cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Weakly nonlinear theory of secondary rippling instability in surfaces of stressed solids

Numerical simulations of the surface morphological evolution of uniaxially stressed elastic crystalline solids have demonstrated that in addition to Asaro-Tiller/Grinfeld (surface cracking) instabilities, long-wavelength perturbations from the planar surface morphology can trigger a tip-splitting instability that causes formation of a pattern of secondary ripples, which cannot be explained by linear stability theory. In this study, we develop a weakly nonlinear stability theory, which can explain the occurrence of such secondary rippling instabilities and predict the number of secondary ripples that form on the surface as a function of perturbation wavelength. The theory shows that this type of surface pattern formation arises entirely due to the competition between surface energy and elastic strain energy, regardless of surface diffusional anisotropy or the action of externally applied fields. The origin of secondary rippling is explained through nonlinear terms included in the analysis which generate su...
Permanent Genetic Access to Transiently Active Neurons via TRAP: Targeted Recombination in Active Populations

Targeting genetically encoded tools for neural circuit dissection to relevant cellular populations is a major challenge in neurobiology. We developed an approach, targeted recombination in active populations (TRAP), to obtain genetic access to neurons that were activated by defined stimuli. This method utilizes mice in which the tamoxifen-dependent recombinase CreER(T2) is expressed in an activity-dependent manner from the loci of the immediate early genes Arc and Fos. Active cells that express CreER(T2) can only undergo recombination when tamoxifen is present, allowing genetic access to neurons that are active during a time window of less than 12 hr. We show that TRAP can provide selective access to neurons activated by specific somatosensory, visual, and auditory stimuli and by experience in a novel environment. When combined with tools for labeling, tracing, recording, and manipulating neurons, TRAP offers a powerful approach for understanding how the brain processes information and generates behavior.
PI3K and Bcl-2 Inhibition Primes Glioblastoma Cells to Apoptosis through Downregulation of Mcl-1 and Phospho-BAD

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a highly malignant human brain neoplasm with limited therapeutic options. GBMs display a deregulated apoptotic pathway with high levels of the antiapoptotic Bcl-2 family of proteins and overt activity of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) signaling pathway. Therefore, combined interference of the PI3K pathway and the Bcl-2 family of proteins is a reasonable therapeutic strategy. ABT-263 (Navitoclax), an orally available small-molecule Bcl-2 inhibitor, and GDC-0941, a PI3K inhibitor, were used to treat established glioblastoma and glioblastoma neurosphere cells, alone or in combination. Although GDC-0941 alone had a modest effect on cell viability, treatment with ABT-263 displayed a marked reduction of cell viability and induction of apoptotic cell death. Moreover, combinatorial therapy using ABT-263 and GDC-0941 showed an enhanced effect, with a further decrease in cellular viability. Furthermore, combination treatment abrogated the ability of stem cell–like glioma cells to form neurospheres. ABT-263 and GDC-0941, in combination, resulted in a consistent and significant increase of Annexin V positive cells and loss of mitochondrial membrane potential compared with either monotherapy. The combination treatment led to enhanced cleavage of both initiator and effector caspases. Mechanistically, GDC-0941 depleted pAKT (Serine 473) levels and suppressed Mcl-1 protein levels, lowering the threshold for the cytotoxic actions of ABT-263. GDC-0941 decreased Mcl-1 in a posttranslational manner and significantly decreased the half-life of Mcl-1 protein. Ectopic expression of human Mcl-1 mitigated apoptotic cell death induced by the drug combination. Furthermore, GDC-0941 modulated the phosphorylation status of BAD, thereby further enhancing ABT-263–mediated cell death. Implications: Combination therapy with ABT-263 and GDC-0941 has novel therapeutic potential by specifically targeting aberrantly active, deregulated pathways in GBM, overcoming endogenous resistance to apoptosis. Mol Cancer Res; 12(7); 987–1001. ©2014 AACR.
A diels-alder modulated approach to control and sustain the release of dexamethasone and induce osteogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells

We report a new approach to controlled drug release based upon exploiting the dynamic equilibrium that exists between Diels-Alder reactants and products, demonstrating the release of a furan containing dexamethasone peptide (dex-KGPQG-furan) from a maleimide containing hydrogel. Using a reaction-diffusion model, the release kinetics were tuned to achieve sustained concentrations conducive to osteogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs). Efficacy was first demonstrated in a 2D culture model, in which dexamethasone release induced significant increases in alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and mineral deposition in hMSCs compared to a dexamethasone-free treatment. The results were similar to that observed with a soluble dexamethasone treatment. More dramatic differences were observed in 3D culture, where co-encapsulation of a dexamethasone releasing hydrogel depot within an hMSC-laden extracellular matrix mimetic poly(ethylene glycol) hydrogel resulted in a local and robust osteogenic differentiation. ALP activity reached levels that were up to six times higher than the dexamethasone free treatment. Interestingly, at 5 and 10 day time points, the ALP activity exceeded the dexamethasone positive control, suggesting a potential benefit of sustained release in 3D culture. After 21 days, substantial mineralization comparable to the positive control was also observed in the hydrogels. Collectively, these results demonstrate Diels-Alder modulated release as an effective and versatile new platform for controlled drug delivery that may prove especially beneficial for sustaining the release of low molecular weight molecules in hydrogel systems.
Phase Equilibria in High Energy Density PVDF-Based Polymers

