cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Perspectives on Conversations About Costs of Cancer Care of Breast Cancer Survivors and Cancer Center Staff: A Qualitative Study

Background Despite recommendations to discuss the cost of care (CoC) with patients with cancer, little formal guidance is available on how to conduct these sensitive conversations in ways that are acceptable to both patients and providers. Objective To explore the perspectives of patients and medical and nonmedical cancer center staff on CoC conversations. Design In individual interviews, participants were asked to discuss the content of, timing of, and ideal person to hold CoC conversations. Interviews were transcribed verbatim. Content was analyzed to identify emerging essential elements. Setting Division of Preventive Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham. Participants 42 women aged 60 to 79 years with a history of breast cancer and 20 cancer center staff (6 physicians, 4 nurses, 5 patient navigators, 3 social workers, and 2 billing specialists). Results Both patients and providers identified reassurance and action as essential elements of CoC conversations. Participants expressed the importance of reassurance that recommended medical care would not be affected by affordability challenges. Action was intended as discussions on ways to help patients cover treatment-related costs, such as discussion of payment plans or linkage to financial resources. Optimal timing for CoC conversations was felt to be after an initial consult visit but before treatment started. The person to hold these conversations should be compassionate, helpful, and knowledgeable of the patient's specific situation (for example, treatment plan, insurance coverage) and of the resources available to attain the patient's goals of care. Limitation Interviews were limited to older breast cancer survivors and staff at 1 institution. Conclusion Conversations about CoC extend beyond discussing costs and must be sensitive to the vulnerability experienced by patients. These findings can guide training of personnel involved in CoC conversations. Primary funding source Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
Glucose Variability as Measured by Inter-measurement Percentage Change is Predictive of In-patient Mortality in Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Critically ill aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) patients suffer from systemic complications at a high rate. Hyperglycemia is a common intensive care unit (ICU) complication and has become a focus after aggressive glucose management was associated with improved ICU outcomes. Subsequent research has suggested that glucose variability, not a specific blood glucose range, may be a more appropriate clinical target. Glucose variability is highly correlated to poor outcomes in a wide spectrum of critically ill patients. Here, we investigate the changes between subsequent glucose values termed “inter-measurement difference,” as an indicator of glucose variability and its association with outcomes in patients with aSAH. All SAH admissions to a single, tertiary referral center between 2002 and 2016 were screened. All aneurysmal cases who had more than 2 glucose measurements were included (n = 2451). We calculated several measures of variability, including simple variance, the average consecutive absolute change, average absolute change by time difference, within subject variance, median absolute deviation, and average or median consecutive absolute percentage change. Predictor variables also included admission Hunt and Hess grade, age, gender, cardiovascular risk factors, and surgical treatment. In-patient mortality was the main outcome measure. In a multiple regression analysis, nearly all forms of glucose variability calculations were found to be correlated with in-patient mortality. The consecutive absolute percentage change, however, was most predictive: OR 5.2 [1.4–19.8, CI 95%] for percentage change and 8.8 [1.8–43.6] for median change, when controlling for the defined predictors. Survival to ICU discharge was associated with lower glucose variability (consecutive absolute percentage change 17% ± 9%) compared with the group that did not survive to discharge (20% ± 15%, p < 0.01). Interestingly, this finding was not significant in patients with pre-admission poorly controlled diabetes as indicated by HbA1c (OR 0.45 [0.04–7.18], by percentage change). The effect is driven mostly by non-diabetic patients or those with well-controlled diabetes. Reduced glucose variability is highly correlated with in-patient survival and long-term mortality in aSAH patients. This finding was observed in the non-diabetic and well-controlled diabetic patients, suggesting a possible benefit for personalized glucose targets based on baseline HbA1c and minimizing variability. The inter-measure percentage change as an indicator of glucose variability is not only predictive of outcome, but is an easy-to-use tool that could be implemented in future clinical trials.
A Multidimensional, Multi-tiered System of Supports Model to Promote School Attendance and Address School Absenteeism

School attendance and school completion are important benchmarks of successful development. Unfortunately, school absenteeism and school dropout remain debilitating and prevalent conditions among youth. Stakeholders invested in promoting school attendance and reducing school absenteeism generally agree that multifaceted ecological frameworks are needed to account for these heterogeneous problems as well as differences across local education agencies and broader jurisdictions. A multi-tiered system of supports (MTSS) framework emphasizes many aspects that match well with school attendance and its problems, including prevention and a continuum of supports, screening, evidence-based assessment and intervention, problem-solving and data-based decision-making, implementation fidelity, and natural embedding into extant school improvement plans. This article outlines a multidimensional MTSS model for school attendance and absenteeism to account for recent developments regarding service delivery within schools. Such developments include integrated models of multi-tiered service delivery to concurrently address multiple domains of functioning, the development of more nuanced approaches for students with various challenges, and consideration of three-dimensional (pyramidal) perspectives to allow simultaneous and yet nuanced strategies for several domain clusters. Sample domain clusters common to the literature that could populate the multiple dimensions or sides of a MTSS pyramid model for school attendance and absenteeism are presented. These domain clusters include (1) school refusal/truancy/school withdrawal/school exclusion, (2) functional profiles and analysis, (3) preschool/elementary/middle/high school, (4) ecological levels of impact on school attendance and its problems, and (5) low/moderate/high absenteeism severity. Recommendations are made as well regarding broader MTSS integration and implementation science vis-a-vis school attendance and its problems.
NLO Coefficients of Polyenes: Size and Alternation Dependence

