cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
ON INTERRELATIONSHIPS OF THE CELLULAR ANTIGENS OF SEVERAL SPECIES OF STREPTOPELIA

It has been shown that the antigens of the red blood corpuscles, which distinguish one of a pair of species of doves or pigeons from the other, segregate in the backcross progeny according to genetic expectation (for references, see Irwin, 1951). These findings, coupled with those on the heredity of cellular antigens within various species (for references, see Race and Sanger, 1950; Riviere and Eyquem, 1953; and Wiener, 1943), indicate strongly that all the antigens of the blood cells are gene-determined. Hence the interrelationships of the cellular antigens of various species would be an index of the genetic relationships of these species, even though the cellular antigens might not be identified separately. The interrelationships of the cellular antigens among eight species of Streptopelia are presented in this report, from which parallel genetic interrelationships may be inferred. The sharing or non-sharing bv other species of pigeons and doves (Columbidae) of the cellular antigens which distinguish Pearlneck (St. chinensis) from Ring dove (St. risoria) have been presented in a previous paper (Irwin, 1953), illustrating that a cellular substance which distinguishes one species from another, as Pearlneck from Ring dove, may be shared in whole or in part by one or more other species. The interrelationships to be described in the present report will necessarily be based in part upon those antigenic substances by which Pearlneck is differentiated from Ring dove, and in part upon other substances.
Effects of Lunar Phases on Light-Trap Collections and Populations of Bollworm Moths

Numbers of Heliothis zea (Boddie) caught in light-traps during 3 consecutive years showed a rhythmic pattern which corresponded to the lunar phases. The greatest numbers of moths were trapped during new-moon periods; the smallest numbers were always trapped during the full-moon periods. Numbers of bollworm eggs were also found to fluctuate in relation to moon phases. Relatively large egg depositions occurred during the new-moon periods; small numbers were recorded during full moons. The hypothesis is proposed that bollworm generation cycles are synchronized and/or governed by lunar phases and that occurrences of bollworm population increases and declines can be predicted.
Phase Morphology of High-Impact-Strength Blends of EPDM and Polypropylene. Knit-Line Behavior

Abstract The blend morphologies of injection moldings of high-impact-strength blends of EPDM or mixtures of EPDM and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) in polypropylene have been elucidated by the use of several classical microscopic techniques. It is demonstrated that, when present, HDPE is located within the EPDM phase, where it probably functions predominantly as a viscosity modifier. Within the core, the dispersed phase has an equilibrium globular shape, whose size can be related to impact strength. Elsewhere, the shape of the dispersed phase accurately reflects the shear forces of viscous flow through the mold cavity. In effect, these small domains serve as tracer elements and provide visual evidence and verification for previously postulated flow patterns. Fast, laminar flow through the center of the cavity to the advancing front and then in a curved path to the wall creates shear patterns such that the dispersed phase is in sheetlike or disk-shaped domains at the melt front and in rapidly crystallize...
Deterrence, Defense, and Disengagement

Perhaps the central dilemma in national security policy is how to A reconcile the obvious potency of nuclear weapons for purposes of deterrence with their dubious utility as instruments of defense—i.e., for fighting a war at tolerable cost in case deterrence should fail. In prenuclear days, deterrence was more or less a function of an efficient capacity for defense, but with the new technology deterrence may be accomplished with capabilities and threats that do not correspond to the capabilities and strategies most suitable for rational military action. This dichotomy forms the leading theme of Deterrent or Defense, by Captain B. H. Liddell Hart, one of Britain's leading military analysts. The book is a collection of articles written mostly during the past three or four years, and concerned chiefly with military problems of NATO. As in many books of this sort, the articles overlap to some extent and are not always consistent. Leaving aside the inconsistencies for the moment, Liddell Hart's basic position can be stated briefly. Strategic nuclear airpower is useful for deterring an all-out nuclear attack on the United States or a full-scale conventional assault on Western Europe. But it has no value whatever for purposes of defense, because the inevitable result of the actual use of such weapons is simply “mutual suicide.” Even though it would be “lunacy” for the United States to initiate thermonuclear war in response to a Soviet attack in Europe, the Russians' fear of such a response probably is still strong enough to deter them from all but limited actions. Hence, the major problem facing NATO is to develop an effective non-suicidal defense against limited aggression. The book's greatest merit lies in its contribution to the solution of this problem.
The respiratory mechanics assessment of cuffed endotracheal tube in infants with acute respiratory failure

