cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Introduction: Locating Culture, Identity, and Human Rights

As we celebrate the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the idea of human rights endures. The human rights idea was honored at a conference organized by the Association of the Bar of the City of New York, held at Fordham Law School on December 10-12, 1999, to commemorate the first fifty years of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The four pieces that follow were presented at the conference as part of a panel addressing one of the central philosophical concerns regarding the human rights project: its universality. While the panel’s title, “What is a Human Right? Universals and the Challenge of Cultural Relativism,” provided the framework for discussion, all four papers discard cultural relativism as a serious challenge, and instead attempt to locate ways in which the human rights system either accommodates or fails to respond to cultural difference. In providing an overview to the four papers contained herein, this Introduction investigates notions of culture and relativism by mapping the geography of human rights. In contending that individuals everywhere, regardless of location, are simultaneously bearers of rights and engaged with culture, this overview locates culture and identity within the human rights paradigm, rather than in opposition to it. By positing that we are all holders of rights and agents of culture, this overview also challenges the twin assumptions that (1) nation-states which are geographically located in the West are culturally neutral, and (2) Western states are therefore not susceptible to relativist behavior.
Characterization of Fouling Potential for Pressure-Driven Membrane Processes: A New Simulated Flow Cell

Membrane systems are unit processes that are becoming widely accepted for the demineralization of saline and other waste waters. Dissolved and particulate material, specifically colloidal matter, present in the feed stream to membrane systems are considered the principal causes of membrane fouling and reduced efficiency. Conventional water analysis do not yield the information needed to determine the amount of fouling that will occur. Therefore, some rapid indication of the water quality and its potential to foul is needed. Presently there are five tests available to evaluate feed-water quality for membrane processes. However, in each of these tests the apparatuses used do not model tangential (shear) flow across the membrane surface. Therefore, a new apparatus was designed and constructed to predict how the feed water foulants would behave in a flow field. A new apparatus, named the Simulated Flow Cell (SFC), was developed and tested in the laboratory with feed waters containing polystyrene latex spheres (PSL) as foulants and in the field with well-water and precholorinated secondary effluent. The SFC reproduced essentially the same results as the standard non-flow cell when operated under the same conditions. However, the SFC was also able to model flow regimes to membrane systems. The Simulated Flow Cell was tested using irradiated polycarbonate membranes with pore diameters ranging from 0.1 µm to 1.0 µm. The feed water turbidity was varied during the testing by the addition of PSL spheres. Varying these parameters permitted data collection under a wide range of conditions. For laboratory feed water with the addition of PSL spheres, a theoretically expected threshold velocity was observed with the SFC using 0.1 µm pore diameter membranes. The threshold axial velocity was directly proportional to the square root of the initial flux through the 0.1 µm Nuclepore membranes, which is in agreement with data collected from actual hyperfiltration plant operations. The Simulated Flow Cell is a low cost apparatus for the rapid characterization of permeator feed waters. The Simulated Flow Cell promises to become an important tool in the ever widening use of membrane processes in water and wastewater applications.
A macroelectrode for recording subcortical EEG responses in chronically implanted rats.

Simple bipolar depth recording electrodes may be economically constructed by soldering two insulated stainless steel wires (Driver-Harris Co., Harrison, N.J., .0056 in. diameter, approximately 1% in. long) to small male connectors (Winchester Electronics Corp., Norwalk, Conn., 13 mrn. long, 1 mm. diameter, Catalogue No. 27023) and then twisting the two wires together. Electrodes with two male leads, approximately 8 rnm, apart, can be made using this technique. The electrodes are small enough so that 3 or 4 of them can be implanted stereotaxically into subcortical tissues of the brain of a single rat; they are simple enough in construction so that several can be made in one hour. The electrodes can be cut to the desired length and implanted into the brain through blur holes drilled in the rat's skull. The electrodes are fastened to the skull with %-in. long machine screws (Gordon Engineering Co., Madison, Wis., size 2-56 stainless steel) and plastic modeling material (Wm. Getz Corp., Chicago, Ill.). A small cap is built up around the electrodes with plastic cement so that only the male connectors protrude from the electrode assembly. Rats with electrodes implanted using this technique can be connected to female leads on the input of an EEG machine whenever recordings are to be made. Animals with such implants have been maintained for as long as 30 days in individual home cages and have been used primarily for recording concomitant variations in hippocampal electrical activity and behavioral activity after lesions of the septa1 nuclei.
Reactivity of Electrolytes for Lithium-Oxygen Batteries with Li2O2

The stability of electrolytes is a significant limitation for cycle life performance in Li-O2 batteries. Since Li2O2 is generated at the cathode surface during cycling, an investigation of the thermal stability of common electrolytes with Li2O2 was conducted. All of the solvents investigated, including ethylene carbonate (EC), propylene carbonate (PC), dialkyl carbonates, dimethoxyethane (DME), tetraethylene glycol dimethyl ether, and acetonitrile, have good thermal stability in the presence of Li2O2. Many salts, including LiBF4, lithium bis(oxalaoto)borate (LiBOB), and lithium Bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI), also have good stability in the presence of Li2O2. However, LiPF6 reacts rapidly with Li2O2 to generate OPF2OLi and LiF.
Environmental Monitoring as part of Life Support : Deep Space Exploration

