cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Oxytocin and the initiation of human parturition: III. Plasma concentrations of oxytocin and 13,14-dihydro-15-keto-prostaglandin F2α in spontaneous and oxytocin-induced labor at term☆

Abstract The plasma concentrations of oxytocin and 13,14-dihydro-15-keto-prostaglandin F 2α (PGFM) were measured in serial samples collected during the first stage of spontaneous and oxytocin-induced labor in 17 and 15 women, respectively. Four women in late pregnancy served as control subjects, with serial samples collected at similar intervals as during labor. During spontaneous labor, mean plasma oxytocin levels were consistently raised over the levels observed 1 to 2 weeks before the onset of labor and were higher than the levels in the control patients (mean, 19.9 ± 3.1 pg/ml) and the initial levels in the oxytocin-induced group of women (mean, 17.4 ± 4.8 pg/ml). The mean plasma oxytocin levels during spontaneous labor (45 ± 3.9 pg/ml) were similar to those observed during infusion of 4 to 6 mU/min of synthetic oxytocin (49.1 ± 10.9 pg/ml). Plasma oxytocin levels increased progressively with stepwise increments of the infusion. Plasma PGFM levels also rose during labor, but, in contrast to the oxytocin levels which increased in early labor, plasma PGFM levels did not increase significantly until relatively late in labor, provided the membranes were intact. The state of the membranes had a marked influence on plasma PGFM; patients with spontaneous rupture of membranes had significantly increased PGFM levels when admitted early in labor or when membranes ruptured during labor. This increase in prostaglandin F 2α (PGF 2α ) production does not by itself suffice to initiate labor, as evidenced by the failure of premature rupture of the membranes to initiate labor in a number of patients with elevated PGFM levels in whom labor was then induced with oxytocin. Conversely, oxytocin induction was successful only when PGFM levels increased during the infusion of oxytocin; in the absence of a rise in plasma PGFM, oxytocin induction failed. These data add support to the view that both oxytocin and PGF 2α are required for adequate stimulation of the human uterus during labor. In addition, the data suggest that oxytocin rather than PGF 2α may be the major stimulus that initiates labor, whereas PGF 2α appears responsible for the progress of labor.
Biliary Tract Melanoma

A case of melanoma of the upper extremity with a solitary metastasis to the common bile duct is reported. A comprehensive review of melanoma in the biliary tree is presented. Antemortem diagnoses of such cases are rare but are associated with a high percentage of disease clinically confined to the biliary tree. Patients with such lesions have survived long periods of time after palliative surgery. Therefore, surgical resection is recommended as the treatment of choice in patients able to tolerate surgery.
Serving Dually Diagnosed Youth in the Juvenile Justice System

Adolescents enter the juvenile justice system for a host of reasons, from myriad backgrounds, and with a range of offenses (e.g., Feldstein Ewing et al. 2011). Despite the heterogeneity of this population, one aspect that remains consistent is the prevalence of substance use and co-occurring disorders (e.g., Feldstein and Ginsburg 2006). Compared with their nonadjudicated peers, adolescents involved with the juvenile justice system demonstrate more profound rates of substance abuse, related consequences, and co-occurring disorders (Aarons et al. 2001; Abram et al. 2003; CDC 2006). This is problematic, as adolescents tend not to self-refer for treatment (Chung and Maisto 2006). Meaning, that despite high levels of substance use and the experience of substance-related problems, adolescents will generally not seek out resources to intervene and/or reduce their substance use. For many adolescents, substance use by itself results in justice involvement. Once adolescents become involved in the justice system, due to staffing and financial restrictions, the standard of care for intervening with substance-related issues is often alcohol and drug education; an intervention approach that is unlikely to be effective with adolescents (Reyna and Farley 2006). And, unfortunately, studies have indicated that once justice-involved adolescents are released, they are unlikely to seek intervention—either for substance use (Lennings et al. 2006) or other mental health issues (Garland et al. 2005). While justice involvement may seem like it is only a punitive experience, for many youth being arrested may present an important and unique “teachable moment.” Adult studies have found that the arrest experience itself can be a unique and powerful motivator for change (Morgan et al. 2008; White et al. 2008). Coupled with a well-timed and empirically supported intervention, the arrest experience can provide a unique and highly salient opportunity for an adolescent to contemplate their experience, consider their future, and with the help of an interventionist, develop a prosocial plan for future behavior. Specifically, as recommended by Johnson et al. (2004), if justice programs have the resources and the opportunity, desperately needed empirically supported prevention and intervention programs can be integrated into (or immediately follow) current justice programs, providing youth with the unique and powerful occasion for the timely intervention of substance use and co-occurring disorders (dual diagnoses).
A dielectrically-supported multi-element mass flow sensor

