cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fluorination of Boron-Doped Diamond Film Electrodes for Minimization of Perchlorate Formation

This research investigated the effects of surface fluorination on both rates of organic compound oxidation (phenol and terephthalic acid (TA)) and ClO4– formation at boron-doped diamond (BDD) film anodes at 22 °C. Different fluorination methods (i.e., electrochemical oxidation with perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), radio frequency plasma, and silanization) were used to incorporate fluorinated moieties on the BDD surface, which was confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The silanization method was found to be the most effective fluorination method using a 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorodecyltrichlorosilane precursor to form a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) on the oxygenated BDD surface. The ClO4– formation decreased from rates of 0.45 ± 0.03 mmol m–2 min–1 during 1 mM NaClO3 oxidation and 0.28 ± 0.01 mmol m–2 min–1 during 10 mM NaCl oxidation on the BDD electrode to below detectable levels (<0.12 μmoles m–2 min–1) for the BDD electrode functionalized by a 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorodecyltrichlorosilane SAM. The...
Presence of fluorescent in situ hybridization abnormalities is associated with plasma cell burden in light chain amyloidosis.

Abstract Objective/Background To assess abnormalities found on CD138-enriched fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) studies on pre-treatment bone marrow in systemic amyloid light-chain amyloidosis (AL) and correlate findings between these abnormalities with organ involvement and 1-year survival. Methods We reviewed 107 patients with systemic AL to identify the impact of a diagnostic FISH study done on plasma cell-enriched bone marrow in our institution between January 2010 and January 2015; 77 had pre-treatment testing performed. Results A total of 77 (61%) patients had abnormal FISH including: hyperdiploidy (29%), t(11;14), (20%), hypodiploidy (16%), t(4;14), (1%), del17p (5%), and + 1q21 (5%). Abnormal FISH studies were more likely in those patients with plasma cell involvement ≥ 10% (p = .002). FISH abnormalities were not shown to correlate with stage, cardiac involvement, or survival at 1 year. One-year survival was significantly affected by stage at diagnosis and presence of cardiac and hepatic amyloid involvement. Conclusion We conclude that in AL, FISH abnormalities are associated with clonal burden. We found no impact of these markers on the type of organ involvement or 1-year survival.
7. On Nonarchimedean Banach Fields

We study the problem of whether a commutative nonarchimedean Banach ring which is algebraically a field can be topologized by a multiplicative norm. This can fail in general, but it holds for uniform Banach rings under some mild extra conditions. Notably, any perfectoid ring whose underlying ring is a field is a perfectoid field.
Computerized recovery support for substance use disorders: predictors of posttreatment usage.

Abstract Objective: The primary goal of this study was to examine which characteristics differentiated patients who highly engaged with a computerized recovery support program after alcohol/drug treatment from those who did not engage with the program. Materials and Methods: The program delivered individually tailored clinical content in a multimedia format over 18 months following residential treatment. A key component of the program was access to a recovery coach, a licensed drug and alcohol counselor. Posttreatment logins to the program, the amount of clinical content accessed, and the number of recovery coach contacts were measured. Results: Several factors were found to predict program engagement, including several demographic variables, the number of recovery coach contacts, motivation to be in recovery, and attendance at 12-step groups. Conclusions: These findings, combined with others in the literature, suggest that low engagement with computerized health programs is a widespread problem. Because ...
Molecular evidence for an intrinsic circadian pacemaker in the cardiac ganglion of the American lobster, Homarus americanus - Is diel cycling of heartbeat frequency controlled by a peripheral clock system?

Abstract Whether cardiac output in decapod crustaceans is under circadian control has long been debated, with mixed evidence for and against the hypothesis. Moreover, the locus of the clock system controlling cardiac activity, if it is under circadian control, is unknown. However, a report that the crayfish heart in organ culture maintains a circadian oscillation in heartbeat frequency suggests the presence of a peripheral pacemaker within the cardiac neuromuscular system itself. Because the decapod heart is neurogenic, with contractions controlled by the five motor and four premotor neurons that make up the cardiac ganglion (CG), a likely locus for a circadian clock is the CG itself. Here, a CG-specific transcriptome was generated for the lobster, Homarus americanus, and was used to assess the presence/absence of transcripts encoding putative clock-related proteins in the ganglion. Using known Homarus brain/eyestalk ganglia clock-related proteins as queries, BLAST searches of the CG transcriptome were conducted for the five proteins that form the core clock, i.e., clock, cryptochrome 2, cycle, period and timeless, as well as for a variety of clock-associated, clock input pathway and clock output pathway proteins. With the exception of pigment dispersing hormone receptor [PDHR], a putative clock output pathway protein, one or more transcripts encoding each of the proteins searched for were identified from the CG assembly; no PDHR-encoding transcripts were found. RT-PCR confirmed the expression of all core clock transcripts in multiple independent CG cDNAs; RNA-Seq data suggest that both the motor and premotor neurons could contribute to the cellular locus of a pacemaker. These data provide support for the possible existence of an intrinsic circadian clock in the H. americanus CG, and form a foundation for guiding future anatomical, molecular and physiological investigations of circadian signaling in the lobster cardiac neuromuscular system.
Storm‐driven particulate organic matter flux connects a tidal tributary floodplain wetland, mainstem river, and estuary

