cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Second neoplasms after megavoltage radiation for pediatric tumors

BACKGROUND Because ionizing radiation is a known carcinogen, diligent long-term follow-up in children exposed to therapeutic radiation is required. The authors updated an earlier study on the nature and risk of second neoplasms (SN) in patients treated with megavoltage radiotherapy as children. METHODS The authors followed 446 children who were treated for a primary malignancy with megavoltage radiotherapy between January 16, 1954 and December 31, 1980. These children survived a minimum of 5 years. The nature and incidence of SNs were evaluated in this population. Patients with bilateral retinoblastoma or neurofibromatosis were excluded from the study due to their large genetically based predisposition for developing an SN. RESULTS The Kaplan–Meier actuarial survival rate was 80% (95% confidence interval [CI] 74–85%) at 30 years for all patients. Thirty-seven (8.3%) patients developed SNs, most of which occurred within the original radiation treatment field, 3.8–31.8 years (median, 15.5 years) after radiotherapy. The cumulative risk of developing an SN was 13% (95% CI 9–19%) at 30 years and the standardized incidence ratio for the development of any SN was 5.2 (95% CI 3.4–7.6%). The most common SNs were breast carcinoma (n = 8), skin carcinoma (five basal cell carcinomas, two malignant melanomas, and one dermatosarcoma), and meningiomas (n = 6). All eight breast carcinomas occurred after the treatment of childhood Hodgkin disease. Of the 37 patients with SNs, 12 died of either the SN (n = 10) or of recurrent disease (n = 2). Risk factors associated with developing a SN included initial diagnosis of Hodgkin disease (P = 0.0003), female gender (P = 0.008), and an initial diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS Patients in the radiation-treated cohort experienced increased mortality, were at an increased risk of developing an SN, and should undergo increased medical surveillance as adults. The cumulative probability of developing an SN has increased substantially at 30 years, largely due to an increase in follow-up time. In addition, the cumulative probability curve does not show evidence of plateau after increased duration of follow-up. Finally, the emergence of secondary breast carcinoma in the current study was not noted in the previous analysis. Cancer 2003;10:2588–96. © 2003 American Cancer Society. DOI 10.1002/cncr.11356
Short-term hypoxic exposure at rest and during exercise reduces lung water in healthy humans

Hypoxia and hypoxic exercise increase pulmonary arterial pressure, cause pulmonary capillary recruitment, and may influence the ability of the lungs to regulate fluid. To examine the influence of h...
Measurements of covariance for cascading gamma rays

Abstract An apparatus has been developed to measure covariance and delayed covariance of the counting rates of detectors of the separate members of gamma ray cascades. This method offers advantages over conventional time coincidence measurements, particularly for long lived intermediate nuclear states. The method has been used to measure the half-life of the 304 keV level (16.9±0.6 ms) and anisotropy (0.543±0.002) of the 121–280 keV gamma cascade in 75 As produced by the radioactive decay of 75 Se. Other applications are discussed.
Surface Morphology of Single-Crystal Ceramics

Surfaces of crystalline materials generally facet and form steps and ledges on low-index planes to reduce their total energy. A conventional wedge-shaped transmission electron microscope (TEM) thin foil, prepared slightly misoriented with respect to a low-index plane, provides a suitable geometry for the study of surface ledges, steps and facets. This TEM study characterizes the surface features of annealed thin foils prepared from various oxides with a range of nominally low-index orientations. Observations from single-crystal α-A12O3 and MgAl2O4 (spinel) will be included. The steps and facets typically form along energetically favorable, low-index planes and bound terraces of low-index orientation. The structure of these features are discussed. In addition, surface step movement has been observed and monitored through a series of reannealing experiments on the same foil.
Management of appendiceal carcinoid tumors in children.

Abstract Background Appendiceal carcinoid tumors, also know as well-differentiated neuroendocrine neoplasms, are rare lesions detected incidentally after appendectomy in children. There are limited data about the natural history of these tumors, and guidelines regarding family counseling and need for additional surgery or follow-up imaging are not established in the pediatric age group. The purpose of this study was to review our institutional experience with appendiceal carcinoid tumors to provide data that might improve management. Methods After institutional review board approval, the charts of all patients treated at our institution for an appendiceal carcinoid tumor between 2002 and 2014 were reviewed. Data collected included patient demographics, pathologic details, postoperative management, and follow-up information. Descriptive analyses were performed. Results Twenty-eight patients were identified, which represents an incidence of 0.2% of children undergoing appendectomy during that time interval. The mean age at surgery was 13.8 ± 2.1 y; 54% were females. Two patients had symptoms suspicious for carcinoid syndrome at presentation, though none had evidence of metastatic disease. The mean tumor size was 0.73 ± 0.4 cm. Five patients (18%) underwent subsequent ileocecectomy or right hemicolectomy because of pathologic findings of invasion of the mesoappendix ( n = 4) or lymphovascular invasion and subserosal extension ( n = 1), two of whom had residual disease in the resected specimen (one in a lymph node). No recurrences have been detected at mean follow-up of 1.8 y. Conclusions Appendiceal carcinoid tumors are discovered incidentally in about 0.2% of children undergoing appendectomy. Based on findings from a large contemporary series, we can conclude that these tumors are generally small and demonstrate lymphovascular invasion or mesenteric extension in fewer than 20% of cases. Prospective, multicenter studies are necessary to better define the indication for ileocecectomy and follow-up imaging protocols.
Hyponatraemia masking the diagnosis of cryptococcal meningitis.

