cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Tree Ring—Dated Glacial History for the First Millennium c.e., Casement Glacier and Adams Inlet, Glacier Bay, Alaska, U.S.A.

ABSTRACT Calendar dating of tree-ring series from 16 logs sampled near the margin of Casement Glacier combined with tree-ring dates on 36 detrital logs from Adams Inlet, Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, Alaska, show killing of trees by ice and lake sediments from the mid-sixth through mid-seventh centuries c.e. The dates from the land-terminating Casement Glacier show ice advance into a forest between 560 and 570 c.e. within a few kilometers of the 2011 retreating margin. Advance of the tidewater glacier in Muir Inlet blocked off Adams Inlet forming Lake Adams between 540 and 640 c.e. This glacier and lake history for Glacier Bay is consistent with other land-terminating ice expansions across the Gulf of Alaska that similarly show advance centered on 600 c.e., as well as other proxy records from lakes all suggesting cooling during this interval. The cooling closely follows a series of eruptions in the mid to late sixth century, which may have contributed to the cooling. Radiocarbon ages in Adams In...
Out of reach

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) lurks in the liver, causing a chronic liver infection that, although asymptomic in many individuals, can eventually lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer. Immune cells attempt to seek out these hidden viruses through a process called immune surveillance; however, exactly how immune cells probe the liver has remained unclear. Effector CD8+ T lymphocytes (CD8 TE) have been believed to recognize pathogen-infected liver parenchymal cells and then kill the infected cells after extravasation from the post-capillary venules through the process of leukocyte diapedesis. However, liver sinusoids are relatively porous, and sinusoidal leukocyte adhesion often occurs independent of rolling. This led the authors to hypothesize that CD8 TE migration and function in the liver may differ from the classic paradigm. In their elegant study, Guidotti et al. show that hepatic CD8 TE homing is independent of adhesion molecules, chemokines, or antigen recognition, and instead depends on platelet “docking,” which allows CD8 TEs to perform immune surveillance and effector functions while still in the intravascular space. When HBV-specific CD8 TE cells were transferred into HBV replication-competent mice, they adhered to hepatic sinusoids (rather than post-capillary venules), regardless of the location of HBV-antigen–producing hepatocytes. Platelet depletion, but not inhibition of adhesion molecules, chemokines, or the degree of liver inflammation, reduced CD8 TE accumulation. CD8 TEs docked preferentially to sites of transient platelet micro-aggregates on liver sinusoidal epithelial cells (LSEC), and this required platelet-expressed CD44 interacting with sinusoidal hyaluronan. Once “docked,” CD8 TEs crawled along liver sinusoids, and after recognizing hepatocellular antigens, expressed IFN-γ. Indeed, apoptotic hepatocytes were preferentially detected juxtaposed to these cells. Using a combination of three-dimensional (3D) confocal fluorescence and transmission electron microscopy, the authors demonstrated that CD8 TEs extended small protrusions through LSEC fenestrations to probe underlying hepatocytes. Chronic treatment with arsenite, which reduces LSEC fenestrations, or CCl4, which leads to deposition of extracellular matrix in the space of Disse, reduced in vivo CD8 TE antigen recognition and liver damage, but not hepatic platelet-dependent homing. Although the authors did not demonstrate a direct link between impaired intravascular CD8 TE immune surveillance and hepatic carcinogenesis, their findings offer a model by which liver fibrosis creates a physical barrier to T cell immune surveillance and an environment that favors the development of hepatocellular carcinoma. L. G. Guidotti et al ., Immunosurveillance of the liver by intravascular effector CD8+ T cells. Cell 161 , 486–500 (2015). [[Abstract]][1] [1]: http://www.cell.com/cell/abstract/S0092-8674%2815%2900258-5
Determination of 80 Pesticide Residues in Vegetables and Fruits by Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry

A liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric(LC-MS/MS)method was developed for the simultaneous determination of 80 pesticides of different chemical classes(mainly including organophosphorous compounds,acetanilide herbicide and carbamates)in vegetables and fruits.The sample was extracted with acetonitrile,and cleaned up by PSA and C18 columns.80 pesticides were separated on a C18 column(1.8 μm,100 mm×2.1 mm i.d.)using 0.1% formic acid and 5 mmol/L ammonium acetate in water(A)-acetonitrile(B)as mobile phase in gradient elution.The analytes were detected with positive-ion electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry in dynamic multiple reaction monitoring(Dynamic MRM)mode.Under the optimal conditions,the linear ranges for all the pesticides were over 3 orders of magnitude with correlation coefficients not less than 0.99.The detection limits(LODs)ranged from 0.02 to 3 μg/kg(S/N=3).The recoveries of 80 pesticides were measured from samples of different fruits and vegetables.The results showed that the mean recoveries of 80 pesticide residues at two spiked concentration levels of 0.01 and 0.05 mg/kg were in the range of 64%-118% and 72%-108%,respectively,with relative standard deviations(RSDs)of 3.7%-29.1% and 3.4%-27.9%,respectively.The method was rapid,sensitive,reliable,and could be used to analyse the pesticide residues in a wide variety of fruits and vegetables.
Mathematical Modeling of the Processes of Thermodiffusion of the Decaying Substance in a Stochastically Inhomogeneous Layered Strip

