cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Progress toward overcoming hypoxia-induced resistance to solid tumor therapy

Hypoxic tumors are associated with poor clinical outcome for multiple types of human cancer. This may be due, in part, to hypoxic cancer cells being resistant to anticancer therapy, including radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy. Hypoxia inducible factor 1, a major regulator of cellular response to hypoxia, regulates the expression of genes that are involved in multiple aspects of cancer biology, including cell survival, proliferation, metabolism, invasion, and angiogenesis. Here, we review multiple pathways regulated by hypoxia/hypoxia inducible factor 1 in cancer cells and discuss the latest advancements in overcoming hypoxia-mediated tumor resistance.
Challenges in low-power microprocessor design

This paper addresses the challenge of controlling power dissipation in the microprocessor domain. System level power management architectures have helped control chip-set and peripheral power substantially. But the consequence is that the CPUs are now the power limiters, especially in the mobile domain. This paper addresses two challenges in power reduction of high-performance CPUs. First we indicate areas of maximum impact in power efficient design strategies for high-performance microprocessors. Then we address the issue of power benchmarking in the context of system design and power reduction.
A wirelessly-powered platform for sensing and computation

We present WISP, a wireless, battery-free platform for sensing and computation that is powered and read by a standards compliant Ultra-High Frequency (UHF) RFID reader. To the reader, the WISP appears to be an ordinary RFID tag. The WISP platform includes a general-purpose programmable flash microcontroller and implements the bi-directional communication primitives required by the Electronic Product Code (EPC) RFID standard, which allows it to communicate arbitrary sensor data via an EPC RFID reader by dynamically changing the ID it presents to the reader. For each 64 bit “packet,” the WISP's microcontroller dynamically computes the 16-bit CRC that the EPC standard requires of valid packets. Because the WISP device can control all bits of the presented ID, 64 bits of sensor data can be communicated with a single RFID read event. As an example of the system in operation, we present 13 hours of continuous-valued light-level data measured by the device. All the measurements were made using power harvested from the RFID reader. No battery, and no wired connections (for either power or data) were used. As far as we are aware, this paper reports the first fully programmable computing platform that can operate using power transmitted from a long-range (UHF) RFID reader and communicate arbitrary, multi-bit data in response to a single RFID reader poll event.
Can economic incentives explain the recent population movements to nonmetropolitan areas

A major trend of population movement from metropolitan to nonmetropolitan areas began sometime in the late 1960s or early 1970s. We present estimates of a time series equation that explains part of the migration behavior underlying these movements in Minnesota. The hypothesized economic influences on behavior were significant and of the expected signs. We also found support for the null hypothesis of exogeneity of nonmetropolitan unemployment, the economic influence on migration that is most likely to be endogenous. The results of Chow Tests indicate that changes in the portion of migration behavior that we investigated reflect stable responses to changes in economic incentives.
Examining decision errors in child protection: A new application of root cause analysis

Abstract Case decision making in child protective services typically occurs in stressful, complex environments fraught with uncertainties. Mistakes in judgment and decision making are inevitable under such difficult circumstances. Casework errors resulting from unrecognized risks sometimes lead to the serious injury or untimely death of a child whose caregivers have been the subject of investigation. While it is easy to blame individual caseworkers for poor decision making, it is increasingly recognized that errors are likely to result as much from problems with organizational processes, as individual misjudgments. This paper describes a project whose goals are to uncover decision errors in child protection investigations and trace their origins in cases where children have died during or after an investigation. Root cause analysis, the method chosen for examining project cases, was originally designed to reveal multi-level factors contributing to negative outcomes in other high risk enterprises, such as chemical factory explosions, airline crashes, and failed military operations. To our knowledge, it has not been applied to the study of decision making in human services. An illustration of its use with a case example serves as a springboard for a discussion of the particular approach to analysis we chose, application issues, and implications for practice.
Virtual neurosurgical education for image-guided deep brain stimulation neurosurgery

Deep brain stimulation is an effective neurosurgical procedure widely used to treat patients suffering from neurological disorders such as Parkinson's disease, essential tremor, and dystonia. Traditional ways of learning to operate such neurosurgery can be non-intuitive, costly, highly pressured, and time limited. With the development of virtual reality technology, such issues may be resolved. Immersive virtual environments use a stereoscopic head-mounted display and data glove to create high fidelity virtual experiences. Users can interact with three-dimensional models by peering over/in/through the object and perceive relationships at their true scale. This stands in contrast to traditional computer-aided infrastructure in which images are viewed as stacks of two-dimensional slices, or, at best, disembodied renderings. Various data sources such as video and audio could also be integrated into the environment to enrich the available information. Despite substantial innovation for entertainment and consumer media, applications of immersive virtual environment technologies in medical applications remain yet to be explored. In this paper, we consider potential applications of such technologies for deep brain stimulation patients with brain magnetic resonance imaging data. Our environment allows users to view brain scans at scale and interact with virtual models including anatomical structures and neural fiber tracts using a data glove. Micro-electrode recordings, stored as wav sound files, are integrated into the system, which permits the user to learn the different patterns of neuronal firing at different brain location. The system creates opportunities to study and optimize interfaces for medical data visualization and neurosurgical education.
Minor elements in forsterites of Orgueil (C1), Alais (C1) and two interplanetary dust particles compared to C2-C3-UOC forsterites

