cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Adoption in the Cancer Setting

Cancer survivors who wish to become parents but are unable, or choose not, to have biological children have the option to build their families through adoption. Many young adult survivors are willing to consider adoption, but need for more information. Although many would still prefer to have a biological child, one study indicated twofold higher interest in adoption among young adult female cancer survivors as compared with women in the general population. However, adoption is a complex process and decision, particularly for those with a history of cancer. Adoption processes and regulations vary widely across agencies, states, and nations, some of which may result in differential treatment of cancer survivors. The most commonly reported barriers to pursuing adoption include the high financial cost and concerns about not being perceived as a good candidate by adoption agencies. While adoption is the ideal choice for some cancer survivors, the process is arduous and requires patience and support. Oncology and reproductive health teams have an important role to play in educating and counseling their patients by providing accurate information about the adoption process and resources specific to their cancer survivor patients’ needs. This will support patients in making fully informed decisions that are consistent with their own goals, beliefs, and values.
A Novel HV-NPN ESD Protection Device with Buried Floating P-Type Implant

A novel high voltage NPN (HV-NPN) device with buried floating P-type (BFP) implant at collector side was developed for electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection in a 130nm low cost high voltage CMOS technology. The characteristics of the novel HV-NPN device using transmission line pulse (TLP) measurements show that a second snapback enhances the failure current and reduces the on-resistance at a certain high current levels. The device mechanism is illustrated with technology computer aided design (TCAD)s imulation results.
Stochastic Mirror Descent on Overparameterized Nonlinear Models: Convergence, Implicit Regularization, and Generalization

Most modern learning problems are highly overparameterized, meaning that there are many more parameters than the number of training data points, and as a result, the training loss may have infinitely many global minima (parameter vectors that perfectly interpolate the training data). Therefore, it is important to understand which interpolating solutions we converge to, how they depend on the initialization point and the learning algorithm, and whether they lead to different generalization performances. In this paper, we study these questions for the family of stochastic mirror descent (SMD) algorithms, of which the popular stochastic gradient descent (SGD) is a special case. Our contributions are both theoretical and experimental. On the theory side, we show that in the overparameterized nonlinear setting, if the initialization is close enough to the manifold of global minima (something that comes for free in the highly overparameterized case), SMD with sufficiently small step size converges to a global minimum that is approximately the closest one in Bregman divergence. On the experimental side, our extensive experiments on standard datasets and models, using various initializations, various mirror descents, and various Bregman divergences, consistently confirms that this phenomenon happens in deep learning. Our experiments further indicate that there is a clear difference in the generalization performance of the solutions obtained by different SMD algorithms. Experimenting on a standard image dataset and network architecture with SMD with different kinds of implicit regularization, l_1 to encourage sparsity, l_2 yielding SGD, and l_(10) to discourage large components in the parameter vector, consistently and definitively shows that l_(10)-SMD has better generalization performance than SGD, which in turn has better generalization performance than l_1-SMD.
Activated Michael Acceptors as Precursors to Heterocycles. 1. 2-Azetidinones from 2-(Arylsulfonyl)propenoyl Chlorides and Amines

The addition of NH3 and other primary amines to Z-3-phenyl-2-(arylsulfonyl)propenoyl chlorides gives trans-2-arylsulfonyl-3-phenyl-2-azetidinones as the major product in addition to the correspondi...
Photochemical 1,3-addition of anisole to cyclopentene. A stereospecific synthetic route to perhydroazulenes.

Eine Bestrahlung einer Mischung aus Anisol (I) und Cyclopenten (II) liefert das Addukt (III), das mit HCl zu (IV) gespalten und dann zu ) hydriert wird.
Formal Aniline Synthesis from Phenols through Deoxygenative N‐Centered Radical Substitution

Phenolic, lignin-derived substrates have emerged as desirable biorenewable chemical feedstocks for coupling reactions. A radical-mediated conversion of phenol derivatives to anilines is reported, using unfunctionalized hydroxamic acids as the N-centered radical source. The applicability of this triethyl phosphite mediated O-atom transfer approach, which tolerates a range of steric and electronic demands to naturally occurring phenols and lignin models, has been demonstrated in this work to access the corresponding aniline derivatives.
Coupled spin-charge dynamics in magnetic van der Waals heterostructures

We present a phenomenological theory for coupled spin-charge dynamics in magnetic van der Waals (vdW) heterostructures. The system studied consists of a layered antiferromagnet inserted into a capacitive vdW heterostructure. It has been recently demonstrated that charge doping in such layered antiferromagnets can modulate the strength, and even the sign, of exchange coupling between the layer magnetizations. This provides a mechanism for electrically generating magnetization dynamics. The central result we predict here is that the magnetization dynamics reciprocally results in inducing charge flows. Such dynamics makes magnetic van der Waals heterostructures interesting candidates for spintronics applications. To this end, we also show that these systems can be used to convert subterahertz-radiation-induced magnetization dynamics into electrical signals.
Translational research: turning research into advocacy

The social determinants of health are increasingly being recognized within the trauma community. These determinants are major drivers of health and have a huge impact on access to surgery and surgical disparities. As trauma surgeons, we continue to struggle with optimizing care for our patients with many social needs and struggle with trauma as a chronic disease. As we are now using public health approaches to combat complex issues such as gun violence, it is ideal to view our work in a wider context which includes addressing the root causes of trauma and advocating for our patients and our communities. In addition, we need to teach and mentor this broader approach for our students and residents.
Amikacin induces rapid dose-dependent apoptotic cell death in equine chondrocytes and synovial cells in vitro.

