cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Attributions and Perception of Methylphenidate Effects in Adolescents With ADHD.

Objective: Although a number of studies demonstrate that children with ADHD do not attribute their behavior to taking medication, it remains unstudied whether adolescents, who have a longer history of taking medication for ADHD, show performance attributions to medication. Method: A sample of 46 adolescents completed daily attributions for success or failure as a part of their participation in a summer treatment program with a double-blind, placebo-controlled assessment of methylphenidate. Results: Results demonstrated that adolescents with ADHD did not reliably discern active medication from placebo, rarely attributed their performance to the pill, and showed no differences in attributional style as a function of medication status. Conclusion: These data indicate that adolescents with ADHD may possess inaccurate beliefs about the effect of stimulant medication on their behavior.
A Minimally Lipidated Form of Cell-derived Apolipoprotein E Exhibits Isoform-specific Stimulation of Neurite Outgrowth in the Absence of Exogenous Lipids or Lipoproteins

Within the central nervous system, apolipoprotein E (apoE) synthesis is increased in response to nerve injury, a finding that may reflect a role for apoE in neuronal remodeling. Recent studies show that apoE3 promotes and apoE4 inhibits neurite outgrowth in cultured neuronal cells. Interestingly, these isoform-specific effects are observed only when apoE is presented to cells in the presence of an exogenous lipid source such as rabbit beta-very low density lipoprotein (beta-VLDL), making it difficult to discern the biologically active form of apoE or to understand the role of the lipid source. In the present study we tested whether a cell-derived lipidated form of apoE can alter neurite outgrowth in the absence of beta-VLDL by constructing Neuro-2a cell lines expressing high levels of apoE. Our results showed that endogenous apoE3 stimulated neurite outgrowth, whereas the endogenous apoE4 isoform was neutral. Furthermore, beta-VLDL antagonized the stimulatory effects of the endogenous apoE3. Characterization of the secreted apoE3 indicated that the neurite outgrowth-stimulating activity could be recovered from culture medium with an anti-apoE immunoaffinity column and was present in a poorly lipidated particle with a density between 1.19 and 1.26 g/ml. These results indicated that the biological activity of apoE3 in stimulating neurite outgrowth was inherent in the cell-derived apoE particle and was not dependent on either (a) an interaction of apoE3 with an artificial lipid source or (b) independent actions of apoE3 and beta-VLDL.
Cosmic radiation and evolution of life on earth: Roles of environment, adaptation and selection

The role of ionizing radiation in general, and cosmic radiation in particular, in the evolution of organisms on the earth by adaptation and natural selection is considered in a series of questions: (1) Are there times during the evolution of the earth and of life when genetic material could be exposed to heavy ion radiation? (2) Throughout the course of chemical and biological evolution on the earth, what fraction of environmental mutagenesis could be attributable to cosmic and/or solar ionizing radiation? (3) Is ionizing radiation an agent of adaptation or selection, or both? (4) What can the cladistics of the evolution of genetic repair tell us about the global history of genotoxic selection pressures? (5) How much genetic diversity can be attributed to the selection of radiation-damage repair processes?
Death from an attempt to procure an abortion by intra-uterine injection of ethyl alcohol.

Abstract An unusual method of attempting to procure an abortion, by the intra-uterine introduction of an alcohol solution, brought about the death of a woman aged 33 years.
Screening for gonorrhea and Chlamydia: a systematic review for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.

This updated systematic review for the USPSTF examined trials and observational studies relevant to screening for gonorrhea and chlamydia in asymptomatic men and women. Several studies found that n...
Impact of aortoiliac tortuosity on endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms: Evaluation of 3D computer-based assessment

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of aortoiliac tortuosity, as assessed by observers and 3-dimensional (3D) computer-based methods, on the conduct and outcome of endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms. Methods: Infrarenal aortoiliac tortuosity was measured in 75 patients (mean follow-up, 14.8 ± 10.4 months) who underwent endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms by using the following four methods: (1) grading by 2 experienced observers; (2) tortuosity index measured as the inverse radius of curvature (cm‐1) at 1-mm intervals along the median luminal centerline (MLC) on 3D reconstructions of computed tomography (CT) angiograms and was calculated as the sum of values greater than 0.3 cm‐1; (3) MLC‐straight line length ratio from renal to hypogastric arteries; (4) manual measurement of angles at points of angulation on anteroposterior and lateral projections of 3D CT reconstructions. In evaluating association between these measures, correlation between human observers was accepted as the gold standard. Results: For rating of overall aortoiliac tortuosity, interobserver correlation (r = 0.67) was comparable with correlation of observers with tortuosity index (r = 0.67 and 0.56), whereas correlations of each observer with MLC‐straight line ratio (r = 0.50 and 0.56) and cumulative angulation (r = 0.44 and 0.44) were significant but weaker. For determining the relative tortuosity of right and left aortoiliac access, agreement between observers and tortuosity index (54% and 58%; P < .05; κ, 0.33 and 0.38) was not as good as between observers (68%; P <.001; κ, 0.53). This difference was primarily related to evaluation of the aorta, where interobserver correlation (r = 0.71) was better than that between each observer and tortuosity index (r = 0.47 and 0.55), whereas correlations in the iliac arteries were comparable (r = 0.64 and 0.67) (all coefficients P < .01). Increased tortuosity was associated with a more complex endovascular repair, as reflected by longer fluoroscopy time (P = .05), use of more contrast material (P = .03), use of extender modules (P = .04), and more frequent use of arterial reconstruction (P = .01), but was not associated with a higher overall complication rate. Increased tortuosity, when it occurred in the aortic neck, was associated with predischarge endoleak (P = .03) but not with late endoleak, intervention, or aneurysm-related adverse events. Conclusion: Aortoiliac tortuosity is associated with increased complexity of endovascular aneurysm repair and with predischarge endoleak but does not appear to affect intermediate-term results. Computer-based 3D measurement of aortoiliac tortuosity is feasible and clinically meaningful. Its ultimate role in relation to human assessment must be further defined in future studies. (J Vasc Surg 2001;34:594-9.)
Integrating a Health Coach into Primary Care: Reflections From the Penn State Ambulatory Research Network