Objective To study the value of cuffed endotracheal tube (CETT) in infants with acute respiratory failure (ARF) Methods The indices of respiratory mechanics and complications in 21 infants intubated with CETT (CETT group) and 25 infants with uncuffed endotracheal tube (UETT group) were compared Results The mean values of respiratory rate [(36 2±2 2) time/min], expiratory tidal volume [(9 5±0 5)ml/kg], leak age% around the tube [(4 0±1 1)%] and work of breathing [WOB(0 064±0 021)J/(min·kg)] in CETT group were significantly different from the mean values [(39 3±2 4) time/min,(8 6±0 8) ml/kg, (14 0± 1 2)%,(0 092±0 035)J/(min·kg), respectively] in UETT group on the day of intubation (all P 0 01) The mean values of respiratory system compliance [(0 5±0 3) ml/(cmH 2O·kg)] and respiratory system resistance (93±5) cmH 2O/(L·s) in UETT group were not different from the corresponding mean values [(0 6±0 3) ml/(cmH 2O·kg) and (94±5) cmH 2O/(L·s), respectively] in CETT group ( P 0 05) The incidence of re intubation in UETT group was higher than that in CETT group ( P 0 01) There were more accidental extubation, endotracheal tube sliding into bronchus in UETT group than those in CETT group No significant differences in barotrauma, duration of intubation, post extubation stridor and mortality rate between the two groups were found Conclusion (1) The application of CETT in infants with ARF may decrease WOB during mechanical ventilation (2) Improved lung ventilation can be expected by reducing air leak around the CETT and increasing VTexp (3) The CETT was not associated with an increased risk of complications The CETT can be used safely in infants
Metal-induced rapid transformation of diamond into single and multilayer graphene on wafer scale

The degradation of intrinsic properties of graphene during the transfer process constitutes a major challenge in graphene device fabrication, stimulating the need for direct growth of graphene on dielectric substrates. Previous attempts of metal-induced transformation of diamond and silicon carbide into graphene suffers from metal contamination and inability to scale graphene growth over large area. Here, we introduce a direct approach to transform polycrystalline diamond into high-quality graphene layers on wafer scale (4 inch in diameter) using a rapid thermal annealing process facilitated by a nickel, Ni thin film catalyst on top. We show that the process can be tuned to grow single or multilayer graphene with good electronic properties. Molecular dynamics simulations elucidate the mechanism of graphene growth on polycrystalline diamond. In addition, we demonstrate the lateral growth of free-standing graphene over micron-sized pre-fabricated holes, opening exciting opportunities for future graphene/diamond-based electronics. Direct growth of large-area graphene on dielectric substrates is a promising route to wafer scale integration. Here the authors use a rapid thermal annealing process to grow graphene layers on four-inch diameter polycrystalline diamond, eliminating the need for transfer.
Truth, Trivialism, and Perceptual Illusions

Dialetheism is the view according to which some contradictions (i.e., statements of the form, A and not-A) are true. In this paper, I discuss three strategies to block dialetheism: (i) Contradictions cannot be true because some theories of truth preclude them from emerging. (ii) Contradictions cannot be true because we cannot see what it is like to perceive them. Although that does not undercut the possibility that there are true contradictions that we cannot perceive, it makes their introduction a genuine cost. (iii) Contradictions cannot be true because if they were, we would end up sliding down into believing that everything is true (trivialism). Even if the dialetheist is not committed to that slippery slope, it is crucial that the dialetheist establishes that trivialism is unacceptable; but it is not clear how that could be done successfully. Graham Priest has considered these strategies (in his Doubt Truth to be a Liar), but I argue that none of his responses successfully block them.
Estimates of the approximation characteristics of the classes B p , θ Ω of periodic functions of several variables with given majorant of mixed moduli of continuity

We obtain order-sharp estimates of the orthogonal projection widths of the classes Bp,θΩ of periodic functions of several variables whose majorant of the mixed moduli of continuity contains both exponential and logarithmic multipliers.
Intermodulation Products: Automated Prediction and Measurement

Most intermodulation distortion measurement systems are tailored to a specific RF signal procecsing system, where it is known which intermodulation products are desired and which are undesired. An alternative and more general approach would be to apply a set of signals of known frequencies and amplitudes. Now, all products to be a specified Nth order within a specified bandwidth can be calculated and measured. In this manner, the relationship between any resultant intermodulation product and the signals producing it are known. This facilitates a more intelligent, control over the spectrum analyzer for more accurate, repeatable, and comprehensive measurement of intermodulation.
Chemical principles additive model aligns low consensus DNA targets of p53 tumor suppressor protein

