cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Initiation of the Magallanes foreland basin: Timing of the southernmost Patagonian Andes orogeny revised by detrital zircon provenance analysis

New sensitive high-resolution ion microprobe–reverse geometry U-Pb detrital zircon data establish the timing of onset of foreland basin subsidence in the Magallanes basin and the age of the Patagonian Andes in southernmost Chile. Initiation of the Magallanes foreland basin is signaled by the abrupt occurrence of sandstone of the Punta Barrosa Formation, loosely dated as upper Albian–Cenomanian from biofacies assemblages. Detrital zircon analyses demonstrate that the Punta Barrosa Formation is not older than 92 ± 1 Ma and that the linked Andean belt started forming in the Turonian.
RFID and EMC

The application of RFID encompasses a variety of advancing technologies and is continuously evolving. This special topic section on RFID presents a sample of interference issues, and the metrology to improve test methods and procedures necessary to support this evolving technology.
Communicative Ability and Syllabus Design for Global Foreign Language Courses

As Kelly (1969) reminds us, the development or an art – and foreign language (FL) teaching is assuredly an art rather than a science – is cyclical. Viewed from a short-term perspective, say, the last two decades, FL teaching doctrine appears to have taken a dialectical course: the audiolingual method may be viewed as an antithetical reaction to grammar-translation-reading (GTR). In turn, the so-called cognitive-code approach of the late 1960s constitutes a rejection of overemphasis on outward form and of the behavioral model of learning. Finally, stress on communicative competence developed from a broadening of the narrow focus on linguistic structure shared by both structural linguists and generative-transformational grammarians.
FACET: a two Dimensional Simulator of Polycrystalline thin film Growth

We present FACET: a two dimensional simulator to model polycrystalline thin film growth, which links atomic scale processes to macroscopic phenomena. The model is based on the concept of describing the crystal surface in terms of preferred facets. Line segments were used to depict the profile of the grain and grain boundaries. Multiple nuclei are semi-randomly distributed along the textured or non-textured surface, and crystallographycally appropriate facets are created in the nucleation simulation. We use a Kinetic Lattice Monte Carlo (KLMC) method to calculate the inter-facet diffusion rates and use a continuum approach to grow the facets, hence the multiple grains. The software is Windows(95/98/2000/NT) based and has an integrated Graphical User Interface, within which a user can input deposition conditions and experimental and simulation data, visualize the nucleation and growth of the grains, and obtain the final grain structure and texture.
How Has the Field of Middle East Studies Changed in the Last Five Years? An IJMES Retrospective: Pensée 1: From the Catbird Seat

As editor of IJMES from 2004 to 2009, I spent the last five years in the catbird seat of Middle East studies, where I had the privilege of reading well over 500 article submissions that flowed into the editorial office, some 100 of which were ultimately destined for publication. I characterize the experience as very gratifying on the whole; ours is a field that has attracted talented and skilled scholars who are doing some very creative work—this is not a change per se, although it can be argued that we have a new generation involved in increasingly more theoretically informed projects. Have there been other, more tangible, developments in the field as reflected in submissions to IJMES ? I mention four trends I have spotted over time that may suggest some of the recent shifts—in region, topic, scope, and critical engagement—in research foci.
Two-stage likelihood robust linear program with application to water allocation under uncertainty

We adapt and extend the likelihood robust optimization method recently proposed by Wang, Glynn, and Ye for the newsvendor problem to a more general two-stage setting. We examine the value of collecting additional data and the cost of finding a solution robust to an ambiguous probability distribution. A decomposition-based solution algorithm to solve the resulting model is given. We apply the model to examine a long-term water allocation problem in the southeast area of Tucson, AZ under ambiguous distribution of future available supply and demand and present computational results.
The Effect of the T/t Locus on Sperm Penetration in vivo in the House Mouse

The timing and morphology of sperm penetration in vivo after insemination by C57BL/6�tW32/+ male mice were compared to sperm penetration after insemination by C57BL/6-+/+ males. Morphologically abnormal decondensing sperm chromatin was occasionally seen, indicating that abnormal spermatozoa may sometimes be successful in egg penetration. Spermatozoa from BL/6�tw32/+ males appeared to penetrate eggs sooner than spermatozoa from BLI6-+I+ males, suggesting that the T/t locus may have an effect on sperm function in fertilization, perhaps because of the other known abnormalities of these spermatozoa, such as an increased energy metabolism and unique surface antigens.
Effects of Food Snacks on Cognitive Performance in Male College Students

