cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ethnic Differences in Risk for HIV Infection and STDs in a Sample of African-American and Latina Homeless Women

Homeless minority women are at an elevated risk for contracting HIV and other STDs as a result of injection drug use (IDU), unprotected sexual activity, sex with multiple partners, and victimizatio...
EUV photolithography: resist progress and challenges

With the rapid development of semiconductors, today's optical lithography is approaching its physical limits, and thus alternative patterning technology is urgently desired. Extreme ultra-violet (EUV) lithography, using a wavelength of 13.5 nm, is considered one of the most prominent candidates for next generation lithography. The main challenge for EUV resists is to simultaneously satisfy resolution, LWR (line-width roughness) and sensitivity requirements following the ITRS roadmap. Though polymer-based CAR (chemically amplified resist) is the current standard photoresist, entirely new resist platforms are required due to the performance targets of smaller process nodes. In this paper, our recent progress in metal oxide nanoparticle photoresist research will be discussed. Brief discussion of a number of important structure and property issues pertaining to key characteristics affecting resist performance is also included.
Enhancing the teaching of seismic isolation using additive manufacturing

Abstract This paper provides a complementary study to two previous papers by Virgin (2017a,b). In those papers, 3D printing was used to provide hands-on experience for students studying structural analysis and structural dynamics, respectively. In this paper, the application of 3D printing is extended to investigate advanced seismic design strategies, namely seismic isolation. This paper describes the use of 3D printing to fabricate pendulum-type isolation bearings under parametric variation. Both sliding and rolling mechanisms are modeled, designed, fabricated and tested, and the influence of bearing geometry (radius) and damping (friction versus rolling resistance) on dynamic characteristics and isolation performance is explored.
Asymmetric causality between the U.S. housing market and its stock market: Evidence from state level data

Abstract Previous research that investigated the link between the U.S. housing market and its stock market concentrated on the wealth effect by assuming the stock prices to be another determinant of house prices. However, the meltdown of housing market and its subsequent impact on the stock market and the U.S. economy in 2008 pointed to causal relation that could run from housing market to stock market. When we tested this hypothesis using state level data, we found short-run symmetric causality from stock prices to house prices in 10 states and from house prices to stock prices in 20 states. However, when we engaged in asymmetric causality, these numbers increased to 25 and 41 respectively. Surprisingly, in 39 out of 41 states in which house prices caused stock prices, it was decline in house prices that caused stock prices, supporting the events of 2008 as well as asymmetric impacts. We also found cointegration of the two markets in more than half of the states.
Advancing the REVOLUTION: Using Earth Systems Science to Prepare Elementary School Teachers in an Urban Environment

The Earth and Space sciences provide opportunities for content learning in inquiry-based classrooms, emphasizing ways in which science is relevant to the lives of both students and teachers. We are successfully using an Earth Systems approach to prepare preservice elementary school teachers in understanding science content and pedagogy with emphases in technology and mathematics. Using Lake Pontchartrain as the unifying theme across four courses, students learn not only science content, but also scientific process. Students perform research projects on Lake Pontchartrain and the Mississippi River, and develop models of changes in water quality that are directly comparable to longitudinal data being collected by research laboratories, Our approach fosters students': a) understanding of science and the scientific process, b) self-confidence in teaching science, c) knowledge of state science-education standards, d) ability to accurately research and prepare lessons on science topics, and e) positive attitude...
A Preliminary Study of the Behavior and Ecology of Lemur fulvus rufus Audebert 1800

This is a preliminary report on the ecology and behavior of Lemur fulvus rufus (Fig. 1A, B). The brown lemur, Lemur fulvus, is almost exclusively an arboreal quadruped, and in general behavior and morphology resembles arboreal monkeys more than any other prosimian. Although subspecies of L. fulvus are among the most widely distributed and abundant of the Madagascar lemurs, there have been no published reports on long-term field studies of this species. Information for this study was collected during an 18-month field study (September 1969–January 1971) in the southwest of Madagascar. The focus of the study was to compare sympatric populations of L. f. rufus and Lemur catta, and a number of papers on that aspect of the research have been completed (Sussman, 1972, 1973, 1974).
Breeding Crops for Environmental Stress Tolerance

Historically, farmers have used a trial and error approach in selecting the crops that they grow, choosing particular crops because they perform well under their climatic and field conditions. Plant breeders have expended considerable effort to develop high-yielding cultivars of those crops which are adapted to relatively optimal environments. Through these endeavors the efficiency of food production has improved steadily. But as the demand for food and fiber increases, the impact of fluctuating environments becomes increasingly important. It is the sensitivity of our crop plants to environmental stresses which limits their climatic distribution and time of year for production. In many areas of the world, the environmental milieu is marginal, or totally unsuited for economic production of crop plants. Even in areas normally suited to these crops, sensitivity to sporadic environmental insults at critical periods during plant growth and development also results in losses. The intense one (or two)-crop agriculture practiced in certain areas of many developed countries is particularly vulnerable to short-term fluctuations in the environment; the crops used having been selected for genetic uniformity and developed for optimal conditions. Breeding crops for high yield potential will undoubtedly continue as a preeminent breeding objective. The importance of yield stability across different environmental regimes, however, is gaining interest. Can crop resiliency to environmental stresses be improved by plant breeding? This question provides the focus for the ensuing discussion.
Discrete Micromodulus Functions for Reducing Wave Dispersion in Linearized Peridynamics

