cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Crowdlicit: A System for Conducting Distributed End-User Elicitation and Identification Studies

End-user elicitation studies are a popular design method. Currently, such studies are usually confined to a lab, limiting the number and diversity of participants, and therefore the representativeness of their results. Furthermore, the quality of the results from such studies generally lacks any formal means of evaluation. In this paper, we address some of the limitations of elicitation studies through the creation of the Crowdlicit system along with the introduction of end-user identification studies, which are the reverse of elicitation studies. Crowdlicit is a new web-based system that enables researchers to conduct online and in-lab elicitation and identification studies. We used Crowdlicit to run a crowd-powered elicitation study based on Morris's "Web on the Wall" study (2012) with 78 participants, arriving at a set of symbols that included six new symbols different from Morris's. We evaluated the effectiveness of 49 symbols (43 from Morris and six from Crowdlicit) by conducting a crowd-powered identification study. We show that the Crowdlicit elicitation study resulted in a set of symbols that was significantly more identifiable than Morris's.
Insights into Retinal Development Using Live Imaging in Female Carriers of Choroideremia

Lineage tracing can provide key insights into the development of tissues, such as the retina. Yet it is not possible to manipulate human cells during embryogenesis. The authors observed a distinct phenotype in female carriers of X-linked disorders, in particular, carriers of choroideremia caused by mutations in CHM, encoding Rab escort protein-1. The authors found that X chromosome inactivation provides a method for retinal lineage tracing in human patients. Live imaging of female carriers displays a developmental pattern that is different within the peripheral retina compared with the posterior retina and provides important insights into the development and migration of retinal cells. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina. 2019;50:e158-e162.].
A molecular based diagnosis of positive blood culture in the context of viral haemorrhagic fever: proof of concept

Abstract Objectives The aim of this study was to evaluate the possibility of using a PCR-based panel to identify bacterial and fungal bloodstream infections in the setting of suspected or confirmed viral haemorrhagic fever. Methods The accuracy of the FilmArray® Blood Culture Identification Panel (BCID) assay was assessed to identify the common bacterial and fungal pathogens associated with bloodstream infections after positive blood culture inactivation using a guanidinium thiocyanate containing buffer lysis that is commonly used for viral haemorrhagic fever molecular diagnostics. Results The FilmArray® BCID panel assay detected 95% (19/20) of the pathogens analysed in this study by using both protocols with and without inactivation. Absolute consistency (100%) was observed in all isolates with phenotypes compatible with the presence of the antibiotic resistance genes mecA, vanA, vanB and blaKPC. Conclusions The FilmArray® BCID panel assay coupled to inactivation using a guanidinium thiocyanate containing buffer lysis represents a convenient, sensitive and specific diagnostic tool to detect some of the most pathogens associated with bloodstream infections in the context of a suspected or confirmed viral haemorrhagic fever.
Wireless Multicasting for Content Distribution: Stability and Delay Gain Analysis

In this work, we provide a comprehensive analysis of stability properties and delay gains that wireless multicasting capabilities, as opposed to more traditional unicast transmissions, can provide for content distribution in mobile networks. In particular, we propose a model and characterize the average queue-length (and hence average delay) performance of unicasting and various multicasting strategies for serving a dynamic user population at the wireless edge. First, we show that optimized static randomized multicasting (we call it ‘blind multicasting’) leads to stable-everywhere operation irrespective of the network loading factor (given by the ratio of the demand rate to the service rate) and the content popularity distribution. In contrast, traditional unicasting suffers from unstable operation when the loading factor approaches one, although it outperforms blind multicasting at small loading factor levels. This motivates us to study ‘work-conserving multicast’ policies next that always outperform unicasting while still offering stable-everywhere operation. Then, in the worst-case of uniformly-distributed content popularity, we explicitly characterize the scaling of the average queue-length (and hence delay) under a first-come-first-serve multicast strategy as a function of the database size and the loading factor. Consequently, this work provides the fundamental limits, as well as the guidelines, for the design and performance analysis of efficient multicasting strategies for wireless content distribution.
No compelling evidence for clathrate hydrate formation under interstellar medium conditions over laboratory time scales

In PNAS, Ghosh et al. (1) report their experimental observations of methane and CO2 clathrate formation at conditions similar to the interstellar medium (ISM), namely 10 to 30 K and 10−10 mbar. The authors conducted time-dependent reflection–absorption infrared spectroscopy (RAIRS) of vapor-deposited H2O–CH4 and H2O–CO2 mixtures and interpreted new blue and red shifted peaks from those of trapped CH4 and CO2 in amorphous ice, respectively, as indicative of clathrate formation. In this letter, we point out potential pitfalls and caution against the implications drawn for the ISM. In the case of the H2O–CO2 system, Ghosh et al. (1) attribute the observed red shift in the infrared … [↵][1]1To whom correspondence may be addressed. Email: mathieu.choukroun{at}jpl.nasa.gov. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1
Adipose tissue-specific knockout of AMPKα1/α2 results in normal AICAR tolerance and glucose metabolism