In our Promoting Healthy Behaviors in Primary Care project, we proposed to (1) develop a health coach model of behavior change, integrated into primary care practices to improve diet and increase physical activity among obese adults, and (2) evaluate the effectiveness of a motivational program
Targeting cyclin-dependent kinases in Drosophila with peptide aptamers

Two-hybrid technology provides a simple way to isolate small peptide aptamers that specifically recognize and strongly bind to a protein of interest. These aptamers have the potential to dominantly interfere with specific activities of their target proteins and, therefore, could be used as in vivo inhibitors. Here we explore the ability to use peptide aptamers as in vivo inhibitors by expressing aptamers directed against cell cycle regulators in Drosophila. We expressed two peptide aptamers, each of which specifically recognizes one of the two essential cyclin-dependent kinases (Cdks), DmCdk1 and DmCdk2, in Drosophila. Expression of each Cdk aptamer during organogenesis caused adult eye defects typical of those caused by cell cycle inhibition. Co-overexpression of DmCdk1 or DmCdk2 resulted in suppression of the eye phenotypes, indicating that each aptamer interacts with a Cdk target in vivo and suggesting that these peptides disrupt normal eye development by inhibiting Cdk function. Moreover, the specificity of each aptamer for one of the two Cdks as determined in two-hybrid assays was retained in Drosophila. Combined, our results demonstrate that peptide aptamers generated by yeast two-hybrid methods can serve as inhibitory reagents to target specific proteins in vivo.
Role of CD44 in epithelial wound repair: Migration of rat hepatic stellate cells utilizes hyaluronic acid and CD44v6

The hyaluronic acid receptor, CD44, exists as multiple splice variants that appear to have a role in migration of tumor cells. The role of this receptor and its variants in normal wound repair is poorly understood. A central feature of wound repair in the liver is activation and migration of perisinusoidal stellate cells. We have examined CD44 expression by stellate cells from normal or injured rat liver, finding that it increases with injury and involves a distinct set of CD44 splice variants. Among the latter, variants containing the v6 exon (CD44v6) are strikingly increased. Analysis of migration of primary cells on transwell filter inserts reveals that only cells isolated from injured liver are migratory. Also, they move more rapidly on hyaluronic acid than on collagen I or collagen IV. A polyclonal antibody to recombinant CD44v6 blocks migration by 50%, whereas antibody to CD44v4 has no effect. The inhibition is specific for cells migrating on hyaluronic acid and is reversed by synthetic peptide representing the N terminus of the v6 protein. In conclusion, activated stellate cells use CD44v6 and hyaluronic acid for migration. Given the evidence that migration is required for progression of injury with scar formation, blockers of CD44v6 expression or function are candidates for preventing the deleterious effects of chronic fibrosis.
DNA modification and functional delivery into human cells using Escherichia coli DH10B

The availability of almost the complete human genome as cloned BAC libraries represents a valuable resource for functional genomic analysis, which, however, has been somewhat limited by the ability to modify and transfer this DNA into mammalian cells intact. Here we report a novel comprehensive Escherichia coli-based vector system for the modification, propagation and delivery of large human genomic BAC clones into mammalian cells. The GET recombination inducible homologous recombination system was used in the BAC host strain E.coli DH10B to precisely insert an EGFPneo cassette into the vector portion of a approximately 200 kb human BAC clone, providing a relatively simple method to directly convert available BAC clones into suitable vectors for mammalian cells. GET recombination was also used for the targeted deletion of the asd gene from the E.coli chromosome, resulting in defective cell wall synthesis and diaminopimelic acid auxotrophy. Transfer of the Yersinia pseudotuberculosis invasin gene into E.coli DH10B asd(-) rendered it competent to invade HeLa cells and deliver DNA, as judged by transient expression of green fluorescent protein and stable neomycin-resistant colonies. The efficiency of DNA transfer and survival of HeLa cells has been optimized for incubation time and multiplicity of infection of invasive E.coli with HeLa cells. This combination of E.coli-based homologous recombination and invasion technologies using BAC host strain E.coli DH10B will greatly improve the utility of the available BAC libraries from the human and other genomes for gene expression and functional genomic studies.
Impact of exercise and dietary fatty acid composition from a high-fat diet on markers of hunger and satiety.

