cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Growth factors and cytokines in health and disease: Breast cancer

Abstract Polypeptide growth factors and their cognate receptors are involved in the proliferation of normal and transformed cells (Aaronson, 1991). It is widely accepted that tumor cells are less dependent than nontransformed cells of exogenous growth factors due to their ability to synthesize and respond to endogenous growth regulatory molecules. Most studies that examine the role of these growth factor/receptor pathways in tumor cells have used cellular proliferation as an endpoint. More recent experimental data argue that these biochemical systems are also important for the interaction of tumor epithelium with stromal elements and extracellular matrices thus allowing for the maintenance of the tumorigenic state. A large body of work has examined the role of EGF-like peptides, transforming growth factor (TGF) β, and the insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) on breast carcinoma cells. The prominent aspects of this work with its potential clinical implications will be reviewed next.
Attention and Awareness: Evidence from Cognitive and Second Language Acquisition Research

Over the past two decades, researchers in the field of second language acquisition (SLA) have become increasingly interested in the concept of attention. The role of attention has significant implications for theories of second language input, processing, development, variation, and instruction. Most of the literature on attention also addresses the concept of awareness. The two concepts are inherently connected but can be operationally distinguished. This review focuses on attention and awareness with respect to their definitions, theories, and the empirical evidence of their role in learning. Emphasis will be on research from cognitive psychology. This is followed by a brief review of SLA research relevant to Schmidt’s Noticing Hypothesis (1990). The discussion suggests that: (a) Schmidt’s definition of attention, as detection among other things, disregards the possibility of learning without attention; (b) attention facilitates SLA; (c) awareness is not necessary for converting input to intake; and (d) awareness can also facilitate SLA.
New 1212 structural analog of YBa2Cu3O7: The Sr-based superconducting copper oxide CuSr2−xLaxYCu2O7+δ with Tc∼60 K

Abstract We have prepared a new superconducting copper oxide, CuSr2−xLaxYCu2O7+δ (x∼0.4, δ∼0.2) with Tc∼60 K. While the parent compound, x=0, can be prepared only at very high oxygen pressures (P(O2) ≥ 20 000 atm), the tetragonal (a=3.8027, c=11.3806 A ) , La-doped, material can be obtained at relatively moderate pressures, P(O2)=600 atm at 1180°C. Rietveld refinements of neutron powder diffraction data show that La and Sr occupy the “Ba” site but with slightly different positions. The displacement pattern of neighboring oxygen atoms suggets that the La defects pair to form dimers perpendicular to the basal plane.
Peter Mezger and the Development of Radio Astronomy in the US and Germany, and the Discovery of Radio Recombination Lines

Some aspects of the development of radio astronomy are traced, beginning with several important developments that occurred 50 years ago in 1944. The seminal paper of Van de Hulst in that year discussed the detectability not only of the 21 cm line of neutral hydrogen but also the recombination lines in the radio spectrum. However, because of a computation or transcription error, he over-estimated the effect of pressure broadening. After Kardashev reinvestigated the problem in 1959, two groups in Russia led by Dravskikh and Sorochenko, and one in the US led by Mezger, discovered these lines at about the same time. The recombination line program was the first success of the 140-ft telescope, which was the first major instrument of the fledgling National Radio Astronomy Observatory. This telescope proved much harder to build than anticipated for a variety of technical and managerial reasons. Mezger fully exploited its capabilities to measure recombination lines and map compact HII regions.
Development Across the Life Span

This chapter explores the impact of metatheories and metamethods on the construction of concepts and on the formulation, elaboration, and empirical assessment of theories, issues, and applications both in the broad field of Psychology and in the specific domain of Developmental Psychology. Psychology and Developmental Psychology grew up contextualized by metatheories that identify scientific knowledge with procedures that dichotomize the object of inquiry (e.g., nature vs. nurture, mind vs. body, subject vs. object), and introduce a reductionistic strategy to assert the foundational primacy of one or the other of these dichotomized elements. The models of explanation—;referred to as “mechanical” explanation—that resulted from this broad strategy ultimately proved to be inadequate. Recently, relational metatheories, which refuse the temptation of dichotomization, and introduce a strategy entailing a synthesis of opposites, have begun to emerge. The specific nature of relational metatheories is detailed here, and implications of relational metatheories for the acquisition of scientific knowledge are discussed. Finally, embodied development as a concrete illustration of a relational approach to human development is described. Embodiment entails an overarching synthesis among biology-person-culture relations and, thus, embodiment creates a seamless bridge between the biological, the psychological, and the sociocultural. Keywords: embodiment; meta models; meta theories; nature-nurture controversy; philosophy of science; relationism
Blood eosinophilia is associated with unfavorable hospitalization outcomes in children with bronchiolitis.

