cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Global Version of the PSU/NCAR Mesoscale Model

A global version of the fifth-generation Pennsylvania State University‐National Center for Atmospheric Research Mesoscale Model (PSU‐NCAR MM5) is described. The new model employs two polar stereographic projection domains centered on each pole. These domains interact at their equators, thereby eliminating the need for a lateral boundary condition file. This paper describes the method, and contrasts this fully compressible nonhydrostatic Eulerian global model with other global models. There are potential advantages over spherical polar grids in the resolution distribution and the treatment of curvature forces near the poles. The model also selectively damps acoustic modes, which appears to have some benefits in real-data initialization. The split-explicit time steps are different from the semiimplicit schemes used in several global nonhydrostatic models, and this localized scheme avoids the need for global elliptic solvers, making it particularly adept for distributed-memory platforms and the use of composite meshes. Tests of the model show that acoustic and gravity waves as well as advective features propagate across the equator without distortion. A trial 100-day perpetual January simulation shows realistic rain patterns as compared to climatology with no evidence of equatorial effects. Nesting is also available to focus on areas of interest, and this is demonstrated with a 72-h nested forecast over North America. While the time step is shorter than that typically used in semi-Lagrangian global models with a comparable resolution, the model is efficient enough to have allowed the running of daily 120-km grid forecasts on nondedicated computers as small as four-processor workstations since October 1999. Results from this real-time application of the model to 5-day forecasts are shown, and demonstrate that the model performs well at this scale. The model is consistent with the regular regional MM5 and shares dynamics and physics packages without modification. It can also make use of pre- and postprocessing packages developed for the MM5 system. This tight linkage between a regional and global model will have a clear benefit as future global models move toward higher resolutions. It allows current mesoscale numerical weather prediction research to directly feed into the next generation of global models.
Resource concerns for territorial conflict

The objective of this paper is to engage constructively with literature on armed conflict and resources in order to draw attention both to assumptions that hinder a more accurate or useful understanding of natural resources and their role in territorial conflict as well as to aspects of this field of research that merit further work. In much of the literature on resource conflict, territorial aspects are either implicitly or explicitly tied to resource conflict largely through the assumption that the value of territory is intrinsic. Little of the literature attempts to advance theory, specifically, either on the particular role of resources or on the meaning and objectives of conflict beyond a one-dimensional objective of maintaining or securing control of territory. The paper considers themes of resource scarcity and resource abundance in conflict. A third section focuses on an analysis both of natural resource databases and of conflict databases (both international and civil) which emphasizes problematic results of blending these databases to demonstrate correlations.
Phase Relations and Ordering in the Systems MgO-Y2O3-ZrO2 and CaO-MgO-ZrO2

The phase relations in the systems MgO-Y2O3-ZrO2 and CaO-MgO-ZrO2 were established at 1220° and 1420°C. The system MgO-Y2O3-ZrO2 possesses a much-larger cubic ZrO2 solid solution phase field than the system CaO-MgO-ZrO2 at both temperatures. The ordered δ phase (Zr3Y4O12) was found to be stable in the system ZrO2-Y2O3 at 1220°C. Two ordered phases φ1 (CaZr4O9) and φ2 (Ca6Zr19O44) were stable at 1220°C in the system ZrO2-CaO. At 1420°C no ordered phase appears in either system, in agreement with the previously determined temperature limits of the stability for the δ, φ1, and φ2 phases. The existence of the compound Mg3YzO6 could not be confirmed.
Element matching in concept maps

Concept maps (CM) are informal, semantic, node-link conceptual graphs used to represent knowledge in a variety of applications. Algorithms that compare concept maps would be useful in supporting educational processes and in leveraging indexed digital collections of concept maps. Map comparison begins with element matching and faces computational challenges arising from vocabulary overlap, informality, and organizational variation. Our implementation of an adapted similarity flooding algorithm improves matching of CM knowledge elements over a simple string matching approach.
Fishery-induced changes in the subtropical Pacific pelagic ecosystem size structure: observations and theory.

We analyzed a 16-year (1996–2011) time series of catch and effort data for 23 species with mean weights ranging from 0.8 kg to 224 kg, recorded by observers in the Hawaii-based deep-set longline fishery. Over this time period, domestic fishing effort, as numbers of hooks set in the core Hawaii-based fishing ground, has increased fourfold. The standardized aggregated annual catch rate for 9 small (,15 kg) species increased about 25% while for 14 large species (.15 kg) it decreased about 50% over the 16-year period. A size-based ecosystem model for the subtropical Pacific captures this pattern well as a response to increased fishing effort. Further, the model projects a decline in the abundance of fishes larger than 15 kg results in an increase in abundance of animals from 0.1 to 15 kg but with minimal subsequent cascade to sizes smaller than 0.1 kg. These results suggest that size-based predation plays a key role in structuring the subtropical ecosystem. These changes in ecosystem size structure show up in the fishery in various ways. The non-commercial species lancetfish (mean weight 7 kg) has now surpassed the target species, bigeye tuna, as the species with the highest annual catch rate. Based on the increase in snake mackerel (mean weight 0.8 kg) and lancetfish catches, the discards in the fishery are estimated to have increased from 30 to 40% of the total catch.
Characteristics Associated With Lower Activity Involvement in Long-Term Care Residents With Dementia

