cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
NOx emission characteristics of counterflow syngas diffusion flames with airstream dilution

Abstract Syngas is produced through a gasification process using variety of fossil fuels, including coal, biomass, organic waste, and refinery residual. Although, its composition may vary significantly, it generally contains CO and H2 as the dominant fuel components with varying amount of methane and diluents. Due to its wide flexibility in fuel sources and superior pollutants characteristics, the syngas is being recognized as a viable energy source worldwide, particularly for stationary power generation. There are, however, gaps in the fundamental understanding of syngas combustion and emissions, as most previous research has focused on flames burning individual fuel components such as H2 and CH4, rather than syngas mixtures. This paper reports a numerical investigation on the effects of syngas composition and diluents on the structure and emission characteristics of syngas nonpremixed flames. The counterflow syngas flames are simulated using two representative syngas mixtures, 50%H2/50%CO and 45%H2/45%CO/10%CH4 by volume, and three diluents, N2, H2O, and CO2. The effectiveness of these diluents is characterized in terms of their ability to reduce NOx in syngas flames. Results indicate that syngas nonpremixed flames are characterized by relatively high temperatures and high NOx concentrations and emission indices. The presence of methane in syngas decreases the peak flame temperature, but increases the formation of prompt NO significantly. Consequently, while the total NO formed is predominantly due to the thermal mechanism for the 50%H2/50%CO mixture, it is due to the prompt mechanism for the 45%H2/45%CO/10%CH4 mixture. For both mixtures, CO2 and H2O are more effective than N2 in reducing NOx in syngas flames. H2O is the most effective diluent on a mass basis, while CO2 is more effective than N2. The effectiveness of H2O is due to its high specific heat that decreases the thermal NO, and its ability to significantly reduce the concentration of CH radicals, which decreases the prompt NO. The presence of methane in syngas reduces the effectiveness of all three diluents.
Young Children's Persuasion in Everyday Conversation: Tactics and Attunement to Others' Mental States

Young children’s persuasion tactics, and how these reflected attunement to others’ mental states, were explored in archived longitudinal samples of transcribed at-home conversations of four children, three to five years old. Over 87,000 utterances were examined to identify conversation ‘chunks’ involving persuasion; 1,307 chunks were then coded for who initiated the persuasion, the persuader’s goal, tactics employed, the presence of cues about others’ beliefs and desires, and whether children attended to such information. Analyses suggested that persuasion exchanges were initiated similarly by children and adults, were stable in frequency and length across time, and involved a limited set of persuasion tactics. Children’s attempts to change beliefs increased although explicit mental-state cues were only rarely available. When such cues were available, children more often than not altered their tactics. Implications for our understanding of children’s developing social cognition and theory of mind, as well as the limitations of conversational analysis, are discussed.
Evaluating Mg/Ca ratios as a temperature proxy in the estuarine oyster, Crassostrea virginica

[1] We examined the potential utility of Mg/CaSHELL ratios recorded in shells of the estuarine oyster Crassostrea virginica as a temperature proxy because oxygen isotope ratios (δ18O) in estuaries are complicated by the simultaneous fluctuation in temperature and salinity, whereas Mg/CaWATER ratios are assumed to be constant above 10 practical salinity units (psu). We tested this assumption and observed a slight mixing effect between 10 psu and normal marine values emphasizing the need to test this assumption in estuarine settings. Microsamples of shell carbonate were analyzed for δ18O, δ13C, and Mg/Ca ratios. Measured δ18OSHELL and δ13CSHELL were compared to predicted values to assign dates to shell samples. Once samples and dates were aligned, corresponding temperature and salinity for a particular sample were known, enabling comparison of Mg/CaSHELL ratios and temperature. When all Mg/CaSHELL data were compared to temperature, a weak but statistically significant correlation was observed (r2 = 0.05, p < 0.01). Because date assignments may become increasingly uncertain further back in time and earlier studies identified ontogenetic effects in juvenile portions of shells from other bivalve species, we examined the relationship from only the last year of growth. When only data from the last year of growth were compared, a slightly stronger positive relationship between Mg/CaSHELL ratios andDMg (the partition coefficient) emerged (Mg/CaSHELL, r2 = 0.30, p < 0.01; DMg, r2 = 0.33, p < 0.01). The improved correlation may result from either ontogenetic effects influencing the incorporation of Mg into the younger portion of the shell and/or inaccurate date assignments. Regardless of the cause, our equations are similar to previously published equations for C. virginica and other taxa. Despite the low correlations, our improved relationship supports further study under controlled experimental conditions.
Feeding behavior and development of Acartia tonsa nauplii on the brown tide alga Aureococcus anophagefferens

