cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Tracing our roots: a new era in clinical laboratory science education.

Objective To describe the emergence of laboratory personnel at the technician and assistant levels and discuss educational issues that arose between 1962 and 1977. Design A survey of literature on the history of clinical laboratory science (CLS) was conducted. References consulted include various books and professional journals. Conclusion Advances in scientific and medical knowledge and the development of new technologies created new roles and responsibilities for medical technologists (MTs) in the areas of education, research, and laboratory management. At the same time, the certified laboratory assistant (CLA) category was established as a means of providing competent personnel to work in physician office laboratories and small community hospitals in lieu of a certified MT. The growth in popularity of two-year colleges and the availability of federal funding for the development of allied health programs led to the establishment of yet another category of laboratory personnel: the medical laboratory technician (MLT). These developments prompted educators to modify their CLS curricula, develop educational programs at the CLA and MLT levels, and provide opportunities to CLAs, and MLTs for upward mobility. Furthermore, once the Board of Registry (BOR) established the baccalaureate degree as the prerequisite for MT certification, educators also began to restructure and more closely integrate the academic and clinical components of MT programs.
Flexibility of System of Systems

In order to remain competitive, organizations have to make themselves accessible to a diversity of alternatives, which could be a direct influence on their flexibility; however, flexibility introduces a new context by which these organizations manage the systems they realize. In this paper, we present a theoretical perspective on the management of flexibility of a type of system called a System of Systems (SoS). We first define flexibility as it has been described with respect to the management of a system, how this may relate to SoS and establish that there is a deficiency for understanding how the SoS should be managed near the optimization region of flexibility. We then propose a theoretical model for managing flexibility in a SoS that begins to address this optimization region of flexibility. We demonstrate our model with an empirical case study of the New York City Yellow Cab SoS and conclude with potential implications this research has on flexible systems management.
Effects of Robotic Social Cues on Interpersonal Attributions and Assessments of Robot Interaction Behaviors

We discuss an experiment investigating the influence of social cues expressed by a robot on human attributions of interpersonal characteristics towards a robot and assessments of its interaction be...
Physical activity and hippocampal volume in middle-aged patients with type 1 diabetes.

Objective: To examine the cross-sectional association between physical activity (PA) and hippocampal volume in middle-aged adults with childhood-onset type 1 diabetes (T1D), and whether hyperglycemia and insulin sensitivity contribute to this relationship. Methods: We analyzed neuroimaging and self-reported PA data from 79 adults with T1D from the Pittsburgh Epidemiology of Diabetes Complications Study (mean age 50 years, mean duration 41 years) and 122 similarly aged adults without T1D (mean age 48 years). Linear regression models, controlling for intracranial volume, sex, education, and age, tested associations between PA and gray matter volumes of hippocampi and total brain in the 2 groups. For the T1D group, models further controlled for hyperglycemia and glucose disposal rate, a measure of insulin sensitivity. Results: PA was significantly lower in the T1D than in the non-T1D group (median [interquartile range] 952 kcal [420–2,044] vs 1,614 kcal [588–3,091], respectively). Higher PA was significantly associated with larger hippocampi for T1D, but not for non-T1D (standardized β [p values] from regression models adjusted for intracranial volume, sex, age, and education: 0.270 [p Conclusions: A cross-sectional association between higher PA and larger hippocampi is already detectable by middle age for these patients with T1D, and it appears robust to chronic hyperglycemia and insulin sensitivity. Proof-of-concept studies should investigate whether increasing PA preserves hippocampal volume and the mechanisms underlying the effects of PA on hippocampal volume.
Does Acute Normobaric Hypoxia Induce Anapyrexia in Adult Humans

Abstract Seo, Yongsuk, Hayden D. Gerhart, Jeremiah Vaughan, Jung-Hyun Kim, and Ellen L. Glickman. Does acute normobaric hypoxia induce anapyrexia in adult humans? High Alt Med Biol. 18:185–190, 2017.—Exposure to hypoxia is known to induce a reduction in core body temperature as a protective mechanism, which has been shown in both animals and humans. The purpose of this study was to test if acute exposure to normobaric hypoxia (NH) induces anapyrexia in adult humans in association with decreased peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2). Ten healthy male subjects were seated in atmospheres of normobaric normoxia 21% (NN21), NH 17% (NH17), and 13% (NH13) O2 for 60 minutes in a counterbalanced manner. Rectal temperature (Tre) was continuously monitored together with the quantification of metabolic heat production (MHP) and body heat storage (S). Baseline physiological measurements showed no differences between the three conditions. SpO2 was significantly decreased in NH17 and NH13 compared with NN21 (p ≤ 0.001). T...
Enhancing the Quality of Reporting in Corporate Social Responsibility Guidance Documents: The Roles of ISO 26000, Global Reporting Initiative and CSR‐Sustainability Monitor

