cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Interaction of diffusion and boundary conditions

On considere le systeme d'equations paraboliques: ∂u/∂t=DΔu+f(u), x∈Ω, D∂u/∂n+θE(x)u=0, x∈∂Ω, ou u∈R N , Ω⊂R n , n≤3 est un ouvert borne de frontiere ∂Ω lisse, D=diag(d 1 ,…,d N ), E=diag(e 1 ,…,e N ), chaque d j >0 est constant, e j :∂Ω→R est continu, e j >0, j=1,2,…,N, et θE[0,∞) est constant. Pour (f,E) fixe, on etudie comment le flot defini ci-dessus depend des parametres (D,θ)
Lona's Links: Postoppositional Identity Work of Urban Youths

The postoppositional identity work of urban high school students is described. The youths had engaged in oppositional identity work that led to breakages with their worlds. Lona was a central figure who forged symbolic and social links that enabled the youths to construct “true” selves and to express identities in ethical relation to others. Lona's links engendered a politics of reconciliation that empowered marginalized youths to resituate their selves within, and transform, their worlds.
A framework to identify applications of information technology to improve service quality

Abstract More and more organizations are seeking innovative ways to use information technology (IT) for strategic advantage. One way to gain this competitive edge is by differentiating the services provided to customers. This paper provides a framework to identify areas ripe for the implementation of IT to enhance and improve customer service. The framework is based upon the examination of the existing service delivery system of an organization and how applications of IT might change the interfaces among the various players (customers, employees, etc.) in the service delivery system. Further, examples are presented to illustrate how some organizations have achieved superior service quality by creatively utilizing simple IT tools.
Hybrid I Region Antigens and I Region Restriction of Recognition in MLR

Recent studies from this laboratory have demonstrated the existence of a unique murine hybrid MLR stimulating determinant(s) on stimulator cells from (C57 Bl 6 × A/J)F 1 (B6A) mice. This determinant(s) has been demonstrated to be encoded by genes residing within the I region of the murine major histocompatibility complex (H-2) and the recognition of this product has likewise been demonstrated to be controlled by products of the I region of the H-2 complex. Using appropriate recombinant mice it has been possible to further localize the site of interaction which leads to the production and recognition of this hybrid MLR stimulating determinant(s). Additionally, it has been possible to derive clones of alloreactive T cells using techniques of soft agar cloning which have specificity for the unique MLR stimulating determinant(s) on B6A stimulator cells.
Current methods of diagnosis and management of ureteral injuries

A delay in diagnosis is the most important contributory factor in morbidity related to ureteral injury. The difficulty in making the diagnosis can be minimized by maintenance of a high index of suspicion and the timely performance of the appropriate radiographic and intraoperative evaluations. A decision on the timing of repair of the ureteral injury is based on the patient's overall condition, promptness of injury recognition, and proper injury staging. Ideally, when identified promptly, ureteral injuries should be repaired immediately. However, once there has been a delay in diagnosis or in the case of an unstable patient, temporizing measures can be used for urinary diversion. With the availability of simple, minimally invasive techniques to manage urinary extravasation and the absence of any risk of ureteral hemorrhage, ureteral reconstruction can be safely deferred until an opportune time during the recovery period. Successful surgical management requires familiarity with the broad reconstructive armamentarium and meticulous attention to the specific details of each procedure. Through adherence to the diagnostic and therapeutic principles outlined, complications can be minimized and renal preservation can be maximized in patients sustaining ureteral injuries.
Clinical Consequences of Marijuana

As documented in national surveys, for the past several years, marijuana has been the most commonly abused drug in the United States, with approximately 6% of the population 12 years and older having used the drug in the month prior to interview. The use of marijuana is not without significant health hazards. Marijuana is associated with effects on almost every organ system in the body, ranging from the central nervous system to the cardiovascular, endocrine, respiratory/pulmonary, and immune systems. Research presented in this special supplement will show that in addition to marijuana abuse/dependence, marijuana use is associated in some studies with impairment of cognitive function in the young and old, fetal and developmental consequences, cardiovascular effects (heart rate and blood pressure changes), respiratory/pulmonary complications such as chronic cough and emphysema, impaired immune function leading to vulnerability to and increased infections, and the risk of developing head, neck, and/or lung cancer. In general, acute effects are better studied than those of chronic use, and more studies are needed that focus on disentangling effects of marijuana from those of other drugs and adverse environmental conditions.
A universal strategy for regulating mRNA translation in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells

We describe a simple strategy to control mRNA translation in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells which relies on a unique protein-RNA interaction. Specifically, we used the Pumilio/FBF (PUF) protein to repress translation by binding in between the ribosome binding site (RBS) and the start codon (in Escherichia coli), or by binding to the 5' untranslated region of target mRNAs (in mammalian cells). The design principle is straightforward, the extent of translational repression can be tuned and the regulator is genetically encoded, enabling the construction of artificial signal cascades. We demonstrate that this approach can also be used to regulate polycistronic mRNAs; such regulation has rarely been achieved in previous reports. Since the regulator used in this study is a modular RNA-binding protein, which can be engineered to target different 8-nucleotide RNA sequences, our strategy could be used in the future to target endogenous mRNAs for regulating metabolic flows and signaling pathways in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.
Enhanced recognition of plasma proteins in a non-native state by complement C3b. A possible clearance mechanism for damaged proteins in blood

Complement C3 is a key fluid-phase protein of the immune system that covalently tags pathogenic cells and molecules for subsequent clearance. Previously, we reported that complement activation results in the formation of multiple C3b:plasma protein complexes in serum. However, it is not known if C3b attaches to any plasma protein in close proximity or preferentially binds damaged proteins. The objective of this study was to determine if C3b couples to plasma proteins in a non-native state and if this could be a potential mechanism to detect and clear damaged proteins from the blood. Using a purified in vitro system with alternative pathway proteins C3, factors B and D it was observed that guanidinium-HCl denaturation of three purified plasma proteins (albumin, alpha-1 proteinase inhibitor, vitamin D binding protein) greatly increased their capacity to form covalent complexes with C3b. However, native vitamin D binding protein, covalently attached to C3b, still retained the ability to bind its natural ligand G-actin, indicating that C3b links to plasma proteins in their native configuration but denaturation substantially increases this interaction. Serum complement activation generated a large number of C3b:plasma protein complexes that bound red blood cell membranes, suggesting a CR1-mediated clearance mechanism. Thermally denatured (60°C) serum activated the alternative pathway when added to fresh serum as evidenced by factor B cleavage and iC3b generation, but this heat-treated serum could not generate the pro-inflammatory peptide C5a. These results show that C3 recognizes and tags damaged plasma proteins for subsequent removal from the blood without triggering proinflammatory functions.
The alchemy of Jargon: etymologies of urologic neologisms: number 1--introduction to the series.

BACKGROUND As the scientific community is increasingly severed from the study of linguistics, once an imperative for all scholars, the underlying significance of their common technical words is becoming blurred. This series of notes will focus on the etymologies of technical scientific terms pertinent to the biomedical sciences in general and to urology in particular. METHODS These notes will give a detailed background of the history of each technical term, including how it came into being, whence it was derived, and how it impacted the scientific community through the ages. RESULTS In this installment, the following terms will by analyzed: Jargon, Neologism, Nonce, Doctorate, Medicine, Graduate, Philosophy, and Philology. CONCLUSIONS This analysis of the history and significance of scientific terms common to the urological community works towards a fortification of their power by offering a reminder of their origins. Prostate 69:225–227, 2009. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Relation between socioeconomic status and obesity changes in 9046 women

A previous study from this population of 59,566 women showed an inverse relationship between socioeconomic status and obesity [Rimm, I., and Rimm, A. Prev. Med. 3, 543–572 (1974)]. In this study the data were reexamined to determine at what age levels socioeconomic status affects obesity. It was found that socioeconomic status is related to obesity primarily because of its effect on weight change during the child-bearing years. The difference in adult weight (adjusted for height) between the lowest and highest socioeconomic group is 17.5 pounds. Although this difference is large, this study shows that socioeconomic status is only one of many possible factors influencing weight change. Less than 2% of the variation in adult weight change during the child-bearing years is explained by socioeconomic status.
Assessing the impact of the slack demand for metals

Abstract The growth in world demand for metals has slowed considerably since 1974, but the resulting problems for producers have been compounded because this slack demand was largely unanticipated and unrecognized until the early 1980s. Capacity thus continued to expand, based on expectations of recovery to the previous high growth rates in consumption. When this recovery did not materialize, a prolonged period of low real prices, loss of profitability, and plant closures resulted. The losses due to delayed recognition and adjustment may total as much as several billion dollars. These problems point out the danger of relying on extrapolations of past time trends rather than developing a fundamental understanding of the factors which determine metal demand when planning future productive capacity.
ADMINISTERING LABOR CONTRACTS USING TRANSACTION-COSTS ECONOMICS

Labor contracts are rules of governance between workers and employers over time. The efficiency of the transaction and the relationship can be affected by the provisions of the contract. It is argued that the characteristics of the firm and the workers determine what kinds of contracts and governance of the provisions of contracts are most efficient. Among other results, it is argued that collective bargaining, together with grievance procedures and arbitration, is the most efficient form of labor contracting and governance for large firms with skilled work forces.
A Geometrically-Appropriate Cavity Model for a Spherical Inverted-F Antenna (SIFA)

