cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Do Mandated Weight Loss Goals Prior to Bariatric Surgery Improve Postoperative Outcomes

Most patients pursuing bariatric surgery undergo mandated preoperative weight management programs. The purpose of this study was to assess whether preoperative mandated weight loss goals lead to improved perioperative morbidity, postoperative weight loss, and resolution of comorbidities. Data from patients who underwent primary laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB), and laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) between October 2012 and October of 2015 was reviewed. Patients were divided in two groups: those with BMI of 35–45 were not required to achieve a weight loss goal prior to surgery (no-WLG group) while those with BMI > 45 were given a weight loss goal proportionate to their weight (WLG group). Body mass index (BMI), history of diabetes mellitus type-II (DM-II), hypertension (HTN), hyperlipidemia (HLD), and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) were recorded at baseline and 4 years postoperatively. Length of hospital stay (LOS) and reinterventions were considered proxies for postoperative morbidity. A total of 776 patients, 81.4% LRYGB, were included in the study (age 45.1 ± 11.9). There was no difference in %ΔBMI, DM-II, HDL, HTN, LOS, or reinterventions among the two groups at 4 years postoperatively in both LRNY and LSG patients. This lack of difference persisted even when patients with similar BMI (43–45 vs 45.01–47) were compared. WLG group did not have decreased perioperative morbidity, nor improved weight loss and comorbidity resolution 4 years after surgery. While these findings should also be confirmed by multicenter trials, they question the value of mandated WLG prior to bariatric surgery as they seem ineffective and may limit patient access to surgery.
Population Level Outcomes of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia in the Era of Targeted Agents- Analysis of Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) Database

Background: The treatment paradigm of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) has changed significantly in the last decade with approval of multiple new targeted agents. Small molecule drugs such as ibrutinib, venetoclax, idelalisib and other targeted agents have improved the outcomes of patients with CLL treated in clinical trials. However, it is unclear if the population level outcomes of CLL have improved since the first approval of bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor Ibrutinib in February,2014. Methods: Using SEER database, we identified patients aged ≥ 20 years with pathologically confirmed CLL (ICD-0-3 code 9823/3) diagnosed between 2011-2016 and actively followed. Patients were divided into two groups by the period of diagnosis - 2011-2013, 2014-2016, reflecting the period pre-and post-ibrutinib approval. Overall survival (OS) was compared between the two groups using Kaplan-Meier method and log rank test. Cox proportional hazard regression method was used to determine the influence of period and demographic factors on OS. Statistical analysis was performed with significant two-sided p Results: A total of 30701 patients with a median age of 69 years (range 21-104) were included. Males (60.9%) and White race (80.8%) contributed to the majority as summarized in table 1. Median OS was not reached. OS at 30 months was significantly higher for patients diagnosed from 2014-2016 (83.3%) compared to those diagnosed from 2011-2013 (81.7%) (p=0.004) (figure 1). On multivariate analysis, diagnosis from 2014-2016 (HR 0.90, 95% CI 0.85-0.96, p: 0.002) and females (HR 0.74, 95% CI 0.70-0.78, p Conclusions: Survival of patients with CLL at the population level is improving since approval of Ibrutinib. Non-biological factors such as age, gender and race/ethnicity continue to influence the survival even in the era of novel agents, highlighting the need for continued research to address these discrepancies. Download : Download high-res image (134KB) Download : Download full-size image Disclosures Atallah: Jazz: Consultancy; Jazz: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy; Pfizer: Consultancy; Helsinn: Consultancy; Helsinn: Consultancy; Takeda: Consultancy, Research Funding. Hamadani: Janssen: Consultancy; Merck: Research Funding; ADC Therapeutics: Consultancy, Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Consultancy; Takeda: Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy; Sanofi Genzyme: Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Medimmune: Consultancy, Research Funding; Otsuka: Research Funding. Guru Murthy: Cardinal Health Inc.: Honoraria.
Efficient graphene-coated iron oxide (GCIO) nanoadsorbent for removal of lead and arsenic ions.

The graphene-coated iron oxide (GCIO) was used for the removal of Pb2+ and As3+ ions from aqueous solution. For the characterization of GCIO, several techniques (FTIR, XRD, EDX, SEM, TEM, TGA, DSC ...
Surface properties of cellulose nanocrystal stabilized crude oil emulsions and their effect on petroleum biodegradation

Abstract Crude oil biodegradation was improved after increasing the oil/water interfacial area via emulsification with cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) and no added surfactants. The extent of biodegradation of C15-C20 aliphatic hydrocarbons by Serratia marcescens after 5 days of incubation was increased from 1 to 12% to 6–19 %. Surface and physicochemical properties such as water salinity, presence of divalent ions and CNC concentration affect the extent of biodegradation due to their influence in emulsion stability. Stable oil in water (O/W) emulsions containing 5 v/v % crude oil and 95 v/v % brine were prepared with CNC at concentrations from 0.4 to 1.0 wt % in American Petroleum Institute (API) brine, synthetic seawater, and NaCl solutions. Creaming rate and droplet coalescence of emulsions were measured to study the impact of CNC concentration, divalent cations and ionic strength on emulsion stability. Results show a greater extent of droplet coalescence at CNC concentrations higher than 0.8 wt % for emulsions prepared in API. Coalescence was significant in API brine (ionic strength, I = 1.9 M); however, it was minimal in SSW (I = 0.65 M) and in NaCl solutions of the same ionic strength. Furthermore, no coalescence was observed in NaCl solutions at ionic strengths of 0.32, 0.65, 0.95, and 1.9 M.
Priorities and Treatment Preferences among Surgery-Naive Patients with Moderate to Severe Open-Angle Glaucoma.

