cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mental health of unaccompanied children: effects of U.S. immigration policies

Background There is an unprecedented surge of forcibly displaced people globally, with a crisis of unaccompanied minors seeking haven across the US border. Aims This paper aims to provide an understanding of the intersection between mental health and immigration policies. Method Examples of contemporary policies that focus on the deterrence, detention and deportation of unaccompanied minors in the USA, will be discussed, as well as the mental health effects of such ‘iron triangle’ immigration policies. Results In the ideal circumstances, systems and policies for migrant children would uphold international humanitarian law, hasten the shift from enforcement to protection, adhere to a ‘do no (further) harm’ model that uses a trauma-informed, culturally responsive approach to engaging with migrant children, engage the community as stakeholders to end detention and advocate to share the burden of responsibility. Conclusions Building a humanitarian response that protects both country and migrant interest is possible through commitment and policy change that addresses mental, physical and legal protection needs.
Book Review: 'Failed Evidence: Why Law Enforcement Resists Science,' by David A. Harris (NYU Press, 2012)

An engaging storyteller with a narrative style, Harris masterfully weaves the history of law enforcement with personal biographies, social science research, and Justice Department data to show how prosecutions go wrong and how to make evidence-gathering more accurate.
Some Observations on Competency Based Instruction

This article summarizes the authors' observations derived over the course of 3 years of research and experimentation with competency based instruction. While the intent of this project has been the development of a prototype graduate level training model to prepare curriculum consultants for exceptional children, the model, processes, and experiences are generalizable to the range of training needs in special education. The primary goals of the project involve (a) the establishment of an empirical basis for the identification of competencies and (b) the design of instructional modules as the principal mode of training. The observations reported here are categorized into four areas of concern: developmental processes, module features, student response, and program concerns.
Scientific evidence for musculoskeletal, bariatric, and sports nutrition

(Consider omitting the portion of the titles which follows the colon, if this is helpful for formatting) Frontiers and Technologic Advances Body Composition: Quantifying the Musculoskeletal System, I. Janssen Nutrigenomics: Strategic Prevention of Musculoskeletal Disorders of Aging, J. Bland Early Environments: Fetal and Infant Nutrition, S.W. Chan, and G. Pereira Key Nutrients Fat, M.G. Enig, and I. Kohlstadt Carbohydrate, J.D. Bagnulo Protein, D.I. Minkoff Antioxidants, G.K. Harris and D.J. Baer Water: A Driving Force in the Musculoskeletal System, F. Batmanghelidj and I. Kohlstadt Magnesium, A. Buford-Mason Vitamin D, M.F. Holick Chromium: Roles in the Regulation of Lean Body Mass and Body Weight, R.A. Anderson Fat Tissue Energy Balance, W.C. Miller Neuroendocrine Regulation of Appetite, C. Contoreggi and I. Kohlstadt Estrogen's Role in the Regulation of Appetite and Body Fat, P.J. Geiselman and S.R. Smith Childhood Obesity, A.D. Salbe, M.B. Schwartz, and I. Kohlstadt Bariatric Surgery: More Effective with Nutrition, I. Kohlstadt Malnutrition: Applying the Physiology of Food Restriction to Clinical Practice, A.S. Dweck Muscle Tissue Muscle Atrophy, K.R. Short Muscle Strain, I. Kohlstadt, E. Schweitzer, K. Mutter, and L.B. Godwin Muscle Hypertrophy, S.E.Alway Soft Tissue Osteoarthritis, L. Mischley and D. Musnick Fibromyalgia, J. Teitelbaum Gout, T. Helman Oral Markers of Tissue Health, H. Luechauer and K. Poleson Bone Bone Nutrition, S.E. Brown Osteoporosis, J.J. Lamb Fractures, C. Nadelson and K.B. Gebke Physical Stress Preparing for Orthopedic Surgery, V. Joseph and I. Kohlstadt Xenobiotics: Managing Toxic Metals, Biocides, Hormone Mimics, Solvents and Chemical Disruptors, R. Jaffe Ergogenics: Maintaining Performance during Physical Stress, L.R. Bucci Terrestrial Extremes: Nutritional Considerations for High Altitude and Cold and Hot Climates, M.A. Pikosky and A.J. Young
Photodefinable High-k SU8 Nanocomposite for Embedded Capacitors

A novel, photodefinable, high dielectric constant (high-k) nanocomposite material has been developed for embedded capacitor applications. It consists of SU8 as the polymer matrix and barium titanate (BT) nanoparticles as the filler. The UV absorption characteristics of BT nanoparticles were studied with a UV-Vis spectrophotometer. The effects of BT nanoparticle size, filler loading, and UV irradiation dose on SU8 photopolymerization were systematically investigated. The dielectric properties of the photodefined SU8 nanocomposites were characterized. Embedded capacitors using the novel high dielectric constant SU8 composite photoresist were demonstrated on a flexible polyimide substrate by UV lithography method.
Moving from First to Final Draft: Offering Autonomy-Supportive Choices to Motivate Students to Internalize the Writing Process

