cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Success Factors as Critical That Shape Agile Software Development Project Success

This study has implications for positive social change because organizations that understand the critical factors may be able to improve project management strategies and cost benefits leading to higher efficiency, profitability, and productivity thus benefiting management, employees, and customers. Information technology (IT) project success depends on having a project manager with effective decision-making, leadership, and project management skills. Project success also depends on completing the project in a given budget, time, and scope. However, there is a limited understanding of the lived experiences of agile managers and the following success factors: engineering, management, organization, and stakeholders. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand these lived experiences of 10 agile software development team project managers or leaders at global workplaces based in the United States. The research questions were focused on the effect of these success factors on agile software development project success. In accordance with nonrandom purposeful sampling strategies, a snowball technique was used to find more participants. An open-ended, e-mail questionnaire was created and sent to participants to collect data. The data were coded to discern themes or patterns. According to study results, agile software development team employs automate builds, continuous integration, and design patterns help reduce technical debt; good collaboration and communication skills are core to project success; product owner helps maximize business value delivered by team and priority and engage stakeholders; and sponsors help fund the project and other resources.
Megalencephalic Cystic Leukoencephalopathy

A 41 year-old Japanese male diagnosed with megalencephalic leukoencephalopathy (MLC) with subcortical cysts (van der Knaap disease), presenting at 1 year of age with macrocephaly, slowly progressing after 5 years, seizures beginning at 11 years, completely bed ridden at 18 years, and with long survival, is reported from Tokyo Metropolitan Higashiyamato Medical Center for the Severely Disabled, Japan.
Management of the transverse dimension (expansion) with microscrews (TADS)

An effective alternative for the correction of the skeletal transverse maxillary deficiency is through expansion with the use of Microscrews or temporary skeletal anchorage devices (TADS). With this technique we can perform separation or disjunction of the midpalatal suture so the maxillary processes may separate to correct the transverse maxillary discrepancy in relation to the lower arch without dentoalveolar compensation. This means that pure bone expansion will be performed avoiding dental and/or alveolar compensations that may be deceiving regarding the amount of expansion required for the correction or alignment of the arches. Two or four microscrews are placed directly bilaterally on the palate so that afterwards an acrylic plate with expansion screw is cemented over the microscrews and this in turn rests or leans on the palatal mucosa avoiding direct contact with the tooth crowns to prevent dentoalveolar inclinations and thus perform a purely bony expansion. Hyrax and Hass-type expansion screws were used and rapid palatal expansion was performed with two activations per day. This type of expansion may be orthopedic or surgically assisted. The technique is simple, inexpensive, accurate and with a high rate of effectiveness, but defi nitely requires knowledge of anatomy, physiology and of course mechanical basis for treatment success. Key words: Skeletal transverse defi ciency, microscrews, Hyrax-type screw and Hass-type screw, disjunction of the suture.
Experience with bacillus Calmette-Guerin in patients with superficial bladder carcinoma.

AbstractA randomized study was done on 49 patients with a history of recurrent superficial transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder to determine if the frequency of tumor recurrence could be lessened. The patients were treated with 6 weekly instillations of Tice strain bacillus Calmette-Guerin or thiotepa, followed by instillations every 2 weeks for 3 months and every month until a recurrence developed or the patients had been treated for 2 years. Twelve additional patients who had previously failed on thio-tepa were placed on the bacillus Calmette-Guerin protocol.There have been no recurrences in the bacillus Calmette-Guerin group, while 9 patients (40 per cent) in the thio-tepa group suffered recurrences. All of the patients treated with bacillus Calmette-Guerin had symptoms of bladder irritability after each instillation. The same type of irritability occurred in 7 patients (25 per cent) in the thio-tepa group. Severe complications occurred in 11 patients treated with bacillus Calmette-Guerin (28 per...
Background on the Epidemiology and Modeling of HIV/AIDS

Before modeling any disease it is crucial to understand the epidemiological features of the disease. The first four sections of this chapter present epidemiological information on the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) including transmission mechanisms, data, and historical, biological and clinical aspects. The last three sections discuss not only advantages and disadvantages of various approaches to modeling HIV/AIDS, but also the purposes and limitations of epidemiological modeling.
Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry for Particulate Analysis

The technique of analysis by exciting a sample with a focused beam of ions was first proposed by von Ardenne [1] and advanced through the efforts of many workers, including Slodzian and Castaing [2], who developed the ion microscope, and Liebl and Herzog [3], principal developers of the ion microprobe. Emission products of the interaction of ions with solids include electrons, photons, and ions as well as backscattering of the primary ions. If the primary ion beam is energetic enough, nuclear reactions can result. Techniques of analysis based on all of these interaction products have been developed. In this paper, we shall be concerned with analysis by secondary ion mass spectrometry, that is, the spectrometry of the charged sample atoms emitted by a solid when bombarded by ions. The principles of the technique are illustrated schematically in Figure 1. A beam of energetic primary ions, generally species such as 160 2 + , 160-, 14N+, or 40Ar+ at an energy from 1 to 35 keV, interacts with a solid target held in a high vacuum (10-6 Pa), dislodging atoms lying near the surface in the process known as sputtering. A small fraction, 10-4 to 10-2, of the sputtered atoms are emitted in a charged state, the so-called secondary ions.
Toward Non-visual Graphics Representations on Vibratory Touchscreens: Shape Exploration and Identification

