cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Accelerated Learning Programs for Out-of-School Girls: The Impact on Student Achievement and Traditional School Enrollment.

Within the context of post-conflict DRC, we examined the impact of the Accelerated Learning Program for out-of-school girls’ on student learning outcomes and traditional school enrollment. We found that the vast majority of girls advanced through the levels as expected (80%) and, on average, improved their numeracy and literacy skills. The impact on traditional school enrollment was less definitive with t he percent of girls who previously attended school, as well as the age of, remaining stable over time, but there was also an increasing trend in the percent of girls who were enrolled in school until the end of the last school year.
Reduction of Incorrect Completed Radiographs in Pediatric Sports Medicine Clinic

The specific aim of this quality improvement project was to reduce incorrect completed radiographs in our sports medicine clinic to zero and sustain for one year. The goal was to target wrong laterality, wrong body site/set of radiographs, or unnecessary repeated radiographs which were …
Preventative Effect of Mebendazole against Malignancies in Neurofibromatosis 1

Patients with RASopathy Neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1) are at a markedly increased risk of the development of benign and malignant tumors. Malignant tumors are often recalcitrant to treatments and associated with poor survival; however, no chemopreventative strategies currently exist. We thus evaluated the effect of mebendazole, alone or in combination with cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors, on the prevention of NF1-related malignancies in a cis Nf1+/−;Tp53+/− (NPcis) mouse model of NF1. Our in vitro findings showed that mebendazole (MBZ) inhibits the growth of NF1-related malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs) through a reduction in activated guanosine triphosphate (GTP)-bound Ras. The daily MBZ treatment of NPcis mice dosed at 195 mg/kg daily, initiated 60 days after birth, substantially delayed the formation of solid malignancies and increased median survival (p < 0.0001). Compared to placebo-treated mice, phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (pERK) levels were decreased in the malignancies of MBZ-treated mice. The combination of MBZ with COX-2 inhibitor celecoxib (CXB) further enhanced the chemopreventative effect in female mice beyond each drug alone. These findings demonstrate the feasibility of a prevention strategy for malignancy development in high-risk NF1 individuals.
Drug induced pancreatitis is the leading known cause of first attack acute pancreatitis in children.

Abstract Background/objectives Drug induced acute pancreatitis (DIAP) as one of the acute pancreatitis (AP) risks factors is a poorly understood entity. The aim of the current study was to compare the characteristics and course of DIAP cases in children presenting with a first attack of AP. Methods Patients presenting with AP were included in a prospective database. We enrolled 165 AP patients that met criteria for inclusion. DIAP patients were included in that group if they were exposed to a drug known to be associated with AP and the rest were included in the non-drug induced-acute pancreatitis (non-DIAP) group. Results DIAP was observed in 40/165 (24%) of cases, 24 cases had drug-induced as the sole risk factor, and 16 had DIAP with another risk factor(s). The two groups were similar in intravenous fluid and feeding managements, but ERCP was more commonly performed in the non- DIAP group, 14 (11%), vs 0% in the DIAP group, p = 0.02. Moderately severe [9 (23%) vs 11 (9%)] and severe AP [7 (18%) vs 6 (5%)] were more commonly associated with DIAP than non- DIAP, p = 0.001. DIAP was more commonly associated with ICU stay, 10 (25%), vs 12 (10%), p = 0.01, hospital stay was longer in DIAP median (IQR) of 6 (3.9–11) days vs 3.3 (2–5.7) days in non- DIAP, p = 0.001. The DIAP group had a significantly higher proportion of comorbidities (p Conclusions DIAP is a leading risk factor for a first attack of AP in children and is associated with increased morbidity and severity of the pancreatitis course. DIAP warrants further investigation in future studies.
A Meta-synthesis of Caregivers’ Experiences Transitioning from Early Intervention to Early Childhood Special Education

The transition from Early Intervention (EI) to Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) is a stressful time for caregivers of children with disabilities. Existing literature has provided some insights into the challenges parents face during the EI to ECSE transition. However, to date there is no existing summary of the literature in this area despite the benefits such a summary could provide. Therefore, a qualitative meta-synthesis was conducted to summarize caregiver experiences during the EI to ECSE transition. Findings from 13 records included in the meta-synthesis provide important insights into the challenges parents face and the supports that facilitate a smooth EI to ECSE transition as well as clear research to practice gaps that persist. Limitations within the existing literature and suggestions for improving EI to ECSE transition practices and policies are provided.
A fast likelihood approach for estimation of large phylogenies from continuous trait data

