cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Symmetry breaking and spectral considerations of the surprisingly floppy c-C3H radical and the related dipole-bound excited state of c-C3H.

The C3H radical is believed to be prevalent throughout the interstellar medium and may be involved in the formation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. C3H exists as both a linear and a cyclic isomer. The C2v cyclopropenylidenyl radical isomer was detected in the dark molecular cloud TMC-1, and the linear propenylidenyl radical isomer has been observed in various dark molecular clouds. Even though the c-C3H radical has been classified rotationally, the vibrational frequencies of this seemingly important interstellar molecule have never been directly observed. Established, highly accurate quartic force field methodologies are employed here to compute useful geometrical data, spectroscopic constants, and vibrational frequencies. The computed rotational constants are consistent with the experimental results. Consequently, the three a1 (ν1, ν2, and ν3) and one b1 (ν6) anharmonic vibrational frequencies at 3117.7 cm−1, 1564.3 cm−1, 1198.5 cm−1, and 826.7 cm−1, respectively, are reliable predictions for these,...
Measurement Issues in EBD Research: What We Know and How We Know It

Since the passage of the No Child Left Behind Act in 2002, educators have been advised that it is no longer acceptable to allow ideology, fads, or untested procedures to define teaching. Therefore,...
Characteristics of Rural America

Our purpose here is to present a general demographic profile of rural America. This profile is not meant to be exhaustive; for example, a discussion of changes in demographic characteristics, or causes of such changes, is not included. However, this profile will provide the reader with basic information necessary for an adequate understanding of rural America. Questions answered will include: How many people live in rural America? What proportion of rural Americans are farmers? Geographically speaking, where do rural Americans live? How well educated are rural Americans? What kind of jobs do rural Americans have? How much money do they make? Are there any differences in educational levels, jobs, and income levels among rural whites, blacks, and Hispanics?
Waveguide optical tweezers for selective cell lysis

Waveguide evanescent fields enable lysing of selected red blood cells. Cells are trapped on waveguides and are lysed by rapidly reducing the trapping forces. Red blood cells of different age require different levels of lysing power, allowing selective lysing of crenate cells.
Building Predictive Models of Genetic Circuits Using the Principle of Maximum Caliber

Learning the underlying details of a gene network is a major challenge in cellular and synthetic biology. We address this challenge by building a chemical kinetic model that utilizes information encoded in the stochastic protein expression trajectories typically measured in experiments. The applicability of the proposed method is demonstrated in an auto-activating genetic circuit, a common motif in natural and synthetic gene networks. Our approach is based on the principle of maximum caliber (MaxCal)-a dynamical analog of the principle of maximum entropy-and builds a minimal model using only three constraints: 1) protein synthesis, 2) protein degradation, and 3) positive feedback. The MaxCal-generated model (described with four parameters) was benchmarked against synthetic data generated using a Gillespie algorithm on a known reaction network (with seven parameters). MaxCal accurately predicts underlying rate parameters of protein synthesis and degradation as well as experimental observables such as protein number and dwell-time distributions. Furthermore, MaxCal yields an effective feedback parameter that can be useful for circuit design. We also extend our methodology and demonstrate how to analyze trajectories that are not in protein numbers but in arbitrary fluorescence units, a more typical condition in experiments. This "top-down" methodology based on minimal information-in contrast to traditional "bottom-up" approaches that require ad hoc knowledge of circuit details-provides a powerful tool to accurately infer underlying details of feedback circuits that are not otherwise visible in experiments and to help guide circuit design.
Genetically programmed chiral organoborane synthesis

Recent advances in enzyme engineering and design have expanded nature’s catalytic repertoire to functions that are new to biology. However, only a subset of these engineered enzymes can function in living systems. Finding enzymatic pathways that form chemical bonds that are not found in biology is particularly difficult in the cellular environment, as this depends on the discovery not only of new enzyme activities, but also of reagents that are both sufficiently reactive for the desired transformation and stable in vivo. Here we report the discovery, evolution and generalization of a fully genetically encoded platform for producing chiral organoboranes in bacteria. Escherichia coli cells harbouring wild-type cytochrome c from Rhodothermus marinus8 (Rma cyt c) were found to form carbon–boron bonds in the presence of borane–Lewis base complexes, through carbene insertion into boron–hydrogen bonds. Directed evolution of Rma cyt c in the bacterial catalyst provided access to 16 novel chiral organoboranes. The catalyst is suitable for gram-scale biosynthesis, providing up to 15,300 turnovers, a turnover frequency of 6,100 h^(–1), a 99:1 enantiomeric ratio and 100% chemoselectivity. The enantiopreference of the biocatalyst could also be tuned to provide either enantiomer of the organoborane products. Evolved in the context of whole-cell catalysts, the proteins were more active in the whole-cell system than in purified forms. This study establishes a DNA-encoded and readily engineered bacterial platform for borylation; engineering can be accomplished at a pace that rivals the development of chemical synthetic methods, with the ability to achieve turnovers that are two orders of magnitude (over 400-fold) greater than those of known chiral catalysts for the same class of transformation. This tunable method for manipulating boron in cells could expand the scope of boron chemistry in living systems.
Prediction uncertainty and data worth assessment for groundwater transport times in an agricultural catchment

