cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nucleation and Growth of Magnesioferrite in MgO Containing 0.9% Fe3+

The initial stage of precipitation of magnesioferrite from a supersaturated solid solution of 0.9 cation % Fe3+ in MgO at 500 °C was studied by fitting the magnetization curves to 7000 Oe at low temperatures with the Brillouin function. The averase umber of Fe3+ ions in a precipitate particle, increased monotonically with aging time from 9 in the as-quenched condition to 88 after 16 h. The average spin quantum number per Fe3+ ion decreased to near its final value at an aging time corresponding to = 50. Thus the volume fraction of precipitate is near the final value when the average particle size is only about three unit cells of magnesioferrite.
Antecedents to new food product purchasing behavior among innovator groups in India

Through structural equation modeling, Fishbein and Ajzen's modified theory of reasoned action model (TORA) is used to study the impact of innovation on Indian consumers’ purchase behavior of new processed foods. The results indicate that subjective norms are a key factor in understanding Indian consumers’ new food purchase decisions regardless of their level of innovation. Specifically, subjective norms are found to have direct effects on attitudes, intention to buy, and purchase behavior for new processed food products. Surprisingly, attitudes have little effect on less innovative consumers’ intention to buy. Additionally, product familiarity had a significant impact on Indian consumers’ attitudes, subjective norms, intention to buy, and, ultimately, purchase behavior of the low innovator and high innovator groups. Marketing implications are discussed.
Using Quality Attributes to Bridge Systems Engineering Gaps : A Juno Ground Data Systems Case Study

The Juno Mission to Jupiter is the second mission selected by the NASA New Frontiers Program. Juno launched August 2011 and will reach Jupiter July 2016. Juno's payload system is composed of nine instruments plus a gravity science experiment. One of the primary functions of the Juno Ground Data System (GDS) is the assembly and distribution of the CFDP (CCSDS File Delivery Protocol) product telemetry, also referred to as raw science data, for eight out of the nine instruments. The GDS accomplishes this with the Instrument Data Pipeline (IDP). During payload integration, the first attempt to exercise the IDP in a flight like manner revealed that although the functional requirements were well understood, the system was unable to meet latency requirements with the as-is heritage design. A systems engineering gap emerged between Juno instrument data delivery requirements and the assumptions behind the heritage flight-ground interactions. This paper describes the use of quality attributes to measure and overcome this gap by introducing a new systems engineering activity, and a new monitoring service architecture that successfully delivered the performance metrics needed to validate Juno IDP.
The Golden Bowl: Thoughts on the New Sappho and its Asianic Background

Abstract The paper explores the relation between a set of poetic formulas in early Greek and Anatolian languages of the second and early first millennia having to do with the cosmography of the rising sun in macrocosm, and going up into bed in microcosm, with an eye to defending the reading and restoration έέρρωωιι δδέέππαασσ eeιισσοομμββάάμμeeνν(ααιι) in the editio princeps of the new Sappho. The Luvian word for ““sky, heaven,”” represented as a bowl in Hieroglyphic, is the likeliest source of the Greek word depas , Mycenean dipas , in the second millennium, together with the associative semantics of depas and ““heaven”” evidenced in Hittite and Luvian texts in the second millennium, and in early Greek poetry in the first.
Ultrasound in Synthesis

The chemical1 and biological2 effects of ultrasound were first reported by Loomis more than 50 years ago. In spite of early work in the area of sonochemistry, interest within the chemical community remained exceedingly modest until the past few years. With the advent of inexpensive and reliable sources of ultrasound, however, increasing use of sonochemistry in a variety of reactions is being reported. The purpose of this review is to act as a critical introduction for those interested in the chemical effects of ultrasound and the synthetic applications of sonochemistry. In addition, a brief overview of the physics of acoustic cavitation is presented in order to explain the origin of sonochemical reactivity. Interested readers are referred to earlier reviews of general sonochemical phenomena.3, 4, 5
An XML-based component specification model for an adaptive middleware of interactive digital television systems

A middleware for interactive digital television systems should harmonize and abstract discrepancies related to hardware and operating systems issues. In such a context, this paper describes an XML-based model for specifying components of an adaptive middleware for interactive digital television systems, in which component specifications play a fundamental role during negotiation, configuration and management of middleware components and resources.
Symmetry preservation in a new noncentrosymmetric lattice comprised of acentric POM clusters residing in bowls of Cs+-based half SOD β-cage

In light of ever growing interests in noncentrosymmetric materials, a fascinating reticular chemistry is illustrated via the structure of a new family of solids where the acentric symmetry of the well-known [V(4+)(14)As(3+)(8)O(42)Cl](5-) POM cluster is manifested through the network construction of counter cations featuring slabs of Cs(+)-based half SOD β-cages.
Venous thromboembolism prophylaxis in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation patients: an international web-based survey of healthcare providers

