cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Psychosocial Influences on Immunity

It is now known that the immune system is in intimate and continuous interaction with the central and peripheral nervous systems, and that this interaction is bidirectional. This realization has led to empirical support for the long-suspected idea that psychological and social factors are associated with disease processes, and has given rise to a new scientific discipline – psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) – which is focused on establishing links between psychosocial factors (including personality, psychopathology, coping, and environmental events) and disease-relevant immune processes, such as inflammation and immunization; understanding the physiological mechanisms associated with those links; and quite recently, using this information therapeutically.
Research Information Requirements Associated with the Environmental Fate and Effects of Organotin Compounds

This chapter identifies, delineates, and prioritizes research information requirements relative to the environmental ramifications associated with organotin compounds. The lack of appropriate priorities for strategic planning and managing research has been a serious problem for the evaluation of highly toxic organotin compounds. Degrees of scientific uncertainty have always reduced or eroded the confidence of policy and decision makers. This uncertainty points to the necessity for improved and standardized risk characterization protocols, which need to be developed to improve ecological risk assessment and management. The focus of future requirements for long-term research information for organotin compounds should be on (1) quantification of the sources and loading levels of TBT in the environment; (2) delineation of the dispersion rates, processes, and transport mechanism; (3) characterization of the exposure pathways to selective target organisms of high risk; (4) assessment of the factors influencing bioavailability and biological uptake mechanisms; (5) identification and characterization of degradation rates and metabolic pathways; (6) quantification of relationships between laboratory studies of cause and effects, and effects found in the field; (7) development of rapid and inexpensive low-level advanced analytical protocols; (8) numerical modeling and prediction of ecosystem concentrations; (9) development of standard reference materials; and (10) risk assessment protocols.
Assessing Refugee Poverty Using Capabilities Versus Commodities: The Case of Afghans in Iran

This study is among the first to calculate poverty among one of the world’s largest refugee populations, Afghans in Iran. More importantly, it is one of the first to use capability and monetary approaches to provide a comprehensive perspective on Afghan refugees’ poverty. We estimated poverty using data collected from a sample of 2,034 refugee households in 2011 in Iran. We utilized basic needs poverty lines and the World Bank’s absolute international poverty line for our monetary poverty analyses and the global Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) for our capability analyses of poverty. Findings show that nearly half of the Afghan households were income-poor, approximately two percent of the households had less than USD 1.25 per person per day, and about 28% of the surveyed households were multidimensionally deprived. Results suggest that 60% of the income-poor households were not deprived from minimal education, health, and standards of living based on the MPI criteria, and about 32% of the multidimensionally deprived households were not income-poor. These findings call for more attention to poverty measurement methods, specifically for social workers and policy makers in the field, to gain a more realistic understanding about refugees’ wellbeing.
Consent by residence: A defense:

The traditional view according to which we adults tacitly consent to a state’s lawful actions just by living within its borders—the residence theory—is now widely rejected by political philosophers...
Characterization and expression analysis of two cDNAs encoding Xa1 and oxysterol binding proteins in sorghum (Sorghum bicolor)

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, or call (800) 795- 3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). Â Mention of a trademark or proprietary product does not constitute a guarantee or warranty of a product by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and does not imply its approval to the exclusion of other products that may also be suitable.
Voir l’audible, aspirer à l’invisible inaccessible : l’hypotypose comme adaptation aux règles classiques dans la dramaturgie hagiographique française du XVIIe siècle

During the 17th century, the establishment of neo-Aristotelian rules imposed restrictions on French dramatic art. At the same time, dramatists created a number of hagiographic plays, seemingly incompatible with the purified classical stage. How could one limit the multivalent life of their protagonists to twenty-four hours? How could one perform the focal point of lives of saints, that of their deaths, without transgressing the necessary bienseance and vraisemblance? Hypotyposis complemented the protagonists’ narratives in the hagiographic corpus. Through the description of conversion and martyrdom, the plot could be supplemented and understood by the spectators. Additionally, these vivid descriptions inspired the conversion of secondary characters. This article will address how dramatists used hypotyposis to adapt hagiographic plays to the dramatic restrictions of their time.
A Patient-Centered Mobile Intervention to Promote Self-Management and Improve Patient Outcomes in Chronic Heart Failure: The ManageHF Trial

