cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Elementary school-aged children's reports of their health: a cognitive interviewing study

There are no standard methods for assessing the quality of young children's perceptions of their health and well-being and their ability to comprehend the tasks involved in reporting their health. This research involved three cross-sectional studies using cognitive interviews of 5-11-year-old children (N = 114) to determine their ability to respond to various presentations of pictorially illustrated questions about their health. The samples had a predominance of children in the 5-7-year-old range and families of lower and middle socio-economic status. The research questions in Study 1 involved children's ability to convert their health experiences into scaled responses and relate them to illustrated items (n = 35); Study 2 focused on the type of response format most effectively used by children (n = 19); and Study 3 involved testing children's understanding of health-related terms and use of a specific recall period (n = 60). The results of Study 1 showed that children identified with the cartoon drawing of a child depicted in the illustrated items, typically responding that the child was at or near their own age and of the same gender, with no differences related to race. Study 2 results indicated that children responded effectively to circles of graduated sizes to indicate their response and preferred them to same-size circles or a visual analogue scale. Tests of three-, four-, and five-point response formats demonstrated that children could use them all without confusion. In Study 3, expected age-related differences in understanding were obtained. In fact, the 5-year-old children were unable to understand a sufficient number of items to adequately describe their health. Virtually all children 8 years of age and older were able to fully understand the key terms and presentation of items, used the full five-point range of response options, and accurately used a 4-week recall period. Six- and seven-year-olds were more likely than older children to use only the extreme and middle responses on a five-point scale. No pattern of gender differences in understanding or in use of response options was found. We conclude that children as young as eight are able to report on all aspects of their health experiences and can use a five-point response format. Children aged 6-7 had difficulty with some health-related terms and tended to use extreme responses, but they understood the basic task requirements and were able to report on their health experiences. These results provide the guidance needed to develop and test a pediatric health status questionnaire for children 6-11 years old.
CORPORATE FAILURE: CAUSES, REMEDIES, AND FAILURE PREDICTION MODELS

There is an implicit belief that exposure of a number of serious managerial inadequacy, economic downturns, financial frauds, among others, in high-performing listed companies in recent past years, has motivated investors to move their funds to more reputable investment institutions. Clearly, bankruptcy, or cor­porate failure or insolvency, resulting in huge losses has made investors wary of the lack of transparency and the increased risk of financial loss. Most banks’ customers have lost their confidence in banks as a result of bank failures. The paper also makes it clearer that a firm filing for corporate insolvency does not necessarily mean a failure to pay off its financial obligations when they mature. An appropriate risk-monitoring system, based on well-developed failure prediction models, is crucial to several stakeholders in the investment community to ensure a sound financial future stability for clients and firms alike. This paper has theoretically attempted to review and analyze the potential implications, causes, remedies and prediction models that can help investors and other stakeholders prevent corporate failures. The article also provides analysis of terms related to bankruptcy and describes common models of bankruptcy predic­tion that may allay the fears of investors and reduce uncertainty.
Conforming window functions for meshfree methods

Abstract Window functions provide a base for the construction of approximation functions in many meshfree methods . They control the smoothness and extent of the approximation functions and are commonly defined using Euclidean distances which helps eliminate the need for a meshed discretization , simplifying model development for some classes of problems. However, for problems with complicated geometries such as nonconvex or multi-body domains, poor solution accuracy and convergence can occur unless the extents of the window functions, and thus approximation functions, are carefully controlled, often a time consuming or intractable task. In this paper, we present a method to provide more control in window function design, allowing efficient and systematic handling of complex geometries . “Conforming” window functions are constructed using Bernstein–Bezier splines defined on local triangulations with constraints imposed to control smoothness. Graph distances are used in conjunction with Euclidean metrics to provide adequate information for shaping the window functions. The conforming window functions are demonstrated using the Reproducing Kernel Particle Method showing improved accuracy and convergence rates for problems with challenging geometries. Conforming window functions are also demonstrated as a means to simplify the imposition of essential boundary conditions .
Cell adhesiveness serves as a biophysical marker for metastatic potential.

Tumors are heterogeneous and composed of cells with different dissemination abilities. Despite significant effort, there is no universal biological marker that serves as a metric for metastatic potential of solid tumors. Common to disseminating cells from such tumors, however, is the need to modulate their adhesion as they detach from the tumor and migrate through stroma to intravasate. Adhesion strength is heterogeneous even among cancer cells within a given population, and using a parallel plate flow chamber, we separated and sorted these populations into weakly and strongly adherent groups; when cultured under stromal conditions, this adhesion phenotype was stable over multiple days, sorting cycles, and common across all epithelial tumor lines investigated. Weakly adherent cells displayed increased migration in both two-dimensional and three-dimensional migration assays; this was maintained for several days in culture. Subpopulations did not show differences in expression of proteins involved in the focal adhesion complex but did exhibit intrinsic focal adhesion assembly as well as contractile differences that resulted from differential expression of genes involved in microtubules, cytoskeleton linkages, and motor activity. In human breast tumors, expression of genes associated with the weakly adherent population resulted in worse progression-free and disease-free intervals. These data suggest that adhesion strength could potentially serve as a stable marker for migration and metastatic potential within a given tumor population and that the fraction of weakly adherent cells present within a tumor could act as a physical marker for metastatic potential. SIGNIFICANCE: Cancer cells exhibit heterogeneity in adhesivity, which can be used to predict metastatic potential.
Modal Identification of Bridges Using Mobile Sensors with Sparse Vibration Data

