cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Regional Development Theory: Conceptual Foundations, Classic Works, and Recent Developments:

This annotated bibliography gives an overview of the theoretical literature on regional economic growth and examines its conceptual foundations, major competing paradigms, and recent developments. The overview concludes with a discussion of the policy implications suggested by this body of theory. Throughout the review, three themes are emphasized: (1) the theoretical predictions regarding the convergence or divergence of per capita incomes across regions over time, (2) the assumptions regarding the importance of internal and external scale economies to regional economic growth, and (3) the role of space in shaping regional labor market outcomes.
Lack of effect of chronic developmental lead treatment on biogenic amines and metabolites in monkey cerebrospinal fluid

Concentrations of 3,4 dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), homovanillic acid (HVA), norepinephrine (NE), 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG), and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) were assayed in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of control and chronically lead-treated nursery-reared rhesus monkeys sampled periodically from infancy through adulthood. Blood lead levels peaked at 62 micrograms/dl at 1.5 months of age, averaged 45 micrograms/dl for the remainder of the first year postpartum, and were maintained at 14 micrograms/dl from 20-58 months of age. Cisternal CSF samples were collected monthly from 5-35 months of age and every 1-4 months from 36-58 months of age. Biogenic amine and metabolite concentrations were assayed by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. Overall concentrations of DOPAC, HVA, NE, MHPG, and 5-HIAA were not significantly different in the control and lead-treated groups nor were there any significant interactions between lead treatment and age for any measure. DOPAC, HVA, and 5-HIAA concentrations decreased gradually with age, whereas MHPG concentration decreased sharply between 35 and 40 months of age. NE concentration remained stable across development.
The Knowledge Repository: Organizational Memory Information Systems

An organizational memory information system (OMIS) is a tangible conceptualization of the nebulous concept of knowledge. It combines the attributes of culture, history, business process, human memory, and fact into an integrated business system. Such an integrated system can facilitate a major step in the capture of the knowledge assets.
Tricuspid atresia associated with truncus arteriosus versus aortopulmonary window: combining fetal and postnatal echocardiography to make the diagnosis.

The coincident occurrence of tricuspid atresia and aortopulmonary window (APW) is exceedingly rare,with one previous case reported in the literature. We present a patient with tricuspid atresia, pulmonaryatresia, and APW. Postnatal echocardiograms demonstrated no visible pulmonary valve, and additionaldefects including a bicuspid aortic valve, right aortic arch and anomalous coronary arteries raised suspi-cion for tricuspid atresia with persistent truncus arteriosus. However, fetal echocardiography and directvisualization of the anatomy conﬁrmed the alternate diagnosis. The patient underwent successful pallia-tion consisting of APW repair, atrial septectomy and a 3.5 mm modiﬁed Blalock–Taussig shunt,followed by a bidirectional cavopulmonary connection. (Echocardiography 2013;30:E336–E339)Key words: anomalous coronary artery, aortopulmonary window, fetal echocardiography, pulmonaryatresia, tricuspid atresiaTricuspid atresia is an uncommon cardiacanomaly, accounting for 2–3% of all congenitalheart disease.
Blog Functions as Risk and Crisis Communication During Hurricane Katrina

Blogs were examined during the 2 weeks after Hurricane Katrina hit the U.S. city of New Orleans to better understand what risk and crisis communication functions they served. The 4 major functions—communication, political, information, and helping—included both filtering and linking about rescue needs and efforts, missing persons, ways to offer and find assistance, fostering community, and providing information on damage and government response. A thinker function was fulfilled where bloggers expressed opinions, especially on government response. An additional function not previously delineated was identified, which might be termed emotive or therapeutic. In addition, several of the blog functions indicate the role the Internet plays in maintaining a sense of community in times of crisis.
Early and late results of left ventricular reconstruction in thin-walled chambers: is this our patient population?

doi:10.1016/j.jtcvs.2004.03.009 L eft ventricular aneurysms with a thin wall were commonplace before treatment of acute infarction with reperfusion by either thrombolysis or percutaneous angioplasty. The classic surgical approach to this region was made by collapse of the scarred region, and the procedure on the free wall was described in 1959 by Cooley and colleagues and in 1985 was enlarged to the septum by Jatene and Dor and associates. The report in this issue follows the Mickleborough group’s earlier presentation in 2000 and refocuses attention on the role of chamber rebuilding in patients with thin-walled ventricles after either anterior or inferior infarctions. There is general avoidance of mitral procedures and exclusion of patients with pulmonary hypertension. The long-term results and hospital mortality were excellent in this subset of patients with congestive heart failure (CHF), especially because 83% of patients were in New York Heart association functional III or IV class. Conventional medical management has been associated with high mortality in this class. The evaluation for candidacy has become more critical, with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) recently used to measure end-systolic volume index, directly correlates with prognosis. Such vital data help to identify restrictions inherent in visualizing only motion by ejection fraction, as well as defining previous echocardiographic limitations. For example, they look at the distal third of the ventricle, rather than left ventricular end-diastolic diameter. This is useful, because ischemic disease causes nonhomogeneous dilation from anterior infarction beyond the bases of the papillary muscles used for left ventricular end-diastolic diameter calculations. Evaluations of size that use traditional left ventricular end-diastolic diameter values may be misleading in ischemic disease and are more useful for homogeneous global dilatation that follows aortic or mitral valve disorders or nonischemic disease. Furthermore, use of endocardiectomy in 41% of patients decreased late antiarrhythmic deaths and is a critical finding to support the leadership role for Mickleborough, who joins with Dor in making leading contributions to this approach. The absence of sudden cardiac death among the survivors is a powerful indicator of the importance of this finding. Furthermore, the MRI illustrations of the restored elliptical shape are excellent and focus on how restoration alters size and shape when the heart is rebuilt toward a conic form.
Rapid and efficient purification of RNA-binding proteins: Application to HIV-1 Rev

