cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Self-perceived creativity and ambiguous figure reversal rates

Earlier research suggested a relationship between career orientation and perceptual stability. The present study was conducted to test the hypothesis that, regardless of specific academic discipline, individuals demonstrating relatively high rates of reversals to ambiguous geometric figures would perceive themselves as more creative, or more original, than individuals demonstrating low rates of reversals. Two groups of 30 subjects each, selected from 128 undergraduates on the basis of their demonstrated reversal rates, were tested in terms of their self-perceptions. As predicted, the high-reversal group saw itself as more creative and original, and as generally more responsive and optimistic than the low-reversal group.
Petrosal approach for petroclival meningiomas

Thirteen patients harboring large petroclival meningiomas are reported. The evolution of the petrosal approach is discussed, and modifications for improvement in surgical technique are described. There was no mortality in this series, and total removal was achieved in all but two patients. Morbidity included cranial nerve deficit, pulmonary embolism, and hemiparesis.
THE NATURE OF THE AUXIN IN TOMATO STEM TIPS.

It is of considerable importance to know the chemical identity of the naturally occurring growth hormone or auxin. However, the natural auxin occurs in such small amounts in the plant that chemical isolation is difficult if not impossible. To overcome the difficulty of the low concentration plant materials have been sought which contained an exceptionally high auxin concentration. As such, corn oil and malt (K?gl, Erxleben and Haagen-Smit, ? and 7 ; Haagen-Smit et al., 4) or immature corn kernels (Avery, Berger and Shalucha, 2, 3) have been chosen as materials for isolation. From the work of van Overbeek (15) it must be concluded, however, that the auxin in the kernels is not involved in growth of the mesocotyl and coleoptile. Whenever auxin has been extracted from growing organs the concentration was found to be very low (well below 0.1 mg./kg.). With such small concentrations and with limited amounts of tissue only indirect methods of identification of the auxin are possible. These indirect methods include : 1. Determination of the diffusion coefficient
Scalar filtered mass density functions in nonpremixed turbulent jet flames

Abstract Filtered mass density functions (FMDFs) of mixture fraction and temperature are studied by analyzing experimental data obtained from one-dimensional Raman/Rayleigh/LIF measurements of nonpremixed CH4/H2/N2 turbulent jet flames at Reynolds numbers of 15,200 and 22,800 (DLR-A and -B). The experimentally determined FMDFs are conditioned on the Favre filtered values of the mixture fraction and its variance. Filter widths are selected as fixed multiples of the experimentally determined dissipation length scale at each measurement location. One-dimensional filtering using a top-hat filter is performed to obtain the filtered variables used for conditioning. The FMDFs are obtained by binning the mass and filter kernel weighted samples. Emphasis is placed on the shapes of the FMDFs in the fuel-rich, fuel-lean, and stoichiometric intervals for the Favre filtered mixture fraction, and low, medium, and high values for the Favre filtered mixture fraction variance. It is found that the FMDFs of mixture fraction are unimodal in samples with low mixture fraction variance and bimodal in samples with high variance. However, the FMDFs of mixture fraction at the smallest filter size studied are unimodal for all values of the variance. The FMDFs of temperature are unimodal in samples with low mixture fraction variance, and either unimodal or bimodal, depending on the mixture fraction mean, in samples with high variance. The influence of the filter size and the jet Reynolds number on the FMDFs is also considered.
A note on the application of the “Boltzmann simplex”-simulated annealing algorithm to global optimizations of argon and water clusters

Abstract We report our application of a recently published simulated annealing algorithm which we call “Boltzmann simplex”-simulated annealing (BSSA) to global optimizations of argon and water clusters. The Lennard–Jones model of argon clusters serves as a challenging benchmark for global optimization methods, and we use it as a test case. We find that the BSSA method is most useful when followed by a local optimization via the Powell method. This is because the Powell method quenches to the equilibrium geometry more effectively than a downhill simplex, which is the zero-temperature limit of the BSSA algorithm. We also find that very slow annealing rates are required to achieve acceptable results. A study of small water clusters [(H 2 O) m , m =2–6] using a recently published flexible-monomer interaction potential yields ring-like structures which are in good agreement with other theoretical and experimental studies for m =3–5. A highly puckered ring structure is obtained for m =6.
The Determinants of the Migration of Labor out of Agriculture in the United States, 1940–85

The flow of labor out of production agriculture is analyzed using a two-sector model of occupational choice. A migration equation is specified and tested empirically using aggregate data for the United States. The economic determinants of the migration of all farm workers and farm operators are established. Farm labor is found to be responsive to changes in the returns to agricultural labor relative to nonfarm labor returns. Given this responsiveness, policies intended to increase farm income will affect the level of agricultural employment.
13C NMR evidence of the slow exchange of tryptophans in dihydrofolate reductase between stable conformations

