery of the pre-existing Cretaceous forest.
ISN Forefronts Symposium 2015: Maintaining Balance Under Pressure-Hypertension and the Proximal Tubule.

Renal control of effective circulating volume (ECV) is key for circulatory performance. When renal sodium excretion is inadequate, blood pressure rises and serves as a homeostatic signal to drive natriuresis to re-establish ECV. Recognizing that hypertension involves both renal and vascular dysfunction, this report concerns proximal tubule sodium hydrogen exchanger 3 (NHE3) regulation during acute and chronic hypertension. NHE3 is distributed in tall microvilli (MV) in the proximal tubule, where it reabsorbs a significant fraction of the filtered sodium. NHE3 redistributes, in the plane of the MV membrane, between the MV body, where NHE3 is active, and the MV base, where NHE3 is less active. A high-salt diet and acute hypertension both retract NHE3 to the base and reduce proximal tubule sodium reabsorption independent of a change in abundance. The renin angiotensin system provokes NHE3 redistribution independent of blood pressure: The angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor captopril redistributes NHE3 to the base and subsequent angiotensin II (AngII) infusion returns NHE3 to the body of the MV and restores reabsorption. Chronic AngII infusion presents simultaneous AngII stimulation and hypertension; that is, NHE3 remains in the body of the MV, due to the high local AngII level and inflammation, and exhibits a compensatory decrease in abundance driven by the hypertension. Genetically modified mice with blunted hypertensive responses to chronic AngII infusion (due to lack of the proximal tubule AngII receptors interleukin-17A or interferon-γ expression) exhibit reduced local AngII accumulation and inflammation and larger decreases in NHE3 abundance, which improves the pressure natriuresis response and reduces the need for elevated blood pressure to facilitate circulating volume balance.
Casting for Infantile Idiopathic Scoliosis

Over the past decade, casting for scoliosis has become increasingly popular, likely because surgical methods still fall short of a perfect solution. Casting is a useful technique for treating progressive early-onset scoliosis, because the treatment often results in either a cure for younger children with smaller curves or a delay in the need for surgery in others. Proper technique focuses on the rotational component of the curve and avoids pushing the convex ribs further into the chest.
Reversible Regulation of Promoter and Enhancer Histone Landscape by DNA Methylation in Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells

DNA methylation is one of a number of modes of epigenetic gene regulation. Here, we profile the DNA methylome, transcriptome, and global occupancy of histone modifications (H3K4me1, H3K4me3, H3K27me3, and H3K27ac) in a series of mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) with varying DNA methylation levels to study the effects of DNA methylation on deposition of histone modifications. We find that genome-wide DNA demethylation alters occupancy of histone modifications at both promoters and enhancers. This is reversed upon remethylation by Dnmt expression. DNA methylation promotes H3K27me3 deposition at bivalent promoters, while opposing H3K27me3 at silent promoters. DNA methylation also reversibly regulates H3K27ac and H3K27me3 at previously identified tissue-specific enhancers. These effects require DNMT catalytic activity. Collectively, our data show that DNA methylation is essential and instructive for deposition of specific histone modifications across regulatory regions, which together influences gene expression patterns in mESCs.
A catalogue of Jesuit and ornamental rings from Western New York state: Collections of Charles F. Wray and the Rochester Museum and Science Center

The purpose of this paper is to provide a descriptive catalogue of “Jesuit” and ornamental rings from Seneca-Iroquois archaeological sites in western New York state. Included is a chronological account of the occurrence of ring types and decorative characteristics within the geographical area from which they were obtained.
Neighbor discovery in wireless ad hoc networks based on group testing

Fast and efficient discovery of all neighboring nodes by a node new to a neighborhood is critical to the deployment of wireless ad hoc networks. Different than the conventional ALOHA-type random access discovery schemes, this paper assumes that all nodes in the neighborhood simultaneously send their unique on-off signatures known to the receive node. In particular, a transmitter does not transmit any energy during an ldquooffrdquo mini-slot in its signature sequence. The received signal can be viewed as the outcome of a sequence of tests over the mini-slots, where the outcome of a test is positive if there is energy at the corresponding mini-slot from at least one neighbor, and negative if none of the neighboring nodes transmits energy during the mini-slot. The neighbor discovery problem is thus equivalent to a classical group testing problem. Two practical and scalable detection algorithms are developed from the group testing viewpoint. Unlike some previous neighbor discovery schemes using coherent multiuser detection, which are difficult to implement due to lack of training, the proposed scheme requires only non-coherent energy detection. The proposed algorithms are shown to achieve faster and more reliable discovery than existing random access schemes.
Net Neutrality| CAP! Comcast: The Framing and Distribution Strategies of Policy Advocates Within Networked Communications

