cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Experimental investigation of single carbon compounds under hydrothermal conditions

Abstract The speciation of carbon in subseafloor hydrothermal systems has direct implications for the maintenance of life in present-day vent ecosystems and possibly the origin of life on early Earth. Carbon monoxide is of particular interest because it represents a key reactant during the abiotic synthesis of reduced carbon compounds via Fischer–Tropsch-type processes. Laboratory experiments were conducted to constrain reactions that regulate the speciation of aqueous single carbon species under hydrothermal conditions and determine kinetic parameters for the oxidation of CO according to the water water–gas shift reaction (CO2 + H2 = CO + H2O). Aqueous fluids containing added CO2, CO, HCOOH, NaHCO3, NaHCOO, and H2 were heated at 150, 200, and 300 °C and 350 bar in flexible-cell hydrothermal apparatus, and the abundances of carbon compounds was monitored as a function of time. Variations in fluid chemistry suggest that the reduction of CO2 to CH3OH under aqueous conditions occurs via a stepwise process that involves the formation of HCOOH, CO, and possibly CH2O, as reaction intermediaries. Kinetic barriers that inhibit the reduction of CH3OH to CH4 allow the accumulation of reaction intermediaries in solution at high concentrations regulated by metastable thermodynamic equilibrium. Reaction of CO2 to CO involves a two-step process in which CO2 initially undergoes a reduction step to HCOOH which subsequently dehydrates to form CO. Both reactions proceed readily in either direction. A preexponential factor of 1.35 × 106 s−1 and an activation energy of 102 kJ/mol were retrieved from the experimental results for the oxidation of CO to CO2. Reaction rates amongst single carbon compounds during the experiments suggest that ΣCO2 (CO2 + HCO3− + CO32−), CO, ΣHCOOH (HCOOH + HCOO−), and CH3OH may reach states of redox-dependent metastable thermodynamic equilibrium in subseafloor and other hydrothermal systems. The abundance of CO under equilibrium conditions is strongly dependent on temperature, the total carbon content of the fluid, and host-rock lithology. If crustal residence times following the mixing of high-temperature hydrothermal fluids with cool seawater are sufficiently long, reequilibration of aqueous carbon can result in the generation of additional reduced carbon species such as HCOOH and CH3OH, and the consumption of H2. The present study suggests that abiotic reactions involving aqueous carbon compounds in hydrothermal systems are sufficiently rapid to influence metabolic pathways utilized by organisms that inhabit vent environments.
Successful strategies for recruitment of emergency medical volunteers.

ObjectivesA robust medical volunteer program is critical to ensuring a successful response to public health and medical emergencies. The New York City (NYC) Department of Health and Mental Hygiene created the NYC Medical Reserve Corps in 2003 to build a multidisciplinary team of health professionals who wish to assist NYC with response during large-scale health emergencies. This article reports on the search to determine which recruitment activities have been most successful to date, with the goal of modeling future activities upon those that worked best.MethodsA retrospective review of effectiveness of recruitment strategies to identify and register new NYC Medical Reserve Corps volunteers was undertaken.ResultsA broad range of recruitment activities have been implemented since the program's inception, with varying degrees of success. Various recruitment modalities were tried, including direct invitations to licensed professionals by the NYC Health Commissioner and announcements through professional organization partners. The direct invitation by the NYC Health Commissioner to health professionals licensed in 1 of the 5 boroughs of NYC has proved to be the most successful recruitment tool to date.ConclusionsThe local health commissioner or other trusted community figure is an excellent messenger for recruiting emergency volunteers. It is also critical that recruitment messages reach as many potential volunteers as possible to ensure that the requisite number of volunteers and mix of professional disciplines are identified. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2013;7:266-271)
Discontinuous Payoffs, Shared Resources, and Games of Fiscal Competition: Existence of Pure Strategy Nash Equilibrium

We define a class of games with discontinuous payoffs that we call shared resource games and establish a pure strategy Nash equilibrium existence theorem for these games. We then apply this result to a canonical game of fiscal competition for mobile capital. Other applications are also discussed. Our result for the mobile capital game holds for any finite number of regions, permits general preferences over private and public goods, and does not assume that production technologies have a particular functional form, or are identical in all regions, or satisfy the Inada condition at zero.
Mother-to-Child Transmission of Cytomegalovirus and Prevention of Congenital Infection

Mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of cytomegalovirus (CMV) occurs transplacentally (congenital infection), during birth and through breast milk, although the latter 2 modes of transmission are not associated with the central nervous system sequelae that occur with congenital infection. CMV persists indefinitely in its human host, and MTCT can occur if the mother was infected in the past or during the current pregnancy. The goal of efforts to prevent MTCT of CMV is to prevent congenital infection, an important cause of disability due to hearing loss, impaired vision, cognitive impairment, and neuromotor deficits. Vaccines for prevention of maternal and congenital CMV infection are being developed but will not likely be available for at least a decade. Rather than waiting for an effective vaccine to solve the problem, more effort must be devoted to defining the potential for public health measures to prevent congenital CMV infection by reducing rates of maternal infection during pregnancy.
Distracted by Disability

