cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Theory-driven role model stories improve palliative care knowledge among a diverse older population

Objective To test the effectiveness of theoretically driven role model video stories in improving knowledge of palliative care among a diverse sample of older adults. Method We developed three 3–4 min long theoretically driven role model video stories. We then recruited cognitively intact, English-speaking adults aged 50 and older from senior centers, assisted living, and other community-based sites in the greater Los Angeles area. Using a pretest–posttest study design, we surveyed participants using the 13-item Palliative Care Knowledge Scale (PaCKS) and also asked participants about their intentions to enroll in palliative care should the need arise. Participants first completed the pretest, viewed the three videos, then completed the posttest comprised of the same set of questions. Results PaCKS score improved from an average of 4.5 at baseline to 10.0 following video screening (t(126) = 12.0, p < 0.001). Intentions to enroll oneself or a family member in palliative care rose by 103% (χ2 = 7.8, p < 0.01) and 110% (χ2 = 7.5, p < 0.01), respectively. Regression analysis revealed that participants who believed the role models are real people (β = 2.6, SE = 1.2, p < 0.05) significantly predicted higher change in PaCKS score. Conversely, participants with prior knowledge of, or experience with, palliative care (β = −5.9, SE = 0.8, p < 0.001), non-whites (β = −3.6, SE = 0.9, p < 0.001), and widows (β = −2.9, SE = 1.1, p < 0.01) significantly predicted lower changes in PaCKS score. Significance of results This study suggests that theoretically driven role model video stories may be an effective strategy to improve palliative care knowledge. Role model video stories of diverse palliative care patients provide one way to mitigate health literacy barriers to palliative care knowledge.
Bridging qualitative and quantitative methods for user modeling: Tracing cancer patient behavior in an online health community

Researchers construct models of social media users to understand human behavior and deliver improved digital services. Such models use conceptual categories arranged in a taxonomy to classify unstructured user text data. In many contexts, useful taxonomies can be defined via the incorporation of qualitative findings, a mixed-methods approach that offers the ability to create qualitatively-informed user models. But operationalizing taxonomies from the themes described in qualitative work is non-trivial and has received little explicit focus. We propose a process and explore challenges bridging qualitative themes to user models, for both operationalization of themes to taxonomies and the use of these taxonomies in constructing classification models. For classification of new data, we compare common keyword-based approaches to machine learning models. We demonstrate our process through an example in the health domain, constructing two user models tracing cancer patient experience over time in an online health community. We identify patterns in the model outputs for describing the longitudinal experience of cancer patients and reflect on the use of this process in future research.
"Re-identifying yourself": a qualitative study of veteran views on implantable BCI for mobility and communication in ALS.

Objectives Brain-computer interface (BCI) technology to assist with mobility and communication is an active area of research in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Implantable BCI offers promise for individuals with severe disease, such as locked-in syndrome, but also raises important ethical issues. We undertook in-depth qualitative interviews with ALS patients from a Veterans Administration hospital ALS multi-disciplinary clinic and explored their perspectives on issues of identity, privacy, enhancement, informed consent, and responsibility related to implantable BCI. Methods Semi-structured interviews were conducted with sixteen (n = 16) individuals, and transcripts were analysed using a modified grounded theory approach. Results Emergent themes included: (1) attitudes towards BCI were characterised by fear, hope, and hesitation about adoption of BCI technology; (2) analogies to other technologies were a useful tool in understanding and communicating opinions about ethical issues in BCI; (3) concerns about potentially socially stigmatising effects of BCI and the burden of adjustment to new therapeutic devices were important considerations to be weighed against the potential functional benefit of BCI use; (4) therapeutic decision-making in ALS often intimately involves loved ones; and (5) prospective decision-making about BCI was significantly affected by weighing the timing of the intervention with the progression of illness. Conclusion The interest in BCI and views on ethical issues raised by BCI is moderated by the experience of living with ALS. The findings from this study can help guide the development of implantable BCI technology for persons with ALS.Implications for rehabilitationLoved ones will play crucial roles in helping patients think through the possible benefits and burdens of getting a BCI device.Providers should consider how the ideal timing for getting an implantable BCI device will vary based on the priorities of persons with ALS and their disease stage.Concerns about social stigma, burden of adjustment, and the desire to maximise time left with loved ones may outweigh the potential functional benefits of BCI devices for some persons with ALS.
Exploring Racialized Factors to Understand Why Black Mathematics Teachers Consider Leaving the Profession

Research on the attrition of teachers of color suggests that, under certain organizational conditions, they leave teaching at higher rates than other teachers. Additionally, research has identified...
Non-Motor Features of Parkinson's Disease in Women.