Abstract AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a member of Ser/Thr kinases that has been shown to regulate energy balance. Although recent studies have demonstrated the function of AMPK in adipose tissue using different fat-specific AMPK knockout mouse models, the results were somewhat inconsistent. For this study, we tested the hypothesis that AMPK in adipose tissue regulates whole body glucose metabolism. To determine the role of adipose tissue AMPK in vivo, we generated fat-specific AMPKα1/α2 knockout mice (AMPKFKO) using the Cre-loxP system. Body weights of AMPKFKO mice were not different between 8 and 27 weeks of age. Furthermore, tissue weights (liver, kidney, muscle, heart and white and brown adipose tissue) were similar to wild type littermates and DEXA scan analysis revealed no differences in percentages of body fat and lean mass. Knockout of AMPKα1/α2 in adipose tissue abolished basal and AICAR-stimulated phosphorylation of AMPK and Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase, a downstream of AMPK. Despite of the ablation of AICAR-stimulated AMPK phosphorylation, the blood glucose-lowering effect of AICAR injection (i.p.) was normal in AMPKFKO mice. In addition, AMPKFKO displayed normal fasting blood glucose concentration, glucose tolerance, insulin tolerance, and insulin signaling, indicating normal whole body glucose metabolism. These data demonstrate that adipose tissue AMPK plays a minimum role in whole body glucose metabolism on a chow diet.
Understanding why REDUCE-IT was positive – Mechanistic overview of eicosapentaenoic acid

Abstract The REDUCE-IT study found that patients at elevated risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) who were already taking statins obtained a marked benefit by taking 4 g/d of eicosapentaenoic acid ethyl esters (icosapent ethyl, IPE; Vascepa) over about 5 years. Although approved for triglyceride (TG) lowering, IPE had only a modest TG-lowering effect in REDUCE-IT, largely because median TG levels were relatively low already. Hence the question of what mechanisms IPE might be working through is of great interest. At present, it appears that the best mechanistic candidates would be anti-platelet effects and/or anti-inflammatory effects. Whatever the cause, the powerful effects of IPE on CVD risk have renewed interest in the clinical utility of omega-3 fatty acids.
27) Pediatric Intensive Care Unit Early Mobilization and Impact on Parent Stress

Purpose: Early mobilization is novel in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). A goal-directed mobilization protocol adjusted for age and severity of illness has been in place in our PICU for >2 years with parent refusal identified as a barrier to compliance. We sought to understand parent stress related to mobilization by identifying parent, child, and therapy related factors and how parent mobilization …
medExtractR: A targeted, customizable approach to medication extraction from electronic health records.

Objective We developed medExtractR, a natural language processing system to extract medication information from clinical notes. Using a targeted approach, medExtractR focuses on individual drugs to facilitate creation of medication-specific research datasets from electronic health records. Materials and methods Written using the R programming language, medExtractR combines lexicon dictionaries and regular expressions to identify relevant medication entities (eg, drug name, strength, frequency). MedExtractR was developed on notes from Vanderbilt University Medical Center, using medications prescribed with varying complexity. We evaluated medExtractR and compared it with 3 existing systems: MedEx, MedXN, and CLAMP (Clinical Language Annotation, Modeling, and Processing). We also demonstrated how medExtractR can be easily tuned for better performance on an outside dataset using the MIMIC-III (Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care III) database. Results On 50 test notes per development drug and 110 test notes for an additional drug, medExtractR achieved high overall performance (F-measures >0.95), exceeding performance of the 3 existing systems across all drugs. MedExtractR achieved the highest F-measure for each individual entity, except drug name and dose amount for allopurinol. With tuning and customization, medExtractR achieved F-measures >0.90 in the MIMIC-III dataset. Discussion The medExtractR system successfully extracted entities for medications of interest. High performance in entity-level extraction provides a strong foundation for developing robust research datasets for pharmacological research. When working with new datasets, medExtractR should be tuned on a small sample of notes before being broadly applied. Conclusions The medExtractR system achieved high performance extracting specific medications from clinical text, leading to higher-quality research datasets for drug-related studies than some existing general-purpose medication extraction tools.
Fundamental origin of flux non-linearity in organic solvent nanofiltration: Formulation of a thermodynamic/diffusion framework

Abstract In this paper we critically discuss the hypothesis of membrane compaction under pressure, which has been invoked to explain solvent flux vs. Δp non-linearity in organic solvent nanofiltration (OSN) experiments with dense polymer membranes. Although physically sound, this hypothesis does not have experimental support. To demonstrate that the molecular origin of flux non-linearity is purely thermodynamic, we propose a thermodynamic-diffusion framework which describes solvent transport in OSN membranes in terms of the concentration gradient produced by the applied pressure across the membrane. Solvent diffusion coefficient in the membrane increases with increasing Δp, which further confirms that flux decline is not related to membrane compaction. The developed framework allows to quantify both frame of reference and non-ideal thermodynamic effects on solvent diffusion coefficients in OSN membranes. This study demonstrates that the solution-diffusion model, if properly corrected for frame of reference (i.e., convection) and non-ideal effects, provides a satisfactory description of small molecule transport in OSN membranes, without the need to resort to more complicated transport models.
Spotted knapweed spread and plant community changes in a lacustrine dune system

