cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Can contact potentials reliably predict stability of proteins

The simplest approximation of interaction potential between amino acid residues in proteins is the contact potential, which defines the effective free energy of a protein conformation by a set of amino acid contacts formed in this conformation. Finding a contact potential capable of predicting free energies of protein states across a variety of protein families will aid protein folding and engineering in silico on a computationally tractable time-scale. We test the ability of contact potentials to accurately and transferably (across various protein families) predict stability changes of proteins upon mutations. We develop a new methodology to determine the contact potentials in proteins from experimental measurements of changes in protein's thermodynamic stabilities (ΔΔG) upon mutations. We apply our methodology to derive sets of contact interaction parameters for a hierarchy of interaction models including solvation and multi-body contact parameters. We test how well our models reproduce experimental measurements by statistical tests. We evaluate the maximum accuracy of predictions obtained by using contact potentials and the correlation between parameters derived from different data-sets of experimental (ΔΔG) values. We argue that it is impossible to reach experimental accuracy and derive fully transferable contact parameters using the contact models of potentials. However, contact parameters may yield reliable predictions of ΔΔG for datasets of mutations confined to the same amino acid positions in the sequence of a single protein.
Impulsivity, dual diagnosis, and the structure of motivated behavior in addiction

Defining brain mechanisms that control and adapt motivated behavior will not only advance addiction treatment. It will help society see that addiction is a disease that erodes free will, rather than representing a free will that asks for or deserves consequences of drug-use choices. This science has important implications for understanding addiction's comorbidity in mental illness and reducing associated public health and criminal justice burdens.
Private Information Retrieval Techniques for Enabling Location Privacy in Location-Based Services

The ubiquity of smartphones and other location-aware hand-held devices has resulted in a dramatic increase in popularity of location-based services (LBS) tailored to user locations. The comfort of LBS comes with a privacy cost. Various distressing privacy violations caused by sharing sensitive location information with potentially malicious services have highlighted the importance of location privacy research aiming to protect user privacy while interacting with LBS. The anonymity and cloaking-based approaches proposed to address this problem cannot provide stringent privacy guarantees without incurring costly computation and communication overhead. Furthermore, they mostly require a trusted intermediate anonymizer to protect a user's location information during query processing. In this chapter, we review a set of fundamental approaches based on private information retrieval to process range and k-nearest neighbor queries, the elemental queries used in many Location Based Services, with significantly stronger privacy guarantees as opposed to cloaking or anonymity approaches.
An analysis of inductive peaking in high-frequency amplifiers

Presents a theoretical treatment of inductive peaking. Although the analysis is general, it is specifically targeted for the design of monolithic broadband transimpedance amplifiers in photoreceivers. The authors derive closed-form, symbolic solutions for the small-signal transimpedance and analyze the effects of different types of inductive peaking on system performance. Based on these closed-form solutions, it is possible to optimize the amplifier bandwidth by proper choice of inductance. A comparison between the results of the symbolic analysis and microwave SPICE simulation data is shown and demonstrates a remarkably good match. >
A Cloud Provisioning System for Deploying Complex Application Services

Cloud Computing, with its on-demand provisioning capability on shared resources, has emerged as a new paradigm for reducing IT costs. In this paper, we present the architecture of a provisioning system that simplifies the deployment of complex application services on a Cloud infrastructure. We will introduce the concept of Composite Appliance and explain how it can be implemented and utilized to simplify management tasks and to reduce costs. We illustrate the extensibility and advantages of our design with a prototype solution consisting of a 3-tier application services that are deployed and configured automatically without manual intervention on a set of virtual machines instances in a Cloud.
Estimating the Severity of the WikiLeaks U.S. Diplomatic Cables Disclosure

In November 2010, the WikiLeaks organization began the release of over 250,000 diplomatic cables sent by U.S. embassies to the U.S. State Department, uploaded to its website by (then) Private Manning, an intelligence analyst with the U.S. Army. This leak was widely condemned, including by then Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. We assess the severity of the leak by considering the size of the disclosure relative to all diplomatic cables that were in existence at the time—a quantity that is not known outside official sources. We rely on the fact that the cables that were leaked are internally indexed in such a way that they may be treated as a sample from a discrete uniform distribution with unknown maximum; this is a version of the well-known “German Tank Problem.” We consider three estimators that rely on discrete uniformity—maximum likelihood, Bayesian, and frequentist unbiased minimum variance—and demonstrate that the results are very similar in all cases. To supplement these estimators, we employ a regression-based procedure that incorporates the timing of cables' release in addition to their observed serial numbers. We estimate that, overall, approximately 5% of all cables from this timeframe were leaked, but that this number varies considerably at the embassy-year level. Our work provides a useful characterization of the sample of documents available to international relations scholars interested in testing theories of “private information,” while helping inform the public debate surrounding Manning's trial and 35-year prison sentence.
Cystic teratoma-provoked peritonitis after pregnancy termination.