AbstractDynamic sensor networks have the potential to significantly increase the speed and scale of infrastructure monitoring. Structural health monitoring (SHM) methods have been long developed un...
TDP-43 Nuclear Bodies: A NEAT Response to Stress?

In this issue of Molecular Cell, Wang et al. (2020) investigate stress-induced nuclear condensates of the RNA-binding protein TDP-43, uncovering a protective function for these granules as well as an RNA-dependent mechanism for scaffolding them.
Thrusters Physical Model Formalization with regard to Situational and Identification Factors of Motion Modes

Research, diagnosis and prediction of the technical status of ships power plants (SPPs) of combined propulsion complexes (CPCs) depends on the corrective factors. They affect the thrust components and moments, the proportional dimensions of the models and the actual thrusters that correlate with the original geometry. The method of computational hydrodynamics has been improved as part of the study of diagnostic and forecasting tools for the SPP CPC technical condition. This made it possible to predict the degradation effects of the interaction of rowing flows between themselves and the CPC hulls. Theoretical provisions for the formation of energy process equations in CPC were developed in the course of analyzing the behavior of high-order multiphase non-stationary uncompressed propellers flows. Special laws of distribution of the necessary intensity of the most influential deformation effects were used. As a result, the number of difficulties associated with the nonlinearity of the method was avoided and real forms of azimuthal thrusts without any approximation. Also, due to the possibility of increasing the number of cross sections of the measurements, the effectiveness of the proposed methods of combating the above mentioned degradation effects was analyzed.
Phosphate dysregulation via the XPR1:KIDINS220 protein complex is a therapeutic vulnerability in ovarian cancer

Clinical outcomes for patients with ovarian and uterine cancers have not improved greatly in the past twenty years. To identify ovarian and uterine cancer vulnerabilities, we analyzed genome-scale CRISPR/ Cas9 loss-of-function screens across 739 human cancer cell lines. We found that many ovarian cancer cell lines overexpress the phosphate importer SLC34A2, which renders them sensitive to loss of the phosphate exporter XPR1. We extensively validated the XPR1 vulnerability in cancer cell lines and found that the XPR1 dependency was retained in vivo. Overexpression of SLC34A2 is frequently observed in tumor samples and is regulated by PAX8 - a transcription factor required for ovarian cancer survival. XPR1 overexpression and copy number amplifications are also frequently observed. Mechanistically, SLC34A2 overexpression and impaired phosphate efflux leads to the accumulation of intracellular phosphate and cell death. We further show that proper localization and phosphate efflux by XPR1 requires a novel binding partner, KIDINS220. Loss of either XPR1 or KIDINS220 results in acidic vacuolar structures which precede cell death. These data point to the XPR1:KIDINS220 complex - and phosphate dysregulation more broadly - as a therapeutic vulnerability in ovarian cancer.
A Search for Continuity in the Transmission of Technological Styles in Navajo Weaving Traditions

This research investigates the role of a community of practice and its importance to the transmission of learned technological styles as reflected in Navajo textiles. How is traditional weaving kno...
Ecotoxicological effects of chlorotetracycline on earthworm in soil

Eisenia foetida was selected to investigate the ecotoxicological effects of chlorotetracycline on the earthworm in soil. The results showed that 1,10 and 100 mg·kg-1chlorotetracycline had no significant effects on earthworm's body mass after a 7-d exposure,but it was significantly inhibited by 10,100 mg·kg-1chlorotetracycline after 21 days. The soluble protein content of earthworm was induced by 1,10 and 100 mg·kg-1chlorotetracycline,and showed a positive response as the concentration increased. Also,the earthworm treated by 1,10 and 100 mg·kg-1chlorotetracycline induced the increases of SOD,POD and CAT activities to different degrees. The gene expression in earthworm changed significantly after a 28-d exposure. It is suggested that chlorotetracycline had a chronic ecotoxicological effect on earthworm,and the body mass,soluble protein,antioxidant enzyme and gene expression could be used as the biomarkers to estimate chlorotetracycline toxicity.
Bridging Digital Divides during COVID-19: Findings from the 2020-2021 Connecticut State Library Digital Inclusion Survey

This article presents findings from the 2020–2021 Connecticut State Library Digital Inclusion Survey. The primary purpose of this study was to determine what actions public libraries in Connecticut...
Using the digamma function for basis functions in mesh-free computational methods