Considerable advancements in vibratory and auditory feedback have transformed the touchscreen from a simple visual input/output device to one that is highly interactive and multimodal. While auditory feedback is useful in tasks where dictation is sufficient, it can be tedious and limited in tasks that require interpretation of graphics. In this work, we focus on exploration procedures, identification accuracy of graphics, and how repetition at smaller scales may help users identify similar graphics when only vibratory feedback is used on touchscreens. We conducted shape identification tasks with 56 blindfolded participants. Results suggest users are able to reliably identify basic 2D shapes within 90 s using only haptic feedback. Users were also able to identify smaller shapes with thin vibrating borders at rates comparable to their larger counterparts after being exposed to the larger shapes first. We also make observations on successful exploratory procedures employed and compare approaches among users. These findings serve to inform non-visual interface design using haptic feedback capabilities on touchscreens.
Development of PIC-DSMC model for laser-trigged vacuum switch

Laser-triggered vacuum switches (LTVS) are used for low-jitter, low-inductance, synchronized high current pulsed-power switching. Single-pulse laser irradiation (UV, visible, or IR) heats a target cathode material, ablating the cathode surface and creating a plasma within the gap. UV irradiation may additionally seed the gap with photoemitted electrons. Reported LTVS have laser energies 10s μJ–10s mJ; cathode materials include KCl, Ti, W, and graphite1.
Outcomes in pediatric patients with abdominal compartment syndrome following urgent exploratory laparotomy

Abstract Background/purpose Abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) is a serious condition with high mortality in critically ill children. Our objectives were to characterize the incidence of ACS in pediatric patients who underwent urgent exploratory laparotomy and to compare outcomes of patients with and without ACS. Methods This retrospective review examined pediatric patients (0–18years) who underwent urgent exploratory laparotomy over a 2-year period. Primary outcome was mortality; secondary outcomes were achievement of primary fascial closure and necessity of bowel resection. Results One hundred nineteen patients were included, of which 33 (28%) had ACS, with 27 (23%) being primary ACS and 6 (5%) secondary ACS. Twenty-eight-day mortality was higher in the ACS versus non-ACS group (52% versus 0%, p p p p 0.056). Conclusion During the study period, almost one third of children who underwent urgent exploratory laparotomy had ACS and 64% died. Children undergoing evaluation for acute surgical abdomen may benefit from routine intraabdominal pressure measurement. Level of evidence Level III retrospective comparative study
Examining How Firm and Institutional Factors Affect Lean Capability Development of Emerging Market Firms

Drawing on the dynamic capabilities view (DCV) and institutional theory, we examine the impact of firm-level and country-level factors on emerging market firms' (EMFs) lean capability development. Based on a sample of 1,702 firms from Brazil, China, and India, we found that EMFs' human resource management (HRM) and process management practices have a positive effect on their lean capability development. Further, EMFs' internationalisation enhances the positive relationship of the firms' HRM practices and lean capability development. At the institutional level, our results suggest that regulatory institutions reinforce the positive effect of process management on EMFs' lean capability development; however, normative institutions (power distance) negatively influence the effect of firms' HRM practices on lean capability development. Our cross-country analysis suggests that, unlike India and Brazil, China's regulatory and normative environments (which have a higher level of power distance) hamper the positive effect of firm-level factors on their firms' lean capability development.
Childhood Medulloblastoma: Current Therapies, Emerging Molecular Landscape and Newer Therapeutic Insights.

Background Medulloblastoma is the most common malignant brain tumor in children, currently treated uniformly based on histopathology and clinico-radiological risk stratification leading to unpredictable relapses and therapeutic failures. Identification of molecular subgroups have thrown light on the reasons for these and now reveals clues to profile molecularly based personalized therapy against these tumors. Methods Research and online contents were evaluated for pediatric medulloblastoma which included latest information on the molecular subgroups and their clinical relevance and update on efforts to translate them into clinics. Results Scientific endeavors over the last decade have clearly identified four molecular variants (WNT, SHH, Group 3, and Group 4) and their demographic, genomic, and epigenetic profile. Latest revelations include significant heterogeneity within these subgroups and 12 different subtypes of MB are now identified with disparate outcomes and biology. These findings have important implications for stratification and profiling future clinical trials against these formidable tumors. Conclusion With the continued outpouring of genomic/epigenomic data of these molecular subgroups and evolution of further subtypes in each subgroup, the challenge lies in comprehensive evaluation of these informations. Current and future endeavors are now needed to profile personalized therapy for each child based on the molecular risk stratification of medulloblastoma, with a hope to improve survival outcome and reduce relapses.
A National Survey Examining Manuscript Dissertation Formats Among Nursing PhD Programs in the United States.