The intent of this article is to review the phenomenal growth of Corporate Social Responsibility reports published by large corporations around the world. The reports provide companies with an opportunity to inform large segments of society about the impacts of their business operations on the environmental, socio-political, and governmental (regulatory) aspects of a society. The mostly voluntary nature of these reports, however, places the burden on the corporations creating them to (a) provide an adequate amount of information, (b) cover all the major issues that are relevant to the company and industry, and (c) provide measures of assurance as to the accuracy of information. In this article, we compare and examine three institutional approaches that have played an important role toward improving the quality and consistency of these reports. The institutions involved are ISO 26000, Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)-Sustainability Monitor. We intend to show their different approaches to guiding CSR reporting, and assess their relative strengths and limitations.
Modular Functions, Maple and Andrews’ 10th Problem

We discuss how Andrews’s 10th problem for generalized Frobenius partitions can be attacked using modular functions and a little help from Maple. Both elementary and function theoretic methods are employed. A multiplicative analogue of the Hecke operator U q* is constructed.
Use of Nicotine in Electronic Nicotine and Non-Nicotine Delivery Systems by US Adults, 2015:

Nicotine in electronic nicotine and non-nicotine delivery systems (ENDS/ENNDS) may present a risk of harm to those with cardiovascular disease and the fetuses of pregnant women. We assessed the extent to which adult users of ENDS/ENNDS used these products with nicotine. We obtained data for this study from a national probability survey of 6051 US adults that was conducted in August and September 2015. Of 399 adult ENDS/ENNDS users who were current smokers, 337 (80.7%) used ENDS/ENNDS containing nicotine, whereas only 29 of 71 (36.9%) ENDS/ENNDS users who were never smokers used ENDS/ENNDS containing nicotine. Assessments of the population health impact of ENDS/ENNDS use among never smokers should take into account the extent to which use involves nicotine.
STAT3 and STAT5A are potential therapeutic targets in castration-resistant prostate cancer.

// Sambit K. Mohanty 1 , Kader Yagiz 2 , Dinesh Pradhan 3 , Daniel J. Luthringer 1 , Mahul B. Amin 4 , Serhan Alkan 1 and Bekir Cinar 5, 6 1 Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA 2 Department of Hematology and Oncology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA 3 University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15238, USA 4 Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA 5 Department of Biological Sciences, The Center for Cancer Research and Therapeutic Development, Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, GA 30314, USA 6 Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA Correspondence to: Serhan Alkan, email: serhan.alkan@cshs.org Bekir Cinar, email: bcinar@cau.edu Keywords: STAT3, STAT5A, pimozide, castration-resistance, prostate cancer Received: April 26, 2017 Accepted: August 03, 2017 Published: September 12, 2017 ABSTRACT Mechanisms of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) are not well understood, thus hindering rational-based drug design. Activation of STAT3/5A, key components of the JAK/STAT pathway, is implicated in aggressive PC, yet their clinical relevance in CRPC remains elusive. Here, we evaluated the possible role of STAT3/5A in CRPC using immunological, quantitative mRNA expression profiling, and pharmacological methods. We observed a strong nuclear immunoreactivity for STAT3 and STAT5A in 93% (n=14/15) and 80% (n=12/15) of CRPC cases, respectively, compared with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). We demonstrated that PC cells express varying levels of STAT3 and STAT5A transcripts. In addition, we demonstrate that pimozide, a psychotropic drug and an indirect inhibitor of STAT5, attenuated PC cells growth, and induced apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, our analysis of the PC public data revealed that the STAT3/5A genes were frequently amplified in metastatic CRPC. These findings suggest that STAT3/5A potentially serves as a predictive biomarker to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of a cancer drug targeting the JAK/STAT pathway. Since the JAK/STAT and AR pathways are suggested to be functionally synergistic, inhibition of the JAK/STAT signaling alone or together with AR may lead to a novel treatment modality for patients with advanced PC.
What the Black Lives Matter Movement Demands of Ethnic Studies Scholars

“Come in. Sit down. Close your eyes. Be silent and listen.” Melody engulfed the room. Our bodies unwittingly swayed softly to rhythms that conjured Ancestral memories. The bald, brown-skinned, goateed, dashiki-wearing man in front of the room exuded both warmth and strength. As a fourteen year-old ninth grader, the constancy of my giggle was interrupted by the sanctity of the space. Squeaks of the crotchety wooden desks that formed a large circle joined the music that hummed from the old record player at the front of the room. Minutes felt like days. Sound transported us through time and space and as the song came to an end, Mr. Navies instructed us, in a voice that prolonged the Spirit of what we had just experienced, “Now, write down your thoughts.” Silently, we scribbled down the ideas, poems, and stories that danced out of our Souls. We were greeted this way every single morning in African American History, Black Gold English, Black Male-Female Relationships, and the dozens of classes that comprised the Black Studies Department curriculum at Berkeley High School. At the close of each week, we would share our writings with the class, inspired by “classical Black musicians” from Charlie Parker, to Thelonius Monk, to Billie Holliday. Dassine, LaRae, Trinice, and Tomorrow would share poems. Ameer, always sat directly to my left and would break up the passionate tear-eliciting prose shared by others, with stories and jokes so hilarious that Mr. Navies would sometimes have to turn his back and hurriedly race across the room to shield his laughter from the class.
Cost Effectiveness of Karyotyping, Chromosomal Microarray Analysis, and Targeted Next-Generation Sequencing of Patients with Unexplained Global Developmental Delay or Intellectual Disability