The effects of food snacks consumed in the late afternoon on cognitive performance in college-aged men were investigated in two experiments. The effects of the snacks were tested in the same subjects after they either consumed or skipped lunch. In the first experiment, the calorie-rich snack was a confectionery product, while in the second experiment, the snack was fruit-flavored yogurt. In both experiments, performance on cognitive tasks following consumption of the calorie-rich snack was compared to performance following consumption of a very low calorie snack (lemon-lime flavored diet soda without caffeine). Four cognitive tasks were employed: digit span recall (forward and backward), arithmetic reasoning, reading, and attention. In both experiments, subjects recalled significantly more digits in the backward digit span test and responded significantly faster in the attention task when they had consumed the calorific snack than when they had consumed the diet soft drink. Additionally, in Experiment 2, subjects solved significantly more arithmetic problems and solved these problems in significantly less time after eating a fruit-flavored yogurt than after consuming the diet soft drink. Results of these experiments suggest that a late afternoon energy-containing snack can have positive effects on cognitive performance on tasks that require sustained attention.
Institutional Collaboration in Science: A Typology of Technological Practice

An increase in the scale of modern science is associated with the proliferation of a new kind of research formation: collaborations involving teams of researchers from several organizations. Historical and sociological studies indicate substantial variation in such formations, but no general classification scheme exists. The authors provide the outline of a scheme through a systematic analysis of multi-institutional collaborations that span a variety of fields in physical science. First, general dimensions of scientific collaborations were identified through a qualitative, historical analysis of collaborations in high energy physics, space science, and geophysics. Next, the authors used informants in five new areas to collect systematic information on twenty-three recent collaborations. Finally, cluster analysis was employed to develop a variety of classification schemes and examine their relationships with outcome dimensions. Results show that a classification based on a broad conception of technological...
Dendritic field development of retinal ganglion cells in the cat following neonatal damage to visual cortex: Evidence for cell class specific interactions

A well-known feature of the mammalian retina is the inverse relation that exists in central and peripheral retina between the density of retinal ganglion cells and their dendritic field sizes. Functionally, this inverse relation is thought to represent a means by which retinal coverage is maintained, despite significant changes in ganglion cell density. While it is generally agreed that the dendritic fields of mature retinal ganglion cells reflect, in part, competitive interactions that occur during development, the issue of whether these interactions are cell class specific remains unclear. In order to examine this question, we used intracellular staining techniques and an in vitro, living retina preparation to compare the soma and dendritic field sizes of alpha and beta ganglion cells from normal retinae with those of cells located in matched areas of retinae in which the density of beta ganglion cells had been reduced selectively by neonatal removal of visual cortex areas 17, 18, and 19. Our intracellular data show that while an early, selective, reduction in beta cell density has little or no effect on the cell body and dendritic field sizes of mature alpha cells, it results in a 13% increase in the mean soma area and an 83% increase in the mean dendritic field area of surviving beta cells. This differential effect suggests that the soma and dendritic field sizes of alpha and beta ganglion cells in the mature cat retina result primarily from competitive interactions during development
Multitasking With Television Among Adolescents

Using Ecological Momentary Assessment, we explored predictors of adolescents' television (TV) multitasking behaviors. We investigated whether demographic characteristics (age, gender, race/ethnicity, and maternal education) predict adolescents' likelihood of multitasking with TV. We also explored whether characteristics of the TV-multitasking moment (affect, TV genre, attention to people, and media multitasking) predict adolescents' likelihood of paying primary versus secondary attention to TV. Demographic characteristics do not predict TV multitasking. In TV-multitasking moments, primary attention to TV was more likely if adolescents experienced negative affect, watched a drama, or attended to people; it was less likely if they used computers or video games.
Autonomous Guidance and Control of Airplanes under Severe Damage

This paper presents an overview of the fault tolerant control work performed at Georgia Tech. Flight test results on the Georgia Tech GT Twinstar xed wing twin engine aircraft are presented. The algorithms presented were ight tested under di erent structural damage scenarios, including multiple actuator failures, propulsion only control, ight with 25% left wing missing, and sudden loss of 50% right wing and aileron in ight. A state dependent guidance logic is described that ensures the aircraft tracks feasible commands in presence of faults. The commands are used by an outerloop linear controller to generate feasible attitude commands. The innerloop attitude control can be achieved by using either a linear attitude controller or a neural network based model reference adaptive controller. The results establish the feasibility of using control methods to ensure safe autonomous ight in presence of severe faults for a transport category aircraft.
Rising stars in the consumer constellation: a peer personality profile of the post-baby-boom generation.

