cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Iron-Dependent Cytochrome c1 Expression Is Mediated by the Status of Heme in Bradyrhizobium japonicum

The heme prosthetic group of heme proteins contains iron, which can be a limiting nutrient. Here, we show that cytochrome c1 protein from Bradyrhizobium japonicum was strongly affected by the iron status, with low expression in cells grown under iron limitation. This control was not affected in mutants encoding the iron regulator Irr or Fur. Furthermore, cytochrome c1 mRNA was not influenced by the iron status, suggesting control at a posttranscriptional step. Cytochrome c1 protein levels were very low in mutants defective in the genes encoding delta-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) synthase and ferrochelatase, enzymes that catalyze the first and final steps of the heme biosynthetic pathway, respectively. Iron-dependent cytochrome c1 expression was restored in the ALA synthase mutant by supplementation of the medium with the heme precursor ALA. Supplementation with heme resulted in high levels of cytochrome c1 protein in the wild type and in both mutants, but expression was no longer iron dependent. Cytochrome c1 is synthesized as a protein precursor fused with cytochrome b. A plasmid-borne construct encoding only cytochrome c1 was expressed in an iron- and heme-dependent manner similar to that of the wild-type gene, indicating that control by those effectors is not linked to posttranslational processing of the fusion protein. Mutation of the cytochrome c1 cysteines involved in covalent binding to heme nearly abolished immunodetectable protein. Thus, defects in heme synthesis or heme binding abrogate cytochrome c1 accumulation, apparently due to protein degradation. We suggest that iron-dependent cytochrome c1 expression is mediated by heme availability for heme protein formation.
Using the Arts and Literature in Health Education

The article explores and defines how the arts and literature can be used to advance health education. The authors examine the historical role of the arts and literature in social change, and more recently in educational and clinical settings. The use of the arts and literature in health education is examined in relationship to health education theory. Six ways the arts and literature can be utilized in health education practice are delineated, with numerous recent examples. The authors discuss the growing body of health promotion experience which draws on cultural vehicles, including examples of evaluated programs. The authors discuss the relevance of the arts and literature for health education in urban settings, arguing that the arts can serve to promote diversity and build unity. The article concludes with lessons from using the arts to conduct community assessment in a Latino community in metropolitan New Orleans.
Development of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for quantifying vitellogenin in Pacific salmon and assessment of field exposure to environmental estrogens

A competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was developed to quantitate vitellogenin (VTG) in plasma and serum of coho (Oncorhynchus kisutch) and chinook (O. tshawytscha) salmon. The working range of the assay was 9 to 313 ng/ml (80-20% binding), with 50% binding at 54 ng/ml. The intra-assay and interassay variations at approximately 50% binding were 8.1% (n = 9) and 9.0% (n = 9), respectively. Dilution curves of plasma or serum from coho and chinook females and estrogen-treated males were parallel to the purified coho VTG standard curve. Male plasma samples could be assayed at a minimum dilution of 1:40 (chinook) or 1:75 (coho) without assay interference because of high sample concentration, whereas minimum acceptable dilutions of male serum samples were 1:200 (chinook) or 1:600 (coho). Identification of proper techniques for preserving VTG integrity in plasma and serum samples showed that VTG from both species was robust; both sample types required no protease inhibitor despite subjection to two freeze-thaw cycles. To test its applicability, this assay was used to measure VTG in out-migrating juvenile chinook that were collected from urban and nonurban areas in Puget Sound, Washington, USA. Results showed a small but significant plasma VTG elevation at two urban sites, suggesting that these juveniles may be exposed to environmental estrogens at an early life stage. Also, wild fish tended to have higher plasma VTG levels than hatchery fish collected in the field. Elevation of mean VTG levels was similar to that previously reported in male English sole from the same area, where both males and females exhibited alterations in timing of spawning.
A framework for deriving verification and validation strategies to assess software security

In recent years, the number of exploits targeting software applications has increased dramatically. These exploits have caused substantial economic damages. Ensuring that software applications are not vulnerable to the exploits has, therefore, become a critical requirement. The last line of defense is to test before hand if a software application is vulnerable to exploits. One can accomplish this by testing for the presence of vulnerabilities. This dissertation presents a framework for deriving verification and validation (V&V) strategies to assess the security of a software application by testing it for the presence of vulnerabilities. This framework can be used to assess the security of any software application that executes above the level of the operating system. It affords a novel approach, which consists of testing if the software application permits violation of constraints imposed by computer system resources or assumptions made about the usage of these resources. A vulnerability exists if a constraint or an assumption can be violated. Distinctively different from other approaches found in the literature, this approach simplifies the process of assessing the security of a software application. The framework is composed of three components: (1) a taxonomy of vulnerabilities, which is an informative classification of vulnerabilities, where vulnerabilities are expressed in the form of violable constraints and assumptions; (2) an object model, which is a collection of potentially vulnerable process objects that can be present in a software application; and (3) a VV and provides approaches for testing software applications for the presence of vulnerabilities. This dissertation also presents a step-by-step process for using the framework to assess software security.
String Unification and Threshold Effects