The static polarizability and second hyperpolarizability of N-site polyenes are found for noninteracting (Huckel) and interacting (Pariser-Parr-Pople) chains with alternating transfer integrals t(1 ± δ). Saturation with increasing N is shown to depend on δ > 0 and contributions from unlinked clusters are shown to cancel. Reduced NLO coefficients are introduced to compare electron-electron correlations in cuantum cell models with identical optical gaps Eg, rather than identical δ.
Carmen and the staging of Spain: recasting Bizet’s opera in the Belle Epoque

Since its first incarnation in 1845 as a novella by Prosper Merimee and its 1875 reconfiguration into an opera comique by Georges Bizet, Carmen has occupied the page, stage and cinema for over 150 ...
Shockwave dissipation by interface-dominated porous structures

The advent of additive manufacturing (AM) has enabled topological control of structures at the micrometer scale, transforming the properties of polymers for a variety of applications. Examples include tailored mechanical responses, acoustic properties, and thermal properties. Porous polymer materials are a class of materials used for shock and blast mitigation, yet they frequently possess a lack of structural order and are largely developed and evaluated via trial-and-error. Here, we demonstrate control of shockwave dissipation through interface-dominated structures prepared by AM using 2-photon polymerization. A fractal structure with voids, or free surfaces, arranged less than 100 μm apart, allows for rarefaction interactions on the timescale of the shockwave loading. Simulations and dynamic x-ray phase contrast imaging experiments show that fractal structures with interfaces assembled within a “critical” volume reduce shockwave stress and wave velocity by over an order of magnitude within the first unit cell.
Assessing the impact of research capstone preparation in the economics curriculum

It is challenging for economics major programs to support an undergraduate research capstone where the goal is for all majors to complete a research project that creates new knowledge. Our program ...
Study of the Procedure for Bath Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction of Total Flavonoid from Lotus Seeds and Testing Some Biological Activities

In this study, we investigated impact of single factor: solvent concentration ethanol, solvent pH, ultrasound time, solvent ratio: raw material and ultrasound temperature on the total flavonoid extraction from lotus seeds. Based on survey on factors affecting extraction conditions by the ultrasound bath method, all five surveyed factors were found to have strong influences on total flavonoid extraction process. From factorial design of experimental planning using surface response methodology (RSM), optimal conditions for extraction of total flavonoid from lotus seeds were found in extraction time (98.005 min); solvent concentration ethanol (86.160 %), pH solvent ethanol (4.546), bath ultrasound temperature (22.210°C) and solvent/material ratio (8.376 (v/w)). Under above optimum conditions, total extracted flavonoids was 0.812 (mg Catechin/g extract). Experimental results showed a high compatibility with estimated RSM model. Total flavonoid content obtained in the original liquid extract was 0.797 ± 0.011 (mg Catechin/g extract). The highest antioxidant activity was found to be from ethanol extract with IC50 value (0.058 ± 0.004 (µg/mL), in comparison with IC50 of ascorbic acid, 0.002 ± 0.001 (µg/mL). Moreover, 50 % of DPPH scavenging ability of liquid and condensed extract differed from each other.
Low and High Voltage PFC Slope Coefficient Monitoring During Pot Start-Up

The latest intergovernmental panel on climate change update includes a methodology to estimate perfluorocarbon (PFC) emissions generated during reduction cell start-up. Alcoa has sampled PFC emissions to estimate tier 3 PFC emission slope from aluminum cell operation including cell start-up, for low and high voltage PFC emissions. Results obtained show that cell start-up methodology will impact the PFC emission slope. Thus, some aluminum smelters will have similar PFC emission slope coefficients for cell start-up and older cell in operation, while others will have different PFC emission slope coefficients for start-up and older cell. Based on this, Alcoa smelters in Canada have put in place a procedure to analyze and use different slopes or integrate both results into one slope depending on the number of pots started during a given period.
Binge Drinking, Tobacco, and Marijuana Use Among Young Adult Childhood Cancer Survivors: A Longitudinal Study.

