cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
“Help, I’m Getting Bullied”: Examining Sequences of Teacher Support Messages Provided to Bullied Students

Many students who seek out teachers for help when getting bullied report receiving unhelpful support. We theorized that the placement of support types (emotional, informational, network) in a conve...
تقنيات التصميم التفاعلي ومستقبل التعلم للأطفال

مع إزدياد فرص الحصول علي التکنولوجيا وحقيقة توافرها للکثير من فئات المستخدمين، فأن المزيد والمزيد من العائلات أصبحت تستخدمها. ووفقا لدراسة تمت بواسطه منظمة "إعلام المنطق"، وهي منظمة مهتمه بمساعده العائلات في إستخدام التکنولوجيا بمزيد من الحکمه، فأن 75 % من الاطفال تحت سن الثامنه لديهم صلاحيه الإستخدام للأجهزة اللوحيه أو أجهزة الهواتف الخلوية، وهذه النسبه قد زادت بمعدل 25 % في أقل من عامان، وهي في إزدياد کل عام. وفي ذات الوقت، فأن الناس عاده ما ينظرون للاطفال ککائنات صغيرة ضعيفة وأقل کفاءة من الکبار. فهم يفکرون دائما ان الاطفال يفتقدون القدر الکافي من المعرفة، وکيفية التعامل مع المجتمع. ومع تلک المشاکل المجتمعيه والاقتصاديه المتزايده، فأن دور الاسرة في تعليم الاطفال وتطوير مهارتهم من خلال الانشطة المنزليه المعتاده إخذ في الإنکماش، بالشکل الذي ولد إحتياج حقيقي لحل بديل لدعم وتشجيع الاطفال علي التعلم وتطوير مهاراتهم بانفسهم بشکل أفضل. لکن معظم تلک الحلول تمحورت حول إستخدام برمجيات برجماتيه تفتقد القدرة علي موائمة شخصيه الطفل وميوله المتغيرة التي لا يمکن توقعها. لذا، فأن هذه الورقة البحثية إنما تحاول وضع تصور مستقبلي لسبل تعلم الطفل وتشجيعة علي ذلک بوضع تصور لوحدات تعليمية تفاعليه يمکنها توفير بيئة مناسبه للتعلم سواء علي مستوي المهارات أو المعرفة. وذلک إستنادا علي دراسات تحليليه جاده لما يحتاج الطفل وما يمتلک من مهارات وقدرات، وما يمارس من أنشطة، وکذلک العوامل المختلفة التي قد تؤثر في الموقف التعليمي.
COMPARISON OF BLEEDING RISK PREDICTION MODELS WITH DUAL ANTI-PLATELET THERAPY TREATMENT AMONG PATIENTS WITH ACUTE CORONARY SYNDROMES TREATED MEDICALLY WITHOUT REVASCULARIZATION

In patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) on dual anti-platelet therapy (DAPT) and managed medically, we compared the performance of bleeding risk prediction models originally developed for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) patients. The PRECISE-DAPT, PARIS, and DAPT (bleeding
Accelerating electrochemistry with metal nanowires

Abstract Scalable, solution-phase syntheses of metal nanowires are enabling their increased use in electrochemical processes. This review highlights recent results demonstrating how metal nanowires can exhibit better durability and higher activity than traditional metal nanoparticle electrocatalysts on carbon supports. Metal nanowires can also form interconnected two-dimensional and three-dimensional (3D) networks that eliminate the need for a carbon support, thus eliminating the detrimental effects of carbon corrosion. Porous 3D networks of nanowires can be used as flow-through electrodes with the highest specific surface areas and mass transport coefficients obtained to date, enabling dramatic increases in the productivity of electrochemical reactions. Nanowire networks are also serving as 3D current collectors that improve the capacity of batteries. The tunable surface structure and dimensions of metal nanowires offer researchers a new opportunity to create electrodes that are tailored from the atomic scale to the microscale to improve electrochemical performance.
Enzymatic Modification of Polymers

In polymer applications and development, it is often necessary to modify an existing polymer structure in order to impart special end-use properties. Whereas chemical modification methods are most commonly practiced, sometimes enzyme-catalyzed modifications may be desirable because of the specificity of the reactions, reduction in the by-products produced, milder reaction conditions, and more benign environmental impact. A number of enzyme-catalyzed reactions are reviewed in this paper, covering primarily biobased materials like polysaccharides, proteins, triglycerides, and lignin. The enzymes used include mostly hydrolases, oxidoreductases, and transferases, with occasional involvement of lyases and isomerases. The types of reactions are diverse and include polymer hydrolysis and degradation, polymerization, oxidation, glycosylation, cross-linking, and transformation of functional groups. Because biopolymers are agro-based and occur abundantly in nature, they are often available in large quantities and amenable to enzymatic reactions. As such, the combination of biopolymers and enzymes represents a good product development opportunity and a useful tool for postharvest agricultural technology and green polymer chemistry.
Modern Military Trauma