Like other crewed space missions, future missions to the moon and Mars would have requirements for monitoring the chemical and microbial status of the crew habitat. Monitoring the crew habitat would be more critical in such long term missions, when resupply from Earth and return to Earth are highly difficult or impossible. It is expected that some of the requirements would be similar to previous space missions. Additional requirements would result from the dusty nature of the lunar or Martian surface. This paper will describe the state of technology development for environmental monitoring of lunar lander and lunar outpost missions, and the state of plans for future missions under consideration.
Handbook of research on electronic surveys and measurements

In a collection of this kind, it is inevitable that redundancies occur or that more should have been written about a particular topic. For example, the Handbook contains references to many online survey tools, but only two chapter compare tools: “Comparing Online Survey Tools,” a comparison of two tools, and “Open Source Surveys with Asset”. The author states that Asset differs from 34 online survey management systems in two main respects (cost and authentication); but if readers want to know more about the other online systems' full features, they must visit the 34 Web sites listed. It would have been more useful had the functionality and features of several survey tools been compared and the results placed in tables to help readers match their needs to a survey tool or simply to learn where compromises could be made in selecting a tool. Nevertheless, the Handbook is an excellent resource for users from the academic, public, and business sectors.
Sub-Gaussian Techniques in Proving Strong Laws of Large Numbers

(1987). Sub-Gaussian Techniques in Proving Strong Laws of Large Numbers. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 94, No. 3, pp. 295-299.
Development of a Radial Deconsolidation Method

A series of experiments have been initiated to determine the retention or mobility of fission products* in AGR fuel compacts [Petti, et al. 2010]. This information is needed to refine fission product transport models. The AGR-3/4 irradiation test involved half-inch-long compacts that each contained twenty designed-to-fail (DTF) particles, with 20-μm thick carbon-coated kernels whose coatings were deliberately fabricated such that they would crack under irradiation, providing a known source of post-irradiation isotopes. The DTF particles in these compacts were axially distributed along the compact centerline so that the diffusion of fission products released from the DTF kernels would be radially symmetric [Hunn, et al. 2012; Hunn et al. 2011; Kercher, et al. 2011; Hunn, et al. 2007]. Compacts containing DTF particles were irradiated at Idaho National Laboratory (INL) at the Advanced Test Reactor (ATR) [Collin, 2015]. Analysis of the diffusion of these various post-irradiation isotopes through the compact requires a method to radially deconsolidate the compacts so that nested-annular volumes may be analyzed for post-irradiation isotope inventory in the compact matrix, TRISO outer pyrolytic carbon (OPyC), and DTF kernels. An effective radial deconsolidation method and apparatus appropriate to this application has been developed and parametrically characterized.
Modeling the dynamic interaction between left ventricle and intra-aortic balloon pump

An analog model is developed to characterize how alterations of some intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) parameters affect the coupling between left ventricle (LV) and aorta. The time-varying elastanc...
Grazing methods and stocking rates for direct-seeded alfalfa pastures: I. Plant productivity and animal performance.

A 4-yr study was conducted to determine the effects of two grazing methods (GM) at two stocking rates (SR) on alfalfa pasture plant productivity and animal performance and to ascertain the effect of grazing systems on subsequent performance of steers fed a high-concentrate diet. Eight pasture plots (.76 ha) were seeded in 1988 with alfalfa (Medicago sativa L. var. WL225) and divided into two blocks of four pastures each. Grazing methods consisted of a traditional fourpaddock or an intensive 13-paddock system. Pastures were managed to allow a 36-d rest period with an average grazing season of 110 d. The low and high SR were 5.9 vs 11.7, 5.3 vs 10.5, 5.3 vs 7.9, and 5.3 vs 7.9 steers/ ha for years 1989 to 1992, respectively. Following the grazing season, steers were placed in a feedlot and fed a high-concentrate diet (81% high-moisture corn, 14% corn silage, 5% protein-mineral supplement) for an average of 211 d. There was no effect of GM on herbage mass, pasture phase ADG, or live weight gain/hectare. Increasing the number of paddocks was beneficial when herbage mass was limited and stocking rate was above 7.9 steers/ha. Increasing SR above 7.9 steers/ha decreased herbage mass and pasture-phase ADG. As forage allowance increased, pasture-phase ADG increased quadratically (R 2 =.82, P <.001), reached a plateau, and then decreased. Previous grazing system did not influence the performance of steers in the feedlot or their carcass characteristics. Optimum SR is dependent on herbage mass produced.
Effects of mydriatic agents in cockatoos, African gray parrots, and Blue-fronted Amazon parrots.

