cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Luminescent Zirconium(IV) Complex as a Molecular Photosensitizer for Visible Light Photoredox Catalysis

Titanium and zirconium complexes carrying two 2,6-bis(pyrrolyl)pyridine ligands have been synthesized and characterized. The neutral complexes Ti(MePDP)2 and Zr(MePDP)2 (MePDP = 2,6-bis(5-methyl-3-phenyl-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)pyridine) show intense ligand-to-metal charge-transfer bands in the visible region and undergo multiple reversible redox events under highly reducing conditions. Zr(MePDP)2 exhibits photoluminescent behavior and its excited state can be quenched by mild reductants to generate a powerful electron transfer reagent with a ground state potential of −2.16 V vs Fc+/0. This reactivity was utilized to facilitate dehalogenation reactions, the reduction of electron-poor olefins, and the reductive coupling of benzyl bromide via photoredox catalysis. In these reactions, the earth-abundant metal complex Zr(MePDP)2 acts as a substitute for the precious metal photosensitizer [Ru(bpy)3]2+.
Quality of Care

It is sometimes difficult for surgeons(or any clinician)to define quality of care—particularly as a policy measure.In practice,we tend to know it when we see it(or when we do not),but there are still controversies as to what is and what is not quality care.For example, should high-quality care be defined as state-of-the-art care? Reasonable care? Or given the trend toward levels of evidence, should high-quality care be only evidence-based care?
Abstract 3820: Ultrasensitive DNA methylation detection using sputum and plasma for early detection of NSCLC

Purpose: The National Lung Cancer Screening Trial provides hope that early detection can result in a reduction of mortality from lung cancer. This study was to determine if molecular alterations of sputum and plasma in patients with CT detected pulmonary nodules could predict patients with malignancy from those without. Materials and Methods: We conducted a prospective case-control study obtaining cases and controls from the Lung Cancer Spore Trial at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Plasma, sputum and pre-operative CT scans were obtained from all patients. We processed the plasma, sputum and tumor by using promoter Methylation on beads followed by quantitative methylation specific real-time PCR to investigate promoter methylation status of six cancer-related genes, CDO1, TAC1, HOXA7, HOXA9, SOX17 and ZFP42. Results: 223 patients were analyzed, including 162 patients with NSCLC and 61 patients with benign lesions. The sensitivity and specificity values for lung cancer detection in plasma, sputum or in both are shown. Plasma methylation seems to be more specific than sputum methylation. Both concomitant methylation in both plasma and sputum yielded the highest specificity for all gene combinations. Promoter methylation of CDO1, TAC1, HOXA9 and SOX17 has a high specificity but low sensitivity to detect lung cancer. Conclusion: Our gene panel of promoter methylation has a high enough specificity to be clinical useful but its sensitivity is low. The integration of this panel with other biomarkers would be needed to create a platform of high enough specificity and sensitivity to be clinically applicable. Citation Format: Chen Chen, Alicia Hulbert, Alejandro Stark, Kristen Rodgers, Beverly Lee, Malcolm Brock, James Herman. Ultrasensitive DNA methylation detection using sputum and plasma for early detection of NSCLC. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 3820. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-3820
Control of the Stokes Shift with Strong Coupling

Strong coupling of excitons in macroscopic ensembles of quantum emitters and cavities (or surface plasmons) can lead to dramatic change of the optical properties and modification of the dispersion curves, characterized by the normal mode splitting of the order of 1 eV. Such gigantic alteration of the hybrid energy states enables scores of unparalleled physical phenomena and functionalities, ranging from enhancement of electrical conductivity to control of chemical reactions. While coupling of single emitters to a cavity is a pure quantum mechanical phenomenon, the origin of the strong coupling involving large ensembles of molecules is the subject of controversy. In this work, the strong coupling of rhodamine 6G dye molecules with silver Fabry–Perot cavities is studied and the significant increase of the Stokes shift between the excitation and the emission bands of hybridized molecules is demonstrated. The proposed empirical model of the underlying physics calls for the quantum mechanical parity selection rule.
Role of damping in spin Seebeck effect in yttrium iron garnet thin films

The role of damping in the spin Seebeck effect (SSE) was studied experimentally for the first time. The experiments used Y3Fe5O12 (YIG)/Pt bilayered structures where the YIG films exhibit very similar structural and static magnetic properties but very different damping. The data show that a decrease in the damping gives rise to an increase in the SSE coefficient, which is qualitatively consistent with some of the theoretical models. This response also shows quasi-linear behavior, which was not predicted explicitly by previous studies. The data also indicate that the SSE coefficient shows no notable correlations with the enhanced damping due to spin pumping, which can be understood in the frame of two existing models.
Top-down fabrication for III-nitride nanophotonics

III-nitride based nanostructures have gained interest as nanoscale light sources in the UV to visible wavelengths. Here we present a top-down approach to enable vertical, high aspect ratio III-nitride-based nanowires with controllable height, pitch, and diameter. Additionally, through the use of orientation-dependent etch rate measurements, the cross-sections of such nanostructures can be predicted and controlled, which can allow for the manipulation of optical properties. The fabrication and lasing characteristics of GaN-based nanowires fabricated by this approach will be presented, along with schemes for single optical mode selection, polarization control, beam shaping, and wavelength tuning. Finally, we present a new method for the etching of size-controlled InGaN quantum dots (QDs) using quantum size effects.
Tunable RF front-end filter with wideband blocker suppression for multi-standard applications