Perched sand dunes are ecosystems vulnerable to anthropogenic influence along the Great Lakes, including Grand Sable Dunes in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore along Lake Superior. Spotted knapweed (Centaurea stoebe) is a nonnative plant species that has colonized these dunes and spread into increasingly more areas of the ecosystem. I conducted plant surveys in areas with and without spotted knapweed in 2003, and then resurveyed those areas in 2018. Frequency of spotted knapweed increased in both areas surveyed. Additionally, dominance shifted with spotted knapweed becoming the most important species in the area originally invaded and third most important in the area originally uninvaded. There were approximately two-thirds of species shared between the two survey years, but many of the added species in 2018 were woody. Species richness increased between years, as did species diversity. Nonmetric multidimensional scaling ordination displayed community shifts as convergent succession. While the plant communities in the two areas were rather dissimilar in 2003, they converged as overlapping communities in 2018. Additionally, the shift between years in the area originally invaded was smaller compared to the shift between years in the area originally uninvaded. Due to the continuous evolution of plant communities within sand dune ecosystems, there is a need to monitor changes and quantify nonnative species spread patterns. Dominance by spotted knapweed may be facilitating dune stabilization and converging communities along a modified successional trajectory.
Spatial and cross-product price linkages in the Brazilian pine timber markets

Abstract The South of Brazil is one of the most attractive regions for timberland investments in the world. High productivity and relatively attractive timber prices have gained attention from timberland investors. However, as in most emerging countries, it is not very clear how prices are transmitted across products and markets. Having this information is essential to strategic planning as well as understand the market structure. We investigate market linkages of the stumpage price of five products (fuelwood, pulpwood, sawtimber, veneer, and special veneer) in the three main pine producing states in Brazil (Parana, Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul). We use linear and regime shifting models and check the effect of external shocks on price transmission. The nonlinear process is observed main on high-grade timber (veneer and special veneer), possibly driven by their price recovery after the recession. Our results show that the spatial and between product price ratio converges back the market equilibrium within 10 months in the pine stumpage market in Brazil. This outcome indicates this market is efficient with small opportunities for arbritage profits.
The structure of ScC2 (X̃2A1): A combined Fourier transform microwave/millimeter-wave spectroscopic and computational study

Pure rotational spectra of Sc13C2 (X2A1) and Sc12C13C (X2A') have been measured using Fourier transform microwave/millimeter-wave methods. These molecules were synthesized in a DC discharge from the reaction of scandium vapor, produced via laser ablation, with 13CH4 or 13CH4/12CH4, diluted in argon. The NKa,Kc = 10,1 → 00,0, 20,2 → 10,1, 30,3 → 20,2, and 40,4 → 30,3 transitions in the frequency range of 14 GHz-61 GHz were observed for both species, each exhibiting hyperfine splittings due to the nuclear spins of 13C (I = 1/2) and/or Sc (I = 7/2). These data have been analyzed with an asymmetric top Hamiltonian, and rotational, spin-rotation, and hyperfine parameters have been determined for Sc13C2 and Sc12C13C. In addition, a quartic force field was calculated for ScC2 and its isotopologues using a highly accurate coupled cluster-based composite method, incorporating complete basis set extrapolation, scalar relativistic corrections, outer core and inner core electron correlation, and higher-order valence correlation effects. The agreement between experimental and computed rotational constants, including the effective constant (B + C), is ∼0.5% for all three isotopologues. This remarkable agreement suggests promise in predicting rotational spectra of new transition metal-carbon bearing molecules. In combination with previous work on Sc12C2, an accurate structure for ScC2 has been established using combined experimental (B, C) and theoretical (A) rotational constants. The radical is cyclic (or T-shaped) with r(Sc-C) = 2.048(2) A, r(C-C) = 1.272(2) A, and ∠(C-Sc-C) = 36.2(1)°. The experimental and theoretical results also suggest that ScC2 contains a C2- moiety and is largely ionic.
Evaluation of sorption surface materials for reactive mercury compounds

