cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Development and validation of a methodology for dose calculation in electron beam irradiation of complex-shaped foods

Obtaining a uniform dose in inherently irregularly shaped foods, such as an apple, is very difficult, and development of accurate dose calculation methodologies is needed. The specific objectives of this study were: (1) to obtain detailed, high resolution dose maps using CT scanning and Monte Carlo simulation techniques, and (2) to determine the accuracy of the dose calculation methodology by irradiating food phantoms with a Van de Graaff accelerator. Phantom apples were made using a mixture of chloroform, methyl yellow dye, and paraffin wax. Absorbed dose was determining by measuring the corresponding color changes of the dye in irradiated phantoms. 3-D dose distributions in the phantom and an actual apple were calculated using Monte Carlo methods. Both the measured and calculated dose distribution values in the phantom were very similar. Evaluation of food positioning strategies in front of the e-beam source demonstrated that tilting and axial rotation ensure uniform dose distribution of the entire surface of the phantom, even reaching the critical regions of the apple stem and calyx ends.
Second-language literacy, immigration, and globalization

Second language literacy development is a significant factor influencing immigrants' opportunities to integrate with the host society. To examine the opportunities that different immigrant groups have had for obtaining both, we selected four published studies that had been originally analyzed through a sociocultural perspective, a prominent framework for understanding contexts of second-language literacy development. Using social boundary theory as an added lens, we could also examine how time, place, and sociopolitical contexts specifically influenced each immigrant group's second-language literacy development and their prospects for gaining social integration with their particular host society. We identified the cultural tools of the different immigrant groups and the degree to which they could use literacy to appropriate the legal materials and resources of the host society, essential for gaining social integration. Specific factors and events within each context functioned to support second-language l...
Major stigmata of recent hemorrhage on rectal ulcers in patients with severe hematochezia: Endoscopic diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes.

Background: Endoscopic diagnosis and treatment of hematochezia caused by rectal ulcers is poorly described. Methods: Consecutive patients hospitalized with severe hematochezia underwent urgent colonoscopy after purge. Those with rectal ulcers were divided into 2 groups based on the absence or presence of major stigmata of recent hemorrhage: active bleeding, visible vessel, or adherent clot. Major stigmata were treated with epinephrine injection and coagulation with a bipolar probe. The primary outcome endpoint was recurrent bleeding within 4 weeks of diagnosis Results: Rectal ulcers were identified in 23 of 285 (8%) patients. Twelve of 23 patients had major stigmata; these patients had an arithmetically greater decrease in hematocrit and required more blood transfusions than patients without major stigmata. Initial hemostasis was achieved in all, but bleeding recurred in 5 with stigmata. Four patients died of comorbid conditions. There was no recurrent bleeding or death in those without stigmata. Conclusions: Patients with rectal ulcers harboring major stigmata are at high risk for severe bleeding, recurrent bleeding, and death. For ulcers with major stigmata, endoscopic hemostasis is feasible but rates of recurrent bleeding are high
Frontal nasal prominence expression driven by Tcfap2a relies on a conserved binding site for STAT proteins

The AP-2 transcription factor family is linked with development of the head and limbs in both vertebrate and invertebrate species. Recent evidence has also implicated this gene family in the evolution of the neural crest in chordates, a critical step that allowed the development and elaboration of the vertebrate craniofacial skeleton. In mice, the inappropriate embryonic expression of one particular AP-2 gene, Tcfap2a, encoding AP-2alpha, results in multiple developmental abnormalities, including craniofacial and limb defects. Thus, Tcfap2a provides a valuable genetic resource to analyze the regulatory hierarchy responsible for the evolution and development of the face and limbs. Previous studies have identified a 2-kilobase intronic region of both the mouse and human AP-2alpha locus that directs expression of a linked LacZ transgene to the facial processes and the distal mesenchyme of the limb bud in transgenic mice. Further analysis identified two highly conserved regions of approximately 200-400 bp within this tissue-specific enhancer. We have now initiated a transgenic and biochemical analysis of the most important of these highly conserved regions. Our analysis indicates that although the sequences regulating face and limb expression have been integrated into a single enhancer, different cis-acting sequences ultimately control these two expression domains. Moreover, these studies demonstrate that a conserved STAT binding site provides a major contribution to the expression of Tcfap2a in the facial prominences.
A new interpretation of the binding energies in X-ray photoelectron studies of oxides