This paper presents a tunable active bandpass filter with bandwidth-adjustable notches close to the passband for wideband blocker suppression with high attenuation. The proposed filter is composed of a 3-pole N-path bandstop filter in cascade with an N-path bandpass filter, where the center frequency of the bandpass filter is offset from the bandstop filters. With proper tuning of the coupling capacitors in the bandstop filter, three adjacent notches can be created which provides a larger suppression bandwidth. An implementation of the filter in 65-nm CMOS exhibits a passband tunable between 0.1–1.1 GHz, with a 3-dB bandwidth of 12.4–14.2 MHz, a gain of 9.5–10.3 dB, a noise figure of 4.3–5.8 dB, and a total power consumption of 40–64.3 mW. The blocker 1-dB compression point is 6.5 dBm and the out-of-band IIP3 is 18.4 dBm. The reported filter provides a promising solution to multi-standard, multi-frequency software-defined radio applications.
Between Europe and Asia

This essay addresses an unusual knot of the Russian historiography: was Russia a colonial empire and if so, why did he authorities consistently refuse to identify the empire as such? I am providing some answers by examining the Russian empire in a broad comparative perspective of both European and Asian empires. In the end, the goal of this essay is to re-open a discussion on the nature of the Russian empire.
Computer-Facilitated 5A's for Smoking Cessation: A Randomized Trial of Technology to Promote Provider Adherence.

Introduction Although evidence-based, the 5A’s (Ask, Advise, Assess, Assist, and Arrange) for smoking cessation are often incompletely delivered by primary care providers. This study examines whether a computer tablet 5A’s intervention improves primary care provider adherence to the 5A’s. Study design Cluster RCT. Setting/participants All primary care providers in three urban, adult primary care clinics were randomized for participation. Any English- or Spanish-speaking patient with a primary care appointment who had smoked >100 lifetime cigarettes and at least one cigarette in the past week was eligible. Intervention A cluster RCT comparing computer-facilitated 5A’s with usual care assessed effects on provider adherence to each of the 5A’s as determined by patient report. Intervention subjects used a computer tablet to complete the 5A’s immediately before a primary care appointment. A tailored, patient handout and a structured, clinician guide were generated. Data were collected in 2014–2015 and analyzed in 2016–2017. Main outcome measures Provider adherence to the 5A’s. Results Providers (N=221) saw 961 patients (n=412 intervention, n=549 control) for a total of n=1,340 encounters with n=1,011 completed post-visit interviews (75.4% completion). Intervention providers had significantly higher odds of completing Assess (AOR=1.32, 95% CI=1.02, 1.73) and Assist (AOR=1.45, 95% CI=1.08, 1.94). When looking at first study visits only, intervention providers had higher odds for Arrange (AOR=1.72, 95% CI=1.23, 2.40) and all 5A’s (AOR=2.04, 95% CI=1.35, 3.07) but study visit did not influence receipt of the other 5A’s. Conclusions A computer-facilitated 5A’s delivery model was effective in improving the fidelity of provider-delivered 5A’s to diverse primary care patients. This relatively low-cost, time-saving intervention has great potential for smoking cessation and other health behaviors. Future studies should identify ways to promote and sustain technology implementation. Trial registration This study is registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov NCT02046408.
Do clinical practice guidelines improve processes or outcomes in primary care

ABSTRACT Background: Clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) are common, but it is not clear whether they improve care. Methods: Quality indicators for processes and outcomes of care were obtained from a computerized system-wide database by patient administration and utilization management personnel unaware of this study and without connection to or interests in guideline implementation. These indicators were compared before and after guideline implementation. Results: After the asthma CPG, nebulizer treatments, emergency department visits, and admissions decreased significantly (p < 0.001 for all three) and education increased significantly (p < 0.001). Periodic measurements of lung function and controller medication prescriptions were unchanged. After the diabetes mellitus CPG, microalbumin screens and education increased significantly (p < 0.001). Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor prescriptions and yearly foot examinations decreased significantly, along with the percentage of patients with blood pres...
Emergence of Language-Specific Constraints in Perception of Non-Native Speech: A Window on Early Phonological Development

Adults have difficulty discriminating many non-native speech contrasts, yet young infants discriminate both native and non-native contrasts. Language-specific constraints appear by 10–12 months. Evidence presented here suggests that mature listeners’ discrimination is constrained by perceived similarities between non-native sounds and native categories, and that this native language influence may not be fully developed at 10–12 months. The findings suggest that young infants have broadly-tuned perception of phonetic details. Next, they begin to discern equivalence classes that roughly correspond to native phonemes. Perception of phonological contrasts, however, depends on recognition of their linguistic function, and thus develops later. But what sort of information in speech forms the basis for perception of equivalence classes or phonemic contrasts? I argue that distal articulatory gestures, rather than proximal auditory-acoustic cues or abstract phonetic features, are the primitives both for adults’ perceptual assimilations of non-native phones and for infants’ emerging recognition of native categories.
Translation and Processing of MHV-A59 Virion RNA in Reticulocyte Lysates and Infected Cells