People with disabilities use more medical care and see health professionals more often than do those of the same age, ethnic group, or economic class who do not have impairments. An indisputable medical goal is “preventing, ameliorating, or curing disease and its associated effects of suffering and disability, and thereby restoring, or preventing the loss of, normal function or of life.”
MEN WHO BATTER INTIMATE PARTNERS: A GROUNDED THEORY STUDY OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF MALE VIOLENCE IN INTIMATE PARTNER RELATIONSHIPS

Intimate partner violence is a serious and pervasive problem in U.S. society, with 25% of women and 7.6% of men reporting physical abuse by an intimate partner each year. Understanding the risk factors for development of violence is essential toward the development of interventions to reduce partner violence. Much of the understanding about the development of partner violence is based on research with victims rather than perpetrators. The study was conducted with men convicted of assault on an intimate female partner. Grounded theory was the method used to analyze data from interviews with 16 men participating in a batterers' intervention and prevention program. From the data, the Violent Couples Model was developed. The primary elements of the Violent Couples Model are justifying violence, minimizing violence, childhood exposure to violence, ineffective anger management, childhood experience of violence, and ineffective conflict resolution. Social and familial factors serve as moderating elements. Contextual elements of the model include power and control, social isolation, desensitization, insecure maternal relationships, the view of violence as a private problem, ambivalent intimate relationships, objectification of women, immaturity, lack of awareness about what constitutes violence, mistrust, traditional views of the roles of women, financial issues, and jealousy. Interventions indicated in the model are primary, or preventive, in nature. The model focuses on prevention efforts with the family as a whole, rather than on batterers alone.
Tracheal Stenosis After Placement of Percutaneous Dilational Tracheotomy

Objectives: Percutaneous dilational tracheotomy procedures have been used successfully as a bedside alternative to open surgical tracheotomy. At our institution, we have seen patients with tracheal injuries following this procedure. In this paper, we review those cases to demonstrate that tracheal stenosis is a potential long-term complication of percutaneous dilational tracheotomy. Study Design: Case series. Methods: Patients were evaluated with computed tomography and operative endoscopy. Inpatient and outpatient records were reviewed retrospectively. Results: Nine patients were referred to our practice for management of tracheal stenosis after percutaneous dilational tracheotomy between 2003 and 2006. Presence of anterior tracheal ring compression and destruction or lateral wall collapse was noted in each case. Endoscopy revealed stenosis secondary to anterior tracheal wall injury in all cases. In eight of nine cases, operative intervention was needed to correct the stenotic segment. Conclusions: It has been demonstrated in the literature that with 20 years of experience, the percutaneous dilational tracheotomy procedure is more affordable, faster to perform, and a generally safe procedure when performed under appropriate conditions. Most case series of percutaneous dilational tracheotomy reveal an equal or lower risk of short-term complications than open tracheotomy. This series demonstrates that tracheal stenosis is a potential long-term complication. Longitudinal follow-up of patients undergoing percutaneous dilational tracheotomy is indicated.
The PHSCN dendrimer as a more potent inhibitor of human breast cancer cell invasion, extravasation, and lung colony formation.

The α5β1 integrin fibronectin receptor is an attractive therapeutic target in breast cancer because it plays key roles in invasion and metastasis. While its inactive form is widely expressed, activated α5β1 occurs only on tumor cells and their associated vasculature. The PHSCN peptide has been shown to bind activated α5β1 preferentially, thereby blocking invasion in vitro, and inhibiting growth, metastasis and tumor recurrence in preclinical models. Moreover in a recent Phase I clinical trial, systemic PHSCN monotherapy was well tolerated, and metastatic disease failed to progress for 4–14 months in 38% of patients receiving it. A significantly more potent PHSCN derivative, the PHSCN–polylysine dendrimer (Ac-PHSCNGGK-MAP) has recently been developed. We report that it is 1280- to 6700-fold more potent than the PHSCN peptide at blocking α5β1 mediated SUM-149 PT and MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cell invasion of naturally occurring basement membranes in vitro. Chou–Talalay analysis of these data suggested that invasion inhibition by the PHSCN dendrimer was highly synergistic. We also report that, consistent with its enhanced invasion-inhibitory potency, the PHSCN dendrimer is 700- to 1100-fold more effective than the PHSCN peptide at preventing SUM-149 PT and MDA-MB-231 extravasation in the lungs of athymic, nude mice. Our results also show that many extravasated SUM-149 PT and MDA-MB-231 cells go on to develop into metastatic colonies, and that pretreatment with the PHSCN dendrimer is more than 100-fold more effective at reducing lung colony formation. Since many patients newly diagnosed with breast cancer already have locally advanced or metastatic disease, the availability of a well-tolerated, nontoxic systemic therapy that can prevent metastatic progression by blocking invasion could be very beneficial.
Octanol modulation of neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor single channels

