cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
AO/NAO response to climate change: 1. Respective influences of stratospheric and tropospheric climate changes

[1] We utilize the GISS Global Climate Middle Atmosphere Model and eight different climate change experiments, many of them focused on stratospheric climate forcings, to assess the relative influence of tropospheric and stratospheric climate change on the extratropical circulation indices (Arctic Oscillation, AO; North Atlantic Oscillation, NAO). The experiments are run in two different ways: with variable sea surface temperatures (SSTs) to allow for a full tropospheric climate response, and with specified SSTs to minimize the tropospheric change. The results show that experiments with tropospheric warming or stratospheric cooling produce more positive AO/NAO indices. Experiments with tropospheric cooling or stratospheric warming produce a negative AO/NAO response. For the typical magnitudes of tropospheric and stratospheric climate changes, the tropospheric response dominates; results are strongest when the tropospheric and stratospheric influences are producing similar phase changes. Both regions produce their effect primarily by altering wave propagation and angular momentum transports, but planetary wave energy changes accompanying tropospheric climate change are also important. Stratospheric forcing has a larger impact on the NAO than on the AO, and the angular momentum transport changes associated with it peak in the upper troposphere, affecting all wavenumbers. Tropospheric climate changes influence both the AO and NAO with effects that extend throughout the troposphere. For both forcings there is often vertical consistency in the sign of the momentum transport changes, obscuring the difference between direct and indirect mechanisms for influencing the surface circulation.
Implementation of multi-key extendible hashing as an access method for a relational DBMS

Extendible hashing addressing schemes have been introduced to resolve collisions and improve storage utilization by dynamically adjusting the address space and modifying the hash function. Recently, generalizations of extendible hashing have been proposed which allow multi-attribute keys to be used for improved partial-match query performance. In this paper the design and implementation of a multi-key extendible hashing access method for a relational DBMS is presented. The results of an experimental evaluation of performance of multi-key extendible hashing in a testbed relational DBMS suggest that for a wide class of queries it constitutes a viable alternative to ISAM-like files. The limitations of multi-key extendible hashing files and research problems which have to be solved before a practical access method for a relational DBMS can be developed are also discussed.
Arsenic carcinogenesis in animals and in humans: Mechanistic, experimental, and epidemiological evidence

(1997). Arsenic carcinogenesis in animals and in humans: Mechanistic, experimental, and epidemiological evidence. Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part C: Vol. 15, No. 2, pp. 83-122.
Selective synthesis and device applications of semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes using isopropyl alcohol as feedstock.

The development of guided chemical vapor deposition (CVD) growth of single-walled carbon nanotubes provides a great platform for wafer-scale integration of aligned nanotubes into circuits and functional electronic systems. However, the coexistence of metallic and semiconducting nanotubes is still a major obstacle for the development of carbon-nanotube-based nanoelectronics. To address this problem, we have developed a method to obtain predominantly semiconducting nanotubes from direct CVD growth. By using isopropyl alcohol (IPA) as the carbon feedstock, a semiconducting nanotube purity of above 90% is achieved, which is unambiguously confirmed by both electrical and micro-Raman measurements. Mass spectrometric study was performed to elucidate the underlying chemical mechanism. Furthermore, high performance thin-film transistors with an on/off ratio above 104 and mobility up to 116 cm2/(V·s) have been achieved using the IPA-synthesized nanotube networks grown on silicon substrate. The method reported in th...
Etnomusicología y Educación Musical: Punto de encuentro entre música, educación y cultura.

The influences of ethnomusicological theory and method on scholarly and practical aspects of music education will be considered here, as well as the nature of music education’s impact on the scholarship and teaching by ethnomusicologists. An examination of books, monographs, journal articles, instructional materials, and conference proceedings is underway to determine ideas and practices of overlapping interest. The writings of John Blacking, Charles Keil, Bruno Nettl, Tim Rice, and the Seegers and the Lomaxes are among those scholars whose work is relevant to music education scholarship, and issues of mutual interest are emerging: cross-cultural perspectives of music cognition, the mind-body and music-dance dualities, children’s music culture, the pedagogy of world music, and research approaches to the study of music, musical thought, and musical behavior. Following a description of the actual influences by each field on the other, discussion will shift to the potential of the fields to learn from one another and to construct deeper understandings of music in society and its schools.
Social Bias and the Development of Self-Control: Results From a Longitudinal Study of Children and Adolescents

Gottfredson and Hirschi’s general theory of crime has sparked a tremendous amount of research examining the link between levels of self-control and involvement in delinquent and criminal acts. Recently, studies testing this theory have begun to investigate the factors that are related to the development of self-control. The current study expands on this body of research by examining whether social bias, as measured by the ability to identify facial expressions, contributes to variation in self-control in a sample of children. Analysis of data drawn from the National Survey of Children revealed some evidence that children who had difficulty correctly identifying facial expressions depicting fear and happiness had lower levels of self-control, whereas errors in identifying faces expressing anger were related to higher levels of self-control. The authors discuss the need for Gottfredson and Hirschi’s theory on the development of self-control to be expanded.
A psychoendocrine study in male paranoid schizophrenics with delusional ideas of homosexual content