This article presents a case study of the CAP! Comcast campaign produced and distributed by the Media Mobilizing Project (MMP) in Philadelphia. The framing and distribution strategies of this campaign, which fought for and won concessions from Comcast during the 2015 franchise negotiation with the city, are analyzed to foreground the labor of policy advocates working within networked communications. The author complicates the often-celebrated potential of social movements that use digital technologies and social media by detailing the multifaceted frame-setting and distribution tactics employed by MMP organizers throughout this campaign. Rather than analyze what frames the news media applies to SMOs, this article reviews how activists developed campaign messages, through media, that challenged existing narratives. Understanding the political and socioeconomic conditions that underlie the work of social movements is necessary for a review of the messaging, organizing, and relationship-building efforts of activists working toward meaningful media policy reform.
Implications of methanol disproportionation on catalyst lifetime for methanol-to-olefins conversion by HSSZ-13

Abstract The effects of methanol space velocity and inlet methanol partial pressure on lifetime and selectivity of methanol-to-olefins catalysis are examined and interpreted to elucidate reaction parameters and propose intermediates and reactions relevant to catalyst deactivation. The propensity of active centers in HSSZ-13 to turn over for methanol-to-olefins catalysis increases when the methanol partial pressure local to organic co-catalysts confined within the inorganic chabazite cages is lower either by decreasing methanol space velocity or inlet methanol partial pressure. High initial methane selectivity reveals methanol disproportionation, to methane and formaldehyde, a primary reaction, and continual methane formation implicates persistent participation of methanol in bimolecular hydrogen transfer reactions throughout the catalyst lifetime. Methane selectivity correlates positively with inlet methanol partial pressure reflecting enhanced relative rates of formaldehyde formation with increasing methanol partial pressure. Subsequent alkylation reactions of olefins- and aromatics-based C C chain growth carriers by formaldehyde accelerate the relative rates of hydrogen transfer and proliferate, apparently, the precursors mediating the transformation of active hydrocarbon pool participants to those inducing catalyst deactivation.
"Forward-Thinking" in U.S. Biobanking.

Aims: Do biobanks enact policies and plans that allow them to anticipate and respond to potential challenges? If a biobank has one such policy or plan, is it likely to have more? Using survey data from 456 U.S. biobanks, we assess four possible indicators of such “forward-thinking.” Methods: We present response frequencies and cross-tabulations regarding policies for return of results and ownership of specimens, and for having a formal business plan and a plan for what happens to specimens if the biobank closes. We analyze the relationships among these indicators, using chi-square for tests of statistical significance. Results: Policies—Sixty-two percent of biobanks have a policy about returning individual research results; 70% have a policy designating ownership of specimens and/or technology. Having these two policies is significantly related (p < 0.001). Plans—34% of biobanks have a formal business plan; 26% have a written plan for what will happen to the specimens if the biobank closes. Having these t...
Differences in treatment of anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis: results of a worldwide survey

The objective of the study was to identify differences in treatment strategies for anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis based on specialty of treating physicians, geographic location, and years in practice. We conducted an anonymous worldwide electronic survey through the Practice Current section of Neurology® Clinical Practice to appraise differences in decisions about first- and second-line treatment and timing for initiation of second-line treatment for anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis. 399 participants answered all questions of the survey and were included in the analysis. 261 (65%) were adult neurologists, 86 (22%) were neurologists treating children, and 52 (13%) were pediatric rheumatologists. 179 (45%) responders practiced in the US. The majority agreed on the use of steroids and/or IVIg for first-line therapy and rituximab alone as second line. Differences in initial treatment regimen based on specialty included increased use of plasma exchange by adult neurologists (27%) and rituximab by pediatric rheumatologists (29%) (χ 2(4) = 27.43, p < 0.001). Trainees opted for plasma exchange (35%) and junior faculty picked rituximab (15%) more as part of first line (χ 2(4) = 13.37, p = 0.010). There was greater usage of anti-metabolites for second-line therapy outside of the US (15%) (χ 2(4) = 11.67, p = 0.020). US physicians also utilized second-line treatment earlier than their mostly European counterparts (14 vs. 23% used later than 2 weeks; χ 2(1) = 4.96, p = 0.026). Although treatment patterns were similar, differences observed across specialties and geographic locations may guide the development of consensus-driven guidelines by multi-disciplinary task forces. These guidelines may promote treatment trials of immunomodulators in autoimmune encephalitides.
Mobile Collaboration for Human and Canine Police Explosive Detection Teams