Non-specifically bound nucleic acid contaminants are an unwanted feature of recombinant RNA-binding proteins purified from Escherichia coli (E. coli). Removal of these contaminants represents an important step for the proteins' application in several biological assays and structural studies. The method described in this paper is a one-step protocol which is effective at removing tightly bound nucleic acids from overexpressed tagged HIV-1 Rev in E. coli. We combined affinity chromatography under denaturing conditions with subsequent on-column refolding, to prevent self-association of Rev while removing the nucleic acid contaminants from the end product. We compare this purification method with an established, multi-step protocol involving precipitation with polyethyleneimine (PEI). As our tailored protocol requires only one-step to simultaneously purify tagged proteins and eliminate bound cellular RNA and DNA, it represents a substantial advantage in time, effort, and expense.
Brain reactive antibodies and the blood-brain barrier: observations in aging rodents and the effects of peripheral kainic acid

Abstract This study was initiated to confirm the existence of brain-reactive autoantibodies and to determine if such antibodies have higher affinity for brain regions especially affected in Alzheimer's disease. Serum collected from 90, 300, and 600 day old mice was incubated against brain tissues from these same mice, followed by incubation with fluorescently tagged rabbit anti-mouse IgG. No antibodies were present in the youngest serum, but considerable antibodies were present at 300 and, especially, at 600 days. Such antibodies were present in the blood vessels, but not in the brains of older animals. These antibodies, applied exogenously, labeled cells equally in all three ages of brains including most cortical and many other neurons, indicating that they are not neurotransmitter specific. In a further study, kainic acid or saline was administered peripherally to 15-month old rats. Kainic acid damaged the blood brain barrier and allowed the CNS entry of brain-reactive antibodies, especially into the su...
Transposition of banded matrices in hypercubes: a nearly isotropic task

Abstract A class of communication tasks, called isotropic, was introduced in [15], and minimum completion time algorithms for all tasks in this class were found. Isotropic tasks are characterized by a type of symmetry with respect to origin node. In this paper we consider the problem of transposing a sparse matrix of size N × N with a diagonal band of size 2β + 1 + 1, which is stored by columns in a hypercube network of N = 2d processors. We propose an assignment of matrix columns to hypercube nodes such that the transposition becomes a ‘nearly isotropic’ task, that is, it looks ‘almost identical’ to all nodes. Under this assignment, we give an algorithm to transpose the matrix in 2β steps. We prove that the algorithm given is optimal over all affine assignments of columns to processors. We also derive a lower bound on the minimum number of steps required to transpose a banded matrix, which holds for any possible assignment of matrix columns to hypercube processors. In the case that 2β + 1 + 1 = Θ(Nc), for some constant c ϵ (0, 1], we prove that the completion time of our transposition algorithm is of the same order of magnitude with the lower bound. We further show that [ d β ] banded matrices, each of bandwidth 2β + 1 + 1, can be stored by columns in a hypercube so that all of them can be concurrently transposed in 2β + 1 steps. Finally, we modify our algorithms so that they apply to arbitrary matrix bandwidths and multiple column storage by each processor, while maintaining their efficiency.
The MAOA promoter polymorphism, disruptive behavior disorders, and early onset substance use disorder: gene-environment interaction.

OBJECTIVES Conduct, oppositional defiant, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorders, reflecting early antisociality and behavior dysregulation, are predictive of substance use disorders. Liabilities to these disorders share genetic and environmental variance. Parenting characteristics have been shown to influence development of antisociality, moderated by variation at the MAOA gene, which has also been associated with the risk for substance use disorders. To extend these findings, we tested the relationships between the MAOA promoter polymorphism (variable number tandem repeat), indices of child's perception of paternal and maternal parenting, and disruptive behavior disorders and substance use disorders. METHODS A sample of 148 European-American males was assessed prospectively at ages from 10-12 to 18-19 years and genotyped for the monoamine oxidase A variable number tandem repeat. The Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorder-III-R diagnoses were obtained using standard methodology. Parenting was assessed using a scale summarizing the child's evaluation of the parenting style (parent's behavior toward him, parental emotional distance and involvement). Correlation, logistic regression, and Cox proportional hazard regression analysis was used to determine the relationships between the variables. RESULTS The strength of association between parenting index and conduct and attention deficit hyperactivity disorders depended on the MAOA genotype. Unlike earlier findings, the parenting-risk relationships were observed in the 'high-' rather than 'low-activity' genotypes. The strength and direction of relationships depended on the parental sex. The MAOA polymorphism's association with the risk for substance use disorders was detected when parenting was controlled for. CONCLUSIONS The results are consistent with the contribution of the MAOA gene, parenting style and their interactions to variation in the risk for early onset behavior disorders and liability to substance use disorders.
Field of dreams : Cultures of scholarship and public policy on race in the United States

