cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Disparities in Breast Cancer Treatment and Outcomes: Biological, Social, and Health System Determinants and Opportunities for Research

Racial disparities in breast cancer mortality have been widely documented for several decades and persist despite advances in receipt of mammography across racial groups. This persistence leads to questions about the roles of biological, social, and health system determinants of poor outcomes. Cancer outcomes are a function not only of innate biological factors but also of modifiable characteristics of individual behavior and decision making as well as characteristics of patient-health system interaction and the health system itself. Attempts to explain persistent racial disparities have mostly been limited to discussion of differences in insurance coverage, socioeconomic status, tumor stage at diagnosis, comorbidity, and molecular subtype of the tumor. This article summarizes existing literature exploring reasons for racial disparities in breast cancer mortality, with an emphasis on treatment disparities and opportunities for future research. Because breast cancer care requires a high degree of multidisciplinary team collaboration, ensuring that guideline recommended treatment (such as endocrine therapy for hormone receptor positive patients) is received by all racial/ethnic groups is critical and requires coordination across multiple providers and health care settings. Recognition that variation in cancer care quality may be correlated with race (and socioeconomic and health system factors) may assist policy makers in identifying strategies to more equally distribute clinical expertise and health infrastructure across multiple user populations.
Familial erythrophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis: late relapse despite continuous high-dose VP-16 chemotherapy.

Familial erythrophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (FEL) is a rare disease of infancy and early childhood. Transmitted in an autosomal recessive manner, FEL is characterized by infiltration of lymphocytes and histiocytes into visceral organs, the bone marrow, and the central nervous system (CNS) [1,2,3]. Epipodophyllotoxin (VP-16) is currently the most effective chemotherapeutic agent against FEL; complete clinical remissions have been attained with this agent alone [4,5]. Prolonged remission has been achieved in only a few patients, usually those in whom aggressive systemic and CNS therapy was initiated early in the course of the disease [6]. For these children, the necessary duration of therapy has not been defined.
Educators' Personal Liability for Violating Student Rights: The Risks When Regulating Student Speech

The events seem ordinary enough. In Texas, a teacher and principal stop a second-grader from sharing with her friends pencils that have “Jesus” embossed on them. A high school in New York does not ...
Tubular device for intraoral examination of rodents

The device consists of a tube with a conical end, a base, and a movable stem. The rodent is anaesthetized lightly with ether and inserted quickly into the tube so that the head extends beyond the opening at the conical end, where cheeks, upper and lower incisors are secured to permit illumination and direct visual or microscopic examination of the palate, molars or gingiva.
The Internal Morality of Medicine: Explication and Application to Managed Care

Some ethical issues facing contemporary medicine cannot be fully understood without addressing medicine's internal morality. Medicine as a profession is characterized by certain moral goals and morally acceptable means for achieving those goals. The list of appropriate goals and means allows some medical actions to be classified as clear violations of the internal morality, and others as borderline or controversial cases. Replies are available for common objections, including the superfluity of internal morality for ethical analysis, the argument that internal morality is merely an apology for medicine's traditional power and authority, and the claim that there is no single, "core" internal morality. The value of addressing the internal morality of medicine may be illustrated by a detailed investigation of ethical issues posed by managed care. Managed care poses some fundamental challenges for medicine's internal morality, but also calls for thoughtful reflection and reconsideration of some traditionally held moral views on patient fidelity in particular.
A new hybrid two-zone/crucible furnace process for the growth of epitaxial Tl2Ba2CaCu2O8 superconducting films

Epitaxial Tl{sub 2}Ba{sub 2}CaCu{sub 2}O{sub 8} (Tl-2212) films {approximately}5500 {Angstrom} thick are grown on LaAlO{sub 3}(100) substrates using a new hybrid two-zone/crucible furnace process enabling precise control of thallination. This method combines the best features of both conventional crucible and two-zone processing for the first time: superb film properties and reduced handling of hazardous Tl-oxide powders. Single-phase, highly {ital c}-axis oriented Tl-2212 films are grown with smooth morphology, Meissner transition {approximately}103 K, and critical current density {approximately}1.1{times}10{sup 7}A/cm{sup 2} at 5 K for twenty consecutive runs without having to change or add to the Tl-oxide source. {copyright} {ital 1998 Materials Research Society.}
Structure of the Ebola virus glycoprotein bound to an antibody from a human survivor

