cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
MOCVD Precursor Delivery Monitored and Controlled Using UV Spectroscopy

The glyme adducts of bis(1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoro-2,4-pentanedionate)barium, Ba(hfac)2·glyme, are frequently employed as precursors in the MOCVD fabrication of HTSC thin films. The physical properties of these precursors can be modified by changing the glyme ligand in the barium complex. In this study, gas phase concentrations of two barium complexes as a function of purge time and bubbler temperature have been examined by in-situ UV spectroscopy. Also presented are the details of a UV spectrophotometric-based feedback control system designed to maintain constant gas phase concentration of 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-3,5-heptadionate (thd) precursors, Cu(thd)2 and Y(thd)3, during MOCVD growth of mixed metal oxide films.
Molecular linker-mediated self-assembly of gold nanoparticles: understanding and controlling the dynamics.

This study sheds light on the mechanism and dynamics of self-assembly of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) using molecular linkers such as aminothiols. An experimental model is established that enables a fine control and prediction of both assembly rate and degree. Furthermore, we have found that under certain conditions, the increase in the molar ratio of linker/AuNPs beyond a certain threshold unexpectedly and dramatically slows down the assembly rate by charge reversal of the surface of nanoparticles. As a result, the assembly rate can be easily tuned to reach a maximum growth within seconds to several days. The decrease of the same molar ratio (linker/AuNPs) below a certain value leads to self-termination of the reaction at different phases of the assembly process, thus providing nanoparticles chains of different length. This work introduces new handles for a rational design of novel self-assembled architectures in a very time-effective manner and contributes to the understanding of the effect of the assembl...
Tracking Nanoparticle Diffusion in Porous Filtration Media

Porous materials are used extensively in industrial filtration and mass separation processes, but it is often difficult to predict their mass transport behavior because porous materials are an inherently heterogeneous medium and multiple microscopic mechanisms can lead to macroscopic changes in transport. To provide a microscopic view of hindered porous transport, we present the results of single-particle tracking experiments in which we followed the diffusive motion of individual nanoparticles in commercial filtration media. We compared two materials, glass fiber and nitrocellulose, with similar nominal characteristics, but we found that the diffusion behavior of the embedded particles differed significantly. While diffusion in the glass fiber material was nearly unhindered, the dynamics were heterogeneous and significantly slowed in the nitrocellulose. We rationalized the observations based on differences in geometric hindrance, particle binding, and hydrodynamic interactions. Our results highlight the ...
About Multivariate General Fractional Polya Integral Inequalities

Here we present a set of multivariate general fractional Polya type integral inequalities on the ball and shell.
Clinical and surgical outcomes after lumbar laminectomy: An analysis of 500 patients.

Background: The objective of this study is to determine the clinical and surgical outcomes following lumbar laminectomy.
The Width of the Surgical Margin Does Not Influence Outcomes in Extremity and Truncal Soft Tissue Sarcoma Treated With Radiotherapy

Background and objectives It is unclear whether the quantitative width of the surgical margin influences outcomes in patients with extremity and truncal soft tissue sarcoma (STS) treated with radiotherapy (RT). Methods We performed a retrospective review of 382 patients with localized extremity or truncal STS who underwent limb-sparing surgery and RT from 1983 to 2010, and we analyzed the significance of resection margin status and quantitative margin width on outcomes. Results Surgical margins were positive in 68 (18%) patients and negative in 314 (82%) patients. For those patients with a reported quantitative margin width (n = 235), the width of the negative margin was ≤1 mm (n = 128), >1 mm and ≤5 mm (n = 79), and >5 mm (n = 28). At a median follow-up of 82 months, the local recurrence rates were 5.4% and 11.8% for margin-negative and margin-positive patients, respectively. There were no differences in the rates of local or distant recurrence nor of any survival outcome based on the quantitative width of the surgical margin, provided that it was negative. Conclusions In patients undergoing RT and limb-sparing surgery for STS, achieving a negative margin is essential for optimizing both local control and survival. However, the absolute quantitative width of the negative margin does not significantly influence outcome, and so attempts at wide margins of resection appear to be unnecessary. Importantly, the conclusions drawn from this study must not be applied to those patients undergoing surgery alone as the local treatment of their STS, in which case wider margins of resection may be necessary. Implications for practice In patients undergoing radiation therapy and limb-sparing surgery for soft tissue sarcoma, the quantitative width of the negative margin does not influence outcome, and so attempts at wide margins of resection appear to be unnecessary, especially when such attempts compromise the functional outcome. Importantly, the conclusions drawn from this study must not be applied to those patients undergoing surgery alone as the local treatment of their soft tissue sarcoma, in which case wider margins of resection may be necessary.
Overview of captology

