cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of ethanol on thromboxane and prostacyclin production in the human placenta.

Abstract Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is frequently associated with intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR). One cause of ethanol-induced IUGR is thought to be related to increased pressor activity in the human placenta, resulting in decreased oxygenation and nutrient transport to the fetus. Thus, we have investigated the effect of ethanol on paracrine substances, such as thromboxane and prostacyclin, that act as vasoregulators within the intrauterine tissues. In these studies we have utilized the perfused single human cotyledon system to study the effect of ethanol on placental prostanoid production. We assessed the effect of longer (240 min) and more acute (60 min) exposure to ethanol on release of thromboxane B 2 (TxB 2 ) and 6-keto-prostaglandin F 1α (6-keto-PGF 1α ) at the maternal and fetal sides of the placenta. Thromboxane was increased by both longer and shorter ethanol exposure, especially on the fetal side of the placenta. Prostacyclin was essentially unchanged with exposure to ethanol. The thromboxane:prostacyclin ratio also tended to increase with both 60- and 240-min ethanol exposure, but a statistically significant increase was seen only at a few time points. In the 60-min ethanol exposure, an increase in thromboxane was observed both during and following exposure to ethanol. The increase in the thromboxane milieu observed with ethanol exposure may lead, at least in part, to the IUGR which is frequently associated with FAS. Prevention of this effect of ethanol on thromboxane production might be a beneficial intervention for FAS.
Two Person Game Behavior, Conformity-Inducing Messages and Interpersonal Trust

In an experimental study, two person game playing behavior and conformity-inducing messages were predicted to be influential in affecting (1) interpersonal trust and (2) trusting behavior. It was found that the combination of game behavior and the conformity-inducing messages affected interpersonal trust. In addition, game behavior manipulations strongly influenced S's subsequent game behavior. In general, cooperation induces cooperation, and competition induces further competition with or without conformity pressure.
Iron and copper act synergistically to delay anaerobic growth of bacteria.

Transition metals are known to cause toxic effects through their interaction with oxygen, but toxicity under anoxic conditions is poorly understood. Here we investigated the effects of iron (Fe) and copper (Cu) on the anaerobic growth and gene expression of the purple phototrophic bacterium Rhodopseudomonas palustris TIE-1. We found that Fe(II) and Cu(II) act synergistically to delay anaerobic growth at environmentally relevant metal concentrations. Cu(I) and Cu(II) had similar effects both alone and in the presence of ascorbate, a Cu(II) reductant, indicating that reduction of Cu(II) to Cu(I) by Fe(II) is not sufficient to explain the growth inhibition. Addition of Cu(II) increased the toxicity of Co(II) and Ni(II); in contrast, Ni(II) toxicity was diminished in the presence of Fe(II). The synergistic anaerobic toxicity of Fe(II) and Cu(II) was also observed for Escherichia coli MG1655, Shewanella oneidensis MR-1, and Rhodobacter capsulatus SB1003. Gene expression analyses for R. palustris identified three regulatory genes that respond to Cu(II) and not to Fe(II): homologs of cueR and cusR, two known proteobacterial copper homeostasis regulators, and csoR, a copper regulator recently identified in Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Two P-type ATPase efflux pumps, along with an F_oF_1 ATP synthase, were also upregulated by Cu(II) but not by Fe(II). An Escherichia coli mutant deficient in copA, cus, and cueO showed a smaller synergistic effect, indicating that iron might interfere with one or more of the copper homeostasis systems. Our results suggest that interactive effects of transition metals on microbial physiology may be widespread under anoxic conditions, although the molecular mechanisms remain to be more fully elucidated.
Maintenance of wakefulness test in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

The usefulness of a 40-min per trial version of the maintenance of wakefulness test was assessed in 322 patients with obstructive sleep apnea. This test is a variant of the multiple sleep latency test in which patients are asked to remain awake in a quiet darkened room, and then monitored for electroencephalographic sleep onset. The four trials of the test are each stopped after 40 min. The mean sleep latency for all patients was 26.0 ± 11.8 (SD) min. In a group of 24 patients who underwent treatment with nasal continuous positive airway pressure, the mean sleep latency increased from 18.0±12.3 to 31.9±10.4. The strongest nocturnal correlates of the MWT sleep latency were respiratory arousal index (r= — .35), mean oxygen saturation (r = .30), and weight/height ratio (r = — .25). These correlations were comparable to other studies using the MSLT. There were strong intercorrelations among the variables. In the more severe groups, measures of hypoxemia were more strongly correlated with MWT sleep latency. A two-factor analysis of variance using respiratory arousal index and several measures of oxyhemoglobin saturation indicated that both arousals from sleep and degree of hypoxemia contribute interactively to daytime dysfunction in patients with sleep apnea. The MWT appears useful in evaluating disability from daytime sleepiness.
Medulloscopy for sepsis or nonunion: Early clinical experience with the tibia and femur

