cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Galois cohomology of Witt vectors of algebraic integers

Let $K$ be a complete discrete valuation field of characteristic zero with residue field $k_K$ of characteristic $p\gt 0$ . Let $L/K$ be a finite Galois extension with Galois group $G\,{=}\,G_{L/K}$ and suppose that the induced extension of residue fields $k_L/k_K$ is separable. By the normal basis theorem, $L$ is always a projective $K[G]$ -module. But the ring of integers $\mathcal{O}_L$ is a projective $\mathcal{O}_K[G]$ -module if and only $L/K$ is tamely ramified. For wildly ramified extensions, the structure of $\mathcal{O}_L$ as an $\mathcal{O}_K[G]$ -module is very complicated and quite far from understood. We propose that the ring of Witt vectors $W\s(\mathcal{O}_L)$ is a more well-behaved object. Indeed, we show that for a large class of extensions $L/K$ , the pro-abelian group $H^1(G,W\s(\mathcal{O}_L))$ is zero. We conjecture that this is true in general.
Differential reactivity of germ line allelic variants of a broadly neutralizing HIV-1 antibody to a gp41 fusion intermediate conformation.

Genetic factors, as well as antigenic stimuli, can influence antibody repertoire formation. Moreover, the affinity of antigen for unmutated naive B cell receptors determines the threshold for activation of germinal center antibody responses. The gp41 2F5 broadly neutralizing antibody (bNAb) uses the V(H)2-5 gene, which has 10 distinct alleles that use either a heavy-chain complementarity-determining region 2 (HCDR2) aspartic acid (D(H54)) or an HCDR2 asparagine (N(H54)) residue. The 2F5 HCDR2 D(H54) residue has been shown to form a salt bridge with gp41 (665)K; the V(H)2-5 germ line allele variant containing N(H54) cannot do so and thus should bind less avidly to gp41. Thus, the induction of 2F5 bNAb is dependent on both genetic and structural factors that could affect antigen affinity of unmutated naive B cell receptors. Here, we studied allelic variants of the V(H)2-5 inferred germ line forms of the HIV-1 gp41 bNAb 2F5 for their antigen binding affinities to gp41 linear peptide and conformational protein antigens. Both V(H)2-5 2F5 inferred germ line variants bound to gp41 peptides and protein, including the fusion intermediate protein mimic, although more weakly than the mature 2F5 antibody. As predicted, the affinity of the N(H54) variant for fusion-intermediate conformation was an order of magnitude lower than that of the D(H54) V(H)2-5 germ line antibody, demonstrating that allelic variants of 2F5 germ line antibodies differentially bind to gp41. Thus, these data demonstrate a genetically determined trait that may affect host responses to HIV-1 envelope epitopes recognized by broadly neutralizing antibodies and has implications for unmutated ancestor-based immunogen design.
Poultry markets: on the underground economy of twitter followers

Since Twitter has emerged as one of the easiest ways of reaching people, companies started using it to advertise their products. However, creating a functional network of followers to whom to promote content is not a straightforward task. On the one side, collecting followers requires time. On the other side, companies need to establish a reputation to motivate users to follow them.A number of websites have emerged to help Twitter users create a large network of followers. These websites promise their subscribers to provide followers in exchange for a fee or limited services free of charge but in exchange for the user's Twitter account credentials. In addition, they offer to spread their clients' promotional messages in the network. In this paper, we study the phenomenon of these Twitter Account Markets, and we show how their services are often linked to abusive behavior and compromised Twitter profiles.
P-Selectin Glycoprotein Ligand-1: A Cellular Link Between Perivascular Adipose Inflammation and Endothelial Dysfunction

In normal vascular physiology, nitric oxide (NO) plays a key role in maintaining the vascular wall in a quiescent state by inhibition of inflammation, cellular proliferation, and thrombosis (1). What is generally referred to as endothelial dysfunction should more appropriately be considered endothelial activation. Such activation may be beneficial to humans in certain instances, such as during infection, and harmful in others, such as during obesity. During infection, a reduction in NO may allow for activation of endothelial expression of chemokines, cytokines, and adhesion molecules, designed to recruit and activate leukocytes and platelets. Endothelial activation (endothelial dysfunction) may be considered as a beneficial and physiological response to infection. In the absence of an active infection, most cardiovascular risk factors (smoking, elevated lipids, hypertension, aging) reduce NO bioavailability—a maladaptive response that sets the stage for the development of atherosclerosis. The reduction in NO by cardiovascular risk factors removes an important anti-inflammatory mechanism in the vessel wall (2), which leads to greater recruitment and activation of vessel wall inflammation and thus to further reduction in NO bioavailability. In a sense, a vicious cycle is started. The initial trigger for the reduction in vascular NO bioavailability during obesity may involve activation of vascular nuclear factor-κB by increased systemic levels of free fatty acid and/or increased local production of cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor- α, interleukin-6, and interleukin-1β by adipose …
AFFIRMATIVE PSYCHOTHERAPY FOR AMERICAN JEWS