Abstract We examine the utility of a new family of basis functions for use with the Complex Variable Boundary Element Method (CVBEM) and other mesh-free numerical methods for solving partial differential equations. The family of polygamma functions have found use in mathematics since as early as 1730 when James Stirling related the digamma function to the factorial function [1]. Now, we propose using the digamma function, as well as new variants of the digamma function, as basis functions for the CVBEM. This paper discusses technical aspects associated with using the digamma function as a CVBEM basis function. Then, we demonstrate the utility of the proposed basis function by applying it to a mixed boundary value problem of the Laplace type.
The Socialization and Social Development of Hyperactive Children

Although much work has focused on the definition, course, and treatment of hyperactivity and related behavior disorders in children (see Campbell & Werry, 1986; Ross & Ross, 1982, for recent reviews), surprisingly little attention has been paid to the social development and socialization of hyperactive children (but see Whalen & Henker, 1985). This partly reflects the once-prevalent view that hyperactivity (or minimal brain dysfunction as it was called) resulted from cerebral injury and that socialization was not particularly relevant to an understanding of the problem (see Werry, 1986). A second reason for the relative neglect of this issue is the lack of a developmental focus in most research on childhood disorders.
Welding of Railroad Rails—A Literature and Industry Survey

Literature and industrial sources relating to methods for welding of railroad rails are surveyed. The welding processes included are thermite, flash, gas-pressure, and arc welding. Process and procedural descriptions, weldment properties, service performance in track, fabrication costs, and production rates are reviewed.
Clinical Implications of Idarubicin Pharmacology

4-Demethoxydaunorubicin (idarubicin, IDR) is a new anthracycline that differs from its parent compound daunorubicin (DNR) by the deletion of a methoxy group at position 4 of the chromophore ring. This minor modification results in a compound that has a higher lipophilic coefficient and therefore more rapid cellular uptake [1]; in addition, IDR induces more single-strand breaks in tumor cells [2]. While both DNR and IDR are converted to alcohol metabolites, daunorubicin-ol (DNR-ol) and idarubicin-ol (IDR-ol), respectively, DNR-ol disappears from the plasma by hour 192 after three consecutive daily intravenous boluses while IDR-ol has a more prolonged plasma half-life with steady state levels measurable up to 216 h after the third bolus injection [3]
Polymer microspheres for vaccine delivery

Every year millions of people, particularly children, die of diseases for which a vaccine exists (Walsh, 1988; Warren, 1989). Countless others are left blinded, mentally retarded, or severely crippled. The problem is most significant in developing countries where access to health care is poor. In these countries, it is estimated that more than half of the children who receive primary vaccinations do not complete their required booster immunization schedule (Aguado, 1993; Bloom, 1989). These children are left unprotected, accounting for the enormous number of reported deaths.
Induction of Neuron-Specific Degradation of Coenzyme A Reduces Motor Coordination in Mice

Pantothenate kinase-associated neurodegeneration, PKAN, is an inherited disorder characterized by progressive impairment in motor coordination and caused by mutations in PANK2, a gene that encodes ...
Ocean Surface Temperature Response to Atmosphere-Ocean Interaction of the MJO. A Component of Coupled Air-Wave-Sea Processes in the Subtropics Departmental Research Initiative

Abstract : We are part of a multi-institutional research team funded by the ONR-sponsored the Coupled Air- Wave-Sea Processes in the Subtropics Departmental Research Initiative. The primary research goals of the program include: (i) Surface flux observations in regions of known coupled modes, (ii) Colocated observations of atmospheric and oceanic vertical structure and evolution, and (iii) Ocean mixed layer and marine atmospheric boundary layer dynamics, and interactions between these and the surface wave field, the free atmosphere, and the interior ocean. Our goals are to contribute innovative measurements, analyses and models of the sea surface temperature at length scales as small as a 1 meter up to 100 s of kilometers. This characterization includes the skin SST, waves, wave breaking, and upper ocean processes. The Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) is an intraseasonal oscillation which is most closely identified with the tropical Indian and Pacific Oceans, characterized by an eastward progression of a large (2000 km) pattern, extending from the equator into the adjacent subtropical belts, with enhanced and suppressed rainfall. In the context of this DRI, understanding the complex processes involved in locations such as the MJO as it passes over the eastern Indian Ocean are necessary steps for evaluating the modulation of SST and atmosphere-ocean feedbacks, for validating ocean and climate models, and for making prognostic assessments of oceanic circulation.
Determinants of Emigrant Deposits in Cape Verde

In the last decade Cape Verde has experienced a strong accumulation of emigrant deposits. These deposits have provided much-needed foreign exchange to the country, adding support to the exchange rate peg. This paper studies the long-run determinants of emigrant deposits with respect to risk, wealth, and return variables, isolating speculative and altruistic motives underlying the accumulation of flows. The study suggests that the temporary character of recent emigration is responsible for the rise in the share of flows driven by altruism. Finally, the paper discusses policy implications in light of the empirical findings and the recent literature on this topic.
Applying continuous improvement in public reporting: What should government reports do for quality improvement?