Objectives: Substance use among young adult childhood cancer survivors (YACCSs) has been found to increase during survivorship, resulting in increased risk of developing long-term negative health o...
Enhancing high-order harmonic generation by controlling the diffusion of the electron wave packet

We experimentally study the enhancement of high-order harmonic generation (HHG) driven by synthesized ω−3ω laser fields, where we control whether the ionization rate or the electron wave packet’s diffusion is the dominant enhancement mechanism. When minimizing the electron wave packet’s diffusion, the excursion times of the corresponding electron trajectories are reduced by a factor of 2 or more. This result is important for imaging techniques that use the returning electron wave packet to probe the remaining ion. Furthermore, we achieve a 10× to 3800× enhancement of the harmonic yield driven by the bichromatic fields relative to that of an optimized single-color field, showing that the bichromatic fields improve HHG’s capability as a light source. We also measure that the two-color field’s harmonics have half the divergence angle compared to their single-color counterpart, suggesting that the “short” electron trajectories play a more prominent role compared to their “long” trajectory counterparts, thus improving the wavefront of the emerging harmonic beam.
“With Politics, It’s Easier to Talk to Them About It”: Peer Racial Socialization and Sociopolitical Development Among Black College Students:

With the increased frequency of highly publicized racism in the United States, the engagement of racial socialization among Black emerging adults and their peers is critical for navigating their ra...
The Difficulty in Measuring Staff Training Effects

Various educational and organizational paradigms have been produced that facilitate development of psychiatric rehabilitation programs in real-world settings; some of these paradigms were reviewed earlier in the volume. Unfortunately, both the quantity and quality of research testing of the paradigms has been lacking. The purpose of this chapter is to review the state of research in staff development vis-a-vis psychiatric rehabilitation and, more importantly, to provide guidelines for future research in this arena. Research strategies for investigating various staff and organizational development approaches are discussed. First, however, research on staff and organizational development needs to be put into perspective by placing it on a continuum of intervention research.
Influence of surface contamination on the wettability of heat transfer surfaces

Abstract The wettability of heat transfer surfaces plays an important role in liquid–vapor phase change phenomena, including boiling incipience, the critical heat flux, the Leidenfrost transition, and condensation. The influence of adsorbed surface contamination at the nanoscale, though seldom considered, can have a profound impact on wetting behavior. This study quantitatively investigates the impact of contaminant layer thickness on wettability. Various cleaning treatments are explored on zirconium and 6061 aluminum to determine the effect on contaminant and oxide layer thickness. Angle-resolved X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy can be used to measure the thickness of oxide and contaminant layers, which is then correlated to wettability by measuring the equilibrium contact angle. Results indicate that even after solvent cleaning, the contact angle of water on practical heat transfer surfaces is dominated by a hydrocarbon contaminant overlayer around five nanometers thick.
Identifying AD-sensitive and cognition-relevant imaging biomarkers via joint classification and regression

Traditional neuroimaging studies in Alzheimer's disease (AD) typically employ independent and pairwise analyses between multimodal data, which treat imaging biomarkers, cognitive measures, and disease status as isolated units. To enhance mechanistic understanding of AD, in this paper, we conduct a new study for identifying imaging biomarkers that are associated with both cognitive measures and AD. To achieve this goal, we propose a new sparse joint classification and regression method. The imaging biomarkers identified by our method are AD-sensitive and cognition-relevant and can help reveal complex relationships among brain structure, cognition and disease status. Using the imaging and cognition data from Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative database, the effectiveness of the proposed method is demonstrated by clearly improved performance on predicting both cognitive scores and disease status.
Information Filtering Using the Riemannian SVD (R-SVD)

The Riemannian SVD (or R-SVD) is a recent nonlinear generalization of the SVD which has been used for specific applications in systems and control. This decomposition can be modified and used to formulate a filtering-based implementation of Latent Semantic Indexing (LSI) for conceptual information retrieval. With LSI, the underlying semantic structure of a collection is represented in k-dimensional space using a rank-k approximation to the corresponding (sparse) term-bydocument matrix. Updating LSI models based on user feedback can be accomplished using constraints modeled by the R-SVD of a low-rank approximation to the original term-by-document matrix.
In 0.53 Ga 0.47 As MOSFETs with high channel mobility and gate stack quality fabricated on 300 mm Si substrate

In 0.53 Ga 0.47 As channel MOSFETs were fabricated on 300 mm Si substrate. The epitaxial In 0.53 Ga 0.47 As channel layer exhibits high Hall electron mobility comparable to those grown on lattice matched InP substrates. Excellent device characteristics (SS∼95 mV/dec., I on /I off ∼105, DIBL ∼51 mV/V at V ds = 0.5V for L g =150 nm device) with good uniformity across the wafer were demonstrated. The extracted high field effect mobility (µ EF = 1837 cm2/V-s with EOT ∼ 0.9 nm) is among the highest values reported for surface channel In 0.53 Ga 0.47 As MOSFETs.
Programming the eight-core propeller chip

This article illustrates how to program a new eight-core microcontroller called the Propeller by Parallax, Inc. Three very simple programs are given and explained. One program causes an LED to blink five times, a second program illustrates parallel processing, and a third program shows how to read and display an RFID tag value. The programming language used is called Spin which has OOP characteristics but lacks true inheritance. Also, included in the article are a short overview of the microcontroller's architecture and a description of one author's teaching experience with this microcontroller.
Effects of Nanowire Length and Surface Roughness on the Electrochemical Sensor Properties of Nafion-Free, Vertically Aligned Pt Nanowire Array Electrodes.

