cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
224) Retrospective Study of Efficacy of Radiofrequency Neurolysis for Facet Arthropathy

In 1933, Ghormley proposed facet arthropathy as a source of chronic back pain [1]. In 1971, Bogduk demonstrated that the median branches could be easy targets for percutaneous denervation due to their relative constant position in relation to bone [2–4]. Over the last 4 years, we performed 230 radiofrequency thermocoagulation (RFTC) median branch neurolytic procedures on 148 patients with refractory cervical or lumbar facet arthropathy as documented by diagnostic fluoroscopically-directed facet nerve or joint blocks. Of the 148 patients, 63 had cervical and 85 had lumbar RFTC procedures performed using a Leibinger radiofrequency generator according to the technique described by Kline (2 lesions at each median branch location at 85°C. for 60 seconds) [5]. Subjective patient responses were graded as follows: excellent-greater than 70% improvement, good-50–70% improvement, fair-30–49%, and poor-less than 30%. One hundred six RFTC procedures were performed in the 63 cervical cases and 124 in the 85 lumbar cases with those patients who had good to excellent responses undergoing repeat procedures. Of the patients with cervical facet RFTC procedures, 38 (37%), 51 (48%), 4 (3%) and 13 (12%) had excellent, good, fair or poor responses, respectively. Of the lumbar facet RFTC cases, 37 (30%), 52 (41%), 13 (10%) and 22 (19%) had excellent, good, fair or poor responses, respectively. Excellent responders noted an average duration of 10.8 months (range 3–34) for cervical cases and 7.9 months (range 3–20) for lumbar. Good responders noted an average duration of 6.1 months (range 3–22) for cervical and 6.8 months (range 3–48) for lumbar RFTC procedures. No significant side effects were experienced (short-term neuritis was seen in 2 patients who had cervical and 1 who had lumbar RFTC, but resolved after a few weeks). In summary, 85% of cervical and 71% of lumbar RFTC cases had at least a 50% improvement in symptoms for extended periods. RFTC of median branches for facet arthropathy is a safe and efficacious modality with the potential for long-term benefit.
Has the Market's Estimate of Crop Price Variability Increased since the 1996 Farm Bill?

Following enactment of the 1996 Farm Bill, corn and soybean implied volatilities covering the preharvest and storage seasons increased 16–23% between 1987–1995 and 1997–2001. The increase was statistically significant at the 90% confidence level. Standard deviation of corn and soybean prices derived from the implied volatilities increased 7–25%, but only the increase for preharvest corn was statistically significant. Further muddling the picture is the decline in variability of annual U.S. average corn and soybean cash price. These mixed findings point to continuing disagreement about government's role in managing farm risk in the post-1996 Farm Bill world.
Hypersensitivity pneumonitis: clinical perspectives.

Abstract Context.—The clinical course of hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HSP) is highly variable and its diagnosis clinically challenging. Objective.—To provide a concise review of major clinical, radiographic, and laboratory findings that permits diagnosis of HSP from the standpoint of a clinician/pulmonologist. Data Sources.—Review of major contemporary and historical literature in combination with the author's experience and viewpoints. Conclusions.—The approach to the diagnosis of HSP is multidisciplinary. For patients being evaluated for unexplained dyspnea and cough and an unknown interstitial disease process, the initial evaluation should include detailed environmental and occupational histories with ancillary testing such as serology, chest imaging, inhalation challenges, and bronchoalveolar lavage, as indicated. In uncertain cases, lung biopsy is recommended.
Performance of a New Generation of Acoustic Current Meters

As part of a program aimed at developing a long-duration, subsurface mooring, known as Ultramoor, several modern acoustic current meters were tested. The instruments with which the authors have the most experience are the Aanderaa RCM11 and the Nortek Aquadopp, which measure currents using the Doppler shift of backscattered acoustic signals, and the Falmouth Scientific ACM, which measures changes in travel time of acoustic signals between pairs of transducers. Some results from the Doppler-based Sontek Argonaut and the travel-time-based Nobska MAVS are also reported. This paper concentrates on the fidelity of the speed measurement but also presents some results related to the accuracy of the direction measurement. Two procedures were used to compare the instruments. In one, different instruments were placed close to one another on three different deep-ocean moorings. These tests showed that the RCM11 measures consistently lower speeds than either a vector averaging current meter or a vector measuring current meter, both more traditional instruments with mechanical velocity sensors. The Aquadopp in use at the time, but since updated to address accuracy problems in low scattering environments, was biased high. A second means of testing involved comparing the appropriate velocity component of each instrument with the rate of change of pressure when they were lowered from a ship. Results from this procedure revealed no depth dependence or measurable bias in the RCM11 data, but did show biases in both the Aquadopp and Argonaut Doppler-based instruments that resulted from low signal-to-noise ratios in the clear, low scattering conditions beneath the thermocline. Improvements in the design of the latest Aquadopp have reduced this bias to a level that is not significant.
v-Ha-ras mitogenic signaling through superoxide and derived reactive oxygen species

