cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Resonant Two-Photon Photoemission from Ti 3d Defect States of TiO2(110) Revisited

Recently three groups reported on resonant two-photon photoemission (2PP) from Ti 3d defect states on rutile TiO2(110) surface. The first publication (Argondizzo, A.; Cui, X.; Wang, C.; Sun, H.; Shang, H.; Zhao, J.; Petek, H. Phys. Rev. B 2015, 91, 155429) to appear assigned the resonance enhancement of the two-photon absorption processes to excitations from the nominally t2g symmetry Ti3+ 3d defect states of reduced bulk TiO2 through a one-photon resonance with nearly degenerate pair of eg symmetry intermediate states, before absorbing another photon into the photoemission continuum. This resonance occurs for hν ∼ 3.6 eV, and has pronounced dependence on the alignment of the electric field vector of the excitation light with the in-plane crystalline axes of the TiO2(110) surface. Subsequently, two other groups reported similar 2PP spectra of reduced TiO2 surfaces, with one claiming a single d–d transition of OH terminated TiO2 at a lower energy than in the primary report (Wang, Z.; Wen, B.; Hao, Q.; Liu,...
The interactive impact of press freedom and media reach on corruption

Abstract In this paper, we explore the joint impact of press freedom and access or reach of media (measured by internet or mobile access by the populace) on corruption levels of nations. We argue that press freedom and media reach (in other words, communication infrastructure) are complementary factors that should be looked at together while analyzing a media sector's impact on economic development outcomes like corruption. Based on estimated marginal impacts, we conclude that press freedom, by itself, curbs corruption, even for countries with lower media reach. However, as reach increases, the beneficial impact of press freedom in curbing corruption is enhanced — thus proving the enabling effect of media reach on press freedom in particular and on improved governance in general.
Viral Transmissions: Safer Sex Videos, Disability, and Queer Politics

Bringing disability studies into conversation with queer histories of AIDS activism, this article examines the relationship between disability and queer politics in safer sex videos created by AIDS activists in the 1980s. As a form of what the author terms "guerrilla biopolitics," safer sex videos insisted on the viability of queer life and sexual expression at a historical moment of intense homophobia and sex negativity. At the same time, the vision of sexual health and identity they offered risked reproducing racialized and classed ideologies of ableism. Seeking to "crip" our understandings of safer sex discourses and practices, this study explores how risk reduction techniques have been historically linked to imperatives of compulsory able-bodiedness, precluding alternative expressions of queer/crip life.
Transition Metal Dichalcogenide Atomic Layers for Lithium Polysulfides Electrocatalysis

Lithium–sulfur (Li–S) chemistry is projected to be one of the most promising for next-generation battery technology, and controlling the inherent “polysulfide shuttle” process has become a key research topic in the field. Regulating intermediary polysulfide dissolution by understanding the metamorphosis is essential for realizing stable and high-energy-density Li–S batteries. As of yet, a clear consensus on the basic surface/interfacial properties of the sulfur electrode has not been achieved, although the catalytic phenomenon has been shown to result in enhanced cell stability. Herein, we present evidence that the polysulfide shuttle in a Li–S battery can be stabilized by using electrocatalytic transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs). Physicochemical transformations at the electrode/electrolyte interface of atomically thin monolayer/few-layer TMDs were elucidated using a combination of spectroscopic and microscopic analysis techniques. Preferential adsorption of higher order liquid polysulfides and subse...
28 Days Later: Twitter Hashtags as “Just in Time” Teacher Professional Development

Researchers have argued that Twitter has potential to support high-quality professional development (PD) that can respond to teachers’ questions and concerns just in time and “on the spot.” Yet, very little attention has been paid to instances where Twitter has made just-in-time learning possible. In this paper, we examine one instance of timely professional development on Twitter, in which 3,598 users used an educational hashtag—#educattentats—to create a temporary affinity space supporting French teachers preparing to discuss recent terrorist attacks with their students. We describe this just-in-time PD by focusing on participants and modes of participation, the spread of the hashtag in its first hours and the growth and eventual decline of the hashtag over the course of 28 days. The results of this study suggest that #educattentats served effectively as just-in-time professional development for teachers. Implications for research and practice are discussed.
Reduced Emergency Department Utilization by Patients With Epilepsy Using QI Methodology.

