cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Spatial heterogeneity of the volume effect for radiation pneumonitis in mouse lung

Abstract Purpose: In a previous study to determine the effect of partial voume irradiation on damage and morbidity from pneumonitis in mouse lung, a critical determinant of the volume effect was the spatial location of the irradiated subvolume within the ling. The goals of the present study were to (a) define the dose-volume effect curves for radiation pneumonitis in mouse lung, (b) defined the threshold volume, and (c) further investigate the special heterogeneity of the radiosensitivity of mouse lung. Methods and Materials: eight fractional volumes ranging from 94% to 17% of the lungs of C3Hf/Kam mice were irradiated with single doses ranging from 12 to 22 Gy, depending on the volume irradiated. The fractional volumes irradiated were determined from computed tomographic scans of mouse lung. To determine the effect of location of irradiated subvolume, equivalent volumes in the base and the apex were irradiated by shielding the prescribed adjacent volume in the apex or base respectively. Dose-response curves of breathing rate at 22 weeks and lethality at 28 weeks were constructed for each subvolume irradiated in the apex or base and fitted by logit analysis, and ED 50 s and LD 50 s with 95% confidence limits obtained, respectively. Lungs from dead mice or mice sacrificed when moribund were examined for histologic signs of pneumonitis. Results: Irradiation of any of the eight subvolumes in the base yielded a consistently lower isoeffect dose for both assays of radiation pneumonitis than if the same irradiated subvolume was lovated in the apex. Plots of isoeffect dose for breathing rate as s function of subvolume irradiated in the base or apex showed that these curves were non linear but exhibited a plateau between irradiated volumes of 70% and 80% in both the apex and base. A similar curve was obtained for lethality and volume irradiated in the base. A threshold volume, i.e., irradiation of that volume that should produce no changes in breating rate or mortality, was dependent on the location of the irradiated subvolume. Conclusion: The response of mouse ling to partial volume irradiation is heterogeeous and is critically dependent on the specific location of the irradiated subvolume in the ling, i.e., a given subvolume in the base is consistently more sensitive than the same subvolume in the apex using either breathing rate or lethality as assays of radiation pneumonitis. We suggest that this heterogeneity is due to the antomy of the tracheobronchial tree, i.e., to the distribution of non-gas exchange-conducting airways in the irradiated volume. These data have implications for the modeling of dose-volume effects in the lung and the prediction of normal tissue complication probabilities for radiation pneumonitis in humans.
Induction and regulation of CD2 mRNA in human lymphocytes

Herein we studied the accumulation and decay of CD2 mRNA in human PBMC stimulated with PHA. The data show that CD2-specific messages are present in low quantities in resting PBMC and are rapidly increased by five- to sevenfold within 24 h of addition of optimal amounts of PHA. Similar induction of CD2 mRNA was seen after stimulation of PBMC with anti-CD3 mAb and PMA. Peak levels of CD2 message were maintained until 72 h post-stimulation and declined gradually thereafter. Despite stimulation with Staphylococcus aureus and PMA, purified B cells failed to demonstrate any CD2 mRNA. Unlike transferrin or IL-2R mRNA, Il-2 had no effect on the accumulation of CD2 messages in resting or PHA-stimulated PBMC. The time course of CD2 mRNA accumulation preceded lymphocyte proliferation and the appearance of additional cell surface CD2 Ag. The decay of CD2 mRNA was very rapid, with a t 1/2 of approximately 45 min. The protein synthesis inhibitor, cycloheximide, increased its half-time by fourfold to 3.5 h. The data imply the existence of a labile factor, dependent on protein synthesis that is important in the regulation of CD2 mRNA. Compared to other PHA-inducible lymphocyte genes, the kinetics of CD2 transcript accumulation are most reminiscent of the oncogenes N-ras and c-abl.
Anaphase promoting complex–dependent degradation of transcriptional repressors Nrm1 and Yhp1 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C) is an essential ubiquitin ligase that targets cell cycle proteins for proteasome-mediated degradation in mitosis and G1. The APC regulates a number of cell cycle processes, including spindle assembly, mitotic exit, and cytokinesis, but the full range of its functions is still unknown. To better understand cellular pathways controlled by the APC, we performed a proteomic screen to identify additional APC substrates. We analyzed cell cycle–regulated proteins whose expression peaked during the period when other APC substrates were expressed. Subsequent analysis identified several proteins, including the transcriptional repressors Nrm1 and Yhp1, as authentic APC substrates. We found that APCCdh1 targeted Nrm1 and Yhp1 for degradation in early G1 through Destruction-box motifs and that the degradation of these repressors coincided with transcriptional activation of MBF and Mcm1 target genes, respectively. In addition, Nrm1 was stabilized by phosphorylation, most likely by the budding yeast cyclin–dependent protein kinase, Cdc28. We found that expression of stabilized forms of Nrm1 and Yhp1 resulted in reduced cell fitness, due at least in part to incomplete activation of G1-specific genes. Therefore, in addition to its known functions, APC-mediated targeting of Nrm1 and Yhp1 coordinates transcription of multiple genes in G1 with other cell cycle events.
Dichoptic image fusion in human vision system