/sup 13/C NMR spectra are reported for dihydrofolate reductase of Streptococcus faecium labeled with (..gamma..-/sup 13/C)tryptophan. Two of the four tryptophans generate unusual resonances indicating slow exchange of the residues between alternative stable conformations. Since 3', 5'-dichloromethotrexate sharpens two of the resonances, it apparently locks the corresponding residues into one conformation.
A Case Series of Patients with Cor Triatriatum Dexter: Unique Cause of Neonatal Cyanosis

Cor triatriatum dexter is a rare congenital heart defect that can lead to cyanosis in a newborn with an otherwise normal exam. The initial evaluation of these patients typically focuses on searching for a pulmonary etiology for arterial desaturation, which often leads to a negative work up. When cardiac evaluation is performed, it may be challenging because the heart lesion can be difficult to visualize on an echocardiogram. The diagnosis requires a high index of suspicion and thorough echocardiographic imaging. Once diagnosed, surgical repair can alleviate the shunt created by the defect. This case series describes all patients (3) with cor triatriatum dexter seen at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin from 2000 to 2013.
The Fermi Statistical Postulate; Examination of the Evidence in Its Favor.

In 1924 Bose,1 undertaking to deal statistically with "light quanta," hit upon a method of using generalized co6rdinates which enabled him to derive the Planck law of black-body radiation without making use, as others had done, of conceptions taken from the classical mechanics. Einstein,2 adopting the Bose statistical method, applied it to the discussion of quantization of energy in an ideal monatomic gas, and the consequent degeneration [Entartung] of the gas-that is, the degree of its departure from the classical gas-laws. He reached the following conclusion: "The mean energy of the gas molecules (as well as the pressure) at the temperature is therefore always less than the classical value." In 1926 Fermi3 attacked the same problem that Einstein had discussed. He used the same general statistical method that Bose had invented but introduced in its application a certain limiting assumption, with the following explanation: "Now a short time ago the rule was proposed by Pauli4 . . . that when in an atom an electron exists the quantum numbers of which (the magnetic quantum number included) have definite values, there can be in the atom no other electron whose path is characterized by the same numbers. In other words, a quantum orbit (in an external magnetic field) is already completely occupied by a single electron." "Since this rule of Pauli has proved extremely fruitful in the explanation of spectroscopic facts, we propose to inquire whether it is not also of some use for the problem of the quantization of ideal gases." "We shall therefore in what follows assume that at most one molecule with given quantum numbers can exist in our gas; as quantum numbers not only those here come into consideration which belong to the internal motions of the molecule but also those which determine its motion of translation."
Substituent and solvent effects on the lifetimes of hydrocarbon-based biradicals

Abstract Nanosecond transient absorption studies of the lifetimes (τ) of several substituted 1,n-diphenyl-1,n-diyls are reported in polar and non-polar solvents. A para-bromine substituent significantly shortens τ. Substitution of OH in the 1-position makes the lifetime highly solvent dependent. The substituent effect and the dependence of τ on biradical chain length is discussed in terms of spin-orbit coupling in the biradical.
Numerical techniques for plasticity computations in finite element analysis

Abstract Common numerical techniques for plasticity computations in finite element analysis are examined. The plasticity theory considered is the simple rate-independent von Mises criterion for small strains. Work hardening is represented by a general isotropic model or by a linear, isotropic-kinematic mixed model. Algorithms to integrate the rate equations, strategies for stress updating over a time (load) step in implicit codes, and tangent operators consistent with the integration algorithm are discussed. The elastic predictor-radial return algorithm and a consistent tangent operator satisfy the requirements for a stable, accurate and efficient numerical procedure. An extension of this model for plane stress with mixed hardening is described. Two numerical examples are given to demonstrate the accuracy and efficiency for plane stress analyses.
Clinical Experience With Primary Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty Compared With Alteplase (Recombinant Tissue-Type Plasminogen Activator) in Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction : A Report From the Second National Registry of Myocardial Infarction (NRMI-2)

Abstract Objectives. We sought to compare outcomes after primary percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) or thrombolytic therapy for acute myocardial infarction (MI). Background. Primary PTCA and thrombolytic therapy are alternative means of achieving reperfusion in patients with acute MI. The Second National Registry of Myocardial Infarction (NRMI-2) offers an opportunity to study the clinical experience with these modalities in a large patient group. Methods. Data from NRMI-2 were reviewed. Results. From June 1, 1994 through October 31, 1995, 4,939 nontransfer patients underwent primary PTCA within 12 h of symptom onset, and 24,705 patients received alteplase (recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator [rt-PA]). When lytic-ineligible patients and patients presenting in cardiogenic shock were excluded, baseline characteristics were similar. The median time from presentation to initiation of rt-PA in the thrombolytic group was 42 min; the median time to first balloon inflation in the primary PTCA group was 111 min (p Conclusions. These findings suggest that in lytic-eligible patients not in shock, PTCA and rt-PA are comparable alternative methods of reperfusion when analyzed in terms of in-hospital mortality, mortality plus nonfatal stroke and reinfarction.
Report of committee on runoff, 1940–41

