cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract LB-161: Exploiting non-canonical heterochromatin-mediated telomere protection mechanisms in human cells

Mammalian telomeres are inherently heterochromatic. While enhanced telomere maintenance is evident in malignant cancers, some cancers appear to maintain telomeres by neither the common telomerase nor the alternative telomere repeat recombination mechanisms. Specifically, the roles of epigenetic modifications in telomere protection are largely unknown in human cancers. I have combined newly developed cellular and molecular approaches to show that in some cancer cell types, experimentally enhanced heterochromatinization localized specifically at telomeres reduced damage-induced foci at telomeres, suggesting augmentation of telomere stability. These results lead to the intriguing hypothesis that manipulating the epigenetic status at telomeres may be exploited to elicit damage at the telomeres of cancer cells as a novel approach to fight cancer. My current work in progress focuses on identifying novel chromatin modifiers that weaken telomere protection by modulating telomere compaction. It is especially urgent to understand the plasticity and modes of telomere protection by which some human cancers escape the requirement of telomerase activation to sustain immortalization. Results from this work can potentially advance the development of novel combinatorial telomere-directed cancer treatments. Citation Format: Tracy T. Chow, Elizabeth H. Blackburn. Exploiting non-canonical heterochromatin-mediated telomere protection mechanisms in human cells. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-161.
Recent advances in synthetic biosafety

Synthetically engineered organisms hold promise for a broad range of medical, environmental, and industrial applications. Organisms can potentially be designed, for example, for the inexpensive and environmentally benign synthesis of pharmaceuticals and industrial chemicals, for the cleanup of environmental pollutants, and potentially even for biomedical applications such as the targeting of specific diseases or tissues. However, the use of synthetically engineered organisms comes with several reasonable safety concerns, one of which is that the organisms or their genes could escape their intended habitats and cause environmental disruption. Here we review key recent developments in this emerging field of synthetic biocontainment and discuss further developments that might be necessary for the widespread use of synthetic organisms. Specifically, we discuss the history and modern development of three strategies for the containment of synthetic microbes: addiction to an exogenously supplied ligand; self-killing outside of a designated environment; and self-destroying encoded DNA circuitry outside of a designated environment.
Comparison between 3D ARFI imaging and mpMRI in detecting clinically-significant prostate cancer lesions

Current prostate cancer screening methods involve non-targeted needle biopsies and detection of clinically-insignificant lesions that receive excessive treatments, exposing patients to unnecessary adverse side effects and placing a burden on our health care systems. There is a strong clinical need for improved prostate imaging methods that are sensitive and specific for clinically-significant prostate cancer lesions to guide needle biopsies, target focal treatments, and improve overall patient outcomes. In this study, we compared 3D in vivo Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse (ARFI) imaging with 3 Tesla, endorectal coil, multi-parametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) to correlate the ability for each modality to identify clinically-significant prostate cancer lesions. We also correlated Apparent Diffusion Coefficient (ADC) values from Diffusion Weighted Imaging (DWI) MR sequences with ARFI indices of suspicion and MR Prostate Imaging - Reporting and Data Systems (PI-RADS) scores, testing the hypothesis that increased cellular density is associated with regions suspicious for prostate cancer in ARFI images. Overall, ARFI and mpMR imaging were well-correlated in identifying clinically-significant prostate cancer lesions. There were several cases where only one of the imaging modalities was able to identify the prostate cancer lesion, highlighting the potential to further improve prostate cancer lesion detection and localization with a fused ARFI:mpMRI imaging system. ADC values were decreased in all prostate cancer lesions identified with mpMRI, but there were no obvious trends between the absolute ADC values and the ARFI image indices of suspicion.
Overview of predictive modeling based on genomic characterizations

This chapter presents an overview of predictive modeling techniques commonly applied to drug sensitivity prediction based on genomic characterizations. We broadly categorize the approaches into groups of linear regression techniques, nonlinear regression methods, kernel approaches, ensemble methods, and dynamical models. Applications of these techniques to NCI-DREAM drug sensitivity challenge are also discussed.
Density, distribution, and habitat of Flammulated Owls in Idaho

From 1990 to 1992 we surveyed for Flammulated Owls ( Otus flammeolus ) in 3 areas in Idaho: Salmon National Forest (SNF), Payette National Forest and adjacent Hells Canyon National Recreation Area (PNF-HCNRA), and Nez Perce National Forest (NPNF). We also collected and summarized information on all historic and modern records of Flammulated Owls in Idaho. Flammulated Owls were detected on 65% of 68 routes (2-16 km in length) surveyed at densities ranging from 0.04 to 1.25 singing males/40 ha. Owls were detected on survey routes as early as 10 May and as late as 23 July. Mean percent canopy cover estimated at owl locations on the PNF-HCNRA and NPNF study sites ranged from 52% to 64%, while shrub cover ranged from 16% to 21% and ground cover was 39% to 49%. Our surveys and summary of distributional records indicated that Flammulated Owls occur throughout the montane forests of Idaho in old or mature stands of open ponderosa pine ( Pinus ponderosa ), Douglas-fir ( Pseudotsuga menziesii ), and stands co-dominated by those 2 species. Fire suppression and timber harvest activity in ponderosa pine forests represent 2 main threats to the species' future security in Idaho. More research on the effects of various silvicultural treatments on Flammulated Owl populations is warranted.
Trump's election and the “white working class”: What we missed

