cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
One-dimensional multiple scattering model for low-energy electron diffraction in the normal geometry

Abstract A one-dimensional multiple scattering model for low energy electron diffraction in the normal geometry is proposed. This model reduces to the regular or a modified kinematic approximation in the weak scattering limit. The one-dimensional multiple scattering model is applied to Xe(111), Ni(001) and Cu(001). The results with Xe(111) are very encouraging in that the calculated LEED spectral peak energies and intensities agree well with experiment. The Ni(001) and Cu(001) results are also encouraging. Although only half the peaks present in the experimental data are present in the Ni(001) and Cu(001) calculated spectra, those peaks present in the calculated spectra are in agreement with the experimental spectra. The authors hypothesize that these missing peaks can be explained by the alternating filled and vacant site structure of (001) planes in face centered cubic crystals.
Tensile and Fatigue Behavior of Friction-Stir Welded Tailor-Welded Blank of Aluminum Alloy 5754

Friction stir welding is becoming increasingly desirable in many applications, including tailor-welded blanks in which two sheets of different thicknesses are joined together to form blanks that can be subsequently stamped into a final product shape. In this article, we have studied the static tensile and tension-tension fatigue behavior of friction stir welded joint in a tailor-welded blank of aluminum alloy 5754. It was observed that the yield and tensile strengths of friction stir welded specimens with weld located 90° to the tensile direction are close to the base material values, but its elongation is nearly half the elongation for the base material. The friction stir welded joints had relatively high-fatigue strength, and was even superior to that of the base aluminum alloy in the high-cycle region. Pre-straining caused by press forming lowered the elongation to failure, but improved the fatigue performance.
Performance variability as a new theoretical mechanism regarding eating disorders and cognitive processing

Bulimic (n = 23) and control subjects (n = 28) were compared on four neuropsychological tests and several clinical variables. Between-group differences were observed on neuropsychological measures that reflected marked impulsivity and problem-solving deficits in the bulimics. Additional between-group comparisons, based on the variability of performance on the neuropsychological tests, revealed that bulimics were more variable than controls on approximately 50% of the tests given Performance variability on the remaining two tests was equal across the bulimic and control groups. This represents the first known application of this performance variability analysis in subjects with bulimia nervosa. It is proposed that there may be considerable variability in performance among bulimics and that by examining performance from this "sub-group" perspective may lead to a more analytic understanding of this eating disorder.
Fate of Myelin Lipids during Degeneration and Regeneration of Peripheral Nerve: An Autoradiographic Study

Four weeks after labeling myelin lipids with an intraneural injection of 3H-acetate, sciatic nerves were crushed, and the distribution of radiolabeled myelin lipids was followed by autoradiography from 1 d to 10 weeks later. Just prior to crush, silver grains were localized to the myelin sheath. Three days after crush, axons were degenerating and myelin sheaths were breaking down; silver grains appeared over lipid droplets within Schwann cells, fibroblasts, and macrophages. One week after crush the basal-lamina-delimited Schwann-cell tubes (Bungner bands) contained myelin debris, and some tubes already contained regenerating axons. Schwann cells were often displaced to the periphery of the tubes by phagocytes containing heavily labeled myelin debris; extratubal macrophages within the endoneurium contained labeled lipid droplets but no myelin debris. Two weeks after nerve crush silver grains were associated with newly formed myelin around regenerating axons. Many extratubal endoneurial macrophages now contained labeled myelin debris and lipid droplets. By 3 weeks myelination of regenerating axons was advanced, and the myelin sheaths were well labeled. Extratubal macrophages had become the major labeled structure within the nerve because they contained large amounts of labeled myelin debris and lipid droplets. From 4 to 10 weeks after nerve crush the new myelin sheaths continued to thicken and to be well labeled. Debris- laden extratubal macrophages remained the major site of labeled material within the endoneurium. Our results confirm that there is reutilization of myelin cholesterol by Schwann cells to form new myelin, and indicate that some lipid catabolism takes place in Schwann cells and endoneurial fibroblasts prior to infiltration of the nerve by macrophages. However, most of the myelin debris is phagocytized by macrophages within 1–2 weeks following nerve injury. These debris-laden macrophages persist within the nerve for many weeks, indicating that much of the salvaged cholesterol is not reutilized for myelin regeneration.
Genetic, ecological, and behavioural divergence between two sibling snapping shrimp species (Crustacea: Decapoda: Alpheus)

