Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Hancock County Katrina Relief Initiative: Focusing Collaborative Leadership to Facilitate Recovery after a Natural Disaster.

Eighteen months after Hurricane Katrina devastated the Mississippi coastal community of Hancock County on August 29, 2005, volunteers and organizations assisting with recovery in the area found chaos, confusion, and a desperate need for leadership. This qualitative study re ects the e orts of two University of Southern Mississippi professors as they planned, organized, and facilitated a strategic meeting of 104 individuals representing 60 di erent social service agencies, organizations, faith-based groups, local and state governments, and volunteers assisting with recovery in Hancock County. The researchers used focus group methodology (a) to identify the various groups assisting with recovery in the area and the services they provided; (b) to facilitate collaboration and communication among the care givers and the citizens; and (c) to better understand the problems of recovery associated with a storm of this magnitude. The researchers used large group presentations; small group break-out sessions; and a large group summarizing and planning session. Data collection and analysis included scripting all segments of the of the meeting; organizing, sorting, coding, and calculating frequency distributions of responses; and identifying emerging themes and patterns of the data. Results revealed victims of the storm were weary, depressed, and losing hope; care givers were burning-out from emotional and physical exhaustion; the pool of volunteers and workers was dwindling; the number of quali ed social and medical workers was insu cient to meet the needs of the community; available and a ordable supplies were minimal; and leadership to establish a point of centralized communication, collaboration, and coordination of recovery e orts was desperately needed. ∗Version 1.1: Jun 7, 2009 8:15 pm -0500 †http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ http://cnx.org/content/m24632/1.1/ OpenStax-CNX module: m24632 2 note: This module has been peer-reviewed, accepted, and sanctioned by the National Council of Professors of Educational Administration (NCPEA) as a signi cant contribution to the scholarship and practice of education administration. In addition to publication in the Connexions Content Commons, this module is published in the International Journal of Educational Leadership Preparation, 1 Volume 4, Number 2 (April June, 2009). Formatted and edited by Theodore Creighton, Virginia Tech.
Influence of thermal degradation on surface discharge characteristics for oil-polypropylene insulation

Oil-polypropylene (PP) composite insulation has been widely used in power capacitors, and also being extended to other equipment such as specific transformers, etc. As discharge can readily creep along PP surface, the interface between oil and PP is a weak point in the insulation structure. The oil-PP insulation degrades under the impact of thermal and electrical stress during normal operation. In this study, the influence of thermal degradation on surface discharge characteristics for oil-PP insulation is investigated. Degraded samples are obtained by thermally accelerated aging of virgin oil-PP samples. The microscopic morphology of PP samples are observed with SEM, and the physical and electrical properties of degraded oil are measured. In addition, the isothermal surface potential decay (ISPD) measurement is employed to investigate the charge keeping capability of PP samples. After that, surface discharge detection experiments under AC voltage are performed for the virgin and degraded samples. The ISPD results indicate that charge decay rate of degraded PP sample is faster than virgin sample, which imply that space charge memory effect of virgin PP samples is more remarkable. For this reason, the PD inception phase of virgin sample is smaller than those of degraded samples. It is found that thermal degradation of oil-PP insulation enhances the surface discharge activity. It is considered that rough surface profile and higher bubble conservation capability of degraded PP sample, and impurities in degraded oil are responsible for the enhancement effect of thermal degradation on surface discharge.
Isolation and characterization of adenylate kinase (adk) mutations in Salmonella typhimurium which block the ability of glycine betaine to function as an osmoprotectant