String unification is affected by string loop corrections if the corresponding string theory is strongly coupled. We study some properties of string loop thresholds and the implications for the phenomenological renormalization-group analysis.
Quantification of regional lung ventilation from tagged hyperpolarized helium-3 MRI

In this paper we propose a new scheme for measuring regional ventilation from tagged hyperpolarized helium-3 MR images. A new registration cost function that incorporates both the intensity information (SSD) and the shape feature (SSBMD) from the images is proposed for registering end inspiration to the end expiration image. The smoothness of the displacement field is maintained by incorporating the Laplacian regularization constraint (LAP) in the total cost function. The ventilation is quantified using the Jacobian determinant of the resulting displacement field from the proposed registration algorithm. Tags are automatically segmented from the images to evaluate the registration accuracy. The average tag positioning error is on the order of 2 mm after registration for all three subjects. These results may provide new method for assessing regional lung ventilation and may be used to track regional function changes of lung cancer patients following radiation therapy.
‘To prove this is the industry's best hope’: big tobacco's support of research on the genetics of nicotine addiction

The field of molecular genetics is transforming research on the etiology of smoking behavior and nicotine addiction [1, 2]. Novel technologies allow researchers to perform genome-wide association studies that produce suggestive findings [3]. If molecular approaches are to be utilized to complement treatment and public health efforts with the goal of decreasing smoking-related disease, there is a need to examine the emergence of a genetic understanding of smoking among stakeholders in smoking and tobacco control. It is vital that the perspectives of the tobacco industry – a key stakeholder – be assessed. The tobacco industry has long recognized the potential of genetic explanations to minimize its legal responsibility for tobacco-related disease, and has been aware of and pursued such justifications since the 1950s. Efforts to capitalize on this potential were, in the past, hampered by another industry strategy: denial of the addictive qualities of nicotine. The tobacco documents made available from the Minnesota tobacco trial and the resulting settlement of that case present an opportunity to gain insight into industry knowledge and support of research on the genetics of nicotine addiction [4]. As Glantz and colleagues showed in a pioneering 1995 analysis of the tobacco documents, industry-funded scientists actively studied the addictive qualities of nicotine while company leaders denied it [5]. Now that the tobacco industry is modifying its hard-line denial of the addictive nature of nicotine [6, 7], it may turn its attention from creating a “safe” cigarette to defining a “safe” smoker. Genetic studies could undergird such a strategy. Constructing an historical narrative of the tobacco industry’s evolving position on the genetics of smoking behavior provides a basis for anticipating future industry tactics. In this paper, we use an analysis of the Legacy Tobacco Documents to illustrate how the search for a genetic basis for smoking behavior is consistent with industry’s decades-long plan to deflect social responsibility away from the tobacco companies and onto individuals’ genetic constitutions (see Appendix S1 in the online version of this article for a description of methods).
Change in disgust reactions following cognitive-behavioral therapy for childhood anxiety disorders

Disgust, in addition to fear, is a prominent emotional state associated with avoidance of distressing stimuli. While most of the research in disgust has been conducted in relation to Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), recent data has also implicated disgust in the etiology of anxiety disorders in general. Studies have shown that decreases in disgust are key to symptom reduction in individuals with OCD. However, there has been little empirical work exploring whether these interventions are efficacious for childhood anxiety disorders that present with prominent disgust components. This study examined how disgust propensity in children with anxiety disorders responds to cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) with an emphasis on exposure. Forty-one children, ages 7 to 17, with anxiety disorders were evaluated for disgust propensity and were treated with intensive, weekly, CBT. It was found that disgust levels decreased following treatment across all anxiety disorder diagnoses, where children with primary OCD exhibited significantly greater reductions. Clinical implications and suggestions for further research of the treatment of disgust in relation to childhood anxiety disorders are discussed.
Review: Systemic lupus erythematosus in children: current and emerging therapies:

Treatment of children with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is challenging. The therapeutic issues and risks and balances faced by adult patients are further complicated by an unpredictable disease course and long requirement for therapy in children with SLE. Further, non-compliance is a major obstacle to satisfactory outcome which must be recognized and dealt with in every adolescent in our efforts to attain optimal outcome. Treatment with combinations of cytotoxic agents and biologics which result in significant B-cell depletion often provide improved disease control. As our knowledge of the pathogenesis of SLE delineates more specific targets for immunotherapy the incidence of long-term remission rises. Our current emphasis is on therapeutic regimens which will induce remission followed by maintenance therapy in the oncologic model. SLE like neoplastic disease is no longer simply 'treatable'. With appropriate therapy many children with SLE attain sustained remissions. In the foreseeable future childhood SLE may be curable.
The actuation efficiency, a measure of acceleration capability for nonredundant robotic manipulators