Toxic attributes of the brown tide alga Aureococcus anophagefferens affect the ability of benthic and protistan grazers to control blooms. Yet, little is known regarding the effect of A. anophagefferens on a dominant component of the microzooplankton community, copepod nauplii. This study describes the grazer–prey relationship between nauplii of the calanoid copepod Acartia tonsa and A. anophagefferens. Four laboratory experiments using varying proportions of A. anophagefferens (2–4 mm) and a control alga, Isochrysis galbana (4–6 mm), were conducted to test the effects of A. anophagefferens isolate 1708 during exponential and stationary growth phases and A. anophagefferens isolate 1850 (exponential phase only) on naupliar grazing and development. A fifth experiment compared the effects of A. anophagefferens with an equal-sized control alga, Micromonas pusilla (1–3 mm). Isolate 1708 (exponential or stationary) as a single food item did not suppress naupliar ingestion rates (ng C nauplius 21 day 21 ) when compared to I. galbana. No ingestion was detected on isolate 1850 when offered alone, suggesting that this isolate may be more harmful to nauplii. Overall, nauplii selectively grazed on I. galbana over A. anophagefferens in mixed diets, but size-selection could not be ruled out as selective feeding was not apparent in mixtures with M. pusilla. Both isolates of A. anophagefferens delayed naupliar development. Our results indicate that Acartia tonsa nauplii can graze on A. anophagefferens, and can potentially help suppress brown tides. However, the efficacy of grazing control by copepods will vary with availability of alternate food sources and toxicity of the A. anophagefferens strain(s) comprising the population.
Randomized multilevel intervention to improve outcomes of residents in nursing homes in need of improvement

Objectives: A comprehensive multilevel intervention was tested to build organizational capacity to create and sustain improvement in quality of care and subsequently improve resident outcomes in nursing homes in need of improvement. Design/Setting/Participants: Intervention facilities (N ¼ 29) received a 2-year multilevel intervention with monthly on-site consultation from expert nurses with graduate education in gerontological nursing. Attention control facilities (N ¼ 29) that also needed to improve resident outcomes received monthly information about aging and physical assessment of elders. Intervention: The authors conducted a randomized clinical trial of nursing homes in need of improving resident outcomes of bladder and bowel incontinence, weight loss, pressure ulcers, and decline in activities of daily living. It was hypothesized that following the intervention, experimental facilities would have higher quality of care, better resident outcomes, more organizational attributes of improved working conditions than control facilities, higher staff retention, similar staffing and staff mix, and lower total and direct care costs. Results: The intervention did improve quality of care (P ¼ .02); there were improvements in pressure ulcers (P ¼.05) and weight loss (P ¼.05). Organizational working conditions, staff retention, staffing, and staff mix and most costs were not affected by the intervention. Leadership turnover was surprisingly excessive in both intervention and control groups. Conclusion and Implications: Some facilities that are in need of improving quality of care and resident outcomes are able to build the organizational capacity to improve while not increasing staffing or costs of care. Improvement requires continuous supportive consultation and leadership willing to involve staff and work together to build the systematic improvements in care delivery needed. Medical directors in collaborative practice with advanced practice nurses are ideally positioned to implement this low-cost, effective intervention nationwide.
The Twerle Balloon-to-Satellite Data Transmitting System

This paper describes the balloon instrumentation system which provides the one-way link for data gathering and navigation in the Tropical Wind, Energy conversion and Reference Level Experiment (TWERLE). In this experiment 400 instrumented constant-level balloons will be launched at the southern hemisphere during 1975. The Random Access Measurement System (RAMS) on board the NIMBUS-F satellite, will comprise the receiving end of the link. The data encoder, stable oscillator, transmitter and antenna are described, as well as two supporting components, the power source and the magnetic cutdown. These six items weigh 850 g. The oscillator-transmitter consume 1.9 W dc power to provide 0.6 W phase modulated RF power. Standby dc power consumption is 0.3 W.
Endosonography in the diagnosis and management of pancreatic cysts

Rapid advances in radiologic technology and increased cross-sectional imaging have led to a sharp rise in incidental discoveries of pancreatic cystic lesions. These cystic lesions include non-neoplastic cysts with no risk of malignancy, neoplastic non-mucinous serous cystadenomas with little or no risk of malignancy, as well as neoplastic mucinous cysts and solid pseudopapillary neoplasms both with varying risk of malignancy. Accurate diagnosis is imperative as management is guided by symptoms and risk of malignancy. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) allows high resolution evaluation of cyst morphology and precise guidance for fine needle aspiration (FNA) of cyst fluid for cytological, chemical and molecular analysis. Initially, clinical evaluation and radiologic imaging, preferably with magnetic resonance imaging of the pancreas and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography, are performed. In asymptomatic patients where diagnosis is unclear and malignant risk is indeterminate, EUS-FNA should be used to confirm the presence or absence of high-risk features, differentiate mucinous from non-mucinous lesions, and diagnose malignancy. After analyzing the cyst fluid for viscosity, cyst fluid carcinoembryonic antigen, amylase, and cyst wall cytology should be obtained. DNA analysis may add useful information in diagnosing mucinous cysts when the previous studies are indeterminate. New molecular biomarkers are being investigated to improve diagnostic capabilities and management decisions in these challenging cystic lesions. Current guidelines recommend surgical pancreatic resection as the standard of care for symptomatic cysts and those with high-risk features associated with malignancy. EUS-guided cyst ablation is a promising minimally invasive, relatively low-risk alternative to both surgery and surveillance.
Traumatic separation of the distal epiphysis of the humerus sustained at birth