BACKGROUND: Epilepsy or seizure care is the most common neurologic condition that presents to an emergency department (ED) and accounts for a large number of annual cases. Our aim was to decrease seizure-related ED visits from our baseline of 17 ED visits per month per 1000 patients to 13.6 ED visits per month per 1000 patients (20%) by July 2014. METHODS: Our strategy was to develop a quality improvement (QI) project utilizing the Institute for Healthcare Improvement model. Our defined outcome was to decrease ED utilization for children with epilepsy. Rate of ED visits as well as unplanned hospitalizations for epilepsy patients and associated health care costs were determined. A QI team was developed for this project. Plan do study act cycles were used with adjustments made when needed. RESULTS: Nineteen months after implementation of the interventions, ED visits were reduced by 28% (from 17 visits per month per 1000 patients to 12.2 per month per 1000 patients) during the past year. The average number of inpatient hospitalizations per month was reduced by 43% from 7 admissions per month per 1000 patients to 4 admissions per month per 1000 patients. For both outcome measures, a 2-sample Poisson rate exact test yielded a P value CONCLUSIONS: Applying QI methodology was highly effective in reducing ED utilization and unplanned hospitalizations for children with epilepsy at a free-standing children’s hospital.
Fabrication of Carbon/Silicon Composite as Lithium-ion Anode with Enhanced Cycling Stability

Abstract In this work, a micro-carbon/nano-silicon hybrid material is synthesized via a scalable and practical solid-state process for rechargeable Li-ion battery anodes. The carbon encapsulated silicon composite is produced by a two-step thermal reduction of commercial wheat flour. This silicon-carbon hybrid demonstrates a stable gravimetric capacity of ca. 1500 mAh g −1 Si (equivalently, 700 mAh g −1 composite mass) from galvanostatic cycling for 90 cycles at a cycling rate of C/20. Multi-rate cycling shows the silicon-carbon hybrid performs with stable gravimetric capacities of 830 mAh g −1 at C/10 and 300 mAh g −1 at 1C. After prolonged cycling, the carbon-silicon hybrid further demonstrates superior mechanical and electrochemical resilience when compared to unencapsulated silicon electrode: greater composite conductivity (ca. 4 times larger at full lithiation), lower electrode deformation, and less SEI formation.
Individualism and Marriage: Ideal Types for Making Sense of the Relationship between Self and Sacrifice

The question of how the individual and group relate is one that has long interested social theorists. Changes in family form and structure in the contemporary West resituate this question in a contentious public debate regarding how the prevalence of new family forms may contribute or be deleterious to the well-being of individuals and families. Sociological discourse on marriage and the family generally tends to mirror this debate by dichotomizing individualism and commitment and self and marriage, resulting in an obfuscation of our understanding of the forms and styles in marriage. In order to clarify and advance this discussion, we show how individualism and commitment are mutually required in a modern world. We follow this by outlining a logically-derived typology that, along with a committed individualist and a group conformer, includes two intermediate types: a self-regulator and a relationship negotiator. We empirically demonstrate the utility of these types by showing how they correspond with the ways that interviewees talk about marriage in six local congregations, and we suggest various social factors that may particularly impact the development of local marriage cultures. These types provide a theoretical frame for understanding how individualism and commitment are intertwined and require each other.
Acquired haemophilia A with a recalcitrant high-titre factor VIII inhibitor in the setting of interstitial lung disease.

Acquired haemophilia A (AHA) is a bleeding disorder that results from autoantibodies against factor VIII (FVIII). A 70-year-old man with a history of interstitial lung disease presented with spontaneous bleeding into his thigh. He had undetectable FVIII levels and a high-titre FVIII inhibitor (>2000A¢â'¬â€°Bethesda units/mL) and was diagnosed with AHA. He had several relapses, required multiple haemostatic and immunosuppressive treatments but eventually achieved a stable remission after 2A¢â'¬â€°years of therapy.Our patient matches the typical elderly male demographic of AHA. His relapsing course with remarkably high and persistent inhibitor titre highlights the need for close monitoring and aggressive upfront treatment. Whereas cyclophosphamide and steroids are often used first line in AHA, rituximab has also shown efficacy in refractory patients with high inhibitor levels. The FVIII and inhibitor concentration on presentation have been associated with treatment response and may be used as prognostic factors to tailor immunosuppressive regimens.
Two Cultures and a Second Look: Humanities and Food Sciences

In this chapter, we explore the role the various disciplines that encompass the humanities can play in understanding the crosscutting issues of food security, poberty, and the environmental footprint of agriculture. We specifically look at how science faculty have built bridges with their colleagues in the humanities, and how in so doing, they have been better equipped to address these complex issues. Already forming a bridge between these two cultures are the social sciences: sociology, anthropology, psychology, and economics. Collaborating with scholars who conduct research into the human experience is essential to understanding the wholeness of our world. As the Stanford University Humanities' Center aptly points out: “Through the work of humanities scholars, we learn about the values of different cucltures, about what goes into making a work of art, about how history is made. These reservoirs of knowledge preserve great accomplishments of the past, help us understand the world we live in, and give us tools to imagine the future. Humanities, not only the sciences, hellp us understand our world.”
The Effect of Uterine Fibroids on Infertility: A Systematic Review

