cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Microstructure-statistics-property relations of anisotropic polydisperse particulate composites using tomography.

Abstract : In this paper, a systematic method is presented for developing microstructure-statistics-property relations of anisotropic polydisperse particulate composites using micro-computer tomography (micro-CT). Micro-CT is used to obtain a detailed three-dimensional representation of the polydisperse microstructures, and a novel image processing pipeline is developed for identifying particles. In this work, particles are modeled as idealized shapes in order to guide the image processing steps and to provide a description of the discrete micro-CT dataset in continuous Euclidean space. N-point probability functions used to describe the morphology of the mixtures are calculated directly from real microstructures. The statistical descriptors are employed in the Hashin-Shtrikman variational principle to compute overall anisotropic bounds and self-consistent estimates of the thermal conductivity tensor. We make no assumptions of statistical isotropy nor ellipsoidal symmetry, and the microstructural description is obtained directly from micro-CT data. Various mixtures consisting of polydisperse ellipsoidal and spherical particles are prepared and studied to show how the morphology impacts the overall anisotropic thermal conductivity tensor.
Human occlusofacial form commonality: Race‐related traits, Ontogeny, paedomorphism, and functional correlates

Previous cephalometric studies of occlusofacial angular and metric data show small variability within and between population samples of Caucasian children and adults. Comparable results were obtained by use of standardized X-ray cephalometry and direct craniometric measurements of skulls of mature specimens of Alouatta caraya and Cebus capucinus. These data measure facial and occlusofacial form and form relationships. Identical measuring techniques are applied to compare data derived from headplates of 19 young adult American Caucasians and 19 articulated Hindu skulls of mature individuals. The data are expanded to include measurements that relate symphyseal form to occlusal and nasomaxillary structure. The facial plane and an “internal” facial plane (nasion to a point tangential to the superior genial tubercles) straddle the mandibular symphysis. The angles they form at nasion and at their intersections with the maxillary occlusal plane were derived and statistically analyzed. The occlusal plane intersect angles show small absolute variability and are not significantly different (P > .05) in the two groups. The nasion plane angles are significantly different (P > .025), reflecting sample differences in facial height. Linear measurements confirm a considerably larger dentoalveolar prognathism in the Hindu group. Data derived from the geometrically averaged tracings of Bjork, Broadbent, Sassouni, and Solow provide further evidence of occlusofacial form commonality. These shared phyletically conservative traits are evidence of highly integrated morphological adaptations for the attainment, maintenance, and functioning of the species-wide pattern of precisely fitting complementary crowns and crown parts that constitute the dental occlusion.
Impurity concentration and temperature dependence of the refractive indices of Er^3+doped ceramic Y_2O_3

The refractive indices and thermo-optic coefficients for varying concentrations of Er3+ doped polycrystalline yttria were measured at a variety of wavelengths and temperatures. A Lorenz oscillator model was employed to model the room temperature indices and thermo-optic coefficients were calculated based on temperature dependent index measurements from 0.45 to 1.064 microns. Some consequences relating to thermal lensing are discussed.
Chilean Congress of Social Anthropology

: [Commission on World Anthropologies, Chilean Anthropology Association, world anthropology] Setha Low and Gustavo Lins Ribeiro are contributing editors of “World Anthropologies,” the AAA Committee on World Anthropologies column in Anthropology News.
The IR laser photochemistry of monosilane-deuterium mixtures

Abstract The IR laser photochemistry of mixtures of silane and deuterium was investigated from room temperature to 500 K. Deuterated monosilanes, disilanes, H 2 and HD and trace amounts of trisilane were found as gas-phase products. The competitive insertion of silylene into D 2 and SiH 4 was investigated and a relative insertion rate constant of 0.36 for insertion into deuterium relative to silane was obtained. The temperature dependence for these processes was also examined and showed that they exhibited essentially equal activation energies.
A multigrid method for the generalized symmetric eigenvalue problem: Part II—performance evaluation

The behaviour of the multigrid method is studied by solving some simple test problems. Optimum choices for some of the parameters are discussed, together with effective techniques for solving the coarse mesh correction equation. The effects of ill-conditioning on the performance of the algorithm are examined. In particular, thin shells and non-uniform meshes are observed to slow convergence. The solution of practical, large scale problems demonstrates the utility and speed of the proposed multigrid method. For example, the first 10 eigensolutions of a stiffened plate problem with 193 536 degrees-of-freedom were computed in 1.6 CPU hours using 42 Mbytes of memory on a Convex C240.
Nosocomial Infections Due to Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus: Relationships with Antibiotic Use and Cost Drivers

Background:Increased incidence of nosocomial infections due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) has been associated with the use of certain antibiotics and has resulted in increased morbidity, mortality, and costs of care.Objective:To describe relationships between vancomycin and linezolid use and incidence of these nosocomial infections over time and to determine factors associated with the increased costs of care (cost drivers) associated with affected patients.Methods:The association between institution-wide antibiotic use and the rate of nosocomial MRSA and VRE infections was assessed using segmented regression analysis for interrupted time series. The effect that patient characteristics and procedures, as well as certain antibiotic use, had on costs and length of stay of patients with MRSA or VRE nosocomial infection was also assessed and cost drivers for the 2 types of infections were compared.Results:Our analysis included 206 patients wh...
Sickle-cell anemia hemoglobin: the molecular biology of the first "molecular disease"--the crucial importance of serendipity.

