cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Traumatic uterine rupture in three felids

Objective To describe 3 near-full-term, young-adult felids (2 domestic shorthair cats, and 1 bobcat [Lynx rufus]) that experienced uterine rupture following trauma. Series Summary Two of the animals had motor vehicular trauma and 1 had abdominal bite wounds. The 2 domestic cats that were treated with surgical exploration and ovariohysterectomy recovered uneventfully. The bobcat died during hospitalization prior to surgical intervention, and necropsy identified uterine rupture and associated peritonitis. Unique Information Provided Traumatic uterine rupture should be considered in known or suspected pregnant animals that experience blunt or penetrating trauma, particularly if they are in late-term pregnancy.
SU-C-204-06: Monte Carlo Dose Calculation for Kilovoltage X-Ray-Psoralen Activated Cancer Therapy (X-PACT): Preliminary Results

Purpose: X-PACT is an experimental cancer therapy where kV x-rays are used to photo-activate anti-cancer therapeutics through phosphor intermediaries (phosphors that absorb x-rays and re-radiate as UV light). Clinical trials in pet dogs are currently underway (NC State College of Veterinary Medicine) and an essential component is the ability to model the kV dose in these dogs. Here we report the commissioning and characterization of a Monte Carlo (MC) treatment planning simulation tool to calculate X-PACT radiation doses in canine trials. Methods: FLUKA multi-particle MC simulation package was used to simulate a standard X-PACT radiation treatment beam of 80kVp with the Varian OBI x-ray source geometry. The beam quality was verified by comparing measured and simulated attenuation of the beam by various thicknesses of aluminum (2–4.6 mm) under narrow beam conditions (HVL). The beam parameters at commissioning were then corroborated using MC, characterized and verified with empirically collected commissioning data, including: percent depth dose curves (PDD), back-scatter factors (BSF), collimator scatter factor(s), and heel effect, etc. All simulations were conducted for N=30M histories at M=100 iterations. Results: HVL and PDD simulation data agreed with an average percent error of 2.42%±0.33 and 6.03%±1.58, respectively. The mean square error (MSE) values for HVL and PDD (0.07% and 0.50%) were low, as expected; however, longer simulations are required to validate convergence to the expected values. Qualitatively, pre- and post-filtration source spectra matched well with 80kVp references generated via SPEKTR software. Further validation of commissioning data simulation is underway in preparation for first-time 3D dose calculations with canine CBCT data. Conclusion: We have prepared a Monte Carlo simulation capable of accurate dose calculation for use with ongoing X-PACT canine clinical trials. Preliminary results show good agreement with measured data and hold promise for accurate quantification of dose for this novel psoralen X-ray therapy. Funding Support, Disclosures, & Conflict of Interest: The Monte Carlo simulation work was not funded; Drs. Adamson & Oldham have received funding from Immunolight LLC for X-PACT research.
Whisking Kinematics Enables Object Localization in Head-Centered Coordinates Based on Tactile Information from a Single Vibrissa.

During active tactile exploration with their whiskers (vibrissae), rodents can rapidly orient to an object even though there are very few proprioceptors in the whisker muscles. Thus a long-standing question in the study of the vibrissal system is how the rat can localize an object in head-centered coordinates without muscle-based proprioception. We used a three-dimensional model of whisker bending to simulate whisking motions against a peg to investigate the possibility that the 3D mechanics of contact from a single whisker are sufficient for localization in head-centered coordinates. Results show that, for nearly all whiskers in the array, purely tactile signals at the whisker base – as would be measured by mechanoreceptors, in whisker-centered coordinates – could be used to determine the location of a vertical peg in head-centered coordinates. Both the “roll” and the “elevation” components of whisking kinematics contribute to the uniqueness and resolution of the localization. These results offer an explanation for a behavioral study showing that rats can more accurately determine the horizontal angle of an object if one column, rather than one row, of whiskers is spared.
Atom and Light

We have spent considerable effort learning about light and its properties, but light is most interesting when it interacts with matter. In this chapter we will learn about the structure of the atom and how atoms and molecules interact with light. This necessarily involves the quantum concept that underpins the microscopic world and revolutionized our understanding of nature. With this information in place we will tackle polarization and scattering of light (“why do sunglasses work?” and “why is the sky blue?”), and examine the longstanding claims that electromagnetic radiation harms the body.
Application of the Proper-Time Method to Non-Perturbative Effects in QED

This article is based on lectures given at the NATO Advanced Study Institute on Vacuum Structure in Intense Fields. Originally, the lectures also included a discussion of the production of scalar and pseudoscalar particles by a background field. Since this is very nearly textbook material, I have decided in this written version to concentrate on the topic of Schwinger’s proper time representation for the electron’s Green function and its possible application to the understanding of the GSI experiments. I have, however, attempted to retain the pedagogical flavor of the lectures as they were originally given.
From Bookshelves to Desktops