The Committee members are the same as last year, namely: H. K. Barrows; Merrill Bernard; E. S. Cullings; R. S. Goodridge; G. A. Hathaway; Joseph Jacobs; F. T. Havis; H. S. Riesbol; Waldo E. Smith; F. F. Snyder; and H. G. Wilm. During the year one addition was made, namely, AURELIO BENASSINI of Mexico City and associated with the Mexican Government. One of Mr. Benassini's associates, Mr. Quintero, was appointed on Mr. Bernard's Rainfall Committee, and in view of the fact that we have common hydrologic problems with Mexico, it seems desirable to have representatives of the Mexican Government on both the Rainfall and the Runoff Committees.
Orphan nuclear receptor NR4A2 induces transcription of the immunomodulatory peptide hormone prolactin

Nuclear receptor 4A2 (NR4A2) is an orphan nuclear receptor and constitutively active transcription factor expressed at elevated levels in inflamed joint tissues from patients with arthritis. Inflammatory mediators rapidly and potently induce NR4A2 expression in resident joint cells and infiltrating immune cells. This receptor promotes synovial hyperplasia by increasing proliferation of synoviocytes and inducing transcription of matrix degrading enzymes and pro-inflammatory mediators. In order to further elucidate the molecular mechanisms of NR4A2, we conducted a gene expression screen to identify novel transcriptional targets of NR4A2 that may contribute to arthritis progression. NR4A2 was over-expressed in human synoviocytes by lentiviral transduction and gene expression changes were measured using qPCR arrays specific for inflammation, proliferation, adhesion, and migration pathways. Subsequent analysis focused on the most potently induced gene prolactin (PRL). Messenger RNA levels of PRL and PRL receptor (PRL-R) were measured by RT-qPCR and protein levels were measured by ELISA. PRL promoter studies were conducted in synoviocytes transiently transfected with NR4A2 and PRL reporter constructs. Molecular responses to PRL in synoviocytes were addressed using qPCR arrays specific for JAK/STAT signaling pathways. PRL was the most potently induced gene on the qPCR arrays, exhibiting a 68-fold increase in response to ectopic NR4A2. This gene encodes an immunomodulatory peptide hormone with roles in autoimmune diseases and inflammation. Induction of PRL mRNA and secreted protein by NR4A2 was confirmed in subsequent experiments, with increases of 300-fold and 18-fold respectively. Depletion of endogenous NR4A receptors with shRNA reduced basal and PGE2-induced PRL levels by 95%. At the transcriptional level, NR4A2 requires a functional DNA binding domain to transactivate the distal PRL promoter. Deletional analysis indicates that NR4A2 targets a region of the distal PRL promoter spanning −270 to -32 bp. In synoviocytes, recombinant PRL regulates several genes involved in inflammation, proliferation, and cell survival, suggesting that NR4A2 induced PRL may also impact these pathways and contribute to arthritis progression. These results provide the first evidence for transcriptional regulation of the immunomodulatory peptide hormone PRL by NR4A2 in synoviocytes, and highlight a novel molecular pathway in inflammatory arthritis.
Catchment Classification and Services—Toward a New Paradigm for Catchment Hydrology Driven by Societal Needs

Hydrologists do not yet possess a generally accepted catchment classification system. This article presents a review of work done so far, and discusses a general framework for a catchment classification system considering variability in relevant characteristics, increasing human impacts on catchments, and the assumption that our climate is changing. We stress that any classification system should explicitly account for uncertainty and have predictive power, rather than just being descriptive. We also propose an extension to catchment classification with the inclusion of catchment services and disservices, which would explicitly link hydrology to current and future societal issues. We discuss a framework that describes catchment climate and form and maps these on catchment function (include partition, storage and release of water, energy and matter). Climate, form, and function can be described using indices, distributions, or even conceptual models; and uncertainty needs to be preserved in individual descriptors as well as in their mapping onto each other. Descriptors of catchment function are discussed as signatures of catchment behavior, which in turn are related to catchment services and disservices. This mapping ultimately provides predictive skill by constraining the expected function at ungauged locations, even under potential nonstationarity, through knowledge of form and/or climate. Establishing this framework would provide an organizing principle, create a common language, guide modeling and measurement efforts, provide constraints on predictions in ungauged basins, and allow estimates of environmental change impacts.
The Ethics and Efficacy of Resignation in Public Administration