ABSTRACT– The serum prolactin (PRL), luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone (T) and estradiol (E) levels were investigated in a group of male paranoid schizophrenics with delusional ideas of homosexual content, in a group of male paranoid schizophrenics without delusional ideas of homosexual content, and in a group of healthy, male heterosexual subjects. Only male paranoid schizophrenics with delusional ideas of homosexual content had significantly lower serum PRL values and significantly higher serum E levels than those of the age-matched group of normal, male heterosexual controls; also, these patients tended to have higher (though not to a statistically significant degree) serum LH and T levels than those of normal controls. Findings of this study are discussed within the framework of the possible involvement of endocrine factors in the occurrence of delusional ideas of homosexual content in male patients with paranoid schizophrenia.
Political Pluralism and the Information Search: Determinants of Group Opinionation:

It is a necessary condition that people have an opinion about groups before they can use groups to help make sense of the political world. Beyond individual resources and motivation, the strength of social ties and amount of agreement within networks situated within more or less supportive social contexts affect whether individuals seek out and receive information about groups sufficient to form an opinion of them. The author tests this argument with a sample of Republican primary voters in order to address the implications for the place of interest groups in society and the study of social interaction.
Effects of channel dispersion and path correlations on system-wide throughput in MIMO-based cellular systems

We compute cell-wide mean throughputs for a wide range of multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) system design parameters, in both single- and multi-cell scenarios, using realistic models for channel dispersion, path correlations, and cochannel interference. We assume the use of single-carrier modulation, and quantify the degradation in downlink throughput as the channel dispersion increases. Our results highlight the potential harm even from mild dispersion in MIMO links. In studying path correlations, we assume linear arrays at each end of the link, and quantify the interplay among device size, number of antenna elements, path correlation, and carrier frequency. We show that, under practical size constraints, the use of additional antenna elements can be counterproductive.
Utilization of a mammalian cell-based RNA binding assay to characterize the RNA binding properties of picornavirus 3C proteinases.

Using an assay capable of detecting sequence-specific RNA/protein interactions in mammalian cells, we demonstrate that the poliovirus and rhinovirus 3C proteinases are able to bind structured target RNA sequences derived from their respective 59 noncoding regions in vivo. Specific RNA binding by poliovirus 3C was found to be dependent on the integrity of stem-loop d of the RNA cloverleaf structure located at the 59 end of poliovirus genomic RNA. In contrast, mutation of stem-loop b did not prevent this in vivo interaction. However, mutation of stem-loop b, which serves as the RNA binding site for a cellular co-factor important for efficient poliovirus replication, did significantly attenuate the efficiency of 3C RNA binding in vivo and 3CD RNA binding in vitro. This in vivo protein:RNA binding assay was also used to identify several residues in 3C that are critical for RNA binding, but dispensable for 3C proteinase activity. The mammalian cell-based RNA binding assay described in this study may have considerable potential utility in the future detection or analysis of in vivo RNA/protein interactions unrelated to the 3C/RNA interaction described here.
Priority-based routing with strict deadlines and server flexibility under uncertainty

In this research we present a simulation-based approach to study alternative dynamic assignment policies in an information technology (IT) service delivery environment. Our overarching goal is to find the most cost-effective assignment of service requests to cross-trained agents in a large-scale network. We present a novel heuristic algorithm that assigns an analytically described allocation index to each service request that has arrived. It incorporates factors such as variability in agents' capabilities, uncertainty in request inter-arrival times and complex service level agreements (SLA). We investigate the effectiveness of our proposed assignment algorithm using real world data from an IT service environment on a small problem instance. We discuss how the results of this simulation can help improve the terms of service level contracts as well as agent training programs.
Social-Information-Processing Patterns Mediate the Impact of Preventive Intervention on Adolescent Antisocial Behavior

In the study reported here, we tested the hypothesis that the Fast Track preventive intervention's positive impact on antisocial behavior in adolescence is mediated by its impact on social-cognitive processes during elementary school. Fast Track is the largest and longest federally funded preventive intervention trial for children showing aggressive behavior at an early age. Participants were 891 high-risk kindergarten children (69% male, 31% female; 49% ethnic minority, 51% ethnic majority) who were randomly assigned to an intervention or a control group by school cluster. Multiyear intervention addressed social-cognitive processes through social-skill training groups, parent groups, classroom curricula, peer coaching, and tutoring. Assigning children to the intervention decreased their mean antisocial-behavior score after Grade 9 by 0.16 standardized units (p < .01). Structural equation models indicated that 27% of the intervention's impact on antisocial behavior was mediated by its impact on three social-cognitive processes: reducing hostile-attribution biases, increasing competent response generation to social problems, and devaluing aggression. These findings support a model of antisocial behavioral development mediated by social-cognitive processes, and they guide prevention planners to focus on these processes.
Recurrent Kawasaki Disease—like Syndrome in a Patient with Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

