cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cognitive-Behavioral Training of Problem-Solving and Impulse-Control with Delinquent Adolescents

Abstract Cognitive-behavioral training procedures were designed to enhance social problem-solving and impulse-control skills of delinquent adolescents. A multiple baseline design across subjects and tasks and an alternating-treatments design were used. Five youths participated in training which involved the acquisition of a problem-solving strategy for one set of problems and increasing impulse-control through self-instructions for the second set of problems. Two different forms of hypothetical social problems were presented in individual sessions. The results showed improvement in both problem-solving and impulse-control responses as a result of treatment. The alternating-treatments design showed that some of the youths generalized the use of training procedures to untrained problems. Follow-up data suggested that maintenance of treatment gains occurred for most of the youths. General improvements in the youths' social behavior outside of the therapy sessions were addressed in terms of anecdotal information.
PillCam Colon capsule endoscopy does not always complement incomplete colonoscopy.

Background There are no data on the role of PillCam Colon capsule (PCC) endoscopy for examination of the colon in incomplete colonoscopy cases. Objective To evaluate whether PCC endoscopy can complete colon examination after failure of conventional colonoscopy to visualize the cecum. Setting Three tertiary centers. Study design Retrospective case series. Patients Patients who underwent PCC endoscopy after incomplete colonoscopy from January to June 2008. Interventions Conventional colonoscopy and PCC endoscopy. Results By using PCC, we studied 12 patients who had incomplete colonoscopy. Six patients had an obstructing tumor of the left side of the colon, and, in 6 cases, there were technical difficulties to complete colonoscopy. PCC endoscopy visualized the rectum in 1 case. The capsule did not reach the site where colonoscopy stopped in 6 of the 12 cases, ie, 3 left sited tumors and 3 with technical difficulties. Moreover, in 1 of the 3 cases in which the capsule passed the site where colonoscopy stopped, poor bowel preparation precluded the accurate examination of the colon. Four patients underwent a third colon examination (3 barium enemas and 1 virtual CT colonoscopy). There were no adverse events related to PCC endoscopy. Limitations A retrospective study and a selected patient population. Data may not be applicable to other settings. Conclusion In this retrospective case series of patients with incomplete colonoscopy, PCC endoscopy did not always satisfactorily examine the colon.
Irritating potentialities of root canal medicaments

Abstract 1. 1. A group of five root canal medicaments were examined for possible irritating effects. 2. 2. The medicaments were applied to the shaved skin of the upper arm for forty-eight hours. Observations were then made regarding immediate reaction, and time of healing where irritation or necrosis occurred. 3. 3. Azochloramid, camphorated monochlorphenol, and cresatin produced no irritating effect. Beechwood creosote produced inflammation which lasted from two to seven days. Formocresol produced necrosis which lasted from two to three months.
A woman's place is in the home: Females and residential burglary

Little is known about the nature of women's participation in residential burglary, an offense statistically dominated by males. This paper examines women's involvement in residential burglary by comparing the characteristics of female burglars to those of their male counterparts and by outlining a typology of female burglars which emphasizes their roles during offenses. In some respects, female and male burglars do not appear to differ significantly. Nevertheless, the results suggest that important differences also may exist. Most important, the findings demonstrate that women's involvement in residential burglary, like men's, is marked by diversity. The theoretical implications of these findings are discussed.
A Palmar Sweat Measure Particularly Suited for Naturalistic Research

A simple measure of palmar sweating has been developed that seems especially applicable to naturalistic research. A sweat sample is collected by inverting a small bottle of distilled water on a palm or a fingertip. Inexpensive, simple apparatus is later used to measure the sweat solution's electrical conductivity. Substantial evidence speaking to issues of reliability and validity warrants further exploration of this sweat bottle measure.
Cosmic strings as emitters of extremely high energy neutrinos

We study massive particle radiation from cosmic string kinks, and its observability in extremely high energy neutrinos. In particular, we consider the emission of moduli---weakly coupled scalar particles predicted in supersymmetric theories---from the kinks of cosmic string loops. Since kinks move at the speed of light on strings, moduli are emitted with large Lorentz factors, and eventually decay into many pions and neutrinos via hadronic cascades. The produced neutrino flux has energy $E\ensuremath{\gtrsim}{10}^{11}\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{GeV}$, and is affected by oscillations and absorption (resonant and nonresonant). It is observable at upcoming neutrino telescopes such as JEM-EUSO, and the radio telescopes LOFAR and SKA, for a range of values of the string tension, and of the mass and coupling constant of the moduli.
Progress Towards Development in Latin America: From Prebisch to Technological Autonomy

Progress Towards Development in Latin America: From Prebisch to Technological Autonomy. James L. Dietz and Dilmus D. James (editors). Boulder: Lynne Rienner Publishers, 1990. viii. 232 pp., notes, references, contributors, index. $36.50 (cloth). ISBN 1-55587-179-8.
Oestrogen synthetase (aromatase) and hormone secretion in primary cultures of human placental trophoblast cells. Effects of cyclic AMP addition at the start of culture in attached and unattached cell populations.

