cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evidence-Based Parental Involvement Programs in the United States of America and Korea

Offering a family involvement program is a typical approach for helping students with or at-risk for emotional and behavioral disorders and other behaviors of concern. The present paper examines evidence-based parental involvement programs in the United States and Korea. Several differences exist between programs in the two countries including evaluation, collaboration, the support of the government and related institutions, differences in perception of administrators, and the professional staff. The authors suggested several recommendations including considering the requirements of guidance for developing effective programs, designing ways to evaluate programs, encouraging collaboration, preparing qualified professional staff, and developing culturally appropriate programs for children and youth with special needs.
Micro-analysis of the behaviour of a three-dimensionally-reinforced Carbon-Carbon composite material

Abstract A three-dimensionally-reinforced block of carbon-carbon composite material was fabricated, utilizing a multiple-step processing procedure. Specimens were cut from the block at several stages in the processing, and mechanically tested. Scanning electron photomicrographs were also taken at various stages of the fabrication process, both of material cross sections and mechanical test specimen fracture surfaces. These photomicrographs were subsequently used in the micro-analysis of the material behavior. It was determined that the mechanical properties of the composite were severely degraded owing to the matrix ribboning and interface debonding which occured during processing. This degradation is due to thermal expansion mismatch between the highly anisotropic fibers and the surrounding matrix, and the three-dimensional restraint of the fiber orientations.
Real-time vision-based control of a nonholonomic mobile robot

This paper considers the problem of vision-based control of a nonholonomic mobile robot. We describe the design and implementation of real-time estimation and control algorithms on a car-like robot platform using a single omni-directional camera as a sensor without explicit use of odometry. We provide experimental results for each of these vision-based control objects. The algorithms are packaged as control modes and can be combined hierarchically to perform higher level tasks involving multiple robots.
Adenosine-sensitive ventricular tachycardia from the anterobasal left ventricle.

AbstractObjectives. This study demonstrates that exercise-provocable tachycardia resembling right ventricular outflow tract tachycardia may originate from the anterobasal left ventricle.Background....
Real Options in Leasing: The Effect of Idle Time

We study options on short-term leases for capital-intensive equipment performing specific functions and services, such as leases for semi-submersible drilling rigs, marine seismic services, corporate real estate leasing, retail space leasing, and apartment leasing. We quantify the effect of an important factor in pricing options on these services:idle time between consecutive lease contracts. We show that while the expected, discounted value for a contract with options is unique, option prices and option exercise prices must be given with respect to a payment structure for the whole contract. We prove that there exist payment schemes in which prices do not depend on exercise probabilities. We use a simple analytic model to derive closed-form solutions for option prices and illustrate our methodology by pricing options for leasing oil-drilling services in the North Sea.
Multiaxial fatigue behavior of conventional and highly crosslinked UHMWPE during cyclic small punch testing.

Previous observations of reduced uniaxial elongation, fracture resistance, and crack propagation resistance of highly crosslinked ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) have contributed to concern that the technology may not be appropriate for systems undergoing cyclic fatigue loading. Using a “total life” approach, we examined the influence of radiation crosslinking on the fatigue response of UHMWPE under cyclic loading via the small punch test. Our goal in this study was to evaluate the suitability of the small punch test for conducting miniature-specimen, cyclic loading, and fatigue experiments of conventional and highly crosslinked UHMWPE. We subjected four types of conventional and highly crosslinked UHMWPE to cyclic loading at 200 N/s and at body temperature in a small punch test apparatus. After failure, the fracture surfaces were characterized with the use of field emission scanning electron microscopy to evaluate the fatigue mechanisms. Cyclic small punch testing under load control was found to be an effective and repeatable method for relative assessment of the fatigue resistance of conventional and highly crosslinked UHMWPE specimens under multiaxial loading conditions. For each of the four conventional and highly crosslinked UHMWPE materials evaluated in this study, fatigue failures were consistently produced according to a power law relationship in the low cycle regimen, corresponding to failures below 10,000 cycles. The fatigue failures were all found to be consistent with a single source of initiation and propagation to failure. Our long-term goal in this research is to develop miniature-specimen fatigue testing techniques for characterization of retrieved UHMWPE inserts. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res 66A: 298–309, 2003
Normal and shear stresses influence the spatial distribution of intracellular adhesion molecule-1 expression in human umbilical vein endothelial cells exposed to sudden expansion flow.