In the buildup to the extraordinarily divisive 2016 US presidential election, much discussion focused on an often-ignored group—the “white working class,” which was identified early on as a key constituency of Donald Trump. During the election, many pollsters and journalists defined working class as a group comprising people who lack a four-year college degree. This definition, however, lumps together an extraordinarily broad range of groups with diverse histories as well as social and class positionings, contributing to confused media discussion around class during the election. Unpacking what this definition masks is critical to understanding the changing class landscape of the United States and to promoting public discussion of the causes of growing inequality and its socially and politically destabilizing effects.
Factors Influencing Rainfall-Induced Slope Failures

A major trigger for shallow slope failures is rainfall, whose infiltration results in a reduction in the factor of safety from an increase in pore water pressures, increases in the degree of saturation and reductions in the shear strength of the slope material. In this study, model slopes were prepared in a Plexiglas box from a clayey soil obtained from a housing development site at CSU Fullerton and used to examine the influence of the variations in the slope forming material properties and the applied rainfall. Specifically, model slopes were prepared to have four different relative compaction levels between 60 and 74% at an inclination of 40°. The slopes were instrumented with tensiometers and copper wires to evaluate the pore pressure response and deformation when 30 mm/h of rainfall was applied using a rain simulator system. The variation of seepage velocity with rainfall duration, spatial distribution of suction and the deformation of the slope were recorded. The rainfall was stopped when complete saturation of the slope was obtained, as determined from visual inspection of the wetting front and the real‐time tensiometer recordings. From the results obtained, increase in the initial void ratio and intensity of the rainfall resulted in an increase in the pore water pressure as well as the velocity of the wetting front. The study result was useful to obtain relationship between relative compaction, seepage velocity, and deformation characteristics of the slope.
No Cause for Comfort Here: False Witnesses to “Peace”

The institutionalized practice of sexual slavery during World War II continues to haunt diplomatic relations between Japan and South Korea. The recent controversy surrounding the possible removal of the “Statue of Peace” in Seoul, South Korea, serves as further evidence that sexual violence continues to deny women representational claims to their bodies and memories. This study examines the statue’s performance as an agentic rhetorical embodiment that witnesses on behalf of the victimized. In turn, the statue-as-witness creates false witnesses of those engaging with its memory while politicizing its obliquely referenced crime. This controversy presents scholars of public memory and gender studies an opportunity to examine how women’s bodies are not only sites of political domination but also memorial appropriation.
Melanoma brain metastases treated with stereotactic radiosurgery and concurrent pembrolizumab display marked regression; efficacy and safety of combined treatment

Brain metastases are common in patients with metastatic melanoma. With increasing numbers of melanoma patients on anti-PD-1 therapy, we sought to evaluate the safety and initial response of brain metastases treated with concurrent pembrolizumab and radiation therapy. From an institutional database, we retrospectively identified patients with melanoma brain metastases treated with radiation therapy (RT) who received concurrent pembrolizumab. Concurrent treatment was defined as RT during pembrolizumab administration period and up to 4 months after most recent pembrolizumab treatment. Response was categorized by change in maximum diameter on first scheduled follow-up MRI. Lesion and patient specific outcomes including response, lesion control, brain control and overall survival were recorded and descriptively compared to contemporary treatments with RT and concurrent ipilimumab or RT without immunotherapy. From January 2014 through December 2015, we identified 21 patients who received concurrent radiation therapy and pembrolizumab for brain metastases or resection cavities that had at least one scheduled follow-up MRI. Eleven underwent stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), 7 received hypofractionated radiation and 3 had whole brain treatment (WBRT). All treatments were well tolerated with no observed Grade 4 or 5 toxicities; Grade 3 edema and confusion occurred in 1 patient treated with WBRT after prior SRS. For metastases treated with SRS, at first scheduled follow-up MRI (median 57 days post SRS), 70% (16/23) exhibited complete (CR, n = 8) or partial response (PR, n = 8). The intracranial response rates (CR/PR) for patients treated with SRS and concurrent ipilimumab and SRS without concurrent immunotherapy was 32% and 22%, respectively. Concurrent pembrolizumab with brain RT appears safe in patients with metastatic melanoma, and SRS in particular is effective in markedly reducing the size of brain metastases at the time of first follow-up MRI. These results compare favorably to SRS in combination with ipilimumab and SRS without concurrent immunotherapy.
AXIS—An Autonomous Expendable Instrument System

