cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Watching the WATCH trial: the role of sponsors and data monitoring committees.

Clinicians are uncertain about the best treatment to prevent thromboembolic complications in patients with heart failure and left ventricular dysfunction. This uncertainty affects hundreds of thousands of Americans every year. Warfarin has been recommended based on observational studies, but no randomized trials have been conducted to solidify this base of evidence and make warfarin a standard. While aspirin is an attractive alternative because of its benefits in coronary disease patients, concomitant use of aspirin and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors in patients with poor left ventricular function is troublesome. On one hand, aspirin is effective in secondary prevention of vascular events, and it may reduce the risk of thromboembolic events. However, experimental and clinical data support the concept that aspirin, through its effects on the prostacyclin pathway, may inhibit the effect of ACE inhibitors on vascular function; ultimately, this effect may reduce the life-saving benefit of ACEinhibitors inpatientswithheart failure.Clopidogrel isan attractive alternative to aspirin, and it may replicate aspirin’s benefits without the accompanying prostaglandin-mediated interaction with ACE inhibitors. Unfortunately, clopidogrel is expensive and totally unproven in this situation. Massie and colleagues carefully considered the problem and developed a protocol that survived the rigorous peer review of the Veteran’s Administration (VA). This protocol, Warfarin and Antiplatelet Therapy in Chronic Heart Failure (WATCH), presented in the current edition of the Journal of Cardiac Failure, was instituted in a collaborative effort among the Veteran’s Administration Clinical Trials system, several pharmaceutical companies, a host of cardiologists and study coordinators, and the patients who volunteered to participate in this experiment in the hopes of benefiting future patients. Unfortunately, the project suffered from a scenario encountered all too often in government-funded clinical trials—enrollment fell far behind projections, leading the research administration to summarily shorten the trial, leaving it anemic relative to its expected power to answer this important question. Interestingly, the Data Monitoring Committee (DMC), the Steering Committee, and non-
Thorny lacewings (neuroptera: Rhachiberothidae) in cretaceous Amber from Myanmar

Synopsis Fossils of thorny lacewings, family Rhachiberothidae, are described from Lower Cretaceous (Albian) amber from Myanmar (Burma). A new genus and species, Eorhachiberotha burmitica gen. et sp. nov., is characterised from a well preserved individual while a second species is reported from a fragmentary specimen. The geological history of the family is briefly reviewed. Whalfera nom. nov. is proposed for Fera Whalley (nec Fera Hong), an enigmatic, putative rhachiberothid in British amber (Baltic amber).
Visualization and interpretation of birth defects data using linked micromap plots.

BACKGROUND: Many states have implemented birth defects surveillance systems to monitor and disseminate information regarding birth defects. However, many of these states rely on tabular methods to disseminate statistical birth defects summaries. An innovative presentation technique for birth defect data that portrays the information in a joint geographical and statistical context is the linked micromap (LM) plot. METHODS: LM plots were generated for oral cleft data at two geographical resolutions—USA states and counties of Utah. The LM plots also included demographic and behavioral risk data. RESULTS: A LM plot for the USA reveals spatial patterns indicating higher oral cleft occurrence in the southwest and the midwest and lower occurrence in the east. The LM plot also indicates relationships between oral cleft occurrence and maternal smoking rates and the proportion of American Indians and Alaskan Natives. In particular, the five states with the highest oral cleft occurrence had a higher proportion of American Indians and Alaskan Natives. Among the 15 states with the highest oral cleft occurrence, nine had a smoking rate of 16% or higher while among the 15 states with the lowest oral cleft occurrence only one state had a smoking rate greater than 16%. The LM plot for the state of Utah shows no clear geographic pattern, due perhaps to a relatively small number of cases in a limited geographic area. CONCLUSIONS: LM plots are effective in representing complex and large volume birth defects data. Integration to birth defects surveillance systems will improve both presentation and interpretation. Birth Defects Research (Part A), 2008. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Anesthetic management of gastrochisis--a review of our practice over the past 5 years.

Summary Background: Surgical closure of gastrochisis has traditionally been performed under general anesthesia followed by admission to intensive care and postoperative ventilation. We reviewed the management of these neonates in our hospital over the past 5 years to identify the changes in practice and possible factors which affect the peri-operative course. Methods: We retrospectively identified cases of gastrochisis undergoing repair from June 2002 to May 2007. Details of the demographic data, preoperative factors, intra-operative anesthetic and surgical management, and postoperative care were collected from the anesthetic chart, operative record, and patient notes. Results: Forty-eight self-ventilating neonates underwent operative repair in theatre. A neuraxial local anesthetic block was performed as part of the anesthetic technique in 22 patients. There was a significant difference in the need for postoperative ventilation in this group (23%) when compared with a traditional opioid-based method of providing analgesia (88%, P < 0.05). This difference was seen in both term and preterm babies. Conclusion: Conclusions are difficult to make when analyzing retrospective data in patients with a heterogeneous variety of factors. The results suggest that anesthesia which includes a regional technique is a valid method in these cases. Traditional opioid analgesia when compared with regional techniques may be associated with increased need for postoperative ventilation.
Calculating BPM coefficients with Green's reciprocation theorem