Work is currently underway to develop visual systems for warriors that provide different images to each eye (both in terms of resolution and visual field size), relying on binocular summation in the brain of the wearer to fuse the images into a common percept. The effect on the user employing such displays is not currently a part of the equipment development process. Literature involving similar visual conditions (either naturally occurring or through medical intervention) suggest that there are significant unresolved issues that must be investigated to determine if such displays may potentially negatively impact the visual perception of the wearer. This paper presents a summary of some of the related analogous conditions and identifies key issues that should be researched in parallel with the hardware.
Practice patterns and outcomes of open and minimally invasive partial nephrectomy since the introduction of robotic partial nephrectomy: results from the nationwide inpatient sample

Purpose: We determined practice patterns and perioperative outcomes of open and minimally invasive partial nephrectomy in the United States since the introduction of a robot-assisted modifier in the Nationwide Inpatient Sample.Materials and Methods: We identified all patients with nonmetastatic disease treated with open, laparoscopic or robotic partial nephrectomy in the Nationwide Inpatient Sample between October 2008 and December 2010. Utilization rates were assessed by year, patient and hospital characteristics. We evaluated the perioperative outcomes of open vs robotic and open vs laparoscopic partial nephrectomy using binary logistic regression models adjusted for patient and hospital covariates.Results: In a weighted sample of 38,064 partial nephrectomies 66.9%, 23.9% and 9.2% of the procedures were open, robotic and laparoscopic operations, respectively. In 2010 the relative annual increase in open, robotic and laparoscopic partial nephrectomy was 7.9%, 45.4% and 6.1%, respectively. Compared to ope...
Structured firewall design

A firewall is a security guard placed at the point of entry between a private network and the outside Internet such that all incoming and outgoing packets have to pass through it. The function of a firewall is to examine every incoming or outgoing packet and decide whether to accept or discard it. This function is conventionally specified by a sequence of rules, where rules often conflict. To resolve conflicts, the decision for each packet is the decision of the first rule that the packet matches. The current practice of designing a firewall directly as a sequence of rules suffers from three types of major problems: (1) the consistency problem, which means that it is difficult to order the rules correctly; (2) the completeness problem, which means that it is difficult to ensure thorough consideration for all types of traffic; (3) the compactness problem, which means that it is difficult to keep the number of rules small (because some rules may be redundant and some rules may be combined into one rule). To achieve consistency, completeness, and compactness, we propose a new method called structured firewall design, which consists of two steps. First, one designs a firewall using a firewall decision diagram instead of a sequence of often conflicting rules. Second, a program converts the firewall decision diagram into a compact, yet functionally equivalent, sequence of rules. This method addresses the consistency problem because a firewall decision diagram is conflict-free. It addresses the completeness problem because the syntactic requirements of a firewall decision diagram force the designer to consider all types of traffic. It also addresses the compactness problem because in the second step we use two algorithms (namely FDD reduction and FDD marking) to combine rules together, and one algorithm (namely firewall compaction) to remove redundant rules. Moreover, the techniques and algorithms presented in this paper are extensible to other rule-based systems such as IPsec rules.
Design and initial testing of omniguide traveling-wave tube structures

We propose to use the photonic band gap (PBG) structures for the construction of a wide-band traveling- wave tube (TWT) at W-band. Interest in millimeter-waves has increased in recent years due to applications in communications, remote sensing, and basic research. The development of wide-band mm-wave TWT amplifiers is underway at Los Alamos National Laboratory. PBG TWT structures have great potential for very large bandwidth and linear dispersion. In addition, being cheap to fabricate, PBG structures enhance the commercial transferability of the W-band TWT technology. We employ an omniguide which is a one-dimensional version of a PBG structure representing a periodic system of concentric dielectric tubes as a slow-wave structure. A silica omniguide was designed to support the TM01-like mode with a phase velocity matching the one of the 120keV electron beam. The structure was fabricated, cold-tested and will be installed in our laboratory for the hot test.
High current magnetized plasma discharges and electron beams for capture and cooling of charged leptons and hadrons

Nowadays most magnetic lenses used to capture and to focus pions and muons utilize azimuthal magnetic fields generated by large axial currents, like horns or lithium rods (or even a Z-pinch at GSI). Capture and focusing angle is proportional to the product of the current and length of the lens. State-of-the-art for these lenses is no more than 750 kA and 70 cm. A meter long, multi-MA, magnetized axial discharges were generated in the early days of fusion. Lenses based of such devices can increase the capture angle of pions, e.g., by more than a factor of 2. Electron beam cooling is presently achieved in storage rings by having charged particles interact with a comoving electron beam. In these devices, typical parameters are electron beam currents of about 1 A, an interaction length of about 1 meter, and interaction time of about 30 msec. Multi-MA electron beams can be used for single-pass final stage cooling in a number of machines. Calculations for some applications, as well as other advantages indicate that these schemes deserve further more serious consideration.
Antibody Response to Polyhistidine-Tagged Peptide and Protein Antigens Attached to Liposomes via Lipid-Linked Nitrilotriacetic Acid in Mice