Abstract Despite the recent availability of large-scale genomic data for many individuals, few methods for phylogenetic inference are both computationally efficient and highly accurate for trees with hundreds of taxa. Model-based methods such as those developed in the maximum likelihood and Bayesian frameworks are especially time-consuming, as they involve both computationally intensive calculations on fixed phylogenies and searches through the space of possible phylogenies, and they are known to scale poorly with the addition of taxa. Here, we propose a fast approximation to the maximum likelihood estimator that directly uses continuous trait data, such as allele frequency data. The approximation works by first computing the maximum likelihood estimates of some internal branch lengths, and then inferring the tree-topology using these estimates. Our approach is more computationally efficient than existing methods for such data while still achieving comparable accuracy. This method is innovative in its use of the mathematical properties of tree-topologies for inference, and thus serves as a useful addition to the collection of methods available for estimating phylogenies from continuous trait data.
A Fully Integrated Cryo-CMOS SoC for Qubit Control in Quantum Computers Capable of State Manipulation, Readout and High-Speed Gate Pulsing of Spin Qubits in Intel 22nm FFL FinFET Technology

Quantum computing promises exponential speed-up in solving certain complex problems that would be intractable by classical computers. However, thousands or millions of qubits might be required to solve useful problems. High-precision and low-noise electrical signals are required to manipulate and read the state of a qubit and to control qubit-to-qubit interactions. Current systems use room temperature electronics with many coax cables routed to the qubit chip inside a dilution refrigerator. This approach does not scale to large number of qubits, due to form factor, cost, power consumption and thermal load to the fridge. To address this challenge, a cryogenic qubit controller has been proposed [1]. The first integrated implementation of a cryogenic pulse modulator has been presented in [2], demonstrating the capability of manipulating (drive) the state of superconducting qubits. The work in [3] extends the capability of the controller with 3 main features: frequency-multiplexing to reduce the number of RF cables per qubit, an arbitrary I/Q pulse generation for improved control fidelity and a digitally-intensive architecture with integrated instruction set to enable integration in existing quantum control stacks. This work further advances the prior art by integrating the capability of reading the qubit state and generating the voltage pulses required for drive, readout, 2-qubit operations and qubit characterization. The SoC can drive up to 16 spin qubits by frequency multiplexing over a single RF line, read the state of up to 6 qubits simultaneously and control up to 22 gate potentials. The SoC also integrates a $\mu$-controller for increased flexibility in implementing the control instruction set. The proposed cryogenic controller can replace all the high-speed control electronics used in conventional solutions today, paving the way towards scalable quantum computers.
Emotional Eating and Weight Status in Adolescents: A Systematic Review.

Background: Despite evidence that emotional eating is associated with weight gain in adults, less is known about this association in adolescents. The purpose of the current study was to conduct a systematic review to assess the association between emotional eating and weight status in adolescents. This study also sought to describe existing measures of emotional eating in adolescents and explore weight-loss interventions that assessed emotional eating in relation to weight status in this population. Methods: Two independent reviewers searched the database PubMed for published or in press peer-reviewed studies that assessed the association between emotional eating and weight status in adolescents aged 12 to 19 years. Studies were excluded from this review if they were not written in the English language, did not include a measure of emotional eating, or were a dissertation study. Results: A total of 13 studies met full inclusion criteria and were included in the systematic review. Of the six longitudinal studies in the review, only one found a prospective association between emotional eating and weight status. The Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire was the most widely used measure of emotional eating in the systematic review (n = 6; 46.2%). The one intervention study included in this review found that baseline emotional eating was not associated with weight outcomes 2 years following gastric bypass surgery in obese Swedish adolescents (13–18 years). Conclusions: While there were some inconsistent findings across the studies included in this review, taken as a whole, the results largely do not support an association between emotional eating and elevated weight status or reduced weight loss in adolescents.
An Examination of Inclusivity and Support for Diversity in STEM Fields

The lack of diversity in STEM professions is an ongoing concern for the US both in terms of social justice and in having a globally competitive workforce. This study provides information for campus leaders to be proactive in considering a wide array of identities to meet the needs of students beyond attending to structural forms of diversity. Data from a large-scale, multi-institution study of students’ perceptions of inclusive coursework and institutional commitment to diversity in STEM fields furthers what we know about diversity in these majors. Results encourage campus leaders to additionally consider sexual orientation and disability status in conversations about diversity and to think about how culturally engaging and inclusive courses go beyond the content of the course.
“Charleston, Goddam”: An Editorial Introduction to ACT 14.2

In this editorial, I trace the events following the tragic and racist shootings that occurred at the A.M.E. church in Charleston, South Carolina on June 17, 2015. Drawing upon anti-racist scholars and musical activists, I make a case for getting political and for cultivating activism in our classrooms. I ask our field to critically reflect upon our participation in a system that advantages Whites. I suggest that one possibility to engage in dialogue around issues of race is to encourage an environment of musical creativity where—together with students—teachers study and write music that speaks to our times and addresses issues of social justice within our local communities and across the globe.
Isolation of an enzyme-coenzyme A intermediate from succinyl coenzyme A-acetoacetate coenzyme A transferase.