Abstract Sorption surfaces are commonly used to collect atmospheric mercury compounds, with a range of materials used by the mercury research community that have different levels of performance. Here, five polymer-based membranes were loaded with ambient reactive mercury and compared to 2 widely used sorption surface materials: nylon and cation exchange membranes. Only 1 tested material, polyethersulfone, performed similarly to the cation exchange membrane; the remaining tested materials sorbed significantly less mercury, and many had significantly higher blank mercury amounts than the cation exchange membrane. Nylon was the only material that was compatible with thermal desorption analysis, as the remaining materials physically degraded or negatively affected the analyzer; however, nylon was not amenable for quantitative analyses under all ambient conditions. Additional testing of the nylon and cation exchange membrane demonstrated that ambient reactive mercury compounds were more stable on both materials than high concentrations of single-source gaseous oxidized mercury compounds. Single-source gaseous oxidized mercury compounds were significantly lost and/or transformed within less than 80 days of storage, whereas ambient reactive mercury compounds were stable on nylon and cation exchange membranes after 190 days of storage. However, minimizing sampling and storage duration, along with exposure of sampled membranes to ambient air, to reduce biasing results is prudent.
His Purkinje Conduction System Pacing: Methods, Mechanisms, and Best Practices

Long-term RV apical pacing has been associated with increased risk of atrial fibrillation, heart failure hospitalizations, pacing-induced cardiomyopathy, and associated mortality. The search for an alternative site of pacing for ventricular activation has led us to His–Purkinje conduction system pacing (HP-CSP) which presently includes His bundle pacing (HBP) and left bundle branch pacing (LBBP). HP-CSP results in synchronized ventricular activation by direct stimulation of the His–Purkinje network and may result in prevention of some of the adverse clinical outcomes. HP-CSP can also overcome bundle branch block patterns and might be an option for cardiac resynchronization therapy. In this chapter, we review the anatomy of the conduction system and mechanisms of QRS narrowing with HP-CSP and review some of the best practices during implantation to allow for better long-term performance and outcomes.
Time from image acquisition to endovascular team notification: a new target for enhancing acute stroke workflow.

Objective To quantify the time between initial image acquisition (CT angiography (CTA)) and notification of the neuroendovascular surgery (NES) team, a potentially high yield time window to target for optimization of endovascular thrombectomy (ET) treatment times. Methods We reviewed our multihospital database for all patients with a stroke with emergent large vessel occlusion treated with ET between January 1, 2017 and August 5, 2020. We dichotomized patients into rapid (≤20 min) and delayed (>20 min) notification times and analyzed treatment characteristics and outcomes. Results Of 367 patients with ELVO undergoing ET for whom notification data were available, the median time from CTA to NES team notification was 24 min (IQR 12–47). The median total treatment time was 180 min (IQR 129–252). The median times from CTA to NES team notification for rapid (n=163) and delayed (n=204) cohorts were 11 (IQR 6–15) and 43 (IQR 30–80) min, respectively (p Conclusions Time delays from initial CTA acquisition to NES team notification can prevent expedient treatment with ET. Process improvements and automated stroke detection on imaging with automated notification of the NES team may ultimately improve time to reperfusion.
Intrathecal (IT) and intravenous (IV) nivolumab (N) for metastatic melanoma (MM) patients (pts) with leptomeningeal disease (LMD).

9519Background: MM pts with LMD have a dismal prognosis, with median overall survival (OS) < 3 months, no approved therapies and extremely limited clinical trial options. We previously reported ini...
Racial/Ethnic Differences in Stress, Coping, and Distress Among Mothers With a Child in the ICU.

Background Having a child in the intensive care unit (ICU) is a stressful event that can cause negative mental health outcomes for parents, but little is known about the experience of parental stress among members of racial/ethnic minority groups. Objective To examine the stress and coping process in a racially/ethnically diverse sample of mothers of a child who was acutely admitted to an ICU. Methods Participants (N = 103) completed a cross-sectional self-report survey; 86.4% completed it within a week of their child's ICU admission. Analysis of variance was used to examine racial/ethnic differences in perceived ICU-related stressors, coping behaviors, and distress level. Linear regression was used to examine the moderating effects of race/ethnicity on the relationships between stressors, coping behaviors, and distress. Results Mothers across racial group experienced similar stressors during the acute phase of their child's ICU admission. African American mothers reported greater overall use of coping behaviors, particularly avoidance coping, and experienced higher levels of distress than did Hispanic or non-Hispanic White mothers. Hispanic mothers experienced the least distress. The interaction of race/ethnicity and emotion-focused coping moderated the stress and coping process. Conclusions Racial and ethnic diversity in sampling should be a priority in future studies of the stress and coping process of mothers with a child in an ICU. Critical care nurses should minimize known stressors for these mothers and encourage and support their preferred coping behaviors, recognizing that these may differ across racial/ethnic groups.
The Microbiome and p-Inulin in Hemodialysis: A Feasibility Study