Introduction Heart failure (HF) is the most common hospital discharge diagnosis among older adults. As a result, the management of HF is moving toward a proactive real-time technological model of assisting patients with monitoring and self-management. Hypothesis Our hypothesis was that a patient-centered mobile application, ManageHF, would reduce Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ) at 6 and 12 weeks post-hospital discharge compared to usual care. Methods A single-center randomized controlled trial was performed. Patients were included if they were greater than 45 years of age, had a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) 40% (with LA size >40 mm or BNP > 200 pg/ml or NT-proBNP > 800 pg/ml) and were currently admitted or recently discharged for acute on chronic decompensated HF. Patients were excluded for any of the following: unstable coronary syndromes within 8 weeks, primary valvular heart disease, constrictive pericardial disease, uncorrected thyroid disease, dialysis or creatinine >4.0 mg/dL, a hospice candidate, active cancer, pulmonary fibrosis, discharged to a setting other than home, or required a chronic inotrope. The intervention group used a mobile application, ManageHF, along with a Fitbit wearable and scale. The mobile application prompted active self-monitoring and provided a health status indicator to promote self-management. The control group received usual care. The primary outcome was the change in MLHFQ from baseline to 6 and 12 weeks using mixed models. Secondary outcomes were the Self-Care Heart Failure Index (SCHFI) questionnaire and HF admissions. Results Eighty-two patients were enrolled and completed all baseline assessments. Baseline characteristics were similar between groups with the exception of HF type. The intervention group had a reduced MLHFQ at 6 weeks (p=0.026) but not at 12 weeks (p=0.61) compared to control (Figure). There was no effect of the intervention on the SCHFI or any of its subcomponents at 6 or 12 weeks. The time to first HF admission was not statistically different between the two groups (HR 0.85, 95% CI 0.36-2.0, p=0.71). Median number of days the intervention group performed self-monitoring was 63 days. Conclusion ManageHF improved MLHFQ at 6 weeks, but did not sustain its effects at 12 weeks. No effect was seen on self-care measured by SCHFI. Further research is needed to enhance engagement in the app for a longer period of time and to determine if the app can reduce HF admissions in a larger study.
Vascular complications of pancreatitis

Hemorrhage is one of the most life-threatening complications of pancreatitis. It is usually due to erosion of a major pancreatic or peripancreatic vessel with massive bleeding into the gastrointestinal tract or abdominal cavity, or to formation and subsequent rupture of an arterial pseudoaneurysm. In addition, the inflammatory process of pancreatitis may cause thrombosis of the portal vein or its main tributaries, the splenic and superior mesenteric veins, resulting in compartmental portal hypertension with gastric, mesenteric, or colonic varices. Variceal hemorrhage is not an uncommon vascular complication of pancreatitis. The use of the newer, noninvasive imaging modalities of US, duplex Doppler US, and bolus-dynamic CT; earlier use of diagnostic and therapeutic angiography; and a more aggressive surgical approach have led to significant reductions in morbidity and mortality rates for patients with vascular complications secondary to pancreatitis. The radiologic diagnosis of vascular complications can be accomplished with US, CT, and angiography. US and CT may show formation of arterial pseudoaneurysms, evidence of hemorrhage into a pancreatic pseudocyst or fluid collection, or portal venous thrombosis with development of varices. The presence of flow in a pseudoaneurysm, or absence of flow due to portal venous thrombosis, can be confirmed by contrast-enhanced dynamic CT or duplex Doppler US. Angiography should be utilized in all patients, if possible, to show the precise site and source of bleeding. Although active bleeding can be diagnosed only by detection of contrast extravasation, the source of bleeding often can be identified by demonstration of an underlying vascular abnormality, such as a pseudoaneurysm or varices. Patients who are hemodynamically stable and who have angiographic evidence of bleeding can be treated with transcatheter embolization. This may result in permanent control of the bleeding, providing definitive treatment, or temporary control, thus allowing surgery to be performed on an elective or semi-emergent basis. Patients who are unstable or who have vascular involvement that is not amenable to transcatheter embolization should have emergency surgery. Preoperative angiography should be performed prior to surgery, if possible. Angiography can show the surgeon the exact vessel involved, as well as the surrounding vascular anatomy, thus facilitating the surgical approach. In selected patients, occlusion balloon catheters can be employed to obtain hemostasis during or after pancreatic surgery.
Electronic Medical Record in the Neurocritical Care Unit

Neurocritical care is a data-driven discipline which requires evaluation and treatment of complex patients in whom many types of clinical data exist. The electronic medical record plays a central role in organizing and presenting this data to the clinician. In this chapter, we will review the elements of the electronic medical record that are important for neurocritical care and highlight the common decisions that can be made based on the electronic medical record. We will explore some of the commonly available legacy systems that exist and highlight what these systems provide and what they don’t provide.
Packing density, homogeneity, and regularity: quantitative correlations between topology and thermoresponsive morphology of PNIPAM-co-PAA microgel coatings

Abstract This study investigates the formation of monolayers of microgel particles comprising poly[(N-isopropylacrylamide)-co-(acrylic acid)] on solid substrates, their surface morphology, and stimuli-responsiveness. Crosslinked microgels with different chemical composition were produced to show a broad range of responses in hydrodynamic radius and degree of self-assembly with temperature and pH. Microgels were deposited on silicon wafers primed with a bilayer of poly(octadecene-alt-maleic anhydride) and polyethyleneimine by either incubation or spin coating of aqueous suspension of microgels at different temperature and pH. The characterization of the microgel-coated wafers led to the identification of three metrics describing microgel arrangement: density (ρ); heterogeneity (H), which correlates strongly with ρ and depends on deposition temperature and pH with statistical significance, but not on microgel composition; and packing efficiency (PE), which portrays the regularity of microgel arrangement and exhibits no correlation with ρ nor H. The values of ρ, H, and PE calculated for in silico models of microgel coatings confirmed that these three metrics portray distinct characteristics of surface topology. Finally, profilometry analysis showed that microgel coatings respond to thermal stimuli with sensible variations in surface roughness; notably, the thermal variation of roughness correlates strongly with ρ and H, and to a lesser extent with PE.
Habitual Ethanol Seeking and Licking Microstructure of Enhanced Ethanol Self-Administration in Ethanol-Dependent Mice.

