cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A ''No-Go'' theorem for the existence of a discrete action principle

Abstract In this paper, we study the problem of the existence of a least-action principle for invertible, second-order dynamical systems, discrete in time and space. We show that, when the configuration space is finite and arbitrary state transitions are allowed, a least-action principle does not exist for such systems. We dichotomize discrete dynamical systems with infinite configuration spaces into those of finite type for which this theorem continues to hold, and those not of finite type for which it is possible to construct a least-action principle. We also show how to recover an action, by restriction of the phase space of certain second-order discrete dynamical systems. We provide numerous examples to illustrate each of these results.
Field evidence for delayed metamorphosis of larval gastropods: Crepidula plana Say, C. fornicata (L.), and Bittium alternatum (Say)

Abstract The ability of marine invertebrate larvae to delay metamorphosis to adult form and habitat is known mostly from laboratory studies. However, larvae of Bittium altematum (Say), Crepidula fornicata (L.), and C. plana Say that are delaying metamorphosis in the plankton should be recognizable since the larvae of these species continue to increase their length and biomass after becoming competent to metamorphose and, in the two Crepidula species, also show altered shell morphology. Delaying larvae of C. fornicata and C. plana made up ≈ 5–20% of the Crepidula spp. larvae captured in the plankton in June, 1974. Larvae of Bittium alternatum that could be induced to metamorphose within 8–10 h of their collection from the plankton were ≈25–50 % heavier than individuals induced to metamorphose upon first becoming competent to do so, suggesting that the larvae of this species also delay metamorphosis in the field under at least some circumstances.
Hemodynamic resistance as a measure of functional impairment in aortic valvular stenosis.

Calculated valve area depicts anatomical stenosis but does not quantify hemodynamic impairment. We propose that hemodynamic resistance, defined as the mean pressure gradient across the valve divided by mean flow rate during systolic ejection, gives a better indication of hemodynamic obstruction. This index was compared with Gorlin valve area in 40 patients with aortic stenosis. Calculated area ranged from 0.22 to 1.26 cm2, and mean transvalvular resistance ranged from 117 to 1,244 dyne.sec.cm-5. In general, resistance varied inversely with calculated area, but there was substantial variation about the mean relation. All of the variation could be accounted for by variations in the pressure gradients at each value of calculated area. Resistance was higher in proportion to area when flow and pressure gradient were high. Analysis of five published studies of a total of 83 valves showed that calculated area changed at least three times more than resistance when pressure gradient was varied. The utility of resistance as an index of stenosis is demonstrated by example calculations that show how during exercise a stenotic valve increases the ventricular work rate out of proportion to the work done on the peripheral resistance. These calculations are possible because hemodynamic resistance defines functional impairment in units commonly used for quantification of opposition to flow. Furthermore, resistance appears to be less dependent than area on conditions of measurement and does not require an empirical constant.
A parallel adaptive filter structure for digital mobile radio applications

A parallel adaptive filter structure is described which exploits characteristics of the error signal in adaptive algorithms to improve modem performance in a rapidly changing mobile radio environment. Examples which apply this technique to coherent detection, channel equalization, and automatic frequency control are given.
Uncertainty and allocation decisions involving unique environmental resources

Abstract The implications of the treatment of uncertainty in the definition of optimal investment criteria for irreversible allocations of unique environmental resources are considered herein. This analysis argues that the single-project, orientation of conventional cost-benefit analysis can lead to inconsistent decisions because it fails to take account of the potential for risk pooling across projects. In the models discussed in this paper uncertainty arises because the planner must estimate the net benefits associated with a mix of developed and preserved natural environments. The results suggest that the criteria for optimal investment plans will be affected by those factors influencing this uncertainty. Both the scale and timing of optimal investments may be altered from those prescribed with the conventional (Fisher-Krutilla-Cicchetti rule) framework when the potential for risk pooling is introduced. Thus, it is important to consider as a part of the specification of the objective function the factors which give rise to uncertainty.
Controller Synthesis Free of Analytical Models: Three Term Controllers