A review of Kawasaki disease (KD)-like syndromes (KDLS) in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) raised the question whether vasculitis in children and KDLS in immunocompromised adults might be etiologically related. We describe a 42-year-old white man with AIDS and Kaposi sarcoma who presented with KDLS, which was diagnosed on the basis of clinical criteria for KD. Analysis of a conjunctival tissue sample revealed endothelial cell damage with fibrin deposition and infiltration of immunoglobulin A-secreting plasma cells.
Thundermist Health Center: Extending Pharmaceutical Services To Underserved Patients

This paper describes a not-for-profit healthcare providers strategy to provide its economically disadvantaged patients with access to low cost pharmaceuticals. Initially, an in-house pharmacy was established, supported by a satellite distribution system using a telepharmacy solution to extend medications to its patients at remote sites. New federal legislation which provided access to low cost insurance through Medicare Part D to many of the providers disadvantaged patients, along with state licensing requirements forced the healthcare provider to reassess the economics of its pharmaceutical distribution system and seek other alternatives. Among the alternatives the healthcare provider considered was partnering with for-profit pharmaceutical companies in order to reach their patients.
Suck Predicts Neuromotor Integrity and Developmental Outcomes

Abstract Neonatal motor behavior predicts both current neurological status and future neurodevelopmental outcomes. For speech pathologists, the earliest observable patterned oromotor behavior is su...
Devising inequality: a Bernsteinian analysis of high‐stakes testing and social reproduction in education

High‐stakes, standardized testing has become the central tool for educational reform and regulation in many industrialized nations in the world, and it has been implemented with particular intensity in the United States and the United Kingdom. Drawing on research on high‐stakes testing and its effect on classroom practice and pedagogic discourse in the United States, the present paper applies Bernstein’s concept of the pedagogic device to explain how high‐stakes tests operate as a relay in the reproduction of dominant social relations in education. This analysis finds that high‐stakes tests, through the structuring of knowledge, actively select and regulate student identities, and thus contribute to the selection and regulation of students’ educational success.
Effect of freezing and thawing of serum on the immunoassay of lipoprotein(a)

We studied the effect of freezing and thawing of serum on the determination of lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] with a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and an immunoturbidimetric assay (ITA). Portions of sera from 11 apparently healthy persons and pooled sera, from an additional 10 subjects were frozen at either -20 or -70 degrees C and thawed at room temperature. Cycles of freezing and thawing were repeated during the experiments (1 month). Samples were assayed for Lp(a) after thawing. Pooled sera were subjected to quick freezing at -70 degrees C and thawing at room temperature in cycles. Results show a significant (P less than 0.05) decrease in Lp(a) concentration in sera subjected to freezing and thawing. Samples thawed from -20 degrees C gave concentrations by ELISA that were significantly lower than those of fresh samples after one freeze-thaw cycle. By ITA the decrease was significant only after two cycles. In specimens frozen at -70 degrees C, Lp(a) concentrations determined by ELISA decreased after two cycles, and by ITA after three freeze-thaw cycles. Serum samples subjected to quick freezing at -70 degrees C and thawing did not show significant decreases in Lp(a) immunoreactivity during four cycles. Immunoreactivity of Lp(a) in samples stored at 4 degrees C decreased after 6 days but fell faster in serum samples subjected to freezing and thawing before storage at 4 degrees C.
Phagocytes and the Lung

Activation of lung phagocytes, whether involving residential or recruited phagocytic cells (macrophages, monocytes, neutrophils), results in a series of products important for development of inflammatory injury of the lung. An understanding of the mechanisms of cell activation as well as how products of these activated cells interact with cellular and non-cellular targets to bring about tissue damage is important for the ultimate use of blocking interventions in the treatment of human inflammatory diseases. In these considerations, we will discuss cytokine products of activated macrophages, including pro-inflammatory cytokines, anti-inflammatory cytokines, oxidants, and proteinases (TABLE 1). All of the information to be presented in this paper derives from the study of an animal model of acute lung injury induced by intrapulmonary deposition of IgG immune complexes. This deposition results in a complement-dependent activation of lung macrophages, recruitment of large numbers of neutrophils, and ultimate damage of lung cells and matrix as a result of numerous products from activated macrophages and recruited (and activated) neutrophils. Damage in this lung model can be precisely quantitated by extravascular leakage of I2’I-labeled albumin from the blood, extravasation of 51Cr-labeled rat RBC, and build-up of neutrophils (as measured by lung content of myeloperoxidase (MPO) or retrieval of neutrophils from bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluids). Cytokine content is usually measured in BAL fluids, although whole lung homogenates can also be employed. The IgG immune complex model may provide information relevant to an understanding of human inflammatory diseases triggered by deposition of IgG immune complexes, such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, vasculitis, membranous glomerulonephritis, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, etc.
Highly efficient corrosion protection for plated pure tin surfaces