Due to advances in prehospital care, improved hospital care, and aeromedical evacuation, mortality from modern military trauma is at an all time low. Advances in prehospital treatment includes early tourniquet application, the use of hemostatic dressings, prevention of hypothermia, and early administration of antibiotics. Improved hospital care has included damage control surgery, the use of fresh whole blood, administration of rFactor VIIa, and better pain control modalities. Finally, the ability to aeromedically evacuate trauma patients has revolutionized trauma and burn treatment. Critical Care Air Transport has broadened this capability to include Intensive Care level patients.
Report of the ALCTS Technical Services Managers of Academic Libraries Interest Group Meeting. American Library Association Midwinter Meeting, Seattle, January 2019

The ALCTS Technical Services Managers of Academic Libraries Interest Group (TSMALIG) held its session at the 2019 ALA Midwinter Meeting on January 26. Fifty-five attendees gathered to discuss five ...
Grain size and transport biases in an Ediacaran detrital zircon record

Detrital zircon records of provenance are used to reconstruct paleogeography, sediment sources, and tectonic configuration. Recognition of the biases in detrital zircon records that result from hyd...
Gender Differences in First and Corresponding Authorship in Public Health Research Submissions During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Objectives. To investigate the rate of manuscript submission to a major peer-reviewed journal (American Journal of Public Health) by gender, comparing periods before and during the pandemic.Methods. We used data from January 1 to May 12, 2020, and defined the start of the pandemic period by country as the first date of 50 or more confirmed cases. We used an algorithm to classify gender based on first name and nation of origin. We included authors whose gender could be estimated with a certainty of at least 95%.Results. Submission rates were higher overall during the pandemic compared with before. Increases were higher for submissions from men compared with women (41.9% vs 10.9% for corresponding author). For the United States, submissions increased 23.8% for men but only 7.9% for women. Women authored 29.4% of COVID-19-related articles.Conclusions. Our findings suggest that the pandemic exacerbated gender imbalances in scientific research.
Captopril reduces lung inflammation and accelerated senescence in response to thoracic radiation in mice

The lung is sensitive to radiation and exhibits several phases of injury, with an initial phase of radiation-induced pneumonitis followed by delayed and irreversible fibrosis. The angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor captopril has been demonstrated to mitigate radiation lung injury and to improve survival in animal models of thoracic irradiation, but the mechanism remains poorly understood. Here we investigated the effect of captopril on early inflammatory events in the lung in female CBA/J mice exposed to thoracic X-ray irradiation of 17-17.9 Gy (0.5-0.745 Gy min-1). For whole-body + thoracic irradiation, mice were exposed to 7.5 Gy (0.6 Gy min-1) total-body 60Co irradiation and 9.5 Gy thoracic irradiation. Captopril was administered orally (110 mg kg-1 day-1) in the drinking water, initiated 4 h through to150 days post-irradiation. Captopril treatment increased survival from thoracic irradiation to 75% at 150 days compared with 0% survival in vehicle-treated animals. Survival was characterized by a significant decrease in radiation-induced pneumonitis and fibrosis. Investigation of early inflammatory events showed that captopril significantly attenuated macrophage accumulation and decreased the synthesis of radiation-induced interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) pro-inflammatory cytokines in the lungs of irradiated mice. Suppression of IL-1β and TNF-α correlated with an increase of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 in the spleen with captopril treatment. We also found that captopril decreased markers for radiation-induced accelerated senescence in the lung tissue. Our data suggest that suppression of inflammation and senescence markers, combined with an increase of anti-inflammatory factors, are a part of the mechanism for captopril-induced survival in thoracic irradiated mice.
Critical decision in crisis management: Rational strategies of decision making

Abstract. Turbulent environment can create crises that management has to soles in a limited time with critical decisions. Critical decisions are an attempt to apply efficient modes of cognition and action to enable the organization to cope with consequential environmental threats or take advantage of important opportunities in the presence of highly restricted time in turbulent markets and/or specific situations. Critical decisions involve a process of the organization’s leadership to think, consult, act, gain acceptance for optimal solutions to complex problems in the presence of highly restricted time in crisis given by scarce resources, uncertain factors, aversive environment, environmental difficulties, ambiguous circumstances, unclear and volatile situations, or a combination of these factors. This study presents the endogenous and exogenous types of crises for organizations and vital factors for critical decisions that can be categorized in responsitive, proactive and recovery critical decisions. After that, the study shows strategic operations and steps of critical decisions in a perspective of reductionism, and a rational structure based on tree diagram to systematize the process of decision making. The study here also suggests strategies for critical decisions in different environments based on theory of rational choice, such as max-min, max-max and min-max approaches, described with a vital example. Final part of this study shows how a complex problem can be treated in different ways in a wider perspective of ecological rationality by approaches of resolution, solution and dissolution. The implications of strategic management are that the approach of dissolution of a complex problem requires design of a critical decision that may incorporate research and trial and error activities. Overall, then, this paper suggests one of the most effective way of solving systemic and complex problems by private and public organizations operating in, more and more, turbulent markets and volatile environments. Keywords. Strategic management, Decision making, Critical decision, Crisis management, Competitive advantage, Strategies, Strategic change, Business Strategy, Operational excellence, Problem solving, Bounded rationality, Decision rule, Decision theory, Natural disasters, Risk management, Bounded rationality, Environmental threats, Ecological rationality, Theory of rational choice. JEL. C44, D70, D81, D91, H12, M51, Q54.
HIV Exceptionalism: Development through Disease in Sierra Leone