In this paper, vertically aligned Pt nanowire arrays (PtNWA) with different lengths and surface roughnesses were fabricated and their electrochemical performance toward hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) detection was studied. The nanowire arrays were synthesized by electroplating Pt in nanopores of anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) template. Different parameters, such as current density and deposition time, were precisely controlled to synthesize nanowires with different surface roughnesses and various lengths from 3 μm to 12 μm. The PtNWA electrodes showed better performance than the conventional electrodes modified by Pt nanowires randomly dispersed on the electrode surface. The results indicate that both the length and surface roughness can affect the sensing performance of vertically aligned Pt nanowire array electrodes. Generally, longer nanowires with rougher surfaces showed better electrochemical sensing performance. The 12 μm rough surface PtNWA presented the largest sensitivity (654 μA·mM−1·cm−2) among all the nanowires studied, and showed a limit of detection of 2.4 μM. The 12 μm rough surface PtNWA electrode also showed good anti-interference property from chemicals that are typically present in the biological samples such as ascorbic, uric acid, citric acid, and glucose. The sensing performance in real samples (river water) was tested and good recovery was observed. These Nafion-free, vertically aligned Pt nanowires with surface roughness control show great promise as versatile electrochemical sensors and biosensors.
Novel Tools for Assessing Student Discussions: Modeling threads and participant roles using speech act and course topic analysis

This paper describes new techniques for assessing pedagogical discourse via threaded discussions that are based on an analysis of speech acts and course topics. The context is an undergraduate computer science course. We use speech act analysis to assess the effect of instructor participation on student participation and to create thread profiles that help identify threads characterized by agreement, debate, and unresolved issues, such as threads that may have unanswered questions. For the first time, we integrate an analysis of course topics to help identify discussions of particular interest or confusion.
Instructional Delivery Methods for Training Students To Operate Computers: An Empirical Study

Why is it that students of apparently equal capability vary greatly in their ability to learn to use a computer system, that some individuals require little more than a manual while others require careful explanation before they are able to complete even the simplest tasks? To answer this question an experiment was conducted where students were taught how to use a computerized beverage management system by one of two instructional delivery methods, manual-based training (MBT) and instructor-based training (IBT). Subjects trained using IBT took significantly longer to train than did subjects using MBT. After being trained, however, subjects using MBT took significantly longer to complete a series of problems than did subjects using IBT. Correlations between instructional method and performance time were partially explained by the individual characteristic of field-dependence/ independence. The characteristics of anxiety, prior computer experience, sex and age did not significantly relate to training delive...
Reverse transcriptional profiling: non-correspondence of transcript level variation and proximal promoter polymorphism.

Variation in gene expression between two Drosophila melanogaster strains, as revealed by transcriptional profiling, seldom corresponded to variation in proximal promoter sequence for 34 genes analyzed. Two sets of protein-coding genes were selected from pre-existing microarray data: (1) those whose expression varied significantly and reproducibly between strains, and (2) those whose transcript levels did not vary. Only genes whose regulation of expression was uncharacterized were chosen. At least one kB of the proximal promoters of 15–19 genes in each set was sequenced and compared between strains (Oregon R and Russian 2b). Of the many promoter polymorphisms, 89.6% were SNPs and 10.4% were indels, including homopolymer tracts, microsatellite repeats, and putative transposable element footprints. More than half of the SNPs were changes within a nucleotide class. Hypothetically, genes differing in expression between the two strains should have more proximal promoter polymorphisms than those whose expression is similar. The number, frequency, and type of polymorphism, however, were the same in both sets of genes. In fact, the promoters of six genes with significantly different mRNA expression were identical in sequence. For these genes, sequences external to the proximal promoter, such as enhancers or in trans, must play a greater role than the proximal promoter in transcriptomic variation between D. melanogaster strains.
Organizational Justice and Dispute Resolution: A Six-Factor Model for Workplace Mediation

This study examines the relationship between organizational justice and workplace mediation. Despite the value of using organizational justice to assess the perceived fairness of workplace mediation, there may be some problems with the wholesale application of the traditional four-factor model of organizational justice to such processes. The most obvious problem is the application of a model designed to assess justice perception in a two-way supervisor-subordinate relationship (as is the case in most organizational justice research) to a mediation process where there are multiple and divergent directions of interaction and reduced power imbalances. This study proposes and tests a six-factor model of organizational justice for application to workplace mediation. It finds that a six-factor model provides a significantly better fit for workplace mediation than the traditional four-factor model. This result has implications for both the theory and practice behind workplace mediation.
Civil War Intervention and the Problem of Iraq

