cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
On the theory of polarized light scattering from dilute polymer solutions

A general microscopic theory of polarized light scattering from a dilute polymer solution is presented. Interactions between the subunits of the polymer are explicitly allowed, so that multiple scattering within the polymer is recognized. The incident and observed light may have any polarization. A formula for the light scattering from a collection of oriented polymer molecules is given, and then its orientation average is taken so that it applies to a dilute solution of the polymer. The averaging process results in a remarkable simplification of the scattering equation, terminating an infinite series exactly after five terms. The only remaining infinite series may be accurately truncated after two terms for polymers in the size range of biological interest, producing a closed expression for the scattered intensity. It is concluded that light scattering from biological polymers is governed by no more than eight important parameters (three zeroth order and five first order), even in the case of resonance R...
Possible relation between carcinogenicity and ease of hydrolysis in vitro of derivatives of 2-aminofluorene.

THE carcinogenicity of 2-acetylaminofluorene (I) administered orally to rats, was first reported in 1941 by Wilson, DeEds and Cox1. Subsequent studies showed that the free amine (II) was substantially as carcinogenic in this species as the acetyl derivative2. The values for LD 50 on the basis of millimoles per kgm. also were found to be essentially the same3. It was then postulated that the free amine may be the essential carcinogen and that deacetylation is a necessary prelude to carcinogenesis4. Studies in vivo with 2-acetylaminofluorene labelled with carbon-14 in the ω-position5 revealed that deacetylation did indeed occur6,7. In subsequent experiments in vitro the ability of rat liver slices and homogenates to deacetylate 2-acetylaminofluorene was demonstrated8,9. Thus, N-derivatives of 2-aminofluorene that are difficult to hydrolyse to the free amine should be less carcinogenic than those that are easily hydrolysed. It is true, of course, that if a substituent renders the compound non-absorbable from the gut it would not be carcinogenic, even though it was hydrolysed readily both in vivo by liver enzymes, and in vitro by acids. On the other hand, derivatives that are converted to 2-aminofluorene by reactions other than hydrolysis would be carcinogenic.
Improving patient safety by instructional systems design

Education and training are important elements in patient safety, both as a potential contributing factor to risks and hazards of healthcare associated injury or harm and as an intervention to be used in eliminating or preventing such harm. All too often we have relied on training as the only interventions for patient safety without examining other alternatives or realizing that, in some cases, the training systems themselves are part of the problem. One way to ensure safety by design is to apply established design principles to education and training. Instructional systems design (ISD) is a systematic method of development of education and training programs for improved learner performance. The ISD process involves five integrated steps: analysis, development, design, implementation, and evaluation (ADDIE). The application of ISD using the ADDIE approach can eliminate or prevent education and training from being a contributing factor of health associated injury or harm, and can also be effective in preventing injury or harm.
Response of a distributed watershed erosion model to variations in input data aggregation levels

Abstract Distributed watershed models require that mapped variables be characterized by some number of discrete units. The data resolution, which affects the number and size of units, used to spatially represent the watershed variables are important factors that affect the results of distributed hydrologic and geomorphic process response models. The ANSWERS model, run for a typical piedmont watershed in central North Carolina, integrated soil, terrain, hydrography, and landcover information on a cell by cell basis for estimating erosion and deposition patterns within the watershed and for defining model responses at the basin outlet. A raster-based GIS, interfaced to ANSWERS, resampled, formatted, and organized the model input data for iterative calculations of erosion and deposition patterns and magnitudes through model responses for selected data aggregation levels. Spatial aggregation levels evaluated in this research included 30, 60, 120, 180, 240, 300, 420, and 600 m square cells. Semivariograms and fractal dimensions were calculated for each model input variable for the range of aggregation levels evaluated. The magnitude of changes in the model outputs at the selected levels of aggregation followed closely the changes in the spatial dependence of the input variables estimated through semivariograms.
Follicle and extrafollicular tissue interaction in 17alpha,20beta-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one-stimulated ovulation and prostaglandin synthesis in the yellow perch (Perca flavescens) ovary.

Abstract Intact (attached to extrafollicular (EF) tissue) yellow perch follicles ovulatein vitrowhen stimulated with the steroid, 17α,20β-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (17,20-PG). However, follicles isolated from EF tissue will not ovulate under 17,20-PG stimulation. In the present study, the interaction of follicles and EF tissue in 17,20-PG-stimulated ovulation and prostaglandin synthesis was investigated by separating follicles from EF tissue at specific times during incubation. Following separation, the incubation of isolated follicles and EF tissue was continued. At 48 hr of incubation, isolated follicles were assayed for ovulation and the media of isolated follicle and EF tissue incubates were assayed by RIA for prostaglandin E (PGE) and prostaglandin F (PGF) levels. Steroid-stimulated follicles, isolated from EF tissue prior to 22 hr of incubation, ovulated less than 25%. However, there was a very large increase in the percentage ovulation in follicles separated from EF tissue from 24 to 32 hr. PGF levels increased significantly in 17,20-PG-stimulated follicles isolated from EF tissue after 22 hr. In contrast, mean PGE levels in steroid-stimulated follicle incubates appeared to be lower than control levels. Compared with controls, PGE and PGF levels were significantly lower in incubates of isolated EF tissue stimulated with 17,20-PG, and this did not appear to be related to the time of separation. The results demonstrate that follicles must interact with EF tissue for a specific length of time for ovulation and PGF synthesis to occur in isolated follicles. Further, the effects of 17,20-PG on prostaglandin synthesis appear to be specific for different tissue compartments.
Superresolution Image for One-Dimensional Objects*