Abstract Uncertainties about the age of base-flow discharge can have serious implications for the management of degraded environmental systems where subsurface pathways, and the ongoing release of pollutants that accumulated in the subsurface during past decades, dominate the water quality signal. Numerical groundwater models may be used to estimate groundwater return times and base-flow ages and thus predict the time required for stakeholders to see the results of improved agricultural management practices. However, the uncertainty inherent in the relationship between (i) the observations of atmospherically-derived tracers that are required to calibrate such models and (ii) the predictions of system age that the observations inform have not been investigated. For example, few if any studies have assessed the uncertainty of numerically-simulated system ages or evaluated the uncertainty reductions that may result from the expense of collecting additional subsurface tracer data. In this study we combine numerical flow and transport modeling of atmospherically-derived tracers with prediction uncertainty methods to accomplish four objectives. First, we show the relative importance of head, discharge, and tracer information for characterizing response times in a uniquely data rich catchment that includes 266 age-tracer measurements (SF6, CFCs, and 3H) in addition to long term monitoring of water levels and stream discharge. Second, we calculate uncertainty intervals for model-simulated base-flow ages using both linear and non-linear methods, and find that the prediction sensitivity vector used by linear first-order second-moment methods results in much larger uncertainties than non-linear Monte Carlo methods operating on the same parameter uncertainty. Third, by combining prediction uncertainty analysis with multiple models of the system, we show that data-worth calculations and monitoring network design are sensitive to variations in the amount of water leaving the system via stream discharge and irrigation withdrawals. Finally, we demonstrate a novel model-averaged computation of potential data worth that can account for these uncertainties in model structure.
Treatment of New-Onset Psoriasis Post-Kidney Transplant:

Psoriasis is a chronic skin disorder with an autoimmune component primarily driven by overactive T cells culminating in an excessive inflammatory response. Patients have reported clearance of their psoriasis after organ transplant, due to their maintenance on immunosuppressive regimens. Flares of psoriasis post-organ transplant are more rare and often require carefully thought-out management plans. Here we report the treatment of a patient who was diagnosed with new-onset psoriasis eight months after a kidney transplant. In discussion with his nephrologist, the decision was made to increase the doses of tacrolimus and mycophenolate mofetil.
Glycan modifications to the gp120 immunogens used in the RV144 vaccine trial improve binding to broadly neutralizing antibodies

To date, the RV144 HIV vaccine trial has been the only study to show that immunization can confer protection from HIV infection. While encouraging, the modest 31.2% (P = 0.04) efficacy achieved in this study left significant room for improvement, and created an incentive to optimize the AIDSVAX B/E vaccine immunogens to increase the level of vaccine efficacy. Since the completion of the RV144 trial, our understanding of the antigenic structure of the HIV envelope protein, gp120, and of the specificity of broadly neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (bN-mAbs) that bind to it, has significantly improved. In particular, we have learned that multiple families of bN-mAbs require specific oligomannose glycans for binding. Both of the monomeric gp120 immunogens (MN- and A244-rgp120) in the AIDSVAX B/E vaccine used in the RV144 trial were enriched for glycans containing high levels of sialic acid, and lacked critical N-linked glycosylation sites required for binding by several families of bN-mAbs. The absence of these epitopes may have contributed to the low level of efficacy achieved in this study. In this report, we describe our efforts to improve the antigenic structure of the rgp120 immunogens used in the vaccine by optimizing glycan-dependent epitopes recognized by multiple bN-mAbs. Our results demonstrated that by shifting the location of one PNGS in A244-rgp120, and by adding two PNGS to MN-rgp120, in conjunction with the production of both proteins in a cell line that favors the incorporation of oligomannose glycans, we could significantly improve the binding by three major families of bN-mAbs. The immunogens described here represent a second generation of gp120-based vaccine immunogens that exhibit potential for use in RV144 follow-up studies.
Aggression: Definitions and Perspectives

Mylai; Bangladesh; Angola; Beirut; the Symbionese Liberation Army; terrorism in Africa and the Middle East; senseless violence on the streets of major cities; murder; kidnap; rape; assassination; child abuse—the list of human cruelty seems almost endless. Indeed, so common do instances of aggression or violence appear to be at the present time that it is virtually impossible to pick up a daily newspaper, leaf through a popular magazine, or tune in the evening news without learning of the occurrence of several new and shocking atrocities.
Students' Perceptions of Expressiveness: Age and Gender Effects on Teacher Evaluations.