The first event in the replication of coronavirus MHV-A59, after adsorption, penetration and uncoating, must be the translation of virion RNA into an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. The study of RNA polymerase activity in infected cells, and the identification of the proteins responsible for that activity is difficult because the protein is synthesized in very small quantities. To circumvent that problem, we have used a cell-free translation system from rabbit reticulocytes to identify the proteins coded for by input genomic RNA. We have also confirmed the validity of this approach by identifying the major in vitro translation product in infected L-2 cells.
Electric Vehicle Routing Problem with Time Windows, Recharging Stations and Battery Swapping Stations

Due to new environmental measures and targets for reducing emissions, many logistics companies have started adopting electric vehicles in their fleet for cargo delivery. They are increasingly becoming popular for last mile deliveries. However, due to their limited range, they require frequent visits to recharging stations while delivering products to customers along their route. Long recharging times at available stations can have an adverse impact on route planning especially when short delivery time windows are considered. Battery swapping has the potential to reduce recharging times by replacing the vehicles’ batteries with fully charged batteries. However, each battery swap is expensive than traditional recharging methods. In this paper, we present a variant of the Electric Vehicle Routing Problem with Time Windows and Recharging Stations by allowing the available stations to serve both as Recharging Stations (RSs) and Battery Swapping Stations (BSSs). To the best of our knowledge, this problem has not been previously addressed in the literature. A model and algorithm for this problem are presented, computational experiments are performed and insights regarding when consideration of BSSs are particularly useful are provided.
Impacts of a web-based educational program for veterans who read their mental health notes online.

Objective This study evaluates whether a web-based educational program for patients who read their mental health notes online improves patient-clinician communication and increases patient activation. Methods The web-based educational program, developed with end-user input, was designed to educate patients on the content of mental health notes, provide guidance on communicating with clinicians about notes, and facilitate patients' safe and purposeful use of their health information. Eligible patients were engaged in mental health treatment (≥1 visit in the prior 6 months) and had logged into the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) patient portal at least twice. Participants completed measures of patient activation, perceived efficacy in healthcare interactions, patient trust in their clinicians, and patient assessment of the therapeutic relationship before and after participating in the program. A total of 247 participants had complete data and engaged with the program for 5 minutes or more, comprising the analytic sample. Multivariate analysis using mixed effects models were used to examine pre-post changes in outcomes. Results In bivariate analyses, patient activation, perceived efficacy in healthcare interactions, and trust in clinicians increased significantly between pre- and post-training assessments. In fully adjusted models, changes in patient activation [b = 2.71 (1.41, 4.00), P < 0.01] and perceived efficacy in healthcare interactions [b = 1.27 (0.54, 2.01), P < 0.01)] remained significant. Conclusions Findings suggest that this educational program may help empower mental health patients who read their notes online to be active participants in their care, while also providing information and tools that may facilitate better relationships with their clinicians.
Dissecting The Etiology of Tourette Syndrome Through Large-Scale Genome, Epigenome And Transcriptome Studies and Cross-Disorder Analysis

Abstract Tourette Syndrome (TS) is a psychiatric disorder of childhood onset, marked by multiple motor and vocal tics and is caused by a complex and as of yet not fully understood genetic background interacting with environmental factors. Interestingly, there is a fluctuation in the severity of symptoms, with tics waxing and waning over time. Furthermore, the phenotype is extremely complex with 90% of patients presenting with additional neuropsychiatric symptomatology, and, notably, there is high comorbidity with other neurodevelopmental disorders such as Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and Autism Spectrum Disorders leading to the hypothesis of a shared genetic basis. There are multiple large-scale efforts aiming to identify the genetic basis of TS and we are starting to reach an inflection point at which results are starting to become reproducible. Importantly, studies of the epigenome and genome-wide gene-expression patterns are allowing us to uncover additional missing pieces of the puzzle. Here, we present results from two of the largest collaborative efforts for TS: EMTICS (European Multicentre Tics in Children Study) and TS-EUROTRAIN (a Marie Curie Initial Training Network). Besides a genome-wide association study on 1500 patients with TS, we also present the first epigenomewide association study for TS supporting a role for aberrant DNA methylation levels in tic disorders as part of a broader neurodevelopmental dysregulation. We also present the first genome-wide gene expression study based on longitudinal follow-up of 700 TS patients for TS for two years and comparisons at points of tic exacerbation and remission in order to identify genes whose expression patterns correlate with tic fluctuation. The genes implicated by our analysis are enriched in cell-adhesion molecules and related to neurodevelopment but intriguingly, also cancer. Interestingly, several microRNAs and small nucleolar RNAs are found among our top hits. Meta-analysis of TS GWAS with GWAS for ADHD and ASD sheds light into the shared etiology identifying genes that play a role across the spectrum of neurodevelopmental disease. Leveraging power from large-scale collaborative efforts and participation from a multitude of clinical sites around the world we present here an integrative view of current studies aiming to understand the etiology of TS.
2-Amino-5,5-di­methyl­thia­zol-4(5H)-one