Display Omitted An additive energy model based on chemical interactions at the binding interface of p53 and its DNA sequences is presented.The model provides a new approach to aligning binding sites, especially those with low consensus.p53 may recognize its target sites through multiple distinct mechanisms binding sites of low sequence homology may be recognized by indirect readout.Insights into the p53-DNA recognition process advances cancer research for development of therapeutics targeting p53. Computational prediction of the interaction between protein transcription factors and their cognate DNA binding sites in genomic promoters constitutes a formidable challenge in two situations: when the number of discriminatory interactions is small compared to the length of the binding site, and when DNA binding sites possess a poorly conserved consensus binding motif. The transcription factor p53 tumor suppressor protein and its target DNA exhibit both of these issues. From crystal structure analysis, only three discriminatory amino acid side chains contact the DNA for a binding site spanning ten base pairs. Furthermore, our analysis of a dataset of genome wide fragments binding to p53 revealed many sequences lacking the expected consensus. The low information content leads to an overestimation of binding sites, and the lack of conservation equates to a computational alignment problem. Within a fragment of DNA known to bind to p53, computationally locating the position of the site equates to aligning the DNA with the binding interface. From a molecular perspective, that alignment implies a specification of which DNA bases are interacting with which amino acid side chains, and aligning many sequences to the same protein interface concomitantly produces a multiple sequence alignment. From this vantage, we propose to cast prediction of p53 binding sites as an alignment to the protein binding surface with the novel approach of optimizing the alignment of DNA fragments to the p53 binding interface based on chemical principles. A scoring scheme based on this premise was successfully implemented to score a dataset of biological DNA fragments known to contain p53 binding sites. The results illuminate the mechanism of recognition for the protein-DNA system at the forefront of cancer research. These findings implicate that p53 may recognize its target binding sites via several different mechanisms which may include indirect readout.
Long-Term Surveillance and Timeline of Progression of Presumed Low-Risk Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasms

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study was to assess risk of progression and rate of growth of presumed low-risk branch duct intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms surveyed for more than 4 years. MATERIALS AND METHODS. A keyword search of electronic medical charts was performed for the years 2001–2013. Cystic lesions that met the criteria for clinical branch duct intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm, lacked baseline high-risk or worrisome features, and had more than 4 years of surveillance were included in this study. Two radiologists performed cyst size measurements to assess interreader variability. Cyst progression was defined either as 2-mm or greater or 20% or greater increase in diameter or as development of worrisome features. Kaplan-Meier curves were generated to evaluate cyst progression time and linear mixed models to evaluate growth rates. RESULTS. The search revealed 2423 patients with cystic pancreatic lesions. Among these patients 228 had imaging follow-up for 4 or more years, and 131 met...
Savage Jaguars, King Cats, and Ghostly Tigres: Affective Logics and Predatory Natures in Twentieth-Century American Nature Writing

The emerging subfield of historical animal geography provides an opportunity to trace the origins and evolutions of how affective logics framing the conservation of an animal species are co-constituted through embodied interaction between humans and nonhumans, revealing the dynamic ways in which charismatic species are imagined into and out of positions of priority within conservation agendas. This article takes an interest in the shifting perception of predatory species in the environmental conservation movement in the United States, looking to the appearance of jaguars (Panthera onca) in the work of prominent U.S. nature writers Theodore Roosevelt, Ernest Thompson Seton, and Aldo Leopold in the early- to mid-twentieth century. These human–jaguar entanglements reveal a period marked by dynamic changes in the ways in which interspecies encounters were constituted in place; a layering on of affective logics that reveal the complicated origins, practices, and potentialities at the outset of the modern conse...
Public Perceptions Regarding Use of Virtual Reality in Health Care: A Social Media Content Analysis Using Facebook.

Background: Virtual reality (VR) technology provides an immersive environment that enables users to have modified experiences of reality. VR is increasingly used to manage patients with pain, disability, obesity, neurologic dysfunction, anxiety, and depression. However, public opinion regarding the use of VR in health care has not been explored. Understanding public opinion of VR is critical to ensuring effective implementation of this emerging technology. Objective: This study aimed to examine public opinion about health care VR using social listening, a method that allows for the exploration of unfiltered views of topics discussed on social media and online forums. Methods: In March 2016, NBC News produced a video depicting the use of VR for patient care. The video was repackaged by NowThis, a social media news website, and distributed on Facebook by Upworthy, a news aggregator, yielding 4.3 million views and 2401 comments. We used Microsoft Excel Power Query and ATLAS.ti software (version 7.5, Scientific Software Development) to analyze the comments using content analysis and categorized the comments around first-, second-, and third-order concepts. We determined self-identified gender from the user’s Facebook page and performed sentiment analysis of the language to analyze whether the perception of VR differed by gender using a Pearson’s chi-square test. Results: Out of the 1614 analyzable comments, 1021 (63.26%) were attributed to female Facebook users, 572 (35.44%) to male users, and 21 (1.30%) to users of unknown gender. There were 1197 comments coded as expressing a positive perception about VR (74.16%), 251 coded as expressing a negative perception and/or concern (15.56%), and 560 coded as neutral (34.70%). Informants identified 20 use cases for VR in health care, including the use of VR for pain and stress reduction; bed-bound individuals; women during labor; and patients undergoing chemotherapy, dialysis, radiation, or imaging procedures. Negative comments expressed concerns about radiation, infection risk, motion sickness, and the ubiquity of and overall dependence on technology. There was a statistically significant association between the language valence of the Facebook post and the gender of the Facebook user; men were more likely to post negative perceptions about the use of VR for health care, whereas women were more likely to post positive perceptions (P<.001). Conclusions: Most informants expressed positive perceptions about the use of VR in a wide range of health care settings. However, many expressed concerns that should be acknowledged and addressed as health care VR continues to evolve. Our results provide guidance in determining where further research on the use of VR in patient care is needed, and offer a formal opportunity for public opinion to shape the VR research agenda.
Lithics in the West: Using Lithic Analysis to Solve Archaeological Problems in Western North America