Typical implementations of peridynamics use a constant or tapered micromodulus (or influence) function, the choice of which has been shown to have a large impact on the dispersion relation. In this work, a method for computing micromodulus function values at discretized points within a node’s horizon is presented for linearized peridynamics. The technique involves constructing a system of equations representing the desired dispersion relation and solving for the micromodulus function coefficients at discretized node locations. Both 1D and 2D formulations are presented. A straightforward implementation of the method results in negative coefficients, which improve wave propagation accuracy, but results in unstable solutions of fracture problems using a bond-breakage scheme. Two methods for addressing this issue are discussed: A hybrid method that uses a constant micromodulus function after damage has occurred at a node, and a constrained solution that results in only positive coefficients. The dispersion properties of the method are examined in detail, including the numerical anisotropy in 2D. Finally, results for wave propagation in 1D and 2D, static fracture, and dynamic fracture are given.
Value-creating global citizenship education: Engaging Gandhi, Makiguchi, and Ikeda as Examples

Imminent global problems and the planet’s climatic, ecological, and social crises pose researchers, policy-makers and educators with important questions about global citizenship. The toll of the de...
Fast and feel good

Claims that fasting eases symptoms of autoimmune disease have been met with scepticism. But the idea receives some support from the finding that leptin, a hormone that controls body weight, also regulates autoimmunity.
Is programmed aging a cause for optimism

Aging is now viewed as programmed under genetic control by a growing minority of evolutionary biologists, and a larger proportion of researchers in gerontology. The hypothesis of programmed aging has been regarded as encouraging for anti-aging science. Some mechanisms of programmed aging may present ready targets for medical interference [mitigation alleviation attenuation], while other kinds of programmed mechanism may yet prove to be refractory. The most promising possibility is that the machinery responsible for maintenance of the vibrant and youthful state of the body is never really lost, but de-commissioned by hormonal signals in the aging body; restoring a youthful signaling environment should then be sufficient to prompt the body to restore itself. But it is also possible that aging may be programmed in a way that does not facilitate anti-aging interventions. We identify two possible cases: In the first, the body is programmed to age via neglect rather than by affirmative self-destruction, so that damage is accumulating that the body is beyond the body's power to repair. In the second, aging is controlled by an epigenetic clock whose workings are so intricate as to be intractable for human mastery in the foreseeable future. There is substantial evidence that first of these is not a likely scenario, but the jury is still out on the second.
Exercise and Episodic Specificity Induction on Episodic Memory Function

Background and objectives: Episodic specific induction (ESI) is a manipulation shown to enhance episodic memory function. Episodic specificity induction involves thoroughly unpacking a recently encoded memory, with this enhanced retrieval-induced process helping to facilitate subsequent cognitions. In addition to ESI, emerging work suggests that acute exercise may also help to facilitate episodic memory function. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential individual and combined effects of acute exercise and ESI on subsequent episodic memory performance. Materials and Methods: Participants (n = 120) were randomly assigned into one of four groups, (1) ESI and exercise (ESI + E), (2) ESI only (ESI), (3) exercise only (E), and (4) no ESI and no exercise (Control; C). The ESI protocol involved watching a short video and then recalling details about the setting, people, and actions in the video. The exercise protocol involved an acute bout (15 min) of treadmill exercise. After these tasks, episodic memory function was evaluated with an autobiographical interview assessment and a computerized episodic memory task involving what–where–when integration. Results: We did not observe significant main effects for exercise or ESI on memory function but did observe some suggestive evidence of an interaction effect of these two parameters on episodic memory. That is, for the exercise group, memory performance was higher when combined with ESI as opposed to without ESI. Conclusions: Acute exercise and ESI may interact to influence episodic memory function.
Treatment of Isolated Serosanguinous Incision Drainage after Thoracolumbar Surgery: Is Surgical Management Always Necessary?

