cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nanoparticles-containing spray can aerosol: characterization, exposure assessment, and generator design

This is the first report demonstrating that a commercially available household consumer product produces nanoparticles in a respirable range. This report describes a method developed to characterize nanoparticles that were produced under typical exposure conditions when using a consumer spray product. A well-controlled indoor environment was simulated for conducting spray applications approximating a human exposure scenario. Results indicated that, while aerosol droplets were large with a count median diameter of 22 µm during spraying, the final aerosol contained primarily solid TiO(2) particles with a diameter of 75 nm. This size reduction was due to the surface deposition of the droplets and the rapid evaporation of the aerosol propellant. In the breathing zone, the aerosol, containing primarily individual particles (>90%), had a mass concentration of 3.4 mg/m(3), or 1.6 × 10(5) particles/cm(3), with a nanoparticle fraction limited to 170 µg/m(3), or 1.2 × 10(5) particles/cm(3). The results were used to estimate the pulmonary dose in an average human (0.075 µg TiO(2) per m(2) alveolar epithelium per minute) and rat (0.03 µg TiO(2)) and, consequently, this information was used to design an inhalation exposure system. The system consisted of a computer-controlled solenoid ''finger'' for generating constant concentrations of spray can aerosols inside a chamber. Test results demonstrated great similarity between the solenoid ''finger''-dispersed aerosol compared to human-generated aerosol. Future investigations will include an inhalation study to obtain information on dose-response relationships in rats and to use it to establish a No Effect Exposure Level for setting guidelines for this consumer product.
The design, fabrication, and characterization of millimeter scale motors for miniature direct drive robots

This paper reports on research into miniature, direct drive, high force/torque motors to support insect-sized mobile robotic platforms. The primary focus is on scalable motors based on piezoelectric transducers. The contributions of this work include: (1) the design, analysis, and characterization of a miniature mode conversion rotary ultrasonic motor based on a piezoelectric stack transducer; this produced a static torque density of 0.37 Nm/kg, (2) a millimeter scale linear piezometer, constructed with a parallel arrangement of annular stressed unimorph piezoelectric transducers and passive latches, exhibited 0.23 N of blocked force, and (3) simulation data is presented that compares these motor concepts to commercial systems in the context of scalability. Results suggest that smaller versions of the rotary ultrasonic motor would possess a static torque density seven times that of a commercial 3-mm electromagnetic system. This technology shows promise for driving the platform.
Patient-Specific 12-Lead ECG Reconstruction From Sparse Electrodes Using Independent Component Analysis

We propose and evaluate a method of 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) reconstruction from a three-lead set. The method makes use of independent component analysis and results in adaptive patient-specific transforms. The required calibration process is short and makes use of a single beat. We apply the method to two sets of leads: leads I, II, V2 and the Frank XYZ leads. Performance is evaluated via percent correlation calculations between reconstructed and original leads from a publicly available database of 549 ECG recordings. Results depict percent correlation exceeding 96% for almost all leads. Adaptability of the method's transform is shown to compensate for changes in signal propagation conditions due to breathing, resulting in reduced variance of reconstruction accuracy across beats. This implies that the method is robust to changes that occur after the time of calibration. Accurate and adaptive reconstruction has the potential to augment the clinical significance of wireless ECG systems since the number of sensor nodes placed on the body is limited and the subject could be mobile.
Monetary Politics: The Federal Reserve and the Politics of Monetary Policy

Preface 1. The Federal Reserve and the politics of monetary policy: introduction and overview 2. A capsule history of the Federal Reserve system 3. Recruitment and selection of Federal Reserve personnel 4. Bankers and the Federal Reserve 5. Economists and the Federal Reserve 6. The president and the Federal Reserve 7. Congress and the Federal Reserve 8. Making monetary policy in a political environment: the election of 1972 9. Monetary politics: a summary Appendixes Experiences of notable monetarists Notes Bibliographic note Index.
Labor market aspects of state and local retirement plans: a review of evidence and a blueprint for future research

Traditional defined benefit (DB) pension plans remain the overwhelming norm for teachers, policemen and other employees of state and local governments. The incentives for workers with DB pension plans to stay in their jobs shift dramatically over the course of their careers. Moreover, limited transferability of pension wealth across states and between public and private jobs impedes mobility in the labor market. Yet, little is known about the labor market effects of pensions on state and local government workers. The literature on private-employer pensions has made contributions on some of these fronts in recent years that can shed light on policy concerns raised by the possibility that pension plans will be modified in coming years. Moreover, some of the limitations constraining research on pensions may be overcome by focusing on government workers, with recent work on public school teachers pointing the way. Very recent studies are finding strong retirement responses to age- and tenure-related incentives built into state pension plans.
Targeting CXCR2 enhances chemotherapeutic response, inhibits mammary tumor growth, angiogenesis and lung metastasis

