cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mapping amorphous silicon p-type layers in roll-to-roll deposition: Toward spatially resolved PECVD phase diagrams

Spectroscopic ellipsometry was applied to analyze the roll-to-roll deposition of thin film hydrogenated silicon (Si:H) n-i-p solar cells on back-reflector-coated flexible plastic substrates. Real time SE (RTSE) was used for probing along the substrate center line during deposition, and ex situ SE was used for mapping over the substrate area after deposition. The current work focuses on the topmost p-layer of the n-i-p solar cell, with the goal being to develop a thin protocrystalline Si:H film growth process for uniformity across the web and thus optimum performance of the resulting amorphous Si:H (a-Si:H) solar cells and modules. The first step toward this goal is the determination of spatially resolved deposition phase diagrams, which show Si:H phase transitions superimposed onto a bulk p-layer thickness map. Two p-layers have been fabricated by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition in test runs at web speeds of 0.015 and 0.020 cm/s. The lower speed run reveals both amorphous-to-(mixed-phase) Si:H and (mixed-phase)-to-(single-phase) nanocrystalline Si:H p-layer transitions whereas the higher speed reveals only an amorphous-to-(mixed-phase) transition, as confirmed by both RTSE and mapping SE.
Transformation of NIH 3T3 fibroblasts by an activated form of p59hck.

Abstract Phosphorylation of a tyrosine residue near the carboxy terminus of src-family protein tyrosine kinases is believed to regulate the biological activity of these gene products. Conversion of this tyrosine in p59hck (Tyr-501) to a phenylalanine residue by using oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis yielded a product (p59hckF501) with very potent transforming activity. Quantitative analysis by a soft-agar cloning assay revealed that p59hckF501 was more than 100-fold more effective than a closely related transforming element, p56lckF505, in colony formation. Cells bearing p59hckF501 had increased levels of protein phosphotyrosine. The ability of p59hckF501 to transform NIH 3T3 cells was abolished by a second mutation believed to destroy the ATP-binding domain.
Improved Laser Calorimetric Techniques

A number of improvements in laser calorimetric techniques are described for the measurement of very low absorption coefficients in materials. Of these the most important is the method for separating surface and bulk absorption involving a long rod geometry. It is shown that the initial slope of the thermal rise curve for long rods is associated with bulk absorption alone. The method is illustrated with KCl at 10.6 μm and with NaCl at 1.06 μm. In the latter case an absorption coefficient at least as low as 7 × 10−6 cm−1 has been extracted and this is one of the lowest, if not the lowest, absorption coefficient reported for a crystalline material so far.
The Kirchhoff Approximation in diffuse optical tomography

Analytical expressions for Diffuse Optical Tomography are generally limited to simple geometries such as a diffusive slab, a sphere or a cylinder. Imaging of tissues however involves solutions for diffuse media with complex boundaries, in which case the use of numerical methods is directed. Herein we consider analytical solutions of the diffusion equation for complex boundaries based on the Kirchhoff approximation, as a time-efficient surrogate of numerical methods. We examine the performance of the approximation as a function of the shape and size of the outer boundary assuming a compressed breast geometry and demonstrate that the accuracy of the calculation is not reduced compared to numerical approaches.
Development of a computational method to predict occupant motions and neck loads during rollovers

The mechanics of on-road, friction-induced rollovers were studied with the aid of a three-dimensional computer code specifically derived for this purpose. Motions of the wheels, vehicle body, occupant torso, and head were computed. Kane's method was utilized to develop the dynamic equations of motion in closed form. On-road rollover kinematics were compared to a dolly-type rollover at lesser initial speed, but generating a similar roll rotation rate. The simulated on-road rollover created a roof impact on the leading (driver's) side, while the dolly rollover simulation created a trailing-side roof impact. No head-to-roof contacts were predicted in either simulation. The first roof contact during the dolly-type roll generated greater neck loads in lateral bending than the on-road rollover. This work is considered to be the first step in developing a combined vehicle and occupant computational model for studying injury potential during rollovers.
Compromising Compliance? The IRS Offer in Compromise Program and Opportunities for Reform

Internal Revenue Code section 7122 provides that “the Secretary may compromise any civil or criminal case arising under the internal revenue laws . . . .” This simple language supplies a statutory hook for the Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS’s) “Offer in Compromise” (OIC) program, one of the most important collection alternatives available for taxpayers who dispute an assessed liability or who acknowledge their debt but cannot afford to pay in full. Through the OIC program, the IRS aims to achieve collection at the earliest possible time and at the least cost to the Government while simultaneously creating for the taxpayer an expectation of a fresh start toward future tax compliance.Unfortunately, public perception may not correspond with the IRS’s goals. A casual Internet search reveals dozens of websites promising to settle tax debts for pennies on the dollar, and “offer mills” across the nation promise a quick, cheap resolution and minimal contact with the IRS — a “get-out-of-jail-free” card without further consequences. To date, the IRS has done relatively little to counter the offer-mill hype or take back the narrative.This paper argues that, with some careful adjustments, the OIC program could become a powerful compliance mechanism. The key is to treat the OIC process as an opportunity for robust taxpayer education. Drawing on the scholarly literature regarding compliance norms and on sociological research concerning poverty concentration, the paper proposes that an education-driven OIC model could transform taxpayer-offerors into ambassadors who promote norms of tax compliance in low-income communities where traditional IRS messaging has failed. The paper offers a five-part strategy, with a balance of “carrots and sticks,” to achieve this positive compliance outcome.
Glaciers, gender, and science: A feminist glaciology framework for global environmental change research