Genetic diagnosis of unexplained global developmental delay and intellectual disability (GDD/ID) often ends the diagnostic odyssey and can lead to changes in clinical management. The objective of this study was to investigate the cost effectiveness of testing scenarios involving several methods used to diagnose GDD/ID: karyotyping, chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA), and targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS). We used decision-tree models to estimate the number of genetic diagnoses, the cost from a payers’ perspective in the USA, and the incremental cost per additional genetic diagnosis. Model parameters were taken from peer-reviewed literature and governmental fee schedules. CMA testing results in more genetic diagnoses at an incremental cost of US $2692 per additional diagnosis compared with karyotyping, which has an average cost per diagnosis of US $11,033. Performing both tests sequentially results in the same number of diagnoses, but the total cost is less when CMA testing is done first and karyotyping second. Furthermore, when CMA testing yields a variant of unknown significance, additional genetic diagnoses can be obtained at an incremental cost of US $4220 by CMA testing of both parents, and when parents are not available or the patient had a normal CMA result, targeted NGS of the patient can add diagnoses at a further incremental cost of US $12,295. These results provide a cost effectiveness rationale for the use of CMA as the first-tier test for the genetic diagnosis of unexplained GDD/ID and further indicate that testing of both parents may be cost effective when a variant of unknown significance is detected in the patient.
Shield: A middleware to tolerate CPU transient faults in multicore architectures

Multicore architectures are increasingly becoming prone to transient faults. In this paper we present Shield, a middleware to provide transactional applications with resiliency to those faults that can happen anytime during the execution of a processor but do not cause any hardware interruption. Shield is inspired by the state machine replication approach, where computational resources are partitioned, the shared state is fully replicated, and requests are executed by all partitions in the same order. Our results using the Tilera reveal limited overhead with respect to the non-fault-tolerant approaches on most benchmarks, and an average performance gain of 1.54× over traditional byzantine fault tolerance protocols.
3D modeling of running rodents based on direct linear transform

How animals, including humans, are moving has been a grand challenge for modem science that has a direct impact on our health and wellbeing. It can provide a wealth of information to explain the biological world, and to treat human and animal disease. In addition, it can guide us to improve prosthetic limb design or legged robots [1], [2].
The Africa Yoga Project and Well-Being: A Concept Map of Students’ Perceptions

Background Concept mapping methodology was used to explore the perceived impact of practicing yoga with the Africa Yoga Project (AYP)-an organisation created to increase health and well-being by providing community-based yoga classes throughout Kenya. AYP's mission fit with theoretical models of well-being is discussed. Anecdotal evidence and initial qualitative research suggested the AYP meaningfully impacted adult students. Methods Of the hundreds of AYP's adult students, 56 and 82 students participated in Phases I and II, respectively. Phase I brainstorming resulted in 94 student-generated statements about their perceived change. Phase II participants sorted and rated statements in terms of importance. Multidimensional scaling and hierarchical cluster analysis of sort data was utilised to map and group statements into clusters. Results Based on statistical and interpretive criteria, a five-cluster solution with the following concepts was identified as the best model of students' change: Personal Growth; Interpersonal Effectiveness (lowest importance); Physical and Social Benefits; Emotional Resiliency; and Improved Self-Concept (highest importance). Conclusions Overall, students reported positive perceptions of the AYP. Additional research is needed to quantify students' change, and to compare the AYP outcomes to those of other programs aimed at poverty-related stress reduction and well-being.
Opening the chemosensory world of the lobster, Homarus americanus

The natural history of the American lobster, Homarus americanus H. Milne-Edwards, 1837, was described in detail as part of the general interest in marine biology in the late 19th century. A half-century ago, lobsters gained prominence in the biological analysis of underwater chemical sensing, using neurobiological, behavioral, and ecological approaches. Lobsters made us recognize different chemical sensing organs, each with their unique signal-filtering properties and behavioral functions, and they showed how they generate and control "information currents" for both odor dispersal and reception. This led to better understanding of the constraints that fluid motion places on odor signal analysis and sensor design. This, in turn, spurred construction of a lobster-inspired electronic nose to measure the temporal resolution of chemoreceptor organs used in odor plume analysis and tracking. Simultaneously, long-term field and naturalistic tank observations revealed their social structure involving sheltering, dominance fights, individual recognition by urine signals, courtship displays, cohabitation, and mating behavior. While most investigations focused on chemical signals, flow sensors were analyzed as part of antennule flicking and odor-flow coincidence detection. Mechanoreception plays an important role in smelling and tasting. Lobster vision contributes to opponent size estimates and recognition. Multisensory analysis will become increasingly important as is the chemical identification of the signals. Lobsters remain significant contributors to underwater sensory biology, influencing many other model systems, including other crustaceans, mollusks, sharks, and reef fish larvae. It has always been my privilege to work with so many inspiring students and colleagues.
NP-completeness of outcome optimization for partial CP-nets

