cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Widespread dust deposition on North American peatlands coincident with European land-clearance

Ecosystems around the world are being subjected to numerous human disturbances. Climate change and land degradation are the most obvious of these disturbances and have received much attention. However, easily overlooked, indirect disturbances can also alter ecosystem structure and function. Dust deposition is a prime example of an easily overlooked disturbance process. We hypothesized that historic European settlement and land-clearance in eastern North America led to widespread wind erosion of upland soils and subsequent dust deposition onto otherwise undisturbed peatlands, potentially fertilizing these naturally nutrient-poor ecosystems and causing shifts in plant communities. We tested these hypotheses by analyzing 11 peat profiles collected across a broad region of eastern North America. We documented a strong correlation between the concentrations of Ambrosia pollen grains and microscopic mineral particles, interpreting this as a signal of dust deposition coincident with European settlement and land-clearance. Analysis of Sphagnum macrofossils revealed substantial site-to-site variability in both the degree and the direction of ecological response to dust deposition, but suggested that increasing magnitude of dust deposition increased the likelihood of a decline in the relative abundance of Sphagnum. Results also suggested that raised bogs were more sensitive to dust deposition than kettle peatlands. We conclude that European settlement and land-clearance resulted in widespread dust deposition on peatlands, leading to ecological changes in some of these ecosystems, and leaving behind a coherent dust horizon in the late-Holocene peatland stratigraphy of eastern North America. This easily overlooked indirect disturbance process could be ongoing today in areas of widespread soil disturbance and could potentially further alter dust-receiving ecosystems.
Air conditioner refrigerant inhalation: a habit with chilling consequences.

Inhalant abuse has long been regarded as a concerning form of substance abuse in teenagers and young adults, and is now becoming increasingly prevalent in the adult population. Inhalants are readily available in various household products, although acquisition of these items in any significant quantity can be costly and raise suspicion for abuse. Here, we report the case of a man who reported abusing air conditioner fluid and review the available literature on this form of inhalant abuse.
Structure and reactivity of bimetallic electrochemical interfaces: infrared spectroscopic studies of carbon monoxide adsorption and formic acid electrooxidation on antimony-modified Pt(100) and Pt(111)

Abstract The influence of predosed antimony on the adlayer structures of carbon monoxide and on the electro-oxidation kinetics of formic acid on Pt(100) and Pt(111) in 0.1M HClO 4 is examined by means of in-situ infrared spectroscopy in conjunction with cyclic voltammetry. Preadsorbed antimony inhibits the adsorption of CO on these surfaces, the attenuation in CO coverage being accompanied by a selective removal of the two-fold bridging geometry as deduced from the relative ν CO band intensities. At saturation antimony coverages, the CO binding is exclusively terminal on Pt(100) and Pt(111). These findings are consistent with the adsorption of antimony at multi-fold sites, yielding microscopically intermixed adlayers with CO. The electro-oxidation rates of formic acid are enhanced substantially by preadsorbed antimony on Pt(100) and Pt(111). The real-time infrared spectra in the C-O stretching region and the CO coverages thereby deduced in the presence of predosed antimony under reactive voltammetric conditions suggest that the metal adatoms are actively involved in the dissociation of formic acid. The origins of the enhanced electrocatalytic activity of the bimetallic Sb/Pt surfaces are discussed in terms of geometric and chemical effects.
Evaluation of synthetic procedures for the chemical modification of alumina for HPLC

Several reactions are tested for the chemical modification of alumina. These include the following: chlorination of the surface hydroxyls followed by reaction with an organolithium compound; chlorination of the surface hydroxyls followed by reaction with a Grignard reagent; chlorination of the surface hydroxyls followed by reaction with an amine; chlorination of the surface hydroxyls followed by reaction with an alcohol; direct reaction of the alumina with an organochloroalane and direct reaction of the alumina with an alcohol. Only the first reaction gave a product which contained enough bonded organic material to be easily detected by FTIR. Preliminary stability tests show that the product of the first reaction retains the bonded organic material when exposed to nonpolar and polar organic solvents as well as aqueous solutions of pH 1.0, 7.0 and 12.0. Chromatographic testing establishes reversed-phase behavior for alkylarylketones as solutes and the bonded phase displays good biocompatibility for a series of protein standards.
Copper substrate as a catalyst for the oxidation of chemical vapor deposition-grown graphene

Abstract We report the catalytic effect of copper substrate on graphene–oxygen reaction at high temperature. Previous studies showed that graphene grown on copper are mostly defect-free with strong oxidation resistance. We found that a freshly prepared copper-supported graphene sample can be completely oxidized in trace amount of oxygen (
Optimization of the Process for the Production of L(+)‐Lactic Acid from Cull Potato by Rhizopus oryzae

