cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Environmental contamination by lead, cadmium, zinc, and copper in a new lead-producing area.

Abstract A statistically designed study was conducted in the new lead-producing area of southeastern Missouri to estimate the amount of contamination by lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu). Dustfall, soil, root and vegetation tops were collected four times during a 1-year period at varying distances from the highway on a test farm exposed to lead production sources of heavy metal contamination and on a control farm outside the lead production area. Blood and milk were collected from cows on the test and control farms. The lead concentration in the last soil sample collected from the test farm was 8.1 times that from the control farm and the level doubled between the first and last sampling on the test farm. The main sources of heavy metals at the test farm were stack emissions from a lead smelter, lead ore concentrate spillage from trucks and dust from stockpiled ore at the smelter. High lead and cadmium dustfall and air filter samples at the test farm corresponded to wind conditions that would carry the smelter plume in the direction of the test farm, located approximately 800 m from the stack. The highest dustfall, soil and vegetation levels and the greatest increase in lead levels in the test cows occurred during the winter season. There was a general dilution in the lead concentration at each step of the food chain from soil to cattle on the control farm, while on the test farm bio-magnification of lead in the roots was observed. The test cows' milk Pb concentration was significantly larger than that of the control cows. Lead concentrations in milk from another cow exposed to only background levels plus lead ore concentrate spillage from trucks was intermediate to the test and control cows' milk concentrations.
Ubiquity symposium: The science in computer science: broadening CS enrollments: an interview with Jan Cuny

Until 2000, computer science enrollments were steadily increasing. Then suddenly students started turning to other fields; by 2008, enrollments had dropped by 50 percent. To that end, Jan Cuny has been leading a program at the National Science Foundation to increase both the number and diversity of students in computing. In this interview with Ubiquity, she discusses the magnitude of the problem and the initiatives underway to turn it around.
Disability among native-born and foreign-born blacks in the United States

Using the 5% Public Use Micro Data Sample (PUMS) from the 2000 U.S. census, we examine differences in disability among eight black subgroups distinguished by place of birth and Hispanic ethnicity. We found that all foreign-born subgroups reported lower levels of physical activity limitations and personal care limitations than native-born blacks. Immigrants from Africa reported lowest levels of disability, followed by non-Hispanic immigrants from the Caribbean. Sociodemographic characteristics and timing of immigration explained the differences between these two groups. The foreign-born health advantage was most evident among the least-educated except among immigrants from Europe/Canada, who also reported the highest levels of disability among the foreign-born. Hispanic identification was associated with poorer health among both native-born and foreign-born blacks.
Helix-inducing α-aminoisobutyric acid in opioid mimetic deltorphin C analogues

The achiral symmetric α-aminoisobutyric acid (Aib) replaced the critical N-terminal residues of the amphibian skin opioid deltorphin C (H-Tyr-d-Ala-Phe-Asp-Val-Val-Gly-NH2) without detriment to the...
Complications of unicompartmental knee arthroplasty1

Abstract Unicompartmental replacement of the knee for isolated medial or lateral arthrosis has been a controversial procedure regarding indications, design, efficacy, and longevity since its inception in the late 1950s. While initially popular, it fell out of favor due to early failures, mostly due to progression of the disease process, loosening, and design problems resulting in polyethylene wear and loss of fixation. Technical errors and poor patient selection also contributed to poor results. The evolution of the procedure, indications, design issues, surgical technique, results, complications, and longevity is discussed. Recent renewed interest has led to refinements in design and technique. When properly indicated with a clear understanding of the requirements for success, a contemporary, well-designed unicompartmental prosthesis implanted with meticulous technique has been shown to perform satisfactorily with a high degree of patient satisfaction.
Infrared Heterodyne Spectroscopy of Ammonia and Ethylene in Stars

The study of molecules in stars has greatly expanded in scope during the past decade, principally because of the development of high resolution heterodyne spectrometers for radio astronomy and the subsequent discovery of maser emission from OH, H20, and SiO. Although infrared frequencies have a fundamental advantage for the detection of new and more complicated molecules, the development of infrared spectrometers with the required spectral resolution and sensitivity has heretofore lagged behind equivalent advances in microwave instrumentation. In stellar sources, the linewidths of molecular transitions are generally dominated by large scale mass motions rather than simple thermal or pressure-broadening effects. Nevertheless, Doppler-broadened linewidths as narrow as 1 km/s (100 MHz at 30 THz) can still be expected. Generally, the line profiles are asymmetrical, and the details of the shapes made visible by high resolution are of critical importance for unraveling the dynamics of the stellar environment. Fortunately, developments in laser and photodiode technology now bring the advantages of coherent heterodyne detection to the infrared, with the result that the vibrational transitions of molecules can now be observed with the same Doppler-limited resolution commonly used for observations of the rotational, hyperfine, and inversion transitions which occur at radio frequencies. The importance of laser heterodyne spectroscopy for astronomical observations has been demonstrated by the first detection of ammonia [1,2] and ethylene [3] in stars. In heterodyne spectroscopy, the signal radiation collected through a telescope is mixed with a local oscillator (LO) beam from a stabilized laser in a high speed photodetector. The resulting difference frequencies are then amplified over a broad radio-frequency band and analyzed in a contiguous set of radio-frequency filters. The actual resolution is determined by the chosen widths of the filters, but the ultimate achievable resolution is limited only by the spectral linewidth of the laser.
Tapped Delay Line Models for the Dereverberation of Deep Water Multiples

