cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ginseng as a Treatment for Fatigue: A Systematic Review.

Abstract Background: Millions of people with chronic illness suffer from fatigue. Fatigue is a complex, multidimensional symptom with poorly understood causes, wide variations in severity among ind...
Bayesian top scoring pairs for feature selection

We propose a novel feature selection approach based on the Bayesian Top Scoring Pairs (BTSP) method. We compare its performance against well-known feature selection methods, under SVM, k-NN and NB classification rules, by means of an extensive numerical experiment using real gene-expression data sets. Results demonstrate the promise of the BTSP feature selection approach in the analysis of high-dimensional biological data.
Xanthogranulomatous Pyelonephritis: A Complicated Febrile Urinary Tract Infection Detected by Point-of-Care Ultrasound in the Emergency Department.

Abstract Background Febrile urinary tract infections (UTIs) include a spectrum of pathologies from uncomplicated pyelonephritis to urosepsis, including xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis (XGP). Most febrile UTIs are treated with antibiotics alone, but studies indicate nearly 12% of cases of presumed simple pyelonephritis require emergent urologic intervention. How to identify these individuals, while limiting unnecessary advanced imaging and delays in diagnosis, challenges all emergency providers. We review the diagnosis and management of XGP, as well as the evidence regarding the role of renal ultrasound in the identification of complicated presentations of febrile UTIs. Case Report We present a case of XGP, a complicated febrile UTI requiring immediate urologic intervention, diagnosed by point-of-care ultrasound. A 40-year-old female presented in severe sepsis and complaining of flank pain. Prompt bedside ultrasound demonstrated hydronephrosis, expediting definitive urologic treatment via percutaneous nephrostomy tube placement. Why Should an Emergency Physician Be Aware of This? With a mortality rate exceeding 40%, obstructed pyonephrosis requires prompt decompression. Given its exceptional sensitivity for identifying hydronephrosis and ability to detect abscesses and emphysematous changes, we advocate a point-of-care ultrasound–first approach to screen for cases of complicated febrile UTIs in order to expedite treatment and limit radiation in uncomplicated presentations.
Lightning and Soap Films

We are sure that the title of this chapter sounds bewildering when you read it aloud. What has lightning to do with soap films? Lighting is something mighty, whereas soap films, like soap bubbles, are fragile and easy to blow away. So, is there a joke in the title? No, there is a well-established mathematical theory that constitutes the background for describing the lightning hairy shapes and shapes of soap films (or some rubber sheets) stretched over a firm metallic (or wood) frame. It is our goal to make you acquainted with this beautiful and versatile mathematical theory, and, in doing so, to build a model of fractal growth. To this end, let us start with the fractal that you can see in Figure 1.
One-parameter models

A one-parameter model is a class of sampling distributions that is indexed by a single unknown parameter. In this chapter we discuss Bayesian inference for two one-parameter models: the binomial model and the Poisson model. In addition to being useful statistical tools, these models also provide a simple environment within which we can learn the basics of Bayesian data analysis, including conjugate prior distributions, predictive distributions and confidence regions.
Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma Emerging from Hashimoto Thyroiditis Demonstrates Increased PD-L1 Expression, Which Persists with Metastasis

There is evidence that programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) is expressed by thyroid follicular epithelium in thyroiditis, but the role of PD-L1 in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is poorly understood. We aimed to determine whether (1) the presence of background chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis (CLT) or Hashimoto thyroiditis (HT) influenced the expression of PD-L1 in benign follicular epithelium or in PTC and (2) if PD-L1 expression in PTC persisted with lymph node metastasis. We performed immunohistochemistry (IHC) for PD-L1 on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues. We first studied five cases of unremarkable thyroid, five cases of CLT, and five cases of HT without carcinoma. We subsequently performed PD-L1 IHC on ten cases of PTC arising in normal thyroid, ten cases of PTC arising in CLT, and ten cases of PTC arising in HT. Whenever available, we evaluated corresponding synchronous lymph node metastases from all cases for PD-L1 expression. PD-L1 expression was increased (10-90%) in all five cases of HT, only minimal expressed (1-5%) in two of five cases of CLT, and not expressed in five cases of unremarkable thyroid. PTC arising in normal thyroid or CLT nearly uniformly lacked PD-L1 expression. In contrast, PTC arising in HT demonstrated significant PD-L1 expression, which persisted in corresponding lymph node metastases. Background non-neoplastic follicular epithelium in the HT cases also demonstrated PD-L1 expression. Thyroid follicular epithelium in HT demonstrates increased PD-L1 expression, and PTC arising in a background of HT shows increased PD-L1 expression, which is retained with metastasis.
PT-Symmetric Inductive Displacement Sensors