Examination of genetic and ecological relationships within sibling species complexes can provide insights into species diversity and speciation processes. Alpheus angulatus and A. armillatus, two snapping shrimp species with overlapping ranges in the north-western Atlantic, are similar in morphology, exploit similar ecological niches and appear to represent recently diverged sibling species. We examined phylogenetic and ecological relationships between these two species with: (i) sequence data from two mitochondrial genes (16S rRNA and COI); (ii) data on potential differences in microhabitat distribution for A. armillatus and A. angulatus; and (iii) data from laboratory experiments on the level of reproductive isolation between the two species. DNA sequence data suggest A. armillatus and A. angulatus are sister species that diverged subsequent to the close of the Isthmus of Panama, and that haplotype diversity is lower in A. armillatus than in A. angulatus. Both species are distantly related to A. heterochaelis and A. estuariensis, two species with which A. angulatus shares some similarities in coloration. Ecological data on the distribution of A. angulatus and A. armillatus from two locations revealed differences in distribution of the two species between habitat patches, with each patch dominated by one or the other species. However, there was no apparent difference in distribution of the two species within habitat patches with respect to microhabitat location. Ecological data also revealed that heterospecific individuals often occur in close proximity (i.e. within metres or centimetres) where sympatric. Behavioural data indicated that these species are reproductively isolated, which is consistent with speciation in transient allopatry followed by post-divergence secondary contact. Our data further resolve taxonomic confusion between the sibling species, A. armillatus and A. angulatus, and suggest that sympatry in areas of range overlap and exploitation of similar ecological niches by these two recently diverged species have selected for high levels of behavioural incompatibility.
All Roads Lead to Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells: The Technologies of iPSC Generation

Generation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) via the ectopic expression of reprogramming factors is a simple, advanced, yet often perplexing technology due to low efficiency, slow kinetics, and the use of numerous distinct systems for factor delivery. Scientists have used almost all available approaches for the delivery of reprogramming factors. Even the well-established retroviral vectors confuse some scientists due to different tropisms in use. The canonical virus-based reprogramming poses many problems, including insertional mutagenesis, residual expression and re-activation of reprogramming factors, uncontrolled silencing of transgenes, apoptosis, cell senescence, and strong immunogenicity. To eliminate or alleviate these problems, scientists have tried various other approaches for factor delivery and transgene removal. These include transient transfection, nonintegrating viral vectors, Cre-loxP excision of transgenes, excisable transposon, protein transduction, RNA transfection, microRNA transfection, RNA virion, RNA replicon, nonintegrating replicating episomal plasmids, minicircles, polycistron, and preintegration of inducible reprogramming factors. These alternative approaches have their own limitations. Even iPSCs generated with RNA approaches should be screened for possible transgene insertions mediated by active endogenous retroviruses in the human genome. Even experienced researchers may encounter difficulty in selecting and using these different technologies. This survey presents overviews of iPSC technologies with the intention to provide a quick yet comprehensive reference for both new and experienced reprogrammers.
Hi-Nicalon fiber-reinforced celsian matrix composites: Influence of interface modification

Unidirectional celsian matrix composites having 42–45 vol% of uncoated or BN-SiC coated Hi-Nicalon fibers were tested in three-point bend at room temperature. The uncoated fiber-reinforced composites showed catastrophic failure with strength of 210 ± 35 MPa and a flat fracture surface. In contrast, composites reinforced with coated fibers exhibited graceful failure with extensive fiber pullout. Values of first matrix cracking stress and strain were 435 ± 35 MPa and 0.27 ± 0.01%, respectively, with ultimate strength as high as 960 MPa. The elastic Young modulus of the uncoated and coated fiber-reinforced composites were 184 ± 4 GPa and 165 ± 5 GPa, respectively. Fiber push-through tests and microscopic examination indicated no chemical reaction at the uncoated or coated fiber-matrix interface. The low strength of composite with uncoated fibers is due to degradation of the fiber strength from mechanical damage during processing. Because both the coated- and uncoated-fiber-reinforced composites exhibited weak interfaces, the beneficial effect of the BN-SiC dual layer is primarily the protection of fibers from mechanical damage during processing.
User specifications for operational and switching procedures, a working group report

In general, power software lacks lockout/tagout (LOTO) procedures and transfer/switching procedures-both critical shortcomings. In 2008, this Working Group (WG) was created to develop methodology for software programs addressing operational procedures, switching procedures including LOTO, and transfer procedures. The “User Guideline Specification” provides this methodology. Software itself will be developed by software vendors. Related was a goal to present a clear, simple, mathematical, and graphical language to promote rigorous analysis and virtual verification of the applicable software; a unified suite for an operational, mathematical, and graphical language. Referenced papers provide a sound basis for work toward achieving this goal, a task which the WG commends to future authors and Working Groups. Although it is outside the defined scope, the WG notes that these basic concepts apply to other energy systems. The WG encourages interested parties to develop similar approaches for other energy systems.
Long-term Outcome of Arterial Stroke in Children

Investigators at University Children’s Hospital, Inselspital, and Universities of Bern, Geneva, Basel, and Zurich, Switzerland compared long-term outcome of children (1 month-16 years) and young adults (16.1-45 years) with arterial ischemic stroke (AIS) using prospective data from the Swiss Neuropediatric Stroke Registry and the Adult Bernese stroke registry, between Jan 2000 and Dec 2008.
Acquired peripheral neuropathy