AbstractExpendable bathythermographs (XBT) to profile upper-ocean temperatures from vessels in motion have been in use for some 50 years now. Developed originally for navy use, they were soon adapted by oceanographers to map out upper-ocean thermal structure and its space–-time variability from both research vessels and merchant marine vessels in regular traffic. These activities continue today. This paper describes a new technology—the Autonomous Expendable Instrument System (AXIS)—that has been developed to provide the capability to deploy XBT probes on a predefined schedule, or adaptively in response to specific events without the presence of an observer on board. AXIS is a completely self-contained system that can hold up to 12 expendable probes [XBTs, XCTDs, expendable sound velocimeter (XSV)] in any combination. A single-board Linux computer keeps track of what probes are available, takes commands from ashore via Iridium satellite on what deployment schedule to follow, and records and forwards the p...
Doping evolution of the anisotropic upper critical fields in the iron-based superconductor Ba1−xKxFe2As2

In-plane resistivity measurements as a function of temperature and magnetic field up to 35 T with precise orientation within the crystallographic $ac$ plane were used to study the upper critical field ${H}_{c2}$ of the hole-doped iron-based superconductor ${\mathrm{Ba}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{K}}_{x}{\mathrm{Fe}}_{2}{\mathrm{As}}_{2}$. Compositions of the samples studied spanned from under- doped $x=0.17$ $({T}_{c}=12$ K) and $x=0.22$ $({T}_{c}=20$ K), both in the coexistence range of stripe magnetism and superconductivity, through optimal doping $x=0.39$ $({T}_{c}=38.4$ K) and $x=0.47$ $({T}_{c}=37.2$ K), to overdoped $x=0.65$ $({T}_{c}=22$ K) and $x=0.83$ $({T}_{c}=10$ K). We find notable doping asymmetry of the shapes of the anisotropic ${H}_{c2}(T)$, suggesting the important role of paramagnetic limiting effects in the $H\ensuremath{\parallel}a$ configuration in overdoped compositions and multiband effects in underdoped compositions.
Ultrafast Exciton Dynamics in Shape-Controlled Methylammonium Lead Bromide Perovskite Nanostructures: Effect of Quantum Confinement on Charge Carrier Recombination

We report ultrafast spectroscopy investigations of photoinduced exciton dynamics in three novel CH3NH3PbBr3 perovskite nanostructures: nanocrystals (0D), nanowires (1D), and nanoplatelets (2D). Aided by analysis of UV–visible absorption and photoluminescence spectra, features in the transient absorption (TA) spectra are assigned to different charge carrier processes, time constants of which are determined in fitting the transient kinetics. Immediately after photoexcitation, the charge carrier thermalization process occurs within the instrument response function time (fwhm ∼ 350 fs) and results in a quasi-equilibrium distribution of charge carriers. It is followed by charge carrier cooling on a sub-picosecond time scale (τc ∼ 300 fs). The ensuing charge carrier recombination process obeys the rate law of a second-order reaction, which suggests that it occurs mainly via the bimolecular nongeminate recombination process. Dependence of the charge recombination rate constant (kr) on the initial charge carrier ...
Psychological Assessment of PTSD

Behavioral and psychological reactions following a traumatic event are an inherent part of the human condition (Jones & Barlow, 1990), and the effects of traumatic stressors have been clinically observed since the Civil War (Ettedgui & Bridges, 1985). Not until 1980, however, did posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) become nosologically defined within the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Third Edition (DSM-III; American Psychiatric Association [APA], 1980) as a disorder. As a result of this recognition, research efforts have grown considerably, generating a substantial amount of information on assessment and treatment.
Minimally Invasive Cement-Augmented Pedicle Screw Fixation

Osteoporosis is a major health threat. In the United States alone, 10 million people have osteoporosis already, and 18 million have low bone mass placing them at increased risk for the development of osteoporosis [1]. Once thought to be a natural part of aging among women, it is not longer considered age or sex dependant.
Magnetic properties of MoS 2 : Existence of ferromagnetism

We report on the magnetic properties of MoS2 measured from room temperature down to 10 K and magnetic fields up to 5 T. We find that single crystals of MoS2 display ferromagnetism superimposed onto large temperature-dependent diamagnetism and have observed that ferromagnetism persists from 10 K up to room temperature. We attribute the existence of ferromagnetism partly to the presence of zigzag edges in the magnetic ground state at the grain boundaries. Since the magnetic measurements are relatively insensitive to the interlayer coupling, these results are expected to be valid in the single layer limit.
Cross-university collegiality: Supporting 21st century cooperation in preservice English Language Arts teachers