During hot and humid storage conditions plated tin surfaces tend to corrode, which will lead to tarnishing, increased contact resistance, reduced solderability and in certain applications to the growth of whiskers. In the present publication a chemical immersion treatment (called Protectostan), coated onto IC outer leads directly after the plating of tin, is described. This post-treatment is applied before the postbake (1 hour at 150°C) and will effectively prevent the corrosion of the tin surface. In order to mitigate the growth of whiskers on finished and assembled components during hot and humid conditions the Protectostan coating has to withstand the postbake annealing step and multiple reflow cycles. An extensive TOF SIMS (time of flight secondary ion mass spectroscopy) investigation has been undertaken to demonstrate the adsorption properties of the Protectostan surface layer before and after multiple reflow cycles and assembly on a PCB. Associated with the corrosion prevention the white tin layers will show strongly reduced to zero tarnishing even during the stringent pressure cooking conditions (16 hours). After 4000 hours at 55°C and 85% relative humidity the tin plated IC outer leads will still appear white and unchanged in colour. Components treated with Protectostan will retain a lower contact resistance as compared to non treated parts. This will lead to an improved behaviour and yield during electrical testing. Finally one of the greatest weaknesses of ICs with pure tin finishes, the deterioration of the solderability during hot and humid conditions, has been solved. A large experimental matrix and customer data will prove that the outer lead finish will still be solderable at lower temperatures and after steam ageing.
Estado , sociedad y politica en el peru y México entre fines de la colonia y comienzos de la republica

El rasgo central unificador del periodo colonial tardio, las guerras de independencia , y las primeras decadas republicanas en America Latina fue la destruccion del orden politico y economico colonial, gracias a una combinacion de eventos de orden mundial y fuerzas internas que desbrozaron el camino para un desarrollo capitalista. Los cambios de este periodo forman parte de una prolongada revolucion burguesa. Este enunciado no supone que las luchas politicas del temprano siglo XIX fueron lideradas por burguesias unificadas con una clara vision de los cambios que buscaban, ni que las transformaciones fueron inmediatamente exitosas. La ausencia de una burguesia revolucionaria, por otro lado, no representa un contraste con los eventos europeos contemporaneos. Muchos latinoamericanistas implicitamente comparan los procesos latinoamericanos con una vision idealizada de las transiciones europeas. Asi, proyectan una realidad europea en la que una burguesia con conciencia de clase se habria colocado al frente de revoluciones politicas y economicas exitosas. Luego, presentan la ausencia de una burguesla fuerte y unificada en America Latina post-independiente como la causa de la inestabilidad politica y el subdesarrollo economico. Sin embargo, tanto en Europa como en America Latina, complejas alianzas multiclasistas promovieron y se opusieron a estos cambios.
Integrating Sociological and Psychological Perspectives on Coparenting

Rapidly changing demographics of American families have redefined coparenting and brought about the need for cross-disciplinary measurement and theory integration that is grounded in a developmental, life course perspective. First, we briefly review sociological scholarship on coparenting, highlighting both qualitative and quantitative work. Second, we provide a brief historical overview of coparenting from the psychological perspective, focusing on its theoretical foundation, multiple components, and importance for individuals and families. Third, we highlight the strengths and weaknesses of sociological approaches to coparenting and discuss the benefits of integration. Finally, we suggest avenues for future interdisciplinary work on coparenting that are heavily shaped by the shifting demographics of American families.
Vedolizumab: An integrin-receptor antagonist for treatment of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis

Purpose The pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, safety, efficacy, and dosing recommendations of vedolizumab, an integrin-receptor antagonist for the treatment of Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), are reviewed. Summary Vedolizumab is an integrin-receptor antagonist for the treatment of CD and UC in adults with moderately to severely active disease who have had an inadequate response with, lost response to, or were intolerant to anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) agents or immunomodulators or had an inadequate response with, were intolerant to, or demonstrated dependence on corticosteroids. Phase III clinical trials have demonstrated efficacy in achieving remission as induction and maintenance therapy in CD and UC. Remission was also achieved at week 10 in patients with CD in whom previous treatment with anti-TNF agents had failed. Adverse effects of vedolizumab include nasopharyngitis, headache, arthralgia, nausea, pyrexia, upper respiratory tract infection, fatigue, cough, bronchitis, influenza, back pain, rash, pruritus, sinusitis, oropharyngeal pain, and pain in the extremities. To date, no cases of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) have been reported. The recommended dose of vedolizumab in adults with UC or CD is 300 mg administered via intravenous infusion at zero, two, and six weeks, followed by every eight weeks. The average wholesale unit price is $5782.80, but a patient assistance program is available. Conclusion Vedolizumab is a new alternative for patients with moderate-to-severe UC or CD, as well as patients who have not responded to anti-TNF agents. The current safety profile and lack of reported PML make it a promising addition to the treatment of these conditions.
The Fife Field, UK central North Sea