The author reports a monolithic transducer array for measuring the physical variables associated with gas flow up to 8 m/s. The transducers are supported on micromachined dielectric windows and measure flow velocity, flow direction, ambient gas temperature, and ambient pressure. The gas velocity sensor is based on a full-diaphragm structure and for a 1-mm*1-mm window achieves an output voltage of 34 mV/V at 5 m/s flow velocity in air with an input heater power of 13.9 mW. The polysilicon pressure sensor has a sensitivity of 12 p.p.m./mm Hg and operates over a range of more than 800 mm Hg. Generic thermal models have been developed to describe the electrothermal characteristics of the planar diaphragm structure and to optimize the device designs. The process requires seven masks, and the overall die size is 3 mm*4.5 mm. >
Adaptive decision-making over complex networks

It is common for biological networks to encounter situations where agents need to decide between multiple options, such as deciding between moving towards one food source or another or between moving towards a new hive or another. In previous works, we developed several powerful diffusion strategies that allow agents to estimate a model of interest in an adaptive and distributed manner through a process of in-network collaboration and learning. In this work, we consider the situation in which the data observed by the agents may arise from two different distributions or models. We develop and study a procedure by which the entire network can be made to follow one objective or the other through a distributed and collaborative decision process.
A System for Detecting Malicious Insider Data Theft in IaaS Cloud Environments

The Cloud Security Alliance lists data theft and insider attacks as critical threats to cloud security. Our work puts forth an approach using a train, monitor, detect pattern which leverages a stateful rule based k-nearest neighbors anomaly detection technique and system state data to detect inside attacker data theft on Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) nodes. We posit, instantiate, and demonstrate our approach using the Eucalyptus cloud computing infrastructure where we observe a 100 percent detection rate for abnormal login events and data copies to outside systems.
Labeling of DTPA-BP with Tc-99m and Ga-68 as new phosphorus bone imaging agents

1531 Objectives Radiolabeled bisphosphonates (Tc-99m MDP or HDP) have been used for nuclear bone scanning. The major existing disadvantage is slow clearance from soft tissue. In addition, both MDP and HDP bear no chelators and they tend to degrade with time and produce pertechnetate as an impurity. To overcome these disadvantages, we developed a chelator-based phosphorus imaging agent with fast clearance. This study was aimed to evaluate Tc-99m and Ga-68 labeled N6-carboxymethyl-N3,N9-bis[2,2-bis(phosphono)-2-hydroxy]ethyl-3,6,9-triazaundecanedioic acid (DTPA-BP) as new novel agents of bone imaging. Methods DTPA-BP was synthesized by reacting tris(trimethylsilyl) phosphite with DTPA anhydride followed by hydrolysis and purification by sephadex. DTPA-BP was labeled with Tc-99m/tin (II) chloride and Ga-68 chloride. Biodistribution of Tc-99m and Ga-68 DTPA-BP and Tc-99m MDP (reference standard) was studied in normal female F-344 rats. The bone metastases model was created by injecting human prostate cancer cells (PC-3, PC-118b) into the right femur of male athymic nude mice. Planar and PET imaging of Tc-99m and Ga-68 DTPA-BP (150 µCi/mouse, iv) were performed. Results The total yield of DTPA-BP was 10-15%. Radiochemical purity of Tc-99m and Ga-68 DTPA-BP (1mg) were >90%. The biodistribution in normal rats revealed bone-to-blood and bone-to-muscle count density ratios was ranged 1.8±0.79 to 21.5±3.40; 9.4±2.62 to 104.4±31.55 for Tc-99m at 0.5-4 hrs post-injection, and 3.4±0.80 to 5.3±0.24; 13.6±3.46 to 21.8±11.50 for Ga-68 DTPA-BP at 0.5-2 hrs post-injection, respectively. The uptakes of Tc-99m and Ga-68 DTPA-BP and Tc-99m MDP in bones (%ID/g) at 0.5 hr were 1.2±0.62, 2.2±0.45 and 1.8±0.31, respectively. The osteoblastic lesion was clearly visible at 30 min after injection of Tc-99m and Ga-68 DTPA-BP with soft tissue clearance. Conclusions Tc-99m and Ga-68 DTPA-BP exhibited high uptakes in normal bone and also osteoblastic metastasis of prostate cancer. They may be useful to stage prostate cancer and also monitor therapeutic response
INVESTIGATION ON POVERTY ALLEVIATION PROGRAMME IN NNEWI ANAMBRA STATE NIGERIA

This study attempted to evaluate the effectiveness of poverty reduction efforts in Nnewi, especially in relation to the policy and strategy formulation, implementation, coordination, monitoring, control and review, sourcing and utilization of resources (both human and material) and complementarity of programmes. The study also focused on the impact of the past strategies and programmes on the target poor using the survey approach and chi-square to collect, collate, analyse and present data respectively in its findings which include: Based on these findings and conclusions, recommendations, including the following were made towards effective poverty reduction efforts in Nnewi; government, its agencies and other stakeholders should develop a multidimensional approach towards poverty reduction strategies and implement along that line, efforts should be made to effectively target the poor in all considerations and at all levels of articulation, implementation, monitoring and review; the government anti-corruption efforts should be stepped up and seriously up-held in dealing with matters concerning poverty reduction efforts.
Fiscal: Firmware identification using side-channel power analysis

