cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Friendship During Childhood and Cultural Variations

Throughout the world, children seek out friendships and friendships develop naturally over time. Despite cultural differences, friendships are founded on several core features that transcend cultural boundaries, including reciprocity, mutual liking, and similarity. Theories of childhood friendship began with the work of Harry Stack Sullivan in the 1950s and have developed more broadly since the 1970s. Childhood friendships are typically evaluated based on prevalence, characteristics, stability, and quality. Friendships are beneficial for children's social and emotional development, and may buffer children against the negative life events.
Caputo \(\psi \)-Fractional Ostrowski and Grüss Inequalities Involving Several Functions

Very general univariate mixed Caputo \(\psi \)-fractional Ostrowski and Gruss type inequalities for several functions are presented. Estimates are with respect to \(\left\| \cdot \right\| _{p}\), \(1\le p\le \infty \). We give also applications. See also [4].
Incidence of postural headache after lumbar puncture requiring epidural blood patch: Effects of needle caliber; 2-year experience:

PurposeA common complication of lumbar puncture (LP) is postural headaches. Epidural blood patches are recommended if patients fail conservative management. Owing to a perceived increase in the num...
What “Introduction to International Relations” Misses Out: Civilizations, World Orders, and the Rise of the West

This essay challenges the traditional Eurocentric or Western-centered view of International Relations (IR) and offers a “global” historical perspective by examining the contribution of non-Western civilizations, especially those of India, China, and Islam. The essay begins by defining some key concepts such as “civilization” and “world order” and discussing the advantages of taking a civilizational, as opposed to the traditional nation-state perspective on international relations. The idea of world order is presented as the political structure of a civilization that is broader than the notion of an “international system”, as it includes both anarchic (a system of independent states interacting without a higher political authority) and hierarchic (such as empire) structures and captures both material (diffusion of economic and military power) and ideational (ideas and innovations) interactions. The benefits of a broader perspective include going beyond a narrow Westphalian and state-centric approach, presenting a more holistic historical view of IR through time and space, and introducing greater analytical depth by questioning the “universality” of concepts and practices that IR scholars have taken for granted and revealing the multiple, diverse and global heritage of IR as a field of study. The subsequent sections of the essay discuss four civilization-based “world orders”: classical Near Eastern, India, China and Islam respectively, to international thought and practice. Each of these sections identifies the structure of the world order, its key underlying ideas and innovations and its legacy. The overall finding is that all three present an eclectic mix of anarchy and hierarchy, idealism and realpolitik, rationalism and spiritualism, which should lead us to seriously question the often stereotyped portrayal of them. A subsequent section discusses the role of Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean in developing the open international trade and the practice of freedom of seas which is often attributed to the West. The last section summarizes the manifold ways in which the ideas and innovations of non-Western civilizations contributed to the rise of Europe and the West. Contrary to historian Niall Ferguson’s view that the rise of Europe was substantially due to it own autonomous knowledge and practice, this section concludes that the West borrowed much from the Rest in its march to global dominance.
Extracurricular Information Seeking: Adolescents’ Informal Information Seeking Practices

This paper examines the various models for adolescents’ information-seeking behavior in informal settings, with a particular focus on students 11-18 in both online and offline information contexts. Drawing on the work of leading scholars in youth information behavior, we examine the processes by which adolescents seek, discover, and use information in settings apart from traditional classrooms or workplaces. We consider the efficacy of extant models for adolescent information seeking and propose means by which those models could be modified, augmented, or clarified to include experiences of adolescents in more diverse contexts. Finally, we question the ways in which individuals and information institutions might continue to support adolescents’ information-seeking behavior and information needs.
Pathogens, Precarity, and Digital Politics of Exclusion

The global COVID-19 pandemic has ravaged communities and exposed the inadequacies of social and political infrastructures. The flight of the virus and protocols of shelter have reopened the question of how digital infrastructures are complicit with processes of precaritization and elide bodies already at risk. This essay discusses the need to locate the study of media and technology in the materialities of the precaritized body in order to theorize the politics of systemic exclusion.
A numerical issue in calculating the coupled carbon and water fluxes in a climate model

[1] The Community Land Model (CLM) uses a fixed-point iteration approach to solve the coupled photosynthesis and stomatal conductance model (A– gs). Here we demonstrate that this approach does not converge in its iterative calculation of gross primary production (GPP) and transpiration in large portions of land surface, because the coupled A– gsmodel does not always comply with a condition (the fixed-point theorem) required by the fixed-point approach for convergence. This iteration fails more frequently in some regions of the world than in others, leading to regionally varying uncertainty and global biases in the estimated carbon and water fluxes. Moreover, CLM applies an artificial constraint to the water vapor pressure of canopy air in its calculations ofA– gs, with an intention to prevent the ‘numerical instability’ arising from the fixed-point approach. Our results show that this constraint reduces but does not prevent the occurrence of nonconvergence. Since this constraint is artificial, it can bias GPP and transpiration simulations. We then propose a Newton-Raphson iteration scheme to replace the fixed-point approach and show that this new approach can ensure convergence, does not require an artificial constraint on the atmospheric water vapor pressure, and is computationally efficient. On the other hand, the default fixed-point treatment in CLM leads to a ∼2.7 PgCyr−1overestimation of GPP globally but with much higher regional biases (∼27%). We suggest that the current fixed-point treatment in CLM be replaced with the Newton-Raphson approach and that the artificial constraint on the atmospheric water vapor pressure be removed.
The design of a 400 kV parallel plate electrostatic analyzer for use with the 2 MeV heavy ion beam probe

