cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Efficient color histogram indexing for quadratic form distance functions

In image retrieval based on color, the weighted distance between color histograms of two images, represented as a quadratic form, may be defined as a match measure. However, this distance measure is computationally expensive and it operates on high dimensional features (O(N)). We propose the use of low-dimensional, simple to compute distance measures between the color distributions, and show that these are lower bounds on the histogram distance measure. Results on color histogram matching in large image databases show that prefiltering with the simpler distance measures leads to significantly less time complexity because the quadratic histogram distance is now computed on a smaller set of images. The low-dimensional distance measure can also be used for indexing into the database. >
DETERMINANTS OF VOTER TURNOUT IN ILLINOIS SCHOOL REFERENDA

Conventional wisdom suggests that school administrators believe the high turnout of general elections impairs referenda passage. More referenda, then, are often planned for primary and municipal elections than general elections. This paper analyzes 840 Illinois school referenda conducted from 1981-89 to determine if predictors of voter turnout vary by these election types This analysis reveals the misconception of conventional wisdom, finding that the determinants of voter turnout are similar across election types and there is little difference in referenda passage rates between election types.
The use of plerixafor in hematopoietic progenitor cell collection in pediatric patients: a single center experience.

Background aims. Plerixafor was recently approved for use in combination with granulocyte – colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) for hematopoietic progenitor cell (HPC) collection by apheresis in adults with multiple myeloma (MM) or nonHodgkin lymphoma (NHL). However, its effi cacy in pediatric patients is not well-studied; thus, we report on our institutional experience with this population. Methods. A retrospective observational analysis was performed using both stem cell-processing laboratory information as well as apheresis charts and medical records on all pediatric patients who received plerixafor as part of the mobilization regimen between December 2006 and December 2010. The primary outcome was collection yield. Secondary outcomes included the ability to undergo autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (auto-HSCT) and engraftment status. Results. Eighteen HPC collections by apheresis representing seven mobilization courses were performed on fipediatric patients with poor mobilization status (three males, two females; median age 14 years). Median pre-harvest peripheral blood CD34 cell (PB CD34 ) count was 6.88/ μ L. A strong correlation between pre-harvest PB CD34 count and collection yield was observed. Median total collection yield was 2.26 10 6 CD34 cells/ kg. Four patients achieved a minimum collection of 2 10 6 CD34 cells/kg. Three patients underwent auto-HSCT with a median neutrophil and platelet engraftment of 12 and 34 days, respectively. No major adverse events with plerixafor administration or apheresis collections were reported. Conclusions. Plerixafor in combination with G-CSF is a safe and potentially helpful mobilization agent in poor mobilizers. Further studies should be done to evaluate the true effi cacy of plerixafor in the pediatric population.
The Intervention Selection Bias: An Underrecognized Confound in Intervention Research

Selection bias can be the most important threat to internal validity in intervention research, but is often insufficiently recognized and controlled. The bias is illustrated in research on parental interventions (punishment, homework assistance); medical interventions (hospitalization); and psychological interventions for suicide risk, sex offending, and juvenile delinquency. The intervention selection bias is most adequately controlled in randomized studies or strong quasi-experimental designs, although recent statistical innovations can enhance weaker designs. The most important points are to increase awareness of the intervention selection bias and to systematically evaluate plausible alternative explanations of data before making causal conclusions.
Cyclophosphamide versus placebo in scleroderma lung disease.

BACKGROUND We conducted a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial to determine the effects of oral cyclophosphamide on lung function and health-related symptoms in patients with evidence of active alveolitis and scleroderma-related interstitial lung disease. METHODS At 13 clinical centers throughout the United States, we enrolled 158 patients with scleroderma, restrictive lung physiology, dyspnea, and evidence of inflammatory interstitial lung disease on examination of bronchoalveolar-lavage fluid, thoracic highresolution computed tomography, or both. Patients received oral cyclophosphamide (≤2 mg per kilogram of body weight per day) or matching placebo for one year and were followed for an additional year. Pulmonary function was assessed every three months during the first year, and the primary end point was the forced vital capacity (FVC, expressed as a percentage of the predicted value) at 12 months, after adjustment for the baseline FVC. RESULTS Of 158 patients, 145 completed at least six months of treatment and were included in the analysis. The mean absolute difference in adjusted 12-month FVC percent predicted between the cyclophosphamide and placebo groups was 2.53 percent (95 percent confidence interval, 0.28 to 4.79 percent), favoring cyclophosphamide (P<0.03). There were also treatment-related differences in physiological and symptom outcomes, and the difference in FVC was maintained at 24 months. There was a greater frequency of adverse events in the cyclophosphamide group, but the difference between the two groups in the number of serious adverse events was not significant. CONCLUSIONS One year of oral cyclophosphamide in patients with symptomatic sclerodermarelated interstitial lung disease had a significant but modest beneficial effect on lung function, dyspnea, thickening of the skin, and the health-related quality of life. The effects on lung function were maintained through the 24 months of the study.
Ein Spiel mit Blütenfarben