Abstract An alkali-labile enzyme-coenzyme A intermediate has been isolated by molecular exclusion chromatography of succinyl-CoA-acetoacetate coenzyme A transferase after incubation with acetoacetyl-CoA or succinyl-CoA. Treatment of the intermediate with tritium-labeled sodium borohydride results in enzyme inactivation and incorporation of radioactivity into the enzyme.
Thirst for reform ? private sector participation in providing Mexico City's water supply

The case in Mexico City offered an opportunity to observe the advantages, and disadvantages of gradualist reform. Unfortunately, the authors find that the long-term nature of an incremental approach does not match well with the generally shorter-term horizons of elected politicians. Difficult decisions in implementation are left to later years, which pushes potentially unpopular actions onto the shoulders of future administrations, while allowing the current government to claim credit for instituting reform. The reform planned - and implemented - was not designed to tackle the city's most serious water problems, including over-consumption, and waste. And reform did little to change residential consumers' incentives to conserve water. Over-exploitation of the aquifer has been a problem since at least the 1930s. Mexico City is built on a series of drained lakebeds, and the land is soft, and prone to settling, or subsiding, as the aquifer is depleted. Several areas of the city center have sunk by over two meters in the past decade alone. And by virtue of its location, and elevation, the city's alternative water sources are expensive. The need for change is stark, but the power to undertake reform to tackle broad problems of resource management in the city, and surrounding areas, lies outside the jurisdiction of the Federal District, with the federal government. Such external funding of major supply projects, weakens the incentives for conservation. Reform reduced the increasing rate of over-exploitation of the aquifer, but partly by simply failing to meet demand. Reform to provide more equitable, and sustainable water delivery, must focus on improving the efficiency of operations, on substantially reforming the way water resources are priced, and allocated, and, on the design, management, and pricing of wastewater services. Federal subsidies for new production must be reduced, prices for system operators, and consumers must rise, and more must be invested in the treatment, and storage of wastewater - all of which requires strong political leadership.
Trademarks, Proprietary Marks, and Brands

The modern day “brand” is an outgrowth of the trademark as well as the proprietary mark. While the former protected the makers of goods from those who would trade-off of their quality craftsmanship, the latter was used to protect the owners of goods and assist in sorting out who had rightful title in cases of shipwreck or piracy. Over time the primary emphasis of brand law has migrated from protecting the consumer from the tort of fraud, toward protecting the assets (brands) of the brand owner. Brands serve a vital purpose for the modern firm as they distinguish the goods of one seller from those of another, and thus provide a basis for differentiation. This differentiation serves to reduce the importance of price in the customer decision process as the goods or services are not so easily compared. In reducing price sensitivity or, better yet, enhancing the price and volume premiums of the mark owner, the brand has great value to the firm and thus has equity. While brand equity is often a substantial portion of a firm's financial valuation, it must be maintained and cared for by continuous marketing efforts. Keywords: brand; trademark; proprietary mark; brand asset; brand value; price; brand strategy
Paradoxes of Violence and Self-determination

AbstractSecessionist movements aspiring to statehood often resort to force if their demands are not met peacefully. Indeed a political community’s ability to maintain internal order and external defence by military means is a fundamental attribute of the nation-state. Yet international law limits the use of force to self-defence. Is non-violent secessionism, then, an oxymoron, and violent secessionism illegal? The late twentieth-century witnessed successful cases of non-violent secession—along with nearly successful ones, ones whose success we might now judge to have been short-lived, ones whose commitment to non-violence was short-lived, and ones whose efforts provoked massacres and foreign intervention. This essay reviews examples of each to identify paradoxes that emerge when movements for national self-determination depend on violence for their success. It does so in the context of Just War Theory, and particularly Michael Walzer’s influential formulation.
Content-Based Retrieval of Aurora Images Based on the Hierarchical Representation

The boundary based image segmentation and representation system takes a thinned edge image and produces a unique hierarchical representation using a graph/tree data structure. The feature extraction algorithms have been developed to obtain geometric features by directly processing the graph/tree hierarchical data structure for diverse image processing and interpretation applications. This paper describes a content-based image retrieval system for the retrieval of aurora images utilizing the graph/tree hierarchical representation and the associated geometric feature extraction algorithms which extract features for the purpose of classification. The experimental results which prove that the hierarchical representation supports the fast and reliable computation of several geometric features which are useful for content based image retrieval are presented.
Recognition and Volition: Remembering the Retirement of Justice Gabriel Duvall