Abstract Background: Cystic teratoma is an unusual cause of postabortal pelvic peritonitis. Case: A healthy 22-year-old woman underwent outpatient first-trimester vacuum pregnancy termination, followed by a 3-day course of oral doxycydine. On the thirteenth day after pregnancy termination, she presented with fever, an acute abdomen, and pelvic pain. The woman underwent re-aspiration of her uterus, which yielded scanty tissue. She then underwent pelvic ultrasound and computerized tomogram, both of which revealed a posterior pelvic mass, presumed to be an abscess. After 5 days of broad-spectrum antibiotics had failed to alleviate her fever and pain, culdocentesis was performed yielding 30 cm 3 of pus, hair, and fat. The woman underwent laparotomy, which revealed a 10 × 8 × 5 cm multiloculated, infected benign cystic teratoma with extensive capsular adhesions. Conclusion: If postoperative infection is to develop after pregnancy termination, signs will usually appear within the first week. Onset of pelvic peritonitis more than I week after uneventful conclusion of a pregnancy event should raise suspicion of either non-gynaecologic causes or, as in this case, a pelvic neoplasm.
Come Together? Founder Values and Problems of Mission Emergence in Nascent Ventures

We examine how and why missions reflecting founders’ values- laden motivations emerge – or fail to emerge – through the venture organizing process. By conducting a real time longitudinal grounded t...
Development and Application of a Simplified Coplane Wind Retrieval Algorithm Using Dual-Beam Airborne Doppler Radar Observations for Tropical Cyclone Prediction

AbstractBased on established coplane methodology, a simplified three-dimensional wind retrieval algorithm is proposed to derive two-dimensional wind vectors from radial velocity observations by the tail Doppler radars on board the NOAA P3 hurricane reconnaissance aircraft. Validated against independent in situ flight-level and dropsonde observations before and after genesis of Hurricane Karl (2010), each component of the retrieved wind vectors near the aircraft track has an average error of approximately 1.5 m s−1, which increases with the scanning angle and distance away from the aircraft track. Simulated radial velocities derived from a convection-permitting simulation of Karl are further used to systematically quantify errors of the simplified coplane algorithm. The accuracy of the algorithm is strongly dependent on the time between forward and backward radar scans and to a lesser extent, the zero vertical velocity assumption at large angles relative to a plane parallel with the aircraft wings. A proof...
The Hidden Demand for Participation in Activities and Travel by Persons who are Visually Impaired

As part of a larger field experiment using remote infrared audible signage, 30 participants who were legally blind provided data about their current travel behavior and activities, the number and t...
Electron beam-generated Ar/N2 plasmas: The effect of nitrogen addition on the brightest argon emission lines

The effect of nitrogen addition on the emission intensities of the brightest argon lines produced in a low pressure argon/nitrogen electron beam-generated plasmas is characterized using optical emission spectroscopy. In particular, a decrease in the intensities of the 811.5 nm and 763.5 nm lines is observed, while the intensity of the 750.4 nm line remains unchanged as nitrogen is added. To explain this phenomenon, a non-equilibrium collisional-radiative model is developed and used to compute the population of argon excited states and line intensities as a function of gas composition. The results show that the addition of nitrogen to argon modifies the electron energy distribution function, reduces the electron temperature, and depopulates Ar metastables in exchange reactions with electrons and N2 molecules, all of which lead to changes in argon excited states population and thus the emission originating from the Ar 4p levels.
Online Testing, Is It Fair?

Although online education has become mainstream, many critics still fear it is an unequal form of education primarily because cheating techniques are outstripping our means of monitoring students. Cheating does pose a serious problem to online education, but new technologies are capable of limiting the threat. In combination with a proactive teaching style, anti-cheating tech can clamp down on unethical behavior and create a school environment that is as honest as any in-class setting.
Lack of a role of adenosine in activation of ischemically sensitive cardiac sympathetic afferents

