cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Quantifying the Impact of Facilitation on Transactive Memory System Formation in Global Virtual Project Networks

AbstractBuilding strong ties between geographically dispersed project participants is crucial to project success. In global project networks, many firms have adopted virtual collaboration tools to address the challenges imposed by temporal and geographical distance. Some researchers have examined the role of facilitators and found that process facilitation can improve collaboration. Research has also shown that facilitators can be drawn into content interactions, which may negatively impact collaboration effectiveness in virtual workspaces. Research to date has not quantified this negative impact. In this study, the formation and maintenance of transactive memory systems (TMS) in two facilitated and two nonfacilitated global virtual project networks were investigated, each executing a 2-month project. Using TMS formation and cohesive subgroup formation as a proxy for performance, quantitative evidence was found that demonstrates a negative impact on collaboration effectiveness when facilitators engage in ...
A multi-agent framework for stock trading

TrAgent is a secure multi-agent environment which models a stock exchange such as the New York Stock Exchange and the procedure of trading securities on the trading floor. The model comprises the complete process from the initiation of a trading order until its execution and also deals with the security issues involved. The multi-agent paradigm is the framework for implementation of the system. The properties of intelligent software agents meet the characteristics of the actors on the trading floor and provide capabilities for efficient distributed computing. These characteristics include dynamic and flexible adoption to a changing scene, asynchronous and autonomous behaviour, and efficient use of resources in a distributed environment. The main focus in this paper is on one of the important agents in TrAgent, the stock broker agent. Intelligence is provided to the stock broker agent in order to make decisions and give reasons on the profitability of a firm. This intelligence is formed using fuzzy expert system. The paper further discusses the implementation issues concerning different components of the model and their security framework.
Rutile-bearing refractory eclogites: missing link between continents and depleted mantle

A mass imbalance exists in Earth for Nb, Ta, and possibly Ti: continental crust and depleted mantle both have subchondritic Nb/Ta, Nb/La, and Ti/Zr, which requires the existence of an additional reservoir with superchondritic ratios, such as refractory eclogite produced by slab melting. Trace element compositions of minerals in xenolithic eclogites derived from cratonic lithospheric mantle show that rutile dominates the budget of Nb and Ta in the eclogites and imparts a superchondritic Nb/Ta, Nb/La, and Ti/Zr to the whole rocks. About 1 to 6 percent by weight of eclogite is required to solve the mass imbalance in the silicate Earth, and this reservoir must have an Nb concentration ≥ 2 parts per million, Nb/La ≥ 1.2, and Nb/Ta between 19 and 37—values that overlap those of the xenolithic eclogites. As the mass of eclogite in the continental lithosphere is significantly lower than this, much of this material may reside in the lower mantle, perhaps as deep as the core-mantle boundary.
Point-nonpoint effluent trading in watersheds: a review and critique

Abstract The 1990s have been characterized as the decade of market incentives in U.S. environmental policy-making. Not only is their use expanding for air pollution control, but the U.S Environmental Protection Agency is now also encouraging the use of market instruments for control of effluents within watersheds. After reviewing general guidelines and principles for effluent trading, this study considers the special problems of point-nonpoint (p-n) sources, the most common focus of effluent trading to date. Four case studies of p-n trading are discussed, which illustrate the promise of the policy. Although only two of these four case study programs have involved actual effluent trades thus far, they all have resulted in more cost-effective reductions of water pollution. Overall use of effluent trading to date has been modest, and suggestions are made for improvement of this innovative policy.
Unifying Themes for Selection on Any Network

In this paper we present efficient deterministic and randomized algorithms for selection on any interconnection network when the number of input keys (n) is ? the number of processors (p). Our deterministic algorithm runs on any network in timeO(n/plog logp+Tpslogn), whereTpsis the time needed for sortingpkeys usingpprocessors. On the other hand, our randomized algorithm runs in an expected time ofO((n/p+Tpsparse) log logp) on any network, whereTpsparseis the time needed for collecting and sortingp1??sample keys usingpprocessors. (Here ? is a constant <1). Application of the above algorithms on the mesh and the hypercube yields better results than known before. We have implemented our randomized algorithm on the Connection Machine CM2. Experimental results obtained are promising. In this paper we also report our implementation details.
Stochastic optimization of product–machine qualification in a semiconductor back-end facility

In order to process a product in a semiconductor back-end facility, a machine needs to be qualified, first by having product-specific software installed and then running test wafers through it to verify that the machine is capable of performing the process correctly. In general, not all machines are qualified to process all products due to the high machine qualification cost and tool set availability. The machine qualification decision affects future capacity allocation in the facility and subsequently affects daily production schedules. To balance the tradeoff between current machine qualification costs and future potential backorder costs due to not enough machines qualified with uncertain demand, a stochastic product–machine qualification optimization model is proposed in this article. The L-shaped method and acceleration techniques are proposed to solve the stochastic model. Computational results are provided to show the necessity of the stochastic model and the performance of different solution methods.
Influence of ensemble surrogate models and sampling strategy on the solution quality of algorithms for computationally expensive black-box global optimization problems