Pflanzen produzieren ihre Farbenpracht, sei es die uberschwengliche der Bluten und des Herbstlaubes oder nur das alltagliche Grun der Blatter, im wesentlichen durch zwei deutlich verschiedene Formen der Pigmentierung. In beiden Fallen sind Organelle, membranbegrenzte Strukturen innerhalb der Zellen, die Trager der Pigmente. Handelt es sich bei diesen Farbstoffen um fettlosliche Verbindungen, dann lagern sie in den Plastiden, sind sie wasserloslich, findet man sie in den Vakuolen. Nur bei Algen kommen lipochrome Pigmente auch auserhalb der Plastiden vor. Es sind also entweder zahlreiche kleinere Strukturen (Plastiden) oder eine, selten mehrere, grosere (Vakuole), die der Zelle, und damit oft einem ganzen Gewebe, die Farbe verleihen (Abbildung 1).
Developing the Research Hypothesis

The research hypothesis is needed for a sound and well-developed research study. The research hypothesis contributes to the solution of the research problem. Types of research hypotheses include inductive and deductive, directional and non-directional, and null and alternative hypotheses. Rejecting the null hypothesis and accepting the alternative hypothesis is the basis for building a good research study. This work reviews the most important aspects of organizing and establishing an efficient and complete hypothesis.
HAFT: A hybrid FPGA with amorphous and fault-tolerant architecture

We propose a hybrid FPGA architecture with a dense and defective nano-crossbar serving as its configuration memory. An amorphous routing architecture is adopted to optimally allocate logic and routing resource on per-mapping basis and to achieve high logic density. This hybrid FPGA is designed to be efficient in using nano-crosspoints, highly tolerant to memory defects, and versatile to provide features such as variable-granularity logic blocks and variable-length bypassing interconnects. A new placement algorithm and a modified delay-based routing procedure are designed to match with many unconventional architectural features of the proposed FPGA. Assuming zero defect-rate in the nano-crossbar, an FPGA with the proposed architecture can achieve a 30% improvement in logic density, 12% improvement in average net delay, and 8% improvement in the critical-path delay for the largest 20 MCNC benchmark circuits over an island-style baseline with the same nano-scale memory. As the rate of defects in the memory increases from 0% to 50%, this hybrid FPGA remains fully functional and its improvement in logic density and delay performance only drops by approximately 23%.
A Fast Multi-Resolution Method for Detection of Significant Spatial Disease Clusters

Given an N×N grid of squares, where each square has a count and an underlying population, our goal is to find the square region with the highest density, and to calculate its significance by randomization. Any density measure D, dependent on the total count and total population of a region, can be used. For example, if each count represents the number of disease cases occurring in that square, we can use Kulldorff's spatial scan statistic DK to find the most significant spatial disease cluster. A naive approach to finding the maximum density region requires O(N3) time, and is generally computationally infeasible. We present a novel algorithm which partitions the grid into overlapping regions, bounds the maximum score of subregions contained in each region, and prunes regions which cannot contain the maximum density region. For sufficiently dense regions, this method finds the maximum density region in optimal O(N2) time, in practice resulting in significant (10-200x) speedups.
Effects of Antiepileptic Drug Substitutions on Epileptic Events Requiring Acute Care

Study Objectives. To determine the odds of antiepileptic drug substitution among patients who had an epileptic event requiring acute care— ambulance service, emergency department visit, or hospitalization—relative to patients who did not have an event , and to compare these results with those from a recent study involving a similar method but different patients. Design. Case-control analysis. Data Source. United States health care claims from the PharMetrics database. Patients. A cohort of patients aged 12–64 years with a primary diagnosis of epilepsy between October 1, 2005, and December 31, 2006; 991 cases (patients who experienced an epileptic event requiring acute care) and 2973 controls (patients who did not have an event) were matched in a 1:3 ratio for sex, age, and type of epilepsy. Measurements and Main Results. Using discordant pairs analysis, we calculated the odds ratio of an epileptic event that required acute care occurring in patients whose antiepileptic drug underwent substitution to an A-rated (therapeutically equivalent) alternative (switch from branded product to generic, generic to branded, or generic to generic) versus those whose drugs were not substituted. For matched data, 109 (11.0%) of 991 cases had an A-rated antiepileptic drug substitution in the 6 months before the event, whereas only 186 (6.3%) of 2973 controls had a substitution (odds ratio 1.84, 95% confidence interval 1.44–2.36). Our results were similar to those of a previous study involving a different patient database, which showed substitution rates of 11.3% for cases versus 6.5% for controls (odds ratio 1.81, 95% confidence interval 1.25–2.63). Our sensitivity analyses were robust, and we found a temporal relationship in that numerous substitutions occurred in the month before the acute event. Conclusion. Patients who had an epileptic event requiring acute care were about 80% more likely than matched controls without an acute event to have recently had an antiepileptic drug substitution. Our replication of a previously published case-control analysis revealed a similar association between substitution involving A-rated antiepileptic drugs and subsequent epileptic events requiring acute care, thereby lending credibility to the findings.
Oxidation Products in Inconel Alloys 600 and 690 Under Hydrogenated Steam Environments and Their Role in Stress Corrosion Cracking