We reviewed the clinical and radiological results of six patients who had sustained traumatic separation of the distal epiphysis of the humerus at birth. The correct diagnosis was made from plain radiographs and often supplemented with ultrasonography, MRI and arthrography. An orthopaedic surgeon saw two patients within two days of birth, and the other four were seen at between nine and 30 days. The two neonates underwent unsuccessful attempts at closed reduction. In the remaining patients, seen after the age of eight days, no attempt at reduction was made. All six displaced fractures were immobilised in a cast with the elbow at 90 degrees of flexion and the forearm pronated. When seen at a mean of 58 months (16 to 120) after injury, the clinical and radiological results were excellent in five patients, with complete realignment of the injury. In one patient the forearm lay in slightly reduced valgus with the elbow in full extension. Traumatic separation of the distal epiphysis of the humerus may be missed on the maternity wards and not diagnosed until after discharge from hospital. However, even when no attempt is made to reduce the displaced epiphysis, a good clinical result can be expected.
Exact solution of a large class of interacting quantum systems exhibiting ground state singularities

We demonstrate how to construct a large class of interacting quantum systems for which an exact solution may be found for the ground state wave function and ground state energy for some range of interaction parameters. It is shown that the ground state exhibits singularities in these cases, and in some simple instances the exact ground state phase diagram and critical indices are also found.
The equine forelimb suspensory ligament exhibits a heterogeneous strain pattern under tensile load

Objectives: To determine if regional variations in strain patterns occur within the suspensory ligament under tensile load. Local increases in strain may put certain regions of the suspensory ligament at risk and may explain the poor healing and high recurrence rates associated with suspensory branch injuries. Methods: The suspensory ligament and its bone attachments were isolated from each of 10 adult equine cadaveric forelimbs and radiodense reference beads were inserted throughout the length of the ligament. Specimens were attached to a custom fixture secured to a materials testing system. Radio-graphs were acquired at 50, 445, 1112, and 2224 N of applied tensile load. Changes in distances between the beads in each region of the suspensory ligament were measured and the regional strain was calculated. Significant differences were determined using a repeated-measures analysis of variance. Results: The suspensory ligament exhibited significant differences in regional strain (p Clinical significance: The equine suspensory ligament demonstrates a heterogeneous strain pattern during tensile loading, with the distal regions exhibiting significantly more strain than the proximal region. The nonhomogenous strain pattern could explain the regional difference in injury and re-injury rates.
Determinants of middle-school students asking parents for fruits and vegetables: a theory-based salient belief elicitation.

Objective Despite the benefits of fruit and vegetable intake, many young Americans do not consume them at adequate levels. The present study sought to determine the beliefs that children have about asking their parents to have fruits and vegetables available at home in order to better understand the role children may play in influencing their own fruit and vegetable consumption. Design An instrument utilizing the Reasoned Action Approach, with closed-ended questions on demographic and behavioural variables and open-ended questions eliciting the belief structure underlying asking parents to make fruits and vegetables available, was distributed. Thematic and frequency analyses were performed for open-ended questions. Statistical analyses were conducted to assess differences between children who had v. had not asked for fruits and vegetables. Setting Three middle schools in rural Indiana, U.S.A. Subjects A sub-sample of sixty students aged 12–15 years from a larger study of 344 students. Results Qualitative analysis identified benefits (i.e., make me healthier; make parents happy), disadvantages (i.e., will upset my parents) and strategies (i.e., asking when you are at the store) that could be used to improve fruit and vegetable intake. Findings also revealed that students who asked their parents for fruits and vegetables were significantly more likely to perform several healthy eating and physical activity behaviours. Conclusions Data suggest that young people’s view of parental reactions is critical. While additional research is necessary, the findings support a role for children in shaping their own environment and suggest multilevel interventions that simultaneously address parents and children.
Gain-of-Function Mutations in the MEC-4 DEG/ENaC Sensory Mechanotransduction Channel Alter Gating and Drug Blockade

