cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Deviational simulation of phonon transport in graphene ribbons with ab initio scattering

We present a deviational Monte Carlo method for solving the Boltzmann-Peierls equation with ab initio 3-phonon scattering, for temporally and spatially dependent thermal transport problems in arbitrary geometries. Phonon dispersion relations and transition rates for graphene are obtained from density functional theory calculations. The ab initio scattering operator is simulated by an energy-conserving stochastic algorithm embedded within a deviational, low-variance Monte Carlo formulation. The deviational formulation ensures that simulations are computationally feasible for arbitrarily small temperature differences, while the stochastic treatment of the scattering operator is both efficient and exhibits no timestep error. The proposed method, in which geometry and phonon-boundary scattering are explicitly treated, is extensively validated by comparison to analytical results, previous numerical solutions and experiments. It is subsequently used to generate solutions for heat transport in graphene ribbons of various geometries and evaluate the validity of some common approximations found in the literature. Our results show that modeling transport in long ribbons of finite width using the homogeneous Boltzmann equation and approximating phonon-boundary scattering using an additional homogeneous scattering rate introduces an error on the order of 10% at room temperature, with the maximum deviation reaching 30% in the middle of the transition regime.
Automated Detection, Extraction, and Measurement of Regional Surface Waves

Our goal is to develop and test an effective method to detect, identify, extract, and quantify surface wave signals for weak events observed at regional stations. We describe an automated surface wave detector and extractor designed to work on weak surface wave signals across Eurasia at intermediate periods (8 s-40 s). The method is based on phase-matched filters defined by the Rayleigh wave group travel-time predictions from the broadband group velocity maps presented by RITZWOLLER and LEVSHIN (1998) and RITZWOLLER et al. (1998) and proceeds in three steps: Signal compression, signal extraction or cleaning, and measurement. First, the dispersed surface wave signals are compressed in time by applying an anti-dispersion or phase-matched filter defined from the group velocity maps. We refer to this as the ‘compressed signal.’ Second, the surface wave is then extracted by filtering ‘noise’ temporally isolated from the time-compressed signal. This filtered signal is then redispersed by applying the inverse of the phase-matched filter. Finally, we adaptively estimate spectral amplitude as well as group and phase velocity on the filtered signal. The method is naturally used as a detector by allowing origin time to slide along the time axis. We describe preliminary results of the application of this method to a set of nuclear explosions and earthquakes that occurred on or near the Chinese Lop Nor test site from 1992 through 1996 and one explosion on the Indian Rajasthan test site that occurred in May of 1998.
Teachers and human rights education

by Audrey Osler and Hugh Starkey, Stoke-on-Trent, UK, Trentham Books, 2010, xiv + 166 pp., £20.99 (paperback), ISBN 978-1-85856-384-8 Audrey Osler and Hugh Starkey make a compelling case for the re...
Reproduction in White Leghorn Males Fed Various Levels of Dietary Calcium

Abstract LIMITED research has been reported dealing with the calcium requirement of the adult male and the effect of dietary calcium levels on semen production and fertility. Moustgaard (1959) indicated that a pronounced calcium deficiency may cause infertility in male rats. The calcium requirement for breeder hens has been placed at 2.75% (National Research Council, 1966) or higher in hot weather, but no requirement has been suggested for the male. The present studies were conducted to study the calcium requirement of the adult male and to determine if the relatively high calcium levels presently recommended for hens are detrimental to reproductive performance of the adult male. METHODS Two experiments were conducted utilizing a commercial strain (Kimber) of egg production type White Leghorn males housed in individual wire cages (61×46×38 cm.). Natural daylight was supplemented to furnish a total of 15 hours light per day. Water and all diets were given ad…
On the probability of cure for heavy-ion radiotherapy.

The probability of a cure in radiation therapy (RT)—viewed as the probability of eventual extinction of all cancer cells—is unobservable, and the only way to compute it is through modeling the dynamics of cancer cell population during and post-treatment. The conundrum at the heart of biophysical models aimed at such prospective calculations is the absence of information on the initial size of the subpopulation of clonogenic cancer cells (also called stem-like cancer cells), that largely determines the outcome of RT, both in an individual and population settings. Other relevant parameters (e.g. potential doubling time, cell loss factor and survival probability as a function of dose) are, at least in principle, amenable to empirical determination. In this article we demonstrate that, for heavy-ion RT, microdosimetric considerations (justifiably ignored in conventional RT) combined with an expression for the clone extinction probability obtained from a mechanistic model of radiation cell survival lead to useful upper bounds on the size of the pre-treatment population of clonogenic cancer cells as well as upper and lower bounds on the cure probability. The main practical impact of these limiting values is the ability to make predictions about the probability of a cure for a given population of patients treated to newer, still unexplored treatment modalities from the empirically determined probability of a cure for the same or similar population resulting from conventional low linear energy transfer (typically photon/electron) RT. We also propose that the current trend to deliver a lower total dose in a smaller number of fractions with larger-than-conventional doses per fraction has physical limits that must be understood before embarking on a particular treatment schedule.
Identification of Instabilities in Rotorcraft Systems

