cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Consideration of land use change-induced surface albedo effects in life-cycle analysis of biofuels

Land use change (LUC)-induced surface albedo effects for expansive biofuel production need to be quantified for improved understanding of biofuel climate impacts. We addressed this emerging issue for expansive biofuel production in the United States (U.S.) and compared the albedo effects with greenhouse gas emissions highlighted by traditional life-cycle analysis of biofuels. We used improved spatial representation of albedo effects in our analysis by obtaining over 1.4 million albedo observations from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer flown on NASA satellites over a thousand counties representative of six Agro-Ecological Zones (AEZs) in the U.S. We utilized high-spatial-resolution, crop-specific cropland cover data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and paired the data with the albedo data to enable consideration of various LUC scenarios. We simulated the radiative effects of LUC-induced albedo changes for seven types of crop covers using the Monte Carlo Aerosol, Cloud and Radiation model, which employs an advanced radiative transfer mechanism coupled with spatially and temporally resolved meteorological and aerosol conditions. These simulations estimated the net radiative fluxes at the top of the atmosphere as a result of the LUC-induced albedo changes, which enabled quantification of the albedo effects on the basis of radiative forcing defined by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change for CO2 and other greenhouse gases effects. Finally, we quantified the LUC-induced albedo effects for production of ethanol from corn, miscanthus, and switchgrass in different AEZs of the U.S. Results show that the weighted national average albedo effect is a small cooling effect of −1.8 g CO2 equivalent (CO2e) for a mega-Joule (MJ) of corn ethanol, a relatively stronger warming effect of 12.1 g CO2e per MJ of switchgrass ethanol, and a small warming effect of 2.7 g CO2e per MJ of miscanthus ethanol. Significant variations in albedo-induced effects are found among different land conversions for the same biofuel, and among different AEZ regions for the same land conversion and biofuel. This spatial heterogeneity, owing to non-linear albedo dynamics and radiation processes, suggests highly variable LUC-induced albedo effects depending on geographical locations and vegetation. These findings provide new insights on potential climate effects by producing biofuels through considering biogeophysical as well as biogeochemical effects of biofuel production and use in the U.S.
Winter-killed Cereal Rye Cover Crop Influence on Nitrate Leaching in Intensive Vegetable Production Systems

High levels of residual soil nitrate are typically present in cool-season vegetable fields in coastal regions of California in the fall, after the production of multiple crops over the course of the growing season. This nitrate is subject to leaching with winter rains when fields are left fallow. Although the benefits of growing nitrate scavenging cover crops on soil and water quality are well documented, the portion of vegetable production fields planted to winter cover crops in this region is low. Most growers leave their fields unplanted in bare-fallow beds because the risk of having too much cover crop residue to incorporate may delay late winter and early spring planting schedules. A possible strategy to derive benefits of a cover crop yet minimize the amount of residue is to kill the cover crop with an herbicide when biomass of the cover crop is still relatively low. To evaluate whether this strategy would be effective at reducing nitrate leaching, we conducted field studies in Winter 2010–11 (Year 1) and Winter 2011–12 (Year 2) with cereal rye (Secale cereale). Each trial consisted of three treatments: 1) Fallow (bare fallow), 2) Full-season (cover crop allowed to grow to full term), and 3) Partial-season (cover crop killed with herbicide 8 to 9 weeks after emergence). In Year 1, which received 35% more rainfall than the historical average during the trial, the Fullseason cover crop reduced nitrate leaching by 64% relative to Fallow, but the Partialseason had no effect relative to Fallow. In Year 2, which received 47% less rainfall than the historical average during the trial, the Fulland Partial-season cover crops reduced nitrate leaching by 75% and 52%, respectively, relative to Fallow. The Fullseason cover crop was able to reduce nitrate leaching regardless of yearly variations in the timing and amount of precipitation. Although the Partial-season cover crop was able to reduce leaching in Year 2, the value of this winter-kill strategy to reduce nitrate leaching is limited by the need to kill the crop when relatively young, resulting in the release of nitrogen (N) from decaying residues back into the soil where it is subject to leaching.
Investigating the Impact of Boundaries on Knowledge Sharing in Global Virtual Teams

The sharing of knowledge is critical in the virtual team configurations that mainly interact and coordinate through information and communication technologies. However, multiple boundaries are assumed to exist within virtual teams that may pose several challenges to effective knowledge sharing. This study distinguishes between functional, organizational, and cultural boundaries and investigates their impact on knowledge sharing practices in global virtual teams. Drawing from shared mental model and media synchronicity literature, this study also aims to identify the potential moderators that can influence this relationship. The implications for research and practice are discussed and provide insights into how virtual teams can be structured so that there is effective knowledge sharing between the team members.
[13] Methods for studying carboxypeptidase E