Background: There is no consensus regarding how to care for a patient presenting with early isolated incision drainage after thoracolumbar spine surgery. Although drainage is the most common presen...
Exploring Friction with the Ancient Egyptians

We devised an activity to explore friction by testing some of the common theories on how ancient Egyptians moved the stones used to build the pyramids. The activity is suitable for a high school physics course or introductory college courses for both science majors and non-science majors. The students investigate dragging a 1-kg mass (representing a stone) on a small wooden sled under three conditions: over dry sand, using wooden rollers over dry sand, and over wet sand. This last condition has been recently proposed as a potential method used by the Egyptians. The force required to pull the sled at a constant velocity is measured and used to calculate the kinetic coefficient of friction for each of the three test conditions. Students then perform a similar activity pulling their professor across a sand volleyball court. Versions of this experiment have been done in four classes of science majors (general physics, two 2-hour lab periods) and in four classes of non-science majors (physical sciences for educators, one 2-hour lab period).
Non-pain Symptom Management

Seriously ill infants may experience a wide variety of symptoms other than pain that may negatively impact their quality of life and cause unnecessary distress to their families and caregivers. These symptoms may include, but are not limited to, respiratory distress, vomiting, constipation, agitation, delirium, and environmental disturbances. While “non-pain” symptoms may sometimes be difficult to distinguish from pain, the general approach to recognition and management shares similarities. Having an awareness of infants’ state of being and the potential causes of all symptoms are important steps in helping infants achieve and maintain comfort. In this chapter, the authors discuss the clinical presentations and general approaches to managing different types of symptoms to improve infant comfort. Clinical vignettes are presented to help stimulate the reader’s reflection on key concepts.
National Inpatient Sample Database Reveals Pulmonary Artery Catheter Use Decreases Outcomes but Underused in Women

Purpose Cardiogenic shock (CS) continues to have high mortality and the influence of pulmonary artery catheters (PAC) in CS patients on a nationwide scale is yet to be well elucidated. We aim to identify the trends and outcomes in CS patients managed with PAC. Methods We conducted a retrospective analysis of the adults with CS using Healthcare Utilization Project Nationwide Inpatient Sample Database from 2009 through 2014 in the United States. A total of 104,455 patients were identified as having the diagnosis of CS during their index hospitalization. Trend analyses were performed using the Cochran-Armitage test of trend for categorical variables, and survey-specific for linear regression for continuous variables. Results Interestingly, the in-hospital mortality was lower in patients with PAC (29.7 vs 37.6%; p Conclusion There has been an increase in the number of patients with CS from 2009 to 2014, and the use of PAC had decreased. PACs were used less in females than in males, although we saw a possible benefit of PACs with in-hospital mortality in CS (p
43 – GEOCHEMISTRY OF ULTRAMAFIC INCLUSIONS FROM SALT LAKE CRATER, HAWAII, AND FROM SOUTHERN AFRICAN KIMBERLITES

K, Rb, Cs, Sr and Ba were measured in clinopyroxenes separated from seventeen ultramafic inclusions from Salt Lake Crater, Hawaii, and nine from Southern African kimberlites. In lherzolites and olivine eclogites of Salt Lake Crater, trace elements in the clinopyroxenes vary systematically with respect to whole-rock Mg/Fe. In lherzolites, K and Rb decrease (K: 69–22 ppm; Rb: 0.234–0.054 ppm) and Sr increases (71–140 ppm) with increasing Mg/Fe. Similarly in olivine eclogites, K, Rb and Cs decrease (K: 59–23; Rb: 0.165–0.014; Cs: 2.9–0.4 ppb) and Sr increases (104–118 ppm) with increasing Mg/Fe. Olivine-free eclogites (garnet pyroxenites) show only poor systematics and tend to be depleted in these elements relative to lherzolites and olivine eclogites. The trace element variations in lherzolites and olivine eclogites (especially the increase of Sr with increasing Mg/Fe) suggest that lherzolites and olivine eclogites were either residua or cumulates equilibrated with tholeiitic liquid in the presence of plagioclase and later recrystallized as plagioclase-free assemblages. Participation of plagioclase in the primary equilibrium is supported by the estimated P and T of the lherzolites (10–13 kbar, 950–1050°C) assuming that subsequent recrystallization took place during isobaric cooling. Trace elements in the pyroxenes from olivine-free eclogites appear to be explained by clinopyroxene–alkalic basalt equilibrium based on the partition coefficients of these elements between clinopyroxene and liquid at high pressures. The inclusions in kimberlites appear to be classified into two groups (the sheared and discrete nodules for one group and the granular nodules for the other) in terms of trace-element patterns in the clinopyroxenes. The sheared and discrete nodules would represent the solid residua left after fractional melting. The trace element characteristics of the granular nodule pyroxenes suggest that they may have been altered by secondary reaction with a fluid phase or with carbonate-rich kimberlite magma.
Predicting the delamination factor in carbon fibre reinforced plastic composites during drilling through the Gaussian process regression

The carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFPR) has been widely used in aircraft structural applications due to the superior modulus, specific tensile strength, and fatigue strength. The inhomogeneous a...
On the Resilience of Internet Infrastructures in Pacific Northwest to Earthquakes

