cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Somatic mutations in head and neck cancer and racial-ethnic disparities in survival

H and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a devastating illness with divergent racial/ethnic disparities in clinical outcomes. We evaluated the association between somatic mutations and HNSCC survival in a tri-racial/ethnic patient population with over-sampled minorities. Using a retrospective study design, we evaluated 237 mutation sties of 10 genes (i.e., CDKN2A, EGFR, FGFR3, HRAS, KRAS, MET, NOTCH1, PIK3CA, STK11, and TP53) in 214 HNSCC patients: 98 Non-Hispanic Whites (NHW; 46%), 72 Hispanic Whites (HW; 34%), and 44 African-Americans (AA; 20%). Using logistic regression models and 2-year survival as the outcome variable, we identified important somatic mutations that are associated with worse clinical outcomes (early death within 2 years) and interactions between race/ethnicity and mutation. HW and AA had higher mutation rates for EGFR, HRAS, KRAS, and TP53 compared to NHW, and were more likely to have at least 3 mutations as compared to NHW (31% and 18%, respectively vs. 2%; p<0.001). In multivariate analysis, NOTCH1 mutations were significantly associated with early death in NHW (OR=5.51, 95% CI=[1.22, 24.56]); TP53 mutations were significantly associated with early death in HW (OR=3.84, 95%CI=[1.08-13.68]). No association was observed in AA. This is the first study evaluating the association between somatic mutations and HNSCC survival in a tri-racial/ethnic population. If confirmed in larger studies, actionable mutations that are associated with HNSCC survival may be targeted using mutation-specific therapy in order to improve overall survival and narrow the racial/ethnic disparity in HNSCC clinical outcomes.
The discrepancy between mean reward and mean reinforcement

Two groups of 12 rats were run in a single choice maze where one arm contained one unit of food 100% of the time, the other two units 50% of the time. For Group S one unit was two 45 mg pellets; for Group L one unit was 12 pellets. Group L acquired a significant preference for the 1 unit-100% side, and Group S acquired a significant preference for the 2 units-50% side.
Functional and molecular characterization of NHE3 expression during ontogeny in rat jejunal epithelium

Ontogenic changes occur in intestinal brush-border membrane vesicle (BBMV) Na+/H+exchange activity. The present studies were designed to investigate ontogenic changes in Na+/H+exchanger (NHE) isofo...
335 RISK FACTORS FOR SPONTANEOUS INTESTINAL PERFORATION IN EXTREMELY LOW BIRTH WEIGHT NEONATES.

Purpose of Study Spontaneous intestinal perforations (SIP) in extremely low birth weight (ELBW) neonates are distinctly different from necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and appear to be increasing in incidence. The etiology of SIP is not well understood. We performed a retrospective cohort study to identify potential patient characteristics, as well as perinatal and neonatal therapeutic interventions that may increase the risk of SIP. Methods All ELBW ( Summary of Results There were 13 cases of SIP identified and 165 NP controls. The mean gestational age was lower for the SIP group, but this did not reach statistical significance (SIP 25.85 ± 0.56 vs NP 26.18 ± 0.16 weeks, p = .46). Likewise, the mean birth weight was comparable for both groups (SIP 732.5 ± 40.07 g and NP 758.1 ± 11.53 g, p = .46). There was no statistical difference in the use of antenatal maternal steroids (SIP 61.5% vs NP 43.6%, p ≤ .25). There were no significant differences in maternal indomethacin (SIP 7.7% vs NP 9.7%) or magnesium sulfate use (38.5% vs 40%). In contrast, there was a significantly higher incidence of terbutaline use in mothers of SIP infants (30.77% vs 9.09%, p ≤ .025). Use of indomethacin in neonates was higher in the SIP group; however, the difference did not reach statistical significance (SIP 69.23% vs NP 56.36%, p ≤ .24). Hydrocortisone administration in the first 16 days of life was higher in the SIP group versus NP, but this also did not reach statistical significance (15.38% vs 10.9%, p ≤ .24). Conclusions Reached Contrary to previous reports, indomethacin does not appear to increase the risk of SIP. Tertbutaline tocolysis of the mother is associated with increased risk for development of SIP in premature infants. Prospective studies need to be designed to confirm this association. In the meantime, a high index of suspicion for SIP must be maintained in preterm infants exposed to maternal terbutaline.
Phallic Construction in Prepubertal and Adolescent Boys

AbstractDuring the last 10 years we performed microsurgical phallic reconstruction in 7 prepubertal and 4 adolescent boys. Indications for surgery included post-traumatic amputation, circumcision accident, developmental anomalies and micropenis. In addition, we performed phalloplasty on 5 other patients 18 to 24 years old. Total phallic reconstruction consisted of 1-stage microsurgical tissue transfers that included urethral reconstruction, coaptation of erogenous nerves, aesthetic refinement and, in some cases, scrotal reconstruction. All postpubertal patients recovered erogenous sensibility in the reconstructed phallus and the ability to masturbate. Surgical indications, techniques and results are discussed.
Positive and negative rights of migration: a reply to my critics