The ras proto-oncogene is frequently mutated in human tumors and functions to constitutively stimulate signal transduction cascades, resulting in unchecked proliferation and malignant transformation. In certain cells, superoxide functions as a signal-transduction messenger, mediating the downstream effects of ras and rac. We demonstrated previously that v-Ha-ras–transfected rat kidney epithelial cells (RECs) overproduced superoxide anion and that this superoxide production was mediated by ras. In the present study, we further demonstrated that v-Ha-ras overexpression transformed immortal nonmalignant RECs into malignant cancer cells; v-Ha-ras–transfected cells formed clones in soft agar, had high plating efficiency, and formed tumors in nude mice. Our data suggest that superoxide radical plays a role in ras-induced transformation; modulation of intracellular superoxide level by overexpression of manganese-containing superoxide dismutase or copper- and zinc-containing superoxide dismutase inhibited ras-induced transformation, as evidenced by in vitro studies of plating efficiency and by in vivo studies of tumor formation in nude mice. Overexpression of catalase (CAT) alone was found to have little effect on tumor cell growth, but overexpression of glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPx1) completely suppressed tumor cell growth in nude mice. This finding suggests that peroxides removed by GPx1, but not by CAT, are also involved in ras-induced transformation. 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Ambivalence and Control: State Action Against the Civil Rights-Era Ku Klux Klan

Models that purport to explain the interplay between dissidents and the state generally assert, either explicitly or implicitly, that the path from state interests to action to outcomes is a linear one. Using the case of the United Klans of America (UKA) in North Carolina, I argue that state efforts to exert social control upon a perceived threat are shaped by a range of internal and external contingencies. In particular, I undertake a comparative analysis of two state agencies to demonstrate how a particular mechanism—ambivalence, here conceptualized as the relational consequence of a mismatch between organizational culture and organizational goals—leads to distinct, and sometimes heterogeneous, actions and outcomes not directly traceable to organizational mandates. Findings lend insight into how endogenous organizational processes shape contentious political outcomes in potentially divergent ways.
A Theory of the Rate of Wages

Other theories of wages deal with other problems than that of raising wages, 581. — Sources from which increase of nominal wages may come, 585. — How may the laborers command a share of these surpluses? 605. — Increasing real wages by lowering the prices of what the laborer buys, 608. — The laborer's free income, 609. — Factors determining a wage rate in a given industry, 610.
A class of analytical methods that compensate for attenuation and spatially-variant resolution in 2D SPECT

An infinite class of closed-form methods was developed by the authors last year for image reconstruction in 2D SPECT with uniform attenuation. In the work reported here, the authors extended their approach to develop a class of closed-form methods that compensate for the effects of both uniform attenuation and distance-dependent spatial resolution in 2D SPECT. These methods, which are characterized by an index n that can be assigned any real number, are exact in the absence of noise but propagate noise differently. The authors implemented this class of methods for SPECT image reconstruction in both computer-simulation and real-data studies. The results demonstrate that this class of methods corrects effectively for the aforementioned effects. Extensive computer simulation studies indicate that the method obtained with n=2, which the authors had proved to be the optimal choice of n in 2D SPECT when only attenuation is present, also provides the smallest global image variance among the methods in the class when compensation for both uniform attenuation and distance-dependent spatial resolution is performed.
Professional Competence and the River of Knowledge

The problems involved in maintaining professional competence and in preventing unethical and unprofessional work are examined. The profession attempts to guarantee competence in engineering fundamentals through the Engineer-in-Training (EIT) and Professional Engineer (PE) examinations. No certification program can prevent unethical or unprofessional work, which are ultimately prevented only by individual integrity, i.e., ethical competence. The profession's ethical standards should be part of the undergraduate engineering curriculum. Questions on ethics should be included on the EIT and PE examinations.
A kinase-negative mutant of S49 mouse lymphoma cells is defective in posttranslational maturation of catalytic subunit of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase.

Abstract Kinase-negative mutants of S49 mouse lymphoma cells, which lack detectable catalytic (C) subunit of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase, nevertheless contain cytoplasmic mRNAs for the two major forms of C subunit, C alpha and C beta. Investigation of the metabolism of C subunits in wild-type and mutant cells was undertaken to identify the step(s) at which C subunit expression was defective in kinase-negative cells. [35S]methionine-labeled C subunits from cytosolic fractions of wild-type S49 cells or C subunit-overexpressing cell lines were visualized by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis after purification by either affinity chromatography using a peptide inhibitor of C subunit as the ligand or immunoadsorption with an anti-C subunit antiserum. Immunoadsorption revealed electrophoretic forms of C alpha and C beta subunits that migrated faster than those detected in affinity-purified samples; this unexpected heterogeneity suggested that functional activation of C subunit may require posttranslational modification. Immunoadsorption of cytosolic fractions from wild-type cells labeled for various times with [35S]methionine revealed an additional posttranslational maturation step. The bulk of immunoadsorbable C subunit label in cells pulse-labeled for 5 min or less was in an insoluble fraction from which it could be solubilized with a detergent-containing buffer; solubilization of the newly synthesized material proceeded over an incubation period of about 10 min. The primary defect in kinase-negative cells appeared to be in this solubilization step, since about equal C subunit radioactivity was found in detergent extracts of wild-type and kinase-negative cells but very little was found in mutant cytosols. I speculate that an accessory factor required for proper folding of newly synthesized C subunit in defective in the kinase-negative cells.
MORPHOLOGY AND MUSCULATURE OF A NEW SPECIES OF THAUMATOCYPRIS (OSTRACODA, HALOCYPRIDA, THAUMATOCYPRIDOIDEA)