The Fife Field is located in the far southeastern part of the Central North Sea Basin close to the UK, Norwegian, Danish median line. The field is a shallow relief four-way dip closure formed by inversion during Late Cretaceous/ early Tertiary times. The reservoir consists of thick Upper Jurassic, heavily bioturbated sandstones which are considered to have been deposited in a similar setting to the Fulmar Formation. The depth to the top of the Upper Jurassic at the crest of the field is 8250 ft sub-sea with the oil-water contact at 8512 ft sub-sea. The seal to reservoir is provided by Volgian-Ryazanian shales of the Kimmeridge Clay Formation and Upper Cretaceous Chalk. Although Jurassic sandstones form the primary reservoir, additional hydrocarbons have been encountered in the Tor Formation of the Chalk Group which is fractured over the crest of the field. The Fife Field was discovered in 1991 and is currently under development. Production started in August 1995 via the 9Uisge Gorm9 Floating Production Storage and Offloading facility (FPSO). STOIIP is estimated at 132 x 106BBL and ultimate recovery is predicted to be 34 x 106 BBL oil. The low mobility of the oil and the low vertical permeability of the reservoir contribute to the predicted low (26%) recovery efficiencies.
Health-Related Quality of Life of Persons With Sarcoidosis

Study objectives: To describe the health-related quality of life (HRQL) and mental health of persons with sarcoidosis, as well as to assess physician-patient agreement about the presence of sarcoidosis symptoms. Design and setting: Cross-sectional study at three university medical center outpatient pulmonary clinics. Patients: One hundred eleven outpatients with sarcoidosis seen between March and July 2002. Measurements: The HRQL of sarcoidosis patients was measured using generic and respiratory disease-specific forms (ie, Medical Outcomes Study 36-item short form survey [SF-36] and the St. George respiratory questionnaire [SGRQ], respectively). Depression was assessed using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies depression scale, and stress was assessed with the perceived stress scale four-item questionnaire. The -statistic was calculated to compare physician-patient agreement in assessing sarcoidosis-related symptoms. Results: Patients had moderate-to-severe reductions across all measured domains in perceived HRQL. Those patients who were prescribed oral corticosteroids had lower scores on both the SF-36 and the SGRQ than did those patients who were not. These differences were statistically significant and clinically important. The prevalence of depression was 66%, and that of significant stress was 55%. Spirometry values (FEV1, 82% predicted; FVC, 86% predicted) were associated neither with HRQL nor with patients’ perceived sarcoidosis symptoms, although they were correlated (r 0.43; p < 0.0001) with physicians’ perceptions that patients were symptomatic. Physicians and patients had only fair agreement (-statistic range, 0.24 to 0.36 [by center]) in assessing perceived sarcoidosis symptoms. Conclusions: Outpatients with sarcoidosis had global reductions in measured HRQL and mental health indexes, although patients receiving therapy with oral corticosteroids had significantly worse HRQL. Experienced physicians based their assessments of patients’ sarcoidosis symptoms on measures that were not related to issues of importance to patients. HRQL measurement may provide a unique insight into the impact that sarcoidosis may have on a patient’s life that is not captured in traditional physiologic measures. (CHEST 2004; 125:997–1004)
Autism: Many Genes, Common Pathways?

Autism is a heterogeneous neurodevelopmental syndrome with a complex genetic etiology. It is still not clear whether autism comprises a vast collection of different disorders akin to intellectual disability or a few disorders sharing common aberrant pathways. Unifying principles among cases of autism are likely to be at the level of brain circuitry in addition to molecular pathways.
Professional engineering pathways study: A longitudinal study of early career preparedness and decision-making

This paper introduces the Professional Engineering Pathways Study (PEPS), a three-year study aimed at developing new understandings of early career engineering career preparedness and decision-making. The project takes a national perspective, drawing on data from six partner institutions across the U.S., and focuses specifically on engineering students' experiences, perceptions, and plans as they look toward their initial career steps. The project involves two critical elements. The research element uses a longitudinal, mixed-method approach to examine how engineering students explore, select, and prepare for their chosen careers. The community of practice element focuses on bridging research-to-practice by engaging administrators, faculty, and staff at the six partner institutions in data interpretation and dissemination activities. This research will help drive continuous improvement in engineering programs and universities. Preliminary results of the study will be presented at the conference.
Development of smartphone-based spectroscopy instruments for diagnostic test analysis

viii CHAPTER 1 : INTRODUCTION 1 1.1 Mobile Health 1 1.2 Molecular Diagnostics 3 1.3 Organization of the Thesis 6 CHAPTER 2 : SMARTPHONE-BASED SPECTRUM ANALYZER 7 2.1 Background 7 2.2 Optical Spectroscopy Apparatus 10 2.3 Design of Transmission Setup 12 2.4 Design of Reflection Setup 18 CHAPTER 3 : CHARACTERIZATION OF THE SMARTPHONE-BASED SPECTROMETER ...... 26 3.1 Measurement of Standard Light Sources 26 3.2 Analysis of the Performances 36
Continuity and Innovation in Medieval and Modern Philosophy: Knowledge, Mind, and Language