This article examines the complicity of academic paradigms and public policies with racist discourses and racial discrimination in the United States. From the most overt racial segregation policies...
Windows into nothingness: Terror management, meaninglessness, and negative reactions to modern art.

Why do people dislike art that they find meaningless? According to terror management theory, maintaining a basic meaningful view of reality is a key prerequisite for managing concerns about mortality. Therefore, mortality salience should decrease liking for apparently meaningless art, particularly among those predisposed to unambiguous knowledge. Accordingly, mortality salience diminished affection for modern art in Study 1, and this effect was shown in Study 2 to be specific to individuals with a high personal need for structure (PNS). In Studies 3 and 4, mortality salient high-PNS participants disliked modern art unless it was imbued with meaning, either by means of a title or a personal frame of reference induction. Discussion focused on the roles of meaninglessness, PNS, and art in terror management.
p90 Ribosomal S6 Kinase 1 (RSK1) and the Catalytic Subunit of Protein Kinase A (PKA) Compete for Binding the Pseudosubstrate Region of PKAR1α ROLE IN THE REGULATION OF PKA AND RSK1 ACTIVITIES

Previously we showed that the inactive form of p90 ribosomal S6 kinase 1 (RSK1) interacts with the regulatory subunit, PKARIalpha, of protein kinase A (PKA), whereas the active RSK1 interacts with the catalytic subunit (PKAc) of PKA. Herein, we demonstrate that the N-terminal kinase domain (NTK) of RSK1 is necessary for interactions with PKARIalpha. Substitution of the activation loop phosphorylation site (Ser-221) in the NTK with the negatively charged Asp residue abrogated the association between RSK1 and PKARIalpha. This explains the lack of an interaction between active RSK1 and PKARIalpha. Full-length RSK1 bound to PKARIalpha with an affinity of 0.8 nm. The NTK domain of RSK1 competed with PKAc for binding to the pseudosubstrate region (amino acids 93-99) of PKARIalpha. Overexpressed RSK1 dissociated PKAc from PKARIalpha, increasing PKAc activity, whereas silencing of RSK1 increased PKAc/PKARIalpha interactions and decreased PKAc activity. Unlike PKAc, which requires Arg-95 and -96 in the pseudosubstrate region of PKARIalpha for their interactions, RSK1/PKARIalpha association requires all four Arg residues (Arg-93-96) in the pseudosubstrate site of PKARIalpha. A peptide (Wt-PS) corresponding to residues 91-99 of PKARIalpha competed for binding of RSK1 with PKARIalpha both in vitro and in intact cells. Furthermore, peptide Wt-PS (but not control peptide Mut-PS), by dissociating RSK1 from PKARIalpha, activated RSK1 in the absence of any growth factors and protected cells from apoptosis. Thus, by competing for binding to the pseudosubstrate region of PKARIalpha, RSK1 regulates PKAc activity in a cAMP-independent manner, and PKARIalpha by associating with RSK1 regulates its activation and its biological functions.
Commentary: beyond individualism and collectivism--a problem, or progress?

Although the constructs of individualism and collectivism appear to bring explanatory power to analyses of culture and psychology, they fail to adequately account for the complexities of social interactions and the multiplicity of people's social judgments. The research considered in the chapters in this volume offers evidence for the need to go beyond the stereotyping of cultures as individualistic or collectivistic.
Challenges in developing a whole grain database: Definitions, methods and quantification

A whole grain database was developed: to quantify the whole grain, bran and germ components of foods and breakfast cereals; to estimate the whole grain composition of foods and cereals with and without added bran and germ; and to establish classification categories ranking foods and cereals as low, medium or high whole grain, according to their percentages of whole grain, with and without added bran and germ. Ten database variables related to whole grain, bran and germ were created. Literature searches provided estimates of the bran, germ and endosperm constituents of cereal grains. Whole grain profiles were developed for foods using an automated recipe program. Whole grain, bran and germ values were assigned to approximately 140 breakfast cereals and other foods. Key whole grain foods included brown rice, oatmeal, popcorn and cold cereals. Wheat and oat bran were the primary sources of bran, and wheat germ was a minor contributor to whole grain content. This may be the first quantitative database providing whole grain, bran and germ values for breakfast cereals and other foods. Maintenance of this database will allow exploration of associations between whole grain consumption and disease risk in prospective cohorts.
A sorting problem and its complexity

