cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Monitoring the Dynamics of a Helicopter Main Rotor With High-Speed Stereophotogrammetry

Stereophotogrammetry in conjunction with three-dimensional point tracking (3DPT) algorithms has proven to be a highly robust dynamic measurement technique on small, rotating bladed systems. This measurement technique can be scaled up to much larger systems and has several desirable features for helicopter and wind turbine structural health monitoring (SHM) applications that include: (1) it is noncontact and does not require the use of roll/slip rings for signal transmission; (2) the applied measurement targets negligibly affect the aerodynamics or structural mass/stiffness; and (3) position data can be collected on many hundreds of points over what is capable using conventional multichannel data acquisition (DAQ) systems. A field test was conducted in which operating data were collected on the main rotor of a helicopter in both grounded and hovering operating conditions. Part 1 of this work describes the experimental setup and DAQ process of the test performed and part 2 of this work presents some of the results including blade dynamics and extracted operating deflection shape information for the helicopter. The promising results presented in this work will serve as the foundation for the development of noncontacting SHM techniques that can be applied to large, rotating bladed structures while in operation.
Centralized VS. Decentralized Coordination: Two Application Case Studies

This paper examines two approaches to multi-agent coordination. One approach is primarily decentralized, but has some centralized aspects, the other is primarily centralized, but has some decentralized aspects. The approaches are described within the context of the applications that motivated them and are compared and contrasted in terms of application coordination requirements and other development constraints.
Perspectives on Human Variation through the Lens of Diversity and Race

Human populations, however defined, differ in the distribution and frequency of traits they display and diseases to which individuals are susceptible. These need to be understood with respect to three recent advances. First, these differences are multicausal and a result of not only genetic but also epigenetic and environmental factors. Second, the actions of genes, although crucial, turn out to be quite dynamic and modifiable, which contrasts with the classical view that they are inflexible machines. Third, the diverse human populations across the globe have spent too little time apart from our common origin 50,000 years ago to have developed many individually adapted traits. Human trait and disease differences by continental ancestry are thus as much the result of nongenetic as genetic forces.
Image encryption algorithms based on Generalized P-Gray Code bit plane decomposition

Image encryption is an effective method to protect multimedia information for different security purposes. In this paper, we introduce a new image bit-plane decomposition method based on the Generalized P-Gray Code (GPGC) which is a parametric sequence suitable for any base, n. Based on this decomposition, we introduce two image encryption algorithms using GPGC. The two algorithms allow for either full or partial encryption of images based on the choice of security keys: base n and distance parameter p. Experimental results show that the presented algorithms are lossless encryption methods, and that the original images can be completely reconstructed when the correct security keys are used. It is also shown that the presented algorithms can withstand the plaintext attacks.
Optimized EVM Testing for IEEE 802.11a/n RF ICs

Characterization of RF ICs based on their error vector magnitude (EVM) is gaining a lot of attention in the industry. In order to deliver this specification at a reasonable cost, the input test signal and the analysis techniques have to be optimized such that EVM testing can provide a robust pass/fail decision while utilizing a reasonable amount of tester resources. In this paper, we propose techniques to optimize EVM testing, both from input signal generation and from output analysis perspectives. Our goal is to achieve both efficient and reliable test approaches for WLAN (Wireless Local Area Networks) circuits.
Antiretroviral Therapy Is Associated with Reduced Serologic Failure Rates for Syphilis among HIV-Infected Patients

Methods. We assessed all cases of syphilis with positive serologic test results from 1990 through 2006 in a prospective, observational clinical cohort of HIV-infected patients. We defined seroreversion as the loss of reactivity in a patient who previously had a serologic test result positive for syphilis. We defined serologic failure as the lack of a 4-fold decrease in rapid plasma reagin titers 270‐365 days after therapy or a 4-fold increase in titers 30 days after therapy. We used Cox proportional hazards models with statistical adjustments for multiple failure instances. Results. One hundred eighty subjects experienced 231 cases of syphilis. The median follow-up time was 5.3 years. A total of 71 episodes of serologic failure were documented. A CD4 cell count of !200 cells/mL at the time of syphilis diagnosis was associated with an increased risk of serologic failure (adjusted hazard ratio, 2.48; 95% confidence interval, 1.26‐4.88). The receipt of highly active antiretroviral therapy was associated with a 60% reduction in the rate of serologic failure (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.40; 95% confidence interval, 0.21‐0.75), independent of concomitant CD4 cell response. Rapid plasma reagin seroreversion was infrequent (16.1%) and inconsistent, and it was more likely to occur among patients who received macrolides. Conclusion. The use of highly active antiretroviral therapy to reverse immunosuppression and the routine use of macrolides for the prevention of opportunistic infections may reduce syphilis serologic failure rates among HIV-infected patients who have syphilis.
Biologically-Relevant Exposure Science for 21st Century Toxicity Testing