Side-channel analysis techniques have been demonstrated for secret information extraction, vulnerability assessment and intrusion analysis. However, these techniques have not been applied to identify instructions running on a general purpose pipelined computing platform. In this work we identify instruction execution sequences on these platforms using side-channel power measurements. The technique uses a Principal Component Analysis (PCA) based model to generate multiple power-supply templates and a novel post-processing dynamic programming algorithm for optimal template matching. One unique aspect of this technique is that we take measurements on multiple power supply pins on the device, to increase the precision and accuracy. We apply our dynamic programming algorithm, to detect the sequence of execution clock cycles, on templates for single instructions that provides accuracy in the range of 69.2% to 87.5% for ten thousand observations, from individual power supply pins. We further augment this technique to generate multiple dictionaries for various length instructions and use data from multiple power supply pins to increases the accuracy in the range of 87% to 100%. Further, classification rates for instruction templates based on operand addressing mode and specific hardware used, range from 87% to 100% using as few as 10 principal components. Using our methodology, we can determine malicious insertions in a pre-determined code sequence with a 100% accuracy, as demonstrated in the results.
Methacholine causes reflex bronchoconstriction

To determine whether methacholine causes vagally mediated reflex constriction of airway smooth muscle, we administered methacholine to sheep either via the bronchial artery or as an aerosol via tra...
DeepPolyA: A Convolutional Neural Network Approach for Polyadenylation Site Prediction

Polyadenylation (Poly(A)) plays crucial roles in gene regulation, especially in messenger RNA metabolism, protein diversification, and protein localization. Accurate prediction of polyadenylation sites and identification of motifs that controlling polyadenylation are fundamental for interpreting the patterns of gene expression, improving the accuracy of genome annotation and comprehending the mechanisms that governing gene regulation. Despite considerable advances in using machine learning techniques for this problem, its efficiency is still limited by the lack of experiences and domain knowledge to carefully design and generate useful features, especially for plants. With the increasing availability of extensive genomic data sets and leading computational techniques, deep learning methods, especially convolutional neural networks, have been applied to automatically identify and understand gene regulation directly from gene sequences and predict unknown sequence profiles. Here, we present DeepPolyA, a new deep convolutional neural network-based approach, to predict polyadenylation sites from the plant Arabidopsis thaliana gene sequences. We investigate various deep neural network architectures and evaluate their performance against classical machine learning algorithms and several popular deep learning models. Experimental results demonstrate that DeepPolyA is substantially better than competing methods regarding various performance metrics. We further visualize the learned motifs of DeepPolyA to provide insights of our model and learned polyadenylation signals.
Biopharmaceutical Characterization and Oral Efficacy of a New Rapid Acting Antidepressant Ro 25-6981.

Abstract Ro 25-6981 is a highly potent and selective blocker of N-methyl- d -aspartate receptors that has been shown to possess both rapid and sustained antidepressant activity. In the present study, we report the biopharmaceutical characterization of Ro 25-6981 by evaluating gastrointestinal stability, transepithelial permeability, stability in human liver microsomes, and in silico metabolic prediction. Moreover, in vivo efficacy of Ro 25-6981 after oral administration was evaluated in animal models of depression. When mixed with 5 different simulated gastrointestinal fluids, no loss of parent compound was observed after 6 h, indicating compound stability in the gastrointestinal environment. At the tested concentrations, Ro 25-6981 was shown to have transepithelial permeability with apparent permeability (Papp) values comparable to highly permeable drugs. Ro 25-6981 was metabolized within 30 min in human liver microsomes, and the metabolic prediction data showed glucuronidation and sulfation as potential metabolic pathways. The in vivo efficacy data suggested that Ro 25-6981, when administered orally at 30 mg/kg, exhibits antidepressant-like activity following oral administration with efficacy comparable to traditional antidepressants that is both dose- and time-dependent. Overall, due to optimal gastrointestinal stability, oral permeability, and oral efficacy, Ro 25-6981 can be a potential therapeutic option for the treatment of depression.
Structural Identification of the Condensation Product of Sucrose With Organostannane Dihalides

The term carbohydrate literally means a compound that is a hydrate of carbon. The names sugars and saccharides are synonyms and apply to simple carbohydrates, typically consisting of units containing two to seven carbon atoms (usually five or six). Sugars are typically more or less sweet, water soluble, odorless, optically active, colorless substances.
Cellular Injury and Apoptosis

Programmed cell death is a complex biological process involving multiple signaling pathways. Autoimmunity can result from defects in multiple stages of apoptosis, ranging from mutant death receptors and ligands to biochemical alterations in death-inducing signaling. While defects in apoptosis of immunocompetent cells can lead to systemic autoimmunity, increased levels of apoptotic cells are also associated with autoimmunity. Ineffective recognition and clearance of apoptotic cells is also a cause of autoimmunity. In this chapter, we review the mechanisms of apoptosis, and the means by which abnormalities in this process can lead to self-immunization and to the development of autoimmunity. The role of necrotic cells in inducing autoimmunity is also discussed, as well as the role of immune complexes containing apoptotic cells in amplifying and perpetuating autoimmunization.
Expression of voltage-gated calcium channels augments cell susceptibility to membrane disruption by nanosecond pulsed electric field.