CP-nets (Boutilier 2004) represent qualitative conditional preferences using a graphical model similar in concept to a belief network. A CP-net describes the preferences over the values of each problem variable, possibly conditioned on the values of other variables. For example, a user might describe her ideal dinner by expressing an (unconditional) preference for a meat entree over a fish entree, and a preference for wine that depends on the particular choice of entree (red wine with meat, and white wine with fish). The CP-net for this diner would look like the one in Figure 1, with the exception that a preference would be expressed for the value of
Relative Calibration of a Well Type Isotope Calibrator for Brachytherapy Sources

The manuscript outlines the results of a quick procedure for relative calibration of a well type Isotope Calibrator for brachytherapy sources. It is demonstrated that accuracy better than 5% is attainable. Some practical considerations with the possible pitfalls in the procedure are discussed.
Falls in older Mexican-American women.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency of falls and identify risk factors for falls among older Mexican-American women. DESIGN: A prospective cohort study with an average follow-up of 2.7 years. SETTING: A clinical center at the Palo Alto Veterans Affairs Medical Center, California. PARTICIPANTS: 152 community-dwelling Mexican-American Caucasian women aged 59 years or older. OUTCOME MEASURES: Falls and injurious falls, as determined by monthly telephone interviews. RESULTS: The rate of falls was 508 per 1000 person-years (95% confidence interval (CI), 440–577). Injurious falls requiring medical attention occurred at a rate of 79 per 1000 person-years (95% CI, 52–107). Factors that were associated independently with an increased risk of falling were older age, a history of arthritis or rheumatism, a history of high thyroid, having fainted at least once in the year before baseline, current use of psychotropic medications, and walking fewer than 5 blocks a day. Those persons with an average time for the chair stand test had a lower risk of falling than those with the slowest times or the fastest times. CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of falls and injurious falls in this cohort of 152 relatively acculturated, healthy, older Mexican-American women was similar or slightly higher than previously reported rates for non-Hispanic Caucasian). Many of the factors associated with falls in this study were similar to those reported for non-Hispanic Caucasian women, suggesting that fall prevention measures tested mainly among non-Hispanic Caucasian women would also be appropriate for Mexican-American women. J Am Geriatr Soc 47:1371–1378,1999.
Perioperative Efficiency vs. Quality of Care–Do We Always Have to Choose?

Introduction: ATTEMPTS to enforce optimization practices for operating room (OR) efficiency are often interpreted as a “pressure for production” which threatens patient safety. The aim of this stud...
Calvinist Predestination and the Spirit of Capitalism: The Religious Argument of the Weber Thesis Reexamined

The paper reconsiders the Weber Thesis of a linkage between Calvinism and capitalism. It first restates this sociological Thesis in terms of the Calvinist doctrine of predestination as its theological core and premise in virtue of being treated as the crucial religious factor of the spirit of modern capitalism. Consequently, it proposes that the Weber Thesis’ validity and consistency depends on that doctrine, succeeding or failing as a sociological theory with the latter depending on whether or not it is unique in theological terms, as well as economic-social consequences. For that purpose, it reexamines and compares the Calvinist doctrine of predestination with the pre-Calvinist versions and infers that it is basically identical to or compatible with these. It then draws the implications for the Weber Thesis in respect of the degree of its validity or consistence. It concludes that the Weber Thesis likely is fail as a sociological-economic theory with the Calvinist doctrine of predestination to the extent that the latter is its theological ground and revealed not to be unique and new theologically and probably in terms of its societal effects.
Evaluation of Hybrid Arc and Volumetric-Modulated Arc Therapy Treatment Plans for Fractionated Stereotactic Intracranial Radiotherapy:

Purpose:The study was aimed to compare hybrid arc and volumetric-modulated arc therapy treatment plans for fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy of brain tumors.Methods:Treatment plans of 22 patie...
System Mathematical Models and Model Identifications

In this chapter, we discussed most popular mathematical models for most often used systems in our world. In Sect. 4.2, various mathematical models for most popular physical systems are introduced and analyzed, which include the mechanical rotational system, electrical circuit system, and electromechanical system. Following this introduction, the relationship between the step response and the poles of a system is analyzed, and a discussion about the time-domain specifications for step responses is given. Some important properties related to system models, such as final value theorem, steady-state errors, stability, and linear approximation of physical systems, are discussed in Sect. 4.4. Some popular and powerful MATLAB functions provided by the Control System Toolbox are introduced in detail since these functions are helpful and useful for the system modeling and conversion operations. The discussion about system identifications is provided in Sect. 4.5. Some popular and important identification methods provided by MATLAB® System Identification Toolbox are discussed in Sect. 4.6. A case study is provided in Sect. 4.7 to show users how to practically perform the identification process for a typical DC motor using the MATLAB® System Identification ToolboxTM. The QEI and PWM modules in TM4C123GH6PM MCU system are also introduced in this section since we need to use these modules to interface the motor amplifiers and motor optical encoders to build and collect the real data required by the identification process.
Essential Thrombocytosis and Labor Epidural Placement While on Aspirin: Assessing Hemorrhagic Risks A Case Report