Abstract Films and coatings applied to different substrates are often various types of oxides. The latter are employed for a number of reasons with particular emphasis on their lack of chemical and electrical porosity. It is generally important therefore to have some measure of the physical and chemical integrity of the resulting oxide films and their interfaces with the substrate. The latter is often realized by using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy or electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis. In order to accomplish this, it is common practice to utilize the (now generally well accepted) binding energy data from the literature to verify and expand upon one's results. Unfortunately, close scrutiny reveals a number of major discrepancies in these literature results for certain key oxides. Thus, for example, a significant portion of the literature reports the Al 2p level of Al 2 O 3 at ∼75.7 ± 0.3 eV, whereas many others specify ∼74.0 ± 0.2 eV. Perhaps the greatest difficulty with this observation is that it can be shown that, based upon their respective methods of analysis, both results are equally valid. In the present investigation, we examine the extent and nature of this problem. We have discovered that there are particular types of oxides that exhibit this dichotomy in binding energies, whereas others do not. The role played by bonding and morphology in these differences is explored, as is the effect of the different methods of binding energy determination. Finally, we shall describe how the mechanism of the growth of oxides is the principal “culprit” and a lack of understanding of the latter and its electronic implications may lead many to an incorrect interpretation of “true” binding energies.
A Strategic Response to Class Size Reduction: Combination Classes and Student Achievement in California.

The California class size reduction program provided schools with cash rewards for K–3 classes of 20 or fewer students. I show how program rules made it possible for schools to save money by using mixed-grade classes to meet class size reduction obligations while maintaining larger average class sizes. I also show that this smoothing of students across grades is associated with a significant test score gap for certain second and third grade students. My estimates suggest that class size reduction may lead to lower test scores for students placed in combination classes. Alternative explanations of teacher experience and credentialing changes cannot explain the test score pattern. This result spotlights both the underappreciated role of age heterogeneity in classroom learning and the difficulty of replicating the success of policy experiments in statewide reform. © 2008 by the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management.
The Santa Barbara County Care Data Exchange: What Happened?

The Santa Barbara County Care Data Exchange was once one of the most ambitious and publicized U.S. health information exchange (HIE) efforts. Eight years after its inception, and several months after providing some data, the Santa Barbara Project shut down operations. Despite its developed HIE infrastructure, participants found no compelling value proposition in initial HIE services. Even with fewer technology delays and more community leadership, other regional health information organizations (RHIOs) may also stumble over HIE service-value propositions without some combination of grants, incentives, and mandates that develop initial RHIO infrastructure and services and ensure provision of unprofitable yet socially valuable services.
RAIN FOREST CANOPY COVER, RESOURCE AVAILABILITY, AND LIFE HISTORY EVOLUTION IN GUPPIES

Life history traits in guppies (Poecilia reticulata) vary geographically along a predator assemblage gradient, and field experiments have indicated that the association may be causal; guppies introduced from high predation sites to low predation sites have evolved the phenotype associated with low predation in as few as seven generations. It has long been recognized, however, that low predation sites tend to have greater forest canopy cover than high predation sites. Stream differences in canopy cover could translate into stream differences in resource availability, another theoretically potent agent of selection on life history traits. Moreover, new computer simulations indicate that the high predation phenotype would outcompete the low predation phenotype under both mortality regimes. Thus, predation alone may not be sufficient to explain the observed life history patterns. Here we show that food availability for guppies decreases as forest canopy cover increases, among six low predation streams in the ...
The First Concussion Crisis: Head Injury and Evidence in Early American Football

In the early 21st century, sports concussion has become a prominent public health problem, popularly labeled “The Concussion Crisis.” Football-related concussion contributes much of the epidemiological burden and inspires much of the public awareness. Though often cast as a recent phenomenon, the crisis in fact began more than a century ago, as concussions were identified among footballers in the game’s first decades. This early concussion crisis subsided—allowing the problem to proliferate—because work was done by football’s supporters to reshape public acceptance of risk. They appealed to an American culture that permitted violence, shifted attention to reforms addressing more visible injuries, and legitimized football within morally reputable institutions. Meanwhile, changing demands on the medical profession made practitioners reluctant to take a definitive stance. Drawing on scientific journals, public newspapers, and personal letters of players and coaches, this history of the early crisis raises cr...
A scalable delay insensitive asynchronous NoC with adaptive routing

Network-on-Chip (NoC) is a very practical and achievable approach to overcome bus limitation problems. However as NoC size increases, clock distribution becomes a major problem in Network-on-Chip systems. Large synchronous NoCs require a fine and complex design of clock tree which leads to large areas and high power consumption. In this paper, we propose an asynchronous NoC (ANoC) that features asynchronous links and asynchronous adaptive routing mechanism. Routers and links are based on Quasi Delay Insensitive (QDI) logic and they only require minimum timing assumptions. This makes the proposed design very scalable and suitable for large Global Asynchronous Local Synchronous Systems. The experiment results show that our proposed ANoC outperforms the synchronous NoC especially when the NoC size becomes large.
RAS and RAF mutations in banal melanocytic aggregates contiguous with primary cutaneous melanoma: clues to melanomagenesis