Abstract Patterns in cell adhesion molecule expression by endothelial cells may play a role in atherogenesis. Previous studies have shown dependence of intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) expression in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) on shear stress and have indirectly linked ICAM-1 expression to spatial gradients in shear stress. The spatial distribution of ICAM-1 in HUVEC pre-exposed to flow for 8 h was determined using fluorescence microscopy and a sudden expansion flow chamber with a 2.66 expansion ratio to simulate gradients in wall shear stress found near arterial branches in vivo. When ICAM-1 expression in the disturbed flow region was compared to theoretical stress distributions obtained from a computational model of sudden expansion flow, a modest trend ( R 2 = 0.327 , p 0.01 ) was observed between ICAM-1 and shear stress but the correlation between ICAM-1 and shear stress gradient was insignificant. In contrast, a moderately strong trend ( R 2 = 0.873 , p 0.01 ) was evident between ICAM-1 expression and the component of normal stress induced by the expansion. Thus, in this in vitro model, normal stress arising from sudden expansion flow modulates the effect of shear stress on ICAM-1 expression.
Relation of Scientific Management to Labor

I. Introductory. Definition of terms, 311. — Distinguishing features of scientific management, 312. — Scientific management is positive management, 314. — II. The influence on basic wages, 315. — Wages and the labor problem, 317. — III. The bonus method and its results, 319. — Effect of increased production on employment, 322. — Skill and initiative, 325. — Health, 327. — The "first-class," the average, and the sub-normal; legislation on the minimum wage; employment of women and children, 327. — IV. Labor unions; incompatible policies, 330. — Possible bases of co-existence, 339. — V. Larger social problems. Unemployment, 342. — Education and skill, 343. — Inequahty of income, 345. — Democracy in industry, 346. — Prospects for the future, 348.
Design, construction, and use of a shipping case for radioactive sources used in the calibration of portal monitors in the radiation portal monitoring project

The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is working with US Customs and Border Protection to assist in the installation of radiation portal monitors. Our challenge was to provide radioactive sources—both gamma and neutron emitting, to a number of ports of entry where radiation portal monitors are being installed and calibrated. A portable shipping case has been designed such that it meets the DOT requirements for a “limited quantity” shipment. Over three hundred shipments, both domestic and international, were made in FY2008 using this type of shipping case.
Effect of transglutaminase-induced cross-linking on gelation of myofibrillar/soy protein mixtures

Microbial transglutaminase (MTGase)-catalyzed interaction and gelation of mixed myofibrillar (MPI)/soy (SPI) protein isolates were investigated at varying ionic strengths and MPI:SPI ratios, with or without SPI being preheated (80 °C). MTGase treatments in deionized water converted myosin heavy chain and actin into lower molecular-weight polypeptides, which gradually diminished as the ionic strength increased up to 0.6 M NaCl. A reduced intensity in the electrophoretic bands of soy proteins (7S and 11S except the basic subunits) was observed in all treatments, suggesting cross-linking with MPI. The enzyme treatment slightly increased the thermal transition (denaturation) temperatures of MPI/SPI but greatly enhanced (P<0.05) the elasticity of the mixed protein gels when compared with untreated samples, independent of incubation time.
M/G/1-Type Markov Processes: A Tutorial

M/G/1-type processes are commonly encountered when modeling modern complex computer and communication systems. In this tutorial, we present a detailed survey of existing solution methods for M/G/1-type processes, focusing on the matrix-analytic methodology. From first principles and using simple examples, we derive the fundamental matrix-analytic results and lay out recent advances. Finally, we give an overview of an existing, state-of-the-art software tool for the analysis of M/G/1-type processes.
Heterosis: Many Genes, Many Mechanisms—End the Search for an Undiscovered Unifying Theory

Heterosis is the increase in vigor that is observed in progenies of matings of diverse individuals from different species, isolated populations, or selected strains within species or populations. Heterosis has been of immense economic value in agriculture and has important implications regarding the fitness and fecundity of individuals in natural populations. Genetic models based on complementation of deleterious alleles, especially in the context of linkage and epistasis, are consistent with many observed manifestations of heterosis. The search for the genes and alleles that underlie heterosis, as well as for broader allele-independent, genomewide mechanisms, has encompassed many species and systems. Common themes across these studies indicate that sequence diversity is necessary but not sufficient to produce heterotic phenotypes, and that the molecular pathways that produce heterosis involve chromatin modification, transcriptional control, translation and protein processing, and interactions between and within developmental and biochemical pathways. Taken together, there are many and diverse molecular mechanisms that translate DNA into phenotype, and it is the combination of all these mechanisms across many genes that produce heterosis in complex traits.
Welfare impacts of the Mexico potato quarantine.