The element of time is a crucial factor in the electrodiagnostic presentation of PN. The characteristic changes seen in various neuropathies evolve over time. If testing is performed very early in the course of the disease, abnormalities may not yet be present, in part, because the range of normal values for NCS parameters is broad. In addition, if the process is asymmetric, the affected nerves may not be sampled. Very late in the course of the disease, a multifocal process may appear diffuse and symmetric as the areas of focal involvement coalesce. A primarily, demyelinating process may begin to demonstrate secondary axonal involvement. In very severe neuropathies, it may become difficult to evoke any NCS responses to characterize the neuropathy. It is essential to place the electrodiagnostic findings within the context of the clinical progression to avoid drawing erroneous conclusions. Sometimes, the true nature of the neuropathy is clear only after sequential testing. The etiologic diagnoses of acquired polyneuropathy are vast. A well-crafted electrodiagnostic evaluation can categorize neuropathies into more specific diagnostic groups by identifying the descriptive diagnosis, significantly narrowing the list of possible etiologic diagnoses. Electrodiagnostic testing, which always starts with a pertinent history and physical examination, should always be viewed as a continuation and quantification of the physical examination. Only by knowing the extent and pattern of the clinical involvement is it possible to formulate a thorough electrodiagnostic evaluation. This knowledge is especially important in cases in which the presentation is multifocal, because the neuropathy can be missed entirely if the affected nerves are not evaluated. When evaluating a neuropathy, there are three important questions to answer: (1) Is the process diffuse or multifocal? (2) Is it demyelinating or axonal? (3) Does it predominantly involve the motor or sensory nerves? By assessing the neuropathy along these three axes, the large number of possible etiologic diagnoses becomes much more manageable.
Ovarian Kaleidoscope database: ten years and beyond.

Ovarian Kaleidoscope database (OKdb) is an online, searchable, public database containing text-based and DNA microarray data to facilitate research by ovarian researchers. Using key words and predetermined categories, users can search ovarian gene information based on gene function, cell type of expression, cellular localization, hormonal regulation, mutant phenotypes, chromosomal location, ligand-receptor relationship, and other criteria, either alone or in combination. For individual genes, users can access more than 10 extensive DNA microarray datasets to interrogate gene expression patterns in a development-specific and cell type-specific manner. All ligand and receptor genes expressed in the ovary are matched to facilitate investigation of paracrine/autocrine signaling. More than 3500 ovarian genes in the database are matched to 185 gene pathways in the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes to allow for elucidation of gene interactions and relationships. In addition to >400 genes with infertility or subfertility phenotypes when mutated in mice or humans, the OKdb also lists ∼50 and ∼40 genes associated with polycystic ovarian syndrome and primary ovarian insufficiency, respectively. The expanding OKdb is updated weekly and allows submission of new genes by ovarian researchers to allow instant access to DNA microarray datasets for newly submitted genes. The present database is a virtual community for ovarian researchers and allows users to instantaneously provide their comments for individual gene pages based on an automated Web-discussion system. In the coming years, we will continue to add new features to serve the ovarian research community.
First results in the autonomous retrieval of buried objects

We have developed an autonomous system for the retrieval of buried objects. It is designed to detect, locate and retrieve buried objects. The system is equipped with a hydraulic robot, laser range finder and a subsurface sensor. First, subsurface sensing is used to detect and locate buried objects. If an object can be reached with one dig, the excavator retrieves it directly. Otherwise a layer of soil above the object is removed and another subsurface scan is made to get a more accurate estimate of the object location. This loop is repeated until the object is retrieved. The paper presents some recent results in sensing and excavation from experiments conducted on our testbed. There are numerous potential applications for this system-hazardous waste removal, maintenance of subsurface structure, construction, and removal of unexploded buried ordnance. >
Exploring the Heart: Entrepreneurial Emotion Is a Hot Topic

Entrepreneurial emotion refers to the affect, emotions, moods, and/or feelings—of individuals or a collective—that are antecedent to, concurrent with, and/or a consequence of, the entrepreneurial p...
State-of-the-Art Developments in the Field of Electroactive Polymers

The paper presents a review in the field of electroactive polymers. It outlines the main classes of electroactive polymers, their properties and applications. Current efforts to synthesize electroactive polymers with novel or improved characteristics along with the challenges, opportunities and future research directions are discussed.
High glucose increases the expression of Cbfa1 and BMP-2 and enhances the calcification of vascular smooth muscle cells

