cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Novel applications of proton therapy in breast carcinoma

This review will focus on the indications, clinical experience, and technical considerations of proton beam radiation therapy in the treatment of patients with breast cancer. For patients with early stage disease, proton therapy delivers less dose to non-target breast tissue for patients receiving partial breast irradiation (PBI) therapy, which may result in improved cosmesis but requires further investigation. For patients with locally advanced breast cancer requiring treatment to the regional lymph nodes, proton therapy allows for an improved dosimetric profile compared with conventional photon and electron techniques. Early clinical results demonstrate acceptable toxicity. The possible reduction in cardiopulmonary events as a result of reduced dose to organs at risk will be tested in a randomized control trial of protons vs. photons.
Kinetics of Levoglucosenone Isomerization

We studied the acid-catalyzed isomerization of levoglucosenone (LGO) to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) and developed a reaction kinetics model that describes the experimental data across a range of conditions (100-150 °C, 50-100 mm H2 SO4 , 50-150 mm LGO). LGO and its hydrated derivative exist in equilibrium under these reaction conditions. Thermal and catalytic degradation of HMF are the major sources of carbon loss. Within the range of conditions studied, higher temperatures and shorter reaction times favor the production of HMF. The yields of HMF and levulinic acid decrease monotonically as tetrahydrofuran is added to the aqueous solvent system, indicating that water plays a role in the LGO isomerization reaction. Initial-rate analyses show that HMF is produced solely from LGO rather than from the hydrated derivative of LGO. The results of this study are consistent with a mechanism for LGO isomerization that proceeds through hydration of the anhydro bridge, followed by ring rearrangement analogous to the isomerization of glucose to fructose.
Theranostic Approaches for Pathway-Activated Systems in Oncology

Theranostics is a novel concept that refers to the integration of diagnostics with therapeutics in order to generate personalized therapies and is emerging as a promising precise therapeutic paradigm. In oncology, the approach is aimed at more accurate diagnosis of cancer, optimization of patient selection to identify those most likely to benefit from a proposed specific therapy allowing the generation of effective therapeutics that enhance patient survival. Perhaps the most promising target to date for theranostics is the deregulation of cancer cell metabolism, involving the uptake of glucose and glutamate, two key nutrients that are necessary to convert into glucosamine to stimulate protein biosynthesis for the growth and survival of cancer cells. We have recently developed a novel technology whereby the chelator ethylenedicysteine (EC) conjugates with glucosamine to create a vehicle platform (ECG), which mimics N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) that targets highly proliferative cancer cells. Moreover, ECG can be further conjugated to diagnostic/therapeutic metals (rhenium, Re, and platinum, Pt) that function as a new theranostic agent suitable for personalized medicine, targeting key pathways in cancer cells such as highly metabolic diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). This chapter summarizes key signaling pathways linked to dysregulated glucose metabolism in DLBCL and how deregulated glucose metabolism can be utilized for developing innovative new technologies with theranostic applications to eradicate cancer.
Survival and Causes of Death Among People With Clinically Diagnosed Synucleinopathies With Parkinsonism: A Population-Based Study.

Importance To our knowledge, a comprehensive study of the survival and causes of death of persons with synucleinopathies compared with the general population has not been conducted. Understanding the long-term outcomes of these conditions may inform patients and caregivers of the expected disease duration and may help with care planning. Objective To compare survival rates and causes of death among patients with incident, clinically diagnosed synucleinopathies and age- and sex-matched referent participants. Design, Setting, and Participants This population-based study used the Rochester Epidemiology Project medical records–linkage system to identify all residents in Olmsted County, Minnesota, who received a diagnostic code of parkinsonism from 1991 through 2010. A movement-disorders specialist reviewed the medical records of each individual to confirm the presence of parkinsonism and determine the type of synucleinopathy. For each confirmed patient, an age- and sex-matched Olmsted County resident without parkinsonism was also identified. Main Outcomes and Measures We determined the age- and sex-adjusted risk of death for each type of synucleinopathy, the median time from diagnosis to death, and the causes of death. Results Of the 461 patients with synucleinopathies, 279 (60.5%) were men, and of the 452 referent participants, 272 (60.2%) were men. From 1991 through 2010, 461 individuals received a diagnosis of a synucleinopathy (309 [67%] of Parkinson disease, 81 [17.6%] of dementia with Lewy bodies, 55 [11.9%] of Parkinson disease dementia, and 16 [3.5%] of multiple system atrophy with parkinsonism). During follow-up, 68.6% (n = 316) of the patients with synucleinopathies and 48.7% (n = 220) of the referent participants died. Patients with any synucleinopathy died a median of 2 years earlier than referent participants. Patients with multiple system atrophy with parkinsonism (hazard ratio, 10.51; 95% CI, 2.92-37.82) had the highest risk of death compared with referent participants, followed by those with dementia with Lewy bodies (hazard ratio, 3.94; 95% CI, 2.61-5.94), Parkinson disease with dementia (hazard ratio, 3.86; 95% CI, 2.36-6.30), and Parkinson disease (hazard ratio, 1.75; 95% CI, 1.39-2.21). Neurodegenerative disease was the most frequent cause of death listed on the death certificate for patients, and cardiovascular disease was the most frequent cause of death among referent participants. Conclusions and Relevance Individuals with multiple system atrophy with parkinsonism, dementia with Lewy bodies, and Parkinson disease dementia have increased mortality compared with the general population. The mortality among persons with Parkinson disease is only moderately increased compared with the general population.
Central Neuroinflammation in Cerebral Ischemia: The Role of Glia