When Gabriel Duvall resigned from the U.S. Supreme Court in January 1835, he became its first conventional retiree – the first Justice to voluntarily leave the Court after making a career of it. Everyone before Duvall had either died in office or left after serving briefly (anywhere from four months to five years). Duvall served for more than 23 years. By leaving while still alive, after long service, and at an advanced age (he was 82), Duvall: (a) gave his fellow Justices their first occasion to publicly salute a departing colleague who had devoted himself to the Court, and (b) gave himself a dignified, respectable ending to a long and successful career in the law. But his colleagues did not rise to the occasion, and history has not granted him that ending. This little article is an attempt to partially offset those defects.
An opto-electronic Viterbi traceback processor for decoding convolutional codes

The design, circuits, and layout of the Viterbi traceback processor (VTP), a full-custom ASIC utilizing optical, analog, and digital circuits, are presented, The VTP subsystem, when combined with a holographic (optical) metric generation subsystem, is designed to implement the Viterbi decoding algorithm. The prototype chip, 6900*6800 mu m/sup 2/ was designed to decode convolutionally encoded data from a rate=1/2, K=5 encoder and is comprised of 2/sup k/ photoreceptors, 2/sup k-1/ comparators, a 2/sup K-1/*16 array of 2-input multiplexor/shift register cells, and two sizes of clock buffer/driver circuits. Two scan-path chains have been designed in for testability. >
A smart sensor network for object detection, classification and recognition

Summary form only given. A surveillance system is a closed-circuit television system used to maintain close observation of a person or group. It is widely used nowadays to help a guard with consecutive sensing information. However, the concurrent observation of several monitors and the long-term exhausting visualization cause the problem of decaying attention. Furthermore, two major issues in the traditional surveillance systems affect their performance. First, the object resolutions are changed due to the varying distances between the object and the camera. Therefore, it causes the problem in object recognition since we have to adopt different sizes of the mask to properly extract object features. The other issue is that the detection of the moving object becomes difficult when the camera is not fixed. Consequently, the development of an efficient, automated surveillance system is an important task to overcome the problem for ensuring robust security. In this presentation, a sensor-based surveillance system is developed for object detection, classification and recognition to provide a more powerful and reliable system than the traditional ones. The wireless sensors are utilized as the guarders by only utilizing limited functions to detect the coordinates of the unauthorized invasions. When there are no specific signals detected by the wireless sensors, our smart sensor network system periodically rotates as traditional surveillance for safeguard. Once the wireless sensors detect any unauthorized invasion, the system adjusts the cameras toward the suspicious area and obtain the coarse image features for object classification. In order to reduce unnecessary processing and perform the surveillance system efficiently, a hierarchical feature extraction approach is adopted. That is, after receiving vigilant signals from wireless sensors, the cameras extracts coarse image features for object classification. Once the classification result shows that the object is a dangerous intrusion, the cameras continuously extracts fine image features for object recognition. Experimental results shows our system not only efficiently detect any unauthorized invasion, but also successfully classify and recognize the invasion.
Failure of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

The present review classifies and describes the multifactorial causes of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) surgery failure, concentrating on preventing and resolving such situations. The article particularly focuses on those causes that require ACL revision due to recurrent instability, without neglecting those that affect function or produce persistent pain. Although primary ACL reconstruction has satisfactory outcome rates as high as 97%, it is important to identify the causes of failure, because satisfactory outcomes in revision surgery can drop to as much as 76%. It is often possible to identify a primary or secondary cause of ACL surgery failure; even the most meticulous planning can give rise to unexpected findings during the intervention. The adopted protocol should therefore be sufficiently flexible to adapt to the course of surgery. Preoperative patient counseling is essential. The surgeon should limit the patient's expectations for the outcome by explaining the complexity of this kind of procedure. With adequate preoperative planning, close attention to details and realistic patient expectations, ACL revision surgery may offer beneficial and satisfactory results for the patient.
Raymond G. Roble Receives 2013 William Bowie Medal: Response

It is a great honor to receive the 2013 Bowie Medal knowing that it comes from such a prestigious and renowned geophysical society and from AGU colleagues whom I have interacted with for the past 45 years.
A pilot study assessing the impact of heat on the transdermal delivery of testosterone.

This study evaluated the effect of locally applied heat on the transdermal delivery of testosterone. Six healthy adult volunteers were tested three times while receiving a 5 mg androgen patch, the same patch with a heat-generating patch, and no patch at all over 12 hours. Statistically significant differences in mean maximum serum testosterone concentration values were seen. Heat plus patch resulted in a mean maximum serum testosterone concentration of 939 ng/dl versus 635 ng/dl (patch only) and 425 ng/dl (no patch). (Heat + patch vs. no patch: p < 0.001; heat + patch vs. patch: p < 0.001; patch vs. no patch: p = 0.003.) The area under the curve of plasma testosterone concentration versus time values were means of 4114 ng/dl.h versus 1985 ng/dl.h for the patch-only group (p = 0.001). The use of heat improved absorption of transdermal testosterone and decreased time to peak serum testosterone concentrations, resulting in a statistically significant difference in mean maximum serum testosterone concentrations compared with the use of the patch without heat.
Optical Properties of Gaseous 2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene in the Ultraviolet Region

