cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Relational Health as a Mediator Between Betrayal Trauma and Borderline Personality Disorder

A frequently studied hypothesized cause of borderline personality disorder (BPD) is experiencing interpersonal trauma. A recent study by L. A. Kaehler and J. J. Freyd (2009) found a connection between betrayal trauma and BPD characteristics, with higher betrayal traumas associated with greater BPD characteristics. The present study seeks to expand upon that study by investigating relational health as a potential mediator for the association between betrayal trauma and BPD. A sample of 165 college students completed measures of betrayal trauma life events, relational health, and BPD traits. Mediation analyses showed significant partial mediation for total relational health (bootstrap coefficient = .0168) and its community subscale (bootstrap coefficient = .0204); however, significant mediating effects for the mentor and friend subscales were not found. Given the significant finding for only the community subscale, which may be driving the total relational health effect seen, the results suggest that connec...
Impact of Increasing Gasoline Prices on Tourism Travel Patterns to a State Park

Because tourism and outdoor recreation are highly travel dependent, they are influenced by gasoline prices. Unstable and increasing gasoline prices can affect travel participation, and behavioural adaptations are likely to occur. This paper examines the impact of higher gasoline prices on park visitation and investigates the degree to which certain behavioural and socio-demographic variables mediate the direct impact of gasoline prices on travel decisions to visit a park. The study findings revealed that the influence of increasing gasoline prices on travel decisions was progressively intensified and mitigated by several behavioural variables.
COSMIC: middleware for high performance and reliable multiprocessing on xeon phi coprocessors

It is remarkably easy to offload processing to Intel's newest manycore coprocessor, the Xeon-Phi: it supports a popular ISA (x86-based), a popular OS (Linux) and a popular programming model (OpenMP). Unfortunately, easy portability does not automatically ensure high performance. Additional programmer effort is necessary to leverage the new performance-oriented hardware features. But programmer optimizations alone are insufficient. Multiprocessing is also necessary to improve hardware utilization, and Linux makes it easy for processes to share the manycore coprocessor. However multiprocessing inefficiencies can easily offset gains made by the programmer. Our experiments on a production, high-performance Xeon server with multiple Xeon Phi coprocessors show that multiprocessing on coprocessors not only slows down the processes but also introduces unreliability (some processes crash unexpectedly). We propose a new, user-level middleware called COSMIC that improves performance and reliability of multiprocessing on coprocessors like the Xeon Phi. COSMIC seamlessly fits in the existing Xeon Phi software stack and is transparent to programmers. It manages Xeon Phi processes that execute parallel regions offloaded to the coprocessors. Offloads typically have programmer-driven performance directives like thread and affinity requirements. Unlike the existing Xeon Phi software stack, COSMIC does fair scheduling of both processes and offloads, and takes into account conflicting requirements of offloads belonging to different processes. By doing so, COSMIC has two clear benefits. First, it improves multiprocessing performance by preventing thread and memory oversubscription, by avoiding inter-offload interference and by reducing load imbalance on coprocessors and cores. Second, it increases multiprocessing reliability by exploiting programmer-specified per-process coprocessor memory requirements to completely avoid memory oversubscription and crashes. Our experiments on several representative Xeon Phi workloads show that, in a multiprocessing environment, COSMIC improves average core utilization by up to 3 times, reduces make-span by up to 52%, reduces average process latency (turn-around-time) by 70%, and completely eliminates process crashes.
New Approaches to Target T-ALL.

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common malignancy in children. Although it is now curable in 80-90% of cases, patients with T-ALL experience a higher frequency of induction failure and early relapse. Despite aggressive treatment approaches, including transplantation and new salvage regimens, most children with relapsed T-ALL will not be cured. As such, we are in need of new targeted therapies for the disease. Recent advances in the molecular characterization of T-ALL have uncovered a number of new therapeutic targets. This review will summarize recent advancements in the study of inhibiting the NOTCH1, PI3K-AKT and Cyclin D3:CDK4/6 pathways as therapeutic strategies for T-ALL. We will focus on preclinical studies supporting the testing of small-molecule inhibitors targeting these proteins and the rationale of combination therapies. Moreover, epigenetic approaches to modulate T-ALL are rapidly emerging. Here we will discuss the data supporting the role of BET bromodomain inhibitors in human T-ALL.
Attachment and withdrawal patterns of high technology workers

Abstract Employee attachment and withdrawal was examined for a sample of high technology electronics workers located in the Silicon Valley. The effects of current and future expectations were compared as predictors of job responses for high tech workers at different job tenure stages (newcomers, insiders, and long-term veterans). A survey based multivariate approach with in-depth interviews was used. Results portray a high turnover pattern for newcomers who want, but do not expect to receive promotional opportunities and enriched jobs. The effect of job longevity remains unresolved.
CA 19-9 velocity predicts disease-free survival and overall survival after pancreatectomy of curative intent.