Purpose Among research-focused nursing doctoral (PhD) programs in the United States, the traditional dissertation format has recently given way to a series of publication-ready manuscripts, often bookended by introduction and conclusion chapters. To help programs make decisions about the use of these formats, this study undertook a national survey of programs offering PhDs in nursing. The purpose of this study was to explore the advantages and disadvantages of the traditional format versus manuscript option for dissertations among nursing PhD programs in the United States. Design Cross-sectional census survey of U.S. nursing PhD programs. Methods A web-based survey was administered to all U.S. nursing PhD programs. Respondents indicated formats offered, factors contributing to decisions of which formats to offer, and lessons learned. Descriptive statistics and inductive content analyses were used for analysis. Findings Of 121 eligible institutions, 79 provided eligible responses (66.7%). The majority (59%) offered both formats; 11% offered the manuscript option only, and 24% offered the traditional format only. Faculty support (or lack thereof) contributed to adoption (or not) of the manuscript option. Respondents' approaches to the manuscript option (e.g., number of papers) and advice are summarized. Conclusions Manuscript option dissertations are commonly offered and provide benefits to students and faculty; however, thoughtful implementation is critical. Programs need to agree upon clear expectations and have graduate school support (e.g., formatting). Faculty need mentorship in advising manuscript option students who choose to use this format, and the time and support. Finally, students need additional writing skills that could be provided through coursework or via individual work with mentors. Clinical relevance As nursing education continues to expand further into doctoral research, programs must examine dissertation formats in order to both prepare future nurse scholars and disseminate nursing research that is critical to improving nursing education, patient care, and clinical practice.
Engineered Affibodies in Translational Medicine

Affibody proteins are an emerging class of small protein (7 kDa) scaffold-based affinity reagents. Affibodies were first reported 10 years ago and have since been developed to bind to several important biomarkers. Affibody proteins were originally produced from staphylococcal protein A, and later, they are selected from phage display libraries based on a 58 amino acid and three alpha-helical Z-domain scaffolds. They can be reliable produced by both conventional peptide synthesis chemistry and recombinant expression in Escherichia coli. Protein engineering techniques have been used to make Affibody molecules bind to a target specifically and meet the requirement such as high affinity, high uptake, and high contrast imposed by intended application. General structures and engineering strategies to optimize Affibody molecules for diagnostic imaging and therapy applications are described in this book chapter. The current research on using Affibody molecules for molecular imaging and therapy is also discussed.
Mass spectrometry in structural and stereochemical problems LXXVIII.11Paper LXXVII, Fritz, H., Budzikiewicz, H. and Djerassi, C., Ber., in press. steroidal Δ4-3,6-diketones

Abstract Steroidal Δ 4 -3,6-diketones undergo two diagnostically significant fission reactions after electron impact. The first is due to scission of the 9–10 and 6–7 bonds with and without hydrogen transfer to yield peaks at m/e 137 and 136, which correspond to ring A and carbon atom 6. The other involves cleavage of the 9–10 and 7–8 linkages with rearrangement of one hydrogen atom and charge retention with rings C and D. Consideration of the mass spectral fragmentation can thus yield valuable information on the substitution pattern of Δ 4 -3,6-diketones.
RNA recombination of coronavirus.

We have previously shown that Mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) can undergo RNA-RNA recombination at a very high frequency (S. Makino, et al., J. Virol. 57, 729-737, 1986). To better define the mechanism of RNA recombination, we have performed additional crosses involving different MHV strains. We have obtained recombinant viruses with multiple cross-overs. The isolation of such recombinants further indicates the high frequency of coronavirus RNA recombination. By using cell fusion as a selection marker, we have also obtained recombinants between MHV-2 and A59 strains. Some of these recombinants have cross-overs in the 3′-end genes of the genome, thus demonstrating that recombination could occur along the entire genome. Finally, we have obtained recombinants by selecting with neutralizing monoclonal antibodies. These recombinants have cross-overs within gene C which encodes the peplomer protein. The genetic structure of these recombinants allowed us to determine the important domains of the peplomer proteins.
Modes of Convergence

In this chapter we discuss different types of convergence in probability and statistics. Types of convergence have already been introduced. They are convergence in probability and convergence in distribution. In addition, we introduce other types of convergence, such as almost sure convergence and L p convergence. We discuss properties of different types of convergence, the connections between them, and how to establish these properties. The discussion will mainly focus on the case of univariate random variables. However, most of the results presented here can be easily extended to the multivariate situation.
Age-Specific Associations of Ozone and Fine Particulate Matter with Respiratory Emergency Department Visits in the United States.