Abstract To compare the effects of both dietary fatty acid composition and exercise vs. sedentary conditions on circulating levels of hunger and satiety hormones. Eight healthy males were randomized in a 2 × 2 crossover design. The four treatments were 3 days of HF diets (50% of energy) containing high saturated fat (22% of energy) with exercise (SE) or sedentary (SS) conditions, and high monounsaturated fat (30% of energy) with exercise (UE) or sedentary (US) conditions. Cycling exercise was completed at 45% of VO 2 max for 2 h daily. On the third HF day, 20 blood samples were drawn over a 24 h period for each hormone (leptin, insulin, ghrelin, and peptide YY (PYY)). A visual analog scale (VAS) was completed hourly between 0800 and 2200. Average 24 h leptin and insulin levels were lower while 24 h PYY was higher during exercise vs. sedentary conditions. FA composition did not differentially affect 24 h hormone values. VAS scores for hunger and fullness did not differ between any treatment but did correlate with ghrelin, leptin, and insulin. High saturated or unsaturated fat diets did not differ with respect to markers of hunger or satiety. Exercise decreased 24 h leptin and insulin while increasing PYY regardless of FA composition.
A meta-analysis of factors affecting trust in human-robot interaction.

Objective: We evaluate and quantify the effects of human, robot, and environmental factors on perceived trust in human-robot interaction (HRI).Background: To date, reviews of trust in HRI have been...
Evidence That γδ versus αβ T Cell Fate Determination Is Initiated Independently of T Cell Receptor Signaling

Two types of T cells, αβ and γδ, develop in vertebrates. How these two T cell lineages arise from a common thymic T progenitor is poorly understood. Differentiation of αβ lineage T cells requires the surrogate α chain (pTα), which associates with the T cell receptor (TCR) β chain to form the pre-TCR. γδ lineage development does not appear to involve an obligatory surrogate chain, but instead requires productive rearrangement and expression of both TCR γ and δ genes. It has been proposed that the quality of signals transmitted by the pre-TCR and γδ TCR are distinct and that these “instructive” signals determine the lineage fate of an uncommitted progenitor cell. Here we show that the thymic T progenitor cells (CD25+CD44+c-kit+CD3−CD4−CD8− thymocytes, termed pro-T cells) from young adult mice that have yet to express TCRs can be subdivided based on interleukin 7 receptor (IL-7R) expression. These subsets exhibit differential potential to develop into γδ versus αβ lineage (CD4+CD8+ cells) in the thymus. Upon intrathymic injection, IL-7Rneg-lo pro-T cells generated a 13-fold higher ratio of αβ lineage to γδ lineage cells than did IL-7R+ pro-T cells. Much of this difference was due to a fivefold greater potential of IL-7R+ pro-T cells to develop into TCR-γδ T cells. Evidence indicates that this biased developmental potential is not a result of enhanced TCR-γ gene rearrangement/expression in IL-7R+ pro-T cells. These results indicate that the pro-T cells are heterogeneous in developmental potential before TCR gene rearrangement and suggest that in some precursor cells the initial lineage commitment is independent of TCR-mediated signals.
FSAF: file system aware flash translation layer for NAND flash memories

NAND Flash Memories require Garbage Collection (GC) and Wear Leveling (WL) operations to be carried out by Flash Translation Layers (FTLs) that oversee flash management. Owing to expensive erasures and data copying, these two operations essentially determine application response times. Since file systems do not share any file deletion information with FTL, dead data is treated as valid by FTL, resulting in significant WL and GC overheads. In this work, we propose a novel method to dynamically interpret and treat dead data at the FTL level so as to reduce above overheads and improve application response times, without necessitating any changes to existing file systems. We demonstrate that our resource-efficient approach can improve application response times and memory write access times by 22% and reduce erasures by 21.6% on average.
DISCRETE CHOICE MODELS FOR UTILITY AND PROBABILITY IN EMPIRICAL BAYES ESTIMATION