Lithics in the West is published by University of Montana Press and is edited by Douglas H. MacDonald, William Andrefsky, Jr., and Pei-Lin Yu. The geographic coverage arcs from eastern Oregon and W...
Oral anticoagulant therapy and skin necrosis: speculations on pathogenesis.

Warfarin or Coumadin induced necrosis of the skin was first recognized in 19521 and since that time, several hundred cases have been described.
Metabolic changes in bladder cancer.

Abstract Introduction and Objective Bladder cancer is a common solid tumor. Outcomes are poor in advanced disease, with few novel clinical therapeutics introduced over the previous several decades. Otto Warburg's original hypothesis that cancer cells use aerobic glycolysis to produce ATP instead of traditional oxidative phosphorylation in the mitochondria was a landmark discovery in its time. Recent studies indicate metabolic changes in cancer are far more complex than originally anticipated though. The purpose of this review is to understand metabolic changes that occur in bladder cancer, how targeting these changes could potentially be used therapeutically, and the current treatments that target these metabolic changes Methods A literature review on recent advances in cancer metabolism with an emphasis on bladder cancer was performed. Results Significant metabolic change occurs in bladder cancer; however, these changes associated are not yet well understood. Therapeutic development in this area is growing and a diverse array of actionable targets such as mitochondrial DNA, mitochondrial metabolic enzymes and cellular signaling proteins have been identified. Many of these proteins may also be involved in chemoresistance. Conclusion Metabolism is a growing area of therapeutic interest in bladder cancer, but more studies are required to advance therapeutic development in this area.
Family structure and children's health: United States, 1988

This report describes the family arrangements of children 17 years of age and under and the association between family structure and various demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of the children and their families. The focus of the report is on the relationship between family structure and children's health and well-being. Physical health, educational attainment, and emotional health are compared for children in the four most common types of family. Data are from the 1988 National Health Interview Survey on Child Health.
Mechanisms of peroxisome biogenesis: Regulation of peroxisomal enzymes, and their subsequent sorting to peroxisomes

Abstract Compartmentalization is a feature of eukaryote cells and requires the sorting of specific proteins to their correct destination within the cell. This is generally accomplished by the inclusion of topogenic sorting signals in the amino acid sequence of the protein to be sorted. Nuclear-encoded proteins are either deposited in the cytosol or are targeted to the endoplasmic reticulum, the nucleus, mitochondria, chloroplasts, or peroxisomes. The focus of this chapter is on the processes involved in regulating the biogenesis of peroxisomes. Peroxisomes are specialized organelles found in most eukaryote cells, where their major functions are related to cellular respiration and fatty acid oxidation. They mature by the posttranslational incorporation of newly synthesized proteins; they then grow and divide to form new peroxisomes. This is a dynamic process, and the kinetics by which this takes place depend on the organism, the cell type, and the metabolic state of that cell. Under certain conditions peroxisomes are caused to rapidly proliferate; this entails increasing the membrane content of the organelle, activating the transcription of genes encoding peroxisomal proteins, and importing these proteins into peroxisomes. Our understanding of the mechanisms involved in this process is not complete; however, much information regarding this process has been gathered in the last few years.
ON THE RESPONSE OF IONIC CRYSTALS TO IRRADIATION

We use molecular dynamics simulations to study the irradiation-induced point-defect clustering kinetics in CeO2 as a surrogate for UO2, the most widely used nuclear fuel. Remarkably, the cluster-fo...
Legal and ethical policies regarding research involving critically ill children.

Research involving children in emergency and intensive care is essential to advance medical knowledge, but researchers must be careful to minimize the stress that consent and participation entail for children and their families.
TGF-β Mediated Cell Adhesion Dynamics and Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition in 3D and 2D Ovarian Cancer Models