Purpose To explore patients’ perspectives and experiences living with moderate to severe glaucoma through qualitative, semistructured interviews and to identify important benefits and risks that patients consider when choosing glaucoma treatments. Design Semistructured, in-person qualitative interviews with a convenience sample of patients seen at the Johns Hopkins Wilmer Eye Institute. Participants Surgery-naive patients 21 years of age or older with moderate to severe open-angle glaucoma seeking treatment at the Wilmer Eye Institute’s Glaucoma Center of Excellence between August and December 2018. Methods We conducted semistructured interviews with patients diagnosed with moderate to severe open-angle glaucoma, focusing on outcomes they prioritize when considering various treatment options. We used Atlas.ti software version 7.5.12 (Scientific Software Development GmbH, Berlin, Germany) to process interview transcripts and the framework approach to analyze the qualitative data. Main Outcome Measures Patients’ descriptions of outcomes important to them in management of moderate to severe open-angle glaucoma. Results Thirteen men and 15 women with a median age 67 years participated in the study. Compared with the mild-to-moderate glaucoma patients interviewed previously, these participants similarly emphasized (1) activities of daily living, (2) visual symptoms, (3) treatment burden, and (4) intraocular pressure (IOP) control, but unlike patients with milder disease, most related IOP control directly to (5) avoiding disease progression. Almost all (27/28) had also given significant thought to (6) surgical decision making and could describe how they would decide for or against a particular procedure. Finally, two thirds (18/28) expressed (7) significant fear and worry related to their glaucoma diagnosis. Conclusions We identified outcomes that matter to patients who are undergoing treatment for moderate to severe glaucoma, many of which may serve as end points in clinical trials, such as functional independence in vision-dependent activities of daily living, avoidance of visual symptoms, and disease progression via maintenance of IOP control. We also observed that these patients have varied and nuanced perspectives on surgical management and its outcomes. It behooves providers and trial designers to consider these in future evaluations of new treatments for moderate to severe glaucoma.
Communication Censoring in Decentralized Fictitious Play for the Target Assignment Problem

We consider a target assignment problem for a team of mobile autonomous agents. Agents utilize a wireless communication network subject to failures to determine which target each agent should cover. Being unaware of each others' locations and which targets they intend to cover, each agent has control over its mobility and communication in addition to which target they select. Given the setup, we propose a decentralized algorithm based on the distributed fictitious play algorithm in which agents reason about the selections to decide which target to select, whether to communicate or not, and where to move. Numerical experiments illustrate physical coverage of targets in finite time and the potential benefits of communication censoring.
Storage-Based Built-In Self-Test for Gate-Exhaustive Faults

Built-in self-test (BIST) approaches are suitable for in-field testing since they do not require a tester for storage and application of test data. They also reduce the security vulnerabilities associated with loading and unloading of external test data into scan chains. As technologies evolve, in-field testing needs to address more complex defect and aging mechanisms that require specific deterministic tests. This can be addressed by BIST approaches that store test data on-chip and use the data for on-chip generation of both random and deterministic tests. In this case, there is a tradeoff between the amount of stored test data and the comprehensiveness of the test set that can be applied. This article explores this tradeoff in a specific context that has the following main features: 1) the initial stored test data is based on a stuck-at test set; 2) the target faults are single-cycle gate-exhaustive faults; and 3) the stored test data is enhanced gradually by test data based on a gate-exhaustive test set to increase the coverage of gate-exhaustive faults.
Jets in Gamma-Ray Bursts: Tests and Predictions for the Structured Jet Model

The two leading interpretations of achromatic breaks that are observed in the light curves of GRBs afterglow are (1) the manifestation of the edge of a jet, which has a roughly uniform energy profile and a sharp edge, and (2) a line-of-sight effect in jets with a variable energy profile. The first scenario requires the inner engine to produce a jet with a different opening angle each explosion, while the latter requires a standard engine. The physical structure of the jet is a crucial factor in understanding GRB progenitors, and therefore discriminating the two jet scenarios is particularly relevant. In the structured jet case, specific predictions can be made for the distribution of observed break angles θbr, while that distribution is arbitrary in the first scenario. We derive the theoretical distribution for the structured jet model. Specifically, we predict the most common angle to be about 0.12 rad, in rough agreement with the sample. If this agreement holds as the sample size increases, it would strengthen the case for the standard jet hypothesis. We show that a prediction of this model is that the average viewing angle is an increasing function of the survey sensitivity and in particular that a mission such as Swift will find the typical viewing angle to be about 0.3 rad. The local event rate predicted by this model is RGRB(z = 0) ~ 0.5 Gpc-3 yr-1.
A Bayesian Approach to Real-Time Dynamic Parameter Estimation Using PMU Measurement