The phase diagrams of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and its copolymers with chlorotrifluoroethylene (CTFE) are investigated by first-principles calculations. Both PVDF and dilute P(VDF-CTFE) prefer nonpolar structures at zero field, but transform to a polar phase below the breakdown field. The critical field decreases with increasing CTFE content, facilitating the transformation. In disordered P(VDF-CTFE), a distribution of concentrations leads to a range of polar transitions, resulting in ultrahigh energy density. These results explain well experimental observations of very high-energy density in P(VDF-CTFE).
Enhanced catabolism to acetaldehyde in rostral ventrolateral medullary neurons accounts for the pressor effect of ethanol in spontaneously hypertensive rats

We have previously shown that ethanol microinjection into the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) elicits sympathoexcitation and hypertension in conscious spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) bu...
The associations between occupational health and safety management system programming level and prior injury and illness rates in the U.S. dairy industry

Abstract U.S. dairy workers suffer occupational injuries and illnesses at rates higher than the national average. Occupational health and safety management systems (OHSMS) have been proposed as a way to reduce injuries and illnesses for businesses of all types and sizes. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) On-Site Consultation Service provides assistance establishing an OHSMS to U.S. businesses. As part of this service, the consultants determine the level of OHSMS programming using the Safety and Health Program Assessment Worksheet (Revised OSHA Form 33). A total of 167 dairy industry records were obtained from OSHA. Forty-five of those records had both injury rate and OHSMS data. Using these records, a Spearman Rank-Order correlation was used to determine the strength and significance of the associations between prior injury rates and OSHA measured OHSMS programming level for dairy operations. Additional analyses were conducted to examine potential relationships between workforce size, injury rates, and OHSMS programming levels. There was a negative correlation between OHSMS programming level and injury rates, both for the overall OHSMS and by OHSMS component. Management Leadership was the OHSMS component most strongly associated with lower injury and illness rates. OHSMS interventions, as part of a comprehensive risk management approach for the U.S. dairy industry, may be warranted to help reduce the unacceptable number of injury and illnesses in the U.S. dairy industry. Further research is needed to determine if similar relationships between OHSMS programming and injury rates occur in other industries.
Mechanisms of controlled growth of metallic nanocrystals

Spherical and cubic Pt nanoparticles and spherical, cubic and disk-shaped Co nanocrystals are produced by reduction of Pt2+-ion and decomposition of organometallic reagents in a hot solvent in presence of the surfactant molecules respectively. This displays the ability to control crystal growth and produce a range of nanoparticle shapes in the case of two different metallic elements.
Discussion: Farm Labor and the Structural Analysis of Agriculture

Grove's paper may be separated into four parts. (1) His main contention is that agricultural policy has been deficient in fulfilling the needs of American farmers because we have lacked a sound analysis of the changing structure of United States agriculture, and he attributes this lack of a useful structural policy to inadequacies of the present census classification of farms. (2) He points out some weaknesses in the present census classification, and he argues that these weaknesses have been magnified through misinterpretation and misuse. (3) He discusses three alternative approaches for classification of farms. The total input approach for farm classification was accepted as the ideal method; but it was discarded as not being practical in a full census. The use of nonland capital was considered as the second choice; however, it was discarded for the same reason. Labor input was accepted as a reasonable compromise. He concludes that either labor used or labor required satisfactorily meets all conditions of an adequate classification system. (4) In the final section of the paper he presents a proposed classification system for farms based on standard man-days. He points out the advantages of the approach for structural analysis. By "structural analysis" Grove means "the study of how agriculture is organized for production, with particular reference to sizes and types of farms. It is a form of macroanalysis, concerned with the structure of agriculture as an industry, not that of individual farms as such." Structural analysis of agriculture means more than just the organization of agriculture for production "with particular reference to sizes and types of farms." It involves an understanding of the "structural efficiency" of the agricultural industry, or the extent to which its constituent farm firms keep up with its own best farms. Structural analysis also involves the extent to which farm firms are the optimum size and the manner in which high-cost farm firms are squeezed out or reformed and whether or not production is optimally allocated between firms in the short run. Thus, structural analysis must become concerned with the existence of scale economies, and the extent to which farms are of optimum size may legitimately be considered part of structural efficiency. Analysis of structural change in agriculture must also become concerned with technical advance from one period to another, with input factor substitutions and relative factor prices and changes in their relations over the course of time, and
Nature of Compression Failure in Wood

Inelasticity of wood in compression is started by buckling of the external fibers of the material. These fibers are laterally supported by the adjacent internal fibers and may be considered miniature Euler columns of unknown length. The fiber-column failure stress is derived using energy methods. This critical stress is found t be a function of the material compression modulus of elasticity, the transverse material tension strength, and the ratio of fiber diameter to lateral fiber deflection at buckling. Five wood species were tested in direct compression. Transverse tension coupon tests were performed on the same material. Good agreement was found to exist between theory and test results.
Evaluating Beneficial Use Impairments in wetlands of the Massena Area of Concern using biotic, water quality, and landscape indicators.