Background Non-motor symptoms are common in Parkinson's disease (PD) and some, including hyposmia, constipation, and REM sleep behavior disorder, often precede the clinical diagnosis. Objective To assess the relation between combinations of non-motor features and presence of PD among women. Methods A nested case-control study was conducted among women in the Nurses' Health Study. Women were eligible if they responded to screening questions for constipation and probable REM sleep behavior disorder (pRBD) on a 2012 questionnaire and were under age 85 on January 1, 2012. 87 women with confirmed PD and 14,170 women without PD agreed to participate and completed in 2015 the Brief Smell Identification Test to assess hyposmia, as well as a questionnaire to assess parkinsonism and other non-motor PD features, including depressive symptoms, excessive daytime sleepiness, impaired color vision, and body pain. Results In age-adjusted logistic models, each non-motor feature was significantly associated with PD, and the odds of PD increased exponentially with the number of features. Women with constipation, pRBD, and hyposmia had an age-adjusted OR for PD of 211 (95%CI 84.2-529) compared to women with none of these features. The odds of having PD rose further with the presence of additional non-motor signs. Comparing women with at least 6 of the 7 features assessed in this study to women with one or none, the age-adjusted OR for PD was 356 (95%CI 113-1126). Conclusion Results suggest that these non-motor features could be useful in discriminating PD patients from controls in women, and since they often appear during the prodromal period of PD, their combinations may prove useful for identifying populations at high risk of developing PD.
Innovations and the Use of Collimators in the Delivery of Pencil Beam Scanning Proton Therapy.

Purpose The development of collimating technologies has become a recent focus in pencil beam scanning (PBS) proton therapy to improve the target conformity and healthy tissue sparing through field-specific or energy-layer-specific collimation. Given the growing popularity of collimators for low-energy treatments, the purpose of this work was to summarize the recent literature that has focused on the efficacy of collimators for PBS and highlight the development of clinical and preclinical collimators. Materials and methods The collimators presented in this work were organized into 3 categories: per-field apertures, multileaf collimators (MLCs), and sliding-bar collimators. For each case, the system design and planning methodologies are summarized and intercompared from their existing literature. Energy-specific collimation is still a new paradigm in PBS and the 2 specific collimators tailored toward PBS are presented including the dynamic collimation system (DCS) and the Mevion Adaptive Aperture. Results Collimation during PBS can improve the target conformity and associated healthy tissue and critical structure avoidance. Between energy-specific collimators and static apertures, static apertures have the poorest dose conformity owing to collimating only the largest projection of a target in the beam's eye view but still provide an improvement over uncollimated treatments. While an external collimator increases secondary neutron production, the benefit of collimating the primary beam appears to outweigh the risk. The greatest benefit has been observed for low- energy treatment sites. Conclusion The consensus from current literature supports the use of external collimators in PBS under certain conditions, namely low-energy treatments or where the nominal spot size is large. While many recent studies paint a supportive picture, it is also important to understand the limitations of collimation in PBS that are specific to each collimator type. The emergence and paradigm of energy-specific collimation holds many promises for PBS proton therapy.
Modeling spatially resolved characterization factors for eutrophication potential in life cycle assessment.

Prior versions of the Tool for Reduction and Assessment of Chemical and other environmental Impacts (TRACI) have recognized the need for spatial variability when characterizing eutrophication. However, the method’s underlying environmental models had not been updated to reflect the latest science. This new research provides the ability to differentiate locations with a high level of detail within the USA and provides global values at the country level. In previous research (Morelli et al. 2018), the authors reviewed a broad range of domain-specific models and life cycle assessment methods for characterization of eutrophication and ranked these by levels of importance to the field and readiness for further development. The current research is rooted in the decision outcome of Morelli et al. (2018) to separate freshwater and marine eutrophication to allow for the most tailored characterization of each category individually. The current research also assumes that freshwater systems are limited by phosphorus and marine systems are limited by nitrogen. Using a combination of spatial modeling methods for soil, air, and water, we calculate midpoint characterization factors for freshwater and marine eutrophication categories and evaluate the results through a US-based case application. Maps of the nutrient inventories, characterization factors, and overall impacts of the case application illustrate the spatial variation and patterns in the results. The importance of variation in geographic location is demonstrated using nutrient-based activity likelihood categories of agricultural (rural fertilizer), non-agricultural (urban fertilizer), and general (human waste processing). Proximity to large bodies of water, as well as individual hydraulic residence times, was shown to affect the comparative values of characterization factors across the USA. In this paper, we have calculated and applied finely resolved freshwater and marine eutrophication characterization factors for the USA and country-level factors for the rest of the globe. Additional research is needed to provide similarly resolved characterization factors for the entire globe, which would require expansion of publicly available data and further development of applicable fate and transport models. Further scientific advances may also be considered as computing capabilities become more sophisticated and widely accessible.
BPA-free high-performance sustainable polycarbonates derived from non-estrogenic bio-based phenols