Abstract A new species, Thaumatocypris rudjakovi, from near Madagascar is described and illustrated. The specimens studied previously had been referred to T. echinata Muller, 1906 by Rudjakov (1993). The description includes the analysis of appendage muscles. The species T. echinata is discussed, and a key is presented to genera of the Thaumatocyprididae.
What is applied psychophysiology? Toward a definition

This paper presents a proposed working definition of "applied psychophysiology." The paper reviews the background for the term, reasons for formalizing a definition, and boundaries. The working definition, explanation of key terms, and inclusion and exclusion criteria are then presented. Selected questions are then addressed such as whether physiology always has to be measured, and the boundaries such as distinguishing applied psychophysiology from psychotherapy.
Notes on a Nonfoundational Phenomenology of Technology

The emerging school of thought called “postphenomenology” offers a distinct understanding of the ways that people experience technology usage. This perspective combines insights from the philosophical tradition of phenomenology with commitments to the anti-essentialism and nonfoundationalism of American pragmatism. One of postphenomenology’s central positions is that technologies always remain “multistable,” i.e., subject to different uses and meanings. But I suggest that as this perspective matures, philosophical problems are emerging around the notion of multistability, what I call “the problem of invariance” and “the problem of grounding.” These problems point out things that remain unclear within the postphenomenological framework, such as how it handles structural claims regarding a technology’s various stabilities, and how it grounds its claims. How can postphenomenology make structural claims about technology and yet remain anti-essentializing? And on what epistemological basis does it ground its claims about human-technology relations? The paper concludes with a series of prescriptions that, if followed, enable postphenomenology to make edifying claims about technology, all while avoiding the problems of invariance and grounding, and maintaining its commitments to anti-essentialism and nonfoundationalism.
A Second Endemic Land Mammal for the Hawaiian Islands: A New Genus and Species of Fossil Bat (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae)

ABSTRACT Located over 3800 km from the nearest continent, the Hawaiian Islands have previously been thought to support only one endemic land mammal, the extant Hawaiian hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus semotus), a taxon that apparently initially dispersed from mainland North America between 10,000 and 7000 years ago. Some uncertainty exists regarding the status of this taxon (i.e., whether or not populations representing more recent invasions of L. cinereus from North America are exchanging genes with the older lineage, and whether or not semotus represents a distinct species), but all researchers agree that hoary bats are the only endemic land mammals extant in the islands today. However, fossil evidence indicates that the Hawaiian Islands once supported another quite different endemic bat species that is now extinct. Skeletal remains of a new genus and species of vespertilionid bat are herein described from various Late Pleistocene and Holocene/Recent deposits on the five largest Hawaiian Islands. The new t...
Missing Data, Moral Eyesores, and Marginalized People: Opposition to Needle Exchange and Harm Reduction in Drug Policy

A critical component of "sustainability" is the capacity to manage chronic social problems like addiction. Sociologists, anthropologists, historians, and other social scientists are invested in debates over substance abuse treatment. This study weds those engagements through an overview of past and current critiques of the twelve-step model, primarily Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), and evaluation of the efficacy of AA vis-a-vis other addiction therapies, including inpatient rehab centers and individual "sobriety coaches," among others. Though attacked by varying interests, from for-profit recovery services to even religious skeptics, AA remains among the most successful voluntary addiction treatment programs. This paper also questions why certain groups enjoy higher rates of lasting sobriety than others, with particular attention to gender, race, religion, and compulsory-versus-voluntary participation.
Centrioles in Sorosphaera

4. -. 1973. Studies on Emmonsiella capsulata I. Heterothallism and development of the ascocarp. Mycologia 65: 109-121. 5. McDonough, E. S., and Ann L. Lewis. 1968. The ascigerous stage of Blastomyces derwatitidis. Mycologia 60: 76-83. 6. Reynolds, E. S. 1963. The use of lead citrate at high pH as an electronopaque stain in electron microscopy. J. Cell Biol. 19: 208-212. 7. Ryter, A., and E. Kellenberger. 1958. Rtude au microscope electronique de plasmas contenant de l'acide deoxyribonucleique. I. Les nucleoides des bacteries en croissance active. Z. Naturforsch. 136: 597-605. 8. Sabatini, D. C., K. Bensch, and R. J. Barnett. 1963. Cytochemistry and electron microscopy: The preservation of cellular ultrastructure and enzymatic activity by aldehyde fixation. J. Cell Biol. 17: 19-58.
Nitric oxide synthase and cGMP-mediated stimulation of renin secretion