Abstract Wetlands along the St. Lawrence River were severely impacted by habitat alteration and contamination as a consequence of construction of the St. Lawrence Seaway and the Moses–Saunders power dam, and associated industrial development. Due to environmental degradation, the St. Lawrence River at Massena, New York has been designated as an Area of Concern (AOC) in the Laurentian Great Lakes. Within this AOC, there is an information gap on the current status of two Beneficial Use Impairments (BUIs): (1) loss of fish and wildlife habitat and (2) degradation of fish and wildlife populations. Both BUIs have the same evaluation endpoint: no difference between the AOC and comparable reference areas outside of the AOC. We evaluated coastal and palustrine wetlands by surveying biological, water quality, and landscape indicators within a sample of 17 wetlands in the AOC and 10 reference wetlands outside the AOC to establish georeferenced indices of biotic integrity and water quality. We did not detect a difference between the AOC and reference wetlands in any of the 14 biotic and 16 water quality metrics, but did find a difference in landscape setting. AOC wetlands were smaller and fewer, especially for woody wetlands. These results suggest that wildlife habitat quality and communities are not impaired in AOC wetlands yet it would be beneficial for additional key fish and wildlife assemblages and habitat types to be surveyed, multi-year monitoring of key biotic indicators implemented, and more specific redesignation criteria for wetland habitat and matrix landscape composition defined and met.
Surface-Enhanced Infrared Absorption on Elongated Nickel Nanostructures

There is a need for increasing the number of transition metals that can be used as substrates for surface-enhanced infrared absorption (SEIRA). We present here microscopy and infrared experiments that show oblique-angle deposition of Ni onto CaF2 or BaF2, which result in elongated Ni nanostructures (ENiNSs) that are partially aggregated and exhibit surface plasmon resonances in the mid-infrared. SEIRA enhancement factors in the range of 10–20-fold were observed for a monolayer of the p-nitrobenzoate ion adsorbed onto the ENiNS. Extending SEIRA to a metal such as Ni would yield different ways of studying Ni thin film and catalysis chemistry. This work also suggests that oblique-angle deposition might be used to create new SEIRA substrates from other metals.
Hippocampal theta, gamma, and theta-gamma coupling: effects of aging, environmental change, and cholinergic activation.

Hippocampal theta and gamma oscillations coordinate the timing of multiple inputs to hippocampal neurons and have been linked to information processing and the dynamics of encoding and retrieval. O...
Do the bishops have it right on health care reform

The National Conference of Catholic Bishops has argued for significant government involvement in health care in order to assure respect for what they regard as the right to health care. Critics charge that the bishops are wrong because health care is not a right. In this article, it is argued that these critics are correct in their claim that health care is not a right. However, it is also argued that the premise that health care is not a right does not imply that the market is the most equitable and just system for providing health care. Natural law arguments in the tradition of Roman Catholic social teaching lead to the conclusion that a just and prosperous society has a moral obligation to provide health care even if there is no such right. Further, there are strong moral grounds for concluding that the bishops are correct in their claim that health care ought not to be considered a market commodity. It is argued that if health care ought not to be considered a commodity, then national health insurance is the best available alternative for fulfilling the social obligation to distribute health care resources justly and fairly at this time in American history. The bishops' case for government involvement can be made on the strength of the Catholic tradition in theological argumentation, independent of the claim that health care is a right.
Ultra-deep sequencing detects ovarian cancer cells in peritoneal fluid and reveals somatic TP53 mutations in noncancerous tissues