Background The intestinal microbiome is an appealing target for interventions in ESKD because of its likely contribution to uremic toxicity. Before conducting clinical trials of microbiome-altering treatments, it is necessary to understand the within-person and between-person variability in the composition and function of the gut microbiome in patients with ESKD. Methods We conducted a multicenter, nonrandomized, crossover feasibility study of patients on maintenance hemodialysis consisting of three phases: pretreatment (8 weeks); treatment, during which the prebiotic, p-inulin, was administered at a dosage of 8 g twice daily (12 weeks); and post-treatment (8 weeks). Stool samples were collected 1–2 times per week and blood was collected weekly for 28 weeks. The gut microbiome was characterized using 16S ribosomal-RNA sequencing and metabolomic profiling. Results A total of 11 of the 13 participants completed the 28-week study. Interparticipant variability was greater than intraparticipant variability for microbiome composition (P Conclusions The intraparticipant stability of the gut microbiome under no-treatment conditions, the tolerability of p-inulin, the signals of increased diversity of the microbiome with p-inulin treatment, and the willingness of participants to provide stool samples all support the feasibility of a larger trial to investigate interventions targeting the gut microbiome in patients with ESKD. Whether or not p-inulin has sufficient efficacy as an intervention requires evaluation in larger studies. Clinical Trial registry name and registration number: Gut Microbiome and p-Inulin in Hemodialysis, NCT02572882
An Assessment of Air Cargo Industry and Future Perspectives in Thailand

The Air Cargo industry in the Thailand market has seen exceptional growth in the last decade. This considerable growth in the last decades is expected to continue in the next decade, it creates an interest in researchers and stakeholders to study. In Thailand, majority of the logistic operators are small-scale based operators. Most of the local logistics companies in Thailand have trekking fleet operators, including pickup products from one location to another. Thailand is one of six countries in the Greater Mekong Sub-Region, strengthen the transport bonds between other countries, which improves boundary-boundary transport connectivity. This study, carried out based on secondary data available. Market revenue for logistics and warehouses has shown positive growth over the years in Thailand.
Correspondence of Product and Topographical Behavior Measures during a Comparison of Good Behavior Game Arrangements

The Good Behavior Game (GBG) and a common variation referred to as the Caught Being Good Game (CBGG) are two well-established group contingency classroom management procedures. However, there have been few comparison studies of the two procedures, and none have been conducted with students older than kindergarten or those who engage in severe classroom disruption. Given the popularity of the GBG, its variations in the literature, and the likelihood for differences in contextual fit, more comparison studies are needed. In addition, education researchers frequently rely on topographical measures of on-task behavior that do not provide information on student work completion or accuracy. In the current study, the GBG and CBGG were implemented in a classroom of at-risk middle-school students who met criteria for emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD) and engaged in severe classroom disruption and infrequent on-task behavior. Data were collected on disruption, on-task behavior, work completion, and work accuracy for three target students. Both the GBG and CBGG substantially reduced disruption and increased on-task behavior. The GBG produced greater reductions in disruption for all students and the CBGG produced greater increases in on task for two students and work completion for all students. However, these differential effects were modest and neither intervention affected student work accuracy. A correlation analysis indicated moderate positive correlations between on task and work completion, and weak to moderate negative correlations between disruption and on-task behavior. The classroom teacher indicated preference for the GBG over the CBGG and student preferences were mixed.
TH-E-304-02: Standards for Proton and Heavy Ion Beams

It is fair to say that the clinical determination of absorbed dose in a high-energy photon beam is the only situation where there is currently a direct chain of traceability from the standards laboratory to the end-user and the protocol requires only ‘simple’ conversion/ correction factors. For all other modalities the primary standard is in a different quantity (e.g., air kerma) or in the right quantity but a different radiation beam (e.g., for proton dosimetry) from what is required for the clinical dose delivery. Complex conversion factors are often then required in applying protocols to give the desired final quantity. Such conversion factors can be from kerma to dose (in the case of kilovoltage x-rays or brachytherapy) or from one type of radiation beam to another (in the case of electron or proton beams). Even non-standard MV photon beams (e.g. non-standard geometry, presence of a magnetic field) can have a significant impact on the procedure that must be followed compared to what is found in TG-51. While national and international bodies, such as the AAPM and the IAEA, primarily address the end-user’s needs with protocols and guidelines, calibration laboratories are developing new measurement standards and approaches that should simplify the calibration chain and therefore lead to simpler, more robust procedures to yield absorbed dose in the beam of interest in the radiation therapy clinic. This session will provide a broad overview of the worldwide developments currently in progress, and also planned for the near future, of absorbed dose standards for a range of beam modalities including: Proton beams HDR and LDR brachytherapy Non-standard photon fields (small fields, impact of magnetic fields, etc) Learning Objectives: 1. Understand the present traceability chain for all beam modalities in regular use in the radiation therapy clinic. 2. Understand the current and planned development of absorbed dose standards for modalities other than linac photon beams. 3. Understand the physical basis of these standards and the potential impact on end-user dosimetry. 4. Understand the likely impact of these standards developments on dosimetry protocols in the coming 5–10 years.
A Measure of Engagement for Social Group Work: The Groupwork Engagement Measure (GEM)