Outside intervention in civil warfare is important for humanitarian, theoretical, and practical policy reasons—since 2006, much of the debate over the war in Iraq has turned on the danger of external intervention if the United States were to withdraw. Yet, the literature on intervention has been compartmented in ways that have made it theoretically incomplete and unsuitable as a guide to policy. We therefore integrate and expand upon the theoretical and empirical work on intervention and apply the results to the policy debate over the US presence in Iraq using a Monte Carlo simulation to build upon the dyadic results of probit analysis. We find that Iraq is, in fact, a significantly intervention-prone conflict in an empirical context; the prospect of a wider, regional war in the event that violence returns in the aftermath of US withdrawal cannot safely be ignored.
Chironomid abundance and consumption by juvenile channel catfish in plastic-lined and earthen culture ponds

In 2004, research was conducted to compare chironomid larvae populations and their use by channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) fingerlings in two different culture systems. Over a 4-month culture period, chironomid larvae densities in plastic-lined ponds were significantly less than those in earthen ponds. The consumption of chironomid larvae by channel catfish fingerlings was related to chironomid abundance in earthen ponds. The significance of these findings is the possible relationship among pond type, initial consumption of commercial diets and subsequent survival rates of fingerling channel catfish.
The magnitude of the T cell response to a clinically significant dose of influenza virus is regulated by TRAIL

An immune response of appropriate magnitude should be robust enough to control pathogen spread but not simultaneously lead to immunopathology. Primary infection with influenza A virus (IAV) results in a localized pulmonary infection and inflammation and elicits an IAV-specific CD8 T cell immune response necessary for viral clearance. Clearance of IAV-infected cells, and recovery from infection, is mediated by perforin/granzyme B- and Fas/FasL-mediated mechanisms. We recently reported that TRAIL is another means by which IAV-specific CD8 T cells can kill IAV-infected cells. The current study examined the role of TRAIL in the pulmonary CD8 T cell response to a clinically significant IAV [A/PR/8/34 (PR8; H1N1)] infection (i.e., leads to observable, but limited, morbidity and mortality in wild-type [WT] mice). Compared with WT mice, IAV-infected Trail(-/-) mice experienced increased morbidity and mortality despite similar rates of viral clearance from the lungs. The increased morbidity and mortality in Trail(-/-) mice correlated with increased pulmonary pathology and inflammatory chemokine production. Analysis of lung-infiltrating lymphocytes revealed increased numbers of IAV-specific CD8 T cells in infected Trail(-/-) mice, which correlated with increased pulmonary cytotoxic activity and increased pulmonary expression of MIG and MIP-1α. In addition, there was decreased apoptosis and increased proliferation of IAV-specific CD8 T cells in the lungs of Trail(-/-) mice compared with WT mice. Together, these data suggest that TRAIL regulates the magnitude of the IAV-specific CD8 T cell response during a clinically significant IAV infection to decrease the chance for infection-induced immunopathology.
Multifilament Stainless Steel as a Core Suture Material in Flexor Tendon Repair

Over the past decades flexor tendons have been repaired using many repair configurations and suture types. The result of the repair depends on the method of attachment of the suture to the tendon(1), as well as the characteristics of the suture material (2). Both the ultimate tensile strength of the repair and the force needed to produce a 2mm gap at the repair site are important(3). Ultimate tensile strength and gap formation depend on the number of strands crossing the repair site, the characteristics of the suture material(4,5), and the repair configuration to the tendon. Stiffer sutures allow less gap formation for the same applied force(5). The repair also depends on the knot holding ability of the suture, because sutures fail most frequently at the knots. This is either because the knots untie or the suture is weakened at these points. The ideal combination is a suture technique that provides a strong attachment to the tendon, with a suture that is strong and resists elongation. Combined with these features the method should also be relatively simple to perform, with suture that is manageable and easy to tie.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Bringing Classical Embryology to C. elegans Gastrulation

Abstract In a recent paper, Lee and Goldstein develop an explant assay that recapitulates key aspects of gastrulation in C. elegans and permits classical embryological manipulations. The resulting detailed analysis of cell behavior will ultimately extend to broader issues, such as, whether morphogenesis can be described as the sum of single-cell events or if unique phenomena emerge at the multicellular level.
Real-Time Multiple Human Perception With Color-Depth Cameras on a Mobile Robot

The ability to perceive humans is an essential requirement for safe and efficient human-robot interaction. In real-world applications, the need for a robot to interact in real time with multiple humans in a dynamic, 3-D environment presents a significant challenge. The recent availability of commercial color-depth cameras allow for the creation of a system that makes use of the depth dimension, thus enabling a robot to observe its environment and perceive in the 3-D space. Here we present a system for 3-D multiple human perception in real time from a moving robot equipped with a color-depth camera and a consumer-grade computer. Our approach reduces computation time to achieve real-time performance through a unique combination of new ideas and established techniques. We remove the ground and ceiling planes from the 3-D point cloud input to separate candidate point clusters. We introduce the novel information concept, depth of interest, which we use to identify candidates for detection, and that avoids the computationally expensive scanning-window methods of other approaches. We utilize a cascade of detectors to distinguish humans from objects, in which we make intelligent reuse of intermediary features in successive detectors to improve computation. Because of the high computational cost of some methods, we represent our candidate tracking algorithm with a decision directed acyclic graph, which allows us to use the most computationally intense techniques only where necessary. We detail the successful implementation of our novel approach on a mobile robot and examine its performance in scenarios with real-world challenges, including occlusion, robot motion, nonupright humans, humans leaving and reentering the field of view (i.e., the reidentification challenge), human-object and human-human interaction. We conclude with the observation that the incorporation of the depth information, together with the use of modern techniques in new ways, we are able to create an accurate system for real-time 3-D perception of humans by a mobile robot.
Short-term biochemical effects of parenteral calcium treatment of early-onset neonatal hypocalcemia

