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Achieving global climate and energy goals will require prodigious increases in non-emitting electricity generation, raising concerns about the scale of materials needed and associated environmental impacts. Here, we estimate power sector demand for materials and related carbon dioxide-equivalent (CO2eq) emissions from 2020-2050 across different climate-energy scenarios and compare these figures to material geological reserves and carbon budgets. We find that demand increases but cumulatively does not exceed current geological reserves. However, annual production of materials including neodymium (Nd), dysprosium (Dy), tellurium (Te), fiberglass, and solar-grade polysilicon may need to grow considerably. Cumulative CO2 emissions related to materials for electricity infrastructure may be substantial (4-29 Gt CO2eq in 1.5°C scenarios) but constitute a small share of global carbon budgets (1-9% of a 320 Gt CO2eq 1.5°C 66% avoidance budget). Our results highlight how power sector decarbonization will mobilize large quantities of materials, likely necessitating continued development of existing and new mineral resources.

Serrated polyposis syndrome (SPS) is the most common form of polyposis syndrome and has been shown to increase the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC). The genetic pathway of CRC in SPS is different from the classic adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) pathway, which accounts for 70–80% of cases of CRC. Most commonly, SPS mutations include BRAF and KRAS, with activation of the RAS-RAF-MAP kinase pathway involved in the pathogenesis of serrated lesions. We present a rare case of SPS in a 32-year-old woman with MSH6 and SMARCA4 variants, which have not previously been reported in the literature. LEARNING POINTS: Patients with serrated polyposis syndrome should receive frequent colon cancer screening. Patients and their relatives should undergo surveillance.

University scientists are frequently challenged to embrace stakeholder engagement in a way that departs from traditional contract-oriented relationships; this is occurring within water management a...

I study whether trapped foreign cash levels and investor type explain variation in US-based multinationals’ payout policy responses to tax-repatriation-driven cash windfalls. To do so, I use the deemed mandatory repatriation of trapped foreign cash included in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA). I find my measure of the level of “unlocked” trapped foreign cash (UTC) relates to increases in repurchases and dividends observed post TCJA. I examine whether this increase in payout varies with institutional investor type: transient, dedicated, and quasi-indexers (Bushee 2001). I find that firms with high UTC and low (high) dedicated ownership see an increase (no change) in repurchases post TCJA. I do not observe similar variation with investor type for dividends. Finally, mechanism tests show that HI UTC, HI DED (LO DED) firms tend to have higher (lower) cash balances, lower (higher) payouts, and higher capital expenditures when previously capital constrained. This suggests that firms use UTC in a way that minimizes agency frictions through the presence of dedicated investors who serve as effective monitors in the setting. For this reason, HI UTC, LO DED firms have higher levels of share repurchases and lower cash balances once the UTC windfall arrives in an effort to mitigate agency frictions stemming from an inability to effectively monitor managers for the long-term.

By comparing the accounting of 10 transaction methods designed to achieve the same net economic effect for a firm borrowing a given amount of money, we show that these 10 methods, under the current financial reporting standards, have markedly different consequences for a firm’s financial reporting. It follows that agents (e.g., managers, auditors, shareholders, and regulators, etc.) with different interests in financial reports may employ different methods of achieving the same net economic result. Accounting regulators can only specify how preparers should account for a given transaction; regulators have little control over the transactions and instruments firms choose to use. The broad range of financial reporting consequences of a given economic transaction, with regard to financial engineering, points to the difficulty — and even virtual impossibility — of regulators achieving comparability and consistency among firms’ financial reports. Despite attempts at regulation and the voluminous GAAP regulations, we reveal that managers remain free to engineer their transactions to publish their firm’s desired (or engineered) financial reports since these accounting methods are largely reported inconsistently with no comparability.

Acute pancreatitis (AP) accounts for over 230 000 US and 28 000 UK hospital admissions annually. Abdominal pain is the most common presenting symptom in AP but may not reflect severity. The clinical challenge is identifying the 20% of patients in whom AP will be severe. We summarise the common aetiologies, the risk stratification strategies including the simplified Bedside Index for Severity in Acute Pancreatitis, acute management approaches in the initial presentation setting, conditions for using advance imaging and opinions on antibiotic use. Some warning signs of impending complications are also discussed.