The absorption spectrum of gaseous 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) was recorded by conventional absorption spectroscopy (AS) as well as cavity ringdown spectroscopy (CRDS) methods in the spectral regions 195-300 and 225-235 nm, respectively. These spectra were normalized by using the saturated TNT vapor-number density for the measured cell temperature to obtain the absorption cross section of TNT. No spectral features were found in the spectra; this result is consistent with a repulsive electronic excited state of TNT. The temperature dependence of the absorption coefficient of saturated TNT vapor was measured within the temperature range 5-110 °C. The limit of detection of TNT vapor by CRDS is less than 1 ppb. Real-time CRDS measurements of the TNT vapor density at 21 and 37 °C are presented. The TNT evaporation rates were found to be 7 × 108 and 4 × 1010 molecules/cm2 × s at 21 and 37 °C, respectively.
The Stanford linear accelerator polarized electron source

The Stanford 3-km linear accelerator at SLAC has operated exclusively since early 1992 using a polarized electron beam for its high-energy physics programs. The polarized electron source now consists of a diode-type gun with a strained-lattice GaAs photocathode DC biased at high voltage and excited with circularly polarized photons generated by a pulsed, Ti:sapphire laser system. The electron polarization at the source is > 80%. To date the source has met all the beam requirements of the SLC and fixed target programs with < 5% downtime.
Identification by extrachromosomal amplification and overexpression of ζ-crystallin/NADPH-oxidoreductase homologue constitutively expressed in Leishmania spp.

Abstract A gene which overexpresses a 36-kDa protein (p36) in tunicamycin-resistant Leishmania was mapped by transfection and overexpression to the upstream region of the drug marker in the extrachromosomal amplicon. Complete sequencing of this region revealed a single open reading frame of about 1 kb. Authenticity of the cloned gene is verified by immunologic specificity of its recombinant products and sequence identity with a p36 peptide. The gene shares an overall sequence similarity of about 50% with members of the eukaryote alcohol dehydrogenase family at the amino acid level, including essentially all 13 evolutionarily conserved residues and a nucleotide-binding domain. The binding ligands for both structurally and catalytically important zinc atoms are absent, similar to the ζ-crystallin/NADPH:quinone oxidoreductase gene. Consistent with hydrophilicity of its primary sequence and the presence of a nucleotide binding site, p36 is a soluble molecule non-sedimentable at 105 000 × g and binds Blue Sepharose, elutable only with NADPH. The p36 gene is expressed constitutively in both stages of the wild-type and is conserved among all Leishmania species examined, suggestive of its functional significance different from evolutionarily related homologues.
Crack surface relative displacement analysis of mixed-mode fracture mechanics problems

Abstract In this paper a unique criteria, crack surface relative displacement, is used to evaluate mixed-mode (mode I and mode II) fracture mechanics problems. Using a conic-section simulation of a crack surface, relationships among the energy release rate G , the stress intensity factors ( K 1 and K 2 ), and crack surface relative displacement are developed. Because the crack surface relative displacement criterion makes direct use of the displacements on the crack surface, instead of the stress field in the region of the crack tip, it simplifies numerical analysis of crack problems. A finite element model of a slant-center-cracked plate is employed to demonstrate the applicability of crack surface relative displacement to mixed-mode problems. The numerical results obtained agree well with analytical solutions. In addition, it is illustrated that similar to K 1 , K 2 , and G ( J in LEFM), crack surface, relative displacement can serve as a fracture criterion for general mixed-mode I and II fracture mechanics problems.
Survey of Phosphatase Reactivation in Butter

Abstract Phosphatase analyses were made on 381 samples of freshly churned butter obtained from eight plants in Kentucky. Positive phosphatase reactions were confined almost exclusively (97.6%) to two plants, these being the only plants surveyed using high-temperature short-time pasteurization. In a further study (87 samples) of these two plants it was found that 24-hour false positive 3 3The term false positive as used in this paper refers to a positive phosphatase reaction obtained on a sample which, at a previous test period, had given a negative reaction. reactions were obtained from only one of the plants, which employed the continuous method of churning. Of the 15 false positive reactions from these two plants, 14 (93.3%) were obtained by the end of one week of storage.
RADIOLUNATE FUSION USING VASCULARIZED RADIUS BRIDGING GRAFT FOR THE TREATMENT OF ADVANCED KIENBÖCK DISEASE: TWO CASES REPORT