High visibility efforts in toxicity testing and computational toxicology including the recent National Research Council of the National Academies (NRC) report, Toxicity Testing in the 21st Century: A Vision and Strategy (NRC, 2007a), raise important research questions and opportunities for the field of exposure science. The authors of the National Academies report (NRC, 2007a) emphasize that population-based data and human exposure information are required at each step of their vision for toxicity testing and that these data will continue to play a critical role in both guiding development and use of the toxicity information. In fact, state-of-the-art exposure science is essential for translation of toxicity data to assess potential for risk to individuals and populations and to inform public health decisions. As we move forward to implement the NRC vision, a transformational change in exposure science is required. Application of a fresh perspective and novel techniques to capture critical determinants at biologically motivated resolution for translation from controlled in vitro systems to the open multifactorial system of real-world human-environment interaction will be critical. Development of an exposure ontology and knowledge base will facilitate extension of network analysis to the individual and population for translating toxicity information and assessing health risk. Such a sea change in exposure science is required to incorporate consideration of lifestage, genetic susceptibility, and interaction of nonchemical stressors for holistic assessment of risk factors associated with complex environmental disease. A new generation of scientific tools has emerged to rapidly measure signals from cells, tissues, and organisms following exposure to chemicals. Investment in 21st century exposure science is now required to fully realize the potential of the NRC vision for toxicity testing.
Some Characteristics of the Ovomucin Gel of Egg White

Abstract INTRODUCTION WHILE numerous experiments of an empirical nature have been made on thick egg white in an attempt to produce and retain as large an amount of thick white in the egg as possible, few attempts have been made to determine the underlying chemical reactions that the white undergoes while in the egg. The physical and chemical properties of egg white as a whole depend, to a great extent, upon the properties of each of the five or more well recognized component proteins with their buffer solution. It has been recognized for some time that one of the chief differences between thick and thin white is in the ovomucin content of the thick white (McNally, 1933). The realization of the fact that the thick white is a mucin in a gel form has come more slowly. While the other proteins of the egg white may form gels under certain chemical . . .
Progress in the BBN 2007 Mandarin Speech to Text system

In this paper, we describe the BBN 2007 Mandarin speech-to-text system developed for the GALE Evaluation 2007. In comparison to the BBN 2006 Mandarin system, we achieved 25% relative reduction in character error rate on the most important test sets. The utilization of all available training data provided the largest contribution to the improvement. The use of a better pitch tracking algorithm also contributed significantly, while system combination made some noticeable improvement too.
The Role of Passenger Leukocytes in Rejection and “Tolerance” after Solid Organ Transplantation: A Potential Explanation of a Paradox

The concept that passenger leukocytes are more “immunogenic” and thus initiate rejection, which is ultimately directed against the parenchyma and vessels of solid organ allografts, was first proposed by Snell (1) and later proved by Steinmuller (2) . Steinman and Cohn (3–6) subsequently showed that a distinct type of passenger leukocyte, the dendritic cell, provides the most potent of the allogeneic stimuli. Besides dendritic cells, which reside in the interstitium of all allografts, every organ also carries with it a variable number of T and B lymphocytes, macrophages and myeloid cells. Therefore, each type of allograft presents a heterogenous stimulatory profile as well as the potential for graft-versus-host (GVH) reactions.
Sampling spectrum occupancy data over random fields: A matrix completion approach

The performance of cognitive radio networks is fundamentally determined by the availability of spectrum resources. Detailed measurement campaigns are needed to collect the spectrum occupancy data to obtain a deeper understanding of the spectrum usage characteristics in cognitive radio networks. This approach, however, is usually inefficient due to the ignorance of the spatial, temporal and spectral correlations of spectrum occupancies, and unpractical because of the geographical and hardware limitations of the cognitive radio nodes. In this paper, we apply the theory of random fields to model the spatial-temporal correlated spectrum usage data, using the two dimensional Ising model and the Metropolis-Hastings algorithm respectively. To efficiently obtain the spectrum occupancy, we adopt the matrix completion technique that leverages the low-rank structure of the data matrix to recover the original data from limited measurements. Simulation results validate effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.
Molecular and Phenotypic Mapping of Genes Controlling Seed Coat Pattern and Color in Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) exhibits a wide variety of seed coat patterns and colors. From a historical perspective, extensive genetic analyses have identified specific genes that control seed coat pattern (T, Z, L, J, Bip, and Ana) and color (P, C, R, J, D, G, B, V, and Rk). Many of these genes exhibit epistatic interactions with other genes, interactions that define the many seed coat patterns and colors observed within the species. To better understand these complex interactions, we began a molecular marker discovery program that previously identified random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers linked to many of these genes. We report here the discovery of RAPD markers linked to three additional genes-C, G, and V. These markers, and five RAPD markers we previously discovered linked to other seed coat pattern and color genes, were converted into easily scorable sequence tagged site (STS) markers. We next placed these markers onto a common molecular map shared by the Phaseolus research community and demonstrated a generally wide distribution of the genes throughout the common bean genome. A few previously unrecognized linkages were discovered. The probable existence of multiple genes controlling growth habit in common bean is discussed. Our approach demonstrates the usefulness and feasibility of marker discovery in one population followed by accurate mapping of that marker onto a core, community-wide map.
A numerical investigation of sign-changing solutions to superlinear elliptic equations on symmetric domains