The book edited by John Marenbon is a collection of six essays, originally presented at the Dawes Hicks Symposium organized by the British Academy in 2011. The contributors were asked to link medie...
Abstract 4011: Evidence supporting a role of c-Myb in pancreatic cancer

Proceedings: AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011‐‐ Apr 2‐6, 2011; Orlando, FL The clinical outcome from pancreatic cancer has not improved over the years. This is, in part, due to not well understood disease mechanisms and consequently there is little progress made in developing intervention therapy. Many genetic alterations have been characterized in pancreatic cancer, of which some have been shown to be functionally relevant. In an earlier study, c-Myb was identified as a candidate oncogene in pancreatic cancer with gene amplification in a subset and overexpression in majority of pancreatic cancer tissues and cell lines. The role of c-Myb in pancreatic cancer, however, has not been defined so far. c-Myb is a cellular progenitor of v-Myb oncogenes, which encodes for a transcription factor and confers its oncogenic activity by regulating the expression of several target genes. To examine the functional role of c-Myb in pancreatic cancer, we silenced its expression in two pancreatic cancer cell lines (Panc1 and MiaPaCa) by stable transfection of a c-Myb-targeted short-hairpin RNA (shRNA)-expression plasmid. Silencing of c-Myb expression resulted in diminished growth and clonogenicity of pancreatic cancer cells. c-Myb knockdown pancreatic cancer cells were arrested at G1/S boundary of cell cycle, and exhibited enhanced apoptosis. Furthermore, we observed decreased migration and invasion in c-Myb silenced pancreatic cancer cells as compared to the control cells. Immunoblot analysis demonstrated gain of epithelial- and loss of mesenchymal- markers in c-Myb knockdown pancreatic cancer cells, thus indicating a reversal of epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT). We also observed noticeable changes in cell morphology and actin-organization upon silencing of c-Myb expression that were consistent with loss of mesenchymal features. Together, these findings provide first experimental evidence for a functional role of c-Myb in pancreatic cancer. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4011. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-4011
A policy of omitting an intensive care unit stay after robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy is safe and cost-effective

Abstract Background Immediate postoperative admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) is still a standard practice at many institutions. Our aim was to examine whether omission of an immediate postoperative ICU admission would be safe and result in improved outcomes and cost after robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy (RPD). Methods In December 2014, a non-ICU admission policy was implemented for patients undergoing RPD. Before this date, all RPDs were routinely admitted to the ICU on post operative day = 0. Using a prospective database, outcomes of the patients in the no-ICU cohort were compared with those of the patients routinely admitted to the ICU before implementation of this policy. Results The ICU (n = 49) and no-ICU cohorts (n = 47) were comparable in age, gender, body mass index, Charlson comorbidity index and American Society of Anesthesiologists scores, receipt of neoadjuvant therapy, operative time, estimated blood loss, tumor size, and pathologic diagnosis (all P values = NS). Clavien complications, pancreatic leak, reoperation, readmission, and mortality were similar between both the groups (all P values = NS). Hospital length of stay (LOS) was shorter for the no-ICU group (median 6.8 versus 7.7 d, P = 0.01). This reduced LOS and omission of routine postoperative ICU admission translated into a cost reduction from $23,933 (interquartile range $19,833-$28,991) in the ICU group to $19,516 (interquartile range $17,046-$23,893) in the no-ICU group, P = 0.004. The reduction in LOS and cost remained significant after adjusting for all related demographics and perioperative characteristics. Conclusions A standard policy of omitting a postoperative ICU admission on post operative day 0 after RPD is safe and can result in reduced LOS and overall savings in total hospital cost.
The application research of tuberculosis specific antigen(TB-SA) antibody detection kit in the diagnosis of tuberculosis

Objective To evaluate the value of tuberculosis specific antigen(TB-SA)antibody detection kit in the diagnosis of tuberculosis.Methods Nine hundred and forty-four pulmonary tuberculosis suspects were continually recruited from April 2012to October 2012in 3district's TB centers from Tianjin city,Shandong province and Henan province,respectively,110healthy people were enrolled at the same time.Sputum and serum specimen from all cases were collected for Ziehl-Neelsen staining smear,traditional mycobacterium culture and TB-SA antibody test.PPD skin test and chest X-ray were also examined to all cases.The data were entered separately by 2people in sites and analyzed by national TB reference laboratory.Results Among 755active TB patients,the positive rate of TB-SA antibody test were 74.8%(565/755,95%CI:71.7%-77.9%),significantly higher than smear(25.6%,193/755,χ2=366.59,P0.0001)and culture(39.6%,299/755,χ2=190.12,P0.0001);its specificity and positive predictive value were 97.3%(95%CI:94.3%-100.3%)and 92.3%(95%CI:90.2%-94.4%),respectively.Among culture-positive TB patients,the sensitivity of TB-SA antibody test was 88.5%(95%CI: 84.8%-92.2%).However,the sensitivity of TB-SA antibody test was 68.0%(95%CI:63.7%-72.3%)among smear-and culture-negative TB patients.Conclusion TB-SA antibody test has significantly higher positive rate than smear and conventional culture,and can be used for the diagnosis of TB patient especially smear-and culturenegative TB patients.In addition,it can be used for healthy screening examination.
Analysis on occupational health examinations in a steel manufacturing enterprises