Fibroids are present in up to 27% of patients seeking reproductive assistance, and can affect fertility through cavity distortion, alteration of endometrial receptivity, and sexual function. Surgical, noninvasive, and medical approaches have been developed to manage fibroids, but evidence-based data regarding their safety and efficacy for the treatment of infertility and the effects on pregnancy outcome are limited. Myomectomy, through minimally invasive techniques, is the most evidence-based approach to fibroids in women planning conception, and increases pregnancy rates by up to 68% in previously infertile patients. Laparoscopic uterine artery occlusion is under investigation as an alternative and simpler surgical approach to decrease fibroid size. Uterine artery embolization is not recommended for women intending future pregnancy, as the rate of spontaneous abortion (SAB) is up to 64% and the rate of abnormal placentation is 12.5%. Magnetic resonance imaging–guided focused ultrasound surgery is gaining interest as a noninvasive procedure with positive preliminary pregnancy outcomes, but appears to have an SAB rate of 20.6%. Selective progesterone receptor modulators, aromatase inhibitors, and vitamin D supplementation are under investigation to improve uterine conditions for pregnancy. Submucosal and intramural fibroids affect fertility and pregnancy outcomes and should be addressed during infertility workup.
miRNA processing gene polymorphisms, blood DNA methylation age and long-term ambient PM 2.5 exposure in elderly men.

Aim We tested whether genetic variation in miRNA processing genes modified the association of PM2.5 with DNA methylation (DNAm) age. Patients & methods We conducted a repeated measures study based on 552 participants from the Normative Aging Study with multiple visits between 2000 and 2011 (n = 940 visits). Address-level 1-year PM2.5 exposures were estimated using the GEOS-chem model. DNAm-age and a panel of 14 SNPs in miRNA processing genes were measured from participant blood samples. Results & conclusion In fully adjusted linear mixed-effects models, having at least one copy of the minor rs4961280 [AGO2] allele was associated with a lower DNAm-age (β = -1.13; 95% CI: -2.26 to -0.002). However, the association of PM2.5 with DNAm-age was significantly (Pinteraction = 0.01) weaker in homozygous carriers of the major rs4961280 [AGO2] allele (β = 0.38; 95% CI: -0.20 to 0.96) when compared with all other participants (β = 1.58; 95% CI: 0.76 to 2.39). Our results suggest that miRNA processing impacts DNAm-age relationships. Graphical abstract: miRNA processing AGO2 polymorphism (rs4961280) modifies the association of long-term ambient fine particle exposure with blood DNA methylation age [Formula: see text] The graph depicts lines from a fully adjusted linear regression model with fine particle exposure levels ranging from the tenth to the ninetieth percentile, all other continuous variables held constant at their means, and all other categorical variables held at their most frequent level.
Responses of deposition and bioaccumulation in the Great Lakes region to policy and other large-scale drivers of mercury emissions

Mercury (Hg) emissions pose a global problem that requires global cooperation for a solution. However, neither emissions nor regulations are uniform world-wide, and hence the impacts of regulations are also likely to vary regionally. We report here an approach to model the effectiveness of regulations at different scales (local, regional, global) in reducing Hg deposition and fish Hg concentrations in the Laurentian Great Lakes (GL) region. The potential effects of global change on deposition are also modeled. We focus on one of the most vulnerable communities within the region, an Indigenous tribe in Michigan's Upper Peninsula (UP) with a high fish consumption rate. For the GL region, elements of global change (climate, biomass burning, land use) are projected to have modest impacts (<5% change from the year 2000) on Hg deposition. For this region, our estimate of the effects of elimination of anthropogenic emissions is a 70% decrease in deposition, while our minimal regulation scenario increases emissions by 35%. Existing policies have the potential to reduce deposition by 20% with most of the reduction attributable to U.S. policies. Local policies within the Great Lakes region show little effect, and global policy as embedded in the Minamata Convention is projected to decrease deposition by approximately 2.8%. Even within the GL region, effects of policy are not uniform; areas close to emission sources (Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania) experience larger decreases in deposition than other areas including Michigan's UP. The UP landscape is highly sensitive to Hg deposition, with nearly 80% of lakes estimated to be impaired. Sensitivity to mercury is caused primarily by the region's abundant wetlands. None of the modeled policy scenarios are projected to reduce fish Hg concentrations to the target that would be safe for the local tribe. Regions like Michigan's UP that are highly sensitive to mercury deposition and that will see little reduction in deposition due to regulations require more aggressive policies to reduce emissions to achieve recovery. We highlight scientific uncertainties that continue to limit our ability to accurately predict fish Hg changes over time.
Effect of molecular side groups and local nanoenvironment on photodegradation and its reversibility

Degradation of organic semiconductors in the presence of oxygen is one of the bottlenecks preventing their wide-spread use in optoelectronic devices. The first step towards such degradation in functionalized pentacene (Pn) derivatives is formation of endoperoxide (EPO), which can either revert back to the parent molecule or proceed to molecule decomposition. We present the study of reversibility of EPO formation through probing the photophysical properties of functionalized fluorinated pentacene (Pn-R-F8) derivatives. Experiments are done in solutions and in films both at the single molecule level and in the bulk. In solutions, degradation of optical absorption and its partial recovery after thermolysis were quantified for various derivatives depending on the solvent. At the single molecule level, low concentrations of each type of molecules were imaged in a variety of polymer matrices at 633 nm excitation at room temperature in air using wide-field fluorescence microscopy. Fluorescence time trajectories were collected and statistically analyzed to quantify blinking due to reversible EPO formation depending on the host matrix. To understand the physical changes of the molecular system, a Monte Carlo method was used to create a multi-level simulation, which enabled us to relate the change in the molecular transition rates to the experimentally measured parameters. At the bulk level, photoluminescence decay due to photobleaching and recovery due to EPO reconversion were measured for the same derivatives incorporated into various matrices. These studies provide insight into the synergistic effect of the local nanoenvironment and molecular side groups on the oxygen-related degradation and subsequent recovery which is important for development of organic electronic devices.
The geopolitical turn in tourism geographies