This study was undertaken to correlate serum CA 19-9 levels and CA 19-9 velocity with disease-free and overall survival after pancreatectomy for adenocarcinoma. From 1997 to 2002, 96 patients underwent pancreatectomy without adjuvant chemotherapy as the control arm of a large randomized prospective adjuvant therapy trial. After resection, CA 19-9 levels were drawn at baseline, 4 weeks, and 12-week intervals thereafter. CA 19-9 velocity denotes rate of change in CA 19-9 levels over a 4-week period. Postoperative baseline CA 19-9 levels and CA 19-9 velocity were correlated with disease-free and overall survival. Data are presented as median (mean ± SD). Disease-free survival was 7 months (14 ± 13.7), and overall survival was 12 months (19 ± 14.3) with 24 (25%) patients alive at 41 months (39 ± 7.8). Baseline CA 19-9 levels and CA 19-9 velocity predicted disease-free (p < 0.01) and overall survival (p < 0.01). CA 19-9 velocity was a better predictor of overall survival than baseline CA 19-9 (p < 0.001). CA 19-9 velocity at disease progression was 131 U/ml/4-weeks (1,684 ± 4,474.8) vs. 1 U/ml/4-weeks (1 ± 3.8) at 22 months for patients without disease progression (p < 0.001). CA 19-9 velocity predicts imminent disease progression after resection of pancreatic adenocarcinoma and is a better predictor of overall survival than baseline CA 19-9 levels. CA 19-9 velocity is a reliable and relatively inexpensive means of monitoring patients after resection of pancreatic cancer and should be considered in all patients enrolled in clinical trials as well as patients receiving adjuvant therapy.
Crowding Effects on Plum Curculios Reared at Several Densities on Two Sizes of Green Apples

Several densities of newly emerged paired adult Conotrachelus nenuphar (Herbst) were placed on green thinning apples which weighed approximately 12 or 20 g. Eggs laid per female decreased at the highest density, but total oviposition was greater in a given weight of the smaller apples. Also, larval emergence decreased at the highest density, but larval survival was equal for the 2 sizes of apples. Also, more and larger larvae were produced from a given weight of the smaller apples; the possible causes of the differences are discussed and several improvements in the rearing technique are reported.
Developmental toxicity and pharmacokinetics of oral and intravenous phenytoin in the rat.

Abstract Correlations between oral and intravenous (i.v.) doses of phenytoin, maternal plasma levels, and subsequent developmental toxicity were examined in the Sprague-Dawley rat. Oral administration of 150 to 1500 mg/kg and i.v. administration of 25 to 100 mg/kg phenytoin from gestational days (GD) 8 to 17 resulted in a dose-dependent increase in maternal death and toxicity [impaired motor function, decreased maternal weight gain (oral dose only)], embryolethality, and intrauterine growth retardation, in addition to significant increases in craniofacial (1125 mg/kg oral; 75 mg/kg i.v.) and urogenital (1125 mg/kg oral) malformations. Pharmacokinetic sampling in oral and i.v. groups on GD 8–9 and 16–17 revealed significant increases in maternal drug exposure over the treatment period, as evidenced by 2- to 3-fold increases in total plasma phenytoin (bound + free) half-life, area under the concentration curve, peak concentration (oral dose only), and decreases in clearance. These findings emphasize the importance of pharmacokinetics in the evaluation of phenytoin-induced developmental toxicity.
Strengthening women's studies through applied activism: Theoretical, classroom, regional, and cross-border strategies for participating in change

Synopsis Through activist scholarship Women's Studies has helped to support material and cultural change in the university and in social-change projects around the world. To strengthen Women's Studies social-change applications, this article stresses the importance of consciously integrating material and cultural knowledge and recognizing material feminism's historical, social relational, and local-to-global contributions. Applied activist knowledge in Women's Studies would be enhanced by more engagement in theoretical, classroom-based, and organizational work in regional and cross-border feminist social-change networks. Examples are drawn from the author's experiences teaching Women's Studies, her work in feminist theory construction in relation to historical analysis, and her activist research in U.S. urban areas, the U.S. Great Plains, and in regions of Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Guatemala. Emphases are placed on the grounding of gendered and intersecting hierarchies within our historical, global society; the connection of social-change frameworks to an exploration of democratically defined women's and community needs; and the preparation of applied activists for the work of developing new, redistributive models of inclusive regional and global development.
Solid state studies on the effect of fillers on the mechanical behaviour of photocured composites

Abstract Various fillers (cellulose triacetate, glass fibres, Al(OH)3 powder, and Kevlar pulp) were added in different loadings to a dimethacrylic monomer (DEGDMA) and the systems were photopolymerized. The composites thus photoformed were then mechanically tested (Young's modulus of elasticity and stress-at-break) and the results compared with theory. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and lateral force atomic force microscopy (AFM) were used to obtain information about the intimate structure and the surfaces of these composites.
A Differential Action for Ethanol on Baroreceptor Reflex Control of Heart Rate and Sympathetic Efferent Discharge in Rats