This chapter provides an overview of Captology, which is the study of computers as persuasive technology. Captology focuses on human-computer interaction (HCI), not on computer-mediated communication (CMC). Specifically, captology investigates how people are motivated or persuaded when interacting with computing products rather than through them. CMC is a separate area of research and design, with interesting intellectual questions to answer. Under the CMC model, the computer is a channel that allows humans to interact with each other. In this scenario, the computer facilitates communication; it does not persuade. By contrast, in a human-computer interaction, the computing product is a participant in the interaction and can be a source of persuasion. The computer can proactively seek to motivate and influence users, drawing on strategies and routines programmed into it. It can encourage, provide incentives, and negotiate, to name a few strategies. Captology focuses on the planned persuasive effects of computer technologies. It also focuses on endogenous, or ”built-in,“ persuasive intent, not on exogenous intent. Captology recognizes that technology can persuade on two levels—macro and micro.
The Effects of Policy Implementation Uncertainty on Groundwater Extraction

Concerns about the high rate of depletion of the Ogallala Aquifer in the Southern High Plains of Texas (Texas High Plains) in recent years have led to the enactment of policies designed to slow down water extraction and increase the usable life of the aquifer. However, policy implementation has not been uniform across the aquifer, leaving some farmers in portions of the aquifer with no effective groundwater extraction restrictions only a short distance away from areas where farmers face regulatory limits. This study investigates the effects of policy implementation uncertainty on the extraction of groundwater. An econometric model is estimated for harvested acreage of the three major crops produced in the five representative counties of the Texas High Plains. Corn acreage (an irrigation-intensive crop) is used as a proxy for groundwater use. After controlling for price and climate effects, it was concluded that there is strong evidence that groundwater use policy uncertainty is likely to increase groundwater extraction in the Texas High Plains region. The social desire to achieve perpetual sustainability of groundwater resources in the study region, or at the very least to prolong the life of the Ogallala Aquifer, has resulted in discussions about alternative groundwater management policies. Producers, in their concern about the implementation of policies to slow down groundwater extraction, increase their use of water in the short-run in order to maximize profits before groundwater use restriction policies are enforced.
Transient and steady-state Monte-Carlo simulation of the effects of junction grading on carrier transport in InAlAs/InGaAs HBTs

Various Al composition gradings (x/sub 0/) at the emitter/base junction of an InAlAs/InGaAs HBT (heterojunction bipolar transistor) are considered and their effects on carrier transport are studied using a self-consistent Monte Carlo technique. Electron transit time, velocity, and energy distribution are examined for this purpose. The shortest base-collector transit time (1.34 ps) and the highest average velocity (3.1*10/sup 7/ cm/s) are found for a design with intermediate grading (x/sub 0/=0.5 approximately 0.6). The study of the transient collector current and cutoff frequency characteristics shows similar results, i.e. improved device speed and frequency of operation with intermediate grading E/B junctions. >
Can Expert Testimony Sensitize Jurors to Coercive Interrogation Tactics

ABSTRACTLay knowledge concerning false confession risk factors appears to be insufficient to safeguard against wrongful convictions, and research on false confession expert testimony has not led to a clear understanding of its impact on juror decision making. Thus, the current study sought to clarify whether expert testimony can induce sensitivity to a wide variety of false confession risk factors. Furthermore, jurors bring a variety of predispositions into the courtroom that may shape the way they view evidence. Yet, little research has evaluated the impact of individual differences in cases involving confession evidence. The current study assessed 330 participants’ self-reported likelihood of falsely confessing. These participants subsequently read an abbreviated criminal trial transcript where the defendant confessed to committing murder, but later recanted. We varied police use of four psychologically coercive interrogation techniques as well as the presence of expert testimony during the trial. Gener...
Inactivation of Staphylococcal Thermonuclease by an Enzyme-Like Factor Produced by Streptococcus faecalis subsp. liquefaciens.

The thermonuclease of Staphylococcus aureus was inactivated during incubation with filtrates from cultures of Streptococcus faecalis subsp. liquefaciens . Of 53 isolates, 40 produced a thermonuclease-inactivating factor (TIF). The TIF was heat-labile, non-dialyzable and optimally active at 55 C and pH 7.0. These characteristics suggest TIF is a proteolytic enzyme. The common occurrence of TIF in cultures of S. faecalis subsp. liquefaciens may limit the value of the thermonuclease test for foods containing large populations of this organism.
Parental Perceptions of the Social Environment Are Inversely Related to Constraint of Adolescents' Neighborhood Physical Activity.

