cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Making Accountability Really Count

Standards-based education has now reached a stage where it is possible to evaluate its overall effectiveness. Several earlier papers in the special issue of Educational Measurement: Issues and Practice on “Test Scores and State Accountability” (Volume 24, Number 4) examined specific state policies and their effects on schools and students. This paper provides a context for understanding state accountability policies by briefly sketching the history of America's standards movement. It then situates the findings of the four special issue papers in the context of theories of how state policies exert their influence, focusing on school capacity building, governmental authority, and educator motivation. Broader forms of assessment may be needed to meet the goals of the standards effort. Several kinds of evidence that could better ground state decisions in knowledge of the actual functioning of schools and districts are suggested.
Clock distribution models of 3-D integrated systems

Clock distribution topologies in a three-tier 3-D integrated circuit are explored. Models of three different clock topologies are applied to determine the root to leaf delay. The models incorporate the impedance of the 3-D via between planes based on closed-form expressions of the resistance, inductance, and capacitance of a through silicon via (TSV). The resulting modeled delays are compared to experimental data. Good agreement between simulation and experimental data is achieved.
A D-Band Passive Imager in 65 nm CMOS

A differential D-band (140 GHz) passive imager has been demonstrated in a 65 nm CMOS technology. It achieves a minimum noise equivalent power of 26 fW/√Hz with peak responsivity of 1.2 MV/W. The core circuit consumes chip area of 950×240 μm2 with dc power consumption of 152 mW. This work further pushes imagers in CMOS technology working towards higher millimeter wave/sub millimeter wave frequencies.
Intermediate disturbance in experimental landscapes improves persistence of beetle metapopulations

Human-dominated landscapes often feature patches that fluctuate in suitability through space and time, but there is little experimental evidence relating the consequences of dynamic patches for species persistence. We used a spatially and temporally dynamic metapopulation model to assess and compare metapopulation capacity and persistence for red flour beetles (Tribolium castaneum) in experimental landscapes differentiated by resource structure, patch dynamics (destruction and restoration), and connectivity. High connectivity increased the colonization rate of beetles, but this effect was less pronounced in heterogeneous relative to homogeneous landscapes. Higher connectivity and faster patch dynamics increased extinction rates in landscapes. Lower connectivity promoted density-dependent emigration. Heterogeneous landscapes containing patches of different carrying capacity enhanced landscape-level occupancy probability. The highest metapopulation capacity and persistence was observed in landscapes with heterogeneous patches, low connectivity, and slow patch dynamics. Control landscapes with no patch dynamics exhibited rapid declines in abundance and approached extinction due to increased adult mortality in the matrix, higher pupal cannibalism by adults, and extremely low rates of exchange between remaining habitable patches. Our results highlight the role of intermediate patch dynamics, intermediate connectivity, and the nature of density dependence of emigration for persistence of species in heterogeneous landscapes. Our results also demonstrate the importance of incorporating local dynamics into the estimation of metapopulation capacity for conservation planning.
How low-risk is a coronary calcium score of zero? The importance of conditional probability.

Coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring by computed tomography (CT) has been the subject of intense interest and critical scrutiny since it was first reported as a clinical tool in 1990.1 With improvements in study design, greater availability of coronary CT scanners, and increased attention to the posttest prognosis of patient samples and asymptomatic individuals who have undergone coronary CT, CAC measurement is now considered a potentially useful test for improving coronary risk assessment in selected intermediate-risk asymptomatic patients in whom high CAC scores signify increased cardiovascular risk beyond that predicted by conventional cardiovascular risk factors alone.2 Article p 1693 At the other end of the spectrum, does a very low CAC score signify very low risk? An American Heart Association writing group3 stated that a CAC score of zero (CAC=0; ie, no calcified plaque detected) indicated 1) that the presence of atherosclerotic plaque, including unstable or vulnerable plaque, was highly unlikely; 2) that the presence of significant luminal obstructive disease was highly unlikely (negative predictive value on the order of 95% to 99%); and 3) that the risk of a cardiovascular event in the next 2 to 5 years was quite low (0.1 per 100 person-years). In addition, at least 1 early study suggested that CAC=0 might be useful in the emergency room setting as a tool to rule out myocardial ischemia in symptomatic patients.4 A recent review article5 suggested the same conclusions. However, as pointed out by a different …
Cerebrovascular disease in maintenance hemodialysis patients: results of the HEMO Study.