Summary Background Bronchiolitis, the most common indication for hospitalization of young children, is associated with subsequent asthma. Blood eosinophilia is associated with increased severity of asthma, but it is unclear if eosinophilia is associated with severity of illness in bronchiolitis. We hypothesized that blood eosinophilia is associated with unfavorable short-term outcomes of bronchiolitis hospitalizations. Methods Data from initial bronchiolitis admissions to our institution between 2010 and 2013 were extracted using Population Explorer software (Explorys, Cleveland, OH). Children were categorized as “CBC-none” (no complete blood count [CBC] data during the first 7 days of hospitalization), EOS-positive (at least one CBC with ≥300 eosinophils per microliter or ≥3% of all leukocytes identified as eosinophils) or EOS-negative (at least one CBC and no eosinophilia). The association between hospitalization duration and maximum absolute eosinophil count (AEC) was analyzed using Spearman correlation. Variables independently associated with prolonged (≥72 hr) hospitalization were identified using stepwise multivariate logistic regression. Results In 1356 inpatients <24 months with bronchiolitis, median hospitalization duration was 2.46 days and 38.0% had prolonged hospitalization. CBC data were available in 32.4% of subjects: 20.7% were EOS-positive and 79.3% were EOS-negative. Increased maximum AEC was significantly associated with longer duration of hospitalization. Prolonged hospitalization was independently associated with EOS-positive versus EOS-negative children (OR 1.88, 95%CI: 1.12–3.17, P = 0.020). Mechanical ventilation was most common in EOS-positive subjects (24.2% of cases), versus EOS-negative (7.2%) and CBC-none (0.7%) (P < 0.001). Conclusions Blood eosinophilia is associated with unfavorable clinical outcomes in a large cohort of inpatients with bronchiolitis. Pediatr Pulmonol. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The nature of thymidine kinase in the human-mouse hybrid cell.

In order to characterize the thymidine kinase in human-mouse somatic cell hybrids derived from mouse parental cells lacking thymidine kinase, we have examined the electrophoretic migration on starch gel and the heat sensitivity of this enzyme in human, mouse, and hybrid cells. The enzyme of hybrid cells migrates similarly to that of human fetal liver and human diploid fibroblasts and faster than that of either L or A9 mouse cells. It is less sensitive to heat than that of the mouse cells. Therefore, the human group E chromosome provides human thymidine kinase for the hybrid cell. The electrophoresis of thymidine kinase makes possible the search for variants.
Isomerization barriers and strain energies of selected dihydropyridines and pyrans with trans double bonds.

The stability of cis,trans-dihydropyridines and cis,trans-pyrans has been studied using ab initio methods. The strain introduced by the trans double bond has been determined relative to the cis,cis-isomers and introduces 58−69 kcal·mol−1 of strain energy, at the G3 level of theory, depending on the particular isomer. Double bond rotation barriers have been calculated at the MRMP2/MCSCF level and range from 2.2 kcal·mol−1 to 11.0 kcal·mol−1, significantly lower than butadiene (50.3 kcal·mol−1). Evidence of resonance through delocalization of the π electrons is present for the conjugated double bond isomers which lowers the activation barriers. The transition states for trans double bond rotation have significant biradical character but markedly less than that for butadiene. The early transition states with H—C═C—H dihedral angles of 130−150°, as opposed to 90° for butadiene, are consistent with the reduction in the natural orbital occupation numbers. We could not locate a minimum for a structure having bot...
Solar Interface Dynamos. I. Linear, Kinematic Models in Cartesian Geometry

We describe a simple, kinematic model for a dynamo operating in the vicinity of the interface between the convective and radiative portions of the solar interior. The model dynamo resides within a Cartesian domain, partioned into an upper, convective half and lower, radiative half, with the magnetic diffusivity η of the former region (η2) assumed to exceed that of the latter (η1). The fluid motions that constitute the α-effect are confined to a thin, horizontal layer located entirely within the convective half of the domain; the vertical shear is nonzero only within a second, nonoverlapping layer contained inside the radiative half of the domain. We derive and solve a dispersion relation that describes horizontally propagating dynamo waves. For sufficiently large values of a parameter analogous to the dynamo number of conventional models, growing modes can be found for any ratio of the upper and lower magnetic diffusivities. However, unlike kinematic models in which the shear and α-effect are uniformly distributed throughout the same volume, the present model has wavelike solutions that grow in time only for a finite range of horizontal wavenumbers. An additional consequence of the assumed dynamo spatial structure is that the strength of the azimuthal magnetic field at the location of the α-effect layer is reduced relative to the azimuthal field strength at the shear layer. When the jump in η occurs close to the α-effect layer, it is found that over one period of the dynamo's operation, the ratio of the maximum strengths of the azimuthal fields at these two positions can vary as the ratio (η1/η2) of the magnetic diffusivities.
Explaining Marital Dissolution: The Role of Spouses' Traits

Objective. One of the most profound changes in American society since 1950 has been a decline in the stability of marriages. Many studies that focus on marital dissolution are based on analyses of individual marriages that track their success or failure over time. Most research views the family as a single decision-making unit that arrives at a decision concerning the status of the marriage. Previous work has not explicitly considered the role of spouses' individual traits in the process of marital dissolution. This article treats spouses' behaviors as distinct phenomena. Methods. The study is based on the Marital Instability Over the Life Course 1980–1988 panel data set. The data do not include information on each spouse's choice. Instead we observe only the final outcome of the two decisions. To address that limitation, the model is estimated using a bivariate probit model with partial observability. Results. The kurtosis and variance are largely insensitive to important distributional differences, most importantly that between bimodality and trimodality. Estimates indicate that there are noteworthy contrasts between spouses with respect to variables that induce a choice in favor of marital dissolution. Conclusions. These findings suggest that husbands and wives are motivated by different socioeconomic factors in decisions relative to the stability of their marriages.
Investigation of a Developmental Model of Risk for Depression and Suicidality Following Spousal Bereavement