Essential thrombocytosis (ET) is a rare disease with known thrombotic and bleeding complications. We encountered a patient with a diagnosis of longstanding Janus kinase-2 gene–negative ET on aspirin therapy presenting for labor epidural. Evaluation of platelet function with point-of-care analysis us
Local Linear Convergence for Inexact Alternating Projections on Nonconvex Sets

Given two arbitrary closed sets in Euclidean space, to guarantee that the method of alternating projections converges locally at linear rate to a point in the intersection, a simple transversality assumption suffices. Exact projection onto nonconvex sets is typically intractable, but we show that computationally cheap inexact projections may suffice instead. In particular, if one set is defined by sufficiently regular smooth constraints, then projecting onto the approximation obtained by linearizing those constraints around the current iterate suffices. On the other hand, if one set is a smooth manifold represented through local coordinates, then the approximate projection resulting from linearizing the coordinate system around the preceding iterate on the manifold also suffices.
Psychometric Testing of a Value-Achievement-Cost Motivation Survey for 12th Grade Health Sciences Students for Use in Simulation-Based-Games:

Background. There is a gap in our understanding of the determinants of individual student variation of perceived cost longitudinally in high-effort educational activities within self-selected, cont...
Transforaminal Endoscopic Approach for Large-Sample Tumor Biopsy using Beveled Working Channel for Core Technique: A Technical Note.

Background Identifying the histopathological diagnosis of a spinal tumor is the necessary step prior to pursuing subsequent treatment. Both minimally invasive and open spinal procedures have been described as useful methods of obtaining tumor tissue for diagnosis but differ by their limitations. Minimally invasive techniques, such as computed tomography–guided biopsies, can expose the patient to radiation, and the tissue obtained may be nondiagnostic. Tubular and open procedures require collateral soft-tissue damage and may require bony removal leading to iatrogenic injury. Endoscopic approaches to the spine can be employed to avoid treatment delay in diagnosis, decrease length of stay, and provide adequate tissue for diagnosis. Methods We describe the surgical planning, tumor localization, and transforaminal endoscopic approach for tissue diagnosis of a lumbar spinal mass in a patient with a known history of Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma after a nondiagnostic computed tomography– guided biopsy. Final histopathological diagnosis of the lumbar spinal mass was consistent with large B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Conclusions We demonstrate the application of an endoscopic transforaminal approach in spine oncology. We also describe our technique on how we use a beveled working channel to obtain a large tissue core sample for definitive diagnosis.
Unintended Childbearing and Marital Instability: An Emphasis on Couples’ Intentions

The birth of a child can negatively impact relationship functioning, especially if one or both partners did not intend to have a child. As such, unintended or disagreed-upon births may elevate the risk of dissolution. In this paper, we use the National Survey of Family Growth to consider how married couples characterize the intendedness of their first birth and examine its linkage with dissolution. Nearly one-third of first marital births are unintended by at least one parent. When fathers do not intend the birth, regardless of whether or not mothers do, couples report an elevated risk of dissolution.
Abstract 181: Determinants of Intracranial Atherosclerotic Enhancement on Vessel Wall MRI in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke

Introduction: Enhancing intracranial atherosclerotic plaque on high-resolution vessel wall MRI (vwMRI) is a reliable marker of recent thromboembolism, and confers a recurrent stroke risk of up to 3...
Raising the Bar: Values-Driven Niche Creation in U.S. Bean-to-Bar Chocolate

We examine how entrepreneurs might build a viable, values-driven niche. Extant templates for niche creation typically employed in moral markets depend on instrumentally rational logics that privile...
Introduction to Computer Programming with Visual Basic 6: A Problem-Solving Approach

Introduction to Computer Programming with Visual Basic 6: A Problem-Solving Approach is written for students with little or no programming experience. This comprehensive text equips students with the skills necessary to develop computer applications in any language by helping them develop a framework for creating programs. Each chapter illustrates the application of this framework from Step 1 (Analysis) to Step 6 (Completing the Documentation) through a programming case study. The authors emphasize the program development life cycle and fundamental programming concepts such as data types, loops, decisions, and arrays. FEATURES *To further highlight the authors' emphasis on programming concepts instead of GUI elements, a limited number of program controls are used in the examples. To provide greater flexibility to instructors, more GUI elements are included in Appendix A, "Visual Basic User Interface Objects." The preface and the Instructor's Resource Manual provide teaching tips on how to incorporate the controls presented in Appendix A in lab exercises or projects *Object-Event Diagrams are introduced in Chapter 1 to help students understand the importance of events *Two chapters on database programming (Chapter 10 and 11) offer students the skills needed to develop more robust database applications *Chapter 12 is devoted to fundamental object-oriented programming concepts and techniques for developing object-oriented programs in Visual Basic to reinforce this new standard for developing software *The authors offer outstanding pedagogical aids such as common examples that build on previous concepts, a multitude of end-of-chapter short answer and programming exercises, and plenty of programming projects
Gene 33 mediates Cr(VI)-induced DNA damage response

Hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] is a known human lung carcinogen. But, the molecular players that mediate its carcinogenesis are poorly defined. Gene 33 (Mig-6, ERRFI1) is an adaptor protein implicate...
Persistent Phenotypic Shift in Cardiac Fibroblasts Following Transient ACE Inhibition

Cardio-protection afforded by ACE inhibition may be related in part to fibroblast-specific changes. We have previously shown that transient ACE inhibitor treatment produces long-term protection aga...
Military Adaptation in War: Flawed Adaptation: German Adaptation

Perhaps nothing makes clearer the importance of peacetime military culture and its influence over the ability of military institutions to adapt to the actual conditions of war than the case of the German Army and the Luftwaffe between 1920 and 1939. This is true both in a positive and a negative sense. Unlike other European military organizations after 1918, the German Army learned the tactical lessons of the First World War, and the innovations and force structure it developed in the interwar period reflected what had actually happened on the battlefields. The reference to actual combat experience provided the Wehrmacht with an inestimable advantage over its opponents in the first three years of the Second World War. But in terms of learning from their operational and strategic errors, German performance during the interwar years was not nearly so impressive. Accordingly, those weaknesses would reappear during the Second World War and, in the end, negate the initial advantages with which the Germans launched their second great attempt to gain European hegemony. It has been accepted as a truism by many historians, including military historians, that military institutions study the last war, and that is why they do badly in the next conflict. Nothing could be further from the truth: for most of history, military institutions have not studied the last war, which is precisely why they have so often failed to adapt to the realities of the next war. Moreover, even when they have studied the last war, they have tended to study what made their political and military leaders feel comfortable and to disregard those areas in which they have been least effective or confronted the greatest difficulties.
Cost effectiveness of routine and campaign vaccination strategies in Ecuador

A national household coverage survey of 3697 Ecuadorean children, carried out in July 1986, provided an opportunity for a cost-effectiveness analysis of (1) routine vaccination services based in fixed facilities and (2) mass immunization campaigns. A major purpose of the campaigns was to complement the routine services and to accelerate immunization activities. Based on the coverage survey, the Program for Reduction of Maternal and Childhood Illness (PREMI) and earlier campaigns increased the proportion of children under 5 years who were fully vaccinated from 43% to 64%. In one year, the PREMI campaign was responsible for fully vaccinating 11% of children under one year, 21% of 1-2-year-old children, and 13% of all children under 5 years. The campaign also helped ensure that vaccinations were completed when children were still very young and at greatest risk. The average cost per vaccination dose (in 1985 US$ prices) was approximately $0.29 for fixed facilities and $0.83 for the PREMI campaign. Total national costs were $675,000 and $1,665,000 for routine and campaign services respectively. The cost per fully vaccinated child (FVC) was $4.39 for routine vaccination services and $8.60 for the campaign. The cost per death averted was about $1900 for routine vaccination services, $4200 for the PREMI campaign, and $3200 for the combined programme. Because of Ecuador's lower mortality rates, the costs per death averted in Ecuador from both vaccination strategies are not as low as those from studies of vaccinations in Africa. The campaigns, though less cost-effective than routine services, significantly improved the vaccination coverage of younger children who had been missed by the routine services. The costs per FVC of both the campaign and the routine services compare favourably with such programmes in other countries.
A hybrid structure for the introductory computers and information technology course

This paper presents an alternate approach to teaching an introductory computers and information technology course using a hybrid structure that blends online content with in-class team-based problem solving activities. We describe our new structure and how we implemented it. Based on student feedback it has been quite well received and has solved many departmental concerns.
8-Azido double-stranded RNA photoaffinity probes. Enzymatic synthesis, characterization, and biological properties of poly(I,8-azidoI).poly(C) and poly(I,8-azidoI).poly(C12U) with 2',5'-oligoadenylate synthetase and protein kinase.