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the methods for studying carboxypeptidase E (CPE). The most widely utilized CPE assays make use of a change in solubility incurred when substrate is converted into product. The assays differ in their reporter groups; one uses the dansyl fluorescent group, while the other uses a radioactive label. Both assays are rapid and sensitive, but are not specific for CPE. Thus, additional controls must be performed to ensure that the measured activity is because of CPE. These controls include using selective inhibitors and activators at several pH values. In addition to measurements of CPE enzymatic activity, it is often important to quantitate levels of CPE mRNA and protein. Standard methods, such as Northern blots, in situ hybridization, and Western blots, have been used to detect CPE mRNA and protein. Autoradiography with [ 3 H]guandinioethylmercaptosuccinic acid, a selective inhibitor of CPE, has been used to detect the membrane-bound form of CPE in brain and other tissues. In addition to these standard techniques, the rate of CPE biosynthesis has been measured by following the incorporation of radiolabeled amino acids into CPE, which is subsequently isolated by affinity chromatography.
The Fact of Xenophobia and the Fiction of State Sovereignty: A Reply to Blocher and Gulati

This Essay argues the shortcomings of a debt-based market solution to the problem of global refugee responsibility sharing, shortcomings that originate in the fact of widespread xenophobia, and the legal fiction of state sovereignty. In Competing for Refugees: A Market-Based Solution to a Humanitarian Crisis, Joseph Blocher and Mitu Gulati argue that global refugee admissions would be improved if refugee-receiving countries could enforce “refugee debt” against refugees’ countries of origin for each refugee admitted by the receiving countries. This Essay responds to that proposal, simultaneously addressing themes of general and significant importance in international refugee scholarship.Fact and Fiction’s first contribution is to bring important nuance to the problem of refugee admissions that has implications for the success of refugee debt in solving the global refugee admission deficit. This nuance concerns who the priority targets of a proposal such as refugee debt ought to be in light of global displacement trends. I show why — if equity and sustainability concerns are taken into account — the priority targets of a proposal to increase refugee admissions are countries in the global north. Thereafter I argue that the problem of xenophobia — especially in the global north — makes it highly unlikely that the changes in rational incentives at the heart of refugee debt would result in a corresponding increase in refugee admissions. Identifying this efficacy concern is the second contribution of this essay.The final contribution of Fact and Fiction it to challenge the normative appeal of the world that refugee debt would create. I show how the legal fiction of state sovereignty, which operates centrally in the refugee debt concept, interacts with the geopolitics of refugee displacement to generate counterproductive consequences. Holding refugees’ countries of nationality solely liable and culpable for refugee displacement ignores the reality that refugee displacement often implicates multiple sovereigns. This creates a complex accountability matrix within which liability and culpability cannot fall solely on the territorial sovereign. I argue that refugee debt risks reproduction of the very dynamic that compromises global refugee protection today: global south countries would continue disproportionate-ly to bear the cost of global refugee protection, while hegemons in the north would escape liability for (and perhaps even profit from) their direct involvement in producing refugee displacement.
The influence of O2 availability and Fe(III) mineralogy on Fe metabolism by an acidophilic bacterial culture

Abstract Microbiological Fe(II) oxidation in emergent acid mine drainage (AMD) at the terrestrial surface, and continued precipitation of biogenic Fe(III) can lead to massive deposits of Fe(III) phases. Fe(II) oxidizing bacteria that mediate Fe(III) deposition are challenged to continue to metabolize despite burial in these Fe(III) phases, which increases the distance from the sediment-water interface where O2 is most readily available to support Fe(II) oxidation. Microbial communities associated with such deposits vary little with depth, indicating that the associated organisms can adapt to the physicochemical changes associated with Fe(III) deposition. A stable Alicyclobacillacea bacterium-containing culture (A06) was obtained under Fe(III) reducing conditions, and was also capable of aerobic growth with Fe(II) or glucose as electron donors. To evaluate the influence of Fe(III) mineralogy and O2 availability on microbial activities in an iron mound setting, we incubated the A06 culture in agarose-solidified suspensions of Fe(III) phases that mimicked the Fe(III) deposits. During the incubations, we measured O2 and Fe(II) concentrations at various depth intervals within these “artificial cores.” In incubations that included goethite, an Fe(II) oxidation front preceded maximal O2 diffusion into the incubations, indicating that Fe(II) oxidation could occur at extremely low O2 concentrations. This finding is consistent with previous field measurements. Computational modeling of activities in the incubations indicated that Fe(II) oxidation is partially controlled by diffusive O2 availability as well as Fe(II) diffusion, which may be influenced by the mineralogy of Fe(III) phases where Fe(II) oxidation is occurring. In incubations amended with glucose, schwertmannite-Fe(III) reduction occurred despite available O2, which is also consistent with previous field measurements. Our results indicate that Fe metabolism may be more heavily influenced by the mineralogical context in which activity occurs than the availability of O2.
Study of sufficient number of optimal tilt angle adjustment to maximize residential solar panels yield