We report the clinical use of "medulloscopy" for the visualization and irrigation of sepsis or nonunion of the tibia and femur in 7 cases. Included were 2 cases of aseptic femoral nonunion, 1 infected femoral nonunion with chronic osteomyelitis, 2 cases of healed tibia fracture with chronic osteomyelitis, 1 aseptic nonunion of the tibia, and 1 case of tibial osteomyelitis secondary to intravenous drug use. Visualization of the nonunion site or pathologic lesion was achieved in 86% of cases (6 of 7) and additional diagnostic information was obtained by medulloscopy in 86% of cases (6 of 7). A representative case is presented. Medulloscopy appears to be clinically useful for the treatment of sepsis or nonunion of the tibia and femur when access to the intramedullary canal is necessary.
FPAA empowering cooperative analog-digital signal processing

Large-scale field programmable analog array (FPAA) ICs have made analog and analog-digital signal processing techniques accessible to a much wider community. Given this opportunity, we present in this paper a framework for considering analog signal processing techniques for low-power, portable systems. These techniques have become more important given the recent recognition of the power-efficiency wall for commercial digital ICs. The discussion focuses on the framework technique required to enable analog-digital signal processing techniques. A framework is needed to enable system designers to directly develop applications into these approaches that includes considering power consumed, system complexity/area, as well as other commercial metrics. A key part of this discussion is evolving existing Simulink FPAA design tools to work with this framework such that users have a similar experience one expects with digital system design, as well as model closely experimental data at a high-level framework. The result of these techniques is pulling analog computation towards the system level development as seen in digital system design over the last 30 years.
Investigation of a fiber optic surface plasmon spectroscopy in conjunction with conductivity as an in situ method for simultaneously monitoring changes in dissolved organic carbon and salinity in coastal waters.

A combination surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and conductivity sensor array was developed and implemented to demonstrate the ability to differentiate among changes in dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and salinity in coastal water. The array is capable of achieving sufficient spatial and temporal data density to better understand the cycling and fate of terrestrial DOC in coastal areas. DOC is the second largest source of bioreactive carbon in the environment and plays a key role in mediating microbial activity and generation of atmospheric CO2. In the coastal areas, the salinity is also an important property in many applications, such as leak detection for landfill liners, saltwater intrusion to drinking water, marine environment monitoring, and seasonal climate prediction. Conductivity sensors are the industry standard for determining salinity in ocean systems. However, both conductivity and refractive index sensors, such as SPR spectroscopy based sensors, respond to salinity and DOC levels. To demonstrate the capability of the SPR sensor and a conductivity sensor to collect complimentary data useful in discrimination of salinity and DOC in coastal zone water, conductivity, SPR, and temperature data were collected during passage from the Juan de Fuca ridge area returning to the University of Washington docks.
An Analytical Model for Rotator Cuff Repairs

Abstract Background Currently, natural and synthetic scaffolds are being explored as augmentation devices for rotator cuff repair. When used in this manner, these devices are believed to offer some degree of load sharing; however, no studies have quantified this effect. Furthermore, the manner in which loads on an augmented rotator cuff repair are distributed among the various components of the repair is not known, nor is the relative biomechanical importance of each component. The objectives of this study are to (1) develop quasi-static analytical models of simplified rotator cuff repairs, (2) validate the models, and (3) predict the degree of load sharing provided by an augmentation scaffold. Methods The individual components of the repair constructs were modeled as non-linear springs, and the model equations were formulated based on the physics of springs in series and parallel. The model was validated and used to predict the degree of load sharing provided by a scaffold. Parametric sensitivity analysis was used to identify which of the component(s)/parameter(s) most influenced the mechanical behavior of the augmented repair models. Findings The validated models predict that load will be distributed ∼ 70–80% to the tendon repair and ∼ 20–30% to the augmentation component. The sensitivity analysis suggests that the greatest improvements in the force carrying capacity of a tendon repair may be achieved by improving the properties of the bone–suture–tendon interface. Future studies will perform parametric simulation to illustrate the manner in which changes to the individual components of the repair, representing different surgical techniques and scaffold devices, may influence the biomechanics of the repair construct.
Accurate Well-Bore Hydraulics Simulation Considering Non-Isothermal and Liquid-Slippage Phenomena for Multiphase Flow in Oil and Gas Wells

A review of studies relevant to describing the non-ideal behavior encountered in oil and gas flow through wells is presented. The empirical prediction of liquid holdup and relaxation in time of gas separation from liquid phases are considered as mechanisms for explaining the nonideal behavior. Several features in modeling multiphase flow are discussed. The details of interest are elaborated for each reviewed approach and summarized. An application is presented in order to illustrate the holdup and relaxation profiles for vertical oil wells. The results are obtained by applying a novel formulation for liquid holdup modeling.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
The Democratic University: The Role of Justice in the Production of Knowledge

