cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Consumer Preferences for the Predictive Genetic Test for Alzheimer Disease

The purpose of this study was to assess consumer preferences for predictive genetic testing for Alzheimer disease in the United States. A rating conjoint analysis was conducted using an anonymous online survey distributed by Qualtrics® to a general population panel in April 2011 in the United States. The study design included three attributes: Accuracy (40 %, 80 %, and 100 %), Treatment Availability (Cure is available/Drug for symptom relief but no cure), and Anonymity (Anonymous/Not anonymous). A total of 12 scenarios were used to elicit people’s preference, assessed by an 11-point scale. The respondents also indicated their highest willingness-to-pay (WTP) for each scenario through open-ended questions. A total of 295 responses were collected over 4 days. The most important attribute for the aggregate model was Accuracy, contributing 64.73 % to the preference rating. Treatment Availability and Anonymity contributed 20.72 % and 14.59 %, respectively, to the preference rating. The median WTP for the highest-rating scenario (Accuracy 100 %, a cure is available, test result is anonymous) was $100 (mean = $276). The median WTP for the lowest-rating scenario (40 % accuracy, no cure but drugs for symptom relief, not anonymous) was zero (mean = $34). The results of this study highlight attributes people find important when making the hypothetical decision to obtain an AD genetic test. These results should be of interests to policy makers, genetic test developers and health care providers.
Identification and characterization of a novel extracellular matrix protein nephronectin that is associated with integrin α8β1 in the embryonic kidney

The epithelial-mesenchymal interactions required for kidney organogenesis are disrupted in mice lacking the integrin alpha8beta1. None of this integrin's known ligands, however, appears to account for this phenotype. To identify a more relevant ligand, a soluble integrin alpha8beta1 heterodimer fused to alkaline phosphatase (AP) has been used to probe blots and cDNA libraries. In newborn mouse kidney extracts, alpha8beta1-AP detects a novel ligand of 70-90 kD. This protein, named nephronectin, is an extracellular matrix protein with five EGF-like repeats, a mucin region containing a RGD sequence, and a COOH-terminal MAM domain. Integrin alpha8beta1 and several additional RGD-binding integrins bind nephronectin. Nephronectin mRNA is expressed in the ureteric bud epithelium, whereas alpha8beta1 is expressed in the metanephric mesenchyme. Nephronectin is localized in the extracellular matrix in the same distribution as the ligand detected by alpha8beta1-AP and forms a complex with alpha8beta1 in vivo. Thus, these results strongly suggest that nephronectin is a relevant ligand mediating alpha8beta1 function in the kidney. Nephronectin is expressed at numerous sites outside the kidney, so it may also have wider roles in development. The approaches used here should be generally useful for characterizing the interactions of novel extracellular matrix proteins identified through genomic sequencing projects.
Isolation and Characterization of the Cardiotonic Polypeptide Anthopleurin-A from the Sea Anemone Anthopleura xanthogrammica

Abstract A highly potent cardiotonic polypeptide, anthopleurin‐A, was isolated from the sea anemone, Anthopleura xanthogrammica (Brandt), using solvent partition, gel permeation chromatography, and cation‐exchange chromatography. It is a pure basic polypeptide with a molecular weight of about 5500.
Using machine vision for the inspection of industrial assemblies

Abstract A data-driven, general method for visual inspection of industrial assemblies and its implementation as a high level command translator is presented. The system is based on measurement and computation of generic assembly characteristics and comparisons of these characteristics to known values and relations. The application of the system to fairly complicated sub-assemblies is included as an example.
A segmentation algorithm for noisy images: design and evalution

Abstract This paper presents a segmentation algorithm for gray-level images and addresses issues related to its performance on noisy images. It formulates an image segmentation problem as a partition of an image into (arbitrarily-shaped) connected regions to minimize the sum of gray-level variations over all partitioned regions, under the constraints that (1) each partitioned region has at least a specified number of pixels, and (2) two adjacent regions have significantly different “average” gray-levels. To overcome the computational difficulty of directly solving this problem, a minimum spanning tree representation of a gray-level image has been developed. With this tree representation, an image segmentation problem is effectively reduced to a tree partitioning problem, which can be solved efficiently. To evaluate the algorithm, we have studied how noise affects the performance of the algorithm. Three types of noise, transmission noise, Gaussian additive noise, and multiple sources of lightings, are considered, and their effects on the algorithm are studied.
CANCER SURVEILLANCE OF PATIENTS FROM FAMILIAL PANCREATIC CANCER KINDREDS

The family history can be used to determine which family members warrant surveillance and when to start it. Surveillance should be started at least 1 decade before the earliest age of pancreatic cancer in the family. EUS is the basic, least-invasive surveillance tool; however, findings are similar to those seen in chronic pancreatitis. All patients who have a positive EUS or who have symptoms warrant ERCP. Changes on ERCP of ductal stricturing and clubbed or saccular side branches are suggestive of patients who may need pancreatectomy in the setting of hereditary pancreatic cancer. The goal for surveillance of familial pancreatic cancer patients is to diagnose them before the development of cancer, when they have dysplasia or carcinoma in situ, and to perform a complete pancreatectomy. Timing is crucial for determining when a patient warrants surgery; if performed too early, the patient is put at risk for the morbidity and mortality of a total pancreatectomy, which is not inconsequential. If the patient survives the operation, he or she is often left a brittle diabetic. The alternative of diagnosing too late is more worrisome because the patient dies of pancreatic cancer. An essential ingredient to a good patient outcome is a team approach to these patients, using gastroenterologists, surgeons, and pathologists who have expertise and interest in pancreatic disease.
Pretend play in high-risk and developmentally delayed children.