Patients with acute hyponatraemia present with neurologic symptoms resulting from cerebral oedema induced by water movement into the brain. The author reports a male patient who presented to our emergency department with headache for 3 days and confusion for a day. The reported patient was on two immunosuppressive drugs, namely prednisone and azathiorprine for his ulcerative colitis. Laboratory data were consistent with syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH) which was appropriately corrected; however his mental status deteriorated. The patient’s initial presentation was considered to be secondary to hyponatraemia. There was lapse of 36 h where the hyponatraemia was corrected; however the cause of the SIADH was not investigated. On further investigation of the patient a diagnosis of cryptococcal meningitis was ascertained. This case highlights the importance of considering a central nervous system infection in an immuno-suppressed patients presenting with hyponatraemia secondary to SIADH.
Co- and post-translational modifications in Rubisco: unanswered questions

Both the large (LS) and small (SS) subunits of Rubisco are subject to a plethora of co- and post-translational modifications. With the exceptions of LS carbamylation and SS transit sequence processing, the remaining modifications, including deformylation, acetylation, methylation, and N-terminal proteolytic processing of the LS, are still biochemically and/or functionally undefined although they are found in nearly all forms of Rubisco from vascular plants. A collection of relatively unique enzymes catalyse these modifications, and several have been characterized in other organisms. Some of the observed modifications in the LS and SS clearly suggest novel changes in enzyme specificity and/or activity, and others have common features with other co- and post-translationally modifying enzymes. With the possible exception of Lys14 methylation in the LS, processing of both the LS and SS of Rubisco is by default an ordered process sequentially leading up to the final forms observed in the holoenzyme. An overview of the nature of structural modifications in the LS and SS of Rubisco is presented, and, where possible, the nature of the enzymes catalysing these modifications (either through similarity with other known enzymes or through direct enzymological characterization) is described. Overall, there are a distinct lack of functional and mechanistic observations for modifications in Rubisco and thus represent many potentially productive avenues for research.
Cytochrome P450 Enzymes

Cytochrome P450 (P450) enzymes play dominant roles in the metabolism of toxic chemicals, as well as drugs, steroids, and several other important groups of compounds. The human genome contains 57 P450 (CYP) genes, about one-fourth of which can play potential roles in xenobiotic biotransformation. The P450s in experimental animal models are similar but not identical to the human P450s, in the context of gene organization, primary sequences, regulation, and catalytic activities. The major mechanism of P450 regulation is transcriptional control by heterodimeric receptors. The crystal structures of several important human P450s have now been determined, revealing similar folds, variability of certain regions giving rise to a 5-fold range in size of the active site, and plasticity that allows at least some ligands to bind with elements of an induced-fit process. The chemistry of P450 reactions is understood in the context of high-valent iron–oxygen chemistry and involves abstraction of hydrogen atoms or non-bonded electrons. Rate-limiting steps in catalysis vary with individual P450s and substrates. P450s play important roles in modulating the toxicity of chemicals, either detoxicating dangerous materials or activating non-toxic compounds to reactive forms. For instance, elimination of P450 2e1 (and 1a2) in mice greatly attenuates the in vivo toxicity of acetaminophen. P450s have also been implicated in several toxic drug–drug interactions in humans. Another area of toxicity in which P450s are important is chemical carcinogenesis, with good evidence for P450 contribution in animal models.
Retention of rural family physicians after 20-25 years: outcomes of a comprehensive medical school rural program.

Background: The Physician Shortage Area Program (PSAP) of Jefferson Medical College (JMC) is one of a small number of comprehensive medical school rural programs that has been successful in increasing the supply of family physicians practicing in rural areas. Although retention is a critical component of the rural physician supply, published long-term outcomes are limited. Methods: Of the 1937 JMC graduates from the classes of 1978 to 1986, we identified those who were practicing family medicine in a rural county when they were first located in practice (in 1986 for 1978–1981 graduates and in 1991 for 1982–1986 graduates). Using the Jefferson Longitudinal Study, we then compared the numbers of PSAP and non-PSAP graduates who were still practicing family medicine in the same area in 2011. Results: Of the 92 JMC graduates initially practicing rural family medicine, 90 were alive in 2011, and specialty and location data were available for 89 (98.9%). Of the 37 PSAP graduates who originally practiced rural family medicine, 26 (70.3%) were still practicing family medicine in the same rural area in 2011 compared with 24 of 52 non-PSAP graduates (46.2%; P = .02). Conclusion: This study provides additional support for the substantial impact of medical school rural programs, suggesting that graduates of rural programs are not only likely to enter rural family medicine but to remain in rural practice for decades.
Combining Dynamic Program Viewing and Testing in Early Computing Courses