Contents Preface Introduction: HIV Exceptionalism in Sierra Leone: Christiana's Story Part I. The Exceptional Life of HIV in Sierra Leone 1. The HIV Industry in Postwar Sierra Leone 2. Exceptional Life, Exceptional Suffering: Enumerating HIV's Truths Part II. Becoming HIV-Positive 3. The Imperative to Talk: Disclosure and Its Preoccupations 4. Positive Living: Hierarchies of Visibility, Vulnerability, and Self-Reliance Part III. HIV and Governance 5. For Love of Country: Model Citizens, Good Governance, and the Nationalization of HIV Conclusion: The Future of HIV Exceptionalism Acknowledgments Notes Bibliography Index
Near Middle East/North Africa Studies: Politics

This article reviews the development of Middle East politics as a field of study. It identifies prominent themes and questions that have shaped research on Middle East politics in the United States, Europe, and the Middle East, focusing on comparative politics and comparative political economy. The article emphasizes how the relationship between the study of Middle East politics and the social sciences has changed over time. It concludes with a brief speculation about where this relationship is headed at the turn of the twenty-first century. It concludes with a brief overview of the Arab Spring events that shocked the politics of this region.
Biomechanics of C-7 transfacet screw fixation: Laboratory investigation

Object The small diameter of the pedicle can make C-7 pedicle screw insertion dangerous. Although transfacet screws have been studied biomechanically when used in pinning joints, they have not been well studied when used as part of a C7–T1 screw/rod construct. The authors therefore compared C7–T1 fixation using a C-7 transfacet screw/T-1 pedicle screw construct with a construct composed of pedicle screws at both levels. Methods Each rigid posterior screw/rod construct was placed in 7 human cadaveric C6–T2 specimens (14 total). Specimens were tested in normal condition, after 2-column instability, and once fixated. Nondestructive, nonconstraining pure moments (maximum 1.5 Nm) were applied to induce flexion, extension, lateral bending, and axial rotation while recording 3D motion optoelectronically. The entire construct was then loaded to failure by dorsal linear force. Results There was no significant difference in angular range of motion between the 2 instrumented groups during any loading mode (p > 0.11,...
The Ability of B Cells and Dendritic Cells to Present Antigen Increases During Ontogeny

The immune response to polysaccharide (PS) Ags in mice is delayed during ontogeny even when administered in a thymus-dependent (TD) form. In this study, Neisseria meningitidis group C PS-tetanus toxoid conjugate (MCPS-TT) vaccine was used to examine whether the delay in the development of Ab responses to TD PS conjugate vaccines in neonatal mice is due to defective Ag presentation. The results show that B cells and dendritic cells (DC) from 3- and 7-day-old mice were severely defective in presenting TT and MCPS-TT to Ag-specific T cell clones. The ability of these cells to present Ag reaches adult levels by 4 wk. The development of anti-MCPS and anti-TT Abs in neonatal mice parallels the functional ability of their APC to present Ag. DC from neonatal mice expressed very low levels of MHC class II, costimulatory molecules B7.1, B7.2, and CD11c but high levels of monocyte-specific markers F4/80 and CD11b and granulocyte marker, Ly6G. Significant changes in the expression of these markers were observed as the age of the mice increased. MHC class II, B7.1 and B7.2, and CD11c all increased with age, reaching adult levels between 3 and 4 wk, concurrent with the function of APC. These results demonstrate that one reason neonates fail to produce high titers of anti-PS Abs even when immunized in a TD form is that their B cells and DC are not fully functional.
Sphincter of Oddi motor activity: A comparison between patients with common bile duct stones and controls

Abstract Phasic pressure waves have been recorded previously from the human sphincter of Oddi during endoscopic retrograde cholangiographic examination. However, the relationship of these waves to each other along the entire length of the sphincter of Oddi segment has not been determined. In this study we evaluated the motor activity of the sphincter of Oddi and common bile duct in 15 patients with common duct stones and 20 control patients with a normal biliary tract. Via endoscopy a triple-lumen catheter with three recording orifices spaced at 2-mm intervals was inserted into the papilla and directed into the common bile duct. Pressures were initially recorded from the common bile duct and then with all three orifices recording from within the sphincter of Oddi segment. The direction of propagation for the sphincter of Oddi phasic contractions was scored for a 3-min interval. No significant difference existed between controls and patients with common duct stones for common bile duct pressure, sphincter of Oddi basal pressure, and sphincter of Oddi phasic wave amplitude, frequency, and duration. A significant difference, however, was found in the percentage of antegrade and retrograde wave sequences between controls and patients with common duct stones, in controls 60 ± 4% of wave sequences were antegrade and 26 ± 3% were retrograde. In contrast, in patients with common duct stones 18 ± 5% of wave sequences were antegrade and 53 ± 9% were retrograde. There was no significant difference between the two groups in the percentage of simultaneous sphincter of Oddi contractions. Whether the difference in direction of sphincter of Oddi pressure wave propagation between patients with common duct stones and controls is a primary or secondary aberration of sphincter of Oddi motor function is not determined by this study. If primary, alteration of the predominant antegrade sequencing of phasic contractions normally present in the sphincter of Oddi could contribute to the retention or development of common duct stones, or both.
Transverse vibrations of a rotating counterweighted cable of small flexural rigidity.