The transport of terrestrial plant matter into coastal waters is important to regional and global biogeochemical cycles, and methods for assessing and predicting fluxes in such dynamic environments are needed. We investigated the hypothesis that upon reconnection of a floodplain wetland to its mainstem river, organic matter produced in the wetland would reach other parts of the ecosystem. If so, we can infer that the organic matter would ultimately become a source for the food web in the mainstem river and estuary. To accomplish this, we adapted numerical hydrodynamic and transport modeling methods to estimate the mass of particulate organic matter (POM) derived from the annually senescent aboveground parts of herbaceous marsh plants (H-POM). The Finite-Volume Community Ocean Model (FVCOM), parameterized with flow, tide, and aboveground biomass data, simulated H-POM mobilization from fluid shear stress during tidal exchange, flooding, and variable river flow; entrainment into the water column; transport via channel and overland flow; and entrapment when wetted surfaces dry. We examined export from a recently reconnected, restoring tidal emergent marsh on the Grays River, a tributary to the Columbia River estuary. Modeling indicated that hydrologically reconnecting 65 ha at the site resulted in export of about 96 × 103 kg of H-POM, primarily during pulsed storm flooding events in autumn and early winter. This exported mass amounted to about 19% of the summer peak aboveground biomass measured at the site. Of that 19%, about 48% (47 × 103 kg) was deposited downstream in the Grays River and floodplain wetlands, and the remaining 52% (50 × 103 kg) passed the confluence of the Grays River and the mainstem estuary located about 7 km from the study site. The colonization of the restoring study site largely by nonnative Phalaris arundinacea (reed canarygrass) may have resulted in 18-28% lower H-POM mobilization than typical marsh plant communities on this floodplain, based on estimates from regional studies of marshes dominated by less recalcitrant species. We concluded that restored floodplain wetlands can contribute significant amounts of organic matter to the estuarine ecosystem and thereby contribute to the restoration of historical trophic structure.
Relaxation to Gaussian and generalized Gibbs states in systems of particles with quadratic Hamiltonians

We present an elementary, general, and semiquantitative description of relaxation to Gaussian and generalized Gibbs states in lattice models of fermions or bosons with quadratic Hamiltonians. Our arguments apply to arbitrary initial states that satisfy a mild condition on clustering of correlations. We also show that similar arguments can be used to understand relaxation (or its absence) in systems with time-dependent quadratic Hamiltonians and provide a semiquantitative description of relaxation in quadratic periodically driven (Floquet) systems.
Countering the Misguided Interpretations of Fashion Shows and Thug Life: A Material-Cultural Analysis of Hmong Father and Son's Experience in School(s).

ABSTRACTEthnographic methodology across place and time is used to describe the perspectives of one young refugee boy and his father within the son’s school experience. The research illuminates the cultural histories of refugee experience through the Pa’Ndau. The social position of visual texts within Hmong quilts in the son’s elementary school and ethnographic data of informants are described to amplify the changes and preoccupation in father and son’s school participation across time. The authors argue that though the father’s volunteerism in a display of Hmong costumes during a Hmong fashion show at the school is authentic to his culture and history, the relative absence of historical details within the curriculum imparts a misguided understanding of place and people to the children present, assisting (inadvertently) the Hmong refugee assimilation to American culture.
Geometry of the SU 3 group

A parametrization of theSU 3 group is given which is regular in the neighborhood of the unit element. The left-invariant differential forms are explicitly calculated, and a left- and right-invariant metric tensor is exhibited in these parameters.
Reliability of upper limb movement quality metrics during everyday tasks.

Abstract Background Quantitative assessments of an individual’s functional status commonly involve the use of movement quality metrics. Research question The purpose of this work was to quantify the reliability of movement quality metrics in healthy adults during a variety of unconstrained activities of daily living (ADLs). Methods Nineteen participants performed six ADLs (lifting a laundry basket, applying deodorant, turning a doorknob, placing a pill in a pillbox, placing a pushpin in a bulletin board, and drinking water from a glass) during two separate sessions. The ADLs were divided into reaching and object manipulation phases. Movement quality for each phase was assessed using three measures of smoothness (log dimensionless jerk, spectral arc length, and number of submovements) and one measure of straightness (index of curvature). Within- and between-session reliability was quantified using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) and minimum detectable changes in measured units and as a percentage of their mean value (MDC%). Results Reliability was generally lower within-session than between-session and for object manipulation tasks compared to reaching tasks. The ICCs exceeded 0.75 for 5% of the within-session metrics and 73% of the between-session metrics. The average MDC% was 35% for the within-session metrics and 20% for the between-session metrics. Reliability was similar for most metrics when averaged across the tasks, but the number of submovements consistently indicated much lower reliability. Significance Unconstrained ADLs can reliably be used to assess movement quality in functional settings that mimic real-world challenges. However, the specific movement quality metrics used in the assessment should be chosen carefully since some metrics perform dissimilarly when applied to the same data. In particular, it may be advisable to use the number of submovements in combination with other metrics, if it is to be used at all.
Orthopaedic manifestations of pseudoachondroplasia.