— The rare Mg-rich silicate fraction of the C1 meteorites, Orgueil and Alais, is dominated by minute (< 30 μm) forsterite. Twenty three forsterite grains of these meteorites as well as large forsterites in two chondritic porous interplanetary dust particles (IDPs) are characterized by levels of MnO generally, but not always, higher than found in forsterites of C2, C3 and unequilibrated ordinary chondrites (UOC). Forsterite in Orgueil contains 900 to 6200 ppmw MnO while Alais forsterite has less than 2000 ppmw MnO suggesting that the forsterites in the two meteorites are chemically distinct. Alais forsterite shows lower Cr and Al relative to Orgueil forsterite. The C1 forsterites do not show Fe-poor (FeO < 0.3), refractory-rich (Al, Ca, Ti, V) compositions which are relatively common in the C2-C3-UOC meteorites suggesting that the most primitive forsterite compositions are not present in these C1 meteorites. While minor elements in forsterite can not distinguish unambiguously between C1 and C2-C3-UOC sources, the high Mn levels in some IDP forsterites are similar to some C1 forsterites suggesting a possible relation between the forsterites of these two extraterrestrial samples.
Detection of a Single-Locus Gene on Channel Catfish Chromosomes by In-Situ Polymerase Chain Reaction

Abstract An in-situ polymerase chain reaction (ISPCR) procedure was applied to chromosomal localization of the gene, Ig H, encoding the immunoglobulin heavy chain of channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus). Metaphase chromosomes were prepared by a replication banding procedure and subjected to ISPCR using biotin-labeled primers. The hybridization signals were detected with an avidin-fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-based method, and chromosome bands revealed by simultaneous or sequential treatment methods. Standard fluorescent in-situ hybridization (FISH) was performed on chromosome preparations to compare with the ISPCR procedure. The Ig H gene was detected at the telomeric position of a chromosome with a relative length of 3.2 ± 0.2%. The Ig H-bearing chromosome detected by the FISH method was identical to that found by ISPCR procedure. Visibility of chromosome bands was reduced by heat and salt treatments and could not be analyzed after thermocycling. Therefore, specific identity of the chromosome bearing the Ig H gene remains unknown. Banding of fish chromosomes is difficult and poses a barrier for applying current molecular techniques to physical mapping of teleost genomes. Application of the ISPCR to chromosomal mapping is new for fish species and is only in initial stages of development for higher vertebrates.
Immunohistochemical demonstration of serotonin neurons in autonomic regions of the rat spinal cord

The immunohistochemical distribution of serotonin neurons in normal and transected spinal cords of rats was examined. Intraspinal serotonin neurons were immunostained as far rostral and caudal as T3 and Co1, respectively. All serotonin neurons were located in lamina VII and X, and most were located in spinal autonomic areas. Both bipolar and multipolar neurons were observed with many of the neurons oriented longitudinally to the long axis of the cord. Spinal neurons immunostained for serotonin were visible with and without L-tryptophan and monoamine oxidase inhibitor pretreatment.
Sediment resuspension and boundary layer flow dramatically increase the growth rates of interface-feeding spionid polychaetes

Abstract Most spionid polychaetes switch from surface deposit feeding to suspension feeding as current velocity and the flux of suspended food particles increase in the benthic boundary layer. This hydrodynamically mediated feeding behavior has been well studied, but the impact of flow on the growth rates of juvenile spionids has not been tested extensively. I performed two experiments in counter-rotating annular flumes to measure the growth of Polydora cornuta and Streblospio benedicti in a range of flow conditions. Experiment 1 tested the effects of sediment resuspension. The body volumes of individual worms were measured before and after a 7-day exposure to steady, unidirectional flow velocities ranging from 0.5 to 18 cm s −1 ( U 5mm =velocity measured 5mm above bottom). Sediment collected from the worms' field site was added to each flume as the only food resource. The sediment's critical erosion velocity was ∼13 cm s −1 ( U * =0.9 cm s −1 ). When flumes were set to U 5mm ≤12 cm s −1 , the relative growth rate (RGR) of small Polydora (initial body length=1–4 mm) equalled 0.19 day −1 on average, and the RGR of a larger class of juvenile Polydora (6–9 mm) equalled 0.06 day −1 . When U 5mm =15 or 18 cm s −1 and some sediment became resuspended, the RGR of small and large Polydora equalled 0.37 and 0.22 day −1 , respectively. Streblospio grew more slowly than Polydora , but showed a similar relative increase in RGR when flow exceeded the erosion velocity. To better test the effects of non-erosive flows, a second experiment was performed with phytoplankton added to the flumes. Experiment 2 tested four velocities ( U 5mm =3, 6, 9, or 12 cm s −1 ), and each flow treatment was replicated four times. Increases in velocity and the flux of microalgae significantly increased the RGR of Streblospio and Polydora , with an average RGR of 0.53 day −1 for small Polydora exposed to U 5 mm =12 cm s −1 . The growth rates of Polydora and Streblospio in the flume experiments are much greater than those reported for similar polychaetes in still water, demonstrating that studies of spionid nutrition and population dynamics must consider realistic flow regimes.
Analysis of delamination in cross-ply laminates initiating from impact induced matrix cracking