This article describes the characteristics associated with activity involvement in 400 residents with dementia in 45 assisted living facilities and nursing homes. Activity involvement was related to family involvement in care and staff encouragement, after adjusting for resident age, gender, race, cognitive and functional status, and comorbidity.
Prey Transport Mechanisms in Blindsnakes and the Evolution of Unilateral Feeding Systems in Snakes

Most snakes ingest and transport their prey via a jaw ratcheting mechanism in which the left and right upper jaw arches are advanced over the prey in an alternating, unilateral fashion. This unilateral jaw ratcheting mechanism differs greatly from the hyolingual and inertial transport mechanisms used by lizards, both of which are characterized by bilaterally synchronous jaw movements. Given the well-corroborated phylogenetic hypothesis that snakes are derived from lizards, this suggests that major changes occurred in both the morphology and motor control of the feeding apparatus during the early evolution of snakes. However, most previous studies of the evolution of unilateral feeding mechanisms in snakes have focused almost exclusively on the morphology of the jaw apparatus because there have been very few direct observations of feeding behavior in basal snakes. In this paper I describe the prey transport mechanisms used by representatives of two families of basal snakes, Leptotyphlopidae and Typhlopidae. In Leptotyphlopidae, a mandibular raking mechanism is used, in which bilaterally synchronous flexions of the lower jaw serve to ratchet prey into and through the mouth. In Typhlopidae, a maxillary raking mechanism is used, in which asynchronous ratcheting movements of the highly mobile upper jaws are used to drag prey through the oral cavity. These findings suggest that the unilateral feeding mechanisms that characterize the majority of living snakes were not present primitively in Serpentes, but arose subsequently to the basal divergence between Scolecophidia and Alethinophidia.
Should the United States Designate Specialist Patent Trial Judges? An Analysis of H.R. 34 in Light of the U.K. Experience

The United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit currently reverses from one-third to nearly one-half of all patent claim construction decisions by the U.S. district courts. Because claim construction often determines the outcome of patent litigation, the high appellate claim construction reversal rate contributes to significant uncertainty among inventors and investors. Congress is currently considering legislation, H.R. 34, which will designate specialist district court patent judges so as to reduce this unacceptably high reversal rate. This article concludes that designation of specialist patent trial judges among the federal district court judiciary is likely to reduce the high appellate claim construction reversal rate, based upon an empirical analysis of the appellate claim construction reversal rate in England, which has specialized patent tribunals. Part I of the article examines proposed legislation that would designate specialized patent trial judges. Part II analyzes the patent claim construction process in the United States, enumerating the challenges faced by generalist U.S. district court judges charged with deciding highly complex patent litigation actions. Part III then examines the English patent claim construction process, drawing numerous parallels between patent litigation in the United States and England that render the English system a valid comparator when considering the respective appellate claim construction reversal rates in the two jurisdictions. Part IV presents empirical results that strongly support the notion that designation of specialist patent trial judges in the United States could indeed lessen the appellate claim construction reversal rate, thereby affording certainty to patent litigants and investors. Part V then considers why the approach proposed in H.R. 34 is superior to the current U.K. system of specialized patent trial courts.
To Cast, to Saw, and Not to Injure: Can Safety Strips Decrease Cast Saw Injuries?

Background Placement and removal of fiberglass casts are among the more-common interventions performed in pediatric orthopaedic surgery offices. However, cast removal is associated with abrasive injuries and burns from the oscillating cast saw, and these injuries can occur even when the cast is removed by experienced personnel. It is unknown whether an added barrier, such as a safety strip, can mitigate injuries from blade-to-skin contact during cast removal with the oscillating saw.
Unstructured Mesh Solution Techniques using the NSU3D Solver

NSU3D is an unstructured mesh Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) solver designed for aerodynamic flow problems. This paper describes the basic solution techniques implemented and available within NSU3D for both steady-state aerodynamic problems and time-dependent simulations. The base solver consists of a multi-stage point-implicit approach that inverts small block-diagonal matrices at each mesh point. This is generalized to a line-Jacobi method, using lines generated within the unstructured mesh based on the strength of the edge connections between neighboring vertices. The line-Jacobi solver is used as a smoother for an agglomeration multigrid solver which makes use of coarse agglomerated mesh levels to accelerate the convergence of the overall solution procedure based on geometric and algebraic multigrid principles. The multigrid solver, in turn, can be used as a preconditioner for a GMRES algorithm that provides further robustness and convergence efficiency for large difficult cases. Different variants of these solvers are available as both linear and non-linear formulations and are applicable to steady as well as time-dependent cases. The numerical performance and parallel scalability of these solvers are illustrated on two representative steady-state aerodynamic RANS problems, and one unsteady time-implicit problem. The advantages and drawbacks of the various solvers are discussed, and prospects for future solver development are given.
Modified Nanodiamonds for Adsorption of Propidium Iodide and Aflatoxin