Data from a community-based multi-wave investigation were used to examine a developmental model of risk for depression and suicidality following the death of a spouse. Measures of perceived parental affection and control during childhood were administered to 218 widowed adults 11 months after the death of the spouse. Self-esteem, spousal dependency, depression, and suicidality were assessed 9 months later. Dependency on the deceased spouse mediated a significant association between retrospectively reported parental control during childhood and post-loss depressive symptoms. Depressive symptoms mediated significant associations of dependency on the deceased spouse and low self-esteem with suicidal ideation and behavior.
Fibroblast Transplantation in Rats: Transduction and Function of Foreign Genes

The purpose of this study was to develop a method of transduction of normal skin fibroblasts with a retroviral vector expressing the human factor IX (hF-IX) gene and transplantation of the transduced cells into rats. A retroviral vector containing the hF-IX gene, as well as a selectable marker (hygromycin B resistance; HB), was used to transduce cultured normal skin (rat and human) fibroblasts. Transduced fibroblasts were selected with HB; resistant clones were propagated and assessed for expression of active hF-IX in vitro. Transduced cells secreted significant amounts of hF-IX in vitro (327.9 +/- 14.2 ng/10(6) cells) which showed measurable clotting activity, indicating terminal processing of the gene-transcribed hF-IX product by the transduced fibroblasts. Integration of the proviral gene into rat and human fibroblast genomic DNA was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction. Transduced rat fibroblasts were attached to collagen-coated microcarriers and transplanted intraperitoneally into syngeneic recipients. Transplanted microcarrier-attached cells formed aggregates in the peritoneal cavity and exhibited positive immunohistochemical staining for hF-IX up to 8 weeks following transplantation, the time of termination of the experiment. These experimental results may have significant implications in developing strategies for future clinical therapy for hemophilia B.
How should we measure blood pressure in the doctor's office?

BackgroundBlood pressure is the most ubiquitous diagnostic recording made in the doctor's office, but the measurement is subject to a number of sources of bias, which may lead to over- or underestimation. The current study examined the systematic influence of the way in which the measurements were t
Impact of epoxyeicosatrienoic acids in lung ischemia-reperfusion injury

Microcirculation (2010) 17, 1–10. doi: 10.1111/j.1549-8719.2009.00013.x Abstract Objective: Epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) are protective in both myocardial and brain ischemia, variously attributed to activation of KATP channels or blockade of adhesion molecule upregulation. In this study, we tested whether EETs would be protective in lung ischemia–reperfusion injury. Methods: The filtration coefficient (Kf), a measure of endothelial permeability, and expression of the adhesion molecules vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM) and intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM) were measured after 45 minutes ischemia and 30 minutes reperfusion in isolated rat lungs. Results: Kf increased significantly after ischemia–reperfusion alone vs time controls, an effect dependent upon extracellular Ca2+ although not on the EET-regulated channel TRPV4. Inhibition of endogenous EET degradation or administration of exogenous 11,12- or 14,-15-EET at reperfusion significantly limited the permeability response to ischemia–reperfusion. The beneficial effect of 11,12-EET was not prevented by blockade of KATP channels nor by blockade of TRPV4. Finally, 11,12-EET-dependent alteration in adhesion molecules expression is unlikely to explain its beneficial effect, since the expression of the adhesion molecules VCAM and ICAM in lung after ischemia–reperfusion was similar to that in controls. Conclusion: EETs are beneficial in the setting of lung ischemia–reperfusion, when administered at reperfusion. However, further study will be needed to elucidate the mechanism of action.
Numerical Evaluation of the Effect of Ni4Ti3 Precipitates on the Overall Thermo-Mechanical Response of NiTi Shape Memory Alloys

The effect of precipitation on the thermo-mechanical properties of Ni-rich near-equiatomic NiTi Shape Memory Alloys (SMAs) is investigated via the finite element method. The thermo-mechanical response is simulated using a Representative Volume Element (RVE), which takes into account the structural effect of the precipitates, as well as the effect of the Ni-concentration gradient in the matrix. The Ni-distribution profile is evaluated using Fick’s law for diffusion. The obtained results reproduce several of the experimentally observed precipitation-induced changes on the transformation behavior characteristics of these materials.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Spatial-temporal dynamics of pulmonary blood flow in the healthy human lung in response to altered FiO2

The temporal dynamics of blood flow in the human lung have been largely unexplored due to the lack of appropriate technology. Using the magnetic resonance imaging method of arterial spin labeling (...
The Integral Fast Reactor