Mutants of Salmonella typhimurium that were not protected by glycine betaine (GB) but could still use proline as an osmoprotectant in media of high osmolality were isolated. The mutations responsible for this phenotype proved to be alleles of the adenylate kinase (adk) gene, as shown by genetic mapping, sequencing of the cloned mutant alleles, complementation with the Escherichia coli adk gene, and assay of Adk enzyme activity in crude extracts. One of the mutations was in the untranslated leader of the adk mRNA, a second was in the putative Shine-Dalgarno sequence, and a third was in the coding region of the gene. The loss of osmoprotection by GB was shown to be due to the fact that the accumulation of this solute actually resulted in a severe inhibition of growth in the adk mutants. The addition of GB in the presence of 0.5 M NaCl resulted in a rapid decline in the ATP pool and a dramatic increase in the AMP pool in the mutants. Proline, which is not toxic to the adk mutants, did not have any significant effects on the cellular levels of ATP and AMP. The mutants exhibited two different phenotypes with respect to the utilization of other osmoprotectants: they were also inhibited by propiothiobetaine, L-carnitine, and gamma-butyrobetaine, but they were stimulated normally in media of high osmolality by proline, choline-O-sulfate, and stachydrine.
Chaos in the Planar Two-Body Coulomb Problem with a Uniform Magnetic Field

The dynamics of the classical two-body Coulomb problem in a uniform magnetic eld are explored numerically in order to determine when chaos can occur. The analysis is restricted to the conguration of planar particles with an orthogonal magnetic eld, for which there is a four-dimensional phase space. Parameters of mass and charge are chosen to represent physically motivated systems. To check for chaos, the largest Lyapunov exponent and Poincar e section are found for each case. Multiple chaotic cases are found for particles with equal signs of charge. The problem with opposite signs of charge is numerically unstable, but a Poincar e section indicates chaos in at least one case.
Biological activities of two fungistatic antibiotics produced by Bacillus cereus UW85

Cultures and culture filtrates of Bacillus cereus UW85 suppress damping-off of alfalfa caused by Phytophthora medicaginis. We studied the role in disease suppression of two antibiotics from culture filtrates of UW85 that reversibly inhibited growth of P. medicaginis. We purified the two antibiotics by cation-exchange chromatography and high-voltage paper electrophoresis and showed that one of them, designated zwittermicin A, was an aminopolyol of 396 Da that was cationic at pH 7.0; the second, designated antibiotic B, appeared to be an aminoglycoside containing a disaccharide. Both antibiotics prevented disease of alfalfa seedlings caused by P. medicaginis. Purified zwittermicin A reversibly reduced elongation of germ tubes derived from cysts of P. medicaginis, and antibiotic B caused swelling of the germ tubes. Mutants generated with Tn917 or mitomycin C treatment were screened either for antibiotic accumulation in an agar plate diffusion assay or for the ability to suppress damping-off disease of alfalfa. Of 2,682 mutants screened for antibiotic accumulation, 5 mutants were substantially reduced in antibiotic accumulation and disease-suppressive activity. Of the 1,700 mutants screened for disease-suppressive activity, 3 mutants had reduced activity and they accumulated less of both antibiotics than did the parent strain. The amount of antibiotic accumulated by the mutants was significantly correlated with the level of disease suppression. Addition of either zwittermicin A or antibiotic B to alfalfa plants inoculated with a culture of a nonsuppressive mutant resulted in disease suppression. These results demonstrate that B. cereus UW85 produces two fungistatic antibiotics that contribute to suppression of damping-off disease of alfalfa.
Dielectric Rear Surface Passivation for Industrial Multicrystalline Silicon Solar Cells

Thermal oxides are commonly used for the production of high-efficiency silicon solar cells from mono- and multicrystalline silicon and have led to the highest conversion efficiencies reported so far. Following the development of high-efficiency cells of small area (1 or 4 cm2) using photolithographic techniques, in the present study large area cells (ges100 cm2) are manufactured employing an industrial front structure. In this paper we present two different passivation schemes for the rear surface of industrial multicrystalline silicon solar cells. The first scheme is a thick thermal oxide grown under wet conditions. The second scheme represents a stack system which comprises the benefits of silicon oxide and silicon nitride layers. In both cases the front surface metallisation is achieved with standard industrial screen-printed silver paste
Blood loss after fluid resuscitation with isotonic or hypertonic saline for the initial treatment of uncontrolled hemorrhage induced by spleen rupture.