Objects which vary strongly as a function of x but only slowly in y occupy a cigar-shaped area in the spatial-frequency domain. Such an object spectrum is badly matched to the frequency-transfer domain of a lens, which is usually circular. By means of spatial modulation, the object spectrum can be adapted to the transfer domain of the lens. In this way, the one-dimensional resolution limit or bandwidth of the lens can be overcome, as shown by experiment and theory.
Comparison of real-time PCR for detection of the tcdC gene with four toxin immunoassays and culture in diagnosis of Clostridium difficile infection.

Received 7 January 2008/Returned for modification 25 February 2008/Accepted 11 April 2008 We have developed a rapid real-time PCR method using fluorescence resonance energy transfer probes and the LightCycler (Roche Diagnostics), which will detect the presence of the tcdC gene of Clostridium difficile in stool samples. Our PCR method also will identify the presence of base pair deletions, one of which (18 bp) has been associated with the “epidemic” toxin-hyperproducing strains. We compared the results of this PCR with those of three C. difficile toxin-detecting enzyme immunoassays (EIAs), an EIA for the detection of glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH), and culture of C. difficile. A total of 200 stool specimens were studied by the methods under comparison. C. difficile was isolated from 49 specimens by culture, and 44 of these were confirmed as containing one of the genes associated with toxin production (“toxigenic culture”). Using toxigenic culture as the “gold standard”, the sensitivities, specificities, and positive and negative predictive values, respectively, of the assays were 48%, 98%, 88%, and 87% for the Premier toxin A and B test; 48%, 99%, 91%, and 87% for the ImmunoCard toxi nAB 48%, 84%, 46%, and 85% for the Xpect C. difficile toxin A/B test; 32%, 100%, 100%, and 84% for the Triage C. difficile panel (for toxin A); and 86%, 97%, 90%, and 96% for the LightCycler PCR. Thus, in comparison to the sensitivity of toxigenic culture, the sensitivities of the toxin immunoassays were unacceptably low, while the LightCycler real-time PCR assay for the detection of the tcdC gene of C. difficile is sensitive and specific.
Decision-theoretic refinement planning using inheritance abstraction

ing Actions We extend Tenenberg’s (Tenenberg 1991) notion of inheritance abstraction for STRIPS operators to apply to conditional probabilistic actions. As Tenenberg explains it, "the intent of using inheritance abstraction is to formalize the notion that analogous action types can be structured together into an action class at the abstract level, characterized by the common features of all elements of the class." Thus we can plan with the abstract action and infer properties of a plan involving any of the instances of the abstract action. We abstract actions by grouping their outcomes. If one action has an outcome el and another action has an outcome e2 then we can produce an abstract action HADDAWY 267 From: AIPS 1994 Proceedings. Copyright © 1994, AAAI (www.aaai.org). All rights reserved.
The Din in the Head, Input, and the Language Acquisition Device

Abstract This paper discusses a phenomenon familiar to many language acquirers, an involuntary rehearsal of second language words, sounds, and phrases. Current second language acquisition theory as well as case history reports of the “din” are consistent with the hypothesis that the din in the head is a result of stimulation of the language acquisition device, and is “set off” when the acquirer receives significant amounts of comprehensible input. The din may have practical value; it may tell us when we are providing input for real language acquisition in our classes.
Metal/CdTe/CdS/Cd1−xZnxS/TCO/glass: A new CdTe thin film solar cell structure

Abstract The potential of CdTe/CdS/Cd1−xZnxS structure as an alternative to CdTe/CdS structure in photovoltaic application has been demonstrated. The unoptimized solar cell structure grown on transparent conducting oxide coated soda lime glass of 3 mm thickness with no antireflection coating yielded a 10% efficiency. This efficiency is the highest ever recorded in any Cd1−xZnxS film containing CdTe solar cells.
Countercurrent multiplication may not explain the axial osmolality gradient in the outer medulla of the rat kidney