Objective To understand the health status of employees,therefore to reduce the occurrence of occupational diseases and provide the evidence for formulating effective prevention and control measures. Methods Workers with occupational hazards exposure in 2014 were examined according technical specifications of occupational health surveillance( GBZ188—2014). Results The health damage detection rate was 67. 69% among 1328 employees who received examination. 49 workers detected abnormal results in occupational hazard related testing,which accounted for 4. 82%. Other problems mainly found in the examination were high blood pressure,fatty liver( liver fat deposition),gallbladder disease,abnormal liver function,abnormal ECG and kidney B-ultrasonography results, etc. Conclusion The health status of workers was not optimistic. Health education should be strengthened to improve self-protection consciousness and ensure regular medical examination among employees.
Analysis on Immune Effect of Measles Supplementany Immunization Activities in Hanyang District of Wuhan in 2009

Objective To explore the strategies and measures of controlling the incidence of measles,and to evaluate the effect of supplementary immunization of measles vaccine. Methods We analyzed the situation of supplementary immunization of measles vaccine among children aged 8 months to 14 years in Hanyang District in October 2009,and then the effect of supplementary immunization was evaluated. Results Totally 63,520 targeted children were surveyed,and 61,241 cases were immunized.The reported vaccination rate was 96.41%,the estimated coverage rate was 94.38%,and the D value(0.02) was less than 0.05.The reported vaccination rate was credible.The coverage rate by rapid assessing was 96.11%,and the coverage rate of the third-party assessment was 94.48%.The differences among any of them and the reported coverage rate were not statistically significant.The reported vaccination rates of resident children and migrant children were 96.37% and 96.57%,respectively,and the difference was not statistically significant.The reported incidence of measles decreased significantly after the supplementary immunization of measles vaccine.The monitoring of measles antibody level showed that the positive rate after the supplementation was 92.26%. Conclusions In order to control and eliminate the incidence of measles,in addition to enhancing the management of the source of infection(patients),the most effective measures are to strengthen the measles vaccination of the susceptible population,to raise the level of population immunity,to build the immune barrier of the target population,to enforce the monitoring of measles epidemic and the measles antibody level of healthy people,and to protect children's health.
Enkephalinergic Modulation of Cholinergic Transmission in Parasympathetic Ganglia of the Cat Urinary Bladder

Dense networks of enkephalin containing nerve terminals have been identified in mammalian sympathetic and parasympathetic ganglia (1, 12, 20–22, 25, 35). Evidence from various sources indicates that enkephalins are contained in, and released by axons that arise from neurons extrinsic to the ganglia, and that enkephalins have an inhibitory effect on ganglionic transmission (2, 12, 23, 25, 26, 30, 36, 39).
New genera and species of balanoid barnacles from the Oligocene and Miocene of North Carolina

The new archaeobalanid genus Lophobalanus, with type species L. kellumi (Zullo and Baum, 1979) from the Oligocene Trent Formation of North Carolina, L. baumi new species from the lower Miocene of North and South Carolina, and Lophobalanus sp. from the Oligocene Byram Formation of Mississippi, is characterized by narrow radii with smooth sutural edges, internally smooth opercular plates, and an adductor ridge. Two new lower Miocene balanid species, Concavus belgradensis from the Belgrade Formation and C. crassostricola from the Crassostrea channel deposit in North Carolina, are the oldest known representatives of the genus Concavus Newman in the Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plains. Concavus belgradensis is related to C. chesapeakensis (Pilsbry, 1916) of the Maryland middle Miocene, and C. crassostricola is related to the Atlantic Coast Plain Pliocene-lower Pleistocene species C. (Arossia) glyptopoma (Pilsbry, 1916). Another new lower Miocene species, Balanus? silverdalensis from the Silverdale Formation, has solid radii, but its shell and scutum bear marked resemblance to those of Megabalanus Hoek. A new balanid genus, Fistulobalanus, based on the extant Balanus pallidus Darwin, 1854 group of Henry and McLaughlin (1975), and including F. klemmi new species from the middle Miocene Pungo River Formation and F. shilohensis (Pilsbry, 1930) from the middle Miocene Kirkwood Formation of New Jersey, is characterized by subsidiary rows of small parietal tubes outwards of the inner row of primary parietal tubes. Balanus imitator new species is found throughout the Pungo River Formation. Its shell and opercular plates are similar in many respects to those of the archaeobalanid genera Hesperibalanus Pilsbry and Actinobalanus Moroni, but the presence of minute parietal tubes between inner and outer shell laminae is a balanid characteristic. Balanus imitator may be related to the extant North Pacific species B. glandula Darwin, 1854.
WE-AB-206-00: Diagnostic QA/QC Hands-On Workshop

