cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Publication Productivity of Nursing Faculty in Selected Schools of Nursing Across the United States.

Purpose Faculty productivity related to research and scholarship is assessed in schools of nursing throughout the world. The purpose of this study was to examine the publication productivity of nursing faculty at each academic rank and in both tenure and nontenure tracks in selected schools of nursing across the United States. Design This was a descriptive study of publications and the h-index of nursing faculty. Methods Publication and citation data and the h-index for faculty (N = 1,354) in 18 schools of nursing were obtained from the Scopus database. Findings Overall, the number of publications and citations and the h-index of faculty increased at higher academic ranks. The median number of publications for tenure track faculty was 13 for assistant professors, 33 for associate professors, and 81 for full professors. Citation medians ranged from 80.5 for assistant professors, to 378 for associate professors, to 1,401 for full professors. The median h-index was 4 for assistant professors, 10 for associate professors, and 20 for full professors. Significant differences were found across academic ranks and between tenure and nontenure track faculty. Conclusions The findings provide the first documentation of scholarly productivity of nursing faculty, as measured by number of publications and citations and by h-index, across schools of nursing in the United States. Clinical relevance These findings can be used as benchmarks by appointment, promotion, and tenure committees and by faculty for self-assessment.
A Framework For Mode-Free Prosthetic Control For Unstructured Terrains

Prosthetic limb controllers employ discrete modes for well-defined scenarios such as stair ascent, stair descent, or ramps. General human locomotion, however, is a continuous motion, fluidly adapting to the environment and not always categorizable into modes. It exhibits strong inter-joint coordination and the movement of a single joint can be largely predicted based on the movement of the rest of the body. We show that using body motion from the intact limbs and trunk, a reference trajectory can be generated for a prosthetic joint for every instant in time. Previously we demonstrated that a Recurrent Neural Network (RNN) can predict ankle angle trajectory for structured activities. In this study, we apply a similar network to more unstructured activities which are hard to categorize into modes. A wearable motion capture suit was worn by 10 healthy subjects to record full body kinematics during obstacle avoidance, sidestepping, weaving through cones, and backward walking. We used an RNN to predict right ankle kinematics from the other joint kinematics. The model was robust to subject-specific variations such as walking speed and step length. We present the performance for different activities and using different subsets of the sensors. This system demonstrates the potential for generating a reference trajectory for a prosthesis or other rehabilitation robot without explicit featurization of terrains or gait events.
Refinement of metabolite detection in cystic fibrosis sputum reveals heme correlates with lung function decline.

The bacterial growth environment within cystic fibrosis (CF) sputum is complex, dynamic, and shaped by both host and microbial processes. Characterization of the chemical parameters within sputum that stimulate the in vivo growth of airway pathogens (e.g. Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and their associated virulence factors may lead to improved CF treatment strategies. Motivated by conflicting reports of the prevalence and abundance of P. aeruginosa-derived metabolites known as phenazines within CF airway secretions, we sought to quantify these metabolites in sputum using quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. In contrast to our previous work, all phenazines tested (pyocyanin (PYO), phenazine-1-carboxylic acid (PCA), phenazine-1-carboxamide, and 1-hydroxyphenazine) were below detection limits of the instrument (0.1 μM). Instead, we identified a late-eluting compound that shared retention time and absorbance characteristics with PCA, yet generated mass spectra and a fragmentation pattern consistent with ferriprotoporphyrin IX, otherwise known as heme B. These data suggested that UV-vis chromatographic peaks previously attributed to PCA and PYO in sputum were mis-assigned. Indeed, retrospective analysis of raw data from our prior study found that the heme B peak closely matched the peaks assigned to PCA, indicating that the previous study likely uncovered a positive correlation between pulmonary function (percent predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 second, or ppFEV1) and heme B, not PCA or any other phenazine. To independently test this observation, we performed a new tandem mass-spectrometry analysis of 71 additional samples provided by the Mountain West CF Consortium Sputum Biomarker study and revealed a positive correlation (ρ = −0.47, p<0.001) between sputum heme concentrations and ppFEV1. Given that hemoptysis is strongly associated with airway inflammation, pulmonary exacerbations and impaired lung function, these new data suggest that heme B may be a useful biomarker of CF pathophysiology.
Questions of Silence: On the Emancipatory Limits of Voice and the Coloniality of Silence

This article begins at a (historical) crossroads; it straddles the difficult ground between the recent public outcry against sexual violence (a protest that, as championed by the #MeToo movement, seeks to break the “culture of silence” surrounding sexual violence) and concerns about the coloniality of voice made visible by the recent decolonial turn within feminist theory (Ruiz 2006; Lugones 2007; Lugones 2010; Veronelli 2016). Wary of concepts such as “visibility” or “transparency”—principles that continue to inform the call to “break the silence” by “speaking up” central to Western liberatory movements—in this article, I return to silence, laying the groundwork for the exploration of what a revised concept of silence could mean for the development of practices of cross-cultural communication that do not play into coloniality.
Evolution of Phase-Change Memory for the Storage-Class Memory and Beyond