We designed a communication system for law enforcement officers to use when conducting explosive detection searches with multiple agencies. Dogs trained in explosive detection work alongside human handlers to form a K9 team, which are an integral part of these searches. Officers in K9 teams have a strong bond and communication with these dogs, but noisy locations, long distances, and crowded spaces present challenges. In addition, other officers assigned as backup often lack the experience to read the cues from the canine, which hinders the speed and effectiveness of the team. Coordinating a search with teams from different municipalities presents challenges due to a lack of standard collaboration tools. Getting the right information as quickly as possible saves lives, whether this information is about the areas that have been searched or the location of an explosive device. We hope that in addition to increasing public safety, our system will make working conditions safer for law enforcement officers and their canines.
Burnout Evaluation of Radiation Residents Nationwide: Results of a Survey of United States Residents.

Purpose To assess rates of burnout among US radiation oncology residents and evaluate program/resident factors associated with burnout. Methods and Materials A nationwide survey was distributed to residents in all US radiation oncology programs. The survey included the Maslach Burnout Index–Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS) as well as demographic and program-specific questions tailored to radiation oncology residents. Primary endpoints included rates of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment from MBI-HSS subscale scores. Binomial logistic models determined associations between various residency/resident characteristics and high burnout levels. Results Overall, 232 of 733 residents (31.2%) responded, with 205 of 733 (27.9%) completing the MBI-HSS. High levels of emotional exhaustion and depersonalization were reported in 28.3% and 17.1%, respectively; 33.1% experienced a high burnout level on at least 1 of these 2 MBI-HSS subscales. Low rates of personal accomplishment occurred in 12% of residents. Twelve residents (5.9%) reported feeling “at the end of my rope” on a weekly basis or more. On multivariable analysis there was a statistically significant inverse association between perceived adequacy of work-life balance (odds ratio 0.37; 95% confidence interval 0.17-0.83) and burnout. Conclusions Approximately one-third of radiation oncology residents have high levels of burnout symptoms, consistent with previous oncology literature, but lower levels than those among physicians and residents of other specialties. Particularly concerning was that more than 1 in 20 felt “at the end of my rope” on a weekly basis or more. Targeted interventions to identify symptoms of burnout among radiation oncology residents may help to prevent the negative downstream consequences of this syndrome.
DERRIDA’S ‘PHENOMENOLOGY OF VALUE’ AND THE THING IN THE EPOCH OF GLOBALIZATION

In this paper I argue that Jacques Derrida’s writings on Marx draw out a “double fra- me” that constitutes the phenomenology of value. Whereas the interior part of the frame is com- posed of use-value (understood as a “working thing” or “thinking work”) the exterior corresponds to exchange-value, and it is from the uneven overlapping of the two that the economic reducti- ons, subtractions, and additions begin. I, then, consider the fate of the inner frame in the epoch of globalization, in which the becoming-thing of the thing as such coincides with the projection of the inner frame of value onto the world.
Effects of concussions on visually guided motor actions: A literature review.

Athletes must be able to successfully navigate the soccer pitch or hockey rink to win the game, requiring maximal cognitive resources to successfully compete. Concussions potentially deplete these resources, and the long-term impact of concussions on an individual’s goal-directed visually guided behavior continues to elude the scientific community. While the acute effects on cognition and the motor system have been elucidated elsewhere, long-term effects on performance have been less clear. Additionally, most investigations into long-term postinjury motor behaviors have focused on balance and gait, with little focus on functional upper extremity movements. These arm movements require both cognitive and motor functions to successfully complete the task, such as visually guided reaching, and have received little attention. This review examines the current state of the literature to date on the long-term effects of concussions on cognitive and motor deficits affecting visuomotor behavior.
An Experimental Investigation Of The Characteristics Of An Unsteady Wake

An experimental investigation is conducted to determine the effect of low-frequency mean flow unsteadiness on the characteristics of a plane wake. Complex demodulation and bispectral analysis techniques are used to obtain quantitative measurements of the modulation and coupling mechanisms generated by the mean flow unsteadiness. The results show that lowfrequency mean flow unsteadiness increases the amplitude and phase modulation levels of the frequency components that correspond to the vortex street. A simple numerical example is presented to show that these modulation effects can be seen as variations in the spacings between the successive elements of the vortex street. The increase in modulation can also be seen as an outcome of an increase in the coupling level among the mode at the unsteadiness frequency, the fundamental frequency component, and its harmonics.
Comparison of Lactate, Base Excess, Bicarbonate, and pH as Predictors of Mortality after Severe Trauma in Rhesus Macaques (Macaca mulatta)

