cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Epstein-Barr Virus LMP2A Transforms Epithelial Cells, Inhibits Cell Differentiation, and Activates Akt

The Epstein-Barr virus LMP2A protein was expressed in a human keratinocyte cell line, HaCaT, and effects on epithelial cell growth were detected in organotypic raft cultures and in vivo in nude mice. Raft cultures derived from LMP2A-expressing cells were hyperproliferative, and epithelial differentiation was inhibited. The LMP2A-expressing HaCaT cells were able to grow anchorage independently and formed colonies in soft agar. HaCaT cells expressing LMP2A were highly tumorigenic and formed aggressive tumors in nude mice. The LMP2A tumors were poorly differentiated and highly proliferative, in contrast to occasional tumors that arose from parental HaCaT cells and vector control cells, which grew slowly and remained highly differentiated. Animals injected with LMP2A-expressing cells developed frequent metastases, which predominantly involved lymphoid organs. Involucrin, a marker of epithelial differentiation, and E-cadherin, involved in the maintenance of intercellular contact, were downregulated in LMP2A tumors. Whereas activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway was not observed, phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3-kinase)-dependent activation of the serine-threonine kinase Akt was detected in LMP2A-expressing cells and LMP2A tumors. Inhibition of this pathway blocked growth in soft agar. These data indicate that LMP2A greatly affects cell growth and differentiation pathways in epithelial cells, in part through activation of the PI3-kinase–Akt pathway.
Fulminant disseminated toxoplasmosis in an HIV patient.

Disseminated toxoplasmosis in AIDS is a rare condition. We present an unusual case of a fulminant form of disseminated toxoplasmosis in a young male homosexual. He was a 30-year-old HIV-positive (diagnosed 4 months earlier), admitted with a 5-day history of diarrhea, vomiting, fever, and cough. He had been generally healthy except for an 8-week history of weight loss and malaise. On admission, except for a temperature of 37.6°C, the physical examination was normal. He was treated symptomatically. Four days after admission he suddenly became short of breath. Despite intensive management, he continued to deteriorate and expired 6 h later. Postmortem examination revealed disseminated toxoplasmosis involving the heart, lungs, brain, stomach, small intestine, and colon. This is an unusual presentation of disseminated toxoplasmosis because of its rapid course with no prior indication of infection. To our knowledge, such an atypical and rapid downhill course of toxoplasmosis (with minimal clinical and laboratory...
The Enhanced Role of Shallow-Trench Isolation in Ionizing Radiation Damage of 65 nm RF-CMOS on SOI

The mechanism for ionizing radiation damage in multi-finger SOI CMOS devices is presented for the first time. We analyzed the effects of shallow-trench isolation on ionizing radiation response of 65 nm Silicon-On-Insulator (SOI) CMOS technology. The radiation response of the CMOS devices was investigated using 63 MeV protons and 10 keV X-rays. The implications of proton irradiation and X-ray irradiation on the dc and RF performance of these devices are presented. The cut-off frequency is degraded due to post-irradiation degradation of device transconductance. Even though there is charge-accumulation in the buried-oxide, there is minimal impact on the front-gate characteristics of the partially-depleted SOI devices in this 65 nm CMOS technology. The implications of parasitic conduction along the STI on device design constraints, particularly for varying device width and number of gate fingers, are discussed in the context of high performance RF CMOS technology. These results suggest that body-contacting schemes which eliminate sidewalls (e.g., H-body, T-body) will provide the necessary total-dose radiation tolerance for multi-finger analog and RF devices, without additional hardening techniques.
Intensity-Modulated Arc Therapy for Pediatric Posterior Fossa Tumors

Purpose To compare intensity-modulated arc therapy (IMAT) to noncoplanar intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) in the treatment of pediatric posterior fossa tumors. Methods and Materials Nine pediatric patients with posterior fossa tumors, mean age 9 years (range, 6–15 years), treated using IMRT were chosen for this comparative planning study because of their tumor location. Each patient’s treatment was replanned to receive 54 Gy to the planning target volume (PTV) using five different methods: eight-field noncoplanar IMRT, single coplanar IMAT, double coplanar IMAT, single noncoplanar IMAT, and double noncoplanar IMAT. For each method, the dose to 95% of the PTV was held constant, and the doses to surrounding critical structures were minimized. The different plans were compared based on conformity, total linear accelerator dose monitor units, and dose to surrounding normal tissues, including the entire body, whole brain, temporal lobes, brainstem, and cochleae. Results The doses to the target and critical structures for the various IMAT methods were not statistically different in comparison with the noncoplanar IMRT plan, with the following exceptions: the cochlear doses were higher and whole brain dose was lower for coplanar IMAT plans; the cochleae and temporal lobe doses were lower and conformity increased for noncoplanar IMAT plans. The advantage of the noncoplanar IMAT plan was enhanced by doubling the treatment arc. Conclusion Noncoplanar IMAT results in superior treatment plans when compared to noncoplanar IMRT for the treatment of posterior fossa tumors. IMAT should be considered alongside IMRT when treatment of this site is indicated.
SUPEROXIDE AS AN INTERMEDIATE SIGNAL FOR SEROTONIN-INDUCED MITOGENESIS