This paper examines the influence of two major aspects on the solution quality of surrogate model algorithms for computationally expensive black-box global optimization problems, namely the surrogate model choice and the method of iteratively selecting sample points. A random sampling strategy (algorithm SO-M-c) and a strategy where the minimum point of the response surface is used as new sample point (algorithm SO-M-s) are compared in numerical experiments. Various surrogate models and their combinations have been used within the SO-M-c and SO-M-s sampling frameworks. The Dempster–Shafer Theory approach used in the algorithm by Muller and Piche (J Glob Optim 51:79–104, 2011) has been used for combining the surrogate models. The algorithms are numerically compared on 13 deterministic literature test problems with 2–30 dimensions, an application problem that deals with groundwater bioremediation, and an application that arises in energy generation using tethered kites. NOMAD and the particle swarm pattern search algorithm (PSWARM), which are derivative-free optimization methods, have been included in the comparison. The algorithms have also been compared to a kriging method that uses the expected improvement as sampling strategy (FEI), which is similar to the Efficient Global Optimization (EGO) algorithm. Data and performance profiles show that surrogate model combinations containing the cubic radial basis function (RBF) model work best regardless of the sampling strategy, whereas using only a polynomial regression model should be avoided. Kriging and combinations including kriging perform in general worse than when RBF models are used. NOMAD, PSWARM, and FEI perform for most problems worse than SO-M-s and SO-M-c. Within the scope of this study a Matlab toolbox has been developed that allows the user to choose, among others, between various sampling strategies and surrogate models and their combinations. The open source toolbox is available from the authors upon request.
Complexes prepared from protein A and human serum, IgG, or Fcγ fragments: characterization by immunochemical analysis of ultracentrifugation fractions and studies on their interconversion

Protein A of Staphylococcus aureus is an Fc receptor for IgG that has been used as a therapeutic reagent to treat cancer in humans and experimental animals. We used ultracentrifugation combined with analysis of isolated fractions by radioimmunoprecipitation and competitive radioimmunoassay with chicken antibodies that bind free protein A or protein A in complexes but do bind free immunoglobulin reagents to localize and characterize the types of complexes formed with different molar ratios of 125I-protein A and human 131I-IgG alone or in serum, and 1311-Fcγ fragments. This approach offers a distinct advantage over direct counting of radioactivity in the fractions because resolution of complexes and free reagents is much improved. With excess 131I-IgG or 1311-Fc, all the 125I-protein A is present only in complexes that contained 4 molecules of immunoglobulin reagent and 2 molecules of protein A (4:2 complexes), whereas with excess 125I-protein A the stoichiometry of the complexes was 1:1. We have also shown the preformed 4:2 and 1:1 complexes will interconvert in the presence of added excess protein A or IgG, respectively, and that fresh IgG will exchange with IgG or Fcγ in preformed complexes. Because protein A has been found to elute from an immobilized reagent used in serotherapy of human cancer and is present in a large excess of IgG, the 4:2 complexes may play an active role in the tumoricidal or toxic reactions observed.
Superfluid turbulence in a nonuniform rectangular channel.

In this detailed study of inhomogeneous superfluid turbulence created in a spatially nonuniform flow, we measure the turbulent dissipation produced by thermal counterflow in a nonuniform rectangular channel. The width of the channel increases linearly with position r along the channel length to impose a known spatial nonuniformity on the velocity in the flow direction, V\ensuremath{\propto}Q\ifmmode \dot{}\else \.{}\fi{}/r, where Q\ifmmode \dot{}\else \.{}\fi{} is the heat current. Because the channel widens gradually, this divergence is weak, producing a small deviation from uniform flow. Probes embedded in the channel walls allow access to the local temperature at several positions r. We employ sensitive differential thermometry to measure the temperature difference between any two of these locations to high precision. The single turbulent state we observe is clearly the analog of the T-II state of fully developed, homogeneous turbulence present in uniform flows. Making an approximation of local uniformity, we attempt to extend the theoretical description of turbulence in uniform flows to our results by replacing the uniform velocity with the local velocity in the expression for the temperature gradient. When applied locally, the Schwarz model of homogeneous turbulence, so successful in describing the T-II state in uniform flows, has the wrong dependence on both r and Q\ifmmode \dot{}\else \.{}\fi{} to characterize our results. The Geurst three-fluid model, which extends to situations where a gradient is present in the line density in an otherwise uniform flow, likewise does not agree with our observations when used in the local approximation.
Dynamic computed tomography to determine cardiac output in patients with left ventricular assist devices