MEC-4 and MEC-10 are the pore-forming subunits of the sensory mechanotransduction complex that mediates touch sensation in Caenorhabditis elegans (O'Hagan, R., M. Chalfie, and M.B. Goodman. 2005. Nat. Neurosci . 8:43–50). They are members of a large family of ion channel proteins, collectively termed DEG/ENaCs, which are expressed in epithelial cells and neurons. In Xenopus oocytes, MEC-4 can assemble into homomeric channels and coassemble with MEC-10 into heteromeric channels (Goodman, M.B., G.G. Ernstrom, D.S. Chelur, R. O'Hagan, C.A. Yao, and M. Chalfie. 2002. Nature . 415:1039–1042). To gain insight into the structure–function principles that govern gating and drug block, we analyzed the effect of gain-of-function mutations using a combination of two-electrode voltage clamp, single-channel recording, and outside-out macropatches. We found that mutation of A713, the d or degeneration position, to residues larger than cysteine increased macroscopic current, open probability, and open times in homomeric channels, suggesting that bulky residues at this position stabilize open states. Wild-type MEC-10 partially suppressed the effect of such mutations on macroscopic current, suggesting that subunit–subunit interactions regulate open probability. Additional support for this idea is derived from an analysis of macroscopic currents carried by single-mutant and double-mutant heteromeric channels. We also examined blockade by the diuretic amiloride and two related compounds. We found that mutation of A713 to threonine, glycine, or aspartate decreased the affinity of homomeric channels for amiloride. Unlike the increase in open probability, this effect was not related to size of the amino acid side chain, indicating that mutation at this site alters antagonist binding by an independent mechanism. Finally, we present evidence that amiloride block is diffusion limited in DEG/ENaC channels, suggesting that variations in amiloride affinity result from variations in binding energy as opposed to accessibility. We conclude that the d position is part of a key region in the channel functionally and structurally, possibly representing the beginning of a pore-forming domain.
Spatiotemporal Profiles of Brain Activation During Learning and Strategy Formulation

How do humans learn complex visuomotor tasks with a strategic component? We explore this question in the context of the Naval Research Laboratories Navigation Task that is used for selecting and training future submarine pilots. About 50% of participants fail to achieve the desired competence level on the task, even after a large number of trials. A central question in this project is whether we can analyze learning failures rapidly enough to intervene during training. To this end, we set out to identify a neural signature of strategy formulation by adopting a system-of-systems approach to dynamically track the learning state of a subject using measurements of brain activity and coordinated visuomotor actions throughout the learning process. We analyzed the spatiotemporal profiles of brain activation using a coherence measure and interpreted them based on the visuomotor performance data. Our results show the presence of long-range synchronies in the gamma band of brain activity in subjects who successfully formulate a strategy for the task and suggest a tight cooperation between occipital and frontal brain regions. These long-range synchronies are absent in lower frequencies. Subjects who lack this pattern fail to devise an appropriate strategy, a fact confirmed by the analysis of their visuomotor performance data. The absence or presence of long-range synchronies in the gamma band can be detected fairly early during the learning process and, therefore, our method can be used to identify learning difficulties that would require appropriate intervention based on neural signatures of strategy formulation.
Noise Reduction of Atmospheric Emitted Radiance Interferometer (AERI) Observations Using Principal Component Analysis

Abstract A principal component noise filter has been applied to ground-based high-spectral-resolution infrared radiance observations collected by the Atmospheric Emitted Radiance Interferometers (AERIs) deployed by the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) program. The technique decomposes the radiance observations into their principal components, selects the ones that describe the most variance in the data, and reconstructs the data from these components. An empirical function developed for chemical analysis is utilized to determine the number of principal components to be used in the reconstruction of the data. Statistical analysis of the noise-filtered minus original radiance data, as well as side-by-side analysis of data from two AERI systems utilizing different temporal sampling, demonstrates the ability of the noise filter using this empirical function to retain most of the atmospheric signal above the AERI noise level in the filtered data. The noise filter is applied to data collected at ARM’s tr...
Understanding Localized-Scanning Worms

Localized scanning is a simple technique used by attackers to search for vulnerable hosts. Localized scanning trades off between the local and the global search of vulnerable hosts and has been used by Code Red II and Ninida worms. As such a strategy is so simple yet effective in attacking the Internet, it is important that defenders understand the spreading ability and behaviors of localized-scanning worms. In this work, we first characterize the relationships between vulnerable-host distributions and the spread of localized-scanning worms through mathematical modeling and analysis, and compare random scanning with localized scanning. We then design an optimal localized-scanning strategy, which provides an upper bound on the spreading speed of localized-scanning self-propagating codes. Furthermore, we construct three variants of localized scanning. Specifically, the feedback localized scanning and the ping-pong localized scanning adapt the scanning methods based on the feedback from the probed host, and thus spread faster than the original localized scanning and meanwhile have a smaller variance.
Atrial natriuretic factor receptors in cultured renomedullary interstitial cells