A cavity model for a spherical inverted-F antenna (SIFA) is proposed using a custom curvilinear coordinate system. The coordinate transformation maps the spherical structure into an equivalent rectangular topology to which conventional cavity method procedures can be applied. The wave equation under this transformation is solved to predict the modal characteristics, input impedance, and radiation behavior of the antenna. Analytically-obtained results are compared to simulated models and the measured results from one fabricated model.
Microsatellite marker isolation and development for the giant Pacific Octopus (Enteroctopus dofleini)

We isolated and developed 18 novel microsatellite markers for the giant Pacific octopus (Enteroctopus dofleini) and examined them for 31 individuals from Prince William Sound (PWS), Alaska. These loci displayed moderate levels of allelic diversity (averaging 11 alleles per locus) and heterozygosity (averaging 65%). Seven loci deviated from Hardy–Weinberg Equilibrium (HWE) due to heterozygote deficiency for the PWS population, although deviations were not observed for all these loci in other populations, suggesting the PWS population is not in mutation-drift equilibrium. These novel microsatellite loci yielded sufficient genetic diversity for potential use in population genetics, individual identification, and parentage studies.
The Evolution of Line Tied Coronal Arcades Including a Converging Footpoint Motion

It has been demonstrated in the past that single, two-dimensional coronal arcades are very unlikely driven unstable by a simple shear of the photospheric footpoints of the magnetic field lines. By means of two-dimensional, time-dependent MHD simulations, we present evidence that a resistive instability can result if in addition to the footpoint shear a slow motion of the footpoints towards the photospheric neutral line is included. Unlike the model recently proposed by van Ballegooijen and Martens (1989), the photospheric footpoint velocity in our model is nonsingular and the shear dominates everywhere. Starting from a planar potential field geometry for the arcade, we find that after some time a current sheet is formed which is unstable with respect to the tearing instability. The time of its onset scales with the logarithm of the magnetic diffusivity assumed in our calculation. In its nonlinear phase, a quasi-stationary situation arises in the vicinity of the x-line with an almost constant reconnection rate. The height of the x-line above the photosphere and the distance of the separatrix footpoints remain almost constant in this phase, while the helical flux tube, formed above the neutral line, continuously grows in size.
Measurement of basal, substrate induced and total P‐glycoprotein activity in bronchoalveolar lavage T‐cell subsets

Background P-glycoprotein (P-gp) is a member of the ABC transporter superfamily. P-gp activity can be detected by measuring efflux of fluorescent substrates such as rhodamine 123 (R123). Our objectives were to evaluate P-gp activity in T cells freshly isolated from bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and to develop a strategy to distinguish between basal, in vitro substrate-induced, and total P-gp activities. Methods Cells were obtained from blood (n = 44) and BAL (n = 34), stained for expression of CD3, CD4, CD8, and CD14, and incubated with R123 (0.13 μM) ± cyclosporine (5 μM), a specific P-gp inhibitor. P-gp activity was detected as median fluorescence intensity (MFI) and percentage of cells falling below a pre-established cutoff. Results BAL T cells displayed significant basal P-gp activity, which was most apparent when measured as percentage below the cutoff. Induced activity (difference between P-gp activity measured after load and efflux) was determined equally well when using the MFI or the percentage below cutoff parameter. Total activity was represented by the efflux parameters (MFI or percentage below cutoff) or by the activity-time area under the curve (AUC) method. The two efflux parameters correlated well but were insensitive to the time-dependent nature of dye efflux. In the AUC method, two samples with identical R123 brightness or percentage below cutoff after dye efflux can have very different total activities, depending on their basal activity. The AUC method was also most sensitive in distinguishing between P-gp activity in peripheral blood and resident lung T cells. Application of this methodology to the comparison of P-gp activity in BAL and peripheral CD8+ T cells best revealed the elevated total P-gp activity in BAL T cells. Conclusions We have systematically evaluated several methodologies for analysis of P-gp activity and arrived at a novel and robust strategy amenable to standardization and evaluation of the effects of P-gp modulators in vivo and in vitro. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Kinetic and thermodynamic analysis of 10-hydroxy-camptothecin hydrolysis at physiological pH

Abstract To derive accurately the thermodynamic parameters governing the hydrolysis of the lactone ring at physiological pH, a derivative spectrophotometric technique was used for the simultaneous estimation of lactone and carboxylate forms of the 10-hydroxy-camptothecin (10-HC). Validation of the analytical method was done with respect to reproducibility, percent recovery, and level of detection. Hydrolysis of the lactone ring of 10-HC followed a 1st order decay with a rate constant equal to (0.0281 ± 0.001) min −1 in PBS at pH 7.4 and at a temperature of 310 K. The activation energy for the hydrolysis reaction as calculated from the Arrhenius equation was (79.41 ± 0.92) kJ · mol −1 , whereas the enthalpy and entropy of hydrolysis of 10-hydroxy-camptothecin were on average 12.45 kJ · mol −1 and 52.37 J · K −1 · mol −1 , respectively. The positive enthalpy and entropy values of the 10-HC-lactone hydrolysis indicate that the reaction is endothermic and entropically driven.
Measuring the stop point of rapid smoking