Background: The current study examined relationships between the neighborhood social environment (parental perceived collective efficacy (PCE)), constrained behaviors (e.g., avoidance or defensive behaviors) and adolescent offspring neighborhood physical activity in low- versus high-incivility neighborhoods. Methods: Adolescents (n = 71; 11–18 years (14.2, SD ± 1.6); male = 37 (52%); non-white = 24 (33.8%); low-income = 20 (29%); overweight/obese = 40 (56%)) and their parents/guardians enrolled in the Molecular and Social Determinants of Obesity in Developing Youth study were included in the current study. Questionnaires measured parents’/guardians’ PCE, constrained outdoor play practices and offspring neighborhood physical activity. Systematic social observation performed at the parcel-level using Google Street View assessed neighborhood incivilities. t-tests and chi-square tests determined differences by incivilities. Multilevel regression models examined relationships between PCE and: (1) constrained behaviors; and (2) neighborhood physical activity. The Hayes (2013) macro determined the mediating role of constrained behaviors. Results: Parents who had higher PCE reported lower levels of avoidance (p = 0.04) and defensive (p = 0.05) behaviors. However, demographic variables (i.e., gender, race and annual household income) limited these results. The direct relationship between PCE and parent-reported neighborhood physical activity was statistically significant in high-incivility neighborhoods only. Neither avoidance nor defensive behavior mediated the relationship between PCE and neighborhood physical activity. Conclusions: PCE influences parenting behaviors related to youth physical activity. Community-based programs that seek to facilitate social cohesion and control may be needed to increase adolescents’ physical activity.
Extracellular vesicle docking at the cellular port: Extracellular vesicle binding and uptake

Extracellular vesicles (EVs), lipid bilayer-enclosed structures that contain a variety of biological molecules shed by cells, are increasingly becoming appreciated as a major form of cell-to-cell communication. Indeed, EVs have been shown to play important roles in several physiological processes, as well as diseases such as cancer. EVs dock on to the surfaces of recipient cells where they transmit signals from the cell surface and/or transfer their contents into cells to elicit functional responses. EV docking and uptake by cells represent critical, but poorly understood processes. Here, we focus on the mechanisms by which EVs dock and transfer their contents to cells. Moreover, we highlight how these findings may provide new avenues for therapeutic intervention.
Myogenic differentiation of VCP disease-induced pluripotent stem cells: A novel platform for drug discovery

Valosin Containing Protein (VCP) disease is an autosomal dominant multisystem proteinopathy caused by mutations in the VCP gene, and is primarily associated with progressive muscle weakness, including atrophy of the pelvic and shoulder girdle muscles. Currently, no treatments are available and cardiac and respiratory failures can lead to mortality at an early age. VCP is an AAA ATPase multifunction complex protein and mutations in the VCP gene resulting in disrupted autophagic clearance. Due to the rarity of the disease, the myopathic nature of the disorder, ethical and practical considerations, VCP disease muscle biopsies are difficult to obtain. Thus, disease-specific human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) now provide a valuable resource for the research owing to their renewable and pluripotent nature. In the present study, we report the differentiation and characterization of a VCP disease-specific hiPSCs into precursors expressing myogenic markers including desmin, myogenic factor 5 (MYF5), myosin and heavy chain 2 (MYH2). VCP disease phenotype is characterized by high expression of TAR DNA Binding Protein-43 (TDP-43), ubiquitin (Ub), Light Chain 3-I/II protein (LC3-I/II), and p62/SQSTM1 (p62) protein indicating disruption of the autophagy cascade. Treatment of hiPSC precursors with autophagy stimulators Rapamycin, Perifosine, or AT101 showed reduction in VCP pathology markers TDP-43, LC3-I/II and p62/SQSTM1. Conversely, autophagy inhibitors chloroquine had no beneficial effect, and Spautin-1 or MHY1485 had modest effects. Our results illustrate that hiPSC technology provide a useful platform for a rapid drug discovery and hence constitutes a bridge between clinical and bench research in VCP and related diseases.
Is fertilization efficiency misleading

Given the need to increase crop production in the future while minimizing any associated impact on the environment, it is important to understand the relationship between global crop production and fertilization. Tilman et al.1 argue that fertilization beyond current levels is unlikely to increase crop yields (production per unit area) as effectively as in the past, due to diminishing returns. However, their evidence is misleading and does not support their conclusions. Diminishing returns are not readily apparent on a global scale.
Online scheduling problems with flexible release dates: Applications to infrastructure restoration

Abstract We consider scheduling problems with the new concept of flexible release dates under an online optimization framework. A flexible release date is one where the traditional release date of a specific operation can be moved earlier in time, specifically to the completion time of an associated supplementary operation. In this context, we examine two classes of parallel identical machines: those that perform supplementary operations to alter release dates and those that perform installation operations to change the network characteristics. We further consider multi-function machines that can perform both supplementary and installation operations. The release date of an operation is often determined by events outside the knowledge of the decision-maker. Therefore, we consider scheduling problems in an online setting to model the lack of- and evolution of information about the release dates of tasks. Motivated by infrastructure restoration after an extreme event, we consider flexible release dates for an integrated network design and scheduling problem that seeks to improve the performance of a network over time by selecting and scheduling operations that will change the network characteristics. To solve these problems, we propose heuristic dispatching rules whose solutions are benchmarked against the solutions of a mixed integer programming formulation. Using a realistic infrastructure network, we perform computational tests; the results of these tests demonstrate the ability of the dispatching rule to find high-quality solutions in real time and quickly adapt to the arrival of new information. From the analysis of these results, we deduce policy insights regarding the role of flexible release dates and the machine fleet configuration.
Vitamin D Supplementation and Changes in Vitamin D and Bone Metabolites in Children

