cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Characterizing metabolic changes in human colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains a leading cause of cancer death worldwide, despite the fact that it is a curable disease when diagnosed early. The development of new screening methods to aid in early diagnosis or identify precursor lesions at risk for progressing to CRC will be vital to improving the survival rate of individuals predisposed to CRC. Metabolomics is an advancing area that has recently seen numerous applications to the field of cancer research. Altered metabolism has been studied for many years as a means to understand and characterize cancer. However, further work is required to establish standard procedures and improve our ability to identify distinct metabolomic profiles that can be used to diagnose CRC or predict disease progression. The present study demonstrates the use of direct infusion traveling wave ion mobility mass spectrometry to distinguish metabolic profiles from CRC samples and matched non-neoplastic epithelium as well as metastatic and primary tumors at different stages of disease (T1–T4). By directly infusing our samples, the analysis time was reduced significantly, thus increasing the speed and efficiency of this method compared to traditional metabolomics platforms. Partial least squares discriminant analysis was used to visualize differences between the metabolic profiles of sample types and to identify the specific m/z features that led to this differentiation. Identification of the distinct m/z features was made using the human metabolome database. We discovered alterations in fatty acid biosynthesis and oxidative, glycolytic, and polyamine pathways that distinguish tumors from non-malignant colonic epithelium as well as various stages of CRC. Although further studies are needed, our results indicate that colonic epithelial cells undergo metabolic reprogramming during their evolution to CRC, and the distinct metabolites could serve as diagnostic tools or potential targets in therapy or primary prevention.
Fragmentation reduces the importance of niche‐based factors relative to dispersal traits in structuring temperate forest understories

AIM: The relative importance of stochastic and deterministic niche processes can affect the assembly of communities in response to land use context and change. In this study, we quantified the relative importance of dispersal‐ vs niche‐based processes in structuring forest plant metacommunities and sought to understand how these processes have changed in these forests over the past 50 years. LOCATION: Wisconsin, USA. METHODS: We used plant understorey community survey data in both the 1950s and 2000s from 142 upland forest stands in southern and northern Wisconsin forests to relate compositional similarity to geographic and environmental distances among sites (reflecting dispersal and niche‐based processes, respectively). We then partitioned the variance to determine their relative importance over time. Finally, we classified species into three dispersal groups based on seed mass, dispersal mode, and plant height to assess how these affect community structure. RESULTS: Both niche and dispersal processes influence the structure of Wisconsin's forest plant understories. Niche‐based processes related to environmental differences among sites dominate the mostly continuous northern upland forests. In contrast, dispersal processes dominate community assembly in the more fragmented southern upland forests. Dispersal processes increased in importance in both regions and especially in more fragmented southern upland forests over the past 50 years. We detected no differences among dispersal groups in how similarity decays with geographic distance. CONCLUSIONS: In regions retaining heavy forest cover, niche‐based assembly still predominates while in areas with smaller scattered patches of forest, stochastic dispersal plays a greater role. Dispersal‐based processes increasingly dominate forest metacommunity dynamics in both regions.
Teaching Climate Leadership: Promoting Integrative Learning in Courses on Strong Sustainability

In this article, I describe how the theory of integrative learning frames student learning in a course on climate leadership. The course is grounded in the theory of strong sustainability, which is...
Enhancing Reliability-Aware Speedup Modelling via Replication

Reliability-aware speedup models study the expected speedup of a parallel application as a function of the number of processors, on a platform susceptible to processor failures. Existing works in this area have developed models using checkpoint-restart (without replication) as the only fault tolerance mechanism, and have studied the upper bound on the number of processors beyond which the application speedup starts to degrade due to increasing likelihood of failure. In this work, we develop speedup models in which replication, specifically dual replication, is also employed for resilience. We demonstrate that the upper bound on the number of processors to execute a perfectly parallel application using dual replication is of the order λ^-^2 where λ is the individual processor failure rate. We also compare the dual replication model with that of no-replication. Specifically, we found that, given the same hardware resources, replication starts offering better speedup just before the upper bound on the number of processors for no-replication is reached. Taken together, our results indicate that replication can significantly enhance reliability-aware speedup models by i) pushing the number of processors that yield the optimal speedup to a much higher value than what is possible without replication, and ii) improving on the optimal speedup possible through checkpoint-restart alone.
Trickle Down Effect Of The Sarbanes Oxley Act On A Privately-Held Seasonal Textile Manufacturer

The Sarbanes?Oxley Act (SOX) of 2002 was intended for enforcing accuracy and transparency in the financial statements of publicly held corporations, primarily to protect investors. While it does not directly impact private corporations, we present an indirect effect of SOX related to unsubstantiated deductions by retailers, against a privately?held manufacturer, in the textile industry.
Mast Cells Promote Nitrogen Mustard-Mediated Toxicity in the Lung Associated With Proinflammatory Cytokine and Bioactive Lipid Mediator Production.