This short paper presents a data-driven method for identification of stability margin in rotorcraft system dynamics and the underlying concept is built upon the principles of Symbolic Dynamics. The algorithm involves wavelet-packet-based pre-processing to remove spurious disturbances and to improve the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of sensor time series. A quantified measure, called Instability Measure, is constructed from the processed time series data to obtain an estimate of the relative instability of the dynamic modes of interest on the rotorcraft system. The proposed method has been tested with numerical simulations; and correlations between the Instability Measure and the damping parameters of selected dynamic modes of the rotor blade have been established.© 2013 ASME
Sex Role Identity, Sex of Other, and Affective Relationship as Determinants of Interpersonal Conflict-Management Styles.

Previous research in sex-role identity has explored behavioral differences in a variety of contexts. Only recently, however, have differences in interaction style been investigated. The study reported here was designed to assess behavioral differences in one important type of interaction: interpersonal conflict. Of 143 college students responding to the Bem Sex-Role Inventory (BSRI), a final sample of 57 subjects provided questionnaire data on five conflict-management modes in hypothetical conflicts with others who varied on factors of sex and affective relationship with respondent. Results of the MANOVA analysis suggested that feminine persons disapprove of competition more than persons of masculine and androgynous sex-role identification. The results further suggested that masculine persons may differentiate less between liked and disliked others in their competitive behavior than do feminine and androgynous persons. Finally, results suggested that conflicts with liked, as opposed to disliked, others are managed with less competition and more accommodation, collaboration, and compromise for all sex-role identity groups.
Utilization of GPS Surface Reflected Signals to Provide Aircraft Altitude Verification for SVS

The Global Positioning System (GPS) consists of a constellation of Earth orbiting satellites that transmit continuous electromagnetic signals to users on or near the Earth surface. At any moment of time, at least four GPS satellites, and sometimes nine or more, are visible from any point. The electromagnetic signal transmitted from the satellites is reflected to at least some degree from virtually every place on the Earth. When this signal is received by a specially constructed receiver, its characteristics can be used to determine information about the reflected surface. One piece of information collected is the time delay encountered by the reflected signal versus the direct signal. This time delay can be used to determine the altitude (or height) above the local terrain when the terrain in the reflection area is level. However, given the potential of simultaneously using multiple reflections, it should be possible to also determine the elevation above even terrains where the reflecting area is not level. Currently an effort is underway to develop the technology to characterize the reflected signal that is received by the GPS Surface Reflection Experiment (GSRE) instrument. Recent aircraft sorties have been flown to collect data that can be used to refine the technology. This paper provides an update on the status of the instrument development to enable determination of terrain proximity using the GPS Reflected signal. Results found in the data collected to date are also discussed.
Unique frontal sinuses in fossil and living Hyaenidae (Mammalia, Carnivora): description and interpretation

ABSTRACT Unique, caudally elongated frontal sinuses 2′ (terminology of Paulli, 1900c) are present in the living hyaenine hyaenids (Crocuta crocuta, Parahyaena brunnea, Hyaena hyaena) and in at least four fossil hyaenids (Adcrocuta eximia, Hyaenotherium wongii, Palinhyaena reperta, and Ictitherium viverrinum). In Crocuta crocuta, Parahyaena brunnea, Hyaena hyaena, and Adcrocuta eximia, the elongated frontal sinuses completely overlie the brain cavity, a condition apparently unique in the history of the Carnivora. Elongated frontal sinuses are conspicuously absent in the extant aardwolf (Proteles cristatus), however. The cladogenetic distribution of these fossil and living hyaenid species is broad enough to indicate a persistent difference in skull architecture between proteline and hyaenine hyaenids through time. The elongated frontal sinuses in all hyaenids examined in this study except for Proteles is an impressive pattern, and its potential function is unlikely to be related to shock dissipation, brain ...
Steady state expression of cell-cycle regulatory genes in prostate carcinoma cell lines

Abstract The transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signal transduction system has been reported to play a role in prostate tumorigenesis and the regulation of cell cycle-related gene expression including the cyclins, cyclin dependent kinases (Cdks), and Cdk inhibitors. The objective of this investigation was to examine the expression of TGF-β receptors I and II and five cell cycle-related genes—Cdk-4, p15, p21 (WAF1/CIP1) , p27, and cyclin E—in three prostate carcinoma cell lines and normal prostate by quantitative reverse transcriptase (RT)/polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The expression of the TGF-β receptor II was reduced by 5.5- and 2.2-fold in the LNCaP and DU145 cells, respectively, compared with normal prostate tissue. A similar decrease was observed for the TGF-β receptor I transcript in the LNCaP cells. In addition, 20-fold less of the TGF-β inducible p15 inkb transcript was produced by the LNCaP and DU145 cell lines compared with the PC-3 cell line. The p21 (WAF1/CIP1) transcript, although present, was only 6% of normal in the DU145 and PC-3 cell lines. Furthermore, the steady state levels of p21 (WAF1/CIP1) mRNA significantly increased within 15 minutes after the addition of exogenous TGF-β to PC-3 cells. Likewise, addition of TGF-β antibodies to the PC-3 cells significantly reduced p21 (WAF1/CIP1) transcript levels to less than 2% of normal. This suggests that p21 (WAF1/CIP1) expression in PC-3 cells is related not only to p53 induction but may function through alternative pathways including TGF-β. We conclude that the expression of specific cell cycle-related genes may be entirely or partially regulated by alterations in TGF-β pathway and may play a role in prostate carcinoma development.
The Management of Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer With Oligometastases