The main focus of this paper is on direct data driven synthesis and design of controllers. We show that the complete set of stabilizing proportional-integral-derivative (PID) and first-order controllers for a finite dimensional linear time-invariant plant, possibly cascaded with a delay, can be calculated directly from the frequency response (Nyquist/Bode) data P(jomega) for omega epsi [0, infin) without the need of producing an identified analytical model. It is also shown that complete sets achieving guaranteed levels of performance measures such as gain margin, phase margin, and Hinfin norms can likewise be calculated directly from only Nyquist/Bode data. The solutions have important new features. For example it is not necessary to know the order of the plant or even the number of left half plane or right half plane poles or zeros. The solution also identifies, in the case of PID controllers an exact low frequency band over which the plant data must be known with accuracy and beyond which the plant information may be rough or approximate. These constitute important new guidelines for identification when the latter is to be used for control design. The model free approach to control synthesis and design developed here is an attractive complement to modern and post modern model based design methods which require complete information on the plant and generally produce a single optimal controller. A discussion is included, with illustrative example, of the sharp differences between model-free and model based approaches when computing sets of stabilizing controllers. For example, it is shown, that the identified model of a high order system can be non-PID stabilizable whereas the original data indicates it is PID stabilizable. The results given here are also a significant improvement over classical control loop-shaping approaches since we obtain complete sets of controllers achieving the design specifications. It can enhance fuzzy and neural approaches which are model free but cannot guarantee stability and performance. Finally, these results open the door to adaptive, model free, fixed order designs of real world systems.
Properties of α-crystallin Bound to Lens Membrane: Probing Organization at the Membrane Surface

Alpha crystallin, one of the three major soluble proteins of the eye lens, appears to be a natural extrinsic protein of lens plasma membrane. Membrane-immobilized α-crystallin could provide a template for the increased association of protein with lens membrane seen in aging and cataracts. Alpha-crystallin binds to lens membrane through both a high-affinity saturable and low-affinity nonsaturable process. The organization of α-crystallin at the membrane surface was probed by the examination of various chemical reactivities and a functional property of the membrane bound protein. The carboxyl-terminal domain of membrane bound α-crystallin appeared to be as readily cleaved by mild trypsinolysis as that of the soluble protein and the cleaved protein remained bound to the membrane. The immobilized protein was more extensively crosslinked by a bifunctional primary amine-reactive agent than the soluble protein. No evidence for crosslinking to membrane intrinsic protein was obtained. Like soluble α-crystallin, the membrane bound protein displayed chaperone-like activity, a property dependent upon quaternary structure. These findings were interpreted to indicate that α-crystallin binds to lens membrane as an aggregate with only a fraction of each aggregate in direct contact with the membrane's hydrophobic surface. It is suggested that the nonsaturable binding reflects low affinity association of soluble α-crystallin with a layer of membrane-immobilized protein.
The Effect of the Posterior Location of the Dilator on the Iris Concavity

Aqueous humor (AH) constantly flows in the anterior eye to provide avascular tissues, notably the lens and cornea, with oxygen and nutrients. If AH outflow is impeded, the normal intraocular pressure could reach to dangerous levels. In angle closure, the abnormal shape and position of the iris is directly related to the blockage of the outflow. In particular, when the peripheral iris moves forward, it may narrow or close the angle between the iris and cornea, where most of AH leaves the anterior eye.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Programmable Photonic Microwave Filters With Arbitrary Ultra-Wideband Phase Response

We present a coherent optical signal-processing approach for synthesis of programmable microwave phase filters over an ultra-wideband. Our scheme relies on a programmable optical phase filter implemented in a pulse-shaping geometry incorporating a spatial light modulator and hyperfine (~600-MHz spectral resolution) optical spectral disperser. The user-defined optical phase filter is directly transferred to the electrical domain through heterodyne conversion, and the overall system response is characterized via vector network analyzer measurements. We illustrate our approach by synthesizing linear, quadratic, and cubic spectral phase functions over a 20-GHz band. To our best knowledge, this is the first realization of programmable arbitrary microwave phase filters over such a bandwidth
Organizational Stress, Job Satisfaction and Job Performance: Where Do We Go From Here?

This article reviews and summarizes two decades of empirical literature concerned with both direct and moderating variable-based analyses of the relationship of organizational stress with job satisfaction and job performance. Moderating influences of various constructs operationalized at the individual, group and organizational level of analysis are classified and then reviewed systematically. An evaluative summary of this research suggests that although there have been significant improvements in the analytical methods employed to investigate such phenomena, much of this research still does not consider the role of reciprocal relationships that evolve over time. We provide four guidelines for improving the quality of both theoretical rigor and methodological robustness in this important area of organizational inquiry.
Programmable nano-bio-chips: multifunctional clinical tools for use at the point-of-care

A new generation of programmable diagnostic devices is needed to take advantage of information generated from the study of genomics, proteomics, metabolomics and glycomics. This report describes the ‘programmable nano-bio-chip’ with potential to bridge the significant scientific, technology and clinical gaps through the creation of a diagnostic platform to measure the molecules of life. This approach, with results at the point-of-care, possesses capabilities for measuring such diverse analyte classes as cells, proteins, DNA and small molecules in the same compact device. Applications such as disease diagnosis and prognosis for areas including cancer, heart disease and HIV are described. New diagnostic panels are inserted as ‘plug and play’ elements into the modular platform with universal assay operating systems and standard read out sequences. The nano-bio-chip ensemble exhibits excellent analytical performance and cost−effectiveness with extensive validation versus standard reference methods (R2 = 0.95–...
Bruce Cumings, Dominion from Sea to Sea: Pacific Ascendancy and American Power