Objective To compare, in psittacines, the mydriatic effects of several topically applied curariform, sympathomimetic, and parasympatholytic drugs with and without the addition of surface-acting penetrating agents. Design Prospective, randomized controlled trial. Animals 10 adult cockatoos (Cacatua sulphurea subspecies), 2 adult African gray parrots (Psittacus erithacus), and 3 adult Blue-fronted Amazon parrots (Amazona aestiva). Procedure Three curariform drugs (d-tubocurarine, pancuronium, and vecuronium bromide) and 2 autonomic drugs (atropine and phenylephrine hydrochloride) were evaluated. Drugs were tested with and without the addition of a surface-acting penetrating agent, either saponin or benzalkonium chloride. The agent that resulted in the most significant change in pupillary diameter with the fewest systemic side effects in the cockatoos then was evaluated for its effects in the African gray parrots and the Blue-fronted Amazon parrots. During each drug trial, 1 eye was randomly selected to receive the control drug (0.9% NaCl), and the opposite eye was selected to receive the test drug. Each pupil was videotaped 5 (cockatoos only), 15, 30, 45, 60, and 75 minutes after treatment. Pupil diameters were measured by use of a computerized image analysis system. Data for pupil size were analyzed by means of repeated measures ANOVA. Results Vecuronium without the addition of a surface-acting penetrating agent produced the most consistent and greatest pupillary dilatation in all 3 species with the fewest systemic side effects. Clinical implications Vecuronium is potentially a clinically useful, topical mydriatic agent for use in avian species. Documented differences in the prevalence of systemic side effects between species suggests that caution should be applied when applying this drug bilaterally.
Efficiency for unretained solutes in packed column supercritical fluid chromatography II. Experimental results for elution of methane using large pressure drops

Abstract At near-critical temperatures and pressures, experimental results for elution of methane with neat carbon dioxide on a 150 mm × 2.0 mm I.D. column packed with 5 μm porous silica with a bonded octylsilica stationary phase show much greater efficiency losses than predicted by theory if isothermal conditions are assumed. Experiments with insulated, air- and water-thermostatted columns demonstrate that significant axial and radial temperature gradients are produced by Joule–Thomson cooling of the mobile phase, and that radial temperature gradients can be a major cause of band spreading at low temperatures and pressures. The use of thermal insulation on the column can greatly improve efficiency under these conditions.
ReaxFF Reactive Force-Field Study of Molybdenum Disulfide (MoS2)

Two-dimensional layers of molybdenum disulfide, MoS2, have been recognized as promising materials for nanoelectronics due to their exceptional electronic and optical properties. Here we develop a new ReaxFF reactive potential that can accurately describe the thermodynamic and structural properties of MoS2 sheets, guided by extensive density functional theory simulations. This potential is then applied to the formation energies of five different types of vacancies, various vacancy migration barriers, and the transition barrier between the semiconducting 2H and metallic 1T phases. The energetics of ripplocations, a recently observed defect in van der Waals layers, is examined, and the interplay between these defects and sulfur vacancies is studied. As strain engineering of MoS2 sheets is an effective way to manipulate the sheets’ electronic and optical properties, the new ReaxFF description can provide valuable insights into morphological changes that occur under various loading conditions and defect distri...
Size distribution and expansion of canopy gaps in a northern Appalachian spruce-fir forest

Canopy gap area/age distributions and growth mechanisms were examined in a virgin subalpine forest in the White Mountains, New Hampshire, USA. The gap area distribution was negative exponential in form. Whithin gap tree ages varied widely in response to stepwise gap expansion caused by windthrow of peripheral trees or death of standing mature Picea rubens at gap edges. As a consequence, the density of small gaps may have been underestimated and the density of large gaps overestimated. The estimates of canopy turnover time, 303 yr, and of patch birth rate on an area basis, 3.3×10-3 ha new patches/ha land area/yr, were not affected by the gap expansion phenomenon. However, any estimate of patch birth rate as numbers of new patches formed per year would have been too low. Because of increasingly widespread Picea death, the patch area/age distribution of this forest may not currently be in steady-state.
Model-based design evaluation of a compact, high-efficiency neutron scatter camera