BACKGROUND: Equine veterinarians frequently inject aminoglycoside antibiotics intra‐articularly, either to treat septic arthritis or for prophylaxis with other medications when injecting joints for osteoarthritis. Although aminoglycosides have been demonstrated to be toxic to equine mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), their effects on resident joint cells have not been previously investigated. Moreover, safe and effective intra‐articular doses have not been defined. OBJECTIVES: To determine effects of concentration, duration of exposure, pH and the presence of synovial fluid on the cytotoxic effects of amikacin on equine chondrocytes, synoviocytes and bone marrow– and adipose‐derived MSC. STUDY DESIGN: In vitro experimental study. METHODS: Four cell types were harvested from three donor horses and plated in triplicate wells for 48 hours prior to the addition of amikacin. The effects of amikacin on cell viability were assessed for different exposure times, concentrations and with pH buffered or unbuffered in media, as well as in the presence of synovial fluid. Cell metabolism/viability was assessed by colorimetric MTT assay. Cell proliferation was assessed by live cell imaging. Cell viability was assessed using trypan blue and dimeric cyanine nucleic acid stain (yoyo‐1). To determine the mechanism of cell death, apoptosis was evaluated using Annexin V and 7AAD staining with flow cytometric quantification. Induction of apoptotic cell death pathways was assessed using caspase‐3 expression. RESULTS: Amikacin is cytotoxic to equine joint cells and MSC in a rapid, dose‐dependent, pH‐independent manner, which occurs primarily by apoptosis. Amikacin cytotoxicity was not mitigated by the addition of synovial fluid in vitro. MAIN LIMITATIONS: Further studies are necessary to determine whether these in vitro results predict joint injury in live animal models. CONCLUSIONS: Amikacin at clinically applied doses induces rapid, pronounced cell death of equine joint cells. These findings suggest that amikacin doses currently used intra‐articularly should be reconsidered pending in vivo joint titration studies.
Global trends in the evaluation and management of cerebrospinal fluid shunt infection: a cooperative ISPN survey

Ventriculoperitoneal shunts (VPS) is commonly performed by pediatric neurosurgeons and there is no consensus in management of VPS infection as it relates to diagnosis and treatment. We utilized an international practitioner-based survey to study the variability in VPS infection diagnostic and therapeutic measures. A survey gauging practice patterns of pediatric neurosurgeons regarding VPS and its complication management was distributed. Survey endpoints were analyzed by VPS case volume and pediatric-focused case volume regarding diagnostic measures, use of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) profile, microbiology, and treatment. A total of 439 surveys were distributed, with a response rate of 31%. Responders ranged from Americas (44.9%), European (31.4%), Asian (18.6%), African (2.5%), to Australian continents (2.5%). Practitioners were stratified based on number and percentage pediatric VPS performed. Institutions performing highest VPS and percentage pediatric case volumes had lower rate of VPS infection. Shunt tap was the most widely used diagnostic study. Overall CSF profile did not affect decision making towards VPS internalization, except for leukocyte count ≤ 20 × 109/L. Practitioners utilized 3 negative cultures prior to VPS internalization. Discrepancies in surgical management were noted amongst centers with high versus low VPS volume and proportion of pediatric-focused case volume. Practice patterns were not noted to be organism dependent. Antibiotic-impregnated shunts were utilized in the Americas and Europe over other regions but only in one third of all initial VPS or as a preventive strategy after a VPS infection has been resolved respectively. Survey results from 6 continents in VPS management revealed patterns of lower infection in high-volume centers, 3 negative cultures prior to internalization and aggressive surgical VPS infection management in high-volume institutions.
Bidirectional Relationship Between Food Insecurity and Housing Instability.