Bruce Cumings, Dominion from Sea to Sea: Pacific Ascendancy and American Power. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2009. xxii+641 pp. Preface, acknowledgments, photographs, appendix, notes, bibliogr...
Judges as Agents of Social Change: Can the Courts Break the Affordable Housing Deadlock in Metropolitan Areas?

Abstract Nowhere is the chasm between the races more apparent than in the physical division of metropolitan areas between inner‐city poverty and suburban affluence. Thus far, public policy efforts to introduce metropolitan perspectives into local land use regulations have been unsuccessful. The series of New Jersey Mount Laurel decisions lays out a possible path for introducing comprehensive regional planning by deploying the constitutional power of state courts. Relying on the allied professions of economics and city planning, the New Jersey Supreme Court eliminated the legal barriers to affordable housing in the suburbs. Questions have been raised over courts’ ability to reform local government powers, but many traditional objections to the effectiveness of judicial reform seem to have been overcome in the New Jersey litigations and legislations. State courts can play an indispensable role in solving regional land use problems if they secure the support of community leadership groups.
The Character and Consequences of Growth Regimes: An Assessment of 20 Years of Research

The authors review the empirical evidence on two key hypotheses derived from the model of the city as a growth machine. The first posits the pervasive influence of progrowth coalitions in local governing regimes. The second states that growth regimes make a difference to local development. The authors offer suggestions to strengthen research on both points, emphasizing the need to distinguish between policy and politics. They urge greater attention to an alternative hypothesis: that the main impacts of growth machines lie in their distributional outcomes—intensifying inequalities among places and displacing alternative goals of governance at the local level.
Genetic mapping and comparative analysis of seven mutants related to seed fiber development in cotton

Mapping of genes that play major roles in cotton fiber development is an important step toward their cloning and manipulation, and provides a test of their relationships (if any) to agriculturally-important QTLs. Seven previously identified fiber mutants, four dominant (Li 1, Li 2, N 1 and Fbl) and three recessive (n 2, sma-4(h a), and sma-4(fz)), were genetically mapped in six F2 populations comprising 124 or more plants each. For those mutants previously assigned to chromosomes by using aneuploids or by linkage to other morphological markers, all map locations were concordant except n 2, which mapped to the homoeolog of the chromosome previously reported. Three mutations with primary effects on fuzz fibers (N 1, Fbl, n 2) mapped near the likelihood peaks for QTLs that affected lint fiber productivity in the same populations, perhaps suggesting pleiotropic effects on both fiber types. However, only Li 1 mapped within the likelihood interval for 191 previously detected lint fiber QTLs discovered in non-mutant crosses, suggesting that these mutations may occur in genes that played early roles in cotton fiber evolution, and for which new allelic variants are quickly eliminated from improved germplasm. A close positional association between sma-4(h a ), two leaf and stem-borne trichome mutants (t 1 , t 2), and a gene previously implicated in fiber development, sucrose synthase, raises questions about the possibility that these genes may be functionally related. Increasing knowledge of the correspondence of the cotton and Arabidopsis genomes provides several avenues by which genetic dissection of cotton fiber development may be accelerated.
Aligning Public Participation to Stakeholders’ Sustainability Literacy—A Case Study on Sustainable Urban Development in Phoenix, Arizona

Abstract: In public planning processes for sustainable urban development, planners and experts often face the challenge of engaging a public that is not familiar with sustainability principles or does not subscribe to sustainabil ity values. Although there are calls to build the public’s sustainability literacy through social learning, such efforts require sufficient time and other resources that are not always available. Alternatively, public participation processes may be realigned with the sustainability literacy the participants possess, and their capacity can modestly be built during the engagement. Asking what tools might successfully align public participation with participants’ sustainability literacy, this article describes and evaluates a public participation process in Phoenix, Arizona, in which researchers, in collaboration with city planners, facilitated sustainability conversations as part of an urban development process. The tool employed for Vi sually Enhanced Sustainability Conversation (VESC) was specifically designed to better align public participation with stakeholders’ sustainability literacy. We tested and evaluated VESC through interviews with participants, city planners, and members of the research team, as well as an analysis of project reports. We found that the use of VESC successfully facilitated discussions on pertinent sustainability issues and embedded sustainability objectives into the project reports. We close with recommendations for strengthening tools like VESC for future public engagements.
Exploring Links between Foundation Phase Teachers' Content Knowledge and Their Example Spaces.