Current sequencing methods are error-prone, which precludes the identification of low frequency mutations for early cancer detection. Duplex sequencing is a sequencing technology that decreases errors by scoring mutations present only in both strands of DNA. Our aim was to determine whether duplex sequencing could detect extremely rare cancer cells present in peritoneal fluid from women with high-grade serous ovarian carcinomas (HGSOCs). These aggressive cancers are typically diagnosed at a late stage and are characterized by TP53 mutations and peritoneal dissemination. We used duplex sequencing to analyze TP53 mutations in 17 peritoneal fluid samples from women with HGSOC and 20 from women without cancer. The tumor TP53 mutation was detected in 94% (16/17) of peritoneal fluid samples from women with HGSOC (frequency as low as 1 mutant per 24,736 normal genomes). Additionally, we detected extremely low frequency TP53 mutations (median mutant fraction 1/13,139) in peritoneal fluid from nearly all patients with and without cancer (35/37). These mutations were mostly deleterious, clustered in hotspots, increased with age, and were more abundant in women with cancer than in controls. The total burden of TP53 mutations in peritoneal fluid distinguished cancers from controls with 82% sensitivity (14/17) and 90% specificity (18/20). Age-associated, low frequency TP53 mutations were also found in 100% of peripheral blood samples from 15 women with and without ovarian cancer (none with hematologic disorder). Our results demonstrate the ability of duplex sequencing to detect rare cancer cells and provide evidence of widespread, low frequency, age-associated somatic TP53 mutation in noncancerous tissue.
INTER-ORGANELLE COMMUNICATION VIA SPECIALIZED MITOCHONDRIAL SYNAPSES

Reminiscent of bacterial quorum sensing, mammalian mitochondria participate in inter-organelle communication [1]. However, physical structures that enhance or enable interactions between mitochondria have not been defined. Using electron microscopy and tomography, we identified spatial coordination of inner mitochondrial membrane cristae at specialized electron-dense inter-mitochondrial junctions (IMJs) [2]. At these IMJs, the cristae of adjacent mitochondria become organized and form parallel arrays perpendicular to the IMJ, consistent with a role in electrochemical coupling. IMJs are conserved across species from mollusks, arthropods to mammals, and exist across several mammalian tissues, suggesting their evolutionary significance. Genetic ablation of known inter-mitochondrial tethering proteins mitofusin (Mfn)1, Mfn2, and Mfn1/2 does not interfere with IMJs. But the stable rapprochement of energized organelles via inducible synthetic mito-mito linker technology in living cells rapidly (30 min) induced IMJs, altering the number of associated cristae. In mice, IMJ abundance correlated with cellular mitochondrial density across tissues, and was modulated by cellular energy demand during exercise and inactivity in skeletal muscle, demonstrating IMJ plasticity. We speculate that IMJs provide the structural basis for fusion-independent mitochondrial communication within the cell cytoplasm, analogous to synaptic transmission between neurons [3].
Preventing Curriculum Drift: Sustaining Change and Building upon Innovation

Although the curricula of medical schools in the US have generally kept pace with advances in biomedical knowledge and technology, there have been repeated calls from the public to address psychosocial, interpersonal, and professional issues in the training of physicians. Accreditors have called for changes in pedagogy to incorporate active learning and better integrate basic and clinical sciences. Medical educators have responded with curricular reforms, but many innovations are short-lived. In a process we refer to as curricular drift, the curriculum often insidiously returns to its pre-innovative state. While drift implies forces randomly affecting direction, we contend that such drift is inevitable and predictable. Understanding the forces promoting curricular drift may lead to the development of strategies to prevent it. The authors review the case of the University of Kentucky College of Medicine, which has undergone recurring curricular change, and discuss the causes and strategies for overcoming curricular drift.
Effective synaptic current and motoneuron firing rate modulation.

1. We used a modified voltage-clamp technique to measure the steady-state effective synaptic currents (I(N)) produced by activating four different input systems to cat hindlimb motoneurons: Ia affe...
A Note on Set Cover Inapproximability Independent of Universe Size

In the set cover problem we are given a collection of m sets whose union covers [n] = {1, . . . , n} and must find a minimum-sized subcollection whose union still covers [n]. We investigate the approximability of set cover by an approximation ratio that depends only on m and observe that, for any constant c < 1/2, set cover cannot be approximated to within O(2 1−1/(log log m)c m) unless SAT can be decided in slightly subexponential time. The main ingredients in the observation are the Ω(log n) hardness of approximation proof of Lund and Yannakakis and a hardness result for label cover due to Dinur and Safra.
Developmental benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) exposure impacts larval behavior and impairs adult learning in zebrafish.

Abstract Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are produced from incomplete combustion of organic materials or fossil fuels, and are present in crude oil and coal; therefore, they are ubiquitous environmental contaminants present in urban air, dust, soil, and water. It is widely recognized that PAHs pose risks to human health, especially for the developing fetus and infant where PAH exposures have been linked to in-utero mortality, cardiovascular effects, and lower intelligence. Using the zebrafish model, we evaluated the developmental toxicity of benzo[ a ]pyrene (B[ a ]P). Zebrafish embryos were exposed from 6 to 120 h post fertilization (hpf) to 0.4 and 4 μM B[ a ]P. The Viewpoint Zebrabox systems were used to evaluate larval photomotor response (LPR) activity and we identified that exposure to 4 μM B[ a ]P resulted in a hyperactive LPR phenotype. To evaluate the role of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) in this larval phenotype, we exposed ahr 2 hu2334 null larvae to 4 μM B[ a ]P. Though ahr 2 hu2334 larvae did not display hyperactive swimming, these larvae had a decrease in LPR activity, suggesting that AHR2 plays a role in B[ a ]P induced larval hyperactivity. To determine if developmental B[ a ]P exposures would produce adult behavioral deficits, a subset of exposed animals was raised to adulthood and tested in a conditioned stimulus test using shuttleboxes. Developmentally exposed B[ a ]P zebrafish exhibited decreased learning and memory. Together this data demonstrates that developmental B[ a ]P exposure adversely impacts larval behavior, and learning in adult zebrafish.
Multi-view gesture annotations in image-based 3D reconstructed scenes