Particulate delivery systems enhance antibody responses to subunit antigens. However, covalent attachment of protein antigens can disrupt protein structure and mask critical epitopes, altering the antibody response to the antigen. In this report, we evaluate noncovalent metal chelation via nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) as a nondestructive method to attach peptide and protein antigens to liposomes. Two model antigens, ovalbumin (OVA) and a peptide derived from the membrane-proximal region of HIV-1 gp41 (N-MPR), were polyhistidinylated and attached to liposomes via monovalent NTA (mono-NTA; KD [equilibrium dissociation constant], 10 M), trivalent NTA (tris-NTA; KD, 1 nM), or a covalent linkage. Attachment of N-MPR, but not OVA, to liposomes via an NTA lipid elicited stronger antibody responses in BALB/c mice than a formulation in which unassociated antigen was simply admixed with control liposomes lacking NTA. However, the tris-NTA linkage did not increase antibody responses to either N-MPR or OVA compared to the level for the mono-NTA linkage, despite the greater liposomal association of the antigen. For both antigens, covalently attaching them to a lipid elicited significantly stronger antibody responses than NTA-anchored antigens (OVA titer, 3.4 10 6 versus 1.4 10 6 to 1.6 10 6 [P < 0.001]; N-MPR titer, 4.4 10 4 versus 5.5 10 2 to 7.6 10 2 [P < 0.003]). The data indicate that NTA linkages may increase antibody titers to weak antigens such as N-MPR, but NTAmediated attachment remains inferior to covalent conjugation. Moreover, enhancements in antigen-liposome affinity do not result in increased antibody titers. Thus, additional improvements of NTA-mediated conjugation technology are necessary to achieve an effective, nondestructive method for increasing the humoral response to antigens in particulate vaccines.
Missions and Unity: Lessons from History, 1792-2010

(ProQuest: ... denotes non-US-ASCII text omitted.)In an age when American Protestantism is often characterized as being divided into "ecumenical" and "evangelical" camps, Missions and Unity demonstrates that Christian mission and Christian unity have in fact been inextricably linked since the beginning of the nineteenth century. The book is divided into three sections. The first section is a historical one, providing examples of the ways in which missionaries and missionary organizations have, in the course of their work and over time, come together in movements of unity. The second and largest section of the monograph discusses ten models of Christian unity that are operative in the world today. The final and shortest section of the book recounts how Christian missions have contributed to secular movements of unity, such as the inclusion of human rights in the charter of the United Nations, and to interfaith dialogue. The work closes with a bibliography, a subject index, and a name index.The starting point of the historical section is William Carey's suggestion made in 1806 that "a general association of all denominations of Christians, from the four quarters of the globe" be held every ten years in South Africa (3). A brief review of missionary movements that worked for unity before Carey reminds us that Carey did not sound the first call for ecumenical efforts in mission, but his importance is nevertheless asserted. In succeeding chapters, the author describes various formal and informal cooperative ventures by Protestant missionaries from 1792 to the present. Unusually for a historical section, the more recent developments are described more briefly than the earlier ones.In the second part of the volume the author discerns ten different models of Christian unity. These are, respectively, "Unity Through A Global Church," with the Roman Catholic Church as the prime example; "World Conciliarism," typified by the World Council of Churches; "Christian World Communions," such as the Lutheran World Federation; "World Associations," like the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization; "Regional and National Voluntarism," exemplified by the United Mission to Nepal; "Regional and National Councils," which are found all over the world (Christian Conference of Asia, All Africa Conference of Churches to name but two); "Towards Church Union," as happened in the Church of South India; and three models of "Local Unity": local united churches (such as union churches), local councils (that is, local councils of churches), and local associations (like BCCs and Taize). A convenient chart showing the conceptual connections between these models is provided in the Introduction (xxiii). …
Engineered Protein Machines: Emergent Tools for Synthetic Biology

Nature has evolved an array of intricate protein assemblies that work together to perform the chemistry that maintains life. These protein machines function with exquisite specificity and coordination to accomplish their tasks, from DNA and RNA synthesis to protein folding and post-translational modifications. Despite their complexity, synthetic biologists have succeeded in redesigning many aspects of these molecular machines. For example, natural DNA polymerases have now been engineered to catalyze the synthesis of alternative genetic polymers called XNAs, orthogonal RNA polymerases and ribosomes have been engineered to enable the construction of genetic logic gates, and protein biogenesis machinery such as chaperonins and protein translocons have been repurposed to improve folding and expression of recombinant proteins. In this Review, we highlight the progress made in understanding, engineering, and repurposing bacterial protein machines for use in synthetic biology and biotechnology.
The Touch of Language: Jean-Luc Nancy's Contingent Reading