We study the processes of thermodiffusion with regard for the decay of a substance in a two-phase randomly inhomogeneous layered strip. The statement of a contact-boundary-value problem is formulated on the basis of the theory of binary systems with conditions of perfect contact for temperature and imperfect conditions for concentration. The system of equations of thermodiffusion of decaying particles is obtained for the entire body. The system of integrodifferential equations equivalent to the source contact boundary-value problem is formulated. Its solution is constructed by the method of successive approximations. The random fields of temperature and concentration of decaying particles are found in the form of Neumann series. The conditions of absolute and uniform convergence of the series are established. The procedure of averaging of the random fields is carried out over the ensemble of phase configurations with uniform distribution function.
Patterns of Gay Male and Lesbian Partnering in the Metropolitan Areas of the United States in 2010

In this paper we examine the degree of prevalence of partnered gay male households and partnered lesbian households in the metropolitan areas of the U.S. in 2010. We first discuss the same-sex partnering data from the 2010 U.S. Census, their biases and problems, and the adjustments researchers have developed to address the problems. We add a statistical adjustment to the data and then calculate for each of the 366 metropolitan areas of the U.S. prevalence ratios for gay male couples and for lesbian couples, and for comparative purposes, for opposite-sex cohabiting couples and opposite-sex married couples. Then we propose and test several ecological hypotheses to account for the variability among the metropolitan areas in the partnering ratios.
The Role of Stereotactic Radiosurgery in the Management of Primary Brain Tumors

Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is a sophisticated form of radiotherapy that usually delivers a large single-fraction dose of irradiation to small, well-defined intracranial targets. This is accomplished with a high degree of accuracy (iA1 mm). Stereotactic guidance is provided by the use of modern imaging modalities, notably computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or cerebral angiography. Noninvasive, bloodless delivery of a tumoricidal dose to a selected intracranial target-volume, with concurrent sparing of adjacent normal tissue, can be accomplished by various modalities, but is generally done by the cross-firing of photon radiation-beams through a precise target point from different angles, based on stereotactic localization with the aforementioned imaging techniques.
Management of Insomnia in Patients with Alcohol Use Disorder

Purpose of Review Persistence of insomnia during recovery from alcohol use disorders (AUD) is common and associated with drinking relapse and suicidal ideation. Therefore, insomnia intervention is often warranted for AUD patients. This review critically evaluates current literature on approaches to insomnia management in recovering AUD patients.
Loss of αII and βIII spectrin isoforms in body fluids is associated with metastasis

Background Spectrins are the principal skeletal proteins involved in cellular adhesion migration and signal transduction and have been shown to be associated with integrate structure and function in complex tissue of all multi cellular organisms The present study investigates the role of spectrins in metastasis Methods Spectrin expression patterns were examined initially in cases normal benign and malignant samples Then primary tumor cases included in which were counts of metastasis and cases of body fluid metastasis without available primary tumor samples were studied Expression of spectrin isoforms aII bI bII and bIII were studied by immunohistochemistry in primary tumors cases with lymph node remote organ and body fluid metastasis the cases of malignant body fluids were paired with their corresponding primary tumors and analyzed Results In this paper we focus on the expression of aII and bIII isoforms We found an aberrant loss of aII mainly in breast invasive ductal carcinoma among other cancers Positive body fluids had markedly reduced aII and bIII expression P lt P lt respectively bII remained present in all the primary tumors and cytology samples No difference was identified in lymph node or remote organ metastasis Conclusion We posit based on the established role of spectrins in various forms of cancer and in cell structure and adhesion that spectrins play an important role in maintaining tissue structure with aberrant expression associated with body fluid metastasis
Tundra avian community composition during recovery from the Anaktuvuk River Fire

In 2007, a fire burned over 100000ha along the Anaktuvuk River in Alaska, causing widespread ecological disturbance. Despite efforts to understand ecosystem recovery, little is known about higher trophic levels. Here, we present qualitative findings from a preliminary bird survey of the burn scar region, conducted in 2014, at three sites representing varying severity of burn damage. We found that abundance and species richness both appear higher at a site that experienced a moderate degree of burn damage than unburned control and severely burned sites. These findings suggest that the impacts of fires on bird communities may be minimal within 7 years post fire. Furthermore, our findings highlight the need for more rigorous efforts to understand the dynamics of tundra bird community fire recovery in a rapidly changing world.
A probe in the connection between inflammation, cognition and suicide.

