cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Revitalizing "Handicap" for Disability Research Developing Tools to Assess Progress in Quality of Life for Persons With Disabilities

This paper argues that the World Health Organization's (WHO) (1980) concept of Handicap from the International Classification of Impairments, Disabilities, and Handicaps can be used to identify progress toward the four goals regarding individuals with disabilities outlined by Congress in the Americans with Disabilities Act. The article proposes four linkages between ADA goals and ICIDH Handicap survival roles: (a) equality of opportunity to occupation; (b) full participation to social integration; (c) independent living to orientation, physical independence, and mobility; and (d) economic self-sufficiency. To monitor progress toward the goals through promotion of these roles, 10 accommodation indicators of how programs and services affect persons with disabilities are also proposed, with each indicator linked to at least one of the four ADA goals. In so doing, the Handicaps of the nation, as opposed to those of individuals, are assessed.
Allogeneic transplantation for AML and MDS: GVL versus GVHD and disease recurrence

Allogeneic transplantation constitutes curative treatment for acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome. Its therapeutic effects are to a large extent mediated by GVL effects, but partially offset by treatment-related mortality and loss of quality of life caused by acute and chronic GVHD. Although severe acute and chronic GVHD are associated with a reduction in relapse risk, they are not associated with improved survival. Recent efforts to modulate the GVL-GVH balance include novel methods of in vitro or in vivo T-cell depletion that are associated with a minimal impact on rates of disease recurrence and a dramatically decreased risk for GVHD. Donor selection algorithms may also have a significant impact on transplantation outcomes. Low-expression HLA alleles, particularly HLA-DP, should be incorporated in selection of adult unrelated donors. Evolving data suggest that KIR typing may also be important. High-resolution HLA typing and the importance of fetal-maternal interactions in umbilical cord blood transplantation are also briefly discussed. A combination of donor selection strategies and GVHD prophylaxis methods will favorably affect long-term outcomes and create an environment suitable for effective posttransplantation interventions.
The Mars Surveyor '01 Rover and Robotic Arm

The Mars Surveyor 2001 Lander will carry with it both a Robotic Arm and Rover to support various science and technology experiments. The Marie Curie Rover, the twin sister to Sojourner Truth, is expected to explore the surface of Mars in early 2002. Scientific investigations to determine the elemental composition of surface rocks and soil using the Alpha Proton X-Ray Spectrometer (APXS) will be conducted along with several technology experiments including the Mars Experiment on Electrostatic Charging (MEEC) and the Wheel Abrasion Experiment (WAE). The Rover will follow uplinked operational sequences each day, but will be capable of autonomous reactions to the unpredictable features of the Martian environment. The Mars Surveyor 2001 Robotic Arm will perform rover deployment, and support various positioning digging, and sample acquiring functions for MECA (Mars Environmental Compatibility Assessment) and Mossbauer Spectrometer experiments. The Robotic Arm will also collect its own sensor data for engineering data analysis. The Robotic Arm Camera (RAC) mounted on the forearm of the Robotic Arm will capture various images with a wide range of focal length adjustment during scientific experiments and rover deployment.
Simultaneous electric‐field measurements on nearby balloons

Electric-field payloads were flown simultaneously on two balloons from Great Whale River, Canada, on September 21, 1971, to provide data at two points in the upper atmosphere that differed in altitude by more than one atmospheric density scale height and in horizontal position by 30-140 km. The altitude dependences in the two sets of data prove conclusively that the vertical electric field at balloon altitudes stems from fair-weather atmospheric electricity sources and that the horizontal fields are mapped down ionospheric fields, since the weather-associated horizontal fields were smaller than 2 mV/m.
Natural Recovery and Treatment-Seeking in Pathological Gambling: Results of Two U.S. National Surveys

OBJECTIVE: Pathological gambling is described in DSM-IV as a chronic and persisting disorder, but recent community-based longitudinal studies that have highlighted the transitory nature of gambling-related problems have called into question whether this is an accurate characterization. This emerging evidence of high rates of recovery coupled with low rates of treatment-seeking for pathological gambling suggests that natural recovery might be common. The purpose of the present study was to document the rates of recovery, treatment-seeking, and natural recovery among individuals with DSM-IV pathological gambling disorder in two large and representative U.S. national surveys. METHOD: Prevalences of recovery, treatment-seeking, and natural recovery were estimated among individuals from the Gambling Impact and Behavior Study (N=2,417) and the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (N=43,093) who reported a lifetime history of DSM-IV pathological gambling disorder (N=21 and N=185, respe...
Neutralization of IL-9 ameliorates experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis by decreasing the effector T cell population