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a versatile petrochemical used in the preparation of high volume polymers including polycarbonates and epoxy resins. Unfortunately, BPA is also an endocrine disrupter and has been banned from use in various consumer products by several regulatory agencies. To address this issue, our group evaluated the estrogenic activity of nine bio-based tris/bisphenols derived from resveratrol (1 and 2), anethole (3, 4), eugenol (5), carvacrol (6), and creosol (7–9). Compounds 5–9 were determined to be non-estrogenic, while compound 3 exhibited a response at a lower concentration than BPA, and compounds 1, 2, and 4 exhibited responses similar to BPA. Polycarbonates of the bio-based bisphenols (PC3–PC9) were then synthesized via interfacial polymerization and characterized by SEC, MALDI-MS, DSC, TGA, and UV-VIS spectroscopy. The bio-based polycarbonates exhibited Mn values up to 14 600 Da (SEC) and had a wide range of glass transition temperatures (Tg) with values up to 156 °C (∼25 °C higher than BPA with a similar molecular weight) depending on the monomer structure. The bio-based polycarbonates had high thermal stabilities with Td5% values up to 383 °C under a nitrogen atmosphere. The non-estrogenic properties of 5–9 coupled with the good thermal properties of the derivative polycarbonates suggests that these materials are sustainable, lower toxicity alternatives for BPA-based polycarbonates.
Deep Learning Assisted End-to-End Synthesis of mm-Wave Passive Networks with 3D EM Structures: A Study on A Transformer-Based Matching Network

This paper presents a deep learning assisted synthesis approach for direct end-to-end generation of RF/mm-wave passive matching network with 3D EM structures. Different from prior approaches that synthesize EM structures from target circuit component values and target topologies, our proposed approach achieves the direct synthesis of the passive network given the network topology from desired performance values as input. We showcase the proposed synthesis Neural Network (NN) model on an on-chip 1:1 transformer-based impedance matching network. By leveraging parameter sharing, the synthesis NN model successfully extracts relevant features from the input impedance and load capacitors, and predict the transformer 3D EM geometry in a 45nm SOI process that will match the standard 50Ω load to the target input impedance while absorbing the two loading capacitors. As a proof-of-concept, several example transformer geometries were synthesized, and verified in Ansys HFSS to provide the desired input impedance.
How can the US food system deliver food products consistent with the dietary guidelines

Abstract For consumers' diets to conform to the recommendations outlined by the Food Guide Pyramid (FGP), the consumption of fat and sugar would have to decline and fruits and diary products would need to increase. This study analyzed the impact of changing the prices of aggregate food groups, as designated in the Food Guide Pyramid, on the number of servings that would be eaten. Using the results of this analysis, the subsequent impact on the Healthy Eating Index (HEI) score was determined. A series of calculations involving existing price and income elasticities and linkages between these elasticities and servings of food in the Food Guide Pyramid were employed. This study found that lowering the price of fruits, meats and dairy products would result in food consumption that more closely conforms to the FGP servings recommendations but the changes are small and HEI scores would not improve. Lowering the price of meat increases consumption of all foods (except added sugars) since lower meat prices frees up income to spend on other food. The downside of increasing meat consumption is that it also increases the consumption of discretionary fat more than it increases the consumption of fruits and vegetables or grains. Fat prices would have to be increased 15% to achieve a 1% decrease in fat consumption which would raise the HEI score. Public policy to promote healthful diets involves more than changing food prices or household income. Information and education about diet and health links are critical.
Perception of Effort During Activity in Patients With Chronic Hepatitis C and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Abstract Background Ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) are used to monitor and prescribe exercise intensity for a variety of patient populations. It is important to understand RPE in different patient populations to ensure appropriate prescriptions and maximize the likelihood of adherence. Chronic liver diseases (CLDs) are a constellation of diseases that are associated frequently with fatigue, metabolic abnormalities, and cardiovascular disease, all targets for prescription of exercise. However, there have been no investigations of the correlates of RPE in those with CLD. Objective To correlate RPE during a 6-minute walk test (6MWT) with biological/physiological measures in subjects with chronic hepatitis C (CH-C) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Design Observational analytical study. Setting Specialty clinic. Participants A convenience sample of 51 subjects with NAFLD or CH-C (age: 51.1 ± 8.8 years, 35% female) was enrolled. Subjects receiving antiviral therapies or those with recent myocardial infarction, cardiovascular, or musculoskeletal comorbidities affecting exertion were excluded. Methods Participants underwent fasting morning venipuncture, and resting cardiorespiratory data were collected. Then the participants completed a 6MWT. At the conclusion of the 6MWT, participants reported their RPE, and cardiorespiratory data were reassessed. Main Outcome Measurements RPE, 6MWT, resting/postexertion cardiorespiratory data (eg, heart rate, cardiac output), Human Activity Profile (HAP), fasting morning glucose (GLU), total cholesterol (TC), lipids, and interleukin-8 (IL-8) were determined. Results For the entire group, RPE was significantly correlated to serum IL-8 and GLU but not to the other factors. When we controlled for age and triglycerides, RPE remained significantly related to GLU (r s = 0.54; P = .04), maximal activity level (HAP) (r s = 0.58; P = .03), and distance walked (r s = 0.61; P = .03) in those with NAFLD. In those with CH-C, only IL-8 remained a strong correlate of RPE (r s = 0.54; P = .01). Conclusions In individuals with CH-C, RPE was related to an inflammatory factor, whereas in individuals with NAFLD, RPE was related to a metabolic and a lifestyle factor.
Information Management for Cooperative Engineering