Abstract Serotonin (5-HT) stimulates tyrosine phosphorylation and proliferation of bovine pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (SMC) through its active transport (Lee et al, 1991). The present studies show that 5-HT also rapidly elevates O2·− formation by these cells within 10 minutes as measured by a lucigenin-enhanced chemiluminescence assay. The O2·− free radical quencher, Tiron, and N-acetyl-cysteine, a substrate for glutathione, block both the 5-HT-induced formation of O2·− and cellular proliferation. Similarly, inhibition of 5-HT transport with imipramine or treatment of cells with diphenyliodonium, a NAD(P)H oxidase inhibitor, block both 5-HT-induced elevation of O2·− and cellular proliferation. Alpha-hydroxyfarnesylphosphonic acid, an inhibitor of p21ras, also blocks 5-HT-induced proliferation. Endothelial cells from the same vessel show neither 5-HT-induced proliferation nor stimulation of O2·− formation. We conclude that 5-HT induced cellular proliferation of SMC through signaling pathways that utilize its transport system and O2·− formation.
The Role of Schools in Food and Beverage Marketing: Significance, Challenges, Next Steps

The potential detrimental effects of food and beverage advertising through television and print have been documented (e.g., Institute of Medicine [IOM], 2006; Holt, Ippolito, Desrochers, & Kelley, 2007; see also Chap. 8), however less research has examined this type of advertising in schools. It is necessary to further the literature in this area, because children spend a great deal of time in schools (Frumkin, 2006) and begin to form life-long habits during these age periods (Birch, 1999). In order to further our understanding of the influence of in-school food and beverage marketing and promotion, the current chapter aims to do the following (1) present a brief review of the current literature on in-school food and beverage promotion; (2) describe the development of a tool to assess in-school food and beverage promotion (as defined as advertising and product promotion); (3) present data from a pilot study that used the new in-school observation tool; and (4) highlight challenges and future goals in this area of research.
Delay of chemotherapy through use of post-progression erlotinib in patients with EGFR-mutant lung cancer.

7547 Background: 1st-line tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy for patients (pts) with EGFR-mutant lung cancer prolongs progression free survival (PFS) and improves quality of life. When pts dev...
Infrastructure planning for fast charging stations in a competitive market

Abstract Most existing studies on EV charging infrastructure planning take a central planner’s perspective, by assuming that investment decision on charging facilities can be controlled by a single decision entity. In this paper, we establish modeling and computational methods to support business-driven EV charging infrastructure investment planning problem, where the infrastructure system is shaped by collective actions of multiple decision entities who do not necessarily coordinate with each other. A network-based multi-agent optimization modeling framework is developed to simultaneously capture the selfish behaviors of individual investors and travelers and their interactions over a network structure. To overcome computational difficulty imposed by non-convexity of the problem, we rely on recent theoretical development on variational convergence of bivariate functions to design a solution algorithm with analysis on its convergence properties. Numerical experiments are implemented to study the performance of proposed method and draw practical insights.
Newcomer Immigrant Adolescents: A Mixed-Methods Examination of Family Stressors and School Outcomes.

Family stressors predict negative psychological outcomes for immigrant adolescents, yet little is known about how such stressors interact to predict school outcomes. The purpose of this study was to explore the interactive role of family stressors on school outcomes for newcomer adolescent immigrants. Using a convergent parallel mixed-methods design, we used quantitative methods to explore interactions between family separation, acculturative family conflict, and family life events to predict 2 school outcomes, academic achievement (via grade point average [GPA]), and externalizing problems (student- and teacher-reported). The sample included 189 newcomer immigrant public high school students from 34 countries of origin. Quantitative measures included the Multicultural Events Scale for Adolescents, Family Conflicts Scale, and the Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assessment (ASEBA). Qualitative data were collected through a semi-structured interview. Quantitative results found that more family life events were associated with lower GPA, but this association was weaker for participants who had been separated from their parents. More family conflict was associated with more externalizing symptoms (both youth- and teacher-reported). However, the association between family conflict and teacher-reported externalizing symptoms was found only among participants reporting a greater than average number of life events. Qualitative results show that separation from extended family networks was among the most stressful of experiences, and demonstrate the highly complex nature of each family stressor domain. At a time when immigration is rapidly changing our school system, a better understanding of early risk factors for new immigrants can help teachers, administrators, and mental health practitioners to identify students with greatest need to foster behavioral, academic, and emotional well-being. (PsycINFO Database Record
Intracellular disassembly and activity of pertussis toxin require interaction with ATP.