This article presents a performance measure, the actuation efficiency, which describes the imbalance between the end-effector accelerations achievable in different directions of nonredundant robotic manipulators. A key feature of the proposed measure is that in its development the differences in units between translational and rotational accelerations are treated in a physically meaningful manner. The measure also indicates oversized actuators, since this contributes to the imbalance in achievable accelerations. The development of this measure is based on the formulation of the dynamic capability equations. The shape of the dynamic capability hypersurface, which is defined by the dynamic capability equations, is a weak indicator of the level of imbalance in achievable end-effector accelerations. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Light increases the rate of embryonic development: implications for latitudinal trends in incubation period

Summary 1. In wild birds, incubation period shortens and the general pace of life quickens with distance from the equator. Temperature and various biotic factors, including adult behaviours, cannot fully account for longer incubation periods of equatorial birds and only explain some of the variation between tropical and temperate life histories. Here we consider the role of differences in light in driving variation in incubation period. In poultry, incubation periods can be experimentally shortened by exposing eggs to light. The positive influence of light on embryonic growth, called photoacceleration, can begin within hours after an egg is laid. 2. We artificially incubated house sparrow (Passer domesticus) eggs under photoperiods similar to those found at temperate (18Light : 6Dark) and tropical (12L : 12D) latitudes. We also measured embryonic metabolic rate during light and dark phases. 3. Eggs of house sparrows collected from the wild developed more rapidly under ‘temperate’ than ‘tropical’ photoperiods and had higher metabolic rates during phases of light exposure than during phases of darkness. Metabolic rates during light phases were high enough to account for a 1 day difference in incubation periods between temperate and tropical birds. 4. Based on a synthesis of photoacceleration studies on domesticated galliformes and our experimental results on a wild passerine, we provide the first support for the testable hypothesis that differences in photoperiod may influence variation in the rate of embryonic development across latitudes in birds.
Frequency and Precision of Body Condition Scoring in Dairy Cattle

Abstract The objectives of this project were 1) to determine whether mean body condition scores for 30-d lactation and dry period intervals can be utilized to appraise body condition changes in a herd and 2) to determine the precision of the mean body condition score for 30-d lactation and dry period intervals. Cows in a commercial dairy herd were visually scored for body condition on a five-point scale in increments of .25. Dry period intervals were based on expected calving date; lactation intervals were calculated from the calving date for each cow. The first objective was accomplished by comparison of mean body condition scores for the 30-d lactation and dry period intervals. A Students' t test was used to test for differences between adjacent means for body condition score. Mean body condition scores for each 30-d lactation and dry period interval can be used to detect changes in body condition across stages of lactation and the dry period. The precision of the mean body condition score for each 30-d lactation and dry period interval was determined. Precision (or significance) was 95, 90, and 80%. Significance was 95% for all but one of the lactation and dry period intervals, indicating that mean body condition scores for a given interval are significant and precise. Body condition scoring may provide useful management information with the procedures developed in this study.
Rapid Optimal Multiburn Ascent Planning and Guidance

This paper provides detailed development of an analytical multiple-shooting method for rapid and reliable generation of the optimal exo-atmospheric ascent trajectory of a launch vehicle. The trajectory consists of multiple burns (stages) and optimal coast arc between two burns. The problem solution is in closed-form and quadratures. An expanded analysis of the problem allows us to reduce the complexity of the constraints. A dogleg trust-region method that is more robust than the classical Newton-Raphson method is employed for the numerical solution. The multiple-shooting formulation, constraint simplification, and more sophisticated numerical method are all aimed at enhancing the robustness of the algorithm for this otherwise challenging problem. The essential equations necessary for implementing the algorithm are presented. Such an algorithm can be a valuable tool in rapid planning of launch missions and in on-board applications for closed-loop ascent guidance.
Conflicts of interest at the NIH: no easy solution.

Some industry relationships are a good idea, and that makes banning the dangerous ones difficult.
Upper bound analysis of diversity for unitary space time constellations

Diversity product and diversity sum are two important parameters for unitary space time constellation design. An interesting observation in this paper is that full diversity can be easily achieved by Haar distributed random constellations. Using the packing techniques on the compact Lie group U(n), we derive an upper bound for the diversity product and the diversity sum.
On the efficacy of NBTI mitigation techniques