A technique for proving min-max norms of sorting algorithms is given. One new algorithm for finding the minimum and maximum elements of a set with fewest comparisons is proved optimal with this technique.
PirB, a Second Receptor for the Myelin Inhibitors of Axonal Regeneration Nogo66, MAG, and OMgp: Implications for Regeneration In Vivo

Inhibitors of axonal regeneration in myelin are believed to be major contributors to the lack of regeneration in the adult CNS. Three of the four known myelin inhibitors, although very different structurally, interact with the same receptor, NgR. However, the absence of NgR has no effect on inhibition of neurite outgrowth in culture, and there is no improvement in CST regeneration in vivo. In a recent issue of Science, a second receptor for these myelin inhibitors was described, PirB, a receptor first described in the immune system. Will PirB be the answer to CST regeneration in vivo?
Scalable bootstrapping for python

High-level productivity languages such as Python, Matlab, and R are popular choices for scientists doing data analysis. However, for today's increasingly large datasets, applications written in these languages may run too slowly, if at all. In such cases, an experienced programmer must typically rewrite the application in a less-productive performant language such as C or C++, but this work is intricate, tedious, and often non-reusable. To bridge this gap between programmer productivity and performance, we extend an existing framework that uses just-in-time code generation and compilation. This framework uses the SEJITS methodology, (Selective Embedded Just-In-Time Specialization [11]), converting programs written in domain specific embedded languages (DSELs) to programs in languages suitable for high performance or parallel computation.We present a Python DSEL for a recently developed, scalable bootstrapping method; the DSEL executes efficiently in a distributed cluster. In previous work [18, Prasad et al. created a DSEL compiler for the same DSEL (with minor differences) to generate OpenMP or Cilk code. In this work, we create a new DSEL compiler which instead emits code to run on Spark [16], a distributed processing framework. Using two example applications of bootstrapping, we show that the resulting distributed code achieves near-perfect strong scaling from 4 to 32 eight-core computers (32 to 256 cores) on datasets up to hundreds of gigabytes in size. With our DSEL, a data scientist can write a single program in serial Python that can run "toy" problems in plain Python, non-toy problems fitting on a single computer in OpenMP or Cilk, and non-toy problems with large datasets on a multi-computer Spark installation.
The Molecular Biology of Pulmonary Metastasis

Curing cancer requires the treatment of metastatic disease. Whether this is a patient with advanced disease and clinically apparent metastases, or if the patient with localized disease is at risk for development of dissemination, failure to control metastasis will result in a poor outcome. Here, we have presented a molecular guide to our current understanding of the processes underlying metastasis. Experimental clinical trials designed to further the understanding of metastasis are often limited by selection of patients with advanced disease. Therefore, our understanding of the processes involved in the metastatic cascade is limited by the availability of comprehensive experimental model systems. The study of metastasis relies most heavily on xenografts, tumors using human cell lines, or tumor tissue that can grow in mice. These models present a limited recapitulation of the patients. Xenograft models require some degree of immunosuppression on the part of the host, because mice with native immune systems will reject transplanted human tumors, preventing their growth. As a result, mice with immune defects ranging from depleted T cells (nude mice) to absent T, B, and NK cells (SCID-Beige) are used as hosts. As the evasion of the immune system is a key function demonstrated by the metastatic cancer cell, xenograft models, by necessity, subvert this step. Furthermore, recent studies have established that angiogenesis in transplanted tumors is different than in native tumors, further highlighting the limitations of these models. With these limitations, studies of metastasis may require development of models of autochthonous tumors, that is, tumors originating in the study animals. A number of cell lines of autochthonous murine tumors have been established that generate metastatic disease after implantation into mice. Moreover, some transgenic animals spontaneously develop metastatic tumors that, although occurring in genetically engineered animals, may represent the most complete model from early development to late effects. Finally, a very promising field of autochthonous tumor studies lies in work with companion animals (pets). Some dogs will have cancer, often with striking similarities to those of their human counterparts. These pets may represent an important study group, because they have autochthonous tumors, occurring spontaneously, in an outbred population. In all of these cases, the tumor, new vasculature, and the immune system are syngeneic with the host. In addition to the advances in model systems, advances in technology will further our understanding and ability to combat metastatic disease. As demonstrated, genomics is proving to be a powerful tool in identifying those at risk for metastasis. From these genetic signatures, molecular targets may be deduced from the genes altered in patients with poor prognoses. Furthermore, other molecular tools such as proteomic analysis may provide further information. Clearly, therefore, a synthesis of different technologies and complimentary information will be required to target metastases and improve the outcome for patients affected by them.
Interdiffusion behavior in UPuZr fuel versus stainless steel couples