This chapter presents a synthesis of empirical research supporting use of observation of children's play as a cognitive assessment tool. In addition, the relation between specific deficits in play and diagnosis of developmental disabilities is discussed.
Minitrack: Mobile Technologies and Collaboration

This minitrack focuses on rapidly changing and evolving issues related to the use of mobile computing technologies for both human-to-human and human-to-machine collaboration. The minitrack intends to provide a forum for reporting the results of research focusing on system and application development and technology usage as well as for the reporting of user adoption, deployment, acceptance, and diffusion. Our goal is to provide a forum for idea exchange between both academicians and practitioners in the computer-based system sciences. As such, the Mobile Technologies and Collaboration minitrack focuses on the conceptual design, implementation, use, and evaluation of mobile computing technologies in controlled, organizational, and broader societal settings.
Conduct-Disordered Adolescents With Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Intervention in Secure Treatment Settings

Youth with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs) are in a perilous circumstance. FASD is associated with a high rate of self-regulation problems and trouble with the law and is underdiagnosed. Standard juvenile corrections-based interventions often do not meet the needs of these vulnerable youth. This article describes what is known about conduct-disordered adolescents with FASD and the neurocognitive deficits that directly affect emotional and behavioral self-control. The authors propose guidelines for the assessment of FASD within residential treatment settings and analyze interventions that show promise for inpatient treatment of youth with FASD.
Frequent false hearing by older adults: the role of age differences in metacognition.

In two experiments testing age differences in the subjective experience of listening, which we call metaaudition, young and older adults were first trained to learn pairs of semantic associates. Following training, both groups were tested on identification of words presented in noise, with the critical manipulation being whether the target item was congruent, incongruent, or neutral with respect to prior training. Results of both experiments revealed that older adults compared to young adults were more prone to “false hearing,” defined as mistaken high confidence in the accuracy of perception when a spoken word had been misperceived. These results were obtained even when performance was equated across age groups on control items by reducing the noise level for older adults. Such false hearing is shown to reflect older adults’ heavier reliance on context. Findings suggest that older adults’ greater ability to benefit from semantic context reflects their bias to respond consistently with the context, rather than their greater skill in using context. Procedures employed are unique in measuring the subjective experience of hearing as well as its accuracy. Both theoretical and applied implications of the findings are discussed. Convergence of results with those showing higher false memory, and false seeing are interpreted as showing that older adults are less able to constrain their processing in ways that are optimal for performance of a current task. That lessened constraint may be associated with decline in frontal-lobe functioning.
Zinc in maturing rat brain: hippocampal concentration and localization.

—Alterations in the localization and concentration of zinc in the hippocampus and in other regions of rat brain were studied during postnatal maturation. Histochemical observations indicated increasing levels of zinc in the hippocampal mossy fibre layer at about 20 days of age. Between 18 and 22 days, hippocampal levels of zinc increased by 35 per cent to reach adult levels (121 ng/mg of protein). After subcellular fractionation, more than one-half of the hippocampal zinc was found in the first pellet (P1; 1085 g– 10 min), where large boutons would be expected. Autoradiographic evidence, revealing the sequential location of positron tracks first in the granular cell layer and later in the mossy fibre layer, raises the possibility of axoplasmic transport of zinc from granule cell perikarya to their terminal boutons. Our data suggest that zinc may be involved in the maturation and function of the mossy fibre pathway.
In vivo influence of light or darkness on the GABA system in the retina of the frog (Rana pipiens).

Summary An investigation of glutamate, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and related enzyme systems in the frog retina has shown that adaptation to light and darkness has little or no effect on the content or localization of retinal glutamate. However, GABA levels are decreased by more than 40% in both the bipolar and ganglion cell layers of the dark-adapted frog retina. A decrease of glutamic carboxyl-lyase was also observed. GABA is concentrated in the frog retina primarily within cell layers which are rich in amacrine cells. The temporal decrease of retinal GABA and the decrease in threshold excitability during dark adaptation suggests a correlation between these two phenomena. Our observations are in agreement with the hypothesis that GABA in the frog retina is functionally related to inhibitory neural mechanisms.
Quantification of acetylcholine in cell culture systems by semi-micro high-performance liquid chromatography and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