The standard care for patients with non-small-cell lung cancer is chemotherapy of supportive care, with surgery being reserved for palliation of symptoms; however, there is a small group of patients with a finite number of extrathoracic metastases (oligometastases) who may experience improved survival by resection of their metastases and the primary site, with or without systemic treatment. This article summarizes the theoretic basis for resection of metastatic lung cancer, reviews the available data addressing management of disease metastatic to the lung, brain, and adrenal glands, and outlines a model for a future clinical trial to investigate the area further.
Economic Endpoints in Clinical Trials

Economic endpoints are increasingly common in randomized clinical trials. As a relatively new addition to the field, methods of measuring and analyzing cost data are still evolving. These developments will be stimulated by the demands of the public for efficient and effective medical care, which will be based on the findings of clinical trials.
STOCHASTIC SYNCHRONIZATION OF ELECTRORECEPTORS IN PADDLEFISH

We studied synchronization of electrosensitive cells of the paddlefish by means of electrophysiological experiments. We found that primary afferents of the paddlefish are represented by noisy nonlinear oscillators. Different types of phase locked regimes are observed. The influence of internal noise is discussed.
Decadal changes in common reef coral populations and their associations with algal symbionts (Symbiodinium spp.)

Decadal populations changes in four coral taxa and their patterns of association with algal symbionts (Symbiodinium spp. – 10 years of sampling) were examined on Kenyan back reefs over a period of climatic disturbances (1991� 2009). Some of the better surviving taxa, Pavona and Pocillopora, were associated with variable temperature regimes and >50% of sampled colonies in these taxa had some of the more thermally tolerant Symbiodinium in clade D. In contrast, only around 35% of Acropora and no branching forms of Porites contained detectable levels of clade D, and both taxa experienced high levels of thermally-induced mortality and poor recovery. Overall, however the relationship between Symbiodinium clade and population-level success of coral hosts was not strong, and differential success inside and outside fisheries closures suggests that other factors, such as predation on corals, were also influential. Consequently, while Symbiodinium in clade D may contribute to the success of coral hosts across thermal disturbances, multiple ecological factors and additional biological traits also influence their long-term survival.
Vocalizations and Reproductive Behavior of Male Pickerel Frogs, Rana palustris

Abstract I performed playback trials with and recorded vocalizations of male Pickerel Frogs, Rana palustris, in 1992–1993 and 1998–2000 at sites in Delaware and Pennsylvania. I also conducted a mark-recapture study of one population throughout its 1998 breeding season at the Ashland Nature Center, Delaware. Rana palustris had a prolonged breeding season with chorusing occurring over more than one month on nights that the air temperature was at least 8°C. Individual males during the breeding season participated in most choruses, were faithful to specific calling sites, and lost body mass. In the playback trials, I recorded male vocalizations during control conditions and after the playback of one conspecific advertisement call. Males had a complex vocal repertoire consisting of at least three call types: an advertisement call and two additional calls (“snicker” and “growl”) that were elicited by the playback stimulus or exchanged during natural male-male interactions. The three call types had distinct comb...
Designing MRF based Error Correcting Circuits for Memory Elements

As devices are scaled to the nanoscale regime, it is clear that future nanodevices will be plagued by higher soft error rates and reduced noise margins. Traditional implementations of error correcting codes (ECC) can add to the reliability of systems but can be ineffective in highly noisy operating conditions. This paper proposes an implementation of ECC based on the theory of Markov random fields (MRF). The MRF probabilistic model is mapped onto CMOS circuitry, using feedback between transistors to reinforce the correct joint probability of valid logical states. We show that our MRF approach provides superior noise immunity for memory systems that operate under highly noisy conditions
Party Elites and Leadership in Colombia and Venezuela