Abstract Irradiation of metallic UZr or UPu-Zr nuclear fuel alloys in a reactor results in fuel swelling that can lead to interactions between the fuel and cladding steel. These interactions are complicated, involving many variables and producing complex microstructures. This paper contributes to the understanding of fuel-cladding interaction by reporting results from diffusion couples annealed at 650°C for 100 h between a UPuZr alloy and stainless steels with and without Ni. SEM-EDX analyses of these couples were utilized to determine the composition of phases throughout the diffusion zone and to generate composition profiles. Overall, a diffusion couple between a UPuZr fuel alloy and a cladding steel that does not contain Ni develops the largest diffusion zone of any of the fuel-cladding steel diffusion couples; a slightly smaller diffusion zone develops for a couple between a UPuZr alloy and a cladding steel containing Ni. By comparing these results with those from earlier binary fuel studies, it is concluded that the presence of Pit increases interdiffusion of the various components in fuel-cladding steel diffusion couples.
Plane wave simulation of elastic-viscoplastic single crystals

Abstract Despite the large amount of research that has been performed to quantify the high strain rate response of Aluminum, few studies have addressed effects of crystal orientation and subsequent crystal-level microstructure evolution on its high strain rate response. To study orientation effects in single crystal Al, both a constitutive model and novel numerical method have been developed. A plane wave formulation is developed so that materials undergoing anisotropic viscoplastic deformation can be modeled in a thermodynamically consistent framework. Then, a recently developed high strain rate viscoplastic model is extended to include single crystal effects by incorporating higher order crystal-based thermoelasticity, anisotropic plasticity kinetics, and distinguishing influences of forest and parallel dislocation densities. Steady propagating shock waves are simulated for [100], [110], and [111] oriented single crystals and compared to existing experimental wave profile and strength measurements. Finally, influences of initial orientation and peak pressure ranging from 0 to 30 GPa are quantified. Results indicate that orientation plays a significant role in dictating the high rate response of both the wave profile and the resultant microstructure evolution of Al. The plane wave formulation can be used to evaluate microstructure-sensitive constitutive relations in a computationally efficient framework.
Collective modes and f-wave pairing interactions in superfluid He3

Precision measurements of collective mode frequencies in superfluid {sup 3}He-B are sensitive to quasiparticle and f-wave pairing interactions. Measurements were performed at various pressures using interference of transverse sound in an acoustic cavity. We fit the measured collective mode frequencies, which depend on the strength of f-wave pairing and the Fermi liquid parameter F{sub 2}{sup s}, to theoretical predictions and discuss what implications these values have for observing new order parameter collective modes.
Circle graph obstructions

Abstract A circle graph is an intersection graph of finitely many chords of a circle. A local complementation of a simple graph G at one of its vertices v is the operation which replaces the subgraph of G induced by the neighborhood of v by its complement. Two graphs are locally equivalent if one of them is obtained from the other one by successive local complementations. THEOREM. A simple graph G is a circle graph if and only if no graph locally equivalent to G has an induced subgraph isomorphic to one of the graphs depicted in Figure 3.
Evidence for insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-independent transcriptional regulation of IGF binding protein-3 by growth hormone in SKHEP-1 human hepatocarcinoma cells

Insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) is a polypeptide that forms a ternary complex with IGFs and an acid-labile subunit. The hormonal regulation of the components of this complex is highly controversial, and both IGF-I and GH have been shown to mediate the expression/synthesis of IGFBP-3. This study investigates the regulation of IGFBP-3 protein, measured by RIA and Western ligand blot, and messenger RNA (mRNA) expression, measured by Northern analysis and reverse transcriptase-PCR, in SKHEP-1 human hepatocarcinoma cells. SKHEP-1 cells significantly increased the IGFBP-3 concentrations in conditioned medium (CM) when treated with GH (0.1-10 ng/ml), IGF-I (1-100 ng/ml), or Des(1-3)-IGF-I (1-100 ng/ml) in a dose-dependent manner (>3-fold). The increase in IGFBP-3 protein concentrations in CM was accompanied by a corresponding increase in IGFBP-3 mRNA levels. Interestingly, time-course studies showed that the GH-induced increase in IGFBP-3 mRNA preceded the IGF-I-induced increase (6 h for GH-induced IGFBP-3 mRNA; 12 h for IGF-I-induced IGFBP-3 mRNA). The half-life of IGFBP-3 mRNA was evaluated after transcriptional arrest by treatment with a RNA polymerase II inhibitor (5,6-dichloro-1beta-D-ribofuranosylbenzimidazole), and was found to be 14-18 h and unaltered by GH or IGF-I treatment. The induction of IGFBP-3 by GH was not due to the indirect action of locally synthesized IGF-I, because 1) no immunoreactive IGF-I was detected in the CM of control or GH-treated cells; 2) Northern blots revealed no IGF-I mRNA expression in SKHEP-1 cells; 3) reverse transcriptase-PCR did not detect any expression of the IGF-I gene; and 4) time-course studies showed an earlier increase in IGFBP-3 mRNA after GH treatment than after IGF-I treatment. Thus, the results obtained in this study are consistent with an IGF-I-independent regulation of IGFBP-3 gene expression by GH.
The emergence of palliative care: a new specialized field of medicine requiring an interdisciplinary approach

