cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
International Leadership Competencies and Issues

Public administration faces a crisis in leadership and new leaders need to be trained to fill the gap. Leadership theory and models are reviewed in the light of this. Based on a study of training programmes in eight countries, core leadership competencies are identified within the ‘Leadership and Management Skill Set’. A further review identified differences in the competencies and training needed for senior, middle and line managers.
Involvement of NarK1 and NarK2 Proteins in Transport of Nitrate and Nitrite in the Denitrifying Bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1

Two transmembrane proteins were tentatively classified as NarK1 and NarK2 in the Pseudomonas genome project and hypothesized to play an important physiological role in nitrate/nitrite transport in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The narK1 and narK2 genes are located in a cluster along with the structural genes for the nitrate reductase complex. Our studies indicate that the transcription of all these genes is initiated from a single promoter and that the gene complex narK1K2GHJI constitutes an operon. Utilizing an isogenic narK1 mutant, a narK2 mutant, and a narK1K2 double mutant, we explored their effect on growth under denitrifying conditions. While the ΔnarK1::Gm mutant was only slightly affected in its ability to grow under denitrification conditions, both the ΔnarK2::Gm and ΔnarK1K2::Gm mutants were found to be severely restricted in nitrate-dependent, anaerobic growth. All three strains demonstrated wild-type levels of nitrate reductase activity. Nitrate uptake by whole-cell suspensions demonstrated both the ΔnarK2::Gm and ΔnarK1K2::Gm mutants to have very low yet different nitrate uptake rates, while the ΔnarK1::Gm mutant exhibited wild-type levels of nitrate uptake. Finally, Escherichia coli narK rescued both the ΔnarK2::Gm and ΔnarK1K2::Gm mutants with respect to anaerobic respiratory growth. Our results indicate that only the NarK2 protein is required as a nitrate/nitrite transporter by Pseudomonas aeruginosa under denitrifying conditions.
Monolithic Liquid Chemical Sensing Systems

The miniaturization of electrochemical transducers is crucial for the development of implantable biosensors, wearable microdetectors, and remote sensing networks due to the small dimensions required in these applications. As sensors scale, the analytical response degrades and integrated instrumentation is required to maintain acceptable detection limits. This work details the development of CMOS-integrated liquid chemical sensors. The sensors were cost-effectively post-processed on top of foundry-fabricated CMOS electronics using thin-film techniques. CMOS-integrated voltammetric sensors demonstrated a 25x improvement in detection limit/electrode area versus passive sensors. CMOS-integrated, ion-selective electrodes demonstrated a 50x improvement in lifetime and a 200x improvement in response time versus passive sensors. With their improved performance, these smart sensors can be used in a wide range of applications and can additionally serve as enabling technologies for more complex, chip-scale systems.
Abstract #4775: The selective aurora B kinase inhibitor AZD1152-HQPA inhibits in vitro growth of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) cell lines

Background: Aurora B kinase (AURKB) regulates cytokinesis and is overexpressed in a range of cancers. We investigated the effects of the selective aurora B kinase inhibitor AZD1152-HQPA in a panel of 14 SCLC lines among which p53 was mutant in 12 of these and Rb was mutant in 6 cell lines (wild type in 5 lines and 3 unknown). Methods: Growth inhibition by AZD1152-HQPA was assessed by MTT assays at 6 days. DNA ploidy, cell cycle arrest and AURKB protein expression were assessed by FACS. AURKB gene copy number was evaluated by FISH. MicroRNA (miR) expression was determined using microRNA chips. Results: AZD1152-HQPA treatment inhibited growth of all 14 of the cell lines. The 4 most sensitive lines had IC 50 s in the therapeutically relevant range of 5-100 nM and less then 25% of control growth was observed at concentrations > 100nM. Five cell lines had IC 50 values of 30-100nM but cell viability at 100nM in these lines was 40-50% of untreated control. The remaining 5-lines showed less then 25% growth inhibition in a 6-day assay. Extended 12 day assay at 100nM showed a reduction in viable cells to 14-20% of untreated control cells in 7 of the less sensitive cell lines. All cell lines had high AURKB gene expression by Affymetrix arrays (mean 831 ± 210) compared to normal lung (mean 7.7 ± 3.99) and high protein expression by FACS (mean 80% pos ± 6 and fl intensity 5.3 ± 0.25). There was no significant correlation between AURKB gene or protein expression and sensitivity to AZD1152-HQPA. Loss of miR-570 and miR-765 which inhibit AURKB mRNA expression was found in 8/8 lines and there was an inverse correlation with gene and protein expression but not AZD1152-HQPA sensitivity. Similarly p53 and Rb mutational status did not correlate with sensitivity to AZD1152-HQPA. By FISH analysis all cell lines had low AURKB gene copy number (mean 2.34 ± 0.082) and no amplification was found. Marked increases in DNA ploidy (8N and 16N) were observed after 24 hour exposure to AZD1152-HQPA (50nM) in the most sensitive cell lines, were less striking in cell lines with intermediate sensitivity and were not observed in the most resistant lines. Conclusions: AZD1152-HQPA inhibited the growth of SCLC lines and induced increases in DNA ploidy. AZD1152-HQPA sensitivity was not related to AURKB gene expression or protein expression or miR520 or miR765 expression. Future studies will evaluate cell death mechanisms and we will search for other biomarkers that correlate with changes in DNA ploidy. Citation Information: In: Proc Am Assoc Cancer Res; 2009 Apr 18-22; Denver, CO. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; 2009. Abstract nr 4775.
Joint transmitter and receiver optimization for PAM in additive cyclostationary noise