Given the doctrine of neutral competence, the question of a duty to resign rarely arises for civil servants. Ethical obligations are fulfilled by loyally carrying out the instructions of legitimate superiors. If however, one is persuaded that the public is better served by civil servants who, acting in terms of an agency perspective-their public trust-formulate a principled conception of the public's interest that they believe they have an obligation to promote, even against the wishes of superiors and public alike, the case is different. Civil servants in such a case may feel they owe the public, as Burke told the electors of Bristol, their independent best judgment, not their servile acquiescence in what they believe may harm the public they are sworn to serve. Given the importance of the independence and integrity of civil servants' judgments and the gravity of those judgments, ongoing principled development of the meaning of the public interest-improving our practice as we work—is a high-priority task.
Range and Prevalence of Cardiac Abnormalities in Patients Hospitalized in a Medical ICU

Background: Patients hospitalized in medical ICUs (MICUs) with acute noncardiac illnesses have an undefined prevalence of underlying cardiovascular abnormalities. Because of the acuteness of illness, the need for frequent concurrent mechanical ventilation, and the nature of the underlying diseases, routine cardiac examination may be suboptimal for identifying concurrent cardiac abnormalities. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to utilize transthoracic echocardiography and Doppler echocardiography interrogation to identify the range and prevalence of occult cardiac abnormalities that may be present in patients admitted to an MICU. Methods: Over a 12-month period, 500 consecutive patients who had been admitted to the MICU of a large university tertiary care center underwent complete two-dimensional echocardiography and Doppler scanning within 18 h of admission. The final study population comprised 467 patients. No study subject had been admitted to the MICU for a primary cardiac diagnosis. Cardiovascular abnormalities were prospectively defined, and all echocardiograms were interpreted independently by blinded observers. Both MICU and overall mortality rates as well as length of stay were compared to the presence or absence of cardiac abnormalities. Results: One or more cardiac abnormalities was noted in 169 patients (36%). The average (SD) age of patients in the study was 52 17 years (age range, 17 to 100 years), and the average age was 57 18 years (age range, 18 to 93 years) in patients with underlying cardiac abnormalities. A single cardiac abnormality was noted in 103 patients (22%), two cardiac abnormalities were noted in 34 patients (7.2%), and three or more cardiac abnormalities were noted in 32 patients (6.8%). Based on subsequent requests for cardiac diagnostic studies, 67 patients (14.3%) were clinically suspected of having significant cardiovascular abnormalities, 39 of whom (58%) had one or more cardiac abnormalities on seen on echocardiography. Cardiac abnormalities were unsuspected in 130 of 169 patients (77%) and were only noted at the time they underwent surveillance echocardiography. Although there was no correlation between the presence of cardiac abnormalities and mortality, both MICU and hospital length of stay were increased in patients with cardiac abnormalities. Conclusion: A significant proportion of patients admitted to an MICU with noncardiac illness have underlying cardiac abnormalities, which can be detected with surveillance echocardiography at the time of admission. Cardiac abnormalities were associated with an increased length of stay but not with increased mortality. (CHEST 2002; 122:1370 –1376)
Performance analysis of the Probabilistic Multi-hypothesis Tracking algorithm on the SEABAR data sets

The Probabilistic Multi-hypothesis Tracking (PMHT) algorithm [1] is a batch type multi-target tracking algorithm based on the Expectation-Maximization (EM) method [2]. Unlike other more popular methods (e.g., Multi-Hypothesis Tracking, MHT) the computational burden of PMHT grows linearly in the size of the batch, the number of clutter detections, and the number of targets tracked. The SEABAR [3] sea tiail was conducted by the NATO Undersea Research Center in 2007 to investigate the suitability of some experimental high gain deployed active sonar receivers for tracking underwater contacts of interest. The sea trial yielded several useful multi-static active sonar data sets. The purpose of the effort reported here is to assess the target tracking performance of PMHT using structured multi-static active sonar sea trial data collected during the SEABAR experiment. This study quantifies the effects of batch size on the ability of PMHT to hold track on constant velocity and maneuvering contacts to determine the values that provide acceptable tracking performance. Situations involving contact maneuvers or temporary loss of detection (a.k.a., drop outs) are of particular interest. Specifically, the ability of PMHT to hold track as a function of batch size for two multi-static active sonar sea trial data sets containing contact maneuvers and drop outs will be assessed.
ON ANALOGUES OF POINCARE-LYAPUNOV THEORY FOR MULTIPOINT BOUNDARY-VALUE PROBLEMS

Abstract : A study of control theory and of its application to the guidance of mechanical, electronic, economic, and other processes. The solution of a number of its deterministic problems requires the minimization of a certain functional. The memorandum considers the behavior of such solutions as the duration of control becomes infinite.
Reference governors for supplemental torque source control in turbocharged diesel engines

We investigate the possibility of using reference governors to control a supplemental torque source (STS) in turbocharged diesel engines in the idle mode. The reference governor prescribes the torque that the STS needs to generate during transients caused by a load change to keep engine speed and air-fuel ratio within specified limits. By enforcing these limits engine stall and visible smoke emissions can be prevented. On the theoretical side, some generalizations of the reference governor scheme are described.
Legitimacy and standard development in multi-stakeholder initiatives: a case study of the Leonardo Academy's sustainable agriculture standard initiative.

