cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Orally bioavailable dual MMP-1/MMP-14 sparing, MMP-13 selective alpha-sulfone hydroxamates.

A series of phenyl piperidine α-sulfone hydroxamate derivatives has been prepared utilizing a combination of solution-phase and resin-bound library technologies to afford compounds that are potent and highly selective for MMP-13, are dual-sparing of MMP-1 and MMP-14 (MT1-MMP) and exhibit oral bioavailability in rats.
Attrition in Otolaryngology Residency

Attrition is a disruptive problem in residency training programs. Resident attrition has been more thoroughly investigated and reported in other medical fields with limited data specific to oto- laryngology. Using a Web-based survey of otolaryngology resi- dency program directors, information regarding a 5-year cohort of residents was collected. The survey response rate was 61% (59 of 97 programs), representing 779 of 1239 training posi- tions (63%). Forty-two percent of responding programs (25 of 59) lost a total of 47 residents (range, 1-7; mode 1). The over- all attrition rate was 6% for the 5-year cohort (47 of 779) or 1.2% annually. Involuntary attrition affected 6 residents. Eighteen residents voluntarily left for other medical programs. Four left medicine entirely. The remaining 19 residents' career paths were not described. Attrition within otolaryngology occurs with less frequency than general surgery and is likely comparable to other surgical subspecialties.
COMPREHENSIVE OIL SPILL LIABILITY AND COMPENSATION LEGISLATION

ABSTRACT Comprehensive oil spill liability and compensation legislation has eluded the United States for about 12 years, despite the fact that well-crafted legislation would benefit all interested parties. The public would be better protected from catastrophic effects of oil spills; industry (both oil and shipping) would be provided reasonable limits of liability (or alternative measures); and state governments would become full partners in federally funded oil spill responses. Most of the parties who would be affected by oil spill legislation have made substantial contributions and shown increased flexibility since 1984. Still, one major hurdle must be crossed before legislation can become a reality: state liability law preemption.
Basic Biological Sciences Cariogenicity of Human Oral Lactobacilli in Hamsters

Of 50 strains of lactobacilli isolated from dental plaque of school children, two strains, provisionally identified as Lactobacillus salivarius, and one strain, provisionally identified as Lactobacillus fermentum, induced significant caries activity in conventional hamsters. Sucrose was a required dietary cariogenic substrate and could not be replaced with glucose or starch. In contrast to cariogenic strains of Streptococcus mutans the active lactobacilli did not form adherent sucrose-mediated plaques in vitro, did not form intracellular iodophilic polysaccharides and did not form detectable insoluble extracellular polyglucans.
Photocurrent generated on a carotenoid-sensitized TiO2 nanocrystalline mesoporous electrode

Photocurrent was observed upon monochromatic illumination of an ITO electrode coated with a TiO2 nanocrystalline mesoporous membrane with carotenoid 8 0 -apo-b-caroten-8 0 -oic acid (ACOA) deposited as a sensitizer (illuminated area 0.25 cm 2 ) and immersed in an aqueous 10 mM hydroquinone (H2Q), 0.1 M NaH2PO4 solution (pH = 7.4) purged with argon, using a platinum flag counter electrode (area 3.3 cm 2 ) and a SCE reference electrode. The carotenoid-sensitized short-circuit photocurrent reached 4.6 mA/cm 2 upon a 40mW/cm 2 incident light beam at 426 nm, with an IPCE (%, incident monochromatic photon-to-photocurrent conversion efficiency) as high as 34%. The short-circuit photocurrent was stable during 1 h of continuous illumination with only a 10% decrease. An open-circuit voltage of 0.15 V was obtained (upon 426 nm, 40mW/cm 2 illumination) which remained at a constant value for hours. The observed open-circuit voltage is close to the theoretical value (0.22 V) expected in such a system. The action spectrum resembled the absorption spectrum of ACOA bound on the TiO2 membrane with a maximum near 426 nm. No decay of the ACOA on the TiO 2 surface was observed after 12 h, presumably because of rapid regeneration of ACOA from ACOA C at the surface by electron transfer from H2Q. ©2000 Elsevier Science
Inertial Focusing in Microfluidics

When Segre and Silberberg in 1961 witnessed particles in a laminar pipe flow congregating at an annulus in the pipe, scientists were perplexed and spent decades learning why such behavior occurred, finally understanding that it was caused by previously unknown forces on particles in an inertial flow. The advent of microfluidics opened a new realm of possibilities for inertial focusing in the processing of biological fluids and cellular suspensions and created a field that is now rapidly expanding. Over the past five years, inertial focusing has enabled high-throughput, simple, and precise manipulation of bodily fluids for a myriad of applications in point-of-care and clinical diagnostics. This review describes the theoretical developments that have made the field of inertial focusing what it is today and presents the key applications that will make inertial focusing a mainstream technology in the future.
A Three-Pathway Pore Model Describes Extensive Transport Data from Mammalian Microvascular Beds and Frog Microvessels