We propose a new type of wireless displacement sensor based on the concept of parity-time (PT)-symmetry. The PT-symmetric wireless sensor consists of a -RLC tank (reader) and a RLC (tag) tank, which are inductively coupled to fulfill the PT-symmetry condition. Specifically, when this wireless sensor is operated nearby the exceptional point (EP), uniquely existing in the PT system, it can exhibit highly sensitive frequency responses with respect to the change in the distance between reader and tag. The effectiveness of the proposed wireless displacement sensor is experimentally verified, showing great potential for high-precision displacement, position and distance measurements, assessment of civil infrastructures, as well as industrial and medical internet-of-things (IoTs).
REAK: Reliability analysis through Error rate-based Adaptive Kriging

Abstract As models in various fields are becoming more complex, associated computational demands have been increasing significantly. Reliability analysis for these systems when failure probabilities are small is very challenging, requiring a large number of costly simulations. To address this challenge, this paper introduces Reliability analysis through Error rate-based Adaptive Kriging (REAK). An extension of the Central Limit Theorem based on Lindeberg condition is adopted here to derive the distribution of the number of design samples with wrong sign estimate and subsequently determine the maximum error rate for failure probability estimates. This error rate enables optimal establishment of effective sampling regions at each stage of an adaptive scheme for strategic generation of design samples. Moreover, it facilitates setting a target accuracy for failure probability estimation, which is used as the stopping criterion for reliability analysis. These capabilities together can significantly reduce the number of calls to sophisticated, computationally demanding models. The application of REAK for four examples with varying extent of nonlinearity and dimension is presented. Results indicate that REAK is able to reduce the computational demand by as high as 50% compared to the state-of-the-art methods of Adaptive Kriging with Monte Carlo Simulation (AK-MCS) and Improved Sequential Kriging Reliability Analysis (ISKRA).
Cardiac arrest and pulmonary hypertension in scurvy: a case report:

We report a case of a six-year-old boy who presented after a cardiac arrest, likely due to a pulmonary hypertensive crisis in the setting of vitamin C deficiency. After initially presenting with subacute multifocal bone lesions of unknown etiology, he experienced a pulseless electrical activity cardiac arrest while undergoing a diagnostic procedure under sedation. During his post-arrest convalescence, he developed persistent tachycardia and peripheral edema. An echocardiogram revealed findings consistent with significant pulmonary arterial hypertension, which was found to be responsive to inhaled nitric oxide. Laboratory investigation revealed undetectable levels of vitamin C, resulting in disclosure of a history of severe restrictive eating behavior. With ascorbate supplementation, the patient's pulmonary vasodilators were weaned and discontinued. Given his complete recovery, we suspect that the cardiac arrest and pulmonary hypertension were the consequence of a rare, but reversible, complication of scurvy.
A little help from my enemies: Gaining organizational status from disassociations with others

We propose that organizations make disassociations, or wish to distance themselves, with certain organizations based on differences between organizational identities. We give a definition of organi...
Structural Insights into the Mechanism of Dynamin Superfamily Proteins

Dynamin superfamily proteins (DSPs) mediate membrane fission and fusion necessary for endocytosis, organelle biogenesis and maintenance, as well as for bacterial cytokinesis. They also function in the innate immune response to pathogens and in organizing the cytoskeleton. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of the molecular mechanism of DSPs, with emphasis on the structural basis of function. Studies from the past decade on the structure and mechanism of DSPs enable comparative analysis of shared mechanisms and unique features of this protein family.
What Mentoring Means to Me.

Mentoring is an important part of academic life, and is crucial in the relationship between advisor and advisee. This essay lays out what characteristics are most important to sustaining a solid me...
Treating a Chronically Depressed Adolescent Female Using the Cognitive Behavioral Analysis System of Psychotherapy: A Case Study

A case is presented of an adolescent female with double depression who was treated using the Cognitive Behavioral Analysis System of Psychotherapy (CBASP). CBASP is designed to teach a social problem-solving procedure called Situational Analysis (SA). Generalized treatment effects were measured through monitoring of diagnostic status, two administrations of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-Adolescent, weekly administrations of the Child Depression Inventory, and acquisition performance ratings on the SA task. The results showed that CBASP appeared to be an effective treatment. The double depressive disorder remitted, and the patient learned to identify behavioral consequences as well as target and attain her interpersonal goals. CBASP can be effective for adolescents, although modifications of the “adult” form of the therapy may be necessary.
Science and the CQT polygraph. A theoretical critique.

Despite substantial contrary scientific evidence, polygraph tests to detect deception continue to be employed in the United States. It is argued that polygraph tests (in particular, the Control Question Technique) lack construct validity. Polygraph tests do not assess deceptiveness, but rather are situations designed to elicit and assess fear. Correct decisions may be obtained when subjects fear detection; however, because there is no way to determine the cause of a subject’s fear or anxiety, validation is impossible. The paper also considers other physiological detection paradigms and concludes that because of the nature of honesty their use to detect deception is unlikely.
Zika Virus Associated Pathology and Antigen Presence in the Testicle in the Absence of Sexual Transmission During Subacute to Chronic Infection in a Mouse Model.

