cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Origin of anuran calling: description of toad releasing.

Electromyographic electrodes were implanted in forelimb muscles of male American toads (Bufo americanus). Toads then were allowed to clasp an artificial clasp object incorporating a pair of solenoids that, when activated, produced a stimulus simulating the side vibrations normally associated with release signalling by conspecific males. Electromyographic activity, in response to the release stimulus, was recorded. The adductor muscle contracted immediately after stimulus onset (causing intensified clasping), responding to the stimulus as a displacement threat. Then the abductor muscle contracted (causing rapid unclasping, or releasing), responding to the stimulus as a release signal. These techniques have provided a better understanding of releasing than has been possible with natural objects (i.e., living males).
Overt albuminuria predicts diabetic retinopathy in Hispanics with NIDDM

Non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) occurs with a higher frequency in Hispanic as compared with non-Hispanic whites. It also appears that there is a higher prevalence of diabetic nephropathy in the Hispanic population when compared with non-Hispanic whites. In the current study, 144 Hispanics and 671 non-Hispanic white NIDDM subjects were studied to determine the possible association of various risk factors and diabetic complications, including overt albuminuria, with diabetic retinopathy. Stereoscopic retinal fundus photographs were obtained and graded by the University of Wisconsin Fundus Photographic Reading Center. We also sought to determine whether risk factors for retinopathy vary between Hispanics and non-Hispanic whites. In the total group, duration of diabetes, glycosylated hemoglobin, neuropathy, diastolic hypertension, use of insulin, and Hispanic ethnicity correlated with the presence of retinopathy. Controlling for severity and duration of diabetes, Hispanics had a significantly increased risk of retinopathy relative to non-Hispanic whites (OR = 2.13, 95% CI = 1.34, 3.37, P = 0.0013). Duration of diabetes and presence of neuropathy were significantly correlated with the presence of diabetic retinopathy in Hispanics and non-Hispanic whites. The presence of overt albuminuria (>200 microg/min), although not related to diabetic retinopathy in non-Hispanic whites, conferred a high risk for diabetic retinopathy in Hispanics (OR = 11.14, CI = 1.20, 103.39, P = 0.0339) independent of other risk factors. In summary, Hispanics with NIDDM have an increased prevalence of diabetic retinopathy when compared with non-Hispanic whites. In addition, overt albuminuria in the Hispanic subjects appears to be a powerful predictor of the diabetic retinopathy.
A search for superheavy elements with half-lives between a few minutes and several hundred days, produced in the 48Ca+248Cm reaction

Abstract The results of recent unsuccessful attempts to synthesize and identify superheavy elements at the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory SuperHILAC are described. A thin 248Cm target was irradiated with 48Ca ions at an average energy in the target of 255 MeV. Direct counting of thin recoil foils for short-lived spontaneous fission activity was done. Two long irradiations were also made and radiochemical group separations for the superheavy elements were carried out. In the first radiochemical experiment, a thin superheavy element sample was prepared and has been continuously counted for spontaneous fission events in a dual surface barrier coincidence counter. In the second experiment, two superheavy element fractions were obtained and were counted for spontaneous fission events; the two fractions contained those elements that co-precipitated with copper sulfide from either an acid or basic solution.
Evaluation of Epicardial Microwave Ablation Lesions: Histology Versus Electrophysiology

Abstract Background Pulmonary vein isolation is a hallmark in current surgical ablation for atrial fibrillation. However, validation of isolation remains cumbersome. We evaluated electrophysiologic and not histologic means to test isolation. Methods In 16 mongrel dogs, robot-assisted epicardial beating-heart microwave ablation (FLEX 10) was performed around the pulmonary veins. Electrophysiologic isolation was tested by pacing at 4 times threshold values inside and outside the pulmonary veins (exit and entrance block). The histology of lesions was studied for transmurality and continuity of the lesion lines. In 5 dogs, lesions were studied at various time intervals. Results Histologic evaluation of the lesions showed incomplete (48% ± 20%) circumferential myocardial damage in all dogs with acute lesions. Electrophysiologic evaluation showed completion of the box (entrance and exit block) in 8 dogs and in another 5 dogs after repeated ablation ( p p Conclusions Directly after treatment, ablation lesions are best evaluated electrophysiologically, because complete (transmural and circumferential) lesions are not shown by histologic evaluation in the acute stage. After 1 to 3 weeks, the histology is in accordance with the electrophysiology. To obtain a complete isolation, online electrophysiologic evaluation during pulmonary vein microwave ablation is necessary to optimize the results.
The development and evaluation of a televised science inservice program