Objective:To show that a three-pathway pore model can describe extensive transport data in cat and rat skeletal muscle microvascular beds and in frog mesenteric microvessels. Methods:A three-pathway pore model was used to predict transport data measured in various microcirculatory preparations. The pathways consist of 4- and 24-nm radii pore systems with a 2.5:1 ratio of hydraulic conductivities and a water-only pathway of variable conductivity. The pore sizes and relative hydraulic conductivities of the small- and large-pore systems were derived from a model fit to reflection coefficient (σ) data in the cat hindlimb. The fraction (αw) of total hydraulic conductivity (Lp) or hydraulic capacity (LpS) contributed by the water-only pathway was uniquely determined for each preparation by a fit of the three-pathway model (parameters fixed as above) to σ data measured in that preparation. These parameter values were unchanged when the model was used to predict diffusion capacity (permeability-surface area produ...
Jurassic Suprastructure in the Delano Mountains, Northeastern Elko County, Nevada

K-Ar dating of a granitic stock in the Delano Mountains, northeastern Elko County, Nevada, documents probable Jurassic tectonism. Permian(?) sedimentary rocks have been cut by low-angle bedding-plane faults and synchronously and (or) later have been folded into one major, and several other minor, broad, symmetrical, open folds. Emplacement of a granitic stock at 135 m.y. B.P. through the previously deformed strata and subsequent Tertiary normal faulting added to the structural complexity of the area. It is suggested that the relatively moderate pre-Tertiary deformation in the Delano Mountains represents the upper tectonic level of a pre-Cretaceous (Jurassic) suprastructure in Elko County and vicinity.
Why persons choose to opt out of an exception from informed consent cardiac arrest trial

Background We sought to characterize persons who requested to opt out of an exception from informed consent (EFIC) cardiac arrest trial and their reasons for opting out.
On the structured singular value for operators on Hilbert space

In this note, we discuss some new results concerning a lifting method introduced by the authors in order to study the structured singular value applied to input/output operators of control systems. We moreover give a new criterion which guarantees that the structured singular value equals its upper bound defined by D-scalings.
The Hazards of Physician Advertising.

![Figure][1] For more than a century, the medical community has been battling the pressures around physician advertising. In 1899, Dr. Robert Babcock wrote: “All means are dishonorable and quackish which are intended to advertise the practitioner of medicine as such, directly to the
Abstract 16013: The Estimation of End-Diastolic Pressure by Echocardiography in Transplant Patients

Background: American Society of Echocardiography and European Association of Echocardiography (ASE/EAE) have proposed a multiparametric algorithm to predict left ventricular (LV) end-diastolic pressures (EDP). We evaluated the ability of diastolic parameters used in the ASE/EAE algorithm to predict EDP in patients post heart transplantation. Methods and Results: We assessed 53 consecutive transplant patients (40 men, age 57±11 yrs, EF 50±33 %) in whom echocardiography and invasive LV systolic (SBP) and EDP measurement were performed within 24 hours. Early diastolic to atrial wave velocity ratio of the mitral inflow (E/A), early diastolic velocity of mitral annulus measured at its septal and lateral side and averaged (e’), isovolumic relaxation time (IVRT), left atrial volume index (LAVI), right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP), time interval between the onset of early diastolic velocities at mitral annulus and mitral inflow (Tea-Te’), and time constant of isovolumic pressure decay (tau; calculated as IVRT/[ln{SBP]-ln(EDP)] were measured. Ability of parameters to predict EDP was compared using linear regression. Receiver operating characteristic analysis was used to evaluate parameters’ ability to discriminate EDP of ≥20 mmHg. Only E/e’ ratio significantly correlated with EDP (r= 0.56, p Conclusion: E/e’ ratio predicts elevated EDP, while lateral and averaged mitral annulus velocities correlate with tau in transplant patients.
Integral Bases for the Universal Enveloping Algebras of Cartan Map Superalgebras

Let 𝔤 be a finite dimensional complex simple Lie superalgebra of Cartan type and A be a commutative, associative algebra with unity over ℂ. We refer to the Lie superalgebras of the form 𝔤 ⊗ A as Cartan map superalgebras. In this paper, following Bagci and Chamberlin (J. of Pure and Applied Algebra 218(8), 1563–1576, 2014), we define an integral form for the universal enveloping algebra of the Cartan map superalgebras, and exhibit an explicit integral basis for this integral form.
Poor man's LMA: achieving adequate ventilation with a poor mask seal.