Zika virus (ZIKV) is an arboviral infection that has been shown to be sexually transmitted. The study outlined herein aims to determine if accessory sex glands and epididymal epithelial cells are sources of viral persistence in subacute and chronic ZIKV infection, and if infection of these organs is important in sexual transmission during long-term (chronic) infection. Male interferon type I receptor knockout (Ifnar-/-) mice were challenged with ZIKV and reproductive tissues were harvested 14 and 35 days post infection (DPI) for inoculation studies and 14, 35 and 70 DPI for histopathology. Artificial insemination fluid derived from epididymal flush and seminal plasma from the prostate and seminal vesicle was obtained from ZIKV inoculated and sham-infected males. Naive interferon type I and II receptor knockout (AG129) female mice were pre-treated with progesterone and inoculated intravaginally with artificial insemination fluid from ZIKV-infected males. ZIKV RNA was detected in the artificial insemination fluid generated from epididymal flush or seminal plasma from ZIKV infected males at 14 and 35 DPI. ZIKV antigens were only detected in seminiferous tubules at 14 DPI. Epididymal epithelial cells did not show ZIKV antigen immunoreactivity at 14, 35 or 70 DPI. Severe fibrosing orchitis (end stage orchitis) was observed at 35 and 70 DPI. Mild inflammation and peri-tubular fibrosis were observed in the epididymis following clearance of virus. Viral RNA was not detected by PCR in whole blood samples of females from any intravaginal experimental group and only detected in 20% of subcutaneously inoculated animals (derived from 1 experimentally infected male) at 35 DPI. While ZIKV RNA and antigens can be detected in the male reproductive tract at 14 DPI and RNA can also be detected at 35 DPI, intravaginal inoculation of artificial insemination fluid from these time-points failed to result in viremia in naive females inoculated intravaginally. These studies support the hypothesis that epididymal epithelial cells are critical to sexual transmission in immunocompromised mice. Additionally, acute but not chronic male reproductive tract infection with ZIKV results in infectious virus capable of being sexually transmitted in mice.
Effective Radial Thermal Conductivity of a Parallel Channel Corrugated Metal Structured Adsorbent

The effective radial thermal conductivity (keff) of a 2-D analog of a 3-D, parallel channel, corrugated metal, structured adsorbent bed was studied using COMSOL Multiphysics. This 2-D structure con...
Storage Primes Erythrocytes for Necroptosis and Clearance.

Background/aims Like nucleated cells, erythrocytes (red blood cells, RBCs) are capable of executing programmed cell death pathways. RBCs undergo necroptosis in response to CD59-specific pore-forming toxins (PFTs). The relationship between blood bank storage and RBC necroptosis was explored in this study. Methods Human RBCs were stored in standard blood bank additive solutions (AS-1, AS-3, or AS-5) for 1 week and hemolysis was evaluated in the context of necroptosis inhibitors and reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavengers. Activation of key factors including RIP1, RIP3, and MLKL was determined using immunoprecipitations and western blot. RBC vesiculation and formation of echinocytes was determined using phase-contrast microscopy. The effect of necroptosis and storage on RBC clearance was determined using a murine transfusion model. Results Necroptosis is associated with increased RBC clearance post-transfusion. Moreover, storage in AS-1, AS-3, or AS-5 sensitizes RBCs for necroptosis. Importantly, storage-sensitized RBCs undergo necroptosis in response to multiple PFTs, regardless of specificity for CD59. Storage-sensitized RBCs undergo necroptosis via NADPH oxidase-generated ROS. RBC storage led to RIP1 phosphorylation and necrosome formation in an NADPH oxidase-dependent manner suggesting the basis for this sensitization. In addition, storage led to increased RBC clearance post-transfusion. Clearance of these RBCs was due to Syk-dependent echinocyte formation. Conclusion Storage-induced sensitization to RBC necroptosis and clearance is important as it may be relevant to hemolytic transfusion reactions.
Left Coast Political Ecology: a manifesto

Left Coast Political Ecology (LCPE) is a network of undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral scholars and faculty engaged in a collective practice of political ecology grounded in strong connection to the "Left Coast" of North America. In this manifesto, we build on successful 2015 and 2018 workshops on the practice and value of political ecology today to communicate our origins, efforts, and ideas towards building a community of praxis amid the urgencies and uncertainties of our time. We first articulate those organizing and theoretical lineages that influence and inform our work. We trace the evolution of LCPE through diverse genealogies and cross-pollinations – from the "Berkeley School" to Black, Indigenous, feminist, and decolonial studies, through political struggles within and beyond the academy. In grappling with the challenges of our institutional histories of settler-colonial, capitalist, and racist dispossession, we then propose a "coastal epistemology", one that troubles the notion of a settler-colonial or neoliberal "frontier" while finding value in encounter, conversation, and emergence. We seek to make transparent our positions of relative privilege as well as the precarious contexts in which we work and live, while mobilizing and embodying political ecology's long-standing normative and liberatory aims. Next we share some of the diverse methodological approaches employed by our members and collective, with the aim of providing inspiration and solidarity to others contending with similar challenges. Ultimately, we suggest a vision for what a political ecology adequate to our moment might look like and require: a necessarily collective and hopeful project, amid processes of colonial violence, capitalist inequity, and climate catastrophe. The Left Coast Political Ecology network invites you to dream and organize with us, to share resources, experiences, and community, and to help push our field and our institutions toward more socially just and ecologically sustainable futures. Keywords: Coastal epistemology, Left Coast, network, radical geography, praxis, West Coast
Blind Distributed MU-MIMO for IoT Networking over VHF Narrowband Spectrum