Thermodynamic considerations for the stability of Ni and Cr compounds developed under PWR environments (PH2O and PH2) are experimentally tested. In particular, the experimental outcome indicates that Ni(OH)2 and CrOOH are thermodynamically stable products under actual PWR conditions (T > 360oC and Pressures of up to 20 MPa). Accordingly, a mechanism is proposed to explain crack initiation and growth in inconel alloy 600 along the gbs. The mechanism is based on the existing thermodynamic potential for the transformation of a protective NiO surface layer into an amorphous non-protective Ni(OH)2 gel. This gel is also expected to form along the gbs by exposing the gb Ni-rich regions to H2 supersaturated water steam. Crack initiation is then favored by tensile stressing of the gb regions which can easily rupture the brittle gel film. Repeating the sequence of reactions as fresh Ni is exposed to the environment is expected to also account for crack growth in Inconel alloy 600. The proposed crack initiation mechanism is not expected to occur in alloy 690 where a protective Cr2O3 film covers the metal surface. Yet, if a pre-existing crack is present in alloy 690, crack propagation would occur in the same manner as in alloy 600.
Thermal ultrasound decreases tissue stiffness of trigger points in upper trapezius muscles

ABSTRACT Many trigger point therapies, such as deep pressure massage and injection, are painful. Thermal ultrasound might be a comfortable procedure used to soften trigger points. Our objective was to compare thermal ultrasound with sham ultrasound in the ability to soften trigger points with pretest/posttest repeated-measures design for depth of tissue in a massage therapy clinic. Twenty-six patients with latent trigger points in their upper trapezius muscles were studied. Independent variables were treatments; dependent variables were tissue depth. Subjects were randomly assigned to either the treatment or sham group. The study was single-blinded; the investigator taking the measurements was blinded to which group the subjects were in, and the clinician treating with ultrasound was blinded to the measurements. Each trigger point in the treatment group received 3 MHz ultrasound at the following parameters: 1.4 W/cm(2), 5 min, circular motion, 2x the size of the 7 cm(2) soundhead. The ultrasound was not turned on for the sham group. This procedure was repeated one week later. Trigger point depth was measured with a pressure algometer before and immediately after each treatment. A 2 x 2 x 2 repeated measures ANOVA was used to analyze depth (mm). The immediate effects were as follows: The mean depth value for the sham group was an increase of 0.64+/-0.33 mm; the treatment group's mean increase was 2.65+/-0.33 mm (F(1,24)=19.01; p=0.01). The residual effects were as follows: The two treatments over the course of the 2 weeks also showed that the trigger points of the ultrasound groups got softer with an increase in depth of 2.09+/-0.82 mm compared to -0.93+/-0.82 mm of the sham group (F(1,24)=6.81; p<0.01). Thermal ultrasound over latent trigger points is comfortable and can decrease stiffness of a trigger point.
Enhancing causal interpretations of quality improvement interventions

In an era of chronic resource scarcity it is critical that quality improvement professionals have confidence that their project activities cause measured change. A commonly used research design, the single group pre-test/post-test design, provides little insight into whether quality improvement interventions cause measured outcomes. A re-evaluation of a quality improvement programme designed to reduce the percentage of bilateral cardiac catheterisations for the period from January 1991 to October 1996 in three catheterisation laboratories in a north eastern state in the USA was performed using an interrupted time series design with switching replications. The accuracy and causal interpretability of the findings were considerably improved compared with the original evaluation design. Moreover, the re-evaluation provided tangible evidence in support of the suggestion that more rigorous designs can and should be more widely employed to improve the causal interpretability of quality improvement efforts. Evaluation designs for quality improvement projects should be constructed to provide a reasonable opportunity, given available time and resources, for causal interpretation of the results. Evaluators of quality improvement initiatives may infrequently have access to randomised designs. Nonetheless, as shown here, other very rigorous research designs are available for improving causal interpretability. Unilateral methodological surrender need not be the only alternative to randomised experiments.
Assessing Medical Students’, Residents’, and the Public’s Perceptions of the Uses of Personal Digital Assistants