Breast cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer deaths among females. Many challenges exist in the current management of advanced stage breast cancer as there are fewer recognized therapeutic strategies, often because of therapy resistance. How breast cancer cells evade chemotherapy and the underlying mechanism remains unclear. We and others have observed that malignant cells that survive initial chemo- and radiation therapy express higher levels of CXCR2 ligands, which may provide a survival benefit leading to therapy resistance. In this report, we test the hypothesis that CXCR2-dependent signaling in malignant cells may be critical for chemotherapy resistance and targeting this signaling axis may enhance the antitumor and antimetastatic activity of chemotherapeutic drugs and limit their toxicity. We used Cl66-wt, 4T1-wt, Cl66sh-CXCR2, and 4T1sh-CXCR2 cells expressing differential levels of the CXCR2 receptor to evaluate the role of targeting CXCR2 on chemotherapeutic responses. Knockdown of CXCR2 enhances paclitaxel and doxorubicin-mediated toxicity at suboptimal doses. Moreover, we observed an increase in the expression of CXCL1, a CXCR2 ligand in paclitaxel and doxorubicin-treated mammary tumor cells, which were inhibited following CXCR2 knockdown. Knockdown of CXCR2 enhanced antitumor activity of paclitaxel in an in vivo mammary tumor model. We observed significant inhibition of spontaneous lung metastases in animals bearing CXCR2 knockdown tumors and treated with paclitaxel as compared with the control group. Our data suggest the novel role of CXCR2 and its ligands in maintaining chemotherapy resistance and provide evidence that targeting CXCR2 signaling in an adjuvant setting will help circumvent chemotherapy resistance.
Failure Causes Fear: The Effect of Self-Esteem Threat on Death-Anxiety

According to terror management theory (TMT; Greenberg, Pyszczynski, 1986), self-esteem protects people from anxiety associated with the knowledge of certain mortality. A number of studies provide evidence consistent with this assertion, but no studies have experimentally examined the effect of threatened self-esteem on death-anxiety. In the current study, self-esteem was manipulated and death-anxiety measured. A self-esteem threat increased death-anxiety relative to a self-esteem boost and non-self threat control condition.
Metastatic Angiosarcoma Masquerading as Diffuse Pulmonary Hemorrhage

Abstract Context.—Diffuse pulmonary hemorrhage is an uncommon presenting manifestation of angiosarcoma. Objective.—To review the clinical, radiologic, and pathologic findings of patients with metastatic angiosarcoma who presented with diffuse pulmonary hemorrhage. Design.—Patients fulfilling inclusion criteria were identified from the consultation files. Clinical and radiologic data were obtained from referring pathologists. Histologic slides were reviewed in all patients. Results.—Our patients included 6 men and 1 woman, aged 31 to 73 years; 4 patients were younger than 40 years. Six patients presented with hemoptysis, and all had diffuse abnormalities on radiographic studies. Clinical considerations prior to biopsy included pulmonary hemorrhage syndrome (n = 2), acute respiratory failure (n = 1), and infection (n = 1). Metastatic disease was included in the differential diagnosis in only 1 patient. None had a diagnosis of malignancy prior to lung biopsy. All biopsies showed hemorrhage associated with at...
Using egg albumin foam to extinguish fires

Oil, coal and chemical fires are often difficult to put out using water. In certain hydrocarbon fires, protein foam can extinguish fires better than water by keeping air (oxygen) away from the flames and by ''blowing'' the flame away from its fuel source. Egg albumin is a relatively inexpensive protein and is representative of foaming proteins, which are candidates for use as fire suppression agents. This paper begins to deal with the effect of the foam bulk pH, foam protein concentration and generating air flow rate into the foam on the fire extinguishing time in laboratory experiments. A Bunsen burner was used to generate a small, controlled laboratory fire within a plastic container, which represented a point source in a partially open room in the experiments. The Bunsen burner represents a gaseous hydrocarbon fire, which can be difficult to extinguish. Both a low pH foam and one made with a high air flow rate favor a reduction in time required to put out the Bunsen burner flame.
Glacial Atlantic overturning increased by wind stress in climate models

Previous Paleoclimate Model Intercomparison Project (PMIP) simulations of the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) showed dissimilar results on transports and structure. Here we analyze the most recent PMIP3 models, which show a consistent increase (on average by 41 ± 26%) and deepening (663 ± 550 m) of the AMOC with respect to preindustrial simulations, in contrast to some reconstructions from proxy data. Simulations run with the University of Victoria (UVic) ocean circulation model suggest that this is caused by changes in the Northern Hemisphere wind stress, brought about by the presence of ice sheets over North America in the LGM. When forced with LGM wind stress anomalies from PMIP3 models, the UVic model responds with an increase of the northward salt transport in the North Atlantic, which strengthens North Atlantic Deep Water formation and the AMOC. These results improve our understanding of the LGM AMOC's driving forces and suggest that some ocean mechanisms may not be correctly represented in PMIP3 models or some proxy data may need reinterpretation.
Tibio-femoral Replacement Using Two Components with Retention of the Cruciate Ligaments (The Geometric and Anametric Prosthesis)