Longer range, in rural/urban IoT networks, allow a large geographical coverage with only a few base-stations, making their deployment and operation economical. In this paper we explore the 150-174 MHz spectrum for long range IoT networks comprising unlicensed MURS and licensed VHF narrowbands. Range in these bands is boosted by the lower RF frequencies as well as higher transmit powers allowed by the FCC. Through a 400 sq km wide area deployment study, we show that, these spectrum bands can provide > 20× the geographical coverage than that in the 900 MHz ISM band LoRa. Increased range translates to greater uplink IoT device traffic. The key contribution of this paper is a novel technique - Blind Distributed MU-MIMO, that allows capacity to scale with the number of antennas (base- stations) while not requiring any coordinated channel measurements between the devices and IoT base- stations. This requirement is crucial since in IoT networks power constrained IoT devices typically sleep and wake up to transmit short messages in response to unpredictable events without any coordination with the base-stations. We demonstrate the efficacy of Blind Distributed MU-MIMO through a real wide area deployment.
Algorithm for Improving Power Balance for Cascaded H-Bridge Multilevel under Staircase Modulation for Linear Loads

This paper evaluates traditional modulation techniques for Cascaded H-Bridge Multilevel (CHBM) converter in terms of the power consumption by each cell. Under the scope of this study, this converter is connected in series with a Linear Power Amplifier (LPA) to build a Hybrid Power Amplifier (HPA), although it can be applied to any converter using staircase modulation. A new technique for improving the balance consumption by all the cells is proposed based on the selection of all possible combinations of the switching angles, generated by the Nearest Level of Control (NLC) technique. The novelty of this study relies on improving the balance, not only for resistive loads, but also for inductive and capacitive loads. By improving the power balance the cells will be designed in more uniform way, requiring smaller DC supplies and it makes it possible to use multi-output DC-DC converters on the cells input side. The new modulation technique will be detailed and simulations results will be presented to validate the technique.
Opportunities and challenges presented by recent pedagogical innovations in doctoral nursing education.

Abstract The demand to expand the nurse scientist pipeline over the past decade has generated numerous pedagogical innovations in nursing doctoral education. A PhD nursing education summit was held at the University of Pennsylvania in October 2019 to discuss pedagogical innovations. The main pedagogical innovations discussed by Summit attendees included: 1) the expansion of both 3-year PhD programs and BSN to PhD programs; 2) changes in learning opportunities and curricula content; and 3) the role of postdoctoral fellowships. This overview examines the numerous opportunities and challenges generated by these innovations. Opportunities include producing scholars with research careers that are potentially longer than historically seen in the nursing profession, as well as the emergence of unique educational and mentoring opportunities both during and after doctoral studies. Challenges involve the impact condensed program timelines have had on both the content and delivery of curricula, as well as the research expertise and skillsets of nursing PhD program graduates. There is a need to conduct a national coordinated evaluation of PhD program using shared metrics in order to better evaluate the effect of these pedagogical innovations on the development of nurse scientists, and ultimately, the discipline.
Evaluating adaptive and predictive power management strategies for optimizing visualization performance on supercomputers

Abstract Power is becoming an increasingly scarce resource on the next generation of supercomputers, and should be used wisely to improve overall performance. One strategy for improving power usage is hardware overprovisioning, i.e., systems with more nodes than can be run at full power simultaneously without exceeding the system-wide power limit. With this study, we compare two strategies for allocating power throughout an overprovisioned system – adaptation and prediction – in the context of visualization workloads. While adaptation has been suitable for workloads with more regular execution behaviors, it may not be as suitable on visualization workloads, since they can have variable execution behaviors. Our study considers a total of 104 experiments, which vary the rendering workload, power budget, allocation strategy, and node concurrency, including tests processing data sets up to 1 billion cells and using up to 18,432 cores across 512 nodes. Overall, we find that prediction is a superior strategy for this use case, improving performance up to 27% compared to an adaptive strategy.
Growth of van der Waals topological insulator thin films