Summary Background Distinguishing banal melanocytic aggregates contiguous with malignant melanoma can be a histological challenge but is essential because of the potential for a spurious Breslow measurement. Objectives Our aim was to ascertain whether the histological distinction between the two relates to differences in the prevalence of mutations in genes significant in melanomagenesis. Methods Mutations in BRAF codon 600, NRAS1 codons 12/13, NRAS2 codons 60/61 and KRAS codons 12/13 were ascertained in 18 cases of primary cutaneous malignant melanoma contiguous with banal melanocytic aggregates using laser capture microdissection. Results Overall, 12 of 18 cases (67%) exhibited a mutation in at least one gene. BRAF V600E appeared to be the most commonly mutated gene in both the melanocytic aggregate (seven of 18, 39%) and the melanoma (four of 18, 22%). Both populations demonstrated a similar BRAF genomic profile in 11 of 18 cases (61%) (two BRAF V600E, nine BRAF-WT), a similar KRAS genomic profile in 14 of 18 cases (78%) (one KRAS G12V, 13 KRAS-WT) and a similar NRAS2 genomic profile in 14 of 18 cases (all WT). Of interest, we noted a relatively high prevalence of KRAS mutations (five of 18, 28%). The frequency of KRAS mutations in the melanocytic aggregate (five of 18, 28%) was second to BRAF V600E, while in melanoma, the frequency was also second to BRAF V600E but equalled that of NRAS2 (1 of 18, 6%). No NRAS1 mutations were observed. BRAF and RAS mutations appeared to be mutually exclusive with only three of 18 cases (17%) demonstrating a mutation in both genes (melanocytic aggregate only). Conclusions Our findings hint towards the interpretation of banal melanocytic aggregates serving as precursor lesions.
Nonlinear multiuser precoding for downlink DS-CDMA systems over multipath fading channels

We propose a transmitter (Tx)-based nonlinear decorrelating interference cancellation method, Tomlinson-Harashima precoding (THP), to combat multiple access interference (MAI) for the downlink of direct sequence code division multiple access (DS-CDMA) systems in multipath fading channels. Since diversity combining and MAI cancellation are employed in the transmitter, the mobile user receivers remain as simple as in single-path single user channels. Two THP designs, preRake THP and multipath decorrelating THP (MDTHP), are derived and compared with previously investigated decorrelating techniques. It is shown that the proposed methods improve upon linear precoding and detection techniques and on the decision-feedback detectors for multipath CDMA channels, while retaining low complexity. Moreover, the MDTHP precoder is attractive for rapidly varying mobile radio channels since its filters do not need to be updated as fading coefficients vary.
Automatic NUMA characterization using Cbench

Clusters of seemingly homogeneous compute nodes are increasingly heterogeneous within each node due to replication and distribution of node-level subsystems. This intra-node heterogeneity can adversely affect program execution performance by inflicting additional data-access costs when accessing non-local data. In this work-in-progress paper, we present extensions to the Cbench Scalable Testing Framework for analyzing main memory and PCIe data-access performance in modern NUMA architectures. The information provided by this tool will be of use for task scheduling, performance modeling, and evaluation of NUMA systems.
Brief note. Induction of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis in sheep with purified bovine basic protein and adjuvant

A large animal model for the induction of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis to study the immunological disease parameters through closed-circuit extracorporeal thoracic duct filtration was successfully produced in two different strains of sheep. This study demonstrates the advantages of using a well-defined antigen to obtain both rapid onset of disease and a higher percentage of animals succumbing to the illness.
Aging, Androgens, and the Metabolic Syndrome in a Longitudinal Study of Aging

Background: Based on Adult Treatment Panel III criteria, we previously reported that the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome (MS) increased with aging; was higher if elevated 2-h plasma postglucose challengevalueswereincludedasacriterion;andwasgreaterinmen, compared with women. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the MS and circulating androgen levels in a cohort of men in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging. Methods and Results: Study participants were Caucasian community-dwelling adult men in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging, who underwent a fasting 2-h oral glucose tolerance test and had serum concentrations of total testosterone (T), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, and SHBG levels measured. The prevalence of the MS was 4, 21, 21, and 18% for men between the ages of 20 and 39, 40 and 59, 60 and 79, and 80 and 94 yr, respectively. Total T and SHBG were inversely related to the development of the MS over a mean follow-up period of 5.8 yr (range 1.5–14.0 yr), whereas the free T index and body mass index were positively related to the incidence of the MS. Age alone did not predict the development of the MS, nor did the inclusion of abnormal 2-h plasma postglucose challenge levels in the classification of the MS. Stepwise proportional hazards regression analyses showed that among the various measurements, SHBG levels exerted the greatest influence on development of the MS. Conclusion:TheprevalenceoftheMSincreasedwithaging,andthis was associated with lower androgen levels. Lower total T and SHBG predicted a higher incidence of the MS. (J Clin Endocrinol Metab 92: 3568–3572, 2007)
Coping With Discrimination: The Subjective Well‐Being of South Asian American Women

