cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Adversarial Attack Vulnerability of Deep Learning Models for Oncologic Images

Purpose: Deep learning (DL) models have rapidly become a popular and cost-effective tool for image classification within oncology. A major limitation of DL models is output instability, as small perturbations in input data can dramatically alter model output. The purpose of the study is to investigate the robustness of DL models in the oncologic image domain through the application of adversarial images: manipulated images with small pixel-level perturbations designed to assess the stability of DL models. Experimental Design: We examined the impact of adversarial images on the classification accuracies of DL models trained to classify cancerous lesions across three common oncologic imaging modalities (CT, mammogram, and MRI). The CT model was trained to classify malignant lung nodules using the LIDC dataset. The mammogram model was trained to classify malignant breast lesions using the DDSM dataset. The MRI model was trained to classify brain metastases using an institutional dataset. We also explored the utility of an iterative adversarial training approach to improve the stability of DL models to small pixel-level changes. Results: Oncologic images showed instability with small pixel-level changes. A pixel-level of perturbation of .004 resulted in a majority of oncologic images to be misclassified by their respective DL models (CT 25.64%, mammogram 23.93%, MRI 6.36%). Adversarial training mitigated improved the stability and robustness of DL models trained on oncologic images compared to naive models [(CT 67.72% vs 26.92%), mammogram (63.39% vs 27.68%), MRI (87.20% vs 24.32%)]. Conclusions: DL models naively trained on oncologic images exhibited dramatic instability to small pixel-level changes resulting in substantial decreases in accuracy. Adversarial training techniques improved the stability and robustness of DL models to such pixel-level changes. Prior to clinical implementation, adversarial training should be considered to proposed DL models to improve overall performance and safety.
COVID-19 early-alert signals using human behavior alternative data

Google searches create a window into population-wide thoughts and plans not just of individuals, but populations at large. Since the outbreak of COVID-19 and the non-pharmaceutical interventions introduced to contain it, searches for socially distanced activities have trended. We hypothesize that trends in the volume of search queries related to activities associated with COVID-19 transmission correlate with subsequent COVID-19 caseloads. We present a preliminary analytics framework that examines the relationship between Google search queries and the number of newly confirmed COVID-19 cases in the United States. We designed an experimental tool with search volume indices to track interest in queries related to two themes: isolation and mobility. Our goal was to capture the underlying social dynamics of an unprecedented pandemic using alternative data sources that are new to epidemiology. Our results indicate that the net movement index we defined correlates with COVID-19 weekly new case growth rate with a lag of between 10 and 14 days for the United States at-large, as well as at the state level for 42 out of 50 states with the exception of 8 states (DE, IA, KS, NE, ND, SD, WV, WY) from March to June 2020. In addition, an increasing caseload was seen over the summer in some southern US states. A sharp rise in mobility indices was followed by a sharp increase, respectively, in the case growth data, as seen in our case study of Arizona, California, Florida, and Texas. A sharp decline in mobility indices is often followed by a sharp decline, respectively, in the case growth data, as seen in our case study of Arizona, California, Florida, Texas, and New York. The digital epidemiology framework presented here aims to discover predictors of the pandemic’s curve, which could supplement traditional predictive models and inform early warning systems and public health policies.
Climate urgency: evidence of its effects on decision making in the laboratory and the field

Increasingly, a wide variety of actors describe climate change as urgent. Urgency arises when the time available for making a decision is short—relative to task complexity and the time required for implementing the selected options—but the decision faced is nonetheless important. Recent behavioral experiments and observational studies suggest that urgency affects decision making. In particular, a subset of studies in the climate domain finds that the relationship of urgency to attention, motivation, and action follows an inverted-U (concave) pattern, with low levels of each at both low and very high levels of urgency and high levels of each at intermediate levels of urgency. However, other important relationships in this domain are understudied, including those between urgency and cooperation, risk aversion, and intertemporal discounting. Overall, more research is urgently needed.
Temperament, Personality, and Family Relationships in Childhood and Adulthood: Results from Behavioral Genetic Research

The family emotional climate and relationships are related to the personality and temperament characteristics of individual family members. This chapter explores the roles of evocative gene-environment correlation and gene × environment interactions in the quality and formation of parent-child and interparental relationships. Research utilizing twin, adoption, and molecular research designs are used to establish the importance of each type of gene-environment interplay for family relationships.
Intraoperative cholangiography: a stepping stone to streamlining the treatment of choledocholithiasis.