Green's reciprocation theorem was applied to four-button beam position monitors (BPMs) for the calculation of BPM coefficients. Induced potentials on the buttons in geometries of a small-gap and a circular beam chamber were calculated as examples.
Ecosystem under pressure: Ballast water discharge into Galveston Bay, Texas (USA) from 2005 to 2010

Abstract Ballast water exchange processes facilitate the dispersal and unnatural geographic expansion of phytoplankton, including harmful algal bloom species. From 2005 to 2010, over 45,000 vessels (∼8000 annually) travelled across Galveston Bay (Texas, USA) to the deep-water ports of Houston (10th largest in the world), Texas City and Galveston. These vessels (primarily tankers and bulkers) discharged ∼1.2 × 108 metric tons of ballast water; equivalent to ∼3.4% of the total volume of the Bay. Over half of the ballast water discharged had a coastwise origin, 96% being from US waters. Galveston Bay has fewer non-indigenous species but receives a higher volume of ballast water discharge, relative to the highly invaded Chesapeake and San Francisco Bays. Given the magnitude of shipping traffic, the role of Galveston Bay, both as a recipient and donor region of non-indigenous phytoplankton species is discussed here in terms of the invasibility risk to this system by way of ballast water.
Anatomy of spinal cord blood supply in the pig

Background In a species as popular in research as the pig, little information is available concerning the blood supply and vascular anatomy of the spinal cord and comparability to humans. Methods To visualize vessels contributing to the blood supply of the spinal cord, x-ray digital subtraction angiography and vascular casting by injection of a polymerizing solution of methylmethacrylate were used. Results The pig has larger internal thoracic arteries and subscapular arteries than the human, providing extensive collateral flow to the lower body, which offers blood supply to the spinal cord through the collaterals. The pig has a fine-caliber vessel plexus providing blood to the neck area, from which flow will reach both the spinal cord and the base of the brain. The segmental thoracic and lumbar arteries are relatively small in pigs, and they almost all originate as a single branch from the aorta and divide after 3 to 4 mm. The segmental vessels show a clear diminution after 2 to 3 cm at the level of the vertebral bodies. Pigs show major differences in the anatomy of the aortic bifurcation compared with humans. The median sacral artery in pigs is a large-caliber vessel, of a size almost comparable to the common iliac artery, with an isolated single dorsal branch leading to the spinal cord. Conclusions Documenting the anatomic differences in spinal cord blood supply between pigs and humans will aid in the planning of future experimental studies and in determining the clinical relevance of such studies.
Kvanvig on Externalism and Epistemology Worth Doing

L'A. admet avec J. Kvanving que certaines disciplines scientifiques comme la psychologie et les sciences cognitives ne sont pas pertinentes dans les grands debats epistemologiques, mais rejette l'idee selon laquelle certaines questions ne meritent pas d'etre traitees en epistemologie. Dans le cadre de la problematique externaliste, des methodologies armchair et des theories fiabilistes de la connaissance, l'A. critique le projet theorique d'une epistemologie personnelle chez Kvanvig.
MICRO-BOSS: A micro-opportunistic factory scheduler

Abstract Recent research in factory scheduling has demonstrated the benefits of building schedules by first optimizing the sequencing of bottleneck machines, namely, machines whose utilizations are expected to be particularly high. Within this approach, two scheduling perspectives are generally adopted: a resource-centered perspective is used to help maximize the utilization of bottleneck machines, and a job-centered perspective is used later to compactly complete each job schedule (i.e., to reduce work-in-process inventory within each job). Because new secondary bottlenecks may arise during the construction of the schedule, recent scheduling systems have been designed with an ability to switch back and forth between their resource-centered scheduling perspective and their job-centered scheduling perspective. This ability to revise the current scheduling strategy dynamically has been termed opportunistic scheduling . However, because these schedulers require scheduling large resource subproblems or large job subproblems before revising their scheduling strategy, we refer to them as macro-opportunistic schedulers . Instead, this paper describes MICRO-BOSS, a so-called micro-opportunistic scheduler , that can revise its scheduling strategy each time an operation is scheduled. Experimental results suggest that the extra flexibility of a micro-opportunistic approach to scheduling often translates into important reduction in schedule costs.
Injuries Associated With Bathtubs and Showers Among Children in the United States

OBJECTIVE: The goal was to describe the epidemiological features of injuries associated with bathtubs and showers, especially those related to slips, trips, and falls, among US children. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed by using nationally representative data from the US Consumer Product Safety Commission National Electronic Injury Surveillance System from 1990 through 2007 for children ≤18 years of age. RESULTS: There were an estimated 791 200 bathtub- and shower-related injuries among children ≤18 years of age who were treated in US emergency departments in 1990–2007, with an average of 43 600 cases per year or ∼5.9 injuries per 10 000 US children per year. The largest number of injuries involved children 2 years of age; children ≤4 years accounted for 54.3% of injuries. The most common diagnosis was laceration (59.5%). The most common mechanism of injury was a slip, trip, or fall, accounting for 81.0% of cases or 4.6 injuries per 10 000 US children per year. The most frequently injured body part was the face (48.0%), followed by the head/neck (15.0%). The majority (71.3%) of injuries occurred in a bathtub. Of the cases with a known place of injury, 97.1% occurred at home. An estimated 2.8% of patients were admitted, transferred to another hospital, or held for observation. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study on bathtub- and shower-related injuries using nationally representative data. Slips, trips, and falls in bathtubs and showers are a common cause of injury among children, especially children ≤4 years of age. The incidence of these injuries may be decreased by increasing the coefficient of friction of bathtub and shower surfaces.
The Implementation of Telemedicine within a Community Cancer Network