In this study we investigated the relationship between college students' perceptions of professors' expressiveness and implicit age and gender stereotypes. Three hundred and fifty-two male and female students watched slides of an age- and gender-neutral stick figure and listened to a neutral voice presenting a lecture, and then evaluated it on teacher evaluation forms that indicated 1 of 4 different age and gender conditions (male, female, “old,” and “young”). Main and interaction effects indicated that students rated the “young” male professor higher than they did the “young” female, “old” male, and “old” female professors on speaking enthusiastically and using a meaningful voice tone during the class lecture regardless of the identical manner in which the material was presented. Implications of biased teacher-expressiveness items on student evaluations are discussed.
Did Serrano Really Cause Proposition 13

In this article, we examine the relationship between Serrano v. Priest, the landmark school finance equalization decision of the California Supreme Court, and Proposition 13, the state's famous property tax revolt. As school finance litigation continues in several states, opponents of equalization schemes have argued that Serrano "caused" Proposition 13. Prior to Serrano, the argument goes, California's local public sector resembled a "Tiebout equilibrium" in that local property taxes approximated market prices. Serrano destroyed that equilibrium, giving voters new reason to oppose the property tax. This theory has been offered as an explanation for why voters swung from rejecting a property tax limitation in 1972 to embracing Prop 13 only six years later. We present new statistical and historical evidence challenging the connection between Serrano and Prop 13. Using multiple regression analysis, we demonstrate that Serrano had little actual effect on Prop 13 and that the swing from 1972 to 1978 is better explained by considering alternative explanatory variables. We also present original historical research regarding Serrano's effect on the legislature's ability to provide proprty tax relief. Our evidence casts doubt on the thesis that Serrano caused Prop 13 and reveals a more complicated story in which the institutional rigidities of the fiscal decisionmaking process precluded a rational response to the extraordinary housing inflation of the early 1970's.
Water in the Middle East

Water resources are a particularly problematic variable in the environmental security milieu because water is an essential resource for which there is no substitute. The volume of renewable fresh water is finite and not equitably distributed in a spatial sense. From a geopolitical perspective, the world’s largest river systems are shared by multiple states and the potential for conflict is high. Historically water conflicts have resolved by cooperative means and states have relied on technology, trade, and diplomatic solutions. This chapter argues that the security landscape has changed profoundly, and the history of cooperative water–conflict resolution is no longer a reliable guide to the future. Rather, the continued peaceful resolution of interstate water conflicts is inconsistent with the realities of the emerging national security landscape. Climate change is already adversely affecting the distribution of water in many critical water basins, and the simultaneous proliferation of failing states has reduced the potential for diplomatic resolutions. This chapter examines linkages between environmental stress, regional instability, water availability, and conflict and uses the Middle East as a case study to highlight these points.
Oscillatory Tunnel Magnetoresistance in a Carbon Nanotube Based Three-Terminal Magnetic Tunnel Junction

Electrostatic control of tunnel magnetoresistance (TMR) in a carbon nanotube (CNT)-based three-terminal magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) is critical to the development of next-generation nanospintron...
The mir-465 family is upregulated with age and attenuates growth hormone signaling in mouse liver.

We analyzed the small RNA transcriptome from 5-month-old, 24-month-old, and 36-month-old mouse liver and found 56 miRNAs that changed their expression profile with age. Among these is a cluster of 18 miRNAs that are upregulated between 50- and 1,000-fold at 24 and 36 months of age. This cluster is located in a 60-kb region of the X-chromosome that is devoid of other coding sequences and is part of a lamin-associated domain. Potential targets of the miRNAs in the cluster suggest they may regulate several pathways altered in aging, including the PI3K-Akt pathway. Total transcriptome analyses indicate that expression of several potential genes in the PI3K-Akt pathway that may be targeted by the mir-465 family (mmu-mir-465a, mmu-mir-465b, and mmu-mir-465c) is downregulated with age. Transfection of the liver cell line AML12 with mir-465 family members leads to a reduction of three of these potential targets at the mRNA level: a 40% reduction of the growth hormone receptor (GHR), and a 25% reduction in Kitl and PPP2R3C. Further investigation of the GHR 3'UTR revealed that the mir-465 family directly targets the GHR mRNA. Cells transfected with mir-465 showed a reduction of JAK2 and STAT5 phosphorylation upon growth hormone (GH) stimulation, resulting in a reduction in insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and IGF-1-binding protein 3 expression. With age, GH signaling falls and there is a reduction in circulating IGF-1. Our data suggest that an increase in expression of the mir-465 family with age may contribute to the reduction in the GH signaling.
Strategic Consumer Response to Dynamic Pricing of Perishable Products

Dynamic pricing is a standard practice that sellers use for revenue management. With the vast availability of pricing and inventory data on the Internet, it is possible for consumers to become aware of the pricing strategies used by sellers and to develop strategic responses. In this chapter, we study the strategic response of consumers to dynamic prices for perishable products. As price fluctuates with the changes in time and inventory, a strategic consumer may choose to postpone a purchase in anticipation of lower prices in the future. We analyze a threshold purchasing policy for the strategic consumer, and conduct numerical studies to study its impact on both the strategic consumer’s benefits and the seller’s revenue. We find that in most cases the policy can benefit both the strategic consumer and the seller. In practice, the seller could encourage consumer waiting by adopting a target price purchasing system.
Going on a shopping spree

In the third article in her series on role-play, Judith Harries focuses on the activity of shopping, giving children creative scope to open up their very own shop and extend their understanding of ...
The determinants and purpose of income diversification of rural households in Bangladesh