In March 1969, the Food and Drug Administration of the United States approved methyl methacrylate as an investigational new drug for use in total hip arthroplasty. The American orthopaedic surgeon subsequently became familiar with metal-to-polyethylene joint replacement secured by methyl methacrylate. It was only logical that a similar joint replacement for the knee should follow.
Risk factors related to the development and mortality from invasive cervical cancer: Clinical utility and impact on prevention

The link between evidence, outcomes, and risk of invasive cervical cancer Although prevention of cervical cancer hinges upon the identification and intervention of a cohort of patients at higher risk for developing and dying from cervical malignancy, the definition of the ‘‘at-risk’’ group remains controversial. The use of epidemiological, clinical, and biomolecular evidence in defining lowand high-risk cohorts in the most cost effective manner possible is the foundation of the current strategy of prevention of death and suffering related to cervical cancer. Based on far-ranging retrospective studies, it is commonly believed that since its introduction, the employment of the conventional Papanicolaou (Pap) smear and deployment of an organized Pap smear screening program has contributed to a lower morbidity, mortality, and incidence of cervical cancer by 70% to 80% in the United States. This was accomplished through segregating a population based on cytologic evidence and managing patients who have abnormal results with colposcopy, biopsy, and treatment [1–4]. Following a dramatic initial decline, the incidence and death rates from cervical cancer have remained between 12,000 to 16,000 and 3500 to 5000, respectively, in the US. The benefit of the conventional Pap smear approach has been debated and the value of other preventative interventions examined [5]. The use of cytologic evidence in defining a woman who is at risk of developing and dying from cancer of the uterine cervix has limitations. Cytological screening can be augmented with newer technologies, epidemiological and medical informa
The NC-SAC: Computational Pipeline for Predicting Structures of 3D Chromatin Chains from Experimental Data: Origin of Scaling Properties, Emergence of Chromosome Territories and Discovery of Novel Loci Interactions Associated with Differential Gene Expression

The global architecture of cell nucleus and the spatial organization of chromatin play fundamental roles in gene expression and nuclear function. Techniques such as electron microscopy and Chromosome Conformation Capture (3C, 4C, 5C, Hi-C, ChIA-PET) provide a wealth of information on the three-dimensional organization of genome. However, understanding detailed mechanisms important for cellular activities from existing experimental data requires computational modeling of the 3D structures of chromatin. Here we describe a computational pipeline for constructing ensembles of chromatin chains from diverse experimental data. We showed that the scaling properties of human genome arise from polymer properties under the confinement of the cell nucleus. We also demonstrated that the inter-chromosomal interactions as seen in Hi-C experiments, the emergence of chromosome territories, as well as the co-localization of fragile sites of budding yeast can all be fully accounted for by the nuclear confinement and landmark constraints. We further integrated 5C interactions to our polymer models and obtained up to 20,000 detailed 3D structures of the α-globin locus at 3-15 kb resolution. We uncovered global differences in the spatial structures of the α-globin locus at different expression levels. We further predicted novel chromatin interactions, which are validated by independent ChIA-PET studies. Our predicted structures suggest a complex higher-order regulatory machinery behind the differential gene expression, with a novel mechanistic model that can be tested experimentally. Overall, our pipeline can incorporate diverse experimental data and generate 3D models of self-avoiding chromatin chains. It provides a generally applicable new approach for identifying spatial interactions and assessing their roles in regulating gene activities and nuclear functions.
Abstract B85: Role of the TASK2 in regulating breast cancer cell proliferation

Selective estrogen receptor (ER) modulators (SERMs) such as tamoxifen and raloxifene, and aromatase inhibitors are able to partially reduce incidence in high-risk women to develop ER-positive breast cancer but not all ER-positive neither ER-negative breast cancers. Thus, effective targets and agents for the prevention of both ER-positive and ER-negative breast cancer are urgently needed. Potassium ion channels are essential in maintaining cellular homeostasis in terms of transmitting signal molecules, regulating cell volume and secreting ions and hormones. A family of potassium channels, TASKs, is differentially expressed in normal breast tissue and breast cancer tissues. In particular, TASK2 mRNA was found upregulated in human breast carcinoma but not in normal mammary gland tissue, and TASK2 is significantly up-regulated in ER-negative vs ER-positive breast cancers across multiple studies among the Oncomine databases. We hypothesized that TASK2 plays an important role in regulating growth of breast cancer cells. We then knocked down the TASK2 gene expression using siRNA in ER-positive and ER-negative breast cancer cells. Transient knockdown of TASK2 suppressed cell proliferation significantly in 7/8 ER-negative and moderately in 3/5 ER-positive breast cancer cell lines. However, proliferation of an immortal breast epithelial cell line, MCF-10A, was not affected. We are now investigating the phenotypic alterations in normal and malignant breast cells after overexpressing or knocking down the TASK2 gene. Current results suggest that TASK2 plays an important role in breast cell growth. Thus, TASK2 is a potential novel target for future breast cancer prevention and treatment. Citation Information: Cancer Prev Res 2011;4(10 Suppl):B85.
Less Boilerplate, More Symmetry