Abstract Background Due to the commonality of material hardship, food insecurity and housing instability are highly correlated. There is a need to assess the bidirectional relationship between food insecurity and housing instability over time. Objectives To examine the potential bidirectional associations between food insecurity and housing instability over a 2-year period. Design Two time points from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study were used to conduct an analysis on 2368 families. Participants/setting At baseline (1998-2000), researchers recruited primarily unmarried mothers after giving birth from 75 hospitals in 20 cities across the United States. Participants were followed up when the child was 3 years old (2001-2003) and 5 years old (2003-2005). Main outcomes measured Food insecurity was assessed using the 18-item US Department of Agriculture’s Food Security Survey. Housing instability was assessed using 6 items that describe housing related hardship. Statistical analyses performed Cross-lagged path analyses using structural equation modeling were conducted to test bidirectional relationship of food insecurity and housing instability over time, controlling for sociodemographic characteristics. Results Families who experienced food insecurity at time 1 were 62% higher odds of experiencing housing instability at time 2 (odds ratio: 1.624, B = 0.485, 95% confidence interval: 0.199, 0.778), controlling for time 1 housing instability, concurrent food insecurity, and covariates. Families who experienced housing instability at time 1 were 40% increased odds of experiencing food insecurity at time 2 (odds ratio: 1.404, B = 0.339, 95% confidence interval: 0.071, 0.619), controlling for food insecurity at time 1, concurrent housing instability, and covariates. Conclusions The relationships between food insecurity and housing instability were highly correlated over time, controlling for covariates that are associated with socioeconomic status. Currently, programs designed to reduce food insecurity and housing instability function in isolation. Consolidating antipoverty programs or increasing referrals to various programs may help to reduce these 2 types of economic hardships.
Early-Onset of Transthyretin Amyloidosis in a Young Afro-Caribbean Woman With Thr60Ala Mutation.

Abstract Transthyretin amyloidosis involves the deposition of transthyretin amyloid fibrils in the body. We report an unusual case of a young Afro-Caribbean woman harboring a Thr60Ala mutation who ...
Narrative Inquiry and Content Analysis of Selected Slave Narratives from the Federal Writers Project 1936-1938

The content analysis of five selected passages from Slave Narratives: A Folk History of Slavery in the United States from Interviews manifested several emergent themes. This analysis features a literature review, a purpose statement, significance, data collection, research method, research questions, findings, and a discussion. To begin, this report will look at slave narratives as microhistories of people having been born into slavery. The themes were found to encompass lack of power and identity, family units, and education. The critical theory interpretation focuses on inequities and the researcher’s engaging conversations. In the case of the slave narratives, this lens of the former slave led to transforming the reader’s knowledge about slavery and the people who experienced it.
Effect of clinical pharmacist interventions on cost in an integrated health system specialty pharmacy.

BACKGROUND: Patients who are prescribed specialty medications require close monitoring, including assessment of laboratory parameters, toxicities, and adherence. Specialty pharmacies integrated wit...
Use of 3D printing to support COVID-19 medical supply shortages: A review

The novel coronavirus, COVID-19, created a pandemic with significant mortality and morbidity which poses challenges for patients and healthcare workers. The global spread of COVID-19 has resulted in shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE) leaving frontline health workers unprotected and overwhelming the healthcare system. 3D printing is well suited to address shortages of masks, face shields, testing kits and ventilators. In this article, we review 3D printing and suggest potential applications for creating PPE for healthcare workers treating COVID-19 patients. A comprehensive literature review was conducted using PubMed with keywords “Coronavirus disease 2019”, “COVID-19”, “severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2”, “SARS-CoV-2”, “supply shortages”, “N95 respirator masks”, “personal protective equipment”, “PPE”, “ventilators”, “three-dimensional model”, “three-dimensional printing” “3D printing” and “ventilator”. A summary of important studies relevant to the development of 3D printed clinical applications for COVID-19 is presented. 3D technology has great potential to revolutionize healthcare through accessibility, affordably and personalization.
A review of the potential effects of suspended sediment on fishes: potential dredging-related physiological, behavioral, and transgenerational implications

The long-term effects of sediment exposure on aquatic organisms are poorly understood, yet it is critical for determining threshold effects and exposure limits to mitigate potential impacts with regard to population dynamics. In this paper, we present the current state of knowledge to help consolidate the breadth of information regarding total suspended solids (TSS) thresholds for aquatic species, as well as identify areas where data are lacking. More specifically, we provide the state of the science related to TSS effects on freshwater and estuarine fish including short-term (i.e., physiology and behavior) and long-term effects. Our research indicated that little attention has been given to examining long-term effects, e.g., transgenerational effects, from suspended sediments (SS) on fish populations. Understanding transgenerational effects is paramount to developing and predicting the links between fish condition, survival, populations, and communities. Survival of a local fish population to high sediment loads often translates into short-term physiological and behavioral effects; however, the ramifications of such exposure events are rarely tracked across generations. The majority of studies involving SS effects on fish have focused on exposure and mortality rates of affected fish, deposited eggs, or larvae. We developed a conceptual model that highlighted the interactions between sediment dynamics and fish populations. The model can assist in the formulation of more quantitative-based approaches for modeling these interactions. Future research efforts should focus on developing an understanding of whether environmental disturbances, e.g., dredging, may lead to epigenetic changes that may lead to cascade population effects, and if so, under what circumstances.
Nanoactuators: novel synchronous reluctance nanomachines

All synthesized to date nano- and microscale machines and actuators benefit from mimicking of biomachines. Due to nanobiomachines and nanobioactuators complexity, it is yet unknown how these rotational nanobiodevices operate. The basic physics of synchronous reluctance nanomachines is examined in this paper. These nanomachines operate due to the variable reluctance, and the torque is produced to minimize the reluctance of the electromagnetic system. This electromagnetic torque is created by the closed magnetic system in attempt to align the minimum-reluctance path of the rotor with the rotating airgap mmf. This nanoactuator has a minimum level of complexity. Nanoactuators are modeled, simulated and analyzed. The paper examines the questions of viability of the devised nanomachines studying Escherichia coli (E.coli) nanobiomotor. We further expand nanotechnology through devising new nanomachines and nanoactuators solving sequential synthesis, modeling, simulation, analysis and optimization problems. The reported concept is verified designing and fabricating a synchronous micromachine.
The regulation of fatty acid synthesis in human skin fibroblasts. Inhibition of fatty acid synthesis by free fatty acids.