Objective The purpose of this study was to develop and test a novel, noninvasive means of estimating cardiac output in patients with continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices. Methods Based on the indicator dilution principle, we estimated cardiac output from signal intensity versus time recordings during first-pass imaging with contrast-enhanced computed tomography. To account for recirculation, a gamma variate function was modified to model the indicator concentration curve. A proportionality constant for 64-slice computed tomography data acquisition was derived relating computed tomography Hounsfield units to indicator concentration. Validity of the equation was tested in ambulatory patients with continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices who underwent simultaneous computed tomography and Swan-Ganz catheter thermodilution-based measurement of cardiac output at various left ventricular assist device rpm settings. Agreement between measurements was testing using kappa statistic. Results Pairwise comparison of calculated output using the dynamic computed tomography test bolus technique versus thermodilution output measurements yielded good agreement ( P = .03). The output calculated using dynamic computed tomography underestimated the thermodilution output measurement by 0.54 ± 0.37 L/min (95% confidence interval, 0.66–0.94). Conclusions Noninvasive estimation of cardiac output from left ventricular assist devices is feasible using first-pass dynamic computed tomography. By affording simultaneous good visualization of the device in situ, computed tomography may be useful for noninvasive assessment of location and function of ambulatory patients with left ventricular assist devices.
"Memorization and Memorialization: 'The Burial of Sir John Moore after Corunna' "

This article addresses the rubric of "memory and materiality" by considering how works of literature held within individual minds might have contributed to material changes in the world at large. For a good proportion of both the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, the most important relationship between literature and millions of English-speaking people was created by one particular pedagogical regimen: the memorization and recitation of short poetic pieces. I take as my test case a single work from the schoolroom canon—Charles Wolfe's 1817 poem, "The Burial of Sir John Moore after Corunna"—and examine the various ways in which lines and phrases from these verses were explicitly or implicitly cited by people caught up in the bloody turmoil of the American Civil War, the conflict which first witnessed the widespread development of state-sponsored practices to commemorate the corpses of common soldiers. I argue here that the presence of Wolfe's poem in the minds of ordinary individuals played its part in creating the social expectations that led to the establishment of the National Cemeteries in the United States, and thus, in due course, the mass memorialization of World War I.
The Rise and Fall of Flue-Cured Tobacco in the Copan Valley and Its Environmental and Social Consequences

From approximately 1952–1995 the Copan Valley in western Honduras was the site of intensive production of flue-cured tobacco. Local growers and laborers produced flue-cured tobacco for the transnational corporation, British-American Tobacco (BAT) under a contract farming arrangement. BAT introduced new tobacco varieties, cultivation techniques, mechanization and agrochemicals, as well as the flue-cured processing technique, and then purchased tobacco leaf for the manufacture of cigarettes in their Honduran subsidiary. Using ethnographic data and the interpretation of time series aerial photographs, this article documents the social and ecological impacts of this production system including extent of production, labor requirements, deforestation, exposure to agrochemicals and reinforcement of a hierarchical social system based on low-wage employment among landlessness agricultural workers. The paper also explores the reasons for, and consequences of, the decline of this system.
Technical‐administrative task performance, leadership task performance, and contextual performance: considering the influence of team‐ and task‐related composition variables

The purpose of the present study was to examine how the mix of ability, experience, and personality impacts three types of team performance: technical-administrative task performance, leadership task performance, and contextual performance. Relationships were tested using data collected from student management teams, who were required to plan and supervise the preparation and service of meals in a cafeteria-style dining room patronized by university students, staff, and faculty. Results revealed that both team- and task-related composition variables predicted leadership and contextual performance. Specifically, grade point average was significantly related to technical-administrative task performance, and extraversion, neuroticism, and grade point average were related to leadership task performance. Agreeableness and restaurant experience predicted contextual performance. Surprisingly, conscientiousness did not account for significant variance in any of the three types of performance measured. The implications of these findings for the study of team performance in organizations are discussed. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Ridge analysis of mixture response surfaces

Abstract Previous applications of ridge analysis to second-order response surfaces based on mixture ingredients (x1,x2,…,xq) which sum to 1 have required transforming from the origin (0,0,…,0), which is not in the mixture space, to a point inside the space, most often the centroid (1/q,1/q,…,1/q). We show that this transformation is not necessary for tracking the maximum ŷ and the minimum ŷ paths. In addition, we show that the application of ridge analysis is somewhat simplified if the Scheffe model form is replaced by the K (Kronecker) model form, an alternative, homogeneous model given elsewhere.
Identification, purification and characterization of furfural transforming enzymes from Clostridium beijerinckii NCIMB 8052