A parallel-plate electrostatic energy analyzer is being designed for use with a 2-MeV heavy ion beam probe. The electrostatic analyzer will be capable of measuring Tl/sup 2+/ ions of energies up to 2 MeV. Design goals are an accuracy of +or-40 V for potential profile measurements and +or-3 V r.m.s. for potential fluctuations. The design is based on a scaled-up version (by a factor of four) of the analyzer currently being used on the 500-keV beam probe on the Texas Experimental Tokamak (TEXT). An anticipated problem associated with the scale-up is that the analyzer top plate voltage will be 350-400 kV (four times the present analyzer voltage). Greater care must be taken to reduce the likelihood of arcing by the electric field. Computer simulations of the analyzer's electric fields and equipotential surfaces are being carried out to optimize the design and limit the possibility of field breakdown within the analyzer and between the analyzer and vacuum chamber wall. Models of the current TEXT beam probe analyzer are also being constructed for comparison. >
The catalytic polarographic current of a metal complex: II. The nickel(II)-o-phenylenediamine system

Abstract The catalytic current observed as a pre-wave when Ni(II) is reduced polarographically in the presence of small quantities of o-phenylenediamine is studied as a function of Ni(II) ion and o-phenylenediamine concentration. The effect of pH, stirring, and mercury height on the pre-wave are described. The i-t curves of an individual drop and the effect of o-phenylenediamine concentration on the electrocapillary curve are discussed. On the basis of the experimental evidence, a mechanism which involves a rapid adsorption equilibrium between bulk and adsorbed o-phenylenediamine and a complexation reaction of Ni(II) with the adsorbed diamine is proposed. The complexation reaction is thought to be the rate-determining step. A possible explanation as to why the adsorbed complex is more easily reduced than Ni(H2O)62+ is proposed.
Classification and knowledge

We stand at the edge of a new era; one in which our ability to take data far outstrips our ability to reduce it by human intensive means. We must develop methods of analyzing and classifying our observations so that we do not just arrange them according to what we know, but describe them in ways that allow us to increase our knowledge.
Application of the extended fuzzy pointing set to coin grading

The application of the extended fuzzy pointing set to coin grading is described and illustrated by examples. The coin grading example considered takes advantage of the fact that the extended fuzzy pointing set S/sub n/ has been equipped with special operators with certain induced properties. In addition, the fact that the valuation space is endowed with a lattice structure is exploited. It is believed that coin grading is a paradigm for more important applications. For example, the technique considered here could be used in grading semiconductor wafers before implantation or for the interpretation of data transmitted over noisy or damaged channels such as in space communications. >
About Face: Evaluating and Managing Tactile Impairment at the Time of Autism Diagnosis

Evaluation for sensory impairment is a routine part of autism diagnosis. Sensory impairment of hearing, vision, or touch results in developmental delay and must be addressed before delay can resolve. Recent studies confirm that tactile impairment is present in autism and can be effectively treated with a tactile stimulation protocol. The research suggests a change in management at the time of autism diagnosis to include evaluation and treatment of tactile impairment. Here we validate screening and management tool for tactile impairment, the Autism Touch and Self-Regulation Checklist, in 404 typical and autistic preschool children. The tool assesses tactile impairment by location and severity. Autistic children were distinguished by mixed pain and numbness on multiple areas including the face and mouth (). Oral-facial tactile impairment interferes with the tactile stimulus to orienting. We hypothesized that oral-facial tactile impairment and difficulty orienting are predictive of ASD and that severity of tactile impairment is predictive of severity of ASD. Questions evaluating oral-facial and orienting responses correctly predicted 91% of the autism group. Severity of tactile impairment correctly predicted 81% of mild versus severe ASD. Results underscore the importance of evaluating and treating tactile impairment at the time of autism diagnosis.
Analysis of the role of flagellar activity in virulence gene expression in Vibrio cholerae.