This paper explores two foundation phase teachers’ example spaces (a space in the mind where examples exist) when teaching number-related topics in relation to snapshots of their content knowledge (CK). Data was collected during a pilot primary maths for teaching course that included assessments of teacher content knowledge (CK). An analysis of a content-knowledge focused pre-test developed for the larger study indicated a relatively high score for one teacher and a low score for the other. Using Rowland’s (2008) framework, an analysis of classroom practice showed associations between a higher CK and the extent of a teacher’s example space and more coherent connections between different representational forms. Although no hard claims or generalisations of the link between teachers’ example spaces and their level of mathematics content knowledge can be made here, this study reinforces evidence of the need to increase teachers’ CK from a pedagogic perspective in order to raise the level of mathematics teaching and learning in the South African landscape.
Moving toward component-based software development approach

The new trend is to move from the traditional software development approach, which focuses on building software systems from scratch, to component based software development approach, which revolutionizes how software systems are built. The focus of this new approach is on development of new systems, by selecting and assembling a set of off the shelf components within an appropriate software architecture. On one hand, the use of off the shelf components has led to a great potential for: (1) significantly reducing cost and time to market of large scale and complex software systems; (2) improving system maintainability and flexibility by allowing new components to replace old ones; and (3) enhancing system quality by allowing components to be developed by those who are specialized in the application area and systems to be built by software engineers who are specialized in component based software development. On the other hand, the use of commercial off the shelf software-delivered as black box components-has raised a few major technical and non technical issues. The paper explores those issues, and discusses several directions for future research that would help to expand the use of component based software development approach.
Treating cognitive deficits in multiple sclerosis Are we there yet

[In] most of the patients affected by multi-locular sclerosis, there is marked enfeeblement of the memory. — —Charcot (1877) Neuropsychological studies have consistently demonstrated that 40 to 65% of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) experience cognitive dysfunction, particularly in recent memory, information processing speed, and sustained attention.1 Cognitive deficits occur in all MS subtypes, are evident at the earliest stages of MS, and tend to worsen over time.1,2⇓ Deficits correlate with lesion burden and brain atrophy. Localized lesions lead to specific deficits (e.g., frontal lesions associated with executive dysfunction).1 Deficits in cognition can have a deleterious effect on activities of daily living that appear to be independent of severity of physical disability.3 Despite its high prevalence and impact on quality of life, there are currently no proven symptomatic pharmacologic treatments for this problem. Disease modifying therapies (DMT) may reduce the development of new lesions and therefore prevent or minimize the progression of cognitive decline (although actual improvements are also possible if inflammatory mediators are causing reversible dysfunction). Cognitive tests have been used to evaluate the effects of DMT in clinical trials with mixed results.4,5⇓ Only a handful of open label or small controlled studies have evaluated symptomatic treatments for cognitive deficits in MS. Initial studies of 4-aminopyridine, amantadine, and pemoline have been largely negative. Even though MS is not known to have primary cholinergic deficits, there are reasons …
An Evaluation Of The Negative Binomial Method For Tests Of Controls

Auditors often use statistical sampling techniques to test controls. Dhavale (1991) presents a new statistical technique based on the negative binomial distribution for this purpose. This article examines in detail the properties of the new method. The article also provides the computational details necessary to apply the new method. The article concludes that the new method may be useful to auditors in some circumstances.
Mechanisms of Thermohaline Mode Switching with Application to Warm Equable Climates

Abstract A three-box model of haline and thermal mode overturning is developed to study thermohaline oscillations found in a number of ocean general circulation models and that might have occurred in warm equable paleoclimates. By including convective adjustment modified to represent the localized nature of deep convection, the box model shows that a steady haline mode circulation is unstable. For certain ranges of freshwater forcing/vertical diffusivity, a self-sustained oscillatory circulation is found in which haline–thermal mode switching occurs with a period of centuries to millennia. It is found that mode switching is most likely to occur in warm periods of earth's history with, relative to the present climate, a reduced Pole&ndash=uator temperature gradient, an enhanced hydrological cycle, and somewhat smaller values of oceanic diffusivities.
Evaluation of a hybrid ambulatory care elective for first year pharmacy students