Telemedicine is being used by physicians at the member hospitals of the Jefferson Cancer Network (JCN) for consultations regarding the diagnosis and management of cancer patients. The technology employed for this telemedicine system was chosen to meet three related specifications: low capital and operating cost, internal maintainability by community hospital data processing staffs, and compatibility with the existing technologic infrastructure. The solution selected is the ubiquitous desktop personal computer and associated software, and Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) communications links. The overall performance of this technology has been very satisfactory; ISDN communications has sufficient bandwidth for the transfer of patient data, including text reports, radiographs, and pathology slide images. The presence of the radiologist's interpretation along with the radiographic images allows the presentation of the images on these systems to be acceptable for review purposes. The video frame rates of these systems (12 to 15 frames per second) is adequate, particularly given the ''talking heads'' nature of the video presentations. Furthermore, the quality of the video image (resolution, size, frame rate) is secondary to the quality of the presentation of the medical information displayed and the capability for mutual annotation of the patient data during the consultation. n J Am Med Inform Assoc. 1997;4:18 - 24.
Soluble interleukin 2 receptor (sIL‐2R) levels in renal transplant recipients

Background: Allograft rejection is associated with T cell activation. T cell activation leads to secretion of soluble IL-2 receptor and elevated serum soluble IL-2 receptor (sIL-2R) levels. However, the clinical implication of individual elevated sIL-2 receptor levels is unclear. We followed levels of sIL-2R pre- and post-transplantation to determine if sIL-2R levels predict rejection episodes or degree of graft function. Materials and methods: Serum samples of 12 patients who underwent living or cadaveric renal transplant were followed weekly with serial sIL-2R levels. These levels were followed until the serum creatinine reached a baseline. Of the 12 patients, three patients developed delayed graft function. The remaining nine patients were followed for a period of 3 months. Sera of these nine patients in the initial 3 months post-transplant were monitored for sIL-2R levels. For comparison, sIL-2R levels were also measured in 150 healthy volunteers and five dialysis patients. Results: Recipients undergoing severe rejection episodes had higher overall serum levels of sIL-2R (1515 ′ 496 U/mL) as compared with recipients who had stable renal transplants and no episodes of rejection (698 ′ 333 U/mL) (P = 0.034). Comparison of sIL-2R ratios (post-transplant sIL-2R level/pre-transplant sIL-2R level) revealed that ratios of 0.6 or higher were more frequently seen in patients who subsequently underwent severe rejection episodes. Dialysis patients were found to have higher sIL-2R levels (2605 ′ 1312 U/mL) compared with renal transplant patients (1047 ′ 192 U/mL) (P < 0.001) and healthy volunteers (349 ′ 185 U/mL) (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Our results suggest that individual levels of sIL-2R are not predictive of rejection in the early post-transplant period, but s-IL2R ratios greater than 0.6 may be predictive of severe rejection episodes.
A covenant with transparency: opening the black box of models

One important ethical aspect of the use of models for decision making is the relative power of the various actors involved in decision support: the modelers, the clients, the users, and those affected by the model. Each has a different stake in the design of decision support models, and the outcome of modeling depends on both the technical attributes of the model and the relationships among the relevant actors. Increasing the transparency of the model can significantly improve these relationships. Here, we explore the importance of transparency in the design and use of decision support models.
Efficient probabilistic packet marking

Probabilistic packet marking is a general technique which routers can use to reveal internal network information to end-hosts. Such information is probabilistically set by the routers in headers of regular IP packets on their way to destinations. A number of potential applications have been identified, such as IP traceback, congestion control, robust routing algorithms, dynamic network reconfiguration, and locating Internet bottlenecks, etc. In this paper, we define EPPM, an efficient general probabilistic packet marking scheme with a wide range of potential applications, of which locating Internet bottlenecks and IP traceback are investigated as two representative examples to demonstrate its effectiveness. Our proposed scheme imposes only a single-bit overhead in the IP packet headers. More importantly, it significantly reduces the number of IP packets required to convey the relevant information when compared to the prior best known scheme (almost by two orders of magnitude)
Sticky platelet syndrome and thrombocythemia.