In this work, we develop a polynomial-chaos-expansion (PCE)-based approach for decentralized dynamic parameter estimation through Bayesian inference. Using this approach, the non-Gaussian distribution of the inverted parameters is obtained. More specifically, we first represent the decentralized generator model with the PCE-based surrogate. This surrogate allows us to efficiently evaluate the time-consuming dynamic solver at parameter values through Metropolis-Hastings (M-H)-based Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC). Then, we propose a two-stage hybrid Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) to recover a posteriori distribution of the decentralized generator model parameters. In the first stage, we use the gradient-enhanced Langevin MCMC algorithm to characterize an intermediate posterior parameter distribution. This algorithm is computationally scalable to the high-dimensional parameter space. Based on the intermediate posterior distribution, during the second stage, we use the adaptive MCMC algorithm to fine-tune the strong correlations between the parameters. Finally, the fully recovered a posterior distribution is obtained in the end. The simulation results show that the proposed PCE-based hybrid MCMC algorithm can accurately and efficiently estimate the high-dimensional generator dynamic model parameters with full probabilistic distribution provided
Effects of Air-Entraining Admixtures on Stability of Air Bubbles in Concrete

AbstractEffects of synthetic and neutralized vinsol resin (NVR) air-entraining admixtures (AEAs) were compared through air-content measurements of freshly mixed concrete, hardened cylinders, and co...
Across-subjects multiple baseline trial of exposure-based cognitive-behavioral therapy for severe irritability: a study protocol

Introduction Irritability is defined as a tendency towards anger in response to frustration. Clinically, impairing irritability is a significant public health problem. There is a need for mechanism-based psychotherapies targeting severe irritability as it manifests in the context of disruptive mood dysregulation disorder (DMDD). This study protocol describes a randomised multiple baseline design testing the preliminary efficacy of a new treatment, exposure-based cognitive-behavioral therapy for severe irritability in youth, which also integrates components of parent management training. We will investigate associations of this intervention with primary clinical measures, as well as ecological momentary assessment measures. Methods and analysis Forty youth will be enrolled. Participants, aged 8–17 years, must present at least one of two core symptoms of DMDD: abnormal mood or increased reactivity to negative emotional stimuli, with severe impairment in one domain (home, school, peers) and moderate in another, or moderate impairment in at least two domains. Each participant is randomised to a 2-week, 4-week or 6-week baseline observation period, followed by 12 active treatment sessions. Clinical ratings are conducted at baseline, biweekly (clinician), weekly (parent/child) throughout treatment, post-treatment, and 3-month and 6-month follow-up (clinician). Clinician ratings on the Affective Reactivity Index and Clinical Global Impressions-Improvement scale for DMDD are our primary outcome measures. Secondary outcome measures include parent and child reports of irritability. Post hoc additional symptom measures include clinician, parent and self-ratings of depression, anxiety and overall functional impairment. Prospective, digitally based event sampling of symptoms is acquired for a week pre-treatment, mid-treatment and post-treatment. Based on our pathophysiological model of irritability implicating frustrative non-reward, aberrant threat processing and instrumental learning, we probe these three brain-based targets using functional MRI paradigms to assess target engagement. Ethics and dissemination The research project and all related materials were submitted and approved by the appropriate Institutional Review Board (IRB) of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). Trial registration numbers NCT02531893 and NCT00025935.
Association of high-affinity autoantibodies with type 1 diabetes high-risk HLA haplotypes.

OBJECTIVE ECL assays are high-affinity autoantibody (Ab) tests that are more specific than Abs detected by traditional radiobinding assays (RBA) for risk screening and prediction of progression to type 1 diabetes. We sought to characterize the association of high-risk HLA haplotypes and genotypes with electrochemiluminescence (ECL) positivity and levels in relatives of individuals with type 1 diabetes. METHODS We analyzed 602 participants from the TrialNet Pathway to Prevention Study who were positive for at least one RBA diabetes related Ab (GADA or IAA) and for whom ECL and HLA data were available. ECL and RBA Ab levels were converted to SD units away from mean (Z-scores) for analyses. RESULTS Mean age at initial visit was 19.4+13.7 years; 344 (57.1%) were female and 104 (17.3%) carried the high-risk HLA- DR3/4*0302 genotype. At initial visit 424/602 (70.4%) participants were positive for either ECL-GADA or ECL-IAA, and 178/602 (29.6%) were ECL negative. ECL and RBA-GADA positivity were associated with both HLA-DR3 and DR4 haplotypes (all p<0.05), while ECL and RBA-GADA z-score titers were higher in participants with HLA-DR3 haplotypes only (both p<0.001). ECL-IAA (but not RBA-IAA) positivity was associated with the HLA-DR4 haplotype (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS ECL-GADA positivity is associated with the HLA-DR3 and HLA-DR4 haplotypes and levels are associated with the HLA-DR3 haplotype. ECL-IAA positivity is associated with HLA-DR4 haplotype. These studies further contribute to the understanding of genetic risk and islet autoimmunity endotypes in type 1 diabetes.
Curbside Service Subways