Abstract Introduction A hybrid, distance education elective in ambulatory care for first year pharmacy students was created with the intention of encouraging students to enter into this area of specialty and/or increase their interest in post-graduate education. This manuscript describes the course structure, the goals/objectives of the course, and the results of a voluntary survey administered to the students at the end of the semester. Methods Ambulatory care topics were discussed and taught with a variety of teaching techniques throughout the semester. The survey analyzed their evaluation of the usefulness of the course, their confidence level regarding the topics taught, the usefulness of each portion of the course, their interest in completing post-graduate training, as well as their interest in working in ambulatory care. Results Greater than 70% of the students rated the course as “very useful,” greater than 70% of students stated that they “agree” that their confidence level was increased, greater than 85% of students stated that they “agree” that all portions of the course were useful, and finally more than 50% of the class stated that they were interested in post-graduate training and/or working in the ambulatory care field. Conclusion ACPE requires that pharmacy programs offer elective courses during the pharmacy curriculum. Offering this course to first professional year pharmacy students provides a foundation for those interested in an ambulatory care. We encourage other programs to adopt this type of elective.
Cycles, Convergence and Interregional Adjustment

Economist’s concerns with distribution neither extend over all possible distributional descriptions nor rest on particular ones selected as if at random. Most particularly we classify returns to and economic activities of individuals by occupation and industry, by age, race and sex, and by level of education. Normally we do not collect information on the distribution of returns among individuals according to their height, weight, or the color of their hair, their food preferences, or whether they are Democrats or Republicans. That these kinds of classifications do not emerge, while the former do, is not an accident, nor is the final choice of classifications due to the vagaries of data collection. Rather, it is because we are concerned with observing the consequences of immobilizing factors. To change one’s race or sex is possible only under extreme circumstances. To change one’s occupation, employer, or residence frequently is quite costly. To amass the human or physical capital required to bring one’s earnings stream up to that of his neighbor might require more than a lifetime.
Optimal control of an inflammatory immune response model

A reduced model of an acute inflammatory response to severe infection is considered. Regulation of the inflammatory response is crucial for restoring the patient to a healthy state. Therefore, an optimal control strategy given by a pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory drug treatment are derived. A study of controllability is also presented and the existence result is established. The optimality system composed of four differential equation and their corresponding adjoint equations are solved numerically. Simulation results are presented and different drug treatment strategies are discussed.
Reducing Stress Concentration in RF MEMS Switch by Optimizing Serpentine Spring Design

In this paper we present a method of reducing stress concentrations in serpentine beam structures to improve the fatigue life of RF MEMS switches. It was found that slight design modifications to the turning corners of serpentine springs can greatly improve the uniformity of stresses through the structure with minimal negative impact on the original spring constant. Before RF MEMS switches are widely adopted, they must achieve a low actuating voltage and working lives of greater than 10 billion cycles. The sharp turning corners of serpentine springs results in stress concentration creating an area prone to fatigue failure. In this paper, fillets of increasing radius were added to the inner and outer edges of a serpentine spring and the structure analyzed to determine their effect on global maximum stress and effective spring constant of the structure. It was found that adding fillets reduces maximum stress in the structure while redistributing the stress throughout the length of the meander. This results in a more uniform structure without significantly increasing the overall spring constant of the structure.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Encephalopathy despite thiamine repletion during alcohol withdrawal

anaging a patient with chronic alcohol abuse who is beginning to withdraw is a situation in which to expect the unexpected. A 61-year-old man with a 40-year history of alcohol abuse was admitted to the hospital after presenting with a 6-month history of weakness and increasing frequency of falls, as well as a 2-day history of myalgias and fatigue. He had anorexia and chronic diarrhea, and he reported an unintentional 100-lb weight loss over the past year. He consumed at least three to five alcoholic drinks daily, including a daily “eye-opener,” and his diet was essentially devoid of meat, bread, fruits, and vegetables. His last drink had been on the morning of admission. On physical examination, his vital signs were no-table for marked orthostatic hypotension. He had an-gular cheilitis, an erythematous, scaly facial rash, and poorly healing severe sunburn on the dorsal surface of the left forearm, acquired 1 month earlier after mini-mal sun exposure while driving his car (
Strengthening the role of the IBC in the 21st century

Abstract The US government (USG) has not fully implemented a robust system to evaluate dual-use research (DUR). In particular, the USG has failed to effectively fund, support, and expand the role of the local Institutional Biosafety Committee in the oversight of DUR and in the changing scientific landscape; a comprehensive education program for all in life sciences research with regard to the dual-use dilemma has not been forthcoming; and finally, there has been no systematic evaluation of the impact of USG policy, regulations, and guidance on an institution’s cost structure and on scientific discovery. We detail our judgments on current USG DUR policy and provide recommendations for future oversight of DUR from our perspective as senior administrators and laboratory scientists charged with the responsibility of conducting life-sciences research in an era of increasing regulatory requirements and decreasing federal support.
Long-term dynamic cardiomyoplasty improves chronic and acute myocardial energetics in a model of left ventricular dysfunction

