cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Flow over seal whiskers: significance of geometric features on force and frequency response

The complex undulated geometry of seal whiskers has been shown to significantly modify the turbulent structures directly downstream, resulting in a reduction of hydrodynamic forces as well as modified vortex-induced-vibration response when compared with smooth whiskers. Although the unique hydrodynamic response has been well documented, an understanding of the fluid flow effects from each geometric feature remains incomplete. In this computational investigation, nondimensional geometric parameters of the seal whisker topology are defined in terms of their hydrodynamic relevance, such that wavelength, aspect ratio, undulation amplitudes, symmetry and undulation off-set can be varied independently of one another. A two-factor fractional factorial design of experiments is used to create 16 unique geometries, each of which dramatically amplifies or attenuates the geometric parameters compared with the baseline model. The flow over each unique topology is computed with a large-eddy simulation at a Reynolds number of 500 and the effects on force and frequency are recorded. The results determine the specific fluid flow impact of each geometric feature which will inform both biologists and engineers who seek to understand the impact of whisker morphology or lay out a framework for biomimetic design of undulated structures.
Teacher Professional Development for Ethnic Studies: A Critical Youth-Centered Approach

In this article, we discuss a partnership with a district-wide Ethnic Studies (ES) program, the Ethnic Studies Professional Development (ESPD) project, through which we designed and led a year-long...
Goethe and Schopenhauer: A Phenomenology of the Final Vision in Faust II

The climax of Faust is its dying hero’s vision of the future. Revered as Goethe’s legacy to the German people — indeed, to all of mankind — these words have also been abhorred as the essence of the Faustian element in human nature that has led our technological civilization to the brink of self-destruction. A third way to read them is as Goethe’s prophetic warning against our modern Faustian era, with its exploitation of man and nature. But in this case, why does Goethe allow Faust, the devil’s associate, to enter heaven? Surely that would compound a theological provocation by moral and political affronts as well; such a sanction would undermine or trivialize the text’s previous condemnation of Faust.
Social closeness and support are associated with lower risk of suicide among U.S. Army soldiers.

OBJECTIVE We tested the aspects of social support, unit cohesion, and religiosity hypothesized to be protective factors for suicide among U.S. service members. METHODS This case-control study compared U.S. Army soldiers who died by suicide while on active duty (n = 135) to controls of two types: those propensity score-matched on known sociodemographic risk factors (n = 128); and those controls who had thought about, but not died by, suicide in the past year (n = 108). Data included structured interviews of next of kin (NOK) and Army supervisors (SUP) for each case and control soldier. Logistic regression analyses were used to examine predictors of suicide. RESULTS Perceived social closeness and seeking help from others were associated with decreased odds of suicide, as reported by SUP (OR = 0.2 [95% CI = 0.1, 0.5]) and NOK (OR = 0.4 [95% CI = 0.2, 0.8]). Novel reports by SUP informants of high levels of unit cohesion/morale decreased odds of suicide (OR = 0.1 [95% CI = 0.0, 0.2]). Contrary to study hypotheses, no religious affiliation was associated with lower odds of suicide (OR = 0.3 [95% CI = 0.2, 0.6]). CONCLUSIONS Perceived social closeness and unit/group cohesion are associated with lower odds of suicide. These results point toward social intervention strategies as testable components of suicide prevention programs.
Electron-Beam Corkscrew Motion in an Advanced Linear Induction Accelerator

Scorpius is a multipulse linear induction accelerator (LIA) under development for flash radiography. Because it has substantially more cells than present LIAs, higher magnetic focusing fields are needed to suppress beam breakup (BBU). Therefore, it is more susceptible to corkscrew motion of the beam, which also depends on beam energy spread and focusing magnet misalignments. For energy spread and alignment tolerances expected for Scorpius, a magnetic tune designed to suppress BBU is shown to produce corkscrew motion within the range that can be controlled through the use of steering dipoles on existing LIAs. A gap-voltage modulation scheme is shown to almost completely eliminate chromatic effects such as corkscrew.
The Importance of an Appropriate Social Media Policy for K-12 Education

The purpose of the study is to explore creating appropriate social media policies to ensure these tools are used properly for positive uses and control the negative impacts of social media in the school environment. Although social media can be used as a great tool for modern classrooms, there are a variety of problems. The literature used for the study addresses legal issues and bullying, enhancing 21st century skills and improving communication. Statistics from the Pew Organization and qualitative information from other academic studies were also used. The literature had more concerns about inappropriate behavior than suggestions practicing professionals. The day-to-day issues caused by social media were less than the literature suggested. They all agreed schools need to adapt and effectively use this media to stay relevant. The research indicated that it is still common to just block social media sites, more educators are seeing a real need to implement and use them as tools. The negative aspects are less damaging than the potential is for improving student’s engagement. The research is qualitative in design, using interview protocols. The purposive sample included administrators from district, secondary and primary school level. Results indicated that school leaders are aware of the need to adapt to modern ways to communicate, but remain concerned about difficulties that arise.
Prehospital Care in the Acute Setting