To gain further insight on the cell types that may mediate the effects of atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) in the renal medulla, we determined the distribution and function of biological (B) and clearance (C) receptors of ANF in renomedullary interstitial cells (RMIC). Studies were performed in the 3rd-17th passages of RMIC obtained from a primary culture of the rat renal medulla. Electron microscopy of the cultured cells showed the typical morphological features of RMIC "in vivo," including prominent lipid droplets. RMIC have a very high density of high-affinity specific binding sites of ANF-(1-28) [23,000 sites/cell; dissociation constant (Kd) = 50 pM]. There was only minimal binding of C-ANF-(4-23) (less than 2,500 sites/cell), a specific ligand of C-ANF receptors. ANF-(1-28) markedly increased guanosine 39,59-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP) from 1.3 +/- 0.3 to 106 +/- 22 pmol cGMP/10(6) cells [50% effective dosage (ED50) = 1.2 nM]. The effect of ANF-(1-28) on cGMP was nearly additive to that of sodium nitroprusside and was not potentiated or antagonized by C-ANF-(4-23). The density of guanylate cyclase-coupled B-ANF receptors and the ANF-induced increase in cGMP in RMIC are higher than those reported to date in other target cells. This suggests that RMIC may mediate some of the known effects of ANF in the renal medulla.
Effect of extended sleep deprivation on tumor growth in rats.

To assess the effect of chronic sleep deprivation on host defense, we observed growth and regression of a subdermal allogenic carcinoma (Walker 256 rat tumor) in rats undergoing 10 days of total sleep deprivation (TSD rats), yoked stimulus control (TSC) rats that were partially sleep deprived, and home cage control (HCC) rats. Tumor size was measured daily. Integrated tumor size was smaller in TSD rats than in both TSC (P = 0.04) and HCC rats (P = 0.0003). Thus host defense against these tumors (as defined by reduction in tumor size) was improved by sleep deprivation. This improvement could be a nonspecific effect, e.g., tumor growth can be inhibited by a catabolic state (dietary restriction). TSD and TSC rats lost body weight, indicating a catabolic state. However, tumor size was not predicted by body weight change, but was predicted by change in sleep time (P = 0.02). Host defense enhancement could alternatively result from enhanced immune response. Early tumor size (5 days) was similar in the three groups, but peaked sooner in TSD rats than in both TSC (P = 0.05) and HCC rats (P = 0.01), leading to large differences in size later. Immune-suppressed rats also showed little difference from HCC rats in early growth but large differences later. Thus host defense in an in vivo model that manifests a systemic immune response can be enhanced by sleep deprivation with timing, which is consistent with an enhancement of the immune response.
Low Radiation Dose Calcium Scoring: Evidence and Techniques

Coronary computed tomography (CT) allows for the acquisition of thin slices of the heart and coronary arteries, which can be used to detect and quantify coronary artery calcium (CAC), a marker of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Despite the proven clinical value in cardiac risk prognostication, there remain concerns regarding radiation exposure from CAC CT scans. There have been several recent technical advancements that allow for significant radiation dose reduction in CAC scoring. This paper reviews the clinical utility and recent literature in low radiation dose CAC scoring.
Healthcare resource utilization associated with ivacaftor use in patients with cystic fibrosis

AbstractObjective: Ivacaftor was approved in 2012 to treat patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) with specific CFTR gene mutations. The objective of this analysis was to analyze the impact of ivacaftor on health resource utilization through analysis of claims data.Methods: Patients diagnosed with CF aged ≥6 years prescribed ivacaftor between January 1, 2012 and July 31, 2014 with ≥12 months of continuous insurance coverage prior to and following the prescription were identified. All-cause and CF-specific healthcare resource utilization during the pre- and post-prescription periods and ivacaftor adherence levels were studied.Results: The 79 identified patients had a mean age of 20.8 years, and 54% were female. The proportion of patients with inpatient admissions (all-cause and CF-related) was significantly higher in the pre index compared to post index period (p ≤ 0.05). Mean ivacaftor medication possession ratio was 0.8 (SD = 0.3), and 73% of patients had a medication possession ratio >0.80.Limitations: Only...
Ultrafast Imaging using Spectral Resonance Modulation

CCD cameras are ubiquitous in research labs, industry, and hospitals for a huge variety of applications, but there are many dynamic processes in nature that unfold too quickly to be captured. Although tradeoffs can be made between exposure time, sensitivity, and area of interest, ultimately the speed limit of a CCD camera is constrained by the electronic readout rate of the sensors. One potential way to improve the imaging speed is with compressive sensing (CS), a technique that allows for a reduction in the number of measurements needed to record an image. However, most CS imaging methods require spatial light modulators (SLMs), which are subject to mechanical speed limitations. Here, we demonstrate an etalon array based SLM without any moving elements that is unconstrained by either mechanical or electronic speed limitations. This novel spectral resonance modulator (SRM) shows great potential in an ultrafast compressive single pixel camera.
Tubuloglomerular feedback kinetics in spontaneously hypertensive and Wistar-Kyoto rats.