Platelets play an important role in hemostasis, thrombosis, and atherosclerosis. Most of our understanding of platelets is based on their function in hemostasis, as it relates to quantitative and qualitative bleeding disorders. In hemostasis, platelets perform two major functions. First, because of their ability to adhere and aggregate at sites of endothelial injury, they facilitate the initial arrest of bleeding, also called primary hemostasis. Second, on ‘‘activation’’ at the site of vessel injury, they provide the surfaces onto which the factors of the coagulation system can be bound, thus keeping clot formation localized. The physiology and biochemistry of platelets has been the subject of extensive reviews [1–4] and will not be discussed in this context. Although the pathophysiology of the role of platelets in bleeding disorders is reasonably well understood, less is known about the involvement of platelets in thrombosis and atherosclerosis, though more patients have the latter than have bleeding problems. ‘‘Discovery of such abnormalities is the challenge of the future in platelet research’’ [2]. The role of platelets in the pathogenesis of arterial thrombosis in particular is relatively well known. Most arterial thrombotic events reside in clot formation at sites of atherosclerotic lesions, though other vascular diseases can also be involved. Ruptures at the base of the atherosclerotic plaques appear to precipitate thrombus formation [5,6]. As in normal hemostasis, platelets will adhere to exposed collagen fibers, aggregate, and initiate, together with tissue factor (TF), the activation of the coagulation system [7]. This leads to thrombus formation with temporary or permanent vascular occlusion. Atherosclerosis is the most prevalent reason for the development of acute myocardial infarction (AMI),
New Combinations in North American Schoenoplectiella (Cyperaceae)

An investigation of taxonomic diversity in the North American members of Schoenoplectus (Rchb.) Palla and Schoenoplectiella Lye indicates the need to relocate species and varieties from Schoenoplectus sect. Actaeogeton (Rchb.) J. Raynal to Schoenoplectiella. A transfer of four taxa is proposed here: Schoenoplectiella purshiana (Fernald) Lye var. williamsii (Fernald) Shiels & Monfils, S. smithii (A. Gray) Shiels & Monfils var. smithii, S. smithii var. leviseta (Fassett) Shiels & Monfils, and S. smithii var. setosa (Fernald) Shiels & Monfils.
Inhibition of microtubule sliding by Ni2+ and Cd2+: evidence for a differential response of certain microtubule pairs within the bovine sperm axoneme.

Bovine sperm, extracted with 0.1% Triton X-100, frozen at −20°C for 48–120 hours, and thawed, disintegrated by microtubule sliding when 1 mM MgATP was added. Microtubules and outer dense fibers (ODFs) were usually extruded in groups or “bundles.” A total of 44.5% of the cells extruded two distinct bundles, one from each side of the connecting piece, exhibiting opposite curvatures. Only one bundle was observed in 46.2% of the cells, and 9.2% showed no signs of sliding. Transmission electron microscopy (T.E.M.) showed one group consisting of the 4,5-6,7 elements, with the 9,1,2 elements on the other side of the axoneme making up the other bundle. T.E.M. revealed that when only one side of the axoneme had extruded elements, they were always from the 4,5-6,7 group. The remainder of the axoneme (8,9,1,2,3 and the central pair) was left relatively intact, suggesting a difference in the sliding response of the nine pairs of axonemal microtubules. These results indicate a predisposition for sliding between elements 7 and 8 over that between doublets 2 and 3, perhaps due to a disparity in activation thresholds. Also, both Ni2+ and Cd2+ appear to selectively block activation of 2–3 interdoublet sliding. Incubation with 0.25 mM Ni2+ prior to adding MgATP modified the percentages of sliding patterns: 8.6% demonstrated two-sided extrusion, 58.2% showed one-sided, and 33.2% had no extruded bundles. Again, when half the axoneme was missing, it was always the 4,5-6,7 group. Ten micromolar Cd2+ altered the sliding pattern similarly to Ni2+, with 28% two-sided extrusion, 55.9% one-sided extrusion and 16.1% with no extruded bundles. Either pretreatment regimen impeded extrusion of the 9,1,2 group in a high percentage of cells, compared to untreated cells. This specific inhibition of the 9,1,2 side by Ni2+ or Cd2+ is especially significant since Ni2+ also inhibits spontaneous wave initiation in bull sperm (Lindemann et al.: Journal of Cell Biology 87:420–426, 1980), and both Ni2+ and Cd2+ reportedly block the flagellar Ca2+-response in rat sperm (Lindemann and Goltz: Cell Motility and the Cytoskeleton 10:420–431, 1988; Lindemann et al.: Cell Motility and the Cytoskeleton 20:316–324, 1991). © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Amplified scattering in a high-gain photorefractive polymer

We report the first observation, to our knowledge, of amplified scattering (beam fanning) in a photorefractive polymer. The manifestations of beam fanning and the implications for two-beam coupling measurements are investigated experimentally, and optimal geometries for observing or avoiding fanning are presented.
QoS‐Based Communication Protocols in Wireless Sensor Networks

This chapter contains sections titled: Introduction QoS in Wireless Sensor Networks QoS‐Based MAC Protocols for WSNs QoS‐Based Routing Protocols For WSNs QoS‐Based Computation with Communication Support QoS‐Based Capacity Estimation in WSNs Conclusions and Open Research Problems Exercises Bibliography
The Importance of Carotenoid Dose in Supplementation Studies with Songbirds.