No abstract available. (Published: 17 October 2016) This paper is part of the Special Issue: Book symposium on Debating Brain Drain: May Government Restrict Emigration? More papers from this issue can be found at http://www.ethicsandglobalpolitics.net Citation: Ethics & Global Politics, Vol. 9, 2016, http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/egp.v9.33553
Acquiring environmental information yields better anticipated search performance

This paper addresses the problem of finding an unknown number of stationary objects distributed in a bounded search domain within bounded time. We assume the search agent is equipped with a search sensor and an environmental characterization sensor, and that these sensors operate simultaneously. Our cost function accounts for false positives, false negatives and environmental uncertainty. We consider that environmental conditions affect the performance of the search sensor, and uncertainty in the environment causes the anticipated search performance to be different than the actual search performance. Our approach aims to minimize the deviation from actual search performance while maximizing the probability that our estimates on the number of objects will be correct.
An experimental and numerical investigation of the ballistic response of multi-level armour against armour piercing projectiles

Abstract This research deals with the experimental and numerical investigation of ballistic protection provided by a combination of perforated and base armour plates. A 7.62 mm armour piercing projectile was used during the experimentation to determine the ballistic response of an aluminum base armour plate and a combination of steel perforated and aluminum base armour plate. The armour piercing projectiles were able to penetrate the base armour plate while the combination of perforated and base armour plates was able to stop the penetration of the armour piercing projectile. A finite element method based numerical model was developed to investigate the defeating phenomenon of perforated and base armour plate combination. The brittle fracture caused by the bending of the projectile core due to the asymmetric impact was predicted and the resulting fragments of the projectile were unable to penetrate the base armour plate. Craters were formed on the surface of the base armour plate from the impact of the projectile fragments. The numerical model was able to predict the hole growth and penetration of projectile when only the base armour plate was impacted by the projectile.
Automated generation of readable proofs with geometric invariants: II. Theorem proving with full-angles

We present a set of rules based on full-angles as the basis of automated geometry theorem proving. We extend the idea of eliminating variables and points to the idea of eliminating lines. We also discuss how to combine the forward chaining and backward chaining to achieve higher efficiency. The prover based on the full-angle method has been used to produce short and elegant proofs for more than one hundred difficult geometry theorems. The proofs of many of those theorems produced by our previous area method are relatively long.
Statistical regression models for WCET estimation

1. Problem Statement. Worst Case Execution Time (WCET) is the upper bound of the execution time of a real-time task running on a particular hardware platform. The estimation of WCET is of significa...
Wound dehiscence in urological patients.

AbstractThe causes of wound dehiscence in urological patients are discussed. In 576 patients undergoing 672 consecutive transperitoneal urological operations there were 9 instances of complete dehiscence (1.3 per cent). All 9 cases involved male patients. Postoperative abdominal distension, wound infection, enterocutaneous fistula and simple layered closure with chromic catgut were associated with an increased incidence of dehiscence.
A Case Study of Security and Privacy Threats from Augmented Reality (AR)

In this paper, we present a case study of potential security and privacy threats from virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) devices, which have been gaining popularity. We introduce a computer vision-based attack using an AR system based on the Samsung Gear VR and ZED stereo camera against authentication approaches on touch-enabled devices. A ZED stereo camera is attached to a Gear VR headset and works as the video feed for the Gear VR. While pretending to be playing, an attacker can capture videos of a victim inputting a password on touch screen. We use depth and distance information provided by the stereo camera to reconstruct the attack scene and recover the victim’s password. We use numerical passwords as an example and perform experiments to demonstrate the performance of our attack. The attack’s success rate is 90% when the distance from the victim is 1.5 meters and a reasonably good success rate is achieved within 2.5 meters. The goal of the paper is to raise awareness of potential security and privacy breaches from seemingly innocuous VR and AR technologies.
Determining 3-D Structure of Spherical Viruses by Global Optimization

State-of-the-art global optimization (GO) algorithms are applied to computation of 3-D virus reconstructions from solution x-ray scattering data by minimizing a weighted least squares error. Starting with random uniformly-distributed initial conditions, high quality reconstructions are achieved using GO algorithms. Similar quality reconstructions using classical multistart require initial conditions that incorporate more detailed a priori knowledge which is not always available. The behavior of the GO algorithms with respect to the parameterization of the error function and with respect to the accuracy of the quadrature rule embedded in the calculation of the regressor are described. Several future directions in terms of structural biology and GO algorithms are discussed.
Quality improvement interventions in public health systems: a systematic review.