The steady-state behavior of the tubuloglomerular feedback system has been studied in detail, but little is known about its dynamics. However, kinetic data can provide insight regarding the contrib...
Does Science Refute Free Will

At the heart of the traditional conception of human nature is the idea of free will, that is, man’s capacity to choose whether to be guided by the animal side of his nature or to have reason rule the lower passions. It has, however, become a commonplace among scientists that free will must be an illusion. In this chapter, we show why the arguments made against free will are misguided. There is no reason to believe that science has raised any serious doubt about our capacity to deliberate and choose based on reason. Indeed, science itself presupposes just such a rational capacity.
Political Economies of Predynastic Egypt and the Formation of the Early State

Considered one of the world’s earliest examples of a pristine state, the ancient Egyptian state arose by ca. 3000 BC. State formation in Egypt became a focus of much research in the 1970s and 1980s, as investigations of the Predynastic period in Egypt, when complex society arose there, began to uncover new evidence of the indigenous roots of this phenomenon. More recently, archaeological investigations in the Delta as well as continued work in southern Egypt have provided new evidence for the changes that took place in the fourth millennium BC. But the specific events and processes involved in this major sociopolitical and economic transformation and the resultant state still remain incompletely understood. To better understand the problem in Egypt, this study looks at the contrasting polities in fourth millennium BC Egypt and Nubia from the perspective of the political economy and the strategies to power proposed by the dual-processual theory, which also helps elucidate processes of state formation and the type of early state that developed there. The territorial expansionist model helps explain where and when this state first emerged.
O10-6 Cancer incidence at a former nuclear processing facility in apollo, pennsylvania usa

From 1958 to 1983, the Apollo nuclear facility produced low-enriched uranium, highly-enriched uranium, and thorium fuels. A history of poor regulatory compliance, poor materials accountability, inadequate building construction, absence of monitoring, and several accidents (including a fire that is believed to have released kilogram quantities of highly-enriched uranium into the atmosphere) suggest potential for occupational and environmental radionuclide exposures. This analysis investigates all-cancer incidence surrounding the Apollo facility from 1990–2010 using indirect standardisation methods. It addresses many of the limitations of prior studies by improving the accuracy of population estimates and assessing the magnitude of bias due to residential misclassification. We also evaluated whether changes in population distribution over time, for example due to ageing and migration of workers after closure of the facility, affected incidence rate ratios. We fit a lognormal Poisson model with random effects to account for person-time heterogeneity of age across calendar periods. We identified excess cancer incidence in the Apollo community relative to the number of expected cancers based on Pennsylvania statewide rates. Between 1990 and 2010, the observed rate of cancer incidence among males in the Apollo area was 1.56 (95% CI: 1.47–1.65) times the expected statewide incidence and among females the cancer rate was 1.38 (95% CI: 1.29–1.47) times the expected statewide incidence. The excess observed vs. expected rates was reduced by adjustment for prior estimates of geographic misclassification of cases. Differences in incidence ratios by sex could reflect occupational exposures. Estimates from the random effects model did not differ significantly from the standard estimates, indicating that the amount of heterogeneity in incidence ratios by changes population distribution was minimal.
Effect of FLT3 and RAS Mutations on Protein Expression Patterns In Cases of Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML) with NPM1 Mutations

Abstract 2704 Background. Mutations of NPM1, FLT3 and RAS are common in AML occurring in ∼ 30%, 25% and 10% of cases. The incidence and prognostic implications of the combinations of wildtype (WT) and mutant (MU) NPM1 and FLT3 are well described and have different prognostic implications. How these mutations effect the cellular biology of leukemic blasts at the protein level is unknown as is the effect of a RAS mutation on these combinations. Methods. To understand the biology underlying these changes we utilized a Reverse Phase Protein Array (RPPA) to measure the protein expression of 195 different antibodies in cases of newly diagnosed AML with different combinations of NPM1, FLT3 and RAS mutations. We also examined the MDACC experience with these events in newly diagnosed AML (non APL) patients that were treated at MDACC. Results. NPM1-MU was present in 20% (4/461) including 36% of diploid (67/185) cases and for all or diploid cases was associated with slightly better overall survival (OS, p= 0.07 and 0.15) and significantly better Event Free Survival (EFS, P=0.002 and 0.001) and longer remission duration (RemDur, p=0.0009, 0.001). FLT3-ITD or D835 mutations were present in 22% (99/450) of cases and 35% (65/183) of diploid cases, in which it was associated with inferior OS (p= 0.05 for all and diploid). RAS-MU were found in 16% (64/403) of cases and was not predictive of OS (p=.49) or RemDur (p=0.62). Mutation in both NPM1 and FLT occurred in 9.3% of cases, more commonly than expected by chance (O/E =2.14, Χ 2 = 39, P Conclusion. We confirmed the prognostic impact of NPM1 and FLT3-ITD combinations as reported by others groups. We identified a new highly favorable prognostic group of cases (2.5%) with simultaneous NPM1 and RAS mutations and WT FLT3. The proteomic data identified that NPM1 mutation is strongly associated with activation of the RAF-AKT-MTOR axis suggesting that combinations of sorafenib and serolimus might be employed to interrupt this axis and increase chemosensitivity in patients with NPM1 mutations. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Defining leadership competencies for pediatric critical care fellows: Results of a national needs assessment.