The involvement of medical physicists in diagnostic ultrasound imaging service is increasing due to QC and accreditation requirements. The goal of this ultrasound hands-on workshop is to demonstrate quality control (QC) testing in diagnostic ultrasound and to provide updates in ACR ultrasound accreditation requirements. The first half of this workshop will include two presentations reviewing diagnostic ultrasound QA/QC and ACR ultrasound accreditation requirements. The second half of the workshop will include live demonstrations of basic QC tests. An array of ultrasound testing phantoms and ultrasound scanners will be available for attendees to learn diagnostic ultrasound QC in a hands-on environment with live demonstrations and on-site instructors. The targeted attendees are medical physicists in diagnostic imaging. Learning Objectives: 1. Gain familiarity with common elements of a QA/QC program for diagnostic ultrasound imaging 2. dentify QC tools available for testing diagnostic ultrasound systems and learn how to use these tools 3. Learn ACR ultrasound accreditation requirements Jennifer Walter is an employee of American College of Radiology on Ultrasound Accreditation.
TU-D-201-02: Medical Physics Practices for Plan and Chart Review: Results of AAPM Task Group 275 Survey

Purpose: AAPM Task Group (TG) 275 is charged with developing riskbased guidelines for plan and chart review clinical processes. As part of this work an AAPM-wide survey was conducted to gauge current practices. Methods: The survey consisted of 103 multiple-choice questions covering the following review processes for external beam including protons: 1) Initial Plan Check, 2) On-Treatment and 3) End-of-Treatment Chart Check. The survey was designed and validated by TG members with the goal of providing an efficient and easy response process. The survey, developed and deployed with the support of AAPM headquarters, was released to all AAPM members who have self-reported as working in the radiation oncology field and it was kept open for 7 weeks. Results: There are an estimated 4700 eligible participants. At the time of writing, 962 completed surveys have been collected with an average completion time of 24 minutes. Participants are mainly from community hospitals (40%), academicaffiliated hospitals (31%) and free-standing clinics (18%). Among many other metrics covered on the survey, results so far indicate that manual review is an important component on the plan and chart review process (>90%) and that written procedures and checklists are widely used (>60%). However, the details of what is reviewed or checked are fairly heterogeneous among the sampled medical physics community. Conclusion: The data gathered from the survey gauging current practices will be used by TG 275 to develop benchmarks and recommendations for the type and extent of checks to perform effective physics plan and chart review processes.
Expanding on the Experiences of Transgender Nonreligious People: An Exploratory Analysis

Building on research that points out the specific forms of marginalization that transgender and nonreligious people face in contemporary U.S. society, this exploratory analysis focuses on the experiences of transgender nonreligious people who were raised in religious households. Utilizing interviews with eleven formerly religious, now nonreligious, transgender people I draw out some of the future pathways scholars of nonreligion should take to better account for the lives of transgender nonreligious people in scholarship on nonreligion. Specifically, scholars of nonreligion should begin analyzing transgender nonreligious people’s experiences in religious settings, with family, and with organizations and networks outside of religion. I conclude by discussing the ways this study can shed light on the broader processes by which inequality is reproduced and make suggestions for nonreligious leaders to make room for and listen to transgender people in nonreligious spaces.
Theory of inelastic scattering of cold neutrons from liquid helium

A measurement of the energy losses of monoenergetic neutrons scattered from liquid He II would permit a determination of the energy-versus-momentum relation for the elementary excitations (phonons and rotons) in the liquid. A major part of the scattering at a fixed angle arises from production or annihilation of a single excitation and appears as sharp lines in the energy spectrum. From the position of these lines the energy-versus-momentum relation of the excitations can be inferred. Other processes, such as production or annihilation of multiple excitations, contribute a continuous background, and occur at a negligible rate if the incident neutrons are slow (λ~>4A) and the helium cold (T<2°K). The total cross-section data can be accounted for by production of single excitations; the theoretical cross section, computed from a wave function previously proposed to represent excitations, agrees with experiment over the entire energy range, within 30%. Line widths in the discrete spectrum are negligible at 1°K because of the long lifetime of phonons and rotons.
Microcanonical functional integral for the gravitational field

The gravitational field in a spatially finite region is described as a microcanonical system. The density of states $\ensuremath{\nu}$ is expressed formally as a functional integral over Lorentzian metrics and is a functional of the geometrical boundary data that are fixed in the corresponding action. These boundary data are the thermodynamical extensive variables, including the energy and angular momentum of the system. When the boundary data are chosen such that the system is described semiclassically by any real stationary axisymmetric black hole, then in this same approximation $\mathrm{ln}\ensuremath{\nu}$ is shown to equal \textonequarter{} the area of the black-hole event horizon. The canonical and grand canonical partition functions are obtained by integral transforms of $\ensuremath{\nu}$ that lead to "imaginary-time" functional integrals. A general form of the first law of thermodynamics for stationary black holes is derived. For the simpler case of nonrelativistic mechanics, the density of states is expressed as a real-time functional integral and then used to deduce Feynman's imaginary-time functional integral for the canonical partition function.