In this paper a comprehensive study is carried out on the optimal number of intervals for adjusting the optimal tilt angle of a solar panel. The tilt angle of solar panels is important for capturing solar radiation and it depends on the path of the sun in the location of the solar panel. A Bee Algorithm is used to compute the optimal tilt angle for a given period. The main goal is to show instead of using a tracking system, which is costly for residential usage, manual adjustment of the tilt angle of a solar panel for a certain number of times during a year is sufficient to receive most of the solar radiation. This study is performed for different locations across the US with different latitudes and longitudes. The optimal number of intervals for each location is computed and the effects of the changes in the longitude and latitude are investigated.
Bi-directional flip-chip 28 GHz phased-array core-chip in 45nm CMOS SOI for high-efficiency high-linearity 5G systems

This paper presents a 0 mW two-channel 28 GHz bi-directional phased-array chip packaged using flip-chip interconnects in 45nm CMOS SOI. The design alternates switched-LC phase shifters with switched attenuators to result in 5-bit phase control with an rms gain and phase error 1dB of 5 dBm. In the TX mode, the measured output P 1dB is −2 dBm. This work presents an efficient solution for the construction of high-linearity and high-power phased-array base-stations by combining GaAs front-ends with a passive silicon core chip.
Pharmacogenomics and personalized medicine in the treatment of human diseases

Summary It is clear that patients respond to therapeutic drugs differently, and much of this variation can be attributed to differences in gene sequence or copy number, resulting in proteins with altered stability, cellular concentration, metabolic activity, or signaling properties. The application of pharmacogenetics, the study of how inherited variants affect drug response, is expected to reduce the number of adverse drug reactions by facilitating the selection of an appropriate drug and dose more efficiently than using a trial-and-error approach. Similarly, detection of somatic variants in cancer cells can help select an effective chemotherapeutic agent and identify appropriate targeted therapies for the individual patient’s unique tumor phenotype. This chapter will discuss the anticipated benefits and potential challenges of implementing pharmacogenetic testing to guide patient care decisions.
Effects of land use and land cover, stream discharge, and interannual climate on the magnitude and timing of nitrogen, phosphorus, and organic carbon concentrations in three coastal plain watersheds.

In-stream nitrogen, phosphorus, organic carbon, and suspended sediment concentrations were measured in 18 suboasins over 2 annual cycles to assess how land use and land cover (LULC) and stream discharge regulate water quality variables. The LULC was a primary driver of in-stream constituent concentrations and nutrient speciation owing to differences in dominant sources and input pathways associated with agricultural, urban, and forested land uses. Stream discharge was shown to be a major factor that dictated not only the magnitude of constituent concentrations, but also the chemical form. In high discharge agricultural subbasins, where nitrate was the dominant nitrogen form, there was a negative correlation between discharge and nitrate concentration indicating groundwater inputs as the dominant pathway. In urban settings, however, nitrate was positively correlated with discharge, and, in forested subwater-sheds, where dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) was the dominant nitrogen form, there was a positive correlation between discharge and DON, indicating washoff from the watershed as the dominant input pathway. Similarly, phosphorus concentrations were strongly regulated by LULC, discharge, and seasonality. This comparative study highlights that different mechanisms regulate different forms of nitrogen, phosphorus, and carbon, and thus field programs or water quality models used for regulatory purposes must assess these nutrient forms to accurately apply management plans for nutrient reductions.
Performance evaluation of shunt-series switched multi-functional grid-connected inverter for voltage regulation

The objective of this research is to analyze and evaluate the performance of the proposed shunt-series switched multi-functional grid-connected inverter (SSS-MFGCI) for mitigating unbalanced voltage sag and swell problem in distributed generation system or microgrid. Three quantitative performance evaluation factors, namely fault level factor, rating factor, and grid stiffness factor, are proposed to evaluate the effectiveness of MFGCI on voltage regulation. Proposed factors are also used to compare the proposed SSS-MFGCI with conventional MFGCI regarding compensable fault level and dependency of MFGCI performance on the grid stiffness for different fault types. Hence, this research presents a comprehensive analysis on how to evaluate the performance of MFGCI on voltage regulation.
Pattern Evoked Potential Latency and Contrast Sensitivity in Glaucoma and Ocular Hypertension

The latency of the first major positive component (P1) of the pattern reversal visually evoked potential (VEP) and constrast sensitivity, using the Arden grating plates, were measured in 3 groups of age matched subjects. One group consisted of 14 normal subjects (mean age 66 yrs.) with no ocular disease; a second group contained 21 patients (mean age 58 yrs.) with ocular hypertension; and a thrid group contained 20 patients (mean age 66 yrs.) with glaucoma. Analysis of the Arden grating scores revealed no significant differences between the 3 groups. These findings indicate that the Arden gratings have limited usefulness in the detection of glaucoma, at least in older patient populations. On the other hand, the VEP data showed that the mean P1 latency for the glaucomatous eyes was significantly longer than the P1 latency for the normals and ocular hypertensives. Further, there was no significant difference in mean P1 latency between the normals and ocular hypertensives.
Constructing Copyright’s Mythology

