cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A wide-acceptance Compton spectrometer for spectral characterization of a medical x-ray source

Accurate knowledge of the x-ray spectra used in medical treatment and radiography is important for dose calculations and material decomposition analysis. Indirect measurements via transmission through materials are possible. However, such spectra are challenging to measure directly due to the high photon fluxes. One method of direct measurement is via a Compton spectrometer (CS) method. In this approach, the x-rays are converted to a much lower flux of electrons via Compton scattering on a converter foil (typically beryllium or aluminum). The electrons are then momentum selected by bending in a magnetic field. With tight angular acceptance of electrons into the magnet of ~ 1 deg, there is a linear correlation between incident photon energy and electron position recorded on an image plate. Here we present measurements of Bremsstrahlung spectrum from a medical therapy machine, a Scanditronix M22 Microtron. Spectra with energy endpoints from 6 to 20 MeV are directly measured, using a CS with a wide energy range from 0.5 to 20 MeV. We discuss the sensitivity of the device and the effects of converter material and collimation on the accuracy of the reconstructed spectra. Approaches toward improving the sensitivity, including the use of coded apertures, and potential future applications to characterization of spectra are also discussed.
Bowl-Shaped Polyarenes as Concave–Convex Shape Complementary Hosts for C60- and C70-Fullerenes

The X-ray crystal structures of two new co-crystals comprised of C60 and C70 fullerenes and a dibenzo[a,g]corannulene bowl, namely, (C28H14)·(C60) and (C28H14)2·(C70), are reported. A clear difference is observed between C60 to C70, with the latter fullerene molecule being fully ordered and lacking the orientational disorder found in many fullerene co-crystallized products. In the solid state structure of (C28H14)2·(C70), two bowl-shaped C28H14 molecules encapsulate the C70-cage and exhibit a preferential spatial alignment parallel to the longer axis of the fullerene. In this case, dibenzo[a,g]corannulene utilizes only its concave surface for binding, showing a staggered conformation of carbon atoms over the convex surface of C70-fullerene. In the solid-state structure of (C28H14)·(C60), both convex–convex and convex–concave π···π interactions are observed between the curved surfaces of C28H14 and C60. The C60-core is disordered showing no preferential orientation. In both cases, the formation of π···π ad...
Surface processes during growth of hydrogenated amorphous silicon

Hydrogenated amorphous silicon films for photovoltaics and thin film transistors are deposited from silane containing discharges. The radicals generated in the plasma such as SiH3 and H impinge on the surface and lead to silicon film growth through a complex network of elementary surface processes that include adsorption, abstraction, insertion and diffusion of various radicals. Mechanism and kinetics of these reactions determine the film composition and quality. Developing deposition strategies for improving the film quality requires a fundamental understanding of the radical-surface interaction mechanisms. We have been using in situ multiple total internal reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and in situ spectroscopic ellipsometry in conjunction with atomistic simulations to determine the elementary surface reaction and diffusion mechanisms. Synergistic use of experiments and atomistic simulations elucidate elementary processes occurring on the surface. Herein, we review our current understanding of the reaction mechanisms that lead to a-Si:H film growth with special emphasis on the reactions of the SiH3 radical.
Development time of three species of Bracon (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) on the pink bollworm (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) in relation to temperature

Bracon greeni Ashmead developed from egg to adult in 16.6, 10.5, 7.7, and 6.6 days at 20, 25, 30, and 35°C, respectively, when reared on larvae of the pink bollworm, Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders). Developmental times on the same host larvae were 17.9, 10.8, 8.6, and 6.7 days for B. hebetor Say and 20.5, 12.3, 7.2, and 6.1 days for B. brevicornis Wesmael at the same respective temperatures. Immature stages of all parasites survived better at the warmer temperatures than at 20°C; most mortality occurred in the egg stage. Adult longevity at 25°C averaged 27.4 days for B. hebetor females, 36.4 days for B. greeni females, and 15.5 days for males and females of B. brevicornis. B. hebetor females deposited an average of 326.4 eggs on 34.5 host larvae when held at 25°C, while B. greeni females laid 159.1 eggs on 54.1 larvae at the same temperature.
Rapid Detection of Bacillus anthracis in a Microchip-based Real-time PCR Biosensor

A miniaturized, fully-automated, PCR-based detection system has been developed for the rapid detection of the pathogenic bacterium Bacillus anthracis. Monolithic silicon DNA purification / real-time PCR chips were fabricated and tested for their ability to purify and detect DNA from bacterial cells. Using silica-coated microstructures and chemical-based lysis, nucleic acids could be isolated, washed and eluted for subsequent real-time PCR. These microstructures were integrated into a detection microchip containing two distinct regions, one for DNA purification and one for real-time PCR. Using an automated detection platform with integrated microprocessor, pumps, valves, thermocycler and fluorescence detector, target bacterial DNA was detected by real-time PCR amplification using SYBR Green fluorescent dye. As few as 40 B. anthracis cells could be detected using this system with an average time for detection of 60 min. Detection was augmented by on-chip melting curve analysis capable of differentiating between positive and false-positive results.
Development and Integration of Professional Core Values Among Practicing Clinicians