Nanodiamonds (NDs) have desirable chemical, physical and biological properties that lend them to a wide range of applications. ND’s facile surface chemistry, for example, can be used to create a high affinity for adsorbing various biological molecules. However, NDs, which are commercially available from multiple vendors, show inconsistencies with surface groups, aggregate sizes and impurity contents that may limit adsorption. We explore adsorption mechanisms of molecules to NDs in efforts to expand ND applications to drug delivery agents, bio-labels and enterosorbents. In doing so, several types of NDs and modification methods are evaluated to increase adsorption capacity and selectivity of propidium iodide and aflatoxin B1. Capacities and binding strengths of target molecules are assessed by Langmuir isotherms and transform calculations. UV-Vis spectroscopy shows our modification treatments are successful in increasing ND adsorption capacities. Additionally, cyclic voltammetry measurements, used to monitor in-situ adsorption, show electrochemical detection even after binding.
The Economic Impact of OSHA’s Proposed Rule on Occupational Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA’s) proposed standard for occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens is expected to increase the cost of health care by an estimated $852 million, including a $195 million rise in hospital costs. The hospital estimates may be extremely low based on comparisons of the actual cost of implementing universal precautions with OSHA’s estimated institutional costs of compliance. The proposed OSHA standard is excessive and rigid when compared with the existing Centers for Disease Control’s universal precaution guidelines for health care worker protection. The high compliance to universal precautions in hospitals and the few documented cases of human immunodeficiency virus seropositive conversion among health care workers raise questions about the necessity of OSHA’s proposed standard.
One Case of Toxic Shock Syndrome

Objective Toxic shock syndrome is a rare complication reported with the incidence rate of 1 per millions or 1perten millions.Most cases occurred in persons with the status of thymicolymphaticus.This paper reports a death case of a 6 months aged infant due to toxic shock syndrome after a preventive vaccination,which was the first report in the city since 1949.The autopsy indicated the patient was with the status of thymicolymphaticus.The purpose of this paper is to help health workers to improve the operation of vaccination in order to prevent such event.
Geographic Diversification of ICTD Research

Based on a survey of 525 papers published in three ICTD-related conferences during the ten-year period between 2006 and 2015, we find that there has been a general trend toward increasing geographical diversification of ICTD research sites. This manifests as an overall decline in both absolute number and proportion of papers reporting on studies in India -- which retained the top spot throughout the interval of this analysis -- as well as gains in other countries such as Kenya and Ghana. In addition, we find that the total number of countries represented in the literature has also increased, leading to what appears to be a geographically broadening range of ICTD research activity. We offer several hypotheses to explain this trend's underlying causes.
The Offline Carpool Problem Revisited

The carpool problem is to schedule for every time \(t\in \mathbb {N}\) l tasks taken from the set [n] (\(n\ge 2\)). Each task i has a weight \(w_{i}(t)\ge 0\), where \(\sum _{i=1}^n w_{i}(t)=l\). We let \(c_i(t)\in \{0,1\}\) be 1 iff task i is scheduled at time t, where (carpool condition) \(w_i(t)=0\Rightarrow c_i(t)=0\).
Social and Community Services and the Risk for Violence Among People with Serious Psychiatric Disorders

Hoyer’s review of the empirical findings on the role of social services in preventing violence by persons with serious psychiatric disorders is insightful and analytically keen. He concludes that there is insufficient evidence from randomized controlled trials to make a claim about the influence of these resources qua interventions in decreasing the incidence of violent acts and threats in this diverse population. It is clear, nonetheless, that uncoordinated, inaccessible, inadequate, and inhospitable services—arguably the norm in many public mental health systems in the United States—have no detectable impact on the risks for and incidence of violence, except perhaps to increase them.
Crystal structure of trans-W2(CO)6(PPh2H)2(μ2-PPh2)2

The molecular structure of trans-W2(CO)6(PPh2H)2(μ2-PPh2)2 was determined by X-ray diffraction analysis. The two tungsten centers, bridged by two diphenylphosphido ligands, are separated by 3.0667(6) A with W–P–W angles of 77.10(5) and 77.08(5)○. Average tungsten–phosphorus bond distances are 2.461(17) and 2.4576(21) A for bridging and terminal phosphorus groups, respectively, with a range of 0.037 A for the former and 0.001 A for the latter. The complex crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21/c with a = 19.282(4) A, b = 12.158(2) A, c = 21.294(9) A, β = 92.821(4)○, and Z = 4.
Feminist Disruptions in Postcolonial Film