Negative Bias Temperature Instability (NBTI) has become an important reliability issue in modern semiconductor processes. Recent work has attempted to address NBTI-induced degradation at the architecture level. However, such work has relied on device-level analytical models that, we argue, are limited in their flexibility to model the impact of architecture-level techniques on NBTI degradation. In this paper, we propose a flexible numerical model for NBTI degradation that can be adapted to better estimate the impact of architecture-level techniques on NBTI degradation. Our model is a numerical solution to the reaction-diffusion equations describing NBTI degradation that has been parameterized to model the impact of dynamic voltage scaling, averaging effects across logic paths, power gating, and activity management We use this model to understand the effectiveness of different classes of architecture-level techniques that have been proposed to mitigate the effects of NBTI. We show that the potential benefits from these techniques are, for the most part, smaller than what has been previously suggested, and that guardbanding may still be an efficient way to deal with aging.
Attribute Pivots for Guiding Relevance Feedback in Image Search

In interactive image search, a user iteratively refines his results by giving feedback on exemplar images. Active selection methods aim to elicit useful feedback, but traditional approaches suffer from expensive selection criteria and cannot predict in formativeness reliably due to the imprecision of relevance feedback. To address these drawbacks, we propose to actively select "pivot" exemplars for which feedback in the form of a visual comparison will most reduce the system's uncertainty. For example, the system might ask, "Is your target image more or less crowded than this image?" Our approach relies on a series of binary search trees in relative attribute space, together with a selection function that predicts the information gain were the user to compare his envisioned target to the next node deeper in a given attribute's tree. It makes interactive search more efficient than existing strategies-both in terms of the system's selection time as well as the user's feedback effort.
A New Approach: To an Urban Information Process

This paper outlines a proposed method for gaining continuous information about the activities, attitudes, and concerns of citizens within an urban community. The method provides quick feedback on actions and changes made within the community. It monitors longitudinally, the effects of actions and changes on the population. The approach is derived from marketing panel surveys. It utilizes neighborhood personnel. The organizational aspects of such an enterprise are emphasized, a basic objective being to guarantee the availability of better information to citizen groups as well as public officials. Possible uses of the data collected from such a reporting system are outlined, along with possible modeling efforts and methods of community distribution and utilization. The ultimate goal is the wielding of an effective interface between competing decision-making centers as these wrestle with the major problem of confronting the urban community---uncertainty.
Diagnostic performance measures of ELISA and quantitative PCR tests for porcine circovirus type 2 exposure using Bayesian latent class analysis.

Abstract Porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2) is believed to be a necessary but not sufficient underlying cause of porcine circovirus associated disease (PCVAD) in swine ( Opriessnig et al., 2007 ). Since the potential threat of PCVAD is dependent on the prevalence of PCV2 in swine populations, accurate diagnostic tests are important for epidemiologic surveillance. Therefore, we evaluated the diagnostic sensitivity (Se) and specificity (Sp) of a new indirect ELISA and two quantitative PCR tests for PCV2 in a series of latent class models that used Bayesian estimation procedures. A total of 4140 samples from finisher pigs were tested for evidence of PCV2 by the ELISA and a TaqMan (TM) quantitative PCR, 995 by the ELISA and a SYBR Green (SG) dye-binding PCR, 998 by both PCRs and 993 by all three tests. Overall, the median (95% probability interval) ELISA Se and Sp was 0.85 (0.83–0.87) and 0.74 (0.68–0.79), respectively, when all three tests were analyzed together at an ELISA absorbance (optical density or OD) cutoff of ≥0.3. The TM PCR Se and Sp was 0.86 (0.84–0.88) and 0.94 (0.87–0.97), respectively, and the SG PCR Se and Sp was 0.83 (0.81–0.85) and 0.98 (0.94–1.00), respectively when all three tests were analyzed together at an ELISA OD cutoff of ≥0.3. Sensitivity analysis revealed that Sp estimates in general had less stability than Se estimates, but the SG PCR Sp was the most stable. Limited conditional dependence between the two PCR tests was detected. We conclude that the ELISA had the highest diagnostic Se at an absorbance cutoff of ≥0.3, while the SG PCR had the highest diagnostic Sp. The prevalence levels for exposure to PCV2 in finishing swine populations across all analyses ranged from 58 to 100%.
CoXpress: differential co-expression in gene expression data

Traditional methods of analysing gene expression data often include a statistical test to find differentially expressed genes, or use of a clustering algorithm to find groups of genes that behave similarly across a dataset. However, these methods may miss groups of genes which form differential co-expression patterns under different subsets of experimental conditions. Here we describe coXpress, an R package that allows researchers to identify groups of genes that are differentially co-expressed. We have developed coXpress as a means of identifying groups of genes that are differentially co-expressed. The utility of coXpress is demonstrated using two publicly available microarray datasets. Our software identifies several groups of genes that are highly correlated under one set of biologically related experiments, but which show little or no correlation in a second set of experiments. The software uses a re-sampling method to calculate a p-value for each group, and provides several methods for the visualisation of differentially co-expressed genes. coXpress can be used to find groups of genes that display differential co-expression patterns in microarray datasets.
Graded potency of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-engineered T cells for cancer immunotherapy.