A joint optimization of transmitter and receiver is considered for strictly band-limited linear modulations in additive cyclostationary noise. Under the assumptions that the period of the cyclostationarity of the noise is the same as the inverse of the symbol transmission rate and that the noise has a positive-definite autocorrelation function, the optimum transmitter and receiver waveforms that jointly minimize the mean-squared error at the output of the linear receiver are derived with the data sequence modeled as a wide-sense stationary (WSS) colored random process and the channel modeled as a linear time-invariant system with a general frequency-selective impulse response. Numerical results show that this joint optimization technique leads to a significant performance improvement over the systems with receiver-only optimization and the systems with no transmitter and receiver optimizations.
Cellular Basis of Immunological Unresponsiveness

Injection of an antigen into a vertebrate may be followed by a number of different immunological alternatives. Most commonly, a specific immune response is manifested in the form of cell-associated immunity, humoral immunity, or both. In other instances, antigen may specifically prime the challenged host without resulting in expression of a detectable immune response. Finally, antigen may induce the immunological antithesis of a responsive state, that is, a state of specific unresponsiveness. The specific cellular events involved in these differing pathways share at least one facet; i.e., initiation involves the interaction between antigen and a specific cell or cells. The present discussion will consider the experimental data concerning the cellular events and consequences of the interaction between antigen and antigen-reactive cells which lead to the state of specifically induced unresponsiveness. The emphasis will be placed on the cellular phenomena involved in the induction, maintenance, and termination of immunological unresponsiveness as it specifically relates to the block in the formation of humoral antibody.
Surgical Strategies in the Management of Open Abdomen

Open abdomen or nonclosure of fascia has become a great advance in the management of the critically injured or ill patient. It offers many benefits but has many disadvantages if practiced without attention to detail. Prompt closure of fascia should be the goal of therapy to prevent serious complications. This chapter outlines the management principles of open abdomen and the surgical techniques of achieving abdominal closure.
Circulating Galectin-3 Is Associated With Cardiometabolic Disease in the Community.

Background Circulating Galectin‐3 (Gal‐3) concentrations are associated with an increased incidence of heart failure, atrial fibrillation, chronic kidney disease, and mortality. Recent evidence suggests that Gal‐3 may also be an important modulator of cardiometabolic traits such as adiposity, insulin resistance, and hyperglycemia. We examined the associations of blood Gal‐3 concentrations and cardiometabolic disease traits in the Framingham Heart Study. Methods and Results In cross‐sectional analyses of 2946 Framingham Heart Study participants (mean age 59 years, 55% women), higher Gal‐3 concentrations were associated with higher body mass index, waist circumference, and triglycerides ( P <0.0001 for all). Higher Gal‐3 was associated with greater odds of obesity (multivariable‐adjusted odds ratio 1.16 per 1‐SD increase in log–Gal‐3, 95% CI 1.06–1.28, P =0.002) and hypertension (odds ratio 1.18, 95% CI 1.07–1.29, P =0.0006). In prospective analyses, Gal‐3 was associated with incident metabolic syndrome (hazard ratio 1.22, 95% CI 1.10–1.36, P =0.0002) and diabetes (hazard ratio 1.21, 95% CI 1.04–1.41, P =0.02), in age‐ and sex‐adjusted, but not multivariable‐adjusted models. Conclusions In this large, community‐based sample, circulating Gal‐3 was associated with abdominal adiposity, dyslipidemia, and hypertension in cross‐sectional analyses, but Gal‐3 did not predict incident cardiometabolic disease after adjusting for cardiometabolic risk factors. Future investigations should focus on further elucidating mechanisms linking Gal‐3 with cardiometabolic disease and on assessing whether modulation of the Gal‐3 pathway might have positive cardiometabolic effects.
Modeling and Validation of the Three-Dimensional Deflection of an MRI-Compatible Magnetically Actuated Steerable Catheter

Objective : This paper presents the 3-D kinematic modeling of a novel steerable robotic ablation catheter system. The catheter, embedded with a set of current-carrying microcoils, is actuated by the magnetic forces generated by the magnetic field of the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner. Methods: This paper develops a 3-D model of the MRI-actuated steerable catheter system by using finite differences approach. For each finite segment, a quasi-static torque-deflection equilibrium equation is calculated using beam theory. By using the deflection displacements and torsion angles, the kinematic model of the catheter system is derived. Results: The proposed models are validated by comparing the simulation results of the proposed model with the experimental results of a hardware prototype of the catheter design. The maximum tip deflection error is 4.70 mm and the maximum root-mean-square error of the shape estimation is 3.48 mm. Conclusion: The results demonstrate that the proposed model can successfully estimate the deflection motion of the catheter. Significance: The presented 3-D deflection model of the magnetically controlled catheter design paves the way to efficient control of the robotic catheter for the treatment of atrial fibrillation.
Significance of Detection of Serum Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 in Children with Congenital Heart Disease

