cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Frameless stereotaxic integration of CT imaging data: accuracy and initial applications.

To evaluate the spatial accuracy of a rapid interactive method of transferring computed tomographic (CT) information between its display on a computer screen to its source (test object, operating field), a multidimensional computer combined with a six-jointed position-sensing mechanical arm was tested with a Plexiglas model consisting of 50 rods of varied height and known location, a plastic replica of the skull, and, subsequently, three patients. The median error value between image and real location was 1-2 mm (P > .95), regardless of the registration target sites. The accuracy, however, increased with the selection of widespread registration points, and 95% of all errors were below 3.70 mm (P > .95). The results compare favorably with the four most commonly used stereotaxic framed units. A misregistration error of 0.3-2.2 mm was found during intraoperative correlation between anatomy on the CT display and actual anatomic location in the operative field.
Energy efficient OFDM transceiver design based on traffic tracking and adaptive bandwidth adjustment

This paper proposes a novel scheme to reduce energy consumption of digital transceivers with OFDM as the modulation scheme. The energy consumption of transceivers is saved based on two key techniques: 1) adaptively tune the bandwidth and sampling rate of the OFDM signal; 2) selectively power off individual block of parallel modules in the transceiver. Performance analysis illustrate that the newly designed transceiver consumes a significantly less amount of energy as compared to the conventional transceiver.
Work in progress - attracting K-12 students to study computing

There is general agreement that the need for computing professionals in the near term will continue to increase, while enrollment in computer science degree programs is decreasing. We hope to meet this need by attracting pre-college students to study computer science and information technology at the collegiate level through participation in summer camps and weekend events focused on different aspects of computing technology. The authors offered three game development camps and several one-day events (computing workshops and competitions). Participants were self selected pre-college students who experienced many aspects of the software development life cycle and used software tools to create original multimedia products. Participants completed an established attitude scale before and after the events to assess the impact of the project activities on multiple components of their attitudes and their future plans to take information technology courses. Initial data analysis indicates significant positive attitude changes toward the study of computing and technology.
Prevalence of diagnosed chronic hepatitis B infection among U.S. Medicaid enrollees, 2000-2007.

Purpose Few population-based studies have estimated the number of persons diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) infection in the United States. Our objective was to estimate the prevalence of diagnosed CHB infection among persons enrolled in the U.S. Medicaid programs of California, Florida, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania between 2000 and 2007. As part of our analyses, we confirmed the accuracy of CHB diagnoses within the Medicaid database.
CAN A SINGLE INDIVIDUALIZED PROCEDURE PREDICTABLY RESOLVE ALL THE PROBLEMATIC ASPECTS OF THE PEDIATRIC URETEROCELE

Purpose: During the last 10 years we attempted to treat most children presenting with a ureterocele with a single definitive operative procedure. We reviewed the surgical results to assess the success of the preoperative plan in achieving this outcome. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records and diagnostic studies of all children who underwent surgery for a ureterocele during the last 10 years at our institution. The intent of the surgeon as to whether the procedure was intended to be definitive was stated in the clinic notes in all cases. Results: Surgery for a ureterocele was performed in 38 children during the study period. Transurethral incision was used in 7 patients and, although it was intended to be definitive in 2, all 7 required subsequent surgery for vesicoureteral reflux. Isolated upper tract surgery was performed with intent to cure in 20 of 21 patients including upper pole heminephrectomy in 17 and upper to lower ureteroureterostomy in 3. Of the 20 patients initially treated with this simplified approach 17 (85%) did not require subsequent surgery for ureterocele and 12 had vesicoureteral reflux preoperatively, which persisted in 2 (10%) and required subsequent surgery in 3 (15%). Total reconstruction of the ureterocele was performed in 10 patients and 1 of whom required subsequent surgery. We achieved resolution of all problematic aspects of the ureterocele with a single procedure in 26 of 32 patients (81%). Conclusions: A single procedure that definitively treats all problems of a ureterocele can be selected in more than three-quarters of patients. Transurethral incision was unsuccessful at definitively treating these patients in our experience. An isolated upper tract procedure was successful in patients with no or mild associated vesicoureteral reflux. We think that upper tract surgery should be the procedure of choice in this subset of patients, as it usually resolves the problem and does not subject the patient to the potential morbidities of bladder surgery. Although total reconstruction is a more formidable procedure, it can be performed safely with excellent results.
One small step in the right direction for MRI measurement performance.