Rationale: Whereas associations between air pollution and respiratory morbidity for adults 65 years and older are well documented in the United States, the evidence for people under 65 is less exte...
Analysis of convective and diffusive transport in the brain interstitium

Despite advances in in vivo imaging and experimental techniques, the nature of transport mechanisms in the brain remain elusive. Mathematical modelling verified using available experimental data offers a powerful tool for investigating hypotheses regarding extracellular transport of molecules in brain tissue. Here we describe a tool developed to aid in investigation of interstitial transport mechanisms, especially the potential for convection (or bulk flow) and its relevance to interstitial solute transport, for which there is conflicting evidence. In this work, we compare a large body of published experimental data for transport in the brain to simulations of purely diffusive transport and simulations of combined convective and diffusive transport in the brain interstitium, incorporating current theories of perivascular influx and efflux. The simulations show (1) convective flow in the interstitium potentially of a similar magnitude to diffusive transport for molecules of interest and (2) exchange between the interstitium and perivascular space, whereby fluid and solutes may enter or exit the interstitium, are consistent with the experimental data. Simulations provide an upper limit for superficial convective velocity magnitude (approximately $$v$$ = 50 μm min−1), a useful finding for researchers developing techniques to measure interstitial bulk flow. For the large molecules of interest in neuropathology, bulk flow may be an important mechanism of interstitial transport. Further work is warranted to investigate the potential for bulk flow.
Oncology Nurse Engagement: The Impact of a Management Education Program.

Background Previous studies have demonstrated that a predictor of nurse engagement is a supportive work environment. Organizations that promote employee engagement have higher retention rates compared to their counterparts. The role of the nurse manager is critical to nursing engagement, and the principles of nurse engagement are teachable. Objectives The aim was to measure the impact of a nurse manager engagement education program on oncology nurse engagement. Methods The oncology nurses (n = 20) who report to the nurse managers (n = 3) completed a pre- and postintervention nurse engagement survey to assess the effectiveness of the nurse manager education program on engagement. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the results. Findings The results of the postintervention nurse engagement survey demonstrate that merely teaching nurse managers the principles of engagement is not enough to engage nurses. Further strategies are needed to improve nurse engagement.
The Presence of a CMV Immunodominant Allele in the Recipient Is Associated With Increased Survival in CMV Positive Patients Undergoing Haploidentical Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

Specific major histocompatibility (MHC) class I alleles dominate anti-CMV responses in a hierarchal manner. These CMV immunodominant (IMD) alleles are associated with a higher magnitude and frequency of cytotoxic lymphocyte responses as compared to other human leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles. CMV reactivation has been associated with an increased incidence of graft-vs.-host disease and non-relapse mortality, as well as protection from relapse in HLA-matched HSCT settings. Less is known about the impact of CMV reactivation on these major outcomes after haploidentical (HI) HSCT, an increasingly applied therapeutic option. In HI HSCT, the efficiency of the immune response is decreased due to the immune suppression required to cross the MHC barrier as well as MHC mismatch between presenting and responding cells. We hypothesized that the presence of a CMV IMD allele would increase the efficiency of CMV responses after HI HSCT potentially impacting CMV-related outcomes. In this retrospective, multivariable review of 216 HI HSCT patients, we found that CMV+ recipients possessing at least 1 of 5 identified CMV IMD alleles had a lower hazard of death (HR = 0.40, p = 0.003) compared to CMV+ recipients not possessing a CMV IMD allele, and an overall survival rate similar to their CMV- counterparts. The analysis delineated subgroups within the CMV+ population at greater risk for death due to CMV reactivation.
Rapid Generation of Flood Maps Using Dual-Polarimetric Synthetic Aperture Radar Imagery

Rapid generation of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) based flood extent and flood depth maps provide valuable data in disaster response efforts. We present a simple but powerful method using dual-polarimetric SAR imagery. A RGB false-color map is generated using pre- and post-flooding imagery, allowing operators to distinguish between existing standing water in pre-flooding data and recently flooded areas. This method works very well in areas of standing water, while large omission errors can be seen in urban areas due to the double-bounce effect. A flood depth map is also estimated by using an external DEM. Compared with FEMA flood product, flood water depth from the proposed method showed low bias with small dispersion. This automatic flood mapping system will contribute to the rapid assessment for disaster relief efforts.
A systematic review of foster parent preservice training