Thousands of patients undergo hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) annually worldwide for treatment of hematologic malignancies as well as benign hematologic and immune disorders. We and others have previously shown that despite severe thrombocytopenia and a high incidence of bleeding complications, 3.7–4.5 % of patients undergoing HSCT suffer symptomatic venous thromboembolism (VTE) [1–5]. Despite the relatively common occurrence of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), the optimal approach to VTE prophylaxis for patients undergoing HSCT remains undefined. The absence of high-quality evidence, the narrow risk–benefit ratio, and the lack of published guidelines have all contributed to a therapeutic equipoise regarding the utility of VTE prophylaxis in this setting. As a result, we expected that practice patterns would vary significantly at the physician, institution, and country levels. To determine the current spectrum of VTE prevention practices among physicians caring for patients hospitalized for HSCT, we conducted an anonymous web-based survey of members of the American Society of Blood and Marrow Transplantation (ASBMT). Based on our anecdotal experience, we hypothesized that there would be considerable practice variation among providers and that many providers would use ambulation alone or mechanical VTE prophylaxis in their hospitalized patients undergoing HSCT. To test these hypotheses, we generated a web-based survey to determine institutional VTE prevention practices. The survey questions assessed respondent demographics, institutional affiliation, the number and characteristics of HSCT performed annually, and current VTE prevention practices. We created the survey using the SurveyMonkey software (SurveyMonkey.com LLC., Palo Alto, CA). The survey was approved by the Johns Hopkins Medicine Institutional Review Board and ASBMT. The link to the survey along with an introductory letter were distributed via email by the ASBMT to its members on 6/27/2012 with two subsequent reminders sent at 2-week intervals. Respondents were allowed to complete the survey only once. To increase the response rate, we offered respondents who completed the survey a chance to win a 200-dollar gift certificate. Data from survey was de-identified and stored on a password-protected computer. The survey results were analyzed using descriptive statistics. A total of 114 providers from 18 countries practicing in 95 different institutions completed the survey. Responses were received between 6/27/2012 and 8/15/2012. The majority of responders were from the United States of America (USA) (69 %); but responses were received from Canada (six responders); Australia (five responders); Mexico, Spain, Germany (three responders each); India, Saudi Arabia, New Zealand (two responders each); and Oman, Thailand, China, Turkey, UK, Egypt, Singapore, This study was presented in part at the 54th Annual American Society of Hematology meeting in Atlanta, GA, December, 2012.
Challenges associated with providing simulation-based medical education

Computer-based instructional programs in medicine, especially those that make use of graphics and simulation technology, are discussed. A number of impediments to this mode of teaching medical students are discussed, including: (1) the lack of knowledge about the learning process; (2) nonadaptive tutorial strategies; (3) difficulties associated with assessing simulation validity; (4) questionable transferability; (5) the lack of intuitive user interfaces; (6) the high cost of developing quality educational software; (7) the inability to customize applications to suit local teaching practices; (8) the high cost of computer hardware; and (9) ineffective evaluation methodologies. >
An investigation of power line de-icing by electro-impulse methods

A brief description is given of the theory and history of EIDI (electroimpulse deicing) technology. These descriptions are followed by a summary of the experiments conducted by the authors to investigate the feasibility of deicing electric power lines using EIDI technology. In spite of the features of EIDI technology that make it attractive for power line deicing, the authors were unable to deice a conductor span of any significant length and thus concluded that EIDI technology, in its present form, is not suited for power-line-deicing applications. >
Scattering of elastic waves from symmetric inhomogeneities at low frequencies

Abstract The problem of the scattering of elastic waves is treated in the low-frequency regime by a systematic expansion in powers of the frequency in the spatial domain of the scatterer. The zeroth and first degree scattering amplitudes vanish if the scatterer is localized in all directions. The second degree scattering amplitude corresponds to the so called Rayleigh regime in which the quasi-static result of Gubernatis et al. is valid. In general, the third and higher degree scattering amplitudes are nonvanishing. However, in the case where the scatterer has inversion symmetry about the origin, it is shown that the third degree scattering amplitude vanishes identically for all incident and scattered directions and for all polarizations. This result implies that the frequency derivative of the phase shift approaches zero at least quadratically as the frequency goes to zero. In other words, at sufficiently low frequencies the effective scattering center of a scatterer with inversion symmetry is its geometrical center. The use of this result in the processing of experimental scattering data is discussed.
Recent advances in the performance of GaAs- and InP-based two-terminal devices as high-power millimeter-wave sources

Advanced growth techniques for nanometer-scale devices at millimeter- and submillimeter-wave frequencies are mature and readily available to produce the required epitaxial material. Selective etching techniques allow precise fabrication control. Layer structures for diodes with low-noise interband tunneling as the predominant injection mechanism were designed using a simple unified large-signal analysis and grown by molecular-beam epitaxy (MBE). These tunnel injection transit-time (TUNNETT) diodes on diamond heat sinks yielded up to 100 mW between 100 GHz and 105 GHz with corresponding dc-to-RF conversion efficiencies of up to 6%. Excellent FM noise measures of between 22 dB and 26 dB at high power levels were obtained, and noise measures below 18 dB at intermediate power levels are the lowest reported for any oscillator utilizing two-terminal devices in this frequency range. RF power levels and dc-to-RF conversion efficiencies exceed those of GaAs Gunn devices in the same frequency range.
A Targeted Proteomics Approach for Profiling Murine Cytochrome P450 Expression