Discrete choice modeling (DCM) is widely used in economics, social studies, and marketing research for estimating utilities and preference probabilities of multiple alternatives. Data for the model is elicited from the respondents who are presented with several sets of items characterized by various attributes, and each respondent chooses the best alternative in each set. Estimation of utilities is usually performed in a multinomial-logit (MNL) modeling and software for Hierarchical Bayesian (HB) technique is usually applied to find individual utilities by iterative estimations. This paper describes an easy and convenient empirical Bayesian way to construct priors and combine them with the likelihood on individual level data. This allows the modeler to obtain posterior estimation of MNL utilities in noniterative evaluations. Logistic modeling for the posterior frequencies is performed using the linear link of their logarithm of odds that clarifies the results of DCM modeling. The problem of overfitting is considered and the optimum balance between signal and noise in the precision of individual prediction and the smoothing of overall data is suggested. Actual market research data are used and the results are discussed.
Data Fabrication and Falsification and Empiricist Philosophy of Science

Scientists have rules pertaining to data fabrication and falsification that are enforced with significant punishments, such as loss of funding, termination of employment, or imprisonment. These rules pertain to data that describe observable and unobservable entities. In this commentary I argue that scientists would not adopt rules that impose harsh penalties on researchers for data fabrication or falsification unless they believed that an aim of scientific research is to develop true theories and hypotheses about entities that exist, including unobservable ones. This argument presents a challenge for constructive empiricists, such as van Fraassen. Constructive empiricists need to be able to explain why rules pertaining to data fabrication and falsification do not threaten their philosophy of science.
A Streamlined Strategy for Aglycone Assembly and Glycosylation

Multipurpose sugar silanes Carbohydrate-derived silane reagents are utilized as the reductant for nickel-catalyzed aldehyde-alkyne reductive couplings, followed immediately by intramolecular glycosylation of the newly formed protected hydroxyl The approach, illustrated in the catalyzed conversion of aldehydes and alkynes to glycosylated allylic alcohols, enables the assembly of the carbon-carbon framework and stereochemical features of an aglycone while simultaneously establishing the site of glycosylation.
NANOFIBROUS MATERIALS AND THEIR APPLICATIONS

▪ Abstract Nanostructured fibrous materials have been made more readily available in large part owing to recent advances in electrospinning and related technologies, including the use of electrostatic or gas-blowing forces as well as a combination of both forces. The nonwoven structure has unique features, including interconnected pores and a very large surface-to-volume ratio, which enable such nanofibrous scaffolds to have many biomedical and industrial applications. The chemical composition of electrospun membranes can be adjusted through the use of different polymers, polymer blends, or nanocomposites made of organic or inorganic materials. In addition to the control of material composition, the processing flexibility in maneuvering physical parameters and structures, such as fiber diameter, mesh size, porosity, texture, and pattern formation, offers the capability to design electrospun scaffolds that can meet the demands of numerous practical applications. This review provides a selective description...
Orthogonal frequency division multiple access resource allocation in mobile multihop relay networks using an adaptive frame structure

For wireless mobile multihop relay (MMR) networks, we have chosen orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) and time division duplex as a multiple access scheme and a duplex communication technique, respectively. We have also selected nontransparent relay stations (nt-RSs) as relay nodes to extend the MMR network coverage. Through the nt-RSs, far-off subscriber stations (SSs) or hidden SSs can communicate with a base station (BS) that is connected to backhaul networks. In these MMR networks, the way in which a BS and nt-RSs use OFDMA resources (e.g., OFDMA symbols and subcarriers) and share them might reduce system capacity and network throughput. Therefore, we proposed a new adaptive OFDMA frame structure for both the BS and the nt-RSs. The proposed scheme is the first approach that incorporates the adaptive technique for wireless MMR networks. Based on the proposed adaptive OFDMA frame structure, an adaptive OFDMA resource allocation for SSs within a BS as well as nt-RSs was proposed. To derive the maximum OFDMA resource that nt-RSs can be assigned and to synchronize access zones and relay zones between a superior station and its subordinate nt-RSs, three properties are introduced: a data relay property, a maximum balance property, and a relay zone limitation property. In addition, we propose max-min and proportional fairness schemes of the proposed adaptive frame structure. Our numerical analysis and simulations show that the proposed OFDMA allocation scheme performs better than the nonadaptive allocation scheme in terms of network throughput and fairness especially in the asymmetric distribution of subscriber stations between access zones and relay zones in the MMR networks. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Diabetes mellitus is the major risk factor for African Americans who undergo peripheral bypass graft operation

Abstract Objective: African Americans, especially African American women, have a greater risk of lower extremity ischemia that necessitates an infrainguinal bypass graft operation and amputation. Because the prevalence of diabetes mellitus is proportionally greater in this ethnic/racial group, the relative contribution of diabetes was compared with other potential risk factors. Methods: This study was designed as a retrospective case control study at the University and Veterans Hospitals. In a 5-year period, 764 consecutive patients who required infrainguinal revascularizations were compared with a statewide population that was described by the 1995 Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance System database. The main outcome measure was the requirement for infrainguinal revascularization. Results: Diabetes mellitus was more common among African American women who underwent bypass graft operation (70%; odds ratio [OR], 24.9; 95% confidence interval [CI], 20.3 to 30.4) than African American men (46%; OR, 11.6; 95% CI, 8.9 to 15.2), white women (49%; OR, 15.9; 95% CI, 13.0 to 19.5), or white men (42%; OR, 14.8; 95% CI, 12.5 to 17.4). Overall, bypass graft operation was associated more strongly with diabetes mellitus for all groups (OR, 15.7; 95% CI, 13.5 to 18.3) than with smoking (OR, 4.5; 95% CI, 3.8 to 5.2) or hypertension (OR, 4.6; 95% CI, 4.0 to 5.3). Life-table analysis revealed limb salvage to be worse at 3 years among African American patients (64% vs 75%; P Conclusion: Diabetes mellitus is the dominant risk factor that contributes to the need for bypass graft operation, especially among African American women. A greater prevalence of diabetes mellitus may account for the higher incidence of tissue necrosis and the increased requirement for distal bypass grafting and may contribute to the reduction in long-term limb salvage that was observed with these women. (J Vasc Surg 1999;29:352-9.)
Practice and theory