What is the proper role of politics in higher education? Many policies and reforms in the academy, from affirmative action and a multicultural curriculum to racial and sexual harassment codes and movements to change pedagogical styles, seek justice for oppressed groups in society. They understand justice to require a comprehensive equality of membership: individuals belonging to different groups should have equal access to educational opportunities; their interests and cultures should be taken equally seriously as worthy subjects of study, their persons treated with equal respect and concern in communicative interaction. Conservative critics of these egalitarian movements represent them as dangerous political meddling into the disinterested pursuit of knowledge. They cast the pursuit of equality as a threat to freedom of speech and academic standards. In response, some radical advocates of such programs agree that the quest for equality clashes with free speech, but view this as an argument for sacrificing freedom of speech.
Home Is Where the School Is: The Impact of Homeschool Legislation on School Choice

From 1982–1997, 35 states adopted legislation, referred to as homeschool rights, that explicitly granted families the right to educate their children at home. Using data from the National Household Education Survey, this article examines the impact that this legislation has had on the decision to homeschool a child versus the alternatives of attending a public or private school. We estimate a multinomial logit model of school choice where we condition on a variety of individual, county, and state level covariates that may influence this decision. We find the probability a young child is homeschooled increases meaningfully, by 1.4 percentage points, following the passage of homeschool rights in their state.
Users of ICT at Public Access Centers: Age, Education, Gender, and Income Differences in Users

Libraries, telecenters, and cybercafA©s offer opportunities for wider public access to information and communication technologies (ICT). This paper presents findings of a global exploratory study on the landscape public access venues in 25 countries around the world. The goal of the project was to better understand the users of public access venues and their needs, this being one of several papers that result from the global study. This paper identifies profiles of the users of the different types of venues with respect to age, income, education and gender. While findings are not new, their value lies in the compelling evidence drawn from 25 countries and across different types of public access venues, which has never been done before. Results highlight the importance of strengthening public access venues in non-urban settings and to strengthen programs that reach out to underserved populations. The authors also point to special challenges faced by libraries and telecenters given the immense growth of cybercafA©s as public access venues in most of the countries studied.
Urgent therapy for acute stroke. Effects of a stroke trial on untreated patients.

As part of the recruitment efforts for the National Institutes of Health Tissue Plasminogen Activator Pilot Study, public education and awareness campaigns were conducted to encourage early hospital arrival. We evaluated the change in arrival times during the course of the study for all stroke patients, including those who were not entered into study.Data were gathered on all patients presenting within 24 hours of stroke onset to all of the study hospitals. Coincident with the start of the study, educational and promotional programs, which stressed signs and symptoms of stroke and the need to call 911, were presented to physicians, paramedical personnel, and the public. The study was divided into four quartiles to analyze differences in time to hospital arrival and use of 911.Of 2099 patients screened, time data were available on 1116. During the course of the study, the mean time from symptom onset to hospital arrival declined significantly (3.2 hours versus 1.5 hours). Patients arrived for treatment soo...
Mental Illness and Violence: Lessons From the Evidence.

The debate about addressing mental illness and violence often ignores key facts. Many people experience mental illnesses, so having had a diagnosed illness is not a very specific predictor of violent behavior. This means that many proposed policy approaches, from expanded screening to more institutionalization, are unlikely to be effective. Expanded access to effective treatments, although desirable, will have only modest impacts on violence rates. Most people with mental health problems do not commit violent acts, and most violent acts are not committed by people with diagnosed mental disorders.
Information systems: an integral part of future vehicles

The author suggests how the driving experience might be improved by providing drivers with information brought onboard the vehicle by compact disc and transmitted to and from the vehicle through appropriate communication links. He suggests three possible feature sets-cellular telephone enhancements, travel assistance, and business/professional. He offers several travel assistance features as solutions to anticipated traffic congestion problems. He contends that historic solutions of additional roadway construction will not be possible. He stresses the need for cooperation between the automotive, electronic component, and government traffic agencies in order that the most cost-effective solutions be implemented. >
Segregation distortion in a region containing a male-sterility, female-sterility locus in soybean.