ABSTRACTThis article takes two instances of circumstantial or “contingent” encounters—Jean-Luc Nancy's reading of Michel Leiris and Jacques Derrida's reading of Jean-Luc Nancy, and the points of contact between these encounters—in order to foreground the primacy of touch in Nancy's thought, and to delineate more precisely the haptic quality of his own poetic practice of reading and writing. While his encounter with Leiris produces a text that, in an apparently narcissistic gesture, sees “eye to eye” with Leiris's playful language and his endless reworking of autobiographical subjectivity, the manner in which Nancy's thought touches upon Derrida's requires a rethinking of the specularity of this narcissism, and is more akin to what both Derrida and Nancy would call a deconstruction of the sense of touch itself.
Spirometry and flow-volume curves.

Abstract Spirometry is the best and most widely used pulmonary function test. Equipment recommendations are made and performance information about different types of spirometers is given. Methods for obtaining clinically applicable spirometric results for use in making diagnostic and treatment decisions are presented. Selection and use of reference or "normal" values and interpretive strategies are discussed.
Ketoconazole-Associated Liver Injury in Drug-Drug Interaction Studies in Healthy Volunteers

Ketoconazole is a potent CYP3A inhibitor in vivo, and frequently serves as an index CYP3A inhibitor in drug-drug interaction (DDI) studies with healthy volunteers. Limitations restricting the use of systemic ketoconazole in such studies have been recently imposed by regulatory agencies in the United States, the European Union, and elsewhere. A risk of ketoconazole-associated liver injury in the context of DDI studies was cited as the primary justification for these measures. To evaluate the basis for these restrictions, we analyzed a series of published DDI studies identified from a review of existing literature. The study set consisted of 53 DDI studies, and included 971 healthy volunteers with systemic ketoconazole exposure in addition to the victim drug under study. Ketoconazole-associated abnormalities in serum chemistry values indicative of liver injury were observed in 4 subjects, representing a prevalence of 0.41% within the study population. There were no major adverse reactions or instances of hepatic failure. All abnormalities indicative of liver injury resolved upon discontinuation of ketoconazole treatment. The findings from this review do not support restriction of ketoconazole as an index CYP3A inhibitor in DDI studies involving healthy volunteers.
Rapid Thermal Chemical Vapor Formation of TiSi2: An alternative refractory metallization process for device fabrication

Scaling of MOSFETs into the deep submicron regime requires novel metallization schemes to form low resistivity contacts on ultra-shallow junctions. In this paper, we present our recent results on rapid thermal chemical vapor formation (RTCVF) of TiSi2. In this process, the gaseous Ti source, TiCl4 (g), reacts with solid Si to form C54 TiSi2 (s) at temperatures as low as 700°C with a resistivity of 15–20µΩ-cm without a follow-up anneal. In this paper, we explore the previously reported barrier for nucleation of TiSi2 on Si at temperatures below 800°C. Without proper surface preparation, this barrier results in an incubation time which can vary according to the conditions of the surface and the deposition environment. We show that contrary to general belief, surface morphology instead of surface cleanliness is the most likely contributor to this barrier. We also show that if in-situ deposition of a Si-Ge layer precedes TiSi2 formation, the incubation time can be completely eliminated. Experiments performed in a temperature range of 650°C–800°C indicate an approximate activation energy of 100 kJ/mol. The process provides excellent selectivity to both SiO2 and Si3N4 and little growth rate dependence on patterns in the 2 µm–200 µm regime.
From Exclusion to Segregation: Southern Race Relations, 1865–1890

SINCE the appearance in 1955 of C. Vann Woodward's The Strange Career of Jim Crow, extensive research has been devoted to uncovering the origins of racial segregation in the South. Woodward challenges the traditional view that the restrictive Jim Crow codes were the product of the immediate post-Reconstruction period. Emphasizing the legal side of segregation, he argues that the separation of the races grew out of forces operating in the last decade of the nineteenth and the first years of the twentieth century. He has modified his original position, but the existence of a law enforcing segregation remains the key variable in evaluating the nature of race relations. Because of the alleged absence of these statutes, Woodward contends that "forgotten alternatives"existed in the period between redemption and the fullscale arrival of Jim Crow.I Although George Tindall had in part anticipated Woodward's arguments, it is the "Woodward thesis" over which historians have chosen sides. Charles E. Wynes, Frenise A. Logan, and Henry C. Dethloff and Robert P. Jones explicitly declare their support for Woodward (even though much of their evidence seems to point in the opposite direction); and the same is true of the more recent implicit endorsements by John Blassingame and Dale Somers. In his study of South Carolina blacks, however, Joel Williamson, unlike Woodward, emphasizes customs rather than laws and sees segregation so entrenched in the state by the end of Reconstruction that he refers to the early appearance of a "duo-chromatic order. " Vernon Lane Wharton's account of Mississippi blacks reaches a similar conclusion, and it has been used to support the arguments of Woodward's critics. Richard C. Wade's work on slavery in antebellum southern cities, Roger A. Fischer's studies of antebellum and postbellum New Orleans, and Ira Berlin's treatment of antebellum free Negroes also question Woodward's conclusions.2
Pleiotropic Effect of a High Resolution Mapped Blood Pressure QTL on Tumorigenesis