Abstract The short term regulation of fatty acid biosynthesis has been studied using primary cultures of human skin fibroblasts. These cells show rapid changes in rates of acetate incorporation into fatty acids depending upon the lipid content of the medium. When cells are incubated in medium containing lipid-deficient fetal calf serum overnight and then are switched to Eagle's minimum essential medium, the rate of acetate incorporation into fatty acids is unaffected. Addition of 5 µm albumin-bound palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic, or arachadonic acids to the minimum essential medium results in a 26 to 67% inhibition in the rate of acetate incorporation depending upon the fatty acid used. These results are obtained when cells are incubated with [1-14C]acetate from 0.5 to 10.5 min after addition of fatty acid to the medium. When cells are labeled from 5 to 15 min after addition of fatty acid, there was a greater inhibition of acetate incorporation to 70 to 85%. Several lines of evidence suggest that the site of action of fatty acids is intracellular. The effect of added fatty acids on the intracellular concentration of citrate, long chain acyl-CoA compounds, and free fatty acids were measured in these cells. Long chain acyl-CoA levels and citrate levels of cells incubated in Eagle's minimum essential medium for 10.5 min are 73.3 ± 2.5 pmoles per mg of total cellular protein and 2.1 ± 0.3 nmoles per mg of total cellular protein, respectively. When albumin-bound palmitic acid at a concentration of 2.1 µm is included in the incubation medium the levels of long chain acyl-CoA compounds (69.0 ± 3.0 pmoles per mg of total cellular protein) and of citrate (1.9 ± 0.1 nmoles per mg of total cellular protein) remain unchanged despite inhibition of acetate incorporation into fatty acid by this time. Furthermore, incubation of cells in medium containing albumin-bound palmitic acid results in only slight increases in the intracellular free fatty acid levels compared to cells incubated in fatty acid-free medium. These results suggest that total cellular levels of these metabolites are not directly responsible for regulation of the rate of acetate incorporation into fatty acids.
Relationship of DNA repair capacity to species lifespan

Publisher Summary The evolutionary comparative paradigm is based on two postulates: (1) a difference in the aging rates of two similar organisms is because of a difference in the physico-chemical environments of the essential macromolecules that constitute the two organisms and (2) the parameters of the molecular environment within an organism are an expression of its genome. More specifically, the hypothesis is that the eventual fate of the organism, in terms of its rate of aging, disease susceptibilities, and life span, is primarily determined by specific genetically determined constitutive properties, both molecular and organizational, which can be measured in its youth, prior to the onset of aging and predict the impact of time on the organism—that is, serve as the biomarkers of aging. This approach is based on the belief that knowledge of these selective forces will assist in the discovery of the genetic mechanisms that effectuate evolutionary increase in lifespan and will thereby contribute to an understanding of the underlying mechanisms that control the rate of aging. The only direct proof that DNA damage is causative in aging and that DNA repair reversed this effect came from studies in Paramecium where Smith-Sonneborn showed that the life span of Paramecium could be shortened with UV (254 nm) light and restored by photoreactivation. Of the various forms of DNA repair, the most studied using the evolutionary-comparative paradigm is DNA excision repair. It has been evaluated using UV-induced unscheduled DNA synthesis or the endonuclease-sensitive site assay.
Third- and fourth-order active dispersion compensation using a phase modulator in a terabit/s OTDM transmission

The third- and fourth-order dispersions of a transmission line were simultaneously compensated for by using a phase modulator. The pulse broadening of a 380 fs pulse after a 70 km transmission in a 1.28 Tbit/s OTDM experiment was as small as 20 fs.
Access to a network channel: a survey into the unfairness problem

Network users and designers are frequently concerned about the fairness of service achieved either in the local network or in internetworking. The authors compile the basic issues, notions, and definitions of fairness in both the internetworking and intranetworking contexts from the available literature. The optimization schemes that ensure fairness and the criteria used for such optimization, as available in the internetworking literature, are discussed. In the intranetworking environment, delay and throughput are often used as the fairness parameters. Often the approach to fairness entirely depends on the protocol implementation, and hence fairness criteria should be uniquely identified for each protocol. >
Host microenvironment in breast cancer development: Epithelial-cell–stromal-cell interactions and steroid hormone action in normal and cancerous mammary gland

Mammary epithelial cells comprise the functional component of the normal gland and are the major target for carcinogenesis in mammary cancer. However, the stromal compartment of the normal gland and of tumors plays an important role in directing proliferative and functional changes in the epithelium. In vivo and in vitro studies of the murine mammary gland have provided insights into novel stroma-dependent mechanisms by which estrogen and progesterone action in the epithelium can be modulated by hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and the extracellular matrix proteins, collagen type I, fibronectin and laminin. In vitro and in vivo studies of estrogen receptor positive, estrogen-responsive human breast cancer cells have also demonstrated that estrogen responsiveness of tumor cells can also be modulated by extracellular matrix proteins, collagen type I and laminin.
Differentiating the evolution of female song and male–female duets in the New World blackbirds: Can tropical natural history traits explain duet evolution?

