cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Graphene/Sulfur and Graphene Oxide/Sulfur Composite Cathodes for High Performance Li-S Batteries: A Molecular Dynamics Study

Lithium – sulfur (Li-S) battery, with theoretical capacity (∼1675 mAh/g) and energy density comparable to that of gasoline, is a promising technology meeting the demands of next-generation electric vehicles. However, the Li-S battery hasn’t been able to reach the theoretically predicted capacity due to several limitations, which include low electrical conductivity of pure sulfur cathode and loss of active material due to dissolution of intermediate polysulfides from the cathode during repetitive charge – discharge cycling referred commonly as “polysulfide shuttle”. Graphene/Graphene oxide (GO) are being explored as cathodes/cathode supports for Li-S batteries to alleviate these problems. We have employed molecular dynamics simulations to calculate the density distributions of polysulfides (S82−) in dimethoxy ethane (DME) – 2, 4 – dioxalane (DOL) electrolyte (1:1 v/v) in the vicinity of different graphene and GO structures, in order to study the impact of hydroxyl functional groups in GO on anchoring polysulfides. Density distribution of polysulfides provides valuable insight on the role of functional groups in successful anchoring of polysulfides onto the GO cathode supports structures.Copyright © 2016 by ASME
Quantifying the Benefits of Genome-Driven Oncology

Summary: The excitement surrounding genomically selected cancer therapy has led many to question whether this treatment paradigm is living up to its initial promise. The MOSCATO study suggests that a genome-driven strategy for cancer therapy improves outcomes in a significant minority of patients who undergo molecular screening. Cancer Discov; 7(6); 552–4. ©2017 AACR. See related article by Massard et al., p. 586 .
Influence of weakening minerals on ensemble strength and slip stability of faults

We explore the impact of phyllosilicate (weak but velocity-strengthening) in a majority tectosilicate (strong but velocity-weakening) matrix in bulk shear strength and slip stability of faults. Numerical simple-shear experiments using a Distinct Element Model (DEM) are conducted on both uniform mixtures of quartz and talc analogs and on textured mixtures consisting of a talc layer embedded in a quartz matrix. The mechanical response of particles is represented by a linear-elastic contact model with a slip weakening constitutive relation representing the essence of rate-state friction. The weight percentage of the talc in the uniform mixtures and the relative thickness of the talc layer in the textured mixtures are varied to investigate the transitional behavior of shear strength and slip stability. Specifically, for uniform mixtures, ~50% reduction on bulk shear strength is observed with 25% talc present, and a dominant influence of talc occurs at 50%; for textured mixtures, a noticeable weakening effect is shown at a relative layer thickness of 1-particle, ~50% shear strength reduction is observed with 3-particles, and a dominant influence occurs at 5-particles. In terms of slip stability, a transition from velocity-weakening to velocity-strengthening is observed with 10% to 25% talc present in the uniform mixtures or with 3-particles to 5-particles in the textured mixtures. In addition, further analysis suggest that quartz has a high tendency towards dilation, potentially promoting permeability; while talc dilates with increased slip rate, but compacts rapidly when slip rate is reduced, potentially destroying permeability. The simulation results match well with previous laboratory observations.
Changes in the Localization of Catalase During Differentiation of Neutrophilic Granulocytes

The nature of the compartmentalization of catalase in human myeloid cells is an unresolved issue. Using a rabbit polyclonal antibody specific for catalase, indirect immunocytofluorescence of immature leukemic promyelocytes (HL-60 cells) showed a pattern of small, sharp, punctate staining in the cytoplasm of all cells, while mature neutrophils showed a larger diffuse, flocculent pattern of cytoplasmic staining. Differential centrifugation of nitrogen cavitates of HL-60 cells indicated that the putative catalase-containing compartment was relatively fragile compared with the compartment(s) that contained myeloperoxidase (MPO), beta-hexosaminidase, beta-glucuronidase, and lysosomal alpha-mannosidase activities. Parallel studies using dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO)-induced HL-60 cells and mature neutrophils showed that, in the course of differentiation, there was an apparent shift in the localization of catalase from the granule fraction to the cytosolic fraction. Percoll-sucrose density gradient centrifugation of HL-60 cell cavitates showed a catalase-containing compartment with a mean peak density (1.05 g/mL) significantly lower than that of the major myeloperoxidase-containing compartment (1.08 g/mL); in mature neutrophils, catalase activity comigrated with lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity. Catalase in isolated fractions was protected from proteolysis in the absence, but not in the presence, of 0.1% Triton X-100. Digitonin titration experiments confirmed the compartmentalized nature of catalase in immature HL-60 cells and were consistent with a cytosolic localization in mature neutrophils. Ultrastructural localization of catalase by Protein A-gold immunocytochemistry demonstrated four to six catalase-containing compartments in all HL-60 cell profiles. In mature neutrophils, catalase was localized primarily in the cytoplasmic matrix, although in fewer than 2% of the cell profiles, one to two catalase-containing compartments were observed. The changes in catalase localization that occur during myeloid differentiation appear to be similar to the changes that occur during erythroid and megakaryocytic differentiation, and may have potential clinical significance in the classification of acute leukemia and in the development of drug resistance.
Analyzing ROC curves using the effective set-size model