BACKGROUND An estimated 8-15% of patients undergoing cholecystectomy have concomitant common bile duct stones. In this 14-year study, we utilize data of patients at a high-volume tertiary care academic center and compare the clinical outcomes of patients undergoing intraoperative cholangiography (IOC) and endoscopic retrograde pancreatography (ERCP). METHODS The charts of 1715 patients in the institutional NSQIP database who underwent cholecystectomy between October 1st, 2005 and September 30th, 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients who underwent cholecystectomy in relation to a malignancy diagnosis or who underwent an ERCP in a different index hospitalization were excluded. Main outcomes included hospital length of stay (LOS), post-operative morbidity, and rate of readmissions. RESULTS Of the 1409 patients included in the final analysis, 185 patients underwent ERCP, while 95 patients underwent IOC. Use of IOC compared to preoperative ERCP resulted in a shorter LOS (2.6 vs. 5.3 days, p < 0.001), lower rate of readmission (1.1% vs. 6.5%, p = 0.040), and similar rates of post-operative complications. Mean operative time increased by only 15 min in the IOC compared to the ERCP group (129 vs.114 min, p = 0.047). Additional variables that increased LOS on multivariable logistic regression included age, ASA classification, post-operative complications, and increased number of preoperative tests. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates that use of IOC during cholecystectomy results in shorter LOS and fewer readmissions compared to ERCP. Future studies comparing these two approaches should focus on patient randomization, a cost-effectiveness analysis, and identifying barriers to implementation of a one-stage approach in the management of suspected choledocholithiasis.
Behavioral Assessment A New Theoretical Foundation for Clinical Measurement and Evaluation

With proper measurement being so important for the progress of any scientific discipline, it is difficult to imagine behavior therapy developing in the absence of conceptual advances in behavioral assessment. In fact, careful assessment has been so integrally related to treatment design and evaluation in the behavioral tradition that some commentators are now bemoaning what they see as the growing segregation of professional concern for measurement and for intervention. The extremely rapid spawning of monographs, textbooks, and even journals specializing in behavioral assessment does seem to confirm some separation of identities. Before evaluating the situation too negatively, however, it is worth considering whether there might not be important concepts in assessment that require specific and detailed empirical analysis. One such topic could even be the investigation of how clinicians do, or could, use assessment information. It is arguable that the lackluster state of traditional psychological testing is a consequence of increasing preoccupation with the instruments themselves and less attention to their purpose and use (Glaser, 1981). In this chapter, therefore, we will examine some promising conceptual and methodological developments in assessment, but attempt to keep them closely related to the functions of behavioral measurement in the clinical endeavor.
Identifying a need for more focused treatment of chlamydia and gonorrhoea in the emergency department

The indolent nature of chlamydia and gonorrhoea, along with the time delay associated with current diagnostic testing, makes definitive diagnosis while in the emergency department impossible. We therefore sought to determine the proportion of patients who receive accurate, presumptive antimicrobial treatment for these infections. A retrospective chart review was performed on all patient encounters that underwent chlamydia and gonorrhoea testing at an urban emergency department during a single month in 2012. Each encounter was reviewed for nucleic acid amplification test results and whether presumptive antibiotics were given during the initial visit. A total of 639 patient encounters were reviewed; 87.2% were female and the mean age was 26.7 years. Chlamydia was present in 11.1%, with women and men having similar infection rates: 10.6% vs. 14.6% (p = 0.277). Gonorrhoea was present in 5.0%, with a lower prevalence among women than men: 3.2% vs. 17.1% (p < 0.001). Women received presumptive treatment less often than men: 37.7% vs. 82.9% (p < 0.001). Presumptive treatment was less accurate in women than men: 7.9% vs. 25.6% (p < 0.001). After combining genders, 10.2% received accurate presumptive treatment; 33.3% were overtreated and 4.4% missed treatment. Presumptive treatment for chlamydia and gonorrhoea was more frequent and more accurate in men than in women. Overall, one-third of patients received unnecessary antibiotics, yet nearly 5% missed treatment. Better methods are needed for identifying patients who need treatment.
Viral modification of the valyl transfer ribonucleic acid synthetase of Escherichia coli.

Abstract The valyl-tRNA synthetase (EC 6.1.1.9) of Escherichia coli was compared to the modified form of the enzyme which develops during infection by bacteriophage T4. The two forms were found to differ in their stability to heat, stability to urea, ability to charge yeast tRNA, electrophoretic mobility, sedimentation rate in sucrose gradients, and molecular size. Both enzyme activities are easily purified and retain their characteristic properties during and after purification. Spectral properties of the two purified enzymes are similar and are incompatible with the presence of a bound tRNA. Surprisingly, no major differences were detected between the two enzymes in the normal charging reaction, including the relative specificity for different E. coli tRNAval species. Modified enzyme was discovered to contain a phage-directed component that can be dissociated from the core enzyme by treatment with either urea, guanidine hydrochloride, or sodium dodecyl sulfate. This component, called τ factor, could be resolved from the core enzyme by gel electrophoresis or agarose chromatography, and is judged to be a polypeptide on the basis of its size (approximately 10,000 molecular weight), acid precipitability, absorption spectrum, and Pronase susceptibility. Discovery of this factor explains several features of synthetase modification, including its sensitivity to inhibitors of protein synthesis, and its control by a phage gene.
Nine suggestions for improving UML extensibility