Electrospray ionization (ESI) was used to adapt the thermospray ionization liquid chromatographic/mass spectrometric (LC/MS) method of Liberato et al. to the determination of acetylcholine and choline released from cells in culture. A clonal cell line derived from a rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) was used and cultures depolarized in the presence of cholinesterase inhibitor to maximize the recovery of acetylcholine from the culture medium and protect against its hydrolysis. Concentration of acetylcholine and choline released into the incubation medium was accomplished with Sep-Pak C16 cartridges. The preformed analyte cations were resolved by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography and analyzed without derivatization by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry with the use of acetyl[2H9]choline as internal standard. LC/MS allows for the direct determination of acetylcholine and choline, which is not possible with other methods.
Delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity in normals: choice of antigens and comparison to in vitro assays of cell-mediated immunity

In 81 normal subjects, ages 19 to 100 yr (mean 52), we studied the prevalence of positive 48 hr skin reactions to six antigens: fluid tetanus toxoid, Candida albicans, SK/SD, Trichophyton, PPD, and coccidioidin. Of these, C. albicans was most frequently reactive (92%); SK/SD (51%) and tetanus (49%) were less so. Each of the remaining three antigens was reactive in less than 42% of the subjects. The minimum number of antigens required to detect delayed hypersensitivity in 100% of subjects was two: C. albicans and tetanus. We found no correlation between skin reactivity at 20 min, 6 hr, and 48 hr for most of the antigens studied, suggesting different mechanisms for reactions occurring at each time. In 60 of the subjects, lymphocyte stimulation index (LSI) with tetanus toxoid and monocyte chemotaxis (MC) assays were done. The natural log of the area of induration at 48 hr after tetanus skin testing (I48) increased as a function of LSI (p less than 0.005) and MC (p less than 0.025) by multiple regression analysis. Skin testing was less sensitive than LSI as a test for cell-mediated immunity in our population. However, because of availability and correlation with LSI, delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity should be tested initially. For this purpose, tetanus toxoid appears to be a useful antigen when used in combination with C. albicans.
Recognition thresholds for a speech continuum following selective adaptation.

The effect of selective adaptation by end-point stimuli on a synthetic/bi-di/continuum was investigated in terms of the change in masked recognition thresholds for stimuli within the continuum. Adaptation with either/bi/or/di/produced typical shifts in the identification boundary, while adaptation only with/bi/ produced shifts in the ABX discrimination peak. Both adaptors also produced significant decreases in the recognition threshold of all stimuli within the non-adapted category and, for the/di/ adaptor, reduced thresholds also for the adapted category. These results cannot be explained by assuming the action of only a simple, single factor such as fatigue, stimulus contrast, or response contrast.
Morphogenic Responses of Debudded Tobacco Plants to Gibberellic Acid and Indole-3-Acetic Acid

Stem applications of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) or gibberellic acid (GA) did not prevent or alter tumor or teratoma formation in debudded tobacco plants (Nicotiana tabacum L., var. One Sucker). The materials produced intense (in case of GA) and moderate (in case of IAA) stem proliferations when applied to debudded plants but were without effect on intact plants.The results suggest that debudding-tumors are probably not related to or a result of an auxin or gibberellin deficit and that total debudding has a marked physiological effect on the plant. The altered physiological condition of the debudded plant, indicated by its responses to IAA and GA, may likely be related to tumor and teratoma formation.
Tin and thallium reagents for transfer of the 1,2-di-tert-butylcyclopentadienyl ligand to transition metals

New tin and thallium reagents capable of transferring the 1,2-di-tert-butylcyclopentadienyl moiety are easily prepared and utilized in furthering the transition metal organometallic chemistry of this intersting ligand. Lithium 1,2-di-tert-butylcyclopentadienide (1) reacts cleanly and selectively with SnClMe3 to give 2,3-di-tert-butyl-5-trimethylstannyl-1,3-cyclopentadiene (2), which in turn reacts with Re(CO)5Br to form the half-sandwich complex [Re(η5-C5H3(1,2-But)2)(CO)3] (3). The reaction between thallium ethoxide and 1,5-ditert-butyl-1,3-cyclopentadiene in hexane affords the excellent cyclopentadienyl transfer reagent, thallium 1,2-di-tert-butylcyclopentadienide (4). The thallium salt reacts with [Ru(COD)Cl2]n to give the sandwich complex [Ru(η5-C5H3(1,2-Bu2t)2)] (5).
Interference and dephasing by electron-electron interaction on length scales shorter than the elastic mean free path.