This report describes a technique of ventilation prior to laryngoscopy and intubation that proved to be simple, inexpensive and effective for a patient whose airway evaluation suggested difficult mask ventilation. The technique is called Poor Man’s LMA. A 60-yr-old male, measuring 170 cm, weighing 117 kg, edentulous and with a full beard, was to undergo uvulopalatopharyngoplasty. After induction of general anesthesia with a hypnotic, analgesic and non-depolarizing muscle relaxant, it was soon determined that mask bag ventilation was difficult due to an inadequate seal between the mask and the patient’s full beard. To improve ventilation, an endotracheal tube was placed into the oropharynx, the lips and nose compressed by a colleague in order to prevent gas egress, and effective manual ventilation established by connecting the circle system to the endotracheal tube. Subsequent direct laryngoscopy and intubation were accomplished without incident. The patient’s clinical features made conventional mask bag ventilation difficult and inadequate. The Poor Man’s LMA technique improved oxygenation and ventilation in preparation for intubation. Further investigations on the usefulness of this technique are warranted.
Study of Ge Threading Dislocations Post Growth Treatments

Threading dislocation density (TDD) of epitaxial Ge layer on Si was explored by defect etching. Ge samples were etched by chromium free Dash etching solution, and the influence of post process annealing was studied. The first part of this work deals with the comparison of two characterization methods for TDD: AFM of etch pits and TEM. The etch rate and morphology of Dash solution on pure Ge is introduced. The morphology and density of the etched pits is introduced for various annealing conditions after the growth.
P-032 Vitamin D in African Americans with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Background:Lower vitamin D levels, in the form of 25(OH)D have been established as associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in Caucasian populations. Vitamin D is thought to play an immunoregulatory role in (IBD). We conducted a case-control study to compare vitamin 25(OH)D levels in African
Enhanced Electrochemical Methanation of Carbon Dioxide with a Dispersible Nanoscale Copper Catalyst

Although the vast majority of hydrocarbon fuels and products are presently derived from petroleum, there is much interest in the development of routes for synthesizing these same products by hydrogenating CO2. The simplest hydrocarbon target is methane, which can utilize existing infrastructure for natural gas storage, distribution, and consumption. Electrochemical methods for methanizing CO2 currently suffer from a combination of low activities and poor selectivities. We demonstrate that copper nanoparticles supported on glassy carbon (n-Cu/C) achieve up to 4 times greater methanation current densities compared to high-purity copper foil electrodes. The n-Cu/C electrocatalyst also exhibits an average Faradaic efficiency for methanation of 80% during extended electrolysis, the highest Faradaic efficiency for room-temperature methanation reported to date. We find that the level of copper catalyst loading on the glassy carbon support has an enormous impact on the morphology of the copper under catalytic con...
An Analysis of the Impact of the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 on the Valuation of REITs and the Adverse Selection Component of the Bid/Ask Spread

Executive Summary. This study analyzes the impact of the Taxpayer Relief Act (TRA) of 1997 on Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs). The findings indicate that there are no price effects on the day...
Does the Polling Station Environment Matter? The Relation Between Voting Machine Layouts Within Polling Stations And Anticipated System Usability

This study sought to understand if voting equipment layouts impacted anticipated voting system usability. Thirty-five participants viewed photorealistic rendered images of twelve different voting s...
The case for conservative surgical management of the ilioinguinal region after inadequate orchiectomy

AbstractWe describe 16 patients who underwent conservative surgical treatment of the ilioinguinal region after transscrotal orchiectomy had demonstrated a non-seminomatous germ cell tumor. Treatment consisted of an en bloc partial scrotectomy and removal of the remaining spermatic cord, usually through 2 incisions. Residual disease was present in 3 patients (19 per cent) but malignant disease has not recurred in any. It is concluded that an inguinal lymphadenectomy is not warranted routinely in such patients.
Incorporating Indications into Medication Ordering — Time to Enter the Age of Reason

Beyond the five “rights” for safe medication ordering and use — the right patient, right drug, right dose, right time, and right route — a sixth element must be correct: the indication. Indications based prescribing can improve medication use in multiple ways.
Waste Minimization Data/Information Requirements—A General Approach For Manufacturing

It is essential that a methodical step–by–step approach is adopted to bring the various groups together and ensure the implementation of any waste minimization program. The approach should be flexible enough to adapt itself to unexpected circumstances. Such an approach also ensures the exploitation of maximum waste minimization opportunities. A typical approach which has been tried and tested in several situations is discussed here.
National Health Insurance: Physical Therapists’ Attitudes

APTA members living in New England were surveyed by a mail questionnaire to assess their attitudes toward National Health Insurance. Respondents' strata included educators, private practitioners, and clinicians. Generally, respondents believed that National Health Insurance was inevitable, would not cause unnecessary use of physical therapy services, and would not affect the individual therapist's professional freedom. The majority of the respondents judged themselves not well informed about the health plan. Respondents' perceptions of their peers' views of National Health Insurance were inaccurate. Options favored by the respondents under a hypothetical health plan are reported. Results indicate that the physical therapists surveyed generally favored National Health Insurance and thought the APTA should represent them in planning such a program. No significant differences in attitude toward National Health Insurance could be attributed to respondent strata or any of the personal data collected.
Designing Homework to Mediate Executive Functioning Deficits in Students With Disabilities

Designing homework to mediate executive functioning disorders of students with disabilities is critical to their future academic success. The article explains and defines different executive functions of the brain and how these impact students’ ability to benefit from homework assignments. Specific strategies are provided for designing differentiated homework assignments that mediate executive functioning skills.
Prescribing of benzodiazepines and opioids to individuals with substance use disorders