Our work exploring the synthesis and optimization of increasingly hindered thiols led to the synthesis and crystal structure determination of the title compound, C5H8N2OS, a dimethly-substituted 4-thia­zolidinone. The mol­ecular packing exhibits a herringbone pattern with the zigzag running along the b-axis direction; the compound crystallizes as chains of hydrogen-bonded dimers formed by N—H⋯N hydrogen bonds, which build centrosymmetric R22(8) ring motifs in the crystal.
Selective central vascular ligation (D3 lymphadenectomy) in patients undergoing minimally invasive complete mesocolic excision for colon cancer: optimizing the risk-benefit equation.

Aim Complete mesocolic excision (CME) with central vascular ligation (CVL) has been advocated for right colon adenocarcinoma (RC), but the radicality of vascular dissection remains controversial. Our aim is to report outcomes of selective CVL (D3 lymphadenectomy) during minimally invasive CME for RC. Method A prospective database identified patients who were treated for RC between 2009 and 2016. Minimally invasive CME was standard. The radicality of lymphadenectomy was defined as high ligation (HL) versus CVL based on operative reports and videos. Two blinded radiologists independently evaluated the pre- and postoperative CT scans for radiographically abnormal nodes. Results Of 197 patients who underwent CME, HL was performed in 56 (28%) and CVL in 141 (72%). There were no baseline differences in age, sex, body mass index, American Society of Anesthesiologists score or pathological staging, and there were no major intra-operative complications in either group (including no major vascular injuries). The median total number of nodes retrieved was 27 and 31 (P = 0.011) in HL and CVL groups, resepctively, with pathologically positive nodes identified in 33.9% and 39.8% (P = 0.704), respectively. Preoperative imaging identified abnormal cN3 nodes in 1.5% of patients; all of whom underwent CVL. No abnormal cN2 or cN3 nodes remained on postoperative imaging. The 60-day mortality was 0.5%, and major morbidity was 4%. One patient (0.5%) had an anastomotic recurrence after a median follow-up of 22 months. Conclusion With imperfect preoperative clinical nodal staging, and in the absence of randomized data, the low morbidity and oncological outcomes observed support the approach of CME with HL as a minimum standard, with CVL (D3 lymphadenectomy) in selected cases.
20%-efficient epitaxial GaAsP/Si tandem solar cells

Abstract We present epitaxial 1.7 eV/1.1 eV GaAs0.75P0.25/Si tandem cells with an NREL-certified efficiency of 20.0%, enabled by a thermally stable tunnel junction interconnect along with a hydrogenated amorphous Si (a-Si:H) carrier-selective contact for the Si bottom cell. Building on these promising tandem results, we also demonstrate a 16.5%-efficient GaAs0.75P0.25 single-junction top cell on Si and a 7.78%-efficient GaAs0.75P0.25-filtered Si bottom cell (both NREL-certified) with improved short-circuit current densities. The quantum efficiency of the GaAs0.75P0.25 single-junction top cell on Si is boosted across the whole wavelength range due to the use of a higher growth temperature, indicating an improved minority-carrier diffusion length. The implementation of random pyramid texturing at the Si back surface enables improved quantum efficiency at wavelengths of 900–1200 nm, corresponding to an increase of 1.42 mA/cm2 in short-circuit current density. The improved short-circuit current densities of the sub-cells together show a pathway to >23% efficiency in a two-terminal tandem configuration.
Application of Wearable Biosensors to Construction Sites. II: Assessing Workers’ Physical Demand

AbstractThe construction industry is one of the world’s most labor-intensive industries. In it, workers are challenged almost every day by highly demanding physical tasks. Although current methods ...
Advancement in Tracking Down Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Rice: Molecular Breeding and Genomics Insight

In an effort to increase the productivity of rice, there has been a substantial increase in the application of exogenous nitrogen fertilizer but with detrimental consequences that negatively impacted the environment. Hence, it becomes extremely essential under the current scenario to reduce the application of nitrogen but devise new solutions to maximize the nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of crops. NUE has been defined as the yield of dry matter produced per unit of nitrogen applied to the soil. Consequently, conscious efforts need to be put in to identify plants with higher yield under low N input. Identifying the QTLs as well as the candidate genes and the signaling pathways associated with several facets of NUE using molecular markers can be used as an important tool as has already been seen for other areas of research like biotic and abiotic stresses. Here in this chapter, we have talked about the use of marker-assisted technology in improving the identification of QTLs associated with NUE in rice.
Conclusion: Agitation and Affinity in the Data Mine

Chapter 6, “Agitation and Affinity in the Data Mine,” offers both a redress of key arguments and, in considering the proprietary state of contemporary youth, poses the question “where do we go from here?” The original Luddites, the United States v Jones Supreme Court decision, and a cyberattack on Estonia are drawn on to emphasize that our present reality remains contested terrain and that young people, as resilient and empowered social actors, stand for more than dupes and red herrings in corporate and government aims for cyberdominance. A broader embrace of designing as a common practice is called for to counter the design anesthetic of proprietary media and involve youth in drawing together publics of common cause and consciousness.
Radiative recombination dominated n-type monocrystalline CdTe/MgCdTe double-heterostructures