The cytochrome P450 (P450) superfamily of enzymes plays a prominent role in drug metabolism. Although mice are a widely used preclinical model in pharmacology, the expression of murine P450 enzymes at the protein level has yet to be fully defined. Twenty-seven proteins belonging to P450 subfamilies 1A, 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2J, 2U, 3A, 4A, 4B, 4F, and 4V were readily detectable in Balb/c mouse tissue using a global mass spectrometry–based proteomics approach. Subsequently, a targeted mass spectrometry–based assay was developed to simultaneously quantify these enzymes in ranges of femtomoles of P450 per microgram of total protein concentration range. This screen was applied to mouse liver microsomes and tissue lysates of kidney, lung, intestine, heart, and brain isolated from mixed-sex fetuses; male and female mice that were 3–4 weeks, 9–10 weeks, and 8–10 months of age; and pregnant mice. CYP1A2 was consistently more abundant in male mouse liver microsomes compared with age-matched females. Hepatic expression of CYP2B9 was more abundant in 3- to 4-week-old male and female mice than in mice of other ages; in addition, CYP2B9 was the only enzyme that was detectable at higher levels in pregnant mouse liver microsomes compared with age-matched females. Interestingly, sexually dimorphic expression of CYP2B9, 2D26, 2E1, and 4B1 was observed in kidney only. The targeted proteomics assay described here can be broadly used as a tool for investigating the expression patterns of P450 enzymes in mice.
Flow perfusion maintains ex vivo bone viability: A novel model for bone biology research

Encased in lacunae, osteocytes receive nutrition and biomechanical signals through the lacunocanalicular system. We have developed a novel flow-perfusion bioreactor designed to support lacunocanalicular fluid flow. We hypothesize that ex vivo fluid flow can maintain endochondral bone viability and, ultimately, serve as a novel model to study bone biology in vitro. Sprague-Dawley rat femurs were harvested, stripped of soft tissue, loaded into a custom-designed bioreactor and perfused with osteogenic culture medium. After 14 days of flow-perfusion or static culture, the bones were harvested, fixed, decalcified, embedded, sectioned and stained with haematoxylin and eosin. Fresh long bone samples were similarly processed for comparison. Osteocyte viability and function were also evaluated, using thiazolyl blue tetrazolium bromide (MTT), fluorospectrophotometric DNA quantification, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) colorimetric assay and fluorochrome labelling of mineralizing surfaces. All samples remained free of infection throughout the study period. After 14 days of flow perfusion, histological analysis showed normal-appearing bony architecture, with 72% of lacunae being osteocyte-filled compared with 93% in freshly harvested samples and only 36% in static samples. MTT staining and assay confirmed osteocyte viability in the flow-perfusion samples as well as in fresh samples. DNA quantification demonstrated DNA to be preserved in flow-perfused samples when compared with freshly harvested samples. ALP activity in flow-perfusion explants was upregulated compared with fresh and static samples. Fluorochrome-labelled mineralizing surfaces were seen throughout the explanted flow-perfused samples. This is the first demonstration that flow perfusion provides adequate chemotransportation to explanted murine endochondal bones.
LY2603618, a selective CHK1 inhibitor, enhances the anti-tumor effect of gemcitabine in xenograft tumor models

Pharmacological inhibition of CHK1 in the absence of p53 functionality leads to abrogation of the S and G2/M DNA damage checkpoints. We report the preclinical therapeutic activity of LY2603618 (CHK1 inhibitor) at inhibiting CHK1 activation by gemcitabine and enhancing in vivo efficacy. The in vivo biochemical effects of CHK1 inhibition in the absence or presence of DNA damage were measured in human tumor xenograft models. Colon, lung and pancreatic xenografts models were treated with gemcitabine, LY2603618, or gemcitabine plus LY2603618. Gemcitabine treatment alone induced a significant increase in CHK1 autophosphorylation over untreated tumors. Co-administration of LY2603618 with gemcitabine showed a clear inhibition of CHK1 autophosphorylation for at least 24 h. Combining LY2603618 with gemcitabine resulted in an increase in H2AX serine 139 phosphorylation, indicating a corresponding increase in damaged DNA in the tumors. LY2603618 abrogated the S-phase DNA damage checkpoint in Calu-6 xenograft tumors treated with gemcitabine but did not significantly alter the G2/M checkpoint. Combining gemcitabine with LY2603618 resulted in a significant increase in tumor growth inhibition in Calu-6, HT-29 and PAXF 1869 xenografts over gemcitabine treatment alone. The best combination efficacy occurred when LY2603618 was given 24 h following dosing with gemcitabine. LY2603618 worked effectively to remove the S-phase DNA damage checkpoint and increase the DNA damage and the antitumor activity of gemcitabine treatment.
Systems thinking skills of undergraduate engineering students