Law students have been shown to suffer extreme declines in their motivation during their first year, even though they start law school highly motivated. But new empirical research from Sheldon and Krieger shows that law students who perceived more "autonomy support" from their faculty fared better psychologically while in law school, and scored better on the Multistate Bar Exam after law school. The purpose of this exploratory project was to offer a small group of legal writing students two autonomy-supportive choices, and to analyze their responses. This article explains autonomy support in the context of the self-determination theory of human motivation, offers some examples of applying autonomy support to the legal writing curriculum, and discusses possible directions for future study.
Approximate equivalence in von Neumann algebras

One formulation of D. Voiculescu’s theorem on approximate unitary equivalence is that two unital representations π and ρ of a separable C*-algebra are approximately unitarily equivalent if and only if rank o π = rank o ρ. We study the analog when the ranges of π and ρ are contained in a von Neumann algebra R, the unitaries inducing the approximate equivalence must come from R, and “rank” is replaced with “R-rank” (defined as the Murray-von Neumann equivalence of the range projection).
Textbooks in Clinical Trials

In general, whether you are a student, clinical trials professional, or an instructor, choosing references or course textbooks can be overwhelming, even after deciding upon a specific learning objective. In this article, we hope to offer guidance on appropriate textbooks or references to those interested in (a) an introduction or overview of the design and components of clinical trials; and (b) statistical analysis of clinical trial data. What follows is not a critical review of texts, since the number of texts is too numerous for such a handling here. Rather, what follows is a brief description of various texts discussing clinical trials and the audience for which the text is meant. Also presented is this author's judgment on whether each text might be more useful as a textbook or a reference for a clinical trial statistics course or for a clinical trial introduction/overview/design course. Note that, again, this article focuses on various texts giving an introduction or overview of clinical trials, and on those texts focusing on analysis. The numerous other texts focusing on issues such as regulatory aspects or data management, or focusing on clinical trials in certain indications are not included here. Keywords: textbook; design; teaching; review
Introduction to Special Issue on Music and Embodied Cognition

THIS issue, broken into two volumes (Vol. 9, No. 3-4, 2014), offers a unique contribution to contemporary research on embodied approaches to music perception and related phenomenon. While the role of the body has often been acknowledged in a variety of disciplinary contexts, particularly in the domain of music performance, the 4E movement in cognitive science – i.e. interrelated paradigms that study cognitive processes as embodied, embedded, enactive, and extended phenomenon - has pushed advances in previously underexplored areas. Critically analyzing the benefits (and limits) of embodied approaches to the perception of music and related artistic practices is a crucial step for expanding the conceptual and empirical foundations of the 4E movement, as well as addressing related concerns for musicologists and music scholars.
3 Es nuestra tradicion: The Continuing Importance of Ballgames among Migrant Mixtec Communities in the United States

The pre-Hispanic ballgame was integral in the lives of ancient Mesoamerican communities. Today, modern ballgames closely resembling their pre-Hispanic antecedents are still played in different states throughout Mexico. Here I explore the links between the modern ballgame pelota Mixteca (Mixtec ball) and ethnic identity in Mixtecan communities in Oaxaca and the United States, using data from ethnographic interviews with pelota Mixteca players. I conclude that because cultural traditions are important influences in the (re)shaping of identity, participation in Oaxacan traditions like pelota Mixteca is critical to the creation of a pan-Mixtecan identity among migrant Mixtec groups in the United States.
Improving First Year Nursing Student’s Test Scores through Pediatric Simulation

Background: Student test scores in the pediatric portion were at a national percentile rank of 30, which was concerning. It was theorized that the main contributor to this dilemma was that the majority of students were not able to have a pediatric clinical experience. Objective: The purpose of this project was to determine if the addition of pediatric simulation scenarios would have an impact on student learning as evidenced by end of level test scores. Method: A convenience sample (n = 100) of first year nursing students attending a university in the western United States participated in this project. This was a mixed methods study. A quasi-experimental design was used to compare test scores of both a non-intervention group and an intervention group of students. A 5 point Likert scale questionnaire was also using post-intervention to assess for changes in perceptions of self-confidence. Results: After implementation of the pediatric focused scenarios, students’ test scores increased to the 95th percentile. This 65 percentile increase is a significant change that suggests that pediatric simulation is effective in improving student exam performance. In addition, 81% of students also reported perceptions of increased levels of self-confidence after implementation of simulation scenarios. Conclusion: The findings suggest that simulation is an effective way to create alternative pediatric clinical experiences which can, in turn, increase student comprehension, test scores, and self-confidence.
Sub-20 nm trench patterning with a hybrid chemical shrink and SAFIER process