We measured the maximum increase and rate of decrease in serum calcium and ionized calcium concentrations following a rapid infusion of 18 mg/kg of elemental calcium in 24 hypocalcemic premature neonates. The peak increases were estimated to be 6.10 and 2.55 mg/dl above baseline for calcium and ionized calcium, respectively. Decreases of both calcium and ionized calcium concentrations toward baseline were linear functions of the log of the time in minutes since the infusion. By approximately 30 minutes after the infusion, the increase in concentration was half of the estimated peak increase; the estimated time to return to baseline was 12 hours for serum calcium concentrations and 15 hours for serum ionized calcium. The rapid decrease in serum concentrations was probably related to skeletal accumulation and could not be accounted for by renal loss since only a mean of 1.5% of the infused calcium was estimated to have been lost in the urine. From these data we suggest that bolus calcium therapy may not be the most effective way to treat neonatal hypocalcemia if a sustained increase in the serum calcium concentration is the primary goal of therapy.
Fractionation of mitochondrial RNA from HeLa cells by high-resolution electrophoresis under strongly denaturing conditions☆

Abstract Electrophoresis through agarose slab gels in the presence of the strong denaturing agent methylmercuric hydroxide, in combination with autoradiography, has been used in the present work to resolve different species of 32 P-labeled mitochondrial RNA from HeLa cells. At least 18 discrete poly(A)-containing RNA components and 14 discrete components lacking poly(A) have been identified in the molecular weight range from 9 × 10 4 to 3.4 × 10 6 . Heterodisperse RNA, especially abundant in the high molecular weight region of the gel, up to about 4.5 × 10 6 , has also been observed. The sensitivity to ethidium bromide and the base sequence homology to mitochondrial DNA of all the discrete components and of a substantial portion of the heterogeneous RNA point to their mitochondrial DNA origin. The number and size of the discrete poly(A)-containing RNA components transcribed from the heavy mitochondrial DNA strand are such that their sequences cannot be accommodated in the portions of the heavy strand not occupied by the ribosomal RNA and tRNA genes; this indicates either a precursor to product relationship between some of these components, or overlapping transcription of segments of the heavy strand. Furthermore, the size limit of the heterogeneous components hybridizing to the light mitochondrial DNA strand strongly suggests that this strand may be transcribed in the form of long, continuous molecules, which undergo progressive shortening as a result of processing.
Heterodera schachtii responses to exogenous hormones.

Abstract Infective larvae of H. schachtii , the sugar beet nematode, were treated with aqueous and oil solutions of selected steroids and sesquiterpene derivatives then placed on host plants for development. Among the larvae treated with oil testosterone solutions, only females were observed to develop with a hypodermal tuberculum in the dorsal sector anterior to the circumesophageal commissure. Among larvae treated with oil solutions of 2,3- cis/trans -6,7- trans farnesyl diethylamine and methyl ether only males were observed to manifest prodigious testicular development together with consequent morphological aberrations.
Investigation of Instabilities in Microstrip-Sustained Microplasma

Plasmas at atmospheric pressure are vulnerable to ionization overheating instability followed by a destructive glow-to-arc transition (GAT) as power density increases. We report the characteristics of steady-state atmospheric pressure microplasmas in nonflowing argon and air driven by up to 40 W of microwave power. These microdischarges are supported by either 1) a quarter-wave microstrip resonator or 2) a microstrip transmission line. Modeling shows that the resonator configuration rejects excess power as the discharge resistance drops below 1 k \(\Omega \) and the microplasma remains stable. The transmission line configuration couples power efficiently to a 100- \(\Omega \) discharge resistance and produces a more intense microplasma. Electrode materials of copper, aluminum, and lead-based solder are investigated on both polymer-composite and alumina substrates. In both the configurations, copper electrodes are robust. Metal electrodes with lower melting points, however, may be evaporated by the highest power microdischarges and this induces arc-like behavior. Discharges supported on polymer-based substrates are damaged and show optical emission from C2 as well as CN and CH, but alumina substrates are unaffected by the microplasma. With the correct materials selection, both microstrip transmission line and resonator microplasma generators effectively ballast the discharge against a GAT.
Effect of ribose O(2')-methylation on the conformation of nucleosides and nucleotides.