Although medical schools are encouraging the use of personal digital assistants (PDAs), there have been few investigations of attitudes toward their use by students or residents and only one investigation of the public’s attitude toward their use by physicians. In 2006, the University of Louisville School of Medicine surveyed 121 third- and fourth-year medical students, 53 residents, and 51 members of the non-medical public about their attitudes toward PDAs. Students were using either the Palm i705 or the Dell Axim X50v; residents were using devices they selected them­selves (referred to in the study generically as PDAs). Three survey instruments were designed to investigate attitudes of (a) third- and fourth-year medical students on clinical rotations, (b) Internal Medicine and Pediatrics residents, and (c) volunteer members of the public found in the waiting rooms of three university practice clinics. Both residents and medical students found their devices useful, with more residents (46.8%) than students (16.2%) (p<0.001) rating PDAs “very useful.” While students and residents generally agreed that PDAs improved the quality of their learning, residents’ responses were significantly higher (p<0.05) than students’. Residents also responded more positively than students that PDAs made them more effective as clinicians. Although mem­bers of the public were generally supportive of PDA use, they appeared to have some misconcep­tions about how and why physicians were using them. The next phase of research will be to refine the research questions and survey instruments in collaboration with another medical school. Keywords: medical students, residents, public perception, handheld wireless devices, personal digital assistants (PDAs), standardized patients
Persisting Viral Sequences Shape Microbial CRISPR-based Immunity

Well-studied innate immune systems exist throughout bacteria and archaea, but a more recently discovered genomic locus may offer prokaryotes surprising immunological adaptability. Mediated by a cassette-like genomic locus termed Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR), the microbial adaptive immune system differs from its eukaryotic immune analogues by incorporating new immunities unidirectionally. CRISPR thus stores genomically recoverable timelines of virus-host coevolution in natural organisms refractory to laboratory cultivation. Here we combined a population genetic mathematical model of CRISPR-virus coevolution with six years of metagenomic sequencing to link the recoverable genomic dynamics of CRISPR loci to the unknown population dynamics of virus and host in natural communities. Metagenomic reconstructions in an acid-mine drainage system document CRISPR loci conserving ancestral immune elements to the base-pair across thousands of microbial generations. This 'trailer-end conservation' occurs despite rapid viral mutation and despite rapid prokaryotic genomic deletion. The trailer-ends of many reconstructed CRISPR loci are also largely identical across a population. 'Trailer-end clonality' occurs despite predictions of host immunological diversity due to negative frequency dependent selection (kill the winner dynamics). Statistical clustering and model simulations explain this lack of diversity by capturing rapid selective sweeps by highly immune CRISPR lineages. Potentially explaining 'trailer-end conservation,' we record the first example of a viral bloom overwhelming a CRISPR system. The polyclonal viruses bloom even though they share sequences previously targeted by host CRISPR loci. Simulations show how increasing random genomic deletions in CRISPR loci purges immunological controls on long-lived viral sequences, allowing polyclonal viruses to bloom and depressing host fitness. Our results thus link documented patterns of genomic conservation in CRISPR loci to an evolutionary advantage against persistent viruses. By maintaining old immunities, selection may be tuning CRISPR-mediated immunity against viruses reemerging from lysogeny or migration.
Clonidine and prazosin block the iminodipropionitrile (IDPN)-induced spasmodic dyskinetic syndrome in mice

Abstract The effects of drugs with selective action on alpha 1 - or alpha 2 -adrenoceptors were investigated on persistent head twitches, vertical neck dyskinesia, and the random circling behaviors induced by chronic intraperitoneal injections of IDPN. The alpha agonist clonidine and the alpha antagonist prazosin inhibited the IDPN-induced behavioral syndrome whereas the alpha antagonist yohimbine had no significant effect. These results suggest that dysregulation of a facilitatory noradrenergic input to cortical and/or subcortical motor areas may be involved in the abnormal movements caused by chronic treatment with IDPN.
Radiation of a line source by a slotted semielliptical trench filled with DNG metamaterial

A semielliptical trench flush-mounted under a metal plane and filled with double-negative (DNG) metamaterial is considered. The primary field is an electric line source parallel to the trench and located inside the trench or in the half-space above it. The two-dimensional boundary-value problem is solved exactly in terms of infinite series of elliptic-cylinder wavefunctions. In particular, the far field is explicitly determined. Numerical results are provided and discussed.
Affinity to Infinity: Knowledge Integration in Peer-to-Peer Knowledge Platforms

This paper describes how peer to peer architectures are used to design digital knowledge networks that facilitate spontenous aggregation of expertise across the edges of dispersed corporate networks.
Adductor myotomy and obturator neurectomy for the correction of adduction contracture of the hip in cerebral palsy.

