cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Soil Moisture Influence on Seasonality and Large-Scale Circulation in Simulations of the West African Monsoon

AbstractPrior studies have highlighted West Africa as a regional hotspot of land–atmosphere coupling. This study focuses on the large-scale influence of soil moisture variability on the mean circulation and precipitation in the West African monsoon. A suite of six models from the Global Land–Atmosphere Coupling Experiment (GLACE)-CMIP5 is analyzed. In this experiment, model integrations were performed with soil moisture prescribed to a specified climatological seasonal cycle throughout the simulation, which severs the two-way coupling between soil moisture and the atmosphere. Comparison with the control (interactive soil moisture) simulations indicates that mean June–September monsoon precipitation is enhanced when soil moisture is prescribed. However, contrasting behavior is evident over the seasonal cycle of the monsoon, with core monsoon precipitation enhanced with prescribed soil moisture but early-season precipitation reduced, at least in some models. These impacts stem from the enhancement of evapot...
Dairy cows fed equivalent concentrations of forage neutral detergent fiber from corn silage, alfalfa hay, wheat straw, and corn stover had similar milk yield and total tract digestibility

Abstract The aim for this research was to determine if corn stover and wheat straw can be efficiently added to lactating dairy cow diets as physically effective neutral detergent fiber (peNDF) sources. A 5 × 5 Latin square design was used with 5 multiparous rumen cannulated Holstein cows. The treatments were: 1) corn silage as sole forage source [441 g/kg of total-mixed ration (TMR); CS], 2) corn silage and 115 g/kg alfalfa hay (455 g/kg of forage in TMR; ALF), 3) corn silage and 50 g/kg wheat straw (390 g/kg of forage in TMR; STW-5), 4) corn silage and 100 g/kg straw (462 g/kg of forage in TMR; STW-10), and 5) corn silage and 55 g/kg corn stover (395 g/kg of forage in TMR; STV). All diets were formulated to contain 180 g/kg forage aNDF except that the diet with 100 g/kg straw contained 230 g/kg forage aNDF. Dry matter intake (DMI) was highest for STW-5, except for it being similar with ALF. Body weight (734 kg) and body condition score (3.18) were similar among treatments. Milk (35.6 kg/d), milk fat (35.6 g/kg), milk protein (28.7 g/kg), and milk urea nitrogen (17.4 mg/dL) also were similar among treatments. The different forage sources resulted in similar total tract digestibilities of dry matter (0.757), organic matter (0.769), and aNDF (0.635). Rumen pH (6.12), acetate:propionate (3.10), and ruminal concentrations of total volatile fatty acids and proportions of acetate, propionate, butyrate, and valerate were similar among treatments. Proportion of isovalerate and isobutyrate were highest for STW-10 compared to the other diets, and isovalerate was lower for ALF than for STW-5 and STW-10. Feeding 5% wheat straw resulted in the highest DMI, but increasing wheat straw to 10% lowered DMI, possibly caused by rumen fill. Feeding similar forage aNDF concentrations with corn silage based diets using corn stover, alfalfa hay, and wheat straw can result in similar animal performance and ruminal fermentation with adequate formulation of dietary non-fiber carbohydrates and peNDF.
A Versatile and Highly Selective Colorimetric Sensor for the Detection of Amines

The utility of Meldrum's activated furan (MAF) for the colorimetric detection of sub ppm levels of amines in solution, on solid supports, and as vapors is reported. MAF is synthesized in one step from inexpensive and commercially available starting materials and exhibits high selectivity for primary and secondary amines in the presence of competing nucleophiles. The reaction between activated furans and amines results in a distinct color change, discernable by the naked eye. UV/Vis absorption spectroscopy was utilized to monitor reactions in solution and determine detection limits. Additionally, solutions of MAF were useful as stains for thin layer chromatography and for monitoring solid-phase synthesis of peptides and peptidomimetics. Finally, MAF was used to detect volatile amines released from fish samples, demonstrating potential for food spoilage applications.
Assessing Organisational Performance Within Entrepreneurial Orientation Research: Where Have We Been and Where Can We Go from Here?

Firm performance is a crucial aspect of research within the entrepreneurial orientation (EO) literature. Yet, only limited attention has been devoted to examining the range of performance targets a...
Access to health care: Is it enough to reduce disparities in cancer prevention?