The paper offers a narrative response to recent claims about copyright's historical meaning and the importance of constitutional restrictions on the copyright power. Specifically, I address two arguments advanced by the petitioners in Eldred v. Ashcroft: that a grant of exclusive rights is constitutional only if given in exchange for an authors' act of creation, and that the Framers constitutionally limited the duration of copyright in order to prevent publishers from exercising widespread control over the content of American works of authorship. The paper concludes that neither claim has an historical basis and cautions generally against two errors that persistently arise in attempts to ground modern copyright policy in some ideal of copyright as envisioned by the Framers.
Challenges in the Reporting of Environmental Issues in Latin America and the Caribbean

The introductory chapter of this volume situates the role of news media in Latin America within the context of the environmental, economic, and sociopolitical challenges that countries in the region face. The authors review the current practical challenges faced by the media and journalists in the reporting of environmental problems, such as the complex relation between media, governments, and elites; violence against journalists; and the dominance of hegemonic discourses, among others. The authors also review the limitations of current scholarship in this area, arguing for more research that examines the factors that affect media coverage of environmental affairs in Latin American countries. The chapter concludes by summarizing the chapters that comprise the edited volume.
Pharmacologic Characteristics of Valbenazine (NBI-98854) and its Metabolites (P2.025)

Objective: To characterize the pharmacology of valbenazine and its metabolites in vitro . Background: Valbenazine (NBI-98854), a novel compound that inhibits the vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2), is currently in development for the treatment of tardive dyskinesia – an often persistent movement disorder induced by chronic exposure to dopamine receptor blocking agents. Valbenazine has two major metabolites: R,R,R-dihydrotetrabenazine ((+)-α-DHTBZ, NBI-98782) and a mono-oxy metabolite (NBI-136110). Design/Methods: Radioligand binding studies were conducted to assess the ability of valbenazine and its metabolites to inhibit binding of [ 3 H]-DHTBZ in rat striatum and human platelet homogenates, expressing VMAT2 protein. The ability of these molecules to inhibit functional uptake of serotonin or dopamine via the transporter was also evaluated. In addition, a broad panel screen was conducted to test valbenazine and its metabolites for off-target interactions at >80 receptor, transporter, and ion channel sites. Results: Radioligand binding studies showed that R,R,R-DHTBZ was a potent inhibitor of [ 3 H]-DHTBZ binding in homogenates of rat striatum (K i =1.0 to 2.8 nM) and human platelets (K i =2.6 to 3.3 nM). Valbenazine and NBI-136110 also exhibited inhibitory effects on VMAT2, but to a lesser degree than R,R,R-DHTBZ (K i =110 to 190 nM and K i =160 to 220 nM, respectively). Neither valbenazine nor R,R,R-DHTBZ exhibited any significant off-target interactions at serotonin (5-HT 1A , 5-HT 2A , 5-HT 2B ) or dopamine (D 1 –D 4 ) receptor sites, or at other protein targets including G-protein-coupled receptors, transporters, and ion channels. Conclusions: These results indicate that valbenazine and R,R,R-DHTBZ inhibit VMAT2 selectively and specifically, without interactions at other non-specific receptor sites, suggesting the potential for fewer unwanted clinical side effects. In addition to being consistent with the favorable efficacy and tolerability results of recent clinical studies (KINECT 2 [NCT01733121], KINECT 3 [NCT02274558]), the pharmacologic characteristics of valbenazine and its metabolites suggest that this novel VMAT2 inhibitor may have therapeutic potential for various movement disorders. Study Supported by: Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. Disclosure: Dr. Grigoriadis has received personal compensation for activities with Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. as an employee. Dr. Smith has received personal compensation for activities with Neurocrine Bioscience, Inc. as an employee. Dr. Madan is a former employee of Neurocrine Bioscience, Inc., sponsor of this study. Dr. Grigoriadis has received personal compensation for activities with Neurocrine Bioscience, Inc. as an employee. Dr. Wright has received personal compensation for activities with Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. Dr. Bozigian has received personal compensation for activities with Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. as an employee.
Evolution of Pre- and Postconvective Environmental Profiles from Mesoscale Convective Systems during PECAN

AbstractDuring the Plains Elevated Convection at Night (PECAN) field campaign, 15 mesoscale convective system (MCS) environments were sampled by an array of instruments including radiosondes launch...
Linking neural responses to behavior with information-preserving population vectors