This paper contains the report of an investigation to determine what relationships existed between teacher competencies in science mastered via a televised inservice program (LIFT OFF!) and teachers' science-related attitudes, past experiences, and use of a science program (Science A Process Approach). Evidence was obtained from the number t.,f science activities a teacher used in the classroom. Subjects were 76 elementary teachers, grades K-6. Fifty teachers participated lia color/cable television at their schools; 26, through the use of a videotape recorder. Participants varied in teaching experience, science content, and sex (two males). Data were collected via a preand post-semantic differential instrument, biographical information, and a post-science competency measure. Sixty-six teachers scored 29 or better for the 33 tasks on the science competency post-measure. The 26 who used videotape recorders which they could start and stop at will scored higher as a group on this measure than did the 50 teachers who used color/cable television. Teacher attitudes changed in a positive direction. A weekly tally of science activities taught showed a general increase over the 15 weeks. (Author/PEB) 1. U S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTW, EDUCATION W EDUCATION THIS fiOCUPAEN T HAS BEEN RE FRO DUCE D EXACTLY AS RECEIVED 1,,NDA4 THE PERSON OR ORGANIZA:AON OEIGIN ATING IT POINTS OF VIEW OR OPINIONS STATED DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRE SENT Or FICIAL NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION POSITION OR POLICY THE DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF A TELEVISED SCIENCE INSERVICE PROGRAM Martha Piper University of Houston
Complications of endoscopic sympathectomy

Four cases are presented in which complications occurred during or after thoracic endoscopic sympathectomy (TES). In one patient inappropriate TES resulted in disabling hyperhidrosis. In one patient laceration of the subclavian artery required major surgery. In two cases intraoperative cerebral damage occurred. Training in TES is essential. Copyright © 1998 Taylor and Francis Ltd.
Comparison of the composition of the Tempel 1 ejecta to the dust in Comet C/Hale-Bopp 1995 O1 and YSO HD 100546

Abstract Spitzer Infrared Spectrograph observations of the Deep Impact experiment in July 2005 have created a new paradigm for understanding the infrared spectroscopy of primitive solar nebular (PSN) material—the ejecta spectrum is the most detailed ever observed in cometary material. Here we take the composition model for the material excavated from Comet 9P/Tempel 1's interior and successfully apply it to Infrared Space Observatory spectra of material emitted from Comet C/1995 O1 (Hale–Bopp) and the circumstellar material found around the young stellar object HD 100546. Comparison of our results with analyses of the cometary material returned by the Stardust spacecraft from Comet 81P/Wild 2, the in situ Halley flyby measurements, and the Deep Impact data return provides a fundamental cross-check for the spectral decomposition models presented here. We find similar emission signatures due to silicates, carbonates, phyllosilicates, water ice, amorphous carbon, and sulfides in the two ISO-observed systems but there are significant differences as well. Compared to Tempel 1, no Fe-rich olivines and few crystalline pyroxenes are found in Hale–Bopp and HD 100546. The YSO also lacks amorphous olivine, while being super-rich in amorphous pyroxene. All three systems show substantial emission due to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The silicate and PAH material in Hale–Bopp is clearly less processed than in Tempel 1, indicating an earlier age of formation for Hale–Bopp. The observed material around HD 100546 is located ∼13 AU from the central source, and demonstrates an unusual composition due to either a very different, non-solar starting mix of silicates or due to disk material processing during formation of the interior disk cavity and planet(s) in the system.
A “Triple Sea-Ice State” Mechanism for the Abrupt Warming and Synchronous Ice Sheet Collapses During Heinrich Events

[1] Abrupt, switch-like, changes in sea ice cover are proposed as a mechanism for the large-amplitude abrupt warming that seemed to have occurred after each Heinrich event. Sea ice changes are also used to explain the colder-than-ambient glacial conditions around the time of the glacier discharge. The abrupt warming events occur in this mechanism, owing to rapid sea ice melting which warmed the atmosphere via the strong sea ice albedo and insulating feedbacks. Such abrupt sea ice changes can also account for the warming observed during Dansgaard-Oeschger events. The sea ice changes are caused by a weak (order of 5 Sv) response of the thermohaline circulation (THC) to glacier discharges. The main point of this work is therefore that sea ice may be thought of as a very effective amplifier of a weak THC variability, explaining the abrupt temperature changes over Greenland. Synchronous ice sheet collapses from different ice sheets around the North Atlantic, indicated by some proxy records, are shown to be possible via the weak coupling between the different ice sheets by the atmospheric temperature changes caused by the sea ice changes. This weak coupling can lead to a “nonlinear phase locking” of the different ice sheets which therefore discharge synchronously. It is shown that the phase locking may also lead to “precursor” glacier discharge events from smaller ice sheets before the Laurentide Ice Sheet discharges. The precursor events in this mechanism are the result rather than the cause of the major glacier discharges from the Laurentide Ice Sheet.
Role of advance directives in palliative care units: a prospective study.