Post-baby-boomers, the generation following the baby boom, present the hospitality industry with an unusual marketing opportunity. Marketing strategies that appealed to the baby-boom generation will have to be revamped to gain the loyalty of this skeptical and cautious group of consumers. Post-boomers are distinctly different from the optimistic, self-indulgent baby boomers. They are family-oriented communitarians, a group of consumers who will search for community, belonging, and safety throughout their lives. As hospitality consumers at the turn of the century, they will be few in number, tough in spirit, pragmatic, and technologically sawy.
Reduced-hardware digital filter design via joint quantization and multiple constant multiplication optimization

The focus of this paper is to provide a framework for the joint optimization of both the coefficient quantization and multiple constant multiplication (MCM) problems. It is known that while the MCM problem is complete in the subspace of integer constants, it is incomplete and not optimal in the real world where the MCM constants are often noninteger. In these situations there is flexibility in how constants are quantized in digital circuits that can be leveraged. There is a gap in the current literature between the methods of optimally quantizing constants into integers and the methods of optimizing circuits when integer constants are given. Here we show a potential for tremendous benefit when both of these problems are solved using one unified problem framework.
Economic analysis of private and public benefits of corn, switchgrass and mixed grass systems in Eastern South Dakota

The objective of this research is to develop an economic analysis of different crop mix biofuels programs for meeting ethanol and sustainability demands. Primary data are from South Dakota State University field experiments on farms located in east-central South Dakota. The data include 4 years of field data, three crop systems (mixed grass, switchgrass and corn), two residue treatments (no removal, removal of biomass), and three landscape positions (back slope, crest and foot slope). A representative farm model and five scenarios are developed to conduct a full budget analysis over a 12-year period. Public benefits are evaluated, using the benefit transfer method to value ecosystem services, by allocating a dollar value to three environmental variables; carbon sequestration, reduction of sedimentation and pheasant production. Stochastic simulation results are compared for each of the five scenarios, one with only annualized net private returns, and one including the value of environmental benefits. Results indicate that: (1) the conventional continuous corn scenario has the highest net returns over the 12-year budget, (2) carbon sequestration represents 80% of the environmental benefits, and (3) the added economic value of ecosystem services does not provide enough incentives for farmers to convert from corn production to grass production.
MEMS Electrostatic Actuation in Conducting Biological Media

We present design and experimental implementation of electrostatic comb-drive actuators in solutions of high conductivity relevant for biological cells. The actuators are operated in the frequency range 1-10 MHz in ionic and biological cell culture media, with ionic strengths up to 150 mmol/L. Typical displacement is 3.5 mum at an applied peak-to-peak signal of 5 V. Two different actuation schemes are presented and tested for performance at high frequency. A differential drive design is demonstrated to overcome the attenuation due to losses in parasitic impedances. The frequency dependence of the electrostatic force has been characterized in media of different ionic strengths. Circuit models for the electric double layer phenomena are used to understand and predict the actuator behavior. The actuator is integrated into a planar force sensing system to measure the stiffness of cells cultured on suspended structures.
An Exploration Of Students‟ Perceptions Of Strategic Management Model Usefulness

This exploratory study proposes and tests a model depicting individual undergraduate student characteristics and their association with perceived strategic management model (SMM) usefulness. The constructs explored are: student’s decision style; experience; major; affectivity; willingness to try new models; and the perceived ease of use of the SMM. Findings based on structural equation modeling and partial least squares regression indicate that positive affect, perceived ease of use, and willingness to try new models/theories explain a significant amount of variance in the students’ perceived usefulness of the SMM. The study then discusses potential applications of its findings to individual classrooms, management practice, and business education as a whole. Finally, it provides suggestions for future research.
Yield Forecasts and Stochastic Volatility in Affine Models with Macro Factors

Affine term structure models (ATSMs) are known to have a trade-off in predicting future Treasury yields and fitting the time-varying volatility of interest rates. This paper empirically studies the role of macroeconomic variables in simultaneously achieving these two goals under affine models. To this end, we incorporate a liquidity demand theory via a measure of the velocity of money into affine models. We find that this considerably reduces the statistical tension between matching the first and second moments of interest rates. In terms of forecasting yields, the models with the velocity of money outperform among the ATSMs examined, including those with inflation and real activity. Our result is robust across maturities, forecasting horizons, risk price specifications, and the number of latent factors.
Walled Gardens & the Stationers’ Company 2.0

Copyright law originated as a law designed to regulate the commerce of printing, not as a law designed to protect the interests of authors. The Statute of Anne changed this by vesting copyright with the author and thereby creating the possibility of pre-publication negotiations. Today that bargain is being broken. In our era of cloud-computing and Web 2.0, non-author intermediaries provide platforms that constitute the tools of authorship, the tools of publicity, and the tools of commercial distribution. Within this new ecosystem, we are seeing a return to the model of the Stationers’ Company, where legal power over authorial production is vested in the hands of the owners of intermediary technologies. The future of digital copyright thus increasingly resembles a return to its early history, as authors play the legal role of vassals beholden to the lords of the platforms where they labor.
Social support and intimate partner violence among women with HIV/AIDS

This study examines the relationships between Social Support and Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) among women living with HIV/AIDS. During the fall of 2011, women living with HIV/AIDS and receiving services from AIDS Outreach Center located in the southwestern part of the United States were recruited to participate in a study through the purposive sampling method. They were asked to complete surveys about their HIV/AIDS diagnosis, the level of IPV experienced, and their level of social support. Sixty-four women completed the Revised Conflict Tactic Scale (Straus et al., 1996), the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (Zimet et al., 1988), and a HIV/AIDS Questionnaire. The majority (51.6%) of the research participants were African-Americans with a mean age of 46 years. Many women in the study were separated/divorced (34.4%); 29.7 % were married and 12.5% were cohabiting. Social support (β = -.206, p<.05) significantly predicted severity of emotional violence experienced by women living with HIV/AIDS.. This research emphasizes on the importance of teaching social work students about the co-occurrence of IPV and HIV/AIDS.
Interface magnetism in epitaxial BiFeO3-La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 heterostructures integrated on Si(100).