Background. Vascular calcification is common in diabetes but the pathogenesis is poorly understood. Methods. To investigate the pathogenesis, we first examined the histology of inferior epigastric arteries from diabetic and non-diabetic patients undergoing a renal transplant. To examine the role of hyperglycaemia, bovine vascular smooth muscle cells (BVSMCs) were incubated with normal (5 mM) or high glucose (25 mM) for 48 or 72 h. Results. The results demonstrated that diabetic patients, compared with non-diabetic patients, had significantly greater calcification and increased expression of the bone matrix proteins osteopontin, type I collagen, bone sialoprotein and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). The in vitro studies demonstrated that high glucose increased the expression of the osteoblast transcription factor core binding factor alpha subunit 1 (Cbfa1) and its downstream protein osteocalcin by 1.9-fold and 1.8-fold, respectively, and ALP activity by 1.5-fold. These findings were blunted in the presence of an inhibitor to protein kinase C. High glucose also significantly enhanced calcification in BVSMC in a time-dependent manner (2.20 � 0.50 vs 1.35 � 0.55mmol/mg, day 7; 5.04 � 1.35 vs 3.12 � 0.92mmol/mg, day 14; P < 0.05). High glucose also induced the secretion of bone morphogenetic protein-2, a known osteoinductive factor, and further increased the secretion normally seen during calcification by 43% at day 7 and 57% at day 14. Conclusions. These results demonstrate that vascular calcification in patients with diabetes is a cell-mediated process characterized by a phenotypic change of VSMCs to osteoblast-like cells with increased bone matrix protein expression, and that hyperglycaemia may directly induce these changes.
Tax Increment Financing: Municipal Adoption and Effects On Property Value Growth

Tax increment financing (TIF) has been adopted widely by municipalities in the United States as an economic development tool. Despite the large number of state initiatives and TIF's increasing popularity, few statistical studies have been con ducted to examine the direct effect of the TIF program from an economic perspective. This article analyzes the effect of TIF plans on property value growth by comparing pre-TIF to post-TIF property value changes in a first-difference model. The empiri cal results from a panel of Indiana cities indicate that the TIF program has increased median owner-occupied housing values in a TIF-adopting city by 11% relative to what it would have been without TIF. This finding suggests that the TIF program effectively stimulates property value growth in an entire community.
Survey and analysis of multimodal sensor planning and integration for wide area surveillance

Although sensor planning in computer vision has been a subject of research for over two decades, a vast majority of the research seems to concentrate on two particular applications in a rather limited context of laboratory and industrial workbenches, namely 3D object reconstruction and robotic arm manipulation. Recently, increasing interest is engaged in research to come up with solutions that provide wide-area autonomous surveillance systems for object characterization and situation awareness, which involves portable, wireless, and/or Internet connected radar, digital video, and/or infrared sensors. The prominent research problems associated with multisensor integration for wide-area surveillance are modality selection, sensor planning, data fusion, and data exchange (communication) among multiple sensors. Thus, the requirements and constraints to be addressed include far-field view, wide coverage, high resolution, cooperative sensors, adaptive sensing modalities, dynamic objects, and uncontrolled environments. This article summarizes a new survey and analysis conducted in light of these challenging requirements and constraints. It involves techniques and strategies from work done in the areas of sensor fusion, sensor networks, smart sensing, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), photogrammetry, and other intelligent systems where finding optimal solutions to the placement and deployment of multimodal sensors covering a wide area is important. While techniques covered in this survey are applicable to many wide-area environments such as traffic monitoring, airport terminal surveillance, parking lot surveillance, etc., our examples will be drawn mainly from such applications as harbor security and long-range face recognition.
Modeling of dissociation and energy transfer in shock-heated nitrogen flows

This work addresses the modeling of dissociation and energy transfer processes in shock heated nitrogen flows by means of the maximum entropy linear model and a newly proposed hybrid bin vibrational collisional model. Both models aim at overcoming two of the main limitations of the state of the art non-equilibrium models: (i) the assumption of equilibrium between rotational and translational energy modes of the molecules and (ii) the reliance on the quasi-steady-state distribution for the description of the population of the internal levels. The formulation of the coarse-grained models is based on grouping the energy levels into bins, where the population is assumed to follow a Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution at its own temperature. Different grouping strategies are investigated. Following the maximum entropy principle, the governing equations are obtained by taking the zeroth and first-order moments of the rovibrational master equations. The accuracy of the proposed models is tested against the rovibrational master equation solution for both flow quantities and population distributions. Calculations performed for free-stream velocities ranging from 5 km/s to 10 km/s demonstrate that dissociation can be accurately predicted by using only 2-3 bins. It is also shown that a multi-temperature approach leads to an under-prediction of dissociation, due to the inability of the former to account for the faster excitation of high-lying vibrational states.
Case Study: Parametrized Reduction Using Reduced-Basis and the Loewner Framework

In this case study, we compare two methods for model reduction of parametrized systems, namely, Reduced-Basis and Loewner rational interpolation.
Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the external ear: a population based study.