Advance directives (ADs) might be useful in achieving improved communication and satisfaction with decision making at the end-of-life. Our aims were to better characterise patients with advanced oncological disease who decided to complete ADs and to measure the effect of ADs completion on the satisfaction level with end-of-life care from both patients and their relatives. A prospective study was conducted in three palliative care units. Patients with advanced cancer were included if they met the following criteria: an estimated life expectancy of 20 and not yet completed ADs. All the patients received information about ADs and decided whether to complete ADs or not. The level of satisfaction with involvement in the decision process concerning end-of-life care was assessed by means of a written questionnaire. In all, 53 of 228 patients were included, and 12 decided to complete ADs. Patients who completed ADs had statistically less depression one week after inclusion (P = 0.030), had a lower anxiety score on the second week and had a lower depression score on the third week. There was a trend towards a higher satisfaction level with the involvement of the patients in end-of-life care for those completing ADs (P = 0.878). In conclusion, each patient with an advanced progressive disease should be informed about ADs and be encouraged to complete the ADs with the aim to ease many fears as well as to improve communication.
Open loop control of a unity power factor, discontinuous conduction mode boost rectifier

The boost rectifier, when operated in discontinuous conduction mode and constant duty ratio, has a power factor less than unity, which approaches unity at the expense of high conversion ratios. The proposed control scheme corrects this problem by providing unity power factor, even for low conversion ratios, in an open loop fashion at constant switching frequency.
Determination of flows in interconnected estuatine channels produced by the combined effects of tidal fluctuations and gravity flows

A method is presented for determining the variable flows produced in an estuarine channel system by gravity flows from the uplands and the effects of tidal heights and phases throughout the system. The procedure makes use of a theory developed to establish the magnitude of “surge” or “bore” waves produced in canals by a disturbance of flow. The tidal height variations are represented as a series of incremental changes in water surface height which in turn produce small bore waves. The effect of channel friction, length, and cross-section are taken into account. A suggested procedure for solving a given problem is presented together with an illustrative example which gives the results of a study made for the delta region of the Sacramento sad San Joaquin Rivers in central California.
Neural Sensitivity to Smoking Stimuli Is Associated With Cigarette Craving in Adolescent Smokers

Abstract Purpose Adolescents initiate cigarette smoking at disproportionately high rates, despite widespread knowledge of its health-compromising and long-term consequences. Psychosocial factors clearly play a role in adolescent smoking initiation, but the role of the developing adolescent brain in this behavior remains unclear. The goal of the present study was to determine whether greater neural sensitivity to smoking cues in adolescents compared to adults underlies increased proclivity toward smoking behavior and craving. Methods We addressed this question in a sample of adolescent (n = 39) and adult (n = 39) smokers and nonsmokers by assessing craving in response to smoking videos that featured late adolescents/young adults while participants underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging. Results Ventral striatal activation mediated the relationship between video-induced craving and subsequent desires to smoke following the scan in adolescent smokers only. We also found that functional coupling between striatal and cortical regions was associated with increased craving in adolescent smokers. Conclusions These novel results demonstrate that adolescent smokers may be more neurobiologically responsive to smoking stimuli than adults, perhaps because of ongoing ontogenetic changes in adolescents that normatively occur in frontostriatal circuitry.
Synthesis of Some Acylglycerols and Phosphoglycerides

Publisher Summary This chapter presents explicit directions for the synthesis of some acylglycerols and phosphoglycerides. Gas-liquid chromatography is the method of choice for separation and identification of fatty acids. Thin layer chromatography (TLC) is unequaled for the quick separation and tentative identification of lipids. All acylglycerols are checked for polar contaminants with TLC systems. Appropriate standards must be used to locate the separated materials. The well-known specificity of pancreatic lipase for primary fatty acid esters has been utilized to determine the positional structure of synthetic triacylglycerols. This chapter also discusses isopropylidene glycerols. These compounds, which are the immediate precursors of 1-monoacylglycerols, are prepared by condensing acetone with glycerol, using p-toluenesulfonic acid as a catalyst. The racemic compound rarely needs to be isolated after being made as the synthesis of the 1-monoacylglycerol is done in the same flask. However, the enantiomeric isopropylidene glycerols, obtained in several steps from D- or L-mannitol, are used in the synthesis of several enantiomeric lipids.
Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy with Negative JC Virus PCR following Treatment of Follicular Lymphoma: Implications for Biologics in the Era of Targeted Cancer Therapy

Anticancer therapy predisposes patients to infections by the immunosuppression that results from treatment. Although 85% of patients with progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) have concurrent HIV/AIDS, PML can also develop in patients after they receive chemotherapy for cancer. The case herein describes a 69-year-old man with history of follicular lymphoma who presented with progressive dysarthria and right-sided paralysis. He received rituximab one year prior to presentation. PET scan suggested no recurrence of lymphoma. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis was negative and showed fewer than 500 copies/mL of JC virus. However, brain biopsy showed chromatin margination and viropathic change within oligodendrocytes, confirming PML. He was started on mirtazapine and mefloquine with some clinical improvement. To our knowledge, this is the first case of rituximab-associated PML in a patient with negative JC virus PCR from the CSF. Recognition of PML in the differential of oncology patients with CNS symptoms is an important consideration as we enter the era of targeted therapy and personalized cancer medicine involving biologics. Furthermore, screening of patients for presence of subclinical JC viremia prior to the use of biologics may be an important component of assessing patient candidacy for these agents.
Online Frequency and Amplitude Tracking of Nonlinear Non-stationary Structural Vibration