Klein explores the origins of the relationship between information and hate, an unlikely union that has steadily evolved over time through the practices of propaganda and innovations of media. The chapter traces the transformation of hate speech into an “informational form,” from books, to electronic media, into the computer age. Klein chronicles examples such as The Protocols of the Elders of Zion, a forgery whose pages purportedly evidenced the Jewish conspiracy to take over the world, as well as the Turner Diaries, a race war fantasy novel later cited as “inspiration” by Timothy McVeigh. Chapter 2 then introduces the early extremists who, in the 1990s, would launch the first hate websites, which currently receives upwards of 800,000 visitors each month.
A Practitioner’s Guide to End-of-Life Intimacy: Suggestions for Conceptualization and Intervention in Palliative Care:

Sexuality and intimacy, including contact, tenderness, and love, are important at every life stage. Intimate expression is especially vital at the end of life, when relationships with loved ones are time limited. Unfortunately, care providers often ignore the potential need for sexual expression, especially at the end of life. In this article, we consider current research on sexuality and end-of-life care and situate these two fields in an ecological framework. We explore how end-of-life sexuality and intimacy can be supported by practitioners in multiple nested contexts and provide suggestions for theoretically-driven interventions. We also provide reflexive considerations for practitioners.
Mythbusters: Examining Rape Myth Acceptance Among U.S. University Students

This study examined rape myth acceptance among 727 university students from 21 U.S. institutions with the updated Illinois Rape Myth Acceptance scale. Findings showed sorority members rejected rape myths at greater rates than non-sorority members, but fraternity members were similar to non-fraternity members. Higher rape myth acceptance was associated with males, younger ages, lower GPAs, greater religiosity, greater alcohol consumption, and not knowing a victim of a sexual assault. Research and policy implications are discussed.
Next generation terminology infrastructure to support interprofessional care planning.

Abstract Objective Develop a prototype of an interprofessional terminology and information model infrastructure that can enable care planning applications to facilitate patient-centered care, learn care plan linkages and associations, provide decision support, and enable automated, prospective analytics. Design The study steps included a 3 step approach: (1) Process model and clinical scenario development, and (2) Requirements analysis, and (3) Development and validation of information and terminology models. Results Components of the terminology model include: Health Concerns, Goals, Decisions, Interventions, Assessments, and Evaluations. A terminology infrastructure should: (A) Include discrete care plan concepts; (B) Include sets of profession-specific concerns, decisions, and interventions; (C) Communicate rationales, anticipatory guidance, and guidelines that inform decisions among the care team; (D) Define semantic linkages across clinical events and professions; (E) Define sets of shared patient goals and sub-goals, including patient stated goals; (F) Capture evaluation toward achievement of goals. These requirements were mapped to AHRQ Care Coordination Measures Framework. Limitations This study used a constrained set of clinician-validated clinical scenarios. Terminology models for goals and decisions are unavailable in SNOMED CT, limiting the ability to evaluate these aspects of the proposed infrastructure. Conclusions Defining and linking subsets of care planning concepts appears to be feasible, but also essential to model interprofessional care planning for common co-occurring conditions and chronic diseases. We recommend the creation of goal dynamics and decision concepts in SNOMED CT to further enable the necessary models. Systems with flexible terminology management infrastructure may enable intelligent decision support to identify conflicting and aligned concerns, goals, decisions, and interventions in shared care plans, ultimately decreasing documentation effort and cognitive burden for clinicians and patients.
Performance of Anti-Factor Xa Versus Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time for Heparin Monitoring Using Multiple Nomograms:

The purpose of this study was to compare the performance of anti-factor Xa concentration versus activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) monitoring with multiple indication-specific heparin nomograms. This was a prospective, nonrandomized study with historical control at a large academic medical center. A total of 201 patients who received intravenous heparin in the cardiology units were included. The prospective cohort included patients (n = 101) with anti-factor Xa (anti-Xa) monitoring, and the historical control group included patients (n = 100) who had aPTT monitoring. Patients in the prospective group had both anti-Xa and aPTT samples drawn, but anti-Xa was used for dosing adjustment. The anti-Xa cohort achieved a significantly faster time to therapeutic range ( P < .01) and required fewer dose adjustments per 24-hour period compared to the aPTT control ( P = .01). Results were consistent across heparin nomograms. The overall discordance rate between the 2 tests was 49%. No significant differences in clinical outcomes were observed. In summary, anti-Xa monitoring improved the time to therapeutic anticoagulation and led to fewer dose adjustments compared to the aPTT with multiple indication-based heparin nomograms.
The publishing dynamics of catastrophic events: Research Articles

This article studies the effect that two major disasters, the Three Mile Island nuclear disaster and the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, had on the publishing world. We expect consumer publishing to concentrate on major events as they unfold. The technical and scholarly publishing world, however, is believed to progress and develop in conjunction with the growth of science, as established in bibliometric laws. Articles about these disasters were tracked in four bibliographic databases representing scholarly, technical-scholarly, technical, and consumer literature. Several analyses of the data revealed that each body of literature responds in its own way to disasters and anniversaries of events affect publishing, other than government-sponsored research. More focused databases have a more highly correlated response to disasters than broad-based databases. Comparison to two previously published studies of fast-growing literatures reveals that while some measures are consistent, disasters experience participation from a larger number of researchers with publications spread across a broader base of journal titles. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The Special Collections Handbook. 2nd ed