Extensive efforts are currently underway to understand the earliest pathologic changes in synovial joint tissues. These efforts are motivated in part by a desire to understand the pathophysiologic alterations that occur in diseases of the joint. However, in large part the efforts are promoted by the necessity to develop agents to modify structural changes that occur with disease, and the parallel requirement that we have imaging methods to measure these structural changes that are valid, responsive and clinically relevant. Historically we have relied upon plain radiography to depict disease severity in osteoarthritis (OA) and to ascertain progression by determining changes in joint space. With the acknowledged limitations of these methods, development of methods to directly visualize and measure joint tissues including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have been pursued. Much of this focus has been on measurement of articular cartilage morphometry. Measurement of morphometry appears to correlate well with the ex vivo assessments of cartilage volume (stripped away from bone), in addition to possessing adequate precision and sensitivity to change . Recent MRI studies, however, have observed small rates of change ( 1e 3% loss per year) and standardized response means of 0.3e 0.5 per year. Possibly more importantly these measures of quantitative cartilage morphometry appear most useful (sensitive to change) in persons with late stage disease (such as in those with established JSN or extensive areas of denuded cartilage). If the pathological changes of cartilage loss are irreversible, and we focus especially on those at the end stage of the disease, we may not be able to accomplish our goal of modifying the progress of the condition as a drug may not produce cartilage in an already denuded area. Thus, despite inherent advantages much of the potential of MRI to measure structural changes remains to be realized. While quantitative measurement of morphology can be used to monitor loss of cartilage tissue, there is extensive interest in using MRI to detect changes that precede gross tissue degradation that may occur in early disease. Applications of parametric mapping techniques to image compositional changes that may be sensitive to early cartilage damage including T2 mapping, delayed Gadolinium Enhanced MRI of Cartilage (dGEMRIC) and T1rho have been extensively reviewed elsewhere. Intuitively, compositional measures may have a great role to play in examining changes that occur in early disease before gross
Cross-Border Spillover: U.S. Gun Laws and Violence in Mexico

To what extent, and under what conditions, does access to arms fuel violent crime? To answer this question, we exploit a unique natural experiment: the 2004 expiration of the U.S. Federal Assault Weapons Ban exerted a spillover on gun supply in Mexican municipios near Texas, Arizona and New Mexico, but not near California, which retained a pre-existing state-level ban.We find first that Mexican municipios located closer to the non-California border states experienced differential increases in homicides, gun-related homicides and crime gun seizures in the post-2004 period. Second, the magnitude of this effect is contingent on political factors related to Mexico's democratic transition. Killings increased substantially more in municipios where local elections had become more competitive prior to 2004, with the largest differentials emerging in high narco-trafficking areas. Our findings are consistent with the notion that political competition undermined informal agreements between drug cartels and entrenched local governments, highlighting the role of political instability in mediating the gun-crime relationship.
Jester, Fake Journalist, or the New Walter Lippmann? Recognition Processes of Jon Stewart by the U.S. Journalistic Community

How does the journalistic community negotiate its identity, boundaries, and authority in relation to individuals and cultural forms that challenge the definitions of who is a journalist and what constitutes journalism? And how does it do so against the background of a growing academic validation of these alternative news venues? This study focuses on the figure of Jon Stewart, host of Comedy Central’s The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, and on the stages and strategies by which Stewart was embedded into mainstream journalistic discourse, and in which journalists negotiated Stewart’s definition, authority, and position vis-a-vis the U.S. journalistic community. By examining the journalistic discourse over a period of nine years and adopting a cultural, inter-textual, process-oriented approach, the paper seeks to go beyond the framework of “paradigm repair,” attempting to account for journalism’s changing identity and boundaries, while paying particular attention to the ways in which those boundaries are shaped by a complex interplay among different players within, on, and outside the margins of the journalistic community. The paper also suggests that Stewart’s relatively successful co-optation was due to a fit between the normative and epistemological assumptions of three central players — the journalistic community, political communication scholars, and Stewart himself.
Impact of diurnal temperature variation on grape berry development, proanthocyanidin accumulation, and the expression of flavonoid pathway genes

Little is known about the impact of temperature on proanthocyanidin (PA) accumulation in grape skins, despite its significance in berry composition and wine quality. Field-grown grapes (cv. Merlot) were cooled during the day or heated at night by +/–8 °C, from fruit set to veraison in three seasons, to determine the effect of temperature on PA accumulation. Total PA content per berry varied only in one year, when PA content was highest in heated berries (1.46 mg berry−1) and lowest in cooled berries (0.97 mg berry−1). In two years, cooling berries resulted in a significant increase in the proportion of (–)-epigallocatechin as an extension subunit. In the third year, rates of berry development, PA accumulation, and the expression levels of several genes involved in flavonoid biosynthesis were assessed. Heating and cooling berries altered the initial rates of PA accumulation, which was correlated strongly with the expression of core genes in the flavonoid pathway. Both heating and cooling altered the rate of berry growth and coloration, and the expression of several structural genes within the flavonoid pathway.
A Feminist Epistemology