One reason for the translational failure of antiinflammatory approaches for stroke therapy is that strategies targeting neuronal survival alone may be insufficient to improve outcome. There has been an increased interest in the roles of other cell types in the inflammatory response in the brain following thrombotic stroke. Within minutes of ischemia, local neuroinflammatory events occur mediated by the activation of microglia and astrocytes, specialized glial cells that represent the largest proportion of cells in the mammalian brain. This chapter will discuss the critical role that microglia and astrocytes play in the induction of poststroke neuroinflammation, and their potential as targets in the next generation of therapeutic strategies for thrombotic stroke.
3D brain Organoids derived from pluripotent stem cells: promising experimental models for brain development and neurodegenerative disorders.

Three-dimensional (3D) brain organoids derived from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs), including embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), appear to recapitulate the brain’s 3D cytoarchitectural arrangement and provide new opportunities to explore disease pathogenesis in the human brain. Human iPSC (hiPSC) reprogramming methods, combined with 3D brain organoid tools, may allow patient-derived organoids to serve as a preclinical platform to bridge the translational gap between animal models and human clinical trials. Studies using patient-derived brain organoids have already revealed novel insights into molecular and genetic mechanisms of certain complex human neurological disorders such as microcephaly, autism, and Alzheimer’s disease. Furthermore, the combination of hiPSC technology and small-molecule high-throughput screening (HTS) facilitates the development of novel pharmacotherapeutic strategies, while transcriptome sequencing enables the transcriptional profiling of patient-derived brain organoids. Finally, the addition of CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing provides incredible potential for personalized cell replacement therapy with genetically corrected hiPSCs. This review describes the history and current state of 3D brain organoid differentiation strategies, a survey of applications of organoids towards studies of neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders, and the challenges associated with their use as in vitro models of neurological disorders.
Assessing consumers’ preferences and willingness to pay for novel sliced packed fresh pears: A latent class approach

The North American fresh pear industry faces marketing challenges that could jeopardize its' long-term economic profitability. The production of sliced fresh pears is a promising alternative to overcome the lack of supplying consistently a product with superior quality with added convenience, potentially able to increase domestic consumption. In this paper, we used sensory evaluation and a Vickrey experimental auction to elicit consumers' preferences and willingness to pay for sliced packed fresh pears treated with SmartFresh™ (1-methylcyclopropene)and subsequently with a ripening compound (RC) in the form of glyoxylic acid at different concentration levels (1%, 2%, 3%, and control). Panelists were willing to pay a price premium equivalent to $0.119/2 oz packet for the 2% RC sample, $0.055/2 oz packet for the 3% RC sample, and $0.025/2 oz packet for the 1% RC sample compared to the control sample. Results from a market segmentation analyses indicate the presence of two groups in the panelist sample. The group that liked sliced pears assigned higher importance to locally grown fruit and price, shopped at conventional retailer grocery stores, had fewer children in the household, and were younger compared to the group that disliked sliced pears.
2,4,6-tris{2'[4'-(p-sulfophenyl)pyridyl]}-s-triazine: a new analytical reagent for the spectrophotometric determination of iron.

Abstract The sulfonated analog (TPPTZ-S) of 2,4,6-tris[2′-(4′-phenylpyridyl)]- s -triazine has been synthesized and its analytical utility investigated. The characteristics of the iron(II) complex of this ligand, including optimum conditions of formation, adherence to Beer's law and relative stability are described. Procedures for the quantitative determination of trace amounts of iron with TPPTZ-S are given. The analytical applicability of the reagent is illustrated by the successful determination of iron in E. coli and various beverage and beer samples.
Genetic studies on protein export in bacteria.

The study of protein export has proceeded in parallel in eukaryotic and prokaryotic systems over the past 10 years. Much of the information on eukaryotic protein secretion has come from the detailed analysis of an in vitro system which appears faithfully to mimic the in vivo pathway. In prokaryotes much of the progress has come from in vivo analysis including genetic studies. The genetic studies have focussed both on the components of specific proteins which determine their localization and on the nature of cellular components which are part of the export process. There now exists a large collection of mutations in the signal sequences of bacterial envelope proteins. These have been accumulated using both in vivo selections and in vitro constructions. These mutations have confirmed many aspects of the original signal sequence hypothesis and have provided some insight into the important features of such sequences. Studies on signal sequence mutations have been recently reviewed (Michaelis and Beckwith 1982; Benson et al. 1985) and will not be covered in this article.
On the weak tightness and power homogeneous compacta

