cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Emerging investigators series: prioritization of suspect hits in a sensitive suspect screening workflow for comprehensive micropollutant characterization in environmental samples

The emergence of suspect screening has enabled the comprehensive characterization of micropollutants in water systems. In this work, we developed a sensitive suspect screening workflow and applied it to characterize the occurrence of micropollutants in eighteen water samples collected from an urban water system in New York State. We used high-resolution mass spectrometry to collect full-scan and data-dependent tandem mass spectra from the water samples and compiled a suspect database that contained 1113 chemical substances including pesticides, pharmaceuticals, personal care products, and industrial chemicals. The suspect screening workflow included peak picking, suspect database matching, isotopic pattern scoring, a replication filter, blank subtraction and artifact removal, and clustering of suspect hits. Each step in the workflow relied only on the quality of the analytical data, and was optimized and validated using a set of compounds that covered a broad range of physicochemical properties. After applying the optimized suspect screening workflow to the data acquired from the water samples, we developed a series of prioritization strategies that ranked the resulting suspect hits according to metrics that we hypothesized would favor true positive detections. We then acquired authentic standards for suspect hits based on their ranking on the priority lists to confirm or reject their occurrence. With this approach, we confirmed the presence of 112 micropollutants in at least one of the eighteen water samples. Comparing these results to the scope of conventional micropollutant monitoring methods, we approximate that our suspect screening approach more than doubled the number of micropollutants that may otherwise have been identified.
Marine Subsurface Microbial Community Shifts Across a Hydrothermal Gradient in Okinawa Trough Sediments.

Sediments within the Okinawa back-arc basin overlay a subsurface hydrothermal network, creating intense temperature gradients with sediment depth and potential limits for microbial diversity. We investigated taxonomic changes across 45 m of recovered core with a temperature gradient of 3°C/m from the dynamic Iheya North Hydrothermal System. The interval transitions sharply from low-temperature marine mud to hydrothermally altered clay at 10 meters below seafloor (mbsf). Here, we present taxonomic results from an analysis of the 16S rRNA gene that support a conceptual model in which common marine subsurface taxa persist into the subsurface, while high temperature adapted archaeal taxa show localized peaks in abundances in the hydrothermal clay horizons. Specifically, the bacterial phylum Chloroflexi accounts for a major proportion of the total microbial community within the upper 10 mbsf, whereas high temperature archaea (Terrestrial Hot Spring Crenarchaeotic Group and methanotrophic archaea) appear in varying local abundances in deeper, hydrothermal clay horizons with higher in situ temperatures (up to 55°C, 15 mbsf). In addition, geochemical evidence suggests that methanotrophy may be occurring in various horizons. There is also relict DNA (i.e., DNA preserved after cell death) that persists in horizons where the conditions suitable for microbial communities have ceased.
Patient navigation in the safety net: Connectedd (community outreach and navigation network to eliminate cancer treatment and diagnosis disparities)

B32 Background: Despite advances in screening and treatment, racial/ethnic minority and low-income women suffer worse outcomes for breast and cervical cancer in part due to delays in screening and treatment. Our previous pilot work suggested that patient navigation may address these concerns. Objective: To design, implement, and evaluate a patient navigator intervention in community health centers with the following aims: To reduce time to diagnosis after an abnormal mammogram or Pap smear; To reduce time to initiate treatment after a cancer diagnosis; To improve patient satisfaction with health services; Be cost-effective Methods: The intervention is based on the Care Management Model; aided by an Electronic Medical Record tracking system and theory based cultural competency training, patient navigators will identify cases, identify individual barriers to care, implement a care plan, and track through completion. We have block allocation of six community health centers in Boston neighborhoods. Each site has been assigned to Breast or Cervical Patient Navigation and will serve as a comparison site for the other disease. All women with an abnormal cancer screening at the respective site are eligible for navigation. Prior to the intervention, we collected baseline data at each site on timely resolution of screening abnormalities, defined as 1 month for BIRADS 0, 4 and 5 mammograms, 7 months for BIRADS 3, 4 months for HPV positive ASCUS, and LGSIL, and HGSIL lesions. Expected Results: Our baseline findings indicate that only half of the women achieve timely resolution to their abnormal screenings within our community health center sites. We currently have over 600 participants in the study and expect 2400 before study completion. The majority of participants are low income Black or Hispanic racial ethnic backgrounds. Expected Conclusions: In collaboration with eight other NCI Patient Navigation Research Program sites, we expect the results of this study will inform the design of a generalizable, effective, and cost efficient patient navigation model that will eliminate barriers to timely, quality cancer care among racial/ethnic minority and lower income populations
Student perceptions of codes of ethics: a three-country comparison

This three-country empirical study examined the attitudes of business students in China, Denmark, and the US to determine if they shared similar beliefs with regard to the perceived consequences of the use of codes of ethics. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) as well the Kruskal-Wallis test were used to determine that there were significant differences in the attitudes of the three groups. The findings provide useful information about three culturally distant nations and should prove especially useful to those concerned with finding ways to address the important issue of ethics in business.
Assessing Staff Satisfaction with Indoor Environmental Quality in Assisted Living Facilities