Multiple Removal Procedures based upon tapped delay line models for the reverberation are derived and applied to data taken during the NSF-IDOE-East Atlantic Continental Margin Program. The effectiveness of these models are analyzed by, i) determining the amount of reverberation energy removed, ii) evaluating the distortion of underlying horizons, and iii) comparing record quality before and after processing. Programs based upon these models have been implemented as operational production programs and are currently being used aboard the R/V Atlantic II during the EACM studies.
Cloud Computer Management From The Small Business Perspective

Cloud computing is a relatively new concept that is attracting much attention from both small businesses and CEOs of large corporations. However, for the novitiate, the decision to implement a cloud computing service and then how to manage it is not straightforward because there is no universal road map. In this review several issues are discussed that should have a bearing on how to bring cloud computing into a business organization and how it should be managed. These issues include, the elasticity performance of cloud computing, the lack of standards in cloud computing, whether cloud computing should be sole sourced, security issues, legal and regulatory compliance of data that may cross national borders, and what the function of the IT department should be in this venture.
Seeking and Utilizing a Curandero in the United States: A Literature Review.

Purpose: The purpose of this systematic review was to address two key questions: “Why do Hispanics seek a curandero?” And “How do Hispanics utilize the curandero?” Methods: The literature was reviewed using two databases—PubMed and CINAHL—during the period January 2000 to September 2012—and reference lists for potentially relevant studies. The search terms used were Hispanics/Latinos, curandero, CAM use, and traditional healers/medicine. Terms were searched in the keywords, title, and abstract. Findings: Of the 30 articles reviewed, 9 reflected the two key questions. Hispanics seek curanderos because they are affordable and are Spanish literate. Less common reasons include immigration status, culturally appropriate, spiritual healing, acculturation, and dissatisfaction with Western medicine. Hispanics utilize curanderos for a range of illnesses, including folk illnesses and treatments that may be unfamiliar to health care practitioners. Implications: Utilization of a curandero among the U.S. Hispanics was...
Ornithine decarboxylase as a target for chemoprevention

l-Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) is essential for polyamine synthesis and growth in mammalian cells; it provides putrescine that is usually converted into the higher polyamines, spermidine and spermine. Many highly specific and potent inhibitors of ODC are based on the lead compound α-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO), which is an enzyme-activated irreversible inhibitor. DFMO is accepted as a substrate by ODC and is decarboxylated, leading to the formation of a highly reactive species that forms a covalent adduct with either cysteine-360 (90%) or lysine-69 (10%). Both modifications inactivate the enzyme. ODC activity is normally very highly regulated at both transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels according to the growth state of the cell and the intracellular polyamine content. Experimental over-production of ODC can be caused by either transfection with plasmids containing the ODC cDNA with part of the 5′-untranslated region (5′UTR) deleted under the control of a very strong viral promoter, or transfection of plasmids that cause the overproduction of eIF-4E, reported to be a limiting factor in the transaltion of mRNAs with extensive secondary structures in the 5′UTR. In both cases, unregulated overexpresion of ODC transforms NIH 3T3 cells to a neoplastic state. Along with studies showing that many tumor promoters increase ODC activity and that a number of preneoplasic conditions and tumor samples show high levels of ODC, these results suggest that ODC may act as an oncogene in an appropiate background. This provides a rationale for the possible use of a ODC inhibitors as chemopreventive agents. Further support comes from studies showing that reducing ODC activity with DFMO abolishes the transformed phenotype of the NIH 3T3 cells overexpressing ODC; many studies found that treatment with DFMO reduces tumor incidence in experimental animal exposed to carcinogens. Although these results provide strong support for initial testing of DFMO as a chemopreventive agents, other means of reducing ODC activity should not be overlooked, including the use of other enzyme-acivated irreversible inhibitors with higher potency and/or better pharmacokinetics than DFMO, use of dominant negative mutations or ribzymes to reduce actic ODC levels, and use of regulator of ODC expression.
Solutions and representations by iterated radicals

We give solutions of polynomial equations as well as some remarkable representations of functions as infinite iterations of radicals.
"Microguide" A New Microwave Integrated Circuit Transmission Line

A new transmission line for microwave integrated circuit applications at frequncies above X band is described. Although physically similar to microstrip, its principal mode of propagation is a quasi-TE/sub 10/ waveguide type mode. Preliminary measurments indicate low loss and reduced coupling between adjacent lines.
Learning to live with cheatgrass: giving up or a necessary paradigm shift?