AbstractCarotenoid coloration is the one of the most frequently studied ornamental traits in animals. Many studies of carotenoid coloration test the associations between carotenoid coloration and measures of performance, such as immunocompetence and oxidative state, proceeding from the premise that carotenoids are limited resources. Such studies commonly involve supplementing the diets of captive birds with carotenoids. In many cases, however, the amount of carotenoid administered is poorly justified, and even supposedly carotenoid-limited diets may saturate birds’ systems. To quantify the relationships among the amount of carotenoids administered in experiments, levels of circulating carotenoids, and quantities of carotenoids deposited into colored ornaments, we performed a meta-analysis of 15 published studies that supplemented carotenoids to one of seven songbird species. We used allometric scaling equations to estimate the per-gram carotenoid consumption of each study’s subjects, and we used meta-regr...
Quantifying mercury isotope dynamics in captive Pacific bluefin tuna ( Thunnus orientalis )

Analyses of mercury (Hg) isotope ratios in fish tissues are used increasingly to infer sources and biogeochemical processes of Hg in natural aquatic ecosystems. Controlled experiments that can couple internal Hg isotope behavior with traditional isotope tracers (δ13C, δ15N) can improve the applicability of Hg isotopes as natural ecological tracers. In this study, we investigated changes in Hg isotope ratios (δ202Hg, δ199Hg) during bioaccumulation of natural diets in the pelagic Pacific bluefin tuna (Thunnus orientalis; PBFT). Juvenile PBFT were fed a mixture of natural prey and a dietary supplement (60% Loligo opalescens, 31% Sardinops sagax, 9% gel supplement) in captivity for 2914 days, and white muscle tissues were analyzed for Hg isotope ratios and compared to time in captivity and internal turnover of δ13C and δ15N. PBFT muscle tissues equilibrated to Hg isotope ratios of the dietary mixture within ∼700 days, after which we observed a cessation in further shifts in Δ199Hg, and small but significant negative δ202Hg shifts from the dietary mixture. The internal behavior of Δ199Hg is consistent with previous fish studies, which showed an absence of Δ199Hg fractionation during Hg bioaccumulation. The negative δ202Hg shifts can be attributed to either preferential excretion of Hg with higher δ202Hg values or individual variability in captive PBFT feeding preferences and/or consumption rates. The overall internal behavior of Hg isotopes is similar to that described for δ13C and δ15N, though observed Hg turnover was slower compared to carbon and nitrogen. This improved understanding of internal dynamics of Hg isotopes in relation to δ13C and δ15N enhances the applicability of Hg isotope ratios in fish tissues for tracing Hg sources in natural ecosystems.
Effect of Solvent Topography and Steric Hindrance on Crystal Morphology

Effect of steric hindrance resulting from solvent topography on the resultant crystal morphology was examined via cooling crystallization of various carboxylic acids in isomeric butyl and pentyl alcohols. Our experiments show that the magnitude of hindrance is related to the degree of branching at the substituted carbon, with hindrance increasing in the order of 1° < 2° < 3° alcohols. The resulting crystals displayed a trend of low, intermediate, and high aspect ratios, corresponding to 1°, 2°, and 3° alcohols, respectively. In particular, 3° alcohols have a tendency to yield significantly different crystal morphologies, compared to 1° and 2° alcohols. Hence, the position of the hydroxyl functional group plays a major role in enhancing or limiting solute–solvent hydrogen bonding interactions and thereby influencing the resultant crystal morphology. A simple molecular model, with succinic acid as test case, was used to demonstrate the extended hydrogen bonding network and surface chemistry binding at the d...
Digging for Truth, Justice, or the Humanitarian Way: Priorities in Post-Genocide Transitional Justice and Exhumations of Mass Graves

While working for the Department of Justice, detailed to the Regime Crimes Liaison's Office (RCLO) in Iraq in 2005, the head of our excavation team, Sonny Trimble, made a casual comment that has stuck with me. I paraphrase: "Forensic digs," he said, "are very different from humanitarian ones." As someone with a legal background who had not had previous field experience, it was initially hard to understand what he meant, as all mass grave excavations used techniques that could be and have been called "forensic." It all came down to the relatively simple proposition that the former involved a holistic look at a grave site and the circumstantial evidence it contained, with a view towards building a criminal case. The latter focused more on exhuming the bodies themselves, with hopes of repatriating the victims' remains.Some forensic scientists have thought of this distinction as a false dichotomy that only confounds those doing the work at the site and complicates matters for policymakers as they try to their rebuild a atrocity-torn country. This paper takes a different view. By examining genocide jurisprudence as developed by the International Criminal Tribunals, assessing the value of the forensic evidence that can be gained from mass grave excavations, and acknowledging the interplay of each of those in the greater reimplementation of the rule of law in post-conflict situations, this paper proposes a model protocol for the forensic excavation of mass graves that provides comprehensive guidelines to tribunals and scientists regarding the standards of care of grave sites to insure integrity of the evidence contained therein, while allowing for the flexibility to tailor treatment of each grave site to its own particular needs.This paper won Vermont Law School's 2008 International Law Writing Competition, and was presented at that school's conference "Understanding Genocide: Prevention, Prosecution, and Progress" in October, 2008. An updated version will be presented at The George Washington University Law School's International Law Week in February 2009. I am currently working to include a more robust discussion of the pertinent genocide precedent, and a re-defining of "excavation" as distinguished from "exhumation" to better describe the differences between operations that are part of a criminal investigation (i.e. the interchangable use of the terms, as in footnote 38, will not apply in subsequent versions), versus those that are not. I will also be adding pages on the dynamics of ICC complimentarity requirements and states' responsibilities to investigate. There is also currently minimal discussion about the proceedings of the Iraqi High Tribunal, principally because this version of the paper focused on what was more germane to the Vermont Law School conference, which was the ICT precedent.The views contained herein are my own and do not in any way reflect the views or policies of the Department of Justice, the Regime Crimes Liaison's Office, or any government agency.
The role of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor in the development of cells with the molecular and functional characteristics of cancer stem-like cells