This study contributed to knowledge of indoor environmental quality (IEQ) in assisted living facilities (ALFs) by examining staff satisfaction with the work environment, perceived productivity, and attitudes toward environmental sustainability in the workplace. An ALF Staff IEQ Survey was administered to staff (N = 94) at 12 ALFs, which were newly constructed or renovated within the last 10 years. Staff who participated in the survey were divided into three age groups (young, middle-aged, and older) and two categories of responsibilities (medical and nonmedical). The questionnaire was designed to incorporate the Occupant IEQ Survey (Center for the Built Environment, 2013) and the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating criteria. It comprised six IEQ categories: space layout, thermal comfort, air quality, lighting and views, acoustic quality, and facility cleanliness and maintenance. Spearman's rank-order correlation coefficient, Kruskal–Wallis, and Mann–Whitney U tests were used for data analysis. Results identified 23 IEQ factors in all IEQ categories that significantly contributed to staff productivity. Six IEQ factors in four IEQ categories (space layout, thermal comfort, lighting, and facility cleanliness) were significantly related to staff environmental attitudes. In addition, 12 IEQ factors within five IEQ categories (except lighting quality) were found to have notable differences by age discrepancy, whereas five IEQ factors of air quality and facility cleanliness were significantly different for medical and nonmedical staff. The findings of this study provide designers with prioritized demands and preferences for decision making in terms of improving the work environment for the health and well-being of ALF staff. By incorporating the paradigms of evidence-based design (EBD), human-centered design (HCD), and sustainable design (SD), this study proposes a new triadic framework to transition from the current resident-centered model in elder care to a multistakeholder-focused model.
Inhibition of HIV-1 in Sickle Cell Disease Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells.

Abstract Abstract 1509 Poster Board I-532 Background The hypoxic response is an important component of the body 's reaction to impaired tissue oxygenation associated with the anemia and vasoocclusive episodes of sickle cell disease (SCD). It has been reported that HIV infection progresses relatively slowly in patients with SCD (Am J Hematol 1998; 59:199-207). We recently showed that HIV-1 transcription and replication is significantly reduced in cells cultured at 3% versus 21% oxygen (J Cell Physiol 2009; in press). Our previous studies indicated that protein phosphatase-1 (PP1) interacts with HIV-1 transcriptional activator, Tat, and thereby participates in the regulation of HIV-1 transcription. Sickle cell patients are in chronically hypoxic state and we hypothesized that HIV-1 replication in their peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) would be slower then in controls. Methods We isolated PBMCs from patients with SCD and from normal subjects, activated the cells with phytohemagglutinin and IL-2 for 24 h, and infected with pseudotyped HIV-1 virus expressing Luciferase. The infected cells were cultured at 3% of oxygen for 72 h. Results We show here that PP1 association with cellular regulatory subunits is modified and that PP1 activity is significantly reduced by 20-40% in different cell lines at 3% versus 21% oxygen. One round of replication of pseudotyped HIV-1 Luciferase virus normalized to the number of the cells in culture was significantly reduced in SCD PBMCs comparing to normal controls. Conclusions Our results provide a direct evidence of that HIV-1 replication may be slower in SCD-derived PBMCs. In future, we will analyze PP1 activity and the association of PP1 with regulatory subunits in SCD PBMCs. Understanding of how oxygen status influences HIV-1 replication might open new possibilities for treatment of hidden HIV-1 reservoirs that harbor non-replicating HIV-1 virus. Acknowledgments This work was supported by NHLBI Research Grant 2 R25 HL003679-08 from the National Institutes of Health and The Office of Research on Minority Health. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
A Topical Zinc Ionophore Blocks Tumorigenic Progression in UV-exposed SKH-1 High-risk Mouse Skin

Nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) is the most common malignancy in the United States representing a considerable public health burden. Pharmacological suppression of skin photocarcinogenesis has shown promise in preclinical and clinical studies, but more efficacious photochemopreventive agents are needed. Here, we tested feasibility of harnessing pharmacological disruption of intracellular zinc homeostasis for photochemoprevention in vitro and in vivo. Employing the zinc ionophore and FDA-approved microbicidal agent zinc pyrithione (ZnPT), used worldwide in over-the-counter (OTC) topical consumer products, we first demonstrated feasibility of achieving ZnPT-based intracellular Zn2+ overload in cultured malignant keratinocytes (HaCaT-ras II-4; SCC-25) employing membrane-permeable fluorescent probes. Zinc overload was accompanied by induction of intracellular oxidative stress, associated with mitochondrial superoxide release as substantiated by MitoSOX Red™ fluorescence microscopy. ZnPT-induced cell death observable in malignant keratinocytes was preceded by induction of metal (MT2A), proteotoxic (HSPA6, HSPA1A, DDIT3, HMOX1) and genotoxic stress response (GADD45A, XRCC2) gene expression at the mRNA and protein levels. Comet analysis revealed introduction of formamidopyrimidine-DNA glycosylase (Fpg)-sensitive oxidative DNA lesions. In a photocarcinogenesis model (UV-exposed SKH-1 high-risk mouse skin), topical ZnPT administration post-UV caused epidermal zinc overload and stress response gene expression with pronounced blockade of tumorigenesis. Taken together, these data suggest feasibility of repurposing a topical OTC drug for zinc-directed photochemoprevention of solar UV-induced NMSC.
Cochlear implantation in children under 12 months of age.