A 16-year-old gang leader sustains a stab wound to the midchest (precordial area). He is found by the paramedics collapsed on the street with a thready pulse rate. With a Level I trauma center 11 miles away and a Level II facility four blocks away, which of the following should be the prehospital management decision? (A) Perform endotracheal intubation and establish intravenous access (B) Arrange air evacuation to the Level I facility (C) Transport directly to the Level II facility (D) Fully stabilize the patient in the field before any transport (E) Pronounce the patient dead at the scene
Does Social Communicability Mediate the Role of Trust in Mobile Phone Adoption? An Individual Level Multi-nation Exploratory Study

This paper investigates the role of Social Communicability Index (SCI) in the relationship between trust and Mobile Phone Adoption. Using individual-level secondary data from various nations from a reputable data base and controls such as age, gender and education level, we ran regressions and PLS and found that SCI of individuals does moderate the role of trust in mobile phone adoption for most nations. We conclude with future research direction.
Fusarium Wilt Suppression and Agglutinability of Pseudomonas putida.

Mutants of Pseudomonas putida (Agg−) that lack the ability to agglutinate with components present in washes of bean and cucumber roots showed limited potential to protect cucumber plants against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cucumerinum. However, a higher level of protection was observed against Fusarium wilt in cucumber plants coinoculated with the parental bacterium (Agg+), which was agglutinable. The Agg− mutants did not colonize the roots of cucumber plants as extensively as the Agg+ parental isolate did. In competition experiments involving bean roots inoculated with a mixture of Agg+ and Agg− bacteria, the Agg+ strains colonized roots to a greater extent than the Agg− cells did. These data suggest that the Agg+ phenotype provides additional interactions that aid in the beneficial character of P. putida.
Regulation of photosynthetic induction state in high- and low-light-grown soybean and Alocasia macrorrhiza (L.) G. Don

Alocasia (Alocasia macrorrhiza [L.] G. Don) and soybean (Glycine max [L.]) were grown under high or low photon flux density (PFD) conditions to achieve a range of photosynthetic capacities and light-adaptation modes. The CO2 assimilation rate and in vivo linear electron transport rate (Jf) were determined over a range of PFDs and under saturating 1-s-duration lightflecks applied at a range of frequencies. At the same mean PFD, the assimilation rate and the Jf were lower under the lightfleck regimes than under constant light. The activation state of two, key enzymes of the photosynthetic carbon reduction cycle pathway, ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) and fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase, and the photosynthetic induction states (ISs) were also found to be lower under flashing as compared to continuous PFD. Under all conditions, the IS measured 120 s after an increase in PFD to constant and saturating values was highly correlated with the Rubisco activation state and stomatal conductances established in the light regime before the increase. Both the fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase and Rubisco activities established in a particular light regime were highly correlated with the mean Jf in that regime. The relationships between enzyme activation state and Jf and between IS and enzyme activation state were similar in soybean and Alocasia and were not affected either by growth-light regime, and hence photosynthetic capacity, or by flashing versus constant PFD. The common relationship between the linear Jf and the activation state of key enzymes suggests that electron transport may be the determinant of the signal regulating IS, at least to the extent that the IS is controlled by the activation state of key stromal enzymes.
EFH-Soar: Modeling Education in Highly Interactive Microworlds

The goal of our work is to produce a process model account of education in microworlds based on Soar, a theory of cognition and learning. In the context of a microworld that supports the exploration of qualitative electrostatics, we present operational models of both skilled and student interaction. In addition, we describe an episodic memory mechanism encoded in the student model that gives insight into the processes involved in learning from incorrect behavior.
COMPETITION EXPOSED BY KNIGHT

There has been a long-standing debate over what can be inferred from a mass of biogeographical data on the distribution of bird species on the islands around New Guinea. One theory, which has it that some species are excluded from some islands because of the competitive influence of other species, now finds support in a statistical analysis using a recursive algorithm called the knight's tour.
A charge coupled device architecture for on focal plane image signal processing

A parallel, pipelined architecture for performing real-time, on-focal-plane image processing using CCD (charge-coupled-device) technology is presented. In particular, an implementation for edge detection is described. Slight modification of the edge detection implementation yields an image reconstruction processor. Simulations of the image processing capabilities of the CCD processor architecture are presented. >
Yetter-Drinfel'd categories associated to an arbitrary bialgebra

Abstract Various prebraided monoidal categories associated to a bialgebra over a commutative ring are studied and their relationships at various levels are examined. Generalizations of braided bialgebras are described and prebraided monoidal categories are associated with them. Three formally different braided monoidal categories can always be associated with any bialgebra over a commutative ring. These are not necessarily the same.
Mechatronics design and implementation of driver assistance technologies for Intelligent Transportation Systems