In this paper we suggest nine improvements that address issues in UML extensibility and UML based tools. These improvements were suggested by work on SAGE, an extension to Rational Rose that automates the component generation process in a large scale CORBA financial enterprise framework called Sea-Bank. SAGE makes extensive use of UML extensibility features and it was noted that these features were underspecified in the UML standard and undersupported in current CASE tools. This paper proposes some ideas that would greatly improve UML extensibility, which we believe is critical for wider adoption of UML and for next generation domain-specific and UML-based component development and tools
Analysis of cDNAs encoding Drosophila melanogaster myosin light chain kinase

Myosin light chain kinase regulates the activity of myosin by phosphorylating the myosin regulatory light chain. Here we describe the cloning and characterization of cDNAs encoding Drosophila melanogaster myosin light chain kinase. We amplified a fragment of the Drosophila mlck gene using degenerate primers homologous to a highly conserved region in myosin light chain kinase proteins of vertebrate species. We used the gene fragment to isolate corresponding Drosophila mlck cDNAs. The deduced protein sequence of the cDNAs shows high homology to the catalytic and regulatory domains of vertebrate nonmuscle, smooth muscle and skeletal muscle myosin light chain kinase. Protein motifs I and II, which are present in vertebrate nonmuscle and smooth muscle myosin light chain kinase, but not in skeletal muscle myosin light chain kinase, are also present in Drosophila myosin light chain kinase. Transcript and cDNA analysis shows the gene encodes multiple messages and is expressed in non muscle and muscle cells, including the adult indirect flight muscle. Genomic Southern analysis and chromosome hybridization suggest mlck is a single copy gene which maps to chromosome band 52D, and is not haplo-insufficient for flight
Spectropolarimetry and Wind Asymmetries of Wolf-Rayet Stars

Motivated by the question of what drives the winds of Wolf-Rayet (WR) stars, I have been investigating the structure of WR winds. Observational evidence has been accumulated which demonstrates that the winds of some (but not all) WR stars are not spherically symmetric or homogeneous. I review results of work in the literature pertaining to the detection of such wind asymmetries in single WR stars and WR binary components. Particular emphasis is placed on the technique of spectropolarimetry, and how it has contributed to our knowledge of the wind-geometry of WR stars.
Abstract 2821: Dual-label microdosing approach to identify chemoresistance to carboplatin and gemcitabine combination chemotherapy

Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA Gemcitabine is commonly given in combination with cisplatin or carboplatin (GC therapy) as the first-line chemotherapy regimen for several malignancies, including bladder cancer. Unfortunately, less than half of patients respond to the therapy, generating a critical need for a test that predicts tumor response to GC therapy. The goal of this project is to measure drug-DNA adducts after administration of a single non-toxic microdose of gemcitabine in combination with carboplatin and correlating the degree of modification to chemotherapy sensitivity. We have previously shown that resistance to carboplatin may be identified by using a [14C]carboplatin microdose (1% of therapeutic dose), and subsequent measurement of the [14C]-DNA adducts via accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS), an ultrasensitive method used for detecting rare isotopes. We postulate that adduct levels induced in tumors by GC microdoses are proportional to those formed during full dose chemotherapy. Furthermore, we hypothesize that there exists a threshold level of adducts above which tumors respond to GC therapy. We used bladder cancer cell lines and the nod scid gamma severe combined immunodeficient (NSG) mice containing patient-derived tumor xenografts (PDX) from bladder cancer patients to determine GC-DNA adduct levels using AMS. The NSG mouse is uniquely capable of accepting and propagating tumor tissue engrafted directly from patient biopsy samples. The resulting groups of mice each have identical tumors, but can be treated in a variety of ways with replicate experiments; characteristics that are impossible to achieve in normal clinical studies. We will report progress on developing protocols and preliminary GC microdosing data using the NSG-PDX mouse model of human bladder cancer. Citation Format: Maike Zimmermann, Tiffany M. Scharadin, Hongyong Zhang, Tzu-yin Lin, Ralph W. deVere White, Chong-xian Pan, Paul T. Henderson. Dual-label microdosing approach to identify chemoresistance to carboplatin and gemcitabine combination chemotherapy. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 2821. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-2821
The benefits of life table analysis for describing disproportionality.

This article reviews how life table analysis can improve on cross-sectional analysis of disproportionality by comparing African American and Caucasian children's risk of being investigated for child maltreatment or being placed in foster care before their 10th birthday. We then highlight the application of life table results in advocacy. Newspaper commentaries and presentations for community groups using these results raised awareness with policymakers and in turn helped to increase funding and programming that addresses disproportionality. Life table results point to the role of age and geography in understanding why disproportionality occurs. We conclude by describing how one community is using these results to develop interventions and reform strategies based on addressing these age and geography factors. Language: en
Cercopithecine Herpesvirus 1 (B Virus)