On the Ground The contemporary flora and fauna of North America represent the survivors of repeated waves of emigration through geologic time mixed with local evolutionary processes. The rate of intercontinental species exchange has increased exponentially during the last 500 years due to intentional and accidental transport by humans. Altered ecosystem composition, structure, and functionality are an inevitable consequence of species migration and naturalization. Highly successful newcomers, such as cheat-grass, should be viewed as permanent additions to North American flora. Researchers, land owners and managers, and policy makers would do well to acknowledge the new realities created by introduced species and focus efforts on 1) limiting new introductions, 2) assessing the variability of impacts across affected ecosystems, and 3) developing reasonable expectations and practices for mitigating effects while preserving core ecosystem functionality.
Design considerations and DFT to enable testing of digital interfaces

In the last 15 years, the specifications for digital interfaces have evolved significantly, from specifying only nominal or typical values to specifying extreme maximum or minimum values that are observable at the pins of the device to values that are not directly observable at the pins of the device. There has been a corresponding evolution of high volume manufacturing (HVM) testing methods. This tutorial paper summarizes the various digital interfaces specifications, the techniques used to test then, and the associated design considerations and design for test (DFT) circuitry. The example specifications and test data are from my experience on Intel Pentium-Pro, Pentium III and Pentium 4 microprocessors.
Distribution of mercury and selenium in egg components and egg-white proteins

Methylmercuric chloride (Hg) at 20 ppM and sodium selenite (Se) at 8 ppM were fed, separately and in combination, to laying hens. Oral doses of CH/sub 3//sup 203/HgCl and H/sub 2//sup 75/SeO/sub 3/ also were given to all hens. The concentration of /sup 203/Hg and /sup 75/Se in egg white and egg yolk, and the distribution of the radioisotopes among proteins of egg white, were determined. The highest concentrations of /sup 203/Hg were observed in egg white. The 8 ppM of dietary Se significantly increased the concentrations of /sup 203/Hg in egg white when compared with a diet containing no added Se. At the same time, the addition of Se to the diet reduced /sup 203/Hg in the egg yolk. /sup 75/Se was found primarily in egg yolk, but 20 ppM dietary Hg significantly decreased /sup 75/Se in the egg yolk and increased it in the egg whites. A significant Hg x Se interaction was observed for deposition of /sup 75/Se in egg white. When dietary Hg was fed separately from dietary Se, /sup 75/Se deposition was increased in the egg whites. More than 97% of the total /sup 203/Hg in egg white was associated with ovalbumin. Similarly, total Hgmore » was found in greatest quantities in ovalbumin, irrespective of the addition of dietary Hg or Se. The largest proportion of total /sup 75/Se dose and the highest concentration of total Se per unit of protein occurred in globulin, especially when 8 ppM Se were fed. The data illustrate preferential binding of Hg by ovalbumin and of Se by globulin as compared with other major proteins of egg white.« less
Effects of hydrophilic and hydrophobic counterions on the Coulombic interactions in perfluorosulfonate ionomers

ATR-FTIR spectroscopy was used to compare the influence of hydrophilic and hydrophobic counterions on the vibrational behavior of the sulfonate and perfluoroether groups in 1100 equivalent weight (EW) Nafion® and 808 EW Dow perfluorosulfonate ionomer membranes. For dry, Na + -form membranes, the infrared band attributed to the -SO 3 - symmetric stretching vibration was found to shift to higher frequencies with an increase in the degree of neutralization. In contrast, neutralization with tetrabutlyammonium ions caused the -SO 3 - vibrational band to shift to lower frequencies with increasing neutralization. This behavior is attributed to a diminished polarization of the -SO 3 - groups by the hydrophobic and diffusely charged TBA + cations, relative to the strong polarization observed with Na + ions. Vibrational bands attributed to perfluoroether groups in close proximity to the sulfonate groups were also found to be influenced by Coulombic interactions within the clusters. The frequency shifts of these bands followed a trend that was virtually identical to that observed for the -SO 3 - symmetric stretch. This behavior is attributed to a combination of through-space, dipolar field effects, and through-bond inductive effects, from the neighboring ionic groups. In Nafion®, the ether groups directly attached to the backbone are shielded from the Coulombic interactions within the clusters, while the ether groups within three bonds of the terminal ionic groups are very sensitive to the state of polarization of the sulfonate anion
Activin and Glucocorticoids Synergistically Activate Follicle-Stimulating Hormone β-Subunit Gene Expression in the Immortalized LβT2 Gonadotrope Cell Line