Abstract Background Benzodiazepines are recommended for short-term use due to risk of dependence. This study examined characteristics associated with benzodiazepine and opioid dispensing of 7+ days in a Medicaid population with substance use disorder (SUD). Methods Using 2014 MarketScan® data, we performed zero-inflated negative binomial regression to ascertain characteristics associated with longer-term use of these medications. Results Nearly 14% of those with SUDs received 1+ fills of benzodiazepines of 7+ days. The highest rates were among those aged 45–64 (IRR = 2.38, p Conclusions For many people with SUDs, receiving a benzodiazepine or opioid prescription of 7+ days is not a single occurrence; patients in our sample were more likely to receive 2+ fills than to receive one. Longer-term prescribing is most pronounced among those with co-occurring anxiety disorders. This suggests that anxiety in those with SUD should preferentially not be treated using benzodiazepines. Longer-term polypharmacy with benzodiazepines and opioids coincided. Overdoses among those using both drugs are growing and this study provides evidence that attention to the opioid epidemic should include attention to polypharmacy that includes benzodiazepines.
Regulation of Dietary Nitrate and Nitrite: Balancing Essential Physiological Roles with Potential Health Risks

US and European Union regulatory limits on nitrates in drinking water are necessary to limit environmental pollution known as eutrophication. Health concerns of excessive nitrate and nitrite consumption have driven regulatory actions due to perceived risk of methemoglobinemia in infants and gastrointestinal cancer risk in adults. The World Health Organization’s Acceptable Daily Intake recommendations for nitrate can be exceeded by normal daily intakes of single foods and recommended dietary patterns, such as the DASH diet. Inconsistent positions on the health risks and benefits of foods containing nitrates and nitrites by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) may contribute to confusion for consumers; regulators must take the opportunity to clarify and expand upon these positions in order to provide coherent dietary guidance. The established vasoprotective, blood pressure lowering, and antiplatelet aggregation properties of nitrite alone, or of nitrite originating from dietary nitrate, requires a new regulatory paradigm that incorporates the concepts of physiological deficiency, sufficiency and excess. There is a need to engage an independent panel of experts from academia, industry, and governmental and non-governmental sectors to undertake the first comprehensive, systematic review of the potential health risks and benefits of food sources of nitrates and nitrites. U.S. Institute of Medicine’s Dietary Reference Intake paradigm may be a useful guide to the development of coherent dietary nitrate and nitrite intake recommendations.
Intrusion of Atheroma into the Most Fibrotically Thickened Intimal Sites

A large bulk of fibroplastic matrix around the intimai SMC’s could be the usual rate limiting step in the evolution toward atheroma. Does that matrix act by way of trapping atherogenic lipids? Sampling theory can provide important evidence.
Lambert–Eaton myasthenic syndrome: mouse passive-transfer model illuminates disease pathology and facilitates testing therapeutic leads

Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS) is an autoimmune disorder caused by antibodies directed against the voltage-gated calcium channels that provide the calcium ion flux that triggers acetylcholine release at the neuromuscular junction. To study the pathophysiology of LEMS and test candidate therapeutic strategies, a passive-transfer animal model has been developed in mice, which can be created by daily intraperitoneal injections of LEMS patient serum or IgG into mice for 2-4 weeks. Results from studies of the mouse neuromuscular junction have revealed that each synapse has hundreds of transmitter release sites but that the probability for release at each one is likely to be low. LEMS further reduces this low probability such that transmission is no longer effective at triggering a muscle contraction. The LEMS-mediated attack reduces the number of presynaptic calcium channels, disorganizes transmitter release sites, and results in the homeostatic upregulation of other calcium channel types. Symptomatic treatment is focused on increasing the probability of release from dysfunctional release sites. Current treatment uses the potassium channel blocker 3,4-diaminopyridine (DAP) to broaden the presynaptic action potential, providing more time for calcium channels to open. Current research is focused on testing new calcium channel gating modifiers that work synergistically with DAP.
Triple threat of mortality among advance cancer patients presenting to an emergency department.

138Background: Early identification of cancer patients with short survival will help address end of life issues and avoid costly interventions. Dyspnea, delirium, and poor performance are known to predict short survival in palliative care. Our goal is to test whether these 3 conditions could predict mortality in the emergency department (ED) setting because a shorter tool would be practical. Methods: We randomly selected 243 English-speaking patients with advanced cancer who presented to the MD Anderson hospital ED and who were judged clinically stable. Patients were assessed for the presence of delirium (Confusion Assessment Method and Memorial Delirium Assessment Scale), poor performance (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group score 3 or 4), and dyspnea (MD Anderson Symptom Inventory shortness of breath score > 5). All measures (survival and symptom) were available for 212 patients. Triple threat was defined as the presence of one of more of the 3 conditions: delirium (by either tool), poor performance, or ...
Ancient DNA and genetic continuity in the south central Andes