Sulfur mustard (SM) has been widely used as a chemical warfare agent including most recently in Syria. Mice exposed to SM exhibit an increase in pro-inflammatory cytokines followed by immune cell infiltration in the lung, however, the mechanisms leading to these inflammatory responses has not been completely elucidated. Mast cells are one of the first responding innate immune cells found at the mucosal surfaces of the lung and have been reported to be activated by SM in the skin. Therefore, we hypothesized that nitrogen mustard (NM: a surrogate for SM) exposure promotes activation of mast cells causing chronic respiratory inflammation. To assess the role of mast cells in NM-mediated pulmonary toxicity, we compared the effects of NM exposure between C57BL/6 and B6.Cg-KitW-sh/HNihrJaeBsmJ (KitW-sh; mast cell deficient) mice. Lung injury was observed in C57BL/6J mice following NM exposure (0.125 mg/kg) at 72 h, which was significantly abrogated in KitW-sh mice. Although both strains exhibited damage from NM, C57BL/6J mice had higher inflammatory cell infiltration and more elevated prostaglandin D2 (PGD2) present in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid compared with KitW-sh mice. Additionally, we utilized murine bone marrow-derived mast cells to assess NM-induced early and late activation. Although NM exposure did not result in mast cell degranulation, we observed an upregulation in PGD2 and IL-6 levels following exposure to NM. Results suggest that mast cells play a prominent role in lung injury induced by NM and may contribute to the acute and potentially long-term lung injury observed caused by SM.
An optimal control approach to particle filtering.

We present a novel particle filtering framework for continuous-time dynamical systems with continuous-time measurements. Our approach is based on the duality between estimation and optimal control, which allows reformulating the estimation problem over a fixed time window into an optimal control problem. The resulting optimal control problem has a cost function that depends on the measurements and the closed-loop dynamics under optimal control coincides with the posterior distribution over the trajectories for the corresponding estimation problem. This type of stochastic optimal control problem can be solved using a remarkable technique known as path integral control. By recursively solving these optimal control problems using path integral control as new measurements become available we obtain an optimal control-based particle filtering algorithm. A distinguishing feature of the proposed method is that it uses the measurements over a finite-length time window instead of a single measurement for the estimation at each time step, resembling the batch methods of filtering, and improving fault tolerance. The efficacy of our algorithm is illustrated with several numerical examples.
PTSD and Trauma as Mitigating Factors in Sentencing in Capital Cases

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is commonly used as a mitigating sentencing factor, although how successfully it is used varies. In cases involving the death penalty, use of a PTSD diagnosis as a sentencing mitigating factor has been considered in the postconviction appeals process. This article analyzes a decade of American federal appellate case law regarding postconviction claims of ineffective assistance of counsel by capital defendants in regard to investigating and litigating trauma and PTSD. We found a high tolerance by the courts for deficient investigating, ruling against the petitioner in 20 of 23 (87%) of identified cases. The article discusses how these situations might be avoided and explores the critical role of forensic psychiatrists and mitigation specialists in investigating and presenting trauma to the court.
Computer Simulation of Growth and Aggregation Processes

In recent years considerable interest has developed in the formation of random structures under non-equilibrium conditions. Several factors have contributed to the growth of this area. These include the possibility of substantial practical benefits and impact on other areas of science, the hope that the sort of theoretical methods which have been so successful in advancing our understanding of critical phenomena can be applied to a broader range of problems and the recognition that this is an important area of science which has received little attention in the past. Computer simulations have played an important role in the development of this area. In fact much of what we now know about non-equilibrium growth processes has come from computer simulations. Computer simulations can be used to test ideas concerning the behavior of experimental systems and to pose well defined problems for theoretical analysis. In this way they provide a valuable bridge between theory and experiment.
Pharmacovigilance Analysis of Serious Adverse Events Reported for Biologic Response Modifiers Used as Prophylaxis against Transplant Rejection: a Real-World Postmarketing Experience from the US FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS)