Glaciers are key icons of climate change and global environmental change. However, the relationships among gender, science, and glaciers – particularly related to epistemological questions about the production of glaciological knowledge – remain understudied. This paper thus proposes a feminist glaciology framework with four key components: 1) knowledge producers; (2) gendered science and knowledge; (3) systems of scientific domination; and (4) alternative representations of glaciers. Merging feminist postcolonial science studies and feminist political ecology, the feminist glaciology framework generates robust analysis of gender, power, and epistemologies in dynamic social-ecological systems, thereby leading to more just and equitable science and human-ice interactions.
Collection and Application of Outcrop Measurements in Glacial Materials for Geo-Engineering and Hydrogeology along the Vermilion River, East-Central Illinois

Outcrop mapping by close-range photogrammetry was undertaken at three remote sites as part of a study of water resources to improve characterization of glacial sedimentary assemblages and to evaluate the utility of terrestrial remote sensing to supplement routine geologic mapping. Two features were measured from georeferenced stereomodels, clast pavements, and buried channel deposits over a 2-year period along a segment of the Middle Fork of the Vermilion River. Cobble-size clasts, spaced less than 3.28 ft (1 m) apart, form clusters approximately 6.56 to 9.84 ft (2 to 3 m) in length. These clasts compose a semi-continuous pavement between two tills deposited during the Wisconsin Episode. Five of the 26 clusters measured occur within the Tiskilwa Formation. Deposits of coarse- and fine-grained sediments, informally assigned to the Glasford Formation lithostratigraphic unit, fill buried channels that provide an important source of groundwater in east-central Illinois for areas that do not receive water from the Mahomet aquifer. Measurements of buried channels included width, maximum sediment thickness, area, and perimeter. Widths equated to more than half of the outcrop length. Aspect ratios (width: thickness) of the channels are consistent with deltaic distributary systems formed in front of retreating ice margins, and systems having varying interconnectivity. Differences in area: perimeter of the buried channels provide a measure of shape that may partially account for the variation in yields from water wells in this area. Consequently, we postulate that yield could be improved through lateral drilling within the channel or by connecting adjacent channels.
Isomeric States in Fm-250 and No-254

A preliminary report on the discovery of isomeric states in $^{250}\mathrm{Fm}$ and $^{254}\mathrm{No}$ was included in a recent article on $\ensuremath{\alpha}$-emitting isotopes of element 104. The existence and assignments of the 1.8 \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{} 0.1-sec isomer to $^{250}\mathrm{Fm}$ and the 0.28 \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{} 0.04-sec isomer to $^{254}\mathrm{No}$ have now been confirmed by cross-bombardment techniques. Isomeric ratios based on measurements of collection efficiency of recoil atoms from the decay of isomeric states are given. An interpretation of the even-even isomers as high-spin two-quasiparticle states is discussed.
Effects of Combinations of Sodium Salicylate and Noise on the Auditory Threshold

Thirty-nine monaural chinchillas were used to study the interaction between sodium salicylate and various TTS-producing noise paradigms. Five animals were included in each of the following three groups: 1) sodium salicylate (400 mg/kg) plus 2-4 kHz, 95 dB SPL noise band for one hour; 2) sodium salicylate (400 mg/kg) plus 4 kHz CF octave band noise at 80 dB SPL for 96 hours; and 3) sodium salicylate (400 mg/kg) plus 50 impulses having 50 musec A-duration and 158 dB peak SPL, presented at one per minute. The remaining 24 animals served as various controls in groups exposed to sodium salicylate or the noise paradigm alone. Thresholds were estimated before, during, and after exposure using the AER technique and cochleagrams were mapped for each cochlea 30 days after exposure. When sodium salicylate was combined with the various noise conditions, the maximum TTS values obtained from the combination studies were comparable to those obtained from the single agent producing the greatest TTS at a particular frequency. No consistent alteration in either magnitude or time course of posttreatment threshold shift was found following the combination treatments as compared to the individual agents alone. Hazard to the auditory system resulting from a combination of sodium salicylate and noise was concluded to be no greater than the hazard presented by either agent alone. This result is also substantiated in the histological results.
Counterproductive Consequences of a Conservative Ideology: Medicaid Expansion and Personal Responsibility Requirements.