This paper presents a sliding-window tracking (SWT) method for accurate tracking of the instantaneous frequency and amplitude of arbitrary dynamic response by processing only three (or more) most recent data points. Teager-Kaiser algorithm (TKA) is a wellknown 4-point method for online tracking of frequency and amplitude. Because finite difference is used in TKA, its accuracy is easily destroyed by measurement and/or signal processing noise. Moreover, because TKA assumes the processed signal to be a pure harmonic, any moving average in the signal can destroy the accuracy of TKA. On the other hand, SWT uses a constant and a pair of windowed regular harmonics to fit the data and estimate the instantaneous frequency and amplitude. Hence, SWT dramatically reduces the influence of any moving average. Moreover, noise filtering is an implicit capability of SWT, and this capability increases with the number of processed points. To compare the accuracy of SWT and TKA, Hilbert-Huang transform (HHT) is used to extract accurate time-varying frequencies and amplitudes by processing the whole data set without assuming the signal to be harmonic. Frequency and amplitude tracking of different amplitude- and frequencymodulated signals, vibrato in music, and nonlinear stationary and non-stationary dynamic signals is studied. Results show that SWT is more accurate, robust, and versatile than TKA for online tracking of frequency and amplitude.
Controlling population structure in human genetic association studies with samples of unrelated individuals

In genetic studies, associations between genotypes and phenotypes may be confounded by unrecognized population structure and/or admixture. Studies have shown that even in European populations, which are thought to be relatively homogeneous, population stratification exists and can affect the validity of association studies. A number of methods have been proposed to address this issue in recent years. Among them, the mixed-model based approach and the principal component-based approach have several advantages over other methods. However, these approaches have not been thoroughly evaluated on large human datasets. The objectives of this study are to (1) evaluate and compare the performance of the mixed-model approach and the principal component-based approach for genetic association mapping using human data consisting of unrelated individuals, and (2) understand the relationship between these two approaches. To achieve these goals, we simulate datasets based on the HapMap data under various scenarios. Our results indicate that the mixed-model approach performs well in controlling for population structure/admixture. It has similar performance as that based on principal component analysis. However, the approach combining mixed-model and principal component analysis does not perform as well as either method itself.
Analysis of Health Knowledge Awareness and Health Needs Investigation among Rural Residents in Shunyi District of Beijing City

[Objective]To understand the current situation of health knowledge awareness and health education needs of the rural citizens,and provide evidence for improving health education and health promotion intervention strategies.[Methods]Based on the stratified cluster sampling method,570 rural residents were selected for questionnaire.[Results]The awareness rate of all 8 hypertension risk factors was 22.5% among rural residents,and the awareness rate of all 7 diabetes risk factors was 25.0% ;80.4% rural citizens knew all 4 measures for flu prevention and 81.1% knew all 4 measures for digestive system infectious diseases prevention.Residents hoped to get the information from TV(60.9%),doctor consulting(59.8%) and health lecture(41.8%).But at present,they mainly obtained health information from TV(60.9%),broadcast(50.1%) and newspaper(40.9%).Health knowledge needs were different among people with different ages and different educational levels,the older had stronger demand of health knowledge.[Conclusion]Beijing rural residents need to have the knowledge of chronic disease prevention.The main medias for health education and health promotion should be TV,health lecture and broadcast.
Health Care Segregation, Physician Recommendation, and Racial Disparities in BRCA1/2 Testing Among Women With Breast Cancer

PurposeRacial disparities in BRCA1/2 testing have been documented, but causes of these disparities are poorly understood. The study objective was to investigate whether the distribution of black and white patients across cancer providers contributes to disparities in BRCA1/2 testing.Patients and MethodsWe conducted a population-based study of women in Pennsylvania and Florida who were 18 to 64 years old and diagnosed with invasive breast cancer between 2007 and 2009, linking cancer registry data, the American Medical Association Physician Masterfile, and patient and physician surveys. The study included 3,016 women (69% white, 31% black), 808 medical oncologists, and 732 surgeons.ResultsBlack women were less likely to undergo BRCA1/2 testing than white women (odds ratio [OR], 0.40; 95% CI, 0.34 to 0.48; P < .001). This difference was attenuated but not eliminated by adjustment for mutation risk, clinical factors, sociodemographic characteristics, and attitudes about testing (OR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.53 to 0.81...
Never Events, Defensive Medicine and the Continued Federalization of Malpractice

The federal government has adopted new payment rules that will forbid Hospitals from billing government payors for the cost of treating conditions that were acquired during hospitalization. These new requirements, however, are based on faulty logic and could result in higher costs. This article explores the genesis of the so-called “never events” rule and discusses the possibility of the law causing unintended consequences.
‘It be hard just existing’: Institutional surveillance and precarious objects in the northeast rustbelt

Northeastern, post-industrial cities have some of the highest rates of incarceration, parole and foster care management in the United States. In this essay, I focus on one woman, who I call Kira, to explore ethnographically the lived experience of institutional surveillance in the post-industrial, northeastern city. Written as an analysis of fieldwork completed in a major post-industrial center, this essay traces the emergence of an anxious affect that tethers Kira’s intimate and structural relationships. I show how this affective subjectivity has serious structural implications for the duration and intensity of state surveillance, as well as the possibilities for freedom and continuity in Kira’s world. Through engagement with affect and object relations theory, this paper works through the subjective experience of political-economic marginalization and surveillance in the inner-city. I conclude with reflections on the ethical implications of ethnography and the broader stakes for an anthropology embedded...
VEGF Potentiates GD3-Mediated Immunosuppression by Human Ovarian Cancer Cells.