We present a novel 2D gesture annotation method for use in image-based 3D reconstructed scenes with applications in collaborative virtual and augmented reality. Image-based reconstructions allow users to virtually explore a remote environment using image-based rendering techniques. To collaborate with other users, either synchronously or asynchronously, simple 2D gesture annotations can be used to convey spatial information to another user. Unfortunately, prior methods are either unable to disambiguate such 2D annotations in 3D from novel viewpoints or require relatively dense reconstructions of the environment. In this paper, we propose a simple multi-view annotation method that is useful in a variety of scenarios and applicable to both very sparse and dense 3D reconstructions. Specifically, we employ interactive disambiguation of the 2D gestures via a second annotation drawn from another viewpoint, triangulating two drawings to achieve a 3D result. Our method automatically chooses an appropriate second viewpoint and uses image-based rendering transitions to keep the user oriented while moving to the second viewpoint. User experiments in an asynchronous collaboration scenario demonstrate the usability of the method and its superiority over a baseline method. In addition, we showcase our method running on a variety of image-based reconstruction datasets and highlight its use in a synchronous local-remote user collaboration system.
Novel use of the medtronic micro vascular plug for PDA closure in preterm infants

Objectives To describe a single institution experience with a new endovascular occlusion device used for transcatheter patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) closure in preterm infants. Background The PDA is a defect largely treated via cardiac catheterization except for the smallest patients. Methods Medical records and catheterization reports of all premature neonates who underwent PDA device closure with the Medtronic Micro Vascular Plug (MVP) (Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN) between September 2015 and June 2016 were reviewed. Procedural details, complications, and short term outcomes were recorded. Results Eight premature neonates born at a median gestational age of 28 weeks (23 to 35 weeks) underwent PDA closure with a Medtronic MVP. All devices were deployed via a 4F angled Glide catheter in prograde fashion without arterial access. Median age and weight was 52 days (15–112 days) and 2,550 g (1,800–3,500 g), respectively. Fluoroscopy and echocardiography were utilized for the procedure. Complete closure was achieved in all patients with no procedural complications, pulmonary artery or aortic obstruction or death. One device embolized 9 days after deployment and was successfully retrieved. Conclusions This study describes transcatheter PDA closure with the Medtronic MVP. The major advantage is the ability to deliver the device via a standard catheter in prograde fashion, and avoid the hemodynamic instability produced by rigid delivery sheaths. It also further validates the ability to close the PDA without arterial access, providing improved access to this procedure to smaller and more vulnerable children. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A scalable silicon photonic switch platform with integrated gain using flip-chip SOA arrays (Conference Presentation)

Optical switch networks based on silicon photonics can provide high bandwidth, low latency, low power, and low cost interconnect fabrics for datacenter, cloud, and high-performance computing by eliminating the pin-constrained electronic switches and the multiple electrical-optical conversions necessary in traditional networks. Silicon photonics is also compatible with wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) allowing simultaneous routing of large bandwidth data streams. Adoption of photonic switches requires scaling to large port counts compared to current 4x4 and 8x8 demonstrations. For example, a 64-port switch implemented using thirty-two 4x4 and four 16x16 switches will be limited by losses in numerous subcomponents, including optical couplers, waveguide propagation losses, waveguide crossings, and phase shifters. To enable viable optical-link-loss budgets requires incorporation of optical gain in addition to improved efficiency in all subcomponents. We have developed a silicon photonic switch platform with integrated gain based on a carrier with active photonics. Optical switches are monolithically integrated into photonic carrier while semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs) and CMOS drive ICs are flip-chip attached. We demonstrated non-blocking 4x4 Si photonic switches with < 3-dB on-chip loss and < -20 dB crosstalk with about 4ns switching time. Photonic carriers and 4-channel SOA arrays were co-designed with custom precision packaging features enabling flip-chip bonding with high accuracy. The photonic carrier incorporates low-loss SiN waveguides with inverse taper structures for efficient coupling to/from the SOA arrays and off-carrier coupling. Photonic carriers with integrated 4-channel SOA arrays were fabricated achieving over 10 dB gain and demonstrating error-free 4x25-Gb/s WDM links for all 4 channels.
A systematic review of research on attitudes towards and willingness to engage in consensual non-monogamy among emerging adults: methodological issues considered