The Integral Fast Reactor (IFR) is an innovative liquid metal reactor concept being developed at Argonne National Laboratory. It seeks to specifically exploit the inherent properties of liquid metal cooling and metallic fuel in a way that leads to substantial improvements in the characteristics of the complete reactor system. The IFR concept consists of four technical features: (1) liquid sodium cooling, (2) pool-type reactor configuration, (3) metallic fuel, and (4) an integral fuel cycle, based on pyrometallurgical processing and injection-cast fuel fabrication, with the fuel cycle facility collocated with the reactor, if so desired.
Left subclavian flap aortoplasty for coarctation of the aorta: Effects on forearm vascular function and growth

This study evaluated vascular function and growth of the forearm in nine children (mean age 9.2 years) who had undergone left subclavian flap aortoplasty for the infantile type of coarctation of the aorta many years (mean 9.0) earlier. Variables used to investigate bilateral forearm vascular function included forearm blood flow and resistance measured by strain gauge plethysmography under rest conditions, in response to 30 s of static handgrip exercise at 40% maximal voluntary contraction and in response to 10 min of forearm arterial occlusion (that is, the reactive hyperemic blood flow response). Forearm growth was ascertained by measuring right and left forearm volumes, lengths, circumferences and skinfold thickness. Mean arterial pressure at rest in the right and left arms differed by 9% (right 78.2 +/- 2.1, left 71.0 +/- 2.7 mm Hg; p less than 0.05). Forearm blood flow, however, was not significantly different between the surgically altered left arm and the normal right arm under any of the study conditions. Likewise, forearm vascular resistance was not statistically different under any conditions, although the left arm tended to have a lower resistance at rest (right 23.5 +/- 3.2, left 18.7 +/- 2.0 mm Hg.min.100 ml/ml; p = 0.057). Left forearm anthropometric measurements showed a 9% reduction in volume and a 3% reduction in circumference and length. In addition, skinfold thickness tended to be larger on the left arm, suggesting that this limb had a smaller muscle mass. In conclusion, early repair with a subclavian flap does not impair vascular function in the altered limb and is associated with only minor reductions in forearm growth variables. Hence, left subclavian flap aortoplasty appears to be a safe and effective procedure for repair of coarctation of the aorta.
Conservation status of the North American fish fauna in fresh water

The status of the North American fish fauna includes 292 species of fishes in the categories of endangered, vulnerable, rare, indeterminate, and extinct. This constitutes 28% of the known fauna. The status of fishes and their habitats continues to decline, especially in the arid regions of western U.S.A. and northern Mexico. The Endangered Species Act is the most powerful tool currently available to protect rare fishes. While many fishes probably have been saved from extinction by this Act, surprisingly few have improved enough to be removed from under its protection.
Fluid Force Predictions and Experimental Measurements for a Magnetically Levitated Pediatric Ventricular Assist Device

The latest generation of artificial blood pumps incorporates the use of magnetic bearings to levitate the rotating component of the pump, the impeller. A magnetic suspension prevents the rotating impeller from contacting the internal surfaces of the pump and reduces regions of stagnant and high shear flow that surround fluid or mechanical bearings. Applying this third-generation technology, the Virginia Artificial Heart Institute has developed a ventricular assist device (VAD) to support infants and children. In consideration of the suspension design, the axial and radial fluid forces exerted on the rotor of the pediatric VAD were estimated using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) such that fluid perturbations would be counterbalanced. In addition, a prototype was built for experimental measurements of the axial fluid forces and estimations of the radial fluid forces during operation using a blood analog mixture. The axial fluid forces for a centered impeller position were found to range from 0.5 +/- 0.01 to 1 +/- 0.02 N in magnitude for 0.5 +/- 0.095 to 3.5 +/- 0.164 Lpm over rotational speeds of 6110 +/- 0.39 to 8030 +/- 0.57% rpm. The CFD predictions for the axial forces deviated from the experimental data by approximately 8.5% with a maximum difference of 18% at higher flow rates. Similarly for the off-centered impeller conditions, the maximum radial fluid force along the y-axis was found to be -0.57 +/- 0.17 N. The maximum cross-coupling force in the x direction was found to be larger with a maximum value of 0.74 +/- 0.22 N. This resulted in a 25-35% overestimate of the radial fluid force as compared to the CFD predictions; this overestimation will lead to a far more robust magnetic suspension design. The axial and radial forces estimated from the computational results are well within a range over which a compact magnetic suspension can compensate for flow perturbations. This study also serves as an effective and novel design methodology for blood pump developers employing magnetic suspensions. Following a final design evaluation, a magnetically suspended pediatric VAD will be constructed for extensive hydraulic and animal testing as well as additional validation of this design methodology.
Polyamine content of the Plodia interpunctella granulosis virus and its larval host

Abstract The presence of polyamines in the granulosis virus and its larval host, Plodia interpunctella, was examined using thin-layer chromatography of the dansylated compounds. The uninfected and infected larvae contain the three polyamines, putrescine, spermidine, and spermine. Although purified granulosis virus infecting this host does not contain any typical polyamines, an acidsoluble dansylated compound with properties indicative of a polyamine was observed.
Defect Generation And Evolution In The Hydrothermal Growth Of Epitaxial BaTiO3 Thin Films