Purpose: Natural killer T (NKT) cells are important mediators of antitumor immune responses. We have previously shown that ovarian cancers shed the ganglioside GD3, which inhibits NKT-cell activation. Ovarian cancers also secrete high levels of VEGF. In this study, we sought to test the hypothesis that VEGF production by ovarian cancers suppresses NKT-cell–mediated antitumor responses. Experimental Design: To investigate the effects of VEGF on CD1d-mediated NKT-cell activation, a conditioned media model was established, wherein the supernatants from ovarian cancer cell lines (OV-CAR-3 and SK-OV-3) were used to treat CD1d-expressing antigen-presenting cells (APC) and cocultured with NKT hybridomas. Ovarian cancer–associated VEGF was inhibited by treatment with bevacizumab and genistein; conditioned medium was collected, and CD1d-mediated NKT-cell responses were assayed by ELISA. Results: Ovarian cancer tissue and ascites contain lymphocytic infiltrates, suggesting that immune cells traffic to tumors, but are then inhibited by immunosuppressive molecules within the tumor microenvironment. OV-CAR-3 and SK-OV-3 cell lines produce high levels of VEGF and GD3. Pretreatment of APCs with ascites or conditioned medium from OV-CAR-3 and SK-OV-3 blocked CD1d-mediated NKT-cell activation. Inhibition of VEGF resulted in a concomitant reduction in GD3 levels and restoration of NKT-cell responses. Conclusions: We found that VEGF inhibition restores NKT-cell function in an in vitro ovarian cancer model. These studies suggest that the combination of immune modulation with antiangiogenic treatment has therapeutic potential in ovarian cancer. Clin Cancer Res; 22(16); 4249–58. ©2016 AACR.
Cyclophosphamide Overcomes the Suppressive Effect of LenalidomideTherapy on Stem Cell Collection in Preparation for Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation for Multiple Myeloma.

Multiple Myeloma (MM) therapy has evolved over recent years to include powerful new therapeutic agents. The goal for most patients with MM, however, still remains high-dose chemotherapy followed by autologous stem cell transplantations as this procedure has been proven to have a therapeutic benefit. Therefore, the selection of an induction therapy must take into consideration the potential impact on the ability to collect enough stem cells for future transplantation. Recent studies have discussed difficulty in collecting stem cells in patients receiving lenalidomide-based induction therapy using filgastrim (G-CSF) in preparation for autologous stem cell transplantation in MM. It also has been recommended that the duration of lenalidomide induction therapy be limited to 4–6 cycles, since longer treatment time can hinder collection yields. We sought to determine if the addition of cyclophosphamide (CTX) to G-CSF as a mobilization regimen could rescue the ability to collect adequate stem cells for at least two autologous stem cell transplants for patients who had induction therapy with the BiRD (Biaxin® [clarithromycin]/Revlimid® [lenalidomide]/dexamethasone) regimen. BiRD therapy is as follows for each 28-day cycle: Clarithromycin 500mg po BID for days 1–28, Lenalidomide 25mg po daily for days 1–21, and Dexamethasone 40mg po weekly on days 1, 8, 15, and 21. All patients had either Stage II or III MM by Salmon-Durie criteria and were treatment naive. Patients were advised to undergo stem cell collection after either maximum disease response or disease plateau had been achieved. Prior to stem cell mobilization, BiRD therapy was held for a minimum of 14 days. Stem cell collection was performed after either G-CSF alone at a dose 10 mcg/kg/day for 5–10 consecutive days until a total of 10 × 10 6 /kg CD34+ stem cells had been collected or with the addition of cyclophosphamide (CTX) at a dose of 3g/m 2 once prior to the initiation of G-CSF therapy. A total of 28 patients underwent stem cell collection. Stem cell mobilization was attempted with G-CSF alone in 9 instances and with CTX+G-CSF in 20 instances (1 patient underwent mobilization with both G-CSF alone and CTX+G-CSF). In comparison to the G-CSF monotherapy, CTX+G-CSF yielded a significantly greater stem cell collection (mean CD34+ cells collected: 3.78 × 10 6 /kg vs. 32.33 × 10 6 /kg, P
Wind and solar power in the united states: status and prospects

The United States has committed to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 26%-28% by 2025 and by 83% by 2050 relative to 2005. Meeting these objectives will require major investments in renewable energy options, particularly wind and solar. These investments are promoted at the federal level by a variety of tax credits, and at the state level by requirements for utilities to include specific fractions of renewable energy in their portfolios (Renewable Portfolio Standards) and by opportunities for rooftop PV systems to transfer excess power to utilities through net metering, allowing meters to operate in reverse. The paper discusses the current status of these incentives.
Transurethral resection of ejaculatory ducts: a step-by-step guide