Ebola virus (EBOV) entry requires the surface glycoprotein (GP) to initiate attachment and fusion of viral and host membranes. Here we report the crystal structure of EBOV GP in its trimeric, pre-fusion conformation (GP1+GP2) bound to a neutralizing antibody, KZ52, derived from a human survivor of the 1995 Kikwit outbreak. Three GP1 viral attachment subunits assemble to form a chalice, cradled by the GP2 fusion subunits, while a novel glycan cap and projected mucin-like domain restrict access to the conserved receptor-binding site sequestered in the chalice bowl. The glycocalyx surrounding GP is likely central to immune evasion and may explain why survivors have insignificant neutralizing antibody titres. KZ52 recognizes a protein epitope at the chalice base where it clamps several regions of the pre-fusion GP2 to the amino terminus of GP1. This structure provides a template for unravelling the mechanism of EBOV GP-mediated fusion and for future immunotherapeutic development.
The role of vitamin D in pregnancy and lactation: emerging concepts

Pregnancy is a critical time in the lifecycle of a woman where she is responsible not only for her own well-being, but also that of her developing fetus, a process that continues during lactation. Until recently, the impact of vitamin D status during this period had not been fully appreciated. Data regarding the importance of vitamin D in health have emerged to challenge traditional dogma, and suggest that vitamin D – through its effect on immune function and surveillance – plays a role beyond calcium and bone metabolism on the health status of both the mother and her fetus. Following birth, this process persists; the lactating mother continues to be the main source of vitamin D for her infant. Thus, during both pregnancy and lactation, maternal deficiency predicts fetal and infant deficiency; the significance of this is just beginning to be understood and will be highlighted in this review.
Commentary: On Haldane's 'defense of beanbag genetics'.

It is now almost 45 years since Haldane’s ‘Defense of beanbag genetics’ appeared, and the time is ripe for an evaluation of that defence, particularly in the light of developments over the last two decades. This deliberately provocative review is divided into four parts: first, a discussion of why Haldane felt that a defence was necessary; second, a review of what his defence actually was; third, suggestions as to what his defence should have been; and fourth, a discussion of what changes might be made to the defence had it been written now and not in 1964.
Use of Nursing Homes in the Care of Persons With Severe Mental Illness: 1985 to 1995

OBJECTIVE: The study examined patterns of care for persons with mental illness in nursing homes in the United States from 1985 to 1995. During that period resident populations in public mental hospitals declined, and legislation aimed at diverting psychiatric patients from nursing homes was enacted. METHODS: Estimates of the number of current residents with a mental illness diagnosis and those with a severe mental illness were derived from the 1985 and 1995 National Nursing Home Surveys and the 1987 and 1996 Medical Expenditure Surveys. Trends by age group and changes in the mentally ill population over this period were assessed. RESULTS: The number of nursing home residents diagnosed with dementia-related illnesses and depressive illnesses increased, but the number with schizophrenia-related diagnoses declined. The most substantial declines occurred among residents under age 65; more than 60 percent fewer had any primary psychiatric diagnosis or severe mental illness. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest ...
Algorithms for Interdependent Security Games

Inspired by events ranging from 9/11 to the collapse of the accounting firm Arthur Andersen, economists Kunreuther and Heal [5] recently introduced an interesting game-theoretic model for problems of interdependent security (IDS), in which a large number of players must make individual investment decisions related to security — whether physical, financial, medical, or some other type — but in which the ultimate safety of each participant may depend in a complex way on the actions of the entire population. A simple example is the choice of whether to install a fire sprinkler system in an individual condominium in a large building. While such a system might greatly reduce the chances of the owner’s property being destroyed by a fire originating within their own unit, it might do little or nothing to reduce the chances of damage caused by fires originating in other units (since sprinklers can usually only douse small fires early). If “enough” other unit owners have not made the investment in sprinklers, it may be not cost-effective for any individual to do so.
Commensal Interactions in a Dual-Species Biofilm Exposed to Mixed Organic Compounds

There is limited knowledge of interspecies interactions in biofilm communities. In this study, Pseudomonas sp. strain GJ1, a 2-chloroethanol (2-CE)-degrading organism, and Pseudomonas putida DMP1, a p-cresoldegrading organism, produced distinct biofilms in response to model mixed waste streams composed of 2-CE and various p-cresol concentrations. The two organisms maintained a commensal relationship, with DMP1 mitigating the inhibitory effects of p-cresol on GJ1. A triple-labeling technique compatible with confocal microscopy was used to investigate the influence of toxicant concentrations on biofilm morphology, species distribution, and exopolysaccharide production. Single-species biofilms of GJ1 shifted from loosely associated cell clusters connected by exopolysaccharide to densely packed structures as the p-cresol concentrations increased, and biofilm formation was severely inhibited at high p-cresol concentrations. In contrast, GJ1 was abundant when associated with DMP1 in a dual-species biofilm at all p-cresol concentrations, although at high p-cresol concentrations it was present only in regions of the biofilm where it was surrounded by DMP1. Evidence in support of a commensal relationship between DMP1 and GJ1 was obtained by comparing GJ1-DMP1 biofilms with dual-species biofilms containing GJ1 and Escherichia coli ATCC 33456, an adhesive strain that does not mineralize p-cresol. Additionally, the data indicated that only tower-like cell structures in the GJ1-DMP1 biofilm produced exopolysaccharide, in contrast to the uniform distribution of EPS in the single-species GJ1 biofilm.
Hyphae and yeasts of Candida albicans differentially regulate interleukin-12 production by human blood monocytes: inhibitory role of C. albicans germination.