PL04-02 Studies examining the prevalence of cancer screening and other health behaviors among lower income populations often find much lower rates of uptake compared with middle and upper income populations. However, these studies are typically confounded by health insurance coverage, which is much more limited among lower income groups. There are some lower income subgroups that are insured, such as veterans and individuals who qualify for subsidized housing. As the nation continues its debate about universal health insurance coverage and states such as Massachusetts actually implement mandatory coverage laws, there are serious issues to consider in terms of defining the terms of insurance coverage and the meaning of “access”. Examination of the prevalence of preventive health measures among lower income groups that currently have health insurance provides important data to inform these efforts. This paper will look at participation in cancer screening and other preventive measures among low income, insured populations. In particular, data will be presented about CRC screening prevalence among a largely low income, racial and ethnic minority sample of adults living in subsidized housing, among which 97% have health insurance. Screening was measured by self-report via in-person interviews, with validation against the medical record for a small random sample. Overall, prevalence of current screening was 67%; 81% of those screened had a colonoscopy. Validation of self-report confirmed 73% of self-reported endoscopic screening. This data demonstrates a high level of screening by colonoscopy among a low income population with health insurance, and the limited importance of race/ethnicity as a predictor of screening when insurance coverage is available. The implications of this and other studies on decisions regarding provision of health insurance to low income populations as a means of addressing persistent disparities in screening rates will be discussed.
Abstract PD6-06: Oncologic outcome of pregnancy associated breast cancer: A case-control study

Introduction and Aims Pregnancy-associated breast cancer (PABC) is defined as the diagnosis of invasive breast cancer during the gestational period, within one year of pregnancy or any time during lactation. A diagnosis of PABC has traditionally been attributed a poor prognosis. The aim of this study was to assess the long-term outcome of patients diagnosed with PABC compared to a cohort of age-matched control patients. Methods A single-institution retrospective chart review was performed in 188 patients with PABC treated between the years of 1992 and 2015.Non-PABC controls were selected to match based on age and year of diagnosis. Clinicopathologic features, surgical and adjuvant treatments received, and clinical outcomes were assessed. Patients who were stage IV at diagnosis were excluded. Overall survival was estimated using Kaplan-Meier methods and compared between cases and controls using a log-rank test stratified on matched pair. Results Out of 188 patients with PABC, 63 (34%) were pregnant at the time of diagnosis and 125 diagnosed within 1 year of pregnancy (average: 6 months post partum). The characteristics of the PABC and case-matched controls are listed in Table 1 . Important pathological differences were evident with PABC patients compared to the non-PABC controls. PABC cases were more likely to be high grade (p Conclusion Diagnostic and therapeutic advances have improved the oncological outcome for breast cancer patients, but not all of these have been adapted for pregnant patients. The consistent finding of higher-stage tumors in these patients reinforces the importance of utilizing developments in systemic treatments, potentially through case registries, to evaluate outcomes. PABC is associated with more adverse features than non-PABC controls matched for age and year of diagnosis. However, PABC is not in itself an adverse prognostic factor for survival after correcting for pathologic features. Citation Format: McCartan D, Kamer S, Eaton A, Seidman A, Murphy C, Gemignani M, Goldfarb S. Oncologic outcome of pregnancy associated breast cancer: A case-control study [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2016 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2016 Dec 6-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(4 Suppl):Abstract nr PD6-06.
7.18 Materials in Tendon and Ligament Repair

Tissue engineering has the potential to revolutionize the way we treat tendon and ligament disorders. Tissue engineering is an emerging field with considerable potential for the development of new therapeutics for tendon and ligament disorders. Understanding basic properties of tendons and ligaments is crucial in the creation of novel biomaterials that reproduce and augment their native properties. Once basic in vitro testing identifies an optimal combination of a specific material and augmentation methods, transitioning these biomaterials to a clinical setting requires preclinical studies utilizing animal models that best recreate the clinical scenario in a reproducible and cost-efficient manner. A wide variety of materials including biologic and synthetic materials can be used in constructing a device to augment or replace tendon or ligament tissue. The chosen biocompatible material not only needs to provide initial mechanical integrity, but should also function as a scaffold that is conducive to cell infiltration. Clinically, chronic or massive rotator cuff tears and anterior cruciate ligament tears are common problems that have been targets for healing enhancement with tissue-engineered constructs, but application using these biomaterials has been limited. Continued efforts into manipulating and enhancing these materials to improve cell infiltration, tissue proliferation, and mechanical integrity should be expected to result in the production of clinically successful devices capable of mimicking the mechanics and biologics of native tendon and ligament.
Postoperative Bacterial Endophthalmitis: Tap/Inject versus Sutureless Vitrectomy