Monocrystalline CdTe/MgCdTe double-heterostructures (DHs) grown on lattice-matched InSb substrate have achieved remarkable carrier-lifetimes up to 3.6 μs recently. In this work, external luminescence quantum efficiency (η ext ) of n-type CdTe/MgCdTe DHs is determined using Photoluminescence Quantum Efficiency (PLQE) measurements. The external luminescence quantum efficiency of a 1-μm-thick CdTe/MgCdTe DH indium-doped n-type at 1×1017 cm−3 is measured to be 3.1%, which corresponds to a spontaneous emission quantum efficiency (η q ) of 91±4% Such a high efficiency gives an implied open-circuit voltage (Voc), or quasi-Fermi-level splitting, of 1.13 V. Using hole-selective p-type a-SiCx:H contacts, a highest Voc of 1.096 V was demonstrated using the monocrystalline CdTe/MgCdTe DH absorbers.
An Agile Digital Platform to Support Population Health—A Case Study of a Digital Platform to Support Patients with Delirium Using IoT, NLP, and AI

For an organization to be customer centric and service oriented requires that it use each encounter with a customer to create value, leverage advanced technologies to design digital services to fulfill the value, and assess perceived value-in-use to continue to revise the value as customer expectations evolve. The adaptation of value cycles to address the rapid changes in customer expectations requires agile digital platforms with dynamic software ecosystems interacting with multiple actors. For public health agencies focused on population health, these agile digital platforms should provide tailored care to address the distinct needs of select population groups. Using prior research on aging and dynamic software ecosystems, this paper develops a template for the design of an agile digital platform to support value cycle activities among clinical and non-clinical actors, including population groups. It illustrates the design of an agile digital platform to support clients that suffer from delirium, using digital services that leverage Internet of Things, natural language processing, and AI that uses real-time data for learning and care adaption. We conclude the paper with directions for future research.
Clinical Impact of the Expanded BioFire Blood Culture Identification 2 Panel in a U.S. Children's Hospital.

The BioFire blood culture identification (BCID) panel decreases time to pathogen identification and time to optimal antimicrobial therapy. The BioFire blood culture identification 2 (BCID2) panel is an expanded panel with 17 additional targets and resistance genes; however, there are limited data on its impact in pediatric patients. We compared the BioFire BCID2 panel and the BCID panel by assaying BCID2 simultaneously with the current standard of care on 191 consecutive blood culture specimens at Children's Hospital Colorado. The primary outcome was equivalence, measured as percent agreement between the two panels and standard culture. The theoretical reduction in time to optimal therapy was calculated overall, with subanalyses performed on Enterococcus species and Gram-negative resistance genes. The percent agreement was equivalent between the two panels, with BCID at 98% (95% confidence interval [CI], 95 to 100%) and BCID2 at 97% (95% CI, 93 to 99%); the difference was 1.2% (95% CI, -0.8, 3.1%; P < 0.0001). There was not a significant reduction in time to theoretical optimal therapy with BCID2 compared to BCID for all cultures (reduction of 9 h, P = 0.3). Notably, 13 Enterococcus faecalis isolates were detected on BCID2, which would have resulted in a theoretical reduction in time to optimal antimicrobial therapy of 34 h (P = 0.0046). Five CTX-M genes were detected for enteric bacteria. The BioFire BCID2 panel had equal rates of detection compared to the BioFire BCID panel in pediatric patients. It had the advantage of detecting more organisms at the species level, and significantly reducing time to theoretical optimal antimicrobial therapy for Enterococcus faecalis. With the additional resistance genes, it also has the potential to impact care with earlier identification of resistant enteric pathogens. IMPORTANCE The BioFire BCID2 panel is an accurate panel that is equivalent to the BioFire BCID panel compared to standard culture. The BioFire BCID2 panel offers several advantages over the BioFire BCID panel, including enterococcal species identification, Gram-negative resistance gene detection, Salmonella identification, and the added mecA/mecC and SCCmec right extremity junction (MREJ) target for better Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (CoNS) differentiation. Most importantly, it provides additional clinical impact with the potential to decrease the time to optimal antimicrobial therapy compared to the BioFire BCID panel, with likely further impact at institutions with a higher prevalence of Gram-negative resistance.
Ten challenges in 3D printing

Three dimensional printing has gained considerable interest lately due to the proliferation of inexpensive devices as well as open source software that drive those devices. Public interest is often followed by media coverage that tends to sensationalize technology. Based on popular articles, the public may create the impression that 3D printing is the Holy Grail; we are going to print everything as one piece, traditional manufacturing is at the brink of collapse, and exotic applications, such as cloning a human body by 3D bio-printing, are just around the corner. The purpose of this paper is to paint a more realistic picture by identifying ten challenges that clearly illustrate the limitations of this technology, which makes it just as vulnerable as anything else that had been touted before as the next game changer.
Linear Programming and Channel Flow Identification

A method is developed for the optimal identification of parameters in unsteady open channel flow. The parameters chosen for the identification are two constants embedded in the generalized friction slope expression which encompasses both the Manning and Chezy equations. A minimax error criterion is formulated and solution is obtained by the use of the influence coefficient algorithm and linear programming. The required information is a set of concurrent input and output measurements and appropriate initial and boundary conditions of the system. Numerical results are presented which demonstrate the efficiency of the formulation and the rapidity of the rate of convergence. The advantage of this approach is also considered.
Purification of an inositol (1,3,4,5)-tetrakisphosphate 3-phosphatase activity from rat liver and the evaluation of its substrate specificity.