Two-dimensional finite element analyses of (02/90(8)/02) glass/epoxy and graphite/epoxy composite laminates were performed to investigate some of the characteristics of damage development due to an impact load. A cross section through the thickness of the laminate with fixed ends, and carrying a transverse load in the center, was analyzed. Inclined matrix cracks, such as those produced by a low-velocity impact, were modeled in the 90 deg ply group. The introduction of the matrix cracks caused large interlaminar tensile and shear stresses in the vicinity of both crack tips in the 0/90 and 90/0 interfaces, indicating that matrix cracking may give rise to delamination. The ratio of Mode I to total strain energy release rate, G(I)/G(total), at the beginning of delamination, calculated at the two (top and bottom) matrix crack tips was 60 and 28 percent, respectively, in the glass/epoxy laminate. The corresponding ratio was 97 and 77 percent in the graphite/epoxy laminate. Thus, a significant Mode I component of strain energy release rate may be present at the delamination initiation due to an impact load. The value of strain energy release rate at either crack tip increased due to an increase in the delamination length at the other crack tip and may give rise to an unstable delamination growth under constant load.
Blacks, Whites, and Brown: Effects on the Earnings of Men and Their Sons

By combining difference estimators that capture racial and regional variation with intergenerational linkages in the Panel Study of Income Dynamics, we calculate the effects of Brown v. Board of Education on earnings across two generations of men. The longer a black man was exposed to post-Brown primary and secondary schools, the higher his earnings. Brown especially affected black men living in states that showed greater openness to later desegregation efforts. We speculate that these positive earnings effects reflect a hope for future change, both in schools and the workplace, which provided greater incentive to acquire human capital. We find weak evidence that Brown also increased earnings for a second generation of black men. This may indicate relaxed credit constraints due to larger earnings for the first generation. Although workplace-reform legislation such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 certainly affected black earnings, particularly in the South, the evidence presented here suggests that Brown itself mattered as well.
Eliminating barriers to personalized medicine Learning from neurofibromatosis type 1

With the emergence of high-throughput discovery platforms, robust preclinical small-animal models, and efficient clinical trial pipelines, it is becoming possible to envision a time when the treatment of human neurologic diseases will become personalized. The emergence of precision medicine will require the identification of subgroups of patients most likely to respond to specific biologically based therapies. This stratification only becomes possible when the determinants that contribute to disease heterogeneity become more fully elucidated. This review discusses the defining factors that underlie disease heterogeneity relevant to the potential for individualized brain tumor (optic pathway glioma) treatments arising in the common single-gene cancer predisposition syndrome, neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1). In this regard, NF1 is posited as a model genetic condition to establish a workable paradigm for actualizing precision therapeutics for other neurologic disorders.
Absorption Coefficient and Refractive Index of GaN, AIN and AlGaN Alloys

The design of optoelectronic devices fabricated from III-nitride materials is aided by knowledge of the refractive index and absorption coefficient of these materials. The optical properties of GaN, AIN and A1GaN grown by MOVPE on sapphire substrates were investigated by means of transmittance and reflectance measurements. Thin (less than 0.5 μm) single crystal films were employed to insure that transmission measurements could be obtained well above the optical band gap. The influence of alloy broadening on the absorption edge was investigated by using a series of AlGaN alloy samples with a range of Al compositions. The optical absorption coefficient above the band gap was obtained for AIGaN having up to 38% Al composition. The refractive index below the band gap was determined for the same series of samples. These properties provide information critical to the optimal design of solar blind detectors or other optoelectronic devices.
Real-time estimation and prediction for pandemic A/H1N1(2009) in Japan