FSH is produced by the pituitary gonadotrope to regulate gametogenesis. Production of the beta-subunit of FSH is the rate-limiting step in FSH synthesis, and a number of peptide and steroid hormones within the reproductive axis have been found to regulate transcription of the FSH beta-subunit gene. Although both activin and glucocorticoids are notable regulators of FSHbeta by themselves, we find that cotreatment results in a synergistic interaction on the mouse FSHbeta promoter at the level of the gonadotrope using transient transfection of a reporter gene into the LbetaT2 immortalized gonadotrope-derived cell line. This synergistic interaction is specific to FSHbeta, because only additive effects of these two hormones are observed on LH beta-subunit, GnRH receptor, and mouse mammary tumor virus gene expression. Components of both activin and glucocorticoid signaling are found to be necessary for synergy, and there are specific cis elements on the mouse FSHbeta promoter that contribute to the synergistic response as well. We also identify novel activin-responsive regions in the mouse FSHbeta promoter and find that the -120 site can bind Smad2/3 in vitro. In addition, the glucocorticoid receptor and Smad3 are sufficient to confer a striking synergy with glucocorticoids on the mouse FSHbeta promoter. Our studies provide the first evidence of a synergistic interaction between activin and glucocorticoids within the gonadotrope cell and demonstrate that this synergy can occur directly at the level of the mouse FSHbeta promoter.
Printed Organic Semiconducting Devices

Recent improvements in carrier mobility, environmental stability, and advancements in p- and n-type organic semiconductor materials have resulted in reports of device operation suitable for low-functionality, low-cost products. Deposition of solution-processable materials that enable the use of low-cost, high-speed deposition techniques such as screen printing, spin coating, and conventional graphic arts printing technologies have also recently been demonstrated. The material requirements necessary to realize these products, an organic transistor device structure that can be fabricated with these materials via printing processes, and the resulting device performance are presented and discussed. The use of standards and their impact on driving technology to commercialization are also addressed.
The genome sequence of the metal-mobilizing, extremely thermoacidophilic archaeon Metallosphaera sedula provides insights into bioleaching-associated metabolism.

Despite their taxonomic description, not all members of the order Sulfolobales are capable of oxidizing reduced sulfur species, which, in addition to iron oxidation, is a desirable trait of biomining microorganisms. However, the complete genome sequence of the extremely thermoacidophilic archaeon Metallosphaera sedula DSM 5348 (2.2 Mb, ∼2,300 open reading frames [ORFs]) provides insights into biologically catalyzed metal sulfide oxidation. Comparative genomics was used to identify pathways and proteins involved (directly or indirectly) with bioleaching. As expected, the M. sedula genome contains genes related to autotrophic carbon fixation, metal tolerance, and adhesion. Also, terminal oxidase cluster organization indicates the presence of hybrid quinol-cytochrome oxidase complexes. Comparisons with the mesophilic biomining bacterium Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans ATCC 23270 indicate that the M. sedula genome encodes at least one putative rusticyanin, involved in iron oxidation, and a putative tetrathionate hydrolase, implicated in sulfur oxidation. The fox gene cluster, involved in iron oxidation in the thermoacidophilic archaeon Sulfolobus metallicus, was also identified. These iron- and sulfur-oxidizing components are missing from genomes of nonleaching members of the Sulfolobales, such as Sulfolobus solfataricus P2 and Sulfolobus acidocaldarius DSM 639. Whole-genome transcriptional response analysis showed that 88 ORFs were up-regulated twofold or more in M. sedula upon addition of ferrous sulfate to yeast extract-based medium; these included genes for components of terminal oxidase clusters predicted to be involved with iron oxidation, as well as genes predicted to be involved with sulfur metabolism. Many hypothetical proteins were also differentially transcribed, indicating that aspects of the iron and sulfur metabolism of M. sedula remain to be identified and characterized.
Over-the-Counter Analgesics: A Survey of the Public's Knowledge, Attitudes and Beliefs regarding Current Labeling Practices

A wide variety of over-the-counter (OTC) medications are currently available to the general public without a prescription. Among the most popular of these are medicines termed analgesics that have pain-relieving effects. Unfortunately, many people are not aware of the significant health risks associated with their use. The main purpose of this study was to determine whether people want to be informed of these risks and whether such knowledge would influence self-reported precautionary behavior. The results showed that 92% of the 330 people surveyed wanted to be informed of the risks of OTC analgesics and nearly 95% percent agreed that this information should appear on the product label or in the materials that accompany these products. When asked about the likely actions they would take if provided with organ-specific risk information, a large majority of the respondents indicated they would take one or more precautionary behaviors to reduce the risks (e.g., take smaller dosages). A majority of respondent...
Behavioral treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorders: current status.