Abstract Purpose In 1959, Maroteaux and Lamy initially designated pseudoachondroplasia as a distinct dysplasia different from achondroplasia the most common form of skeletal dysplasia. Pseudoachond...
Electro-optical Amplitude and Phase Modulators Based on Tunable Guided-Mode Resonance Effect

Here, electrically tunable amplitude and phase modulators are designed by the hybridization of indium tin oxide (ITO) into a guided-mode resonance mirror (so-called GMRM), which consists of a high-...
Treatment-resistant eosinophilic oesophagitis successfully managed with tofacitinib.

We present a case of a 34-year-old man with long-term diagnosis of eosinophilic oesophagitis (EoE) who did not achieve control of disease after multiple therapies including topical and systemic steroids, immune modulators and biologics. Initial endoscopic findings showed signs of active eosinophilic oesophagitis and biopsies were significant for up to 100 eosinophils per high power field during his various treatments. There was a significant improvement in the appearance of the oesophagus as well as the least number of eosinophils found in oesophagus biopsies after 3 months of treatment with tofacitinib. There are no cases of EoE treated with tofacitinib. Tofacitinib should be considered for the treatment of eosinophilic oesophagitis given its evolving role as an immunosuppressive agent.
Sequential Importance Sampling for Estimating the Number of Perfect Matchings in Bipartite Graphs: An Ongoing Conversation with Laci

Sequential importance sampling offers an alternative way to approximately evaluate the permanent. It is a stochastic algorithm which seems to work in practice but has eluded analysis. This paper offers examples where the analysis can be carried out and the first general bounds for the sample size required. This uses a novel importance sampling proof of Bregman’s inequality due to Lovasz.
The influence of canopy cover on understorey development in forests of the western Cascade Range, Oregon, USA

Natural disturbances, especially fire and treefalls, influence tree canopy composition in the Pseudotsuga menziesii forests of the western Cascade Range, Oregon. The composition of tree, shrub, and herb assemblages in the understorey of stands with different canopy types, such as maturing Pseudotsuga, Tsuga heterophylla, or mixed species stands, also differs.
Identification of inhibitors of pinellic acid generation in whole wheat bread.

Abstract Bitterness is a common aversive flavor attribute of foods associated with low consumer acceptance. Untargeted LC–MS flavoromic profiling was utilized to identify endogenous compounds that influence the generation of the bitter compound 9,12,13-trihydroxy-trans-10-octadecenoic acid (pinellic acid) during bread making. A diverse sample set of wheat germplasm was chemically profiled. The corresponding pinellic acid concentrations after dough formation were modeled by orthogonal partial least squares (OPLS) with good fit (R2Y = 0.8) and predictive ability (Q2 = 0.6). The most predictive feature (negatively correlated), postulated to interfere with the biosynthetic pathway, was identified as schaftoside, an apigenin di-C-glycoside. Recombination experiments involving the addition of schaftoside to flour prior to breadmaking resulted in a 26% decrease in pinellic acid formation and significantly lower perceived bitterness intensity in whole wheat bread. This work provides novel understanding of bitter generation pathways in wheat products and new strategies to improve flavor profiles and consumer acceptability.
Patient perceptions, opinions and satisfaction of telehealth with remote blood pressure monitoring postpartum

Our aim was to conduct a post participation survey of respondent experiences with in-home remote patient monitoring via telehealth for blood pressure monitoring of women with postpartum hypertension. We hypothesized that the in-home remote patient monitoring application will be implemented with strong fidelity and have positive patient acceptability. This analysis was a planned secondary analysis of a non-randomized controlled trial of telehealth with remote blood pressure patient monitoring for postpartum hypertension compared to standard outpatient monitoring in women with a hypertension-related diagnosis during pregnancy. In collaboration with survey experts, we developed a 41-item web-based survey to assess 1) perception of quality of care received, 2) ease of use/ease to learn the telehealth program, 3) effective orientation of equipment, 4) level of perceived security/privacy utilizing telehealth and 5) problems encountered. The survey included multiple question formats including Likert scale responses, dichotomous Yes/No responses, and free text. We performed a descriptive analysis on all responses and then performed regression analysis on a subset of questions most relevant to the domains of interest. The qualitative data collected through open ended responses was analyzed to determine relevant categories. Intervention participants who completed the study received the survey at the 6-week study endpoint. Sixty six percent of respondents completed the survey. The majority of women found the technology fit easily into their lifestyle. Privacy concerns were minimal and factors that influenced this included age, BMI, marital status, and readmissions. 95% of women preferred remote care for postpartum follow-up, in which hypertensive type, medication use and ethnicity were found to be significant factors in influencing location of follow-up. Most women were satisfied with the devices, but rates varied by hypertensive type, infant discharge rates and BMI. Postpartum women perceived the telehealth remote intervention was a safe, easy to use method that represented an acceptable burden of care and an overall satisfying method for postpartum blood pressure monitoring. ClinicalTrials.gov identification number: NCT03111095 Date of registration: April 12, 2017.
Chemically-mediated colonization of black cherry by the peach bark beetle, Phloeotribus liminaris.

