cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Intracranial Hypertension Caused by Occipital Calvarial Hemangioma: Case Report

Background Primary intraosseous calvarial hemangiomas (PICHs) are generally rare and predominate (3:1) in women. Occurrence in the frontal and parietal bones is most common, but involvement of the occipital bone is exceedingly rare, representing 3 of 125 cases in a series of PICHs studied by Heckl et al. in 2000. Histopathology establishes the diagnosis of cavernous hemangioma, which represents the most common subtype of intraosseous hemangiomas. Others include sclerosing, cellular, and capillary. When they do occur in the calvarium, they are most often asymptomatic and discovered incidentally or due to a palpable defect in the skull. Case Description In this case, a calvarial hemangioma was found to be the cause of elevated intracranial pressure in a 35-year-old woman. Resection of the hemangioma and reconstruction of the calvarium provided a complete cure for her symptoms. Conclusions Primary intraosseous hemangiomas are rarely symptomatic but must be considered in the differential for calvarial lesions as part of safe surgical planning. Formulating an accurate differential diagnosis by acquiring proper imaging studies and specifically recognizing the classical “starburst” appearance, as well as considering the highly vascular pathology to avoid excess blood loss, is important. This unique case of a hemangioma-induced venous sinus compression and subsequent elevated intracranial pressure illustrates that hemangiomas can arise from any part of the calvarium and cause a wide variety of clinical symptoms.
Magmatic anhydrite in granitic rocks: First occurrence and potential petrologic consequences

The Cajon Pass Deep Scientific Drillhole penetrated a minimum of 1 km of Late Cretaceous (?) intermediate plutonic rocks containing magmatic anhydrite, which occurs as both matrix grains and relic microphenocrysts within poikilitic hornblende, plagioclase, and sphene. Phase equilibria of coexisting silicates, oxides, and apatite support petrographic evidence of hypersolidus anhydrite, indicating that intermediate rocks from a mafic-felsic calc-alkalic suite (or suites) crystallized from about 800 to 700 °C at P tot ~6 kb from hydrous and oxidized, sulfate-saturated andesitic to dacitic magma. The occurrence of anhydrite as inclusions within early crystallizing phases and its association with sulfate-enriched apatite indicates that, despite the potentially rapid destruction of matrix anhydrite by subareal weathering, petrologic evidence of the nature of such volatile-rich magma systems can be retrieved. If found to be widespread by future work, such evidence could be useful in understanding the mechanisms of volatile enrichment in explosive sulfur-rich volcanic systems and the potential relative roles of metasomatized lithospheric mantle sources and shallow-level mixing/assimilation processes in Cordilleran arc magma systems.
Analysis of Epidemic Features of Brucellosis of Cattle Type in Xi'an

[Objective]To understand the epidemic features of brucellosis of cattle type in Xi'an. [Methods]Infections were determined by GB 15988-1995; data were collected from annual reports and special investigations,and analyzed by common statistical method. [Results]During the Tenth "Five-Year Plan" period,40 Brucellosis infected cases (0.15/100 000)were reported. Compared with the Ninth "Five-Year Plan" period,the cases significantly increased,according to RBPT and SAT determination. Compared with the brucellosis of sheep type,the symptoms and signs of the determined cases could be seen as significant differences of headache (P 0.01),hyperhidrosis (P 0.01),fever (P 0.01) limbs and joint pain (P 0.05). [Conclusion]Epidemic features of brucellosis of cattle type should be attached great importance to provide evidence for determining cases,implementation of control measures and extinguishing endemic areas.
The influence of microstructural variation on crack growth

Welding, casting and heat treatment of structural components are common processes which produce material zones with pronounced microstructural gradients. Crack inititaion and subsequent crack growth through these zones is affected by the local microstructure. The purpose of this investigation was to create a controlled environment in which to observe and model these effects in laboratory specimens, employing a local approach to fracture, through a set of relevant experiments and computational analyses.
High Performance Polymers— Natural and Synthetic

Nature has been designing and making high performance polymers — organic and ceramic — since several hundred million years as a crucial service for plants and animals. The base materials (all somewhat compatible with water) were proteins and carbohydrates (or copolymers thereof) together with a variety of clays.
Rationality and Market Failure

Just as in life “he who lives by the sword shall die by the sword,” in economics “he who lives by rationality shall die by rationality.” The very individual rationality that makes the market work so well often destroys the optimality of its results. In this chapter we will review cases illustrating this phenomenon. By focusing on rationality as the Achilles heel of the free market argument, we will shed new light on traditional laissez-faire arguments.
35 Achieving population level changes in health: a dialogue on pathways to progress