I will show our results on improving the growth of topological insulator (TI) van der Waals (vdW) thin films using molecular beam epitaxy. First, lattice-matched trivially-insulating buffer layers can be used to reduce the unintentional doing in the films by improving the crystalline quality of the first few TI layers. Second, substrate pre-treatment can reduce twinning and improve TI morphology by satisfying dangling bonds and changing the surface energy. Finally, when TI films are grown on (001) GaAs, the TI film can be grown in an alternate orientation that has an epitaxial relationship to the substrate and that self-assembled TI nano-columns can be grown without the use of strain or catalysts. Despite the weak film-substrate interaction, the morphology and quality of vdW thin films can be strongly controlled by appropriate choice of growth parameters and substrate.
Stakeholder Support for Wildlife Conservation Funding Policies

State wildlife management agencies in the United States have depended on a “user-pay” funding model for conservation efforts that relies on revenue from hunting license sales and a federal excise tax on firearms, ammunition, and archery equipment. Declines in hunting participation, however, jeopardize sustainability of the current funding model. Ensuring support among stakeholders for wildlife management and conservation may require expanding sources of funding and incorporating the perspectives and values of a diversifying constituency into decision making processes. We used a web-based survey of wildlife-associated recreationists in Michigan, USA to evaluate support for a range of conservation funding policies. Respondents self-identified primarily as hunters (n=2558) or wildlife watchers (n=942). We used binary logistic regression to evaluate support for four conservation funding policy options: state sales tax, lottery proceeds, extractive industry revenue, and a user-based tax on outdoor gear (i.e., “backpack tax”). Determinants of support varied by type of policy and stakeholder characteristics. We found no statistically significant differences between hunters and wildlife watchers in their support for conservation funding policies when accounting for other variables such as wildlife value orientations, engagement in stewardship behaviors, age, and gender. The industry-based policy achieved the greatest level of approval, while the backpack tax had the lowest. Respondents were mixed in their support of the sales tax and lottery proceeds options. Cluster analysis revealed three homogenous groups related to conservation funding policies: ‘strong support,' 'mixed/opposed,' and 'anti-backpack tax.' Clusters differed in their support for conservation funding policies and on psychological and demographic variables. The ‘strong support’ and ‘anti-backpack tax’ groups differed in their levels of stewardship engagement, knowledge of conservation funding mechanisms, and support for the backpack tax option. The ‘mixed-opposed’ group tended to be older, less educated, and less likely to be a member of a conservation organization. Results suggest support for conservation funding differs by policy type and social and psychological characteristics of stakeholders. Based on differences in policy support revealed in this study, we suggest a multi-tiered approach to funding conservation and building on support among wildlife stakeholders to mitigate the looming funding crisis for state wildlife agencies.
EVALUATING THE PRESENCE OF IN-VEHICLE DEVICES ON DRIVER PERFORMANCE: METHODOLOGICAL ISSUES

A central concern of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) is the effect of in-vehicle devices (e.g., cell phones, navigation systems, radios) on driver performance and safety. As diverse and innovative technologies are designed and implemented for in-vehicle use, questions regarding the presence and use of these devices assume progressively greater importance. Concern for driver safety and advanced driver training require us to develop and validate reliable and effective procedures for assessing such effects. This work examines a number of candidate procedures, in particular the evaluation of cognitive workload as a strategy by which such goals might be achieved.
Judicial Participation in Plea Bargaining: A Dispute Resolution Perspective

There is a common perception that the plea bargaining process is not a judicial matter and therefore judges do not or should not participate in the criminal plea bargaining discussions between prosecutors and defense counsel. However, in many state jurisdictions, judicial participation is allowed or even encouraged in the criminal plea bargaining process by statute or by case law. This Article briefly summarizes some of the issues with judicial participation in the plea bargaining process from a dispute resolution perspective, including how structural issues with the way defense counsel are appointed and compensated, along with the power of prosecutors, makes good representation for defendants less likely. By then performing a fifty-state survey of rules for judicial participation in plea bargaining, the Article explicates both advantages and disadvantages of judicial participation in the plea bargaining process and the creation of a neutral dispute resolution style bargaining perspective. Most importantly, it makes five recommendations for how states can involve judges in the plea bargaining process to retain the advantages while minimizing the disadvantages of judicial participation: having a separate judge or magistrate judge manage the plea process, recording plea bargains for future review, ensuring judges take a facilitative role during the plea process, involving defendants in the process where possible, and holding plea bargains in an informal setting.
Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases of Pseudomonas testosteroni. Separation of a 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase from the 3(17) beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and comparison of the two enzymes.