It has become widely accepted that the osmolality gradient along the corticomedullary axis of the mammalian outer medulla is generated and sustained by a process of countercurrent multiplication: active NaCl absorption from thick ascending limbs is coupled with the counterflow configuration of the descending and ascending limbs of the loops of Henle to generate an axial osmolality gradient along the outer medulla. However, aspects of anatomic structure (e.g., the physical separation of the descending limbs of short loops of Henle from contiguous ascending limbs), recent physiologic experiments (e.g., those that suggest that the thin descending limbs of short loops of Henle have a low osmotic water permeability), and mathematical modeling studies (e.g., those that predict that water-permeable descending limbs of short loops are not required for the generation of an axial osmolality gradient) suggest that countercurrent multiplication may be an incomplete, or perhaps even erroneous, explanation. We propose an alternative explanation for the axial osmolality gradient: we regard the thick limbs as NaCl sources for the surrounding interstitium, and we hypothesize that the increasing axial osmolality gradient along the outer medulla is primarily sustained by an increasing ratio, as a function of increasing medullary depth, of NaCl absorption (from thick limbs) to water absorption (from thin descending limbs of long loops of Henle and, in antidiuresis, from collecting ducts). We further hypothesize that ascending vasa recta that are external to vascular bundles will carry, toward the cortex, an absorbate that at each medullary level is hyperosmotic relative to the adjacent interstitium.
Decadal Variability of North Pacific Central Mode Water

An isopycnal model forced with wind stress and heat fluxes from 1965 through 1993 was used to examine the effects of variable atmospheric forcing on the ventilation of the North Pacific. During this time period, a climatic regime shift occurred that had significant impacts on heat fluxes, sea surface temperature (SST), and wind stress patterns. The climate shift, occurring in the winter of 1976/77, affected the formation rates and locations, and properties of the Central Mode Water (CMW) formed in the model. Three model runs were compared: one with variable buoyancy forcing and climatological wind forcing, one with variable wind forcing and climatological buoyancy forcing, and one with variability in both the buoyancy and the wind forcing. The comparison indicates that buoyancy forcing is of primary importance in the variability of mode water formation and properties surrounding the climate shift. One measure of the climate shift is the Pacific decadal oscillation (PDO), an index of SST variability in the North Pacific, which changed sign in 1976/77. A positive state for the PDO is associated with deeper model mixed layers, formation of denser varieties of CMW, and an anticyclonic circulation anomaly in the CMW density range.
Do Negative Cognitive Styles Confer Vulnerability to Depression

According to the cognitive-vulnerability hypothesis of depression, negative cognitive styles confer vulnerability to depression when people confront negative life events. In this article, we present evidence that negative cognitive styles do indeed confer vulnerability to clinically significant depressive disorders and suicidality and discuss possible developmental antecedents of cognitive vulnerability to depression. We consider the issue of stability versus change in cognitive vulnerability to depression and discuss the broader implications of the cognitive-vulnerability findings for mental and physical health.
A Heuristic Routing Algorithm

This algorithm, implemented on an inexpensive microcomputer, solved a sophisticated operations research problem.
Synchronization in networks of excitatory and inhibitory Neurons with sparse, random connectivity

In model networks of E-cells and I-cells (excitatory and inhibitory neurons, respectively), synchronous rhythmic spiking often comes about from the interplay between the two cell groups: the E-cells synchronize the I-cells and vice versa. Under ideal conditions--homogeneity in relevant network parameters and all-to-all connectivity, for instance--this mechanism can yield perfect synchronization. We find that approximate, imperfect synchronization is possible even with very sparse, random connectivity. The crucial quantity is the expected number of inputs per cell. As long as it is large enough (more precisely, as long as the variance of the total number of synaptic inputs per cell is small enough), tight synchronization is possible. The desynchronizing effect of random connectivity can be reduced by strengthening the E → I synapses. More surprising, it cannot be reduced by strengthening the I → E synapses. However, the decay time constant of inhibition plays an important role. Faster decay yields tighter synchrony. In particular, in models in which the inhibitory synapses are assumed to be instantaneous, the effects of sparse, random connectivity cannot be seen.
Effect of insecticides on mealybug destroyer (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) and parasitoid Leptomastix dactylopii (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), natural enemies of citrus mealybug (Homoptera: Pseudococcidae)

In this study, we measured, under laboratory conditions, the direct and indirect effects of insecticides on mealybug destroyer, Cryptolaemus montrouzieri Mulsant (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), and parasitoid Leptomastix dactylopii Howard (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), natural enemies of citrus mealybug, Planococcus citri (Risso) (Homoptera: Pseudococcidae). The adult stages of both natural enemies were exposed to sprays of the insecticides buprofezin, pyriproxyfen, flonicamid, acetamiprid, dinotefuran, and clothianidin at label-recommended rates to assess direct mortality after 24, 48, and 72 h, respectively. The effects of the insecticides on L. dactylopii parasitization rate and percentage of parasitoid emergence also were monitored using the label and 4x the recommended label rate. Dinotefuran was extremely detrimental to the adult parasitoid at the label rate with 100% mortality after 24 h. Buprofezin, pyriproxyfen, and flonicamid were not harmful to L. dactylopii when applied at the label rate. At 4x the recommended label rate, dinotefuran, acetamiprid, and clothianidin were all harmful to the parasitoid with 100% mortality 72 h after application. Both buprofezin and flonicamid were not toxic to L. dactylopii with 100% adult survival after 72 h. Pyriproxyfen and flonicamid, at both the label and 4x the recommended label rate, did not negatively affect L. dactylopii parasitization rate or percentage of parasitoid emergence. Acetamiprid, dinotefuran, and clothianidin were toxic to C. montrouzieri adults with 100% mortality after 48 h, whereas buprofezin, pyriproxyfen, and flonicamid demonstrated minimal (10-20% mortality after 48 h) harmful effects to the predator. Based on the results from our study, the indirect effects of the insect growth regulator (IGR) buprofezin were not decisive; however, the IGR pyriproxyfen and the insecticide flonicamid were not directly or indirectly harmful to the predator C. montrouzieri and parastioid L. dactylopii, indicating that these insecticides are compatible with both natural enemies when used together for control of citrus mealybug in greenhouses and conservatories.
Scaling Parameters for Optically Triggered Hollow Cathode Switches Obtained by Computer Simulation