Background A significant component of ethanol (EtOH) dependence is the disruption to decision-making processes. Prior work has shown EtOH dependence biases habitual seeking of EtOH and disrupts neural mechanisms supporting decision-making. This has contributed to the hypothesis that habitual EtOH seeking in EtOH dependence may promote excessive habitual or compulsive EtOH consumption. However, decision-making and behavioral processes underlying seeking and consummatory behaviors differ. Here, we examine the microstructure of EtOH consummatory behavior in the context of habitual EtOH seeking. Methods Following home cage pre-exposure to EtOH, C57Bl/6J mice underwent 4 rounds of chronic intermittent EtOH (CIE) or air exposure. Following acute withdrawal, mice began training for operant self-administration of 15% EtOH. Training consisted of 16-hour sessions in which mice were trained in a random ratio (RR) schedule of reinforcement for 30-second access to the EtOH sipper. To test for CIE-induced changes in action control, we used sensory-specific satiation and assessed the effect of outcome devaluation on EtOH seeking. Importantly, the use of a lickometer during operant training allowed us to measure the microstructure of lick behavior. Results Prior induction of EtOH dependence led to increased EtOH seeking, consumption, and an insensitivity to outcome devaluation, the latter indicative of habitual EtOH seeking. We also found altered consummatory lick patterns in CIE-exposed mice compared to Air controls. While CIE mice had significantly more licks in a burst and a longer burst duration, there were no differences in the total number of bursts compared to Air controls. Furthermore, these EtOH consummatory behaviors correlated with blood EtOH concentrations (BECs), while EtOH-seeking responses did not. Conclusions Our results confirm that EtOH dependence can produce habitual EtOH seeking and suggests the increased EtOH consummatory behaviors following EtOH dependence are separable from decision-making processes controlling EtOH seeking.
#TechAddicted: Understanding Problematic Internet Use in Adolescents.

1. Anna F. Jolliff, MS* 2. Megan A. Moreno, MD, MSEd, MPH* 1. *Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI With the increasing availability and use of digital and electronic media, researchers have increasingly focused on quantifying its healthy and unhealthy uses. From this effort have emerged tools to define and detect problematic use of media and technology. The vast majority of this research and related tools pertain specifically to media that are connected to the Internet, such as online gambling, Internet gaming, and social media. Problematic Internet use (PIU) has become an important public health issue among adolescents, and thus it is relevant to pediatricians. Early work and definitions of electronic addiction focused on the concept of Internet addiction. Definitions of Internet addiction were directly translated from the diagnostic criteria associated with other types of addiction, such as alcohol use disorder. Most models of Internet addiction include symptoms associated with substance misuse, such as using the Internet to regulate one’s mood or loss of control while using the Internet. Somewhat lacking from this framework, however, has been an acknowledgment that use of the Internet can be problematic and clinically significant in the absence of outcomes or features traditionally associated with addiction to chemical substances. In the past decade, PIU has emerged as the preferred construct in the literature and in clinical settings. In contrast to the narrow focus of Internet …
Abstract A25: Activating alterations of p110 subunits determine PI3K isoform selectivity in prostate cancer