Behavioral treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorders ranks among the most widely used and widely studied approaches to these problems. Next to sociopathy these disorders have traditionally been regarded as constituting one of the most difficult classes of psychological problems to treat; certainly they present an exceptionally low rate of success. By contrast with the usual insight psychotherapy, behavior therapy usually focuses on the symptoms alone, with little attention to any underlying intrapsychic or environmental conditions that presumably maintain the symptom. Behavior therapy ignores, in short, the total personality or lifestyle. This symptom specificity of treatment has rendered behavioral approaches subject to criticism from practitioners of more traditional approaches. In more recent years, newer techniques and strategies of behavior therapy have rendered some of those criticisms obsolete. A trend toward consideration of other symptoms and the individual's environment has also been noted.
Planning multiple observations for specular object recognition

The most prominent features of specular objects are the specularities, which are highly variable and dependent on local object geometry. In order to unambiguously recognize specular objects, more information is required. An approach for specular object recognition that relies on the use of multiple observations from different viewpoints to resolve any ambiguity in scene interpretation is presented. The results show that the multiple observation strategy can be very accurate, and is in fact limited only by the accuracy with which decisions can be made about individual observations. >
From Death to Life: Female Veterans, Identity Negotiation, and Reintegration Into Society

Experiences of 17 female Iraq War veterans were explored to understand the challenges of reintegrating into civilian life and the impact on mental health. All respondents completed preliminary electronic surveys and participated in one of two focus groups. High levels of distress exist among veterans who are caught between military and civilian cultures, coping with war experiences, feeling alienated from family and friends, and attempting to negotiate gender and identity. Narrative is identified as a means of resolution. Recommendations include development of social support and transition groups; military cultural competence training for therapists, social workers, and college counselors; and further research to identify appropriate military response and paths to successful reintegration into society.
THE EFFECTS OF PRIOR KNOWLEDGE AND ORAL READING ACCURACY ON MISCUES AND COMPREHENSION

The effects of prior knowledge (high, low) and oral reading accuracy (95% +, 90-94%) on miscues and comprehension were examined by requiring 57 thirdgrade average readers to read an expository passage orally. The children had either high prior knowledge of the topic, defined as completing a classroom instructional unit and verified by a free-association test, or low prior knowledge. Children with high prior knowledge made fewer miscues which resulted in meaning loss (p < .05), and their miscues were less graphically similar to the text word (p < .01) than children with low prior knowledge. Also, children with high prior knowledge correctly answered more comprehension questions of all types—textually explicit (p < .01), textually implicit (p < .05), and scriptally implicit (p < .001) — than children with low prior knowledge. Support for an interactive-c ompensatory model of reading is discussed.
China's consumer revolution: The 1990s and beyond

Since 1980 China's economic revolution has enabled more households to allocate labor to market‐related activities to earn more income. In 1992 an even greater surge in market economy growth took place when urban households began abandoning state‐related occupations and took their chances in the marketplace. The increase in consumer spending that followed reflects a new pattern of household spending for the first time in China since 1949: the share of spending for food relative to spending for other categories of goods and services is fast declining. This new trend, already strongly evident among high income‐earning households, is rapidly being replicated by other households as their incomes rise. During the 1990s new consumer patterns have emerged in the cities of the coastal provinces that strongly indicate that a consumer revolution is under way. This revolution has revived traditional gift‐giving between the Chinese people, thus facilitating the strengthening of their social, economic, and political ti...
Reasons for the culling of dairy cows on low-input mountain farms

Reasons for the culling of dairy cows were scrutinized on thirty-four low-input farms in the Sumava mountains in the Czech Republic. An increase in the frequency of the most common culling category – category 58 (other health reasons) – was identifi ed in both the Holstein and Czech Fleckvieh breeds between 2000 and 2007: from 35% to 59% in the Holstein cows and from 19% to 41% in the Czech Fleckvieh cows (χ2 test; P < 0.001). This brought the Czech Fleckvieh cows to the same level of frequency as in the Czech Republic population, while the frequency among Holstein cows was on average 11% higher than in the Czech Republic population. The frequency of category 58 was higher in the Holstein than in the Czech Fleckvieh cows, but category 52 (low milk production) was more frequent in the Czech Fleckvieh than in the Holstein cows (P < 0.001). There is a link between category 58 ‛other health reasons’ and an increase in the milk productivity of the cows; this results eventually in a higher incidence of metabolic disorders and is discussed in this paper.
Promoter Elements in Drosophila Melanogaster Revealed by Sequence Analysis

A Drosophila Promoter Database containing 252 independent Drosophila melanogaster promoter entries has been compiled. The database and its subsets have been searched for overrepresented sequences. The analysis reveals that the proximal promoter region displays the most dramatic nucleotide sequence irregularities and exhibits a tripartite structure, consisting of TATA at -25/-30 bp, initiator (Inr) at +/- 5 bp and a novel class of downstream elements at +20/+30 bp from the RNA start site. These latter elements are also strand-specific. However, they differ from TATA and Inr in several aspects: (1) they are represented not by a single, but by multiple sequences, (2) they are shorter, (3) their position is less strictly fixed with respect to the RNA start site, (4) they emerge as a characteristic feature of Drosophila promoters and (5) some of them are strongly overrepresented in the TATA-less, but not TATA-containing, subset. About one-half of known Drosophila promoters can be classified as TATA-less. The overall sequence organization of the promoter region is characterized by an extended region with an increase in GC-content and a decrease in A, which contains a number of binding sites for Drosophila transcription factors.
Implications of Virtual Management for Subordinate Performance Appraisals: A Pair of Simulation Studies