Abstract Semi-empirical conformational energy calculations using partitioned functions have been carried out on 2′- O -methyladenosine, the corresponding 5′-nucleotide and the 3′,5′-diphosphate to assess the influence of the 2′-methoxy group on their favored conformations. Calculations have been performed for the two modes of sugar puckerings observed in the crystal structure of 2′- O -methyladenosine, C(3′)- endo -C(2′)- exo , 3 T 2 , and C(2′)- exo -C(3′)- endo , 2 T 3 . It is found that the anti conformation is favored for both puckers and the conformation about the C(4′)—C(5′) bond shows a very slight preference for gauche—gauche in C(3′)- endo -C(2′)- exo and gauche—trans in C(2′)- exo -C(3′)- endo . In the corresponding 5′-nucleotide, the anti-gg combination is strongly favored for the C(3′)- endo pucker while it constitutes less than 50% for the C(2′)- exo pucker. Further the C(2′)- exo rings favor lower values ( endo rings. While O (2′)-methylation apparently has little effect on the preferred conformations of either the nucleosides or 5′-nucleotides, the range of favored conformations of the 3′-phosphate group is considerably restricted. The conformation of the methyl group (defined by the torsion C(1′)—C(2′)—O(2′)—methyl itself is restricted to values of 80–160° in nucleosides and 5′-nucleotides and is further constrained to values 90–130° in the presence of the 3′-phosphate. It is anticipated that this may be important in restricting the backbone conformations in 2′- O -methylated polynucleotides.
The Distribution of Estrogens in the Blood of Pregnant and Non-pregnant Women1

IN A PREVIOUS COMMUNICATION (1) it was shown that the estrogenic hormone content of blood cells from nonpregnant women is twice or more than that of blood serum when compared per unit volume. The present study deals with an analysis of the amounts of estrogen demonstrable in the (a) serum, (h) red cells, and (c) a mixture of red and white cells in the blood of women during various stages of gestation as well as in non-pregnant individuals.
One-trial learning in goldfish: Temperature dependence

Abstract Goldfish (N = 2260) learned to suppress their spontaneous upstream swimming into a calm-water well, after a single trial punished by brief electric shock. Memory of this suppression was dependent upon water temperature (10°, 20°, or 30°), shock level (6, 9, 12, or 24 V), and test interval after shock (0.33-1024 min). During the first 16 min, retention increased with temperature and less so with shock. Retention declined to low levels 1024 min after the shock. A biphasic pattern of retention, with a dip at 1 min after shock, was observed at 10° with 24-V shock and at 20° with 6, 9, or 12-V shock but not under conditions of high temperature or shock. The biphasic dip is interpreted as reflecting the partial overlap of two phases of memory formation.
Licanic acid of oiticica fat and a study of its nutritive value and efficiency

1. A survey of the literature onLicania rigida has been made and the more important chemical contributions briefly reviewed. Attempt has been made to include a complete bibliography with this paper. 2. It appears from the experimental evidence obtained in this work that licanic acid possesses no apparent energy value and that under the conditions described is slightly deleterious to the growth of young rats. 3. Licanic acid has some efficiency in the animal. It is capable, in the rat, of assisting in the utilization of lactose in milk as indicated by its prophylactic action in preventing sugar loss via the urine.
Sex-specificity and estrogen-dependence of kappa opioid receptor-mediated antinociception and antihyperalgesia.

Abstract This investigation determined whether the activation of the kappa opioid receptor (KOR) in the spinal cord produces estrogen-dependent, sex-specific modulation of acute and inflammation-induced persistent nociception. We demonstrate for the first time that KOR antinociception and gene expression are enhanced by exogenous or endogenous estrogen in the female. The lack of KOR antinociception and KOR gene expression are not altered by the hormonal status (testosterone or estrogen) in males. Cannulae were implanted intrathecally in male, gonadectomized male (GDX), intact and ovariectomized female (OVX) Sprague–Dawley rats. Estradiol was injected subcutaneously, 48 h before testing (GDX+E and OVX+E). Intrathecal injection of U50,488H, a selective KOR agonist, dose dependently increased heat-evoked tail flick latencies (TFLs) in proestrous and OVX+E groups, but not in male, GDX, GDX+E, OVX, and diestrous groups. Further, estrogen dose-dependently enhanced the effect of U50,488H in OVX rats. KOR selective antagonist, nor-binaltorphimine (Nor-BNI), blocked the antinociceptive effect of U50,488H. U50,488H reversed the carrageenan-induced thermal hyperalgesia in OVX+E rats, but not in male or OVX rats. However, U50,488H treatment did not alter mechanical thresholds in any group, with or without inflammation. KOR gene expression was enhanced in proestrous and OVX+E groups as compared to any other group. We conclude that selective activation of KOR in the spinal cord produces sex-specific, stimulus- and estrogen-dependent attenuation of acute and inflammatory pain in the rat via estrogen-induced upregulation of the KOR gene expression in the spinal cord. These findings may further implicate estrogen dependence of KOR effects in learning, epilepsy, stress response, addiction etc.
The effect of compression on the material R-value of fiberglass batt insulation