The Special Collections Handbook by Alison Cullingford potentially puts everything that a librarian would need in a concise overview and additional resources on the web at one’s fingertips.
Postracism Mythology: NBA Commissioner Adam Silver’s “Heroic” Banishment of Racism From the NBA:

On April 29, 2014, National Basketball Association (NBA) Commissioner Adam Silver delivered a press conference in which he fined the then-owner of the Los Angeles (L.A.) Clippers, Donald Sterling, ...
Polybrene-induced platelet agglutination and reduction in electrophoretic mobility: enhancement by von Willebrand factor and inhibition by vancomycin

It has recently been reported that the polycation Polybrene (hexadimethrine bromide), like ristocetin, agglutinates platelets more extensively in the presence of normal plasma than von Willebrand plasma. Since we have previously proposed that ristocetin may initiate agglutination by reducing platelet surface charge, I investigated the correlation between Polybrene's ability to induce agglutination and alter platelet electrophoretic mobility. In the absence of plasma, low concentrations of Polybrene produced small platelet aggregates and reduced the electrophoretic mobility. Higher concentrations were needed to produce small platelet aggregates in the presence of von Willebrand plasma; these same concentrations produced more rapid agglutination and much larger aggregates in the presence of normal plasma. The reductions in electrophoretic mobility were also greater in the presence of normal than von Willebrand plasma. Both agglutination and the reduction in mobility could be partially reversed with citrate. Vancomycin, an antibiotic that inhibits ristocetin-induced agglutination with some specificity, inhibited both Polybrene-induced agglutination and the reductions in platelet mobility. These data are consistent with our electrostatic model and support the view that reductions of platelet surface charge may be necessary (but perhaps not sufficient) to initiate the interaction between platelets and von Willebrand factor.
Deforestation of the Ecuadorian Amazon: Characterizing Patterns and Associated Drivers of Change

Beginning in the mid-1970s, spontaneous colonization occurred in the Oriente region of the northeastern Ecuadorian Amazon (Figure 48.1), made possible on petroleum industry roads that increased the geographic accessibility of land to migrants. Settlers seeking access to land began transforming primary and secondary forest to agricultural crops and pasture on rectangular household farms, or fincas, measuring approximately 50 ha in size and organized in a “piano-key” pattern. In addition to individual farm dwellings, clusters of dwellings also evolved around major road intersections and petroleum encampments, and sometimes grew into market towns. Lago Agrio is the largest city in the region, but still with only about 30,000 people in 2000.
A survey of circuit-level soft error mitigation methodologies

Soft errors created due to propagation of single event transients are a significant reliability challenge in modern VLSI. With advances in CMOS technology scaling, circuits become increasingly more sensitive to transient pulses caused by energetic particles. This work reviews some popular circuit level SET mitigation techniques developed for combinational logic and compares them with respect to area, power and delay overheads.
РЕНТГЕНОСПЕКТРАЛЬНЫЙ МИКРОАНАЛИЗ ЭЛЕКТРОИСКРОВЫХ ПОКРЫТИЙ НА ОСНОВЕ ВОЛЬФРАМСОДЕРЖАЩИХ ЭЛЕКТРОЭРОЗИОННЫХ ПОРОШКОВ

The development of modern engineering requires improving the quality, reliability and durability of parts, components and mechanisms. One of the effective ways to solve these problems is the use of various functional coatings, including the method of electrospark alloying (EIL). The main electrode materials are mainly sintered hard alloys, the cost of which, due to the presence of expensive tungsten, is relatively high. One of the promising methods for producing powder from almost any conductive material, including solid alloy and high-speed steel waste, is the method of electroerosion dispersion (EED), characterized by relatively low energy costs and environmental cleanliness of the process. The purpose of this work was to conduct x-ray Microspectral microanalysis of the electrospark coating obtained by electrospark alloying on the UR-121 installation with the use of electrodes from a mixture of electroerosion powders of the VK8 (90%)+P6M5 (10%) brand obtained by electroerosion dispersion of solid alloy and high-speed steel waste in kerosene lighting. The electrode was obtained by mixing the powders in the ratio VK-8 (90%) + R6M5(10%), Electrospark coatings formed by the electrode on a sample of steel 30HGSA received at the installation UR-121 (production of the company PELM, Podolsk). In order to identify the distribution of elements on the surface of the electrospark coatings, with the help of energy-dispersion analyzer of x-ray radiation of the company EDAX, built into the raster electron microscope "QUANTA 200 3D", the spectra of the characteristic x-ray radiation at various points on the surface of the sample were obtained. On the basis of experimental studies aimed at conducting x-ray Microspectral microanalysis of the electrospark coating obtained by electrospark alloying on the installation UR-121 with the use of electrodes from a mixture of electroerosion powders of the brand VK8 (90%)+P6M5 (10%) obtained by electroerosion dispersion of solid alloy waste and high-speed steel in kerosene lighting, the content of the main elements in it is determined.
The Births of Political Resistance and Biological Philosophy Out of the Spirit of Medicine: Error in the Early Years