The following questions about linking theory and practice in testing ICs are considered Is there a problem? How do theorists (professors) find out about current practice? How do engineers find out about current theory? Some problems are identified and drawbacks of university consulting practices are discussed.
ATOMISTIC MODELING AND MECHANICS OF SELF-ASSEMBLED ORGANIC NANOTUBES

Organic building blocks inspired by biological systems are promising for fabricating nanostructured materials for a broad range of applications such as antimicrobials, biosensors, electronics, and biomaterials. Self-assembling cyclic peptide organic nanotubes have shown great promise for these applications due to their precise structural features, diverse chemical functionalization capabilities and exceptional stability arising from arrangement of hydrogen bonds into cooperative clusters. Mechanical behavior of organic nanotubes is important for various possible applications ranging from subnanoporous selective membranes to molecular templates for electronics. However, large-scale deformation mechanisms of organic nanotubes have not been studied thus far. Here we investigate the mechanisms involved in the large deformation and failure of self-assembled organic nanotubes, focusing on geometry effects characteristic of protein nanostructures. We carry out molecular dynamics simulations to assess the role of hydrogen bonds as weak interactions in the context of deformation and failure processes involving bending and shear loads. Mechanisms of failure are found to depend on the cross-sectional geometry and the deformation rate, where a transition to localized shear failure is observed at high-strain rates. Our results provide important physical insight into the mechanics of organic nanotubes central to emerging applications of self-assembling peptides in biomedicine and biotechnology.
Antibacterial compounds from Siraitia grosvenorii leaves

Luo Han Guo (LHG) fruits (Siraitia grosvenorii Swingle) have been used as traditional medicine in China for centuries to treat sore throats and coughs. However, LHG leaves are seldom used and minimal scientific information is available on them. In our recent study on the leaves of S. grosvenorii, the bioactive compounds β-amyrin (2), aloe emodin (5), aloe-emodin acetate (6), 5α,8α-epidioxy-24(R)-methylcholesta-6,22-dien-3β-ol (7) and p-hydroxyl benzyl acid (8), accompanied by n-hexadecaoic acid (1), 12-methyltetradecanoic acid (3), β-sitosterol (4) and daucosterol (9) were first obtained. Their structures have been identified on the basis of spectroscopic studies. The activities of these compounds were evaluated in vitro against the growth of oral bacterial species Streptococcus mutans, Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Fusobacterium nucleatum and the yeast Candida albicans, and their minimum inhibition concentrations were determined. Furthermore, the activity against S. mutans is likely to be due to ...
Identification and compensation of Wiener-Hammerstein systems with feedback

Efficient operation of RF power amplifiers requires compensation strategies to mitigate nonlinear behavior. As bandwidth increases, memory effects become more pronounced, and Volterra series based compensation becomes onerous due to the exponential growth in the number of necessary coefficients. Behavioral models such as Wiener-Hammerstein systems with a parallel feedforward or feedback filter are more tractable but more difficult to identify. In this paper, we extend a Wiener-Hammerstein identification method to such systems showing that identification is possible (up to inherent model ambiguities) from single- and two-tone measurements. We also calculate the Cramer-Rao bound for the system parameters and compare to our identification method in simulation. Finally, we demonstrate equalization performance using measured data from a wideband GaN power amplifier.
An unusual case of spontaneous multi vessel coronary artery dissection in an elderly patient: a case report

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection is an uncommon cause of acute coronary syndrome and sudden cardiac death. We report an unusual case of multi vessel spontaneous coronary artery dissection in an elderly woman with successful medical management. A 65 year-old woman with hypertension and Parkinson's disease presented with sudden onset severe chest pain. Electrocardiogram showed ischemic ST-segment elevation in inferior and lateral leads. Urgent cardiac catheterization revealed focal dissections in four small caliber coronary arteries in right and left coronary systems including right posterior decending, posterolateral, obtuse marginal and septal arteries. Angiography demonstrated no significant atherosclerotic coronary artery disease. The patient was medically managed with Eptifibatide, Aspirin, Clopidogrel and β blocker since dissected vessels were not technically suitable for percutaneous coronary intervention. Antiparkinson medications were held as a potential cause of dissection. She responded well to medical management. Coronary dissection should be considered in all patients with an acute coronary syndrome. Medical management is an effective therapeutic option for the patient with small vessel dissections.
An Institutional Theory of Participatory Budgeting