Adenosine has been implicated in the pathogenesis of cardiac pain through activation of cardiac sympathetic afferents. The present study was performed to assess directly the contribution of adenosine in activating ischemically sensitive cardiac sympathetic afferents. Single-unit activity of ischemically sensitive afferents located in both ventricles was recorded from the left thoracic sympathetic chain or rami communicantes of anesthetized cats during 5 min of myocardial ischemia. Intracardiac injection (5 mg) or epicardial application (1-5 mg/ml) of adenosine onto the receptive fields failed to activate 31 ischemically sensitive A delta- and C fiber afferents, which were responsive to topical application of bradykinin (10 micrograms/ml). Intracardiac injection (5 mg) or topical application (1-5 mg/ml) of an adenosine A1 receptor agonist, N6-cyclopentyladenosine, also did not increase the discharge activity of 13 other ischemically sensitive C fiber afferents. Treatment with dipyridamole (1 mg/kg iv) to inhibit the cellular uptake of adenosine did not significantly potentiate the response of 10 separate C fiber afferents to 5 min of myocardial ischemia. Furthermore, blockade of adenosine receptors with aminophylline (5 mg/kg iv) did not significantly attenuate the response of 10 other C fiber afferents to 5 min of myocardial ischemia. The results of the present study demonstrate that exogenous and endogenous adenosine do not contribute to activation of ischemically sensitive cardiac sympathetic afferents. The findings of the present study fail to support a substantial role for adenosine and its A1 receptors in activation of cardiac sympathetic afferents during myocardial ischemia.
Nurses and tobacco control: Need for a strategic plan

The purpose of this communication is to highlight the efforts of nurses in tobacco- related education, practice, research and policy in the United States and to initiate discussion on the need for a global, strategic plan for the activity of nurses in tobacco control. In collaboration with the American Nurses’ Association’s Nursing Coalition for Tobacco Control, a nursing centre for tobacco intervention has been established, with a web site, for dissemination of information. Educational programmes directed at student nurses, school nurses and other special groups have been offered, and new educational materials are being developed. The tobacco control policies of the American Nurses’ Association, the Oncology Nursing Society, the nursing sub-committee of the International Union against Cancer and the International Society for Nurses in Cancer Care will be used as models. Strategies and research are being used to enhance use of the smoking cessation guidelines of the AHCPR. Barriers to national and international collaboration exist, but potential solutions are being developed for strategic planning.
Joint Smart Pricing and Proactive Content Caching for Mobile Services

In this work, we formulate and study the profit maximization problem for a wireless service provider (SP) that encounters time-varying, yet partially predictable, demand characteristics. The disparate demand levels throughout the course of the day yield excessive service cost in the peak hour that substantially hurts the reaped profit. With the SP's ability to track and statistically predict future requests of its users, we propose to enable proactive caching of the peak hour demand ahead during off-peak times. Thus, network traffic will be smoothed out, while end-users' activity patterns are undisturbed. In addition, the SP is able to assign personalized pricing policies that strike the best balance between enhancing the certainty about the future demand for optimal proactive caching and maximizing the revenue collected from end-users. Comparing the proposed system's performance to the baseline scenario of the existing practice of no-proactive service, we show that the SP attains profit gain that grows with number of users, at least, as the first derivative of the cost function. Moreover, end-users that receive proactive caching services make strictly positive savings. Thus, we essentially demonstrate the win-win situation to be reaped through the exploitation of the consistent users' activity.
Behavioral Couples Treatment for Substance Use Disorder: Secondary Effects on the Reduction of Youth Internalizing Symptoms

This study examined the secondary effects of Behavioral Couples Treatment (BCT) for parents with substance use disorder on youth reports of internalizing symptoms (i.e., depressive and anxiety symptoms). Participants were 59 triads (father, mothers, and youth; 32 girls, 27 boys) in which one or both parents met criteria for drug or alcohol use disorder (or both). Mothers, fathers, and youth completed pretreatment, post-intervention, and 6-month post-intervention follow-up assessments. Two piecewise latent growth models examined whether number of sessions attended was associated with parents' relationship satisfaction or its growth over time, and in turn if parents' relationship satisfaction was uniquely associated with youth depressive/anxiety symptoms or their growth over time. A significant indirect effect at post-intervention revealed the number of sessions attended contributed to decreases in youth depressive symptoms via increases in mothers' and fathers' relationship satisfaction. Mothers' relationship satisfaction uniquely mediated the relationship between number of sessions attended and youth depressive symptoms at post-intervention. With regards to fathers, there was a non-significant trend such that increases in sessions attended was associated with decreases in youth depressive symptoms post- intervention via increasing relationship satisfaction among fathers. Findings suggest that BCT may have protective secondary effects in reducing youth reports of depressive symptoms among couples in which one or both parents have substance use disorder.
Prevention of Environmental Problems

In its Global 2000 Report to the President, the United States Council on Environmental Quality (USCEQ) offered rather pessimistic projections for environmental conditions through the end of this century. Indeed, similar concerns for the environment and its resources have been voiced by others (e.g., Davis, 1979; Ehrlich, Ehrlich, & Holdren, 1977; Humphrey & Buttel, 1981; Watt, 1982; Welch & Miewald, 1983). Oskamp and Stern (in press) categorized such warnings about current and future ecological stresses into eight target areas: (a) population, (b) food, (c) land, (d) water, (e) energy, (f) solid wastes, (g) minerals, and (h) atmosphere.
Solving the global climate crisis: the greatest health opportunity of our times?