3022 Background: Second generation chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) are recombinant receptors for antigen that retarget and reprogram T cell function. We and others have recently demonstrated that...
Abstract 9: Risk of Stroke and Stroke Recurrence in Pediatric Cancer Survivors treated with Cranial Radiation Therapy

Background: Among childhood cancer survivors, cranial radiation therapy (CRT) increases risk of self-reported first-stroke; there are no published estimates of recurrent stroke. Objective: To assess rates and predictors of first and recurrent stroke in childhood cancer survivors treated with CRT. Methods: In a retrospective cohort study of all children who received CRT at one institution,1980-2009, we performed chart abstraction (n=321) and phone interviews (n=101) to measure first and recurrent stroke; we confirmed stroke through imaging review. Incidence of first-stroke was calculated as the number of first strokes per person-years of observation after radiation. We used survival analysis techniques to determine the cumulative incidence of first stroke after radiation, and recurrent stroke after first stroke; we used Cox proportional hazards models to examine potential predictors of first stroke. Results: Median age of children at the time of CRT treatment was 8 years (IQR 4-13 years). A total of 17 first-strokes (12 ischemic, 2 hemorrhagic, 3 unknown sub-type) were identified at a median age of 25 years (IQR 17-34 years): 6 from chart review, 8 from interview, 3 from both. Imaging was available in 12 cases and consistent with stroke in all. The overall rate of first-stroke was 594 (95% CI 346 - 949) per 100,000 person-years. The risk of stroke persists for decades after treatment (see Figure). Males had a 4-fold hazard of first stroke compared to females (95% CI 1.1 - 14; P =0.034). Race and treatment with chemotherapy did not affect the stroke risk; dose effect of CRT could not be assessed due to a narrow dose range in our cohort. There were 5 recurrent strokes (2 ischemic, 2 hemorrhagic, 1 unknown) at a median of 6 months after first stroke (range 5.6 months to 8.9 years); brain imaging was available in 4 cases and consistent with stroke in all. The cumulative incidence of recurrent stroke was 21% (95% CI 7.5-53) at 1 year post first-stroke, 29% (95% CI 12-61) at 5 years, and 43% (95% CI 19-78) at 10 years. Conclusion: Survivors of childhood cancer who received CRT are at high risk for first and recurrent stroke. Larger studies are needed to identify predictors of recurrence to design secondary stroke prevention strategies.
SY09-3PHARMACOTHERAPIES FOR RELAPSE PREVENTION: CONCURREN TARGETING OF MULTIPLE VULNERABILITY STATES LINKED TO RELAPSE RISK BY AGENTS WITH BROAD SPECTRUM OF ACTIONS

Susceptibility to relapse in alcoholics can be traced to multiple factors including craving elicited by alcohol-related cues, anxiety and hypersensitivity to stress, as well as impaired impulse control. Approaches to treatment drug discovery aimed at providing protection from multiple risk factors are likely to be more effective …
Transition Effects on Heating in the Wake of a Blunt Body

A series of aerodynamic heating tests was conducted on a 70-deg sphere-cone planetary entry vehicle model in a Mach 10 perfect-gas wind tunnel at freestream Reynolds numbers based on diameter of 8.23x104 to 3.15x105. Surface heating distributions were determined from temperature time-histories measured on the model and on its support sting using thin-film resistance gages. The experimental heating data were compared to computations made using an axisymmetric/2D, laminar, perfect-gas Navier-Stokes solver. Agreement between computational and experimental heating distributions to within, or slightly greater than, the experimental uncertainty was obtained on the forebody and afterbody of the entry vehicle as well as on the sting upstream of the free-shear-layer reattachment point. However, the distributions began to diverge near the reattachment point, with the experimental heating becoming increasingly greater than the computed heating with distance downstream from the reattachment point. It was concluded that this divergence was due to transition of the wake free shear layer just upstream of the reattachment point on the sting.
Preventing Nosocomial Infection through the Use of Effective Management Techniques

The prevention and control of infection in health care institutions provide challenges for the medical community. The changing relationships among the infectious agent, the mode of transmission, and the compromised host make it difficult to develop effective nosocomial infection control programs. Few studies have been published concerning the application of standard management techniques to the organization and planning of infection control programs. Much activity in the field of infection control today is directed toward crisis intervention. An effective infection control program encompasses a wide base of responsibility and involves the majority of hospital personnel. Such a complex program requires the utilization of sound management techniques, systematic evaluation, and the integration of productive educational programs. Infection acquired in health-care facilities continues to be a serious public health problem. Effective control of infection requires an ongoing, tion control today operate in an atmosphere of crisis; little long-range planning takes place. Today's hospital is a complex technical and political institution, and the application of modern management principles has been instrumental for improving the effectiveness of hospital programs. This discussion will explore the utilization of the process of management by objectives as a means for assuring a systematic and organized program of infection control. Universities and government agencies have "administrators," as do many hospitals, yet all these institutions perform a management function. Although the word management denotes a function, it also applies to the people who discharge this function. How can management principles be applied to the field of nosocomial infection control? If we define management as "getting things done through people," we begin to see how infec
Active and Passive Nanophotonics for Information Systems Applications