Medicaid expansion, a key part of the Affordable Care Act, has been opposed by conservative politicians despite its fiscal and public health benefits. In response, some Republican-led states have expanded Medicaid with new reforms, including requirements for cost sharing and behavioral incentives, that promote conservative political values tied to an ideology of personal responsibility. We examine this trend using Michigan’s Medicaid expansion as a case example. We explore the origins, evidence base, and possible consequences of these reforms. We argue that these reforms prioritize ideology over sound public health knowledge, deflecting attention away from the social, economic, and structural factors that influence the health of the poor, and may ultimately contribute to counterproductive public health and fiscal outcomes.
The Flaw in Euler's Proof of His Polyhedral Formula

(2007). The Flaw in Euler's Proof of His Polyhedral Formula. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 114, No. 4, pp. 286-296.
The Shakespeare variations

Shakespeare & Company Master Teacher Neil Freeman’s electronic book, The Shakespeare Variations, seeks to demystify scansion by reframing Shakespeare’s poetic devices into more easily accessible an...
Role of Angiotensin Receptor-Neprilysin Inhibition in Heart Failure

Numerous evidence-based medical and device therapies proven to reduce morbidity and mortality have advanced care for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). The primacy of this approach has now been superseded by striking new data resulting in the approval of the combination of valsartan and sacubitril, a neprilysin inhibitor (also known as LCZ696), in 2015 for the treatment of HFrEF. LCZ696 is a novel heart failure drug that simultaneously inhibits the renin-angiotensin system and potentiates the natriuretic peptide system. In the Prospective Comparison of ARNI with ACE-I to Determine Impact on Global Mortality and Morbidity in Heart Failure (PARADIGM-HF) trial, LCZ696 significantly improved cardiovascular outcomes compared to current guideline-directed medical therapy. Compared to an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, LCZ696 was associated with a 20 % reduction in cardiovascular mortality (number needed to treat [NNT] 32) and a similar reduction in total mortality (NNT 36). Morbidity benefits of the drug were seen within 1 month of initiation. However, hypotension due to enalapril or the LCZ696 regimen during a run-in phase eliminated 20 % of patients. Safety concerns included the risk of angioedema and the theoretical concern of neurocognitive dysfunction due to the protean effects of neprilysin inhibition. The role of LCZ696 in patients with asymptomatic left ventricular systolic dysfunction is uncertain. LCZ696 is currently being evaluated in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, with promising initial results. LCZ696 represents a novel mechanistic approach to targeting heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, and ongoing studies will address its use in other cardiovascular populations.
Characterization of the ocular findings in the nablus masklike facial syndrome

Nablus masklike facial syndrome (NMLFS), characterized by tight, expressionless facial features resembling a mask, was first described in 2000. Since then, 10 cases have been identified with the same phenotype and genotype. Although detailed descriptions of the facial and external ear characteristics unique to the syndrome exist, no clear description of the ocular anatomic findings and management of ocular complications has been detailed. We present a confirmed case of NMLFS with detailed descriptions of the ocular anatomy encountered in this patient and a discussion regarding the clinical significance of these findings.
The hippocampal response to psychosocial stress varies with salivary uric acid level

Uric acid is a naturally occurring, endogenous compound that impacts mental health. In particular, uric acid levels are associated with emotion-related psychopathology (e.g., anxiety and depression). Therefore, understanding uric acid’s impact on the brain would provide valuable new knowledge regarding neural mechanisms that mediate the relationship between uric acid and mental health. Brain regions including the prefrontal cortex, amygdala, and hippocampus underlie stress reactivity and emotion regulation. Thus, uric acid may impact emotion by modifying the function of these brain regions. The present study used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during a psychosocial stress task to investigate the relationship between baseline uric acid levels (in saliva) and brain function. Results demonstrate that activity within the bilateral hippocampal complex varied with uric acid concentrations. Specifically, activity within the hippocampus and surrounding cortex increased as a function of uric acid level. The current findings suggest that uric acid levels modulate stress-related hippocampal activity. Given that the hippocampus has been implicated in emotion regulation during psychosocial stress, the present findings offer a potential mechanism by which uric acid impacts mental health.
Navigating the Road to Transplant in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: A Road Less Taken

Dramatic advances in therapy for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in the last 20 years have improved survival from a median of 2.5 years in the pretreatment era to 7.5 years currently. However, impressive as that may seem, it is important to note that a median survival of 7.5 years is equivalent to that of surgically resected non-small cell lung cancer, thus underscoring the importance of lung transplantation as a treatment option in patients with PAH. In this edition of Advances, Edelman has reviewed the pathway to transplantation for patients with PAH, detailing the recommendations for timing of referral, listing for lung transplantation, the role of the lung allocation score in allocating a donor organ, and the outcome of lung transplantation.
Twin nucleation in cold rolled low carbon steel subjected to plate impacts