Today’s substantial global health gains are being undermined by the threat of climate change. Ironically, the actions required to confront the climate crisis represent possibly the largest public health opportunity in more than a century. Health benefits from improved air quality may far outweigh the cost of clean energy investments. Upward trends in chronic diseases are now occurring throughout the world. Herein lies even more golden opportunities for public health through the following: first, adopting more alternative modes of transportation, especially those that promote “active transport” by foot or by bicycle, in combination with effective public transportation; and second, by reducing meat in the diet. In essence, there is no better time to focus on health as central in the climate negotiations; and in so doing, may we move faster and further with effective actions on climate change and the subsequent health benefits that will arise from a low-carbon society.
Agonist-Induced Desensitization and Endocytosis of G-protein-Coupled Receptors

Publisher Summary Multiple mechanisms contribute to the physiological regulation of G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Some of the biochemical mechanisms underlying these regulatory processes are being understood, and there is accelerating progress toward elucidating their physiological significance. This chapter explains the agonist-induced desensitization and endocytosis of G-protein-coupled receptors. It begins by reviewing basic processes of GPCR regulation. The general processes of GPCR regulation include desensitization and resensitization, sequestration, and downregulation and upregulation. Following this, it reviews current information regarding biochemical and cell biological mechanisms that underlie them. Under this, it focuses primarily on well-characterized mechanisms that appear to be relevant to the regulation of many GPCRs. The functional consequences of GPCR endocytosis take into consideration the role in rapid desensitization of GPCRs, the role in resensitization of GPCRs, the role in mediating proteolytic downregulation of GPCRs, and the role in controlling the specificity of signal transduction. Finally, the study briefly mentions recent insights to previously unanticipated features of GPCR regulation and signaling, which are likely to prove helpful for future therapeutic exploration.
Family Contracts: Marriage and Divorce

Legal marriage is a type of contract that confers a status on those individuals who marry. In this respect it substantially differs from the traditional idea that legal duties arising under contract law should be self-imposed by individuals, not dictated by the public in the form of a contract which everyone is required to enter if they wish to achieve the status of “married person.” This status consists of non-changeable terms about the indefinite duration of the contract, support obligations of spouses, the distribution of property, and the amount of taxes paid to federal, state and local government. One reason that unmarried persons might see this status as a desirable choice is that marriage has considerable economic benefits that are not enjoyed by unmarried co-habiting couples. One of the central questions of this chapter is whether this distribution of benefits between married and unmarried couples is justifiable. We look at several principles of just distribution in an attempt to answer this question. Another important part of this chapter is about the description and evaluation of gendered marriages in which laws in earlier times dictated specific roles for husband and wife. Third, and perhaps of most relevance in contemporary family law are questions about access to marriage. In this context, we examine both the 2015 Supreme Court decision overturning state laws prohibiting same-sex marriage, and the arguments given in the public debate about same-sex marriage prior to this decision. We will next look at some of the alternatives to traditional marriage such as private contracts and a recent proposal called “minimal marriage” which uses state regulation only to recognize and promote caring relationships between the parties to the marriage, regardless of number and gender. Our concluding discussion is about the exit rules enabling divorce or dissolution of a marriage in which we ask whether the rules for dissolution should be neutral with respect to moral and religious beliefs.
Is Ukraine Ready for Open Government?: Poster

The 1unique geographic and political position of Ukraine in relation to Russia and Western Europe offers an interesting case study of open government in a post-Soviet country. This poster will focus on the generation and initial implementation of the first Open Government Plan that Ukraine submitted to the OGP in 2011. We will adapt the open government progress assessment model proposed by Shandoval-Almazan and Gill-Garcia to evaluate the quality of first open government plan in Ukraine. We will also utilize cultural framework proposed by Hofstede to understand why the Ukrainian government's initial attempt at the first plan received a strong backlash. This poster will highlight the timeline, process, and the outcome of the first plan. This poster features the case-study that will provide a glimpse into a post-Soviet government that, in some ways, is still corrupt, but trying to implement democratic initiatives in attempt to look like a modern democracy [6]. Local NGOs help current government to recognize that the "old" ways of governing will not be acceptable as the country is making strides towards open government.
Writing together for academic publication as a youth-adult PAR team: moving from distance and distaste towards transformative engagement

AbstractWhile participatory action research’s (PAR) democratic and social justice principles promote team member involvement across the research, collaborative team writing for publication is not s...
Experiences of vulnerability and uncertainty during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars: Stories of wounded service members and the nurses who cared for them.