Objective To demonstrate the key components for completing a successful transurethral resection of ejaculatory ducts (TURED) for completely obstructed ejaculatory ducts (EDs). Design Video presentation. Setting University Hospital. Patient(s) A 40-year-old man presenting with primary infertility and abnormal semen analysis (pH 6.4, volume of 0.7 cc, concentration 16 million/cc, and 7% motility) in whom a transrectal ultrasonography revealed dilated seminal vesicles measuring more than 1.5 cm and seminal vesicle aspiration detected no sperm in the aspirate. Intervention(s) Transurethral resection of ejaculatory ducts. Main Outcome Measure(s) Intraoperative technique with commentary highlighting tips for a successful TURED. Result(s) This video provides a step-by-step guide for TURED, including transrectal ultrasonography-guided seminal vesicle puncture for instillation of methylene blue to allow more precise identification of EDs. Vesiculography was performed near the end of the procedure to assess for patency of EDs and confirm both sides had been opened. (Institutional review board approval was obtained for this presentation.) Conclusion(s) The key portions for performing a successful TURED includes seminal vesicle instillation of methylene blue for easier identification of EDs. Vesiculography is performed near the end of the procedure to ensure both EDs have been opened as well as to assess for passive drainage of the seminal vesicles through the newly open EDs.
Space-Dependent Wielandt Shifts for Multigroup Diffusion Eigenvalue Problems

AbstractWe present a new concept—the space-dependent Wielandt shift (SDWS)—for accelerating the convergence of the power iteration (PI) scheme for multigroup diffusion k-eigenvalue problems. The SD...
The impact of the aging population and incidence of cancer on future projections of general surgical workforce needs.

Abstract Background Assessments of the future general surgery workforce continue to project substantial shortages of general surgeons. The general surgery workforce is targeted currently to maintain a surgeon/population ratio of 6.5–7.5/100,000. Methods We examined population and age-associated incidence of cancer to estimate the number of general surgeons needed for initial surgical treatment of the patient with cancer in the year 2035 compared with 2010. We hypothesized that the number of general surgeons needed to provide future cancer care will exceed the projections of available general surgeons based on current training numbers, as well as on population-based ratios alone. Results The total number of new patients with cancers treated by general surgeons is projected to increase 56% (511,450 in 2010 to 798,070 in 2035). To maintain the same patient census per surgeon, it is estimated that 34,698 general surgeons will be needed. This is an increase of 9,198 over that based on current training numbers and 5,300–7,400 greater than the need projected by population growth alone. Conclusion The analysis supports the hypothesis that an increasing incidence of cancer in the future will exceed the potential capacity of the general surgeon workforce. Regionalization of cancer care may be one solution to projected access issues.
Bilateral native nephrectomy to reduce oxalate stores in children at the time of combined liver-kidney transplantation for primary hyperoxaluria type 1.

Primary hyperoxaluria type-1 (PH-1) is a rare genetic disorder in which normal hepatic metabolism of glyoxylate is disrupted resulting in diffuse oxalate deposition and end-stage renal disease (ESRD). While most centers agree that combined liver–kidney transplant (CLKT) is the appropriate treatment for PH-1, perioperative strategies for minimizing recurrent oxalate-related injury to the transplanted kidney remain unclear. We present our management of children with PH-1 and ESRD on hemodialysis (HD) who underwent CLKT at our institution from 2005 to 2015. On chart review, three patients (2 girls, 1 boy) met study criteria. Two patients received deceased-donor split-liver grafts, while one patient received a whole liver graft. All patients underwent bilateral native nephrectomy at transplant to minimize the total body oxalate load. Median preoperative serum oxalate was 72 μmol/L (range 17.8–100). All patients received HD postoperatively until predialysis serum oxalate levels fell <20 μmol/L. All patients, at a median of 7.5 years of follow-up (range 6.5–8.9), demonstrated stable liver and kidney function. While CLKT remains the definitive treatment for PH-1, bilateral native nephrectomy at the time of transplant reduces postoperative oxalate stores and may mitigate damage to the renal allograft.
Role of Humo-Enzyme Complexes in Restoring of Soil Ecosystems

Conventional chemical (total organic carbon, total nitrogen, C/N ratio), biochemical (total and extracellular β-glucosidase, ATP, dehydrogenase) and unconventional IEF parameters (active humic carbon, humic-bound β-glucosidase activity), were used in the monitoring of the changes in biochemical properties caused by organic amendment practices. Two soil ecosystems characterized by a gradient of different grass covers, i.e. (1) a natural Catena (control) and (2) a managed Catena altered by amending practices were selected in a semi arid zone of the Mediterranean (Murcia region, Spain). Both natural and managed Catenas showed activation of carbon cycle which gradually shifted vegetal carbon toward the humic substance formation and accumulation of active humic-β-glucosidase complexes. The model of study and the correlation among the selected parameters, has permitted to discriminate even little differences in soil biochemical properties and, on the basis of these properties, to rank the soil ecosystems in a decreasing order of quality: forest > shrub > bare. There was a narrow correlation between amount of humic carbon forms and humic-associated enzyme-activity, demonstrating that a sort of humification in situ was steadily taking place even after years and likely sustained by plant root exudates. The combination of UF and IEF resulted very efficient in the characterization of humic-enzyme complexes and biochemical processes which drive the humic substances formation, storage and activity in soils.
Tabu Search and Adaptive Memory Programming — Advances, Applications and Challenges