Abstract Shock loading tests have been carried out on low carbon steel specimens using a single stage gas gun with projectile velocities ranging from 200 to 800 m/sec. In addition to dislocation slip, twinning was observed to be a contributing deformation mode. Similar impact tests were performed on specimens that have been previously subjected to cold rolling and it was shown that pre-straining increases the threshold stress for twin formation under shock loading. Efforts are made to determine the critical stress and strain rate required for twinning in cold rolled specimens. For this purpose a set of compression tests were performed on as-received and pre-strained specimens using a split Hopkinson pressure bar at various strain rates. These tests were carried out at liquid nitrogen temperatures where the thermal activation of dislocations is assumed to be higher than that for twin nucleation. Results of these tests are combined with FE analysis to provide knowledge of the twin stress as a function of pre-strain and strain rate. In addition, post-impact specimens were examined to identify characteristics of the deformation induced twins. It is shown that more than one {112} type twin system is active at high stress levels as evident by the non-parallel nature of twins formed at the higher impact pressures. This observation was incorporated into a constitutive model based on one dimensional wave and conservation equations for predicting twin volume fraction by resolving the shear stress in multiple directions and applying twin growth equations for each plane. Results of this model show similar trends when compared with experimental outcomes for as-received and pre-strained steel.
The Abject Mundanity of Murder

The murders of Alison Parker and Adam Ward on the side of Smith Mountain Lake, Viginia were obscene but also perfectly mundane. It is not hard to identify the ethical coordinates that render this e...
The cascade of positive events: Does exercise on a given day increase the frequency of additional positive events?

Abstract Research suggests exercise promotes well-being while reducing the risk and symptoms of certain psychiatric disorders. Similarly, positive events improve quality of life and may minimize the impact of negative life events; a dearth of positive events is also associated with increased psychiatric symptoms. Thus, increasing physical exercise and the occurrence of positive events is central to well-being promotion. Behavioral activation theory suggests the occurrence of one positive event increases the likelihood of engaging in subsequent positive events. We used a daily diary approach to examine this possible positive cascade, exploring relationships between exercise and positive social and achievement events. For three weeks, participants (N = 179) completed questionnaires at the end of each day. Multi-level modeling analyses revealed that daily exercise predicted increased positive social and achievement events on the same day. Exercise on one day also predicted greater positive social events on the subsequent day. Positive events did not affect exercise on the next day. Findings suggest that exercise creates a positive cascade, increasing positive social and achievement events experienced on the same day and positive social events on the following day.
Distributed Real-Time Multimodal Data Forwarding in Unmanned Aerial Systems

UAVs can support different applications, such as forest fire surveillance and precise agriculture. UAVs' service-on-demand preference drives the need for multiple UAVs to enhance surveillance coverage and data stability. Due to the limited capacity of the UAV, UAVs desire network coordination based on the importances of collected data. For example, UAVs at different locations may have different priorities of data forwarding tasks while the required data sizes of different tasks are varying. In this paper, we propose a system framework for UAV array to structure and prioritize the data forwarding based on i) forward-looking channel quality; ii) priorities of tasks of multimodal data on demand. Our proposed distributed real-time framework aims to optimize effective data throughput given a channel quality and effective scheduling of the channel usage among multiple UAVs. We conducted extensive evaluations using multiple UAVs and results show that our modeling of forward-looking channel quality prediction achieves 90\% accuracy. Moreover, our scheduling algorithms can effectively optimize the overall data quality of forwarding tasks between UAVs and the base station.
Recent advances in the treatment of erectile dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is one of the most common conditions affecting middle-aged and older men. Nearly every primary care physician, internist and geriatrician will be called upon to manage this condition or to make referrals to urologists, endocrinologists and cardiologists who will assist in the treatment of ED. This article will briefly discuss the diagnosis and management of ED. In addition, emerging concepts in ED management will be discussed, such as the use of testosterone to treat ED, the role of the endothelium in men with ED and treating the partner of the man with ED. Finally, future potential therapies for ED will be discussed.
Characterization of Liquid Film Thickness in Slug-Regime Microchannel Flows

Abstract An experimental investigation is conducted to examine the effects of operating conditions and channel size on the liquid film thickness of vapor bubbles in adiabatic air-water flows within the slug flow regime. Acrylic test sections are fabricated to contain a single microchannel of square cross-section with hydraulic diameters of 510 μm and 1020 μm. High-speed visualizations are used to map the flow regimes in these channels in order to determine the range of liquid and gas flow rates for which slug-regime flows are sustained. Subsequently, a tomographic optical imaging technique is employed to quantitatively reconstruct the liquid–gas interface of vapor bubbles at selected operating conditions. This technique relies on visualization of fluorescent particles seeded into the liquid phase in order to identify the phase boundaries within thin sections of the flow. Using the reconstructions, the thickness of the liquid film in the corner of the square channel cross-section is extracted. This film thickness is found to decrease with increasing capillary number, and a simple expression is proposed for calculation of the film thickness; predictions from this model match the measurements with a mean absolute error (MAE) of 21.6%; 85.7% of all predicted data points fall within an error band of ±30%. Additionally, film thickness data from the literature are compared to model predictions and a comparable MAE of 21.8% is found with 77.8% of data points falling within an error band of ±30%.
On-Demand Generation of Neutral and Negatively Charged Silicon-Vacancy Centers in Diamond.