In Chapter 1, the reader is introduced to challenging and disrupting postcolonial films such as Carlos Reygadas’ Post Tenebras Lux and Claire Denis’ No Fear, No Die and Beau Travail. These films are exposed as significant in their disruptive feminism, which is informed by a global perspective and an aesthetic of opposition. After exposing many critical misreadings of first world critics, I demonstrate the manner in which these films disrupt received notions of masculinity, class, and race, along with sexuality. White colonial hegemony is exposed as malignant and dangerous to men and women, especially those at the bottom of the spectrum of the class system. The films are celebrated as overlooked masterworks of feminist aesthetics ofpostcolonial opposition.
Biological Stereoselectivity of Atropisomeric Natural Products and Drugs

Selected examples of natural product and drug atropisomers that exhibit stereoselectivity towards receptor and enzyme targets are reviewed. The atropisomeric preference of the receptors and enzyme binding domains makes these agents attractive molecules for drug development in the treatment of various diseases. Included are commonly recognized atropisomers containing a chiral biaryl axis along with some less common examples of atropisomers without a biaryl axis. The biological targets include: antiapoptotic proteins; bacteria; microtubules; kinases; vasopressin receptors; a G-protein coupled receptor related to obesity; monocarboxylate transporters; tachykinin NK1-receptors; cyclooxygenase-1 and squalene synthase. Chirality 25:265–274, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Effect of mesh width on apical support after sacrocolpopexy

We evaluated the effect of polypropylene mesh width on vaginal apical support, mesh elongation, and mesh tensile strength for abdominal sacrocolpopexy. Abdominal sacrocolpopexy was performed on ten cadavers using pieces of polypropylene mesh of width 1, 2, and 3 cm. Weights of 1, 2, 3, and 4 kg were sequentially applied to the vagina. The total distance moved by the vaginal apex, and the amount of stretch of the intervening mesh segment between the sacrum and the vagina were recorded for each width. The failure strengths of additional single and double layer sets of each width were also tested using a tensiometer. Data were analyzed with analysis of variance using a random effects model. The mean (standard error of the mean) maximum distance moved by the vaginal apex was 4.63 cm (0.37 cm) for the 1 cm mesh compared to 3.67 cm (0.26 cm) and 2.73 cm (0.14 cm) for the 2 and 3 cm meshes, respectively (P < 0.0001). The 1 cm width ruptured during testing in four of the ten cadavers. The results were similar for mesh elongation, with the 1 cm mesh stretching the most and the 3 cm mesh stretching the least. Mesh failure loads for double-layer mesh were 52.9 N (2.5 N), 124.4 N (2.7 N), and 201.2 N (4.5 N) for the 1, 2, and 3 cm meshes, respectively, and were higher than the failure loads for single mesh (P < 0.001). In a cadaver model, increasing mesh width is associated with better vaginal apical support, less mesh elongation, and higher failure loads. Mesh widths of 2–3 cm provide sufficient repair strength for sacrocolpopexy.
Comparison of life cycle environmental impacts of different perovskite solar cell systems

Abstract Perovskite solar cells have attracted enormous attention due to their low cost and high power conversion efficiency. However, the use of toxic metals such as lead in the perovskite dye and the disposal methods of perovskite solar cells cause grave concerns about their environmental impacts. Inorganic and lead-free perovskite solar cells have been developed to overcome the disadvantages of lead-based organic perovskite solar cells, a development that involves different materials and manufacturing processes to fabricate different perovskite solar cells. In order to understand and develop an environmentally friendly perovskite solar cell technology, comprehensive environmental impact assessments have been conducted in this study on five typical perovskite solar cells, using an attributional life cycle assessment (LCA) approach. The results indicate that MAPbI 3 and FAPbI 3 perovskite solar cells have relatively larger environmental impacts than MASnI 3−x Br x , CsPbBr 3 , and MAPbI 2 Cl perovskite solar cells based on a 1 cm 2 active area solar cell system, and this result can be explained by the different amounts of organic solvents used in the device fabrication. In addition, gold production makes the largest environmental impact contribution to perovskite solar cell systems, and the substitution of silver or aluminum for gold can significantly reduce the total environmental impact scores. For disposal methods, incineration with energy recovery is found better than landfill.
Sepsis in the burn patient: a different problem than sepsis in the general population.