Abstract Purpose To determine the incidence of adenoid cystic carcinoma of the external ear in the United States, and to evaluate the clinical characteristics and survival outcomes associated with the disease. Materials and Methods Data were extracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) 18 Database of the National Cancer Institute. The study cohort included patients diagnosed with adenoid cystic carcinoma of the external ear from 1973 to 2012. Results The incidence of adenoid cystic carcinoma of the external ear was 0.004 per 100,000. The SEER database identified 66 patients meeting the inclusion criteria. Nodal metastasis was noted in 13.1% of patients, while 7.9% had distant metastasis. Distant metastasis was associated with worse overall survival (HR 10.18). However, nodal metastasis had no impact on overall survival (HR 0.15, p = 0.09). Surgery alone was associated with improved overall survival (HR 0.26), compared with combination surgery and radiotherapy, while radiotherapy alone was associated with worse overall survival (HR 20.12). Increasing age (HR 1.12) and black race (HR 6.83) were associated with worse overall survival, while female sex (HR 0.26) was associated with improved overall survival. Conclusion ACC of the external ear is rare. Distant metastasis is a poor prognostic factor. However, nodal metastasis does not appear to impact survival. Advanced age, black race, and male sex are also poor prognostic factors. Surgical resection alone is associated with better survival than combination surgical resection and radiation, or radiotherapy alone.
Further Evidence of the Virus Nature of Interstitial Bronchopneumonia

ConclusionsThe presence of interstitial bronchopneumonia and associated lesions in spontaneous cases of canine distemper, a known virus disease, supports and strengthens our previously published conclusion that this type of pneumonia is in all probability produced by the combined action of a virus and bacteria.
Pediatric challenge case

This 5-year-old boy presented to the emergency department with a 3-week history of upper abdominal pain. The child was afebrile, but he had been vomiting for 2 days. Abdominal and chest radiographs were obtained (Fig. 1), and because of the findings, an ultrasound of the chest and upper abdomen was performed (Fig. 2). What is the most likely diagnosis? (A) Pneumonia with empyema (B) Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (C) Posterior mediastinal tumor with pleural effusion (D) Right middle and lower lobe atelectasis (E) Pancreatitis with pleural effusion
Testing for the location of the Alamo Acequia (41BX8) at Hemisfair Plaza, San Antonio, Texas

In December 1983 the Center for Archaeological Research conducted test excavations at HemisFair Plaza in downtown San Antonio. The purpose of the work was to locate and document the condition of the Alamo Acequia (41 BX 8), which was known to be in the area. Backhoe and hand excavations reveal ed that the acequia deviated as much as 20 feet from the supposed route and that the original property lines through the area could not be depended upon to locate the precise route of the ditch. The section of the acequia that was examined proved to be only partially preserved, apparently having been robbed of stone either in the early 20th century or during HemisFair construction.
Using the Shadow Antenna to Increase thePerformances of Fire Control Radar

The search antenna system of the fire control radar increases the performances of fire-control radar through widening the beam broadening in elevation radiation pattern ,and become to shadow antenna,and increases the high frequency amplifier.This paper explores its components and major tactical and technical performances.Emphasis on the effect of the fighting efficiency by using this system,gives the prediction on the possible result of its tactical application are presented.
Flow of Gases in Organic Nanoscale Channels: A Boundary-Driven Molecular Simulation Study

In modeling fluid transport in organic nanopores of shale, particular attention should be paid to the gas–wall interactions, specifically the adsorption phenomena, and the fact that the size of pores are comparable with the mean-free-path of the gas molecules. The objective for this work is to investigate the significance of the adsorbed gas molecules in the total mass flux of organic nanoscale channels. Molecular dynamics (MD) has proven to be a credible technique to examine dynamics of atomic-level phenomena. In this study, transport of four different gases, methane and argon (high adsorption affinity) and helium and neon (low adsorption affinity), is studied, and their velocity and mass flux profiles are analyzed using dual control volume grand canonical molecular dynamics (DCV-GCMD) simulations. DCV-GCMD simulations are performed for different pressures, pressure gradients, and channel sizes. Computed normalized velocities are close to 1 for all the gases and channel heights, which shows that the velo...
Exploration of Large Image Corpuses in Virtual Reality

With the increasing capture of photos and their proliferation on social media, there is a pressing need for a more intuitive and versatile image search and exploration system. Image search systems have long been confined to the binds of the 2D legacy screens and the keyword text-box. With the recent advances in Virtual Reality (VR) technology, a move towards an immersive VR environment will redefine the image navigation experience. To this end, we propose a VR platform that gathers images from various sources, and addresses the 5 Ws of image search - what, where, when, who and why. We achieve this by providing the user with two modes of interactive exploration - (i) A mode that allows for a graph based navigation of an image dataset, using a steering wheel visualization, along multiple dimensions of time, location, visual concept, people, etc. and (ii) Another mode that provides an intuitive exploration of the image dataset using a logical hierarchy of visual concepts. Our contributions include creating a VR image exploration experience that is intuitive and allows image navigation along multiple dimensions.
Examining the validity of the ACS-NSQIP Risk Calculator in plastic surgery: lack of input specificity, outcome variability and imprecise risk calculations