‘By studying political parties we imply that the party is a meaningful unit of analysis. Yet we go above the party as a unit, for we also study the party system. By the same token we can go below the party as a unit and study, thereby, the party subunits.’1 This statement by Giovanni Sartori, while published in 1976, might well have been a beacon for budding stasiologists of the early 1960s — certainly for those with a particular interest in Latin America. Following upon such Western European—orientated classics as the works of Maurice Duverger, Sigmund Neumann and Alfred Diamant,2 there seemed genuine intellectual impetus to produce significant scholarship on the parties of what were then customarily termed either the developing or the ‘non—western’ polities. For Latin America, the time appeared ripe for conceptual progress. To be sure, there was justification in remarking that the study of parties in the region was relatively new, while ‘methodo—logical accomplishments have been primitive’.3 Yet this condition was presumably transitory.In the years to follow there were more serious exploratory efforts, and in time a modest number of case—studies began appearing.4 When the cyclical alternation of democratic and dictatorial regimes began to swing toward the latter by the early 1970s, however, scholarly interest dropped off. More generally, stasiological research went into decline.5 For students of Latin America, only the recent trend toward democratisation has stimulated a revival of interest in parties, campaigns and elections.6 Thus Lorenzo Meyer, for instance, described parties as institutions necessary ‘to channel the energies of social movements, labour unions, and other antiauthoritarian forces present at the beginning of the re—emergence of civil society’.7
Online monitoring of birefringence development in heat‐setting polymer films with a fast dual‐wavelength optical technique. I. Uniaxially oriented poly(ethylene naphthalate)

The purpose of this article is to study the fast structural changes that take place during the deformation and heat setting of uniaxially preoriented poly(ethylene 2,6-naphthalate) films. For this purpose, an online birefringence measurement system coupled with a heat-setting oven was used. In the online birefringence system, whose details were reported previously (H. Venkatesvaran and M. Cakmak, SPE ANTEC Tech Pap 1993, 39, 257; H. Venkatesvaran and M. Cakmak, Polym Eng Sci 2001, 41, 341), a green and red laser is passed through the films being annealed in a heat-setting chamber; the resulting data are analyzed for the details of structural mechanisms that take place during this process. This technique is shown to be capable of detecting reversals in birefringence development; as a result, complex sequences of structural evolution can be tracked. The design of this system allows one to observe not only the increase or decrease in birefringence during the course of the heat-setting process but also the rate dependencies on processing variables. In this study, we establish that the rate of structural rearrangement, as detected by birefringence, depends strongly on the state of the pre-existing chain orientation and the level of crystallinity. Increased levels of preorientation in the films results in decreases in the rate of birefringence change during heat setting. This is primarily attributed to the increased levels of steric hindrance developed with the increase in orientation and crystallinity in the preoriented samples. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 39: 1107–1121, 2001
Efficient multiuser detectors for intersymbol interference channels

A general framework is developed for addressing problems of multiuser detection in wireless communication systems operating in the presence of time- and/or frequency-selective fading due to multipath propagation. In particular, a state-space description of the canonical multiple-access system as a multiple-input multiple-output linear system is used to obtain minimum mean-square error multiuser equalizers having efficient recursive implementations in the form of Kalman filters. These algorithms effectively suppress both intersymbol and interuser (multiple-access) interference, yielding near-far resistant receivers that can reduce power control requirements. More generally, the equalizers make efficient use of all available temporal, spectral, and spatial diversity in the system, and can be used in conjunction with both conventional CDMA and more recently proposed spread-signature CDMA systems. Decision-feedback implementations of the equalizers are also described.
Matching images by comparing their gradient fields

We present a simple yet powerful method to perform point-to-point matching between two images. The method uses an evidence measure, whose value for a given displacement reflects both the similarity between two locations and the confidence in a correct match. The measure is based on the gradient fields of the images, and can be computed quickly and in parallel. Accumulating the evidence measure for different displacements allows (1) stable computation, of correspondences without smoothing across motion boundaries, and (2) detection of dominant motions. The method works well both on highly textured images and on images containing regions of uniform intensities, and can be used for a variety of applications, including stereo, motion, and object tracking.
Thermal Emission Control with One-Dimensional Metallodielectric Photonic Crystals

We have analyzed thermal emission from one-dimensional metallodielectric periodic structures using a Green’s function technique together with the fluctuation-dissipation theorem. We show that such simple structures exhibit excellent selective emission characteristics with a controllable transition frequency in the infrared and even visible range. Such simple structures should be easy to fabricate and have applications in thermophotovoltaics and potentially in incandescent bulbs.
A morphed ground state potential for Ne:HI based on microwave spectroscopy

Abstract The structure and ground state dynamics of the interaction Ne:HI have been investigated. The potential surface from ab initio molecular orbital calculation was morphed to yield a fit to experimental data. This intermolecular potential results in a ground state 20 Ne:HI with R cm =4.1018(1) A, and 〈 P 2 (cos θ ′ )〉=0.12527(1), a nearly free rotor state. For 20 Ne:DI, R cm was 3.9616 (1) A with a value of 〈 P 2 (cos θ ′ )〉=0.41110(1) corresponding to an angle θ ′ =141.20(1) in the isomeric structure, Ne–ID. Ground state characteristics are compared with those determined for Ar:HI and Kr:HI, and predicted for Ne:HI.
Guiding Students’ Learning With LibGuides as an Interactive Teaching Tool in Health Promotion:

The purpose of this article is to provide guidance to university faculty and librarians in developing LibGuides as effective pedagogical tools in teaching/learning in undergraduate- and graduate-le...
Hospital information systems—friend or foe? a management perspective

Hospital Information System—Friend or Foe? It is hoped that after reading this paper it is apparent that an HIS can be either. The executive sponsoring the project controls its fate. The system can be a friend, enhancing the success of the executive and his/her organization, or it can be an expensive disaster. If an organization initiates a system implementation haphazardly, without the commitment of the executive and a definite set of objectives to be achieved, it is risking disaster. Alternatively, if the techniques presented in this paper are adhered to, the organization can expect to reap the benefits provided by a successful integrated hospital information system. Friend or Foe—the decision is yours.
PT symmetric large area single mode DFB lasers

We propose a novel class of large-area single-mode semiconductor lasers in which notions from parity-time symmetry is employed to reliably suppress higher-order modes. The feasibility of our design is investigated in InGaAsP quantum-well arrangements.
179. Getting fit or losing weight… which way to reduce inflammation?

It is still debated whether an increase in cardiovascular fitness or a decrease in weight can more potently balance inflammatory states reflected in levels of specific marker molecules in the peripheral circulation. Here we examine various protein levels, including IL-6 (interleukin-6), CRP (C-reactive protein), TNF- α (Tumor Necrosis Factor- α ), sP-Selectin, sE-Selectin, sICAM-1 (soluble Intercellular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1) and sVCAM-1 (soluble Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1), all used as predictive biomarkers of inflammation and the risk of cardiovascular events, and how they are related to cardiovascular fitness and BMI (Body Mass Index) in 86 prehypertensive and hypertensive individuals (mean age 44 years; SD = 9.6). Cardiovascular fitness was determined by peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak) during a treadmill exercise. Plasma biomarker levels were determined by commercial ELISA. A series of linear regression analyses aimed at predicting biomarker levels included independent variables age, gender, VO2peak and BMI. The analyses showed that fitness rather than BMI is a powerful predictor of IL-6 ( p = 0.008) but instead BMI is influencing sVCAM-1 levels ( p = 0.034). All other tested biomarkers did not show a relationship to BMI or fitness. These results suggest that a combined approach with decreasing body mass as well as improving an individual’s fitness level might be most efficient in reducing selective aspects of the inflammatory profile of elevated blood pressure, and consequently reducing risk of cardiovascular events.
Gender Differences in In-Hospital Outcomes After Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting.

Women historically have a greater risk of operative mortality than men after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). There is paucity of contemporary data in gender outcomes of surgical revascularization and understanding modifiable factors that contribute to gender differences are critical for quality improvement and practice change. We, therefore, sought to examine whether the gender gap in CABG outcomes is closing in the contemporary era by conducting a retrospective analysis from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database from 2003 to 2012. We included all patients who underwent isolated CABG surgery (n = 2,272,998; female n = 623,423 [27.4%]; male n = 1,649,575 [72.6%]). The annual rate of CABG surgeries decreased by 53.7% in men and 57.8% in women over the 10-year study period. Although internal mammary artery use in women was less frequent than in men in 2003 (77.4% vs 81.9%, p trend 0.003). Overall, unadjusted in-hospital mortality was greater in women (3.2% vs 1.8%, p trend 0.002) than in men (2.2% to 1.6%, RR −25.7%, p trend
The viscosity of liquid hydrocarbons and their mixtures

Publisher Summary This chapter deals with general viscosity behavior of hydrocarbon liquids, with respect to temperature, pressure and composition. It considers the change of viscosity of such fluids with temperature, pressure, and composition. Viscosity (or dynamic viscosity) is defined as the shear stress per unit area at any point within the fluid divided by the velocity gradient at that point. Consequently, the viscosity is a dynamic property; nevertheless, for Newtonian liquids it is a state property, that is, it depends only on state properties such as temperature and pressure or density. This chapter indicates the accuracy of several recent viscosity correlation and prediction methods that represent the general types of models in current use. The emphasis in this review is on the recent viscosity models, especially those after 1987, as reviews exist of the earlier methods.
Chapter 5 – Soil Fauna: Occurrence, Biodiversity, and Roles in Ecosystem Function

This chapter emphasizes the effects of faunal biodiversity in soil on ecosystem functioning. It covers fauna ranging in size from micro- (protists and rotifers), meso- (nematodes and microarthropods and their roles in detrital food webs), to macrofauna (macroarthropods, earthworms, ants, and termites). Roles of soil fauna in ecosystems globally are evaluated in terms of their responses to global environmental change. Food web ecology will act as an integrating concept across conservation biology, community and ecosystem ecology, and provision of ecosystem services.
Childhood poverty and adult psychological well-being

Childhood disadvantage has repeatedly been linked to adult physical morbidity and mortality. We show in a prospective, longitudinal design that childhood poverty predicts multimethodological indices of adult (24 y of age) psychological well-being while holding constant similar childhood outcomes assessed at age 9. Adults from low-income families manifest more allostatic load, an index of chronic physiological stress, higher levels of externalizing symptoms (e.g., aggression) but not internalizing symptoms (e.g., depression), and more helplessness behaviors. In addition, childhood poverty predicts deficits in adult short-term spatial memory.
Sustainability: a discipline and a political agenda?