Female bird song and combined vocal duets of mated pairs are both frequently associated with tropical, monogamous, sedentary natural histories. Little is known, however, about what selects for duetting behavior versus female song. Female song likely preceded duet evolution and could drive apparent relationships between duets and these natural histories. We compared the evolution of female song and male-female duets in the New World blackbirds (Icteridae) by investigating patterns of gains and losses of both traits and their relationships with breeding latitude, mating system, nesting pattern, and migratory behavior. We found that duets evolved only in lineages in which female song was likely ancestral. Both female song and duets were correlated with tropical breeding, social monogamy, territorial nesting, and sedentary behavior when all taxa were included; however, correlations between duets and these natural history traits disappeared when comparisons were limited to taxa with female song. Also, likelihood values supported stronger relationships between the natural history traits and female song than between these traits and duets. Our results suggest that the natural histories thought to favor the evolution of duetting may in fact be associated with female song and that additional selection pressures are responsible for the evolution of duets.
CHARACTERIZATION OF NECTIN PROCESSING MEDIATED BY PRESENILIN-DEPENDENT GAMMA-SECRETASE

J. Neurochem. (2011) 119, 945–956. Abstract Nectins play an important role in forming various intercellular junctions including synapses. This role is regulated by several secretases present at intercellular junctions. We have investigated presenilin (PS)-dependent secretase-mediated processing of nectins in PS1 KO cells and primary hippocampal neurons. The loss of PS1/γ-secretase activity delayed the processing of nectin-1 and caused the accumulation of its full-length and C-terminal fragments. Over-expression of PS2 in PS1 KO cells compensated for the loss of PS1, suggesting that PS2 also has the ability to regulate nectin-1 processing. In mouse brain slices, a pronounced increase in levels of 30 and 24 kDa C-terminal fragments in response to chemical long-term potentiation was observed. The mouse brain synaptosomal fractionation study indicated that nectin-1 localized to post-synaptic and preferentially pre-synaptic membranes and that shedding occurs in both compartments. These data suggest that nectin-1 shedding and PS-dependent intramembrane cleavage occur at synapses, and is a regulated event during conditions of synaptic plasticity in the brain. Point mutation analysis identified several residues within the transmembrane domain that play a critical role in the positioning of cleavage sites by ectodomain sheddases. Nectin-3, which forms hetero-trans-dimers with nectin-1, also undergoes intramembrane cleavage mediated by PS1/γ-secretase, suggesting that PS1/γ-secreatse activity regulates synapse formation and remodeling by nectin processing.
Judicial Review of Copyright Examination

The article urges that judicial deference to the Copyright Office's validity determinations (positive or negative) should be influenced less by the three jurisdictional contexts (one collateral, two direct) in which they may be challenged than by evident support for its position and whether that support is legal or factual. Minimally, I hope to initiate an overdue discussion of such matters.
Reduced Thyroid Function after Thyrotropin Stimulation

The course of serum T4 and T3, return to baseline after TSH stimulation was studied in two groups at six normal subjects over 28 days after im bovine TSH (bTSH; 0.15 U/kg). In the first group of six subjects, serum bTSH rose from undetectable levels to a mean peak of 5.6 ± 0.5 ng/ml (mean ± SE) at 2 h, and fell below detectable levels by 24 h with a tfrac12 of 7 ± 1 h. T4 rose to a peak 59 ± 10% above basal levels within 24 h, returned to basal levels on day 7, then dropped below basal levels on days 9–24, with a nadir of −16 ± 4% on day 14. Free T4 paralleled T4 levels. T3 rose to a peak 104 ± 28% above basal at 24 h, then fell faster than T4, reaching basal levels by day 4. During the period of low T4, T3 was at or below basal levels. Human TSH (hTSH) concentration dropped when T4 and T3 rose, but did not rise above basal levels when T4 and T3) fell below basal levels. Neither a T3) elevation nor an increased percentage of free T4 was present during the time of reduced T4 levels. The same pattern of thy...
Passive-Logging Attacks Against Anonymous Communications Systems