Chemical shrink and SAFIER are two resist shrinking processes that have been proved effective to reduce the trench and contact hole CD with enhanced resolution and process windows. Patterning sub-20 nm trenches, however, is found to be challenging using a single shrink process. To shrink resist trenches from 40-60 nm to sub-20 nm, a double shrink process seems more promising and we have studied the double chemical shrink, double SAFIER, and other possibilities. It is found that SAFIER process is capable of shrinking trenches by more than 30 nm with improved LER, but it suffers from severe CD non-uniformity (e.g., much smaller trenches at wafer center) induced by high SAFIER bake temperature applied to resists to obtain large shrinkage. Chemical shrink can also result in a fairly large shrinkage at high bake temperature, but LER is poor with no improvement in CDU. A novel hybrid process to combine chemical shrink (first) and SAFIER (last) together is proposed and developed. We find that this hybrid approach avoids the disadvantages of two mentioned shrinking processes and has the capability of patterning sub-20 nm trenches in resists with manufacturable process window, CDU and LER. Oxide and nitride etching process with APF (Advanced Patterning Film) as a hard mask is developed and sub-20 nm oxide/nitride trench patterning with excellent LER and acceptable CDU is achieved. APF hard mask is found to significantly improve CDU and LER of small trenches. Relations between CD/shrinkage and process temperature, pitch, and mask trench CD are investigated and the experimental results will be presented in this paper.
Bem Sex-Role Inventory Stereotypes for Men and Women Varying in Age and Race among National Register Psychologists:

554 psychologists listed in the National Register of Health Care Providers in Psychology used the Bem Sex-role Inventory to rare a "mature, healthy, socially competent" individual in one of 18 target groups (a black or race-unspecified man, woman, or adult in their late 20s, late 40s, or late 60s). Factor analysis produced factors which generated three scales--nurturant, agentic, and self-governing. The attributes "feminine" and "masculine" were treated as individual items. Old targets were viewed as less agentic than younger targets and as less self-governing than the middle-aged. Female targets were perceived as more feminine and less masculine than were men. Interactions for agentic and self-governing suggest age and race and sex of target influence person perceptions.
Effects of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) pretreatment on endocrine and behavioural responses of dairy cattle to exogenous prostaglandin F2α

Abstract Sixteen heifers were used in two experiments to examine the effects of exogenous luteotropic stimulation on endocrine and behavioural responses to prostaglandin F 2α (PGF 2α ). In each experiment, eight heifers were randomly assigned at synchronized oestrus to either receive 2500 IU of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) 48 h later or be maintained as controls. Blood samples for plasma progesterone (P) determinations were taken every 12 h from oestrus until PGF 2α administration on Day 7 (Experiment 1) or Day 13 (Experiment 2). After PGF 2α , samples were collected every 6 h for the next 36 h, and then every 2 h from 38 to 72 h. These samples were analyzed for plasma (P), luteinizing hormone (LH), and oestradiol 17 β (E 2 ) by radioimmunoassay. Administration of hCG 48 h postoestrus did not affect plasma P levels prior to PGF 2α administration in either experiment. In contrast, plasma E 2 levels were higher in control than hCG-treated heifers from 12 to 50 h post-PGF 2α in Experiment 1 and 12–68 h in Experiment 2. All eight control heifers exhibited a preovulatory LH surge during the first 72 h following PGF 2α administration, while one of the four hCG-treated heifers in each experiment had an increase in plasma LH levels. Of the hCG-treated group, one of four heifers in Experiment 1 and two of four heifers in Experiment 2 were observed in oestrus during the 96 h following PGF 2α , while all control heifers exhibited oestrual behaviour during this period. Exogenous administration of hCG during the early luteal phase did not affect subsequent luteolytic responses of the corpus luteum to PGF 2α , but did significantly reduce plasma E 2 levels, LH secretion, and delayed behavioural oestrus responses following PGF 2α .
Misting of printing inks. Part 3: A laboratory test based on vacuum collection

Ink mist consists of airborne droplets of ink ejected from the nip of press distribution systems and other rotating rolls as a result of the ink film splitting process. To help the printing ink industry deal with the problem, the National Association of Printing Ink Manufacturers, through the NAPIM Technical Institute, inaugurated a project on misting at Lehigh University. The objective of this project was to develop a reliable laboratory test to rate the misting tendencies of printing inks.
Optimization of reporter cells for expression profiling in a microfluidic device.