Multiple sclerosis is a CD4+ T cell-mediated autoimmune disease affecting the CNS. Multiple sclerosis and its animal model, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), have been thought to be Th1-mediated diseases. However, recent studies provide strong evidence that the major pathogenic T cell subsets in EAE are Th17 cells. IL-9, a hematopoietic growth factor, is considered to be a mediator of Th17 cells, but the precise mechanisms of its action are largely unknown. The present study was designed to investigate the role of IL-9 in autoimmune demyelination. IL-9 blockade with anti–IL-9 mAb inhibited the development of EAE, reduced the serum levels of IL-17, the CNS mRNA expression of IL-17, IL-6, IFN-γ, and TNF-α, and the myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)-induced IL-17, IFN-γ secretion of lymphocytes. Furthermore, anti–IL-9 mAb in culture suppressed IL-17 production of MOG-reactive T cells and their potency in adoptive transfer EAE. These findings indicate that the protective effect of IL-9 blockade in EAE was likely mediated via inhibition of the development of MOG peptide-specific T cells, which in turn led to reduced infiltration of T cells into the CNS. Thus, anti–IL-9 mAb treatment may provide an effective therapeutic strategy against autoimmune diseases.
Impact of economic data surprises on exchange rates in the inter-dealer market

Interest in the market impact of economic data shocks has progressively expanded in the last two decades in synchrony with better availability of consensus expectations and high-frequency price dat...
Manipulation of P-TEFb control machinery by HIV: recruitment of P-TEFb from the large form by Tat and binding of HEXIM1 to TAR

Basal transcription of the HIV LTR is highly repressed and requires Tat to recruit the positive transcription elongation factor, P-TEFb, which functions to promote the transition of RNA polymerase II from abortive to productive elongation. P-TEFb is found in two forms in cells, a free, active form and a large, inactive complex that also contains 7SK RNA and HEXIM1 or HEXIM2. Here we show that HIV infection of cells led to the release of P-TEFb from the large form. Consistent with Tat being the cause of this effect, transfection of a FLAG-tagged Tat in 293T cells caused a dramatic shift of P-TEFb out of the large form to a smaller form containing Tat. In vitro, Tat competed with HEXIM1 for binding to 7SK, blocked the formation of the P-TEFb–HEXIM1–7SK complex, and caused the release P-TEFb from a pre-formed P-TEFb–HEXIM1–7SK complex. These findings indicate that Tat can acquire P-TEFb from the large form. In addition, we found that HEXIM1 binds tightly to the HIV 5′ UTR containing TAR and recruits and inhibits P-TEFb activity. This suggests that in the absence of Tat, HEXIM1 may bind to TAR and repress transcription elongation of the HIV LTR.
Public Hearings and Public Preferences: The Case of the White House Conference on Families

To provide input into Arizona's participation in the White House Conference on Families, the Arizona Governor's Council on Children, Youth, and Families commissioned a random statewide survey to assess the relative priority given to 41 selected family-related needs and preferences for institutional responses to those needs. A similar survey was administered to participants at each of six regional public hearings held throughout the state prior to the 1980 White House Conference on Families. A comparison of the two surveys provides an opportunity to test the representativeness of public hearings participants with respect to the population from which they were drawn. Fundamental differences in the priorities of these two samples cast considerable doubt on the assumption that public hearings are an effective means of gauging public sentiment.
Surface Energetics of Nanoscale LaMnO3+δ Perovskite

Perovskite type LaMnO3 and related materials are important compounds with many useful and unique physical and chemical properties. There is a lack of experimental thermochemical data on the energetics of LaMnO3 nanoparticles. In this work, a series of LaMnO3+δ samples were synthesized via the citrate method and calcined at 700°C–1050°C. All samples displayed rhombohedral structure (X-ray diffraction) with similar oxygen stoichiometry 3+δ = 3.16–3.18 (iodometric titration coupled with gravimetric analysis). The BET surface area varied from null for bulk sample to 6.88 ± 0.08 × 103 m2/mol for the sample calcined at 700°C. The water content varied linearly with the surface area with the highest value being 2.34 wt%. The chemisorbed water adsorption enthalpy was −63.0 ± 4.1 kJ/mol with the chemisorbed water coverage of 8 H2O/nm2. High-temperature oxide melt drop solution calorimetry, performed in sodium molybdate at 702°C, yielded enthalpy of formation from La2O3, Mn2O3, and O2 of bulk LaMnO3.16 of −77.85 ± 1.94 kJ/mol. After correction of drop solution enthalpies of nanometric samples for water content, the calorimetric data were used to calculate the surface energy of LaMnO3+δ. The energy of the anhydrous surface was 2.27 ± 0.29 J/m2, and that of the hydrous surface was 2.02 ± 0.27 J/m2. These values are higher than the surface energies of LaMnO3.00 predicted elsewhere by theoretical methods, probably due to the different oxygen content and possibly more complex surface structure and exposed surface planes. The measured surface energy of LaMnO3+δ lies between the values reported recently for BaTiO3 and PbTiO3 and close to the reported values for MnO2. This suggests that LaMnO3+δ surface is predominantly MnO2-terminated, in line with the trends predicted by theoretical calculations.
Full Employment at Whatever Cost

