cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
TEXTURAL CHARACTERISTICS OF BEEF MUSCLES

Uniaxial compression tests were performed on raw and cooked meat samples prepared from five muscles excised from a single beef hindquarter. The greatest variation of mechanical properties was across the muscle (lateral to medial) rather than along the muscle (origin to insertion). Active muscles showed greater variation and were generally tougher than inactive muscles. By carefully following regions of similar characteristics from raw to cooked slices, linear regression curves for raw vs cooked beef were obtained having correlation coefficients averaging 0.87.
Physician board certification and the care and outcomes of elderly patients with acute myocardial infarction

BACKGROUND: Patients and purchasers prefer board-certified physicians, but whether these physicians provide better quality of care and outcomes for hospitalized patients is unclear.
Alteration by burn injury of the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of cimetidine in children.

We have studied the mechanisms of the increased dosage requirements of the H2-receptor antagonist cimetidine in paediatric burned patients in a pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic study. Cimetidine (10–15 mg·kg−1) was given to 21 burned children and multiple blood samples were obtained for determination of plasma cimetidine concentrations and pharmacokinetic analysis. The relation of gastric pH to plasma cimetidine concentrations was studied in five of these children who had nasogastric tubes. In an additional four patients the effects of cimetidine on gastric pH were studied during a continuous infusion of cimetidine, which maintained steady-state plasma cimetidine concentrations above 0.5 µg·ml−1. The mean (SEM) clearance of cimetidine in burned children was 16.22 ml·kg−1 and cimetidine half-life was 1.06 h. The cimetidine clearance and half-life values were significantly higher in burned children compared with our previously reported values for normal adult patients, 8.2 ml·min·kg−1 and 2.21 h respectively. Endogenous creatinine clearance normalized to 70 kg in burned children was 190 ml·min−1. In burned children 41% of the dose of intact cimetidine was excreted during 8 h of the study compared with 45% excretion during 24 h in healthy adult controls previously reported. The correlation coefficient between creatinine and cimetidine clearances was 0.93 (r 2=0.85). The plasma concentration of cimetidine needed to increase gastric pH to ≥4.0 was ≥1.0 µg·ml−1, which contrasts with the value of >0.5 µg·ml−1 required for adult burned patients. These findings support the hypothesis that the higher dosage requirements of cimetidine in burned children is due both to enhanced elimination kinetics and to alterations in target organ sensitivity, requiring higher than normal plasma concentrations for the desired effect. In burned children Cimetidine should be given in higher doses and/or more frequently.
A facile enzymatic synthesis of galβ1,3glucal: a key intermediate for the synthesis of Lea and sialyl Lea

Abstract Several glycosidases have been investigated with respect to their regioselectivity in the formation of glyclosidic bonds between various donor sugars and glycal acceptors. Of key interest is the β-galactosidase-mediated coupling of galactose to glucal affording the β-1,3-linked disaccharide with high regioselectivity.
A rating scale foe public speakers

(1928). A rating scale foe public speakers. Quarterly Journal of Speech: Vol. 14, No. 2, pp. 223-232.
Abstract 3689: Targeting cell survival pathways with the combination of honokiol and resveratrol for prevention of head and neck cancer

Proceedings: AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011‐‐ Apr 2‐6, 2011; Orlando, FL Natural dietary agents have drawn great attention for cancer prevention because of their wide safety margin and ready availability. However, single agent intervention has failed to bring the expected outcomes in clinical trials. In the current study, we investigated a combinatorial approach using two natural compounds, honokiol (isolated from the bark of the magnolia tree) and resveratrol (a major constituent of red wines and grapes), and found that their combination at low doses (at which single agents induce minimal cell growth inhibition) strongly inhibited cell growth as measured by SRB assay. Moreover, the combination of low dose honokiol (which alone induces 10-15% apoptosis) with low dose resveratrol (also induces ∼10% apoptosis) strongly increased apoptosis (to 60-80%) in multiple head and neck cancer cell lines as evidenced by annexin V-PE staining and PARP cleavage. Interestingly, normal human fibroblasts (BJ) or immortalized normal bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B) were resistant to apoptosis induced by the combination of the two compounds (less than 10% apoptosis). To understand the mechanism of apoptosis, we fractionated cytosolic and mitochondrial fractions to study the release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria to the cytosol, and found that the combination of honokiol and resveratrol more efficiently caused release of cytochrome c compared with either single agent alone. Further mechanistic studies suggested that the combination of the two agents inhibited phospho-STAT3 and phospho-AKT and reduced NF-κB protein level more efficiently than either single agent. Moreover, although single agent treatment has only minimal effect on expression of NF-κB and the STAT3 targets Bcl-2, Mcl-1 and survivin, the combination of the two agents strongly inhibited expression of these proteins, further supporting the involvement of mitochondria-mediated apoptosis. However, expression of Bcl-xL, another proapoptotic Bcl-2 protein remained unchanged after treatment with the compounds. We also found transient inhibition of phospho S6 kinase, a downstream target of p-AKT. NF-κB, phospho-STAT3 and phospho-AKT pathways are frequently over-active in head and neck cancer, suggesting that the combination of honokiol and resveratrol might be an effective strategy for the prevention of head and neck cancer and providing an important rationale for future preclinical and clinical development. (Supported by U01CA101244, R01CA112643, and P50CA128613 to DMS) 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 3689. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-3689
Isolation and perceptual organization in incidental learning