The active subunit (S1) of pertussis toxin (PT), a major virulence factor of Bordetella pertussis , ADP-ribosylates Gi proteins in the mammalian cell cytosol to inhibit GPCR signaling. The intracellular pathway of PT includes endocytosis and retrograde transport to the trans-Golgi network (TGN) and endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Subsequent translocation of S1 to the cytosol is presumably preceded by dissociation from the holotoxin. In vitro , such dissociation is stimulated by interaction of PT with ATP. To investigate the role of this interaction in cellular events, we engineered a form of PT (PTDM) with changes to two amino acids involved in the interaction with ATP. PTDM was reduced in (1) binding to ATP, (2) dissociability by interaction with ATP, (3) in vitro enzymatic activity and (4) cellular ADP-ribosylation activity. In cells treated with PTDM carrying target sequences for organelle-specific modifications, normal transport to the TGN and ER occurred, but N-glycosylation patterns of the S1 and S4 subunits were consistent with an inability of PTDM to dissociate in the ER. These results indicate a requirement for interaction with ATP for PT dissociation in the ER and cellular activity. They also indicate that the retrograde transport route is the cellular intoxication pathway for PT.
The Future: Animals as Subjects, an All-Inclusive Legal Regime

Thus far, we have studied how animals fit within the existing legal regime. In this final chapter, we will look briefly to the future of animal protection law. What have we learned from a review of the existing law and how might the law be constructed to better protect animals? The focus of this chapter is to initiate a dialogue and to propose a few suggestions and examples of a legal regime that considers animals as subjects.
A Bayesian model selection analysis of equilibrium and nonequilibrium models for multiphase flow in porous media

Abstract The classical constitutive relations for multiphase flows in porous media assume instantaneous and local phase-equilibrium. Several alternative nonequilibrium/dynamic constitutive relations have been proposed in the literature including the works of Barenblatt, and Hassanizadeh and Gray. This work applies a Bayesian model selection framework in order to examine the relative efficacy of these three models to represent experimental observations. Experimental observations of multiphase displacement processes in natural porous media are often sparse and indirect, leading to considerable uncertainty in control conditions. Data from three core-scale drainage experiments are considered. Gaussian prior probability models are assumed for key multiphase flow parameters and measurements. Accurate numerical simulation approximations using the three constitutive relation models are implemented. The model selection analysis comprises a data-assimilation stage that calibrates the assumed model to the data while quantifying uncertainty. The second stage is the computation of the maximum likelihood estimate and its application to compute the Bayesian Information Criterion. It is observed that Barenblatt’s nonequilibrium model is more likely to match data from unstable displacements that involve higher viscosity ratios of the invading phase to the resident fluid. At the lowest viscosity ratio, there is no delineation between the goodness of fit obtained using the classical model and the model proposed by Hassanizadeh and Gray, and both outperform Barenblatt’s nonequilibrium model.
Problem–solving in research and development

The vast majority of R&D scientists and engineers are very adept at solving simple and moderately complex problems. However, only a few can solve the extremely tough, very complex problems consistently. This paper examines some of the characteristics of, and techniques used by, those researchers who deal effectively with this most difficult class of problems. In summary, these expert problem–solvers (1) break the problem down into pieces yet can still think about the whole system, (2) use the Scientific Method or a similar disciplined problem–solving methodology to gain understanding, (3) look for clues or comparisons that allow them to gain understanding, (4) often break away from the equipment or process they are trying to make work and design very specific experiments aimed at answering a very specific question, (5) seek help from a variety of experts in specialized areas, and finally (6) have a unique ability to leap beyond the current state in structuring a solution to the problem. Management plays a major role in helping people develop from good problem–solvers into people who are able to solve the toughest of problems by encouraging continuous skill development and, sometimes, taking the role of teacher of younger scientists and engineers.
Service location grouping and pricing in transportation: Application in air cargo

Abstract It is a common practice for transportation firms to group together a set of locations that they serve and price their services based on the group that the origin and destination of a service belong to rather than point-to-point. Proper grouping of service locations and correct pricing under this policy is essential to the financial success of firms. In this research, we develop a novel model for transportation firms to simultaneously group service locations and determine group-to-group pricing by considering the price elasticity of customers’ demand. We formulate the problem as a mixed-integer nonlinear programming and propose two exact solution algorithms based on decomposition principles. The performances of our algorithms are evaluated using computational experiments and results show that proposed methods are effective.
Bimodal neglect: When electrically- and acoustically stimulated ears do not play nice with each other

This study describes speech perception in quiet, before and after implantation, in 54 adult cochlear implant (CI) patients with usable hearing in the ear contralateral to the CI. Patients had preoperative aided CNC word scores of at least 8% as well as stable unaided hearing in the unimplanted ear throughout the analysis period. Word identification scores in quiet were analyzed for the implanted ear only (CI), acoustic hearing ear only (HA), and the bimodal condition (CI + HA) to determine changes in performance over time and to characterize bimodal benefit (difference between bimodal score and best single-ear score). On average, patients experienced 6% bimodal benefit in quiet after implantation. Not surprisingly, speech scores in the implanted ear and in the binaural condition significantly improved post-implantation. However, scores in the HA decreased unexpectedly after implantation in almost one third of the patients despite unchanged PTA. Although simple explanations like hearing aid malfunction or ...
42 – Gallbladder and Biliary Diseases: More Common in Women, More Severe in Men