Cull potato is currently an under-utilized biomass in the potato processing states of the USA. L(+)-Lactic acid production by three Rhizopus strains and one homofermentative, facultative anaerobic Lactobacillus amylophilus strain was investigated using potatoes as the sole nutrient supply in the culture medium. Rhizopus oryzae NRRL 395 was chosen as the strain for further studies because it showed the highest lactate yield. The fermentation conditions for seed cultures were studied for three treatment structures using a completely randomized design. Optimum conditions for the seed culture were determined to be 2 % potato medium, 10 4 spores/mL concentration, and 24 h of fermentation. Plackett-Burman and central composite designs were used to screen and optimize the factors for lactic acid production. Substrate (potato) concentration, fermentation temperature, and shaking speed were found to be the most significant factors affecting both the yield and concentration of lactate. Optimum values for substrate concentration, fermentation temperature, and shaking speed were 10 %, 27 °C, and 170 rpm, respectively. Under these optimum conditions, the lactate concentration was predicted by the model to be 35.5 g/L, which was verified by. the experimental data (33.3 g/L). The results indicate that cull potato can be an effective feedstock for R. ryzae NRRL 395 in the production of lactic acid.
Flight software trends and patterns in the aerospace industry: JPL lessons learned

In this paper, we will summarize the software trends and their impact on the cost of developing flight and ground software.
Mono- and dialkyltitanocene dichlorides

Abstract A series of substituted titanocene dichlorides has been synthesized by the fulvene approach. The infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance spectral properties have been investigated. Derivatives with an α-phenyl substituent clearly show the influence of the phenyl ring current on the chemical shift of the cyclopentadienyl protons of the ring opposite to that bearing the substituent. An empirical generalization, similar to the 9–10 rule in ferrocene chemistry, can be drawn from the infrared spectra of these compounds. The bridged compound, 1,1′-(tetramethylethylene)titanocene dichloride could not be isolated in pure form, although some evidence for its existence has been found.
The Relationship between Disease and Function and Perceived Health in Very Frail Elders

Objective: To study associations between disease and observed function and self-perceived health in very frail elders. Design and Setting: Cross-sectional survey of nine nursing homes in San Antonio, TX. Participants: 194 elderly long-stay nursing home residents dependent in at least two ADLs and without severe cognitive impairment. Measures: Burden of disease (BOD) was chart abstracted using a standardized protocol that assessed types and severities of 59 categorizations of chronic and acute medical conditions. Observed function and self-perceived health status were assessed independently by the Katz Activities of Daily Living scale (ADL) and the Sickness Impact Profile (SIP), respectively. Results: Summary BOD scores had a low, but statistically significant, univariate correlation with ADL scores (r = 0.21, P = 0.003) and no significant correlation with SIP scores (R = −0.008). Multiple linear regression analyses, including the 24 most frequent disease categories, showed that disease explained significant amounts of ADL (r2 = 0.25, P = 0.001) and borderline significant amounts of SIP (r2 = 0.16, P = 0.11). Models including both disease and sociodemographic, cognitive, and affective variables showed disease added significant incremental explanation beyond the other factors to ADL (incremental r2 = 0.14, P = 0.04), but not to SIP (incremental r2 = 0.08, P > 0.10). Conclusions: Disease, observed function, and self-perceived health status are separate, but interrelated entities, with disease having a stronger relationship to observed function than self-perceived health. Comprehensive assessment of frail elders may need to include all three areas, and studies that focus on one area should take into account the other two as potential important covariates.
Bridging the gap between theory and practice in production and inventory control

Abstract The existence of a substantial schism between theory and practice in production and inventory control is widely recognized. Although forums for productive exchange exist, communication between practitioners and academicians continues to be fault because of the absence of a mutually acceptable comprehensive framework for discussion and analysis. A three-dimensional conceptual model is advanced in an effort to bridge the gap and facilitate the orderly evolution of the area. One dimension of the model is comprised of four important contemporary production and inventory control problems: capacity management, inventory management, priority management and uncertaintly management. Four major management functions make up the second dimensions: targeting, planning, scheduling and controlling. The remaining dimensions is the length of the planning horizon and the nature of the activities within that horizon. The generality and utility of the model are expected to enhance its acceptability to both groups. The model can be used to facilitate: 1) clarification and evaluation of past and future research; 2) identification of areas in need of futher research; 3) clarification and evaluation of existing and future operational tools; 4) identification of areas in which further tool development is needed; 5) development of integrated operating systems, and 6) communication between practitioners and academicians. The model is used within the paper to identify and classify sixteen production and inventory control problems. Several unusually significant research opportunities and directions are suggested and some needs for operational tool development are identified.
Making self‐authorship a goal of core curricula: The earth sustainability pilot project

Making self-authorship a goal of an interdisciplinary multisemester general education program shows great promise for meeting desired undergraduate learning outcomes for citizen-learners.
Dinitrochlorobenzene Responsivity In Disseminated Coccidioidomycosis: An Inverse Correlation With Complement-Fixing Amtibody Titers

The immunologic status of 25 patients with disseminated coccidioidomycosis was evaluated by serum anticoccidioidin complement-fixing antibody levels, coccidioidin skin tests, and dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) sensitization. In the 10 patients who had disseminated disease and a complement-fixing titer of 1:32 or less, responses to DNCB were similar to those of 20 controls. In the 15 patients with disseminated disease and a complement-fixing titer of 1:64 or more, responses to DNCB were statistically significantly diminished compared to controls (p = 0.002). Since the complement-fixing titer is associated with extent of dissemination, these results signify a relationship between diminished DNCB responses and extensive dissemination. Of the several hypotheses which might explain this relationship, we find the most attractive is that of a nonspecific deficiency of cell-mediated immunity developing secondarily to extensive disseminated disease.
Defective release of vascular plasminogen activator in patients with gynecologic malignancies.