We present here two cases wherein we performed radiolunate fusion using vascularized radius graft with the vascular pedicle of the fourth extensor compartment artery (fourth ECA) for the treatment of Bain's grade 2A Kienbock disease with incongruity of the radiolunate joint. The dorsodistal radius graft was levered out and mobilized on the pedicle of the fourth ECA; then the vascularized dorsodistal radius was shifted 1 cm distally and bridges were created between the radius and the lunate. The radiolunate joint was completely fused in both cases at three months after surgery. The capitolunate joint maintained congruity after surgery. The Mayo wrist score was 75 points, and the DASH (JSSH version) score for the two cases was 2.5 and 4.2 points, respectively. Radiolunate fusion using the vascularized radius bridging procedure is one of the satisfactory methods for treating advanced Kienbock disease, especially in Bain's grade 2A cases.
Infusion of human insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) into malnourished rats reduces hepatic IGF-I mRNA abundance.

Abstract To determine whether the serum level of IGF-I influences its hepatic synthesis through negative feedback regulation, we infused 200 μg/d of human IGF-I subcutaneously into young male rats eating either an energy-restricted or ad lib diet. In energy-restricted rats, a two-fold increase in serum IGF-I concentration produced a 41% increase in growth rate at the end of one week, and a 30% decrease in steady state hepatic IGF-I mRNA and 56% drop in serum GH at the end of two weeks. In ad lib fed rats, the increased serum IGF-I concentration neither enhanced growth rate nor significantly reduced hepatic IGF-I mRNA abundance or serum GH levels. These data suggest that the abundance of hepatic IGF-I mRNA in energy-restricted rats is controlled, in part, by serum IGF-I levels via negative feedback regulation.
Shear Behavior of High-Volume Fly Ash Concrete Versus Conventional Concrete: Experimental Study

AbstractThe production of portland cement—the key ingredient in concrete—generates a significant amount of carbon dioxide. However, due to its incredible versatility, availability, and relatively low cost, concrete is the most consumed synthetic material on the planet. One method of reducing concrete’s contribution to greenhouse-gas emissions is the use of fly ash to replace a significant amount of the cement. This paper compares two experimental studies that were conducted to investigate the shear strength of full-scale beams constructed with both high-volume fly ash concrete (HVFAC)—concrete with at least 50% of the cement replaced with fly ash—and conventional concrete (CC). The primary difference between the two studies involved the amount of cementitious material, with one mix having a relatively high-total cementitious content [502 kg/m3 (850 lb/yd3)] and the other mix having a relatively low-total cementitious content [337 kg/m3 (570 lb/yd3)]. Both HVFAC mixes used a 70% mass replacement of por...
Protection Against Japanese Encephalitis Virus in Mice and Hamsters by Treatment with Carboxymethylacridanone, a Potent Interferon Inducer

A low-molecular-weight chemical inducer of interferon, 10-carboxymethyl-9-acridanone (CMA), effectively prevented death caused by Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) injected peripherally into weanling mice and baby hamsters. Marked reductions in mortality were seen in mice when a single dose of CMA was administered intraperitoneally, subcutaneously, or intramuscularly to animals challenged intraperitoneally with JEV. The degree of protection was dependent on dose and time of administration of CMA in relation to virus challenge: all hamsters given CMA on the same day as JEV survived, with lesser although still significant protection when CMA was given one or two days after JEV. Viremia, an important characteristic of the pathogenesis of natural JEV infection, was reduced nearly 10,000-fold in hamsters treated with CMA. Thus, in the experimental animal models developed for these studies, CMA provided marked therapeutic and prophylactic effect against JEV.
Redesigning Hospital Gowns to Enhance End Users' Satisfaction

The design considerations for hospital gowns were investigated through a review of previous research and interviews with licensed practical nurses and patients who had been hospitalized and wore hospital gowns during their hospitalization. Two designs of prototype hospital gowns, Prototypes A and B, were proposed and users' comfort perceptions per prototype were compared to a conventional gown to evaluate their satisfaction through wear trials with 12 female participants. Prototype A featured a front opening and a back-slit overlap. Prototype B was composed of openings on the upper chest area and on the side and cap sleeves. Back opening with ties and raglan sleeves were the main features of the conventional gowns. Prototype A was more acceptable to the participants than the conventional gown. On the basis of the findings of this study, guidelines are provided for a hospital gown design to enhance the users' satisfaction.
Formation and interconversion of organo-cobalt complexes in reactions of cobalt(II) porphyrins with cyanoalkyl radicals and vinyl olefins.