B Virus infection in macaques rarely causes disease, and if so, it is in the form of mild ulcerative lesions. B virus polypeptides and glycoproteins can be grouped into classes that differ in their relative rates of synthesis at different times throughout the virus replication cycle, as is characteristic of alphaherpesviruses. During the course of B virus infection, several observations are common to the natural host, the experimentally infected host, and infected humans. B virus is an infection that humans rarely contract, but when they do, 80% of untreated cases result in death. Observations of the clinical pattern of disease are important for rapid diagnosis of B virus infection in both macaques and humans. The neutralization antibody test was the predominant diagnostic tool in macaques and humans for many decades. Currently, the most effective assay for diagnosis of B virus in a nonmacaque is a competition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to facilitate discrimination between specific and cross-reactive antibodies, similar to the challenge faced when diagnosing infection in humans. Multiple levels of prevention are used to prevent B virus infection in both humans and nonhuman primates, ranging from attempts to eliminate virus from colonies to designing methods to work safely in environments where there is an increased risk for contracting the agent.
Microstructures and superconducting properties of high performance MgB 2 thin films deposited from a high-purity, dense Mg-B target

High quality, c-axis oriented, MgB2 thin films were successfully grown on 6H-SiC substrates using pulsed laser deposition (PLD) with subsequent in situ annealing. To obtain high purity films free from oxygen contamination, a dense Mg-B target was specially made from a high temperature, high pressure reaction of Mg and B to form large-grained (10~50 µm) MgB2. Microstructural analysis via electron microscopy found that the resulting grains of the film were composed of ultrafine columnar grains of 19-30 nm. XRD analysis showed the MgB2 films to be c-axis oriented; the a-axis and c-axis lattice parameters were determined to be 3.073 ± 0.005 A and 3.528 ± 0.010 A, respectively. The superconducting critical temperature, Tc,onset , increased monotonically as the annealing temperature was increased, varying from 25.2 K to 33.7 K. The superconducting critical current density as determined from magnetic measurements, Jcm , at 5 K, was 105 A/cm2 at 7.8 T; at 20 K, 105 A/cm2 was reached at 3.1 T. The transport and pinning properties of these films were compared to "powder-in-tube" (PIT) and "internal-infiltration" (AIMI) processed wires. Additionally, examination of the pinning mechanism showed that when scaled to the peak in the pinning curve, the films follow the grain boundary, or surface, pinning mechanism quite well, and are similar to the response seen for C doped PIT and AIMI strands, in contrast to the behavior seen in undoped PIT wires, in which deviations are seen at high b (b = B/Bc2 ). On the other hand, the magnitude of the pinning force was similar for the thin films and AIMI conductors, unlike the values from connectivity-suppressed PIT strands.
Chronic sacral nerve stimulation as a novel treatment for stress urinary incontinence-A rat model.

Aims We propose an animal model to evaluate the effect of chronic sacral nerve stimulation (SNS) on surgically induced intrinsic sphincter deficiency (ISD) secondary to transabdominal urethrolysis (U-Lys). Methods Twenty-five 6-week old virgin female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups: control (CTRL), U-Lys only, SNS only, and both (U-Lys/SNS). Groups CTRL (N = 5) and U-Lys only (N = 5) were maintained in the animal research facility in standard fashion for 2 weeks. Groups SNS only (N = 5) and U-Lys/SNS (N = 10) underwent chronic SNS for 6 continuous hours daily for 2 weeks. Retrograde leak point pressure (RLPP) was measured at baseline and at 2 weeks following observation or treatment. Five consecutive RLPP measurements were averaged per measurement cycle. SAS 9.3 was used to evaluate means and standard deviation. Results Baseline mean RLPP was 65 mmHg. The U-Lys only group mean RLPP at initial urethrolysis (58 mmHg) decreased (31 mmHg, P < 0.0001) after 2 weeks of observation. In the SNS only group, mean RLPP significantly increased from baseline (73 mmHg) after 2 weeks of chronic SNS stimulation (80 mmHg, P < 0.01). In rats that underwent both U-Lys and SNS stimulation mean RLPP was initially low (46 mmHg) after U-Lys and then significantly increased after 2 weeks of SNS (65 mmHg, P < 0.0001). Conclusion Chronic SNS mediates an improvement in urethral sphincteric function at stimulation parameters similar to those used in humans for treating voiding dysfunction. SNS increased urethral resistance in rats with and without surgically induced ISD. Neurourol. Urodynam. 34:270–273, 2015. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Performance of an alternative laboratory-based algorithm for diagnosis of HIV infection utilizing a third generation immunoassay, a rapid HIV-1/HIV-2 differentiation test and a DNA or RNA-based nucleic acid amplification test in persons with established HIV-1 infection and blood donors.