When isolated by contrasting color and size, the middle syllable in a 9-item list was recalled more often in both intentional (INT) and incidental learning (INC). An isolation effect in INC also occurred at position 2, when items 2, 5 and 9 were isolated. None was found when items 4, 5, and 6 were isolated, but only in the latter condition did many Ss accurately perceive (describe) the objective list-structure. Those who did (in both INT and INC) subsequently recalled fewer syllables than Ss who had not grouped according to the objective visual structure. This was also the case for recall of isolated items only. Findings support an isolation effect in INC, but are not consistent with a Gestalt interpretation that isolation effects are contingent upon perception of structure or sub-structure engendered by visual isolation.
The Persistence of the Payback Method: A Time-Adjusted Decision Rule Perspective

ABSTRACT Despite the theoretical superiority of the net present value concept, the simple payback procedure continues as a most important capital budgeting technique because of its substantial intuitive appeal (i.e.. it tells how long it takes to pay for an investment). The paper proposes a generalized time-adjusted payback decision rule which is theoretically consistent with the assumptions of the net present value capital budgeting technique, yet phrased in terms that practitioners may find more understandable.
Effects of infection with a spiroplasma virus on the symptoms produced by Spiroplasma citri

SUMMARY Multiplication of a virus resembling spiroplasma-virus citri type 3 was observed in Spiroplasma citri cells within an infected Madagascar periwinkle plant showing unusually mild symptoms. Sap filtrates from this plant contained virus particles which gave rise to plaques on lawns of the lethal SP-A strain of S. citri. Transmission of spiroplasmas containing virus to plants already infected with strain SP-A resulted in suppression of symptoms and a reduction in the number of viable spiroplasmas.
A Million Dollar View - A Million Dollar Headache, Urban Waterfront Redevelopment in New Jersey

The evolution of modern marine transportation and cargo handling facilities and infrastructure have rendered large areas of urban waterfront obsolete and underutilized. The problems and the potential of New Jersey's waterfront region are unparalleled and present unique planning and management challenges.
Combination of drive and incentive

Abstract This experiment was designed to investigate the combination of drive and incentive as determinants of performance. Nine groups of rats were trained to press a bar under three levels of food deprivation (12, 24 and 36 hr.) and three incentive conditions (1,2 and 3 pellets). Response strength was estimated by counting the number of responses with a latency of 1 sec. or less during five 20 trial sessions. The results indicated that response strength increased with hours of deprivation and with amount of food reward. Significant interactions between sessions and drive, and sessions and incentive provided additional support for the multiplicative combination of H (habit) and D (drive) and H and K (incentive). The lack of significant interaction between D and K was interpreted as supporting the hypothesis that D and K combine additively rather than multiplicatively.
Modulation of osteogenic properties of biodegradable polymer/extracellular matrix scaffolds generated with a flow perfusion bioreactor.

In this study, composite scaffolds consisting of both synthetic and natural components with controllable properties were generated by incorporating mineralized extracellular matrix (ECM) and electrospun poly(e-caprolactone) (PCL) microfiber scaffolds. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were cultured on PCL scaffolds under flow perfusion conditions with culture medium supplemented with dexamethasone to investigate the effect of culture duration on mineralized extracellular matrix deposition. MSCs differentiated down the osteogenic lineage and produced extracellular matrix with different compositions of mineral, collagen, and glycosaminoglycan with distinct morphologies at various stages of osteogenesis. To determine whether the presence and maturity of mineralized extracellular matrix influences osteogenic differentiation in vitro, PCL/ECM constructs were decellularized to yield PCL/ECM composite scaffolds that were subsequently seeded with MSCs and cultured in the absence of dexamethasone. The presence of mineralized matrix reduced cellular proliferation while stimulating alkaline phosphatase activity with increasing amounts of calcium deposition over time. PCL/ECM composite scaffolds containing the most mature mineralized matrix resulted in the most rapid increase and highest levels of alkaline phosphatase activity and calcium deposition compared to all other scaffold groups. Therefore, we demonstrate that mineralized extracellular matrix generated under controlled flow perfusion conditions can impart osteogenic properties to an osteoconductive polymer scaffold, and that the maturity of this matrix influences osteogenic differentiation in vitro, even in the absence of dexamethasone.
Design and adsorption of modular engineered proteins to prepare customized, neuron-compatible coatings