The interaction between nitric oxide (NO) and renin is controversial. cAMP is a stimulating messenger for renin, which is degraded by phosphodiesterase (PDE)-3. PDE-3 is inhibited by cGMP, whereas ...
Vitamin D deficiency in patients with intestinal malabsorption syndromes – think in and outside the gut

There is a very high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency, which is defined by a serum level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] of lower than 20 ng/mL, in all populations of the world. Unfortunately, the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in patients with intestinal malabsorption syndromes, including cystic fibrosis (CF), celiac disease (CD), short bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), is higher than that in the general population, indicating the presence of disease-specific causative factors. In this review, we aimed to present clinical findings to highlight the roles of insufficient exposure to sunlight and inflammation in the development of vitamin D deficiency in patients with intestinal malabsorption syndromes. Furthermore, we aimed to present experimental evidence that supported a role of vitamin D deficiency in the pathogenesis of IBD. Finally, we reviewed clinical intervention strategies aiming to normalize vitamin D status in and even to improve the conditions of patients and to discuss certain issues that needed to be addressed in future research.
Analysis on Protection Actions of Zero-sequence Direction Relay for Double-parallel Lines with Different Voltage Level

This paper analyzes the process of zero-sequence direction relay mal-operation of a double parallel 500 kV and 220kV lines after a fault occurred at the end of the 500 kV line. The mechanism is studied, which shows that the mal-operation is caused by the zero-sequence mutual inductance between multi-transmission lines. In the case of grounding fault occurred at one of parallel line, the existence of zero-sequence mutual inductance would activate the zero-sequence direction relay of the other line. The conclusion of this paper will provide a valuable reference for similar faults analysis.
First Investigation of Rabies Infection In Animal Hosts in Lishui City,Zhejiang Province

Objective To investigate the infection rate of the rabies virus among the animal hosts in Lishui city and to provide the scientific evidence for prevention and control of rabies.Methods Brain specimens of dogs and cats were collected from the pestilential region of Lishui city.Rabies virus antigen was detected by direct fluorescent antibody method(DFA)and its nucleic acid was measured by nested polymerase chain reaction(PCR).Results 9 dog brain specimens from aLl of the speci- mens were infected with rabies virus.The positive rate was 6.72% in dogs and was 6.16% in all animal hosts.No positive cat- brain specimens were detected.Conclusion Immunologic and molecular biological methods were first used for the detection of rabies virus in Lishui city.Rabies virus transmission occurred among the animal hosts(especially among the dogs)in the pesti- lential region of Lishui city.Dog rabies epidemic was rising.
Evaluation of the Visual Effectiveness of Speed Reduction Markings

Through experiments in a driving simulator,eye tracking devices are used to collect vehicle operation,drivers' fixation and driving behavior data. Data are processed and analyzed to verify the visual effectiveness of Longitudinal Speed Reduction Markings( LSRMs) and Transverse Speed Reduction Markings( TSRMs) which could not produce vibration feelings. Analysis results of eye movement data showed that there were some effects on drivers' visual characteristics of LSRMs and TSRMs without vibration. Although LSRMs and the TSRMs without vibration did not have significant effects on vehicle operation, both could positively influence the transition from driver's deceleration awareness to deceleration decision; specifically such an effect belonging to TSRMs without vibration is better than the effect of LSRMs. Thus,it can be concluded that,in the eight-lane urban expressway with 1. 7% grade condition,SRMs have visual effectiveness to some degree.
Glycemic control and hunger during recovery from high- and moderate-intensity Nordic skiing in well-trained skiers.

BACKGROUND The aim of this paper was to study the effects of Nordic ski training on post-exercise blood glucose (BG) regulation. METHODS Twenty-one (male N.=10; female N.=11) competitive college Nordic skiers (age 19.14±1.3 yrs; body fat percentage 14.9±6.2) completed two ski training conditions (high intensity [HI] and easy volume [MOD]) and one resting control (CON) condition on separate days. At rest on the control day and upon completion of ski training, a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was administered. BG was measured prior to the OGTT and at 20-minute intervals for 80 minutes of passive rest. Hunger was assessed prior to the OGTT and at 40 and 80 minutes of rest via Visual Analog Scale. Data were analyzed using a two-way ANOVA with repeated measures and one-way ANOVA (SPSS v. 19). RESULTS Significant time effects were present for BG. BG area under the curve (AUC) was significantly smaller (P<0.05) following HI (8825±149 arbitrary units [a.u.]) vs. CON (9493±168 a.u.), but not different from MOD (9087±227 a.u.). MOD AUC tended to be smaller than CON (P=0.064). Mean CON hunger was lower than MOD (P<0.05) and tended to be lower than HI (P=0.064). CONCLUSIONS High-intensity Nordic skiing appears to enhance glycemic control when provided with an OGTT following acute exercise. The role that active muscle volume plays in this response should be investigated.
Estimating Potency in High-Throughput Screening Experiments by Maximizing the Rate of Change in Weighted Shannon Entropy