The mechatronics design, testing, and implementation of various technologies for driver assisted guidance and control of vehicles in intelligent transportation systems (ITS) is presented. Driver assisted guidance and control in ITS include applications such as lane keeping, intelligent cruise control, and obstacle identification and avoidance. These driver assistance functions require development of mechatronics sensing, human machine interface, and other related technologies. The designs of several mechatronics systems developed for this purpose are discussed. These include: 1. An all-digital magnetic sensing system that would provide reliable sensing of vehicle position from roadway imbedded magnets for lane keeping. 2. A robotic system for installation of the magnets on the roadway. 3. A human-machine interface for driver assistance. 4. An all-accelerometer INS (inertial navigation system) for dead reckoning of vehicle positions for GPS (global position system) based lane keeping. 5. A laser based sensing system for intelligent cruise control.
Extended culture: the growth of Candida utilis at controlled acetate concentrations.

Extended culture, a special type of semicontinuous culture, permits prolonged maintenance of a constant or programmed environment in a growing culture by a controlled addition of one or more substrates. Differences between extended culture and continuous culture data are a measure of differences in the properties of cell populations with different cell age distributions but identical steady-state environments. Both extended culture and continuous culture were used to study the growth kinetics of Candida utilis (ATCC 9226) under conditions of substrate inhibition at controlled concentrations of sodium acetate in a carbon-limited mineral salts medium supplemented with 0.01 g/1 yeast extract. Acetate concentrations ranged from 1.2 g/l to 10.8 g/l (expressed as acetic acid), while yeast concentrations varied from 0.3 to 7.8 (g dry cells)/1. Rate parameters such as growth yields (Y), specific growth rates (μ), and linear growth rates (K), were calculated by computer from the data and theory presented herein. Specific growth rates as high as 0.54/hr were observed, although extended culture growth was more nearly linear than exponential in these experiments. Growth yields usually varied between 0.2 and 0.4 (g dry cells)/(g acetate), although values were as high as 0.8 for a brief period during one experiment. Growth yields at a given acetate concentration were correlated by an equation of the form 1/Y = 1/YG + m/μ. A maintenance coefficient (m) of 0.17 (g acetate)/(g dry cell-hr) was observed at acetate concentrations of 4.5 and 10. g/1. A typical maximum growth yield (YG) of 0.51 (g dry cell)/(g acetate) was obtained at 4.5 g/1 acetate, but an unusually high YG of 1.33 was found at 10. g/1 acetate. Oxygen uptake measurements are compared with these cell yield measurements. Linear growth rates in expended culture were correlated by the equation K = 0.89–0.70 (S/S0) where K has units of (g dry cell)/(l-hr), S is the instantaneous acetate concentration, and S0 is the initial acetate concentration. The extended culture kinetic data are shown to be substantially different from continuous culture kinetic data. Reason for these differences are discussed in light of diffrences in the cell age distributions, as well as possible differences in experimental conditions.
Direct laboratory determination of the 187 Re half-life

The long-lived, naturally occurring radionuclide 187Re is important in geochemistry and cosmology as a nucleochronometer. Until now there have been no direct laboratory measurements which have avoided the difficulties of both low-energy β-counting and dependence on radiometric ages of rocks and meteorites. We report here a half-life of (4.35 ± 0.13) × 1010 yr, based on the growth of 187Os over a 4-yr period into a large source of osmium-free rhenium. Since our result agrees with the best geochemically determined values, no significant revision of the present galactic age limits based on the geochemical values is necessary. The agreement at the 5% level of the decay rates determined on laboratory and meteorite-age timescales places a tight constraint on cosmological models in which fundamental ‘constants’ are allowed to vary. In particular, the fine-structure constant, α, must have changed by less than one part in 105 over the past 4.5 × 109 yr.
From the Editors’ Desk: Peer Review Now and in the Future

At Jon Stewart’s rally to restore sanity, held in Washington, DC in October 2010, this sign was prominently displayed (Fig. 1). While we do not recognize the holder of the sign, we would not be surprised if he turned out to be a journal editor. Journal editors disagree on practically every topic imaginable; peer review is the rare exception. To editors, careful prepublication scrutiny of findings by informed peers is an article of faith and a bedrock of scientific progress.
Oxygen poisoning of NAD biosynthesis: A proposed site of cellular oxygen toxicity

Abstract Quinolinate phosphoribosyl transferase was rapidly inactivated in Escherichia coli exposed to hyperbaric oxygen. The enzyme is essential for de novo biosynthesis of NAD in E. coli and man. Because of its sensitivity and essentiality, inactivation of this enzyme is proposed as a significant mechanism of cellular oxygen toxicity. Niacin which enters the NAD biosynthetic pathway below the oxygen-poisoned enzyme provided significant protection against the decrease in pyridine nucleotides and the growth inhibition from hyperoxia in E. coli and could be useful in cases of human oxygen poisoning.
Diverse reactions catalyzed by naphthalene dioxygenase from Pseudomonas sp strain NCIB 9816