Background: Immunosuppression by biologic response modifiers (BRM) is a crucial component for successful organ transplantation. In addition to their variable effectiveness in the prevention of organ rejection, these medications have safety concerns that complicate therapeutic outcomes in organ transplant patients. Objective: This study aims at identifying and characterizing safety signals of serious adverse events associated with exposure to BRM among organ transplant patients in a real-world environment. Methods: The FDA Adverse Event Reporting System was utilized to apply a pharmacovigilance disproportionality analysis to indentify serious adverse events. Associations between drugs and events were measured by empirical Bayes geometric mean (EBGM) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (EB05–EB95). Associations with EBGM≥2 were considered significant safety signals. Results: From 1997 to 2012, a total of 12,151 serious adverse event reports for BRM were reported; 15.6% of them (n=1,711) met the safety signal threshold of EB05>1, and 11.6% of these signals (n=199) were significant (EBGM≥2). Sirolimus and mycophenolate accounted for the majority of all signals; antithymocyte immunoglobulin (ATI) and cyclosporine contributed to the majority of significant signals. The following significant signals were identified for ATI (reduced therapeutic response, pulmonary edema, hypotension, serum sickness, infusion-related reaction, and anaphylactic reaction); for azathioprine (alternaria infection, fungal skin infection, and lymphoproliferative disorder); for cyclosporine (neurotoxicity, graft vs. host disease, and thyroid cancer); for cyclophosphamide (disease progression); for daclizumab (cytomegalovirus infection); and for tacrolimus (coma and tremor). 33.6% of these events contributed to patient death (n=67); 6.5% were life-threatening (n=13); 32.1% lead to hospitalization (n=64); and 27.6% resulted in other serious outcomes (n=55). Conclusion: Utilization of BRM for the prophylaxis against transplant rejection is associated with serious adverse events that could be fatal.
Managerial Discretion, Agency Costs, and Capital Structure

In a dynamic continuous-time model, we examine the impact of a manager-shareholder conflict over the choice of investment risk on firm value and optimal capital structure. The manager's optimal investment risk policy is substantially different from the policy that maximizes equity or total firm value. The resulting agency costs of equity are many times larger than the agency costs of debt. Among a number of important implications, we find that managerial risk-aversion decreases the agency costs of equity. We also find that when equityholders have control rights over financing decisions, optimal leverage may increase relative to optimal leverage when investment risk is chosen to maximize total firm value. Additionally, greater managerial equity compensation may exacerbate the manager-stockholder conflict over investment policy, and in spite of higher agency costs of equity, may increase optimal leverage. Finally, we find that an increase in risk encourages the manager to pursue a more conservative investment strategy, which increases the agency costs of equity. Managerial risk-aversion, however, acts to mitigate this effect of risk on the agency costs of equity.
Protein structure prediction — An Ab initio approach

We describe LINUS (Local Independently Nucleated Units of Structure), a computer program for simulating the protein folding process. At its core, LINUS is a Metropolis Monte Carlo procedure with a ‘smart’ move set for efficient exploration of conformational space and a simple energy function to rank conformations. It is shown that LINUS can successfully anticipate a large fraction of the native state secondary and super-secondary structure.
Work environments of people with mobility impairments and limitations: Mobility Device User Work Survey (MWS)

BACKGROUND Few studies of employed people who use wheelchairs, canes, crutches or walkers have been reported in the literature. One reason for this paucity of research reports is that surveys are most often made of unemployed individuals with disabilities a defined broadly. Understanding the work site of successfully employed people who use mobility devices requires the development of as survey that can be used to examine the important features of worksite from employees who use mobility devices at their worksites. OBJECTIVE This article describes the development and psychometrics of a survey on currently employed people with lower limb impairments and mobility limitations who use mobility devices. The items in the Mobility Device User Work Survey (MWS) were based on interviews and survey items pilot tested on employed mobility device users. PARTICIPANTS A sample of 183 employed people who use mobility devices including wheelchairs, canes, crutches or walkers was recruited using internet postings on disability-related organizations. The average age of the sample was 46.3, most were college educated, 72% used wheelchairs and the average number of years of employment was 24. METHODS The MWS was completed by 183 people who met the inclusion criteria. The survey was sent to these same people a second time and 132 of them returned the second survey. RESULTS The MWS consists of 106 questions on demographic, work and worksite characteristics and 58 subjective evaluation items that were organized into five scales. The internal consistencies (Cronbach's alpha) of the five scales were moderate (0.72) to good (0.93). Stability values of the five scales were calculated using correlations between forms and ranged from 0.70 to 0.80. The evaluative scales were analyzed using exploratory factor analysis. CONCLUSIONS The MWS provides a tool for studying the variables that influence employed people who use mobility devices. Future studies of unemployed people who use mobility devices may benefit from using the results of the MWS to plan interventions.
Perception and Response of the U.S. West Coast Shellfish Industry to Ocean Acidification: The Voice of the Canaries in the Coal Mine

ABSTRACT In the mid-2000s the U.S. west coast oyster industry experienced several years of significant production failures. This industry has been referred to as the “canary in a coal mine” for ocean acidification (OA). Industry-led collaboration with university and government scientists identified a relationship between elevated carbon dioxide in seawater and poor oyster seed production. This multiyear production slow-down resulted in significant economic losses to the industry and spurred state and regionally led initiatives to examine the current and potential future impacts of OA. To examine the perceptions and understanding of OA by the U.S. west coast shellfish industry, a regional survey of the industry was conducted, covering oyster, mussel, clam, geoduck, and abalone producers. The web-based survey addressed four general areas: experience, understanding, concern, and adaptability. There were 86 total respondents from industry, resulting in a response rate of 46% with 96% of respondents answering ...
Coping With Aversive Feelings.