Adduction contracture of the hip is the most common hip deformity in the spastic type of cerebral palsy. A high incidence of severe coxa valga, subluxation, and dislocation of the hip is associated with this contracture. In severe scissoring with adduction contractures of the hips, an adductor myotomy combined with anterior obturator neurectomy uniformly gives good results, provided that the patient's mental and motor status meet certain requirements. Adequate postoperative management and attention to certain minimum rules of care are major factors in the result. These patients must be followed over a long period of time for a maximum result to be obtained.
Parameters Affecting the Microwave-Specific Acceleration of a Chemical Reaction

Under appropriate conditions, significant microwave-specific enhancement of the reaction rate of an organic chemical reaction can be observed. Specifically, the unimolecular Claisen rearrangement of allyl p-nitrophenyl ether (ApNE) dissolved in naphthalene was studied under microwave heating and conventional convective (thermal) heating. Under constant microwave power, reaching a temperature of 185 °C, a 4-fold rate enhancement was observed in the microwave over that using convective heating; this means that the microwave reaction was proceeding at an effective temperature of 202 °C. Conversely, under constant temperature microwave conditions (200 °C), a negligible (∼1.5-fold) microwave-specific rate enhancement was observed. The largest microwave-specific rate enhancement was observed when a series of 300 W pulses, programmed for 145–175 °C and 85–155 °C cycles, where 2- and 9-fold rate enhancements, over what would be predicted by conventional thermal heating, was observed, respectively. The postulated ...
Wide QRS complex rhythm with pulseless electrical activity.

Although this presentation is grave, several of its possible causes can be treated, allowing the patient to recover.
SDM-Compatible and Mode-Selective Networking

Spatial degrees of freedom have recently been exploited in space-division multiplexing for high-capacity transmission. This talk presents utilization of the spatial degrees of freedom as resources for optical networking in both SDM-compatible and mode-selective networks.
“The molecule’s the thing:” the promise of molecular modeling and dynamic simulations in aiding the prioritization and interpretation of genomic testing results

Clinical genomics is now a reality and lies at the heart of individualized medicine efforts. The success of these approaches is evidenced by the increasing volume of publications that report causal links between genomic variants and disease. In spite of early success, clinical genomics currently faces significant challenges in establishing the relevance of the majority of variants identified by next generation sequencing tests. Indeed, the majority of mutations identified are harbored by proteins whose functions remain elusive. Herein we describe the current scenario in genomic testing and in particular the burden of variants of uncertain significance (VUSs). We highlight a role for molecular modeling and molecular dynamic simulations as tools that can significantly increase the yield of information to aid in the evaluation of pathogenicity. Though the application of these methodologies to the interpretation of variants identified by genomic testing is not yet widespread, we predict that an increase in their use will significantly benefit the mission of clinical genomics for individualized medicine.
UV-curable organic–inorganic hybrid films based on epoxynorbornene linseed oils

UV-curable organic/inorganic hybrid film based on epoxynorbornene linseed oils (ENLO) was prepared using the in situ method of tetraethylorthosilane (TEOS) oligomers. Three levels of norbornylization of linseed oil (25, 50, and 100%) were utilized in this study. The effects of TEOS oligomers on ENLO film properties such as Young's modulus, tensile strength and elongation and on the coated film properties of pencil hardness, impact resistance, adhesion, chemical resistance, and contact angles were investigated. Fracture toughness and dynamic mechanical properties and thermal properties of the hybrid films were also evaluated. The tensile, dynamic mechanical thermal analyzer (DMTA), and fracture toughness data indicated that after incorporating the TEOS oligomers, the modulus, Tg, crosslink density of the hybrid films were enhanced, while the elongation at break, fracture toughness, and resistance to crack extension decreased. TEOS oligomers improved the hybrid coating properties such as pencil hardness, impact resistance, solvent resistance, and surface tension.
Digital Badges and Micro-credentials: Digital Age Classroom Practices, Design Strategies, and Issues

Digital Badges and Micro-credentials are documents that demonstrate individuals are engaged and productive members of a community. Additionally, earning Digital Badges and Micro-credentials may play a significant role in how individual earners increase self-achievement or view perceptions of self. Digital Badges and Micro-credentials show that earners have successfully attained set of goals. Earners have an opportunity to include Digital Badges on their resumes or to personally use Digital Badges to keep a running record of individual accomplishments through the accumulation of badges or credentials, similar to collecting Boy Scout badges. Digital badges or Micro-credentials afford opportunities for the use of alternative assessments which are designed to focus on extrinsic or intrinsic motivational strategies that promote individual or group earner success and learning outcomes. Earners engage in competency based, game based, or hierarchical learning that appeal to different learning styles and meet the needs of diverse learners. Digital Badges and Micro-credentials are valuable documentation for recognition of educational accomplishments or workplace efficiency. MIT, Yale, Purdue, Carnegie Mellon, and organizations such as Smithsonian, Disney-Pixar, and NASA use badges for honoring and commending learners or employees improved skills, knowledge, and accomplishments in education and in workplace development. To increase the use of Digital Badges in organizations, adoption factors based on theory of Diffusion of Innovation should be addressed. Individuals and the community can view earners’ successes, accomplishments, and productivity through displays of Digital Badges and Micro-credentials.
Shaken Baby Syndrome: A hospital-based education and prevention program in the intermediate care and the newborn intensive care nurseries