The structure of epitaxial BaTiO3 thin films prepared by hydrothermal synthesis on (001) SrTiO3 substrates was studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The growth evolution was followed from initial island formation, through island impingement and fusion. Plan view and cross-section imaging demonstrated that the films grew by an unusual islanding mechanism. Electron diffraction showed the islands and the fully formed film are single crystal with mosaic character and in all cases strain relaxed. Cross-section TEM of the early growth films showed a several monolayer thick interfacial layer and the film/substrate region had no misfit dislocations. In the fully formed films, this interfacial layer was not observed, however a clear misfit dislocation network was observed. Defects analysis shows that the misfit dislocations have pure edge character with Une directions, and Burgers vectors (parallel to the film/substrate interface).
Is Individual Responsibility a Sufficient Basis for Public Confidence

I begin by showing you three slides. The first is of a medieval leper, wearing a distinctive costume and carrying a bell that they were obliged to ring whenever approaching a populated place. Next is a Renaissance Italian physician dressed to care for victims of the bubonic plague, his beaked mask filled with aromatic herbs to exclude the infectious odors, his leather gown resistant to the floating phomites of disease, and carrying a staff to point to the patient's buboes without touching them. Last, this is Dr Lorraine Day, a contemporary San Francisco (Calif) orthopedic surgeon. She is prepared for surgery in a space suit designed to prevent the migration of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) from her patients to her in blood or in aerosols. Note the common feature of this millennia of prophylactic fashion—isolation. Each of these separates spatially and by barriers the sufferer of presumed infectious disease from
Defining the bilin lyase domain: lessons from the extended phytochrome superfamily.

Through pattern searches of genomic databases, new members of the growing family of phytochrome-related genes were identified and used to construct a 130−180 amino acid motif that delimits the bili...
Deci-gigavolt Electrons from a Millitorr Gas Struck by a Sub-Joule Ultra-short Laser Pulse: an Exact Simulation

We have calculated the exact trajectories of 3321 electrons when struck by one 0.6 Joule optical pulse that is an exact solution of Maxwell's equations. These 3321 were initially at rest in a 1 mum-spaced cubic lattice around the focus of the 1 mum-wavelengfh pulse. Electrons gained energies up to 0.230 GeV.
Effectiveness of women's telephone counseling and physician education to improve mammography screening among women who underuse mammography.

The effect on women’s breast cancer screening utilization of a barrier-specific telephone counseling (BSTC) intervention, with and without a concurrent continuing medical education (CME) activity for their physicians, was evaluated. All participants (50-80 years of age) were not regular mammography users at baseline. A 4-arm quasi-experimental design was employed. Women were randomized to the BSTC or no BSTC group and assigned (with their physicians) to the CME or no CME group based on place of residence. Pre- and postintervention data were obtained for 1,601 women using telephone interviews conducted during 1995 and 1998, respectively. Among women who had ever used mammography at baseline, those who received BSTC were more likely than the control group to become regular mammography users at follow-up (OR = 1.4, p = .033). Greater reductions in perceived barriers to mammography, from baseline to follow-up, were significantly associated with receiving BSTC compared with the control group (p = .001), among women with previous mammography experience. Findings suggest that CME may have potential for initiating mammography use among women who never had a previous mammogram. However, because of the small sample available for analyses of the CME intervention and differential attrition among women who never had a previous mammogram, further study is needed to confirm this hypothesis.
Synthesis of Cryptophycins via an N-Acyl-β-lactam Macrolactonization

An efficient and concise approach to the synthesis of the macrolide core of the cryptophycins has been developed. A novel macrolactonization utilizing a reactive acyl-β-lactam intermediate incorporates the β-amino acid moiety within the 16-membered macrolide core. This modular approach, involving a cyanide-initiated acyl-β-lactam ring opening followed by cyclization, was successfully applied to the total synthesis of cryptophycin-24. The strategy was also used in an efficient synthesis of the 6,6-dimethyl-substituted dechlorocryptophycin-52. In this case, the cyanide-initiated ring opening of the bis-substituted 2-azetidinone followed by macrolactonization was achieved through a catalytic process.
Short Range Structure in the X(3872)

Abstract It is proposed that the newly discovered X(3872) is a JPC=1++ D 0 D 0∗ hadronic resonance stabilized by admixtures of ωJ/ψ and ρJ/ψ. A specific model of the state is constructed and tests of its internal structure are suggested via the predicted decay modes D 0 D 0 π 0 , D 0 D 0 γ , π+π−J/ψ, and π+π−π0J/ψ.
Persistence of spatial patterns produced by neural field equations

Abstract We study an integro-differential equation defined on a spatially extended domain, proposed in the literature as a model of short term memory. Previous researchers have established the necessary conditions for the existence of two-bump stationary solutions of this equation when considering a Heaviside firing rate function and a coupling function of “Mexican hat” type. One such condition concerns the positiveness of the external stimulus which is quite difficult to establish under general assumptions. We address this problem and determine the necessary conditions for the existence of two-bump stationary solutions that assure this requirement is met. Furthermore, we prove the existence of symmetric two-bump stationary solutions for a class of coupling functions and establish their linear stability.
Capsule Commentary on Bell et al., Impact of a Randomized Control Educational Trial to Improve Physician Practice Behaviors Around Screening for Inherited Breast Cancer.