744 The Journal of American History December 2011 Kim Phillips-Fein is to be commended for rendering a valuable service to the historical profession by tracing and reflecting on the trajectory of and prospects for historical scholarship on American conservatism. The fruits of her bibliographical labors alone would have made the exercise well worth undertaking and would make the essay a valuable resource for ongoing scholarship on this subject. But Phillips-Fein has sifted through these offerings thoughtfully and has many judicious and stimulating things to say, both about where that scholarship has been and where it ought to be going in the future. If I have criticisms to offer in what follows, none should be taken to negate the great value of the essay. I think Phillips-Fein makes clear that the profession has come a long way in redressing the egregious failures that were so well described by Alan Brinkley in 1994 and so memorably exemplified by Richard Hofstadter and others in an earlier generation of postwar historians and social scientists. We might wish that the field had come further by now and that there were more scholars on the scene who had entered the field with motives and goals more complex and capacious than the desire to know their enemy, but we should also be grateful for what has been achieved so far, and Phillips-Fein’s essay actually offers very little support or encouragement for the “know your enemy” school of scholarship. Indeed, the newest scholarship has, she argues, “reversed the earlier vision of the Right as a marginal part of American life.”1 Instead, her essay calls into question the reflexive pathologizing of American conservatism and insists on our “recognizing the power of the conservative strain in American politics,” not only in the postwar era but over the entire span of American history. For her, conservatism should be understood as part of “a long tradition with deep historical roots, revitalized at different points in response to various challenges.” The postwar period is therefore best understood not as a period of liberal ascendancy and conservative “backlash,” but as an era “characterized by contest and struggle all along.” This seems to me an admirably accurate statement, and if Phillips-Fein is right that the historiography Less Boilerplate, More Symmetry
Primary Culture of Rat Mammary Epithelial Cells. II. Cytotoxic Effect and Metabolism of 7,12-Dimethylbenz[a]anthracene and N-Nitroso-N-methylurea

To determine the cytotoxicity of 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) and N-nitroso-N-methylurea (NMU) on primary cultures of rat mammary cells, cultures were exposed to various concentrations of these carcinogens. Cytotoxicity was evident after exposure for 24 hours to as little as 0.1 microgram DMBA/ml. Cytotoxicity was evident after exposure for 2 hours with NMU at concentrations between 80 and 160 microgram/ml. Primary cultures of rat mammary cells were also examined for their ability to metabolize [3H]DMBA into water-soluble products. During a 48-hour period, mammary cells could convert 2.2% [3H]DMBA to water-soluble metabolites. The cells retained (for at least 4 days) small quantities of [3H]DMBA that were insoluble in organic solvents.
Validation of a track-repeating algorithm versus measurements in water for proton scanning beams

Dose distributions calculated with the fast dose calculator (FDC), a track repeating-algorithm for proton therapy, have been validated versus dose measurements in water for scanning proton beams at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Proton Therapy Center in Houston. The dose calculated with FDC, at the position of the measured points for depth and lateral profiles, was compared to the measurements with a gamma-index analysis. It was found that 99.9% and 99.5% of the measured points had a gamma-index value smaller than unity for the 3%/3 mm and 2%/2 mm dose/distance agreement criteria, respectively.
Examining Hydroxyl–Alumina Bonding toward Aluminum Nanoparticle Reactivity

The stabilizing, amorphous alumina (Al2O3) passivation layer surrounding aluminum (Al) particles participates in reactions that lower barriers to bulk Al oxidation. The behavior has been observed in thermites comprised of nanoscale Al particles (nano-Al) dispersed within a fluoropolymer matrix. Studies reported herein show the oxide passivation shell on nano-Al particles is affected by the polarity and hydrogen bonding properties of the solvent employed for thermite dispersal, resulting in enhanced thermal energy propagation during Al combustion in nano-Al + poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) mixtures. Relative to conventional treatments that employ hexane for thermite dispersal, the speed of flame front movement measured in a Bockmon Tube apparatus under steady-state conditions increased more than 2-fold following treatments in acetone or 2-proponal. Differential scanning calorimetry and infrared spectroscopy measurements indicate contact with the polar solvents increases the amount and accessibility of hy...
Laboratory diagnostic methods for central nervous system infections.

Infection of the central nervous system (CNS) is a life-threatening condition that demands immediate attention from the attending physician or surgeon and the clinical pathologist, microbiologist, and diagnostic microbiology laboratory staff. This article discusses the approach of the clinical microbiology laboratory to the diagnosis of infections of the CNS caused primarily by bacterial, fungal, and parasitic agents. Different methods of detection, culture, identification, and antibiotic susceptibility testing of the most common organisms isolated from CNS infections are discussed, with emphasis on newer techniques.
The Ethical and Scientific Basis of Regulation

A cynic has described regulation as the substitution of error for chance. Be that as it may, modern regulation unquestionably is based, to some degree at least, on scientific and ethical considerations.
Transesophageal Echocardiographic-Guided Cardioversion