High-throughput in vitro screening experiments can be used to generate concentration-response data for large chemical libraries. It is often desirable to estimate the concentration needed to achieve a particular effect, or potency, for each chemical tested in an assay. Potency estimates can be used to directly compare chemical profiles and prioritize compounds for confirmation studies, or employed as input data for prediction modeling and association mapping. The concentration for half-maximal activity derived from the Hill equation model (i.e., AC50) is the most common potency measure applied in pharmacological research and toxicity testing. However, the AC50 parameter is subject to large uncertainty for many concentration-response relationships. In this study we introduce a new measure of potency based on a weighted Shannon entropy measure termed the weighted entropy score (WES). Our potency estimator (Point of Departure, PODWES) is defined as the concentration producing the maximum rate of change in weighted entropy along a concentration-response profile. This approach provides a new tool for potency estimation that does not depend on the assumption of monotonicity or any other pre-specified concentration-response relationship. PODWES estimates potency with greater precision and less bias compared to the conventional AC50 assessed across a range of simulated conditions.
Thiol–Ene Elastomers Derived from Biobased Phenolic Acids with Varying Functionality

The synthesis and physical properties of thiol–ene elastomers derived from plant-based phenolic acids were explored. Phenolic acids of varying functionality (ranging from 2 to 4 hydroxyl and carboxyl groups per molecule) and relative placement of functional groups (ortho, meta, para) were allylated and subsequently reacted with a multifunctional thiol using a photoinitiator. The thermal and mechanical behaviors of the resulting elastomers were characterized. The networks derived from difunctional allylated phenolic acids exhibited narrow glass transitions (indicating a high degree of network homogeneity) and glass transition temperatures (Tg) which correlated with their cross-link density. The para placement of allyl groups on the allylated phenolic acid produced a network with the highest cross-link density, Tg, modulus, tensile strength, and elongation at break (followed by ortho and then meta). As the functionality of the allylated monomer increased (to 3–4 allyl groups per molecule), the cross-link de...
Bariatric Surgery in Women of Childbearing Age, Timing Between an Operation and Birth, and Associated Perinatal Complications.

Importance Metabolic changes after maternal bariatric surgery may affect subsequent fetal development. Many relevant perinatal outcomes have not been studied in this postoperative population, and the risks associated with short operation-to-birth (OTB) intervals have not been well examined. Objective To examine the risk for perinatal complications in women with a history of bariatric surgery (postoperative mothers [POMs]) by comparing them with mothers without operations (nonoperative mothers [NOMs]) and examining the association of the OTB interval with perinatal outcomes. Design, Setting, and Participants This investigation was a population-based retrospective cohort study (January 1, 1980, to May 30, 2013) at hospitals in Washington State. Data were collected from birth certificates and maternally linked hospital discharge data. Participants were all POMs and their infants (n = 1859) and a population-based random sample of NOMs and their infants frequency matched by delivery year (n = 8437). Exposures Bariatric operation before birth or categories of OTB intervals. Main Outcomes and Measures The primary outcomes were prematurity, neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission, congenital malformation, small for gestational age (SGA), birth injury, low Apgar score (≤8), and neonatal mortality. Poisson regression was used to compute relative risks (RRs) and 95% CIs, with adjustments for maternal body mass index, delivery year, socioeconomic status, age, parity, and comorbid conditions. Results A total of 10 296 individuals were included in the analyses for this study. In the overall cohort, the median age was 29 years (interquartile range, 24-33 years). Compared with infants from NOMS, infants from POMs had a higher risk for prematurity (14.0% vs 8.6%; RR, 1.57; 95% CI, 1.33-1.85), NICU admission (15.2% vs 11.3%; RR, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.08-1.44), SGA status (13.0% vs 8.9%; RR, 1.93; 95% CI, 1.65-2.26), and low Apgar score (17.5% vs 14.8%; RR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.06-1.37). Compared with infants from mothers with greater than a 4-year OTB interval, infants from mothers with less than a 2-year interval had higher risks for prematurity (11.8% vs 17.2%; RR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.00-2.19), NICU admission (12.1% vs 17.7%; RR, 1.54; 95% CI, 1.05-2.25), and SGA status (9.2% vs 12.7%; RR, 1.51; 95% CI, 0.94-2.42). Conclusions and Relevance Infants of mothers with a previous bariatric operation had a greater likelihood of perinatal complications compared with infants of NOMs. Operation-to-birth intervals of less than 2 years were associated with higher risks for prematurity, NICU admission, and SGA status compared with longer intervals. These findings are relevant to women with a history of bariatric surgery and could inform decisions regarding the optimal timing between an operation and conception.
An evaluation of the sustainability of onsite wastewater treatment systems for nutrient management.