A method and an apparatus are described for measuring the point at which subjects elect to stop smoking when cigarette smoke is delivered more rapidly than in typical smoking. The device allows either the subject or the experimenter to control the volume of smoke and the interval between puffs. The device delivers reliable quantities of particulate matter from cigarette smoke. Subjects retested a week apart exhibited consistent stopping points.
The Cancer Genome Atlas expression profiles of low-grade gliomas

Differentiating between low-grade gliomas (LGGs) of astrocytic and oligodendroglial origin remains a major challenge in neurooncology. Here the authors analyzed The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) profiles of LGGs with the goal of identifying distinct molecular characteristics that would afford accurate and reliable discrimination of astrocytic and oligodendroglial tumors. They found that 1) oligodendrogliomas are more likely to exhibit the glioma-CpG island methylator phenotype (G-CIMP), relative to low-grade astrocytomas; 2) relative to oligodendrogliomas, low-grade astrocytomas exhibit a higher expression of genes related to mitosis, replication, and inflammation; and 3) low-grade astrocytic tumors harbor microRNA profiles similar to those previously described for glioblastoma tumors. Orthogonal intersection of these molecular characteristics with existing molecular markers, such as IDH1 mutation, TP53 mutation, and 1p19q status, should facilitate accurate and reliable pathological diagnosis of LGGs.
Composite materials with viscoelastic interphase: creep and relaxation

Abstract The effect of viscoelastic interphase between elastic constituents of composites is investigated on the basis of a correspondence principle relating effective elastic and viscoelastic properties of composites, which has been previously established. Previously derived results for thermoelastic properties of unidirectional fiber composites and spherical particle composites with elastic interphase are utilized in this fashion to obtain corresponding viscoelastic effective properties. The analysis shows that significant viscoelastic effect in such unidirectional composites is confined to axial and transverse shear relaxation and creep and in particulate composites to any shear loading. The viscoelastic effect is negligible for all inputs which do not include such shear components.
On the preparation of cross-sectional TEM samples using lithographic processing and reactive ion-etching

Abstract Preparation of cross-sectional TEM samples has been completed without use of the normal means of mechanical polishing and ion-milling. Instead, lithographic processing and reactive ion-etching (RIE) were used to define thin walls ranging from 100 to 1000 nm in width which protruded 1 μm from the substrate surface. The substrate was cut into pieces suitable for securing them into a standard double-tilt holder so that the etched walls were exposed to the electron beam and images could be formed. Samples have been made using both electron beam and optical lithography with different dry etching processes to define thin walls of composite layers of Si, Si 3 N 4 and SiO 2 and also a thin film of Al-Cu(2 wt%). The results present a promising new method for preparation of cross-sectional TEM samples that is less labor-intensive and more productive than mechanical polishing and ion-milling.
Production of measles nucleoprotein in different expression systems and its use as a diagnostic reagent.

Abstract Measles nucleoprotein has been successfully expressed in three different hosts, bacterial ( Escherichia coli BL21 DE3), insect ( Spodoptera frugiperda ; Sf9) and mammalian (primary human fibroblasts) cells, each producing an antigenic protein of M r 60 kDa. The nucleoprotein produced in all three hosts was used in an ELISA for the detection of antibodies to measles virus in a cohort of haemagglutinin-positive or -negative human sera. Data produced from baculovirus and adenovirus-based antigens indicated that there was good correlation between the ELISA results and previous haemagglutination inhibition test data, and there was little background interference by cellular proteins or the development of false positive or negative results. The assay was rapid as it could be carried out in under 4 h, sensitive as the sera could be diluted by at least 1000-fold, and versatile as both IgG and IgM could be detected and differentiated.
Legalizing Compensation and the Spoils of War: the Russian Law on Displaced Cultural Valuables and the Manipulation of Historical Memory.

This article analyses the historical and political background of the Russian law on cultural property displaced to the Soviet Union at the end of the Second World War (April 1998, with amendments in 2000). Following the 1990–1991 revelations about the extensive cultural treasures captured by Soviet authorities at the end of the Second World War, there was hope abroad for restitution, with a series of bilateral agreements with the countries of origin, but in spring 1994 the Duma blocked further restitution. We follow the fierce debates, the Constitutional Court ruling (1999), the amended law (July 2000), and its implementation under the Ministry of Culture.We show the wide-scale Russian support of the law, with its concept of “compensatory restitution” that virtually nationalizes the spoils of war, with only scant provisions for restitution to those who fought against the Nazi regime and those victimized by it. What explanation emerges involves the manipulation of historical memory by the Stalinist regime, as the cultural trophies assume symbolic importance in the “myth and memory” of “victory” in the Great Patriotic War. Restitution to legal owners is to be considered only in exchange for equally substantial compensation for wartime loss and suffering of the population at large.
Gene Expression Profiling of Human Vaginal Cells In Vitro Discriminates Compounds with Pro-Inflammatory and Mucosa-Altering Properties: Novel Biomarkers for Preclinical Testing of HIV Microbicide Candidates.