Background: We have previously shown that alcohols exert a dual action on neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (AChRs), with short-chain alcohols potentiating and long-chain alcohols inhibiting acetylcholine (ACh)-induced whole-cell currents. At the single-channel level, ethanol increased the channel open probability and prolonged the channel open time and burst duration. In this study, we examined the detailed mechanism of the inhibitory action of the long-chain alcohol n-octanol on the neuronal nicotinic AChR. Methods: Single-channel currents induced by application of 30 nM ACh were recorded with the patchclamp technique from human embryonic kidney cells stably expressing the human 42 AChR. Results: Several single-channel parameters were markedly changed by octanol. At least two conductance-state currents were induced by low concentrations of ACh, and octanol increased the proportion of the low-conductance-state current relative to the high-conductance-state current without changing the current amplitude. Major analyses of temporal properties of single-channel currents were performed on the high-conductance-state currents. Octanol decreased the burst duration and duration of openings within burst and prolonged the mean closed time. All of these changes contributed to the decrease in the open probability in a concentration-dependent manner. Conclusions: Several aspects of octanol action on neuronal AChRs at the single-channel level are compatible with an atypical open channel block model reported with muscle nicotinic AChRs. The potentiating action of short-chain alcohols and the inhibitory action of long-chain alcohols on the neuronal nicotinic AChR are mediated through different mechanisms.
Clinical significance of eosinophilia in HIV-infected individuals

Purpose To assess the clinical significance of peripheral eosinophilia in HIV-infected individuals. Methods In a retrospective case-control study we compared 42 HIV-infected patients (cases) with peripheral eosinophilia (absolute eosinophil count > 500 cells/mm 3 ) with 84 HIV-infected controls without eosinophilia. Cases were matched to controls by date, and by CD4 cell count. Data on clinical parameters possibly associated with eosinophilia were collected and compared among cases and controls. Results Eosinophilia was seen in patients with late-stage HIV disease (median CD4 cell count of 26 cells/mm 3 ). Cases were more likely to be black (52% versus 18%, P = 0.0001), have pruritus (50% versus 20%, P = 0.002), and have a physician-documented rash (76% versus 52%, P = 0.02). Specific cutaneous diagnoses that were more prevalent in cases versus controls were eosinophilic folliculitis (24% versus 1%, P = 0.0001), atopic dermatitis (14% versus 1%, P = 0.01), and prurigo nodularis (7% versus 0, P = 0.07). Other parameters commonly associated with eosinophilia such as allergic reactions, parasitic infection, malignancy, and adrenal insufficiency were not found at higher incidence in cases. Conclusions Eosinophilia in AIDS patients is associated with cutaneous disease, but not with other conditions commonly associated with eosinophilia including parasitic infections, allergic reactions, or malignancy. Extensive work up for asymptomatic eosinophilia in patients with AIDS and cutaneous disease is not warranted.
A New Basal Ornithopod (Dinosauria, Ornithischia) from the Late Cretaceous of Mongolia

ABSTRACT Basal ornithopods exhibit a very low diversity in Cretaceous deposits of Asia, with only two diagnostic taxa published to date. A new basal ornithopod, Haya griva, gen. et sp. nov., is described here based on several well-preserved specimens from the Late Cretaceous Javkhlant Formation of Mongolia. Haya is diagnosed by a unique combination of characters, some of which are also present in other Asian Cretaceous basal ornithopods such as a bifid caudal ramus of the jugal and a tapering and beveled predentary. Traits, such as presence of separate maxillary fenestra, otherwise only known in Hypsilophodon, show more homoplastic distributions. Phylogenetic analysis provides weak support for grouping Haya with the Chinese Cretaceous taxa Jeholosaurus and Changchunsaurus, suggesting a greater hidden diversity of such animals in Asia. The most complete prepared specimen of Haya exhibits a sizeable gastrolith mass, representing only the second occurrence among ornithopods.
Case studies of a robot-based game to shape interests and hone proportional reasoning skills

Robot-math is a term used to describe mathematics instruction centered on engineering, particularly robotics. This type of instruction seeks first to make the mathematics skills useful for robotics-centered challenges, and then to help students extend (transfer) those skills. A robot-math intervention was designed to target the proportional reasoning skills of sixth- through eighth-graders. Proportional reasoning lays the foundation for further progress within mathematics. It is also necessary for success in a number of other domains (engineering, science, etc.). Furthermore, proportional reasoning is a life skill that helps with daily decision making, planning, etc. However, it is a skill that is complex and often difficult for students. Previous attempts to design similar robot-math activities have struggled to focus students’ attention on key mathematics concepts (in complex engineering domains), and to motivate students to use the math properly. The current intervention was designed with these challenges in mind. This intervention centers on a computer-based 3D game called Expedition Atlantis. It employs a game design that focuses student attention on a specific proportional reasoning task: students calculate correct quantities of wheel rotations to move the robot to desired locations. The software also offers individualized tutorials. Whole-class discussions around daily word problems promote further application of proportional reasoning outside the robot programming context. The 1-week intervention was implemented by three teachers at different schools with varying levels of ability among students. Overall, within-participant comparisons revealed that the intervention was successful in improving the number of correct responses, the number of problems attempted, the proportions of correct responses, students’ interest in robotics, and students’ valuing of mathematics within robotics from pre- to post-test. Further analysis of teachers revealed that the two class sections of special education benefited most. Consideration was given to the qualities of the implementation that might have led to these enhancements. The success of this intervention suggests that robot-math activities might be successful when focused on a few target skills and when designed with individualized tutorials/prompts that motivate proper skills. Further investigations of student and implementation characteristics would help to refine these interventions further.
Frequency pulling in a Brillouin fiber ring laser