The tradition of Western science is built on positivism an epistemology of the fact. For both natural and social science, the world of experience is generally believed to be an objective world, governed by underlying regularities, even natural laws. Facts are empirical observations, outcroppings of these underlying regularities. If, and only if, we systematically and dispassionately observe the data of the empirical world can we detect the patterns of which they are evidence. August Comte had such confidence in the principles of positivism that he believed it was not only possible but also desirable to build a science of society, sociology, upon them. Positivism is the hegemonic epistemology in scientific discourse, so that its specific way of connecting beliefs about knowing with research practices appears seamless: we often fail to see any distinctions among epistemology, methodology, and method. Harding's (1987) distinctions are useful in disaggregating the issues. Epistemology, Harding says, is a theory about knowledge, about who can know what and under what circumstances. A method, Harding notes, is a technique for gathering and analyzing information, for example, forms of listening, watching, or examining records. A methodology is an argument about how these two are linked, that is, about the implications of an epistemology for the practice of research. Every epistemology, Genova (1983) says, involves assumptions about the points of a triad: the knower, the known, and the process of knowing. He describes the history of Western philosophical debates about epistemology as focused on one or another of the
An Interface Algebra for Real-Time Components

We present an assume-guarantee interface algebra for real-time components. In our formalism a component implements a set of task sequences that share a resource. A component interface consists of an arrival rate function and a latency for each task sequence, and a capacity function for the shared resource. The interface specifies that the component guarantees certain task latencies depending on assumptions about task arrival rates and allocated resource capacities. Our algebra defines compatibility and refinement relations on interfaces. Interface compatibility can be checked on partial designs, even when some component interfaces are yet unknown. In this case interface composition computes as new assumptions the weakest constraints on the unknown components that are necessary to satisfy the specified guarantees. Interface refinement is defined in a way that ensures that compatible interfaces can be refined and implemented independently. Our algebra thus formalizes an interface-based design methodology that supports both the incremental addition of new components and the independent stepwise refinement of existing components. We demonstrate the flexibility and efficiency of the framework through simulation experiments.
Neurohormonal and Inflammatory Hyper-Responsiveness to Acute Mental Stress in Depression

Depression is associated with dysregulated hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis function, overactivity of the sympathoadrenal system, and increased levels of inflammation markers. It is not known whether these biological processes are disproportionately elevated in response to acute negative emotional arousal by mental stress (MS). The present study investigates responses of neurohormones and inflammatory markers to MS in 14 clinically depressed (age: 42+/-10 years; 50% female) and 14 non-depressed control (age: 39+/-6 years; 50% female) participants. Heightened acute MS reactivity was documented in depressed participants (adrenocorticotropic hormone, rho=0.001; norepinephrine, rho=0.042; epinephrine, rho=0.039), and a delayed increase in cortisol was observed (rho=0.002). Inflammation markers increased more strongly in depressed versus non-depressed participants (IL-6, rho=0.027; tumor necrosis factor-alpha, rho=0.050; and recovery C-reactive protein, rho=0.003). It is concluded that depressed individuals display hyper-reactivity of neuroimmunological markers in response to acute negative emotions. This hyper-reactivity may serve a pathologic role in the elevated morbidity and mortality risk associated with depression.
A review of quasi-Newton methods in nonlinear equation solving and unconstrained optimization

The need to solve a set of n simultaneous nonlinear equations in n unknowns arises in many areas of science and engineering. The equations can be expressed in the form: It will be assumed that at least one real solution exists and that the functions are continuous and possess continuous first derivatives. These assumptions are often good ones in dealing with equations arising in many physical systems. However, the functions themselves are often long, complex and expensive (in terms of computer time) to evaluate and the value of their derivatives can only be inferred from a finite difference approximation. Therefore, solution methods which keep the number of functional evaluations (i.e. the number of times the f vector needs to be evaluated) to a minimum become very attractive.
Duration and Regularity of Therapy Attendance as Predictors of Treatment Outcome in an Adult Outpatient Population

The authors extend previous research examining the dose-effect relationship in psychotherapy (e.g., K. I. Howard, S. M. Kopta, M. S. Krause, & D. E. Orlinsky, 1986) by using a measure of amount of treatment that included both number of sessions attended and treatment duration. Participants were 74 adult patients attending an outpatient community mental health clinic. A multiple regression analysis found no main effects for either measure of treatment length, but their interaction added a significant increase (DR2 = 6.2%, p < .05) in the prediction of patient outcome. For patients attending 11 or fewer sessions, more months in treatment was associated with worse outcome (r = 0.34, p < .05). Duration of treatment was unrelated to improvement for those attending more sessions. The findings of this study underscore the importance of regular therapy attendance for those patients scheduled for fewer sessions and suggest that clinicians should reconsider any temptation to spread allotted sessions over the course...
Compiling for Multithreaded Multicomputer