Observation of the formation and interconversion of organo-cobalt complexes ((TMP)Co-R) is used to reveal mechanistic features in the living radical polymerization (LRP) of methyl acrylate (MA) mediated by cobalt porphyrins. Both dissociative and associative exchange of radicals in solution with organo-cobalt complexes contribute to controlling the radical polymerization. The sequence of organo-cobalt species formed during the induction period for the (TMP)Co-R mediated LRP of MA indicates that homolytic dissociation is a prominent pathway for the interconversion of organo-cobalt complexes which contrasts with the corresponding vinyl acetate (VAc) system where associative radical exchange totally dominates these processes. The dissociation equilibrium constant (Kd(333 K)) for organo-cobalt complexes formed in methyl acrylate polymerization ((TMP)Co-CH(CO2CH3)CH2P) was estimated as 1.15 × 10−10 from analysis of the polymerization kinetics and 1H NMR. The ratio of the rate constants (333 K) for the cyanoiso...
Importance of water loss in the chilling injury of grapefruit stored at low temperature

Abstract Differences in chilling injury susceptibility of grapefruit from exterior and interior tree canopy positions were used to investigate the hypothesis that water loss is related to chilling injury symptom development during low-temperature storage. The sun-exposed surface of grapefruit from exterior canopy positions was more susceptible to chilling injury and had lower diffusive resistance than the shaded surface of the same fruit. Reducing the rate of fruit transpiration during the first week of storage by a pre-cooling treatment prior to low-temperature storage delayed, but did not eliminate, the development of chilling injury.
Home haemodialysis: ‘home, home, sweet, sweet home!’ (Review Article)

Home haemodialysis was first developed 40 years ago as a means of treating more patients with the limited funds then available. It soon became obvious that the treatment worked well and subsequent studies and experience have confirmed that it improves both mortality and morbidity and provides the best quality of life and other benefits for dialysis patients. The present review describes the history of the development of home haemodialysis in Seattle and elsewhere and the lessons learned about its benefits in the early days, which are just as relevant today. The advantages and disadvantages are discussed, as are the issues of which patients are candidates for this treatment and what is required of a home haemodialysis training and support programme. The decline in use of home haemodialysis in the USA and elsewhere is described and the actions that may already be beginning to reverse this trend. The role of home haemodialysis in giving the opportunity for longer hours of dialysis three times a week or on alternate nights is important. There is discussion of the relationship of home haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis and its important future role as the means to enable treatment with more frequent short daily and long nightly haemodialysis.
On comparing multivariate complex random signals

We consider the problem of comparing two complex multivariate random signal realizations to ascertain whether they have identical power spectral densities. A binary hypothesis testing approach is formulated and a generalized likelihood ratio test (GLRT) is derived. An asymptotic analytical solution for calculating the test threshold is provided. The results are illustrated via computer simulations. Past work on this problem is limited to either scalar signals or real-valued multivariate signals. The proposed test has potential applications in diverse areas including user authentication in wireless networks with multiantenna receivers and spectrum sensing in cognitive radio networks with multiantenna receivers.
Probability analysis of multiple-tank-car release incidents in railway hazardous materials transportation

Railroads play a key role in the transportation of hazardous materials in North America. Rail transport differs from highway transport in several aspects, an important one being that rail transport involves trains in which many railcars carrying hazardous materials travel together. By contrast to truck accidents, it is possible that a train accident may involve multiple hazardous materials cars derailing and releasing contents with consequently greater potential impact on human health, property and the environment. In this paper, a probabilistic model is developed to estimate the probability distribution of the number of tank cars releasing contents in a train derailment. Principal operational characteristics considered include train length, derailment speed, accident cause, position of the first car derailed, number and placement of tank cars in a train and tank car safety design. The effect of train speed, tank car safety design and tank car positions in a train were evaluated regarding the number of cars that release their contents in a derailment. This research provides insights regarding the circumstances affecting multiple-tank-car release incidents and potential strategies to reduce their occurrences. The model can be incorporated into a larger risk management framework to enable better local, regional and national safety management of hazardous materials transportation by rail.
Comment on Martin D. Abravanel's “Public knowledge of fair housing law: Does it protect against housing discrimination?”

Abstract There is a direct relationship between awareness of fair housing law and fair housing enforcement, as Abravanel shows in his article on the Urban Institute study. It confirms many of the impressions that advocates have about public knowledge of fair housing law and provides a powerful tool to advance the cause of fair housing. However, it is disturbing because it shows that most people who perceive a violation are unwilling to file a complaint, thus substantially diminishing the effectiveness of the law. The study confirms that people who know the most are the most likely to file complaints. This conclusion shows the need for more fair housing education, but further information is needed about why people do not think that filing a complaint is worthwhile. If the reason is that the remedies are perceived to be ineffective, more effective remedies must be provided and the public must be educated about them.
Attraction of postlarval Penaeus aztecus Ives and P. setiferus (L.) (Crustacea: Decapoda: Penaeidae) to estuarine water in a laminar-flow choice chamber