Alternative models of residential mobility have been proposed to explain the development and spread of Tiwanaku influ ence across the south central Andes. Within the Osmore drainage, the rich Moquegua Valley has been hypothesized as the site of a significant colonization event (or events) whereby both the natural and human landscape was transformed and integrated into the expansive Tiwanaku state. In this research, the impact of altiplano colonization is inferred from tempo ral and spatial patterns of genetic variation within and among native groups. Mitochondrial DNA haplogroup frequencies are used as the measure of genetic variation. The haplogroup data are determined for Moquegua Valley archaeological sam ples (Chen Chen site; A.D. 785-1000) and are compared to published data from 58 other ancient and contemporary native groups. The results support temporal and spatial genetic continuity in the south central Andes for the last 1,000 years. Con temporary Aymara speaking groups are exceptions to this pattern, perhaps because of recent population decline. While the altiplano colonization hypothesis is not rejected, moderate gene flow and relatively large population sizes likely charac terized much of south central Andean prehistory regardless of the contribution from Tiwanaku colonization events.
Depth of Muscularis Propria Invasion Does Not Prognosticate Survival in T2 Esophageal Adenocarcinoma.

Aim Although tumor depth of invasion is strongly associated with risk of lymph node metastasis and long-term survival in patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma, the significance of differential T2 invasion (inner circular layer versus outer longitudinal layer) is unknown. The current study was undertaken to explore the hypothesis that greater T2-specific depth of invasion is associated with inferior long-term outcomes in patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma treated with esophagectomy. Patients and methods Demographic, treatment, and outcome data were collected for patients with resected pT2N0-3M0 esophageal adenocarcinoma treated between 2005 and 2015 pooled from four U.S. academic medical centers. Two blinded pathologists evaluated depth of muscularis propria tumor invasion. Univariate and Cox proportional hazard regression analyses were performed to identify prognostic factors for overall (OS) and disease-free (DFS) survival, and Kaplan-Meier analysis to compare survival differences specific to prognostic factors. Results A total of 84 patients were identified for analysis (53 with circular invasion; 31 with longitudinal invasion), with a median age of 66 years. Sixty percent of patients (50/84) received induction therapy prior to esophagectomy. The median OS and DFS was 58 months (95% confidence interval(CI)=42 months-not reached) and 27 months (95% CI=13.7-66 months) respectively. Depth of muscularis propria invasion did not correlate with OS or DFS on univariate (p=0.42; and p=0.34, respectively) or multivariate (p=0.15 and p=0.21, respectively) analysis after adjustment for age, nodal status, perineural invasion, and tumor grade. These findings did not vary by induction therapy status. Conclusion Depth of muscularis propria invasion does not appear to correlate with survival in patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma.
Cyber Maneuver Against External Adversaries and Compromised Nodes

This article identifies the research issues and challenges from jamming and other attacks by external sources and insiders. Based on the spirit of cyber maneuver, it proposes a general framework to deal with such issues. Central to our framework is the notion of maneuver keys as spread-spectrum keys; they supplement the higher-level network cryptographic keys and provide the means to resist and respond to external and insider attacks. The framework also includes components for attack detection, identification of compromised nodes, and group rekeying that excludes compromised nodes. At this stage, much research is still needed on the design of each component as well as integrating these components seamlessly.
Decreased brain aromatase availability in overweight humans

340 Objectives Aromatase, the Cyp19A gene product, is the last enzyme in estrogen biosynthesis from androgens. The aromatase gene is locally expressed and differentially regulated in many organs and tissues (i.e. fat cells, brain). Aromatase expression is reportedly increased in fat tissue of subjects with a high body mass index (BMI), but the relationship between BMI and brain aromatase availability has not been investigated. Here we use [C-11]vorozole, an aromatase inhibitor tracer to assess aromatase availability in brain of overweight humans with PET. Methods Five healthy overweight subjects (3F/2M, 39.3±14.8 y/o, BMI = 29±2.8) and 13 age matched normal weight subjects (5F/8M, 35.1±15.5 y/o, BMI = 22.8±1.7) were scanned with [C-11]vorozole. PET data were acquired over a 90 min session and regions of interest placed bilaterally over selected brain regions (hypothalamus, amygdala, thalamus and cortical white matter). Brain and plasma time activity data were used to calculate the total distribution volume (VT) from a two-compartment model. The results were analyzed by 2-way ANOVA with repeated measures (group x region) and Pearson’s regression analysis. Results High BMI was associated with a significant (p Conclusions Reduced availability of aromatase in the brain of overweight subjects implies reduced conversion of androgens to estrogens in the brain. This finding is in line with animal data showing decreased food intake in animals administered with estradiol in the hypothalamus and other nuclei and supports the notion that human aromatase expression is regulated in a tissue-specific manner. Research Support Supported by DOE/OBER-infrastructure and BNL
Other Approaches to Environmental Geochemistry