Abstract This paper presents the model-based design and evaluation of an instrument that estimates incident neutron direction using the kinematics of neutron scattering by hydrogen-1 nuclei in an organic scintillator. The instrument design uses a single, nearly contiguous volume of organic scintillator that is internally subdivided only as necessary to create optically isolated pillars, i.e., long, narrow parallelepipeds of organic scintillator. Scintillation light emitted in a given pillar is confined to that pillar by a combination of total internal reflection and a specular reflector applied to the four sides of the pillar transverse to its long axis. The scintillation light is collected at each end of the pillar using a photodetector, e.g., a microchannel plate photomultiplier (MCP-PM) or a silicon photomultiplier (SiPM). In this optically segmented design, the ( x , y ) position of scintillation light emission (where the x and y coordinates are transverse to the long axis of the pillars) is estimated as the pillar’s ( x , y ) position in the scintillator “block”, and the z-position (the position along the pillar’s long axis) is estimated from the amplitude and relative timing of the signals produced by the photodetectors at each end of the pillar. The neutron’s incident direction and energy is estimated from the ( x , y , z ) -positions of two sequential neutron–proton scattering interactions in the scintillator block using elastic scatter kinematics. For proton recoils greater than 1 MeV, we show that the ( x , y , z ) -position of neutron–proton scattering can be estimated with 1 cm root-mean-squared [RMS] error and the proton recoil energy can be estimated with 50 keV RMS error by fitting the photodetectors’ response time history to models of optical photon transport within the scintillator pillars. Finally, we evaluate several alternative designs of this proposed single-volume scatter camera made of pillars of plastic scintillator (SVSC-PiPS), studying the effect of pillar dimensions, scintillator material (EJ-204, EJ-232Q and stilbene), and photodetector (MCP-PM vs. SiPM) response vs. time. We demonstrate that the most precise estimates of incident neutron direction and energy can be obtained using a combination of scintillator material with high luminosity and a photodetector with a narrow impulse response. Specifically, we conclude that an SVSC-PiPS constructed using EJ-204 (a high luminosity plastic scintillator) and an MCP-PM will produce the most precise estimates of incident neutron direction and energy.
Characterizing Resource Sensitivity of Database Workloads

The performance of real world database workloads is heavily influenced by the resources available to run the workload. Therefore, understanding the performance impact of changes in resource allocations on a workload is key to achieving predictable performance. In this work, we perform an in-depth study of the sensitivity of several database workloads, running on Microsoft SQL Server on Linux, to resources such as cores, caches, main memory, and non-volatile storage. We consider transactional, analytical, and hybrid workloads that model real-world systems, and use recommended configurations such as storage layouts and index organizations at different scale factors. Our study lays out the wide spectrum of resource sensitivities, and leads to several findings and insights that are highly valuable to computer architects, cloud DBaaS (Database-as-a-Service) providers, database researchers, and practitioners. For instance, our results indicate that throughput improves more with more cores than with more cache beyond a critical cache size; depending upon the compute vs. I/O activity of a workload, hyper-threading may be detrimental in some cases. We discuss our extensive experimental results and present insights based on a comprehensive analysis of query plans and various query execution statistics.
Characterization of Hemagglutinin Antigens on Influenza Virus and within Vaccines Using Electron Microscopy

Influenza viruses affect millions of people worldwide on an annual basis. Although vaccines are available, influenza still causes significant human mortality and morbidity. Vaccines target the major influenza surface glycoprotein hemagglutinin (HA). However, circulating HA subtypes undergo continual variation in their dominant epitopes, requiring vaccines to be updated annually. A goal of next-generation influenza vaccine research is to produce broader protective immunity against the different types, subtypes, and strains of influenza viruses. One emerging strategy is to focus the immune response away from variable epitopes, and instead target the conserved stem region of HA. To increase the display and immunogenicity of the HA stem, nanoparticles are being developed to display epitopes in a controlled spatial arrangement to improve immunogenicity and elicit protective immune responses. Engineering of these nanoparticles requires structure-guided design to optimize the fidelity and valency of antigen presentation. Here, we review electron microscopy applied to study the 3D structures of influenza viruses and different vaccine antigens. Structure-guided information from electron microscopy should be integrated into pipelines for the development of both more efficacious seasonal and universal influenza vaccine antigens. The lessons learned from influenza vaccine electron microscopic research could aid in the development of novel vaccines for other pathogens.
Identification of highly active iron sites in N2O-activated Fe/MFI

Reduction in an H2 flow at 600 °C of Fe/MFI prepared by chemical vapor deposition, followed by its exposure to N2O at 250 °C, produces a highly active state characterized by an unusual TPR spike at 200 °C. In situ X-ray absorption near-edge structure, X-ray absorption fine structure data and literature data on DFT calculations suggest that in this state some Fe will be present in the oxidation state of Fe4+.
A review of the trypanosomes from lizards of the family Iguanidae (sensu lato), including the descriptions of five new species, and an evaluation of the effect of host difference upon taxonomic characters of saurian trypanosomes