In this paper, we investigate numerically sign-changing solutions of superlinear elliptic equations on symmetric domains. Based upon the symmetric criticality principle of Palais, the existence of sign-changing solutions which re2ect the symmetry
The role of microglia in central nervous system immunity and glioma immunology

The central nervous system (CNS) historically has been considered an immune-privileged organ, lacking a lymphatic system and shielded from the circulatory system by the blood-brain barrier. Microglia are an abundant portion of the CNS cell population, comprising 5% to 20% of the total glial cell population, and are as numerous as neurons. A crucial function of microglia is the ability to generate significant innate and adaptive immune responses. Microglia are involved in first line innate immunity of the CNS. Proper antigen presentation is critical in the generation of specific, durable responses by the adaptive immune system, and requires interaction between the T cell receptor and processed antigen peptide presented on major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules by the antigen presenting cells (APC). Microglia also have a large regulatory role in CNS immunity. Histopathologic studies of glioma tissue have consistently shown high levels of infiltrating microglia. Microglia are also localized diffusely throughout the tumor, rather than to the areas of necrosis, and phagocytosis of glioma cells or debris by microglia is not observed. Recent evidence indicates that glioma-infiltrating microglia/macrophages might be promoting tumor growth by facilitating immunosuppression of the tumor microenvironment. When activated, microglia can be potent immune effector cells, able to perform a broad range of functions, and they mediate both innate and adaptive responses during CNS injury and disease while remaining quiescent in the steady state. Their versatility in bridging the gap between the immune-privileged CNS and the peripheral immune system, in addition to their significant numbers in gliomas, makes them an attractive candidate in immunotherapy for gliomas. An enhanced understanding of microglia-glioma interaction may provide better methods to manipulate the glioma microenvironment to allow the generation of a specific and durable anti-glioma immunity. The role of microglia in CNS immunity is reviewed, with a focus on key advances made in glioma immunology.
Juvenile rats in the forced-swim test model the human response to antidepressant treatment for pediatric depression

Rationale Currently, there are limited treatment options for major depressive disorder in children and adolescents compared to the options available for adults. Many effective treatments used for adult depression, such as the tricyclic antidepressants, lack efficacy when given to children and adolescents. Objective To more quickly identify compounds that could be effective for treating childhood and adolescent depression, a reliable preclinical animal behavioral test of antidepressant efficacy for pediatric depression is needed. The forced-swim test (FST) with juvenile rats was assessed to determine its reliability as a predictive model for pediatric depression. Materials and methods We adapted procedures from the adult FST to test 21-day-old juvenile rats. The 21-day-old animals were treated with three classes of antidepressant drugs before being assessed in the FST: the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors escitalopram or fluoxetine; the tricyclic antidepressants desipramine or imipramine; and the monoamine oxidase inhibitor tranylcypromine. Results The 21-day-old rats showed dose-dependent changes in behaviors similar to those seen in adults when treated with escitalopram or fluoxetine. Tranylcypromine also decreased immobility in 21-day-old rats. Treatment with desipramine or imipramine, however, was not effective at reducing immobility in the 21-day-old rats. Conclusions The juvenile FST accurately predicts the efficacy of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and the lack of efficacy of tricyclic antidepressants in the treatment of depression in children and adolescents. This suggests that the FST using 21-day-old rats may help to develop better treatments for childhood and adolescent depression.
Visual search with embedded targets: color and texture differences.

Two embedded target visual search displays were used in three kinds of experiment. One display had a color and the other a monochrome texture background. In each trial of each experiment a single t...
Platelet-Derived Growth Factor Receptor β Is Critical for Zebrafish Intersegmental Vessel Formation

Background Platelet-derived growth factor receptor β (PDGFRβ) is a tyrosine kinase receptor known to affect vascular development. The zebrafish is an excellent model to study specific regulators of vascular development, yet the role of PDGF signaling has not been determined in early zebrafish embryos. Furthermore, vascular mural cells, in which PDGFRβ functions cell autonomously in other systems, have not been identified in zebrafish embryos younger than 72 hours post fertilization. Methodology/Principal Findings In order to investigate the role of PDGFRβ in zebrafish vascular development, we cloned the highly conserved zebrafish homolog of PDGFRβ. We found that pdgfrβ is expressed in the hypochord, a developmental structure that is immediately dorsal to the dorsal aorta and potentially regulates blood vessel development in the zebrafish. Using a PDGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor, a morpholino oligonucleotide specific to PDGFRβ, and a dominant negative PDGFRβ transgenic line, we found that PDGFRβ is necessary for angiogenesis of the intersegmental vessels. Significance/Conclusion Our data provide the first evidence that PDGFRβ signaling is required for zebrafish angiogenesis. We propose a novel mechanism for zebrafish PDGFRβ signaling that regulates vascular angiogenesis in the absence of mural cells.
R7BP: A Surprising New Link Between G Proteins, RGS Proteins, and Nuclear Signaling in the Brain