Purpose of reviewChildren with congenital hearing loss are being identified earlier, leading to earlier intervention. Current US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) criteria states a child must be 12 months or older for cochlear implantation. The purpose of this article is to review recent publicatio
Materializing the Promises of Cognitive IoT: How Cognitive Buildings Are Shaping the Way

Relatively tiny examples have demonstrated the potential of cognitive IoT (CIoT) in its full-stack, namely, semantic modeling, learning and reasoning over sensors data, and machine learning, to uncover and expose actionable insights via advanced user interfaces. In this paper, we make the case for the feasibility of CIoT in all of its dimensions. We devise a CIoT architecture that integrates thousands of sensors present in our buildings in order to learn the buildings’ behavior and intuitively assist users in diagnosing and mitigating undesired events. With our architecture, we place emphasis on the scalability and flexibility that reduce the configuration effort. The solution shows the potential of CIoT to create highly scalable, adaptable and interactive IoT systems functioning for buildings and capable of addressing the challenges encountered in the realm of homes, Smart Cities and Industry 4.0.
Using the CDC Worksite Health ScoreCard to Assess Employer Health Promotion Efforts: A Case Study at Johns Hopkins Medicine

Objectives:The aim of this study was to determine whether the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Worksite Health ScoreCard (ScoreCard) is an effective vehicle for measuring workplace health promotion programs and causing change in a large employer with multiple entities defined by different
Nursing Home Patient Safety Culture Perceptions Among US and Immigrant Nurses

Patient safety is a global concern, yet little is known about how and whether perceptions of patient safety culture (PSC) vary by nurses' countries of origin and preparation. This is particularly important in American nursing homes (NHs), which are increasingly hiring non-US born and prepared nurses to fill staffing needs. OBJECTIVES This study compared the PSC perceptions of foreign and domestic born and trained nurses working in urban NHs in 5 states to analyze how nurses' PSC perceptions corresponded to their personal and professional characteristics. METHODS We distributed 3539 surveys to registered nurses and licensed practical/vocational nurses employed in 98 urban NHs across 5 states with higher percentages of internationally prepared nurse workers. Respondents' perceptions of their workplace safety culture were measured with the NH Survey on PSC survey from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) and examined 12 dimensions of PSC. A total of 1629 returned surveys indicated a 46% returned rate. RESULTS Results from 1133 analyzed surveys indicated that nurses born and educated abroad exhibited more favorable PSC perceptions in their workplaces, followed by nurses born abroad and educated in the United States. Nurses born and educated in the United States demonstrated the lowest perceptions of workplace PSC overall (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Although foreign born and trained nurses report higher PSC perceptions than domestically born and educated nurses, further research is needed to understand why these differences occur.
An emergent bilingual child’s multimodal choices in sociodramatic play:

In this case study, situated in a preschool classroom within an early childhood Spanish/English dual language programme, we examine how an emergent bilingual child engages with multimodal resources...
Vacuum Selection from Cosmology on Networks of String Geometries

We introduce network science as a framework for studying the string landscape. Two large networks of string geometries are constructed, where nodes are extra-dimensional six-manifolds and edges represent topological transitions between them. We show that a standard bubble cosmology model on the networks has late-time behavior determined by the largest eigenvector of -(L+D), where L and D are the Laplacian and degree matrices of the networks, which provides a dynamical mechanism for vacuum selection in the string landscape.
Perennial Staple Crops and Agroforestry for Climate Change Mitigation

Agroforestry systems demonstrate carbon sequestration potentials far higher than widely promoted practices like conservation agriculture and managed grazing. Their lifetime carbon stocks are also significantly higher. In addition, perennial staple crops offer an opportunity to greatly improve carbon sequestration on cropland. The potential of these staple crops has been little explored. In tropical regions, yields of many perennial staple crops are competitive with those of annual staples. This is not yet the case for temperate and boreal climates. Both agroforestry and perennial staple crops offer additional co-benefits in the form of ecosystem services and benefits to farmers. Many agroforestry systems already incorporate perennial staple crops. The addition of trees to agricultural mitigation practices like conservation agriculture or managed grazing can increase sequestration rates by 5–10 times, and increase soil carbon stocks by a factor of 3–10. Tropical multistrata systems feature the highest carbon sequestration rates and carbon stocks of any food production system. Many tropical multistrata systems incorporate perennial staple crops with yields similar to those of annual staple crops. Given their potential impact, these practices and crops should be prioritized in agricultural climate mitigation efforts.
Hypersensitivity to Hip and Knee Implants