Purpose: To compare sutureless vitrectomy (VIT) versus vitreous tap/injection (TAP) in eyes with postoperative bacterial endophthalmitis.Methods: Retrospective study of 126 consecutive eyes that underwent VIT (82) or TAP (44) between 2005 and 2015. All eyes were stratified into a group according to their pre and postoperative visual acuity. Group 1 included patients with visual acuity of 20/40 or better, group 2 had a visual acuity ranging from 20/50 to 20/100, group 3 had a visual acuity <20/100- 20/400, group 4 had a visual acuity of <20/400-CF, and group 5 had a visual acuity of HM-LP. Outcome measures were post intervention visual acuity (VA) and complications.Results: Mean preop VA was 20/2000 in VIT and 20/1800 in TAP (p=0.30), while postop VA was 20/160 in VIT and 20/125 in TAP (p=0.18). Preoperative vision was HM or LP in 87/126 eyes. Among those with poor preoperative vision of <20/400, postoperative vision was significantly better in the VIT group when compared to the TAP group (p=0.05). In eyes with good preoperative vision (20/400 or better), the mean postoperative vision was not significantly different between the VIT or TAP group (p=0.94). Final vision in all eyes was 20/40 or better in 25%, 20/100 or better in 56%, and only 11% had vision of HM or worse. Twelve eyes (9.5%) developed retinal detachment (RD), all in the VIT group, with 11/12 presenting with poor preoperative vision.Conclusion: VIT or TAP has a similar visual outcome in patients with postoperative bacterial endophthalmitis that present with 20/400 or better vision. Sutureless vitrectomy (VIT) was found to be more beneficial than TAP in patients with worse than 20/400 initial vision. RD is more likely in the VIT group primarily due to poor presenting visual acuity.Keywords: Endophthalmitis, vitrectomy (VIT), tap and inject (TAP)
Honesty in psychotherapy: Results of an online survey comparing high vs. low self-concealers

Objectives: This study sought to investigate client dishonesty in psychotherapy through the trait of self-concealment. We hypothesized that comparing low and high self-concealers would yield clinically significant differences in the nature, motives, and perceived consequences of client dishonesty. Method: A total of 572 respondents, self-reported as psychotherapy clients, reported about their experience of being dishonest in therapy via a multi-part online survey. Concealment status was assessed using the Self-Concealment to Therapist Scale, an adaptation of the Self-Concealment Scale. Results: Eighty-four percent of respondents reported having been dishonest about one or more topics in therapy, most often "details of my sex life" and "suicidal thoughts." High self-concealers reported more relationally oriented motives for dishonesty and acknowledged more negative effects on therapy than low self-concealers. In contrast, low self-concealers were more likely to report that non-disclosure was based on motives of practicality (e.g., managing therapy time), and that they would be willing to disclose if the therapist asked directly. Conclusions: Low and high self-concealers showed distinct patterns of motives, perceived consequences, and attitudes about facilitating disclosure in therapy. This suggests that self-concealment may be an important variable in tailoring treatment to foster greater and more honest disclosure. Clinical or Methodological Significance of this article: This article adds to the burgeoning literature on dishonesty in psychotherapy and presents a novel exploration of how self-concealment can be used to individually tailor treatment to facilitate increased levels of honest disclosure. High levels of self-concealment, or the trait-like tendency to conceal negative or distressing personal information from others, have been associated with deleterious long-term health and interpersonal effects. By exploring clients' motives for being dishonest, as well as their perception of how it impacted therapy and their self-identified techniques for how therapists can foster more honest, we provide specific clinical recommendations to increase disclosure in psychotherapy.
Genetics of guanylyl cyclase pathways in the cochlea and their influence on hearing

Although hearing loss is the most common sensory deficit in Western societies, there are no successful pharmacological treatments for this disorder. Recent experiments have demonstrated that manipu...
Advanced Toroidal Facility Neutral Beam Injection: Optimization of Beam Alignment and Aperturing

The application of the existing Impurity Study Experiment (ISX-B) neutral beam injectors for the Advanced Toroidal Facility is studied. New techniques are required to handle the complicated stellarator geometry of both the vacuum vessel and the plasma. The power delivered to the plasma is found to be a strong function of the beam divergence but only a weak function of the beam focal length. Monte Carlo methods were used to follow the injected particles from the injector until they thermalized in the plasma. An aperture in the beam line is required to prevent excessive heating of the vacuum vessel by the injected beam. Shine-through can be a serious problem if very low density start-ups are necessary. Reasonable assumptions on beam divergence yield an estimate of over 1 MW of power absorbed by the plasma. Preliminary calculations indicate that there are no excessive fast ion losses.
Democratic presidential elections and human rights: does a runoff round reduce repression?

While theory suggests that democratic presidential elections should have a positive effect on human rights practices, the literature’s findings have thus far been mixed. Can differentiating between...
Transdisciplinary becoming as a gendered activity: A reflexive study of dissertation mentoring

Abstract Utilizing a collaborative autoethnographic methodology ( Chang, Ngunjiri, & Hernandez, 2016 ), this study investigates the mentoring activities of two transnational women, the advisor (Lisya) and the advise (Cristina) and Cristina’s transdisciplinary becoming during her dissertation writing process. Drawing on the principles of feminist rhetorics and politics of gender, this study seeks to answer two research questions: (i) How does gender play out in dissertation mentoring and doctoral writing? (ii)What identity intersections contribute to (or prevent from) constructing theoretical positioning in doctoral writing? The data come from Cristina’s dissertation journal, feedback provided for her dissertation proposal and the first two dissertation chapters, and finally, a discourse-based interview we conducted with one another. Through a thematic analysis of the data collected for 10 months, the findings illustrate three themes emerging from our mentoring relationship: 1) Our shared identity as multilingual and transnational women scholars help guide the mentoring experience in complex and unique ways; 2) Theoretical positioning and citation practices are complex academic literacy activities that involve gendered discoursal consciousness; and 3) Transdisciplinary becoming is a feminist issue, which is interconnected with different spheres of life.
Initial assessment of the psychometric properties of the Sexual Harassment Reporting Attitudes Scale

Although sexual harassment remains a common problem in the workplace, many victims and witnesses fail to report it to organizational authorities. Fear of retribution as well as perceptions of futil...
Development and Survival of Lygus hesperus (Hemiptera: Miridae) Nymphs Under Constant and Variable Temperatures.