The relationship between coping strategies used by South Asian American women and subjective well-being (SWB) was studied. Second-generation women were found to use more support compared with 1st-generation women. Problem-solving coping was inversely related to age. Avoidance coping was found to predict SWB when controlling for age and generational status. Se estudio la relacion entre las estrategias de afrontamiento empleadas por mujeres americanas surasiaticas y el bienestar subjetivo (SWB, por sus siglas en ingles). Se descubrio que las mujeres de segunda generacion emplean mas apoyos que los que emplearon las mujeres de primera generacion. El afrontamiento basado en la resolucion de problemas fue inversamente proporcional a la edad. Tambien se hallo que el afrontamiento basado en la evitacion puede predecir el SWB, cuando se controlan los datos de edad y estatus generacional.
Acute ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction in Patients With Immune Thrombocytopenia Purpura: A Case Report

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in patients with immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is rare. We describe a case of AMI in patient with ITP. An 81-year-old woman presented with acute inferoposterior MI with low platelet count on admission (34,000/µl). Coronary angiography revealed significant mid right coronary artery (RCA) stenosis with thrombus, subsequently underwent successful percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). In some patients with immune thrombocytopenia purpura and acute myocardial infarction, percutaneous coronary intervention is a therapeutic option.
Tolerance of Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) Seedlings to Preemergence and Postemergence Herbicides with Four Modes of Action

Abstract The current dominant weed control program in cotton relies heavily on glyphosate. Typical glyphosate-based weed control programs require repeat applications. A residual herbicide might red...
Radiographic evaluation for nasal dysfunction: computed tomography versus plain films.

Sixty-two patients, presenting to the Nasal Dysfunction Clinic at the University of California, San Diego, were radiographically examined with plain sinus x-rays and computed tomographic (CT) scans. The x-rays were evaluated independently, and the reported findings were compared. In maxillary sinuses the CT and plain film observations corresponded poorly with a concordance of 77%. There was a tendency to overread the plain films. In the ethmoid sinuses the lack of concordance between CT scans and plain films was 76%, and a tendency to under-read the plain films was noted. In the lower nasal compartment the correspondence between CT and plain film readings was 57%, with a notable tendency to overread the plain films. In the olfactory recess, the CT/plain film concordance was 66%. At our institution, a sinus CT series costs $400; a conventional sinus series costs $102. The CT radiation dose is 5.2 to 6.5 cGY compared with 1.4 cGY for plain films. We conclude that plain films are unreliable and no longer routinely indicated for the evaluation of nasal and paranasal sinus disease. When radiographic evaluation is indicated a limited CT series provides superior information. Exceptions may include children and some cases of sinus disease isolated to a single sinus.
Formation and Propagation of Temperature Anomalies along the North Atlantic Current

A general circulation ocean model has been used to study the formation and propagation mechanisms of North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO)-generated temperature anomalies along the pathway of the North Atlantic Current (NAC). The NAO-like wind forcing generates temperature anomalies in the upper 440 m that propagate along the pathway of the NAC in general agreement with the observations. The analysis of individual components of the ocean heat budget reveals that the anomalies are primarily generated by the wind stress anomaly-induced oceanic heat transport divergence. After their generation they are advected with the mean current. Surface heat flux anomalies account for only one-third of the total temperature changes. Along the pathway of the NAC temperature anomalies of opposite signs are formed in the first and second halves of the pathway, a pattern called here the North Atlantic dipole (NAD). The response of the ocean depends fundamentally on Rt = (L/υ)/τ, the ratio between the time it takes for anomalies to propagate along the NAC [(L/υ) 10 years] compared to the forcing period τ. The authors find that for NAO periods shorter than 4 years (Rt > 1) the response in the subpolar region is mainly determined by the local forcing. For NAO periods longer than 32 years (Rt < 1); however, the SST anomalies in the northeastern part of the NAD become controlled by ocean advection. In the subpolar region maximal amplitudes of the temperature response are found for intermediate (decadal) periods (Rt 1) where the propagation of temperature anomalies constructively interferes with the local forcing. A comparison of the NAO-generated propagating temperature anomalies with those found in observations will be discussed.
Political competition and renewable energy transitions over long time horizons: A dynamic approach