Fiberglass batt insulations intended for use in buildings are labeled with an R-value and thickness at which the R-value is achieved. In some cases the insulation is installed in such a way that the label thickness is not achieved. The material R-value of fiberglass batts installed at less than full thickness will be less than the full-thickness R-value. Results are presented for values measured in accordance with ASTM C 518 for commercially available fiberglass batts at full thickness and compressed to as much as 50% of full thickness. Thermal data and the resulting correlations are presented in this paper for six products manufactured in 1990. 4 refs., 6 tabs., 8 figs.
Renal Cystic Disease: The Role of the Primary Cilium/Centrosome Complex in Pathogenesis

Cystic diseases of the kidney are among the most frequent inherited disorders and constitute a significant cause of end-stage renal disease. Identification of the genes involved in these disorders and their protein products has provided key insights into the cellular processes that underlie cyst development and mediate disease progression. Of particular note, the proteins implicated in these disorders localize to the cilia/centrosome complex and have focused recent research on the role of this complex in the pathogenesis of renal cystic disease. Unraveling the spatial and functional relationship between these cystoproteins and the cilia/centrosome complex will undoubtedly provide a better understanding of the pathogenesis of cystic diseases and potentially offer windows for therapeutic intervention.
The Effect of Outlines and Headings on Readers' Recall of Text.

Abstract Three experiments were conducted to examine the effects of outlines prefacing text and headings inserted in the text on readers' recall of prose. The results of Experiment 1 with artificial text and Experiment 2 with an actual textbook chapter indicated that outlines and headings each had a facilitative effect on readers' recall. Further, a combined condition in which both headings and outlines accompanied text resulted in the greatest overall levels of recall. Experiment 3 examined the effects of headings and outlines on readers' ability to reorder statements taken from the text. Students who read outlines prior to the text performed significantly better on the reordering task than students in any of the other conditions. Headings apparently had no effect on readers' ability to reorder statements taken from text. The results are discussed in terms of a schema activation perspective tempered by the observation that outlines seem to provide readers with knowledge of text organization, an outcome not seen for headings. An alternative accounting for the results based on using outlines and headings as retrieval cues also is offered.
“She's Way Too Good to Lose”: An Evaluation of Honolulu's Girls Court

This research evaluates the efficacy of a gender-specific, problem-solving court for girl offenders. Official statistics, interview data, and focus group data are utilized to determine whether the court is achieving its stated goals of reducing recidivism, risky behaviors, and confinement for the girls who attend this court program. The present research demonstrates that the program does seem to be effective in terms of reducing both recidivism and risky behavior as well as increasing the development of prosocial and healthy relationships. The article concludes with some lessons learned from the implementation of this court program as well as ideas for future research.
Post‐Merger Performance of Bank Holding Companies, 1987–1998

This paper examines the results of material mergers between bank holding companies (BHCs). Merged BHCs experience post-merger profitability below the industry average. The market reaction to the merger announcements is significantly negative. The most important causes of the poor post-merger performance are credit quality and the inadequate generation of fee income. Asset mix and capitalization also play a major part. The controllability of these items demonstrates the management challenge associated with a material merger. Copyright 2005 by the Eastern Finance Association.
EFFECT OF SUCCINIC ACID ON 2,3-BUTANEDIOL PRODUCTION BY KLEBSIELLA OXYTOCA

The effect of succinic acid on the growth of Klebsiella oxytoca and its production of 2,3-butanediol was studied. Increasing succinic acid from 0 g/L to 30 g/L increased the final butanediol concentration. The maximum butanediol productivity occurred at an initial succinic acid concentration of approximately 10 g/L.
Abstract LB-387: Blockade of the CXCL12/CXCR4 axis with AMD3100 induces multimodal antitumor effects in murine ovarian cancer and prolongs survival

The chemokine, CXCL12, and its receptor, CXCR4, have been shown to be expressed by various tumors including ovarian cancer. CXCL12/CXCR4 expression by tumors has been associated with enhanced progression including tumor cell proliferation, invasion, and angiogenesis. We proposed that modulation of the CXCL12/CXCR4 axis in ovarian cancer would have multimodal effects on tumor pathogenesis. This was addressed using RNAi technology and a selective CXCR4 antagonist, AMD3100, in an immunocompetent mouse model of intraperitoneal papillary epithelial ovarian cancer derived from a syngeneic cell line (BR5–1) that constitutively expresses both CXCL12 and CXCR4. CXCL12 knockdown of BR5–1 cells using RNAi reduced cell proliferation in vitro (p Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-387. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-LB-387
Hunting for the Selectron

Abstract The cross section for single selectron production in e+e− collisions is calculated, and the distribution of its decay e± is given. Observation of this energetic e± would provide the first experimental support for models of low energy supersymmetry; it absence puts a lower limit on the selectron mass in excess of the beam energy.