The role of Candida albicans yeast-to-hypha transition in interleukin-12 (IL-12) production by monocytes was investigated. Germinating C. albicans not only failed to induce IL-12 p70 but also suppressed IL-12 production induced by heat-killed C. albicans. Comparison of the abilities of germinating C. albicans and agerminating mutants to inhibit IL-12 production showed that germination of C. albicans plays a critical role in the inhibition of IL-12 production.
Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1 Mitigates Brain Injury in a Rat Model of Infection-Sensitized Neonatal Hypoxia–Ischemia

Intrauterine infection exacerbates neonatal hypoxic–ischemic (HI) brain injury and impairs the development of cerebral cortex. Here we used low-dose lipopolysaccharide (LPS) pre-exposure followed by unilateral cerebral HI insult in 7-day-old rats to study the pathogenic mechanisms. We found that LPS pre-exposure blocked the HI-induced proteolytic activity of tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA), but significantly enhanced NF-κB signaling, microglia activation, and the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in newborn brains. Remarkably, these pathogenic responses were all blocked by intracerebroventricular injection of a stable-mutant form of plasminogen activator protein-1 called CPAI. Similarly, LPS pre-exposure amplified, while CPAI therapy mitigated HI-induced blood-brain-barrier damage and the brain tissue loss with a therapeutic window at 4 h after the LPS/HI insult. The CPAI also blocks microglia activation following a brain injection of LPS, which requires the contribution by tPA, but not the urinary-type plasminogen activator (uPA), as shown by experiments in tPA-null and uPA-null mice. These results implicate the nonproteolytic tPA activity in LPS/HI-induced brain damage and microglia activation. Finally, the CPAI treatment protects near-normal motor and white matter development despite neonatal LPS/HI insult. Together, because CPAI blocks both proteolytic and nonproteolytic tPA neurotoxicity, it is a promising therapeutics of neonatal HI injury either with or without infection.
A unified analysis of connectivity and throughput in packet radio networks

Packet radio networks have been widely used for data communications in military scenarios. The performance of such network, traditionally measured by its packet throughput, can be limited by the interference generated by the network itself. Therefore, it is important to characterize the impact of the interference on the throughput of any given link. In this paper, we present a unifying framework for the analysis of connectivity and throughput in wireless networks. We consider that the wireless terminals are randomly scattered in space according to a Poisson point process. The proposed framework is invariant with respect to the type of wireless propagation effects and traffic pattern. Our work generalizes and unifies various results in the literature, providing insights that may be of value in the design of wireless military networks.
Popularity, friendship quantity, and friendship quality: interactive influences on children's loneliness and depression.

A mediational model positing that the effects of popularity on children's loneliness and depression are passed through indexes of friendship experiences was tested using structural equation modeling. Children (193 3rd through 6th graders) completed a battery of sociometric and self-report questionnaires from which measures of popularity, multiple friendship dimensions (i.e., quantity and quality of best and good friendships), and loneliness and depression were derived. Confirmation of a slightly modified model supported the mediational hypothesis. Although popularity exerted no direct impact on the adjustment indexes, it strongly influenced friendship, which, in turn, affected depression through its strong association with loneliness. It appears that popularity is important for setting the stage for relationship development, but that it is dyadic friendship experiences that most directly influence feelings of loneliness and depression.
Pediatric Head Injury

1. Shireen M. Atabaki, MD, MPH* 1. *Attending Physician, Division of Emergency Medicine, Children's National Medical Center; Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC After completing this article, readers should be able to: 1. Describe the clinical features and management of epidural hematoma. 2. Recognize that the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion is possible following head injury. 3. Know the association of cervical cord injury with head trauma. 4. Discuss the long-term cognitive/behavioral consequences of head trauma. Head injury is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in childhood. More than 1.5 million head injuries occur annually in the United States, resulting in approximately 300,000 pediatric hospitalizations, with males twice as likely as females to sustain a head injury. Overall, up to 90% of injury-related deaths among children are associated with head trauma. Motor vehicle collisions are the most common cause of pediatric head injury, followed by falls. Football is the most common cause of sports-related head injury, with 75% of fatal head injuries occurring in high school students and 74% of football-related head injury fatalities associated with subdural hematomas. Head trauma injuries include scalp hematoma and laceration, skull fracture, intracranial hemorrhage, cerebral contusion, and diffuse axonal injury (DAI). Most children sustaining blunt head trauma have minor traumatic brain injury. The American Association of Neurologic Surgeons defines traumatic brain injury (TBI) as a blow or jolt to the head or penetrating head injury that disrupts the normal function of the brain. Mild TBI may result in a brief change in mental state or consciousness; severe TBI may result in prolonged unconsciousness, coma, or death. Any blow to the head can transfer energy from the skin, through the skull and meninges, to the brain. When evaluating head trauma, the clinician should remember the anatomic layers of the head that may be affected: the skin, galea aponeurotica, periosteum, cranial bone, epidural space, dura mater, subdural space, arachnoid mater, subarachnoid space, and brain (Fig. 1). Figure 1. Layers of the scalp …
Inhibition of acrylic acid polymerization by phenothiazine and p-methoxyphenol. II. Catalytic inhibition by phenothiazine