This study is focused on a translationally significant, genome-wide-association-study (GWAS) locus for cardiovascular disease (QT-interval) on human chromosome 17. We have previously validated and high resolution mapped the homologous genomic segment of this human locus to <42.5 kb on rat chromosome 10. This <42.5 kb segment in rats regulates both QT-interval and blood pressure and contains a single protein-coding gene, rififylin (Rffl). The expression of Rffl in the hearts and kidneys is differential between Dahl S and S.LEW congenic rats, which are the strains used for mapping this locus. Our previous study points to altered rate of endocytic recycling as the underlying mechanism, through which Rffl operates to control both QT-interval and blood pressure. Interestingly, Rffl also contributes to tumorigenesis by repressing caspases and tumor suppressor genes. Moreover, the expression of Methyl-CpG Binding Domain Protein 2 (Mbd2) in the hearts and kidneys is also higher in the S.LEW congenic strain than the background (control) Dahl S strain. Mbd2 can repress methylated tumor suppressor genes. These data suggest that the S.LEW congenic strain could be more susceptible to tumorigenesis. To test this hypothesis, the S and S.LEW strains were compared for susceptibility to azoxymethane-induced colon tumors. The number of colon tumors was significantly higher in the S.LEW congenic strain compared with the S rat. Transcriptomic analysis confirmed that the chemical carcinogenesis pathway was significantly up-regulated in the congenic strain. These studies provide evidence for a GWAS-validated genomic segment on rat chromosome 10 as being important for the regulation of cardiovascular function and tumorigenesis.
System events: readily accessible features for surgical phase detection

Purpose Surgical phase recognition using sensor data is challenging due to high variation in patient anatomy and surgeon-specific operating styles. Segmenting surgical procedures into constituent phases is of significant utility for resident training, education, self-review, and context-aware operating room technologies. Phase annotation is a highly labor-intensive task and would benefit greatly from automated solutions.
EXPERIENCE: Succeeding at Data Management—BigCo Attempts to Leverage Data

In a manner similar to most organizations, BigCompany (BigCo) was determined to benefit strategically from its widely recognized and vast quantities of data. (U.S. government agencies make regular visits to BigCo to learn from its experiences in this area.) When faced with an explosion in data volume, increases in complexity, and a need to respond to changing conditions, BigCo struggled to respond using a traditional, information technology (IT) project-based approach to address these challenges. As BigCo was not data knowledgeable, it did not realize that traditional approaches could not work. Two full years into the initiative, BigCo was far from achieving its initial goals. How much more time, money, and effort would be required before results were achieved? Moreover, could the results be achieved in time to support a larger, critical, technology-driven challenge that also depended on solving the data challenges? While these questions remain unaddressed, these considerations increase our collective understanding of data assets as separate from IT projects. Only by reconceiving data as a strategic asset can organizations begin to address these new challenges. Transformation to a data-driven culture requires far more than technology, which remains just one of three required “stool legs” (people and process being the other two). Seven prerequisites to effectively leveraging data are necessary, but insufficient awareness exists in most organizations—hence, the widespread misfires in these areas, especially when attempting to implement the so-called big data initiatives. Refocusing on foundational data management practices is required for all organizations, regardless of their organizational or data strategies.
17-β-Estradiol Modulation of Area Postrema Potassium Currents

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of 17-β-estradiol on area postrema neuronal activity in vivo and on area postrema potassium currents (IK) in vitro. In anesthetized rats, intr...
Contrasting trait responses to latitudinal climate variation in two lineages of an invasive grass

Plants are expected to respond to global environmental change through shifts in functional traits and in their ranges. These shifts could alter productivity and interactions among species or genetic lineages, ultimately leading to changes in distributions and abundance. In particular, cosmopolitan species are predicted to increase growth with decreasing latitude due to differences in climate and temperature. The pattern of changes in growth may vary among genotypes within species, leading to different responses with latitude. To evaluate whether climate can affect geographically distinct genotypes of cosmopolitan invasive species differently, we evaluated the trait responses of two lineages of the common reed, Phragmites australis, to variation in environmental conditions spanning North America’s Atlantic coast. Using three reciprocal transplant common gardens, we tested for the effects of garden location and plant lineage on traits related to biomass production, flowering frequency, leaf morphology, and leaf-level physiology. We found that aboveground biomass, stem density, and flowering frequency responded non-linearly to increasing latitude in one or both lineages. These results suggest that measures of plant traits over narrow latitudinal ranges may not accurately reflect organismal-level responses to global change at broad spatial scales. Given the responses to latitude that we observed in P. australis, we propose that feedbacks between growth and reproductive rate will influence range shifts in these two lineages. Such range shifts could lead to genetic admixtures, subsequently yielding more productive, locally-adapted genotypes.
Management of Complex Proximal Tibia Fractures (Schatzker Types V and VI)