a b s t r a c t Background: The HIV-1 Western blot (WB) and immunofluorescence assay used to confirm HIV infections are less sensitive during seroconversion than immunoassays (IAs) used for screening. An alternative diagnostic algorithm has been proposed to detect early HIV-1 infection and differentiate HIV-1 from HIV-2. Objectives: We evaluated the performance of an algorithm with a third generation IA that when reac- tive was followed by a rapid test (Multispot) that differentiates HIV-1 from HIV-2. Multispot-reactive specimens were considered HIV-infected. Multispot-negative specimens were tested with a nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) for resolution. Study design: WB-positive specimens (serum (n = 2202), plasma (n = 1109) and peripheral blood mononu- clear cells (PBMCs) (n = 1065)) were obtained from HIV-infected persons not taking antiretrovirals. HIV-uninfected specimens (plasma (n = 1517) and PBMCs (n = 1508)) with negative IA and NAAT results were obtained from blood donors. Specimens were tested with third generation IAs (Abbott rDNA, ADVIA Centaur, GS HIV1-2 Plus O, Ortho VITROS) in singlet, Multispot, and NAAT (APTIMA (RNA) and AMPLICOR (DNA)). We calculated algorithm sensitivity and specificity and the proportion of IA-reactive specimens requiring NAAT. Results: Algorithm sensitivity was 99.95% with APTIMA and 100% with AMPLICOR. One WB-positive spec- imen reactive by all IAs and AMPLICOR was negative by Multispot and APTIMA. Algorithm specificity was 100% using APTIMA or AMPLICOR as NAAT. From 0.10% (Abbott) to 2.43% (VITROS) of IA-reactive specimens required NAAT. Conclusions: The proposed algorithm performs with high sensitivity and specificity in specimens from persons with established HIV infection and uninfected blood donors and appears to be a good alternative to the current algorithm. Published by Elsevier B.V. 1. Background
Optimization of coded aperture radioscintigraphy for sentinel lymph node mapping.

Purpose Radioscintigraphic imaging during sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping could potentially improve localization; however, parallel-hole collimators have certain limitations. In this study, we explored the use of coded aperture (CA) collimators.
2,5-Dichloro-1-(ROSO2)benzene [R = C6H5, C6F5, and CH2(CF2)4H]: Synthesis, molecular structure, and solubility in supercritical CO2

Abstract Highly crystalline phenyl 2,5-dichlorobenzenesulfonate (PDBS, Tmelt = 86–87 °C) and pentafluorophenyl 2,5-dichlorobenzenesulfonate (FPDBS, Tmelt = 120–122 °C) were synthesized. Single-crystal X-ray molecular structure determinations show that both compounds have similar three-dimensional molecular structures; however, PDBS crystals are thin platelets and FPDBS crystals form hexagonal tube-like structures that are predominately hollow at one end. PDBS crystals exhibit offset π-stacking of the phenoxy-rings that form complete two-dimensional layers each two molecules thick. Hydrogen-bonding interactions are calculated at ∼3.2 A between the C6-hydrogen and the sulfonyl-oxygen of a neighboring molecule. On the other hand, for FPDBS, π-stacking of the dichloro-substituted ring as well as dipole–dipole interactions of the fluorinated-phenoxy rings appears to be the predominate intermolecular interactions. Neither structure exhibits any kind of side-on interaction of the phenyl rings. PDBS and FPDBS exhibit melting point depressions of 26 and 40 °C, respectively, in the presence of supercritical CO2. Although both sulfonates exhibit high solubility in CO2, much lower pressures are needed to dissolve FPDBS compared to PDBS. For example, at 100 °C FPDBS dissolves at 4750 psia and PDBS dissolves at 11,000 psia. The solubility data reinforce the observation that fluorinating a compound can significantly lower the conditions needed to dissolve that compound in CO2.
Structure-activity relationships of benzimidazoles and related heterocycles as topoisomerase I poisons

A series of substituted 2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1H-benzimidazoles were synthesized and evaluated as inhibitors of topoisomerase I. The presence of a 5-formyl-, 5-(aminocarbonyl)-, or 5-nitro group (i.e., substituents capable of acting as hydrogen bond acceptors) correlated with the potential of select derivatives to inhibit topoisomerase I. In contrast to bi- and terbenzimidazoles, the substituted benzimidazoles that were active as topoisomerase I poisons exhibited minimum or no DNA binding affinity. 5-Nitro-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1H-benzimidazole exhibited the highest activity and was significantly more active than the 4-nitro positional isomer. The 5- and 6-nitro derivatives of 2-(4-methoxyphenyl)benzoxazole, 2-(4-methoxyphenyl)benzothiazole, and 2-(4-methoxyphenyl)indole were synthesized and their relative activity as topoisomerase I inhibitors determined. None of these heterocyclic analogues were effective in significantly inhibiting cleavable-complex formation in the presence of DNA and topoisomerase 1, suggesting a high degree of structural specificity associated with the interaction of these substituted benzimidazoles with the enzyme or the enzyme-DNA complex. In evaluating their cytotoxicity, these new topoisomerase I poisons also exhibited no significant cross-resistance against cell lines that express camptothecin-resistant topoisomerase I.
Youth and the Study of Foreign Language: An Investigation of Attitudes.