Dynamic program viewing is a form of visual verification in which a student executes one or more statements in a program and interactively observes the behavior in basic viewers (e.g., an object with its fields) and/or conceptual viewers (e.g., the structural display of binary search tree). This activity can be extremely useful from a program understanding perspective as well as a debugging perspective. In contrast, testing (e.g., with JUnit) provides a way to create persistent test cases and then run and re-run them in an efficient way. We have observed that dynamic program viewing and testing are quite complementary. When test cases are written and executed, dynamic program viewing becomes a valuable aid in traditional debugging as well. Since most test cases are written at the functional level (e.g., did a method return the expected value?), dynamically viewing test methods as they execute can provide students with a deeper level of understanding. The jGRASP IDE has been extended to allow students to combine dynamic program viewing with JUnit testing. In this paper, we discuss both the technical success of this effort and several examples that demonstrate the potential for student use in early computing courses.
Dioxin cycling in aquatic sediments: the Passaic River Estuary.

The contribution of dechlorination reactions to the transformation of dioxins in river sediments was evaluated under a range of geochemical conditions mimicking freshwater, estuarine and marine environments, and interpreted in the light of recent evidence for their accumulation at the air–water interface. The yield of dechlorinated products increased with salinity, but never exceeded 20% of the initial dioxins present. Among the homologue groups in saline conditions, diCDDs were dominant at 32–47 mol% (8–16 nM). The production of 2,3,7,8-TCDD increased with decreasing salinity and in the presence of dissolved organic matter, exhibiting a maximum ratio (2,3,7,8-TCDD:non-2,3,7,8-TCDD) of 0.5. These differences in patterns may be related to the dominant microbial respiratory processes responsible for carbon turnover under the imposed conditions, and are strongly affected by the presence of organic matter. Based on these results, a conceptual dechlorination and carbon turnover model is proposed to help explain the likely reactivity of dioxins in the Passaic River Estuary.
ChIP-PED enhances the analysis of ChIP-seq and ChIP-chip data

Motivation: Although chromatin immunoprecipitation coupled with high-throughput sequencing (ChIP-seq) or tiling array hybridization (ChIP-chip) is increasingly used to map genome-wide–binding sites of transcription factors (TFs), it still remains difficult to generate a quality ChIPx (i.e. ChIP-seq or ChIP-chip) dataset because of the tremendous amount of effort required to develop effective antibodies and efficient protocols. Moreover, most laboratories are unable to easily obtain ChIPx data for one or more TF(s) in more than a handful of biological contexts. Thus, standard ChIPx analyses primarily focus on analyzing data from one experiment, and the discoveries are restricted to a specific biological context. Results: We propose to enrich this existing data analysis paradigm by developing a novel approach, ChIP-PED, which superimposes ChIPx data on large amounts of publicly available human and mouse gene expression data containing a diverse collection of cell types, tissues and disease conditions to discover new biological contexts with potential TF regulatory activities. We demonstrate ChIP-PED using a number of examples, including a novel discovery that MYC, a human TF, plays an important functional role in pediatric Ewing sarcoma cell lines. These examples show that ChIP-PED increases the value of ChIPx data by allowing one to expand the scope of possible discoveries made from a ChIPx experiment. Availability: http://www.biostat.jhsph.edu/~gewu/ChIPPED/ Contact: hji@jhsph.edu Supplementary information:Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Income variability, uncertainty and housing tenure choice

Abstract Prior theoretical and empirical studies, generally suggest that individuals facing greater uncertainty are less likely to own their home. However, Fu (1995) [Fu, Y., 1995. Uncertainty, liquidity, and housing choices. Regional Science and Urban Economics 25, 223-236] finds the theoretical relationship between uncertainty and housing choices is ambiguous. This paper employs several measures of uncertainty to reexamine the empirical relationship between uncertainty and housing tenure. Results indicate that income uncertainty reduces the likelihood of individuals owning homes at a point in time.
Intergenerational Patterns of Union Formation and Relationship Quality