A modified Young's double-slit experiment is realized for electrons in a high-mobility two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG). The observed quantum interference is employed to study dephasing by electron-electron interaction on length scales shorter than the elastic mean free path. It is found that the measured phase-breaking length agrees very well with theoretical calculations of the e-e mean free path in an ideal 2DEG. In contrast to the diffusive regime, dephasing occurs via e-e scattering events with an energy exchange on the order of the carrier excess energy.
Siderophore Mediated Plutonium Accumulation by Microbacterium flavescens (JG-9)

Uptake of plutonium and uranium mediated by the siderophore desferrioxamine-B (DFOB) has been studied for the common soil aerobe Microbacterium flavescens(JG-9). M. flavescens does not bind or take up nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) complexes of U(VI), Fe(III), or Pu(IV) or U(VI)-DFOB but does take up Fe(III)-DFOB and Pu(IV)-DFOB. Pu(IV)-DFOB and Fe(III)-DFOB accumulations are similar: only living and metabolically active bacteria take up these metal-siderophore complexes. The Fe(III)-DFOB and Pu(IV)-DFOB complexes mutually inhibit uptake of the other, indicating that they compete for shared binding sites or uptake proteins. However, Pu uptake is much slower than Fe uptake, and cumulative Pu uptake is less than Fe, 1.0 nmol of Fe vs 0.25 nmol of Pu per mg of dry weight bacteria. The Pu(IV)-DFOB interactions with M. flavescens suggest that Pu-siderophore complexes could generally be recognized by Fe-siderophore uptake systems of many bacteria, fungi, or plants, thereby affecting Pu environmental mobility and distribution. The results also suggest that the siderophore complexes of tetravalent metals can be recognized by Fe-siderophore uptake proteins.
Locating Magnetic Contacts: a Comparison of the Horizontal Gradient, Analytic Signal, And Local Wavenumber Methods

Three methods for locating isolated magnetic contacts from magnetic anomaly data are examined. All methods are similar in that they involve passing a small window over a derivative profile or grid, searching for local maxima within the window, estimating the strike (for grids) and horizontal position of the contact from the local maxima, then estimating the depth of the contact and other parameters by fitting the derivative data within the window to a theoretical curve. The methods differ in their complexity, accuracy, and sensitivity to noise and anomaly interference. The horizontal gradient method requires first-order horizontal derivatives and a reduction-to-the-pole or pseudogravity transformation. It is the method least susceptible to noise, but results are accurate only where the magnetization is induced and the sources are of very specific types. The analytic signal method requires first-order horizontal and vertical derivatives of the magnetic field or of the first vertical integral of the magnetic field. Horizontal location of isolated sources is generally accurate, but vertical position is accurate only for specific source types. Both the horizontal gradient method and the analytic signal method can be used to estimate minimum and maximum limits on source depths. The local wavenumber method requires firstand second-order horizontal and vertical derivatives, and is the most susceptible to noise and interference effects. In the absence of these problems, it provides accurate horizontal and vertical locations of isolated sources along with structural indices for the sources. The analytic signal and local wavenumber methods can be extended to estimate the geologic dip and magnetic susceptibility contrast across isolated contacts under the assumption of induced magnetization.
A case of mistaken identity? News accounts of hacker, consumer, and organizational responsibility for compromised digital records

The computer hacker is one of the most vilified figures in the digital era, but to what degree are organizations actually responsible for compromised personal records? To examine the role of organizational behavior in privacy violations, we analyze 589 incidents of compromised data between 1980 and 2006. There were more reported incidents in 2005 and 2006 than in the previous 25 years combined. Excluding a particularly large security breach at Acxiom, hackers account for the largest volume of compromised records, some 45%, while 27% of the volume is attributed to organizational mismanagement and 28% remains unattributed. In terms of incidents, 9% were an unspecified type of breach, 31% of the incidents involved hackers, and 60% of the incidents involved organizational mismanagement: personally identifiable information accidentally placed online, missing equipment, lost backup tapes, or other administrative errors. Options for public policy oversight are discussed.
Ordering Cellular Spaces with Application to Curves and Knots

This paper concerns the problem of ordering geometrical objects, which have the structure of finite cellular spaces. We introduce cellular codes, cellular indices, and (k,l)-sizes and apply them to ordering 2-cells, plane curves, and projections of knots. Results of this paper can be applied (1) to ordering other geometrical objects with cellular space structures, (2) in psychological and computer tests for comparison of complexity of geometrical objects, and (3) to ordering objects with fractal and chaotic structure, which admit approximation by cellular spaces.
Prediction of Water Inrush Through Coal Floors Based on Data Mining Classification Technique

Abstract Based on data mining classification technique, the neural network and the decision tree algorithms were studied to build a prediction system of water inrushes through coal floors. The back propagation neural network and the probabilistic neural network were compared to select features and algorithms. Rules of water inrushes through coal floors were obtained by the C4.5 decision tree and the classification and regression tree. The water inrush prediction system was built using the probabilistic neural network and the classification and regression tree. The result shows a prediction system which based on data mining classification technique is a practical and workable system.
A Framework for Assessing the Life Cycle Greenhouse Gas Benefits of Forest Bioenergy and Biofuel in an Era of Forest Carbon Management