AbstractIntroduction: Physicians in training, including those in Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, must develop clinical leadership skills in preparation to lead multidisciplinary teams during their careers. This study seeks to identify multidisciplinary perceptions of leadership skills important for Pediatric Critical Care Medicine fellows to attain prior to fellowship completion.Methods: We performed a multi-institutional survey of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine attendings, fellows, and nurses. Subjects were asked to rate importance of 59 leadership skills, behaviors, and attitudes for Pediatric Critical Care practitioners and to identify whether these skills should be achieved before completing fellowship. Skills with the highest ratings by respondents were deemed essential.Results: Five hundred and eighteen subjects completed the survey. Of 59 items, only one item (“displays honesty and integrity”) was considered essential by all respondents. When analyzed by discipline, nurses identified 21 behavio...
Correspondence Metaphysics and the Cogency of a God’s Eye View

This chapter addresses two remaining issues. The first is the apprehension that in undercutting reference-magnetism views the way I have, I’ve ruled out the possibility that the way the world sorts out for us empirically could be compatible with some version of correspondence metaphysics—an empirically-justified neat correspondence between language (kind terms, in particular) and the world. Previous chapters may also have given rise to the worry that my approach methodologically presupposes a God’s eye view while at the same time undercutting itself by officially regarding that viewpoint as one that neither we nor private rule-followers can make sense of. These issues are connected and I explore them both in this chapter. I also characterize two powerful and apparently conflicting ways of thinking about language, the contrastivist view and the noncontrastivist view. I don’t try to resolve which view is the right one.
Multi-Pitch Estimation by a Joint 2-D Representation of Pitch and Pitch Dynamics

Multi-pitch estimation of co-channel speech is especially challenging when the underlying pitch tracks are close in pitch value (e.g., when pitch tracks cross). Building on our previous work in [1], we demonstrate the utility of a two-dimensional (2-D) analysis method of speech for this problem by exploiting its joint representation of pitch and pitch-derivative information from distinct speakers. Specifically, we propose a novel multi-pitch estimation method consisting of 1) a datadriven classifier for pitch candidate selection, 2) local pitch and pitch-derivative estimation by k-means clustering, and 3) a Kalman filtering mechanism for pitch tracking and assignment. We evaluate our method on a database of allvoiced speech mixtures and illustrate its capability to estimate pitch tracks in cases where pitch tracks are separate and when they are close in pitch value (e.g., at crossings). Index Terms: Grating Compression Transform, multi-pitch estimation, pitch dynamics, pitch crossings, all-voiced speech
Workshop Musculoskeletal Ultrasound of the Upper Extremity

: This workshop features, (Live) demonstration of sonographic technique of the upper extremity joints; patient positioning; transducer choices, operation and position on the anatomic landmarks; optimal evaluation of the anatomic structures in shoulder, elbow and wrist; hopefully on Thursday or Friday.
Deep finance: sovereign debt crises and the secondary market ‘fix’

Links between ballooning national debts and official aid conditionalities are well understood. Private sovereign debt markets, in contrast, have been largely overlooked outside mainstream economics...
Probabilistic models for assured position, navigation, and timing

Position, navigation, and timing (PNT) user equipment produces position, velocity, and time (PVT) estimates by combining measurements from multiple Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) and from additional sensors. PVT estimates are computed using linear estimators or Bayesian filters. However, because linear estimators and Bayesian filters are susceptible to adversarial manipulation, it is challenging to assess the trust of PVT estimates that rely on these approaches. We investigate the suitability of open-universe probabilistic models OUPMs introduced by Milch and Russell as a foundation to design PVT assurance metrics and adaptive PVT estimators. These estimators output PVT information together with trust assessments of PVT inputs and outputs. OUPMs model structural uncertainty (object uncertainty and relational uncertainty) necessary to measure assurance when the availability of sensors and the absence of adversaries cannot be guaranteed. We describe the challenges of designing PVT assurance metrics using traditional methods, and we illustrate how OUPMs represented as probabilistic programs allow us to address these challenges. In particular, we provide concrete examples of how to combine multiple sources of information to compute assurance assessments using the Texas Spoofing Test Battery. Furthermore, we demonstrate how to leverage PVT assurance metrics to design adaptive PVT estimators designed to operate through attacks.
Thyroid uptake of 1311 following hippuran renal scintillation camera studies in children blackwell

The thyroid uptake of radioactive iodine after scintillation camera studies using 131I-labeled hippuran was studied and the radiation dose calculated in 30 euthyroid children with normal renal function. Fifteen children received Lugol's solution which reduced the thyroid uptake and radiation dose significantly.
Interactive Effects of Air Pollution and Climate Change on Forest Ecosystems in the United States: Current Understanding and Future Scenarios