This article shifts the focus of prior research examining virtual work to investigate how supervisors who work virtually use subordinate performance information. Drawing insights from several research streams, in Study 1, we propose that supervisors who work virtually bias performance ratings in the direction of information that is observed directly in the office, rather than that which is received when working virtually. In Study 2, we replicate and extend these results to show that this bias is independent of the level of performance information received. Results also indicate that, for high-performing workers, performance information received virtually is evaluated more extremely than information observed directly. We did not find evidence for this extremity effect when low-performing workers were evaluated.
Case Report: Perioperative management of a pregnant poly trauma patient for spine fixation surgery

Trauma is estimated to complicate approximately one in twelve pregnancies, and is currently a leading non-obstetric cause of maternal death. Pregnant trauma patients requiring non-obstetric surgery pose a number of challenges for anesthesiologists. Here we present the successful perioperative management of a pregnant trauma patient with multiple injuries including occult pneumothorax who underwent T9 to L1 fusion in prone position, and address the pertinent perioperative anesthetic considerations and management.
Quantifying Clonal and Subclonal Passenger Mutations in Cancer Evolution

The vast majority of mutations in the exome of cancer cells are passengers, which do not affect the reproductive rate of the cell. Passengers can provide important information about the evolutionary history of an individual cancer, and serve as a molecular clock. Passengers can also become targets for immunotherapy or confer resistance to treatment. We study the stochastic expansion of a population of cancer cells describing the growth of primary tumors or metastatic lesions. We first analyze the process by looking forward in time and calculate the fixation probabilities and frequencies of successive passenger mutations ordered by their time of appearance. We compute the likelihood of specific evolutionary trees, thereby informing the phylogenetic reconstruction of cancer evolution in individual patients. Next, we derive results looking backward in time: for a given subclonal mutation we estimate the number of cancer cells that were present at the time when that mutation arose. We derive exact formulas for the expected numbers of subclonal mutations of any frequency. Fitting this formula to cancer sequencing data leads to an estimate for the ratio of birth and death rates of cancer cells during the early stages of clonal expansion.
Spectroelectrochemical investigation of an electrogenerated graphitic oxide solid-electrolyte interphase.

This study investigates electrogenerated graphitic oxides (EGO) on the surface of carbon optically transparent electrodes (C-OTEs) using a combined UV–vis spectroelectrochemical approach. By monitoring the π–π* aromatic carbon transition for reduced GO (270 nm) and GO (230 nm), we observe the growth of GO in KCl upon applying oxidizing potentials. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectroscopy (TOF-SIMS) are used to confirm sample composition and location of salt ions within the electrode. Formation of EGO stable enough to be observed by UV–vis is found to be unique to alkali chloride supporting electrolytes due to formation of a solid–electrolyte interphase (SEI) which incorporates the alkali cation to stabilize the negatively charged oxygen functional groups while the presence of chloride anion acts as a passivation agent that protects the electrode surface from dissolution. The spectroelectrochemical approach highlights the detection and study of EGO that cann...
Assessment of metastatic risk of gastric GIST based on treatment-naïve CT features

Abstract Objective To study whether the CT features of treatment-naive gastric GIST may be used to assess metastatic risk. Methods In this IRB approved retrospective study, with informed consent waived, contrast enhanced CT images of 143 patients with pathologically confirmed treatment-naive gastric GIST (74 men, 69 women; mean age 61 years, SD ± 14) were reviewed in consensus by two oncoradiologists blinded to clinicopathologic features and clinical outcome and morphologic features were recorded. The metastatic spread was recorded using available imaging studies and electronic medical records (median follow up 40 months, interquartile range, IQR, 21–61). The association of maximum size in any plane (≤10 cm or >10 cm), outline (smooth or irregular/lobulated), cystic areas (≤50% or >50%), exophytic component (≤50% or >50%), and enhancing solid component (present or absent) with metastatic disease were analyzed using univariate (Fisher's exact test) and multivariate (logistic regression) analysis. Results Metastatic disease developed in 42 (29%) patients (28 at presentation, 14 during follow-up); 23 (16%) patients died. On multivariate analysis, tumor size >10 cm (p = 0.0001, OR 9.9), irregular/lobulated outline (p = 0.001, OR 5.6) and presence of a enhancing solid component (p 5–≤10 cm (p Conclusion CT morphologic features can be used to assess the metastatic risk of treatment-naive gastric GIST. Risk assessment based on pretreatment CT is especially useful for patients receiving neoadjuvant tyrosine kinase inhibitors and those with tumors
A constructive heuristic for solving the Job-Shop Scheduling Problem

This work proposes the use of a constructive heuristic called Shifting Bottleneck Procedure for solving the Job-Shop Scheduling problem, with the aim to minimize the makespan, that is, the final delay of production planning. Because the constructive heuristic delivers an initial solution, then a Tabu Search method was used, with the aim to obtain a planification with the lowest possible makespan. The proposal was tested using benchmark data, and the results are promising, because the obtention of initial solutions using a constructive heuristic allows to decrease the processing time, and usually, the final results obtained from Tabu Search method are better.
Security-Aware Mapping for TDMA-Based Systems