American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) created the Surgical Risk Calculator, to allow physicians to offer patients a risk-adjusted 30-day surgical outcome prediction. This tool has not yet been validated in plastic surgery. A retrospective analysis of all plastic surgery-specific complications from a quality assurance database from September 2013 through July 2015 was performed. Patient preoperative risk factors were entered into the ACS Surgical Risk Calculator, and predicted outcomes were compared with actual morbidities. The difference in average predicted complication rate versus the actual rate of complication within this population was examined. Within the study population of patients with complications (n=104), the calculator accurately predicted an above average risk for 20.90% of serious complications. For surgical site infections, the average predicted risk for the study population was 3.30%; this prediction was proven only 24.39% accurate. The actual incidence of any complication within the 4924 patients treated in our plastic surgery practice from September 2013 through June 2015 was 1.89%. The most common plastic surgery complications include seroma, hematoma, dehiscence and flap-related complications. The ACS Risk Calculator does not present rates for these risks. While most frequent outcomes fall into general risk calculator categories, the difference in predicted versus actual complication rates indicates that this tool does not accurately predict outcomes in plastic surgery. The ACS Surgical Risk Calculator is not a valid tool for the field of plastic surgery without further research to develop accurate risk stratification tools.
Fever and cutaneous lesions in a 2-year-old toddler: More than skin deep?

It is early evening when a previously healthy 2-year-old Hispanic girl is brought to the hospital by her mother. The girl has a history of fever to 100.2 F axillary, and skin lesions that began four days earlier. The skin lesions are described as following a progressive course. The lesions would begin as non-itchy red patches with a central vesicle that would burst, leaving an ulcer with a black base.
The Diterpenoid Lactone Andrographolide Induces Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) Dependent Apoptosis in ATRA Sensitive and Resistant APL Cell Lines.

Abstract Abstract 2446 Andrographolide is a crystalline diterpenoid lactone. It consists of an α-alkylidene- g-butyrolactone moiety and three hydroxyls at C-3, C-14 and C-19, which are responsible for its biological activities. It is the major bioactive ingredient of the medicinal plant Andrographis paniculata and it has been used in Asia for a variety of non-malignant conditions. We previously reported that Andrographolide results in mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis in lymphoma cell lines and fresh malignant cells from patients with lymphoma (Yang et al. Clin Cancer Res 2010:16:4755). Based on the mechanism of action in lymphoma and a prior report in APL (Manikam et al. J Pharm Pharmacol 2009:61:9), we hypothesized that andrographolide may have biological activity in acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) an that this may be related to reactive oxygen species (ROS). We therefore investigated the effects of andrographolide on cell viability, apoptosis induction, mitochondrial membrane poential and signaling pathways in 3 APL cell lines, the ATRA sensitive line NB4 and the ATRA-resistant lines NB4–007/6 and NB4–306 and 3 samples from patients with APL. Methods: NB4 (ATRA sensitive cell line), NB4–007/6 and NB4–306 (ATRA resistant cell lines) were cultured in RPMI-1640 under standard conditions. Cell viability was measured using the trypan blue or propidium iodide exclusion method. Fresh leukemic cells were obtained from 3 patients after informed consent according to an NU IRB approved protocol. One had ATRA-resistant APL and 2 had de-novo untreated APL. We measured apoptosis by Annexin V-FITC by FACS. We measured mitochondrial membrane potential and cell differentiation by standard techniques. Results: Incubation with increasing concentrations of andrographolide demonstrates loss of cell viability as measured by MTT assay. The IC50 at 48 hours was 6uM for NB4–306, 6.5uM for NB4–007/6 and 9uM for NB4. Apoptosis by Annexin V/FACS demonstrated that at 48 hours there was increasing apoptosis in all 3 cell lines and that the ATRA-resistant cell lines NB4–007/6 and NB4–306 were significantly more sensitive to andrographolide than the ATRA sensitive cell line NB4 (p 70% at 10uM, 85% at 20uM). From prior reports and our own data we suspected that the effects of andrographolide were dependent on reactive oxygen species (ROS), and indeed apoptosis was completely inhibited by NAC. Conclusion: Taken together, these data suggest that andrographolide, a novel natural diterpenoid lactone with significant biological activity in cancer, may have activity in patients with ATRA-resistant APL by a mechanism of action that is distinct from ATRA. We believe that these data provide a compelling rationale to add this natural diterpenoid lactone to the clinical trial agenda in APL. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
A process optimization strategy of a pulsed-spray fluidized bed granulation process based on predictive three-stage population balance model

Abstract In this work, a three-stage population balance model (TSPBM) was developed for a pulsed top-spray fluidized bed granulation (FBG) process. The batch top-spray FBG process was divided into three stages based on the analysis of granule properties evolution and different granulation mechanisms were considered in each stage of the TSPBM. In each stage, population balance model (PBM) describes the evolution of granule size distribution (GSD), and partial least square (PLS) regressions describes the relationship between the operating variables and kernel parameters in PBM. By fitting coefficients of PLS regressions using experimental data, the developed TSPBM establishes a predictive relationship between the manipulated binder spray parameters of pulsed frequency, binder flow rate and atomization pressure and granule critical quality attributes (CQAs). A model-based multi-stage optimization strategy was proposed to improve the granule quality of the pulsed-spray FBG. The optimization strategy reduced the process error caused by mismatch between developed model and actual system. In the optimization strategy, volume average granule diameter is only measured online at the end of each stage. Based on the online measurement, the optimization strategy adjusts process operating variables to remedy any drift between measured and predicted GSD. Validation experiments and simulation tests were carried out to validate the effectiveness of the proposed TSPBM and optimization strategy. The developed TSPBM is shown to accurately predict experimental GSD and shows high accuracy comparing to the one-stage PBM. The proposed optimization strategy can improve the prediction capability by > 50% compared to an offline optimization.
The Interplay Between the Microbiome and Cardiovascular Risk