Background The physical therapy profession has adopted professional core values, which define expected values for its members, and developed a self-assessment tool with sample behaviors for each of the 7 core values. However, evidence related to the integration of these core values into practice is limited. Objectives The aims of this study were: (1) to gain insight into physical therapists' development of professional core values and (2) to gain insight into participants' integration of professional core values into clinical practice. Design A qualitative design permitted in-depth exploration of the development and integration of the American Physical Therapy Association's professional core values into physical therapist practice. Methods Twenty practicing physical therapists were purposefully selected to explore the role of varied professional, postprofessional, and continuing education experiences related to exposure to professional values. The Core Values Self-Assessment and resume sort served as prompts for reflection via semistructured interviews. Results Three themes were identified: (1) personal values were the foundation for developing professional values, which were further shaped by academic and clinical experiences, (2) core values were integrated into practice independent of practice setting and varied career paths, and (3) participants described the following professional core values as well integrated into their practice: integrity, compassion/caring, and accountability. Social responsibility was an area consistently identified as not being integrated into their practice. Limitations The Core Values Self-Assessment tool is a consensus-based document developed through a Delphi process. Future studies to establish reliability and construct validity of the tool may be warranted. Conclusions Gaining an in-depth understanding of how practicing clinicians incorporate professional core values into clinical practice may shed light on the relationship between core values mastery and its impact on patient care. Findings may help shape educators' decisions for professional (entry-level), postprofessional, and continuing education.
Continuing education for family practice.

How can a practitioner best learn about advances in medicine? A difficult question, but experience at Harvard Medical School gives some clues for successful continuing education. To learn effectively, a practitioner must study problems that relate in some way to his own practice, generate new ideas, and participate in decisions.
Montagna Symposium 2015: Harnessing Stem Cells to Reveal Novel Skin Biology and Disease Treatments

The 64th annual Montagna Symposium on the Biology of the Skin, “Harnessing Stem Cells to Reveal Novel Skin Biology and Disease Treatments,” was held from 15e19 October 2015 in Gleneden Beach, Oregon. The meeting brought together scientists in academia and industry working on mechanisms of skin homeostasis, regeneration, and tumorigenesis and trainees who wanted to learn more about stem cells in the skin. The Symposium was chaired by Xiao-Jing Wang and Valerie Horsley with Session Chairs Mayumi Ito, Rui Yi, and John McGrath. The meeting opened with a Keynote presentation by Haifan Lin, Director of Stem Cell Center at Yale University, who unfolded the history of the discovery of RNAs that regulate gene expression and control stem cell activity. In particular, Dr. Lin discussed the intergenic regions within eukaryotic genomes that contain multiple DNA sequences that are not transcribed into protein-coding genes, including transposons, pseudogenes, long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), and P-element induced wimpy testis-interacting RNAs (piRNAs). Data from Dr. Lin’s laboratory have revealed that piRNAs can be derived from transposons and pseudogenes and play a major role in degrading mRNAs and lncRNAs in spermatocytes in mice. These data place piRNAs in a core RNA regulatory pathway modulating other RNA species to influence gene expression during meiosis. These exciting new
A history of pulmonary rehabilitation: back to the future.

Pulmonary rehabilitation is defined as “an evidence-based, multidisciplinary, and comprehensive intervention for patients with chronic respiratory diseases who are symptomatic and often have decreased daily life activities. Integrated into the individualized treatment of the patient, pulmonary rehabilitation is designed to reduce symptoms, optimize functional status, increase participation, and reduce health care costs through stabilizing or reversing systemic manifestations of the disease” [1]. Pulmonary rehabilitation, which includes exercise training and education, has no direct effect on the airflow limitation such as the FEV1, but it is highly effective because it reduces the systemic effects of the disease. For example, peripheral muscle dysfunction from physical deconditioning or other factors contributes substantially to effort intolerance in COPD. Exercise training in pulmonary rehabilitation can be highly effective in this area. During the past three decades pulmonary rehabilitation has emerged as a standard of care for patients with COPD. This is exemplified by the Global Initiative for Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) [2] guidelines and the combined American Thoracic Society–European Respiratory Society statement on COPD [3] which both place this intervention prominently in their algorithms for COPD care. However, this was not the prevailing thought during the 1980’s and well into the 1990’s. The rapid ascent of pulmonary rehabilitation was due in large part to the emergence of scientific studies that proved its effectiveness. Additionally, investigators demonstrated the physiologic underpinnings to improvements in exercise tolerance and dyspnea; this was very important since its lack of direct effect on FEV1 probably hindered its acceptance by some in the medical community. Today, it is clear that pulmonary rehabilitation results in the greatest improvements in exercise tolerance, dyspnea, and quality of life than any intervention available. Emerging data also indicate that pulmonary rehabilitation also significantly reduces health care utilization.
Is there a place for surgery in central small cell lung cancer

Despite radiographic complete remission after standard induction therapy, 75% of SCLC patients will have tumor in the resected specimen. This and the high rate of local recurrence indicates that surgery may assume a greater role in the future if better control can be obtained for distant disease and local relapse thus becomes the mode of death.
Na-K-Cl cotransport in the shark rectal gland. II. Regulation in isolated tubules.