The Infectious Disease Surveillance Center, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan, has developed a fully automatic system for daily reporting of ILI (influenza-like illness) patients prescribed Oseltamivir and Zanamivir. The system collected data on the number of prescriptions from approximately 3350 pharmacies, which account for almost 7% of all pharmacies in Japan, and published the number online on a daily basis, except for Sundays. On the basis of these data, we further estimated R v and predicted its course every Monday using a very simple SIR model with data from previous studies. This paper summarizes our real-time estimation and prediction of ILI patients in the 2009 influenza A/H1N1 pandemic. The estimate on November 29 resulted in an R v of 1.72 (95%CI [1.69, 1.75]). The model predicted that the peak of the epidemic would be reached on December 23 2009 [December 14, 2009, January 2, 2010] with an estimated number of ILI patients of 227,000 [193,000, 262,000]. The cumulative number of ILI patients over the period would be as high as 17.8% [16.6, 19.0%] of the total population of Japan. This information was circulated weekly among central and local government officers in charge of pandemic control to provide updates on the pandemic situation and to aid their decision-making on control strategies. In conclusion, for the first time in the world, we successfully demonstrated real-time estimation and prediction for the entire course of a pandemic, and which could be used routinely for planning counter-measures.
Subgrid-scale mixing of mixture fraction, temperature, and species mass fractions in turbulent partially premixed flames

Abstract The subgrid-scale (SGS) mixing of mixture fraction, temperature, and species mass fraction in turbulent partially premixed (Sandia) flames is studied. We focus on the effects of the SGS mixing regimes and the spatial relationships among the scalars on the SGS mixing of the species mass fractions. High-resolution lines images are used to obtain the scalar filtered mass density function and the conditionally filtered diffusion. The results show that for small SGS variance the scalar fields have a relatively simple structure. For large SGS variance the structure is more complex. The spatial relationships among the scalars result in different SGS scalar structures and SGS mixing characteristics, with the mass fraction of CO2 being the simplest and that of CO being the most complex. The results in this study present a challenging test for SGS mixing models.
Overview of new facilities for few body physics

Abstract An overview of new facilities worldwide for physics with few body systems will be presented. In particular, facilities which aim to shed new light on understanding the fundamental nature of strongly interacting matter are highlighted.
Commentary to 'Sensory processing differences and urinary incontinence in school aged children'.

and behavioral disorders in normal school aged children. Behav Sleep Med 2009;7:53e62. [23] Mulders MM, Cobussen-Boekhorst H, de Gier RP, Feitz WF, Kortmann B. Urotherapy in children: incontinence before and after treatment according to the new definitions of the InternationalChildren’sContinenceSociety.JPediatrUrol2010;7:213e8. [24] Cohen JA. Power primer. Psychol Bull 1992;112:155e9. [25] Tomchek SD, Dunn W. Sensory processing in children with and without autism: a comparitive study using the short sensory profile. Am J Occup Ther 2007;61:190e200. [26] Arbesman M, Lieberman D. Methodology for the systematic reviews of occupational therapy for children and adolescents
Synthesis of Peptides Containing C-Terminal Methyl Esters Using Trityl Side-Chain Anchoring: Application to the Synthesis of a-Factor and a-Factor Analogs

A new cysteine anchoring method was developed for the synthesis of peptides containing C-terminal cysteine methyl esters. This method consists of attachment of Fmoc-Cys-OCH3 to either 2-ClTrt-Cl or Trt-Cl resins (via the side-chain thiol) followed by preparation of the desired peptide using Fmoc-based SPPS. We applied this method to the synthesis of the mating pheromone a-factor and a 5-FAM labeled a-factor analog. The peptides were obtained with high yield and purity and were shown to be bioactive in a growth arrest assay.
The Clinical Picture of Depression in Preschool Children

ABSTRACT Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics of depression in preschool children. Method One hundred seventy-four subjects between the ages of 3.0 and 5.6 years were ascertained from community and clinical sites for a comprehensive assessment that included an age-appropriate psychiatric interview for parents. Modifications were made to the assessment of DSM-IV major depressive disorder (MDD) criteria so that age-appropriate manifestations of symptom states could be captured. Typical and "masked" symptoms of depression were investigated in three groups: depressed (who met all DSM-IV MDD criteria except duration criterion), those with nonaffective psychiatric disorders (who met criteria for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and/or oppositional defiant disorder), and those who did not meet criteria for any psychiatric disorder. Results Depressed preschool children displayed "typical" symptoms and vegetative signs of depression more frequently than other nonaffective or "masked" symptoms. Anhedonia appeared to be a specific symptom and sadness/irritability appeared to be a sensitive symptom of preschool MDD. Conclusions Clinicians should be alert to age-appropriate manifestations of typical DSM-IV MDD symptoms and vegetative signs when assessing preschool children for depression. "Masked" symptoms of depression occur in preschool children but do not predominate the clinical picture. Future studies specifically designed to investigate the specificity and sensitivity of the symptoms of preschool depression are now warranted.
A simultaneous equations model of zoning and land values

Abstract Simultaneous equations models with selectivity are estimated by maximum likehood procedures for four land uses. Zoning is a function of lagged land use and relative land values, and values are a function of land tract characteristics. Land value estimates are constructed for all tracts and uses, and are used as explanatory variables in two-limit Tobit models of zoning. Only for single-family residential land does zoning respond to incremental changes in relative land values. The study provides new evidence that zoning matters, and that single-family homes are a preferred land use.
Population description and its role in the interpretation of genetic association.