Non-state, market-driven forms of governance, especially those that use multi-stakeholder initiatives (MSIs), have become a prominent mechanism for regulating food and agriculture. While the standards generated by MSIs and their implementation have been studied widely, the internal practices of MSIs have re- ceived less attention. This article addresses this research gap using a case study of the Leonardo Academy's sustainable agriculture standard initiative. Specifically, the focus is on the relationship between the standard-development process and legitimacy. Using a framework that conceptualizes legitimacy in MSIs as consist- ing of three interrelated processes - input, procedural, and output - we examine: 1. how the practices of the standard-development process affect the legitimacy of the Leonardo Academy's sustainable agriculture standard initiative, and 2. how the quest for legitimacy affects the initiative. In conclusion, we contend that in - put, procedural, and output legitimacy may not always positively correlate, that legitimacy is best understood as relational, and that legitimacy in MSIs is per- formative.
A Multilingual Embodied Conversational Agent

In our paper last year, we described our language-training program, which utilizes Baldi as a tutor, who guides students through a variety of exercises designed to teach vocabulary and grammar, to improve speech articulation, and to develop linguistic and phonological awareness. In this paper, we describe the technology of Baldi in more detail, and how it has been enhanced along a number of dimensions. First, Baldi is now multilingual and is capable of acquiring new languages fairly easily. Second, Baldi has grown a body to allow the communication of communicative gesture.
Prediction of Face-Lift Outcomes Using the Preoperative Supine Test

Background Patients considering a facelift (facial rhytidectomy) need some means of predicting their surgical outcomes. This will help them decide whether to proceed with the operation. Methods A total of 50 consecutive patients were asked to examine themselves with a hand-held mirror while lying supine on an examining table to give them a reasonable approximation of their postoperative result. Results The tissues of the face redrape in a very aesthetic manner when lying completely supine. The appearance that the patient sees of himself or herself during the ‘‘supine test’’ correlated very well with the actual postop result after rhytidectomy consisting of subcutaneous undermining, SMAS plication, and platysmaplasty. Conclusion This supine test may be useful in helping patients preoperatively predict their facelift outcomes and may serve as a good adjunct to imaging.
The use of internal thoracic artery grafts in patients with aortic coarctation

Summary The choice of conduits for surgical revascularization in patients with aortic coarctation can be puzzling, as the internal thoracic arteries can be dilated, atherosclerotic and unsuitable for grafting. Reports in the literature are controversial: in some cases, the internal thoracic artery was not suitable for revascularization, while in others, it could be used with discordant outcomes. Here, we review the literature on the subject.
Base rates in category learning.

Previous researchers have discovered perplexing inconsistencies in how people appear to utilize category base rates when making category judgments. In particular, D.L. Medin and S.M. Edelson (1988) found an inverse base-rate effect, in which participants tended to select a rare category when tested with a combination of conflicting cues, and M.A. Gluck and G.H. Bower (1988) reported apparent base-rate neglect, in which participants tended to select a rare category when tested with a single symptom for which objective diagnosticity was equal for all categories. This article suggests that common principles underlie both effects: First, base-rate information is learned and consistently applied to all training and testing cases. Second, the crucial effect of base rates is to cause frequent categories to be learned before rare categories so that the frequent categories are encoded by their typical features and the rare categories are encoded by their distinctive features. Four new experiments provide evidence consistent with those principles. The principles are formalized in a new connectionist model that can rapidly shift attention to distinctive features.
Tropical Zonal Momentum Balance in the NCEP Reanalyses

The seasonal cycle of the zonal-mean zonal momentum balance in the Tropics is investigated using NCEP reanalysis data. It is found that the climatological stationary waves in the tropical upper troposphere, which are dominated by the equatorial Rossby wave response to tropical heating, produce an equatorward eddy flux of westerly momentum in the equatorial belt. The resulting westerly acceleration in the tropical upper troposphere is balanced by the advection of easterly momentum associated with the cross-equatorial mean meridional circulation. The eddy momentum fluxes and the cross-equatorial flow both tend to be strongest during the monsoon seasons, when the maximum diabatic heating is off the equator, and weakest during April–May, the season of strongest equatorial symmetry of the heating. The upper-level Rossby wave pattern exhibits a surprising degree of equatorial symmetry and follows a similar seasonal progression. Solutions of the nonlinear shallow water wave equation also show a predominantly equatorially symmetric response to a heat source centered off the equator.
Parallel simulation of a connectionist stereo algorithm on a shared-memory multiprocessor