Thermal environments of the arid western United States are often harsh compared with the ranges of temperatures favorable for development and survival of crop insect pests. In cotton (Gossypium spp., [Malvales: Malvaceae]), new irrigation practices such as deficit irrigation may impact populations of pest and beneficial arthropods by temporarily altering temperature profiles within the plant canopy. Most information regarding the temperature-dependent development and survival of an important cotton pest, the western tarnished plant bug (Lygus hesperus Knight [Hemiptera: Miridae]), is derived from constant temperature studies. We examined the development and survival of L. hesperus nymphs under constant (+/- 0.2 degrees C) and variable (+/- 8 degrees C) temperature regimes at daily mean temperatures of 15, 22, and 29 degrees C. Under the low temperature (15 degrees C), stadium lengths and duration of the entire nymphal stage were shorter when temperatures were variable compared with a constant temperature. No differences in development times were observed between regimes at the medium temperature (22 degrees C). Except for the 1st stadium, development times under the high variable temperature regime were longer compared with the high constant regime (29 degrees C). Nymph survival was unaffected by temperature regime except at the lowest temperature, where daily thermal fluctuations substantially improved survival compared with the constant conditions. These results suggest that temporarily increased crop canopy temperatures caused by altered irrigation schemes are unlikely to substantially reduce the growth of L. hesperus populations. However, enhanced nymphal development and survival under low variable temperatures likely contribute to the survival of overwintering L. hesperus in the absence of acute, low-temperature mortality.
One Month of Rifapentine plus Isoniazid to Prevent HIV-Related Tuberculosis

Abstract Background Tuberculosis is the leading killer of patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Preventive therapy is effective, but current regimens are limited by poor implementation and low completion rates. Methods We conducted a randomized, open-label, phase 3 noninferiority trial comparing the efficacy and safety of a 1-month regimen of daily rifapentine plus isoniazid (1-month group) with 9 months of isoniazid alone (9-month group) in HIV-infected patients who were living in areas of high tuberculosis prevalence or who had evidence of latent tuberculosis infection. The primary end point was the first diagnosis of tuberculosis or death from tuberculosis or an unknown cause. Noninferiority would be shown if the upper limit of the 95% confidence interval for the between-group difference in the number of events per 100 person-years was less than 1.25. Results A total of 3000 patients were enrolled and followed for a median of 3.3 years. Of these patients, 54% were women; the media...
Terahertz nondestructive coating and layer-thickness evaluation (Conference Presentation)

Time-domain terahertz reflectometry has long been of interest to obtain three-dimensional information about objects transparent in the 100 GHz-3 THz frequency range. The application of such techniques has been limited by the conductivity of the materials and by conventional axial resolution criteria. Specifically, I discuss work on detecting subsurface damage in carbon fiber composites and in measuring paint-layer thicknesses down to ~20 microns. We employ a typical commercial broadband time-domain source with bandwidth from ~100 GHz to ~3 THz. Yet terahertz imaging faces two important limitations. (1) The first is that in materials with a significant conductivity, the attenuation of incident terahertz electromagnetic waves is very rapid, limiting the penetration into the object. (2) The second limitation can best be illustrated by a stratified medium. Due to the Fresnel coefficients associated with the variation of the refractive index across material interfaces, one expects a reflected signal that is composed of various echoes associated with the interfaces (as well as multiple reflections which in practice are often weak). If the layers are sufficiently thin, then the echoes from successive layers will overlap, and thus multiple echoes will not be visually evident in the reflected signal. In this talk I discuss my group’s recent work to circumvent these limitations. The approaches rely upon applying advanced signal-processing techniques to extract the maximum information from the detected signals. Specifically, I provide case studies of coatings on metals, fiber composite laminates, and an oil painting on canvas with multiple paint layers.
Seeing like a rover: team work and human-robot relations