As preservice teachers develop ideas about what it means to be and become educators, they benefit from opportunities that allow them to experience cooperative group work with diverse populations. This is especially important because during the induction phase, as they cross over from teacher education students to inservice teachers, they are often expected to engage in collegial work with their coworkers. In this article, the authors describe a cross-university project using a digital platform that afforded two sets of preservice teachers from two different universities to cooperate over the course of four weeks to inform each other’s practice. This cooperative project included peer review sessions focused on lesson plans and synchronous revision conferences as part of a digital learning community. The authors considered the affordances and limitations of using an online platform as a way to foster cooperative practice among preservice teachers. Overall, preservice teachers had a positive perception of this project. In this article, we share the planning and implementation of the project, the ways in which students engaged with both their peers and the digital tools, and the trials and tribulations of the authors as instructors of these two cohorts of preservice teachers. Ultimately, our goal is to highlight the need in teacher education for projects that engage preservice teachers in cooperative practice with both the use of digital tools and authentic conversations with others outside of their own educational communities. DOI:10.2458/azu_itet_v6i1_rybakova
Audio Engagement and Learning.

Sound effects and music can be used to complement instructional narrations in recorded media presentations. College students (n = 143) participated in a study examining the effects of music and sou...
Influence of Glyoxal on the Catalytic Oxidation of S(IV) in Acidic Aqueous Media

The role of glyoxal in S(IV) oxidation in acidic aqueous solutions catalyzed by iron in the form of aqueous Fe3+ ions and solid iron oxide was investigated under different experimental conditions. It is found that the rate of Fe3+(aqueous (aq)) ion-catalyzed S(IV) oxidation decreases in the presence of glyoxal. The results of mass spectral analysis and infrared spectra suggest that the trapping of SO4– radicals, as well as the formation of glyoxal–S(IV) adducts, are responsible for this inhibition effect. Interestingly, although sulfur oxidation is kinetically inhibited in the presence of glyoxal, S(IV) in the form of sulfite is over time completely converted to sulfate. Additionally, the inhibition effects of glyoxal can also be observed in the reaction of S(IV) catalyzed by iron oxide particles, albeit less than that catalyzed by dissolved Fe3+(aq). The observed inhibition effect for the iron oxide particles is proposed to be attributed to competitive surface adsorption on the iron oxide particle surfac...
Accessibility in Online Courses: Understanding the Deaf Learner

Online education is more popular and widespread than ever before, serving millions of students each year. These online course offerings have great potential to reach new and diverse populations of students who might otherwise not have access to those learning opportunities. At the same time, inherent barriers exist in an online delivery format that can disadvantage some groups of students, in particular deaf students. Typical accessibility efforts often fail to consider different layers of access that a student must navigate in order to fully access course content. This article proposes a model which describes the three barriers deaf students might encounter in an online learning situation: learning management system (LMS) barriers, course content and materials barriers and communication barriers. Recommendations and considerations are provided to better serve this unique population of students across all layers and points of access.
Returning to the Fight: An Empirical Analysis of Terrorist Reengagement and Recidivism

Recent interest in terrorist risk assessment and rehabilitation reveals the likelihood and risk factors for terrorist reengagement and recidivism are poorly understood. Informed by advances in crim...
Postoperative outcomes in thoracic outlet decompression for acute versus chronic venous thoracic outlet syndrome.

Abstract Objective Venous thoracic outlet syndrome (VTOS) is a rare disorder that occurs in young athletes and working adults. There are multiple published reports demonstrating excellent outcomes with thoracic outlet (TO) decompression surgery when patients present acutely (within 2 weeks of symptom onset). Our objective was to assess outcomes after decompression surgery in patients with acute, subacute, chronic, and secondary VTOS. Additionally, we sought to identify risk factors for persistence of symptoms following operative decompression. Methods A retrospective chart review was performed for all patients who underwent operative decompression for VTOS at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center from 2013 to 2017. We examined baseline characteristics, comorbidities, presenting symptoms, interventions performed, and postoperative clinical outcomes. Patients were characterized as acute, subacute, or chronic based on onset of symptoms and presentation to our surgeons (acute 3 months). Our outcomes of interest were return to baseline functional status as defined by resumption of sports activity or occupation and axillosubclavian vein patency. Results A total of 51 operative decompressions were performed in 48 patients for VTOS. There were 23 operations (45%) performed on patients who presented acutely, 7 (14%) in the subacute group, and 21 (41%) surgeries in patients with chronic symptoms. Of these 51 operations, 4 (7.8%) were deemed unsuccessful—two surgeries were in the acute group, one in the subacute, and one in the chronic group. The 30-day morbidity after 51 first rib resections included no pneumothoraces, no lymphatic leaks, two surgical site hematomas with associated hemothorax in one patient, two surgical site infections, and only two unplanned returns to the operating room for hematoma evacuation and superficial wound infection washout. In terms of preoperative vein patency, those who presented acutely were more likely to have an occluded axillosubclavian vein (P = .029). The Fisher's exact was 0.540, indicating that the proportion of patients returning to baseline functional status were similar when comparing acute presenters with those who present late. A multivariate Cox proportional hazards model was attempted; however, a small sample size greatly limited the power of the study and prohibited identification of risk factors for surgical failure. Conclusions Patients with acute and chronic VTOS resumed their preintervention sports activity or vocation after TO decompression in more than 90% of cases with a low incidence of adverse events. Based on our study results, patients with chronic VTOS benefit as much from TO decompression as those with acute VTOS.
INTRAPERSONAL FACTORS AFFECTING CONCUSSION REPORTING BEHAVIORS ACCORDING TO THE THEORY OF PLANNED BEHAVIOR IN HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYERS.