This chapter considers the transformations the young Canguilhem experienced in the 1930s, while providing insight into the continuity of commitments that drove these changes. Beginning from his vehement attacks on vitalist philosophy, I argue that his reading of Alain’s The Gods together with the school of human geography led him to an enduring appreciation of such philosophy, no longer as a false, bellicose doctrine, but a belief attuned to life in particular human and natural worlds. This fits with his early medical conception of philosophy and unique form of Marxism. These different interests, I show, culminated initially in his pamphlet on Fascism and Peasants. From the start, I argue, the problem of error frames Canguilhem’s work, even as its significance for him changes over time.
Shared-memory parallelization of MTTKRP for dense tensors

The matricized-tensor times Khatri-Rao product (MTTKRP) is the computational bottleneck for algorithms computing CP decompositions of tensors. In this work, we develop shared-memory parallel algorithms for MTTKRP involving dense tensors. The algorithms cast nearly all of the computation as matrix operations in order to use optimized BLAS subroutines, and they avoid reordering tensor entries in memory. We use our parallel implementation to compute a CP decomposition of a neuroimaging data set and achieve a speedup of up to 7.4X over existing parallel software.
Discount functions and the use of the memoryless property in dynamic economic analysis

Maximizing a stream of present value stock often requires the use of dynamic economic analysis. To bring all future values into present value terms, we use the discount function. I present a pedagogical supplement to show that this discount function must follow an exponential distribution. This paper serves as a helpful tool to all instructors and graduate students that use discounting functions. It offers to describe the discount function from a different perspective that could make the interpretation of the discount function more easily understandable.
The perceived masculinity of meat: development and testing of a measure across social class and gender

Numerous studies demonstrate a link between meat and masculinity, with men being more likely to eat or express a preference for meat. Other studies provide theoretical explanations of linkages betw...
α-Synuclein facilitates clathrin assembly in synaptic vesicle endocytosis

Abstract α-Synuclein plays a central role in Parkinson’s disease (PD); hence, elucidating its normal physiological function(s) is important. α-Synuclein and family members β-, and γ-synuclein, are presynaptically enriched proteins. Synucleins sense and generate membrane curvature, properties consistent with their described roles in synaptic vesicle (SV) cycling. We have previously shown SV endocytosis (SVE) deficits in αβγ-synuclein knockout (KO) neurons. Here, we investigate which steps of SVE are regulated by α-synuclein. Immuno-electron microscopy (EM) of synaptosomes reveals that α-synuclein relocalizes from SVs to the synaptic membrane upon stimulation, allowing α-synuclein to function there during or after stimulation. Using membrane recruitment assays, we show that α-synuclein is co-localized with clathrin patches. We also observe that recruitment of clathrin and its adaptor, AP180, to synaptic membranes is altered in the absence of synucleins. Visualizing clathrin assembly on membranes in an in vitro reconstitution system reveal that synucleins increase clathrin patch size and curvature, facilitating clathrin coated pit maturation during the early steps of SVE. Summary Synucleins can sense and generate membrane curvature. We previously showed that synuclein null mice exhibit deficits in synaptic vesicle endocytosis. Here, Vargas et al. provide evidence that α-synuclein functions specifically in clathrin assembly during early steps of synaptic vesicle endocytosis.
Assessment of near-term fuel screening and qualification needs for nuclear thermal propulsion systems

Abstract Nuclear thermal propulsion (NTP) is an in-space propulsion technology capable of both high specific impulse (850–1000 s) and thrust (44–1112 kN), which can help reduce trip times for crewed missions beyond low Earth orbit. NTP technology has been demonstrated during historic programs. Over 20 ground test reactor experiments were performed, which demonstrated the prototypic reactor operations, during the Nuclear Engine for Rocket Vehicle Application (NERVA)/Rover program (1955–1972). Although historical programs have shown that NTP is a viable in-space propulsion technology, developing NTP in modern programs is contingent on the development and qualification of ultrahigh-temperature nuclear fuel technologies that can withstand engine operating conditions. In historical NTP development programs such as NERVA/Rover, prototypic reactor/engine schemes were ground tested to assess the overall system feasibility and to qualify the reactor fuel forms for eventual flight systems. Although this approach is effective to verify fuel performance under prototypic conditions, relying solely on full-scale NTP reactor tests as the pathway for verifying or qualifying fuel is inefficient and cost prohibitive today. Additionally, modern nuclear licensing requirements state that before test reactor approval, reactor components and fuel elements should be qualified via non-nuclear (out-of-pile) and nuclear (in-pile) testing under representative operating conditions. Using this methodology, fuel matures as production scale fabrication methods are established, and as produced fuel performance is demonstrated. This paper provides an overview of historical approaches to NTP fuel performance maturation, including fuel screening and qualification needs, and provides insight for establishing an efficient testing paradigm that can be implemented to rapidly and affordably develop NTP fuel forms for eventual qualification.
A Preliminary Investigation of Whether HRCA Signals Can Differentiate Between Swallows from Healthy People and Swallows from People with Neurodegenerative Diseases.