The authors examine whether young adults who experienced their parents' divorce and new relationships have different relationship trajectories than those who spent their childhoods living with biological parents in married-couple families. The analysis is based on longitudinal reports from more than 1,500 children from Wave 1 of the 1987-1988 National Survey of Families and Households who were ages 18 to 34 at Wave 3 (in 2001-2002). The results suggest that parents' intimate relationships serve as templates for their children. Children of divorce had elevated rates of cohabitation as adults, relative to marriage. But union outcomes were not uniform for all children who experienced parental divorce. Those whose parents cohabited following divorce exhibited elevated odds of cohabiting themselves, compared to young adults whose parents remarried without first cohabiting or remained in stable marriages. Parental cohabitation also undermines relationship quality and stability among married or dating young adults.
Longitudinal Control of Automated Guideway Transit Vehicles Within Platoons

This paper demonstrates, via analysis and simulation, the feasibility of a vehicle-follower control system which maintains intervehicular spacings of 30- 60 cm within platoons of automated guideway transit (AGT) vehicles. Asymptotic stability of the platoon is shown to be achievable when each vehicle references its speed to that of the platoon leader. Jerk limiting, which is regarded as essential for all AGT longitudinal controllers, is shown to be potentially destabilizing. The nonlinear effects produced by the jerk limiter are analyzed by use of describing functions, and it is demonstrated how the undesirable effects can be avoided.
Muscle chamber with strain gauge adapted for isotonic/isometric recording.

Simple devices are described that can facilitate student experiments on mechanical and electrical aspects of muscle contraction, for example, of isolated preparations such as frog gastrocnemius and sartorius muscles and gut. The system includes a general-purpose preparation bath that was previously described for electrophysiological observations with suction electrodes [D.M. Easton. Am.J. Physiol. 265 (Adv. Physiol.Educ. 10): S35-S46, 1993]. A tower installed in the bath allows the muscle to be oriented vertically but completely submerged in a limited volume. Recording of isotonic contraction, which is the more familiar behavior of skeletal muscle, is made convenient by an accessory to convert the commonly available Statham force transducer to isometric recording. Phenomena not conveniently accessible by isometric recording, such as muscle work, and also the length-tension relation, not ordinarily observed for isotonic contraction, can be demonstrated.
10-stage,'cascaded' InAsSb quantum well laser at 3.9 [micro sign]m

Injection lasers with type I, multiple (or "cascaded") electron-hole recombination stages have been demonstrated. Laser emission at 3.9 /spl mu/m was observed up to 170 K. The device had a 10-stage active region with each stage composed of a semi-metal, electron-hole source and three strained InAsSb quantum wells separated by InAsP barriers.
Developmental Trajectories of Boys' Driven Exercise and Fasting During the Middle School Years.

Boys appear to engage in eating disorder behavior, particularly nonpurging compensatory behaviors such as driven exercise and fasting, at higher rates than previously thought. Little is known about the development of these behaviors in adolescent boys. In a sample of 631 non-binge eating and non-purging boys studied once in 5th grade and 6 times over the 3 years of middle school (grades 6 through 8), we found that (a) for some youth, driven exercise and fasting were present from grade 6; (b) different boys progressed along different trajectories of engagement in driven exercise and fasting, with some boys engaging in no driven exercise or fasting (65.8 % and 83.5 %, respectively), some boys engaging in driven exercise and fasting throughout middle school (25.2 % and 16.5 %, respectively), and other boys discontinuing engagement in driven exercise (9 %); (c) 5th grade depression, eating expectancies, and thinness expectancies predicted subsequent trajectory group membership; and (d) boys engaging in driven exercise and fasting in 8th grade remained distressed. Boys’ engagement in driven exercise and fasting behavior merits the attention of researchers and clinicians.
Enzyme studies of replication of the Escherichia coli chromosome.

I want at the outset to express my gratitude to the organizers, Ulrich Hubscher and Silvio Spadari, for their wisdom and initiative in convening a conference on a subject that is important, timely and not adequately appreciated: The Proteins Involved in DNA Replication.
Dominant and Substitute Profiles of Cultural Orientations: Their Significance for the Analysis of Social Stratification

Another general comment that should be made in this over-brief concluding section is that "primitive" societies can readily approximate the secular type. During the late eighteenth and the nineteenth centuries the Comanche, for example, developed a value-system of markedly secular character, in part fitting the collisional subtype of exogenous mutational change in the direction of normlessness, and in part the crisis-ensuing subtype of indigenous mutational change in the direction of principle. This value-system was not merely transitional; for well over half a century the Comanclhe retained an ordered but significantly secular structure.50 They were in fact closely similar to the "marginal trading people" type,5' and consequently were simultaneously indigenous and exogenous. Their social structure being in a sense both "inside" and "outside," they were exendomorphic52 (see Outlines I and II, bottom of Q' column). Finally, let it be incidentally noted that normlessness, although often evoking a normative reaction, and although issuing in a society sustaining a social disorder, has not always called forth adverse value-judgments. Turgot, Teggart, and others53 have even spoken in approval, and Goethe has said:
The Use of Alternative Health Care by a Family Practice Population