Background The diagnosis of a sports-related concussion (SRC) relies heavily on self-report from the athlete; therefore, the true percentage of those sustaining an SRC is not readily known. Concussed athletes are at higher risk for permanent or more catastrophic injury, especially without a diagnosis. Limited research has been done to determine the factors associated with concussion reporting behaviors in high school athletes. Purpose To determine the intrapersonal factors affecting concussion reporting behavior in high school athletes based on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). Study design Cross-sectional design. Methods A convenience sample of 40 high school football players (age: 15.6 ± 1.0 years) who played during the fall 2017 season and had not been diagnosed with a sports-related concussion two weeks prior to data collection completed a previously validated questionnaire. Of these, 58% were underclassmen and 65% were skill players. An ordinal regression was used to analyze the association between the intention to report and four variables (attitudes of reporting, reporting self-efficacy, symptoms and behavior, subjective norms, and concussion knowledge). Before data collection, it was hypothesized that these factors could be used to form a model to determine the athletes' intention to report, which can then be related to their reporting behavior. Results Self-efficacy was the only TPB variable significantly associated with reporting intention. Conclusion Reporting self-efficacy was significantly associated with intention to report, where participants with a high self-efficacy score were 3.15 times more likely to report an SRC than those with a lower score. Freshmen athletes had higher reporting intentions than juniors, and participants that identified as 'white' had higher intentions than those who identified as 'other'. Concussion knowledge, subjective norms, attitudes of reporting, and symptoms and behavior were not significantly associated with intention to report. Level of evidence 2b, retrospective cohort study.
Fast-food for thought: Retail food environments as resources for cognitive health and wellbeing among aging Americans?

Abstract In this exploratory sequential mixed-methods study, interviews with 125 adults aged 55–92 (mean age 71) living in the Minneapolis (Minnesota) metropolitan area suggested that eateries, including coffee shops and fast-food restaurants, represent popular neighborhood destinations for older adults and sources of wellbeing. Thematic analysis of how older adults perceived and utilized local eateries included sites of familiarity and comfort; physical and economic accessibility; sociability with friends, family, staff, and customers; and entertainment (e.g., destinations for outings and walks, free newspapers to read). To test the hypothesis that these sites, and the benefits they confer, are associated with cognitive welfare, we analyzed data from urban and suburban community-dwelling participants in the Reasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study, a national racially diverse sample of older Americans followed since 2003 (n = 16,404, average age at assessment 72 years). Results from multilevel linear regression models of these data demonstrated a positive association between kernel density of local eateries and cognitive functioning, which corroborated qualitative findings. Taken together, these results complicate our understanding of casual eatery settings as possible sites of wellbeing through social interaction and leisure activities. Results prompt further research investigating whether and how retail food environments can serve as community spaces for older adults that may help buffer against cognitive decline.
Rings and Balls

We examine the various linkings in space-time of “ball-like” and “ring-like” topological solitons in certain nonlinear sigma models in 2+1 and 3+1 dimensions. By going to theories where soliton overlaps are forbidden, these linkings become homotopically nontrivial and can be studied by investigating the topology of the corresponding configuration spaces. Our analysis reveals the existence of topological terms which give the linking number of the world tubes of distinct species of ball solitons in 2+1 dimensions, or which in 3+1 dimensions count the number of times a ball or ring soliton threads through the center of a ring of a different species. We explicitly construct these terms for our models, and generalize them to cases where soliton overlaps are no longer strictly forbidden so the terms are no longer purely topological. One of the (3+1)-dimensional theories we consider also has topological solitons which consist of two rings (of distinct species) linked in space.
The abundance pattern of $\lambda$ Bootis stars

Within a project to investigate the properties of λ Bootis stars, we report on their abundance pattern. High resolution spectra have been obtained for a total of twelve candidate λ Bootis stars, four of them being contained in spectroscopic binary systems, and detailed abundance analyses have been performed. All program stars show a characteristic λ Bootis abundance pattern (deficient heavy elements and solar abundant light elements) and an enhanced abundance of Na. This work raises the fraction of λ Bootis stars with known abundances to 50%. The resulting abundances complemented by literature data are used to construct a “mean λ Bootis abundance pattern”, which exhibits, apart from general underabundances of heavy elements ( ≈ -1 dex) and solar abundances of C, N, O, Na and S, a star-to-star scatter which is up to twice as large as for a comparable sample of normal stars.
Socioeconomic Rights in Latin America: Closing the Gap Between Aspiration and Reality