Abstract Term placental trophoblast cells, released by trypsin digestion of placental villi, purified on a Percoll gradient and grown in serum-containing medium, differentiate within 24 to 48 h in culture from mononucleated cytotrophoblast-like cells at the start of culture to highly multinucleated giant (syncytiotrophoblast-like) cells that are more active in hormonogenesis. To determine the changes in hormone biosynthesis and secretion that occur early in the trophoblast differentiation process in vitro, freshly isolated placental cells were cultured in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium (DMEM) containing 20 per cent FBS, in the presence and absence of CAMP for up to 48 h. Cell attachment and growth, oestrogen synthetase (aromatase) activity in attached and unattached cells, and secretion of human chorionic gonadotropin (hcG) progesterone were studied. The aromatase specific activity, low in freshly isolated cells, increased fourfold in attached cells by 3 h, and achieved a to- to i5-fold increase by 40 to 48 h. In attached cells grown with cAMP, aromatase activity was further stimulated by about fourfold, relative to the control. The aromatase activity of the unattached cells removed from the culture dishes at various times up to 48 h showed a biphasic response: the activity decreased by 18 h and then increased back to the fresh cell levels. The effect of CAMP on aromatase in these unattached cells was manifested by a two-fold stimulation of activity by 18 h, relative to control unattached cells. Secretion of hCG from both attached and unattached cells remained at a low level ( We conclude that placental trophoblast cells in primary culture were as responsive to cAMP when freshly obtained as they are after 24 h in culture. An important observation is that aromatase activity in both the attached and unattached cell populations was stimulated about twofold by cAMP, although the basal level is much higher in the attached cell population.
Wilderness research: Effects of administering agency

Abstract References to the value of preserving wilderness and other natural areas frequently cite their potential value for science and research. Analysis of U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and U.S. National Park Service (NPS) Wildernesses revealed strong differences in research use of areas with similar legislated purposes but under different administrative agencies. Research in USFS areas tends to be much more visitor‐oriented than in NPS areas, where research has emphasized the biological sciences. NPS areas also receive more research use than USFS Wildernesses. Inconsistencies in research management indicate a need for more explicit specification of research goals in legislation or management documents.
Short communication: Comparison of 3 solid digesta passage markers in dairy cows

Abstract This study investigated the usefulness of acid-detergent fiber-bound 15 N [acid detergent insoluble (ADI)- 15 N] as a solid digesta passage marker in dairy cows compared with chromium (Cr) and ytterbium (Yb) (as labeled fiber or forage, respectively). Intrinsically (ADI- 15 N) or extrinsically (Cr, Yb) labeled alfalfa hay was pulse-dosed intraruminally to 7 lactating dairy cows. Following marker administration, spot fecal samples were collected for up to 72h for marker analyses. Urine and milk samples were also collected and analyzed for Yb and Cr. Fecal marker excretion data were processed using 2-compartment mathematical age-dependent/age-independent (G n →G 1 ) models. The rate of passage of the marker in the first, age-dependent compartment tended to be slower for Yb compared with Cr and ADI- 15 N, which resulted in a trend for longer mean retention time (MRT) in this compartment when Yb was used as a marker (19.0h) compared with Cr and ADI- 15 N (14.5 and 13.9h, respectively). The rate constant of marker disappearance for the second or age-independent compartment tended to be greater for Yb compared with Cr and ADI- 15 N, which led to a shorter MRT of Yb in this compartment (15.6) versus ADI- 15 N (32.1) and Cr (24.8h). The cumulative MRT was greater for ADI- 15 N versus Cr and Yb (46.0, 39.3, and 34.4h, respectively). Total MRT of marker tended to be greater for ADI- 15 N than for Yb (46.6 vs. 36.6h, respectively). Urine and milk analyses data suggested no measurable losses of Yb along the digestive tract, but about 0.79% of Cr dosed intraruminally was secreted or excreted in milk and urine in the 48-h period following marker administration. Collectively, this study confirmed previous observations that ADI- 15 N can be used reliably as a solid digesta passage marker for ruminants, producing pre-duodenal and total-tract retention times similar to that of Cr-labeled fiber. Retention time in the age-independent compartment was underestimated when Yb was used as a marker, emphasizing the need to process forages to isolate fiber before labeling with Yb.
A Physiologic-Based Approach to the Treatment of Acute Hyperkalemia

Hyperkalemia is a common and potentially lethal disorder. Given its variable presentation, clinicians should have a high index of suspicion, especially in patients with chronic kidney disease. The present case highlights key physiologic mechanisms in the development of hyperkalemia and provides an outline for emergent treatment. In this context, we discuss specific mechanisms of action of available treatments of hyperkalemia.
Microprobe analyses of anadromous Arctic charr, Salvelinus alpinus, otoliths to infer life history migration events