Background-We present the first long-term evaluation of myocardial energetics after dynamic cardiomyoplasty (CMP) in a model of left ventricular (LV) dysfunction. Methods and Results-Seventeen dogs underwent rapid ventricular pacing (RVP) to create heart failure. Eight dogs were randomly selected to undergo cardiomyoplasty. All dogs continued RVP for 6 additional weeks, whereas the CMP dogs underwent a simultaneously delivered synchronized muscle wrap conditioning protocol. After termination of RVP at 10 weeks in all dogs, myoplasty dogs continued to receive muscle wrap stimulation until the terminal study. Pressure-volume analysis to assess LV energetics was conducted at baseline and 4 weeks and 3 months after termination of RVP (6 months after baseline). At 6 months, CMP dogs displayed enhanced contractility, lower volumes, and more optimal energetics compared with control animals. Acute muscle wrap stimulation further increased effective contractility and myocardial efficiency compared with unassisted beats. Conclusions-The decrease in NYHA functional class that occurs in patients after dynamic cardiomyoplasty may be secondary to its beneficial effects on long-term myocardial function, volume, and energetics.
Behavioral and Coinductive Rewriting (invited talk)

Abstract Behavioral rewriting differs from standard rewriting in taking account of the weaker inference rules of behavioral logic, but it shares much with standard rewriting, including notions like termination and confluence. We describe an efficient implementation of behavioral rewriting that uses standard rewriting. Circular coinductive rewriting combines behavioral rewriting with circular coinduction, giving a surprisingly powerful proof method for behavioral properties; it is implemented in the BOBJ system, which is used in our examples. These include several lazy functional stream program equivalences and a behavioral refinement.
Update on Gallium-67 Concentration in Human Breast Milk

The concentration of gallium-67 in maternal breast milk has been previously reported in four patients and was estimated to have a biological half-life of nine days. We recently had the opportunity to measure gallium in the breast milk of another postpartum patient following gallium scintigraphy and to compare this value with those previously reported. Our sample was found to have 46 nCi of gallium-67/ml/mCi injected; this was consistent with an approximate nine-day biological half-life. At least a two-week hiatus from breast feeding is recommended in order to reduce the infant whole body dose to at least 40 mRads and the skeletal dose to 70 mRads or less.
Ventilation-perfusion scintigraphy.

Summary Ventilation-perfusion scintigraphy remains an important diagnostic tool in the evaluation of patients suspected of having PE. It is important for the emergency physician to be able to use the information from a lung scan appropriately in the diagnostic management of this elusive and life-threatening disorder. This requires a clear knowledge of how these scans are interpreted as well as a consultative approach between the physician ordering the lung scan and the nuclear medicine physician interpreting it. Each can ultimately contribute to the development of an effective management plan. It is important for the clinician to understand that a low-probability lung scan does not rule out PE, but in fact can have up to a 40% probability of PE when clinical suspicion is high.
Role of Innate Immune Signaling in Nuclear Reprogramming

In 2012 Shinya Yamanaka received the Nobel Prize for his discovery of four transcriptional factors that could induce pluripotency when overexpressed in somatic cells. Recently our lab discovered that innate immune signaling is also critical for this process (Lee et al., Cell 151:547–558, 2012). Specifically, we found that activation of the TLR3-NFκB pathway is required for efficient reprogramming by modulating the expression of epigenetic modifiers to favor an open chromatin configuration. Our unpublished data also suggest that activation of other pattern recognition receptors such as TLR4 or RIG-1 may facilitate reprogramming. Transdifferentiation of one somatic cell to another lineage is another form of nuclear reprogramming. We have shown that transdifferentiation of human fibroblasts to endothelial cells, another form of nuclear reprogramming, also requires innate immune signaling (Sayed et al., Circulation 131:300–309, 2015). Thus innate immune signaling plays a key role in nuclear reprogramming by regulating epigenetic plasticity (Fig. 9.1).
Diagnosis and Assessment of Pathological Gambling