This essay surveys the theory and practice of socioeconomic rights enforcement in Latin America. Latin America is almost certainly the region of the world where socioeconomic rights have been taken most seriously. In a region where human rights have become a common discourse, and where economic inequality and poverty are immediate issues in popular consciousness, legal scholars, constitutional designers, and judges have increasingly made socioeconomic rights central to constitutional projects. The empirical record of judicial enforcement, on the other hand, shows much more variance and is, on balance, less transformative than this consensus would suggest. In some countries in the region, courts remain quite reluctant to enforce socioeconomic rights, despite affirming that they are justiciable. In countries where socioeconomic rights have been enforced aggressively, courts most commonly follow models of enforcement that place relatively low levels of strain on conceptions of judicial role, but are also less likely to have transformative effects. These patterns and results of judicialization pose a challenge to scholars that view the region as embarked on a common project of transformative constitutionalism. And, since Latin America is the region with the highest level of judicialization of socioeconomic rights in the world, they also pose a potential challenge to those scholars and policymakers seeking the inclusion and enforcement of socioeconomic rights. The prevailing tone of recent work on the region has become pessimistic about the ability of socioeconomic rights to achieve social transformation. Ultimately, the best form of response to this challenge is likely holistic in nature: it would seek to design or redesign other institutions, such as ombudspersons and political parties, so that these institutions are more responsive to socioeconomic rights, while maintaining an important role for courts in catalyzing and coordinating attention to socioeconomic issues. The success of liberal democracy, in Latin America if not elsewhere around the world, may hinge partly on the ability of scholars, judges, and constitutional designers to resolve this dilemma. Recent challenges to liberal democracy in the region, especially the “neo-Bolivarian” model most fully represented by the Venezuelan constitutional order, have been fueled by the perceived failure of liberal democracy to deal adequately with socioeconomic issues.
Applied aspects of soil carbon

Abstract Soil organic matter and its microbial residents impart key ecosystem services which we rely upon daily. Management of soil affects the fate of C by altering conditions for soil microbial biomass, activity, and diversity. The balance of C inputs and outputs from soil dictates sequestration of soil organic C. Depth distribution of soil organic C controls ecosystem processes at the field level, and therefore, conservation agricultural management approaches are needed to restore the vitality of soil through biologically active soil C. Organic amendments provide C resources critical for energizing soil. Soil biological activity is a key indicator of soil health due to its integration of how soil microorganisms respond to their environment. Humanity depends on the orderly functioning of soil—driven by the soil organisms that inhabit it.
Experiences of racial discrimination in the medical setting and associations with medical mistrust and expectations of care among black patients seeking addiction treatment.

Abstract Introduction Experiences of racial discrimination in the medical setting are common among Black patients and may be linked to mistrust in medical recommendations and poorer clinical outcomes. However, little is known about the prevalence of experiences of racial mistreatment by healthcare workers among Black patients seeking addiction treatment, or how these experiences might influence Black patients' medical mistrust or expectations of care. Methods Participants were 143 Black adults recruited consecutively from two university addiction treatment facilities in Columbus, Ohio. All participants completed validated surveys assessing perceptions of prior racial discrimination in the medical setting and group-based medical mistrust. Participants were also asked a series of questions about their expectations of care with regard to racial discrimination and addiction treatment. Descriptive analyses were used to characterize the sample with regard to demographics, perceived racial discrimination and medical mistrust. Kendall tau-b correlations assessed relationships between racial discrimination, mistrust and expectations of care. Results Seventy-nine percent (n = 113) of participants reported prior experiences of racial discrimination during healthcare. Racial discrimination in the medical setting was associated with greater mistrust in the medical system and worse expectations regarding racial discrimination in addiction treatment including delays in care-seeking due to concern for discrimination, projected non-adherence and fears of discrimination-precipitated relapse. Conclusions Black patients seeking addiction treatment commonly report experiencing racial discrimination by healthcare workers which may be associated with mistrust in the medical system and expectations of care. Strategies to eliminate and mitigate experiences of racial discrimination may improve addiction treatment receptivity and engagement.
Multi-objective shape and material optimization of composite structures including damping

A multi-objective optimal design methodology is developed for light-weight, low-cost composite structures of improved dynamic performance. The design objectives include minimization of resonance amplitudes (or maximization of modal damping), weight, and material cost. The design vector includes micromechanics, laminate, and structural shape parameters. Performance constraints are imposed on static displacements, dynamic amplitudes, and natural frequencies. The effects of damping on the dynamics of composite structures are incorporated. Preliminary applications on a cantilever composite beam illustrated that only the proposed multi-objective optimization, as opposed to single objective functions, simultaneously improved all objectives. The significance of composite damping in the design of advanced composite structures was also demonstrated, indicating that design methods based on undamped dynamics may fail to improve the dynamic performance near resonances.
Translating results from research into clinical practice.