This paper presents an analysis of the transverse vibration of a rotating cable-connected spacecraft in which the flexural rigidity of the connecting cable is retained in the analysis. The method of matched asymptotic expansions is used to solve the singular perturbation problem, which must be solved for the determination of the mode shapes and natural frequencies. The problem is complicated by the presence of the eigenvalues and the perturbation parameter (which is a measure of the cable slenderness) in the boundary conditions. The effects of flexural rigidity on the mode shapes are shown to be confined to boundarylayer regions near the cable ends, and the effects on natural frequencies are shown to grow rapidly with increasing mode number.
Temperature Effects on Epoxy Adhesives

The strength properties of structural epoxy adhesives at elevated temperatures is experimentally determined. Finite element analysis of thermal gradients in typical columns is provided. Both the ASTM E-119 and the SDHI time-temperature fire exposure curves are considered in evaluating the fire ratings of epoxy repaired concrete components. The relationship between strength, duration of fire exposure, and type of fire exposure is provided in both graphical and tabular form.
Problem-Based Learning in the Clinical Laboratory Science Curriculum

Introduction The clinical laboratory is changing at an unprecedented rate. The introduction of new technologies and increased automation along with a reduction in personnel has placed unparalleled demands on laboratory professionals. Increasingly, clinical laboratory practitioners must exhibit broad-based problem-solving skills, independence, flexibility, and a willingness to work collaboratively with other health care professionals. Educational programs in the clinical laboratory sciences (CLS) face the challenge of preparing graduates with these skills. A curricular approach gaining respect in allied health education is problem-based learning (PBL), which evolved from innovative medical school curricula introduced almost 30 years ago. PBL takes into account how students learn, fostering the development of critical reasoning skills within the context of their professional discipline, as well as the motivation for lifelong learning necessary for adaptation to a changing environment.1 At State University of New York (SUNY) Upstate Medical University (Syracuse, NY), a new course called Clinical Correlations was recently incorporated into the 2+2 bachelor of science curriculum in medical technology. The course uses a PBL format in which students apply critical reasoning, communication, and collaborative skills in a small-group, learner-centered environment. The philosophy underlying PBL is that individuals best develop knowledge and skills by actively solving problems and building conceptual frameworks rather than through the passive memorization of facts. Students explore carefully designed problems that integrate content from across the laboratory disciplines under the guidance of a facilitator who challenges them to an in-depth examination of the case objectives. Since implementation of this problem-based course, our students demonstrate an increased ability to evaluate information from multiple perspectives, are more comfortable critically questioning their own decisions and conclusions, and show a greater level of responsibility for their own learning.
Literature-based Evaluation of Microarray Normalization Procedures

Normalization procedures attempt to remove non-biological variance found within micro array datasets. The choice of normalization procedure is important, as it has a dramatic effect on downstream data analysis. Although many normalization procedures have been developed, comparison and evaluation of their performance is difficult. We present a method to evaluate normalization procedures by utilizing gene-gene associations derived from the biomedical literature via Latent Semantic Indexing. The functional coherence of co-regulated genes obtained from different normalized data sets is calculated in order to evaluate the effectiveness of each normalization procedure. The method was tested on three popular normalization procedures (MAS5, PDNN and RMA) applied to gene expression across 71 recombinant inbred mouse brain samples. Results show that, on average, MAS5 outperforms both PDNN and RMA by producing a higher number of functionally cohesive gene sets. These results demonstrate that our literature-based cohesion analysis can provide an objective method for evaluation of normalization procedures.
The impact of stigma on maternal attitudes toward placement of children with disabilities in residential care facilities

This study examines willingness to consider placement of children with disabilities in residential care facilities among 81 mothers of children with disabilities. Perceived stigma is added to the Andersen and Newman model of health service utilization in order to evaluate its impact on placement attitudes controlling for predisposing, enabling and need characteristics and health beliefs. Findings of regression analyses suggest that older, single mothers of more severely disabled children are more likely than other mothers to consider residential placement and that adequate finances and residential stability may reduce this willingness. When these variables are controlled, the expectation that people with disabilities will be stigmatized by others in the community increases willingness to consider placement and does so by increasing the degree of caregiver burden experienced. Results also suggest, however, that among mothers of young children, specific aspects of perceived stigma have direct affects on willingness to consider placement even when perceived burden is controlled.
Solar test of Dirac's large numbers hypothesis

An investigation is conducted regarding the implications of Dirac's theories (1973, 1974) concerning the creation of new matter. It is found that Dirac's theory of multiplicative creation, but not his theory of additive creation, is not in contradiction with known facts about the sun. According to the theory of additive creation, matter is formed uniformly throughout space. The concept of multiplicative creation implies that existing matter multiplies itself in proportion to the amount of matter already present.
Safety Testing of Fragrances: Problems and Implications

(1977). Safety Testing of Fragrances: Problems and Implications. Clinical Toxicology: Vol. 10, No. 1, pp. 61-77.
Constitutively Active SHP2 Cooperates with HoxA10 Overexpression to Induce Acute Myeloid Leukemia