Abstract We compared membrane permeabilization by nanosecond pulsed electric field (nsPEF) in HEK293 cells with and without assembled CaV1.3 L-type voltage-gated calcium channel (VGCC). Individual cells were subjected to one 300-ns pulse at 0 (sham exposure); 1.4; 1.8; or 2.3 kV/cm, and membrane permeabilization was evaluated by measuring whole-cell currents and by optical monitoring of cytosolic Ca2+. nsPEF had either no effect (0 and 1.4 kV/cm), or caused a lasting (>80 s) increase in the membrane conductance in about 50% of cells (1.8 kV/cm), or in all cells (2.3 kV/cm). The conductance pathway opened by nsPEF showed strong inward rectification, with maximum conductance increase for the inward current at the most negative membrane potentials. Although these potentials were below the depolarization threshold for VGCC activation, the increase in conductance in cells which expressed VGCC (VGCC+ cells) was about twofold greater than in cells which did not (VGCC− cells). Among VGCC+ cells, the nsPEF-induced increase in membrane conductance showed a positive correlation with the amplitude of VGCC current measured in the same cells prior to nsPEF exposure. These findings demonstrate that the expression of VGCC makes cells more susceptible to membrane permeabilization by nsPEF. Time-lapse imaging of nsPEF-induced Ca2+ transients confirmed permeabilization by a single 300-ns pulse at 1.8 or 2.3 kV/cm, but not at 1.4 kV/cm, and the transients were expectedly larger in VGCC+ cells. However, it remains to be established whether larger transients reflected additional Ca2+ entry through VGCC, or were a result of more severe electropermeabilization of VGCC+ cells.
Building a Community of Transformation and a Social Network Analysis of the POGIL Project

Communities of transformation work to achieve deep, transformational change in higher education teaching practice. This case study of The POGIL Project follows the development of a community of transformation principally focused on the propagation of effective teaching in STEM. We describe the origin of the community, elucidate the emergent decisions that shaped its growth, and offer a social network analysis of the connections between change agents that have been deeply engaged in the growth and development of the POGIL community. The case provides concrete examples of how the features of a community of transformation, most particularly the community network, can be intentionally fostered. We discuss the implications for STEM education reform in light of the case analysis.
Evolving medical ontologies based on causal inference

Causal inference and analytics plays a critical role in public health and disease prevention. Through mining of large patient datasets, it is possible to identify opportunities for intervention and to determine the effectiveness of treatment. There are currently many methods to analyze and learn causal relationships in large patient datasets, as well as specific causal studies in epidemiology that define specific relationships among symptoms and treatments. This paper introduces a novel methodology to utilize causal knowledge to extend and improve a standard hierarchical medical ontology. First, we will obtain the hierarchical structure of the patient symptom variables based on the Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities Terminology (MedDRA). Then, we will learn a Causal Bayesian Network (CBN) using Max-Min Hill-Climbing (MMHC), a hybrid constraint and score-based learning algorithm, on the pre-existing National Institutes of Mental Health (NIMH) study on Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression (STAR*D) patient dataset. Finally, we will use the causal links discovered in the CBN to evolve the ontology and its hierarchy.
Phase response of high to very high frequency metal/anomaly detector

In this paper the phase response and reflection coefficient notch of a metal/anomaly detector design that operates in the high to very high frequency range is studied. This design uses a high-Q tuned loop antenna for metal/anomaly detection. By measuring the reflection coefficient or voltage standing wave ratio a frequency notch can be detected. Tuning to the optimal location for detector performance can be accomplished by monitoring both the depth of the notch and the phase response. It has been experimentally observed that there are three regions of interest relative to the notch and phase response of the detector. One is at the frequency where the phase response is on a near vertical line of substantial phase shift and the notch is near its deepest depth. The second and third are at slightly higher and lower frequencies, where the slope of the phase shift line is reduced and the notch is still deep, but slightly removed from the frequency of maximum depth. As would be expected, initial experimentation indicates that the region of maximum detection performance, in terms of relative change in phase response, occurs when the phase response is at the center of the near vertical phase shift response near the location of the deepest notch. However, there may be advantages to the other two regions, since the response is more stable and less prone to false alarms. Performance results for various combinations of phase response and notch depth will be shown.
Regulation of cell cycle and androgen receptor by brefeldin A in androgen-responsive prostate cancer cells