Abstract Generation of microbial inhibitory compounds such as furfural and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) is a formidable roadblock to fermentation of lignocellulose-derived sugars to butanol. Bioabatement offers a cost effective strategy to circumvent this challenge. Although Clostridium beijerinckii NCIMB 8052 can transform 2–3 g/L of furfural and HMF to their less toxic alcohols, higher concentrations present in biomass hydrolysates are intractable to microbial transformation. To delineate the mechanism by which C. beijerinckii detoxifies furfural and HMF, an aldo/keto reductase (AKR) and a short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase (SDR) found to be over-expressed in furfural-challenged cultures of C. beijerinckii were cloned and over-expressed in Escherichia coli Rosetta-gami™ B(DE3)pLysS, and purified by histidine tag-assisted immobilized metal affinity chromatography. Protein gel analysis showed that the molecular weights of purified AKR and SDR are close to the predicted values of 37 kDa and 27 kDa, respectively. While AKR has apparent Km and Vmax values of 32.4 mM and 254.2 mM s−1 respectively, using furfural as substrate, SDR showed lower Km (26.4 mM) and Vmax (22.6 mM s−1) values on the same substrate. However, AKR showed 7.1-fold higher specific activity on furfural than SDR. Further, both AKR and SDR were found to be active on HMF, benzaldehyde, and butyraldehyde. Both enzymes require NADPH as a cofactor for aldehydes reduction. Based on these results, it is proposed that AKR and SDR are involved in the biotransformation of furfural and HMF by C. beijerinckii.
Temporal Evolution of Microstructures in Aqueous CTAB/SOS and CTAB/HDBS Solutions

Vesicles are formed spontaneously when aqueous solutions of cetyl trimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and sodium octyl sulfate (SOS), as well as CTAB and dodecyl benzene sulfonic acid (HDBS), are mixed in well-defined ratios. Microstructures in the starting solutions are composition-dependent and, in these experiments, include spherical and rodlike micelles as well as monomers. Starting from these initial morphologies, relaxation to the equilibrium vesicle state can take several hours to months in the CTAB/SOS system, but the transition occurs within minutes in the CTAB/HDBS system at the concentrations studied. In this paper, the temporal evolution of aggregate microstructures from a range of initial states was monitored using time-resolved turbidity, dynamic light scattering, and cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM). For the CTAB/SOS system, the turbidity changes slowly over a period of 2 h. The rate of growth of the aggregates, measured by dynamic light scattering, was found to be indepen...
Effects of sodium fluoride, potassium fluoride and ammonium fluoride solutions on the hydrolysis of CaHPO4 at 37.4°C

Abstract The variations in pH during CaHPO4 hydrolysis in water and in 18.75–600 mM NaF, KF and NH4F solutions were determined at a 20.0 liquid-to-solids weight ratio and 37.4 C and the equilibrium solution chemistry and morphology were determined after 3 months. Hydrolysis kinetics were rapid in all solutions containing fluoride. The pH variations demonstrate complex kinetic behavior. The cations with fluoride alter the reaction mechanisms over the range of concentrations studied. CaHPO4 dissolution changes from incongruent to congruent as the concentrations of cation-phosphate complexes increased regardless of whether the cation is Na, K or NH4. When hydrolysis is carried out in fluoride concentrations below 75 mM, CaHPO4 and fluoroapatite coexist at equilibrium. The fluoroapatite formed discrete needles on the surface of the CaHPO4. The density of fluoroapatite needles on the CaHPO4 surfaces and edges was not uniform. Fluoroapatite was the only phase present when hydrolysis was carried out in 75 mM fluoride. At fluoride concentrations above 75 mM, fluoroapatite and CaF2 coexist at equilibrium. Thus, the evolution of phases when CaHPO4 is hydrolyzed in increasing fluoride concentrations is CaHPO4 + fluoroapatite, fluoroapatite and fluoroapatite + CaF2. The fluoroapatite and CaF2 coexist as components of pseudomorphs of the original CaHPO4 crystallites. Pseudomorphs of the original CaHPO4 crystallites were the only morphology observed when CaHPO4 was hydrolyzed in 600 mM fluoride.
Photoallergic reaction in a patient receiving vandetanib for metastatic follicular thyroid carcinoma: a case report

Background Novel targeted agents have been increasingly developed and tested in clinical trials over the past 5–10 years, many with unknown and unanticipated side effects. We describe here a case of a patient with a history of metastatic follicular thyroid carcinoma that we believe developed vandetanib–associated photoallergic dermatitis while enrolled on a phase 1 clinical trial.
Tropospheric Airborne Meteorological Data Reporting (TAMDAR) Sensor Development

In response to recommendations from the National Aviation Weather Program Council, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is working with industry to develop an electronic pilot reporting capability for small aircraft. This paper describes the Tropospheric Airborne Meteorological Data Reporting (TAMDAR) sensor development effort. NASA is working with industry to develop a sensor capable of measuring temperature, relative humidity, magnetic heading, pressure, icing, and average turbulence energy dissipation. Users of the data include National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) forecast modelers, air traffic controllers, flight service stations, airline operation centers, and pilots. Preliminary results from flight tests are presented.
Integrating technology into peer leader responsibilities

This chapter focuses on the emerging role of technology as part of peer leader positions on college campuses and describes how peer leaders can apply technological skills to their formal and informal job responsibilities.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids Reduce Adipose Tissue Macrophages in Human Subjects With Insulin Resistance