Hepatic inositol (1,3,4,5)-tetrakisphosphate 3-phosphatase activity was detected in a 100,000 x g soluble fraction and a detergent-solubilized particulate fraction. Activity in both fractions increased up to 40-fold after anion-exchange chromatography due to removal of endogenous inhibitors (Hodgson, M.E., and Shears, S.B. (1990) Biochem. J. 267, 831-834); at this stage the detergent-solubilized particulate activity comprised over 90% of total activity. The particulate phosphatase was further purified by affinity chromatography using heparin-agarose and red-agarose. The latter column resolved two peaks of enzyme activity (designated 1 and 2 by their order of elution from the column). Their proportions varied between experiments, but peak 2 generally predominated and so this was further purified by hydroxylapatite chromatography. The final preparation was typically 38,000-fold purified with a 7% yield. The apparent molecular mass of this enzyme was 66 kDa, as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and gel filtration. The enzyme had little or no affinity for the following: inositol (1,3,4,6)-tetrakisphosphate, inositol (1,3,4)-trisphosphate, inositol (1,3)-bisphosphate, inositol (3,4)-bisphosphate, and para-nitrophenylphosphate. At pH 7.4 the Km for inositol (1,3,4,5)-tetrakisphosphate was 130 nM and the Vmax was 4250 nmol/mg protein/min. The purified enzyme also dephosphorylated inositol (1,3,4,5,6)-pentakisphosphate to inositol (1,4,5,6)-tetrakisphosphate (Km = 40 nM, Vmax = 211 nmol/mg protein/min), and inositol hexakisphosphate to at least five isomers of inositol pentakisphosphate (Km = 0.3 nM, Vmax = 12 nmol/mg protein/min). The latter affinity is the highest yet defined for an enzyme involved in inositol phosphate metabolism. Determinations of IC50 values, and Dixon plots, revealed that with the (1,3,4,5)-tetrakisphosphate as substrate, the pentakis- and hexakisphosphates were potent competitive inhibitors; the Ki values (25 and 0.5 nM, respectively) were similar to their substrate Km values. The kinetic properties of this enzyme, as well as estimates of the cellular levels of its potential substrates, indicate that inositol pentakisphosphate and inositol hexakisphosphate are likely to be the preferred substrates in vivo.
Vegetative endocarditis caused by higher bacteria and fungi: Review of previous cases and report of two cases with autopsies

Abstract 1. 1. Two cases of vegetative endocarditis are reported; in one, Actinomyces graminis was the cause, and, in the other, Histoplasma capsulatum . 2. 2. Ten previously reported cases of vegetative endocarditis caused by higher bacteria, yeasts, or fungi [Candida (Monilia), Actinomyces, Leptothrix, Erysipelothrix and Histoplasma] are reviewed briefly and compared with the present cases. 3. 3. From a study of twelve cases with autopsies, the following points may be of assistance in differentiating between vegetative endocarditis caused by bacteria and that caused by these higher forms: 1. (a) Greater incidence in men. 2. (b) Most patients were over 35 years of age. 3. (c) The serum proteins in the present cases were elevated, with reversal of the albumin-globulin ratio (in the other cases no data are available for comparison). 4. (d) In the presence of the Usual signs and symptoms of vegetative endocarditis, negative blood cultures by routine procedures may suggest a less common causal agent.
Nucleotide Binding by the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Protein-tyrosine Kinase TRINITROPHENYL-ATP AS A SPECTROSCOPIC PROBE

The nucleotide binding properties of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor protein-tyrosine kinase were investigated with the fluorescent nucleotide analog 2'(3')-O-(2,4,6-trinitrophenyl)adenosine 5'-triphosphate (TNP-ATP). TNP-ATP was found to be an active substrate for the autophosphorylation reaction of the recombinant EGF receptor protein-tyrosine kinase domain (TKD). Whereas the Vmax for the TNP-ATP-dependent autophosphorylation reaction was approximately 200-fold lower than that of ATP, the Km for this reaction was similar to that observed with ATP. The nucleotide analog was also shown to be an inhibitor of the ATP-dependent autophosphorylation and substrate phosphorylation reactions of the TKD. Spectroscopic studies demonstrated both a high affinity binding of TNP-ATP to the recombinant TKD and a markedly enhanced fluorescence of the bound nucleotide analog. The fluorescence of enzyme-bound TNP-ATP was attenuated in the presence of ATP, which enabled determination of the dissociation constants for both ATP and the Mn2+ complex of ATP. A truncated form of the EGF receptor TKD lacking the C-terminal autophosphorylation domain exhibited an enhanced affinity for TNP-ATP, which indicated that the autophosphorylation domain occupied the peptide substrate binding site of the TKD and modulated the binding of the nucleotide substrates.
Goodness of Fit