Purpose – This paper aims to describe the history and growth of mandatory public reporting of healthcare‐associated infection rates and the philosophy and implementation of an evidence‐based total‐quality‐oriented state government program and also to provide critical appraisal of recognized assumptions underlying this movement.Design/methodology/approach – This paper provides a narrative review of pertinent evaluation research literature and the authors' own experience.Findings – Washington is one of few states that hired experts in the subject area to develop its new program. It is one of the first exploring optimal ways to validate the rates reported, and one of very few taking evidence‐based approaches to all aspects of program design.Practical implications – The work provides a model for less‐developed agencies to follow.Originality/value – This is a new and unprecedented role for state health departments, but offers opportunities to raise standards of practice through continuous quality improvement a...
Fragment Production and Nuclear Freezeout

Investigations of reaction dynamics1 and of the statistical properties of hot nuclear systems are both significantly influenced by uncertainties in the fragment production mechanism. For studies of hot systems, complex fragment emission is of particular interest since it could provide important clues about the properties of highly excited nuclear matter, such as the occurence on adiabatic instabilities related to the liquid-gas phase transition of nuclear matter. To distinguish between the many models for fragment production, one must assess whether the process proceeds through a binary or multifragment mechanism and determine the excitation energy, density and degree of thermalization which prevail as the system proceeds from breakup to thermal freezeout.
Courting Disaster: Systemic Failures and Reactive Responses in Railway Safety Regulation

The routine reaction of both industry trade groups and government regulators to deadly infrastructure failures such as railway disasters is to characterize them as anomalous, freak events occasioned either by human error or idiosyncratic equipment failure. Conversely, this Article uses the Institutional Analysis and Development (IAD) framework to show how the systematic federal deregulation of the rail industry, combined with federal court decisions holding that federal deregulation preempts both state government regulation and tort actions to remedy these harms, have almost invited such disasters to occur. Piecemeal, partial, patchwork re-regulation occurs only in response to especially egregious, high-profile tragedies. Such reactive regulation ill-serves the safety needs of a public reliant on increasingly complex and intensively used infrastructure. What is needed instead is preventive regulation, based on the application of an Interdependent Systems Analysis (ISA) approach that integrates the findings of individual accident investigations with aspects of the contextual regulatory and statutory framework within which whole categories of similar accidents occur. Empowering both the National Transportation Safety Board and the Government Accountability Office to use such a whole systems approach, as well as compelling regulatory agencies to explain in greater detail why they either are or are not adopting NTSB and GAO findings and recommendations based on such a whole systems analysis, can measurably improve the safety of both rail passengers and those residing near freight rail lines.
Financial development and dynamic investment behavior : evidence from panel vector autoregression

We apply vector autoregression (VAR) to firm-level panel data from 36 countries to study the dynamic relationship between firms' financial conditions and investment. We argue that by using orthogonalized impulse-response functions we are able to separate the 'fundamental factors' (such as marginal profitability of investment) from the 'financial factors' (such as availability of internal finance) that influence the level of investment. We find that the impact of the financial factors on investment, which we interpret as evidence of financing constraints, is significantly larger in countries with less developed financial systems. Our finding emphasizes the role of financial development in improving capital allocation and growth.
Some properties of excision-defective recombination-deficient mutants of Escherichia coli K-12.

Strains of Escherichia coli that carry the mutation uvrA6 show no measurable excision of pyrimidine dimers and are easily killed by ultraviolet (UV) light, whereas strains that carry recA13 are defective in genetic recombination and are also UV-sensitive. An Hfr strain carrying uvrA6 was crossed with an F− strain carrying recA13. Among the recombinants identified, one carrying uvrA recA proved to be of exceptional sensitivity to UV light. It is estimated from the UV dose (0.2 erg/mm2 at 253.7 nm) required to reduce the number of colony-forming cells by one natural logarithm that about 1.3 pyrimidine dimers were formed in a genome of 5 × 106 base pairs for each lethal event. This double mutant is 40 times more UV-sensitive than the excision-defective strain carrying uvrA6. The replication of one pyrimidine dimer is generally a lethal event in strains carrying recA13. Spontaneous breakdown and UV-induced breakdown of the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) of cells of the various genotypes were estimated by growing the cells in medium containing 3H-thymidine and measuring both acid-precipitable and acid-soluble radioactivity. The UV-induced degradation in strains with recA13 did not require the uvr+ genes and hence appears to depend upon a mechanism other than dimer excision. The greater level of survival after irradiation in Rec+ as compared to Rec− bacteria may be due to a recovery mechanism involving the reconstruction of the bacterial chromosome through genetic exchanges which occur between the newly replicated sister duplexes and which effectively circumvent the damaged bases remaining in the DNA.
Characteristics of hot-film anemometers for use in hypersonic flows

The endurance problem should be eased for hot-film anemometers, wich replace the fragile wire by a thin metallic film deposited on a rigid substrate. Some characteristics of such hot films are described.
Changes in the electrical conductivity of cerebral cortex during seizure activity.