Objective To explore the changes of level of serum matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in children with left to right shunt congenital heart disease(CHD),and to analyze the correlation between serum MMP-9 and cardiac function,myocardial remodeling.Methods Sixty-two cases of left to right shunt CHD (CHD group,including 34 cases of ventricular septal defect,10 cases of atrial septal defect and 18 cases of patent arterial duct) were divided into 2 groups,which were named the large shunt group and the small shunt group according to the ratio of pulmomary and systemic circulation.And they were also divided into the heart failure group and the non-heart failure group.There were 20 cases in the control group with normal blood routine,electrocardiogram(ECG) and X-ray examinations.The level of serum MMP-9 in control group and the CHD group were determined by ELISA.All children underwent echocardiographic study,including the mea-surement of the left atrium diameter index(LADI),the left ventricular end diastolic inner diameter index(LVEDDI),the cardiac output index(CI) were calculated.SPSS 11.5 software was used to analyze the data.Results 1.The level of serum MMP-9 in CHD group was higher than that in control group (P0.01);the level of serum MMP-9 was higher in heart failure group than that in non-heart failure group(P0.01),so it was in the large shunt group than that in the small shunt group(P0.01).2.The LADI,LVEDDI,LVmassI in the heart failure group were larger than those in non-heart failure group(Pa0.01).The CI in the heart failure group was higher than that in the non-heart failure group(P0.05).There had no statistical difference in LVEF between the heart failure group and non-heart failure group(P0.05).3.There was one kind of positive correlation between the level of serum MMP-9 and LADI(r=0.387,P0.01)and LVEDDI(r=0.456,P0.01).There was negative correlation between level of serum MMP-9 and LVEF (r=0.160,P0.05),CI (r=0.218,P0.05).Conclusions The serum MMP-9 can be tested as an objective index in appraisal the severity of the left to right shunt.The increased level of MMP-9 may be one of important mechanism for developing heart failure process in children with left to right shunt CHD.Monitor the level of MMP-9 will help us find adverse myocardial remodeling earlier and begin treatment immediately to prevent heart failure developing.
Research on Gain and Noise Characteristics of Yb-doped Fiber Amplifier at Continuous-wave Operation

Gain and noise characteristics of Ytterbium-doped fiber amplifier at Continuous-Wave(CW)are researched theoretically in this paper.From the rate and propagation equations describing Ytterbium-doped fiber amplifier system,the gain and noise figure are calculated,and the effect of pump power and device length on gain and noise is also discussed with 975nm pump wavelength.
Current recommendations for chelation for transfusion-dependent thalassemia

Regular red cell transfusions used to treat thalassemia cause iron loading that must be treated with chelation therapy. Morbidity and mortality in thalassemia major are closely linked to the adequacy of chelation. Chelation therapy removes accumulated iron and detoxifies iron, which can prevent and reverse much of the iron-mediated organ injury. Currently, three chelators are commercially available--deferoxamine, deferasirox, and deferiprone--and each can be used as monotherapy or in combination. Close monitoring of hepatic and cardiac iron burden is central to tailoring chelation. Other factors, including properties of the individual chelators, ongoing transfusional iron burden, and patient preference, must be considered. Monotherapy generally is utilized if the iron burden is in an acceptable or near-acceptable range and the dose is adjusted accordingly. Combination chelation often is employed for patients with high iron burden, iron-related organ injury, or where adverse effects of chelators preclude administration of an appropriate chelator dose. The combination of deferoxamine and deferiprone is the best studied, but increasing data are available on the safety and efficacy of newer chelator combinations, including deferasirox with deferoxamine and the oral-only combination of deferasirox with deferiprone. The expanding chelation repertoire should enable better control of iron burden and improved outcomes.
A Tunable Silk Hydrogel Device for Studying Limb Regeneration in Adult Xenopus Laevis.

In certain amphibian models limb regeneration can be promoted or inhibited by the local wound bed environment. This research introduces a device that can be utilized as an experimental tool to characterize the conditions that promotes limb regeneration in the adult frog (Xenopus laevis) model. In particular, this device was designed to manipulate the local wound environment via a hydrogel insert. Initial characterization of the hydrogel insert revealed that this interaction had a significant influence on mechanical forces to the animal, due to the contraction of the hydrogel. The material and mechanical properties of the hydrogel insert were a factor in the device design in relation to the comfort of the animal and the ability to effectively manipulate the amputation site. The tunable features of the hydrogel were important in determining the pro-regenerative effects in limb regeneration, which was measured by cartilage spike formation and quantified by micro-computed tomography. The hydrogel insert was a factor in the observed morphological outcomes following amputation. Future work will focus on characterizing and optimizing the device’s observed capability to manipulate biological pathways that are essential for limb regeneration. However, the present work provides a framework for the role of a hydrogel in the device and a path forward for more systematic studies.
Lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase deficiency: Identification of two defective alleles in fibroblast cDNA