Otoliths of Arctic charr, Salvelinus alpinus, from north Labrador were examined to gather life history information pertinent to anadromous migrations. Wavelength dispersive electron microprobe measurements confirm the presence of strontium in otolith tissue. Trace element analyses of charr otoliths imply that otolith strontium/calcium concentration ratios are related to external environmental factors with salinity having a great influence. Otoliths clearly record habitat shifts consistent with migration across major salinity boundaries. Most charr first migrate to sea following at least 2 years in freshwater. Generally, when anadromy begins, it continues annually. Robust relationships in otolith chemistry, combined with macrostructure patterns in field-captured specimens, provide time-series data describing individual migrational histories. Validation studies are still required in order to couple information contained within daily increments with chemical analyses to infer additional temporal events in diadromous migrations.
High Risk Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: To Transplant or Not to Transplant?

Because survival with both chemotherapy and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) approaches to high-risk pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) generally improves through the years, regular comparisons of outcomes with either approach for a given indication are needed to decide when HSCT is indicated. Improvements in risk classification are allowing clinicians to identify patients at high risk for relapse early in their course of therapy. Whether patients defined as high risk by new methods will benefit from HSCT requires careful testing. Standardization and improvement of transplant approaches has led to equivalent survival outcomes with matched sibling and well-matched unrelated donors; however, survival using mismatched and haploidentical donors is generally worse. Trials comparing chemotherapy and HSCT must obtain sufficient data about therapy and stratify the analysis to assess the outcomes of best-chemotherapy with best-HSCT approaches.
How Fertile Is an RRC‐EM Visit?

the force-feedback model for an epidural needle insertion simulator. Health Technol Inform. 1998; 50:272–7. 15. Kooiker JC. Spinal puncture and cerebrospinal fluid examination. In: Roberts JR, Hedges JR (eds). Clinical Procedures in Emergency Medicine, 3rd edition. Philadelphia: WB Saunders, 1998, pp 1054–76. 16. Larson JL. Lumbar puncture. In: Rosen P, Chan TC, Vilke GM, et al. (eds). Atlas of Emergency Procedures. St. Louis: Mosby, 2001, pp 156–7. 17. Reznek MA, Rawn CL, Krummel TM. Evaluation of the educational effectiveness of a virtual reality intravenous insertion simulator. Acad Emerg Med. 2002; 9:1319–25.
Seasonal variation in metabolism: evidence for the role of circannual rhythms in metabolism?

Seasonal variation in metabolism: evidence for the role of circannual rhythms in metabolism?
SUPPRESSION OF BLOOD GROUP AGGLUTINABILITY OF HUMAN ERYTHROCYTES BY CERTAIN BACTERIAL POLYSACCHARIDES

Erythrocytes coated with bacterial capsular polysaccharides, notably the Vi antigen, were no longer agglutinated by antibodies directed against the various antigens native to the red cell surface. These effects could not be attributed to prevention of antibody uptake even though in some systems the uptake of antibody was diminished. In fact, agglutination by Rh-incomplete antibody was brought back to the original titer only after the sensitized Vi-coated cells had been subjected to ten alternating exposures to globulin and antiglobulin. Hemagglutination by Newcastle, mumps, and influenza viruses was also suppressed. Erythrocytes coated with Vi polysaccharide assumed the distinctive physicochemical attributes of this acidic polymer which results in a stabilization of the erythrocyte suspension as manifested by increased electrophoretic mobility and a striking decrease in the rate of sedimentation. Among the possible models for explaining the nature of the Vi effect on immune agglutination, the data favor interference with lattice formation.
FIRST RECORDS OF XYLEBORUS GLABRATUS (COLEOPTERA: CURCULIONIDAE) IN ALABAMA AND IN HARRISON COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI

family Lauraceae (Fraedrich et al. 2008). Known hosts include, but are not limited to redbay (Per sea borbonia (L.) Spreng.), avocado (Persea ameri cana Mill.), sassafras (Sassafras albidum (Nutt.) Nees), camphor (Cinnamomum camphora (L.) J. Presl), and swampbay (Persea palustris (Raf.) Sarg.) (Fraedrich et al. 2008). While the direct feeding damage caused by X. glabratus may not be significant, the beetle carries various species of fungal symbionts within mycangia at the base of its mandibles. As the female beetle bores into
The Death and Life of Walter Benjamin

What if Walter Benjamin actually made it to New York as he was escaping the Nazis, settling there for the rest of his long life? What if he was working on a sequel to his Arcades Project, translating his ideas about Paris, capital of the nineteenth century, to his new city and own epoch? And what if I inadvertently discovered the manuscript of this so-called Manhattan Project, and decided to write a study dedicated to the unearthed text? This paper offers a few reflections on, and quotations from, the book that I am currently, truly working on, which is an analysis of a phantom of a book, inspired by a real collection of reflections and quotations that were made in preparation for another book that was also never written.
On the complexities of non-Horn Clause logic programming