Social group housing of rhesus macaques at biomedical facilities is advocated to improve the psychologic wellbeing of these intelligent and social animals. An unintended outcome of social housing in this species is increased intraspecific aggression resulting in cases of severe multiple trauma and posttraumatic shock. The metabolic correlates of oxygen debt are likely important quantifiers of the severity of posttraumatic shock and may serve as useful guides in the treatment of these cases. The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate venous blood lactate, base excess, bicarbonate, and pH as predictors of mortality. These 4 variables were assessed in 84 monkeys with severe traumatic injury and shock. Data were available from blood samples collected prior to resuscitation therapy and the day after resuscitation therapy. The pre- and postresuscitation therapy levels of the variables then were tested for association with 6-d survival. When measured prior to resuscitation therapy, all variables were strongly correlated with each other and had a statistically significant association with survival. No single variable had both strong specificity and high sensitivity when measured prior to resuscitation therapy. Survival analysis showed that as the number of categorical indicators of acidosis increased, 6-d survival decreased. Analysis of the 4 variables after resuscitation therapy indicated that lactate was the only variable significantly associated with survival in our study.
Predictors of palliative treatment in stage IV colorectal cancer

Abstract Background Palliative treatment may be associated with prolonged survival and improved quality of life, but remains underutilized in stage IV colorectal (CRC). We examined a national cohort of stage IV CRC patients to determine the factors associated with palliative treatment. Methods Stage IV CRC patients, classified based on their survival length ( Results Of 85,981 patients analyzed, 10.9% received palliative treatment. For 6–24 months survival, a more recent year of diagnosis, Medicaid, uninsured status, Mountain and Pacific regions were associated with higher odds of palliative treatment. For those who survived 20 miles from treating institutions were associated with increased likelihood of palliative treatment. Conclusions Palliative treatment in stage IV CRC is associated with a more recent year of diagnosis, Medicaid, academic centers, Mountain and Pacific regions of the US.
Determining Immune and miRNA Biomarkers Related to Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Vaccine Types

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) causes serious respiratory tract illness and substantial morbidity and some mortality in populations at the extremes of age, i.e., infants, young children, and the elderly. To date, RSV vaccine development has been unsuccessful, a feature linked to the lack of biomarkers available to assess the safety and efficacy of RSV vaccine candidates. We examined microRNAs (miR) as potential biomarkers for different types of RSV vaccine candidates. In this study, mice were vaccinated with a live attenuated RSV candidate that lacks the small hydrophobic (SH) and attachment (G) proteins (CP52), an RSV G protein microparticle (GA2-MP) vaccine, a formalin-inactivated RSV (FI-RSV) vaccine or were mock-treated. Several immunological endpoints and miR expression profiles were determined in mouse serum and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) following vaccine priming, boost, and RSV challenge. We identified miRs that were linked with immunological parameters of disease and protection. We show that miRs are potential biomarkers providing valuable insights for vaccine development.
Chapter 3 – Vibration Fundamentals

This chapter offers a brief introduction to vibration theory, which is necessary because many of the SHM methods to be discussed in later chapters will utilize vibration concepts and formulae. The chapter starts with the single degree of freedom (1-dof) vibration of a mass-spring-damper. The 1-dof vibration will be used to introduce fundamental basic concepts such as the differential equation of motion, harmonic solutions, free vs. forced vibrations, and damped vs. undamped vibrations. The energy methods approach to vibration analysis will also be discussed. The second part of the chapter covers the vibration of continuous systems governed by partial differential equations (PDE) in space and time. Assuming harmonic behavior in time, the equation of motion is reduced to an ordinary differential equation (ODE) in the space domain. This is a boundary value problem, which yields eigenvalues and eigenmodes, and the associate natural frequencies and modeshapes. The axial vibration of bars, flexural vibration of beams, torsional vibration of shafts, shear-horizontal vibration of an elastic strip, and shear vertical vibration of a short beam will be considered. In each case, the study of free vibrations is followed by the study of forced vibrations. The chapter ends with problems and exercises to assist the student in consolidating the understanding of the basic concepts and in applying the theory to practical situations.
Unveil early-stage nanocytotoxicity by a label-free single cell pH nanoprobe.