Previous mutations associated with lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) deficiency have been identified using genomic DNA. To facilitate mutation analysis, we used cDNA from cultured fibroblasts which were shown to express LCAT mRNA. Using reverse-transcriptase PCR, LCAT cDNA was obtained from a 13-year-old boy with complete LCAT deficiency, characterized by low HDL-C (3 mg/dl), nondetectable initial cholesterol esterification rate, LCAT activity, and minimal LCAT mass (0.16 vs. 5-7.5 micrograms/ml). Sequencing of LCAT cDNA clones identified two mutations. A novel frameshift mutations caused by deletion of cytosine at the third nucleotide position of amino acid 168 (exon 5) predicts a disrupted protein catalytic site by converting Ser181-->Ala and creates a Pvu-II restriction site prior to premature truncation at amino acid 238. A C-->T transition results in a substitution of methionine for threonine at amino acid position 321 and creates an Nla-III restriction site on the maternal allele. Expression studies of mutant LCAT cDNA confirmed the virtual absence of LCAT activity in transfected COS-1 cells. The molecular defect in a young male with complete LCAT deficiency has been identified using fibroblast cDNA.
ARTERIOGRAPHIC VISUALIZATION OF THE JUXTA-EPIPHYSEAL VASCULAR BED FOLLOWING EPIPHYSEAL SEPARATION. A CASE REPORT.

The following observations in this case are of interest: 1. Three months after injury the vascular bed in the region of the epiphyseal plate was still increased in all the bones about the knee as demonstrated by arteriography. 2. Proximal tibial epiphyseal separation resulted in complete lack of filling of the normal vascular bed on the metaphyseal face of the part of the epiphyseal plate traversed by the fracture line. This defect was still present three months after injury. The normal vascular bed was not altered in the small portion of the plate to which a triangular fragment of the metaphysis remained attached. 3. The growth potential of the proximal tibial epiphysis in this seven-year-old girl was not altered during the three and a half years that she was followed after injury.
Understanding Antioxidant and Prooxidant Mechanisms of Phenolics in Food Lipids

Publisher Summary Phenolic compounds are secondary plant metabolites commonly encountered in fruits and vegetables. These compounds include at least one phenol group, a structure containing an aromatic benzene ring with at least one hydroxyl substituent. Phenolics have long been added to lipid foods to inhibit oxidation reactions. In recent years, phenolics have become popular bioactive ingredients in formulated foods as studies have demonstrated that these compounds are beneficial to human health. Unfortunately, many phenolics are labile to oxidation, which complicates their addition to food products. Phenolics are often degraded as a result of non-enzymatic oxidation reactions over the life of food and these reactions may compromise the oxidative stability of the surrounding food matrix under some conditions. This chapter discusses the applications of phenolics as antioxidants and bioactive ingredients in food lipids. It provides an understanding of antioxidant and pro-oxidant mechanisms of phenolics in food lipids. It is suggested to maintain the stability of phenolic compounds and to prevent potential pro-oxidative effects within the food matrix resulting from Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) generation to deliver the benefits of phenolic compounds in lipid-based foods. A better understanding of the conditions that promote phenolic instability and the resulting ROS production, and pro-oxidant activity, will enable manufacturers to formulate stable lipid foods containing biologically significant levels of phenolics.
Understanding Environmental Pollution: Pollution at home

“Seeing things differently is the first step toward doing things differently.” Anon. Thirty years ago, the US EPA, working with Harvard University was studying the sources of various environmental pollutants. They made what was then a startling observation: regardless of the community studied – its location, whether rural or urban, lightly or highly industrialized, and regardless of sex, age, smoking habits, and occupation – indoor air pollution was the major source of exposure to many air pollutants. This is perhaps not surprising: Most people spend 90% or more of their time indoors, indoor sources emit many of the same pollutants as outdoors sources, and dilution with outdoor air may be slow to occur. In the following years, the Advisory Board of the US EPA ranked indoor air pollution as a priority environmental health risk. ▪ Section I of this chapter reviews specific contaminants that impact indoor air quality: combustion pollutants (including tobacco smoke), volatile organic chemicals (VOCs), radon and biological pollutants. It also examines health impacts of combustion particulates on people in less-developed countries. Section II delves into hazardous household products and household hazardous waste, and describes two old hazards that remain with us, asbestos and lead paint. SECTION I Indoor air pollution Contaminants affecting indoor air quality spring from many sources (Table 17.1). To fully understand Figure 17.1, go to URL in footnote and, one-by-one click each room shown. Combustion appliances including wood stoves and fireplaces, gas stoves, and kerosene heaters emit particulates and several criteria air pollutants (Chapter 5). […]
Practical Monitoring of Resource Utilization for HPC Applications