The use of forest wastes for the production of bioenergy and liquid biofuels has the potential to offset the use of fossil energy sources. Some studies suggest biofuel and bioenergy produced from the removal of forest waste—products considered to be uneconomical to harvest—generates significant well-to-tank greenhouse gas (GHG) emission savings by displacing energy produced from fossil resources. In parallel, an increase in the frequency and intensity of wildfire both empirically observed and predicted by climate change models has highlighted the need to actively manage forests to increase the resilience of forests to wildfire. Integrated analysis that takes into account the dynamic interactions between carbon (C) pools resulting from forest management practices; forest fire behavior; and the fate of forest biomass in debris, forest products, and energy production will provide a consistent framework for policy planning that maximize the overall benefits of GHG policy. This integrated approach will have a ...
Current trends and directions in achieving sustainability in the biofuel and bioenergy supply chain

A major obstacle to sustainable biofuel production is the sheer complexity of the decisions facing producers and stakeholders. Integrated biorefining is a viable technology for converting a wide range of resources — biomass waste materials, dedicated energy crops, municipal solid waste, animal waste and forest products — into fuels and chemicals. But making the best choice among various available resources, process technologies and supply chain designs is no simple task, especially when sustainability is a criterion. Additional complexity arises because the relevant factors will be weighted differently by different constituencies. The risk of unintended consequences must also be considered: what can seem to be good decisions may prove unsustainable in the long term unless all potential implications can be assessed. To addresses these challenges an integrated approach including discrete event simulation is required due to the necessity to evaluate the effects of uncertainty over an extended time horizon.
The speciation of mercury in hydrothermal systems, with applications to ore deposition

Abstract Hg in hydrothermal systems is generally thought to be transported as Hg-S complexes. However, the abundance of Hg0vap, in geothermal emissions suggests that Hg0eq, is present in the liquid phase of geothermal systems. Calculations for reducing fluids (HS− dominant over SO=4) in equilibrium with cinnabar indicate that Hg0eq, can be quite abundant relative to other species at temperatures above 200°C. Increasing pH and temperature, and decreasing total S, ionic strength, and pO2 all promote the abundance of Hg0eq. When a vapor phase develops from a geothermal liquid, Hg partitions strongly into the vapor as Hg0vap. Vapor transport at shallow level then results in the formation of Hg halos around shallow aquifers as well as in a flux of Hg to the atmosphere. Hg deposition may occur in response to mixing with oxidizing or acidic water, turning Hg0eq, into Hg++, with subsequent cinnabar precipitation. When pyrite is the stable Fe-sulfide, cinnabar solubility is at its lowest, so cinnabar + pyrite assemblages are common. Cinnabar + hematite ± pyrite can precipitate from more oxidized or S-poor water. Hg0liq, can occur as a primary mineral, in coexistence with all common Fe-sulfides and oxides. Cinnabar ± Hg0liq cannot coexist with pyrrhotite or magnetite at temperatures between 100° and 250°C. Evidence from Hg deposits indicates that many formed from dilute hydrothermal fluids in which Hg probably occurred as Hg0eq. In S-rich systems, Hg may occur as Hg-S complexes, and in saline waters it can occur as Hg-Cl complexes.
High affinity thyroid hormone binding sites on purified rat liver plasma membranes

Abstract Two orders of saturable binding sites for L-T3 were detected on purified rat liver plasma membranes--a high affinity, low capacity binding site with a Kd of 3.2 ± 0.5 nM, and a lower affinity, higher capacity site with a Kd of 220 ± 50 nM. Competition-inhibition studies revealed that both D-T3 and L-T4 (two compounds with lower biological potencies than L-T3) were also less potent than L-T3 in competing for these binding sites. The present studies demonstrate, therefore, the presence of specific thyroid hormone binding sites on rat liver plasma membranes. In addition, they suggest that these sites may have a role both in mediating the known effects of thyroid hormones on membrane functions, and in regulating the entry of thyroid hormones into target cells.
The overthrow of the (evidence) hierarchy

Comparative effectiveness research (CER) has many definitions and is often misunderstood or understood only at its simplest; comparing treatment A to treatment B. Bekelman et al, in their article “Implications of Comparative Effectiveness Research for Radiation Oncology,” present a sophisticated methods commentary that not only introduces clinicians to the concept of CER, but also clarifies our understanding of what constitutes useful evidence required to demonstrate the value of our treatments in this time of rising health care costs and declining resources.1 This article should be required reading for all practicing radiation oncologists and radiation oncology residents. If the article by Bekelman et al embodies an introductory course in understanding the nature of evidence supporting medical interventions, required reading for an advanced course is Sir Michael Rawlins' Harveian Oration given before the Royal College of Physicians in 2008 entitled, “On the evidence for decisions about the use of therapeutic interventions.”2 In this extraordinary work, Rawlins lays out the epistemological polemic regarding the scientific method as it relates to the development of medical knowledge, especially the debate surrounding the use of inductive versus deductive methods for substantiating medical evidence and the application or misapplication of levels or hierarchies of evidence. Rawlins points out that medical evidence serves as the foundation for providers, payors, and policy makers to understand the appropriate
Metallic Surfaces Decontamination by Using LASER Light