The technique of photoaffinity labeling has been applied to the double-stranded RNA (dsRNA)-dependent enzyme 2',5'-oligoadenylate (2-5A) synthetase to provide a means for the examination of RNA-protein interaction(s) in the dsRNA allosteric binding domain of this enzyme. The synthesis, characterization, and biological properties of the photoaffinity probe poly[( 32P]I,8-azidoI).poly(C) and its mismatched analog poly[( 32P]I,8-azidoI).poly(C12U), which mimic the parent molecules poly(I).poly(C) and poly(I).poly(C12U), are described. The efficacy of poly[( 32P]I,8-azidoI).poly(C) and poly[( 32P]I,8-azidoI).poly(C12U) as allosteric site-directed activators is demonstrated using highly purified 2-5A synthetase from rabbit reticulocyte lysates and from extracts of interferon-treated HeLa cells. The dsRNA photoprobes activate these two 2-5A synthetases. Saturation of 2-5A synthetase is observed at 6 x 10(-4) g/ml poly[( 32P]I,8-azidoI).poly(C) following photolysis for 20 s at 0 degrees C. The photoincorporation of poly[( 32P]I,8-azidoI).poly(C) is specific, as demonstrated by the prevention of photoincorporation by native poly(I).poly(C). DNA, poly(I), and poly(C) are not competitors of poly[( 32P]I,8-azidoI).poly(C). Following UV irradiation of 2-5A synthetase with poly[( 32P]I,8-azidoI).poly(C), the reaction mixture is treated with micrococcal nuclease to hydrolyze azido dsRNA that is not cross-linked to the enzyme. A radioactive band of 110 kDa (the same as that reported for native rabbit reticulocyte lysate 2-5A synthetase) is observed following sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and autoradiography. The specific photolabeling of the 2-5A synthetase suggests that the azido dsRNA is intrinsic to the allosteric binding domain. The utility of poly[( 32P]I,8-azidoI).poly(C) for the detection of dsRNA-dependent binding proteins and the isolation of peptides at or near the allosteric binding site is discussed.
The Cost and Profit Efficiencies and Scope Economies of Commercial Banks With Evidence from Taiwan and China

This study is to explore differences between banking systems in Taiwan and China. We propose to study and assess the cost and profit efficiencies of the commercial banks and their relationships with the scope economies. The empirical evidence shows that the banks in Taiwan are operated more allocatively and profitably efficiently, but less scope - economically from costs and profits, than their counterparts in China. We conclude that it is critical that the cost efficiency, the profit efficiency, and the economy of scope must be used jointly to bring about a reliable assessment on the performance of a bank.
Tamoxifen versus high-dose oral medroxyprogesterone acetate as initial endocrine therapy for patients with metastatic breast cancer: a Piedmont Oncology Association study.

PURPOSETo determine in a prospective randomized trial whether high-dose orally administered medroxy-progesterone acetate (MPA) was superior to tamoxifen in patients with recurrent or metastatic breast cancer who had received no prior endocrine therapy in either the adjuvant or advanced setting.PATIENTS AND METHODSPatients initially received either tamoxifen 20 mg/d orally or MPA 1 g/d orally. At the time of disease progression, patients were crossed over to the other regimen. Eligibility required patients to be age > or = 18 years, performance status 0 to 3, and estrogen receptor (ER)- or progesterone receptor (PR)-positive or unknown.RESULTSOne hundred eighty-two eligible patients were entered and 166 were assessable for response. Complete plus partial response rates for tamoxifen and MPA were 17% and 34%, respectively (P = .01). Patients with bone metastases had a significantly higher partial response rate with MPA compared with tamoxifen (33% v 13%). Median time to treatment failure was 5.5 months for ...
A theoretical and experimental investigation of the flaw distribution on glass surfaces

Abstract T he apparent increase in the tensile strength of glass plates observed when measurements are made by pressing small spherical indenters on the surfaces of the plates is discussed in terms of the statistics of the surface flaw distribution. An analytic flaw distribution function is derived from the experimentally-determined relation between radius of indenter and apparent tensile strength, and this function is used to forecast the scatter of observations about their mean values. It is found that for indenters of large radius a purely statistical explanation of the observation applies, but for indenters with small radii of curvature, other mechanisms come into play. Some measurements have also been carried out to compare the values of the tensile strength found in quasi-static tests with those obtained in impact experiments.
New negative tone resists for subhalf micron lithography

Abstract New crosslinking type resist systems are described which use benzylic carbocation precursors carrying phenolic hydroxy group. The special feature of the new resists is the versatility of applications, ease of synthesis, high sensitivity, high contrast and a large process window. One such resist system has been used successfully in the back-end-of-the-line personalization for manufacturing advanced bipolar devices which required an exceptionally large process window. The new resist system is a promising candidate for surface imaging as well as for I-line, DUV and X-Ray applications.
Effects of gonadectomy on performance in operant tasks measuring prefrontal cortical function in adult male rats