Background Inflammation and immune activation of the cervicovaginal mucosa are considered factors that increase susceptibility to HIV infection. Therefore, it is essential to screen candidate anti-HIV microbicides for potential mucosal immunomodulatory/inflammatory effects prior to further clinical development. The goal of this study was to develop an in vitro method for preclinical evaluation of the inflammatory potential of new candidate microbicides using a microarray gene expression profiling strategy. Methods To this end, we compared transcriptomes of human vaginal cells (Vk2/E6E7) treated with well-characterized pro-inflammatory (PIC) and non-inflammatory (NIC) compounds. PICs included compounds with different mechanisms of action. Gene expression was analyzed using Affymetrix U133 Plus 2 arrays. Data processing was performed using GeneSpring 11.5 (Agilent Technologies, Santa Clara, CA). Results Microarraray comparative analysis allowed us to generate a panel of 20 genes that were consistently deregulated by PICs compared to NICs, thus distinguishing between these two groups. Functional analysis mapped 14 of these genes to immune and inflammatory responses. This was confirmed by the fact that PICs induced NFkB pathway activation in Vk2 cells. By testing microbicide candidates previously characterized in clinical trials we demonstrated that the selected PIC-associated genes properly identified compounds with mucosa-altering effects. The discriminatory power of these genes was further demonstrated after culturing vaginal cells with vaginal bacteria. Prevotella bivia, prevalent bacteria in the disturbed microbiota of bacterial vaginosis, induced strong upregulation of seven selected PIC-associated genes, while a commensal Lactobacillus gasseri associated to vaginal health did not cause any changes. Conclusions In vitro evaluation of the immunoinflammatory potential of microbicides using the PIC-associated genes defined in this study could help in the initial screening of candidates prior to entering clinical trials. Additional characterization of these genes can provide further insight into the cervicovaginal immunoinflammatory and mucosal-altering processes that facilitate or limit HIV transmission with implications for the design of prevention strategies.
Geolocation updating schemes for location aware services in wireless networks

We propose and analyze different geolocation updating schemes for location aware services in wireless cellular networks. We show that trajectory prediction and adaptive updating intervals can significantly decrease the amount of signaling load generated by geolocation updates sent by mobile stations. An intelligent yet simple scheme for tracking and predicting users' locations and computing geolocation updating intervals provides a multifold decrease in signaling load in networks where users with a dominant direction of movement are present.
First and second derivative matrix elements for linear and out-of-plane bending motion

Simplified formulas for first and second derivatives of the internal coordinates with respect to Cartesian coordinates are reported for linear and out-of-plane bending motion. They are expressed in a local coordinate system and then rotated to a space-fixed Cartesian coordinate system. For linear motion the important points are: (1) the invariance of the energy with respect to translational and rotational coordinate transformations and (2) the presentation of derivatives of the energy in terms of (α − π)2 rather than (α − π), where α is the bond angle, to avoid indeterminant forms. By factoring the second derivatives of the energy with respect to (α − π) and sinα, analysis in this local coordinate system avoids division by sinα as α → π. The formulas describe linear systems without the need to project the motion onto two perpendicular planes. When the angle is exactly π two degenerate directions arise, and the coordinate axes perpendicular to the axis of the linear sequence of atoms may be chosen arbitrarily. Further refinements and clarifications of methods reported previously to obtain matrix elements for linear and out-of-plane motion are presented.
Alcohol use trajectories among adults in an urban area after a disaster: Evidence from a population-based cohort study

Alcohol use increased in the NewYork City (NYC) metropolitan area in the first months after the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks. Aims To investigate alcohol use trajectories in the NYC metropolitan area in the 3 years after 11 September and examine the relative contributions of acute exposure to the attacks and ongoing stressors to these trajectories. Design We used a population-based cohort of adults recruited through a random-digit-dial telephone survey in 2002; participants completed three follow-up interviews over 30 months. Setting The NYC metropolitan area. Participants A total of 2752 non-institutionalized adult residents of NYC. Measurements We used growth mixture models to assess trajectories in levels of total alcohol consumption and bingeing in the past 30 days, and predictors of these trajectories. Findings We identified five trajectories of alcohol consumption levels and three bingeing trajectories. Predictors of higher levels of use over time included ongoing stressors, traumatic events and lower income. Ongoing exposure to stressors and low income also play a central role in bingeing trajectories. Conclusions While point-in-time mass traumatic events may matter in the short term, their contribution subsides over time. Accumulated stressors and traumatic events, in contrast, lead to higher levels of consumption among respondents already vulnerable to high alcohol use. Interventions to mitigate post-disaster stressors may have substantial benefit in reducing alcohol abuse in the medium- to long term.
Use of embedded sensors for built-in-test RF circuits