In this article, the development history and the technical hurdles of phase-change memory (PCM) are reviewed and recent progress and future directions are discussed. Prospects of PCM for storage-class memory (SCM) are discussed in terms of the technical challenges to satisfy the market requirements, mainly for the performance and cost effectiveness. For a more in-depth discussion, PCM is segmented into the memory part, the access device part, and the sensing scheme part. In the memory part, Set (crystallization)–Reset (amorphization) write characteristics and thermal disturbance (TDB) will be reinterpreted in terms of power consumption and performance of SCM. In the access device part, the application history of various devices, such as the transistor, the diode, and the two-terminal selector, will be reviewed and explained based on the process integration issues and area efficiency. In the next part, various sensing schemes used to make a lower read latency, multilevel cell (MLC), and cross point (X-point) are summarized. Thereafter, future directions and possible evolution pathways of 3-D structures, including X-point and vertical X-point (VXP), will be discussed for the first time. Finally, the feasibility of PCM for neuromorphic application will be followed.
Abstract P196: Personalized Dynamical System Models Of Individual Text Message Effects On Changes In Physical Activity

Introduction: Text-message interventions with universal decision rules (treatment algorithms) demonstrate modest and inconsistent effects on physical activity. Efforts to increase effect sizes by t...
Implantable Continuous-Flow Blood Pump Technology and Features

Implantable, continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) have undergone considerable design evolution and replaced earlier, pulsatile-flow pump technology as the standard of care for patients with advanced heart awaiting heart transplantation or as destination therapy. Axial-flow rotary pump design increased mechanical circulatory support (MCS) durability while improving patient survival and quality of life. Pump technology has shifted towards continuous, centrifugal-flow devices with bearingless rotors and intermittent speed systems. As LVAD pump design and technology continues to improve, devices are becoming smaller with improved hemocompatibility and decreased adverse events.
Delayed glucose peak and elevated 1-hour glucose on the oral glucose tolerance test identify youth with cystic fibrosis with lower oral disposition index

Abstract Background Alternate methods for characterizing oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT) have emerged as superior to the 2-hour glucose in identifying individuals at risk for type 2 diabetes. The significance of these methods in cystic fibrosis (CF) is unclear. We compared 3 OGTT classifications in youth with CF: 1. curve shape (biphasic vs. monophasic), 2. time to glucose peak (≤30minutes vs. >30minutes), 3. 1-hour glucose (1hG) Methods Youth 10–18 years with CF, not on insulin, underwent 2-hour OGTT. Glucoses were classified by traditional criteria and 3 alternate methods as normal (biphasic curve, glucose peak ≤30minutes, and/or 1hG 30minutes, and/or 1hG ≥155 mg/dL). oDI was calculated [1/fasting insulin*(ΔInsulin0–30 min/ΔGlucose0–30 min)]. Mean oDI, BMI, forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), and forced vital capacity (FVC) were compared by OGTT classification. Results Fifty-two youth with CF participated (mean±SD age 13±4years; 37% male; BMI z-score 0.0±0.8; FEV1 88±16.3%; FVC 97±14.8%). Late time to peak glucose and 1hG ≥155 mg/dL identified individuals with lower oDI (p=0.01); traditional OGTT criteria for prediabetes did not. No OGTT classification identified individuals with worse BMI nor pulmonary function. oDI was not associated with BMI, FEV1, or FVC. Conclusions Alternate OGTT measures including time to peak glucose and 1hG better identify oDI abnormalities than traditional criteria. Further studies are required to determine whether these alternate methods identify individuals with CF at risk for future clinical decline.
A Rare Case of Cryptococcus gattii Meningitis in Advanced HIV Disease, Sagittal Thrombosis, and Immune Reconstitution Syndrome, Resolved With Isavuconazonium:

Cryptococcus gattii is a species that has received more recognition in the recent past as distinct from Cryptococcus neoformans. C gattii is known to cause meningeal disease in both immunocompetent and immunosuppressed hosts. Patients may be clinically asymptomatic until immunosuppressive conditions occur such as corticosteroid treatment or an HIV infection. HIV-associated cryptococcal infections are most often due to C neoformans. C gattii is found in a minority. Speciation and subtyping of Cryptococcus are not always accomplished. In many parts of the world, there is no availability for speciation of Cryptococcus. Travel history may provide a clue to the most probable species. This case demonstrates a case of C gattii meningitis with a multiplicity of complications. These include advanced HIV disease secondary to nonadherence, immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome, and superior sagittal sinus thrombosis. The patient represented diagnostic and therapeutic dilemmas over time. Headache was the primary symptom in cryptococcal meningitis, immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome, and superior sagittal sinus thrombosis. All are discussed in detail as potential etiologies for the primary disease. Isavuconazonium is a relatively new broad-spectrum antifungal azole that was used as salvage therapy.
Key strategies in scholarly writing instruction for doctor of nursing practice students: A Q-methodology study.