The emergence of green fluorescence protein (GFP) technologies has enabled non-invasive monitoring of cell function and gene expression. GFP-based expression studies are typically performed in traditional single-dish or multi-well formats to monitor a small number of genes or conditions that do not lend well to scaling, high-throughput analysis, or single-cell measurements. We have recently developed a microfluidic device, the Living Cell Array (LCA), for monitoring GFP-based gene expression in a high-throughput manner. Here, we report the optimization of GFP reporter cell characteristics in this microfluidic device for gene expression profiling. A reporter cell line for the transcription factor NF-κ B was generated and used as the model cell line. Reporter cells were seeded in the LCA and NF-κ B activated by addition of the cytokine TNF-α . Our studies show that the fluorescence kinetics from the reporter cell line in response to both single and repeated TNF-α stimulation in the LCA is similar to that observed in standard tissue culture. In addition, our data also indicate that multiple expression waves can be reliably monitored from a small population of reporter cells. Using reporter cell line subcloning and cell cycle synchronization, we demonstrate that the kinetics and magnitude of induced fluorescence in the reporter cell lines can be further improved to maximize the fluorescence readout from reporter cell lines, thereby improving their applicability to live cell expression profiling. Our studies establish some of the important criteria to be considered when using reporter cell lines for dynamic expression profiling in microfluidic devices.
A life in theory

The Mathematics of Sonya Kovalevskaya. By Roger Cooke. Springer-Verlag: 1985. Pp.234. DM96, 29.80.
An educational intervention to increase internists' confidence with and provision of preventive services to adolescents and young adults.

Background: Internal medicine (IM) physicians report inadequate preparation to care for adolescents and young adults. Purpose: The aim is to (a) improve IM residents’ comfort and confidence caring for adolescents/young adults and (b) increase the percentage of adolescent/young adult patients receiving preventive healthcare. Methods: Fifty-two PGY1 IM residents were assigned to treatment or control groups. Residents in the treatment group interviewed and received feedback from adolescent instructors. We developed a survey to measure residents’ comfort and confidence caring for adolescents/young adults and evaluated their adherence to screening guidelines for patients ages 16 to 26. Results: Significantly more residents in the intervention group felt confident identifying sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and substance abuse and treating STIs, substance abuse, and depression compared to residents in the control group. Residents in the intervention group were no more likely to screen adolescents/young a...
Accessibility of N-acyl-D-mannosamines to N-acetyl-D-neuraminic acid aldolase.

Abstract N -Acetyl- d -neuraminic acid (NeuNAc) aldolase is an important enzyme for the metabolic engineering of cell-surface NeuNAc using chemically modified d -mannosamines. To explore the optimal substrates for this application, eight N -acyl derivatives of d -mannosamine were prepared, and their accessibility to NeuNAc aldolase was quantitatively investigated. The N -propionyl-, N -butanoyl-, N - iso -butanoyl-, N -pivaloyl-, and N -phenylacetyl- d -mannosamines proved to be as good substrates as, or even better than, the natural N -acetyl- d -mannosamine, while the N -trifluoropropionyl and benzoyl derivatives were poor. It was proposed that the electronic effects might have a significant influence on the enzymatic aldol condensation reaction of d -mannosamine derivatives, with electron-deficient acyl groups having a negative impact. The results suggest that N -propionyl-, N -butanoyl-, N - iso -butanoyl-, and N -phenylacetyl- d -mannosamines may be employed to bioengineer NeuNAc on cells.
Persistence of dynamism effects in rats following auditory intensity differentiation

Abstract Two experiments, in which rats were trained in a two-way shuttle apparatus, were conducted in an attempt to examine stimulus intensity dynamism. In Experiment I, Six animals were differentially trained with a soft intensity tone (S D ) and a loud intensity tone (S Δ ). Marked dynamism effects were obtained when the animals were tested for intensity generalization in extinction. During acquisition training in Experiment II, six rats were presented with a warning signal against a more intense background tone. Three counterbalanced generalization tests were conducted: variation in the warning signal against a constant tone background, variation in the warning signal against a background of no tone, and variation in the background while the warning signal remained constant. The first two testing conditions resulted in striking dynamism, while the third condition indicated that little behavioral control was exerted by the background. These results were discussed relative to several interpretations of intensity dynamism.
Relations, cards, and search templates: user-guided web data integration and layout

We present three new interaction techniques for aiding users in collecting and organizing Web content. First, we demonstrate an interface for creating associations between websites, which facilitate the automatic retrieval of related content. Second, we present an authoring interface that allows users to quickly merge content from many different websites into a uniform and personalized representation, which we call a card. Finally, we introduce a novel search paradigm that leverages the relationships in a card to direct search queries to extract relevant content from multiple Web sources and fill a new series of cards instead of just returning a list of webpage URLs. Preliminary feedback from users is positive andvalidates our design.
The effect of easily ionized elements on analyte emission efficiency in inductively coupled plasma spectrometry

Abstract In a non-thermal source such as the inductively coupled plasma (ICP), non-radiative excited-state deactivation processes could conceivably reduce the efficiency of analyte emission just as they do fluorescence. A change in the corresponding collisional deactivation rates would therefore alter “emission efficiency” much as it would quantum efficiency. Indeed, such changes could explain otherwise confusing reports in the literature concerning the effects of easily ionized elements (EIEs) on analyte emission. In this study, the effect of several EIEs on the quantum efficiency of sodium fluorescence was studied experimentally and modeled theoretically. It is concluded that collisional quenching cannot be responsible for the EIE interferences that currently afflict ICP atomic emission spectrometry.
The “good” professional: Effects of trait-profile gender type, androgyny, and likableness on impressions of incumbents of sex-typed occupations