Background: Cerebrovascular disease (CBVD) in hemodialysis patients is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. A secondary analysis of CBVD in the Hemodialysis (HEMO) Study was performed. Specific objectives were to: (1) determine risk factors for the presence of CBVD at baseline, (2) assess risk factors for the subsequent occurrence of cerebrovascular deaths, and (3) analyze the effects of dose and flux on cerebrovascular mortality. Methods: The HEMO Study was a randomized multicenter study evaluating the effects of high-dose versus standard-dose and high-flux versus low-flux hemodialysis. There were 1,846 patients enrolled, with a mean follow-up of 2.84 years. Results: Factors associated with the baseline presence of CBVD included age ( P P P P = 0.016). In the subgroup of patients without the baseline presence of CBVD, high-flux dialysis was associated with a lower risk for death caused by CBVD ( P = 0.016). A borderline interaction between years of dialysis therapy and flux on subsequent CBVD death was detected ( P = 0.05). The beneficial effect of high flux was evident in those on hemodialysis therapy for longer than 3.7 years ( P = 0.012). Conclusion: High flux was associated with decreased CBVD mortality in those without known CBVD at baseline and those on hemodialysis therapy for longer than 3.7 years. This secondary analysis strengthens, but does not prove, the hypothesis that high-flux treatment may attenuate the death rate from vascular disease.
Impeller Inner Diameter in a Miniaturized Centrifugal Blood Pump

To design a miniaturized centrifugal blood pump, the impeller internal diameter (ID), which is a circle diameter on the inner edge of the vane, is considered one of the important aspects. Hydraulic performance, hemolysis, and thrombogenicity were evaluated with different impeller IDs. Two impellers were fabricated with an outer diameter of 35 mm, of which 1 had an 8 mm ID impeller and the other had a 12 mm ID. These impellers were combined with 2 different housings in which the inlet port was eccentrically positioned 3.8 and 4.5 mm offset from the center. The hydraulic performance and hemolysis were evaluated in a mock circuit, and thrombogenicity was evaluated in a 2 day ex vivo study with each impeller housing combination. Both impellers required 3,000 rpm in the 3.8 mm offset inlet to attain 5 L/min against 100 mm Hg (left ventricular assist device condition). The 8 mm ID impeller required 3,200 rpm, and the 12 mm ID impeller required 3,100 rpm in the 4.5 mm offset housing. The normalized index of hemolysis was 0.0080 +/- 0.0048 g/100 L in the 8 mm ID impeller with the 3.8 mm offset and 0.022 +/- 0.018 g/100 L with 4.5 mm offset. The 12 mm ID impeller had 0.068 +/- 0.028 g/100 L with the 3.8 mm offset and 0.010 +/- 0.002 g/100 L with the 4.5 mm offset. After the 2 day ex vivo study, no blood clot was formed around the top bearing in all the pump heads. The 8 mm ID impeller with 3.8 mm offset inlet and the 12 mm ID impeller with the 4.5 mm offset had less hemolysis compared to the other pump heads that were subjected to 14 day ex vivo and 10 day in vivo studies. The 8 mm ID impeller with the 3.8 mm offset inlet had a blood clot around the top bearing after the 14 day ex vivo study. No thrombus was found around the top bearing of the 12 mm ID impeller with the 4.5 mm offset in the 10 day in vivo study. These results suggest that the ID does not greatly change the hydraulic performance of a small centrifugal blood pump. The proper combination of the impeller ID and inlet port offset obtains less hemolysis. The larger impeller ID is considered to have less thrombogenicity around the top bearing.
In vivo tibial stiffness is maintained by whole bone morphology and cross-sectional geometry in growing female mice

Abstract Whole bone morphology, cortical geometry, and tissue material properties modulate skeletal stresses and strains that in turn influence skeletal physiology and remodeling. Understanding how bone stiffness, the relationship between applied load and tissue strain, is regulated by developmental changes in bone structure and tissue material properties is important in implementing biophysical strategies for promoting healthy bone growth and preventing bone loss. The goal of this study was to relate developmental patterns of in vivo whole bone stiffness to whole bone morphology, cross-sectional geometry, and tissue properties using a mouse axial loading model. We measured in vivo tibial stiffness in three age groups (6, 10, 16 wk old) of female C57Bl/6 mice during cyclic tibial compression. Tibial stiffness was then related to cortical geometry, longitudinal bone curvature, and tissue mineral density using microcomputed tomography (microCT). Tibial stiffness and the stresses induced by axial compression were generally maintained from 6 to 16 wks of age. Growth-related increases in cortical cross-sectional geometry and longitudinal bone curvature had counteracting effects on induced bone stresses and, therefore, maintained tibial stiffness similarly with growth. Tissue mineral density increased slightly from 6 to 16 wks of age, and although the effects of this increase on tibial stiffness were not directly measured, its role in the modulation of whole bone stiffness was likely minor over the age range examined. Thus, whole bone morphology, as characterized by longitudinal curvature, along with cortical geometry, plays an important role in modulating bone stiffness during development and should be considered when evaluating and designing in vivo loading studies and biophysical skeletal therapies.
Ghost Cell Glaucoma Following Trauma