The regulators of G protein signaling (RGS proteins) bind directly to G protein alpha (Galpha) subunits in brain and other tissues to determine the strength, duration, and fidelity of neurotransmitter receptor signaling. A recent study shows, quite unexpectedly, that one class of RGS proteins [the R7 subfamily bound to Gbeta(5) (R7-Gbeta(5))] shuttles between the plasma membrane and the nucleus with assistance from a novel shuttle protein, R7BP. R7BP binds directly to R7-Gbeta(5) and the protein complex is tethered to the plasma membrane by addition of a lipid, palmitate, on R7BP. Removal of palmitate results in the translocation of the R7BP-R7-Gbeta(5) complex to the nucleus, presumably for nontraditional signaling functions. These findings suggest an entirely novel mechanism for regulating neurotransmitter signaling. That is, R7BP transduces signals directly from receptors and G proteins at the plasma membrane to the nucleus, and this plasma membrane-nuclear shuttling is controlled by reversible palmitoylation of R7BP.
Use of Personalized Printed 3-Dimensional Kidney Models for Simulation before Nephron Sparing Surgery: Methodology and Examples from a Case Series

Abstract Introduction Nephron sparing surgery may be challenging in cases of complex or aberrant renal anatomy. 3-Dimensional printing technology has allowed the creation of 3-dimensional models that can aid in preoperative surgical planning and simulation. We describe the construction of personalized 3-dimensional kidney models, and present a series of patients with complex surgical anatomy to illustrate their use in surgical planning and performance of complex nephron sparing surgery. Methods Three patients with complex renal masses were identified. Contrast enhanced computerized tomography studies were used to create segmentation images based on separate scan phases, which were overlaid to create virtual 3-dimensional models. High-fidelity 3-dimensional physical models were then created using 3-dimensional printing technology. The 3-dimensional models were used as an aid in the surgical planning and performance of nephron sparing surgery. Results Three patients with complex renal anatomy presented with T1b or T2 renal masses. Two patients had absolute or relative indications for nephron sparing surgery and in 1 patient a benign mass was suspected on imaging. The 3-dimensional kidney models were constructed based on preoperative cross-sectional imaging to evaluate the feasibility of nephron sparing surgery and to simulate the surgical approach. All patients underwent successful nephron sparing surgery with negative surgical margins and preservation of renal function at followup. Conclusions We describe the creation of personalized 3-dimensional kidney models to facilitate the visualization of the renal mass and its relationship with surrounding structures, the identification of renal and tumor vasculature, and the evaluation of aberrant anatomy. These 3-dimensional models represent a valuable tool for preoperative planning and simulation in cases with complex anatomical considerations.
Revisiting ‘An Identified Systemic Model of The Democracy-Peace Nexus’: New Tools, New Uses

In this paper we revisit the work of James, Solberg and Wolfson (Defence & Peace Economics, 1999) that introduced an identified, simultaneous two-equation interactive system estimation of the relationship between democracy and conflict. In the decade following this research, which suggested a causal role for conflict relative to democracy, a number of theoretical and empirical advances have been made. These steps forward include an innovative statistical technique for estimating simultaneous equations with categorical dependent variables. This paper will build on these advances to update the earlier findings noted above. Additionally, the paper will use this system of equations to explore a variety of new independent variables and novel measurements of established independent variables that have emerged in the conflict processes literature. The analysis also includes a case illustration of the causal mechanisms presumed to be at work.
A Holocene Sediment Record of Phosphorus Accumulation in Shallow Lake Harris, Florida (USA) Offers New Perspectives on Recent Cultural Eutrophication.

We studied a complete Holocene sediment record from shallow (zmax = 9.7 m) Lake Harris, Florida (USA) to infer the historical development of the lake and its current eutrophic status. We used 210Pb and 14C to date the 5.9-m sediment sequence (core LH-6-13) and determined accumulation rates for bulk sediment, organic matter, calcium carbonate, phosphorus fractions and biogenic silica fractions. The chronology of changes in sediment characteristics for LH-6-13 is consistent with the general paleoenvironmental framework established by core studies from other Florida lakes. Lake Harris began to fill with water in the early Holocene, ca. 10,680 cal a BP. A shift from carbonate-dominated to organic-rich sediments ca. 5,540 cal a BP corresponds to a transition to wetter climate in the middle Holocene. A rapid increase in diatom biogenic silica concentrations and accumulation rates ca. 2,600 cal a BP signals that the lake had deepened to its modern limnetic state. In LH-6-13, an up-core decrease in rates of accumulation for several sediment variables indicates time-course oligotrophication of the lake through the Holocene. In near-surface sediments, abrupt increases in the accumulation rates of these same variables indicate progressive cultural eutrophication after ca. AD 1900. Comparison of the modern state of Lake Harris to its condition 50–100 years ago provides a measure of the impact of recent cultural eutrophication. Because the pre-disturbance trajectory of this lake was one of oligotrophication, the true impact of cultural eutrophication is even greater than what is inferred from the changes over the past century.
Colorado Cannabis Legalization and Its Effect on Emergency Care.