Abstract When a crude extract of Pseudomonas testosteroni induced with testosterone was subjected to polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, six bands that stained for 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity were observed. A protein fraction containing the enzyme corresponding to the fastest migrating band and devoid of the other hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activities has been obtained. This preparation appears to be distinct from the previously isolated 3(17)β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.51) in its chromatographic properties on DEAE-cellulose, substrate and cofactor specificity, immunological properties and heat stability. The preparation appears devoid of 3α-, 3β-, 11β-, 17α-, 20α-, and 20β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activities. The enzyme transfers the 4-pro-S-hydrogen of NADH from estradiol-17β (1,3,5,(10)estratriene-3,17β-diol) to esterone (3-hydroxyl-1,3,5(10)-estratriene-17-one).
A formative audit of the ECAETC year 1 evaluation : audit procedures, findings, and issues

Abstract The present paper outlines the choice and use of procedures in a formative audit of a first-year evaluation and discusses the major issues that arose as the audit was conducted. The joint discussion of procedures and issues is intended to reflect the interactive interplay between specific procedures and broader audit-related issues, a distinguishing characteristic of this audit. The authors discuss how the four broad audit issues that arose — purpose, structure, role of the audit trail, and resources — were examined during the course of the audit and upon postaudit reflection. The authors' experiences in this context suggest a broadening of the audit concept beyond assessments of methodological quality. A summary of the individual audit reports is presented also to illustrate the nature of the audit findings.
Thermophysical Properties: Some Experiences in Research, Development and Applications

Over the years the Conferences on thermal expansion and thermal conductivity have been properly preoccupied with discussions of the theory and measurement of thermophysical properties. Actually, some of the uses to which this information has been put are of considerable interest in themselves, and some of the seemingly routine requests for thermophysical property information by workers in the applications area have led to complex, and sometimes basic research projects. Just for example, during the years 1955 to 1973 the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory designed, built, and tested thirteen graphite-core, gas-cooled nuclear reactors with the stated purpose of developing a nuclear rocket. The principle of operation was simple, the graphite core was heated and the energy transferred to the flowing gas propellant. Since thermal gradients were generated in the graphite core, stresses were generated. In general, stress generated by thermal gradients = f (α, E, Q, λ, Xi, υ), where α is the thermal expansion coefficient, λ the thermal conductivity, and E, Q, Xi, and υ are Young’s modulus, heat flux, dimensions, and Poisson’s ratio respectively.
A code of ethics for the life sciences

The activities of the life sciences are essential to provide solutions for the future, for both individuals and society. Society has demanded growing accountability from the scientific community as implications of life science research rise in influence and there are concerns about the credibility, integrity and motives of science. While the scientific community has responded to concerns about its integrity in part by initiating training in research integrity and the responsible conduct of research, this approach is minimal. The scientific community justifies itself by appealing to the ethos of science, claiming academic freedom, self-direction, and self-regulation, but no comprehensive codification of this foundational ethos has been forthcoming. A review of the professional norms of science and a prototype code of ethics for the life sciences provide a framework to spur discussions within the scientific community to define scientific professionalism. A formalization of implicit principles can provide guidance for recognizing divergence from the norms, place these norms within a context that would enhance education of trainees, and provide a framework for discussing externally and internally applied pressures that are influencing the practice of science. The prototype code articulates the goal for life sciences research and the responsibilities associated with the freedom of exploration, the principles for the practice of science, and the virtues of the scientists themselves. The time is ripe for scientific communities to reinvigorate professionalism and define the basis of their social contract. Codifying the basis of the social contract between science and society will sustain public trust in the scientific enterprise.
The Toll-like receptor 2 is recruited to macrophage phagosomes and discriminates between pathogens

Macrophages orchestrate innate immunity by phagocytosing pathogens and coordinating inflammatory responses. Effective defence requires the host to discriminate between different pathogens. The specificity of innate immune recognition in Drosophila is mediated by the Toll family of receptors; Toll mediates anti-fungal responses, whereas 18-wheeler mediates anti-bacterial defence. A large number of Toll homologues have been identified in mammals, and Toll-like receptor 4 is critical in responses to Gram-negative bacteria. Here we show that Toll-like receptor 2 is recruited specifically to macrophage phagosomes containing yeast, and that a point mutation in the receptor abrogates inflammatory responses to yeast and Gram-positive bacteria, but not to Gram-negative bacteria. Thus, during the phagocytosis of pathogens, two classes of innate immune receptors cooperate to mediate host defence: phagocytic receptors, such as the mannose receptor, signal particle internalization, and the Toll-like receptors sample the contents of the vacuole and trigger an inflammatory response appropriate to defence against the specific organism.
A pictorial method of knowledge representation

The author describes a pictorial method of knowledge representation that he calls a k-tree (knowledge tree) and a method of structuring a rule base using what he calls question lattices. Each branch of a k-tree corresponds to a rule. The lead represents the consequent and the parent nodes represent the antecedents. The taxonomy of the software will be easy to construct once the k-trees have been written. >
Rapid onset of severe heat illness: a case report.