How do you work with a robot millions of miles away to make scientific discoveries on a planet you've never set foot on? Although much work in human-robot interaction describes the meaningful relationships that humans forge with their robots in one-on-one encounters, when robots venture into places where humans cannot go --- in search and rescue operations, ocean voyages, or even into space --- they do so as part of a large human team. Decisions about what the robot should do and where it should go are therefore the result of large group interactions instead of individual human cognition: the realm of organizational sociology. This talk draws on over a decade of ethnography with NASA's robotic spacecraft missions, specifically focusing on the Mars Exploration Rover mission. Going behind the scenes of the mission, I show the meaning-making, emotional connections, and embodied synergy that scientists develop as they work with their robots millions of miles away on a daily basis. This begins by learning to see through the robots' "eyes" on another planet, yet the peculiar social arrangement of mission work produces a deeper connection to the robot explorers too: one that is no doubt responsible for the extraordinary success and unexpected longevity of the mission team. Studying robotic spacecraft teams demonstrates how humans build a particular and peculiar empathy with their robotic colleagues that goes beyond anthropomorphism. Instead, this case points to the many and unusual ways in which organizations participate in our interactions with, understanding of, and ultimately care for the robots we work with in everyday life.
Chronic Rhinosinusitis in Children with Cystic Fibrosis

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is characterized by infection and inflammation of the nose and paranasal sinuses. CRS in children with cystic fibrosis (CF) is a challenging clinical condition and requires unique approaches to evaluation and both medical and surgical treatment. As the pathogenesis becomes clearer through ongoing clinical and basic science research, however, our ability to treat CRS in children with CF both effectively and safely should continue to improve. A number of studies over the past few years support the concept of the unified airway theory, suggesting an important relationship between disease and bacterial pathogens of the sinuses and the lower respiratory tract. While surgery, including adenoidectomy and functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS), can be beneficial in pediatric CF patients with CRS, the effect of surgery on lung pathogens and pulmonary function remains an area for further investigation. Knowing when a child with CF and CRS is likely to benefit from surgery can be difficult. In this chapter, we review the pathogenesis, evaluation, and treatment of CRS in children with CF and propose a framework for surgical decision-making based on outcomes for nasal polyposis, CRS symptoms, and pulmonary function.
International Arbitration and Domestic Antitrust: Natural Progression or Random Alliance?

National courts and arbitration laws around the globe have long proclaimed that antitrust claims are arbitrable, that is they can be submitted to and resolved in arbitration. The number of antitrust arbitrations has reportedly grown in recent years, providing a feasible route for private enforcement of antitrust laws. This article focuses on arbitration of domestic antitrust claims in international commercial arbitration — arbitration that may arise from international business transactions. Apart from antitrust claims and defenses, the article explores how parties in international arbitration invoke antitrust to challenge the tribunal’s jurisdiction and arbitral awards in setting aside and enforcement proceedings. It also explores the issue of multiplicity of antitrust laws in international arbitration and how arbitral tribunals can address it. It concludes by analyzing the role of arbitrators and supervisory courts in the enforcement of antitrust laws, and the nature of the relationship between domestic antitrust and international arbitration.
Elevated Interleukin-6 Levels Predict Clinical Worsening in Pediatric Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension.

Objective To assess whether circulating interleukin-6 (IL-6) is associated with measures of disease severity and clinical worsening in pediatric pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Study design IL-6 was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in serum samples from a cross-sectional cohort from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Biobank (n = 175) and a longitudinal cohort from Children's Hospital Colorado (CHC) (n = 61). Associations between IL-6, disease severity, and outcomes were studied with regression and Kaplan–Meier analysis. Results In analyses adjusted for age and sex, each log-unit greater IL-6 was significantly associated in the Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Biobank cohort with greater pulmonary vascular resistance indices, lower odds of having idiopathic PAH or treatment with prostacyclin, and greater odds of having PAH associated with a repaired congenital shunt. In the CHC cohort, each log-unit greater IL-6 was significantly associated with greater mean pulmonary arterial pressure over time. Kaplan–Meier analysis in the CHC cohort revealed that IL-6 was significantly associated with clinical worsening (a composite score of mortality, transplant, or palliative surgery) (P = .037). Conclusions IL-6 was significantly associated with worse hemodynamics at baseline and over time and may be associated with clinical worsening. IL-6 may provide a less-invasive method for disease monitoring and prognosis in pediatric PAH as well as a potential therapeutic target.
Cosmetic procedure use as a type of substance-related disorder.

Background A role for addiction psychiatry in aesthetic treatment-seeking behavior has been evidenced for ultraviolet light tanning. Objective We aim to demonstrate an initial proof of concept for the presence of addictive behaviors in cosmetic procedure use. Methods Adults visiting a cosmetic dermatology practice with history of at least 1 cosmetic procedure and consideration of at least 1 cosmetic procedure in the past 12 months were included. Two previously validated instruments in the detection of alcohol use disorder, the Cut Down, Annoyed, Guilty, Eye-Opener (CAGE) questionnaire, and Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-V) criteria were modified to evaluate participants for a substance-related disorder (SRD) in cosmetic procedures. Results Of 153 adults, 34 (22.2%) met modified CAGE criteria, and 40 (26.1%) met modified DSM-V criteria. Results from both instruments were significantly associated (P Limitations Preliminary criteria for SRD in cosmetic procedure use in this study has not yet been validated. Conclusions A type of SRD involving cosmetic procedures may exist, and qualifying individuals may have increased cosmetic treatment use. Future efforts to rigorously validate an instrument for SRD detection in cosmetic procedures use are warranted for future research and clinical application.
Three’s Company in Interfaith Dialogue: A Protestant Modus for Engagement with Those from Other Faiths