There have been active work to extend the Prolog style Horn Clause logic programming to non-Horn clauses. In this paper, we will analyze the complexities of several such extensions. The purpose is to understand the computational complexity of these inference systems. The analyses do not prove that any one system is better than the others all the time. But they do suggest that one system may be better than the others for some particular problems. We also discuss the effect of caching.
Two mechanisms by which fluorescent oxonols indicate membrane potential in human red blood cells

Optical potentiometric indicators have been used to monitor the transmembrane electrical potential (Em) of many cells and organelles. A better understanding of the mechanisms of dye response is needed for the design of dyes with improved responses and for unambiguous interpretation of experimental results. This paper describes the responses to delta Em of 20 impermeant oxonols in human red blood cells. Most of the oxonols interacted with valinomycin, but not with gramicidin. The fluorescence of 15 oxonols decreased with hyperpolarization, consistent with an "on-off" mechanism, whereas five oxonols unexpectedly showed potential-dependent increases in fluorescence at less than 2 microM [dye]. Binding curves were determined for two dyes (WW781, negative response and RGA451, positive response) at 1 mM [K]o (membrane hyperpolarized with gramicidin) and at 90 mM [K]o (delta Em = 0 with gramicidin). Both dyes showed potential-dependent decreases in binding. Changes in the fluorescence of cell suspensions correlated with changes in [dye]bound for WW781, in accordance with the "on-off" mechanism, but not for RGA451. Large positive fluorescence changes (greater than 30%) dependent on Em were observed between 0.1 and 1.0 microM RGA451. A model is suggested in which RGA451 moves between two states of different quantum efficiencies within the membrane.
“Moro”: The Resupply of German Submarines in Spain, 1939–1942

The outbreak of the Spanish Civil War in 1936 manifestly occasioned fundamental adjustments in European strategic considerations. While few powers had given serious thought to Spain's diplomatic, military, or even geographical importance, the rising produced numerous useful opportunities for Germany. It created a potential friend on France's southern frontier, drew the senior, more aggressive dictator, Benito Mussolini, closer to the more recently arrived Adolf Hitler, threatened Great Britain's control of the Mediterranean at Gibraltar, and redirected the focus of international diplomacy. In order to obtain a position of greater influence within the unstable vector of forces created by the new situation the two dictators had dispatched socalled volunteer military and air formations in support of the rising. While these troops and their equipment were of fundamental value to the Nationalists, their presence forced the participating military high commands to reevaluate carefully their positions and intentions.
Competition, innovation and regulation in the pharmaceutical industry

This article discusses the impact of regulation on competition and innovation in the pharmaceutical industry. Prompted by concern over attempts at regulating the industry on the European level, we discuss the two basic forms of regulation which we observe to be typical, quality regulation (licencing) and price regulation. In doing so, the analysis focuses on the research segment of the pharmaceutical industry and discusses forms of competition by innovation. Following a recent paper by Nelson, the specific characteristics of competition in the pharmaceutical industry are developed as well as their welfare implications. Regulatory behavior vis-a-vis the industry is analysed in terms of a behavioral model initially proposed by Stigler, and an attempt is made to incorporate into the analysis the experience of regulation in both Europe and the United States of America.
Straight skeleton based reconnection in a wireless sensor network

Decreasing costs and increasing functionality of embedded computation and communication devices have made Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) attractive for applications that serve in inhospitable environments like battlefields, planetary exploration or environmental monitoring. WSNs employed in these environments are expected to work autonomously and extend the network lifespan for as long as possible while carrying out their designated tasks. The harsh environment exposes the individual nodes to high risk of failure, which can potentially partition the network into disjoint segments. Therefore, the network must be able to self-heal and restore lost connectivity using available resources. The ad-hoc nature of deployment, harsh operating environment and lack of resources makes distributed approaches the most suitable choice for recovery. In this paper we present SSBR, a straight skeleton based distributed approach for reconnecting a WSN partitioned into disjoint segments. The basic idea of SSBR is to decompose the network area into two dimensional set of paths that can be used for recovery. Mobile nodes are deployed by surviving disjoint segments along the paths until connectivity is reestablished. The performance of SSBR is validated through mathematical analysis and simulation.
Analysis of Flying and Swimming in Nature Using an Immersed Boundary Method

. The primary factor driving this is the relative ease with which this methodology allows researchers to develop computational models of flows with complex geometries and/or moving boundaries. Immersed boundary solvers have been employed successfully for simulating biological flows, physiological flows, flow-induced vibration and complex turbulent flows. The key feature of the immersed boundary method is that simulations with complex boundaries can be carried out on stationary, non-body conformal Cartesian grids. This approach eliminates the need for complicated re-meshing algorithms that are usually employed with conventional Lagrangian body-conformal methods. These methods provide a unique capability for simulating flows with complex moving boundaries and as such, are ideally suited for simulation of flows associated with biological locomotion. In the current paper, we describe a versatile immersed–boundary Cartesian grid-based method and also demonstrate the capabilities of this method for a number of biological configurations. The paper is organized as follows: in Section II, we present the numerical methodology and in Section III-V, we discuss simulation results obtained for several biologically inspired flows including the fish pectoral fin hydrodynamics, the dolphin kick in human swimmers and the aerodynamics of dragonfly flight.
Minimum entropy estimation as a near maximum-likelihood method and its application in system identification with non-Gaussian noise