Abstract Background The findings reported in this paper were derived from a secondary analysis of selected data from a large clinical knowledge study designed to document the experiential learning of military and federal nurses caring for critically wounded service members (WSMs) of their experience of care from point of injury in the combat zone through their rehabilitation. Findings This article describes a picture of vulnerability and uncertainty in both WSMs and their nurses throughout the health care continuum. The concepts of vulnerability and uncertainty had distinct meanings for each group. In many cases, nurses who were deployed revealed a dual encounter with the vulnerability of war along with personal uncertainty about themselves and their patients. Discussion To support optimized health care of WSMs and the well-being of caregivers, health care professionals and policy makers must understand the effects and dynamics of serving in a warzone.
Displacement and local linguistic practices: R-lessness in post-Katrina Greater New Orleans

Variable r-lessness in New Orleans English is a salient linguistic feature tied to local place-based identity. In this study, I examine rates of r-lessness in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, which caused large-scale displacement in the region. Participants come from the linguistically conservative suburb of Chalmette, where r-lessness is more robust than in New Orleans proper. Participants’ connections to Chalmette were measured in two ways: (1) post-Katrina location status, i.e. whether participants returned or relocated after the storm; (2) place orientation, captured via an ethnographically informed, multifaceted measure of stance and exposure to places outside of Chalmette. Analysis revealed that place orientation better predicts rates of r-lessness than post-Katrina location. I argue that the marked quality of r-lessness makes it available for identity-driven use to express a connection to Chalmette. This study demonstrates one way to account for the linguistic implications of individuals’ shifting allegiances to places they live(d).
Genetic Risk Scores in Premature Coronary Artery Disease: Still Only One Piece of the Prevention Puzzle.

See Article by Theriault et al Just over a decade has passed since the publication of the seminal genome-wide association studies identifying the first common susceptibility locus for coronary artery disease (CAD) at the 9p21 locus.1,2 Considerable progress has ensued through ever-expanding meta-analyses of case–control and cohort studies organized by multiple consortia.3 The most recent large-scale meta-analysis published in 2015 by CARDIoGRAMplusC4D involved genome-wide genetic data imputed to the 1000 genomes panel for the first time.4 This analysis extended the number of loci reaching genome-wide significance to 58 and identified 202 variants in 129 loci with a P value lower than a false discovery rate threshold of 5%. Overall, these loci explain ≈25% of the heritability of CAD when assuming a multifactorial liability-threshold model, a prevalence of disease of 5%, and a total heritability of CAD of 40%.4 The findings of genome-wide association studies to date provide important insights on the genetic architecture of CAD, the causal mechanisms at play, and the predictive power of genetics. First, they confirm the long-suspected polygenic nature of CAD. The increases in risk among variants on the false discovery rate list were found to be uniformly under 15% per allele for common, and no >53% per allele for rare variants.4 This observation combined with the modest overall variance explained to date suggests that there are many more, as yet unidentified, variants that contribute to the risk of CAD. Second, they corroborate the role of known causal biological pathways of atherosclerosis; whereas at the same time illuminate the importance of new ones.4 The latter is underscored by the observation that only a minority of the CAD loci uncovered to date are also strong signals in genetic studies of traditional risk factors with nearly all of this pleiotropy …
Simultaneous transcatheter aortic valve implantation and endovascular aneurysm repair in a patient with very severe aortic stenosis with abdominal aortic aneurysm.

Abstract The safety of non-cardiac surgery is uncertain for asymptomatic patients with very severe aortic stenosis (AS). Herein, we describe a case involving an elderly and frail patient with asymptomatic, very severe AS. The patient was considered a high-risk candidate for aortic valve replacement (AVR); thus, transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) was planned. On perioperative examination, an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) was observed, which required endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). To reduce the risks involved with sequential procedures, TAVI and EVAR were performed simultaneously. In patients with severe AS who are high-risk candidates for AVR, TAVI can be considered as an alternative therapy before non-cardiac surgery. In addition, the combined TAVI and EVAR procedure can reduce the risks associated with the perioperative period. Learning objective: For patients with severe aortic stenosis who are high-risk candidates for aortic valve replacement (e.g. elderly patients with comorbidities), transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) can be considered as an alternative therapy before non-cardiac surgery. In addition, combining TAVI and endovascular aneurysm repair can reduce the perioperative risks compared with those for sequential procedures. However, additional research is needed.>
The impact of dietary regimen compliance on outcomes for HNSCC patients treated with radiation therapy.