This paper describes the parallel simulation of a connectionist network stereo matching algorithm. In the algorithm a relaxation computation uses a variety of consistency measures between candidate matches to determine the correct match for each edge. These measures include disparity consistency, contour consistency, and multiresolution consistency. In the network each node represents a candidate match and the connections between nodes implement the consistency relations. The simulation involves constructing the list of candidate matches, constructing the list of connections between matches, and performing the iterations of the relaxation computation. Within each of these stages of the simulation, computation may be partitioned among a number of processors with very little need for synchronization or mutual exclusion except at the end of the stage. As a result, the implementation of the simulation on a shared-memory multiprocessor produced nearly linear speed-ups for up to nine processors (the maximum available at the time of implementation).
Elucidating central metabolic redox obstacles hindering ethanol production in Clostridium thermocellum

Clostridium thermocellum is an anaerobic, Gram-positive, thermophilic bacterium that has generated great interest due to its ability to ferment lignocellulosic biomass to ethanol. However, ethanol production is low due to the complex and poorly understood branched metabolism of C. thermocellum, and in some cases overflow metabolism as well. In this work, we developed a predictive stoichiometric metabolic model for C. thermocellum which incorporates the current state of understanding, with particular attention to cofactor specificity in the atypical glycolytic enzymes and the complex energy, redox, and fermentative pathways with the goal of aiding metabolic engineering efforts. We validated the model's capability to encompass experimentally observed phenotypes for the parent strain and derived mutants designed for significant perturbation of redox and energy pathways. Metabolic flux distributions revealed significant alterations in key metabolic branch points (e.g., phosphoenol pyruvate, pyruvate, acetyl-CoA, and cofactor nodes) in engineered strains for channeling electron and carbon fluxes for enhanced ethanol synthesis, with the best performing strain doubling ethanol yield and titer compared to the parent strain. In silico predictions of a redox-imbalanced genotype incapable of growth were confirmed in vivo, and a mutant strain was used as a platform to probe redox bottlenecks in the central metabolism that hinder efficient ethanol production. The results highlight the robustness of the redox metabolism of C. thermocellum and the necessity of streamlined electron flux from reduced ferredoxin to NAD(P)H for high ethanol production. The model was further used to design a metabolic engineering strategy to phenotypically constrain C. thermocellum to achieve high ethanol yields while requiring minimal genetic manipulations. The model can be applied to design C. thermocellum as a platform microbe for consolidated bioprocessing to produce ethanol and other reduced metabolites.
Nutritional Problems in the Elderly

The intent of this chapter is to provide insights to the difficulties inherent in assessing the nutritional status of the elderly. It advocates caution in the interpretation of current age-related nutrition data. The confusing overlap of age with disease is discussed to highlight these difficulties of interpretation. Approaches to assessing estimates of nutritional status and the current nutritional recommendations in the elderly are presented. Finally, geriatric information is provided on areas of broad clinical concern such as nutritional history taking, the hazards of the kitchen, and the interactions of drugs with nutrients. The summary details future research imperatives.
Competition, Regulatory Policy, and Firms’ Resource Investments: The Case of Renewable Energy Technologies

We study the interplay between regulatory mandates and competition on a focal firm’s new resource investments. While prior literature has separately pointed to the influence of competition and regu...
Circalunidian clocks control tidal rhythms of locomotion in the American horseshoe crab, Limulus polyphemus.

AbstractWhile many intertidal animals exhibit circatidal rhythms, the nature of the underlying endogenous clocks that control these rhythms has been controversial. In this study American horseshoe crabs, Limulus polyphemus, were used to test the circalunidian hypothesis by exposing them to four different tidal regimes. Overall, the results obtained support the circalunidian hypothesis: each of the twice-daily rhythms of activity appears to be controlled by a separate clock, each with an endogenous period of approximately 24.8 h. First, spontaneous “skipping” of one of the daily bouts was observed under several different conditions. Second, the presence of two bouts of activity/day, with different periods, was observed. Lastly, we were able to separately synchronize bouts of activity to two artificial tidal regimes with different periods. These results, taken together, argue in favor of two separate circalunidian clocks in Limulus, each of which controls one of the two bouts of their daily tidal activity r...
A model of learning clinical reasoning at a US-based workshop: interactive reasoning