We examined the binding of [3H]benzmetanide, a potent inhibitor of Na-K-Cl cotransport, to secretory tubules isolated from dogfish shark rectal glands. Specific binding increased dramatically (from...
QTL analysis of Na + and K + concentrations in shoots and roots under NaCl stress based on linkage and association analysis in japonica rice

Soil salinity is a major constraint to rice production. Na+ and K+ concentrations and ion balance play important roles in the salt tolerance of rice. In the present study, linkage mapping and association mapping were used to identify the QTLs for the visual tolerance score (SES), and the concentrations of Na+ and K+ in shoots (SNC and SKC) and roots (RNC and RKC). A BC2F2:3 population with 137 SSR markers derived from Dongnong425 (a salt-sensitive and widely cultivated variety) as the recurrent parent and Changbai10 (a salt-tolerant variety) as the donor parent was used for linkage mapping. A total of 13 QTLs were identified by the inclusive composite interval mapping method, including 2 for SES, 4 for SNC, 3 for SKC, 3 for RNC, and 1 for RKC. This study was supplemented with association mapping, which was conducted using a panel of 341 japonica rice accessions from different geographical origins with 160 selected SSR markers. A total of 24 significant marker-trait associations (P ≤ 0.01) involving 20 markers were identified using the GLM (Q) and MLM (Q+K) models in TASSEL2.1. Among them, 10 of the SSR markers confirmed or narrowed the genomic regions for salt tolerance that were reported in linkage studies, including six QTLs identified during the present study. The QTLs identified through linkage and association mapping may be useful for marker-assisted selection in rice breeding programs and may accelerate the development of salt-tolerant rice varieties.
Regulation of glycogenolysis in isolated rat hepatocytes by the specific activation of type I cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase.

Incubation of isolated hepatocytes with concentrations of dibutyryl cyclic AMP from 0.1 µM to 10 µM led to a dose-dependent increase in the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activity ratio. A concentration of 10 µM dibutyryl cyclic AMP increased the activity ratio from 0.24 to 0.85. Each concentration led to an optimal protein kinase activation within 5 min of incubation. Incubation of hepatocytes with 5 µM dibutyryl cyclic AMP resulted in a maximal production of glucose compared to control cultures. A concentration of 1 µM dibutyryl cyclic AMP resulted in a near maximal stimulation of glycogenolysis for the initial 60-min incubation period. Concentrations of dibutyryl cyclic AMP from 0.1 µM to 5 µM increased the protein kinase activity ratio from 0.24 to 0.59 and stimulated glycogenolysis in a dose-dependent manner as determined 20 min after the addition of dibutyryl cyclic AMP. Increasing the dibutyryl cyclic AMP to 10 µM increased the activity ratio from 0.59 to 0.85 but did not result in any further increase in glucose production. Concentrations of dibutyryl cyclic AMP from 0.1 µM to 5 µM resulted in the specific activation of type I protein kinase. As the concentration of dibutyryl cyclic AMP in the hepatocytes incubation was further increased to 10 µM, the type II holoenzyme was activated. A similar sequential activation of type I and type II protein kinase occurred with liver cells incubated with increasing concentrations of glucagon. Therefore, maximal stimulation of glycogenolysis was coupled with the selective activation of type I cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase.
Rattus nitidus (Himalayan rat)

Among the biarmed chromosomes, one pair, the subtelocentric pair, is considerably longer than others. Most of the small biarmed chromosomes have the two arms more or less equal in length with the exception of one pair which is distinctly submetacentric.
Filling the skills gap in U.S. manufacturing: Promoting internships and co-op experiences and integrating industrial engineering courses to improve student design and manufacturing knowledge

This paper discusses a framework for filling the skills gap in U.S. manufacturing by providing undergraduate students with practical experiences in design and manufacturing. The proposed framework is based on integrating product design and manufacturing processes courses through practical course projects. In addition, an initiative has been taken to establish collaboration between academia and industry by the manufacturing faculty in industrial engineering at Penn State Behrend. The paper also presents the involvement of the IE faculty in developing the design and manufacturing skills of the IE students. Data was collected through surveys and is used to validate the proposed framework.
United Nations Atomic Energy News

(1952). United Nations Atomic Energy News. Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists: Vol. 8, No. 4, pp. 116-118.
A Typology of Memory Terms

Psychologists have used numerous terms to describe and distinguish among various types of memory. Some of the most popular terms are briefly defined and illustrated according to their usage. These include broad distinctions such as explicit and implicit memory, conscious and unconscious forms of memory, voluntary and involuntary retention, intentional and incidental learning and retrieval, declarative and procedural memory, and retrospective and prospective memory. Additional forms of memory are discussed and organized in terms of their duration, ranging from brief sensory memories and short-term conscious memories to varieties of long-term memory.
Impact of disk milling on corn stover pretreated at commercial scale

