cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Topical advances and recent studies in paleolimnological research

Paleolimnology combines the disciplines of limnology, geology and ecology, but because of challenges that separate investigators from direct knowledge about past lake conditions, the field is multidisciplinary by necessity. As a result, paleolimnology is influenced continuously by advances in many disciplines. As with limnological studies in recent decades, paleolimnology has diverged largely from the ecological and theoretical focuses of early investigators, but recent studies demonstrate the need for more integration of ecological and paleolimnological research. This paper provides a brief overview of recent paleolimnological investigations that have addressed questions related to theoretical ecology, as well as applied lake-management and climate research issues. We examine the use of transfer function models for estimating past water-quality conditions, and important caveats expressed by investigators about limitations in the development and use of such models. Paleolimnological research has contributed new insights about biological, physical and chemical processes in lakes that have been subject to change because of climate drivers and anthropogenic influences. These findings are relevant to predicting how lakes will respond to climate change, and will require new management approaches in the future. As the range of paleolimnological studies expands, there will be greater need for basic limnological research in order for paleolimnological investigators to better understand how sediments reflect lake processes of those regions.
Community assemblage patterns of odonates inhabiting a wetland complex influenced by anthropogenic disturbance

Abstract. 1Many wetland complexes around the world are highly influenced by human activity (chiefly land conversion for agriculture). Measuring the impact of such activity hinges not only upon using appropriate wetland indicator taxa but also upon metrics that are sensitive enough to capture subtle effects. 2Over a 5-year period, we quantified the distribution and community structure of odonates (dragonflies and damselflies) occupying a wetland complex in Texas. When using traditional community metrics, there were no significant differences in diversity or evenness in the odonate assemblages in wetlands surrounded by the two dominant regional forms of land use (tilled cropland and grassland). Similarity analyses likewise failed to detect any significant differences in odonate community composition with land use. 3Discriminant function analysis, however, revealed that species co-occurrences could be distinguished on the basis of surrounding land use, which indicates that odonate assemblages in these wetlands are structured in a manner that typical community metrics fail to adequately describe. 4Differences between the approaches are discussed, particularly with regard to the use of presence–absence data.
HCPTPA, a Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase That Regulates Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-mediated Signal Transduction and Biological Activity

Angiogenesis is a tightly controlled process in which signaling by the receptors for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays a key role. In order to define signaling pathways downstream of VEGF receptors (VEGFR), the kinase domain of VEGFR2 (Flk-1) was used as a bait to screen a human fetal heart library in the yeast two-hybrid system. One of the signaling molecules identified in this effort was HCPTPA, a low molecular weight, cytoplasmic protein tyrosine phosphatase. Although HCPTPA possesses no identifiable phosphotyrosine binding domains (i.e. SH2 or phosphotyrosine binding domains), it bound specifically to active, autophosphorylated VEGFR2 but not to a mutated, kinase-inactive VEGFR2. Recombinant VEGFR2 and endogenous VEGFR2 were substrates for recombinant HCPTPA, and HCPTPA was co-expressed with VEGFR2 in endothelial cell lines, suggesting that HCPTPA may be a negative regulator of VEGFR2 signal transduction. To pursue this possibility, an adenovirus directing the expression of HCPTPA was constructed. When used to infect cultured endothelial cells, this adenovirus directed high level expression of HCPTPA that resulted in impairment of VEGF-mediated VEGFR2 autophosphorylation and mitogen-activated protein kinase activation. Adenovirus-mediated overexpression of HCPTPA also inhibited VEGF-induced cellular responses (endothelial cell migration and proliferation) and inhibited angiogenesis in the rat aortic ring assay. Taken together, these findings indicate that HCPTPA may be an important regulator of VEGF-mediated signaling and biological activity. Potential interactions with other signaling pathways and possible therapeutic implications are discussed.
Synthesis of mass exchange networks

Mass-exchange units are ubiquitously used in industrial facilities. A mass exchanger is any direct-contact mass-transfer unit that employs a mass-separating agent (MSA) or a lean phase (e.g., a solvent, an adsorbent, a stripping agent, an ion exchange resin) to selectively remove certain components (e.g., pollutants, products, byproducts) from a rich phase (e.g., a waste, a product). Examples of mass-exchange operations include absorption, adsorption, stripping, solvent extraction, leaching, and ion exchange. Appendix 2, Modeling of Mass-Exchange Units for Environmental Applications, provides an overview of the principles of modeling, designing, and operating individual mass-exchange units.
Recruiting Strategies in the Pharmaceutical Industry