It is widely acknowledged that systems thinking skills (STS) are critical competencies that enable engineering students to solve problems, communicate, use data, and design components and systems, with greater success. Yet few studies have focused on examining the ST survey of engineering students in higher education. This preliminary study is aimed at investigating the STS of undergraduate engineering students and comparing the effectiveness of the instruments used to assess those skills. The primary research question is: how can we effectively measure the STS of engineering students? Data were collected via a Background questionnaire and a Systems Thinking (ST) questionnaire that 117 engineering students finished, as well as a basic Systems Engineering diagnostics activity (SEDA) that 23 sophomore engineering students completed. Cross-comparisons were conducted between the ST survey and the SEDA to test the validity of the survey questions. Both quantitative and qualitative analyses were employed to assess the degree of STS of the engineering students that participated in the study. The findings from the current study contribute to the knowledge and assessment of undergraduate engineering students' STS.
728Evaluation of Empirical Regimens Including Antistaphylococal Beta-lactam Antibiotics vs Vancomycin Monotherapy on Outcomes of Patients with Methicillin-Susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) Bacteremia

POSTER # 728 Evaluation of Empirical Regimens Including Antistaphylococal Beta-lactam Antibiotics versus Vancomycin Monotherapy on Outcomes of Patients with Methicillin-Susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) Bacteremia Adrienne Terico, Pharm. D.1,2, Kevin Haynes, Pharm. D., MSCE3, Jason C. Gallagher, Pharm. D., FCCP, BCPS1,2 1Temple University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, 2Temple University School of Pharmacy, Philadelphia, PA, 3 University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
Racial Disparities in Cranial Gunshot Wounds: Intent and Survival.

Gunshot wounds (GSW) to the head are associated with the highest mortality of all gun-related injuries, with assault reported as the leading cause of penetrating GSW. Several studies have explored factors and trends related to assault and self-inflicted GSW separately. The aim of this study was to investigate epidemiological characteristics and racial differences collectively in patients with GSW to the head by examining associations to injury intent and survival. A retrospective study was performed by accessing the hospital trauma registry at our regional Level 1 Trauma Center. A query of neurosurgery consults with penetrating trauma was completed from January 2008 to October 2013. Patients with penetrating intracranial GSW were included in the study. A chi-square test was used to evaluate association between patients’ characteristics and intent of injury. Logistic regression analyses predicting intent of injury and survival were also conducted. Of 111 patients, the majority were male (87.4 %). Most were African American (57.7 %) and Caucasian (35.1 %). Compared to African Americans, Caucasian patients were more likely to inflict self-harm (odds ratio (OR) 16.369 (95 % confidence interval (CI) 5.633–47.571), p < 0.0001), while African Americans (OR 26.413 (95 % CI 8.957–77.890), p < 0.0001) were more likely to be victims of assault. Race and other demographic variables did not predict survival nor did intent of injury (p = 0.368). This study reports that there are racial disparities between assault GSW and self-inflicted GSW. However, neither race nor intent is a predictor of survival outcome. Targeted efforts are needed to reduce occurrence of cranial GSW events in order to decrease associated morbidity and mortality.
Levee evaluation using MASW: Preliminary findings from the Citrus Lakefront Levee, New Orleans, Louisiana

The utility of the multi-channel analysis of surface waves (MASW) seismic method for noninvasive assessment of earthen levees was evaluated for a section of the Citrus Lakefront Levee, New Orleans, Louisiana. This test was conducted after the New Orleans’ area levee system had been stressed by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The MASW data were acquired in a seismically noisy, urban environment using an accelerated weight-drop seismic source and a towed seismic land streamer. Much of the seismic data were contaminated with higher-order mode guided-waves, requiring application of muting filtering techniques to improve interpretability of the dispersion curves. Comparison of shear-wave velocity sections with boring logs suggests the existence of four distinct horizontal layers within and beneath the levee: (1) the levee core, (2) the levee basal layer of fat clay, (3) a sublevel layer of silty sand, and (4) underlying Pleistocene deposits of sandy lean clay. Along the surveyed section of levee, lateral variations in shearwave velocity are interpreted as changes in material rigidity, suggestive of construction or geologic heterogeneity, or possibly, that dynamic processes (such as differential settlement) are affecting discrete levee areas. The results of this study suggest that the MASW method is a geophysical tool with significant potential for non-invasive characterization of vertical and horizontal variations in levee material shear strength. Additional work, however, is needed to fully understand and address the complex seismic wave propagation in levee structures.
Blooms of the dinoflagellate Gyrodinium aureolum in a Long Island estuary: box model analysis of bloom maintenance

A dense dinoflagellate bloom of Gyrodinium aureolum Hulburt in a shallow temperate zone estuary was monitored during the summers of 1982 and 1983. The bloom was typically extremely localized, its densest part exceeding 1000μg chlorophyll a liter-1 (2x104 cells ml-1). The bloom began at temperatures between 24.5° and 27°C, existed at as high as 30°C and terminated when water temperature dropped to between 19° and 22°C. The highest specific growth rate measured was 0.90d-1 (1.3 divisions d-1) and near the termination of the bloom decreased to 0.28d-1 (0.4 divisions d-1). A diel vertical migration of the bloom was observed. A box model analysis, based on division rates, vertical migration and water circulation patterns, indicated that the bloom must move downward at the estuary mouth to maintain itself in the estuary, either by means of a convergence system or by downward swimming. High growth rate, low grazing pressure, and a stratified water column are proposed to stimulate bloom formation. Decreasing growth rate appeared to reduce the intensity of the bloom and finally allowed its disappearance by estuarine flushing and mixing.
Influence of entomopathogenic fungi on Serangium parcesetosum (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), an important predator of whiteflies (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae)