Context Public health leaders are making difficult decisions about how to maximize the effectiveness of public health services with diminishing funds. Quality improvement (QI) interventions seek to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of public health programs, services, or organizations. The purpose of this study was to review the literature to describe public health system QI interventions and their impact on public health practices and health outcomes. Evidence acquisition A systematic review was conducted using PRISMA guidelines. Three databases were searched for peer-reviewed articles that included public health quality improvement–related terms in their abstracts. Articles published in 1990–2010 that described results from QI interventions conducted within the U.S. public health system were included. Evidence synthesis Fifteen studies were identified, reporting on 18 separate QI interventions. Studies fell naturally into three functional categories: organization-wide QI, program- or service-specific QI, and administrative or management function QI. Few of the studies linked their improvements directly to a health outcome or predictors of health outcomes. Studies generally were implemented in state-level or large local public health departments. Conclusions Formally published QI interventions may not be representative of typical, smaller-scale QI activities. Collection and distribution of QI results associated with proven, effective public health interventions and that quantify the benefits of QI practices in public health should be a goal. More research is needed to definitively “connect the dots” between QI efforts, resulting practice improvements, and actual (or predictors of) health outcome improvements. Future studies should examine QI in diverse public health systems.
Abstract # 3158 Stress indirectly links to ex vivo inflammatory responses via depressive symptoms and is moderated by gender

Although research has linked stress to depression and inflammation, the extent to which gender alters relationships between stress, depression, and inflammation is relatively unknown. In theory-driven exploratory analyses based on recent work (Majd et al., 2018), depressive affect was investigated as a statistical mediator of stress and inflammation in cross-sectional data; gender was examined as a moderator in this model. Participants (n = 162; 25–65 years old; 67% women; 87% non-white) reported depressive symptoms (PROMIS short-form), recent stressors (life events [past year]; perceived stress [past month]), and cumulative stress severity from EMA (past 2 weeks), and lifetime stressors. Inflammatory responses were determined from lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulated cytokines in blood collected at the end of the EMA period. Recent stress and inflammatory responses were indirectly linked via depressive symptoms; gender significantly moderated the depression-immune path (IL-6: w = 0.070, 95%CI[0.02, 0.15]; IL-10: w = 0.059, 95%CI[−0.004, 0.13]; TNF α : w = 0.064, 95%CI[0.02, 0.13]). Recent stress related to greater depressive symptoms for men and women; greater depressive symptoms in turn related to higher inflammatory responses in men, but reduced responses in women. Similar patterns were evident for other recent stress measures; weaker effects were evident for lifetime stress measures. This research suggests that the relationship between recent stress and stimulated inflammatory responses may be accounted for by depressive symptoms, and that the direction of the relationship between depression and inflammation may be dependent on gender.
1.8 Transport properties

The flow of either either electricity or heat is regarded as transport. These properties are of tensorial nature and are reviewed in this chapter. The topic is restricted to steady-state flows and to linear response. The three main transport coefficients are the electrical conductivity, the thermal conductivity and the Seebeck coefficient. Section 1.8.3 concerns the electrical resistivity of metals and semiconductors and the Hall effect. Section 1.8.4 concerns the thermal conductivity. Heat flow can be carried by two kinds of excitations: phonons and electrons. The cases of boundary scattering, impurity and defect scattering, isotope scattering and alloy scattering are distinguished as well as anharmonic interactions. The last section, Section 1.8.5, describes the properties of the Seebeck coefficient.
Civic Engagement as Empowerment: Theater, Public Art, and Spoken Word as Roads to Activism

This chapter discusses the use of student-authored or previously published poetry and theater to engage students in feminist political and social activisms. The border-crossing of academic work/research with public performance allows for student empowerment and civic engagement. Performance becomes a way students participate in political conversation and feminist action. Moreover, performance venues give voice to traditionally marginalized students, crosses borders between identities and communities, and create a sense of agency and empowerment—especially for female and other traditionally marginalized people—that is often difficult to achieve in more traditional curriculum.
Short-term influences of radiation on musculofascial healing in a laparotomy rat model.

Preoperative radiation is associated with an increased risk of wound complications. However, the influences of radiation on musculofascial wound healing remains unclear. The purpose of the study was to investigate the short-term effects of preoperative local radiation on the musculofascial healing of laparotomy incisions in a rat model. Eighteen Fischer 344 rats received radiation doses of 0, 10, or 20 Gy to the abdominal wall and underwent laparotomy 4 weeks later. Two weeks after laparotomy, samples of irradiated muscle were harvested for mechanical tests, histological (Hematoxylin & Eosin, and Masson's Trichrome) and immunohistochemical analyses using KI67, CD31, TGF-β, and MYOD1 antibodies. The elastic modulus (EM), maximum strain (MS), and ultimate tensile strength (UTS) in the 20-Gy group were significantly weaker than those in the 0-Gy group. The EM and UTS in the 20-Gy group were significantly lower than those in the 10-Gy group. The UTS and MS in the 10-Gy group were significantly lower than those in the 0-Gy group. The mean number of inflammatory cells per mm2 in the 20-Gy group was significantly larger than those in the 10- and 0-Gy groups. The mean numbers of CD31-, KI67-, and MYOD1-positive cells, the optical density of TGF-β, and the microvessel density in the 20-Gy group were significantly smaller than those in the 10- and 0-Gy groups. These results indicated that radiation delays musculofascial healing and decreases mechanical strength of the laparotomy incision by creating a chronic inflammatory environment, inhibiting cell proliferation, angiogenesis, granulation maturation, collagen deposition, and muscular regeneration in a dose-dependent manner. The impaired biomechanical, histological and molecular properties may be associated with the higher risk of wound complications in patients who undergo radiotherapy prior to laparotomy.
Privacy-Preserving Genomic Data Publishing via Differentially-Private Suffix Tree