Point defects in wide-band-gap semiconductors are emerging as versatile resources for nanoscale sensing and quantum information science, but our understanding of the photoionization dynamics is presently incomplete. Here, we use two-color confocal microscopy to investigate the dynamics of charge in type 1b diamond hosting nitrogen-vacancy (NV) and silicon-vacancy (SiV) centers. By examining the nonlocal fluorescence patterns emerging from local laser excitation, we show that, in the simultaneous presence of photogenerated electrons and holes, SiV (NV) centers selectively transform into the negative (neutral) charge state. Unlike NVs, 532 nm illumination ionizes ${\mathrm{SiV}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ via a single-photon process, thus hinting at a comparatively shallower ground state. In particular, slower ionization rates at longer wavelengths suggest the latter lies approximately $\ensuremath{\sim}1.9\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{eV}$ below the conduction band minimum. Building on the above observations, we demonstrate on-demand SiV and NV charge initialization over large areas via green laser illumination of variable intensity.
Development from the Fall of Rome to 1800

The purpose of this chapter is to apply something of a functional approach to the development of the International Law of Bays during the period from the fall of Rome in 476 A.D.1 to 1800. A number of scholars and advocates, using more or less the techniques of writing legal history,2 have made studies of the development of the international law of the sea during this period. To adopt the same formula, narrowed to a study of the law of bays, would appear to travel over rather well-trodden ground, and would probably yield little satisfaction to the author or to the reader. It is for this reason that a functional or cause-and-effect approach has been adopted.3 The historical development is centered around three interdependent influences: Navigation, economics and defense. Other terms synonymous with these could as readily be used. For purposes of this book the term navigation embraces not only the art of navigating the earth’s surface and its accompanying scientific developments, but also the developments in the building, handling, and manning of ships at sea. The term economics, in our context here, embraces a study of man’s needs and desires for physical things as well as some of the natural and man-made barriers to satisfaction of such needs and desires.
Would You Share? Examining How Knowledge Type and Communication Channel Influence Knowledge Sharing

Due to recent advances in computer-mediated communication technologies, individuals are able to communicate through a variety of channels to exchange knowledge. This paper extends prior research to include a comparison of knowledge exchange through face-to-face and computer-mediated communication environments (e-mail, electronic community, and electronic knowledge repository) for different knowledge types (computer program and expertise). Using social exchange theory, hypotheses are proposed based on the degree of an individual’s expectations of reciprocity and how this influences an individual’s knowledge sharing decision. Using vignettes adapted from prior empirical research, this study determines whether individuals adjust their knowledge sharing behaviors based on the different types of knowledge and the communication channel used. Results suggest that electronic knowledge repository and face-to-face are the preferred environments for sharing expertise and electronic knowledge repositories are preferred for sharing a computer program.
Affective Development from Middle Childhood to Late Adolescence: Trajectories of Mean-Level Change in Negative and Positive Affect

Adolescence has long been purported to be a period of emotional upheaval, yet relatively little is known regarding normative patterns of change in youth positive and negative affect across the adolescent transition. This study addressed this gap by examining normative patterns of mean-level change in youth positive and negative affect from middle childhood through late adolescence, encompassing the full span of adolescent development. Participants included 665 youth recruited in 3rd, 6th, and 9th grade cohorts (55.0% female; age 9-16 at baseline) who provided self-report ratings of positive and negative affect every 18 months for a period of three years in an accelerated longitudinal cohort design. Multi-level growth curve models revealed that adolescence is characterized by declines in positive affect and non-linear patterns of alternating decreases and increases in negative affect. Patterns of change differed across boys and girls. The findings from this study indicate that adolescence is characterized by normative reductions in positive affect in the context of labile negative affect, with implications for understanding processes of risk and resilience across the adolescent transition.
Post-transcriptional regulation of PIAS3 expression by miR-18a in malignant mesothelioma.

Protein inhibitor of activated STAT3 (PIAS3) is an endogenous suppressor of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling. By directly interacting with phosphorylated STAT3, PIAS3 can block the downstream transcriptional activity of STAT3, which is hyper-activated in various cancers. We previously reported that in malignant mesothelioma (MM), low PIAS3 expression is associated with increased STAT3 activation and correlates with poor patient survival, yet the regulatory mechanism(s) governing PIAS3 expression in MM remain unclear. Here, we demonstrate that PIAS3 protein expression does not correlate with its mRNA level in MM cell lines, indicating that PIAS3 expression is regulated at a post-transcriptional level. Inhibition of proteasomal degradation with MG132 (10 μm) or bortezomib (1 μm), alone and in combination, did not increase PIAS3 protein levels; furthermore, inhibition of protein synthesis by cycloheximide treatment did not decrease PIAS3 levels within 48 h, suggesting that PIAS3 expression is not actively regulated at a post-translational level. To determine whether miRNA (miRs) can translationally regulate PIAS3 expression, we combined miR microarray analysis with bioinformatic screening to identify candidate miRs, in MM cell lines with low PIAS3 expression, followed by luciferase reporter assays to validate miR regulation of the PIAS3 3'UTR. We identified miR-18a as a suppressor of PIAS3 expression that is upregulated in MM cells and whose inhibition can increase PIAS3 expression and suppress STAT3 activity. Moreover, we showed that miR-18a inhibition can decrease MM cell viability and that its expression is negatively correlated with MM patient survival. Taken together, these results suggest that targeting miR-18a may have therapeutic benefit in MM.
Is it just semantics? Medical students and their ‘first patients’