Oncogenic activity of PI3K mutated tumors is often dependent on different PI3K isoforms. In breast cancer PI3Kα activating mutations are dominant drivers, whereas in PTEN-deficient prostate cancer such activity is thought to be driven by PI3Kβ. In particular, loss of PTEN function is seen in 40% of metastatic prostate cancer patients, which remains a challenging clinical problem. Recent success of selectively targeting PI3Kα or PI3Kβ to treat disease caused by hyperactivation of PI3K pathway sheds light on further developing such agents to a boarder disease spectrum. Yet relatively little is known about how different PI3K isoforms are selected as dominant drivers in different genetic and pathologic contexts. Here we use multiple prostate cancer cell lines and organoid models to study the mechanisms of PI3K isoform dependency in prostate cancer. We found PI3K isoform dependency is not always correlated with PTEN status across a panel of prostate cancer models in which different levels of PI3K signaling are observed. However, such dependency can be shifted towards either PI3Kα or PI3Kβ in the presence of its corresponding activating alteration, regardless of its original isoform dependency. Interestingly, such PI3K isoform activating alteration is able to further enhance PI3K signal in the setting of PTEN loss. PI3Kα mutant models are more sensitive to the α selective inhibitor BYL719 while PI3Kβ mutant models are more sensitive to the β selective inhibitor AZD8186. Besides, we found that PI3Kα mutant prostate tumors are sensitive to PI3Ksy inhibition by AZD8186 at a high dosage both in vitro and in vivo. High dose of AZD8186 also inhibits PI3K signaling in PI3Kα mutant breast cancer models. These data raise the possibility that the PI3Kβ selective inhibitor AZD8186 can also target PI3Kα at a high dose. In an ongoing clinical trial at MSK, a prostate cancer patient with PI3Kα mutation also responded to PI3Kβ inhibition. This finding reveals a new mechanism of how PI3K activating mutations determine PI3K isoform selectivity regardless of PTEN status. Results from this study also present new opportunities to treat cancer patients with PI3Kα or PI3Kβ inhibition. Citation Format: Zeda Zhang, Ninghui Mao, Young Sun Lee, Dan Li, Neal Rosen, Charles Sawyers, Brett Carver. Activating alterations of p110 subunits determine PI3K isoform selectivity in prostate cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Targeting PI3K/mTOR Signaling; 2018 Nov 30-Dec 8; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Res 2020;18(10_Suppl):Abstract nr A25.
Activity of a subset of vesicular GABA-transporter neurons in the ventral zona incerta anticipates sleep onset.

Study objectives Sleep and wake are opposing behavioral states controlled by the activity of specific neurons that need to be located and mapped. To better understand how a waking brain falls asleep it is necessary to identify activity of individual phenotype-specific neurons, especially neurons that anticipate sleep onset. In freely behaving mice, we used microendoscopy to monitor calcium (Ca2+) fluorescence in individual hypothalamic neurons expressing the vesicular GABA transporter (vGAT), a validated marker of GABA neurons. Methods vGAT-Cre mice (male = 3; female = 2) transfected with rAAV-FLEX-GCaMP6M in the lateral hypothalamus were imaged 30 days later during multiple episodes of waking (W), non-rapid-eye movement sleep (NREMS) or REMS (REMS). Results 372 vGAT neurons were recorded in the zona incerta. 23.9% of the vGAT neurons showed maximal fluorescence during wake (classified as wake-max), 4% were NREM-max, 56.2% REM-max, 5.9% wake/REM max, while 9.9% were state-indifferent. In the NREM-max group, Ca2+ fluorescence began to increase before onset of NREM sleep, remained high throughout NREM sleep, and declined in REM sleep. Conclusions We found that 60.2% of the vGAT GABA neurons in the zona incerta had activity that was biased towards sleep (NREM and REMS). A subset of vGAT neurons (NREM-max) became active in advance of sleep onset and may induce sleep by inhibiting the activity of the arousal neurons. Abnormal activation of the NREM-max neurons may drive sleep attacks and hypersomnia.
Pathways and Guidelines: An Approach to Operationalizing Patient Safety and Quality Improvement

The reduction of unnecessary variability is a key component to attaining high reliability, as has been demonstrated in other industries outside of healthcare and addressed elsewhere in this text. Clinical pathways and guidelines have been used as a tool to mitigate unnecessary variability in clinical care. The most successful clinical pathways and guidelines are much more than just algorithms to standardize clinical care, however. At their minimum, they are representations of an evidence- and consensus-based approach to care, and at their best, they are clinical and analytic tools that drive safety, quality, outcomes, and organizational strategy. This chapter will utilize a case-based approach to describe the essential elements of successful clinical pathways and guidelines. The case vignettes will pose examples of several different organizational strategic opportunities with a discussion of how clinical pathways are an essential component of the solution. The chapter will provide the reader with tools to build a team and outline a development process that will lead to effective measurement and data dissemination to drive improvement. Finally, this chapter will demonstrate the widespread impact of successful clinical pathways throughout the organization.
Transitioning solid-state batteries from lab to market: Linking electro-chemo-mechanics with practical considerations

Summary Li-metal solid-state batteries (SSBs) are promising candidates to supplant Li-ion batteries for a variety of different applications, including electric vehicles, due to their potential to provide a stepwise improvement in performance and safety. However, the benefits of SSBs are also accompanied by a unique set of challenges, which currently hinder their widespread commercialization. This perspective provides an overview of some of these unique challenges and their connection to the electrochemical, thermal, and mechanical properties of the SSB materials. Recent advances in understanding and overcoming these challenges are discussed. In an effort to establish more rigorous manufacturing, performance, and operation specifications, insights were solicited from three global automakers. In this context, we emphasize the importance of further mechanistic understanding of these systems using consistent testing protocols and data analysis methods, guided by practical input and design criteria proposed by automakers and other industrial parties.
Modern radiation techniques in early stage breast cancer for the breast radiologist.