Despite calls for greater clarity and precision of population description, studies have documented persistent ambiguity in the use of race/ethnicity terms in genetic research. It is unclear why investigators tolerate such ambiguity, or what effect these practices have on the evaluation of reported associations. To explore the way that population description is used to replicate and/or extend previously reported genetic observations, we examined articles describing the association of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma-γ Pro12Ala polymorphism with type 2 diabetes mellitus and related phenotypes, published between 1997 and 2005. The 80 articles identified were subjected to a detailed content analysis to determine (1) how sampled populations were described, (2) whether and how the choice of sample was explained, and (3) how the allele frequency and genetic association findings identified were contextualized and interpreted. In common with previous reports, we observed a variety of sample descriptions and little explanation for the choice of population investigated. Samples of European origin were typically described with greater specificity than samples of other origin. However, findings from European samples were nearly always compared to samples described as “Caucasian” and sometimes generalized to all Caucasians or to all humans. These findings suggest that care with population description, while important, may not fully address analytical concerns regarding the interpretation of variable study outcomes or ethical concerns regarding the attribution of genetic observations to broad social groups. Instead, criteria which help investigators better distinguish justified and unjustified forms of population generalization may be required.
SiC Power Device Die Attach for Extreme Environments

Silicon carbide power diodes and transistors are enabling technology for power electronics capable of operating in extreme environments. In this paper, a AgBiX solder paste has been studied for SiC power device die attach to power substrates for 200 °C use in vehicle and downhole well logging applications. The solder paste has a controlled amount of Sn, which limits the amount of Sn intermetallic formation. This produces a stable solder joint as a function of time at high temperature. The die shear strength remained at $\sim 38$ MPa through 2000 h of storage at 200 °C. After 1000 thermal cycles from −55°C to 195 °C, the percent die attach area reduction due to solder cracking was <10%.
Influences of uniconazole on growth, fruiting, and photosynthetic activity of tissue culture-propagated own-rooted apple trees

Abstract Tissue culture-propagated (TC) own-rooted ‘Gala’ and ‘Triple Red Delicious’ apple trees grown at three planting densities were not treated (TC control) or were treated with annual uniconazole sprays or two trunk drenches starting with the third or fourth growing season. Budded (BUD) trees on M. 7a rootstock were also included as controls. After both the fifth and sixth growing seasons, the cultivars grown and the treatments applied had more influence on the attributes measured than did planting densities. Flowering and yield were greater on ‘Gala’ trees compared with ‘Triple Red’ for the fifth, but not the sixth season. The tree propagation method did not influence flower numbers and yield of ‘Gala’ trees in either the fifth or the sixth growing season but flower numbers were greater on BUD compared with TC trees of ‘Triple Red’ for both seasons. Flowering of TC ‘Triple Red’ trees tended to be increased by uniconazole treatment. Uniconazole applied by the trunk drench method markedly retarded vegetative growth of ‘Gala’ trees during the fifth season but flowering was reduced the following season. The trunk cross-sectional area of control TC trees for both cultivars increased more than for BUD trees but uniconazole treatment slowed trunk cross-sectional area increase so that treated TC trees were maintained at nearly the same size as BUD trees. Overall, ‘Triple Red’ leaves had higher chlorophyll concentrations than ‘Gala’ leaves, but there were no differences between BUD and TC leaves for net photosynthetic rate (Pn), stomatal conductance for water (gsw), relative chlorophyll concentration, or specific leaf weight (SLW). Uniconazole treatment increased mean seasonal Pn, gsw, relative chlorophyll, and SLW compared with controls.
Research Recruitment Using Facebook Advertising: Big Potential, Big Challenges

To our knowledge, ours is the first study to report on Facebook advertising as an exclusive mechanism for recruiting women ages 35–49 years residing in the USA into a health-related research study. We directed our survey to women ages 35–49 years who resided in the USA exclusively using three Facebook advertisements. Women were then redirected to our survey site. There were 20,568,960 women on Facebook that met the eligibility criteria. The three ads resulted in 899,998 impressions with a reach of 374,225 women. Of the women reached, 280 women (0.075 %) clicked the ad. Of the women who clicked the ad, nine women (3.2 %) proceeded past the introductory page. Social networking, and in particular Facebook, is an innovative venue for recruiting participants for research studies. Challenges include developing an ad to foster interest without biasing the sample, and motivating women who click the ad to complete the survey. There is still much to learn about this potential method of recruitment.
32P-postlabeling analysis of aromatic DNA-adducts in liver and brain of wild brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis)