Tourism is one of the most far-reaching geopolitical practices of the twenty-first century. With more than one billion tourists crossing national borders annually, tourism is a critical site of eve...
Expression of HIF-1α in A Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma in A Patient with Newly Diagnosed Type 2 Diabetes

Objective: Newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) increases the risk of pancreatic cancer by an unknown mechanism. We report a patient diagnosed with T2DM <1 year who developed an invasive pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma expressing hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF-1α). Methods: HIF-1α staining was performed using the immunohistochemistry protocol from Novus (NB100-105), with minor modifications. Results: A 47-year-old African American male with a history of T2DM for 6 months presented with abdominal pain, weight loss, elevated liver and pancreatic enzymes, and a significant raise in carcinoembryonic antigen and cancer antigen 19-9 levels. A 2.5-cm mass was found on the head of the pancreas/uncinate process. A pylorus-sparing pancreaticoduodenectomy was performed that included removal of the gallbladder and a portion of the omentum. Pathology report showed an invasive ductal adenocarcinoma of the head of the pancreas (stage IIB: pT3N1M0). Immunohistochemistry of sections of the adenocarcinom...
Ultrafast Fourier transform inelastic x-ray scattering

Over the past few years, x-ray free-electron lasers (FELs) have demonstrated the possibility for probing materials with femtosecond time resolution and Angstrom spatial sensitivity. Here, we review a novel development of Fourier transform inelastic x-ray scattering (FT-IXS), which exploits the ultrafast pulses from an FEL to capture frozen snapshots of the lattice vibrations at multiple length scales simultaneously, as they oscillate when excited by a short laser pulse. This article includes an overview of the principle behind this method and a review of recent work that uses this technique to access microscopic, wave vector-dependent information on how electrons couple to the lattice and to capture phonon–phonon scattering events in real time.
Near-harmonic structure and level similarities in Fe56, Fe58 and Ni60

Near-harmonic structure is known to exist in Fe58, and an investigation was undertaken to determine whether this structure is also present in Fe56, and Ni60. In the case of Fe56, no second 2+ state with the desired energy or de-excitation characteristics had been reported by previous investigators and a search for a small excitation of such a level from the decay of Mn56 is described. The results are inconclusive although some evidence for its existence is presented. Our investigation of the Mn56-Fe56 decay reveals the presence of an additional beta branch to a 2+ level at 3.34 Mev in Fe56. The results of the angular correlation measurements on the cascade gamma rays from this and other levels are given. The stopover transitions are found to be mostlyM 1 radiation and hence not of the near-harmonic type. In the case of Ni60, the measured angular correlation functions for the 0.85–1.33 and 1.76–1.33 Mev cascades initiated from the decay of Cu60 are reported. For the former cascade, the results indicate that the stopover transition is largely E2 radiation, but the experimental difficulties prevent a more quantitative statement. The presence of this type of radiation, together with a stopover to crossover intensity ratio of 15, imply the existence of near-harmonic structure in Ni60. The angular correlation function for the latter cascade is found to be nearly identical to that of the corresponding cascade in Fe58 which lends weight to the contention that there exist level similarities in these nuclei. Additional evidence for these similarities is also presented.
An adaptive backstepping based non-linear controller for artificial pancreas in type 1 diabetes patients

Abstract Artificial pancreas enables closed loop automated control for blood glucose regulation in type 1 diabetic patients. Simple backstepping controller for regulation of blood glucose level has recently been proposed in the literature. In this research work, we have proposed backstepping based adaptive controller for integration in artificial pancreas. Controller design has been based on Bergman's minimal model which represents the dynamics of blood glucose-insulin system of human body. Glucose effectiveness factor has been treated as an unknown parameter and its value has been adapted using Lyapunov based adaptive backstepping control approach. Effects of meal disturbance, physical non-linearities and sensor noise have also been considered in the controller design. A complete mathematical derivation of the proposed nonlinear controller has been described and simulation results have been presented using Matlab/Simulink environment. Results indicate improvement in tracking response and overshoot/undershoot characteristics as compared to some recently developed techniques in literature. Proposed controller assures dynamic stability against disturbances and deviations in human body parameters. Practical implementation of the proposed controller can result in better artificial pancreas.
Fancy bears and digital trolls: Cyber strategy with a Russian twist

How states employ coercion to achieve a position of advantage relative to their rivals is changing. Cyber operations have become a modern manifestation of political warfare. This paper provides a p...
RAS Mutations Are Not Created Equal

In this issue of Cancer Discovery, Poulin and colleagues apply structural, biochemical, and biological profiling of two mutants of KRAS, one found most frequently in all cancers (G12D) and one found nearly exclusively in colorectal cancer (A146T). They provide compelling evidence that specific mutations will impart different structural and biochemical consequences on KRAS function and that the same KRAS mutation displays tissue-distinct signaling and biological consequences.See related article by Poulin et al., p. 738.
ElGamal type signature schemes for n-dimensional vector spaces.