HPC centers run a diverse set of applications from a variety of scientific domains. Every application has different resource requirements, but it is difficult for domain experts to find out what these requirements are and how they impact performance. In particular, the utilization of shared resources such as parallel file systems may influence application performance in significant ways that are not always obvious to the user. We present a tool designed to provide the information that is most critical for running an application efficiently on HPC systems. The information provided forms a complete view of the application's interaction with the system resources, which is typically missing from other profiling and analysis tools. The tool is designed to be scalable and have minimal impact on application performance, and includes support for different accelerators.
To gate or not to gate - dosimetric evaluation comparing Gated vs. ITV-based methodologies in stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy (SABR) treatment of lung cancer

To compare retrospectively generated gated plans to conventional internal target volume (ITV)-based plans and to evaluate whether gated radiotherapy provides clinically relevant dosimetric improvements to organs-at-risk (OARs). Evaluation was performed of 150 stereotactic ablative radiotherapy treatment plans delivered to 128 early-stage (T1-T3 (<5 cm)) NSCLC patients. To generate gated plans, original ITV-based plans were re-optimized and re-calculated on the end-exhale phase and using gated planning target volumes (PTV). Gated and ITV-based plans were produced for 3 × 18 Gy and 4 × 12 Gy fractionation regimens. Dose differences between gated and ITV-based plans were analyzed as a function of both three-dimensional motion and tumor volume. OARs were analyzed using RTOG and AAPM dose constraints. Differences between gated and ITV-based plans for all OAR indices were largest for the 3 × 18 Gy regimen. For this regimen, MLD differences calculated by subtracting the gated values from the ITV-based values (ITV vs. Gated) were 0.10 ± 0.56 Gy for peripheral island (N = 57), 0.16 ± 0.64 Gy for peripheral lung-wall seated (N = 57), and 0.10 ± 0.64 Gy for central tumors (N = 36). Variations in V20 were similarly low, with the greatest differences occurring in peripheral tumors (0.20 ± 1.17 %). Additionally, average differences (in 2Gy-equivalence) between ITV and gated lung indices fell well below clinical tolerance values for all fractionation regimens, with no clinically meaningful differences observed from the 4 × 12 Gy regimen and rarely for the 3 × 18 Gy regimen (<2 % of cases). Dosimetric differences between gated and ITV-based methods did generally increase with increasing tumor motion and decreasing tumor volume. Dose to ribs and bronchial tree were slightly higher in gated plans compared to ITV-based plans and slightly lower for esophagus, heart, spinal cord, and trachea. Analysis of 150 SABR-based lung cancer treatment plans did not show a substantial benefit for the gating regimen when compared to ITV-based treatment plans. Small benefits were observed only for the largest tumor motion (exceeding 2 cm) and the high dose treatment regimen (3 × 18 Gy), though these benefits did not appear to be clinically relevant.
Synthesis of statically analyzable accelerator networks from sequential programs

This paper describes a general framework for transforming a sequential program into a network of processes, which are then converted to hardware accelerators through high level synthesis. Also proposed is a complementing technique for performing static deadlock analysis of the generated accelerator network. The interactions between the accelerators' schedules, the capacity of the communication channels in the network and the memory access mechanisms are all incorporated into our model, such that potential artificial deadlocks can be detected and resolved a priori. An algorithm optimized for FPGA implementation is developed and applied through our transformation framework. A set of irregular computation kernels are converted into networks of FPGA accelerators. Compared to hardware accelerators generated without our transformation, the accelerator networks achieve significantly better performance.
Compressive anomaly detection in large networks

This paper considers a large sensor network with its nodes taking measurements from certain distributions, while a small subset of the nodes draw anomalous measurements from distributions that differ from the majority. Since all the distributions are unknown a priori, the compressive anomaly detection (CAD) algorithm is proposed at the fusion center to identify the set of anomalous sensors and estimate both the common and anomaly distributions, using only few compressed sensor observations under the type-based multiple access (TB-MA) protocol. Simulations demonstrate that the proposed CAD algorithm can efficiently single out the set of anomalies and estimate the distributions accurately.
A new framework of design and continuous evaluation to improve brain training.

Effective teaching critically relies upon effective evaluation because evaluation is required to gain understanding of existing abilities and, in turn, determine learning outcomes. Methods of effective evaluation are surprisingly elusive in many fields, and this limits our understanding of which training methods are truly effective. In the present article, issues of effective evaluation are discussed in the context of “brain training,” an exciting but much criticized field. Problems in test validity in the field of brain training parallel those in many other fields, such as deficiencies in test reliability, teaching to the test, expectation effects, as well as statistical rigor. Here we review these issues and discuss how commonalities between the goals of evaluation and adaptive training procedures suggest a new paradigm that synthesizes evaluation and training. We suggest that continuous evaluation, where testing is integrated into the training, may provide a path towards greater reliability of skill evaluation, through longitudinal sampling, and validity, through better alignment of evaluation activities in respect to learning objectives.
Military Psychology at US Military Service Academies

This chapter describes the wide range of duties and responsibilities of psychologists employed by the nation’s military service academies. These academies employ large numbers of uniformed and civilian military psychologists. In addition to teaching, service academy psychologists engage in counseling and clinical practice, coaching and performance enhancement, conducting basic and applied research across all areas of psychology, and consulting with the senior leaders of their respective services on matters pertaining to the human domain. These psychologists educate, train, and inspire future cadets and midshipmen who will subsequently serve as uniformed psychologists in the Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marines. Service academy psychologists are actively involved and serve as leaders in a variety of scientific and professional associations.
Improved local lattice Monte Carlo simulation for charged systems.