Expression of virulence factors and motility of Vibrio cholerae are intimately linked by an as yet uncharacterized mechanism. Several lines of evidence indicate that the activity of the flagellum of V. cholerae might have an impact on virulence gene regulation, as alterations of the motility phenotype, either by mutation or by inhibitory drugs, result in varied levels of virulence factor production. The Na+-driven polar flagella of some Vibrio species are proposed to act as mechanosensors, sensing media viscosity. It has been suggested that the V. cholerae flagellum might act as a ‘voltmeter’, responding to changes in membrane potential, or might sense some environmental conditions that lead to the repression of virulence factors in V. cholerae. To test these hypotheses, β-galactosidase levels of several types of non-motile mutant derivatives of a V. cholerae toxT::lacZ reporter strain were analysed following changes in media viscosity, membrane potential and other environmental conditions. Like the parental strain, the non-motile strain showed increased toxT::lacZ expression in high-viscosity media, suggesting that the sensing of media viscosity does not occur via the flagella. Other molecules that might be able to detect changes in media viscosity could include mechanosensitive (MS) ion channels found in the bacterial membrane. However, a V. cholerae derivative strain mutated in two putative MS channels still showed increased toxT::lacZ expression in high-viscosity media, indicating that these putative ion channels of V. cholerae are not involved in the viscosity effect and suggesting an as yet uncharacterized mechanism for sensing of media viscosity. The flagellum does not appear to act as a voltmeter, as β-galactosidase activities of the non-flagellate derivative strain were found to be similar to those of the parental strain after artificially changing the sodium membrane bioenergetics. Similarly, several environmental conditions known to reduce toxin expression were equally effective in reducing toxT::lacZ expression in the motile or non-motile strains. In conclusion, the flagellum of V. cholerae does not act as a mechanosensor, voltmeter or signal transducer for environmental conditions. Thus, alternative mechanisms for the detection of these conditions must exist that likely do not involve the ToxR molecule, as the sensing of all of the tested parameters occurred when the TcpP/H proteins alone activated the toxT::lacZ reporter gene.
CONTORNOS DE LA TOLERANCIA MEDIEVAL

Algunos textos de Abelardo, Tomas de Aquino, Llull y el Cusano, no solo muestran una forma especificamente medieval de encarar la diversidad interreligiosa, sino aun algo mas, a saber, que las apreciables diferencias politicas y epistemicas que separan al medioevo de la modernidad no implican que la tolerancia sea una nocion propiamente moderna, ni que su version medieval resulte ajena a cierta admision de la libertad religiosa y de la pluralidad en la verdad.
A nonsymmetric state-variable decomposition for modal analysis

A modal decomposition strategy based on state-variable ensembles is formulated. A nonsymmetric, generalized eigenvalue problem is constructed. The data-based eigenvalue problem is related to the generalized eigenvalue problem associated with free-vibration solutions of the state-variable formulation of linear multi-degree-of-freedom systems. For linear free-response data, the inverse-transpose of the eigenvector matrix converges to the state-variable modal eigenvectors, and the eigenvalues of the nonsymmetric eigenvalue problem approximate those of the state-variable model. As such, the eigenvalues lead to estimates of frequencies and modal damping. The interpretation holds for linear systems with multi-modal free responses, whether damping is small or somewhat large, modal or nonmodal, and without the need of input data.
Concepts and Preliminary Data Toward the Realization of Image-guided Liver Surgery

Image-guided surgery provides navigational assistance to the surgeon by displaying the surgical probe position on a set of preoperative tomograms in real time. In this study, the feasibility of implementing image-guided surgery concepts into liver surgery was examined during eight hepatic resection procedures. Preoperative tomographic image data were acquired and processed. Accompanying intraoperative data on liver shape and position were obtained through optically tracked probes and laser range scanning technology. The preoperative and intraoperative representations of the liver surface were aligned using the iterative closest point surface matching algorithm. Surface registrations resulted in mean residual errors from 2 to 6 mm, with errors of target surface regions being below a stated goal of 1 cm. Issues affecting registration accuracy include liver motion due to respiration, the quality of the intraoperative surface data, and intraoperative organ deformation. Respiratory motion was quantified during the procedures as cyclical, primarily along the cranial–caudal direction. The resulting registrations were more robust and accurate when using laser range scanning to rapidly acquire thousands of points on the liver surface and when capturing unique geometric regions on the liver surface, such as the inferior edge. Finally, finite element models recovered much of the observed intraoperative deformation, further decreasing errors in the registration. Image-guided liver surgery has shown the potential to provide surgeons with important navigation aids that could increase the accuracy of targeting lesions and the number of patients eligible for surgical resection.
AR model prediction of time series with trends and seasonalities: A contrast with Box-Jenkins modeling

A "long autoregressive (AR) model alternative to the classical Box-Jenkins ARIMA model method of modeling time series with trend and seasonality characteristics is considered. Superior forecast performance is demonstrated by our long AR model method on the Box-Jenkins Series G airline passenger data. The difference in performance is accounted for by the relative underparameterization of the Box-Jenkins method. A Householder transformation-Akaike AIC criterion method is employed for determining the best data transformed, detrended-deseasonalized stationary residuals-AR modeled time series.
Interrelationships among public spending preferences: A micro analysis

This paper examines a system of qualitative demand equations for public spending on education, welfare, housing, health, highways, and defense. The demand for public spending for a particular category is hypothesized to be a function of income, tax-price, private benefit measures, and tastes as well as demands for other public expenditure categories. Based on individual survey data, the conditional maximum likelihood estimates of the logit equations are obtained. The results indicate the significant role of tastes, private benefit variables, and tax-prices. In addition, positive rather than negative, demand interrelationships are found to exist. These findings question the validity of the median voter hypothesis as a model for public budget allocation.
Interactions of cervico‐ocular and vestibulo‐ocular fast‐phase signals in the control of eye position in rabbits.