4423 Purpose: To study the mechanism by which an antibiotic brefeldin A (BFA) inhibits proliferation of androgen-responsive prostatic cancer LNCaP cells, focusing on cell cycle and androgen receptor (AR). Materials and Methods: Androgen-mediated cellular events in LNCaP cells were induced using 5α-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) as an androgenic mediator. Effect of BFA on DHT-stimulated cell growth was first assessed, and its regulatory mechanism(s) was further explored by examining cell cycle and AR activity/expression using flow cytometry, AR binding assay, and Western blot analysis. Results: DHT (1 nM) stimulated LNCaP cell growth by ∼37% above control; however, BFA (30 ng/ml) was capable of completely inhibiting such DHT-stimulated proliferation. Cell cycle analysis showed that this growth inhibition was associated with ∼75% reduction in the cell number in the S phase, indicating a blocking of G1-S phase transition. Such a G1 growth arrest was confirmed by a drastic (>80%) down-regulation of specific G1 cell cycle regulators (CDK2, CDK4 and cyclin D1). BFA-induced growth inhibition was also accompanied by a profound (∼90%) loss in AR activity, resulting from a reduction in AR protein expression, revealed by Western blots.Conclusion: This study shows that BFA is capable of completely inhibiting androgen-stimulated LNCaP proliferation, demonstrating its antiproliferative activity. The mode of such inhibitory action of BFA appears to involve a G1 cell cycle arrest as well as the down-regulation of AR activity/expression. Thus, BFA appears to be an effective agent to regulate the growth of hormone-dependent prostate cancer cells.
Do surprisingly low child maltreatment rates in rural southern counties reflect lower rates of substantiation

Abstract This study aims to help explain surprisingly low official child maltreatment rates in rural southern U.S. counties with many child maltreatment risk factors. It investigates whether comparatively lower child maltreatment rates in rural, majority African-American counties are due to lower rates of substantiation. County-level data from the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS) were linked with demographic and poverty data from the U.S. Census. Fractional response probit regression models assessed whether substantiation rates were associated with county racial composition, rurality, and poverty rate. Substantiation rates in rural, majority African-American counties were similar to those of other counties in the region, even when accounting for the county poverty rate. The findings clarify that lower maltreatment rates in rural, majority African-American counties in the South are a consequence of lower maltreatment report rates, and not also a consequence of substantiation decisions. The discussion addresses some implications of low levels of formal child welfare intervention in high risk, low resource counties with histories of marginalization.
The Phosphorylated Carbohydrate Intermediates from Erythrocytes in Hereditary Spherocytosis

The phosphorylated carbohydrate intermediates of erythrocytes from normal adults and from five patients with hereditary spherocytosis (HS) were labeled in vitro with P32 orthophosphate and then separated on columns of ion exchange resin. No qualitative or quantitative differences were found between normal and HS erythrocytes. The relative specific activity of each phosphate of 2, 3 DPG was the same; whereas the phosphate attached to ribose in ADP and ATP was not labeled. The nucleotides were labeled at a much faster rate than DPG. When the erythrocytes were washed 6 or more times, the specific activity of Pi approached that of DPG. No definite difference was found in the rate of labeling of the intermediates from normal and HS erythrocytes.
Another Season, A Bilingual Edition with Critical Introduction, Annotations and Archival Material

This collection of Freydoun Farokhzad’s1 poems, Andere Jahreszeit (Another Season), written in German and translated into English by Nima Mina, introduces readers to aspects of Farokhzad’s work tha...
Supporting Student and Preservice Teacher Successes Through Co-teaching

As increasing inclusion in schools has been emphasized with each reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act amendments, the implementation of co-teaching has increased. Co-teaching has emerged as a supportive framework that uses principles of social justice in building inclusive nurturing environments, yielding positive student outcomes in social as well as academic areas of education. The authors explored the use of co-teaching within a laboratory school setting by analyzing experiences between general education faculty and not only special education faculty but also preservice teachers. Research has found that co-teaching to support preservice and early-career teachers is a natural outgrowth of the special education and general education partnerships created in the co-taught classroom when an intern is placed in such a setting. When used with fidelity, co-teaching is an instructional option that plays an integral part in building effective and efficient ways to foster student learning while enhancing classroom community. Co-teaching can be a powerful mechanism that supports sharing of responsibility and accountability for student achievement, as well as social, emotional, and behavioral growth. A child-centered philosophy was perceived as important to both preservice and co-teachers because of the individual factors that guided practice. With strong leadership from school administrators, commitment and flexibility on the part of classroom teachers, and skills of colleagues, preservice teachers report outstanding growth. Co-teaching, carefully implemented, can foster a nurturing classroom culture and support preservice teachers as they apply knowledge and skills in a constant reflective process, which benefits all teachers and students.
Well-Being Therapy: An Approach to Increase Athlete Well-Being and Performance

Well-being is complex, encompassing emotional, psychological, and social functioning. Athletes with high well-being perform optimally in high-pressure environments, overcome obstacles, and enjoy lo...
Chapter 12 – Data and Information Management