The microbiome, defined as the community of microorganisms that live on or in the human body, is involved in a variety of physiological processes. This review summarizes evidence that human microbial communities influence risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and place the microbiome in context of other –omic data layers. The most robust evidence implicating the microbiome in CVD pathogenesis involves trimethylamine-N-oxide, a moiety synthesized by gut bacteria that has been compellingly linked to the increased risk of adverse CVD events. In addition, many cross-sectional associations have been reported in humans between microbiome composition and various CVD risk factors, including impaired metabolism, hypertension, and inflammation, although interpretation of these correlations is challenging. Host genomic and other –omic variation can mediate associations between microbiome and CVD phenotypes. In light of the complexity of –omic data, novel methods are essential to rigorously jointly analyze the role of host and microbial variation in CVD etiology. Until such methods are available, studies would benefit from narrower research questions and a renewed commitment to reproducibility.
Indium-111-Monoclonal Antibodies in Radioimmunoscintigraphy

This is the first article of a four-part update series on nuclear medicine updates. Upon completion of this article, the reader will understand (1) the use of indium-labeled antibodies in the detection of cancer and other disease states; (2) nontumor radioimmunoscintigraphy with indium; and (3) quality control procedures for indium-labeled antibodies.
Ethnotherapy Implications and Conclusions

In this volume we have analyzed a sample of the mainland Puerto Rican population to examine and test the proposition that a general loss of traditional family values—measured by gender-related values of the roles and behavior of family members—may contribute to the specific albeit unrelated deviant outcomes of alcohol and drug use. More specifically, we have contended that it is not necessarily the adherence to or lack of specific regulatory norms that may affect drug and alcohol use behaviors of Puerto Ricans in mainland United States, but rather adherence to or rejection of a general commitment to Hispanic values. This we have called “traditionalism,” particularly as it relates to the definitions of gender role behavior of Puerto Rican men and women. These values had once served, for women, as a brake or control mechanism on substance misuse. While many researchers, who have studied drug and alcohol abuse among Hispanics, including Puerto Ricans, have suggested acculturation alone as the explanation for changing substance use patterns of these Hispanics in the United States, we have attempted to demonstrate that rather, it is the movement away from “traditionalism” itself that effects an increase in substance misuse and abuse.
Poisons Produced by Dinoflagellates - A Review

Many of the so-called red tides are caused by excessive blooms of dinoflagellates. Out of about 1200 species of dinoflagellates only a few (8 or 10) are known to produce poisonous substances that cause shellfish and fish to become poisonous or cause fish to die. When persons eat shellfish that have consumed the poisonous dinoflagellates Gonyaulax oatenella or Gonyaulax tamarensis, a disease known as shellfish poisoning results which is often fatal. Although shellfish poisonings have been reported as long as medical records have been kept, the relationship between a poisonous dinoflagellate and shellfish poisoning was not known before D. Hermann Sommer and his colleagues at the University of California reported it in 1937. Japanese investigators have recent evidence that a dinoflagellate found in the South Pacific produces the poison found in certain fish that causes the disease in humans known as ciguatera. Another, Exuviaella marie-lebouriae occurring in areas around Japan has caused short-necked clams to become poisonous. People eating them came down with a disease resulting in fatty degeneration of liver and kidney tissue. Other dinoflagellates, Gyrrmodinium breve and Gonyaulax monilata, found in the Gulf of Mexico produce poisons that kill fish and cause severe environmental problems due to decaying fish and polluted waters in these areas.
New energy spectral measurements of a distributed x-ray source with a Compton spectrometer

Our team at Los Alamos National Laboratory has performed many successful energy-spectra measurements of both continuous and flash, intense radiographic sources with Compton spectrometers. In this method, a collimated beam of x-rays incident on a convertor foil ejects Compton electrons. A collimator may be inserted into the entrance of the spectrometer to select the angular acceptance of the forward-scattered electrons, which then enter the magnetic field region of the spectrometer. The position of the electrons at the magnet’s focal plane is proportional to the square root of their momentum, allowing the x-ray spectrum to be reconstructed. A Compton spectrometer with an energy range of <0.5 to 20 MeV recently measured the x-ray energy spectrum produced by the Mercury pulsed-power machine at the Naval Research Laboratory in its large-area diode configuration. These first-ever results from a distributed x-ray source will be presented.
Challenging moments as opportunities to learn: The role of nonverbal interactional resources in dealing with conflicts in English as a lingua franca classroom interactions