Abstract The rabbit may respond to Metrazol-induced cortical convulsive activity with a long-lasting depression of the spontaneous electrocorticogram, a slowly developing and declining cortical negativity of considerable magnitude, and a marked drop in the electrical conductivity of the cortex. This reaction strikingly resembles spreading depression. However, since it is often elicited simultaneously over a considerable cortical area, it may lack one of the features of spreading depression, namely the slow propagation. The rabbit may also respond to convulsive activity with a moderate drop in cortical conductivity accompanied by cortical negativity of much smaller magnitude which is suggestive of an “abortive” spreading depression. Such a convulsion is followed by a short depression of the corticogram which may be ended by a new seizure, when sufficient Metrazol had been administered, or the recurrence of the nonconvulsive corticogram. The cat responded to Metrazol convulsions only with the second of the two reaction forms observed in the rabbit. A moderate drop in cortical conductivity was recorded during the seizure but no evidence for typical or even abortive spreading depressions was found in this species. Electrically induced convulsions caused similar but less pronounced drops in cortical conductivity in cats. Small decreases of conductivity were also recorded during indirect, transcallosal stimulation of the cortex in cats. The drop in conductivity observed during and after seizure activity may be indicative of a transport of electrolytes into neuronal elements, changing their ionic composition. This could account for a decrease in cortical excitability which arrests convulsive activity.
Measurements of Relative K Radiative Decay Rates

Relative radiative decay rates were measured for $K$-shell vacancies for elements between $Z=62 \mathrm{and} 92$ with a high-resolution Ge(Li) spectrometer. The ratios $\frac{{\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{2}}{{\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{1}}$, $\frac{{\ensuremath{\beta}}_{1}^{\ensuremath{'}}}{{\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{1}}$, and $\frac{{\ensuremath{\beta}}_{2}^{\ensuremath{'}}}{{\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{1}}$ (Siegbahn notation) were determined, with $\frac{{\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{2}}{{\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{1}}$ significantly higher (4-14%) than those reported by Beckman but in excellent agreement with recent Hartree-Slater calculations of Scofield. The ratios $\frac{{\ensuremath{\beta}}_{1}^{\ensuremath{'}}}{{\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{1}}$ and $\frac{{\ensuremath{\beta}}_{2}^{\ensuremath{'}}}{{\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{1}}$ do not agree with either Beckman's experiment or Scofield's calculations.
miRNA Gene Promoters Are Frequent Targets of Aberrant DNA Methylation in Human Breast Cancer

miRNAs are important regulators of gene expression that are frequently deregulated in cancer, with aberrant DNA methylation being an epigenetic mechanism involved in this process. We previously identified miRNA promoter regions active in normal mammary cell types and here we analyzed which of these promoters are targets of aberrant DNA methylation in human breast cancer cell lines and breast tumor specimens. Using 5-methylcytosine immunoprecipitation coupled to miRNA tiling microarray hybridization, we performed comprehensive evaluation of DNA methylation of miRNA gene promoters in breast cancer. We found almost one third (55/167) of miRNA promoters were targets for aberrant methylation in breast cancer cell lines. Breast tumor specimens displayed DNA methylation of majority of these miRNA promoters, indicating that these changes in DNA methylation might be clinically relevant. Aberrantly methylated miRNA promoters were, similar to protein coding genes, enriched for promoters targeted by polycomb in normal cells. Detailed analysis of selected miRNA promoters revealed decreased expression of miRNA linked to increased promoter methylation for mir-31, mir-130a, let-7a-3/let-7b, mir-155, mir-137 and mir-34b/mir-34c genes. The proportion of miRNA promoters we found aberrantly methylated in breast cancer is several fold larger than that observed for protein coding genes, indicating an important role of DNA methylation in miRNA deregulation in cancer.
Form of the increased longevity of tribolium after X-irradiation

Abstract Populations of flour beetles (Tribolium castaneum and T. confusum) were sexually segregated as pupae, and subpopulations were later X-irradiated. The irradiation produced increased longevity in both sexes of each species. The magnitude of the effect decreased with decreasing dose and with increasing age-at-exposure. The beneficial effect is often delayed in its manifestation and is not permanent; that is, there usually is no increase in maximum adult lifespan in the irradiated groups.
Peroxomanganese complexes as an aid to understanding redox-active manganese enzymes