IN the spring of 1952 I sent 32 letters to England, trying to find a job in academic research. I was finishing my second postdoctoral year in the United States, working in Joseph Fruton's Biochemistry Department at Yale University. My topic was peptide chemistry, in particular the development of a
Optical computing advances logically for image processing

A powerful application of optical computation, digital optical cellular image processing (DOCIP), is discussed. DOCIP uses digital optical computing techniques to perform cellular logic operations or extended array functions on images. Cellular logic is reviewed, and a binary image algebra (BlA) that serves as an analysis and synthesis tool for cellular image processing systems is described. Some DOCIP architectures that have been proposed or experimentally demonstrated are discussed and classified as image-algebra-type processors or symbolic-substitution-type processors. The optical and optoelectronic implementations of these architectures are also discussed. >
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEWS AND CASE STUDIES: Building Green Infrastructure via Citizen Participation: A Six-Year Study in the Shepherd Creek (Ohio)

Green infrastructure at the parcel scale provides critical ecosystem goods and services when these services (such as flood mitigation) must be provided locally. Here we report on an approach that e...
Decoding the internal focus of attention

The significance of the recent introduction to cognitive neuroscience of multivariate pattern analysis (MVPA) is that, unlike univariate approaches which are limited to identifying magnitudes of activity in localized parts of the brain, it affords the detection and characterization of patterns of activity distributed within and across multiple brain regions. This technique supports stronger inferences because it captures neural representations that have markedly higher selectivity than do univariate activation peaks. Recently, we used MVPA to assess the neural consequences of dissociating the internal focus of attention from short-term memory (STM), finding that the information represented in delay-period activity corresponds only to the former (Lewis-Peacock, Drysdale, Oberauer, & Postle, in press). Here we report several additional analyses of these data in which we directly compared the results generated by MVPA vs. those generated by univariate analyses. The sensitivity of MVPA to subtle variations in patterns of distributed brain activity revealed a novel insight: although overall activity remains elevated in category-selective brain regions corresponding to unattended STM items, the multivariate patterns of activity within these regions reflect the representation of a different category, i.e., the one that is currently being attended to. In addition, MVPA was able to dissociate attended from unattended STM items in brain regions whose univariate activity did not appear to be sensitive to the task. These findings highlight the fallacy of the assumption of homogeneity of representation within putative category-selective regions. They affirm the view that neural representations in STM are highly distributed and overlapping, and they demonstrate the necessity of multivariate analysis for dissociating such representations.
Simultaneous binding of a polyamide dimer and an oligonucleotide in the minor and major grooves of DNA

The effect of the polyamide ImPyPy-Dp (Im = N-methylimidazole-2-carboxamide, Py = N-methylpyrrole-2-carboxamide, and Dp = dimethylaminopropylamide), which binds as an antiparallel dimer in the Watson—Crick minor groove, on pyrimidine • purine • pyrimidine triple helix stability was investigated. A DNA restriction fragment was designed which contained two triple helix sites, one which overlapped a minor groove ligand site (proximal), and a control site 13 base pairs away (distal). Using quantitative DNase I footprint titration experiments the equilibrium association constant of oligonucleotide 5′-TTTTTm5CTTTm5CTTTm5CT-3′ (1) to each site was measured in the absence and presence of the polyamide dimer. Our data indicate that triple helix formation is compatible with a polyamide dimer binding in the minor groove of DNA at an overlapping site. No cooperative effect of the polyamide dimer on the equilibrium association constant of oligonucleotide 1 was observed.
An adaptive clustering algorithm for segmentation of video sequences

We present a Bayesian approach for segmenting a sequence of gray-scale images to obtain a binary sketch. We extend a 2-D algorithm to video sequences. The 2-D algorithm is an adaptive thresholding scheme that uses spatial constraints and takes into consideration the local intensity characteristics of the image. We model the segmentation distribution as a 3-D Gibbs random field. We add temporal constraints and temporal local intensity adaptation to ensure a smooth transition of the segmentation from frame to frame. For computational efficiency as well as performance we use a multi-resolution approach. We also consider several suboptimal implementations to reduce the delay as well as the amount of computation. We tested the performance of the algorithm on head and shoulders video sequences. The algorithm achieves accurate rendering of the lip and eye movements and preserves the main characteristics of the face, so that it is easily recognizable.
Conduction block in diabetic neuropathy

Symmetric sensorimotor polyneuropathy is a common complication of diabetes. Sensory and motor evoked amplitudes and conduction velocities are reduced. Both demyelination and axon loss have been reported in pathologic studies. Conduction block (CB), a manifestation of segmental demyelination, has not been previously studied in diabetic neuropathy. We determined the prevalence of conduction block in patients with diabetes by analyzing electrodiagnostic data from 24 diabetics. Conduction block was defined as a greater than 20% drop in peak-to-peak amplitude, and a less than 15% change in negative-peak duration between proximal and distal stimulation sites. A total of 76 nerve segments were studied. The criteria for conduction block were met in only 6 segments in 6 patients. The mean decrease in peak-to-peak amplitude between stimulation sites was 28% (range 21% to 40%). We conclude that conduction block over long nerve segments is uncommon in diabetic neuropathy, and, if present, suggests that other causes for neuropathy in diabetic patients should be sought.
Systems of biochemical reactions from the point of view of a semigrand partition function.