Partial breast irradiation (PBI) and ultra-hypofractionated whole breast irradiation (uWBI) are contemporary alternatives to conventional and standard hypofractionated whole breast irradiation (WBI), which shorten treatment from 3 to 6 weeks to 1-2 weeks for select patients. PBI and accelerated PBI (APBI) can be delivered with external beam radiation (3D conformal radiation therapy (3D-CRT) or intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT)), intraoperative radiation (IORT), or brachytherapy. These new radiation techniques offer the advantage of convenience and lower cost, which ultimately improves access to care. Globally, the COVID 19 pandemic has accelerated APBI/PBI and ultra-hypofractionated regimens into routine practice for carefully selected patients. Recent long-term data from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have demonstrated these techniques are safe and effective in suitable patients demonstrating equivalent or improved local recurrence, acute/late toxicity, and cosmesis. PBI and APBI should be limited to low risk unifocal invasive ductal carcinoma and ductal carcinoma in situ with tumor size < 2 cm, clear margins (≥2 mm), ER+, and negative nodes. Based on the results from UK Fast-Forward and UK FAST ultra-hypofractionated breast radiation can be safely employed for early stage node negative patients, but is not yet considered an international standard of care. In this review, authors will appraise recent data for these shorter course radiation treatment regimens, as well as, considerations for breast radiologists including surveillance imaging and radiographic findings.
An Interactive Robot Platform for Introducing Reinforcement Learning to K-12 Students.

As artificial intelligence (AI) plays a more prominent role in our everyday lives, it becomes increasingly important to introduce basic AI concepts to K-12 students. To help do this, we combined the physical (LEGO® robotics) and the virtual (web-based GUI) worlds for helping students learn some of the fundamental concepts of reinforcement learning (RL). We chose RL because it is conceptually easy to understand but received the least attention in previous research on teaching AI to K-12 students. Our initial pilot study of 6 high school students in an urban city consisted of three separate activities, run remotely on three consecutive Friday afternoons. Students’ engagement and learning were measured through a qualitative assessment of students’ discussions and their answers to our evaluation questions. Even with only three sessions, students were optimizing learning strategies, and understanding key RL concepts and the value of human inputs in RL training.
Critical Illness Neuromyopathy: Risk Factors, Compound Muscle Action Potentials, and Outcome (P03.146)

OBJECTIVE: We evaluate, independently and cumulatively, the frequency of CINM risk factors and their influence on electrodiagnostic findings and outcome in a large cohort. BACKGROUND: Critical illness neuromyopathy (CINM) is a frequent complication of critical illness, resulting in increased morbidity and mortality. Prolongation of compound muscle action potential (CMAP) duration and numerous risk factors have been associated with the disorder. DESIGN/METHODS: Patients diagnosed with CINM from 1994-2011 were identified. Clinical, laboratory, and electrodiagnostic findings were recorded. Traditional risk factors for CINM were identified. Outcome measures included post-hospital ambulatory status, modified Rankin Scale Score (mRS), and length of hospital stay. RESULTS: 59 patients were identified with an average age of 58 (median = 60.5, range 21 – 91); 29 were females. Average number of risk factors present per patient was 7.8/10.8. Creatine kinase levels were mildly elevated in 8/52 and creatinine values were low in the majority of patients. Of the traditionally recognized risk factors, hyperglycemia and liver failure were independently associated with a worse ambulatory status at discharge. Electrodiagnostic studies were performed in all patients, with evidence of myopathy only and 27 had evidence of both myopathy and peripheral neuropathy. The presence of peripheral neuropathy was not associated with worse clinical outcome. However, patients with a higher numbers of risk factors were associated with higher post-hospital mRS, worse ambulatory status, and longer hospital stay. CONCLUSIONS: This retrospective study of a large cohort of patients with critical illness suggests: 1) hyperglycemia and liver failure independently correlate with worse clinical outcomes; 2) CINM is associated with low creatinine levels; 3) the presence of multiple clinical risk factors correlate with electrodiagnostic findings and worse clinical outcomes. Disclosure: Dr. Kramer has nothing to disclose. Dr. Boon has nothing to disclose. Dr. Harper has nothing to disclose. Dr. Goodman has nothing to disclose.
Managing Nonrecurring Congestion

Nonrecurring congestion accounts for over half of all traffic delays in the United States [1] and accounts for up to 2/3 of traffic delays in urban areas larger than one million population [2].
10 The Calculus of Variations, Functional Analysis, and Optimal Control Problems

Publisher Summary The calculus of variations has a venerable place in the history of mathematics and physics. This chapter develops some of the relationships between the classical calculus of variations and the part of functional analysis that is called “abstract analysis,” and shows how the abstract approach simplifies the derivation of classical results. The chapter introduces another subject of the present research in mathematics and engineering—optimal control theory. It is generally recognized that many of the problems of optimal control theory are subsumed by the classical results of the calculus of variations. Conversely, many basic problems in the calculus of variations can be restated as optimal control problems. The chapter reviews how this equivalence is established and applies the methods of abstract analysis to certain general problems in optimal control theory and thus arrives at theorems in the calculus of variations. The chapter shows how these abstract methods can be used to construct practical methods of solving optimal control problems. The chapter considers some specific examples that arise in orbital mechanics concerned with low-thrust rocket trajectories.
On the Stochastic Control of Quantum Ensembles