T he completion of the human genome project led many to hope that physicians would be making increasing numbers of genetic diagnoses. At the same time, concerns began to develop about the work force needed to provide counseling around those diagnoses. Bell et al. rigorously studied an intervention to improve the skills of primary care physicians (PCPs) in genetic counseling, and found that that history taking and counseling were incomplete in almost all areas, with many tasks performed by less than 50% of physicians in either group. There were few differences between intervention groups. While disappointing, the study’s findings suggest several ways forward. The authors compiled an extensive list of 69 tasks important to comprehensive counseling. The list included a number of skills that are needed by physicians who order genetic tests without utilizing a genetic counselor, such as complete history-taking, discussions of test implications, and explorations of ethical and legal issues. This provides a framework for future training and research. The authors suggest that the focus for research should turn to improving genetic counseling referrals. Enhancing electronic medical record (EMR)-based use of risk prediction tools and team-based care could reduce the time required for PCPs to assess risk and select patients for counseling, and could be important ways to improve referrals. The direction for readying physicians to comprehensively counsel prior to ordering genetic testing is unclear. Primary care scenarios requiring genetic testing have not developed nearly as quickly as some expected, and this may be delaying physicians’ acquisition of the skills that are required. The 69 tasks that were compiled show that genetic counselors perform a substantial task, and the 6-hour intervention in this study did not make primary care physicians competent to do the task, even for a familiar scenario. Improving physicians’ skills has the potential to better target referrals, and could slow the growth in the need for such counselors. The authors conclude that enhancing the genetic counselor workforce is needed. Team-based care innovations could also help us better partner with genetic counselors. As more genetic tests become available, future research should examine how to develop and distribute the work among such teams.
Robust decision making in damage detection using piezoelectric transducers and Lamb wave propagation

In this paper, we present a robust quantitative decision-making methodology for structural damage detection using piezoelectric transducers and the Lamb wave approach with the consideration of environmental and operational variances. The features of wave propagation are extracted from multiple signals using an improved adaptive harmonic wavelet transform (AHWT), which are then denoised and highlighted by applying the principal component analysis (PCA) in the wavelet domain. After self-checking and updating the baseline dataset, the Hotelling's T2 analysis provides a statistical indication of damage under a certain given confidence level. The detectability, sensitivity and robustness of the methodology are investigated using experimental as well as numerical studies. As the basis for the detection practice, the propagation of Lamb waves in an aluminum beam is systematically studied in this paper.
SYNTHESES AND STRUCTURES OF SOME RU25+ COMPLEXES CONTAINING WEAKLY COORDINATING ANIONS AS AXIAL LIGANDS

Abstract The dehalogenation reactions of Ru 2 5+ complexes containing axial chloride ions with silver salts of weakly coordinating anions are described, illustrating the conditions under which the title compounds can be prepared. The reaction between Ru 2 (O 2 CEt) 4 Cl and AgX yields the compounds Ru 2 (O 2 CEt) 4 X ∞ (XCF 3 SO 3 − ( 1 ), ClO 4 − , ( 2 )); that between Ru 2 (O 2 CR) 4 Cl and AgBF 4 yields [Ru 2 (O 2 CR) 4 ]-[BF 4 ] (RMe ( 3 ), Et ( 4 )); and when Ru 2 (chp) 3 (O 2 CMe)Cl (Hchp=2-chloro-6-hydroxypyridine) is reacted with AgCF 3 SO 3 , Ru 2 (chp) 3 (O 2 CMe)CF 3 SO 3 ( 5 ) results. When Ru 2 (chp) 3 (O 2 CMe)Cl is reacted with [Ag(NCMe) 4 ][BF 4 ] instead, [Ru 2 (chp) 3 -(O 2 CMe)(NCMe)][BF 4 ] ( 6 ) results, and when Ru 2 (chp) 4 Cl is reacted with wet AgX, [Ru 2 (chp) 4 (OH 2 )][X] (XBF 4 − ( 7 ), CF 3 SO 3 − ( 8 )) are the products obtained. When 3 is subsequently reacted with 1 equiv. of pyridine, pyRu 2 (O 2 CMe) 4 BF 4 ( 9 ) is isolated, and when 4 is reacted with either THF or water, [Ru 2 (O 2 CEt) 4 (L) 2 ][BF 4 ] (LTHF ( 10 ), H 2 O ( 11 )) are the products. The structures of compounds 1, 2, 5 and 9 as determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction are described.
Triplet Acetylenes as Synthetic Equivalents of 1,2-Bicarbenes: Phantom n,π* State Controls Reactivity in Triplet Photocycloaddition

Diaryl acetylenes, in which one of the aryl groups is either a pyridine or a pyrazine, undergo efficient triplet state photocycloaddition to 1,4-cyclohexadiene with formation of 1,5-diaryl substituted tetracyclo[3.3.0.02,8.04,6]octanes (homoquadricyclanes). In the case of pyrazinyl acetylenes, the primary homoquadricyclane products undergo a secondary photochemical rearangement leading to diaryl substituted tricyclo[3.2.1.04,6]oct-2-enes. Mechanistic and photophysical studies suggest that photocycloaddition proceeds through an electrophilic triplet excited state whereas the subsequent rearrangement to the tricyclooctenes proceeds through a singlet excited state. Chemical and quantum yields for the cycloaddition, in general, correlate with the electron acceptor character of aryl substituents but are attenuated by photophysical factors, such as the competition between the conversion of acetylene singlet excited state into the reactive triplet excited states (intersystem crossing: ISC) and/or to the radical...
Numerical characterization of high-temperature filament interaction with blunt cylinder at Mach 3