Abstract Motivated by results of Juhasz and van Mill in [13] , we define the cardinal invariant w t ( X ) , the weak tightness of a topological space X , and show that | X | ≤ 2 L ( X ) w t ( X ) ψ ( X ) for any Hausdorff space X (Theorem 2.8). As w t ( X ) ≤ t ( X ) for any space X , this generalizes the well-known cardinal inequality | X | ≤ 2 L ( X ) t ( X ) ψ ( X ) for Hausdorff spaces (Arhangel′skiĭ [1] , Sapirovskiĭ [17] ) in a new direction. Theorem 2.8 is generalized further using covers by G κ -sets, where κ is a cardinal, to show that if X is a power homogeneous compactum with a countable cover of dense, countably tight subspaces then | X | ≤ c , the cardinality of the continuum. This extends a result in [13] to the power homogeneous setting.
Knowledge of Alternative Tobacco Products in Unaccompanied Homeless Youth

Objectives This study examined perceptions of factors that influence use and non-use of Alternative Tobacco Products (ATPs) among unaccompanied youth experiencing homelessness. Methods Focus groups were conducted with 30 homeless 18-24 year olds (80% men, 50% Hispanic, 30% Black, 17% White, 20% multi-racial/other) recruited from drop-in centers in Los Angeles. Discussion focused on several ATPs (hookah, electronic cigarettes/vaping devices, cigarillos/little cigars, smokeless tobacco, snus, natural cigarettes, clove cigarettes), soliciting participants' experiences using each ATP and motivations for using or not using each ATP. Results Focus group transcripts were subjected to a rigorous coding procedure and 8 themes relating to the reasons that participants may or may not use ATPs emerged. Each ATP was associated with distinctive characteristics that motivated use and non-use. For example, hookah use was viewed positively with positive sensory and social features dominating the discussion, whereas electronic cigarettes were viewed largely negatively (i.e., that they were expensive and harmful to health). Homelessness characterized participants' responses to the extent that cost was a factor in their choice of ATP. Conclusions These data provide important, first look insights into factors that may influence the use and non-use of ATPs among unaccompanied youth experiencing homelessness.
David Oliver: Missed GP appointments are no scandal

Last month, NHS Digital’s analysis of data on patients missing GP appointments12 was eagerly reported by the mainstream media. “NHS England loses £216m a year to missed GP appointments,” the Guardian said.3 The data were on primary care sessions with GPs, nurses, or therapists in the 12 months to 31 October 2018. Some 90% of practices were included, and 40% of appointments reported were booked on a same day basis.4 NHS Digital found that around one in 20 of the 307 million available appointments was missed without enough notice to give the slots to other patients. It estimated the average cost …
A Chromosome 17 Locus Engenders Frequency-Specific Non-Progressive Hearing Loss that Contributes to Age-Related Hearing Loss in Mice

The 129S6/SvEvTac (129S6) inbred mouse is known for its resistance to noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). However, less is understood of its unique age-related hearing loss (AHL) phenotype and its potential relationship with the resistance to NIHL. Here, we studied the physiological characteristics of hearing loss in 129S6 and asked if noise resistance (NR) and AHL are genetically linked to the same chromosomal region. We used auditory brainstem response (ABR) and distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE) to examine hearing sensitivity between 1 and 13 months of age of recombinant-inbred (congenic) mice with an NR phenotype. We identified a region of proximal chromosome (Chr) 17 (D17Mit143-D17Mit100) that contributes to a sensory, non-progressive hearing loss (NPHL) affecting exclusively the high-frequencies (>24 kHz) and maps to the nr1 locus on Chr 17. ABR experiments showed that 129S6 and CBA/CaJ F1 (CBACa) hybrid mice exhibit normal hearing, indicating that the hearing loss in 129S6 mice is inherited recessively. An allelic complementation test between the 129S6 and 101/H (101H) strains did not rescue hearing loss, suggesting genetic allelism between the nphl and phl1 loci of these strains, respectively. The hybrids had a milder hearing loss than either parental strain, which indicate a possible interaction with other genes in the mouse background or a digenic interaction between different genes that reside in the same genomic region. Our study defines a locus for nphl on Chr 17 affecting frequencies greater than 24 kHz.
Listening to Trauma, and Caring for the Caregiver: A Psychodynamic Reflection in the Age of Burnout

In this chapter, the author presents contemporary ideas from the medical literature regarding “burnout” in physicians and psychiatrists. He then describes what uniquely puts psychiatrists at risk for “burnout,” such as how psychiatrists must necessarily be affected while empathizing with patients and the ever-important therapeutic alliance. He next describes how the dynamics of healthcare systems and clinics, especially medical leaders, respond to the unique challenges of psychiatric practice, which may serve to support or undermine the doctor–patient relationship and alliance. Finally, he gives recommendations to enhance psychiatrist resilience, promote healthy organizational dynamics, and ultimately take better care of the patient.
Compact Group Actions On Closed Manifolds of Non-positive Curvature