All systems for processing signals, both artificial and within animals, must obey fundamental statistical laws for how information can be processed. We discuss here recent results using information theory that provide a blueprint for building circuits where signals can be read-out without information loss. Many properties that are necessary to build information-preserving circuits are actually observed in real neurons, at least approximately. One such property is the use of logistic nonlinearity for relating inputs to neural response probability. Such nonlinearities are common in neural and intracellular networks. With this nonlinearity type, there is a linear combination of neural responses that is guaranteed to preserve Shannon information contained in the response of a neural population, no matter how many neurons it contains. This read-out measure is related to a classic quantity known as the population vector that has been quite successful in relating neural responses to animal behavior in a wide variety of cases. Nevertheless, the population vector did not withstand the scrutiny of detailed information-theoretical analyses that showed that it discards substantial amounts of information contained in the responses of a neural population. We discuss recent theoretical results showing how to modify the population vector expression to make it ‘information-preserving’, and what is necessary in terms of neural circuit organization to allow for lossless information transfer. Implementing these strategies within artificial systems is likely to increase their efficiency, especially for brain–machine interfaces.
Racial disparities in pre-operative pain, function and disease activity for patients with rheumatoid arthritis undergoing Total knee or Total hip Arthroplasty: a New York based study

Black and Hispanic patients with osteoarthritis have more pain and worse function than Whites at the time of arthroplasty. Whether this is true for patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is unknown. This cross-sectional study used data on RA patients acquired between October 2013 and November 2018 prior to elective total knee (TKA) or hip arthroplasty (THA). Pain, function, and disease activity were assessed using the visual analogue scale (VAS), the Multidimensional Health Assessment Questionnaire (MDHAQ), and the Disease Activity Score (DAS28-ESR). We linked the cases to census tracts using geocoding to determine the community poverty level. Race, education, income, insurance and medications were collected via self-report. Using multivariable linear and logistic models we examined whether minority status predicted pain, function and RA disease activity at the time of arthroplasty. Thirty seven (23%) of the 164 patients were Black or Hispanic (minorities). The MDHAQ and DAS28-ESR were not significantly worse while VAS pain score was significantly worse in minority patients (p = 0.03). There was no significant difference in education between the groups. Insurance varied significantly; 29% of minority patients had Medicaid vs. 0% of Whites (p < 0.0001). In the multivariable analyses minority status was not significantly associated with DAS28-ESR [p = 0.66], MDHAQ [p = 0.26], or VAS pain [p = 0.18]. For Black and/or Hispanic patients with RA undergoing THA or TKA at a high-volume specialty hospital, unlike Black or Hispanic patients with osteoarthritis (OA), there was no association with worse pain, function, or RA disease activity at the time of elective arthroplasty.
Bovine immune response to leptospira antigen in different novel adjuvants and vaccine delivery platforms.

Abstract Leptospirosis is a global zoonosis causing significant economic losses for cattle production. Current cattle vaccines against leptospirosis need improvement to provide efficacy against multiple serovars, reduce shedding in urine, and to induce earlier and more robust immune responses. In this study, Leptospira borgpetersenii serovar Hardjo strain 203 antigen was combined with novel adjuvants (a biodegradable polyanhydride compressed rod implant (VPEAR), poly(diaminosulfide) microparticles, a water-oil-water emulsion adjuvant, and aluminum hydroxide) to develop novel vaccines. Cattle were immunized twice, at a 4 week interval, with inoculums containing adjuvants alone or leptospira antigens and immune responses were compared to responses of cattle receiving a commercial monovalent leptospirosis vaccine (Spirovac). All animals were inoculated with a single dose of Spirovac at 20 weeks to assess antigen recall responses. Serum antibody responses were increased (P > 0.05) at 8 and 20 weeks after vaccination in cattle receiving inoculums containing leptospira antigens combined with water-oil-emulsion, poly(diaminosulfide) microparticles (PNSN-MP), or aluminum hydroxide and in cattle vaccinated with Spirovac. Humoral responses were predominantly IgG1 isotypes. Antigen-specific proliferative responses were detected after initial vaccination in cattle vaccinated with Spirovac, PNSN-MP and water-oil-water treatments. Most proliferative responses occurring within CD4+ and gamma delta T cell populations expressing CD45RO and CD25 markers, a response consistent with an effector memory phenotype. Antigen-specific immune responses were not detected in cattle vaccinated with VPEAR after initial inoculation, but were detected in the antigen recall responses. PBMCs from cattle vaccinated with Spirovac, oil-water-oil, or PNSN-MP treatments had increased (P Interpretative Summary: Vaccination of livestock is a key mechanism for minimizing transmission of leptospirosis, a zoonotic disease. Leptospirosis vaccines for cattle need to be improved to provide greater levels of protection from kidney colonization, better immune responses, and protection against multiple serovars. This could be accomplished using new vaccine adjuvants. In this study, several novel adjuvants were evaluated for their ability to induce effective immune responses in cattle to leptospira antigens as compared to currently available vaccines. Data suggested that vaccines containing biodegradable polymer microparticles and oil-emulsion adjuvants induced similar or greater immune responses as compared to a commercial vaccine. Our data suggest these new vaccine formulations warrant further investigation as new vaccine formulations for cattle and other livestock.
The FDA's Experience with Covid-19 Antibody Tests.