Abstract Background Three-dimensional (3D) tumor cultures in vitro have recently regained attention as they have been acclaimed to have higher similarity to in vivo tumors than cells grown in conventional monolayers (2D). Cancer cells in 2D monolayers fail to mimic the exact tumor microenvironment existing in the real clinical samples. The 3D anchorage-independent cancer models can better explain the cell adhesion properties in ovarian cancer cells. Results Transcriptome profiling of 3D models compared to 2D models in various cancer cell lines shows differential expression of TGF-β-mediated and cell adhesion pathways. Presence of TGF-β in these cell lines shows an increased invasion potential which is specific to cell type. We decided to choose two ovarian cancer cell lines as model systems to study Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) and cancer invasion based on their invasion potential and ability to switch the cadherins expression. TGF-β modulation in EMT and cancer invasion was successfully depicted in both 2D and 3D models of SKOV3 and CAOV3 cell lines. Functional evaluations in 3D and 2D models demonstrate that the addition of the exogenous TGF-β can induce EMT and invasion in cancer cells by turning them into aggressive phenotypes. TGF-β receptor kinase I inhibitor (LY364947) can revert TGF-β effect in these cells. Conclusions In a nutshell, TGF-β can induce EMT and migration, increase aggressiveness, increase cell survival, alter cell characteristics, remodel the Extracellular Matrix (ECM) and increase cell metabolism favorable for tumor invasion and metastasis.
Selective middle cerebral artery occlusion in the rabbit: Technique and characterization with pathologic findings and multimodal MRI

Abstract Background A reliable animal model of ischemic stroke is vital for pre-clinical evaluation of stroke therapies. We describe a reproducible middle cerebral artery (MCA) embolic occlusion in the French Lop rabbit characterized with multimodal MRI and histopathologic tissue analysis. New method Fluoroscopic-guided microcatheter placement was performed in five consecutive subjects with angiographic confirmation of MCA occlusion with autologous clot. Multimodal MRI was obtained prior to occlusion and up to six hours post after which repeat angiography confirmed sustained occlusion. The brain was harvested for histopathologic examination. Results Angiography confirmed successful MCA catheterization and durable (>6 h) MCA occlusion in all animals. There was increase of ADC volume over time and variable final core volume presumably related to individual variation in collateral flow. FLAIR hyperintensity indicative of cytotoxic edema and parenchymal contrast enhancement reflective of blood brain barrier disruption was observed over time. Tissue staining of the ischemic brain showed edema and structural alterations consistent with infarction. Comparison with existing methods This study describes a technique of selective catheterization and embolic occlusion of the MCA in the rabbit with MRI characterization of evolution of ischemia in the model. Conclusions We demonstrate the feasibility of a rabbit model of embolic MCA occlusion with angiographic documentation. Serial MR imaging demonstrated changes comparable to those observed in human ischemic stroke, confirmed histopathologically.
Radiographic Nuances in Allergic Fungal Rhinosinusitis.

BackgroundAllergic fungal rhinosinusitis (AFRS) is characterized by higher revision endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) rates and unique radiographic features when compared to chronic rhinosinusitis wit...
Epidermal growth factor receptor-protein kinase interactions in hepatic membranes of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

The association between the presence of EGF binding and its associated tyrosine kinase activity was investigated in the hepatic membranes of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Time course experiments indicted that the binding of EGF to hepatic membranes was temperature dependent and resulted in increased phosphorylation of membrane components. The phosphorylation reaction was dependent on the presence of divalent ions (Mg2+ and Mn2+) but not monovalent ions (Na+ and K+) or calcium. Western blot analysis of phosphorylated trout membranes indicated protein bands at 150 and 180 kDa which is similar to that observed in mammals. Use of specific substrates and protein kinase inhibitors also indicated that the increase in EGF stimulated phosphorylation was related to an increase in tyrosine kinase activity. These data support the hypothesis that trout have an EGF-like receptor that has binding and biological activities similar to that observed in mammalian species.
Automatic Implementation of Secure Silicon

Throughout the past decade, cybersecurity threats have evolved from attacks focused high in the software stack to progressively lower levels of computational hierarchy. With the explosion of popularity and growing deployment of internet connected devices, economic attackers and nation-states alike are shifting their attention to Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs) that enable complex capabilities across commercial and military application domains. Despite growing recognition of the problem and a substantial body of research across multiple chip security areas, no common tools, methods or solutions are in wide use today. Modern synchronous digital ASICs are already very complex and expensive to design and incorporation of security is viewed as a burden with unclear economic benefits. The result is that the majority of today's ASICs are largely unprotected. Absence of automation makes incorporation of security a laborious, manual task that generally requires very specific design expertise not generally possessed by semiconductor companies. These dynamics can be altered with a novel chip design flow that aims to protect advanced ASICs from known attack strategies by streamlining inclusion of scalable defense mechanisms into an automated process that maximizes architectural exploration of security vs. economics trade-offs while improving design productivity. The effort and cost to incorporate a level of hardware security aligned with application requirements and economics will be significantly reduced so that incorporation of security at all levels of hardware design is feasible and affordable.
Geographic Disparities in US Veterans' Access to Cochlear Implant Care Within the Veterans Health Administration System.