To analyze nutritional factors and compliance with dietary recommendations for associations with overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) in patients receiving definitive RT for laryngeal and oropharyngeal cancers. We identified 352 patients with non-metastatic laryngeal (146) and oropharyngeal (206) cancer treated with definitive RT between 2004 and 2013. Disease and patient characteristics, treatment information, sarcopenia based on muscle areas at L3 level on CT, compliance with the nutritional program, and clinical outcomes data were tabulated. Descriptive statistics, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, and log rank tests were performed, and Cox regression models were used to examine predictors of OS and PFS. The median follow-up for the entire cohort was 22.86 months. The actuarial rates for OS were 91, 86, and 73% at years 1, 2, and 5, respectively. Of patients with abdominal CT prior to starting RT, 70.9% (112/158) were sarcopenic with a median muscle mass index of 48.2 (range 30.4–70.9) for males and 35.9 (range 24.6–53.2) for females. The majority (85.8%) of patients met with a dietitian during their course of RT and 62.6% of these patients were compliant with the nutritional program. Compliance with the nutritional program resulted in 27% (HR 0.73, 95% CI 0.43–1.26) protection from death (did not reach significance) and 31% (HR 0.69, 95% CI 0.50–0.94) significant protection from disease progression. Higher pretreatment BMI was associated with a lower risk of death (HR 0.94, 95% CI 0.90–0.99) and disease progression (HR 0.96, 95% CI 0.93–0.99). Laryngeal and oropharyngeal cancer patients treated with definitive RT who are compliant with regular dietetic counseling and contact appear to have improved outcomes. Not applicable
Hyperfine-Structure Studies of Ni 61 , and the Nuclear Ground-State Electric Quadrupole Moment

The hyperfine structure of the four lowest atomic levels of ${\mathrm{Ni}}^{61}$ has been studied by the atomic-beam magnetic-resonance technique. Agreement between the results and the theory of the hyperfine interaction is good. The importance of taking account of the substantial departure of the atom from the $\mathrm{LS}$ limit in evaluating the electric quadrupole moment $Q$ of the ${\mathrm{Ni}}^{61}$ nuclear ground state is discussed. Values of $Q$ are determined from two different electron configurations; the values obtained differ by only 3%. The result is in agreement with the previous theoretical prediction of Cohen et al.
Application of Marrow Grafts in Human Disease: Its Problems and Potential

The present chapter is not intended as an exhaustive review of marrow transplantation but is rather a somewhat personal view distilled from more than 15 years of laboratory and clinical work. In the following pages, the rationale for, problems associated with, and current results of clinical marrow transplantation for bone marrow failure, organ grafting, and malignancy will be outlined.
Metrics for Ozone and Climate: Three-Dimensional Modeling Studies of Ozone Depletion Potentials and Indirect Global Warming Potentials

es Abstract The concepts of ozone depletion potentials (ODPs) and global warming potentials (GWPs) have been extensively used in policy consideration and scientific studies of ozone and climate issues. Most recent candidate-replacement compounds have atmospheric lifetimes shorter than 1 year in order to limit their environmen- tal effects. Especially for chemicals with extremely short lifetimes, on the order of several to tens of days, the stratospheric halogen loading and ozone loss from such gases strongly depend on the location of emissions. Using a state-of-the-art three- dimensional global chemistry-transport model (CTM) of the troposphere and the stratosphere, we have calculated the potential effects of very short-lived substances (VSLS) such as n-propyl bromide (nPB), iodotrifluoromethane (CF3I), and methyl iodine (CH3I) on atmospheric ozone. The model-derived lifetimes and ODPs of these halogenated compounds for mid-latitude emissions and of CF3I for tropical emissions are presented in this chapter. On the other hand, ozone depletion due to emission of bromochlorofluorocarbons, or Halons, leads to cooling of the climate system in the opposite direction to direct warming contribution of the Halons as greenhouse gases. This cooling is a key indirect effect of Halons on radiative forc- ing or climate. Using atmospheric models, CTMs and a radiative transfer model, we have explicitly calculated the indirect GWPs of Halon-1211 and -1301 for a 100- year time horizon. The calculated indirect effects of Halon-1211 are much smaller than those published in earlier studies. Nevertheless, our new model-based assess- ment of the indirect GWPs of the two major Halons confirms the importance of indirect effects on climate.
Abstract 3187: Do Exercise Hemodynamics Enhance Diagnosis of Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction?