Colorado legalized the use of medical marijuana in 2000, although it was not truly commercialized in the state until the US attorney general ceased the prosecution of marijuana users and suppliers in 2009. The result was striking: from January 2009 to January 2011, the number of registered medical marijuana licenses in Colorado increased from 5,051 to 118,895 (Figure 1). Figure 1 Number of active marijuana licenses in Colorado. In 2012, Colorado voted to legalize recreational marijuana beginning in 2014, making it the first state alongside Washington to permit recreational use. Several other states have recently legalized the use of medical or recreational marijuana, with other states considering similar measures (Figure 2).1 Given this trend, emergency physicians in training will likely be confronted with increasing volumes of marijuana-related emergency department (ED) visits and may learn from Colorado’s recent experience with increased availability of marijuana products. Figure 2 Marijuana legalization by state (as of May 2015). THE EPIDEMIOLOGIC EFFECT OF LEGALIZATION Although the significant increase in medical marijuana registrations does not prove its increased use, this inference is supported by various survey data. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, the percentage of young Coloradan adults aged 18 to 25 years reporting marijuana use within the past year increased significantly after medical marijuana legalization (35% in 2007 to 2008 versus 43% in 2010 to 2011). Simultaneously, the percentage of adults aged 26 years or older perceiving “great risk” to marijuana use significantly decreased, from 45% to 31%.2 Interstate comparisons also show a higher prevalence of marijuana use in states in which it has been legalized versus those in which it has not. According to National Survey on Drug Use and Health responses from 2011 to 2013, the prevalence of Coloradan adults endorsing marijuana use within the last month was 19% compared with a national prevalence of 12%.3 According to data from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions, residents of states with medical marijuana legalization were twice as likely to endorse marijuana use compared with residents of states without legalized medical marijuana.4
Machine intelligence

Under certain conditions, we appear willing to see and interact with computing machines as though they exhibited intelligence, at least an intelligence of sorts. Using examples from AI and robotics research, as well as a selection of relevant art installations and anthropological fieldwork, this paper reflects on some of our interactions with the kinds of machines we seem ready to treat as intelligent. Broadly, it is suggested that ordinary, everyday ideas of intelligence are not fixed, but rather actively seen and enacted in the world. As such, intelligence does not just belong to the province of the human mind, but can emerge in quite different, unexpected forms in things. For HCI, it is proposed this opens up a new set of possibilities for design; examining the ways intelligence is seen and enacted gives rise to a very different way of thinking about the intersection between human and machine, and thus promotes some radically new types of interactions with computing machines.
Major Armed Conflicts 2001

In 2001 there were 24 major armed conflicts in 22 locations throughout the world. The only interstate conflict that was active in 2001 occurred between India and Pakistan. All of the 15 most deadly conflicts in 2001 - those that caused 100 or more deaths during the year - were intra-state conflicts. Most commonly, they threatened to destabilize neighbouring states through the burden of refugees, cross-border movement of rebels (and occasionally national military forces), and the undermining of legitimate economic and political structures through the illicit trade in resources and arms. Eleven of the 15 conflicts have lasted for eight or more years, leading to extensive destruction of economic and social infrastructure. One of the reasons for their endurance is the inability of either side to prevail by force. In the vast majority of the conflicts, rebels used a guerrilla military strategy but failed to win wide popular support. Governments were unable to use their full strength against small and mobile opponents.
An Investigation of Positive-Findings Bias in Evaluation of Organization Development Interventions

This study investigated the possibility of an inverse relationship between methodological rigor and positive results from organization development (OD) interventions in OD evaluations published bet...
Using Technology To Leverage Your Lectures Stickiness

Increasingly, universities are scrambling to take advantage of online technologies. This article describes one such technology that can be used to capture the video and audio of a PowerPoint lecture. The specific technology is a software program called Camtasia. With Camtasia one can simultaneously capture in a movie file everything that is occurring on a computer screen along with the audio narration. Once captured, the video and audio can be produced as a streaming video and uploaded to a web server for online viewing.
The effect of intensive care unit environments on nurse perceptions of family presence during resuscitation and invasive procedures.