We generalize the ElGamal signature scheme for cyclic groups to a signature scheme for n-dimensional vector spaces. The higher dimensional version is based on the untractability of the vector decomposition problem (VDP). Yoshida has shown that under certain conditions, the VDP on a two-dimensional vector space is at least as hard as the computational Diffie-Hellman problem (CDHP) on a one-dimensional subspace.
Neutron damage and recovery studies of SiPMs

SiPM lost its performance characteristics when exposed to high dose of neutrons. However, the distinct hallmark of SiPMs, low dark count and excellent photon-number-resolving capability, can be recovered by thermal annealing. Several SiPMs from different vendors are characterized before and after exposure of up to 1010 neutron/cm2 dosage using a 14 MeV neutron generation source. Collectively, we established that the typical orders of magnitude increase in dark current upon neutron irradiation can be lowered substantially after processing them with a thermal annealing procedure, and single-photon detection are to some extent recovered. Moreover, we found no significant difference on neutron damaged behavior when SiPMs are irradiated at room or liquid nitrogen temperatures suggesting that there is no evidence of radiation hardening when SiPMs are operated in cryogenic temperatures.
Group Creative Problem Solving: The Role of Creative Personality, Process and Creative Ability

Purpose: Team creativity is an important factor in developing new ideas for organisations. In spite of years of creativity research, little is known about various team aspects and their affect on team creativity. This study looks at the incremental explanatory value that team creative personality and divergent thinking skill processes have on team creativity. Methodology/Approach: Individual personality, creative personality, and divergent thinking skills were collected from 349 students at a large public university in the southeast US. These students were then randomly assigned to 105 teams where they developed a novel product. Individual attributes were averaged to create team attributes that were used to determine correlations with the product creativity. Hierarchical regression was used to evaluate incremental explanatory values for each of the independent variables. Findings: Group creative personality adds approximately 36 percent more explanatory power than cognitive ability and traditional personality measures in predicting team creativity. Creative processes, like team divergent thinking ability, further increased the R 2 of our model from 0.54 to 0.65 demonstrating that team processes affect team creativity. Research Limitation/implication: The task used in this study was not as complex as problems being considered by organizations. However, the results are expected to be indicative of the process used for more complex problems. It is also difficult to assign causality since correlations were used to verify some of our hypothesis. Originality/Value of paper: This research expands the findings of team creativity by identifying factors that increase team creativity.
Subjective Cognitive Concerns and Attitudes toward Genetic Testing Are Associated with Depressive Symptoms and Quality of Life after Genetic Testing for the Cerebral Cavernous Malformation Common Hispanic Mutation (CCM1)

Purpose: This study aimed to characterize mood and quality of life and to examine the associations of these areas with subjective cognitive concerns and attitudes toward genetic testing for the Common Hispanic Mutation, a gene that has been associated with increased risk for CCM1. Method: Fifty-four adults with previous genetic testing for the Common Hispanic Mutation completed a mail survey that included assessments of the above identified areas. Results: Self-reported depressive symptoms and quality of life did not differ between those with positive and negative genetic test results. The negative group expressed a more favorable attitude toward genetic testing (p p = 0.06). Using generalized linear regression, more subjective cognitive concerns were associated with poorer quality of life and more depressive symptoms (p p < 0.05). Conclusions: Subjective cognitive concerns and negative attitudes toward genetic testing may influence emotional well-being after genetic testing for the Common Hispanic Mutation. Additional research is needed that uses objective neuropsychological measures to understand the associations of subjective cognitive concerns, emotional well-being, and cognitive test performance in individuals with CCM1. There is also a need for research that focuses on protective factors and resiliency following genetic testing for CCM1 and the development of mental health interventions to preempt psychosocial difficulties.
Brain Iron Accumulation and the Formation of Calcifications After Developmental Zika Virus Infection