1. Eye movements in unanaesthetized rabbits were studied during horizontal neck-proprioceptive stimulation (movement of the body with respect to the fixed head), when this stimulation was given alone and when it was given simultaneously with vestibular stimulation (rotation of the head-body). The effect of neck-proprioceptive stimulation on modifying the anticompensatory fast-phase eye movements (AFPs) evoked by vestibular stimulation was studied with a 'conditioning-test' protocol; the 'conditioning' stimulus was a neck-proprioceptive signal evoked by a step-like change in body position with respect to the head and the 'test' stimulus was a vestibular signal evoked by a step rotation of the head-body. 2. The influence of eye position and direction of slow eye movements on the occurrence of compensatory fast-phase eye movements (CFPs) evoked by neck-proprioceptive stimulation was also examined. 3. The anticompensatory fast phase (AFP) evoked by vestibular stimulation was attenuated by a preceding neck-proprioceptive stimulus which when delivered alone evoked compensatory slow-phase eye movements (CSP) in the same direction as the CSP evoked by vestibular stimulation. Conversely, the vestibularly evoked AFP was potentiated by a neck-proprioceptive stimulus which evoked CSPs opposite to that of vestibularly evoked CSPs. 4. Eccentric initial eye positions increased the probability of occurrence of midline-directed compensatory fast-phase eye movements (CFPs) evoked by appropriate neck-proprioceptive stimulation. 5. The gain of the horizontal cervico-ocular reflex (GHCOR) was measured from the combined changes in eye position resulting from AFPs and CSPs. GHCOR was potentiated during simultaneous vestibular stimulation. This enhancement of GHCOR occurred at neck-proprioceptive stimulus frequencies which, in the absence of conjoint vestibular stimulation, do not evoke CSPs.
A quarter of a century: reflections of the first 25 years of the Journal of Services Marketing

Purpose – This “viewpoint” article aims to chronicle the history and evolution of the Journal of Services Marketing from 1987 through 2011, from the vantage point of Professor Charles L. Martin, who served on the journal's Editorial Advisory Board from 1987‐1990 and as Editor from 1990 to the present day.Design/methodology/approach – The article summarizes the events and publisher's philosophy leading up to the founding of the journal, and discusses the policies/practices and content of the journal from 1987 through 2011.Findings – The journal has evolved as the field of services marketing has evolved – from many conceptual, “how to” and idea articles to those more empirically‐based and theory‐driven. However, the journal's commitment to managerial implications or other implications continues.Practical implications – Understanding the history and evolution of the journal promises to help service researchers better understand the field's archives, identify gaps in the literature and position their research...
Social Media Technologies for HIV Prevention Study Retention Among Minority Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM)

This brief report describes results on study retention among minority men who have sex with men (MSM) from a 12-week, social networking-based, HIV prevention trial with 1-year follow-up. Participants, primarily minority MSM, were recruited using online and offline methods and randomly assigned to a Facebook (intervention or control) group. Participants completed a baseline survey and were asked to complete two follow-up surveys (12-week follow-up and 1-year post-intervention). 94 % of participants completed the first two surveys and over 82 % completed the baseline and both post-intervention surveys. Participants who spent a greater frequency of time online had almost twice the odds of completing all surveys. HIV negative participants, compared to those who were HIV positive, had over 25 times the odds of completing all surveys. HIV prevention studies on social networking sites can yield high participant retention rates.
International Students' Use of a Library's Media Collection

The purpose of this study was to examine the potential benefits to international students provided by the library's foreign films collection at a mid-sized, rural, public university. The literature on international students shows that they often find library services intimidating. However, there is very little literature on the relationship between international students and their use of library collections. Interviews were conducted with international students new to the university, seeking to determine if providing familiar films eases students' transition and acculturation. Although circulation data show that the foreign films are popular, interviews with international students indicated preference for American films to gain cultural confidence.
Analysis of the mechanism of nucleosome survival during transcription

Maintenance of nucleosomal structure in the cell nuclei is essential for cell viability, regulation of gene expression and normal aging. Our previous data identified a key intermediate (a small intranucleosomal DNA loop, O-loop) that is likely required for nucleosome survival during transcription by RNA polymerase II (Pol II) through chromatin, and suggested that strong nucleosomal pausing guarantees efficient nucleosome survival. To evaluate these predictions, we analysed transcription through a nucleosome by different, structurally related RNA polymerases and mutant yeast Pol II having different histone-interacting surfaces that presumably stabilize the O-loop. The height of the nucleosomal barrier to transcription and efficiency of nucleosome survival correlate with the net negative charges of the histone-interacting surfaces. Molecular modeling and analysis of Pol II-nucleosome intermediates by DNase I footprinting suggest that efficient O-loop formation and nucleosome survival are mediated by electrostatic interactions between the largest subunit of Pol II and core histones.
Behavioral Activation for Depressed Teens: A Pilot Study