The peach bark beetle (Phloeotribus liminaris Harris, PBB) affects the health, quality, and value of black cherry (Prunus serotina Ehrh.) within the Central Hardwoods Forest Region of North America. When colonized by adult beetles, black cherry trees produce a defensive exudate, or ‘gum’, staining the wood and decreasing its value up to 90%. Current management tactics are inadequate to avoid extensive damage to most veneer-sized black cherry in the region. We test the hypothesis that PBB colonization behavior is chemically-mediated and determine the extent to which PBB is attracted to compounds associated with wounded or PBB-infested cherry wood. Through olfactometer and field bioassays, we determined that adult PBB were attracted to cherry branches infested with female beetles. We then used dynamic headspace sampling to collect volatiles associated with wounded and infested bolts of black cherry. The volatile benzaldehyde dominated these collections and was more abundant in aerations of female-infested bolts than other odor sources. In subsequent field bioassays, we evaluated the bioactivity of benzaldehyde, as well as α-longipinene, in combination with several chemical carriers. Traps baited with benzaldehyde captured more PBB than all other treatments, irrespective of other lure components. Moreover, PBB were not attracted to traps baited solely with ethanol, a common attractant for bark beetles that colonize hardwood trees. This is the first report of benzaldehyde as an attractant for a species of bark beetle and could aid in developing semiochemical-based management tactics for this important pest.
Role of Maturation Temperature on Structural Substitution of Carbonate in Hydroxyapatite Nanoparticles

The phosphorus (P) release efficiency of hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (HANPs), a novel controlled-release fertilizer, could potentially be tuned by introducing carbonate ions into the crystal lattice. We used an atom-efficient synthesis method for carbonated HANPs from CO2-oversaturated phosphoric acid before neutralization with Ca(OH)2. The effect of the maturation temperature on the physicochemical properties of the HANPs was analyzed by Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, nano-FTIR spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The overall content of carbonate incorporated into the apatite decreased significantly after maturation at 150°C to 2.2 wt.%, compare with 6.6 wt.% and 7.4 wt.% after maturation at 45°C and 95°C, respectively. The ratio of A- to B-type carbonate was 53:46 for HANPs maturated at 45°C, where all columnar hydroxyls were replaced by carbonate. The presence of an amorphous layer in the crystalline apatite was confirmed by modulating the laser strength in nano-FTIR spectroscopy. The ability to tune the carbonate content provides a basis for testing the resulting solubility changes in in vitro and field settings.
Serum Fatty Acid Latent Classes Are Associated With Suicide in a Large Military Personnel Sample

Objective Fatty acids (FAs) are involved in the functioning of biological systems previously associated with suicidal behavior (eg, monoamine signaling and the immune system). We sought to determine (1) whether observed FA levels in a sample of military suicide decedents and living matched controls were consistent with latent classes having distinctive FA profiles and (2) whether those latent classes were associated with suicide and mental health diagnoses. Methods Serum samples from 800 US military suicide decedents who died between 2002 and 2008 and 800 demographically matched living controls were selected at random from a large military serum repository and assayed for 22 different FAs. A latent class cluster analysis was performed using values of 6 FAs previously individually associated with suicide. Once the latent classes were identified, they were compared in terms of suicide decedent proportion, demographic variables, estimated FA enzyme activity, diagnoses, and mental health care usage. Results A 6-latent class solution best characterized the dataset. Suicide decedents were less likely to belong to 2 of the classes and more likely to belong to 3 of the classes. The low-decedent classes differed from the high-decedent classes on 9 FAs and on estimated indices of activity for 3 FA enzymes: 14:0, 24:0, 18:1 n-9, 24:1 n-9, 22:5 n-3, 22:6 n-3, 20:2 n-6, 20:4 n-6, 22:5 n-6, elongation of very long chain fatty acids protein 1 (ELOVL1), ELOVL6, and Δ9 desaturase. The FA profiles of the latent classes were consistent with biological abnormalities previously associated with suicidal behavior. Conclusions This study suggests the utility of methods that simultaneously examine multiple FAs when trying to understand their relationship with suicide and psychiatric illness.
Emerging Precision Medicine Concepts and Cardiovascular Health in African Americans and Hispanics