We present new nanophotonic paradigms using a combination of dielectric, metal, and semiconductor composite nanostructures and devices for optical communications, information and signal processing, and sensing.
Direct Numerical Simulation of Ablation From an Internally Heated Turbulent Flow

In fluid mechanics, ablation defines the erosion of a solid surface by the action of a flow, whose internal temperature exceeds, at least locally, the melting temperature of the solid. Ablative materials are commonly used in space exploration, to protect vehicles and their crew from the thousands of Kelvin experienced in atmospheric reentry. Ablation combines the transport of heat in the flow and the solid, and the interaction between the flow and the receding surface. In most applications, the problem is further complicated by the presence of turbulent structures carried by the flow and/or created by the roughness of the ablated surface. As a result, the ablated wall may develop complex, three dimensional roughness patterns that enhance turbulence and heat transfer . The prediction of ablation is required for the design of thermal protection systems, and also to anticipate whether a damaged heat shield will fail or not upon reentry. A survey of existing work reveals surprisingly few models of available data and models of ablation. Ablation results from a complex flow structure interaction, where the surface is modified at a fast rate and most often non-uniformely. The resulting temporally and spatially evolving roughness and wall recession is very likely to greatly affect wall turbulence, which, in turns, modifies the process of ablation. To study ablation caused by a turbulent flow, Reynolds averaged Navier Stokes is thus not suitable, because of the unsteady and non-equilibrium nature of the flow . We have developed a direct numerical simulation (DNS) algorithm to study the coupling between an ablative wall and a turbulent flow. In our DNS, a turbulent channel flow is internally heated. The internal temperature is generated by a source of heat that increases with time up to a given magnitude. The upper wall is isothermal and non-ablative, while the lower consists of a layer of ablative material stacked on a non-ablative isothermal wall. Preliminary results are presented here. In particular, we study the topological differences of the wall roughness and near-wall vortex population as a function of the rate of increase of the heat source. The goal is to study of the coupling between turbulence and ablation and a possible modeling approach in the conference paper.
Abstract 2660: Folate conjugated PLGA silica coreshell nanoparticles for drug delivery

Folate conjugated poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) silica nanoparticles (NP) are being synthesized as drug carriers to cancer cells. The PLGA nanoparticles are synthesized by first combining PLGA and dye in acetonitrile. This mixture is then dropped into an aqueous solution containing lecithin (a lipid) and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) to form an emulsion. The acetonitrile is evaporated leaving the nanoparticles in a water suspension. Silicic acid is used to coat the PLGA NP through the sol-gel process assisted by poly-L-lysine to template the growth of the silica shell. This makes a more hydrophilic and easily modified surface. 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane is used to coat the silica surface with amine groups. Then folic acid is coupled to the amine modified silica surface. The folic acid acts as a targeting agent which recognizes folate receptors on the membrane surface of cancer cells. A fluorescent dye is loaded into the PLGA core to mimic a hydrophobic drug in these initial studies. Then the ability of PLGA silica NP with folate are allowed to undergo endocytosis into the HeLa cells, and the degree of uptake is assessed by fluorescence microscopy. The results are compared to folate PLGA NP as a control. Detailed synthesis of these silica PLGA nanoparticles, their characterization, surface functionalization, and their applications will be presented. This presentation was made possible by NIH grants:5P30CA23100; and 1U54CA132379/1U54CA132384. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2660.
Effects of Silicon Doping and Threading Dislocation Density on Stress Evolution in AlGaN Films

In-situ wafer curvature measurements were used to study the effect of Si doping on intrinsic growth stress during the metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) growth of AlxGa1-xN (x=0-0.62) layers on SiC substrates. Post-growth transmission electron microscopy (TEM) characterization was used to correlate measured changes in stress with changes in film microstructure. Si doping was found to result in the inclination of edge-type threading dislocations (TDs) in AlxGa1-xN which resulted in a relaxation of compressive stress and generation of tensile stress. The experimentally measured stress gradient was similar to that predicted by an effective climb model. Dislocation inclination resulted in a reduction in the TD density for Si-doped layers compared to undoped AlxGa1-xN likely due to increased opportunities for dislocation interaction and annihilation. The TD density, which increased with increasing Al-fraction, was found to significantly alter the stress gradients in the films. Film stress was also observed to play a role in TD inclination. In undoped AlxGa1-xN, TD inclination was observed only when the film grew under a compressive stress while in Si-doped AlxGa1-xN, TD inclination was observed independent of the sign or magnitude of the film stress. Si dopants are believed to alter the concentration of surface vacancies which gives rise to dislocation jog via a surface-mediated climb mechanism.
THE IRRATIONALITY OF INTRANSITIVITY