The lasing frequencies of a Brillouin fiber ring laser are shifted slightly from the resonant frequencies of the cold fiber ring resonator due to the optical Kerr effect and the nonlinear phase shift associated with stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) used as the gain mechanism in this type of laser. These frequency pulling effects are investigated in detail both theoretically and experimentally. The results of this study are useful in many Brillouin fiber ring laser applications such as Brillouin fiber optic gyroscopes, microwave generators, and frequency shifters. To the authors' knowledge this is the first time the frequency pulling effect caused by the nonlinear phase shift associated with SBS is reported. >
Estimations of layout parameters of hierarchical systems

This paper describes some new results with respect to the classic problem of the component-to-pin ratio for hierarchical (heterogeneous) systems. Generalization of Rent's rule, providing greater accuracy and extending the domain of applicability to hierarchical systems, is presented. Based on this new rule, estimations of average interconnection lengths for 1D- and 2D-cases are deduced. The new estimations have been found to produce very satisfactory results on test and industrial systems. >
Sleep Disorders in Children: A National Assessment of Primary Care Pediatrician Practices and Perceptions

Objectives: To assess general pediatricians' screening practices for sleep-related issues and assess their knowledge on common sleep complaints in children, their perceived barriers to screening for sleep issues, and whether they have received training regarding sleep issues. Methods: A national random sample (n = 700) of general pediatricians who were members of the American Academy of Pediatrics were sent a valid and reliable questionnaire on sleep problems in youth. Results: A total of 346 pediatricians (49%) responded. The vast majority (96%) indicated that they believed it was their job to counsel patients/guardians regarding sleep hygiene, yet few pediatricians (18%) had ever received formal training on sleep disorders. Those who did not screen for sleep problems spent significantly less time with each patient and perceived significantly more barriers to screening. Pediatricians who had received training about sleep disorders had significantly higher knowledge scores on sleep problems, perceived significantly fewer barriers to screening, and reported significantly higher confidence scores regarding counseling patients/guardians on sleep problems. Conclusion: These findings support the need for formal education on sleep disorders for all pediatricians. Language: en
Friedrich Hayek and Wishful Thinking

At the beginning of the 21st century, the legacy of Austrian born Friedrich Hayek (1899–1992) is one of the most influential among theoretical economists in the Western world. His 1944 classic, The Road to Serfdom, made the case against socialist command economies.21 He argued that socialism, as collective or government ownership of the means of production, is not only unproductive, but also intrinsically not free. He felt that individual freedom could not exist under central planning and that private property is essential for both economic productivity and political freedom. In the years following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Hayek’s position has become conventional wisdom.
Cross-modal (Multi-sensory) Integration

One of the most important tasks the brain must perform is decoding and interpreting sensory information. Both individual survival and evolutionary success often depend on the speed and accuracy with which such information is processed and transformed into appropriate behaviors. Detecting and interpreting external stimuli is markedly facilitated by the brain's ability to synthesize information from different sensory systems, and the perceptual consequences of this ‘multisensory integration’ have intrigued philosophers of science since the time of ancient Greece. But it is only recently that we have come to understand some of the principles by which individual neurons combine cross-modal information. This endeavor has been facilitated by a model, the multi-sensory neuron in the superior colliculus (SC). In general, the sensory-evoked activity of the same SC neuron can be markedly enhanced or depressed, depending on the spatial and temporal relationships among the cross-modal stimuli and the organization of its own receptive fields. Furthermore, these determinants of multi-sensory integration at the single-neuron level are closely paralleled at the level of SC-mediated overt attentive and orientation behaviors. The cross-species similarities in the principles of multisensory integration suggest a remarkable adaptability and evolutionary conservation in this process.
Regression-line analysis of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole activity against Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

A standardized disk diffusion test was developed and used to test the susceptibility of 102 strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae to combinations of trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX) by relating zone diameters of inhibition to minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC’s). MIC’s for TMP/SMX in ratios of 1:20 ranged from 0.08/1.52 to 2.5/47.5 µg/ml and zones of inhibition ranged from 34 to 10 mm . The coefficient of correlation (r) was -0.75. For comparison, a regression line was similarly calculated for ampicillin. MIC’s ranged from 0.02 to 0.32 µg/ml and zones of inhibition ranged from 50 to 31 mm; r was -0 . 7 1. With establishment of MIC breakpoints to define the categories, susceptible, intermediate, and resistant, the disk duffusion test would be as reliable for estimating susceptibility of gonococci to TMP/SMX as for estimating susceptibility to ampicillin.
EDTA-Dependent Leukoagglutination