Maggs and Rossetto [Phys. Rev. Lett. 88, 196402 (2002)] proposed a local lattice Monte Carlo algorithm for simulating charged systems based on Gauss’s law, which scales with the particle number N as O(N). This method includes two degrees of freedom: the configuration of the mobile charged particles and the electric field. In this work, we consider two important issues in the implementation of the method, the acceptance rate of configurational change (particle move) and the ergodicity in the phase space sampled by the electric field. We propose a simple method to improve the acceptance rate of particle moves based on the superposition principle for electric field. Furthermore, we introduce an additional updating step for the field, named “open-circuit update,” to ensure that the system is fully ergodic under periodic boundary conditions. We apply this improved local Monte Carlo simulation to an electrolyte solution confined between two low dielectric plates. The results show excellent agreement with previo...
A prototype assembled 3D-printed phantom of the glenohumeral joint for fluoroscopic-guided shoulder arthrography

To describe the methodology of constructing a three-dimensional (3D) printed model of the glenohumeral joint, to serve as an interventional phantom for fluoroscopy-guided shoulder arthrography training. The osseous structures, intra-articular space and skin surface of the shoulder were digitally extracted as separate 3D meshes from a normal CT arthrogram of the shoulder, using commercially available software. The osseous structures were 3D-printed in gypsum, a fluoroscopically radiopaque mineral, using binder jet technology. The joint capsule was 3D printed with rubber-like TangoPlus material, using PolyJet technology. The capsule was secured to the humeral head and glenoid to create a sealed intra-articular space. A polyamide mold of the skin was printed using selective laser sintering. The joint was stabilized inside the mold, and the surrounding soft tissues were cast in silicone of varying densities. Fluoroscopically-guided shoulder arthrography was performed using anterior, posterior, and rotator interval approaches. CT arthrographic imaging of the phantom was also performed. A life-size phantom of the glenohumeral joint was constructed. The radiopaque osseous structures replicated in-vivo osseous corticomedullary differentiation, with dense cortical bone and less dense medullary cancellous bone. The glenoid labrum was successfully integrated into the printed capsule, and visualized on CT arthrography. The phantom was repeatedly used to perform shoulder arthrography using all three conventional approaches, and simulated the in vivo challenges of needle guidance. 3D printing of a complex capsule, such as the glenohumeral joint, is possible with this technique. Such a model can serve as a valuable training tool.
Shape of diffusion and size of monochromatic region of a two-dimensional spin system

We consider an agent-based distributed algorithm with exponentially distributed waiting times in which agents with binary states interact locally over a geometric graph, and based on this interaction and on the value of a common intolerance threshold τ, decide whether to change their states. This model is equivalent to an Asynchronous Cellular Automaton (ACA) with extended Moore neighborhoods, a zero-temperature Ising model with Glauber dynamics, or a Schelling model of self-organized segregation in an open system, and has applications in the analysis of social and biological networks, and spin glasses systems. We prove a shape theorem for the spread of the “affected” nodes during the process dynamics and show that in the steady state, for τ ∈ (τ*,1−τ*) ∖ {1/2}, where τ* ≈ 0.488, the size of the “mono-chromatic region” at the end of the process is at least exponential in the size of the local neighborhood of interaction with probability approaching one as N grows. Combined with previous results on the expected size of the monochromatic region that provide a matching upper bound, this implies that in the steady state the size of the monochromatic region of any agent is exponential with high probability for the mentioned interval of τ. The shape theorem is based on a novel concentration inequality for the spreading time, and provides a precise geometrical description of the process dynamics. The result on the size of the monochromatic region considerably extends our understanding of the steady state. Showing convergence with high probability, it rules out the possibility that only a small fraction of the nodes are eventually contained in large monochromatic regions, which was left open by previous works.
An Analysis of Electromagnetic Acoustic Transducer Arrays for Nondestructive Evaluation of Thick Metal Sections and Weldments

A new type of electromagnetic-acoustic transducer (EMAT) has been developed that may be particularly suitable for use as an element of ultrasonic arrays. The new transducer can generate and receive compact ultrasonic pulses that exhibit a component of polarization parallel to the free surface. In the plane of symmetry that is normal to the free surface and bisects the EMAT (the sagittal plane), the ultrasonic signals generated by the new transducer are SH waves. In addition, the new transducer can efficiently receive ultrasonic signals from a very wide range of direction in the sagittal plane. This property is required to realize very long synthetic aperture lengths, which are needed to maximize the transverse resolution of ultrasonic inspection systems. The focusing performance of different linear synthetic array configurations using the new EMAT is compared analytically with that of a linear end-fire system using per iodic-permanent-magnet (PPM) EMATs that have been used in the past in weld inspection. The advantages and inherent limitations of such systems are examined using analytical and numerical methods. Particular emphasis is placed on the analysis of arrays that can be focused obliquely with respect to the free surface and the potential usefulness of such systems in weld inspection.
Ten Steps to Making Ptosis Surgery More Predictable

In training, I did not fully appreciate the words of my mentor, Richard K. Dortzbach, M.D., when he first uttered this concise description of one of the most common operations we perform. Now, several thousand procedures later, I understand what he was saying.
Detection and analysis of CpG sites with multimodal DNA methylation level distributions and their relationships with SNPs.