In cellulosic biofuel production, chemical pretreatment performed at laboratory or pilot scale, followed by mechanical refining, has been demonstrated to be effective to increase feedstock enzyme digestibility. To take the combined pretreatment process one step closer to commercialization, disk milling was performed with commercially pretreated corn stover. Dilute acid pretreated samples with combined severity factors (cSF) of 0.09 (DA09) and 0.43 (DA43) were obtained from a commercial plant. Effects of pretreatment conditions (DA09 and DA43), milling cycles (0, 3, 9, and 15) and enzyme dosages (7.8, 15.6 and 31.2mgcellulase/g dry biomass) were evaluated. Milling improved glucose yields by 0.7 to 1.2-fold. Higher enzyme dosages enhanced sugar yields. Milling was more effective to improve glucose yields, while enzyme dosage was more effective to improve xylose yields. However, dilute acid pretreatment condition was the most important factor to increase final sugar yields compared to milling cycles and enzyme dosages.
Anal Cancer: Background and Clinical Evidence

The incidence of squamous cell anal carcinoma is rising rapidly. The primary treatment for localized anal cancer is chemoradiation, with surgery used for salvage. This chapter reviews the epidemiology, prognostic factors, molecular biology, patterns of failure, and multidisciplinary treatment of anal cancer, along with a summary of key clinical trials.
Early (blood pool) whole body 99mTc-MDP scintigraphy in children - Revisiting its usefulness

1030 Learning Objectives 1. Understand the importance of early (blood pool) whole body imaging in detection of marrow infiltrative processes and recognize the scintigraphic patterns of abnormal bone marrow. 2. Know its role in detecting incidental or unexpected soft tissue and renal abnormalities. 3. Know the technical aspects of this simple and fast scanning technique. The purpose of this educational exhibit is to reinforce the importance of early blood pool whole body scanning in pediatric skeletal scintigraphy through illustrative case examples. The importance of using appropriate technique will be also highlighted. Conventional skeletal scintigraphy includes delayed phase whole body imaging. Early blood pool imaging with or without blood flow imaging is usually limited to a single symptomatic area or a known musculoskeletal lesion detected by other imaging modalities. We, at Children’s National Medical Center, have routinely used two-phase whole body skeletal scintigraphy for last 20 years and found it very helpful for the following reasons: 1.Multifocal skeletal pain may be due to marrow infiltrative disorders such as leukemia, lymphoma and metastatic neuroblastoma and rhabdomyosarcoma. In some cases, the delayed bone images are normal and marrow infiltration is evident only on the early blood pool images manifested by increased marrow accumulation of MDP. 2. In children the clinically symptomatic site may not be the true site of abnormality (referred pain). Hence, limiting early blood pool imaging to the symptomatic site may not reveal the pathology. Acquisition of early whole body images increases the diagnostic accuracy while only adding 2-3 minutes to the study time. 3.Early whole body imaging allows detection of incidental/unexpected soft tissue and renal abnormalities that may not be identifiable on delayed imaging. Conclusion: Two-phase whole body skeletal scintigraphy is a simple and useful technique for detection and characterization of musculoskeletal abnormalities in children and its routine use is recommended
Efficient Solver for Spacetime Control of Smoke

We present a novel algorithm to control the physically-based animation of smoke. Given a set of keyframe smoke shapes, we compute a dense sequence of control force fields that can drive the smoke shape to match several keyframes at certain time instances. Our approach formulates this control problem as a spacetime optimization constrained by partial differential equations. In order to compute the locally optimal control forces, we alternatively optimize the velocity fields and density fields using an alternating direction method of multiplier (ADMM) optimizer. In order to reduce the high complexity of multiple passes of fluid resimulation during velocity field optimization, we utilize the coherence between consecutive fluid simulation passes. We demonstrate the benefits of our approach by computing accurate solutions on 2D and 3D benchmarks. In practice, we observe up to an order of magnitude improvement over prior optimal control methods.
Study of water wetting and water layer thickness in oil-water flow in horizontal pipes with different wettability

Abstract Two-phase oil-water pipe flow is common in oil production and transportation. Appropriate estimation of phase wetting (oil wet or water wet) of internal pipe walls can significantly reduce corrosion control costs, and increase confidence in measures taken to ensure the integrity of pipelines. Water wetting can be avoided by fully dispersing the water phase into the oil phase. It has been suggested that pipe wettability may affect oil-water flow patterns; particularly, water-in-oil dispersed flow transition boundaries. However, there are no systematic studies in the literature on this matter for carbon steel pipes, which are the preferable choice for economic reasons in the oil and gas industry. Moreover, traditional and widely used models to predict the onset of dispersed flow do not consider the effect of pipe wettability. This work studies phase wetting and water layer thickness in large scale oil-dominated oil-water horizontal flow in carbon steel and PVC pipes of similar internal diameter (0.1 m) and roughness, but different wettability. The effect of wetting hysteresis (oil or water pre-wetted pipe surface) on phase wetting is also investigated. It is demonstrated that pipe wettability plays a very important role on the transition boundaries for phase wetting (oil wet to water wet) and the transition to fully dispersed flow. Water droplet deposition and spreading are identified as the main mechanisms for incipient segregation in a hydrophilic pipe. In a hydrophobic pipe, poor surface wettability hinders the sticking and spreading of water droplets. Water wetting in a hydrophobic pipe requires a sufficient low flow velocity at which local droplet accumulation and coalescence becomes the dominant segregation mechanism. Predictions from available hydrodynamic models are compared with the experimental results and recommendations are provided.
Numerical Modeling and Experimentation