Abstract Climate change mitigation requires sustainable energy transitions, but their political dynamics are poorly understood. This article presents a general dynamic model of renewable energy policy with long time horizons, endogenous electoral competition, and techno-political path dependence. We calibrate the model with data on the economics of contemporary renewable energy technologies. In doing so, we discover transition dynamics not present in economy-energy models, which ignore politics, or in formal political economy models, which ignore long-term technological dynamics. We show that the largest effects of partisan ideology on policy occur when the competing parties disagree on the importance of energy policy. In these cases, the less ideological party appeases the more ideological one, while the more ideological party attempts to appease the electorate. The results demonstrate that political dynamics could have large effects on the development of renewable energy and carbon dioxide emissions over time, influencing the ability of countries to reach various climate mitigation trajectories.
An Overview of Photonic Power Electronic Devices

This paper provides an outline on optically switched power electronic devices—an area of increasing promise. Starting with an outline of the need and benefits of optically activated power electronics, a brief chronological overview of the past optical-technology work is provided, followed by some of the recent novel work conducted by the author's group. The latter focuses on optical power semiconductor device technologies at different voltage levels and relatively recent device controls technologies. Finally, looking forward, some of the potential application areas of photonic power electronics are captured.
Effect of phosphate supplements on soft-tissue calcification and bone turnover.

1. The short- and long-term effects of oral phosphate supplements were studied in two groups of adult rabbits. 2. In the short-term study, compared with control animals, the bones of phosphate-supplemented rabbits showed a greater degree of porosity, and defects in the tibia created at the beginning of the study were replaced with bone tissue containing many areas of resorption. There was an increase in retention of 85 Sr in the hard and soft tissues, particularly in the kidney and thoracic aorta. 3. In the long-term study, a second group of rabbits received a low calcium and phosphate intake during the control period; half of this group were then fed a low dosage of supplemental phosphate while the remaining half remained on the control diet. After a period of 6 months the bones of phosphate-supplemented animals showed increased porosity and there was an increase in 85 Sr retention by the kidney compared with the control group. 4. Phosphate supplementation appears to result in secondary hyperparathyroidism and to cause soft-tissue calcification.
Effects of Preoperative Comprehensive Health Education Model on Patients with Abdominal Operation under General Anesthesia

Objective To explore the effects of preoperative patient-led integrated health education model on patients with abdominal surgery under general anesthesia.Methods From January 2008 to January 2010,228 patients underwent abdominal operation under general anesthesia in the hospital were divided into observation group(n=108) and control group(n=120) according to the odd and even numbers of admission.The patients in the observation group underwent the preoperative patient-led integrated health education model which was led by the patient questions and personnel's answers.While the patients in the control group used the traditional preoperative health education.The anxiety of patients in the two groups were evaluated before and after intervention using self-rating anxiety scale(SAS).Then visual analogue scale(VAS) was used to measure the fear and postoperative pains during the operating room,which was followed by a statistical analysis on the blood pressure,heart rate,pain and the usage counter of postoperative analgesics before and after the health education.Results After the health education,the SAS scores were significantly lower than those before the health education(P0.05).After the health education,the SAS scores were lower in the observation group than that in the control group(P0.05).The VAS assessment showed that the mean score for pain(7.73 ± 1.83) in the observation group was significantly lower than that(8.40 ± 1.48) in the control group.The patients in both groups had no significant diference in the administration of sedative.Conclusion The preoperative patient-led integrated health education model is more targeted in alleviating preoperative anxiety and postoperative pain,and its effect is superior to that of the traditional preoperative health education.
Thermal contraction of aqueous glycerol and ethylene glycol solutions for optimized protein-crystal cryoprotection.

The thermal contraction of aqueous cryoprotectant solutions on cooling to cryogenic temperatures is of practical importance in protein cryocrystallography and in biological cryopreservation. In the former case, differential contraction on cooling of protein molecules and their lattice relative to that of the internal and surrounding solvent may lead to crystal damage and the degradation of crystal diffraction properties. Here, the amorphous phase densities of aqueous solutions of glycerol and ethylene glycol at T = 77 K have been determined. Densities with accuracies of <0.5% to concentrations as low as 30%(w/v) were determined by rapidly cooling drops with volumes as small as 70 pl, assessing their optical clarity and measuring their buoyancy in liquid nitrogen–argon solutions. The use of these densities in contraction matching of internal solvent to the available solvent spaces is complicated by several factors, most notably the exclusion of cryoprotectants from protein hydration shells and the expected deviation of the contraction behavior of hydration water from bulk water. The present methods and results will assist in developing rational approaches to cryoprotection and an understanding of solvent behavior in protein crystals.
Effectiveness and safety of image-directed biopsies: coaxial technique versus conventional fine-needle aspiration.