Leukopenia (WBC 1.9 x 10(9)/L) was reported from an automated cell counter (TOA E-5,000, Symex) on a patient blood sample collected in ethylene diamine tetracetic acid (EDTA). Leukocyte aggregates of 30-50 cells were seen on the peripheral blood smear. Blood samples collected in heparin, citrate, and EDTA had white blood counts (WBC) of 8.1, 8.1, and 2.5 x 10(9)/L. A 0.3-mL aliquot of patient EDTA-plasma mixed with 0.3 mL normal packed cells (NPC) resulted in a WBC of 2.7 x 10(9)/L, a reduction of 58% from the control value. Increasing concentrations of EDTA (0.35-2.16 mg/mL), patient serum, and NPC resulted in a greater than 60% WBC reduction at EDTA concentrations greater than 0.96 mg/mL. Serial dilutions of patient serum in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) showed greater than 50% WBC reduction at a dilution of 1:4. Incubation (0, 1, and 2 hours) (0 degrees C, room temperature [RT], and 37 degrees C) of samples containing patient serum, EDTA, and NPC resulted in the greatest WBC reduction at 2 hours and at RT (60%). Incubation with 0.01 M dithiothreitol (DTT) abolished the ability of patient serum to decrease the WBC. These data suggest an EDTA-dependent, low titer IgM leukoagglutinin.
Case report of idiopathic cecal perforation presenting as acute appendicitis on ultrasound

Abstract Cecal perforation is an uncommon phenomenon in a pediatric population. It has been linked to a number of underlying medical conditions, which may result in focal inflammation or relative ischemia including hematologic malignancy, infection, and inflammatory bowel disease. We present an otherwise healthy 16-year-old male diagnosed with acute uncomplicated appendicitis on ultrasound, who was found to have cecal perforation with normal appendix intraoperatively, ultimately requiring ileocectomy. With this report, we aim to present the numerous pathophysiologic etiologies of cecal perforation, and to promote a comprehensive differential diagnosis despite the clinical and radiologic findings consistent with uncomplicated appendicitis.
Abstract 4227: Influence of anti-angiogenic therapy on the prevalence of breast cancer stem cells

Purpose: The objectives of this study are to investigate the effects of anti-angiogenic therapy on breast cancer stem cell (BCSC) prevalence and hemodynamic imaging factors associated with these biomarkers. Introduction: Angiogenic inhibitors in breast cancer patients have shown to increase progression-free survival but not overall survival. Targeting the tumor vasculature can be used to alter the microenvironment (hypoxic)-niche, either enhancing BCSC subpopulations or causing these cells to differentiate. In this study, mice bearing triple-negative inflammatory breast tumors were treated with different dose regimens of VEGFR2 inhibitors and changes in ALDH1, EpCAM, and DLL1 measured. Material and Methods: Four cohorts of athymic nude mice bearing SUM149 breast tumors were treated with a low-(LD) (10mg/kg), moderate-(MD) (40mg/kg), and a high-dose (HD) (120mg/kg) of DC101, an anti-VEGFR2 monoclonal antibody, 3-times every three days. One group was not treated. All groups were imaged prior to and after treatment using DCE-CT and PCT-S to assess vascular physiology (perfusion, fractional plasma volume, permeability) and hemoglobin status (SaO2), after which the tumors were excised, fixed, sectioned at 4-6 different planes (1-2mm apart) and stained for ALDH1, EpCAM, and DLL1. Expression was calculated by determining the percent of the tissue exceeding a threshold determined from positive controls. Results: A reduction in ALDH1 and DLL1 expression was observed between untreated and MD group (3.6 to 1.0%, P = 0.03; 18.3 to 1.5%, P = 0.1), with a subsequent increase from MD to HD groups (1.0 to 1.9%, P = 0.08; 1.5 to 3.6%, P = 0.02). Changes in EpCAM were not observed (P>0.25). In vivo imaging results (DCE-CT and PCT-S) indicate, on average, favorable changes in tumor hemodynamic parameters may have occurred within the MD treated group, where perfusion (+26%) and Fp (-30%) on average resulted in a shorter mean-transit-time and the fraction of the vasculature with low SaO2 levels decreased (from 23% to 10%) not observed in LD or HD groups (but not reaching significance). Conclusions: Anti-angiogenic drugs targeting VEGFR2 in inflammatory TNB cancer has been shown to modulate ALDH1 and DLL1, but not EpCAM. Preliminary data demonstrate that vascular physiologic parameters obtained from DCE-CT and PCT-S may provide potential diagnostic factors. Given the overlap of ALDH1 and DLL1 with Notch and subsequent VEGF pathways, both a biomechanistic and oxygen microenvironment influence may be involved in modulating BCSC maintenance. Citation Format: Connor Holloway, Huisi Ai, Mario Dzemidzic, Marc Mendonca, Harikrishna Nakshatri, Keith Stantz. Influence of anti-angiogenic therapy on the prevalence of breast cancer stem cells. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 4227.
The Effect of Job Duties in Contributing to Radiation Exposure of the Nuclear Medicine Technologist