Currently proposed on-call (or demand actuated, or Personal Rapid Transit) systems cannot safely provide the desired line capacities. Scheduled trains lack the desired privacy, direct routing, and short trip time, while subways are penalized by the high cost and social undesirability of underground stations. The concept of curbside service subways reconciles these conflicting considerations to make on-call subway systems competitive in cost and performance for all classes or urban transportation. Characterizing features are: (1) small cable-driven vehicles circulating in a network of underground guideways; (2) headway maintenance by regularly spaced cable lugs; (3) vertical switching to and from offline stations at street level; (4) gravity braking and acceleration; and (5) level descent from stations. Safe headways of 0.5 sec at 30 mph appear possible with line capacities approaching 30,000 passengers per hr for four passenger vehicles. The inexpensive curbside stations can be spaced less than a block apart.
Trade Cumulus Observations

The first systematic series of observations in trade cumulus was carried out in the 1950s and 1960s by the Woods Hole Group (Riehl et al. 1951), followed by the National Hurricane Research Project (Brown 1959; Simpson, 1983a), who were attempting to determine the basic dynamical structure of the clouds and to document the evolution of warm rain. They were followed by large-scale boundary-layer experiments combining satellite, ship, and aircraft observations {the Atlantic Tradewind Experiment (ATEX) (Augstein and Ostapoff 1974), the Barbados Oceanographic and Meteorological Experiment (BOMEX) (Holland and Rasmussen 1973), and two experiments focused on the Hawaiian rainbands [the Joint Hawaii Warm Rain Project (JHWRP) (1985) and the Hawaiian Rainband Project (HaRP) (1991)]}. In addition, several individual observers (Takahashi 1977, 1981; Takahashi et al. 1989; Warner 1955, 1969, 1970b, 1971, 1973b, 1977) contributed very detailed and systematic aircraft studies of trade-wind cumulus. Many of these measurements are summarized and discussed in the reviews by Simpson (1983a,b,c). In this chapter we synthesize the data collected on the structure of the trade-wind sounding and the spatial and temporal distributions of dynamic, thermodynamic, and microphysical properties of the individual clouds and cloud clusters.
Cerebral Small Vessel Disease, Hypertension, and Cognitive Function

Vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) is a heterogeneous condition arising from a variety of neurovascular pathology, including large vessel ischemic infarction, hemorrhage, and the combination of cerebrovascular and Alzheimer’s pathology (1). However, VCI is primarily associated with subcortical gray and white matter pathology arising from small vessel disease. Hypertension is a major factor in the development of small vessel disease. In this chapter, we will focus on linkages between hypertension, small vessel disease, cognitive decline, and dementia.
Pattern of Amino Acid Requirements in Humans: An Interspecies Comparison using Published Amino Acid Requirement Recommendations

We undertook an interspecies comparison of essential (indispensable) amino acid requirements, in relation to those for total protein, to examine whether the current, internationally proposed human amino acid requirement patterns are significantly different from those of other animals. Data were compiled in their original form and then expressed as mg amino acid/g total dietary protein (N X 6.25) required (amino acid requirement pattern). Patterns of requirements within the various species were organized according to four, arbitrary age-developmental groupings (very young, early growth, growth and mature), and these were compared with the requirements for (a) human infants, (b) 2-5 year old children, (c) 10-12 year old children and (c) adults, respectively. Statistical comparisons determined if significant differences existed between humans and other species, at apparently similar age-development stages, for both the total and for individual indispensable amino acids. The sum of the specific indispensable amino acid requirements for humans was significantly different than that for other species at infancy, growth and adulthood; the greatest differences, however, were for the amino acid requirement pattern in adulthood. The change between the very young and adult was the greatest for humans. Some of this difference might be due to experimental factors, including the biological status of a species within the arbitrary groupings described and the criteria used to determine "requirements." Nevertheless, it is difficult to escape the conclusion that the current international human amino acid requirements, for adults in particular, appear to be anomalous when judged against data for other animal species.
Investment in Education—Inputs and Incentives*