Five new species of Trypanosoma are described from iguanid lizards. In Texas, T. poinsetti n. sp. occurs in Sceloporus poinsetti and T. urosauri n. sp. in Urosaurus graciosus. Average dimensions of T. poinsetti are body length (BL) 35.7 × maximum width (MW) 10.7 µm, nucleus length (NL) 4.3 µm, position of kinetoplast (K%) 70.6, position of nucleus (N%) 61.9, ratio of BL: MW (SI) 3.4, and ratio (NI) of NL to nucleus width (NW) 1.5. In T. urosauri average dimensions are BL 34.3 × MW 6.3 µm, NL 2.4 µm, K% 57.5, N% 66.2, SI 5.6, and NI 1.3. Trypanosomes with small compact nuclei that parasitise four Anolis species from Belize to Panama are assigned to T. anolisi n. sp. Average dimensions from the type sample in Anolis limifrons of Panama are BL 24.6 × MW 17.9 µm, NL 2.1 µm, K% 82.0, N% 78.4, SI 1.6 and NI 1.1. T. fairchildi n. sp., from Anolis capito of Panama, is a large, tongue- or leaf-shaped flagellate with BL 49.2 × MW 28.8 µm, NL 2.0 µm, K% 75.6, N% 64.5, NL 2.0, SI 1.9 and NI 1.6. Dimensions of T. plicaplicae n. sp., from Plica plica of Guyana, average BL 30.9 × MW 19.9 µm, NL 7.2 µm, K% 75.8, N% 56.2, SI 1.6 and NI 2.3. In the United States, T. scelopori parasitises Sceloporus occidentalis and Crotaphytus collaris in California. Trypanosomes with an elongate slender nucleus found in lizards of the genera Sceloporus and Corytophanes from Veracruz, Mexico to Panama, and in Anolis probably as far as Peru, are all considered to be T. serveti. Other species may be present, but cannot be separated on the basis of consistent morphometric characters. Two additional species are known from endemic South American saurian genera: T. plicae occurs in Plica umbra and T. superciliosae in Uranoscodon superciliosa of Brazil. T. domerguei is known from the Madagascan iguanid, Oplurus sebae. Only T. scincorum of southeast Asian skinks lacks host effect upon morphological characters throughout its range. Samples from two hosts each of T. anolisi in Panama and T. uluguruense in Tanzania differed in only two of 10 characters analysed, suggesting little host effect. Other comparisons of iguanid and gekkonid trypanosomes suggested that differences in parasite strain rather than host might contribute to observed variation.
Chapter 8 The Spontaneous Order of Politics

Abstract Traditional public choice analysis implicitly views political outcomes as the intention of a single-minded person. This view is seriously misguided. Rather than viewing politics as being done by one person or a group of persons acting in concert, this chapter presents an Austrian economist’s thoughts on what an Austrian theory of public choice would look like. Particular attention is paid to the emergent, rather than additive, quality that political outcomes exhibit.
Integrative resident education curriculum to adapt to the modern otolaryngology trainee

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS To examine the perspectives of current otolaryngology-head and neck surgery residents and faculty members on educational formats and approaches. To assess the effects of a novel integrative educational curriculum for residents by examining results from the otolaryngology training examination (OTE). We hypothesized that altering the current curriculum to accentuate resident participation would result in improved performance on the OTE. STUDY DESIGN Prospective cohort study. METHODS We conducted a study from June 2015 to July 2018. All faculty attendings and residents were asked to participate in the study and were included. A novel educational curriculum founded on the principles of experiential learning and utilizing the PulseQD app to facilitate collaborative learning was implemented. The results of a questionnaire distributed within the department and yearly OTE scores were collected. RESULTS Residents and faculty attendings reported comparable exposure to educational formats throughout their training, although residents had more experience with flipped classroom settings. Both groups had similar attitudes toward the importance and effectiveness of educational opportunities. There was a statistically significant improvement in OTE scores in each of the 2 years after implementation of the educational changes (P = .0296 and P = .00237, respectively), with all current residents improving their scores on the most recent OTE. CONCLUSIONS Through implementation of this integrative educational curriculum our residents showed significant improvement in OTE scores. Our results suggest that this type of curriculum, which combines a variety of approaches including a flipped classroom model with active participation and integrates app technology, can improve resident performance on educational assessments. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 2 Laryngoscope, 130:615-621, 2020.
Experimental and theoretical aspects of protein folding.

Publisher Summary In the proper environment, a polypeptide chain can fold spontaneously to the three-dimensional structure of a native protein, and despite the possible presence of barriers in conformational space, the chain can find its way around these barriers to reach the structure of lowest free energy. This chapter describes the spontaneous folding of proteins; in vitro complementation of protein fragments; flexibility of proteins in solution: effect of cross-links and ligands, synthetic analogs of proteins; experimental approaches to the study of conformation; and energetic factors determining protein folding. The interatomic interactions within the chain and between the chain and the solvent dictate the folding and the range of the forces involved, is such that near-neighbor interactions are dominant. Folding is envisaged as taking place by the formation of nucleation sites in various parts of the chain, in response to near-neighbor interactions; the various nucleation sites become stabilized, when they are brought into proximity, so that long-range interactions can become operative. However, the development of conformational energy calculation procedures will enable the three-dimensional structure of a native protein to be predicted from the knowledge of its amino acid sequence and its interactions with the solvent in which it is dissolved.
“It’s Nice to Have a Little Bit of Home, Even if It’s Just on Your Plate” – Perceived Barriers for Latinos Accessing Food Pantries

ABSTRACTThe study objective was to identify the barriers for Latinos accessing food pantries from the pantry volunteer perspective. Interviews were conducted with eight food pantry volunteers in Wa...
Impact of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act on 1-year survival in glioblastoma patients.