The medical research cycle is often initiated by clinical observation and epidemiological study which identify associations between clinical manifestations and biological or environmental factors. Associations do not indicate cause but generate hypotheses for focused research. As an aspiring academic paediatrician, I focused on hypothesis-driven research to investigate the early-life causes, consequences and management of asthma and related allergic diseases. Subsequent controlled intervention trials, despite being published in high-impact journals with evidence which should have modified clinical practice for patient benefit, did not improve patient outcomes. I, like many others, thought that putting knowledge into practice would be achieved by generating clinical guidelines. They were initially ‘expert opinion’ driven and rapidly gained popularity. Guidelines are now generated by many agencies for many medical disorders and are much more appropriately dictated by an evidence-based approach employing systematic review and meta-analysis.1 Guideline proliferation has overwhelmed clinicians. They are often large documents detailing the evidence base but often fail to account for patient experience and the practicalities of application. It is, therefore, not surprising that they have not improved outcomes for patients despite having high citation impact. It is worthwhile requoting the Sackett definition of evidence-based medicine: ‘The conscientious explicit and judicious use of current evidence in making decisions about the care of individual patients requires the integration of clinical expertise, external evidence and patient values and expectations’.2 Sadly, most guideline groups do not include patients and fail to address their values and expectations. For …
Ultrasound in Follicle Monitoring for Ovulation Induction/IUI

Over the past several decades, there have been a number of technical advances that currently allow for superb imaging of female pelvic structures. Ultrasound plays a significant role in diagnosing and treatment of infertility. It is now clear that transvaginal ultrasound (TVUS) holds tremendous potential as a radiological tool in the evaluation of infertility. This chapter presents to you the basic information about the role of ultrasound in ovulation induction and intrauterine insemination (IUI). For ease of understanding we begin this chapter with the physiological concept of follicular selection and then proceed to the role of ultrasound in various steps of assisted reproductive technology (ART). The importance of baseline scan before starting ART is emphasized; this not only helps to rule out any underlying pathology but checks the ovarian reserve which in turn helps us in the selection of patients for the ideal treatment protocol.
Thinking outside the library box: Considerations in contextualizing digital repositories for the local environment

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide an introduction to the emerging concept of local contextualization in digital repositories.Design/methodology/approach – The paper describes the concepts and issues related to local contextualization of digital repositories.Findings – The paper finds that initial efforts in developing digital repositories focused mainly on digitizing library collections. Emerging trends indicate that expectations of patrons have changed and are increasingly tied to the collection and maintenance of materials that are not directly owned by the library. As repositories continue to evolve, libraries will need to be more proactive in contextualizing their digital repositories to the local environment. Unlike the current “one size fits all” model of digital repositories, contextualization emphasized thoughtful planning and implementation of services that are relevant to the local environment.Originality/value – This paper describes an emerging trend in digital repository services.
Gender Bias in Theoretical Perspectives: The Case of Female Socialization Into Sport

Using female socialization into sport as an example, this paper empirically examines whether existing conceptual and methodological perspectives pertaining to sport may be gender-biased. A social role–social systems approach, previously applied to male sport socialization and purported to predict a high degree of sport involvement when positive social influences are exerted by significant others, was applied to female athletes and nonathletes. Results from several stepwise regressions suggest that this conceptual approach does not adequately capture the process that pertains to females, as more variance is accounted for in the case of nonathletes, who have lower levels of sport involvement. The implications of such findings suggest that existing conceptual notions pertaining to sport socialization may in reality be a more accurate portrayal of gender role-appropriate behavior in sport rather than actual sport role behaviors.
FINE STRUCTURE ANALYSIS AT THE td LOCUS OF NEUROSPORA CRASSA

Recombination data were obtained from over 100 crosses of td mutants of Neurospora crassa. Previous fine structure genetic analyses at this locus have been based solely on two-point crosses owing to the lack of closely linked outside markers. By isolating a series of multisite mutants at the td locus the results obtained from two- and threepoint crosses were compared. The results obtained from two- and three-point crosses employing CRM/sup +/marker mutations agree. For CRM-marker mutations the two sets of crossing data did not agree. Interference was highly negative with particular combinations of markers. (auth)
Reflux episodes are similar in healthy African Americans and non-Hispanic whites