Fifty-five children, ages 6–8 and 10–12 years, participated in a social cognition study on expectancies for how to cope when feeling sad, angry, afraid, hurt, or ashamed. A comparison sample of sexually abused children was also included. Five hypothetical vignettes, each featuring one of the preceding emotions, were designed such that controllability of outcome, intensity of emotion, and degree of affiliation between protagonists were controlled; the children were provided with coping strategies, including problem-solving, support-seeking, distancing, internalizing, and externalizing options. Children chose the “best” and “worst” coping strategies and justified their choices, as well as responded to what they would do in a similar situation. Results indicated that there were no age, gender, or abuse-related differences in which strategy was selected as best or worst for any of the emotion-linked vignettes; however, younger children tended to provide more simplistic justifications. Problem-solving was most often cited as the best coping strategy when feeling shamed or angry, support-seeking when feeling sad, and both problem-solving and support-seeking were equally nominated when fearful. Distancing was viewed as the best strategy when one's feelings were hurt. Children overwhelmingly chose the aggressive externalizing coping strategy as the worst option across all emotion stories, and both social and nonsocial consequences were cited as the justification for why it was the least desirable coping strategy. The results were further interpreted in light of children's acquisition of emotion scenarios that are script-like and include evaluations of what is both socially desirable and adaptive for how to cope with emotionally aversive circumstances.
Gaining Traction in Research Data Management Support: A Case Study

With the implementation of an institutional repository, librarians at the University of Vermont (UVM) began receiving inquiries about data management. In an effort to explore research data management roles for librarians at UVM the author led workshops based on Module One of the New England Collaborative Data Management Curriculum (NECDMC) with two audiences. In addition, the author consulted with faculty and staff from around the university to ascertain their support of research data management and integrate that information into the workshops. The first workshop was directed at UVM librarians and resulted in an understanding of their willingness to engage with research data management patron services. The second workshop was conducted for students and faculty. It built upon the first workshop and, in addition, experimented with a sixty-minute version of the NECDMC module. This second workshop will be added to an existing series of Dana Library workshops for graduate students and early career researchers in fall 2014.
A Review of Accelerator Instrumentation

Some of the problems associated with the monitoring of accelerator beams, particularly storage rings’ beams, are reviewed along with their most common solutions. The various electrode structures used for the measurement of beam current, beam position, and the detection of the bunches’ transverse oscillations, yield pulses with sub-nanosecond widths. The electronics for the processing of these short pulses involves wide band techniques and circuits usually not readily available from industry or the integrated circuit market: Passive or active, successive integrations, linear gating, sample-and-hold circuits with nanosecond acquisition time, etc. This report also presents the work performed recently for monitoring the ultrashort beams of colliding linear accelerators or single-pass colliders. To minimize the beam emittance, the beam position must be measured with a high resolution, and digitized on a pulse-to-pulse basis. Experimental results obtained with the Stanford two-mile Linac single bunches are included.
The role of context in query input: using contextual signals to complete queries on mobile devices

The difficulty of entering queries from impoverished keyboards impedes the use of web search on mobile devices. On average, it takes a mobile user approximately 60 seconds to enter a query from a 9-key keypad [1]. In this paper, we explore the use of contextual signals to facilitate query entry on mobile phones. We present a query prediction system which offers automatically generated word completions as the user is typing her query. The query prediction system redefines the prediction dictionary after considering contextual signals such as the application being used (e.g. search vs. general text messaging), the inferred location of the user, the time of day and day of week. We demonstrate a 46.4% improvement in query entry, measured by number of key presses needed to enter queries. We found that the two contextual signals that make the largest impact are knowledge of the application being used and the location of the user.
Characterization and peptidase specificity of lugworm (Arenicola cristata) protease C.