Single-cell analysis is an emerging research area that aims to reveal delicate cellular status and underlying mechanisms by conquering the intercellular heterogeneity. Current single-cell research methods, however, are highly dependent on cell-destructive protocols and cannot sequentially display the progress of cellular events. A recently developed pH nanoprobe in our lab conceptually showed its ability to detect intracellular pH (pHi) without cell labeling or disruption. In the present study, we took the cytotoxicity of nanoparticles (NPs) as a typical example of cell heterogeneity, to testify the practicality of the pH nanoprobe in interpreting cell status. Three types of NPs (CeO2, TiO2, and SiO2) were employed to generate varied toxic effects. Results showed that the traditional assays – including cell viability, intracellular ROS generation, and mitochondrial inner membrane depolarization – not only failed to report the nanotoxicity accurately and timely, but also drew confusing or misleading conclusions. The pH nanoprobe revealed explicit pHi changes induced by the NPs, which corresponded well with the cell damages found by the transmission electron microscopic (TEM) imaging. Besides, our results unveiled an unexpectedly devastating effect of SiO2 NPs on cells during the early stage NP-cell interaction. The developed novel pH nanoprobe demonstrated a rapid sensing capability at single-cell resolution with minimum invasiveness. Therefore, it may become a promising alternative for a wide range of applications in areas such as single-cell research and precision medicine.
Asymptomatic Employee Screening for SARS-CoV-2: Implementation of and Reactions to an Employer-Based Testing Program.

ABSTRACT Introduction Asymptomatic testing for SARS-CoV-2 among healthcare workers or other essential personnel could remove infected carriers from the workforce, decreasing chances for transmission and workplace outbreaks. Results from one-time testing programs have been reported but data regarding longitudinal testing, including information about employee’s reactions to such programs, is not readily available. Methods To identify asymptomatic carriers of SARS-CoV-2, we implemented a longitudinal screening program for critical on-site employees within our research institute in early April 2020. We conducted a survey of both on-site employees and those working from home in order to measure their reactions to the testing program. Statistical analysis of the survey was conducted with general linear regression and Pearson’s Chi-Square tests. Results Despite an ongoing high community prevalence rate of COVID-19, to date only two asymptomatic employees tested positive out of 1050 tests run during 7 months of the program. However, 12 symptomatic employees not participating in the program have tested positive. The employee survey was completed by 132/306 (43%) employees, with 93% agreeing that asymptomatic employee screening led to a better and safer working environment and 75% agreeing with on-site public health measures to help contain the virus, but only 58% feeling COVID-19 was a serious threat to their health. Conclusion Our results suggest that a longitudinal asymptomatic employee screening program for SARS-CoV-2 can be accepted by employees and can be used to maintain the health of the workforce, potentially keeping positivity rates below community levels in the face of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Use of a Computerized Algorithm to Evaluate the Proportion and Causes of Potentially Preventable Readmissions Among Patients Discharged to Skilled Nursing Facilities

Abstract Objectives Older patients discharged to skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) for post-acute care are at high risk for hospital readmission. Yet, as in the community setting, some readmissions may be preventable with optimal transitional care. This study examined the proportion of 30-day hospital readmissions from SNFs that could be considered potentially preventable readmissions (PPRs) and evaluated the reasons for these readmissions. Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting and Participants Post-acute practice of an integrated health care delivery system serving 11 SNFs in the US Midwest. Patients discharged from the hospital to an SNF and subsequently readmitted to the hospital within 30 days from January 1, 2009, through November 31, 2016. Methods A computerized algorithm evaluated the relationship between initial and repeat hospitalizations to determine whether the repeat hospitalization was a PPR. We assessed for changes in PPR rates across the system over the study period and evaluated the readmission categories to identify the most prevalent PPR categories. Results Of 11,976 discharges to SNFs for post-acute care among 8041 patients over the study period, 16.6% resulted in rehospitalization within 30 days, and 64.8% of these rehospitalizations were considered PPRs. Annual proportion of PPRs ranged from 58.2% to 66.4% [mean (standard deviation) 0.65 (0.03); 95% confidence interval CI 0.63-0.67; P = .36], with no discernable trend. Nearly one-half (46.2%) of all 30-day readmissions were classified as potentially preventable medical readmissions related to recurrence or continuation of the reason for initial admission or to complications from the initial hospitalization. Conclusions and Implications For this cohort of patients discharged to SNFs, a computerized algorithm categorized a large proportion of 30-day hospital readmissions as potentially preventable, with nearly one-half of those linked to the reason for the initial hospitalization. These findings indicate the importance of improvement in postdischarge transitional care for patients discharged to SNFs.