Abstract The impairment of water bodies from nutrient pollution is a challenging environmental problem that could lead to high eutrophic conditions, fish kills, and human illness, while negatively impacting industries that rely on thriving water bodies. Onsite wastewater treatment systems (OWTSs) are a major source of nutrients, however no prior studies have conducted a holistic sustainability assessment of OWTSs that considers their ability to manage nutrients at the household-level in the United States. The aim of this study is therefore to evaluate the environmental and economic impacts of conventional and advanced OWTSs with respect to their ability to remove total nitrogen (TN). Septic tank and drainfield materials were varied for conventional systems, and the advanced systems evaluated consisted of aerobic treatment units (ATUs) and passive nitrogen reduction systems (PNRSs) with nitrification and denitrification stages. Life cycle assessment and life cycle cost analysis were performed to evaluate OWTSs operating in different soil and temperature conditions. Nutrient management of the advanced OWTSs outperformed the conventional systems (96.7–100% vs. 61–65% TN removal), and resulted in less than 40% of the freshwater (0.06–0.14 vs. 0.37–0.40 kg P-eq/kg TN) and marine eutrophication (0.04–0.06 vs. 0.54–0.65 kg N-eq/kg TN). However, the tradeoff for nutrient management was higher life cycle costs ($101-$121 vs. $45-$58 USD 2015/kg TN) and environmental impacts for the remaining impact categories. Lastly, when the TN removed by the drainfield was
On the Study of Energy Spectra and Angular Distributions of the Neutrons Emitted from a Beryllium Target Bombarded with 4-MeV Protons for Neutron Capture Therapy

Due to the recent advancement of the technologies in high-current proton accelerators, neutron sources based on 2.5 MeV proton bombarding a lithium (Li) target have been vigorously studied in the past few years1,2 and was thought to be feasible for neutron capture therapy (NCT). Neutrons are generated based on the 7Li(p,n)7Be reactions and then moderated with beryllia (BeO) or heavy water (D2O). For a treatment time of 1 hour it was determined that a proton current of 30 mA might be necessary. This intense proton beam is achievable with the newly available radio-frequency quadrupole (RFQ) accelerator3. However, because Li has a low melting point (179°C) and a low thermal conductivity (45 W/m°C), the removal of the immense heat (75 kW) from the Li target imposes a big challenge on the target design. In addition, Li is very reactive chemically, and it thus further complicates the target design in order to provide proper access for system maintenance4.
Epigenetic silencing of lncRNA MORT in 16 TCGA cancer types.

We have previously described a hominid-specific long non-coding RNA, MORT (also known as ZNF667-AS1 , Gene ID: 100128252 ), which is expressed in all normal cell types, but epigenetically silenced during cancer-associated immortalization of human mammary epithelial cells. Initial analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) showed that 15 of 17 cancer types, which represent the 10 most common cancers in women and men, display DNA methylation associated MORT silencing in a large fraction of their tumors. In this study we analyzed MORT expression and DNA methylation state in the remaining 16 TCGA cancer types not previously reported. Seven of the 16 cancer types showed DNA methylation linked MORT silencing in a large fraction of their tumors. These are carcinomas (cervical cancer, and cancers of esophagus, stomach, and bile duct), and the non-epithelial tumors mesothelioma, sarcoma, and uterine carcinosarcoma. Together with the findings from our previous report, MORT expression is silenced by aberrant DNA methylation in 22 of 33 of TCGA cancer types. These 22 cancers include most carcinoma types, blood derived cancers and sarcomas. In conclusion, results suggest that the MORT gene is one of the most common epigenetic aberrations seen in human cancer. Coupled with the timing of MORT gene silencing during in vitro epithelial cell immortalization and its occurrence early in the temporal arc of human carcinogenesis, this provides strong circumstantial evidence for a tumor suppressor role for MORT .
Extraction of Document Structure for Genomics Documents.

We are taking as our foundational assumption that effective information retrieval tasks in the broad domain of biomedical literature must address the singular nature of scholarly communication and the effect this has upon a document corpus. The corpus for a typical TREC task is comprised of a temporal sequence of news documents exhibiting little, if any, internal structure. Reduction of a document to a single term vector is viable because of that document’s inherent aboutness regarding the story being reported. A scholarly paper, on the other hand, has distinct components, each fulfilling a specific function and exhibiting a correspondingly specific syntactic structure. A query to retrieve documents reporting new results regarding a particular biological organism should not retrieve candidates that mention that organism in the references or background sections, but rather ones that mention the organism in the results and discussion sections.
Object localization and its applications in tele-autonomous systems