Privacy-preserving data publishing is a mechanism for sharing data while ensuring that the privacy of individuals is preserved in the published data, and utility is maintained for data mining and analysis. There is a huge need for sharing genomic data to advance medical and health researches. However, since genomic data is highly sensitive and the ultimate identifier, it is a big challenge to publish genomic data while protecting the privacy of individuals in the data. In this paper, we address the aforementioned challenge by presenting an approach for privacy-preserving genomic data publishing via differentially-private suffix tree. The proposed algorithm uses a top-down approach and utilizes the Laplace mechanism to divide the raw genomic data into disjoint partitions, and then normalize the partitioning structure to ensure consistency and maintain utility. The output of our algorithm is a differentially-private suffix tree, a data structure most suitable for efficient search on genomic data. We experiment on real-life genomic data obtained from the Human Genome Privacy Challenge project, and we show that our approach is efficient, scalable, and achieves high utility with respect to genomic sequence matching count queries.
Social distancing strategies for curbing the COVID-19 epidemic

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic is straining healthcare resources worldwide, prompting social distancing measures to reduce transmission intensity. The amount of social distancing needed to curb the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in the context of seasonally varying transmission remains unclear. Using a mathematical model, we assessed that one-time interventions will be insufficient to maintain COVID-19 prevalence within the critical care capacity of the United States. Seasonal variation in transmission will facilitate epidemic control during the summer months but could lead to an intense resurgence in the autumn. Intermittent distancing measures can maintain control of the epidemic, but without other interventions, these measures may be necessary into 2022. Increasing critical care capacity could reduce the duration of the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic while ensuring that critically ill patients receive appropriate care.
Outcomes from a pilot patient-centered hospital-to-home transition program for children hospitalized with asthma.

To evaluate a multi-component hospital-to-home (H2H) transition program for children hospitalized with an asthma exacerbation. A pilot prospective randomized clinical trial of guideline-based asthm...
An Investigation of Vibrational Characteristics of Lap Joints Using Experimental and Analytical Methods

Many structures are assembled with components that are joined together with connections such as lap joints, making it important to understand how to effectively model and identify damage, such as loosening bolts, in these connections. The structures examined in this work were two bars joined by simple lap joints – a solid structure, a welded structure, and a bolted structure. Experimental modal analysis and finite element models were used to determine the natural frequencies, damping ratios, and mode shapes for each of the different structure configurations. The first goal of this work was to determine if changes in the natural frequencies and damping ratios were large enough to distinguish between different types of structures and between experimental and analytical models. Although differences were present, results showed that natural frequencies and damping ratios are not extremely reliable metrics for determining the differences in these structures. Damage in the bolted structure was investigated by loosening or removing a bolt. Bonded contact regions were implemented within the bolted structure FE models to simulate the effects of a loosened connection while maintaining linearity for modal analysis. The end-goal in this aspect of the research was to ascertain whether a fractional strain energy method via mode shape curvature could be used to determine the location and intensity of damage in a structure. For convenience, a MATLAB GUI was developed to implement this technique. The strain energy method was unsuccessful in identifying differences between structures or damage within the bolted structure, for the differences in mode shape curvatures was not significant enough. Results from the finite element model, however, exhibited significant enough differences to distinguish the bolted structure from the solid and welded structures as well as to detect several different simulated forms of damage.
Measuring Subsidence in California and Its Impact on Water Conveyance Infrastructure

Agriculture in the Central Valley, California, is made possible by surface water management infrastructure and the groundwater supply. However, groundwater overdraft leads to land subsidence, which in turn threatens flood control and water delivery infrastructure. Monitoring, modeling, and managing land subsidence are crucial to ensure the water supply and its infrastructure remains accessible for the future. Detection of land subsidence is difficult because it is a gradual deformation of the land surface over broad areas that can extend 10s of kilometers. Interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) is used to detect deformation over time using a series of repeat images that penetrate cloud cover. Satellite and airborne InSAR time series techniques identify and monitor the development of both valley-wide subsidence zones and individual, localized risks to infrastructure.
Machine learning in materials science: From explainable predictions to autonomous design