Hepatocellular carcinoma annually affects over 700,000 people worldwide and trends indicate increasing prevalence. Patients ineligible for surgery undergo loco-regional treatments such as transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) to selectively target tumoral blood supply. Using a microcatheter, chemotherapeutics are infused followed by an embolic agent, or the drug is encapsulated by the embolic moiety; simultaneously inducing stasis while delivering localized chemotherapy. Presently, several products are used, but no universally accepted system is promoted because very disparate limitations exist. The goal of this investigation was to design and develop in situ gelling recombinant silk-elastinlike protein polymers (SELPs) for TACE. Two SELP compositions, SELP-47K and SELP-815K, with varying lengths of silk and elastin blocks, were investigated to formulate a new embolic that was injectable through commercially available microcatheters. The goal was to develop a composition providing maximal permeation of tumor vasculature while exhibiting effective embolic activity. The SELPs evaluated remain soluble until reaching 37°C, when irreversible tran sition ensues forming a solid hydrogel network. SELP-815K formulated at 12% w/w with shear processing demonstrated acceptable rheological properties and clear embolic capability under flow conditions in vitro. A rabbit model showed feasibility of embolization in vivo allowing selective occlusion of lobar hepatic arterial branches.

Background: To improve communication between clinical providers and the laboratory, we recently implemented secure text messaging for our critical value notifications. This was done to communicate laboratory critical values (CV) to providers faster so changes to patient care could be done faster. Our previous method of communicating CV to providers was paging and relied on a call back to receive the critical value. Methods: We implemented delivery of CV through a secure texting application in which the CV was directly communicated to the provider on their smart phone device. Results: The mean pre-implementation turnaround time (TAT) was 11.3 minutes (median: 7 minutes, range: 0 - 210 minutes). The mean post- secure text messaging implementation TAT was 3.03 minutes (median: 0.89 minutes, range: < 1 - 95 minutes).When comparing pre- and post-implementation, there was a significant reduction in the TAT from using secure text messaging (p < 0.001). Of the 234 surveys sent out, 81 providers responded (35%). Of these responses, 85% reported that critical value notification by secure text messaging has increased their efficiency and 95% reported that critical value notification is more effective than a pager-phone-call based system. 83% of providers reported that they were able to provide better, faster care to their patients. Conclusions: Using secure text messaging (STM) to deliver critical values significantly reduces the CV TAT. Furthermore, providers noted they preferred to receive CV notifications through STM and reported that they were able to provide more effective care to their patients.

[1] This paper reports on the use of High-resolution Infrared Radiation Sounder (HIRS) measurements to infer the presence of upper tropospheric and lower stratospheric (UT/LS) clouds. UT/LS cloud detection is based on the fact that, when viewing an opaque UT/LS cloud that fills the sensor field of view, positive lapse rates above the tropopause cause a more absorbing CO2 or H2O-sensitive spectral band to measure a brightness temperature warmer than that of a less absorbing or nearly transparent infrared window spectral band. The HIRS sensor has flown on 16 polar-orbiting satellites from TIROS-N through NOAA-19 and Metop-A and –B, forming the only 30 year record that includes H2O and CO2-sensitive spectral bands enabling the detection of these UT/LS clouds. Comparison with collocated Cloud-Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization data reveals that 97% of the HIRS UT/LS cloud determinations are within 2.5 km of the tropopause (defined as the coldest level in the National Centers for Environmental Prediction Global Data Assimilation System); more clouds are found above the tropopause than below. From NOAA-14 data spanning 1995 through 2005, we find indications of UT/LS clouds in 0.7% of the observations from 60N to 60S using CO2 absorption bands; however, in the region of the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), this increases to 1.7%. During El Nino years, UT/LS clouds shift eastward out of their normal location in the western Pacific region. Monthly trends from 1987 through 2011 using data from NOAA-10 onwards show decreases in UT/LS cloud detection in the region of the ITCZ from 1987 until 1996, increases until 2001, and decreases thereafter.