Self-renewing, chemoresistant breast cancer stem cells are believed to contribute significantly to cancer invasion, migration and patient relapse. Therefore, the identification of signaling pathways that regulate the acquisition of stem-like qualities is an important step towards understanding why patients relapse and towards development of novel therapeutics that specifically target cancer stem cell vulnerabilities. Recent studies identified a role for the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR), an environmental carcinogen receptor implicated in cancer initiation, in normal tissue-specific stem cell self-renewal. These studies inspired the hypothesis that the AHR plays a role in the acquisition of cancer stem cell-like qualities. To test this hypothesis, AHR activity in Hs578T triple negative and SUM149 inflammatory breast cancer cells were modulated with AHR ligands, shRNA or AHR-specific inhibitors, and phenotypic, genomic and functional stem cell-associated characteristics were evaluated. The data demonstrate that (1) ALDHhigh cells express elevated levels of Ahr and Cyp1b1 and Cyp1a1, AHR-driven genes, (2) AHR knockdown reduces ALDH activity by 80 %, (3) AHR hyper-activation with several ligands, including environmental ligands, significantly increases ALDH1 activity, expression of stem cell- and invasion/migration-associated genes, and accelerates cell migration, (4) a significant correlation between Ahr or Cyp1b1 expression (as a surrogate marker for AHR activity) and expression of stem cell- and invasion/migration-associated gene sets is seen with genomic data obtained from 79 human breast cancer cell lines and over 1,850 primary human breast cancers, (5) the AHR interacts directly with Sox2, a master regulator of self-renewal; AHR ligands increase this interaction and nuclear SOX2 translocation, (6) AHR knockdown inhibits tumorsphere formation in low adherence conditions, (7) AHR inhibition blocks the rapid migration of ALDHhigh cells and reduces ALDHhigh cell chemoresistance, (8) ALDHhigh cells are highly efficient at initiating tumors in orthotopic xenografts, and (9) AHR knockdown inhibits tumor initiation and reduces tumor Aldh1a1, Sox2, and Cyp1b1 expression in vivo. These data suggest that the AHR plays an important role in development of cells with cancer stem cell-like qualities and that environmental AHR ligands may exacerbate breast cancer by enhancing expression of these properties.
Modeling electric load and water consumption impacts from an integrated thermal energy and rainwater storage system for residential buildings in Texas

Abstract The United States’ built environment is a significant direct and indirect consumer of energy and water. In Texas, and other parts of the Southern and Western US, air conditioning loads, particularly from residential buildings, contribute significantly to the peak electricity load on the grid, straining transmission. In parallel, water resources in these regions are strained by growing populations and shrinking supplies. One potential method to address both of these issues is to develop integrated thermal energy and auxiliary water (e.g. rainwater, greywater, etc.) storage and management systems that reduce peak load and freshwater consumption. This analysis focuses on a proposed integrated thermal energy and rainwater storage (ITHERST) system that is incorporated into a residential air-source chiller/heat pump with hydronic distribution. This paper describes a step-wise hourly thermodynamic model of the thermal storage system to assess on-peak performance, and a daily volume-balance model of auxiliary water collection and consumption to assess water savings potential. While the model is generalized, this analysis uses a case study of a single family home in Austin, Texas to illustrate its capabilities. The results indicate this ITHERST system could reduce on-peak air conditioning electric power demand by over 75%, with increased overall electric energy consumption of approximately 7–9%, when optimally sized. Additionally, the modeled rainwater collection reduced municipal water consumption by approximately 53–89%, depending on the system size.
On a Question Concerning Fixed Points

(1968). On a Question Concerning Fixed Points. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 75, No. 2, pp. 152-156.
A Spiritual Approach to Reframing Memories in Life Review Groups: Report from a Pilot Project

Abstract This article presents a pilot project in which reminiscence group members read mystics from several religious traditions to select imagery about the mystical theme of an unconditionally accepted “Core Self.” The perspective from “Core Self,” in turn, reframes unforgiving judgments some members have made about their personal history, ameliorates meager levels of self-esteem through which they have reviewed their lives, and draws from their reminiscences more functional ways of managing current issues. The article concludes with examples of members offering additional insights into the life review of three colleagues that enhance the benefits of the project.
Investigation on HBV Infection Among Practitioners In Nan AN District from 2003 to 2007