Ghost cell glaucoma was described in 1975. The details of this glaucoma as it occurred following vitrectomy and following cataract extraction have been reported. This glaucoma occurred following trauma as well, and this report describes the clinical and pathologic characteristics. Fourteen patients, five with positive anterior chamber aspirate examinations, were studied. All had in common: (1) severe trauma to the eye, either blunt or penetrating, with hyphema and vitreous hemorrhage; (2) gradual clearing of the anterior chamber hemorrhage and conversion of fresh red blood cells to ghost cells in the vitreous cavity; (3) forward passage of ghost cells into the anterior chamber through a traumatic opening in the anterior hyaloid face; and (4) elevation of intraocular pressure caused by these cells approximately two weeks to three months following the trauma. The glaucoma required medical and often surgical therapy. The surgical procedure of choice was anterior chamber irrigation, which was often effective and is advised before proceeding to vitrectomy. The vitreous findings of an enucleated eye with ghost cell glaucoma are presented.
The Predictive Use of Event-Related Potentials in Language Development and the Treatment of Language Disorders

(1999). The Predictive Use of Event-Related Potentials in Language Development and the Treatment of Language Disorders. Developmental Neuropsychology: Vol. 16, No. 3, pp. 373-377.
Low-frequency unsteadiness in nozzle flow separation

A series of large-eddy simulations (LES) have confirmed the existence of a low-frequency shock wave instability in an over-expanded planar nozzle. This numerical simulation models the experiments performed by Papamoschou et.al. 9,21,22 and was conducted to shed light on the underlying physics of the shock-boundary layer interaction and the free-shock separation 20 (FSS) which is present in over-expanded supersonic nozzles and gives rise to large asymmetric side loads. The LES methodology used in this study is presented with emphasis on a modified sub-grid scale model for compressible wall bounded flows. The mechanism which causes the low-frequency shock motion is explained and illustrated using LES data. This mechanism is analyzed for a series of over-expanded planar nozzles of various area ratios and nozzle pressure ratios. We propose and evaluate a reduced order model for the unsteady shock behavior. The model is derived from first principles and uses data from the LES calculations to capture the effects of the turbulent boundary layer and shear layer. The model agrees with the LES data surprisingly well, given that only one-dimensional effects are captured in the model’s dynamics. A new scaling law for the peak frequency of the unsteadiness is proposed which is derived from the reduced order model and collapses data for all cases.
Preparation and characterization of atomically clean, stoichiometric surfaces of AIN(0001)

In situ exposure of the (0001) surface of AlN thin films to flowing ammonia at 1120 °C and 10−4Torr removes oxygen∕hydroxide and hydrocarbon species below the detectable limits of x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and decreases the Al∕N ratio from 1.3 to 1.0. The positions of the Al2p and the N1s core level peaks acquired from the cleaned surfaces were 75.0±0.1eV and 398.2±0.1eV, respectively, which were similar to the values determined for the as-loaded samples. The cleaning process left unchanged the (1×1) low energy electron diffraction pattern, the step-and-terrace microstructure, and the root mean square roughness values observed for the surfaces of the as-loaded samples; i.e., the surface structure and microstructure were not changed by the high-temperature exposure to ammonia at low pressures. Vacuum annealing under 10−7Torr at 1175 °C for 15 min removed all detectable hydrocarbons; however, it did not remove the oxygen∕hydroxide species.
Magnetic Anomalies in the Northern and Central Gulf of California

Magnetic anomalies found in the northern and central Gulf of California do not resemble typical sea-floor spreading anomalies, but are consistent with the existence of spreading centers in this region. The magnetic anomalies appear to delineate the extension of the San Jacinto fault into the Gulf of California and some of the transform faults that connect the inferred spreading centers within the gulf.
DNA methyltransferases: a novel target for prevention and therapy

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in US. Despite the emergence of new, targeted agents, and the use of various therapeutic combinations, none of the available treatment options are curative in patients with advanced cancer. Epigenetic alterations are increasingly recognized as valuable targets for the development of cancer therapies. DNA methylation at the 5-position of cytosine, catalyzed by DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs), is the predominant epigenetic modification in mammals. DNMT1, the major enzyme responsible for maintenance of the DNA methylation pattern is located at the replication fork and methylates newly biosynthesized DNA. DNMT2 or TRDMT1, the smallest mammalian DNMT is believed to participate in the recognition of DNA damage, DNA recombination, and mutation repair. It is composed solely of the C-terminal domain, and does not possess the regulatory N-terminal region. The levels of DNMTs, especially those of DNMT3B, DNMT3A, and DNMT3L, are often increased in various cancer tissues and cell lines, which may partially account for the hypermethylation of promoter CpG-rich regions of tumor suppressor genes in a variety of malignancies. Moreover, it has been shown to function in self-renewal and maintenance of colon cancer stem cells and need to be studied in several cancers. Inhibition of DNMTs has demonstrated reduction in tumor formation in part through the increased expression of tumor suppressor genes. Hence, DNMTs can potentially be used as anti-cancer targets. Dietary phytochemicals also inhibit DNMTs and cancer stem cells; this represents a promising approach for the prevention and treatment of many cancers.
An Evaluation of the Effects of “INSIGHTS” on the Behavior of Inner City Primary School Children