Abstract Behavioral activation (BA) is a psychosocial intervention that has shown promising treatment outcome results with depressed adults. The current pilot study evaluated a version of BA adapted for depressed adolescents. Six teens (3 male, 3 female, ages 14-17) who met criteria for major depressive disorder participated in the study. Participants were allowed to attend a maximum of 22 sessions (50 minutes each) over 18 weeks. Parents were systematically included in treatment for joint sessions at the beginning, middle, and end of treatment; therapists were also given the latitude to include parents idiographically as needed. Results showed that participants' depression scores decreased significantly; in addition, scores on a measure of hope improved significantly. Implications of these findings, study limitations, and suggestions for future directions are discussed.
Homocysteine and Folic Acid Are Inversely Related in Black Women With Preeclampsia

Black women have an increased risk of preeclampsia compared with white women. Plasma homocysteine is increased in preeclampsia. Homocysteine concentrations are affected by nutritional deficiencies, particularly decreased folic acid and B12, leading to increased homocysteine. Previous studies have reported racial differences in nutritional intake including folic acid. Therefore, we investigated whether there were racial differences in plasma homocysteine, folic acid, and vitamin B12 among women with preeclampsia. We tested for an association between homocysteine and folic acid and B12, and we hypothesized an inverse relationship of homocysteine and folic acid in preeclampsia, more so in black women in whom preeclampsia developed. Black women with preeclampsia (n=26) had elevated homocysteine concentrations (8.7+/-1.4 micromol/L) compared with black women with normal pregnancy (n=52, 7.6+/-0.5 micromol/L), white women with preeclampsia (n=34, 7.5+/-0.6 micromol/L), and white women with normal pregnancy (n=48, 5.5+/-0.3 micromol/L). Folic acid concentrations were lower in black women (14.1+/-0.8 ng/mL) compared with white women (18.5+/-0.9 ng/mL, P<0.01). However, plasma homocysteine was inversely related to folic acid only among black women with preeclampsia (r=-0.23, P=0.01). These racial differences may have implications for the higher rates of preeclampsia in this group and may have long-term implications for future cardiovascular risk. Racial differences in diet, adherence to folic acid supplementation, or interactions of nutritional and maternal factors warrant further study by race and pregnancy status.
Variation in age and growth of greenstriped rockfish (Sebastes elongatus) along the U.S. west coast (Washington to California)

Abstract Greenstriped rockfish, Sebastes elongatus, are a common commercial and recreational species often taken as bycatch in commercial fisheries off the U.S. west coast. We evaluated weight–length relationships and size-at-age using von Bertalanffy growth models for greenstriped rockfish sampled along the U.S. west coast from 2003 to 2008. Based on regression analyses, populations were subdivided into two depth strata (55–122 m and 122–450 m) and four geographic regions (48°10′N–48°28′N, 40°26′N–48°10′N, 34°27′N–40°26′N, and 32°30′N–34°27′N) and differences in length, age, and growth examined by gender. Strong evidence of variation in weight–length relationships was found north and south of Cape Mendocino (40°26′N) but little variation was noted for depth or gender. In contrast, variations in von Bertalanffy growth models were highly dimorphic between sexes with consistent patterns across depth and geographic regions. Females grew more slowly and reached larger asymptotic sizes (L∞, cm) relative to males in all regions examined. Asymptotic size for both males and females tended to increase at higher latitude and increased depth. However, the smallest asymptotic sizes occurred in the region from Pt. Conception to Cape Mendocino, CA (34°27′N–40°26′N), rather than lower latitudes south of Pt. Conception (32°30′N–34°27′N). Greenstriped rockfish growth coefficients (k, yr−1) exhibited a more complex pattern. Higher growth coefficients were associated with regions within the northern California Current System characterized by high productivity.
Rooms with a view: A novel approach to iterated multidimensional wave conversion

Abstract Ray tracing in the presence of linear mode conversion leads to a ‘splitting’ of an incoming ray into two outgoing rays. When the rays are confined to a cavity, the rays can re-enter the conversion region many times, leading to iterated conversion. In this paper, we present new methods for the analysis of this problem. These involve a shift from local to global methods of analysis, and a shift in emphasis from the study of ray evolution in the dispersion surface to the study of the iterated dynamics of rays crossing the conversion surface. The analytical methods are quite general and can be applied in phase spaces of arbitrary dimension. In two spatial dimensions, (x, y), i.e. with a four-dimensional ray space, (x, y, kx, ky), rays are confined to three-dimensional regions called rooms, with one room for each wave type. In these rooms the rays do not cross, but when they intersect the conversion surface a family of converted rays is produced in the other room. The use of rooms allows a full view of the phase space dynamics of the iterated conversion of ray families. A simple two-dimensional model, inspired by the Budden resonance model, is presented as an example of these ideas.
Knowledge management metrics