Over the past 7 years, there have been a significant number of studies describing the structural and electronic properties, as well as the chemical reactivity, of synthetic peroxomanganese adducts. Many redox-active manganese enzymes, including manganese-containing superoxide dismutases, extradiol catechol dioxygenases, and ribonucleotide reductases, are proposed to feature peroxomanganese intermediates in their catalytic cycles. The recent efforts to model these intermediates using synthetic complexes have thus provided a strong complement to mechanistic studies of the enzymes. This review provides both a summary and a perspective of work in this area, with an emphasis on the relationship between geometric and electronic structure and chemical reactivity for η2-peroxomanganese(III) and η1-alkylperoxomanganese(III) adducts.
Time-Dependent Wave Packet Approach to State-to-State Reactive Scattering and Application to H + O2 Reaction

The time-dependent (TD) wave packet approach which we have been pursuing recently is extended to the calculation of state-to-state S matrix elements for reactive scattering in three dimensions for the H + O2 reaction. Three specific methods for extracting state-to-state S matrix elements and reaction probabilities from the time-dependent wave packet propagation are specifically discussed in this paper. These methods are based, respectively, on the time correlation function expression for S matrix elements, scattering amplitude expression for S matrix elements, and flux formula for reaction probabilities. The implementation of these methods to TD reactive scattering is discussed and application to the resonant H + O2 reaction is carried out to obtain state-to-state reaction probabilities for thousands of scattering energies.
5'-AMP NUCLEOTIDASE IS LOCALIZED IN THE AREA OF CELL-CELL CONTACT OF PRESPORE AND PRESTALK REGIONS DURING CULMINATION OF DICTYOSTELIUM DISCOIDEUM

Abstract Microtechniques for enzymatic analysis were used to follow 5′-AMP nucleotidase activity during cell migrations leading to cellular aging in Dictyostelium discoideum. The activity was localized in the area of cell-cell contact of presumptive spore and stalk tissues. Activity converting ATP to adenosine demonstrated localization identical to that of 5′-AMP nucleotidase. The 5′-AMP nucleotidase could use p-nitrophenylphosphate as substrate when the reaction mixture was buffered at pH 9.0. The p-nitrophenylphosphate hydrolyzing activity (NHA) was not localized at the pseudoplasmodium stage although the prestalk contained about twice the activity of the prespore cells. At the culmination stage NHA was localized in the area between prespore and prestalk cells. Acid phosphatase was assayed with p-nitrophenylphosphate as substrate buffered at pH 4.8 and found to be localized in the stalk. This activity formed an increasing gradient as cells migrated into the stalk sheath and completed the process of stalk formation. Because the phosphatase activities at pH 4.8 and 9.0 resulted in opposing gradients, they were presumed to reflect two distinct enzyme proteins which serve different functions in differentiation. The possible presence of cryptic NHA in the prespore or mature stalk cells was investigated by altering the assay conditions to include: (1) addition of Mg2+ or inorganic phosphate (Pi) in the reaction mixture; (2) release of the enzyme protein from the membrane with Triton X-100; and (3) mixing and co-incubation of active and inactive cellular areas in the reaction mixture. It was found that Pi could mask 5′-AMP nucleotidase in the mature stalk because: (1) the levels of Pi known to be present in the stalk completely inhibited the enzyme; and (2) Pi inhibition was irreversible by dilution, so that the activity during the in vitro assay would remain masked even when Pi was diluted below inhibitory levels. The lack of immediate reversibility of Pi inhibition during the assay also indicates that any activity detected in vitro is not inhibited by Piin vivo.
Heterogeneous electrocatalysis: a core field of interfacial science

Heterogeneous electrocatalysis involves chemical reactions occurring in an electrochemical cell at the surface of an electrode, that is, at the electrochemical interface. The reaction rates are set by electrode surface structure, electrode potential, and can be adjusted by other variables specific to the field of electrochemistry. In contrast to reactions occurring at the solid/gas interface, electron transfer usually takes place at the electrochemical interface, which may lead to new product formation (in catalytic electrosynthesis), or allows one to harvest electrons in fuel cells. In the Opinion, papers describing catalytic materials used in a proton exchange membrane fuel cell are highlighted, and those related to recently developed research methodology of heterogeneous electrocatalysis receive a particular emphasis. Conclusions are made as to the future development of the field.
Student information consumption strategies: implications of the Google effect

Previous research in the area of distributed cognition within the educational process has revealed several new and emerging phenomena regarding student behavior. Students appear to be strategically discriminating in their learning strategies, taking the opportunity to offload learning when information is easily accessible and retrievable. This paper reviews several current research findings, and offers societal implications.
Generalized inverses of certain Toeplitz matrices

Abstract The spectral inverse A s of a Toeplitz matrix A whose form is related to that of a circulant matrix is studied by describing the algebraic structure of the semigroup of all matrices commuting with a given matrix with distinct eigenvalues. A computational form for A s is given and necessary and sufficient conditions are found for A s to be the Moore-Penrose generalized inverse A + .
Opening Pandora's Box: The Genesis and Evolution of the 1964 Congressional Resolution on Vietnam

On 7 August 1964, the Tonkin Gulf Resolution swept through Con gress, signalling the beginning of a new era in the American commit ment to Southeast Asia. Within a year, Lyndon B. Johnson used the broad and ill-defined grant of authority to significantly escalate the U.S. military presence in Vietnam with the introduction of combat troops. Historians consider the Tonkin Gulf Resolution to be a water shed event in the American Vietnam saga, the turning point that al lowed Johnson to conduct an undeclared war without direct congressional sanction. What many scholars have failed to recognize, however, is that the resolution itself was less a turning point than a culmination of months of planning and preparation by an administra tion which anticipated the necessity of escalating the conflict in order to save South Vietnam from communism.
Comparison of minimal incision aortic surgery with endovascular aortic repair.