The long-term goal of the landmark US Precision Medicine Initiative, now termed the All of Us Research Program, is to generate new knowledge based on research on individual variation in lifestyle, environment, and biological makeup that would lead to transformative personalization and improvements in health in all Americans. Using research data gathered over many years from one million or more participants, the All of Us Research Program holds great promise in health promotion, and personalized precision detection, prevention, treatment, and control of a wide variety of diseases including cardiovascular diseases. This promise in precision health is important to all Americans, but for cardiovascular diseases, it is particularly so in African Americans who shoulder the largest burden of cardiovascular mortality and morbidity in the United States. It is also important in Hispanic Americans and other underserved racial and ethnic minority populations in whom the prevalence of ideal cardiovascular health metrics remains very low. This chapter addresses the emerging concepts in precision medicine and precision public health for cardiovascular health. We begin with describing concepts of how race, ethnicity, and genetic ancestry are used in biomedical research today. We then address the huge challenge of Eurocentric biases that result from the lack of diversity in genomics research, and the real potential for current genomics tools and applications to exacerbate health inequities in underrepresented racial and ethnic minority populations. We conclude by addressing emerging concepts in trust and patient engagement in biomedical research and the role they play in African American, Hispanic, and other underserved racial and ethnic populations in the United States.
A Fuel Cell Assisted Single-Phase Multi-Port Uninterruptible Power Supply with Finite Control Set Model Predictive Controller

Increasing tendency in online businesses and work from home, attracted many businesses and individuals to consider single-phase uninterruptible power supplies (UPSs). However, low power UPSs are normally incapable of operating for extended time periods. In order to extend UPS ranges, researchers integrated auxiliary energy sources to UPSs. However, integrating auxiliary power sources require additional power electronics active and passive components. This will result in low power density and bulky UPSs. To overcome this issue, multi-port converters have been proposed as an alternative to employing multiple converters. Nevertheless, using multi-port converters require more advanced control methods. This paper proposes a novel multi-port UPS with a finite control set model predictive controller. Simulations are conducted to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed converter. The results show the load current THD of 0.77%, resilient transient response, and efficiencies up to 97.5% using SiC MOSFETs.
Investigating triazine-based modification of hyaluronan using statistical designs

Hyaluronan (HA) and its derivatives have been extensively researched for many biomedical applications. To precisely tailor the property of HA by derivatizing it to a pre-determined extent is challenging, yet critical. In this paper, we used 2-chloro-4,6-dimethoxy-1,3,5-triazine (CDMT) and N-methylmorpholine (NMM) to derivatize HA via a triazine-based coupling reaction. Using a fractional factorial (FF) design, we observed that water content in the solvent, and molar ratios of CDMT and NaHCO3 to the carboxylate were the significant factors controlling the derivatization. We investigated how the effect of each factor changes as reaction conditions change. Moreover, by altering the amount of CDMT and NaHCO3, we developed a cubic regression model for precise control of the extent of derivatization using a response surface methodology (RSM) with a D-optimal design. No spurious peaks were detected by (1)H NMR spectrum and only 10% decrease of molecular weight of the derivatized HA was determined by GPC. The HA with 6% modification was relatively biocompatible up to 15 mg/mL.
Detection and characterization of sucrase-isomaltase in adult human colon and in colonic polyps

Abstract A panel of monoclonal antibodies specific for sucrase-isomaltase, but differing in their ability to stain the proliferative crypt cells in human jejunum, was used to investigate expression of this enzyme in adult human colon and colonic tumors. Immunofluorescence staining on cryostat sections demonstrated the presence of sucrase-isomaltase in the apical region of normal colonic crypt cells but not on surface epithelium. Colonic sucrase-isomaltase was purified by immunoprecipitation with selected monoclonal antibodies and identified predominantly as high-mannose and complex glycosylated single-chain precursors endowed with relatively low levels of enzyme activities. Most polyps examined (1016) were also found to express significant amounts of sucrase-isomaltase. In contrast, only 3 of 45 adenocarcinomas were positive by immunofluorescence staining; no correlation was found between enzyme expression and tumor classification either by "Dukes" stage or degree of histological differentiation. These results demonstrate that colonic crypt cells and some benign tumor cells synthesize and express at their cell surface a form of sucrase-isomaltase immunologically distinct from that present in the brush borders of small intestinal villose cells.
Seismic Testing of Highway Bridges