Over several years, there have been intensive discussions about the importance of knowledge management (KM) within the business community. Effectively implementing a sound KM strategy and becoming a knowledge‐based company is seen as a mandatory condition of success for organizations as they enter the era of the knowledge economy. However, standardized metrics are needed to quantify knowledge and to fully convince management and stakeholders as to the value of KM initiatives. Development of KM metrics has begun in recent years and these metrics are being applied by some organizations, but more research is needed to better define these measures and to make them universal. The purpose of this research is to survey and report the current measures of knowledge assets or intellectual capital, as well as the methods that are popularly being followed by organizations to measure the performance of KM strategies. The research findings should: assist organizations in identifying the measures that are appropriate and suitable for them, for improving the quality of metrics they use for measuring KM effectiveness; and assist researchers in identifying future research needs toward the standardization of KM measurement metrics.
Differences in End-of-Life Care in the ICU Across Patients Cared for by Medicine, Surgery, Neurology, and Neurosurgery Physicians

Background Some of the challenges in the delivery of high-quality end-of-life care in the ICU include the variability in the characteristics of patients with certain illnesses and the practice of critical care by different specialties. Methods We examined whether ICU attending specialty was associated with quality of end-of-life care by using data from a clustered randomized trial of 14 hospitals. Patients died in the ICU or within 30 h of transfer and were categorized by specialty of the attending physician at time of death (medicine, surgery, neurology, or neurosurgery). Outcomes included family ratings of satisfaction, family and nurse ratings of quality of dying, and documentation of palliative care in medical records. Associations were tested using multipredictor regression models adjusted for hospital site and for patient, family, or nurse characteristics. Results Of 3,124 patients, the majority were cared for by an attending physician specializing in medicine (78%), with fewer from surgery (12%), neurology (3%), and neurosurgery (6%). Family satisfaction did not vary by attending specialty. Patients with neurology or neurosurgery attending physicians had higher family and nurse ratings of quality of dying than patients of attending physicians specializing in medicine (P Conclusions Patients cared for by neurology and neurosurgery attending physicians have higher family and nurse ratings of quality of dying than patients cared for by medicine attending physicians and have a different pattern of indicators of palliative care. Patients with surgery attending physicians had fewer documented indicators of palliative care. These findings may provide insights into potential ways to improve the quality of dying for all patients. Trial registry ClinicalTrials.gov; No.: NCT00685893; URL: www.clinicaltrials.gov
An HLA-A2/β2-microglobulin/peptide complex assembled from subunits expressed separately in Escherichia coli

The human class I histocompatibility antigen HLA-A2 has been assembled from subunits expressed separately in E. coli. A peptide that is known to be recognized by human cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) in association with HLA-A2 is a necessary component of the reconstitution mixture. The N-terminal extracellular fragment of the HLA-A2 heavy chain is initially synthesised as an insoluble aggregate. The aggregate is solubilized in denaturant, mixed with the influenza nucleoprotein 85-94 decapeptide (NP peptide), and diluted into a solution containing human beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2 m) isolated from the E. coli periplasm. The HLA-A2 heavy chain becomes soluble in physiological solutions if both beta 2m and the NP peptide are present. The reconstituted HLA-A2 complex is recognised by a monoclonal antibody that is specific for the native HLA-A2/beta 2m heterodimer, and is also recognised by a monoclonal antibody that recognises beta 2m. When other peptides known from CTL studies to associate with HLA-A2 are used, a significantly lower yield of reconstituted complex is obtained. The isoelectric point of the reconstituted complex depends on which peptide is used, confirming that the peptide is a component of the reconstituted complex.
Spin injection and relaxation in ferromagnet-semiconductor heterostructures

We present a detailed description of spin injection and detection in $\mathrm{Fe}∕{\mathrm{Al}}_{x}{\mathrm{Ga}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}\mathrm{As}∕\mathrm{GaAs}$ heterostructures for temperatures from 2 to 295 K. Measurements of the steady-state spin polarization in the semiconductor indicate three temperature regimes for spin transport and relaxation. At temperatures below 70 K, spin-polarized electrons injected into quantum well structures form excitons, and the spin polarization in the quantum well depends strongly on the electrical bias conditions. At intermediate temperatures, the spin polarization is determined primarily by the spin-relaxation rate for free electrons in the quantum well. This process is slow relative to the excitonic spin-relaxation rate at lower temperatures and is responsible for a broad maximum in the spin polarization between 100 and 200 K. The spin injection efficiency of the $\mathrm{Fe}∕{\mathrm{Al}}_{x}{\mathrm{Ga}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}\mathrm{As}$ Schottky barrier decreases at higher temperatures, although a steady-state spin polarization of at least 6% is observed at 295 K.
A nucleosidase required for in vivo function of the S-adenosyl-L-methionine radical enzyme, biotin synthase