Low pressure plasma switches are essential components of pulse power devices. A new class of high current electrically isolatable switches, the optically triggered pseudo-spark, is currently being developed for applications where conventional thyratrons are inadequate. The analysis and computational design of these switches is complicated by the fact that the electron energy distribution in low pressure pulsed power plasma devices is typically not in equilibrium with the local electric field. A new computer model has been developed to describe electron transport for these conditions and it has been applied to the optically triggered pseudo-spark, or Back-Lit-Thyratron (BLT). The model uses two groups of electrons described as the “bulk” and the “beam”. The energy distribution of the bulk electrons is nearly in equilibrium with the local electric field while the beam represents those electrons whose energy is equal to the local electric potential and which have not undergone collisions after being emitted from the cathode. The model is used to investigate the commutation phase of switching in the BLT.
Excitation Patterns of Standard and Steered Partial Tripolar Stimuli in Cochlear Implants.

Current steering in partial tripolar (pTP) mode has been shown to improve pitch perception and spectral resolution with cochlear implants (CIs). In this mode, a fraction (σ) of the main electrode current is returned within the cochlea and steered between the basal and apical flanking electrodes (with a proportion of α and 1 - α, respectively). Pitch generally decreases when α increases from 0 to 1, although the salience of pitch change varies across CI users. This study aimed to identify the mechanism of pitch changes with pTP-mode current steering and the factors contributing to the intersubject variability in pitch-ranking sensitivity. The electrical fields were measured for steered pTP stimuli on the same main electrode with α = 0, 0.5, and 1 in five implanted ears using electrical field imaging (EFI). The related excitation patterns were also measured physiologically using evoked compound action potential (ECAP) and psychophysically using psychophysical forward masking (PFM). Consistent with the pitch-ranking results in this study, the EFI, ECAP, and PFM centroids shifted apically with increasing α. An apical shift was also observed for the PFM peak but not for the EFI or ECAP peak. The pattern width was similar with different α values within a given measure (e.g., EFI, ECAP, or PFM), but the ECAP patterns were broader than the EFI and PFM patterns, possibly because ECAP was measured with smaller σ values than EFI and PFM. The amount of pattern shift with α depended on σ (i.e., the total amount of current used for steering) but was not correlated with the pitch-ranking sensitivity across subjects. The results revealed that the pitch changes elicited by pTP-mode current steering were not only driven by the shifts of excitation centroid.
Quality of Life of Incontinent Men after Radical Prostatectomy

The impact of urinary incontinence on the quality of life among 50 men (average age 67 years) after radical prostatectomy was assessed by a self-administered questionnaire. The majority were not restricted by incontinence, whereas 26% of the men reported limitations in the usual physical activity and more than half reported moderate to severe emotional distress. Of 33 patients evaluated less than 5 years postoperatively 26 (79%) would choose surgery again despite incontinence, whereas 9 of 17 (53%) evaluated after 5 years were unsure or would not. Objective quality of life information may help to improve nonoperative intervention strategies for the incontinent patient.
ES2-3: Patient-Derived Xenograft Models for Preclinical Breast Cancer Research: Not Just "Basal" Anymore.

Translational breast cancer research is hampered by difficulties in obtaining and studying primary human breast tissue, and by the lack of in vivo preclinical models that reflect the range of patient tumor biology accurately. In an effort to overcome these limitations, several groups have recently succeeded in propagating patient-derived breast cancer xenografts representing multiple breast cancer subtypes, including estrogen and progesterone receptor positive, and HER2 positive tumors. In our laboratory, we have developed a diverse set of human breast tumors grown as xenografts in the mammary fat pad of SCID/Beige and NOD/SCID/IL2γ-receptor null (NSG) mice, two relatively new immunocompromised mouse models, under various transplant conditions. In all cases, xenograft lines were established directly from breast cancer patient samples, without intervening culture in vitro, using the epithelium-free mammary fat pad as the transplantation site. Of the conditions tested, xenograft take rate was highest in the presence of a low-dose estradiol pellet without exogenous human fibroblasts. Thirty five stably transplantable xenograft lines representing 27 patients were established, using pre-treatment, mid-treatment, and/or post-treatment samples. Most patients yielding xenografts were “triple-negative” (ER−PR-HER2−) (n=21). However, we were able to establish lines from three ER−PR-HER2+ patients, one ER+PR+HER2−, one ER+PR-HER2−, and one “triple-positive” (ER+PR+HER2+) patients. Serially passaged xenografts show phenotypic consistency with the tumor of origin at the histopathology level, and remarkable stability across multiple transplant generations at both the genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic levels. Of 27 lines evaluated fully, thirteen xenografts showed metastasis to the mouse lung. These models, in conjunction with others like them, thus serve as renewable, quality-controlled tissue resources, and are proving useful for preclinical evaluation of experimental therapeutics. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2011;71(24 Suppl):Abstract nr ES2-3.
The Effect of Shape on the Surface-Volume Relationships of Birds' Eggs