Under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) tariffs on U.S. potato imports to Mexico were phased out by 1993. Citing phytosanitary issues, in 1996, the Mexican government placed quantitative restrictions on U.S. potato imports and restricted their import only to designated border areas. This article estimates the welfare cost of restricting U.S. potato imports into Mexico. We find that removing trade restrictions may lead to over 1.8 million tons of new imports into Mexico, a gain of consumer surplus of 4.0 billion pesos per year, and a loss of 2.9 billion pesos of producer surplus.
Comparing the prediction accuracy of artificial neural networks and other statistical models for breast cancer survival

The TNM staging system has been used since the early 1960's to predict breast cancer patient outcome. In an attempt to increase prognostic accuracy, many putative prognostic factors have been identified. Because the TNM stage model can not accommodate these new factors, the proliferation of factors in breast cancer has lead to clinical confusion. What is required is a new computerized prognostic system that can test putative prognostic factors and integrate the predictive factors with the TNM variables in order to increase prognostic accuracy. Using the area under the curve of the receiver operating characteristic, we compare the accuracy of the following predictive models in terms of five year breast cancer-specific survival: pTNM staging system, principal component analysis, classification and regression trees, logistic regression, cascade correlation neural network, conjugate gradient descent neural, probabilistic neural network, and backpropagation neural network. Several statistical models are significantly more accurate than the TNM staging system. Logistic regression and the backpropagation neural network are the most accurate prediction models for predicting five year breast cancer-specific survival.
Reactivating ARTIUM's Collection: The Time-Image and Its Mode of Address as Prosthetic Pedagogy in Museums

This article reflects on a curatorial and pedagogical research project to reactivate ARTIUM’s contemporary art collection (Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain) after a decade of acquisitions and institutionalization by seeking experimental involvement with difficult knowledge, through prosthetic pedagogy inspired in the time-image and paradoxical modes of address. Three moments of this project are discussed: (a) the selection and research of a number of artworks from the aforementioned collection; (b) the design of a museum space in ARTIUM’s Sala Este Baja; and (c) the activation of the exhibition space through a Laboratory of logics of vision.
Metadata-based Needs Assessment for Emergency Transportation Operations with a Focus on an Aging Population: A Case Study in Florida

AbstractIn the aftermath of disasters, evacuating aging victims and maintaining an optimal flow of critical resources in order to serve their needs becomes problematic, especially for Gulf Coast states in the USA such as Florida, where more than 6.9 million (36.9%) of the population are over age 50. Scanning the literature, there is no substantial prior work that has synthesized the requirements for a multi-modal emergency needs assessment that could facilitate the safe and accessible evacuation of aging people, and optimize the flow of resources into the affected region to satisfy the needs of those who remain. This paper presents a review of the aging population-focused emergency literature utilizing a knowledge base development methodology supported with a geographic information system-based case study application set in Florida. Importance is given to both ensuring the resiliency of the transportation infrastructure and meeting the needs of aging populations. As a result of this metadata-based analysi...
SIM2 overexpression in prostate cancer

Proc Amer Assoc Cancer Res, Volume 46, 2005 3161 The SIM2 gene is present on chromosome 21 and encodes a transcription factor involved in development. A short (SIM2-s) and long (SIM2-l) isoform of the SIM2 transcript have been identified. Previous studies using computer searches of the NIH CGAP (The Cancer Genome Anatomy Project) database predicted that high SIM2 expression was associated with solid tumors. This prediction was verified using quantitative PCR and immunohistochemistry with anti-SIM2, as SIM2-s, but not SIM2-l, was found to be associated with prostate cancer, while normal prostate tissues did not express SIM2 (DeYoung et al. 2002 and 2003). In a recent study, we identified SIM2 among highly upregulated genes in 29 malignant prostate tumors (T), compared with 33 benign (B) prostate samples, using a 40k human cDNA microarray (Halvorsen et al. in press ). SIM2 was identified as the second most consistently upregulated gene in T versus B samples, only surpassed by AMACR. The upregulation of SIM2 was confirmed in a subset of samples using oligonucleotide microarrays. SIM2-s and SIM2-l specific and SIM2 total TaqMan Assays-by-design were employed for real time quantitative PCR on an expanded material of 47 prostate T and 38 B total RNAs, including 31 T/B pairs. SIM2-s, -l and -total were significantly elevated in malignant vs. benign prostate tissues by 3.3, 6.3 and 3.8 fold (median), respectively. We were thus able to confirm the upregulation of SIM2-s in prostate cancer. In contrast to the previous study, however, SIM2-s upregulation was paralleled by SIM2-l upregulation in tumors. Low level expression of both SIM2 isoforms was also detected in benign prostate tissue. In order to examine a larger patient series, a tissue microarray consisting of paraffin embedded prostate cancers from 104 patients, treated by radical prostatectomy, were subjected to immunohistochemistry using an anti-SIM2-s specific polyclonal antibody (Santa Cruz). A moderate/strong staining was noted in 44 of 103 cases as opposed to a weak to negative staining in the remaining cases. Moderate/strong expression of SIM2-s was associated with adverse prognostic variables like high histological grade, extra-prostatic extension and elevated serum-PSA. The 13 year survival was 98.1 % vs. 72.8 % in patients with weak/negative vs. moderate/strong SIM2-s expression, respectively ( P = 0.008, log rank test). In conclusion, the SIM2 gene was upregulated in prostate cancer as validated by oligonucleotide microarrays and qPCR, and SIM2-s protein expression was found to be associated with adverse prognostic variables and reduced patient survival. These findings may prove relevant as SIM2 has been proposed as a possible drug therapy target.
Generating Quantifiers and Negation to Explain Homework Testing