The U.S. Pacific Northwest (PNW) is one of the largest Internet infrastructure hubs for several cloud and content providers, research networks, colocation facilities, and submarine cable deployments. Yet, this region is within the Cascadia Subduction Zone and currently lacks a quantitative understanding of the resilience of the Internet infrastructure due to seismic forces. The main goal of this work is to assess the resilience of critical Internet infrastructure in the PNW to shaking from earthquakes. To this end, we have developed a framework called ShakeNet to understand the levels of risk that earthquake-induced shaking poses to wired and wireless infrastructures in the PNW. We take a probabilistic approach to categorize the infrastructures into risk groups based on historical and predictive peak ground acceleration (PGA) data and estimate the extent of shaking-induced damages to Internet infrastructures. Our assessments show the following in the next 50 years: \(\sim \)65% of the fiber links and cell towers are susceptible to a very strong to a violent earthquake; the infrastructures in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue and Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro metropolitan areas have a 10% chance to incur a very strong to a severe earthquake. To mitigate the damages, we have designed a route planner capability in ShakeNet. Using this capability, we show that a dramatic reduction of PGA is possible with a moderate increase in latencies.
κ-Opioid receptor antagonism reverses heroin withdrawal-induced hyperalgesia in male and female rats

Abstract Although opioids are potent analgesics, a consequence of chronic opioid use is hyperalgesia during withdrawal, which may contribute to opioid misuse. Dynorphin, the endogenous ligand of κ-opioid receptors (KORs), is upregulated in opioid-dependent rats and in animal models of chronic pain. However, the role of KORs in opioid withdrawal-induced hyperalgesia remains to be determined. We hypothesized that KOR antagonism would reverse opioid withdrawal-induced hyperalgesia in opioid-dependent rats. Male and female Wistar rats received daily injections of heroin (2–6 mg/kg, SC) and were tested for mechanical sensitivity in the electronic von Frey test 4–6 h into withdrawal. Female rats required significantly more heroin than male rats to reach comparable levels of both heroin-induced analgesia and hyperalgesia (6 mg/kg vs. 2 mg/kg). Once hyperalgesia was established, we tested the effects of the KOR antagonists nor-binaltorphimine (norBNI; 30 mg/kg, SC) and 5′-guanidinonaltrindole (5′GNTI; 30 mg/kg, SC). When the animals continued to receive their daily heroin treatment (or saline treatment in the repeated saline group) five times per week throughout the experiment, both KOR antagonists reversed heroin withdrawal-induced hyperalgesia. The anti-hyperalgesia effect of norBNI was more prolonged in males than in females (14 days vs. 7 days), whereas 5′GNTI had more prolonged effects in females than in males (14 days vs. 4 days). The behavioral effects of 5′GNTI coincided with higher 5′GNTI levels in the brain than in plasma when measured at 24 h, whereas 5′GNTI did not reverse hyperalgesia at 30 min posttreatment when 5′GNTI levels were higher in plasma than in the brain. Finally, we tested the effects of 5′GNTI on naloxone-induced and spontaneous signs of opioid withdrawal and found no effect in either male or female rats. These findings indicate a functional role for KORs in heroin withdrawal-induced hyperalgesia that is observed in rats of both sexes.
Detecting selected non-random patterns with individuals control charts

Western Electric (1956) and Nelson (1984) proposed rule sets to detect visually obvious process upsets on a control chart. Performance evaluation of these rules require simulating situations that c...
Anti-CD25 Radioimmunotherapy with BEAM Autologous Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Conditioning in Hodgkin Lymphoma.

Abstract High-risk relapsed or refractory (R/R) classical Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is associated with poor outcomes after conventional salvage therapy and autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation (AHCT). Post-AHCT consolidation with brentuximab vedotin (BV) improves progression-free survival (PFS), but with increasing use of BV early in the treatment course, the utility of consolidation is unclear. CD25 is often expressed on Reed-Sternberg cells and in the tumor microenvironment in HL and we hypothesized that the addition of 90Y-antiCD25 (aTac) to BEAM AHCT would be safe and result in a transplantation platform that is agnostic to prior HL-directed therapy. Twenty-five patients with high-risk R/R HL were enrolled onto this phase 1 dose-escalation trial of aTac-BEAM. Following an imaging dose of 111In-antiCD25, 2 patients had altered biodistribution and a third developed an unrelated catheter-associated bacteremia; therefore 22 patients ultimately received therapeutic90 Y-aTac-BEAM AHCT. No dose-limiting toxicities were observed and 0.6mCi/kg was deemed the recommended phase 2 dose, the dose at which the heart wall would not receive > 2500cGy. Toxicities and time to engraftment were similar to those observed with standard AHCT, though 95% of patients developed stomatitis (all grade 1-2 per Bearman toxicity scale). Seven relapses (32%) were observed, most commonly in patients with ≥3 risk factors. The estimated 5-year PFS and overall survival probabilities among 22 evaluable patients were 68% and 95%, respectively, and non-relapse mortality was 0%. aTac-BEAM AHCT was tolerable in patients with high-risk R/R HL and we are further evaluating the efficacy of this approach in a phase 2 trial. The clinical trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT01476839).
Role of Taste and Appetite in Body Weight Regulation