A review of the current status of air pollution and climate change (CC) in the United States from a perspective of their impacts on forest ecosystems is provided. Ambient ozone (O3) and nitrogen (N) deposition have important and widespread ecological impacts in U.S. forests. Effects of sulphurous (S) air pollutants and other trace pollutants have significant ecological importance only at much smaller geographic scales. Complex interactive effects of air pollution and CC for selected future CC scenarios are reviewed. In addition, simulations of past, present, and future hydrologic, nutrient, and growth changes caused by interactive effects of air pollution and CC are described for two U.S. forest ecosystems. Impacts of O3, N deposition, and CC on growth and hydrology of mixed conifer forests in the San Bernardino Mountains in southern California were projected with the DayCent model. Effects of N deposition, CO2 fertilization, N deposition, and CC on northern hardwood forests at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest in New Hampshire were simulated with the PnET-BGC model. Projected changes in these forests can influence the provision of ecosystem services such as C sequestration and water supply. The extent of these effects will vary depending on the future intensity and extent of CC, air pollutant emission levels, the distribution of air pollution, and other factors such as drought, pest outbreaks, fire, etc. Our chapter ends with research and management recommendations intended to increase our ability to cope with uncertainties related to the future interactive effects of multiple air pollutants, atmospheric deposition, CC, and other biotic and abiotic stressors.
Floodlight Quantum Key Distribution

Floodlight quantum key distribution (FL-QKD) is capable of Gbit/s secret-key rates over metropolitan area distances without multiplexing. This talk summarizes the FL-QKD protocol, its potential secret-key rates, and its proof-of-principle experimental demonstration.
Advances in characterization of adsorbed layers and surface compounds by spectroscopic techniques

Spectroscopic techniques are becoming increasingly popular for characterizing the interior of adsorbed layers of surfactants and polymers at solid -liquid interface as well as in the identification of compounds on mineral surfaces. This review encompasses the application of fluorescence and ESR spectroscopic techniques to reveal the microscopic environment of the adsorbed layers of surfactants and polymers on minerals with a special reference to the adsorption of anionic surfactants (e.g., sodium dodecyl sulfate) and poly electrolytes (e.g., polyacrylic acid) at positively charged mineral (e.g., alumina) - water interfaces. Finally, the utility of XPS and auger techniques to identify the surface elemental composition of different mineral species has been related to their flotation efficiency.
Robotic Resident and Fellow Surgery Training

The number of robotic surgeries performed in the United States has been growing over the last decade. There has been a similar growth in academic centers, exposing residents and fellows during their training. As a result, residency programs are now incorporating its use into their training. However, there are no standardized training models, which creates challenges in establishing a uniform curriculum. With current work restrictions, focus on patient safety and minimizing complications, and focus by hospitals on optimizing operative times and block utilization, simulation for advanced technologies and techniques will be required. Unlike laparoscopy, where these skills can be practiced on box trainers or via cost-effective dry labs, this is not an option for robotic surgery training. The cost of acquiring stand-alone simulators and simulator backpacks for robotic consoles, housing a full robotic system solely for training, or having a dual console system is expensive and possibly cost prohibitive, creating a challenge for training the next generation of surgeons. Therefore, programs will need to assess their capabilities in order to develop the best curriculum to teach the fundamentals of robotic surgery. Some programs may have the case volume and access to more robotic resources than others, allowing their trainees to transition into practice using these technologies without further training. While those lacking this may require additional training, whether from fellowships in minimally invasive, robotic surgery, or postgraduate courses. Ultimately, the trainee’s ability to utilize this technology in their future practice will be determined by individual hospitals and their credentialing committees.
Choosing the right pharmacotherapy for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: does one size fit all?

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), the most common subtype of aggressive B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL), is highly curable with conventional chemoimmunotherapy. Indolent B-cell lymphomas (...
Bringing Real-World Data and Visualizations of Student-Implemented Data Structures into Sophomore CS Courses Using BRIDGES

This workshop introduces participants to the concepts and use of BRIDGES, a software infrastructure for programming assignments in data structures and algorithms courses. BRIDGES provides two key capabilities, (1) easy to use interface to real world datasets spanning social networks, entertainment (movies on IMDB, song lyrics), scientific data (real-time USGIS Earthquake Data), civic issues (crime data), and literature (books); and (2) a visualization of the acquired data can be used in assignments by students to populate their implemented data structures, including the capability to bring out attributes of the dataset. The visualizations are displayed on the BRIDGES website and are easily shared (with family, friends, peers, etc) via a weblink. Workshop attendees will engage in hands-on experience with BRIDGES and multiple datasets and will have the opportunity to discuss how BRIDGES can be used in their own courses, as well as partner with the BRIDGES team.
Note on the Mindlin Problem

Abstract A variation on the method of images leads to a method of solution which involves only elementary integrations.