Abstract The advent of big data and algorithmic developments in the field of machine learning (and artificial intelligence, in general) have greatly impacted the entire spectrum of physical sciences, including materials science. Materials data, measured or computed, combined with various techniques of machine learning have been employed to address a myriad of challenging problems, such as, development of efficient and predictive surrogate models for a range of materials properties, screening and down-selection of novel candidate materials for targeted applications, new methodologies to improve and further expedite molecular and atomistic simulations, with likely many more important developments to come in the foreseeable future. While the applications thus far have provided a glimpse of the true potential data-enabled routes have to offer, it has also become clear that further progress in this direction hinges on our ability to understand, explain and rationalize findings of a machine learning model in light of the domain-knowledge. This focused review provides an overview of the main areas where machine learning has been widely and successfully used in materials science. Subsequently, a brief discussion of several techniques that have been helpful in extracting physically-meaningful insights, causal relationships and design-centric knowledge from materials data is provided. Finally, we identify some of the imminent opportunities and challenges that materials community faces in this exciting and rapidly growing field.
Deconfined criticality and a gapless Z 2 spin liquid in the square-lattice antiferromagnet

The theory for the vanishing of N\'eel order in the spin $S=1/2$ square lattice antiferromagnet has been the focus of attention for many decades. A consensus appears to have emerged in recent numerical studies on the antiferromagnet with first and second neighbor exchange interactions (the ${J}_{1}\text{\ensuremath{-}}{J}_{2}$ model): A gapless spin liquid is present for a narrow window of parameters between the vanishing of the N\'eel order and the onset of a gapped valence bond solid state. We propose a deconfined critical SU(2) gauge theory for a transition into a stable ${\mathbb{Z}}_{2}$ spin liquid with massless Dirac spinon excitations; on the other side of the critical point, the SU(2) spin liquid (the `$\ensuremath{\pi}$-flux' phase) is presumed to be unstable to confinement to the N\'eel phase. We identify a dangerously irrelevant coupling in the critical SU(2) gauge theory, which contributes a logarithm-squared renormalization. This critical theory is also not Lorentz invariant and weakly breaks the SO(5) symmetry which rotates between the N\'eel and valence bond solid order parameters. We also propose a distinct deconfined critical U(1) gauge theory for a transition into the same gapless ${\mathbb{Z}}_{2}$ spin liquid; on the other side of the critical point, the U(1) spin liquid (the `staggered flux' phase) is presumed to be unstable to confinement to the valence bond solid. This critical theory has no dangerously irrelevant coupling, dynamic critical exponent $z\ensuremath{\ne}1$, and no SO(5) symmetry. All of these phases and critical points are unified in a SU(2) gauge theory with Higgs fields and fermionic spinons which can naturally realize the observed sequence of phases with increasing ${J}_{2}/{J}_{1}$: N\'eel, gapless ${\mathbb{Z}}_{2}$ spin liquid, and valence bond solid.
Epidemiology of Severe Foot Injuries in US Collegiate Athletes.

Background:The effects of foot injuries on collegiate athletes in the United States are of interest because of the short 5-year eligibility period in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (N...
Effects of anterior thalamic nuclei stimulation on hippocampal activity: Chronic recording in a patient with drug-resistant focal epilepsy

Abstract Implanted neurostimulation devices are gaining traction as palliative treatment options for certain forms of drug-resistant epilepsy, but clinical utility of these devices is hindered by incomplete mechanistic understanding of their therapeutic effects. Approved devices for anterior thalamic nuclei deep brain stimulation (ANT DBS) are thought to work at a network level, but limited sensing capability precludes characterization of neurophysiological effects outside the thalamus. Here, we describe a patient with drug-resistant temporal lobe epilepsy who was implanted with a responsive neurostimulation device (RNS System), involving hippocampal and ipsilateral temporal neocortical leads, and subsequently received ANT DBS. Over 1.5 years, RNS System electrocorticography enabled multiscale characterization of neurophysiological effects of thalamic stimulation. In brain regions sampled by the RNS System, ANT DBS produced acute, phasic, frequency-dependent responses, including suppression of hippocampal low frequency local field potentials. ANT DBS modulated functional connectivity between hippocampus and neocortex. Finally, ANT DBS progressively suppressed hippocampal epileptiform activity in relation to the extent of hippocampal theta suppression, which informs stimulation parameter selection for ANT DBS. Taken together, this unique clinical scenario, involving hippocampal recordings of unprecedented chronicity alongside ANT DBS, sheds light on the therapeutic mechanism of thalamic stimulation and highlights capabilities needed in next-generation devices
Application of Silicone-Filled Vaginal Spacers for Pediatric Proton Therapy.