Population level reduction in injury-related harm is rarely achieved by simply multiplying the scale of a prevention program that has been shown to be efficacious under controlled research circumstances. More often population level impact is achieved by starting de novo from within the public domain, and designing and implementing complex solutions using existing social infrastructures and institutions. Injury prevention projects delivered to whole populations are complex, and while local involvement is critical to the success of population-based interventions, effective action to prevent injury does require orchestrated support from societal leadership. Support can maximise and amplify the outcomes of local initiatives with changes in the social institutions in which causal events, conditions and attributes are created and sustained. Past successes, e.g., tobacco control and use of seat belts, have required extensive and prolonged attention with interventions ultimately engaging all aspects of society, including cultural norms. The implementation of a broad prevention approach will reduce intrinsic risk factors across the whole population before they manifest themselves as proximal risk factors. For this session, a presenter will introduce the concepts to be discussed and then other presenters will provide brief examples of empirical prevention research that demonstrates the effectiveness of state-of-the-art methods of achieving population-level improvements in health. This will be followed by participant interaction from the floor. Discussion notes will be collected and posed as working lines of inquiries for a future journal supplement. This session will provide an opportunity for free flow of ideas between injury prevention researchers and advocates. The session will drive innovation and development of the field by setting the stage for lines of inquiry. Presentations “The nature of population level change” Roderick McClure “Suicide and Social Processes” Eric Caine “Injury Prevention as a byproduct” Ronan Lyons “Pathways to Progress Overview and Facilitated Discussion” Karin Mack
Minimizing the maximum flow time in batch scheduling

Abstract We consider the maximum flow time minimization problem in batch scheduling, which is a capacitated version of broadcast scheduling. In this setting, n different pages of information are available at the server which receives requests from clients over time for specific pages. The server can transmit at most one page p at each time to satisfy a batch of requests for the same page p , up to a certain capacity B p . In this paper we give the first ( 1 + ϵ ) -approximations for this problem with arbitrarily small resource augmentation, using either more capacity or more speed.
Pleomorphic Structures in Human Blood Are Red Blood Cell-Derived Microparticles, Not Bacteria

Background Red blood cell (RBC) transfusions are a common, life-saving therapy for many patients, but they have also been associated with poor clinical outcomes. We identified unusual, pleomorphic structures in human RBC transfusion units by negative-stain electron microscopy that appeared identical to those previously reported to be bacteria in healthy human blood samples. The presence of viable, replicating bacteria in stored blood could explain poor outcomes in transfusion recipients and have major implications for transfusion medicine. Here, we investigated the possibility that these structures were bacteria. Results Flow cytometry, miRNA analysis, protein analysis, and additional electron microscopy studies strongly indicated that the pleomorphic structures in the supernatant of stored RBCs were RBC-derived microparticles (RMPs). Bacterial 16S rDNA PCR amplified from these samples were sequenced and was found to be highly similar to species that are known to commonly contaminate laboratory reagents. Conclusions These studies suggest that pleomorphic structures identified in human blood are RMPs and not bacteria, and they provide an example in which laboratory contaminants may can mislead investigators.
The study of online digitized specimens revalidates Andersonglossum boreale as a species different from A. virginianum (Boraginaceae)

Cynoglossum virginianum L., now transferred to the genus Andersonglossum as A. virginianum (L.) J.I.Cohen, has been traditionally considered to be formed by two infraspecific taxa: var. virginianum , and var. boreale (Fernald) Cooperr. The var. boreale was originally described as an independent species, Cynoglossum boreale Fernald, and remained treated as such until its combination as a variety of C. virginianum . However, no analysis exists that objectively compares both taxa in order to properly assess their taxonomic relationships. We performed a morphometric study to help elucidate their taxonomy. We found that both species are distinguishable using a few characters, despite slight overlap in nutlet length, corolla diameter, and calyx length, all traditionally considered to identify both taxa. The relatively large amount of variation in calyx dimensions seems to be the reason for most recent authors treating the two taxa at varietal rank. We provide the new combination Andersonglossum boreale (Fernald) Jim.Mejias, J.I.Cohen & Naczi to allow treating Cynoglossum boreale as a distinct species under its new generic circumscription.
The Fire under the Gridiron: Resource Dependence and NCAA Conference Realignment

Abstract Resource dependence theory posits that interorganizational cooperation is a key means of reducing uncertainty and ensuring survival, but little research to date has investigated how coalitions of organizations reduce uncertainty and ensure survival, both for the coalition and the member institutions. In this research, we explore how relative bargaining power and legitimacy impact the structure and performance of coalitions. We analyze fifteen years of coalition realignment and performance among college football conferences. Using a comparative case study approach, we find that relative bargaining power and legitimacy have different implications for strong and weak conferences, and that those differences in power and legitimacy drive different performance orientations and outcomes. This results in a paradigm where the most powerful coalitions can ensure the greatest performance and exert the highest amount of autonomy with the least amount of restraints on member organizations.
Why Even Kantian Angels Need the State: Comments on Robert Hanna’s “Exiting the State and Debunking the State of Nature”