We derive the minimum entropy estimation (MEE) method from information theory to show the similarity of this method to the maximum likelihood method for the linear regression problem. The result is a nonparametric-based identification technique that can be applied in any case with iid noise that outperforms estimators in this case, including the popular LS method and a recently-developed (and limited) version of the MEE. Performance-wise, the MEE method is comparable to the expectation-maximization (EM) method. Its application to FIR system identification produces a very efficient implementation of this technique.
Fridgets: digital refrigerator magnets

The senior population is a broad, diverse demographic that it is often overlooked by traditional markets, particularly in the United States. In addition, seniors commonly experience feelings of isolation, abandonment and loneliness. This paper seeks to examine the sources of depression in the elderly and to explore human-centered technological solutions. We then propose a system of refrigerator-based technologies designed to foster self-reliance and connectedness among seniors.
Challenges in geographical information science

Geographical information science can be defined as that branch of information science that deals with the geographical domain, or as the set of fundamental scientific questions raised by geographical information and the technologies that collect, manipulate and communicate it. Geographical information can reveal interesting patterns that point in some cases to causal mechanisms. The use of Global Positioning Systems and online services has led to numerous rich sources of real-time data, and to the empowerment of the average citizen as a maker of maps, an empowerment that is especially valuable during emergencies when a dense network of citizens can potentially replace the services of scarce and expensive mapping experts. The concept of Digital Earth was defined more than a decade ago and has since been realized in several virtual-globe services that employ hierarchical data structures to support rapid pan and zoom. Research over the past two decades has led to the identification of a series of fundamental empirical principles that are broadly true of all geographical information, and that provide the basis for the design of geographical databases and analytical methods. Rapid deployment of geographical information technologies raises a series of social issues, including privacy, that are likely to become more threatening in the future. The paper ends with a summary of some of the core challenges and future of geographical information science.
Economics of joint production of sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus Richardson) and roe for caviar.

Abstract Costs, revenues, net income and rate of return on investment of rearing sturgeon for production of both meat and roe for caviar are analyzed by a computer simulation model for three sizes of hatchery-growout operations: capacities for handling 5, 10, and 15 broodstock. Biological relationships regarding growth, feed consumption, sexual maturity, and mortality interact with management decisions about stocking density, age at which part or all of the fish are marketed, and size of plant to yield the economic performance measures under several scenarios. Spline functions are used to estimate functional relationships between growth (weight) and age while the mortality is described by logistic functions. The biological data were obtained from the University of California, Davis, Aquaculture and Fisheries Program, and various commercial sturgeon producing firms in California. When sturgeon roe prices are less than $331 per kg, the firm receives a greater rate of return on investment by marketing all production fish at 18.5 months of age. With roe prices greater than $331 per kg, higher rates of return on investment are obtained by retaining female fish through sexual maturity (from 6 through 10 years of age) and harvesting the roe as well as the meat. Results are presented under the specification that all but 4000 fish are sold at age 18.5 months. Two thousand females from those 4000 fish are raised beyond 36 months of age for roe production. Economies of scale were exhibited as the firm's capacity expanded to 15 broodstock.
Coping with broadband traffic uncertainties: statistical uncertainty, fuzziness, neural networks

Broadband networks will carry traffic with highly unpredictable traffic characteristics. Three approaches for dealing with traffic uncertainty are discussed and compared. The first is based on analyzing the effects of statistical uncertainty in traffic characteristics on queuing system performance. The second uses the theory of fuzzy sets in handling an uncertain service time of a queuing system, and in forecasting new services. The last uses a neural net approach to learn about the certain environment. >
Between the Romance of Collectivism and the Reality of Individualism Ayllu Rhetoric in Bolivia’s Landless Peasant Movement

Landless Peasant Movement organizers in Bolivia recognize the ayllu as a historical memory rather than a lived reality, and it provides momentum for local-level efforts to reclaim land and producti...
Synthetic Triterpenoids Inhibit Growth, Induce Apoptosis and Suppress Pro-survival Akt, mTOR and NF-κB Signaling Proteins in Colorectal Cancer Cells