Purpose/Objective(s) Tissue spacers, including vaginal wall spacers, are used in a number of cancer diagnoses including soft tissue sarcomas, prostate cancer, cervical and uterine cancers. In proton therapy, the benefit of tissue spacers can be even greater as the device can serve as a beam stopper where protons reach their end of range in the material of the spacer instead of adjacent tissues. Materials/Methods Commercially available hollow vaginal spacers which come in sizes ranging from 1.46 cm to 3.65 cm in diameter were filled with air-free silicone in a custom-made vacuum chamber. Two adolescent patients with pelvic soft tissue sarcomas receiving proton therapy were CT-simulated with and without a vaginal spacer. The relative stopping power of silicone was measured in a water tank to estimate the water equivalent thickness from 1.56 cm to 3.91 cm used in the treatment planning system for dosimetric comparisons. The dosimetric advantages of the silicone-filled vaginal spacer were investigated in three different dosimetric scenarios: (1) no vaginal spacer, (2) hollow vaginal spacer, (3) silicone-filled vaginal spacer in terms of plan quality and sparing of contralateral vaginal wall during primary and boost phases for two patients. Results While the target coverages remained comparable for the phase I (CTV, Rx = 36 Gy) and the phase II (GTV, Rx = 59.4 Gy), the dose distributions of ipsilateral and contralateral vaginal walls varied across these scenarios. After the phase II, the dosimetric sparing of contralateral vaginal wall was chiefly achieved in the patient A as the mean dose was 8.4 Gy with the silicone-filled spacer, and 17.1 Gy with hollow spacer, and 30.8 Gy with no spacer. However, due to the size and location of the tumor relative to the vagina, the sparing of contralateral vaginal was not observed in the patient B. While the patient A had a unilateral tumor with smaller GTV volume (23.3 cc) irradiated by straight lateral and posterior beams, the patient B had bilaterally located larger GTV volume (342.2 cc) covered by two posterior oblique beams. Conclusion The study suggested that when the vagina is adjacent but located distal to the tumor, a significant dose reduction can be achieved with the insertion of a silicon-filled vaginal spacer.
Palp growth, regeneration, and longevity of the obligate hermit crab symbiont Dipolydora commensalis (Annelida: Spionidae)

. The polychaete Dipolydora commensalis is an obligate symbiont of hermit crabs and produces a burrow along the columella of the gastropod shells they inhabit. Adults of D. commensalis have short palps that they use to feed on particles dropped or brought in by the respiratory currents of hosts. To determine whether hermit crabs influence palp length, specimens of D. commensalis were isolated in glass capillary tubes and the growth of palps was measured over a 3-week period. Palp length was also measured in worms isolated in gastropod shells with or without hermit crabs for 2 weeks. In addition, to determine whether adults of D. commensalis have regeneration capabilities like those of free-living relatives, worms were cut at the fifth or 15th setiger and then monitored for 35 d. Worms extracted from shells and placed into capillary tubes had initial palp lengths of 1.0±0.4 mm (n=17); after isolation, palps were 40% longer (1.4±0.4 mm, n=17). Worms in gastropod shells with hermit crabs had an average palp length of 0.9±0.4 mm (n=31), whereas worms in shells without hermit crabs had palps that were 33% longer (1.2±0.5 mm, n=40). Adults of D. commensalis are capable of regeneration; 35 d after ablation at setigers 5 or 15, the average number of anterior setigers regenerated was 5 (n=15) and 9±1.3 (n=13), respectively. The average number of posterior setigers regenerated from the 15 setiger anterior fragments was 11±6 (n=10). The findings suggest that the palps (and sometimes anterior ends) of the worms are exposed during feeding and are cut during movement of the hermit crab. In the laboratory worms can live for >4 years, considerably longer than the functional life span of most gastropod shells inhabited by hermit crabs.
Enzymic synthesis of DNA. 33. Hydrolysis of a 5'-triphosphate-terminated polynucleotide in the active center of DNA polymerase.

Abstract Detailed analysis of how DNA polymerase degrades a DNA chain from the 5′ end (5′ → 3′ hydrolysis) has contributed to a comprehensive model of the active site and enzymic mechanism. 5′ → 3′ hydrolysis requires that the substrate chain be part of a duplex and up to 20% of the cleavages are at a subterminal diester bond. These properties do not apply to 3′ → 5′ hydrolysis by DNA polymerase. With a 5′-triphosphate-terminated polythymidylate (pppT(pT) 300 ) ∥ as substrate for 5′ → 3′ hydrolysis, the initial cleavage produces principally (about 75%) the dinucleoside tetraphosphate, pppTpT. With a 5′-monophosphate-terminated polythymidylate, pT(pT) 300 , the principal cleavage product (about 75%) is the mononucleotide, pT. The preference for cleavage at the penultimate rather than terminal diester bond of pppT(pT) 300 is attributed to binding of the 5′-triphosphate terminus in the enzyme site ordinarily occupied by the deoxyribonucleoside triphosphate, pppT, during polymerization. This result suggests the proximity of the 5′ → 3′ exonuclease site to the polymerizing site in the active center of the enzyme. The influence of a neighboring 3′ hydroxyl terminus, in a nicked region of a DNA duplex, on the rate and character of the 5′ → 3′ cleavage supports this conclusion. The DNA polymerase induced by phage T4 infection lacks the 5′ → 3′ exonuclease function. Neither the Escherichia coli nor the T4 polymerase can direct any detectable synthesis in the 3′ → 5′ direction as judged by the utilization of the 5′-triphosphate-terminated chain as a primer. Synthesis with both enzymes is exclusively in the 5′ → 3′ direction.
The Next Great Earthquake