Energy deposition is a robust technique for various high-speed flow control applications including drag reduction. A numerical study of energy deposition is performed for perfect gas flow approaching a blunt cylinder at Mach 3. The energy deposition is simulated by a high-temperature filament injected instantaneously in front of the cylinder. The effect of important dimensionless parameters is studied to characterize the drag modification. The results indicate a saturation effect on maximum drag reduction at higher magnitudes of energy deposition. The computations reveal that the discharge location of the filament does not significantly impact the drag. A phenomenological examination of the interaction is performed. The effectiveness and efficiency of the filament on drag reduction are investigated. A one-dimensional analytical approach is studied to describe the numerical results.
Mouse IgA allotypes have major differences in their hinge regions

Six IgA allotypes are serologically identifiable in inbred mice. The sequences of the PCR-amplified C alpha 1, C alpha 2 and C alpha 3 exons from the genomic DNA of mice of four previously unsequenced allotypes already have been compared with those of BALB/c and of a wild mouse, Mus pahari, in the literature. Sporadic differences, including several that may encode the known allotypic determinants, are found throughout the three exons, but major differences occur in the hinge. The hinge is longest in DBA/2 ( Igh-2(c)) mice, having an extra codon compared with that of BALB/c ( Igh-2(a)) and B10.A ( Igh-2(b)) mice. It is two codons shorter in CE ( Igh-2(f)) and four shorter in M. pahari, AKR and NZB (both Igh-2(d)) mice, but the position of the missing codons in the latter two strains is offset from that in M. pahari. The hinges in BALB/c ( Igh-2(a)) and DBA/2 ( Igh-2(c)) differ most from each other and from the other three allotypes, which are fairly closely related. Both BALB/c and DBA/2 have O-linked glycosylation sites, but they are in different positions in the hinge. Compared with BALB/c ( Igh-2(a)), B10.A( Igh-2(b)) has two extra Cys residues in the hinge, while DBA/2 ( Igh-2(c)), AKR/NZB ( Igh-2(d)) and CE ( Igh-2(f)) each have one. The differences in hinge length may have arisen by mismatching of highly repetitive portions of its sequence during meiotic recombination. Possible effects of the differences in hinge length and composition on the behavior of the mouse IgA allotypes are discussed.
Assessing parental effort in a Neotropical parrot: a comparison of methods.

Abstract Various behavioural or body condition indices are frequently used to measure avian parental effort. To determine which of the indices provide meaningful short-term assessments of parental effort, we used four of them concurrently on breeding green-rumped parrotlets, Forpus passerinus , and then compared the results with field metabolic rate (FMR) measurements obtained using the doubly labelled water (DLW) technique. Nest provisioning rate correlated significantly with FMR among both males and females, while proportion of time away from the nest was correlated with FMR in females but not in males. Adult mass change during the breeding cycle and feeding latency were both unrelated to FMR. Our results suggest researchers should be cautious in assuming that any indirect method of quantifying parental effort is reliable for a particular species. We also tested whether the relatively invasive DLW protocol causes potentially confounding changes in study animals’ subsequent behaviour. Paired observations before and after DLW injection showed no measurable changes in parrotlet nest attendance patterns or nest provisioning rate.
End Cutaneous Ureterostomy for the Management of Severe Hydronephrosis

Purpose: Although rarely indicated, surgical treatment of severe megaureter can pose a formidable technical challenge, especially in the small infant. We present our experience and outcomes with end cutaneous ureterostomy as a temporizing adjunct to future ureteral reimplantation.Materials and Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent end cutaneous ureterostomy between 1993 and 2005. Patient demographics, surgical details and outcomes were recorded.Results: A total of 29 patients (22 males, 7 females) underwent diversion of 34 renal units. Primary megaureter was diagnosed in 15 patients (17 renal units). Secondary megaureter was found in 10 patients (12 renal units). Postoperative megaureter was diagnosed in 4 patients (5 renal units). Mean patient age at time of diversion was 3.2 months for those with primary megaureter and 1.4 years overall. Bilateral diversion or diversion of a solitary functioning kidney was performed in 14 patients (48%), of whom 4 had renal insuffi...
A Search for Truth: A Critical Analysis of the Liberian Truth and Reconciliation Commission

In Liberia, much debate has surrounded the truth and reconciliation commission both in the challenges that it faced during its operational stage as well as in the issues surrounding the release and content of its report. This article will critically examine the establishment, proceedings, and findings of the Liberian Truth and Reconciliation Commission in order to draw conclusions regarding what lessons can be learned, what could have been done to make the commission more effective, and how we can learn from this example in applying transitional justice mechanisms for future African conflicts.
Operant approaches to group therapy in a school for handicapped children.