In this paper we describe how a set of autonomous computational agents can cooperate in providing coherent management of information in environments where there are many diverse information resources. The agents use models of themselves and of the resources that are local to them. Resource models may be the schemas of databases, frame systems of knowledge bases, or process models of business operations. Models enable the agents and resources to use the appropriate semantics when they inter-operate. This is accomplished by specifying the semantics in terms of a common ontology. We discuss the contents of the models, where they come from, and how the agents acquire them. We then describe a set of agents for telecommunication service provisioning and show how the agents use such models to co-operate. Their interactions produce an implementation of relaxed transaction processing.
Citric Acid as a Complexing Agent in CMP of Copper Investigation of Surface Reactions Using Impedance Spectroscopy

Polishing slurries used in chemical-mechanical planarization (CMP) of copper typically include a complexing agent and an oxidizer. Our present work investigates the effectiveness of citric acid as a complexing agent for Cu with H 2 O 2 employed as an oxidizer. We show that the rate of copper removal from Cu increases when both citric acid and H 2 O 2 are used in acidic solutions (pH 4.0) and decreases drastically in alkaline solutions (pH 8.0), as well as in citric acid without any H 2 O 2 in the slurry. We investigate the underlying surface reactions of these effects by using Fourier transform electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (FTEIS) in combination with potentiodynamic measurements. We analyze the relative roles of citric acid, H 2 O 2 , and solution pH in Cu removal, and develop a reaction scheme describing the surface chemistry of Cu in this system. The results presented here also demonstrate how FTEIS can be used for quantitative investigation of surface reactions in complex CMP systems.
The effect of surgical approach on short-term oncologic outcomes in rectal cancer surgery.

Background Although evidence to support the use of laparoscopic and robotic approaches for the treatment of rectal cancer is limited, these approaches are being adopted broadly. We sought to investigate national practice patterns and compare short-term oncologic outcomes of different approaches for rectal cancer resections. Methods The 2010 National Cancer Database was queried for operative cases of rectal cancer. Approach was classified as open, laparoscopic, or robotic. Patient, tumor, and hospital characteristics and surgical margin status were evaluated. Propensity score matching was used to compare outcomes across approaches. Results We identified 8,712 patients. Laparoscopic and robotic approaches were more common in privately insured and wealthier patients at high-volume centers ( P P P = .01) and robotic surgery with a 3.8% lesser ( P = .004) incidence of positive margins compared with open surgery. Conclusion An open approach is often used in rectal cancers with higher pathologic stages. Matched patient analysis suggests minimally invasive approaches are associated with improved R0 resections.
Observaciones sobre algunas de las practicas de manejo acostumbradas en las haciendas de ganado lechero en el Valle del Cauca

Durante los dos meses pasados el autor ha tenido oportunidad de visitar varias de las mas importantes Haciendas lecheras en el 'Valle del Cauca. Muchos de los propietarios de estas haciendas, han adoptado practicas de manejo tendientes a lograr una mayor produccion de leche de alta calidad. Con el deseo de beneficiar y estimular a la industria de la leche, es conveniente enumerar y discutir algunas de las mas importantes observaciones.
Fatal mishap report: First SPH-4B flight helmet recovered from a U.S. Army helicopter mishap

The most common cause of death in helicopter accidents is head injury. Flight helmets can be designed to distribute and attenuate crash forces to the head. Experience derived from crashes using the U.S. Army SPH-4 flight helmet has led to modifications to improve protection. Within the past year, the Army has introduced the SPH-4B flight helmet which includes several new features to reduce injury in future mishaps. The first SPH-4B flight helmet recovered from a fatal mishap is described and correlated with the injuries to the wearer. The new shell and liner reduced the impact forces to the head. There were no side impacts to determine the performance of the crushable earcups in the helmet. The new SPH-4B flight helmet has several new and distinctive features that should improve survival in future helicopter crashes. Careful study of life support equipment retrieved from crashes is important to understand how the equipment performs in the crash environment.
Line in the Sand: A History of the Western U.S.–Mexico Border

Rachel St John, Line in the Sand: A History of the Western U.S.–Mexico Border (2011), x + 284 (Princeton University Press, Princeton and Woodstock, £20.95/$29.95). It may seem strange that a region...
Screening: Low-fat worms on drugs.