Against a widely-held interpretation of Kant’s political philosophy, according to which Kant holds that all finite rational beings have an innate right to freedom as well as a duty to enter into a civil condition governed by a social contract in order to preserve that freedom, Robert Hanna contends that Kant is in fact an anarchist. Hanna’s argument for his novel thesis that Kant ultimately views the State as an unjustifiably coercive institution that should be eliminated depends heavily on the claim there is an outright conflict between Kant’s political theory in The Doctrine of Right and Kant’s ethics. I argue that we should resist Hanna’s provocative claim that Kant’s ethics directly falsifies his official political theory . Further, I suggest that even morally autonomous Kantian angels need the State to guarantee the protection of their external freedom and to promote justice.
Synthesis and biological activity of apratoxin derivatives

Abstract This review covers the total asymmetric synthesis and biological evaluation of derivatives of the marine natural products known as the apratoxins.
Examination of the Relation Between PTSD Symptoms, Smartphone Feature Uses, and Problematic Smartphone Use

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms are associated with addictive behaviors including problematic smartphone use (PSU). Drawing from existing theoretical models and empirical work, we ex...
Risk of post-operative surgical site infections after vedolizumab vs anti-tumour necrosis factor therapy: a propensity score matching analysis in inflammatory bowel disease.

Background Perioperative vedolizumab (VDZ) and anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNFi) therapies are implicated in causing post-operative complications in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Aim To compare the risk of surgical site infections (SSIs) between VDZ- and TNFi-treated IBD patients in propensity-matched cohorts. Methods The Optum Research Database was used to identify IBD patients who received VDZ or TNFi within 30 days prior to abdominal surgery between January 2015 and December 2016. The date of IBD-related abdominal surgery was defined as the index date. SSIs were determined by ICD-9/10 and CPT codes related to superficial wound infections or deep organ space infections after surgery. Propensity score 1:1 matching established comparable cohorts based on VDZ or TNFi exposure before surgery based on evidence-based risk modifiers. Results The propensity-matched sample included 186 patients who received pre-operative biologic therapy (VDZ, n = 94; TNFi, n = 92). VDZ and TNFi cohorts were similar based on age, gender, IBD type, concomitant immunomodulator exposure, chronic opioid or corticosteroid therapy, Charlson Comorbidity Index and malnutrition. VDZ patients were more likely to undergo an open bowel resection with ostomy. After propensity score matching, there was no significant difference in post-operative SSIs (TNFi 12.0% vs VDZ 14.9%, P = 0.56). Multivariable analysis indicated that malnutrition was the sole risk factor for developing SSI (OR 3.1, 95% CI 1.11-8.71) regardless of the type of biologic exposure. Conclusion In the largest, risk-adjusted cohort analysis to date, perioperative exposure to VDZ therapy was not associated with a significantly higher risk of developing an SSI compared to TNFi therapy.
Molecular Analysis of Rearrangements in Philadelphia (Ph1) Chromosome-Positive Leukemia

The close association of specific chromosome abnormalities with particular types of human cancer has been established by a number of investigators during the past decade [1–6]. A few of the genes involved in consistent chromosome rearrangements, notably translocations, have already been identified, and it is likely that the identity of most of the genes affected by these aberrations will be determined within the next decade. Moreover, for several of the rearrangements, some of the changes in gene structure and function have been defined. Therefore, some general principles that may be applicable to many chromosome rearrangements in human malignant disease are beginning to emerge. Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) provides one of the clearest examples of our progress in first identifying a recurring chromosome abnormality and then cloning the genes involved in the abnormality. The analysis of these genes and their alteration as a result of the chromosome change is the subject of this lecture.
Survey of the physics of the locomotion of the human body

Before we turn our attention to replacement of bony limbs by means of prostheses made of suitable materials, it will be helpful to take into account a discussion relative to load distribution of the body either during walking or under static conditions. In fact, when further on the strength of the materials is examined, it will emerge that applied load and related wearing (coming from joints, if any) are directly associated with the body weight, or anyhow with locally applied pressure. In relation to skeletal prostheses, load is distributed over the body structure, which transfers a fraction of it on the implanted prosthesis. The most remarkable case is the hip-endoprosthesis.
A Study of Solder Joint Failure Criteria

One of the challenges in an experimental study of solder joint reliability is to determine when cracks occur in a solder joint or when a solder joint fails. Cracks in a real solder joint are difficult to identify using an X-Ray system. Cross-sectioning and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) is a destructive method. A common non-destructive test method is to monitor resistance increase in a solder joint or a daisy-chain. However, no scientific research has been done in establishing the relationship between the crack area of an interconnection and the change in resistance of the interconnection. This paper proposes a method of defining failure criteria as the resistance increase in a solder joint exceeding a threshold. The threshold is determined by k times the range over the natural variation in resistance measured by a measurement system. The natural variation by random cause is judged using X-bar and R charts. The principles of defining failure criteria are to be able to detect failure of solder joints a...
Investigating oblique reconstructions with super-resolution in digital breast tomosynthesis

In digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT), the image of an object is shifted in sub-pixel detector element increments with each increasing projection angle. As a consequence of this property, we have previously demonstrated that DBT is capable of super-resolution in reconstruction planes parallel to the breast support. This study demonstrates that super-resolution is also achievable in obliquely pitched reconstruction planes. To this end, a theoretical framework is developed in which the reconstruction of a sinusoidal input is calculated. It is demonstrated that frequencies exceeding the detector alias frequency can be resolved over many pitches. For experimental validation of this finding, a bar pattern phantom was imaged on a goniometry stand using a commercial DBT system. With a commercial prototype reconstruction solution, high frequency patterns were resolved in oblique reconstructions, and modulation contrast was determined at various pitches and frequencies. This work demonstrates the existence of super-resolution in oblique DBT reconstructions.
Aging, Genetics of

Aging is a complex biological process that is modulated by both genetic and environmental factors. Studies in model organisms have demonstrated that it is possible to significantly increase both longevity and healthspan, and genetic loci have been identified that control the rate of aging in evolutionarily divergent species. Nutrient-response pathways, such as the target of rapamycin and insulin/IGF-1-like signaling pathways, in particular, appear to play a central role in modulating aging rate in response to environmental changes. Therapies that target these pathways may prove useful for delaying the onset and progression of multiple age-related diseases.
What happens when the insurer can say no? Assessing prior authorization as a tool to prevent high-risk prescriptions and to lower costs

Abstract Insurers are increasingly requiring physicians to obtain prior authorization before prescribing drugs that are costly or have high abuse potential. These prior authorization requirements have the potential to reduce risky prescriptions and to lower prescription drug costs, but little is known about their ability to do either. This study estimates the effect of a prior authorization requirement for certain costly and abuse-prone drugs on prescription drug use and costs for work-related injuries in Texas. The findings indicate that the prior authorization requirement reduces the likelihood that claimants receive non-preferred drugs as well as insurers' spending on non-preferred drugs. While there is some substitution to preferred drugs, I do not find evidence of large increases in spending on preferred drugs. The estimated effects on average total pharmacy spending are imprecise, though there is suggestive evidence that the prior authorization requirement reduces the likelihood that a claim has high prescription drug costs. The results provide strong evidence that the prior authorization requirement drastically reduces the likelihood that patients receive combinations of drugs that have contributed disproportionately to the rise in prescription drug overdoses. Despite the success of prior authorization in lowering spending on non-preferred drugs and in reducing high-risk prescriptions, I find little evidence that prior authorization has disproportionately large effects on the most dangerous prescription drug use and only weak, suggestive evidence that it has larger effects on prescription drug use that likely arises because physicians are not fully informed, suggesting that prior authorization requirements do not necessarily target the riskiest drug use.
Assessing the spatial fidelity of sedimentary charcoal size fractions as fire history proxies with a high-resolution sediment record and historical data

Abstract Fire reconstructions provide context for modern rates of burning and inform predictions of fire regimes' responses to climate and/or ecological changes. Charcoal particles preserved in lake sediments are a widely employed fire proxy. Although many studies have calibrated the charcoal proxy, the spatial scales of charcoal dispersal and source area remain disputed. Understanding the spatial fidelity of charcoal accumulation is increasingly important in light of recent efforts to aggregate multiple charcoal records to infer changes in regional, continental- and global-scale fire regimes. Using a high-resolution sediment record from Swamp Lake, California, we compare charcoal accumulation rate (CHAR) variations of three size fractions of sedimentary charcoal (63–150, >150, and >250 μm) to historical area burned data. We find that macroscopic (>250 and >150 μm) and mesoscopic (63–150 μm) charcoal source areas are within 25, 35, and 150 km of Swamp Lake, respectively. We also use a dispersal model to confirm these findings. Our estimates of charcoal source area fall within the large range of estimates for forest fires in the literature. Further, our methodology shows potential for constraining source areas of charcoal in sedimentary records, which is requisite for the reliable inference of the spatial extent of fire in paleorecords.
Impact of Aging and HIV Infection on the Function of the C-Type Lectin Receptor MINCLE in Monocytes

Both aging and HIV infection are associated with an enhanced pro-inflammatory environment that contributes to impaired immune responses and is mediated in part by innate immune pattern-recognition receptors. MINCLE is a C-type lectin receptor that recognizes trehalose-6,6'-dimycolate or "cord factor," the most abundant glycolipid in Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Here, we evaluated MINCLE function in monocytes in a cohort of HIV-infected and uninfected young (21-35 years) and older adults (≥60 years) via stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells with trehalose-6,6-dibehenate, a synthetic analog of trehalose-6,6'-dimycolate and measurement of cytokine production (interleukin [IL]-10, IL-12, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-α) by multicolor flow cytometry. Our studies show an age- and HIV-associated increase in cytokine multifunctionality of monocytes both at the population and single cell level that was dominated by IL-12, IL-10, and IL-6. These findings provide insight into the host response to M. tuberculosis and possible sources for the pro-inflammatory environment seen in aging and HIV infection.
A multi-term, multi-harmonic Boltzmann equation model for kinetic behavior in intense microwave and terahertz excited low temperature plasmas