The lethal and sublethal effects of the entomopathogenic fungi Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin and Paecilomyces fumosoroseus (Wize) Brown & Smith against the coccinellid predator Serangium parcesetosum Sicard were studied in the laboratory. We also tested if the ingestion of whiteflies contaminated with B. bassiana affected predator survivorship in 3 tests: (1) S. parcesetosum larvae were fed contaminated whiteflies for a 10-d period; (2) larvae were fed 1 time-only prey contaminated 24-, 48-, 72-, or 96-h previously; and (3) larvae were fed prey after the conidia were washed off the leaves and prey cuticles. The predator had significantly lower survivorship when sprayed with B. bassiana than with P. fumosoroseus. However, survivorship was not affected by the dosage rates for each pathogen. Survivorship curves for P. fumosoroseus treatments also did not differ significantly from blank and carrier controls. Mean larval duration was longest (approximately 22.5 d) in S. parcesetosum sprayed at the medium and high dosages of B. bassiana, intermediate (approximately 20 d) for the low dosage of B. bassiana, and lowest (approximately 18 d) for the blank and carrier controls and the P. fumosoroseus treatments. The pupal stages averaged 6.6-8.0 d. Mean adult body weights ranged from 0.97 mg (B. bassiana low dosage) to 1.54 mg (P. fumosoroseus medium dosage), but were not significantly different. Analysis of cumulative predation showed that predators sprayed with P. fumosoroseus consumed prey at a rate similar to that of the controls (approximately 130 prey daily per predator), which was significantly higher than that of predators sprayed with B. bassiana (approximately 60 prey daily per predator). Again, dosage was not a significant factor. Feeding on B. bassiana-contaminated prey caused approximately 86% mortality in S. parcesetosum immatures, compared with aproximately 13% in the controls. Prey contaminated 24-, 48-, 72-, and 96-h previously induced mortalities of 92.5, 71.4, 71.4, and 44.4%, respectively. Washing conidia off the leaves and the cuticle of whiteflies did not result in lowered mortality of the predator relative to the other treatments.
Effect of Alkyl Chain Length on Hygroscopicity of Nanoparticles and Thin Films of Imidazolium-Based Ionic Liquids

This work focuses on the interaction of water vapor with ionic liquids (ILs) consisting of [CnMIM]+ (n = 2, 4, or 6) cations paired with Cl– or BF4– anions to examine the effect of alkyl chain length on IL hygroscopicity. Tandem nanodifferential mobility analysis (TDMA) and attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy were used to study IL nanoparticles and thin films. Studying IL nanoparticles overcomes kinetic limitations potentially present in bulk experiments as true IL–water vapor equilibrium is quickly established. Growth curves recorded in TDMA experiments showed steady uptake of water vapor with increasing RH. ILs containing Cl– absorbed more water than those containing BF4– over the entire RH range, and IL hygroscopicity decreased with increasing alkyl chain length. The intensities of water stretching vibrations in IL thin films exposed to water vapor measured with ATR-FTIR were in qualitative agreement with the TDMA measurements. Water molar fractions for IL na...
The use of anthracyclines and taxanes for adjuvant therapy of breast cancer

SUMMARY The anthracyclines (doxorubicin and epirubicin) and taxanes (paclitaxel and docetaxel) are among the most active agents for the treatment of advanced breast cancer. The efficacy and safety of anthracycline–taxane combinations have been established in this setting. As a consequence, their use in early-stage breast cancer is an area of active investigation. Two general strategies have been pursued – combinations of taxane and anthracycline and sequential use of anthracycline followed by taxane or the reverse. This review summarizes our current knowledge about the adjuvant use of doxorubicin and paclitaxel or docetaxel for breast cancer, focusing on randomized clinical trials of the US cooperative groups as examples of the development process.
How to Perform a House Call

This chapter addresses the general approach to conducting a home-based medical encounter, clinical factors that are especially important to focus on in providing care for patients who cannot routinely leave their homes for office visits, and the basic equipment needed for home-based medical care. The medical equipment used in home-based medical care is essentially the same as that used in a typical office visit, and many ancillary services ordered in an office visit can also be performed in a patient’s home. Home-based medical care provides unique opportunities for the clinician to perform a comprehensive assessment of the patient, understand social determinants of health that impact the patient’s care, and integrate these factors into highly patient-centered care plans. This approach balances evidence-based medicine with patient prognosis, preferences, and ability to travel to a medical center for specialized testing or treatment. Similarly, preventive screening and health maintenance in the homebound population require an individualized approach that includes an understanding of prognosis, as well as disease and screening-test characteristics.
An Architectural Perspective for the Design of Educational Virtual Environments