Abstract Vascular plasminogen activator release was measured in 176 women with gynecologic malignancies and 92 normal women. Releasable plasminogen activator was considerably decreased in the patients ( P P = 0.0001), endometrial ( P = 0.0017), and cervical ( P = 0.0063) cancers. Postoperative deep vein thrombosis, with or without pulmonary emboli, occurred in 28 patients (15.9% incidence). These patients also demonstrated markedly lower levels of releasable vascular plasminogen activator compared to control subjects ( P
Phencyclidine inhibition of the rate of development of amygdaloid kindled seizures.

Abstract Administration of (5, 10, 20 or 35 mg/kg, i.p.) phencyclidine (PCP) 15 min prior to each stimulation significantly reduced the rate of kindling induced by daily electrical stimulation of the amygdala in the rat. All four doses significantly reduced the rate of kindling measured by the behavioral ranking (BR) and the afterdischarge duration (AD). The drug at 2.5 mg/kg had no significant effect on the rate of kindling. The 20- and 35-mg/kg PCP doses significantly reduced the afterdischarge duration evoked by the first stimulation to 40.2 ± 16.1% and 13.5 ± 9.2% (mean ± se ) of the control value. The 5- and 10-mg/kg doses reduced the initial AD to approximately 65% of control. After switching from PCP to normal saline all rats kindled. The 5-mg/kg group which was injected 12 days with PCP required 15.0 ± 0.9 stimulations to develop a maximal BR whereas the control group required only 10.2 ± 0.5 stimulations. The saline controls were injected with 5 mg/kg PCP after their BR was maximal. This dose minimally reduced the AD to 88.8 ± 6.8% of the previous two stimulations and had no effect on the BR. It is apparent that 5 mg/kg PCP will inhibit the initial afterdischarge and the rate of kindling while minimally affecting fully kindled seizure activity. Naloxone at 6 mg/kg failed to reverse the inhibition of the rate of kindling produced by 5 mg/kg PCP daily. Neither 5 mg/kg morphine, an opiate agonist, nor 5 mg/kg quipazine, a serotonergic agonist, significantly affected the rate of kindling in similar experiments. Pretreatment of rats with 10 or 20 mg/kg PCP once daily for 4 days prior to the beginning of daily kindling stimulations did not affect the rate of kindling.
Oscillatory magnetostriction and deformation potentials in bismuth

Oscillatory transverse and longitudinal magnetostriction in single crystal Bi, obtaining deformation potentials
Access to Space: The Evolution of an Idea and Technology

This study focuses on the evolution of access to space in the United States from its beginnings as an idea to its implementation as a usable technology. This evolution takes place through the policy process that encompasses agenda -setting, formulation, implementation, and change. Agenda -setting is where the idea for access to space emerges. Formulation concerns the concepts and policies that then allow for implementation of launch vehicle technology. Implementation generates specific outcomes. These outcomes are initially characterized by rapid technological innovation followed by a steady sta te of development. This path of development is one of how access to space became wedded to national security and national prestige. Evolutionary changes occur as commerce and economics begin to play a role in access to space. The policy process evolves thr ough the actions of the pertinent actors. An examination of the ways in which these pertinent actors have interpreted, formulated, and implemented the idea and technology of access to space is discussed herein.
On the Inevitable Internalization of the External in the Process of Metaphysical Enquiry

In this paper, I posit that our minds inevitably internalize the external in the process of metaphysical enquiry because they naturally rely on abstraction, categorization, simplification and association. I first focus on the idea of substratum by claiming that it cannot exist independently of our minds. Second, I opine that both primary and secondary qualities are significantly dependent on our minds. Last but not least, I extend the shadow of relativity over the notion of motion. Finally, I postulate that even though there is certain external reality upon which our enquiry can converge, the external world is neither perfectly nor particularly closely knowable.
A note on designing two-level carry-skip adders

The worst-case carry propagation delays in carry-skip adders depend on how the full adders are grouped together (into blocks). We report an algorithm to configure 2-level carry-skip adders. The worst-case carry propagation delay of the carry-skip adder configurations determined by our algorithm are consistently *less* than the ones currently reported in the literature. Previous methods are applicable only to constant skip delay models and either do not guarantee an optimal configuration or suffered from a potentially exponential worst-case time complexity.
Regulating the regulator of ROS production