Polyetherimide (PEI) possesses excellent thermal resistance and advanced mechanical properties, for which it has been used as interior materials in various transportation structures. Multifunctional PEI nanocomposites, in particular, with high damping properties and satisfactory static dissipation capability, will be more significant for those applications. In this study, PEI/graphene nanoplatelet (GNP) nanocomposites were fabricated via solution processing. Effects of GNP loading and surface silanization of GNPs on damping capacity and static dissipation properties were studied. The addition of the GNPs effectively increased the storage modulus of PEI, especially storage modulus at higher temperature (200 °C). The silanization of GNPs, on one hand, improved the dispersion quality; on the other hand, provided strong interfacial bonding with PEI matrix, which benefited the stress transfer within the composites. The superior damping capacity enhancements for the resulting nanocomposites are: with the loading of 3.0 wt% silanized GNP, the storage modulus of PEI increased approximately 4 times and 200 times at 30 °C and 200 °C, respectively, and the damping factor is 3 times higher than PEI. In addition, with the addition of 3.0 wt% GNPs, both low electrical resistivity (∼106 Ω∗cm) and low dielectric constant (∼7) were realized, corresponding to excellent volume static dissipation capability, however, silanization resulting in good interfacial bonding did not cause invisible impact on the electrical and dielectric properties of the nanocomposites. The superior damping capacity and static dissipation property make them suitable for intra-structure materials for airplane and transportation.

Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is a condition where an excess number of native and nonnative gut bacteria cause symptoms due to increased fermentation, inflammation, or malabsorption. This and other malabsorptive and nutritional deficiencies are also covered here including pancreatic insufficiency, vitamin B12 deficiency, lactase deficiency, and lysosomal acid lipase deficiency (LAL-D).

Specific GI infections encompass a broad range of bacteria, viruses, and other organisms which are often not considered normal flora. Many of these infections are seen in both healthy and immunocompromised individuals within the USA and abroad. This chapter will focus on specific pharmacotherapies, indication of treatment, and alternative drug regimens in resistant or recurrent infection.

Motility disorders of the GI tract involve the smooth muscle and/or neurological component necessary for successful peristalsis. These disorders often complicate chronic medical diseases or surgical interventions, and can lead to significant morbidity, and chronic malabsorption. This chapter reviews the current recommended medications for various motility disorders.

Pancreatitis is a common etiology of emergency department evaluation and hospital admission. Pancreatitis is a common condition often induced by obstruction of the hepatobiliary tree, toxins, or metabolic causes. Recurrent episodes can lead to chronic inflammation, ductal abnormalities, and exocrine/endocrine insufficiency. This chapter will outline the pharmacological management in the acute setting, and discuss further treatment options regarding pain and malabsorption secondary to chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic insufficiency.

This chapter encompasses general GI motility disorders which are common entities, and for which there are many possible etiologies. Many are considered to be functional. Because of the lack of knowledge relating to the underlying mechanisms, much of the treatment is directed towards symptomatic relief. This chapter will review pharmacological therapies recommended for their treatment, and assumes that specific treatable causes have been excluded.

GI infections are common and are often due to obstruction, translocation, or peroration of the GI tract. This chapter will outline some of the guidelines for antibiotic and/or alternative therapies.

A novel application of numerical weather prediction (NWP) models within an end-to-end processing system used to demonstrate advanced hyperspectral satellite technologies and instrument concepts is presented. As part of this system, sophisticated NWP models are used to generate simulated atmospheric profile datasets with fine horizontal and vertical resolution. The simulated datasets, which are treated as the “truth” atmosphere, are subsequently passed through a sophisticated forward radiative transfer model to generate simulated top-of-atmosphere (TOA) radiances across a broad spectral region. Atmospheric motion vectors and temperature and water vapor retrievals generated from the TOA radiances are then compared with the original model-simulated atmosphere to demonstrate the potential utility of future hyperspectral wind and retrieval algorithms. Representative examples of TOA radiances, atmospheric motion vectors, and temperature and water vapor retrievals are shown to illustrate the use of the simulated datasets. Case study results demonstrate that the numerical models are able to realistically simulate mesoscale cloud, temperature, and water vapor structures present in the real atmosphere. Because real hyperspectral radiance measurements with high spatial and temporal resolution are not available for large geographical domains, the simulated TOA radiance datasets are the only viable alternative that can be used to demonstrate the new hyperspectral technologies and capabilities. As such, sophisticated mesoscale models are critically important for the demonstration of the future end-to-end processing system.