Market conditions have a tremendous influence on recruiting strategies and recruiting incentives used by pharmaceutical companies. In today’s ever changing market, many companies rely upon individuals with multidimensional skills to act as liaisons across various functional groups such as product development, marketing, economics, and clinical sciences. When markets are tight, many pharmaceutical companies work in conjunction with recruiting firms to develop high-profile recruitment packages targeted toward new graduates. This study specifically examines the use of recruitment firms as a strategy to locate and attract talented individuals to the pharmaceutical industry. Telephone interviews with key individuals in departments having direct involvement with recruitment were conducted. Results revealed that pharmaceutical companies devote considerable effort, time, and resources to recruitment activities. In addition to the strategies and incentives provided by companies, we provide recommendations to improve recruitment efforts and to decrease costs associated with recruitment.
Applicability of causal dissipative hydrodynamics to relativistic heavy ion collisions

We utilize nonequilibrium covariant transport theory to determine the region of validity of causal Israel-Stewart (IS) dissipative hydrodynamics and Navier-Stokes (NS) theory for relativistic heavy ion physics applications. A massless ideal gas with $2\ensuremath{\rightarrow}2$ interactions is considered in a Bjorken scenario in 0 + 1 dimension (D) appropriate for the early longitudinal expansion stage of the collision. In the scale-invariant case of a constant shear viscosity to entropy density ratio $\ensuremath{\eta}/s\ensuremath{\approx}\mathrm{const}$, we find that IS theory is accurate within 10% in calculating dissipative effects if initially the expansion time scale exceeds half the transport mean free path ${\ensuremath{\tau}}_{0}/{\ensuremath{\lambda}}_{\mathrm{tr},0}\ensuremath{\gtrsim}2$. The same accuracy with NS requires three times larger ${\ensuremath{\tau}}_{0}/{\ensuremath{\lambda}}_{\mathrm{tr},0}\ensuremath{\gtrsim}6$. For dynamics driven by a constant cross section, on the other hand, about 50% larger ${\ensuremath{\tau}}_{0}/{\ensuremath{\lambda}}_{\mathrm{tr},0}\ensuremath{\gtrsim}3$ (IS) and 9 (NS) are needed. For typical applications at energies currently available at the BNL Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC), i.e., $\sqrt{{s}_{\mathit{NN}}}~100\text{\ensuremath{-}}200$ GeV, these limits imply that even the IS approach becomes marginal when $\ensuremath{\eta}/s\ensuremath{\gtrsim}0.15$. In addition, we find that the ``naive'' approximation to IS theory, which neglects products of gradients and dissipative quantities, has an even smaller range of applicability than Navier-Stokes. We also obtain analytic IS and NS solutions in 0 + 1D, and present further tests for numerical dissipative hydrodynamics codes in 1 + 1, 2 + 1, and 3 + 1D based on generalized conservation laws.
Atomistic and continuum modeling of dendritic solidification

Abstract Due to its technological importance, modeling of dendrite growth in pure metals and alloys remains a significant challenge in the field of materials science. In this review recent achievements in the dendrite modeling problem, using two distinct length scale approaches, are summarized. At the nanometer scale, molecular dynamics and Monte Carlo techniques have been developed to extract two important properties of the solid–liquid interface: the kinetic coefficient and the solid–liquid interfacial free energy. Perhaps more importantly the atomistic simulation methods are capable of accurately determining the small, yet crucially important, anisotropies of these parameters. At the mesoscopic scale, advances in phase field modeling have largely overcome the numerical problem associated with the large disparity in length scales typically found in dendrite growth. It is demonstrated that, when the atomistic and continuum level approaches are combined, accurate and parameter free predictions of dendrite growth velocities are possible. In addition, extensions of atomistic and phase field modeling to the case of binary alloys are described.
Modeling and controllability for a class of hybrid mechanical systems

This paper studies a class of hybrid mechanical systems that locomote by switching between constraints defining different dynamic regimes. We develop a geometric framework for modeling smooth phenomena such as inertial forces, holonomic and nonholonomic constraints, as well as discrete features such as transitions between smooth dynamic regimes through plastic and elastic impacts. We focus on devices that are able to switch between constraints at an arbitrary point in the configuration space. This class of hybrid mechanical control systems can be described in terms of affine connections and jump transition maps that are linear in the velocity. We investigate two notions of local controllability, the equilibrium and kinematic controllability, and provide sufficient conditions for each of them. The tests rely on the assumption of zero velocity switches. We illustrate the modeling framework and the controllability tests on a planar sliding, clamped, and rolling device. In particular, we show how the analysis can be used for motion planning.
NF-κB in transplantation: friend or foe?