A multi-term (MT), multi-harmonic (MH) decomposition of the Boltzmann equation (BE) is developed to describe electron kinetic behavior in microwave and THz excited low temperature plasmas. In the decomposition of the BE, velocity distribution functions retain an arbitrary time dependence enabling the prediction of electron kinetic behavior from an arbitrary initial condition to a steady-state periodic solution. By exploiting the time-periodic nature of the electron swarm, the MTMH-BE model is not restricted to numerically resolving the electric field cycle. The MTMH-BE model is validated via the Reid ramp model gas and the ionization model gas of Lucas and Salee. Following successful validation, the MTMH-BE model is utilized to elucidate the basic electron kinetic behavior in air at atmospheric pressure. Namely, the error associated with the effective field approximation (EFA) is explored, where it is demonstrated that for atmospheric pressure air, given a microwave frequency of 1 GHz, the EFA may result in more than a factor of two errors in the time-averaged ionization rate. In the second part of this study, the MTMH-BE model is demonstrated as a basic modeling tool for low temperature plasmas. First, the MTMH-BE model is utilized to calculate electron heating profiles from a cold initial condition. The MTMH-BE model is demonstrated to be in excellent agreement with strictly time-dependent kinetic models, including a time-dependent MT-BE model and a Monte Carlo collision model. To highlight the advantage of this work, the MTMH-BE model is used to predict the formative delay time of 95 GHz high power microwave induced breakdown. In this example, the numerical time step utilized in the MTMH-BE model is approximately six orders of magnitude larger than is possible using a strictly time-dependent MT-BE model. Overall, the MTMH-BE model presents a powerful pathway to modeling temporal kinetic behavior in microwave and THz excited low temperature plasmas.A multi-term (MT), multi-harmonic (MH) decomposition of the Boltzmann equation (BE) is developed to describe electron kinetic behavior in microwave and THz excited low temperature plasmas. In the decomposition of the BE, velocity distribution functions retain an arbitrary time dependence enabling the prediction of electron kinetic behavior from an arbitrary initial condition to a steady-state periodic solution. By exploiting the time-periodic nature of the electron swarm, the MTMH-BE model is not restricted to numerically resolving the electric field cycle. The MTMH-BE model is validated via the Reid ramp model gas and the ionization model gas of Lucas and Salee. Following successful validation, the MTMH-BE model is utilized to elucidate the basic electron kinetic behavior in air at atmospheric pressure. Namely, the error associated with the effective field approximation (EFA) is explored, where it is demonstrated that for atmospheric pressure air, given a microwave frequency of 1 GHz, the EFA may result ...
Force spectroscopy of the thrombin-aptamer interaction: Comparison between AFM experiments and molecular dynamics simulations

Abstract Previous literature on dynamic force spectroscopy of the thrombin-aptamer complex has shown significantly different force magnitudes even at similar AFM tip velocities, implying the need for a more elaborate evaluation of the force interaction. In this study, we employ a combination of experimental and computational methods to reveal comprehensively how the unbinding force can possibly depend on the loading rate, coverage density, binding rate, linker stiffness and binding buffer composition. In addition, we utilize enhanced analytical techniques that include autocorrelation function, probability density convolution, and Poisson distribution to determine the dissociation force quanta of multiple bond dissociation from force spectroscopy experiments. We then predict the unbinding force measured in the experiments by using atomistic simulation data with significantly broader loading rate range following a continuum model. The dissociation forces of thrombin-aptamer complex are found to be lower than forces associated with the breakdown of G-quadruplex on aptamer, while comparable to forces associated with DNA melting, which indicates the complex dissociation could be more likely attributed to the bond breakage between thrombin and aptamer, rather than the collapse of G-quadruplex on aptamer.
Temperature-dependent stability of θ′-Al2Cu precipitates investigated with phase field simulations and experiments

Abstract The upper limit of service temperature for many Al-Cu alloys is determined by the thermal stability of strengthening θ′ (Al2Cu) precipitates. Above a certain temperature, θ′ precipitates will undergo morphological evolution and transform into the detrimental, equilibrium θ phase, leading to a rapid drop in strength. Certain alloying elements have recently been reported to increase the thermal stability of θ′ precipitates, by mechanisms that are yet unclear. Herein, we investigate the effect of modified interfacial energy and solute chemical mobility on the thermal stability of θ′ via high-throughput phase field study. We identify a critical θ′ aspect ratio to predict the onset of θ formation. Using this criterion, we predict the time required for θ′ to θ phase transformation as a function of temperature, Cu diffusivity, and the interfacial energy of θ′ precipitates. The predicted times compare favorably with reported times for θ formation under similar experimental conditions. These phase field simulations predict that a moderate reduction in Cu mobilityis adequate to stabilize the as-aged microstructure up to 300 °C, while substantial reductions to both interfacial energy and Cu mobility are needed to achieve similar stability at 400 °C. Experimental microstructural evolution results in commercial (319) and thermally stabilized (RR350) cast aluminum alloys are presented to complement the simulations.
Driven by What? Long-Term Career Objectives of Community Engagement Professionals.