Several studies have reported the absence of DNA-adducts in fish collected from unpolluted areas. We determined DNA-adduct levels in liver and brain tissue of wild brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) from remote areas of Newfoundland and sub-arctic Labrador, that have no known input of anthropogenic contamination. Varying levels of adducts were detected in both liver and brain, at all locations. Hepatic adduct levels were generally higher than those in brain tissue. Tissue-specific differences in adduct levels and the possible effects of long range transport of air pollutants (LRTAP) are discussed.
Brain self-stimulation: direct evidence for the involvement of dopamine in the prefrontal cortex

Rats were trained to self-stimulate the medial prefrontal cortex, a region rich in dopaminergic terminals. After the region adjacent to the electrode site was labeled with [14C]dopamine, it was perfused repeatedly by means of push-pull cannulas. Electrical stimulation of this cortical area in six animals enhanced the release of dopamine and its associated metabolites in nine of 16 experiments. Thus in vivo evidence is provided that dopamine is involved in the brain self-stimulation mechanism within the frontal cortex.
Approaching assessment from a learning perspective: Elevating assessment beyond technique

Assessment is a key process in assuring quality education but how is it linked to the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL)? How can we join teaching and learning to the assessment process rather than view it as a stand-alone component in course and/or program development? This paper explores the relationship between assessment and the SoTL in an effort to identify a systems approach to program management practices. The goal is not to dismiss the value of mechanics and tools in assessment but to highlight the value of building an assessment process that brings together the respective components of assessment with the scholarship that constitutes teaching and learning and an understanding of assessment as learning. Incorporating the use of curriculum maps and Fink’s taxonomy of significant learning advances a framework-driven practice that supports assurance of learning.
A morphological classification of e and SO galaxies in terms of equilibrium isopleths

A theory of galactic morphology results from the consideration of isoplethic surfaces in states of geometric equilibrium within the theory of general relativity. In the linearized case, one solves ∇2ψ+ρ2ψ=0 on the surface of an oblate spheroid with unit semimajor axis and eccentricity e. The surface defined by $$x^2 + y^2 + z^2 /(1 - \varepsilon ^2 ) = {\text{exp (}}\psi {\text{)}}$$ are then equilibrium isopleths. The resulting morphological system contains two continuous parameters (e and the norm of ψ) and an integer-valued parametern. The system includes the ellipticals as special cases, and the various available profiles are given for a variety of values of the parameters. The forms are sufficiently varied as to represent NGC 3115, 128, 7332, and IC 3973. These forms cease to be enigmatic for they fit into an orderly sequence progressing out of the ellipticals and have equilibrium interpretations as previously obtained only for the ellipticals.
Treatment for abused children: when is a partial solution acceptable?

Abstract Physically maltreated children display a range of serious psychological problems. Despite the availability of effective treatment of similar problems in other populations of children, direct psychological treatment of abused children has rarely been reported. It is argued that such direct treatment, while constituting only a “partial solutiond” to the problem of child abuse, needs to be addressed through research and application.
The evolutionary history of the first three enzymes in pyrimidine biosynthesis

Some metabolic pathways are nearly ubiquitous among organisms: the genes encoding the enzymes for such pathways must therefore be ancient and essential. De novo pyrimidine biosynthesis is an example of one such metabolic pathway. In animals a single protein called CAD carries the first three steps of this pathway. The same three enzymes in prokaryotes are associated with separate proteins. The CAD gene appears to have evolved through a process of gene duplication and DNA rearrangement, leading to an in-frame gene fusion encoding a chimeric protein. A driving force for the creation of eukaryotic genes encoding multienzymatic proteins such as CAD may be the advantage of coordinate expression of enzymes catalyzing steps in a biosynthetic pathway. The analogous structure in bacteria is the operon. Differences in the translational mechanisms of eukaryotes and prokaryotes may have dictated the different strategies used by organisms to evolve coordinately regulated genes.
The Family Check-Up in Early Childhood: A Case Study of Intervention Process and Change

This article describes a case study in the use of the Family Check-Up (FCU), a family-based and ecological preventive intervention for children at risk for problem behavior. The FCU is an assessment-driven intervention that utilizes a health maintenance model; emphasizes motivation for change; and offers an adaptive, tailored approach to intervention. This case study follows one Caucasian family through their initial assessment and subsequent treatment for their toddler daughter's conduct problems over a 2-year period. Clinically meaningful improvements in child and family functioning were found despite the presence of child, parent, and neighborhood risk factors. The case is discussed with respect to the findings from a current multisite randomized control trial of the FCU and its application to other populations.
Employee benefits. How they affect staff turnover.