This study determines the factors that affect the nature and extent of household income diversification in Bangladesh. The study also investigates whether the motivation for diversification was to support asset accumulation or survival. The findings show that the extent of the diversification index is determined by household endowments of assets such as wealth, a higher number of earners, higher education, easy access to market, and better infrastructure. The motive for overall diversification was accumulation, not survival. An interesting finding was that off-farm income diversification serves a two-fold purpose. Wealthier households are attracted into off-farm self-employment to get a higher return facilitated by easy access to financial assets, and labour endowment. Credit constrained poor households are influenced by endowment in the form of education and labour to diversify into off-farm wage activities as a mean of survival. Investment in infrastructure, electrification and education does and will support income diversification in Bangladesh.
Addressing Neisseria gonorrhoeae Treatment Resistance With the DNA Gyrase A Assay: An Economic Study, United States

Targeted antibiotics could delay emergence of resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae. The DNA gyrase subunit A assay predicts susceptibility to ciprofloxacin. A model found that adding a $50 gyrase subunit A test for asymptomatic patients screened for N. gonorrhoeae resulted in cost neutrality. When ciprofloxacin susceptibility was high, a $114 test resulted in savings.
TRIGONOMETRIC APPROXIMATION OF FUNCTIONS BY HAUSDORFF-MATRIX PRODUCT OPERATORS

In this paper, we obtain the error approximation of a function in weighted W ( L r ,ξ ( t )) ,r ≥ 1 class by Hausdorff-Matrix ( ∧ T ) product means of its Fourier series. Our main theorems generalize the results of Nigam ([18], [19]), Nigam and Sharma [20], Singh and Srivastava [28] and Lal [14]. Thus, these results become the particular cases of our theorems. Some important corollaries are also deduced from our main theorems.
Combined methazolamide and theophylline improves oxygen saturation but not exercise performance or altitude illness in acute hypobaric hypoxia.

NEW FINDINGS What is the central question of this study? Does the combination of methazolamide and theophylline reduce symptoms of acute mountain sickness (AMS) and improve aerobic performance in acute hypobaric hypoxia? What is the main finding and its importance? The oral combination of methazolamide (100 BID) and theophylline (300 BID) improved arterial oxygen saturation but did not reduce symptoms of AMS and impaired aerobic performance. We do not recommend this combination of drugs for prophylaxis against the acute negative effects of hypobaric hypoxia. ABSTRACT A limited number of small studies have suggested that methazolamide and theophylline can independently reduce symptoms of acute mountain sickness (AMS) and, if taken together, can improve aerobic exercise performance in normobaric hypoxia. We performed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study to determine if the combination of oral methazolamide and theophylline could provide prophylaxis against AMS and improve aerobic performance in hypobaric hypoxia (∼4875 m). Volunteers with histories of AMS were screened at low altitude (1650 m) and started combined methazolamide (100 mg BID) and theophylline (300 mg BID) treatment, or placebo, 72 h prior to decompression. Baseline AMS (Lake Louise Questionnaire), blood (haemoglobin, haematocrit), cognitive function, ventilatory and pulse oximetry ( SpO2 ) measures were assessed at low altitude and repeated between 4 and 10 h of exposure to hypobaric hypoxia (PB = 425 mmHg). Aerobic exercise performance was assessed during a 12.5 km cycling time trial (TT) after 4 h of hypobaric hypoxia. Subjects repeated all experimental procedures after a 3-week washout period. Differences between drug and placebo trials were evaluated using repeated measures ANOVA (α = 0.05). The drugs improved resting SpO2 by ∼4% (P < 0.01), but did not affect the incidence or severity of AMS or cognitive function scores relative to placebo. Subjects' performance on the 12.5 km TT was ∼3% worse when taking the drugs (P < 0.01). The combination of methazolamide and theophylline in the prescribed dosages is not recommended for use at high altitude as it appears to have no measurable effect on AMS and can impair aerobic performance.
ROM1 contributes to phenotypic heterogeneity in PRPH2-associated retinal disease

Peripherin 2 (PRPH2) is a retina-specific tetraspanin protein essential for the formation of rod and cone photoreceptor outer segments (OS). Patients with mutations in PRPH2 exhibit severe retinal degeneration characterized by vast inter- and intra-familial phenotypic heterogeneity. To help understand contributors to this within-mutation disease variability, we asked whether the PRPH2 binding partner rod OS membrane protein 1 (ROM1) could serve as a phenotypic modifier. We utilized knockin and transgenic mouse models to evaluate the structural, functional and biochemical effects of eliminating one allele of Rom1 (Rom1+/-) in three different Prph2 models which mimic human disease: C213Y Prph2 (Prph2C/+), K153Del Prph2 (Prph2K/+) and R172W (Prph2R172W). Reducing Rom1 in the absence of Prph2 mutations (Rom1+/-) had no effect on retinal structure or function. However, the effects of reducing Rom1 in the presence of Prph2 mutations were highly variable. Prph2K/+/Rom1+/- mice had improved rod and cone function compared with Prph2K/+ as well as amelioration of K153Del-associated defects in PRPH2/ROM1 oligomerization. In contrast, Prph2R172W/Rom1+/- animals had worsened rod and cone function and exacerbated retinal degeneration compared with Prph2R172W animals. Removing one allele of Rom1 had no effect in Prph2C/+. Combined, our findings support a role for non-pathogenic ROM1 null variants in contributing to phenotypic variability in mutant PRPH2-associated retinal degeneration. Since the effects of Rom1 reduction are variable, our data suggest that this contribution is specific to the type of Prph2 mutation.
The Empirical Reasonable Person