We describe Prograder, a software package for automatic checking of requirements for programming homework assignments. Prograder lets instructors specify requirements in natural language as well as explains grading results to students in natural language. It does so using a grammar that generates as well as parses to translate between a small fragment of English and a first-order logical specification language that can be executed directly in Python. This execution embodies multiple semantics---both to check the requirement and to search for evidence that proves or disproves the requirement. Such a checker needs to interpret and generate sentences containing quantifiers and negation. To handle quantifier and negation scope, we systematically simulate continuation grammars using record structures in the Grammatical Framework.
Popular Constitutionalism, Ancient and Modern

This Article examines the contemporary controversy over theories of public constitutionalism through a classical Athenian lens. Theories of popular constitutionalism share in common to varying degrees the project of democratizing the practice of judicial review. Athens invented the practice of judicial review, and just as in America, it became essential to its democracy. The classical Athenian practice of judicial review aligned precisely with strong theories of popular constitutionalism, that is, theories that largely would transfer the power of constitutional review from politically insulated courts to the People themselves or to their representatives. The article shows how strong popular constitutionalism fit the highly participatory, direct democracy of classical Athens, as well as the theoretical underpinnings and institutional design of the classical democracy. The article argues, however, that because the American institutional design and conception of democracy differ fundamentally from those of the Athenians, theories of strong popular constitutionalism are out of sync with the American system. The Article argues as well that the comparison between Athens and America suggests that moderate theories of popular constitutionalism hold considerably more promise. These theories would keep judicial review in place, and thus would respect the institutional design of an independent and professional judiciary as the ultimate protector of individual rights for America’s liberal democracy. But these theories also would legitimate public participation in the shaping of the federal judiciary and their constitutional decision-making, and thus to some extent would democratize the exercise of judicial review. The article argues that this balancing between majority rule and the protection of individual rights is true to American constitutionalism, as well as to the founders’ instinct of tempering their Madisonian Constitution with enough of a classical Athenian sensibility to launch the American federal government as an authentically democratic enterprise.
Consensus or Ambivalence? Why Court Traditions Matter

National high courts must attempt to manage the tension between the strength of unanimity and the intellectual honesty of fragmented judgments. One obvious tool for balancing these needs is the consensual norm, which sets an informal level of institutional tolerance for publicized dissent. Here, this issue is investigated in comparative perspective using four cases: The High Court of Australia, the Supreme Court of Canada, the Law Lords division of the House of Lords in the United Kingdom, and the United States Supreme Court. Theoretical expectations for the empirical manifestations of consensus in each high court give special attention to the importance of institutional opinion writing traditions on the observable patterns of consensus. The results suggest that evidence that may support the hypothesis that a consensual norm is in operation in a majority opinion court may support the absence of a consensual norm in a seriatim court. When the normal way to communicate consensus is through a concurring opinion and concurring opinions are related to dissenting opinions, this provides evidence of ambivalence about dissent, not a norm of consensus.
Concordant Oral and Vaginal Human Papillomavirus Infection in the United States

Importance Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common infection in adults, with tropism for sites in the head and neck and the genital tracts. To date, few studies have addressed concurrent infection in these sites. Objective To understand the prevalence, characteristics, and concordance of HPV infections in the oral and vaginal regions. Design, Setting, and Participants This study was a retrospective analysis of cross-sectional survey data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2009-2012. The database was reviewed for all women aged 18 to 69 years with available oral and vaginal HPV DNA screening data. The study was performed from August 1, 2014, to November 1, 2014. Data analysis was performed from November 1, 2014, to June 30, 2015. Main Outcomes and Measures Logistic regression models were constructed to identify factors associated with infection. Covariates for multivariate analysis included age, income to poverty ratio, number of prior sexual partners, number of prior oral sex partners, and having recent oral sex partners. Dual infection was defined as having an infection of any serotype in both the oral and vaginal HPV regions. Concordant infection was defined as an infection of matching serotype in both locations. Results A total of 3463 women were identified (mean [SD] age, 37.5 [12.1] years). Racial distribution was 1341 white (38.7%), 786 black (22.7%), 554 Mexican American (16.0%), 378 other Hispanic (10.9%), and 404 self-identified as other (11.7%). Vaginal HPV infection was present in 1586 (45.2%) and oral HPV infection in 141 (4.1%). Dual infection was identified in 107 (3.0%) of all patients, and concordant infection was observed in 41 (1.1%). The prevalence of dual infection was 75.9% in those with oral infection and 6.8% in those with vaginal infection. On multivariate analysis, age (30-50 years) and higher income to poverty ratios had negative associations with dual and concordant infections. A new sexual partner within the last year was positively associated with dual infection (odds ratio, 2.28; 95% CI, 1.03-5.02; P = .04). More than 2 oral sex partners in the past year was positively associated with concordant infection (odds ratio, 3.43; 95% CI, 1.06-11.06; P = .04). Conclusions and Relevance This analysis reveals the importance of several demographic factors (age and socioeconomic status) and behavioral factors (oral sex practices) in the development of dual and concordant HPV infection in women. Notably, other sexual behaviors, other sexually transmitted infections, sexual orientation, and number of lifetime sexual partners did not demonstrate any significant associations. Women with multiple oral sex partners and oral HPV infection have a high likelihood of having concurrent vaginal HPV infection.
Paired stable isotopologues in precipitation and vapor: A case study of the amount effect within western tropical Pacific storms