From the point of view of economic development, education is the acquisition of knowledge and skills through experiences from conception onwards over the life cycle that increase productivity broadly defined. Education can occur through, but is not limited to, formal educational activities such as preschool programs, schools, and formal training programs. The proximate determinants of education are experiences or inputs into knowledge and skills production functions. Within a dynamic forward-looking model of human capital investments, these experiences are determined sequentially by a series of family or individual decisions given past, current and expected future resources, markets, policies, and other institutions. The context in which these microinvestment demands are made, in turn, reflects decisions of suppliers of services that are explicitly related to education as well as of options that may be importantly related to education through other experiences, such as in labor markets. To understand the nature of inputs and incentives related to education in developing countries, attention must be paid to both the demand and the supply sides for investments in education, both of which are conditioned significantly by policy choices. Therefore, there are numerous important policy questions related to educational inputs and incentives. What are critical inputs into different educational processes? How important are various incentives for improving these inputs? How effective are various demand-side policies versus supply-side policies? How important are policies that have direct impact on input decisions versus policies that alter longer-run incentives to invest in current education through altering expected longer-run returns from such investments? What are the benefits relative to the resource costs of alternative policies for improving educational inputs? This chapter assesses the current state of empirical knowledge, and gaps in that knowledge, on educational incentives and inputs in developing countries as related to such questions.
Human Factors Research Issues for the Integration of ITS Devices

This paper presents a summary of the activities and results of a human factors review for the Intelligent Vehicle Initiative (IVI) Program. Focus was on identifying human factors that need to be addressed early on in the life cycle of the IVI program. The project was conducted in two phases. The first phased involved a workshop which identified: state-of-the-art technologies applicable to IVI vehicles, human factors issues associated with each technology, and specific human factors research needs. The second phase of the project focused on a preliminary infrastructure and human factors in-vehicle requirements for alternative configurations of an IVI.
Press Coverage of Blacks and the Black Community: The Minority Legislators' Perspective.

This mail survey of black elected officials in state legislatures looked at black elected officials' views on white Press coverage of the black community, evaluation of the black elected officials' own relationships with the white Press, and ways that these black elected officials think that the white Press can improve coverage of news about blacks and the black community. Coverage of the black community was seen generally as insensitive, incomplete and inappropriate. The black elected officials endorse increased hiring of black reporters and editors and several other steps aimed at improving black news coverage. Discrimination in coverage was seen as extending beyond crime news, to include education news, business and industry, and news of the professions. These black elected officials felt the white Press favored white officeholders, and the sense of being discriminated against is greatest among black legislators from larger communities. The study concludes that the Kerner Commission recommendation for ...
Diffusion Coefficient of So2 in Air

(1971). Diffusion Coefficient of So2 in Air. Environmental Letters: Vol. 2, No. 1, pp. 13-21.
The Representation of War in German Literature: War and the media: Jelinek

CLOV: If I could kill him I'd die happy. (Pause) HAMM: What's the weather like? CLOV: As usual. (Beckett, Endgame ) So is. Jetzt is Krieg und da gibts keine Wurschtel. Karl Kraus, Die letzten Tage der Menschheit (That's it. It is war now, there's not going to be any fuss.) In an essay entitled “Islam and Violence” (Islam und Gewalt), published in taz in December of 2001, the Austrian writer Elfriede Jelinek claims that the violence of 9/11 awakened in her a desire for violent revenge. She then expresses her determination to renounce this desire and support tolerance and freedom of religion. But she also declares her firm resolve to resist what she calls Islamic fascism – “Aber wer will mich daran hindern, dem islamischen Faschismus entgegenzutreten wie ich jedem Faschismus entgegentreten wurde?” (But who wants to prevent me from opposing Islamic fascism just as I would oppose every kind of fascism) – and laments the lack of outspoken criticism of terrorism by Islamic leaders. In particular, Jelinek takes exception to the treatment of women: “immer immer die Gewalt gegen Frauen, die offenbar eines nie zu suhnenden Verbrechens schuldig sind, blos weil sie uberhaupt da sind, daher mus man sie verbergen, aber fur Vergewaltigungen sind sie immer noch gut genug” (always always violence against women who are apparently guilty of a crime that can never be atoned, simply because they exist at all, therefore one has to hide them, but when it comes to rape they are still good enough).
Electrocatalytic properties of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) in Li-O2 battery

The catalytic activity of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) was investigated during oxygen reduction/evolution reactions in Li–O2 batteries. PEDOT was prepared by in situ chemical polymerization of 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene monomer in carbon matrix. PEDOT significantly reduces the overvoltage of the charging process in a Li–O2 battery. The electrocatalytic effect of PEDOT can be attributed to its redox activity. Apparently, PEDOT acts as a mediator in electron transfer during discharge and charge processes.
Proteins: A challenging many-body problem

Abstract Proteins are the biopolymers that perform essentially all functions in living systems. They are many-body systems with properties far different from those of the condensed matter that is usually considered by physicists. From the viewpoint of physics, the most important property is the energy landscape. Recent experimental and theoretical work suggests that the energy landscape is arranged in a hierarchy, but the details remain to be discovered.
Genetics and genomics in the practice of medicine.