We report on the heteroepitaxial growth of ferroelectric (FE)-antiferromagnetic (AFM) BiFeO3 (BFO) on ferromagnetic La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 (LSMO), integrated on Si(100) using pulsed laser deposition via the domain matching epitaxy paradigm. The BFO/LSMO films were epitaxially grown on Si(100) by introducing epitaxial layers of SrTiO3/MgO/TiN. X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photo absorption spectroscopy, and atomic force microscopy were employed to fully characterize the samples. Furthermore, we have investigated the magnetic behavior of this five layer heterostructure, in which a d5 system (Fe3+) manifested in FE-AFM BFO is epitaxially conjoined at the interface to a multivalent transition metal ion such as Mn3+/Mn4+ in LSMO. The temperature- and magnetic field-dependent magnetization measurements reveal an unexpected enhancement in magnetic moment and improved magnetic hysteresis squareness originating from the BFO/LSMO interface. We obser...
Remediation and course repetition: the domino effect on academics and economics.

The international nursing shortage has increased recruitment of students, who may be under or unprepared, into higher education institutions (college or university). Background: The global economic downturn and the movement toward standardizing nursing education and practice regulations has encouraged higher education to recruit and retain aspiring nursing students. However, deficiencies in mathematics and English have been linked to disappointing results with economic consequences. Purpose: The objective of this study was to describe the incidence and monetary costs associated with remediation, course repetitions, delay to graduation, and first time passage on the American licensing exam National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses. Methodology: A convenience sample of 103 sophomore nursing students from a college in the northeast United States was followed to graduation. The sample was predominately female, single, age 18–25 years, and White. Findings: Mathematics and English remediation...
Adapting an inpatient intervention tool to facilitate cross-encounter communication

Since the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act became law in 2009, adoption of basic electronic health records (EHRs) in nonfederal acute care hospitals has increased from 12.2% to over 75% in 2013.[1][1] A basic EHR contains patient clinical information, such as
Sanitary Status in the Community of Lianhu District of Xi'an City and Relevant Countermeasures

[Objective] To explore the long-term mechanism in community public health care. [Methods]Complete investigation was carried out on 10 community health service centers in Lianhu.[Results]Although certain progress has been made, the community health care in this area is still in the primary stage and can not meet the requirement of the residents. [Conclusion]System reform should be strengthened in the community health care and public health work should be enhanced.
On Humanistic Environmental Reconstruction in the Development of West China

Beginning with the viewpoints of the humanistic environment, it is held that the humanistic environment is the hidden invisible one in the main body of society. The greatest difficulty with the development of West China consists in the three-element relationships among "human being, nature and economy". The reconstruction of the humanistic environment in the development of West China should cover three basic contents, that is, ecological humanism, public rationalist spirit intrinsic humanistic quality. In the course of the development of West China the spreading and popularization of the humanistic spirit are needed. The innovative education system is also required to open the socialized educational channel.
Formal automated analysis of object oriented software models

This paper presents a method of formally representing and analyzing object-oriented software designs. The framework for formal design analysis uses set notation to represent the design and properties constructed from set operations to analyze the design. The method is implemented via an automated analysis program.
Evolution of an Interprofessional Patient Skills Course with the Incorporation of Simulation Scenarios

A university level interprofessional patient care skills course including Nursing, Radiologic Sciences, and Respiratory Care students has evolved over 20 years. The course includes a lecture and laboratory portion with specific content and skills focused on principles common to the three disciplines. Students are placed in interprofessional groups during lab to practice and learn together including a simulation scenario on each week’s content. This educational strategy has enhanced the students’ teamwork and communication skills and prepared them to apply these skills to clinical practice. Further research is needed to look at IPE undergraduate healthcare course outcomes related to teamwork.
CapStone: A cloud-based platform for multi-party collaboration on capstone projects

Many undergraduate engineering programs require senior students to take capstone design courses to work on industry-sponsored projects. Such a project often involves multiple parties of people playing various roles: students as project workers, faculty members as coordinator or advisors, as well as mentors from the sponsoring industry. In order to promote student success, highly demanded are platforms that can effectively facilitate multi-party collaboration during the development process of capstone projects. CapStone is such a platform that has been developed and deployed at the Behrend College, Pennsylvania State University. In this paper, we present the design rationale of CapStone, explaining the responsibilities of different roles involved in a capstone project and how those responsibilities are meshed into one common platform such that all parties could effectively orchestrate their activities. We have also conducted a study on how well CapStone could help student users in their project development. The responses showed that the adoption of CapStone has significantly improved student success in many ways. Particularly, over 80% of the students found CapStone helpful in project planning/scheduling, reporting weekly progress to advisors, collecting feedbacks on project works, and in writing their project reports.
Efficient Implementation of Energy Decomposition Analysis for Second-Order Møller-Plesset Perturbation Theory and Application to Anion-π Interactions.