Because a significant number of children and adolescents worldwide are considered vitamin D insufficient or deficient, skeletal health may be compromised leading to long-term fracture risks. For this reason, a heightened research priority has been placed on the role of vitamin D in bone metabolism during growth. Vitamin D supplementation increases 25-­hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) in children and the response appears to be dose-dependent, though dose–response trials are needed to confirm this. Increases in serum 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25[OH]2D) and decreases in intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) occur with vitamin D supplementation, and these responses are more pronounced with higher doses of vitamin D and in populations considered vitamin D insufficient and deficient ( 50 nmol/L), iPTH suppression is minimal. The effect of vitamin D supplementation on biochemical markers of bone turnover likely depends on basal 25(OH)D concentrations and doses of vitamin D administered, with lower baseline 25(OH)D and higher vitamin D doses promoting more favorable responses, respectively. Because there is a dearth of knowledge with respect to race differences in vitamin D and bone metabolism, dose–response trials among multiple race and ethnic groups are needed.
Development of a fast, voxel-based, and scanner-specific CT simulator for image-quality-based virtual clinical trials

This study aimed to develop a simulation framework to synthesize accurate and scanner-specific Computed Tomography (CT) images of voxel-based computational phantoms. Two phantoms were used in the simulations, a geometry-based Mercury phantom and a “textured” anthropomorphic XCAT phantom, both with an isotropic voxel size of 0.25 mm. The simulator geometry and physics were based on a clinical scanner. The projection images were calculated by computing each detector’s signal using the Beer-Lambert law. To avoid aliasing artifacts, the focal spot and detectors were subsampled four and nine times, respectively. The simulator was designed to function both axially and helically, and account for “Z” and in-plane flying focal spots and various bowtie filters. Quantum and electronic noise were added to the detector signals as a function of the tube current using experimental measurements. The resulting projection images were calibrated to suppress the beam hardening artifact using a 4th-order polynomial water correction. The simulation procedure was accelerated using multi-threading and graphics processing unit (GPU) computing. The projection images were reconstructed using clinical reconstruction software. To evaluate the accuracy of the simulator, the reconstructed images of the computational Mercury phantom were compared against experimental CT scans of its physical counterpart in terms of resolution, noise, and HU values. Results showed that our proposed simulator can generate CT images with image quality attributes close to real clinical data. The new CT simulator, combined with anthropomorphic “textured” phantoms, provides a new way to generate clinically realistic CT data and has the potential to enable virtual clinical studies in advance or in lieu of costly clinical trials.
Quantitative sustainability analysis of water desalination – A didactic example for reverse osmosis

Abstract Water desalination continues to evolve to a currently mature stage that, similarly to all large human endeavors, must be planned, designed, and operated according to the quantitative holistic sustainability paradigm and criteria that are defined by the interrelated aspects of the environmental, economic, and social pillars of the endeavor. A methodology for such evaluation was described in [1], including equations for formulating a composite sustainability index as a function of relevant parameters, which thus allows mathematical analysis in general and sensitivity analysis and optimization in particular. This is the first paper that demonstrates this methodology and its use for desalination by presenting an example of a comprehensive and detailed original sustainability analysis of reverse osmosis (RO) desalination plants and of their comparison. It includes the selection and calculation of metrics (for simplicity, a small number and partially synthetic) and weights, as well as their aggregation to a composite sustainability indicator, using typical data values. The aggregation is performed by an original concept of impact quantification and monetization. An analysis of sensitivity to choice of weights and to the combined environmental and social impact factors was conducted. The presented sustainability analysis example should be helpful for both didactic and practical purposes, and the methodology is flexible, modular, adaptable, and enhancable to meet other and evolving needs.
Influence of the calcium-sensitive fluorophore, Quin 2, on platelet function