Neural prosthetic implants are currently being developed for the treatment and study of both peripheral and central nervous system disorders. Effective integration of these devices upon implantation is a critical hurdle to achieving function. As a result, much attention has been directed towards the development of biocompatible coatings that prolong their in vivo lifespan. In this work, we present a novel approach to fabricate such coatings, which specifically involves the use of surface-adsorbed, nanoscale-designed protein polymers to prepare reproducible, customized surfaces. A nanoscale modular design strategy was employed to synthesize six engineered, recombinant proteins intended to mimic aspects of the extracellular matrix proteins fibronectin, laminin, and elastin as well as the cell-cell adhesive protein NCAM (neural cell adhesion molecule). Physical adsorption isotherms were experimentally determined for these engineered proteins, allowing for direct calculation of the available ligand density present on coated surfaces. As confirmation that ligand density in these engineered systems impacts neuronal cell behavior, we demonstrate that increasing the density of fibronectin-derived RGD ligands on coated surfaces while maintaining uniform protein surface coverage results in enhanced neurite extension of PC-12 cells. Therefore, this engineered protein adsorption approach allows for the facile preparation of tunable, quantifiable, and reproducible surfaces for in vitro studies of cell-ligand interactions and for potential application as coatings on neural implants.
Norman Malcolm: A Memoir

I first met Norman Malcolm in the fall of 1963 when, as a terrified sophomore, I took his course in Free Will and Determinism at Cornell. I believe I had already heard that Malcolm was a figure of almost legendary proportions.
Evaluating the OEO Legal Services Program

During 1970 and 1971, the complex and politically sensitive OEO Legal Services Program received its first independent national evaluation. This paper describes how evaluators dealt with the policy issues arising during the evaluation. Their decisions involved the interaction of three factors: conceptual problems, access to data, and a sense of what would be relevant to public policy. They found only a small area of intersection between a large set of issues important to policy-makers and an equally large, but usually different, set of issues amenable to systematic research.
ELEVATION OF DOPAMINE IN FETAL PLASMA AND THE AMNIOTIC FLUID DURING GESTATION

Catecholamines were determined by a radioenzymatic assay in maternal and fetal rat plasma and in the amniotic fluid during the last five days of gestation. Dopamine was significantly higher in fetal than in maternal plasma whereas norepinephrine was the same. Epinephrine was significantly lower in fetal than in maternal plasma on days 18 and 19, but was the same during the remainder of gestation. Dopamine was the predominant catecholamine in the amniotic fluid on days 20–22 of gestation showing the largest percent increase prior to parturition. The data suggest that dopamine may have a peripheral hormonal role during fetal development and parturition.
A Search-By-Clusters Model of Visual Search: Fits to Data From Younger and Older Adults

Objectives. This study aims to specify the processing operations underlying age-related differences in the speed and accuracy of visual search in a mathematical model. Methods. Eighteen older and 18 young adults searched for a predesignated target within 24-degree visual arrays containing distractors. Targets were systematically placed in regions that extended 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, and 10 degrees from center. Data were fitted to several versions of a mathematical model in which it was assumed that target search proceeds from the center fixation to peripheral areas in a succession of visual inspections of clusters until the target is located and that clusters can vary in size in response to search difficulty. Results. Eccentricity effects on latencies and errors were larger for older adults than for younger adults, especially in the hardest search condition. The best-fitting version of the “search -by-clusters” model accounted for an average of 98.4% and 95.4% of the variance in the young and older adults, respectively. The resulting time, accuracy, and cluster parameters behaved plausibly in each of the 36 data sets.
From homogeneous to heterogeneous networks: A 3GPP Long Term Evolution rel. 8/9 case study

Heterogeneous cellular networks (HetNets)—conventional macro base stations overlaid with low-power nodes—are being deployed for reasons of improved spectral efficiency, economy, and scalable network expansion. To optimally realize the benefits of HetNets, it is crucial to factor deployment aspects such as cell association, transmission power, spectrum allocation, and deployment density. This paper presents comprehensive dynamic system level simulations based on the 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE) standard modeling spatial, temporal, and frequency domain channel variations and ray-tracing based penetration losses in urban and indoor environments. The simulator takes into account the dynamic (subframe level) modulation and coding scheme and precoder selection, as well as finite rate channel state feedback and transmission aspects intrinsic to LTE. Considering a Rel. 8/9 LTE HetNet, two access schemes are analyzed: first, open access picocells, where results show that a single picocell can double the area spectral efficiency without any impairment of the macro-layer, and second, closed access femtocells, where results show that in typical scenarios, the user throughput is deteriorated on both the macro-layer and the femto-layer. Consequently, open access low-power nodes can be deployed as is, whilst closed access ones require additional interference avoidance mechanisms. These dynamic system level simulations are important for deriving accurate and practically relevant performance trade-offs, while commensurate with the time and frequency granularity of LTE.
Some problems with altruism in the search for moral universals.