Abstract Background Enthusiasm for endovascular aortic repair (EVAR) has been tempered by midterm outcomes that raise valid concern about long-term durability. Methods This article compares outcome data from a prospective nonrandomized comparison of a less-invasive open surgical repair technique—minimal incision aortic surgery (MIAS)—and EVAR. Results MIAS and EVAR had comparable intensive care unit stays (1 day or less), quick return to general dietary feeding (2 days), and comparable hospital length of stay (4.8 days [3.4 days for uncomplicated cases MIAS] and 2.0 days for EVAR). Overall morbidity and mortality for MIAS and EVAR were comparable (18% versus 27%). MIAS was more cost effective than EVAR (net revenue MIAS = +$8,445, EVAR −$7,263) Conclusions MIAS is a safe, cost-effective alternative to endovascular aortic repair.
Expression and functional characterization of human lysosomal acid lipase gene (LIPA) mutation responsible for cholesteryl ester storage disease (CESD) phenotype

Lysosomal acid lipase (LAL) is a serine hydrolase which hydrolyzes cholesteryl ester and triglycerides delivered to the lysosomes into free cholesterol and free fatty acids. Mutations in the LAL gene (LIPA) result in accumulation of triglycerides and cholesterol esters in various tissues of the body, leading to pathological conditions such as Wolman's disease (WD) and cholesteryl ester storage disease (CESD). CESD patients homozygous for His295Tyr (H295Y) mutation have less than 5% of normal LAL activity. To shed light on the molecular basis for this loss-of-function phenotype, we have generated the recombinant H295Y enzyme and studied its biophysical and biochemical properties. No significant differences were observed in the expression levels or glycosylation patterns between the mutant and the wild type LAL. However, the H295Y mutant displayed only residual enzymatic activity (<5%) compared to the wild type. While wild type LAL is mostly a monomer at pH 5.0, the vast majority H295Y exists as a high molecular soluble aggregate. Besides, the H295Y mutant has a 20°C lower melting temperature compared to the wild type. Transient expression studies in WD fibroblasts showed that mutation of His295 to other amino acids resulted in a significant loss of enzymatic activity. A homology model of LAL revealed that His295 is located on an α-helix of the cap domain and could be important for tethering it to its core domain. The observed loss-of-function phenotype in CESD patients might arise from a combination of protein destabilization and the shift to a non-functional soluble aggregate.
Dynamic regulation of CD24 and the invasive, CD44 pos CD24 neg phenotype in breast cancer cell lines

The invasive, mesenchymal phenotype of CD44posCD24neg breast cancer cells has made them a promising target for eliminating the metastatic capacity of primary tumors. It has been previously demonstrated that CD44neg/lowCD24pos breast cancer cells lack the ability to give rise to their invasive CD44posCD24neg counterpart. Here we demonstrate that noninvasive, epithelial-like CD44posCD24pos cells readily give rise to invasive, mesenchymal CD44posCD24neg progeny in vivo and in vitro. This interconversion was found to be dependent upon Activin/Nodal signaling. Breast cancer cell lines were sorted into CD44posCD24pos and CD44posCD24neg populations to evaluate their progeny for the expression of CD44, CD24, and markers of a mesenchymal phenotype. The populations, separated by fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) were injected into immunocompromised mice to evaluate their tumorigenicity and invasiveness of the resulting xenografts. CD24 expression was dynamically regulated in vitro in all evaluated breast cancer cell lines. Furthermore, a single noninvasive, epithelial-like CD44posCD24pos cell had the ability to give rise to invasive, mesenchymal CD44posCD24neg progeny. Importantly, this interconversion occurred in vivo as CD44posCD24pos cells gave rise to xenografts with locally invasive borders as seen in xenografts initiated with CD44posCD24neg cells. Lastly, the ability of CD44posCD24pos cells to give rise to mesenchymal progeny, and vice versa, was blocked upon ablation of Activin/Nodal signaling. Our data demonstrate that the invasive, mesenchymal CD44posCD24neg phenotype is under dynamic control in breast cancer cell lines both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, our observations suggest that therapies targeting CD44posCD24neg tumor cells may have limited success in preventing primary tumor metastasis unless Activin/Nodal signaling is arrested.
Front interaction on a ring electrode