Lack of apoptotic cell death has been implicated in malignant transformation and resistance to anticancer therapies. The promotion of apoptosis in cancer cells could potentially lead to the regression and improved prognosis of refractory colorectal cancer. Synthetic triterpenoids have shown strong antitumorigenic activity towards diverse cancer cell types, but have not been investigated for colorectal cancer. In the present study, we tested the apoptosis-inducing activity of oleanane triterpenoid 2-cyano-3,12-dioxooleana-1,9(11)-dien-28-oic acid (CDDO) and its C-28 methyl ester (CDDO-Me) and C-28 imidazole (CDDO-Im) derivatives in colorectal cancer cells lines. Cell growth/viability assay (MTS) demonstrated that colorectal cancer cells are highly sensitive to CDDO-Me at concentrations of 1.25 to 10 microM. The primary mode of tumor cell destruction was apoptosis as demonstrated by the cleavage of PARP-1, activation of procaspases -3, -8, and -9 and mitochondrial depolarization. Induction of apoptosis by CDDO-Me was associated with the inhibition of pro-survival Akt, NF-kappaB and mTOR signaling proteins and NF-kappaB-regulated anti-apoptotic Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, Bad and survivin. These studies provide rationale for clinical evaluation of CDDO-Me for the treatment of advanced chemotherapy refractory colorectal cancer.
Ascorbic acid prevents β-amyloid-induced intracellular calcium increase and cell death in PC12 cells

Characteristics of Alzheimer's disease include loss of brain neurons associated with the deposit of beta-amyloid protein (Aβ) which is thought to be toxic to neurons possibly via induction of intracellular calcium and generation of free radicals. On this basis, we have determined the effect of ascorbic acid on the cell death and calcium increase induced by Aβ in PC12 cells. We found that ascorbic acid completely abolished Aβ-induced calcium increase and cell death in PC12 cells, indicating that calcium elevation and cell death are associated phenomena induced by Aβ that can be rescued by antioxidants. These results are important to understand the mechanisms by which Aβ is toxic to neurons and suggest that antioxidants may be part of future treatments for Alzheimer's disease.
Nanofluids: A New Field of Scientific Research and Innovative Applications

In the early 1990s, as I began exploring ways to apply nanotechnology to heat transfer engineering, I saw the possibility of breaking down the century-old technical barriers of conventional solid-liquid suspensions by stably suspending nanoparticles. During the past decade, a series of pioneering experiments have discovered that nanofluids exhibit a number of novel thermal transport phenomena. Nanofluids are of great scientific interest because these new thermal transport phenomena surpass the fundamental limits of conventional macroscopic theories of suspensions. Furthermore, nanofluids technology can provide exciting new opportunities to develop nanotechnology-based coolants for a variety of innovative applications. As a result, the study of nanofluids has emerged as a new field of scientific research and innovative applications. The nanofluids review paper in this issue of Heat Transfer Engineering reports on the current status of nanofluids production; shows verified parametric trends and magnitudes in thermal conductivity and heat transfer enhancement in nanofluids; and assesses the current status of nanofluids applications. This paper also points to future research directions to achieve ultrahigh heat transfer enhancement.
Resident Training in Developmental/Behavioral Pediatrics: Where Do We Stand?

Approximately 25% to 30% of all complaints to a general pediatrician are developmental or behavioral in origin. Despite this, residency education in developmental/behavioral pediatrics has consistently been rated poorly. Changes were set forth in 1997 to include a mandatory 1-month block rotation in developmental/behavioral pediatrics. This study was a nationwide, cross-sectional, self-administered, mailed survey of pediatricians who completed residency either before or after these changes went into effect. Overall, pediatricians' comfort level in developmental/behavioral pediatrics was unchanged in the 2 groups. Certain areas (behavior problems, learning disabilities, sleep, and depression/anxiety) of developmental/behavioral pediatrics had lower comfort scores. Our data provide direction for the ongoing refinement of pediatric education that is based on feedback from currently practicing pediatricians.
Endothelial cell dynamics during anastomosis in vitro

Vascular anastomosis – the fusion of vessels from two distinct branches of the vascular system – represents a critical step in vascular growth under both healthy and pathological conditions, in vivo, and presents an important target for engineering of vascularized tissues, in vitro. Recent works in animal models have advanced our understanding of the molecular and cellular players in vascular anastomosis, but questions remain related to cellular dynamics and control of this process, in vitro. In this study, we exploited a three-dimensional (3-D) culture platform to examine the dynamics of endothelial cell (EC) during and after vascular anastomosis by allowing angiogenesis and vasculogenesis to proceed in parallel. We show that anastomosis occurs between sprouts formed by angiogenesis from an endothelium and tubes formed by vasculogenesis in the bulk of a 3-D matrix. This fusion leads to highly connected vessels that span from the surface of the matrix into the bulk in a manner that depends on cell density and identity. Further, we observe and analyze intermixing of endothelial cells of distinct origin (surface versus bulk) within the vessels structures that are formed; we provide evidence that the cells migrate along pre-existing vessels segments as part of this intermixing process. We conclude that anastomosis can occur between vessels emerging by angiogenesis and vasculogenesis and that this process may play an important role in contexts such as wound healing.
Debating the Oncologist's Role in Defining the Value of Cancer Care: We Have a Duty to Society