Background: This study examined the characteristics of family practice patients using alternative medicine, the problems that led them to use it, and their satisfaction with its use. Methods: A confidential questionnaire was mailed to 250 randomly selected adults enrolled in a large military family practice clinic, with a final response rate of 71 percent. Results: More than 28 percent of patients used some form of alternative medicine. The typical user was 30 to 49 years old, female, white, and well educated. Common methods used were chiropractic (64 percent), massage therapy (36 percent), herbal therapy (32 percent), and acupuncture (16 percent). The most common problems for which patients sought alternative care were back pain (56 percent), other musculoskeletal pain (22 percent), and stress or other psychosocial problems (20 percent). Fewer than one half were satisfied With their alternative health care, although 82 percent reported at least some improvement in their conditions. Most (63 percent) had not told their family physician of their use of alternative health care. Conclusions: A substantial number of family practice patients are using alternative medicine. Although most derive some benefit, most are not satisfied with the results. Reasons for this disparity between satisfaction and effectiveness of alternative medicine deserve further study.
Potato Leafhopper (Homoptera: Cicadellidae) Immature Development, Life Tables, and Population Dynamics under Fluctuating Temperature Regimes

Life table studies were conducted with potato leafhopper, Empoasca fabae (Harris), cohorts at three fluctuating temperature regimes. Combinations of daily low and high temperatures for the three regimes were 13 to 24, 18 to 29, and 23 to 34°C. Estimated temperature threshold for immature (egg plus nymph) development was 8.4°C. Temperature had a marked effect on natality and mortality schedules and on life table statistics of the three cohorts. Gross and net reproductive rates were largest at the regime with lowest temperatures. When computed on a day scale, intrinsic and finite rates of increase were largest, and mean generation time shortest, at the regime with highest temperatures. Values of the latter three life table statistics converged somewhat but not completely when computed on a degree-day (above 8.4°C) scale. This failure to converge was due to substantial differences in age-specific mortality on a degree-day scale among the three cohorts. Compositions of the stable stage distribution were similar for the three cohorts. Computer simulations with a Leslie matrix model suggested that, for potato leafhopper populations that are initiated by reproductive females in a given environment, the realized population growth rate will be similar to the intrinsic rate of increase for that environment, and furthermore that the realized growth rate will not be greatly influenced by large fluctuations in population stage structure.
Electron Affinity of O 2

It is shown, using molecular orbital theory and experimental data, that 0.15 ev is much the more probable of two alternative values for the electron affinity of ${\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ which have been considered. Thermochemical evidence favoring a value of 0.9 ev is rather uncertain and should be given less weight.
Change-oriented service evolution consistency checking

In an open,dynamic and changeable network environment,being able to effectively respond to users' needs,changes of platforms and external environment is therefore the reason of why web service must have evolution capacity.For the problem of evolution consistency checking,the existing methods mostly based on fixed standards,that lack of fine-grained,adjustable quantitatively analysis and cannot explicitly reflect the changes between service versions.In response to these shortcomings,the paper focuses on changes that service evolution caused,and proposes a service description model in aspects of services structural layer and non-functional layer.Based on the model proposed,the paper proposes changes extraction algorithm and changes union algorithm,and introduces the degree of evolution consistency to analyze evolution consistency quantitatively.At last,we design and implement a practical tool for service evolution consistency checking,with which the validity of evolution consistency determination method presented in this paper is verified.
Resting Heart Rate Variability, Inflammation, and Insulin Resistance in Overweight and Obese Adolescents

Abstract Background: The prevalence of obesity is increasing in young people in the United States. Lately, low-grade inflammation is recognized as accompanying obesity, a known risk factor for type 2 diabetes. Autonomic dysfunction is a prominent feature of adult diabetes, but its prevalence in adolescents in prediabetic states or with diabetes risk factors is unknown. We undertook to study obesity, inflammation, insulin resistance, and autonomic dysfunction together in a population of adolescents aged 13–18 years. Methods: Subjects gave a blood sample for cytokine analysis and a 5-min resting EKG for analysis of resting heart rate variability. TNF-α, IL-6, c-reactive protein (CRP), MCP-1, and IL-10 were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and Fourier Transform was applied to electrocardiographic recordings of R–R intervals for analysis in frequency space. The HOMA calculation was used as an index of insulin sensitivity. Results: TNF-α, IL-6, CRP, MCP-1, HOMA, and insulin levels, but not serum ...
Investigation of Reversible Li Insertion into LiY(WO4)2

The layered structure of LiY(WO4)2 accommodates a reversible insertion of two Li per formula unit near 1.5 V versus Li+/Li0. At low charge/discharge rates, there is a voltage step on charge from 1.55 to 1.6 V at one Li extraction per formula unit, the efficiency of electrical energy storage is reasonable, and the specific capacity is 90 m Ah g–1. At higher rates, less than one Li per formula unit is inserted reversibly. A solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) is formed in the voltage range 1.2 < V < 1.4 V versus Li+/Li0 on the initial charge.
Drawing causal inference from Big Data