THEORY Surface-volume relationships are of widespread functional significance in biological systems, and one might intuitively expect that shape would affect the surface-volume relationships of birds eggs. Besch et al. (1968) summarized the literature on the estimation of egg surface area and presented the details of an accurate new method for its measurement. Utilizing a semi-automated version of this method, Paganelli et al. (1974) conducted a comparative study of the surface areas and volumes of the eggs of 29 species of birds. The relationship between surface area and volume which they reported was: VOLUME AND SURFACE AREA
Sequential Sampling Plans for the Green Cloverworm in Iowa Soybeans

Sequential sampling plans were developed for larvae of Plathypena scabra (F.) on soybeans during combined soybean plant-growth stages V7-RI, R2-R3, and R4-R5. The plans were based on a grower using a shake sampling method which was determined to give reliable absolute estimates of larval populations.
Teachers' and Students' Ratings of Achievement-Related Skills among Juvenile Delinquents

65 boys, 12 to 16 yr. old, with learning handicaps rated their achievement higher than their teachers did.
Application of Microcolumn Gel Test in Detection of Hemolytic Disease of Newborn

[Objective]To discuss the application of microcolumn gel technique(MGT) in detection of hemolytic disease of newborn(HDN).[Methods]A total of 133 blood samples of suspicious HDN cases were tested by MGT,including:direct antiglobulin test,free determination test,elution test.[Results]107 newborns were detected HDN by MGT test,positive rate was 80.45%.Among which,66 cases' blood type belonged to mother-newborns O-A,accounted for 82.35%;51 belonged to mother-newborns O-B,accounted for 78.46%,the difference was not significant between two groups(χ2=1.0,P0.05).[Conclusion]The advantage of this method is simple,convenient,with less specimens needed and the results is easy to judge.In addition,it has a good specificity and sensitivity with reliable results.It can provide reliable parameters for diagnosis of HDN and deserves widely clinical application.
Researches on Genetics and Genetic Epidemiology of Common Complex Diseases:Challenge and Strategies

With the rapid development of human genome project, increased genetic and population-based association studies are focused on the identification of the underlying susceptibility genes and contributions from gene-environment interaction to common complex diseases. Whole-genome association study with high-density single nucleotide polymorphisms is one of the most important milestones in that process. However, problems still exist in study design, data processing, and results interpretation. Large-scale cohort study or population-based case-control design with sufficient statistical power, new approaches to assess the gene-gene and gene-environment interactions, as guarantee of the consistency and replicability of these researches are crucial in the exploration of the causes of these common complex diseases.
Victims of Abuse: Making the Connection

In Agnes Grey, a fictional autobiography of a governess, published in 1847, Anne Bronte examined the connection between the oppression of and cruelty against women and animals in Victorian society1 The connection between the abuse of animals and of vulnerable humans is not just the stuff of fiction, though. Sociologists have long recognized a link between the abuse of animals and the abuse of humans, particularly women and children, and that both reflect a larger social struggle between social power and inequality2 Additionally, almost all abusers select victims who are smaller and physically weaker than themselves.3 Recognition of this connection has led to historical precedents, which fostered the development of some of our most powerful laws that help protect against violence toward women, children and animals. One of the more interesting precedents involved the use of an animal protection organization to help a child.
Congenital diaphragmatic hernia repair on extracorporeal life support: A decade of lessons learned

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is a vexing anomaly that manifests with variable pulmonary compromise in neonates. More than one-third of neonates with CDH require extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for refractory pulmonary hypertension (PHN). To assess the outcome of neonates having CDH repair on ECMO, we reviewed our experience for babies treated between 1992 and 2003. Of 97 neonates with CDH, 40 required ECMO, and 30 were repaired on bypass. Eighteen were supported by veno-venous bypass (VV) and 12 by veno-arterial bypass (VA). While on ECMO, transfusion requirements increased twofold postoperatively (15 to 33 cc kg -1 . day -1 , P = 0.03) and then significantly decreased after decannulation (1.5 cc kg -1 . day -1 , P < 0.01). Non-intracranial hemorrhage occurred in 7 (23%) infants and intracranial hemorrhage in 3 (10%). Twelve (40%) infants died; one (3%) on ECMO secondary to refractory PHN. The mean length of stay for the 18 (60%) survivors was 48 days. Comparisons between survivors and nonsurvivors showed a significantly increased mortality for infants placed on VA bypass (P < 0.01). However, no other variable was predictive of survival. We conclude that CDH repair on ECMO is technically feasible, shows similar survival to the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO) registry, and is associated with few bleeding complications.
The Movement of Railroad Ties: Simulation and Field Validation