A. Borel proved that, if a finite group $F$ acts effectively and continuously on a closed aspherical manifold $M$ with centerless fundamental group $\pi_1(M)$, then a natural homomorphism $\psi$ from $F$ to the outer automorphism group ${\rm Out} \pi_1(M)$ of $\pi_1(M)$, called the associated abstract kernel, is a monomorphism. In this paper, we investigate to what extent Borel's theorem holds for a compact Lie group $G$ acting effectively and smoothly on a particular orientable aspherical manifold $N$ admitting a Riemannian metric $g_0$ of non-positive curvature in case that $\pi_1(N)$ has a non-trivial center. It turns out that if $G$ attains the maximal dimension equal to the rank of Center $\pi_1(N)$ and the metric $g_0$ is real analytic, then any element of $G$ defining a diffemorphism homotopic to the identity of $N$ must be contained in the identity component $G^0$ of $G$. Moreover, if the inner automorphism group of $\pi_1(N)$ is torsion free, then the associated abstract kernel $\psi: G/G^0\to {\rm Out} \pi_1(N)$ is a monomorphism. The same result holds for the non-orientable $N$'s under certain techical assumptions. Our result is an application of a theorem by Schoen-Yau (Topology, {\bf 18} (1979), 361-380) on harmonic mappings.
Transplanting the Untransplantable

With implementation of the Kidney Allocation System, the growth of kidney paired donation programs, and advances in desensitization and immunosuppression, the outlook for "untransplantable" kidney transplantation candidates has never been more promising. The Kidney Allocation System prioritized compatible matches for candidates with calculated panel-reactive antibody levels of 98%, 99%, or 100% and broadened allocation of non-A1 and non–A1-B subgroup kidneys to blood group type B candidates. Concurrently, the growth of kidney paired donation programs and use of incompatible transplantation as part of kidney paired donation to achieve "more compatible" kidney transplantation has improved options for candidates with an incompatible living donor. Finally, advances in desensitization and immunosuppression have strengthened the ability to manage donor-specific antibodies and antibody-mediated rejection. Although no patient should be labeled "untransplantable" due to blood group type or donor-specific antibody, all candidates should be provided with individualized and realistic counseling regarding their anticipated wait times for deceased donor or kidney paired donation matching, with early referral to expert centers when needed. In this Perspective, we consider blood group type ABO incompatibility, HLA antigen incompatibility, antibody-mediated rejection, kidney paired donation, and recent developments in incompatible transplantation in more depth and recommend an approach to the sensitized candidate.
Modifying Existing Evaluation Instruments to Fit Your CS Research Needs

Developing your computer science education research evaluation instruments from scratch may be no longer necessary thanks to the growing catalog of instruments curated by CSEdResearch.org. This workshop will teach participants how to find, remix, and use existing instruments by delving into the process of taking openly shared resources and repurposing them for your projects. In addition to discussing the importance of using instruments that have been shown to have evidence of reliability and validity, the team from The University of Texas at Austin will discuss how they amended existing surveys and interview protocols to develop tools customized to their needs for their NSF-funded CSforAll Research Practitioner Partnership. Workshop participants will break into groups and be given extensive time to review and revise research instruments. Key takeaways from this workshop will be the steps you need to take to choose an instrument based on your research question and study design, the role that validity and reliability play in instrument design, how to make modifications to an instrument (if needed) to better address your research question, and how to add your instruments to the CSEdResearch.org site.
Oriented attachment mechanism of triangular Ag nanoplates: A molecular dynamics study

We use molecular-dynamics simulations to probe the experimentally observed aggregation of PVP-covered triangular Ag nanoplates to form 2D sheets in solution. We find lateral plate attachment is the most favorable aggregation pathway – consistent with experiment. The mechanism is general and suggests new processing strategies for creating 2D architectures in solution-phase syntheses.
Multiple factors related to metabolic syndrome induced by antipsychotic drugs

Objective To analyze the related factors to metabolic syndrome(MS) induced by antipsychotic drugs. Methods Patient's data were collected by the way of face-to-face questionnaire to patients or their guardians, consulting patient's medical record, checking physical or laboratory examination. The diagnosis of MS was established with the criteria of branch of diabetes mellitus of Chinese Medical Association. Results Among 365 inpatients with mental disorders,there were 96 eases(26.3% )suffered from metabolic syndrome. Logistic regression analysis appeared that metabolic syndrome correlated with the category of antipsyehotie drugs, family medical history, age, exercises and abdominal obesity, the standardized regression coefficient was 5. 7857,4. 5728,3. 7643, - 2. 2534,1. 5762, respectively. Conclusions The MS is highly prevalent among patients who use antipsyehotie drugs and is strongly associated with antipsyehotie drugs, family medical history, age and abdominal obesity. Key words: Metabolic syndrome; Antipsychotie drug; Relative factors; Cross-sectional study
Mental Health Service Utilization: General and Gendered Consequences for Prison Strains:

Nearly half of the incarcerated population experience mental health problems. Service use, however, is rare. There may be benefits for individuals who continue treatment upon incarceration (i.e., f...
Optical Aptamer-Based Sensors for Detecting Plant Hormones