Over the last 50 years quantum mechanics has come to be applied in very sophisticated ways. Some of these applications involve the control and observation of quantum systems using subtle noncommutative effects. However only recently has there been any attempt to look at these from a control theory perspective. In this paper we cast some of the main ideas from Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) as applied to imaging and spectroscopy in a system theoretic framework. For example, NMR spectroscopy is taken to be a system identification problem. Many key aspects of high resolution NMR spectroscopy involve manipulating and controlling nuclear spins in such a way as to generate a suitable signal for the identification problem. This active control of nuclear spin is presented as a problem in the control of nonlinear systems.
Genetic and Biological Aspects of Zebu Adaptability

The utility and documentation of traits and characteristics of Zebu, Bos indicus, cattle in beef production in the United States are discussed with reference to adaptation. Zebu cattle are uniquely suited to hot climates due to coat, hide, skin and hematological attributes. Form, growth and physiological aspects are unique genetic attributes which are different from those of Bos taurus cattle. Compared with Bos taurus cattle, Zebu cattle are lower in reproduction, later maturing, slower growing and lower in beef quality. Zebu cattle are valuable in crossbreeding, with adaptive aspects transmitted and large amounts of heterosis in growth, maternal effects and reproductive traits.
A Snake in the Nest or in a Snake's Nest: What Counts as Peer Review for a Female Science Educator in a Chemistry Department?.

Prior to my appointment as a feminist science educator in a chemistry and biochemistry department, I engaged in a discussion with my future colleagues and peers on the criteria for evaluating my tenure and promotion application. This paper discusses that process and the cultural and social capital I garnered through external funding of research projects and the publications. These activities rely on peer review, however, the question is raised who is considered a peer for a feminist science educator? I also highlight an ongoing concern that there are currently few women chemists at the higher levels of peer review in the United States and the implications this has for junior female faculty.
Bounds on Entries in 3-Dimensional Contingency Tables Subject to Given Marginal Totals

Problems in statistical data security have led to interest in determining exact integer bounds on entries in multi-dimensional contingency tables subject to fixed marginal totals. We investigate the 3-dimensional integer planar transportation problem (3-DIPTP). Heuristic algorithms for bounding entries in 3-DIPTPs have recently appeared. We demonstrate these algorithms are not exact, are based on necessary but not sufficient conditions to solve 3-DIPTP, and that all are insensitive to whether a feasible table exists. We compare the algorithms and demonstrate that one is superior, but not original. We exhibit fractional extremal points and discuss implications for statistical data base query systems.
Effects of Mergers in Two-Sided Markets: Examination of the U.S. Radio Industry

This paper studies mergers in two-sided markets by estimating a structural supply-and-demand model using data from the 1996-2006 merger wave in U.S. radio. It makes two main contributions. First, it identifies the conflicting incentives of merged firms to exercise market power on both sides of the market (listeners and advertisers). Second, it disaggregates the effects of mergers into changes in product variety and changes in supplied ad quantity. I find that between 1996 and 2006 listener welfare increased by 0.2% ( 0.3% from extra variety, -0.1% from changes in ad quantity) and advertiser welfare decreased by 21% per-year (it is composed of 17% drop from variety changes, and extra 5% drop from ad quantity adjustments).
Practical use of the spatial coherence function for determining laser transverse mode structure

The spatial coherence function of a beam exiting from a wave-guiding device can be used to determine the transverse modal composition of the fields which are supported within the structure. The strength of the spatial coherence technique is that it directly yields the relative modal weights which exist within the cavity. While this technique has received little attention in the past due to the experimental difficulties in measuring spatial coherence, a recently developed technique overcomes several of these problems. We demonstrate how the relative modal amplitudes may be extracted from the spatial coherence function for the case where the field distribution is described by Hermite-Gaussian polynomials. We point out some limitations of this method and discuss how these may be circumvented.
Earthquake sounds generated by body-wave ground motion

Simultaneous recordings of acoustic pressure waves and seismic body waves were obtained for three earthquakes of magnitude 2.0, 2.6, and 2.8 in the Imperial Valley, California, at hypocentral distances of 7 to 8 km. The recordings show that an acoustic signal with frequencies between 50 and 70 Hz begins within 0.02 sec of the P -wave arrival and gradually dies out by the time of the S -wave arrival about 2 sec later. These recordings are consistent with reports that a low rumbling sound frequently accompanied earthquakes in the January 1975 swarm. They also explain reports that the sound was often heard several seconds before the earthquakes were felt in that perceptible shaking apparently begins with the S wave for local earthquakes of magnitude less than about 3. Calculations of the transmission coefficients for seismic P and SV waves converted to acoustic waves at the Earth's surface confirm that body-wave ground motion from local earthquakes is sufficient to generate audible acoustic pressure waves.
Predictors of readmission after outpatient otolaryngologic surgery