NF-kappaB is an inducible nuclear transcription factor regulating the expression of many genes. NF-kappaB activation may function as a master switch in a variety of immune and inflammatory processes, including sepsis and transplant tolerance. In this review, we summarize features of NF-kappaB regulation, as well as describe its role in intracellular signal transduction pathways. Subsequently, we concentrate on the role of NF-kappaB in the field of organ transplantation and the role of NF-kappaB in organ ischemia/reperfusion injury and graft rejection. Finally, potential therapeutic strategies are discussed to modify NF-kappaB activity with certain immunosuppression medications, including cyclosporine, tacrolimus, and glucocorticoids.
A Non-Iterative Procedure for the Time Integration of the Balance Equations

Abstract Recent work by Gent and McWilliams (1982) suggests that of all models intermediate in complexity between quasi-geostrophic (QG) and primitive equation (PE), the balance equations (BE) have the best performance when compared with the standard of the PE. The BE system [and the simpler linear balance equations (LBE)] have been infrequently integrated during the past 30 years because of problems with solvability conditions and the apparent necessity for iteration each timestep. The present article proposes a non-iterative procedure for the time integration of the BE and LBE systems. The procedure was tested on the barotropic (vertically integrated) equations on the sphere. High-resolution BE, LBE and QG integrations were compared with a control PE integration initialized with observed data. The growth of error in the various models as a function of time, latitude and scale was carefully monitored. The high accuracy of the BE equations was confirmed.
Decay Scheme of Re 183 and Rotational Bands of Daughter Nucleus W 183

The electron-capture decay of 70-day ${\mathrm{Re}}^{183}$ has been studied, principally by conversion electron spectroscopy at 0.1% resolution. All but one of the eighteen gamma transitions identified in the present study have been seen by others from beta decay of ${\mathrm{Ta}}^{183}$ to the same daughter nucleus ${\mathrm{W}}^{183}$. The transition intensities of the present study suggest an assignment of $\frac{5}{2}+$ to ${\mathrm{Re}}^{183}$. New information on $M1\ensuremath{-}E2$ mixing ratios for some of the gamma transitions is obtained.
Silicon Carbide Photonics

In this talk, we provide an overview of our recent progress in developing high-quality silicon carbide micro/nanophotonic devices and exploring nano-optomechanics and nonlinear photonics on this platform. Article not available.
"Chwuech": Sustained Art Education among Luo Women of Western Kenya.

This article presents the findings of a qualitative study on the Bang jomariek, a women's group in West Reru in Western Kenya who engage in the production of indigenous arts and crafts (pots, baskets, and architecture) to generate income and explore politics, medicine, and other matters that affect them and their community. The women shared their motivations for engaging in the production of these art forms and the characteristics of these educational processes and their environment. I highlight the transformative experience on their lives as a result of the arts and crafts-based adult education work. This article is significant to feminist and anti-colonial adult education as it stresses the importance of processes, potential, and goals of an African indigenous creative education amongst rural women.
Kapferer on Luxury Brands Can Grow Yet Remain Rare

Even a quick look at book lists in the business and professional design fields (including marketing, fashion, interior design, visual merchandizing among others) is enough for one to realize that n...
Use of Vasoactive Drugs in the Treatment of Shock

The effective use of vasoactive drugs in shock requires an understanding of the pathophysiologic mechanisms involved in the various types and stages of shock and knowledge of the specific pharmacologic effects of each drug in the abnormal state. Vasoactive drugs should be used after the primary and secondary causes of shock have been corrected. Specific vasoactive drugs should be selected on the basis of measured hemodynamic abnormalities.
Shadow Banking (Non-Bank Financial Intermediation)

In this chapter, we discuss the nature of shadow banking, which comprises entities of non-bank financial intermediation that operate outside the traditional banking system. Included are the multiple definitions of the term; the economic motivations that gave rise to non-bank financial entities; systemic risks posed by shadow banking and the efforts to lessen the risks; and suggested international regulation of shadow banking, particularly by the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO). IOSCO principles and recommendations are set forth in the appendix to the chapter.
Function of Cryopreserved Mesenchymal Stromal Cells With and Without Interferon-γ Prelicensing is Context Dependent.

Tailoring MSCs to fit the disease. Fresh, cryopreserved and, prelicensed cryopreserved MSC are all being explored to treat numerous diseases, but all are not suitable to treat all conditions. injury. "*" denotes preferred therapeutic strategy when both fresh MSC and cryo-MSC have shown utility in treating the disease but one is more efficacious or logistically suitable. ABBREVIATIONS CLI, critical limb ischemia; GvHD. graft versus host disease; I/R, ischemia reperfusion (I/R); OI, osteogenesis imperfecta.
Computational Fluid Dynamic Analyses for the High-Lift Common Research Model Using the USM3D and FUN3D Flow Solvers

Two Navier-Stokes codes were used to compute flow over the High-Lift Common Research Model (HL-CRM) in preparation for a wind tunnel test to be performed at the NASA Langley Research Center 14-by-22-Foot Subsonic Tunnel in fiscal year 2018. Both flight and wind tunnel conditions were simulated by the two codes at set Mach numbers and Reynolds numbers over a full angle-of-attack range for three configurations: cruise, landing and takeoff. Force curves, drag polars and surface pressure contour comparisons are shown for the two codes. The lift and drag curves compare well for the cruise configuration up to 10deg angle of attack but not as well for the other two configurations. The drag polars compare reasonably well for all three configurations. The surface pressure contours compare well for some of the conditions modeled but not as well for others.
Advance care planning and end-of-life care for patients with hematologic malignancies who die after hematopoietic cell transplant