Participatory budgeting (PB), a process in which part of a public budget is set aside to be allocated by the community, has gained increasing prominence around the world since it was pioneered in Brazil 25 years ago. High profile declarations of support, ranging from President Obama's second Open Government National Action Plan to policy recommendations from the World Bank and UN, all point to a significant contribution of PB to high quality local democracy. Normative theories of participatory and deliberative democracy, compelling case studies, and an expanding Latin American comparative literature have made up the collective basis for these claims. Within this rapidly growing field, however, systemic understanding of PB as a set of institutions and the mechanisms through which it may improve democratic quality remains underdeveloped.
Flood Wave Modification Along Prismatic Channels

The general behavior of a flood wave propagating along a prismatic channel is examined. It is pointed out that attenuation is not always to be expected, and a criterion for discriminating attenuation and amplification of flood waves is stated, that is quite similar to the analogous criterion deduced by many authors for infinitesimal perturbations. An approximate procedure for flood waves that are approximately fitted by a triangular shape is developed; a set of nondimensional graphs is deduced which may be used to predict the modification with respect to time of a triangular wave in dependence of two parameters called "attenuation" and "distortion-coefficient." A simple formula is suggested to calculate peak attenuation or amplification, which does not depend on the distortion coefficient. Comparisons with experimental tests are referred to in the last section and seem to be quite satisfactory. Some auxiliary elements are given for facilitating computations in part-full circular pipes.
Perspectives on Clinical Applications of CTCs

Though technologies for isolating and analyzing CTCs have advanced rapidly, there has been little clinical uptake of these technologies, despite the potential to assist medical decision-making. The first clinical studies examined the enumeration of CTCs and there were differing outcomes of utility; many of these studies were hampered by small sample sizes. More recent clinical studies have focused on molecular and genetic analysis of CTCs, rather than mere enumeration, to be utilized as a companion diagnostic to determine if a druggable mutation is present or absent (such as the T790M EGFR or V600E BRAF mutations). The rise of genetically targeted therapies has increased interest in CTC analysis in a clinical setting, particularly to obtain actionable information. CTCs hold the potential to assist with clinical decision-making, though further controlled trials will be necessary to better realize this promise.
Discuss ion on the Grounding Matter during Partial Discharge Test for Transformer

The grounding matter is discussed from eight aspects during partial discharge test for transformer.They could give a reference to the similar situation of test.
On the Establishment of Contract Fire Forces and the Sustainable Development of Fire Prevention

The establishment of contrasted fire forces is a significance strategy for the insufficient fire force in China.This paper analyzes some major problems that constrict the establishment of contrast fire forces and explains the conditions for advancing the contrast fire forces and the pattern of the establishment.
Analysis of Power System Forced Oscillation Caused by Asynchronous Parallelizing of Synchronous Generators

The mechanism and characteristics of the power system forced oscillation caused by generators asynchronous parallelizing are analyzed.Through sliding frequency analysis and generator torque analysis,with forced power oscillation theory,it is found that dual modes of low-frequency harmonic torque might trigger the forced power oscillation when generators are asynchronously parallelizing,known as dual modes of sliding excitation.The simulation and analysis of actual cases further validates the findings reported in the paper.
Comparison of nuclear shape in aspirated and histologic specimens of prostatic carcinoma.

Nuclear shape analysis of histologic sections of operative specimens has separated patients with clinically localized prostatic carcinoma with good and poor prognoses. In order to become more useful clinically, nuclear shape should be evaluable preoperatively but is distorted by core biopsy. We used nuclear morphometry to compare histologic and cytologic specimens obtained from 20 patients who underwent radical prostatectomy for clinically localized prostatic carcinoma. Neoplastic nuclei from cytologic aspirates prepared by the Papanicolaou and Diff-Quik techniques and standard histologic sections stained with hematoxylin and eosin were digitized. Air-dried nuclei of the Diff-Quik preparation had a nuclear area of 104.2 microns 2 +/- 28.2 SD. These nuclei were nearly twice as large (paired t test, P .05). All nuclear shape descriptors of cytologic smears fell within intraobserver variations of measurements in histologic sections. Nuclear shape is not altered in Papanicolaou- and Diff-Quik-stained cytologic specimens and should be tested for preoperative assessment of outcome in clinically localized prostatic carcinoma.
Abstract B2-14: Ancestrally derived SNPs influence on gene expression in breast cancer data sets