Testing of on-chip RF and microwave circuits has always been a challenge to test engineers and has been more so in the recent past due to the high signal frequencies involved and the dense levels of circuit integration. In this paper, we propose to embed low-cost sensors into RF signal paths for the purpose of built-in test. The sensor characteristics are chosen in such a way that the sensor outputs, which are low frequency or DC signals, are tightly correlated with the target test specification values of the RF device-under-test. Hence, instead of testing the devices specifically for complex performance metrics (this is difficult for embedded circuits), the outputs of the sensors are used to accurately estimate the target test specification values when the device-under-test is stimulated with sinusoidal stimulus. This significantly impacts the cost of manufacturing test and allows testing to be performed using low-cost external testers. Using this method, the target test specification values can be estimated with an accuracy of /spl plusmn/5% of their actual value.
Modeling the Potential Impacts of Different Radon Policies for the U.S. Housing Stock

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other public health agencies in the United States, radon may be the leading cause (along with passive smoking) of lung cancer deaths among nonsmokers. Radon is estimated to be the second leading cause of lung cancer death in smokers behind smoking-related lung cancer. EPA estimates that 7,000 to 30,000 lung cancer deaths each year are due to radon exposure. (It is implied that radon-related lung cancer deaths can be prevented by reducing radon levels below EPA's guideline levels.) Current EPA radon policy is based on a strategy of education, the transfer of testing and remediation technologies to the public and private sectors, and recently proposed radon-resistant construction standards for new homes. This paper models the effectiveness of current, proposed, and alternative policies for reducing radon risks in U.S. residential construction. The results of our analysis suggest that EPA's projections of 2,200 “lives saved annually” as a result of its current action level of 4 pCi/l will not be achieved with its current policy in the near future. Overall, the response of radon-related mortality to most policy options is delayed and flat due in pan to the large number of houses with low radon levels and the long latency period between radon exposure and the development of cancer. The modeling results suggest that more aggressive smoking reduction programs may yield greater benefits in overall lung cancer mortality (but not reduced radon exposure) than most radon-related policies.
Regional energy facility siting analysis

Results of the energy facility siting analysis portion of a regional pilot study performed for the anticipated National Energy Siting and Facility Report are presented. The question of cell analysis versus site‐specific analysis is explored, including an evaluation of the difference in depth between the two approaches. A discussion of the possible accomplishments of regional analysis is presented. It is concluded that regional siting analysis could be of use in a national siting study, if its inherent limits are recognized.
Simulation of the gel structure of regenerated cellulose film

There is a growing body of experimental evidence that regenerated cellulose in the gel state is like a random network of microfibrils perfused by water. If this is true, the properties of both the gel and dried structures should be profoundly influenced by the geometrical properties of the network. In this work a computer program was developed with which a random interconnected network of linear structural elements could be generated. During collapse of the network in the thickness direction, which simulated drying, new junctions were formed which could lock in strains imposed on the structure during drying. From the results geometric explanations were proposed for the dimensional instability of cellulose film in varying humidities, for the mechanical behavior of the film, and for the effect of softening and of crosslinking on film properties.
Point-Of-Use Drinking Water Treatment in the Developing World: Community Acceptance, Project Monitoring and Revision

Abstract - Project design and implementation of water treatment technologies in the developing world often overlooks potential pitfalls because: 1) technical experts focus on technologies without considering cultural acceptability and 2) projects lack monitoring, evaluation, and project revision. Over the past five years, Engineers Without Borders (EWB) at the UC-Davis partnered with the Rural Agency for Sustainable Development (RASD) in Nkokonjeru, Uganda, to implement sustainable point of use (POU) water systems. POU systems (i.e. Filtron clay pot filters, solar disinfection, chlorine treatment, and colloidal silver) were tested and implemented at RASD’s training center in Nkokonjeru. While all of the systems effectively removed pathogens, cultural appropriateness and education were the most important drivers of project acceptance. After a one-year assessment, it was determined that community preference was driven by transparency of treatment method, cost, stigma, and ease of use. Clay pot filters were preferred because of ease of use and physical particle removal capabilities. However, high cost, lack of local production and transportation difficulties dictated that their use was not sustainable. Biosand filters were introduced as an alternative and although originally deemed to be too complicated, they have been accepted by the community and continue to be manufactured by RASD in Nkokonjeru.
Tailoring photonic metamaterial resonances for thermal radiation.