Importance Veterans are at high risk for developing sensorineural hearing loss leading to cochlear implant (CI) candidacy; however, the ability to care for these patients is limited by the number and location of Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facilities that provide specialized CI services. Objective To investigate geographic disparities in access to CI care within the VHA system for US veterans. Design, Setting, and Participants An analysis of census tract–level data including US veterans was conducted using the nationwide American Community Survey data collected by the US Census Bureau from January to December 2016, which were accessed in 2017. Main Outcomes and Measures Maps showing the geographic variability in need for specialized CI services, estimated as a function of the number of veterans and the distance to the nearest established VHA-based CI surgical or audiologic facilities. Results A total of 19.9 million veterans within the continental United States resided at a median distance of 80 miles (interquartile range [IQR], 30.1-140.9 miles; mean [SD], 1002 [465.8] miles) from the nearest VHA facility offering CI care; of these, 3.98 million (20.0%) resided more than 160.7 miles from the nearest VHA facility. When considering only comprehensive facilities offering both surgical and audiologic care, the median distance was 101.3 miles (IQR, 39.4-178.7 miles; mean [SD], 126.0 [448.4] miles), but 20.0% of veterans had to travel more than 201.0 miles to a VHA facility. Veterans residing in urban areas (74.0%) lived a median distance of 61.2 miles (IQR, 23.7-121.3 miles; mean [SD], 83.8 [477.1] miles) from the nearest VHA facility, with 2.9 million (20.0%) living the farthest at 140.7 miles. Veterans residing in rural areas (26.0%) lived a median distance of 119.8 miles (IQR, 79.0-182.4 miles; mean [SD], 146.9 [431.0] miles) from their nearest VHA facility, with 1.04 million (20.0%) living more than 206.2 miles from the nearest VHA facility. Conclusions and Relevance This study’s findings suggest that large disparities exist in the distance to the nearest VHA-based CI facilities. Veterans face considerable geographic barriers to obtaining VHA-based CI care in many parts of the country, including some large metropolitan areas. Those requiring only audiologic services face similar geographic barriers as those requiring surgery. Thoughtful placement of new facilities, along with upcoming advances in remote programming of implants, may help ensure appropriate care for this high-risk population.
Percutaneous Access to the Subarachnoid Space-An Approach to the Patient With Difficult Body Habitus.

Background Context. Fluoroscopic-guided lumbar puncture typically provides rapid access to the subarachnoid space. Despite advances in equipment and imaging, new challenges have arisen as the face of the world population changes. Purpose. In the patient with difficult body habitus, the procedure can become more difficult. Such patients often require longer procedure times, increased fluoroscopy time with subsequent higher radiation dosages, and often multiple skin punctures, with the potential for a higher complication rate. Study Design/Setting . Our radiology department is regularly called upon to access the subarachnoid space in our fluoroscopic suites for entities including, but not limited to raised intracranial pressure, suspected infection, demyelinating disease and intrathecal chemotherapy. We describe a fast, effective and simple method for gaining access to the subarachnoid space in such patients with more challenging body habitus. Results. This technique has been used successfully in at least 30 such cases. Conclusions. The use of a radiopaque localizer grid is a fast and easy way to access the subarachnoid space in patients with difficult body habitus, significantly decreasing overall procedure time and radiation dose.
Ultrasonication treatment enhances MOF surface area and gas uptake capacity

Abstract It is well recognised fact that the properties of materials depend on the synthesis technique. We can use this power to change the physical and chemical properties of materials. Metal organic frameworks are porous coordination polymers that have a highly porous structure, great surface area and can be utilised for gas capturing and storage applications. Improving the surface area of MOFs has always been targeted in coordination chemistry. Synthesis reactions need mass physical forces where the mass transfer of reactants is required, and it can definitely be provided by the sonochemical synthesis approach. In this study, the very well-known MOF-2 was re-synthesised using an ultrasonication method. The prepared sample was activated under vacuum to obtain highly porous MOF crystals. All the prepared samples were fully characterized using SCXRD, PXRD, FTIR TGA, SEM-EDS and BET analysis. The results indicated highly crystalline, water stable MOF materials with a high carbon dioxide capture tendency. Moreover, it was found that sonication treatment and vacuum activation at high temperature increases the specific surface area of the prepared samples compared to MOF-2 prepared by a conventional solvothermal synthesis.
Chapter 14 – Pore Volume

This chapter defines pore volume and distinguishes it from pore space. Pore volumes are used to determine movement of solutes (e.g., dissolved fertilizers or pollutants) through soil. The average pore velocity, the Darcy velocity, and the actual velocity of water in the soil are compared. A mathematical analysis of pore volume is given. Breakthrough curves for saturated and unsaturated flow are illustrated. Pore volume is calculated in a sample problem. The reason why pore volumes are given in units of length, as well as units of volume, is given. The relation between mobile water content and pore volume is discussed. Pore volumes are analyzed in miscible displacement studies. Miscible displacement is the process that occurs when one fluid mixes with and displaces another fluid. A pioneer in the application of miscible displacement techniques to soil science is D.R. Nielsen. A biography of Nielsen is given in the appendix.
The gut microbiome as a target for adjuvant therapy in obstructive sleep apnea.