ABSTRACT This study develops and empirically tests a measure of engagement for group work. The items compiled for the measure were drawn from respected group work theory. The groupwork engagement measure (GEM) consists of 37 items in seven dimensions: attendance, contributing, relating (to worker and with members), contracting, and working (on own problems, with others∗ problems). Coefficient alpha for the measure was .97 with a low SEM of 4.52. Construct and criterion-related validity analyses indicated a generally valid measure. Applications to social work practice and research are discussed.
The Effects of Graduate Social Work Education on Personality, Values and Interpersonal Skills

Abstract This article compares changes in traditional MSW students who take 6 instructional quarters to complete their degree with changes in extended MSW degree students who take 8 instructional quarters (a combination part-time/full-time work/study arrangement) to complete their degrees. Fourteen self-measures of attributes of personality, values and initial helping skills were employed to assess the changes. Regression analyses utilizing descriptive and behavioral variables were used as predictors of change. The implications of the data are discussed in terms of the social work educational delivery system.
Rotation and the outer Galaxy: comments on topics raised by the work of Frank Kerr

Several puzzles in galactic HI studies that were originally discussed by Kerr remain unsolved. The asymmetry in the rotation curve of the inner Galaxy is one of these. It cannot be explained solely as a peculiar motion of the LSR; it is important because small errors in the assumed galactic rotation curve can have tremendous consequences on kinematically derived quantities. Kinematic uncertainties alone make the surface density of HI in some places uncertain by at least a factor of four.
New far infrared laser lines obtained by optically pumping 13 CD 3 OD

We have obtained laser action on 34 far infrared lines for the first time in fully deuterated methyl alcohol with the13C isotope (13CD3OD), and we have measured the frequency of 13 lines. The molecule was pumped by a cw CO2 laser. We have measured the wavelength, the relative polarization, the relative intensity of most lines, the frequency, and the CO2 pump frequency offset of the strongest lines. The new lines are distributed in the wavelength region from 75.27 μm to 464.7 μm.
Six-Port Coupler Design for High-Power Radio Frequency Applications

Design, simulation, and implementation of six-port couplers for high-power radio frequency applications using transformer coupling is given for the first time. The complete analytical model for six-port coupler is developed, and closed-form equations using operational and scattering parameters are presented. The design is verified using time- and frequency-domain simulators. The design accuracy is increased using an accurate inductor model that is used for transformer construction. Final design is implemented and measured with network analyzer, HP8753ES. It has been observed that the analytical, simulation, and measurement results are all in agreement. It is confirmed that the proposed six-port coupler using transformer coupling gives the required coupling, isolation, and directivity levels in the forward and reverse modes, which make it an accurate power measurement device that can also be used to measure voltage, current, and impedance and hence function as a reflectometer. MATLAB Graphical User Interface (GUI) to design six-port directional couplers has been developed for academic and commercial use with implementation of the analytical model developed in this paper.
Using Administrative Databases for Outcomes Research: Select Examples from VA Health Services Research and Development

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) operates and maintains one of the largest health care systems under a single management structure in the world. The coordination of administrative and clinical information on veterans served by the VA health care system is a daunting and critical function of the Department. This article provides an overview of VA Health Services Research and Development Service initiatives to assist researchers in using extant VA databases to study patient-centered health care outcomes. As examples, studies using the VA's Patient Treatment File (PTF) and the Beneficiary Identification and Records Locator System (BIRLS) Death File are described.
Conversation Analysis and Language Classroom Discourse

Language classrooms are educational settings in which face-to-face talk is viewed as the pivotal factor driving its major functions and goals. Conversation analysis (CA) has increasingly been applied to the analysis of language classroom discourse in pursuit of studies that may further our understanding of what language teachers and learners actually ‘do’ interactionally. This article provides an introduction to the larger strands of CA research in this vein, focusing on language classroom discourse in the context of and beyond tasks, repair and feedback, identity and code switching, and language development.
Integrating Math & Computer Skills in the Biology Classroom: An Example using Spreadsheet Simulations to Teach Fundamental Sampling Concepts

ABSTRACT Students often enter biology programs deficient in the math and computational skills that would enhance their attainment of a deeper understanding of the discipline. To address some of these concerns, I developed a series of spreadsheet simulation exercises that focus on some of the mathematical foundations of scientific inquiry and the benefits of mathematical modeling in understanding some of the fundamental concepts of ecology, including topics such as population growth, selection, competition, predation, and sustainability. In the example presented here, students collect data from a computer-generated study site and then use basic spreadsheet skills to calculate, graphically visualize, and compare sample means (± SE) to effectively discover why random and transect sampling are superior to biased sampling, and to explore the effects of sample size on the standard error of the mean. Pre- and post-exercise questionnaires suggest that spreadsheet models such as this one are effective in improving...
Cervical cytology classification and the Bethesda System.