Background:Increased inflammation is linked to suicide risk. However, it is unclear whether increased inflammation drives suicidal crises or is a trait associated with lifetime suicidal behavior. L...
Pathological Diagnosis of Common Tumors of Bone and Cartilage

Although primary bone tumors are relatively rare, they are usually concentrated in and referred to specialized centers that deal with them. Because of this, the general surgical pathologist is generally unfamiliar with these entities, and therefore a perceived increase in difficulty in their diagnosis and classification results.
Attitudes Toward Accepting a Bribe: A Comparative Study of the People’s Republic of China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong

This study summarizes the theoretical and empirical literature on the ethics of bribe taking, and then compares the opinions of sample populations in the People’s Republic of China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. The study found that, although opposition is strong in general, it is less than absolute in many cases. The study also examines some demographic variables.
Vibrational Potential Energy Surfaces of Non-Rigid Molecules in Ground and Excited Electronic States

Far-infrared and low-frequency Raman spectroscopy have been used for many years to determine the potential energy surfaces which govern the conformational changes in four-, five-, or six-membered ring molecules. The definition of the coordinates, the calculation of the kinetic energy functions, and the calculation of the energy levels are described. The analysis of the data for.1,3-dioxole, which shows an unusual anomeric effect resulting in a barrier to planarity of 270 cm−1, and of other “pseudo-four-membered rings” is discussed. Two-dimensional potential energy surfaces defining the conformational energy changes for silacyclopentane, 3-phospholene, and cyclohexene are presented.
Survey of ab initio phonon thermal transport

Abstract The coupling of lattice dynamics and phonon transport methodologies with density functional theory has become a powerful tool for calculating lattice thermal conductivity (κ) with demonstrated quantitative accuracy and applicability to a wide range of materials. More importantly, these first-principles transport methods lack empirical tuning parameters so that reliable predictions of κ behaviors in new and old materials can be formulated. Since its inception nearly a decade ago, first-principles thermal transport has vastly expanded the range of materials examined, altered our physical intuition of phonon interactions and transport behaviors, provided deeper understanding of experiments, and accelerated the design of materials for targeted thermal functionalities. Such advances are critically important for developing novel thermal management materials and strategies as heat sets challenging operating limitations on engines, microelectronics, and batteries. This article provides a comprehensive survey of first-principles Peierls-Boltzmann thermal transport as developed in the literature over the last decade, with particular focus on more recent advances. This review will demonstrate the wide variety of calculations accessible to first-principles transport methods (including dimensionality, pressure, and defects), highlight unusual properties and predictions that have been made, and discuss some challenges and behaviors that lie beyond.
Detuned-Structure-Based Beam-Driven Accelerator

An experimental research is being conducted at the Yale University Beam Physics Laboratory, aiming to confirm fundamental aspects of an as-yet untested two-beam collinear electron accelerator concept employing a detuned bimodal cavity structure. The features of this novel beam-driven accelerator concept include (i) interleaving of bunches of the low-current accelerated beam with bunches of the high-current drive beam, while both beams move along the same central axis in the structure; (ii) excitation by the drive beam of two modes of each cavity in the structure, with the frequency of the higher mode equal to three times the frequency of the fundamental TM 010 mode; and (iii) detuning of the cavity modes away from the frequency of the accelerated and drive beam bunches, and their third harmonic. Advantages that are anticipated from this approach include (a) operation at higher acceleration gradient with lower breakdown and pulsed heating rates than for a structure of single-mode cavities at the same acceleration gradient, due to the unconventional spatiotemporal field distributions in the bimodal cavities; (b) realization of a transformer ratio well above two, due to the detuning of the cavity modes; and (c) greater system simplicity and lower cost than for a two-beam accelerator with separate drive and accelerated beam-lines. The recent R&D progress is presented.
A revised and expanded liquid metal property library for MELCOR

Abstract The liquid metal thermophysical properties library in MELCOR for Fusion has been comprehensively revised. In addition to the existing liquid metals Li, Na, and NaK, recently developed equations of state and updated transport properties for PbLi and Sn have been implemented, and a new SnLi alloy (80% Sn, 20% Li) equation of state has been developed and added. SnLi has been investigated in a variety of experiments, but its thermodynamic properties (e.g. density, specific heat, and sound speed as a function of temperature) have not yet been determined. We have therefore predicted these based on the pure component equations of state and a mixing rule for these elements based on chemical activity measurements; these calculations are described in the paper. The revised code also dispenses with the prior method of computing properties by interpolating property tables during execution, in favor of direct computation from the equations of state and their derivatives, the result being up to a factor of two speed increase in code execution in some test cases.
EU GDPR or APEC CBPR? A comparative analysis of the approach of the EU and APEC to cross border data transfers and protection of personal data in the IoT era