Sociobiological arguments for altruism as a universal moral behavior selected for at the genetic level are examined, and strengths and fallacies in sociobiological reasoning are exposed. Then, a broader context is created for asking questions as to the causes of moral universals. The moral system is proposed as a universally present subsystem of the social system, one which has crucial guidance component functions. Within this guidance component, the importance of rational decision making in the moral field is stressed as one easily observable cause for many universal moral behaviors. This in turn suggests some new routes for sociobiological speculation with respect to moral systems and their adaptive functions.
Effect of Cobalt Chloride and Sodium Cobaltinitrite on the Growth of Established Epithelial Tumors Induced by Methylcholanthrene

Previous investigations showed that when cobaltous chloride or sodium cobaltinitrite is administered in conjunction with the topical application of the carcinogen, methylcholanthrene, the tumorigenic response is significantly decreased. The experimental design of this study involved the administration of each cobalt compound, following completion of the minimal carcinogenic dose50 (MCD50) regimen of methylcholanthrene when tumorigenesis was firmly established, to ascertain whether these agents could retard the growth of formed tumors in addition to inhibiting those during the period of tumorigenesis. It was demonstrated that cobaltous chloride and sodium cobaltinitrite have no influence on the growth of established epithelial tumors induced by methylcholanthrene and that the antitumorigenic capacity of these compounds is restricted solely to the incipient stages of cancerization.
Approaching quantum-limited cw anti-Stokes conversion through cavity-enhanced Raman-resonant four-wave mixing

Building on previous efficient Raman downconversion achievements, we present analytical theoretical results predicting that the upconversion efficiency from a continuous-wave pump beam into a single Raman anti-Stokes order can approach the quantum limit of 50%. We consider high-finesse cavity enhancement of the Raman-resonant four-wave mixing process to enable pumping with relatively low-power lasers. In addition to its practical value as a means of efficiently upconverting visible and near-infrared continuous-wave laser light, this technique can offer a probe into the fundamental limits and gain-suppression subtleties associated with Raman-resonant four-wave mixing.
A microfluidic inductive pulse sensor for real time detection of machine wear

We demonstrate a microfluidic device based on the inductive Coulter counting principle for detection of metallic wear debris in lubrication oil; such debris particles can be indicative of potential machine faults in rotating and reciprocating machinery. The device detects the passage of individual ferrous and non-ferrous debris particles by monitoring inductance change of a planar coil embedded in a microchannel. Testing results show the device is capable of detecting and distinguishing ferrous and non-ferrous metal particles in lubrication oil as small as 50 µm. This development could lead to real-time debris monitoring devices for real-time detection of machine component wear, provide valuable information on the progression of machine wear, and therefore can eliminate the need for costly machine shutdowns for inspection, and avoid the possibility of catastrophic component failure during operation.
What’s in a name: Education and the Disadvantaged American (1962)

Education and the Disadvantaged American represented an attempt by the leaders of the American elementary and secondary education enterprise to come to terms with the failure to learn of a significant portion of the school population. The dimension of race surrounded the discussion leading to publication, but it was never addressed straightforwardly. Rather, the EPC chose to bypass race in favor of various notions of cultural disadvantage or other forms of a cultural deficit model. This choice led not to an effective document, but to a publication that skirted the major issue involved in the situation, race, while being just as negative in its discussion of cultural difference as any racist might be in considering minority races. Sources for this paper include the verbatim records of the deliberations of the Educational Policies Commission, over a two year period as it considered the problem of what to do about non‐learners in schools. The eventual document produced and named in the title of this article ...
Calcium-regulated type III secretion of yop proteins by an Escherichia coli hha mutant carrying a Yersinia pestis pCD1 virulence plasmid

A series of four large deletions that removed a total of ca. 36 kb of DNA from the ca. 70-kb Yersinia pestis pCD1 virulence plasmid were constructed using lambda Red-mediated recombination. Escherichia coli hha deletion mutants carrying the virulence plasmid with the deletions expressed a functional calcium-regulated type III secretion system. The E. coli hha/pCD1 system should facilitate molecular studies of the type III secretion process.
Pneumonectomy: four case studies and a comparative review

Pneumonectomy is the resection of all lung lobes in either the left or right lung field. The surgical technique and postoperative results of pneumonectomy for clinical disease have not been reported in companion animals. Pneumonectomy was performed in three dogs and one cat to treat pulmonary or pleural disease, and the postoperative outcome compared with the complications and results reported in the human literature. One dog died immediately postoperatively due to suspected respiratory insufficiency and the remaining three animals survived the perioperative period. Postoperative complications were reported in two animals. Cardiac complications occurred in the cat, with perioperative arrhythmias and progressive congestive heart failure. Gastrointestinal complications were diagnosed in one dog, with mediastinal shift and oesophageal dysfunction. Left- and right-sided pneumonectomy is feasible in companion animals, and the postoperative outcome and complications encountered in this series were similar to those reported in humans.
The case of cardiovascular disease: evaluating complex health programs targeted at prevention, remediation, and rehabilitation.