ABSTRACT Cervical cancer screening represents one of the great success stories in cancer prevention. Cervical cytology results were reported by use of various terminologies during the first 40 years of widespread screening. These terms did not correspond to current knowledge of cervical carcinogenesis. The Bethesda System for reporting cervical cytology was developed to provide a uniform system of terminology that would promote clear management guidelines. The Bethesda System has been widely adopted since the first workshop was convened by the National Cancer Institute in 1988. Two additional workshops were held in 1991 and 2001 in order to address scientific advances and controversial areas. The 2001 workshop was attended by more than 400 participants and was preceded by Internet discussion groups. Major changes include specimen adequacy designation and criteria, general categorization, and terminology for atypical epithelial cells. The “within normal limits” and “benign cellular changes” categories have been combined into a single category called “negative for intraepithelial lesion or malignancy.” The “favor reactive” descriptors have been removed from the atypical epithelial categories, and new terms correlate better with management guidelines. Other changes are discussed, and a brief update of cancer screening guidelines is also provided.
Axioms for expected utility inn-person games

The von Neumann and Morgenstern utility axioms apply to an individual's preferences on a set of probability distributions that is closed under convex linear combinations. However, in a rectangular game situation, the probability distributions on outcomes that correspond to choices of mixed strategies for the players is not generally closed under convex combinations. Axioms are specified for an individual's preference relation on the space of mixed strategies for then players. These axioms are necessary and sufficient for a multilinear expected utility model that reduces to the von Neumann-Morgenstern form. The utility function is unique up to a positive affine transformation.
Evidence for the Rapid Onset of Apoptosis in Medial Smooth Muscle Cells After Balloon Injury

Background Vascular myocyte apoptotic cell death has been reported in human atherectomy and endarterectomy specimens and for neointimal smooth muscle cells (SMCs) in balloon-injured rat carotid arteries between 7 and 30 days after injury. However, the immediate effect of balloon injury on medial SMC viability has not been examined. Methods and Results Rat carotid arteries were harvested at the time of balloon injury (T=0) and at 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 hours after injury. Uninjured vessels or vessels harvested at the time of injury (T=0) did not display evidence of apoptosis. However, as early as 30 minutes after injury, 70% of medial SMCs appeared apoptotic by TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) analysis and by the appearance of condensed chromatin. High frequencies of TUNEL-positive cells were also observed at 1 and 2 hours after injury but not at 4 hours. Transmission electron microscopy revealed many cells with morphological characteristics of apoptosis in the injured sections. A marked decrease in bcl-X expression was detected in the most luminal layers of the media. To corroborate these findings in a second animal model, rabbit external iliac arteries were analyzed after balloon angioplasty. Apoptotic cell death was evident in rabbit arteries at 30 minutes and at 4 hours after injury. Conclusions As early as 30 minutes after balloon injury, myocytes appear to undergo apoptotic cell death at a high frequency as shown by TUNEL staining, chromatin condensation, and the appearance of morphological features in electron micrographs. The induction of apoptosis coincides with a marked downregulation of bcl-X expression.
Citrus exocortis viroid: survey of protein synthesis in Xenopus laevis oocytes following addition of viroid RNA.

Abstract Citrus exocortis viroid (CEV) RNA was injected into oocytes of Xenopus laevis under conditions which demonstrated translation of bromegrass mosaic virus (BMV) RNA and rabbit hemoglobin mRNA. The viroid RNA was neither translated nor interfered with protein synthesis. These results were not altered by adenylation of the CEV RNA. BMV-directed protein synthesis could be detected following the injection of a total RNA preparation extracted from infected barley. The absence of evidence for a viroid-specified protein in these studies further supports a regulatory role for the viroid RNA.
1. toward a history on equal terms: A discussion of provincializing europe

This essay is a critical discussion of Dipesh Chakrabarty's book Provincializing Europe as well as a first sketch of a History on Equal Terms. After giving a short summary of Provincializing Europe, I first argue, against chakrabarty, that there is no necessary connection between the discipline of history and the metanarratives of modernity. To the contrary: the founding idea of the discipline of history was a turn against such grand narratives. With his attempt to deconstruct the narratives of the European Enlightenment and of modernity, Chakrabarty therefore has to be regarded as a thinker of radical historicism rather than as a critic of the discipline of history. Second, I criticize the use of the term “modernity” in Provincializing Europe and the concept of modernity in general. Instead of a deconstruction of the discipline of history, I propose a deconstruction of the concept of modernity. This could open up the way for a History on Equal Terms situated within the discipline of history, that is, a historiography that would—just as Chakrabarty rightly demands—in principle pay the same attention to and expect relevant results from any region in the world, depending only on the focus of research.
Protective genes in the vessel wall: Modulators of graft survival and function.