Understanding controls on the stable isotopic composition of precipitation and vapor in the West Pacific Warm Pool is vital for accurate representation of convective processes in models and correct interpretation of isotope-based paleoclimate proxies, yet a lack of direct observational evidence precludes the utility of these isotopic tracers. Results from a measurement campaign at Manus Island, Papua New Guinea from 28 April to 8 May 2013 demonstrate variability in the stable isotopic composition (δD and δ18O) of precipitation and vapor in individual precipitation events and over a 10 day period. Isotope ratios in water vapor and precipitation progressively increased throughout the period of measurement, coincident with a transition from high to low regional convective activity. Vapor isotope ratios approached equilibrium with seawater during the quiescent period and likely reflected downwind advection of distilled vapor and re-evaporation of rainfall during the period of regional convection. On a 5 min timescale across individual storms, isotope ratios in precipitation were strongly correlated with isotope ratios in surface vapor. However, individual precipitation isotope ratios were not strongly correlated with surface meteorological data, including precipitation rate, in all storms. Yet across all events, precipitation deuterium excess was negatively correlated with surface temperature, sea level pressure, and cloud base height and positively correlated with precipitation rate and relative humidity. Paired surface precipitation and vapor isotope ratios indicate condensation at boundary layer temperatures. The ratio of these paired values decreased with increasing precipitation rate during some precipitation events, suggesting rain re-evaporation and precipitation in equilibrium with an isotopically distinct upper level moisture source. Results from the short campaign support the interpretation that isotope ratios in precipitation and vapor in the western tropical Pacific are indicators of regional convective intensity at the timescale of days to weeks. However, a nonstationary relationship between rain rate and stable isotope ratios in precipitation during individual convective events suggests that condensation, rain evaporation, moisture recycling, and regional moisture convergence do not always yield an amount effect relationship on intraevent timescales.
Magnetron sputtering for II-VI solar cells: thinning the CdTe

Magnetron sputtering (MS) of CdTe and related II-VI materials facilitates low energy ion and electron bombardment that promotes good film growth at substrate temperatures well below those needed for other physical vapor deposition methods. MS also provides good control of deposition rates while allowing scale-up to large areas. In this paper we review the use of MS for deposition of polycrystalline thin films of CdS, CdTe and related materials for solar cells with a focus on reducing the thickness. We relate the deposition conditions and plasma properties determined by Langmuir probe measurements to some of the materials properties of the films through spectroscopic ellipsometry and high resolution electron microscopy. For cells with CdTe layers from 0.35 to 2.5 μm, we have done a first-order optimization of chloride treatment conditions and back contact structure. We discuss the influence of CdTe thickness and post-deposition processing on the efficiency, open-circuit voltage, short-circuit current, and fill factor and show that 10% efficient cells can be fabricated with 0.5 μm of CdTe.
Studies on the Transmission and Control of Respiratory Disease within Army Barracks I. Hemolytic Streptococcal Contamination of the Environment

From December, 1943, to August, 1944, the Commission on Air-borne Infections conducted a study concerning modes of spread and methods of environmental control of acute respiratory tract infections among army personnel at Camp Carson, Colorado.1 Investigations in the laboratory and at Chanute Field, Illinois, by the Commission during the previous two and one half years had resulted in the development of practical methods for the analysis of the bacterial content of the air, bedclothes, wearing apparel and floor dust2,3,4 Studies employing these techniques5-6 supported the observations
QOL-21DIET AND HEALTH-RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE (HRQoL) IN THE PRIMARY BRAIN TUMOR POPULATION