The reasonable person standard is central to law and to tort law in particular. But there is much debate about what it means for a person to behave reasonably. Some scholars argue that reasonableness is an economic prescription, dictating that people should take (only) cost-justified precautions. Others contend that reasonableness is grounded in community customs or norms. Interestingly, this scholarly debate has always been more philosophical than empirical. Though it is often lay jurors who determine whether litigants’ behavior is reasonable, very little work has examined how laypeople make this determination. This Article approaches the reasonableness debate from a fresh empirical perspective, examining the factors that influence whether laypeople judge behavior as reasonable. Across four experiments, participants’ judgments consistently depended on information about the behavior of others—and never depended on whether precautions were cost-justified. These findings supply the first experimental evidence that lay decision makers understand reasonableness more in behavioral than in economic terms; indeed, they may not understand reasonableness in economic terms at all. After describing the experimental findings, the Article unpacks some of their implications. First, the Article contends that tort law’s reasonable person standard both is and should be informed by observations and beliefs about others’ conduct. Second, the Article identifies challenges that arise from conceiving of the reasonable person in economic terms. Finally, the Article raises the possibility that decision makers’ understanding of reasonableness varies—and perhaps should vary—depending on the nature of the alleged negligence at issue.
Radio Imaging of Gamma-Ray Burst Jets in Nearby Supernovae

We calculate the time evolution of the flux, apparent size, and image centroid motion of gamma-ray burst (GRB) radio jets and show that they can be resolved by the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) at distances of hundreds of megaparsecs. We find that GRB 030329, which showed spectroscopic evidence for an associated Type Ic supernova (SN) at a distance of ≈800 Mpc, might just be resolvable by VLBA after several months. The prospects are much better for jets that are oriented sideways in similar SNe with no GRB counterpart; in particular, the motion of the flux centroid in such jets can be detected by the VLBA up to , even when the z ∼ 1 jet cannot be resolved. If most GRBs are accompanied by a Type Ib/c SN, then there should be a few SN/GRB jets per year within a distance 200 Mpc, and most of them would be oriented sideways with no gamma-ray or X-ray precursor. Detection of these jets can be used to calibrate the fraction of all core-collapse SNe that produce relativistic outflows and determine the local GRB rate. Overall, the rate of Type Ib/c SNe that do not produce a GRB at all, but rather make relativistic radio jets with an initial Lorentz factor of a few, may be larger by up to 2 orders of magnitude than the rate of those that produce GRBs. Subject headings: gamma rays: bursts — ISM: jets and outflows — supernovae: general On-line material: color figures
Clinical efficacy of spray-based heat-treated lactobacilli in canine atopic dermatitis: a preliminary, open-label, uncontrolled study.

Background Canine atopic dermatitis (cAD) is a common inflammatory and pruritic skin disease, with various treatment options. The use of topical products containing natural ingredients has proven increasingly popular. Objective To evaluate the effects of a spray solution containing heat-killed Lactobacillus rhamnosus and L. reuteri, on the clinical signs and cutaneous microbiota of atopic dogs. Animals Ten privately owned, mildly affected, nonseasonally atopic dogs. Methods and materials The spray was applied to the ventrum every 24 h for 28 days. Clinical scores, skin barrier function and owner assessment were evaluated on day (D)0, D14, D28 and D42. The cutaneous microbiota was analysed on D0 and D28. Results A reduction in the total clinical score was seen at each time point (D14, P = 0.03; D28, P = 0.04; D42, P = 0.001). A reduction in the regional clinical scores was seen after D28 (P = 0.01) and D42 (P = 0.003). A significant reduction in the pruritus score was seen on D42 (P = 0.01). A lower hydration value was seen on D28 (P = 0.02) and D42 (P = 0.02) on the pinnae. A good-to-excellent response and an easy-to-use administration was reported by owners. There were no significant changes in the cutaneous microbiota after 28 days. Conclusions and clinical importance There was a significant and rapid decrease in the clinical signs associated with cAD after use of the spray. Future larger, randomized, controlled studies are needed to confirm these results and to assess the effects on the cutaneous immunity and microflora of atopic dogs.
Associations Between Religion/Spirituality, Family Characteristics, and Mental Health Among Parents with Children with Developmental Delay.