Complex tibial plateau fractures are challenging to manage successfully due to both the fracture and the associated soft tissue injury. Restoring length and alignment while avoiding complications is the goal of treatment. Meticulous soft tissue management and thoughtful surgical decision-making can result in good functional outcomes. Understanding the pathoanatomy of the fracture is important for selecting the method of fixation that will maintain the reduction until union.
Acting and Self-Definition: The White Devil

After Antony and Cleopatra, the world of Webster’s The White Devil seems much reduced in scope. Not only does the Roman Empire shrink to a few interior settings in Italy, but the central love relationship is also drastically scaled down, and presented as constricting rather than life-enhancing. Francisco cynically hopes that Vittoria and Bracciano will ‘both rot together’ like ‘mistletoe on sere elms’ (II. i. 397–8),1 and we remain more aware of their being led to ‘eternal ruin’ by their passion than of the kind of energising ‘bounty plus’ that Cleopatra and Antony inspire in each other, even when it leads to the ‘very heart of loss’. There’s a definite lack of spontaneous warmth in Vittoria’s response to her lover: nothing to match Cleopatra’s reply to Antony’s ‘Cold-hearted toward me?’, which comes across as authentic for all its histrionic extravagance. In the reconciliation scene in the house of convertites (IV. ii), we watch egos competing rather than emotional closeness or genuine intimacy. When Vittoria stridently complains ‘Ay, ay, your good heart gathers like a snowball/Now your affection’s cold’ (ll. 186–7), it is significant that Flamineo (whose satiric commentary throughout the scene effectively distances the audience from this personal encounter) cuts in with the rejoinder that should by rights belong to the lover Bracciano: Ud’s foot, it shall melt To a heart again, or all the wine in Rome Shall run o’th’lees for’t. (ll. 187–9)
Theses and Dissertations Completed in Family and Consumer Sciences: 2015

The annual survey of graduate programs at U.S. universities and colleges was conducted in the spring of 2016 to compile a list of theses and dissertations completed in 2015 in family and consumer sciences areas of interest. For the survey, requests for the titles and authors were sent via email to institutions three times within a seven-week period. Thirty-five colleges and universities responded to the survey. A total of 310 theses and 174 dissertations were reported. A report of those submissions, by subject category, author, title, and name of student's advisor (if given), is provided.
The tropical precipitation pickup threshold and clouds in a radiative convective equilibrium model: 1. Column moisture

This paper complements Part I in which cloud processes of aggregated convection are examined in a large-domain radiative convective equilibrium simulation in order to uncover those responsible for a consistently observed, abrupt increase in mean precipitation at a column relative humidity value of approximately 77%. In Part II, the focus is on how the transition is affected independently by total moisture above and below the base of the melting layer. When mean precipitation rates are examined as simultaneous functions of these two moisture layers, four distinct behaviors are observed. These four behaviors suggest unique, yet familiar, physical regimes in which: (i) little rain is produced by infrequent clouds; (ii) shallow convection produces increasing warm rain with increasing low level moisture; (iii) deep convection produces progressively heavier rain above the transition point with increasing total moisture; and (iv) deep stratiform cloud produces increasingly intense precipitation from melting for increasing upper level moisture. The independent thresholds separating regimes in upper and lower layer humidity are shown to result in the value of total-column humidity at which a transition between clear air and deep convection, and therefore a pickup in precipitation, is possible. All four regimes force atmospheric columns toward the pickup value at 77% column humidity but each does so through a unique set of physical processes. Layer moisture and microphysical budgets are analyzed and contrasted with column budgets.
Preferences and motivation for weight loss among knee replacement patients: implications for a patient-centered weight loss intervention

Most knee replacement patients are overweight/obese, yet are commonly excluded from evidence-based weight loss programs due to mobility limitations and barriers faced around the time of surgery. The purpose of this study was to identify knee replacement patient preferences for weight loss programs and qualitatively understand previous motives for weight loss attempts as well as strategies used to facilitate behavior changes. Patients who were either scheduled to have knee replacement or had one recently completed within the last 3 months were recruited to participate. Patients completed a brief weight loss program preference questionnaire assessing preferred components of a weight loss program (i.e. self-monitoring, educational topics, program duration). Qualitative interviews were completed to identify motives for and strategies used during past weight loss attempts. All interviews were transcribed, de-identified, and analyzed using constant comparative analysis. Twenty patients (11 pre-operative and 9 post-operative) between 47 and 79 years completed the study (55% male, 90% White, and 85% with a BMI ≥25 kg/m2). Patients reported a preference for a weight loss program that starts before surgery, is at least 6 months in duration, and focuses both on diet and exercise. The majority of patients preferred to have a telephone-based program and wanted to track diet and physical activity on a smartphone application. The most common motive for weight loss mentioned by patients related to physical appearance (including how clothing fit), followed by wanting to lose weight to improve knee symptoms or to prevent or delay knee replacement. Strategies that patients identified as helpful during weight loss attempts included joining a formal weight loss program, watching portion sizes, and self-monitoring their dietary intake, physical activity, or weight. This study provides a preliminary examination into the motives for weight loss, strategies utilized during past weight loss attempts, and preferences for future weight loss programs as described by knee replacement patients. These results will help guide the development and adaptation of future patient-centered weight loss programs as well as help clinicians recommend targeted weight programs based on the specific preferences of the knee replacement population.
Experience-dependent trends in CA1 theta and slow gamma rhythms in freely behaving mice