The incidence and prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) continues to grow especially as the population ages. The uncoordinated atrial activation and subsequent ineffective atrial contraction is a strong stimulus for left atrial (LA) thrombus formation especially in the LA appendage. AF is associated with increased risk of stroke, heart failure, and all-cause mortality. The presence of LA thrombus in AF portends a poor prognosis. Direct current cardioversion (DCCV) is the most effective method of restoring sinus rhythm and, with it there is relief of symptoms, improved LV filling, reversed atrial remodeling, and possibly reduced cardio-embolic risk. However, there are significant risks of systemic embolization following DCCV if LA thrombus is present. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is an ideal non-invasive imaging modality to detect thrombus in the LA and especially in the LA appendage. Its proper use can lead to earlier DCCV for AF and improve safety of DCCV in AF. A key part of this strategy is proper use of anticoagulation therapy. This chapter illustrates the important role of TEE in patient evaluation and risk stratification prior to cardioversion.
Athlete's Foot

(1957). Athlete's Foot. Journal of Health, Physical Education, Recreation: Vol. 28, No. 8, pp. 14-16.
3-D Integrated Electronic Microplate Platform for Low-Cost Repeatable Biosensing Applications

This paper presents a 3-D integrated disposable “electronic microplate” (e-microplate) platform that allows the reuse of CMOS biosensor, thereby significantly reducing cost and increasing throughput compared to nondisposable biosensing systems. The e-microplate utilizes mechanically flexible interconnects and through-silicon-vias to electrically connect the cells cultured on the top (sensing electrode side) of the e-microplate to the electrodes on the CMOS biosensor while maintaining a physical separation between the aforementioned substrate tiers. Electrical measurements performed show that the incorporation of the e-microplate does not degrade the sensing amplifier’s gain, 3-dB bandwidth, or the input referred noise; this ensures a high signal-to-noise ratio allowing accurate sensing of weak signals from living cells under test. Cell growth experiments performed show adhesion and growth of mouse embryonic stem cells on the surface of the sensing electrodes of the e-microplate. Impedance mapping for Dulbecco’s phosphate buffered saline solution performed with the e-microplate, for two different e-microplate assemblies, confirms the functional accuracy of the assembled systems.
A high-frequency regenerative optomechanical oscillator on lithium-niobate-on-insulator platform

We demonstrate a regenerative optomechanical oscillator operating at a high frequency of 375 MHz on lithium-niobate-on-insulator platform based upon a compact high-Q lithium niobate microdisk resonator with an intrinsic optical Q o of 2.2×105 and intrinsic mechanical Q m above 5000 in the air.
RV traveler's pull factors to campgrounds in leisure tourism.

ABSTRACTThe purpose of this study was to identify the underlying structures of RV traveler’s pull factors to campgrounds and confirm the results by using exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis with multiple data sets. The results identified the following five dimensions of the campground traveler’s key attributes: Activity, Amenity, Essentials, Price, and Store. The “Essentials” factor had a grand mean of 4.47, which was the highest among the five factors. Therefore, campground owners and managers should pay extra attention to maintaining a high quality on those essential attributes first, before considering adding or promoting any other items.
Availability of family planning services and quality of counseling by faith-based organizations: a three country comparative analysis

Faith-based organizations (FBOs) have a long history of providing health services in developing countries and are important contributors to healthcare systems. Support for the wellbeing of women, children, and families is evidenced through active participation in the field of family planning (FP). However, there is little quantitative evidence on the availability or quality of FP services by FBOs. The descriptive analysis uses facility-level data collected through recent Service Provision Assessments in Malawi (2013–14), Kenya (2010), and Haiti (2012) to examine 11 indicators of FP service and method availability and nine indicators of comprehensive and quality counseling. The indicators include measures of FP service provision, method mix, method stock, the provision of accurate information, and the discussion of reproductive intentions, client’s questions/concerns, prevention of sexually transmitted infections, and return visits, among others. Pearson’s Chi-square test is used to assess the selected indicators by managing authority (FBO, public, and other private sector) to determine statistical equivalence. Results show that FBOs are less likely to offer FP services than other managing authorities (p < 0.05). For example, 69% of FBOs in Kenya offer FP services compared to 97% of public facilities and 83% of other private facilities. Offering long-acting or permanent methods in faith-based facilities is especially low (43% in Malawi, 29% in Kenya and 39% in Haiti). There were few statistically significant differences between the managing authorities in comprehensive and quality counseling indicators. Interestingly, Haitian FBOs often perform as well or better than public sector health facilities on counseling indicators, such as discussion of a return visit (79% of FBO providers vs. 68% of public sector providers) and discussion of client concerns/questions (52% vs. 49%, respectively). Results from this analysis indicate that there is room for improvement in the availability of FP services by FBOs in these countries. Quality of counseling should be improved by all managing authorities in the three countries, as indicated by low overall coverage for practices such as ensuring confidentiality (22% in Malawi, 47% in Kenya and 12% in Haiti), discussion of sexually transmitted infections (18%, 25%, 17%, respectively), and providing services to youth (53%, 27%, 32%, respectively).
A web-based screening tool for near-port air quality assessments