Abstract This article examines the two major international data transfer schemes in existence today – the European Union (EU) model which at present is effectively the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Cross Border Privacy Rules system (CBPR), in the context of the Internet of Things (IoT). While IoT data ostensibly relates to things i.e. products and services, it impacts individuals and their data protection and privacy rights, and raises compliance issues for corporations especially in relation to international data flows. The GDPR regulates the processing of personal data of individuals who are EU data subjects including cross border data transfers. As an EU Regulation, the GDPR applies directly as law to EU member nations. The GDPR also has extensive extraterritorial provisions that apply to processing of personal data outside the EU regardless of place of incorporation and geographical area of operation of the data controller/ processor. There are a number of ways that the GDPR enables lawful international transfer of personal data including schemes that are broadly similar to APEC CBPR. APEC CBPR is the other major regional framework regulating transfer of personal data between APEC member nations. It is essentially a voluntary accountability scheme that initially requires acceptance at country level, followed by independent certification by an accountability agent of the organization wishing to join the scheme. APEC CBPR is viewed by many in the United States of America (US) as preferable to the EU approach because CBPR is considered more conducive to business than its counterpart schemes under the GDPR, and therefore is regarded as the scheme most likely to prevail. While there are broad areas of similarity between the EU and APEC approaches to data protection in the context of cross border data transfer, there are also substantial differences. This paper considers the similarities and major differences, and the overall suitability of the two models for the era of the Internet of Things (IoT) in which large amounts of personal data are processed on an on-going basis from connected devices around the world. This is the first time the APEC and GDPR cross-border data schemes have been compared in this way. The paper concludes with the author expressing a view as to which scheme is likely to set the global standard.
Required Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Reporting by US Health Centers: First-Year Data

Objectives. To assess the performance of US health centers during the first year of required sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) data reporting and to estimate the baseline proportion of ...
Bach, Mozart, and Beethoven: Sorting piano excerpts based on perceived similarity using DiSTATIS

Abstract Our initial aim in this study was to show that Western listeners can sort the music of 3 Western composers consistently on the basis of their compositional style. We found that they could, and proceeded to investigate what cues they might be using to accomplish that task, as well as whether their use of those cues was related to their level of musical training. In Experiment 1, we presented 21 excerpts from the keyboard music of Bach, Mozart, and Beethoven, each excerpt linked to an icon on the computer screen. Participants were to place the icons in different groups following the rule that the icons in one group could have been written by the same composer. First, they did a free sort in which they could form as many groups as they liked, and then we told them that there were just 3 composers, and they should make 3 groups in a constrained sort. In Experiment 1, the excerpts were produced with MIDI transcriptions of the scores, such that the composer's pitch and time information of the notes was preserved, but there was no variation in tempo, dynamics (loudness), or articulation (connectedness or separateness of notes in time). In spite of this simplification, listeners succeeded in clearly differentiating the composers in the constrained sort. In Experiment 2, we used more natural stimuli, 36 excerpts taken from recordings of the 3 composers by 4 pianists who had recorded substantial amounts of each: Arrau, Barenboim, Pires, and Richter. Here, the stimuli included all the expressive cues of a live performance, and in the constrained sort listeners were even better at categorizing the composers, with not very much difference between the categorizations of trained and untrained listeners. Their judgments were also strongly influenced by the pianists. Richter's performances of the 3 composers were clustered relatively close to the Mozart region of the solution, indicating their clarity and balance; in contrast, those of Barenboim were clustered in the Beethoven region, indicating their sumptuousness and passion. We used a relatively new approach to data analysis—DiSTATIS—which provided the possibility of projecting the sorting results viewed from various perspectives—composer, pianist, participant expertise—into the same space, giving a clearer picture of the results than a piecemeal account of those perspectives.
A Scoping Review of Non-invasive Imaging Modalities in Dermatological Disease: Potential Novel Biomarkers in Hidradenitis Suppurativa.