Over the last decade processor speed has increased dramatically, whereas the speed of the memory subsystem improved at a modest rate. To balance this mismatch of speed, Multithreaded (or Multiple Context) Processors have been proposed. In this paper, we present a novel compiler optimization method to create threads suitable for Multithreaded Processors and Multi computers based on such processors. The method is based on loop transformation theory and optimizes both spatial and temporal data reference locality. The created threads exhibit high level of intra-thread and inter-thread data locality which effectively reduces the cache miss rate and total execution time of numerically intensive computation.
Robotic Surgery and Law in USA — A Critique

The focus of my paper is on medical malpractice standards in the USA and how they apply on the Robotic Surgery Systems (RSS). Focus is on the current scenario, problems with the current legal system and recommendations for paving the way for future legal regulations regarding this developing technology, its improvements and use of robotics in the field of medicine.
An evaluation of the Sagi-Pless cancer detection test.

Abstract The results of an evaluation of the Sagi-Pless cancer detection test are presented. After allowing for recognizable causes of false positive and negative reactions with this test, there were 26.1 per cent false negatives and 25.4 per cent false positives. These figures greatly exceed the 10 per cent false negative and 5 per cent false positive reactions considered to be the maximum allowable for a practical screening test for cancer.
Lack of latex allergen contamination of solutions withdrawn from vials with natural rubber stoppers

The effect on latex allergen contamination and microbial growth of a latex-allergy precaution technique for preparing injectable products was studied. The study consisted of three parts: (1) preparation of 20 samples from vials with latex-containing stoppers in accordance with conventional guidelines, (2) preparation of 20 samples in accordance with latex-allergy precaution guidelines, and (3) preparation of 5 latex-free samples and 1 latex-contaminated sample as negative and positive controls, respectively. The conventional method involved swabbing a vial top with an alcohol prep pad, puncturing the dry natural rubber stopper with an 18-gauge needle attached to a latex-free syringe, and withdrawing the contents of the vial into the syringe. The latex-allergy precaution preparation technique was similar, except that the stopper was removed before the vial contents were withdrawn. There was essentially no difference in latex allergen concentrations between the two drug preparation methods. None of the samples prepared with the standard method supported any microbial growth. One sample prepared with the latex-allergy precaution method grew bacteria. Removal of the dry rubber stopper from vials did not yield solutions with less latex allergen than solutions prepared according to conventional guidelines.
Climatic cooling and mass extinction of Paleozoic reef communities

A variety ofpatterns suggest that climatic cooling was the primary cause of the extinction of organic reef communities late in the Ordovician, Devonian, and Permian periods. Other potential agents exhibit serious deficiencies. Anoxic conditions, for example, cannot spread to surface waters. Eustatic sea-level lowering occurred during only two of the extinction intervals, and at other times during the Phanerozoic, lowering of sea level failed to produce mass extinction. Furthermore, sea-level drops precipitate an increase in the areas around volcanic islands available for reef growth. No iridium anomaly that might have resulted from a bolide impact has been found for any of the three Paleozoic crisis intervals, and each of these intervals spanned several million years. Patterns consistent with the idea that climatic cooling caused heavy extinction of Paleozoic reef communities are the following: 1) Non-tropical marine taxa suffered less severe extinction than tropical groups, presumably because many of their species were able to migrate equatorward. 2) During the protracted Ordovician and Permian crises, biogeographic provinces contracted toward the equator. 3) For each crisis, a disproportionately large percentage of surviving taxa were cosmopolitan in distribution. 4) In the aftermath of each event, carbonate production was reduced. 5) Reef-building was suppressed for several million years after each crisis, even though potential reef-builders survived. 6) Each mass extinction approximately coincided with the initiation of a glacial interval in a polar region.
The Fragmented Object: Building Disciplinary Coherence through a Contextual Unit of Analysis:

I argue that fragmentation has long been written into the core of the psychological disciplines through the acceptance of an objectivist unit of psychological analysis. Remedies to this fragmentati...
Intellectual Teamwork: Social and Technological Foundations of Cooperative Work

The article reviews the book “Intellectual Teamwork: Social and Technological Foundations of Cooperative Work,” edited by Jolene Galegher, Robert E. Kraut and Carmen Egido.
The SIFT computer and its development

Software Implemented Fault Tolerance (SIFT) is an aircraft control computer designed to allow failure probability of less than 10 to the -10th/hour. The system is based on advanced fault-tolerance computing and validation methodology. Since confirmation of reliability by observation is essentially impossible, system reliability is estimated by a Markov model. A mathematical proof is used to justify the validity of the Markov model. System design is represented by a hierarchy of abstract models, and the design proof comprises mathematical proofs that each model is, in fact, an elaboration of the next more abstract model.
Increasing compliance with long-term therapy: avoiding complications and adverse events.