The homeodomain transcription factor HoxA10 is maximally expressed in myeloid progenitor cells. Sustained HoxA10 expression during differentiation has been described in poor prognosis human acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Consistent with this, engineered overexpression of HoxA10 in murine bone marrow induces a myeloproliferative disorder that progresses to AML over time. This murine model suggests that HoxA10 overexpression is sufficient for myeloproliferation but that differentiation block, and therefore AML, requires acquisition of additional mutations. In myeloid progenitor cells, HoxA10 represses transcription of genes that encode phagocyte effector proteins such as gp91PHOX and p67PHOX. Tyrosine phosphorylation of HoxA10 during myelopoiesis decreases binding to these target genes. In immature myeloid cells, HoxA10 also activates transcription of the DUSP4 gene that encodes Mkp2, an anti-apoptotic protein. HoxA10 binding to the DUSP4 promoter decreases during myelopoiesis. Therefore, both myeloid-specific gene repression and DUSP4 activation by HoxA10 decrease during myelopoiesis. This results in phenotypic differentiation and facilitates apoptosis as differentiation proceeds. HoxA10 is de-phosphorylated by SHP2 protein-tyrosine phosphatase in myeloid progenitors. This mechanism maintains HoxA10 in a nonphosphorylated state in immature, but not differentiating, myeloid cells. Constitutively active SHP2 mutants have been described in human AML, which dephosphorylate HoxA10 throughout myelopoiesis. In this study, we hypothesize that constitutive SHP2 activation synergizes with HoxA10 overexpression to accelerate progression to AML. Because both HoxA10 overexpression and constitutive SHP2 activation are found in poor prognosis human AML, these studies contribute to understanding biochemical aspects of disease progression in myeloid malignancy.
Approaching multichannel Kondo physics using correlated bosons: Quantum phases and how to realize them

We discuss how multichannel Kondo physics can arise in the setting of a localized level coupled to several bosonic Tomonaga-Luttinger liquid leads. We propose one physical realization involving ultracold bosonic atoms coupled to an atomic quantum dot, and a second, based on superconducting nanowires coupled to a Cooper-pair box. The corresponding zero-temperature phase diagram is determined via an interplay between Kondo-type phenomena arising from the dot and the consequences of direct interlead hopping, which can destabilize the Kondo ground state, thus suppressing the Kondo effect. We demonstrate that the multichannel Kondo state is stable over a wide range of parameters. We establish the existence of two nontrivial phase transitions, involving a competition between Kondo screening at the dot and strong correlations either within or between the leads which, respectively, promote local number and phase pinning. These transitions coalesce at a self-dual multicritical point.
Drug modification of protein thiophosphorylation in permeabilized chromaffin cells.

Abstract Treatment of permeabilized chromaffin cells with low concentrations of the ATP analog adenosine-5′-O-(3-thiotriphosphate)[ 35 S] results in 35 S incorporation into a small number of cellular proteins. Of these proteins, a 47 kilodalton protein is most heavily thiophosphorylated. Permeabilized cells were treated with various drugs known to influence cell functions, more specifically chromaffin granule function, to determine the kinase responsible for thiophosphorylation of the 47 kilodalton protein and if its thiophosphorylation is associated with a specific cell function. Several drugs which influence the activity of cell kinases were examined for their effect on secretion and thiophosphorylation of the 47 kilodalton protein. There was no qualitative effect of cAMP, cGMP or trifluoperazine on thiophosphorylation of the protein. Both cyclic nucleotides slightly enhanced secretion, while trifluoperazine enhanced only unstimulated catecholamine release. Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate had no effect on secretion or 35 S incorporation into cell proteins. Only the free calcium concentration of the medium influenced thiophosphorylation of the 47 kilodalton protein, with increased calcium producing increased thiophosphorylation. Drugs affecting chromaffin vesicle functions were used to assess the relationship between specific functions and thiophosphorylation of the protein. Inhibition of nucleotide translocation with atractyloside or 4,4′diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2′disulfonic acid or inhibition of the proton translocating ATPase by N-ethylmaleimide inhibited thiophosphorylation of the 47 kilodalton protein, with little effect on secretion. Treatment with rotenone markedly enhanced secretion and thiophosphorylation of the protein. Calcium ionophores had no effect on thiophosphorylation of the protein. Dichloroacetic acid, which inhibits phosphorylation of mitochondrial pyruvate dehydrogenase, had no effect on secretion and a variable effect on thiophosphorylation of the 47 kilodalton protein. The data suggest that thiophosphorylation of the protein may be associated with nucleotide translocation across the vesicle membrane.
An Inpatient Cervical Cancer Screening Program to Reach Underserved Women

Underserved women (e.g., African American, older women of all races) are less likely to be screened than other groups. The Johns Hopkins Hospital began the Cervical Cancer Screening Program (CCSP) to provide direct Papanicolaou (Pap) test screening to inpatient females. Over a 1-year period, 256 women received Pap tests as part of the CCSP. Of these, 56% (n = 144) were African American, 36% (n = 92) received medical assistance benefits, and only 47% (n = 120) had health insurance. The CCSP is an effective way to screen low-income and underserved females who otherwise may not be screened.
Adhesion Frequency Assay for In Situ Kinetics Analysis of Cross-Junctional Molecular Interactions at the Cell-Cell Interface