Biotin synthase is an S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM) radical enzyme that inserts sulfur into dethiobiotin to produce biotin. The reaction proceeds through 5'-deoxyadenosyl radical intermediates that become reduced during the sulfur insertion step to give another product of the reaction, 5'-deoxyadenosine. We report that Escherichia coli strains lacking the 5'-methylthioadenosine/S-adenosylhomocysteine nucleosidase encoded by the pfs gene are deficient in biotin synthase activity due to accumulation of 5'-deoxyadenosine, a new substrate of the pfs-encoded nucleosidase. Physiological experiments indicate that lipoic acid synthase, another SAM radical enzyme, is also inhibited by 5'-deoxyadenosine accumulation.
Characterization of micro bump formed by Injection Molded Solder (IMS) technology

Injection Molded Solder (IMS) is an advanced solder bumping technology that the solder bumps can be made by injected pure molten solder through the masks. In this study, 3 different sizes of bumps were fabricated by IMS with PI film mask. 3 different solder types, Sn-Ag-Cu, Sn-Bi, and In-Sn were selected for this study. Firstly, effects of IMS stage temperature on bump mechanical integrity for Sn-Ag-Cu were evaluated by bump shear and cross-sectional IMC observation. It was found that higher temperature produced scalloped Cu 6 Sn 5 IMC at the interface, however lower temperatures produced planar Cu 6 Sn 5 IMC. The bumps fabricated with a lower temperature were subjected to thermal aging, and characterized by shear test and cross-sectional IMC observation. No interfacial failure was observed before and after aging, and shear fracture modes for all bumps were ductile. In addition, lower melting point solders Sn-Bi and In-Sn were subjected to aging, and no interfacial failure was found. Changes in shear strength after aging are dependent on the microstructure at the shear height.
The indole hallucinogens, N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT), have different effects from mescaline on rat shuttlebox avoidance.

The indole hallucinogenic drugs, N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT), had a different psychopharmacological profile from mescaline on rat shuttlebox avoidance; the differences were strain and/or baseline-dependent. N,N-dimethyltryptamine and 5-MeO-DMT shared dose response disruptive effects with mescaline on avoidance behaviour in two rat strains who were performing the conditioned avoidance response at a high baseline (i.e. during acqusition in Fischer 344s—Experiment 1; on pretrained good performing hooded rats—Experiment 2). N,N-dimethyltryptamine and 5-MeO-DMT were without an effect when the baseline conditioned avoidance response was low (i.e. during acquisition in Zivic-Millers, Hoods or Roman Low Avoiders—Experiment 1; on pretrained poorly performing hooded rats—Experiment 2) but mescaline was facilitatory in these situations. There were strain-related differences in sensitivity to the drugs with Roman High Avoiders insensitive to DMT, 5-MeO-DMT and mescaline, while Fischer 344s were the most sensitive to these three drugs. The relative potency of these three hallucinogens in disrupting avoidance behavior (5-MeO-DMT > DMT > mescaline), in terms of mg/kg paralleled reports of their relative potency on central serotonergic activity. The facilitatory effect produced by mescaline, but not produced by DMT nor 5-MeO-DMT, may be related to the findings that mescaline has a stronger action on the catecholaminergic system than the indoles.
Synthesis of 2-(2,3-dimethoxyphenyl)-4-(aminomethyl)imidazole analogues and their binding affinities for dopamine D2 and D3 receptors

A series of 2-(2,3-dimethoxyphenyl)-4-(aminomethyl)imidazole derivatives was prepared and their affinity for dopamine D(2) and D(3) receptors was measured using in vitro binding assays. Several oxadiazole analogues were also prepared and tested for their affinity for dopamine D(2) and D(3) receptors. The results of receptor binding studies indicated that the incorporation of an imidazole moiety between the phenyl ring and the basic nitrogen did not significantly increase the selectivity for dopamine D(3) receptors, whereas the incorporation of an oxadiazole at the same region resulted in a total loss of affinity for both dopamine receptor subtype binding sites. The most selective compound in this series is 2-(5-bromo-2,3-dimethoxyphenyl)-4-(6,7-dimethoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolinomethyl)imidazole (5i), which has a D(3) receptor affinity of 21nM and a 7-fold selectivity for D(3) versus D(2) receptors. The binding affinity for sigma(1) and sigma(2) receptors was also measured, and the results showed that several analogues were selective sigma(1) receptor ligands.
Theory of carrier-induced ferromagnetism in MnxGa1−xAs/GaAs superlattices

Abstract We present a mean-field theory of free-carrier-induced ferromagnetism in semiconductors. Our approach allows spatial patterning, free-carrier spin polarization, finite temperature, and free-carrier exchange and correlation to be accounted for self-consistently. The model is applied on an MnxGa1−xAs/GaAs superlattice with alternating ferromagnetic and paramagnetic layers and we demonstrate the possibility of semiconductor magnetoresistance systems with designed properties.
Structure and evolution of a tropopause fold during GALE IOP-1: An eta model study