Background. We compared the effectiveness and safety of image-guided biopsies done with coaxial guides versus fine-needle aspiration done without coaxial guides. Methods. With the use of hospital computer records and chart reviews, all image-guided biopsies done during a 4-year period at our institution were assessed for adequacy and complications. For each biopsy, the use of a coaxial guide, the site, and the imaging modality were recorded. Adequacy of the biopsy and complications were compiled. Success rates were calculated for conventional and coaxial biopsies and by modality and site. Results. Coaxial technique reduced the number of unsatisfactory biopsies compared with conventional technique in extrathoracic sites. The decrease was statistically significant. No major complications occurred from extrathoracic biopsies with either technique. No difference was found in success rates or complication rates between ultrasound-guided and CT-guided biopsies using coaxial technique. Conclusion. Coaxial technique reduces the number of inadequate biopsies in extrathoracic sites, without a detectable increase in complications.
Formal verification of communication protocols using quantized Horn clauses

The stochastic nature of quantum communication protocols naturally lends itself for expression via probabilistic logic languages. In this work we describe quantized computation using Horn clauses and base the semantics on quantum probability. Turing computable Horn clauses are very convenient to work with and the formalism can be extended to general form of first order languages. Towards this end we build a Hilbert space of H-interpretations and a corresponding non commutative von Neumann algebra of bounded linear operators. We demonstrate the expressive power of the language by casting quantum communication protocols as Horn clauses.
Familial Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in both men and women in the United States and will be responsible for an estimated 28,900 deaths in 2001. Relatively little is known of its etiology, and the only well-established risk factor is cigarette smoking. Studies over the past 3 decades have shown that 4%-16% of patients with pancreatic cancer have a family history of the disease. A small fraction of this aggregation can be accounted for in inherited cancer syndromes, including familial atypical multiple-mole melanoma, Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, hereditary breast-ovarian cancer, hereditary pancreatitis, and hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer. These syndromes arise as a result of germline mutations in the BRCA2, pl6 (familial atypical multiple-mole melanoma), mismatch repair (hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer), and STK11 (Peutz-Jeghers syndrome) genes. In addition, hereditary plays a role in predisposing certain patients with apparently sporadic pancreatic cancer. Many patients with pancreatic cancers caused by a germline mutation in a cancer-causing gene do not have a pedigree that is suggestive of a familial cancer syndrome. A recent prospective analysis of the pedigrees in the National Familial Pancreatic Tumor Registry found that individuals with a family history of pancreatic cancer in multiple first-degree relatives have a high risk of pancreatic cancer themselves. The identification of such high-risk individuals will help clinicians target screening programs and develop preventive interventions with the hope of reducing the mortality of pancreatic cancer in these families.
E-Speak: The Technology for Ubiquitous E-Services

Today, setting up a service to be used over the Internet is difficult, special-case work. Part of the difficulty is that each provider of such a service addresses a common set of problems in a proprietary way. E-speak solves the problems of naming, describing, managing, and controlling access in a manner that makes it easier and safer to allow remote access. With e-speak, we can think of all applications as e-services that we can enlist to solve our problems.
Virtual Classrooms and Communities of Practice: New Tech Strategies for Enhancing Culturally Responsive Health Care

Given the devastating health and mental health disparities in the USA, there are increasing mandates and subsequent requirements that medical and mental health professionals receive training in culturally responsive health care. Similarly, medical groups, hospitals, and health plans across the country are struggling to comply with Federal Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services. This chapter describes two unique online community educational and support efforts in the cultural medicine arena. The first is a training program for medical educators that meets in a virtual classroom as part of a master’s program in medical education. Participants enhance their capacity to train learners in the awareness/attitudes, knowledge, and skills components of a cultural medicine curriculum through a combination of didactic and creative experiential and web-based exercises that will be described in this chapter. The second portion of the chapter consists of a description of Communities of Practice and will more specifically describe a virtual community of professionals across the nation dedicated to enhancing institutional efforts in cultural medical education. Through a combination of monthly meetings, an archival wiki, and ongoing online listserv communication, participants grow and help each other to develop creative and effective educational interventions, while simultaneously problem solving such dilemmas as optimal curriculum delivery strategies and dealing with reluctant learners.
Abstract 3802: Evaluation of microfilament-directed cytochalasins as novel antineoplastic agents