The acute effects of ethanol (0.33, 0.66, or 1 g/kg) on baroreflex control of heart rate (HR) and sympathetic efferent discharge (SED) were investigated in rats. The two higher doses of ethanol caused a progressive and significant increase in baseline SED and a slight increase in HR. The findings suggest that the sensitivity of the reflex control of SED was preserved whereas that of HR was impaired after acute ethanol administration. Since these findings were obtained in the same animals, the data suggest that acute ethanol has a differential action on reflex control of SED and HR. Further, the significant increase in SED after moderate and high doses of ethanol suggests an increased central sympathetic tone as recordings were made from preganglionic nerve fibers (splanchnic nerve). The absence of an increase in baseline MAP, in spite of a significant increase in baseline SED following acute ethanol injection, could be explained, at least in part, by an ethanol-evoked reduction in pressor responsiveness to phenylephrine, an ..cap alpha..-adrenergic agonist.
Short interval forecasting of emergency phone call (911) work loads

Abstract There has been an increasing emphasis over the last 5 to 10 years to improve productivity in the Service Sector of the U.S. economy. Much of the improvement obtained by these managers has come about through better scheduling of the work force in these organizations. Effective scheduling of this personnel requires good estimates of demand, which may exhibit substantial variations between days for certain times of the year. The Indianapolis Police Department (IPD) Communications area is one such organization that exhibits varying workloads and is interested in improving staff scheduling of dispatch operators. This article explores the use of six different forecasting techniques for predicting daily emergency call workloads for the IPD's communications area. Historical call volume data are used to estimate the model parameters. A hold-out sample of five months compares forecasts and actual daily call levels. The forecast system utilizes a rolling horizon approach, where daily forecasts are made for the coming month from the end of the prior month. The forecast origin is then advanced to the end of the month, where the current month's actual call data are added to the historical database, new parameters are estimated, and then the next month's daily estimates are generated. Error measures of residual standard deviation, mean absolute percent error, and bias are used to measure performance. Statistical analyses are conducted to evaluate if significant differences in performance are present among the six models. The research presented in this article indicates that there are clearly significant differences in performance for the six models analyzed. These models were tailored to the specific structure and this work suggests that the short interval forecasting problems faced by many service organizations has several structural differences compared to the typical manufacturing firm in a made-to-stock environment. The results also suggests two other points. First, simple modeling approaches can perform well in complex environments that are present in many service organizations. Second, special tailoring of the forecasting model is necessary for many service firms. Historical data patterns for these organizations tend to be more complex than just trend and seasonal elements, which are normally tracked in smoothing models. These are important conclusions for both managers of operating systems and staff analysts supporting these operating systems. The design of an appropriate forecasting system to support effective staff planning must consider the nature, scope, and complexity of these environments.
Children in the inner city of New York have high rates of food allergy and IgE sensitization to common foods.

IgE-mediated food sensitization and allergy are common in inner city children, even in the absence of reported clinical reactivity. Clinicians caring for this population should maintain a high index of suspicion for food allergy.
On rotational resonances in the spectra of polyatomic molecules

Abstract Rotational resonances due to off-diagonal matrix elements of the term h 22 ″=( 1 2 ) ∑ α ∑ β J α J β ∑ s ∑ s′ [ αβ Y ss′ q s q s′ + αβ Y ss′ p s p s′ h 2 ] (s′≠s ) of the second-order part of the Hamiltonian are discussed and classified according to their dependence on the rotational quantum numbers J and K. For the potentially most interesting type of resonance, which is off-diagonal in K and quadratic in J, the conditions imposed by symmetry on the interacting states are tabulated for symmetric top point groups. A rotational perturbation observed in the perpendicular infrared band of the ν14 vibration in C6D6 was quantitatively accounted for as due to a resonance of this type between the ν14E1u state and the infrared- and Raman-inactive ν10B2u fundamental.
Guiding stars: the comet-like rise of the war film in Putin's Russia: recent World War II films and historical memories

AbstractNikolai Lebedev's 2002 film Star (Zvezda) became the first in an explosion of Russian films set during World War II. Between 2002 and 2006, sixteen films and eight television serials have revised the existing cinematic narratives about the war. This article investigates these films as ‘theatres of memory’, sites where narratives are disturbed and where memory is negotiated between film-maker and audience. By focusing upon the production behind these films, the plots they contain, and their domestic reception, this article argues that the revival of World War II films in contemporary Russia serves as a crucial mediator for how history is remembered after the collapse of communism. The Great Patriotic War, as World War II is commonly called in Russia, continues to be an important source of national pride, but the narratives about this conflict have expanded in extraordinary ways through the films produced since Star hit cinemas.
A relationship between temperature and aggression in NFL football penalties