Selective solar absorbers generally have limited effectiveness in unconcentrated sunlight, because of reradiation losses over a broad range of wavelengths and angles. However, metamaterials offer the potential to limit radiation exchange to a proscribed range of angles and wavelengths, which has the potential to dramatically boost performance. After globally optimizing one particular class of such designs, we find thermal transfer efficiencies of 78% at temperatures over 1,000°C, with overall system energy conversion efficiencies of 37%, exceeding the Shockley-Quiesser efficiency limit of 31% for photovoltaic conversion under unconcentrated sunlight. This represents a 250% increase in efficiency and 94% decrease in selective emitter area compared to a standard, angular-insensitive selective absorber. PACS: 42.70.Qs; 81.05.Xj; 78.67.Pt; 42.79.Ek
The 3D morphology of the ejecta surrounding VY Canis Majoris

We use second epoch images taken with WFPC2 on the HST and imaging polarimetry taken with the HST/ACS/HRC to explore the three dimensional structure of the circumstellar dust distribution around the red supergiant VY Canis Majoris. Transverse motions, combined with radial velocities, provide a picture of the kinematics of the ejecta, including the total space motions. The fractional polarization and photometric colors provide an independent method of locating the physical position of the dust along the line-of-sight. Most of the individual arc-like features and clumps seen in the intensity image are also features in the fractional polarization map, and must be distinct geometric objects. The location of these features in the ejecta of VY CMa using kinematics and polarimetry agree well with each other, and strongly suggest they are the result of relatively massive ejections, probably associated with magnetic fields.
PIWI proteins and their interactors in piRNA biogenesis, germline development and gene expression

PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) are a complex class of small non-coding RNAs that are mostly 24–32 nucleotides in length and composed of at least hundreds of thousands of species that specifically interact with the PIWI protein subfamily of the ARGONAUTE family. Recent studies revealed that PIWI proteins interact with a number of proteins, especially the TUDOR-domain-containing proteins, to regulate piRNA biogenesis and regulatory function. Current research also provides evidence that PIWI proteins and piRNAs are not only crucial for transposon silencing in the germline, but also mediate novel mechanisms of epigenetic programming, DNA rearrangements, mRNA turnover, and translational control both in the germline and in the soma. These new discoveries begin to reveal an exciting new dimension of gene regulation in the cell.
Value of urinary cytology in the diagnosis and management of urinary tract malignancies

y i p m s he microscopic evaluation of urinary sediment dates back to the 19th century when Sanders1 nd Dickenson2 described the presence of abnoral cellular findings in the urinary sediment of en who were subsequently diagnosed with blader cancer. However, it was not until the mid-20th entury that modern urine cytology was introuced by Papanicolaou and Marshall3 and more ormally applied in the clinical detection of bladder ancer. During the past 20 years, the use and utility f urine cytology in the diagnosis and management f urothelial carcinomas has become commonlace and, in some instances, a standard of pracice. We review the uses of urinary cytology in clincal urologic practice, describing its application nd value in the diagnosis and management of uriary tract malignancies.
Infiltrating Syringomatous Adenoma of the Nipple: Clinical Presentation and Literature Review

Infiltrating syringomatous adenoma of the nipple is a rare neoplasm of the breast. Syringomatous adenoma of the nipple is often misdiagnosed because clinical examination and mammographic findings of syringomatous adenoma of the nipple mimic carcinoma. Despite its benign behavior, syringomatous adenoma of the nipple usually shows infiltrative expansile proliferation into adjacent tissue and underlying breast tissue. Up until now, to our knowledge, there has been no reported case of regional or distant metastasis. Histologically and clinically, syringomatous adenoma of the nipple is often confused with tubular carcinoma as well as low-grade adenosquamous carcinoma of the breast. Special attention given to this tumor by pathologists and clinicians can avoid misdiagnosis and unnecessary treatment.
Analysis of “Tarmac Delays” at New York Airports

In response to media coverage of so called Tarmac Delays, new Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations come into effect on April 2010. These regulations outline airline responsibilities with regards to flights that remain on the ground in excess of two hours. Included in the regulations are requirements that airlines provide food, water and lavatory service for passengers delayed more than two hours on the tarmac, and for gate resources to be made available for flights to return to the gate and de-plane passengers for flights grounded for more than three hours. This paper describes the results of an analysis of “tarmac delays” at New York Airports from 2005 to 2009 using Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) data: (i) John F. Kennedy (JFK), Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) and La Guardia Airport (LGA) have been ranked as the top three airports with longest tarmac delays during the last five years, (ii) the probability of a flight experiencing a tarmac delay at a New York airport of greater than 2 hours is 0.54%, (iii) the average tarmac delay was 158 minutes per flight, (iv) June, July and August are the worst month for tarmac delays, (v) flights bound for Chicago O'Hare are the most likely to experience “tarmac delays,” (vi) an estimate of the annual cost to the airlines as a result of tarmac delay regulations at JFK, EWR, AND LGA is $43,859 per year.
A Nonlinear Hybrid Vortex Method for Wings at Large Angle of Attack