Prosthetic hip and knee implantations rank among the most common elective operations in the United States and Europe. These implants are compositionally complex and have undergone drastic evolutions over the past several decades. Hypersensitivity reactions to hip and knee implant components are well documented in the literature but remain uncommon. They range from localized dermatitis to implant loosening and subsequent failure. Currently, patch testing is the most useful method to evaluate for metal allergy. Preimplantation testing is not necessary unless patients have a significant history of skin rashes after metal contact or previously have experienced device failure. Postoperative complications such as aseptic loosening, chronic pain, or new, unexplained local or regional dermatitis may occasionally benefit from evaluation for metal allergy. Clinical next steps following implantation may be challenging. If the implant is symptomatic, topical or systemic corticosteroids may be tried, but ultimately, the surgeon and patient may need to decide whether replacement with a less allergenic alternative is feasible and safe. Whether pre- or postoperative, clinical decisions should be made by the collaborative efforts of dermatologists, allergists, and surgeons. Prospective trials in this field are still necessary to develop an evidence-based approach to the treatment of patients with allergic reactions to metal, as current clinicians are guided largely by expert opinion.
Altered cortical thickness and attentional deficits in adolescent girls and women with bulimia nervosa.

Background Frontostriatal and frontoparietal abnormalities likely contribute to deficits in control and attentional processes in individuals with bulimia nervosa and to the persistence of dysregulated eating across development. This study assessed these processes and cortical thickness in a large sample of adolescent girls and women with bulimia nervosa compared with healthy controls. Methods We collected anatomical MRI data from adolescent girls and women (ages 12-38 yr) with full or subthreshold bulimia nervosa and age-matched healthy controls who also completed the Conners Continuous Performance Test-II (CPT-II). Groups were compared on task performance and cortical thickness. Mediation analyses explored associations among cortical thickness, CPT-II variables, bulimia nervosa symptoms and age. Results We included 60 girls and women with bulimia nervosa and 54 controls in the analyses. Compared with healthy participants, those with bulimia nervosa showed increased impulsivity and inattention on the CPT-II, along with reduced thickness of the right pars triangularis, right superior parietal and left dorsal posterior cingulate cortices. In the bulimia nervosa group, exploratory analyses revealed that binge eating frequency correlated inversely with cortical thickness of frontoparietal and insular regions and that reduced frontoparietal thickness mediated the association between age and increased symptom severity and inattention. Binge eating frequency also mediated the association between age and lower prefrontal cortical thickness. Limitations These findings are applicable to only girls and women with bulimia nervosa, and our cross-sectional design precludes understanding of whether cortical thickness alterations precede or result from bulimia nervosa symptoms. Conclusion Structural abnormalities in the frontoparietal and posterior cingulate regions comprising circuits that support control and attentional processes should be investigated as potential contributors to the maintenance of bulimia nervosa and useful targets for novel interventions.
APPLICATION OF BANDPASS FILTERING IN ULTRASONIC NON-DESTRUCTIVE TESTING

Ultrasonic nondestructive testing of large grained materials is limited by the ability of the detection process to distinguish the flaw signals from the backscattered grain boundary echoes. This coherent grain noise often masks the echo from inhomogeneities and defects in the material. Absorption and scattering effects further reduce the ultrasound energy leading to poor signal-to-noise ratio in the received signal. It is not possible to reduce the grain clutter by conventional time averaging techniques due to its coherent nature. Different algorithms utilizing the principles of frequency diversity and spatial diversity have been used in the past for signal-to-noise ratio enhancement. In NDE applications where the noise is primarily due to Rayleigh scattering, it can be shown that flaw detection can be improved significantly by merely bandpass filtering the lower part of the received wideband echo spectrum. Both theoretical and experimental results are presented to support this conclusion. The filtering technique is successfully tested on materials with different grain sizes. The main advantage of this method is its relative simplicity, which eliminates the need for sophisticated and computationally intensive signal processing algorithms. Furthermore, this technique allows simple hardware implementation for real-time applications. The optimal parameters, i.e., the center frequency and bandwidth of the bandpass filter are experimentally determined.
Regionalization of head and neck cancer surgery may fragment care and impact overall survival

OBJECTIVE While surgical treatment concentrates in tertiary care centers, an increasing number of patients request postoperative radiation therapy (PORT) at a separate center closer to home. Our goal was to determine whether fragmentation of surgery and PORT were associated with poorer oncologic outcomes. METHODS We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 32,813 head and neck cancer patients treated with surgery and PORT in the National Cancer Data Base. Our main outcome was overall survival (OS). Statistical analysis included χ2 , t tests, Kaplan-Meier, and Cox regression analysis. RESULTS Fragmented care was independently associated with increased risk of mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 1.08; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03-1.13), whereas distance to surgical center > 30 miles (HR, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.87-0.97) was associated with improved OS. On subgroup analysis, fragmented care was associated with decreased OS only among patients who had surgery at an academic center (HR, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.04-1.17). Within academic centers, greater distance from the surgical center was associated with improved survival only in patients who received PORT at the same facility (HR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.78-0.93), but this effect was negated among patients who had fragmented care (HR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.85-1.11). CONCLUSION When cancer care is fragmented, there is no longer a survival benefit for patients to travel for surgical care at academic medical centers. Fragmented care is independently associated with worse survival, and further research is needed to evaluate the causes of this difference in survival to determine if improving care coordination can mitigate this survival difference. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE NA Laryngoscope, 129:1413-1419, 2019.
Filter paper-based spin column method for cost-efficient DNA or RNA purification