I. Deficiency of "effective demand" as cause of unemployment, 385. — II. Full employment and inflation, 388. — III. Full employment and economic and political institutions, 392. — IV. Domestic measures to prevent unemployment, 393. — V. International disequilibrium, 396. — VI. Harmonization of foreign trade targets, 400. — VII. Stabilization of international investment, 401. — VIII. Stabilization of international trade, 404. — IX. Final comments, 407.
A refined model for the effective in-plane elastic moduli of hexagonal honeycombs

Honeycombs are discrete structures that can be placed as cores between composite facesheets to form sandwich structures. The modeling of the effective properties of these honeycomb cores is of key importance to predict the overall mechanical response of the sandwich structures. Existing models that predict these properties usually assume that these honeycombs consist of straight walls, but close examination of commercial hexagonal honeycombs shows that the walls are instead curved in the vicinity of the intersection points of the hexagon due to corrugation or expansion during manufacturing. A refined model that predicts the effective honeycomb properties is thus needed to take into consideration such curvature. In particular, the in-plane elastic moduli were studied by analytical and numerical means and correlated with experimental results for aluminum hexagonal or regular honeycombs. These elastic moduli are predicted as a function of radius of curvature at the intersection points, relative density as well as cell dimensions, considering the effect of bending, shear and axial deformations in both in-plane honeycomb directions. This refined model better predicts the effective moduli of honeycombs with low relative densities and represents also a general solution that can be reduced to predict the effective mechanical properties of regular honeycombs with straight walls.
Migraine headaches and sleep disturbances in children.

Objective.—The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of sleep disturbances in children with migraine headaches and to describe individual differences in sleep behaviors based on headache features (eg, frequency, duration, intensity). Background.—A relationship between migraine headaches and sleep disturbances has been suggested in both children and adults, but there is a lack of research examining the relationship between specific headache features and the range of sleep behaviors in children. Methods.—One hundred eighteen children, aged 2 to 12 years (mean, 9.1; standard deviation, 2.3) were evaluated for headaches at two pediatric neurology departments. Parents completed the Children’s Sleep Habits Questionnaire and a standardized questionnaire regarding headache characteristics. Results.—Parents reported a high rate of sleep disturbances in children, including sleeping too little (42%), bruxism (29%), child co-sleeping with parents (25%), and snoring (23%). Children with migraine headaches experienced more sleep disturbances compared to published healthy control norms. After controlling for child demographics, we found that the frequency and duration of migraine headaches predicted specific sleep disturbances, including sleep anxiety, parasomnias, and bedtime resistance. Conclusions.—Children with migraine headaches have a high prevalence of sleep disturbances. The direction of the relationship between headaches and sleep is unknown. Regardless, interventions targeting sleep habits may improve headache symptoms, and effective treatment of headaches in children may positively impact sleep.
Ecocriticism, Cultural Ecology, and Literary Studies

In recent years, ecocriticism has become one of the most visible and productive new directions of literary and cultural studies. Having originated in the United States as a minor, mostly regional form of environmentally oriented approach in the late 20 th century, it has since spread throughout literature departments, and become a successful new branch of the humanities not only in the U.S. and Europe but worldwide. At first, ecocriticism met with considerable resistance at first from a scholarly community that was deeply shaped by the theoretical fields of cultural studies, poststructuralism, and postmodernism 1 . However, it has gained increasing recognition as an important new field of research and teaching that opens up a broad spectrum of new perspectives and that can help to reaffirm the relevance and responsibility of the humanities and of literary studies at a time when the process of globalization, and the concomitant globalization of knowledge and science, continue to be interpreted in primarily economic and technological terms. One of the most promising directions of ecocriticism, which has developed especially in Europe, is the approach of Cultural Ecology. From the perspective of the theory of science, Peter Finke‟s Okologie des Wissens (Ecology of Knowledge) is perhaps the most systematic presentation of this theory, which posits ecology as a paradigmatic perspective of knowledge not only for the natural sciences, but for cultural studies as well. Such an ecology of knowledge implies a unifying perspective in the sense that it brings together the various cultures of knowledge that have evolved in history, and that have been separated into more and more specialized disciplines and subdisciplines in the evolution of modern science. Indeed, if ecocriticism is fundamentally concerned with the relationship between culture and nature, then it must necessarily also face up to the challenge of a new dialogue between the “two cultures” of the natural sciences and the humanities. Disciplines on both sides of the divide thereby turn into “shifting hybrid domains,” in which traditional disciplinary boundaries are blurred (Wilson Consilience 10). At the same time, this drive for the
THE ROLE OF ANKLE PLANTAR FLEXOR MUSCLE WORK DURING WALKING