Copper is essential for human physiology, but in excess it causes the severe metabolic disorder Wilson disease. Elevated copper is thought to induce pathological changes in tissues by stimulating the production of reactive oxygen species that damage multiple cell targets. To better understand the molecular basis of this disease, we performed genome-wide mRNA profiling as well as protein and metabolite analysis for Atp7b-/- mice, an animal model of Wilson disease. We found that at the presymptomatic stages of the disease, copper-induced changes are inconsistent with widespread radical-mediated damage, which is likely due to the sequestration of cytosolic copper by metallothioneins that are markedly up-regulated in Atp7b-/- livers. Instead, copper selectively up-regulates molecular machinery associated with the cell cycle and chromatin structure and down-regulates lipid metabolism, particularly cholesterol biosynthesis. Specific changes in the transcriptome are accompanied by distinct metabolic changes. Biochemical and mass spectroscopy measurements revealed a 3.6-fold decrease of very low density lipoprotein cholesterol in serum and a 33% decrease of liver cholesterol, indicative of a marked decrease in cholesterol biosynthesis. Consistent with low cholesterol levels, the amount of activated sterol regulatory-binding protein 2 (SREBP-2) is increased in Atp7b-/- nuclei. However, the SREBP-2 target genes are dysregulated suggesting that elevated copper alters SREBP-2 function rather than its processing or re-localization. Thus, in Atp7b-/- mice elevated copper affects specific cellular targets at the transcription and/or translation levels and has distinct effects on liver metabolic function, prior to appearance of histopathological changes. The identification of the network of specific copper-responsive targets facilitates further mechanistic analysis of human disorders of copper misbalance.

The blurring from diffraction for the infrared (IR) radiances on a geostationary satellite (GEO) e.g., the next generation of Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES-R) was simulated by using Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer Airborne Simulator data and the point spread function (PSF) model for an unobscured telescope. The portion of the total radiance contributed from each nearby geometrical field of view (GFOV) was calculated. For 90% ensquared energy (EE) (equivalent to 10% of the energy coming from outside the footprint), the closest GFOVs contribute 7%; the contribution from the closest GFOVs increases to 22% for 70% EE. The increased portion from the nearby GFOVs causes larger blurring and degrades the pixel-based retrieval product accuracy. Radiance contamination from the nearby field for the GEO IR radiances with 90%, 80%, and 70% EE causes 0.2-, 0.3-, and 0.4-K blurring errors, respectively, in the 12-mum IR longwave window band in clear 300-K scenes. The blurring error is doubled in cloudy 230-K scenes. For the 13.8-mum absorption band, the blurring error will be smaller than that of the 12-mum band because the atmospheric layer where the temperature sensitivity peaks for the 13.8 mum is more uniform than the surface where the 12 mum is most sensitive. This indicates that the PSF has a greater impact on a heterogeneous surface. Similar blurring errors occur at both 4- and 10-km spatial resolution IR sensors. The blurring error is not random, and it varies spectrally. These conclusions are very relevant to the design of a cost-effective GEO IR sounder that meets the science requirements

What is a nation? This is an essen tial question for students of American history. Answering it entails an understanding of cul ture, politics, and the "vital uni fying t emes and narrativ s of human experience" (National Council for History Education, 1997). Can eighth graders make this explo ration personally relevant by creating their own middle school nation? The story of this nation's history, United States history, is complex, confusing, and challenging to understand for everyone, including eighth graders. We wanted to engage our students in some of the issues confronting people who lived this history, particularly as it related to the development of government. "While textbook authors tend to include most of the trees and all too many twigs, they neglect to give readers even a glimpse of what they might find memorable: the forests" (Loewen, 1995). The forests for us and our stu dents became the big questions: What is a nation? How do citizens of a nation live in harmony? Solve problems? Deal with inequity? Share power? This experiment in nation building took place at Longfellow Middle School in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Longfellow, situated in a quiet residential neighborhood with a view of the Mississippi River bluffs, is a 750 stu dent school with a population of mostly Caucasian, lower to middle income students with a significant Hmong population and a smattering of other ethnic and racial groups. Longfellow has been organized into pods for the last twenty years. There are two-, threeand four teacher pods, and it is this structure, along with an enabling schedule, that allowed us to work closely to develop our nation. Purpose, Philosophy, and Structure