As psychotherapists have increasingly attended to issues of culture, race, and ethnicity in their clinical work, some groups have not received adequate attention in the professional literature. One such group is American Jews, who represent a small, culturally distinct group of people who have experienced a long history of oppression. Because of the substantial within-group variability, stereotypes are often used in the place of knowledge about or actual experience working with American Jews. To reduce reliance on stereotypes and assumptions about Jews, it is important to understand both Jews and Jewish culture, as well as how to provide culturally congruent and affirmative psychotherapy services to this community. To provide some guidance in working with American Jewish clients, this article presents (a) basic demographic information about American Jews, (b) information about Judaism and Jewish culture, and (c) aspects of culturally appropriate psychotherapy with American Jews.
In-situ TEM Study of Thermally Induced Voids in 180 nm Cu Interconnects

Cu interconnects have decreased in width and are at around 100 nm. A decrease in interconnect width have led to a predominately bamboo structured Cu lines. In Cu interconnects, void formation during high temperature is a reliability issue, and this study looks at the void formation behavior in damascene Cu interconnects with a predominately bamboo microstructure. First, the crystal texture and grain morphology of the Cu interconnects was observed. Then to determine the void formation behavior, in-situ Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) was performed. Voids that formed as a result of in-situ heating were analyzed in terms of preferential void formation sites and crystal orientation where voids formed. In bamboo structured lines, voids formed at the triple junction of grain boundary and Cu/diffusion barrier interface. The crystal orientation where voids nucleated was studied to identify diffusion paths during void nucleation and growth.
Post-injury conditioning with lipopolysaccharide or lipooligosaccharide reduces inflammation in the brain

Abstract Background Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of mortality and disability in the Western world. The first stage of TBI results from the mechanical damage from an impact or blast. A second stage occurs as an inflammatory response to the primary injury and presents an opportunity for clinical intervention. In this study, we investigated the effect of pre- and post-injury treatment with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Escherichia coli and lipooligosaccharide (LOS) from Neisseria meningitidis on levels of cerebral inflammatory cells, circulating blood cells, and pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine levels in a rat model of neuroinflammation induced by intrastriatal injection of IL-1β to mimic the second stage of TBI. Methods LPS or LOS was administered intravenously (IV) or intranasally (IN) 2 h pre- or post-injection of IL-1β. The rats were euthanized 12 h following IL-1β injection. Brain sections were immunostained with antibody to ED-1, a microglia cell marker. Cells in whole blood were assessed with a VetScan HM2 analyzer, and cytokine levels in sera were analyzed with a Bio-Plex system. Results Pre- and post-injury IV administration of LPS or LOS significantly reduced microglia in the brain, and IN pre-treatment with LPS or LOS showed a statistical trend towards reducing microglia. Pre- and post-treatment IV with LOS increased circulating levels of IL-2 and IL-4, whereas IN post-treatment with LPS reduced levels of the inflammatory cytokines, TNF-α and IFN-γ. Conclusions The findings strongly support continued investigation of post-conditioning with LPS or LOS as potential neuroprotective treatments for neuroinflammation from TBI.
An Overview of the Temperature Dependence of the Strength of the Ni3Al System

Many L12 ordered alloys including the Ni3Al intermetallic system are noted for their anomalous temperature dependence of strength. It is also generally accepted that this dependence is due to a thermally assisted cross-slip, work hardening based model [1,2]. An alternative antiphase boundary (APB) based model has long been dismissed by the research community because prior calculations of APB energy, and some measurements, have shown that the appropriate APB energy of Ni3Al should remain constant with temperature [3]. These aspects will be reviewed briefly and will serve as a basis for a presentation of some more recent results. These will include the strain rate insensitivity of strength versus temperature in the increasing strength temperature region, a result that is, in our view, rather contradictory to the thermally assisted cross-slip model. Some very recent calculations of equilibrium APB energies will also be reviewed in the context of the strength dependence issue. These results show that the equilibrium APB energy increases with temperature. The question of what role, if any, equilibrium APB plays in the deformation and strengthening process will be discussed.
Revenue Process Internal Control For Manufacturers: An Evaluation Tool For Independent Auditors And Managers

Effective management of the revenue process is critical to the success and long-run viability of any business. The revenue process also entails an elevated risk area for financial reporting fraud (AICPA 2002; Beasley et al., 2010). Accordingly, this important process demands heightened attention from independent auditors and company managers, and internal control activities must be considered as part of the ongoing evaluations of this important area. This paper presents a tool for evaluating internal control objectives and activities pertinent to the revenue process for companies operating in the manufacturing sector. This evaluation tool may be used by independent auditors as a general benchmark in performing a preliminary evaluation of a manufacturing client’s internal control over the revenue process. Independent auditors who will find the tool most useful will primarily be those wishing to comply with U.S. Generally Accepted Auditing Standards (GAAS), including those performing integrated audit engagements in accordance with Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) Auditing Standard No. 5 and the new requirements set forth in the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission’s (COSO) Internal Control – Integrated Framework. In instances where important internal control activities have been omitted from the client’s system, the auditor should consider whether the omission increases the risk of material misstatement. This tool may also be used by managers to evaluate the adequacy of their company’s internal control activities within the revenue process.
Test-Taking Skills of High School Students With and Without Learning Disabilities