Abstract Background Increased ambient temperature has been implicated in increased physical aggression, which has important practical consequences. The present study investigates this established relationship between aggressive behavior and ambient temperature in the highly aggressive context of professional football in the National Football League (NFL). Methods Using a publicly available dataset, authors conducted multiple hierarchical regression analyses on game-level data (2326 games). Results The analysis revealed that temperature positively predicted aggressive penalties in football, and that this relationship was significant for teams playing at home but not for visiting teams. Conclusion These results indicate that even in the aggressive context of football, warmer weather contributes to increased violence. Further, the presence of the heat-aggression relationship for the home team suggests that the characteristics of interacting groups may influence whether heat would have an adverse effect on the outcome of those interactions.
A simple wet etch for GaN

A simple UV photo-enhanced wet etch has been developed for GaN. Unlike photoelectrochemical wet etching, this technique does not require an electrical contact to be made to the sample, and nitrides deposited on insulating substrates (such as sapphire) can be etched. The technique relies on adding an appropriate oxidizing agent, in this case, peroxydisulfate to KOH solutions. Maximum etch rates are observed at pH 12.4. The etch rate increases linearly with light intensity at 365 nm up to intensities of 25 mW/cm2, where etch rates of up to 50 nm/min are observed.
A relationship between Ca2+ sensitivity and phosphorylation of gizzard actomyosin.

Summary Ca 2+ regulated actomyosin from chicken gizzard is phosphorylated to a significant extent (∼2.5 moles P per 10 6 g. actomyosin) only in the presence of Ca 2+ . The Ca 2+ dependence of phosphorylation is similar to that shown by the ATPase activity. When the actomyosin is desensitized to the effects of Ca 2+ the phosphorylating system is removed. Reconstitution of Ca 2+ sensitivity is accompanied by an increase in the extent of phosphorylation. These results suggest a relationship between phosphorylation and the Ca 2+ sensitive ATPase activity of gizzard actomyosin.
The contamination of ground-water by salt water near Parlin, New Jersey

The classic studies of Badon Ghyben [see 1 of “References” at end of paper] and Alexander Herzoerg [2].that defined the basic principles governing the relation between salt water and fresh water in water-bearing sands are now fairly well known. They showed that fresh water floats on the heavier salt Water and that, under static conditions, the ratio between the head of the fresh water above mean sea-level and the depth of the contact between fresh and salt water below mean sea-level, is determined by the relative specific gravities of the two waters. Other studies have shown that under ordinary conditions there is little mixing between the fresh and salt waters, so that the zone of contact is narrow. Instances have been observed in which the chloride-content of the water has ranged from a few parts to several thousand parts per million within a few feet. It would seem, therefore, that the basic conditions under which fresh and salt water occur together in water-bearing sands are somewhat similar to those in the tidal estuaries of streams. The principal differences are caused by the frictional resistance of the sand which prevents rapid movements of both fluids and probably retards their mixing.
How US auto engineers are attacking the corrosion problem

The increase in automobile corrosion problems stems largely from greater use of salts for ice and snow removal. Chemicals and water trapped in hidden cracks and crevices can continue to cause corrosion for long periods. This article, originally published in the December 1966 issue of ‘Materials in Design Engineering’, USA, describes what US automobile engineers are doing to beat the problem.
Meta-Analysis: Outcomes in Patients with Suspected Pulmonary Embolism Managed with Computed Tomographic Pulmonary Angiography

The authors conducted at study to assess the safety of with holding anticoagulation in patients with a suspected pulmonary embolism and negative results on computed tomographic pulmonary angiography (CTPA). CTPA is being increasingly used in the evaluation of patients with suspected PE, but it may not be sensitive enough. The authors searched for studies that used CTPA to evaluate patients with suspected PE that had at least a 3-month follow-up of patients who did not receive anticoagulation because of a negative CTPA result. The 3-month rate of later throrrmboembolic events Mn the 4657 patients who met the study criteria was 1.4ck. The authors concluded that it was safe to withhold anticoagulation after negative CTPA results because the rate of subsequent venous thromboembolism after negative results CTPA was similar to that after negative results on conventional pulmonary angiography.
Exposure of prehospital care providers to violence.

Objective. To evaluate the experience of prehospital care providers with violence. Methods. A survey addressing experiences with prehospital violence was administered to a convenience sample of emergency medical services (EMS) providers in a southern California metropolitan area. Descriptive statistics are reported. Results. Of 774 EMS providers surveyed, 522 (67%) returned the questionnaire. Members of law enforcement were excluded because their experience with violence, weapons, and tactics is not typical of most paramedics. This left a sample of 490 for further analysis. These prehospital care providers had a median of ten years' experience on the job. They tended to be male (93%) and white (80%). All together, 61% recounted assault on the job, with 25% reporting injury from the assault. Respondents reported a median of three episodes, and the number of assaults for each individual was unrelated to the number of years of experience on the job (r = 0.068). Of those injured, 37% required medical attentio...
Mean lives and angular correlations in 35S with the 34S(d, pγ)35S reaction