Abstract Semigrand partition functions contain all the thermodynamic information on reaction systems. When they are written for systems at specified pH, they yield the transformed Gibbs energy G ′ of the system and the thermodynamic properties that can be calculated from G ′. When they are written for systems at specified pH and specified concentrations of coenzymes, they yield the further transformed Gibbs energy G″ and properties that can be calculated from G″ . This is illustrated by considering: (1) a reactant that is a weak monoprotic acid at a specified pH; (2) a reaction between two pseudoisomer groups at a specified pH; and (3) the first five reactions of glycolysis. Equilibrium compositions in glycolysis are calculated at pH 7 and different steady-state concentrations of ATP and ADP.
A representation theorem and its applications to spherically-invariant random processes

The n th-order characteristic functions (cf) of spherically-invariant random processes (sirp) with zero means are defined as cf, which are functions of n th-order quadratic forms of arbitrary positive definite matrices p . Every n th-order spherically-invariant characteristic function (sicf) is represented as a weighted Lebesgue-Stieltjes integral transform of an arbitrary univariate probability distribution function F(\cdot) on [0,\infty) . Furthermore, every n th-order sicf has a corresponding spherically-invariant probability density (sipd). Then we show that every n th-order sicf (or sipd) is a random mixture of a n th-order Gaussian cf [or probability density]. The randomization is performed on \nu^2 \rho , where \nu is a random variable (tv) specified by the F(\cdot) function. Examples of sirp are given. Relations to previously known results are discussed. Various expectation properties of Gaussian random processes are valid for sirp. Related conditional expectation, mean-square estimation, semMndependence, martingale, and closure properties are given. Finally, the form of the unit threshold likelihood ratio receiver in the detection of a known deterministic signal in additive sirp noise is shown to be a correlation receiver or a matched filter. The associated false-alarm and detection probabilities are expressed in closed forms.
Randomized trial of leuprolide versus continuous oral contraceptives in the treatment of endometriosis-associated pelvic pain.

Objective To compare the efficacy of leuprolide and continuous oral contraceptives in the treatment of endometriosis-associated pain. Design Prospective, randomized, double-blind controlled trial. Setting Academic medical centers in Rochester, New York, and Boston, Massachusetts. Patient(s) Forty-seven women with endometriosis-associated pelvic pain. Intervention(s) Forty-eight weeks of either depot leuprolide, 11.25 mg IM every 12 weeks with hormonal add-back using norethindrone acetate 5 mg orally, daily; or a generic monophasic oral contraceptive (1 mg norethindrone + 35 mg ethinyl estradiol) given daily. Main Outcome Measure(s) Biberoglu and Behrman (B&B) pain scores, numerical rating scores (NRS), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and Index of Sexual Satisfaction (ISS). Result(s) Based on enrollment of 47 women randomized to continuous oral contraceptives and to leuprolide, there were statistically significant declines in B&B, NRS, and BDI scores from baseline in both groups. There were no significant differences, however, in the extent of reduction in these measures between the groups. Conclusion(s) Leuprolide and continuous oral contraceptives appear to be equally effective in the treatment of endometriosis-associated pelvic pain.
Hybrid resource control of active extensions

The ability of active networks technology to allow customized router computation critically depends on having resource control techniques that prevent buggy, malicious, or greedy code from affecting the integrity or availability of node resources. It is hard to choose between static and dynamic checking for resource control. Dynamic checking has the advantage of basing its decisions on precise real-time information about what the extension is doing but causes runtime overhead and asynchronous termination. Static checking, on the other hand, has the advantage of avoiding asynchronous termination and runtime overhead, but is overly conservative. This paper presents a hybrid solution: static checking is used to reject extremely resource-greedy code from the kernel fast path, while dynamic checking is used to enforce overall resource control. This hybrid solution reduces runtime overhead and avoids the problem of asynchronous termination by delaying extension termination until times when no extension code is running, i.e., between processing of packets. This paper also presents the design and initial implementation of the key parts of a hybrid resource control technique, called RBClick. RBClick is an extension of the Click modular router, customized for active networking in Janos, an active network operating system. RBClick uses a modified version of Cyclone, a type-safe version of C, to allow users to download new router extensions directly into the Janos kernel. Our measurements of forwarding rates indicate that hybrid resource control can improve the performance of router extensions by up to a factor of two.
Hexadecyl-functionalized lamellar mesostructured silicates and aluminosilicates designed for polymer-clay nanocomposites. Part II: Dispersion in organic solvents and in polystyrene