Three studies utilizing an impression formation paradigm assessed perceived desirability of masculine, feminine, and androgynous trait profiles attributed to incumbents of sex-typed occupations. Participants in all three studies were predominantly upper middle class Caucasians. Approximately 60% were women and 40% were men. While a general masculinity bias was observed, several important qualifications to this bias were suggested. In Study I, trait likableness had a greater influence than did trait gender typing on impressions across occupations, suggesting the occurrence of centrality effects. Context effects also occurred in impressions of various combinations of particular masculine and feminine traits. Study 2 controlled trait likableness, and while a masculinity bias was still observed, androgynous profiles were rated as equally desirable as masculine profiles across occupations. Study 3 demonstrated that high levels of both masculinity and femininity resulted in favorable impressions, and support was obtained for an “interactive model” of androgyny, i.e., androgynous profiles were rated as more desirable than either gender-typed masculine or feminine profiles across occupations. Nonetheless, some evidence of a “matching bias” between trait gender typing and occupational sex typing was obtained in all three studies, especially for the male-typed occupation of lawyer and the female-typed occupation of nurse. The results are discussed in terms of the operation of “occupational role schemas” in perceptions of incumbents.
Microhardness Anisotropy and the Indentation Size Effect (ISE) on the (100) of Single Crystal NiAl

The Knoop microhardness anisotropy of single crystal NiAl, a B2 intermetallic compound, was investigated on the (001) plane at indentation test loads from 25 to 500 g. An energy balance analysis was applied to analyze the indentation size effect (ISE). The load independent, orientation independent Knoop microhardness was determined to be 220 kg/mm2 for the (100) plane of NiAl.
An Improved Interpretation of a Lead Oxo Isopropoxide.

With the disclosure of the structure of Pb7(O)2(OSiMe3)10, the 1H, 17O, and 207Pb NMR spectra of a product of hydrolysis of Pb(OiPr)2 are much better understood with the formula Pb7(O)2(OiPr)10, illustrated.
Raman Scattering from Localized Magnons

Additional observations on Raman scattering from localized spin waves are reported. Spectra showing the one-magnon ${S}_{0}$-like mode in Mn${\mathrm{F}}_{2}$:Fe and one $d$-like mode in RbMn${\mathrm{F}}_{3}$:Ni are presented.
Nurses, professional striving and the poor— A case of incompatibility

Abstract This study examines the impact of professional group activities upon the orientations of 110 Public Health nurses toward indigent patients. By rejecting earlier social class explanations for differences in orientations, the argument is made that the activities of professional organizations need to be considered as significant factors in shaping the relationships between nurses and the poor.
Farmers' Health Insurance and Access to Health Care

We estimate farmers’ health care consumption given their insurance status, explicitly taking into account the possible endogeneity of insurance. Data come from the 1996‐2001 waves of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey conducted by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Results show that farmers have problems accessing affordable health insurance coverage, and these access problems lead to an overall reduction in the utilization of health care services by uninsured farmers. After controlling for selection, we observe quantitatively large and statistically significant direct effects of uninsurance on the utilization of health care services. This article investigates health insurance coverage among U.S. farmers, and whether insurance status has an effect on farmers’ consumption of health care services. The topic is important, as farmers do not typically work in employee groups. The majority of private health insurance coverage in the United States is financed through employers in the form of fringe benefits, because employee compensation in the form of health insurance is not taxed, whereas wage income is subject to income and payroll taxes. The basic premise of group insurance is that by pooling risks across a large number of individuals, health care utilization by unhealthy high-risk enrollees is effectively subsidized by healthier low-risk members. One concerning feature of this system is that employees who cannot be conveniently included in a group setting might be unable to afford relatively expensive straight-to-consumer policies offered by insurance companies. This concern is particularly pertinent to farmers, as many farmers and their families are individually employed as self proprietorships. According to our tabulations (discussed below), approximately 19% of farmers between ages 18 and 64 years do
ARCGIS DATA MODELS FOR MANAGING AND PROCESING IMAGERY

Abstract. As remote sensing technology advances, imagery becomes one of the most important data sources for GIS applications –as it can quickly provide the most current and most detailed information with high resolution image data. Traditional image processing workflow becomes inefficient in GIS applications especially in the case of disaster analysis. This paper introduces two ArcGIS data models that are designed for on-demand image processing in managing imagery: raster product and mosaic dataset. A raster product allows you to access single scene remote sensing image products dynamically such as a pan-sharpened and orthorectified GeoEye image or multi-spectral Landsat scene with a single drag and drop to the map display. Mosaic datasets allow you to catalog a large collection of images from many sensor platforms, process them on-the-fly and dynamically mosaic the images together. The key concept – the raster function that is used to implement on-the-fly image processing capabilities – will also be discussed.
Turkey's Choice: Is there a way out for Erdoğan?

Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been the leader of Turkey for more than a decade. As his regime tightens its grip on power, concerns are growing about the direction that Turkish democracy is taking, reports Behlul Ozkan.
Accessing multiple clouds with cloudmesh

We present the design of a toolkit that can be employed by users and administrators to manage virtual machines on multi-cloud environments. It can be run by individual users or offered as a service to a shared user community. We have practically demonstrated its use as part of a Future- Grid service, allowing users of FutureGrid to utilize such a service. Furthermore, we discuss implications and solutions for a unified metrics system assisting the users to find and utilize resources appropriate for their applications. Lastly, we discuss how to move such a multi-cloud environment for- ward by integrating clouds managed by the community or are offered as public clouds. This includes the introduction of a mutual trust agreement on a user and project basis. We have developed a number of components that support the creation of such a multi-cloud environment. This sys- tem is known as Cloudmesh and has been used in practice to achieve virtual machine management in multiple clouds. An important distinguishing factor of Cloudmesh is that it also allows the use of bare metal provisioning for support- ing service providers and authorized users, offering services beyond those available by typical clouds.
A Polymerase Mechanism-Based Strategy for Viral Attenuation and Vaccine Development

Live, attenuated vaccines have prevented morbidity and mortality associated with myriad viral pathogens. Development of live, attenuated vaccines has traditionally relied on empirical methods, such as growth in nonhuman cells. These approaches require substantial time and expense to identify vaccine candidates and to determine their mechanisms of attenuation. With these constraints, at least a decade is required for approval of a live, attenuated vaccine for use in humans. We recently reported the discovery of an active site lysine residue that contributes to the catalytic efficiency of all nucleic acid polymerases (Castro, C., Smidansky, E. D., Arnold, J. J., Maksimchuk, K. R., Moustafa, I., Uchida, A., Gotte, M., Konigsberg, W., and Cameron, C. E. (2009) Nat. Struct. Mol. Biol. 16, 212–218). Here we use a model RNA virus and its polymerase to show that mutation of this residue from lysine to arginine produces an attenuated virus that is genetically stable and elicits a protective immune response. Given the conservation of this residue in all viral polymerases, this study suggests that a universal, mechanism-based strategy may exist for viral attenuation and vaccine development.
Outcomes and factors impacting local recurrence of ductal carcinoma in situ.

BACKGROUND The optimal management of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) remains controversial. Investigators have focused on identifying patients who are eligible for treatment by excision alone. A retrospective analysis of patients with DCIS treated by various modalities was conducted to compare outcomes and determine factors significant for local recurrence (LR). METHODS Between 1985–1992, 88 consecutive diagnoses of DCIS were identified in 85 patients. Seventy-four percent were detected mammographically. The most common histologic subtypes were comedo (54%) and cribriform (23%). Tumor sizes were 2.5-5 cm (26%), > 5 cm (23%), and unknown (2%). Final resection margins were tumor free (75%), close/positive (23%), and unknown (2%). Treatment methods included mastectomy (30%), localized surgery and radiation therapy (LSR) (43%), or wide localized surgery alone (LS) (27%). Radiation therapy (RT) was comprised of 50 grays to the breast, and 53% of treated patients received local “boost” irradiation. RESULTS The median follow up was 8.3 years. The overall recurrence rate was 13.6%, whereas the median time to LR was 27.8 months. Recurrence rates according to treatment modality were: LS: 25%; LSR: 13%; and mastectomy: 4%. However, if surgical margins were tumor free, LSR had a LR rate of 3.4%. After RT, no LR occurred prior to 15 months, and 4 of 5 tumors were noninvasive. Nine patients treated by excision alone conformed to the criteria of Lagios et al. criteria and LR occurred in three of nine tumors. Of the factors analyzed, margin status was found to be the best predictor for LR (P = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS If surgical margins are tumor free, the LSR regimen is equivalent to mastectomy for local tumor control. Annual mammograms may be adequate for the follow-up of patients with irradiated breasts, but biannual studies still are recommended for patients treated with excision alone. Cancer 2000;88:1643–9. © 2000 American Cancer Society.
Silicon PIN quasi-continuous wave Terahertz emitter

Enhanced external efficiency, improved coherence and tunability are demonstrated for silicon PIN THz emitters by utilizing the internal reflection and multi optical pulse excitation.
Production, assimilation and accumulation of organic matter in ecosystems

Abstract Current equations for energy flow through populations and ecosystems use the term net production for two distinct concepts: (1) the rate at which new organic matter is produced after providing for maintenance, and (2) the rate at which the standing crop of organic matter changes. Some other problems occur in current schemes of production. For instance, costs of maintenance other than respiration have been excluded from gross production, and application of equations has been restricted to closed systems. The increasing emphasis on ecological energetics at the ecosystem level makes it important to overcome these difficulties. Complete description of the energetic state of ecosystems requires provision for detrital components as well as autotrophs and heterotrophs. A series of equations are developed to accomplish this analysis with consistent application of terminology at all levels of organization.
Biomarker Identification Under Growth Factor Priming for Cartilage Tissue Engineering