The Effective Set-Size model has been used to describe uncertainty in various signal detection experiments. The model regards images as if they were an effective number (M*) of searchable locations, where the observer treats each location as a location-known-exactly detection task with signals having average detectability d'. The model assumes a rational observer behaves as if he searches an effective number of independent locations and follows signal detection theory at each location. Thus the location-known-exactly detectability (d') and the effective number of independent locations M* fully characterize search performance. In this model the image rating in a single-response task is assumed to be the maximum response that the observer would assign to these many locations. The model has been used by a number of other researchers, and is well corroborated. We examine this model as a way of differentiating imaging tasks that radiologists perform. Tasks involving more searching or location uncertainty may have higher estimated M* values. In this work we applied the Effective Set-Size model to a number of medical imaging data sets. The data sets include radiologists reading screening and diagnostic mammography with and without computer-aided diagnosis (CAD), and breast tomosynthesis. We developed an algorithm to fit the model parameters using two-sample maximum-likelihood ordinal regression, similar to the classic bi-normal model. The resulting model ROC curves are rational and fit the observed data well. We find that the distributions of M* and d' differ significantly among these data sets, and differ between pairs of imaging systems within studies. For example, on average tomosynthesis increased readers’ d' values, while CAD reduced the M* parameters. We demonstrate that the model parameters M* and d' are correlated. We conclude that the Effective Set-Size model may be a useful way of differentiating location uncertainty from the diagnostic uncertainty in medical imaging tasks.
Best Practices - Lessons to be Learned

As mentioned in the introductory part of the book, the primary goal behind this research project was to create effective training modules to enable local law enforcement agencies, in the cross-comparative environment, to address terrorism-related incidents, and to not just react but prevent and de-escalate resentment from community or support from community toward homegrown terrorist organizations and individuals.
Novel window for cancer nanotheranostics: non-invasive ocular assessments of tumor growth and nanotherapeutic treatment efficacy in vivo .

In cancer research there is a fundamental need for animal models that allow the in vivo longitudinal visualization and quantification of tumor development, nanotherapeutic delivery, the tumor microenvironment including blood vessels, macrophages, fibroblasts, immune cells, and extracellular matrix, and the tissue response to treatment. To address this need, we developed a novel mouse ocular xenograft model. Green fluorescent protein (GFP) expressing human glioblastoma cells (between 500 and 10,000) were implanted into the subretinal space of immunodeficient mice (56 eyes). The resultant xenografts were imaged in vivo non-invasively with combined fluorescence scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (SLO) and volumetric optical coherence tomography (OCT) for a period up to several months. Most xenografts exhibited a latent phase followed by a stable or rapidly increasing volume, but about 1/3 underwent spontaneous remission. After prescribed growth, a population of tumors was treated with intravenously delivered doxorubicin-containing porphyrin and cholic acid-based nanoparticles (“nanodox”). Fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) emission (doxorubicin → porphyrin) was used to localize nanodox in the xenografts, and 690 nm light exposure to activate it. Such photo-nanotherapy was highly effective in reducing tumor volume. Histopathology and flow cytometry revealed CD4 + and CD8 + immune cell infiltration of xenografts. Overall, the ocular model shows potential for examining the relationships between neoplastic growth, neovascularization and other features of the immune microenvironment, and for evaluating treatment response longitudinally in vivo.
Synchronizing physical and digital factory: benefits and technical challenges

Abstract The Digital Twin is a representation of characteristics and behavior of a factory according to various levels of detail and the scope it addresses. Its full range of capabilities can be exploited when it is synchronized with the real world. Indeed, in this case, it can be used to mirror the real operating conditions for simulating the real-time behavior, and thus forecasting factory performances. However, we are still far from its large-scale diffusion. The purpose of this work is to analyze both the major challenges that still have to be faced and some potential solutions for each of the identified challenges.
Pathways of DNA Transfer to Plants from Agrobacterium tumefaciens and Related Bacterial Species

Genetic transformation of host plants by Agrobacterium tumefaciens and related species represents a unique model for natural horizontal gene transfer. Almost five decades of studying the molecular interactions between Agrobacterium and its host cells have yielded countless fundamental insights into bacterial and plant biology, even though several steps of the DNA transfer process remain poorly understood. Agrobacterium spp. may utilize different pathways for transferring DNA, which likely reflects the very wide host range of Agrobacterium. Furthermore, closely related bacterial species, such as rhizobia, are able to transfer DNA to host plant cells when they are provided with Agrobacterium DNA transfer machinery and T-DNA. Homologs of Agrobacterium virulence genes are found in many bacterial genomes, but only one non-Agrobacterium bacterial strain, Rhizobium etli CFN42, harbors a complete set of virulence genes and can mediate plant genetic transformation when carrying a T-DNA-containing plasmid.
An Error Detection and Correction Framework for Connectomics