In Chap. 2, the transport mechanisms that form the basis for materials processing were discussed. The governing equations, based on the conservation principles, were presented, along with many additional effects that are of particular interest in various manufacturing processes. The solution to these equations is needed in order to provide information on the behavior of the system and its dependence on the important parameters in the problem. The results also provide guidelines for choosing the various boundary conditions to obtain the desired product and the inputs needed for the design and optimization of the process. Though experimental results can be obtained in a few selected cases, analytical and numerical approaches, particularly the latter, are extensively used to obtain the desired information and inputs. This chapter considers analytical and numerical, as well as experimental, methods for studying materials processing systems. It presents the various approaches that may be employed. The focus is on the computational approach that is necessary for the simulation of a wide variety of manufacturing processes. Different solution methods, challenges to be overcome, and typical results are presented.
Predicting “Anyons”: The Origins of Fractional Statistics in Two-Dimensional Space

The possibility of particles or excitations in two-dimensional space, with statistics intermediate between those of bosons and fermions, has recently attracted considerable attention. Physical situations to which the theory of such “anyon” statistics can apply include variations of the Aharonov-Bohm effect, the fractional quantum Hall effect, the possible characterization of quantum vortices in thin superfluid films and, in general, quantum surface phenomena. Anyon statistics has been discussed in connection with the theory of monopoles, and has been proposed as a possible explanatory mechanism for high-Tc superconductivity. There is a mathematically interesting relationship between such unusual statistics and the braid group, which parallels the relationship between ordinary statistics and the symmetric group.
Funding of Transplantation The Health Care Financing Administration

The focus of this chapter is an overview of federal funding of transplantation, specifically of the operations of the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA)—its structure vis-a-vis decision-making on transplantation issues, the status of funding for various types of transplants, and current and future activities involving transplantation services.
Profiting from Demand Uncertainty: Pricing Strategies in Advance Selling

Is demand uncertainty a devil? A conventional thought is that demand uncertainty hurts a seller's profit. However, we show that demand uncertainty could favor a seller if the pricing mechanism is designed properly. Specifically, we study the optimal pricing strategy in advance selling with both consumer demand and valuation uncertainties. Three strategies are considered and compared: dynamic pricing (DP), price commitment (PC), and pre-order price guarantee (PG). We show that consumer valuation and demand uncertainties in the advance selling period play important roles in determining the optimal pricing strategy. When pre-order demand uncertainty or consumer valuation uncertainty is high, a seller should use PG, which enables the seller to profit from demand uncertainty. Otherwise, PC is the optimal strategy. Furthermore, PG, while increasing a seller's profits, reduces consumer surplus, which may lead to a lower social welfare compared to the other two strategies.
Host use patterns of Culicoides spp. biting midges at a big game preserve in Florida, U.S.A., and implications for the transmission of orbiviruses.

Culicoides spp. biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) are vectors of pathogens that have a significant economic impact on the livestock industry. White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), a farmed species in the U.S.A., are susceptible to two Culicoides spp. borne orbiviruses: bluetongue virus and epizootic haemorrhagic disease virus. Elucidating host-vector interactions is an integral step in studying disease transmission. This study investigated the host range of Culicoides spp. present on a big game preserve in Florida on which a variety of Cervidae and Bovidae freely roam. Culicoides were captured with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) miniature light traps run twice weekly on the preserve for 18 consecutive months (July 2015-December 2016). Host preference was quantified through forage ratios, based upon PCR-based bloodmeal analysis of Culicoides spp. and overall animal relative abundance on the preserve. Culicoides stellifer preferentially fed on Cervus spp. and fallow deer (Dama dama) and displayed a relative avoidance of Bovidae and white-tailed deer. Culicoides debilipalpis preferred white-tailed deer and avoided all Bovidae. Culicoides pallidicornis and Culicoides biguttatus showed preferences for white-tailed deer and Pere David's deer (Elaphurus davidianus), respectively. These results add to current knowledge of preferred hosts of Florida Culicoides spp. and have implications for the spread of orbiviruses. Copyright © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Mesenchymal Stem Cell–Based Therapies for Repair and Regeneration of Skin Wounds