Unsustainable Increases in Health Care Spending The rising costs of health care in general and cancer care in particular have prompted increasing concern in recent years. Data from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development suggest that health care expenditure as a percent of gross domestic product is not only higher in the United States than in other developed nations but is also rising at a steeper rate. In 2011, the United States spent a staggering 18% of gross domestic product—$2.7 trillion— on health care. Although some have been optimistic that the rate of growth is finally slowing, perhaps reflecting the impact of payment reforms and the Affordable Care Act, experts warn that the evidence is more consistent with the effects of the recent recession and one-time changes that will not ultimately result in a long-term flattening of the cost curve. Cancer care accounts for a substantial share of health care spending and appears to be growing even faster than health care costs overall; US expenditures for cancer care were $72B in 2004 and $126B by 2010. Evidence suggests that this increase reflects not only those advances in early detection, prevention, and treatment that have led to improvements in cancer mortality but also the increasing use of aggressive therapy near the end of life, raising concerns that increases in cost have not been accompanied by commensurate improvements in quality. Although we as oncologists recognize that measures such as expenditures in the last months of life are imperfect, most of us also have direct experiences that validate the underlying concern that we do not always direct scarce resources optimally. Many have voiced concerns about the potential impact of this pattern of health care spending on economic stability and, somewhat ironically, population health within the United States. The substantial and increasing share of resources devoted toward health care inevitably crowds out other types of essential spending. This includes education and social services which, like health care, have an important impact on population health.
The association of metabolic syndrome markers with adhesive capsulitis

Background Research has associated adhesive capsulitis with diabetes mellitus but suggests that glucose-mediated injury may begin before diabetes is diagnosed. The period preceding diabetes is often marked by metabolic syndrome. Methods We investigated the relationship between metabolic syndrome components (insulin resistance, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and obesity) and the development of adhesive capsulitis using a case-control study. We retrospectively reviewed 150 consecutive adhesive capsulitis patient charts to determine the prevalence of obesity and of medications used for treating metabolic syndrome elements and compared these with previously reported nationwide values. Results The prevalence of anti-hyperglycemia medications in the adhesive capsulitis cohort was 18.4% (95% confidence interval [CI], 12.9%-25.7%), twice the national rate of diagnosed diabetes of 7.6% (95% CI, 6.7%-8.5%). In the 20- to 39-year-old group, the prevalence of anti-hyperglycemic medications, 26.3% (95% CI, 11.8%-48.8%), was over 10 times the nationwide rate. The overall prevalence of hypertensive medication use in the adhesive capsulitis group, 33.1% (95% CI, 25.9%-41.2%), was notably higher than the nationwide rate, 21.6% (95% CI, 19.8%-23.4%). In the 40- to 64-year-old group, the prevalence of hypertensive medication use, 36.8% (95% CI, 28.6%-46.0%), was notably higher than the nationwide rate of 24.5% (95% CI, 22.2%-27.0%). The prevalence of anti-lipid medications and obesity was similar between the groups. Conclusions The relationship between adhesive capsulitis and metabolic syndrome remains unclear. Our results confirm previous work associating hyperglycemia with adhesive capsulitis. We have also shown a possible association of hypertension, part of metabolic syndrome and a proinflammatory condition, with adhesive capsulitis, which has not been previously described.
Sugar maple growth in relation to nutrition and stress in the northeastern United States

Sugar maple, Acer saccharum, decline disease is incited by multiple disturbance factors when imbalanced calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and manganese (Mn) act as predisposing stressors. Our objective in this study was to determine whether factors affecting sugar maple health also affect growth as estimated by basal area increment (BAI). We used 76 northern hardwood stands in northern Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, and New Hampshire, USA, and found that sugar maple growth was positively related to foliar concentrations of Ca and Mg and stand level estimates of sugar maple crown health during a high stress period from 1987 to 1996. Foliar nutrient threshold values for Ca, Mg, and Mn were used to analyze long-term BAI trends from 1937 to 1996.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 env and p17gag Sequence Variation in Polymerase Chain Reaction-Positive, Seronegative Injection Drug Users

Variation in gene sequences from human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) p17gag and the third hypervariable region (V3 loop) of env was examined in a cross-sectional study of single specimens from 4 HIV-1 polymerase chain reaction-positive, seronegative injection drug users. As observed in sexually transmitted disease, clones of HIV-1 genes isolated from an individual were remarkably homogeneous, with amino acid variation in the envelope region of 0.3%-0.9% and in p17gag of 0.0%-0.7%. Intersubject variation was much greater (at the amino acid level, 15% for the envelope and 4.3% for p17gag), with conservation in the envelope only of regions at the base of the V3 loop. Since at least some subjects likely acquired infection intravenously, the ability of virus to survive in seminal fluid or on mucosal surfaces cannot explain the observed homogeneity, which may depend on direct interactions between the virus and the infected cell.
Fixed SINR solutions for the MIMO wiretap channel