AbstractThree-dimensional virtual worlds are a new technology being used as learning environments, however problems associated 3D virtual environments such as student feelings of disorientation and problems wayfinding may impact learning. This interpretive case study investigates using an architectural perspective for design. The setting for this case study is a distance learning course using the virtual world application Active Worlds as a setting. Methods of data collection include participatory observations, formal interviews with course designers, and informal inteiviews with participants. Findings revealed the inclusion and placement of architectural objects and elements helped students to identify places, relocate previously visited places and supported the construction of cognitive maps for the learners.
Stochastic-Based Spin-Programmable Gate Array with Emerging MTJ Device Technology

This paper describes the stochastic-based Spin-Programmable Gate Array (SPGA), an innovative architecture attempting to exploit the stochastic switching behavior newly found in emerging spintronic devices for reconfigurable computing. While many recently studies have investigated using Spin Transfer Torque Memory (STTM) devices to replace configuration memory in field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), our study, for the first time, attempts to use the quantum-induced stochastic property exhibited by spintronic devices directly for reconfiguration and logic computation. Specifically, the SPGA was designed from scratch for high performance, routability, and ease-of-use. It supports variable-granularity multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) logic blocks and variable-length bypassing interconnects with a symmetrical structure. Due to its unconventional architectural features, the SPGA requires several major modifications to be made in the standard VPR placement/routing CAD flow, which include a new technology mapping algorithm based on computing (k, l)-cut, a new placement algorithm, and a modified delay-based routing procedure.Previous studies have shown that, simply replacing reconfiguration memory bits with spintronic devices, the conventional 2D island-style FPGA architecture can achieve approximately 5 times area savings, 2 times speedup and 1.6 times power savings. Our mixed-mode simulation results have shown that, with FPGA architecture innovations, on average, a SPGA can further achieve more than 10 times improvement in logic density, about 5 times improvement in average net delay, and about 5 times improvement in the critical-path delay for the largest 12 MCNC benchmark circuits over an island-style baseline FPGA with spintronic configuration bits.
New Particle Transport Methods for Design and Optimization of Spherical-Shell Transmission Measurements

This paper discusses new particle transport methods developed for accurate investigation of iron non-elastic scattering cross sections using the spherical-shell transmission method, employing iron shells with different thicknesses, and neutron time-of-flight spectroscopy of the scattered neutrons. New calculational techniques based on the deterministic and Monte Carlo methods have been developed for design and optimization of the experiment, and for identification and reduction of experimental uncertainties. The new methods include a new tallying option for the MCNP code and new quadrature sets for the 3-D parallel Sn code PENTRAN. The new tallying option is used to determine the optimum source energy versus target thickness, and among the new quadrature sets, the Pn-Tn with ordinate-splitting technique has resulted in accurate flux distributions as compared to Monte Carlo prediction.
Questions to Guide Framing Theoretical Perspectives

This chapter poses some questions that may be useful in helping students to frame research agendas of their own.
Agents of change and temporal nutrient dynamics in the Altamaha River Watershed

Nutrient and carbon dynamics in river ecosystems are shifting, and climate change is likely a driving factor; however, some previous studies indicate anthropogenic modification of natural resources may supersede the effects of climate. To understand temporal changes in river ecosystems, consideration of how these agents act independently and collectively to affect watershed biogeochemistry is necessary. Through the Georgia Coastal Ecosystems Long-Term Ecological Research Project, we assessed nutrient (phosphorus, nitrogen, silicate) and carbon dynamics, with specific regard to import and export, in the Altamaha River Basin from 2000 to 2012. This is the first study in the region to document the biogeochemical patterns in the Altamaha's four main tributaries, the Little Ocmulgee, Ocmulgee, Oconee, and Ohoopee rivers, and the relationships between biogeochemistry and historical precipitation and discharge patterns as well as agricultural and population census data. As discharge patterns are a primary driver of nutrient loads, we determined that water use was a dominant factor in the shifting ecosystem dynamics. Dissolved inorganic nitrogen loads were primarily driven by population density and dissolved inorganic phosphorus loads were strongly influenced by livestock biomass. Taken together, we conclude that both the transportation and biogeochemical cycling of nutrients within the Altamaha River Watershed were highly impacted by anthropogenic influences, which were then further exacerbated by continued climate change. Furthermore, the N- and P-loads in the Altamaha River and tributaries were dominated by dissolved organic nitrogen and dissolved organic phosphorus, emphasizing a need to further study the bioavailability of these species and the mechanisms driving their potential ecological impacts.
MRI evidence of acute inflammation in leukocortical lesions of patients with early multiple sclerosis.