Introduction: Gut dysbiosis is assumed to play a role in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)-associated morbidities. Pre- and probiotics, short chain fatty acids (SCFA) and fecal matter transplantation (...
Analysis of LTE Signal Propagation Models in Wooded Areas for Khabarovsk Highways

This article analyzes the features of radio wave propagation for LTE technology. Methods for assessing the attenuation and range of radio signal propagation are proposed taking into account the forests of the Khabarovsk Territory on the region's roads with difficult terrain. Simulation modeling was carried out using MATLAB environment for comparative evaluation of methods.
Pricing Climate Risks of Energy Investments: A Comparative Case Study

In, Weyant and Manav (2020) propose a framework that assesses material financial impacts from climate change and a low-carbon transition on energy infrastructure investments. This study demon-strates the application of the framework using three downstream energy assets: natural gas, coal, and solar photovoltaic power plants. We identify physical and transition risks that an asset is highly exposed to with its asset type, geographic location, time frame, and financing structure, and build highly-likely climate risk scenarios. We then project an energy asset’s cash flow under multiple scenarios and investigate whether and how these scenarios would affect the asset’s debt and equity investments. While extant climate risk assessments are mostly at sovereign, industry, or portfolio levels, this study focuses on infrastructure assets. Instead of estimating net present value (NPV), we estimate an energy asset’s probability of default due to climate risks and the size and time of the losses by the given default using debt service coverage ratio (DSCR). Lastly, this comparative case study also shows how the values of investment would vary across energy assets.
A Positive Youth Development Approach to College and Career Readiness

Pathways to Your Future is a college and career readiness program for youth in Grades 9 through 12. The program’s curriculum provides youth with resources and opportunities to develop knowledge and learn skills that help them align their sparks with potential careers, while exploring various pathways to enter the workforce. The family component includes a pre-program orientation, a financing and budgeting workshop, and take-home materials. Latino students made up 71% of the study participants. Retrospective pre- and post-program surveys were administered to youth and parents/guardians. Results indicated that the program equipped youth participants with the knowledge and skills to plan and manage their education and career goals, prepared them for a successful post-secondary educational experience and/or entry into the workforce, and increased the number of participants who planned to attend a post-secondary institution. Few gender differences were found. Findings suggest the program increased participating parents’ knowledge, skills, and involvement in their children’s college and career aspirations and plans. The results pointed to the importance of a holistic approach to college and career readiness that involves the youth and their parents nested in a positive youth development model.
Economic Evaluations of Breast Cancer Care in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Scoping Review.

Background Understanding the cost of delivering breast cancer (BC) care in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) is critical to guide effective care delivery strategies. This scoping review summarizes the scope of literature on the costs of BC care in LMICs and characterizes the methodological approaches of these economic evaluations. Materials and methods A systematic literature search was performed in five databases and gray literature up to March 2020. Studies were screened to identify original articles that included a cost outcome for BC diagnosis or treatment in an LMIC. Two independent reviewers assessed articles for eligibility. Data related to study characteristics and methodology were extracted. Study quality was assessed using the Drummond et al. checklist. Results Ninety-one articles across 38 countries were included. The majority (73%) of studies were published between 2013 and 2020. Low-income countries (2%) and countries in Sub-Saharan Africa (9%) were grossly underrepresented. The majority of studies (60%) used a health care system perspective. Time horizon was not reported in 30 studies (33%). Of the 33 studies that estimated the cost of multiple steps in the BC care pathway, the majority (73%) were of high quality, but studies varied in their inclusion of nonmedical direct and indirect costs. Conclusion There has been substantial growth in the number of BC economic evaluations in LMICs in the past decade, but there remain limited data from low-income countries, especially those in Sub-Saharan Africa. BC economic evaluations should be prioritized in these countries. Use of existing frameworks for economic evaluations may help achieve comparable, transparent costing analyses. Implications for practice There has been substantial growth in the number of breast cancer economic evaluations in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) in the past decade, but there remain limited data from low-income countries. Breast cancer economic evaluations should be prioritized in low-income countries and in Sub-Saharan Africa. Researchers should strive to use and report a costing perspective and time horizon that captures all costs relevant to the study objective, including those such as direct nonmedical and indirect costs. Use of existing frameworks for economic evaluations in LMICs may help achieve comparable, transparent costing analyses in order to guide breast cancer control strategies.
Outcomes and risk factors for heart transplantation in children with congenital heart disease.