Abstract Attraction of postlarval brown Penaeus aztecus Ives and white shrimp P. setiferus (L.) to estuarine water from Galveston Bay, Texas was measured in a laminar-flow choice chamber. In replicate experiments conducted during their normal recruitment periods both species selected the estuarine water with significantly higher frequencies than the synthetic seawater control. Experiments conducted through the end of the brown shrimp recruitment period indicated that estuarine water lost its attractiveness by late-autumn/early-winter suggesting a biogenic source of attractant. Postlarvae displayed a nonsignificant tendency to turn upstream in the estuarine water and downstream in the control, behavior which we speculate may assist them in orienting towards nursery habitats.
ICAN: Information-Centric context-aware ad-hoc network

Recently, Information-Centric Network (ICN) has been attracting much attention with its promising future as next-generation Internet architecture. While ICN is scalable and efficient in Internet, concerns are raised when deploying it in ad-hoc networks. Current ICN proposal strictly follows a receiver-driven transport design. However, many applications in multi-hop ad-hoc network are push-based and require fast communication. ICN's pull-based transport in such case is costly. Moreover, inefficiency introduced by the default anycasting in ICN may backfire without careful design. In this paper, we introduce ICAN, an efficient, flexible, and adaptive ICN architecture supporting both pull and push transport and context-aware multi-hop/DTN communication all in one system.
Light scattering analysis of starch granules

Abstract Solid state light scattering by starch granules provides a method of determining their average refractive index and the sign of their birefringence. By observing the scattering from a vertically polarized red laser through a parallel analyzer as a function of refractive index of the mounting medium, the theoretically predicted inversion point of the scattering envelope can be seen. Gelatinization in various liquids may also be followed through the change in the scattering as a function of temperature. The experimental data are used to describe the starch granule fine structure in accordance with other data available at present.
The electron propagator

A brief account is presented of the early work in the Quantum Theory Project (QTP) on the theory and application of the electron propagator to molecular problems. This work carried out in the research group of one of us (YO) was possible because of a group of talented graduate students over a period of about twenty years. In the final section we look at present day electron propagator developments which connect to these early years.
Patient outcomes following ambulatory anesthesia

As the number and type of surgeries performed in the ambulatory setting have increased, outcomes research has allowed for better analysis of the safety and efficacy of care given to patients. Though this once involved measures of clinical morbidity and mortality alone, researchers have begun to focus their attention beyond these end points and take into account patients' postoperative functional status and satisfaction as a way to assess the overall quality of patient care. Also key in this move to a more global assessment of health care interventions has been an increased focus on economic outcomes. As new anesthetic drugs and techniques continue to develop, outcomes research will continue to evolve in new directions, providing further information for improvements in patient care.
The paradox of satiation

Animals behave in bouts, and the process that causes feeding bouts to end is called satiation. Bout size or, in the case of feeding, meal size is the result both of the costs of food resources and the consequences of consuming a particular resource. Meal size increases as a function of increasing resource access cost; in this way, meal size is part of a strategy that economizes on time and energy spent acquiring food resources, thereby making time and effort available for competing activities. Meal size also varies as a function of the amount of the resource consumed and the animal's requirements for that resource. The paradox of satiation is that it is both a tool for economizing and a consequence of feeding.
Early behavior formation in fathead minnow larvae, Pimephales promelas: Implications for sensory function

Feeding behavior and locomotor activity were described for larval fathead minnows. A series of conditions, light and darkness and live and dead food, isolated various individual or combinations of sense organs used in feeding. First feeding occurred on Day 3 in the light and dark on live food indicating the use of vision and/or mechanoreception. Feeding on dead food in the dark on Day 4 identified the individual but delayed role of olfaction. Sensory learning was evidenced by alternating prey stimuli (reverse feeding) every third day; larvae conditioned to mechanical‐visual prey stimuli (live food) were presented chemoreceptive‐visual (dead food) and vice‐versa. Fish reared on dead food fed more on live food (mechanical stimuli added) in the dark. Fish reared on live‐food fed less on dead food (mechanical stimuli removed) in both light and dark. Fish movements were correlated with feeding. Reverse feeding produced inverse relationships between feeding and movements in the dark and no responses in the ligh...
Difference Found Between Women Injectors In and Out of Treatment: Implications for Interventions

SUMMARY Women substance abusers, particularly those who are injecting drug users, are at high risk for HIV infection. It has been demonstrated that injecting drug users found out of drug treatment settings show different patterns of drug use and HIV risk than those who enter treatment. Previous studies, however, have not indicated the extent to which women injectors in and out of treatment exhibit these same differences. This study examines data from two studies sponsored by the National Institute on Drug Abuse to determine similarities and differences between women encountered by outreach efforts in four cities and those entering methadone treatment programs in the same cities. The results indicate significant differences in race, drugs used (both injecting and non-injecting), injecting risk behavior, and treatment history. However, the two groups of women shared similar histories of first injecting use and sexual risk. Women who entered methadone treatment reported higher frequencies of injecting drug u...