1. Lugworm protease C further purified by benzamidine-affinity chromatography, exhibited peptidase specificity for arginyl and lysyl bonds. 2. Protease C consisted of a single polypeptide with a mol. wt of ca 23,000 as determined by SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, exhibited a u.v. absorption maximum at 280 with an (mg/ml) extinction coefficient of 0.93 and fluorescence spectra typical of a protein containing tryptophan, and had an amino acid composition similar to trypsins. 3. The Kms of the cleavages of the arginyl bond of oxidized insulin B chain and of the lysyl bond of the gly23-ala30 fragment were determined to be 0.72 and 0.96 mM; the corresponding kcats were 38 sec-1 and 1.5 sec-1. The Km and kcat for TAME were 0.042 mM, and 110 sec-1. 4. Lugworm protease C was confirmed to be a trypsin.
Comparison of the resistance of miniplates and microplates to various in vitro forces

A comparison of the Luhr Mini System (Howmedica, Inc, Rutherford, NJ) and the Luhr Micro System (Howmedica, Inc) was undertaken to determine resistance to various forces using a biomechanical model. Miniplates and microplates were first tested to determine their resistance to forces of displacement on flat bend, edge bend, tension, and compression generated by a materials testing system machine. Then, miniplates and microplates were attached to fresh porcine ribs, fixed to a custom-made jig, and subjected to the same forces of displacement. The load was applied to the bone plate to permanent deformation in all tests. The mini and microplate systems resisted 14.50 and 1.14 kg, respectively, on edgewise bending, 2.65 and 1.10 kg, respectively, on flat bending, 92.03 and 16.44 kg, respectively, on tension, and 127.9 and 27.02 kg, respectively, on compression. The mini and microsystem biomechanical model resisted 1.89 and 0.94 kg, respectively, on edgewise bending, 5.20 and 0.85 kg, respectively, on flat bending, 37.60 and 15.72 kg, respectively, on tension, and 53.55 and 16.0 kg, respectively, on compression. The results suggest that the Luhr Mini Fixation System provides a significant amount of resistance to tensile and compressive forces, but is weakest when large forces are applied at 90 degrees to the flat portion of the plate. The system showed decreased force resistance in the biomechanical model except on flat bending. The Luhr Micro Fixation System has significantly less resistance to deformation, but shows no decrease in ability to resist forces of displacement in the biomechanical model.
Surgical management of traumatic posterior urethral strictures in children

We review our recent experience with the treatment of traumatic strictures of the posterior urethra in children. Five males, ages six to seventeen years with dense posterior urethral strictures, have required open reconstructive procedures. Four patients had injury secondary to pelvic fractures, and 1 patient had an iatrogenic injury from surgery for imperforate anus. Two patients were repaired perineally, 2 with a combination retropubic-perineal approach, and 1 patient required a transpubic approach. Excision and direct anastomosis was achieved in 3 patients, and a foreskin interposition tube graft was used in 2 patients. Excellent results were achieved with return of urethral voiding and preservation of continence in all patients. Complications were seen in 3 patients. One secondary internal urethrotomy was required. Erectile capability was preserved in all patients who were potent before surgery. Posterior urethral strictures in children can be successfully managed with a variety of surgical approaches. This experience demonstrates that the surgical procedure must be individualized depending on the anatomy of the injury.
Northern Hemisphere Wintertime Variability in a Two-Level General Circulation Model. Part II. The Maintenance of Short and Long Time-Scale Disturbances

Abstract The energetics of large-scale disturbances of the wintertime, Northern Hemisphere circulation are studied with the OSU two-level general circulation model. The behavior of simulated eddies with short time-scale (2.5 to 10 days) is found to be consistent with observations and with baroclinic instability theory. Eddies with long time-scales (>10 days) appear to be maintained primarily by high-latitude baroclinic energy conversions. Energy conversions characteristic of barotropic processes are found at jet stream latitudes.
Fluoride treatment and microhardness of dentin

Abstract Effects of various fluoride treatments on the microhardness of human dentin were determined. Treatment with acidulated phosphate-fluoride at pH 3.0 induced a significant ( p 2 did not differ significantly from water treatment. Sequential treatment with APF (pH 4.0) followed by SnF 2 produced significant ( p 2 differed at a high level of significance ( p 2 treatment. When hardening of exposed dentin surfaces is desired, the sequential treatment method should be employed.
Orbital ordering induces structural phase transition and the resistivity anomaly in iron pnictides

We attribute the structural phase transition (SPT) in the parent compounds of the iron pnictides to orbital ordering. Due to the anisotropy of the $d_{xz}$ and $d_{yz}$ orbitals in the $xy$ plane, a ferro-orbital ordering makes the orthorhombic structure more energetically favorable, thus inducing the SPT. In this orbital-ordered system, the sites with orbitals that do not order have higher energies. Scattering of the itinerant electrons by these localized two-level systems causes a resistivity anomaly upon the onset of the SPT. The proposed orbital ordering also leads to the stripe-like anti-ferromagnetism and anisotropy of the magnetic exchanges. This model is quantitatively consistent with available experimental observations.
Modeling of the Effect of Path Planning on Deposition of Metal-Ceramic Composite With Laser Powder Deposition Process