We define and study error detection and correction tasks that are useful for 3D reconstruction of neurons from electron microscopic imagery, and for image segmentation more generally. Both tasks take as input the raw image and a binary mask representing a candidate object. For the error detection task, the desired output is a map of split and merge errors in the object. For the error correction task, the desired output is the true object. We call this object mask pruning, because the candidate object mask is assumed to be a superset of the true object. We train multiscale 3D convolutional networks to perform both tasks. We find that the error-detecting net can achieve high accuracy. The accuracy of the error-correcting net is enhanced if its input object mask is ``advice'' (union of erroneous objects) from the error-detecting net.
Effect of a Behavioral Intervention to Increase Vegetable Consumption on Cancer Progression Among Men With Early-Stage Prostate Cancer: The MEAL Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance Guidelines endorsing vegetable-enriched diets to improve outcomes for prostate cancer survivors are based on expert opinion, preclinical studies, and observational data. Objective To determine the effect of a behavioral intervention that increased vegetable intake on cancer progression in men with early-stage prostate cancer. Design, Setting, and Participants The Men’s Eating and Living (MEAL) Study (CALGB 70807 [Alliance]) was a randomized clinical trial conducted at 91 US urology and medical oncology clinics that enrolled 478 men aged 50 to 80 years with biopsy-proven prostate adenocarcinoma (International Society of Urological Pathology grade group = 1 in those Interventions Patients were randomized to a counseling behavioral intervention by telephone promoting consumption of 7 or more daily vegetable servings (MEAL intervention; n = 237) or a control group, which received written information about diet and prostate cancer (n = 241). Main Outcomes and Measures The primary outcome was time to progression; progression was defined as PSA level of 10 ng/mL or greater, PSA doubling time of less than 3 years, or upgrading (defined as increase in tumor volume or grade) on follow-up prostate biopsy. Results Among 478 patients randomized (mean [SD] age, 64 [7] years; mean [SD] PSA level, 4.9 [2.1] ng/mL), 443 eligible patients (93%) were included in the primary analysis. There were 245 progression events (intervention: 124; control: 121). There were no significant differences in time to progression (unadjusted hazards ratio, 0.96 [95% CI, 0.75 to 1.24]; adjusted hazard ratio, 0.97 [95% CI, 0.76 to 1.25]). The 24-month Kaplan-Meier progression-free percentages were 43.5% [95% CI, 36.5% to 50.6%] and 41.4% [95% CI, 34.3% to 48.7%] for the intervention and control groups, respectively (difference, 2.1% [95% CI, −8.1% to 12.2%]). Conclusions and Relevance Among men with early-stage prostate cancer managed with active surveillance, a behavioral intervention that increased vegetable consumption did not significantly reduce the risk of prostate cancer progression. The findings do not support use of this intervention to decrease prostate cancer progression in this population, although the study may have been underpowered to identify a clinically important difference. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:NCT01238172
Coenzyme Q10 and SAMS

Statins inhibit 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase, thereby reducing production of farnesyl pyrophosphate, an intermediate in the mevalonate pathway. The mevalonate pathway ultimately produces both cholesterol and coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), a protein important for mitochondrial function. This knowledge has prompted the hypothesis that reductions in plasma CoQ10 concentrations contribute to statin-associated muscle symptoms (SAMS). Consequently, CoQ10 is popular as a form of adjuvant therapy for the treatment of SAMS. Clinical trial evidence evaluating the efficacy of CoQ10 supplementation has been equivocal. A meta-analysis suggests that CoQ10 supplementation is effective, but meta-analyses are dependent on the quality of the included studies and the best study did not demonstrate a CoQ10 benefit in subjects with verified SAMS. CoQ10 supplementation may be useful, however, perhaps as a placebo, in some patients.
The 50 Most Cited Articles in the Indications, Risk Factors, Techniques, and Outcomes of ACL Revision Surgery.