Palliative care is a relatively new field of medicine. Physicians have traditionally been trained within a curative model of care. The SUPPORT study identified shortcomings in care for seriously ill and dying patients in American hospitals. As a result of the SUPPORT study, there is a fast growing movement in the United States that is working to improve end-of-life care. Palliative care offers a new meaningful focus for patients whose disease is not responsive to curative treatments and offers improvements in quality of life. The delivery of effective palliative care requires an interdisciplinary team approach in order to meet the complex needs of patients and families.
A modified 4-point bend delamination test

The 4-point bend delamination test is widely used to study the adhesive properties in thin film structures. The analysis of such tests is commonly based on assumption that symmetry conditions are appropriate to describe crack length and loading. These conditions are, however, rarely fulfilled, and it is common that only a single crack is being propagated. This fact is especially of concern in fatigue crack growth studies. Solutions for energy release rates for asymmetric 4-point bend delamination specimens are presented. A semi-articulated test fixture is described. The experiments conducted with this fixture and the additional energy release rate equations allow that cracks to both sides of the specimen are being propagated. In toughness testing this provides two values for the critical energy release rate from a single test. In fatigue testing, it is demonstrated that near symmetric crack growth was obtained, and remaining asymmetry effects can be quantified.
Olfactory sensitivity and discrimination of mixtures in the honeybee Apis mellifera

The work reported here is motivated by questions relating to the perception of olfactory cues in the discrimination of nestmates and kin in the honeybeeApis mellifera. Two sets of experiments are discussed. The first deals with the perception of individual compounds in mixtures made up from various pairs of volatile (citral, geraniol, linalool, and limonene) and nonvolatile (un- and dodecanoic acids) compounds. The second deals with the ability of worker honeybees to discriminate between mixtures made up from the same two compounds (un- and dodecanoic acids; tri- and pentacosane) combined in different proportions. All experiments employ differential conditioning of the proboscis extension reflex as an assay of the ability of workers to discriminate between two odors. Results show that workers can relate mixtures to their component parts, and that workers can discriminate between mixtures of two very similar compounds as long as the proportions are relatively dissimilar.
Effect of Chloramphenicol on Light Dependent Development of Seedlings of Phaseolus vulgaris var. Black Valentine, With Particular Reference to Development of Photosynthetic Activity.

Seedlings of higher plants germinated in solutions of chloramphenicol (D-threo-N-dichloroacetyl-1-pnitrophenyl-2-amino-1,3-propanediol) have their development inhibited. The most noticeable effect is the inhibition of the formation of normal green color of leaves (13, 16). Chloramphenicol is a specific inhibitor of protein synthesis in bacteria where it inhibits the incorporation into protein of amino acids attached to soluble ribonucleic acid (3). Chloramphenicol can also inhibit amino acid incorporation catalyzed by a cell-free system obtained from higher plants ( 14). The work presented in this paper was undertaken to study light dependent chloroplast maturation, a process that is not yet fully understood. Chloramphenicol inhibition of this process would be one way of indicating participation of protein synthesis. An inhibitory effect of antibiotic on the light dependent development of photosynthetic activity of Phaseolus vulgaris var. Black Valentine has been found. In addition, a partial inhibition of chlorophyll synthesis was observed. Other light dependent responses of the plant were not affected.
Copy number variants in genetic susceptibility and severity of systemic lupus erythematosus

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a systemic autoimmune disorder characterized by the presence of auto-antibodies to nuclear antigens, immune complex deposition, and subsequent tissue destruction. Early studies in twins suggested that SLE has, at least in part, a genetic basis, and a role for class II alleles in the major histocompatibility complex has been known for over 30 years. Through both linkage studies and candidate gene studies, numerous additional genetic risk factors have been identified. The recent publication of two SNP-based genome-wide association studies (GWAS) has resulted in the confirmation of a number of previously identified genetic risk loci and has identified new previously unappreciated loci conferring risk for development of SLE. A role for gene copy number variation (CNV) in SLE has also been appreciated through studies of the complement component 4 (C4) loci and more recent work in the IgG Fc receptor loci. The availability of large SNP-based GWAS datasets will undoubtedly lead to the genome-wide analysis and identification of copy number variants related to genetic susceptibility for development of SLE. We review current studies of CNV in SLE susceptibility that include reports of association between SLE and CNV in C4, IgG Fc receptors, TLR7, and CCL3L1.
The narcotic antagonist naloxone enhances clinical pain