Background When advanced, heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is readily apparent. Earlier disease (e.g. NYHA II) is more difficult to diagnose, as biomarkers (BNP) and volume status may appear normal at rest. Objective Determine if exercise hemodynamic assessment identifies patients with HFpEF despite normal filling pressures and BNP at rest, and examine how exercise hemodynamics are related to metabolic performance (peak VO2). Methods Patients with exertional dyspnea and EF>50% were referred for hemodynamic catheterization. Those with no significant coronary disease and normal resting hemodynamics (mean pulmonary artery (PA) pressure Results (Table) Plasma BNP was normal in all HFpEF patients. HFpEF patients displayed higher resting PA, WP and pulmonary vascular resistance index (PVRI), though all values fell within normal limits. Exercise-induced elevation in WP in HFpEF was confirmed by increases in LV end diastolic pressure, and was associated with blunted increases in cardiac output. Exercise caused greater increase in PA pressures in HFpEF, which was related to elevated left heart pressures, as PVRI dropped similarly in each group. Exercise change in WP correlated modestly with peak VO2 (r=−0.4, p Conclusions Patients with exertional dyspnea, normal BNP and normal cardiac filling pressures at rest may have markedly abnormal hemodynamic responses when assessed during exercise, suggesting that chronic symptoms are related to heart failure. Earlier and more accurate diagnosis using exercise hemodynamics may allow more appropriate targeting of interventions to treat and prevent HFpEF progression.
Some basic statistics of clinical tonography.

Measures of the test-retest consistency of tonographic outflow facility measurements are derived from replicate tests on outpatients with ocular hypertension or chronic open-angle glaucoma. Standard deviations of about ±0.02 apply to such repeat tonographies performed at specific test-times. Recognizable components of this variation are (1) imcertainties inherent in the tonographic tracing and (2) parallel, genuine fluctuations of C in both eyes, steered, apparently, by an extraocular common mechanism. Evidence suggestive of a decrease in facility at higher pressures is reported. A five-minute interval between the tonographies on the two eyes reduces consensual or sequence effects to the level of clinical insignificance. A substantial calibration discrepancy exists between the 5.5 and the 7.5 Gm. scales. his is another effort in the direction of determining the test-retest consistency or reliability of the outflow measurements furnished by tonography. The study was prompted by the department's increasing involvement in the evaluation of the effects of ocular hypotensive drugs. The accuracy of such evaluations depends critically on precise base-line values of which there still is a conspicuous scarcity in the literature. This study was undertaken primarily to provide more base-line values. It consisted essentially of replicate measurements made under conditions which, on the one hand, entailed only slight disturbances of the patient's normal life, and, on the other hand, provided some measure of control. Procedures In the selection of the test procedures, reproducibility in clinics and offices was the prime con
Power and the Politics of Rebuilding New Orleans

Tension characterizes almost every part of housing policy’s political arrangement. A mostly white federal government creates and funds public housing, whose residents are mostly poor and racial minorities. State and local governments make funding and land-use decisions about public housing complexes. The intergovernmental nature of this policy means actors debate housing policies across, but also within, different levels of government. Local government wants control over the housing that stands in its jurisdiction; federal agencies, namely HUD, want to dictate how housing authorities use their dollars. Big business and developers press claims that public housing projects impede economic development; they offer mixed-income or scattered site housing and mobile housing vouchers in addition to commercial development on public housing land as alternatives to traditional public housing. Public housing residents and their advocates regard these pro-business reforms as intended to gentrify neighborhoods. The governance of public housing and the conditions of these facilities create and further tensions in cities. Once a disaster hits, these governing problems intensify. An examination of the rebuilding of New Orleans highlights these critical urban politics issues.
Decreased Pseudomonas aeruginosa detection in children after separation of pediatric from adult cystic fibrosis clinics: A single center experience.

Background The impact of separating the adult from pediatric patients on Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeriginosa) detection in the respiratory cultures of patients was examined at the University of Minnesota CF Center. Methods This study was a retrospective review using data recorded in the University of Minnesota CF Database between 1995 and 2010. Respiratory culture results obtained during routine University of Minnesota Cystic Fibrosis (CF) Center. CF clinic encounters of two cohorts of pediatric and adult CF patients (pre- and post-separation) were analyzed for presence of P. aeruginosa. Results The odds of a pediatric patient having P. aeruginosa were significantly less if the first culture was obtained after separation of pediatric and adult clinics. Being diagnosed by newborn screening or introduction of inhaled tobramycin did not affect this outcome. This reduction in P. aeruginosa was not detected in the adult cohort. Conclusions Separation of pediatric and adult CF clinics has contributed to decrease in P. aeruginosa detection in pediatric patients.
Stationary and ambulatory attention patterns are differentially associated with early temperamental risk for socioemotional problems: Preliminary evidence from a multimodal eye-tracking investigation

Behavioral Inhibition (BI) is a temperament type that predicts social withdrawal in childhood and anxiety disorders later in life. However, not all BI children develop anxiety. Attention bias (AB) may enhance the vulnerability for anxiety in BI children, and interfere with their development of effective emotion regulation. In order to fully probe attention patterns, we used traditional measures of reaction time (RT), stationary eye-tracking, and recently emerging mobile eye-tracking measures of attention in a sample of 5- to 7-year-olds characterized as BI (N = 23) or non-BI (N = 58) using parent reports. There were no BI-related differences in RT or stationary eye-tracking indices of AB in a dot-probe task. However, findings in a subsample from whom eye-tracking data were collected during a live social interaction indicated that BI children (N = 12) directed fewer gaze shifts to the stranger than non-BI children (N = 25). Moreover, the frequency of gazes toward the stranger was positively associated with stationary AB only in BI, but not in non-BI, children. Hence, BI was characterized by a consistent pattern of attention across stationary and ambulatory measures. We demonstrate the utility of mobile eye-tracking as an effective tool to extend the assessment of attention and regulation to social interactive contexts.
Association of diagnosing physician and hospital characteristics with the use of radical cystectomy among patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer.