Impaired ankle plantar flexor (APF) function is a frequent cause of gait limitations, but the role of the APF in the forward propulsion of the body remains controversial. To better understand both the direct and indirect effects of the APF during push-off and through advancement of the leg, mechanical work and inverse dynamic analyses were performed on 8 normal subjects during level walking. During push-off, 23.1 joules (J) of energy were generated, primarily by the APF, but only 4.2 J of this energy is transferred into the trunk. Ankle plantar flexor work is primarily used to accelerate the leg into swing. Most of the energy, 18.6 J, is recovered by transfer into the trunk at the end of swing. The timing of the energy transfers relative to the trunk motion imply that the APF contributes to the forward kinetic energy of the trunk but that other mechanisms likely account for the work used to raise the trunk against gravity.
An approach to multi‐start clustering for global optimization with non‐linear constraints

This paper describes a multi-start with clustering strategy for use on constrained optimization problems. It is based on the characteristics of non-linear constrained global optimization problems and extends a strategy previously tested on unconstrained problems. Earlier studies of multi-start with clustering found in the literature have focused on unconstrained problems with little attention to non-linear constrained problems. In this study, variations of multi-start with clustering are considered including a simulated annealing or random search procedure for sampling the design domain and a quadratic programming (QP) sub-problem used in cluster formation. The strategies are evaluated by solving 18 non-linear mathematical problems and six engineering design problems. Numerical results show that the solution of a one-step QP sub-problem helps predict possible regions of attraction of local minima and can enhance robustness and effectiveness in identifying local minima without sacrificing efficiency. In comparison to other multi-start techniques found in the literature, the strategies of this study can be attractive in terms of the number of local searches performed, the number of minima found, whether the global minimum is located, and the number of the function evaluations required. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Scaling with Design Constraints: Predicting the Future of Big Chips

The past few years have witnessed high-end processors with increasing numbers of cores and larger dies. With limited instruction-level parallelism, chip power constraints, and technology-scaling limitations, designers have embraced multiple cores rather than single-core performance scaling to improve chip throughput. This article examines whether this approach is sustainable by scaling from a state-of-the-art big-chip design point using analytical models.
Collaborative mental health services using multiple technologies: the new way to practice and a new standard of practice?

he major results of the Myers et al. Children’s ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder) Telemental T Health Treatment Study (CATTS) are reported in this issue of the Journal. This study has very significant implications for the practice of psychiatry in general, child psychiatry, rural and primary mental health service delivery, and all of us in this era of increasingly integrated care. The findings could lead to better dissemination of existing evidence-based treatments and new modalities of treatment for some psychiatric disorders delivered at a distance, even if the patient is not particularly geographically isolated. Indeed, service delivery in person and by technology to the same and/or different patient(s)—what has been called hybrid care—is an example of a new way to practice and a way that many psychiatrists and other physicians are increasingly using as multiple new technologies permeate our personal and professional lives. This hybrid approach to care is one of many variations on the theme of providing patient-centered care that is affordable, timely, and easy to access. In addition, the CATTS could lead us to change the way we conceptualize practice, and the methods used in the study could become the future standard of practice for the delivery of not only ADHD treatments but also some other treatments in the mental health arena. CATTS is the first randomized study that demonstrates the clinical effectiveness of a truly hybrid approach to mental health service provision in which different synchronous and asynchronous telehealth approaches to care were combined with traditional in-person modalities. Some previous studies have suggested that this hybrid approach holds a great deal of promise, with some investigators postulating that telepsychiatry consultations might be the new standard of practice in certain clinical situations. Several smaller examples of hybrid care have been published. A small, nonrandomized study of 118 primary care patients compared in-person psychiatric care with telepsychiatric care provided by the same psychiatrist, which resulted in hybrid care for most. Patients’ experience of the psychiatrist and satisfaction were equal for either way the care was delivered. A traditional trial of videoconferencing treatment efficacy turned into an example of the use of multiple technologies (videoconferencing, phone, and e-mail) to deliver care in what was effectively a hybrid model. Original collaborative care studies have involved significant patient education, case management, psychiatric consultation in person, patients with depression and anxiety, and co-management of medications by primary care and psychiatric physicians. Fortney
odd skipped related1 reveals a novel role for endoderm in regulating kidney versus vascular cell fate.