A fine-mesh regional model simulation of upper-level cyclogenesis is carried out to examine the structure and evolution of the accompanying tropopause fold and its relationship to the surface and upper-level cyclones. The initial state for the simulation, conducted using the 80-km, 16-level version of the National Meteorological Center Eta model, uses the Level III-b gridded dataset for 1200 UTC, 18 January 1986, during the First Intensive Observing Period (IOP-1) of the Genesis of Atlantic Lows Experiment (GALE) project.
Monolithic multi-channel GSa/s transient waveform recorder for measuring radio emissions from high energy particle cascades

A number of particle astrophysics initiatives to exploit radio emission from high energy particle cascades require high-frequency sampling of antenna array signals. Nyquist-limited sampling of GHz frequency radio signals for an antenna array may be accomplished by commercially available test units. However, these technologies are incompatible with the size, power and cost constraints of long-duration balloon or satellite flight. Taking advantage of low trigger rates for such arrays, high resolution digitization may be performed a postori, at much slower speed and power, on waveforms stored in analog storage cells. This paper presents the design and performance simulation of a multi-channel CMOS VLSI ASIC named STRAW (Self-Triggered Recorder for Analog Waveforms), optimized for low duty-cycle, high sampling frequency operation.
Neonatal 6-hydroxydopamine lesions lead to opposing changes in the levels of dopamine receptors and their messenger RNAs

Previous studies have established that selective damage to the early-developing components of the mesostriatal dopamine system produces profound changes in dopamine D1 receptor-mediated behaviors, while decreasing D1 receptor density. In order to better understand the effects of early intrastriatal 6-hydroxydopamine lesions, we studied the ontogenetic expression (postnatal days 7, 14, 35 and 90) of D1 and D2 receptors, and their corresponding messenger RNAs, in rats that had received intrastriatal 6-hydroxydopamine or vehicle lesions on postnatal day 1. Using receptor autoradiography, significant (P < 0.05) decreases in [3H]SCH 23390 binding to D1 receptors in the rostral and caudal dorsomedial and ventromedial caudate of 6-hydroxydopamine-lesioned animals were evident by postnatal day 7, and remained depressed at all future time points. A significant decrease in D1 receptor concentration occurred in the dorsolateral caudate at later time points (postnatal days 35 and 90). [3H]Spiperone binding to D2 receptor sites was unchanged throughout the entire study. In situ hybridization for D1 and D2 messenger RNA expression showed contrasting results. 6-Hydroxydopamine induced significant decreases of D1 messenger RNA levels in the dorsolateral and dorsomedial caudate by postnatal day 7. By postnatal day 14, messenger RNA expression was significantly elevated in the dorsomedial and ventromedial caudate of the 6-hydroxydopamine group, and remained elevated thereafter. D1 messenger RNA levels became elevated in the lateral caudate at later time points (postnatal days 35 and 90). The opposing changes in D1 receptor concentrations and the messenger RNA encoding the protein did not occur as a consequence of increased transport of D1 receptors to striatonigral terminals. D2 messenger RNA levels in the dorsal caudate were significantly decreased on postnatal day 7, and became higher than controls at postnatal day 14, but were unchanged from controls at later time points. Together, the D1 receptor and D1 messenger RNA findings suggest that the normal relationship between levels of D1 receptor transcript and D1 receptor protein is permanently altered following the early loss of dopamine. In contrast, the results indicate that dopamine plays a minor role in the early postnatal development of the D2 receptor protein and transcript. These findings suggest that dopamine may be involved in the coordinated expression of some dopamine receptors and their corresponding messenger RNAs during development.
Adenosine and its derivatives inhibit the cAMP signaling response in Dictyostelium discoideum

Abstract In developmentally competent Dictyostelium discoideum amoebae, binding of cAMP to high-affinity surface receptors produces a rapid activation of adenylate cyclase which adapts within minutes. The result is a transient increase in intracellular cAMP which is rapidly secreted. Adenosine inhibited this cAMP signaling response with an apparent K i of 300 μ M . The apparent K i 's for 2′- O -methyladenosine and 2-chloroadenosine were approximately 30 and 100 μ M , respectively. Inhibition by adenosine was rapid, reversible, and depended on the cAMP stimulus concentration. In addition, the adaptation of the cAMP signaling response was blocked by adenosine. As has been previously reported, adenosine inhibits cAMP binding to intact cells. Under the same developmental conditions as in the perfusion studies, we find the binding inhibition depends on both the cAMP and adenosine concentrations, with an apparent K i of 100 μ M . The apparent K i 's for 2′- O -methyl- and 2-chloroadenosine were approximately 8 and 35 μ M , respectively. However, with cells developed for short times and with an axenic strain, inhibition was independent of cAMP concentration or cells showed mixed-type binding inhibition. The effect of adenosine on the cAMP signaling response is consistent with the reported effects of adenosine on other cAMP-mediated processes such as chemotaxis and the increase in intracellular cGMP, and may provide an explanation for the reported inhibition of center formation.