BACKGROUND Since 2001 the University of Hawaii School of Medicine has conducted a 5-day workshop on clinical reasoning for Japanese medical students. To determine how Japanese medical students learn clinical reasoning at a US-based educational workshop. MATERIAL/METHODS This qualitative study used 20 semi-structured interviews with students, non-participant observation, and videotapes of 40 standardized-patient encounters. RESULTS Participants initially struggled with linguistic and cultural differences, then acquired an understanding of medical interviewing. Students understood clinical reasoning as a process of connecting with the patient using rapport building in order to gather information necessary to form a differential diagnosis and test hypotheses in conjunction with the physical examination. These findings supported a model of Interactive Reasoning. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that foreign medical students can overcome linguistic and cultural barriers at a US-based workshop and acquire an understanding of medical interviewing and clinical reasoning.
Fatigue and Fracture of Nickel Aluminide Composites

The results of preliminary investigations of the room-temperature fatigue and fracture mechanisms in model NiAl composites are presented. The composite systems studied include: NiAl reinforced with ductile second phase particles (Mo); ductile fibers (Mo); brittle second phase particles (zirconia partially stabilized with yttria) and brittle fibers+particles (Al2O3 + zirconia). Mechanisms of fatigue crack growth in heat treated specimens of the fiber-reinforced composites are also elucidated. The investigations indicate that both ductile and brittle reinforcements can enhance the toughness of NiAl significantly, and the ductile phase particulate reinforcement may even contribute to room-temperature ductility in the composite.
Foliar Mineral Differences Related to Sawfly Defoliation of White Spruce

Foliar minerals were analyzed in 39 pairs of white spruce, Picea glauca (Moench) Voss. One member of a pair was heavily defoliated (>50%) and the other lightly defoliated <10%) by the yellowheaded spruce sawfly, Pikonema alaskensis (Rohwer). Of the 13 foliar minerals analyzed, only N, P, K, Mg, Ca, Mn, and Cu differed between pairs, and heavily defoliated trees had greater amounts of N, P, K, Mg, and Cu, but lesser amounts of Ca and Mn than lightly defoliated trees. Minerals which were best indicators of defoliation intensity were K, Mg, and Mn.
Ultrasound brachial plexus anesthesia and analgesia for upper extremity surgery: essentials of our current understanding, 2011.

Purpose of review Ultrasound-guidance is gaining tremendous popularity. There is growing evidence of value with emphasis on clinical relevance, but can ultrasound-guidance scientifically warrant changing the practice of upper extremity regional? The literature is searched to describe findings where ultrasound may reduce complication rates, reduce block performance times, and improve block efficacy and quality. Recent findings Ultrasound examination identified variations in anatomical positioning of C5-C7 roots in approximately half of all patients despite no deleterious effects on block efficacy. Anesthetic volumes in brachial plexus blockade may be reduced without compromise of effectiveness. However, even with reduced volumes injected into the interscalene space, respiratory compromise from effect(s) on the phrenic nerve may result in hemi-diaphragmatic paresis. Ultrasound-guidance may reduce discomfort during axillary block placement compared with neurostimulation or parasthesia. Nerve catheters may be highly effective and provide prolonged analgesia compared with single-shot injections. Infraclavicular catheters result in improved analgesia compared with supraclavicular catheters and multiple injections of local provide no advantage over single-shot infraclavicular blockade. Dexamethasone combined with local may extend analgesia following a single-injection interscalene or supraclavicular block. During interscalene blockade, intraepineurial injections may occur, but incidence of nerve injury remains low. Therefore, debate continues about intraepineurial injections. Summary Intraepineurial injection requires additional investigation. Conclusions have suggested reducing typical volumes (40 ml) of local with ultrasound-directed upper extremity blockade. Increased use of perineural catheters is being advocated for prolonged analgesia, but risk-to-benefit consequences need to always be considered.
Preparation of primary amine derivatives of the magic-size nanocluster (CdSe)13.

Four [(CdSe)13(RNH2)13] derivatives (R = n-propyl, n-pentyl, n-octyl, and oleyl) are prepared by reaction of Cd(OAc)2·2H2O and selenourea in the corresponding primary-amine solvent. Nanoclusters gr...
Development of a validated emotionally provocative musical stimulus set for research

Music is a strong emotional stimulus; however, it is difficult to differentiate the effects of arousal and valence. While emotional stimuli sets have been created from words and pictures, a normed set of musical stimuli is unavailable. The goal of this project was to identify a set of ecologically valid musical stimuli for use in research studies of emotion and mood that differ on valence but are matched for arousal, and are also matched with emotionally evocative non-musical stimuli. Three rating experiments were conducted. In the first Stimulus Selection experiment, participants rated short music clips for valence and arousal, and the most evocative clips were selected. In two follow-up Stimulus Validation experiments, two additional groups of participants rated the selected musical and non-musical stimuli, with Experiment 3 confirming that these stimuli work effectively in a noisy environment (within an MRI scanner). The result of these three studies is a set of emotionally evocative, positive and nega...
Survey of a Adenovirus Pneumonia Outbreak Among Children