Fish oils (FOs) have anti-inflammatory effects and lower serum triglycerides. This study examined adipose and muscle inflammatory markers after treatment of humans with FOs and measured the effects of ω-3 fatty acids on adipocytes and macrophages in vitro. Insulin-resistant, nondiabetic subjects were treated with Omega-3-Acid Ethyl Esters (4 g/day) or placebo for 12 weeks. Plasma macrophage chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) levels were reduced by FO, but the levels of other cytokines were unchanged. The adipose (but not muscle) of FO-treated subjects demonstrated a decrease in macrophages, a decrease in MCP-1, and an increase in capillaries, and subjects with the most macrophages demonstrated the greatest response to treatment. Adipose and muscle ω-3 fatty acid content increased after treatment; however, there was no change in insulin sensitivity or adiponectin. In vitro, M1-polarized macrophages expressed high levels of MCP-1. The addition of ω-3 fatty acids reduced MCP-1 expression with no effect on TNF-α. In addition, ω-3 fatty acids suppressed the upregulation of adipocyte MCP-1 that occurred when adipocytes were cocultured with macrophages. Thus, FO reduced adipose macrophages, increased capillaries, and reduced MCP-1 expression in insulin-resistant humans and in macrophages and adipocytes in vitro; however, there was no measureable effect on insulin sensitivity.
Biosynthesis of d-Alanyl-Lipoteichoic Acid: Characterization of Ester-Linked d-Alanine in the In Vitro-Synthesized Product

d-Alanyl-lipoteichoic acid (d-alanyl-LTA) contains d-alanine ester residues which control the ability of this polyer to chelate Mg2+. In Lactobacillus casei a two-step in vitro reaction sequence catalyzed by the d-alanine-activating enzyme and d-alanine:membrane acceptor ligase incorporates d-alanine into membrane acceptor. In this paper we provide additional evidence that the in vitro system catalyzes the covalent incorporation of d-[14C]alanine into membrane acceptor which is the poly([3H]glycerol phosphate) moiety of d-alanyl-LTA. This conclusion was supported by the observation that the d-[14C]alanine and [3H]glycerol labels of the partially purified product were co-precipitated by antiserum containing globulins specific for poly(glycerol phosphate). The isolation of d-[14C]alanyl-[3H]glycerol from d-[14C]alanine·[3H]glycerol-labeled d-alanyl-LTA synthesized in the in vitro system indicated that the d-alanine was linked to the poly(glycerol phosphate) chain of the LTA. A comparison of the reactivities of the d-alanine residues of d-alanyl-glycerol and d-alanyl-LTA supported the conclusion that the incorporated residue of d-alanine was attached by an ester linkage. Thus, the data indicated that the in vitro system catalyzes the incorporation of d-alanine covalently linked by ester linkages to the glycerol moieties of the poly(glycerol phosphate) chains of d-alanyl-LTA. New procedures are presented for the partial purification of d-alanyl-LTA with a high yield of ester-linked d-alanine and for the sequential degradation of the poly(glycerol phosphate) moiety substituted with d-alanine of d-alanyl-LTA with phosphodiesterase II/phosphatase from Aspergillus niger.
Linear stability of swirling flows computed as solutions to the quasi-cylindrical equations of motion

The linear stability of numerical solutions to the quasi-cylindrical equations of motion for swirling flows is investigated. Initial conditions are derived from Batchelor's similarity solution for a trailing line vortex. The stability calculations are performed using a second-order-accurate finite-difference scheme on a staggered grid, with the accuracy of the computed eigenvalues enhanced through Richardson extrapolation. The streamwise development of both viscous and inviscid instability modes is presented. The possible relationship to vortex breakdown is discussed.
Designing an extracorporeal deep-hypothermic heat exchanger and optimizing its operating conditions

A theoretical study altered the tube and fin dimensions of a commercial hypothermic heat exchanger (HE) used in cardiopulmonary bypass during open-heart surgery to obtain an optimized design (OHE). This OHE was then tested analytically by modeling the patient/HE system with a single-pool body assumption, modified to accommodate for body temperature gradients. Simultaneous solution of the body differential and system HE equations, showed that the OHE could provide the clinically desirable cool-down phase within 20 min, and the warm-up within 30 min for a wide range of patient types and cardiac outputs. precise holding phase temperatures also could be obtained, +or-0.05 degrees C, through optimal control of the HE's water inlet temperature. >
Design of online solid phase extraction-liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (SPE-LC-MS/MS) hyphenated systems for quantitative analysis of small organic compounds in biological matrices.