Goodness of fit is assessed by tests of exact fit and indices of approximation. The chi squared statistic is a test of exact fit. Many indices of approximation are based on estimates of the normalized noncentrality parameter, which is a measure of the degree of lack of fit for the model to the data that is invariant of sample size. Discussed are commonly used indices such as the CFI, the RMSEA, the GFI index, and Steiger's Γ1. Keywords: CFI; chi squared; exact fit test; GFI; Goodness of fit; index of approximation; RMSEA; Steiger's Γ1
Thermodynamic Database of Mg‐Al‐Ca‐Sr: A Resource for Alloy Development and Improvement

A thermodynamic database of Mg-Al-Ca-Sr, a basic quaternary for a number of commercial magnesium alloys such as AXJ530 (Mg-4.5Al-3.0Ca-0.14Sr, weight percent hereafter, unless noted otherwise) was developed. Calculated isopleth from Mg-5Al-3Ca to Mg-5Al-3Sr agrees with experimental data reported in the literature. Moreover, using this database and a simple kinetic model proposed by Scheil, the calculated solidification paths of several alloys are likewise in accord with experimental data. Thus, the availability of this database enables one to exploit new alloy compositions for promising properties which can be rapidly validated with few experiments.
Estimation of Surface Freeze–Thaw States Using Microwave Sensors

The transition of the landscape between predominantly frozen and nonfrozen conditions in seasonally frozen environments impacts climate, hydrological, ecological, and biogeochemical processes profoundly. Satellite microwave remote sensing is uniquely capable of detecting and monitoring a range of related biophysical processes associated with the measurement of landscape freeze/thaw status. This chapter provides an overview of the development, physical basis, current techniques, and selected hydrological applications of satellite-borne microwave remote sensing of landscape freeze/thaw states for the terrestrial cryosphere. Major landscape hydrological processes embracing the remotely sensed freeze/thaw signal include timing and spatial dynamics of seasonal snowmelt and associated soil thaw, runoff generation, and flooding, ice breakup in large rivers and lakes, and timing and length of vegetation growing seasons and associated productivity and trace gas exchange. This chapter also summarizes the physical principles of microwave sensitivity to landscape freeze/thaw state, recent progress in applying these principles towards satellite remote sensing of freeze/thaw processes over broad regions, and potential for future global monitoring of this significant phenomenon of the global cryosphere. Keywords: freeze/thaw; microwave remote sensing; backscatter; emissivity; cryosphere
Accelerated force computation for physics-based information visualization

Visualization of similarity is an emerging technique for analyzing relation-based data sets. A common way of computing the respective layouts in an information space is to employ a physics-based mass-spring system. Force computation, however, is costly and of order N2. In this paper, we propose a new acceleration method to adopt a well-known optimized force-computation algorithm which drastically reduces the computation time to the order of N log N. The basic idea is to derive a two-pass, "prediction and correction" procedure including a customized potential function. We have applied this method to two different applications: web access and sales analysis. Both demonstrate the efficiency and versatility of the presented method.
PP15.10 – 2512: Headaches referred to paediatric neurology: How much of a headache is this?

Objective Headaches in childhood are commonly referred to paediatric neurology, necessitating the use of tertiary resources. In most of these situations, simple advice by primary or secondary care practitioners is all that is needed. The aim of our study is to review the referrals of childhood headache to paediatric neurology services in a tertiary unit in United Kingdom. Methods We analysed 60 referrals to two paediatric neurologists at Royal Manchester Children's Hospital over a span of one year by reviewing clinic letters filed on the local hospital network. Our inclusion criteria were all children under the age of sixteen years who were referred with headache as the primary presenting complaint. Those with a previous or pre-existing diagnosis already explaining their headache were excluded from our study. Results Majority of the referrals (87%) were from general practitioners, with the rest from secondary paediatrics. Interestingly, 8% were not on any analgesia at the time of their first appointment. About two thirds of referral letters suggested brain imaging as one of the reasons for referral. After assessment, 18% of children underwent brain MRI and in all these cases, no secondary cause to explain their headache was detected. Primary headache was therefore the final diagnosis made in all cases. Of those diagnosed with migraine, prophylaxis was commenced in 89% of cases after the first appointment. Conclusion In summary, majority of cases referred to tertiary services can probably be dealt with at a primary or secondary level. We believe that better education and improved awareness amongst practitioners at this level will help in the overall management of childhood headaches in the UK.
Dexfenfluramine: action with estradiol on food intake and body weight in ovariectomized rats