This report analyzes the complexities of evaluatingprevention, remediation, and rehabilitation treatments for cardiovascular disease. A comparison oftreatments revealed that distinct differences exist in terms of motivation ofsubjects to participate and steps required for a maximum treatment effect. Large-scale prevention programs are generally the most complex of all interventions to complete. If complex health programs are initially subdivided into theirdetailed planning and implementation steps, proper assessments of each step will lead to a much less difficult comprehensive evaluation.
Extensive neurological recovery from a complete spinal cord injury: a case report and hypothesis on the role of cortical plasticity

Neurological recovery in patients with severe spinal cord injury (SCI) is extremely rare. We have identified a patient with chronic cervical traumatic SCI, who suffered a complete loss of motor and sensory function below the injury for six weeks after the injury, but experienced a progressive neurological recovery that continued for 17 years. The extent of the patient’s recovery from the severe trauma-induced paralysis is rare and remarkable. A detailed study of this patient using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), magnetization transfer imaging (MTI), and resting state fMRI (rs-fMRI) revealed structural and functional changes in the central nervous system that may be associated with the neurological recovery. 62% cervical cord white matter atrophy was observed. DTI-derived quantities, more sensitive to axons, demonstrated focal changes, while MTI-derived quantity, more sensitive to myelin, showed a diffuse change. No significant cortical structural changes were observed, while rs-fMRI revealed increased brain functional connectivity between sensorimotor and visual networks. The study provides comprehensive description of the structural and functional changes in the patient using advanced MR imaging technique. This multimodal MR imaging study also shows the potential of rs-fMRI to measure the extent of cortical plasticity.
On the verge of Umdeutung in Minnesota: Van Vleck and the correspondence principle. Part two

In October 1924, The Physical Review, a relatively minor journal at the time, published a remarkable two-part paper by John H. Van Vleck, working in virtual isolation at the University of Minnesota. Using Bohr’s correspondence principle and Einstein’s quantum theory of radiation along with advanced techniques from classical mechanics, Van Vleck showed that quantum formulae for emission, absorption, and dispersion of radiation merge with their classical counterparts in the limit of high quantum numbers. For modern readers Van Vleck’s paper is much easier to follow than the famous paper by Kramers and Heisenberg on dispersion theory, which covers similar terrain and is widely credited to have led directly to Heisenberg’s Umdeutung paper. This makes Van Vleck’s paper extremely valuable for the reconstruction of the genesis of matrix mechanics. It also makes it tempting to ask why Van Vleck did not take the next step and develop matrix mechanics himself.
Trust Negotiation in Dynamic Coalitions

Military and business partners may need to conduct sensitive interactions on line, requiring members in a coalition to share sensitive resources with those outside their local security domain. Automated trust negotiation is an approach that accomplishes this, through the use of access control policies that specify what combinations of digital credentials a stranger must disclose to gain access to a coalition resource. The Trust Negotiation in Dynamic Coalitions project has focused on the theoretical underpinnings of trust negotiation as well as the design and implementation of TrustBuilder, an architecture that incorporates trust negotiation into standard network technologies. This paper summarizes the research contributions of this project to trust negotiation in the areas of sensitive access control policies, strategies, protocols, policy language requirements, and privacy protection. This paper also describes the basic design of TrustBuilder.
The phase diagram of poly(4-hydroxybenzoic acid) and poly(2,6-hydroxynaphthoic acid) and their copolymers from X-ray diffraction and thermal analysis

Abstract Homopolymers and copolymers of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (HBA) and 2,6-hydroxynaphthoic acid (HNA) have been studied with differential scanning calorimetry and temperature-resolved wide angle X-ray diffraction. All polymers have more than one disordering transition between the glass transition (between 400 and 430 K) and decomposition (between 710 and 750 K). The first transition in PHBA at 616–633 K is from orthorhombic rigid crystals to a conformationally disordered pseudo-hexagonal phase (condis phase). The two higher transitions are first, a further disordering process to a hexagonal condis crystal, and then a change to an anisotropic melt (liquid crystal) at about 800 K, with increasing decomposition above 750 K. In PHNA, orthorhombic crystals change above 600 K to an orthorhombic condis crystal structure, which go to an anisotropic melt at 750 K, and subsequent decomposition. In addition, using empirical entropy rules that account for the changes during the transitions from the crystal to the disordered mobile phases, an effort is made to understand the disorder and mobility, and to arrive at a non-equilibrium phase diagram of the copolymer system. The existence of a single, but up to 200 K wide, glass transition and remaining high crystallinity of the copolyesters, indicate partial solubility of the repeating units in all phases. The new data are compared to and brought into agreement with the large number of prior measurements and often unclear interpretations.
Cultural Competence Policies and Other Predictors of Asthma Care Quality for Medicaid-Insured Children