Energy decomposition analysis (EDA) is a widely used tool for extracting physical and chemical insights from electronic structure calculations of intermolecular interactions, as well as for the development of advanced force fields for describing those interactions. Recently, the absolutely localized molecular orbital (ALMO) EDA has been extended from the self-consistent field level to the second-order Moller–Plesset (MP2) theory level. This paper reports an efficient implementation of the MP2 ALMO-EDA that scales optimally, employs the resolution of the identity (RI) approximation for post-SCF matrix elements, and is shared-memory parallel. The algorithms necessary to achieve this implementation are described in detail. Performance tests using the aug-cc-pVTZ basis set for water clusters of up to 10 molecules are reported. The timings suggest that the MP2 ALMO-EDA is computationally feasible whenever MP2 energy calculations themselves are feasible, and the cost is dominated by the SCF itself in this size ...
A case of bronchial granular cell tumor in a pediatric patient

Only nine cases of bronchial granular cell tumor have previously been reported in pediatric patients. We present a 15-year-old girl with acute-onset right shoulder pain, discovered to have a granular cell tumor causing bronchial stenosis and a cavitating post-obstructive right upper lobe pneumonia. The patient was treated with lobectomy. Bronchial granular cell tumors are benign neoplasms that typically present with recurrent pneumonia. Imaging may demonstrate an endobronchial lesion or an associated post-obstructive opacity, but diagnosis requires tissue sampling. To our knowledge, this is the tenth case of bronchial granular cell tumor in a pediatric patient to be reported since 1926.
Endoscopic Endonasal Versus Microscopic Transsphenoidal Surgery for Recurrent and/or Residual Pituitary Adenomas

Objective Surgery for recurrent/residual pituitary adenomas is increasingly being performed through endoscopic surgery. Whether this new technology has altered the indications and outcomes of surgery is unknown. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of published studies to compare the indications and outcomes between microscopic and endoscopic approaches. Methods A PubMed search was conducted (1985–2015) to identify surgical series of endoscopic endonasal and microscopic transsphenoidal resection of residual or recurrent pituitary adenomas. Data were extracted regarding tumor characteristics, surgical treatment, extent of resection, endocrine remission, visual outcome, and complications. Results Twenty-one studies met inclusion criteria. A total of 292 patients were in the endoscopic group, and 648 patients were in the microscopic group. Endoscopic cases were more likely nonfunctional ( P P P = 0.012). The pooled rate of gross total tumor resection was 53.5% for the endoscopic group and 46.6% for the microscopic group. Endocrine remission was achieved in 53.0% and 46.7% of patients, and visual improvement occurred in 73.2% and 49.6% for the endoscopic and microscopic groups. Cerebrospinal fluid leak and pituitary insufficiency were higher in the endoscopic group. Conclusion This meta-analysis indicates that the use of the endoscope to reoperate on residual or recurrent adenomas has only led to modest increases in resection rates. However, larger more complex cases are being tackled, so direct comparisons are misleading. The most dramatic change has been in visual improvement along with modest increases in risk. Reoperation for recurrent or residual adenomas is a safe and effective treatment option.
CONCENTRIC LEFT VENTRICULAR REMODELING IS ASSOCIATED WITH LOW-FLOW SEVERE AORTIC STENOSIS AND LESS REVERSE REMODELING AFTER TAVR: A PARTNER 2 TRIAL ANALYSIS

Background: Low flow (stroke volume index <35 mL/m2) is associated with adverse outcomes in patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS), but its mechanism is unclear. We hypothesized that left ventricular (LV) remodeling pattern would predict low flow and impact the potential for reverse remodeling
Adjuvant chemotherapy for patients with T2N0M0 non-small cell lung cancer.