Sepsis has recently been defined as “life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection”. A great amount of effort has been made to develop early treatments for sepsis through the Surviving Sepsis Campaign. There are similar but slightly different recommendations for the treatment of sepsis in the pediatric population. These international efforts have led to earlier diagnosis and treatments for sepsis that have led to improvements in survival. Sepsis is also the leading cause of death in the burn patient but most clinical sepsis studies have excluded burns. The reason for the exclusion is that the sepsis found in burn patients is different than that of the general population. The early treatment strategies, such as those directed by the Surviving Sepsis Campaign, focus on patients presenting to hospitals with recent signs of infection. Burn patients lose their primary barrier to infection, the skin, and thus the risk of infection persists as long as that barrier is absent. Efforts have been made to define sepsis, septic shock and infection in the burn population but there is constant need for revisions. One focus of this review is to discuss the differences in burn sepsis versus sepsis of the general population. Children often have profound responses to sepsis but can also make remarkable recoveries. This review will also explore problems specific to pediatric burns. The treatment of burns requires a continuous vigilance to watch for the subtle early signs of sepsis and then expeditious initiation of aggressive therapy. Strategies covering optimal management of pediatric burn sepsis will also be summarized.
Improving trend in ventricular fibrillation/pulseless ventricular tachycardia out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in Rochester, Minnesota: A 26-year observational study from 1991 to 2016.

Abstract Background Mortality from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is characterized by substantial regional variation. The Institute of Medicine (IOM) recently recommended enhancing the capabilities of EMS systems to improve outcome. In this study, we analyzed the trend in outcome from ventricular fibrillation/pulseless ventricular tachycardia (VF/pVT) OHCA in Rochester, MN. Survival from these forms of arrest is commonly employed as a benchmark of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) system performance. Methods Using a population-based Utstein-style registry in Rochester, MN where a first responder early defibrillation system is utilized, we evaluated outcome from all EMS-treated VF/pVT arrests and the subgroup of bystander-witnessed VF/pVT from 1991 to 2016. Outcome measurement was neurologically intact survival to discharge, defined as Cerebral Performance Category (CPC) 1 or 2. We divided the 26-year study into three periods: 1991–1997, 1998–2008, and 2009–2016, based on initiation of the first responder system of police officers in 1991 and fire-rescue personnel in 1998, and the latter period for comparison with our previous report in 2009. Results We observed 355 all VF/pVT arrests and 292 bystander-witnessed VF/pVT arrests between 1991 and 2016. In 2009–2016, neurologically intact survival to discharge from overall VF/pVT and bystander-witnessed VF/pVT increased to 53.7% and 65.2%, respectively, compared with 39.5% and 43.4% in 1991–1997. Using multivariable analysis, survival significantly increased in 2009–2016 among all VF/pVT arrests (adjusted OR, 3.10; 95% CI, 1.54–6.40) and bystander-witnessed VF/pVT (adjusted OR, 4.28; 95% CI, 2.01–9.50), compared with those in 1991–1997. Conclusions We observed a significant improving secular trend in neurologically intact survival from VF/pVT cardiac arrests with a relatively high recent survival rate in this EMS System.
Impact of temporal network structures on the speed of consensus formation in opinion dynamics

Abstract Opinion dynamics on networks has wide applications to empirical and engineered systems and profound prospects in the general study of complex systems. Many efforts have been devoted to understanding how opinion dynamics is affected by network topology. However, social interactions are best characterized as temporal networks in which ordering of interactions cannot be ignored. Temporal activity patterns including heterogeneous contact strength and interevent times, turnover edge/node dynamics, and daily patterns could have significant effects that would not be captured by static aggregate network representations. In this paper, we study the effects of such temporal patterns on the speed of consensus formation in various models of continuous opinion dynamics using four empirical data sets, including three human face-to-face networks from different real-world settings and a social insect interaction network. We find that static, aggregated networks consistently overestimate the speed of simulated consensus formation while weight heterogeneity associated with frequency of interactions has an inhibitory effect on consensus formation relative to the behavior on unweighted networks. Moreover, the speed of consensus formation is found to be highly sensitive to nodal lifetimes, suggesting that randomization protocols that dramatically alter the distribution of lifetimes cannot be relied upon as reference models. On the other hand, temporal patterns including burstiness of interevent times and the lifetime of edges are found to have insignificant effects on consensus formation. The sensitivity to nodal lifetimes is further demonstrated via synthetic networks generated by an activity-driven model with tunable nodal lifetimes.
Modeling Neural Systems: Cellular Models

Abstract This chapter provides an overview of different types of models for studying the activity of nerve cells. It summarizes the neuronal models based on the Hodgkin and Huxley (HH) formalism first described in the 1950s. The HH formalism is a deterministic nonlinear four-dimensional model of the membrane potential dynamics and it can easily be simulated with current computational resources. However, in order to make this approach tractable for mathematical analysis, it must be further simplified. One simplification is to linearize it about a fixed point, e.g., using the resting potential to model subthreshold neuronal behavior. Another common simplification is to reduce the four dimensions into one or two dimensions. In the context of the simplification of the HH model, we employ equivalent electronic circuits. The simplified approach is also related to the integrate-and-fire (IF) modeling approach, first proposed by Lapicque more than a century ago, and neuronal resonance behavior. This chapter includes several MATLAB® routines to simulate the different cellular models and includes instructions on how to build an electronic version of the IF model.
Elastic Anisotropy in Particle/Fiber Reinforced Aluminum Metal Matrix Composites