High-throughput screening in Caenorhabditis elegans identified a compound that distinctly regulates fat storage and feeding, highlighting new players in energy homeostasis.
Simulation Of Dual Behavior Of An Autonomous System

This paper describes a system of guidance for an intelligent mobile autonomous system (autonomous robot) based upon an algorithm of "pilot decision making" which incorporates different strategies of operation. Depending on the set of circumstances including the level of "informedness", initial data, concrete environment, and so on, the "personality" of PILOT is being selected between two alternatives: 1) a diligent strategist which tends to explore all available trajectories off-line and be prepared to follow one of them precisely, and 2) a hasty decision maker inclined to make a choice of solution in a rather reckless manner base upon short term alternatives not regarding long term consequences. Simulation shows that these two personalities support each other in a beneficial way.
Cell specific response of cardiac poly ADP-R and DNA synthesis to circulatory stress.

Aortic coarctation induces a large increase in poly ADP-R synthetase activity in non-cardiocyte nuclei, and in cardiocyte nuclei inhibition occures, suggesting a differentiation dependent regulation of polymer metabolism. In noncardiocyte nuclei DNA and poly ADP-R (polyadenosine diphosphoribose) synthesis exhibit positive correlation.
ORIGIN-SPECIFIC INITIATION OF MAMMALIAN NUCLEAR DNA REPLICATION IN A XENOPUS CELL-FREE SYSTEM

Abstract The introduction of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell nuclei into Xenopus egg extracts provides the only cell-free system that can efficiently initiate replication at a specific metazoan replication origin. With intact late-G1-phase nuclei as a substrate, the pattern of initiation sites for replication at the CHO dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) locus is indistinguishable from that observed in cultured cells. By contrast, with early-G1-phase nuclei or with late-G1-phase nuclei that have damaged nuclear envelopes, these same extracts efficiently initiate replication at apparently random sites. Thus, at a distinct point during G1 phase [origin decision point (ODP)], nuclei experience a transition that is required for specific recognition of the DHFR origin by Xenopus egg cytosol. Described here are the basic requirements to achieve origin-specific initiation, which include: 1) a cell line that can be synchronized in G1 phase, 2) a method to prepare intact nuclei, 3) a technique to map origins with a few million cells, and 4) a small colony of Xenopus laevis. Immunodepletion of specific gene products allows one to test hypotheses about the requirements for origin recognition. Here we show that depletion of the Xenopus origin recognition complex subunit XORC2 from Xenopus egg extracts has no influence on the efficiency of replication or the pattern of initiation sites with either pre-ODP or post-ODP nuclei.
Communication Analysis of BRCA1 Genetic Counseling.

In this study, we apply an existing medical communication coding system to BRCA1 genetic counseling sessions, describe the session dynamics, and explore variation in session communication. The sample was comprised of 167 members of an identified BRCA1 kindred whose pretest counseling session was audiotaped and coded using Roter's Interaction Analysis System (RIAS). Three certified genetic counselors followed a research protocol that dictated areas to be covered in the counseling session. We found that it was feasible to code long, protocol driven BRCA1 sessions in a quantitative manner without the use of transcripts and capture the dialogue of all session participants. These findings support the use of RIAS in genetic counseling research. Our results indicate that these BRCA1 sessions were predominantly educational in nature with minimal dialogue devoted to psychosocial issues. We found that participant gender, presence of a client companion, and counselor identity influence session communication.
Modeling bubble points of mixtures of hydrofluorocarbon refrigerants and polyol ester lubricants

We use a Helmholtz energy mixing model to describe the bubble point pressures of mixtures of hydrofluorocarbon refrigerants and polyol ester (POE) based lubricants. This model incorporates the best available equations of state for the refrigerants, is valid over the entire range of composition, is not limited to states below the refrigerant critical temperature, and can represent volumetric properties in addition to calculating reliable phase equilibria. As part of the approach, we developed equations that can be used to apply a simplified statistical associating fluid theory (SSAFT) equation of state to POE-based lubricants. We compare the predictions of the model with selected experimental data available in the literature for bubble point pressures and saturated liquid densities of these systems.
A 13C/12C Tracer Study of the Utilization of Presented Feed by a Commercially Important Shrimp Penaeus vannamei in a Pond Growout System1

A study of added feed utilization by pond grown shrimp was done using seven feeds with different 13C/12C ratios, as expressed by δ13C. The pond shrimp did not track the δ13C value of the feed to the extent that tank grown shrimp did. For the seven pond experiments the δ13C data indicate that the added feed supplied between 23 and 47% of the growth carbon. This implies that between 53 and 77% of the growth is due to the grazing on pond biota. It is suggested that this experimental approach can be used to evaluate the relative contribution of presented dried feeds versus natural productivity in ponds as an aid to developing pond management strategies and optimum feeds.
Healing behavior of a matrix crack on a carbon fiber/mendomer composite

Abstract The cure kinetics of a thermally mendable polymer based on Diels-Alder (DA) and retro-Diels-Alder (rDA) reactions, mendomer 401, was investigated using dynamic differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The resulting behavior was modeled using a conventional cure kinetic model for thermosetting polymers. A composite panel with two layers of carbon fabric and mendomer 401 was fabricated following the cure cycle suggested by the cure kinetics model. Micro-indentation tests were performed to investigate mechanical properties and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) was conducted to study thermal behavior and to find the trigger temperature for healing. Self-healing behavior of the carbon fiber/mendomer composite was demonstrated using electrical resistive heating over the glass transition temperature.
RELAP5-3D Code Includes ATHENA Features and Models