Recent investigations using Quin 2, a fluorophore used to monitor cytosolic free calcium shifts, have shown that strong agonists cause a dramatic dose-dependent increase in platelet fluorescence. However, weak agonists stimulated little or no increase in light emission of Quin 2- loaded platelets, suggesting that calcium flux is not involved in activation by these agents. The present study has sought an alternative explanation for the failure of weak stimuli to cause a rise in cytosolic free calcium in platelets containing Quin 2. Conditions used to prepare, wash, load, gel-filter, and evaluate the fluorophore-filled cells were examined for their compatibility with retention of sensitivity to activation by weak agonists. The technique used to measure shifts in cytosolic calcium with Quin 2 requires multiply washed, unstirred platelets. Under these conditions, platelets do not aggregate or secrete in response to weak agonists. Quin 2, at concentrations >40 µmol/L, inhibits the response of platelets to strong agonists, and completely blocks their reaction to weak agonists. Quin 2 inhibition of platelet function appears related to high buffering capacity for free calcium, although other mechanisms cannot be ruled out. This suggestion is supported by the observation that Quin 2-induced blockade can be overcome by membrane modulation, which is a calcium-dependent process. However, since both agonists are weak, significant elevation in cytosolic calcium concurrent with functional restoration could not be demonstrated under the experimental conditions used for monitoring calcium. Thus, the conditions used to prepare platelets for Quin 2 evaluation and Quin 2 itself appear to be responsible for the failure of weak agonists to cause evidence of a calcium shift in fluorophore-loaded cells. © 1986 by Grune & Stratton, Inc.
Cerebral Oxygen Utilization as a Gauge of Brain Energy Metabolism

Few studies relate the function of cerebral mitochondria to brain energy metabolism due, in part, to the technical challenge of quantifying energy metabolism. In vivo methods depend on the fact that a change in oxygen supply to the brain results in the blockage of electron transport through the respiratory chain. Consequently, there are detectable changes in NADH1 and cytochrome a/a3 2 concentrations which may be measured optically from the brain surface. Although the equipment is complex and expensive, these methods are advantageous because they provide a less invasive, real time estimate of regional brain redox status. Nevertheless, these data are difficult to equate with either regional ATP turnover or global brain metabolism.
Fort Polk Heart Smart Program. Part I: Background design and significance

This paper introduces three cardiovascular health evaluation and promotion projects targeting military families at Fort Polk, Louisiana. These studies examine dietary behavior and life-styles including tobacco and alcohol use of military wives, physical activity, cardiovascular disease risk factors of military personnel and their families, and other behavioral profiles with the goal of developing a healthy lifestyle modification program for families. Relevant biomedical background and rationale considerations are developed to support the current research. In addition, conclusions drawn from these studies indicate the opportunity for future health promotion programs at other military installations. The studies will provide the background for a manual of operations to conduct health promotions for families on a military base. Further, the model provides the opportunity for a social support mechanism for families during times of stress and military operations.
Hydrothermal Convection at Ridge Axes

Our knowledge of hydrothermal circulation at the ridge axis is based largely on sampling of the hydrothermal fluid, indirect geophysical measurements of the oceanic crust, and studies of rocks which are believed to have undergone hydrothermal alteration at the ridge axis. Basic questions still remain to be answered: how does the hydrothermal seawater initially enter deep levels of the oceanic crust; how effective is hydrothermal circulation at cooling the crust; what is the geometry of hydrothermal circulation; what is the relationship between the hydrothermal circulation and the magma chamber; how does the oceanic crust react with the seawater; and how can the hydrothermal fluid which altered a rock sample be identified. In this presentation, the relationships between these questions are discussed. In this volume, Lister (1983a) is concerned with mainly the first three questions and Taylor (1983) with the last three. Lister’s (1983a) approach is mainly theoretical, while Taylor (1983) has extensively studied the chemistry of rocks affected by hydrothermal fluids. Therefore, I discuss most extensively the topics not treated in those papers. That is chemical approaches to the questions addressed by Lister (1983a) and physical approaches to the questions discussed by Taylor (1983).
Saying Thank-You: Authentic and Strategic Gratitude and Their Effects on Work Relationships

The role of gratitude as an important relational dynamic has been largely overlooked in organizational science. However, gratitude plays an important role at work for both actors and partners. As s...
MRI-only based synthetic CT generation using dense cycle consistent generative adversarial networks.

Automated synthetic computed tomography (sCT) generation based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images would allow for MRI-only based treatment planning in radiation therapy, eliminating the need for CT simulation and simplifying the patient treatment workflow. In this work, the authors propose a novel method for generation of sCT based on dense cycle-consistent generative adversarial networks (cycle GAN), a deep-learning based model that trains two transformation mappings (MRI to CT and CT to MRI) simultaneously. The cycle GAN-based model was developed to generate sCT images in a patch-based framework. Cycle GAN was applied to this problem because it includes an inverse transformation from CT to MRI, which helps constrain the model to learn a one-to-one mapping. Dense block-based networks were used to construct generator of cycle GAN. The network weights and variables were optimized via a gradient difference (GD) loss and a novel distance loss metric between sCT and original CT. Leave-one-out cross-validation was performed to validate the proposed model. The mean absolute error (MAE), peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR), and normalized cross correlation (NCC) indexes were used to quantify the differences between the sCT and original planning CT images. For the proposed method, the mean MAE between sCT and CT were 55.7 Hounsfield units (HU) for 24 brain cancer patients and 50.8HU for 20 prostate cancer patients. The mean PSNR and NCC were 26.6dB and 0.963 in the brain cases, and 24.5dB and 0.929 in the pelvis. We developed and validated a novel learning-based approach to generate CT images from routine MRIs based on dense cycle GAN model to effectively capture the relationship between the CT and MRIs. The proposed method can generate robust, high-quality sCT in minutes. The proposed method offers strong potential for supporting near real-time MRI-only treatment planning in the brain and pelvis.
Voucher-Based Contingency Management is Efficacious but Underutilized in Treating Addictions