The micropipette adhesion assay was developed in 1998 to measure two-dimensional (2D) receptor-ligand binding kinetics1. The assay uses a human red blood cell (RBC) as adhesion sensor and presenting cell for one of the interacting molecules. It employs micromanipulation to bring the RBC into contact with another cell that expresses the other interacting molecule with precisely controlled area and time to enable bond formation. The adhesion event is detected as RBC elongation upon pulling the two cells apart. By controlling the density of the ligands immobilized on the RBC surface, the probability of adhesion is kept in mid-range between 0 and 1. The adhesion probability is estimated from the frequency of adhesion events in a sequence of repeated contact cycles between the two cells for a given contact time. Varying the contact time generates a binding curve. Fitting a probabilistic model for receptor-ligand reaction kinetics1 to the binding curve returns the 2D affinity and off-rate. The assay has been validated using interactions of Fcγ receptors with IgG Fc1-6, selectins with glycoconjugate ligands6-9, integrins with ligands10-13, homotypical cadherin binding14, T cell receptor and coreceptor with peptide-major histocompatibility complexes15-19. The method has been used to quantify regulations of 2D kinetics by biophysical factors, such as the membrane microtopology5, membrane anchor2, molecular orientation and length6, carrier stiffness9, curvature20, and impingement force20, as well as biochemical factors, such as modulators of the cytoskeleton and membrane microenvironment where the interacting molecules reside and the surface organization of these molecules15,17,19. The method has also been used to study the concurrent binding of dual receptor-ligand species3,4, and trimolecular interactions19 using a modified model21. The major advantage of the method is that it allows study of receptors in their native membrane environment. The results could be very different from those obtained using purified receptors17. It also allows study of the receptor-ligand interactions in a sub-second timescale with temporal resolution well beyond the typical biochemical methods. To illustrate the micropipette adhesion frequency method, we show kinetics measurement of intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) functionalized on RBCs binding to integrin αLβ2 on neutrophils with dimeric E-selectin in the solution to activate αLβ2.
Have Agile Techniques been the Silver Bullet for Software Development at Microsoft

Background. The pressure to release high-quality, valuable software products at an increasingly faster rate is forcing software development organizations to adapt their development practices. Agile techniques began emerging in the mid-1990s in response to this pressure and to increased volatility of customer requirements and technical change. Theoretically, agile techniques seem to be the silver bullet for responding to these pressures on the software industry. Aims. This paper tracks the changing attitudes to agile adoption and techniques, within Microsoft, in one of the largest longitudinal surveys of its kind (2006-2012). Method. We collected the opinions of 1,969 agile and non-agile practitioners in five surveys over a six-year period. Results. The survey results reveal that despite intense market pressure, the growth of agile adoption at Microsoft is slower than would be expected. Additionally, no individual agile practice exhibited strong growth trends. We also found that while development practices of teams may be similar, some perceive and declare themselves to be following an agile methodology while others do not. Both agile and non-agile practitioners agree on the relative benefits and problem areas of agile techniques. Conclusions. We found no clear trends in practice adoption. Non-agile practitioners are less enamored of the benefits and more strongly in agreement with the problem areas. The ability for agile practices to be used by large-scale teams generally concerned all respondents, which may limit its future adoption.
US Geographic Distribution of rt-PA Utilization by Hospital for Acute Ischemic Stroke

Background and Purpose— Previously, we have estimated US national rates of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) use to be 1.8% to 3.0% of all ischemic stroke patients. However, we hypothesized that the rate of rt-PA use may vary widely depending on regional variation, and that a large percentage of the US population likely does not have access to hospitals using rt-PA regularly. We describe the US geographic distribution of hospitals using rt-PA for acute ischemic stroke. Method— This analysis used the MEDPAR database, which is a claims-based dataset that contains every fee-for-service Medicare-eligible hospital discharge in the US. Cases potentially eligible for rt-PA treatment based on diagnosis were defined as those with a hospital DRG code of 14, 15, or 559, and that also had an ICD-9 code of 433, 434, or 436. Thrombolysis use was defined as an ICD-9 code of 99.1. Study interval was July 1, 2005 to June 30, 2007. Hospital locations were mapped using ArcView software; population densities a...
Quantitation of motion perception in the digits: A psychophysical study in normal human subjects

Threshold perception of motion of the digits was obtained in 14 normal subjects. The metacarpophalangeal joint of the index and the fifth finger of each hand and the metatarsophalangeal joint of the hallux of each foot were passively moved up and down with respect to a horizontal plane defined by the palmar or plantar surface. The motion was sinusoidal at frequencies of 0.5 and 5.0 Hz. A mpdified von Bekesy paradigm similar to that used in audiometry was utilized to yield threshold levels of motion sensation. There was little difference in the thresholds obtained for the different joints. The difference between high- and low-frequency stimulation, however, was significant (p less than 0.001): the 0.5 Hz threshold was found to range from 0.8 to 1.0 degree, whereas the 5.0 Hz threshold varied from 0.4 to 0.6 degree. It is thought that motion sense is largely dependent on joint receptor contributions, but muscle and cutaneous receptors may also contribute to this proprioceptive sensation.
Consistency of Tone-Syllable Alignment across Different Syllable Structures and Speaking Rates