The railroad tie is an important component in track structure which provides lateral resistance, continuous support for rail and transfers the train load to ballast. The movement of the tie subject to train loading is usually considered as a vertical motion. However, it is believed that the real-world tie movement is not only translational but rotational due to moving load. In order to investigate the real movement of railroad ties, a train-track interaction computer program was used. The computer program includes a vehicle dynamics model and 3-D Finite Element (FE) track model. The wheel-rail contact forces were obtained from the vehicle dynamics model, and then input to FE track model to simulate the tie movement. Furthermore, the field validation was conducted at Northeast Corridor (NEC) in United States. The measuring units were mounted on the edge of ties to record the angle and acceleration change of the tie in three orthogonal directions. The data analysis showed that the field-measured translational and rotational movement of ties have good agreement with the simulation results. It is concluded that the tie movement is not only up-and-down motion under moving train load, but also comprises rotation and lateral movements.© 2016 ASME
Pulmonary changes following normothermic and profound hypothermic perfusion in dogs.

Summary and conclusions 1. Dogs have been subjected to total body perfusion using techniques of normothermia or profound hypothermia with and without disc oxygenator for periods of 2 hours to determine changes in pulmonary morphology and surface activity. 2. Normal minimum surface tension was determined in normal lungs for comparison with determinate groups. 3. Mechanical ventilation with intratracheal pressure of 15 and 25 cm. water produced no appreciable difference in effects upon the hypothermic lung when compared with the unventilated lung. 4. Although changes in surface activity of extracts of lung were observed in individual experiments, there was no consistent significant decrease in surface activity in either normothermic or hypothermic groups immediately after perfusion. 5. Morphologic changes of atelectasis, hemorrhage, and edema were commonly observed at postmortem in most groups except those in which the perfusion was conducted at normothermia and with the use of the oxygenator. These findings suggest direct pulmonary artery perfusion or increased left atrial pressure to be causative factors in the pulmonary changes observed.
Pectus Excavatum Repair

The technique of pectus excavatum repair that we have used for the past 40 years has been a modification of the classic Ravitch technique. Current indications for repair are a Haller index of greater than 3.2 or symptoms such as exercise intolerance. The principles of the repair are to perform a subperichondrial resection of the costal cartilages, nondisplaced anterior fracture of the sternum, elevation of the sternum with a temporary metal strut, and reapproximation of the chest wall muscles above the closure. The substernal metal strut is left in place for 9–12 months. A modest percentage of our patients are those with Marfan syndrome, who require later aortic root replacement. Some patients with pectus excavatum deformity also require simultaneous intracardiac repair of associated anomalies such as atrial septal defect or ventricular septal defect.
SU-F-T-150: Comparing Normal Tissue Irradiated Volumes for Proton Vs. Photon Treatment Plans On Lung Patients

Purpose: The aim of this work is to compare the “irradiated volume” (IRV) of normal tissues receiving 5, 20, 50, 80 and 90% or higher of the prescription dose with passively scattered proton therapy (PSPT) vs. IMRT of lung cancer patients. The overall goal of this research is to understand the factors affecting outcomes of a randomized PSPT vs. IMRT lung trial. Methods: Thirteen lung cancer patients, selected randomly, were analyzed. Each patient had PSPT and IMRT 74 Gy (RBE) plans meeting the same normal tissue constraints generated. IRVs were created for pairs of IMRT and PSPT plans on each patient. The volume of iGTV, (respiratory motion-incorporated GTV) was subtracted from each IRV to create normal tissue irradiated volume IRVNT. The average of IRVNT DVHs over all patients was also calculated for both modalities and inter-compared as were the selected dose-volume indices. Probability (p value) curves were calculated based on the Wilcoxon matched-paired signed-rank test to determine the dose regions where the statistically significant differences existed. Results: As expected, the average 5, 20 and 50% IRVNT’s for PSPT was found to be significantly smaller than for IMRT (p < 0.001, 0.01, and 0.001 respectively). However, the average 90% IRVNT for PSPT was greater than for IMRT (p = 0.003) presumably due to larger penumbra of protons and the long range of protons in lower density media. The 80% IRVNT for PSPT was also larger but not statistically distinguishable (p = .224). Conclusion: PSPT modality has smaller irradiated volume at lower doses, but larger volume at high doses. A larger cohort of lung patients will be analyzed in the future and IRVNT of patients treated with PSPT and IMRT will be compared to determine if the irradiated volumes (the magnitude of “dose bath”) correlate with outcomes.
A Pedagogical Note: Use of Telepractice to Link Student Clinicians to Diverse Populations