The rate of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) retear remains high and revision ACL reconstruction has worse outcomes compared with primaries. To make advances in this area, a strong understanding of influential research is necessary. One method for systematically evaluating the literature is by citation analysis. This article aims to establish and evaluate “classic” articles. With consideration of these articles, this article also aims to evaluate gaps in the field and determine where future research should be directed. The general approach for data collection and analysis consisted of planning objectives, employing a defined strategy, reviewing search results using a multistep and multiauthor approach with specific screening criteria, and analyzing data. The collective number of citations for all publications within the list was 5,203 with an average of 104 citations per publication. “Biomechanical Measures during Landing and Postural Stability Predict Second Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury after Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction and Return to Sport” by Paterno et al contained both the highest number of total citations and the highest number of citations per year, with 403 total citations and 43.9 citations per year. The most recurring level of evidence were level II (n = 18) and level III (n = 17). “Clinical Outcomes” was the most common article type (n = 20) followed by “Risk Factors” (n = 10). The American Journal of Sports Medicine had the highest recorded Cite Factor with over 50% of the articles (n = 27) published. The most productive authors included R.W. Wright (n = 6), S.D. Barber-Westin (n = 5), F.R. Noyes (n = 5), and K.P. Spindler (n = 5). Historically, influential studies have been published in the realms of clinical outcome and risk factor identification. It has been established that revision ACL reconstruction has worse outcomes and more high-level studies are needed. Additionally, prospective studies that apply the knowledge for current known risk factor mitigation are needed to determine if graft tear rates can be lowered.
eHealth to redress psychotherapy access barriers both new and old: A review of reviews and meta-analyses

COVID-19 public health proscriptions have created severe if temporary, barriers to accessing face-to-face psychotherapy across the world. As disruptive as these are, they come on top of more long-standing barriers to getting psychotherapy faced by millions in need. eHealth interventions offer an avenue for redressing both types of barriers, but evidence about their efficacy remains a concern. This review of reviews and metaanalyses outlines the strength of evidence and effect sizes for guided and unguided approaches to eHealth interventions targeting common problems in psychotherapy (i.e., depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and general well-being). After a comprehensive search, a total of 65 reviews and meta-analyses were identified and evaluated for treatment effects, moderators, acceptability, and attrition. Findings show eHealth is acceptable and effective at improving depression, anxiety, alcohol-related problems, and general mental health compared to waitlist, and can even offer benefit as an adjunct to traditional psychotherapy. Mixed evidence was found when comparing guided versus unguided interventions as well as the strength of benefit relative to active controls and the degree to which these approaches are associated with attrition. eHealth interventions have the potential to be an effective tool for redressing both new and old psychotherapy access barriers.
Is there an optimal timing between radiotherapy and surgery to reduce wound complications in metastatic spine disease? A systematic review

Surgery with radiation therapy (RT) is more effective in treating spinal metastases, than RT alone. However, RT when administered in close proximity to surgery may predispose to wound complications. There exist limited guidelines on the optimal timing between RT and surgery. The purpose of this systematic review is to: (1) address whether pre-operative RT (preop-RT) and/or post-operative RT (postop-RT) is associated with wound complications and (2) define the safe interval between RT and surgery or vice versa. PubMed, Embase and Scopus databases were systematically searched for articles dealing with spinal metastases, treated with surgery and RT, and discussing wound status. We obtained 2332 articles from all databases, and after applying exclusion criteria, removing duplicates and reading the full text, we identified 27 relevant articles. Fourteen additional articles were identified by hand-search, leading to a total of 41 articles. All 41 mentioned wound complications/healing. Sixteen articles discussed preop-RT, 8 postop-RT, 15 both, and 2 mentioned intraoperative-RT with additional pre/postop-RT. Twenty studies mentioned surgery-RT time interval; one concluded that wound complications were higher when RT-surgery interval was ≤ 7 days. Seven studies reported significant association between preop-RT and wound complications. Evidence is insufficient to draw definitive conclusion about optimal RT-surgery interval. However, based on published literature and expert opinions, we conclude that an interval of 2 weeks, the minimum being 7 days, is optimum between RT-surgery or vice versa; this can be reduced further by postop-stereotactic body RT. If RT-surgery window is > 12 months, wound-complications rise. Postop-RT has fewer wound complications versus preop-RT.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as a Strategic Agent in the Pediatric Vaccine Market: An Analytical Approach

Problem definition: Pediatric vaccine markets in the United States are vulnerable to the development of monopolies due to few manufacturers and high research and development costs. This work addres...
Mast cell effects on esophageal smooth muscle and their potential role in eosinophilic esophagitis and achalasia.

Mast cells and eosinophils are the key effector cells of allergic disorders. Although most studies on eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), an allergic disorder of the esophagus, have focused on the role...
Maternal parentification history impacts evaluative cognitions about self, parenting, and child

Parentification occurs when children are unfairly charged with fulfilling parental instrumental and emotional needs. Parentification is associated with risk to evaluative self cognitions from childhood to emerging adulthood, but this association has not yet been studied among parents. The transition to parenthood is typically characterized by declines in self-esteem, suggesting it is a critical period for understanding the risk parentification history poses to evaluative self-cognitions and evaluative cognitions about children. The present study addresses these gaps using longitudinal data (N = 374 first-time mothers) to examine the influence of maternal parentification history domains (emotional and instrumental caregiving, role unfairness) on trajectories of maternal evaluative cognitions about the self (self-esteem, parenting self-efficacy) and about the child (difficult child temperament, dissatisfaction with child contributions to relationships) in early parenthood. A spillover model was also examined such that evaluative cognitions about the self were examined as potential mediators between parentification history and evaluative cognitions about children. Results support associations between the role unfairness domain of parentification and each domain of maternal evaluative cognitions and a significant indirect effect of unfairness on risk to maternal evaluative cognitions about child contributions via parenting self-efficacy. Implications for mother-child relationships and processes of intergenerational transmission of parentification are discussed.
P29 Interest and Acceptability of a Clinic Based EFNEP Intervention in English and Spanish Speaking Parents for Pediatric Obesity Prevention