Balancing inflammatory reactive oxygen species (ROS) production is essential for safely eliminating pathogenic microbes. The newly described protein Negative Regulator of ROS (NRROS) dampens ROS production by restricting NOX2 availability, and thus “cools-off” inflammation.
Abdominal Adiposity Distribution in Diabetic/Prediabetic and Nondiabetic Populations: A Meta-Analysis

Excess fat in the abdomen can be classified generally as visceral and subcutaneous adiposity. Evidence suggests that visceral adiposity has greater implications for diabetes than other fat depots. The purpose of this study is to explore the disparities in the distribution of abdominal adiposity in diabetic/prediabetic and nondiabetic populations and to identify moderators that influence the pattern of central obesity via a meta-analysis technique. The Hedges' g was used as a measure of effect size and 95% confidence interval was computed. A total of 41 relevant studies with 101 effect sizes were retrieved. Pooled effect sizes for visceral and subcutaneous adiposity were 0.69 and 0.42, respectively. Diabetic/prediabetic populations exhibited greater visceral and subcutaneous adiposity compared to nondiabetic populations (Z = 10.35, P < 0.05). Significant moderator effects of gender (Z = -2.90) and assessment method of abdominal adiposity (Z = -2.17) were found for visceral fat (P < 0.05), but not for subcutaneous fat. Type of health condition influenced both visceral (Z = -5.10) and subcutaneous (Z = -7.09) abdominal adiposity volumes (P < 0.05). Abdominal adiposity distributions were significantly altered in the diabetic/prediabetic population compared to the nondiabetic population. Gender, assessment method of abdominal adiposity, and type of health conditions (diabetic/prediabetics) were identified as crucial moderators that influence the degree of abdominal adiposity.
Early phase trial designs and endpoints for targeted therapies in rare genotype subsets.

The primary goal of phase I dose-finding trials has been historically to understand the safety profile of a new treatment/regimen and establish the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) for further investig...
For States That Opt Out Of Medicaid Expansion: 3.6 Million Fewer Insured And $8.4 Billion Less In Federal Payments

The US Supreme Court’s ruling on the Affordable Care Act in 2012 allowed states to opt out of the health reform law’s Medicaid expansion. Since that ruling, fourteen governors have announced that their states will not expand their Medicaid programs. We used the RAND COMPARE microsimulation to analyze how opting out of Medicaid expansion would affect coverage and spending, and whether alternative policy options—such as partial expansion of Medicaid—could cover as many people at lower costs to states. With fourteen states opting out, we estimate that 3.6 million fewer people would be insured, federal transfer payments to those states could fall by $8.4 billion, and state spending on uncompensated care could increase by $1 billion in 2016, compared to what would be expected if all states participated in the expansion. These effects were only partially mitigated by alternative options we considered. We conclude that in terms of coverage, cost, and federal payments, states would do best to expand Medicaid.
Spatiotemporal assessments of dermal hyperemia enable accurate prediction of experimental cutaneous carcinogenesis as well as chemopreventive activity

Field cancerization refers to areas of grossly normal epithelium that exhibit increased risk for tumor occurrence. Unfortunately, elucidation of the locoregional changes that contribute to increased tumor risk is difficult due to the inability to visualize the field. In this study, we use a noninvasive optical-based imaging approach to detail spatiotemporal changes in subclinical hyperemia that occur during experimental cutaneous carcinogenesis. After acute inflammation from 10 weeks of UVB irradiation subsides, small areas of focal hyperemia form and were seen to persist and expand long after cessation of UVB irradiation. We show that these persistent early hyperemic foci reliably predict sites of angiogenesis and overlying tumor formation. More than 96% of the tumors (57 of 59) that developed following UVB or 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene/phorbol 12myristate 13-acetate (DMBA/PMA) treatment developed in sites of preexisting hyperemic foci. Hyperemic foci weremultifocalandheterogeneouslydistributedandrepresentedaminorfractionofthecarcinogen-treatedskin surface (10.3% of the imaging area in vehicle-treated animals). Finally, we also assessed the ability of the antiinflammatoryagent,celecoxib,tosuppresshyperemiaformationduringphotocarcinogenesis.Thechemopreventive activity of celecoxib was shown to correlate with its ability to reduce the area of skin that exhibit these hyperemic foci, reducing the area of imaged skin containing hyperemic foci by 49.1%. Thus, we propose that a hyperemic switch can be exploited to visualize the cancerization field very early in the course of cutaneous carcinogenesis and provides insight into the chemopreventive activity of the anti-inflammatory agent celecoxib. Cancer Res; 73(1); 150–9. � 2012 AACR.
Bulk versus edge in the quantum Hall effect