Naphthalene dioxygenase (NDO) fromPseudomonas sp strain NCIB 9816 is a multicomponent enzyme system which initiates naphthalene catabolism by catalyzing the addition of both atoms of molecular oxygen and two hydrogen atoms to the substrate to yield enantiomerically pure (+)-cis-(1R,2S)-dihydroxy-1,2-dihydronaphthalene. NDO has a relaxed substrate specificity and catalyzes the dioxygenation of many related 2- and 3-ring aromatic and hydroaromatic (benzocyclic) compounds to their respectivecis-diols. Biotransformations with a diol-accumulating mutant, recombinant strains and purified enzyme components have established that in addition tocis-dihydroxylation, NDO also catalyzes a variety of other oxidations which include monohydroxylation, desaturation (dehydrogenation),O-andN-dealkylation and sulfoxidation reactions. In several cases, the absolute stereochemistry of the oxidation products formed by NDO are opposite to those formed by toluene dioxygenase (TDO). The reactions catalyzed by NDO and other microbial dioxygenases can yield specific hydroxylated compounds which can serve as chiral synthons in the preparation of a variety of compounds of interest to pharmaceutical and specialty chemical industries. We present here recent work documenting the diverse array of oxidation reactions catalyzed by NDO. The trends observed in the oxidation of a series of benzocyclic aromatic compounds are compared to those observed with TDO and provide the basis for prediction of regio- and stereospecificity in the oxidation of related substrates. Based on the types of reactions catalyzed and the biochemical characteristics of NDO, a mechanism for oxygen activation by NDO is proposed.
Integrating Functional and Academic Goals into Literacy Instruction for Adolescents with Significant Cognitive Disabilities through Shared Story Reading

A multiple baseline single-case study examined the integration of functional and academic goals in an individualized story-based lesson plan incorporating an adapted text on grade level content for adolescent students with moderate to severe intellectual disabilities across three staff–student dyads. The research team collected data on teacher and support staff intervention fidelity as well as scores on weekly social validity surveys. Student data consisted of performance on predetermined academic and functional goals. Staff improved their ability to implement the intervention with fidelity when it was formatted task-analytically. Students also improved their performance on both goals over the duration of the study. Despite student growth, the social validity scores remained relatively stable throughout the entirety of the study. These results suggest that such practices can provide an innovative way for teachers to address functional content while also providing access to the general education curriculum...
Clinical and cell kinetic studies of the effects of the epipodophyllotoxin VP16-213 during therapy of refractory acute nonlymphocytic leukemia.

After induction failure or relapse on primary therapy, acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (ANLL) has historically been highly resistant to reinduction chemotherapy. In order to evaluate a new drug combination for this condition, 24 children and young adults with ANLL failing to attain first remission [5] or in relapse [19] were treated with VP16-213 plus 5-azacytidine (5AZ). Each patient had previously received combination chemotherapy with several antileukemic agents, including anthracyclines and cytosine arabinoside. These patients received 5-day courses of VP16-213 (200 mg/m2) daily x 3 days, followed immediately by 5AZ (300 mg/m2) daily x 2 days, repeated every 1–2 days until the bone marrow became hypoplastic. After 2–4 courses, 19 patients demonstrated an objective anti-leukemic effect by achieving marrow hipoplasia without evidence of blasts. Eleven of these (11/24=46%) achieved complete remission after a median time of 45 days from the initiation of therapy, making this combination of VP16-213 and 5AZ the most active regiment we have tested for ANLL in relapse. In order to determine the effects of VP16-213 on leukemic blast proliferation in vivo, serial bone marrow aspirates were studied in eight of these children. VP16-213 200 mg/m2 IV was given daily x 3 days, and the mitotic index, labeling index and fractions of cells in G0/G1, S and G2+M by flow cytometric measurement of DNA content were determined. Bone marrow samples were obtained before, 4 h and 20–24 h after the third dose in all patients, and 20–24 h after the third dose in six of the patients. The cytokinetic studies 4 h after the first dose of VP16-213 consistently showed a G2 phase arrest of the bone marrow myeloblasts, indicating uptake of the drug and production of the same cell kinetic lesion which has been shown for cells treated with VP16-213 in vitro. In each patient studied 24 h after the third drug dose, there was a decrease in the fraction of cells in S phase compared to the pretreatment study (median decrease 56%, range 24–67%). The blast count per ml of marrow decreased by a median of 84% (range 72–91%) over this same interval. The observed decrease of fraction of cells in S phase after three doses of the drug suggests selective kill of cells in S compared to G0/G1. We conclude that the activity of VP16-213 against ANLL blasts can be demonstrated in vivo by the production of G2 phase arrest and reduction of marrow blast count with findings consistent with increased cytotoxicity for cells in S and G2 phase of the cell cycle. In addition, this intensive combination of VP16-213 and 5AZ has shown clear evidence of effectiveness in patients with refractory ANLL, and thus may be useful during initial therapy.
A study of the electrode kinetics of iron porphyrins