Publisher Summary This chapter deals with data and information management, which is an approach that reserves the use of data for singular pieces of knowledge and information for data that have been connected to other knowledge bases or otherwise purposely processed for use. Emergency response is always a data- and information-intensive effort, not only in terms of the level of detail, but also in terms of the diversity of data and information that must be collected, evaluated, and acted upon. The management of data and information is absolutely critical to the success of emergency response. Access to global data banks and information networks enhances the potential for improvement in the efficiency and the comprehensiveness of decision-making. The most sophisticated technology for retrieving and processing information is neither a guarantor of competence nor can it correct the consequences of incompetence. Computers are powerful tool in terms of flexibility, efficiency, and range of applications. For computerization of various elements of health, safety, and emergency-response programs, particular attention is given in defining capabilities that provide timely and practical information to emergency response personnel without conflicting with the needs of other computer-assisted corporate functions and operations.
Triangulated Research Methods to Operationalize Career and Technical Education Administrator Knowledge and Skill Core Competencies in Pennsylvania

The position of the career and technical education (CTE) administrator is generally well-known but the multitude of tasks (e.g., management/leadership) are not widely understood by those outside CT...
Experiments to determine the suitability of sodium dithionite treatment for a Cr(VI) groundwater plume in a deep aquifer of the United States Southwest

Abstract Legacy industrial waste has left groundwater plumes of hexavalent Cr (Cr(VI)) that requires treatment, predominantly by reduction to Cr(III) and subsequent precipitation. One promising technology is the injection of a strong reducing agent, sodium dithionite, to create an in-situ redox barrier, but implementation requires a comprehensive understanding of the reactions occurring with dithionite injection. Batch and column experiments were conducted with aquifer sediments to determine both the significant reactions and efficacy of sodium dithionite treatment for a groundwater plume of hexavalent chromium. The batch experiments demonstrate consumption of dithionite over the experiment (disappearance by 43 d) concurrent with leaching of about 1 mM Fe from the sediments. Reactions deduced from batch experiments were incorporated into a 1-D numerical model to simulate reactions occurring during the column injection. The treatment was able to successfully reduce approximately 30 pore volumes of groundwater containing 800 µg kg−1 Cr(VI). The experiments also demonstrate that although mineral forms of Fe are important phases in the reduction of Cr(VI), Fe alone cannot account for the entire reduction capacity imparted to the sediments. Rather, the correlation between Cr and reduced S retained in the columns, combined with Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) of treated sediments, suggest that formation of reduced S phases contributes to the prolonged reduction capacity.
Characterizing off-target corticospinal responses to double-cone transcranial magnetic stimulation

The double-cone coil (D-CONE) is frequently used in transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) experiments that target the motor cortex (M1) lower-limb representation. Anecdotal evidence and modeling studies have shed light on the off-target effects of D-CONE TMS but the physiological extent remains undetermined. To characterize the off-target effects of D-CONE TMS based on bilateral corticospinal responses in the legs and hands. Thirty (N = 30) participants (9 women, age: 26 ± 5yrs) completed a stimulus–response curve procedure with D-CONE TMS applied to the dominant vastus lateralis (cVL) and motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) recorded in each active VL and resting first dorsal interosseous (FDI). As a positive control (CON), the dominant FDI was directly targeted with a figure-of-eight coil and MEPs were similarly recorded in each active FDI and resting VL. MEPMAX, V50 and MEP latencies were compared with repeated-measures ANOVAs or mixed-effects analysis and Bonferroni-corrected pairwise comparisons. Off-target responses were evident in all muscles, with similar MEPMAX in the target (cVL) and off-target (iVL) leg (p = 0.99) and cFDI compared with CON (p = 0.99). cFDI and CON MEPMAX were greater than iFDI (p < 0.01). A main effect of target (p < 0.001) indicated that latencies were shorter with CON but similar in all muscles with D-CONE. Concurrent MEP recordings in bilateral upper- and lower-extremity muscles confirm that lower-limb D-CONE TMS produces substantial distance-dependent off-target effects. In addition to monitoring corticospinal responses in off-target muscles to improve targeting accuracy in real-time, future studies may incorporate off-target information into statistical models post-hoc.
On anesthesia and race.