Abstract Preservice training is unique in that foster parents must be prepared to manage multiple demands that they may not truly understand the scope of (e.g., caring for a child with behavioral problems, managing home visits and court dates). There have been a number of review articles focused on foster parent training; however, there has been insufficient focus on preservice foster parent training. The purpose of this systematic review was to examine the type, format and content/competencies of published foster parent preservice training, study characteristics of published preservice training research, and the methodological characteristics and primary findings of published foster parent preservice training research. Eleven studies were identified from a systematic search of multiple relevant databases and secondary searches. Multiple results are discussed in this systematic review. Findings highlight the need for continued development of preservice training in regards to identifying essential content, addressing the needs of diverse foster parents (including relative and non-relatives), conducting more current and rigorous evaluation, and providing a stronger connection to enhanced child outcomes as a result of training. The nature of preservice foster parent training makes evaluation more challenging, and the work that has been completed is commendable. However, it is concerning that, compared to other widely used foster parenting interventions and the ubiquity of preservice training, there is sparse amount of publicly available research available on preservice training.
Regulation of the deleterious effects of binge-like exposure to alcohol during adolescence by α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agents: prevention by pretreatment with a α7 negative allosteric modulator and emulation by a α7 agonist in alcohol-preferring (P) male and female rats.

Binge-like alcohol consumption during adolescence associates with several deleterious consequences during adulthood including an increased risk for developing alcohol use disorder (AUD) and other addictions. Replicated preclinical data has indicated that adolescent exposure to binge-like levels of alcohol results in a reduction of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) and an upregulation in the α7 nicotinic receptor (α7). From this information, we hypothesized that the α7 plays a critical role in mediating the effects of adolescent alcohol exposure. Male and female P rats were injected with the α7 agonist AR-R17779 (AR) once during 6 time points between post-natal days (PND) 29–37. Separate groups were injected with the α7 negative allosteric modulator (NAM) dehydronorketamine (DHNK) 2 h before administration of 4 g/kg EtOH (14 total exposures) during PND 28–48. On PND 75, all rats were given access to water and ethanol (15 and 30%) for 6 consecutive weeks (acquisition). All rats were then deprived of EtOH for 2 weeks and then, alcohol was returned (relapse). Administration of AR during adolescence significantly increased acquisition of alcohol consumption during adulthood and prolonged relapse drinking in P rats. In contrast, administration of DHNK prior to binge-like EtOH exposure during adolescence prevented the increase in alcohol consumption observed during acquisition of alcohol consumption and the enhancement of relapse drinking observed during adulthood. The data indicate that α7 mediates the effects of alcohol during adolescence. The data also indicate that α7 NAMs are potential prophylactic agents to reduce the deleterious effects of adolescent alcohol abuse.
Sociodemographic Differences and Factors Affecting Patient Portal Utilization

The primary function of the patient portal is to give patients greater access to their personal health information. Granting patients electronic access allows them to make well-informed health care decisions. This study aimed to identify sociodemographic differences in patient portal use and examine factors affecting patient portal utilization following the final stage of the Meaningful Use program which aimed to promote the use of certified electronic health record (EHR) technology. Survey data from Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) 5, cycles 1, 2, and 3 were analyzed. The sample included 8291 completed surveys. Multivariable logistic regression on a selected response for each surveyed question was used to assess the racial and ethnic difference after controlling for age, sex, income, and education. Subjects included English and Spanish speaking adults in the USA. Measures included assessment of patient portal use, patient portal access, understanding health information, usefulness of health records, and privacy and security. After adjusting for age, sex, income, and education, there was a significant association between race/ethnicity and patient portal non-users responding, “no need to use online medical record” as the reason for not using the patient portal (P = 0.005). Among the portal users, there were significant associations between race/ethnicity and health care provider maintaining an EHR (P = 0.006), being offered access to their portal (P < 0.001), understanding health information in the portal (P = 0.004), finding the portal useful for health monitoring (P < 0.001), reporting concern about unauthorized access (P = 0.017), and keeping information from health care providers (P = 0.012). Race/ethnicity affects perceptions on the need for the patient portal, being offered access to a portal, and the reasons to access information online. Understanding the factors affecting patient portal use can inform future strategies aimed at increasing adoption.
Progress in tunable longwave infrared notch filters

We describe recent progress in the development of spectrally tunable micro-engineered notch filters operating in the longwave infrared (LWIR) region from 8 to 12 µm based on using the guided-mode resonance (GMR) effect. The device structure consists of a subwavelength dielectric grating on top of a homogeneous waveguide using high-index dielectric transparent materials, i.e., germanium (Ge) with a refractive index of 4.0 and zinc selenide (ZnSe) with a refractive index of 2.4. We design the filters to reflect the incident broadband light at one (or more) narrow spectral band while fully transmitting the rest of the light. Filters based on one-dimensional (1-D) gratings are polarization-dependent and those based on two-dimensional (2-D) gratings are less polarization-dependent. We designed and characterized both 1-D and 2- D filters. Anti-reflection coatings (ARCs) were applied on the backside of some of the filter substrates to improve transmission over the entire spectral region. We carried out transmission measurements of these filters using two separate experimental setups—an automated tunable room-temperature quantum cascade laser (QCL) system as well as a modified Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectrometer with normal incidence of light on the sample. We will present filter designs, theoretical simulation, characterization experiments and results.
Carbon nanotube thermoelectric devices by direct printing: Toward wearable energy converters