Abstract Compliance with long-term therapy is an important consideration in any chronic disease. Patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) frequently stop and start treatment based on their symptoms. This form of therapy ("on-demand treatment") has been shown to be effective in patients with non-erosive reflux disease and may reduce the costs associated with long-term therapy. However, continuous medical therapy for erosive esophagitis is associated with fewer relapses and better outcomes. Similarly, long-term therapy administered continuously reduces complications such as stricture and may decrease the development of dysplasia in Barrett's esophagus.
Angle-dependent strong-field ionization of triple bonded systems calculated by time-dependent configuration interaction with an absorbing potential

The angle dependence of strong field ionization has been studied for a set of molecules containing triple bonds: HCCH, HCN, HCC–CN, H2N–CCH, H2N–CN, and H2N–CC–CN. Time-dependent configuration interaction (TDCI) with a complex absorbing potential was used to model strong field ionization by a linearly polarized seven-cycle 800 nm cosine squared pulse. The ionization yields have been calculated as a function of the laser intensity and polarization direction and plotted as three-dimensional surfaces. At low field strengths, the angular dependence can be understood in terms of ionization from the highest occupied orbitals. At higher laser intensities, ionization occurs from lower lying orbitals as well as from the highest occupied orbitals, as indicated by changes in the angular dependence of the ionization yield and by variations in the population analysis of the TDCI wavefunction with the intensity of the laser field. The ionization yield for directions parallel to the molecular axis increases more rapidly...
Changes of Soil Nutrients Contents in the Triploid Populus tomentosa Plantations with Five Stand Spacings

A randomized block field experiment was carried out from 2005-2008(a rotation period) to study the changes of soil nutrient contents in three soil layers(020 cm,2040 cm and 4060 cm) of the triploid Populus tomentosa(cv.B304) plantations with five stand spacings(2 m×2 m,2 m×3 m,2 m×4 m,2 m×5 m and 3 m×4 m).The results showed that:(1)Soil pH value increased under different stand spacing after the 4-year growing,especially in low-density plantations(3 m×4 m) and deeper soil layers.(2)The contents of soil organic matter decreased at first and then increased.In the high-density plantations(2 m×2 m and 2 m×3 m),the contents of soil organic matter were significantly lower than that of the others.(3)The contents of soil total P and available P increased at first and then decreased.The available P in the plantation with stand density of 2 m×2 m was significantly lower than that of the others.(4)Significantly higher soil available N content was found in the plantation with stand density of 2 m×2 m while significantly lower available K in the middle-(2 m×4 m) and low-density(3 m×4 m) plantations.No regular variation was found in the contents of the other soil nutrients.
Causes of death and potential life loss of residents in Simao District,Pu'er,2014

Objective To analyze the leading causes of death and potential years of life lost( PYLL) of residents living in Simao,Yunnan Province. Methods Data from the death registry system in Simao in 2014 were analyzed to obtain the encoding and classification of causes of death based on the ICD-10 and the statistical classification criteria for the causes of death of residents of China. The mortality rate,composition ratio,life expectancy,PYLL,and PYLL rate( PYLLR) were calculated to estimate the main causes of the death and life lost of the residents. Results In 2014,the total number of deaths were1 911 cases,the crude mortality rate was 640. 89 /100 000,and the standardized mortality rate was633. 76 /100 000. The standardized mortality rate of men( 689. 94 /100 000) was higher than that of women( 491. 83 /100 000). The top five leading causes of death were heart disease,malignant neoplasms,cerebrovascular disease, respiratory diseases, and injuries and poisoning, accounting for 73. 89%( 1 412 /1 911) of the total deaths. The average life expectancy of residents was 72. 99 years. Removing the influence of the top five leading causes of death,the life expectancy could improve 20. 93 years; separately removing the causes of death due to heart disease,malignant neoplasms,cerebrovascular disease,respiratory diseases,and injuries and poisoning,the life expectancy could improve 2. 67,2. 38,1. 89,1. 16,and 1. 37 years,respectively. The leading causes of PYLL were injuries and poisoning,malignant neoplasms,cardiovascular diseases,cerebrovascular diseases,and respiratory diseases,with the PYLLRs of 17. 32‰,16. 00‰,9. 76‰,7. 49‰,and 3. 80‰,respectively. The first leading cause of PYLL was injuries and poisoning in men,consistent with that in the whole population,whereas malignant neoplasms were top-ranking causes of PYLL in women. Conclusion The leading causes of death among residents in Simao were chronic non-infectious diseases. Appropriate interventions and effective strategy should be adopted based on the causes of death of the residents in Simao.
Social Capital and Spousal Education: Marriage Market Returns to Social Participation