Abstract Racial tensions continue to ignite social unrest in the United States. Structural racism is increasingly recognized as a public health issue. It is therefore necessary to continue addressing the interaction of race and medicine, including anesthesiology. While many may overlook the impact that racial discrimination has had on the development of anesthesiology, understanding pain through a racialized lens has always been entwined with this medical specialty since its origins. Considering the first public demonstration of ether anesthesia in 1846 occurred 15 years before the American Civil War (1861-1865), it is naive to pretend that anesthesia has been insulated from racial prejudice. We increasingly recognize the effects of variables, such as housing and education, which are important as social determinants of health. Across ethnic and racial lines, statistically significant differences persist in pain assessment and analgesia delivery. To understand these irregularities without relying on unsupported theories, we must challenge our current understanding of race in medicine. By reviewing the history of anesthesia through a racialized lens, we may better explore our biases and develop strategies towards racially equitable care. This article focuses on anesthesia's roots on the plantation in the American South, the medical perpetuation of racial disparities, and the challenges we face in healthcare today.
Team Improvisation: Perspective Taking, Problem Formulation, and Prior Experience

A growing number of situations require teams to improvise, especially as organizations continue to turn to teams to address their most pressing problems. Though only some teams improvise successful...
Synthesis of magnesiowüstite nanocrystallites embedded in an amorphous silicate matrix via low energy multiple ion implantations

Abstract A synthesis process is presented for experimentally simulating modifications in cosmic dust grains using sequential ion implantations or irradiations followed by thermal annealing. Cosmic silicate dust analogues were prepared via implantation of 20–80 ​keV Fe−, Mg−, and O− ions into commercially available p-type silicon (100) wafers. The as-implanted analogues are amorphous with a Mg/(Fe ​+ ​Mg) ratio of 0.5 tailored to match theoretical abundances in circumstellar dusts. Before the ion implantations were performed, Monte-Carlo-based ion-solid interaction codes were used to model the dynamic redistribution of the implanted atoms in the silicon substrate. 600 ​keV helium ion irradiation was performed on one of the samples before thermal annealing. Two samples were thermally annealed at a temperature appropriate for an M-class stellar wind, 1000 ​K, for 8.3 ​h in a vacuum chamber with a pressure of 1 ​× ​10−7 torr. The elemental depth profiles were extracted utilizing Rutherford Backscattering Spectrometry (RBS) in the samples before and after thermal annealing. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis was employed for the identification of various phases in crystalline minerals in the annealed analogues. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis was utilized to identify specific crystal structures. RBS analysis shows redistribution of the implanted Fe, Mg, and O after thermal annealing due to incorporation into the crystal structures for each sample type. XRD patterns along with TEM analysis showed nanocrystalline Mg and Fe oxides with possible incorporation of additional silicate minerals.
Other things equal: Samuelsonian Economics

Deirdre McClosky argues that we need to get beyond the Age of Samuelsonianism in economics and get back to theorizing and observing. Economics, especially mainstream American economics, for all its promise, is in very bad shape because it has fallen into a cargo-cult version of “science” in which qualitative theorem-making runs the “theory” and statistical significance without a loss function runs the “empirical work.” Consequently, none of the high-prestige “work” in the journals is to be taken seriously. Most (say 95 percent) of its alleged “results” have to be done all over again, by economic scientists using—in preference to the mumbo-jumbo that has passed for scientific method among economists since 1947— real scientific methods (such as serious simulation disciplined by the world’s facts; and functional-form math; and statistical significance, when relevant, with loss functions; and economic history; and inquiry into all the other human sciences we economists have been invited so long to ignore). A real science—or a real inquiry into anything about the actual world—should both think and watch, theorize and observe.
Sylvia Plath on Charing Cross Road

After Sylvia Plath arrived in London en route to Cambridge University in 1955, she recounted to her mother that she had perused the book stores on Charing Cross Road. 1 The volumes that Plath purchased during her visits to London reflect her developing creative and critical interests while she was living in England from 1955 to 1957 and from late 1959 to 1963. Each of the volumes in Plath's library sheds light on her reading strategies and the texts with which she may have been familiar. One indication of Plath's meticulousness as a reader and book owner is that she inscribed her name and location in her books in addition to leaving inside her volumes the labels from the stores where she purchased them. In her books and journals, Plath illustrated the particularity of her engagement with her literary and cultural surroundings. Forty-five years after Plath's arrival in London, the British publication of The Journals of Sylvia Plath (2000) was the first in a series of events that altered my relationship to literature, modernism, and intellectual history. 2
Scale 8 Elevations on the MMPI-2 among Women Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse: Evaluating Posttraumatic Stress, Depression, and Dissociation as Predictors

This paper investigated elevations on Scale 8 of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2) in women survivors of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) in order to assess whether symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, or dissociation account for such elevations. Participants were 73 women seeking outpatient treatment for CSA after-effects at a university-based community mental health center. A stepwise multiple regression analysis was conducted, including measures of commonly reported symptoms in CSA survivors: depression, posttraumatic stress, and dissociation. Regression analyses revealed that the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES) accounted for the most variance in Scale 8 scores (59%), with the BDI as the best predictor. The Impact of Event Scale (IES) did not predict Scale 8 scores significantly above that achieved by the model above. Cross-validation results indicated good generalizability. Results suggest that depression and dissociation contribute most to scores on Scale 8. Implications of these findings for the clinical and empirical use of the MMPI-2 with CSA survivors are discussed.
MHC class II-peptide complexes and APC lipid rafts accumulate at the immunological synapse.