BACKGROUND It has been suggested that fluid resuscitation for the prehospital management of hypotensive trauma victims increases bleeding. In a model of uncontrolled hemorrhage induced by complete splenic laceration with a hilar vascular injury, we hypothesized that small-volume hypertonic saline or large-volume lactated Ringer's solution may provide sustained hemodynamic benefits despite promoting increases in intra-abdominal bleeding. METHODS Forty anesthetized, spontaneously breathing dogs (18 +/- 1 kg) underwent laparotomy. A suture line was placed around the spleen to produce a splenic rupture with hilar vascular injury by pulling the exteriorized lines after incision closure. Intra-abdominal blood loss was measured directly, immediately after the animal was killed. Dogs were randomly assigned to four groups (n = 10 per group): Untreated controls were killed 20 (CT20) or 40 (CT40) minutes after splenic rupture to measure blood loss directly. Treatment groups received (20 minutes after spleen rupture) lactated Ringer's (LR), 33 mL/kg over 15 minutes, or 7.5% NaCl/6% dextran 70 (HSD), 4 mL/kg over 4 minutes. Blood loss was measured 40 minutes after spleen rupture. RESULTS Mean arterial pressure dropped from an average value of 103 +/- 3 mm Hg to 67 +/- 5 mm Hg during the first 20 minutes and was partially restored afterward in all groups, with no significant differences between them. No resuscitation was associated with low cardiac output, whereas HSD restored and LR overshot baseline cardiac output. Intra-abdominal blood loss was 30 +/- 4, 38 +/- 4, 43 +/- 5, and 42 +/- 5 mL/kg for groups CT20, CT40, HSD, and LR, respectively, with no statistical significance between groups. CONCLUSION No-fluid resuscitation in uncontrolled hemorrhage from splenic rupture resulted in a low-flow state, whereas resuscitation with small volumes of HSD or large volumes of LR produced hemodynamic benefits without significant increases in bleeding.
Serological tests for detecting Rift Valley fever viral antibodies in sheep from the Nile Delta

To determine the accuracy of serological methods in detecting Rift Valley fever (RVF) viral antibodies, we examined serum samples obtained from 418 sheep in the Nile Delta by using five tests. The plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT) was considered the standard serological method against which the four other tests were compared. Twenty-four serum samples had RVF viral antibodies detected by PRNT. Hemagglutination inhibition and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay antibodies to RVF virus were also present in the same 24 serum samples. Indirect immunofluorescence was less sensitive in comparison with PRNT, and complement fixation was the least sensitive. These results extend observations made with laboratory animals to a large field-collected group of Egyptian sheep.
Informed Assent Recall Among Adolescents in Substance Use Disorder Treatment Research

ABSTRACT Evidence suggests that vulnerable populations such as substance users, those involved in the criminal justice system, and those with cognitive deficits often fail to recall information regarding the informed assent process. This study investigated correlates of assent quiz errors (AQE) among adolescents enrolling in a substance use disorder treatment study. Method: Adolescents (ages 13 to 19) entering substance use treatment completed a standard informed consent procedure to participate in a longitudinal research study, followed by a brief six-item assent quiz. Results: Informed assent quiz errors were lower in this study relative to those observed in the adult literature. Being male and having lower treatment resistance was associated with making an AQE. Both days of marijuana use and days spent in the criminal justice system were associated with AQE. Hyperactivity-impulsivity approached significance (p = .057) but was not a correlate of AQE. Conclusion: Those collecting assent should be aware that heavily using males involved in the criminal justice system are prone to make more errors, and should use procedures such as assent quizzes to enhance their understanding of study procedures. Future research should investigate the impact of motivation and consider using experimental designs to test adolescent recall of study procedures under various assenting conditions.
Bandwidth guarantees in multihop Wireless Mesh Network using hybrid routing