Objective: Our unique and highly specialized nuclear medicine department provided an opportunity to analyze radiation exposure to nuclear medicine technologists (NMTs). The goal of our investigation was to determine the amount of hand and whole-body radiation exposure incurred from the performance of various job duties. Methods: Whole-body and hand exposures were recorded over a 15–16 mo period using thermoluminescent dosimeters. Radiation exposure readings were collected in four different areas, nuclear pharmacy, radiopharmaceutical injection, nuclear cardiology and general nuclear medicine. Results: Monitoring showed that higher hand exposure is caused by direct handling and injecting of radiopharmaceuticals. Whole-body exposure also increases, but correlates more closely to body shielding than to actual hand exposure. Higher whole-body exposure was seen in nuclear cardiology when compared to general nuclear medicine, even though general nuclear medicine performed three times the study load of nuclear cardiology. Conclusions: In an area where imaging is the primary job duty of the NMT, the time of direct patient contact seems to be the principal factor affecting whole-body exposure. Although hand exposure increases with the amount of radioactivity handled in an area where handling radiopharmaceuticals is the main job duty of the NMT, whole-body exposure correlates more closely to body shielding than to the amount of radioactivity handled.
An investigation of the effect of presentations by effective and ineffective speakers on listening test scores

Research investigating effects of differences in the administration of listening tests on test scores gives conflicting results. This study was designed to measure relative effects of “effective” and “ineffective” speakers presenting the Brown‐Carlsen and STEP tests on listening test scores. Analyses of the test scores found statistically significant differences between subjects hearing “effective” and “ineffective” speaker presentations for both the Brown‐Carlsen and STEP tests. Since subjects hearing “effective” speakers scored higher on both tests, results suggest variables such as “effective” speaker presentations positively influence listening test score results. Future research validating dimensions of administering listening tests seems necessary.
Interactive Sound Propagation and Rendering for Large Multi-Source Scenes

We present an approach to generate plausible acoustic effects at interactive rates in large dynamic environments containing many sound sources. Our formulation combines listener-based backward ray tracing with sound source clustering and hybrid audio rendering to handle complex scenes. We present a new algorithm for dynamic late reverberation that performs high-order ray tracing from the listener against spherical sound sources. We achieve sublinear scaling with the number of sources by clustering distant sound sources and taking relative visibility into account. We also describe a hybrid convolution-based audio rendering technique that can process hundreds of thousands of sound paths at interactive rates. We demonstrate the performance on many indoor and outdoor scenes with up to 200 sound sources. In practice, our algorithm can compute more than 50 reflection orders at interactive rates on a multicore PC, and we observe a 5x speedup over prior geometric sound propagation algorithms.
A reflectarray design with gapped ring elements and reduced cross-polarization for polarimetric radar

Dual polarimetric weather radar provides better interpretation of the type of precipitation and more accurate information of precipitation fall rates. Since the precipitation detection in dual polarimetric measurements relies on complete isolation of orthogonal components of the fields, a low cross-polar radiation is desirable. Reflectarray is a good antenna candidate for dual-polar weather detection, due to its low cross-polar radiation performance. In this paper, a reflectarray with gapped double-ring elements was designed to suppress the cross-polar level at and around broadside. In this design, gaps are cut on the double-ring elements to change the directions of the surface currents, so the cross-polar radiation components will cancel each other along the broadside direction, and thus a low cross-polar level can be achieved. Both simulation and measurements were carried out on the design, and a cross-polar level of -44 dB at broadside and less than -33 dB for all azimuth ranges (-90° <; θ <; 90°) is achieved in measurements.
Cancer Epidemiology: Incidence and Etiology of Human Neoplasms

Cancer is a myriad collection of diseases with as many different manifestations as there are tissues and cell types in the human body, involving innumerable endogenous or exogenous carcinogenic agents, and various etiological mechanisms. It is now recognized that cancer, in its simplest form, is a genetic disease, or more precisely, a disease of abnormal gene expression. Recent research efforts have revealed that different forms of cancer share common molecular mechanisms governing uncontrolled cellular proliferation, involving loss, mutation, or dysregulation of genes that positively and negatively regulate cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation (generally classified as proto-oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes). This introduction describes cancer incidence and mortality for the major forms of human cancer, and briefly reviews some of the known risk factors and/or causes of these cancers for specific at-risk populations.
Positrons probe defects

With the current drive to improve the speed and memory capacity of computers, and the associated need to miniaturize electronic devices, the role of defects in semiconductors and metals is becoming increasingly important. These defects can now be mapped with improved accuracy, both non-destructively and in three dimensions, thanks to a new microprobe developed by a team at the University of Trento, Italy, and the Institute for Nuclear Physics in Neubiberg, Germany (A Zecca et al. 1995 Europhys Lett. 29 617). The microprobe uses very short pulses (~100 ps) of low-energy positrons to achieve, for the first time, both a very small beam diameter and a good time resolution. This combination allows the high-precision mapping of defects and the unambiguous identification of the type of defect.
MnTE-2-PyP Treatment, or NOX4 Inhibition, Protects against Radiation-Induced Damage in Mouse Primary Prostate Fibroblasts by Inhibiting the TGF-Beta 1 Signaling Pathway