Activation of CD4 + Th cells requires their cognate interaction with APCs bearing specific relevant MHC class II-peptide complexes. This cognate interaction culminates in the formation of an immunological synapse that contains the various proteins and lipids required for efficient T cell activation. We now show that APC lipid raft membrane microdomains contain specific class II-peptide complexes and serve as platforms that deliver these raft-associated class II molecules to the immunological synapse. APC rafts are required for T cell:APC conjugate formation and T cell activation at low densities of relevant class II-peptide complexes, a requirement that can be overcome at high class II-peptide density. Analysis of confocal microscopy images revealed that over time APC lipid rafts, raft-associated relevant class II-peptide complexes, and even immunologically irrelevant class II molecules accumulate at the immunological synapse. As the immunological synapse matures, relevant class II-peptide complexes are sorted to a central region of the interface, while irrelevant class II molecules are excluded from this site. We propose that T cell activation is facilitated by recruitment of MHC class II-peptide complexes to the immunological synapse by virtue of their constitutive association with lipid raft microdomains.
Gases and Vapors

Gases and vapors are naturally associated with foods and food processing systems. The equilibrium between food and water vapor determines the temperatures achieved during processing. Dissolved gases in foods such as oxygen affect shelf life. Gases are used to flush packages in order to eliminate oxygen and prolong shelf life. Modified atmospheres in packages are used to prolong the shelf life of packaged foods. Air is used for dehydration. Gases are used as propellants in aerosol cans and as refrigerants.
The Effect of Low Dose Rate Irradiation on the Swelling of 12% Cold‐Worked 316 Stainless Steel

In pressurized water reactors (PWRs), stainless steel components are irradiated at temperatures that may reach 400 C due to gamma heating. If large amounts of swelling (>10%) occur in these reactor internals, significant swelling related embrittlement may occur. Although fast reactor studies indicate that swelling should be insignificant at PWR temperatures, the low dose rate conditions experienced by PWR components may possibly lead to significant swelling. To address these issues, JNC and ANL have collaborated to analyze swelling in 316 stainless steel, irradiated in the EBR-II reactor at temperatures from 376-444 C, at dose rates between 4.9 x 10{sup {minus}8} and 5.8 x 10{sup {minus}7} dpa/s, and to doses of 56 dpa. For these irradiation conditions, the swelling decreases markedly at temperatures less than approximately 386 C, with the extrapolated swelling at 100 dpa being around 3%. For temperatures greater than 386 C, the swelling extrapolated to 100 dpa is around 9%. For a factor of two difference in dose rate, no statistically significant effect of dose rate on swelling was seen. For the range of dose rates analyzed, the swelling measurements do not support significant (>10%) swelling of 316 stainless steel in PWRs.
Illuminating a Neglected Clinical Issue: Societal Costs of Interpersonal Dependency and Dependent Personality Disorder

Objectives To determine the degree to which patients with high levels of trait dependency or dependent personality disorder (DPD) engage in behaviors that harm themselves and others (e.g., domestic violence, child abuse). Method Six domains of literature were reviewed: (a) dependency as a risk factor for physical illness; (b) health care utilization and expenditures; (c) global and domain-specific functional impairment; (d) violence toward others; (e) victimization by others; and (f) self-harm. Results High levels of trait dependency and DPD are associated with elevated risk for physical illness, partner and child abuse, and suicidality, as well as with high levels of functional impairment and increased health care expenditure. Conclusions Contrary to clinical lore, trait dependency and DPD are associated with behaviors that lead to myriad negative consequences for the dependent person, those close to them, and society as a whole. These patterns have noteworthy implications for assessment and treatment of dependent patients and suggest that DPD should be included as a diagnostic category in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Clin. Psychol. 68:766-781, 2012
Fairness Reactions to Personnel Selection Methods: A look at professionals in Mumbai, India

This study expands upon Steiner and Gilliland's selection fairness research. Professionals (N = 114) from Mumbai, India rated 12 employee selection methods on favorability and provided the bases for those ratings. In line with previous research, interviews and resumes were rated most favorably, while graphology and honesty tests were rated least favorably. Perceived face validity, opportunity to perform, and widespread use of selection methods were highly correlated with favorability ratings, while interpersonal warmth, scientific evidence, and respectful of privacy exhibited weak correlations with favorability ratings. Work sample tests, which have previously been rated favorably, were rated unfavorably. Exploratory analysis showed that participants viewed assessment centers favorably and online information unfavorably. Outcome favorability was highly correlated with favorability ratings.
Reflections on Twenty Years of Law Teaching: Remarks at the Rutter Award Ceremony

On April 16, 2008, the author received the UCLA School of Law's Rutter Award for Excellence in Teaching. This essay consists of a revised and extended version of the remarks he gave on that occasion. In it, he addresses his progression from frustrated Socratic teacher to happy lecturer and his aspirations for incorporating new technologies into his teaching. He also reflects on the subject of his teaching - the American corporation - and argues that being a business lawyer is a very real form of public interest lawyering.