Inhibition of acrylic acid by p-methoxyphenol fits a conventional stoichiometric mechanism but phenothiazine inhibits acrylic acid via a completely different, catalytic cycle which does not depend on the presence of oxygen. We propose that this mechanism may involve a pair of single electron transfer reactions between free radicals, phenothiazine N-radicalcation, and phenothiazine itself, the latter being cyclically regenerated. Arrhenius equations were derived for the rates of disappearance of inhibitor and oxygen in acrylic acid stabilized with phenothiazine and with p-methoxyphenol and also with phenothiazine in the absence of oxygen. The practical implication of high oxygen to p-methoxyphenol consumption ratios is quite important: if commercial acrylic acid (usually stabilized with p-methoxyphenol) is inadvertently heated during storage, the limiting substance determining the onset of polymerization will be the dissolved oxygen and not p-methoxyphenol unless oxygen (air) is being supplied to and dissolved in the liquid at a rate sufficient to overcome the rate of its consumption.
The Early Cold War and American Political Development: Reflections on Recent Research

This paper is a review essay of three books representing new research into the relationship between Cold War mobilization and postwar American political development: Michael Hogan, A Cross of Iron: Harry S. Truman and the Origins of the National Security State, 1945–1954 (Cambridge University Press, 1998); Guy Oakes, The Imaginary War: Civil Defense and American Cold War Culture (Oxford University Press, 1994); and Peter Trubowitz, Defining the National Interest: Conflict and Change in American Foreign Policy (University of Chicago Press, 1998).
Determining the best threshold of rapid shallow breathing index in a therapist-implemented patient-specific weaning protocol.

BACKGROUND: For weaning patients from prolonged mechanical ventilation, we previously designed a respiratory-therapist-implemented weaning protocol that decreased median weaning time from 29 days to 17 days. An acceleration step at the start of the protocol allowed patients with a rapid shallow breathing index (RSBI) of 80, the SBT was attended by an investigator, with continuous electrocardiography and pulse oximetry. This SBT was followed by continued weaning efforts, as dictated by the weaning protocol. The data were analyzed using receiver operating characteristic curves and univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: One hundred ninety-one patients (with a wide range of RSBIs [10 to 1,248]) underwent 1-hour SBT, of whom 26 failed weaning and 165 succeeded. RSBI correlated with 1-hour SBT outcome; the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.844. Plotting the sensitivity and specificity together against RSBI allowed calibration of the RSBI threshold to the desired level of false positives and false negatives. Accuracy was maximized (81.7%) at an RSBI of 97. Tolerance of a 1-hour SBT, using the new RSBI threshold, correlated with duration of weaning and weaning outcome. CONCLUSIONS: The conservative RSBI threshold of < 80 can be raised for patients weaned with our respiratory-therapist-implemented weaning protocol. The optimal RSBI threshold was 97, where accuracy was maximal. RSBI was a good predictor of 1-hour SBT tolerance in this cohort of tracheotomized patients weaning from prolonged mechanical ventilation. Key words: prolonged mechanical ventilation, ventilator weaning, respiratory therapist, protocol, long term, spontaneous breathing trial. [Respir Care 2007;52(2):159 –165. © 2007 Daedalus Enterprises]
Pregnancy in lymphopathia venerea, complicated by esthiomene and rectal stricture

Abstract 1. The first proved case of lymphopathia venerea with esthiomene associated with pregnancy is presented. 2. The patient presented rectal stricture and esthiomene, the usual manifestations of this disease. 3. The Frei test was positive, and reversal of the albumin-globulin ratio and rapid sedimentation rate, both constant findings in lymphopathia venerea, were present in this case.
Deluded Vision in Conrad's Under Western Eyes