Abstract Background Development of scholarly writing skills in Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) students is essential to their capacity to advance nursing science after graduation. Objectives The purpose of this study was to inform instructional design choices and teaching strategies for DNP writing courses by examining student viewpoints before and after completing a scholarly writing course. Design Q methodology was used to explore student self-perceptions of scholarly writing skills. Setting An online scholarly writing course at a large university in the midwestern United States. Participants Twenty-six DNP students with either a bachelor's or master's degree in nursing. Methods Before and after a scholarly writing course, students ranked 34 writing competency statements according to how well the statements described them. Results Three pre-course and four post-course factors represented student viewpoints of their scholarly writing knowledge, skills, and attitudes before and after a writing course. Conclusions Effective instruction in scholarly writing for DNPs should include explicitly directed pre-writing activities, frequent opportunities to give and receive feedback, and training on management of emotional aspects of writing.
GRO J1744-28 and the Rapid Burster; Bizarre Objects!

The bursts from GRO J1744-28 are due to accretion instabilities as is the case for type II bursts in the Rapid Burster. Both sources are transient Low-Mass X-ray Binaries, and they both exhibit unusual quasi-periodic-oscillations in their persistent X-ray flux following several (not all) of the type II bursts. There are important differences too. GRO J1744-28 is an X-ray pulsar; the Rapid Burster is not. In addition, the pattern of bursts and the burst peak luminosities are very different for the two sources. Time intervals between the rapidly repetitive bursts in the Rapid Burster can be as short as 10 sec, in 1744-28 they are as short as 200 sec. The peak luminosities of the bursts from GRO J1744-28 can exceed the Eddington luminosity (for assumed isotropic emission) by one to two orders of magnitude. The QPO centroid frequencies (see above) differ by an order of magnitude (∼0.04 Hz for the Rapid Burster, and 0.3 Hz for GRO J1744-28). The difference in behavior p obably lies in the difference in the magnetic dipole field strength of the accreting neutron stars (for GRO J1744-28 it is almost certainly much higher than for the Rapid Burster). It remains puzzling, why GRO J1744-28 and the Rapid Burster are the only known sources which exhibit rapidly repetitive type II bursts.
Stronger password authentication using browser extensions

We describe a browser extension, PwdHash, that transparently produces a different password for each site, improving web password security and defending against password phishing and other attacks. Since the browser extension applies a cryptographic hash function to a combination of the plaintext password entered by the user, data associated with the web site, and (optionally) a private salt stored on the client machine, theft of the password received at one site will not yield a password that is useful at another site. While the scheme requires no changes on the server side, implementing this password method securely and transparently in a web browser extension turns out to be quite difficult. We describe the challenges we faced in implementing PwdHash and some techniques that may be useful to anyone facing similar security issues in a browser environment.
McDonald's, Wendy's, and Hedge Funds: Hamburger Hedging? Hedge Fund Activism and Impact on Corporate Governance

Following corporate scandals at Enron and WorldCom, some observers believe activist hedge funds serve as catalysts for positive change at targeted underperforming companies. Even if hedge funds do not get everything they want, when they initiate an activist campaign target companies are frequently compelled to make changes that benefit all shareholders. This chapter discusses the case study of famous hedge activist. Well-known hedge fund activist Carl Icahn evolved from a feared corporate raider and greenmailer during the 1980s to a ubiquitous hedge fund manager. Icahn's activism initiatives have principally focused on threatening or initiating proxy fights (asking shareholders to vote on key initiatives he has advocated), pushing companies to distribute ore cash to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases, and reducing CEO compensation. Inherent in Icahn's activist behavior was the view that many corporations were sitting on too much cash. S&P 500 corporations held more than $615 billion in cash at the end of 2005. Icahn and other hedge fund activists wanted companies to pay out cash to shareholders through share repurchases (if the share price is weak) or through increased dividends. They also wanted companies, such as McDonald and Wendy's, to take on more risk by borrowing to increase leverage, creating pressure on management to become more efficient and accountable.
A hybrid system of abductive tactical decision making

One important aspect of intelligent decision making is to infer a best explanation for a set of observations, a process resembling abduction. In this paper, we report a hybrid system to simulate this process. Specifically, the system combines a symbolic Soar component for deliberate explanation generation and a connectionist UEcho component for implicit explanation evaluation. To evaluate the system, we trained the system to perform a tactical decision making task based on expert data in one scenario, and tested it on two novel scenarios. The implications of such hybrid systems are discussed.
Bi-Institutional Comparison of Robot-Assisted Laparoscopic Versus Open Ureteroureterostomy in the Pediatric Population.