Telepractice is the application of telecommunications technology to the delivery of telehealth services via the online connection of clinicians, clients, and patients for assessment, intervention, or consultation. This article describes a pilot project in which speech-language pathology students in a university training program gained experience in working with culturally diverse preschool students using telepractice technology. The preschool students benefited by making gains in communication skills, while the university students acquired competency in the use of telepractice and in working with children whose cultural and linguistic backgrounds were outside of their experience. To assess the training experience, a Likert-scale survey administered to student clinicians revealed a high degree of satisfaction and improved familiarity with the use of telepractice, and an increased comfort level working with multi-cultural populations.
The MacDonald Leadership (1922–31)

The years 1922–31 were the years of Ramsay MacDonald’s leadership of the Labour Party. The very concept of ‘leadership’ was something of a novelty: but MacDonald was a leader in a sense that none of his predecessors in the party chairmanship (including himself before the war) had been. From 1922 he was described as not just the ‘chairman’ of the parliamentary party but as its ‘chairman and leader’. The phrase was used to indicate that he was also Leader of the Opposition and potential Prime Minister. The fact that the parliamentary party had established its right to be regarded as the official Opposition in the Commons meant additional prestige and importance for its principal spokesman, who now became the prospective dispenser of government patronage. Similarly, the parliamentary party as a whole considerably increased its standing vis-a-vis the trade unions.
The Nature of Soviet Power: An Arctic Environmental History

Cover; Half title; Series; Title; Copyright; Contents; List of Figures; List of Maps; List of Tables; Acknowledgments; Archives and Abbreviations; 1 Nature and Power in the Soviet North; 2 Assimilation and Conquest; 3 Stalinism as an Ecosystem; 4 Deep in the Tundra; 5 Scarring the Beautiful Surroundings; 6 Transforming but not Transcending; 7 The Life of the Soviet Environment; Index.
Good Analytical Chemistry Practices in PET Radiopharmaceuticals

1116 Objectives Upon reviewing the Chemistry, Manufacturing and Controls (CMC) of imaging studies we frequently identify gaps in the quality control of radiopharmaceuticals and PET drugs. Methods Analytical Chemistry is a critical tool in ensuring the identity and purity of radiopharmaceuticals, because these drugs are prepared in situ at the radiopharmacy asmicrodoses and administered to patients after brief purification. Quality Control (QC) is a crucial step prior to releasing the drug product for human administration, and QC requires good analytical chemistry practices. Yet, such practices are often overlooked in the QC of radiopharmaceuticals, for example, selecting a meaningful analytical method that provides adequate separation of the precursor and impurities from the product to reporting a meaningful quantitative result. Results We present here examples of good and poor analytical chemistry practices, as applicable to PET radiopharmaceuticals containing Ga-68, F-18 and C-11 radionuclides. Good analytical chemistry practices can ensure that the drug product meets specifications that are consistent with a CMC plan. Conclusions This will reasonably guarantee a safe product for human administration
Mid- and far-infrared optical characterization of monoclinic HfO2 nanoparticles and evidence of localized surface phonon polaritons

Monoclinic HfO2 nanoparticles (9 - 45 nm) are synthesized using a sol-gel method and optically characterized using transmission- and angle-dependent reflection spectroscopy in the mid- to far-infrared. A detailed HfO2 identification of the infrared-active phonon modes is presented; consistent with previously reported thin film values, and in excellent agreement with density functional perturbation theory calculations. An anomaly is observed in both reflection and transmission measurements, at 556 cm-1 that is not attributed to the optical phonon modes. Numerical models indicate that this measured anomaly is in the spectral region of a localized surface phonon polariton mode. The results of this work suggest that HfO2 nanoparticles could enable new mid- and far-infrared materials and devices with engineered optical properties.
A randomized phase II neoadjuvant study of cisplatin, paclitaxel with or without everolimus in patients with stage II/III triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC): Responses and long-term outcome correlated with increased frequency of DNA damage response gene mutations, TNBC subtype, AR status, and Ki67

Purpose: Because of inherent disease heterogeneity, targeted therapies have eluded triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), and biomarkers predictive of treatment response have not yet been identified. This study was designed to determine whether the mTOR inhibitor everolimus with cisplatin and paclitaxel would provide synergistic antitumor effects in TNBC.Methods: Patients with stage II/III TNBC were enrolled in a randomized phase II trial of preoperative weekly cisplatin, paclitaxel and daily everolimus or placebo for 12 weeks, until definitive surgery. Tumor specimens were obtained at baseline, cycle 1, and surgery. Primary endpoint was pathologic complete response (pCR); secondary endpoints included clinical responses, breast conservation rate, safety, and discovery of molecular features associated with outcome.Results: Between 2009 and 2013, 145 patients were accrued; 36% of patients in the everolimus arm and 49% of patients in the placebo arm achieved pCR; in each arm, 50% of patients achieved complete responses by imaging. Higher rates of neutropenia, mucositis, and transaminase elevation were seen with everolimus. Clinical response to therapy and long-term outcome correlated with increased frequency of DNA damage response (DDR) gene mutations, Basal-like1 and Mesenchymal TNBC-subtypes, AR-negative status, and high Ki67, but not with tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes.Conclusions: The paclitaxel/cisplatin combination was well tolerated and active, but addition of everolimus was associated with more adverse events without improvement in pCR or clinical response. However, discoveries made from correlative studies could lead to predictive TNBC biomarkers that may impact clinical decision-making and provide new avenues for mechanistic exploration that could lead to clinical utility. Clin Cancer Res; 23(15); 4035-45. ©2017 AACR.
Internet in the Middle East: an asymmetrical model of development