A finite element model, coupled with a thermo-kinetic model is developed to simulate the heat transfer and microstructural evolution in laser deposition of a metal-matrix composite powder. The model is used to predict the final hardness and the effect of process parameters on a metal matrix. A defined area is covered by H13-WC powder with three different deposition patterns: one-section, two-section, and three-section. The one-section pattern is the normal deposition pattern in which the deposition area is covered with zigzag patterns and in one step. In the two- and three-section patterns, the deposition area is divided to two and three sections, respectively, and is covered in two and three steps. The finite element model is used to determine the temperature history of the process used in the kinetic model to analyze the tempering effect of the heating and cooling cycles of the deposition process on the composite matrix. The results show that dividing the area under deposition into smaller areas can influence the phase transformation kinetics of the process and, consequently, change the final hardness of the metal matrix. The two-section pattern shows a higher average hardness than the one-section pattern, and the three-section pattern shows a fully hardened surface without significant tempered zones with low hardness. The simulation results are in very good agreement with the experimental ones.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
A small university allocates resources

The Feldberg Computer Center which houses a Decsystem-10 timesharing computer opened in 1972 with the purpose of serving the research community at Brandeis University. Since its opening the user community has grown to include students in academic courses, a few users from the administrative community, and some non-profit agencies.One of the problems facing a center with a heterogeneous user base is the equitable allocation of resources. We must decide when users can access the machine, how much disk storage space each may have, etc. Tlne problem has been complicated by the shifts in the types of users from each of these communities. Professors have become more sophisticated about the value of using computers in conjunction with courses. Students are requesting more courses in Computer Science. A growing percentage of our researchers are social scientists. And, of course, professors as well as students have discovered that computer editors and text processing programs make producing papers, theses, and books easier. Further complications are the federal regulations relating to the way overhead is calculated for grants.We have developed a policy which we believe is humane and equitable. We have found that most people are satisfied. This paper will describe that resource allocation policy.
Facilitating peer-group entry in kindergartners with impairments in social communication

Purpose: This series of case studies examined the efficacy of intervention designed to teach peer-group entry skills to kindergartners with social interaction and communication deficits. Method: The participants were 3 kindergartners at the University of Washington Experimental Educational Unit (EEU) who were selected because of difficulty with peer-group entry and cooperative play as compared to other children in the classroom. The intervention program included direct treatment of the children by the primary researcher and teachers in the classroom. The intervention was modeled on research describing a sequential peer-entry hierarchy that incorporated the children moving from low-risk strategies to high-risk strategies. Specifically, the treatment focused on teaching the children to use props to facilitate the production of high-risk verbal statements. Results: Results demonstrated increases in (a) children’s use of props and verbal statements to enter peer groups, (b) cooperative play, and (c) time spen...
Comparison of Simultaneous Azo Dye Coupling Methods and an Indigogenic Reaction for Alkaline Phosphatase in Polyacrylamide Disc Gels

Three simultaneous azo dye coupling reactions and an indigogenic phosphate reaction were compared for their ability to detect chicken intestinal alkaline phosphatases separated in polyacrylamide disc gels. The diazoniums examined, Fast Red TR, Fast Blue RR and Nuclear Fast Red Salt, used sodium alpha-naphthyl acid phosphate as the substrate. Fast Red TR and Fast Blue RR were suitable for the detection of alkaline phosphatases whereas Nuclear Fast Red Salt and the indigogenic phosphate were not. This study shows the necessity for evaluating a stain under the actual experimental conditions.
Fatigue crack growth in SiC particle reinforced Al alloy matrix composites at high and low R-ratios by in situ X-ray synchrotron tomography

Abstract Metal matrix composites (MMCs) offer high strength, high stiffness, low density, and good fatigue resistance, while maintaining cost an acceptable level. Fatigue resistance of MMCs depends on many aspects of composite microstructure. Fatigue crack growth behavior is particularly dependent on the reinforcement characteristics and matrix microstructure. The goal of this work is to obtain a fundamental understanding of fatigue crack growth behavior in SiC particle-reinforced 2080 Al alloy composites. In situ X-ray synchrotron tomography was performed on two samples at low ( R = 0.1) and at high ( R = 0.6) R -ratios. The resulting reconstructed images were used to obtain three-dimensional (3D) rendering of the particles and fatigue crack. Behaviors of the particles and crack, as well as their interaction, were analyzed and quantified. Four-dimensional (4D) visual representations were constructed to aid in the overall understanding of damage evolution.
Excessive hepatic accumulation of intracellular Ca2+ in chlordecone potentiated CCl4 toxicity