The FDA’s Experience with Covid-19 Antibody Tests Early in the pandemic, the FDA recognized that ensuring access to antibody tests could advance understanding of Covid-19 and help inform the nation...
Quantifying risk using FMEA: An alternate approach to AAPM TG-100 for scoring failures and evaluating clinical workflow.

ABSTRACT PURPOSE Renovation of the brachytherapy program at a leading cancer center utilized methods of the AAPM TG-100 report to objectively evaluate current clinical brachytherapy workflows and develop techniques for minimizing the risk of failures, increasing efficiency, and consequently providing opportunities for improved treatment quality. The TG-100 report guides evaluation of clinical workflows with recommendations for identifying potential failure modes (FM) and scoring them from the perspective of their occurrence frequency O, failure severity S, and inability to detect them D. The current study assessed the impact of differing methods to determine the risk priority number (RPN) beyond simple multiplication. METHODS AND MATERIALS The clinical workflow for a complex brachytherapy procedure was evaluated by a team of 15 staff members, who identified discrete FM using alternate scoring scales than those presented in the TG-100 report. These scales were expanded over all clinically relevant possibilities with care to emphasize mitigation of natural bias for scoring near the median range as well as to enhance the overall scoring-system sensitivity. Based on staff member perceptions, a more realistic measure of risk was determined using weighted functions of their scores. RESULTS This new method expanded the range of RPN possibilities by a factor of 86, improving evaluation and recognition of safe and efficient clinical workflows. Mean RPN values for each FM decreased by 44% when changing from the old to the new clinical workflow, as evaluated using the TG-100 method. This decreased by 66% when evaluated with the new method. As a measure of the total risk associated with an entire clinical workflow, the integral of RPN values increased by 15% and decreased by 31% with the TG-100 and new methods, respectively. CONCLUSIONS This appears to be the first application of an alternate approach to the TG-100 method for evaluating the risk of clinical workflows. It exemplifies the risk analysis techniques necessary to rapidly evaluate simple clinical workflows appropriately.
Enhancing online courses by utilizing “Backward Design”

One of the most important questions posed by faculty and curriculum designers is, what content should be included in my online course design? To answer this question, it is important to reflect on ...
Semi-empirical process-based models for ammonia emissions from beef, swine, and poultry operations in the United States

Abstract Farm-level ammonia emissions factors in the literature vary by an order of magnitude due to variations in manure management practices and meteorology, and it is essential to capture this variability in emission inventories used for atmospheric modeling. Loss of ammonia to the atmosphere is modeled here through a nitrogen mass balance with losses controlled by mass transfer resistance parameters, which vary with meteorological conditions and are tuned to match literature-reported emissions factors. Variations due to management practices are captured by having tuned parameters that are specific to each set of management practices. The resulting farm emissions models (FEMs) explain between 20% and 70% of the variability in published emissions factors and typically estimate emission factors within a factor of 2. The r2 values are: 0.53 for swine housing (0.67 for shallow-pit houses); 0.48 for swine storage; 0.29 for broiler chickens; 0.70 for layer chickens; and 0.21 for beef feedlots (0.36 for beef feedlots with more farm-specific input data). Mean fractional error was found to be 22–44% for beef feedlots, swine housing, and layer housing; fractional errors were greater for swine lagoons (90%) and broiler housing (69%). Unexplained variability and errors result from model limitations, measurement errors in reported emissions factors, and a lack of information about measurement conditions.
Performance Estimation for Scheduling on Shared Networks

This paper develops a framework to model the performance of parallel applications executing in a shared network computing environment. For sharing of a single computation node or network link, the actual performance is predicted, while for sharing of multiple nodes and links, performance bounds are developed. The methodology for building such a shared execution performance model is based on monitoring an application’s execution behavior and resource usage under controlled dedicated execution. The procedure does not require access to the source code and hence can be applied across programming languages and models. We validate our approach with experimental results with NAS benchmarks executed in different resource sharing scenarios on a small cluster. Applicability to more general scenarios, such as large clusters, memory and I/O bound programs and wide are networks, remain open questions that are included in the discussion. This paper makes the case that understanding and modeling application behavior is important for resource allocation and offers a promising approach to put that in practice.
Reassessing the Impact of Hispanic Stereotypes on White Americans' Immigration Preferences*