The United States lags far behind other industrialized countries on major markers of population health. Population health experts identify unhealthy behavior patterns (e.g., cigarette smoking, other substance use disorders, physical inactivity and poor food choices, nonadherence with recommended medical regimens) as the largest contributor to the status quo. Because these risk behaviors are overrepresented in socioeconomically disadvantaged and other vulnerable populations, they also increase health disparities. Hence, identifying evidence-based strategies to promote and sustain health-related behavior change is critical to improving U.S. population health. In this report, we review research demonstrating the efficacy of voucher-based contingency management delivered alone or in combination with other interventions for treating substance use disorders and other health-related behavior problems. The efficacy supporting these interventions is robust and discernible at the level of controlled randomized clinical trials and meta-analyses. Unfortunately, these evidence-based interventions are being underutilized in routine clinical care for substance use disorders, although they are used broadly in private-sector wellness programs and international programs to reduce chronic poverty. This report reviews the evidence supporting the efficacy of voucher-based contingency management using projects developed at the University of Vermont as exemplars and discusses dissemination of the model to public and private sector efforts to improve individual and population health.
Thermoresponsive Behavior of Polypeptoid Nanostructures Investigated with Heated Atomic Force Microscopy: Implications toward the Development of Smart Coatings for Surface-Based Sensors

The reversible phase transitions of surface tethered thermoresponsive polymers were studied at the nanoscale using in situ atomic force microscopy (AFM) by heating and cooling a test platform of po...
Maximizing the Calm before the Storm: Tiered Surgical Response Plan for Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).

The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) was first diagnosed in Wuhan, China in December 2019 and has now spread throughout the world, being verified by the World Health Organization as a pandemic on March 11. This had led to the calling of a national emergency on March 13 in the US. Many hospitals, healthcare networks, and specifically, departments of surgery, are asking the same questions about how to cope and plan for surge capacity, personnel attrition, novel infrastructure utilization, and resource exhaustion. Herein, we present a tiered plan for surgical department planning based on incident command levels. This includes acute care surgeon deployment (given their critical care training and vertically integrated position in the hospital), recommended infrastructure and transfer utilization, triage principles, and faculty, resident, and advanced care practitioner deployment.
Nelarabine-related rhabdomyolysis in a patient with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Nelarabine is a purine analog antimetabolite approved for relapsed and refractory T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) and T cell lymphoblastic lymphoma (T-LBL), after at least 2 prior chemo...
The Role of Shared Future Selves and Self-Continuity in Promoting the Presence of Meaning in Life

Modern work life is increasingly lacking in structure, which poses challenges to workers’ ability to maintain a sense of meaning in life (MIL). In the current research, we examine the role of perce...
Myotonic Muscular Dystrophy Type 2 in CT, USA: A Single-Center Experience With 50 Patients.

ABSTRACT Myotonic dystrophy type 2 (DM2) is an autosomal dominant disorder due to a (CCTG)n repeat expansion in intron 1 of the CNBP gene. In this article, we report the clinicopathologic findings in 50 patients seen at a single site over a 27 year period. DM2 was the fifth most common type of muscular dystrophy seen at our center with a 5-fold lower frequency as compared to DM1. Age of symptom onset ranged from 15 to 72 years, and the mean duration between symptom onset and diagnosis was 7.4 years. Weakness referable to the proximal lower extremities was the presenting symptom in 62% of patients. The degree of generalized weakness varied from severe in 30% to no weakness in 20% of patients. Clinical myotonia was noted in 18% and myotonic discharges on electromyography in 97% of patients. Pain symptoms were uncommon in our cohort. A significant correlation was noted between limb weakness and degree of muscle pathologic changes. There was no correlation between CCTG repeat size and other clinicopathologic findings. Six patients (12%) had cardiac abnormalities including one who developed progressive nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy ultimately leading to cardiac transplantation. In 21 patients followed for 2 or more years, we noted a mean rate of decline in total Medical Research Council score of about 1% per year.
Ventricular septal defect complicating delayed presentation of acute myocardial infarction during COVID-19 lockdown: a case report