Intracranial calcifications (ICC) are the most common neuropathological finding in the brains of children exposed in utero to the Zika virus (ZIKV). Using a mouse model of developmental ZIKV infection, we reported widespread calcifications in the brains of susceptible mice that correlated in multiple ways with the behavioral deficits observed. Here, we examined the time course of ICC development and the role of iron deposition in this process, in 3 genetically distinct inbred strains of mice. Brain iron deposits were evident by Perls' staining at 2 weeks post infection, becoming increasingly dense and coinciding with calcium buildup and the formation of ICCs. A regional analysis of the brains of susceptible mice (C57BL/6J and 129S1/SvImJ strains) revealed the presence of iron initially in regions containing many ZIKV-immunoreactive cells, but then spreading to regions containing few infected cells, most notably the thalamus and the fasciculus retroflexus. Microglial activation was widespread initially and later delineated the sites of ICC formation. Behavioral tests conducted at 5-6 weeks of age revealed greater deficits in mice with the most extensive iron deposition and calcification of subcortical regions, such as thalamus. These findings point to iron deposition as a key factor in the development of ICCs after developmental ZIKV infection.
Longitudinal Analysis of Light Rail and Streetcar Safety in the United States

Many American cities have launched or expanded light rail or streetcar services recently, which has resulted in a 61% increase in light rail and streetcar revenue miles nationwide during the period...
Age-related differences in presentation and outcomes of anti-VEGF treatment of retinal vein occlusion

Abstract Objective To assess age-related differences at baseline and treatment outcomes in patients with retinal vein occlusion (RVO) and macular edema treated with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy Design Single-centre retrospective chart review. Participants 295 treatment-naive RVO patients. Methods 295 RVO patients included were separated into age quartiles: group A (22–61 years), group B (62–70 years), group C (71–79 years), and group D (80–95 years). Outcomes including central subfield thickness (CST), cubic volume, cubic average thickness, and visual acuity (VA) were collected at baseline and at 6 and 12 months after treatment. The primary outcome of the study was the CST at 12 months after anti-VEGF therapy. Results Mean baseline CST for groups A, B, C, and D was 406.3 ± 161.2 μm, 463.4 ± 165.5 μm, 470.6 ± 187 μm, and 427.3 ± 187.2 μm, respectively. No significant differences in CST were observed between groups at baseline, 6 months, or 12 months (p ≥ 0.08). Mean baseline VA for groups A, B, C, and D was 55.8 ± 19.5, 54.4 ± 19.8, 54.7 ± 19, and 51.4 ± 20.4 Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy letters, respectively. VA did not differ significantly between age groups at baseline, 6 months, or 12 months (p ≥ 0.06). Conclusions The presentation of RVO and the visual outcomes of anti-VEGF therapy do not vary based on age.
Evaluation of SARS-CoV-2 Spike S1 Protein Response on PI3K-Mediated IL-8 Release

A novel coronavirus related to a condition known as a severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) was termed as SARS Coronavirus-19 (SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19), which has caused an unprecedented global pandemic. Extensive efforts have been dedicated worldwide towards determining the mechanisms of COVID-19 associated pathogenesis with the goals of devising potential therapeutic approaches to mitigate or overcome comorbidities and mortalities. While the mode of SARS-CoV-2 infection, its structural configuration, and mechanisms of action, including the critical roles of the Spike protein have been substantially explored, elucidation of signaling pathways regulating its cellular responses is yet to be fully determined. Notably, phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3K) and its downstream pathway have been exploited among potential therapeutic targets for SARS-CoV-2, and its activation modulates the release of cytokines such as IL-8. To that end, the current studies were sought to determine the response of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike S1 protein on PI3K-mediated IL-8 release using relevant and widely used cellular models. Overall, these studies indicate that PI3K signaling does not directly mediate Spike S1 protein-induced IL-8 release in these cellular models.
EBV-associated high-grade transformation of mantle cell lymphoma: A case report

Abstract The relationship of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has been well characterized with a wide range of lymphoproliferative lesions and lymphomas of B-cell, T-cell, and NK-cell origin. However, the association of EBV with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is exceedingly rare and not well established. We report a case of classic MCL which transformed to pleomorphic MCL after a clinical course of 19 years. Particularly, EBV infection was detected in the transformed high-grade pleomorphic MCL. Molecular and genetic analyses confirmed the clonal relationship between the original and transformed lymphomas. To the best of our knowledge, there has only been one case reported in 2003 which documented an EBV-associated high-grade transformation of MCL. Therefore, our case report further expanded the spectrum of EBV in the pathogenesis of B-cell lymphoma transformation.
Civil Liberties and Social Structure

Governments rely on a variety of forms of coercion to aggregate distributed information relevant to governmental objectives from the prosecution of regime stability threats to terrorism or epidemics. To do so, they exploit the existing social structure, as reliable information will often come from friends and acquaintances. Civil liberties, in turn, restrict the government’s ability to exercise such coercion. We present an equilibrium theory of the joint determination of social structure and civil liberties. The depth of civil liberties shapes citizens’ decisions on how intensely and with whom to socialize. Features of the social structure such as its cohesiveness and the extent of segregation, in turn, shape the government’s willingness to enforce civil liberties protections such as search and seizure restrictions, standards of proof, and equal treatment under the law. We show that the relationship between civil liberties and social structure is mediated by a commitment problem by the government, and that this commitment problem is in turn mediated by the strength of civil society. We also show that segregation and unequal treatment sustain each other, characterize when unequal treatment against a minority or a majority can be sustained, and how equilibrium social cohesiveness and civil liberties respond to the arrival of widespread surveillance technologies, shocks to collective perceptions about the likelihood of threats or the importance of privacy, or to community norms such as codes of silence.
Glycosylation of PAMAM dendrimers significantly improves tumor macrophage targeting and specificity in glioblastoma.