Objective To find out the cause of "pneumonia of unknown origin" outbreak occurred among the children in Hanzhong in February 2009.Methods The case definition was established,epidemiological questionnaire survey was conducted to describe epidemiological features of the case and swab samples were collected for etiological detection.Results From January-February 2009,32 children cases of "pneumonia of unknown origin" occurred in Hanzhong,the incidence peaked in late January.Most cases(81.25%)were children in rural area.The clinical symptoms included persistent fever,cough and change of lung imageing.No death occurred.Adenovirus infections were confirmed by PCR.Adenovirus type 7 was identified by sequence analysis of PCR positive products.Conclusion The local outbreak of "pneumonia of unknown origin" among the children in Hanzhong was caused by adenovirus type 7 infection.
Management of Ureteroscopic Injuries

AbstractUreteroscopy is an important technique in the management of calculous disease and ureteral lesions but it appears to have a greater potential for injury than percutaneous nephroscopy. In 2 years 4 patients with severe ureteroscopic injuries were treated. In 3 patients complete obstruction of the ureter occurred, and 1 had a major ureteral tear, prolonged urinary extravasation and infection. Even in the presence of total ureteral occlusion patients with short strictures were managed successfully percutaneously but the 2 patients with longer strictures were not. Previous surgery on the ureter or pelvic surgery and radiation therapy appear to be negative factors that affect adversely the ureteral blood supply, and potentiate poor healing and scarring. Nephrostomy tube drainage and ureteral stenting after ureteral dilation appear to be important steps in the percutaneous management of these patients.
Civilian craniocerebral gunshot wounds: an update in predicting outcomes.

Given the high mortality in patients sustaining intracranial injury secondary to gunshot wounds (GSWs), predictors to identify patients at increased risk of death are needed to assist clinicians early in determining optimal treatment. There have been few recent studies involving penetrating craniocerebral injuries, and most studies have been restricted to small numbers of patients, which do not allow for adequate prediction of mortality. A retrospective chart review of 298 patients who sustained GSWs to the head between 1992 and 2003 was conducted at a level 1 trauma center. Demographics, bullet trajectory, admitting Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), head Abbreviated Injury Score (AIS), as well as admission blood pressure and respiratory rate were evaluated. Univariate testing followed by multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify independent predictors of death. In-hospital mortality for patients with intracranial injury secondary to GSW was 51 per cent. A GCS 25) was associated with mortality as compared with survivors (P < 0.05). Of those patients presenting with a GCS of 3, there were seven survivors to discharge. Logistic regression identified the following variables as predictors of death: respiratory arrest on admission, hypotension on admission, transhemispheric and transventricular GSW. Identification of those patients at the highest risk of death secondary to a craniocerebral GSW allows clinicians to better predict outcome and prognosis. This is not only important in determining treatment algorithms for physicians but also for appropriate counseling of family members to educate them with regard to patients' outcomes.
Erratum: “Ionic strength independence of charge distributions in solvation of biomolecules” [J. Chem. Phys. 141, 22D503 (2014)]

In our manuscript1 Fig. 5(b) is a duplicate of Fig. 5(a). We regret any confusion this may have caused, and the corrected figure is provided (Fig. ​(Fig.11).
Performance evaluation of intel's quad core processors for embedded applications

Recently, multiprocessing is implemented using either chip multiprocessing (CMP) or Simultaneous multithreading (SMT). Multi-core processors, represent CMP processors, are widely used in desktop and server applications and are now appearing in real-time embedded applications. We are investigating optimal configurations of some of the available multi-core processors suitable for developing real-time software for a multithreaded application used for pavement performance measurements. For the application discussed in this paper we are considering the use of either the Intel core 2 quad or the core i7 (a quad core processor with hyper threading (HT) technology.) Processor performance is a major requirement in this set of real-time, computational intensive embedded applications. The performance of both processors is measured and evaluated using single and multithreaded workloads supplied by different benchmark suites. As for the core i7 processor we also provide an evaluation for the HT technology implemented in each core of this processor.
Evaluation of VIIIRS daily BRDF, Albedo, and NBAR product using the MODIS Collection V006 product and in situ measurements

Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function (BRDF), Albedo, and Nadir BRDF Adjusted Reflectance (NBAR) products are being produced for the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) onboard the Suomi-National Polar-orbiting Partnership (NPP) satellite in order to extend the MODerate resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) record for research and operational users. The VIIRS product is evaluated by comparison with the MODIS Collection V006 BRDF, Albedo, and NBAR products and in situ albedo collected at spatially representative sites. Preliminary results show that VIIRS can provide comparable BRDF, Albedo, NBAR products as with MODIS. Furthermore, the VIIRS, MODIS and in situ albedos agree well at spatially representative evaluation sites. The accuracy of both products therefore meet the requirements for climate and biosphere models and long term monitoring studies.