Objective. More than half of Medicaid enrollees are now in managed care. Scant information exists about which policies of practice sites improve quality of care in managed Medicaid. Children with asthma are a sentinel group for Medicaid quality monitoring because they are at elevated risk for adverse outcomes. The objective of this study was to identify practice-site policies and features associated with quality of care for Medicaid-insured children with asthma. Methods. A prospective cohort study with 1-year follow-up was conducted in 5 health plans in California, Washington, and Massachusetts. Data were collected via telephone interviews with parents at baseline and 1 year, surveys of practice sites and clinicians, and computerized databases. The practice site survey asked about policies to promote cultural competence, the use of several types of reports to clinicians, support for self-management of asthma, case management and care coordination, and access to and continuity of care. Quality of care was evaluated on the basis of 5 measures: 1) preventive medication underuse based on parent report; 2) the parent’s rating of asthma care; 3) the 1-year change in the child’s asthma physical status based on a standardized measure; 4) preventive medication underprescribing based on computerized data; and 5) the occurrence of a hospital-based episode. Results. Of the 1663 children in the study population, 67% had persistent asthma at baseline based on parent report of symptoms and medications. At 1-year follow-up, 65% of the children with persistent asthma were underusing preventive medication based on parent report. In multivariate analyses, patients of practice sites with the highest cultural competence scores were less likely to be underusing preventive asthma medications based on parent report at follow-up (odds ratio [OR]: 0.15; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.06–0.41 for the highest vs lowest categories) and had better parent ratings of care. The use of asthma reports to clinicians was predictive of less preventive medication underprescribing based on computerized data (OR: 0.33; 95% CI: 0.16–0.69), better parent ratings of care, and better asthma physical status at follow-up. Patients of practice sites with policies to promote access and continuity had less underuse of preventive medications (OR: 0.56; 95% CI: 0.34–0.93). Among the 83 practice sites, the practice site’s size, organizational type, percentage of patients insured by Medicaid, mechanism of payment for specialty care, and other primary care features were not consistently associated with quality measures. Conclusions. Practice-site policies to promote cultural competence, the use of reports to clinicians, and access and continuity predicted higher quality of care for children with asthma in managed Medicaid.
Parents’ Experience Surrounding the Death of a Newborn Whose Birth Is at the Margin of Viability

Objective To describe the experience of parents surrounding the death of a newborn weighing less than 500 g at birth. Design Descriptive, using an eidetic pheomeologieapproach. Setting Interviews were conducted in the parents’ homes or by telephone between 4 and 15 weeks after the loss. Participants Eight parents (five mothers and three of their husbands) who had experienced the death of a newborn weighing less than 500 g at birth. Main Outcome Measures The lived parental experience of the death of a newborn consists of a number of parental processes, responses, and activities that occur over time. Results Five themes were generated from the data: (a) realization that the loss is occurring; (b) initial response to the loss; (c) decision making at the time of the loss; (d) components of supportive relationships with others; and (e) the adjustment at home. Conclusions The findings demonstrate the unique experience of having a newborn who is born at the margin of viability and support the need for individualized, caring-based interventions for parents.
Picking Up STEAM: Educational Implications for Teaching with an Augmented Reality Guitar Learning System

Incorporation of the arts into the current model of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEAM) may have a profound impact on the future of education. In light of this, we examined a novel technology at the intersection of these disciplines. Specifically, an experiment was conducted using augmented reality to learn a musical instrument, namely the guitar. The Fretlight® guitar system uses LED lights embedded in the fretboard to give direct information to the guitarist as to where to place their fingers. This was compared to a standard scale diagram. Results indicate that the Fretlight® system led to initial significant gains in performance over a control condition using diagrams, but these effects disappeared over the course of 30 trials. Potential benefits of the augmented reality technology are discussed, and future work is outlined to better understand how embodied cognition and augmented reality can increase learning outcomes for playing musical instruments.
A General Asymmetric Synthesis of syn- and anti-β-Substituted Cysteine and Serine Derivatives

Complete understanding of the stereochemical requirements of side chain groups important in peptide ligand-receptor/acceptor interactions plays a crucial role in the rational design of bioactive peptides and nonpeptide mimetics. This approach can be realized by incorporation of conformationally constrained novel amino acids into a peptide or nonpeptide template. Among the novel amino acids, β-substituted cysteines and β-substituted serines play a unique function in peptide conformational constraints. β-Substituted cysteines when introduced into the peptide chain can not only constrain the backbone conformation through the formation of a disulfide bridge, but also preserve side chains which are very important for molecular recognition [1]. β-Substituted cysteines and serines also can be used as building blocks for dipeptide β-turn mimetics [2].
Ischemia/reperfusion-induced microvascular dysfunction: role of oxidants and lipid mediators