Background Glioblastoma (GBM) treatment requires access to complex medical services, and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) sought to expand access to health care, including complex oncologic care. Whether the implementation of the ACA was subsequently associated with changes in 1-year survival in GBM is not known. Methods A retrospective cohort study was performed using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. We identified patients with the primary diagnosis of GBM between 2008 and 2016. A multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional hazards model was developed using patient and clinical characteristics to determine the main outcome: the 1-year cumulative probability of death by state expansion status. Results A total of 25 784 patients and 14 355 deaths at 1 year were identified and included in the analysis, 49.7% were older than 65 at diagnosis. Overall 1-year cumulative probability of death for GBM patients in non-expansion versus expansion states did not significantly worsen over the 2 time periods (2008-2010: hazard ratio [HR] 1.11, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04-1.19; 2014-2016: HR 1.18, 95% CI 1.09-1.27). In GBM patients younger than age 65 at diagnosis, there was a nonsignificant trend toward the poorer 1-year cumulative probability of death in non-expansion versus expansion states (2008-2010: HR 1.09, 95% CI 0.97-1.22; 2014-2016: HR 1.23, 95% CI 1.09-1.40). Conclusions No differences were found over time in survival for GBM patients in expansion versus non-expansion states. Further study may reveal whether GBM patients diagnosed younger than age 65 in expansion states experienced improvements in 1-year survival.
Lifestyle Interventions for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: Cross-Sectional Survey to Assess Women's Treatment and Outcome Preferences

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age. Diet and lifestyle programs improve health, but women’s preferences for these programs have not been formally explored. Objective: The aim of our study was to examine diet and lifestyle program preferences among women with PCOS. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional online survey of women with PCOS. Results: At least half of the 197 respondents expressed strong interest in programs addressing energy level, anxiety, depression, weight, diabetes prevention, menstrual period regulation, and hirsutism. Similarly, at least half reported willingness to modify their sleep, stress, and physical activity; and slightly less than half reported willingness to adopt a very low-carbohydrate, paleo, or low–glycemic index diet. At least half reported interest in online or mobile programs and email-based mentoring. Younger age was associated with interest in help with acne and fertility; higher body mass index was associated with wanting help with weight loss, energy, and anxiety; and greater stress eating was associated with wanting help with depression, anxiety, and menstrual period regulation. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first study to examine attitudes and preferences of women with PCOS toward such programs. Future online and mobile diet and lifestyle programs may be able to capitalize on this information to better target this population’s expressed preferences.
Dual-Band, Beam-Steerable Reflectarray with Independent Beam Control at X- and Ku-Bands

Reconfigurable reflectarrays (RAs) have attracted significant interest as affordable and relatively low-complexity beam scanning antennas for radar and satellite communication applications. We present a dual-band, beam-steerable RA capable of independent beam control at X and Ku bands based on a 1-bit polarization-rotating unit cell (PRUC). Two static versions of the RAs with different beam scanning scenarios are simulated, fabricated and measured. Good beam steering performance with independent beam control at each band is achieved.
Determining the source of phase noise: Response of a driven Duffing oscillator to low-frequency damping and resonance frequency fluctuations

Abstract We present an analytical calculation of the response of a driven Duffing oscillator to low-frequency fluctuations in the resonance frequency and damping. We find that fluctuations in these parameters manifest themselves distinctively, allowing them to be distinguished. In the strongly nonlinear regime, amplitude and phase noise due to resonance frequency fluctuations and amplitude noise due to damping fluctuations are strongly attenuated, while the transduction of damping fluctuations into phase noise remains of order 1. We show that this can be seen by comparing the relative strengths of the amplitude fluctuations to the fluctuations in the quadrature components, and suggest that this provides a means to determine the source of low-frequency noise in a driven Duffing oscillator.
Stimulation of Regeneration

This chapter focuses on the post-amputational differences between regenerating and nonregenerating limbs, and methods used in attempts to stimulate limb regeneration. Anuran amphibians highlight one of the real mysteries of limb regeneration. Their larvae regenerate amputated limbs very well by a classic epimorphic mechanism that appears to differ little, if at all, from that occurring in the urodele limb. In higher vertebrates, limb regenerative capacity appears to become extinguished during early stages of limb development. From early reports of regeneration in embryonic limbs, it was difficult to determine whether the restoration noted was true regeneration of pattern or merely embryonic egulation. At the structural level, there is a remarkable similarity in the response of most nonregenerating limbs to amputation if the cross-sectional areas are similar. One of the first clear-cut distinctions between regenerating and nonregenerating limbs occurs at the time when a regenerating limb enters the stage of dedifferentiation. The nonregenerating extremity exhibits much less loss of both skeletal and soft tissues near the level of amputation, and cells that had migrated between the cut end of the bone and the wound epidermis begin to differentiate into a layer of dense connective tissue.
Viscous spin exchange torque on precessional magnetization in (LaMnO3)2n/(SrMnO3)n superlattices.