6576Background: Only one out of five muscle-invasive bladder cancer patients receive radical cystectomy, a guideline-recommended treatment. Prior studies evaluated patient characteristics associate...
The Implications of Screen Media Use for the Sleep Behavior of Children Ages 0–5: a Systematic Review of the Literature

This literature review explores the impact of screen media consumption on the quality, quantity, regularity, and structure of sleep among children ages 0–5 years. Thirty-one studies were included for review. Screen media use was found to negatively impact young children’s sleep. Greater consumption of, access and exposure to, and engagement with screen media was associated with shorter nightly and total daily sleep duration, poorer sleep quality, later bed times and wake times, and longer sleep onset. Day time nap duration was inversely associated with screen media use, an outcome suggestive of delays in sleep consolidation. Extant research has established problematic relations between the young children’s screen media use and sleep behavior. Future research must work to better understand the impact of young children’s screen media’s use practices on their sleep and identify the mechanisms underpinning screen media’s relations to nap and sleep consolidation.
Altering the Crosslinking Density of Polyacrylamide Hydrogels to Increase Swelling Capacity and Promote Calcium Hydroxide Growth in Cement Voids

Polyacrylamide (PAM) superabsorbent polymer microspheres were synthesized for use as internal curing agents in low water-to-cement ratio mixtures. An increase in PAM swelling capacity in pore solutions was achieved by reducing the crosslinking density during synthesis: 5.1 g/g swelling was observed for 2 wt.% crosslinker and 20.6 g/g for 0.5 wt.% crosslinker. Capillary micromechanical experiments showed that a reduction in crosslinking density decreased the PAM elastic modulus from 1100 ± 310 kPa to 110 ± 15 kPa. Yet all PAM maintained mechanical integrity when mixed with cement and cured under a compressive load. SEM analysis showed hydrated product formation within cement voids left behind by dehydrated PAM. PAM with reduced crosslinking densities resulted in a 26 ± 7.3% increase in hydrated product formation within these voids. Cement paste density and compressive strength was not compromised by the addition of PAM.
Software engineering course design for undergraduates

Software Engineering course design for undergraduates has been a challenging task in many campuses, especially for those that do not have large enrollment. This is not only because the course has too many topics to be covered in one semester, even two semesters, but also because it crosses many different disciplines such as computer science, engineering, management, and staffing. In this paper, a course framework is designed for the undergraduate software engineering in a context with small enrollment in terms of the Software Engineering core and elective requirements in CC2001 [1] as well as ABET 2010 [2] and SE2004 [3]. Based on the author's experience, the course design decisions are made against the dimensions presented in [4]. The topics covered in the course design as well as the course curriculum are presented. Activities and requirements of term-long team projects are illustrated to reflect the topics covered in the lecture and synchronized with the lecture progressing.
Jailers at the Bedside: Ethical Conflicts in Provision of Community Hospital Care for Incarcerated Individuals:

Incarcerated individuals in the United States are frequently transferred to hospitals in the community setting for specialized medical care beyond the capability of on-site facilities. Despite the ...
Impact of implementing a competency-based job framework for clinical research professionals on employee turnover

Introduction A new competency-based job framework was implemented for clinical research professionals at a large, clinical research-intensive academic medical center. This study evaluates the rates of turnover before and after implementation of the new framework. Turnover in this workforce (as with most) is costly; it contributes to wasted dollars and lost productivity since these are highly specialized positions requiring extensive training, regardless of experience in the field. Methods Trends in employee turnover for 3 years prior to and after the implementation of competency-based job framework for clinical research positions were studied using human resources data. Employee demographics, turnover rates, and comparisons to national statistics are summarized. Results Employee turnover within the clinical research professional jobs has decreased from 23% to 16%, a 45% reduction, since the implementation of competency-based job framework. Conclusion The new jobs and career ladders, both of which are centered on a competency-based framework, have decreased the overall turnover rate in this employee population. Since little is known about the rates of turnover in clinical research, especially in the academic medical setting, the results of this analysis can provide important insights to other academic medical centers on both employee turnover rate in general and the potential impact of implementing large-scale competency-based job changes.