High-resolution cervical auscultation (HRCA) is an emerging method for non-invasively assessing swallowing by using acoustic signals from a contact microphone, vibratory signals from an accelerometer, and advanced signal processing and machine learning techniques. HRCA has differentiated between safe and unsafe swallows, predicted components of the Modified Barium Swallow Impairment Profile, and predicted kinematic events of swallowing such as hyoid bone displacement, laryngeal vestibular closure, and upper esophageal sphincter opening with a high degree of accuracy. However, HRCA has not been used to characterize swallow function in specific patient populations. This study investigated the ability of HRCA to differentiate between swallows from healthy people and people with neurodegenerative diseases. We hypothesized that HRCA would differentiate between swallows from healthy people and people with neurodegenerative diseases with a high degree of accuracy. We analyzed 170 swallows from 20 patients with neurodegenerative diseases and 170 swallows from 51 healthy age-matched adults who underwent concurrent video fluoroscopy with non-invasive neck sensors. We used a linear mixed model and several supervised machine learning classifiers that use HRCA signal features and a leave-one-out procedure to differentiate between swallows. Twenty-two HRCA signal features were statistically significant (p < 0.05) for predicting whether swallows were from healthy people or from patients with neurodegenerative diseases. Using the HRCA signal features alone, logistic regression and decision trees classified swallows between the two groups with 99% accuracy, 100% sensitivity, and 99% specificity. This provides preliminary research evidence that HRCA can differentiate swallow function between healthy and patient populations.
Identifying Optimal Loci for the Molecular Diagnosis of Microsatellite Instability.

Background Microsatellite instability (MSI) predicts oncological response to checkpoint blockade immunotherapies. Although microsatellite mutation is pathognomonic for the condition, loci have unequal diagnostic value for predicting MSI within and across cancer types. Methods To better inform molecular diagnosis of MSI, we examined 9438 tumor-normal exome pairs and 901 whole genome sequence pairs from 32 different cancer types and cataloged genome-wide microsatellite instability events. Using a statistical framework, we identified microsatellite mutations that were predictive of MSI within and across cancer types. The diagnostic accuracy of different subsets of maximally informative markers was estimated computationally using a dedicated validation set. Results Twenty-five cancer types exhibited hypermutated states consistent with MSI. Recurrently mutated microsatellites associated with MSI were identifiable in 15 cancer types, but were largely specific to individual cancer types. Cancer-specific microsatellite panels of 1 to 7 loci were needed to attain ≥95% diagnostic sensitivity and specificity for 11 cancer types, and in 8 of the cancer types, 100% sensitivity and specificity were achieved. Breast cancer required 800 loci to achieve comparable performance. We were unable to identify recurrent microsatellite mutations supporting reliable MSI diagnosis in ovarian tumors. Features associated with informative microsatellites were cataloged. Conclusions Most microsatellites informative for MSI are specific to particular cancer types, requiring the use of tissue-specific loci for optimal diagnosis. Limited numbers of markers are needed to provide accurate MSI diagnosis in most tumor types, but it is challenging to diagnose breast and ovarian cancers using predefined microsatellite locus panels.
Book Review: Constitutional Identity and Change

Book review of Constitutional Theocracy by Ran Hirschl, Constitutional Identity by Gary Jeffrey Jacobsohn, and Why the Constitution Matters by Mark Tushnet.
Computational structural genomics unravels common folds and predicted functions in the secretome of fungal phytopathogen Magnaporthe oryzae

Abstract Magnaporthe oryzae relies on a diverse collection of secreted effector proteins to reprogram the host metabolic and immune responses for the pathogen’s benefit. Characterization of the effectors is thus critical for understanding the biology and host infection mechanisms of this phytopathogen. In rapid, divergent effector evolution, structural information has the potential to illuminate the unknown aspects of effectors that sequence analyses alone cannot reveal. It has recently become feasible to reliably predict the protein structures without depending on homologous templates. In this study, we tested structure modeling on 1854 secreted proteins from M. oryzae and evaluated success and obstacles involved in effector structure prediction. With sensitive homology search and structure-based clustering, we defined both distantly related homologous groups and structurally related analogous groups. With this dataset, we propose sequence-unrelated, structurally similar effectors are a common theme in M. oryzae and possibly in other phytopathogens. We incorporated the predicted models for structure-based annotations, molecular docking and evolutionary analyses to demonstrate how the predicted structures can deepen our understanding of effector biology. We also provide new experimentally testable structure-derived hypotheses of effector functions. Collectively, we propose that computational structural genomic approaches can now be an integral part of studying effector biology and provide valuable resources that were inaccessible before the advent of reliable, machine learning-based structure prediction.
Outcomes of the keystone perforator island flap for oncologic reconstruction of the back.