In this chapter, I will discuss the importance of interfaith dialogue as it relates to the Church’s commission of evangelization and interaction with a changing global landscape. Using Newbigin’s Trinitarian justification for interfaith dialogue, I will discuss how the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are catalysts for interacting with those who do not claim Jesus as Lord and what this means for the church universal. My goal is to demonstrate both the importance of dialogue and to offer a method from within a Protestant framework in the ever-changing ecumenical landscape.
Enhancing research practices in intellectual and developmental disabilities through person-centered outcome evaluation.

Abstract Background Research practices in IDD need to align current values towards people with IDD, the current understanding of IDD, and best practices regarding change strategies and valued outcomes. Aims To describe the components to—and application of—a person-centered outcome evaluation model that meets the above criteria. Methods and procedures A person-centered evaluation logic model is used to identify and describe a conceptual framework (input), a change strategy (throughput), personal outcomes (outcome), and meaningful impacts (output). Outcomes and results Specific person-centered outcomes and exemplary outcome indicators are presented for two outcome evaluation frameworks: human functioning dimensions, and the four theoretical perspectives on IDD: biomedical, psychoeducational, sociocultural, and justice. Conclusions and implications A person-centered approach to outcome evaluation enhances research practices in IDD by identifying and assessing valued personal outcomes that align current values, understanding, and best practices; increases transparency; facilitates accountability; and expands understanding.
Toward Reusable Science with Readable Code and Reproducibility.

An essential part of research and scientific communication is researchers' ability to reproduce the results of others. While there have been increasing standards for authors to make data and code available, many of these files are hard to re-execute in practice, leading to a lack of research reproducibility. This poses a major problem for students and researchers in the same field who cannot leverage the previously published findings for study or further inquiry. To address this, we propose an open-source platform named RE3 that helps improve the reproducibility and readability of research projects involving R code. Our platform incorporates assessing code readability with a machine learning model trained on a code readability survey and an automatic containerization service that executes code files and warns users of reproducibility errors. This process helps ensure the reproducibility and readability of projects and therefore fast-track their verification and reuse.
Wet chemical spray etching of the copper film for the application to chip on film in display devices

For achieving the fine pitch chip-on-film (COF) in display devices, wet chemical spray etching behaviors of the copper (Cu) films in the etching solutions with different cupric chloride (CuCl2) and...
Testing accelerated stochastic algorithms in two dimensions: The SU(3) × SU(3) spin model☆

Abstract The non-abelian SU(3) × SU(3) spin model in two dimensions is simulated by various stochastic differential equation methods. The Fourier-accelerated hybrid algorithm is seen to be the most efficient method considered. A scaling window approximately governed by asymptotic freedom is found by studying the system's magnetic susceptibility on lattices of sizes 16 2 , 32 2 and 64 2 . Critical slowing down is almost totally eliminated in the scaling region.
ActionScript: a gentle introduction to programming

In this paper, we propose the use of ActionScript as an introductory programming language. ActionScript has a Java-like syntax that allows the novice student to focus on basic language constructs and algorithms, without the need to delve into the enigmatic scaffolding and API code inherent with Java or C++, for example. The graphical nature of object creation also allows immediate and concrete examples that support an object-first pedagogy. The ActionScript environment is a natural for creating visually engaging animations and interactive projects. This engaging and less-confounding gentler approach to programming fires up student interest that in turn can help in the recruitment and retention of computer science students. Two example exercises are illustrated and their Java applet and ActionScript implementations are compared and contrasted. A framework placing ActionScript in curricula for CS specifically and the sciences more generally is discussed.
The function of spermine

Polyamines play important roles in cell physiology including effects on the structure of cellular macromolecules, gene expression, protein function, nucleic acid and protein synthesis, regulation of ion channels, and providing protection from oxidative damage. Vertebrates contain two polyamines, spermidine and spermine, as well as their precursor, the diamine putrescine. Although spermidine has an essential and unique role as the precursor of hypusine a post-translational modification of the elongation factor eIF5A, which is necessary for this protein to function in protein synthesis, no unique role for spermine has been identified unequivocally. The existence of a discrete spermine synthase enzyme that converts spermidine to spermine suggest that spermine must be needed and this is confirmed by studies with Gy mice and human patients with Snyder-Robinson syndrome in which spermine synthase is absent or greatly reduced. In both cases, this leads to a severe phenotype with multiple effects among which are intellectual disability, other neurological changes, hypotonia, and reduced growth of muscle and bone. This review describes these alterations and focuses on the roles of spermine which may contribute to these phenotypes including reducing damage due to reactive oxygen species, protection from stress, permitting correct current flow through inwardly rectifying K(+) channels, controlling activity of brain glutamate receptors involved in learning and memory, and affecting growth responses. Additional possibilities include acting as storage reservoir for maintaining appropriate levels of free spermidine and a possible non-catalytic role for spermine synthase protein.
Dynamic range of traveling-wave multiple-quantum-well electroabsorption modulators