Objective To study HBV infection status among pabular and public health practitioners.Methods 116234 pabular and public health practitioners in Nan AN district were tested for 1HBsAg from January 2003 to December 2007 Results The positive rate of HBsAg was different from 2003 to 2007 (=20.70,P 0.001).There was significant difference in the frequency of HBsAg between male and female (=179.78,P 0.001).The infection rate of HBsAg was 4.29% in pabular practitioners,while in public health practitioners it was 3.26%.A statistically significant difference was found between the two population (=72.53,P 0.001).Conclusion Our results indicated that the management have been strengthened.propaganda have been carried out to make them cultivating good hygienic habits,HBV infection rate has been controlled and decreased effectively.
Aphasics' Attention to Grammatical Morphemes

The widespread clinical description of Broca's aphasics as having relatively preserved comprehension compared to their reduced production provided the focus of a study of aphasics' attention to def...
Simulation of Anderson localization in a random fiber using a fast Fresnel diffraction algorithm

Anderson localization has been previously demonstrated both theoretically and experimentally for transmission of a Gaussian beam through long distances in an optical fiber consisting of a random array of smaller fibers, each having either a higher or lower refractive index. However, the computational times were extremely long. We show how to simulate these results using a fast Fresnel diffraction algorithm. In each iteration of this approach, the light passes through a phase mask, undergoes Fresnel diffraction over a small distance, and then passes through the same phase mask. We also show results where we use a binary amplitude mask at the input that selectively illuminates either the higher or the lower index fibers. Additionally, we examine imaging of various sized objects through these fibers. In all cases, our results are consistent with other computational methods and experimental results, but with a much reduced computational time.
Obesity and neoplasms of lymphohematopoietic cells.

To the Editor: In countries such as the United States, where aggressive antismoking campaigns have led to a striking decrease in the fraction of the population who are tobacco smokers, obesity is an unwanted replacement as a preventable factor that increases the risk of cancer in multiple tissues,
A phase II study of afatinib in patients (pts) with metastatic human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER2)-positive trastuzumab-refractory esophagogastric (EG) cancer.

59 Background: Trastuzumab combined with chemotherapy is the standard of care for pts with HER2+ EG cancer. Resistance to trastuzumab clearly emerges in this population. Afatinib, a potent ErbB Fam...
Leadership and Governance: Dilemma of Agricultural Development in Nigeria

Agriculture contributes immensely to the Nigerian economy in various ways; namely, in the provision of food for the increasing population; supply of adequate raw materials to a growing industrial sector; a major source of employment; generation of foreign exchange earnings; and provision of a market for the products of the industrial sector among others. It has been observed that African agriculture remains largely traditional and concentrated in the hands of smallholders and pastoralists, and the neglect of agriculture has resulted in the mass exodus of rural dwellers to urban thereby qualitatively and quantitatively depopulated rural areas making it less attractive for socio-economic investment. This paper reviews the roles of leadership and governance in agricultural development in Nigeria. It discusses the problems and challenges posed by these and government responses to leadership and governance dilemma in agriculture in the country. The paper concludes that good leadership and governance are important for agricultural growth and development. Reversing the current state of Nigeria’s agriculture is more than just a technical issue but structural change and better way of managing our resources. There is also the need for a sound political climate to generate a strong and collective political will. The political leadership must also change and must be armed with the right mental capacity, discipline, integrity and positive political will.
National trends, outcomes, and costs of radiation therapy in the management of low- and high-intermediate risk endometrial carcinoma.

9Background: Our objective was to assess treatment patterns, outcomes, and costs for women with low- (LIR) and high-intermediate risk endometrial cancer (HIR) who are treated with and without adjuvant radiotherapy (RT). Methods: All pts with endometrioid endometrial cancer who underwent surgery from 2000 – 2011 were identified from the SEER – Medicare database. LIR was defined as G1-2 tumors with <50% myometrial invasion or G3 with no invasion. HIR was defined as G1-2 tumors with ≥50% or G3 with <50% invasion. Pts were categorized according to whether they received adjuvant RT (vaginal brachytherapy [VBT], external beam radiotherapy [EBRT], or both) or no RT. All costs incurred up to 6 months postoperatively were analyzed. Outcomes were compared using the χ2test and a Cox PH regression model. Multivariate analyses were performed on both survival and costs. Results: 10,842 pts were included, of which 70% were LIR and 30% were HIR. 9% of pts with LIR had RT, compared to 46% of those with HIR. Among all pts ...
Confined photonic mode propagation observed in photoemission electron microscopy

Abstract Using photoemission electron microscopy (PEEM) we present a comparative analysis of the wavelength dependence of propagating fields in a simple optical slab waveguide and a thin film photonic crystal W1-type waveguide. We utilize an interferometric imaging approach for light in the near-ultraviolet regime where a 2-photon process is required to produce photoelectron emission. The typical spatial resolution in these experiments is
Overlapping authorities in U.S. energy policy