Advance care planning and end-of-life care for patients with hematologic malignancies who die after hematopoietic cell transplant
Review: Single-dose and longer-duration cardioselective β-blockers do not increase respiratory symptoms in reversible airway disease

Source Citation Salpeter S, Ormiston T, Salpeter E. Cardioselective beta-blocker use in patients with reversible airway disease. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2001;(3):CD002992 (latest version 26 May...
A High Temperature Linear Wideband Power Amplifier for a Downhole Communication System

Abstract In order to reach previously untapped wells, the oil and gas industry continues to drill deeper, resulting in extreme operating temperatures for electronic systems. It is essential for electronic circuits and systems to be able to withstand extreme temperatures. The proposed power amplifier (PA) intends for a downhole communication system operating at an ambient temperature of 230 °C. The proposed PA is designed with Qorvo T2G6003028-FL GaN on SiC HEMT, which offers a high junction temperature. The proposed PA can operate reliably up to an ambient temperature of 230 °C with the operation frequency from 228 MHz to 263 MHz. At 230 °C, it achieves maximum output power of 1.66 W, the peak gain of 24 dB, peak PAE (power added efficiency) of 25%, OP1dB (output 1-db compression point) of 32 dBm, and OIP3 (output third intercept point) of 37.9 dBm..
Connecting Theory With Practice: The Institutional Evolvement of U.S. Counties Functioning as Regional Service Providers

This study extends the literature on county government structure by examining the three basic forms of county governments and their long-term effects on regional service spending. An examination of...
POSTER: PenJ1939: An Interactive Framework for Design and Dissemination of Exploits for Commercial Vehicles

Vehicle security has been receiving a lot of attention from both the black hat and white hat community of late. Research in this area has already led to the fabrication of different attacks, of which some have been shown to have potentially grave consequences. Vehicle vendors and original equipment manufacturers (OEM)s are thus presented with the additional responsibility of ensuring in-vehicular communication level security. In this poster paper, we present a framework, which allows any individual to write, test, and store exploit scripts which could then be run by any interested party on in-vehicular networks of commercial vehicles like trucks and buses.
Chronic Cigarette Smoking Associates Directly and Indirectly with Self-Reported Olfactory Alterations: Analysis of the 2011-2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Introduction Population-based studies show inconsistent effects of cigarette smoking on olfactory function. We aimed to identify direct and indirect associations between measures of smoking exposure/nicotine dependence and altered olfaction in a nationally representative sample of adults. Methods NHANES 2011-2014 (n = 7418) participants (mean age = 57.8 ± 12.2 years) self-reported olfaction and related health and demographic risks. Affirmative answers to three questions defined altered olfaction (olfactory problems in the past years; worse ability since age 25; phantom smells). Smoking (never, former, current) was self-reported by chronicity (pack years, PY) and dependency (time to first cigarette upon waking) and verified by serum cotinine. Associations were tested with logistic regression, reporting odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), and mediation models. Results Estimated prevalence of altered olfaction was 22.3%, with age-related increases. Nearly half of the sample were former/current smokers (47.4%). Controlling for olfactory-related risks, ≥10 PY smokers had significantly greater odds of altered olfaction versus never smokers (OR 1.36, CI: 1.06-1.74). The odds of altered olfaction were heightened among current smokers (≥10 PY) who also had high nicotine dependence (smoked ≤30 min of waking) (OR 1.41, CI: 1.01-1.99). Light smokers (≤10 PY smokers) did not show increased odds versus never smokers. Current smokers who also were heavy drinkers (≥4 drinks/day) had the highest odds for altered olfaction (OR 1.96, CI: 1.20-3.19). Olfactory-related pathologies (sinonasal problems, serious head injury, tonsillectomy, xerostomia) partially mediated the association between smoking and altered olfaction. Conclusions Chronic cigarette smoking was associated with increased odds of self-reported olfactory alterations, directly and indirectly via olfactory-related pathologies. Implications Analysis of the US nationally representative data revealed significant positive associations between chronic smoking and alterations in the sense of smell. Rates of smell alteration (self-reported problems in the past year, losses with aging, and phantom smells) increased from 23% among adults to 33% for chronic smokers and 38% for chronic smokers who also reported heavy drinking. Chronic smoking showed associations with smell alteration that were direct and indirect through exposure to olfactory-related pathologies (naso-sinus problems, dry mouth, head/facial injury). Smell alteration can impact smokers' quality of life by challenging the ability to sense warning odors, food flavor, and olfactory-stimulated emotions and memories.
Some Differences Between Fixed, Mixed, and Random Effects Analysis of Variance Models

The analysis of variance is a technique for comparing treatment means or for estimating components of variation. The former is called fixed effects analysis of variance and the latter is called random effects analysis of variance. Many nonstatisticians ..
Observations on the effect of various folic acid antagonists on acute leukemia.