Introduction Parenting children with intellectual and developmental disabilities can be stressful; however, families with religious beliefs may have positive ways of viewing their family. This study explored the associations between religious and spiritual involvement (RSI), family characteristics, parent mental health, and child adaptive and problem behaviours among 180 primary caregivers and their 3-year-old children with developmental delay (DD). Method This study investigated if RSI was related to family characteristics, parent depression and stress, and if RSI predicted parent mental health after accounting for child and family characteristics. Results Associations between RSI, family characteristics (parent age, education, income) and parenting stress, but not depression, were found. RSI did not predict parent mental health after accounting for relevant child and family characteristics. Conclusion RSI may play an important role in the mental health of parents of children with developmental delay; however, other child and contextual factors relate strongly to parent wellbeing.
Oncologic effects of chemotherapy dose capping in overweight and obese ovarian cancer patients

Objectives: Chemotherapy dose capping in overweight and obese advanced ovarian cancer patients remains controversial in regard to its effect on oncologic outcomes and toxicity. Methods: Women with stage III or IV ovarian cancer receiving carboplatin and paclitaxel as primary therapy in combination with surgical resection between 1/2007-12/2016 were included in this retrospective study evaluating the interaction between body mass index (BMI) and chemotherapy dose capping on progression free survival (PFS) and toxicity. A calculated carboplatin dose based on the planned AUC and actual body weight (ABW) at the time of the first chemotherapy cycle following debulking surgery was compared to the dose received at this time based on the electronic medical record. A 5% or greater difference in treatment plan dosing received compared to actual weight-based dose was considered clinically significant. Results: 263 ovarian cancer patients were included in analysis (233 serous, 7 endometrioid, 14 clear cell, 8 carcinosarcoma, 1 NOS). Median age was 64 years (35-86). 62 (23.6%) received neoadjuvant chemotherapy prior to debulking surgery and 236 (88.2%) of all patients had an optimal cytoreductive surgery of Download : Download high-res image (75KB) Download : Download full-size image Conclusions: Carboplatin dose modification using adjusted body weight over a BMI of 25 may have a negative effect on PFS in ovarian cancer patients receiving primary therapy. Toxicity does not appear to be increased in this population when actual body weight is used for carboplatin dosing.
Methoden der Programm- und Systemkonstruktion: Ein Statusbericht

Der Beitrag gibt einen uberblick uber das Spektrum der Methoden und Hilfsmittel, die heute dem Entwickler eines DV-Systems zur Verfugung stehen. Es wird besonders abgehoben auf die Veranderungen wahrend der letzten zehn Jahre, sowohl was das Angebot an Methoden betrifft als auch die Anforderungen der Aufgabenstellung. Die betrachteten Methoden und Hilfsmittel werden eingebettet in einen typischen Projektablauf und bewertet nach ihrer Akzeptanz und ihrer relativen Bedeutung. Auf einige aktuelle Forschungsschwerpunkte und die dabei adressierten Probleme wird hingewiesen. Der Beitrag enthalt ein ausfuhrliches Literaturverzeichnis.
Neuroendocrinology: Mechanisms by Which Hormones Affect Behaviors

1 Principle 1: It is Possible to Discern Mechanisms by Which Hormones Affect Mammalian Behaviors 2 Principle 2: These Mechanisms Work at Several Overlapping Levels of Cellular Function, Covering a Wide Range of Physical Dimensions 3 Principle 3: Molecular Aspects of Hormone Action in the Brain Use the Same Types of Biochemistry as in Other Hormone-Dependent Organs 4 Principle 4: Genes Coding for Hormone Receptors do not Drive Behavior Directly; They are Modulated by Several Types of Organismic and Environmental Factors 5 Principle 5: Behaviorally Relevant Hormone-Sensitive Genes Govern Functional Modules for the Biologically Adaptive Regulation of Behavior 6 Principle 6: Temporal Aspects of Hormone Action in the Brain are Important 7 Principle 7: In Some Cases, A Hormone Requires Metabolism or Needs Combinations with other Hormone(s) to be Effective Behaviorally 8 Principle 8: Some of the Influences on Specific Hormone-Behavior Systems are Remarkably Nonspecific 9 Principle 9: Neuroendocrine Mechanisms have been Conserved and Continue to Provide Adaptive Coordination of Brain with Body to Regulate Behavior 10 Principle 10: Hormone Effects on Brain are Relevant for Human Behavioral Pathology 11 Summary Keywords: estrogen; GnRH; hormones; lordosis; mating; ovaries; progesterone; steroid receptor; testes; testosterone; ventromedial hypothalamus
Search for Planets by Spectroscopic Methods

The Sun moves around the barycenter of the Sun + Jupiter system with an average velocity of 12.7 m/s. Therefore, to detect a Jupiterlike planet around a solar-type star by spectroscopic methods, the annual average of measured velocity should have a mean error not larger than about ±5m/s. This means that accuracy should be almost two orders of magnitude better than commonly achieved for stellar radial velocities.
Galaxy Morphology in Distant Clusters

Direct information on the evolution of galaxies and of rich clusters may be available in the images of clusters at high red-shift. While this type of investigation will flourish once Space Telescope is operating, ground-based observations can provide a valuable starting point. A program is underway at Mauna Kea Observatory to obtain subarcsecond images of distant clusters. The program is facilitated by the recent completion of a precise, high-frequency autoguiding system capable of removing image motion from the telescope focal plane. CCD images of clusters out to z = 0.4 have been obtained under good seeing conditions through a filter that mimics standard photographic bandpasses used in studies of nearby clusters (IIIa-J + GG 385).
Architecture independent analysis of sorting and list ranking on the hierarchical PRAM model