ENDOGENOUS opiate-like substances (endorphins) have been isolated from the brain in a variety of species, including man1,2. Furthermore, there is recent evidence that the brain possesses an analgesia-producing system. The distribution of endorphins is consistent and overlaps significantly with central nervous system sites such as the midbrain periaqueductal grey which produce analgesia when activated by electrical stimulation or opiate microinjection3–5. This raises the possibility that the analgesia is mediated by endorphin release. At present very little is known about the factors which trigger endorphin release. One obvious possibility is that the pain suppression system is activated by noxious stimuli. In fact, it has been observed that noxious stimuli delivered at one region of the body reduce the reported intensity of a distant noxious stimulus6. Furthermore, studies of the component neurones of this analgesia-producing system are consistent with the idea that it is activated by noxious stimuli7,8. If the action of the analgesia-producing system is mediated by endogenous morphine-like compounds, then disruption of this system by naloxone, a pure opiate antogonist, would be expected, to increase the perceived intensity of a maintained noxious stimulus. Some animal studies report no effect of naloxone alone on baseline pain thresholds9,10; in other studies, however, a shortening of latencies on hot-plate and tail-flick tests has been observed11,12. In humans, pain thresholds are unaffected by naloxone alone13,14. However, reversal of analgesia produced by electrical stimulation15,16 or by acupuncture17 has been reported. In 1965 Lasagna commented on the “curious hyper-algesic effect” of naloxone in patients with postoperative pain18. These observations suggested that clinical pain might provide a more appropriate model to study the action of endorphins. We demonstrate here that following the extraction of impacted wisdom teeth, naloxone causes a significantly greater increase in reported pain intensity than placebo, an observation consistent with the suggested participation of endorphins in an intrinsic pain suppression system.
Impaired lymphocyte function in depressive illness

Mood states and immunity may be related. To investigate the immune status of patients with primary depressive illness, we compared in-vitro lymphocytic responses to three different mitogens in 26 drug-free depressed patients and 20 normal controls of comparable age and sex. We observed a generalized and marked decrease in the lymphocyte mitogenic activity among the depressive group. This defect in lymphocyte function may be indicative of an impairment in cell-mediated immunity in patients with primary depressive illness.
Natural convection in vertical enclosures containing simultaneously fluid and porous layers

A numerical and experimental study is reported of natural convection in a vertical rectangular fluid enclosure that is partially filled with a fluid-saturated porous medium. Velocities, stresses, temperatures, and heat fluxes are assumed to be continuous across the fluid/porous-medium interface, and the conservation equations for the fluid and the porous regions are combined into a single set of equations for numerical solution. Thermocouples as well as a Mach-Zehnder interferometer are used to measure temperature distributions and infer fluid flow patterns within the fluid and the porous medium. For various test cells, porous-layer configurations and fluid-solid combinations, the model predictions show excellent agreement with the experimental measurements. It is found that the intensity of natural convection is always much stronger in the fluid regions, while the amount of fluid penetrating into the porous medium increases with increasing Darcy and Rayleigh numbers. The degree of penetration of fluid into the porous medium depends strongly on the porous-layer geometry and is less for a horizontal porous layer occupying the lower half of the test cell. If penetration takes place, the flow patterns in the fluid regions are significantly altered and the streamlines show cusps at the fluid/porous-medium interfaces. For a high effective-thermal-conductivity porous medium, natural convection in the medium is suppressed, while the isotherms bend sharply at the fluid/porous-medium interface.
Chemical interaction of NF3 ion beams and plasmas with Si (Part I): X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy studies

Abstract The interaction of nitrogen trifluoride (NF3) with silicon (Si) surface has been investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Si(100) surfaces were subjected to NF3 ion beams under controlled conditions. Samples were also exposed to actual NF3 d.c. plasmas, and the results were compared with the ion-beam irradiations with their doses chosen to match the expected ion dose in the plasmas. The novel use of the NF3-generated ion beams allowed an independent investigation of the ion effects in the NF3 plasmas, and we have been able to differentiate the role of both ions and neutrals in NF3 plasma etching of Si. Both ion-beam and plasma experiments indicate that etching, nitridation and fluorination of Si occur simultaneously. In the ion-beam chemical interaction with Si, there is evidence of the formation of a complex SiNF moiety, as identified by a F 1s peak that appeared at 687.4 eV. This location was shifted by ∼1.8 eV to a higher binding energy side than that normally observed in the reaction between F and Si. Nitrogen trifluoride plasma interaction with Si replicates this complex moiety, but also forms SiFx species that are ascribed to a neutral FSi interaction. Interpretation and rationalization of the peak positions were made simply on the expected charge on each atom based on the Pauling electronegativity.
SEQUENTIAL ORDER AND PERCEIVED FREQUENCY OF OCCURRENCE OF EQUALLY FREQUENT STIMULI.

A series of experiments were performed to explore a possible phenomenon whereby Ss when forced to state an opinion, reported that the first of two equally frequent, generally sequential stimuli, occurred more often than the second. A learning theory basis for such a phenomenon was offered, and suggestions for additional systematic examination of it were made.
Phase I/II study of GM-CSF DNA as an adjuvant for a multipeptide cancer vaccine in patients with advanced melanoma.