Previous studies have reported that F₀ contours of lexical tones in Mandarin are closely aligned with the syllables that carry them and that this alignment is late-adjusted so that the most appr
The Mathematics Used in Mathematical Psychology

(1964). The Mathematics Used in Mathematical Psychology. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 71, No. 4, pp. 364-378.
Ritual, Community and War: Local Flag Presentation Ceremonies and Disunity in the Early Confederacy

For a few months in 1861, hundreds of communities in the South staged flag presentation ceremonies to send their men off to war. These ceremonies were attended by hundreds and sometimes thousands of white Southerners, and narratives of the ceremonies circulated widely in Southern newspapers. The ceremonies themselves consisted of a several speeches by local notables and presentation of a flag made by the elite women of the community. This article argues that flag presentations resulted from a distinct lack of commitment among most Southern men to the Confederacy early in the Civil War, and sees the ceremonies as coercive rituals designed to force men into the army before conscription solved the Confederacy's recruitment problem.
Growth mechanism and structure of ultrathin palladium films formed by deposition on Mo(100)

Abstract The growth mechanism, structure and thermal stability of monolayer and ultrathin Pd films formed by vapor deposition on Mo(100) were studied using AES, LEED, and TPD. Pd film growth at 150 K is described well by a Frank-van der Merwe (FM) or layer-by-layer growth mechanism with a small amount of layer disorder and/or non-ideal layering. The Pd monolayer is pseudomorphic with the Mo(100) substrate lattice as shown by LEED. Pd films deposited on Mo(100) at 450 and 600 K grow by forming three-dimensional (3D) islands on top of an initially formed Pd monolayer, i.e., a Stranski-Krastanov growth mode. Alloying could also explain the AES curves at these temperatures. Thermal desorption of Pd from multilayer films begins at 1250 K with an activation energy of 100 kcal mol . This is 7 kcal mol higher than the bulk sublimation energy of palladium due to interaction with the molybdenum substrate and was observed for films as thick as 20 layers. Pd desorption is kinetically limited by decomposition of a Pd-Mo alloy and/or diffusion of Pd from the subsurface layers of Mo to the surface. Annealing studies show that the Pd monolayer is stable to 1200 K, but that agglomeration of Pd into 3D islands and possibly alloy formation occurs upon heating thicker films above 400 K.
Effect of Ex-Vivo Lung Perfusion (EVLP) on Metabolomic Profile of Human Lungs

Purpose 1H Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (NMR-spec) can identify all major metabolites in an organ, characterizing the metabolic phenotype. We used NMR-spec to determine changes in the metabolome of human lung tissue before and after normothermic EVLP with Steen solution, and in the EVLP perfusate hourly. Methods and Materials Lung biopsies were obtained before and after normothermic EVLP (6 hrs n=2; 3 hrs n=1) and extracted with 40% acetonitrile. NMR spectra were analyzed with Principal Component Analysis and Orthogonal Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis. EVLP fluid was analyzed directly with addition of 10% deuterated phosphate buffer. Results The primary 5 metabolites identified in the perfusate are glucose, choline glycine, lactate, & acetate. Lactate increased the most during EVLP. In the polar (water soluble) extract, there was a clear separation between pre and post EVLP biopsies, with significant increases in lactate & alanine (glucose metabolites), ATP & ADP, and acetate (indicating β-oxidation of free fatty acids). The ketone bodies, β-hydroxybutyrate, acetoacetate, and acetone, were not detected. Conclusions This pilot study shows that NMR-spec can characterize the metabolomic phenotype of lung tissue. During EVLP energy stores are replenished. Lactate is the major metabolite secreted into the perfusate during EVLP, presumably metabolized from glucose contained in Steen solution. Accumulation of acetate suggests that the TCA cycle was at capacity and AcetylCoA accumulation led to hydrolysis forming acetate. Lack of ketone bodies in the presence of large amounts of actetate suggests the lung cannot create ketone bodies, a function reserved primarily for the liver. By determining the lung metabolome, NMR-spec may identify biomarkers associated with poor or irretrievable lung function, or identify therapeutic targets that might be measured with point-of-care devices for therapy during EVLP to improve yield or quality of lungs for transplant.
Functionalisation of saturated hydrocarbons. Part xvii. Reactivity of carbon-carbon double bonds

Abstract The Gif oxidation systems cleave methylidene olefins into the ketone or aldehyde and formaldehyde. This is considered to be a further manifestation of an V fe oxenoid species. Similarly, more substituted olefins are oxidized to the corresponding unsaturated ketones or aldehydes. The oxidation of limonene afforded the ketone 24 resulting from methylene cleavage and racemic carvone 25 . The latter is considered to originate from a symmetrical π-allyl complex of iron.
Uncertain demand, the structure of hospital costs, and the cost of empty hospital beds.