Version 2.3 of the RELAP5-3D computer program includes all features and models previously available only in the ATHENA version of the code. These include the addition of new working fluids (i.e., ammonia, blood, carbon dioxide, glycerol, helium, hydrogen, lead-bismuth, lithium, lithium-lead, nitrogen, potassium, sodium, and sodium-potassium) and a magnetohydrodynamic model that expands the capability of the code to model many more thermal-hydraulic systems. In addition to the new working fluids along with the standard working fluid water, one or more noncondensable gases (e.g., air, argon, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, helium, hydrogen, krypton, nitrogen, oxygen, sf6, xenon) can be specified as part of the vapor/gas phase of the working fluid. These noncondensable gases were in previous versions of RELAP5- 3D. Recently four molten salts have been added as working fluids to RELAP5-3D Version 2.4, which has had limited release. These molten salts will be in RELAP5-3D Version 2.5, which will have a general release like RELAP5-3D Version 2.3. Applications that use these new features and models are discussed in this paper.
Targeting core beliefs in treating borderline personality disorder: The case of anna

The present response paper is one of a series describing various cognitive-behavioral approaches to treating a patient, Anna, who has been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder (BPD) and comorbid major depression ( Kuyken, 1999 ). Anna is a 26-year-old, married, mother of two young children, who recently began a new job. Our case conceptualization focuses on the role of maladaptive core beliefs ( A. T. Beck, Freeman, & Associates, 1990 ) and the avoidant/dependent subtype of BPD ( Layden, Newman, Freeman, & Morse, 1993 ). Three stages of treatment are described (assessment/conceptualization, intervention, and maintenance) from a cognitive therapy perspective, and a cognitive case conceptualization diagram ( J. S. Beck, 1995 ) is utilized to address three problems arising during therapy.
Accepting Death as Part of Life: Meaning in Life as a Means for Dealing With Loss Among Bereaved Individuals

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the 3 dimensions of death acceptance (i.e., neutral, approach, and escape) and grief symptomatology, as well as whether the relationship between neutral acceptance and grief symptoms was mediated by meaning in life. Data were collected from 160 bereaved individuals. Only neutral acceptance was significantly associated with grief symptomatology; the relationship between the 2 variables was mediated by meaning in life. Participants who perceived death as a natural part of life reported having a greater sense of meaning in their lives, which, in turn, predicted lower grief symptomatology.
Fluorescein-based fluorescent and colorimetric chemosensors for copper in aqueous media

Abstract Two new fluorescein-based chemosensors for Cu2+ were designed with highly selective “off–on” behavior, one of them working in both absorption and emission, the other only in absorption. Binding to Cu2+ binding is reversible, as indicated by the bleaching of the color when the metal is extracted. The compounds form the basis for rapid, selective and sensitive Cu2+ chemosensors in aqueous media.
Weight, exercise, and health: children's perceptions.

Childhood overweight is increasing, yet limited information is available on children's perspectives of overweight. Participants in thi study were 17 children, 8 to 12 years of age, with body mass indexes 95% for age and gender. A qualitative investigation using a phenomenological approach was conducted with a thematic analysis. Themes that emerged included intellectual disconnect, body image incongruence, social importance, and exercise perspectives . Children correctly identified healthy and unhealthy behaviors: dietary intake and physical activity. Children's knowledge about healthy dietary intake and physical activities disconnected from actual health practices. Children demonstrated confusion about physical activity requirements: frequency, intensity, and duration. Nurses need to develop strategies to bridge disconnect between what children know and actual dietary intake and physical activities. Nurses are fundamental to increasing children's knowledge of physical activity requirements for health promotion and disease prevention.
Thigh Mass in a 73-year-old Man

History and Physical ExaminationA 73-year-old man was referred with a chief complaint of aleft posterior thigh mass. The mass had been present for2 months. The patient reported mild pain that was inter-mittent, aching, and sharp and occurred only after prolongedsitting. He had no history of trauma, fever, chills, nightsweats, weight loss, or night pain. His medical historyincluded renal cell carcinoma treated with a right nephrec-tomy 21 years earlier, Type II diabetes of 15 years’duration, and a benign pancreatic mass. An MRI of themass had recently been performed. The rest of the patient’shistory was unremarkable.On physical examination of the left posterior thigh, anontender soft tissue mass was palpated that was also ﬁrm,deep, and ﬁxed with contraction of the hamstring muscles.There were no skin changes, erythema, or overlyingwarmth. Active and passive range of motion of the hip andknee were full and painless. The neurologic examination ofthe left lower extremity was normal. Gait was normal. Theremainder of the musculoskeletal examination was normal.MRI scan (Fig. 1) of the lesion was performed withoutinitial radiographs.Based on the history, physical examination, and theimaging studies, what is the differential diagnosis?Imaging InterpretationMRI without contrast of the left thigh showed a well-cir-cumscribed mass 16 cm 9 7.5 cm in its greatest diameter(Fig. 1A–C). The lesion was located in the biceps femorismuscle in the posterior aspect of the midthigh. The massabutted the fascia of adjacent muscles on either side andthe subcutaneous fat posteriorly. It was heterogeneous andhad many large vessels, particularly on its surface (Fig. 1D). The lesion had a hypointense to isointense signal tomuscle on T1-weighted images and a hyperintense signalon T2-weighted images.Differential DiagnosisMalignant ﬁbrous histiocytomaLiposarcomaLeiomyosarcomaRhabdomyosarcomaHemangiomaMetastasisA needle biopsy was performed in the operating roomwith a dozen core samples taken (Fig. 2).
Simultaneous Preparation of Four Truncated Analogues of Discodermolide by Fluorous Mixture Synthesis