A prevention trial was conducted to evaluate a temperament-based intervention (INSIGHTS into Children's Temperament) as compared to a Read Aloud attention control condition in reducing behavior problems among inner city children. The participants were 148 inner-city first and second grade children, their parents, and their 46 teachers who were from six schools in a Northeastern city. Parents were interviewed on the Parent Daily Report at baseline and every two weeks until the completion of the intervention phase to assess the extent of child problem behaviors in the home. The parents also were interviewed at baseline with the Disruptive Module of the Diagnostic Interview for Children and completed the Brief Symptom Index to assess parental depression.A repeated measures multivariate analysis of covariance with parental depression as a covariate was conducted to examine the children's behavior over the course of the intervention. In order to test the impact of INSIGHTS for the overall sample and to determine whether the intervention was differentially effective for children diagnosed with a disruptive disorder versus those who did not receive a diagnosis, two and three-way interactions were examined and found to be significant. The INSIGHTS intervention was more effective than Read Aloud in reducing children's problem behaviors at home across both the diagnosed and non-diagnosed groups, but demonstrated a significantly greater efficacy among children who were at diagnostic levels compared to those who were within normal levels. Editors' Strategic Implications: The authors describe the promising practice of instructing parents and teachers on how to adapt their behavior management strategies to fit each child's temperament. Replication with a longitudinal follow-up will be necessary to determine whether program effects persist.
Expression of the Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Axl Promotes Ocular Melanoma Cell Survival

Metastatic tumor cells originating from cancers of a variety of tissues such as breast, skin, and prostate may remain dormant for long periods of time. In the case of uveal melanoma, the principal malignancy of the eye, complete removal of the primary tumor by enucleation can nonetheless be followed by metastatic tumor growth in distant organs months, years, or even decades later. This suggests that tumor cells have already spread to secondary sites at the time of treatment and remain dormant as micrometastases. Identifying factors that govern long-lived survival of metastatic tumor cells is therefore key to decreasing mortality associated with this and other diseases. While investigating factors differentially expressed in melanoma cells and normal melanocytes, we identified the receptor tyrosine kinase Axl and found up-regulation of Axl in uveal melanomas and melanoma cell lines by RNase protection, Western analysis, and immunohistochemistry. Axl has been shown to mediate cell growth and survival through its ligand Gas6 in non-transformed cells. To test whether stimulation of Axl can enhance survival of uveal melanoma cells, we assessed the degree of mitogenesis and cell survival by bromodeoxyuridine incorporation and trypan blue exclusion, respectively, upon stimulation of Mel 290 uveal melanoma cells with Gas6 in vitro. We show that Gas6 mediates mitogenesis and cell survival in Mel 290 cells. We further demonstrate that these effects occur specifically through the Axl receptor by modulating the expression of Axl with an antisense construct. cDNA microarray analysis of 12,687 genes then revealed that Gas6 stimulation of Axl in Mel 290 cells results primarily in the down-regulation of Cyr61, a member of the CCN protein family involved in tumor progression. These data show that the Axl pathway mediates increased survival of uveal melanoma cells, potentially advantageous during cancer dormancy, and that Axl may function in part through regulation of Cyr61.
Local Analysis of WCNNs

The local activity of a weakly connected neural network (WCNN) is described by the dynamical system $$ \dot X_i = F_i \left( {X_i ,\lambda } \right) + \varepsilon G_i \left( {X_1 , \ldots ,X_n ,\lambda ,\rho ,\varepsilon } \right),{\text{ i = 1,}} \ldots {\text{,n,}} $$ (5.1) where X i ∈ ℝm, λ ∈ Λ, and ρ ∈ R, near an equilibrium point. First we use the Hartman-Grobman theorem to show that the network’s local activity is not interesting from the neurocomputational point of view unless the equilibrium corresponds to a bifurcation point. In biological terms such neurons are said to be near a threshold. Then we use the center manifold theorem to prove the fundamental theorem of WCNN theory, which says that neurons should be close to thresholds in order to participate nontrivially in brain dynamics. Using center manifold reduction we can substantially reduce the dimension of the network. After that, we apply suitable changes of variables, rescaling or averaging, to simplify further the WCNN. All these reductions yield simple dynamical systems that are canonical models according to the definition given in Chapter 4. The models depend on the type of bifurcation encountered. In this chapter we derive canonical models for multiple saddle-node, cusp, pitchfork, Andronov-Hopf, and BogdanovTakens bifurcations. Other bifurcations and critical regimes are considered in subsequent chapters, and we analyze canonical models in the third part of the book.
Evaluation of the Adverse Effect of Low Concentration of Cadmium on Interleukin-4 Induced Class Switch Recombination in Burkett’s Lymphoma Raji Cell Line