Abstract Layered mesostructured silicates and aluminosilicates with covalently attached hexadecyl groups (denoted as C 16 -LMS, C 16 -LMAS, and a sample with layers whose thickness was increased by additional silicate, C 16 -SiO 2 -LMAS) were investigated as synthetic clays for dispersion and exfoliation in polymer melts. The dispersion of these clays in 13 organic solvents and their performance in polystyrene (PS) nanocomposites were examined. The three synthetic clays dispersed and formed gels in aromatic solvents and in a branched alkyl solvent (2,6,10,14-tetramethylpentadecane, TMPD) based on visual observations and rheology. The elastic moduli ( G ′) of the toluene/clay dispersions for all three clays were similar when compared at equal inorganic content. The synthetic clays were blended with PS samples of various molecular weights. Melt rheology of the PS/clay nanocomposites showed a dramatic increase in elastic modulus compared with neat PS and formation of a G ′ plateau at low frequencies. The plateau occurred at higher G ′ values for C 16 -LMAS than for C 16 -SiO 2 -LMAS or C 16 -LMS, indicating that C 16 -LMAS has higher strength and/or higher aspect ratio and can thus withstand the stresses of melt mixing. Increasing the molecular weight of PS increased G ′ of the PS/C 16 -LMAS nanocomposites. By small angle X-ray (SAXS) and transmission electron microscopy C 16 -LMAS showed better dispersion and a higher aspect ratio in the PS-nanocomposite than C 16 -SiO 2 -LMAS.
Surface discharges within oil insulated apparatus

Liquid insulation, mainly in the form of mineral oil, is a critical component of many different items of plant within electricity transmission and distribution systems-cables, bushings, switchgear, transformers. Usually it is in combination with solid insulation. This may take the form of paper impregnated with oil, such as in cables or bushings, resin impregnated components such as drive rods in tapchangers, or solid pressboard insulation to break up oil gaps, such as the barriers in transformers. Therefore, when one considers the effect of oil breakdown in oil filled equipment, one should consider the interactions which electrical discharges may have with solid surfaces. These are often the weak points of such systems. This paper is mainly concerned with the surfaces of barriers within transformers. (2 pages)
Sublimation of Aluminum Oxide in Hydrogen

The sublimation of single-crystal Al2O3 spheres and plates in pure, dry H2 was studied. The kinetics of this process are controlled by diffusion of the volatile gaseous products through the stagnant gas boundary layer adjacent to the surface. The evaporating species are probably the lower oxides of aluminum obtained by reduction of Al2O3 with hydrogen. The etching of the surface by heating in dry H2 was also studied. The basal planes developed most easily. The facets formed were fine steps consisting of basal and prismatic planes. Condensation of the vapors in the form of small crystallites of thin plates and whiskers of Al2O3 was observed in the colder regions of the furnace.
Management of the high-risk patient

Breast cancer is a devastating illness both physically and emotionally for tens of thousands of American women and their families who must confront the illness each year. Years of clinical and epidemiological research have made it possible now to propose realistic approaches to reducing the risk of breast cancer, particularly in women who are at increased risk of the disease. In this article, I examine evidence-based strategies that can reduce the incidence of breast cancer in high-risk individuals. I also mention new approaches now being developed to lower the risk of breast cancer for more women in the future. Established risk factors There is a large literature that pertains to the evaluation of breast cancer risk and its management. Clinicians should consult the available comprehensive reviews and texts that have addressed the subject in great detail [1–9]. Risk is a relative term derived by comparing the incidence of a disease in a group having a particular risk factor or trait with the incidence of the same disease in a comparison group of individuals who do not carry the risk factor but who are otherwise the same. We review below some of the most important risk factors and their contribution to a woman’s lifetime risk of developing breast cancer.
Climate Science and the Uncertainty Monster

How to understand and reason about uncertainty in climate science is a topic that is receiving increasing attention in both the scientific and philosophical literature. This paper provides a perspective on exploring ways to understand, assess, and reason about uncertainty in climate science, including application to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) assessment reports. Uncertainty associated with climate science and the science–policy interface presents unique challenges owing to the complexity of the climate system itself, the potential for adverse socioeconomic impacts of climate change, and the politicization of proposed policies to reduce societal vulnerability to climate change. The challenges to handling uncertainty at the science– policy interface are framed using the “monster” metaphor, whereby attempts to tame the monster are described. An uncertainty lexicon is provided that describes the natures and levels of uncertainty and ways of representing and reasoning about uncertaint...
Sensitivity-based external calibration of multiaxial loading system