Human society has found the means to collect and store vast amounts of information about every subject imaginable, and is archiving this information in attempts to use it for scientific, utilitarian (e.g., health), and business purposes. These large databases are colloquially termed Big Data. How big Big Data are is of course a matter of perspective, and can range, for example, from the “tiny” amount of data sociologists and climate scientists dealt with many years ago to everything being posted on the World Wide Web; Big Data can arise from relatively well-controlled experiments or from uncontrolled sets of natural observations.
The independent cascade and linear threshold models

In this chapter, we focus on perhaps the two most prevalent diffusion models in computer science—the independent cascade and linear threshold models. We describe different properties of these models and how these properties affect solving problems such as influence maximization and influence spread. We describe approaches to address influence maximization problem in independent cascade model and linear threshold model that rely on the maximization of submodular functions—as well as extensions to these approaches for larger datasets.
Direct conversion of cellulose and hemicellulose to fermentable sugars by a microbially-driven Fenton reaction

The aim of this work was to develop a microbially-driven Fenton reaction that fragments cellulose and hemicellulose, degrades cellodextrins and xylodextrins, and produces short-chain oligosaccharides and monomeric sugars in a single bioreactor. The lignocellulose degradation system operates at neutral pH and does not require addition of conventional lignocellulose-degrading enzymes, thus avoiding problems associated with enzyme accessibility and specificity. The ability to produce useful bioproducts was demonstrated by production of the bioplastic polyhydroxybutyrate with the xylan degradation products as starting substrate.
Dynamic Materials Inspired by Cephalopods

The related concepts of disguising an object or physically changing it to resemble something entirely different have long captivated the human imagination. Although such notions are seemingly derived from fables and science fiction, cephalopods have perfected analogous capabilities over millions of years of natural evolution. Consequently, these invertebrates have emerged as exciting sources of inspiration for futuristic adaptive camouflage and shapeshifter-like technologies. Herein, we provide an overview of selected literature examples that have used cephalopods as models for the development of novel adaptive materials, devices, and systems. We in turn highlight some significant remaining challenges and potential future directions for such studies. Through this perspective, we hope to stimulate additional dialogue and continued scientific exploration within the area of cephalopod-inspired dynamic materials.
Crowding Out Civil Society: State Management of Social Organisations in Putin’s Russia

There is considerable debate about the impact of the 2006 NGO Law and related Kremlin policies on social organisations in Russia. This article uses interviews with members of organisations focusing...
Free Parascapular Flap for Head and Neck Reconstruction

This chapter details the steps in performing a free parascapular flap for head and neck reconstruction. The flap is harvested with descending branch of the circumflex scapular artery providing blood supply; bone harvesting is achieved from tip and dorsal aspect of scapula. Indications, essential steps, postoperative care, possible complications, and operative dictation are included.
A security evaluation framework for cloud security auditing

Cloud computing is clearly one of today’s most enticing technologies due to its scalable, flexible, and cost-efficient access to infrastructure and application services. Despite these benefits, cloud service users (CSUs) have serious concerns about the data security and privacy. Currently, there are several cloud service providers (CSPs) offering a wide range of services to their customers with varying levels of security strengths. Due to the vast diversity in the available cloud services, from the customer’s perspective, it has become difficult to decide which CSP they should use and what should be the selection criteria. Presently, there is no framework that can allow CSUs to evaluate CSPs based on their ability to meet the customer’s security requirements. We propose a framework and a mechanism that evaluate the security strength of CSPs based on the customer’s security preferences. We have shown the applicability of our security evaluation framework using a case study.
Everyday task knowledge and everyday function in dementia

Tests of everyday action semantics were developed and piloted in a group of healthy adults (n = 53) and then administered to individuals with Alzheimer's disease (AD; n = 17) or Parkinson's disease dementia (PDD; n = 20). Relations between everyday action knowledge and everyday function were explored. Three action semantic tests were developed: Probe Test - 45 forced-choice questions regarding task sequences, objects, and steps; Picture Sequencing Test - sequential ordering of 4-5 cards depicting task steps; Script Test - open-ended verbal description of the steps required to complete everyday tasks. Cognitive tests, informant reports of functioning, and the Naturalistic Action Test (NAT), a performance-based test of function, also were administered to AD and PDD participants. NAT performance was scored for omission (failure to complete steps) and commission (inaccurate performance of step) errors. The AD and PDD groups performed worse than healthy participants on all action semantic tasks. AD and PDD groups significantly differed on only the Script Test - AD participants generated fewer correct steps. Performance on each of the action semantic tests significantly correlated with NAT omission errors. Only the Sequencing Test significantly predicted omissions, commissions, and informant report of everyday functioning. In sum, task knowledge is associated with omissions in everyday tasks and is impaired in both AD and PDD. The ability to accurately sequence task steps is associated with multiple aspects of everyday function and may be easily assessed with picture arrangement.
Establishing a new research agenda for studying psychiatric emergency room treatment decisions.