T h e ending of Under Western Eyes might seem, at first, epiloguish and distinctly old fashioned. Some two years after the main events of the novel, the narartor conveniendy encounters Sophia Antonovna who tells him how both Natalia and Razumov live now that they have left Geneva and r e tu rned permanently to Russia. Not only are the main characters thus disposed of, the narrator, through this final conversation, also learns of what ultimately happened to less important characters such as Nikita and Peter Ivanovitch. Informed of the latter's marriage, the elderly professor of languages voices an "impious hope" that that erstwhile revolutionary might be beaten by his peasant wife, a sentiment which elicits the final sentence of the novel. With "a firm voice," Sophia Antonovna insists, "Peter Ivanovitch is an inspired man."
Functional analysis of the relationship between intestinal microbiota and the expression of hepatic genes and pathways during the course of liver regeneration

Background & Aims The pathways regulating liver regeneration have been extensively studied within the liver. However, the signaling contribution derived from the gut microbiota to liver regeneration is poorly understood. Methods Microbiota and expression of hepatic genes in regenerating livers obtained from mice at 0h to 9days post 2/3 partial hepatectomy were temporally profiled to establish their interactive relationships. Results Partial hepatectomy led to rapid changes in gut microbiota that was reflected in an increased abundance of Bacteroidetes S24-7 and Rikenellaceae and decreased abundance of Firmicutes Clostridiales , Lachnospiraceae , and Ruminococcaceae . Phylogenetic Investigation of Communities by Reconstruction of Unobserved States (PICRUSt) was used to infer biological functional changes of the shifted microbiota. RNA-sequencing data revealed 6125 genes with more than a 2-fold difference in their expression levels during regeneration. By analyzing their expression pattern, six uniquely expressed patterns were observed. In addition, there were significant correlations between hepatic gene expression profiles and shifted bacterial populations during regeneration. Moreover, hepatic metabolism and immune function were closely associated with the abundance of Ruminococcacea , Lachnospiraceae , and S24-7 . Bile acid profile was analyzed because bacterial enzymes produce bile acids that significantly impact hepatocyte proliferation. The data revealed that specific bacteria were closely associated with the concentration of certain bile acids and expression of hepatic genes. Conclusions The presented data established, for the first time, an intimate relationship between intestinal microbiota and the expression of hepatic genes in regenerating livers.
Electronic Architectures for Bridging the Global Digital Divide: A Comparative Assessment of E-Business Systems Designed to Reach the Global Poor

We discuss some examples of electronic architectures for Bridging the Global Digital Divide. We provide a comparative assessment of four e-business systems designed to reach the global poor.
Spectrum Rights in the Telecosm to Come

How access to radio frequencies should be controlled and what different control structures might mean for the development of wireless communications has been the subject of intense debate. Legal scholars and economists have proposed radical reformation of the current regime of spectrum regulation, and such reform is being considered at both the FCC and in Congress. The next few years will be critical in shaping the wireless world to come. Despite the importance and timeliness of the debate over spectrum rights, the theoretical literature has not advanced beyond first principles. Many have written, in the tradition of Coase, in favor of exclusive property rights in spectrum. More recently, several scholars have countered that spectrum should be managed as a commons in which transmission rights are broadly shared, subject only to compliance with certain technical protocols. What has received little attention is the question of how spectrum disputes should be resolved the day after the revolution in spectrum management, whatever its character. Little consideration has been given to what legal structures and rules will be necessary, and to what extent even radical change in spectrum management will relieve decisionmakers of the public interest balancing the FCC undertakes today in distributing spectrum entitlements. I consider these questions by first developing a framework for understanding different kinds of interference disputes among wireless operators. Then, focusing on the possibility of fee simple ownership in spectrum, I apply the insights of Calabresi's and Melamed's Cathedral and follow-on literature to the resolution of these interference disputes. I conclude that a nuisance-like common law, as applied to spectrum, will require its own public interest standard. Like the FCC, decisionmakers will have to balance efficiency and fairness goals in the pursuit of a particular kind of communications environment. I show, moreover, that the development of liability standards and nuisance remedies will be difficult and costly. The costs and indeterminacy of dispute resolution could be reduced, however, with the development of a hybrid approach that combines the strengths of regulation and the common law. Such an approach might involve defining categorical nuisances in spectrum and establishing presumptions as to the appropriate entitlements in different kinds of interference disputes. The commons alternative to property rights will not eliminate all this complexity and uncertainty. In the wireless commons, as in the wireless subdivision, the resolution of interference disputes will require choices among various efficiency and fairness goals. Here too, judicious use of the regulatory function will be necessary to implement a mature legal structure for the telecosm to come. Whether a revolution in spectrum management is at hand or still far off, the administration of spectrum rights is changing. These changes should be undertaken with an eye to the private and common property rights of the future, and the efficient and fair resolution of spectrum disputes.
Point-of-Sale Marketing Mix and Brand Performance - The Moderating Role of Retail Format and Brand Type