Abstract : Aviators flying extended periods in hot environments are known to be at risk for heat related illness. The risk when wearing chemical individual protective equipment (IPE) is increased even at relatively warm temperatures and light workloads. In this paper, we report the physiological responses of an aviator who had been flying a UH-1H helicopter up to 6 h/d clothed in full IPE on 6 consecutive days prior to the sudden onset of heat illness. His performance during the study was normal, and no clear physiological derangements were noted prior to his symptoms. The rapid evolution of his symptoms after voicing no complaints provides a graphic illustration of the difficult predictability and initial central nervous system effects of this condition.
A Conjoint Analysis of Waterfowl Hunting in Louisiana

Conjoint valuation approach analysis, widely used in marketing research, offers an alternative resource suited to outdoor recreation activities characterized as multiattribute. Design, implementation, and interpretation of conjoint analysis are reviewed in the context of recreation applications. Conjoint analysis is used in an analysis of waterfowl hunting in Louisiana. Using primary data collected from a survey of waterfowl hunters, ordered logit is used to estimate willingness-to-pay for recreation experience attributes.
Opportunities for psychoanalysis in American medical education: An overview.

The field of psychoanalysis and psychodynamic psychiatry correctly perceives itself to be increasingly marginal in American medical education. This does not mean, however, that the marginalization is good for American medical education; nor does it mean that faculty trained in these areas are not needed and wanted. The time may be right for a reconciliation that would benefit psychoanalysis, psychodynamic psychiatry, and American medical education.
A systems module for environmental and safety assessment in fusion reactor studies-illustrative results for HT-9 structures

A computational module compatible with systems-level reactor design studies is being developed for incorporating the environmental and safety characteristics into design optimization. Preliminary and illustrative results for the analysis of HT-9 ferritic steel first wall structure are presented.
Adjuvant Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy is Associated with Improved Survival for Patients with Extrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma

This study aimed to analyze adjuvant therapy among patients with extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (EHC) at a national level. The American College of Surgeons National Cancer Data Base was used to identify patients with resected EHC (pathologic stages 1–3) between 1998 and 2006 (n = 8741). Three groups were compared: surgery only (S, n = 5766), surgery plus adjuvant chemotherapy (AC, n = 450), and surgery plus adjuvant chemotherapy and radiation therapy (ACR, n = 1918). The study investigated how patient demographics, provider characteristics, and tumor-specific variables were associated with receipt of adjuvant therapy and overall survival. Patients who received adjuvant treatment were more likely to be younger (median age S, 70 years; AC, 65 years; ACR, 63 years), in the highest income quartile (>$46,000: S, 38.3 %; AC, 43.4 %; ACR, 44.7 %), and treated at a community cancer center (S, 43.0 %; AC, 50.7 %; ACR, 52.9 %) (all p < 0.001). These patients also were more likely to have positive lymph nodes (S, 34.7 %; AC, 69.6 %; ACR, 63.3 %), positive surgical margins (S, 5.9 %; AC, 7.1 %; ACR, 10.7 %), and stage 3 disease (S, 21.4 %; AC, 37.8 %; ACR, 37.9 %) (all p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis of the entire cohort showed improved survival with ACR (hazard ratio [HR] 0.82; 95 % confidence interval [CI] 0.75–0.91). The survival benefit was independent of margin status (R0: HR 0.88; 95 % CI 0.79–0.97; R1: HR 0.49; 95 % CI 0.38–0.62). This national analysis suggests that ACR are associated with improved survival for high-risk EHC patients, such as those with positive lymph nodes. Until randomized clinical trials are conducted, these may be the best available data to guide adjuvant therapy for resected EHC.
Culture and Rhetorical Expectations: A Perspective for Technical Communicators

In this article, I discuss how individuals who communicate about technical and scientific topics (i.e., technical communicators) can apply ideas from the theory of rhetoric to communicate more effectively with individuals from other cultures. In so doing, I present a question-based strategy technical communicators can use for planning how they will develop different communication products (e.g., written reports, instructions, websites, etc.) for audiences from cultures other than their own.
Flight service environmental effects on composite materials and structures

NASA Langley and the U.S. Army have jointly sponsored programs to assess the effects of realistic flight environments and ground-based exposure on advanced composite materials and structures. Composite secondary structural components were initially installed on commercial transport aircraft in 1973; secondary and primary structural components were installed on commercial helicopters in 1979; and primary structural components were installed on commercial aircraft in the mid-to-late 1980's. Service performance, maintenance characteristics, and residual strength of numerous components are reported. In addition to data on flight components, 10 year ground exposure test results on material coupons are reported. Comparison between ground and flight environmental effects for several composite material systems are also presented. Test results indicate excellent in-service performance with the composite components during the 15 year period. Good correlation between ground-based material performance and operational structural performance has been achieved.
Re‐examining the Team A‐Team B exercise

(1989). Re‐examining the Team A‐Team B exercise. International Journal of Intelligence and CounterIntelligence: Vol. 3, No. 3, pp. 387-403.
Applying a Distress-Deterring Approach to Examine How Emotional Support Predicts Perceived Stress and Stress-Related Coping Response