Metal surface cleaning appears to be one of the major priorities for industries especially for nuclear industries. The research and the development of a new technology that is able to meet the actual requirements (i.e. waste volume minimization, liquid effluents and chemicals free process…) seems to be the main commitment. Currently, a wide panel of technologies already exists (e.g. blasting, disk sander, electrodecontamination…) but for some of them, the efficiency is limited (e.g, Dry Ice blasting) and for others, the wastes production (liquid and/or solid) remains an important issue. One answer could be the use of a LASER light process. Since a couple of years, the Clean-Up Business Unit of the AREVA group investigates this decontamination technology. Many tests have been already performed in inactive (i.e. on simulants such as paints, inks, resins, metallic oxides) or active conditions (i.e. pieces covered with a thick metallic oxide layer and metallic pieces covered with grease). The paper will describe the results obtained in term of decontamination efficiency during all our validation process. Metallographic characterizations (i.e. SEM, X-ray scattering) and radiological analysis will be provided. We will also focus our paper on the future deployment of the LASER technology and its commercial use at La Hague reprocessing facility in 2013.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Substitutability and the welfare effects of endowment increases

Abstract Mas-Colell has conjectured that if all commodities are normal goods for a certain consumer, and if the aggregate excess demand function of the other consumers satisfies the condition of gross substitutability, then an increase in his initial endowments will lead to a new equilibrium allocation which will be preferred by him. This excludes the ‘immiserizing growth’ paradox. It is shown that a sufficient condition is that commodities be also net substitutes for the consumer that has been singled out.
Optimal Agency Contracts: The Effect of Vicarious Liability and Judicial Error

Under the doctrine of vicarious liability, a deep-pocket principal is often held responsible for a third-party harm caused by a judgment-proof agent's negligence. We analyze the incentive contract used by the principal to control the agent's behavior when a court can make an error in determining the agent's negligence. We show that (1) reducing the error of declaring the agent not negligent even when he was (pro-defendant or type II error) is better than reducing the error of declaring the agent negligent even when he was not (pro-plaintiff or type I error) and (2) allowing the principal to penalize the agent even when the court declares the agent not negligent improves welfare. The latter supports the argument that causing an accident (or a reliable allegation of misconduct) should be sufficient to justify a just cause termination of an employee.
A Review of Microscale Transport in the Thermal Processing of New and Emerging Advanced Materials

This paper reviews the microscale transport processes that arise in the fabrication of advanced materials. In many cases, the dimensions of the device being fabricated are in the micrometer length scale and, in others, underlying transformations that determine product quality and characteristics are at micro- or nanoscale levels. The basic considerations in these transport phenomena are outlined. A few important materials processing circumstances are considered in detail. These include the fabrication of multilayer and hollow optical fibers, as well as those where micro- and nanoscale dopants are added to achieve desired optical characteristics, thin film fabrication by chemical vapor deposition, and microscale coating of fibers and devices. It is shown that major challenges are posed by the simulation and experimentation, as compared with those for engineering or macroscale dimensions. These include accurate simulation to capture large gradients and variations over relatively small dimensions, simulating high pressures and viscous dissipation effects in microchannels, modeling effects such as surface tension that become dominant at microscale dimensions, and coupling micro- and nanoscale mechanisms with boundary conditions imposed at the macroscale. Similarly, measurements over microscale dimensions are much more involved than those over macro- or industrial scales because of difficult access to the regions of interest, relatively small effects such as tension, buoyancy effects, viscous rupture, bubble entrapment, and other mechanisms that are difficult to measure and that can make the process infeasible. It thus becomes difficult to achieve desired accuracy for validating the mathematical and numerical models. This paper reviews some of the approaches that have been adopted to overcome these difficulties. Comparisons between experimental and numerical results are included to show fairly good agreement, indicating the validity of the modeling of transport.
Biochemistry of selenium: a brief overview.

Abstract The chemistry of Se suggests that, in biological systems, it is most likely present as the selenol (selenomercaptan) R-SeH, or, as the Se ether analogous to sulfur in the amino acid methionine. Selenols are stronger acids than mercaptans and, at physiological pH, exist mainly in anionic form (R-Se − ) whereas the sulfhydryl group exists mainly in the protonated form. The anionic form of the selenohydryl group is a good nucleophile as well as a good leaving group. Also, it binds metals strongly, which is the principle behind the use of Se compounds for heavy metal detoxification. Conversely, metal ions can strip Se from organoselenium compounds and Hg, Cd, Pb, and Cu are highly effective in this capacity. In vivo , Se compounds tend to undergo reduction in contrast to sulfur compounds which are acquired in reduced form and generally undergo oxidation. Biosynthesis of methylated Se compounds, yielding dimethyl selenide, dimethyl diselenide, or trimethyl selenonium ion, appears to be the major pathway of Se metabolism/detoxification in animals. The highest activity of the pathway has been found in liver and kidney followed by lung, skeletal muscle, spleen, and heart. Selenium (Se) appears to be incorporated into proteins via post transcriptional modification of polypeptides. Six proteins that incorporate/require Se have been isolated: Se-dependent glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), the selenoprotein of muscle, selenoflagellin, Se-transport protein, and the bacterial enzymes formate dehydrogenase and glycin reductase. There is evidence also that Se is an essential component of nicotinic acid hydroxylase, xanthine dehydrogenase, and a bacterial thiolase. As an integral part of Se-dependent GSH-Px, Se has been reported to play a key role in the cellular antioxidant defense mechanism and modulation of the arachidonic acid cascade. Selenium deficiency has been implicated as a factor in a number of diseases affecting humans and animals of economic importance. Also, Se has been reported to enhance both the humoral and cellular immune responses and to possess anticarcinogenic activity.
Pulmonary Abscess Secondary to Bland Pulmonary Infarction