Background: The development of imaging-based biomarkers has the potential to overcome major challenges in the accurate and reproducible assessment of disease severity and response to novel therapies in Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS). Understanding the advantages and limitations of existing non-invasive imaging modalities in dermatological disease will aid in the development of hypotheses and inform the design of future studies. Methods: A scoping review was performed using Medline, Embase, Web of Science Databases and evaluation of “gray literature” until June 30, 2019. Citations were examined according to pre-defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Citations were reviewed by two independent reviewers. Narrative Synthesis was used to summarize data, structured by imaging modality. Results: Non-invasive imaging modalities, such as ultrasound, MRI, RCM, EIS, OCT, and MIT, were identified. Only ultrasound, MRI and MIT have been used in HS. Image modalities vary in image depth, resolution, cost, accessibility and correlation with known aspects of disease activity in HS. Discussion and Conclusion: The benefits and limitations of each imaging modality are products of cost, accessibility, validity and reliability. An additional hurdle to the development of image-based biomarkers in HS is a lack of established analytical benchmarks that can be correlated with existing biological, inflammatory and clinical parameters. This review has identified potential imaging biomarkers, as well as relevant analytical benchmarks that reflect the presence or absence of disease. Further investigation work is needed to analytically and clinically validate these imaging variables in order to identify potential imaging biomarkers in HS.
Evidence generation, decision making, and consequent growth in health disparities

Evidence is valuable because it informs decisions to produce better outcomes. However, the same evidence that is complete for some individuals or groups may be incomplete for others, leading to inefficiencies in decision making and growth in disparities in outcomes. Specifically, the presence of treatment effect heterogeneity across some measure of baseline risk, and noisy information about such heterogeneity, can induce self-selection into randomized clinical trials (RCTs) by patients with distributions of baseline risk different from that of the target population. Consequently, average results from RCTs can disproportionately affect the treatment choices of patients with different baseline risks. Using economic models for these sequential processes of RCT enrollment, information generation, and the resulting treatment choice decisions, we show that the dynamic consequences of such information flow and behaviors may lead to growth in disparities in health outcomes across racial and ethnic categories. These disparities arise due to either the differential distribution of risk across those categories at the time RCT results are reported or the different rate of change of baseline risk over time across race and ethnicity, even though the distribution of risk within the RCT matched that of the target population when the RCT was conducted. We provide evidence on how these phenomena may have contributed to the growth in racial disparity in diabetes incidence.
Use of penalized basis splines in estimation of characteristics of seasonal and sporadic infectious disease outbreaks

There is often a need to estimate the characteristics of epidemics or seasonality from infectious disease data. For instance, accurately estimating the start and end date of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) epidemics can be used to optimize the initiation of prophylactic medication. Many widely-used methods for describing these characteristics begin with a regression model fit to a time series of disease incidence. The fitted model is then often used to calculate the quantities of interest. Calculation of these quantities from the fitted regression model typically involves combining together different components of the fitted model, and consequently only point estimates (rather than measures of uncertainty) of those quantities can be made in a straightforward way. Motivated by attempts to estimate the optimal timing of prophylaxis for RSV, we developed a general method for obtaining confidence intervals for characteristics of seasonal and sporadic infectious disease outbreaks. To do this, we use multivariate sampling of a generalized additive model with penalized basis splines. Our approach provides robust confidence intervals regardless of the complexity of the calculations of the outcome measures, and it generalizes to other systems (including outbreaks of other infectious diseases). Here we present our general approach, its application to RSV, and an R package that provides a convenient interface for conducting and validating this type of analysis in other areas.
Letermovir for Prevention of Cytomegalovirus Reactivation in Haploidentical and Mismatched Adult Donor Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation with Post-Transplantation Cyclophosphamide for Graft-versus-Host Disease Prophylaxis

ABSTRACT Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is serious viral infection in allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) recipients. November 2017, the novel CMV DNA terminase complex inhibitor letermovir was approved for prophylaxis of CMV infection in CMV-seropositive allo-HCT recipients. Here we sought to determine the effectiveness of letermovir in preventing CMV infection in CMV-seropositive patients undergoing haploidentical or mismatched adult unrelated donor allo-HCT using post-transplantation cyclophosphamide-based graft-versus host-disease prophylaxis. Sixty-four patients underwent transplantation between 2014 and 2019, of whom 32 received letermovir and 32 did not receive letermovir. The day 180 cumulative incidence of CMV infection requiring therapy was 45.3% (95% confidence interval [CI], 32.7% to 57.1%) in the entire cohort, 68.8% (95% CI, 48.9% to 82.2%) in the patients who did not receive letermovir, and 21.9% (95% CI, 9.5% to 37.6%; P 28 days of therapy was more common in patients who did not receive letermovir (31.2% versus 6.2%; P = .02). In summary, letermovir was effective in preventing CMV infection in this high-risk population of HLA-mismatched allo-HCT recipients.
Biomechanical Comparison of the Validity of Two Configurations of Simulators for Body-Powered Hand Prostheses