Abstract In diploid segregation, each alternative allele has a 50% chance of being passed on to the offspring. Mutations in genes involved in the process of meiotic division or early stages of reproductive cell development can affect allele frequency in the gametes. In addition, competition among gametes and differential survival rates of gametes can lead to segregation distortion. In a recent transformation study, a male-sterile, female-sterile (MSFS) mutant was identified in the soybean cultivar, Williams. The mutant in heterozygous condition segregated 3 fertile:1 sterile in the progeny confirming monogenic inheritance. To map the lesion, we generated an F 2 mapping population by crossing the mutant (in heterozygous condition) with Minsoy (PI 27890). The F 2 progeny showed strong segregation distortion against the MSFS phenotype. The objectives of our study were to molecularly map the gene responsible for sterility in the soybean genome, to determine if the MSFS gene is a result of T-DNA insertion during Agrobacterium -mediated transformation, and to map the region that showed distorted segregation. The fertility/sterility locus was mapped to molecular linkage group (MLG) D1a (chromosome Gm01) using bulked segregant analysis. The closest marker, Satt531, mapped 9.4 cM from the gene. Cloning of insertion sites for T-DNA in the mutant plants revealed that there are two copies of T-DNA in the genome. Physical locations of these insertion sites do not correlate with the map location of the MSFS gene, suggesting that MSFS mutation may not be associated with T-DNA insertions. Segregation distortion was most extreme at or around the st_A06-2/6 locus suggesting that sterility and segregation distortion are tightly linked attributes. Our results cue that the distorted segregation may be due to a gamete elimination system.
EFFECT OF CORRELATIONS ON THE THERMAL EQUILIBRIUM AND NORMAL MODES OF A NON-NEUTRAL PLASMA

Recent experiments have trapped small spheroidal clouds of like charges, and have cooled them to cryogenic temperatures where strong correlation effects, such as transitions to crystalline states, have been observed. The experiments have also excited normal modes of oscillation in the charge clouds. The normal modes have previously been considered theoretically using a cold-fluid model that neglects correlations. This paper examines the effect of strong correlation on the equilibrium and on the modes. Two correlation effects are predicted to cause frequency shifts in the modes: correlation pressure changes the shape and density of the equilibrium, and bulk and shear moduli introduce restoring forces neglected in the fluid theory. A viscoelastic model of the plasma incorporating these effects is solved perturbatively to obtain formulas for the frequency shifts. \textcopyright{} 1996 The American Physical Society.
Regulation of lymphocyte development and activation by the LAT family of adapter proteins

Transmembrane adapter proteins (TRAPs) are critical components of signaling pathways in lymphocytes, linking antigen receptor engagement to downstream cellular processes. While these proteins lack intrinsic enzymatic activity, their phosphorylation following receptor ligation allows them to function as scaffolds for the assembly of multi-molecular signaling complexes. Many TRAPs have recently been discovered, and numerous studies demonstrate their roles in the positive and negative regulation of lymphocyte maturation, activation, and differentiation. One such example is the linker for activation of T cells (LAT) family of adapter proteins. While LAT has been shown to play an indispensable role in T-cell and mast cell function, the other family members, linker for activation of B cells (LAB) and linker for activation of X cells (LAX), are necessary to fine-tune immune responses. In addition to its well-established role in the positive regulation of lymphocyte activation, LAT exerts an inhibitory effect on T-cell receptor-mediated signaling. Furthermore, LAT, along with LAB and LAX, plays a crucial role in establishing and maintaining tolerance. Here, we review recent data concerning the regulation of lymphocyte development and activation by the LAT family of proteins.
Recent Progress in the Discovery of Next Generation Inhibitors of Aromatase from the Structure–Function Perspective

Human aromatase catalyzes the synthesis of estrogen from androgen with high substrate specificity. For the past 40 years, aromatase has been a target of intense inhibitor discovery research for the prevention and treatment of estrogen-dependent breast cancer. The so-called third generation aromatase inhibitors (AIs) letrozole, anastrozole, and the steroidal exemestane were approved in the U.S. in the late 1990s for estrogen-dependent postmenopausal breast cancer. Efforts to develop better AIs with higher selectivity and lower side effects were handicapped by the lack of an experimental structure of this unique P450. The year 2009 marked the publication of the crystal structure of aromatase purified from human placenta, revealing an androgen-specific active site. The structure has reinvigorated research activities on this fascinating enzyme and served as the catalyst for next generation AI discovery research. Here, we present an account of recent developments in the AI field from the perspective of the enz...
Electronic Structure of Microclusters

The evolution of the structural and electronic properties of small atomic clusters, as atoms come together, has been studied as a function of the size of clusters using ab initio self consistent field methods based on a linear combination of atomic orbitals. The physics of these atomic clusters has been investigated in terms of their equilibrium geometries, relative stabilities, ionization potentials, preferred spin configuration and its relationship to geometry, structural changes when subjected to ionizing radiation, fragmentation channels and impurity contamination
Justice in Cambodia: Past, Present, and Future (Book Review)