1. Seventy patients with acute leukemia were treated with various folic acid antagonists. Sixty-five survived for a sufficient length of time to evaluate the effect of the therapeutic agents. Types of leukemia observed included 38 cases of acute lymphatic leukemia, 23 patients with acute monocytic leukemia and 4 with the acute myelogenous type of leukemia. 2. The best results, both clinically and hematologically, were obtained in acute lymphatic leukemia. Although the most satisfactory results were observed in the youngest age group, excellent remissions were produced in older individuals. Of 65 cases observed, an excellent clinical and hematologic remission was observed in 11 patients, a partial emission in 19 subjects, and no response in 35 individuals. 3. When a response occurred, a rater definite hematologic pattern was noted. An increased platelet count in most instances was the first evidence of regeneration and occurred in about the third or fourth week. The neutrophilic polymorphonuclear leukocytes began to regenerate at about the same time and an increase in their number was followed by a rise in the erythrocyte count. 4. Observations of the bone marrow indicated that although excellent clinical and hematologic remissions might occur, primitive leukemic cells were still present. In some instances megaloblasts were observed in addition to a peripheral macrocytosis and anisocytosis of erythrocytes. 5. Toxic manifestations were common. These included glossitis, ulceration of the oral cavity, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and alopecia. In one instance there was ulceration of the entire gastro-intestinal tract, including the esophagus and colon. Hematologic toxic reactions included thrombocytopenia, leukopenia and anemia. Aplasia of marrow tissue was observed in 1 instance. In many instances the margin of safety between a toxic reaction and death was indeed small. 6. It should be emphasized that in no instance has a cure of leukemia resulted from treatment with a folic acid antagonist although prolonged remissions have occurred.
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a pandemic disease with multisystem burden.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a leading cause of liver-related morbidity and mortality in the United States and globally (1,2). A large body of literature currently exists to suggest at the clinical burden of NAFLD is not only confined to liver but may rather represent a major part of a multisystem disease (3). Along with the well-known association with metabolic syndrome (MetS), NAFLD has proven to strongly correlate with cardiovascular disease (CVD), chronic kidney disease (CKD), type 2 diabetes (T2D) and potentially osteoporosis and extra-hepatic malignancies (4,5).
Development of comorbidity score for patients undergoing major surgery

Objective To develop and validate a claims-based comorbidity score for patients undergoing major surgery, and compare its performance with established comorbidity scores. Data source Five percent Medicare data from 2007 to 2014. Study design Retrospective cohort study of patients aged ≥65 years undergoing six major operations (N = 99 250). Data collection One-year mortality was the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes were hospital mortality, 30-day mortality, 30-day readmission, and length of stay. The comorbidity score was developed in the derivation cohort (70 percent sample) using logistic regression model. The comorbidity score was calibrated and validated in the validation cohort (30 percent sample), and compared against the Charlson, Elixhauser, and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Hierarchical Condition Categories (CMS-HCC) comorbidity scores using c-statistic, net reclassification improvement, and integrated discrimination improvement. Principal findings In the validation cohort, the surgery-specific comorbidity score was well calibrated and performed better than the Charlson, Elixhauser, and CMS-HCC comorbidity scores for all outcomes; the performance was comparable to the CMS-HCC for 30-day readmission. For example, the surgery-specific comorbidity score (c-statistic = 0.792; 95% CI, 0.785-0.799) had greater discrimination than the Charlson (c-statistic = 0.747; 95% CI, 0.739-0.755), Elixhauser (c-statistic = 0.747; 95% CI, 0.735-0.755), or CMS-HCC (c-statistic = 0.755; 95% CI, 0.747-0.763) scores in predicting 1-year mortality. The net reclassification improvement and integrated discrimination improvement were greater for surgery-specific comorbidity score compared to the Charlson, Elixhauser, and CMS-HCC scores. Conclusions Compared to commonly used comorbidity measures, a surgery-specific comorbidity score better predicted outcomes in the surgical population.
The solar system beyond Neptune

We present the results of a deep optical survey for distant solar system objects. An area of 1.2 sq deg of the ecliptic has been imaged to apparent red magnitude 25, resulting in the detection of seven trans-Neptunian objects. These are the first detected members of a trans-Neptunian disk that compries about 35 000 objects larger than 100 km in the 30-50 AU heliocentric distance range. We interpret the new measurements using a set of Monte Carlo models in which the effects of observational bias in the data are taken into account.
Chapter 8 – Metabolic Adaptations

Publisher Summary This chapter determines the extent to which energy metabolism, enzyme kinetics, organ function, and system physiology have been affected by air breathing and the relatively routine access to aerial oxygen it permits. The chapter examines the air-breathing fish biochemical data for indications of how aerial respiration has altered the patterns of normal piscine function among the various species. Some biochemical investigations suggest that air breathing obviated cellular mechanisms for ambient hypoxia adaptation. The chapter presents comparative VO2 data for three pairs of closely related air-breathing and non-air-breathing fishes. It is shown that in two cases, the air-breather has a considerably higher VO2 than the non-air breather. In the third case (Erythrinidae), such a difference appears in some, but not all, data sets. The finding of an elevated VO2 associated with air breathing is consistent with early hypotheses about the physiological effects of air access. It is emphasized that VO2 differences may be expressed in the biochemistry and intermediary metabolism of air-breathing fishes.
Computerized Clinical Training Simulations with Virtual Clients Abusing Alcohol: Initial Feasibility, Acceptability, and Effectiveness.