Objective: To identify gadolinium-enhancing lesions affecting the cortex of patients with early multiple sclerosis (MS) and to describe the frequency and evolution of these lesions. Methods: We performed a retrospective, observational, longitudinal analysis of MRI scans collected as part of the Betaseron vs Copaxone in Multiple Sclerosis with Triple-Dose Gadolinium and 3T MRI Endpoints (BECOME) study. Seventy-five patients with early-stage MS were scanned monthly, over a period of 12–24 months, using 3T MRI after administration of triple-dose gadolinium. A total of 1,188 scans were included in the analysis. A total of 139 were selected using an image pipeline algorithm that integrated the image information from cortical gray matter masks and gadolinium-enhancing lesion masks. These scans were evaluated to identify gadolinium-enhancing lesions affecting the cortex. Results: The total number of gadolinium-enhancing lesions was 2,044. The number of gadolinium-enhancing lesions affecting the cortex was 120 (6%), 95% of which were leukocortical. The number of patients who showed gadolinium-enhancing lesions affecting the cortex was 27 (36%). The number of gadolinium-enhancing lesions affecting the cortex at baseline was 25 (21%) and the number of new lesions that developed in follow-up scans was 49 (41%). The number of persistent lesions was 46 (38%). Conclusions: The presence of enhancing lesions affecting the cortex and adjacent white matter, although transient and not frequent, suggests that at least some cortical lesions are related to blood–brain barrier disruption. Our data support the concept that there may be an acute inflammatory phase in the development of leukocortical MS lesions. Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT00176592.
Cancer treatment experiences among survivors of childhood sexual abuse: A qualitative investigation of triggers and reactions to cumulative trauma.

ABSTRACTObjective:Some 25% of women and 8% of men in the United States have experienced childhood sexual abuse (CSA) before the age of 18. For these individuals, healthcare visits and interactions can be retraumatizing due to perceived similarities to past abuse (e.g., pain, undressing, lack of control). However, no prior studies have provided formal qualitative analyses regarding CSA survivors' reactions to cancer treatment. Therefore, our study's objective was to identify key themes pertaining to CSA survivors' cancer treatment experiences. Method Male and female members of the Amazon Mechanical Turk (N = 159, mean age = 44.27 years, SD = 10.02) participated in an anonymous online survey study. The inclusion criteria included reporting: history of CSA; a diagnosis of colorectal, gynecological, breast, or skin cancer; and experience of triggers and/or difficulties during cancer treatment. Participants' responses to open-ended questions were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. Results We identified two primary themes describing CSA survivors' experiences: Theme 1: treatment-related triggers (key subthemes: procedure-related, provider-related, and emotional triggers); and Theme 2: questioning the meaning of cumulative trauma (e.g., "Why me again?"). Significance of results For CSA survivors, cancer and its treatment can trigger thoughts and emotions associated with the original abuse as well as negative evaluations of themselves, the world, and their future. Our findings are consistent with past research on CSA survivors' experiences in non-cancer healthcare settings and add to the literature by highlighting their struggles during cancer treatment. The present results can inform further research on trauma survivors' reactions to cancer treatment and give cancer care providers the context they need to understand and sensitively serve a substantial yet often overlooked patient group.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Drug Resistance Mutations Update

As treatment options coalesce around a smaller number of antiretroviral drugs (ARVs), data are emerging on the drug resistance mutations (DRMs) selected by the most widely used ARVs and on the impact of these DRMs on ARV susceptibility and virological response to first- and later-line treatment regimens. Recent studies have described the DRMs that emerge in patients receiving tenofovir prodrugs, the nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors efavirenz and rilpivirine, ritonavir-boosted lopinavir, and the integrase inhibitors raltegravir and elvitegravir. Several small studies have described DRMs that emerge in patients receiving dolutegravir.
The sociology of grit: Exploring grit as a sociological variable and its potential role in social stratification

This paper proposes the currently fashionable psychological notion of “grit” as a potentially useful variable in sociological analysis and explores its potential for contributing to addressing sociological concerns. Grit, comprising perseverance and passion toward long-term goals, has received growing attention within academia and from the general public as a strong predictor of achievement. Grit captures an important, noncognitive, underdeveloped aspect of agency not included in life course or stratification studies. Grit can contribute to our understanding about how the subjective beliefs that are typically treated as agency are actually translated into volitional action that constructs one's life course, a crucial potential life course mechanism. This paper suggests incorporating grit into sociological understanding of individual-level aspects of stratification, moving beyond its current conception anchored fully in psychology, to further understand what it is, where it comes from, and why it is sociologically useful.
Discovery of High-Temperature Superconductivity (Tc = 55 K) in B-Doped Q-Carbon

We have achieved a superconducting transition temperature (Tc) of 55 K in 27 at% B-doped Q-carbon. This value represents a significant improvement over previously reported Tc of 36 K in B-doped Q-carbon and is the highest Tc for conventional BCS (Bardeen–Cooper–Schrieffer) superconductivity in bulk carbon-based materials. The B-doped Q-carbon exhibits type-II superconducting characteristics with Hc2(0) ∼ 10.4 T, consistent with the BCS formalism. The B-doped Q-carbon is formed by nanosecond laser melting of B/C multilayered films in a super undercooled state and subsequent quenching. It is determined that ∼67% of the total boron exists with carbon in a sp3 hybridized state, which is responsible for the substantially enhanced Tc. Through the study of the vibrational modes, we deduce that higher density of states near the Fermi level and moderate to strong electron–phonon coupling lead to a high Tc of 55 K. With these results, we establish that heavy B doping in Q-carbon is the pathway for achieving high-te...
Energy loss of low energy Hydrogen and Helium ions in light gases