Adult articular cartilage has a poor healing capacity, which has lead to intense research toward development of cell-based therapies for cartilage repair. The destruction of articular cartilage results in osteoarthritis (OA), which affects about 27 million Americans. In order to create functional tissue, it is essential to mimic the native environment by optimizing expansion protocols. Cell passaging and priming with chemical or physical factors are often necessary steps in cell-based strategies for regenerative medicine [1]. The ability to identify biomarkers that can act as predictors of cells with a high capacity to form functional engineered cartilage will permit optimization of protocols for cartilage tissue engineering using different cell sources. Recent investigations have shown that chondrocytes and synovium-derived stem cells (SDSCs) are promising cell sources for cartilage repair [2,3]. The analysis of gene expression and comparative proteomics, which defines the differences in expression of proteins among different biological states, provides a potentially powerful tool in this effort [4]. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of growth factor priming in 2D canine chondrocytes and SDSCs cultures by identifying differentially regulated biomarkers, which can correlate to functional tissue elaboration in 3D.© 2012 ASME
Evaluation of Novel Techniques for Measurement of Air-Water Exchange of Persistent Bioaccumulative Toxicants in Lake Superior

We report initial measurements of concentrations and net air-water exchange fluxes of target persistent bioaccumulative toxicants (PBTs) in Lake Superior utilizing techniques not previously applied for this purpose. Gaseous PBTs are collected in diffusion denuders containing sections of commercial chromatography columns and subsequently thermally extracted into the cooled injection inlet of a high-resolution gas chromatograph. The PBT sampling/analytical methods enable accurate determination of gas-phase PBT concentration and micrometeorological measurement of fluxes to be carried out. PBT fluxes are measured by the modified Bowen ratio technique in which sensible heat flux is related to PBT flux, with the assumption of identical transfer velocities of heat and PBTs between two heights in the atmospheric surface layer. Micrometeorological measurement of flux accounts for all sources of resistance to mass transfer, including atmospheric stability effects, surface films, waves, sea spray, and bubbles. The sensible heatflux, PBT concentration, and PBT flux measurements carried out in 14 2- or 3-h periods during seven sampling events in Lake Superior in summer and fall 2002 and spring 2003 demonstrate advantages under the constraints of the techniques. The uncertainty of the flux measurements was typically in the range from 1% to 160%. Gaseous concentrations of a-hexachlorocyclohexane (alpha-HCH) and hexachlorobenzene (HCB) over Lake Superior were in the range from 6 to 170 and 12-95 pg/m3, respectively. Fluxes out of Lake Superior were measurable in 75% of the cases in which a concentration gradient was measured, and were in the range from -0.17 to +0.064 ng/m2 x h for alpha-HCH and from -0.60 to -0.093 ng/m2 x h for HCB.
Surrogate Endpoints in Clinical Trials

Surrogate endpoints are used to document treatment effects more easily and rapidly, yet controversies arise in their use. Examples of ways in which reliance on surrogate endpoints can lead to false...
Systems biology of lung development and regeneration: current knowledge and recommendations for future research

The lung begins as a simple outpouching of the foregut and develops by stages into a highly complex organ, the proper function of which is essential to life for terrestrial mammals. Interruption of normal lung development can result in death or chronic disease. Conversely, repair after lung injury, as well as many acquired diseases, involves recapitulation, often aberrant, of developmental pathways. The principal paradigms in lung development are branching morphogenesis and alveolar septation, but others, such as vasculogenesis, are critical. These are partially understood at the level of cellular differentiation and molecular signaling, but a true systems biology analysis of lung development and lung repair/regeneration, including bioinformatics analysis and integration of data from unbiased and complementary '-omics' level studies, is still lacking. The past decade has seen increasing numbers of genomic, proteomic, metabolomics, and epigenomic studies of lung development and lung remodeling. In many cases, these studies have confirmed the importance of pathways uncovered painstakingly through single-molecule approaches, but they have also uncovered novel and unexpected pathways and new paradigms such as noncoding RNA. Future studies will need to combine data from multiple repositories and apply novel mathematical and computational models in order to establish a systems-level understanding of this remarkable organ.
LAMP/FILTER SYSTEMS FOR SIMULATION OF SOLAR UV IRRADIANCE UNDER REDUCED ATMOSPHERIC OZONE*

— Lamp/filter systems for simulation of solar ultraviolet irradiance corresponding to various degrees of stratospheric ozone decrease are described for use in field and growth-chamber biological experiments. In growth-chamber applications, a constant ultraviolet enhancement simulation can be achieved with a 6000 W xenon arc with glass filters. For field applications, Westinghouse FS-40 ‘sun lamps’ filtered with plastic films provide an ultraviolet supplement for use when solar altitudes exceed 40°.
Propanal May Be a Precursor of Ethylene in Metabolism