Recent electrochemical experiments and simulations by Krischer and co-workers on a ring electrode reveal a unique transition mechanism for a bistable reduction reaction. The front boundaries of a localized pulse of higher potential are seen to accelerate around the ring to induce a very rapid transition. We show here that the accelerated transition is due to attractive front interaction across the pulse initially and around the ring in the final stage. Using coherent structure theory, we quantitatively correlate this interaction-induced acceleration to the dimensions of the electrodes. We also predict a critical width of the initial pulse below which the pulse will shrink and the transition is prevented.
Ambient social tv: drawing people into a shared experience

We examine how ambient displays can augment social television. Social TV 2 is an interactive television solution that incorporates two ambient displays to convey to participants an aggregate view of their friends' current TV-watching status. Social TV 2 also allows users to see which television shows friends and family are watching and send lightweight messages from within the TV-viewing experience. Through a two-week field study we found the ambient displays to be an integral part of the experience. We present the results of our field study with a discussion of the implications for future social systems in the home.
Abstract 2548: Targeted sequencing to identify rare variants in colorectal cancer.

Proceedings: AACR 104th Annual Meeting 2013; Apr 6-10, 2013; Washington, DC Colorectal cancer (CRC) is estimated to be the third most common cancer in both men and women in the US in 2012, accounting for over 50,000 deaths. Familial CRC accounts for approximately 30% of all CRC, yet only 5% of familial CRCs can be attributed to mutations in known hereditary colon cancer (HCC) genes. Many families with a strong family history of CRC do not have mutations in known CRC genes. Finding the genes underpinning CRC in these families may improve screening for disease and allow the development of more targeted therapeutics. We completed targeted sequencing of over 2,000 genes and miRNAs in 1,500 cases of CRC from the Colon Cancer Family Registry (CCFR) in an effort to identify rare variants associated with CRC risk and to identify mutations in known CRC genes missed by conventional sequencing. Several categories of genes were included: 18 known HCC genes; 18 candidate HCC genes; 185 genes in previously reported CRC linkage peaks; 1,423 miRNAs; and 363 genes identified through whole exome sequencing of 40 affected cases in 16 families with hereditary CRC (n=2,007 total genes sequenced). Genomic DNA samples were indexed, then libraries were made using Agilent's SureSelect Targeted Enrichment kit. Samples were pooled (96 samples/pool), then each pool of samples was run on five lanes on an Illumina HiSeq2000 (average of 19.2 samples/lane). GenomeGPS, an in-house developed workflow, was used for read alignment, variant calling, and annotation. In early analyses of the first 161 cases, the mean number of mapped reads exceeded 20 million per sample and over 90% of the target region exceeded 40x coverage. A total of 26,484 SNPs were identified and passed quality filtering. Sequencing identified known mutations in MMR genes in positive control cases as well as mutations in HCC genes in previously untested cases. Analysis is currently on-going on the remaining samples and we will report results on the full set of 1500 cases at the meeting. Citation Format: Melissa S. DeRycke, Shanaka R. Gunawardena, Sumit Middha, Shannon K. McDonnell, Shaun M. Riska, Zachary C. Fogarty, Bruce W. Eckloff, Daniel J. Schaid, Ellen L. Goode, Stephen N. Thibodeau. Targeted sequencing to identify rare variants in colorectal cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2548. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-2548
Natural Convection Heat Transfer in Horizontal Rod-Bundle Enclosures

Natural convection heat transfer in enclosed horizontal N X N arrays (N = 3, 5, and 7) of electrically heated rods with a pitch-to-diameter ratio (P/d) of 1.35 has been experimentally investigated. Each array was positioned in an isothermal square enclosure with a width-to-diameter ratio (W/d) of 20.6. Pressurized air or helium was used as the working fluid. It was observed that the bottom-row rods were relatively insensitive to increases in the array size, as they exhibit only slight temperature variations, but the top-row rods demonstrated substantial temperature increases. Natural convection correlations in the form of Nusselt number (Nu d ) as a function of modified Rayleigh number (Ra d * ) were obtained for each rod in each array. The correlations cover three flow regimes of conduction, transition, and convection in the range of 6.45 < Ra d * < 3.08 X 10 5 . A generalized enclosure Nusselt number was correlated as a function of enclosure modified Rayleigh number and the array size (N). Comparison of the data with previous numerical prediction showed that this correlation may be readily used to obtain a conservative estimate of the maximum temperature in the arrays with N = 3, 5, 7, and 9.
Femtosecond absorption saturation studies of hot carriers in GaAs and AlGaAs

Femtosecond carrier dynamics in GaAs and AlGaAs thin films are studied by time-resolved pump-probe spectroscopy. Measurements are performed using identical pulses as well as a continuum probe. Observations of the ultrafast absorption saturation response are related to the excitation of the carriers into specific nonthermal distributions, to their rapid scattering out of these states, and to subsequent cooling of the quasi-thermal carrier distribution to the temperature of the lattice. A strong dependence of the initial scattering rates on the mole fraction of Al and the excess electron energy is observed. >