Four truncated analogues of the natural product discodermolide were synthesized in a single synthetic sequence. Precursors bearing four different groups at C22, each with a unique fluorous p-methoxybenzyl substituent on the C17 hydroxy group, were mixed and taken through an nine-step sequence. Demixing by fluorous chromatography followed by deprotection and purification provided the individual analogues in 3−7% overall yields and with a savings of 24 synthetic steps. Fluorous mixture synthesis is recommended as a new technique to make multiple natural product analogues in a single multistep synthesis.
High School Community Service: Research and Practice

High school community service is increasing nationwide. The author summarizes a new synthe sis from the National Center on Effective Secondary Schools, High School Community Service: A Review of Research and Prac tice, which describes service pro grams in secondary schools.
Cytokine regulation of IL‐12 receptor β2 expression: differential effects on human T and NK cells

The biological activities of IL-12 are mediated through a specific, high-affinity receptor composed of IL-12 receptor(R)beta1 and IL-12Rbeta2 subunits that exist primarily on T and NK cells. Remarkably, the expression of IL-12Rbeta2 on CD4(+) T cells in mouse and humans appears to be differentially regulated by IFN-gamma and IFN-alpha, respectively. Using an antibody specific for the human IL-12Rbeta2 subunit, the effect of IFN-gamma, IFN-alpha, IL-12 and IL-2 on the regulation of IL-12R expression and IL-12 responsiveness of human T and NK cells was assessed. The presence of IFN-alpha or IFN-gamma in cultures enhanced IL-12Rbeta2 expression of CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells. The enhancing effect of IFN-alpha and IFN-gamma was independent of endogenous IL-12. Furthermore, the clearest effects of IFN-alpha and IFN-gamma on IL-12Rbeta2 expression on T cells were seen by abrograting the inhibition induced by the presence of IL-4 in cultures. In contrast to T cells, IFN-alpha and IFN-gamma had little effect on regulating IL-12Rbeta2 expression on human NK cells. Taken together, these data show that there is differential regulation of IL-12Rbeta2 expression by IFN-alpha and IFN-gamma on human T and NK cells.
Technology on social issues of videoconferencing on the Internet

Constant advances in audio/video compression, the development of the multicast protocol as well as fast improvement in computing devices (e.g. higher speed, larger memory) have set forth the opportunity to have resource demanding videoconferencing (VC) sessions on the Internet. Multicast is supported by the multicast backbone (Mbone), which is a special portion of the Internet where this protocol is being deployed. Mbone VC tools are steadily emerging and the user population is growing fast. VC is a fascinating application that has the potential to greatly impact the way we remotely communicate and work. That has many people forecast a significantly widespread adoption. Yet, the adoption of VC is not as fast as one could have predicted. Hence, it is important to examine the factors that affect a widespread adoption of VC. This paper examines the enabling technology and the social issues. It discusses the achievements and identifies the future challenges. It suggests an integration of many emerging multimedia tools into VC in order to enhance its versatility for more effectiveness.
Complex patterns formed by motile cells of Escherichia coli

When chemotactic strains of the bacterium Escherichia coli are inoculated on semi-solid agar containing mixtures of amino acids or sugars, the cells swarm outwards in a series of concentric rings: they respond to spatial gradients of attractants generated by uptake and catabolism. Cells also drift up gradients generated artificially, for example by diffusion from the tip of a capillary tube or by mixing. Here we describe conditions under which cells aggregate in response to gradients of attractant which they excrete themselves. When cells are grown in semi-solid agar on intermediates of the tricarboxylic acid cycle, they form symmetrical arrays of spots or stripes that arise sequentially. When cells in a thin layer of liquid culture are exposed to these compounds, spots appear synchronously, more randomly arrayed. In either case, the patterns are stationary. The attractant is a chemical sensed by the aspartate receptor. Its excretion can be triggered by oxidative stress. As oxygen is limiting at high cell densities, aggregation might serve as a mechanism for collective defence.
Diamond-silver apertures with plasmonic gratings