The 2004 Sumatra-Andaman earthquake occurred at a surprising time and place; the lessons learned may help costal communities in the future.
Grain Formation in Atmospheres of Cool Dwarfs

We have constructed a grid of model atmospheres for cool dwarf stars and brown dwarfs with Teff ≤ 3000 K that includes (i) an equation of state which accounts for over 600 gas phase species and 1000 liquids and solids, and (ii) the opacities of corundum (Al2O3), iron, enstatite (MgSiO3) and forsterite (Mg2SiO4), as well as amorphous carbon and SiC. We confirm earlier findings of Tsuji, Ohnaka & Aoki (1996a) that grains are abundant in the outer photospheric layers of red and brown dwarfs with spectral type later than M8. We identify high temperature condensates including perovskite (CaTiO3) that depletes the photospheres of important absorbers including TiO, and we confirm the disappearance of TiO bands in the observed spectra of cool dwarfs.
Low-threshold InAs-based interband cascade lasers operating at high temperatures

InAs-based interband cascade (IC) lasers with improved optical confinement have achieved high-temperature operation with a threshold current density as low as 247 A/cm2 at 300 K for emission near 4.6 μm. The threshold current density is the lowest ever reported among semiconductor mid-infrared lasers at similar wavelengths. These InAs-based IC devices lased in pulsed mode at temperatures up to 377 K near 5.1 μm. Narrow-ridge devices were able to operate in continuous-wave mode at temperatures up to 308 K near 4.8 μm. The implications and prospects of these results are discussed.
Total blood lymphocyte counts in hemochromatosis probands with HFE C282Y homozygosity: relationship to severity of iron overload and HLA-A and -B alleles and haplotypes.

Background It has been reported that some persons with hemochromatosis have low total blood lymphocyte counts, but the reason for this is unknown.
Psychodynamics of Arson

Arson is a crime closely correlated with mental illness. There are different motives for Arson. These motives can be categorized broadly as psychological or nonpsychological, although there is considerable overlap. The psychological motives can be further separated based on the nature of the mental state of the individual at the time of the crime. This article outlines said motives and the overlap between Arson and mental illness. Keywords: arson; pyromania; schizophrenia; intellectual disability; personality disorder; sociopathy
An Analysis of Behavioral Health Service Encounters by the White Mountain Apache and the Navajo Nation in the American State of Arizona

An analysis of the utilization of service encounters, program eligibility and the penetration ratio of publicly funded behavioral and mental health care services for the rural northern tier of the American state of Arizona was conducted. The focus was on comparing and contrasting the usage of services by members of the White Mountain Apache and of the Navajo Nation through the tribal behavioral health care authorities with the non-tribal authority. The Apache and the Navajo had median penetration scores of 1.8% and 0.7% for combined services, as compared to the non-tribal authority rate of 14.12% (p=0.000). Analysis showed that there were statistically important differences (p=0.000) in service encounters, eligibility and penetration between the tribal and non-tribal behavioral health care recipients. Similarities were found in comparing the Apache and the Navajo in the treatment categories of serious mental illness (p=0.18) and substance abuse (p=0.41) although the actual penetration rates were quite low (<1%). The median child care penetration ratios were very low and statistically different when the Apache (1.46%) and Navajo (0.30%) were compared. Additionally, the effect of raising the public mental health care eligibility rules on July 7, 2011, were clearly observable, showing a 27.14% drop in adult eligibility over a 18 month period.
Reaction of M(II) Diaryls (M = Mn or Fe) with Ammonia to Afford Parent Amido Complexes

The reaction of the two-coordinate diaryls MAr′2 (M = Mn or Fe; Ar′ = C6H3-2,6-(C6H3-2,6-iPr2)2) with excess NH3 below room temperature afforded the parent amido complexes {Ar′Mn(μ-NH2)(NH3)}2 (1) and {Ar′Fe(μ-NH2)}2 (2) in good yields. The reactions were accompanied by elimination of the arene Ar′H. Both complexes were obtained as dimers in which the metals are bridged by two NH2 ligands. The complex 1 also includes an ammonia (NH3) ligand bound to each manganese. Ammonia complexation did not occur in 2, and the metals remained three-coordinate. The metal electron configurations are high-spin and antiferromagnetically coupled.
Density variability at scales typical of gravity waves observed in Mars' thermosphere by the MGS accelerometer