7520 Background: Adjuvant chemotherapy (CT) improves overall survival (OS) in patients with completely resected stage II and III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, its role in patients with stage IB disease remains unclear. We therefore evaluated the role of adjuvant CT in patients with completely resected T2N0M0 NSCLC. Methods: Patients with pathologic stage T2N0M0 NSCLC who underwent complete (R0) resection from 2003 to 2010 were identified from the National Cancer Database (NCDB). Patients were grouped based on tumor size: 3-3.9 cm, 4-4.9 cm, 5-5.9 cm and 6-7 cm. Survival curves according to the CT status were estimated by the Kaplan-Meier product-limit method and compared by log-rank test. Cox proportional hazard model was used to evaluate whether adjuvant CT was an independent predictor for survival for each tumor size groups. Results: Among the 29,908 patients meeting inclusion criteria, there were 5,209 (17.4%) and 24,699 (82.6%) patients in the CT and observation groups respectively. Pat...
Distribution of Oribatids Near Barrow, Alaska

Six biotopes representing differences in vegetation, soil, drainage and microelevation were selected for intensive sampling of the tundra turf during the summers of 1962 and 1963 in the vicinity of Barrow, Alaska. The Barrow region lies in the Coastal Plain Province of the Alaskan Arctic slope approximately 71° 18′ north latitude. About 2/ 3 of the area consists of frost features such as high-center and lowcenter polygons. A few old raised beaches occurred in the study area. There is generally poor drainage because of the low topography and the impermeable permafrost. The normal annual precipitation is about 11 cm and the mean annual temperatures for the region as reported by the U.S. Weather Station at Barrow for 1931–60 was −12,4° C, with a record high of 25.5° C and a record low of −48.9° C. The maximum summer soil thaw in the study areas varied from 28–52 cm.
Association of Hearing Loss and Otologic Outcomes With Fibrous Dysplasia

Importance Fibrous dysplasia (FD) and McCune-Albright syndrome (MAS) are rare bone and endocrine disorders in which expansile fibro-osseous lesions result in deformity, pain, and functional impairment. The effect of FD on hearing and otologic function has not been established. Objectives To characterize audiologic and otologic manifestations in a large cohort of individuals with FD/MAS and to investigate potential mechanisms of hearing loss. Design, Setting, and Participants In this natural history study, individuals with craniofacial FD seen at a clinical research center underwent clinical, biochemical, computed tomographic, audiologic, and otolaryngologic evaluations. Main Outcomes and Measures Clinical and radiologic features associated with hearing loss and otologic disease were evaluated. Conductive hearing loss was hypothesized to be associated with narrowing of the external auditory canal (EAC), FD involving the epitympanum, and FD crowding the ossicular chain. Sensorineural hearing loss was hypothesized to be associated with FD affecting the internal auditory canal (IAC) and otic capsule. Results Of the 130 study participants with craniofacial FD who were evaluated, 116 (89.2%) had FD that involved the temporal bone (median age, 19.6 years; range, 4.6-80.3 years; 64 female [55.2%]), whereas 14 (10.8%) had craniofacial FD that did not involve the temporal bone. Of the 183 ears with temporal bone FD, hearing loss was identified in 41 ears (22.4%) and was conductive in 27 (65.9%), sensorineural in 12 (29.3%), and mixed in 2 (4.9%). Hearing loss was mild and nonprogressive in most participants. Whereas EACs were narrower in ears with FD (mean difference [MD], 0.33 mm; 95% CI, 0.11-0.55 mm), this finding was associated with conductive hearing loss in only 4 participants. Fibrous dysplasia crowding of the ossicles was associated with conductive hearing loss (odds ratio [OR], 5.0; 95% CI, 2.1-11.6). The IAC length was not different between ears with and without FD (MD, −0.37; 95% CI, −0.95 to 0.211); however, canals were elongated in ears with sensorineural hearing loss (MD, −1.33; 95% CI, −2.60 to −0.07). Otic capsule involvement was noted in only 4 participants, 2 of whom had sensorineural hearing loss. Both MAS-associated growth hormone excess (OR, 3.1; 95% CI, 1.3-7.5) and neonatal hypercortisolism (OR, 11; 95% CI, 2.5-55) were associated with an increased risk of hearing loss . Conclusions and Relevance Hearing loss in craniofacial FD is common and mild to moderate in most individuals. It typically arises from FD crowding of the ossicular chain and elongation of the IAC, whereas EAC stenosis and otic capsule invasion are less common causes. Individuals with craniofacial FD should undergo otolaryngologic evaluation and monitoring, including assessment to identify those with high-risk features.
Global Optimization of Heat Exchanger Networks with Fixed Configuration for Multiperiod Design

The algorithm for global optimization of heat exchanger networks by Quesada and Grossmann [17] has been extended to multiperiod operation for fixed configuration. Under the assumptions of linear cost function, arithmetic mean driving force and isothermal mixing, the multiperiod problem is an NLP with linear constraints and a nondifferentiable, nonconvex objective function involving linear fractional terms. A modified partitioning rule is used and global optimization properties are retained. Exploiting the fact that an exact approximation is not required for exchangers in non-bottleneck periods leads to a reduction in number of partitions required to reach the global optimum.
Introduction: Human Dynamics in Perspective