This study assessed the test-taking skills of 776 high school students, 35 of whom were diagnosed with learning disabilities (LD). Students completed a computerized battery of timed reading tests a...
Three-dimensional indoor light positioning algorithm based on nonlinear estimation

With the development of location based services (LBS), indoor positioning has been a popular research topic in recent years. Since global positioning system (GPS) signal suffers from severe attenuation when penetrating through solid walls, other alternatives are proposed to realize indoor positioning. Visible light communication (VLC) systems offer a practical solution. Light emitting diode (LED) is able to be modulated in high speed as a transmitter, and a photodiode (PD) is commonly a receiver to detect the optical signal strength. In VLC based indoor positioning system, LEDs are applied for both positioning and illumination purposes so that infrastructure cost and power consumption are decreased. In addition, light positioning system provides other advantages such as no electromagnetic interference and better immunity against multipath reflections. Several methods are proposed to realize indoor positioning, such as triangulation, scene analysis and proximity, which are also applicable for a VLC based system. In prior works, the height of receiver is known so that the coordinates on the horizontal plane can be calculated. In this paper, the proposed method includes two stages: the height is presumed in the prediction stage and nonlinear estimation is applied in the correction stage to realize three dimensional coordinate estimation.
Crecimiento de la población y desarrollo económico : el caso de México

Hace veinte anos existian dos posiciones polarizadas respecto de las implicaciones de las tendencias demograficas: una pesimista y otra optimista. Los pesimistas aseguraban que el crecimiento demografico acelerado constituia una trampa para los paises mas pobres: sus mejores esfuerzos por desarrollarse servirian unicamente para sostener a una poblacion todavia mayor en condiciones desventajosas y aun de deterioro. Los que sostenian Ia posicion contraria, Ia optimista, negaban cualquier implicacion funesta del crecimiento de Ia poblacion, asegurando que Ia pobreza era causada por defectos institucionales perfectibles originados por una division de Ia propiedad altamente desigual, el sistema capitalista, o una interferencia injustificada del gobierno en un mercado libre. Los pesimistas ofrecian el argumento clasico malthusiano de que Ia oferta de requerimientos basicos tales como alimentos no podrian aumentar con la misma rapidez con que tendia a crecer Ia poblacion. A menos que se redujera de inmediato Ia tasa de natalidad, seria infructuoso cualquier esfuerzo para lograr el desarrollo economico y social.
Interests Facilitate Forming Agreements: Examining Negotiators' Task Representations

A common claim about negotiation is that parties' interests define the problem that any agreement needs to solve (Fisher, Ury & Patton, 1991). The prescription is that parties should negotiate over interests, not positions. Consequently, parties who construe their goal as satisfying their interests should be more likely to reach agreement, and form higher quality agreements, than parties who construe their goal as reaching a position. This is a specific version of a general cognitive psychological claim: one's understanding of a problem determines the solutions that one considers (Simon, 1978). Three studies of dyadic negotiations show that negotiators who represented their goals in terms of interests as opposed to positions, and communicated those interests to the other party, were more likely to reach integrative agreements.
A labor-saving method for rearing the driedfruit beetle (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) on pinto bean-based diet

A rearing method for the dries fruit beetle, Carpophilus hemipterus (L.), is described. A common, pinto bean-based diet is used. Rearing time was saved and survival of the insects was increased by allowing neonate larvae to transfer themselves, and by collecting wandering larvae (rather than pupae) for distribution into rearing cups. This method effectively produces large numbers of insects of known physiological age.
The Growth of Third-Party Voting: An Empirical Case Study of Vermont, 1840–55

This article seeks to uncover reasons behind the relatively high levels of third-party voting found at the state level in the early- to mid-1800s. I argue that third parties needed to develop localized bases of support from which they could expand. By analyzing Liberty Party gubernatorial voting in Vermont during the 1840s, the article shows that the party developed support in particular towns, maintained this over election cycles, and spread the party message to neighboring towns after the creation of a formal party organization. I also find that towns with strong Liberty Party support in the early 1840s continued to be strong supporters of the Free Soil Party in the 1850s. I then present evidence that early bases of Liberty Party support tended to vote at much higher levels for the Republican Party in 1855, indicating that the geographic development of an abolitionist party in the early 1840s helped in the establishment of Republican success in Vermont. These findings highlight the importance of geographic context in the development of third-party voting in the early- to mid-1800s and its connection to the rise of the Republican Party.
19F NMR Fingerprints: Identification of Neutral Organic Compounds in a Molecular Container