For almost three decades, justice has proven elusive for the victims of the Khmer Rouge genocide that killed approximately 1.7 million Cambodians from 1975 to 1979. Recently however, the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) have undertaken criminal trials of a handful of the genocide's most senior leaders. The creation of the ECCC represents the culmination of a lengthy and complex political process, involving myriad national and international actors. At the international level, governmental and non-governmental forces galvanized around a solidifying transnational norm rejecting impunity for atrocities to pressure the Cambodian government to pursue justice. At the same time, the Cambodian government was reluctant to cede substantial sovereignty by agreeing to a purely international tribunal along the lines of those established for the Former Yugoslavia and Rwanda. The result is a hybrid court that joins a handful of other tribunals combining national and international elements to provide a new model for the pursuit of justice for mass atrocities. The ECCC's place at the intersection of national and international law has stimulated a vibrant scholarly discussion about the court's potential impact on norms of justice and accountability in Cambodia as well as its contributions to the evolving field of international criminal law. This book review assesses the contributions to that discussion of the impressive volume Bringing the Khmer Rouge to Justice: Prosecuting Mass Violence Before the Cambodian Courts, edited by Jaya Ramji and Beth Van Schaack. The book delivers on its editors' promise to both explore the legal and political challenges facing the ECCC and provide a window into the broader questions at the heart of the evolving system of international criminal law. As such, it provides an excellent primer for those interested in the quest for justice in Cambodia as well as those engaged in other national or international efforts at accountability for mass atrocities.
Resident Evil’s Rhetoric The Communication of Corruption in Survival Horror Video Games

This article examines the role of corruption, and its use as a rhetorical technique, within survival horror video games. As one of the founding examples of the survival horror genre, Resident Evil ...
Improved method for measuring and characterizing phthalate emissions from building materials and its application to exposure assessment

Phthalate emission from vinyl floorings was measured in specially designed stainless steel chambers. Phthalate concentrations increased and reached steady state after 2 to 5 days for all experiments. By having a high ratio of emission surface to sorption surface, avoiding mass loss of phthalates onto sampling pathways, and improving air mixing inside the chamber, the time to reach steady state was significantly reduced, compared to previous studies (1 to 5 months). An innovative approach was developed to determine y0, the gas-phase concentration of phthalates in equilibrium with the material phase, which is the key parameter controlling phthalate emissions. Target phthalate material-phase concentration (C0) and vapor pressure (Vp) were explicitly measured and found to have great influences on the y0 value. For low phthalate concentrations in materials, a simple partitioning mechanism may linearly relate y0 and C0, but cannot be evoked for high-weight phthalate percentages. In addition, the sorption kinetics and adsorption isotherm of phthalates on stainless steel chamber surfaces were determined experimentally. Independently measured or calculated parameters were used to validate a semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs) emission model, with excellent agreement between model predictions and the observed chamber concentrations in gas and stainless steel phases. With the knowledge of y0 and emission mechanisms, human exposure to phthalates from tested floorings was assessed; the levels were comparable to previous studies. This work developed a rapid, novel method to measure phthalate emissions; emission measurement results can be connected to exposure assessment and help health professionals estimate screening-level exposures associated with SVOCs and conduct risk-based prioritization for SVOC chemicals of concern.
Morphodynamic Feedbacks on Deltaic Coasts: Lessons from the Wave-Dominated Danube Delta

In natural conditions, the dynamics of the Danube delta coast has been largely determined by the interaction between fluvial deposition and a strong southward wave-induced longshore transport near the mouths of the river. River-mouth morphodynamics is highly nonlinear, involving multiple feedbacks on the longshore sediment transport. These include a groin effect of the river plume and subaqueous delta, a shoaling effect of the downdrift offset subaqueous delta, and a barrier steering effect of the downdrift barrier islands or spits. As a result, a net sequestration of sediments occurs near the river mouth that aids and speeds up delta lobe development. Downdrift of the mouth, barriers may form after extreme river floods, but also due to increased shoreline instability under high angle waves. Although river mouth processes are complex, the resulting morphology of wave-dominated delta lobes exhibits a tendency to self-organize.
Identifying Novel Cancer Therapies Using Chemical Genetics and Zebrafish.

Chemical genetics is the use of small molecules to perturb biological pathways. This technique is a powerful tool for implicating genes and pathways in developmental programs and disease, and simultaneously provides a platform for the discovery of novel therapeutics. The zebrafish is an advantageous model for in vivo high-throughput small molecule screening due to translational appeal, high fecundity, and a unique set of developmental characteristics that support genetic manipulation, chemical treatment, and phenotype detection. Chemical genetic screens in zebrafish can identify hit compounds that target oncogenic processes—including cancer initiation and maintenance, metastasis, and angiogenesis—and may serve as cancer therapies. Notably, by combining drug discovery and animal testing, in vivo screening of small molecules in zebrafish has enabled rapid translation of hit anti-cancer compounds to the clinic, especially through the repurposing of FDA-approved drugs. Future technological advancements in automation and high-powered imaging, as well as the development and characterization of new mutant and transgenic lines, will expand the scope of chemical genetics in zebrafish.
Analysis on the Tripping Accidents Caused by the Loss of Excitation Protection during Generator Leading Phase Operation

Error acting of excitation loss protection during generator leading phase operation is introduced.The reason of low excitation limit non-operation excitation loss protection mis-operation is analyzed.The method is taken up to prevent excitation loss protection from acting,which can enhance the standard of safety and steady operation in power system.
Setting Single or Multiple Goals for Diet and Physical Activity Behaviors Improves Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in Adults With Type 2 Diabetes: A Pragmatic Pilot Randomized Trial.