Using analysis, simulation, and experimentation, we examine the threat against anonymous communications posed by passive-logging attacks. In previous work, we analyzed the success of such attacks under various assumptions. Here, we evaluate the effects of these assumptions more closely. First, we analyze the Onion Routing-based model used in prior work in which a fixed set of nodes remains in the system indefinitely. We show that for this model, by removing the assumption of uniformly random selection of nodes for placement in the path, initiators can greatly improve their anonymity. Second, we show by simulation that attack times are significantly lower in practice than bounds given by analytical results from prior work. Third, we analyze the effects of a dynamic membership model, in which nodes are allowed to join and leave the system; we show that all known defenses fail more quickly when the assumption of a static node set is relaxed. Fourth, intersection attacks against peer-to-peer systems are shown to be an additional danger, either on their own or in conjunction with the predecessor attack. Finally, we address the question of whether the regular communication patterns required by the attacks exist in real traffic. We collected and analyzed the Web requests of users to determine the extent to which basic patterns can be found. We show that, for our study, frequent and repeated communication to the same Web site is common.
Thermodynamic optimization of biomass gasifier for hydrogen production

Abstract A thermodynamic equilibrium model was used to predict the chemical composition of the products of biomass gasification. The effects of temperature, pressure, steam biomass ratio (SBR) and equivalence ratio (ER) on the equilibrium hydrogen yield were studied. Gibbs energy minimization approach was used to determine the product gas composition. Wood (designated by CH 1.5 O 0.7 ) was used as the model biomass compound and Stanjan (v 3.93L) software was used. Gasifier, the most critical component of any biomass gasification system, was modeled as an equilibrium reactor and the energy consumption and thermodynamic efficiency were determined. A first law analysis of the gasifier showed that the optimum conditions for hydrogen production occurred at a gasification temperature of 1000 K, SBR of 3, ER of 0.1. Finally, equilibrium calculations were compared with experimental data from literature which showed that for high gas residence times and high gasification temperatures there is a close match of equilibrium results with experimental ones.
Cost-effectiveness of QuantiFERON testing before initiation of biological therapy in inflammatory bowel disease.

Background Anti-TNF α drugs are known to reactivate latent tuberculosis (TB). Current guidelines recommend screening for latent TB infection (LTBI), with either tuberculin skin test (TST) or interferon gamma release assays (IGRA) such as QuantiFERON-TB Gold (QFT-G). Given the high rates of anergy to TST among immunosuppressed IBD patients, there is considerable interest in evaluating the superiority of IGRAs over TST in this patient population to diagnose LTBI. We compared the performance of TST and QFT-G for screening latent TB among immunosuppressed IBD patients based on prevalence, mortality risk from reactivation TB, and costs.
Partnership Between an Educational Institution and a Healthcare Agency—Lessons Learned: Part I

PURPOSE. The purpose of this paper is to provide a model of a partnership program between a major educational institution and a large community medical center that has become a win–win situation for both, which enabled the former to double its undergraduate nursing (BSN) program when it was on the verge of reducing enrollments by 33% because of repeated financial cuts, and a healthcare agency (HCA) to find a creative way of hiring BSN-educated registered nurses in perpetuity, thus reducing their $2 million a month recruitment expenses. PROCESS. This was a 5-year, $15 million partnership between California State University, Long Beach, School of Nursing and Long Beach Memorial Medical Center/Miller Children's Hospital. The HCA contributed the $10 million in funds and in in-kind contributions in the form of facilities and adjunct clinical professors, and the university contributed the $5 million, all in in-kind contribution by doubling the lecture classes without additional cost. The project started in the spring of 2004. CONCLUSION. To date, eight groups have graduated from this program for a total of 288 additional BSN graduates. Retention rate has been a minimum of 95%. Over 95% of the graduates have been hired by the participating HCA. Indeed, it has been a win–win situation for both.
Structural, morphological, and kinetic studies of β-amyloid peptide aggregation on self-assembled monolayers

The misfolding and aggregation of β-amyloid peptides (Aβ) into amyloid fibrils, a process that has been pathologically linked to the onset of Alzheimer's disease, is dependent on the presence of a heterogeneous surface (e.g., cell membrane). Understanding of the kinetics of amyloid fibril formation and associated structural transition from monomers to intermediates and eventually to fibrils is critical for the development of viable therapeutic agents. In this work, using circular dichroism (CD), atomic force microscopy (AFM), surface plasmon resonance (SPR), and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, we studied the adsorption, aggregation, and conformational changes of Aβ1–42 from fresh monomers to fully grown fibrils on four model self-assembled monolayers (SAMs): hydrophobic CH3-terminated SAM, hydrophilic OH-terminated SAM, negatively charged COOH-terminated SAMs, and positively charged NH2-terminated SAM. The seeding effect of Aβ1–42 on the kinetics of Aβ aggregation on different SAMs is also examined. The CD, AFM, and SPR data show that all of these SAMs greatly accelerate the formation of β-sheets and amyloid fibrils through surface-enhanced interactions, but Aβ1–42peptides preferentially adsorb on a hydrophobic CH3-SAM and a positively charged NH2-SAM with much stronger interactions than on a hydrophilic OH-SAM and a negatively charged COOH-SAM. MD simulations further reveal that hydrophobic interactions present a general driving force for Aβ adsorption on all SAMs. As Aβ aggregates grow into larger species by packing hydrophobic C-terminals to form a hydrophobic core while exposing hydrophilic and negatively charged N-terminals to solution, electrostatic interactions become more strengthened when they interact with the SAMs especially for the COOH-SAM and the NH2-SAM. Thus, both hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions contribute differently to different Aβ–SAM systems and to different aggregation stages. A postulated mechanism is proposed to describe the structure and kinetics of Aβ aggregation from aqueous solution to the SAMs, providing valuable insights into Aβ aggregation on biological cell membranes.
Distributed solar renewable generation: Option contracts with renewable energy credit uncertainty