Metal matrix composites hold high promises as engineering materials. In order to take full advantage of their promising properties, the complex nature of the composites must be understood. Some questions thus arising; how do different manufacturing processes influence the microstructure and how can the mechanical properties of the composites be explained and predicted from knowledge of their microstructure.
The Relevance of Animal Models for Neurotoxic Disease States

(1985). The Relevance of Animal Models for Neurotoxic Disease States. International Journal of Mental Health: Vol. 14, Ecology and Mental Health: Neuropsychiatric Implications of Exposure to Environmental Pollutants, pp. 26-43.
New USA Family has Apolipoprotein AI (ARG26) Variant

We have studied a patient from Massachusetts with hereditary systemic amyloidosis significant for renal dysfunction and liver infiltration culminating in hepatic failure and death at the age of 43 years, with no history of peptic ulcer disease or peripheral neuropathy. Amyloid fibrils isolated from this patient were fractionated and the 11 KD product found in the major retarded protein peak was sequenced to reveal a homogeneous apo A-l variant with arginine for glycine at position 26. This same mutation has been reported in a family from Iowa with a type-III FAP and a 9 KD fragment of a variant apolipoprotein A-1 as the major protein in their amyloid deposits. Peripheral neuropathy and peptic ulcer disease were the prominent symptoms in the Iowan family. The differences between the clinical descriptions of the two kindreds suggest that the apo A-l mutation of arg26 may have a variety of manifestations.
Learning from the US immunization administration

The US federal government has been providing support to state and local health departments for immunization program since 1920' s. Many government and nongovernment organizations, groups and personnel are involved in the process of the US immunization program. These organizations and groups are moving towards the same direction under the policy of "reducing the incidence of vaccine preventable diseases and to increase the safe usage of vaccines and related biological products". Thus every organization keeps step with the others, which will make states and other local government easier to follow the recommendations. In this review, we will introduce the system and structure of the US immunization administration and indicate why the US has succeeded to decrease vaccine preventable disease with immunization.
Influence of the anterior chamber of the eye on T-cell production of extracellular antigen-specific proteins.

Analysis of the immunobiological properties of the anterior chamber (AC) of the eye has shown that the “immunologic privilege” of this region is due to a complex interaction of factors which influence both the immune response within the AC, and the systemic immune response. The introduction of soluble or particulate antigens into the AC results in a modulation of the systemic immune response which is manifested by stimulation of IgM and IgGI antibody production, and by suppression of delayed-type hypersensitivity and IgG2a antibody production. This so-called Anterior Chamber Associated Immune Deviation (ACAID, 1-6) response thus provides a major basis for the “immunologic privilege” of the AC by exerting a profound influence on systemic immunity, which, of course, includes the eye.
Predicting internal phosphorus loading in stratified lakes

The ability to predict internal phosphorus loading in stratified lakes has been given new urgency by the realization that traditional best management practices to control external loading have limited effectiveness. We tested the hypothesis that lake sediments with molar Al:Fe ratios greater than 3 would release very little P (Kopacek et al., Environ Sci Technol 39:8784–8789, 2005). We fractionated operationally-defined species of phosphorus, aluminum, and iron in the profundal sediments from a diverse collection of lakes, and sought predictive relationships with previously determined phosphorus release rates from these same sediments. Our results suggest that sediments with Al:Fe molar ratios greater than 3 release negligible amounts P, and that in sediments with Al:Fe ratios less than 3, P release is significantly correlated with the concentrations of reductant-extractible P and the contribution (%) of NaOH-extractible P. We constructed a decision tree model to enable lake managers to anticipate the magnitude of internal P loads in lakes undergoing increased watershed development or changes in thermal stratification and subsequent anoxia due to climate change.
On-column and gradient focusing-induced high-resolution separation in narrow open tubular liquid chromatography and a simple and economic approach for pico-gradient separation

We have recently obtained extraordinarily high efficiencies and sharp peaks using narrow open tubular (OT) columns for liquid chromatographic separations. On-column focusing is commonly observed in liquid chromatography, but this effect alone could not satisfactorily explain the sharpness of these peaks. In this work we investigated the reasons that could have led to the peak sharpness. We hypothesized initially that analytes confined in a narrow OT column might have significantly reduced analyte diffusivities and the reduced diffusivities consequently resulted in the peak sharpness. This hypothesis was invalidated immediately after we measured the diffusion coefficients and did not notice any noticeable diffusivity increases of the analytes inside such columns. We then designed an experiment and revealed a "re-focusing effect". Investigation of this re-focusing effect eventually led us to the observation of a gradient focusing caused by the composition difference between the eluent and the sample matrix. It was this gradient focusing that had contributed primarily to the peak sharpness. On the basis of this insightful understanding, we further developed a simple and economic approach to perform pico-gradient narrow open tubular liquid chromatographic separations.
Hello, goodbye: When do states withdraw from international organizations?