This article presents a qualitative study designed to examine the long-term career objectives of individuals building careers as community engagement professionals (CEPs). CEPs administratively support engagement between a college or university and broader communities. We employed a team data analysis approach called consensual qualitative research to describe the long-term career objectives of CEPs and infer drivers, or key influences, of future career pathways. Data were drawn from 314 responses to the open-ended survey question “What are your long-term career objectives?” Findings offer insight into the professional lives and roles of CEPs by articulating the body of long-term career objectives that inform a diversity of career trajectories in the field. We review the study purpose, relevant literature, research methods, findings, and implications for future research.
Comparison of CFD and DSMC Using Calibrated Transport Parameters

Hypersonic re-entry flows span a wide range of length scales where regions of both rarefied and continuum flow exist. Traditional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) techniques do not provide an accurate solution for the rarefied regions of such ‘mixed’ flow fields. Although direct simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) can be used to accurately capture both the continuum and rarefied features of ‘mixed’ flow fields, they are computationally expensive when employed to simulate the low Knudsen number continuum regimes. Thus, a hybrid framework for seamlessly combining the two methodologies, CFD and DSMC, continues to be a topic of significant research effort. Ensuring consistency in the reaction kinetics and transport models employed within CFD and DSMC is a crucial requirement for obtaining a reliable solution from a hybrid framework for combined continuum/rarefied high speed flows. This paper represents one of the first studies to utilize the calibrated transport parameters developed to ensure consistency between CFD and DSMC solvers. The new variable soft sphere (VSS) parameters are compared to both previous “standard” variable hard sphere (VHS) parameters and also to solutions from the CFD transport properties that the new parameters were developed to reproduce.
Cell-cell junctions in developing and adult tendons

Tendons connect muscles to bones to transfer the forces necessary for movement. Cell-cell junction proteins, cadherins and connexins, may play a role in tendon development and injury. In this review, we begin by highlighting current understanding of how cell-cell junctions may regulate embryonic tendon development and differentiation. We then examine cell-cell junctions in postnatal tendon, before summarizing the role of cadherins and connexins in adult tendons. More information exists regarding the role of cell-cell junctions in the formation and homeostasis of other musculoskeletal tissues, namely cartilage and bone. Therefore, to inform future tendon studies, we include a brief survey of cadherins and connexins in chondrogenesis and osteogenesis, and summarize how cell-cell junctions are involved in some musculoskeletal tissue pathologies. An enhanced understanding of how cell-cell junctions participate in tendon development, maintenance, and disease will benefit future regenerative strategies.
Comparing a New Power System Preventive Operation Method with a Conventional Industry Practice during Hurricanes

Extreme weather is a leading cause of power outages in the U.S., and preventive operation is an effective approach to reduce outages in the operations phase. Currently, a common industry practice for preventive operation is to turn on all the units in a system during extreme weather. In this study, a preventive unit commitment (UC) model is presented to reduce transmission-induced outages during hurricanes. In this model, transmission contingency scenarios are generated based on wind speed, and then these scenarios are used in a stochastic UC model to obtain UC results with a goal of reducing outages in the system. The presented preventive operations method is compared with the business-as-usual model and the turn-on-all-units method, and results show that the presented method can reduce outages from the business-as-usual model as effective as the turn-on-all-units method with a much lower operating cost.
Conversations About Suicide: Strategies for Detecting and Assessing Suicide Risk

When patients disclose suicidal thoughts, clinicians often feel their anxiety rise. The best remedies for clinician anxiety include an understanding of suicide dynamics and a thoughtful and empathic engagement with patients. Engagement with patients typically includes collaborative exploration of eight psychological, interpersonal, and situational dimensions related to suicidality. These dimensions are rooted in suicide theories and empirical research. In this article, specific strategies are described and illustrated, including strategies for initiating conversations about suicide, exploring different dimensions of suicide, and engaging patients in steps to increase their safety.
Association Between Maternal Obesity and Group B Streptococcus Colonization in a National U.S. Cohort

Objective: To investigate the association between maternal obesity as measured by prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) and group B streptococcus (GBS) colonization. Methods: We conducted a secondary ...
The History of Article 2A: A Lesson for Practitioner and Scholar Alike

he promulgation of the new Article 2A on leasing represents the first major amendment to the scope of the Uniform Commercial Code ("UCC" or "Code") since the publication of the first official text in 1952. All prior amendments to the Code, in 1958, 1962, 1966, 1972, and 1978, have been changes to existing articles of the Code leaving intact the basic scope and coverage of the Code. With the promulgation of Article 2A, however, a relatively new and important type of commercial transaction, the personal property leasing transaction, which has never before been subject to any comprehensive statutory treatment, uniform or otherwise, is being brought within the scope of Code.
Buyback Program of Unused Prescription Opioids in US Rural Communities, 2017-2018.