The kidney and vasculature are intimately linked both functionally and during development, when nephric and blood/vascular progenitor cells occupy adjacent bands of mesoderm in zebrafish and frog embryos. Developmental mechanisms that underlie the differentiation of kidney versus blood/vascular lineages remain unknown. The odd skipped related1 ( osr1 ) gene encodes a zinc-finger transcription factor that is expressed in the germ ring mesendoderm and subsequently in the endoderm and intermediate mesoderm, prior to the expression of definitive kidney or blood/vascular markers. Knockdown of osr1 in zebrafish embryos resulted in a complete, segment-specific loss of anterior kidney progenitors and a compensatory increase in the number of angioblast cells in the same trunk region. Histology revealed a subsequent absence of kidney tubules, an enlarged cardinal vein and expansion of the posterior venous plexus. Altered kidney versus vascular development correlated with expanded endoderm development in osr1 knockdowns. Combined osr1 loss of function and blockade of endoderm development by knockdown of sox32/casanova rescued anterior kidney development. The results indicate that osr1 activity is required to limit endoderm differentiation from mesendoderm; in the absence of osr1 , excess endoderm alters mesoderm differentiation, shifting the balance from kidney towards vascular development.
One, two, three, four, nothing more: An investigation of the conceptual sources of the verbal counting principles ☆

Since the publication of [Gelman, R., & Gallistel, C. R. (1978). The child's understanding of number. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.] seminal work on the development of verbal counting as a representation of number, the nature of the ontogenetic sources of the verbal counting principles has been intensely debated. The present experiments explore proposals according to which the verbal counting principles are acquired by mapping numerals in the count list onto systems of numerical representation for which there is evidence in infancy, namely, analog magnitudes, parallel individuation, and set-based quantification. By asking 3- and 4-year-olds to estimate the number of elements in sets without counting, we investigate whether the numerals that are assigned cardinal meaning as part of the acquisition process display the signatures of what we call "enriched parallel individuation" (which combines properties of parallel individuation and of set-based quantification) or analog magnitudes. Two experiments demonstrate that while "one" to "four" are mapped onto core representations of small sets prior to the acquisition of the counting principles, numerals beyond "four" are only mapped onto analog magnitudes about six months after the acquisition of the counting principles. Moreover, we show that children's numerical estimates of sets from 1 to 4 elements fail to show the signature of numeral use based on analog magnitudes - namely, scalar variability. We conclude that, while representations of small sets provided by parallel individuation, enriched by the resources of set-based quantification are recruited in the acquisition process to provide the first numerical meanings for "one" to "four", analog magnitudes play no role in this process.
Fifty percent energy savings with automatic lighting controls

An electronically ballasted lighting control system was demonstrated at an office building in the San Francisco Bay Area. The system was used to demonstrate the energy savings and demand-reduction capabilities of a lighting control system designed to exploit all major control strategies, including scheduling, daylighting, and lumen maintenance. After 9 months of operation, lighting energy savings of approximately 50% relative to previous usage have been consistently achieved. A novel, two-part control photocell that permits successful implementation of daylighting and lumen maintenance strategies was demonstrated. >
Selectively Forgetting Baudrillard: Rescuing Praxis from the Wreckage

I argue that Jean Baudrillard’s post-1970s work makes numerous wrong turns from the point of view of a philosophy of praxis. While Baudrillard’s work is indispensable for the evolution of a critical theory of capitalism and its culture, his attack on the viability of political projects and normative philosophy must be refuted. I argue for a theory that retains a commitment to counteracting tendencies toward acquiescence and reconciliation—for theory in the service of rethinking revolution. [Article copies available for a fee from The Transformative Studies Institute. E-mail address: journal@transformativestudies.org Website: http://www.transformativestudies.org ©2010 by The Transformative Studies Institute. All rights reserved.]
Neural mechanisms of interference control in working memory: effects of interference expectancy and fluid intelligence.

Background: A critical aspect of executive control is the ability to limit the adverse effects of interference. Previous studies have shown activation of left ventrolateral prefrontal cortex after the onset of interference, suggesting that interference may be resolved in a reactive manner. However, we suggest that interference control may also operate in a proactive manner to prevent effects of interference. The current study investigated the temporal dynamics of interference control by varying two factors – interference expectancy and fluid intelligence (gF) – that could influence whether interference control operates proactively versus reactively. Methodology/Principal Findings: A modified version of the recent negatives task was utilized. Interference expectancy was manipulated across task blocks by changing the proportion of recent negative (interference) trials versus recent positive (facilitation) trials. Furthermore, we explored whether gF affected the tendency to utilize specific interference control mechanisms. When interference expectancy was low, activity in lateral prefrontal cortex replicated prior results showing a reactive control pattern (i.e., interference-sensitivity during probe period). In contrast, when interference expectancy was high, bilateral prefrontal cortex activation was more indicative of proactive control mechanisms (interference-related effects prior to the probe period). Additional results suggested that the proactive control pattern was more evident in high gF individuals, whereas the reactive control pattern was more evident in low gF individuals. Conclusions/Significance: The results suggest the presence of two neural mechanisms of interference control, with the differential expression of these mechanisms modulated by both experimental (e.g., expectancy effects) and individual difference (e.g., gF) factors.
Applying Sensitivity Analyses to Overall Survival in Cancer Clinical Trials