The objective of this study was to define the role of oxidants and lipid mediators in the leukocyte-endothelial cell adhesion and albumin leakage elicited in rat mesenteric venules by ischemia-reperfusion (I/R). Intravital fluorescence microscopy was used to monitor leukocyte adherence and emigration, platelet-leukocyte aggregation, mast cell degranulation, and albumin leakage after release of a 20-min arterial occlusion. I/R elicited large increases in leukocyte-endothelial cell adhesion and albumin leakage. These responses were significantly attenuated in venules treated with either superoxide dismutase, oxypurinol (an inhibitor of xanthine oxidase), lodoxamide (a mast cell stabilizer), WEB-2086 (a platelet-activating factor antagonist), or SC-41930 (a leukotriene B4-receptor antagonist) but not by U-74006F (an inhibitor of lipid peroxidation). Platelet-leukocyte aggregates and mast cell degranulation induced by I/R were also attenuated by administration of either superoxide dismutase or lodoxamide. These results support the hypothesis that oxidants produced, in part, by xanthine oxidase promote the formation (by mast cells and endothelial cells) of platelet-activating factor and leukotriene B4, which recruit and activate leukocytes in postischemic venules. The adherent and emigrated leukocytes then mediate the increased albumin extravasation observed in the postcapillary venules.
H-mode pedestal and L-H transition studies on alcator C-mod

H-mode research on Alcator C-Mod is described, with a focus on the edge transport barrier (ETB). ETB pedestals are characterized using several diagnostics, leading to a thorough description of prof...
Dam Safety Monitoring System in Gangnan Reservoir

The application of dam safety monitoring system in Gangnan reservoir is mainly introduced.In order to provide a project reference for the dam safety monitoring system,it is introduced that the character of dam safety information management system(DSIMS),DAU 2000 monitoring unit cabinet,and the implementation of dual power supply system.Network structure and framework are illustrated to analyze the important role played by the improving of the level scientific management and the safe operation of dam.
Virtual Mentoring and Persistence in STEM for Students with Disabilities.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of virtual mentoring for enhancing the persistence of secondary and postsecondary students with disabilities engaged in science, techn...
Accreditation in European health care.

Article-at-a-Glance Background In the past 15 years many countries, with widely differing health systems, have established national accreditation programs. A European survey report on accreditation, which includes data and updates from 2003 that were submitted between January and October 2004, is summarized. Methods A one-page questionnaire was circulated, with the summary of the 2002 survey, in February 2004 to known contacts in 44 of the larger states in the European Region of the World Health Organization. Combining the surveys of 2000, 2002, and 2004, responses were received from 36 of the 44 larger countries of the European Region from which information was sought. Findings The number of national accreditation programs for health services has continued to grow since the mid-1990s. By 2004, 26 programs were active or in development in 18 countries. The "English-speaking" model of North America remains the leading influence; however, newer programs are increasingly influenced by other models. Governmental programs are more likely to publish findings of accreditation assessments, and more recent programs are more likely to make results public. Discussion Accreditation programs are being set up more frequently in Europe than anywhere else; the trend is from voluntary, confidential, and self-financed organizational development toward benign but transparent regulation of stakeholders, governmental support, and public funding. Programs vary widely, yet patient and staff mobility, cross-border purchasing, freedom of trade, and protection of public safety and patients' rights imply the need for a common approach to definition, assessment, and improvement of standards in health care.
Partial Proof Without Words: Shaping Some Cases of the Erdős–Straus Conjecture

SummaryWe provide visual proofs for three infinite cases of the Erdős–Straus conjecture on Egyptian fractions.
Functional Consequences of Cellular Interactions with Heparin-PF4 Antibodies in Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia.

Abstract Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is a potentially devastating complication of heparin therapy. The condition is due to formation of antibodies to the heparin-platelet factor 4 (HPF4) complex that activate platelets and/or endothelial cells by binding to FcγIIa (CD32) receptors. It is not clear why only a sub-population of patients that form HPF4 antibodies also develops clinical HIT, and why only a fraction of those develop thrombosis. We hypothesized that some functionally active HPF4 antibodies (i.e. that activate platelets) may also activate leukocytes and endothelial cells by upregulating procoagulant activity; a property not shared by non-functional HPF4 antibodies. Citrated plasmas were obtained from patients clinically suspected of HIT. A commercially available ELISA (GTI, Brookfield, WI) combined with a 14C-serotonin release assay (SRA) was used to stratify patient plasmas into functional (F) and non-functional (NF) HPF4 antibody groups. Pooled normal plasma (NP) served as negative control. Some (n=20) GTI-ELISA positive samples (both F and NF) were also tested by flow cytometry using HPF4 coated microspheres (DiaMed-Caribbean, Inc., Miami, FL) for immunological antibody detection, and fluorescent annexin V binding to detect functional activity. The ability of HPF4 antibodies to cause platelet-monocyte aggregate (conjugate) formation was evaluated by two-color flow cytometry. The functional consequences of HPF4 antibody interaction with EaHy926 hybridoma endothelial cells were studied in the presence/absence of washed platelets and therapeutic heparin levels. Cell surface procoagulant activity (PCA) was measured by a single-stage clotting assay. Approximately 25% of ELISA positive plasmas were also positive by SRA. Although most ELISA positive samples were strongly positive in the microsphere flow cytometry assay (5–20 fold increase in mean fluorescence intensity [MFI] compared to NP) there was no direct correlation between the ELISA OD values and MFI. In the functional flow cytometric assay, not all the SRA positive samples were able to cause platelet activation. Platelet-monocyte aggregate formation in the presence of functional HPF4 antibodies was increased by 2–6 fold (MFI increase 50–300%). This was significantly higher than seen with the NF (p
Enriching s 4 U-RNA Using Methane Thiosulfonate (MTS) Chemistry.