Abstract The 34S(d, pγ)35S reaction at incident energies between 2 and 3.25 MeV has been used to investigate the properties of the first three excited states in 35S. The Doppler-shift attenuation method of measuring mean lives gives the following results for the levels at 1.57, 1.99 and 2.35 MeV: τ ≧ 1.8 ps , τ ≧ 4.5 ps and τ = 0.8±0.2 ps, respectively. Angular correlation measurements were also performed using a collinear geometry. The 2.35 MeV level is found to have J π = 3 2 − .
Two Types of Competitiveness: Their Impact on the Perceived Interpersonal Attractiveness of Women and Men1

Previous research by Riskind and Wilson (1982) found that competitiveness in men was associated with perceptions of enhanced interpersonal attractiveness. This research used a single, global definition of competitiveness. The present study extended this earlier research by using two types of competitiveness, goal and interpersonal competitiveness, and by examining the perceived interpersonal attractiveness of competitive women as well as men. It was found that these two types of competitiveness generally have opposite effects. Goal competitiveness, in which one desires to attain a goal and to do one's best, was primarily perceived as enhancing interpersonal attractiveness. By contrast, interpersonal competitiveness, in which one desires to do better than others and to win over other people, showed fewer effects, but was primarily perceived as detracting from interpersonal attractiveness.
Schelling Goes to Sea: Managing Perceptions in China’s ‘Contested Zone’

China has geared its diplomatic and military endeavors since the 1995–96 Taiwan Strait crisis primarily to discouraging the United States (US) from getting involved in a cross‐strait war. By constr...
Extending Map-Reduce for Efficient Predicate-Based Sampling

In this paper we address the problem of using MapReduce to sample a massive data set in order to produce a fixed-size sample whose contents satisfy a given predicate. While it is simple to express this computation using MapReduce, its default Hadoop execution is dependent on the input size and is wasteful of cluster resources. This is unfortunate, as sampling queries are fairly common (e.g., for exploratory data analysis at Facebook), and the resulting waste can significantly impact the performance of a shared cluster. To address such use cases, we present the design, implementation and evaluation of a Hadoop execution model extension that supports incremental job expansion. Under this model, a job consumes input as required and can dynamically govern its resource consumption while producing the required results. The proposed mechanism is able to support a variety of policies regarding job growth rates as they relate to cluster capacity and current load. We have implemented the mechanism in Hadoop, and we present results from an experimental performance study of different job growth policies under both single- and multi-user workloads.
Measuring the onset of spatiotemporal intermittency.

A new method of measuring a coherence length in weakly turbulent systems at the onset of spatiotemporal intermittency is suggested. Our method is based on direct measurement of the distributions of the velocity and its spatial derivatives. We consider a coupled circle-map lattice, identify a coherence length, and determine its scaling properties. We also connect the coherence length to the Lyapunov exponent. The second-order phase transition observed when a cutoff is introduced is described in terms of percolation theory.
Researching inventories: Why haven't we learned more?

Abstract Four decades of empirical research on inventory behavior leave many long-standing questions unanswered, including the fundamental policy issue of how sensitive inventory investment is to changes in short term interest rates. While a number of factors help to explain why we have not learned more, the primary problem is that we have been trying to do research on the cheap - we try to answer fundamentally difficult questions with an inexpensive research paradigm, using a lot of calculus, a little data, and a fast computer.
Phosphorylation of prostatic nuclear matrix proteins is under androgenic control.

Abstract Nuclear matrix fraction was isolated from rat ventral prostatic nuclei previously incubated with [γ- 32 P]ATP to label nuclear phosphoproteins with 32 P. A significant portion of the radioactivity was recovered in the phosphoproteins intrinsic to the nuclear matrix fraction. At 12 h after androgen deprivation (i.e., when a significant portion of the nuclear androgen receptor was known to be depleted), the rate, but not the extent, of phosphorylation of nuclear proteins (predominantly nonhistone proteins) was markedly reduced. Nuclear matrix fraction isolated from such preparations demonstrated a profound reduction in the rate of incorporation of 32 P into the matrix-associated proteins without any apparent change in the gel electrophoretic profile of these proteins. The results indicate that the cAMP-independent protein kinase activity which catalyzes the phosphorylation of nuclear matrix proteins is under androgenic control. This may be germane to nuclear matrix-associated initial events in androgen action.
The roles discourses can play in learning: Let the discourses begin!