Objective Obesity continues to disproportionately impact low-income, ethnically diverse youth. Existing government-funded nutrition education programs and pediatric medical clinics can collaborate to target and deliver relevant interventions. The objective was to explore interest and acceptability of community nutrition intervention collocated in medical clinics. Use of Theory Social Cognitive (SCT) and goal setting theories. Target Audience Low-income English and Spanish-speaking parents with young children. Program Description Physicians referred parents of pediatric patients to the intervention. The intervention consisted of 8-weekly, 1.5 hour nutrition, activity and food-related parenting content anchored with guided goal setting, SCT constructs, and story telling. Existing Expanded Food and Nutrition Education (EFNEP) educators delivered the intervention in medical clinics. Evaluation Methods To assess interest and acceptability, referral, enrollment, and attendance data were collected and parent focus group interviews were conducted. Descriptive statistics and chi-square analysis were conducted on the quantitative data and interviews were recorded, transcribed and organized for content analysis. Results Twenty intervention series were conducted in English (n = 12) and Spanish (n = 8) at 5 medical clinics by 4 EFNEP educators. More than 1/3 of the parents (37%; n = 709) expressed interest in the intervention after physician referral and 74% (n = 195) enrolled in the intervention. A greater proportion of referred Spanish-speaking parents expressed interest (P Conclusion Results from this study indicated that parents referred to the intervention were interested and attended with greater appeal to Spanish-speaking parents. Acceptability of the intervention can be attributed to the tailoring of the content and delivery by culturally competent educators.
Energy-Efficiency Framework for Fixed-Wing UAV Communications With Variable Altitude

The Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) has recently appeared as a good candidate for providing wireless network connectivity, with several advantages over traditional ground infrastructure. With the addition of on-board energy harvesting, such platforms have the potential for perpetual-endurance flight and wireless connectivity. Yet, UAV modeling, especially with respect to this combination of capabilities, is not well-understood. In this paper, we demonstrate a framework for analyzing the energy balance of simplified trajectories in three dimensions for fixed-wing aircraft with on-board solar energy harvesting, as well as integrating the trajectory into the NS3 simulator to evaluate network performance. This framework is applied to a small number of trajectory designs, showing that benefits may exist for non-circle trajectories, as well as some advantages and disadvantages of using altitude to conserve additional energy.
A Tensor Formalism for Computer Science

Over recent years, tensors have emerged as the preferred data structure for model representation and computation in machine learning. However, current tensor models suffer from a lack of a formal basis, where the tensors are treated as arbitrary multidimensional data processed by a large and ever-growing collection of functions added ad hoc. In this way, tensor frameworks degenerate to programming languages with a curiously cumbersome data model. This paper argues that a more formal basis for tensors and their computation brings important benefits. The proposed formalism is based on 1) a strong type system for tensors with named dimensions, 2) a common model of both dense and sparse tensors, and 3) a small, closed set of tensor functions, providing a general mathematical language in which higher level functions can be expressed. These features work together to provide ease of use resulting from static type verification with meaningful dimension names, improved interoperability resulting from defining a closed set of just six foundational tensor functions, and better support for performance optimizations resulting from having just a small set of core functions needing low-level optimizations, and higher-level operations being able to work on arbitrary chunks of these functions, as well as from better mathematical properties from using named tensor dimensions without inherent order. The proposed model is implemented as the model inference engine in the Vespa big data serving engine, where it runs various models expressed in this language directly, as well as models expressed in TensorFlow or Onnx formats.
The Pains of Imprisonment and Contemporary Prisoner Culture in Canada

Drawing on interviews conducted with former federal and provincial prisoners in Ontario, Canada, we consider how the unique social conditions in these two institutional contexts shape interpersonal...
Where is Chinese nationalism? The political geography of a moving project

. Since the rise of Chinese nationalism at the end of the nineteenth century, different political groups have sought to mobilise regional support by identifying with the national agenda of regional preferences. There have been changing contestations appealing to north, south, center, west and east. By analysing these moving identities, one can escape a misleading homogenisation of actual multi-strandedness and better understand the nature and potential consequences of ongoing political struggles using conflicting nationalisms on behalf of diverse political agendas, some more war-prone than others.
Libraries and Technology: A Call to Action