Abstract Glioblastoma is among the most aggressive forms of cancers, with a median survival of just 15–20 months for patients despite maximum clinical intervention. The majority of conventional anti-cancer therapies fail due to associated off-site toxicities which can be addressed by developing target-specific drug delivery systems. Advances in nanotechnology have provided targeted systems to overcome drug delivery barriers associated with brain and other types of cancers. Dendrimers have emerged as promising vehicles for targeted drug and gene delivery. Dendrimer-mediated targeting strategies can be further enhanced through the addition of targeting ligands to enable receptor-specific interactions. Here, we explore the sugar moieties as ligands conjugated to hydroxyl-terminated polyamidoamine dendrimers to leverage altered metabolism in cancer and immune targeting. Using a highly facile click chemistry approach, we modified the surface of dendrimers with glucose, mannose, or galactose moieties in a well-defined manner, to target upregulated sugar transporters in the context of glioblastoma. We show that glucose modification significantly enhanced targeting of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and microglia by increasing brain penetration and cellular internalization, while galactose modification shifts targeting away from TAMs towards galectins on glioblastoma tumor cells. Mannose modification did not alter TAMs and microglia targeting of these dendrimers, but did alter their kinetics of accumulation within the GBM tumor. The whole body biodistribution was largely similar between the systems. These results demonstrate that dendrimers are versatile delivery vehicles that can be modified to tailor their targeting for the treatment of glioblastoma and other cancers.
Simulating the Effects of Anthropometry on the Contralateral Limb of Transtibial Amputees

Gait analysis is a clinically relevant method to assess walking patterns in rehabilitating patients, especially transtibial amputees. Prior work in biomechanics has detailed the impacts of below-th...
Coalition Policy, Federalism and the Basic Law

Adenauer and Schumacher — It was during the spring and summer of 1948 that Adenauer emerged clearly and uncontestably as the single most dominant CDU leader of the three western zones. His preeminence in the British zone had been evident since 1946; now the Russians’ removal of Kaiser had removed his single serious rival from a position of zonal power. At the same time the course of developments which transformed the zonal boundaries into an “Iron Curtain” indirectly helped to solidify Adenauer’s position. The introduction of separate German currencies, the beginning of the Berlin blockade, Western talks which led to the formation of NATO and the start of the constitutional talks in Bonn — all of which occurred in the summer of 1948 — made the argument of those who wanted to prevent the CDU from opting for anything but an “all-German solution” appear futile and unrealistic. It was apparent that Germans could not prevent the political division of their country. Should not at least the three western zones make the best of the freedom, limited partnership and Marshall Plan aid offered by the West? The acceptance of the opportunity to create a West German state meant in turn that the dominant party leaders were made conscious of the need to strengthen cohesion and discipline in their own ranks in preparation for the imminent elections and the formation of a national government.
Cross contamination of Martian rock samples

This paper presents the results of theoretical analyses conducted to investigate potential of various particle removal techniques.
National Institutes of Health (NIH)

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), founded in 1887, is the United States federal government's principal agency for the support of medical research both at its campus in Bethesda, Maryland, and through grants and contracts awarded to biomedical research scientists at institutions across the United States, and, to a more limited extent, in other countries. Its mission is science in pursuit of fundamental knowledge about the nature and behaviour of living systems and the application of that knowledge to extend healthy life and reduce the burdens of illness and disability. Keywords: biomedical research; United States federal government; granting agency; public health
Initial Results of a Survey of Seyfert 1 Galaxies and Quasars With the UCLA 2.1-micron Array Camera

We discuss the preliminary results obtained from monitoring a sample of 70 AGNs in the IR with the UCLA 2.1-micron camera (KCAM) on the 1-meter telescope at Lick Observatory.
Study Design Issues in Sepsis Trials

There have been over thirty large randomized controlled trials of novel anti-sepsis strategies that have failed to demonstrate clinical benefit. While some have argued this is because of a poor understanding of the underlying biology and pathophysiology of sepsis, it is also possible that there are problems with the eurrent design and implementation of sepsis trials, In particular, there are potential problems with sample size, patient selection, and choice of end-points. Although large, most sepsis trials are markedly underpowered in comparison to similar studies in other fields such as cardiology. Given the advances in the care of septic patients, the numerous processes that can influence outcome, and variation in practice style, it is likely that many new therapies will have only small, albeit important, clinical effects, To capture such effects, we must consider much larger trials. Patient selection is problematic because sepsis is both a vague term, hampering precise selection criteria, and covers a broad mix of patients, of whom many have a wide range of underlying risk factors, other than sepsis, for ad verse outcome, To lessen the problems of imprecise definition and heterogenons patient populations, we must consider either developing more accurate diagnostic criteria or studying more select populations, such as those with specific infections, The current end-point is 28-day mortality, This end-point may be too early, failing to capture the true impact of sepsis on subsequent outcome, and too insensitive, failing to capture important effects on non-mortal outcomes of potential therapies. Alternative end-points include long-term quality-adjusted survival or the development of proxies for longer-term ontcomes. Although organ failure scores may be proxies for long-term outcome, definitive evidence is lacking, In summary, while efforts continue in the pre-clinical arena, optimal investigation of novel anti-sepsis therapies requires reassessment of current trial design, including ex ploration of more homogeneous patient populations, devel opment of more sensitive or restrictive diagnostic criteria, and consideration of new end-points.
AC Electrokinetic Flows