With the growing complexity of treatment decisions made at presentation to a psychiatric emergency room (PER) and the increasing influence of managed care on the decision-making process, it is increasingly important to establish a new and more sophisticated research agenda for studying PER decision making. The main goal of this paper is to propose a comprehensive conceptual model of the PER decision-making process that will facilitate active pursuit of such a research agenda. The proposed model presents both traditional and emerging elements of the PER decision-making process (i.e., determinants, mediating mechanisms, and outcomes) and explicates the nature of the relationships among them at different levels of analysis. The model's theoretical and empirical implications for future research are discussed and suggestions are made as to the research designs and methods needed to pursue this agenda.
Physically reconfigurable antennas: Concepts and automation

This paper discusses concepts of three physically reconfigurable antennas that are software controlled and fully automated. Each of the three antennas reconfigures its operating frequency or radiation pattern based on a physical movement of some of its radiating parts. The antennas discussed vary from a frequency reconfigurable quadrifilar helix to a frequency reconfigurable sector monopole as well as a radiation pattern reconfigurable patch. The antennas discussed are fabricated and measured where a good analogy is found with the predicted data.
Sustainable livestock production in sub-arctic Alaska: Plant and soil responses to simulated intensively managed grazing

Abstract Managing a robust pasture ecosystem and optimizing available forage under sub-arctic conditions in interior Alaska is a challenge. The region is characterized by a short growing season, slow residue decomposition rates and undeveloped soils that are vulnerable to compaction and erosion. The goal of this research was to examine the relative and combined role of grazing mechanisms; herbivory, trampling, and manure/urine deposition on forage yield and soil health in sub-arctic pastures within a simulated intensively managed rotational grazing (IMRG) framework. A full factorial experiment of muskox (Ovibos moschatus) manure/urine deposition (M), simulated trampling (T), and herbivory (forage clipping) (H), and control (C) mimicking IMRG timing and intensity, was conducted at the Robert G. White Large Animal Research Station, University of Alaska, Fairbanks. The simulations were conducted on 48–1 m2 plots on hilltop and hill bottom pastures with different vegetation and soil types, over the 2014 and 2015 grazing seasons. The control represented a pasture absent of grazing and served as a comparison of the treatments to restorative rest of grazing land. Grazing treatments MH and MTH had a positive impact on forage yield, while T and MT had a negative impact compared to C (p
Management of hemothorax after thoracic endovascular aortic repair for ruptured aneurysms

Background Thoracic aortic aneurysm rupture is often a fatal condition. Emergent thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) has emerged as a suitable treatment option. Unfortunately, respiratory complications from hemothorax continue to be an important cause of morbidity and mortality even after successful management of the aortic rupture. We hypothesize that early hemothorax decompression after TEVAR for ruptured aneurysms decreases the rate of postoperative respiratory complications. Methods Single-center, retrospective eight-year review of ruptured thoracic aneurysms treated with TEVAR. Results Seventeen patients presented with ruptured degenerative thoracic aortic aneurysms, all of which were successfully treated emergently with TEVAR. The mean age was 74 years among the 12 (70.6%) men and 5 (29.4%) women treated. Inpatient and 30-day mortality rates for the entire cohort were both 17.6% (three patients). The 90-day mortality rate was 47.1% (eight patients). Thirty-day morbidities of the entire cohort included stroke ( n = 1, 5.9%), spinal cord ischemia ( n = 3, 17.6%; only one was temporary), cardiac arrest ( n = 4, 23.5%; 3 were fatal), respiratory failure ( n = 5, 29.4%), and renal failure ( n = 5, 29.4%). A large hemothorax was identified in the majority of patients ( n = 14, 82.4%). While six (42.9% of 14) patients had immediate chest tube decompression on the day of index procedure, three (21.4% of 14) patients had decompression on postoperative day 1, 4, and 7, respectively. Although not statistically significant, there were trends toward higher rates of respiratory failure (50.0% vs. 16.7%, P = 0.198) and 90-day mortality (62.5% vs. 33.3%, P = 0.280) for patients with delayed or no hemothorax decompression when compared to patients with immediate hemothorax decompression. Conclusions The morbidity and mortality of ruptured degenerative thoracic aortic aneurysms remains high despite the introduction of TEVAR. In this single-center experience, there was a trend toward decreased respiratory complications and increased survival with early chest decompression of hemothorax after TEVAR.
Performance analysis of MMF-based transmission network fault diagnosis via randomized hybrid simulations