The prevalence of obesity has increased dramatically in the last two decades, especially among ethnic minorities and the poor. Given that human physiology and genetics have changed little during that time, the explanation must lie in reduced physical activity or altered eating habits. Although the mainstream of obesity research continues to focus on genetic, metabolic, and physiological factors in weight gain, the obesity epidemic is most likely caused by a profound change in dietary behaviors. A Changes in the global food supply also plays a important part. Taste and palatability are among the key influences on food choice. The best tasting and most palatable foods are often those that provide the maximum amount of energy per unit weight. Currently, there is no convincing evidence to link obesity with specific macronutrient appetites. Although obesity is blamed on excessive consumption of fast foods or carbonated soft drinks, no study has shown that obese persons have a selective appetite for either sugar or fat. It may be that obesity is associated with an appetite for energy dense foods, whatever their nutrient content may be. Far from being an abnormality or a disease, obesity may represent an adaptive response to the current environmental conditions.
Radiation Therapy for Cervical Cancer

Carcinoma of the uterine cervix is a highly curable malignancy. Surgery is often used for early stages. For patients with more advanced disease the combination of external beam therapy with radiosensitizing chemotherapy combined with intracavitary radiotherapy offers excellent local control and disease free survival but requires meticulous attention to detail to ensure low complication rates
Trace elements in Gulf of Mexico oysters, 1986–1999

Abstract As part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Status and Trends Mussel Watch Program, oysters ( Crassostria virginica ) have been sampled along the entire US Gulf of Mexico (GOM) coastline once each year since 1986. The same sampling sites were reoccupied each year when possible. As a result, 63 different sites were sampled for at least 7 of the years between 1986 and 1999. Concentrations of Ag, As, Cd, Cu, Hg, Se, Pb and Zn in these oysters are reported here. The data show considerable variation for all metals, with the site-to-site variation generally larger than year-to-year variation at a given site. Metal concentrations at some sites were either much higher or much lower than average GOM concentrations year after year. At other sites metal concentrations decreased or increased for several years in a row and then reversed this trend. Large differences were often found at sites only 10 km or so apart, showing local control of metal concentrations. Only in a few cases can reasons for these differences be suggested, but because several metals commonly followed the same trend at a given site, both natural and human influences are suspected. Mercury concentrations were high near an old chlor-alkali plant, Zn was high near industrial areas and harbors and Pb was high on an Air Force Base. Arsenic concentrations were higher at open water sites than at back bay sites, especially in Florida, possibly due to differences in dissolved phosphate concentrations. Cd and Se concentrations were generally higher in Texas and Louisiana than in Florida but the opposite was true for As and Hg.
Factors Influencing the Efficacy of Mediator‐Specific Anti‐Inflammatory, Glucocorticoid, and Anticoagulant Therapies for Sepsis

Sepsis is a major cause of mortality for hospitalized patients worldwide with a mortality rate estimated to be between 30 and 60 percent. It is observed that during sepsis, cardiovascular dysfunction is produced by bacterial infection with the release of bacterial toxins and the production of harmful host mediators. This article focuses on the rationale for targeting inflammatory and coagulant pathways during sepsis, reviews the clinical experience with mediator-specific anti-inflammatory agents, steroids, and anticoagulants, and highlights factors that growing evidence suggests may influence their efficacy. Keywords: sepsis; cardiovascular dysfunctions; inflammatory and coagulant pathways; anti-inflammatory agents; anticoagulants; steroids
Intravenous feeding of a complete diet in a child

Summary A 5-month-old white infant with Hirschsprung's disease, complicatedby a digestive upset and upper respiratory infection, developed a most extreme picture of marasmus which gave every indication of an impending fatal termination. The baby was given a complete intravenous feeding for five days with fats, carbohydrate, and amino acids in proportions and quantities recommended in a normal infant's diet. There was a prompt dramatic improvement in the nutrition, permitting eventual successful treatment of the Hirschsprung's disease with prostigmine. We believe that this is the first case on record of complete feeding by vein alone for a significant period of time. The success in this child suggests strongly that total feedings by vein can be a practical and lifesaving procedure, especially applicable to children who are marasmic, or are for any reason unable to handle an adequate diet by mouth, or in whom it is desirable to withhold oral feedings for therapeutic purposes.
Origin of the DA and non-DA white dwarf stars

Various proposals for the bifurcation of the white dwarf cooling sequence are reviewed. 'Primordial' theories, in which the basic bifurcation of the white dwarf sequence is rooted in events predating the white dwarf stage of stellar evolution, are discussed, along with the competing 'mixing' theories in which processes occurring during the white dwarf stage are responsible for the existence of DA or non-DA stars. A new proposal is suggested, representing a two-channel scenario. In the DA channel, some process reduces the hydrogen layer mass to the value of less than 10 to the -7th. The non-DA channel is similar to that in the primordial scenario. These considerations suggest that some mechanism operates in both channels to reduce the thickness of the outermost layer of the white dwarf. It is also noted that accretion from the interstellar medium has little to do with whether a particular white dwarf becomes a DA or a non-DA star.
Going Meta: Design Space and Evaluation Space in Software Design

Design is an exploratory activity, and there are many ways to get lost or stuck. There is no pre-existing map – the map is built through the design process. We first discuss design space - the space of possible choices in creating something new - and how it can be visualized. We then discuss evaluation space - the space that measures a particular design along different criteria - and how it can be visualized. Just as in any form of exploring, it is difficult to take stock, to go meta and consider the situation from a different level of abstraction - that is, to engage in metacognition. We argue this is an essential part of any design process. A normative model of design conversation is developed and compared to what happens in a particular professional software design conversation.
Lessons Learned from Talking with Parents about the Role of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in the Treatment of Children with Sickle Cell Disease.