Abstract A study has been made on the effect of axial ligand and of solvent on the heterogeneous rate constant for the reduction of Fe(III) porphyrins to the corresponding Fe(II) complexes. It was found that conjugated ligands and the presence of water increased the rate constant substantially. Solvent-solute interactions with the porphyrin ring appears to be one, but not the only, factor governing electron transfer rates.
Recognition memory for source and occurrence: the importance of recollection.

Previous recognition memory studies indicate that when both recollection and familiarity are expected to contribute to recognition performance (e.g., discriminating studied items from nonstudied items) the dual-process and the unequal-variance signal detection models provide comparable accounts of performance. When familiarity is not expected to be useful (e.g., when items from two equally familiar sources are discriminated between), the dual-process model provides a significantly better account of performance. In the present study, source recognition was tested under conditions in which familiarity could have been used to perform a list-discrimination task; participants were required to discriminate between strong studied items, weak studied items, and new items. The dual-process model provided a better account of performance than did the unequal-variance model. Moreover, the results indicated that the unequal-variance assumption in a single-process signal detection model was not a valid substitution for recollection and that recollection was used to make recognition judgments even when assessments of familiarity were useful.
Biological aspects of constructing volatile organic compound emission inventories

Abstract The: emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from vegetation is subject to numerous biological controls. Past inventories have relied heavily on empirical models which are limited in their ability to simulate the response of organisms to short- and long-term changes in their growth environment. In this review we consider the principal biochemical, physiological and ecological controls over VOC emission with specific reference to how such controls can be included in ecosystem-level inventories. A distinction is made between longer-term biological controls over basal VOC emission rates (rates determined under a standard set of environmental conditions) and instantaneous biological and environmental controls over instantaneous VOC emission rates (rates determined at the prevailing, instantaneous set of environmental conditions). Emphasis is placed on the emission of isoprene and monoterpenes. Isoprene emission occurs essentially without a leaf reservoir and is tightly linked to instantaneous photosynthetic metabolism and the activity of isoprene synthase, the enzyme that underlies isoprene production. At present, there are still large uncertainties about which of these controls dominates isoprene emission rate. Ecosystem-level inventories of isoprene emission would be best handled through consideration of (1) the early season induction of isoprene emission, (2) seasonal and spatial variability in light, nitrogen and water availability and their influences on the basal emission rate, and (3) the influence of instantaneous changes in light and temperature on the basal emission rate. Monoterpene emission occurs from a large leaf reservoir, is uncoupled from instantaneous controls over biosynthesis, and is likely linked to whole-plant carbon allocation patterns. Because of the well-defined role of monoterpenes as herbivore deterrents and their linkage to plant carbon balance, there is promise for ecosystem-level inventories based on biological resource allocation models and evolutionary cost-benefit models. Biological sources for several other VOCs have been identified, including methanol, methylbutenol, hexenol, acetone, and formic and acetic acids. However, the controls over these emissions have yet to be determined, and there is no current basis for mechanistic inventory development. From the studies reviewed here we conclude that the incorporation of mechanistic biological controls in future VOC inventories will improve their capacity to predict emissions across complex ecological gradients.
Development and Psychometric Evaluation of the Child Neglect Questionnaire

Neglect poses a significant risk for children throughout their development and is often linked with serious consequences that reach into adulthood. The Child Neglect Questionnaire (CNQ) fills existing gaps by incorporating multiple perspectives from both parents and the child, as well as measuring the complex phenomenon of neglect multidimensionally. Furthermore, this measure addresses the need for an instrument specifically developed for late childhood (ages 10-12), as much of the extant evidence and corresponding measures focus on young children and their mothers. A panel of three psychologists, using Cicchetti’s model of child neglect as a theoretical guide, began by selecting items from an existing database. Results of exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses and item response theory demonstrated the unidimensionality of physical, emotional, educational, and supervision neglect as well as a second-order construct of child neglect. Analyses controlling for risk status due to father’s substance use ...
Towards Collective Work and Responsibility: Sources of Support within a Freedom School Teacher Community.

Abstract Alternative and parallel schooling contexts such as the Children's Defense Fund Freedom Schools® provide educational experiences for U.S. K–12 students grounded in notions of social justice and culturally responsive teaching. College-aged young adults known as “servant-leader interns” are the teachers in this context. In this article, the author examines the nature of the various ways in which servant-leader interns were supported in their development as teachers both at the national training institute and at their local site. This discussion gives explicit attention to the kinds of deliberate support intended by the Freedom Schools program and the kinds of support that the servant-leader interns created or initiated on their own. Implications for teacher support that occur in alternative and parallel schooling contexts are discussed.
Prostate cancer early detection practices among men with a family history of disease.