Alternating current (AC) electrokinetic motion of colloidal particles suspended in an aqueous medium and subjected to a spatially nonuniform AC electric field are examined using a simple theoretical model that considers the relative magnitudes of dielectrophoresis, electrophoresis, AC-electroosmosis, and Brownian motion. Dominant electrokinetic forces are explained as a function of the electric field frequency, amplitude, and conductivity of the suspending medium for given material properties and geometry. Parametric experimental validations of the model are conducted utilizing interdigitated microelectrodes with polystyrene and gold particles. The theoretical model provides quantitative descriptions of AC electro?kinetic transport for the given target species in a wide spectrum of electric field amplitude and frequency, and medium conductivity. The presented model, previously published in Ref. [1], can be used as an effective frame-work for design and optimization of AC electrokinetic devices.
Why has the number of teachers per student risen while teacher quality has declined

Abstract Since 1970, the number of teachers per student rose while teacher quality apparently eroded. A model of school and voter decisions shows that an increase in the skill price for women may induce schools to hire additional teachers rather than better quality teachers. Estimation results indicate that the price of skill and alternative wage had offsetting effects on the teacher–pupil ratio. Increased demand for education therefore resulted in larger teacher–student ratios. In contrast, both the skill price and the alternative wage reduced teacher quality. Increased demand for education did not outweigh the combined price effect, and teacher quality fell.
Evaluation of a stable-isotope labelling technique for mass marking fin rays of age-0 lake sturgeon

The effectiveness of marking age-0 lake sturgeon, Acipenser fulvescens Rafinesque, pectoral fin rays with a stable strontium isotope was evaluated. Age-0 lake sturgeon were reared in water spiked with 0 (control), 25, 50 or 100 μg L−1 86SrC03 for 10 and 24 days; fish from each treatment group were retained for up to 120 days post-labelling to assess mark retention. Enriched-isotope marks imparted to fin rays were distinct from fin ray 88Sr/86Sr ratios of control fish immediately following marking, with the 100 μg L−1 86SrCO3 treatments consistently yielding the highest rate of marking success (83–92%). Lower marking success (25–69%) was observed with the 25 and 50 μg L−1 86SrCO3 treatments. Isotopic marks in fin rays were retained for 120 days post-labelling. Immersion marking of juvenile fish pectoral fin rays with distinct strontium isotope ratios is possible and does not require sacrificing fish to check for marks.
The History of Federal Indian Policies

The United States has enacted and pursued many different policies towards the Indian Nations and Indian peoples of the U.S. Over more than two hundred years, the federal government has swung between advocating the extermination and assimilation of Indians and tribal governments to the modern day idea of preserving and supporting tribal governments and sovereignty. This article clearly describes these federal policies in a chronological order.
Laser‐Heating Through a Diamond‐Anvil Cell: Melting at High Pressures

A laser-heating system was constructed that can stably heat through a diamond-anvil cell, probe regions as small as 6.7 μm in diameter, and accurately measure visible spectral radiation at frequencies up to 30 Hz. Spectra can be analyzed to measure temperature and to identify phenomena of interest such as melting. Reflecting optics were used where dispersion is critical. Temperature is stabilized by feedback from the thermal emissions of laser-heated samples and by attenuating the laser beam using a liquid-crystal variable waveplate and a fixed polarizer. The response time of the stabilizer is estimated to be 1.25 ms. The laser-heating system is suitable for experiments at the pressures and temperatures of the Earth's lower mantle and core. With this apparatus, a magnesium-iron-silicate perovskite, (Mg .88 Fe .12 ) SiO 3 , was melted in a diamond-anvil cell at pressures between 25 GPa and 85 GPa. Natural bronzite and synthetic enstatite were the starting materials. Polycrystalline samples with no pressure medium and single crystals in a NaCl pressure medium were melted. Melting was determined in situ by thermal analysis and corroborated by the appearance of glass in temperature-quenched samples. Corrections for radial temperature gradients in the samples were obviated by aperturing the collecting optics of the spectrometer. Corrections for axial temperature gradients were estimated from a simple model. The slope of the melting curve between 35 GPa and 85 GPa is 5.2 ± 0.8 K/GPa and sub-adiabatic. The melting temperature extrapolated to the core-mantle boundary is 4502 ± 176 K. Both are significantly less than recent estimates.