This chapter examines the classification and categorization of pathological gambling. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders- IV (DSM-IV) items provides an exhaustive and diagnostic picture of pathological gambling. These items include preoccupation with gambling, tolerance, withdrawal, loss of control, escape, chasing, lying, and illegal acts. Two gambling assessment instruments, namely, NORC DSM-IV Screen for Gambling Problems (NODS) and South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS) are also discussed in the chapter. Comorbidity is also observed in pathological gambling patients. There are high rates of substance abuse, antisocial personality disorder, antisocial personality traits and mood disorders in pathological gambling patients. High rates of suicidal ideation and attempts are also observed in pathological gambling patients. Finally, the chapter presents a model for personality assessment of pathological gambling patients. The five-factor model (FFM) of personality is used for personality assessment of pathological gamblers. These five factors include neuroticism, extraversion, openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness. FFM has the potential to differentiate pathological gambling patients from substance abusers and can predict important treatment response features in chronic addicts The FFM can also describe the high-energy, outgoing pathological gambling patient who does not have the low self-esteem characteristic of most clinical populations, and this information could prevent strategic errors in treatment planning. The Revised NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-PI-R) is the most important tool of FFM. NEO-PI-R can describe people who tend to underregulate their behavior through impulsivity and escaping emotional pain (neuroticism) and those who misregulate through avoidance, procrastination, and giving up (conscientiousness).
Binder-free hierarchically-porous carbon nanofibers decorated with cobalt nanoparticles as efficient cathodes for lithium–oxygen batteries

The development of efficient cathodes is a great challenge inhibiting the advancement of lithium–oxygen (Li–O2) batteries. In the present study, binder-free, high surface area hierarchically-porous carbon nanofibers decorated with cobalt nanoparticles (Co–PCNF) are investigated as cathodes for Li–O2 batteries. We fabricate the nanofibers using a facile electrospinning technique followed by thermal treatment with in situ incorporation of cobalt nanoparticles. This method provides a free-standing, electron-conducting network with a hierarchical pore structure and effective dispersion of cobalt nanoparticles, which is directly used as a cathode in Li–O2 cells without any binders. Li–O2 cells with Co–PCNF as the cathode exhibit a high initial discharge capacity of 8800 mA h g−1 at the current density of 100 mA g−1, and can be recharged for more than 50 cycles with a limited discharge capacity of 500 mA h g−1. In comparison, porous carbon nanofibers without cobalt provide a discharge capacity of 6670 mA h g−1, and a cycle life of only 35 cycles. The post mortem analysis of discharged cathodes revealed Li2O2 as the major discharge product, and suggested a LiO2-mediated reaction mechanism responsible for the excellent performance of Co–PCNF.
Duplicate Submissions to the American Society of Hematology (ASH) and American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Meetings.

Abstract 4532 Background Modern medical practice has benefitted significantly from the ability of practitioners and scientists to effectively present and debate their discoveries. Presentations at large subspecialty meetings have been an integral part of this process. The guidelines for abstract submissions to ASH and ASCO discourage repeated submission of the same or similar information. Methods We searched all submissions to the 2009 ASCO meeting involving hematologic malignancies (leukemia, lymphoma, MDS, myeloma and myeloproliferative disorders) and compared these with abstracts from the preceding 2008 ASH meeting to identify duplicate submissions. Duplicate abstracts were identified by correlating subject and author data through the online search engines of the respective organization9s websites. Duplication was defined as the repetitive publication or presentation of data that did not seem to differ significantly in terms of content or clinical and scientific impact. The conflict of interest disclosures from the abstracts were examined to identify submissions utilizing pharmaceutical industry support, although such disclosures can be incomplete and it can be difficult to assess the precise role of the industry participants in the process. Hematopoietic stem cell transplant submissions were excluded from this analysis due to the low rate of duplication (3/32) ASCO transplant submissions were similar to those from ASH. Results 19% (47/250) of non-transplant hematologic malignancy ASCO abstracts had been previously presented at oral/poster sessions or published at the 2008 ASH meeting. 71 of the 250 submissions (28%) had authors from pharmaceutical companies while a total of 40% acknowledged research support from pharmaceutical companies (likely but not definitely always related to the content of the abstract). A significant fraction of the submitted and presented abstracts had major involvement with pharmaceutical companies as defined by authorship and/or research support (see table). The degree of pharmaceutical involvement was somewhat higher in the group of duplicate submissions. Conclusions A significant fraction of abstracts submitted to and presented at ASCO are very similar to work previously submitted to ASH. The titles of the abstracts are usually changed somewhat and the order of the authors is frequently shuffled. These findings are similar to a previous analysis of the 2006-ASH/2007-ASCO meetings done by one of the authors (CAS – unpublished data). There are many motivations for repeat presentation, including marketing or publicity opportunities for pharmaceutical companies as well as career advancement for academic investigators. Although arguments might be made that these meetings address different audiences, given the size limitations of the meeting agendas, duplicative presentations may potentially restrict other novel ideas from exposure and should be discouraged. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Characterization of Germination of Desulfotomaculum nigrificans Spores1