ABSTRACTMarital decision making appears personal but is driven by opportunities and constraints in local marriage markets along social class lines. We examine the relationship between the nature and extent of individuals’ social participation and educational marriage-market outcomes, employing a subsample of 493 respondents from the National Survey of Families and Households to evaluate whether participation in social groups and activities, and the extent of socializing within and outside their neighborhoods, are associated with spousal education. We evaluate whether gains to social participation vary based on education and gender. Results support a social capital perspective, with varied networks and greater access to weak ties increasing, and more frequent contact with strong ties reducing economically advantageous partnering. Gains to social participation vary somewhat by education level, consistent with a social capital perspective, and differential access to valuable social ties on the basis of educa...
SURFACE ANALYTICAL TECHNIQUES APPLIED TO MICROBIOLOGICALLY INFLUENCED CORROSION

Abstract The study of microbiologically influenced corrosion has progressed from phenomenological case histories to a mature interdisciplinary science including electrochemical, metallurgical, microbiological, biotechnological, biophysical, and surface analytical techniques. Surface chemical techniques, including X-ray absorption and microelectrodes with tip diameters of a few microns, can determine, respectively, concentration and speciation of metal ions bound within exopolymers and can measure dissolved oxygen, pH, and other interfacial chemistries on the scale of microcolonies. Recent developments in image analysis systems-including electron, atomic force, and laser microscopy make it possible to image biological materials in the hydrated state and to accurately determine spatial relationships between microorganisms and localised corrosion. Scanning vibrating electrodes can be used to map the distribution of anodes and cathodes so that localised corrosion can be correlated with exact locations of microorganisms. Data derived from surface analytical techniques are used to define mechanisms of microbial corrosion.
Current debate in the oncologic management of rectal cancer

Despite the considerable amount of research in the field, the management of locally advanced rectal cancer remains a subject to debate. To date, effective treatment centers on surgical resection with the standard approach of total mesorectal resection. Radiation therapy and chemotherapy have been incorporated in order to decrease local and systemic recurrence. While it is accepted that a multimodality treatment regimen is indicated, there remains significant debate for how best to accomplish this in regards to order, dosing, and choice of agents. Preoperative radiation is the standard of care, yet remains debated with the option for chemoradiation, short course radiation, and even ongoing studies looking at the possibility of leaving radiation out altogether. Chemotherapy was traditionally incorporated in the adjuvant setting, but recent reports suggest the possibility of improved efficacy and tolerance when given upfront. In this review, the major studies in the management of locally advanced rectal cancer will be discussed. In addition, future directions will be considered such as the role of immunotherapy and ongoing trials looking at timing of chemotherapy, inclusion of radiation, and non-operative management.
Development of enzyme-activated nano-conjugates for targeted hepatic cancer therapy

L cancer is the fifth most common cancer in the world accounting for approximately one million new cases per year. Surgical resection of tumor tissue is considered a good treatment option, however, only 15% 30% of hepatic cancer patients are operative candidates and they typically exhibit a 30%-60% recurrence rate. Other treatment options include thermal and chemical ablation, chemoembolization, and regional and systemic chemotherapy. Unfortunately, these treatment strategies are highly invasive with limited specificity towards cancer cells and have failed to improve the survival of hepatic cancer patients, which remains less than 12 months. These statistics clearly indicate the urgent clinical need for innovative drug delivery systems that can shuttle a large dose of chemotherapeutic agents selectively into the cytoplasm of hepatic cancer cells to induce the desired cancer cell death without causing nonspecific toxicity to healthy organs. To address this unmet clinical need, we have designed and synthesized a new family of targeted, water-soluble, nano-conjugates that are efficiently internalized by hepatic cancer cells and selectively release their therapeutic cargo in response to the reductive effect of intracellular enzymes in a tunable fashion. This seminar will discuss the rationale behind the development of these enzyme-activated nano-conjugates, strategies to achieve “tunable” hepatocyte-specific release of the loaded anticancer drugs, our sugar-mediated targeting approach, and the associated anticancer activity and toxicity compared to conventional chemotherapeutic agents. Mohamed E. H. ElSayed, Biochem Anal Biochem 2013, 2:4 http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2161-1009.S1.003
Young Leaders of Character Program: A Model of Character Education Program for Improving Life Effectiveness Skills and Civic Responsibility of Adolescents

Studies that examine character development programs are scarce. This study examines the effect of a week-long character education program in a range of life skills and civic efficacy. Thirty adolescents participated in the training. A no-control, quasi-experimental design incorporated baseline measures and a six-month follow-up. A Life Effectiveness Questionnaire and Civic Efficacy Survey were administered and open-ended questions further explored how participants incorporated program outcomes into their daily lives. The t-test comparison of baseline and pretest measures yielded no significant differences, but t-test comparison of pre-post- test analysis elicited statistically significant positive results. Findings indicate the program can provide a model for character education that fosters adolescents’ sense of agency as leaders and citizens.
Seismotectonics of the 1987–1988 Lakeside, Utah, Earthquakes