We have designed plasmonic gratings to improve collection and modify the far field profile of the enhanced single photon emission from a diamond-silver aperture. We implemented a fabrication procedure to realize such structures.
Optical potential for Li 6 elastic scattering at 99 MeV

The differential cross section angular distributions for 99-MeV $^{6}\mathrm{Li}$ elastic scattering from $^{12}\mathrm{C}$, $^{28}\mathrm{Si}$, $^{40}\mathrm{Ca}$, $^{58}\mathrm{Ni}$, $^{90}\mathrm{Zr}$, and $^{208}\mathrm{Pb}$ have been measured for center-of-mass angles up to ${\ensuremath{\theta}}_{max}=43\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}\ensuremath{-}69\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$. The angular distributions show progressively less structure with increasing target mass which is characteristic of strongly absorbed particles. Phenomenological optical-model analyses with Woods-Saxon form factors exhibit both discrete and continuous ambiguities in the parameters which yield a good fit to the data. The $A$ dependence of several real central potential families and the effects of a surface absorption term have been investigated. A semimicroscopic single-folding $^{6}\mathrm{Li}$ potential based on an ($\ensuremath{\alpha}+d$)- cluster model for $^{6}\mathrm{Li}$ gave a good description of the data only after renormalization of the real potential by a factor of \ensuremath{\sim}0.5.
Growing an Urban Oasis: A Qualitative Study of the Perceived Benefits of Community Gardening in Baltimore, Maryland

Community gardening is lauded as an urban planning tool to enhance local food systems while improving degraded urban environments. To understand how best to expand community gardening participation, this study explores the perceived benefits of community gardening in Baltimore, Maryland. In-depth interviews and focused group interviews with community gardeners revealed that gardens provide benefits at multiple levels, creating an “urban oasis” that provides refuge from urban decay while revitalizing city neighborhoods. At the individual level, gardeners underscored psychological benefits, including pride and a connection with nature. At the neighborhood level, gardeners developed trusting relationships with their neighbors and shared learning experiences. At the community level, gardeners perceived that gardens reclaim city space by cleaning up degraded lots, creating gathering places, and improving the food environment. The variety of perceived benefits that gardens provide to individuals and their communities should be promoted as a tool for developing healthy urban environments.
Vegetation change following removal of keystone herbivores from desert grasslands in New Mexico

Responses of plant communities to mammalian herbivores vary widely, due to variation in plant species composition, herbivore densities, forage preferences, soils, and climate. In this study, we evaluated vegetation changes on 30 sites within and adjacent to the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge (SNWR) in central New Mexico, USA, over a 20-yr period following removal of the major herbivores (livestock and prairie dogs) in 1972-1975. The study sites were established in 1976, and were resampled in 1986 and 1996 using line transect methods. At the landscape scale, repeated measures ANOVA of percentage cover measurements showed no significant over- all net changes in total perennial plant basal cover, either with or without herbivores present; however, there was an overall increase in annual forbs and plant litter from 1976 to 1996. At the site scale, significant changes in species composition and dominance were observed both through time and across the SNWR boundary. Site histories varied widely, with sites domi- nated by Boutelocia eriopoda being the most dynamic and sites dominated by Scleropogon brevifolius being the most persis- tent. Species-specific changes also were observed across mul- tiple sites: B. eriopoda cover increased while Gutierrezia sarothrae greatly decreased. The non-uniform, multi-direc- tional changes of the sites' vegetation acted to prevent detec- tion of overall changes in perennial vegetation at the landscape level. Some sites displayed significant changes after removal of herbivores, while others appeared to respond primarily to climate dynamics. Certain species that were not preferred by livestock or prairie dogs, showed overall declines during drought periods, while other preferred species exhibited wide- spread increases during wetter periods regardless of herbivore presence. Therefore, the vegetation dynamics cannot be attrib- uted solely to removal of herbivores, and in some cases can be explained by short- and long-term fluctuations in climate. These results emphasize the variety of responses of sites with differences in vegetation to mammalian herbivores under oth- erwise similar climatic conditions, and illustrate the value of site- and landscape-scale approaches to understanding the impacts of plant-herbivore interactions.
Liver involvement in hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT)

Liver involvement in hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) consists of extensive intrahepatic vascular malformations associated with blood shunting (arteriovenous, arterioportal and/or portovenous). It is a rare disorder that nevertheless can result in significant systemic and hepatobiliary abnormalities. Although hepatic vascular malformations are present in a majority of patients with HHT, symptoms occur in a only a minority with a clear predominance for the female gender. Symptoms from liver vascular malformations are often misdiagnosed and this can lead to potentially harmful interventions. In this review article, clinical findings of liver involvement in HHT and their pathophysiology are discussed as well as diagnostic methodologies, therapies used and their outcome. Data presented is based on a review of the literature performed in October 2006 using the following MEDLINE search terms: (hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia [ALL] OR Rendu–Osler–Weber [ALL]) AND (liver OR hepatic [ALL]). Papers were considered if they were published in English and if they included specific cases that were sufficiently described.