Successful corporations of the 1980's have seen the need for integration of their information support systems. Academic health sciences centers need to give the same attention to information systems if they are to be competitive and satisfy the information demands of the faculty, staff and students. Existing technology allows the library to automate internal procedures and provide in-library and remote access to its resources. Coordination with other campus systems can be provided at relatively little cost. Users can have direct access to campus resources and be linked to networks for additional resources.
Personality predicts perceived potential for attention restoration of natural and urban scenes / La personalidad predice el potencial percibido de restauración atencional de los paisajes naturales y urbanos

AbstractThis study evaluated domains of personality in the five-factor model as predictors of perceived potential for attention restoration (PPAR) for attractive and moderately attractive natural and urban scenes. Students rated the attractive natural and urban scenes equally high in PPAR, the moderately attractive natural scene intermediate, and the moderately attractive urban scene, lowest. However, across natural and urban scenes, the personality domains of openness, agreeableness, and extraversion predicted higher ratings for PPAR, whereas neuroticism predicted lower PPAR ratings.
Abstract B21: Depression and quality of life in breast cancer survivors: 6–13 years postchemotherapy

Background: Advances in breast cancer treatment have markedly prolonged survival time. This study examines the prevalence of and risk factors for depression and its impact on quality of life in breast cancer patients 6–13 years post‐treatment. Method: The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ‐8) and European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 were mailed to assess depression and quality of life, respectively, in breast cancer patients who participated in clinical trials for paclitaxel chemotherapy treatment between 1994 and 2001. Results: Two hundred forty patients participated (56% response rate). The years since treatment were between 6–13 years (mean= 7.9 and median=8). The mean score on the PHQ‐8 scale was 4 points (SD=4.8; median=2.0) which decreased by years since treatment (Kruskal‐Wallis, p Conclusion: While reports of depression decreased over the survival period, it remains a significant health concern for breast cancer survivors. The results suggest the need to monitor patients and provide resources for monitoring and treatment of depression within the clinical oncology setting. Citation Information: Cancer Prev Res 2010;3(1 Suppl):B21.
SU-E-T-362: Automatic Catheter Reconstruction of Flap Applicators in HDR Surface Brachytherapy

Purpose: Catheter reconstruction is crucial for the accurate delivery of radiation dose in HDR brachytherapy. The process becomes complicated and time-consuming for large superficial clinical targets with a complex topology. A novel method for the automatic catheter reconstruction of flap applicators is proposed in this study. Methods: We have developed a program package capable of image manipulation, using C++class libraries of The-Visualization-Toolkit(VTK) software system. The workflow for automatic catheter reconstruction is: a)an anchor point is placed in 3D or in the axial view of the first slice at the tip of the first, last and middle points for the curved surface; b)similar points are placed on the last slice of the image set; c)the surface detection algorithm automatically registers the points to the images and applies the surface reconstruction filter; d)then a structured grid surface is generated through the center of the treatment catheters placed at a distance of 5mm from the patient's skin. As a result, a mesh-style plane is generated with the reconstructed catheters placed 10mm apart. To demonstrate automatic catheter reconstruction, we used CT images of patients diagnosed with cutaneous T-cell-lymphoma and imaged with Freiburg-Flap-Applicators (Nucletron™-Elekta, Netherlands). The coordinates for each catheter were generated and compared to the control points selected during the manual reconstruction for 16catheters and 368control point Results: The variation of the catheter tip positions between the automatically and manually reconstructed catheters was 0.17mm(SD=0.23mm). The position difference between the manually selected catheter control points and the corresponding points obtained automatically was 0.17mm in the x-direction (SD=0.23mm), 0.13mm in the y-direction (SD=0.22mm), and 0.14mm in the z-direction (SD=0.24mm). Conclusion: This study shows the feasibility of the automatic catheter reconstruction of flap applicators with a high level of positioning accuracy. Implementation of this technique has potential to decrease the planning time and may improve overall quality in superficial brachytherapy.
Invariant hip moment pattern while walking with a robotic hip exoskeleton

Robotic lower limb exoskeletons hold significant potential for gait assistance and rehabilitation; however, we have a limited understanding of how people adapt to walking with robotic devices. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that people reduce net muscle moments about their joints when robotic assistance is provided. This reduction in muscle moment results in a total joint moment (muscle plus exoskeleton) that is the same as the moment without the robotic assistance despite potential differences in joint angles. To test this hypothesis, eight healthy subjects trained with the robotic hip exoskeleton while walking on a force-measuring treadmill. The exoskeleton provided hip flexion assistance from approximately 33% to 53% of the gait cycle. We calculated the root mean squared difference (RMSD) between the average of data from the last 15 min of the powered condition and the unpowered condition. After completing three 30-min training sessions, the hip exoskeleton provided 27% of the total peak hip flexion moment during gait. Despite this substantial contribution from the exoskeleton, subjects walked with a total hip moment pattern (muscle plus exoskeleton) that was almost identical and more similar to the unpowered condition than the hip angle pattern (hip moment RMSD 0.027, angle RMSD 0.134, p<0.001). The angle and moment RMSD were not different for the knee and ankle joints. These findings support the concept that people adopt walking patterns with similar joint moment patterns despite differences in hip joint angles for a given walking speed.
Assessing longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) restoration after southern pine beetle kill using a compact experimental design