Background: Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is currently the only cure for sickle cell disease (SCD), but only a fraction of eligible children proceed to transplantation. We aimed to understand parental awareness and perceptions as a contributor. Purpose: To discuss HSCT with parents of children with SCD and assess their awareness and perceptions. Methods: A standardized educational session and pre–post surveys were used. Results: Fifty-seven parents completed the educational session. Parental awareness of HSCT and independent search for information were poor; only 40% of parents were previously aware of HSCT as a treatment option in SCD. However, 91% reported that the information was valuable, and 67% that they would consider HSCT as a treatment option for their child. Parents' main concerns were death, isolation, and infertility. Discussion: Our results support the use of structured educational materials during routine SCD health visits to provide information to parents about HSCT and beg...
Characterization of neoformed illite from hydrothermal experiments at 250 degrees C and P (sub v,soln) ; an HRTEM/ATEM study

Solid products from hydrothermal experiments conducted at 250 C and P{sub v,soln} were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) and ATEM/HRTEM. Experiments were conducted with muscovite, kaolinite, and quartz or amorphous silica in 2M KCl solutions for 43 to 176 d. Post-experiment solution compositions lie either within the illite(0.88 K) stability field or on the illite(0.88 K)-kaolinite or illite(0.88 K)-diaspore univariant boundaries in log (a{sub K}{sup +}/a{sub H}{sup +}) vs. log a{sub H{sub 4}SiO{sub 4}} activity space. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations of muscovite grain edges reveal the neoformation of illite crystals with a range of compositions (ATEM) from 0.31 to 0.89 K/O{sub 10}(OH){sub 2}. The range of K-contents appears to narrow toward 0.88 K/O{sub 10}(OH){sub 2} with increased experiment duration. HRTEM suggests the presence of 2 to 11 layer fundamental particles composed of illitic layers with 10 A periodicity. Fundamental particle thicknesses increase toward an average of 8 layers/particle with increased experiment duration. In the longer duration experiments, fundamental particle thicknesses were normally distributed about thicknesses of 4 and 8 layers, whereas fundamental particles with thicknesses <4 layers were common in a shorter duration experiment. The compositions and structure of the illites are consistent with the multiphase model, which more » states that the smectite-to-illite transition occurs through the step-wise formation of solubility-controlling phases consisting of fundamental particles with thicknesses of 1, 2, 4, and {le}8 layers. The increase in K-content and fundamental particle thickness with the extent of reaction suggests that the illite crystals underwent a prograde reaction culminating in the formation of end-member illite [0.88 K/O{sub 10}(OH){sub 2}]. This reaction, in conjunction with the previously observed, retrograde reaction from muscovite to end-member illite, demonstrates the stability of end-member illite in the system K{sub 2}O-Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}-SiO{sub 2}H{sub 2}O at 250 C. « less
Ecosystem engineering by a gall-forming wasp indirectly suppresses diversity and density of herbivores on oak trees

Ecosystem engineers, organisms that modify the physical environment, are generally thought to increase diversity by facilitating species that benefit from engineered habitats. Recent theoretical work, however, suggests that ecosystem engineering could initiate cascades of trophic interactions that shape community structure in unexpected ways, potentially having negative indirect effects on abundance and diversity in components of the community that do not directly interact with the habitat modifications. We tested the indirect effects of a gall-forming wasp on arthropod communities in surrounding unmodified foliage. We experimentally removed all senesced galls from entire trees during winter and sampled the arthropod community on foliage after budburst. Gall removal resulted in 59% greater herbivore density, 26% greater herbivore richness, and 27% greater arthropod density five weeks after budburst. Gall removal also reduced the differences in community composition among trees (i.e., reduced beta diversity), even when accounting for differences in richness. The community inside galls during winter and through the growing season was dominated by jumping spiders (Salticidae; 0.87 ± 0.12 spiders per gall). We suggest that senesced galls provided habitat for spiders, which suppressed herbivorous arthropods and increased beta diversity by facilitating assembly of unusual arthropod communities. Our results demonstrate that the effects of habitat modification by ecosystem engineers can extend beyond merely providing habitat for specialists; the effects can propagate far enough to influence the structure of communities that do not directly interact with habitat modifications.
Relationship Between Hard and Soft Solar X-Ray Sources Observed by OSO 7