Abstract Purpose: Ureteroureterostomy (UU) is a useful surgical option for the management of duplication anomalies as well as obstructed single system ureters for children. We aimed to evaluate the safety, efficacy, and outcomes of robot-assisted laparoscopic UU (RALUU) compared with open UU (OUU) in the pediatric population. Patients and Methods: A retrospective review was performed at two institutions including six surgeons' experience with all cases of RALUU and OUU from January 2005 to June 2014. Indications for a surgical procedure included duplex systems with an upper pole ectopic ureter, obstructed ureterocele or lower pole vesicoureteral reflux, and obstruction in a single system. Transureteroureterostomy, laparoscopic UU, and major reconstruction cases where UU was the secondary procedure were excluded. Results: There were 25 RALUU and 19 OUU cases included. All cases involved duplex systems except two proximal to distal anastomoses in single system obstructed kidneys. RALUUs were more likely to ...
AMBIENT BUT NOT INCREMENTAL OXIDANT GENERATION EFFECTS INTERCELLULAR ADHESION MOLECULE 1 INDUCTION BY TUMOUR NECROSIS FACTOR ALPHA IN ENDOTHELIUM

Proinflammatory cytokines upregulate endothelial adhesion molecule expression, thereby initiating the microvascular inflammatory response. We re-evaluated the reported role of reactive oxygen metabolites (ROMs) in signalling upregulation of intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) on endothelial cells by tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) in vitro. TNF-alpha upregulation of endothelial-cell ICAM-1 expression was inhibited by the cell-permeable antioxidants, or by the adenovirus-mediated intracellular overexpression of Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase, but not by the exogenous (extracellular) administration of the cell-impermeable antioxidants, superoxide dismutase and/or catalase. This ICAM-1 upregulation was also inhibited by inhibitors of NADH dehydrogenase, cytochrome bc1 complex and NADPH oxidase. However, a measurable increase in net cellular ROM generation in response to TNF-alpha was not seen using four disparate sensitive ROM assays. Moreover, the stimulation of exogenous or endogenous ROM generation did not upregulate ICAM-1, nor enhance ICAM-1 upregulation by TNF-alpha. These findings suggest that an ambient background flux of ROMs, generated intracellularly, but not their net incremental generation, is necessary for TNF-alpha to induce ICAM-1 expression in endothelium in vitro.
Liposome vectors for in vivo gene delivery

Gene therapy with nonviral, cationic liposome-based vectors has demonstrated promising results in a variety of in vivo models and some clinical trials. In contrast to viral vectors, cationic liposome-based vectors usually induce just mild inflammatory reactions, making them suitable for repeated injections in animals. This unit describes the preparation and delivery of two liposome-based vectors Gene therapy with nonviral, cationic liposome-based vectors has demonstrated promising results in a variety of in vivo models.
Most cases of dementia with hippocampal sclerosis may represent frontotemporal dementia

Hippocampal sclerosis dementia (HSD) is a disease of unknown etiology and pathogenesis. To determine whether HSD cases could be reclassified as variants of frontotemporal dementia (FTD), a heterogeneous group of disorders, 18 brain autopsy cases previously diagnosed as HSD were re-evaluated. In 11 cases, ubiquitinated neuronal inclusions, similar to those of motor neuron disease inclusion dementia (MNDID), were found. Brain levels of soluble and insoluble tau were normal. Most patients with pathologic findings of HSD may actually have the MNDID variant of FTD.
Role of the Lung in Total Body Clearance of Circulating Drugs

Attention in recent years has focused upon the ability of lung to accumulate and/or to metabolise circulating hormones, drugs and other xenobiotic agents. Although often studied in broken cell preparations, such functions must be examined in intact lung before extrapolation to the situation in vivo is possible. The role of lung in total body clearance of xenobiotic agents is often considered to be small, as compared with the liver it usually has much lower concentrations of degradative enzymes and a smaller mass. However, consideration of such factors as organ blood flow or stimulation of drug metabolising enzymes suggests that the contribution of the lung to total body clearance of some drugs is greater than previously recognised. This may explain some of the alterations in drug clearance seen clinically. For example, cigarette smoking may increase the clearance of certain xenobiotic compounds by stimulating pulmonary drug metabolising enzymes. Pulmonary drug disposition may also be altered by conditions affecting cardiac output, such as exercise, hypoxia, and circulatory shock, or those affecting acid-base balance, such as hyperventilation. In addition, pneumotoxicants may affect pulmonary clearance of circulating drugs and xenobiotics.
Predicted structure of the sugar-binding site of the lac repressor

The lactose repressor protein from Escherichia coli binds sugars, primarily galactosides, which modulate its interactions with operator DNA and thereby affect synthesis of the lac metabolic enzymes. The affinity of the repressor for operator DNA is decreased by binding inducer sugars and increased by binding anti-inducer sugars. Based on regions of the primary structure implicated by genetic methods to be involved in sugar binding, amino acid sequence homology between L-arabinose-binding protein (ABP) and lac repressor has recently been reported. The sugar-binding sites for these two proteins might be expected to have similar structural features, as both bind L-arabinose and D-galactose. The high resolution structure of ABP reported in the accompanying article provides complete definition of amino acids in the sugar-binding site. By identification of homologous residues in the lac repressor, we have now predicted the structure of the portion of the repressor sugar-binding site which accommodates the galactosyl moiety. This prediction provides the first potential view of the inducer/anti-inducer site in the repressor protein.
Spectrometry in Organic Analysis. Application to Small Samples