Thermoelectric devices convert thermal energy to electrical energy and are particularly well-suited for energy harvesting from waste heat. Even as the number of electronic devices used in daily life proliferates, technical advances diminish the average power such devices require to perform a given function. Localized thermal gradients that abound in our living environments, despite having modest energy densities, are therefore becoming increasingly viable and attractive to power such devices. With this motivation, we report the design, fabrication, and characterization of single-wall carbon nanotube thermoelectric devices (CNT-TDs) on flexible polyimide substrates as a basis for wearable energy converters. Our aqueous-solution-based film fabrication process could enable readily scalable, low-cost TDs; here, we demonstrate CNT-hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) composite thermoelectric films by aerosol jet printing. The electrical conductivity of the composite films is controlled through the number of CNT/HPC layers printed in combination with control of the annealing conditions. The HPC initially disperses the CNTs in deionized water, the greenest of solvents, and is subsequently partially eliminated from the film by annealing, with concomitant morphological changes that we characterized by TEM. HPC removal is key to obtaining good electrical conductivity (0.94 to 1.10 × 105 S/m) and Seebeck coefficients (36 to 43 μV/K). We also report a power factor of 208 μW m−1 K−2 for a CNT-TD composed of 15 layers of CNT/HPC, promising performance for CNT-based flexible TDs that are deposited from aqueous solution, stable in air, and require no additional doping or sorting processes.
Analysis of Ga1-xAlxAs-GaAs Heteroepitaxial Layers by Proton Backscattering

Proton backscattering at < 1 MeV has been used to measure Ga1-xA1xAs heteroepitaxial layers on GaAs that are used in optoelectronic applications. By evaporating Ge on A1, we have obtained relative values of the stopping cross-section of A1 to Ge. Deposition of Ge layers on Ga1-xA1xAs layers removed problems associated with secondary electron suppression. The experimental data on composition compare well with analysis by other techniques.
Fourier Analysis, Distributions, and Constant-Coefficient Linear PDE

Fourier analysis is perhaps the most important single tool in the study of linear partial differential equations. It serves in several ways, the most basic–and historically the first–being to give specific formulas for solutions to various linear PDE with constant coefficients, particularly the three classics, the Laplace, wave, and heat equations: $$\Delta u = f,\quad\frac{{\partial }^{2}u} {\partial {t}^{2}} -\Delta u = f,\quad\frac{\partial u} {\partial t} -\Delta u = f,$$ (0.1) with Δ = ∂2∕∂x12 + ⋯ + ∂2∕∂xn2. The Fourier transform accomplishes this by transforming the operation of ∂∕∂xj to the algebraic operation of multiplication by iξj. Thus the (0.1) are transformed to algebraic equations and to ODE with parameters.
Lesions of Autonomic Nerves

The autonomic nervous system (ANS) is the involuntary, sometimes referred to as the automatic or unconscious, portion of the nervous system that plays a crucial role in maintaining homeostasis. It is responsible for controlling and regulating most bodily functions, including temperature, blood pressure, respiration, bladder, bowel, and sexual functions. It is a rapidly responding system that innervates major organ systems and tissues, including cardiac muscle, smooth muscle, and glands. The ANS is divided into the sympathetic and parasympathetic components. Symptoms associated with lesions of the ANS depend on whether they affect sympathetic or parasympathetic function and their anatomical location, such as nuclei in the central nervous system, nerve projections, or end organs.
Intrauterine foreign body and pregnancy.

Abstract 1. 1. A case is presented in which a patient had a foreign body (gold wedding ring) in the cervix for a year as a contraceptive device, had it removed, cleansed, reinserted, and then became pregnant. She passed the ring in the last trimester and then delivered a full-term viable infant and had a normal puerperium without complications. 2. 2. An intrauterine foreign body was present for two years and eight months and caused no symptoms. 3. 3. This case is presented because so very few of this nature have been reported, and we believe this to be the first in American literature.
Sexual Health Outcomes Improvement in Sickle Cell Disease: A Matter of Health Policy?