This paper reports a new chip equipped with aptamer-based sensors interfaced with a capillary microfluidics suitable for screening and detecting hormones in plant samples. The microfluidic capillary interface of the chip ensures the samples to be automatically delivered to the sensors on the chip even without any external pumps, making it potentially suitable for operation in the field or source-limited settings if a sample-preparation component is integrated on the same chip. The arrayed sensors can be functionalized with aptamers specific to different plant hormones, hence this chip can screen and identify the hormones from unknown samples. Since currently only an abscisic acid (ABA) aptamer and a salicylic acid (SA) aptamer are identified and available, as a technical demonstration, in this research, the sensors are only functionalized with ABA aptamer and SA aptamer to evaluate the performance of this chip. Using this chip, the detection of five plant hormones (ABA, SA, auxins, cytokinins, gibberellins) in buffer and plant extracts has been demonstrated with very good specificity and high sensitivity. And the sensors can detect both ABA and SA as low as $0.1~\mu \text{M}$ . All these measurements require only $1~\mu \text{l}$ samples and could be carried out within less than 30 min. Furthermore, the sensor reusability has been evaluated by regenerating the sensors. Given its minimal external equipment operational requirement, this chip offers a suitable platform for rapid, sensitive, and inexpensive screening and identification of plant hormones in raw plant samples.
No mark is an island: Precision and category repulsion biases in data reproductions

Data visualization is powerful in large part because it facilitates visual extraction of values. Yet, existing measures of perceptual precision for data channels (e.g., position, length, orientation, etc.) are based largely on verbal reports of ratio judgments between two values (e.g., [7] ). Verbal report conflates multiple sources of error beyond actual visual precision, introducing a ratio computation between these values and a requirement to translate that ratio to a verbal number. Here we observe raw measures of precision by eliminating both ratio computations and verbal reports; we simply ask participants to reproduce marks (a single bar or dot) to match a previously seen one. We manipulated whether the mark was initially presented (and later drawn) alone, paired with a reference (e.g. a second ‘100%’ bar also present at test, or a y-axis for the dot), or integrated with the reference (merging that reference bar into a stacked bar graph, or placing the dot directly on the axis). Reproductions of smaller values were overestimated, and larger values were underestimated, suggesting systematic memory biases. Average reproduction error was around 10% of the actual value, regardless of whether the reproduction was done on a common baseline with the original. In the reference and (especially) the integrated conditions, responses were repulsed from an implicit midpoint of the reference mark, such that values above 50% were overestimated, and values below 50% were underestimated. This reproduction paradigm may serve within a new suite of more fundamental measures of the precision of graphical perception.
Understanding Phasic Irritability: Anger and Distress in Children’s Temper Outbursts

Pediatric irritability can be highly impairing and is implicated in adverse outcomes. The phasic component, characterized by temper outbursts, is a frequent impetus to seek treatment. This study tested whether a previously described anger-distress model of tantrums applies to an outpatient sample of school-age children with clinically impairing temper outbursts (TO; 5.0–9.9 years; N = 86), and examined the clinical relevance of resulting factors through associations with measures of psychopathology, and differences between children with TO and two groups without: children with ADHD (n = 60) and healthy controls (n = 45). Factor analyses established a three-factor model: High Anger, Low Anger, Distress. These factors had unique associations with measures of irritability, externalizing problems, and internalizing problems in the TO group. Additionally, an interaction between groups and outburst factors emerged. Results provide evidence for the presence and clinical utility of the anger-distress model in children’s outbursts and suggest avenues for future pediatric irritability research.
Power FET Degradation Test based on Thermal Equilibrium during Mission-Profile Characterization

Thermal stress is one of the prime causes leading to power semiconductor device failure. Therefore, a clear and accurate understanding of power switches' thermal degradation process is critical for proper design, reliability analysis, and lifetime prediction of power converters. This paper proposes a new degradation setup for the reliability assessment of power FETs based on thermal equilibrium during mission profile characterization. During a practical degradation process of the FETs, equilibrium junction temperature, and R DS(ON) of the Device-Under-Test (DUT) are captured for post data processing to evaluate their Remaining-Useful-Lifetime (RUL). Mission profile tests with multiple load currents will be cycled until the device fails or the reliability parameters such as R DS(ON) and the equilibrium junction temperature exceed a specific threshold value. This is repeated with different FETs at other ambient temperatures. It is hence possible to test four FETs at a time with reduced power drawn from the source. A complete electro-thermal simulation model and analysis of a SiC-MOSFET under inductive load switching operation on an H-bridge testing circuit has been successfully implemented in LTspice. The operation and benefits of the proposed characterization process have been proven by simulation and preliminary experimental results.
Biomethane potential test reveals microbial adaptation and increased methane yield during anaerobic co-digestion

Abstract The study explored anaerobic co-digestion of waste activated sludge (WAS) with food waste and fats, oils and grease (FOG) at 25%, 50% and 75% VS fractions using short-term biomethane potential (BMP) tests to assess if prior exposure of the inoculum to co-substrates induced microbial adaptation and enhanced methane yield. The study also assessed if the addition of co-substrates changed the microbial community structure. Mono-digestion of WAS produced the lowest methane yield of 74.9 ± 6.5 NmL CH4/gVS. Co-digestion of food waste and FOG significantly increased methane yield, with 75% FOG fraction yielding the highest methane of 878.2 ± 25.2 NmL CH4/gVS without microbial acclimation. Prior acclimation of the inoculum to co-substrates further enhanced methane production by up to 0.2-fold. The dominant microbial taxa remained constant irrespective of the different co-substrates. The bacterial community had a substantial abundance of syntrophic fatty acid oxidizers, while hydrogenotrophic methanogens, particularly Methanolinea, was the predominant methanogen.
Ultrasound-guided spinal accessory nerve block for intractable trapezius pain: A case series