Simulators are often used in prosthesis research to evaluate new devices or characterize aspects of prosthesis use, so as to recruit participants without amputations. Simulators, in general, must locate the prosthesis somewhere other than where the intact biological limb exists. In this study, we compared two configurations of simulators for hand prostheses to determine which leads to more natural elbow and shoulder kinematics, and in turn, which is the more valid simulator. One configuration located the prosthesis in-line with the forearm, beyond the biological hand; the other located it beside the hand. We measured the kinematics of 12 non-amputee participants during three clinical tests of hand-arm dexterity, which were completed 1) using each simulator configuration with a body-powered Hosmer 5X hand prosthesis and 2) using the biological hand with a wrist brace. The beside-the-hand configuration resulted in kinematics that were more similar to those measured with the biological hand, particularly during the Box and Blocks Test, which involved navigating the prosthesis around obstacles. Therefore, we concluded that simulators with the beside-the-hand configuration are likely to better emulate the use of hand prostheses for activities involving a wide variety of arm movement. We suggest using this configuration in general, except when arm movement is of secondary importance and when this configuration would be obstructive, visually or otherwise.
Robotic-Assisted Tubular Transoral Parapharyngeal Approach to the Ventral Craniovertebral Junction.

Background Transoral robotic surgery (TORS) has become a routine technique for treating benign and malignant lesions of the oropharynx with the advantage of reducing morbidity compared to open surgical techniques. However, TORS has not been used routinely for accessing lesions of the spine. Objective To describe how TORS can be used to access spinal lesions. Methods We describe our technique of accessing the parapharyngeal space using the robotic technique, and then dissecting the prevertebral muscles to expose the ventral craniovertebral junction. Tubular retraction with endoscopic visualization is then employed for surgical resection. We then report a case of a 14-yr-old competitive athlete who presented with an osseous lesion of C1, which underwent resection using this novel TORS approach. Results Our patient underwent successful resection of a lateral C1 osteoid osteoma utilizing a combined TORS/endoscopic approach. She tolerated soft diet immediately and was discharged on postoperative day 2. Postoperative imaging revealed complete resection of the lesion, and she returned to competitive athletics within 6 wk. Conclusion Utilizing this novel, robotic-assisted approach can definitively treat osseous cervical spine lesions while reducing morbidity, allowing for early return to normal diet and minimizing overall length of hospital stay.
Analyzing Adverse Event Signal Detection with Publicly Available Web Sources

Data mining for drug-reaction associations is a major topic in the pharmaceutical industry. Historically the focus has been on using privately owned and maintained datasets consisting of information available in the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) and privatized reporting systems that house the data from clinical trials. Our focus will be on building a pipeline that demonstrates an open source solution for outlining a drug's safety profile from data collection through signal detection. This pipeline primarily uses data from the openFDA and the social media site Reddit, both of which provide a well-documented API. All data analysis for this pipeline is done in the R statistical programming language. The aim was to collect the information available in these public sources and apply popular data mining methodologies used to identify and predict the occurrence of adverse events. The results show the ability of the openFDA and social media sites to create real-time drug safety profiles by applying the same statistical methods applied in clinical trials. The social media data does not perform equally across all drug types and gives best results when applied to common over-the-counter drugs as opposed to last line of defense medications.
Optimizing Human Performance Data for Enhanced Modeling and Analytics

A recent proliferation of wearable sensors, advancements in modeling and simulation, and a greater appreciation for individual differences have enabled the Department of Defense (DoD) to generate and collect more human performance data than ever before. Despite trends in human performance research the DoD has maintained a conservative approach to data by limiting effective data access and distribution. However, as the strategic importance of a data-centric organization has become more apparent, a cultural shift within the DoD has begun to prioritize data as an asset. This paper describes efforts to develop a Soldier-centric human performance database including a generalized approach and framework to actively support innovative human performance research and analytics. The successful completion and utilization of a dedicated human performance data management system will provide an interoperable database that facilitates research and development for researchers and operational communities across current and future applications.
Genuinely Nonlinear Systems of Two Conservation Laws

The theory of solutions of genuinely nonlinear, strictly hyperbolic systems of two conservation laws will be developed in this chapter at a level of precision comparable to that for genuinely nonlinear scalar conservation laws, expounded in Chapter XI. This will be achieved by exploiting the presence of coordinate systems of Riemann invariants and the induced rich family of entropy-entropy flux pairs. The principal tools in the investigation will be generalized characteristics and entropy estimates. The analysis will reveal a close similarity in the structure of solutions of scalar conservation laws and pairs of conservation laws. Thus, as in the scalar case, jump discontinuities are generally generated by the collision of shocks and/or the focusing of compression waves, and are then resolved into wave fans approximated locally by the solution of associated Riemann problems. The total variation of the trace of solutions along space-like curves is controlled by the total variation of the initial data, and spreading of rarefaction waves affects total variation, as in the scalar case.
A novel algorithm to estimate the pulse pressure variation index /spl Delta/PP

We designed a new methodology to estimate the pulse pressure variation index (/spl Delta/PP) in arterial blood pressure (ABP). The method uses automatic detection algorithms, kernel smoothing, and rank-order filters to continuously estimate /spl Delta/PP. The technique can be used to estimate /spl Delta/PP from ABP alone, eliminating the need for simultaneously acquiring airway pressure.
Administrative Law and the Judicial Control of Agents in Authoritarian Regimes