This paper studies the use of artificial interference in reducing the likelihood that a message transmitted between two multi-antenna nodes is intercepted by an undetected eavesdropper. Unlike previous work that assumes some prior knowledge of the eavesdropper's channel and focuses on the information theoretic concept of secrecy capacity, we also consider the case where no information regarding the eavesdropper is present, and we use the relative signal-to-interference-plus-noise-ratio (SINR) of a single transmitted data stream as our performance metric. A portion of the transmit power is used to broadcast the information signal with just enough power to guarantee a certain SINR at the desired receiver, and the remainder of the power is used to broadcast artificial noise in order to mask the desired signal from a potential eavesdropper. The interference is designed to be orthogonal to the information signal when it reaches the desired receiver, and we study the resulting relative SINR of the desired receiver and the eavesdropper assuming both employ optimal beamformers.
LES and DES of High Reynolds Number, Supersonic Base Flows with Control of the Near Wake

The drag associated with supersonic base flows is of critical importance for the design of aerodynamic bodies, such as missiles and projectiles. The base drag which accounts for a significant part of the total drag, that may be reduced by means of active and passive control of the near wake. There is evidence that large (turbulent) coherent structures evolve in these flows and strongly influence the mean flow. Therefore, in order to understand the dynamics of coherent structures in the wake and how flow control mechanisms modify these structures, numerical simulations were conducted. We performed Large-Eddy Simulations (LES) based on the Flow Simulation Methodology (FSM) for a Reynolds number of ReD = 100,000 and Mach number M = 2.46 using a high-order accurate research code, which was developed at the University of Arizona. Flow control mechanisms that alter the near wake by introducing axisymmetric and three-dimensional perturbations, thus emulating active and passive flow control were investigated. We also studied supersonic base flows at Reynolds number ReD = 3,300,000 and Mach number M = 2.46 using Detached-Eddy Simulations (DES). These investigations were performed using the commercial CFD-code Cobalt. In addition, for the same Reynolds number, we investigated Passive flow control using afterbody boat-tailing. Our results are compared to available experimental data.
Modeling of Atom Diffusion and Segregation in Semiconductor Heterostructures

We propose a new approach for modeling of impurity diffusion at semiconductor heterointerfaces. The approach is based on the notion of a common energy reference for highly localized defects. It is shown that in the kick-out process, the segregation of group II acceptors is controlled by the valence band offsets among different constituent layers of the heterostructure. Extensive numerical modeling of the diffusion provides an explanation for the experimentally observed strong segregation of Zn and Be acceptors in the lattice matched InP/InGaAs, InP/InGaAsP and GaAs/AlGaAs heterostructures.
System support for pervasive applications

Pervasive computing provides an attractive vision for the future of computing. Computational power will be available everywhere. Mobile and stationary devices will dynamically connect and coordinate to seamlessly help people in accomplishing their tasks. For this vision to become a reality, developers must build applications that constantly adapt to a highly dynamic computing environment. To make the developers' task feasible, we present a system architecture for pervasive computing, called one.world. Our architecture provides an integrated and comprehensive framework for building pervasive applications. It includes services, such as discovery and migration, that help to build applications and directly simplify the task of coping with constant change. We describe our architecture and its programming model and reflect on our own and others' experiences with using it.
PERMANENT ROTATIONAL DEFORMATION OF DRY COHESIONLESS SLOPES UNDER SEISMIC EXCITATIONS

Simplified methods of analysis are proposed for estimating earthquake-induced rotational deformations of dry, medium-dense, cohesionless soil slopes of heights ranging from 4 to 10 m. The primary factors that control deformation are acceleration history, amplification (or deamplification) of ground motion, slope geometry, and nonlinear soil properties. The proposed approach accounts for all of these factors. The permanent slope rotation along a circular failure surface is obtained by a procedure similar to Newmark's sliding block model. The influence of vertical acceleration on the rotational slope deformation was revealed to be very minimal. Simple relationships were developed on the basis of the extensive database generated from the 1994 Northridge earthquake motions to estimate the rotational slope deformation. The relationships presented require readily quantifiable input parameters and can be used, in many cases, as a first approximation for evaluating rotational slope deformation.
To see or not to see: How visual training can improve observational skills

Observational skills have always been the physician’s most important weapon in the diagnosis, care, and treatment of the patient. In the early 20th century, the physician was equipped primarily with a keen sense of observation and a compassionate heart; effective medications, and diagnostic laboratory tests; reliable imaging techniques were still to come. During house calls, the physician used his observational skills to evaluate both the surroundings and family members with respect to their limitations and benefits in regard to the patient. The observational skills of vision, hearing, touch, smell, and taste were well developed in most doctors. These skills were honed to razor-sharpness in the “diagnostician,” a term of honor applied to any physician, specialist, or nonspecialist, who was able to decipher complex clinical problems. With the development of computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), as well as more sensitive and reliable laboratory tests in the late 1970s, the learned observational skills of physicians began to decline from disuse as reliance on these modalities for establishing diagnoses increased. Clinical medical decision making became unduly influenced by the tyranny of the tests, even though for many medical conditions—endocrine, infectious, malignant, and rheumatic, among others—the use of the eye and ear was sufficient to make the correct diagnosis or arrive