Background Post-myocardial infarction ventricular septal defects (VSDs) have become rare in the reperfusion era but remain associated with very high morbidity and mortality. As patients defer prompt evaluation and management of acute coronary syndromes during the COVID-19 global pandemic, the incidence of these and other post-infarction mechanical complications is expected to increase. Case summary A 37-year-old gentleman with multiple coronary artery disease risk factors presented with intermittent chest discomfort and 1 week of heart failure symptoms. An echocardiogram demonstrated a large muscular VSD and coronary angiography confirmed the presence of an anterior wall infarction. He was subsequently referred for transcatheter VSD repair and showed rapid clinical improvement in his symptoms. Discussion Post-infarction VSDs remain associated with a high degree of morbidity and mortality. Surgical repair of acutely ruptured myocardium can be technically challenging, and transcatheter repair has emerged as a safe and effective alternative.
Isolated Traumatic Tear of the Middle Head of the Deltoid Muscle: A Case Report.

CASE A 27-year-old male pedestrian struck presented with left shoulder pain and weakness 4 months postinjury, with an isolated middle head of the deltoid tear. The patient's pain persisted despite extensive nonoperative management. The deltoid was primarily repaired to the lateral acromion using a transosseous suture repair technique. CONCLUSION Suture repair of the deltoid to the acromion using transosseous tunnel fixation is a successful treatment for traumatic, isolated tears of the middle head of the deltoid muscle that fail conservative treatment. After surgical repair and physical therapy, our patient recovered full, pain-free range of motion and strength at 6 months.
Robotic Inspection and 3D GPR-based Reconstruction for Underground Utilities.

Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) is an effective non-destructive evaluation (NDE) device for inspecting and surveying subsurface objects (i.e., rebars, utility pipes) in complex environments. However, the current practice for GPR data collection requires a human inspector to move a GPR cart along pre-marked grid lines and record the GPR data in both X and Y directions for post-processing by 3D GPR imaging software. It is time-consuming and tedious work to survey a large area. Furthermore, identifying the subsurface targets depends on the knowledge of an experienced engineer, who has to make manual and subjective interpretation that limits the GPR applications, especially in large-scale scenarios. In addition, the current GPR imaging technology is not intuitive, and not for normal users to understand, and not friendly to visualize. To address the above challenges, this paper presents a novel robotic system to collect GPR data, interpret GPR data, localize the underground utilities, reconstruct and visualize the underground objects' dense point cloud model in a user-friendly manner. This system is composed of three modules: 1) a vision-aided Omni-directional robotic data collection platform, which enables the GPR antenna to scan the target area freely with an arbitrary trajectory while using a visual-inertial-based positioning module tags the GPR measurements with positioning information; 2) a deep neural network (DNN) migration module to interpret the raw GPR B-scan image into a cross-section of object model; 3) a DNN-based 3D reconstruction method, i.e., GPRNet, to generate underground utility model represented as fine 3D point cloud. Comparative studies on synthetic and field GPR raw data with various incompleteness and noise are performed.
Trastuzumab deruxtecan in previously treated HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer: Plain language summary of the DESTINY-Breast01 study.

This is a summary of the article discussing the results of the DESTINY-Breast01 study originally published in the New England Journal of Medicine. The DESTINY-Breast01 study is a clinical study in participants with a type of breast cancer called HER2-positive breast cancer. The participants in the study received a treatment called trastuzumab deruxtecan, also known as T-DXd. The purpose of this summary is to help you understand the results of the DESTINY-Breast01 study. T-DXd is currently available as a treatment for adults with HER2-positive breast cancer that cannot be removed by surgery, also called unresectable, or that has spread, also called metastatic. In the DESTINY-Breast01 study, all the participants had HER2-positive breast cancer that was metastatic or unresectable. All participants were required to have had previous treatment for their HER2-positive breast cancer with another treatment, called trastuzumab emtansine or T-DM1. All the participants received T-DXd every 3 weeks. Part 1 was done to learn how T-DXd acted in the body, and to choose a dose to give to all the participants in Part 2. In Part 2, 184 participants received T-DXd at 5.4 mg/kg and the results showed that T-DXd reduced tumor growth. Up to 60.9% of the participants had their tumors shrink or disappear, with a treatment response that lasted for nearly 15 months on average. The participants lived with their cancer for around 16 months before it got worse. During the study, 183 out of 184 participants had side effects, known as adverse events. The most common adverse event was nausea. There were 42 participants (22.8%) who had serious adverse events, including lung toxicity. These results suggest that T-DXd could be a treatment option for people with metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer who have already been treated with T-DM1. Additional studies will provide more information and results about T-DXd. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT number: NCT03248492. To read the full Plain Language Summary of this article, click on the View Article button above and download the PDF. Link to original article here .
The Prebiotic Kitchen: A Guide to Composing Prebiotic Soup Recipes to Test Origins of Life Hypotheses.