Abstract Objectives To educate parents of hospitalized infants on the prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS) and to measure their comprehension. Methods This study was an educational prevention program on SBS. Parents whose infants were hospitalized participated in the study. Staff nurses educated parents using a script, a video on SBS, written information and roll played with an infant doll. Parents voluntarily sign a commitment statement and are called back at 7 months with a telephone survey. Results There were 802 parents who participated with a 20% participation in the telephone follow-up phone call. The large majority of parents remembered the nurse, video, SBS interactive doll and information received. Although there were 39 incidents of SBS in NM during the study, no infant was discharged from one of the participating units (p Conclusions Education of parents of prevention of SBS significantly reduces child abuse, even in high risk infants.
Functional changes in cellular fibronectin from late passage fibroblasts in vitro

Analysis of fibronectin synthesized by human fibroblasts, at different times during serial subcultivation, reveals functional differences. Fibronectin isolated from late passage cells is defective in promoting cell adhesion, cell spreading, and the formation of focal contacts. These changes are not the result of an inability of late passage cells to interact with fibronectin, since late passage cells become adhesive and form focal contacts in the presence of fibronectin isolated from early passage cells. Therefore, we conclude that late passage cellular fibronectin derived from late passage cells cannot support the cell substrate interactions.
Selenium and Cancer

Selenium is essential to mammals and many other life forms, but its ingested levels are critical to health because too little or too much can have severe consequences on the well-being of an organism. Selenium may exhibit its effects through selenocompounds and/or selenoproteins; however, selenoproteins have received much more attention, and the data suggest that they are primarily responsible for the health benefits of this element. Selenium has been recognized for its role in preventing, and more recently in promoting, cancer. A combination of bioinformatics and experimental approaches and mouse models uncovered the roles of housekeeping and stress-related selenoproteins, and individual selenoproteins, in health and disease, including their contrasting roles in cancer. These and other topics on the role of selenium and selenoproteins in cancer are discussed.
Human-Associated Bacteroides spp. and Human Polyomaviruses as Microbial Source Tracking Markers in Hawaii

ABSTRACT Identification of sources of fecal contaminants is needed to (i) determine the health risk associated with recreational water use and (ii) implement appropriate management practices to mitigate this risk and protect the environment. This study evaluated human-associated Bacteroides spp. (HF183TaqMan) and human polyomavirus (HPyV) markers for host sensitivity and specificity using human and animal fecal samples collected in Hawaii. The decay rates of those markers and indicator bacteria were identified in marine and freshwater microcosms exposed and not exposed to sunlight, followed by field testing of the usability of the molecular markers. Both markers were strongly associated with sewage, although the cross-reactivity of the HF183TaqMan (also present in 82% of canine [ n = 11], 30% of mongoose [ n = 10], and 10% of feline [ n = 10] samples) needs to be considered. Concentrations of HF183TaqMan in human fecal samples exceeded those in cross-reactive animals at least 1,000-fold. In the absence of sunlight, the decay rates of both markers were comparable to the die-off rates of enterococci in experimental freshwater and marine water microcosms. However, in sunlight, the decay rates of both markers were significantly lower than the decay rate of enterococci. While both markers have their individual limitations in terms of sensitivity and specificity, these limitations can be mitigated by using both markers simultaneously; ergo, this study supports the concurrent use of HF183TaqMan and HPyV markers for the detection of sewage contamination in coastal and inland waters in Hawaii. IMPORTANCE This study represents an in-depth characterization of microbial source tracking (MST) markers in Hawaii. The distribution and concentrations of HF183TaqMan and HPyV markers in human and animal fecal samples and in wastewater, coupled with decay data obtained from sunlight-exposed and unexposed microcosms, support the concurrent application of HF183TaqMan and HPyV markers for sewage contamination detection in Hawaii waters. Both markers are more conservative and more specific markers of sewage than fecal indicator bacteria (enterococci and Escherichia coli). Analysis of HF183TaqMan (or newer derivatives) is recommended for inclusion in future epidemiological studies concerned with beach water quality, while better concentration techniques are needed for HPyV. Such epidemiological studies can be used to develop new recreational water quality criteria, which will provide direct information on the absence or presence of sewage contamination in water samples as well as reliable measurements of the risk of waterborne disease transmission to swimmers.
Mechanical and thermodynamic characterization of a copolymer of LP-33 polysulfide and hydroxyl terminated polybutadiene for solid fuel ramjet applications

Abstract A copolymer consisting of the combination of the LP-33 polysulfide and hydroxyl terminated polybutadiene is produced as a candidate low ignition temperature ramjet fuel. The objective of the copolymerization of the materials is to combine the low decomposition and autoignition characteristics of the sulfur based LP-33 with the high heat of combustion per unit mass of the HTPB. Dynamic mechanical analysis and differential scanning calorimetry data for the copolymer show that the glass transition temperature is loweras compared to the LP-33 formulation. Storage modulus values are found to be within acceptable ranges with the copolymer showing an improvement in the storage modulus over the LP-33 formulation at ambient and above temperatures. Thermogravimetric analysis demonstrates that the onset of decomposition of the copolymer does not deviate significantly from the LP-33 preserving the desired low decomposition characteristics. Pipe combustor data demonstrates that the mass burning rate of the copolymer has very similar and predictable characteristics as a function of the heating rate when compared to the monopolymers' formulations. Analysis of the combustor data shows that the copolymer has improved performance over the LP-33 monopolymer at high inlet momentum values.
Tailoring permittivity and permeability in double positive metamaterials fabricated with barium titanate