Abstract The possible role of Ca 2+ in chlordecone potentiation of CCl 4 hepatotoxicity was examined in male Sprague-Dawley rats. The rats were maintained on a diet containing either 0, 10, 25, 50 or 100 ppm chlordecone for 15 days. On day 15, they received a single i.p. injection of corn oil (1 ml/kg) or CCl 4 (100 μl/kg) in corn oil vehicle. The animals were killed at 1, 6, or 12 h after the oil or CCl 4 challenge for hepatic Ca 2+ determinations. Ca 2+ in whole liver, mitochondria, microsomes or in cytosolic fraction was unaltered in any group of animals receiving chlordecone + oil treatments, indicating that chlordecone alone does not alter whole liver content or hepatic subcellular distribution of Ca 2+ , even after exposure to toxic levels (50 or 100 ppm). Administration of CCl 4 at an otherwise non-toxic dose to chlordecone treated animals resulted in significant increases of whole liver and subcellular Ca 2+ as compared to chlordecone alone and CCl 4 alone with a characteristic biphasic response. These increases were significant at all 3 time points in whole liver, cytosolic and mitochondrial fractions. Microsomal Ca 2+ increased only at 12 h after CCl 4 . The increases were all progressive with increases in dietary levels of chlordecone, indicating that chlordecone-induced sensitivity is responsible for CCl 4 elicited perturbations in whole liver and intracellular Ca 2+ levels. This study suggests that chlordecone modifies the liver plasma membrane to amplify the CCl 4 elicited perturbations in hepatocellular Ca 2+ homeostasis especially during 6–12 h after CCl 4 administration. This perturbation of Ca 2+ homeostasis may be related to the arrested repair and regeneration of damaged liver tissue leading to progressive deterioration observed in previous histomorphometric studies.
Hydrogenated nanocrystalline silicon p-layer in amorphous silicon n–i–p solar cells

Abstract This paper describes an investigation into the impacts of hydrogenated nanocrystalline silicon (nc-Si:H) p-layer on the photovoltaic parameters, especially on the open-circuit voltage ( V oc ) of n–i–p type hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) solar cells. Raman spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analyses indicate that this p-layer is a diphasic material that contains nanocrystalline grains with size around 3–5 nm embedded in an amorphous silicon matrix. Optical transmission measurements show that the nc-Si:H p-layer has a wide band gap of 1.9 eV. Using this nanocrystalline p-layer in n–i–p a-Si:H solar cells, the cell performances were improved with a V oc of 1.042 V, whereas the solar cells deposited under similar conditions but incorporating a hydrogenated microcrystalline silicon (μc-Si:H) p-layer exhibit a V oc of 0.526 V.
Clinical communication preferences in an operating room suite: a proposed information-communication technology framework

Background: A Hands-free Communication Device (HCD) system is an information and communication technology (ICT) being implemented to help OR staff respond to emergency situations. Methods: We purposefully sampled 18 OR staff to participate in semi-structured interviews and observations. Interview and observation data were transcribed and analyzed using a constant comparison method.Results: OR staff described benefits and challenges associated with integrating the HCD system with the variety of already available (ICTs). Some subjects described sometimes-burdensome mental processes determining what technology to use given a particular clinical scenario.Discussion: We propose a model that frames the decision-making process by which users determine which communication modality to use, given the perceived urgency of a communication, and the perceived availability of an intended message recipient.Conclusion: Developers and implementers would do well to consider an ICT's impact on how it accounts for the urgency of communication, the availability of intended recipients, and users' abilities to integrate the ICT with already existing modalities.
Impacting Mediators of Change for Physical Activity Among Elderly Food Stamp Recipients

A multidisciplinary team developed and pilot-tested a curriculum, delivered by trained lay educators, to increase self-efficacy for physical activity among elderly food stamp recipients. Curriculum development was guided by a comprehensive literature review. Process evaluation was used to revise the curriculum and to assess lay educator training and pilot test fidelity. Three hundred sixteen low-income older adults participated in curriculum development and pilot-testing activities. One hundred twenty four participants completed pretest/posttest impact evaluation surveys. The average age of participants was 75 years old with 55.28% having less than high school education. Significant increases in self-efficacy regarding walking most days (p = .0022), using exercise bands (p < .0001), being physically active to increase strength (p = .0012), being active without injury (p < .0001), being able to wear appropriate clothing and shoes (p < .0001), and getting information about community physical activity progra...
Reaction interface between aluminum and water