Three online solid phase extraction-liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (SPE-LC-MS/MS) method examples are presented where two different types of chromatographic columns or solvent systems were coupled to meet specific analytical objectives: (i) SPE of target analytes by restricted access media from high ionic strength urine matrix was coupled with reversed phase LC-MS/MS conditions accommodating high ionization potentials of the analytes (urinary bisphenol A and other phenolic derivatives); (ii) strong cation exchange SPE of analytes of diverse polarity and pK(a) was coupled with reversed phase LC-MS/MS analysis (urinary atrazine metabolites); (iii) pre-concentration of low pg per sample analytes by weak anion exchange SPE was hyphenated with ion pair LC-MS analysis (intracellular nucleotide triphosphate analogs). With these examples we suggest a conductive generic work flow for the development of online SPE-LC-MS methods and show how advanced commercial LC devices and software allow for the design of complex yet highly versatile analytical separation systems suited to the unique physicochemical properties of the target analytes.
Effects of Physical Activity on Children's Executive Function: Contributions of Experimental Research on Aerobic Exercise.

Executive function refers to the cognitive processes necessary for goal-directed cognition and behavior, which develop across childhood and adolescence. Recent experimental research indicates that both acute and chronic aerobic exercise promote children’s executive function. Furthermore, there is tentative evidence that not all forms of aerobic exercise benefit executive function equally: Cognitively-engaging exercise appears to have a stronger effect than non-engaging exercise on children’s executive function. This review discusses this evidence as well as the mechanisms that may underlie the association between exercise and executive function. Research from a variety of disciplines is covered, including developmental psychology, kinesiology, cognitive neuroscience, and biopsychology. Finally, these experimental findings are placed within the larger context of known links between action and cognition in infancy and early childhood, and the clinical and practical implications of this research are discussed.
Independent component analysis of multichannel neural recordings at the micro-scale

The problem of blind source separation from an observed array mixture is encountered in many biomedical engineering applications. In this work, we compare two methods aimed at separating multiple signal sources from multichannel extracellular neural recordings in the microenvironment of the brain. The framework is part of our ongoing effort to enhance the communication and signal processing technology of microimplanted devices used for recording and stimulating neural cells at the micro-scale. Simulation results show that Independent Component Analysis (ICA) and the Minimum Variance (MV) methods have equal degrees of success in separating signal components consisting of mixtures of spike trains and local field potentials. The MV method exhibits less noisy estimates but prior knowledge of the mixing matrix and noise parameters is required. On the other hand, the ICA method doesn't require prior knowledge of the mixing matrix but exhibits higher variance. Two examples are given to illustrate the advantage of applying both methods to multichannel neural recordings.
Demonstration of a well-characterized tumor-associated antigen on melanoma cell surface

We have isolated and characterized a melanoma tumor-associated antigen (TAA) from the spent culture medium of a melanoma cell line. Its presence has been detected in 72% of different melanoma specimens but not in normal tissues. Because tumor antigens may stimulate or perhaps block immune reactions to cancer cells, their presence on the cell surface may be a critical factor influencing tumor growth. Therefore, to define further the immunobiological characteristics of melanoma TAA, this antigen was investigated by membrane immunofluorescence. Serum from a melanoma patient known to have a high anti-TAA antibody titer was absorbed quantitatively with lymphoblastoid cells autologous to the target melanoma cells to remove non-anti-TAA antibodies. The absorbed serum was reacted with three cultured melanoma cell lines, UCLA-SO-10 (M10), UCLA-SO-14(M14), and UCLA-SO-24 (M24). Of these cell lines, M10 and M14 are known to express the antigen as assessed by radioimmunoassay. Reaction of the antibody(s) to the antigen(s) on the melanoma cell surface was detected by fluoroscein-conjugated goat anti-human IgG. The reactivity of the absorbed serum was inhibited by preincubation with purified melanoma TAA. These results clearly demonstrate that melanoma TAA is expressed on the cell surface of cultured melanoma cells.
Apnoea of prematurity.

Idiopathic apnoea of prematurity is a common and troublesome disorder which requires therapeutic intervention to avoid potential morbidity in premature infants who require neonatal intensive care. Although the definition of apnoea is inconsistent, this condition has been defined most widely as cessation of breathing in excess of 15 seconds duration, typically accompanied by desaturation and bradycardia. Shorter episodes of apnoea, and even periodic breathing, may be accompanied by bradycardia or hypoxemia, with an incidence approaching 100% in the most immature preterm infants.1 Resolution of apnoea of prematurity runs a very variable time course, and the persistence of such episodes is of uncertain pathophysiologic consequence. Apnoea is traditionally classified into three categories based on the presence or absence of obstruction of the upper airways. Central apnoea is characterised by total cessation of inspiratory efforts with no evidence of obstruction. In obstructed apnoea, the infant tries to breathe against an obstructed upper airway resulting in chest wall motion without airflow throughout the entire apnoea. Mixed apnoea consists of obstructed respiratory efforts usually following central pauses, and is probably the most common type of apnoea.2,3 The site of obstruction in the upper airways is mostly in the pharynx, however, it may also occur at the larynx, and possibly both sites. Mixed apnoea typically accounts for more than half of all long apnoeic episodes, followed in decreasing frequency by
Adolescent victims of sexual assault