There is a critical need to identify factors driving aggressive breast cancer (BCa) that is more likely to develop in African American (AA) women who have a lower incidence BCa, but have a higher mortality from all invasive BCa subtypes compared to Caucasian (CA) women. The etiology driving these disparities has remained confounding though experimental evidence has shown a statistically significant biological difference stemming from an immunobiological gene signature in prostate, breast or colorectal tumor tissues. It is currently unknown if this signature can influence tumor initiation, progression and/or therapeutic intervention. Furthermore, there is a significant lack of a mechanistic understanding in the measured gene expression network signature between AA and CA BCa tumors. Using existing data from the NIH9s Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), we correlated gene expression between AA and CA tumors with 63 genes containing ancestry informative missense mutations. The genes were selected from single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) using the Affymetrix SNP 6 array. Briefly, SNPs with a minor allele frequency (MAF) greater than 0.3 in the HapMap9s Yoruba population from Ibadan, Nigeria (YRI) as well as a MAF less than 0.05 in the Caucasian (CEU), Chinese (CHB) and Japanese (JPT) populations resulted in a list of 17,995 SNP candidates. Those SNPs in non-coding regions were removed resulting in 7,782 gene annotated SNPS. Finally, only those SNPs in exonic regions with protein coding mutations (non-synonymous SNPs) lead to the 63 gene list. To compare these genes with existing gene expression, admixture analysis was performed on the TCGA genotypes from the Affymetrix Genome-Wide Human SNP Array 6.0 using normal tissues. An initial independent list of 4,323 cross-platform comparable SNPs were chosen for admixture analysis. Each SNP for each individual was filtered for a birdseed confidence score Citation Format: John Tyson McDonald, Luisel Ricks-Santi. Ancestrally derived SNPs influence on gene expression in breast cancer data sets. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Computational and Systems Biology of Cancer; Feb 8-11 2015; San Francisco, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(22 Suppl 2):Abstract nr B2-14.
Nordhaus-Gaddum problems for Colin de Verdière type parameters, variants of tree-width, and related parameters

A Nordhaus-Gaddum problem for a graph parameter is to determine a tight lower or upper bound for the sum or product of the parameter evaluated on a graph and on its complement. This article surveys Nordhaus-Gaddum results for the Colin de Verdiere type parameters μ, ν, and \(\xi\); tree-width and its variants largeur d’arborescence, path-width, and proper path-width; and minor monotone ceilings of vertex connectivity and minimum degree.
Chemical Signals Associated with Aquatic Predation Sites

Predation sites were simulated and observed in the gulf intertidal near the Edward Ball Marine Laboratory, Sopchoppy, Florida. Bivalve molluscs, brachyuran crabs and several gastropod species were tested as prey. In the case of the gastropod sites, experiments were performed to determine the approximate size and source of the signal molecules. The sites were visited by Fundulus similis, Callinactes sapidus, Melongena corona, Clibanarius vittatus, and Pagurus longicarpus. All attendant species were attracted via chemical signals released passively from the prey. Attendants were attracted equally as well to gastropod sites at which only small molecules could act as signals. Site visitation was dependent upon the prey species, and attendant species appeared at characteristic times after site initiation. This temporal pattern was to a large extent independent of the size of the predation site. F. similis, C. sapidus, and M. corona were attracted to small molecules from the flesh of bivalves, gastropods and brachyurans in an apparently non-specific manner. similis and sapidus visited the sites almost immediately after initiation. They continued to visit at increasingly less frequent intervals for about six hours. M. corona visited until several days after initiation. All three species fed upon the prey. longicarpus and C. vittatus were attracted only to gastropod flesh sites and in a species-specific manner.
Ion beam induced epitaxial recrystallization of alumina thin films deposited on sapphire

Abstract We have investigated ion beam induced epitaxial recrystallization (IBIER) of amorphous alumina thin films deposited on c-axis single crystal sapphire substrates. The alumina thin films, deposited by electron-beam evaporation, were about 66 and 90 nm thick, and doped with Fe cations to cation concentrations of 0 and 2 at.%, respectively. The as-deposited samples were subsequently irradiated at temperatures of 400, 500, and 600°C with either 180 keV oxygen ions or 360 keV argon ions. The process of IBIER was characterised with Rutherford backscattering spectrometry combined with ion channeling techniques. A kinetics study showed that the process of IBIER in alumina is characterised by an effective activation energy of 0.23 ± 0.05 eV. This value is one order of magnitude lower than that (5.0 eV) determined from the thermal annealing studies for the phase transformation of gamma-to-alpha. Our preliminary study also revealed that the presence of Fe cations in the films inhibits the IBIER process.
Defining and measuring the occupational performance of children

ABSTRACTOccupational performance assessments of children are essential for guiding occupational therapy intervention and for measuring the effectiveness of occupational therapy services for children. A review of relevant research and of occupational performance assessments designed for children was conducted to determine and describe how the occupational performance of children has been conceptualized and measured. The results indicated that more consistency with the ways in which occupational performance is being conceptualized by occupational scientists and within the occupational therapy profession is needed. A conceptual model for understanding and defining occupational performance was proposed and described. This model may be useful for assisting researchers in the development of new instruments for measuring occupational performance. In addition, how the model may be used by occupational therapists to describe what they refer to as occupational performance and to guide their evaluations of children ...
Fractional governing equations of transient groundwater flow in confined aquifers with multi-fractional dimensions in fractional time