NGOs and Organizational Change: Discourse, Reporting, and Learning, by Alnoor Ebrahim. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2003. $55.00 hardcover, $35.00 paperback
13 C and 15 N solid state NMR of piezoelectric nylons

Solid state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) has been shown to be a unique spectroscopic tool for determining molecular composition, crystallinity, packing, orientation and motion in as-obtained and end-use materials. We have developed several methods for evaluating the molecular-level properties and behavior of polymeric materials, especially piezoelectric nylons. Analysis of nylon 7 homopolymer under various sample treatment histories related to poling and generation of piezoelectric properties allows qualitative evaluation of the two main types of crystal forms present, the (alpha) -form which appears to be the one responsible for piezoelectric behavior in this polymer, and the (gamma) -form which can co-exist with the (alpha) -form in some samples. Based on the possibility that molecular composition could be used to control crystallinity and microscopic packing, and thereby affect macroscopic properties such as piezoelectricity, we have synthesized and characterized two families of nylon co-polymers consisting of even-odd A-B monomer combinations. We have determined degrees and types of crystallinity for these materials using a combination of thermal, FTIR and NMR, measurements. The molecular-level behavior of these materials is related to observed properties. Evaluation of piezoelectric properties is underway, and initial results are summarized.
Writing Autobiographies on "Brown" in the History Classroom.

About fifteen years ago, I heard Anne Firor Scott, W.K. Boyd Professor Emerita at Duke University, recount an exercise that she assigned to incoming Duke students: “How did your hometown respond to the Brown decision?” Students were required to consult local newspapers and public records, to interview relatives, neighbors, teachers, and public officials, and to carry out other research to address this query. Intrigued by this investigation, I devised an autobiographical version of this writing assignment for students at my northern campus. For the past several years, I have launched sections of my African American History II course with a first-person version of Scott's inquiry: “How has race, and especially the Brown decision, affected your educational history?” It began as a first-day, in-class writing assignment, but the most recent iteration asks them to draw upon course readings and library research resources to illuminate their personal experiences of race and education, from elementary grades to present-day college years. Students submit their first drafts near the beginning of the semester, reflect on historical readings and class discussions, and then revise their autobiographies by the end of the course. Student postings on our electronic discussion board make their reflections more public than traditional writing assignments, sparking discussions about how our perspectives have been shaped by different experiences of race and education.
A pan-cancer modular regulatory network analysis to identify common and cancer-specific network components.

Many human diseases including cancer are the result of perturbations to transcriptional regulatory networks that control context-specific expression of genes. A comparative approach across multiple cancer types is a powerful approach to illuminate the common and specific network features of this family of diseases. Recent efforts from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) have generated large collections of functional genomic data sets for multiple types of cancers. An emerging challenge is to devise computational approaches that systematically compare these genomic data sets across different cancer types that identify common and cancer-specific network components. We present a module- and network-based characterization of transcriptional patterns in six different cancers being studied in TCGA: breast, colon, rectal, kidney, ovarian, and endometrial. Our approach uses a recently developed regulatory network reconstruction algorithm, modular regulatory network learning with per gene information (MERLIN), within a stability selection framework to predict regulators for individual genes and gene modules. Our module-based analysis identifies a common theme of immune system processes in each cancer study, with modules statistically enriched for immune response processes as well as targets of key immune response regulators from the interferon regula- tory factor (IRF) and signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) families. Comparison of the inferred regulatory networks from each cancer type identified a core regulatory network that included genes involved in chromatin remodeling, cell cycle, and immune response. Regulatory network hubs included genes with known roles in specific cancer types as well as genes with potentially novel roles in different cancer types. Overall, our integrated module and network analysis recapitulated known themes in cancer biology and additionally revealed novel regulatory hubs that suggest a complex interplay of immune response, cell cycle, and chromatin remodeling across multiple cancers.
Comparing the Efficacy of Eletriptan for Migraine in Women During Menstrual and Non‐Menstrual Time Periods: A Pooled Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Objective To assess the efficacy and tolerability of eletriptan in treating migraine attacks occurring within the defined menstrual time period of 1 day before and 4 days after onset of menstruation (menses days –1 to +4) compared with attacks occurring during non-menstrual time periods (occurring outside of menses days –1 to +4). Background Migraine attacks during menses have been associated with longer duration, higher recurrence rates, greater treatment resistance, and greater functional disability than those not associated with menses. The efficacy of eletriptan in treating migraine attacks associated with menstruation vs those outside a defined menstrual period has not been evaluated. Methods Data were pooled from 5 similarly designed, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trials of eletriptan 20 mg/40 mg/80 mg. Two groups were defined for this analysis: women with a single index migraine beginning during the menstrual (group 1) and non-menstrual (group 2) time periods. End points of interest were headache response at 2 hours, migraine recurrence and sustained responses for nausea, photo/phonophobia, and function. Logistic regression was used to compare group 1 vs group 2 and each eletriptan dose (20, 40, or 80 mg) vs placebo. Adverse events were also assessed. Results Of 3217 subjects pooled from 5 studies, 2216 women were either in group 1 (n = 630) or group 2 (n = 1586). Rates of headache response at 2 hours were similar in group 1 vs group 2 (odds ratio [OR] = 1.11 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.91, 1.36]; P = .2944). The rate of headache recurrence was significantly higher in group 1 vs group 2 (26.8% vs 18.6%; OR = 1.67 [95% CI 1.23, 2.26]; P < .001). The odds of achieving sustained nausea responses were significantly lower in group 1 than in group 2 (OR = 0.70 [95% CI 0.54, 0.92]; P = .0097). There was no significant difference between group 1 and group 2 in the odds of achieving a sustained photo/phonophobia and functional response (OR = 0.96 [95% CI 0.77, 1.20]; P = .7269 and OR = 1.14 [95% CI 0.87, 1.50]; P = .3425, respectively). Adverse events were comparable between group 1 and group 2. Conclusions Two-hour headache outcome measures were similar in women treated with eletriptan both within and outside of the defined menstrual time period (menses days –1 to +4). The main treatment differences between the 2 groups occurred 2-24 hours post-treatment, with higher recurrence rates and lower sustained response rates for nausea in the group treated during the menstrual time period.
Centralized control of steam-electric generators