Due to the nonlinear nature of coordinate transformations, evaluation and calibration of multiaxial loading systems in global Cartesian coordinates are challenging problems. This study proposes a systematic calibration method for multiaxial loading systems in global coordinates using an external measurement system. Global coordinate measurement for a multiaxial loading system is usually obtained from a geometric transformation based on internal actuator measurements. However, any misrepresentation of initial actuator configuration (e.g., origin, pin locations, etc.) introduces errors and cross-talk in the global Cartesian coordinates. Such errors and cross-talk cannot be observed or eliminated based on internal measurements. The method proposed in this paper is based on the sensitivity of the global coordinates with respect to the initial actuator length. To validate the proposed method, calibration is performed using the state-of-the-art Load and Boundary Condition Box at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign as the multiaxial loading system and the Krypton Dynamic Measurement Machine as the external measurement system. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed sensitivity-based external calibration method is effective for improving control accuracy and reducing cross-talk of multiaxial loading systems in global Cartesian coordinates.
An examination of the prospective impact of bulimic symptoms and dietary restraint on life hassles and social support.

Abstract Background The stress generation hypothesis posits that individuals with psychopathology engage in maladaptive behaviors that create stress. Although extensively researched in the depression literature, few studies have investigated whether the stress generation hypothesis applies to eating disorders. This study examined whether bulimic symptoms and dietary restraint predict future life hassles and low social support among undergraduate students. Methods Three hundred seventy-four undergraduate students participated in this two-part prospective study through a secure online system. They completed questionnaires assessing depressive symptoms, bulimic symptoms, dietary restraint, life hassles, and social support. Results Regression analyses revealed that baseline bulimic symptoms predicted greater life hassles but not lower social support one month later, after statistically controlling for baseline measures. Baseline dietary restraint did not predict future life hassles or social support. Limitations Limitations include use of self-report measures, suboptimal response rates at the follow-up assessment, and use of a non-clinical sample with primarily White participants. Conclusions These results provide preliminary support for the stress generation hypothesis in relation to bulimic symptoms. Individuals with bulimic symptoms may generate stressors similar to those experiencing depressive symptoms. Our findings suggest that emphasizing stress management in the treatment of individuals with bulimic symptoms could potentially improve treatment outcomes.
Liquid Crystalline Behavior of Biologically Important Lipids Polyunsaturated Cholesterol Esters and Phospholipids

Lipids are biologically important molecules. They give structure to plasma membranes and intracellular organelles, provide a source of metabolic energy and play a role in many essential biological processes such as transmission of information across membranes, transmission of nerve impulses, antigen-antibody reactions and thrombogenesis. Lipids have also been implicated in pathological processes, for instance the lipid storage diseases (1) gallstones and (2) atherosclerosis (3).
Abstract 11255: Collagelin Analogs Target Collagen and Identify Myocardial Fibrosis

Introduction: Myocardial fibrosis is a common adverse condition associated with heart failure and remodeling. At present, there is a need for molecular imaging methods to detect fibrosis. Hypothesis: Analogs of collagelin (a 22 amino acid peptide mimetic of glycoprotein GPVI), named CRPA monomer and collagelin dimer, provide specific molecular binding to collagen in cardiac fibrosis. Methods: Collagelin analog binding was tested by Blitz interferometry analysis, ELISA on a collagen coated well plate using luminescence detection, Cu64-CRPA autoradiography and staining of myocardial tissues with suspected fibrosis. Tissue samples were obtained from MI rats (n=15); swine with heart failure (n=15), either untreated or treated with enzyme inhibitors Saxagliptin or Tadalafil; as well as human MI tissue. In ex-vivo binding assays, 8μm sections were stained with biotin-CRPA, followed by streptavidin-horseradish peroxidase and visualized by DAB stain. Percent fibrosis was validated by picrosirius red and analyzed by ImageJ. Results: Blitz analysis was used to assess association and dissociation curves for CRPA and collagelin dimer binding to collagen. By ELISA, a concentration dependent increase in luminescence showed CRPA consistently bound collagen. A blocking study with excess unlabeled CRPA showed a decrease in biotin-CRPA binding, suggesting peptide specificity. Autoradiography and biotin-CRPA histology of rats 5 weeks post infarct identified 15-20% fibrosis at the edge of the myocardial tissue. In swine, untreated controls showed fiber disarray and increased CRPA and picrosirius red staining, while drug treated groups showed minimal staining. CRPA also showed specificity to infarcted tissue from human myocardium and picrosirius red confirmed location of fibrosis. Conclusion: CRPA monomer and collagelin dimer bind myocardial fibrosis. Collagelin analogs have potential utility as molecular probes for identifying myocardial fibrosis.
Ectopic Pregnancy After Plan B Emergency Contraceptive Use.