Although differences in the sex distribution of gallbladder and biliary tree diseases are well established, the understanding of these differences is limited. With the presence of anatomic and physiologic differences, hormones may play an important role in these diseases. Much knowledge is needed to fully understand how sex influences the gallbladder and bile ducts. Better understanding of the origin of these gender differences will lead to strategies to improve the treatment and prevention of these disorders. Gallstones, gallbladder cancer, and choledochocysts are more frequent in women, while sclerosing cholangitis and acalculous cholecystitis are proportionately more often seen in men. This chapter reviews the current knowledge regarding the sex differences of gallbladder and biliary diseases and promotes further investigation into such differences.
Educating for Social Responsibility—Aspirations and Obstacles

(1993). Educating for Social Responsibility—Aspirations and Obstacles. SCHOLE: A Journal of Leisure Studies and Recreation Education: Vol. 7, No. 1, pp. 81-91.
Structure of Fibronectins

The ability of FN to bind specifically to other molecules (Chapter 5) provides some insight into the ways in which it might mediate the interactions of cells with various extracellular materials. Such interactions are at the core of the various biological functions in which FN participates (see Chapters 7–15). Obviously, in order to understand the functions of FN in these phenomena, one needs to understand its structure and function at the molecular level. A great deal of progress has been made toward this end and in this chapter I will review the extensive data on the structure of FN. The results turn out to be extremely interesting and provide a good basis for investigations of the complex biological effects of FN. To provide a context for the following detailed sections, I will first give a brief outline of the general properties of FNs and summarize the main conclusions about their structure.
Experiments with Single Electrons

A basic description of past geonium experiments is given and the modifications which allow positron geonium to be formed is described. The use of compensated Penning traps produces a harmonic axial frequency which has a resolution of 10 ppb. By using synchronous detection and a magnetic bottle for coupling, the magnetic resonances become observable. Stability of the radial position in this magnetic bottle is provided by motional (magnetron) sideband cooling. The corresponding magnetic line shapes are primarily determined by the Brownian statistical (axial) motion through this bottle. Finally the beat-note between the nearly degenerate cyclotron and spin precession frequencies defines the anomaly resonance and its value can be determined to ~1 ppb statistical precision by fitting to the noise-modulated Brownian lineshape. Present accuracy has produced the most precise determination of the α−1(QED) and the positron/electron g-factor comparison. Results of new measurements using a phosphor bronze trap are also described which show consistency with previous results using all-molybdenum traps.
Regulatory considerations of stem and progenitor cell-based products: US Food and Drug Administration

Abstract: This chapter focuses on US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulatory considerations for stem/progenitor cell-based products (S/PCPs) intended to treat, mitigate or cure disease. Information critical to the regulatory decision-making process for determining the safety and efficacy of investigational S/PCPs is described. Included are sections that cover cellular product manufacturing and characterization, preclinical testing and clinical trial design. Increased regulatory complexity associated with stem/progenitor cell-based combination products is also discussed.
Molecular Mechanisms of Calmodulin Action

Calcium has many biological functions and several groups of macromolecules have the ability to bind calcium with various selectivities and affinities. A rapidly expanding body of knowledge about the structure, thermodynamic and kinetic properties, and cell biology of calcium binding proteins strongly indicates that the targets or receptors for calcium acting as a signal transducer in eukaryotic cells are a class of calcium binding proteins referred to as calcium modulated proteins. These proteins are characterized by their ability to bind calcium in a reversible manner with dissociation constants in the nanomolar to micromolar range under physiological conditions. Although it is not possible yet to predict with any degree of certainty what type of calcium binding structure or molecular mechanism might be associated with a given biological function of calcium, a trend has begun to emerge from the detailed analyses of calcium modulated proteins1
Characterizing a Sample of Chinese Patients With Type 2 Diabetes and Selected Health Outcomes.

PurposeThe purpose of the study is to describe the characteristics and selected health outcomes of a sample of Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and to examine gender differences based o...
Evaluation of general surgery residency program websites.

Abstract Background The purpose of this study was to evaluate the websites of general surgery residency programs in the United States and Puerto Rico. Methods Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) websites (n = 254) were accessed between October 2016 and January 2017 and evaluated for content, including: education, resident and faculty information, program environment and specific recruitment incentives. Results General information, such as conference information, rotations, and faculty information were available for more than 80% of programs. However, specific details about residents, faculty, and applicant information were noticeably lacking. This included resident biographical data and research, faculty names and research endeavors, alumni locations and fellowship placement. Applicant information, specifically board score requirements, were present in less than half of websites nationally. Regionally, websites from the Midwest were the most detailed in the information they provided, while those from the Northeast were the least informative. Conclusions As a primary information source for potential future residents, general surgery programs need to maximize the content and utility of their websites in order to attract prospective residents to their programs.
Anti-Thymocyte Globulin and Impact of Gender on Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplant

Background The female donor/male recipient combination increases the risks of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and non-relapse mortality (NRM) after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT), with a possible deleterious impact on overall survival. The mammalian Y chromosome encodes male-specific minor histocompatibility (H-Y) antigens that are recognized by female T cells. Some clinical data suggest a strong correlation between H-Y Antigen disparity and GVHD. In addition, female donors are notorious for bearing memory type lymphocytes induced by previous pregnancies; such allo-immune cells may provoke unwanted immune reactions such as GVHD in the recipient. Recently CIBMTR published GVHD data on patients who underwent T-cell replete SCT. Methods To explore the impact of gender on outcome of allo-SCT when using anti-thymocyte globulin in unrelated donors, we undertook a single center retrospective analysis of adult patients transplanted at our center in the last 10 years. Unrelated donors were matched at the allele level for HLA-A, B, C, DRB1, and DQB1. We excluded patients who received donor lymphocyte infusion post SCT. Results 157 patients were identified and included in this analysis. The median age at transplant was 57 years (19-73). Diseases were AML (n=66), ALL (n=30), MDS (n=59), and MPN (n=2). Donors were male- matched related donor (m- MRD) (n=32),female (f)-MRD (n=24) or unrelated donors (n=101). Source of stem cells was peripheral blood in all patients except 4. GVHD prophylaxis consisted of tacrolimus and methotrexate in MRD and tacrolimus, methotrexate and anti-thymocyte globulin in unrelated donors. Of the f-MRD donors, 54% had previous pregnancies before donation, 29% had no pregnancies and 17% were unknown. The median follow-up was 10.6 months. Rate of acute GVHD >=2 was 25% in patients who had m-MRD, 25% in patients who had f-MRD (42% in f-MRD without pregnancy, 23% in f-MRD with pregnancy), and 37.5% in unrelated donors. Conclusion In this small cohort of consecutive patients from a single center, we found only a small difference in acute GVHD between m-MRD, f-MRD and unrelated donors when adding anti-thymocyte globulin in unrelated SCT. These results should be interpreted with caution given the retrospective design of the study and because we cannot exclude a possible limiting effect of a small number of patients.
Differential Effects of Human SP-A1 and SP-A2 on the BAL Proteome and Signaling Pathways in Response to Klebsiella pneumoniae and Ozone Exposure

Surfactant protein A (SP-A) plays critical roles in host defense, regulation of inflammation and surfactant metabolism in the lung. The human SP-A locus consists of two functional genes, SFTPA1 and SFTPA2 encoding surfactant proteins SP-A1 and SP-A2, respectively. Structural and functional differences exist between SP-A1 and SP-A2 in vitro and in vivo. Ozone is a major air pollutant with a negative impact on many biological processes. In this study we used humanized transgenic (hTG) SP-A1 and SP-A2 mice, and SP-A KO mice to study in vivo effects of SP-A1 and SP-A2 on the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) proteomic profile and associated signaling pathways in response to ozone or filtered air (FA) exposure and Klebsiella pneumoniae infection. The BAL samples were harvested 24 h after ozone (2 ppm for 3 h) or FA exposure and infection and analyzed by two-dimensional difference gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE) and MALDI-ToF/ToF. We found: that (1) Ozone exposure, but not infection, is a major factor for increases in total BAL protein content. (2) A total of 36 proteins were identified, accounting for 89.62% of the BAL proteins resolved by the 2D-DIGE system. (3) The number of proteins in which levels were altered more than 25% following infection and FA exposure was: SP-A2 > SP-A1 > KO for male mice, and SP-A2 ≈ SP-A1 > KO for female mice. (4) The number of proteins with more than 25% increase/decrease after ozone exposure and infection was: SP-A2 > SP-A1 ≈ KO, with the majority being increases in male mice and decreases in female mice. (5) Eleven out of the 36 proteins, including annexin A5, glutathione S-transferase A4, SP-A1/SP-A2, and 14-3-3 zeta protein, exhibited significant differences among SP-A genotypes. The acute phase response (APR) that includes the NF-kB signaling pathway plays a critical role, followed by Nrf2-mediated oxidative response, and others. These associated with SP-A genotype, sex, and ozone-induced oxidative stress in response to infection. We concluded that human SP-A2 and SP-A1 exhibit differential genotype-and sex-dependent innate immune responses to microbial pathogens and/or ozone-induced oxidative stress by modulating proteomic patterns and signaling pathways in the lung.
X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy of Manganese and Iron in the Photosynthetic Apparatus

The process of photosynthesis in green plants may be considered as a photoinduced chlorophyll mediated transfer of electrons from water to CO2 resulting in the formation of carbohydrates and O2. Strong oxidants produced by photosystem II (PS II) remove electrons from the O2-evolving complex resulting in water oxidation. Photosystem I (PS I) produces powerful reductants that donate electrons through a series of membrane bound proteins, one of which has been identified as an iron-sulfur protein containing at least two Fe-S clusters, to soluble ferredoxin and NADP, which are ultimately responsible for CO2 reduction.
SPECIFYING OBJECTIVES AND ATTRIBUTES OF SITING STUDIES