Although masters-level social work students typically build clinical skills via role-playing with their peers or instructors, several innovative training simulations are emerging in the literature that may enhance existing skill-building methodologies. We evaluated the initial feasibility, acceptability, usability, and effectiveness of three computerized simulations (two cognitive behavioral therapy, one motivational interviewing) during an interpersonal practice course among 22 students in a Master of Social Work program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. Trainees repetitively practiced their clinical skills with virtual clients while receiving feedback via real-time nonverbal cues, transcript review, and performance assessment across pre-specified theoretical learning objectives. Across the three simulations, at least 86.4% of students completed the required protocol and completed M = 468.95 (SD = 178.27) minutes of simulated sessions. Students improved their scores (range 0 to 100) across all the simulations from M = 63.41 (SD = 11.13) to M = 93.64 (SD = 3.24). Students found the simulations to be acceptable with strong usability. Paired sample t-tests revealed students reported greater self-efficacy in general clinical skills, exploration skills, insight skills, and action skills between pre-test and post-test after completing the simulations (all p < 0.001). Students reported that the clinical skills learned from the simulations translated into successful interactions with real-world clients during their field placements. We discuss the results of this initial feasibility study within the context of simulation-based learning and the potential for broader implementation within MSW programs.
Sacred Self-Expression: Love and Trans Authenticity

Theistic cosmologies have inspired many religious communities to alienate transgender individuals. While the growth in tolerance among congregations and institutions is important, there remains a p...
QEI: Query Acceleration Can be Generic and Efficient in the Cloud

Data query operations of different data structures are ubiquitous and critical in today’s data center infrastructures and applications. However, query operations are not always performance-optimal to be executed on general-purpose CPU cores. These operations exhibit insufficient memory-level parallelism and frontend bottlenecks due to unstructured control flow. Furthermore, the data access patterns are not cache- or prefetch-friendly. Based on our performance analysis on a commodity server, query operations can consume a large percentage of the CPU cycles in various modern cloud workloads. Existing accelerator solutions for query operations do not strike a balance between their generality, scalability, latency, and hardware complexity. In this paper, we propose QEI, a generic, integrated, and efficient acceleration solution for various data structure queries. We first abstract the query operations to a few regular steps and map them to a simple and hardware-friendly configurable finite automaton model. Based on this model, we develop the QEI architecture that allows multiple query operations to execute in parallel to maximize throughput. We also propose a novel way to integrate the accelerator into the CPU that balances performance, latency, and hardware cost. QEI keeps the main control logic near the L2 cache to leverage existing hardware resources in the core while distributing the data-intensive comparison logic to each last-level cache slice for higher parallelism. Our results with five representative data center workloads show that QEI can achieve $6. 5 \times \sim 11. 2 \times $ performance improvement in various scenarios with low overhead.
Comparison of Nonoverlap Methods for Identifying Treatment Effect in Single-Subject Experimental Research.

Debate is occurring about which result interpretation aides focused on examining the experimental effect should be used in single-subject experimental research. In this study, we examined seven non...
"A Prayer Book for the twenty-first Century?"

In the more than thirty years that have passed since the authorization of the 1979 Book of Common Prayer, scholars and practitioners of its liturgical vision have mined the riches of its “baptismal...
An assay for the activity of microtubule-based motors on the kinetochores of isolated Chinese hamster ovary chromosomes.

Publisher Summary This chapter describes an assay for examining the behavior of microtubule based motors on the kinetochores of isolated Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) chromosomes. The assay of kinetochore activity relies on specific capture of microtubules by kinetochores, and trapping by chromosome arms obscures the assay. This trapping appears to be caused by adhesion of cytoskeletal fragments to the chromosome arms, not to chromatin. In general, the cleaner the chromosome preparation, the fewer the number of microtubules attached to the chromosome arms. The clean chromosomes are obtained only if the cells lyse within the first few strokes of the pestle. The assay is very sensitive to variables, such as time of incubation and washing. The low-ionic strength buffer minimizes extraction of loosely bound kinetochore components. The isolated chromosomes are adsorbed to the glass slide of a perfusion chamber. To assay the microtubule-based motor activity of the kinetochores of these isolated chromosomes, polarity-marked microtubules are attached to the kinetochores. After addition of ATP, the movement of these microtubules over the kinetochores of the isolated chromosomes is followed by video microscopy.
Complement Inhibition: A Novel Form of Immunotherapy for Colon Cancer.