Abstract Objectives Genetic studies of familial prostate cancer, which is often asymptomatic until advanced stages, rely on correct designation of affection status. In this pilot study, we set out to determine the proportion of unaffected men whose families are participating in a study of hereditary prostate cancer who have been tested for prostate cancer with serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) measurement and digital rectal examination (DRE). Methods Participants were identified from the University of Michigan Prostate Cancer Genetics Project, a family-based study of inherited prostate cancer susceptibility. Of the 141 eligible affected and unaffected sons of men with prostate cancer, 124 (88%) completed a mailed questionnaire regarding serum PSA testing and DRE history. Results Among unaffected men, 95% reported ever having had a PSA test, and 97% ever having had a DRE, with most initial tests occurring between the ages of 40 and 60 years. No significant difference in the mean age at first PSA test or DRE between the affected and unaffected men was observed. Affected men were significantly more likely than unaffected men to have a first PSA level greater than 2.5 ng/mL ( P = 0.006), but not greater than 4.0 ng/mL ( P = 0.614). Conclusions Most men with a family history of prostate cancer are undergoing early detection testing. The differences in early detection testing practices do not appear to account for the difference in affection status among the sons of men with prostate cancer.
Creating enduring change: demonstrating the long-term impact of a faculty development program in palliative care.

Creating enduring change, both in clinician behavior and patient outcomes, is the overarching goal of continuing education in the health professions. Current methods of education and evaluation, however, often show disappointing results in achieving meaningful and lasting change among clinicians in practice.1,2 With some notable exceptions,3,4 continuing professional education programs tend to be limited in scope and method: most address narrowly defined clinical content, and most are delivered using noninteractive teaching methods that have been shown to lack effectiveness in generating learning and change.5–9 Evaluation methods also tend to be restricted in range, relying on satisfaction measures or single group, conventional pre- and postdesigns measuring short term and possibly transient outcomes, thus limiting generalizability and validity of the results.2,10–12 Improving professional education is of particular concern in the rapidly growing field of palliative care, where the need for leaders in clinical care and education far outweighs supply,13–15 and, except for full-time fellowship programs, there are relatively few educational experiences available for clinicians.3,16,17 Deficiencies in care for the dying have been well-documented,18,19 and national organizations have endorsed palliative care as a priority for training.20–29 This report describes an evaluation of the long-term impact of the Harvard Medical School Program in Palliative Care Education and Practice (PCEP), an intensive, learner-centered, interdisciplinary faculty development program that aims to build the field of palliative care by enhancing clinical expertise, pedagogic competencies, and organizational skills among a cadre of physician and nurse educators. The program is distinguished by its close integration of clinical and educational skills training, attention to the broad sweep of professional practice, including organizational change and professional development, and emphasis on affective, interactive, and relational dimensions of clinical work and teaching. In a study of short-term outcomes of PCEP, we found statistically significant improvements with large effect sizes in educational practice, attitudes, and self-reported preparation to provide and teach end-of-life care.30 Because the real merit of an educational program lies in its lasting impact on learners, we carried out a long-term follow-up of graduates, assessing preprogram, immediate postprogram, and long-term (6, 12, or 18 months) outcomes in: (1) palliative care teaching behaviors and attitudes; (2) clinical practice and self-assessed competencies; (3) palliative care program development and organizational change; and (4) professional development activities and attitudes related to palliative care.
An introduction to TUG: a language for writing reusable formal program specifications

TUG (Tree Unified with Grammar) was developed to support a system to be developed through an integration of conventional software development, operational specification, rapid prototyping via software transformations, software reuse, and analysis of specifications and programs via testing and proofs. The language integrates various software development paradigms into a coherent whole to fit specific needs of developing organizations. This paper shows how to write reusable specifications in TUG. Compared to other existing specification languages, the advantages, disadvantages, limitations, and strengths of the language is discussed. The language improves the reusability of formal specifications in the following ways: (i) a developer can run a TUG specification as a prototype to study its behavior due to its executability at the front-end of the software life cycle, (ii) a developer can easily write a parametric program corresponding to its parametric specification due to the similar semantics.
Single Molecule Study on Incorporation Efficiency of DPO4 and Klenow Fragment in the Presence of BPDE Adduct