Earthquake simulation using shake tables is one of the main tools that can be used to determine the seismic response of structures. Seismic response of bridges is of particular interest as they are considered as “life-line structure.” The collapse or closure of highway bridges due to damage during an earthquake may lead to significant economic loss. However, one of the drawbacks of shake-table testing is the payload limitation of the table itself. The specimen has to be scaled down in order to fail it under realistic earthquake excitation. Similitude requirements involved in modeling structures are discussed in this chapter. Although seismic modeling of highway bridges is emphasized in this chapter, the theory presented on dimensional analysis can be used to model any civil engineering structure. An example based on the 0.4-scale model of a curved bridge used for seismic testing at University of Nevada, Reno is presented. The discussion also includes specimen fabrication, selection of input motion, instrumentation, and data acquisition and processing. Keywords: bridges; data acquisition; data processing; dimensional analysis; ground motion; instrumentation; seismic modeling; seismic response; seismic testing; shake table; similitude
Toward a Model for Supervision

Contemporary supervision's four major functions and the close supervision model are critiqued. The functions are (a) management accountability and quality control, (b) teaching and consultation, (c) work design and coordination and (d) communication and linkage. An alternative model to close supelvision is proposed. The model, a variable model, was developed from a peer supervision pilot project examining the four major supevisory functions and contingency theory. The intent of the model is to increase worker responsibility, accountability and authority. The major contingency variables are worker experience, the nature of the work technology, client vulnerability and agency vulnerability and liability.
Radiative Heating Due to Increased CO2: The Role of H2O Continuum Absorption in the 12–18 μm Region

Abstract In the 12–18 μm spectral region, the CO2 bands are overlapped by the H2O pure rotational band and the H2O continuum band. The 12–18 μm H2O continuum absorption is neglected in most studies concerned with the climatic effects of increased CO2. In this study, we examine the role of H2O–CO2 overlap in detail. Specifically, the effect of the water vapor continuum in the 12–18 μm region on the radiative heating due to increased CO2 is investigated. It is found that although the longwave surface radiative heating due to increased CO2 is considerably reduced at low latitudes by H2O continuum absorption, where water vapor partial pressures are high, the radiative heating of the surface/troposphere system as a whole is minimally altered.
Functional contributions and interactions between the human hippocampus and subregions of the striatum during arbitrary associative learning and memory

The hippocampus and striatum are thought to have different functional roles in learning and memory. It is unknown under what experimental conditions their contributions are dissimilar or converge, and the extent to which they interact over the course of learning. In order to evaluate both the functional contributions of as well as the interactions between the human hippocampus and striatum, the present study used high-resolution functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and variations of a conditional visuomotor associative learning task that either taxed arbitrary associative learning (Experiment 1) or stimulus-response learning (Experiment 2). In the first experiment, we observed changes in activity in the hippocampus and anterior caudate that reflect differences between the two regions consistent with distinct computational principles. In the second experiment, we observed activity in the putamen that reflected content specific representations during the learning of arbitrary conditional visuomotor associations. In both experiments, the hippocampus and ventral striatum demonstrated dynamic functional coupling during the learning of new arbitrary associations, but not during retrieval of well-learned arbitrary associations using control variants of the tasks that did not preferentially tax one system versus the other. These findings suggest that both the hippocampus and subregions of the dorsal striatum contribute uniquely to the learning of arbitrary associations while the hippocampus and ventral striatum interact over the course of learning. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Significance of FHIT expression in chronic myelogenous leukemia

Loss or reduced expression of the fragile histidine triad ( FHIT ) gene, a tumor suppressor gene localized at chromosome 3p14.2, is common in several solid and hematological cancers and has been associated with tumor progression and worse prognosis. The role of the FHIT gene in the pathogenesis of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) or its progression from a chronic phase to the accelerated and blastic phases is not known. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether Fhit protein expression is altered in CML, and whether it plays any role in CML progression, disease responsiveness to therapy, or prognosis. A total of 195 patients with Philadelphia chromosome-positive CML were evaluated, including 129 patients in early chronic phase (time from diagnosis to study, 12 months or less), 30 patients in late chronic phase, and 36 patients in the accelerated and blastic phases. The levels of cellular Fhit protein expression were determined using Western blot analysis and solid-phase RIA and compared to the levels in 31 normal marrows. The median Fhit expression in normal marrows was assigned a value of 1, and the levels in CML samples were normalized to the median of the normal control. Fhit levels in CML samples were evaluated in relation to CML phase and patient characteristics and prognosis in the early chronic phase. The median Fhit value in CML samples was 0.89 (range, 0.34–2.62). Eight of the 195 (4%) CML samples showed Fhit levels P = 0.04) and lower platelet counts ( P = 0.01), but not with poorer-risk groups. No differences in response to IFN-α therapy or in survival were observed by different Fhit levels. Lack of Fhit protein expression was detected in 4% of CML cases, and reduced expression occurred in a subpopulation of patients. However, reduced Fhit expression is not associated with progression, response to therapy, or prognosis in CML.
Maintaining Accuracy in Gamma-Ray Spectrometry at High Count Rates