Complement is a central part of both the innate and adaptive immune response and its activation has traditionally been considered part of the immunosurveillance response against cancer. Its pro-inflammatory role and its contribution to the development of many illnesses associated with inflammatory states implicate complement in carcinogenesis. We evaluated the role of three protein inhibitors of complement—cobra venom factor, humanized cobra venom factor, and recombinant staphylococcus aureus superantigen-like protein 7—in the setting of a transplantable murine colon cancer model. Outcomes were evaluated by monitoring tumor growth, and flow cytometry, ELISPOT, and quantitative real-time PCR were used to determine the impact of complement inhibition on the host immune response. Complement inhibitors were effective at depleting complement component C3 in tumor bearing mice and this was temporally correlated with a decreased rate of tumor growth during the establishment of tumors. Treatment with cobra venom factor resulted in increased CD8+ T cells as a percentage of tumor-infiltrating cells as well as a reduced immunosuppressive environment evidenced by decreased myeloid derived suppressor cells in splenocytes of treated mice. Complement inhibition resulted in increased expression of the chemoattractive cytokines CCL5, CXCL10, and CXCL11. Complement depletion represents a promising mode of immunotherapy in cancer by its ability to impair tumor growth by increasing the host’s effective immune response to tumor and diminishing the immunosuppressive effect created by the tumor microenvironment and ultimately could be utilized as a component of combination immunotherapy.
Kinnell's " Walking down the Stairs"

IN THE RECENTLY PUBLISHED Walking Down the Stairs, selections from interviews with Galway Kinnell published by the University of Michigan Press, one of the interviewers asks Kinnell: "That loneliness you say you wrote out of?do you think that young poets today are less rich be cause they lack that?" Kinnell replies, "I never thought of it as richness." One of the charming things about these interviews is the way Kinnell changes a question by butting his head through the interviewer's premises. This particular question meant "richness for poetry," of course, but Kinnell refuses to distinguish lonely poets from lonely people: no one is richer for being lonely. Questions like this one are generated by the notion that poets are a special breed who welcome suffering, madness, and poverty for the sake of their poetry. If art is to provide our alternate medium of transcendence, as Matthew Arnold predicted, then we assume sacrifices of our poet-priests. From the pokes maudits, who cultivated the image, to the desperate poets Sylvia Plath and John Berryman, poets' lives have encouraged us to think that some kind of dementia is a prerequisite to creativity. Yeats, who lived a complex and full life, didn't help by speaking so often of his own "choice" between life and art. Many of us, at any rate, presume not only that the poet converts experience into poetry, but that he has the experiences in order to convert them into poetry. It is refreshing, then, to watch Galway Kinnell sidestep such notions. Does political activity enrich your poetry, he is asked. "Any involvement that brings you to a sense of loving community," he replies, "is bound to be enriching?for a writer or for anyone." Similarly, when asked how he copes with "dry periods," Kinnell shows how much the question implies by answering that he regards "dry periods" as "complications of life." This integration of poetry with life informs all of Kinnell's more interest ing responses in Walking Down the Stairs. Sensitive to "either/or" thinking, he is quick to give "both. . . and" answers that are in the same inclusive spirit as his poetry. He balks, for example, at the distinction between "nature" poems and "urban" poems: "The idea that we and our creations don't belong to 'nature' comes from the notion that the human is a special being created in God's image to have dominion over all else. We are becom ing aware again of our connection with other beings." Asked about surreal ism, he makes a similar leap: "The use of the term 'inner life' means that one is not quite whole, that one has an inner life and an outer life, and they don't quite come together." In a culture that tends to separate the artist from his audience and art from life, these remarks make Kinnell an important spokesman for poetry. His commitment to relation?between poetry and everything else, between the poet and everyone else?makes this collection of interviews crucial reading for anyone interested in the survival of healthy literature. 95
Patients are Not Cars and Staff are Not Robots: Impact of Differences between Manufacturing and Clinical Operations on Process Improvement

Long recognized by industry as a key component for advancement of business, process improvement is only now being incorporated into healthcare systems. Unfortunately, despite proven success in manufacturing, these same methods are often met with resistance when proposed to the healthcare sector, largely because leaders in the healthcare industry have always considered patient care more an art than a science. This attitude and the attendant value of autonomy are especially prevalent among physicians and nurses who provide direct clinical care to patients. Using specific examples, this paper outlines some of the key differences between manufacturing and healthcare operations, underscores the unique milieu of the healthcare industry, and proposes some solutions to successfully initiate process improvement for clinical operations without compromising individualized care for each patient. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Growth factors modulate clonal growth and differentiation of cultured rabbit limbal and corneal epithelium.