Wireless Mesh Network (WMN) has became the important wireless technology to provide the internet application to the remote areas. WMN have to provide the quality-of service for the internet access in the remote and metropolitan areas. This paper deals with the problem of finding the maximum bandwidth path from source to destination that supports the QoS in WMN. Interference among the links is the greater issue in finding optimum path. The path weight is calculated, that finds the maximum bandwidth of the path. The consistency requirement is satisfy by the hybrid multihop routing protocol based on this path weight. The consistency property sates that each node make the consistent packet forwarding decision in the predefined path. Result of this work find and route the data in the path that provide maximum throughput and minimum time delay.
The Role of the United States Military in the Development of Vector Control Products, Including Insect Repellents, Insecticides, and Bed Nets

ABSTRACT: Arthropod-borne diseases such as malaria, dengue, scrub typhus, and leishmaniasis continue to pose a significant threat to U.S. military forces deployed in support of operational and humanitarian missions. These diseases are transmitted by a variety of arthropods, including mosquitoes, ticks, chiggers, sand flies, and biting midges. In addition to disease threats, biting arthropods can cause dermatitis, allergic reactions, and sleep loss; therefore, monitoring of vector impact and integrated use of personal protective measures (PPM) and methods to reduce the vector populations are needed to protect service members. The U.S. military has played a vital role in vector identification tools and the development and testing of many of the most effective PPM and vector control products available today, including the topical repellent DEET and the repellent/insecticide permethrin, which is applied to clothing and bed nets. Efforts to develop superior products are ongoing. Although the U.S. military often needs vector control products with rather specific properties (e.g., undetectable, long-lasting in multiple climates) in order to protect its service members, many Department of Defense vector control products have had global impacts on endemic disease control.
Endogenous Market Structure and Technology Licensing

This paper analyses the optimal licensing strategy of a licensor firm that competes with potential licensee firms in an industry with endogenous entry. The optimal licensing strategy of the licensor firm is to have zero royalty and positive fixed fees, which is a result that sharply contrasts with the existing literature whereby licensor firms tend to charge positive royalties to their rival licensees. Under the optimal licensing strategy, the licensor firm and the licensee firms are active in the market, but not the non-licensed firms. This equilibrium market structure is socially desirable if the fixed production cost is not too small.
Glycosyl transferases of O-antigen biosynthesis in Salmonella enterica: identification and characterization of transferase genes of groups B, C2, and E1

In Salmonella enterica, there is a great variety of O antigens, each consisting of a short oligosaccharide (the repeating unit) repeated many times. The O antigens differ in their sugar composition and glycosidic linkages. The genetic determinants of the O antigen are located in an rfb gene cluster, and some, including those of S. enterica O serogroups B, C2, and E1, have been cloned and sequenced. In this study of the glycosyltransferases which form the glycosidic linkages, we identify and characterize the four mannosyl and three rhamnosyl transferase genes of the three rfb gene clusters.
The tumor vessel targeting agent NGR-TNF controls the different stages of the tumorigenic process in transgenic mice by distinct mechanisms

NGR-TNF is a vascular targeting agent in advanced clinical development, coupling tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF) with the CNGRCG peptide, which targets a CD13 isoform specifically expressed by angiogenic vessels. Antitumor efficacy of NGR-TNF has been described in different transplantation tumor models. Nevertheless, the mechanism underlying its activity is not fully understood. In the wild type and in the immunodeficient (RAG−/−) RIP1-Tag2 models of multistage pancreatic carcinogenesis, we demonstrate that CD13 is highly expressed on endothelial cells of hyperplastic and angiogenic islets, whereas its expression is down regulated in tumors where it partially colocalize with pericytes. In vivo CNGRCG peptides coupled to fluorescent nanoparticles (quantum dots) bind to CD13 and colocalize with anti-CD31, in pancreatic islets. At early stage, low doses of NGR-murine (m)TNF have a direct cytotoxic effect inducing endothelial cell apoptosis, reducing vessel density and eventually inhibiting the development of angiogenic islets. At a later stage, NGR-mTNF is able to reduce tumor growth inducing vascular normalization, exclusively when treatment is carried out in the immunocompetent mice. Interestingly, NGR-mTNF-treated tumors from these mice are characterized by CD8+ T cell infiltration. At molecular level, overexpression of genes involved in vessels normalization was detected only in NGR-mTNF-treated tumors from immunocompetent mice. These findings identified a new mechanism of action of NGR-mTNF, providing support for the development of new therapeutic strategies combining chemotherapy or active/adoptive immunotherapies to low dose NGR-TNF treatment.
Inhibition of neuronal migration by JONES antibody is independent of 9‐O‐acetyl GD3 in GD3‐synthase knockout mice