Gamma-ray spectrometry losses through pulse processing dead time and pile-up are best assayed with an external pulse technique. In this work, the virtual pulse generator technique as implemented commercially with the Westphal loss free counting (LFC) module is set up and tested with four high resolution gamma-ray spectrometers. Dual source calibration and decaying source techniques are used in the evaluation of the accuracy of the correction technique. Results demonstrate the reliability of the LFC with a standardized conventional pulse processing system. The accurate correction during high rate counting, including during rapid decay of short lived activities, has been the basis for highly precise determinations in reference materials studies.
The Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale (STSS): Confirmatory Factor Analyses with a National Sample of Mental Health Social Workers

SUMMARY The Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale (STSS; Bride, Robinson, Yegidis, & Figley, 2004) is an easy to administer 17-itemself-report measure of secondary trauma. Bride et al. (2004) reported a measure of three domains of traumatic stress specifically associated with secondary exposure to trauma: intrusion, avoidance, and arousal. The STSS was reported to have high levels of internal consistency reliability and indicated evidence of convergent, discriminant, and factorial validity. The purpose of this paper is to examine the reliability and validity of the STSS with a national, random sample of mental health social workers. To assess the fit of the data to the three-factor structure proposed by Bride et al., a confirmatory factor analysis was performed on data from 275 social workers who indicated exposure to client trauma. The model fit the data adequately although high factor intercorrelations strongly suggest a unidimensional scale. Subsequent confirmatory factor analysis of a unidimensional scale ...
5,10-Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (MTHFR) Assay in the Forward Direction: Residual Activity in MTHFR Deficiency

Background: Assay of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR), a key enzyme in homocysteine metabolism, is important for the study of severe and mild deficiency states. Because the conventional assay measures in the reverse direction, lacks sensitivity, and uses nonphysiologic substrates, the exact measurement and characterization of residual activity in easily accessible tissues have been difficult. Methods: To measure MTHFR in the physiologic direction, we determined the NADPH-dependent conversion of 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate to 5-methyltetrahydrofolate by use of HPLC with fluorescence detection. Results: MTHFR activity in control fibroblast in the presence of FAD was maximal between pH 6.3 and 6.9, increased linearly up to 40 min and 80 μg protein/assay, and showed K ms of 30 μmol/L for NADPH and 26 μmol/L for 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate. Intraassay variation (CV) was 10%, interassay variation was 7.2%, and variation among 10 subcultures of the same cell line was 18%. Mean (SD) control activity was 431 (150) μU/mg protein (range, 242–910; n = 75), which is 2.5-fold higher than that with the reverse assay. After heat treatment (46 °C for 5 min), the activity showed a trimodal distribution corresponding to the 677TT (thermolabile; 15%), 677CT (35%), and 677CC (51%) genotypes. We found clearly measurable activity ranging from 2.6% to 25.6% of the mean control value in 15 patients with MTHFR deficiency, including 11 cell lines with zero activity in the reverse assay. Ten patients had complete enzyme deficiency. Conclusion: This assay allows reliable determination of residual activity in mutant fibroblasts and characterization of kinetic parameters for natural substrates.
Metabolomics Workbench: An international repository for metabolomics data and metadata, metabolite standards, protocols, tutorials and training, and analysis tools

The Metabolomics Workbench, available at www.metabolomicsworkbench.org, is a public repository for metabolomics metadata and experimental data spanning various species and experimental platforms, metabolite standards, metabolite structures, protocols, tutorials, and training material and other educational resources. It provides a computational platform to integrate, analyze, track, deposit and disseminate large volumes of heterogeneous data from a wide variety of metabolomics studies including mass spectrometry (MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry (NMR) data spanning over 20 different species covering all the major taxonomic categories including humans and other mammals, plants, insects, invertebrates and microorganisms. Additionally, a number of protocols are provided for a range of metabolite classes, sample types, and both MS and NMR-based studies, along with a metabolite structure database. The metabolites characterized in the studies available on the Metabolomics Workbench are linked to chemical structures in the metabolite structure database to facilitate comparative analysis across studies. The Metabolomics Workbench, part of the data coordinating effort of the National Institute of Health (NIH) Common Fund's Metabolomics Program, provides data from the Common Fund's Metabolomics Resource Cores, metabolite standards, and analysis tools to the wider metabolomics community and seeks data depositions from metabolomics researchers across the world.
Diterpenes of Salvia prionitis

Abstract From the roots of Salvia prionitis Hance two new diterpenoids, salvinolone and salvinolactone, and two 4,5-seco-5,10-friedo-abietane diterpenoids, 4-hydroxy sapriparquinone and saprorthoquinone, have been isolated and their structures elucidated on the basis of their 1H and 13C NMR spectra.
Procedural Reasoning System (PRS) architecture for agent-mediated behavioral interventions

We present an architecture in support of intelligent agent-mediated, behavioral interventions in special education programs for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The proposed architecture is a derivative of the Procedural Reasoning System (PRS) architecture with representative, inter-pretative, reasoning, knowledge-based, and procedural control components abstracted from the physical and locomotoric aspects of the agent's placement in the environment. The architecture is designed to serve as the unifying foundation for virtual, mixed reality and embodied implementations, so its behavior-oriented control, reasoning, knowledge base, and inference mechanisms are designed as abstractive.
A representation for databases of 3D objects