Tabu search (TS) has provided advances for solving difficult optimization problems in many domains. At the same time, fundamental TS strategies are often not applied as effectively as they might be, and their underlying rationale is often not completely understood. We examine basic concepts and principles of tabu search, emphasizing those that have sometimes led to applying the label “adaptive memory programming” to this class of methods.
Abstract 851: Therapeutic combination of radiolabeled CLR1404 with external beam radiation in head and neck cancer murine xenograft models

Radiation therapy is a central treatment modality for head and neck cancer (HNC). Although significant technical advances have been made in delivering highly conformal radiation, normal tissue toxicity remains dose limiting. CLR1404 is a radiolabeled alkylphophocholine analog with theranostic potential as a PET imaging agent (CLR 124, labeled with 124I) and as a radiotherapy agent (CLR 131, labeled with 131I). CLR1404 exhibits preferential uptake in human cancers and provides tumor-selective internal delivery of radiation to complement external beam radiation (XRT) in the treatment of cancer. In this study, we investigated the antitumor effect of CLR 131 in combination with external beam radiation (XRT) in HNC. Using the fluorescently labeled CLR1404 analog, CLR 1501, in conjuntion with fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry, we first confirmed CLR1404 uptake in 20 HNC cell lines in vitro. Thereafter, we examined CLR 124 uptake and retention in 12 HNC xenograft and patient-derived xenograft (PDX) mouse models via in vivo PET/CT imaging. Our results showed significant tumor uptake and retention of CLR 124 and limited retention in normal tissues. These results were corroborated by ex vivo gamma counting of excised tissues from tumor-bearing mice injected with CLR 131. We further assessed tumor response following single-dose administration of CLR 131 combined with fractionated XRT in 6 HNC xenograft models. Mice treated with non-radiolabeled CLR1404 displayed unchecked tumor progression. Mice treated with either CLR 131 or XRT showed partial inhibiton on tumor growth. Mice treated with CLR 131 combined with XRT exhibited enhanced inhibitory effect on tumor growth compared with either single treatment, confirming augmentation of XRT response by CLR 131 treatment. Targeted radionuclide therapy (TRT) is an attractive approach that employs radiolabeled molecules to specifically deliver radiation to primary and metastatic tumors. We hypothesized that TRT combined with reduced-dose XRT could reduce the normal tissue toxicity profile compared with high-dose XRT alone. In this study, we demonstrated uptake of CLR 131 across multiple HNC cell lines and xenograft models with enhanced antitumor effects when CLR 131 is combined with XRT. These results suggest the potential value of TRT via CLR 131 combined with reduced dose XRT in HNC patients, which will be further tested in a phase I clinical trial. Citation Format: Chunrong Li, Jenna M. Mylin, Jamey P. Weichert, Justin J. Jeffery, Ashley M. Weichmann, Kwang P. Nickel, Lindsey J. Abel, Reinier Hernandez, Joseph J. Grudzinski, Ian R. Marsh, Bryan P. Bednarz, Shari M. Piaskowski, Paul M. Harari. Therapeutic combination of radiolabeled CLR1404 with external beam radiation in head and neck cancer murine xenograft models [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 851.
Vision and Tensions That Elevate Product Design Development

Product development requires both converging and diverging approaches for addressing complex problems and challenges. Teaching this methodology, and best practices have been successful in a studio and project-based pedagogy. Because of this specific type of teaching and learning environment, designers and engineers are able to work collaboratively while relying on a resilient design process. This design process relies on a human-centered philosophy that drives the intent, methodology, analysis, and contextual solutions.
Facilitating Effective Committees

Counselors often serve as members of committees at their schools or agencies, and their skills allow them to play a vital role in making committees successful. As committee chairs, counselors can p...
Countering Transnational Crime and Corruption: The Urge to Action Versus the Patience to Evaluate

Dramatic moves have occurred in countering transnational crime since the turn of the twenty-first century. Binding international agreements, such as the UN Convention against Transnational Organize...
Assessment of Blame and Responsibility Through Social Media in Disaster Recovery in the Case of #FlintWaterCrisis

Attribution of responsibility and blame are important topics in political science especially as individuals tend to think of political issues in terms of questions of responsibility, and as blame carries far more weight in voting behavior than that of credit. However, surprisingly, there is a paucity of studies on the attribution of responsibility and blame in the field of disaster research. The Flint water crisis is a story of government failure at all levels. By studying microblog posts about it, we understand how citizens assign responsibility and blame regarding such a man-made disaster online. We form hypotheses based on social scientific theories in disaster research and then operationalize them on observational social media data. In particular, we investigate the following phenomena: the source for blame; the partisan predisposition; the concerned geographies; and the contagion of complaining. This paper adds to the sociology of disasters research by exploiting a new, rarely used data source (the social web), and by employing new computational methods (such as sentiment analysis and retrospective cohort study design) on this new form of data. In this regard, this work should be seen as the first step toward drawing more challenging inferences on the sociology of disasters from "big social data''.
Leveraging the power of informative users for local event detection