This chapter focuses on specifying objectives and attributes of siting studies. Once a set of candidate sites has been identified in the siting study, the next step is to specify the desired objectives of siting the facility and to establish attributes useful for measuring the degree to which the objectives are achieved. However, in practice, because of the many interrelationships between identifying the candidate sites and selecting objectives and attributes to evaluate them, this second step of siting decision analysis is well underway by the time the set of candidate sites is determined. The most reasonable way of structuring objectives is an objectives hierarchy. Such a hierarchy starts with the overall objectives at the top and lists more specific objectives at each lower level. An objective hierarchy has several advantages: (1) The top levels are fairly standard for most siting studies as they come directly from the general concerns. This indicates the scope of concern. (2) It helps to insure that no large holes, that is, missing objectives, will occur at lower levels as such holes should be fairly obvious. (3) The major objectives provide a basis for defining lower level objectives as the latter are means for achieving the higher level objectives. (4) The lower level objectives are more specific and, as such, it is easier to identify reasonable attributes for them. (5) Situations where redundancy or double-counting might easily occur can be identified. (6) Attributes must be defined only for the objectives at the bottom of any branch of the hierarchy. (7) The hierarchy provides a basis from which to develop and appraise screening criteria.
Building a Clinical Practice: Transplant Surgery

Transplantation is a unique and rewarding surgical discipline, combining the management of patients with end-organ disease, the challenges of organ preservation and procurement, technically challenging operations, and post-transplant medicine. Important steps in the pathway to a clinical practice in transplantation include choosing appropriate fellowship training, identifying key mentors, and understanding the unique organizational structure of transplant programs. Success in the early years of practice requires an absolute dedication to clinical excellence, valuing teamwork, patient advocacy, and a solid alliance with your clinical partners. Understanding the unique regulatory and compliance issues in transplantation and taking advantage of local and national opportunities for leadership are the responsibility of all transplant surgeons.
Barefoot running claims and controversies: a review of the literature.

Background: Barefoot running is slowly gaining a dedicated following. Proponents of barefoot running claim many benefits, such as improved performance and reduced injuries, whereas detractors warn of the imminent risks involved. Methods: Multiple publications were reviewed using key words. Results: A review of the literature uncovered many studies that have looked at the barefoot condition and found notable differences in gait and other parameters. These findings, along with much anecdotal information, can lead one to extrapolate that barefoot runners should have fewer injuries, better performance, or both. Several athletic shoe companies have designed running shoes that attempt to mimic the barefoot condition and, thus, garner the purported benefits of barefoot running. Conclusions: Although there is no evidence that either confirms or refutes improved performance and reduced injuries in barefoot runners, many of the claimed disadvantages to barefoot running are not supported by the literature. Nonethele...
Reducing Aggression Using a Multimodal Cognitive Behavioral Treatment Approach: A Case Study of a Preschooler With Oppositional Defiant Disorder:

Individual cognitive behavioral therapies (CBT) have been shown to be effective in decreasing disruptive behaviors in children and adolescents; however, less is known regarding their efficacy with ...
No Concessions: Aesthetics and Politics in the Cinema of Eduardo Quispe Alarcón

This chapter examines the films and counter-hegemonic practices of production, distribution, and exhibition of Eduardo Quispe Alarcon, a main figure of Peruvian experimental film. Mapping his place in the field of Peruvian cinema, the international influences that shape his aesthetic, thematic, and anti-industrial choices are discussed in relation to his engagement with the local cinematic milieu and to his understanding of the political dimension of cinema as a vehicle of inquiry, resistance, and rehumanization. Quispe Alarcon’s belief that cinema has the potential and the responsibility to liberate individual and collective subjectivities from neoliberal mandates is presented as a first step towards developing a humanist, politically engaged form of citizenship.
Seismic Optimization Study of Substation Bus-Bar Connecting Circuit

Bus-bar is an important power transmission channel in substation. To improve the safety performance of bus under the action of earthquake, the finite element simulation calculation is carried out for the bus-bar circuit in UHV substation. And this study analyzes the influence of structural design parameters such as tube bus layout and bracket span on earthquake response of pillar insulator in the circuit. The results show that the seismic performance of the bus-bar connecting circuit can be optimized by using independent tubular bus layout for each span, increasing insulator support and reducing the span of single tubular bus.
How encroaching shrubs and nutrients affect N2-fixation in the Chihuahuan desert