Abstract Human body has the natural ability to self-defend an injury and restore homeostasis. Recent ground-breaking research in the field of cell biology has opened the gateway of “Stem Cells” and added them to the armory to ensue tissue repair and restoration. In particular, mesenchymal stem cell (MSCs) are the most exuberant cell type, integrated within various tissues spaces, and mediate a balanced response to tissue injury. Researchers, across multidisciplinary fields have harnessed the beneficial uses of MSCs across different disciplines of medicine. This chapter particularly provides an insight on the role of different MSCs in repair of skin wounds.
Foreign Competition and CEO Risk-Incentive Compensation

How do firms modify CEO risk-incentive compensation in response to increased foreign competition? Theoretically we show the answer is ambiguous: increased competition can result in firms either increasing or decreasing the CEO’s risk-taking incentives. Empirically using a quasi-natural experiment, tariff cuts resulting from important trade deals, we find evidence that in response to increases in foreign competition firms adjust CEO risk-incentive compensation downwards – a result that is more pronounced for firms with less risk-averse CEOs. These findings suggest that more intense foreign competition results in managers voluntarily taking on more risk, and firms therefore reduce the convexity in managers’ compensation.
Erratum for Franco et al., “A Novel Secreted Protein, MYR1, Is Central to Toxoplasma’s Manipulation of Host Cells”

Volume 7, no. 1, e02231-15, 2016, [https://doi:10.1128/mBio.02231-15][1]. Upon reexamining the original sequencing data for MFM2.1, we have determined that Table 1 has an error. While 2% of reads did show the indicated tCa-to-tTa mutation at nucleotide 3288737 in the ROP17 gene, 42% of reads
True brachial artery aneurysm: A case report and review of literature.

Abstract Introduction A true brachial artery aneurysm is a rare pathology with an incidence of 0.17% of all peripheral artery aneurysms. This pathology can manifest devastating complications if overlooked, however, a high index of suspicion coupled with a thorough history and physical allows easy diagnosis. We present a rare case of the oldest documented patient with a true brachial artery aneurysm with idiopathic etiology. Presentation of case An 83-year-old gentleman presented with left upper extremity pain, erythema, and swelling for 1 week. He denied trauma to the area. Examination revealed a pulsatile mass of the antecubital fossa and decreased distal pulses. Imaging illustrated a 9mm aneurysm of the brachial artery with stenosis of the radial artery and non-enhancement of the origin of the ulnar artery. The patient underwent a brachial aneurysm excision, radial and ulnar embolectomy, and brachial to ulnar and radial artery bypass. Postoperatively, palpable pulses were appreciated in the radial and ulnar arteries. Pathology demonstrated a true aneurysm. The patient's postoperative course was uneventful and follow-up 6 months later revealed normal perfusion. Discussion This case highlights the importance of maintaining a high index of suspicion coupled with a thorough history and physical examination when encountering neurovascular complaints of the upper extremities. Operative intervention even in asymptomatic patients is warranted due to a high complication rate of 33%. Conclusion More research into the pathophysiology of this rare pathology is needed to further understand, prevent, or mitigate its complications.
Harmonizing altered measures in integrative data analysis: A methods analogue study

In the current study, we used an analogue integrative data analysis (IDA) design to test optimal scoring strategies for harmonizing alcohol- and drug-use consequence measures with varying degrees of alteration across four study conditions. We evaluated performance of mean, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and moderated nonlinear factor analysis (MNLFA) scores based on traditional indices of reliability (test–retest, internal, and score recovery or parallel forms) and validity. Participants in the analogue study included 854 college students (46% male; 21% African American, 5% Hispanic/Latino, 56% European American) who completed two versions of the altered measures at two sessions, separated by 2 weeks. As expected, mean, CFA, and MNLFA scores all resulted in scales with lower reliability given increasing scale alteration (with less fidelity to formerly developed scales) and shorter scale length. MNLFA and CFA scores, however, showed greater validity than mean scores, demonstrating stronger relationships with external correlates. Implications for measurement harmonization in the context of IDA are discussed.
Evaluation of adherence rates following ectopic pregnancy to inform management decisions in a public hospital system

Abstract Introduction Adherence to follow-up is an important consideration when treating non-emergent ectopic pregnancy. Our aim was to evaluate the management of ectopic pregnancy among patients in a public hospital system and to identify factors related to adherence of medical management in this population. Material and methods A retrospective review to evaluate the management of ectopic pregnancy among women in a public hospital system, including all women undergoing treatment for ectopic pregnancy from 2012 to 2017. Data were abstracted from the medical record. Women who were adherent to follow-up were compared to those who were non-adherent. Log-binomial regression was used to identify factors associated with management type and adherence to follow-up of medical management. Results Of 283 women diagnosed with an ectopic pregnancy, 182 (64.3%) were managed surgically and 101 (35.7%) were managed with methotrexate. Among non-emergent cases, presence of fetal cardiac activity, human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) level ≥5000mIU/mL, ectopic size ≥3.5 cm, and multigravid status was associated with surgical management. Among patients receiving methotrexate, 66 (65.3%) adhered to required lab draws 4 and 7 days following methotrexate administration (+/-1 day). Among those receiving methotrexate 45.5% (n = 46) were lost to follow-up. Lower prevalence of adherence to follow-up (i.e. lab draws completed until pregnancy levels were negative) was observed among non-Hispanic African American (RR=0.64, 95%CI 0.45–0.94) compared to white women and women with multigravid status (RR=0.67, 95%CI 0.48–0.95) after adjustment. Conclusions Nearly half of those treated with methotrexate failed to complete follow-up. African-American women and multigravida women were at higher risk of being lost to follow up.
Dynamically Coupled Rigid Body+Point Vortices in \(\mathbb {R}^2\)