Human dynamics evolve with changing environment, technology, and society over time. With the rapid technological advances in the past several decades, there have been major changes in human dynamics in the modern world. This introduction chapter places human dynamics research in perspective by first reviewing the diverse perspectives of studying human dynamics and outlining the challenge of coming up with a universal definition that everyone would agree. Instead of defining the boundary of this evolving field, we identify three major shifts (from physical to virtual space, from historical to real time, and from human to context) that should be considered in human dynamics research. We then provide an overview of each chapter to highlight the major research themes and the main contributions of this book.
Voluntary Stopping Eating and Drinking

Voluntary stopping of eating and drinking (VSED) is a deliberate, self-initiated attempt to hasten death in the setting of suffering refractory to optimal palliative interventions or prolonged dying that a person finds intolerable. Individuals who consider VSED tend to be older, have a serious but not always imminently terminal illness, place a high value on independence, and have significant illness burden. VSED can theoretically be performed independent of clinician assistance and therefore avoids many of the ethical and legal concerns associated with physician-assisted dying or other palliative measures of last resort, However, VSED is an intense process fraught with new sources of somatic and emotional suffering for individuals and their caregivers, so VSED is best supervised by an experienced, well-informed clinician who can provide appropriate pre-intervention assessment, anticipatory guidance, medical treatment of symptoms, and emotional support. Before initiation of VSED, clinicians should carefully screen for inadequately treated psychiatric conditions, unaddressed symptoms, existential suffering, and evidence of coercion-consultation from palliative medicine, psychiatry, or ethics is often indicated. The most common symptoms encountered after starting VSED are extreme thirst, hunger, dysuria, progressive disability, delirium, and somnolence. Although physiologically similar to cessation of artificial nutrition and hydration, the onset and management of symptoms is often different. We propose an organized system for evaluating individual appropriateness for VSED, anticipatory guidance, and management of symptoms associated with VSED. A brief review of ethical and legal considerations follows.
On two algorithm design techniques

The paper concerns two algorithm design techniques: reversing and designing by cases. Specific forms of these techniques are discussed and illustrated by examples from classic computer science (CS) algorithms, algorithmic puzzles, and games. The paper concludes with a discussion of the relationship between them and the accepted list of major algorithm design techniques. Based on this discussion, it suggests a realistic way reversing and designing by cases can be taught in the undergraduate CS curriculum.
Functional Genomics Approach for the Identification of Human Host Factors Supporting Dengue Viral Propagation

Dengue virus (DENV) is endemic throughout tropical regions around the world and there are no approved treatments or anti-transmission agents currently available. Consequently, there exists an enormous unmet need to treat the human diseases caused by DENV and block viral transmission by the mosquito vector. RNAi screening represents an efficient method to expand the pool of known host factors that could become viable targets for treatments or provide rationale to consider available drugs as anti-DENV treatments. We developed a high throughput siRNA-based screening protocol that can identify human DENV host factors. The protocol herein describes the materials and the procedures necessary to screen a human cell line in order to identify genes which are either necessary for or restrict DENV propagation at any stage in the viral life cycle.
An isolated limb infusion technique: A guide for the perfusionist

Isolated limb perfusion with the administration of cytotoxic drugs has been successfully used to treat melanomas of the extremity since it was first introduced in 1958. The use of hyperthermia (40°C) combined with chemotherapy agents, primarily melphalan, has resulted in greater cytotoxicity in laboratory studies, which led to the application of hyperthermia in clinical studies during the 1960s. The effectiveness of this regional technique and the absence of any good systemic therapy made hyperthermic-isolated limb perfusion (HILP) the main treatment for patients with regionally advanced melanoma. HILP involves open surgical dissection and cannulation of the peripheral vessels and is associated with moderate morbidity rates. Blood transfusions, systemic drug leak, infection, and damage to the blood vessels and nerves are all potential hazards associated with this technique. Recently, however, there has been increased interest in an alternative technique termed isolated limb infusion (ILI), which was first reported in 1994 from the Sydney Melanoma Unit in Australia. Based on a few single institution experiences, it was found that there are fewer morbidities associated with HILP than with ILI but no compromise in patient outcomes. ILI is a less invasive procedure involving the use of angiographically placed catheters inserted percutaneously through the femoral vessels that does not require blood donor exposure or use of a heart lung machine. Preliminary data suggest that the resultant local hypoxia and acidosis induced by this procedure potentiates the cytotoxic effects of melphalan. Response rates comparing ILI to HILP seem similar, and both are markedly better than systemic chemotherapy. ILI may be a more desirable option because morbidity is greatly reduced and outcomes appear similar. There is a potential role for the perfusionist in the application of ILI, an evolving area of cancer therapy.
Peroxydisulfate anion-induced crosslinking of proteins.