There have been multiple factors involved in the decline of the anatomy course's central role in medical education over the last century. The course has undergone a multitude of changes, in large part due to the rise in technology and cultural shifts away from physical dissection. This paper argues that, as the desire of medical schools to introduce clinical experiences earlier in the curriculum increased, anatomy courses began implementing changes that would align themselves with the shifting culture towards incorporating humanistic values early on in the medical curriculum. One of these changes, argued as a product of this shift, included calling a cadaver a 'patient' and introducing the cadaver as a student's 'first patient'. This change has been seen in different universities and textbooks. This paper argues that the use of the words 'patient' to describe the cadaver in order to promote principled habits in medical students may in fact create an environment that does the opposite. By equating an environment in which the subject of dissection is lifeless and incapable of participation, and the space is discouraging of emotions and conducive to untested coping mechanisms to the clinical environment through using the word 'patient', values like detached concern, a controversial practice in medicine, can be implicitly encouraged. An ethical analysis of the use of the word 'patient' to describe the cadaver shows that this practice can promote unethical habits in students and that changing this aspect of anatomy lab culture could improve ethical dispositions of future physicians.
Camp TV: trans gender queer sitcom history: by Quinlan Miller, Durham and London, Duke University Press, 2019, 232 pp., $24.95 (paperback), ISBN: 9781478003038

After its launch in 2005, the American cable channel Logo TV produced a slate of original programs featuring explicit representations of its targeted LGBTQ audience base. By 2012, however, the chan...
DIRC: Internally reflecting imaging Cherenkov detectors

Abstract In this article we review a distinctive type of Cherenkov ring imaging device generically called a DIRC detector. DIRC is an acronym for “Detection of Internally Reflected Cherenkov (Light)”. We briefly discuss how these devices were first motivated and conceived, describe their basic operating principles, their early prototypes, and fabrication RD a number of FDIRC designs for GLUEX, PANDA barrel and endcap; and the LHCb TORCH.
Investigation of the change of Th17 cells during acute phase of Kawasaki disease

Objective To investigate the changes and the role of Th17 cells in immunological pathogenesis of Kawasaki Disease (KD).Methods Sixty children with KD and thirty-two age-matched healthy children were studied.Real-time PCR were used to evaluate the mRNA levels of IL-17A/F,ROR-γt and Foxp3 in CD4-positive cells,or IL-6,TGF-β,IL-23p19,IL-27p28,IL-27EBI3,IFN-γ,in peripheral blood mononuclear cells.Protein levels of cytokines in plasma were measured by ELISA.The proportion of CD4+ CD25 + regulatory T (Tr) cells was analyzed by flow cytometry.Results Compared with healthy controls,transcription levels of IL-17A/F were significantly up-regulated during acute phase of KD(P 0.05).The protein level of IFN-γ in plasma was significantly elevated during acute phase of KD(P 0.05).The proportion of CD4 + CD25+ Tr cells in peripheral blood from patients with KD was significantly lower than that of healthy subjects(P<0.01),and increase significantly after treatment of IVIG therapy.Transcription level of Foxp3 was significantly down-regulated in acute phase of KD(P<0.01 ),and up-regulated to some extent after IVIG therapy.Conclusion Aberrant activation of Th17 cells may be involved with immunological pathogenesis of KD. Key words: Kawasaki disease; Helper T cells 17; IL-17; ROR-γt
When there’s no Yellow Brick Road

I have framed this essay based on one of my all-time favorite films, The Wizard of Oz . I actually saw the film in the theater at a Saturday matinee and I was fascinated by Judy Garland’s journey from a small Kansas community to the magical land of Oz. When she ended up in Oz Dorothy was directed to “Follow the Yellow Brick Road” as a way to get to the Emerald City. For a working class, Black girl like me growing up in the pre-Civil Rights era, there was no yellow brick road to follow to the Emerald City. I was going to have to actually make the road. Fortunately, I would encounter “road pavers” along the way that made my journey possible. This essay describes a version of that journey.
Multi-center, single arm phase II study of the dual mTORC1/mTORC2 inhibitor vistusertib for patients with recurrent or progressive grade II-III meningiomas.