In this chapter, the extension of the planar Kirchhoff model by the addition of point vortices is discussed. The problem may also be considered as an extension of a problem considered by C. C. Lin—N vortices interacting in the presence of stationary rigid boundaries. This problem is discussed first. Next, the Hamiltonian formulation of the dynamically coupled problem in a body-fixed frame is discussed, recalling the principal features of the papers (Shashikanth et al., Phys Fluids 14:1214–1227, 2002; Shashikanth, Reg Chaotic Dyn 10:1–14, 2005). The Euler–Lagrange equations in a spatially-fixed frame are then derived, building upon the E-L equations for Kirchhoff’s problem and for the N-point-vortex model. This is followed by a general discussion on the topic of vortical momenta with applications. Finally equilibrium configurations involving a circular cylinder are discussed.
Novel Treatments for Diabetic Macular Edema and Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW Diabetic retinopathy (DR), a common cause of vision loss, is projected to increase worldwide, and is associated with significant morbidity. The current standard-of-care treatments can preserve and significantly improve vision in many patients affected by DR. However, challenges such as heavy treatment burden and refractory disease remain. The purpose of this review is to highlight and discuss investigative agents in development for the treatment of DR. RECENT FINDINGS There are several novel agents with unique mechanisms that may offer greater durability and efficacy compared to existing drugs. Some target new pathways, others leverage a slow-release delivery system, and some modify gene expression through a single-dose treatment. While unfavorable adverse events, such as intraocular inflammation, have been observed with longer-durability agents, many investigational products show excellent efficacy and safety profiles. The outcomes of ongoing and future trials may revolutionize the current treatment paradigm for DR.
Global trends in IPO methods: Book building versus auctions with endogenous entry

Abstract The U.S. book-building method has become increasingly popular for initial public offerings (IPOs) worldwide over the last decade, whereas sealed-bid IPO auctions have been abandoned in nearly all of the many countries in which they have been tried. I model book building, discriminatory auctions, and uniform price auctions in an environment in which the number of investors and the accuracy of investors’ information are endogenous. Book building lets underwriters manage investor access to shares, allowing them to reduce risk for both issuers and investors and to control spending on information acquisition, thereby limiting either underpricing or aftermarket volatility. Because more control and less risk are beneficial to all issuers, the advantages of book building's allocational flexibility could explain why global patterns of issuer choice are surprisingly consistent. My models also predict that offerings with higher expected underpricing have lower expected aftermarket volatility; that an auction open to large numbers of potential bidders is vulnerable to inaccurate pricing and to fluctuations in the number of bidders; and that both book-built and auctioned IPOs will exhibit partial adjustment to both private and public information.
A semi‐Lagrangian Crank‐Nicolson algorithm for the numerical solution of advection‐diffusion problems

We present a hybrid method for the numerical solution of advection-diffusion problems that combines two standard algorithms: semi-Lagrangian schemes for hyperbolic advection-reaction problems and Crank-Nicolson schemes for purely diffusive problems. We show that the hybrid scheme is identical to the two end-member schemes in the limit of infinite and zero Peclet number and remains accurate over a wide range of Peclet numbers. This scheme does not have a CFL stability criterion allowing the choice of time step to be decoupled from the spatial resolution. We compare numerical results with an analytic solution and test both an operator split version of our method and a combined version that solves advection and diffusion simultaneously. We also compare results of simple explicit and implicit numerical schemes and show that the semi-Lagrangian Crank-Nicolson (SLCN) scheme is both faster and more accurate on the same problem. We then apply the combined SLCN scheme to a more geologically relevant benchmark for calculating the thermal structure of a subduction zone. This problem demonstrates that the SLCN scheme can remain stable and accurate at large Courant numbers even in flows with highly curved streamlines. Finally, we introduce a variable order interpolation scheme for the semi-Lagrangian schemes that reduces interpolation artifacts for sharp fronts without introducing numerical diffusion.
Epidemiological Pilot Analysis of Epilepsy Patients in a Community Clinic Aims to Inform Effective Care (P5.046)