ABSTRACTResearch on consensual non-monogamy (CNM) has received increasing attention over the last decade. Scholars have noted that research on CNM behaviour has encountered important methodological challenges. Attitudes towards CNM and willingness to engage in CNM are two components that have received comparatively less attention. Whereas others have reviewed the methodological limitations of research on CNM behaviour, a critical examination of the methodological trends in research on CNM attitudes and willingness to engage in CNM has yet to be conducted. We systematically reviewed and critique the methodology used in CNM research between 1974 and 2017. Specifically, we examined research on attitudes towards and willingness to engage in CNM during the developmental period of emerging adulthood. Several methodological trends were found across 23 empirical articles, including sample characteristics, recruitment and sampling strategy, measurement, and overall methodology and focus. Despite general commentary...
An efficient new method for the synthesis of 3‐[18F]fluoro‐4‐aminopyridine via Yamada‐Curtius rearrangement

4-Aminopyridine is a clinically approved drug to improve motor symptoms in multiple sclerosis. A fluorine-18-labeled derivative of this drug, 3-[18 F]fluoro-4-aminopyridine, is currently under investigation for positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of demyelination. Herein, the Yamada-Curtius reaction has been successfully applied for the preparation of this PET radioligand with a better radiochemical yield and improved specific activity. The overall radiochemical yield was 5 to 15% (n = 12, uncorrected) with a specific activity of 37 to 148 GBq/μmol (end of synthesis) in a 90 minute synthesis time. It is expected that this 1 pot Yamada-Curtius reaction can be used to prepare similar fluorine-18-labeled amino substituted heterocycles.
A Predictive Model for Readmissions Among Medicare Patients in a California Hospital.

Abstract Predictive models for hospital readmission rates are in high demand because of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Hospital Readmission Reduction Program (HRRP). The LACE index is one of the most popular predictive tools among hospitals in the United States. The LACE index is a simple tool with 4 parameters: Length of stay, Acuity of admission, Comorbidity, and Emergency visits in the previous 6 months. The authors applied logistic regression to develop a predictive model for a medium-sized not-for-profit community hospital in California using patient-level data with more specific patient information (including 13 explanatory variables). Specifically, the logistic regression is applied to 2 populations: a general population including all patients and the specific group of patients targeted by the CMS penalty (characterized as ages 65 or older with select conditions). The 2 resulting logistic regression models have a higher sensitivity rate compared to the sensitivity of the LACE in...
My Life, My Heart, and My(osin) Binding Protein-C

Although I currently lead a team of cardiovascular investigators at the University of Cincinnati, my beginnings were humble as I came from a farming family in a small village in the southernmost part of India. The path I traveled was arduous, and it involved significant struggles, but I’ve finally realized many of my career goals. My story recapitulates the essence of some of the common career hurdles that many early-career cardiovascular scientists must overcome these days, and in this article, these career hurdles are discussed, as well as some strategies to overcome them. This article presents common hurdles encountered by developing and early-career cardiovascular scientists and outlines some effective strategies to overcome these challenges. Students, whether at the undergraduate level or beyond, often do not establish clearly defined career goals, and even established long-term plans can encounter daunting, unforeseen stumbling blocks. It is convenient to blame our failure to succeed on a lack of resources, including family support or time constraints. Sometimes, however, our lack of success may simply depend on not being at the right place at the right time. Yet, fundamentally, it is the lack of resourcefulness, not resources, that poses the greatest barrier to achieving our goals. Resourcefulness is defined as the ability to find quick and clever ways to overcome difficulties. Resourcefulness involves optimizing the resources available to you by finding alternative ways to push forward. In the recesses of our minds, we all have an idea of our potential. In this sense, we are all obligated to create, make, or change our environment, academic, or otherwise so that we can achieve our potential. Therefore, we must all strive to find the environment that will best nourish our innate abilities. I grew up in a village named Pattiveeranpatti located in the state of Tamil Nadu in …
Development of a novel dry, sticky trap design incorporating visual cues for Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae).

Drosophila suzukii Matsumura (Diptera: Drosophilidae) is currently one of the most serious invasive pests for berry crops and cherries worldwide. The development of an effective monitoring trap that is reliable at detecting small populations to guide management decisions is greatly needed. To develop a novel dry trapping system, D. suzukii were trapped under field conditions in cherry orchards and raspberry high tunnels using various baited dry trap designs that were compared with the currently available deli-cup style traps that utilize a liquid bait or drowning solution. In a test in cherry orchards, red panel and combination yellow panel plus red sphere traps captured significantly more flies than yellow panel traps when all were baited with a Scentry lure. In a separate test in cherry, red sphere traps with the Scentry lure captured significantly more flies than the deli-cup traps with the Scentry lure or with the yeast sugar bait, and red panel traps with the Scentry lure captured significantly more flies than deli-cup traps with the Scentry lure. In raspberry high tunnels, red sphere traps with the Scentry lure captured significantly more flies than deli-cup traps with the Scentry lure. Red traps baited with the same lure as clear deli-cup traps consistently captured more D. suzukii, demonstrating that traps integrating a visual cue in combination with an olfactory cue are superior tools for monitoring D. suzukii. A dry trap requires less labor and maintenance than cup traps containing a liquid, improving the ease of use of D. suzukii monitoring traps.
PROPAGATION, STRUCTURE, AND LIMIT PHENOMENA OF LAMINAR FLAMES AT ELEVATED PRESSURES