Granulocyte–macrophage colony–stimulating factor (GM-CSF) enhances immune responses by inducing proliferation, maturation, and migration of dendritic cells (DCs) as well as expansion and differentiation of B and T lymphocytes. The potency of DNA vaccines can be enhanced by the addition of DNA encoding cytokines, acting as molecular adjuvants. We conducted a phase I/II trial of human GM-CSF DNA in conjunction with a multipeptide vaccine (gp100 and tyrosinase) in stage III/IV melanoma patients. Nineteen human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A*0201(+) patients were treated. Three dose levels were studied: 100, 400, and 800 µg DNA/injection, administered subcutaneously every month with 500 µg of each peptide. In the dose-ranging study, three patients were treated at each dose level. The remaining patients were then treated at the highest dose. Most toxicities were grade 1 injection-site reactions. Eight patients (42%) developed CD8+ T-cell responses, defined by a ≥3 SD increase in baseline reactivity to tyrosinase or gp100 peptide in tetramer or intracellular cytokine staining (ICS) assays. There was no relationship between dose and T-cell response. Responding T cells had an effector memory cell phenotype. Polyfunctional T cells were also demonstrated. At a median of 31 months follow-up, median survival has not been reached. Human GM-CSF DNA was found to be a safe adjuvant.
Global test of modified precompound decay models

A single parameter set was adopted for the hybrid and geometry dependent hybrid models. The nuclear density profile was modified for consistency with results of the Myers nuclear droplet model. Optical model parameters were modified to give better global results for inverse reaction cross sections in the precompound energy range up to 90 MeV. Two types of multiple precompound decay processes are defined, and the more important of the two is incorporated into the precompound decay formalism. This results in two to five orders of magnitude improvement in predicting $^{202}\mathrm{Hg}$(p,2p) and $^{202}\mathrm{Hg}$(p,2pn) product yields for proton energies up to 86 MeV. The global parameter set and formulation of this work is compared with (n, $x\mathrm{n}$) and (n,p) spectra for 14 MeV incident neutrons, for (p,n) spectra with 18-90 MeV protons, and with (p,p\ensuremath{'}) spectra for 39-90 MeV protons. The geometry dependent hybrid model gives the better overall agreement, in most cases within the 20-30% limit of significance attached to the model. Some discussion is given of methods by which the calculations might be further improved.NUCLEAR REACTIONS Hybrid, geometry dependent hybrid precompound decay models, improve global parameter set, implement multiple precompound decay. Test new formulation vs spectra from reactions induced by 14 MeV neutrons to 90 MeV protons.
Legal concepts meet technology: a 50-state survey of privacy laws

Informational privacy consists of the ability to control how others use our personal information. Over the past several decades, we have lost a significant degree of control as a result of advances in information processing technology and the rise of the Internet. We pose two questions: (1) What legal concepts of privacy and privacy protection have developed in response to changing technology? (2) Are these responses adequate?To answer these questions, we provide a detailed survey and analysis of current US state privacy and security laws, which illustrate the limits of current practical legal concepts of privacy. Our analysis reveals that when evaluated against the background of relevant technological developments, the answer is that the response has clearly been inadequate. We offer the analysis here as a starting point toward a more adequate response.
Cell-based therapy for disc repair.

Abstract Background context One of the most promising therapies for symptomatic disc degeneration involves the implantation of therapeutic cells into the degenerative disc. Purpose In this article, the rationale and approaches for cell-based tissue engineering of the intervertebral disc are discussed. Study design The scientific literature related to cell-based tissue engineering of the intervertebral disc is reviewed. Methods A variety of cell types have been used in various research models to affect matrix repair of the intervertebral disc. The use of cellular scaffolds and growth factors or genes also appears promising for achieving meaningful tissue repair of the intervertebral disc. Results Disc tissue engineering is a promising approach for achieving repair of the intervertebral disc. Using cell-based approaches, various research models suggest that improvements in the complex matrix of the disc may be achieved. Conclusion A cell-based approach to repair of the intervertebral disc appears promising. More research is needed to define the optimal cell type, cellular scaffold and mixture of growth factors that may allow meaningful repair of the human symptomatic degenerative disc.
Dynamic infrared spectroscopy with a fast scan FTIR spectrometer

A normal fast scanning FTIR spectrometer can be used to obtain dynamic IR spectra by using a technique where information on the sample strain is saved along with each interferogram reading. Software is then used to find correlations between the interferogram data and sample strain and hence extract the time dependent components in the data.
Dynamic Load Modeling of an HVAC Chiller for Demand Response Applications

A new dynamic electrical load model for an HVAC chiller for use in demand response applications is presented. The coupling of a building's electrical and thermal characteristics is not adequately captured using existing static models. Therefore a dynamic model is proposed. This allows for more accurate planning of the dispatching of load for demand side response. The model in this paper is derived from tests performed on an actual HVAC system at Drexel University.
An information resource for computer science educators

This paper describes an information resource for educators in departments offering computer science degree programs. This resource is designed to provide structured, up-to-date information in terms of demographics and statistics related to curricula, faculty, and students in such departments. Additionally, it facilitates the identification of various trends based on these data over several years. This paper presents highlights of the information generated through this project.