Objectives/Hypothesis Hospital readmissions increase costs to hospitals and patients. There is a paucity of data on benchmark rates of readmission for otolaryngological surgery. Understanding the risk factors that increase readmission rates may help enhance patient education and set system-wide expectations. We aimed to provide benchmark data on causes and predictors of readmission following outpatient otolaryngological surgery. Study Design This study is a retrospective analysis of the 2011 National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) dataset. Methods NSQIP was reviewed for outpatients with “Otolaryngology (ENT)” as their recorded surgical specialty. Readmission was tracked through the “Unplanned Readmission” variable. Patient characteristics and outcomes were compared using chi-square analysis and student t tests for categorical and continuous variables, respectively. Multivariate regression analysis investigated predictors of readmission. Results A total of 6,788 outpatient otolaryngological surgery patients were isolated. The unplanned readmission rate was 2.01%. Multivariate regression analysis revealed superficial surgical site infection (odds ratio [OR] 2.672, confidence interval [CI] 1.133-6.304, P = .025) and work relative value units (RVU) (OR .972, CI .944–1, P = .049) to be significant predictors of readmission. Conclusion Outpatient otolaryngological surgery has an associated 2.01% unplanned readmission rate. Superficial surgical site infection and work RVUs proved to be significant positive and negative risk factors, respectively, for readmission. These findings will help to benchmark outpatient readmission rates and manage patient and hospital system expectations. Level of Evidence 2c. Laryngoscope, 124:1783–1788, 2013
Jointing around magmatic dikes as a precursor to the development of volcanic plugs

Basaltic volcanic eruptions typically initiate as fissures fed by dikes. In some cases, eruptions become localized through discrete vents, until the flow is sustained through a single vent underlain by a volcanic plug, at which point, the eruption is capable of delivering much greater volumes of magma to the surface. Existing theories to explain flow localization focus on the relationship between non-uniform dike thickness and variations in magma flow rates. Here, we propose a mechanism for conduit widening that precedes flow localization, and we present geologic evidence from an Oligocene-aged dike-plug system at Ship Rock, New Mexico. We use techniques of structure from motion to map 621 joints in the sedimentary rock adjacent to the intrusions and find that these joints are part of a systematic set oriented perpendicular to the dikes and localized to within a meter of the dike contacts. This joint set, along with a set of dike-parallel joints and the bedding planes, divides the strata into rectangular blocks that subsequently are entrained in the flowing magma to widen the dikes. Using field and lab data and a stress analysis, we show that the dike-perpendicular joints are intimately associated with the emplacement of magma and thermal pressurization of pore fluids in the host rock. This fracturing process is a precursor to entrainment of the host rock and sustained flow through discrete vents.
MULTISTEP PREDICTION OF PANEL VECTOR AUTOREGRESSIVE PROCESSES

This paper considers the conventional recursive (otherwise known as plug-in) and direct multistep forecasts in a panel vector autoregressive framework. We derive asymptotic expressions for the mean square prediction error (MSPE) of both forecasts as N (cross sections) and T (time periods) grow large. Both the bias and variance of the least squares fitting are manifest in the MSPE. Using these expressions, we consider the effect of model specification on predictor accuracy. When the fitted lag order (q) is equal to or exceeds the true lag order (p), the direct MSPE is larger than the recursive MSPE. On the other hand, when the fitted lag order is underspecified, the direct MSPE is smaller than the recursive MSPE. The recursive MSPE is increasing in q for all q ≥ p. In contrast, the direct MSPE is not monotonic in q within the permissible parameter space. Extensions to bias-corrected least squares estimators are considered.
Fluxes of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons to Green Bay and Lake Michigan Sediments

Seven sediment cores from Green Bay and Lake Michigan were analyzed for 210Pb, 137Cs, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in order to determine the historical records of 12 PAH compounds. The present study is the first to document detailed PAH fluxes including recent (1980s) trends for Lake Michigan cores, and to compare these fluxes with measurements of atmospheric PAH fluxes. Subsurface maxima of total PAH and benzo(a)pyrene flux profiles are observed in the sediments corresponding to the mid 1950s and ∼1985. The 1985 maximum appears to be related to recent increases in petroleum usage. Anthracene may undergo significant photooxidation in the water column. While sediments in the open lake receive PAHs primarily through the atmosphere, near-shore sediments, for example in Green Bay, receive PAHs through other pathways as well as through the atmosphere. PAH and total organic content as measured by loss on ignition (LOI) are correlated in near-shore sediments (R = 0.5 – 0.8, n ∼ 15, p 0.10). The ratio of phenanthrene to anthracene indicates that the remote sediment cores receive PAHs with modified PAH composition compared to that of the original sources.
Summer SCIENCE—Enhancing High School Science through Polymers