DNA methylation levels at cytosine-phosphate-guanine (CpG) sites with multimodal distributions among different samples have been reported recently. One possible explanation for such variability is that genetic variants might affect epigenetic variation. One obvious case is that mutations such as single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) interrupt CpG sites, resulting in different DNA methylation levels for different genotypes. However, the relationship between genetic variations and epigenetic differences has not been studied thoroughly, partially because of the lack of powerful and robust methods to survey genome-wide CpG sites with multimodal methylation level distributions (mmCpGs). In this article, we develop a Gaussian mixture-model clustering (GMMC)–based approach to systematically detect all mmCpGs across the genome based on the GAW20 data set. In total, 3785 and 3847 mmCpGs have been identified in pre- and posttreatment data sets, respectively. Result analysis shows that approximately 68 to 70% of mmCpGs detected from unrelated individuals either have direct overlaps with SNPs or have associations with nearby SNPs, suggesting a strong correlation between SNPs and mmCpGs. Comparison with an existing approach illustrates that our GMMC-based method is more consistent when the number of samples decreases. In conclusion, mmCpGs may reveal important connections between genetics and epigenetics and they should be carefully identified and evaluated.
The influence of preceding activity and muscle length on voluntary and electrically evoked contractions.

Muscle length and preceding activity independently influence rate of torque development (RTD) and electromechanical delay (EMD), but it is unclear whether these parameters interact to optimize RTD ...
Antiproliferative effect of memantine on human prostate, breast and colon cancer cell lines

4380 Echinacea is a medicinal plant that consists of nine different species. One particular species, Echinacea purpurea, has been studied for its effect on erythroleukemic mouse models. The results of the studies have indicated that E. purpurea could possibly be essential in future treatments for anti-tumor therapy. Our studies have tested the effect of Echinacea purpurea on mammalian breast cancer cells and have indicated that an extract of the plant decreases the growth rate of the breast cancer cells and causes necrosis. Our recent studies have indicated that E. pallida, another species of Echinacea, has an effect on the mammalian breast cancer cells as well. A standard in vitro anti-carcinogenic protocol was used to determine if an extract of E. pallida exemplified an anti-carcinogenic effect on mammalian breast cancer cells. Three hundred thousand breast cancer cells, cell line BT-549, were placed in each well of a six-well plate that contained RMPI-1640 media with ten percent fetal bovine serum. The cells were then incubated in 0.5% carbon dioxide after they were treated with a control or with a certain dosage of the extract. Viable cells were then stained and counted on a hemocytometer. The data indicated that E. pallida decreases the growth rate of the breast cancer cells as the dosage amount of the extract increases. However, E. pallida does not decrease the growth rate of the mammalian cancer cells significantly as compared to E. purpurea. Further research could indicate that E. purpurea and E. pallida are effective alternative treatments for breast cancer. The treatments could possibly enable women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer to overcome the disease.
Pre-Transplant Predictors of Cost of First Hospitalization for Pediatric Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation (alloHCT)

Background AlloHCT is associated with significant cost, owing to prolonged hospitalization and potential complications. With increasing concern about healthcare utilization in the US, having accurate information on treatment costs is crucial for making informed decisions in our healthcare system. There is little data on predictors of cost in pediatric alloHCT. Methods Primary endpoint was cost of first hospitalization for alloHCT. We analyzed pre-HCT variables for their effect on cost by simple linear regression – age, race, sex, donor, HLA match, graft source, disease, conditioning intensity, TBI use, performance status, Campath/ATG use, recipient CMV status, HCT-CI, and weight; those found to be significant were included in a final multivariable linear regression model. The same variables were analyzed for their association with higher transplant costs (>$150,000) by multivariable logistic regression. Significance was defined as p Results 240 children underwent alloHCT from 2005-16. Median age was 9.5y (0.2-21y). Patients were primarily male (61%), CMV risk (75%), malignancies (52%), and received myeloablative conditioning (78%). Donors were HLA-matched in 53% and were alternative donors in 60%. Bone marrow was the most common graft source (48%). Median cost of first hospitalization was $158,896 (range 13,126-1,471,698). Sex, donor, and graft source were linearly associated with cost (Table 1); an equation to predict cost of first hospitalization can be described as: $126,165 + $51,164(female) + $106,055(alternative donor) – $11,445(unmanipulated PBSC) + $117,238(cord) – $62,351(CD34 selected PBSC). Variables associated with higher cost (>$150,000) of initial hospitalization included alternative donors (OR 2.9, 95% CI 1.4-6.1, p=0.003), cord blood (OR 7.6, 95% CI 2.8-20.6, p Conclusion Cost of first hospitalization for pediatric alloHCT is primarily related to sex, donor and graft source and can be used to predict expected hospital costs. Although this estimation does not consider cost of complications, it can help define a cost index to predict baseline hospital costs. Validation of this model can help guide center with negotiation of contracts with insurance companies and ultimately lead to policy change.
Desynchronization of the molecular clock contributes to the heterogeneity of the inflammatory response