From September 1987 through March 1988, an earthquake sequence which induded shocks of M L 4.8 and 4.7 on September 25 and October 26, respectively, and a total of 8 moderate-sized events of M L ≥ 3.8, occurred in NW Utah beneath a desert basin west of the Great Salt Lake (center of activity: 41° 12.0′ N, 113° 10.5′ W). Wood-Anderson seismograms indicate nearly identical magnitudes for the two largest earthquakes but a factor of two to five larger seismic moment for the first. Significant aspects of the 1987–1988 sequence induded: foreshock activity, proximity (epicentral distance, Δ, of 7 to 12 km) to a major pumping facility completed in early 1987 to lower the level of the Great Salt Lake, an unambiguous strike-slip focal mechanism for the M L 4.8 mainshock, and the lack of a clear association with late Quaternary surface faults. Despite constraints on accessibility to the epicentral area, the stations of the regional seismic network (Δ ≥ 60 km) were supplemented with local stations—initially four portable seismographs and later up to four telemetered stations (2 ≤ Δ ≤ 27 km) that operated continuously from October 7, 1987, through March 1988. Well-located aftershock foci form a 6-by-6-km zone between 6 and 12 km depth which is steeply dipping and trends SSE, parallel to the right-lateral nodal plane of the mainshock focal mechanism. Despite coincidental timing and proximity of the earthquakes to major pumping activity at the surface, the case for induced seismicity related to the pumping is weak.
Plasma Desorption Ionization Using 252 Cf in Mass Spectrometry

The use of californium-252 nuclear fission products as ionization sources for mass spectrometry is described. The properties of this isotope are summarized and the mass spectrometry instrumentation used in this field is detailed. Some typical applications to proteins and inorganic chemical species are outlined.
Management of twinning cow herds

Beef producers are commonly opposed to twin births owing to the number of detriments associated with the trait. These include increased incidence of calf mortality, dystocia (malpresentation), stillbirth, abortion, calf abandonment, retained placenta, lengthened interval from parturition to conception, and occurrence of freemartin heifers. Some problems can be overcome with changes in management, others lack an obvious management fix, and still others are of little practical significance. Management alterations that may facilitate successful exploitation of twin birth include 1) pregnancy checks to determine twin vs single pregnancy, 2) adequate calving facilities, and 3) early calf weaning. Determining pregnancy status eliminates surprises at calving time in that cows at high risk for malpresentation are identified beforehand. Additionally, cows gestating twins could be fed a higher plane
Interventions Aimed at Decreasing Obesity in Hispanic Children in the First 1000 Days: A Systematic Review

The prevalence of obesity is higher among Hispanic children than among all other ethnicities, and recent efforts have been focused on addressing this growing disparity. The objective of this review was to examine the evidence for interventions designed to reduce obesity in Hispanic children in the first 1000 days of life and to assess and summarize the effectiveness of the interventions. A literature search was conducted using MEDLINE, Scopus, and PubMed. Included in the review were published studies that evaluated an intervention designed to prevent or reduce obesity in Hispanic children in the first 1000 days of life. Quality was assessed using the GRADE system. Out of 134 citations that were retrieved, 11 articles underwent full-text review, and 5 articles met study inclusion criteria. Only one study was of high quality, and the rest were of low or moderate quality. Three of the studies were lifestyle interventions, and two were educational interventions. Four out of the five interventions led to significant improvements in the outcome measures assessed. Very few published studies tested interventions in the population of Hispanic children ages 0-2 years. Limited evidence does suggest that these interventions may improve behaviors related to factors known to increase the risk for obesity. Future research should focus on designing interventions using common themes observed among successful studies. Further, these studies should also include clinical measures of obesity to further establish their effectiveness.
Measurement of wing deflections in flexible aircraft using the sansec smart sensor

Morphing aircraft are those that have the ability to actively change their shape in flight. There are several benefits of such shape change. For instance, since the optimal shape of an aircraft varies from one mission to another, the morphing concept enables a single aircraft to perform multiple missions during a single flight by executing its shape change feature. The morphing concept also enables an aircraft to achieve performance benefits, such as reduced drag during cruise and increased lift during take-off. The morphing concept is currently being investigated for both largescale passenger sized aircraft [1], as well as small-scale robotic micro air vehicles [2].
Polarization of Cosmic-Ray μ Mesons