Affinity maturation of B lymphocytes, a process that includes somatic hypermutation and class switch recombination, initiates global DNA rearrangements. The interruption of this process has an adverse effect on human health and results in immunodeficiency and autoimmune disease. Class switch recombination is a fundamental factor of the human adaptive immunity. Evaluation of the class switch recombination efficiency is an important component of laboratory diagnostic of immunotoxic components. Here, we describe a method for testing the efficiency of the class switch recombination. Cultivation of Raji Burkett's lymphoma cell line with anti-CD40 antibodies and recombinant interleukin-4 (IL-4) triggers a cascade of signal transduction network events that lead to switching the immunoglobulin isotopes from IgM to IgE. This chapter describes the methodology of class switch recombination assay for assessment of the effect of the environmental pollutants in toxicological laboratory diagnostics.
In vitro uptake of 3H testosterone and its conversion to dihydrotestosterone by prostatic carcinoma and other tissues

AbstractNeedle biopsies of normal, benign hyperplastic, neoplastic and metastatic prostatic tissues were used to study the uptake of 3H testosterone by these tissues and their ability to convert testosterone to dihydrotestosterone. Histological quantification is important because stroma is active in both of these areas of biochemical activity. The 3H testosterone uptake by the tissues is relatively similar but benign prostatic hyperplasia and normal tissue consistently convert more testosterone to dihydrotestosterone than do neoplastic tissues. The least active in this regard are pure biopsies of neoplastic cells obtained from nodal metastases, suggesting extensive loss or repression of 5-alpha-reductase activity. Further, this defect is present in neoplastic tissues even if the patient has had an orchiectomy and/or received hormonal therapy. It is not known whether testosterone may substitute for dihydrotestosterone in the neoplastic nucleus. Our studies indicate that animal models that yield data on sup...
GMTI mismatch analysis for local invariance clutter mitigation

Ground-moving-target indicator (GMTI) has been widely studied and can be formulated into a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) radar scenario by taking the advantage of MIMO. Usually, adaptive technique is required for GMTI MIMO radar, which includes space-time adaptive processing (STAP) and invariance statistics technique (invariance on local ground clutter) as we proposed in this paper. However, GMTI system still suffers from some non-idealities when the adaptive technique is applied. Typically, the model mismatch problem degrades the performance of the adaptive technique. Therefore, the model mismatch analysis of both STAP and invariance technique is investigated in this paper.
Experimental Observations of Entrainment Rates in Dense Gas Dispersion Tests

It is shown how the local entrainment rate and the local Richardson number used in box models of dense gas cloud dispersion can be found from experimental measurements of wind tunnel simulations. These calculated values can then be used to check the common hypothesis of box and other models that the dimensionless entrainment is a universal function of the local Richardson number. It is found that some experiments do not conform to this hypothesis, most likely because of the vigorous initial mixing of the cloud. An empirical mixing law is proposed for this early stage which does not violate energy conservation.
A food traceability framework for dairy and other low-margin products

Food traceability depends on the end-to-end management from “farm to fork.” In particular, most food products have a complex multilevel circulation network and various distribution channels that lead to difficulties in building a food traceability system that is effective through the supply chain, starting from the production end. In the face of increasingly rigorous regulations, the food companies producing low-margin products are challenged with solutions that are both economical and effective. We have designed a practical food traceability model and system framework for food tracking and tracing from production to distribution. The proposed system, still under development, strikes a balance between traceability and associated costs.
Prevalence of Enteropathogens in Dogs Attending 3 Regional Dog Parks in Northern California.

Background The prevalence and risk factors for infection with enteropathogens in dogs frequenting dog parks have been poorly documented, and infected dogs can pose a potential zoonotic risk for owners. Hypothesis/Objectives To determine the prevalence and risk factors of infection with enteropathogens and zoonotic Giardia strains in dogs attending dog parks in Northern California and to compare results of fecal flotation procedures performed at a commercial and university parasitology laboratory. Animals Three-hundred dogs attending 3 regional dog parks in Northern California. Methods Prospective study. Fresh fecal specimens were collected from all dogs, scored for consistency, and owners completed a questionnaire. Specimens were analyzed by fecal centrifugation flotation, DFA, and PCR for detection of 11 enteropathogens. Giardia genotyping was performed for assemblage determination. Results Enteropathogens were detected in 114/300 dogs (38%), of which 62 (54%) did not have diarrhea. Frequency of dog park attendance correlated significantly with fecal consistency (P = .0039), but did not correlate with enteropathogen detection. Twenty-seven dogs (9%) were infected with Giardia, and genotyping revealed nonzoonotic assemblages C and D. The frequency of Giardia detection on fecal flotation was significantly lower at the commercial laboratory versus the university laboratory (P = .013), and PCR for Giardia was negative in 11/27 dogs (41%) that were positive on fecal flotation or DFA. Conclusions and Clinical Importance Enteropathogens were commonly detected in dogs frequenting dog parks, and infection with Giardia correlated with fecal consistency. PCR detection of Giardia had limited diagnostic utility, and detection of Giardia cysts by microscopic technique can vary among laboratories.
Receipt of Addiction Treatment as a Consequence of a Brief Intervention for Drug Use in Primary Care: A Randomized Trial