Peroxydisulfate anion in aqueous solutions is a strong oxidizing agent decomposing to sulfate free radicals and subsequently to hydroxyl radicals. in the presence of proteins, aqueous solutions of peroxydisulfate undergo more rapid induced decomposition to these free radical species, which in turn leads to oxidative attack and crosslinking and/or degradation of the protein. Under mild conditions and at low peroxydisulfate concentrations, protein crosslinking predominates over degradation. Peroxydisulfate-induced crosslinking of gelatin, fibroin, and other proteins is reviewed. The mechanism of crosslinking is interpreted in light of physical and chemical data, amino acid analyses, peroxydisulfate’s known mode of decomposition, the effect of protein modification on oxidative crosslinking, and related model compound studies.
VH3-21 B Cells Escape from a State of Tolerance in Rheumatoid Arthritis and Secrete Rheumatoid Factor

Rheumatoid factor (RF) is a characteristic but not pathognomic feature in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). It is unknown whether the repertoire of immunoglobulin genes utilized by RF+ B cells of RA patients is unique and whether RF+ B cells in normal individuals are silenced or deleted. Clonal B cell populations were established from the peripheral blood of normal donors (127 B cell clones), RA patients (113 RF− and 60 RF+ B cell clones) and patients with primary Sjogren’s syndrome (82 RF− and 47 RF+ B cell clones) by coculturing with anti-CD3-stimulated T helper cell clones. The cross-reactivity pattern of antibodies secreted by the B cell clones was determined by ELISA on a panel of antigens. The molecular structure of the IgM heavy chains was characterized by VH family-specific RT-PCR and sequencing. VH elements which correlated with RF specificity were identified. The responsiveness of B cells expressing these VH elements to T helper cell signals was compared in normal individuals and RA patients. The majority of RF+ B cells were monospecific when specificity was tested on five antigens. RF+ B cells expressed a significantly different repertoire of VH gene segments than RF− B cells. In particular, the VH3 gene segment V3-21 was not detected in B cell clones from normals but was the most frequent VH element in RF+ B cell clones from RA patients. Most of the V3-21 sequences were in germline configuration. The correlation between RF specificity and V3-21 gene segment usage was maintained in patients with Sjogren’s syndrome. V3-21 transcripts were present in peripheral blood B cells from normal individuals. VH3-21+ B cells from RA patients but not from normal donors were responsive to preactivated T helper cells. Stimulation with a bacterial superantigen could overcome the nonresponsiveness of V3-21+ B cells in normal donors and induce the secretion of RF. RF production is correlated with the usage of the V3-21 gene segment in two distinct RF+ diseases. In patients with these diseases, V3-21+ B cells secrete antibodies with RF activity in response to activated T helper cells. V3-21+ B cells remain in a state of nonresponsiveness in normal individuals that can be broken by superantigen stimulation. The germline configuration of VH3-21+ RF+ immunoglobulins in RA patients suggests that the loss of tolerance is not an antigen-driven process.
Cultural Risk and Protective Factors for Depressive Symptoms in Asian American College Students

Adolescence is a time of grappling with one’s identity. Asian American college students in particular must navigate their dual cultural identities, as they develop in a dominant Western individualistic culture that prioritizes autonomy, but they also generally adhere to the cultural norms of their collectivistic family traditions. By identifying these cultural factors, the specific developmental challenges of this group can be better understood. Yet, few studies have synthesized the specific cultural factors associated with depressive symptoms and protective factors that might mitigate risk for Asian American college students. A systematic review of peer-reviewed literature was conducted to identify factors relevant to depression in Asian American college students. After applying strict inclusion and exclusion criteria, 10 individual articles were included. The cultural risk factors for depression include high levels of perceived racial discrimination, acculturative stress, conflict in values, interdependence, and intergenerational differences. The cultural protective factors included possessing a strong ethnic identity, cultural individualism, and acculturation to the United States. This comprehensive review highlights the importance of cultural identity development in Asian American college students. Limitations include the relative dearth of high-quality research; future studies are needed to better understand the cultural developmental challenges of the Asian American college student community.
Convergence of an adaptive finite element DtN method for the elastic wave scattering by periodic structures

Abstract Consider the scattering of a time-harmonic elastic plane wave by a periodic rigid surface. The elastic wave propagation is governed by the two-dimensional Navier equation. Based on a Dirichlet-to-Neumann (DtN) map, a transparent boundary condition (TBC) is introduced to reduce the scattering problem into a boundary value problem in a bounded domain. By using the finite element method, the discrete problem is considered, where the TBC is replaced by the truncated DtN map. A new duality argument is developed to derive the a posteriori error estimate, which contains both the finite element approximation error and the DtN truncation error. An a posteriori error estimate based adaptive finite element algorithm is developed to solve the elastic surface scattering problem. Numerical experiments are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Novel therapy in Acute myeloid leukemia (AML): moving toward targeted approaches:

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a heterogenous and complex disease characterized by rapid cellular proliferation, an aggressive clinical course, and generally high mortality. While progress has bee...