Photoinduced magnetization dynamics is investigated in chemically ordered $({\mathrm{LaMnO}}_{3}{)}_{2n}/({\mathrm{SrMnO}}_{3}{)}_{n}$ superlattices using the time-resolved magneto-optic Kerr effect. A monotonic frequency-field dependence is observed for the $n=1$ superlattice, indicating a single spin population consistent with a homogeneous hole distribution. In contrast, for $n\ensuremath{\ge}2$ superlattices, a large precession frequency is observed at low fields indicating the presence of an exchange torque in the dynamic regime. We attribute the emergence of exchange torque to the coupling between two spin populations---viscous and fast spins.
Measuring and modeling the dissolution of nonideally shaped dense nonaqueous phase liquid pools in saturated porous media

[1] A three-dimensional physical aquifer model was used to study the dissolution of a dense nonaqueous phase liquid (DNAPL) pool. The model aquifer comprised a packing of homogeneous, medium-sized sand and conveyed steady, unidirectional flow. Tetrachloroethene (PCE) pools were introduced within model aquifers atop glass- and clay-lined aquifer bottoms. Transient breakthrough at an interstitial velocity of 7.2 cm/h, and three-dimensional steady state concentration distributions at velocities ranging from 0.4 to 7.2 cm/h were monitored over periods of 59 and 71 days for the glass- and clay-bottom experiments, respectively. Pool-averaged mass transfer coefficients were obtained from the observations via a single-parameter fit using an analytical model formulated with a second type boundary condition to describe pool dissolution [Chrysikopoulos, 1995]. Other model parameters (interstitial velocity, longitudinal and transverse dispersion coefficients, and pool geometry) were estimated independently. Simulated and observed dissolution behavior agreed well, except for locations relatively close to the pool or the glass-bottom plate. Estimated mass transfer coefficients ranged from 0.15 to 0.22 cm/h, increasing weakly with velocity toward a limiting value. Pool mass depletions of 31 and 43% for the glass- and clay-bottom experiments failed to produce observable changes in the plumes and suggested that changes in pool interfacial area over the period of the experiment were negligible. Dimensionless mass transfer behavior was quantified using a modified Sherwood number (Sh*). Observed Sh* values were found to be about 2–3 times greater than values predicted by an existing theoretical mass transfer correlation, and 3–4 times greater than those estimated previously for an ideally configured trichloroethene (TCE) pool (circular and smooth). It appeared that the analytical model's failure to account for pore-scale pool-water interfacial characteristics and larger scale pool shape irregularities biased the Sh* estimates toward greater values.
Peripheral Blood T Lymphocytes and Lymphocytes Infiltrating Human Cancers Express Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor: A Potential Role for T Cells in Angiogenesis

CD3+ peripheral blood T lymphocytes were evaluated for expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), an endothelial cell mitogen and potent angiogenic factor. VEGF mRNA expression was confirmed in CD3+ cells and Jurkat cells, a human T-cell line, by reverse transcription-PCR and in CD4+ and CD8+ T cell subtypes by Northern blot hybridization. Steady-state levels of VEGF mRNA were inducible in CD3+ T cells by hypoxia, a known inducer of VEGF mRNA accumulation. Secreted VEGF was detected in CD4+ and CD8+ T cell- and Jurkat cell-conditioned medium, indicating that T lymphocytes are capable of exporting bioactive concentrations of VEGF into the extracellular space. Human prostate and bladder cancers (prostatic adenocarcinoma and transitional cell carcinomas) were evaluated for VEGF mRNA expression by in situ hybridization. Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL), identifiable immunocytochemically as T cells, along with tumor cells in these cancers, expressed VEGF mRNA. TIL in bladder cancers could be labeled with a specific anti-VEGF mAb, indicating that TIL are likely to be able to secrete VEGF protein in situ at bioactive concentrations. The finding that peripheral T cells and TIL in human tumors synthesize a factor known to be a specific mediator of neovascularization suggests a role for T lymphocytes as cellular effectors of angiogenesis.
Spatial and Biological Aspects of Reserve Design

The optimal spatial design of protected reserves requires attention to the biological mechanisms underlying community organization, and sustaining ecosystem services. Identifying the key mechanisms is especially difficult in species-rich ecosystems. We investigate the example of the tropical rainforest, a biome that is under threat of continuing fragmentation, yet which shelters the majority of living species on Earth. Simple dynamic and spatially explicit simulations, which model the dynamics of plant communities, allow us to elucidate the interplay between patterns of fragmentation and seed dispersal mechanisms in maintaining biodiversity.
Satellite‐Based Estimation of Precipitation Using Microwave Sensors