Prostate cancer patients who undergo radiotherapy frequently suffer from side effects caused by radiation-induced damage to normal tissues adjacent to the tumor. Exposure of these normal cells during radiation treatment can result in tissue fibrosis and cellular senescence, which ultimately leads to postirradiation-related chronic complications including urinary urgency and frequency, erectile dysfunction, urethral stricture and incontinence. Radiation-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been reported as the most potent causative factor for radiation damage to normal tissue. While MnTE-2-PyP, a ROS scavenger, protects normal cells from radiation-induced damage, it does not protect cancer cells during radiation treatment. However, the mechanism by which MnTE-2-PyP provides protection from radiation-induced fibrosis has been unclear. Our current study reveals the underlying molecular mechanism of radiation protection by MnTE-2-PyP in normal mouse prostate fibroblast cells. To investigate the role of ...
Do Test Scores Buy Happiness

ABSTRACTSince at least the enactment of No Child Left Behind in 2002, standardized test scores have served as the primary measures of public school effectiveness. Yet, such scores fail to measure the ultimate goal of education: maximizing happiness. This exploratory analysis assesses nation level associations between test scores and happiness, controlling for a strong correlate of both, per-capita Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Controlling for GDP, the association between test scores and happiness is greatly decreased, offering reason to question the sole use of test scores as measures of school success.
Stick-Slip Friction Reveals Hydrogel Lubrication Mechanisms.

The lubrication behavior of the hydrated biopolymers that constitute tissues in organisms differs from that outlined by the classical Stribeck curve, and studying hydrogel lubrication is a key pathway to understand the complexity of biolubrication. Here, we have investigated the frictional characteristics of polyacrylamide (PAAm) hydrogels with various acrylamide concentrations, exhibiting Young’s moduli (E) that range from 1 to 40 kPa, as a function of applied normal load and sliding velocities by colloid probe lateral force microscopy. The speed-dependence of the friction force shows an initial decrease in friction with increasing velocity, while, above a transition velocity V*, friction increases with speed. This study reveals two different boundary lubrication mechanisms characterized by distinct scaling laws. An unprecedented and comprehensive study of the lateral force loops reveals intermittent friction or stick–slip above and below V*, with characteristics that depend on the hydrogel network, appl...
Characterizing Interpersonal Influence for Grassland Conservation Behaviours in a Unique Population

Interpersonal communication can influence the decisions people make about engaging in conservation behaviours. In-depth interviews with Tibetan pastoralists serve as the basis for examining interpe...
Leveraging Customer Information to Develop Sequential Communication Strategies:: A case study of charitable-giving behavior

ABSTRACT In this paper we develop a comprehensive model hat integrates attitudinal, motivational, and psychographical data from customers and combines that with behavioral data to determine the overall impact on interactive relationships. We investigate the sequential or multi-staged nateure of the relationship building process and how these stages impact relationship loyalty. By doing so, longitudinal communication strategies can be developed that help move prospects through the decision process, culminating in long-term loyalty to the organization and/or social cause. Marketing as a discipline has long been criticized for its focus on enhancing corporate rather than consumer welfare. Our model is constructed and tested in a university/alumni giving setting.
A comprehensive survey on impulse and Gaussian denoising filters for digital images

Abstract This review article provides a comprehensive survey on state-of-the-art impulse and Gaussian denoising filters applied to images and summarizes the progress that has been made over the years in all applications involving image processing. The random noise model in this survey is assumed to be comprised of impulse (salt and pepper) and Gaussian noise. Different noise models are addressed, and different types of denoising filters are studied in terms of their performance on digital images and in their various practical implications and domains of application. A comprehensive comparison is performed to cover all the denoising methods in details and the results they yield. With this extensive review, researchers in image processing will be able to ascertain which of these denoising methods will be best applicable to their research needs and the application domain where such methods are contemplated for implementation.
Reaching full potential: bioelectrochemical systems for storing renewable energy in chemical bonds

The growing abundance of wind and solar power has driven interest in utilizing this renewable energy to make chemicals. One of the most efficient and sophisticated frameworks to solar-to-chemical conversion is bioelectrochemical systems that electrochemically couple inorganic catalysts and microorganisms. In particular, microbial electrosynthesis systems and biohybrid systems have used CO2 and electricity or light, respectively, to synthesize organic acids at energy efficiencies that exceed natural photosynthesis. In parallel, new methods have been recently developed to improve the poor mechanistic understanding of these and other bioelectrochemical systems. Deeper knowledge of these underlying molecular processes and creation of new architectures for bioelectrochemical systems are needed to make these promising technologies scale to a commercially relevant level.
Women's experiences across disasters: a study of two towns in Texas, United States

Gender, although gaining attention, remains under-researched in disaster risk reduction protocols and response and recovery efforts. This study examines women's experiences of two disasters in small towns in the United States, utilising qualitative interviews with residents of Granbury and West, Texas, during the first year of disaster recovery. Granbury was struck by an EF-4 tornado on 15 May 2013, whereas an explosion occurred at a local fertiliser facility in West on 17 April 2013. The paper explores how women's experiences of inter-gender power dynamics in decision-making, the prioritisation of childcare, and women's participation in the community affect their post-disaster recovery. Previous research highlights different forms of human response and recovery vis-a-vis 'natural' and technological disasters, with less attention paid to gender differences. The results point to the persistent, and similar, effect of gender stratification on women's experiences across different types of disasters in the US and the continued importance of gender-sensitive disaster policies and programmes.
P179 Nutrition Education for Asian Indian Fathers: What Works?