Abstract Myofascial pain affects about 10% of the United States population, often involves the trapezius muscle, and can be difficult to manage using conventional analgesic medications in the Emergency Department (ED). The use of ultrasound-guided nerve blocks performed by emergency physicians is well-documented, but this is the first report describing the technique and effectiveness of an ultrasound-guided spinal accessory nerve block for acutely treating trapezius myofascial pain in the ED setting. In this case series of three patients with intractable trapezius pain, the ultrasound-guided spinal accessory nerve block proved feasible and offered substantial therapeutic benefit.
Gender differences affecting the relationship between sleep attitudes, sleep behaviors and sleep outcomes

Research has found that discrepancies exist in many health-related behaviors, leading to discrepancies in health outcomes, between men and women. Among these, women tend to have more positive attit...
A Modeling Framework for Optimal Design of Renewable Energy Processes Under Market Uncertainty

Abstract A distributed optimization strategy for development of a reliable framework to address optimal design of renewable energy systems under uncertainty is presented. A structural approach is utilized for production capacity design, simulation of the process in detail, and optimizing the operating condition of the plant. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach, a hypothetical multiproduct lignocellulosic biorefinery is considered as a case study. The results prove the efficiency of the proposed approach, and provide a quantitative analysis to determine the optimal design in the face of uncertainty.
A Small Preface Unto the Christian Reader

Forsomuch as this Image of both Churches, or exposition upon Saint John’s Apocalypse, seemed unto me (as it came unto the printing) to be far too much for one volume, I thought to divide it by equal portions into three small books, as I have now done indeed: of whom the first containeth ten chapters, the second seven, and the third five only, which maketh out the whole number of the twenty-two. Some peradventure will marvel that the smaller number of the chapters should comprehend so much of that commentary as the greater number, but if they mark in the text the abounding of mysteries evermore as the matter thereof aboundeth, they will soon leave their marveling.
Computational ferrying: Challenges in deploying a Mobile High Performance Computer

Mobile devices are often expected to perform computational tasks that may be beyond their processing or battery capability. Cloud computing techniques have been proposed as a means to offload a mobile device's computation to more powerful resources. In this paper, we consider the case where powerful computing resources are employed on a vehicle, thus they can be re-positioned in real time. User-carried devices with no Internet connectivity wish to initiate computing tasks to be run on a remote computer. This scenario finds application in challenged environments and may be used in a military or disaster relief setting. It is further enabled by increasing feasibility of constructing a Mobile High Performance Computer (MHPC) using rugged computer hardware with form factors that can be deployed in vehicles. By analogy to prior work on message ferries and data mules, one can refer to the use of MHPCs as computational ferrying. After illustrating and motivating the computational ferrying concept, we turn our attention into the challenges facing such a deployment. These include the well-known challenges of operating an opportunistic and intermittently connected network using message ferries - such as devising an efficient mobility plan for MHPCs and developing techniques for proximity awareness. In addition such a system must include computation offloading decision making mechanisms to be deployed by mobile users, techniques for scheduling computation on MHPCs, and for handling possible mobility of the users. In this paper, first we propose an architecture for the system components to be deployed on the mobile users and the MHPCs. We then provide solutions to the MHPC movement scheduling problem with sufficient generality to describe a number of plausible deployment scenarios. Finally, we report and discuss some preliminary results.
The Literature of the Copts and the Contributions of Monsignor Hyvernat to the Study of the Subject (Fourth Annual Henri Hyvernat Lecture)

This paper is an extended version of the Fourth Annual Henri Hyvernat Lecture, read at 5:00 p.m. on March 26, 2015, in St. Thomas Aquinas Hall on the campus of the Catholic University of America in Washington DC. It was agreed to retain the text for the most part as a lecture, instead of turning it into an article, in order to retain the spirit of the event and honor the memory of the French-born Henri Hyvernat (1858-1941), who became the first professor appointed to the university when it was founded in 1887. The literature of the Copts was the subject of higher learning by far the closest to the mind and heart of Monsignor Hyvernat. An overview of the subject is presented in the present lecture. But it is not the lecture’s sole topic. There is a certain complexity in regard to how the Copts and all that is Coptic fit into world history, all 5000 years of it, and clear definitions are not easy to find. The lecture takes on the challenge of presenting the matter clearly and distinctly—and at the same time comprehensively, yet also succinctly. It concludes with some observations on Hyvernat’s life and work as seen through the author’s personal lens.
The Emergence of Cells During the Origin of Life

In simple protocells, formed by encapsulating RNA inside vesicles, interactions between the RNA and the membrane lead to the emergence of essential cellular behaviors.
Comparación de la CIC en dos suelos, utilizando Acetato de Amonio, Acetato de Sodio y Cloruro de Amonio