Object localization and its applications in tele-autonomous systems are studied in this thesis. The thesis first gives a thorough investigation of the object localization problem and then presents two object localization algorithms together with the methods of extracting several important types of object features. The first algorithm is based on line-segment to line-segment matching. Line range sensors are used to extract line-segment features from an object, the features may be boundary edges of planar surfaces, the axes of cylindrical surfaces, conic surfaces, or other types of surfaces of revolution. The extracted features are matched to corresponding model features to compute the location of the object. The second algorithm is more general. The inputs of the algorithm are not limited only to the line features. Featured points (point-to-point matching) and featured unit direction vectors (vector-to-vector matching) can also be used as the inputs of the algorithm, and there is no upper limit on the number of the features inputed. The algorithm will allow the use of redundant features to find a better solution. The algorithm uses dual number quaternions to represent the position and orientation of an object and uses the least squares optimization method to find an optimal solution for the object's location. The advantage of using this representation is that the method solves for the location estimation by minimizing a single cost function associated with the sum of the orientation and position errors and thus has a better performance on the estimation, both in accuracy and in speed, than that of other similar algorithms. The thesis discusses the difficulties when an operator is controlling a remote robot to perform manipulation tasks. The main problems facing the operator are time-delays on the signal transmission and the uncertainties of the remote environment. How object localization techniques can be used together with other techniques such as predictor display and time desynchronization to help to overcome these difficulties are then discussed. The thesis discusses two cases where object localization can help: (1) the case where direct manual control is used to perform a tele-manipulation task; (2) the case where the remote system has certain degree of automation ability.
Spatiotemporal characterization of 3D fracture behavior of carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer composites

Abstract This study proposed a spatiotemporal algorithm to quantitatively characterize the in-situ 3D fracture behavior of carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites at microscale . In-situ micro X-ray computed tomography (µXCT) integrated with a tensile stage was applied to capture the 3D fracture evolution of the CFRP composites, where the initiation and propagation of fracture features (e.g., fiber tip-end crack and fiber/matrix debonding) were identified. After the reconstruction of the 3D material microstructure , the proposed spatiotemporal algorithm thereafter extracted the fracture features by employing multiple image processing techniques for quantitative analysis. A similar distribution of the 3D strain obtained from the volumetric digital image correlation demonstrated the feasibility of the developed spatiotemporal algorithm. Moreover, this algorithm provided in-depth and quantitative analysis of fracture features, which provided insights into the microscale failure mechanism and thus shed light on the improvement of failure criteria for CFRP composites with complex microstructures .
Liquid Helium Temperatures in an Atomic Reactor

Fundamental studies of the basic nature of radiation effects have been conducted in the Oak Ridge National Laboratory graphite reactor by the Low Temperature Group of the Solid State Division. It was discovered that many radiation induced defects were not observed at room temperature because they thermally anneal at much lower temperatures. Measurements of radiation induced changes in electrical resistivity, yield stress, and stored energy in copper and aluminum single crystals were made at sample temperatures as low as 15°K. Subsequent annealing studies show that about 50 per cent of the change in electrical resistivity is recovered between 28 and 50°K. This appears to be the result of radiation induced defects escaping from low energy traps.1,2 It is particularly advantageous, when measuring electrical resistance of these metals, to be able to bombard them below 20°K because the change of resistance with temperature is small for many metals in this temperature region.
Nanocrystalline Oligo(ethylene sulfide)-b-poly(ethylene glycol) Micelles: Structure and Stability

Micelle formation generally relies on hydrophobic or electrostatic interactions between distinct regions of amphiphilic molecules. In this work, a different mechanism is considered in which nanocrystalline domains are formed from short ethylene sulfide oligomers at the core of the micelles, leading to exceptionally stable, uniform micellar structures. The structure and thermodynamic properties of the resulting micelles are examined through a combination of experiments, theory, and simulations. It is found that in oligo(ethylene sulfide)-b-poly(ethylene glycol) amphiphiles as few as three ethylene sulfide monomers are sufficient to form a highly crystalline core, surrounded by a water-soluble ethylene glycol corona of arbitrary size. Sulfur–sulfur interactions induce formation of rhombohedral lattice crystalline regions, which exhibit well-defined intramolecular and intermolecular order. An atomistic model is used to determine the free energy of the micelles; the critical micelle concentration (CMC) is fou...
Characterization and chemical fixation of stainless steel pickling residue using sodium sulfide hydrate.

The stainless steel pickling residue (SSPR) produced from the stainless steel industries in China contains large amounts of heavy metals such as chromium (Cr) and nickel (Ni). The study found that the hexavalent chromium Cr (VI) was the primary contributor to the leaching of Cr in the toxicity character leaching test. A chemical fixation with sodium sulfide was used to treat the SSPR, and the response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to optimize the process. The results revealed that the sodium sulfide dose and curing time had significant effects on the fixation of Cr. The higher was the sodium sulfide dose, and the longer the curing time, the lower the leaching concentration of Cr would be. The water addition amount had insignificant effect when it was higher than 70%. A dose of 1.2% sodium sulfide on dry mass basis, a water addition of 90–100%, and a curing time of longer than 10 days in the open air could reduce the leaching of Cr to below the beneficial use threshold. The low chemical dose and simple procedures established in this study make this treatment method cost-effective for rendering the SSPR into a nonhazardous and useful material.
Analysis of eighty-four commercial aviation incidents - Implications for a resource management approach to crew training

A resource management approach to aircrew performance is defined and utilized in structuring an analysis of 84 exemplary incidents from the NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System. The distribution of enabling and associated (evolutionary) and recovery factors between and within five analytic categories suggests that resource management training be concentrated on: (1) interpersonal communications, with air traffic control information of major concern; (2) task management, mainly setting priorities and appropriately allocating tasks under varying workload levels; and (3) planning, coordination, and decisionmaking concerned with preventing and recovering from potentially unsafe situations in certain aircraft maneuvers.
Developmental Differences in Prosocial Behavior Between Preschool and Late Elementary School.