: This study was undertaken to assess the attitudes of elementary and middle school students toward foreign language (FL) study. A questionnaire, designed to measure student attitudes toward FL study and perceived parental support, was administered to 209 youth in grades three through eight, in two different school populations within the San Francisco Bay Area. The results of t-tests show that students with home languages other than English demonstrated more positive attitudes toward FL and a higher degree of perceived parental support for their FL program than did students whose home language was English. There were no gender differences found on the total attitude score. However, a difference between the two school populations emerged, with students at School 1 scoring significantly higher on the attitude scale and reporting more parent support than students at School 2. The implications of the study are discussed and suggestions for future research are provided.
Selective electrodeposition of zinc-nickel alloy through porous medium

Abstract The ‘portable electrodeposition’ method described in this work differs from the conventional brush plating method in that it utilizes a reservoir that contains the electrolyte. A diffusion medium allows the cations to migrate to the working electrode surface (cathode) in continuous mode such that the coating is made selectively in the region, which comes in direct contact with the diffusion medium. The diffusion medium also prevents the working surface from being flooded with the electrolyte and dispenses the electrolyte in a more controlled fashion. Unlike conventional flow plating, this prevents the spillage of the electrolyte solution reducing environmental pollution and comparatively requires lower wattage power supply. To characterize the results of the above technique, zinc–nickel alloy coatings were made at different potentials using various types of diffusion media. The coatings were tested for chemical composition, galvanic protection, hardness, and porosity.
Experimental test of the effect of introduced hematophagous flies on corticosterone levels of breeding Darwin’s finches

Parasites can negatively affect the evolutionary fitness of their hosts by eliciting physiological stress responses. Parasite-induced stress can be monitored by measuring changes in the adrenal steroid hormone corticosterone. We examined the effect of an invasive parasite on the corticosterone concentrations of a common species of Darwin’s finch, the medium ground finch (Geospiza fortis). Philornis downsi (Diptera: Muscidae) is a parasitic nest fly recently introduced to the Galapagos Islands, where it feeds on the blood of nestlings and breeding adult female finches. Previous work shows that P. downsi significantly reduces the reproductive success of several species of finches. We predicted that the effect of P. downsi on host reproductive success is mediated by stress responses in breeding female finches. High stress levels could reduce the ability of females to invest in offspring, thus decreasing their reproductive success. To test this hypothesis, we experimentally manipulated the abundance of P. downsi in nests, then measured baseline and acute stress-induced corticosterone levels, body condition, and hematocrit (red blood cell content). Acute stress-induced corticosterone levels increased over baseline levels, but this response did not differ significantly with parasite treatment. There was also no significant difference in the body condition or hematocrit of females from parasitized versus non-parasitized nests. Our results suggest that the lower reproductive success of females from parasitized nests is not mediated by a physiological stress response.
Explaining and Predicting Resistance to Computer Anxiety Reduction among Teacher Education Students

AbstractThis study investigated how resistance to the reduction of computer anxiety among teacher education students can be explained and reliably predicted. Instrumentation for the study consisted of six self-report questionnaires: (1) the Computer Anxiety Scale, (2) the Computer Attitude Scale, (3) the Computer Experience Scale, (4) the Computer Knowledge Scale, (5) Rotter’s Internal-External Control Scale, and (6) the trait form of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. A stepwise multiple regression using backward deletion was used to find the dimensions along which computer anxiety can be explained and best predicted. The results indicated that the best predictors of retained computer anxiety were computer confidence, trait anxiety, computer knowledge, and computer liking, together accounting for 69% of the variance of computer anxiety following completion of a computer literacy course. The findings suggest that any efforts to treat retained computer anxiety in teacher education students should focus on ...
Influence of roughness on surface instability of medical grade cobalt-chromium alloy (CoCrMo) during contact corrosion-fatigue

Abstract Surface roughness and contact load play a major role in contact corrosion–fatigue phenomena that accelerates corrosion pits on the stressed surface area. The local yielding and stress concentration will be produced when the rough surface is brought into cyclic contact. Subsequently, the selective electrochemical attacks on the stressed surface will lead to the roughness evolution during environmental corrosion. The continuous roughness evolution by the stress-assisted dissolution will ultimately nucleate microcracks on the surface. In this article, a new evaluation method was introduced to identify the thermodynamic driving forces responsible for the stress-assisted dissolution. In order for complete understanding of the mechanical and electrochemical response of materials surface during contact corrosion–fatigue, finite element calculations and contact corrosion–fatigue experiments were performed on textured medical grade cobalt–chromium–molybdenum (CoCrMo) specimen surfaces. Consequently, the quantitative model of roughness evolution was developed to predict contact corrosion–fatigue damage of CoCrMo surface.
Aligning policing and public health promotion: insights from the world of foot patrol

Foot patrol work is rarely described in relation to public health, even though police routinely encounter health risk behaviors and environments. Through a qualitative study of foot patrol policing in violent ‘hotspots’ of Philadelphia, we explore some prospects and challenges associated with bridging security and public health considerations in law enforcement. Noting existing efforts to help advance police officer knowledge of, and attitudes toward health vulnerabilities, we incorporate perspectives from environmental criminology to help advance this bridging agenda. Extending the notion of capable guardianship to understand foot patrol work, we suggest that the way forward for theory, policy, and practice is not solely to rely on changing officer culture and behavior, but rather to advance a wider agenda for enhancing collective guardianship, and especially ‘place management’ for harm reduction in the city.
Effect of ischemic preconditioning and PKC activation on acidification during ischemia in rat heart