It has been shown previously that the migration of granule neurons in neonatal cerebellum can be inhibited by a monoclonal antibody (Mab) JONES. Because the inhibition is presumed to be mediated through binding of the JONES antibody to 9‐O‐acetyl GD3, we used GD3‐synthase knockout (GD3S−/−) mice that do not express 9‐O‐acetyl GD3 and also have no detectable defect in brain development, to examine the mechanism of the inhibitory effect. We found no difference between the migration of granule neurons in the neonatal cerebellar explant culture in GD3S−/− mice and in wild‐type mice. Addition of the Mab JONES, but not Mab R24 or A2B5, in the culture medium blocked the neuronal migration in the explant culture of the wild‐type mice. The inhibitory effect of Mab JONES was also observed, however, in the explant culture of GD3S−/− mice. Immuno‐HPTLC analysis showed at least two JONES‐positive glycolipids bands in the lipid extract of GD3S+/+ mice, and none was detected in that of GD3S−/− mice. Western blot analysis of the cerebellum homogenate of wild‐type and GD3S−/− mice identified at least 3 JONES‐positive protein bands, one of which is β1‐integrin. Because the JONES antibody also blocked neuronal migration in the cerebellar explant culture of GD3S−/− mice that do not express 9‐O‐acetyl‐GD3, it suggested an alternative mechanism for the inhibitory effect of the antibody, at least in the GD3S knockout mice, and the inhibitory effect of the JONES antibody on neuronal migration could be mediated through its binding to β1‐integrin. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
When birds can’t fly: An analysis of interfacility ground transport using advanced life support when helicopter emergency medical service is unavailable

BACKGROUND Helicopter emergency medical service (HEMS) transport of trauma patients is costly and of unproven benefit. Recent retrospective studies fail to control for crew expertise and therefore compare highly trained advance life support with less-trained basic life support crews. The purpose of our study was to compare HEMS with ground, interfacility transport while controlling for crew training. We hypothesized that patients transported by HEMS would experience shorter interhospital transport time and reduced mortality. METHODS Our National Trauma Registry of the American College of Surgeons database was retrospectively queried to identify consecutive interfacility, hospital transfers (January 1, 2008, to November 1, 2012) to our Level I trauma center. Transfers were stratified by transportation vehicle (i.e., HEMS vs. ground transport). Cohorts were compared across standard demographic and clinical variables using univariate analysis. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to determine the association of these variables with mortality. RESULTS The HEMS (n = 2,190) and ground (n = 223) cohorts were well matched overall, with no significant differences for demographics, injury severity, physiology, hospital length of stay, or complications. Median (interquartile range) time to definitive care was significantly lower for HEMS (150 [114] minutes vs. 255 [157] minutes, p < 0.001), without change in mortality (9.0% vs. 8.1%, p = 0.71). Multivariate logistic regression did not identify an association between transport mode and mortality. CONCLUSION Despite faster interfacility transport times, HEMS offered no mortality benefit compared with ground when crew expertise was controlled for, contradicting recent large, retrospective National Trauma Data Bank studies. Our study may represent the best approximation of a prospective study by focusing on patients deemed worthy of HEMS by referring providers. Although HEMS may seem intuitively beneficial for time-dependent injuries, larger studies with a similar methodology are warranted to justify the cost and risk of HEMS and identify subsets of patients who may benefit. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Prognostic/epidemiologic study, level III.