The Community model for near-PORT applications (C-PORT) is a screening tool with an intended purpose of calculating differences in annual averaged concentration patterns and relative contributions of various source categories over the spatial domain within about 10 km of the port. C-PORT can inform decision-makers and concerned citizens about local air quality due to mobile source emissions related to commercial port activities. It allows users to visualize and evaluate different planning scenarios, helping them identify the best alternatives for making long-term decisions that protect community health and sustainability. The web-based, easy-to-use interface currently includes data from 21 seaports primarily in the Southeastern U.S., and has a map-based interface based on Google Maps. The tool was developed to visualize and assess changes in air quality due to changes in emissions and/or meteorology in order to analyze development scenarios, and is not intended to support or replace any regulatory models or programs.
Hydrodynamic Renal Pelvis Injection for Non-viral Expression of Proteins in the Kidney

Hydrodynamic injection creates a local, high-pressure environment to transfect various tissues with plasmid DNA and other substances. Hydrodynamic tail vein injection, for example, is a well-established method by which the liver can be transfected. This manuscript describes an application of hydrodynamic principles by injection of the mouse kidney directly with plasmid DNA for kidney-specific gene expression. Mice are anesthetized and the kidney is exposed by a flank incision followed by a fast injection of a plasmid DNA-containing solution directly into the renal pelvis. The needle is kept in place for ten seconds and the incision site is sutured. The following day, live animal imaging, Western blot, or immunohistochemistry may be used to assay gene expression, or other assays suited to the transgene of choice are used for detection of the protein of interest. Published methods to prolong gene expression include transposon-mediated transgene integration and cyclophosphamide treatment to inhibit the immune response to the transgene.
Betwixt and Between: How Male and Female Audiences Engaged with the "Magnetic Girl" to Complicate Fin-de-Siècle Gender Roles

Lulu Hurst was a young Gilded Age-era performer known for her demonstrations of uncanny physical strength. For the most part, Hurst’s performance involved challenging an audience member to wrest objects from her grasp. For a member of Hurst's predominantly male audience, matching her strength to his own was a means by which to prove his masculinity to his peers. The notion of masculinity being on trial was particularly significant in the late nineteenth century--a time when women were beginning to gain social power. Elaine Showalter famously describes this period as being characterized by a "battle within the sexes" as well as between them (9). As such, I argue that Hurst’s “demonstrations of strength” are best understood within the context of what Marvin Carlson terms "resistant performance"--that is, a performance that subverts the status quo by exposing its underlying assumptions. Drawing on Victor Turner’s work on ritual and liminality, I argue that when the individual male agent separates himself from his peers in order to challenge Hurst, his gender identity temporarily becomes destabilized. However, while Hurst may have disrupted the status quo by troubling gender binaries, her performance also served to reify existing social hierarchies. This paradox is both a marker of resistant performance and of social change. For the postmodern reader, Hurst's performance is significant in that her demonstrations reveal the implications of resistant performance during a unique period of cultural transition in which gender identity was called into question.
International Law, Colonialism, and the African

Gassama critically examines the role of international law and all its manifestations in the lives of Africans during both the colonial era and the present day. He argues that this law not only facilitated imperialism and colonialism, it remains at the core of what Africans received from imperialism and colonial rule. He argues further that Africans remain in many ways unable to fully escape its tragic hold on their lives. He explains how international law and institutions occupy a predominant role today in organizing African realities and in justifying the complex web of persistent and violent exploitative relationships that order the place of ordinary Africans within the present even more alienating globalized world order.
Opportunities for intervention in HSDD

Hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) is relatively common among women and causes considerable distress as well as interpersonal difficulties. Nevertheless, many women with HSDD remain untreated because they are reluctant to discuss sexual issues with their physicians and have low expectations concerning the prospects for help. Compounding this situation is the fact that clinicians frequently do not inquire about patients' sexual health. As primary care providers, family physicians are in an excellent position to improve the care of women with HSDD by adopting a proactive approach to identifying sexual concerns and determining the best available courses of treatment.
Case 56: Neonatal Laparoscopic Surgery

It is midnight and you are on call. A 1-day-old male (36 week gestation) is scheduled for laparoscopic repair of Duodenal Atresia. He was delivered uneventfully a few hours ago. He weighs 2 kg and his history, physical exam, and laboratory results are unremarkable. You see him in the NICU and notice fresh blood at the stump of the umbilical vein. You are told that an attempt at umbilical vein cannulation failed. There is no umbilical clamp but a tie has been placed around the umbilical stump instead. The patient has a working peripheral IV. In the operating room, standard monitoring is placed on the child. The child is preoxygenated and a rapid-sequence technique with propofol, rocuronium, and cricoids pressure ensues. His airway was secured with 3.0 endotracheal tube (ETT).
The Root Causes of Uncertainty in Dating Neurologic Events Based on Imaging Findings

The final chapter discusses the possible causes of uncertainty in the dating of a ­neurologic event based on imaging findings – variations in interpretation from expert to expert and variations in the manner that consensus findings are interpreted by different experts, multiple different imaging findings that localize to different points in time, and imaging findings that do not appear to correlate with the clinical picture.
Wernicke's encephalopathy: an experimental study in the rhesus monkey.