ABSTRACTThis editorial explores the state of sustainability research and thinking today. It describes how the subject has evolved out of the environmental movement of the 1970s into both an analytical agenda, typified by the work on sustainability science, and a normative agenda, typified by the work around sustainable economics and development. The author shows how the term sustainability is also used in two very different modes today: in a light mode focusing on how present practices can be adapted to create more sustainable economic and social systems, and a much more fundamental mode which questions much of the worldview underpinning free-market economies. The author goes on to suggest that most of today’s research around sustainability and disasters falls into the former category.
Women's health care in Operation Iraqi Freedom: a survey of camps with echelon I or II facilities.

ABSTRACT Objective: To assess women's perceptions of health care delivery in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Methods: An anonymous questionnaire was distributed through command channels to female soldiers stationed in camps receiving echelon I or II care. Questions covered predeployment screening, contraceptive method availability and side effects, accessibility of gynecologic care, field hygiene counseling, and smoking status. Results: Two hundred fifty-one (91%) of 275 surveys were returned. Twenty-two percent of respondents had received no annual gynecologic examination including the Papanicolaou test/cervical cytologic study in the past year. Irregular bleeding was the most common gynecologic side effect. Ortho Evra patches fell off in 58% of cases; 23% of soldiers changed contraceptive methods because of unavailability, 21% experienced gynecologic problems, and 44% could not access gynecologic care. Twenty-six percent received predeployment menstrual hygiene counseling, and 77% attempting cycle control succ...
Menthol cigarette use in young adult smokers with severe mental illnesses.

Introduction Smokers with severe mental illness (SMI) are more likely to start smoking and less likely to quit. Menthol may facilitate smoking progression, dependence, and maintenance by reducing harshness and irritation from smoking and providing a unique sensory experience during use. High rates of menthol use have been reported in smokers with SMI, but information on young adults with SMI has not been reported. Methods This study provides a secondary analysis to assess the impact of menthol use in a pilot trial of brief tobacco interventions. Participants were assessed at baseline and again at a 3-month follow-up with structured interviews and breath carbon monoxide to confirm self-reported 7-day abstinence at follow-up. Results Participants included 81 young adult smokers with SMI, mean age of 24.2 years (SD = 3.6; range 18-30). Overall, 58% of the group reported that they recently used a menthol-flavored product. Menthol use was correlated with race (African American [18/21, 85.7%] vs. White [24/53, 45.3%] or other race [5/7, 71.4%]; χ2 = 10.7, p = .005) and more lifetime psychiatric hospitalizations (t = 2.39, p = .02), but not with cigarettes per day, nicotine dependence, quit attempts over the follow-up period, nor with achieving biologically confirmed abstinence at the follow-up assessment. Conclusions The high prevalence of menthol-flavored cigarette use in this study group is consistent with previous reports of high rates of menthol use among young adults, Blacks, and middle-aged SMI smokers. This study supports existing evidence that policies to restrict menthol flavoring in combustible tobacco products could reduce smoking in young adults with SMI. Implications High rates of menthol use have been reported in middle-aged smokers with SMI, but information on young adults with SMI has not been reported. In this study, more than half (58%) of 81 young adult smokers with SMI used a menthol-flavored product. Menthol use was associated with race and with history of psychiatric hospitalizations. The research supports existing evidence that policies to restrict menthol flavoring in combustible tobacco products could reduce smoking in young adults with SMI.
STAT3 as a Major Contributor to Chemoresistance

Abstract Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is a well-validated anticancer target that promotes tumorigenesis. Although it has historically been considered “undruggable”, multiple classes of direct STAT3 inhibitors have recently been discovered that successfully abrogate STAT3 activation or DNA-binding activity, ultimately generating selective cytotoxicity against cancerous cells. Considering the growing body of evidence implicating STAT3 in the development of treatment resistance, direct STAT3 inhibitors have promising potential to augment the antitumor effects of conventional chemotherapy drugs, radiation, and molecular targeting agents, leading to improved patient outcomes. This chapter focuses on the progress made in developing direct STAT3 inhibitors and their evaluation in preclinical models and clinical trials.
Chronobiologic Electrocardiographic Monitoring Implications to Screening and Treatment in the Coronary Artery Disease

The Holter system of ECG monitoring plays an important role in the screening, diagnosis and treatment of coronary heart disease (CHD).
Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU) Evaluations of Patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) (P03.219)