TO THE EDITOR: “Role of Sensitivity Analyses in Assessing Progression-Free Survival in Late-Stage Oncology Trials” by Bhattacharya et al is an important statistical technique that assesses whether the results of phase III trials are robust and likely to be generalizable. The authors focus their comments and state that it is “important to conduct additional analyses (sensitivity analyses) of studies where progression-free survival (PFS) or time to tumor progression (TTP) is the primary end point.” Thus, implied in their emphasis is that overall survival (OS), the ultimate gold-standard outcome (the time from random assignment to death), may not be subject to confounding issues and does not require similar consideration. Bhattacharya et al state that “the documented date of first progression is often after the actual true (unknown) date of progression, which is not the case for OS.” However, they do not consider events that could similarly affect the timing of the OS primary event. Death, although an objective and measurable event, is affected by various clinical acts that can substantially influence this outcome. It is not the issue of when death occurred but various influences that affect the outcome. For instance, similar patients failing interventional therapy at the same time point after therapy may be kept alive (eg, avoiding the primary outcome) by heroic measures such as intensive care unit care or simple measures such as treating a pneumonia, or some may have only basic noninterventional hospice/end-of-life therapy offered that does not artificially prolong survival. Additionally, patients with bulky tumors compared with those with trivial tumor burdens, similarly failing therapy at the same time point without further therapy, may have different survival outcomes unrelated to the primary interventional therapy. It is therefore equally important for sensitivity testing to be pursued when phase III studies are positive for OS when differences are statistically different, but not robust biologically, because it is becoming more common for outcomes to be measured in a few weeks or months when large numbers of patients are entered on a trial. This is especially important when drugs or biologic are approved for generalizable intervention based on modest time increments for OS.
Delayed Repair of Transected Nerves: Effect of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor

Objective To determine if administration of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) after peripheral nerve transection can improve the functional outcome in situations where epineurial repair must be delayed. Design Randomized, blinded, controlled trial. Subjects Thirty-four Sprague-Dawley rats. Intervention Sciatic nerves were transected and, after a 2-week delay, repaired with epineurial sutures. Animals were assigned to receive daily administration of lactated Ringer solution (LR [control] group); BDNF delivered at the time of nerve transection through 2 weeks after nerve repair, for a total of 4 weeks (BDNF-early group); or BDNF delivered at the time of nerve repair through 2 weeks after repair (BDNF-late group). Outcome was assessed using sciatic functional indices (SFIs) and histomorphometric analysis. Results The SFI maximal recovery was superior in the BDNF groups, but this difference did not reach statistical significance (SFI, −90.1 ± 9.6 [LR group], −85.7 ± 7.6 [BDNF-early group], and −84.6 ± 4.8 [BDNF-late group], where normal function is 0 and complete loss of function is −100; P =.27). The mean axon diameter tended to be greater in the BDNF groups compared with the LR group, ie, 2.43 ± 0.23 µm (LR group), 2.80 ± 0.44 µm (BDNF-early group), and 2.83 ± 0.38 µm (BDNF-late group) ( P =.05). Conclusions The local administration of BDNF to nerves that underwent transection and then repair after a delay resulted in an increase in axonal diameters and maximal SFIs, a difference that did not reach statistical significance. The timing of BDNF administration after nerve transection did not affect neuronal regeneration.
Persistent Photoconductivity in Bulk Strontium Titanate

Strontium titanate (SrTiO3) has novel properties, including a large temperature-dependent dielectric constant, and can be doped to make it metallic or even superconducting. The origin of conductivity observed at the SrTiO3/LaAlO3 interface is a topic of intense debate. In the present work, bulk single crystal SrTiO3 samples were heated at 1200°C, with the goal of producing cation vacancies. These thermally treated samples exhibited persistent photoconductivity (PPC) at room temperature. Upon exposure to sub-band-gap light (>2.9 eV), the free-electron density increases by over two orders of magnitude. This enhanced conductivity persists in the dark, at room temperature, for several days with essentially no decay. Light excites an electron from the vacancy to the conduction band, where it remains, due to a large recapture barrier. These observations highlight the importance of defects in determining the electrical properties of oxides and may point toward novel applications.
Microfluorimetric analysis of spatial and temporal patterns of immobilized cell growth

Pronounced spatial nonuniformities in cell density, physiology, and activity frequently arise within densely packed immobilized cell supports. For a more fundamental understanding of immobilized cell phenomena, we have developed high-resolution microfluorimetric procedures to analyze local variations in both immobilized cell loading and growth rate. Fluorescent staining of total cellular DNA provides a measure of local biomass density. Actively growing (DNA synthesizing) cells are marked by pulse-labeling newly synthesized DNA with the thymine analog, bromouracil. An immunofluorescent technique allows subsequent detection of spatial variations in DNA synthesis rates. These procedures enable the influence of mass-transfer limitations and other immobilization effects on cell distribution and activity to be readily quantified. We demonstrate this approach through analysis of the patterns of growth of Escherichia coli entrapped within Sr-alginate gel beads. The experimental techniques are potentially applicable to a variety of other aggregate cell systems.
Improved Outcomes for Cardiac Arrest in Children: Share the Baton With the Bystander