A steady and unsteady nonlinear hybrid vortex (NHV) method is developed for low aspect ratio wings at large angles of attack. The method uses vortex panels with linear vorticity distribution (equivalent to a quadratic doublet distribution) to calculate the induced velocity in the near field using closed-form expressions. In the far field, the distributed vorticity is reduced to concentrated vortex lines and the simpler Biot-Savart law is employed. The method is applied to rectangular wings in steady and unsteady flows. The numerical results show that the method accurately predicts the distributed aerodynamic loads and that it is of acceptable computational efficiency. N recent years, the development of numerical methods for predicting the steady and unsteady aerodynamic characteristics of lifting surfaces exhibiting leading- and/or side-edge separations has received considerable attention. For the steady flow problems several numerical techniques have been developed. These include the nonlinear discrete vortex1'6 (NDV) methods, higher order doublet panel methods,7"9 and nonlinear hybrid vortex (NHV) methods.10'11 For the unsteady flow problems, the literature shows fewer numerical techniques which include the NDV methods12"15 and constant doublet panel methods.16'17 The literature lacks high-order panel methods for the unsteady flow problems. For this reason, we are presenting in this paper an efficient and accurate method for the steady and unsteady flow problems of lifting surfaces at large angles of attack. In this method, vortex panels with linear vorticity distribution are used in the near field calculations. In the farfield calculations, the distributed vorticity over each far-field panel is lumped into equivalent concentrated vortex lines. In this way, accuracy is satisfied in the near field while computational efficiency is maintained in the far field. The coupling of a continuous vortex-sheet representation and a concentrated vortex-line representation for solving the nonlinear lifting surface problem is called the "nonlinear hybrid vortex'' (NHV) method.
Nanoscale origin and evolution of kinetically induced defects in carbon spheres

Synthesis of carbon nanostructures with controlled defect distribution holds tremendous promise in engineering novel materials for specific device applications and catalysis. Carbon spheres (CS) can be synthesized by controlled thermal pyrolysis of polyethylene (PE) via a series of self-generated pressure reactions. Here, we show that point defect distribution in these CS can be tailored by controlling the kinetics during this synthesis procedure. Using accelerated molecular dynamics, we demonstrate that cooling kinetics during synthesis exercises significant control over the reaction pathways, and consequently, over nucleation and growth of carbon nanostructures. The long-range order of these nanostructures is strongly influenced by the cooling rate. At slower rates 60 K/ps, amorphous carbon with 8–10 membered rings reminiscent of as-quenched carbon melts are seen. In the intermediate regime, the distribution of the defects can be tuned with excellent control. These findings are corroborated by electron microscopy observations of defect formations in synthesized CS. SEM and TEM on CS when cooled from ∼973 K (700 °C) to room temperature indicate smooth surface morphologies with a highly defective structure. In contrast, when cooled from ∼3073 K (2800 °C), rough surfaces with pronounced 6-membered rings graphitic ordering are observed.
Adapting a Cancer Literacy Measure for Use Among Navajo Women

Purpose: The authors designed a community-based participatory research study to develop and test a family-based behavioral intervention to improve cancer literacy and promote mammography among Navajo women. Method: Using data from focus groups and discussions with a community advisory committee, they adapted an existing questionnaire to assess cancer knowledge, barriers to mammography, and cancer beliefs for use among Navajo women. Questions measuring health literacy, numeracy, self-efficacy, cancer communication, and family support were also adapted. Results: The resulting questionnaire was found to have good content validity, and to be culturally and linguistically appropriate for use among Navajo women. Conclusions: It is important to consider culture and not just language when adapting existing measures for use with AI/AN (American Indian/Alaskan Native) populations. English-language versions of existing literacy measures may not be culturally appropriate for AI/AN populations, which could lead to a l...
Effects of Surface Heating on Instabilities in a Supersonic Nozzle Boundary Layer

The effects of surface heating were explored in a two-dimensional Mach 3 DeLaval nozzle to identify transition mechanisms related to heat transfer. Earlier work demonstrated that when surface heating was applied to the nozzle throat, the boundary layer at the nozzle exit could be changed from laminar to turbulent with low levels of surface heating. The present experiments show that the effect of surface heating is to reduce low-frequency disturbance growth and amplitude in the first 70% of the nozzle length. Suppression of this low-frequency activity causes turbulent bursting to be moved downstream, thereby increasing the extent of laminar flow to nearly the entire nozzle length. A mechanism for transition delay could not be found with linear stability theory. Computations predict that surface heating has only a mild stabilizing effect on Gortler vortices and first mode Tollmien Schlichting waves show negligible amplification within the nozzle. Calculations of the mean-flow also showed that neither natural cooling nor surface roughness could be responsible for the observed transition delay.