We show that CA1 theta, slow gamma, and fast gamma rhythms exhibit characteristic changes over time within sessions in familiar environments. These effects in familiar environments evolve across re...
First Simulations of Designing Stratospheric Sulfate Aerosol Geoengineering to Meet Multiple Simultaneous Climate Objectives

We describe the first simulations of stratospheric sulfate aerosol geoengineering using multiple injection locations to meet multiple simultaneous surface temperature objectives. Simulations were performed using CESM1(WACCM), a coupled atmosphere-ocean general circulation model with fully interactive stratospheric chemistry, dynamics (including an internally generated quasi-biennial oscillation), and a sophisticated treatment of sulfate aerosol formation, microphysical growth, and deposition. The objectives are defined as maintaining three temperature features at their 2020 levels against a background of the RCP8.5 scenario over the period 2020–2099. These objectives are met using a feedback mechanism in which the rate of sulfur dioxide injection at each of the four locations is adjusted independently every year of simulation. Even in the presence of uncertainties, nonlinearities, and variability, the objectives are met, predominantly by SO_2 injection at 30°N and 30°S. By the last year of simulation, the feedback algorithm calls for a total injection rate of 51 Tg SO_2 per year. The injections are not in the tropics, which results in a greater degree of linearity of the surface climate response with injection amount than has been found in many previous studies using injection at the equator. Because the objectives are defined in terms of annual mean temperature, the required geongineering results in “overcooling” during summer and “undercooling” during winter. The hydrological cycle is also suppressed as compared to the reference values corresponding to the year 2020. The demonstration we describe in this study is an important step toward understanding what geoengineering can do and what it cannot do.
Abstract 154: A Comparison of Carotid Artery Stent Placement Performed Within and Outside Clinical Trials in the United States

Background: A discrepancy between characteristics of patients treated with carotid angioplasty and stent placement (CAS) within and outside clinical trials, particularly characteristics with direct impact on clinical outcome, may lead to reduction in anticipated benefit. Objective: To identify differences in demographic and clinical characteristics and outcomes related to CAS in patients treated within clinical trials and those treated outside clinical trials in a large national cohort. Methods: We determined the frequency of CAS performed within and outside clinical trials and associated in-hospital outcomes using data from the Nationwide Inpatient Survey (NIS) data files from 2005 to 2008. All the in-hospital outcomes were analyzed after adjusting for potential confounders using multivariate analysis. Results: Of the 47,899 patients who underwent CAS, 16,078 (1%) underwent the procedure as part of a clinical trial. The mean age of the patients was significantly lower in patients treated with CAS as part of a clinical trial than those treated with CAS outside a clinical trial. The proportion of women and non-whites was lower among patients treated with CAS as part of a clinical trial. The in-hospital mortality was two folds higher among patients treated with CAS outside clinical trial (1.12% versus 0.53%, p=0.0.0005). The rate of composite end-point of stroke, cardiac events, and death was significantly higher among patients treated with CAS outside clinical trials (p=0.02). After adjusting for age, gender, presence of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, renal failure, congestive heart failure, and hospital teaching status, CAS performed as part of clinical trial was associated with lower rates of in-hospital mortality (OR 0.349, 95% CI 0.219-0.555)(p Conclusions: Our results suggests that CAS performed as part of clinical trial was associated with lower rates of in-hospital mortality and composite end point of stroke, cardiac events, and death in United States. These findings highlight the need for strategies that ensure appropriate adoption of CAS to ensure that the benefits observed in clinical trials can be replicated in general practice.
Effects of CO and O 2 Impurities on Supercritical CO 2 Corrosion of Alloy 625