Un suelo acido (Tropohumult) y un suelo alcalino (Camborthid), fueron utilizados en la presente investigacion. El objetivo consistio en determinar si la medicion de los valores de la Capacidad de Intercambio Cationico con el metodo del Cloruro de Amonio (NH4CL 0,2 N), produce resultados repetitivos, estables y comparables con dos metodos de medicion de la CIC rutinarios, el Acetato de Amonio 1N, pH 7 y el Acetato de Sodio pH 8,2. Se consiguio una gran variabilidad de la CIC, cuando esta era medida con los dos metodos rutinarios probados. Se consiguio una baja variabilidad de los valores de la CIC obtenidos en el suelo de Quibor, con el metodo del Cloruro de Amonio. Se sugiere que en este caso, el metodo del Cloruro de Amonio permite la eliminacion de una serie de fuentes de error inherentes en los metodos rutinarios, debido a que no modifica la reaccion del suelo ni disuelve los carbonatos. Los resultados que arrojo el metodo del Cloruro de Amonio en el suelo acido de Villanueva, tuvieron una elevada variabilidad.
Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH)-induced growth hormone (hGH) responses in cirrhotic men.

The plasma growth hormone (hGH) responses to an intravenous challenge of 400 Ag of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) were evaluated in 14 normal controls and in 29 chronic alcoholic men. The normal controls had either a minimal or no hGH response to TRH, having basal hGH levels of 0.9 ± 0.2 ng per ml and peak hGH levels of 2.0 ± 0.5 ng per ml. In contrast, the chronic alcoholic men had a basal hGH level of 2.8 ± 0.4 ng per ml, 3 times the basal level of the normal controls (P
Synthesis of a phenolic precursor and its efficient O-[18F]fluoroethylation with purified no-carrier-added [18F]2-fluoroethyl brosylate as the labeling agent.

[18F]2-Fluoroethyl-p-toluenesulfonate also called [18F]2-fluoroethyl tosylate has been widely used for labeling radioligands for positron emission tomography (PET). [18F]2-Fluoroethyl-4-bromobenzenesulfonate, also called [18F]2-fluoroethyl brosylate ([18F]F(CH2)2OBs), was used as an alternative radiolabeling agent to prepare [18F]FEOHOMADAM, a fluoroethoxy derivative of HOMADAM, by O-fluoroethylating the phenolic precursor. Purified by reverse-phase HPLC, the no-carrier-added [18F]F(CH2)2OBs was obtained in an average radiochemical yield (RCY) of 35%. The reaction of the purified and dried [18F]F(CH2)2OBs with the phenolic precursor was performed by heating in DMF and successfully produced [18F]FEOHOMADAM, after HPLC purification, in RCY of 21%. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Genome-wide association studies of pigmentation and skin cancer: a review and meta-analysis

Recent genome-wide association studies (GWAS) identified genetic loci associated with pigmentation, nevi, and skin cancer. We performed a review and meta-analysis of GWAS results, grouping them into four categories: (i) loci associated with pigmentation (hair, eye, and/or skin color), cutaneous UV-response (sun sensitivity and/or freckling), and skin cancer; (ii) loci associated with nevi and melanoma; (iii) loci associated with pigmentation and/or cutaneous UV-response but not skin cancer; and (iv) loci associated distinctly with skin cancer, mostly basal cell carcinoma, but not pigmentation or cutaneous UV-response. These findings suggest at least two pathways for melanoma development (via pigmentation and via nevi), and two pathways for basal cell carcinoma development (via pigmentation and independent of pigmentation). However, further work is necessary to separate the association with skin cancer from the association with pigmentation. As with any GWAS, the identified loci may not include the causal variants and may need confirmation by direct genome sequencing.
Hybrid chirped pulse amplification

Summary form only given. Optical parametric chirped pulse amplification (OPCPA) is an attractive short pulse amplification technology because of its simplicity broad bandwidth and large gain. Pulses from a mode-locked oscillator can be amplified to mJ energies in a single pass of only 2 or 3 nonlinear crystals. Furthermore, OPCPA does not intrinsically produce pre-pulses and does not require electrooptic switching to either select a single pulse from an oscillator pulse train prior to multipass amplification or to inject/eject a pulse from a regenerative amplifier. The major drawback of OPCPA, however, is pump conversion efficiency. The spatio-temporal evolution and relatively long pulse width of commercial Q-switched lasers limits conversion. On the other hand, pump to IR conversion efficiencies of >50% or 90% of the maximum theoretical quantum efficiency have been demonstrated from chirped-pulse, Ti:sapphire amplifiers pumped by commercial Nd:YAG lasers. We present here the first demonstration of a simple hybrid chirped pulse amplification scheme which combines the best of both technologies.
Thresher: an efficient storage manager for copy-on-write snapshots

A new generation of storage systems exploit decreasing storage costs to allow applications to take snapshots of past states and retain them for long durations. Over time, current snapshot techniques can produce large volumes of snapshots. Indiscriminately keeping all snapshots accessible is impractical, even if raw disk storage is cheap, because administering such large-volume storage is expensive over a long duration. Moreover, not all snapshots are equally valuable. Thresher is a new snapshot storage management system, based on novel copy-on-write snapshot techniques, that is the first to provide applications the ability to discriminate among snapshots efficiently. Valuable snapshots can remain accessible or stored with faster access while less valuable snapshots are discarded or moved off-line. Measurements of the Thresher prototype indicate that the new techniques are efficient and scalable, imposing minimal (4%) performance penalty on expected common workloads.
Early Diagnosis of Diabetes through the Eye