Science Courses for Integration and Enhancing New Curriculum in Education, a six-week summer program for high school students, veteran high school teachers, university professors, graduate students, and pre-service teachers, stimulates and promotes interest as well as learning in the content area of science through a unique combination of reading exercises and hands-on scientific discovery activities based on natural and synthetic polymers. Students are exposed to the relevancy of polymer science in their own lives through career fairs, research activities, and interaction with the local polymer industry.
Performance assessment modeling of pyrometallurgical process waste-forms

Abstract Performance assessment analyses have been completed to estimate the behavior of high-level nuclear waste-forms generated from the pyrometallurgical processing of liquid metal reactor (LMR) and light water reactor (LWR) spent nuclear fuel. Waste emplaced in the proposed repository at Yucca Mountain is investigated as the basis for the study. The resulting cumulative actinide and fission product releases to the accessible environment within a 100,000 year period from the various pyrometallurgical process wasteforms are compared to those of directly disposed LWR spent fuel using the same total repository system model. The impact of differing radionuclide transport models on the overall release characteristics is investigated.
Comparative pharmacokinetics and interspecies scaling of amphotericin B in several mammalian species

This study employed several interspecies scaling methods, to evaluate the applicability of extrapolating to man, pharmacokinetic information obtained from animals for amphotericin B, an anti-fungal drug. Pharmacokinetic parameters from four animal species (mouse, rat, monkey and dog) and man were obtained from the literature or from analysis of data reported in the literature. The allometric relationships (obtained from four animal species) as a function of species body weight (W; kg) for systemic clearance per maximum life span potential (CLS/MLP), steady-state volume of distribution (VSS), apparent volume of distribution (V beta) and volume of the central compartment (VC) were: 5691W1.096; 2.46W0.839; 3.08W0.948 and 1.07W0.965, respectively. The allometric relationships for half-life (h) and mean residence time (h) did not scale well with body weight. The prediction of pharmacokinetic parameters in man from the allometric equations do not always agree with those reported in the literature which are based upon a limited number of studies with few human subjects. The plasma concentration-time profiles from these animals were adjusted by normalizing the concentration with dose/W0.948, and re-plotted on different pharmacokinetic time scales. The syndesichrons plot produced an almost superimposable profile of adjusted concentrations as a function of adjusted time among the four species.
301 SERIAL CALCITONIN SERUM CONCENTRATIONS IN PREMATURE INFANTS DURING THE FIRST 12 WEEKS OF LIFE

Serum human calcitonin (HCT) is highest within the first 48 hrs. of life. In term infants, HCT decreased to a mean ± S.E. of 151 ± 22 pg/ml at 1 week of age. Premature infants, however, had 225 ± 40 pg/ml. Twelve small premature infants were followed for 3 months to see if elevations of HCT persisted. Birth weight and gestation were 1123 ± 218 gm (760-1600 gm) and 30 ± 2.5 weeks (27-34 wks.). As shown below, moderate to severe osteopenia was present at 6 weeks of age. Hypocalcemia, elevations in serum alkaline phosphatase, and elevations in serum PTH with amino aciduria were frequent during the first 9 weeks. Serum HCT slowly fell, but remained elevated in 9/12 infants at 3 months. HCT may play an important role in the mineralization of infant bone and elevated serum HCT persists in the premature. The stimulus to HCT secretion during this period is presently unknown.
Thermodynamics of fission products in UO2+-x

The stabilities of selected fission products-Xe, Cs, and Sr-are investigated as a function of non-stoichiometry x in UO(2 ± x). In particular, density functional theory (DFT) is used to calculate the incorporation and solution energies of these fission products at the anion and cation vacancy sites, at the divacancy, and at the bound Schottky defect. In order to reproduce the correct insulating state of UO(2), the DFT calculations are performed using spin polarization and with the Hubbard U term. In general, higher charge defects are more soluble in the fuel matrix and the solubility of fission products increases as the hyperstoichiometry increases. The solubility of fission product oxides is also explored. Cs(2)O is observed as a second stable phase and SrO is found to be soluble in the UO(2) matrix for all stoichiometries. These observations mirror experimentally observed phenomena.
THE CAPACITY OF THE N.S.W. PIG MARKET TO ABSORB POSSIBLE INCREASES IN NORTH COAST PIG PRODUCTION

Likely changes in gross income to farmers on the north coast of N.S.W. from an expansion of pig production are considered in the light of estimated demand conditions and the forecast future production of grain fed pigs in inland areas. Price elasticity of demand for pigmeat is estimated to be only slightly greater than unity; prospects for future expansion in inland areas are favourable given the strong direct relation found between pig production and wheat acreage and the low estimated elasticity of supply of 0.7; hence it is concluded expansion of milk-fed pig production would do little to solve the farm problem on the north coast. Pig numbers in coastal areas are found to be mainly determined by pig prices and coastal production of butter in previous periods; elasticity of supply is estimated to be O.5. In the demand analysis the importance of the level of migration as a determinant of the demand for pork is highlighted.