We describe herein a method of recharging used commercial spin columns or assembling homemade spin columns using filter paper as binding material for cost-effective, low throughput nucleic acid purification. The efficiency of filter paper-based spin columns was evaluated for purification of nucleic acids from various sources. Following protocols of commercial kits, we found filter paper to be a useful binding material for purification of nucleic acids, including plant genomic DNA, plant total RNA, PCR products, and DNA from agarose gels. However, filter paper has a weak binding affinity to plasmid DNA in tested miniprep protocols. Protocols for the use of filter paper recharged spin columns or homemade spin columns for low throughput purification of plant genomic DNA and total RNA with unused commercial kit buffers or less expensive homemade buffers are presented.
Parallelism in Computer Arithmetic: A Historical Perspective (Invited Paper)

Many early parallel processing breakthroughs emerged from the quest for faster and higher-throughput arithmetic operations. Additionally, the influence of arithmetic techniques on parallel computer performance can be seen in diverse areas such the bit-serial arithmetic units of early massively parallel SIMD computers, pipelining and pipeline-chaining in vector machines, design of floating-point standards to ensure the accuracy and portability of numerically-intensive programs, and prominence of GPUs in today’s top-of-the-line supercomputers. This paper contains a few representative samples of the many interactions and cross-fertilizations between computer-arithmetic and parallel-computation communities by presenting historical perspectives, case studies of state of art and practice, and directions for further collaboration.
GC–MS metabolic profiling reveals fructose-2,6-bisphosphate regulates branched chain amino acid metabolism in the heart during fasting

As an insulin sensitive tissue, the heart decreases glucose usage during fasting. This response is mediated, in part, by decreasing phosphofructokinase-2 (PFK-2) activity and levels of its product fructose-2,6-bisphosphate. However, the importance of fructose-2,6-bisphosphate in the fasting response on other metabolic pathways has not been evaluated. The goal of this study is to determine how sustaining cardiac fructose-2,6-bisphosphate levels during fasting affects the metabolomic profile. Control and transgenic mice expressing a constitutively active form of PFK-2 (GlycoHi) were subjected to either 12-h fasting or regular feeding. Animals (n = 4 per group) were used for whole-heart extraction, followed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry metabolic profiling and multivariate data analysis. Principal component analysis displayed differences between Control and GlycoHi groups under both fasting and fed conditions while a clear response to fasting was observed only for Control animals. However, pathway analysis revealed that these smaller changes in the GlycoHi group were significantly associated with branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) metabolism (~ 40% increase in all BCAAs). Correlation network analysis demonstrated clear differences in response to fasting between Control and GlycoHi groups amongst most parameters. Notably, fasting caused an increase in network density in the Control group from 0.12 to 0.14 while the GlycoHi group responded oppositely (0.17–0.15). Elevated cardiac PFK-2 activity during fasting selectively increases BCAAs levels and decreases global changes in metabolism.
Outcomes after intensity-modulated compared with 3-dimensional conformal radiotherapy with chemotherapy for squamous cell carcinoma of the anal canal.

Purpose We report our institution’s treatment techniques, disease outcomes, and complication rates after radiotherapy for the management of anal canal carcinoma with intensity-modulated radiotherapy (imrt) and concurrent chemotherapy relative to prior cases managed with 3-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-crt). Methods In a retrospective review of the medical records of 21 patients diagnosed with biopsy-proven stage i (23%), stage ii (27%), or stage iii (50%) squamous-cell carcinoma of the anal canal treated with curative chemotherapy and imrt between July 2009 and December 2014, patient outcomes were determined. Results for patients treated with 3D-crt by the same group were previously reported. The median initial radiation dose to the pelvic and inguinal nodes at risk was 45 Gy (range: 36–50.4 Gy), and the median total dose, including local anal canal primary tumour boost, was 59.4 Gy (range: 41.4–61.2 Gy). Patients received those doses over a median of 32 fractions (range: 23–34 fractions). Chemotherapy consisted of 2 cycles of concurrent fluorouracil–cisplatin (45%) or fluorouracil–mitomycin C (55%). Results Median follow-up was 3.1 years (range: 0.38–6.4 years). The mean includes a patient who died of septic shock at 38 days. The 3-year rates of overall survival, metastasis-free survival, locoregional control, and colostomy-free survival were 95%, 100%, 100%, and 100% respectively. No patients underwent abdominoperitoneal resection after chemoradiotherapy or required diverting colostomy during or after treatment. Those outcomes compare favourably with the previously published series that used 3D-crt with or without brachytherapy in treating anal canal cancers. Of the 21 patients in the present series, 10 (48%) experienced acute grade 3, 4, or 5 toxicities related to treatment. Conclusions The recommended use of imrt with concurrent chemotherapy as an improvement over 3D-crt for management of anal canal carcinoma achieves a high probability of local control and colostomy-free survival without excessive risk for acute or late treatment-related toxicities.
Electromagnetic Reflection and Transmission Response of a Chiral Slab Resonator to a Circularly Polarized Wave