Ischemic preconditioning (PC) has been shown to attenuate intracellular acidification during a subsequent period of ischemia, to minimize stunning, and to decrease infarct size, PKC activation has been suggested to be involved in this phenomenon. The present study is designed to test whether PKC activation could mimic and PKC inhibition could block the PC effects on intracellular acidification during ischemia and on stunning during reflow in Langendorff perfused rat hearts. Prior to 20 min of sustained global normothermic ischemia, groups of hearts were treated with the PKC activators 4 beta-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) or 1,2-dioctanoyl-srt-glycerol (DOG), a group of hearts was treated with the PKC inhibitor chelerythrine (CH), a group was treated with DOG plus CH, a group was preconditioned with four cycles of 5 min of ischemia and 5 min of reflow, and a group was treated with CH during PC. Recovery of left ventricular developed pressure (% of initial, pretreatment, preischemic LVDP), measured after 20 min of reflow, was improved in hearts treated with DOG, but not PMA (80 +/- 3% (DOG), 55 +/- 3% (PMA) v 51 +/- 3% (control), P < 0.05 between DOG and control), although both caused a similar degree of PKC translocation (measured by fractionation followed by an assay of PKC activity using incorporation of 32P into histone). The improved recovery of LVDP in the PC group and in the DOG group was blocked by chelerythrine. Measurement of pH (by 31P NMR) showed that DOG reduced acidification at 15-20 min of ischemia, although the effect was not as great as PC, while PMA did not reduce acidification. The effect of DOG on pHi was attenuated by CH; however, the PC-induced attenuation of the fall in pHi, was not affected by CH. High energy phosphates (measured by 31P NMR) were not significantly different between any of the groups during ischemia or reflow. This study confirms that the protective effect of ischemic preconditioning on stunning in rat heart can be eliminated by inhibition of PKC, but suggests that the effect of PC on the fall in pHi during sustained ischemia is not mediated by PKC.
On saturated formations whose projectors are complemented

It is shown that a saturated formation F has the property that in each group G each F-projector of G is complemented if and only if F is the formation of finite soluble π-groups for some set π of primes.
REAL-TIME TRAFFIC DIVERSION MODEL: CONCEPTUAL APPROACH

The development of advanced traffic-management systems as a major component of intelligent vehicle/highway systems is targeted to address the complex problem of urban traffic congestion. The strategy includes real-time diversion of traffic during congestion-causing events, by making efficient use of the available capacities in the highway network. A conceptual framework for executing real-time diversions is presented in this paper. The strategy envisages on-line control and management of traffic through control centers and their surveillance equipment. The approach relies on real-time traffic data to detect incidents and develop rerouting plans to benefit motorists. For this purpose, a model has been developed to estimate traveler destinations from traffic data. The dynamic nature of the problem is captured through a traffic assignment/simulation model, which can predict traffic conditions that would prevail in the alternate routes. A knowledge-based expert system is also proposed to estimate traffic delays, and to evaluate and choose alternate routes. This research is being applied to the northern Virginia urban area as a case study.
Near-field microwave imaging of dielectric anomalies: antennas and processing

In microwave systems for detecting or imaging buried dielectric anomalies, a common technique is to search for reflectance variations by mechanically scanning an antenna over an area. The antenna usually operates in its and the object's nearfields to reduce diffraction spreading so that the reflectance distribution resembles the object's shape and is thus an image. Although mechanical scanning is reliable, it is slow because data acquisition is sequential. Data acquisition can be accelerated by an antenna array. An array provides spatially parallel data channels. If a single transmitter and receiver unit are used, acquisition is sequential but very fast with solid state switches. If each antenna has a transmitter and receiver, acquisition is simultaneous, and costs increase.
Characterization of a Human-Specific Regulator of Placental Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone

The hypothalamic hormone CRH is also expressed in the placentas of humans and higher primates and may play an important role in the regulation of labor. In choriocarcinoma cell lines, activation of cAMP-dependent pathways increases human (h)CRH reporter gene expression. A cAMP-responsive region distinct from the cAMP response element at -220 bp, has been identified between -200 and -99 bp, and a candidate transcription factor was identified in nuclear extracts of human, but not rodent, choriocarcinoma cell lines. This region, which does not contain a canonical cAMP response element (CRE), transfers protein kinase A responsiveness to a heterologous promoter. Electromobility shift assays and methylation and uracil interference studies localized factor binding to a 20-bp region from -128 to -109 bp of the hCRH promoter. This 20-bp fragment exhibited a similar shift in nuclear extracts from both human term placenta and from human JEG-3 cells. Base contacts, identified in interference studies, were confirmed as critical for binding, as a mutation of these bases abolished factor binding. Furthermore, a CRH promoter containing this mutation exhibited a diminished response to forskolin. UV cross-linking demonstrated the protein in nuclear extracts from human, but not rodent, choriocarcinoma cell lines and estimated its size as 58 kDa. Although this factor participates in cAMP-regulated gene expression, competition electrophoretic mobility assays demonstrated that the factor does not bind to a CRE. Furthermore, neither anti-CREB nor anti-ATF2 antibodies alter factor binding. These data identify this 58-kDa protein as the human-specific CRH activator previously identified as a candidate factor contributing to the species-specific expression of CRH in human placenta.
Using robot-mediated communication to improve remote collaboration