Previous work from this laboratory has shown that chronic administration of dexfenfluramine (DF) caused substantial weight loss in rats that were overweight 3-4 mo after ovariectomy (OVX), but not in OVX rats that were of normal weight, as a result of estrogen replacement. The present study was conducted to determine whether the enhanced weight loss in the former group is because of either overweight per se or an inhibitory effect of estrogen on DF. Starting either 0, 6, or 14 wk after OVX, when weight gain was zero, moderate, or near maximal, respectively, rats received a 12-day regimen of either estradiol or the oil vehicle and either DF (3 mg.kg-1.day-1 by osmotic minipump) or no drug. DF had no effect on either food intake or weight gain of groups treated during 0-2 wk after OVX but had significant anorectic and weight loss actions in groups treated 6-8 and 14-16 wk after OVX. Estrogen had a similar effect at all three times and in the 14-wk group produced an effect that was additive with that of DF. Measures of plasma glucose and triglycerides and adipose tissue lipoprotein lipase activity did not correlate with the effectiveness of the drug to promote weight loss.
Recurrent cytogenetic abnormalities in squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck region

We characterized the breakpoints, gains, and losses of chromosome material in squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck region from 29 patients. Cell lines were karyotyped in 1/3 of cases, direct preparations or early in vitro harvests in 1/3, and both in 1/3 of cases. GTG-banding was employed in all cases, as were C-banding and RBG- and AgNOR-staining in most. Some tumors were near-diploid and others near-tetraploid, but many had mixed populations, with diploid, tetraploid, and octoploid subclones representing essentially the same karyotypic pattern. The most frequent changes were deletions. Losses affecting 3p13-p24, 5q12-q23, 8p22-p23, 9p21-p24, and 18q22-q23 ranged in frequency from 40% to 60% of tumors. Loss of the short arm of the inactive X occurred in 70% of tumors from female patients, and loss or rearrangement of the Y occurred in 74% of tumors from male patients. Loss of 18q appeared to be associated with short survival, as did the presence of multiple deletions. There was gain (2-5 extra copies) of 3q21-qter, 5p, 7p, 8q, and 11q13-q23 in 28-38% of tumors. Three tumors had an hsr involving 11q13-q21. Gain of material at 11q13 is postulated to be associated with amplification of the PRADI/CCND gene at that locus. A translocation between proximal 1p and either an acrocentric short arm or proximal 8p or 9p was observed in squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck region but not in female genital tract tumors. No other abnormalities appeared to be site specific, suggesting a pattern of genetic evolution in squamous cell carcinoma that is independent of anatomic site.
The deconstructed campus

Four converging trends are undermining land-based campuses as the preeminent source of knowledge acquisition and certification. The emergence of the learning sciences, the wikification of knowledge, the unbundling of faculty roles, and the migration of learning online are driving fundamental institutional change toward location-independent alternatives. Conventional assumptions about the necessity for, and superiority of, location-dependent teaching and learning at colleges and universities are losing their plausibility as learning is transformed by more effective alternatives offering more precise and scientifically grounded optimizations embedded in Web-based course architectures. The combination of precision education, open courseware, the greater specialization of teaching roles, and the expansion of Web-enabled learning are all implicated in a process leading toward the decentralization of institutional practices supporting land-based learning. These trends are not only disruptive but are serving to displace post-secondary institutions in their traditional role as the primary providers of knowledge and academic credentials.
Denervation-induced changes in perineuronal plexuses in the major pelvic ganglion of the rat: immunohistochemistry for vasoactive intestinal polypeptide and tyrosine hydroxylase and histochemistry for NADPH-diaphorase

To characterize further the injury response of autonomic ganglia, we have examined the effect of chronic denervation on perineuronal plexuses that are immunoreactive for vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) or that stain for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) in the rat major pelvic ganglion, and their relationship to an identified sub-population of neurons in the ganglion (the penile neurons). Penile neurons contain VIP and NADPH diaphorase (NADPH-D) but lack TH. VIP-immunoreactive (VIP-IR) and TH-IR perineuronal plexuses (baskets) are rare in the rat major pelvic ganglion and those present are not associated with penile neurons. A small increase in VIP-IR baskets occurs 2 weeks after proximal interruption of the pelvic nerve, but TH-IR baskets increase five-fold. The emergent VIP-IR and TH-IR baskets enclose TH-negative neurons, none of which are penile ganglion cells. These changes remain up to 4 weeks after denervation. Interrupting the pelvic nerve nearer the margin of the major pelvic ganglion results in a rapid, more dramatic increase in VIP-IR, in cell bodies and beaded fibers, than that seen with the more proximal lesion. About 27% of neurons in the ventral pole of the ganglion are enveloped by NADPH-D perineuronal baskets. The incidence of NADPH-D baskets falls to less than 1% after acute interruption of the pelvic and hypogastric nerves, but their frequency returns to control levels in chronically denervated ganglia. The rapid, vigorous changes in peptide (VIP) fibers after the pelvic nerve is cut close to the major pelvic ganglion may be attributable to the interruption of axons of postganglionic neurons and to preganglionic nerve fibers, whereas the slowly developing changes in VIP-IR and TH-IR fibers after more proximal lesions may represent the more modest effects of true decentralization. The source and significance of the VIP-IR, TH-IR, and NADPH-D baskets that appear in chronically denervated ganglia remain unclear.