The standard complex reflected and transmitted amplitudes of a non-magnetic, purely achiral Fabry-Perot etalon using the reflection and transmission coefficients at each interface along with the internal optical phase shift (OPL) phase shift [1, 2]:
Malicious Link Detection in Multi-Hop Wireless Sensor Networks

This paper considers malicious link detection in multi-hop wireless sensor networks (WSNs). Existing work on malicious link detection generally requires that the detection process being performed at the intermediate nodes, leading to considerable overhead in system design, as well as unstable detection accuracy due to limited resources and the uncertainty in the loyalty of the intermediate nodes themselves. In this paper, we propose an efficient and robust malicious link detection scheme by exploiting the statistics of packet delivery rates only at the base station. More specifically, first, we present a secure packet transmission protocol to ensure that except the base station, any intermediate nodes on the route cannot access the contents and routing paths of the packets. Second, we design a malicious link detection algorithm that can effectively detect the irregular dropout at every hop (or link) along the routing path. We prove that the proposed algorithm has guaranteed false alarm rate and low miss detection rate. Simulation results are provided to validate the proposed approaches.
Sea Turtle Conservation: 10 Ways You Can Help

All five species of sea turtles in Florida are in danger of extinction, largely as a result of people's actions. Fortunately, however, there are simple steps Florida?s residents and visitors can take to help these remarkable animals. This illustrated 4-page fact sheet written by Jessica E. Swindall, Holly K. Ober, Margaret M. Lamont, and Raymond R. Carthy and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation provides 10 easy-to-follow suggestions for ways people can reduce harm to sea turtles. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw466
Assessment of trace metals, total organic carbon and total nitrogen of a shrimp farm system in Southern Brazil

Abstract The unconsumed food in shrimp farm systems is responsible for increasing the organic compounds in sediment, and it is a potential source of trace metals. This study evaluates the total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) concentrations in sediments from control sites, a shrimp pond, a sedimentation basin and receiving ecosystem effluents at a semi-intensive Litopenaeus vannamei farm in southern Brazil. Copper and zinc concentrations were also analyzed in shrimp tissue. The sediment samples were taken before the effluent discharge (BD), 1 day post discharge (1PD), 10 days post discharge (10PD) and 30 days post discharge (30PD). The TOC concentrations ranged from 0.12 to 0.67%, and the TN concentrations were μ g g−1 and from 0.51 to 3.07 μ g g−1, respectively, while the more strongly adsorbed fraction of Cu ranged from 0.3 to 2.65 μ g g−1, and that of Zn ranged from 30.44 to 121.4 μ g g−1. Some significant differences (p ± 0.2 μ g g−1 and 19.76 ± 0.2 μ g g−1 in pond 1 and 7.6 ± 0.51 μ g g−1 and 19.13 ± 0.32 μ g g−1 in pond 2. All parameters were within in accordance with the guidelines levels, and this shrimp farm did not have adverse effects on the environment when considering these parameters.
Ethical Lawyering in Adoption: Centering the Child in Adoption Law

Legal scholars have engaged in robust discussions of ethics in adoption law, but have paid little attention to the lawyering role in adoption. This article seeks to fill this gap by reviewing the d...
Balancing Time in College: Examining Time-Use and Academic Outcomes of Students in a Comprehensive College Transition Program:

Using a randomized control trial design, this study examines the extent to which a comprehensive college transition program (CCTP) shapes students’ time-use during their first 3 years in college. T...
The American Government Today: What Would the Founders Say?

However much may be wrong with the American government today, and there is a lot wrong with it, the most important thing is still very much right with it: the United States government continues to respect the constitutional right to freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly, and the right to travel — the right to listen and to learn, and to inform others — the rights on which the survival of all other rights depends.
Effect of moderate and Severe Hypoxic exposure coupled with fatigue on psychomotor vigilance testing, muscle tissue oxygenation, and muscular performance.

Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of fatigue on muscular performance, oxygenation saturation, and cognition following acute hypoxic exposure at Normoxia, Moderate Hypoxia (MH), and Severe Hypoxia (SH). Methods Twelve males performed 3 sets of leg extensions to failure under Normoxia (FiO2: 21%), MH (Fi02: 15.4%), and SH (Fi02: 12.9%). Heart rate, peripheral oxygenation saturation, total saturation index, psychomotor vigilance testing reaction time, psychomotor vigilance error rate, maximum strength, and repetitions to failure were measured throughout each visit. Results The primary findings indicated that MH and SH resulted in significant decreases in psychomotor vigilance test performance (MH: 388.25-427.17 ms, 0.41-0.33 error rate; SH: 398.17-445.42 ms reaction time, 0.25-1.00 error rate), absolute muscle tissue oxygen saturation (Abs-StO2) (MH:67.22% compared to SH:57.56%), but similar muscular strength, heart rate, and patterns of muscle tissue oxygen saturation responses (StO2%) during fatigue when compared to Normoxia. There was an acute decrease in the ability to remain vigilant and/or respond correctly to visual stimuli as indicated by the worsened reaction time (PVTRT) during MH (FiO2: 15.4%) and increased PVTRT and error rate (PVTE) during SH (FiO2: 12.9%) conditions. Conclusions Acute hypoxic exposure in the current study was not a sufficient stimuli to elicit hypoxic-related changes in HR, muscular strength (1-RM), or repetitions to failure. The SpO2 responses were hypoxic-level dependent with increasing levels of hypoxia resulting in greater and more sustained reductions in SpO2. The combined SpO2 and StO2 responses at MH and SH suggested a balance between the muscles metabolic demand remaining lower than the muscle oxygen diffusion capacity. During the SH condition, Abs-StO2 suggested greater metabolic stress than Normoxia and MH conditions during the fatiguing leg extensions. The patterns of responses for StO2% during the three sets of leg press to failure indicated that exercise is a more potent influencer to muscle oxygenation status than hypoxic conditions (FiO2: 15.4 and 12.9%).
Anfangsspannungen in Metallen

Metalle sind haufig Anfangsspannungen unterworfen, d. h. sie sind Spannungen ausgesetzt, ohne das ausere Krafte einwirkten. Es mussen deshalb in jedem Querschnitt die inneren Krafte untereinander im Gleichgewicht stehen; es konnen also z. B. je zwei Druck- und Zug- flachen vorhanden sein, die zwei einander aufhebende Kraftepaare bilden, oder es sind zwei Zug- und eine Druckflache (oder umgekehrt) vorhanden derart, das die resultierende Zug- und die Druckkraft gleich gros sind und in der gleichen Wirkungslinie angreifen.
Advances in hard real-time communication with local area networks

Recent developments in real-time communications in local-area networks are reviewed. Issues relating to the transmission of both synchronous and asynchronous messages are examined. Priority-driven protocols, global reservation protocols, and protocols with bounded access times are discussed. >
Geometric Calculus and the Fibre Bundle description of Quantum Mechanics

This work has the purpose of applying the concept of Geometric Calculus (Clifford Algebras) to the Fibre Bundle description of Quantum Mechanics. Thus, it is intended to generalize that formulation to curved spacetimes [the base space of the fibre bundle in question] in a more natural way.
Statistical Evaluation of Diluents and Automatic Diluting and Pipetting Machines in Influenza Serology

Abstract The use of three diluents (i.e., 0.01 m phosphate-buffered saline, PBS; PBS with 0.2% gelatin, PBS/GEL; and PBS with 0.4% bovine plasma albumin) and three methods (i.e., the standard tube macro-procedure, TUBE; the manual microtechnique, MANUAL; and the semiautomatic microtechnique, AUTO) were statistically compared for their reproducibility and sensitivity in determining hemagglutinin (HA) and hemagglutination-inhibition (HI) antibody titers. In the HA test, analyses of between-cell variances of the different methods showed the AUTO microtiter procedure to be more reproducible than the standard TUBE method. The MANUAL microtiter procedure was the least reproducible. In the HI test, the TUBE method was the most reproducible. No significant difference in the reproducibility of the diluents was observed in either the HA or HI test. When a comparison of the sensitivity of test methods and diluents was made for determining HA titers, the AUTO microtiter procedure and PBS/GEL diluent appeared to be the method and diluent of choice. Evaluation of another instrument, the autopipetter, which standardizes the volume of diluent to be added in the microtechnique, suggests that the reproducibility of the AUTO microtiter procedure might be further increased.
ACOUSTIC EMISSIONS DURING CREEP OF FROZEN SOILS

Deformation, time-dependent failure, and acoustic emissions during unconfined compression tests of frozen Fairbanks silt were studied. Acoustic emissions (AE) are detected when the applied stress exceeds a threshold level. This threshold stress is related to the limit of long-term strength of the frozen soil. Under stress exceeding the limit of the long-term strength, the accumulation of acoustic emissions with time can be correlated with creep deformation; that is, plots of the cumulative number of acoustic pulses versus time have shapes similar to those of creep curves with primary, secondary, and tertiary stages. Such correspondence made it possible to describe both phenomena from the viewpoint of the unified kinetic theory of strength. Experimental data are presented, and unified constitutive equations describing deformations, time-dependent failure, and the accumulation of the acoustic emissions during short-term creep of frozen soils are derived. The time to incipient failure, when the AE rate reaches a minimum, is considered to be the most important characteristic of a creep process. It is shown that this time can be predicted theoretically if the parameters of the AE process and the stress state of the frozen soil are known. (Authors)
Exploding Wire Detonators: Threshold Burst Current Dependence Upon Detonator and Environmental Parameters