Background and Aims Screening, brief intervention and ‘referral to treatment’ programs have been promoted widely as US federal policy. Little is known about the efficacy of the RT component (referral to treatment) of brief intervention for motivating patients with unhealthy drug use identified by screening to use addiction treatment. This study aimed to compare receipt of addiction treatment following two types of brief intervention for drug use versus a no-intervention control group among primary care patients screening positive for drug use. Design Secondary analyses from a single-site randomized controlled trial. Setting Massachusetts, USA. Participants A total of 528 adults with Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST) drug-specific scores ≥ 4. Interventions Random assignment to: (1) a 10–15-minute brief negotiated interview (BNI) conducted by health educators (n = 174), (2) a 30–45-minute adaptation of motivational interviewing by Masters-level counselors (MOTIV) (n = 177) or (3) no BI (n = 177). All received a list of treatment and mutual help resources; both intervention protocols included dedicated staff for treatment referrals. Measurements Receipt of any addiction treatment within 6 months after study entry, assessed in a state-wide database and hospital electronic medical record linked to trial data. Findings Among 528 participants, the main drugs used were marijuana (63%), cocaine (19%) and opioids (17%); 46% met past-year drug dependence criteria (short form Composite International Diagnostic Interview); and 10% of MOTIV, 18% of BNI and 17% of control participants had any addiction treatment receipt within 6 months after study entry. There was no significant difference in addiction treatment receipt for BNI versus control [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.11; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.57, 2.15, Hochberg adjusted P = 0.76]. The MOTIV group had lower odds of linking to treatment (AOR = 0.36, 95% CI = 0.17, 0.78, Hochberg adjusted P = 0.02) compared with the no BI group. Conclusion Brief intervention delivered in primary care for screen-identified drug use did not increase addiction treatment receipt significantly; a motivational interviewing approach appeared to be counterproductive.
Stereotype threat as a barrier to women entering engineering careers

Abstract Theory suggests that proximal contextual variables contribute to women's underrepresentation in STEM fields. We therefore examined relationships between stereotype threat as a proximal contextual variable and academic self-efficacy. We also examined the influence of self-efficacy for coping with educational barriers on those relationships. A total of 211 women undergraduate students majoring in engineering fields (73% White, mean age = 21 years) responded to measures of stigma consciousness and stereotype vulnerability as proxies for stereotype threat, along with measures of self-efficacy for coping with barriers (CWB) and academic self-efficacy. Stigma consciousness (in the form of awareness of sexism and negative attitudes about women), but not stereotype vulnerability, negatively related to women's confidence in their abilities to complete a college degree in a engineering major field. Results of a moderation model indicated a significant interaction of CWB and stigma consciousness on academic self-efficacy, with no such interaction effect for stereotype vulnerability. Our findings add to the proximal contextual barriers framework within Social Cognitive Career Theory by uncovering the existence of negative relationships between consciousness of discrimination due to group identity and academic self-efficacy. Promoting positive identity and constructive interaction with the environment may support women's career development in engineering fields.
One size doesn’t fit all: unraveling the diversity of factors and interactions that drive E. coli urovirulence

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common (with 11 million cases annually in the USA), costly (with $5 billion spent per year), and increasingly antibiotic resistant (1). The clinical manifestations and symptomatologies of UTIs are strikingly complex and result from the interactions between diverse uropathogens and host urothelial tissues. The most common cause of UTIs is UPEC, which cause up to 80% of community-acquired UTIs and 65% of hospital-acquired UTIs (1). Despite appropriate treatment for the initial infection, UTIs are frequently recurrent as 25–35% of initial infections are followed by a recurrent UTI (rUTI) (2). In addition, the high level of same-strain recurrences, in which a single bacterial strain (as defined by genetic identity) causes two or more consecutive UTIs, strongly suggests that there exist non-pathogenic reservoirs within hosts (2). One established reservoir is the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) microbiota (3). UPEC strains can maintain non-pathogenic colonization of the GIT, where they form a reservoir and subsequently seed extraintestinal infections such as UTI. In this review, we detail critical gaps in our understanding of the pathogenic and non-pathogenic colonization of UPEC in different habitats in the host and describe a new perspective on UTI susceptibility that better reflects the complexity of this disease.
“Switching On” creativity: Task switching can increase creativity by reducing cognitive fixation

Abstract Whereas past research has focused on the downsides of task switching, the present research uncovers a potential upside: increased creativity. In two experiments, we show that task switching can enhance two principal forms of creativity—divergent thinking (Study 1) and convergent thinking (Study 2)—in part because temporarily setting a task aside reduces cognitive fixation. Participants who continually alternated back and forth between two creativity tasks outperformed both participants who switched between the tasks at their discretion and participants who attempted one task for the first half of the allotted time before switching to the other task for the second half. Importantly, Studies 3a–3d reveal that people overwhelmingly fail to adopt a continual-switch approach when incentivized to choose a task switching strategy that would maximize their creative performance. These findings provide insights into how individuals can “switch on” creativity when navigating multiple creative tasks.
Locality behavior of parallel and sequential algorithms for irregular graph problems

Large-scale graph problems are becoming increasingly important in science and engineering. The irregular, sparse instances are especially challenging to solve on cache-based architectures as they are known to incur erratic memory access patterns. Yet many of the algorithms also exhibit some degree of regularity with memory accesses. It is important to characterize the locality behavior in order to bridge the gap between algorithm and architecture. In our study we quantify the locality of several fundamental graph algorithms, both sequential and parallel, and correlate our observations with the algorithmic design. Our study of locality behavior brings insight into the impact of different cache architectures on the performance of both sequential and parallel graph algorithms.
Implementation of a written chemotherapy consent form with explicit goals of treatment in a university center.