Germination of spores of Desulfotomaculum nigrificans was studied by measuring reduction in numbers of heat-resistant units. Complete (>99.9%) germination was observed with heat-activated spores suspended in a combination of 1% soytone, 0.1% ferric citrate, 0.1% sodium metabisulfite (Na2S2O5), and distilled water. In this medium spores germinated most rapidly at pH 6.0 - 8.0 when incubated at 55°C after the spores were exposed to a 15 - 20 min heat-shock at 100°C. Twelve amino acids triggered germination either together or individually only in the presence of ferric citrate and Na2S2O5. No one amino acid as a germinant was superior to the others evaluated. Of nine carbohydrates examined (at 1% levels), fructose, ribose, and arabinose initiated germination individually in distilled water. Ferrous ion initiated germination whereas the ferric ion did not. Cu++ (10mM) initiated germation whereas Zn++ (10mM) inhibited germination. Phosphate buffer (67mM) and EDTA (10mM) inhibited cation-initiated germination. Reducing agents such as Na2S2O5 may provide ferrous ions needed for spore germination. Ferrous ions as germinants indicate a possible significant role for an iron source when enumerating D. nigrificans spores or when evaluating food spoilage caused by D. nigrificans .
The application of ‘optimal search’ to marine mapping

This paper discusses the application of ‘optimal search,’ an optimization framework developed by the US Navy to optimize sonar-based search and rescue operations, to marine mapping tasks. In contrast to path planning methods which focus on maximizing area coverage, optimal search seeks to directly optimize expected sensor performance over a region, through consideration of vehicle dynamics, sensor intake rates, and the distribution of regions of interest. This paper describes a specific framework for optimal search which explores some of the opportunities the framework provides for refining the performance of marine mapping path plans.
Abstract 129: Clinical Predictive Models for Valvular Heart Disease: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Objectives: Pre-procedure risk assessment is central to clinical decision making for patients with advanced valvular heart disease (VHD) and treatments are increasingly being offered to patients with elevated pre-procedure risk. While there are numerous clinical predictive models (CPMs) available for patients with VHD, the relative performance of these CPMs is largely unknown. Here we describe the performance of CPMs available for patients with VHD with specific attention to whether CPMs have been externally validated. Methods: To identify CPMs for patients with VHD, we conducted a systematic review of the Tufts PACE CPM Registry, a comprehensive database of cardiovascular CPMs. For each identified CPM for patients with VHD, we performed a complete citation search using Scopus to identify any external validations of these models published in other articles. We extracted information on CPM performance in both the original report and also the external validations. For external validations we calculated the relative percent decrease in discrimination. Results: We identified 41 CPMs predicting outcomes for patients with VHD. 33 (81%) predict outcomes following surgical intervention, 5 (12%) predict outcomes following percutaneous interventions, and 3 (7%) predict outcomes in the absence of intervention. Only 30/41 (73%) of the CPMs report a c-statistic. The median reported c- statistic was 0.77 [IQR, 0.04] for CPMs predicting outcomes following surgical interventions, 0.68 [IQR, 0.04] for CPMs for percutaneous interventions, and 0.83 [IQR, 0.07] for CPMs predicting outcomes in the absence of intervention. While a total of 69 external validations of these CPMs have been published, only 21 (51%) of the CPMs have ever been externally validated. For external validations that report c- statistics, we noted a median percent decrement in discrimination of -27.6% [IQR, -37.4] ( Figure) . Conclusion: While there are numerous CPMs for patients with VHD, performance is often incompletely reported and half of these CPMs have never been externally validated. The CPMs that have been externally validated generally show substantially worse discrimination in external datasets compared to the derivation datasets.
Plans for Very Low Fraction Nonconforming

Existing sampling plans are not very efficient in situations where the fraction of nonconforming items is near 0.0001. In such cases the statistician must resort to 100% inspection, which still will not guarantee 100% conforming product since inspection..
A very special place in life : the history of juvenile justice in Missouri

The leaders were dedicated reformers - the "child savers" - who sought to remove children from poorhouses, prisons and other harsh institutions that left little hope for productive adulthood. A Very Special Place in Life traces the twentieth century growth of Missouri's juvenile courts. It discusses the profound changes wrought by the United States Supreme Court's Gault decision, which triggered the "due process revolution" in the nation's juvenile courts in 1967. The book examines efforts to reduce disparities between services available to rural and metropolitan children, and between treatment of minority children and others.By the early 1980s, Missouri began winning national recognition in juvenile justice. When the state replaced its deteriorating reformatories with small regional facilities stressing treatment and therapy, the new approach to delinquency won national acclaim as "a guiding light for reform."