The completion of the human genome sequence, and the understanding of the genes encoded by it, is resulting in a new era in medicine. It is now recognized that human beings are more similar than they are different, and the extent of heritable human genetic variation is currently being cataloged. In addition, cells or tissues may acquire genetic and genomic changes during pathogenic processes such as cancer. These differences play important roles in both susceptibility to disease and the response of an individual to particular drugs or therapeutic regimens. The ability to use individual genetic profiles to predict, prevent, and prognosticate disease, as well as identify effective therapies with little or no adverse reactions, is termed “personalized medicine.” We believe that personalized medicine has the potential to transform the practice of medicine and have a significant impact on the health of the entire population. Some would argue that medicine has always been personalized. Physicians observe a patient’s clinical features, make an educated guess as to the cause with the assistance of various diagnostic tools, and treat those features according to best practice. Personalized medicine stands to be improved greatly through the incorporation of genetics and genomics. Genetic markers of disease are often definitively diagnostic and are often present before the onset of clinical symptoms. With genetic information in hand, treatment might be made more effective through earlier initiation, optimal therapy can be determined through a precise understanding of the disease molecular pathogenesis, or onset might be prevented altogether.
Forest fires may cause cooling in boreal Canada

As climate in North America continues to become warmer and drier through the 21st century, a new study finds that fire may be playing an increasingly important role in shaping the climate of the boreal regions of Canada. Forest fires change the amount of shortwave radiation absorbed by Earth's surface by reducing vegetation cover and changing the composition of plant species, thereby changing the reflectivity of the surface (albedo). Fires also affect other ecosystem processes and increase aerosol (particularly soot) emission and deposition, all of which alter regional climate through a series of feedbacks mechanisms. Jin et al. used satellite observations of surface albedo from 2000 to 2011 and fire perimeter data since 1970 to study how forest fires affect surface albedo and associated shortwave radiation at the surface, across forests in boreal Canada.
Quantitative comparison of single-isotope and dual-isotope stress-rest single-photon emission computed tomographic imaging for reversibility of defects

Background Dual-isotope rest/stress single-photon emission computed tomographic (SPECT) imaging is a time-saving imaging protocol. However, the stress radiotracer, technetium 99m-labeled sestamibi, and the rest radiotracer, thallium 201, have different physical properties and myocardial kinetics. In patients with abnormal resting myocardial perfusion, these differences may affect quantification of rest defect size and defect reversibility. The purpose of the study was to compare myocardial perfusion defect reversibility quantitatively by single-isotope (rest/stress sestamibi) and dual-isotope (rest thallium/stress sestamibi) SPECT.
Calculations of diffusion in FCC binary alloys using on-the-fly kinetic Monte Carlo

Abstract We present a systematic, microscopic approach to diffusion for intermetallic alloys using accelerated molecular dynamics. On-the-fly kinetic Monte Carlo is combined with an efficient saddlepoint search to find the saddlepoints exiting a valley, based on energetics from the embedded atom method. With this technique, we compute the tracer diffusivities, migration energies, short-range order and long-range order as a function of composition and temperature for examples of moderately ordered (Cu 3 Au), weakly ordered (Au–Ag) and weakly clustered (Cu–Ni) alloys. We find that away from any critical temperature, the calculations produce reliable results, but when critical behavior dominates the approach is overcome by critical fluctuations.
A new mechanism of crack closure in cathodically protected ASTM A710 steel

Crack tip shielding by crack closure mechanisms is well known to retard near-threshold fatigue crack growth in structure steels. When high-strength low-alloy steels are immersed in aqueous chloride or marine environments, they must be cathodically protected to prevent excessive corrosion and degradation of fatigue resistance. This paper examines two competing mechanisms that may contribute to near threshold corrosion fatigue crack growth in cathodically protected marine structural steels. The crack propagation rates are compared with microstructural observations of the corrosion fatigue crack paths in order to identify possible mechanisms contributing to near-threshold crack growth.
Simulation of climate–host–parasite–landscape interactions: A spatially explicit model for ticks (Acari: Ixodidae)

Abstract Ticks (Ixodidae) are important vectors of pathogens that affect humans, and methods to reduce impacts of vector-borne pathogens usually involve tick control. Improving the efficacy of such methods requires an understanding of climate–host–parasite–landscape interactions which is difficult to obtain from empirical observations alone. We developed a spatially explicit, individual-/agent-based, stochastic model that can simulate the spatial-temporal dynamics of ticks in response to changes in climatic conditions, landscape structure, and host community composition. As a case study, we parameterized the model to represent the lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum (L.)) under ecological conditions typical of the south-central United States. We evaluated general model performance and examined model sensitivity to broad changes in climatic conditions, landscape structure, and host community composition, and then demonstrated application of the model by simulating the effect of a hypothetical greenbelt placed within a real landscape near Houston, Texas, USA on the exposure of humans to ticks. The model generated appropriate trends in densities of ticks in both off-host and on-host life stages in response to typical seasonal changes in densities of small-, medium-, and large-sized hosts, and mean numbers of ticks in each life stage on each size of host were appropriate given the seasonal progression of the tick life cycle. Simulated tick populations also responded appropriately to broad changes in climate, landscape structure, and host community composition. Simulated tick densities increased within the greenbelt soon after its establishment, and densities of off-host larvae, nymphs, and adults all were significantly higher in a small meadow (the “park”) with versus without the greenbelt; without greenbelt, the park was completely surrounded by urban development. Our model should prove useful in exploring the role of host community characteristics in the maintenance of tick populations, and associated vector-borne diseases, in nature and in evaluating the potential efficacy of novel methods of tick control.
Merits and limitations of quantitative treadmill exercise score