Abstract A compact experimental design and analysis is presented of longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) survival and growth in a restoration project in the Piedmont region of Georgia, USA. Longleaf pine seedlings were planted after salvage logging and broadcast burning in areas of catastrophic southern pine beetle (Dendroctonus frontalis) attacks on even-aged mixed pine–hardwood forests. The split-plot design with randomized complete blocks was replicated on four sites. Main treatments were: chemical control of competing vegetation with herbicides; mechanical mowing to remove above-ground competition; and an untreated control. Nested within fixed-area treatment plots were single-tree plots centered on longleaf pine seedlings where adjacent vegetation was assessed immediately before treatment in years 1 and 2. Treatments applied to single-tree plots comprised three sizes of sprayed area around seedlings in chemical treatment plots. Logistic mixed-effects models indicated that initial survival was impacted by h...
Cross-cultural psychiatric residency training: the Oregon experience.

The purpose of this article is to describe the goals and structure of cross-cultural psychiatric training at Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU). This training in core knowledge, skills, and attitudes of cultural psychiatry over the past three decades has included medical students, residents, and fellows, along with allied mental health personnel. The curriculum includes both didactic sessions devoted to core topics in the field and varied clinical experiences in community settings and the Intercultural Psychiatric Program under the supervision of experienced academic faculty. The authors review the central elements of the training experiences and include a detailed description of the core clinical settings and experiences. At the conclusion of their clinical experiences, trainees have specialized cross-cultural psychiatric knowledge and skills, including treatment of refugees and immigrants, sociocultural variables that influence the assessment and treatment of a wide range of psychiatric conditions, and comfort with cultural dynamics that influence both the doctor/patient relationship and collaboration with a wide range of mental health professionals. Because of rapid demographic changes in the U.S. population, providing cross-cultural training for students, residents, and fellows is an essential foundation for the education of the next generation of clinicians and health care leaders. OHSU has provided a long-term model for this training in a busy clinical and academic setting that places an emphasis on multi-disciplinary and multicultural collaboration.
Working With Survivors of Torture: Approaches to Helping

Survivors of torture often have physical and psychological scars that are difficult to heal, and too few specialized organizational and professional resources are available to assist in their recovery. In working with torture survivors, social workers must extend their scope of practice beyond what is normally required. In this article, the authors present and discuss 2 case vignettes that illustrate themes and issues common to many survivors of torture.
Magnetic resonance of intracranial epidermoids

The magnetic resonance images of seven patients with biopsy-proven epidermoids were evaluated. The epidermoids were hypointense on T1-weighted images. Intermediate density images revealed the tumors to be heterogeneous in signal intensity consisting of areas of hypo- and isointensity. Signal intensity on T2-weighted images was hyperintense and inhomogeneous in all but one case. CT performed in five patients demonstrated the tumors to be well-defined hypodense lesions without contrast enhancement.
Restoring justice for juveniles: A critical analysis of victimoffender mediation

Increases in youth crime have placed considerable strain on both the criminal justice and the juvenile justice system. In response to mounting caseloads and diminishing resources, some experts suggest that a restorative justice model, using victim-offender mediation (VOM) principles, is necessary for combating crime and its impact on victims, juveniles, and the community. In this article we evaluate the merits of VOM programs and the philosophy of restorative justice as applied to adolescent offenders. Relying on the interpretive tools of the postmodern sciences, we carefully examine the language of restoration as structuring victim-offender mediation sessions. Integrated, selected contributions from psychoanalytic semiotics and chaos theory underpin this investigation. We demonstrate how VOM discourse advertently or inadvertently marginalizes juveniles. Therefore, as a policy matter, we argue that the goals of restorative justice are not presently realized. We conclude by provisionally describing how a m...
Fluctuation-induced diamagnetism in type II superconductors above H c2

The fluctuation-induced diamagnetism in strong magnetic fields in type II superconductors is studied theoretically. It is shown that the fluctuation-induced diamagnetism at low temperatures (i.e., Tvery-much-less-thanT/sub c0/) is described in terms of a universal function of (B-H/sub c2/(T))/H/sub s/(T) for both dirty and pure superconductors, where H/sub s/(T), the scaling field, is proportional to (T/T/sub c0/)H/sub c2/(O).
Affect and persuasion: The influence of pleasantness and arousal on attitude formation and message elaboration