Emerging dielectric materials have been utilized to reduce the size of antennas and advanced pulsed power systems. Metamaterial composites can replace these traditional dielectrics by providing better electromagnetic properties while also being easy to machine into complex shapes. We are presently investigating these metamaterial composites, which have an impedance that can operate at the impedance of free space or even lower and believe that the metamaterials will further reduce the size and volume of advanced systems. Previous work done at the University of Missouri has tested a chemical process to develop a metamaterial with a ferromagnetic core surrounded by a matrix of barium titanate. Using this chemical method while adjusting the precursors in the reaction based on particle characteristics, can allow the amount of barium titanate on the particles to be tailored for the desired permittivity. The permittivity and permeability of the material is measured with a coaxial airline and an Agilent Network Analyzer. Multiple composite materials with increasing layers of barium titanate were synthesized and tested to evaluate the permittivity and permeability and the impedance versus frequency calculated.
Assessment of training progress and examinations.

Board certification and accreditation of training programs began as measures of quality in the United States. Both functions were done initially by the American Board of Neurological Surgery (ABNS). In 1954, certification of trainees and accreditation of programs became separate functions in order to eliminate potential conflicts of interest.
Design and impact of bundled payment for detox and follow-up care.

Abstract Introduction Recent payment reforms promote movement from fee-for-service to alternative payment models that shift financial risk from payers to providers, incentivizing providers to manage patients' utilization. Bundled payment, an episode-based fixed payment that includes the prices of a group of services that would typically treat an episode of care, is expanding in the United States. Bundled payment has been recommended as a way to pay for comprehensive SUD treatment and has the potential to improve treatment engagement after detox, which could reduce detox readmissions, improve health outcomes, and reduce medical care costs. However, if moving to bundled payment creates large losses for some providers, it may not be sustainable. The objective of this study was to design the first bundled payment for detox and follow-up care and to estimate its impact on provider revenues. Methods Massachusetts Medicaid beneficiaries' behavioral health, medical, and pharmacy claims from July 2010–April 2013 were used to build and test a detox bundled payment for continuously enrolled adults (N = 5521). A risk adjustment model was developed using general linear modeling to predict beneficiaries' episode costs. The projected payments to each provider from the risk adjustment analysis were compared to the observed baseline costs to determine the potential impact of a detox bundled payment reform on organizational revenues. This was modeled in two ways: first assuming no change in behavior and then assuming a supply-side cost sharing behavioral response of a 10% reduction in detox readmissions and an increase of one individual counseling and one group counseling session. Results The mean total 90-day detox episode cost was $3743. Nearly 70% of the total mean cost consists of the index detox, psychiatric inpatient care, and short-term residential care. Risk mitigation, including risk adjustment, substantially reduced the variation of the mean episode cost. There are opportunities for organizations to gain revenue under this bundled payment design, but many providers will lose money under a bundled payment designed using historic payment and costs. Conclusions Designing a bundled payment for detox and follow-up care is feasible, but low case volume and the adequacy of the payment are concerns. Thus, a detox episode-based payment will likely be more challenging for smaller, independent SUD treatment providers. These providers are experiencing many changes as financing shifts away from block grant funding toward Medicaid funding. A detox bundled payment in practice would need to consider different risk mitigation strategies, provider pooling, and costs based on episodes of care meeting quality standards, but could incentivize care coordination, which is important to reducing detox readmissions and engaging patients in care.
Using focus groups to investigate study abroad theories and practice

Abstract In this paper, I review 10 qualitative and mixed-methods research articles on study abroad that employed focus groups. I look specifically at the quality of the focus group reporting, which I evaluated by comparing the methods reported on in the studies against focus group reporting criteria described by Krueger and Casey (2015). I generally found that applied linguists and international education researchers who investigate study abroad have yet to take full advantage of focus groups. Most studies lacked clear focus group descriptions. Missing was information on the directions, who participated, who the moderator was, what the script or questions were, and when the focus groups were held. On the other hand, the 10 studies collectively demonstrate the strong potential of focus groups to help applied linguists better understand theories and hypotheses about study abroad. In particular, focus groups have an advantage in helping researchers understand how students develop interculturality during study abroad, and how various social factors, such as social media use and host-family contact, impact study abroad experiences and language learning. Study abroad researchers should learn more about focus groups and their specific advantages to increase study robustness, and to build a stronger theoretical basis for study abroad's continued use.
The James Webb Space Telescope: contamination control and materials