Despite inherent differences between the cytoskeletal networks of malignant and normal cells, and the clinical antineoplastic activity of microtubule-directed agents, there has yet to be a microfilament-directed agent approved for clinical use. Cytochalasins are mycotoxins known to potently inhibit the polymerization of filamentous (F)-actin, and have long been used in vitro to examine the importance of microfilaments in fundamental cellular processes. It has previously been demonstrated that cytochalasins preferentially multinucleate malignant cells, suggesting that the congeners may exert novel antineoplastic activity. We have taken these findings, and further expanded upon their potential importance. We have shown in vitro efficacy with multiple congeners, including cytochalasin B, which potentiates substantial sensitivity to clinically approved antineoplastic agents, X-radiation, and low frequency ultrasound. Further, we have shown that cytochalasin B is more cytotoxic against neoplastic cells selected for high metastatic propensity than are their less invasive counterparts. Interestingly, we have also demonstrated that nine cytochalasin congeners may be substantially less affected by drug efflux due to overexpression of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters than are doxorubicin, paclitaxel, or vinblastine, as demonstrated with SK human ovarian carcinoma cell lines of varying levels of drug resistance. Finally, we have shown that cytochalasins B and D elicit substantial antitumor and antimetastatic activity in numerous preclinical mammalian models of malignancy, suggesting that the novel mechanisms by which these congeners exert antineoplastic activity is worth further examination. Citation Format: Matthew Trendowski, Timothy D. Christen, Christopher Acquafondata, Thomas P. Fondy. Evaluation of microfilament-directed cytochalasins as novel antineoplastic agents. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 3802.
FK962 induces neurite outgrowth in cultured monkey trigeminal ganglion cells

Corneal sensation, cell proliferation, and wound healing all depend on adequate corneal innervation. Disruption of corneal innervation can lead to dry eye and delayed wound healing. Our studies in rats and rabbits show that the substituted fluorobenzamide drug FK962 accelerates the extension of neuronal processes and recovery of corneal sensitivity. The purpose of the present study was 1) to determine whether FK962 induces sprouting and elongation of neurites in cultured monkey trigeminal ganglion cells, and 2) to investigate the involvement of the neurotrophic peptide GDNF in FK962-induced neurite elongation. Dissociated, cultured trigeminal ganglion cells, containing neuronal and Schwann cells were cultured for 48 h with or without FK962. Neuronal elongation was evaluated by immunostaining with a neurofilament-specific antibody. Culture with or without GDNF, or with antibody against GDNF, was used to determine the role of GDNF in FK962-induced neurite elongation. FK962 or GDNF were found to significantly induce neurite elongation. The GDNF antibody significantly inhibited elongation induced by FK962. GDNF was found to be a mediator of FK962-induced neurite elongation in a relevant primate model. FK962 may be a candidate drug for treatment of neurotrophic disorders in the human cornea.
Profile scaling constraints for ion-implanted and epitaxial bipolar technology designed for 77 K operation

The scaling constraints on vertical profile design which are unique to liquid nitrogen temperature operation (LNT equivalent to 77 K) of ion-implanted and epitaxial Si and SiGe bipolar technologies are investigated experimentally. While conventional on-implantation techniques can yield transistors with cutoff frequencies as high as 36 GHz at LNT, these devices have limited extendibility for circuit applications due to excessive base freeze-out. A more advanced epitaxial SiGe technology can be used to simultaneously achieve an f/sub T/ for 59 GHz and superior base freeze-out properties at low temperatures, yielding a very aggressive ECL (emitter coupled logic) gate delay of 28 ps at LNT. For SiGe devices, however, the optimum collector profile design is constrained by a barrier induced at the SiGe-Si heterojunction under high injection which limits the device transconductance and f/sub T/ at LNT. >
Just a Girl in the Army: U.S. Iraq War Veterans Negotiating Femininity in a Culture of Masculinity

This article considers the experiences of 12 U.S. Army women combat veterans. These women served in historically significant roles as some of the first women to officially serve in combat in the U....
A case of cardiac tamponade due to an isolated abscess in the ascending aorta of a pregnant woman with a history of intravenous substance abuse.

We describe the case of a 23-year-old white female, 10–12 weeks pregnant, with a history of intravenous drug use and a recently diagnosed pneumonia, who was found deceased in her bed after a night of sleep. Although postmortem serum toxicology tested positive for alprazolam, tetrahydrocannabinol, and morphine, the ultimate cause of death was determined to be cardiac tamponade secondary to an isolated abscess in the ascending aorta. The patient had several risk factors for aortic rupture and cardiac tamponade including intravenous drug use, pneumonia, and pregnancy. However, an autopsy of the patient showed an isolated abscess of the ascending aorta without evidence of infective endocarditis, coronary artery rupture, aortic aneurysm, or aortic dissection making this an unusual case of cardiac tamponade. The aim of this case report is to encourage providers to obtain a tissue culture of any aortic abscesses so that the organisms involved can be identified. The identification of such organisms may help guide antimicrobial treatment in similar presentations in the future.
Parking Retrofits within Historic City Centers and the Potential Effects on Their Walkability: A Comparison of San Luis Obispo and Davis, California