Propanal, a product of the decomposition of peroxidized linolenate, is a very effective precursor of ethylene in the copper-catalyzed ethylene-forming model system. This aldehyde also stimulates production of ethylene in slices of tissue of mature green tomatoes. We suggest that propanal is a precursor of ethylene in metabolism.
Social Coping and Life Satisfaction in Adolescents

This study examined the relationships among early adolescent social coping behavior and measures of subjective well-being, specifically global life satisfaction and friend satisfaction. A total of 1,011 students in grades 7–8 at a southeastern US middle school completed measures of global life satisfaction, friend satisfaction and coping, on two occasions, 5 months apart. Social support seeking coping behavior at Time 1, but not problem-solving, distancing, internalizing or externalizing coping behaviors at Time 1, uniquely predicted global life satisfaction and friend satisfaction at Time 2. Implications for research and promoting adolescent well-being are discussed.
COLONY AND HABITAT SELECTION OF SIX KELP GULL LARUS DOMINICANUS COLONIES IN SOUTH AFRICA

Summary Kelp Gulls nested in six colonies on rocky islands, sand and rock cliffs, sand dunes and on a sand, gravel island in a salt lake. The colony sites selected were different from the surrounding areas and were generally inaccessible to ground predators. Kelp Gulls nested in a wide variety of habitats. Within colonies, the gulls did not nest randomly with respect to habitats but preferred to nest on flat, stable areas with some cover (either rocks or vegetation). They generally avoided heavily vegetated areas, areas devoid of vegetation and areas with steep slopes. Their specific habitat choices relate to predation and cannibalism pressures. Intermediate cover provides adequate protection for chicks while allowing for increased visibility and open escape routes for parents. Nearest neighbour distances were similar among colonies and habitats, indicating strong social attraction.
An investigation of vibrational exciton bands in solid nitrous oxide

Abstract Infrared spectra of N 2 O crystals containing dilute to isotopic impurities are reported. Information on the second moments and other properties of the vibrational exciton bands has been determined from an analysis of the impurity modes, the LOTO splittings, and a comparison of the transition dipole moments of N 2 O with those of CO 2 . The effect of the random sense of the molecules on the spectra is discussed.
Continuous Improvement through Iterative Development in a Multi-Geography

With a very short time frame in mind we were commissioned to build a service solution that encompassed over 430 requirements. Given expertise, skills, time and budget constraints we had to search for resources around the world and assembled a team of more than 40 people in 7 locations across 6 different time zones. We chose state of the art architecture and development paradigms such as Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) and iterative development to facilitate the service capabilities between components and teams and to continuously refine our approach from iteration to iteration. In this paper we identify some of the challenges we faced and describe how we addressed them in subsequent iterations. The aggregate of our improvements constitutes a set of best practices that we recommend for future engagements of this type and suggestions for new tooling to support these activities.
A diurnal rhythm in pineal protein 1 content mediated by beta-adrenergic neurotransmission

A diurnal rhythm was found in the total amount of the neuron-specific phosphoprotein protein I in rat pinealocytes. &#946-Adrenergic neurotransmission appears to be the mechanism regulating the amount of pineal protein I in vivo.
Nature of the E-B decomposition of CMB polarization

We present a derivation of the transformation between the Q and U Stokes parameters and the E and B scalar and pseudoscalar fields. We emphasize the geometrical properties that such transformation must satisfy. We present the E and B decompositions of some simple maps and of a model for a supernova remnant. We discuss the relative amplitudes of the E and B components, and argue that for generic random maps E and B should have roughly the same amplitudes.
Site-specific inter-strand cross-links of DNA duplexes

We report the development of technology that allows inter-strand coupling across various positions within one turn of DNA. Four 2′-modified nucleotides were synthesized as protected phosphoramidites and incorporated into DNA oligonucleotides. The modified nucleotides contain either 5-atom or 16-atom linker components, with either amine or carboxylic acid functional groups at their termini, forming 10 or 32 atom (11 or 33 bond) linkages. Chemical coupling of the amine and carboxylate groups in designed strands resulted in the formation of an amide bond. Coupling efficiency as a function of trajectory distance between the individual linker components was examined. For those nucleotides capable of forming inter-strand cross-links (ICLs), coupling yields were found to depend on temperature, distance, and linker length, enabling several approaches that can control regioselective linkage. In the most favorable cases, the coupling yields are quantitative. Spectroscopic measurements of strands that were chemically cross-linked indicate that the global structure of the DNA duplex does not appear to be distorted from the B form after coupling. Thermal denaturing profiles of those strands were shifted to somewhat higher temperatures than those of their respective control duplexes. Thus, the robust amide ICLs formed by this approach are site-specific, do not destabilize the rest of the duplex, and only minimally perturb the secondary structure.