In contrast to past research that viewed affect as unidimensional, this study examines the effects of affect's two primary dimensions, pleasantness and arousal, on ad-based persuasion outcomes (attitude favorability) and processes (degree of elaboration, thought positivity). After assessing their naturally-occurring levels of pleasantness and arousal, subjects were exposed to a persuasive communication and assigned to an involvement (low/high) by message strength (low/high) design. GLM analyses revealed that higher pleasantness accentuated the typical involvement X message interaction on attitude favorability, and that higher involvement enhanced message elaboration only when accompanied by higher pleasantness. Path analyses further suggested that (1) higher pleasantness enhanced message elaboration under higher involvement but decreased it under lower involvement, (2) under higher involvement, both pleasantness and arousal positively impacted thought positivity, and, (3) higher arousal decreased message elaboration only for the weaker message. The importance and implications of a broader than unidimensional view of affect in persuasion are discussed. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Frequency-doubling of a high power cesium vapor laser using a PPKTP crystal.

447.3 nm blue light generation was demonstrated through direct frequency doubling a continuous-wave Cesium vapor laser’s 894.6 nm output using a PPKTP nonlinear crystal. The diode-pumped Cs vapor laser has an output power as large as 10 W with a very narrow emission linewidth less than 10 GHz. The PPKTP crystal is about 30 mm long and has a moderate acceptance wavelength bandwidth. The second harmonic wave generation efficiency achieved is about 4.4 %/W. Power depletion in second harmonic pulses, which relates to the absorption related thermal effects, was observed when using high pump power, long pulse duration, or high repetition rate.
Unit Process Life Cycle Inventory for Product Manufacturing Operations

Rapid access to or generation of life cycle information is a potentially valuable tool for the design of products to meet the needs of sustainability improvement. A new approach is developed to use the manufacturing unit process, commonly outlined in manufacturing process taxonomy systems, as the basis for life cycle inventory. This will initially involve 50–70 unit processes from the taxonomy and will generate energy and mass profiles for each unit process life cycle (uplci). These uplci can be adjusted for each case to include the major variables affecting such operations as related to any specific product. The sum of the performance of a sequence of uplci thus provides the life cycle of the specific product from a defined set of plant process inputs.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Effects of amphetamine and methylphenidate on fixed-interval responding in the squirrel monkey.

Abstract The effects of oral doses of d-amphetamine and methylphenidate on a fixed-interval operant response were studied in four young male squirrel monkeys. A fixed-interval of 80 sec with limited hold of 20 sec was used. Methylphenidate produced no observable changes in behavior, while d-amphetamine produced dose related changes in both the rate of responding and the temporal patterning of responses. Since dose levels used included, and exceeded, human clinical dosages, the present findings may have implications for future research involving the clinical use of these drugs.
Beating heart aortic valve replacement in a pregnant patient.

A 23-year-old woman with a history of previous bileaflet mechanical aortic valve replacement presented in acute heart failure at 27 weeks of gestation. Transthoracic echocardiography (TEE) demonstrated minimal leaflet excursion consistent with valve thrombosis. The patient underwent emergent surgery with normothermic cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), and beating-heart technique for valve replacement. This novel strategy for aortic valve replacement is being presented as being particularly useful in pregnant patients whose fetuses are at risks of hypothermia, hemodilution, and hyperkalemia during CPB. (J Card Surg 2004;19:57-58)
Serum lipoprotein changes in dogs with renal disease.

Background People with renal disease develop a dyslipidemia that contributes to progression of renal injury and development of cardiovascular disease. Lipoproteins in dogs with renal disease have not been investigated. Hypothesis Dogs with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have dyslipidemia characterized by increased lower density lipoproteins and decreased high-density lipoproteins (HDLs). The degree of dyslipidemia is positively correlated with severity of disease, as reflected by serum creatinine concentration. Animals Prospective study of client-owned dogs presented to the Cornell University Hospital for Animals: 29 dogs with confirmed CKD, 5 dogs with nephrotic syndrome (NS), and 12 healthy control dogs presented for routine vaccinations, dental cleaning, or owned by students. Methods Lipoprotein electrophoresis was used to quantify relative proportions of the 3 main classes of lipoproteins in canine serum: low-density lipoproteins (LDL), very low-density lipoproteins (VLDL), and HDL. Serum cholesterol and creatinine concentrations; urinalysis and urine protein-to-creatinine ratio were measured by standard methods. Results Dyslipidemia was consistently found in dogs with CKD and NS and was characterized by a decrease in HDL and variable increases in LDL and VLDL. Dogs with NS had a proportionately greater increase in the VLDL fraction, as compared with dogs with CKD. Conclusion and Clinical Importance Dyslipidemia similar to that documented in people with renal disease occurs in dogs with CKD, despite serum cholesterol concentrations often being within the reference interval. The contribution of altered lipoproteins to the pathogenesis of renal disease in dogs warrants additional study.
Preventive dental behavior in families: a national survey.

Because dental disease is so prevalent among children and adults, a survey was done to ascertain the dental health practices of American families. A comparison is made with results of surveys done in 1966 and 1974.