A detailed study of the nonlinearity and the spurious free dynamic range (SFDR) of a traveling-wave electroabsorption modulator is presented. A SFDR as high as 128dB-Hz/sup 4/5/achieved at 10 GHz.
Plant Secondary Compounds and Grasshoppers: Beyond Plant Defenses

Modern grasshoppers probably evolved from polyphagous ancestors endowed with the ability to tolerate many plant secondary compounds. This tolerance involves various behavioral and anatomical adaptations. Polyphagous grasshoppers have a relatively low level of sensitivity to the taste of many secondary compounds, and, if they do respond to the taste, have the capacity to habituate. This gives time for the induction of detoxifying enzymes so that unpalatable but potentially nutritious plants may be eaten safely. Associative learning involving secondary compounds may be important in food aversion learning, enabling the insects to avoid foods that have inappropriate nutrients, for example. Learning is also involved when grasshoppers develop associations between the taste of chemicals in the surface waxes of plants and internal leaf chemistry, enabling them to make faster decisions about the acceptability of a plant. Anatomically, the midgut ceca of polyphagous grasshoppers have well-developed posterior arms, and it is possible that these are especially important in detoxification, while some species, in addition, have a specialized pocket region in which macromolecules accumulate to be eliminated from the body when the lining of peritrophic envelope is drawn out. Polyphagous species also have thick peritrophic envelopes to which various phenolics become adsorbed. Finally, the midgut environment contains surfactants that reduce tannin–protein complexing except at very high tannin concentrations. Some polyphagous species can utilize secondary compounds as defensive substances or, in one case, in cuticular sclerotization. Grass feeding has evolved on numerous occasions from these polyphagous ancestors, and it has been associated with a loss of many of the characters providing protection from secondary compounds.
Structure and Regulation of the Rat Somatostatin Gene

The function and structure of the polypeptide hormone somatostatin have been studied for a number of years in several species [see reviews] (1,2). The 14-residue form of somatostatin has been shown to be identical amongst all organisms examined.
Selenoprotein-Deficient Transgenic Mice Exhibit Enhanced Exercise-Induced Muscle Growth

Dietary intake of selenium has been implicated in a wide range of health issues, including aging, heart disease and cancer. Selenium deficiency, which can reduce selenoprotein levels, has been associated with several striated muscle pathologies. To investigate the role of selenoproteins in skeletal muscle biology, we used a transgenic mouse (referred to as i6A-) that has reduced levels of selenoproteins due to the introduction and expression of a dominantly acting mutant form of selenocysteine transfer RNA (tRNA[Ser]Sec). As a consequence, each organ contains reduced levels of most selenoproteins, yet these mice are normal with regard to fertility, overall health, behavior and blood chemistries. In the present study, although skeletal muscles from i6A- mice were phenotypically indistinguishable from those of wild-type mice, plantaris muscles were approximately 50% heavier after synergist ablation, a model of exercise overload. Like muscle in wild-type mice, the enhanced growth in the i6A- mice was completely blocked by inhibition of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway. Muscles of transgenic mice exhibited increased site-specific phosphorylation on both Akt and p70 ribosomal S6 kinase (p70S6k) (P < 0.05) before ablation, perhaps accounting for the enhanced response to synergist ablation. Thus, a single genetic alteration resulted in enhanced skeletal muscle adaptation after exercise, and this is likely through subtle changes in the resting phosphorylation state of growth-related kinases.
A Role for Management Games in Internationalizing the Business School Curriculum

A business school's strategic management and business policy course can serve as a vehicle for internationalizing its curriculum. Six commonly available computerized international management games are evaluated regarding their ability to deal with a large set of critical international business issues. All simulations dealt with most issues needing treatment, although they differed in range and depth of coverage. If international simulations are to serve as a medium for helping to globalize a business school's curriculum, a game must be augmented with international case studies, lectures, or readings.
KCNE4 juxtamembrane region is required for interaction with calmodulin and for functional suppression of KCNQ1.