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to evaluate a 4-month telephone-based goal-setting and decision support intervention among adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and multiple risk factors...
Technical Aspects of DECT with Dual Layer Detectors

Spectral CT utilizes multiple spectrally distinct attenuation datasets obtained at different photon energies to distinguish tissues and materials. Acquisition of two spectrally distinct data sets, dual energy CT (DECT), can be achieved in a clinical setting using either a dual x-ray source system, or rapid tube potential switching with a single x-ray source. A recent innovation permitting DECT acquisition is development of a spectral CT detector, a unique dual-layer system that detects two energy bands of x-ray photons. This detector allows generation of spectrally distinct image sets from each individual band as well as a conventional image set from the combined signals. In this chapter, we review the technical details of dual layer CT technology and discuss its advantages, disadvantages and cardiovascular applications.
Changing trends in melanoma treatment and the expanding role of the dermatologist.

As the incidence of melanoma continues to increase, so does the role of the dermatologist as both medical and surgical oncologist for these patients, especially those with stage I disease. The dermatologist holds a key role in all phases of care, including prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up.
Adenosine transport and metabolism in cardiomyocytes of hyperthyroid rat.

Hyperthyroidism produces a number of metabolic and morphological changes in the heart including impaired energetics, increased protein synthesis, a decrease in cell surface/cell volume ratio and a reduction in endothelial density due to hypertrophy1-4. These changes may also affect cardiomyocyte adenosine (ADO) transport and metabolism which, in turn may alter the capacity to release physiologically active adenosine and nucleotide synthesis. This study evaluated changes in ADO transport capacity in isolated cardiomyocytes and enzyme activities involved in ADO metabolism in normal and hyperthyroid myocardium.
Qualitative Exploration of an Effective Depression Literacy Fotonovela with at Risk Latina Immigrants

While depression is prevalent among immigrant Latinas, mental health literacy is low. Culturally tailored health narratives can improve mental health literacy and are now increasingly featured in Spanish language fotonovelas (i.e., booklets in a comic book format with posed photographs and dialogue bubbles). The purpose of this qualitative study is to explore why a depression literacy fotonovela proved effective with Latina immigrants at risk for depression in a quantitative randomized control study. This study is the qualitative companion of the previously published quantitative piece of a mixed methods study, the latter revealing posttest improvements in depression knowledge, self-efficacy to identify the need for treatment, and decreased stigma towards mental health care (Hernandez and Organista in Am J Community Psychol 2013. doi:10.1007/s10464-013-9587-1). Twenty-five immigrant Latinas participated in structured interviews, in the current qualitative study, 3 weeks after participating in the quantitative study. Results suggest depression literacy improved because participants evidenced high recall of the storyline and characters, which they also found appealing (e.g., liked peer and professional support offered to depressed main character). Further, identification with the main character was reflected in participants recalling similar circumstances impacting their mental health. Despite some improvement, stigma related to depression and its treatment remained for some women. Future research for the improvement of health literacy tools is discussed.
Evaluation: A Qualitative Pilot Study of Novel Information Technology Infrastructure to Communicate Genetic Variant Updates.

Background: Partners HealthCare Personalized Medicine developed GeneInsight Clinic (GIC), a tool designed to communicate updated variant information from laboratory geneticists to treating clinicians through automated alerts, categorized by level of variant interpretation change. Objectives: The study aimed to evaluate feedback from the initial users of the GIC, including the advantages and challenges to receiving this variant information and using this technology at the point of care. Methods: Healthcare professionals from two clinics that ordered genetic testing for cardiomyopathy and related disorders were invited to participate in one-hour semi-structured interviews and/or a one-hour focus group. Using a Grounded Theory approach, transcript concepts were coded and organized into themes. Results: Two genetic counselors and two physicians from two treatment clinics participated in individual interviews. Focus group participants included one genetic counselor and four physicians. Analysis resulted in 8 major themes related to structuring and communicating variant knowledge, GIC’s impact on the clinic, and suggestions for improvements. The interview analysis identified longitudinal patient care, family data, and growth in genetic testing content as potential challenges to optimization of the GIC infrastructure. Discussion: Participants agreed that GIC implementation increased efficiency and effectiveness of the clinic through increased access to genetic variant information at the point of care. Conclusion: Development of information technology (IT) infrastructure to aid in the organization and management of genetic variant knowledge will be critical as the genetic field moves towards whole exome and whole genome sequencing. Findings from this study could be applied to future development of IT support for genetic variant knowledge management that would serve to improve clinicians’ ability to manage and care for patients.
The Role of Syndemic in Explaining Health Disparities Among Bisexual Men: A Blueprint for a Theoretically Informed Perspective