The authors surveyed dental practitioners and staff members to discover employees’ attitudes about compensation and how these beliefs relate to staff turnover.
Parameter Estimation via Signal-Selectivity of Signal-Subspace (Pess) and Its Application To 2-D Wavenumber Estimation

Abstract In this paper, three new methods called the PESS methods are presented. The first is a 1-D based 2-D PESS method for estimating 2-D wavenumbers. This provides the basic framework for all the PESS methods. The second is the Pairing-PESS method which offers efficient pairing in all 1-D based 2-D methods. The third is the Direct 2-D PESS method which, though, in the category of direct 2-D methods in the sense that it is not based on any 1-D signal processing technique, is, nevertheless, computationally efficient even when compared with the previous 1-D based 2-D algorithms. This algorithm is different from the other direct 2-D algorithm in that it does not depend on spectral search in 2-D parameter space. Examples are presented to illustrate the methods and a comparison is made with the matrix enhancement matrix pencil method recently proposed.
Cold Spots in the Martian Polar Regions: Evidence of Carbon Dioxide Depletion?

Regions of very low, rapidly varying brightness temperatures have been observed near the martian winter poles by several spacecraft. One possibility is that the CO2 condensation temperature is lowered by depletion of CO2 in the air at the surface. We estimate the rate at which this low-molecular-weight air would disperse into the high-molecular-weight air above and show that it is generally faster than the rate of supply. This dispersal could be prevented if there is a strong temperature inversion (warm air above colder air) near the surface. Without an inversion, the entire atmospheric column could become depleted. However, depleted columns take a long time to form, and they are inconsistent with the rapid fluctuations in the cold spot locations and temperatures. Because low-altitude temperature inversions cannot be ruled out by existing observations, CO2 depletion is still a viable explanation for the martian cold spots.
Visual slow brain potentials in children with attention deficit disorder.

Using a two-stimulus reaction time paradigm, with two separate reward conditions (contingent and noncontingent), we compared slow wave brain potentials (ERPs) in 144 children with attention deficit disorder (ADD) and 30 normal control children. This article reviews the findings during the 900 msec visual warning stimulus. As we had expected, based on ERP work of Forth and Hare (1989) and Raine, Venables and Williams (1990), and on previous work from our own laboratory, the group differences were found in the negative slow wave portions of the ERP complex during the contingent reward condition but not during the noncontingent condition. Aggressive hyperactive subjects with attention deficit disorder (ADDHA) were discriminated from nonaggressive subjects (including control subjects) during the contingent reward condition in the following ways: (1) greater fronto-central negativity (640–900 msec slow wave) and (2) greater right parietal than left parietal negativity (430–750 msec slow wave). All ADD subgroups, when compared to control (CONTR) subjects, showed greater slow wave negativity (700–900 msec) at the midline occipital electrode site during the contingent reward condition. This could be explained in part as an IQ effect on ERPs reflecting the IQ difference between the ADD subgroups and the controls. These slow wave findings seem to relate to attentional problems of these children. They are discussed in terms of a psychobiological model of inhibition/disinhibition and appetitive activation.
Infectivity and Host Responses in Creutzfeldt–Jakob Disease

Abstract The relationship between viral titer and host responses was evaluated in Creutzfeldt–Jakob Disease (CJD). Rapid clearing of 97% of the virus from hamster brain occurred within 5 days, and residual virus was dispersed equally to both hemispheres. Exponential replication began only after a long eclipse phase of ∼30 days, and by 100 days showed an >3 log increase in titer. However, from 100 to 135 days, titers were restricted to plateau levels of ∼10 8 /g. In comparison, previous studies show no appreciable eclipse phase and ≥100-fold higher brain titers in hamster scrapie. Our calculations also revealed an effective doubling time ( t i ) of 7.6 days in CJD and a markedly different t i of ∼3 days in scrapie. Thus different initiation and replication programs are encoded by each of these strains. The most pertinent host molecular responses included early astrocytic activity by 54 days, unaccompanied by morphological or behavioral changes. Changes in host PrP were minimal until 87 days when titers were already 2 × 10 7 /g. In the next 20 days 60% of brain PrP became resistant to limited proteolysis but total PrP did not increase. These fulminant PrP changes preceded viral arrest and subsequent spongiform degeneration. Because these and other data are not consistent with PrP itself being the infectious agent, we discuss a model in which progressive PrP and glial activation are part of a final host strategy to contain a virus that is innocuous at low titers. This strategy is flawed because PrP is an independent provocateur of self-destruction in the brain. However, in the periphery this strategy may eliminate rare infected cells.
Control of nucleation in oligonucleotide crystallization by the osmotic dewatering method with kinetic water removal rate control

Abstract Crystallization of an RNA oligonucleotide-“U–U dodecamer” (dodecamer) using a kinetically controlled osmotic dewatering method is presented. A concentration gradient across a reverse osmosis membrane is used to control the water-removal rate from the crystallization solution. By kinetically adjusting the dewatering rate, the number of crystals obtained was reduced, and crystal sizes were increased. Experimental results suggest that early rapid dewatering is needed to create a RNA-rich zone to promote nucleation. After the nucleation step, a slower dewatering rate is applied to suppress further nucleation and to provide an environment more suitable for crystal growth. The diffraction quality of dodecamer crystals grown by kinetically controlled osmotic dewatering is comparable with that of crystals grown by the hanging drop and sitting drop methods.
TOOTH GROWTH IN EXPERIMENTAL SCURVY