Abstract Background Pregnancy outcomes after emergency contraceptive use has been debated over time, but review of the literature includes mechanisms by which these medications may increase the chance of an ectopic pregnancy. Such cases are infrequently reported, and many emergency providers may not readily consider this possibility when treating patients. Case Report This is a case presentation of ectopic pregnancy in a patient who had recently used Plan B (levonorgestrel) emergency contraceptive. She presented with abdominal pain and vaginal spotting, and was evaluated by serum testing and pelvic ultrasound. She was discovered to have a right adnexal pregnancy. She was treated initially with methotrexate, though she ultimately required surgery for definitive treatment. Why Should an Emergency Physician Be Aware of This? This case report aims to bring a unique clinical case to the attention of emergency providers. The goal is to review research on the topic of levonorgestrel use and the incidence of ectopic pregnancies. The mechanism of action of this emergency contraceptive is addressed, and though no definite causal relationship is known between levonorgestrel and ectopic pregnancies, there is a pharmacologic explanation for how this event may occur after use of this medication. Ultimately, the emergency provider will be reminded of the importance of educating the patient on the possible outcomes after its use, including failure of an emergency contraceptive and the potential of ectopic pregnancy.
Gonadal shielding technique to preserve fertility in male pediatric patients treated with total body irradiation for stem cell transplantation.

Advances in hematopoetic stem cell transplantation (HSCTC) for the management of pediatric genetic disorders and malignancies have resulted in a growing population of adult survivors. With increased survival, current attention has now focused on improving treatment-related morbidities and quality of life for pediatric patients undergoing HSCTC. Infertility is one of the most common late effects and causes significant psychosocial problems for many pediatric patients, as well as for their family members.
A New Approach for Incorporating Computational Fluid Dynamics into Sonic Boom Prediction

Presented at the 24th AIAA Applied Aerodynamics Conference, San Francisco, California, June 5-8, 2006.
Time Response of Human Jejunal Glycolytic Enzymes to a High Sucrose Diet

To determine the time required for the adaptive changes in human jejunal glycolytic enzyme activity, 3 volunteer subjects were fed isocaloric diets in which the carbodydrate either was entirely glucose or sucrose or was absent. When the dietary carbohydrate was changed, the time for the change in enzyme activity was 1 day or less for all of the glycolytic enzymes studied. This time response differs from the 2- to 5-day response of disaccharidase activity and suggests that, for the glycolytic enzymes, the dietary effect is directly on the villus epithelial cell and not primarily at the crypt cell level. There appear to be, then, at least two types of adaptive responses to diet in the human jejunum. First, there is a direct response of the glycolytic enzymes of each epithelial cell to changes in the diet. Second, there is a delayed adaptive response of disaccharidase activity which probably acts via the crypt cell and intestinal cell turnover.
Influenza-like illness surveillance in Haiyan county in 2011

Objective:To understand the influenza virus strains subtype variations and influenza epidemic tendency,and provide scientific basis for the development of influenza prevention and control strategies.Methods: The real time RT-PCR method was used for detection of nucleic acids and type identification.Results: One hundred and sixty-eight throat swabs and gargling liquid samples were collected for influenza virus detection,fourteen cases were found influenza virus nucleic acid positive,including 5 new A(H1N1) cases and 9 influenza B cases.The period from January to March in 2011 was the influenza epidemic peak in Haiyan county,with the alternation of new A(H1N1) and influenza B.Conclusion: In 2011,the influenza positive rate was 8.33%,new A(H1N1) and influenza B virus were predominant from January to March,but influenza B virus went to the top after September.The people above 25 years old were the high-risk population in the epidemic period.
Differential Aging Among Skeletal Muscles

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews results obtained for muscles and fibers from different species and different anatomical locations and assesses their similarities and differences. The employed approach begins by comparing changes in lean body mass (LBM) of humans and rodents. This is because skeletal muscle is the major component of LBM, and rodents have been the major animal model utilized in characterizing mechanisms of muscle aging. The chapter examines various components of the neuromuscular system and their variability with age. In men and women, there is a linear loss of lean body mass with age from about 30 years onwards. Also, there is evidence that the decrease in muscle mass accompanying the loss of lean mass is greater in men than in women and greater in the lower than in the upper body. However, the loss of the cellular component of lean mass is greater than that of extracellular components such as collagen. Thus, there is a change in composition of LBM toward decreased contractile material and an increased fraction of noncontractile material in muscles with age. The age-related loss of mass has been shown to be a function of both decreased numbers of muscle fibers as well as atrophy, or decreased diameter, of remaining fibers.
Epidemiology of Thrombosis in Aging