The authors consider the performance of sorting and list ranking on the hierarchical parallel random access machine (H-PRAM), a model of computation which represents general degrees of locality (neighborhoods of activity), considering communication and synchronization simultaneously. The sorting result gives a significant improvement over that for the LPRAM (local-memory PRAM, i.e. unit-size neighborhoods), matches the best known hypercube algorithms when the H-PRAM's latency parameter l(P) is set to log P, and matches the best possible mesh algorithm when l(P)= square root P. The list ranking algorithm demonstrates fundamental limitations of the H-PRAM for nonoblivious problems which have linear-time sequential algorithms. >
Development and Validation of the Healthy Aging Incentives Scale

The purpose of this study is to develop and validate a new instrument to measure the multidimensional nature of motivations to engage in healthy behavior practices among older adults. The Healthy Aging Incentives Scale (HAIS) was developed empirically from data collected from 158 older adults participating in a health and wellness clinic located within a multipurpose senior center in the United States. A factor analysis of the HAIS revealed five themes prompting older adults to participate in health aging practices: health and fitness, psychological well-being, locus of control, social functions, and socialization attributes. Additional data are provided that support reliability and validity of the HAIS including convergent validity of the 20-item scale by its correlation with healthy behavior habits. Conclusions are drawn showing literature support for the multidimensional scale and the important determinants for promoting healthy outcomes for this population.
Brightness of Cathodo-Luminescence at Low Current Densities and Low Voltages

With artificial willemite as the luminescent substance, it is found that, for sufficiently low current densities, J, and for accelerating potentials, V, between 200 and 800 volts, the brightness of luminescence, B, is given quite accurately by B=KJV2. This empirical equation gives too high values if J exceeds a limiting value which depends upon the accelerating potential, and which becomes lower as the potential is raised. From 800 to 1500 volts the agreement is only approximate, B increasing somewhat more rapidly than the equation indicates. There is no indication of the existence of a “threshold” voltage for this material.The chief difficulty encountered in working at these low accelerating potentials is the uncertainty concerning the potential of the surface of the luminescent target, and one important aspect of the present work is the development of experimental means to determine the potential of this surface to within the limits of experimental error of the other measurements. It is shown that when the target is very carefully shielded electrostatically the secondary emission from it will maintain its potential within a very few volts negative to the potential of the shield, over the entire range of voltages used.
Thermal characterization of vertically-oriented carbon nanotubes on silicon

An exploratory thermal interface structure, made of vertically oriented carbon nanotubes directly grown on a silicon substrate, has been thermally characterized using a 3-omega method. The effective thermal conductivities of the CNT sample, including the effects of voids, are found to be 74 W/m/spl middot/K to 83 W/m/spl middot/K in the temperature range of 295K to 323K, one order higher than that of the best thermal greases or phase change materials. This suggests that the vertically oriented CNT potentially can be a promising next-generation thermal interface solution. However, fairly large thermal resistances were observed at the interfaces between the CNT samples and the experimental contact. Minimizing these contact resistances is critical for the application of these materials.
Dose calculations about shielded gynecological colpostats

Although shielded gynecological colpostats have been shown experimentally to reduce doses to bladder and rectal tissue by as much as 50%, nearly all previously described dose computation algorithms ignore applicator heterogeneities. We describe the use of realistic Monte Carlo calculations to study the dosimetric effects of applicator structure. Use of sophisticated solid modeling techniques allows the complex internal structure of two commercially-available Fletcher-Suit colpostats, as well as that of 226Ra or 137Cs tubes, to be accurately simulated. Our results show significant differences among these source-applicator combinations. In addition, a novel dose computation algorithm for efficiently estimating absorbed dose near shielded applicators is described. Our approach is based upon empirical separation of primary- and scatter-dose components. The algorithm requires a small base of Monte Carlo-generated data, reproduces the Monte Carlo dose estimates within 3%, and is faster than Monte Carlo by a factor of 15,000. The scatter-separation method has the potential to make accurate dose estimates to bladder, rectum, tumor, and vagina available for clinical treatment planning and for extraction of more meaningful dose-response curves from clinical data.
A 20 kw beam-on-target test of a high-power liquid lithium target for RIA

The high-power heavy-ion beams produced by the Rare Isotope Accelerator (RIA) driver linac have large energy deposition density in solids and in many cases no solid materials would survive the full beam power. Liquid lithium technology has been proposed to solve this problem in RIA. Specifically, a windowless target for the production of radioactive ions via fragmentation, consisting of a jet of about 3 cm thickness of flowing liquid lithium, exposed to the beamline vacuum [1,2] is being developed. To demonstrate that power densities equivalent to a 200-kW RIA uranium beam, deposited in the first 4 mm of a flowing lithium jet, can be handled by the windowless target design, a high power 1 MeV Dynamitron was leased and a test stand prepared to demonstrate the target's capability of absorbing and carrying away a 20kW heat load without disrupting either the 5 mm × 10 mm flowing lithium jet target or the beam line vacuum.
Understanding the Roles of FAK in Cancer Inhibitors, Genetic Models, and New Insights

Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is a protein tyrosine kinase that regulates cellular adhesion, motility, proliferation and survival in various types of cells. Interestingly, FAK is activated and/or overexpressed in advanced cancers, and promotes cancer progression and metastasis. For this reason, FAK became a potential therapeutic target in cancer, and small molecule FAK inhibitors have been developed and are being tested in clinical phase trials. These inhibitors have demonstrated to be effective by inducing tumor cell apoptosis in addition to reducing metastasis and angiogenesis. Furthermore, several genetic FAK mouse models have made advancements in understanding the specific role of FAK both in tumors and in the tumor environment. In this review, we discuss FAK inhibitors as well as genetic mouse models to provide mechanistic insights into FAK signaling and its potential in cancer therapy.
Comparative analysis of state fish consumption advisories targeting sensitive populations.

ObjectiveFish consumption advisories are issued to warn the public of possible toxicological threats from consuming certain fish species. Although developing fetuses and children are particularly s...
Nitric oxide production in activated macrophages from channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus): influence of dietary arginine and culture media

Abstract Recent studies have demonstrated that fish macrophages produce NO which plays a significant role in macrophage killing of microorganisms. The sole precursor for NO is the amino acid arginine. To elucidate the mechanisms which regulate NO production in these cells we examined the effects of increasing levels of dietary arginine on the induction of NO synthesis in macrophages from channel catfish. Additionally, the effects of four different media compositions in 96-h cell incubations were evaluated. A 9-week feeding trial was conducted to ascertain the effects of different dietary arginine levels on NO production in peritoneal macrophages. Diets were formulated to contain 24% crude protein from casein and gelatin, and supplemented with crystalline l -amino acids to meet the amino acid requirements of channel catfish. Four isocaloric dietary treatments provided arginine at either 0.52, 1.00, 1.50 or 2.00% of diet. The total amount of amino acid nitrogen was maintained equal by replacing arginine with either glutamate or glycine. Diets were fed to apparent satiation to triplicate groups of channel catfish initially averaging 11.4 g/fish. At the end of the trial, peritoneal macrophages were elicited by injecting 1 mg lipopolysaccharide (LPS)/kg body weight. Macrophages were collected, evaluated for viability and incubated in 24-well cell culture plates for 96 h, using Krebs–Henseleit buffer with 0.5% bovine serum albumin as standard media. Arginine, citrulline, arginine plus glutamine or arginine plus N G -monomethy- l -arginine ( N G MMA) were added to the culture medium to achieve a 0.5-mM concentration. Nitrate and nitrite production were measured spectrophotometrically as indicators of NO generation. Results indicate that cultured catfish macrophages synthesize NO in response to bacterial LPS at different rates depending upon composition of culture media. NO production was increased when arginine, citrulline and arginine plus glutamine were used as substrates; arginine plus glutamine had the most significant increase (5-fold). Macrophage NO generation was inhibited by N G MMA, suggesting an arginine-dependent metabolic pathway for production of NO in channel catfish. Dietary arginine levels did not correlate significantly with the amount of NO produced. In vivo, however, plasma arginine may partially regulate the intracellular availability of arginine and thus prolong the production of NO by macrophages. This would become physiologically relevant as disease-challenged fish deplete arginine from blood. Further research to assess the effects of dietary arginine on channel catfish immunocompetence in vivo appears warranted.
Multipurpose Parallelism for VLSI Cad on the RP3

VLSI CAD application developers need the performance of parallel processing in as general a form as possible. The RP3, which is being developed at IBM's Research Division, provides such generality. Several CAD applications are among the more than 30 applications that have been written in the Epex parallel environment for porting to RP3 when the hardware is complete. Placement by simulated annealing is used here as a significant, deliberately difficult example: its theoretical basis requires serial execution. In the parallel technique used, deviation from the serial algorithm and temporary errors are allowed for more efficient exploitation of parallelism. The result is a convergence rate as good as the original algorithm, with the possibility of efficient execution on hundreds of processors.
Integration of CdSe quantum dots with GaN optoelectronic materials

Material structures on the nanoscale can enable enhancement of optoelectronic device performance. For example, in the InGaN active layers of MOCVD grown blue light emitting diodes, indium segregation plays a critical role in the interplay between blue luminescent channels and non-radiative recombination centers such as crystal defects. Unfortunately, high efficiency luminescence of InGaN does not extend into the “deep green” spectral region, around the wavelength of peak human eye response. We are investigating whether commercially available luminescent nanostructures such as CdSe quantum dots can be incorporated into III-nitride devices to extend their high-efficiency performance into the “deep green”. Surfactant stabilized CdSe particles in liquid dispersions are drop-cast onto HVPE grown GaN. Physical properties of resultant CdSe surface structures are examined. Luminescence is reported before and after subsequent growth of GaN. (© 2005 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)