Recognizing the importance of pressure on the intrinsically nonlinear behavior of chain mechanisms in fuel oxidation, and its role in the proper interpretation of the diffusive and convective transport in variable density flows, effects of elevated pressure on various combustion phenomena associated with laminar flames are discussed. Specific topics covered include the falloff behavior and explosion limits in chemical kinetics; the chain-affected complex and sometimes nonmonotonic response of the laminar burning flux, the overall reaction order and activation energy, the flammability and extinction limits, the cellular and pulsating flamefront instabilities; and the importance of density and hence pressure weighting in the interpretation of laminar burning fluxes, laminar flame thicknesses, and flow straining.
Variability of Coal Refuse and Its Significance in Geotechnical Engineering Design

ABSTRACT The variability encountered in coal refuse geotechnical properties such as water content, density, friction angle, and cohesion are documented in this paper in terms of the mean and coefficient of variation values. Point Estimate Method (PEM) was employed in the determination of the reliability and risk assessment of the geotechnical structure constructed by coal refuse. It is shown that the uncertainty around the material directly reflect upon the estimate of the factor of safety, and the probabilistic method can assist the geotechnical engineer in accounting for variability and uncertainty through quantification of the risk involved in design. Furthermore, a Monte-Carlo simulation technique for risk analysis with correlated random variables is also performed on one of the examples. Excellent agreement is achieved for the first two statistical moments between the two probabilistic methods.
Comparison of extracolonic findings and clinical outcomes in a screening and diagnostic CT colonography population

To compare the distribution of extracolonic findings and clinical outcomes between screening and diagnostic CT colonography (CTC) populations. 388 consecutive patients (369 men, 19 women; mean ± SD age 67.8 ± 10 years) who underwent first-time CTC (4/2011–4/2017) at a Veteran’s Affairs Medical Center were divided into screening (asymptomatic) or diagnostic (symptomatic) cohorts based on CTC indication. CTC reporting and data system E-scores for extracolonic findings were retrospectively assigned based on prospective CTC radiologic reports. Multinomial logistic regression was used to examine the association between E-scores and CTC indication. Electronic medical records of all patients with E3 or E4 scores were reviewed (median follow-up 2.8 years) to determine clinical outcomes. 68% (262/388) underwent screening and 32% (126/388) diagnostic CTC. 7.2% (28/388) had extracolonic findings considered potentially significant (E4), 4.4% (17/388) had indeterminate but likely unimportant findings (E3), and 88.4% (347/388) had normal or unimportant findings (E1 or E2). E-scores were not significantly different between screening and diagnostic CTC when adjusted for age, gender, and prior imaging (p = 0.44). 4.6% (12/262) of patients with E3/E4 findings in the screening cohort demonstrated clinically significant outcomes, compared with 4.0% (5/126) in the diagnostic cohort, including a total of three extracolonic malignancies (0.8%) and three abdominal aortic aneurysms (0.8%). 4.6% (18/388) underwent follow-up imaging studies to confirm a benign outcome after detection of a category E3/E4 finding. The distribution of extracolonic findings and clinical outcomes were not statistically significantly different between screening and diagnostic CTC populations.
Compact and extremally disconnected spaces via generalized continuous functions

In [12], the class of compact and extremally dinconnected spaces were studied using several investigative tools such as filters, graphs, functions, multifuctions and subsets of the space. These different approaches of investigation produced significant charecterizations and properties of this important class of spaces. In [3] we introduced three forms of generalized continuous functions by studying the class of u-continuous functions of Joseph, Kwack and Nayar [9] using the concepts of an α-set of Njastad [13]. The generalized continuous forms introduced there are: αu-continuous, semi-αu-contnuous and strongly u-continuous functions. In the present study we investigate the class of compact and extremally disconnected spaces using these generalized continuous functions.
The Normal Physiology of Pregnancy: Neurological Implications

Physiologic changes in pregnancy encompass a wide variety of organ system adaptations that support the developing fetus and prepare the mother’s body for childbirth. Some physiologic changes mimic pathologic changes, while others put mothers at risk for medical complications. In the following chapter we highlight pertinent changes in maternal physiology by organ system and how these changes contribute to common neurologic disease states.
A heuristic approach for nanodrops on a smooth solid surface