The real world is inherently three dimensional. Therefore it is natural to represent it in 3D. Many application domains such as architecture, urban planning, epidemiology, and virtual reality require representation of objects in three dimensions. These applications require an effective way of querying three dimensional data. Querying 3D objects based on their exact geometry has proven to be computationally expensive. This paper presents a representation that approximates the geometry of 3D objects. This representation is based on 3D line segments. We compare the proposed representation with the polyhedral representation to detect collision between two objects. Our experiments show that our representation can reduce significantly the computation time to detect collisions. We also show how our representation combined with meta-data can be used to effectively query 3D objects.
Perception and motion planning for pick-and-place of dynamic objects

Mobile manipulators have brought a new level of flexibility to traditional automation tasks such as tabletop manipulation, but are not yet capable of the same speed and reliability as industrial automation. We present approaches to 3D perception and manipulator motion planning that enable a general purpose robotic platform to recognize and manipulate a variety of objects at a rate of one pick-and-place operation every 6.7 s, and work with a conveyor belt carrying objects at a speed of 33cm/s.
Effect of Calcium Hydroxide on Proinflammatory Cytokines and Neuropeptides

Calcium hydroxide, a widely used intracanal medicament, is known to exert an antimicrobial effect and to degrade bacterial-derived lipopolysaccharides. However, little is known about the effect of Ca(OH)(2) on endogenous inflammatory mediators such as interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP). This is an important gap in knowledge because these inflammatory mediators play an important role in mediating the pathogenesis of periradicular periodontitis. We tested the hypothesis that Ca(OH)(2) denatures IL-1 alpha, TNF-alpha, and CGRP. Human IL-1 alpha (0.125 ng/mL), TNF-alpha (0.2 ng/mL), and CGRP (0.25 ng/mL) were incubated with Ca(OH)(2) (0.035 mg/mL) for 1-7 days. At the end of the incubation period, the pH of the samples was neutralized, and the concentrations of the mediators were measured by immunoassays. Data were analyzed with one-way analysis of variance and Bonferroni multiple comparison tests. The results indicate that Ca(OH)(2) denatures IL-1 alpha, TNF-alpha, and CGRP by 50%-100% during the testing periods (P < .001). We concluded that denaturation of these proinflammatory mediators is a potential mechanism by which Ca(OH)(2) contributes to the resolution of periradicular periodontitis.
Synthesis of multifunctional multiferroic materials from metalorganics

Abstract Recent developments in the synthesis of multiferroic materials from metalorganics are reviewed. Single-phase multiferroics have weak coupling among ferroic properties. Heterostructures are more promising for device applications since the coupling in such structures is many orders of magnitude stronger. These heterostructures also offer more degrees of freedom such as composition, microstructure and orientation for optimized coupling. Two major deposition techniques are discussed: (i) metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD), and (ii) chemical solution deposition (CSD). These techniques are versatile and economical for deposition of the mentioned structures. In MOCVD the film growth is continuous, whereas, CSD is a multi-step process that involves coating using suitable precursor solution followed by annealing in appropriate ambient, and the desired thickness is obtained by repeating these steps. The desired properties of metalorganic precursors suitable for use in these techniques are outlined. In the case of MOCVD, different precursor delivery methods for liquid and solid precursors are also presented as they are equally important. Recent efforts on fabrication of single-phase multiferroics and improvements in properties of single-phase materials through doping/substitution using MOCVD and CSD are reviewed. Formation and synthesis of multifunctional multiferroic composites and heterostructures using these techniques is an area that is still much to be explored.
Cenozoic continental deposits of New Mexico: An overview

Cenozoic rocks of New Mexico are wholly continental in origin and contrast markedly with most pre-Cenozoic deposits. Extensive stratigraphic and paleontologic work facilitates correlations and paleoenvironmental reconstructions; less extensive sedimentologic and petrologic studies allow detailed reconstructions of dispersal patterns and provenance locally. The accompanying papers summarizing recent research on the Cenozoic of New Mexico provide many new insights concerning paleontology, sedimentology, stratigraphy, and tectonics. The Cenozoic history of New Mexico can be divided into three phases on the basis of plate-tectonic events affecting the southwestern United States and styles of deformation, magmatism, and sedimentation in local areas. The Paleocene and Eocene were characterized by amagmatic basement deformation (Laramide orogeny), resulting in complex uplifts and basins, followed by widespread beveling. Massive outpourings of intermediate to silicic volcanics characterized much of the state during the Oligocene. The Neogene (Miocene to Holocene) has been characterized by extensional tectonics and bimodal volcanism, best expressed by the Rio Grande rift. Local sedimentary and paleontologic histories of the numerous Cenozoic basins of New Mexico reflect these regional tectonic processes.