Improved methods for quickly identifying neutral organic compounds and differentiation of analytes with similar chemical structures are widely needed. We report a new approach to effectively “fingerprint” neutral organic molecules by using 19F NMR and molecular containers. The encapsulation of analytes induces characteristic up- or downfield shifts of 19F resonances that can be used as multidimensional parameters to fingerprint each analyte. The strategy can be achieved either with an array of fluorinated receptors or by incorporating multiple nonequivalent fluorine atoms in a single receptor. Spatial proximity of the analyte to the 19F is important to induce the most pronounced NMR shifts and is crucial in the differentiation of analytes with similar structures. This new scheme allows for the precise and simultaneous identification of multiple analytes in a complex mixture.
DEVELOPMENTAL CORRELATES OF GENOME SIZE IN PLETHODONTID SALAMANDERS AND THEIR IMPLICATIONS FOR GENOME EVOLUTION.

We present an analysis of the evolutionary relationship between genome size (C-value, mass of DNA per haploid nucleus) and developmental rate using observations of limb regeneration in salamanders of the family Plethodontidae. Rates of growth and differentiation of regenerating limbs are reported for 27 plethodontid species whose C-values range from 14 to 76 picograms. A phylogenetic analysis employing Felsenstein's method of independent contrasts indicates that rate of differentiation is inversely proportional to genome size, although we have not identified any statistically significant association between genome size and the growth rate of regenerating tissue. Our results are consistent with an interpretation that genome size may place a limit on the maximum rate of regeneration attainable in plethodontid salamanders. The implications of our findings for the "junk DNA," "nucleotypic DNA," "selfish DNA," and "skeletal DNA" hypotheses of genome evolution are discussed.
Primary Nephrotic Syndrome with Hypercoagulability Treated with Low Molecular Weight Heparin

Objective:To explore the curative effect of low molecular weight heparin for treating primary nephrotic syndrome with hypercoagulability.Methods:62 patients were ramdomly divided into treatment group(n=31)and control group(n=31).All patients were given routine treatment.The treatment group was treated with low molecular weight heparin too.Results:After 4 weeks' treatment,the urine protein excretion and D-dimer were lower in treatment group than those of control group(P﹤0.01).After 8 weeks' treatment,the differences of all indexes between two groups were significant(P﹤0.01).There was no tendency of bleeding.Conclusion:Low molecular weight heparin combined with glucocorticoid is remarkable,safe and convenient at the early period of primary nephrotic syndrome with hypercoagulability.
A large-scale study on repetitiveness, containment, and composability of routines in open-source projects

Source code in software systems has been shown to have a good degree of repetitiveness at the lexical, syntactical, and API usage levels. This paper presents a large-scale study on the repetitiveness, containment, and composability of source code at the semantic level. We collected a large dataset consisting of 9,224 Java projects with 2.79M class files, 17.54M methods with 187M SLOCs. For each method in a project, we build the program dependency graph (PDG) to represent a routine, and compare PDGs with one another as well as the subgraphs within them. We found that within a project, 12.1% of the routines are repeated, and most of them repeat from 2–7 times. As entirety, the routines are quite project-specific with only 3.3% of them exactly repeating in 1–4 other projects with at most 8 times. We also found that 26.1% and 7.27% of the routines are contained in other routine(s), i.e., implemented as part of other routine(s) elsewhere within a project and in other projects, respectively. Except for trivial routines, their repetitiveness and containment is independent of their complexity. Defining a subroutine via a per-variable slicing subgraph in a PDG, we found that 14.3% of all routines have all of their subroutines repeated. A high percentage of subroutines in a routine can be found/reused elsewhere. We collected 8,764,971 unique subroutines (with 323,564 unique JDK subroutines) as basic units for code searching/synthesis. We also provide practical implications of our findings to automated tools.
Macroscopic Interferometry: Rethinking Depth Estimation with Frequency-Domain Time-of-Flight

A form of meter-scale, macroscopic interferometry is proposed using conventional time-of-flight (ToF) sensors. Today, ToF sensors use phase-based sampling, where the phase delay between emitted and received, high-frequency signals encodes distance. This paper examines an alternative ToF architecture, inspired by micron-scale, microscopic interferometry, that relies only on frequency sampling: we refer to our proposed macroscopic technique as Frequency-Domain Time of Flight (FD-ToF). The proposed architecture offers several benefits over existing phase ToF systems, such as robustness to phase wrapping and implicit resolution of multi-path interference, all while capturing the same number of subframes. A prototype camera is constructed to demonstrate macroscopic interferometry at meter scale.
Gas Pipeline Rupture Detection and Control