Corrosion of alloy 625 was investigated in three supercritical CO2 (sCO2) environments: research-grade (RG) (99.999 pct pure), RG + 100 ppm O2 (at.), and RG + 1 pct CO (at.). Samples were exposed to each condition for a total of 1000 hours at 750 °C and 20 MPa. Each sample was analyzed using mass change, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), time-of-flight-secondary ion mass spectroscopy (TOF-SIMS), and Raman spectroscopy. Samples exposed to RG CO2 produced a compact uniform chromia layer. The samples exposed to oxygen-rich CO2 showed a less-uniform oxide with nodules characterized by Ni- and Fe-rich oxides on the surface with enhanced chromia formation beneath. The oxide grown in 1 pct CO exhibited the least protective oxide consisting of a duplex chromia scale with inner equiaxed grain structure and an outer porous layer. RG + 1 pct CO was the only environment in which carbon was observed throughout the oxide, although carbon enrichment was observed at the M-O interface of the oxides produced in RG and RG + 1 pct CO environments. A model for explaining carburization of chromium in sCO2 environments was produced by treating the oxide as a diffusion barrier and considering the chemical equilibrium of CO2 through the Cr2O3 phase.
Rainfall–stream flow responses in a mixed-land-use and municipal watershed of the central USA

Competing influences of climate, watershed characteristics, and human activities can confound classic hydrologic process assumptions and, therefore, management efforts in mixed-land-use watersheds. Seven water years (WY2009–2015) of sub-hourly rainfall and stream flow data were collected from five nested gauging sites in a mixed-land-use watershed of the central USA. Pasture/cropland use decreased by 18% while urban land use increased by 22% from the headwaters to the watershed outlet. A flow separation algorithm was used to assess rainfall–stream flow response variables (i.e. stream flow, event flow and base flow) at each gauging site and at multiple time steps (7-year study, annual, monthly, event based). Annual total rainfall ranged from 678 to 1610 mm during the study period. Urban land use explained 61–93% of the variance in the slope of the best fit line between total rainfall and stream flow, event flow, and base flow confirming significant (CI = 95%; p < 0.006; n = 5) impacts of urban land use on rainfall–stream flow response relationships. Total stream flow, event flow and base flow increased by 101, 95, and 110%, respectively, at the rural/urban interface of the watershed during a year of extreme drought. Base flow index values were positively correlated with urban land use and negatively correlated to total rainfall (R2 = 36.98; p < 0.023; n = 111). Stream flow alterations were greatest during drier years, and during smaller flow events at gauging sites with greater than 6% urban land use. Results advance quantitative understanding of rainfall–stream flow relationships for urbanizing mixed-land-use watersheds.
Real-Time Assessment for Architectural CAD/CAM:Knowledge-Based-Methodology Approach

This paper proposes a methodology that assesses in real-time the various impacts of the application of a CAD / CAM logic, to assist the designer in making objective considerations about the efficiency of a given manufacturing logic. A forecast of this nature enables the designer with the power to identify and quantify the strengths and weaknesses of a case versus others, and allows him to detect what are the configurations and processes that have potential to be optimized. The next chapters will show how the use of integration of knowledge-based-methodology (KBM) in the implementation of CAM to systematize the selection of different designs and operations, can improve the construction/fabrication practice depending on the fabrication equipment, material selection and other indicators. The adoption of the above-mentioned methodology is particularly pertinent for decision makers, since it can be deployed in a variety of different processes. It harvests information to compare and optimize the manufacture outline, and supports the screening and assortment of appropriate tool paths or combination of fabrication tools based on environmental/cost data, user-specified requirements and context characteristics.
EXTENDING EXISTENTIAL QUANTIFICATION IN CONJUNCTIONS OF BDDs

We introduce new approaches intended to speed up determining the satisabilit y of a given Boolean formula ’ expressed as a conjunction of Boolean functions. A common practice in such cases, when using constraint-oriented methods, is to represent the functions as BDDs, then repeatedly cluster BDDs containing one or more variables, and nally existentially quantify those variables away from the cluster. Clustering is essential because, in general, existential quantication cannot be applied unless the variables occur in only a single BDD. But, clustering incurs signican t overhead and may result in BDDs that are too big to allow the process to complete in a reasonable amount of time. There are two signican t contributions in this paper. First, we identify elementary conditions under which the existential quantication of a subset of variables V 0 may be distributed over all BDDs without clustering. We show that when these conditions are satised, safe assignments to the variables of V 0 are automatically generated. This is signican t because these assignments can be applied, as though they were inferences, to simplify ’. Second, some ecien t operations based on these conditions are introduced and can be integrated into existing frameworks of both search-oriented and constraint-oriented methods of satisabilit y. All of these operations are relaxations in the use of existential quantication and therefore may fail to nd one or more existing safe assignments. Finally, we compare and contrast the relationship of these operations to autarkies and present some preliminary results.
Host defense mechanisms of human milk and their relations to enteric infections and necrotizing enterocolitis.

Human milk contains components that can mediate protection against symptomatic infection by means of classical and novel mechanisms. It has been demonstrated to protect infants against symptomatic infection by a variety of enteric pathogens. To date, mechanisms involving pathogen-specific slgA are the best documented; however, roles for nonimmunoglobulin glycoconjugate and anti-inflammatory components may also exist. Based on both laboratory and clinical studies, human milk feeding appears to have protective effects against development of necrotizing enterocolitis.