Satellite-borne sensors provide critical input to estimating precipitation over the vast majority of the Earth's surface that lacks adequate in situ observing systems. This article reviews the legacy of sensors, satellites, and data archives that have accrued throughout the Space Age, and that largely governs the precipitation estimates that are available to the hydrological community, both currently and over the long term. Tables of publicly available, quasi-global, satellite-based precipitation data sets are introduced, examples are provided, data quality is considered, and future prospects are outlined. One major theme throughout the article is to raise the key issues that users should consider in determining whether a particular set of precipitation estimates is appropriate for their particular application. Keywords: precipitation; satellite; remote sensing; microwave; infrared; algorithm; climatology
Deformable model-guided region split and merge of image regions

Abstract The incorporation of model-based splitting operations produces an improved algorithm for image segmentation with deformable templates. Image regions are merged together and/or split apart, based on agreement with a statistical shape model, as well as local shape properties of the region bounding contours. Experiments indicate that the new split/merge strategy yields a significant improvement over the previous template-based segmentation method that used merging alone.
Interaction of coupled plasmon-phonon modes with a point charge in a polar semiconductor.

The coupled plasmon--longitudinal-optical-phonon modes of a degenerate inhomogeneous electron or hole gas in a bulk compound semiconductor are studied. The interaction of a point charge with these coupled modes is derived in the random-phase approximation for both the carriers and the phonons in a form which is appropriate for treating inhomogeneous carrier systems. An integral equation governing the interaction of a static point charge with these coupled modes is derived which has the same form as that in the case of a point-charge interacting with plasmons alone but in which the parameters are modified by the coupling to phonons. As a specific example, these results are used to study the binding of the coupled plasmon-phonon modes to point charges in degenerate compound semiconductors, and it is found that such bound states will exist only at very low carrier densities.
Phenylalanine 138 in the second intracellular loop of human thromboxane receptor is critical for receptor-G-protein coupling.

Eicosanoid receptors exhibit a highly conserved ERY(C)XXV(I)XXPL sequence in the second intracellular loop. The carboxyl end of this motif contains a bulky hydrophobic amino acid (L,I,V, or F). In human thromboxane A2 receptor (TXA(2)R), phenylalanine 138 is located at the carboxyl end of this highly conserved motif. This study examined the function of the F138 in G protein coupling. F138 was mutated to aspartic acid (D) and tyrosine (Y), respectively. Both mutants F138D and F138Y showed similar ligand binding activity to that of the wild type TXA(2)R. The Kd and Bmax values of either mutant were comparable to those of the wild type receptor. However, both mutants showed significant impairment of agonist induced Ca(2+) signaling and phospholipase C activation. These results suggest that the F138 plays a key role in G protein coupling.
Hydrologic precursors to earthquakes: A review

This review summarizes reports of anomalous flow rates or pressures of groundwater, oil, or gas that have been interpreted as earthquake precursors. Both increases and decreases of pressure and flow rate have been observed, at distances up to several hundred kilometers from the earthquake epicenter, with precursor times ranging from less than one day to more than one year. Although information that might rule out nontectonic causes does not appear in many published accounts of hydrologic anomalies, several recent studies have critically evaluated the possible influences of barometric pressure, rainfall, and groundwater or oil exploitation. Anomalies preceding the 1976 Tangshan, China, and the 1978 Izu-Oshima-Kinkai, Japan, earthquakes are especially well-documented and worthy of further examination. Among hydrologic precursors, pressure head changes in confined subsurface reservoirs are those most amenable to quantitative interpretation in terms of crustal strain. The response of pressure head to earth tides determines coefficients of proportionality between pressure head and crustal strain. The same coefficients of proportionality should govern the fluid pressure response to any crustal strain field in which fluid flow in the reservoir is unimportant. Water level changes in response to independently recorded tectonic events, such as earthquakes and aseismic fault creep, provide evidence that a calibration based on response to earth tides may be applied to crustal strains of tectonic origin. Several models of earthquake generation predict accelerating stable slip on part of the future rupture plane. If precursory slip has moment less than or equal to that of the impending earthquake, then the coseismic volume strain is an upper bound for precursory volume strain. Although crustal strain can be only crudely estimated from most reported pressure head anomalies, the sizes of many anomalies within 150 kilometers of earthquake epicenters appear consistent with this upper bound. In contrast, water level anomalies at greater epicentral distances appear to be larger than this bound by several orders of magnitude. It is clear that water level monitoring can yield information about the earthquake generation process, but progress higes on better documentation of the data.
Tetracycline Epimerization Kinetics Utilizing NMR Spectrometry

NMR was used to monitor the epimerization of tetracycline since the dimethylamino resonance of tetracycline and its C-4 epimer differ by 0.1 p.p.m. This method eliminated the need for acidification in the previously reported spectrophotometric method, thereby lessening the possibility of anhydro formation which occurs in the presence of mineral acids. Anhydro formation would be readily detected via the NMR method.
Binding of the Nucleocapsid Protein of Type 1 Human Immunodeficiency Virus to Nucleic Acids Studied Using Phosphorescence and Optically Detected Magnetic Resonance

The binding of p7 nucleocapsid protein of type 1 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) to various oligonucleotides and polynucleotides has been investigated by phosphorescence and optically detected...