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate a group of female adolescent victims ( n = 176) of sexual assault and assess the similarities and differences between them and older female victims. Methods: All the adolescents in this study were physically mature. The demographic data and the findings of the medical evaluation are compared with those of women, 25–44 years of age, who were assaulted during the same time period ( n = 197). Results: The mean age of the adolescent patients was 15.2 (±1.6), while the control group had a mean age of 31.9 (±5.1). Racial distribution was similar in both groups. One hundred thirty-nine (79%) adolescents reported prior consensual sexual activity and 32 (18%) had been pregnant at least once. Thirty-one adolescents (19%) reported a previous sexual assault. Many adolescent victims (64%) knew their assailant. Weapons or physical force was used less frequently to subdue an adolescent victim, and firearms were used very infrequently in adolescent assault. Use of alcohol or drugs just prior to the assault was prevalent among adolescent victims (47%). Finally, adolescent victims were less likely to sustain physical injuries during the assault. Conclusion: The preexisting relationship between the victim and the assailant may explain other elements that distinguish an adolescent rape victim from her adult counterpart. Compared to adolescent victims, the assault on adult women is more often perpetrated by a stranger, the victim is more likely to be abducted, and weapons, especially firearms, are more likely to be used to carry out the victim's capture.
Access to General Education Curriculum: The Effect of Preteaching Key Words Upon Fluency and Accuracy in Expository Text

The effects of preteaching key words on accuracy and fluency in connected text were examined with three fifth-grade participants identified with learning disability and reading two grade levels bel...
Attachment of Listeria monocytogenes to radish tissue is dependent upon temperature and flagellar motility.

Outbreaks of listeriosis and febrile gastroenteritis have been linked to produce contamination by Listeria monocytogenes. In order to begin to understand the physiology of the organism in a produce habitat, the ability of L. monocytogenes to attach to freshly cut radish tissue was examined. All strains tested had the capacity to attach sufficiently well such that they could not be removed during washing of the radish slices. A screen was developed to identify Tn917-LTV3 mutants that were defective in attachment to radish tissue, and three were characterized. Two of the three mutations were in genes with unknown functions. Both of the unknown genes mapped to a region predicted to contain genes necessary for flagellar export; however, only one of the two insertions caused a motility defect. The third insertion was found to be in an operon encoding a phosphoenolpyruvate-sugar phosphotransferase system. All three mutants were defective in attachment when tested at 30°C; the motility mutant had the most severe phenotype. However, not all of the mutants were defective when tested at other temperatures. These results indicate that L. monocytogenes may use different attachment factors at different temperatures and that temperature should be considered an important variable in studies of the molecular mechanisms of Listeria fitness in complex environments.
Effects of Surgical Sterilization on Canine and Feline Health and on Society

Surgical sterilization of dogs and cats is a well-accepted measure for population control in some countries, but is considered unethical as an elective surgery in other countries. This is a review of what is known regarding positive and negative effects of gonadectomy surgery on individual animals and on societal management of unowned dog and cat populations.
Using fast-scan cyclic voltammetry to evaluate striatal dopamine release elicited by subthalamic nucleus stimulation

Deep brain stimulation (DBS), an effective neurosurgical therapy for Parkinson’s disease (PD), may act via eliciting neurotransmitter release. However, the precise relationships between DBS and neurotransmitter release are not established. One issue in these studies may be analytical limitations of microdialysis and positron emission tomography, the primary measurement technologies employed. Limitations may be overcome by microsensors, which exhibit improved temporal and spatial resolution. Here we assess fast-scan cyclic voltammetry (FSCV) at a carbon-fiber microelectrode (CFM) for monitoring a putative DBS neurotransmitter, dopamine, during stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus (STN), a DBS target for PD. These results, obtained in the anesthetized rat, suggest that real-time microsensors are a suitable approach for testing the neurotransmitter release hypothesis of DBS action.
Relationship of intercellular adhesion molecule-3 and hepatocyte growth factor with amyloidosis A in chronic renal-failure patients

BACKGROUND Patients with chronic renal failure have elevated serum levels of intercellular adhesion molecules and hepatocyte growth factor. The aim of this study was to investigate immunohistochemically whether these substances are associated with amyloidosis A in this patient group. MATERIAL/METHODS Liver needle-biopsy specimens from 40 chronic renal-failure patients, 20 with amyloidosis A (Group I) and 20 without this disease (Group II), were investigated. Twenty control liver biopsies were obtained from healthy individuals (Group III). All specimens were immunohistochemically stained to determine the presence and density of hepatocyte growth factor and intercellular adhesion molecule-3. RESULTS The levels of positivity for hepatocyte growth factor and intercellular adhesion molecule-3 in Groups I and II were significantly higher than the levels in the control group. Also, the Group I sections had significantly more cells that were positive for intercellular adhesion molecule-3 than the Group II sections (p<0.016). There was no significant difference between Groups I and II regarding the level of positivity for hepatocyte growth factor. CONCLUSIONS The fact that there was a higher density of intercellular adhesion molecule-3-positive cells in the patients with amyloidosis A indicates that this substance may be a microenvironmental factor in this disease. If this is true, regulating the serum level of this molecule may prevent amyloid A in chronic renal-failure patients.
Summer Microhabitat Selection by Foraging Allegheny Woodrats (Neotoma magister) in a Managed Forest