We continue to grapple with the complexities of preventing and resuscitating out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCAs). Of these, cardiac arrests among children clearly have the most devastating effect on communities. The study from Bardai et al. ([1][1]) based in North Holland, the Netherlands, is an
The Cost of Contentiousness: A Status Report on Offshore Wind in the Eastern United States

While successful elsewhere, the offshore wind energy sector has been unable to launch off the Atlantic Coast of the United States. We explore the regulatory, political, and legal factors behind the delays encountered by American offshore wind. We also provide an update on the regulatory changes that federal and state governments are adopting to overcome the barriers to the sector’s emergence. We ascribe offshore wind’s difficulties to a costly and contentious development cycle, enabled by a fragmented regulatory landscape and inconsistent political support. We see reasons for optimism, however, in the regulatory reforms being enacted at the state and federal levels. These add clarity to the permitting and leasing process, and offer various kinds of direct support to offshore wind energy developers.
An Analysis of Repurchase Behavior in Open Market Stock Buyback Programs

Boards of directors authorize billions of dollars in open market (OM) stock buybacks each year, but little is known about how many shares are actually repurchased. This paper analyses the repurchase behavior of firms that announce OM buyback programs. We find that OM announcements are credible signals. On average, firms repurchase more shares than originally authorized over the four quarters following the announcement, though there is considerable variation across firms. We examine the factors influencing repurchase behavior, and find that repurchases in a given quarter are associated with a number of variables, including past and current returns, profitability, and prior repurchase activity. We also investigate how shares outstanding change following OM program announcements. Firms in our sample actively issue shares over the test period so that the average decrease in shares outstanding is only about 20% of the number repurchased. For the most part, changes in shares are influenced by the same factors affecting repurchases and in the predicted direction.
Synthesis and Characterization of [(C5Me4H)2Al]+, an Initiator for the Polymerization of Isobutene. X-ray Crystal Structures of [(C5Me4H)2Al(μ-Cl)]2 and [(C5Me4H)2Al][B(C6F5)4]

The octamethylaluminocenium cation [Cp‘2Al]+ (Cp‘ = C5Me4H) was formed both by halide abstraction in the reaction between [Cp‘2AlCl]2 and AlCl3 and by cyclopentadienide abstraction in the reaction between Cp‘3Al and [CPh3][B(C6F5)]4. [Cp‘2Al]+ is less thermally stable than [Cp*2Al]+ (Cp* = C5Me5) but is more active as an initiator for isobutene polymerization. The X-ray crystal structures of [Cp‘2AlCl]2 and [Cp‘2Al][B(C6F5)4] are reported.
US Businesses Code Of Ethics As An Instrument To Comply With The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act

The Foreign Corruption Practices Act (FCPA) makes illegal bribing foreign officials by any US issuer, domestic concern, any type of organization with major place of business in the US and any US citizens. This paper will focus on the extent to which the FCPA is included in the Code of Ethics of Fortune 500 companies as a method of showing the importance of compliance with the Act. The following sections analyze the scope and limitations of this Act, the official compliance mechanisms and internal policies and training developed by five Fortune 500 companies in order to abide by the FCPA.
Mechanism and Activity of Water Oxidation on Selected Surfaces of Pure and Fe-Doped NiOx

Mixed nickel–iron oxides have recently emerged as promising electrocatalysts for water oxidation because of their low cost and high activity, but the composition and structure of the catalyst’s active phase under working conditions are not yet fully established. We present here density functional theory calculations with on-site Coulomb repulsion of the energetics of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) on selected surfaces of pure and mixed Ni–Fe oxides that are possible candidates for the catalyst’s active phase. The investigated surfaces are pure β-NiOOH(0115) and γ-NiOOH(101), Fe-doped β-NiOOH(0115) and γ-NiOOH(101), NiFe2O4(001), and Fe3O4(001). We find that Fe-doped β-NiOOH(0115) has by far the lowest overpotential (η = 0.26 V), followed by NiFe2O4(001) (η = 0.42 V). Our results indicate that Fe-doped β-NiOOH and, to a lesser extent, NiFe2O4 could be the phases responsible for the enhanced OER activity of NiOx when it is doped with Fe.
Intraspecific Variation in Postnatal Growth in the Greater Spear-Nosed Bat