Background Coverage of posterior trunk defects after tumor resection can be challenging due to the intricate anatomy. The keystone perforator island flap (KPIF) provides coverage of the defect without the need for distant flap coverage or microsurgery, matches the recipient's skin color and contour, and requires a short operative time. Methods A retrospective review of all oncological back reconstructions with KPIF was performed at our institution. The patient comorbidities and surgical outcomes were collected. Results A total of 17 patients underwent 20 KPIF (15 single and 2 double) for back reconstruction. Surgical indications were sarcoma (n = 12) and melanoma (n = 5). The mean age at surgery was 47.3 years (SD 23.3). The flaps were located in the upper back (n = 8), paraspinal (n = 4), middle back (n = 6), and lower back (n = 2). The average wound size after sarcoma and melanoma excision were 231.6 ± 297.4 and 156.7 ± 269.7 cm2 , respectively. Four patients required an additional planned skin graft and one patient underwent a simultaneous myocutaneous latissimus dorsi flap. The mean operative time, including tumor resection, was 256 min (SD 118). The median length-of-hospital stay was 3 days (Q1-3: 1-6.5) and the median follow-up time was 35.3 months (Q1-3: 13.3-53.1). All flaps survived with minor surgical complications which included hematoma (n = 1), surgical site infection requiring debridement (n = 1), superficial wound dehiscence (n = 1), cellulitis (n = 1), and seroma (n = 1). The reconstructions were successful in 100% of patients. Conclusions The KPIF is a reliable and safe option for reconstruction of oncological back defects with minimal perioperative complications. This flap option avoids the use of free flaps and myocutaneous flaps for moderate-sized back defects.
Recruiting Persons to Work the Polls

We offer and test an expanded explanation for poll worker recruitment that focuses on how efficiency gains associated with in-person early voting and Election Day vote centers, worker compensation,...
Ayya's Accounts: A Ledger of Hope in Modern India, by Anand Pandian and M.P. Mariappan

Ayya's Accounts is at once a mesmerising memoir of an ordinary man's life and an anthropologist's revealing examination of the astounding changes experienced by persons and families over a century ...
Development of catalysts for hydrogen production through the integration of steam reforming of methane and high temperature water gas shift

Abstract There is great concern about the increasing demand for energy with respect to carbon emissions, but hydrogen (H2), a clean fuel, could help alleviate this concern. The replacement of fossil fuels with H2 is cost prohibitive, but integration of SRM (steam reforming of methane) and WGS (water gas shift) could greatly decrease production costs. A composite catalyst of nickel, cerium, zirconium, and zinc was designed to provide activity in both the SRM and WGS reactions. The catalysts were characterized by a variety of techniques including BET (Brunauer Emmett Teller), TEM (transmission electron microscopy), SEM (scanning electron microscopy), TGA (thermogravimetric analysis), and XRD (X-ray diffraction). It was found that the addition of zinc decreased the surface area, and therefore activity of the SRM reaction, although it increased WGS activity as observed by improved carbon dioxide selectivity and H2 production. Zinc also increased resistance to carbon deposition. Additionally, aging of precipitates during catalyst synthesis improved stability. A Ce/Zr/Zn catalyst doped with 10% Ni and aged for 2 h was found to have a final conversion of nearly 20% at 650 °C, and high CO2 selectivity around 55%. This catalyst is an important step in the emerging field of low temperature SRM, a field that could lead to a reduction in carbon emissions.
Hierarchies and the Survival of POWs during WWII

Using a comprehensive database of American prisoners of war (POWs) during World War II, we find that survival from captivity generally declines as the hierarchy of a prisoner’s group becomes steeper or more closely matches the military’s established hierarchy. There is no evidence that survival is enhanced by being held in more hierarchical groups. One interpretation of these findings which is consistent with survivors’ accounts is that the military’s hierarchy was too inflexible to adapt from the battlefield to captivity and this inflexibility impeded trading among the prisoners.
CpG methylated minichromosomes become inaccessible for V(D)J recombination after undergoing replication.

Abstract The physical parameters controlling the accessibility of antigen receptor loci to the V(D)J recombination activity are unknown. We have used minichromosome substrates to study the role that CpG methylation might play in controlling V(D)J recombination site accessibility. We find that CpG methylation decreases the V(D)J recombination of these substrates more than 100-fold. The decrease correlates with a considerable increase in resistance to endonuclease digestion of the methylated minichromosome DNA. The minichromosomes acquire resistance to both the intracellular V(D)J recombinase and exogenous endonuclease only after DNA replication. Therefore, CpG methylation specifies a chromatin structure that, upon DNA replication, is resistant to eukaryotic site-specific recombination. These findings are important to V(D)J recombination as well as to the chromatin assembly of methylated DNA during replication.
A simple and efficient strategy for solving very large-scale generalized cable-trench problems

Vasko et al., Comput Oper Res 29 2002, 441-458 defined the cable-trench problem CTP as a combination of the Shortest Path and Minimum Spanning Tree Problems. Specifically, let G=V,i¾źE be a connected weighted graph with specified vertex v1∈V referred to as the root, length lei¾ź0 for each e∈E, and positive parameters i¾ź and γ. The CTP is the problem of finding a spanning tree T of G such that i¾źli¾źT+γlγT is minimized, where li¾źT is the total length of the spanning tree T and lγT is the total path length in T from v1 to all other vertices of V. Recently, Jiang et al., Proceedings of MICCAI 6893 2011, 528-536 modeled the vascular network connectivity problem in medical image analysis as an extraordinarily large-scale application of the generalized cable-trench problem GCTP. They proposed an efficient solution based on a modification of Prim's algorithm MOD_PRIM, but did not elaborate on it. In this article, we formally define the GCTP, describe MOD_PRIM in detail, and describe two linearly parallelizable metaheuristics which significantly improve the performance of MOD_PRIM. These metaheuristics are capable of finding near-optimal solutions of very large GCTPs in quadratic time in |V|. We also give empirical results for graphs with up to 25,001 vertices. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. NETWORKS, Vol. 673, 199-208 2016
The X-ray View of AGN -- Overview