Abstract In this paper we reformulate the theory of cost and production to take account of uncertain demand facing a firm. In the reformulated theory the duality between cost and production no longer obtains, and demand distribution parameters enter the cost function as well as the traditional outputs and input prices. We then estimate a short run cost function for a hospital facing uncertain demand using data from a national sample of over 5000 hospitals for the years 1983–1987. The traditional cost model is strongly rejected in favor of the reformulated model. This model is used to calculate the cost of empty hospital beds, controlling for the effect of uncertain demand on the structure of hospital costs. The cost of an empty hospital bed is calculated as $36,443 in 1987 dollars. We estimate that a one percent decrease in the number of hospital beds would decrease hospital costs by slightly over one-third of one percent. Increasing the occupancy rate from the average 1992 level (65 percent) back to the average 1980 level (76 percent) is estimated to save the average hospital over $2 million, or 9.5 percent of costs.
A stringy origin of M2 brane Chern–Simons theories

Abstract We show that string duality relates M-theory on a local Calabi–Yau fourfold singularity X 4 to type IIA string theory on a Calabi–Yau threefold X 3 fibered over a real line, with RR 2-form fluxes turned on. The RR flux encodes how the M-theory circle is fibered over the IIA geometry. The theories on N D2 branes probing X 3 are the well-known quiver theories with N = 2 supersymmetry in three dimensions. We show that turning on fluxes, and fibering the X 3 over a direction transverse to the branes, corresponds to turning on N = 2 Chern–Simons couplings. String duality implies that, in the strong coupling limit, the N D2 branes on X 3 in this background become N M2 branes on X 4 . This provides a string theory derivation for the recently conjectured description of the M2 brane theories on Calabi–Yau fourfolds in terms of N = 2 quiver Chern–Simons theories. We also provide a new N = 2 Chern–Simons theory dual to AdS 4 × Q 1 , 1 , 1 . Type IIA/M-theory duality also relates IIA string theory on X 3 with only the RR fluxes turned on, to M-theory on a G 2 holonomy manifold. We show that this implies that the N M2 branes probing the G 2 manifold are described by the quiver Chern–Simons theory originating from the D2 branes probing X 3 , except that now Chern–Simons terms preserve only N = 1 supersymmetry in three dimensions.
Floral anthocyanins in the genus Puya

Abstract A survey of floral anthocyanins among ten species of Puya shows the predominant pigment to be delphinidin 3,7,3′-triglucoside. This is the first report of the natural occurrence of this pigment in a non-acylated form. The occurrence of this unusual glucosylation pattern in Puya supports a close alliance between the Bromeliaceae and Commelinaceae.
Amino acid requirements for growth of avian lung cultures.

SummaryPrimary chick embryo and maturing cockerel lung cultures were found to grow in a test medium containing dialyzed chick embryo extract, bovine serum, and a variety of small molecular constituents. The avian cultures required the 13 amino acids usually found to be essential for mammalian cells. They also were markedly stimulated by glycine or L-serine and by small quantities of L-alanine. Folinic acid and higher levels of folic acid partially replaced the glycine requirement for optimal growth. Pyruvate, oxalacetate, or alpha-ketoglutarate, replaced the requirement for L-alanine. Pyridoxal phosphate partially replaced the L-alanine.
Religion, Reductionism, and the Godly Soul: Lubavitch Hasidic Jewishness and the Limits of Classificatory Thought

This essay explores the limits of the classificatory category of religion through an analysis of Lubavitch Hasidic discourses of Jewishness. The Lubavitch Hasidim articulate a distinctive vision of Jewish identity based on what they describe as a uniquely Jewish "godly soul," inherited by all Jews from the biblical patriarchs. The godly soul sits, uncomfortably, on the conceptual boundaries of "race" and "religion," as these reductive categories of social analysis are typically understood. Though it may be classified in such terms, it is better described as a conceptual singularity that resists the mechanisms of classificatory thought. To understand such singular phenomena, I argue, we need to develop a social antireductionism―a mode of analysis that interrogates the categories of the modern social sciences without appealing to a transcendent space beyond the social world.
A New Robustness Measure For Eigenvector Assignment

This note proposes the use of sensitivities of each individual system poles to measure robustness.
Exact and approximate runs distributions

Let R = Rn denote the total (and unconditional) number of runs of successes or failures in a sequence of n Bernoulll (p) trials, where p is assumed to be known throughout. The exact distribution of R is related to a convolution of two negative binomial random variables with parameters p and q (=1-p). Using the representation of R as the sum of 1 - dependent indicators, a Berry - Esseen theorem is derived; the obtained rate of sup norm convergence is O(n-½). This yields an unconditional version of the classical result of Wald and Wolfowitz (1940). The Stein - Chen method for m - dependent random variables is used, together with a suitable coupling, to prove a Poisson limit theorem for R. but with the limiting support set being the set of odd integers, Total variation error bounds (of order O(p) are found for the last result. Applications are indicated.
JAK2V617F and leukemic transformation in myelofibrosis with myeloid metaplasia

Amongst 42 consecutive patients with leukemic transformation (LT) from myelofibrosis with myeloid metaplasia (MMM) 72% carried the JAK2(V617F) mutation. The mutation was observed at expected frequencies in all subtypes of MMM and acute myeloid leukemia. Although the patients with the mutation were younger and had a shorter interval to LT there was no difference in survival. Additionally, both the lack of mutation status progression in serial analysis (available in nine patients) and the low frequency of patients with high mutated allele burden suggest that LT arising from MMM is probably not dependent on changes in JAK2(V617F) mutation status.