The UCSD experiment on the OSO-7 satellite has provided hard and soft X-ray observations of a large number of solar flares. Of these a sample of 123 had sufficiently large fluxes to permit analysis of their spectra (Datlowe et al.,1974). The locations of these flares upon the solar disk have been obtained by comparison with Ha flare listings. We find that the soft (5.1–6.6 keV) X-ray bursts, above a threshold of 1000 photons (cm2 s keV)−1, have a relatively flat distribution from center to limb. The frequency of occurrence of hard (20–30 keV) X-ray bursts, as normalized to the longitude distribution of the soft X-ray bursts, shows a statistically insignificant excess of 19 ± 34% in the longitude range 80–90°. Furthermore, the limb flares exhibit a small but statistically significant spectral softening.
The role of R&D subsidies when incomplete information is an entry-barrier

Abstract This paper explores the role of R&D subsidies in the presence of incomplete information. We consider a market for ‘experience goods’, where a firm's R&D investment determines the quality of its product but where quality becomes observable to consumers only through experience with the product. In this model, externalities emerge in that individual firms cannot fully appropriate the benefits of their quality-enhancing investment outlays. We show that an R&D subsidy can internalize this externality, and characterize optimal infant industry intervention in this setting.
OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY FOR BLADDER CANCER DIAGNOSIS: FROM ANIMAL STUDY TO CLINICAL DIAGNOSIS

This paper summarizes the recent technological development in our lab on cystoscopic optical coherence tomography (COCT) by integrating time-domain OCT (TDOCT) and spectral-domain OCT (SDOCT) with advanced MEMS-mirror technology for endoscopic laser scanning imaging. The COCT catheter can be integrated into the instrument channel of a commercial 22Fr rigid cystoscopic sheath for in vivo imaging of human bladder under the cystosocopic visual guidance; the axial/transverse resolutions of the COCT catheter are roughly 9 μm and 12 μm, respectively, and 2D COCT imaging can be performed with over 110dB dynamic range at 4–8 fps. To examine the utility and potential limitations of OCT for bladder cancer diagnosis, systemic ex vivo rat bladder carcinogenesis studies were performed to follow various morphological changes induced by tumor growth and in vivo porcine study was performed to examine the feasibility of COCT for in vivo imaging. Justified by promising results of the animal studies, preliminary clinical study was conducted on patients scheduled for operating-room cystoscopy for bladder cancers. Double-blind clinical results reveal that COCT can delineate detailed bladder architectures (e.g., urothelium, lamina propria, muscularis) at high resolution and detect bladder cancers based on enhanced urothelial heterogeneity as a result of excessive growing nature of bladder cancers. The diagnostic sensitivity and specificity can be enhanced to 92% and 85%, respectively. Results also suggest that due to reduced imaging depth of COCT in cancerous lesions, staging of bladder cancers may be limited to Ta or T1 for non-outgrowing cancerous lesions.
Discovery and Perspectives from the Blastokinin Era

The events and rationalizations that led to one discovery of the rabbit uterine protein, then called blastokinin, are narrated in historical perspective and related to the independent discovery of the same protein, named uteroglobin. The period when the name "blastokinin" remained in partial use, roughly from the original publication in 1967 until the early 1980s, is considered here as the blastokinin era. Subsequent perspectives, originating from the era, are presented on the hormonal regulation of blastokinin, as well as its distribution, biological function, and potential relationships with other entities that exist coincidentally.
The chemistry and superconducting properties of species in the system Bi-Ca-Sr-Cu-O

Experimental results are presented on efforts to maximize the content of the phase responsible for the 110 K superconducting transition, Bi 2 Ca 2 Sr 2 Cu 3 O 2 or (2223), in the system Bi–Ca–Sr–Cu–O. It was found that the content of this phase depends not only on the initial composition of the reacting mixture, but also on the presence of PbO, the temperature of reaction, and the duration of the reaction.
Habitat-mediated survival of newly settled red king crab in the presence of a predatory fish: Role of habitat complexity and heterogeneity

Red king crab (RKC) (Paralithodes camtschaticus) are generally associated with structurally complex habitats during the first 2 years of benthic life. In this first experimental laboratory study with a fish predator, survival of newly settled juvenile RKC was tested in eight different habitat treatments with varying amounts and types of physical structure, open sand, gravel bottom, and habitat islands. Video observations provided insights on habitat-mediated interactions between Pacific halibut predators (Hippoglossus stenolepis) and crab prey. Survival of RKC increased with amount of physical structure and was highest in the most heterogeneous habitat and in habitats characterized by high density patches. Predator activity decreased with increasing amount of structure, and attacks on RKC were correlated with predator activity. Low survival in open sand habitat was associated with both high attack rate and high capture success (captures per attack). Lower levels of capture success did not vary among the habitats containing algae and other complex physical structures, but attack rates declined with increasing amount of structure, and encounter rate (i.e., prey detection and attack) was the primary determinant of mortality. RKC were capable of detecting predators and adjusted their behavior to avoid predation by sheltering in dense microhabitat patches. Successful stock enhancement for greatly reduced populations of RKC in the Gulf of Alaska will depend upon placing seed stock in habitats with abundant protective habitat, and high quality microhabitats may serve as well as continuous cover.
Merger Simulation in the Presence of Large Choice Sets and Consumer Stockpiling: The Case of the Bottled Juice Industry