Automatic and remotely controlled main line valves are used in natural gas transmission pipelines to provide early shutoff of gas flow in the event of a pipeline rupture. Operating experience, however, shows that these valves and their associated rupture detection and valve operator systems are not always reliable in sensing a line break and in achieving valve closure. Under sponsorship of the Gas Research Institute (GRI), a technology assessment program was conducted by Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) to define the present state of the art of automatic and remotely controlled main line valves, to evaluate their effectiveness in achieving isolation of a ruptured line, and to identify technology improvements that are needed to improve valve reliability. This study was based on a survey of the US natural gas industry`s experience with line break control equipment, and upon computational modeling of typical pipeline systems to simulate the generation and propagation of pressure and flow transients created by a line break. Line break transients were also compared to the transient levels generated by normal pipeline operations (start-up and shutdown of compressors, branch load changes, etc.). Also during this study, a semi-empirical computer mode was developed to calculate pipeline blowdown time as amore » function of break size, pipeline configuration, and operating conditions, even in cases where valve closure is delayed for some period after the line break occurs. This information can be of value to pipeline engineers and emergency response planners.« less
The Effect of Breathing, Movement, and Meditation on Psychological and Physical Symptoms and Inflammatory Biomarkers in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background This study evaluated the effects of the Breath-Body-Mind Workshop (BBMW) (breathing, movement, and meditation) on psychological and physical symptoms and inflammatory biomarkers in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Methods Twenty-nine IBD patients from the Jill Roberts IBD Center were randomized to BBMW or an educational seminar. Beck Anxiety Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory, Brief Symptom Inventory 18, IBD Questionnaire, Perceived Disability Scale, Perceived Stress Questionnaire, Digestive Disease Acceptance Questionnaire, Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire, fecal calprotectin, C-reactive protein, and physiological measures were obtained at baseline and weeks 6 and 26. Results The BBMW group significantly improved between baseline and week 6 on Brief Symptom Inventory 18 (P = 0.02), Beck Anxiety Inventory (P = 0.02), and IBD Questionnaire (P = 0.01) and between baseline and week 26 on Brief Symptom Inventory 18 (P = 0.04), Beck Anxiety Inventory (P = 0.03), Beck Depression Inventory (P = 0.01), IBD Questionnaire (P = 0.01), Perceived Disability Scale (P = 0.001), and Perceived Stress Questionnaire (P = 0.01) by paired t tests. No significant changes occurred in the educational seminar group at week 6 or 26. By week 26, median C-reactive protein values decreased significantly in the BBMW group (P = 0.01 by Wilcoxon signed-rank test) versus no significant change in the educational seminar group. Conclusions In patients with IBD, participation in the BBMW was associated with significant improvements in psychological and physical symptoms, quality of life, and C-reactive protein. Mind-body interventions, such as BBMW, which emphasize Voluntarily Regulated Breathing Practices, may have significant long-lasting benefits for IBD symptoms, anxiety, depression, quality of life, and inflammation. BBMW, a promising adjunctive treatment for IBD, warrants further study.
Enhanced second harmonic generation from multilayered organic thin films

Nonlinear optical processes offer mechanisms necessary to substitute optically active materials or complement current technologies for switches, modulators, and memories.1 Recent research in this area has centered around a search for materials with high nonlinear susceptibilities [X(2), etc.] and for methods to fabricate sturctures that would facilitate such applications.1 Some organic materials are known to have unusually large susceptibilities.1·2 A merocyanine dye was found to have the largest known β (10−27 esu). Ordered thin films of these materials can be made using the Langmuir/Blodgett (L/B) deposition technique in which monomolecular layers ~30 A thick are sequentially transferred to a substrate from an air-water Interface.3,4 Here we report the observation of SHG from multilayered structures each made entirely of one material. This includes multilayers of the hemicyanlne dye mixed with a polymer (PMMA) as well as multilayers of the dye itself.
Informed Consent in Advanced Reproductive Technology

Informed consent is a process in which clinicians educate patients in a manner that allows the patients to make an educated decision providing permission to undergo a procedure. This chapter reviews the necessity of real education in the process and practical tools to improve informed consent in the clinic.
A cost-benefit study of sizing residential PV and ES systems based on synthesized load profiles

This paper presents a cost-benefit study of residential photovoltaic (PV) systems equipped with energy storage (ES) based on synthesized load profiles. By modeling major appliance consumptions, typical load profiles of a residential household in a given area with outdoor temperature profiles can be obtained to study whether or not installing a rooftop PV system can be profitable. Ten years' solar irradiation and temperature data in North Carolina area are used to build four case studies: a base case with no PV installation, a PV-only case, a PV with ES case, and a PV with storage and demand side management (DSM) case. Duke Energy time-of-use rate is used in major case studies, and PG&E time-of-use rate is added for comparison of bill saving brought by the PV-ES system under different rate structures. The net present value (NPV) and years of return (YR) are used to quantify the cost and benefit of installing a residential PV-ES system. Marginal savings brought by PV and ES per kW (/kWh) capacity are analyzed to help the home owners size the components of the PV-ES system.
Thermodynamics and kinetics in weakly chemisorbed phases