SUMMARY Gas chromatography offers the food chemist an unparalleled technique for separation and isolation of the components of complex volatile mixtures. Unfortunately, the problem of compound identification still remains. Often, the available quantity of an isolated pure compound may not exceed one or two milligrams. Conventional organic analytical techniques are seldom adequate for identification of such small samples. An empirical examination of infrared, ultraviolet, mass, and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra permits the solution of a gratifying number of identification problems. The application of mass spectrometry to the identification of organic compounds is discussed briefly. Two sets of spectra are translated into organic structures as examples of the methodology.
The mechanism of liquid transport through swollen polymer membranes

The pressure-driven transport of liquids employed in reverse osmosis has been shown to occur by a solution-diffusion mechanism in highly swollen polymer membranes. A theory based on this mechanism was successfully used earlier to correlate permeation fluxes for such membranes. Positive confirmation of this theory is provided here by direct measurement of the proposed concentration gradient. A study of the temperature dependence of the liquid diffusion coefficient in the polymer membrane has provided additional evidence of a hydrodynamic regime of diffusion in highly swollen membranes. It is also shown that the proposed ceiling flux in reverse osmosis is equal to the pervaporation flux.
The HtrA Protease of Streptococcus pneumoniae Controls Density-Dependent Stimulation of the Bacteriocin blp Locus via Disruption of Pheromone Secretion

All fully sequenced strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) contain a version of the blp locus which is responsible for the regulation and secretion of a variable repertoire of pneumococcal bacteriocins called pneumocins and their associated immunity proteins. Pneumocins mediate intra- and interspecies competition in vitro and have been shown to provide a competitive advantage in vivo. Pneumocin production is stimulated by extracellular accumulation of the peptide pheromone, BlpC. Both BlpC and the functional pneumocins are secreted out of the cell via the Blp transporter, BlpAB. The conserved surface-expressed serine protease, HtrA, has been shown to limit activation of the locus and secretion of functional pneumocins. In this work, we demonstrate that htrA mutants stimulate the blp locus at lower cell density and to a greater extent than strains expressing wild-type HtrA. This effect is not due to direct proteolytic degradation of secreted pheromone by the protease, but instead is a result of HtrA-mediated disruption of peptide processing and secretion. Because pneumocins are secreted through the same transporter as the pheromone, this finding explains why pheromone supplementation cannot completely restore pneumocin inhibition to strains expressing high levels of HtrA despite restoration of blp transcriptional activity. HtrA restricts pneumocin production to high cell density by limiting the rate of accumulation of BlpC in the environment. Importantly, HtrA does not interfere with the ability of a strain to sense environmental pheromones, which is necessary for the induction of protective immunity in the face of pneumocin-secreting competitors.
Synthesis of biochemical production routes

Abstract The problem of synthesizing biochemical pathways that satisfy linear stoichiometric constraints is discussed. An algorithm for the solution of the problem is presented, based on the iterative satisfaction of requirements, and the trasformation of the initial set of available bioreactions (which can be thought of as one-step pathways) into a final set of pathways that satisfy all the requirements. At each step, in order to satisfy a particular constraint, new pathways are constructed from pairs of existing pathways, while some of the existing pathways are deleted. The set of active pathways is thus modified to satisfy each constraint; after all constraints are processed, the remaining pathways comprise a concise description of the set of solutions. The algorithm is correct and complete and has satisfactory computational performance for carefully formulated problems.
Influenza viral infection of swine in the United States 1988-1989.

Swine are an animal reservoir for influenza viruses capable of causing disease in humans. A serological survey in 1988-1989 demonstrates that subtype H1 influenza viruses continue to circulate at high frequency among swine in the north-central U.S.A. (average 51% incidence). Subtype H3 viruses antigenically similar to current human H3 viruses are circulating at low frequency (average 1.1%), particularly in the southeast U.S.A.
Analysis of consolidation of reinforced materials by power-law creep

Abstract Densification rates for porous reinforced creeping materials subjected to compressive stresses can be estimated by modelling the reinforcing phase as rigid and using an existing model for porous creeping materials for the deforming phase. We present simple quantitative densification rate estimates for porous power-law creeping materials with aligned fiber reinforcing. The depression of the densification rates by the aligned fibers is a strong increasing function of the asymmetry of the loads applied transverse to the fiber direction.
Lights, Camera, SAR!