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), expected to launch in 2021, will be the next premier observatory for astronomers worldwide. It is optimized for infrared wavelengths and observation 1.5 million kilometers from Earth. JWST includes an Integrated Science Instrument Module (ISIM) that contains the four main instruments used to observe deep space: Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam), Near-Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec), Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI), and Fine Guidance Sensor/Near InfraRed Imager and Slitless Spectrograph (FGS/NIRISS) 1 . JWST will make ultra-deep near-infrared surveys of the Universe to see back 13.5 billion years to “First Light” which occurred 100 – 250 million years after the Big Bang when the first stars and galaxies formed. Its ability to observe very high redshifts will enable astronomers to study the faintest galaxies, observe stars forming within clouds of dust, determine how galaxies evolved, and search for exoplanets 1,2 . JWST is extremely sensitive to even small amounts of contamination, which can directly cause degradation to performance of the telescope, and impact the mission lifetime. Contamination control has been an essential focus of this mission since conception of the JWST observatory 3 .
IN VITRO MODULATION OF PHYTOHEMAGGLUTININ-P INDUCED BLASTOGENESIS BY PARATHYROID HORMONE

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses in vitro modulation of phytohemagglutinin-p-induced blastogenesis by the parathyroid hormone. In a study described in the chapter, bovine parathyroid hormone (PTH) was obtained. Mononuclear leukocytes (90% lymphocytes) were harvested from heparinized peripheral blood of a normal human volunteer by Ficoll–Hypaque density gradient. After separation, the cells were washed thrice and resuspended in RPMI 1640 medium supplemented with 2% of heated pooled normal human serum and 0.5 volumes/100 ml of 1 M Hepes buffer (wash media). The cell counts were obtained by a Coulter Counter and the final cell concentration adjusted to 5 × 10 6 ml. Mitogenic stimulation of the normal lymphocytes with PHA was performed in microtiter plates. 75 μg/ml of phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and varying concentrations of PTH were added to the cells. Quadrupliquate 48 h cultures were conducted which terminated in a 4 h tritiated thymidine pulse. The results showed that PTH suppressed PHA-induced blastogenesis.
Are emotions controllable? Maltreated and non-maltreated youth’s implicit beliefs about emotion and aggressive tendencies

Abstract Although child maltreatment places youth at substantial risk for difficulties with emotion regulation and aggression, not all maltreated youth show these adverse effects, raising important questions about characteristics that discriminate those who do versus do not evidence long-term negative outcomes. The present investigation examined whether implicit beliefs about emotion moderated the association between maltreatment and aggression. Maltreated (n = 59) and community-matched (n = 66) youth were asked regarding their beliefs about emotion and aggressive behaviors. Beliefs about emotion were more strongly associated with aggression among maltreated youth, particularly physically abused youth. Maltreated youth who believed they had poor ability to control emotion reported significantly higher levels of aggression than comparison youth. However, maltreated youth who believed they had high ability to control emotion did not differ significantly in aggression from that of comparison youth. Findings offer unique insight into a factor that may increase or buffer maltreated youth’s risk for aggression and thus highlight potential directions for interventions to reduce aggressive tendencies.
Faith development across the life span: Fowler's integrative work.

Fowler's faith development theory is a relatively recent achievement in cognitive developmental psychology, based on the earlier work of Piaget and Kohlberg in cognitive and moral development, and ...
Local Adipose-Associated Mediators and Adaptations Following Arteriovenous Fistula Creation.

Introduction Local inflammation is an important regulator of vascular remodeling. We hypothesized that adipose tissue adjacent to hemodialysis arteriovenous fistulae modulates maturation. Methods During fistula creation, perivenous adipose was collected from 111 participants in the Hemodialysis Fistula Maturation Study. Nine adipose-associated mediators were measured. Duplex ultrasound was performed at 4 time points postoperatively from 1 day to first cannulation (10–26 weeks). Associations between logarithmically transformed biomarker levels and fistula remodeling were evaluated using mixed effects regression. Results Elevated interleukin (IL)-6 and monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1 were associated with a reduction in the fractional vein diameter during the early time frame of 1 day to 2 weeks (diameter change of 26.6% and 20.4% at the 25th and 75th percentile for IL-6, P = 0.01; 27.8% and 21.1% at the 25th and 75th percentile for MCP-1, P = 0.02), but not in later stages of remodeling. Local leptin levels showed a significant negative correlation with fractional venous flow increase between 2 and 6 weeks (percent flow change 31.4% and 11.3% at the 25th and 75th percentile for leptin, P = 0.03). Conclusion Thus, impaired fistula vein dilation and reduced capacity for flow augmentation associate with specific local adipose phenotypic signatures in a time-dependent manner. In view of adipose tissue plasticity, these findings raise the possibility of novel adipose-based strategies to facilitate fistula maturation.