The manifestation of the bulk quantum Hall effect on edge is the chiral anomaly. The chiral anomaly {ital is} the underlying principle of the {open_quote}{open_quote}edge approach{close_quote}{close_quote} of quantum Hall effect. In that approach, {sigma}{sub {ital xy}} {ital should} {ital not} be taken as the conductance derived from the space-local current-current correlation function of the pure one-dimensional edge problem. {copyright} {ital 1996 The American Physical Society.}
ARSENIC, BORON, SELENIUM, AND MOLYBDENUM DISPLACEMENT AND TRANSPORT IN A FLY ASH AMENDED SOIL LEACHED WITH CALCIUM PHOSPHATE SOLUTION

Substantial amounts of arsenic (As), selenium (Se), molybdenum (Mo), and boron (B) can be added with fly ash (FA) in FA amended soils. Leaching of these potential contaminants and the effect of soil solution anion composition on their retention and displacement is not well documented in the literature. The objective was to compare the interactions between phosphorus (P) in the leaching solution and As, B, Se, and Mo on FA surfaces and to estimate the mobility of As, B, Se, and Mo in a FA amended Cecil topsoil (Ultisol). Two FAs, A (216 mg As kg−1) and B (51 mg As kg−1), were used. Each ash was mixed with soil at the equivalent rates of 2 and 41 kg As ha−1. These mixtures were used to pack the columns, which were leached with 1,66 mmol(c) calcium phosphate [Ca(H2PO4)2] L−1 solution. The results show that the concentrations of As, B, Mo, and Se in the leachate and their total amounts removed from the surface horizon (0–20 cm) of a FA amended soil depend on the initial contents of these elements in FA and th...
Densities of States of Paramagnetic Cu-Ni Alloys

The densities of states of the near ideally substitutional random-alloy system Cu-Ni are calculated using the coherent-potential approximation for a range of concentrations of the constituents across the complete alloy diagram. It is shown that previous model calculations for Ni-rich paramagnetic Cu-Ni alloys using the coherent-potential approximation can be extended to alloys of arbitrary concentration if appropriate Cu and Ni potential functions are used. The results obtained are consistent with experimental photoemission and soft-x-ray emission profiles in so far as comparisons can be effected. The results indicate the limits of this simple nonmagnetic random-alloy theory for discussing the conventional low-temperature specific-heat data of these alloys. For Cu-rich alloys the results correspond to a split-band regime while for Ni-rich alloys the $d$ bands associated with Cu and with Ni sites in the alloy overlap to a considerable extent. For all Cu-Ni alloys the rigid-band model and the virtual-crystal approximation are quite inappropriate.
Dynamics of confined depletion mixtures of polymers and bidispersed colloids

We investigate the effect of confinement on solidification of mixtures of non-adsorbing polymers and bidispersed colloidal particles (size ratio aS/aL ≈ 0.49) in a low-dielectric-constant solvent. Holding the total volume fraction of particles fixed, the dynamics of the large particles become increasingly slow as either the volume fraction of small particles is increased or the confinement thickness is decreased. Confinement to ten large particle diameters induces gelation in all samples investigated, with the most arrested dynamics appearing when both the depletant concentration and volume fraction of small particles are large. The changes in dynamics are consistent with an increase in the effective interparticle attraction that is driven by changes in the electrostatic repulsion between particles as the suspension is confined, and thus are an indirect secondary effect of confinement.
Measurements of the Total Water Content of Cirrus Clouds. Part II: Instrument Performance and Validation

Abstract This paper describes the performance and in-flight validation of an instrument mounted in a pallet on the NASA WB-57 research aircraft that measures the sum of gas phase and solid phase water, or total water, in cirrus clouds. Using a heated isokinetic inlet and a Lyman-α photofragment fluorescence technique for detection, measurements of total water have been made over three orders of magnitude. During the Cirrus Regional Study of Tropical Anvils and Cirrus Layers Florida Area Cirrus Experiment (CRYSTAL FACE), the instrument operated at duct temperatures sufficiently warms to completely evaporate particles up to 150-μm diameter. Laboratory calibrations, in-flight diagnostics, intercomparison with water vapor measured by absorption in flight, and intercomparisons in clear air with the Harvard water vapor instrument validate the detection sensitivity of the instrument and illustrate the minimal hysteresis from instrument surface contamination. The Harvard total water and water vapor instruments to...
Proteome analysis in the bovine adrenal medulla using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry.

Liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS)-based proteomics has been used to identify soluble proteins in the bovine adrenal medulla. This gland is a major source of hormones, opioids, neurotransmitters, and several vital proteins. The adrenal medulla proteins were first purified using ammonium sulfate precipitation. The resulting proteins were then pre-fractionated with a C-4 high-peformance liquid chromatography (HPLC) column. Each 2-min HPLC fraction was digested with trypsin, and separated further and analyzed using capillary liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (capLC/nanospray-MS/MS) to map the proteome of the adrenal medulla. The parent mass and sequence ion information thus obtained for tryptic peptides was used to search the NCBInr database using the SEQUEST search engine. A total of 195 proteins were identified, of which 71 had good scores (delta correlation value greater than 0.1, preliminary score above 200, and cross-correlation value above 2.5). The prominent proteins thus identified are secretogranin I precursor, chromogranin A, proenkephalin A precursor, myosin X, hemoglobin beta chain, hemoglobin alpha chain, heat shock protein 10 kDa, and replicase. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Delayed Superficial Femoral Artery Stent Erosion and Pseudoaneurysm Following Endovascular Therapy for Occlusive Disease

A 78 year-old male with multiple serious medical comorbidities was diagnosed with a pseudoaneurysm of the proximal superficial femoral artery. He had undergone successful superficial femoral artery (SFA) stenting for limb salvage four months previously and a Duplex ultrasound had confirmed adequacy of the endovascular procedure two months after its execution. This was successfully treated with placement of a covered-stent at the proximal SFA and a balloon-expandable stent at the origin of the deep femoral artery. Unfortunately the patient expired six weeks after the last endovascular intervention, likely due to procedural-unrelated causes. We postulate delayed stent erosion of a proximal atherosclerotic SFA, causing the pseudoaneurysm. This is the first report of such a case in the literature.
Choose to Change: The West Virginia Early Childhood Obesity Prevention Project

Objective:Comprehensive program for capacity-building and catalyzing change to prevent young child obesity. Description: US-Affiliated Pacific Land Grant Colleges and local partners used community-based processes and settings to conduct a randomized, controlled environmental intervention and childhood obesity prevalence survey, implement degree-providing scholarship and training, and disseminate and integrate findings into regional infrastructures. Evaluation:Data systemsmonitor and evaluate intervention, survey and training activities, and provide data for outreach and policy development. Conclusions and Implications: Multi-level, multisectorial alignment of CHL program actions with local community programs, resources, and attributes is vital for sustainable childhood obesity prevention. Funding: USDA Grant #2011-68001-30335
Can healthcare go from good to great

Healthcare's improvement efforts have focused on the point of care, targeting specific processes such as preventing central line infections, while paying relatively less attention to the larger issues of organizational structure and leadership. Interestingly, the business community has long recognized that poor management and structure can thwart improvement efforts. Perhaps the corporate world's best-known study of these issues is found in the book Good to Great, which identifies top-performing corporations, compares them to carefully selected organizations that failed to achieve similar levels of performance, and gleans lessons from these analyses. In this article, we analyze the feasibility of carefully applying Good to Great's methods for analyzing organizational structure and leadership to healthcare. While a few studies in healthcare have come close to emulating Good to Great's methodology, none have matched its rigor. These shortcomings highlight key information and measurement gaps that must be addressed to facilitate unbiased, rigorous studies of the organizational and leadership predictors of institutional excellence in healthcare. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2011; © 2011 Society of Hospital Medicine.
DC powerline communication network for a wearable health monitoring system

Wearable health monitoring networks are useful for many populations. We propose a network that relies on DC powerline communication for power and data transmission between nodes. By using powerline communication, we need only two conductors. We use a garment composed of conductive fabrics as the transmission medium. In this work, we evaluate the basic electronic transmission characteristics of such a garment. We model the 2D transmission that dominates the garment behavior, and present initial experimental results to verify our model.
An error-detectable array for all-substring comparison

All-substring comparison for pattern P and string S gives the minimum distance between P and all the consecutive substrings in S, which is more general than usual string comparison problems. Run-time error detection is a desirable property in practice. The author designs an error-detectable systolic array for the problem of all-substring comparison, and analyzes the performance of the design. He incorporates a novel design methodology, called ITRED, in the design. By using this methodology at the dependency graph level, tests are triggered in the inputs by users, so this approach gives the users flexibility in trading off throughput for error coverage. Little extra hardware is required in this approach. >
Leptin receptors are expressed in coronary arteries, and hyperleptinemia causes significant coronary endothelial dysfunction.

Obesity is associated with marked increases in plasma leptin concentration, and hyperleptinemia is an independent risk factor for coronary artery disease. As a result, the purpose of this investiga...
On the determination of the global cloud feedback from satellite measurements

Abstract. A detailed analysis is presented in order to determine the sensitivity of the estimated short-term cloud feedback to choices of temperature datasets, sources of top-of-atmosphere (TOA) clear-sky radiative flux data, and temporal averaging. It is shown that the results of a previous analysis, which suggested a likely positive value for the short-term cloud feedback, depended upon combining all-sky radiative fluxes from NASA's Clouds and Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) with reanalysis clear-sky forecast fluxes when determining the cloud radiative forcing (CRF). These results are contradicted when ΔCRF is derived using both all-sky and clear-sky measurements from CERES over the same period. The differences between the radiative flux data sources are thus explored, along with the potential problems in each. The largest discrepancy is found when including the first two years (2000–2002), and the diagnosed cloud feedback from each method is sensitive to the time period over which the regressions are run. Overall, there is little correlation between the changes in the ΔCRF and surface temperatures on these timescales, suggesting that the net effect of clouds varies during this time period quite apart from global temperature changes. Given the large uncertainties generated from this method, the limited data over this period are insufficient to rule out either the positive feedback present in most climate models or a strong negative cloud feedback.
Senior design project: undergraduate thesis