Metabolic labeling of cellular RNA is a useful approach to study RNA biology. 4-Thiouridine (s4 U) is a convenient nucleoside for metabolic labeling because it is cell permeable and is incorporated into newly transcribed RNA, and the sulfur moiety provides a handle for biochemical purification. However, a critical step in the purification of s4 U-RNA is the efficiency of the chemistry used to enrich s4 U-RNA. Here, we present a protocol for s4 U-RNA enrichment that includes efficient and reversible covalent chemistry to biotinylate s4 U-RNA using the activated disulfide methane thiosulfonate conjugated to biotin (MTS-biotin), followed by enrichment on streptavidin beads. The efficiency of this chemistry reduces enrichment bias and requires less starting material, thereby expanding the utility of s4 U to study RNA biology. © 2016 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
THE DAF-INDAL LTD. SERIES 6400 VAWT AT THE ATLANTIC WIND TEST SITE: PERFORMANCE AND STRUCTURAL DYNAMIC TEST DATA

ABSTRACT The National Research Council of Canada is sponsoring the operation and monitoring of a 500 kW, Series 6400 Vertical Axis Wind Turbine (VAWT) at the Atlantic Wind Test Site. The turbine is extensively instrumented in order to determine its power output performance and structural dynamics. In this paper, the actual power output performance is compared to theoretical predictions and found to be in agreement. The vibratory stresses in the constant speed rotor are found to be dominated by frequencies which correspond to once and three times its rotational frequency. Conclusions regarding the origin of this response are based on existing work dealing with the structural response of VAWT's.
Bridging the Gap in Psychiatric Care for Children with a School-Based Psychiatry Program

Most youth with serious mental health concerns are unable to access needed psychiatric care in a timely manner. The Bridge program was designed to overcome this common barrier to care. This school-based psychiatric program provides initial services within school buildings in coordination with school personnel and provides youth with ongoing service and referral to a community provider. We describe the Bridge model and initial evidence of its feasibility and social validity and its effects in reducing time to care and improving youth symptoms. As part of the project, we documented time from referral to first appointment, parent-reported compliance with medication regimen, pre- and post-symptoms on the Vanderbilt Assessment Scales by parent and teacher reports, and social validity perceptions of parents, teachers, and youth. In the first year, over 300 youth accessed services through Bridge within 10 days of referral, compared to the 8-week historical wait time experienced by youth in prior years. Moreover, on average, youth who received treatment through Bridge experienced significant symptom improvements based on parent and teacher ratings; the majority experienced clinically significant improvements on one or more symptoms. Finally, social validity ratings by parents, teachers, and students indicated widespread satisfaction with the services and impact.
Food Accessibility in the Tapacari Province of Bolivia

The project investigated the potential food accessibility improvements from the construction of greenhouses in the Tapacari province of Bolivia. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Cohort-Size Sample-Size Conundrum: An Empirical Analysis and Assessment Using Homicide Arrest Data from 1960 to 1999

A number of studies use the Age-Period-Cohort Characteristic (APCC) model to address the impact of cohort related factors on the age distribution of homicide offending. Several of these studies treat birth cohorts as spanning several years, an operationalization that most closely matches tenets of cohort theory, yet sharply reduces the number of observations available for analysis. Other studies define birth cohorts as those born within a single year, an operationalization that is theoretically problematic, but provides many more observations for analysis. We address the sample size problem by applying a time-series-cross-section model (panel model) with age-period-specific homicide arrest data from the United States for each year from 1960 to 1999, while operationalizing cohorts as five-year birth cohorts. Our panel model produces results that are very similar to those obtained from traditional multiyear APCC models. Substantively, the results provide a replication of work showing the importance of relative cohort size and cohort variations in family structure for explaining variations in age-period-specific homicide rates. The additional observations provided by our approach allow us to examine these relationships over time, and we find substantively important changes. The year-by-year estimates of the age distribution of homicide offending help us to examine the model during the epidemic of youth homicide.