Abstract Aging is an important risk factor for venous thromboembolism (VTE). Data on age-specific incidence rates of VTE from population-based studies are limited. While it is well conceived that aging likely acts through Virchow's triad to increase VTE risk, the relative contribution of the components of Virchow's triad is not understood. The objectives of this study are three-fold. First, we calculated age-specific incidence of VTE (deep vein thrombosis and/or pulmonary embolism) using data from two large, prospective cohort studies: the Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS) and the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study. Second, we evaluated the contribution of coagulation factors VII and VIII, VWF, and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) to age prediction of VTE risk. Third, we evaluated how aging influenced the prediction of VTE risk by confirmed genetic risk factors. We followed participants aged 45-64 years in ARIC (n=14,185) and ≥65 in CHS (n=5,414) at baseline visits (1987-89 in ARIC, 1989-90 and 1992-93 in CHS) for incident VTE through 2011 in ARIC and through 2001 in CHS. We computed person-years of follow-up from the date of the baseline examination to a censoring date. Genotype for the F5 Leiden and activity of coagulation factors (FVII:C and FVIII:C), VWF antigen, and aPTT were measured at baseline in ARIC. We performed proportional hazards regression to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) of VTE for baseline risk factors including age, the four hemostasis variables, and the F5 Leiden after adjusting for race and gender. The genetic analysis was stratified by race and follow-up time in both race groups, and additionally adjusted for principal components of population stratification in African Americans. ARIC participants developed 728 VTE events over 288,535 person-years of follow-up, and CHS participants developed 172 VTE events over 54,207 person-years of follow-up. Incidence rates of VTE per 1,000 person-years were 0.5, 1.0, 1.8, 2.8, 3.8, 5.4, 7.9, and 7.1 for 45-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80-84, and 85-89 years in ARIC, respectively, and 0.8, 2.7, 2.7, 3.8, 6.2, and 5.7 for 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80-84, 85-89, and 90-99 years in CHS, respectively. The four hemostasis variables at baseline were significantly associated with baseline age (Pearson correlation coefficients -0.09 to 0.19, p Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Systematic review for surgical treatment of adult and adolescent laryngotracheal stenosis

Objectives/Hypothesis To determine if open surgical treatment options for adult and adolescent laryngotracheal stenosis are more successful than endoscopic procedures. Study Design Systematic review. Methods Embase and MEDLINE were searched for publications on adult and adolescent patients (>13 years old) with laryngotracheal stenosis. Cause of stenosis (intubation, idiopathic, or trauma) and treatments (open laryngotracheal resection with anastomosis, open laryngotracheal reconstruction with expansion grafting, or endoscopic procedures) were included. Primary outcomes are decreased additional surgery performed and success of decannulation, if previously tracheostomy. Results There were 297 abstracts reviewed, 104 articles selected for full-text review, and 39 articles, with 834 pooled patients, included in the analysis. Patients who had an open procedure (resection with anastomosis or reconstruction with expansion grafting) had significantly different outcomes rates; 32% versus 38% (P <.001) received additional surgery and 89%and 83% (P <.001) were decannulated, respectively. For patients who had endoscopic repair, 44% received additional surgery, and 63% were decannulated. Patients with idiopathic stenosis were more likely to receive additional surgery than those with traumatic (54% vs. 25%) and intubation/tracheostomy etiologies (54% vs. 35%). Etiology of stenosis did affect decannulation rates, patients with intubation/tracheostomy etiology had decannulation rates of 88%, compared to traumatic etiologies (78%, P <.001) and idiopathic stenosis (63%, P <.001). Risk of bias did not impact study results and was assessed using a validated instrument, Methodological Index for Non-randomized Studies criteria. Conclusions Patients with adult laryngotracheal stenosis who undergo laryngotracheal resection with anastomosis receive less surgery compared to those who undergo endoscopic treatment or laryngotracheal reconstruction with augmentation/grafting. Patients with idiopathic stenosis are less likely to receive further surgery compared to those from trauma or intubation/tracheostomy, but have the lowest rate of decannulation. Level of Evidence 3 Laryngoscope, 2016
STATCOM Operation Strategy with Saturable Transformer Under Three-Phase Power System Faults

The STATCOM (synchronous static compensator) based on voltage source converter (VSC) is used for voltage regulation in transmission and distribution systems. The STATCOM can rapidly supply dynamic VARs required during system faults for voltage support. The "emergency PWM" strategy developed in this paper can prevent over- current and transformer saturation in the VSC during and after three-phase power system faults, and also meet the strict requirements of STATCOM losses and total system loss penalty. Simulation results are presented for a 48-pulse VSC based plusmn100 MVAR STATCOM connected to a 2-bus power system to validate the "emergency PWM" strategy to prevent VSC over-current and transformer saturation and to supply required reactive power under a three-phase system faults. The proposed "emergency PWM" strategy is explained in terms of positive and negative sequence voltage for the system bus and STATCOM voltage.
Port of Badagry, a Point of No Return: Investigation of Maritime Slave Trade in Nigeria

Founded in 1425 A.D., the port city of Badagry played a strategic role in global transatlantic slave trade. This chapter analyzes the relationship between the people of Badagry and their neighbors before the arrival of the slave trading Europeans. It explores how the African Kings communicated with Europeans about slave procurement. The thoughts, beliefs, and philosophy of current Badagry indigenous people about the slave trade will be highlighted and discussed. This chapter utilizes an interdisciplinary methodological approach to the study of slave history in Nigeria. It explores the maritime artifacts associated with the slave trade and characterizes the archaeological signatures of slavery on the landscape.
The effect of gravity and dimensionality on the impact of cylinders and spheres onto a wall in a viscous fluid