This study examined the ability of the treadmill exercise score (TES) in determining the presence and extent of coronary artery disease (CAD). The score was derived from the integrated area of ST segment depression and ST slope in two leads (V5 and a VF), corrected for R wave amplitude, exercise time, and percent of maximum predicted heart rate. The ST segment depression was measured at 80 msec after the J point. There were 34 patients with no significant CAD, 38 patients with one-vessel CAD (greater than or equal to 50% diameter stenosis), and 58 patients with multivessel CAD. The TES showed a considerable scatter in patients with and without CAD. A receiver operating characteristic curve showed different levels of sensitivity and specificity, depending on the cut-point. The TES was similar to ST segment depression in detecting CAD (predictive accuracy, 77% vs 78%, p = NS). A markedly abnormal score (less than -1.0) was seen in 41 patients, of whom 32 (78%) had multivessel CAD. On the other hand, a score greater than 0 was seen in 49 patients, of whom 40 (82%) had no or one-vessel CAD. In 40 patients with TES between -1.0 and 0, 17 (43%) had multivessel CAD and 23 (57%) had no or one-vessel CAD. In 51 patients with nondiagnostic ST changes, the TES correctly classified the extent of CAD in 20 patients (40%). Thus, the TES has a similar accuracy to the ST segment depression criteria in detecting CAD. The extent of CAD can, however, be ascertained in 80% of the patients with very high or very low TES.
Photodetecting and electronic properties of poly(2-methoxy-5-(2´-ethylhexyloxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene)-ethyl viologen dibromide blended thin film diodes

Abstract Photodetectors operating in the visible spectrum have been realized using composites of the semiconducting polymer poly(2-methoxy-5-(2′-ethylhexyloxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene) (MEH-PPV) and the organic material ethyl viologen dibromide (EVD). Active polymer-organic thin film thicknesses were ∼ 70 nm. The external quantum efficiency of the MEH-PPV/EVD blend photodiodes was found to be twice that of pure MEH-PPV devices. The increase in photoconductivity of blended MEH-PPV/EVD photodiodes may be due to ultra fast charge transfer by EVD dication. The breakdown voltage was dependent on the EVD concentration and ranged between − 12 and − 20 V. Hysteresis behavior was observed in studied devices and could be due to a charge trapping.
Liquid tritioammonia as a tritiating agent

Tritioammonia, 10 Ci/g, tritiated piperidine, 5-hydroxytryptophan, glutamine, and asparagine by refluxing at −35 °C. Within 1.5 to 6 hours the specific activities reached 0.02, 0.775, 1.24 and 2.48 mCi/mmole, purified. Cyclooctatetraene was not exchangelabeled under these conditions. For liquid-scintillation counting of tritioammonia, ortho-bromobenzoic acid in toluene-dioxan served well. Autoradiolysis was no problem.
Murine Model for Dengue Virus-Induced Lethal Disease with Increased Vascular Permeability

Lack of an appropriate animal model for dengue virus (DEN), which causes dengue fever and dengue hemorrhagic fever/dengue shock syndrome (DHF/DSS), has impeded characterization of the mechanisms underlying the disease pathogenesis. The cardinal feature of DHF/DSS, the severe form of DEN infection, is increased vascular permeability. To develop a murine model that is more relevant to DHF/DSS, a novel DEN strain, D2S10, was generated by alternately passaging a non-mouse-adapted DEN strain between mosquito cells and mice, thereby mimicking the natural transmission cycle of the virus between mosquitoes and humans. After infection with D2S10, mice lacking interferon receptors died early without manifesting signs of paralysis, carried infectious virus in both non-neuronal and neuronal tissues, and exhibited signs of increased vascular permeability. In contrast, mice infected with the parental DEN strain developed paralysis at late times after infection, contained detectable levels of virus only in the central nervous system, and displayed normal vascular permeability. In the mice infected with D2S10, but not the parental DEN strain, significant levels of serum tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-) were produced, and the neutralization of TNF- activity prevented early death of D2S10-infected mice. Sequence analysis comparing D2S10 to its parental strain implicated a conserved region of amino acid residues in the envelope protein as a possible source for the D2S10 phenotype. These results demonstrate that D2S10 causes a more relevant disease in mice and that TNF- may be one of several key mediators of severe DEN-induced disease in mice. This report represents a significant advance in animal models for severe DEN disease, and it begins to provide mechanistic insights into DEN-induced disease in vivo.
On the economic rationale for codetermination law

Abstract This paper develops a positive (efficiency) economic case for codetermination law resting on the correction of labor and capital market and organizational failures. A legally mandated codetermination structure is shown to provide employee ‘checks’ on several structural incentives for management opportunism. Codetermination is shown to offer advantages for technical efficiency, skill development and knowledge generation through its protection of specific human capital investments. Financial markets cannot enforce codetermination due to a set of free rider problems.
Blood volume following acute ethyl alcohol ingestion in dogs.