Objective. To implement an opioid buyback program after ambulatory surgery.Methods. We performed a prospective cohort study of 578 opioid-naive patients prescribed opioids after ambulatory surgery at a rural US Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital from 2017 to 2018. We reimbursed $5 per unused opioid pill ($50 limit) returned to our VA for proper disposal. We tracked the number of participants, number of unused opioid pills returned, surgeon prescribing, and refill requests.Results. Out of 578 eligible patients, 171 (29.6%) returned 2136.5 unused opioid pills. Information shared with surgeons after 6 months led to a 27% decrease in opioid prescribing without an increase in refills.Conclusions. With this opioid buyback program, rural patients had a safe and convenient place to dispose of unused opioids. Surgeons used information about returns to adjust opioid prescribing after common ambulatory surgeries without an increase in refill requests.Public Health Implications. Although providers prescribe within state opioid guidelines, there will be variations in patient use after ambulatory surgery. An opioid buyback program helped our patients and surgeons decrease unused prescription opioids available for diversion in our rural communities.
PERC silicon PV infrared to ultraviolet optical model

Abstract Optical modeling of aluminum back surface field (Al-BSF) and passivated emitter and rear contact (PERC) silicon wafer solar cells are extended into the infrared wavelength range (300–2500 nm). The model incorporates ray tracing to account for pyramidal texture of the front silicon surface, free carrier absorption in the front emitter; bulk silicon wafer, BSF; and Lambertian scattering at the silicon back contact. Total reflectance of pyramidal textured cells with different contact geometries with and without encapsulation are simulated. Simulated reflectance and short circuit current density match well with experimental values. These physics-based optical models serve as input for evaluating optical and thermal management strategies for silicon wafer solar cells.
A Two-team Linear Quadratic Differential Game of Defending a Target

In this paper we consider the operational scenario where two missiles (attackers) are launched against a stationary target. Two interceptor missiles are fired in order to intercept the attackers. A non-homogeneous scenario is considered where the two attackers represent different levels of threat to the target and it it desired to be able to redirect an interceptor accordingly. The problem is posed as a Linear Quadratic Differential Game (LQDG) with several representative terminal weights and where the players also consider their energy expenditure. The closed-form solution to this zero-sum differential game which can be implemented in a state feedback form is provided in this paper. This type of solution is highly desirable in differential games since only by implementing closed-loop state feedback strategies the players are able to exploit non-optimal plays by the opponent and shift the Value of the game in their favor.
Essential constructs in the preparation of inclusive bilingual education teachers: Mediation, agency, and collectivity

This conceptual article is guided by the question, how can we build the knowledge base in teacher education to prepare teachers for such education classrooms? I argue that three constructs are esse...
AML-314: Post-Transplant Cyclophosphamide Reduces the Incidence of Acute Graft Versus Host Disease in AML/MDS Patients Who Receive Checkpoint Inhibitors After Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplant

Context There are concerns that the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) after allogeneic stem cell transplant (allo-SCT) may increase the incidence of acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD). Objective We report our experience with ICIs used after allo-SCT in AML/MDS patients with a focus on the impact of post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy). Methods We retrospectively analyzed 16 AML and 5 MDS patients who received nivolumab (n=16) or ipilimumab (n=5) for disease relapse after allo-SCT at our institution. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Results Median age 54 years; 12 patients (57%) received PTCy. Transplantation characteristics were comparable between the two groups (PTCy vs no-PTCy), except for lower hematopoietic stem cell comorbidity index noted in the PTCy group (91% vs. 37.5%, P=.04). The PTCy group had shorter median time from allo-SCT to ICI initiation (5 vs. 26 months, P=.04). Over a median follow-up of 5.3 months, the frequency of grade 2–4 aGVHD was 19% in the entire cohort and was lower in PTCy group (16% vs 22%, P=0.7). All aGVHD cases were noted following nivolumab initiation. In patients who developed aGVHD, the median time from allo-SCT to ICI initiation was 4 months in PTCy group vs 9 months in the non-PTCy group (P=.17). Median time from ICI initiation to aGVHD was 24 days (range, 12–31) in the entire cohort and 22 days in PTCy group vs 16 days in non-PTCy (P=.31). After controlling for comorbidities and time from transplant to ICI initiation, we found that PTCy was significantly associated with a 90% reduced risk of aGVHD (HR= 0.1; 95% CI: 0.02–0.6; P=.01). No chronic GVHD or grade ≥2 immune-related adverse events were reported. The PTCy group had a significantly longer median PFS (22.4 vs. 5.2 months, P=.02) and a trend toward longer median OS (22.4 vs. 5.2 months, P=.08). Fourteen patients (67%) died, and no deaths were attributed to aGVHD. Conclusions The use of ICI for AML/MDS relapse after allo-SCT may be a safe and feasible option. PTCy appears to decrease the incidence of aGVHD in this cohort of patients.
Sleep Problems in Preschoolers With Autism Spectrum Disorder Are Associated With Sensory Sensitivities and Thalamocortical Overconnectivity.