We study whether certain types of brands are more likely to perform better at Walmart supercenters as compared to supermarkets. We correlate the variation in brand sales performance at these two store formats (over time and across markets) with marketing mix variables such as prices, promotions, assortments, and competition while controlling for market and time specific trends, and differences in consumers shopping at different formats. Based on data from four product categories in the Nielsen homescan panel, we consistently find that value brands perform better at Walmart supercenters, while premium brands perform better at supermarkets. We find substantial differences in assortments carried at Walmart supercenters and supermarkets. On average, assortment explains 30% of the variation in relative brand shares while prices and promotions explain 24% of the variation. Importantly, this pattern persists among consumers not loyal to either format i.e., who split their spending at different formats. We also find that consumers spending over 75% of their basket expenditures on Walmart shop premium and value brands in more similar proportions across formats as compared to consumers spending over 75% in supermarkets. These latter consumers purchase premium brands in greater proportions when shopping at the supermarkets and value brands in greater proportions when shopping at Walmart. Finally, consumers who split their baskets more evenly across formats are more price sensitive than loyal consumers. These results provide several managerial and policy implications for retail managers looking to increase sales of or focus on specific brand tiers. Our analysis can be extended to other store formats beyond Walmart supercenters and supermarkets.
Mechanical Response of Ceramic Composites at Elevated Temperatures

Ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) are attractive for applications at elevated temperatures because of their low density, high strength, refractoriness, and toughness. Mechanical properties pf these fiber-reinforced CMCs are dependent on properties of the reinforcing fibers, matrix, and fiber-matrix interface. In addition, issues related to thermomechanical and thermochemical compatibility are important contributors to the overall mechanical response of CMCs. Furthermore, processing conditions can have a significant influence on the mechanical behavior of composites because most CMCs are processed at relatively high temperatures where fiber properties may degrade because of the thermal or thermochemical effects. Therefore, a CMC useful in high-temperature structures requires selection of candidate reinforcing fibers, matrix materials, and reinforcement coatings with thermomechanical and thermochemical stability at application temperatures for extended time periods.
Optical Characterization of Potassium Niobate Thin Film Planar Waveguides

Initial results of the waveguiding properties of KNbO3 thin films are presented. The refractive indices of epitaxial films deposited on single crystal magnesium oxide substrates have been measured. Additionally, these films have been used as the basis for modelling a potassium niobate thin film phase modulator. Results of the model are compared with existing technology.
Reverse Practicum: Children as Teachers on the College Campus

(1994). Reverse Practicum: Children as Teachers on the College Campus. Journal of Early Childhood Teacher Education: Vol. 15, No. 1, pp. 13-16.
Radiation dosimetry in Panorex roentgenography

T he first article in this series dealt with the use of phantoms in radiation dosimetric research and included a physical and roentgenographic description of the Average-Man Rando phantom. The second article described a method of obtaining a roentgenographic record of the actual pattern of radiation distrihution within the head during Panorex roentgenographic examinations. The purpose of the present article is to report radiation dose measurements obtained during Panorex roentgenographic examinations. The following points were investigated : 1. The amount of radiation to which selected sites within t,he pat&m’s head and neck are exposed. , 2. The skin-entrance air dose. 3. Scatter and leakage radiation delivered to the gonads of the pat&n. 4. Scatter and leakage radiation delivered to the operator.
The effect of preoperative total parenteral nutrition on surgery outcomes.

The effect of preoperative total parenteral nutrition (TPN) on morbidity and mortality was studied in medical records of discharged surgical patients. Patients were classified into two groups on the basis of their ability to meet established criteria for malnutrition and the use of preoperative or postoperative TPN. The control group consisted of 44 patients who received TPN only after surgery or for less than 5 days preoperatively. The experimental group consisted of 26 patients who received treatment for at least 5 days before surgery and/or after surgery. Nutrition parameters measured included serum albumin, total lymphocyte count, hemoglobin, weight, and percent weight loss. Major septic complications (MSC) considered were intra-abdominal sepsis, wound dehiscence, septicemia, and pneumonia. Other complications included respiratory failure, congestive heart failure, fistulas, urinary tract infection, shock, and death. The experimental group showed improvements after surgery in the nutritional parameters listed and had a lower incidence of morbidity and mortality. Deficits in serum albumin, total lymphocyte count, and weight losses greater than or equal to 10% have been significantly (p less than .01) linked to the incidence of MSC. MSC also has been more frequently noted among patients who did not have TPN prior to surgery and who died following surgery. Therefore, preoperative TPN does appear to make a difference in the outcome of surgery.
Does impulsivity predict outcome in treatment for binge eating disorder? A multimodal investigation.