Context: Tumor-induced osteomalacia is a rare condition usually caused by benign mesenchymal tumors. When the tumor can be found, patients are usually managed by wide excision of the tumor. Objective: We report a 51-yr-old male with clinical and biochemical evidence of tumor-induced osteomalacia caused by a mesenchymal tumor in the right iliac bone. He declined surgery and appears to have been successfully managed by computed tomography-guided percutaneous ethanol ablation and percutaneous cryoablation. Results: Our patient appears to have had an excellent clinical and biochemical response to computed tomography-guided percutaneous ethanol ablation and percutaneous cryoablation. We found one prior case of image-guided ablation using radiofrequency ablation for tumor-induced osteomalacia. Conclusions: Although the standard treatment for tumor-induced osteomalacia is wide excision of the tumor, image-guided ablation may be an option in patients who cannot have appropriate surgery or who decline surgery.

This study is focused on exploring the feasibility of an all-optic surface scanning method in determining the size and position of a submerged, laser generated, optoacoustic (OA) source. The optoacoustic effect in this case was generated when the absorption of a short electromagnetic pulse in matter caused a dielectric breakdown, a plasma emission flash and a subsequent acoustic wave. In the experiment, a laser pulse with λ = 1064 nm and 12 ns pulse length was aimed at a volume of deionized water. When the laser beam was focused by a f = 16 mm lens, a single dielectric breakdown spot occurred. When a f = 40 mm was used several breakdowns in a row were induced. The breakdowns were photographed using a double shutter camera. The acoustic wave generated by the dielectric breakdowns were detected at a point on the water surface using a laser Doppler vibrometer (LDV). First, the LDV signal was used to calculate the speed of sound with an accuracy of 10 m/s. Secondly, the location and length of the dielectric breakdown was calculated with an accuracy of 1 mm. The calculated position matched the breakdown location recorded by a camera. The results show that it is possible to use LDV surface measurements from a single spot to determine both the position and length of the OA source as well as the speed of sound in the medium. Furthermore, the LDV measurements also show a secondary peak that originates from the OA source. To unravel the origin and properties of this interesting feature, further investigations are necessary

Two models to explain relations among computer attitudes, computer experience, and cognitive ability were investigated. The sample consisted of 136 college students in a large southwestern state university. Results supported the cognitive ability—computer experience—computer attitudes path. Specifically, cognitive ability exhibited a direct relation with computer experience, and the cognitive ability—computer attitude relation was mediated by computer experience. Results thus supported the hypothesis that initial computer experiences play a major role in the formation of subsequent computer attitudes. There were no significant relations between computer experience and computer attitudes and their postulated correlates. Results are discussed in terms of implications for the strategic introduction of psychology students to computers in their courses and steps to reduce self-selection from computer interactions.

Shedding of membrane gangliosides is characteristic of human and experimental tumors. Because some shed tumor gangliosides have potent tumor-enhancing properties, significant ganglioside shedding could influence tumor progression. We examined this possibility in a human tumor, neuroblastoma. Ganglioside shedding, measured as circulating tumor-derived GD2 ganglioside, and the outcome of 74 patients with advanced stage (III and IV) disease were studied. Progression-free survival (PFS) was inversely related to circulating GD2 levels at the time of diagnosis (P = .018). By Kaplan-Meier analysis, the quartile of patients having the highest circulating GD2 levels (greater than or equal to 568 pmol/mL) had a strikingly different outcome from the quartile of patients with the lowest (less than or equal to 103 pmol/mL) GD2 levels (P = .013): median PFS was shorter (9 v 28 months), and the long-term survival rate lower (2-year PFS of 24% v 70%). We conclude that more rapid disease progression and lower survival rate are associated with high circulating GD2 levels at diagnosis and speculate that shed neuroblastoma tumor gangliosides play a role in accelerating tumor progression.

The geostationary hyperspectral infrared sounder studied for the next generation GOES. An atmospheric sounding retrieval algorithm has been developed for processing the GHS under clear and cloudy skies through eigenvector regression with all IR channels.