QOL-21. DIET AND HEALTH-RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE (HRQoL) IN THE PRIMARY BRAIN TUMOR POPULATION Dina M. Randazzo, Frances McSherry, James E. Herndon, II, Mary L. Affronti, Eric S. Lipp, Charlene Flahiff, Elizabeth Miller, Sarah Woodring, Maria Freeman, Patrick Healey, Janet Minchew, Susan Boulton, Annick Desjardins, Gordana Vlahovic, Henry S. Friedman, and Katherine B. Peters; Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA BACKGROUND: Many diets have been recommended for cancer patients, including ketogenic, vegetarian, alkaline, and calorie-restricted diets. Despite these recommendations, evidence is lacking. The goal of this study was to discern if patients with primary brain tumors used a "special" diet and if it was associated with HRQoL. METHODS: Demographic and clinical data from the PRoGREss registry at the Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center at Duke, along with patient-outcome questionnaires, were queried retrospectively from December 16, 2013 to February 28, 2014. Kruskal-Wallis and Wilcoxon tests were performed to explore any associations between diet and HRQoL. RESULTS: 783 patients were identified with 81 (10%) using a special diet the last 12 months, 515 (66%) not using a special diet, and 297 (24%) with missing diet information. The majority of patients were male (n 1⁄4 423, 54%), married (n 1⁄4 463, 59%), college educated (N 1⁄4 438, 56%), had WHO grade III-IV tumors (N1⁄4 539, 69%), and the average age was 49.6 (13.6) years. Special diets reported by the 81 patients included: ketogenic (N 1⁄4 9, 11%), low carb (N 1⁄4 11, 14%), vegetarian/vegan (N 1⁄4 6, 7%), organic (N 1⁄4 8, 10%) and unspecified (27, 33%). Among those patients who used a special diet, 43% exercised ≥9 MET-hrs/wk; however, among patients who did not use a special diet, only 30% exercised ≥9 MET-hrs/wk. The HRQoL in patients using a special diet was better than the HRQoL in patients who did not use a special diet relative to the following outcomes: FACIT-Fatigue, FACT-G functional subscale, FACT-Br TOI, and the Brain cancer subscale. CONCLUSIONS: A small percentage of our primary brain tumor patients reported using a special diet. Given the general lack of evidence regarding diet and its potential effect on primary brain tumors, more research is needed in this area utilizing more accurate methods to identify and validate the diets used and to reduce missing data. Neuro-Oncology 17:v188–v194, 2015. doi:10.1093/neuonc/nov230.21 Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Neuro-Oncology 2015.
Thermal diffusivity of POCO AXM-5Q1 graphite in the range 1500 to 2500 K measured by a laser-pulse technique

The thermal diffusivity of POCO AXM-5Q1 graphite was measured in the temperature range 1500 to 2500 K utilizing the laser-pulse technique. The uncertainty of the values is estimated to be no more than 3%. The measured values are compared with the results of other investigators.
WAYS IN WHICH A GRADIENT MIGHT CONCEIVABLY BE ALTERED OR REVERSED

This chapter discusses the ways in which a basic or fundamental intestinal gradient, presumably related in some way to the polarity of the bowel, might conceivably be altered. The chapter reviews the influences that might bring about such alterations. The gradient may be altered by inflammation in or near the bowel. It may be altered also by an increase in the metabolic rate of tissues adjacent to some segment of the bowel. Thus, some of the nausea and vomiting of pregnancy may be due to a reversal of the gradient produced by an increase in the activity of the terminal portion of ileum and the colon, caused by their sharing in that increased blood supply of the pelvis that is associated with the growth of the uterus. As one would expect with a flattened gradient, in pregnant rabbits peristaltic rushes are hard to start, and they do not travel well.
Tunable Nd:Glass-Raman Laser at 940 nm

We have built a tunable solid-state Raman shifted 940 nm laser and are further developing it to incorporate the spectral properties required to make humidity differential absorption lidar (DIAL) measurements which utilize the strong water vapor absorption band at 940 nm. In order to satisfy the requirements for making humidity measurements, the laser transmitter must be tunable over the strong portion of the water vapor absorption band (927 to 952 nm), and must be capable of fine tuning without mode hopping over a region larger than a water absorption line to facilitate precise placement of the laser on the line center.
The Life of the Theatre: Shakespeare, Wagner, Ibsen and the Theatre of the Age

Most realistic plays of any ambition written in the twentieth century have been — more or less — like the plays of Ibsen or like the plays of Chekhov. That is to say they have been, if Ibsenite, firm in structure, decisive in characterisation, and often focused on questions of public morality; if Chekhovian, they have been freer, more episodic in structure, comparatively ambiguous in characterisation, and focused on private, psycho-sexual concerns. This over-simplification may beg to be refuted, or at least qualified because it is unjust to the complexity of the modern theatre and reductive of the two great masters whose names are here appropriated, but not on the grounds that it ignores a notable comic tradition deriving from the work of Bernard Shaw. No such tradition, after all, exists. It is extraordinary that the other two initial masters of modern drama should be so profoundly influential that, at least arguably, subsequent plays have been in modes delineated by their work, whereas Shaw remains a solitary giant, in art as in life childless.
Vapor-liquid-solid growth and characterization of al-catalyzed Si nanowires