CoursesGroup CommunicationObjectiveThe purpose of an integrated instructional approach is to improve students' understanding of course concepts both in theory and practice. In this case, this approach prepares students to perform efficaciously as a cohesive group when they tackle this major course activity, Select, Analyze, and Report (SAR). SAR requires students to select a film or television series of their choice that clearly depicts group communication concepts, analyze how the concepts they choose are demonstrated in the film or television series selected, and report their findings during a group presentation at the end of the semester. SAR's purposes are to reinforce the significance of the information and skills students have attained while working on preliminary exercises throughout the semester and to assess students' comprehensive understanding of group communication.
Risk-taking in preschool children

This study was designed to characterize preschool-age children who engage in daring, risk-taking behaviors. Seventy-four children (39 males, 35 females) and their mothers from a wide range of socioeconomic strata participated. Children who described themselves as high in risk-taking were generally males, had higher accident and injury rates, and had parents whose assessments of their children's risk-taking activities were congruent with their own. Contrary to our expectations, however, risk-taking children did not appear to be more than ordinarily impulsive, which suggests that risk-taking is engaged in contemplatively (i.e., with some caution) by some youngsters and need not result in serious mishaps. Cognitive ability was found to be a codependent predictor of risk-taking for boys. Parents and clincians will find it useful to know that risk-taking is a multidimensional phenomenon, not a unitary behavior or personality trait and that the Injury Behavior Checklist would be a valuable tool for screening selected populations.
High-throughput purification and quality assurance of Arabidopsis thaliana proteins for eukaryotic structural genomics.

The Center for Eukaryotic Structural Genomics (CESG) has established procedures for the purification of Arabidopsis proteins in a high-throughput mode. Recombinant proteins were fused with (His)6-MBP tags at their N-terminus and expressed in Escherichia coli. Using an automated AKTApurifier system, fusion proteins were initially purified by immobilized metal affinity chromatography (IMAC). After cleavage of (His)6-MBP tags by TEV protease, (His)6-MBP tags were separated from target proteins by a subtractive 2nd IMAC. As a part of quality assurance, all purified proteins were subjected to MALDI-TOF and ESI mass spectrometry to confirm target identity and integrity, and determine incorporation of seleno-methionine (SeMet) and 15N and 13C isotopes. The protocols have been used successfully to provide high quality proteins that are suitable for structural studies by X-ray crystallography and NMR.
A Classification-Based Approach to Policy Refinement

Systems are typically designed based on certain high level goals, such as performance and availability. On the other hand, during operation, usually only low level metrics (e.g., CPU utilization) are measured. The system administrators use their expertise to implicitly map bounds on these metrics such that the high level goals are met. The objective of this research is to create an automated and domain independent approach to derive policy bounds on the low level metrics such that the high level goals are met. These policies may be also be used for monitoring the system for goal assessment purposes. The refinement is carried out using a combination of data classification and test-and-development approaches. An ad hoc system is deployed and a dataset containing values of selected metrics is collected by placing appropriate workloads on the system. The policy bounds are derived by applying classification techniques on this dataset. The classification rules are further refined using statistical distributions to arrive at certain low level rules that are useful for system monitoring and to check the system health when it is deployed and running. We show the validity of our approach for an e-commerce auctioning system (RubiS).
Comparison of supervised and unsupervised machine learning techniques for UXO classification using EMI data

Classification tools including Support Vector Machines (SVM) and Neural Networks (NN) are employed, and their performances compared for Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) classification using live site electromagnetic induction (EMI) data. Both SVM and NN are examples of supervised machine-learning techniques, whose purpose is to label the features (extracted from the incoming data of the unknown subsurface anomalies) based on previously trained examples. In this paper a set of three features are extracted from the EMI decay curves of the physics-based intrinsic, effective dipole moment, called the total Normalized Surface Magnetic Source (NSMS). This data is first used to train both the SVM and NN models and further serves as a basis for UXO classification. These techniques are then compared to an unsupervised learning approach, based on agglomerative hierarchical clustering followed by Gaussian Mixture modeling. We found that such combination provides reduction in the amount of required training data (which is being requested solely based on the clustering results) and allows for convenient probabilistic interpretation of the classification. The classification results themselves depend on the UXO caliber, material composition and actual live UXO site's conditions. Therefore, here we report the classification results for a live UXO data set, collected at former Camp San Luis Obispo, CA. This study includes four targets-of-interest: 60-mm, 81-mm, and 4.2-in mortars and 2.36-in rockets. The classification performance between clutters and UXO is studied and the corresponding ROC curves are illustrated.
Identification of binding sites for an insulin-like growth factor (IGF-I) in the median eminence of the rat brain by quantitative autoradiography