Although studies have documented dramatic health disparities among bisexual men and women, relative to their exclusively homosexual and heterosexual counterparts, research on potential explanatory factors underlying these differences in health outcomes has lagged. In an attempt to frame future research on health among bisexual individuals, this review will interpret previous research on health and risk disparities among bisexual men, using the lens of Syndemic Theory. We review findings from studies on a wide range of health concerns (including adverse childhood events, psychosocial conditions, sexual risk behavior, incidence and prevalence of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and health behavior following an HIV diagnosis) in an attempt to provide theoretically-informed perspectives from which to further study health disparities among bisexual men and women in more nuanced ways. Though there is emerging research on syndemic disparities among bisexual women, this review centers on bisexual men due to the deeper vein of HIV-related research in this population.
Data Ethics—Attaining Personal Privacy on the Web

Every form a user fills out, every click a user makes on a website, every comment or recommendation a user posts about a product creates a new data point that is being used by companies and researchers to better understand and potentially infer human behavior. In this chapter we highlight cases when companies and/or researchers stepped over the boundary of ethically reasonable uses of big data or manipulated individuals online without their expressed consent. We describe tools that members of the American public could use to improve the level of user privacy on the Internet and to gain more control over their data. Yet, recognizing the limits of individual protections, we also argue that the time has come to launch a public discussion about ethical uses of large-scale human behavioral data. We should develop guidelines and regulations that protect users while still allowing companies and researchers the ability to advance knowledge about human behavior in responsible ways.
Adaptive visual sort and summary of micrographic images of nanoparticles for forensic analysis

Image classification of nanoparticles from scanning electron microscopes for nuclear forensic analysis is a long, time consuming process. Months of analyst time may initially be required to sift through images in order to categorize morphological characteristics associated with nanoparticle identification. Subsequent assessment of newly acquired images against identified characteristics can be equally time consuming. We present INStINCt, our Intelligent Signature Canvas, as a framework for quickly organizing image data in a web-based canvas framework that partitions images based on features derived from convolutional neural networks. This work is demonstrated using particle images from an aerosol study conducted by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory under the auspices of the U.S. Army Public Health Command to determine depleted uranium aerosol doses and risks.
‘Because I Don’t know’: uncertainty and ambiguity in closed-ended reports of perceived discrimination in US health care

Objective Surveys often ask respondents to assess discrimination in health care. Yet, patients' responses to one type of widely used measure of discrimination (single-item, personally mediated) tend to reveal prevalence rates lower than observational studies would suggest. This study examines the meaning behind respondents' closed-ended self-reports on this specific type of measure, paying special attention to the frameworks and references used within the medical setting. Design Twenty-nine respondents participated in this study. They were asked the widely used question: 'Within the past 12 months, when seeking health care do you feel your experiences were worse than, the same as, or better than people of other races?' We then conducted qualitative interviews focusing on their chosen response and past experiences. Descriptive analyses focus on both the quantitative and qualitative data, including a comparison of conveyed perceived discrimination according to the different sources of data. Results To identify discrimination, respondents drew upon observations of dynamics in the waiting room or the health providers' communication style. Our respondents were frequently ambivalent and uncertain about how their personal treatment in health care compared to people of other races. When participants were unable to make observable comparisons, they tended to assume equal treatment and report 'same as' in the close-ended reports. Conclusion Respondents' responses to single-item, closed-ended questions may be influenced by characteristics specific to the health care realm. An emphasis on privacy and assumptions about the health care field (both authority and benevolence of providers) may limit opportunities for comparison and result in assumptions of racial parity in treatment.
Intelligent Human–Robot Interaction Systems Using Reinforcement Learning and Neural Networks

In this chapter, an intelligent human–robot system with adjustable robot autonomy is presented to assist the human operator to perform a given task with minimum workload demands and optimal performance. The proposed control methodology consists of two feedback loops: an inner loop that makes the robot with unknown dynamics behave like a prescribed impedance model as perceived by the operator, and an outer loop that finds the optimal parameters of this model to adjust the robot’s dynamics to the operator skills and minimize the tracking error . A nonlinear robust controller using neural networks is used in the inner loop to make the nonlinear unknown robot dynamics behave like a prescribed impedance model. The problem of finding the optimal parameters of the prescribed impedance model is formulated as an optimal control problem in the outer loop. The objective is to minimize the human effort and optimize the closed-loop behavior of the human–machine system for a given task. This design must take into account the unknown human dynamics as well as the desired overall performance of the human–robot system, which depends on the task. To obviate the requirement of the knowledge of the human model, reinforcement learning is used to learn the solution to the given optimal control problem online in real time.
The Sino-Soviet Alliance: An International History. By Austin Jersild. (Chapel Hill, NC: University of North Carolina Press, 2014. Pp. xi, 330. $36.95.)