In a heterogeneous surface reaction, the reactants, intermediates, and products can be weakly chemisorbed along their respective reaction paths. For example, considering the fragmentation of a molecule into strongly adsorbed atoms, dissociation will occur out of a less strongly bonded molecular entity. But not only the importance for heterogeneous catalytic reactions stimulates the investigation of weakly chemisorbed phases, they also exhibit interesting sequences of phase transitions which are reflected in their thermodynamic functions and in the adsorption and desorption kinetics of the ad- sorbate. For the present purpose, we define weak chemisorption as a chemical interaction between adsorbate and substrate with a low adsorption energy (EB ≲70 kJ/mol), resulting in a facile balance between the interaction of the individual species with the substrate and lateral forces between the chemisorbed molecules. The distinction between “weak chemisorption” and “chemisorption” is rather arbitrary, but a difference is obvious with respect to pure physisorption involving only Van der Waals forces between adsorbate and substrate.
Excitation of XeI resonance lines in Xe + /Xe collisions

Symmetric ion-atom reactions in xenon of the type ${\mathrm{Xe}}^{+}$ + Xe\ensuremath{\rightarrow}${\mathrm{Xe}}^{+}$ + Xe* have been found to occur with large cross sections at collision energies below 50 eV (c.m.). The reaction cross section for production of the two lowest Xe resonance levels $6s{[\frac{3}{2}]}_{1}^{o}$ and $6{s}^{\ensuremath{'}}{[\frac{1}{2}]}_{1}^{o}$ at collision energies of 7-50 eV have been measured by monitoring the 147.0- and 129.6-nm XeI lines. All reactions involving ${\mathrm{Xe}}^{+}(^{2}P_{\frac{3}{2},\frac{1}{2}}^{o})$ impacting ions display kinetic-energy thresholds corresponding to the transfer of more than 11 eV of translational energy into internal energy. Experimental kinetic-energy thresholds exceed the thermochemical energy difference between the reactants and products evaluated under infinite separation conditions. Excitation of the lowest resonance level of Xe, $6s{[\frac{3}{2}]}_{1}^{o}$, is found to depend strongly upon the electronic state $^{2}P_{\frac{3}{2}}^{o}$ or $^{2}P_{\frac{1}{2}}^{o}$, of the reacting xenon ions.
Association of Change in Iris Vessel Density in Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography With Anterior Segment Ischemia After Strabismus Surgery.

Importance Anterior segment ischemia (ASI) is a rare but potentially serious complication of strabismus surgery. Indocyanine green angiography and fluorescein angiography have been used to reveal iris-filling defects for clinicians considering a patient’s risk of ASI. However, both are limited by invasive and time-consuming nature and potential adverse effects. Recently, optic coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) has been introduced and used to image iris vasculature in individuals without abnormalities. Objective To determine the use of iris OCT-A for patients undergoing strabismus surgery and who are at risk for ASI. Design, Setting, and Participants This prospective case series study took place in an academic center. Adults undergoing strabismus surgery on at least 1 vertical muscle were prospectively recruited. The study took place from June to November 2017, and analysis began in January 2018. Interventions Indocyanine green angiography and OCT-A of the iris preoperatively and 1 day postoperatively. Main Outcomes and Measures A masked examiner evaluated all images and determined whether any filling defects were present qualitatively (lack of perfusion) and quantitatively (for OCT-A using internal software to calculate vessel density). Results Ten eyes of 9 individuals (mean [SD] age, 63 [11] years) were included. Two individuals (22.2%) identified as Hispanic, and 7 (77.8%) identified as white. There were 6 women (66.7%). The mean preoperative vessel density (percentage of the area occupied by vessels) averaged for all quadrants decreased from 57% preoperatively to 55% postoperatively (mean difference, 2%; 95% CI, 0.4%-4.2%;P = .05). When comparing quadrants adjacent to operated muscles, the mean vessel density decreased from 56% to 53% (mean difference, 2.6%; 95% CI, 0.17%-4.8%;P = .02). In addition, OCT-A detected vascular filling defects in the quadrant adjacent to the operated muscle on the patients in whom they were present (n = 1, inferior rectus recession). Conclusions and Relevance In this preliminary study, OCT-A determined iris vessel filling defects when present. In addition, OCT-A gives qualitative vessel density values that can be compared preoperatively and postoperatively although the clinical relevance of small differences is not known. While only 10 eyes were evaluated, and as such generalizability of these findings cannot be determined, the results suggest that OCT-A may be a useful tool in the evaluation of patients undergoing strabismus surgery to determine whether a patient is at risk to develop ASI.
Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG prevents epithelial barrier dysfunction induced by interferon-gamma and fecal supernatants from irritable bowel syndrome patients in human intestinal enteroids and colonoids