A RECENT discussion of welfare economics 'summarizes the question of transitivity as follows. There is not now conclusive reason to believe that the assumption of transitivity of preference in individual choice is deeply suspect. There are, however, grounds for being willing to make deep empirical investigations into the validity of the assumption'.' At another point the same author says: 'My conclusions indicate that we currently possess no strong evidence to warrant dropping (the assumption of transitivity). '2 Given the role that transitivity plays in much of the modern literature, and in Rothenberg's book, his attitude towards it seems very defensive. We do not have strong evidence against it; there is no conclusive reason to suspect deeply the assumption. In sum, the evidence against transitivity is not sufficient to condemn it, but Rothenberg is clearly doubtful. In this he is more or less in accord with the bulk of current opinion on the matter. It is the purpose of this article to present a contrary view. It will be argued that the assumption of transitivity is not particularly doubtful or dubious. In view of the apparent suspicion of the assumption by the bulk of modern welfare economists this might seem to be a revolutionary position, but the practice of the same economists has indicated relatively little real doubt of the transitive nature of preference orderings. Article after article has appeared in which this assumption is made, something which would seem to indicate that the writers have at least some confidence in its reliability. Further, the chains of reasoning based upon this assumption do not appear to have led to demonstrably false conclusions about the real world. This fact, in itself, is powerful although not conclusive evidence for the truth of the transitivity assumption. The debate about the assumption of transitivity turns upon the interpretation of certain real world experiences. If an individual is asked to take his choice among a large number of pairs of alternatives, with each alternative appearing as one member of quite a number of the pairs,3 or a large number of people are asked to judge between three alternatives
ON SAFETY, DOMAIN INDEPENDENCE, AND CAPTURABILITY OF DATABASE QUERIES (Preliminary Report)

We study the relationship between domain independent and safe queries, showing that for some query classes these notions are the same, while for the others they are different. We also consider the question of when these properties can be decided and the corresponding query classes be evaluated (captured).
Stiffened Extracellular Matrix and Signaling from Stromal Fibroblasts via Osteoprotegerin Regulate Tumor Cell Invasion in a 3-D Tumor in Situ Model

Several changes have been described in the stroma surrounding a tumor, including changes in cellular composition, altered extracellular matrix composition and organization, and increases in stiffness. Tumor cells are influenced by the composition, organization, and mechanical properties of the microenvironment, and by signals from stromal cells. Here we sought to test whether signaling from stromal fibroblasts and/or the small change in stiffness observed in vivo surrounding epithelial tumors regulates tumor cell invasion from a model of a tumor in situ. We generated a novel tumor in situ model system in which a tumor spheroid is encased within a collagen-IV containing membrane and further encased within a collagen-I matrix of in vivo stiffness with or without fibroblasts. Effects of the matrix, fibroblasts or fibroblast signals were determined by observing the invasion of tumor cells into the matrix. Effects of reciprocal tumor cell signaling upon fibroblasts were determined by observing markers of fibroblast activation. We found that a stiffened matrix led to increased dissemination of MDA-MB-231 cells from tumor spheroids when no fibroblasts were present and that MCF10A cells maintained a more normal organization with a stiffened matrix. The presence of fibroblasts, or fibroblast conditioned media, attenuated the effect upon MDA-MB-231 cells. We also observed an attenuation of fibroblast activation associated gene expression in the presence of MDA-MB-231 cells, with a paradoxical increase in activation associated contractile activity. Furthermore, we identified osteoprotegerin as a soluble factor released by fibroblasts in the stiffened environment that is key to the inhibition of cell invasion.
THE TOXICOLOGY OF CERTAIN GASEOUS FLUOROCARBONS

ABSTRACT Chlorofluoromethanes and chlorofluoroethanes were first introduced in the 1930's as refrigerants, replacing the more toxic ammonia and sulfur dioxide. Because they were nonflammable and very low in toxicity, they gained wide acceptance in this use and were subsequently introduced as aerosol propellants and blowing agents in the 1940's. Common commercial fluorocarbons for these uses now include dichlorodifluoromethane (FC-12), difluorochloromethane (FC-22), dichlorotetrafluoroethane (FC-114), and chloropentafluoroethane (FC-115). Extensive toxicological studies and 40+ years of safe industrial manufacture and use suggest a very low degree of toxicity on both an acute and chronic exposure basis.
Usability of a Smartphone Application to Support the Prevention and Early Intervention of Anxiety in Youth