2024Background: Grade II/III meningiomas represent about 20% of tumors and have increased rates of recurrence with no approved medical therapies. Historically, the progression-free survival at 6 mo...
Familial Danish dementia young Knock-in rats expressing humanized APP and human Aβ show impaired pre and postsynaptic glutamatergic transmission

Familial British and Danish dementia (FBD and FDD) are two neurodegenerative disorders caused by mutations in the Integral membrane protein 2B (ITM2b). BRI2, the protein encoded by ITM2b, tunes excitatory synaptic transmission at both pre- and post-synaptic terminus. Too, BRI2 interacts with and modulates proteolytic processing of Amyloid-{beta} precursor Protein (APP), whose mutations cause familial forms of Alzheimer disease (FAD). To study pathogenic mechanism triggered by the Danish mutation we generated rats carrying the Danish mutation into the rat Itm2b gene (Itm2bD rats). Given the BRI2/APP interaction and the widely accepted relevance of human A{beta}, a proteolytic product of APP, to AD, Itm2bD rats were engineered to express two humanized App alleles, to produce human A{beta}. Here, we studied young Itm2bD rats to investigate early pathogenic changes. We found that peri-adolescent Itm2bD rats present subtle changes in human A{beta} levels along with decreased spontaneous glutamate release and AMPAR-mediated responses, but increased short-term synaptic facilitation in the hippocampal Schaeffer-collateral pathway. These changes are similar to those observed in adult mice producing rodent A{beta} and carrying either the Danish or British mutations into the mouse Itm2b gene. Collectively, the data show that the pathogenic Danish mutation alters the physiological function of BRI2 at glutamatergic synapses; these functional alterations are detected across species and occur early in life. Future studies will be needed to determine whether this phenomenon represents an early pathogenic event in human dementia.
Comparison of venous hemoglobin saturation measurements obtained by in vivo oximetry and calculated from blood gas analysis in critically ill dogs.

OBJECTIVE To compare in vivo central venous hemoglobin saturation measurement (ScvO2 ) using a fiber optic catheter with saturation calculated from blood gas analysis in critically ill dogs. DESIGN Prospective observational study. SETTING University veterinary teaching hospital intensive care unit. ANIMALS A convenience sample of 20 dogs with severe illness. INTERVENTIONS Dogs were instrumented with either a central venous catheter with an integrated fiber optic cable or a conventional catheter with a fiber optic probe inserted through its distal port. Baseline saturation was measured with the fiber optic system (FSO2 ), then monitored continuously. Central venous blood was collected for analysis and FSO2 was recorded by the principal investigator (PI) or nursing staff participating in data collection (staff) at baseline and at 1, 2, 3, and 6 hours. Hemoglobin oxygen saturation (SO2 ) values calculated using human Bohr coefficients were taken directly from the analyzer (GPSO2 ), and were also calculated using temperature-correction and canine Bohr coefficients (RSO2 ). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Ninety-seven paired measurements from 20 dogs were analyzed. FSO2 obtained by the PI (n = 41) had better agreement with both GPSO2 (concordance correlation coefficient ρc = 0.926 vs 0.5562) and RSO2 (ρc = 0.75 for PI vs 0.54) than did staff (n = 56). RSO2 values were always smaller than GPSO2 . FSO2 - GPSO2 differences were smaller when measurements were collected by the PI versus Staff (mean difference 0.21 vs -6.6, respectively, P < 0.02). Thirty-six of 41 FSO2 values obtained by PI were within 5% of GPSO2 . CONCLUSIONS Concordance between FSO2 and either calculation method was low, but was better when performed by PI. The larger difference between methods when using RSO2 suggests a positive bias by FSO2 . Difficulty obtaining stable measurements may have contributed to the poor concordance between methods within Staff.
Correlates of Tobacco and Nicotine Use among Transgender and Gender Diverse People: A Systematic Review Guided by the Minority Stress Model.

Transgender and gender diverse people have a higher prevalence of tobacco and nicotine use compared to their cisgender peers. Using the minority stress model as a guide, we conducted a systematic review of correlates of tobacco and nicotine use among transgender and gender diverse people. We reviewed literature from Pubmed, PsycINFO, and CINAHL between 04/01/1995 and 04/20/2021. Article inclusion criteria were the following: written in English, reported empirical data, sampled exclusively or reported separate outcomes for transgender/gender diverse people, and reported correlates of tobacco or nicotine use, broadly defined. The first and second authors reviewed the articles retrieved from the search and from grey literature (relevant listserv solicitations) for inclusion. They then reviewed references of any included articles for additional candidate articles. This resulted in 35 articles for review, which were synthesized in a qualitative fashion. The overall quality of the articles was fair, with the articles ranging from poor to fair quality and using primarily cross-sectional design and survey methods. Overall, the literature demonstrated external minority stressors were mostly researched (and supported) correlates of tobacco and nicotine use among transgender and gender diverse people. There is a critical need for higher quality research, such as longitudinal or experimental designs, to improve our understanding and prevention of tobacco and nicotine use in this population.
Data-driven algorithm to classify the degree of isotropy in the bidirectional reflectance distribution function

The bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) is used to describe reflectances of materials by calculating the ratio of the reflected radiance to the incident irradiance. While it was found that the isotropic models maintained symmetry about ϕs = π, such symmetry was not maintained about the θs = θi axis, except for close to the specular peak. This led to the development of a data-driven metric for how isotropic a BRDF measurement is. Research efforts centered around developing an algorithm that could determine material anisotropy without having to fit to models. This algorithm was tested using high fidelity data (containing off-axis BRDFs), which was collected via a modified Complete Angle Scatter Instrument (CASI®) with a CCD array detector. The algorithm accurately characterized the degree of isotropy for four out of five materials and worked for cases where the BRDF is higher than 100 sr − 1. This algorithm is intended to improve BRDF characterization, and the applications of light curve analysis, scene generation, and remote sensing.
Evaluation of Biological Dose Enhancement in Mucosal Surfaces of Oropharyngeal Cancer Patients Treated With Ipsilateral Discrete Spot-Scanning Proton Therapy.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S) Proton therapy plans for head and neck cancer patients receiving ipsilateral neck radiotherapy have limited angle options given desired avoidance of contralateral tissue and other at-risk organs. This may lead to dose enhancement at the mucosal surfaces at the end of range. Herein, we study the relationship between potential areas of mucosal toxicity and biological dose (BD). MATERIALS/METHODS The patient cohort comprised of 5 patients with oropharyngeal carcinoma treated between 2019 and 2020 with adjuvant proton therapy to doses of 60-66 Gy in 30-33 fractions to the tumor bed with/without ipsilateral neck treatment after radical resection. Monte-Carlo based linear energy transfer (LET), relative biological effectiveness (RBE), and BD distributions of clinical plans were generated using the research version of a commercial treatment planning system. BD and RBE were calculated using the McNamara (MCN) model, which includes dependencies with dose-weighted LET (LETd), alpha/beta ratio, and physical dose (PD). α/β = 3.1 Gy and a reference dose of 2 Gy per fraction, were used to perform RBE computations. 10 mm rings around the mucosal targets were used to quantify biological dose enhancement outside the target structure. Mean and max RBE, LETd Volume Histograms, as well as D2cc and near-maximum (D1%) values in comparison to conventional PD × 1.1 were analyzed. RESULTS As summarized in Table 1, the rings showed an increase of 8-10 % when comparing D2cc numbers between conventional PD × 1.1 and BD. The RBE predicted by the McNamara model showed an average of 1.207 and a maximum (RBE1%) of 1.358 for this group of patients. LETd2cc and LETd1% had average values of 5.998 and 6.413 keV/µm, respectively. CONCLUSION BD enhancement was observed at the periphery of mucosal targets in these patients. An additional study is needed to evaluate the correlation of this dose enhancement with clinical/radiologic outcomes. In the future, use of additional beam angles and/or incorporating LET in treatment planning may mitigate this effect.
Direct Measurement of Supersonic Skin Friction

Recent experiments at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory have established the effect of compressibility on local skin friction for Mach numbers up to 4.5. Friction coefficients were obtained simultaneously at three stations on a flat plate, for both laminar and turbulent boundary-layer flow, for Reynolds numbers from 4 X 10^5 to 1 X 10^7. The floating element technique used is similar to that of Liepmann and Dhawan.
Method-based versus Software-based Design Innovation: A sequence-analytic simulation

Innovative design and development processes of all types are becoming increasingly important in today's volatile environment. Firms that want to improve their design processes take either a method-based approach or a software-based approach. The former involves adopting a structured set of standardized practices, and the latter involves implementing a software-based design management solution as a guide to the process. To compare these two approaches, we use an empirically grounded simulation of the design processes of a large semiconductor manufacturer. We find that software-based approaches work significantly better in environments marked by high volatility, but no significant difference between the two in environments of low volatility.
Economic Compulsion and Christian Ethics

General editor's preface Preface Part I. The Nature and Dynamics of Economic Compulsion: 1. Markets and coercive pecuniary externalities 2. The regressive incidence of unintended burdens Part II. Setting the Moral Baseline and Shaping Expectations: 3. Economic security as God's twofold gift 4. Retrieving the biblical principle of restoration Part III. Contemporary Appropriation: 5. Economic rights-obligations as diagnostic framework 6. Application: the case of agricultural protectionism 7. Summary and conclusions References Index.
Internal Migrations and Decentralization of Public Investment

We develop a dynamic politico-economic model of public investment where decisions can be made at several levels of government: federal, state, or county. The model predicts that in the absence of internal mobility, the higher level of government would fund all investments that present positive externalities not fully internalized at lower levels. But when there are important internal migrations unrelated to scal policy , investments that are embodied | and therefore are useful to citizens if they move to other jurisdictions, like education | are more likely to be funded at the local level than investments that are physically sunk, as infrastructure. Such pattern of migrations and nancing is consistent with U.S. data.
Autophagy Induction in AC-16 Human Cardiomyocytes: Effects of Resveratrol and Rapamycin (LB835)

Mitochondrial dysfunction and increased oxidative stress contribute to the deterioration of cardiomyocyte and heart function with advancing age. Autophagy is the process by which damaged mitochondr...