Under what conditions do states withdraw from intergovernmental organizations (IGOs)? Recent events such as Brexit, the US withdrawal from UNESCO, and US threats to withdraw from NAFTA, NATO, and the World Trade Organization have triggered widespread concern because they appear to signify a backlash against international organizations. Some observers attribute this recent surge to increasing nationalism. But does this explanation hold up as a more general explanation for IGO withdrawals across time and space? Despite many studies of why states join IGOs, we know surprisingly little about when and why states exit IGOs. We use research on IGO accession to derive potential explanations for IGO withdrawal related to domestic politics, IGO characteristics, and geo-politics. We quantitatively test these potential explanations for withdrawal using an original dataset of 493 IGOs since 1945, documenting about 200 cases of withdrawal. We find that nationalism is not the key driver of IGO withdrawals in the past. Instead, we show that geo-political factors – such as preference divergence and contagion – are the main factors linked to IGO withdrawals, followed by democracy levels in the country and organization. These findings have important implications for research on the vitality of international organizations, compliance, and the liberal world order.
Network Goal Analysis of Social and Organizational Systems: Testing Dynamic Network Theory in Complex Social Networks:

Grounded in dynamic network theory, this study examined network goal analysis (NGA) to understand complex systems. NGA provides new insights by inserting goal nodes into social networks. Goal nodes...
Lay Responder Care for an Adult with Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest

Lay Responder Care in Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Lay responders play a major role in the resuscitation of persons with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Crucial steps include recognition of cardi...
Asymptotic Analysis of Transport Equation in Bounded Domains

Consider neutron transport equations in 3D convex domains with in-flow boundary. We mainly study the asymptotic limits as the Knudsen number $\epsilon\rightarrow 0^+$. Using Hilbert expansion, we rigorously justify that the solution of steady problem converges to that of the Laplace's equation, and the solution of unsteady problem converges to that of the heat equation. The proof relies on a detailed analysis on the boundary layer effect with geometric correction. This problem can be formulated in many different settings, and the above one is probably the most physically significant and most mathematically challenging. We have to utilize almost all methods and techniques we developed in a series of papers in the past decade, and bring novel ideas to treat the new complications. The difficulty mainly comes from three sources: 3D domain, boundary layer regularity, and time dependence. To fully solve this problem, we introduce several techniques: (1) boundary layer with geometric correction; (2) remainder estimates with $L^2-L^{2m}-L^{\infty}$ framework; boundary layer decomposition.
Internalizing and Externalizing Problems as Risk Factors for Initiation and Progression of E-cigarette and Combustible Cigarette Use in the US Youth Population

This study examined whether internalizing and externalizing problems were associated with initiation and progression of e-cigarette/cigarette use. The youth from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study Waves 1–2 were included in this study (n = 9258). Multinomial logistic and linear regression were performed to investigate whether Wave 1 internalizing and externalizing problems were associated with Wave 2 initiation and progression of cigarette/e-cigarette use. Higher internalizing and externalizing problems were both associated with higher risk for initiating cigarette smoking and exclusive e-cigarette use. Neither internalizing nor externalizing problems were associated with (1) differential likelihood of initiating exclusive e-cigarette use when compared with initiating cigarette smoking and (2) more frequent use of cigarettes or e-cigarettes. Schools and community public health practitioners should provide prevention and intervention efforts among the target population. Improving the youth’s mental and behavioral health could have a secondary effect on preventing cigarette and e-cigarette use initiation.
Nrf2 and the Nrf2-Interacting Network in Respiratory Inflammation and Diseases

Atmospheric pollutants and cigarette smoke influence the human respiratory system and induce airway inflammation, injury, and pathogenesis. Activation of the NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) transcription factor and downstream antioxidant response element (ARE)-mediated transcriptions play a central role in protecting respiratory cells against reactive oxidative species (ROS) that are induced by airway toxins and inflammation. Recent studies have revealed that Nrf2 can also target and activate many genes involved in developmental programs such as cell proliferation, cell differentiation, cell death, and metabolism. Nrf2 is closely regulated by the interaction with kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1), while also directly interacts with a number of other proteins, including inflammatory factors, transcription factors, autophagy mediators, kinases, epigenetic modifiers, etc. It is believed that the multiple target genes and the complicated interacting network of Nrf2 account for the roles of Nrf2 in physiologies and pathogeneses. This chapter summarizes the molecular functions and protein interactions of Nrf2, as well as the roles of Nrf2 and the Nrf2-interacting network in respiratory inflammation and diseases, including acute lung injury (ALI), asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pulmonary fibrosis (PF), cystic fibrosis (CF), viral/bacterial infections, and lung cancers. Therapeutic applications that target Nrf2 and its interacting proteins in respiratory diseases are also reviewed.
Abstract 14244: Circulating Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 and Incident Heart Failure: The Multi- Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis

Background: Serum levels of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) are reflective of endothelial activation, a pathologic process that is associated with subclinical cardiac dysfunction. While ...
Lymphadenectomy for early-stage mucinous ovarian carcinoma.