Research points to evidence of innate prosocial tendencies present early in life. As more complex cognitive abilities emerge with development, this may alter the expression and nature of prosocial behaviors over time. Sharing behavior is one important aspect of prosocial behavior. Our aim was to explore how children’s sharing behavior with different recipients across important social categories changes by comparing two distinct transitional periods in development. We compared the responses of 46 preschoolers (M age=4.95) and 52 5th graders (M age=9.98) on two social decision-making paradigms. Results showed that older children shared more selectively depending on the recipient (e.g., 5th graders shared more with a child who was sick than with a least liked child) than younger children, who shared resources more equitably with different recipients. A second paradigm revealed greater uncoupling of behavior and cognition among older children, such that prosocial behavior in preschoolers was more closely linked to their judgments about the recipient’s character than it was for 5th graders. A greater capacity for perspective taking and cognitive complexity that emerges over the course of development can be used to help or discriminate against others, depending upon how those capacities are channeled. Therefore, how these abilities are shaped has important societal consequences.
Environmental lead exposure is associated with neurocognitive dysfunction in children with chronic kidney disease.

Environmental lead exposure is associated with cognitive impairment in healthy children, with deficits seen in intelligence quotient (IQ), attention, and behavior. Neurocognitive dysfunction is also a well-described complication among children with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The objective was to evaluate the association between blood lead levels (BLL) and performance on neurocognitive assessments in a cohort of children with CKD. Cross-sectional study of children with mild to moderate CKD from the Chronic Kidney Disease in Children (CKiD) multicenter prospective cohort study. The primary exposure was BLL. The primary outcome was performance on age-specific neurocognitive assessments evaluating IQ, executive functioning, attention, hyperactivity, and behavior. Multivariable linear regression was used to evaluate the association between BLL and neurocognitive performance, adjusted for key sociodemographic and clinical variables. A total of 412 subjects were included with median age 15.4 years, median estimated GFR 39 mL/min/1.732, median BLL 1.2 mcg/dL, and median IQ score 99. In multivariable linear regression, higher BLL was associated with significantly lower IQ score (− 2.1 IQ points for every 1-mcg/dL increase in BLL, p = 0.029). Higher BLL was associated with worse scores on the Conners’ Continuous Performance Test II Variability T-Score, a measure of inattention (+ 1.8 T-Score points for every 1-mcg/dL increase in BLL, p = 0.033). Low-level lead exposure is associated with significantly lower IQ and more inattention in children with CKD, a population already at high risk for neurocognitive dysfunction. Universal screening for elevated BLL should be considered for all children with CKD at age 12–24 months.
Ankle Control in Walking and Running: Speed- and Gait-Related Changes in Dynamic Mean Ankle Moment Arm.

The human foot-ankle complex uses heel-to-toe ground contact progression in walking, but primarily forefoot contact in high-speed running. This qualitative change in ankle control is clear to the runner, but current measures of ankle behavior cannot isolate the effect, and it is unknown how it changes across moderate speeds. We investigated this dynamic ankle control across a range of walking and running speeds using a new measure, the dynamic mean ankle moment arm (DMAMA): the ratio of sagittal ankle moment impulse to ground reaction force impulse on a single limb. We hypothesized that DMAMA would increase with speed in both walking and running, indicating more forefoot-dominated gait with ground reaction forces more anterior to the ankle. Human subjects walked (1.0-2.0 m/s) and ran (2.25-5.25 m/s) on an instrumented treadmill with motion capture and pressure insoles to estimate DMAMA. DMAMA decreased with increasing walking speed, then increased upon the transition to running, and increased further with increasing running speed. These results provide quantitative evidence that walking becomes more hindfoot-dominated as speed increases-similar to behavior during acceleration-and that running is more forefoot-dominated than walking. The instantaneous center of pressure (COP) at initial ground contact did not follow the same trends. The discrepancy highlights the value of DMAMA in summarizing ankle control across the whole stance phase. DMAMA may provide a useful outcome metric for evaluating biomimetic prostheses and for quantifying foot contact styles in running.
Restrictions versus amenities: the differential impact of home owners associations on property marketability

Common-interest developments (CIDs) or planned urban developments (PUDs) can include a multitude of property types such as condos, townhomes, coops and single-family residences. Many such developme...
Analytical Estimation of Transition Jitter for the Heat-Assisted Magnetic Recording Process

In the heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) process, the transition jitter is known to depend on the grain size as well as the heat spot thermal gradient. We find that the jitter also depends on the Voronoi grain size distribution, as well as exhibiting a surprising nonlinear dependence on reader width. By combining the noise due to these dependencies we used an analytical formulation to estimate the jitter in the HAMR process. The accuracy of the analytical formulation is verified by comparing the predicted jitter to micromagnetic simulations. This simple formulation provides both physical insight and conserves computational time relative to lengthy (and complex) recording simulations.