This chapter focuses on security-aware design for Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) based real-time distributed systems. The TDMA-based protocol is a very representative synchronous protocol and an abstraction of many existing protocols, such as the FlexRay [7], the Time-Triggered Protocol [45], and the Time-Triggered Ethernet [44]. It is critically important to address these protocols, as they are being increasingly adopted in various safety-critical systems such as automotive and avionics electronic systems for their more predictable timing behavior. Compared with priority-based networks such as the Controller Area Network (CAN) protocol, TDMA-based systems have fundamental differences on system modeling (in particular for latency modeling), on security mechanism selection (a global time is available for security reasons), on design space (network scheduling is the focus of this work but not a factor for CAN-based systems), and on algorithm design. Therefore, the approaches for CAN-based systems in the previous chapter do not apply to TDMA-based systems. It is needed to rethink appropriate security mechanisms and develop a new set of formulations and algorithms to explore the design space.
Comparison of Video and In-person Free Flap Assessment following Head and Neck Free Tissue Transfer:

Objective Compare the efficiency of remote telehealth flap assessments with traditional in-person flap assessments. Study Design Observational study with retrospective review. Setting Tertiary academic medical center. Subjects and Methods All patients undergoing head and neck free tissue transfer were included in the study. All patients whose surgery was performed at hospital A underwent an in-person flap check overnight. Those at hospital B received a remote flap assessment. The primary outcome was total time spent performing the midnight flap assessment, including travel time. Data were gathered prospectively using an online survey. Results Sixty consecutive patients met inclusion criteria. On the night of the surgery, 31 had an in-person flap check while 29 had a video telehealth flap check. There were no partial or total flap losses or take-backs resulting from the flap checks. Mean (SD) times for in-person and remote assessments were 34 (16) minutes (range, 10-60 minutes) and 13 (8) minutes (range, 5-35 minutes), respectively ( P < .001). House staff unanimously felt the remote telehealth system improved their quality of life without affecting their perception of the quality of the flap assessment ( P = .001). Conclusion Compared with in-person flap assessments in this cohort, telehealth assessments allowed more efficient examination of free tissue reconstructions while yielding seemingly equivalent information. Therefore, remote telehealth flap checks may provide useful information supporting the use of high-fidelity remote data-streaming technology in the delivery of complex care to patients distant from their care provider.
Developing a new industrial engineering curriculum using a systems engineering approach

ABSTRACTThis paper reports on the development of an engineering curriculum for a new industrial engineering programme at a medium-sized private university in the northeast United States. A systems engineering process has been followed to design and develop the new curriculum. Considering the programme curriculum as a system, first the stakeholders have been identified, and some preliminary analysis on their needs and requirements has been conducted. Following that, the phases of conceptual design, preliminary design, and detailed design have been pursued during which different levels of validation, assessment, and evaluation processes have been utilised. In addition, a curriculum assessment and continuous improvement process have been developed to assess the curriculum and the courses frequently. The resulting curriculum is flexible, allowing the pursuit of accelerated graduate programmes, a second major, various minor options, and study-abroad; relevant, tailored to the needs of industry partners in the ...
Level of FACT defines the transcriptional landscape and aggressive phenotype of breast cancer cells.

// Daria Fleyshman 1 , Laura Prendergast 1 , Alfiya Safina 1 , Geraldine Paszkiewicz 1 , Mairead Commane 1 , Kelsey Morgan 1 , Kristopher Attwood 1,2 and Katerina Gurova 1 1 Department of Cell Stress Biology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY, USA 2 Department of Biostatistics, University of Buffalo, SUNY, Buffalo, NY, USA Correspondence to: Katerina Gurova, email: // Keywords : FACT, SSRP1, SPT16, curaxin CBL0137, breast cancer Received : December 29, 2016 Accepted : January 11, 2017 Published : February 23, 2017 Abstract Although breast cancer (BrCa) may be detected at an early stage, there is a shortage of markers that predict tumor aggressiveness and a lack of targeted therapies. Histone chaperone FACT, expressed in a limited number of normal cells, is overexpressed in different types of cancer, including BrCa. Recently, we found that FACT expression in BrCa correlates with markers of aggressive BrCa, which prompted us to explore the consequences of FACT inhibition in BrCa cells with varying levels of FACT. FACT inhibition using a small molecule or shRNA caused reduced growth and viability of all BrCa cells tested. Phenotypic changes were more severe in “high- FACT” cells (death or growth arrest) than in “low-FACT” cells (decreased proliferation). Though inhibition had no effect on the rate of general transcription, expression of individual genes was changed in a cell-specific manner. Initially distinct transcriptional profiles of BrCa cells became similar upon equalizing FACT expression. In “high-FACT” cells, FACT supports expression of genes involved in the regulation of cell cycle, DNA replication, maintenance of an undifferentiated cell state and regulated by the activity of several proto-oncogenes. In “low-FACT” cells, the presence of FACT reduces expression of genes encoding enzymes of steroid metabolism that are characteristic of differentiated mammary epithelia. Thus, we propose that FACT is both a marker and a target of aggressive BrCa cells, whose inhibition results in the death of BrCa or convertion of them to a less aggressive subtype.
A computer Aided Design Package for the Total Synthesis Problem