Anxiety disorders are among the most common psychiatric problems in youth, fail to spontaneously remit, and place some youth at risk for additional behavioral and emotional difficulties. Efforts to target anxiety have resulted in evidence-based interventions but the resulting prevention effects are relatively small, often weakening over time. Mobile health (mHealth) tools could be of use to strengthen the effects of anxiety prevention efforts. Although a large number of mHealth apps have been developed, few have been evaluated in terms of usability prior to clinical effectiveness testing. Because usability is one of the main barriers to mHealth usage and adoption, the objective of this research was to evaluate the usability of a smartphone application (app) corresponding to an indicated prevention and early intervention targeting youth anxiety. To accomplish this, 132 children (M age = 9.65; 63% girls) and 45 service providers (M age = 29.13, 87% female) rated our app along five established dimensions of usability (ease of use, ease of learning, quality of support information, satisfaction, and stigma) using a standardized group-based testing protocol. Findings showed that the app was highly and positively rated by both youth and providers, with some variations (lower ratings when errors occurred). Path analyses findings also showed that system understanding was significantly related to greater system satisfaction, but that such relation occurred through the quality of support information offered by the app.
Communication Between Middle SES Black Women and Healthcare Providers About HIV Testing

Abstract Purpose This article explores the impact of patient and healthcare provider communication (PPC) on the HIV testing behaviors of middle socioeconomic status (SES) Black women in North Carolina. We explore how PPC about STIs and HIV (or the lack thereof) affects the provision of STI/HIV testing by either confirming the need for middle SES Black women to test routinely or potentially deterring women from feeling they need to be tested. Methods/Findings After conducting 15 qualitative interviews with middle SES Black women between 25 and 45 years of age, we uncovered the role of patient self-advocacy in promoting HIV testing among middle SES Black women when they communicate with their healthcare providers. Conclusions We discuss the importance of healthcare providers engaging their middle SES Black female patients in routine discussions about sexual health and sexual risk reduction, regardless of providers' perceptions of their potential STI/HIV risk. We recommend including SES as a variable in data collection and research in order to better understand how social class, race, and gender affect sexual health behavior and the provision of STI and HIV/AIDS prevention to diverse populations.
Consumer Preferences for Native Plants in Montana Residential Landscapes and Perceptions for Naturalistic Designs

In a preliminary study, consumer perceptions of native plants in traditional and naturalistic settings was investigated. In Montana, 361 participants in an internet study reported their familiarity with both woody and herbaceous native plant species. Additional data were collected to determine their perceptions of native plants used in naturalistic designs through a conjoint study. Nearly half of the study participants recognized or had purchased most of the native plants shown in photographs. Results of the conjoint study showed that participants placed the greatest relative importance (62%) on landscape style as the most important factor in landscape design. They also preferred a naturalistic style over a more traditional style and mixed plant species to single species. Across all comparisons, the high relative importance of landscape style remained constant and was consistent with prior studies. Plant material (21.9%) and species diversity (16.2%) were half the relative importance of design style and remained relatively consistent through most comparisons. Even among those participants not familiar with native plants and those who had not purchased native plants, native plants were preferred in the landscapes. The demand for native plants may be reaching a critical stage for both commercial growers and the landscape profession. Although this study was limited to one state, results show that consumer interest is present and further investigation is warranted.
Indices and Bibliography

The first number gives the number of the inventory of the specific collection, the second number refers to the number of the text in the present edition,except for specific references to pages; the colophons are transcribed on p. 16 ff.
Teaching and Assessing Independent Reading Skills in Multilingual African Countries

Angu, okugenderesya obhuturo bhwa abhaana bha Echiafrika mu-kusoma bheyagaarire, eyiija okusakira abheyigisya okusooka bhuraaya na jifurumbendo jeebhwe okwikirisimbwa mu-bhyaro bha Abhaafrika na mu-nyaika jinyafu? Anu echirora ati, okusoma emisango jinu jikaamirwe era, okukora abheyigisya okwiigisya mu-kanariiye era, amatokeo ga obhuyenjeresi bhwone inguru ya abhayiki bha inyaika ya Echijungu aamwi na rikusyo/obhutinge bhwa obhukaami na jinyaika ja Abhaafrika mu-bhwiganirisya ara. Nawe anye nitakwikirisyanya na ati, jiri-wo njira ebhiri ja ebhikaame era (Coltheart na Baron 1978, 2005) ja okusoma inguru ya okwiigisya abhaana mu-mbaga nyafu nyafu ja okwandika Afrika. Mwanya mwafu, obhutinge bhwa injira ya omusamiati (emisango) eitumika muno Afriko nooro obhwererwa uri inguru ya okutegeresya obhuraka amwi obhuku bhwa jinyaika ejo.
Modeling the mechanical properties of ultra-thin polymer films

A modeling method to extract the mechanical properties of ultra-thin films (10–100 nm thick) from experimental data generated by indentation of freestanding circular films using a spherical indenter is presented. The relationship between the mechanical properties of the film and experimental parameters including load, and deflection are discussed in the context of a constitutive material model, test variables, and analytical approaches. Elastic and plastic regimes are identified by comparison of finite element simulation and experimental data.