Objectives. There is disagreement in the literature on immigration attitudes regarding the relative importance of ethnic stereotypes and more general cultural and economic concerns about increasing immigration in the formation of those attitudes. We argue that the impact of stereotypes relative to these other factors may have been underestimated for a variety of reasons. Methods. We test the impact of stereotypes on immigration preferences in data from the Multi-Ethnic Module of the 2000 General Social Survey. Because the dependent variables analyzed herein are ordinal, we estimate ordered logistic regressions that correct for diagnosed hetereoskedacticity. Results. Statistical analyses confirm that negative stereotypes are a significantly larger predictor of ethnicity-specific immigration preferences relative to general attitudes about immigration. Intervening variables analyses also suggest that the impact of stereotypes has been underestimated relative to cultural and economic anxieties because these variables significantly mediate its observed impact. Conclusions. The results suggest that ethnic stereotypes are significantly more important in determining immigration preferences among Americans than has been reported in previous research.
Apple scab: role of environment in pathogen and epidemic development

Scab continues to be a serious disease in virtually all apple-producing regions worldwide despite the steady flow of research reports on its biology, epidemiology and management throughout this century (for a review see MacHardy, 1996). Largely due to these efforts, the disease has been satisfactorily managed but lasting solutions do not exist. Periodic outbreaks of problems with fungicide resistance (Koller, 1994) and the breakdown of resistance in scab-resistant cultivars (Parisi and Lespinasse, 1996) are constant reminders that scientists are only temporarily ahead of the pathogen.
Dynamic Processes at the Glass Transition

We will give an overview over the rich variety of dynamic processes in glass-forming materials. Dielectric spectra extending over more than 18 decades of frequency are presented and the time and temperature evolution of the basic spectral features associated with various dynamic processes are discussed in detail. Among them are the structural α-relaxation, the excess wing, the fast process in the GHz — THz region and the boson peak. The relevance of these features for glass formation is discussed.
Combining paper-and-pencil questionnaires and projective techniques to measure family distance regulation and interpersonal relatedness : An incremental validation study

This paper explores incremental and convergent validity through the combined use of a self-report paper-pencil instrument (known as the Family Intrusiveness Scale) and the Rorschach projective method. Both methodologies were employed to assess family processes vis-a-vis distance regulation and interpersonal relatedness. Evidence supporting the use of this mixed-method strategy was generated in the significant associations found between family intrusiveness and projective method subscale scores in the areas of cooperation and personalization. Future directions regarding the innovative use of mixed-method strategies in the family field are discussed.
Untangling the effects of shallow groundwater and soil texture as drivers of subfield-scale yield variability.

Water table depth (WTD), soil texture, and growing season weather conditions all play critical roles in determining agricultural yield; however, the interactions among these three variables have never been explored in a systematic way. Using a combination of field observations and biophysical modeling, we answer two questions: (1) under what conditions can a shallow water table provide a groundwater yield subsidy and/or penalty to corn production?; and (2) how do soil texture and growing season weather conditions influence the relationship between WTD and corn yield?. Subfield-scale yield patterns during a dry (2012) and wet (2013) growing season are used to identify sensitivity to weather. Areas of the field that are negatively impacted by wet growing seasons have the shallowest observed WTD ( 3 m) and coarse soil textures. Modeling results find that beneficial impacts of shallow groundwater are more common than negative impacts under the conditions studied, and that the optimum WTD is shallower in coarser soils. While groundwater yield subsidies have a higher frequency and magnitude in coarse-grained soils, the optimum WTD responds to growing season weather at a relatively constant rate across soil types. We conclude that soil texture defines a baseline upon which WTD and weather interact to determine overall yield. Our work has implications for water resource management, climate/land use change impacts on agricultural production, and precision agriculture.
Spontaneous closure of ventricular septal defects by aneurysmal formation of the membranous septum

Summary Two cases of aneurysmal formation of the membranous septum and spontaneous closure of a ventricular septal defect are reported. Various methods of spontaneous closure of ventricular septal defect are discussed. The mechanism of aneurysmal formation of the membranous septum and its role in spontaneous closure of defects are outlined.
The pharmacology and clinical use of diuretics in the treatment of hypertension

Abstract The use of diuretic agents has become an accepted and clinically proved method of pharmacological control of hypertension. The reason for blood pressure reduction with sodium depletion is not clarified, but a decrease in circulating plasma volume and change in electrolyte concentrations in the intracellular compartment probably are active factors. The use of diuretics potentiates the effects of other antihypertensive agents so that a significant reduction in their dose and side effects may be obtained. The diuretic agents in common use are the multiple thiazide derivatives and chlorthalidone. The thiazide agents may be used interchangeably in equivalently effective doses. The initial application of the diuretics frequently reduces blood pressure in a significant number of patients. However, the addition of other antihypertensive drugs is necessary in order to adequately control the blood pressure in most patients.
Temperature dependence of threshold voltage fluctuations in CMOS transistors incorporating halo implant

We report a device physics theory and compact model that predicts the threshold voltage mismatch for CMOS transistors using the halo implant. This model is able to fit CMOS VT mismatch across temperature and device geometry, validating the underlying physical argument. A bias method is presented and shown to recover part of the matching degradation due to the halo implant.
Influence of ions on the antigen-antibody complex formation as measured by radioimmunoassay