Abstract Solar energy is rapidly emerging thanks to the decreasing installation cost of solar panels and the renewable portfolio standard imposed by state governments, which gave birth to the Renewable Energy Credit (REC) and the Alternative Compliance Payment (ACP). To make profits from the REC market in addition to reduced energy costs, more and more home and business owners choose to install solar panels. Recently, third-party financing has become a common practice in solar panel investments. We discuss optimal timing for the host to potentially buy back the solar panels after being installed for a period of time and how to incorporate the optimal timing into a power purchase agreement between the host and the third-party developer. Because the REC price is a major source of uncertainty and also due to the ACP capping the REC price, we first propose a REC price forecasting model that specifically considers the ACP values. Then by a modified real option structure, we model the buyback contract as a real option and solve it with an approximate dynamic program based Monte Carlo simulation method. We find that as the ACP value increases, the value of the buyback option also increases under optimal timing. The method used does not only apply to solar projects but also to other distributed renewable projects that are third-party financed, such as wind generations.
Grand Prairie of Illinois: cash grain farming

Editor: Paul R. Baumann Department of Geography State University of New York at Oneonta Milne Library 317 Oneonta, NY 13820, USA The agricultural heartland of North America is the Corn Belt, a vast...
Current-Driven Magnetic Excitations in Permalloy-Based Multilayer Nanopillars

We study current-driven magnetization switching in nanofabricated ${\mathrm{N}\mathrm{i}}_{84}{\mathrm{F}\mathrm{e}}_{16}/\mathrm{C}\mathrm{u}/{\mathrm{N}\mathrm{i}}_{84}{\mathrm{F}\mathrm{e}}_{16}$ trilayers at 295 and 4.2 K. The shape of the hysteretic switching diagram at low magnetic field changes with temperature. The reversible behavior at higher fields involves two phenomena, a threshold current for magnetic excitations closely correlated with the switching current, and a peak in differential resistance characterized by telegraph noise, with an average period that decreases exponentially with current and shifts with temperature. We interpret both static and dynamic results at 295 and 4.2 K in terms of thermal activation over a potential barrier, with a current-dependent effective magnetic temperature.
Brain Teaser: Encephalopathy After Stem Cell Transplantation

PRESENTATION In recent years, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation has been performed increasingly for a variety of hematologic disorders, solid tumors, and even nonmalignant disorders. One of our patients, a 53-year-old Hispanic woman with multiple myeloma, developed encephalopathy more than 1 week after autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation. She had received melphalan (200 mg/m) as the conditioning preparative regimen. On day 2 after the procedure, she had transient fever, and on day 6, she had mucositis. On day 8, she became confused and had a score of 8/15 on the Glasgow coma scale. She was intubated for airway protection on day 9.
Magnetic resonance imaging for the assessment of myocardial viability

The identification of myocardial viability in the setting of left ventricular (LV) dysfunction is crucial for the prediction of functional recovery following revascularization. Although echocardiography, positron emission tomography (PET), and nuclear imaging have validated roles, recent advances in cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) technology and availability have led to increased experience in CMR for identification of myocardial viability. CMR has unique advantages in the ability of magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) to measure subcellular components of myocardium, and in the image resolution of magnetic resonance proton imaging. As a result of excellent image resolution and advances in pulse sequences and coil technology, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be used to identify the transmural extent of myocardial infarction (MI) in vivo for the first time. This review of the role of CMR in myocardial viability imaging describes the acute and chronic settings of ventricular dysfunction and concepts regarding the underlying pathophysiology. Recent advances in MRS and MRI are discussed, including the potential for dobutamine MRI to identify viable myocardium and a detailed review of the technique of delayed gadolinium (Gd) contrast hyperenhancement for visualization of viable and nonviable myocardium.
Die Tripseudobrookitphasen Mg5Nb4O15 und Mg5Ta4O15, ein neuer Strukturtypus, und die Lichtabsorption von Co2+, Ni2+ und Cu2+ im Pseudobrookit‐ und Tripseudobrookitgitter