Abstract Background Projections between the thalamus and sensory cortices are established early in development and play an important role in regulating sleep as well as in relaying sensory information to the cortex. Atypical thalamocortical functional connectivity frequently observed in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) might therefore be linked to sensory and sleep problems common in ASD. Methods Here, we investigated the relationship between auditory-thalamic functional connectivity measured during natural sleep functional magnetic resonance imaging, sleep problems, and sound sensitivities in 70 toddlers and preschoolers (1.5–5 years old) with ASD compared with a matched group of 46 typically developing children. Results In children with ASD, sleep problems and sensory sensitivities were positively correlated, and increased sleep latency was associated with overconnectivity between the thalamus and auditory cortex in a subsample with high-quality magnetic resonance imaging data (n = 29). In addition, auditory cortex blood oxygen level–dependent signal amplitude was elevated in children with ASD, potentially reflecting reduced sensory gating or a lack of auditory habituation during natural sleep. Conclusions These findings indicate that atypical thalamocortical functional connectivity can be detected early in development and may play a crucial role in sleep problems and sensory sensitivities in ASD.
Enhancing the Third-Order Nonlinear Optical Properties of Porphyrins and Molecular Wires

ENHANCING THE THIRD-ORDER NONLINEAR OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF PORPHYRINS AND MOLECULAR WIRES By Jonathan Leslie Humphrey, Ph.D. A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Virginia Commonwealth University. Virginia Commonwealth University, 2006 Major Director: Dr. Darius Kuciauskas Assistant Professor of Chemistry The third-order nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of indium tin oxide (ITO) thin films, ~ e " , ~ n " , and Co2' 5,10,15,20-tetrakis-(4-hydroxytetraphenyl)porphyrin (TPP) films, and a series of ethynyl-linked azobenzene oligomers were investigated using degenerate four wave mixing (DFWM) with 100 fs laser pulses. To measure the NLO of IT0 thin films, A DFWM method for measuring thin films on thick substrates was refined for the characterization of films less than 100 nm thick and applied to IT0 films -25 nm thick. It was found that the third-order nonlinear susceptibility of ITO, X(~) ITO, is purely electronic xii . . . X l l l at 900 1300 nm (1 1000 7700 cm-') and has a value of (2.16 * 0.18) x 10-l8 m2 v ~ . The X ( 3 ) I ~ 0 value reaches (3.36 % 0.28) x 10-l8 m2 v-? at 1500 nm (6700 cm-I) due to twophoton absorption by free carriers (electrons). Ultrafast electron relaxation was also observed. The -100 fs lifetime of this process could reflect electron scattering in the conduction band. This DFWM method was also used to investigate the two-photon properties of 500 nm thick electropolymerized films of ~e) ' , ~ n ~ ' , and coZt TPP in the near-IR spectral region. Metalloporphyrins with strong charge transfer (CT) transitions in the linear absorption spectra also show enhanced two-photon absorption. (Metalloporphyrin two-photon absorption cross section, 6, increases >10 times over that for the metal free porphyrin.) This effect was attributed to a two-photon induced charge transfer between the metal ion's d orbitals and the n-system of the porphyrin. Correlation of oneand two-photon absorption properties of transition metal porphyrins suggests a new and simple approach to improve organic materials for photonic applications. Finally, a series of oligomers consisting of ethynyl-linked azobenzene units was prepared using Pd- catalyzed cross coupling. The linear and nonlinear optical properties of the oligomers were investigated. The molecular second hyperpolarizability, 3: followed the power law y = n2.1 2+0.05 (n is number of repeat units) for unusually large molecular lengths. The exceptional exciton delocalization length exceeds 360 conjugated bonds (>49 nm) and is attributed to the rigidity of the conjugated backbone.
Function Follows Form: Biologically Guided Functional Decomposition of Memory Systems

The field of design has offered the maxim that “form follows function,” suggesting that the physical properties of an artifact should reflect our conception of its intended use. This advice can lead us astray, however, when looking to the brain for inspiration when developing intelligent systems. Too often, our preconceived notions concerning functional decomposition cause us to force strongly delineated functional roles on specific neural subsystems. To fully leverage the lessons of natural cognitive systems, we must remain open to functional architectures that might seem unnatural to us but are revealed in the form, or structure, of the brain. To illustrate this point, this report briefly reviews several nontraditional functional organizations of neural systems that have been proposed for working memory.
Deploying the Squid Proxy Server on Linux

Ian gives an example of the installation, configuration and maintenance of this multi-tentacled invertebrate proxy server.