Disruption of intestinal barrier homeostasis is an important pathogenic factor in conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) improves IBS symptoms through unclear mechanisms. Previous studies utilizing colorectal adenocarcinoma cell lines showed that LGG metabolites prevented interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) induced barrier damage but the model employed limited these findings. We aimed to interrogate the protective effects of LGG on epithelial barrier function using human intestinal epithelial cultures (enteroids and colonoids) as a more physiologic model. To investigate how LGG affects epithelial barrier function, we measured FITC-Dextran (FD4) flux across the epithelium as well as tight junction zonula occludens 1 (ZO-1) and occludin (OCLN) expression. Colonoids were incubated with fecal supernatants from IBS patients (IBS-FSN) and healthy controls in the presence or absence of LGG to examine changes in gut permeability. Enteroids incubated with IFN-gamma demonstrated a downregulation of OCLN and ZO-1 expression by 67% and 50%, respectively (p<0.05). This was accompanied by increased paracellular permeability as shown by leakage of FD4. Pretreatment of enteroids with LGG prevented these changes and normalized OCLN and ZO-1 to control levels. These actions were independent of its action against apoptosis. However, these protective effects were not seen with LGG cell wall extracts, LGG DNA, or denatured (boiled) LGG. Intriguingly, IBS-FSN injected into colonoids increased paracellular permeability, which was prevented by LGG. LGG, likely due to secreted proteins, protects against epithelial barrier dysfunction. Bacterial-derived factors to modulate gut barrier function may be a treatment option in disorders such as IBS.
Abstract IA11: Epigenetic mechanisms in pathogenesis and targeted therapy for B-cell lymphomas

Recent genome sequencing studies have revealed that somatic mutation of genes that control the epigenome are the most common class of genetic lesion in DLBCLs and FLs. The epigenome is composed of hundreds of distinct chemical modifications of DNA, histones, RNA, and other molecules. Collectively, the epigenome functions as cellular “software”: instructions that encode and determine the phenotype of every type of normal and malignant cell. The fact that mutations in epigenetic modifiers are so common in DLBCL and FL points to the significance of the epigenome in these tumors. The four most common mutations in epigenetic modifiers in DLBCL and FL affect the following genes: KMT2D (also called MLL2), CREBBP, EP300, and EZH2. Eighty percent of lymphoma patients have at least one of these four mutations and often have more than one. Moreover, these mutations usually occur very early during lymphomagenesis and so represent important “founder” events. One fascinating insight that has recently emerged is that these genes play critical roles in germinal center B cells, which are the cells from which DLBCL and FL arise. This is interesting because in many ways germinal center B cells already manifest tumor-like phenotypes. Indeed, it appears that much of the effect of mutations in KMT2D, CREBBP, EP300, and EZH2 is to “lock” B cells into the germinal center mode, which essentially means that it maintains B cells in a highly proliferative, mutagenic state that is hidden from immune surveillance. Fortunately, novel small-molecule inhibitors have been developed that can correct the abnormal epigenomic programs caused by these mutations, and some of these drugs are already showing efficacy in clinical trials. In addition to suppressing lymphoma cells, this kind of treatment may enhance antilymphoma response by restoring immune surveillance. In my talk I will explain how these mechanisms work, and how we can design and implement novel therapeutic regimens that can suppress lymphoma cells with minimal toxicity to other tissues. Citation Format: Ari Melnick. Epigenetic mechanisms in pathogenesis and targeted therapy for B-cell lymphomas [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR International Conference held in cooperation with the Latin American Cooperative Oncology Group (LACOG) on Translational Cancer Medicine; May 4-6, 2017; Sao Paulo, Brazil. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2018;24(1_Suppl):Abstract nr IA11.
Health Utility Values as an Outcome Measure in Patients Undergoing Functional Septorhinoplasty.

ImportanceBy measuring health utility values (HUVs) for patients with nasal obstruction after septorhinoplasty, the association of nasal congestion with overall health can be measured and the funct...
A Distributed Algorithm to Calculate Max-Min Fair Rates Without Per-Flow State

Most congestion control algorithms, like TCP, rely on a reactive control system that detects congestion, then marches carefully towards a desired operating point (e.g. by modifying the window size or adjusting a rate). In an effort to balance stability and convergence speed, they often take hundreds of RTTs to converge; an increasing problem as networks get faster, with less time to react.This paper is about an alternative class of congestion control algorithms based on proactive-scheduling: switches and NICs "pro-actively" exchange control messages to run a \em distributed algorithm to pick "explicit rates for each flow. We call these Proactive Explicit Rate Control (PERC) algorithms. They take as input the routing matrix and link speeds, but not a congestion signal. By exploiting information such as the number of flows at a link, they can converge an order of magnitude faster than reactive algorithms.Our main contributions are (1) s-PERC ("stateless" PERC), a new practical distributed PERC algorithm without per-flow state at the switches, and (2) a proof that s-PERC computes exact max-min fair rates in a known bounded time, the first such algorithm to do so without per-flow state. To analyze s-PERC, we introduce a parallel variant of standard waterfilling, 2-Waterfilling. We prove that s-PERC converges to max-min fair in 6N rounds, where N is the number of iterations 2-Waterfilling takes for the same routing matrix.We describe how to make s-PERC practical and robust to deploy in real networks. We confirm using realistic simulations and an FPGA hardware testbed that s-PERC converges 10-100x faster than reactive algorithms like TCP, DCTCP and RCP in data-center networks and 1.3--6x faster in wide-area networks (WANs). Long flows complete in close to the ideal time, while short-lived flows are prioritized, making it appropriate for data-centers and WANs.
Mapping the care transition from hospital to skilled nursing facility.