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder characterized by high blood sugar levels which give rise to complications in the eye, kidneys and the brain. Diabetes triggers the development of ocular diseases like diabetic retinopathy and cataracts which are the leading cause of blindness around the world. The most common method for the diagnosis of diabetes involves measuring the blood sugar levels in the body. One major disadvantage of this method is the fluctuating blood sugar levels which contribute to false negative results. This leads to delay in treatment, eventually causing permanent damage to the organs. Therefore, diagnosis of diabetes at an early stage is very crucial. One biomarker for diabetes related diseases is the formation of Advanced Glycation End-products (AGEs) that result from the Maillard reaction of proteins with glucose. α-crystallin in the ocular lens is a small heat shock protein with no protein turnover and hence acts as a record for post-translational modifications especially glycation which forms AGEs. We have used steady state and time resolved fluorescence measurements to study the spectroscopic changes in α-crystallin with increase in time of glycation and the intact lenses from diabetic and nondiabetic donors. Overall, this study was focused on developing a noninvasive diagnostic tool for early detection of diabetes mellitus.
Hydrothermal palygorskite and ferromanganese mineralization at a central California margin fracture zone

Abstract Ferromanganese oxyhydroxide crusts and nodules associated with palygorskite were recovered from the Santa Lucia Escarpment where the Morro Fracture Zone intersects the central California continental margin. Palygorskite was found in pure, high-Mg, low-Al, boxwork-textured veins, and disseminated in poorly consolidated palygorskite-rich mudstone. The purity of the palygorskite boxwork blades and the boxwork structure suggest formation by direct precipitation rather than by diagenetic or detrital processes. Interaction of hydrothermal fluids with oceanic basalt and/or deeper ultramafic rocks produced a Mg-Si enriched fluid supersaturated with respect to palygorskite that precipitated directly from the fluid at or near the seafloor. The close association of Fe-Mn crusts and nodules with both the palygorskite-rich mudstone and boxwork-vein palygorskite suggests a genetic link between the three types of mineralization. Mixed origin hydrothermal-hydrogenetic Fe-Mn crusts, with up to 50% hydrothermal input, formed contemporaneously with and subsequent to palygorskite formation. Fe-Mn nodules collected in the same dredge are of combined hydrogenetic and diagenetic origin and appear to be unrelated to hydrothermal mineralization that produced the crusts and palygorskite. The thickness of the Fe-Mn crusts and rare diatom fragments within the mudstone suggest an age of formation between 13 and 5 Ma.
EVALUATION OF THE PHYSICAL AND SENSORY PROPERTIES OF CHILE‐FLAVORED, PUFFED, EXTRUDED PRODUCTS MADE FROM MEAT AND POTATO FLOUR

Extruded, puffed products prepared from potato flour combined with either partially defatted chopped beef (PDCB), mechanically deboned chicken (MDC) or chicken thigh meat (C) and coated with cheese seasoning containing three levels of chile were evaluated by instrumental and sensory methods. Expansion ratio, shear, compression and bulk density measurements indicated products prepared with C were less expanded and slightly harder than those made with MDC or PDCB. C products tended to have the lightest color. Chile pepper was the dominant flavor and aroma characteristic detected by trained sensory panelists. C puffs were generally rated more gritty/cohesive/grainy than MDC puffs by panelists. Results indicated acceptable extruded, puffed products could be
THE REMOVAL OF AGGLUTININ FROM SENSITIZED MOTILE BACTERIA SECOND PAPER. THE AGGLUTINATIVE PROPERTIES OF WATER WASHINGS

The salt-free water washings of a sensitized motile bacterium (B. aertrycke) were found to cause a floccular agglutination in the presence of both whole and deflagellated antigen. Evidence was presented that the water washings when salt-free contained flagella and flagellar agglutinin and that clumping occurred upon the addition of saline. The floccular reaction in the presence of deflagellated bacteria was regarded as the agglutination of flagella present in the washings. In the presence of whole bacteria, however, actual bacterial agglutination resulted.
Assessing Performance Budgeting at OMB: The Influence of Politics, Performance, and Program Size

This article investigates the impact of performance, as measured by the OMB performance budgeting initiative called Performance Assessment Rating Tool (PART), on recommendations in the President’s budget. In a multivariate analysis using data from the FY 2005 budget, with appropriate controls for the political content of programs, we find that the PART scores have a statistically significant impact on budget decisions within OMB. We find that PART scores have a larger impact on small and medium sized programs than on large programs. We also find that the ‘‘results’’ component of PART scores has a smaller impact on budget decisions than the ‘‘program purpose’’ component, a finding which tends to contradict the goal of performance budgeting to redirect resources to programs that produce results. The relative unimportance of the ‘‘results’’ component may be due to the lack of good outcome measures for most programs in PART.