It is significant that prior to the late 1970s, introductory texts in geochemistry omitted any reference to “environmental geochemistry” even though during the past twenty years the study of the geochemistry of the environment has become of major concern to the scientific community as a whole. For example, the chapter entitled “Objectives and History of Geochemistry” in the introductory text by Wedepohl (1971) includes no reference to environmental geochemistry or to exploration geochemistry. Other scientists have also remarked on the lack of formal interest by geochemists in environmental geochemistry. For example, in a preface to the published proceedings of a symposium held at the 162nd meeting of the American Chemical Society in Washington, D.C., on September 15, 1971, Kothny (1973) stated: This volume represents perhaps the first effort to fit geochemistry into environmental science. In studying environmental geochemistry we gain insight into the origin, transition and concentration of a particular element. Also we may assess the real impact of man-made alterations in natural environments. In fact, the natural cycle of a few elements is altered in smaller environments, but given enough time, they are incorporated back into the whole terrestial cycle. As the result of this alteration, anomalous metallic concentrations are discovered near cities, freeways, smelters, power plants and industrial plants. (p. vii)
Use of a commercial ion chamber detector array for the measurement of high spatial-resolution photon beam profiles.

Linear accelerator (linac) commissioning and quality assurance measurements are time-consuming tasks that often require a water tank scanning system to acquire profile scans for full characterization of dosimetric beam properties. To increase efficiency, a method is demonstrated to acquire variable resolution, photon beam profile data using a commercially available ion chamber array (0.5 cm detector spacing). Field sizes of 2 × 2, 5 × 5, 10 × 10, and 15 × 15 cm2 were acquired at depths in solid water of dmax , 5 cm, and 10 cm; additionally, beam profiles for field sizes of 25 × 25 and 40 × 40 cm2 were acquired at 5 cm depth in solid water at x-ray energies of 6 and 23 MV. 1D composite profiles were generated by combining discrete point measurements made at multiple couch positions. The 1D composite profile dataset was evaluated against a commissioning dataset acquired with a 3D water tank scan system utilizing (a) 0.125 cc ion chamber for 5 × 5, 10 × 10, 15 × 15, 25 × 25, and 40 × 40 field sizes and (b) a solid state detector for 2 × 2 cm2 field size. The two datasets were compared to the gamma criteria at 1%/1 mm and 2%/2 mm tolerance. Almost all pass rates exceeded 95% at 2%/2 mm except for the 6 MV 2 × 2 cm2 field size at dmax . Pass rates at 1%/1 mm ranged from 51% to 99%, with an average pass rate of 82%. A fourfold reduction in MU was achieved for scans larger than 15 × 15 cm2 using this method compared to the water tank scans. Further, dynamic wedge measurements acquired with the ion chamber array showed reasonable agreement with the treatment planning system. This method opens up new possibilities for rapid acquisition of variable resolution 2D-3D dosimetric data mitigating the need for acquiring all scan data with in-water measurements.
Detection of Impending Ramp for Improved Wind Farm Power Forecasting

Detection of impending front-induced ramp events is studied as a new class of change detection problem - change detection for multiple time series with spatial dependency. A critical step to ramp event detection is to capture the spatial dependency between neighbor turbines’ power output. To this end, a graphical model is utilized to model the dependency of turbine-level ramp events. Then, change point detection is carried out for the time series of individual turbines’ power output, by using the belief from neighbor turbines in the dependency graph. Once an impending ramp is detected, the magnitude of ramp is then forecasted by using current measurement data. A key observation is that due to the movement of front, the best predictors for individual turbines’ power output vary across three different regions of the wind farm. With this insight, different predictive models are adopted for forecasting power output from each region. Through numerical experiments, the proposed detection-based wind power forecasting method is proven to outperform conventional methods for wind power ramps.
Analysis of Current Ripple in Ćuk Converter Topologies - A Novel Approach

Rooftop solar energy for electricity generation is becoming increasingly popular. An ideal photovoltaic interface has ripple-free terminal currents and a high step-up ratio along with compact design. The Cuk converter is an ideal choice for such applications due to its unique quality of wide operating range. With integrated magnetics, the Cuk converter is capable of operating as a DC transformer, with ripple-free input and output currents. However, only a few users readily adapt Cuk converter in their systems due to the complexity of design aspects and lack of a simple procedure for determining the ideal integrated magnetics that yield ‘zero-ripple’ terminal currents. This paper provides a novel, descriptive approach with an analytical basis for determining the component values that cater to a wide range of applications for a coupled inductor Cuk converter topology and compares it with the basic Cuk converter topology. MATLAB scripts have been written to facilitate the approach and PLECS models have been created to validate the results.
Effect of laparoscopic vs . open distal gastrectomy on 3-year disease free survival in patients with locally advanced gastric cancer: commentary on the class-01 randomized clinical trial

Gastric cancer is a malignancy which displays a unique geographic distribution, with a high incidence in Eastern countries such as South Korea, Japan and China. Western countries, such as the United States and countries of Europe, do not have a high incidence.
A rapid technique for the determination of secondary electron emission yield from complex surfaces