Purpose To compare the extent of modulation by various growth factors on clonal growth and differentiation between corneal and stem cell-containing limbal epithelium. Methods A reported serum-free clonal growth assay was used. The mitogenic response was measured by colony forming efficiency, colony size, and bromodeoxyuridine labelling index; the differentiation was assessed by AE-5 monoclonal antibody staining. Results As compared to controls in an insulin-containing basic medium, the addition of epidermal growth factor, acidic fibroblast growth factor, basic fibroblast growth factor, and a high dose of nerve growth factor was mitogenic for both epithelia. Cholera toxin was also mitogenic, but platelet-derived growth factor might not have, and insulin-like growth factor type I lacked an additive mitogenic effect with insulin. The mitogenic effect of epidermal growth factor differed from the others in its dose-dependent down-regulation and in having more migratory cells in epidermal growth factor-stimulated colonies. In contrast to these mitogens, transforming growth factor-beta 1 exhibited a clear inhibitory effect in the controls as well as in epidermal growth factor- or fibroblast growth factor-stimulated cultures. Transforming growth factor-beta 1's inhibitory effect was correlated with strong AE-5 staining, whereas the mitogenic effect of epidermal growth factors, fibroblast growth factors or nerve growth factors was correlated with the presence of negative AE-5 colonies. Conclusion There exist potential dynamic interactions among various growth-modifying cytokines in controlling epithelial growth and differentiation. The lack of specific activation of limbal stem cells in this culture assay also suggests that other unidentified factor(s) might be regulating stem cell functions.
Persuading the acceptance of e-government web transactions

Governments are continually looking to save costs in providing services especially with the economic crunch. Studies have shown that there is some form of reluctance to transact with governments over the internet even when it is cost saving and efficient. This is especially true where no policies mandating the utilization of e-government transactional web services (EgovTWS) exist and situations where individuals may show some kind of apathy to anything “government”. Using the elaboration-likelihood model (ELM) and introducing the concept of government approbation, we propose an approach to persuade individuals to accept and utilize EgovTWS.
Diffusional protein transport within the nucleus: a message in the medium.

The movement of proteins within the nucleus can occur by diffusion, with surprisingly extensive and rapid turnover occurring in high-affinity intranuclear compartments. The transport of the proteins so far investigated does not seem to be impeded by structural elements within the interchromatin space.
Large gene deletions in the mutation cluster region of the Apc gene in the ileal and colonic tumors of mice deficient in two intracellular Se-dependent glutathione peroxidases

1981 The ubiquitous glutathione peroxidase, Gpx1, and epithelium-specific Gpx2 are highly efficient in reducing H 2 O 2 and fatty acid hydroperoxides. Hydroperoxides are known DNA damaging agents and mutagens, and Gpx1/2-KO mice with combined disruption of both Gpx1 and Gpx2 genes are highly susceptible to cancer in the ileum and the colon. Since most of these tumors have nuclear accumulation of β-catenin, and mutations of the adenomatous polyposis coli ( Apc ) gene occur frequently in colorectal cancers, we investigated whether the Apc gene is mutated in these tumors, and whether the type of mutations matches the oxidative damage. We used snap-frozen tissues for this analysis to avoid artifacts created by formalin fixation. First, we used random hexomers to generate cDNA from total RNA isolated from intestinal tissues, and then used a set of nested PCR primers to detect mutations in mouse Apc gene. These PCR primers were based on human APC mutation cluster region as described by Traverso et al. (N. Eng. J. Med. 346:311-320, 2004). In order to detect 50 PCR reactions were performed on each sample. Protein truncation mutations were detected by in vitro transcription and translation (TnT) assay of the PCR product after incorporation of biotinylated leucine, resolved by SDS-PAGE, transferred to nitrocellulose, and visualized by immunoluminescent assay. Those PCR products generating truncated proteins were analyzed after gel purification from the wildtype PCR product for DNA sequence. We detected truncation mutations in seven tumors isolated from Gpx1/2-KO mice, but no mutations in six ileum samples isolated from control mice with at least one wildtype Gpx1 or Gpx2 allele. To determine whether the truncation mutations occur before tumorigenesis, we have analyzed the ilea from three ≥6-month-old Gpx1/2-KO mice without gross tumors, and detected Apc truncation in all three ileal samples. Since only the ileum and the colon, but not the jejunum, are often inflamed in Gpx1/2-KO mice, we have also examined Apc mutations in the jejunum from five older Gpx1/2-KO mice and did not detect any mutations. DNA sequence analysis of the DNA template for TnT assay has revealed that all protein truncation mutations are derived from large (473-840 bp) gene deletions. The sequences flanking the deletion site have microhomology, suggesting that this deletion results from non-homologous DNA recombination. Because hydroperoxides can cause double-stranded DNA breakage, and the Apc gene deletion is only detected in the ileum and colon, which are prone to inflammation, we conclude that Gpx prevents inflammation, which produces oxidative species including hydroperoxides causing DNA damage and breakage, and drives tumorigenesis.