ABSTRACTThe paper adopts an interdisciplinary approach to examine Internet history in the Middle East and fill a gap in the subfield of regional Internet histories studies. It is a narrative of Internet development in a complex area and era. It draws on influential key events to question the role of Internet development in current debates about regulation and change and to highlight its asymmetry throughout the region. The paper uses a critical analysis as well as a historical analysis of policies and usages to map Arab countries’ Internet development and suggests a political and cultural framework to help understand the tensions and contentions around this development.
Synthetic Biomaterials to Rival Nature's Complexity—a Path Forward with Combinatorics, High‐Throughput Discovery, and High‐Content Analysis

Cells in tissue receive a host of soluble and insoluble signals in a context-dependent fashion, where integration of these cues through a complex network of signal transduction cascades will define a particular outcome. Biomaterials scientists and engineers are tasked with designing materials that can at least partially recreate this complex signaling milieu towards new materials for biomedical applications. In this progress report, recent advances in high throughput techniques and high content imaging approaches that are facilitating the discovery of efficacious biomaterials are described. From microarrays of synthetic polymers, peptides and full-length proteins, to designer cell culture systems that present multiple biophysical and biochemical cues in tandem, it is discussed how the integration of combinatorics with high content imaging and analysis is essential to extracting biologically meaningful information from large scale cellular screens to inform the design of next generation biomaterials.
Multiple graph abstractions for parallel routing over virtual topologies

High throughput data transfers across the Internet has become a challenge with deployment of data centers and cloud platforms. In this paper, we propose to utilize the cores of a router to build multiple abstractions of the underlying topology to parallelize end-to-end (e2e) streams for bulk data transfers. By abstracting a different graph for each core, we steer each core to calculate a different e2e path in parallel. The e2e transfers can use the shortest paths obtained from each subgraph to increase the total throughput over the underlying network. Even though calculating shortest paths is well optimized in legacy routing protocols (e.g., OSPF), finding optimal set of subgraphs to generate non-overlapping and effective multiple paths is a challenging problem. To this end, we analyze centrality metrics to eliminate potentially highest loaded routers or edges in the topology without coordination and eliminate them from the subgraphs. We evaluate the heuristics in terms of aggregate throughput and robustness against failures.
Impact of high PV penetration on U.S. eastern interconnection frequency response

This study quantitatively studied the impact of PV power plants on frequency response at both the system level and the regional level in the U.S. Eastern Interconnection system. The decrease of frequency primary response capability was quantified with multiple PV penetration levels. The frequency response capability change was found to be non-linear with the change of PV penetration. Different voltage/var control modes of PV plants were also found to have obvious impact on system frequency response.
Thoughts on the Regulation of Ribosome Synthesis in Saccharomyces Cerevisiae

For a meeting on Protein Synthesis in Yeast, it seems fitting to focus on the chief agent of protein synthesis, the ribosome, and particularly on the control of the synthesis of this agent. Ultimately, the control of ribosome synthesis is the control of protein synthesis, and the control of protein synthesis is the control of growth. Let us examine what little we know about the control of ribosome synthesis in yeast, and attempt to pose the questions that will occupy us for the duration of this millenium.
Data Mining and Multivariate Analysis in Materials Science

Databases in materials science applications tend to be phenomenological in nature. In other words, they are built around a taxonomy of specific classes of properties and materials characteristics. In order for databases to serve as more than only a “search and retrieve” infrastructure, and more for a tool for “knowledge discovery”, data bases need to have functional capabilities. The recent advances in genomics and proteomics for instance provide a good example of the development of such “functional” databases. A first step to achieve this is to develop descriptors of materials properties that can be sorted and classified using appropriate data mining algorithms. In this paper we provide some examples of the use of some well established statistical tools to “prepare” such data especially when there is a multi-dimensional component associated with structure- chemistry-property relationships.
Restoring Integrity to America’s Pastime: Moving Towards a More Normative Approach to Cheating in Baseball

After being tarnished by steroid scandals, professional baseball has taken extensive steps to curb cheating that involves steroid use and similar drugs. Despite taking these steps, more traditional types of cheating remain rampant in baseball. Such traditional cheating involves altering bats and baseballs, and players have exhibited these behaviors throughout the history of the game. Baseball’s formal rules prohibit these behaviors, yet baseball does not enforce the prohibitions. Thus, a culture of deceit plagues the game. By applying the legal philosophy of Dworkin and Fuller to this problem, it becomes apparent that this approach is unacceptable. Not only does baseball’s current duplicitous approach to cheating undermine its response to steroids, but it also ignores the game’s purpose while simultaneously ripping integrity from the game. Thus, baseball should adopt a more normative and harmonious approach to cheating that merges the game’s purpose with its rules, a step that would return integrity to America’s pastime.