CENTRALIZED control of steam-electric generating units has been a natural and gradual evolution over the years. It has been accelerated by such factors as development of suitable equipment and controls, creation of new plant heat cycles, and rapid growth in the size of the units and of the electrical utility industry. The authors believe that current controversies over centralization of controls are concerned primarily with what shall be included and how centralization is to be accomplished and not so much with the basic idea of centralization.
Development of an environmental image interpretability rating scale

During the early 1980s, Itek Optical systems and the United States Air Force developed and published an Image Interpretability Rating Scale based on a set of image interpretability criteria specific to military operations. There appears to be a similar need for a commonly understood and used scale to describe the relative resolution of aerial photographs in fields of environmental concern. Using our extensive backgrounds in image acquisition and use and in assessing problems common to natural resource managers, we set out to develop an image rating scale. Our objective was to more clearly relate image characteristics (such as scale, spatial resolution, spectral resolution, and format) to specific examples of image interpretation tasks which are performed by environmental scientists. To do this, we created rating scale categories and established the minimum resolution requirements in terms of ground resolved distance for a variety of typical environmental features. We found that our needs for image quality closely parallel needs in military intelligence. This information will provide designers of image acquisition systems specific criteria to consider in addition to more abstract resolution measures such as lines per millimeter. We suggest that this IIRS will compliment the earlier Itek scale and like it, will become a standard for discussions of image quality and resolution.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Strong field physics with long wavelength lasers

The generation of short, intense, mid-infrared laser pulses allows for the exploration of atom–laser interactions deep in the tunnelling regime as well as providing the ability to explore scaled interactions. In this paper we present recent experimental and theoretical results for this largely unexplored parameter space.
Testicular abscess from a rectal tumor.

This case report describes an unusual presentation of an adenocarcinoma of the rectum. Testicular abscess, though uncommon, was the presenting finding in this patient.Eikenella corrodens, an unusual human pathogen, was cultured from this abscess.
Inhibition of PCR amplification by phytic acid, and treatment of bovine fecal specimens with phytase to reduce inhibition

Development of effective polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based diagnostic tests using ruminant fecal specimens has been thwarted by excessive inhibition. A PCR system based on amplification of 1000 copies of bacteriophage lambda-DNA was used as a model to evaluate inhibition levels in bovine feces. Dilution experiments using a bovine fecal specimen suggested that as little as 40 microg of feces (in a 100-microl PCR) affected the efficiency of amplification. It was discovered that phytic acid (the hexaphosphoric ester of inositol) is a powerful inhibitor of PCR. Above 0.3 mM phytate, the PCR is completely inhibited. In a very narrow range around 0.2 mM target-specific amplification proceeds efficiently. At concentrations between 10 and 100 microM, phytate nonspecific amplification (e.g., primer-dimer formation) is dominant. Below 10 microM, phytate target-specific amplification proceeds efficiently. A simple processing procedure using 50 units/ml of Aspergillus niger 3-phytase [E.C. 3.1.3.8] was developed that reduced PCR inhibition levels in bovine fecal specimens by approximately 500-fold.
Work-related injuries to Massachusetts teens, 1987-1990.

This study uses workers' compensation data to describe the work-related injury experience of Massachusetts teens, ages 14–17, from 1987 to 1990. During this period, 2,551 injuries were reported to the workers' compensation system. Injuries were more frequent among 16–17 year-olds and among males. Sprains and strains, followed by lacerations, were the most frequent type of injury. Four industries—grocery stores, restaurants, health services, and department stores—accounted for over half of all injuries. The overall injury rate was 1.9/100 full-time equivalents (FTEs), but was higher in the construction, manufacturing, and wholesale trade sectors. Teens working in apparel manufacturing and nursing homes sustained the highest rate of injuries. Geographical analysis indicated that teens living in the southeast region of the state had the highest injury rates. This study adds to the existing evidence that work-related injuries to teens are a substantial public health problem. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The Big Freeze: Water and the Scientific Process