BACKGROUND In a growing number of requests, family members are asking for proximity to their family member during resuscitation and invasive procedures. OBJECTIVES The objective of this study was to measure the impact of intensive care unit environments on nurse perception of family presence during resuscitation and invasive procedures. RESEARCH METHODS The study used a descriptive survey design with nurses from 9 intensive care units using the Family Presence Self-confidence Scale for resuscitation/invasive procedures that measures nurses' perception of self-confidence and Family Presence Risk-Benefit Scale for resuscitation and invasive procedures that measures nurses' perception of risks/benefits related to managing resuscitation and invasive procedures with family present. RESULTS There were 207 nurses who responded: 14 male and 184 female nurses (9 missing data), with mean age of 41 ± 11 years, with a mean of 15 years in critical care practice. The environments were defined as surgical (n = 68), medical (n = 43), pediatric/neonatal (n = 34), and mixed adult medical/surgical (n = 36) intensive care units. There were significant differences in self-confidence, with medical and pediatric intensive care unit nurses rating more self-confidence for family presence during resuscitation (F = 7.73, P < .000) and invasive procedures (F = 6.41, P < .000). There were significant differences in risks/benefits with medical and pediatric intensive care unit nurses rating lower risk and higher benefit for resuscitation (F = 7.73, P < .000). DISCUSSION Perceptions of family presence were significantly higher for pediatric and medical intensive care unit nurses. Further education and support may be needed in the surgical and mixed intensive care units. Evidence-based practice guidelines that are family centered can define the procedures and resources for family presence, to ultimately promote professional practice.
The use of multiple threads in an object-oriented real-time simulation

As real-time simulations become more complex, a single processor is no longer sufficient to perform all of the necessary computations. It becomes desirable to execute independent sections of a real-time simulation on different’processors. The traditional approach to utilizing multiple processors on a symmetric multiprocessor machine involves writing a program composed of one process per processor that interact through shared memory. A program that uses threads can utilize multiple processors without the overhead of full processes or the use of a cumbersome shared memory mechanism. This is due to the fact that threads implicitly share a common address space. A multithreaded real-time program is organized as a main thread controlling zero or more auxiliary real-time threads. Each processor to be used for real-time computations is assigned a single auxiliary real-time thread. The main thread monitors the real-time clock and informs the auxiliary threads when the clock ticks. An auxiliary thread can also be used to monitor and control the simulation via a graphical user interface (GUI). These object-oriented designs were implemented in C++ for the NASA Langley Standard Real-Time Simulation (LaSRS++) Application Framework.
354 RENAL RESPONSES TO ANGIOTENSIN II IN MICE LACKING THE GENE FOR TUMOR NECROSIS FACTOR-α.

Recent studies have implicated a role for a proinflammatory cytokine, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), in angiotensin II (ANGII)-induced renal injury and the development of salt-sensitive hypertension. To examine this relationship between TNF-α and ANGII actions in the kidney, we assessed renal responses to acute ANG II (1 ng/min/g for 30 minutes, IV) in anesthetized knockout (KO) mice lacking TNF-α and compared these responses with those of wild-type (WT) mice. Systemic blood pressure (BP) was recorded from a cannula placed in the left carotid artery. Renal blood flow (RBF) and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) were measured by PAH and inulin clearances, respectively. Compared with WT (n = 6), KO (n = 8) mice did not have significant differences in the basal values of BP (92 ± 4 and 99 ± 2 mm Hg), RBF (3.8 ± 0.3 and 3.4 ± 0.2 mL.min−1.g−1), GFR (0.74 ± 0.04 and 0.75 ± 0.03 mL.min−1.g−1), urine flow (V, 8.8 ± 0.4 and 9.9 ± 0.6 μL.min−1.g−1), and sodium excretion (UNaV, 0.87 ± 0.07 and 0.93 ± 0.12 μmol.min−1.g−1). However, KO exhibit lower urinary nitrite/nitrate (UNOxV; 0.13 ± 0.02 vs 0.35 ± 0.07 nmol.min−1.g−1) and 8-isoprostane excretion (UISOV; 1.26 ± 0.05 vs 1.97 ± 0.20 pg.min−1.g−1) compared with WT. ANGII caused similar increment in BP in both KO and WT (Δ24 ± 3 and Δ26 ± 2 mm Hg). Interestingly, ANGII caused minimal decrease in RBF (−3 ± 2%) in KO compared with WT (−30 ± 5%). Moreover, ANGII increased GFR in KO (7 [138} 2%) but not in WT. Although V and UNaV responses to ANGII were not much different between the the strains, there were lower UNOxV (92 ± 19% vs 143 [138} 52%; p
The Variability among Provenances of Acacia mearnsii Detected by RAPD

The genomes of 11 provenances of Acacia mearnsii Willd were tested by RAPD with 22 random primers. It could be seen from the electrophoretogram of agarose gel that different primers amplified DNA bands ranging from 1 to 7, and that primer 428 ampli- fied only 1 band and primer 17 amplified 7 bands. The dendrogram was established based on the DNA bands of the amplified products which showed diversity among different prove- nances. The results showed no significant correlations between provenances' hardiness with their geographical longitude, latitude or elevation.
The painful shoulder.