As a solid body approaches a wall in a viscous fluid, the flow in the gap between them is dominated by the viscous effect and can be approximated by the lubrication theory. Here we show that without gravity, a cylinder comes to rest asymptotically at a finite separation from the wall, whereas with gravity, the cylinder approaches the wall asymptotically and contact does not happen in finite time. A cylinder approaches the wall much slower compared to a sphere under matching conditions, implying that the lubrication approximates hold longer before the molecular scale sets in. Our results further serve as a building block for analyzing particle interactions in close proximity, and provide analytic results for integrating the lubrication theory into the computations of Navier-Stokes equations.
The use of immunotherapy in the treatment of melanoma

Patients with advanced melanoma have a compromised anti-tumor immune response leading to tumor immune tolerance and a tumor microenvironment conducive to disease progression. Immunotherapy that successfully overcomes this tumor-mediated immune suppression has made the greatest impact in the management of this disease over the past few years. This progress through immunotherapy builds upon earlier successes that interferon-α had in the treatment of melanoma in the adjuvant setting, as well as that of high-dose interleukin-2 in advanced melanoma. The development of immune checkpoint inhibitors has led to dramatic clinical activity in advanced melanoma. In particular, anti-CTLA4 and anti-PD1 monoclonal antibodies have taken us forward into the realm of longer survival and durable responses with the possibility of cure in a continuously increasing proportion of patients. Combination immunotherapeutic strategies and novel immunotherapeutic agents are being tested at an accelerated pace where the outlook for long-term survival benefits for the majority of patients appears brighter than ever.
A phase I trial of ganetespib in combination with paclitaxel and trastuzumab in patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2)-positive metastatic breast cancer.

Targeted therapies in HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer significantly improve outcomes but efficacy is limited by therapeutic resistance. HER2 is an acutely sensitive Heat Shock Protein 90 (HSP90) client and HSP90 inhibition can overcome trastuzumab resistance. Preclinical data suggest that HSP90 inhibition is synergistic with taxanes with the potential for significant clinical activity. We therefore tested ganetespib, a HSP90 inhibitor, in combination with paclitaxel and trastuzumab in patients with trastuzumab-refractory HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer. In this phase I dose-escalation study, patients with trastuzumab-resistant HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer received weekly trastuzumab (2 mg/kg) and paclitaxel (80 mg/m2) on days 1, 8, 15, and 22 of a 28-day cycle with escalating doses of ganetespib (100 mg/m2, 150 mg/m2, and a third cohort of 125 mg/m2 if needed) on days 1, 8, and 15. Therapy was continued until disease progression or toxicity. The primary objective was to establish the safety and maximum tolerated dose and/or recommended phase II dose (RP2D) of this therapy. The secondary objectives included evaluation of the effects of ganetespib on the pharmacokinetics of paclitaxel, and to make a preliminary assessment of the efficacy of the combination therapy. Dose escalation was completed for the two main cohorts without any observed dose-limiting toxicities. Nine patients received treatment. The median prior lines of anti-HER2 therapy numbered three (range 2–4), including prior pertuzumab in 9/9 patients and ado-trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1) in 8/9 patients. The most common grade 1/2 adverse events (AEs) were diarrhea, fatigue, anemia, and rash. There were no grade 4 AEs related to ganetespib. The overall response rate was 22% (2/9 patients had partial response) and stable disease was seen in 56% (5/9 patients). The clinical benefit rate was 44% (4/9 patients). The median progression-free survival was 20 weeks (range 8–55). The RP2D of ganetespib is 150 mg/m2 in combination with weekly paclitaxel plus trastuzumab. The combination was safe and well tolerated. Despite prior taxanes, pertuzumab, and T-DM1, clinical activity of this triplet regimen in this heavily pretreated cohort is promising and warrants further study in HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02060253 . Registered 30 January 2014.
Electrochromic tuning of transparent gold nanorods with poly[(3,4-propylenedioxy)pyrrole] shells in the near-infrared region

We report on electrochemically tunable hybrid nanostructures composed of gold nanorods encapsulated within directly polymerized poly[(3,4-propylenedioxy)pyrrole] (PProDOP) nanoshells with controlled nanoscale thicknesses. This system displays narrow visible-near infrared absorption bands upon applying a variable electric potential due to the remarkable transmissivity of PProDOP at various oxidation states. The PProDOP shells were synthesized by in situ chemical oxidative polymerization using a mild oxidizing agent. The PProDOP demonstrated outstanding electrochemical performance, such as reversible electroactivity, high transmissivity in the visible range at various oxidation states, as well as a low oxidation potential (−1.06 V vs. Fc/Fc+). We suggest that the stable reversible modulation of the observed plasmonic response of the gold nanorods was caused by the variation of the refractive index of PProDOP shells at different oxidation states as shown by spectroscopic ellipsometry and confirmed by finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulations. A surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) band of gold nanorods at 800 nm was shifted reversibly by 24 nm by multiple cycling of the electric potential. Overall, these core–shell structures with electrochemical plasmonic tunability in the near-infrared region allow for tailoring of the optical and electrochemical properties of pre-programmed plasmon responses for active control of colorimetric appearance not just across the visible range but also toward the near-infrared.