Abstract Overlapping intergovernmental authorities explain much of the complexities in U.S. energy policy, by accounting for limited powers, uncertain autonomy, cooperation and conflict, inter-state differences, and intersecting policies. Among the implications of overlapping authority are polycentric policymaking venues, direct and indirect policy effects, and energy system governance. Overlapping authority provides a framework for understanding the intersecting roles of national, state, and local governments in energy policy.
Evaluating the antitumor role of B cells in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

75Background: The focus of immunotherapy has been on CD8 and CD4 tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), however, tumor infiltrating B cells (TIL-Bs) have been reported in tertiary lymphoid structur...
The genesis, classification, and mapping of soils in urban areas

This paper discusses the concept of soil in both urban and rural environments, and along the urban-rural land use gradient, to illustrate the obvious need to increase our understanding of urban soils. Spatial variability of the urban landscape is illustrated with "Soil series - Urban land complexes" from Baltimore County, Maryland. The World Reference Base for Soil Resources (ISSS-ISRIC-FAO, 1994) proposed Anthrosol and Regosol major soil groups are discussed to show modern approaches to soil classification and to illustrate how the classification of urban soils is essentially undeveloped. Models of soil genesis help identify the processes and functions of the soil system. A conceptual model using Jenny's (1941) state factor approach for human impact on soil formation details the "anthroposequence." The benchmark anthroposequence model may be applied to studying soil systems along urban-rural land use gradients. The process of "anthropedogenesis" is supported to quantify the role of human activity in changing the "natural" direction of soil formation. Future directions of soil research in the urban landscape should involve large scale soil mapping (e.g. 1:6000), benchmark anthroposequences, improved soil classification, and refined characterization of the role of human activities in soil formation.
Hierarchical Formulations for Transonic Flow Simulations

The present work is based on Helmholtz decomposition, where the velocity vector is split into a gradient of a potential plus rotational components. Entropy and vorticity corrections are calculated and augmented to modified potential formulations for both inviscid and viscous flows. The new framework is completely equivalent to Euler and Navier-Stokes equations respectively and it can be viewed as a preconditioning of these systems at the differential level. Preliminary results are presented and possible merits of the new approach are discussed.
The Role of Acetylcholine in Barrel Cortex

Over the past several decades, acetylcholine (ACh) has been recognized as an important factor in neocortical function. The neocortical source of ACh arises from the basal forebrain, where specific nuclear groups supply the entire cortical mantle with this ubiquitous neurotransmitter (Mesulam et al., 1983; Rye et al., 1984; Wainer and Mesulam, 1990). Although numerous actions have been identified with ACh, in the cerebral cortex it appears to primarily enhance neural activity (for review see McCormick, 1992). ACh acts on both muscarinic and nicotinic receptors; however, the excitatory effect of ACh in the cerebral cortex is predominantly muscarinic and mediated by mechanisms that block K+ conductance (Krnjevic and Phillis, 1963; Krnjevic et al., 1971; Halliwell and Adams, 1982; Brown, 1983; McCormick and Prince, 1985). In the neocortex, ACh appears to work through several mechanisms; one of these blocks a voltage-dependent K+ current, which leads to a long-lasting increase in neural excitability (Brown and Adams, 1980; Madison and Nicoll, 1984; McCormick and Prince, 1987). It also impedes a Ca2+-activated potassium current, which is not substantially dependent on voltage (McCormick and Williamson, 1989). Additional contributions of a Na+-activated K+ current block and a slow afterdepolarization of unknown origin have also been implicated as potential mechanisms of ACh action in neocortex (McCormick and Prince, 1986; Schwindt et al., 1989).
Does Dexmedetomidine Ameliorate Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction? A Brief Review of the Recent Literature

Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) occurs in 20–50% of postsurgical patients with a higher prevalence in elderly patients and patients with vascular disease and heart failure. In addition, POCD has been associated with many negative outcomes, such as increased hospital length of stay, increased rates of institutionalization, and higher patient mortality. This brief review discusses select evidence suggesting an association between neuroinflammation and POCD and whether the use of dexmedetomidine, a short-acting alpha 2 agonist, may ameliorate the incidence of POCD. We review the recent evidence for neuroinflammation in POCD, dexmedetomidine’s properties in reducing inflammatory-mediated brain injury, and clinical studies of dexmedetomidine and POCD. There is evidence to support the anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects of dexmedetomidine in animal models. Several clinical investigations have demonstrated favorable outcomes using dexmedetomidine over placebo for the reduction of postoperative delirium. Few studies have used high-quality endpoints for the assessment of POCD and no demonstrable evidence supports the use of dexmedetomidine for the prevention of POCD. While evidence exists for the neural anti-inflammatory properties of dexmedetomidine, human trials have yielded incomplete results concerning its use for the management of POCD. Dexmedetomidine may reduce acute postoperative delirium, but further studies are needed prior to recommending the use of dexmedetomidine for the direct reduction of POCD.
Spin-coating of Ge23Sb7S70 chalcogenide glass thin films

We demonstrate a spin-coating technique for the deposition of Ge23Sb7S70chalcogenide glass films. We show that the use of the amine-based solvent allows the deposition of stoichiometric films with low surface roughness and controlled thickness.