Abstract. Using fractional calculus, a dimensionally consistent governing equation of transient, saturated groundwater flow in fractional time in a multi-fractional confined aquifer is developed. First, a dimensionally consistent continuity equation for transient saturated groundwater flow in fractional time and in a multi-fractional, multidimensional confined aquifer is developed. For the equation of water flux within a multi-fractional multidimensional confined aquifer, a dimensionally consistent equation is also developed. The governing equation of transient saturated groundwater flow in a multi-fractional, multidimensional confined aquifer in fractional time is then obtained by combining the fractional continuity and water flux equations. To illustrate the capability of the proposed governing equation of groundwater flow in a confined aquifer, a numerical application of the fractional governing equation to a confined aquifer groundwater flow problem was also performed.
An exploratory study of the usage of different educational resources in an independent context

There are a variety of learning resources with the potential to support children in learning programming independently. While many of them have been evaluated in laboratory settings, we know little about how children choose to use these resources on their own. We conducted a study organized around a film festival to explore children's open-ended use of four different learning supports: tutorials, code puzzles, in-application documentation and code suggestions. The study began with a workshop to introduce the programming environment and available tools, continued through two weeks of home use, and culminated in a film festival. Results suggest that participants leveraged in-context forms of help most frequently, but valued documentation for question-answering and suggestions for opportunistic learning.
Investigation of Femtosecond Two-Photon LIF of CO at Elevated Pressures

Recent advances of femtosecond two-photon LIF (fs-TPLIF) for CO imaging is explored for high-pressure applications. The overall signal levels, laser pulse energy and quenching dependencies are studied at elevated pressures up to 10 bars.
Did Reichenbach Anticipate Quantum Mechanical Indeterminism

Reichenbach always counted the solution of Hume’s problem of induction and his anticipation of the probabilistic nature of atomic physics among the signature achievements of his European years. In this paper I argue that until 1936 Reichenbach, more than anticipating quantum mechanical indeterminism, developed a philosophical research program whose core questions were already laid out in his Ph.D. thesis of 1915. There he supplemented the principle of causality by a second principle of probabilistic and inductive nature that, during the two decades to come, assumed the lead but repeatedly changed its form from a transcendental to an empirical and back to a transcendental-pragmatic principle. Reichenbach’s exchanges with Schrodinger (in 1923/1924) and Schlick (in 1930/1931) show that his abandonment of Kantian causality was not primarily motivated by the ongoing physical developments and the relationship between statistical and quantum physics. While Schrodinger considered quantum mechanics largely as a continuation of Boltzmann’s statistical mechanics and insisted on the physical character of measurement, Schlick held instead that Heisenberg’s uncertainty relation signified a radical difference between classical fluctuation and quantum phenomena. For Reichenbach, in those days, this problem—much discussed among the physicists—was of lesser importance because he insisted on the identity between the theory of measurement error and any probabilistic physical theory.
Endemic Balkan Nephropathy

Endemic Balkan nephropathy (EBN) is a unique form of chronic interstitial renal disease which is endemic to isolated rural populations of Bulgaria, Romania, and Yugoslavia. The area is confined within a 200-mile radius of Belgrade. The involved villages lie along river valleys in multiple areas of Romania and Yugoslavia where flooding periodically occurs (Wolstenholme and Knight, 1967). The disease is clinically characterized by the insidious onset of a normocytic, normochromic anemia, azotemia, and persistent proteinuria usually of <1 g/24 hr. There is no increase in the incidence of hypertension in the involved populations and the disease slowly progresses to end-stage renal failure over a period of 5–10 years following the onset of azotemia. While there is no uniform agreement concerning the early pathologic changes, it is generally accepted to be a chronic interstitial disease as it appears in the uremic patient. There is marked tubular atrophy with focal areas of tubular regeneration, interstitial fibrosis, and minimal round cell infiltration. The tissue loss is predominently cortical and most marked in the cortex opposite the hilum (Radonic et al., 1966).
Judicial Regulation of Humour in the United States

This chapter explores the intersection between judges and humour by focusing on the substance of judicial opinions in the United States. Judges have the opportunity to rule on legal liability for jokes in both the criminal and the civil contexts. Both of these contexts are evaluated, focusing primarily on US law with comparisons to cases from other countries. Criminal prohibitions include putative jokes about inflicting violence on aviation targets, about the President of the United States and about racial minorities. For civil cases, the chapter explores judicial regulation of humour in contract, trademark, employment discrimination, and defamation cases. The chapter’s analytical focus is interdisciplinary and includes discussion of constitutional free speech doctrines as well as humour theories developed in the humanities and social sciences. An overriding goal is to document patterns in humour regulation so as to provide guidance for courts, academics across different disciplines, and for humourists who seek to understand and predict legal regulation.