Recent ASCA and ROSAT X-ray observations of active galaxies have revealed a host of new data on the fundamental properties of active galaxies. Amongst these are the discovery and characterization of absorption by ionized gas in Seyfert-I galaxies (the "warm absorber") , the discovery and parameterization of broad Fe K lines which originate in the central 100 Schwarzschild radii, a substantial modification in the form of the ionization continuum from previous models and the absence of X-ray emission from broad absorption line quasars. We briefly summarize the present observational situation and indicate where this field might progress in the next few years with the enhanced capabilities of AXAF, XMM and Astro-E.
Model Building and Forecasting with ARIMA Processes

In this chapter we shall examine the problem of selecting an appropriate model for a given set of observations n{X t , t = 1,…, n} data (a) exhibits no apparent deviations from stationarity and (b) has a rapidly decreasing autocorrelation function, we shall seek a suitable ARMA process to represent the mean-corrected data. If not, then we shall first look for a transformation of the data which generates a new series with the properties (a) and (b). This can frequently be achieved by differencing, leading us to consider the class of ARIMA (autoregressive-integrated moving average) processes which is introduced in Section 9.1. Once the data has been suitably transformed, the problem becomes one of finding a satisfactory ARMA(p, q) model, and in particular of choosing (or identifying) p and q. The sample autocorrelation and partial autocorrelation functions and the preliminary estimators \({\hat \phi _m}\) and \({\hat \theta _m}\) of Sections 8.2 and 8.3 can provide useful guidance in this choice. However our prime criterion for model selection will be the AICC, a modified version of Akaike’s AIC, which is discussed in Section 9.3. According to this criterion we compute maximum likelihood estimators of φ, θ and σ2 for a variety of competing p and q values and choose the fitted model with smallest AICC value. Other techniques, in particular those which use the R and S arrays of Gray et al. (1978), are discussed in the recent survey of model identification by de Gooijer et al. (1985).
Quantum decay. A watched pot boils quicker

The quantum Zeno effect is the idea that the decay of an unstable quantum state — such as a radioactive atom — can be stopped by frequently repeated observations. It is now suggested that the exact opposite effect may be more common.
Climate Change and Business Law in the United States: Using Procurement, Pay, and Policy Changes to Influence Corporate Behaviour

This article proposes that the US President bypass Congress, which has failed to implement climate change legislation, and enact executive orders to (1) use its power as the largest buyer of goods and services to strengthen green procurement standards and (2) add requirements of audited executive attestations and clawbacks of executive and board compensation for failure to adhere to certain sustainability standards for government contractors.
Beyond cost, schedule and performance: Managing system-of-systems programs

Project management theory has not advanced beyond that developed in the mid-20th century, even as project management practice struggles with managing complex systems development. Cost, schedule and performance are insufficient management focal points in the challenged world of system-of-systems development. Acknowledging the systems aspect in managing projects, and the problem solving methodologies of systems engineering provides a basis rooted in engineering to address the challenges of the system-of-systems program management. This paper is a survey of systems, management and the cognitive sciences. The intent is to identify system-of-systems management focal points that go beyond the methodism approach to project management prevalent today.
A comparison of wind prediction models for transitional flow regimes using full-scale hurricane data

Abstract Observations of high-resolution wind speed data from two US Atlantic Coast hurricanes are used to compare several models for evaluating the effect a terrain change on the mean and gust wind speeds at 10 m height. The results indicate that these models tend to overestimate the increase in speed at 10 m height induced by a transition from a rougher to a smoother terrain. This is conservative for design purposes, but may be unnecessarily so.
Characteristics of Residual Mixing Noise From Internal Fan/Core Mixers

The jet mixing noise from two fan/core mixer nozzles is studied. Acoustic data from two fan/core mixer nozzles are analyzed to determine the properties of the noise signatures. It was assumed that there were three major contributors to the total noise signature: noise from mixing of the fan and core streams internal to the nozzle; noise from residual mixing of the fan and core streams external to the nozzle; and the noise associated with the fully mixed jet. In general, the low frequency portion of the noise spectra can be associated with the fully mixed jet and can be predicted using an empirical correlation for single round nozzle jet noise. The properties of the noise in excess of the fully mixed levels are studied.
The third world and the new world order in the 1990s

Abstract This article examines how well the developing countries fared at the end of the 1980s; identifies contemporary constraints on growth and development in developing formations; and makes projections on the future of Third World economies in view of the developments discussed.
An automatic hierarchical image classification scheme