SUMMARY We have summarized an approach to the understanding and treatment of three relatively common shoulder lesions likely to be seen and treated by the primary physician. We have not discussed the subject of acute trauma, nor have we mentioned the problem of acute and chronic tears of the rotator cuff. In point of fact, a variable degree of rotator cuff degeneration and disruption is a common associated finding in the clinical condition of anterior acromion impingement syndrome and must be considered in the orthopedic management of these cases. As in most areas of patient care, the key to successful management depends on a sound working diagnosis made after a careful history and physical examination. The shoulder is no exception and affords the physician an accessible area of anatomy for direct “hands on” care.
Gender Differences on the Road to Redemption

Redemption research examines how much time must pass after a criminal offense before an offender is considered “redeemed.” This study adds to redemption research by using a nationally representativ...
“I Want a Beautiful Life”: Divergent Chronotopes in English language Teacher Education

Research on second language teacher education (SLTE) has focused on the processes, practices, and contexts of teachers’ learning to teach. The interaction between SLTE and the broader sociopolitical processes has received less attention. To address this gap, the author explores how SLTE programs in Russia have become positioned at the intersections of transnational educational reforms, such as the Bologna Process, and global cultural flows of migration. Drawing on a multisited critical ethnography, the author analyzes how faculty members and students appropriate SLTE spaces based on their divergent chronotopes (Bakhtin, 1981) and orientations toward English. Although faculty adhere to an aesthetic orientation of taking trips to the imaginary West, many SLTE students follow an instrumental approach of using SLTE spaces to gain linguistic capital for professional and geographic mobility. These contradictory orientations and divergent chronotopes create frictions within programs. As a result of students’ pur...
Early Cross-Talk between Cord Blood CD34+ or CD133+ Cells and Allogeneic T Cells Regulates the Differentiation of Dendritic Cell Precursors.

It has been previously described that CD34+ blood or marrow progenitors expressing costimulatory ligands are committed to the dendritic cell (DC) lineage. In this study we addressed the question of whether initial contact with allogeneic lymphocytes may differently affect hemopoietic stem cells (HSC) with alloantigen presenting capacity. Human CD34+ and CD133+ cord blood (CB) cells were obtained after immunomagnetic purification. Initially, both HSC fractions were irradiated and tested with allogeneic blood mononuclear cells (MNC) (ratio 1:2) in primary mixed leukocyte culture (MLC) for 6 d. CD34+ and CD133+ CB cells induced similar activation of allo-responders, with increased numbers of CD3+CD69+, CD3+CD25+ and CD8+CD134+ (OX-40+) cells, as well as allogeneic T cell proliferative response (mean Stimulation Index: 19±5 and 16±5, respectively) (n=6). Then, to evaluate the effect of allogeneic effectors on HSC, we tested non-irradiated CD34+ or CD133+ cells in co-culture with irradiated allogeneic MNC or purified T-cells for 6 d, or with medium alone as control, and observed a brisk proliferation of both HSC fractions only upon stimulation with allogeneic cells (mean Stimulation Index: 17±2; n=3). Interestingly, costimulatory blockade with CTLA4-Ig resulted in 70% inhibition of HSC proliferation, suggesting that B7:CD28 signaling is necessary to the T cell-mediated HSC growth. Finally, CD34+ or CD133+ cells that had been cocultured with irradiated allogeneic T cells for 6 d, were harvested, irradiated and rechallenged as stimulators in MLC (S:R ratio=1:2). Progenitors derived from both CD34+ and CD133+ cells induced a significantly greater T cell alloresponse as compared to the same freshly isolated HSC (overall mean Stimulation Index: 134±54 vs 24±8, p=0.03; n=4 exp). The phenotypic kinetics of CD34+ and CD133+ CB cells upon contact with irradiated T cells, showed a rapid upregulation of CD86 within 24 h (on average from 2±1% to 7±2%, and from
MARKETING-MIX COMPONENTS IN LIBRARY AND INFORMATION MANAGEMENT: A VIEWPOINT

Marketing of library and information service implies identification of user needs so as to satisfy them accordingly. The scope of this paper is therefore to have a study on need for marketing in satisfying the user requirements. The paper thereafter introduces marketing-mix aspect and its genesis and evolution. It points out component ideas of marketing-mix in general and the component ideas required in library and information management. All component ideas are subsequently discussed in successive sections. The paper concludes with marketing aspect followed in non-profit organizations like library and information centres.
Intraspecific adaptive radiation: Competition, ecological opportunity, and phenotypic diversification within species