It's well known that the binding of DNA adducts such as benzo[a]pyrene-diol-epoxide (BPDE) to DNA template strand can impede or block DNA synthesis during the process of DNA replication. While DNA synthesis involving high fidelity replicative A-family polymerases such as Klenow fragment are blocked by DNA adducts, members of Y-family DNA polymerases such as Sulfolobus solfataricus P2 DNA polymerase IV (DPO4) can bypass the DNA adducts and resume the DNA synthesis. Understanding the functional differences between A-family and Y-family DNA polymerases in the process of DNA replication and the mechanism of bypassing DNA adducts is of great value to explain the cause of mutagenesis. We introduce an assay by anchoring DNA molecules to the modified surface to study the incorporation efficiency of DPO4 and Klenow fragment with the presence of BPDE adduct at single molecule level. Specifically, we anchor fluorescent labeled DNA template onto this surface with the adduct site open for nucleotide incorporation, photobleach the labels and flow the polymerases and labeled nucleotides into the hybridization cell. Using Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence Microscopy (TIRFM) we identify the time sequence incorporation of the nucleotides onto the anchored DNA template by identifying the location of the labeled nucleotide from TIRF images. We further quantify the signal densities of the images obtained from the two different polymerases, thus examining whether incorporation reactions have been executed and quantifying the incorporation efficiency of the polymerases.
A Capture-Recapture Problem When Information is Obtained From Two Qualitatively Different Sources

We first consider a wildlife-related capture recapture problem with a known total number of fish. Our objective is to estimate the number of healthy fish, H. We first use a rod that only attracts healthy fish, which are tagged and returned to the water. Later, we use a net that scoops both sick and healthy fish. Three assumptions regarding the probability of being caught by the net, conditional on health status and being caught by the rod, lead to three different estimates of H. We give approximations to expected values of the three estimates and give a condition under which they bracket H. A potential application of these methods is to the follow-up of World Trade Center responders. Responders are disease-free when they arrive at the clean-up site and are asked to report for a visit after a fixed period of time, but some fail to do so. Some responders, whether they come to the scheduled return visit or not, spontaneously report a disease before the scheduled visit, but absence of disease is never reporte...
Critical issues in enhancing brightness in thin film phosphors for flat-panel display applications

Abstract Thin film phosphors have potential applications in field emission flat-panel displays. However, they are limited by the lower cathodoluminescent brightness in comparison to phosphor powders. In this paper, we have investigated the critical parameters that need to be optimized to increase the brightness of phosphor thin films. Specifically, we studied the role of surface roughness and optical properties of the substrate on the brightness of the phosphor films. Thin Y2O3:Eu phosphor films were deposited on various substrates (lanthanum aluminate, quartz, sapphire, and silicon) with thicknesses varying from 50 to 500 nm. A model that accounts for diffuse and specular or scattering effects has been developed to understand the effects of the microstructure on the emission characteristics of the cathodoluminescent films. The results from the model show that both the optical properties of the substrate and the surface roughness of the films play a critical role in controlling the brightness of laser deposited phosphor films.
Whistleblowing: what does it mean in China?

In China, whistleblowing has both political and social functions. For the government, whistleblowing works as a social control mechanism, especially for containing corruption of its officials, while for ordinary citizens, whistleblowing provides then: with a legal weapon to fight against official malfeasance, misfeasance, and nonfeasance. This paper examines the causes, processes, and consequences of whistleblowing with an emphasis on the difficulties and dilemmas in blowing the whistle. It argues that given its important functions and implications, whistleblowing should be further legalized, encouraged, and protected to the largest possible extent in China.
Recruitment and discharge patterns of single motor units during speech production

Study of single motor unit (SMU) activity during rapid isotonic contractions, such as those characterizing speech, provide a closer look at the inacessible central mechanisms responsible for the encoding of the speech motor program. This study represents a quantification of the discharge and recruitment patterns of SMU's in the anterior belly of digastric, a muscle active in bringing about jaw lowering. Using a highly selective intramuscular electrode and computerized analysis procedures the firing rate, recruitment intervals, and various temporal intervals between SMU activity and articulatory events were obtained. Results to be discussed include: (1) greater isotonic versus isometric discharge rates for the same motor unit; (2) higher maximum discharge rates for later and larger recruited motor units; (3) relative invariance of recruitment order; (4) temporal sequence of SMU activation in relation to initiation of jaw lowering and speech audio signal: and (5) relationship of SMU activity to articulatory displacement and velocity. Implications of these results towards a further understanding of the encoding mechanisms of speech will be discussed.
Physiology: Keeping it regular with protons.