In this study, using radioimmunoassay techniques, we found that ions at concentrations in the order of 0.1 molar influence the antigen-antibody complex formation. The angiotensin I/anti-angiotensin I reaction was studied in detail. Particularly bivalent cations and anions with a strong chaotropic effect (SCN-, I- and ClO4-) were found to influence strongly the specific immunological reaction. However, NO3- had also a remarkably strong influence. We found that the equilibrium constant, rather than the number of binding sites of the antibody, is influenced by the ions. It should be borne in mind that relatively high concentrations of electrolyte (as compared with the concentrations of antigen and antibody) show this effect. Consequently, this effect is of less practical importance for routine radioimmunoassay than is, for example, the effect of pH. However, this phenomenon shows that the radioimmunoassay technique might be valuable not only for quantization of very low hormone concentrations in biological fluids, but has also important potential applications in physical and protein chemistry. Particularly, the high sensitivity of this technique and the possibility of studying a homogeneous reaction system might give it advantages over other techniques.
Molecular dynamics simulation of dislocation–void interactions in BCC Mo

Abstract Molecular dynamics (MD) and molecular statics (MS) simulations have been performed to simulate the motion of a screw dislocation and its interaction with voids in irradiated body centered cubic (BCC) Mo. Considering the unique non-planar core structures of the screw dislocation in BCC metals, the behavior of screw dislocation motion as a function of temperature and applied shear stress is first discussed. A transition from smooth to rough motion of the screw dislocation is observed with increasing shear stress, as well as a change of dislocation glide plane from {1 1 0} to {1 1 2} with increasing temperature. The interaction of a screw dislocation with nanometer-sized voids observed in both dynamic and static conditions is then reported. The obstacle strength calculated from MS calculations shows a large increase in critical resolved shear stress for void diameter larger than about 3 nm. However, the MD results indicate that the screw dislocation interaction with void occurs via a simple shear mechanism.
Electrocortical synchronization produced by unilateral intervention at the cervical cord level

Abstract 1. 1. Hemisection of the spinal cord, at C-1, or unilateral intraspinal injection of novocaine in acute experiments on cats, leads to an asymmetrical electrocorticogram. 2. 2. The asymmetry is due to preponderant electrocortical synchronization (ECS) on the hemisphere ipsilateral to the spinal intervention. 3. 3. A small contralateral ECS also usually results from unilateral interference at C-1. 4. 4. In some cases, ECS appears to be bilaterally equal, but various tests indicate the greater potentiality of the ipsilateral cortex for synchronization. 5. 5. These findings are considared in relation to similar predominantly, but not exclusively, ipsilateral ECS resulting from lesions and local anesthetization of the mesencephalon. 6. 6. A common mechanism resulting from impairment of the ascending reticular activating system might be responsible for both cord and mesencephalic asymmetries. Anatomical justification for such a possibility is cited.
The Changing Role of the British Protestant Missionaries in China, 1945-1952

This book examines the contradiction between Chinese perception of the missionary role and the missionaries' own perception of their role. It offers a critical assessment of the role of the missionaries in the country and sheds light on the magnitude of the problems inherent in cross-cultural encounters.
Crystal shape calculations of NLO organic materials

A program for crystal shape calculation on the basis of experimental data on molecular crystal structure was elaborated. The atom-atom potential method was used to calculate intermolecular energy, energy of molecular layers, attachment energy, and relative rates of crystal faces growth. Using this program the crystal shape of the well known NLO compound DIVA was calculated. The prospects for further development of prediction of NLO properties on the basis of known crystal structure by combination crystal hyperpolarizability and crystal shape calculations are discussed.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Dimension reduction and massless chiral fermions

Abstract Dimensional reduction of a Yang-Mills theory, when the space of extra dimensions is a compact homogeneous space, can lead to families of flavor chiral fermions. Using the Atiyah-Singer theorem we show that when representation mixing is neglected, some of these families can be massless even in the presence of a non-vanishing I = 1 2 Higgs field.
Lourdes: A uniquely Catholic approach to medicine.

As an American medical student, I spent the summer break between my first and second year in Lourdes, France, the site where the Immaculate Conception appeared eighteen times to St. Bernadette in 1858 as proclaimed approved by the Catholic Church and whose water is associated with over seven thousand unexplained cures. During this time I volunteered with St. Joseph's Service and Poste Secour, followed several medical teams taking care of large pilgrim groups, and shadowed Dr. Alessandro de Franciscis the president of Le Bureau des Constations Medicales, the office in Lourdes charged with investigating claims of miracles. Through my experiences, I found the mission of medicine in Lourdes to be twofold: to provide the critical care needed to give sick persons the chance to transform their experience of disease through their faith; and secondly, through the efforts of the Medical Bureau, to be an instrument by which we can comprehend the wonders of the work of God. I conclude that this twofold mission should...