OBJECTIVE: We reviewed the seizure semiology, electroencephalography (EEG) and MRI findings of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) who were evaluated in an epilepsy monitoring unit (EMU). BACKGROUND: Epileptic seizures occur more frequently in patients with MS as compared to the general population. One possible mechanism for epilepsy in MS patients is cortical demyelinating lesions serving as foci for seizure activity. DESIGN/METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated charts of patients with MS who were seen in the EMU over a 5 year period. We reviewed the records of 21 patients, including their electroencephalography and MRI imaging results. RESULTS: The average length of stay in the EMU was 4.5 days. Six patients had an ictal EEG pattern while monitored, with five (or 83.3%) of these patients having focal seizures. Three patients had complex partial seizures, and two patients had complex partial seizures with secondary generalization. One patient had a generalized ictal EEG pattern with myoclonic seizures, and was diagnosed with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy. MRI imaging of the brain was available for review for five of the six patients with seizures, of which four had cortical demyelinating lesions. Of the fifteen patients who did not have an ictal EEG pattern, all had normal interictal EEG with exception of one patient with epileptiform interictal findings (regional spike and wave complexes), and one patient with non-epileptiform interictal findings (generalized slowing). Seven of the fifteen patients experienced their typical events while under monitoring. Of these seven patients, six of them were felt to be having non-epileptic seizures. CONCLUSIONS: Our EEG and MRI findings are consistent with a mechanism of cortical lesions in MS providing an epileptogenic focus. A larger study looking at the MRI characteristics of patients with both MS and epilepsy may help to clarify the potential mechanisms of epilepsy in MS patients. Disclosure: Dr. Kim has nothing to disclose. Dr. Rae-Grant has received personal compensation for activities with Novartis, Biogen Idec and Teva Neurosciences as a speaker. Dr. Jammoul has nothing to disclose. Dr. Newey has nothing to disclose.
Introduction to Stem Cells

Chapter 1, “Introduction to Stem Cells,” provides a comprehensive introductory overview of stem cells and gives a unique historical perspective with respect to advances in stem cell-related research throughout the millennia. The chapter begins with a brief history of stem cell research and expands upon historical implications in each section, outlining and describing seminal findings which have led to significant advancements in stem cell-based therapeutics and even diagnostics efforts. The chapter emphasizes the developmental and biological origins of stem cells, noting key molecular, morphological, and biochemical events occurring during embryonic development which set the stage for potency acquisition, transition and, ultimately, stem cell commitment to mature, differentiated lineages. All major stem cell types are introduced to the reader in both historical and developmental context. In addition, cutting-edge technologies such as induced pluripotency and nuclear transfer are described. The chapter concludes with an overview of the emerging stem cell industry emphasizing stem cells as the major regenerative medicine technological platform.
High throughput system for preparing samples for genomic and epigenetic assays

Genomic and epigenomic therapies hold great promise for “fixing” faulty genes. In genomics, DNA is sequenced to determine the order of the nucleotides, while in epigenetics, immunoprecipitation of chromatin is used to locate specific proteins of interest. The first step for these therapies is to identify the specific sequence or gene responsible for the disease. To prepare samples for these assays, DNA or chromatin is sheared into fragments, most often using cavitation. However, standard tools such as ultrasonic horns can be highly inconsistent, leading to poor assays. In order to overcome the problems of inconsistent fragmentation, we designed and built a transducer array (free field pressures P + = 30 MPa, P- = 12 MPa) capable of processing samples directly in 96-well microplates. An array of transducers is mounted below a microplate, coupled to a lens array that focuses acoustic energy into each well of a microplate. Intense cavitation is generated in each well. After treatment, gel electrophoresis shows that DNA and chromatin are fragmented to a range of sizes extending as low as 100 base pairs (34 nm). Importantly, this process results in consistent fragmentation that leads to consistent repeatable assays. [Funded by NIH R33CA191135, R21GM111439, R01DK103849 and Life Sciences Discovery Fund #12330479.]
Digital-Based Soft-Switching Modulation for High-Frequency Three-Phase Inverters with Reactive Power Transfer Capability

In this paper, a novel critical-conduction-mode (CRM)-based soft-switching modulation technique for three-phase inverters is extended from unity to non-unity power factor operating conditions. Zero-voltage-switch (ZVS) soft switching is still achievable with this modulation at non-unity power factor operating conditions, which is especially beneficial for silicon-carbide (SiC)-based systems at high switching frequency operation in order to achieve both high power density and high efficiency. Differences in operation modes between unity and non-unity power factor operating conditions are analyzed and a generalized modulation concept is summarized which covers both unity and non-unity power factor operating conditions. All the control functions are implemented digitally with one low-cost microcontroller (MCU). This modulation concept is verified in simulations and also experimentally implemented on a 25-kW SiC-based three-phase inverter prototype with 127 W/in3 power density.
Greenness and Depression Incidence among Older Women.