Abstract Objective Heart transplantation in children with underlying congenital heart disease has traditionally been associated with inferior outcomes. We report our single institution experience. Methods Between 1988 and 2013, 124 children with congenital heart disease underwent heart transplantation. Competing risks analysis modeled events after heart transplantation (retransplantation, death without retransplantation). Multivariable regression analysis examined risk factors affecting outcomes. Results There were 76 male patients (61%); median age was 3.8 years (interquartile range, 0.6-11.5). Sixteen patients (13%) underwent primary heart transplantation, and 108 patients (87%) underwent prior surgical repair/palliation. Thirty-eight patients (31%) had 2 ventricles, and 86 patients (69%) had a single ventricle, including 33 (27%) who underwent a prior Fontan procedure. Competing risks analysis showed that at 10 years after heart transplantation, 13% of patients had undergone retransplantation, 43% of patients had died without retransplantation, and 44% of patients were alive without retransplantation. After retransplantation, 9 of 17 patients were alive and 3 of 17 patients had undergone a second retransplantation. Overall 15-year survival after initial heart transplantation was 41%. On multivariable analysis, risk factors for early-phase mortality were age less than 1 year (hazard ratio [HR], 7.2; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.4-22.0; P P P = .025) and donor–recipient race mismatch (HR, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.2-4.1; P = .016). Survival was not affected by era, underlying anomaly, prior Fontan procedure, sensitization, or pulmonary artery augmentation. Conclusions The outcomes of heart transplantation in children with congenital heart disease have not improved in the current era. Survival was not affected by the underlying anomaly, prior Fontan procedure, or sensitization. Strategies to improve the outcomes in patients with congenital heart disease may need to address selection criteria, transplantation timing, and pretransplant and post-transplant care. The effect of donor–recipient race mismatch warrants further investigation and might affect organ allocation algorithms or immunosuppression management.
Abstract 13397: Determining the Optimal Cutpoint Value for the Diagnosis of Hypertriglyceridemia in the Nonfasting Population

Background: Nonfasting triglycerides may be superior to fasting triglycerides at predicting CVD. However, guideline cutpoints are based on fasting triglycerides. We aimed to determine the optimal clinical cutpoint for nonfasting triglycerides. Methods: Among 26,509 apparently healthy women, nonfasting blood samples (<8 hours since last meal) were obtained from 6,391 participants who were prospectively followed for up to 17 years for incident CVD (MI, ischemic stroke, CABG/PTCA, CVD death). The optimal diagnostic threshold for nonfasting triglycerides was determined by univariate logistic regression model using c-statistics for triglycerides between 100-300 mg/dL, with 10-fold cross-validation and bootstrapping in multivariable models. In addition, we tested the proposed nonfasting cutpoints of 175 mg/dL (European Atherosclerosis Society), 180 mg/dL (Athens Expert Panel), and 200 mg/dL (AHA). Results: The optimal threshold was identified as 175 mg/dL (Table). Performance of this optimal threshold was evalu...
High Temperature Fusion Reactor Cooling Using Brayton Cycle Based Partial Energy Conversion

For some future space power systems using high temperature nuclear heat sources most of the output energy will be used in other than electrical form, and only a fraction of the total thermal energy generated will need to be converted to electrical work. The paper describes the conceptual design of such a partial energy conversion system, consisting of a high temperature fusion reactor operating in series with a high temperature radiator and in parallel with dual closed cycle gas turbine (CCGT) power systems, also referred to as closed Brayton cycle (CBC) systems, which are supplied with a fraction of the reactor thermal energy for conversion to electric power. Most of the fusion reactor's output is in the form of charged plasma which is expanded through a magnetic nozzle of the interplanetary propulsion system. Reactor heat energy is ducted to the high temperature series radiator utilizing the electric power generated to drive a helium gas circulation fan. In addition to discussing the thermodynamic aspects of the system design the authors include a brief overview of the gas turbine and fan rotor-dynamics and proposed bearing support technology along with performance characteristics of the three phase AC electric power generator and fan drive motor.
Lattice Gauge Theories

In the past few days we have heard several beautiful lectures describing the way in which people hope to extract interesting physical information from quantum field theories by studying their semi-classical versions. Being in the mountains it seems appropriate to describe these attempts as an attack on the semi-classical face of quantum field theory. Since all mountains have more than one face, I would like to describe in my next few lectures attempts which have been made to launch a direct attack on the quantum face (Fig. 1); hence these lectures are in a sense complementary to the preceding ones.
Electron microscopic observations on lysosomes and related cytoplasmic components of normal and pathological cardiac muscle.

An electron microscopic investigation was made on lysosomes and morphologically related structures found in cardiac muscle. The tissues used in this investigation were obtained from normal and functionally altered rat hearts and human hearts from patients with cardiomyopathy. Structures morphologically similar to lysosomes were encountered in all hearts, but were especially numerous in the damaged hearts, both human and rat. These structures were extremely variable in size, the smaller ones being located in the Golgi region where they appeared to originate. Lipofuscin granules were especially numerous in pathological hearts, and have several morphological features in common with lysosomes. Other bodies were also frequently encountered in these cells which in many ways resembled lysosomes, but contained mitochondria, fragments of mitochondria and myelin figures. The structural similarities between lysosomes and these other elements lead us to consider the possibility that the latter structures may be modified, degenerate, or simply functional stages of lysosomes.