An emerging technology for supporting geographically distributed work teams, robot-mediated communication (RMC) presents new opportunities for supporting effective collaboration. These systems extend videoconferencing capabilities by providing local users with a physical embodiment of the remote user to interact with. They also give the operator control over the system via the ability to navigate and to manipulate the system's cameras within the local user's environment. The goal of my dissertation is to investigate how these key functionalities---physical embodiment and control over the system---affect collaborative outcomes and to use the results to develop heuristics that inform both the design of future RMC systems and aid in understanding how these characteristics might affect similar technologies. In addition, my dissertation aims at contributing to our theoretical understanding of collaboration and the part that these functionalities or affordances play in it. This research focuses on three phases of investigation: (1) how the addition of these functionalities shapes user relationships, (2) how changes to the physical embodiment of the system affect the local user's perceptions of the remote user, and (3) how variations in perceived control of the system alter interactions between users.
THE ROLE OF ATTENUATED CULTURE IN SOCIAL DISORGANIZATION THEORY

Current criminological research rooted in social disorganization theory has primarily focused on structural disorganization and has largely ignored the role of cultural disorganization. This paper develops the theoretical role of cultural disorganization in the contemporary social disorganization model, integrating aspects of both the systemic model and a cultural attenuation model. This model is empirically examined using structural equation modeling. Survey data from residents in 66 neighborhoods in a Southern state provide the primary data. In part, the findings show that concentrated disadvantage and the level of social ties affect cultural strength, which in turn significantly affects informal social control. These findings demonstrate the relevance of weakened culture in explaining informal social control and call for further theoretical expansion of social disorganization models to include cultural disorganization.
Centroidal Voronoi Tessellation Based Algorithms for Vector Fields Visualization and Segmentation

A new method for the simplification and the visualization of vector fields is presented based on the notion of centroidal Voronoi tessellations (CVT's). A CVT is a special Voronoi tessellation for which the generators of the Voronoi regions in the tessellation are also the centers of mass (or means) with respect to a prescribed density. A distance function in both the spatial and vector spaces is introduced to measure the similarity of the spatially distributed vector fields. Based on such a distance, vector fields are naturally clustered and their simplified representations are obtained. Our method combines simple geometric intuitions with the rigorously established optimality properties of the CVTs. It is simple to describe, easy to understand and implement. Numerical examples are also provided to illustrate the effectiveness and competitiveness of the CVT-based vector simplification and visualization methodology.
Scale Reliability Evaluation Under Multiple Assumption Violations

A latent variable modeling approach to evaluate scale reliability under realistic conditions in empirical behavioral and social research is discussed. The method provides point and interval estimat...
Stoichiometric and non-stoichiometric films in the Si–O–N system: mechanical, electrical, and dielectric properties

Abstract A novel low-temperature (600–850 °C), chemical vapor deposition method, involving a simple reaction between disiloxane (H 3 Si–O–SiH 3 ) and ammonia (NH 3 ), is described to deposit stoichiometric, Si 2 N 2 O, and non-stoichiometric, SiO x N y , silicon oxynitride films (5–500 nm) on Si substrates. Note, the gaseous reactants are free from carbon and other undesirable contaminants. The deposition of Si 2 N 2 O on Si (with (1 0 0) orientation and a native oxide layer of 1 nm) was conducted at a pressure of 2 Torr and at extremely high rates of 20–30 nm min −1 with complete hydrogen elimination. The deposition rate of SiO x N y on highly-doped Si (with (1 1 1) orientation but without native oxide) at 10 −6 Torr was ∼1.5 nm min −1 , and achieved via the reaction of disiloxane with N atoms, generated by an RF source in an MBE chamber. The phase, composition and structure of the oxynitride films were characterized by a variety of analytical techniques. The hardness of Si 2 N 2 O, and the capacitance–voltage ( C – V ) as a function of frequency and leakage current density–voltage ( J L – V ) characteristics were determined on MOS (Al/Si 2 N 2 O/SiO/ p -Si) structures. The hardness, frequency-dispersionless dielectric permittivity ( K ), and J L at 6 V for a 20 nm Si 2 N 2 O film were determined to be 18 GPa, 6 and 0.05–0.1 nA cm −2 , respectively.
Wavelet transforms for discrete-time periodic signals

Abstract Wavelet transforms for discrete-time periodic signals are developed. In this finite-dimensional context, key ideas from the continuous-time papers of Daubechies and of Cohen, Daubechies and Feauveau are isolated to give a concise, rigorous derivation of the discrete-time periodic analogs of orthonormal and symmetric biorthogonal bases of compactly supported wavelets. These discrete-time periodic wavelets are expressed in terms of circular FIR filters, and thus lead to fast wavelet transforms whose complexity is order N .