Plasma-wall interaction in the presence of secondary electron emission (SEE) can lead to a degradation and reduction in the performance of plasma devices. Materials with complex surface architectures such as velvet, fuzz, and feathered surfaces have a lower SEE yield than the same materials with a flat surface and can, therefore, be useful for plasma applications. This reduction in the SEE is due to the trapping of secondary electrons in the microcavities formed by complex surfaces. In this paper, we present a rapid method for a simultaneous comparison of the SEE yield and surface properties of materials with different surface architectures. The method uses Scanning Electron Microscopy to simultaneously evaluate the surface morphologies and SEE yield properties for a microarchitectured surface. This technique was applied to carbon velvets, and results show agreement with recent theoretical models and with the direct determination of the SEE yield from measurements of the currents of the primary electrons impinging the surface and of the secondary electrons emitted from the surface.
fNIRS examination of mental workload changes during N-back tasks (Conference Presentation)

Working memory (WM) is part of the short-term memory storage in human brain. N-back is a WM task to assess mental workload on the prefrontal cortex (PFC). In this work, we studied how mental workload changes in an N-back task over the length of the experiment. We focused on two task levels of two- and three-back. Examining both hemodynamics and behavioral data (correct answers), we found a significant difference between 2-back and 3-back tasks and a significant difference between the beginning and end of the 3-back task.
Cancer/Testis Antigens Differentially Expressed in Prostate Cancer: Potential New Biomarkers and Targets for Immunotherapies

Abstract Current clinical tests for prostate cancer (PCa), such as the PSA test, are not fully capable of discerning patients that are highly likely to develop metastatic prostate cancer (MPCa). Hence, more accurate prediction tools are needed to provide treatment strategies that are focused on the different risk groups. Cancer/testis antigens (CTAs) are expressed during embryonic development and present aberrant expression in cancer making them ideal tumor specific biomarkers. Here, the potential use of a panel of CTAs as a biomarker for PCa detection as well as metastasis prediction is explored. We initially identified eight CTAs (CEP55, NUF2, PAGE4, PBK, RQCD1, SPAG4, SSX2 and TTK) that are differentially expressed in MPCa when compared to local disease and used this panel to compare the gene and protein expression profiles in paired PCa and normal adjacent prostate tissue. We identified differential expression of all eight CTAs at the protein level when comparing 80 paired samples of PCa and the adjacent non-cancer tissue. Using multiple logistic regression we also show that a panel of these CTAs present high accuracy to discriminate normal from tumor samples. In summary, this study provides evidence that a panel of CTAs, differentially expressed in aggressive PCa, is a potential biomarker for diagnosis and prognosis to be used in combination with the current clinically available tools and is also a potential target for immunotherapy development.
Donor–Acceptor Stenhouse Adducts: Exploring the Effects of Ionic Character

The effects of solution-state dielectric and intermolecular interactions on the degree of charge separation provide a route to understanding the switching properties and concentration dependence of donor-acceptor Stenhouse adducts (DASAs). Through solvatochromic analysis of the open-form DASA in conjunction with X-ray diffraction and computational theory, we have analyzed the ionic character of a series of DASAs. First- and third-generation architectures lead to a higher zwitterionic resonance contribution of the open form and a zwitterionic closed form, whereas the second-generation architecture possesses a less charge-separated open form and neutral closed form. This can be correlated with equilibrium control and photoswitching solvent compatibility. As a result of the high contribution of the zwitterionic resonance forms of first- and third-generation DASAs, we were able to control their switching kinetics by means of ion concentration, whereas second-generation DASAs were less affected. Importantly, these results show how the previously reported concentration dependence of DASAs is not universal, and that DASAs with a more hybrid structure in the open form can achieve photoswitching at high concentrations.
Relationships between patterns of weight-related self-monitoring and eating disorder symptomology among undergraduate and graduate students.

OBJECTIVE To characterize patterns of weight-related self-monitoring (WRSM) among US undergraduate and graduate students and examine associations between identified patterns of WRSM and eating disorder symptomology. METHOD Undergraduate and graduate students from 12 US colleges and universities (N = 10,010) reported the frequency with which they use WRSM, including self-weighing and dietary self-monitoring. Eating disorder symptomology was assessed using the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire. Gender-specific patterns of WRSM were identified using latent class analysis, and logistic regressions were used to identify differences in the odds of eating disorder symptomology across patterns of WRSM. RESULTS Among this sample, 32.7% weighed themselves regularly; 44.1% reported knowing the nutrition facts of the foods they ate; 33.6% reported knowing the caloric content of the foods they ate; and 12.8% counted the calories they ate. Among women, four patterns of WRSM were identified: "no WRSM," "all forms of WRSM," "knowing nutrition/calorie facts," and "self-weigh only." Compared with the "no WRSM" pattern, women in all other patterns experienced increased eating disorder symptomology. Among men, three patterns were identified: "no WRSM," "all forms of WRSM," and "knowing nutrition/calorie facts." Only men in the "all forms WRSM" pattern had increased eating disorder symptomatology compared with those in the "no WRSM" pattern. DISCUSSION In a large sample of undergraduate and graduate students, engaging in any WRSM was associated with increased eating disorder symptomology among women, particularly for those who engaged in all forms. Among men, engaging in all forms of WRSM was the only pattern associated with higher eating disorder symptomology.
Integration of Palliative Care in the Role of the Oncology Advanced Practice Nurse