Findings in twenty-three cases of pulmonary abscess which developed after bland pulmonary infarction are presented and are analyzed. While the diagnosis was definitely established clinically in only three cases, it is felt that abscess formation should be suspected in any case of infarction in which leukocytosis, unremitting fever and possibly a productive cough develop subsequently. Pulmonary infarcts are especially prone to develop in cases of cardiac decompensation and in any case of cardiac disease in which illness has been prolonged and unremitting fever has been present the possibility of abscess formation should be considered. A distinction should be made clinically between septic and aseptic embolic infarction. The term "infected infarct" should not be used unless the mode of infection is made clear. In so far as the pathogenesis of these abscesses is concerned, it can be concluded that their development in a region of bland infarction depends upon the following factors: 1)The size of the region of infarction: the larger the region of infarction, the better the chances for abscess formation. 2)The state of blood supply to the region of infarction and the adequacy of collateral circulation. 3)The state of the surrounding pulmonary tissue, including such factors as coexistent congestion or atelectasis. 4)Bacteriologic factors, which include the presence or absence of dental, buccal and pharyngeal infections; the presence of bronchitis; the virulence of the organisms involved, and the massiveness of the infection. 5)The indeterminate, but apparently actively operating, factor of "tissue resistance" to the development of such abscesses in what, at first sight, appears to be a very fertile field for the growth of bacteria.
Somali Adolescents' Negotiation of Religious and Racial Bias In and Out of School

This article explores the issues of race and religion as they pertain to adolescent Somali immigrants and their lives at school, among their families, and in their communities. Research from a number of contexts offers a range of perceptions, held by Somali youth and adults, not commonly available in the media. Multiple suggestions are offered to educators for engaging youth in conversations about race and religion in ways that will make Muslim students feel more welcome at school and help all students understand racial and religious identity, as well as the harm that racial and religious bias can cause.
Scopolamine Effects Under a Titrating-Delayed-Nonmatching-to-Position Procedure.

In a study of working memory, the performance of rats under titrating-delayednonmatching- to-position (TDNMTP) procedures was examined. Overall accuracy and the number of trials completed were inversely related to titration value, whereas the highest delay attained was directly related to titration value. When given intraperitoneally, scopolamine significantly reduced the highest delay attained without significantly affecting other performance measures for most administrations. Subcutaneous administrations significantly reduced all performance measures, suggesting that, as in most prior studies, the drug’s disruptive effects were not limited to memory processes. These findings demonstrate the feasibility of using TDNMTP procedures with rats, but further research is necessary to determine if such procedures are especially valuable in studying working memory and drug effects thereon.
Fast and precise power prediction for combinational circuits

The power consumed by a combinational circuit is dictated by the switching activities of all signals associated with the circuit. An analytical approach is proposed for calculating signal activities for combinational circuits. The approach is based on a Markov chain signal model, and directly accounts for correlations present among the signals. The accuracy of the approach is verified by comparing signal activity values calculated using the proposed approach with corresponding values produced through simulation studies. It is also demonstrated that the proposed approach is computationally efficient.
Genome-wide mapping of nucleosome positioning and DNA methylation within individual DNA molecules

DNA methylation and nucleosome positioning work together to generate chromatin structures that regulate gene expression. Nucleosomes are typically mapped using nuclease digestion requiring significant amounts of material and varying enzyme concentrations. We have developed a method (NOMe-seq) that uses a GpC methyltransferase (M.CviPI) and next generation sequencing to generate a high resolution footprint of nucleosome positioning genome-wide using less than 1 million cells while retaining endogenous DNA methylation information from the same DNA strand. Using a novel bioinformatics pipeline, we show a striking anti-correlation between nucleosome occupancy and DNA methylation at CTCF regions that is not present at promoters. We further show that the extent of nucleosome depletion at promoters is directly correlated to expression level and can accommodate multiple nucleosomes and provide genome-wide evidence that expressed non-CpG island promoters are nucleosome-depleted. Importantly, NOMe-seq obtains DNA methylation and nucleosome positioning information from the same DNA molecule, giving the first genome-wide DNA methylation and nucleosome positioning correlation at the single molecule, and thus, single cell level, that can be used to monitor disease progression and response to therapy.
Self-powered microscale pumps based on analyte-initiated depolymerization reactions