Organisms that are capable of nitrogen (N) fixation, such as some species of cyanobacteria in biological soil crusts (biocrusts), can be ecologically important especially in low-nutrient dryland ecosystems. In addition, woody plant encroachment is occurring in drylands globally, including many species of N2-fixing shrubs and trees. We determined the effects of nutrient deposition and shrub encroachment by Larrea tridentata on N2-fixation rates of biocrusts and compared these rates to another encroaching shrub, the N2-fixer Prosopis glandulosa in the northern Chihuahuan Desert. We used both the acetylene reduction assay (ARA) and the 15N natural abundance techniques to determine N2-fixation rates of biocrusts. We also assessed the effects of nutrient additions on biocrust N2-fixation rates using a long-term N addition experiment started in 2008 that is part of the Nutrient Network (NutNet). There was no correlation between the ARA and δ15N methods. We found that P. glandulosa likely fixes more N (at least during the spring) than biocrusts based on δ15N content in roots. There was no significant difference in δ15N between P. glandulosa and our reference plant, L. tridentata. δ15N declined in N-fertilized plots presumably because biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) is costly or because added N has negative effects on microbial communities. Biocrusts fixed less nitrogen than N2-fixing legume shrubs during this sampling period. Nonetheless, biocrusts are still a significant contributor to N2-fixation in these nutrient-poor drylands based on the large proportion of soil surface area occupied by these organisms.
Random Subspace Mixture Models for Interpretable Anomaly Detection.

We present a new subspace-based method to construct probabilistic models for high-dimensional data and highlight its use in anomaly detection. The approach is based on a statistical estimation of probability density using densities of random subspaces combined with geometric averaging. In selecting random subspaces, equal representation of each attribute is used to ensure correct statistical limits. Gaussian mixture models (GMMs) are used to create the probability densities for each subspace with techniques included to mitigate singularities allowing for the ability to handle both numerical and categorial attributes. The number of components for each GMM is determined automatically through Bayesian information criterion to prevent overfitting. The proposed algorithm attains competitive AUC scores compared with prominent algorithms against benchmark anomaly detection datasets with the added benefits of being simple, scalable, and interpretable.
Cell impedance sensing system based on vertically aligned carbon nanofibers

We demonstrate an electric cell substrate impedance sensing system (ECIS) based on vertically aligned carbon nanofibers (VACNF). The nanofibers having an average length of 4.45 μm are deterministically fabricated on transparent quartz substrates and are examined using SEM. Bovine aortic smooth muscle cells cultured on the VACNF ECIS system over a 10 hour period show a change in measured impedance over time.
A Return to Elegance: The Reapplication of Declarative Notation to Software Design

Software design methodologies were introduced to manage the scale of complex systems built in imperative languages under demanding work conditions. To some degree, declarative notations have been ignored for systems building because they lack similar design methodologies. Methodologies useful to object-orientation, namely, software architectures, design patterns, reusable libraries, and programming frameworks, are proposed as a model to be imitated by the declarative programming community. The resulting "declarative design methodology" would hasten the reapplication of declarative notations to mainstream software design and implementation.
Environmental Site Assessments and Bioremediation

There are a variety of tools available for performing Environmental Site Assessments. The purpose of this chapter is to discuss which of those tools are most essential when completing a site assessment and to determine when bioremediation is an acceptable remediation technique. The guidelines for Environmental Site Assessments discussed in this chapter rely heavily on the methods employed throughout the United States of America, as there are no international treaties regarding this subject. The steps involved in performing an Environmental Site Assessment include a historical check on the site, assessment of the use(s) of adjacent sections of land, and inspection of the site itself. Once the site assessment is complete, the site and waste characteristics can be considered to determine whether bioremediation is applicable. The site characteristics important in this consideration include climate, soil, geology, surface water and ground water. Important characteristics of the waste include chemical composition and concentration. After these characteristics are defined, the bioremediation method most suitable for the contaminant can be determined. The three main methods of bioremediation, including aboveground treatment of solids, aboveground treatment of liquids, and in situ treatment of solids, liquids, and gases, are also discussed.
Pharmacy Students' Knowledge and Attitudes Regarding Medical Marijuana.

Objective. To determine pharmacy students’ knowledge of and attitudes toward medical marijuana and to determine if pharmacy students need additional education on the topic.Methods. Pharmacy students were asked to complete a survey on medical marijuana that assessed their knowledge of, medical uses of, adverse effects with, and attitudes toward medical marijuana through 23 Likert-scale questions.Results. Three hundred eleven students completed the survey. Fifty-eight percent of the students felt that medical marijuana should be legalized in all states. However, the majority of students did not feel comfortable answering consumers’ questions regarding efficacy, safety, or drug interactions related to the substance. Accurate responses for diseases or conditions for permitted medical marijuana use was low, with only cancer (91%) and glaucoma (57%) identified by more than half the students.Conclusion. With an increasing number of states adopting medical marijuana use, pharmacy schools need to evaluate the adeq...
Woodpecker abundance and tree use in uneven-aged managed, and unmanaged, forest in northern Maine