[1] Examination of the small-scale density perturbations in Mars' thermosphere inferred from Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) accelerometer data reveals wave-like structures consistent with gravity waves. The structures are interpreted to be horizontal with dominant wavelengths of 100-300 km observed along the orbital path. Density perturbations are significantly stronger in winter versus spring/summer, suggesting that the zonal mean winds play a major role in filtering these waves. There is also evidence of possible modulation by the mean winds due to local time differences. No correlation is found with the underlying topography, a source region on Earth for gravity waves. In fact, density perturbations in the northern hemisphere are observed to be greater than those in the southern hemisphere, which has a higher orographic variance. Over the Martian tropics, an observed source region for gravity waves, density perturbations are again not elevated, leaving questions on how gravity waves observed in the lower atmosphere are related to those observed in the thermosphere.
Anti-diffusive-like-behavior in semi-analytic radiative shocks via multigroup Sn transport with constant cross sections

Abstract Semi-analytic lab-frame radiative shock solutions have been presented recently, wherein the radiation is modeled with either grey (frequency independent) nonequilibrium-diffusion or grey Sn-transport. As a first step toward incorporating frequency dependence, we retain grey cross-sections such that the frequency dependence of the problem is strictly due to the Planck function. By using multigroup frequency integration the frequency-dependent radiation-transport equation may be solved, and group-dependent radiation temperatures may be defined for each group. Our main result is: When a Zel'dovich temperature spike exists in a radiative shock solution, there exists a transition group g T , such that for all frequency groups below gT the group-dependent radiation temperatures are spatially monotonic, and for all frequency groups above gT the group-dependent radiation temperatures are spatially non-monotonic. We present numerical evidence of our claim and make no claim as to the monotonicity of group gT.
Minimal residual disease testing to predict relapse following transplant for AML and high-grade myelodysplastic syndromes.

Evaluation of: Lange T, Hubmann M, Burkhardt R et al. Monitoring of WT1 expression in PB and CD34+ donor chimerism of BM predicts early relapse in AML and MDS patients after hematopoietic cell transplantation with reduced-intensity conditioning. Leukemia 25, 498–505 (2011).Early detection of relapse is critical for patients who have undergone hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) or high-grade myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), since therapy can be initiated while disease burden remains low. As these neoplasms represent a heterogeneous group of malignancies with distinct underlying mutations, no single genetic marker exists that both defines AML/MDS and can be exploited for sensitive detection of neoplastic cells prior to overt hematologic relapse. Conversely, the Wilms’ tumor gene (WT1) expression level is increased in blasts of most AML/MDS patients, and quantitative analysis of WT1 expression has been used to predict relapse following myeloablative HSCT. In this ...
I'm lonely and apprehensive: The presentation of stigmatizing information in personal ads

The present study attempted to extend previous personal ad research by contacting ad writers directly. Previous research has suggested that personal ad writers may differ from the general population along certain personality characteristics, and that certain types of information they present may be perceived as stigmatizing. This study's specific intentions were to explore the types of information presented, assess loneliness via the UCLA Loneliness Scale, and communication apprehension via the Personal Report of Communication Apprehension. Results indicated that personal ad writers who divulge stigmatizing information experience a greater degree of loneliness and communication apprehension than ad writers presenting non‐stigmatizing information.
Sequelae following traumatic brain injury: The cerebrovascular perspective

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) initiates a huge repertoire of biochemical perturbations. On one hand, destructive events are set into motion while on the other hand, protective and recovery mechanisms are evoked, each with their own temporal and spatial characteristics. The brain exists as a finely tuned balance between vascular, neuronal and glial interactions and so a complex interplay between these factors will dictate the final evolution of pathogenesis. Although vascular damage is a key event, it remains a somewhat neglected component to the underlying degenerative processes that evolve following injury to the brain. The present review will act to integrate the current knowledge of the vascular events proceeding injury to the brain, with an emphasis on how this impacts the control of vascular function and thus cerebral blood flow.
CdSe infiltrated TiO2 based omnidirectional photonic crystals for visible light control

Abstract Control of light emission by engineering the electromagnetic vacuum is important in photonics for fundamental understanding as well as in applications. Omnidirectional photonic crystals such as logpile photonic crystals provide a very interesting system to study such phenomena. Here, we describe the first steps towards achieving systematic and reproducible control of light using titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) logpile photonic crystals (PC) with incorporated cadmium chalcogenide (CdSe) quantum dots (QDs) ( λ ∼ 600 nm) to potentially modify QD photoluminescence (PL). We present a technique for coating a monolayer of the QDs on the PC rods based on 3-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilanol linkage and measured the resulting PL response. Comparison of the PL spectra to a finite difference time domain model shows the need for further localization of QDs and fabrication of additional PC unit cells to observe PL modification.
The IUCF Transfer Beaime

The transfer beamline between the injector stage and main stage cyclotrons has been designed, constructed and is under test. The beamline provides a good match between the calculated extracted phase space ellipses in the injector and the inflection requirements of the main stage over a wide range of particle types, emittances and energies. Energy dispersion of 0.07% FwHM for 16 MeV protons is available at a waist. Attempts were made to minimlize time dispersion; as a result the time spread through te transfer system is negligible for light ions. For 12C(14+) the time spread will cause an energy spread in the main stage at 200 N4eV of about 100 KeV, under normal operating conditions.