Heterogeneity in the behavior of genetically and developmentally equivalent cells is becoming increasingly appreciated. There are several sources of cellular heterogeneity, including both intrinsic and extrinsic noise. We found that some aspects of heterogeneity in the response of macrophages to bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were due to intercellular desynchronization of the molecular clock, a cell-intrinsic oscillator. We found that the ratio of the relative expression of two clock genes, Nfil3 and Dbp, expressed in opposite phases of the clock, determined the fraction of cells that produced the cytokine IL-12p40 in response to LPS. The clock can be entrained by various environmental stimuli, making it a mechanism by which population-level heterogeneity and the inflammatory response can be regulated.
The Weight of the Metric: Performance Funding and the Retention of Historically Underserved Students

ABSTRACTPerformance funding policies allocate state appropriations to public institutions based in part on retention and completion outcomes, and equity metrics allocate additional funding for grad...
Strategies for Spiroketal Synthesis Based on Transition-Metal Catalysis

The transition-metal-catalyzed synthesis of spiroketals is a rapidly growing area and these methods have facilitated the use of new spiroketal synthons as latent spiroketal equivalents. This review highlights the different substrate classes and provides select examples of applications in natural product synthesis. 1 Introduction 2 Conformational Aspects of Spiroketal Structures 3 Traditional Approaches to Spiroketal Synthesis 4 Transition-Metal-Catalyzed Spiroketalization 4.1 Dihydroalkoxylation of Alkynediols 4.2 Spiroketalization of Monopropargylic Triols 4.3 Intramolecular Reaction of Epoxy Alkynes 4.4 Spiroketalization of Propargyl Vinyl Ethers 4.5 Oxycarbonylation of Dienones 4.6 Transposition of Allylic Alcohols 4.7 Hetero-Diels–Alder Reaction 4.8 Cyclization of Monoacetylated Ketodiol 4.9 Ring-Rearrangement and Ring-Closing Metathesis 4.10 [2+2+2] Cycloaddition of C-Alkynyl Carbohydrates 4.11 Pauson–Khand Reaction of Ketal Enynes 4.12 Tandem Cyclization and Cross-Coupling Reactions of β-Bromoketals and Aryl Iodides 4.13 Applications to Natural Product Synthesis 5 Outlook
The battle for sexual and reproductive health and rights for all.

“We must be courageous in speaking out on the issues that concern us: We must not bend under the weight of spurious arguments invoking culture or traditional values. No value worth the name support...
Leucopelaea albescens Bates, 1891 (Insecta, Coleoptera): proposed validation of the lectotype designation

The purpose of this application is to validate the lectotype designation of Leucopelaea albescens Bates, 1891 under Article 86.1.2 of the Code. The nominal species has very recently been considered a junior synonym of Platycoelia lutescens Blanchard, 1851, the name for a scarab beetle (family SCARABAEIDAE) from the Andes in Ecuador, Peru and southern Colombia. The lectotype designation was made under the provisions of the third (1985) edition of the Code in a paper that was accepted for publication in November 1999. However, the paper was not published until May 2000, after the fourth (1999) edition of the Code had come into operation. The lectotype designation was made without an express statement of its taxonomic purpose and is invalid under Article 74.7.3 of the fourth edition of the Code.
Translational regulation contributes to the elevated CO2 response in two Solanum species.

Understanding the impact of elevated CO2 (eCO2 ) in global agriculture is important given climate change projections. Breeding climate-resilient crops depends on genetic variation within naturally varying populations. The effect of genetic variation in response to eCO2 is poorly understood, especially in crop species. We describe the different ways in which Solanum lycopersicum and its wild relative S. pennellii respond to eCO2 , from cell anatomy, to the transcriptome, and metabolome. We further validate the importance of translational regulation as a potential mechanism for plants to adaptively respond to rising levels of atmospheric CO2 .
SECTION 9-1 – Minigels

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses minigels, which are useful for rapidly separating small amounts of DNA fragments using agarose gel electrophoresis. They are especially useful when only small amounts of DNA are available for analysis or when it is desirable to monitor rapidly the effectiveness of various enzyme reactions between sequential steps in a procedure. The time required to carry out this procedure is two hours. The equipment that is needed for the purpose involves a minigel horizontal electrophoresis apparatus, substantial power supply, and UV transilluminator. The chapter lists the reagents that are required in this method, such as l × TAE buffer, agarose stock, ethidium bromide, and a gel loading solution.
Choosing Joy as Methodology in Journalism Research

AbstractThis article seeks to complicate notions that research methods in journalism and media communication should necessarily be preceded or driven by research questions, suggesting that research...