Objectives There is evidence to suggest that the rate of lymph node metastases in patients with ovarian mucinous tumors is rare. The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of regional lymph node metastases among patients with apparent stage IA and IC mucinous ovarian carcinoma. Methods A retrospective cohort study was performed and included patients from the National Cancer Database with apparent stage IA and IC mucinous ovarian tumors who underwent surgery between January 1, 2004 and December 31, 2015. Data collected included demographics, surgical procedures, and pathologic characteristics. The primary outcome was the effect of tumor stage, grade, and size on the risk of lymph node metastases. Categorical and continuous variables were compared using the χ2 and Mann–Whitney U tests, respectively. Results A total of 4379 patients were identified: 3088 and 1213 with stage IA and IC disease, respectively, with an additional 78 patients who were stage I Not Otherwise Specified (NOS). Lymphadenectomy was performed in 70.6% of patients with stage IA and 70.3% of patients with stage IC cancers. Stratifying by grade, 68.4%, 71.3%, and 72.8% of patients with grades 1, 2, and 3 tumors underwent a lymphadenectomy, respectively. Furthermore, lymphadenectomy was performed in 64.9% of patients with tumors 10 cm. Lymph node metastases were identified in 1.2% and 1.6% of patients with stage IA and IC disease, respectively (p=0.063). Additionally, metastases were present in 0.6% of patients with grade 1 tumors, 1.1% of patients with grade 2 tumors, and 5.3% of patients with grade 3 tumors (p 10 cm had lymph node metastases (p=0.19). Conclusions Among patients with mucinous ovarian carcinoma, lymph node metastases are rare. However, metastases are significantly more common in patients with higher grade tumors. These factors may be considered when making decisions regarding the need for lymphadenectomy in early-stage mucinous ovarian tumors.
Recommendations for oversight of nanobiotechnology: dynamic oversight for complex and convergent technology

Federal oversight of nanobiotechnology in the U.S. has been fragmented and incremental. The prevailing approach has been to use existing laws and other administrative mechanisms for oversight. However, this “stay-the-course” approach will be inadequate for such a complex and convergent technology and may indeed undermine its promise. The technology demands a new, more dynamic approach to oversight. The authors are proposing a new oversight framework with three essential features: (a) the oversight trajectory needs to be able to move dynamically between “soft” and “hard” approaches as information and nano-products evolve; (b) it needs to integrate inputs from all stakeholders, with strong public engagement in decision-making to assure adequate analysis and transparency; and (c) it should include an overarching coordinating entity to assure strong inter-agency coordination and communication that can meet the challenge posed by the convergent nature of nanobiotechnology. The proposed framework arises from a detailed case analysis of several key oversight regimes relevant to nanobiotechnology and is informed by inputs from experts in academia, industry, NGOs, and government.
Algebraic Function Fields and Global Function Fields

So far we have been working with the polynomial ring A inside the rational function field k = F(T). In this section we extend our considerations to more general function fields of transcendence degree one over a general constant field. This process is somewhat like passing from elementary number theory to algebraic number theory. The Riemann-Roch theorem is the fundamental result needed to accomplish this generalization. We will give a proof of this fundamental result in Chapter 6. In this chapter we give the basic definitions, state the theorem, and derive a number of important corollaries. After this is accomplished, attention will be shifted to function fields over a finite constant field. Such fields are called global function fields. The other class of global fields are algebraic number fields. All global fields share a great number of common features. We introduce the zeta function of a global function field and explore its properties. The Riemann hypothesis for such zeta functions will be explained in some detail, and we will derive several very important consequences, among others an analogue for the prime number theorem for arbitrary global function fields. A proof of the Riemann hypothesis will be given in the appendix. In this chapter we will prove a weak version. This is enough to yield the analogue of the prime number theorem, albeit with a poor error term. In later chapters we will also explore L-functions associated to global function fields - both Hecke L-functions (generalizations of Dirichlet L-functions) and Artin L-functions.
Development of polycrystalline yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) fibers

Abstract Polycrystalline yttrium–aluminum garnet (YAG) fibers are attractive for high-power lasers and for high-temperature structural materials. Processing methods for
Rapid induction of hypothermia by the Thermosuit system profoundly reduces infarct size and anatomic zone of no-reflow following ischemia/reperfusion in rabbit and rat hearts (547.12)

Background: While hypothermia reduces myocardial infarct size, non-invasive and rapid cooling methods are lacking. This study tests the effectiveness of a novel cooling apparatus on myocardial infa...