One reason that dictators empower courts is to monitor and discipline lower level administrative agents. This chapter applies a version of the well-known McNollgast framwork to understand the evolution of administrative law in modern China. Administrative law became an attractive solution to principal-agent problems just as ideology was disappearing as an effective tool in the post 1979 period.
Design and Testing of Improved Spacesuit Shielding Components

In prior studies of the current Shuttle Spacesuit (SSA), where basic fabric lay-ups were tested for shielding capabilities, it was found that the fabric portions of the suit give far less protection than previously estimated due to porosity and non-uniformity of fabric and LCVG components. In addition, overall material transmission properties were less than optimum. A number of alternate approaches are being tested to provide more uniform coverage and to use more efficient materials. We will discuss in this paper, recent testing of new material lay-ups/configurations for possible use in future spacesuit designs.
Mitochondrial structural protein I. Methods of preparation and purification: characterization by gel electrophoresis.

Abstract Structural protein prepared from heavy beef heart mitochondria by a variety of methods, was shown to be heterogeneous by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Procedures are described which have been found to be effective in purifying structural protein to a stage at which it shows one band when electrophoresed on polyacrylamide gel. When structural protein so purified was oxidized with performic acid, and subjected to electrophoretic analysis, four major protein bands were visualized. A possible explanation of this observation is discussed. The solubility properties of structural protein varied according to the method of preparation.
Estimating Pollution Abatement Costs: A Comparison of 'Stated' and 'Revealed' Approaches

﻿Surveys have been the principal method used to estimate costs associated with environmental regulations in the United States. Although surveys have been widely used, there are concerns about their accuracy. In order to investigate the accuracy of survey estimates of pollution abatement costs, a joint production model is specified and data from electric power plants in the United States for 1994 and 1995 are used to estimate pollution abatement costs incurred by these plants. The estimates of pollution abatement costs generated by the joint production model are then compared with survey estimates of pollution abatement costs incurred by power plants.
Gravitational effect of electromagnetic radiation

The effect of the gravitational field, produced by a pulse of electromagnetic radiation, on a test particle is evaluated by using the linearized form of the Einstein field equations. It is found that the impulse transmitted to the test particle in the direction of propagation is equal in magnitude and opposite in direction to the momentum change of the photon which occurs in the gravitational red-shift.
Size of CA1-Evoked Synaptic Potentials Is Related to Theta Rhythm Phase in Rat Hippocampus

Cholinergic and GABAergic neurons projecting to the hippocampus fire with specific phase relations to theta rhythm oscillations in the electroencephalogram (EEG). To determine if this phasic input ...
Depersonalizing Leadership and Followership: The Process of Leadship and Followship

This article addresses the traditional view of leader (ship) and follower (ship) as separate persons and processes in leadership research. Attempts have been made to depersonalize leadership and followership by taking leaders out of leadership and followers out of followership, which is to say that leaders and followers are myth and do not exist as separate identities. The traditional views of leaders and followers as static persons and functions as well as leadership and followership as separate processes have been challenged by the depersonalized or person-less concepts of leadship and followship. A shift of focus in research seems necessary from the leader or follower to the dynamic inter-relational functions of leading or following as well as from leader- or follower-centric leadership or followership to role-focused and interchangeable process of leadship and followship in organizations.
Research on the Educational Implications of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

This article summarizes the major academic problems of students with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and addresses the extent to which these problems are secondary to ADHD, rather than a part of a co-occurring learning or cognitive disability. The article delineates the academic problems of students with ADHD in relation to their primary characteristics—how one influences the nature of the other. Treatment implications are discussed to indicate how educators might modify classroom settings to enhance the academic achievement of students with ADHD.
How species evolve collectively: implications of gene flow and selection for the spread of advantageous alleles

The traditional view that species are held together through gene flow has been challenged by observations that migration is too restricted among populations of many species to prevent local divergence. However, only very low levels of gene flow are necessary to permit the spread of highly advantageous alleles, providing an alternative means by which low-migration species might be held together. We re-evaluate these arguments given the recent and wide availability of indirect estimates of gene flow. Our literature review of F(ST) values for a broad range of taxa suggests that gene flow in many taxa is considerably greater than suspected from earlier studies and often is sufficiently high to homogenize even neutral alleles. However, there are numerous species from essentially all organismal groups that lack sufficient gene flow to prevent divergence. Crude estimates on the strength of selection on phenotypic traits and effect sizes of quantitative trait loci (QTL) suggest that selection coefficients for leading QTL underlying phenotypic traits may be high enough to permit their rapid spread across populations. Thus, species may evolve collectively at major loci through the spread of favourable alleles, while simultaneously differentiating at other loci due to drift and local selection.
Yes Virginia, There Is an Alternative