SUMMARY Ambulatory esophageal pH monitoring is the current gold standard diagnostic exam for gastroesphageal reflux disease. Presently, no data are available for normal 24-hour esophageal pH monitoring among any US ethnic group. The aim of the present study was to obtain normal values of 24-hour esophageal pH monitoring in healthy adult African American (AA) volunteers and compare these with values obtained in healthy non-Hispanic white (nHw) volunteers to determine if ethnic variation exists in 24-hour esophageal pH testing. Twenty-four-hour dual esophageal pH monitoring was performed in healthy AA and nHw. Values for total number of reflux episodes, episodes longer than 5 min, total reflux time in minutes, and longest reflux episode in the proximal and distal esophagus were obtained for both ethnic groups. Differences between groups were considered significant if P < 0.05. Eighty subjects volunteered for the study and completed 24-hour pH testing. Forty-one were AAs and 39 were nHws, with males making up 49% of each group. The AAs were older and had higher body mass index than the nHws. No difference was observed between the AA and the nHw subjects for any measured pH parameter in either the proximal or distal esophagus. There is no difference in values obtained during esophageal pH monitoring in healthy African Americans and non-Hispanic whites. This indicates that the currently accepted normal values of ambulatory esophageal pH monitoring are readily applicable to African Americans and can be used without compromising diagnostic accuracy in this ethnic group.
A hybrid PACVD SiC/CVD Si3N4SiC multilayer coating for oxidation protection of composites

Abstract Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) coatings used for the oxidation protection of carbon-carbon (CC) composites provide inadequate oxidation protection due to extensive thermal cracking. One method to reduce the thermal cracking is to use plasma-assisted chemical vapor deposition (PACVD). In this study a PACVD SiC coating and a hybrid PACVD SiC/CVD Si3N4 multilayer coating were deposited on two-dimensional CC substrates. Oxidation behavior of coated and uncoated CC composites was studied using a thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) in both the isothermal and kinetic modes. The PACVD coating exhibited an inadequate oxidation protection of the CC substrate while the hybrid PACVD SiC/CVD Si3N4 coating provides excellent oxidation protection at temperatures up to 1400 °C. Microstructural and chemical characterizations of coated composites were performed using SEM, optical microscopy, EDS, XRD, FTIR, XPS and TEM. A correlation between coating microstructure, composition and oxidation behavior is discussed.
Impact of the coulomb interaction on the Franz-Keldysh effect in a high-current photodetector

The Franz-Keldysh effect causes semiconductor absorption to oscillate as a function of wavelength. We include this effect in calculating the nonlinear response of a high-current photodectector and obtain excellent agreement with experiments.
Sex effects in cocaine-using methadone patients randomized to contingency management interventions.

Contingency management (CM) is an effective treatment for promoting cocaine abstinence in patients receiving methadone maintenance. However, few studies have examined the effect of sex on treatment outcomes in this population. This study evaluated the impact of sex on longest duration of abstinence (LDA) and percent negative urine samples in 323 cocaine-using methadone patients from four randomized clinical trials comparing CM to standard methadone care. Overall, women had better treatment outcomes compared to men, demonstrated by an increase in both LDA and percentages of negative samples. Patients receiving CM also had significantly higher LDA and percentages of negative samples compared to patients receiving standard care, but sex by treatment condition effects were not significant. These data suggest that cocaine using methadone patients who are women have better substance use outcomes than men in interventions that regularly monitor cocaine use, and CM is equally efficacious regardless of sex.
Synthesis of stressed speech from isolated neutral speech using HMM-based models

A novel approach is proposed for modeling speech parameter variations between neutral and stressed conditions and employed in a technique for stressed speech synthesis. The proposed method consists of modeling the variations in pitch contour, voiced speech duration and average spectral structure using hidden Markov models (HMMs). While HMMs have traditionally been used for recognition applications, here they are used to statistically model the characteristics needed for generating pitch contour and spectral slope patterns to modify the speaking style of isolated neutral words. An algorithm is developed based on an analysis-synthesis speech model, and HMM pitch and spectral stress characteristics for stress perturbation. Informal listener evaluations of the stress-modified speech confirm the HMM's ability to capture the parameter variations under stressed conditions. The proposed HMM models are both speaker- and word-independent, but unique to each speaking style. While the modeling scheme is applicable to a variety of stress and emotional speaking styles, the evaluations presented in this study focus on angry, Lombard-effect and loud-spoken speech.
Hierarchical symbolic circuit analysis of large-scale networks on multi-processor systems

A parallel implementation of a hierarchical symbolic analysis algorithm (SCAPP) on a 128-node nCUBE hypercube class processor is presented. The basic operation involves exploiting the inherent parallelism in the symbolic analysis algorithm on two levels. The first level is scheduling the partitions of a circuit onto a subset of available processors. The second level is dividing and scheduling, for each partition, the tasks of reducing the sparse symbolic modified nodal analysis matrix using the rest of the available processors. The algorithm does not impose any constraints on the number of processors required and uses minimal data movement. This results in low communication overhead between the processors. The algorithm is applicable to any general message-passing multiprocessor architecture. A speedup on the order p (number of processors) is achieved. >