There are conflicting reports regarding blood volume change following alcohol administration. Variations have been reported which are of sufficient magnitude that they could influence any acute circulatory study in which large volumes of alcohol are administered. In these experiments a simple method utilizing a single injection of radioiodinated serum albumin (RISA) was devised. This technique minimizes errors inherent in methods employing multiple injections of RISA. In eight dogs, hematocrit, blood alcohol, and plasma volume were determined at intervals following oral administration of 2 g/kg ethanol (40% v/v in saline) or an equal volume of saline. Blood alcohol peaked at 152 mg/100 ml 3 hr following ingestion. During the 6 hr experimental period there were no significant alterations in hematocrit or plasma volume in either the saline or alcohol treated dogs. These data support the view that blood volume fluctuations are inconsequential in acute cardiovascular experiments performed during 6 hr following ingestion of ethyl alcohol as described above.
A survey of applied robotics for the power industry in Brazil

Currently, the power industry in Brazil is a system with many public and private companies competing by market rules and regulated by an specific agency (ANEEL). The legal mark for the power industry defines the Research and Development (R&D) Program of the Power Sector. By a Federal Law companies operating under concession, permission or authorization of the government in distribution, transmission or power generation should apply a minimum percentage of their net operational revenues in research and development. The power companies have the decision on which project to fund, but they do not conduct the R&D themselves. Instead, they should apply the resources by contracting a national research and development institution. The results are evaluated by ANEEL, an if not considered appropriate, the resources are considered as not applied and should be applied again in another project in the next year. A significant amount of resources from the R&D programs, have been used to fund the development of robotic devices. This paper presents a survey of those developments.
Reading Strategies for Students With Mild Disabilities

Teaching children with mild disabilities to read can be a challenging task for even the most seasoned teacher. In order to be successful, teachers need to be knowledgeable about the big five of rea...
Structure of neutron-rich s-d shell nuclei

States in neutron-rich s-d shell nuclei were populated in the reaction of a 14C beam at Elab=22 MeV on a 14C target. Coincidences between γ rays and either other γ rays or light charged particles were measured. γ rays in coincidence with protons established levels at 66.8, 1730, 1823, and 2219 keV in 27Na. The states are compared with calculations based on the s-d shell model and the cranked Nilsson-Strutinsky model. A number of levels in 24Ne were observed in both α-γ and α-γ-γ coincidences and are compared with shell-model calculations.
Constitutively active mutants of rhodopsin

Two critical amino acids in the visual pigment rhodopsin are Lys-296, the site of attachment of retinal to the protein through a protonated Schiff base linkage, and Glu-113, the Schiff base counterion. Mutation of Lys-296 or Glu-113 results in constitutive activation of opsin, as assayed by its ability to activate transducin in the absence of added chromophore. We conclude that opsin is constrained to an inactive conformation by a salt bridge between Lys-296 and Glu-113. Recently, one of the mutants, K296E, was found in a family with retinitis pigmentosa, suggesting that degeneration of the photoreceptor cells in individuals with this mutation may result from persistent stimulation of the phototransduction pathway.
The role of evanescent states in quantum transport through disordered mesoscopic structures

Abstract The influence of evanescent states on phase-coherent electron transport through disordered mesoscopic structures is examined. These states are found to play a critical role in transport, especially if the structures are heavily disordered and the scattering potentials are attractive, rather than repulsive. We present results from our study of the effect of evanescent states on Anderson localization and conductance fluctuations in disordered semiconductor nanostructures.
The general visceral efferent component of the eighth cranial nerve.

Study of the brain stem, stato-acoustic nerve, and inner ear of the mouse by a cholinesterase technique has disclosed that the acetylcholinesterase-positive centrifugal fibers to the inner ear are part of a general visceral efferent system which supplies fibers to the facial, vestibular and cochlear nerves. This system largely corresponds in its central course to that of the bundle of fibers which has been called “olivocochlear”, but its cells of origin do not appear to lie in the superior olivary complex. Instead, the preganglionic cells of origin are chiefly organized into four nuclei: one medial to the genu of the facial nerve; one lateral to the genu; the superior salivatory nucleus; and a small nucleus lying within the borders of the lateral vestibular nucleus. The fibers to the inner ear synapse, perhaps completely, on postganglionic cells located along their peripheral courses. Additionally, orthosympathetic acetylcholinesterasepositive fibers are present in the cochlear nerve; they arrive via the anterior inferior cerebellar artery. Postganglionic fibers supply not only vascular walls and secretory epithelium in the inner ear but also (1) contact the somata of some acetylcholinesterase-positive, bipolar cochlear neurons and (2) ramify among, or terminate upon distal, acetylcholinesterase-positive processes of some sensory neurons at the foramina nervosa. These finding indicate that, on morphological grounds, autonomic nerve activity may influence auditory input at the periphery.