Experimental Wernicke's encephalopathy, induced in rhesus monkeys with a diet lacking thiamine (vitamin B1), is characterized by cavitary necrosis of the striatum as well as a microvacuolar periventricular lesion of the brain stem such as occurs in man. With high resolution light microscopy and electron microscopy, the primary structural alteration in the brain stem lesion, and probably also in the striatum, appears to be that of widespread “blister” formation due to splitting of myelin at the intraperiod line. Microvascular alterations were minimal, even in the most severely affected regions. It is the myelin blisters which give rise to the spongy texture of the neuropil. A similar splitting of myelin has been deseribed in several other experimental encephalopathies, and it is probable that it also occurs in Wernicke's encephalopathy in man.
Application of instantaneous-frequency attribute and gamma-ray wireline logs in the delineation of lithology in Serbin field, Southeast Texas: A case study

AbstractAlthough Serbin field in Southeast Texas was discovered in 1987, lithologic and petrophysical properties in the southeastern part of the field have not been fully evaluated. We have generat...
Eight-year blight (Cryphonectria parasitica) resistance of backcross-generation American chestnuts (Castanea dentata) planted in the southeastern United States

Abstract The loss of American chestnut (Castanea dentata) in eastern North America to chestnut blight, a disease caused by the fungal pathogen (Cryphonectria parasitica), has devastated ecological and utilitarian processes and functions. A backcross breeding approach has been developed to confer disease resistance to hybrid seedlings, and forest reintroduction trials will provide important information on performance and durability of resistance in real-world forest conditions. Three plantings were established in 2009 in mesic, even-aged regeneration harvests (site index averaged 23 m for Quercus rubra) and were examined for eight-year blight resistance. These plantings are the first forest field trials to test blight resistance of the most advanced breeding generation currently available, the third generation of the third backcross (BC3F3), against less advanced breeding generations (BC1F3, BC2F3), disease-resistant Chinese chestnut (C. mollissima), and disease-susceptible American chestnut. We also examined if C. parasitica infection was related to tree size and growth. The pathogen infected 36 percent of trees across locations by year 8, but 31 percent of trees died prior to detection of infection. Non-pathogen related mortality was probably due to factors that are typical of hardwood plantings, including repeated deer browsing and native and non-native pest damage. The BC3F3 generation exhibited resistance more similar to the Chinese chestnut than the American chestnut, but exhibited significantly lower resistance than Chinese chestnut at the location with the highest blight incidence; genetic family differences among BC3F3 progeny were significant at this location. Interactions between planting location and breeding generation affected resistance rankings, suggesting additional or longer-term testing is needed to determine resistance of a particular breeding line across a variety of sites. Probability of disease incidence was positively related to ground-line diameter (GLD), but this relationship depended on location and breeding type. At two locations, American chestnut had 50 percent probability of C. parasitica infection when GLD was approximately 70 mm, and the BC3F3 had 50 percent probability when GLD was between 93 and 126 mm. The Chinese chestnut maintained low probability of disease incidence (
Spine SBRT With Halcyon™: Plan Quality, Modulation Complexity, Delivery Accuracy, and Speed

Purpose: Spine SBRT requires treatment plans with steep dose gradients and tight limits to the cord maximal dose. A new dual-layer staggered 1-cm MLC in Halcyon™ treatment platform has improved leakage, speed, and DLG compared to 120-Millennium (0.5-cm) and High-Definition (0.25-cm) MLCs in the TrueBeam platform. Halcyon™ 2.0 with SX2 MLC modulates fluence with the upper and lower MLCs, while in Halcyon™ 1.0 with SX1 only the lower MLC modulates the fluence and the upper MLC functions as a back-up jaw. We investigated the effects of four MLC designs on plan quality for spine SBRT treatments. Methods: 15 patients previously treated at our institution were re-planned according to the NRG-BR-002 guidelines with a prescription of 3,000 cGy in 3 fractions, 6xFFF, 800 MU/min, and 3-arc VMAT technique. Planning objectives were adjusted manually by an experienced planner to generate optimal plans and kept the same for different MLCs within the same platform. Results: All treatment plans were able to achieve adequate target coverage while meeting NRG-BR002 dosimetric constraints. Planning parameters were evaluated including: conformity index, homogeneity index, gradient measure, and global point dose maximum. Delivery accuracy, modulation complexity, and delivery time were also analyzed for all MLCs. Conclusion: The Halcyon™ dual-layer MLC can generate comparable and clinically equivalent spine SBRT plans to TrueBeam plans with less rapid dose fall-off and lower conformity. MLC width leaf can impact maximum dose to organs at risk and plan quality, but does not cause limitations in achieving acceptable plans for spine SBRT treatments.
Moderately Hypofractionated Radiotherapy Alone for Stage I-IIB Non-small Cell Lung Cancer.