SUMMARY In order to determine the effectiveness of operant approaches to group therapy with children with cerebral palsy or mental retardation, four boys aged between 4 years 10 months and 5 years 7 months were given a total of 23 twice-weekly 30-minute treatment sessions. After treatment there was considerable improvement in the children's attention-to-tasks and they showed some increase in social interactions, though to a lesser degree. Teacher ratings also showed some improvement in classroom behavior. RESUME Approche ‘operante’a la therapie de groupe dans une ecole pour enfants IMC et retardes mentaux Dans le but d'apprecier la possibilite d'utiliser l'approche operante dans le conseil de groupe avec des enfants IMC et retardes mentaux, quatre garcons de 4 ans 10 mois a 5 ans 7 mois ont recu deux fois par semaine des sessions de traitement d'une demie heure (23 sessions en tout). Une amelioration considerable dans l'attention portee aux tâches par les enfants a ete trouvee ainsi qu' a un moindre degre une legere augmentation des interactions sociales. Les notes des enseignants ont indique un progres considerable dans le comportement en classe. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG Operantes Vorgehen bei Gruppentherapie in einer Schule fur Kinder mit Cerebralparese und geistiger Retardierung Zur Feststellung der Anwendbarkeit operanten Vorgehens bei Gruppentherapie bei Kindern mit Cerebralparese und geistiger Retardierung wurden 4 Jungen (im Alter von 4 Jahren 10 Monaten und 5 Jahren 7 Monaten) zweimal wochentlich in halbstundigen Sitzungen behandelt, (insgesamt 23 Sitzungen). Man fand eine beachtliche Verbesserung der Aufmerksamkeit bei den Aufgaben und die Kinder zeigten etwas mehr soziale Kontaktbereitschaft wenn auch nicht viel. Die Beurteilung durch die Lehrer dokumentierte eine deutliche Besserung im Schulverhalten. RESUMEN Aproximacion operante a una terapia de grupo en una escuela para ninos con paralisis cerebral y retraso mental Con el objeto de determinar la aplicabilidad de eproximaciones operantes a un grupo de consejo con ninos con paralisis cerebral y retraso mental, a cuatro ninos (de edad de 4 anos, 10 meses a 5 anos, 7 meses) se les aplicaron dos veces a la semana sesiones de tratamiento de media hora (23 sesiones en total). Se hallo una mejoria considerable en la atencion de los ninos para los trabajos y se vio que mostraron algun interes en interacciones sociales, si bien en un grado menor. Las evaluaciones de los profesores indicaron una mejoria considerable en el comportamiento en clase.
A STUDY ON AGING KINETICS OF ANSHAN PAVING ASPHALT

The aging processes of two Anshan paving asphalts conforming to GB/T15180-94 standard have been studied by Rotation Thin Film Oven Test (RTFOT) and the aging kinetic models of two paving asphalts have been determined. The results show that the aging of the prepared paving asphalt is a first order reaction. The viscosity of the asphalt increases gradually with the aging time. The greater the aging index is, the more easily the asphalt is aged. Because the chains break down to form free radicals, oxidation reactions occur. The aging resistance of the asphalt with lower aromaticity and with less aromatic cycle numbers is weak.
The effects of spiritual practices on recovery from substance abuse

Twelve-step programs have stressed the importance of spiritual practices for over four decades. The spiritual principles embodied in the twelve-step programs may be key in their success of recovering addicts/alcoholics with an overall recovery rate of 34%. A literature search revealed little available data on spiritual principles and practices and their effects on long-term recovery from substance abuse. This study compared two groups of recovering addicts, those with one year of recovery and those with less than one year and a history of relapse. Spiritual practices were measured using a five-point Likert scale questionnaire. The results of the study indicated a relationship between spiritual practices and long-term recovery from substance abuse.
Revertants of human cells transformed by murine sarcoma virus

Revertants of nonproducer human osteosarcoma (NP/KHOS) cells induced by Kirsten murine sarcoma virus were isolated after incubating at high temperature (40.5 degrees C) overnight and subcloning at 36 degrees C. The morphologic variants, from which murine sarcoma virus could no longer be rescued, had growth properties similar to those of the nontransformed, parent human osteosarcoma cells and did not release RNA-dependent DNA polymerase activity. These revertants were nontumorigenic in nude mice. The revertants supported leukemia virus growth and showed an enhanced sensitivity to murine sarcoma virus superinfection. Thus, the revertants were from human cells transformed by an oncogenic RNA virus.
Thermal Model for Three-Dimensional Irregular Shaped Pultruded Fiberglass Composites:

Computer simulation of the manufacturing of pultruded composite materials has been limited strictly to one or two-dimensional modeling of simple flat or circular shaped composites. This research presents the modeling of unsteady-state temperature and degree of cure distributions for the manufacturing of fiberglass-epoxy composite materials with irregular cartesian geometries in three-dimensions. The model is capable of predicting temperature and degree of cure distributions for composites with cartesian shapes in three dimensions, and temperature profiles in pultrusion dies without the aid of predetermined temperature values used as die wall boundary conditions. One of the benefits of this model is in designing the heating section of pultruder machines.Using a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) the chemical kinetic parameters for Shell EPON 9420 epoxy resin were obtained. A finite difference control volume technique was utilized in the development of the numerical model for solving the governing ener...