Engineering design has become a critical element of the undergraduate engineering curriculum. To become accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) requires that at least 24 credits of design content be included in the four-year undergraduate engineering curriculum. Senior design is the principal course in which students apply their knowledge in several disciplines to one project assignment and is a significant step towards meeting ABET requirements. Engineering experience acquired in the senior design course is a valuable aid to students as they learn how to apply theory to an actual design project. The senior design course develops project management and oral and written communication skills and enables students to learn scheduling, team coordination and cooperation, parts ordering, and cost/performance tradeoffs. Ten senior design projects that have won IEEE and SME student paper contests are presented herein as a guide in the difficult selection of suitable design topics. The unique nature of the senior design course requires certain departures from usual engineering course organization if students are to derive the maximum benefit. Senior design is nearly equivalent to an industrial internship and may be more valuable as the first step a student takes in making the transition to working engineer. >
Update in Thyroidology

The human and mouse genome databases have provided powerful tools to probe many unanswered questions in thyroidology. Mechanistic knowledge regarding thyroid development, thyroid gland regulation by hypothalamic-pituitary function, thyroid hormone transport and action, thyroid autoimmunity and genetics, and thyroid oncogenesis have expanded enormously using molecular genetics. This basic information is providing the foundation for new clinical approaches to the diagnosis and therapy of thyroid disorders. For example, old dogma regarding the transport of thyroid hormones into cells being mediated by passive diffusion is being discarded as knowledge of new small molecule transporters has been discovered and related to human disease. The genetic basis for autoimmune thyroid disease is being unraveled by discovery of genetic variations associated with risk for autoimmune disease and important molecules in the disorder’s pathogenesis. The translation of basic molecular genetic knowledge into clinical care is n...
Nonlinear transmission lines in left-handed media

We introduce nonlinear transmission line (NLTL) based on left-handed (LH) media and simulate third-harmonic generation in a material that in two dimensions could also focus microwaves. We discuss physical phenomena that lead to and affect harmonic generation in LH NLTL and we outline advantages of LH NLTL media for developing a new type of frequency multiplier.
Estimation of the Spectral Response Functions of the Human Cone Pigments

In this paper we seek linear combinations of the CIE-1931 Standard Observer tristimulus functions that could plausibly relate to action spectra of organic dyes. It turns out that this simple criterion yields an almost unique determination of the fundamental response functions of the human cone pigments. The results are in good agreement with those obtained by radically different methods. Just because each of the methods of obtaining the fundamental response functions has its own uncertainties and assumptions, it is important to use as many different approaches as possible, and then to interrelate them. Our method shares with the other methods the limitation that the red response function is the least well-determined. The three fundamental response functions determined in this paper are for the 2° (foveal) field and are defined by R(λ)=0.091 x¯(λ)+0.247 y¯(λ)-0.148 z¯(λ),G(λ)=-0.508 x¯(λ)+1.409 y¯(λ)+0.099 z¯(λ),B(λ)=z¯(λ).Certain minor deficiencies in the CIE-1931 color functions are emphasized by our examination. These deficiencies are related to the smoothing of the very real fine structure in the blue region.
Peripheral Nerve Amyloidosis in Sural Nerve Biopsies A Clinicopathologic Analysis of 13 Cases

Abstract Objective.—Amyloidosis is a well-recognized but uncommon cause of peripheral neuropathy. Our objectives were to determine the overall prevalence of peripheral nerve amyloidosis in sural nerve biopsies and to evaluate the clinical and pathologic features of these lesions. Methods.—All available histologic and ultrastructural materials on biopsy tissue from 13 cases of peripheral nerve amyloidosis were examined. Muscle biopsies performed at the same time as the nerve biopsy were reviewed when available. Clinical data were collected on all patients. Results.—The prevalence of amyloidosis in sural nerve biopsies at our institution was 13 (1.2%) of 1098 cases over a 15.8-year period. These patients ranged in age from 41 to 82 years (median, 61 years) at initial presentation and included 10 men and 3 women. Presenting neuropathy symptoms were sensory in 6 of the 13 patients, motor in 2 cases, and mixed in 5 cases. Cardiac, renal, or gastrointestinal involvement was present in 7 of 13 cases. Two patient...
Robust Composite Control for Singularly Perturbed Systems With Time-Varying Uncertainties

A two-time-scale linear system with uncertain time-varying parameter is to be stabilized. A class of robust composite controls is proposed. The control renders the system practically stable regardless of the true value of the parameter. The control scheme consists of linear and nonlinear parts. The linear part is designed via a two-level optimization setting. No matching condition is needed for the linear control. The nonlinear part is of continuous saturation type. Matching condition is needed for the nonlinear control. However, it can be achieved by choosing the boundary layer model appropriately.
Mechanisms of Oil Removal from a Solid Surface in the Presence of Anionic Micellar Solutions

Abstract We use a differential interference microscope to observe the separation of crude oil droplets from a solid silica surface in the presence of a micellar solution. Surfactant adsorption lowers interfacial tension, resulting in a receding oil/water/solid contact line. Because water and surfactant molecules diffuse between the solid and oil phases, a process that occurs ahead of the (outer) moving contact line, the conventional three-phase contact line is preceded by a second contact line. The mechanism of oil droplet separation appears to be a combination of both a rolling-up mechanism and a diffusional mechanism.
International Decision: Spector v. Norwegian Cruise Line Ltd.