Intraspecific variation in size at birth, postnatal growth, and survivorship of young mammals may reflect genetic variation, differential investment of mothers, gender of offspring, and environmental factors. We quantified size at birth and postnatal growth in free-ranging Phyllostomus hastatus (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) to develop age-predictive equations and examine effects of maternal size and age on size at birth and survivorship of young. There was a positive relationship between body mass of mothers and young; however, we found no relationship between maternal length of forearm or age on size of young at birth or survivorship. Males weighed more than females at birth and gained mass at a faster rate, although we found no significant gender differences at birth in length of forearm or length of total epiphyseal gap. High variation in size at birth and maturity suggests that there may be few environmental or life-history constraints on body size and postnatal growth in P. hastatus .
Ecosystem services and tradeoffs in the home food gardens of African American, Chinese-origin and Mexican-origin households in Chicago, IL

With increasing urbanization and environmental degradation, urban landscapes are increasingly expected to provide a wide range of ecosystem services typically associated with rural areas, including biodiversity conservation and food production. Because residential landscapes constitute the largest single urban land use, domestic gardens have emerged as a topic of research interest and planning concern. The ecosystem services (or disservices) these landscapes provide, however, have not been rigorously measured, nor have tradeoffs between the services they provide been assessed. In this study, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 59 African American, Chinese-origin or Mexican-origin households with on-lot or vacant lot food gardens in Chicago. Crop plants and cultivated ornamental plants on the lot were inventoried and mapped at the species level. A total of 123 edible plant taxa from 25 families and 288 ornamental plant species from 85 families were identified, for a combined total of 387 species from 90 families. Cumulatively, the gardens of African American households were relatively rich in ornamental plant species and families, while those of Chinese-origin households had a depauperate flora. Crop plant richness was more even across sample types. Shade trees and a developed shrub layer were absent from most gardens, possibly representing a tradeoff in ecosystem services in favor of food production. The richness of the aggregate 2.1 ha of residential property inventoried in this study was comparable with or exceeded that of a 34 ha prairie remnant west of Chicago. However, only 35 (9.6%) of the inventoried species were native to the Chicago area.
Remedying Web Hijacking: Notification Effectiveness and Webmaster Comprehension

As miscreants routinely hijack thousands of vulnerable web servers weekly for cheap hosting and traffic acquisition, security services have turned to notifications both to alert webmasters of ongoing incidents as well as to expedite recovery. In this work we present the first large-scale measurement study on the effectiveness of combinations of browser, search, and direct webmaster notifications at reducing the duration a site remains compromised. Our study captures the life cycle of 760,935 hijacking incidents from July, 2014--June, 2015, as identified by Google Safe Browsing and Search Quality. We observe that direct communication with webmasters increases the likelihood of cleanup by over 50% and reduces infection lengths by at least 62%. Absent this open channel for communication, we find browser interstitials---while intended to alert visitors to potentially harmful content---correlate with faster remediation. As part of our study, we also explore whether webmasters exhibit the necessary technical expertise to address hijacking incidents. Based on appeal logs where webmasters alert Google that their site is no longer compromised, we find 80% of operators successfully clean up symptoms on their first appeal. However, a sizeable fraction of site owners do not address the root cause of compromise, with over 12% of sites falling victim to a new attack within 30 days. We distill these findings into a set of recommendations for improving web security and best practices for webmasters.
Variation In Health Outcomes: The Role Of Spending On Social Services, Public Health, And Health Care, 2000–09

Although spending rates on health care and social services vary substantially across the states, little is known about the possible association between variation in state-level health outcomes and ...
African American experiences in healthcare: "I always feel like I'm getting skipped over".

Objective Although African Americans perceive discrimination in health care settings, experience higher levels of medical mistrust compared with European Americans, and experience poorer communication with health care providers, little is known as to how these barriers to quality patient-provider relationships arise and manifest themselves. This study examined experiences of African American community members regarding these barriers and additionally explored participants' perspectives on race in the patient-provider relationship. Methods Focus groups were conducted as part of a study exploring participants' experiences and relationships in health care settings. Sixty African American adults were recruited through community settings and activities to participate in 1 of 9 focus groups segmented by gender. Transcripts were reviewed for content related to perceived discrimination, mistrust, poor communication, and race discordance. Themes providing insight into participants' subjective experience of these potential relationship barriers were derived through qualitative coding (using NVivo 10) and iterative discussion. Results Perceived discrimination arose when African American patients, particularly women, felt their symptoms or problems were discredited. Medical mistrust occurred when clinicians did not convey respect to patients, leaving patients to wonder whether their clinician's treatment was discriminatory or not. Poor communication arose when clinicians did not acknowledge patients' perspectives during interactions. Patients often viewed these actions as discriminatory. Conclusions African Americans experience poor communication with their health care providers, medical mistrust, and perceived discrimination when accessing health care in numerous and sometimes interrelated ways. The investigators recommend ways to reduce the experience of such barriers and to improve patient-provider relationships for African Americans in health care. (PsycINFO Database Record