Background Fathers are mostly under-represented in family interventions targeting healthy eating behavior in children due to a variety of reasons including busy work schedules and maternal gatekeeping. There is a need to examine the most effective approach to engage fathers in nutrition education programs, especially in more traditional cultural groups such as Asian Indians. Objective This study aimed to determine participation preferences of Asian Indian fathers including their perspectives on preferred content and format of future nutrition education programing. Study Design, Settings, Participants This cross-sectional study included 70 Asian Indian fathers of 6-11-year-old children, recruited through various Indian community organizations in South Florida. Participants completed an online survey with questions on preferred nutrition education program participation, delivery mode, program duration, time and content. Measurable Outcome/Analysis Content and delivery preferences were analyzed by descriptive statistics using SPSS V 25.0. Results About 48.6% (n = 34) of the participants said they were likely to attend a future nutrition education program. Of these, 67.6% (n = 23) preferred an online program delivery format. About 26.5% (n = 9), preferred a mix of online and in-person sessions and only 5.9% (n = 2) preferred an in-person nutrition education program. Majority of the participants preferred a duration of 30 minutes for in-person education sessions taking place either weekends/ weekdays after work. “Easy access”, “flexibility” and “easy accommodation with work schedule” were the most stated reasons for preference of online mode of delivery. When asked about content, fathers were most interested in learning about “healthy balanced diet for children” (n = 10), “making kids choose healthy when alone” (n = 5), “healthy eating options for vegetarians combining Indian and Western diet” (n = 5) and “nutrition needs for various child age groups” (n = 5). Conclusion These findings can guide the design and conduct of nutrition education interventions for Asian Indian fathers. There is a need for innovative program delivery techniques including web-based education to engage fathers in nutrition programming. Funding None.
Response to Shih et al.

ABSTRACT A majority of individuals with BCNS have germline mutations affecting PTCH1, and BCCs that develop in these individuals are highly responsive to Smoothened inhibitors. However, BCCs which develop in minority of BCNS patients with underlying SUFU mutations may be less responsive to Smoothened inhibitors because inactivation of SUFU is downstream of SMO. Development of next-generation HH antagonists that target components downstream of SMO are under development for efficacy in Smoothened inhibitor resistant BCCs and may have efficacy in BCCs with SUFU mutations.
A Role for Barotropic Eddy–Mean Flow Feedbacks in the Zonal Wind Response to Sea Ice Loss and Arctic Amplification

AbstractPrevious studies have suggested that, in the zonal mean, the climatological Northern Hemisphere wintertime eddy-driven jet streams will weaken and shift equatorward in response to Arctic am...
Heartmate 3 Implantation in Cancer Survivors with Advanced Heart Failure

Purpose There are over 15 million Cancer Survivors (CSr) in the United States and this number is estimated to increase further with improvement in cancer therapeutics and an aging population. In previous studies, CSr undergoing Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) implantation were found to have worse outcomes than patients without a history of cancer. The aim of this study was to ascertain the effect of a previous history of cancer on adverse events and survival in patients undergoing HeartMate 3(HM3) implantation. Methods 165 consecutive patients undergoing HM3 implantation from November 2014 to July 2019 were included. Baseline demographics, cancer history and survival data were obtained from electronic medical records. The CSr group were defined as those with a documented history of a non-skin cancer malignancy. Results The mean age of the overall cohort was 59± 13 yrs and 84% were male. The CSr group consisted of 21 patients (13%). Malignancies in the CSr group included a history of breast CA, lymphoma, leukemia, bladder CA, uterine CA, prostate CA, pancreatic CA, thyroid CA, sarcoma and head and neck CA. 5 of the CSr patients had a history of exposure to chemotherapy while 3 had been exposed to thoracic radiation. The CSr patients were older than the Non-CSr group (65.2± 12 vs 58.3± 13 yrs; p=0.01), with no significant difference in other baseline characteristics. There was no difference in survival between the CSr and Non- CSr (93.8% vs 89.3%; p=0.58) at one-year post HM3 implantation (Figure1). There was no difference in freedom from stroke (100%, vs 93.2% p= 0.20) or freedom from GI bleeding (78.8% vs 75.1% p= 0.74) between the two groups. Conclusion CSr have equivalent survival after HM3 implantation compared to those without a history of cancer. Further study is needed to assess long term outcomes and complications in this cohort of patients.