The microanatomical location of IGF-1 binding in the rat brain was determined by in vitro autoradiography with slide-mounted sections of frozen brain. Sections incubated in 0.1 nM [125I]-iodo-IGF-l produced a dense grain concentration in regions of the autoradiographic image corresponding to the external palisade zone of the median eminence; other hypothalamic regions were not so heavily labeled. This reaction was significantly reduced in the presence of 100 nM IGF-1. Measurement of binding by computer digital image analysis of autoradiographic images showed that specific binding for 1GF-I in the median eminence was 41.3 t 8 × 10 fmol/mm (mean ‡ SEM); nonspecific binding was I 1.9 ± 1.8 × 10 fmol/mm. In contrast, specific binding to other hypothalamic regions was uniformly lower. In a separate experiment, 1000 nM unlabeled insulin was added. Without insulin, specific binding was 23 ± 0.9 × 10 fmol/mm ; nonspecific binding was 8 ± 0.5 × 10 fmol/mm. In the presence of 1000 nM unlabeled insulin, specific bin...
Environmental and temperament assessments of children with Down's syndrome

. This study was designed to investigate the family environment and the temperament of children with Down's syndrome (DS). Parents of 40 children with DS completed the Family Environmental Scale (FES). They also were asked to fill out the Temperament Assessment Battery for Children (TABC) for both the child with DS and the nearest same-sex sibling. A similar questionnaire of the TABC (teacher form) was sent to the children's teachers. The results of these investigations revealed that there were high scores in categories cohesion, expressiveness, achievement, moral/religious emphasis, organization and control on the FES, indicating that family members in the study cohort are relationship oriented, provide support for one another, emphasize ethical values and are able to express their feelings. Comparing TABC results between children with DS with their siblings, significant differences were observed in such categories as adaptability, approach/withdrawal and persistence. Control children were scoring higher in the adaptability and persistence categories, whereas children with DS achieved significantly higher scores than the control children in the approachiwithdrataal category.
T1ρ Imaging of Murine Brain Tumors at 4 T

Abstract Rationale and Objectives The goal of this study was to evaluate the utility of T1 ρ weighting in magnetic resonance imaging of murine brain tumors. Materials and Methods S91 Cloudman melanoma was implanted in mouse brains ( n = 4). A T2-weighted spin-echo (SE) and a T1 ρ -weighted fast SE-based sequence were performed on a 4-T clinical imager. T2 and T1 ρ maps were computed. The tumor-to-normal-tissue contrast was compared between T2-weighted, T1 ρ -weighted, proton-density–weighted, and pre- and postcontrast T1-weighted SE images. Results The tumor-tissue contrast of the T1 ρ -weighted images was similar to that of the T2-weighted images but less than that of the postcontrast T1-weighted images. The T1 ρ -weighted images provided better definition of tumor boundaries than T2-weighted images. At spin-locking powers of 0.5 and 1.5 kHz, the T1 ρ of the tumor was 64.0 msec ± 0.46 and 68.65 msec ± 0.59, respectively. There was no significant inter- or intra-animal variation in T1 ρ for tumor or normal brain cortex. Conclusion T1 ρ -weighted imaging performed at low spin-lock strengths qualitatively depicted tumor borders better than proton-density or T2-weighted imaging and could be useful in treatment planning when combined with other imaging sequences.
Historical Archaeology of France in the New World

The author introduces this special issue of the journal that is focused on the historical archaeology of French colonial and post-colonial settlements in the New World. Case studies from widely separated regions reveal both the similarities and differences that existed in French colonial and descendant communities.
Compressed Air Energy Storage Flow and Power Analysis

It is being recognized that an increase in the electricity generated from central facilities of time-varying renewable energy sources will require some means of smoothing the variations with time. While thermal storage may be appropriate for solar trough and tower plants, additional approaches for storage might prove to be beneficial for other types of generation schemes. One approach to storage that has been examined to varying degrees over the years is Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES). Compressed air can be supplied to large size tanks or underground caverns, and later this stored air can be used to generate power to shave the peak demand of electricity or maintain nearly uniform levels of power generation. The tank discharge process is time dependent on the temperature, pressure, and mass flow rate of the air leaving. Of course, this time dependency also affects the power output of the system. In the following analysis an attempt was given to determine: 1- an analysis of the charging and discharging processes; 2- a power-time relation during the discharge process; 3- an approximation for the size required for a certain energy generated (m3 /MW h) as a function of the initial air pressure; 4- a relation between the discharge area and the time to stabilize the mass flow; and 5- a supplemental heat input is examined in the discharge process to maintain nearly constant discharge power. Using a thermodynamic analysis for the system the power-time history is found.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
‘Aristocracies of thought’: social class in the early folklore of Yeats and Hyde

The years 1888–89 saw the production of two influential collections of Irish folklore: Fairy and Folk Tales of the Irish Peasantry by William Butler Yeats and Leabhar Sgeulaigheachta by Douglas Hyde. These works broke strongly with the unscientific and patronising tone of the Buchmarchen tradition in Ireland and established a new theory of folklore. In this theory, Yeats and Hyde distanced peasant narrators in an attempt to secure literary and, ultimately, aristocratic origins for their tales. As a result, Hyde and Yeats, despite their Ascendancy upbringings, could view themselves (and not the peasant narrators) as the legitimate inheritors of folklore narratives. The very stories collected, however, challenge this power dynamic. Stories such as ‘Monachar agus Manachar’ directly critique the perceived unjust division of labour and profit in rural Ireland in a way that parallels the act of folklore collection. The tales themselves resist the rhetorical frameworks of their Ascendancy collectors.
Clinical spectrum of hyperglucagonemia associated with malignant neuroendocrine tumors.