This paper reports: (1) measurements of the decay asymmetry of positive cosmic-ray muons which come to rest in a brass absorber at sea level under 12, 200, 700 and 3700 g/${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$, air equivalent, of material; and (2) a determination of limits on the possible change with energy of the kaon-pion production ratio in nuclear interactions at energies from about 10 BeV to about 100 BeV. The measurements give values of the nominal polarization equal to 0.23\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.03, 0.16\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.02, 0.23\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.03, and 0.21\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.02 in order of increasing depth. The actual polarization is somewhat higher because of unevaluated systematic errors (e.g., electron scattering) which depend upon the details of construction of a given detector. The ratios of the polarizations observed at the different depths were compared with those computed under the assumption that the relative production rate of ${{K}_{\ensuremath{\mu}2}}^{+}$ and ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}$ mesons per unit energy interval varies with energy according to the relation $\frac{K(E)}{\ensuremath{\pi}(E)}\ensuremath{\propto}{(0.3+E)}^{\ensuremath{\delta}}$, where E is the total energy measured in BeV and $\ensuremath{\pi}(E)\ensuremath{\propto}{(0.3+E)}^{\ensuremath{-}2.64}$. We find that the data can be fitted to this relation for any value of $\ensuremath{\delta}$ between $\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\infty}$ and +0.6. This result is rather insensitive to changes in the constants 0.3 and 2.64 and is based upon the assumptions that: (1) there is a negligible anomalous depolarization of the muons as they traverse the material above the detectors, and (2) the muons arise only from the decays of pions and charged kaons. If charged and neutral kaons are produced in equal numbers, the upper limit for $\ensuremath{\delta}$ would be raised to about 1.3.
Low-protein diet in cancer: ready for prime time?

Diet has a recognized influence on cancer development and progression. However, the effect of diet modifications on the immune system remains elusive. Rubio-Patino and colleagues provide evidence that a low-protein diet enhances the anticancer immune response in tumour-bearing mice, and highlight the potential of this diet intervention in patients with cancer.
Bridging Research and Policy to Address Childhood Obesity Among Border Hispanics: A Pilot Study

Background Mexican-American children are disproportionately affected by obesity compared to other population groups. Although national guidelines recommend using environmental and policy approaches to address this public health issue, the majority of Mexican-American children do not meet physical activity recommendations. Purpose To describe a knowledge transfer process involving local decision makers to address childhood obesity and physical activity needs among low-income, Mexican-American children and to examine environmental policy recommendations generated in this process. Methods This pilot study employed a qualitative research design that included the dissemination of primary research data to local decision makers in the Texas–Mexico border region. Stakeholders attending public meetings were briefed about a research project reporting on the physical activity needs of Mexican-American children from impoverished neighborhoods known as colonias . Seventy-four stakeholders responded to an unstructured questionnaire and proposed policy recommendations. Data were collected January–April 2011 and analyzed July–September 2011. Data were analyzed using a content analysis technique. Results Four policy themes emerged from the data: (1) establishing sustainable community-based health programs; (2) improving neighborhood infrastructure and safety; (3) increasing access to parks; and (4) supporting community organizations to disseminate health education to parents and children. Conclusions Knowledge transfer processes planned and facilitated by researchers at public meetings with local decision makers are effective methods to influence policy development related to childhood obesity.
Opportunities for Reasoning About Energy Within Elementary School Engineering Experiences

Much of recent elementary engineering curriculum development and research has focused on supporting young students’ design abilities related to the “engineering design process.” However, engineering design also involves attention to physical principles and the modeling of how physical principles affect design outcomes. One of these principles is that energy must be transferred to any designed artifact by its power system, which is specified by the engineering designers, in order for the designed artifact to perform work. The purpose of this chapter is to identify opportunities for students to reason about energy during existing elementary school engineering activities. A review of literature on the engineering profession as well as of guidelines for K-12 science and engineering/technology education resulted in three main goals for young students’ applied knowledge of energy: the ability to recognize when a technology needs energy input, the ability to consider various modes of energy storage, and the ability to identify several possible energy transfer strategies. These learning goals then served as a basis for an analysis of the engineering design activities in Family Engineering (Jackson M, Heil D, Chadde J, Hutzler N, Family Engineering: an activity and event planning guide. Foundation for Family Science and Engineering: Michigan Technological University, 2011), a guide with 26 hands-on challenges useful for introducing children and their families to engineering. The analysis revealed that while several activities explicitly reference connections to energy concepts, even more activities have strong implicit opportunities for students to use reasoning about energy as an engineering design tool.
Nation and empire: English and British national identity in comparative perspective

L'A. s'interroge sur la quasi absence de litterature sur le nationalisme anglais, ce dernier s'affirmant de maniere particuliere a travers la reference a l'empire, duquel il est reste indissociable. Apres avoir examine le caractere missionnaire du nationalisme d'empire (mission civilisatrice), l'A. evalue les relations qu'ont entretenues les empires Romain, Ottoman, Habsbourg, Russe et Britannique avec un groupe ethnique dominant identifie a la cause imperiale, dans une perspective comparative