Die Systeme MgONb2O5 und MgOTa2O5 wurden erneut untersucht. Neben den bekannten Niobit- und Co4Nb2O9-Phasen konnten die Phasen Mg5Nb4O15 und Mg5Ta4O15 erhalten werden, die in einer Uberstruktur des Pseudobrookites mit dreifacher Elementarzelle kristallisieren. In Analogie zu TiAl2O5 konnte Ga2TiO5 mit Pseudobrookitstruktur dargestellt werden. Die Lichtabsorption der Phasen CoTi2O5, Co0,1Mg0,9Ti2O5, Co0,05Mg4,95Nb4O15 und Co0,05Mg4,95Ta4O15 zeigt eine starke Aufspaltung der Banden des [Co2+]6. Dies kann durch die Annahme gedeutet werden, das auf Co2+ ein Kristallfeld wirkt, welches als Ubergang vom Oktaeder- zum Tetraederfeld betrachtet werden kann. Demgegenuber findet man bei den Banden der Phasen Ni0,1Mg0,9Ti2O5, Ni0,05Mg4,95Nb4O15 und Ni0,05Mg4,95Ta4O15 keine Aufspaltungen gegenuber den Banden von [Ni2+]6. The systems MgO Nb2O5 and MgO Ta2O5 have been investigated. Apart from niobite and CO4Nb2O9 type compounds, the phases Mg5Nb4O15 and Mg5Ta4O15 have been obtained; they have a superstructure of pseudobrookite with a threefold unit cell. Analogous to TiAl2O5, also TiGa2O5 has the pseudobrookite structure. The light absorption of the phases CoTi2O5, Co0,1Mg0,9Ti2O5, Co0.05Mg4.95Nb4O15 and Co0.05Mg4.95Ta2O15 shows a strong splitting of the absorption bands of [Co2+]6; this is explained assuming that Co2+ interacts with a crystal field intermediate between octahedral and tetrahedral symmetry. However, in the spectra of Ni0.1Mg0.9Ti2O5, Ni0.05Mg4.95Nb4O15 and Ni0.05Mg4.95Ta4O15 no splitting of the absorption bands of [Ni2+]6 is evident.
Warthin tumor exhibiting sebaceous differentiation and necrotizing sialometaplasia

A case of a Warthin tumor exhibiting sebaceous differentiation and necrotizing sialometaplasia is presented. This case suggests a common histogenesis for the Warthin tumor and sebaceous lymphadenoma. It supports the theory that necrotizing sialometaplasia is caused by factors which compromise or obstruct the blood supply to salivary gland tissues. The literature on sebaceous differentiation in Warthin tumor and on necrotizing sialometaplasia is reviewed.
Compensation of the effects of a detector solenoid on the vertical beam orbit in a linear collider

This paper presents a method for compensating the vertical orbit change through the interaction region that arises when the beam enters the linear collider detector solenoid at a crossing angle. Such compensation is required because any deviation of the vertical orbit causes degradation of the beam size due to synchrotron radiation, and also because the nonzero total vertical angle causes rotation of the polarization vector of the bunch. Compensation is necessary to preserve the luminosity or to guarantee knowledge of the polarization at the interaction point. The most effective compensation is done locally with a special dipole coil arrangement incorporated into the detector (detector integrated dipole). The compensation is effective for both ${e}^{+}{e}^{\ensuremath{-}}$and ${e}^{\ensuremath{-}}{e}^{\ensuremath{-}}$beams, and the technique is compatible with transverse-coupling compensation either by the standard method, using skew quadrupoles, or by a more effective method using weak antisolenoids.
The problem of inherited 40Ar* in dating impact glass by the 40Ar/39Ar method: Evidence from the Tswaing impact crater (South Africa)

Abstract The Tswaing meteorite impact crater is a 1.13 km diameter structure located in the 2.05 Ga Nebo granite of the Bushveld Complex. The impact age had previously been determined by fission track dating to 220 ± 104 ka. 40Ar/39Ar step-heating and total fusion experiments performed on single- and multi-grain impact glass aliquots gave apparent ages ranging from 1.0 ± 0.3 Ma to 204 ± 6 Ma. These “ages” indicate that the radiogenic Ar derived from the target rocks has not been completely degassed as a result of the impact process, despite fusion of the target material. Results of step-heating experiments imply that the 40 Ar inherited ∗ trapped within the glass is located in two distinct reservoirs thought to be the glass matrix and fluid/vapor inclusions (or un-melted residual clasts). Calculations assuming an age of 0.2 ± 0.1 Ma for Tswaing (fission track data) reveal that the amount of inherited 40Ar*( 40 Ar inherited ∗ ) relative to the pre-impact concentration varies from 0.015% to 4.15%. The spread defined by 40 Ar inherited ∗ likely reflects the various quench rates experienced by the glass, most certainly due to the pre-impact position of the sample relative to the center of the crater. We compare the influence of 40 Ar inherited ∗ on the apparent 40Ar/39Ar age determination of five impact structures. Our calculations show that the main characteristic controlling the age offset (for a given proportion of 40 Ar inherited ∗ ) is the age difference between the impact and the target rocks (i.e., the 40Ar* concentration in the target rock). The buffer effect for a given crater structure can be predicted knowing the age of the basement and having a rough estimation of the age of the crater structure itself. The occurrence of 40 Ar inherited ∗ is likely influenced by (1) the degree of polymerization (i.e., silicate structure complexity) of the target rock and presumably related to the diffusivity of Ar in the melt and glass, (2) the Ar partial pressure at the grain boundary, (3) the quantity of energy involved in the impact, and (4) the porosity of the target rocks. For glass that inevitably suffers inherited and/or excess 40Ar*, the use of the inverse isochron technique can be appropriate but should be applied with careful statistical treatment.