6634 Background: The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) has stated that consent to treatment with chemotherapy is an important part of the delivery of quality cancer care. Best practices ...
Biodiversity and environmental values: in search of a universal earth ethic

While biodiversity protection has become a widely accepted goal of environmental protectionists, no such agreement exists regarding why it is important. Two, competing theories of natural value – here called ‘Economism’ and ‘Intrinsic Value Theory’ – are often cited to support the goal. Environmentalists, who have recently proposed the articulation of a universal ‘Earth Charter’ to express the shared values humans derive from nature, have cited both of these theories as support for biodivesity protection. Unfortunately these theories, which are expressed as polar opposites, do not work well together and the question arises: is there a shared value that humans place on nature? It is argued that these two value theories share four questionable assumptions: (1) a sharp distinction between ‘intrinsic’ and ‘instrumental’ value; (2) an entity orientation; (3) moral monism; and (4) placeless evaluation. If these four assumptions are denied, an alternative value system emerges which recognizes a continuum of ways humans value nature, values processes rather than only entities, is pluralistic, and values biodiversity in place. An alternative theory of value, which emphasizes protecting processes rather than protecting objects, and which values nature for the creativity of its processes, is proposed as a more attractive theory for expressing the universal values of nature that should motivate an Earth Charter and the goal of biodiversity protection.
Network dynamics of social influence in the wisdom of crowds

A longstanding problem in the social, biological, and computational sciences is to determine how groups of distributed individuals can form intelligent collective judgments. Since Galton’s discovery of the “wisdom of crowds” [Galton F (1907) Nature 75:450–451], theories of collective intelligence have suggested that the accuracy of group judgments requires individuals to be either independent, with uncorrelated beliefs, or diverse, with negatively correlated beliefs [Page S (2008) The Difference: How the Power of Diversity Creates Better Groups, Firms, Schools, and Societies]. Previous experimental studies have supported this view by arguing that social influence undermines the wisdom of crowds. These results showed that individuals’ estimates became more similar when subjects observed each other’s beliefs, thereby reducing diversity without a corresponding increase in group accuracy [Lorenz J, Rauhut H, Schweitzer F, Helbing D (2011) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 108:9020–9025]. By contrast, we show general network conditions under which social influence improves the accuracy of group estimates, even as individual beliefs become more similar. We present theoretical predictions and experimental results showing that, in decentralized communication networks, group estimates become reliably more accurate as a result of information exchange. We further show that the dynamics of group accuracy change with network structure. In centralized networks, where the influence of central individuals dominates the collective estimation process, group estimates become more likely to increase in error.
Transmission Computed Tomography Data Acquisition with a SPECT System

Phantom and animal transmission computed tomography (TCT) scans were performed with a camera-based single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) system to determine system linearity as a function of object density, which is important in the accurate determination of attenuation coefficients for SPECT attenuation compensation. Results from phantoms showed promise in providing a linear relationship in measuring density while maintaining good image resolution. Animal images were essentially free of artifacts. Transmission computed tomography scans derived from a SPECT system appear to have the potential to provide data suitable for incorporation in an attenuation compensation algorithm at relatively low (calculated) radiation doses to the subjects.
The Intestinal Microbiome in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is the most common cause of chronic liver disease in North America and is growing as a cause of chronic liver disease in many other parts of the world as well. It has 2 principal clinical-pathologic phenotypes: (1) nonalcoholic fatty liver and (2) nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. The development of both phenotypes is tightly linked to excess body weight and insulin resistance. This review discusses the emerging tools for the analysis of the microbiome, their limitations, and the existing literature with respect to the intestinal microbiome and their role in nonalcoholic fatty liver.
Lignin Conversion to Low-Molecular-Weight Aromatics via an Aerobic Oxidation-Hydrolysis Sequence: Comparison of Different Lignin Sources

Diverse lignin samples have been subjected to a catalytic aerobic oxidation process, followed by formic-acid-induced hydrolytic depolymerization. The yield of monomeric aromatic compounds varies depending on the lignin plant source and pretreatment method. The best results are obtained from poplar lignin isolated via a acidolysis pretreatment method, which gives 42 wt% yield of low-molecular-weight aromatics. Use of other pretreatment methods and/or use of maple and maize lignins afford yields of aromatics ranging from 3 to 31 wt%. These results establish useful references for the development of improved oxidation/depolymerization protocols.
Drug-induced dysphoria is enhanced following prolonged cocaine abstinence and dynamically tracked by nucleus accumbens neurons.