A heuristic approach is developed to obtain a simple equation for the contact angle of a nanodrop on a smooth planar solid surface. First, nanodrops of various fluids in contact with various solid surfaces are considered on the basis of nonlocal density functional theory (DFT). Along with the traditional (apparent) contact angle, θa, which the drop profile makes with the solid surface, another one, θd, formed by the smooth part of the drop profile and the horizontal plane separating that part from the oscillatory part of the profile was examined. For each of the contact angles, a separate simple equation resembling the Young equation for the macroscopic drops but containing, instead of surface tensions, the microscopic parameters of intermolecular interactions, temperature, and average density of the fluid was hypothesized and the parameters of this equation were determined using the results of DFT calculations. It was shown that predictions of these equations coincide with the results provided by DFT.
Strengthening Progress Monitoring Procedures for Individual Student Behavior Support.

Progress monitoring is an essential element of effectively implementing individualized behavior support. Behavioral progress monitoring allows student support teams to evaluate both the effectivene...
The Close Relationship Between Management Practices and Corporate Culture

A growing body of literature finds that a healthy corporate culture is associated with superior financial performance. A separate stream of research has found that a firm’s adoption of management “best practices” is correlated with higher efficiency and productivity. To date, the cultural and management practices literatures have proceeded in parallel, with few studies considering the relationship between an organization’s processes and its culture. This paper uses data from a carefully-designed survey of 370 organizations and nearly ten thousand managers to simultaneously measure corporate culture and management practices. Our key finding is that the quality of a company’s management practices and health of its corporate culture are highly correlated. This implies that studies which measure either culture or processes in isolation are likely to overstate their impact on performance. We also provide suggestive evidence that management practices may cause changes in corporate culture, or at least that this effect is stronger than the reverse.
Uncertainty in Radiocarbon Dating: A Numerical Approach

Conventional analytical solutions to the statistics of radiocarbon dating are hampered by distributional issues and assumptions of convenience. Fortunately, given rapid advances in computational machinery, numerical methods offer a simple and robust alternative. In this paper we use the radiocarbon age data presented by Finkelstein and Piasetzky (Finkelstein, 2010) to demonstrate a numerical method of generating sampling distributions of calibrated radiocarbon dates that is likely to provide greater precision and utility to archeologists.
Assessing the Relationship between District and State Policies and School Nutrition Promotion-Related Practices in the United States.

School environments are an optimal setting to promote healthy student diets, yet it is unclear what role state and district policies play in shaping school contexts. This study examined how state and district policies are associated with school-reported practices for promoting student participation in school lunch programs. School nutrition manager data were obtained from the School Nutrition and Meal Cost Study’s (SNMCS) sample of 1210 schools in 46 states and the District of Columbia (DC) during school year 2014–2015. Relevant state laws and district policies were compiled and coded. Multivariable logistic and Poisson regressions, controlling for school characteristics, examined the relationship between state/district laws/policies and school practices. Compared to schools in districts or states with no policies/laws, respectively, schools were more likely to provide nutritional information on school meals (AOR = 2.59, 95% CI = 1.33, 5.05) in districts with strong policies, and to promote school meals at school events (AOR = 1.93, CI = 1.07, 3.46) in states with strong laws. Schools in states with any laws related to strategies to increase participation in school meals were more likely to seek student involvement in menu planning (AOR = 2.02, CI = 1.24, 3.31) and vegetable offerings (AOR = 2.00, CI = 1.23, 3.24). The findings support the association of laws/policies with school practices.
Numerical Solutions of Advection-Dominated Problems

When the advection term dominates in the advection-dispersion equation, most traditional numerical methods will encounter difficulties. In Chapter 4, we have stated that when the FDM is used for solving advection-dominated problems, two kinds of errors, numerical dispersion and overshoot, will occur. As a result, oscillations will appear around concentration fronts and steep concentration fronts cannot be accurately calculated. In Chapter 5, we pointed out that the Galerkin FEM cannot avoid the above two kinds of errors, either. Consequently, improvement of the accuracy and stability of numerical solutions has become an important subject in current research.
Compressibility-Near-Zero Acoustic Radiation

A hallmark of near-zero-index materials is the uniform phase profile that the waves experience as they propagate with staticlike properties in these media. This feature is exploited in electromagnetics for several applications, including for the realization of compact highly directive antennas illuminated by a single source. Here, we discuss the promise of near-zero metamaterials for acoustic radiation, based on the cutoff of a higher-order mode in a waveguide with small holes. We show that the near-zero nature of this phenomenon ensures unusual robustness to disorder, which is analyzed using a statistical description of the radiation patterns for randomly generated location of the holes. The radiation pattern can be made more directive by simply increasing the overall radiating aperture, without having to worry about the specific location of individual holes and their relative distance. The proposed zero-compressibility material offers a promising alternative to traditional acoustic directive sources due to its design simplicity, inherent robustness, and compact profile.