This article assesses the current economic crisis, why it is happening, its implications for the US role in the world and international relations, and what can and must be done to address the situation.
Benchmark validation comparisons of measured and calculated delayed neutron detector responses for a pulsed photonuclear assessment technique

An MCNPX-based calculational methodology has been developed to numerically simulate the complex electron–photon–neutron transport problem for the active interrogation system known as the pulsed photonuclear assessment (PPA) technique. The PPA technique uses a pulsed electron accelerator to generate bremsstrahlung photons in order to fission nuclear materials. Delayed neutron radiation is then detected with helium-3 neutron detectors as evidence of the nuclear material presence. Two experimental tests were designed, setup and run to generate experimental data for benchmarking purposes. The first test irradiated depleted uranium in air, and the second test, depleted uranium in a simulated cargo container (plywood pallet), using 10 MeV electron pulses. Time-integrated, post-flash, delayed neutron counts were measured and compared to calculated count predictions in order to benchmark the calculational methodology and computer models. Comparisons between the experimental measurements and numerical predictions of the delayed neutron detector responses resulted in reasonable experiment/calculated ratios of 1.42 and 1.06 for the two tests. High-enriched uranium (HEU) predictions were also made with the benchmarked models.
Biosystematics of Pissodes Germar (Coleoptera: Curculionidae): feeding preference and breeding site specificity of P. strobi and P. approximatus.

Pissodes strobi (Peck) and P. approximatus Hopkins are sibling species that can produce fertile hybrids in the laboratory, but in nature they are isolated by differences in their breeding habits. In a laboratory assay for feeding preference, these species exhibited similar patterns of acceptance of most conifer hosts in the fall, but differed distinctly in their preferences for certain conifers in the spring. Both species had high levels of feeding on white spruce in the fall and spring tests, hut these data apparently do not reflect host preference in nature. In field tests, P. strobi males and females confined on 1-year-old terminal leaders of eastern white pine (their usual breeding sites) produced abundant progeny, whereas P. approximatus pairs confined on leaders produced few progeny. Mixed species pairs were successful in killing and breeding in white pine leaders when the females were P. strobi , but not when the females were P. approximatus . Laboratory-reared hybrids were unsuccessful when forced to breed in leaders. When confined on red pine bolts (the usual breeding sites of P. approximatus ), P. strobi and hybrids produced substantially fewer progeny than did P. approximatus . Breeding site separation provides compelling evidence of reproductive isolation between these sympatric species.
The effects of antagonizing residual neuromuscular blockade by neostigmine and glycopyrrolate on nausea and vomiting after ambulatory surgery.

The effects of neostigmine on the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) are controversial. In this study, we evaluated the effects of neostigmine and glycopyrrolate on the incidence of PONV and the need for antiemetics in patients undergoing ambulatory surgery. One hundred healthy pa
Fibronectin: source of mannose in a highly purified respiratory mucin.

Human bronchial mucin, solubilized in an aqueous solution of sodium azide and protease inhibitors, was purified by molecular sieve chromatography. The mucin was purified by Sepharose 4B and 2B column chromatography. Chemical analyses of this preparation showed a typical mucin profile of amino acids and carbohydrates, except for the presence of an appreciable amount of mannose. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel (5%) electrophoresis of this material showed a high Mτ glycoprotein at the top of the gel and two additional bands with mobilities of fibronectin subunits (230 and 210 kD). The fibronectin was separated from the mucin by geletin-Sepharose column chromatography, and the fibronectin eluted from the column was immunologically similar to fibronectin purified from human serum. Ion-exchange chromatography of purified mucin resulted in neutral and acidic fractions. The neutral mucin was the major component. Chemical composition of these two fractions indicated that the amount of threonine, serine, and sialic acid was higher in the acidic fraction, whereas the neutral fraction contained more proline, aspartic acid, leucine, glycine, fucose, and galactose than the acidic fraction.
Lidar observation of the mesospheric sodium layer over Urbana, Illinois

Atmospheric sodium has been observed over Urbana (40 deg 10 min N, 88 deg 10 min W) using a monostatic lidar tuned to 589.0 nm. The photocount data are processed using ditital smoothing filters to obtain continuous estimates of the sodium density versus altitude. The filter cutoff frequency is related to the height resolution and accuracy of the estimated profile. Wavelike structures in the sodium layer have been observed with typical wavelengths of 3-15 km and phase velocities of 1-3 m/s. The layer is characterized by a sharp falloff on the bottomside and often an undulatory motion of the bottomside of the layer accompanies the wave motion. The topside gradient of the layer is frequently observed to decrease through the night.