Objective To review the clinical features associated with hyperglucagonemia in malignant neuroendocrine tumors. Material and Methods We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients with hyperglucagonemia encountered at our institution from Oct. 17,1988, through February 1993 who had a fasting serum glucagon level of at least 120 pg/mL (twice the normal value). The 71 study patients also had no evidence of a secondary cause of hyperglucagonemia and had pathologic confirmation of a neuroendocrine tumor. Results The study group consisted of 46 men and 25 women with a median age of 57 years. Two patients had multiple endocrine neoplasia. Forty-nine patients had biochemically polyfunctional tumors, and 22 had hyperglucagonemia only. The most common initial symptoms were weight loss, abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, peptic ulcer disease, diabetes, and necrolytic migratory erythema (NME). Diabetes eventually developed in 25 patients and was associated with NME in 11. The highest median serum glucagon values occurred in patients with the glucagonoma syndrome or insulinomas, and the lowest median values were in those with carcinoid syndrome, Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, or diabetes without NME. Fasting glucagon and glucose measurements were not correlated. The most common hormonal syndromes were the Zollinger-EUison syndrome and the glucagonoma syndrome. All the neuroendocrine tumors were malignant. Several methods of treatment, including surgical debulking, chemotherapy, somatostatin, and hepatic artery embolization, were used. Death occurred in 29 patients at a median of 2.79 years after diagnosis; 42 patients were alive at a median of 2.86 years after diagnosis. Conclusion A mild degree of hyperglucagonemia can commonly be associated with multifunctional neuroendocrine tumors. The glucagonoma syndrome occurs in a few patients with malignant neuroendocrine tumors and hyperglucagonemia and is associated with very high serum glucagon levels. The correlation between serum glucagon levels and the development of diabetes is limited, and other factors such as insulin may be more important than hyperglucagonemia in the development of diabetes.
Deciding bisimilarity of normed context-free processes is in σ p 2

Existing decision algorithms for bisimulation equivalence for normed context-free processes require at least exponential time. We develop a Σp2 (a subclass of PSPACE) algorithm for deciding bisimulation equivalence for normed context-free processes.
Abnormal Returns and Stock Splits: The Decimalized vs. Fractional System of Stock Price Quotes

Stock splits have been an anomaly in the world of finance since their inception. Despite the fact that stock splits themselves do not inherently create any value for the firm, investors see stock splits as positive and the companies that declare them as better investments than ones that do not. With the inception several years ago of the decimalized system of stock price quotations, it remains to be seen if stock splits will continue to be seen as such, and if so, to a greater or lesser degree as under the fractional quote system. It seems that despite a reduction in transaction costs under the new system, there again appears to be no long-term benefit to splitting.
Canine prostatic disease: a review of anatomy, pathology, diagnosis, and treatment

Disease conditions affecting the canine prostate gland are encountered frequently in small animal practice. The most common conditions affecting the canine prostate include benign prostatic hyperplasia, prostatitis, prostatic cysts, and prostatic neoplasia. Clinical signs associated with each of these conditions often overlap; therefore, it is important to reach a definitive diagnosis prior to initiating treatment. This paper reviews the diseases associated with the prostate gland of the dog, their diagnosis, as well as current treatment options for management of these conditions. Emphasis is placed on proper diagnostic sampling of the prostate gland, its fluid, and interpretation of findings, as well as emerging medical options for treatment of canine prostatic disease.
Behavior and mix design development of concrete made with recycled aggregate from deconstructed lead-contaminated masonry materials

Abstract The present study is to develop an effective method for using deconstructed, lead-contaminated masonry materials in new concrete so as to minimize the environmental impact, cost, and time of the deconstruction. The approach to this method is to use crushed masonry materials to replace natural aggregate in conventional concrete. Two different types of masonry materials (concrete blocks and clay bricks) were collected, painted with lead-based paint (LBP), and then crushed to simulate recycled LBP-contaminated masonry materials. Three types of cement (type I Portland cement, Calcium Sulfoaluminate (CSA) cement, and Portland cement with 5% phosphate addition) were selected for sequestering lead in the recycled aggregate. A concrete mix design matrix was developed with different water-to-cement ratios (w/c), aggregate-to-cement ratios (a/c), types of cements, and types of masonry materials. Based on the test results, mix design nomographs were developed for concrete made with the recycled, LBP-contaminated masonry materials. The results indicate that the lead can be sequestered, or rendered non-leachable, due to the high alkalinity of cement. The concrete therefore no longer has the toxicity characteristic for lead and is suitable for various types of new construction, such as foundation and pavement, reinforced beams, columns, and walls.