1. The incisor teeth of guinea pigs have a constant rate of growth in health. 2. Deprivation of Vitamin C causes the teeth to cease growing. Readministration of the vitamin restores the growth. 3. Administration of small amounts of antiscorbutic substance results in rates of growth roughly proportional to dosage. 4. Under standard experimental conditions used in the testing of foodstuffs for antiscorbutic value, the rate of tooth growth would appear to be a precise indication of the degree of scurvy, being more delicate than the Sherman score, and more constant as well as more simple, than the Hojer method. 5. Stress in terms of usage appears to exaggerate the scorbutic lesions in the teeth.
Concurrent Chiari decompression and spinal cord untethering in children: feasibility in a small case series.

Background and purpose We describe the rationale and safety of concurrent decompression of Chiari type 1 malformation (CM1) and untethering of the spinal cord. Spinal cord traction is considered one of the pathogenic mechanisms involved in the development of CM, and 14% of patients with CM1 have tethered cord syndrome (Milhorat et al., Surg Neurol 7:20–35, 2009; Roth, Neuroradiology 21:133–138, 1981; Royo-Salvador, Rev Neurol 24:937–959, 1996; Royo-Salvador et al., Acta Neurochir 147:515–523, 2005). Therefore, intraspinal anomalies that require intervention are commonly treated before surgical decompression of Chiari malformation (Cheng et al., Neurologist 8:357–362, 2002; Menezes, Pediatr Neurosurg 23:260–269, 1995; Milhorat et al., Surg Neurol 7:20–35, 2009; Royo-Salvador et al., Acta Neurochir 147:515–523, 2005; Schijman and Steinbok, Childs Nerv Syst 20:341–348, 2004; Yamada et al., Neurol Res 26:719–721, 2004). However, in the interval between the spinal cord untethering and the decompression surgery, patients may continue to suffer from the untreated symptoms of CM. In a series of four patients with concurrent severe and progressive symptoms referable to both conditions, we performed both surgeries simultaneously.
An activity necessary for in vitro transcription is a DNase inhibitor

Abstract A phosphocellulose flowthrough fraction required for accurate transcription in vitro by RNA polymerase II was found to contain a DNase inhibitor which was necessary to maintain template integrity (Price D.H., Sluder A.E. & Greenleaf A.L. (1987) J. Biol. Chem. 262, 3244–3255). Starting with a Drosophila Kc cell nuclear extract, the DNase inhibitory activity has been purified 19 000-fold. In combination with the other necessary fractions, the highly purified inhibitor continues to support reconstruction of transcription. It thus appears to be the only required activity in the original phosphocellulose flowthrough fraction. The inhibitor is a protein which does not bind to DNA or inhibit DNase I, so that it has also been useful in assays for DNA binding proteins in crude, DNase-contaminated fractions.
An investigation of change in medical students' ethical thinking.

Summary Although humanistically oriented courses have recently been incorporated into the medical school curriculum, evaluation of these endeavours has received little attention in the literature. The present study investigated the effects of a humanistically oriented course on the ethical thinking of first-year medical students. It was found that the course was successful in increasing students' level of ethical thinking and that initial differences in ethical thinking were related to actual behaviour.
The punch-shear strength of six cavity liners

Abstract The punch-shear strengths of 6 cavity liners, 5 based on calcium hydroxide and one on zinc oxide-eugenol, have been studied as a function of thickness and exposure time to a 100% rH atmosphere for periods of up to 7 days. The punch-shear strength of the ZOE material was found to be lower than that of the Ca(OH) 2 -based materials under virtually all the test conditions. Little change in strength was observed over the 7-day test period for all materials. One product was found to be markedly stronger than the others and generally showed little difference in strength when tested at 1 and 2 mm thickness.
Aggressive Communication By Larus Gla Ucescens Part Ii. Visual Communication

Pairs of complete models or wooden block models with adjustable stuffed heads of Larus glaucescens were placed in gull territories. Choice of attack on the models revealed that the head and neck of L. glaucescens are the parts of the body that release aggressive display in territorial behavior. When using models with the head and neck mounted in a normal posture, the upright threat model received a significantly greater number of attacks than the oblique model. The oblique model received a significantly greater number of attacks than the choking model. When comparing the reactions caused by the abnormal postured head at levels identical to those of the normal aggressive postures upright threat, oblique and choking, there were similar results. It was apparent that visual communication was accomplished by head level. A higher head level portrayed lower level of aggressiveness, whereas a lower head level portrayed greater level of aggressiveness and inhibited attack on the model. Secondary aggressive stimuli, such as squinted eyes and muscle tension, are probably not significant in evoking or prohibiting an attack.