ABSTRACT Introduction Ischemic priapism is a true male sexual dysfunction, consisting of uncontrollable, prolonged, and often painful erections of the penis. A commonly observed outcome, as a result of erectile tissue damage and fibrosis in this setting, is the complete loss of natural erectile ability. Males with sickle cell disease (SCD) are commonly affected. Given the adverse health consequences of this condition coupled with its specific population extent, health policy considerations are warranted. Aim This article aimed to study circumstances surrounding priapism associated with SCD for the purpose of pushing forward health policy objectives that improve sexual health‐related outcomes. Methods Medline searches through July 2010 were conducted using the following terms: priapism, sickle cell disease, epidemiology, public health, health economics, and health policy. Main Outcome Measure Expert opinion was based on review of the medical literature related to this subject matter. Results The literature search affirmed that SCD‐associated priapism threatens sexual health and also exerts a greatly negative impact on the physical and mental health of affected individuals. Various socioeconomic, behavioral, and cultural factors in the SCD population bearing negatively on sexual health outcomes were delineated. Deficiencies in several aspects of medical services for patients with SCD including scientific research funding support, which evoke an element of ethnic healthcare disparities, were further delineated. Conclusions SCD‐associated priapism is a medical condition of societal health significance, which can and should be addressed through comprehensive healthcare programmatic efforts. These efforts comprise advancement of educational and clinical training programs, support of interdisciplinary healthcare delivery services, diffusion of clinical advances, enactment of guidelines for effective clinical management, and resource allocation for enabling scientific advancements. Burnett AL. Sexual health outcomes improvement in sickle cell disease: A matter of health policy? J Sex Med 2012;9:104–113.
Human ecology and space age technology: Some predictions

Four predictions are made on the future of space age technologies in human and cultural ecology: first, remote sensing systems will generate a need for more fieldwork, not less; second, the services and skills of anthropologists will become essential to the interpretation of satellite data, especially as these relate to areas characterized by non-Western cultural practices; third, training in remote sensing and the use of geographic information systems will become a regular offering for anthropology students; and fourth, since these new systems and methods can be applied retrospectively to the re-analysis of earlier ethnographic works, space age technologies will be with us for some time to come.
Viscoelastic characterization of rubber compounds

The viscoelastic properties of gum rubbers and the properties of corresponding compounds are discussed. Representative examples are given to illustrate the important influence of gum rubber on the compound properties. A method for evaluating strain amplification and strain-rate amplification is proposed. Examples are given to show the characterization of compounds with respect to the variation in gum rubbers and carbon black grades. The unique characteristics of compounds which are not observed in gum rubbers are also discussed.
"Sandwich" Plating for Intra-articular Distal Radius Fractures with Volar and Dorsal Metaphyseal Comminution

Introduction Intra-articular distal radius fractures with volar and dorsal comminution present a special challenge to the hand surgeon.
Morphological equilibration of a corrugated crystalline surface.

We study the flattening of a corrugated crystal surface for the case when mass transport is driven by surface diffusion and the temperature is well below the roughening temperature of the equilibrium facet. For the considered geometry, the problem is one dimensional and the surface morphology consists of a collection of terraces separated by straight, parallel steps. In this situation, the kinetics is driven by step-step interactions alone. We obtain separated variable (shape-preserving) solutions to both the differential equation of motion for the surface profile z(x,t) and the discrete equations of motion for individual terraces' widths ${\mathit{l}}_{\mathit{n}}$(t). Numerical solutions of these equations demonstrate that the analytic solution well describes the kinetics in the latter case. As morphological equilibration proceeds, we find that z(x,t)\ensuremath{\sim}${\mathit{t}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$ and that ${\mathit{l}}_{\mathit{n}}$(t)\ensuremath{\sim}${\mathit{t}}^{1/5}$ or ${\mathit{l}}_{\mathit{n}}$(t)\ensuremath{\sim}${\mathit{t}}^{1/4}$ for the cases of diffusion-limited or step-attachment-limited step propagation, respectively. These predictions are amenable to direct experimental tests.
Abstract 3323: Hyaluronan synthase 2 promotes breast cancer bone metastasis by stimulating interaction of cancer stem-like cells with tumor-associated macrophage

The molecular mechanism of metastatic progression, particularly the roles of microenvironment of the metastasized organs, is as yet poorly understood. In this study, we have isolated cancer stem cell-like cells (CSC) from human breast cancer cell lines, MDA-MB231, MDA231BoM and MDA231BrM. CSC were isolated from each line using surface markers (CD24-, CD44+, ESA+) and their tumor initiating abilities were tested in animal. We then performed an analysis of global expression profile for these CSCs using the Affymetrix expression array and found that among all up-regulated genes, two genes (HAS2 and MMP1) were significantly correlated with overall- and metastasis-free survival when they were cross-examined in GEO database. To further examine the role of HAS2 in tumor metastasis in vivo, we prepared CSC from MDA231BoM with or without carrying a shRNA expression vector for HAS2. The CSC were then implanted into nude mice by intra-cardiac injection followed by oral administration of 4MU, a specific inhibitor of HAS genes. We found that the injection of CSC of MDA231BoM which expresses shRNA to HAS2 significantly improved the survival rate of animals. In addition, administration of 4MU significantly suppressed tumor metastasis of CSC, suggesting that inhibition of HAS2 can indeed reduce the incidence of metastasis in vivo. We also examined the effect of tumor associated macrophage (TAM) on growth of CSC in animals by injecting CSC of MDA231-BoM with or without TAM into the tibial bone. We found that co-injection of TAM with CSC significantly augmented the growth of tumor in their legs. Moreover, the interaction between cancer cell and TAMs enhanced secretion of PDGF-BB from TAMs which then activated stromal cells and in turn enhanced self-renewal of CSCs by secretion of FGF9 and FGF7. We also found that treatment of bone marrow stem cell (BMSC) with PDGF followed by co-culture of CSC significantly promoted proliferation of CSC. Collectively, our results suggest that TAM and BMSC promote self-renewal of CSC in bone microenvironment via direct interaction between hyaluronan and CD44. Our results also provide strong rationale to target HAS2 by using 4MU in order to block the metastatic progression of CSC in breast cancer. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3323. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-3323
Anomalous local coordination, density fluctuations, and void statistics in disordered hyperuniform many-particle ground states