Drawing from a distress-deterring perspective, this study used structural equation modeling to investigate whether college students' perceived emotional support indirectly led to reduced stress, greater adaptive coping response, and healthier behavior through problem-solving confidence (PSC). Results showed that the association between emotional support and lower levels of perceived stress, more general adaptive coping response, and reduced alcohol consumption was fully mediated by PSC. This suggests that researchers and health practitioners should seek to isolate the types of supportive messages that will most likely elicit greater self-confidence. Overall, given the possibility that emotional support operates as an indirect inhibitor of stress and maladaptive behaviors, the university community should promote to all students the value of interpersonal resources for achieving more self-confidence and emotional stability.
A Complete Pressure-Temperature Diagram for Air Oxidation of Hydrogen in a Continuous-Flow Stirred Tank Reactor

We report the temperature and pressure dependence of the dynamics at short residence times of a fuel-lean hydrogen−air mixture in an isothermal continuous-flow stirred tank reactor. The reaction between hydrogen and oxygen is modeled by a set of twenty reversible reactions involving nine species over the temperature and pressure ranges 300−1100 K and 10-3−10 bar, respectively. Boundaries of dynamically distinct regions in a complete pressure−temperature diagram are calculated with a path-following algorithm based on pseudo-arclength continuation. We find a region of birhythmicity, thus showing that chain-branching alone can account for the coexistence of stable oscillatory states, and a region containing a periodic-orbit isola, a new feature for this system. Although infinite-period orbits exist just a few degrees below the ignition curve, oscillatory ignition does not occur under the conditions of our simulations.
BRICS diplomacy within and beyond Russia: The fifth BRICS Summit through the screens of three Russian television channels

This article explores the discourse around the events of the Fifth brics Summit, as constructed through Russian media coverage across three channels: Russia Today (rt); Channel One Russia (1tv ru); and Russian Television International (rtvi). Through comparative analysis of how the brics Summit was portrayed by different channels, the article aims to highlight the influence of the Russian political discourse, the national media ecology, and the television companies’ missions and agendas in shaping Russia’s image within the brics Summit’s media coverage. The study explores this image through the lens of Russian public diplomacy and tries to evaluate the Russian government’s effectiveness in communicating its political messages to national and international audiences.
Kinetics and products from reaction of Cl radicals with dioctyl sebacate (DOS) particles in O2: a model for radical-initiated oxidation of organic aerosols

The reaction of Cl radicals with bis (2-ethylhexyl) sebacate (also known as dioctyl sebacate, DOS) particles in the presence of O2 is studied as a model of radical-initiated oxidation of organic aerosols. The uptake coefficient as measured from the rate of loss of DOS is γDOS = 1.7 (±0.3) indicating that a radical chain is operative. It is observed that nearly all of the detected products, accounting for 86% (±12%) of the reacted DOS, remain in the particles indicating that they are not efficiently volatilized. Correspondingly, the particles do not decrease in volume even after 60% of the DOS has reacted; upon further reaction the volume does decrease by up to 20%. Additionally, the mass of a DOS film increases with reaction indicating that the density increases. The two primary products identified are the ketone (38 ± 10% yield) and alcohol (14 ± 4% yield) resulting from reactions of alkylperoxy radicals originating from DOS oxidation. The fact that the ketone/alcohol ratio is >1 implies that the Russell mechanism, the typical fate of alkylperoxy radicals in liquids whereby both a ketone and an alcohol are generated, is not the only source of ketones. In fact, the ketone yield demonstrates a Langmuir–Hinshelwood type dependence on the O2 concentration indicating that 44% (±8%) of the ketone is created from the reaction of alkoxy radicals with O2 at the surface of the particles (at 20% O2). While this is a common reaction in the gas phase, it is generally not considered to occur in organic solvents. Furthermore, the appearance of gas-phase H2O2 suggests that peroxy radicals react to form two ketones and H2O2via the Bennett and Summers mechanism. The absence of aldehyde products, both in the gas phase and in the particles, indicates that β-scission of the alkoxy radicals is not significant. The results of this study suggest that organic aerosols in the troposphere are efficiently oxidized by gas-phase radicals but that their chemical transformation does not lead to their removal through volatilization.
Marine cembranoid synthesis

Abstract trans , trans -Farnesol can be converted to a versatile precursor for the synthesis of C-3,C-4 oxygenated marine cembranoids.
Lattice Weyl-Wigner formulation of exact many-body quantum-transport theory and applications to novel solid-state quantum-based devices

The use of the lattice-space Weyl-Wigner formalism of the quantum dynamics of particles in solids, coupled with nonequilibrium Green's-function techniques, provides a rigorous and straightforward derivation of an exact integral form of the equation for a quantum distribution function in many-body quantum-transport theory. We show that with the present formalism more realistic calculations, both numerical (particularly, highly transient simulations) and analytical (fully gauge-invariant calculations), which include full quantum effects and many-body effects, can be carried out in a straightforward, elegant, and physically meaningful manner. This is demonstrated by new results based on a more-accurate numerical simulation procedure and novel applications in terms of ``quantum particle trajectories'' for resonant tunneling diodes, and by a straightforward and fully gauge-invariant formulation of the exact quantum-transport equation of a uniform electron-phonon scattering system in high electric fields, which, for the first time, do not involve any gradient expansion.