Abstract Anthropogenic disturbance near rock outcrops occupied by Allegheny woodrats (Neotoma magister) is suspected of contributing to population declines in the northern and western peripheries of the species' distribution. We compared microhabitat characteristics among clearcut, diameter-limited and intact forest stands in the Allegheny mountains of West Virginia to determine effects of timber removal on Allegheny woodrat habitat selection. We measured microhabitat variables within 0.04-ha plots centered around foraging locations identified using radiotelemetry. Microhabitat variables also were measured in random plots within home ranges. We compared microhabitat variables among harvest methods, and between foraging and random plots within and across methods. Differences in microhabitats among timber harvest methods (F3, 14 = 20.31, P ≤ 0.001) were related to overstory characteristics, including total number of trees, canopy cover and overstory diversity. We observed no differences in microhabitat vari...
Introduction to B–C–N Materials

B–C–N is an emerging material system consisting of novel nanostructures of boron (B), carbon (C), boron nitride (BN), carbon nitride (CN x ), boron-carbon nitride (B x C y N z ), and boron carbide (B x C y ). These B–C–N materials are sometimes called as frontier carbon materials, because of their flexibility in forming materials of various types of hybridizations similar to those in the pure carbon system. This chapter provides a concise introduction on all these materials. Readers are referred to various references and other chapters compiled in this book for further reading.
The production of indoleacetic acid by Phycomyces blakesleeanus.

Species of Phycomyces have often been used for studies on the effect of auxins on fungi (Gruen, 1959a), but have received only little attention from the point of view of auxin synthesis. Heyn (1935) reported briefly that sporangiophores of Phycomyces nitens Kunze contained auxin with a molecular weight close to that of indoleacetic acid (IAA) as determined by the agar diffusion method which is inadequate for distinguishing different indole auxins, including derivatives of IAA. In a more detailed study of P. blakesleeanus Burgeff grown on rice, Kogl and Verkaaik (1944) extracted auxin from sporangiophores which was stable to boiling in alkali, but which lost most of its activity on boiling in acid. They concluded that the acid-labile fraction was IAA, while the acid-resistant residue was believed to be auxin A since its molecular weight of 330 (agar diffusion method) was close to the theoretical value of 328. The existence of auxin A is no longer accepted, and later work has shown that the results of acid treatment of auxin are difricult to interpret (Wiedow-Patzold and v. Guttenberg, 1957). Direct application of IAA to sporangiophores gave no evidence that it acted as a growth regulator in Phycomyces (Banbury, 1952; Maass, 1958; Thimann and Gruen, 1960), and in subsequent (unpub? lished) experiments IAA was found not to promote the growth of iso-
The genetics of ovarian cancer: an assessment of current screening protocols and recommendations for counseling families at risk

Although the need for effective ovarian cancer screening is apparent, a highly sensitive and specific screening methodology has yet to be elucidated. 42-44 Given that there are more than 43 million women in the United States older than 45 years of age and that the average cost of a pelvic sonogram is $ 275 (and $ 45 for CA125 screening), the screening of this population is estimated to increase health care costs by $ 14 billion per year. 45 The additional cost of BRCA1 screening varies according to the level of diagnostic effort required to establish BRCA1 gene mutations in a particular family and ranges from $ 295 to $ 1,200 per sample. Assuming an average cost of $ 600 per sample, initial screening of these same women would likely increased costs in excess of $ 25 billion. Current knowledge and technology in ovarian cancer screening has not yet proved beneficial for the general population or for women with fewer than two affected family members. For women with two or more affected family members, there is a 3% chance of that patient being a proband in a hereditary cancer syndrome family. 11,46 In this group, who may be at increased risk for developing a malignancy, heightened surveillance is warranted, although there are still no data to confirm that screening even these high-risk women will reduce mortality. Nevertheless, annual bimanual examination, serum CA125, and transvaginal sonography are recommended among this particular subgroup of women at risk, and are likely to be recommended for young, asymptomatic, at-risk women who screen positive for the 185delAG BRCA1 deletion commonly found in persons of Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry. It is only through prospective, randomized trials that reliable data regarding the risk/benefit ratio of ovarian cancer screening among various populations at risk will be determined. The results of the prospective/randomized PLCO trial and the mature data from ongoing prospective, nonrandomized screening trials for women with a family history of cancer may provide this information and are eagerly awaited.
Brazilian Community Media An Interview with Fernando Oliveira Paulino

Editor Vicki Mayer interviews University of Brasilia (UnB) professor Fernando Oliveira Paulino about his experiences with Brazilian community media initiatives at the university and in the Brazilian historical context.