Abstract The Total Synthesis Problem (TSP) approach to multivariable control system design involves finding a minimal basis for the pair of operators which describe the overall response of the system and the control action. The basis is then manipulated to achieve the desired nominal response and associated control action. A second kernel problem is solved to distribute the control dynamics within the fixed structure of the control problem to achieve desired goals of robustness. The Total Synthesis Problem Software Package (TSPSP) is a collection of programs for (TSP) design. The tools include basis calculation and manipulation, transfer function algebra, and realization and simulation software. Communication between programs is via common format data sets. This paper describes the Total Synthesis Problem Software Package. A design example is included.
Exploring the Contributions of Grit and Personality in the Prediction of Self- and Other-Forgiveness

Abstract. The current study explored a series of proposed antecedent predictors of forgiveness. Grit, or an individual’s level of persistence toward long-term goals, was investigated along with personality as predictors of self- and other-forgiveness. A sample of 218 college students from the Midwestern United States completed three questionnaires and a demographics sheet. Consistent with theoretical predictions, correlations among grit, self-forgiveness, and the willingness to forgive others were all positive, as were correlations among a select set of personality factors and both forgiveness orientations. With regard to predictive relationships, grit was the only significant predictor of both self- and other-forgiveness. Among personality factors, neuroticism served as a significant, negative predictor of self-forgiveness while agreeableness was found to predict other-forgiveness. Discussion and implications of the findings are discussed.
Rhetorical Accretion and Rhetorical Criticism in William Hazlitt’s Eloquence of the British Senate

This paper examines William Hazlitt’s collection, Eloquence of the British Senate (1807), alongside our interest in reception, accretion, and the rhetorical culture of Parliament. I trace Hazlitt’s...
Embodiment and representation

The body in disability studies has been characterised as an absent presence (Shakespeare and Watson 2001) and the discipline has been described as having a form of somatophobia (Goodley and Runswick-Cole 2013), paying little attention to the physical body or notions of embodiment. This can perhaps be explained by a desire to embrace the tenets of the social model, whereby environments and cultures are considered disabling and to move away from previously dominant ‘medicalised’ approaches that focussed on the individual and their impairment(s). However, in contemporary disability studies many theorists are attempting to reconnect with the body (Thomas 2007). Advocates of realist (Shakespeare 2006) or Nordic models (Tossebro 2004) attempt to re-emphasise the importance of the corporeal for theorising about disability and for understanding the experiences of individuals with disabilities. The desire here is to bring the body back from the outskirts and acknowledge that there are distinct experiences and implications for individuals as a result of ‘being a disabled body’. The aim is to avoid ignoring the realities of the body, such as alternative communications or mobilities, exhaustion or pain, but to do so in such a way that we do not return to the medicalised, individualised approaches which characterised much twentieth-century work. This chapter aims to contribute to this resurgence by considering how the ‘disabled body’ is represented in popular culture. What bodies are audiences seeing on their screens, hearing about on their radios or tweeting about on their phones? How are disabled bodies constructed in the mediatised narratives available to children and young people and what is the implication of this for young audiences?
Graph-Theoretic Analysis of Monomethyl Phosphate Clustering in Ionic Solutions.

All-atom molecular dynamics simulations combined with graph–theoretic analysis reveal that clustering of monomethyl phosphate dianion (MMP2–) is strongly influenced by the types and combinations of cations in the aqueous solution. Although Ca2+ promotes the formation of stable and large MMP2– clusters, K+ alone does not. Nonetheless, clusters are larger and their link lifetimes are longer in mixtures of K+ and Ca2+. This “synergistic” effect depends sensitively on the Lennard-Jones interaction parameters between Ca2+ and the phosphorus oxygen and correlates with the hydration of the clusters. The pronounced MMP2– clustering effect of Ca2+ in the presence of K+ is confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The characterization of the cation-dependent clustering of MMP2– provides a starting point for understanding cation-dependent clustering of phosphoinositides in cell membranes.
Nonadherence to CPAP Associated With Increased 30-Day Hospital Readmissions

Study Objectives:The primary objective of this study was to determine if nonadherence to continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is associated with increased 30-day all-cause, cardiovascular-cau...
Thermodynamic influences on shock waves in inhomogeneous elastic bodies

In this paper, the differential equation governing the behavior of shock waves propagating in inhomogeneous thermoelastic bodies is derived. The implications of this equation on the local behavior of the amplitudes are examined. It is shown that the behavior depends on the relative magnitudes of a number λ, called the critical jump in strain gradient, and the jump in strain gradient across the shocks.