Background Automobile parking in cities can have varied effects on walkability depending on approaches used. This is especially true in historic places that have well-established walkable downtowns. This research asks: 1) What approaches to parking retrofits have been undertaken within the two historic towns of San Luis Obispo and Davis California? 2) How have these approaches impacted walkability? Walkability is generally associated with streets that have human scale, sense of enclosure, and buildings that have minimal setbacks from sidewalks. Both cities in this study contain these types of streets in their downtown predominantly. They both have street parking that can have a positive effect on walkability in that cars serve as buffers between people and traffic. Surface parking lots in fronts of buildings are generally seen as detrimental due to automotive intrusions that break pedestrian flow and endanger walkers. Surface lot behind buildings can preserve many of the qualities that enhance walkability. Parking garages are solutions if the first floor of a parking structure contains commercial spaces. Parking garages with ground floor blank walls create unattractive environments for walkers. Methods The historic core of each city was evaluated using aerial photography and on site observations as case studies. Parking retrofits were inventoried and categorized by type along 20 street segments in each city: Street parking only; surface parking – behind buildings; Surface parking 50% of street frontage; Parking garage – retail on ground floor; and, Parking garage only. These segments were evaluated using descriptive analysis and a scoring instrument that objectively measures urban design qualities in terms of their impact on walkability (counts of people, measurements of various elements, etc.). Results All parking categories were present to varying degrees in both cities. San Luis Obispo’s approaches of placing surface parking behind buildings and using a parking garage that incorporates street level retail appears to have a higher correlation with design qualities that promote walkability. Davis showed a higher reliance on surface parking in front of buildings and a parking garage that presents blank walls to the sidewalk. These conditions showed a lower correlation. Conclusions This study compares parking approaches in two similar towns of California. Results suggest that street parking should be used when possible. Garages that place retail or commercial activity on the ground floor is preferred, in terms if limiting intrusions into the pedestrian realm.
Inter)Disciplinary Change

Blame it on Mad Men. All spring—I am writing this in 2015—I’ve been hearing that long withdrawing roar, the soundtrack of the 1960s receding into history, mostly for the better it seems, at least according to television. It has also been the soundtrack to my thinking about disciplinary change in drama, theatre, and performance studies. Since the early 1970s or so, the disciplinary divisions dividing drama studies from theatre studies (once “theatre history”) and from performance studies have become increasingly porous, providing a differential leverage rather than a dividing line, when they operate at all.
Distal tibial triplane fracture with ipsilateral tibial shaft fracture: A case series.

Abstract Background & purpose Distal tibial Triplane fracture with ipsilateral tibial shaft fracture is a rare but important problem. This rarely reported combination of injuries if not recognised may lead to deleterious consequences. Methods/Patients The local database of all emergency admissions was scrutinised to identify subjects before interrogation of the clinical notes and relevant radiographic imaging. Findings This paper reports a series of five children who were found to have triplane fracture of the distal tibia with concomitant ipsilateral fracture of the tibial shaft. Conclusions We suggest that a high index of suspicion for concomitant fractures should be maintained in the presence of either triplane fracture of the distal tibia or tibial shaft fractures in the peri-adolescent child. Minimum appropriate imaging should include orthogonal full length plain radiographs of the tibia as well as formal ankle radiographs.
History Matters: Contingency in the Creation of Ecologically Unequal Exchange

It is argued in this chapter that energy extraction and use in China developed on a very different trajectory than in Europe or the Amazon Basin in Brazil that Stephen Bunker focused on in his fieldwork to develop the concept of ecologically unequal exchange. This difference resulted from unique aspects of Chinese geography and geology, as well as China’s response to imperialism from the late nineteenth century. Nor did the so-called resource curse strike China, despite considerable Western interest in its coal reserves in the nineteenth century. The case of China discussed in this chapter reinforces the importance of history and contingency in any understanding of ecologically unequal exchange.
Scaling of Molten Metal Brazing Phenomena: Prolegomena for Model Formulation

This paper discusses a model of heat, momentum, and mass transfer prior to formation of an equilibrium membrane of the free surface, but after formation of a molten metal micro layer and/or metal filler liquid drop during brazing. Empirical evidence related to joint formation performed in a controlled atmosphere brazing is reviewed first. Aluminum brazing is considered as an example. This evidence includes the topology and morphology of a joint zone before and after joint formation. Based on understanding of involved phenomena, an analytical model of a molten metal micro layer of a sessile drop is discussed. A set of dimensionless parameters that governs the process is extracted from the model, and the orders of magnitudes of these parameters are assessed.
The Physical Properties of the Sea Ice Cover

Information on the physical properties of the ice cover of the Nordic Seas has been largely lacking. Therefore this chapter reviews what little is known about the different types of ice in this area. It also discusses how the internal structure and composition of these ice masses may differ from those of the more extensively studied ice of the Beaufort Sea and identifies gaps in the present knowledge of the properties of such ice masses (regardless of place of origin). Finally, it outlines a strategy for efficiently studying the properties of the ice in the Nordic Seas: combining structural and compositional characterization with limited property determinations.