Abstract The knowledge of stopping power in various combinations of ions and targets over a wide range of energies is necessary to extract the fundamental interaction cross section from measured yields in nuclear reactions. While, for many years, energy loss data has been measured, tabulated and incorporated in semi-empirical codes, specifically at low energies and for gaseous targets only few experiments have been performed. In this work, stopping power data of Hydrogen and Helium ions in the energy range below 25 keV traversing light gases were determined. Special emphasis was put on the energy loss of Hydrogen in Helium where a previous discrepancy between two publications was resolved and the range of measurement extended to the energies where the influence of nuclear stopping becomes apparent.
The Child with Cystic Fibrosis Liver Disease

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common life limiting autosomal recessive disorder of Caucasians. The defect in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (CFTR) protein causes an inability to maintain normal hydration of luminal tracts which leads to thickened secretions and obstruction. As survival with lung disease improves, the recognition of liver pancreas and bowel disease is increasing. Liver disease develops in a third of CF patients and causes 2.5% of CF deaths (Table 8.1). It is more common in male CF patients and those with meconium ileus as a neonate.
Inferential Partitioning in Embodied Construction Grammar

Discourse is underspecified for meaning and understanding thus requires constant inference. Construction Grammar approaches (Kay & Fillmore, 1999; Goldberg, 1995) consist of conventionalized mappings between form and meaning. In Embodied Construction Grammar, a unification-grammar based formalism (Bergen & Chang, 2005), meaning is represented in schematizations (Fillmore 1982; Lakoff 1987) that characterize mental representations based on perceptual and motor systems. ECG thus provides a computational model of inference that is cognitively grounded and proceeds from an embodied cognition perspective to support inference via simulation. This model has demonstrated success at inferring otherwise unavailable meaning from utterances (Bryant & Mok, 2006).Partitioning of inferential spaces and structuring of inference relationships between them is necessary for larger discourses or complex metaphorical blending. As currently implemented, ECG generates all meaning in a single inferential space; it thus cannot model hypotheticals, counterfactuals, or temporally disjoint discourse, or any inference resulting from them, something necessary for comprehension of complex language. I extend ECG to incorporate the model of mental spaces by Fauconnier (Fauconnier, 1997), allowing partitioning of inference spaces. New primitives are added to the ECG system to represent discourse pointers, and new constructions to perform discourse management operations such as constructing mental spaces and directing the accumulation of new meaning appropriately. Multiple partitioned inference sequences allow inference from non-base spaces such as hypothetical apodosis to 'float' to a parent space and direct further inference. Explicit space builders, such as hypothetical (if....then...), temporal ("yesterday, . . . ", or conceptual (". . . thinks that. . . ") will be addressed. The proposal also treats implicit discourse management without explicit markers, via a best-fit approach to assignment of inference. ReferencesBergen, Benjamin. K., and Nancy Chang. 2005. Embodied Construction Grammar in simulation-based language understanding. In Construction Grammars: Cognitive Groundings and Theoretical Extensions, edited by J.-O. ?stman and M. Fried. Philadelphia, PA: John Benjamins.Bryant, John and Mok, Eva. 2006. A best-fit approach to productive elision of arguments. Proceedings of the Berkeley Linguistics SocietyFauconnier, Gilles (1997), Mappings in thought and language, (Cambridge, U.K. ; New York, NY, USA: Cambridge University Press) ix, 205 p.Fillmore, C. J. 1982. Frame semantics. In Linguistic Society of Korea (eds.), Linguistics in the Morning Calm. Goldberg, Adele E. 1995. Constructions: A construction grammar approach to argument structure. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.Kay, Paul, and Charles Fillmore. 1999. Grammatical constructions and linguistic generalizations: the What's X doing Y? construction. Language 75 (1):1-33.Lakoff, G. 1987. Women, fire, and dangerous things. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Head and Neck Cancer Pain: A Case Study

The patient is a 53-year-old male with T3N2c squamous cell carcinoma of the left supraglottis who is now 4 weeks into a 7-week course for radiation and chemotherapy. He presents with constant, uncontrolled throat pain described as burning and shooting. He remarks that this began shortly after the onset of his radiation therapy and chemotherapy treatments. Of note, the patient does have a history of chronic pain secondary to failed back surgery treated with tricyclic antidepressants and low-dose opiates.
Do analysts really anchor? Evidence from credit risk and suppressed negative information

Abstract Recent findings indicate that stock analysts suffer from anchoring bias as they anchor their earnings per share forecasts on the industry median without making sufficient adjustments. Using a sample of firms rated by Standard and Poor's, we determine that this finding is concentrated in the worst rated firms, especially around credit rating downgrades. The driving force of the finding is that stock analysts suppress negative information for high credit risk stocks by dropping coverage instead of issuing low earnings per share forecasts, especially around credit rating downgrades. Our finding explains not only why stock analysts seem to suffer from anchoring bias, but also why analysts are overly optimistic for high credit risk stocks.