Detecting local events (e.g., protests, accidents) in real-time is an important task needed by a wide spectrum of real-world applications. In recent years, with the proliferation of social media platforms, we can access massive geo- tagged social messages, which can serve as a precious resource for timely local event detection. However, existing local event detection methods either suffer from unsatisfactory performances or need intensive annotations. These limitations make existing methods impractical for large-scale applications. Through the analysis of real-world datasets, we found that the informativeness level of social media users, which is neglected by existing work, plays a highly critical role in distilling event-related information from noisy social media contexts. Motivated by this finding, we propose an unsupervised framework, named LEDetect, to estimate the informativeness level of social media users and leverage the power of highly informative users for local event detection. Experiments on a large-scale real-world dataset show that the proposed LEDetect model can improve the performance of event detection compared with the state-of-the-art unsupervised approach. Also, we use case studies to show that the events discovered by the proposed model are of high quality and the extracted highly informative users are reasonable.
Obesity and brain volume loss in multiple sclerosis

Pathologically, multiple sclerosis (MS) is characterized by inflammation and neurodegeneration; the latter is the substrate of loss of brain volume, detectable by serial MRI. Clinically, MS is often characterized by progressive cognitive and physical impairment, and these impairments are associated with changes in brain volume. The accessibility of brain volume measurement and ability to determine change over relatively short periods make it a potentially useful phenotype for studying prognostic factors that may influence the risk of developing impairments over longer periods. Given that existing disease-modifying therapies are only partially effective and have potentially serious toxicities, potentially modifiable prognostic factors such as health behaviors and vitamin D insufficiency are of particular interest. The effects of obesity on brain volume change in MS have received limited attention. One cross-sectional study suggested that obesity is associated with decreased gray matter volume among persons with relapsing-remitting MS,1 but a longitudinal study found that being overweight or obese was not associated with change in brain volume over time.2 To date, studies examining the association of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels with brain volume also have produced conflicting findings.3,4
Longitudinal Relationships Between Parent Factors, Children’s Bullying, and Victimization Behaviors.

Longitudinal data from NICHD Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development tested direct, indirect and reciprocal effects of maternal depressive symptoms, stress/support factors on child bullying and peer victimization through mother–child relationship quality at grades 3, 5, 6. Data from 828 mother-child dyads indicated small significant effects of some hypothesized pathways, including a small direct effect of maternal depressive symptoms at grade 3 on peer victimization at grade 5, but not on bullying behaviors. Mother–child relationship quality at grade 5 negatively predicted bullying at grade 6, but not peer victimization. There were small effects of bullying behaviors at grade 5 on decreased mother–child relationship quality at grade 6. Maternal employment at grade 3 predicted decreased bullying behaviors at grade 6 through mother–child relationship quality at grade 5. Findings are relevant for parent inclusive research and approaches to anti-bully intervention strategies and prevention policies.
Endoscopic Management of Achalasia: Botulinum Toxin and Pneumatic Dilation

Achalasia is the most common primary motility disorder of the esophagus and is characterized by impaired relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) and absent peristalsis of the esophageal body during deglutition. It can cause significant morbidity with symptoms of dysphagia, regurgitation, chest pain, and weight loss. As there is no cure for achalasia, treatments should aim to relieve symptoms and prevent disease progression. Two of the most common endoscopic treatment options are botulinum toxin injection and pneumatic dilation. Botulinum toxin injection is an excellent option for elderly or high-risk surgical patients although repeat injections are often needed after 1 year. Pneumatic dilation is the most effective nonoperative treatment option and provides excellent symptom relief up to 10 years. Both methods have low complication rates, and patients may be discharged after a short period of observation.
Synthesis of (1R,1R′)-2,6-bis[1-(diphenylphosphino)ethyl]pyridine and its application in asymmetric transfer hydrogenation

Abstract A C 2 symmetric tridentate ligand, (1R, 1R′) 2,6-Bis[1-(diphenylphosphino)ethyl]pyridine, has been synthesized in enantiomerically pure form. A practical method to synthesize a variety of chiral pyridyl diols is reported. Asymmetric transfer hydrogenation is achieved using the tridentate ligand.
Redemption in the Dean’s Office

A 2002 management journal presented two perspectives on the experience of serving in the leadership role of a business school dean. One focused on the negative side of power. The second discussed the “squeeze” or exposure of the dean to various stakeholder pressures. This paper provides yet an additional perspective. The dean’s role is explored from a framework of theological praxis and language, applying concepts such as hermeneutics, exegesis, and eschatology to the leadership experience. The author concludes that being the dean of a business school is a personal experience filled with successes and failures that collectively shape the moral framework of the office. "Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm." – Sir Winston Churchill