In recent years there has been increasing movement toward laboratory exercises that are inquiry-based, requiring students to assume more active roles in the learning process. A laboratory experiment was developed in this light, framed around a simple question, “Which freezes faster, hot water or cold water?” The experiment was used at the beginning of the general chemistry year-long course sequence and served as an introduction to the scientific process. Students were each asked to develop a hypothesis and then design a simple experiment to determine which freezes faster, hot water or cold water, using small cold baths to freeze the water. A strength of this experiment is that students not only design and perform the experiments, but at the end they evaluate each other’s methods.
Acute Cocaine-Induced Seizures: Differential Sensitivity of Six Inbred Mouse Strains

Mature male and female mice from six inbred stains were tested for susceptibility to behavioral seizures induced by a single injection of cocaine. Cocaine was injected ip over a range of doses (50–100 mg/kg) and behavior was monitored for 20 minutes. Seizure end points included latency to forelimb or hindlimb clonus, latency to clonic running seizure and latency to jumping bouncing seizure. A range of strain specific sensitivities was documented with A/J and SJL mice being most sensitive and C57BL/6J most resistant. DBA/2J, BALB/cByJ and NZW/LacJ strains exhibited intermediate sensitivity. EEG recordings were made in SJL, A/J and C57BL/6J mice revealing a close correspondence between electrical activity and behavior. Additionally, levels of cocaine determined in hippocampus and cortex were not different between sensitive and resistant strains. Additional studies of these murine strains may be useful for investigating genetic influences on cocaine-induced seizures.
Experimental investigation of convective structure evolution and heat transfer in quasi-steady evaporating liquid films

The stability, convective structure, and heat transfer characteristics of upward-facing, evaporating, thin liquid films were studied experimentally. Dichloromethane, chloroform, methanol, and acetone films with initial thicknesses of 2–5 mm were subjected to constant levels of superheating until film rupture occurred (typically at a thickness of around 50 μm). The films resided on a temperature controlled, polished copper plate incorporated into a closed pressure chamber free of non-condensable gasses. The dynamic film thickness was measured at multiple points using a non-intrusive ultrasound ranging system. Instability wavelength and convective structure information was obtained using double-pass schlieren imaging. The sequence of the convective structures as the film thins due to evaporation is observed to be as follows: (1) large, highly variable cells, (2) concentric rings and spirals, and (3) apparent end of convection. The transition from large, variable cells to concentric rings and spirals occurs at a Rayleigh number of 4800 ± 960. The apparent end of convection occurs at a Rayleigh number of 1580 ± 180. At the cessation of convection, the Nusselt number is nearly unity, indicating that there is little heat transfer in the film due to convection. In films where the Rayleigh number is above this transitional value, the Nusselt number increases with increasing Rayleigh number. The current results suggest that the equilibrium condition at the evaporating surface suppresses surface temperature variation, effectively eliminating thermocapillary-driven instability.
Mapping transformations for broadband atmospheric radiation calculations

Two methods of mapping the line-by-line absorption coefficient (k) spectrum onto a new variable to produce a set of k coefficients which can be used for accurate and efficient broadband radiative transfer calculations in vertically inhomogeneous, nongray scattering atmospheres are described. These methods are intended for applications for which the less accurate correlated-k method is inadequate. These methods are tested for model atmospheres containing CO2 and H2O, with pressure in the range 0.05-0.9 bar. The results obtained differed by no more than 1 or 2 percent from the line-by-line results if the number of k coefficients was about 100 times less than the number required for the line-by-line calculation. These algorithms can be used for gas mixtures and for a variety of pressure-temperature profiles.
Polyclonal B-cell lymphocytosis and hypergammaglobulinemia in patients with gaucher disease

Sera from 23 individuals with Gaucher disease (GD) were analyzed for hypergammaglobulinemia and oligoclonal and monoclonal gammopathies. Serum IgG level was elevated in 15/23 (65%) patients, and a diffuse hypergammaglobulinemia was present in 10/23 (43%) patients. An oligoclonal gammopathy was noted in six patients, and a monoclonal gammopathy in two. Lymphocyte subset analysis was also carried out in eight individuals with GD. Four of five individuals showed increased surface Ig-positive lymphocytes, while 7/7 were positive for either increased CD19- and/or CD20-positive lymphocytes. An eighth patient was found to have a B-cell leukemia. Statistical analysis of kappa and lambda histograms were suggestive of a monoclonal excess. However, restriction enzyme analysis of four individuals with GD and increased B cells failed to show any evidence of Ig gene rearrangements. Serum Ig abnormalities and perhaps B-cell lymphocytosis appear to be common in the GD patient population and are not associated with circulating monoclonal lymphocytes.
Helical tomotherapy targeting total bone marrow - first clinical experience at the University of Minnesota.

Total body irradiation (TBI) has been widely utilized as part of the conditioning regimen for hematopoietic cell transplantation [1]. However, with traditional TBI techniques the entire body is irr...