OBJECTIVE: This study sought to generate a community-specific demographic and clinical profile of epilepsy patients as a step towards formulating approaches to more effective management of epilepsy in community clinics. BACKGROUND: Epilepsy is a common neurologic disorder with varied, population-specific clinical characteristics and demands on healthcare systems. Adult epilepsy patients are at increased risk for medical and neuropsychiatric disorders that pose a challenge for epilepsy management and have a detrimental impact on quality of life. METHODS: The Baylor College of Medicine IRB approved this study. Out of roughly 5,000 patients followed at the Ben Taub General Hospital Neurology Clinic (BTGHNC) between 2007 and 2012, we analyzed a representative pilot cohort of 221 individuals treated between June 30 and August 1, 2012. Data on over 70 clinical and demographic parameters were collected from the Harris County Health System electronic medical record. RESULTS: Women represented 59% of patients. More than two-thirds of the cohort was from Latin America, mostly of Mexican origin (35%). Lesional, symptomatic localization-related epilepsy was present in 54% of cases. Epilepsy was most often complicated by chronic headaches (18%) and cognitive impairment (12%). Psychiatric illnesses were present in 53% of patients; depression, anxiety, and illicit substance and alcohol abuse were the leading causes. Medical comorbidities occurred in 41% of patients, and hypertension and type II diabetes were the most prevalent. Roughly 2/3 of the cohort underwent EEG testing, and brain MRI studies were available on 81% of patients, of which 23% showed signal change consistent with mesial temporal sclerosis. CONCLUSIONS: The ethnic character of this cohort highlights the need for culturally competent care. The high prevalence of neuro-psychiatric and medical comorbidities underscores the importance of an interdisciplinary team approach to treatment. EEG and brain MRI studies are not universally available in all patients, which has implications for the appropriate selection of antiepileptic medications and the identification of surgically treatable epilepsy conditions. Disclosure: Dr. Karas has nothing to disclose. Dr. Goldsmith has nothing to disclose. Dr. Ruppelt has nothing to disclose. Dr. Goldman has nothing to disclose.
Random Numbers, Chaos Theory, and Cogitation: A Search for the Minimal Creativity Standard in Copyright Law

For a copyright to subsist, the Constitution requires that sufficient "creativity" be found within the expressive elements of the work. The Supreme Court, in the Feist decision, described this Constitutional requirement as the search for a "creative spark" within the work. Unfortunately, the Court's imprecision in defining what a "creative spark" is has left the lower courts free to impose judicial censorship based on the judge's perceived worth of the work. Further, the expectation of a "spark" contradicts what neuroscience has learned concerning how creative thought occurs. The scientific evidence establishes that a creative thought is less inspirational than attractor-limited, random firings of brain cells. The brain's complexity and feedback require that its operation be described using chaos theory. For a conscious thought to be generated, a pattern of signals must occur. Usually, the pattern of the signals fit within an existing attractor that define a known thought. Sometimes, however, a new attractor is established either because the pattern is randomly novel or because an existing pattern randomly is not recognized. These new attractors are the novel thoughts. Their existence most typically results from a random misfiring of the brain. Because of the non-deterministic, non-inspirational functioning of the brain, looking for a "creative spark" will result in the court making an inappropriate value judgment about the creative worth of an expression. Therefore, to insure that constitutionally required creativity is contained within the work without simultaneously empowering judges to disallow copyrights to works they do not like, a more specific test is needed. As courts deal with evidence, a three-part test is proposed that determines if there is sufficient evidence of creativity. The primary focus of the test is whether the author has made choices among alternate methods of expressing a particular idea. Where the author has made choices among expressive elements, creativity exists and a copyright subsists.
Rupture of bacteria by explosive decompression.

Abstract Foster, John W. (University of Georgia, Athens), Robert M. Cowan, and Ted A. Maag. Rupture of bacteria by explosive decompression. J. Bacteriol. 83:330–334. 1962.—A device is described for instantaneously rupturing bacteria and other cells in a closed system under controlled conditions by explosive decompression. With this device, 31 to 59% of Serratia marcescens, ranging up to 20 mg (dry wt) of cells per ml, were ruptured after nitrogen saturation at 1740 psi. Under similar conditions, 10 to 25% of Brucella abortus and Staphylococcus aureus were ruptured. Rupture of these organisms produced readily separable cell walls. Centrifugation in linear glycerol gradients was applied to further separate cell walls from debris. Mycoplasma gallinarum, Leptospira pomona, and Eimeria tenella (avian coccidia) oocysts were also broken up by the decompression chamber. Pressure and duration of saturation of cells with gas affected rupture efficiency. Within the limits of this study, concentration of organisms and volume of suspensions did not have a definite effect.
VENIS-a real-time distributed prototype system

A prototype system called VENIS (Vehicle Electronic Network integration System) was developed on a military land vehicle which exhibits the versatility of a programmable logic controller, has the performance of a dedicated controller, and was implemented in a distributed architecture. Two laboratory test results show its satisfactory performance. Operational testing of VENIS on the test bed vehicle was also performed. The preliminary results of this application testing have been favorable due to the performance and versatility of the system. >
Investigation of Virgin Coals and Coals Subjected to a Mild Acid Treatment

A quantitative determination of the relative marcasite/pyrite contents in virgin coals is possible by means of 57Fe Mossbauer spectroscopy. Complications arise, however, when iron-containing silicates, carbonates, or other salts are present. The application of a mild chemical treatment involving hydrofluoric acid has been employed to remove these Fe-containing phases while leaving the iron-disulfide phases unaffected.