Alternative metal catalysts are of interest for the vapor-liquid-solid (VLS) growth of silicon nanowires (Si NWs) both from a fundamental growth perspective and as a pathway to control the electrical properties. Gold is the most commonly used metal catalyst, however, gold forms deep level electronic states within the bandgap of Si that are undesirable, particularly for photovoltaic devices that are dependent on minority carrier transport. Aluminum is of particular interest since it forms a liquid eutectic phase with Si at ∼577°C and can serve as both a catalyst for nanowire growth and a source for p-type doping. However, Si NWs synthesis using Al is challenging due to the reactivity of Al with ambient O 2 and H 2 O, which results in the formation of a surface oxide layer that impedes nanowire growth.
Stimuli with opponent colors and higher bit rate enable higher accuracy for C-VEP BCI

Steady state visual evoked potentials are widely exploited in EEG-based BCI systems. Frequency and code based flickering stimuli are the two major methods used to induce SSVEP responses. Considering the tiring effect of flashing icons in the long run, the less noticeable the flashes become, the more tolerable they will be. Based on the user ratings, who experienced both, code and frequency based stimulation, the code based method is less tiring. Hence, we used our SSVEP based BCI system in the code-based mode for this study. Among several aspects of stimuli affecting the system performance and user experience, for this study, we considered color, bit presentation rate and the control bit sequence length as three significant factors. Our main goal is to achieve more pleasant stimuli, while maintaining a high performance. Although, these factors seldom coincide, but, our findings showed that it is possible to find an almost optimum point of operation. In this study, a battery of calibration sessions with three different opponent color pairs of black and white, red and green and blue and yellow, three bit presentation rates of 30, 60 and 110 bps and three control bit sequence lengths of 31, 63 and 127 bits were performed. Our findings are suggestive of a performance increase using opponent colorful pairs as opposed to black and white, with the red-green color pair exceeding the performance of others. Consistently, among all the individuals participating in the study, one second of EEG evidence seems to be adequate to maximize the classification accuracy. This translates to {60 bps , 63 bits} and {110 bps, 127 bits} pairs of bit presentation rate and m-sequence length being the best performers. With a slight decrease in classification performance, half a second of EEG data could be considered when speed is of concern.
Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia: research and clinical updates

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) remains an important diagnosis to consider in hospitalized patients developing thrombocytopenia. HIT is an immune-mediated prothrombotic disorder caused by antibodies to platelet factor 4 (PF4) and heparin. Recent basic scientific studies have advanced our understanding of disease pathogenesis through studies of the PF4/heparin structure, immune mechanisms, and cellular basis of thrombosis. Clinical advances have also occurred in areas of HIT prevention, description of disease variants, and diagnostic strategies. Emerging anticoagulants with the potential to change HIT treatment are evolving, although with limited data. This review will provide a current perspective on HIT pathogenesis, disease features, diagnostic strategies, and role of emerging therapies for the management of HIT.
Bound state in the continuum nanophotonic laser

We have designed a high quality factor cavity that is based on a bound state in the continuum and harnessed its properties to demonstrate a novel type of surface emitting laser. We have experimentally demonstrated lasing action in this compact nanophotonic laser at room temperature with a very low threshold power.
Compression-based distance methods as an alternative to statistical methods for constructing phylogenetic trees

Distance based methods for constructing phylogenetic trees have long been considered inconsistent and inferior to the more dominant statistical methods. However, use of compression methods specific to DNA could prove valuable in improving the effectiveness of distance based methods. To demonstrate the validity of distance-based methods when utilizing current DNA compression algorithms, such as MFCompress, we have applied such a method to datasets of closely related species of fish from the suborder Labroidei and to strains of Ebola. In both cases, we have managed to produce trees that are either very similar or identical to published trees produced using statistically based methods. This suggests that distance based methods can perform comparably to statistically based methods without requiring as much pre-processing of original DNA sequences or system resources. Additionally, the results also stress the importance of using accurate methods of calculating species distance due to the way that one specific DNA compression algorithm, MFCompress, consistently and convincingly managed to outperform other popular, general use compression algorithms.
War-gaming application for future space systems acquisition part 2: acquisition and bidding war-gaming modeling and simulation approaches for FFP and FPIF

This paper describes cooperative and non-cooperative static Bayesian game models with complete and incomplete information for the development of optimum acquisition strategies associated with the Program and Technical Baseline (PTB) solutions obtained from Part 1 of this paper [1]. The optimum acquisition strategies discussed focus on achieving “Affordability” by incorporating contractors’ bidding strategies into the government acquisition strategies for acquiring future space systems. The paper discusses System Engineering (SE) frameworks, analytical and simulation approaches and modeling for developing the optimum acquisition strategies from both the government and contractor perspectives for Firm Fixed Price (FFP) and Fixed Price Incentive Firm (FPIF) contract types.
Direct Observation of "Pac-Man" Coarsening

We report direct observation of a “Pac-Man” like coarsening mechanism of a self-supporting thin film of nickel oxide. The ultrathin film has an intrinsic morphological instability due to surface stress leading to the development of local thicker regions at step edges. Density functional theory calculations and continuum modeling of the elastic instability support the model for the process.
Membrane Association Dictates Ligand Specificity for the Innate Immune Receptor NOD2.