Purpose Care transitions between hospitals and skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) are often associated with breakdowns in communication that may place patients at risk for adverse events. Less is known about how to address these issues in the context of busy patient care settings. We used process mapping to examine hospital discharge and SNF admission processes to identify opportunities for improvement. Methods A quality improvement (QI) team worked with frontline staff to create a process map illustrating the sequence of events involved with hospital discharge and SNF admission. The project was completed at an academic medical centre and two local SNFs in the north-eastern United States. Participants represented the care management, medicine, nursing, admissions, and physical therapy services. The data informed hospital QI interventions seeking to improve the quality and safety of hospital-SNF transfers and reduce unplanned hospital readmissions. Results The final process map highlighted numerous activities that need to be coordinated between care teams, including the time-sensitive exchange of clinical and administrative information. Participants shared insights about how care teams reach critical decisions about patient disposition and post-acute care utilization. Conclusions Process mapping highlighted specific opportunities for improving communication between care teams. Participants advocated for earlier assessments of patients' functional status and support systems, including reliable at-home services. They also reasoned that improved communication would help patients and providers reach decisions together, coordinate work efforts, and better prepare for hospital discharge and SNF admission. This information can be used to improve patient care transitions between hospitals and SNFs.
Stressful Life Changes and Their Relationship to Nutrition-Related Health Outcomes Among US Army Soldiers

Stressful life changes may tax people’s adaptive capacity. We sought to determine if and when experiences of stressful life changes were associated with increased odds of adverse nutrition-related health outcomes among US Army soldiers relative to those who did not experience the same stressful life change. An additional aim was to determine which stressful life changes had the greatest association with these outcomes and if there were gender differences in the magnitude of the associations. Stressful life changes studied included: changes in marital status, combat deployment or return from deployment, relocation, adding a child, change in rank, change in occupation, and development of a physical limitation to duty. Using longitudinal data from the Stanford Military Data Repository, which represents all active-duty soldiers aged 17–62 between 2011 and 2014 (n = 827,126), we employed an event history analysis to examine associations between stressful life changes and a subsequent diagnosis of hyperlipidemia, substantial weight gain, and weight-related separation from the Army. Marriage was associated with an increase in the odds of substantial weight gain 3 months later for both men and women. Developing a physical duty limitation was associated with an increase in the odds of a hyperlipidemia diagnosis 2 months later for both men and women, as was substantial weight gain 2 months later. Stressful life changes were also associated with increased odds of nutrition-related health outcomes, although we found gender differences in the magnitude of the associations. Findings could be used to mitigate the effects of stress on health by health professionals.
In Vivo Optogenetics with Stimulus Calibration.

Optogenetic reagents allow for depolarization and hyperpolarization of cells with light. This provides unprecedented spatial and temporal resolution to the control of neuronal activity both in vitro and in vivo. In the intact animal this requires strategies to deliver light deep into the highly scattering tissue of the brain. A general approach that we describe here is to implant optical fibers just above brain regions targeted for light delivery. In part due to the fact that expression of optogenetic proteins is accomplished by techniques with inherent variability (e.g., viral expression levels), it also requires strategies to measure and calibrate the effect of stimulation. Here we describe general procedures that allow one to simultaneously stimulate neurons and use photometry with genetically encoded activity indicators to precisely calibrate stimulation.
What’s a Nice Christian Like You Doing in a Profession Like This?

A very short essay in answer to the ever-present challenge: “How can a Christian lawyer represent guilty people?” In addition, Prof. Schutt briefly discusses the basic question of God’s justice as opposed to human justice and the public’s concerns about lawyers. Also, part of this essay addresses the importance of moral procedure, sometimes pejoratively called “legal technicalities,” to the separation of God’s jurisdiction and man’s.
The sodium/glucose cotransporters as potential therapeutic targets for cystic fibrosis lung diseases revealed by human lung organoid swelling assay

Abstract Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a lethal autosomal recessive inherited disease caused by mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene. In the present work we derived human proximal lung organoids (HLOs) from patient-derived pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) carrying disease-causing CFTR mutations. We evaluated the forskolin (Fsk) stimulated swellings of these HLOs in the presence of CFTR modulators (VX-770 and/or VX-809) and demonstrated that HLOs respond to CFTR modulators in a mutation dependent manner. Using this assay, we examined the effects of sodium/glucose cotransporter 1/2 (SGLT1/2) inhibitor drugs phlorizin and Sotagliflozin, based on our findings that SGLT1 expression is upregulated in CF HLOs and airway epithelial cells comparing to their wild-type counterparts. Unexpectedly both drugs promoted dF/dF HLO swelling. These results reveal SGLTs, especially SGLT1, as potential therapeutic targets for treating CF lung diseases, and demonstrate the use of PSC-derived HLOs as a preclinical tool in CF drug development.