Background: Recent evidence suggests that higher levels of residential greenness may contribute to better mental health. Despite this, few studies have considered its impact on depression, and most...
Structural Diversity in Tetrakis(4-pyridyl)porphyrin Supramolecular Building Blocks

In memory of a pioneer in crystal engineering, Prof. Israel Goldberg, we report a series of new framework solids, based on the ligand tetrakis(4-pyridyl)porphyrin (TPyP). Spontaneous reactions of T...
Acute myeloid leukemia immunopeptidome reveals HLA presentation of mutated nucleophosmin

Somatic mutations in cancer are a potential source of cancer specific neoantigens. Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has common recurrent mutations shared between patients in addition to private mutations specific to individuals. We hypothesized that neoantigens derived from recurrent shared mutations would be attractive targets for future immunotherapeutic approaches. Here we sought to study the HLA Class I and II immunopeptidome of thirteen primary AML tumor samples and two AML cell lines (OCI-AML3 and MV4-11) using mass spectrometry to evaluate for endogenous mutation-bearing HLA ligands from common shared AML mutations. We identified two endogenous, mutation-bearing HLA Class I ligands from nucleophosmin (NPM1). The ligands, AVEEVSLRK from two patient samples and C(cys)LAVEEVSL from OCI-AML3, are predicted to bind the common HLA haplotypes, HLA-A*03:01 and HLA-A*02:01 respectively. Since NPM1 is mutated in approximately one-third of patients with AML, the finding of endogenous HLA ligands from mutated NPM1 supports future studies evaluating immunotherapeutic approaches against this shared target, for this subset of patients with AML.
Treatment with low-dose diazoxide in two growth-retarded prepubertal girls with glycogen storage disease type Ia resulted in catch-up growth

Two originally prepubertal girls suffering from glycogen storage disease type Ia and short stature were treated with low-dose diazoxide (3-4.8 mg/kg per day) for 7 and 4 years, respectively. Both showed an impressive catch-up growth following this treatment. This appeared to be due to prolongation of normoglycaemia after meals and reduction of fasting lactic acidosis by diazoxide.
Predictive Utility of a Machine Learning Algorithm in Estimating Mortality Risk in Cardiac Surgery

Background This study evaluated the predictive utility of a machine learning algorithm in estimating operative mortality risk in cardiac surgery. Methods Index adult cardiac operations performed between 2011 and 2017 at a single institution were included. The primary outcome was operative mortality. Extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) models were developed and evaluated using 10-fold cross-validation with 1000-replication bootstrapping. Model performance was assessed using multiple measures including precision, recall, calibration plots, area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve (C-index), accuracy, and F1 score. Results A total of 11,190 patients were included (7048 isolated coronary artery bypass grafting [CABG], 2507 isolated valves, and 1635 CABG plus valves). The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Predicted Risk of Mortality (STS PROM) was 3.2% ± 5.0%. Actual operative mortality was 2.8%. There was moderate correlation (r = 0.652) in predicted risk between XGBoost and STS PROM for the overall cohort and weak correlation (r = 0.473) in predicted risk between the models specifically in patients with operative mortality. XGBoost demonstrated improvements in all measures of model performance when compared with the STS PROM in the validation cohorts: mean average precision (0.221 XGBoost vs 0.180 STS PROM), C-index (0.808 XGBoost vs 0.795 STS PROM), calibration (mean observed-to-expected mortality: XGBoost 0.993 vs 0.956 STS PROM), accuracy (1%-3% improvement across discriminatory thresholds of 3%-10% risk), and F1 score (0.281 XGBoost vs 0.230 STS PROM). Conclusions Machine learning algorithms such as XGBoost have promise in predictive analytics in cardiac surgery. The modest improvements in model performance demonstrated in the current study warrant further validation in larger cohorts of patients.
Launching a Mohs Surgery Program.

BACKGROUND There is a paucity of data or publications in the literature on best practices for opening a new Mohs surgery unit. OBJECTIVE The goal of this article is to be a "how to" guide for starting a Mohs and dermatologic surgery practice. MATERIALS AND METHODS Two academic Mohs surgeons share their personal experiences and data from the literature. RESULTS Topics discussed include picking a location and identifying space, equipment, staffing, regulatory practices, policies and procedures, marketing and outreach, patient experience, building culture, clinic efficiency, and vision. CONCLUSION Although opening a new Mohs surgery unit is challenging, it can be rewarding to have the opportunity to develop best practices and systems that create a wonderful working environment and allow for exceptional care of patients.
When Is Enough, Enough?

During my 3 months’ rotation through the coronary care unit (CCU) as a sophomore in cardiology residency, I had to manage a wide variety of patients with different clinical presentations who were also critically ill. These were patients who presented with ST-segment elevation myocardial
Performance Restoration of a Tritium-Aged LaNi4.25Al0.75 Sample

Hydride beds containing LaNi4.25Al0.75 (LANA.75) are used to store significant quantities of tritium. These hydride beds have a limited service life due to radiolytic decay of tritium to 3He within...