Multiple dimensions of impulsivity (e.g., affect-driven impulsivity, impulsive inhibition - both general and food-specific, and impulsive decision-making) are associated with binge eating pathology cross-sectionally, yet the literature on whether impulsivity predicts treatment outcome is limited. The present pilot study explored impulsivity-related predictors of 20-week outcome in a small open trial (n = 17) of a novel treatment for binge eating disorder. Overall, dimensions of impulsivity related to emotions (i.e., negative urgency) and food cues emerged as predictors of treatment outcomes (i.e., binge eating frequency and global eating pathology as measured by the Eating Disorders Examination), while more general measures of impulsivity were statistically unrelated to global eating pathology or binge frequency. Specifically, those with higher levels of negative urgency at baseline experienced slower and less pronounced benefit from treatment, and those with higher food-specific impulsivity had more severe global eating pathology at baseline that was consistent at post-treatment and follow-up. These preliminary findings suggest that patients high in negative urgency and with poor response inhibition to food cues may benefit from augmentation of existing treatments to achieve optimal outcomes. Future research will benefit from replication with a larger sample, parsing out the role of different dimensions of impulsivity in treatment outcome for eating disorders, and identifying how treatment can be improved to accommodate higher levels of baseline impulsivity.
A 1D numerical model for rapid stress analysis in bipolar junction transistors

Stress effects in semiconductor devices have gained significant attention in semiconductor industry in recent years, and numerical modeling is often used as a powerful tool for stress analysis in semiconductor devices. Here, we present a nontraditional 1D model for fast stress analysis in bipolar junction transistors. Because bipolar transistors are operationally 1D devices, it is possible to speed up the simulation with a 1D numerical model and get results that are comparable with 2D and 3D simulation outcomes. This model consists of a complete numerical algorithm that can be used for stress analysis of bipolar transistors on any plane. Existing 1D simulators take more time as they solve all device equations throughout the device. In contrast, our model optimizes the solutions for different regions with the development and inclusion of specific algorithms. A fractional starting point is introduced for the depletion region to speed up the process further. This way, faster computing time and much higher accuracy can be reached. At the same time, popular 2D and 3D simulators, which are using finite element methods, are naturally much slower, especially if high accuracy is needed. Simulation results of this 1D model match well with the simulation results of a 2D model developed with a commercial technology computer aided design TCAD tool. The validity of our model was verified with experimental results and theoretical expectations as well. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
WE-DE-207B-12: Scatter Correction for Dedicated Cone Beam Breast CT Based On a Forward Projection Model

Purpose: The image quality of dedicated cone-beam breast CT (CBBCT) is fundamentally limited by substantial x-ray scatter contamination, resulting in cupping artifacts and contrast-loss in reconstructed images. Such effects obscure the visibility of soft-tissue lesions and calcifications, which hinders breast cancer detection and diagnosis. In this work, we propose to suppress x-ray scatter in CBBCT images using a deterministic forward projection model. Method: We first use the 1st-pass FDK-reconstructed CBBCT images to segment fibroglandular and adipose tissue. Attenuation coefficients are assigned to the two tissues based on the x-ray spectrum used for imaging acquisition, and is forward projected to simulate scatter-free primary projections. We estimate the scatter by subtracting the simulated primary projection from the measured projection, and then the resultant scatter map is further refined by a Fourier-domain fitting algorithm after discarding untrusted scatter information. The final scatter estimate is subtracted from the measured projection for effective scatter correction. In our implementation, the proposed scatter correction takes 0.5 seconds for each projection. The method was evaluated using the overall image spatial non-uniformity (SNU) metric and the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) with 5 clinical datasets of BI-RADS 4/5 subjects. Results: For the 5 clinical datasets, our method reduced the SNU from 7.79% to 1.68% in coronal view and from 6.71% to 3.20% in sagittal view. The average CNR is improved by a factor of 1.38 in coronal view and 1.26 in sagittal view. Conclusion: The proposed scatter correction approach requires no additional scans or prior images and uses a deterministic model for efficient calculation. Evaluation with clinical datasets demonstrates the feasibility and stability of the method. These features are attractive for clinical CBBCT and make our method distinct from other approaches. Supported partly by NIH R21EB019597, R21CA134128 and R01CA195512.The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.
Constant Depth Ultrasound Imaging Using Computer Acquisition, Display, and Analysis

The instrumentation and techniques described here were developed to investigate echo amplitudes from adjacent tissue structures, both normal and pathological. Both in-vivo and in-vitro scanning systems have been developed so that information obtained in-vivo may be compared with the more varied, accurate and verifiable information obtainable in-vitro. For quantitative imaging, C-scans of relatively superficial structures have been employed, primarily because this approach minimizes dependence on the time gain compensation (TGC), simplifies the digital equipment and computer programs, and allows image acquisition at a chosen point in the focal zone of the transducer. Study of C-scans obtained with a modified B-scanner also has provided an opportunity to observe advantages and disadvantages of C-scanning compared with B-scanning.
Effects of age and insulin‐like growth factor‐1 on rat neurotrophin receptor expression after nerve injury