We provide numerical constructions of one-dimensional hyperuniform many-particle distributions that exhibit unusual clustering and asymptotic local number density fluctuations growing more slowly than the volume of an observation window but faster than the surface area. Hyperuniformity, defined by vanishing infinite-wavelength local density fluctuations, provides a quantitative metric of global order within a many-particle configuration and signals the onset of an ``inverted'' critical point in which the direct correlation function becomes long ranged. By targeting a specified form of the structure factor at small wavenumbers ($S(k)~{k}^{\ensuremath{\alpha}}$ for $0l\ensuremath{\alpha}l1$) using collective density variables, we are able to tailor the form of asymptotic local density fluctuations while simultaneously measuring the effect of imposing weak and strong constraints on the available degrees of freedom within the system. This procedure is equivalent to finding the (possibly disordered) classical ground state of an interacting many-particle system with up to four-body interactions. Even in one dimension, the long-range effective interactions induce clustering and nontrivial phase transitions in the resulting ground-state configurations. We provide an analytical connection between the fraction of constrained degrees of freedom within the system and the disorder-order phase transition for a class of target structure factors by examining the realizability of the constrained contribution to the pair correlation function. Our results explicitly demonstrate that disordered hyperuniform many-particle ground states, and therefore also point distributions, with substantial clustering can be constructed. We directly relate the local coordination structure of our point patterns to the distribution of the void space external to the particles, and we provide a scaling argument for the configurational entropy (analogous to spin-frustated system) of the disordered ground states. By emphasizing the intimate connection between geometrical constraints on the particle distribution and structural regularity, our work has direct implications for higher-dimensional systems, including an understanding of the appearance of hyperuniformity and quasi-long-range pair correlations in maximally random strictly jammed packings of hard spheres.
Beverage vs. solid fruits and vegetables: effects on energy intake and body weight.

Beverage consumption has been implicated in weight gain, but questions remain about the veracity of the association, whether the relationship is causal and what property of beverages is responsible. It was hypothesized that food form is the most salient attribute. Thus, a randomized controlled trial of food form was conducted. Energy-matched beverage or solid forms of fruits and vegetables were provided to 34, lean or overweight/obese adults for two 8-week periods with a 3-week washout interspersed. Dietary compensation was incomplete (beverage 53% solid 78%) and body weight increased after the beverage (1.95 ± 0.33 kg) (77% fat mass) and solid (1.36 ± 0.30 kg) (85% fat mass) treatments (both P < 0.0005). Differences between food forms were not significant. The lean group had the highest dietary compensation (119%) and no significant weight change (0.84 ± 0.53 kg) after consuming the solid fruits and vegetables whereas the overweight/obese group had lower compensation and significant weight gain during the solid arm (46%, 1.77 ± 0.32 kg, P < 0.0001). In contrast, incomplete dietary compensation and weight gain occurred in both the lean (43%, 1.61 ± 0.44 kg, P = 0.003) and overweight/obese (61%, 2.22 ± 0.47 kg, P < 0.0005) groups during the beverage arm. Secondary analyses revealed the obese group gained more weight than the lean and overweight groups during the beverage intervention (P = 0.024). These data demonstrate energy consumed as beverages may be especially problematic for weight gain. They also indicate that advice to increase fruit and vegetable consumption should emphasize total energy intake because the additional energy contributed may promote weight gain, especially among overweight and obese individuals.
Epithelial cells in nipple aspirate fluid and subsequent breast cancer risk: A historic prospective study

Background Past studies have shown that women with abnormal cytology or epithelial cells in nipple aspirate fluid (NAF) have an increased relative risk (RR) of breast cancer when compared to women from whom NAF was attempted but not obtained (non-yielders). This study analyzed NAF results from a group of women seen in a breast clinic between 1970–1991 (N = 2480). Our analysis presented here is an aggregate of two sub-groups: women with questionnaire data (n = 712) and those with NAF visits beginning in 1988 (n = 238), the year in which cancer case information was uniformly collected in California.