Abstract Reaction of aluminum with water is of interest for hydrogen generation for a wide range of applications, from in-situ operated fuel cells to propulsion of underwater vehicles. Despite extensive studies, detailed reaction mechanisms are lacking and the locations of the reaction interface between aluminum and liquid water or steam are not identified. In this work, the reaction interfaces are located by interpreting heat flow calorimetry and thermo-gravimetry data for liquid water and steam, respectively. In both experiments, two spherical aluminum powders are used with different but overlapping particle size distributions. The measured reaction rate is assumed to be proportional to the surface area of the reaction interface; thus the measured heat flow and weight gain are partitioned among particles based on their size distribution. The data are processed considering several reaction models assuming different locations of the reaction interface: inside or outside of the growing Al2O3 or Al(OH)3 shells. It is expected that if the correct interface location is selected, the oxidation of the particles with the same sizes and exposed to the same temperature/environment but belonging to different powders will be identical to each other. For liquid water, results suggest that the reaction occurs at the surface of the shrinking aluminum core, inside the growing aluminum hydroxide layer. For reactions of aluminum with steam at elevated temperatures, the results are less conclusive, but indicate that the reaction is most likely occurring at the outer surface of the growing alumina shell. The growing alumina shell is rigid and is fractured multiple times during its growth. After a shell is fractured, a new shell begins to grow around the oxidizing aluminum core.
A Noncontact Ultrasound Approach for Mechanical Property Determination of Cheeses

: Noncontact ultrasound parameters, such as velocity and attenuation coefficient, were directly measured using air instability compensation transducers and correlated with Young's modulus, hardness, and toughness of different types of cheeses. Ultrasound velocity was highly correlated with the mechanical properties of cheeses whereas no significant relationship between the ultrasound energy attenuation coefficient and the mechanical properties were shown. The noncontact ultrasound technique demonstrated excellent performance for thickness measurement of cheeses with an accuracy of 99.98% (standard error = 0.089 mm). Results indicated that noncontact air instability compensation ultrasound technique has a good potential for nondestructive and accurate measurement of ultrasound parameters, thickness, and mechanical properties of food materials.
Chemical reactions of N 2+ ion beams with group IV elements and their oxides

Abstract Ion beam studies of the reactions between nitrogen and surfaces of Group IV elements and their oxides resulting in nitride formation are reported. XPS and UPS are used to examine the products induced by 500 eV N 2 + beams on diamond, graphite and elemental Si, Ge, Sn, Pb and their oxides. Nitrogen adds to the graphite in two positions: at the carbon rings and intersitually between the layers of rings. Reaction with Si, Ge and Sn produces nitrides which are similar to those of the type M 3 N 4 . Reaction with oxides forms nitrides with no evidence of nitrate or nitrite formation. The chemical nature of the reaction is supported by identification of the products through energy level shifts and by the agreement with thermodynamic predictions.
The superficial medial collateral ligament reconstruction of the knee: effect of altering graft length on knee kinematics and stability

Purpose The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the resulting knee kinematics and stability of an anatomic superficial MCL (sMCL) reconstruction and a non-anatomic sMCL reconstruction.
Spatial association of renin-containing cells and nerve fibers in developing rat kidney.

The development of renin-containing cells and nerve fibers was studied in Sprague-Dawley rat kidneys during the last third of gestation and the first 15 days of postnatal life. Kidney tissue sections were stained for nerve fibers or double stained employing an anti-rat renin polyclonal antibody and a monoclonal antibody (TUJ1) directed against a neuron-specific class III beta-tubulin isotype. Renin-containing cells and nerve fibers were detected at 17 days of gestation, in close spatial relationship along the main branches of the renal artery. During fetal life, renin-containing cells and nerve fibers were spatially associated along arcuate and interlobular arteries, renincontaining cells being also present throughout the entire length of afferent arterioles supplying juxtamedullary glomeruli. During postnatal life the distribution of renincontaining cells progressively shifted to a restricted juxtaglomerular position in afferent arterioles. Simultaneously, density and organization of nerve fibers increased with age along the arterial vascular tree. Our results suggest that innervation of renin-containing cells is present in fetal life and follows the centrifugal pattern of renin distribution and nephrovascular development.
Anévrysme géant de l’aorte abdominal para-rénale

Les anevrysmes inflammatoires de l’aorte sont des lesions vasculaires rares et impliquent le plus generalement le segment sous-renal de l’aorte abdominale. Ces anevrysmes complexes representent un defi pour le chirurgien vasculaire et deviennent encore plus difficiles a traiter avec l’augmentation de la taille de l’anevrysme et de la masse inflammatoire. Bien que bien decrits, peu de cas d’anevrysmes inflammatoires geants sont rapportes. Dans ce cas, nous decrivons la presentation clinique et la gestion chirurgicale d’un malade presentant un anevrysme geant de l’aorte abdominale para-renale et mettons l’accent sur une forme morphologique rare de lesion aortique et faisons une revue de la litterature.