INTRODUCTION Neurotrophin receptors, such as p75(NTR) , direct neuronal response to injury. Insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R) mediates the increase in p75(NTR) during aging. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of aging and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) treatment on recovery after peripheral nerve injury. METHODS Young and aged rats underwent tibial nerve transection with either local saline or IGF-1 treatment. Neurotrophin receptor mRNA and protein expression were quantified. RESULTS Aged rats expressed elevated baseline IGF-1R (34% higher, P = 0.01) and p75(NTR) (68% higher, P < 0.01) compared with young rats. Post-injury, aged animals expressed significantly higher p75(NTR) levels (68.5% above baseline at 4 weeks). IGF-1 treatment suppressed p75(NTR) gene expression at 4 weeks (17.2% above baseline, P = 0.002) post-injury. CONCLUSIONS Local IGF-1 treatment reverses age-related declines in recovery after peripheral nerve injuries by suppressing p75(NTR) upregulation and pro-apoptotic complexes. IGF-1 may be considered a viable adjuvant therapy to current treatment modalities. Muscle Nerve 54: 769-775, 2016.
Growth and life history variability of the grey reef shark (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos) across its range.

For broadly distributed, often overexploited species such as elasmobranchs (sharks and rays), conservation management would benefit from understanding how life history traits change in response to local environmental and ecological factors. However, fishing obfuscates this objective by causing complex and often mixed effects on the life histories of target species. Disentangling the many drivers of life history variability requires knowledge of elasmobranch populations in the absence of fishing, which is rarely available. Here, we describe the growth, maximum size, sex ratios, size at maturity, and offer a direct estimate of survival of an unfished population of grey reef sharks (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos) using data from an eight year tag-recapture study. We then synthesized published information on the life history of C. amblyrhynchos from across its geographic range, and for the first time, we attempted to disentangle the contribution of fishing from geographic variation in an elasmobranch species. For Palmyra’s unfished C. amblyrhynchos population, the von Bertalanffy growth function (VBGF) growth coefficient k was 0.05 and asymptotic length L∞ was 163.3 cm total length (TL). Maximum size was 175.5 cm TL from a female shark, length at maturity was estimated at 116.7–123.2 cm TL for male sharks, maximum lifespan estimated from VBGF parameters was 18.1 years for both sexes combined, and annual survival was 0.74 year-1. Consistent with findings from studies on other elasmobranch species, we found significant intraspecific variability in reported life history traits of C. amblyrhynchos. However, contrary to what others have reported, we did not find consistent patterns in life history variability as a function of biogeography or fishing. Ultimately, the substantial, but not yet predictable variability in life history traits observed for C. amblyrhynchos across its geographic range suggests that regional management may be necessary to set sustainable harvest targets and to recover this and other shark species globally.
Sulfolobus islandicus meta-populations in Yellowstone National Park hot springs

Abiotic and biotic forces shape the structure and evolution of microbial populations. We investigated forces that shape the spatial and temporal population structure of Sulfolobus islandicus by comparing geochemical and molecular analysis from seven hot springs in five regions sampled over 3 years in Yellowstone National Park. Through deep amplicon sequencing, we uncovered 148 unique alleles at two loci whose relative frequency provides clear evidence for independent populations in different hot springs. Although geography controls regional geochemical composition and population differentiation, temporal changes in population were not explained by corresponding variation in geochemistry. The data suggest that the influence of extinction, bottleneck events and/or selective sweeps within a spring and low migration between springs shape these populations. We suggest that hydrologic events such as storm events and surface snowmelt runoff destabilize smaller hot spring environments with smaller populations and result in high variation in the S. islandicus population over time. Therefore, physical abiotic features such as hot spring size and position in the landscape are important factors shaping the stability and diversity of the S. islandicus meta-population within Yellowstone National Park.
Popular Protests and the Governance of Scarce Fresh Water in Jordan

As uprisings and protests swept across the Arab world, some regimes collapsed, while others continue to confront sporadic but persistent street protests. The latter face the challenge of daily governance and the need to respond to the popular grievances that drive these protests. Under such conditions, leaders have an opportunity to undertake extensive reforms in response to societal grievances. Jordan's governance of scarce domestic water resources is a case in point. Jordan has experienced periodic but persistent protests; people are dissatisfied with corruption, opaque governance, poor economic conditions, and inadequate public services—including insufficient household water. The Ministry of Water and Irrigation can use this domestic discontent to empower itself to improve its governance of scarce water resources. Poor implementation of existing water laws has contributed to numerous small- and large-scale thefts from the municipal water system, while ineffectively targeted subsidies contribute to the ...