Muscle coordination is mostly governed by motor programs built into the nervous system. But one program — the defecation cycle in a worm — has a mechanism that avoids nerves completely and uses protons as signals.
Anterior surgical treatment for cervical spondylotic myelopathy

Abstract Cervical spondylotic myelopathy is a disease of the cervical spine causing spinal cord compression secondary to spondylosis or ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament. Anterior surgical options include anterior cervical discectomy and fusion, cervical corpectomy, and cervical disc arthroplasty. The surgeon must choose the right surgical option to decompress the cord, restore cervical lordosis, and adequately stabilize the spine. Although these surgical procedures are considered to be highly successful, each one is associated with complications. One must exercise great care when performing anterior cervical surgery and discuss with each patient the risks and benefits of the procedures.
Myocardial Contrast Echocardiography: 15 Years of Research and Development

“An untroubled mind, no longer seeking to consider what is right and what is wrong; A mind beyond judgements, watches and understands.” The Buddha (translated from the Dhammapada ) The purpose of this article is to describe our personal experience in translating observations made in the experimental laboratory using MCE into the clinical setting. It is not intended to be an exhaustive review of MCE, for which readers are referred elsewhere.1 2 3 The work of others in MCE and related subjects will be mentioned only when it has influenced our own work. Our bench-to-bedside experience with MCE over the past 15 years will be discussed under these six broad categories: (a) technical issues; (b) AMI, (c) detection of CAD, (d) applications in the operating room, (e) quantification of myocardial perfusion, and (f) work in progress. Historically, it has not been possible to directly assess myocardial perfusion with echocardiography. Its clinical focus has involved the evaluation of cardiac chamber size and function, valve morphology and kinetics, pericardial space and great vessels, and intracavitary blood flow velocities. Yet, echocardiography is highly suited for the evaluation of myocardial perfusion for the following reasons: (a) It has very good spatial resolution (<1 mm in the axial direction), which is far superior to that offered by SPECT and positron emission tomography, although not as good as magnetic resonance imaging and ultrafast cine computed tomography; (b) its temporal resolution is excellent (30 to 120 Hz) and exceeds that of other commonly used imaging technologies; (c) for an imaging modality, it is inexpensive and has low overhead costs; (d) it is an integral tool in the day-to-day activities of clinical cardiologists, who can obtain advanced training in its use without needing to learn an entirely new technology. The study of myocardial perfusion with echocardiography involves …
Effects of freezing and thawing on glycerol mutants of Escherichia coli.

Abstract The effects of freezing and thawing on the viability of three glycerol mutants of Escherichia coli were determined when glycerol was absent or present in either the intracellular, extracellular, or both intra- and extracellular milieux. The recovery of nonglycerolated cells was related to the combination of freezing and thawing rates. Cell survival was significantly increased when subjected to the same rates of freezing and thawing. The ability of glycerol to protect against irreversible freeze-thawing injury was related to its cellular localization. Survival was markedly enhanced by extracellular glycerol and further increased by the presence of intracellular glycerol. However, intracellular glycerol alone failed to increase cell recovery. The rate of recovery, in respect to extracellular glycerol, was dependent upon both the rate of freezing and the combination of freezing and thawing rates.
Dietary sodium intake: influence on calcium channels and urinary calcium excretion in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Abstract Binding of the 1,4-dihydropyridine [ 3 H]PN200 110 was employed as an index of cardiac Ca 2+ channels in normotensive (WKY) and spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) rats during 4 weeks of normal (0.73% NaCl) and high (8% NaCl) sodium diets when the rats were between 20 and 24 weeks of age. Binding site density was not different at the beginning of the study but was increased significantly ( P 2+ excretion in SHR was enhanced significantly ( P
An immunoassay for human serum hepcidin at last: Ganz klar?

Hepcidin has emerged as the master regulator of iron metabolism. The lack of an assay to measure hepcidin levels in human serum has hampered research in this hot area of iron metabolism biology and pathophysiology. In this issue of Blood , Ganz and colleagues provide the initial validation of a
The Chemical Synthesis of Graphene Nanoribbons—A Tutorial Review

Graphene, graphene oxide (GO), and graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) are important materials that are related through their carbon-based planar structures and attractive physical properties. Many applications have been proposed for these materials, such as composites, touch-screen displays, and electronic devices. Based on research done in the Tour laboratory, we offer a tutorial on the solution phase chemical synthesis of GNRs through two routes. The first route involves the oxidation of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) to produce GO nanoribbons that contain oxidized functionality and that can be reduced to GNRs. The second route to GNRs involves the splitting of MWCNTs by intercalation of potassium metal at elevated temperature. The routes are complementary and produce materials that can be used in diverse applications.
Geographic mobility of the foreign-born Chinese in large metropolises, 1985-1990.

The spatial assimilation and ethnic resources models two major theoretical explanations of the adaptation of immigrants provide different views on the mechanism of spatial mobility of immigrants. We used the 1990 census 5 percent Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) to analyze the migration of foreign-born Chinese in three large metropolises--New York Los Angeles and San Francisco. We tested the two explanations in this study and argue that our results largely support the assimilation model. In addition we contend that macroeconomic conditions of ethnic enclaves and characteristics of ethnic economies are also important in affecting the geographic redistribution of immigrants. This paper was originally presented at the 1996 Annual Meeting of the Population Association of America. (EXCERPT)