Organizing images into semantic categories can be extremely useful for searching and browsing through large collections of images. Not much work has been done on automatic image classification, however. In this paper, we propose a method for hierarchical classification of images via supervised learning. This scheme relies on using a good low-level feature and subsequently performing feature-space reconfiguration using singular value decomposition to reduce noise and dimensionality. We use the training data to obtain a hierarchical classification tree that can be used to categorize new images. Our experimental results suggest that this scheme not only performs better than standard nearest-neighbor techniques, but also has both storage and computational advantages.
The influence of finasteride on the volume of the peripheral and periurethral zones of the prostate in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia

To determine the influence of androgen deprivation induced by the potent 5 alpha-reductase inhibitor finasteride on the volume of the zones of the prostate, 20 symptomatic men with established BPH were randomized to one of three groups: placebo, finasteride 1 mg, and finasteride 5 mg/day. The volume of the entire prostate gland, periurethral zone, and peripheral zone and the seminal vesicles were determined by three dimensional reconstructions of magnetic resonance contoured images of the prostate. There was no significant difference between the results achieved with 1 and 5 mg of finasteride per day; thus the results in these two groups were combined. In the placebo group there was no significant change in the volume of any structure. Following treatment for 1 year with finasteride there was a significant (P < 0.02) 17% decrease in total gland size (11.5 +/- 3.2 cc). Similarly, there was a significant (P < 0.02) 17% decrease in total gland size (11.5 +/- 3.2 cc). Similarly, there was a significant (P < 0.03) decrease in the size of the periurethral zone of the prostate (6.2 +/- 3 cc). Although there was also a decrease in the size of the peripheral zone of the prostate (2.8 +/- 1.2 cc) this did not reach statistical significance. There was no significant change in the volume of the seminal vesicles. These findings indicate for the first time that androgen deprivation induces a significant decrease in the size of the periurethral zone of the prostate in men with established BPH.
Histopathologic evaluation of prolonged intracortical electrical stimulation

Chronic stimulating microelectrodes fabricated from platinum-30% iridium (Pt-30%Ir) or activated iridium were implanted in assemblies of three in the left sensorimotor cortex of the cat and pulsed continuously at currents of 10 to 320 microA (100 to 3200 microC/cm2 X ph, 2 to 64 nC/ph) for periods of 24 h or for 23 h/day for 7 days. The microelectrodes had beveled tips with uninsulated geometric surface areas of 20 X 10(-6) cm2. Neuronal activity evoked by the focal stimulation was monitored by recording compound action potentials from the ipsilateral pyramidal tract. By this criterion neuronal activation thresholds were 5 to 15 microA (50 to 150 microC/cm2 X ph, 1 to 3 nC/ph) for both types of electrodes. Histologic evaluations of tissue surrounding the electrode tips were carried out by either light or electron microscopy. No neural damage was induced by 24 or 161 h of pulsing using either type of electrode at currents of 10 to 80 microA. Neural damage attributable to electrical stimulation per se was observed in a few sites pulsed with 320 microA (3200 microC/cm2 X ph, 64 nC/ph, 16 A/cm2) with Pt-30%Ir but not activated iridium electrodes of the same size. Electrode dissolution appears to be best correlated with charge density and current density. Dissolution of the Pt-30%Ir microelectrode tip was observed by scanning electron microscopy at charge densities as low as 200 microC/cm2 X ph (1 A/cm2), whereas erosion of activated iridium microelectrodes occurred only at the highest charge and current densities (3200 microC/cm2 X ph, 16 A/cm2). Thus, the activated iridium electrode is superior to Pt-30%Ir for chronic stimulations, from the standpoint of electrode tip stability, because with the former, in contrast to the alloy, detectable erosion occurred only at an intensity well above that required for activation of nearby neurons.
Properties of the chemically characterized thallium cuprate superconductors

Abstract Thallium cuprates have been chemically characterized by adopting simple wet-chemical procedures for the determination of Tl and oxygen contents. The oxidation of the CuO 2 sheets in the Tl 2− y Ba 2 Ca n −1 Cu n O 2 n +4− x family is primarily due to (i) an overlap of the Tl-6s band with the conduction bond of the CuO 2 sheets for smaller y ≈0.0 and (ii) Tl vacancies for larger y ≈0.5. In the intermediate region 0 y y . The unusual situation of a partially filled Tl-6s band causes an extrusion of Tl from the lattice as Tl 2 O 3 upon exposure to air above 70°C. This remarkable observation will have important consequences for processing. In contrast, the Tl 1− y Ba 2 Ca n −1 Cu n O 2 n +3− x family does not have a partially filled Tl-6s band is stable to oxidation without any Tl extrusion. Thallium cuprates have an oxygen deficiency in the Tl 2 O 2 layers unlike the analogous bismuth cuprates, which have excess oxygen in the Bi 2 O 2+ x layer. The origin of the orthorhombicity, which appears after low-temperature Tl extrusion in the Tl 2− y Ba 2 CuO 6− x system, appears to be due to an ordered extrusion of “TlO” units that may be stabilized by a cooperative tilting of CuO 6 octahedra.