In this paper, a hybrid simulation study is carried out on the 68-bus 16-machine test system to assess the performance of a recently developed fault diagnosis scheme using multiple-model filters (MMF) built on partitioned electric network models. Our main interest lies with the effectiveness of a secondary protection system, in which diagnosis plays a key role in enabling reliable and timely recovery from misoperations in the conventional primary protection. The hybrid simulation involves both event — driven and time — driven dynamics with arrivals of transmission short-circuit faults as independent Poisson processes among transmission lines and the fault location uniformly distributed along the short-circuited line. This paper reports only on the dependability enhancement through the diagnosis scheme, which is measured by the probability of successful fault diagnosis by the secondary protection given that the primary protection has failed to diagnose the fault.
Older Patients Have Better Pain Outcomes Following Microvascular Decompression for Trigeminal Neuralgia.

Background Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) increases in prevalence with age. Although microvascular decompression (MVD) is the most effective long-term operative treatment for TN, its use in older patient populations has been debated due to its invasive nature. Recent studies have demonstrated safety of MVD in older patients; however, efficacy data are more limited. Objective To determine the relationship between age and pain outcomes following MVD for TN. Methods Subjects underwent MVD for TN at our institution between 1/1/2004 and 12/31/2013, had typical TN, and demonstrated neurovascular compression on preoperative imaging. We performed a retrospective case series study by reviewing the electronic medical records and performing phone interviews to determine long-term outcomes. We divided patients into 2 groups for analysis, under 60 and 60 yr of age and older. Results One hundred twenty-four subjects were included in the study, 82 under 60, and 42 60 yr of age and older. The average length of follow-up was 42.4 mo. Patients in the older age group had average pain score of 1.57 at most recent follow-up, while for the younger age group it was 2.18 (P = .0084). Multiple regression analysis found that older age, male gender, and preoperative medication responsiveness were significantly correlated with lower long-term pain scores, while V2 dermatome involvement was correlated with higher long-term pain scores. Conclusion Patients 60 yr of age and older have significantly better long-term pain outcomes following MVD than younger patients.
Using an Object-Based Approach to Quantify the Spatial Structure of Reflectivity Regions in Hurricane Isabel (2003). Part I: Comparisons between Radar Observations and Model Simulations

AbstractWhen a hurricane undergoes extratropical transition (ET), its rainbands evolve from a circular and compact shape to a more elongated, fragmented, and dispersed configuration with an exposed circulation center. This study calculates five metrics to measure these spatial changes in reflectivity regions as Hurricane Isabel (2003) underwent ET. A mosaic of observations from the Weather Surveillance Radar-1988 Doppler (WSR-88D) network is compared to reflectivity simulated by the Advanced Research Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF-ARW) Model. Six simulations are performed by varying the cumulus and microphysics parameterizations to produce a range of reflectivity configurations. A bias correction is applied to model-simulated reflectivity prior to the calculation of spatial metrics because lower reflectivity values are generally underrepresented, while higher values are generally overrepresented. However, the simulation with Kain–Fritsch cumulus and Morrison two-moment microphysics overpredicts ref...
La CEPAL en su contexto histórico

Esta conferencia destaca rasgos de la situacion colonial de America Latina que condicionaron el desempeno economico y social de la region en el siglo XIX y principios del XX. Trata con particular detalle el caso argentino, encontrando en los sucesos posteriores a la primera guerra mundial y de inicios de la segunda, antecedentes de la formacion y experiencia de Raul Prebisch, quien 30 anos despues imprimiria a la cepal sus caracteristicas fundamentales. Examina las ideas aportadas por la cepal al debate sobre el desarrollo latinoamericano y la evolucion de los paises que aplicaron algunas de ellas; tambien las circunstancias externas e internas que desde mediados del decenio de 1970 mutaron el entorno en que se aplicaban las politicas de desarrollo. Por ultimo, senala los cambios mas recientes en la situacion economica mundial y el papel de la cepal en la defensa de las ideas de libertad, bienestar y tolerancia, esencia de la civilizacion moderna.
Revealing Uncertainty in Maps of Glacial Lake Algonquin

This paper examines the effects that uncertainty in digital elevation data has on results obtained from a spatial model. Ongoing analysis of glacial Lake Algonquin in northern Michigan has used a spatial model to interpolate unknown shoreline locations between known shoreline positions. Extant shoreline features were surveyed with global positioning technology and ancient shorelines were reconstructed using a DEM and a statistical model of isostatic rebound. However, shoreline data contain relatively small measurement errors and relatively large errors are associated with the DEM. These errors, when propagated through a series of GIS operations, may render uncertain results. This research recognises and attempts to assess these errors in order to produce a new map of Lake Algonquin shorelines — one that illustrates shorelines and areas of positional uncertainty. Results indicate that even small errors in input data can contribute uncertainty to model output. Understanding these uncertainties can be valuable to further research concerning these and other ancient shorelines.