“Prebiotic soup” often features in discussions of origins of life research, both as a theoretical concept when discussing abiological pathways to modern biochemical building blocks and, more recently, as a feedstock in prebiotic chemistry experiments focused on discovering emergent, systems-level processes such as polymerization, encapsulation, and evolution. However, until now, little systematic analysis has gone into the design of well-justified prebiotic mixtures, which are needed to facilitate experimental replicability and comparison among researchers. This paper explores principles that should be considered in choosing chemical mixtures for prebiotic chemistry experiments by reviewing the natural environmental conditions that might have created such mixtures and then suggests reasonable guidelines for designing recipes. We discuss both “assembled” mixtures, which are made by mixing reagent grade chemicals, and “synthesized” mixtures, which are generated directly from diversity-generating primary prebiotic syntheses. We discuss different practical concerns including how to navigate the tremendous uncertainty in the chemistry of the early Earth and how to balance the desire for using prebiotically realistic mixtures with experimental tractability and replicability. Examples of two assembled mixtures, one based on materials likely delivered by carbonaceous meteorites and one based on spark discharge synthesis, are presented to illustrate these challenges. We explore alternative procedures for making synthesized mixtures using recursive chemical reaction systems whose outputs attempt to mimic atmospheric and geochemical synthesis. Other experimental conditions such as pH and ionic strength are also considered. We argue that developing a handful of standardized prebiotic recipes may facilitate coordination among researchers and enable the identification of the most promising mechanisms by which complex prebiotic mixtures were “tamed” during the origin of life to give rise to key living processes such as self-propagation, information processing, and adaptive evolution. We end by advocating for the development of a public prebiotic chemistry database containing experimental methods (including soup recipes), results, and analytical pipelines for analyzing complex prebiotic mixtures.
Partially-Averaged Navier-Stokes (PANS) Simulations of Lid-Driven Cavity Flow—Part II: Flow Structures

The vortical flow structures in low and high Reynolds number lid-driven cavity flows are examined using Partially-averaged Navier-Stokes (PANS) and unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (URANS) simulations. The spanwise aspect ratio (SAR) of the cavity is 3:1:1 and the Reynolds numbers based on cavity height and lid velocity are \(10^4\) and \(10^6\). It is demonstrated that, while the mean flow statistics are nearly the same for URANS and PANS, the complex vortex structures are captured much better by PANS. The difference between the URANS and PANS structures are even more distinct at higher Reynolds numbers. Furthermore, it is shown that the PANS small-scale statistics at different levels of resolution are self-similar and scale according to established turbulence theory.
Drivers' Vision and Performance with Convex Exterior Rearview Mirrors

A laboratory simulation of dawn/dusk illumination showed that following vehicles could be detected equally well in plane and convex mirrors, and a night driving test showed that low- and mid-beam headlamps of a following car produced discomfort glare responses that were independent of whether the exterior mirror was plane or convex. Visibility of the following car was rated better with the plane exterior mirror. Measures of performance of drivers relevant to safety in lane changing and passing were not different when they used a plane or convex exterior mirror in conjunction with a plane interior mirror, and did not differ in the day or at night. When the initial speed of the overtaking car was 15 mph (24 km/h) greater than the subjects' car, drivers significantly underestimated the relative speed, indicating a potential cause of collisions with a following vehicle in lane changing and passing maneuvers.
BENTHIC COMMUNITY RESPONSES TO WATER REMOVAL IN TROPICAL MOUNTAIN STREAMS

Mountain streams that originally supported Hawaiian cultural practices have been diverted for development, agriculture and tourism for over 150 years. Habitat characteristics and benthic macroinvertebrate community responses to water withdrawal were studied in four West Maui Mountain watersheds. We compared riffle and cascade habitats upstream and downstream of the highest-elevation diversion in each stream and further compared streams to understand variation among watersheds. Riffles were shallow areas with moderate flow, whereas cascades had high-velocity water flowing over boulders and were separated into torrenticolous (submerged) and amphibious (splash zones on adjacent exposed rock) microhabitats. Among streams, downstream discharge was reduced by 84–99%, flow velocity was four times greater upstream, and depth was 50% lower downstream. There was a significant 44% reduction in downstream macroinvertebrate density (t = 3.261, df = 136, p = 0.0014); however, density did not significantly differ among streams (F = 1.95, df = 3, p = 0.125). Habitat-corrected density, based on total available habitat area, indicated significantly greater proportions of native taxa in amphibious microhabitats compared with riffle and torrenticolous habitats. Non-native Chironomidae and Trichoptera (Cheumatopsyche sp. and Hydroptila sp.) were dominant (>95%) and ubiquitous in riffles, whereas native Limonia sp. dominated (30%) amphibious microhabitats. Macroinvertebrate community structure varied among streams, sites and microhabitats, indicating inconsistent response to water withdrawal, dependent upon watershed size and microhabitat conditions. Our findings contribute to water management and restoration efforts focused on conservation of native species and habitat integrity in tropical streams worldwide. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.