Results obtained in an experimental study of the dependence of threshold burst current Open image in new window where I bth is in amperes, d and l are in mils, S 0 p is in cm2/g, δ is in g/cm3, and T is in °C.
Effects of slip and chemical reaction models on three-dimensional nonequilibrium viscous shock-layer flows

Three-dimensional finite rate chemically reacting viscous shock-layer flows over complex geometries have been analyzed using seven- and eleven-species air models. The viscous shock-layer code for analyzing nonequilibrium flow over multiconics using a seven-species air model has been modified to include an elevenspecies air model. The viscous shock-layer code with seven-species model has been modified to include wall-slip conditions, and the results for fully catalytic and noncatalytic surfaces with slip are presented. For the cases under consideration, the surface-measurable quantities computed using the two models agree well with each other. Wall slip had negligible effect on electron number density, whereas with shock slip, an order of magnitude increase in electron density was predicted.
Gender specificity in the correlation of strength and self-perceived level of physical activity across three age groups

Objective: To assess gender differences in the correlation between score on a questionnaire of self-perceived level of physical activity and rank on a test of strength between males and females in three age-groups. Design : Sixty subjects in gender-age groups 20-29, 40-49, and 60-69 years of age. Each completed a self-assessment questionnaire of physical activity prior to isokinetic testing of quadriceps strength during concentric and eccentric conditions at 60 and 120° . s -1 . Ordinal rank on both the strength test and questionnaire were compared to determine whether self-assessment of activity correlated with rank on the strength test. Simple and multiple regression procedures were completed correlating gender, questionnaire score, and strength. Results: Gender specific results showed males rated themselves higher on the questionnaire (p = 0.02). Multiple regression revealed that questionnaire score and age were significantly correlated to rank on the strength test (p = 0.02) in males only. Simple regression failed to show significance between strength test rank and questionnaire score for either gender (p = 0.46). Similarly, no significant relationship was found between age and questionnaire score for either gender. Conclusions: Rank within gender-age group on a test of isokinetic strength may be predicted by age and total questionnaire score in males but not females. Likewise, between gender differences exist as males consistently rate themselves more active than females.
Psychosocial Mediators of the Fitness-depression Relationship Within Adolescents

Adolescence is a developmental period during which boys and girls are at high risk of developing major or minor depression. Increases in fitness have been associated with lower levels of depressive symptomatology and improvements in psychological well-being, yet the mechanisms that underlie this relationship have not been thoroughly examined. Three such psychosocial variables (i.e. body satisfaction, social physique anxiety, and physical activity self-efficacy) have been identified as possible mechanisms and although they have theoretical support, additional research is needed to demonstrate empirically the potential effects of these variables. Self-report measures were used to assess the psychosocial variables and the Progressive Aerobic Cardiovascular Endurance Run (PACER) in conjunction with age, Body Mass Index [BMI], and sex was used to determine an estimate of aerobic capacity (VO2max). Path analyses were used to test the proposed model using version 6.2 EQS Multivariate Software. Results of study revealed that the boys’ and girls’ depressive scores were determined based on the extent that their fitness levels improved their satisfaction with their bodies and lowered the anxiety they experience in relation to real or imagined judgments of their physique. Although all pathways in the model were significant, with the exception of physical activity self-efficacy to depression, differences emerged between the boys and girls in terms of the strength of some of the relations amongst the variables. Limitations include restricted generalizability, self-report measures, and cross-sectional design. Results have implications for individuals in a context intended to improve physical and psychosocial well-being of adolescents.
An Antenna Array for Studies in Meteor and Radio Astronomy at 13 Meters

The design of a high-frequency radar antenna making possible the detection of echoes from the ionized trails produced by very small meteors is described. Preliminary results indicate that the radar system, when fully completed, will be capable of detecting meteors down to the 15th visual magnitude, thus making possible radio studies of meteors five visual magnitudes smaller than the smallest which have heretofore been systematically investigated at back reflection. The results of these studies are expected to provide new information on the amount and distribution of interplanetary matter, the contribution of meteoric ionization to the lower ionosphere, and the radio propagation characteristics of vhf ionospheric scatter and meteor burst communication systems. The results of some preliminary measurements of meteors down to the 14th magnitude are presented. Other possible applications of the antenna are discussed.
Environmental Emotions and Decisions: A Comparison of the Responses and Expectations of Forest Managers, an Environmental Group, and the Public

Independent samples of forest managers, members of an environmental group, and a regional public constituency were asked either to respond to a hypothetical forest management problem or to predict how a member of one of the other groups would respond. Decisions and emotions of the environmental group and public sample were similar to each other but both differed from those of the managers. Decisions were predicted accurately by all three groups, but managers and environmental group members perceived the public sample to be less emotional than it actually was. These results are interpreted in terms of a functional model of emotion and environmental decision making, and implications for public involvement programs are discussed.