Voltage-gated potassium (KV) channels, such as KCNQ1 (KV7.1), are modulated by accessory subunits and regulated by intracellular second messengers. Accessory subunits belonging to the KCNE family exert diverse functional effects on KCNQ1, have been implicated in the pathogenesis of various genetic disorders of heart rhythm, and contribute to transducing intracellular signaling events into changes in KV channel activity. We investigated the interactions between calmodulin (CaM), the ubiquitous Ca2+-transducing protein that binds and confers Ca2+ sensitivity to the biophysical properties of KCNQ1, and KCNE4. These studies were motivated by the observed similarities between the suppression of KCNQ1 function by pharmacological disruption of KCNQ1-CaM interactions and the effects of KCNE4 co-expression on the channel. We determined that KCNE4, but not KCNE1, can biochemically interact with CaM and that this interaction is Ca2+-dependent and requires a tetraleucine motif in the juxtamembrane region of the KCNE4 C terminus. Furthermore, disruption of the KCNE4-CaM interaction either by mutagenesis of the tetraleucine motif or by acute Ca2+ chelation impairs the ability of KCNE4 to inhibit KCNQ1. Our findings have potential relevance to KCNQ1 regulation both by KCNE accessory subunits and by an important intracellular signaling molecule.
Evaluation of aortic regurgitation with digitally determined color doppler-imaged flow convergence acceleration: A quantitative study in sheep

Objectives. The aim of the present study was to validate a digital color Doppler-based centerline velocity/distance acceleration profile method for evaluating the severity of aortic regurgitation. Background. Clinical and in vivo experimental applications of the flow convergence axial centerline velocity/distance profile method have recently been used to estimate regurgitant flow rates and regurgitant volumes in the presence of mitral regurgitation. Methods. In six sheep, a total of 19 hemodynamic states were obtained pharmacologically 14 weeks after the original operation in which a portion of the aortic noncoronary (n = 3) or right coronary (n = 3) leaflet was excised to produce aortic regurgitation. Echocardiographic studies were performed to obtain complete proximal axial flow acceleration velocity/distance profiles during the time of peak regurgitant flow (usually early in diastole) for each hemodynamic state. For each steady state, the severity of aortic regurgitation was assessed by measurement of the magnitude of the regurgitant flow volume/beat, regurgitant fraction and instantaneous regurgitant flow rates determined by using both aortic and pulmonary artery electromagnetic flow probes. Results. Grade I regurgitation (regurgitant volume/beat 30 ml, eight conditions) were clearly separated by using the color Doppler centerline velocity/distance profile domain technique. Additionally, an equation for correlating “a” (the coefficient from the multiplicative curve fit for the velocity/distance relation) with the peak regurgitant flow rates (Q [liters/min]) was derived showing a high correlation between calculated peak flow rates by the color Doppler method and the actual peak flow rates (Q = 13a + 1.0, r = 0.95, p Conclusions. This study, using quantified aortic regurgitation, demonstrates that the flow convergence axial centerline velocity/ distance acceleration profile method can be used to evaluate the severity of aortic regurgitation.
A Comparison of the Original and Revised Simplex Methods

The procedure for the revised simplex method is outlined by making use of only the rudiments of matrix algebra. For a typical simplex iteration, a step by step comparison is made between the calculations for the revised and the original method. Finally, several reasons for recommending the revised method are briefly discussed.
Solid-phase synthesis of human salivary mucin-derived O-linked glycopeptides

Short glycopeptides derived from salivary mucin have been synthesized in order to delineate the O-glycosylation pattern that is important in the biological activity of mucin. Two glycopoptides, APPETT*AAP-OMe and PAPPSS*SAP-OMe (*=α-d-GalNAc), were prepared by solid-phase peptide synthesis integrating the Fmoc and Boc strategies. Since these peptides contain a C-terminal proline, we devised an efficient strategy using facile Boc chemistry, where the glycosylation at the desired position in the sequence was achieved using corresponding Fmoc-glycoamino acid esters A and B as building blocks. The transformation of the 2-azido group into the acetamido derivative was performed with thioacetic acid on the polymer-bound glycopeptides. Corresponding nonglycosylated peptides were also synthesized to study the influence of α-d-GalNAc on peptide backbone conformation.
The child's expectations of differences in adult male and female interactions

Children of two different age groups, 2-year-olds and 4-year-olds, were placed with male and female adults in a laboratory play situation where the children were forced to control the choice of toys and mode of interaction. The 4-year-old children elicited different types of play behaviors from male and female adults, while the younger children did not.
Fire Properties of Polystyrene-Clay Nanocomposites

Polystyrene−clay nanocomposites have been prepared using a bulk polymerization technique. Three new “onium” salts have been used to prepare the nanocomposites, two are functionalized ammonium salts while the third is a phosphonium salt. By TGA/FTIR, both ammonium and phosphonium treatments have been shown to degrade by a Hofmann elimination mechanism at elevated temperatures. TGA/FTIR showed that the phosphonium treatment is the most thermally stable treatment when compared to the two ammonium salts. The nanocomposites were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, strength and elongation at break, as a measure of the mechanical properties, thermogravimetric analysis, and cone calorimetry. The onset temperature of the degradation is increased by about 50 °C and the peak heat release rate is reduced by 27−58%, depending upon the amount of clay that is present. The mass loss rates are also significantly reduced in the presence of the clay.