Numerous organizations have cited the increasing demand for palliative care in oncology and the challenge of a limited workforce to deliver specialty palliative care. Advanced practitioners in oncology can provide generalist or primary palliative care to complement the care provided by specialists and enhance the overall provision of care. This article reports on a National Cancer Institute-funded training program to prepare advanced practice nurses to incorporate palliative care within their practice. One-year follow-up of the first three national cohorts (N = 276) included evaluation of goal achievement as these nurses integrated palliative care within their oncology practice. Goal analysis reported here demonstrates the success of the training program in impacting practice as well as the barriers to implementation efforts. The advanced practice registered nurses' implemented goals included extensive training of clinicians across disciplines and numerous systems changes to improve delivery of palliative care. Advanced practice nurses will continue to be a valuable source of extending palliative care into oncology care to support patients and families across the disease trajectory.
Electronic nicotine delivery systems: use, knowledge, and attitudes among diverse college students.

The purpose of this study was to examine Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) use among nonusers in diverse college students. Participants: Participants were college students enrolled at a H...
Vapor-selective active membrane energy exchanger for high efficiency outdoor air treatment

Abstract As much as 40% of the total load on air conditioning systems can be attributed to condensation dehumidification. However, new water vapor-selective membranes present a unique opportunity to greatly reduce the power requirements for moisture removal by avoiding phase change and have thus been ranked as a top alternative to traditional HVAC systems. To date, however, all such systems have relied on the assumption of constant temperature, even terming the technology “isothermal dehumidification.” This work proposes a membrane-based air cooling and dehumidification approach, referred to as the Active Membrane Energy Exchanger (AMX), which is the first to provide simultaneous, yet decoupled, air cooling and dehumidification. The suggested AMX configuration uses two vapor-selective membrane modules with a water vapor compressor in between them, using the second membrane module to reject vapor into the exhaust stream. Cooling and heating coils in each membrane module channel move heat between the air streams using a vapor compression cycle. A detailed steady-state, thermodynamic model is presented for the AMX integrated within a 100% outdoor air conditioning system. The AMX’s limiting parameters and design considerations like compressor efficiency are systematically analyzed for a broad range of outdoor air conditions and compared against standard and state-of-the-art dedicated outdoor air systems. This new high efficiency approach is found to outperform all other standard and state-of-the-art systems, achieving 1.2–4.7 times the COP over conventional dedicated outdoor air treatment. Lastly, a building simulation case study predicted cooling energy savings as high as 66% in hospital buildings with 100% outdoor systems in hot, humid climates.
The global water crises: a cross-national analysis of metabolic rift theory

Unchecked consumption, extraction, and growth have resulted in severe damage to ecological systems. Fresh water issues constitute one of the great challenges for political ecologists. On the one hand, there is a human health and development crisis and over 700 million people still lack access to clean, safe drinking water. On the other hand, there is a growing environmental water crisis regarding water scarcity, water stress, and freshwater resource depletion. This analysis utilizes metabolic rift theory to demonstrate the disruptive consequences that human development and agriculture have on the water cycle. I use two-way fixed effects longitudinal regression for 176 nations from 1970-2015 to test how agriculture, capital, international aid, governance, and civil society are associated with two important water indicators: access to water and water stress. I find that agriculture is associated with higher levels of water stress and higher levels of water access. Higher GDP per capita and international aid increase water access but have no significant relationship with water stress. Additionally, international non-governmental organizations and environmental treaty ratifications are associated with decreased water stress, but also decreased water access. Therefore, I find that the disruptive processes of capital and development have differential impacts on these two interrelated water outcomes. This political ecological analysis suggests that simple solutions that address water access or water stress alone, without considering the interrelated aspects of global water issues, may inadvertently influence other facets of the world's growing water concerns. Furthermore, agriculture and development create an ever-growing metabolic rift in the processes that allow fresh water to replenish itself, leading to future global issues of water access and stress.
Intergranular SCC mechanism of ultrasonic nanocrystalline surface modified AISI 304 SS in H2SO4 solution containing chloride

Abstract In this work, the stress corrosion cracking (SCC) susceptibility of AISI 304 stainless steel processed using ultrasonic nanocrystalline surface modification (UNSM) treatment, was studied in 1 M H2SO4 containing 5 wt.% NaCl by means of combined slow strain rate test with electrochemical methods. The mechanical properties are improved by the UNSM, however the time to failure decreases due to the higher anodic dissolution kinetics of the UNSM sample, which remain in the order of mA/cm2 compared to µA/cm2 of the as-received (AR) sample. Adsorption of chloride ions has been identified by the presence of an inductive loop in the Nyquist plot, indicating a more reactive surface of the UNSM sample, which promotes dealloying of the metal. The development of several transgranular SCC (TG‒SCC) areas in the UNSM sample, compared to the AR, plus the nucleation of intergranular SCC (IG‒SCC) in the UNSM region is studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray micro-computed tomography (micro-CT), and electron back scattered diffraction (EBSD).