The title of this book is both misleading and accurate. It is misleading because, although the work follows the Sino‐Soviet alliance from its inception in 1950 to its demise a decade later, it is n...
Predicting Emotional Word Ratings using Distributional Representations and Signed Clustering

Inferring the emotional content of words is important for text-based sentiment analysis, dialogue systems and psycholinguistics, but word ratings are expensive to collect at scale and across languages or domains. We develop a method that automatically extends word-level ratings to unrated words using signed clustering of vector space word representations along with affect ratings. We use our method to determine a word’s valence and arousal, which determine its position on the circumplex model of affect, the most popular dimensional model of emotion. Our method achieves superior out-of-sample word rating prediction on both affective dimensions across three different languages when compared to state-of-the-art word similarity based methods. Our method can assist building word ratings for new languages and improve downstream tasks such as sentiment analysis and emotion detection.
NP model of survivorship care: Lessons learned.

26Background: The number of cancer survivors is expected to reach 20 million by 2026. As patient volumes increase, oncologists are tasked with seeing more patients, often allowing less time for survivorship-related concerns. In an effort to address this issue, nurse practitioners (NPs) are equipped to aid survivors by managing late/long-term side effects of treatment, monitor for recurrence, provide survivorship care plan (SCP), and promote overall health and wellness. Methods: When initiating a survivorship program, our community cancer center utilized survivorship nurse practitioners (SNP) to address increasing patient volumes and patients’ survivorship issues. By beginning with breast cancer survivors, we were able to meet patients prospectively at diagnosis to provide support and introduce survivorship. SNP later saw patients in designated Survivorship Clinic, after completing treatment and in long-term survivorship to address physical/psychosocial concerns, place appropriate referrals, and promote ov...
A phase 1 window of opportunity study of valproic acid (VPA) in breast cancer testing a gene expression biomarker.

1084Background: VPA has anti-cancer activity thought to be due to its ability to inhibit histone deacetylase. We have published a 200 gene mRNA signature, called GDSS-VPA, that predicts breast canc...
Philadelphia chromosome-positive B-lymphoblastic lymphoma involving the genitourinary system and bone at initial diagnosis and relapse.

![Figure][1] A 74-year-old man presented with bilateral testicular masses and back pain. A positron emission tomography scan showed increased metabolic activity in bilateral testes (panel A; ROI, region of interest; SUV, standardized uptake value), and lytic lesions in the left pubic
Discussion Facilitation Techniques for Honors Peer Educators

Journal of the European Honors Council 2017 (volume 1) - Issue 1. The inaugural issue of the Journal is devoted to papers and notes related to presentations during the International Honors Conference held in Utrecht, Netherlands, in June 2016.
Mitigation of Impacts to Groundwater Quality from Highway Runoff in a Karst Terrain

There is a concern that urban development and the construction and operation of highways in particular represent a substantial threat to groundwater quality in areas underlain by karst geology. The...
Compact visible to extended-SWIR hyperspectral sensor for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS)

A miniaturized, lightweight turn-key hyperspectral sensor package incorporating a single, monolithic spectrograph, telescope and navigation system is being built for airborne applications on small, Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). The sensor is based on Corning’s existing MicroHSI 410 Vis/NIR Selectable Hyperspectral Airborne Remote sensing Kit (SHARK) currently used for airborne agricultural monitoring. Under DOE sponsorship, we are extending the approach to cover the full spectral range from 0.4-2.5 microns with a single spectrograph. This will enable rapid aerial surveys of vegetative mass, quality, and carbon sequestration. Other applications include mineralogy, agriculture, and intelligence/surveillance/reconnaissance (ISR). The sensor features an Offner-type spectrograph machined from a single transmissive block. The monolithic construction provides an unprecedented combination of high performance, low cost and low size, weight, and power. It has an f/1.4 aperture, 5 nm resolution, and measures only 46mm x 60mm x 76mm. The spectrograph block is coupled to a sterling-cooled, back-thinned, HgCdTe FPA covering 0.4-2.5 micron spectral range. The flight package, including spectrograph, camera, telescope, and navigation system weighs less than 2.4kg and can fit on group 1 UASs. In this paper, we present the design and optical performance of the sensor, and a detailed physical model of detection performance in standard, airborne hyperspectral sensing applications. At 100 Hz data rate, the sensor will achieve shotnoise limited performance with SNR > 250 from 0.4-1.7 microns and SNR<100 between 2-2.3 microns. Operating procedures for airborne monitoring of vegetative properties are also discussed. Initial test flights on a UAS are scheduled for next summer.