The human gut must regulate its immune response to resident and pathogenic bacteria, numbering in the trillions. The peptidoglycan component of the bacterial cell wall is a dense and rigid structure that consists of polymeric carbohydrates and highly cross-linked peptides which offers protection from the host and surrounding environment. Nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-containing protein 2 (NOD2), a human membrane-associated innate immune receptor found in the gut epithelium and mutated in an estimated 30% of Crohn’s disease patients, binds to peptidoglycan fragments and initiates an immune response. Using a combination of chemical synthesis, advanced analytical assays, and protein biochemistry, we tested the binding of a variety of synthetic peptidoglycan fragments to wild-type (WT)-NOD2. Only when the protein was presented in the native membrane did binding measurements correlate with a NOD2-dependent nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) response, supporting t...
Military Women and Veterans

ABSTRACTThe 21st century brings key changes and challenges confronting the patriarchal culture of the U.S. military. Military women and veterans (MWV) are a new generation of soldiers, marines, sailors, airmen, and guardsmen raised in a country that promotes equality but serve in a military that routinely places the needs of males over that of females. MWV and their families face challenges on a daily basis that the majority of civilian couples in the United States of America rarely face once in their lifetime. As the percentages of MWV increases, the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs must develop and provide services to meet the needs of our warrior women.
Sudden Cardiac Death in Genetic Cardiomyopathies

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) caused by ventricular arrhythmias is common in patients with genetic cardiomyopathies (CMs) including dilated CM, hypertrophic CM, and arrhythmogenic right ventricular CM (ARVC). Phenotypic features can identify individuals at high enough risk to warrant placement of an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator, although risk stratification schemes remain imperfect. Genetic testing is valuable for family cascade screening but with few exceptions (eg, LMNA mutations) do not identify higher risk for SCD. Although randomized trials are lacking, observational data suggest that ICDs can be beneficial. Vigorous exercise can exacerbate ARVC disease progression and increase likelihood of ventricular arrhythmias.
Assessment and Response to Intimate Partner Violence in Home Visitation: A Qualitative Needs Assessment With Home Visitors in a Statewide Program

There is growing recognition that home visitation programs serving at-risk families may be an appropriate mechanism for detecting and reducing intimate partner violence (IPV). More research is needed about how home visitors assess and respond to IPV, especially in rural and underserved areas with unique social and geographic challenges. This study describes the qualitative, needs assessment phase of a larger mixed-methods evaluation of IPV assessment, referral processes, and safety planning with clients within a statewide home visitation program. Three focus groups were conducted with home visitors (n = 16) in West Virginia's Home Visitation Program in May 2015. Home visitors represented four separate home visitation models and provided services across 12 of West Virginia's 55 counties. Guiding questions focused on home visitors' current protocol, experiences, barriers, and facilitators to (a) screening and assessment for IPV, (b) making referrals after disclosures of IPV, and (c) developing safety plans with IPV-exposed clients. Barriers identified by home visitors included the nature of assessment tools, issues with service availability and access in rural areas, and lack of education and training surrounding safety planning. Facilitators included building relationships and trust with clients, providing anticipatory guidance when making referrals, and tailoring safety plans to clients' unique situations. Participants also expressed a critical need to develop procedures for assuring home visitor safety when supporting IPV-exposed clients. These qualitative data highlight issues surrounding the management of IPV in home visitation and have the potential to inform future enhancements to programs that are specifically tailored to the needs of rural, disadvantaged communities.
Stereoisomers of hydroxyproline.

Hydroxy-L-proline was first isolated by Fischer in 1902 from a hydrolysate of gelatin (l).l The synthesis and determination of the structure were reported by Leuchs and coworkers (5--g), and, in 1919, the separation of the two racemic stereoisomers and the resolution of each racemate through mixtures of quinine with the corresponding N-phenylisocyanate derivatives were accomplished (5). In the present nomenclature, [LY]~ for hydroxy-L-proline was -75.7”, for hydroxy-n-proline, +75.2”, for allohydroxy-L-proline, --5&l”, and for allohydroxy-n-proline, +58.6’ (5). Not only hydroxy-L-proline but also allohydroxy-L-proline occurs in nature, for the latter’ has been isolated by Wieland and Witkop from the toxic peptide of Amunita phalloides (10). The assignment of the L configuration to the allostereoisomer with [CLI]~ = -58.1” was due to the work of Neuberger, who converted hydroxy+ proline to allohydroxy-L-proline by inverting the configuration at Cd (3). This procedure involved the following steps: acetylation of the NH group of hydroxy-L-proline, esterification with diazomethane, formation of the 0-toluenesulfonyl ether at Cd by treatment of the N-acetyl-hydroxy-Lproline methyl ester with p-toluenesulfonyl chloride in dry pyridine solution, saponification of the carboxylic ester at low temperature, alkaline fission of the 0-toluenesulfonyl ether at high temperature (which is the