Previous studies have shown that gonadectomy in adult male rats influences the acquisition and performance of spatial and other working memory tasks that depend in part on the medial prefrontal cortex and its dopamine innervation. Stimulated by previous findings that gonadectomy alters dopamine axon density in not only medial but several other prefrontal fields, the present studies asked whether gonadectomy might also broadly impact dopamine-dependent prefrontal functions, and whether these effects bore any relation to hormone modulation of mesoprefrontal dopamine afferents. Specifically, control, gonadectomized, and gonadectomized rats given estradiol or testosterone propionate were tested on a series of operant tasks that together measured medial prefrontal functions of spatial working memory, impulsivity and extradimensional set shifting and orbital prefrontal functions of reversal learning/perseveration and motivation. Afterwards, animals were sacrificed, their bulbospongiosus muscles were removed and weighed, their brains were processed for immunocytochemistry for the dopamine-synthesizing enzyme tyrosine hydroxylase, and axon densities were measured in orbital and medial prefrontal fields. Statistical evaluations of group effects on behavior and regression analyses comparing individual performance with muscle weights and axon density measures revealed androgen-reversible effects of gonadectomy on acquisition of spatial working memory and extradimensional set shifting that were correlated with bulbospongiosus weight and medial prefrontal dopamine axon density, estrogen-sensitive influences of gonadectomy on motivation and response withholding that were correlated with bulbospongiosus weight but not with dopamine innervation, and still other prefrontal functions, i.e., impulsivity, reversal learning, that were insensitive to gonadectomy and unrelated to gonadectomy-induced changes in muscle weight or prefrontal dopamine innervation.
High‐performance liquid chromatography analysis of peanut phospholipids. I. Injection system for simultaneous concentration and separation of phospholipids

This paper discusses the details of a high-performance liquid chromatography method for the simultaneous concentration and separation of phospholipids or other trace compounds by direct oil injection using two different solvent systems. The system equilibrates and concentrates phospholipids on a silica column using hexane. At the same time, an analytical column is equilibrating and separating phospholipids using two binary solvent mixtures. This system eliminates a preconcentration step previously accomplished by solid-phase extraction, open-column chromatography, and other previously used methodology. Other advantages include: a 40% reduction in analysis time, elimination of a second transfer of labile compounds, decreased solvent use, and a simpler array of solvents to separate phospholipids. The method described has broader applications, such as trace organic compounds in water supplies, and trace metals with appropriate modifications for the particular analysis.
Glutathione metabolism and antioxidant enzymes in children with down syndrome

Oxidative stress has been proposed as a pathogenic mechanism of atherosclerosis, cell aging, and neurologic disorders in Down syndrome. This study demonstrates a systemic decrease of all glutathione forms, including glutathionyl-hemoglobin, in the blood of children with Down syndrome. Furthermore, we obtained a disequilibrium, in vivo, between the antioxidant enzyme activities.
Ephrins stimulate or inhibit neurite outgrowth and survival as a function of neuronal cell type.

The Eph family of tyrosine kinase receptors and ligands play key roles in cell segregation and axon targeting in the developing nervous system. Interactions between the ligands and receptors cause repulsion or degeneration of receptor-positive axons from several brain regions including the retina, hippocampus, thalamus, and midbrain dopaminergic system. We extend these previous observations by showing that three A-ephrins also negatively regulate the growth of neurites from striatal and olfactory neurons. In addition to negative effects, however, we also report a trophic activity of the A-ephrins: Ephrin-A2 and A5 promote survival and neurite outgrowth of sympathetic neurons. These observations provide support to the notion that ephrins may function as either negative or positive signals in the developing nervous system.
HESC and equitable residues.

Preda and Voigt (2015) do an admirable job of clarifying and scrutinizing the influential “health equity through social change” model (HESC). In particular, they helpfully identify a number of case...
Who we become depends on the company we keep and on what we do and say together

Abstract In this commentary, I focus on the construction of identity and the important role of discoursing in this process. Rather than being ‘influenced’ by external institutions, I argue, we form our identities by participating in the practices and discourses of many institutions and communities, appropriating their norms and values and, at the same time, transforming them in the light of those that we have appropriated from other communities. Identity construction can thus be seen as ongoing and as occurring preeminently in the situated actions and discourses in which we engage with particular others; these events mediate the mutually constitutive relationship between individual and society.
Self-shielding superconducting solenoid systems

Superconducting solenoid systems which produce large magnetic fields can be designed to utilize flux conservation to cancel fluctuations in the ambient magnetic field in which they are located. Such self‐shielding solenoids could be very useful for mass spectroscopy of trapped particles, nuclear magnetic resonance experiments, and magnetic resonance imaging.
Christoffel Formula and Geodesic Motion in Hyperspin Manifolds

A hyperspin manifoldSN constructed fromN-component hyperspinors is an alternative to Riemannian manifoldsRn for Kaluza-Klein-type theories of higher dimensions. Hyperspin manifolds possess a fundamental Chronometric tensor withN n-valued indices, where alwaysn=N2. Some concepts of Riemannian geometry therefore have to be extended. A hyper-Christoffel formula is presented that expresses the connection in terms of the chronometric, assuming the Chronometric is covariantly constant and the connection is torsion-free. Thus, the chronometric can be used as sole dynamical variable. Extremals and selfparallel curves, which coincide in Riemannian manifolds, in general differ in hyperspin manifolds, but coincide again for nonnull curves.