Abstract We studied abundance and tree use (foraging and drumming) of the cavity-nesting woodpecker guild (7 species) in northern Maine to assess effects of uneven-aged forest management (an irregular shelterwood system) on woodpecker populations. Woodpecker abundance in managed and unmanaged hardwood stands showed no difference. Abundance in managed softwood stands was greater than in unmanaged softwood stands. Woodpeckers preferred (use greater than availability) to forage and drum on large-diameter (>30 cm) living trees (hardwood and softwood). Living trees used by woodpeckers, however, were commonly in a state of decline, with characteristics such as fungal conks, broken limbs, and broken tops. When dead trees were used, woodpeckers preferred large-diameter, recently-dead trees. Although we identified tree types preferred by woodpeckers, the abundance of preferred trees in a stand was a poor predictor of woodpecker abundance. The uneven-aged management we studied did not reduce the number of preferred trees or snags to a level that affected woodpecker abundance.
PCN22: COST-EFFECTIVENESS ANALYSIS COMPARING PACLITAXEL TO DOCETAXEL IN THE TREATMENT OF METASTATIC BREAST CANCER

OBJECTIVE: To compare paclitaxel (pac) and docetaxel (doc) in the treatment of second line or greater metastatic breast cancer using a cost-effectiveness analysis. METHODS: Costs were collected prospectively from 31 patients in a single outpatient center. Direct medical costs were collected (e.g., all medications, physician/clinic/laboratory visits, ER, hospitalizations, home health care, consultations, special procedures, transfusions, phone calls, and miscellaneous) and costs were defined using Medicare reimbursement rates and AWP for drugs. Effectiveness measures were obtained from two phase III trials conducted by Nabholtz. Sensitivity analyses are currently underway. RESULTS: The average cost per cycle of chemotherapy was $4,298 and $2,869 for doc and pac respectively. The objective response rates (OR) obtained for doc and pac in the phase III trials were 30% and 26% respectively. The cost-effectiveness (CE) ratio for doc is $14,327 per one-percent increase in OR. The CE ratio for pac is $11,035 per one-percent increase in OR. An incremental CE analysis suggests that using doc costs $35,725 per one-percent increase in OR compared to pac. CONCLUSIONS: The cost-effectiveness ratios suggest that pac is the more cost-effective choice. The incremental cost-effectiveness analysis still supports the use of pac; however, doc is not out of the standard range of payment for gains in effectiveness. Physicians and third party payers should use this information along with cost-utility studies to help guide decisions on treatment for metastatic breast cancer patients.
Selected Ethical Issues in the Teaching of Health: Perceptions of Health Education Faculty

Abstract This study examined faculty members' positions on a series of ethical scenarios dealing with teaching. Survey data from a three-wave mailing from 224 health education faculty found that 61% of the faculty reported their departments had units in health classes on ethical issues. Three out of four faculty perceived that professional organizations' codes of ethics would not be effective in deterring unethical teaching practices. Only about half of the faculty (56%) reported that teaching evaluations are taken into account when they are evaluated for pay raises. Faculty members' ethical stances regarding teaching were explored by chi-square analyses for sex, job responsibility (e.g., teaching vs. research), and whether teaching evaluations were used for yearly raises. No significant differences were found.
Biotinylation of lysine 16 in histone H4 contributes toward nucleosome condensation

Holocarboxylase synthetase (HLCS) is part of a multiprotein gene repression complex and catalyzes the covalent binding of biotin to lysines (K) in histones H3 and H4, thereby creating rare gene repression marks such as K16-biotinylated histone H4 (H4K16bio). We tested the hypothesis that H4K16bio contributes toward nucleosome condensation and gene repression by HLCS. We used recombinant histone H4 in which K16 was mutated to a cysteine (H4K16C) for subsequent chemical biotinylation of the sulfhydryl group to create H4K16Cbio. Nucleosomes were assembled by using H4K16Cbio and the 'Widom 601' nucleosomal DNA position sequence; biotin-free histone H4 and H4K16C were used as controls. Nucleosomal compaction was analyzed using atomic force microscopy (AFM). The length of DNA per nucleosome was ∼30% greater in H4K16Cbio-containing histone octamers (61.14±10.92nm) compared with native H4 (46.89±12.6nm) and H4K16C (47.26±10.32nm), suggesting biotin-dependent chromatin condensation (P<0.001). Likewise, the number of DNA turns around histone core octamers was ∼17.2% greater in in H4K16Cbio-containing octamers (1.78±0.16) compared with native H4 (1.52±0.21) and H4K16C (1.52±0.17), judged by the rotation angle (P<0.001; N=150). We conclude that biotinylation of K16 in histone H4 contributes toward chromatin condensation.
Diet and compliance in phenylketonuria.

In phenylketonuria, compliance and diet is a difficult issue; it is hard to quantify and is under-researched. It is influenced by many factors. Failure to consume prescribed quantity of protein substitute has been commonly reported and is probably affected by their acceptability, format and timing of administration. There are few reports documenting actual phenylalanine intake and blood phenylalanine control, but it is possible that the more rigorous systems for allocation of phenylalanine are associated with worse compliance. The dry, hard and insipid nature of many low protein products may lead to their under usage and consequent boredom and hunger. The diet becomes increasingly harder to maintain as children grow older and seek fewer constraints in their meals. Conclusion In phenylketonuria, encouraging adherence to diet requires continual education, reinforcement and support from the family and professionals within the support team.