Intraspecific variation in resource-use traits can have profound ecological and evolutionary implications. Among the most striking examples are resource polymorphisms, where alternative morphs that utilize different resources evolve within a population. An underappreciated aspect of their evolution is that the same conditions that favor resource polymorphism—competition and ecological opportunity—might foster additional rounds of diversification within already existing morphs. We examined these issues in spadefoot toad tadpoles that develop into either a generalist "omnivore" or a specialist "carnivore" morph. Specifically, we assessed the morphological diversity of tadpoles from natural ponds and experimentally induced carnivores reared on alternative diets. We also surveyed natural ponds to determine if the strength of intramorph competition and the diversity and abundance of dietary resources (measures of ecological opportunity) influenced the diversity of within-morph variation. We found that five omnivore and four carnivore types were present in natural ponds; alternative diets led to shape differences, some of which mirrored variation in the wild; and both competition and ecological opportunity were associated with enhanced morphological diversity in natural ponds. Such fine-scale intraspecific variation might represent an underappreciated form of biodiversity and might constitute a crucible of evolutionary innovation and diversification.
Nursing Home Provider Perceptions of Telemedicine for Providing Specialty Consults

Abstract Background: Nursing homes (NHs) provide care to a complex patient population and face the ongoing challenge of meeting resident needs for specialty care. A NH telemedicine care model could...
Vascular parameters continue to decrease post-exposure with simultaneous, but not individual exposure to BPA and hypoxia in zebrafish larvae.

Abstract How fish respond to hypoxia, a common stressor, can be altered by simultaneous exposure to pollutants like bisphenol A (BPA), a plasticizer. BPA is cardiotoxic and interferes with the hypoxia inducible factor pathway (HIF-1α), therefore disrupting the hypoxic response. Co-exposure to hypoxia and BPA also causes severe bradycardia and reduced cardiac output in zebrafish larvae. The purpose of this work was to determine how the cardiovascular effects of co-exposure vary with BPA concentration and persist beyond exposure. Zebrafish embryos were exposed to 0, 0.01, 0.1, 1, and 100 μg/L of BPA during normoxia (>6.0 mg/L O2) and hypoxia (2.0 ± 0.5 mg/L O2) between 1 h post fertilization (hpf) and late hatching (72–96 hpf). Heart rate, cardiac output, and red blood cell (RBC) velocity were determined through video microscopy and digital motion analysis at late hatching and 10 days post fertilization (dpf), several days post exposure. In comparison to the hypoxic control, RBC velocity was 25% lower with 0.01 μg/L BPA and hypoxia at late hatching. At 10 dpf, the difference in RBC velocity between these treatments doubled, despite several days of recovery. This coincided with a 24% thinner outer diameter for caudal vein but no effect on cardiac or developmental parameters. Statistical interactions between BPA and oxygen concentration were found for arterial RBC velocity at both ages. Because the co-occurrence of both stressors is extremely common, it would be beneficial to understand how BPA and hypoxia interact to affect cardiovascular function during and after exposure.
Speech: a privileged modality.

Ever since the publication of Bolt’s ground-breaking “Put-That There” paper [1], providing multiple modalities as a means of easing the interaction between humans and computers has been a desirable attribute of user interface design. In Bolt’s early approach, the style of modality combination required the user to conform to a rigid order when entering spoken and gestural commands. In the early 1990s, the idea of synergistic multimodal combination began to emerge [4], although actual implemented systems (generally using keyboard and mouse) remained far from being synergistic. Nextgeneration approaches involved time-stamped events to reason about the fusion of multimodal input arriving in a given time window, but these systems were hindered by time-consuming matching algorithms. To overcome this limitation, we proposed [6] a truly synergistic application and a distributed architecture for flexible interaction that reduces the need for explicit time stamping. Our slotbased approach is command directed, making it suitable for applications using speech as a primary modality. In this article, we use our interaction model to demonstrate that during multimodal fusion, speech should be a privileged modality, driving the interpretation of a query, and that in certain cases, speech has even more power to override and modify the combination of other modalities than previously believed.
The influence of surface roughness of deserts on the July circulation - A numerical study

The effect of the low surface roughness characteristics of deserts on atmospheric circulation in July is examined using numerical simulations with the GCM of the Goddard Laboratory for Atmospheric Science (GLAS). Identical sets of simulations were carried out with the model starting from the initial state of the atmosphere on June 15, for the years 1979 and 1980. The first simulation included a surface roughness factor of 45 cm, and the second set had a surface roughness factor of 0.02 cm for desert regions, and 45 cm for all other land. A comparative analysis of the numerical data was carried out in order to study the variations for the desert regions. It is shown that rainfall in the Sahara desert was reduced significantly in the data set with the nonuniform surface roughness factor in comparison with the other data set. The inter-tropical convergence zone (ITCZ) moved southward to about 15 degrees, which was close to its observed location at about 10 degrees N. In other deserts, the North American Great Plains, Rajputana in India, and the Central Asian desert, no similar changes were observed. Detailed contour maps of the weather conditions in the different desert regions are provided.