We simulate the price effects of several hypothetical mergers in the shelf-stable bottled juice industry. In doing so, we highlight the effects of consumer stockpiling on demand elasticity estimates and subsequent merger simulations. This task is complicated by a large number of choice alternatives within the bottled juice category. To address this challenge we employ a demand model based on the Distance Metric (DM) approach of Pinkse et al. (Econometrica 70:1111–1153, 2002). We find that merger simulations that do not account for consumer stockpiling behavior underestimate the permanent price changes that are likely to occur due to a merger.
Examining Important Corner Cases: Verification of Interacting Architectural Components in System Designs

In embedded system design, design errors are often introduced at the interfaces between multiple architectural components. Systematic design methodology for verifying the interaction between the components is imperative for improving the design productivity. In practice, different kinds of interactions need to be examined, in terms of levels of abstraction and in terms of types of architectural components. In all the cases, the key aspect is to stress the interacting components in such a way that important corner cases can be effectively examined, but the models to be used and the issues to be addressed vary, depending upon the kinds of interactions to be verified. In this talk, we observe typical types of interactions one needs to examine in embedded system designs, and present issues and requirements that one needs to account for. We then show some approaches that can be used for the interaction verification, and discuss how the stated requirements are addressed with those approaches.
Pulsed and steady-state photon source calibration using windowless Si surface-barrier photodiodes

Abstract The pulsed and steady-state photoresponses of silicon surface-barrier photodiodes having sensitive areas of 2.5 cm 2 have been measured at a photon wavelength λ of 850 nm (1.5 eV). The photodiodes studied are either windowless, i.e., have no gold film over the sensitive surface (no-gold photodiode), or have a thin (∼ 10 nm) gold film over the sensitive surface (gold photodiode). Local as well as broad-area photoresponses have been measured with the photodiodes operated in the reverse-bias mode. For comparison, pulsed photoresponses were also measured at λ = 337 nm (3.7 eV). The measured photocurrent pulses from no-gold photodiodes have a long time duration resulting from the large resistance and capacitance of the bare silicon surface. The results of these studies show that the characteristics of the measured photocurrent pulses from no-gold photodiodes are consistent with those expected for a model which treats the bare silicon surface as a two-dimensional RC line consisting of a homogeneously distributed capacitance and resistance and having circular geometry. Further, the results of steady-state photocurrent measurements and pulse amplitude measurements using pulse electronics with time constants in the range 5–1200 μs show that no-gold silicon photodiodes need no initial photon calibration. They serve as photon flux calibration detectors for both pulsed and steady-state photon sources provided the reflectivity of the no-gold photodiode is measured at the time of its use for a photon flux measurement. For the case of a pulsed photon source, the use of pulse electronics having time constants properly chosen to accommodate the slow current pulses from the no-gold photodiode is also required. Gold photodiodes may be calibrated easily by making use of a no-gold photodiode. The gold photodiode is calibrated by measuring photopulse amplitude ratios for pulsed photon sources or photocurrent ratios for steady-state photon sources. The pulse response of no-gold silicon photodiodes to charged particles has also been determined and the results compared with their response to pulsed photon sources and with the charged-particle response measured for gold photodiodes.
Neuronal properties of monkey adrenal medulla in vitro

Chromaffin cells from the monkey adrenal medulla were maintained in vitro in the presence of nerve growth factor (NGF) and the neuronal properties of these cells were assessed. Single-cell preparations were obtained by collagenase-trypsin treatment of the minced adrenal medulla tissue. Cells assumed a glandular to epithelioid morphology after twenty-four hours of culture. Twelve percent of these cells were shown to extend neurites spontaneously after five days. NGF-stimulated neuritic outgrowth from most cells after five days of culture and these neurites remained for at least three weeks. Cells exhibited intense histofluorescence for catecholamines even after three weeks in vitro in the presence of NGF and positive staining for tyrosine hydroxylase and dopamine beta hydroxylase could be detected by immunocytochemistry. Moreover, the chromaffin cells were shown to bind tetanus toxin, which is a specific marker for neurons. Tetanus toxin labelling was not dependent upon the presence of neurites on these cells. Transmission electron microscopy indicated that cultured cells contained numerous dense-core vesicles similar to noncultured medulla cells. Many of the neurites possessed the morphological features of axons; long varicose processes resembling noradrenergic fibers were identified by catecholamine histofluorescence and tyrosine hydroxylase immunocytochemistry. Microtubular arrays, in an axonal-like organization pattern, were seen ultrastructurally along with the presence of many dense-core vesicles. These data support the potential of adult primate chromaffin cells as a source of sympathetic neuronal tissue for neural transplantation.