Protecting a vascularized graft from transplant arteriosclerosis requires inhibition of host immune effectors, but protective responses emanating from the graft aimed at maintaining/restoring "homeostasis" might be equally important. Expression of the "protective" genes A20, heme-oxygenase-1 (HO-1), Bcl-x L , inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and others in the vessel wall of rodent allografts and xenografts correlates with absence of transplant arteriosclerosis. Given the antiapoptotic and anti-inflammatory functions of these genes in endothelial cells and their antiinflammatory/antiproliferative and sometimes proapoptotic function in neointimal smooth muscle cells, we hypothesize that their expression survives to limit graft injury by maintaining vascular integrity, controlling inflammation and promoting healing. Beyond this beneficial effect, their expression in the vessel wall may also positively impact the alloimmune response.
Comprehensive immune monitoring reveals profound immunological changes in pancreas after kidney (PAK) transplant recipients.

Abstract Pancreas transplantation is a therapeutic option for the management of complicated Type 1 diabetes mellitus. While standard protocols include use of induction therapy followed by maintenance immunosuppression, the amount, frequency and duration of induction treatment has not been clearly defined. While the effect of various induction regimens on lymphocytes has been demonstrated, a prospective immune monitoring approach is not widely used to determine “immunological titration” of immunosuppression. In this study, we analyzed a patient cohort with pancreas after kidney transplantation and measured a wide range of quantitative and functional T and B cell parameters to identify those that would provide greatest value in personalized prospective immune assessment and design of immunosuppression. While there were significant quantitative differences observed in the 2 groups of PAK patients for various lymphocyte subsets, the notable observation was that lymphocyte subset quantitation was uninformative with regard to T cell function. Patients with normal lymphocyte counts had impaired T cell functional responses and vice versa. The use of immune monitoring to determine optimal IS regimens needs to be studied further to facilitate personalized management of immunosuppression with reduced risk of allograft rejection in PAK, and limited morbidity and mortality related to infection and malignancy.
An upstream protein interacts with a distinct protein that binds to the cap site of the human interleukin 1β gene

Abstract Interleukin 1β (IL-1β) is a proinflammatory cytokine that exhibits a wide variety of biological activities. Genomic sequences that mediate the induction of human IL-1β gene transcription by lipopolysaccharide and phorbol esters are located more than 2,700 bp upstream of the transcriptional start site (cap site). These upstream elements require additional cap site-proximal (CSP) sequences which are necessary for basal transcription of the human IL-1β gene. In addition, these CSP sequences have been shown to mediate both cell type-specific expression of this gene, and trans -activation by some viral proteins. In this study, we report the identification of a novel nuclear protein, termed NFβC, that binds to a DNA sequence which spans the cap site of the human IL-1β gene (positions −12 to +8). We have also identified a second region (positions −305 to −280) containing a putative NF-κB binding site. We show here that this region can bind three distinct nuclear proteins. One protein is similar or identical to NF-κB, a second protein (termed NFβB) binds a distinct sequence that substantially overlaps the 5' half of the NFκB binding sequence, and a third protein (termed NFβD) binds a distinct sequence that substantially overlaps the 3' half of the NFκB binding sequence. Unlike NFκB, NF1βB and NFβD are present in nuclear extracts prepared from unstimulated monocytic cells. Although the NFβD and NFβC binding sequences share no significant similarity, each sequence can specifically compete for the binding of either protein to DNA, whereas oligonucleotides containing only the NFκB or NFβB motifs do not compete for the binding of NFβC or NFβD. This suggests that NFβC and NFβD can specifically interact in vitro , possibly through a common subunit.
Shear-induced instability and arch filament eruption - A magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) numerical simulation

We investigate, via a two-dimensional (nonplanar) MHD simulation, a situation wherein a bipolar magnetic field embedded in a stratified solar atmosphere (i.e., arch-filament-like structure) undergoes symmetrical shear motion at the footpoints. It was found that the vertical plasma flow velocities grow exponentially leading to a new type of global MHD-instability that could be characterized as a 'Dynamic Shearing Instability', with a growth rate of about square-root 8 VBAR(A)a, where VBAR(A) is the average Alfven speed and a-1 is the characteristic length scale. The growth rate grows almost linearly until it reaches the same order of magnitude as the Alfven speed. Then a nonlinear MHD instability occurs beyond this point. This simulation indicates the following physical consequences: the central loops are pinched by opposing Lorentz forces, and the outer closed loops stretch upward with the vertically-rising mass flow. This instability may apply to arch filament eruptions (AFE) and coronal mass ejections (CMEs).
Diagnosing manufacturing variation using second-order and fourth-order statistics

This article discusses a method that can aid in diagnosing root causes of product and process variability in complex manufacturing processes, when large amounts of multivariate in-process measurement data are available. A linear structured model, similar to the standard factor analysis model, is used to generically represent the variation patterns that result from the root causes. Blind source separation techniques form the basis for identifying the precise characteristics of each individual variation pattern in order to facilitate the identification of their root causes. The second-order and fourth-order statistics that are used in various blind separation algorithms are combined in an optimal manner to form a more effective and black-box method with wider applicability.