Abstract This study sequentially analyzes interactional conflicts among students and instructors in writing classrooms at a U.S. university in which English functions as a lingua franca, highlighting how students from various linguistic and cultural backgrounds employ nonverbal interactional resources (e.g., silence, gaze, and gesture) along with speech when disagreeing and/or disengaging. The consensus-oriented and cooperative aspects of English as a lingua franca (ELF) interactions have been widely documented (e.g., Mauranen, 2012 , Seidlhofer, 2001 ), but recent research (e.g., Jenks, 2012 ) has started to illuminate aspects of uncooperativeness in various ELF interactional contexts. Using sequential, multimodal analysis, this study illustrates how students effectively coordinate various nonverbal resources, particularly long silence, body orientation, gaze, smile, and gesture, along with speech to subtly challenge or evade their teacher's epistemic authority while simultaneously taking into consideration politeness. This study's findings suggest the need for applied linguists and language teachers to better understand functions of students’ use of nonverbal resources for managing different types of trouble and to develop approaches for managing conflictive moments with students effectively. Such conflictive, challenging moments in ELF classrooms potentially lead to “learning” moments in which students can make their own arguments and construct new knowledge.
Valve-in-valve-prosthesis embolization and aortic dissection: single procedure, double complication.

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is a recognized treatment method for high-risk patients with aortic stenosis. TAVI is also recommended for structural valve degeneration of a biological valve prosthesis. TAVI-specific complications, such as prosthesis embolization and aortic dissection, are uncommon but potential concerns. A 73-year-old woman presented with structural valve degeneration 14 years after aortic root replacement with a bioprosthetic valved conduit. The patient underwent TAVI valve-in-valve under monitored anaesthesia care. Intraoperatively, the self-expandable prosthesis was difficult to deploy within the valved conduit and ultimately migrated distally. During the technically difficult passage of the prosthesis delivery system through the tortuous aorta, the patient started reporting symptoms suggestive of aortic dissection. An emergency computed tomography scan confirmed type B dissection. Thoracic endovascular aortic repair followed by deployment of a balloon-expandable prosthesis below the self-expandable implant was performed. Careful prosthesis selection in valve-in-valve patients after aortic root replacement is crucial for procedural success.
The effects of propranolol and clonidine on bone marrow expression of hematopoietic cytokines following trauma and chronic stress.

Abstract Background Attenuating post-injury neuroendocrine stress abrogates persistent injury-associated anemia. Our objective was to examine the mechanisms by which propranolol and clonidine modulate this process. We hypothesized that propranolol and clonidine would decrease bone marrow expression of high-mobility group box-1 (HMGB1) and increase expression of stem cell factor (SCF) and B-cell lymphoma-extra large (Bcl-xL). Methods Male Sprague-Dawley rats were allocated to naive control, lung contusion followed by hemorrhagic shock (LCHS), or LCHS plus daily chronic restraint stress (LCHS/CS) ±propranolol, ±clonidine. Day seven bone marrow expression of HMGB1, SCF, and Bcl-xL was assessed by polymerase chain reaction. Results Following LCHS, HMGB1 was decreased by propranolol (49% decrease, p = 0.012) and clonidine (54% decrease, p Conclusions Following severe trauma, propranolol and clonidine abrogate persistent injury-associated anemia by modulating bone marrow cytokines, favoring effective erythropoiesis.
Design of a Portable Verification Artifact for Millimeter-Wave-Frequency Channel Sounders

We developed a portable and traceable artifact to verify the millimeter-wave-frequency channel sounders (CSs) under static conditions. It is designed to create several multipath profiles with one direct path and up to two multipath components (MPCs) to be used during the verification of a CS. The verification artifact shows that the CS we tested measures extra MPCs possibly due to internal reflections in the CS. While these differences are not likely to significantly change most of the channel metrics, they do indicate nonidealities in the CS that might need to be addressed depending on the application.
nanoLED Wavelength Division Multiplexer Analysis

Optical antennas can enhance the modulation bandwidth and output power of nanoscale LEDs. Here we analyze a wavelength division multiplexer that uses high Q optical antennas in parallel to further increase the total optical power. © 2019 The Author(s)
Use of Autologous Platelets for Lamellar Macular Hole Repair

The consensus of lamellar macular hole repair generally entails vitrectomy with internal limiting membrane with/without epiretinal membrane peeling with gas tamponade, although the risk of a full thickness macular hole remains. In this case report, we investigate the role of the regenerative properties of autologous platelets in the repair of a lamellar macular hole with pars plana vitrectomy, an autologous platelet plug, and 12% C3F8 without prone posturing. All three patients in this case report experienced visual improvement along with anatomic closure of the lamellar macular hole. Further randomized studies with larger sample sizes will contribute to the existing data regarding this procedure and its outcomes.
The Roll of COMMD1 in Membrane Protein Trafficking

Copper is essential for all life due to its role as a catalyst in redox reactions. However, it must be tightly regulated as excess copper can cause oxidative damage to the cell. One example of copp...