In Spector v. Norwegian Cruise Line Ltd., the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), 42 U.S.C. §12181 et seq., applies to foreign-flag cruise ships in U.S. waters, but does not require the removal of physical barriers if it would conflict with international legal obligations or compromise shipboard safety. In accommodating international law, the Court's decision effectively tracks the Charming Betsy canoni.e., "an act of Congress ought never to be construed to violate the law of nations if any other possible construction remains." But, the Court's failure to agree on a corresponding accommodation for international comity in cases where U.S. law would otherwise regulate a foreign ship's "internal affairs" brings further confusion to the question of which U.S. laws apply to such vessels, and, more generally, suggests further erosion of the primacy of flag state jurisdiction.
A Microculture Method for Lymphocyte Transformation Studies in the Clinical Laboratory

The technic involves the use of disposable micro tissue culture plates for either a simple screening test for lymphocyte competence or a complete and accurate morphologic and biochemical characterization of the transformation response. Because of the micro volumes used, the method is useful for transformation studies of lymphopenic patients and small children; for studies in which the effects of multiple concentrations of antigens, sera, mitogens, or chemicals are tested; and for performing the mixed lymphocyte reaction for histocompatibility studies. The simple screening test can be readily and effectively used in any clinical laboratory.
Some Observations on High Cavernous Nostrils in the Chicken

Wide high cavernous nostrils are characteristic of all chicken breeds of the V-shaped duplex comb type, whereas all other breeds have slit-type nostrils, including the Sicilian Buttercup breed that has the buttercup-type duplex comb. Crosses between the Sicilian Buttercup and La Fleche breeds and single comb breeds suggest that this trait is a pleiotropic effect of the Dv allele at the duplex locus and is inherited as a recessive when crosses are made to the wild type (d+). The buttercup allele (Dc) at this same locus does not influence nostril morphology by itself, but, when combined with the V-shape comb allele (Dv/Dc), it does allow a single Dv allele to produce mutant nostrils. In this case the inheritance appears dominant. It is proposed that cavernous nostrils are a pleiotropic effect of the comb-size-reducing ability of the Dv allele rather than its duplexing ability.
Ethical decision making in the critical care unit. A case study approach.

A decision-making model for ethical dilemmas commonly encountered in critical care settings will be presented to assist nurses as they are faced with difficult dilemmas. This model, identifies and evaluates four sets of factors and explores issues related to a patient in multi-system organ failure, addresses the ethical ramifications of caring for a patient when the nurse is concerned about the medical appropriateness of the current treatment plan. It also offers ideas for supportive nursing interventions when discussing “sad news” or caring for the patient during the dying process.
Integrated tumor and germline whole-exome sequencing identifies mutations in MAPK and PI3K pathway genes in an adolescent with rosette-forming glioneuronal tumor of the fourth ventricle

The integration of genome-scale studies such as whole-exome sequencing (WES) into the clinical care of children with cancer has the potential to provide insight into the genetic basis of an individual's cancer with implications for clinical management. This report describes the results of clinical tumor and germline WES for a patient with a rare tumor diagnosis, rosette-forming glioneuronal tumor of the fourth ventricle (RGNT). Three pathogenic gene alterations with implications for clinical care were identified: somatic activating hotspot mutations in FGFR1 (p.N546K) and PIK3CA (p.H1047R) and a germline pathogenic variant in PTPN11 (p.N308S) diagnostic for Noonan syndrome. The molecular landscape of RGNT is not well-described, but these data are consistent with prior observations regarding the importance of the interconnected MAPK and PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathways in this rare tumor. The co-occurrence of FGFR1, PIK3CA, and PTPN11 alterations provides further evidence for consideration of RGNT as a distinct molecular entity from pediatric low-grade gliomas and suggests potential therapeutic strategies for this patient in the event of tumor recurrence as novel agents targeting these pathways enter pediatric clinical trials. Although RGNT has not been definitively linked with cancer predisposition syndromes, two prior cases have been reported in patients with RASopathies (Noonan syndrome and neurofibromatosis type 1 [NF1]), providing an additional link between these tumors and the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway. In summary, this case provides an example of the potential for genome-scale sequencing technologies to provide insight into the biology of rare tumors and yield both tumor and germline results of potential relevance to patient care.