1) those that are turned on and off byinput from the user; and 2) single-use pumps that are turnedon autonomously by exposure to a specific chemical signal,and therefore do not need to be turned off. The ideal pump inthis second category would combine sensing and pumpingcapabilities,andthuswouldenablepumpingthatiscontrolledby the presence and concentration of a specific analyte.Herein we describe the first examples of this second type ofmicroscale pump. We characterize this type of pump, andestablishboththechemicalandphysical–chemicalfoundationupon which future applied efforts will be based.The pumps consist of insoluble polymer films thatdepolymerize to release soluble monomeric products whenexposed to a specific analyte (Figure 1).
Single-cell-level cancer therapy using a hollow optical fiber-based microplasma.

Atmospheric-pressure plasmas have been used in cancer therapies, but the size of the delivery systems precludes single-cell treatments. Plasmas are gaseous collections of ionized particles that include free electrons and radicals that are short-lived but strongly reactive species. Cancer therapies based on plasmas that operate at atmospheric pressure have been developed, which expose these free radicals to tumor cells causing their subsequent apoptosis at a rapid pace. To define the mechanism of plasma-induced tumor cell apoptosis, it would be preferred to have a plasma device that can treat tumor cells at the single-cell level. Thus, the challenge is to generate and deliver plasmas to a single cell. A microplasma jet device consisting of a tube with electrodes has been demonstrated as a source for creating nonthermal atmospheric-pressure plasmas with dimensions on the order of several hundred micrometers. There are two principal methods for reducing the size of the plasma. The first method utilizes a glass capillary tube with a small inner diameter. The second approach employs a thin metal wire as an electrode. Because microplasma jets were originally developed for superficial work (i.e., treating only the surface of objects),
Spatial and Spatio-Temporal Models for Modeling Epidemiological Data with Excess Zeros

Epidemiological data often include excess zeros. This is particularly the case for data on rare conditions, diseases that are not common in specific areas or specific time periods, and conditions and diseases that are hard to detect or on the rise. In this paper, we provide a review of methods for modeling data with excess zeros with focus on count data, namely hurdle and zero-inflated models, and discuss extensions of these models to data with spatial and spatio-temporal dependence structures. We consider a Bayesian hierarchical framework to implement spatial and spatio-temporal models for data with excess zeros. We further review current implementation methods and computational tools. Finally, we provide a case study on five-year counts of confirmed cases of Lyme disease in Illinois at the county level.
Establishing the Agile PMO: Managing variability across Projects and Portfolios

Our portfolio management office helps to balance the demand on the firm's resources from multiple competing and sometimes inter-dependent projects. Traditional project/portfolio management office supports the project/portfolio managers. As more and more of our project managers become scrum masters and the portfolio managers becomes the group scrum master, our portfolio management office needed to become agile itself. We converted our traditional PMO that supported the project managers to an agile PMO that staffed experienced agile coaches who supported the different portfolio and agile project teams. The services included conducting agile training, starting up new agile teams, encouraging team empowerment, transforming existing roles, artifacts and processes to become more agile, capturing metrics across portfolio and project teams and creating the management reports. We are sharing the lessons learned and hopeful that it will benefit those starting on the Agile adoption journey.
Leakage power modeling and reduction with data retention

In this paper, we study leakage power reduction using power gating in the form of the virtual power/ground rails clamp (VRC) and multi-threshold CMOS (MTCMOS) techniques. We apply power gating to two circuit types: memory-based units and datapath components. Using a microarchitecture-level power simulator, as well as power and timing models derived from detailed circuit designs, we further study leakage power modeling and reduction at the system level for modern high-performance VLIW processors. We show that the leakage power can be over 40% of the total power for such processors. Moreover, we propose time-out scheduling of the VRC to reduce power up to 85.65% for an L2 cache. This power saving results in close to 1/3 of the total power dissipation for the VLIW processors we studied.
Variational principles in potential theory

Although the theoretical and practical importance of variational techniques in potential theory has long been secure, fresh instances of their utility are not without interest. Two cases in point are detailed, one relating to the capacitance of a condenser formed by a centrally placed strip within a circular shell and the other relating to the torsional rigidity of a circular cylindrical bar with a radial slit. The high degree of geometrical symmetry reflected in these configurations affords a corresponding diversity in approaches to the concomitant boundary value problems; and it is noteworthy that the exercise of different procedural options furnishes variational characterizations with a complementary nature. Thus, in the foregoing examples, a pair of newly devised variational principles are shown to provide opposite bounds for the capacitance and torsional rigidity, respectively, from those associated with alternative (though more readily established) principles. It appears, furthermore, that the new variational formulations are especially suited to the circumstances wherein the larger values of the ratio of the strip, or slit, width to the circular diameter obtain, whereas the others enjoy a corresponding fitness if the ratio is small compared with unity.