Negative reinforcement models postulate that addicts use drugs to alleviate negative affective states (e.g. dysphoria) associated with withdrawal. In a pre-clinical model, rats exhibit negative affect to a normally rewarding tastant when it predicts impending, but delayed cocaine, and nucleus accumbens (NAc) neurons dynamically track this state. Here, we examined the effects of short versus prolonged experimenter-imposed cocaine abstinence on negative affect, cocaine seeking and self-administration. Rats were given 14 saccharin-cocaine sessions; NAc activity and affective responses to the taste (i.e. taste reactivity) were measured during sessions 1 and 14. Next, following 1 or 30 days of abstinence, taste reactivity and cell firing were recorded in a three-phase test session: (1) intraoral saccharin infusions, (2) extinction and (3) cocaine self-administration. Results showed that 30 days of abstinence led to a significant enhancement of aversive responses to the cocaine-paired tastant, accompanied by a dramatic decline in NAc phasic activity during tastant infusion. While extinction behavior did not differ across groups, NAc phasic firing reemerged during drug seeking. Further, when drug was again readily available, greater aversion to the drug-paired tastant before and after abstinence was associated with increased self-administration following prolonged (30-day) abstinence in rats classified as high (not low) aversive. Collectively, these findings show that drug-induced dysphoria is enhanced following prolonged cocaine abstinence and that NAc neural signaling is dynamic, dampening when negative affect is at its highest (phase 1), but transitioning back 'online' during subsequent drug seeking and taking (phases 2 and 3).
Multistep matrix integrators for real-time simulation

An explicit linear multistep matrix-integration technique is presented for vector systems of ODEs which employs the stability region placement approach to permit the time-step to be chosen independently of system eigenvalues. Closed-form solutions for the general p-step method and the case where the system matrix has zero eigenvalues are given. It is shown that system mode shapes are preserved over the integration process, and that the technique remains applicable to systems with eigenvalues at their origin without need for computing a matrix inversion.
Automated trading in prediction markets

This research presents the ongoing results of trading experiments that have been performed on the DAGGRE prediction market. DAGGRE is a research project that aims to improve the forecasting methods of world events using prediction markets, crowdsourcing and Delphi groups. The DAGGRE prediction market aggregates estimates from hundreds of participants to forecast the outcome of these events. On the prediction market that involves a few thousand human traders, during a time period of a year and a half, we introduced 3 trading algorithms that have been trading live on the market, based on different rules and trading policies. While all the Autotraders improved the overall market participation and activity and outperform most of the human traders, one of them is adaptive to the new information that continuously comes from the market. This paper presents the comparative analysis of the forecasting accuracy and market performance of these 3 Autotraders and discusses the preliminary results of these experiments.
Benefit-Risk Assessment

Those who organized the program for this symposium have, indeed, done a skillful job. Scientific presentations on previous days focused attention on exciting new technologies and their obvious- utilities. Speakers and discussants led us onto a mountain of expectation. They portrayed the possibilities and probabilities of cell substrates capable of making vaccines and other biologicals more precise and of higher quality than would otherwise be possible.
An Examination of the Deliberate Practice Framework in Quad Rugby.

The deliberate practice framework was forwarded to account for the characteristics and developmental experiences of individuals who have acquired exceptional performance in any domain. This framework proposed that experts undergo an extensive acquisition period involving the accumulation of thousands of hours of deliberate practice while overcoming various constraints that serve as functional barriers to the achievement of expertise. Although the deliberate practice framework has been examined in the context of a range of domains, disability sport remains relatively unstudied. The purpose of this study was, therefore, to examine expert disability sport athletes to determine how well their experiences and characteristics were captured by the deliberate practice framework. Quad rugby players were asked to complete a two-part survey to report their recall of the amount of time spent in individual and team practice activities, quad rugby related activities, and daily life activities at the start of their careers and every two years since. These activities were then rated with respect to relevance to improving performance, effort and concentration required, and enjoyment of participation. Findings revealed that quad rugby athletes engaged in similar amounts of practice throughout their career to those observed in superior performers across domains, including musicians and expert performers in the able-bodied sport domain (e.g., M = 8,309 hr at 9-10 yr career mark). Contrary to the original deliberate practice framework and some of the subsequent examinations in sport, disability sport athletes did not rate the most relevant and effortful activities as either low or high on enjoyment. The unique constraints imposed on disabled athletes may reduce the likelihood that clear differences will emerge when considering affective responses such as enjoyment.
Macrocrack Interaction with Semi-infinite Microcrack Array

The collinear periodical array of microcracks ahead of a semi-infinite crack (macrocrack) is considered. A close form solution in terms of complex stress potentials is given, assuming that a remote, macroscale, stress intensity factor is given. The exact solution of the interaction of a macrocrack with a single microcrack is given.