Introduction: The optimal management of patients with early non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) not amenable to surgical resection or stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) or those with hilar nodal involvement ineligible for surgery or concurrent chemoradiotherapy is unclear. This report describes survival outcomes and toxicity profiles of patients treated with hypofractionated radiotherapy (HRT) alone. Methods: A total of 52 patients with Stage I-IIB NSCLC treated with HRT alone between 2010-2018 were reviewed. Patients were categorized as having ultracentral tumors if the planning target volume contacted or overlapped the proximal bronchial tree, esophagus, pulmonary vein or artery. Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and the competing risk cumulative incidence of locoregional failure (LRF) and distant failure (DF) were estimated using death without failure as a competing risk. Pneumonitis and esophagitis rates were evaluated as per Acute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 4.0. Results: Of the 52 patients analyzed, 50 patients were treated with radiotherapy alone to a dose of 70.2 Gy in 26 fractions, one patient was treated with 68 Gy in 25 fractions and one patient was treated with 65 Gy in 26 fractions. The median age was 72 (range 48-89), 42% of patients had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 2-3, 46% were stage I and 54% were stage II. Hilar nodal involvement was present in 21% of patients and 74% of node-negative patients had ultracentral primary tumors. Median OS was 39.6 months and the median PFS was 21.0 months. Overall three-year cumulative incidence of LRF and DF were 32% and 34%, respectively. Grade 3 pneumonitis occurred in two (4%) patients. No grade 3+ acute esophagitis or grade 4-5 toxicities were observed. Conclusion: Hypofractionated thoracic radiotherapy consisting of 70.2 Gy is well-tolerated and results in favorable locoregional control for stage I-IIB patients who are not candidates for SBRT, surgery, or concurrent chemoradiotherapy.
Mobility-Driven Association Policies for Dense Wireless Networks

The primary approach to increase coverage and capacity in infrastructure-based wireless networks is densification. Densification, however, presents a major challenge when serving mobile users, which is the overhead associated with the increased rate of base station handovers. Assuming a prior knowledge of a mobile’s trajectory and base stations’ locations, we formulate the problem of determining the sequence of handovers that optimize the trade-off between the mobile user’s perceived throughput and handover overheads in noise-limited environments. Under appropriate conditions, we show that the problem reduces to determining a maximum weight path in a directed acyclic graph induced by the mobile user’s trajectory. In practice, knowledge of a mobiles’ trajectory may be limited and one may also want to limit the handover complexity, whence we propose a new class of mobility-driven greedy association policies. The greedy policies are based on defining a handover support set, which constrains both the possible handovers and the complexity/information requirements. In a setting where base station locations follow a Poisson point process, we show that the performance of such handover processes follows a continuous-time Markov process which can be analyzed using complex variable techniques. This enables one to explore the optimization size/shape of the handover support set for mobility-driven greedy handover strategies and their relative performance compared to traditional association policies.
Skin pigmentation and its control: From ultraviolet radiation to stem cells

In the light of substantial discoveries in epithelial and hair pigmentation pathophysiology, this review summarizes the current understanding of skin pigmentation mechanisms. Melanocytes are pigment-producing cells, and their key regulating transcription factor is the melanocyte-specific microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (m-MITF). Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a unique modulator of skin pigmentation influencing tanning pathways. The delayed tanning pathway occurs as UVB produces keratinocyte DNA damage, causing p53-mediated expression of the pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) gene that is processed to release α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH). α-MSH stimulates the melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) on melanocytes, leading to m-MITF expression and melanogenesis. POMC cleavage also releases β-endorphin, which creates a neuroendocrine pathway that promotes UV-seeking behaviours. Mutations along the tanning pathway can affect pigmentation and increase the risk of skin malignancies. MC1R variants have received considerable attention, yet the allele is highly polymorphic with varied phenotypes. Vitiligo presents with depigmented skin lesions due to autoimmune destruction of melanocytes. UVB phototherapy stimulates melanocyte stem cells in the hair bulge to undergo differentiation and upwards migration resulting in perifollicular repigmentation of vitiliginous lesions, which is under sophisticated signalling control. Melanocyte stem cells, normally quiescent, undergo cyclic activation/differentiation and downward migration with the hair cycle, providing pigment to hair follicles. Physiological hair greying results from progressive loss of melanocyte stem cells and can be accelerated by acute stress-induced, sympathetic driven hyperproliferation of the melanocyte stem cells. Ultimately, by reviewing the pathways governing epithelial and follicular pigmentation, numerous areas of future research and potential points of intervention are highlighted.
Instanton-Dyon Ensembles

We will study three approaches to instanton-dyon ensembles: (i) the “parametrically dilute” ones; (ii) then very dense, in which case one can perhaps use the mean field methods; and (iii) statistical simulations which in principle can work at any density. The last section of the chapter will be related with the so-called flavor holonomies, or complex chemical potentials, used as some diagnostic tool.